《Dragon Prince Yuan》 Chapter 1 Python and Sparrow Swallow the Dragon The brightly lit inner palace was a dazzling yet imposing sight. Green smoke rose in spirals from the green rock that burned within each oil lamp, and weaved about in the palace. The green rocks were blue sandalwood. They gave off a rare fragrance when burnt that had a meditative effect and was one of the necessities for cultivation. However, such items were not cheap. Hence, their usage as fuel was enough to show the status of the palace¡¯s owner. A middle-aged man stood within the inner palace with his hands behind his back. Unwavering determination decorated his face, and his eyes contained a dignified aura, evidence that he had occupied a high ranking position for a long time. A faint aura appeared to rise behind him, which seemed to fluctuate between fire and lightning as it emitted muffled rumbling sounds. However, if one looked towards his right arm, one would find that there was nothing there. His right arm had been severed. At this man¡¯s side was a beautiful woman in palace garments. Her lovely body was slim, and her features were natural and pretty. However, her face appeared exceptionally pale and sickly. At this current time, the man and woman, whom were clearly of substantial status, had a sliver of worry on their faces, as they looked at the thirteen year old youngster seated on a bed in front of them. The youngster¡¯s body was rather frail and his eyes were tightly shut. However, a tendril of blood Qi circled on a face that should have been brimming with youthful energy. While the strange blood Qi roamed beneath his skin, the bitter and resentful howl of a dragon faintly echoed. As the dragon howl resounded, the veins on the youngster¡¯s forehead squirmed, while his body shook continuously. His face twisted as if he was bearing an indescribable pain. By the youngster¡¯s side was a white haired old man holding a copper mirror in his hand. Soft light shined from the copper mirror onto the youngster¡¯s body. Under this light, the strange blood Qi on the youngster¡¯s face gradually began to calm down. The blood Qi persisted for a single incense stick of time before finally retreating. In the end, it withdrew into the youngster¡¯s palm. The white haired old man immediately breathed a sigh of relief as if he had been relieved of a great burden. Subsequently, he turned around and bowed to the worriedly waiting middle-aged man and beautiful woman in palace garments. ¡°Congratulations your majesties,¡± he said. ¡°His highness has at long last passed this triennial ordeal. There should be no problems in the following three years.¡± Joy was revealed on the faces of the middle-aged man and woman in palace garments when they heard this, and their tightly clenched fists gradually loosened. The dignified man in bright yellow robes looked at the white haired elder in an expectant manner and asked, ¡°Master Qin, Yuan¡¯er is already thirteen this year. Youngsters at this age usually have eight meridian channels, and can start their cultivation. What about Yuan¡¯er?¡± Upon hearing this question, the white haired elder¡¯s expression immediately dimmed somewhat, before he lightly shook his head and replied, ¡°Your majesty, I was still unable to find the eight meridian channels in his highness¡¯ body this time¡­¡± The dignified man¡¯s expression similarly dimmed when he heard this. In this world, the Dao of cultivation started within one¡¯s body. The body possessed countless meridian channels, and most important amongst them were the eight great channels. With the exception of some unique circumstances, an ordinary person¡¯s eight channels would gradually form when they were about thirteen years of age. It was at this time that these eight channels needed to be found. Only by finding the eight channels would one be able to start cultivating; by taking in the Genesis energy of the land, and opening the eight channels. This was the Channel Opening stage, and was where all cultivation began. Through this, cultivators were able to take in the Genesis energy of the land, and completely transform themselves. Hence, they were known as Genesis Masters. Master Qin gazed at the disappointment on the middle-aged man¡¯s face, and could not help but softly sigh, ¡°His highness was originally born with the sacred dragon blessing. He would have stunned the world and looked down upon the heavens. Who could have foreseen that such a calamity would occur¡­¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s fists clenched tightly, while the beautiful lady¡¯s eyes reddened. She covered her mouth and violently coughed twice. ¡°My queen, please take care of yourself,¡± Master Qin hastily said upon seeing this. ¡°You have lost a great amount of essence blood from nourishing his highness. You cannot allow your emotions to run wild.¡± However, the beautiful lady in palace garments merely waved her hand. Sorrow surfaced in her eyes, as she looked at the youngster seated on the bed, ¡°The poison in Yuan¡¯er¡¯s body erupts once every three years. Each outbreak is more serious than the last. He can only rely on himself to eradicate the poison, yet his eight meridian channels have yet to appear. What is to be done three years from now?¡± Master Qin was silent for some time, before he slowly replied, ¡°After three years, external suppression will lose its effect, and if this situation persists, I¡¯m afraid that his highness¡¯ hopes are bleak.¡± The moment these words were said, silence blanketed the inner palace. The middle-aged man¡¯s fists tightly clenched, as his body faintly shook, while sobbing noises were emitted through the covered mouth of the lady in palace garments. A rather young yet calm voice suddenly emerged within this silence. ¡°Does that mean¡­ I only have three years left?¡± The three people in the palace were stunned upon hearing this. They quickly looked up, only to find that the youngster on the bed had opened his eyes at some unknown time, and was now staring at them. The three exchanged a look. It was evident that none of them had expected the youngster to awaken so quickly. In the past, he had remained unconscious for two or three days before slowly awakening. ¡°Yuan¡¯er¡­¡± The name of this youngster, who had been called Yuan¡¯er, was Zhou Yuan, and the middle-aged man and lady before his eyes were the king and queen of the Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu. Zhou Yuan¡¯s young face was rather pale, as he pursed his lips. Perhaps because his body had been frail since young, he could only read books, and thus looked rather scholarly. After being silent for a moment, he slowly extended his hand. A dark blood-red lump could be seen at the center of his palm, which seemed to be embedded in the deepest part of his flesh. It slowly wiggled and squirmed, looking just like a threatening blood dragon. A faint yet extremely bitter and resentful aura seemed to rise from within it, causing one to shiver although it was not cold. ¡°Father, Mother¡­ I believe it is time to tell me exactly what is happening to me, right?¡± Zhou Yuan involuntarily gritted his teeth, as he stared at the tiny blood-dragon-like-thing on his palm. It was this very thing that made him feel what could be called pain beyond death. Every three years, this thing would begin to act up. It brought with it an endless pain, that felt as if it was devouring the flesh on his body inch by inch. When they heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu¡¯s faces lost a substantial amount of color. Zhou Qing in particular, tightly clenched his fists, as extreme remorse and self-blame surfaced on his face. This silence lasted for a long time. Even the atmosphere seemed to grow rather heavy, before Zhou Qing finally inhaled deeply, and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°That is the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison.¡± ¡°Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows were tightly knitted together, failing to comprehend. Zhou Qing¡¯s hands trembled somewhat as he tousled Zhou Yuan¡¯s hair and continued, ¡°It is time for you to know of these matters. Yuan¡¯er, you should know that you are the sacred dragon of our Zhou Clan!¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but let out a bitter laugh. Was there really such a miserable sacred dragon? Even the eight channels in his body could not be found. Zhou Qing sat down at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. His voice was low as he spoke, ¡°Yuan¡¯er, the current Great Zhou Empire can perhaps only be considered a small and unimportant country, but what you do not know, is that fifteen years ago, Great Zhou was a powerful nation. Every country came to pay homage to us, and our might was overwhelming to all.¡± Shock surfaced on Zhou Yuan¡¯s small face. Amongst the numerous empires that dotted this boundless continent, Great Zhou Empire was really not very noteworthy at all. How could he ever imagine that it possessed such status in the past? ¡°Do you know of the Great Wu Empire?¡± Zhou Qing slowly spoke each word of this name, as if he intended to carve it into his heart. ¡°The Great Wu Empire?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The Great Wu Empire was one of the top level empires of this vast continent. It was a flourishing nation that contained countless Genesis Masters. In comparison, Great Zhou was akin to a dwarf before a giant. Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes were dyed red bit by bit at this moment. Deep hatred was revealed within them, ¡°Then do you know that fifteen years ago, the current royal family of Great Wu was merely one of the subjects of the Great Zhou Empire?¡± A sliver of astonishment finally appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The Great Wu royal family was once a subject of Great Zhou? Was Great Zhou actually so powerful fifteen years ago? ¡°Then¡­ then how did things turn out like this?¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but inquire. ¡°When Great Zhou was established several hundred years ago, the Wu clan followed at our side, as we waged war all over. They were loyal and devoted vassals. Later on, Great Zhou established a country, and in recognition of their service, we conferred upon the Wu clan the hereditary title of king Wu, allowing them to enjoy an endless amount of privilege and power. And so in the next hundred years, the Wu clan guarded the Great Zhou¡¯s borders, intimidating anyone who saw them.¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s body faintly shook, as veins of blood climbed out in his eyes, ¡°However, who could have expected that the Wu clan would suddenly rebel fifteen years ago? Only then did our Zhou royal clan realise that after hiding their strength and biding their time over the years, the Wu clan already possessed extremely great power, and even the numerous conferred kings had been enticed to their side. ¡°In the short period of less than a year, our Zhou clan was utterly defeated, and could only escape towards the south. We fled towards our Zhou clan¡¯s ancestral land, which is also now the current Great Zhou¡¯s territory. ¡°I do not know why the Wu clan rebelled, the status they enjoyed in Great Zhou was not the least bit less than the royal clan¡­ ¡°It was only later, that a spy obtained some information from the Wu clan. A certain prophecy that had been passed down in the inner circle of the Wu clan for several hundred years¡­¡± ¡°A prophecy?¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly stunned. Zhou Qing gritted his teeth, as he spat out each word, ¡°Python and sparrow swallow the dragon, and the Great Wu will rise and flourish!¡± ¡°Python and sparrow swallow the dragon, and the Great Wu will rise and flourish?¡± Zhou Yuan softly repeated these words, but he failed to understand the meaning behind them. ¡°What does it mean?¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes turned scarlet red at this moment. Incomparable grief flooded his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan, ¡°Back then, I too did not understand the exact meaning behind these words, until a certain day¡­¡± ¡°After Great Zhou was completely defeated, I led what was left of our people, and continuously retreated. The Wu clan tightly pursued us till we came to this Great Zhou City beneath our feet. However, the Wu clan merely surrounded us and did not attack, as if they were waiting for something.¡± ¡°What were they waiting for?¡± Zhou Yuan felt a sense of unease. Zhou Qing stared at Zhou Yuan. From the expression on the former¡¯s face, it was as if he was crying inside. The mixture of such despair and anger made Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart tremble. ¡°They were waiting for you to be born.¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s words caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart to shudder violently. He had been caught completely off guard. By the side, Zhou Yuan¡¯s mother, Qin Yu, was already covering her mouth. Sobs that had been suppressed to the limit were emitted. ¡°Do you know what it was like when you were born?¡± Zhou Qing gazed at Zhou Yuan with red eyes. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, the moment you were born, a mystical sign appeared in the heavens. Dragon Qi swirled around you, and a dragon roar shook the land. It was the sign of the sacred dragon.¡± ¡°Your eight meridian channels naturally opened at birth, allowing you to skip the Channel Opening stage, and reach the Qi nourishing level.¡± ¡°This is known as the legendary one-in-a-billion sacred dragon blessing, which bestows upon one the potential to reach the greater cultivation stages. As our Zhou clan¡¯s unprecedented sacred dragon, you would have shined as brightly as the sun and moon, and have the longevity of the land!¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s voice was overflowing with emotion, while his entire body violently shook. One could imagine just how emotionally moved he had been when Zhou Yuan was born. The heavens had not forsaken the Zhou clan, and allowed them to welcome the birth of a sacred dragon during such a calamity. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. It was clear that he was unable to believe that such a phenomenon had appeared when he was born. ¡°Then¡­ then why¡­?¡± His hands trembled slightly, as he touched his body. Since his eight meridian channels were naturally open, why were they now unable to be found in his body? Zhou Qing¡¯s emotional voice came to an abrupt halt. The brilliance in his eyes seemed to vanish completely at this moment. There was only deep sadness within them, as he explained in a dejected manner, ¡°Because the moment you were born, king Wu¡¯s wife also gave birth to a son and daughter outside the city. Python Qi coiled around the baby boy, while spirit sparrow Qi was present around the baby girl¡¯s head. Both were also blessed by destiny!¡± ¡°Moreover, according to the information we obtained, king Wu¡¯s wife had been pregnant for a whole three years without giving birth, yet she suddenly gave birth that day¡­¡± ¡°I never understood why before, but it finally became clear at that moment. It is said that those born on the same year, month, and day may devour each other¡¯s destiny. It turns out that the many years of plotting by the Wu clan was not simply targeted at Great Zhou, but at the dragon of our Zhou clan!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth opened and closed. A chill swiftly spread from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. ¡°It was a scheme!¡± How could there be such a coincidence. It was obvious that this plot had been brewing for a hundred years, and was aimed at their Zhou clan¡­ a grand scheme that was specifically aimed at him. For this, they had even used all means to stop king Wu¡¯s wife from giving birth for three years. It was all done in wait for him! Zhou Qing nodded his head, and continued in a hoarse voice, ¡°It was indeed a scheme. The Wu clan had patiently waited in Great Zhou for several hundred years. They had fought our battles for us, and gained our full trust. However, who could have expected that their centuary long wait was all for your arrival!?¡± ¡°That day, king Wu entered the city and threatened us with the lives of hundreds and millions of Great Zhou citizens. He wanted to seize your sacred dragon blessing in front of your mother and I¡­¡± At this point, tears of blood flowed out from Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes. By the side, Master Qin also wore an expression of sorrow, as he continued in a low voice, ¡°That day, to protect your highness, his majesty fought king Wu on the Great Zhou mountain, but was no match for the latter, and one of his arms was severed. If that king Wu was not afraid that the others would destroy his highness¡¯ sacred dragon blessing, it is likely that even his majesty would have died at the king Wu¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°To smoothly seize his highness¡¯ destiny, king Wu made an oath. Great Wu would not take even half a step into Great Zhou for the next hundred years.¡± As that frightening scene once again surged out from the depths of her mind, Qin Yu could no longer restrain her emotions. She fell to her knees before Zhou Yuan, tightly hugging him, as she started to sob in a heart wrenching manner. ¡°Yuan¡¯er! My pitiful son! Mother has let you down!¡± The cruel memories from that day were once again bloodily torn open. She clearly recalled how the recently born Zhou Yuan was used as an array eye, and placed on the altar that king Wu had set up. Joining him on the altar were king Wu¡¯s recently born son and daughter. However, one was being stolen from, while the other two were taking. The stripping of fate was akin to peeling off one¡¯s flesh. Such pain was unimaginable. The Qin Yu at that time had been glowing with joy mere moments before. She could only helplessly watch her child bear an endless amount of pain, so much so, that even his young cries became hoarse. Such despair and powerlessness had caused her to faint. Urgh. Due to this sudden surge of emotions, Qin Yu¡¯s face instantly paled. A mouthful of fresh blood was involuntarily vomited, dyeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s hair red. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, mother?¡± Zhou Yuan was greatly alarmed. He hastily helped Qin Yu wipe the blood at the corner of her mouth. Master Qin also rushed over from the side. Gentle energy spread from his palm, and poured into Qin Yu through the top of her head, helping her steady the Qi and blood in her body. He looked at the pale Qin Yu, before he sighed towards Zhou Yuan, ¡°Your highness, please do not blame his majesty and her majesty for being unable to protect you. Back then, his majesty had given his all, and almost died in battle.¡± ¡°As for her majesty, after your destiny was stolen, she infused her own essence blood into your body. Subsequently, she gave you blood every year, allowing your highness to live till this day. However, her majesty had to pay an extremely huge price. Every time she gave her blood, her lifespan would be cut by three years. Over the past twelve years, her lifespan has already been shortened by thirty six years. This is an enormous blow to her health, and she now has less than ten years to live.¡± ¡°What?! What did you say?!¡± It was as if a lightning bolt had struck Zhou Yuan when he heard this. Veins of blood crazily climbed out in his eyes. He had never reacted so strongly even previously when he heard that his destiny had been stolen. After all, these events had occurred when he was still too young. Hence, he did not have overly strong feelings towards the sacred dragon blessing. Even if it was seized, he would only feel somewhat shocked. Although the fact that he had been the target of the Wu clan¡¯s century long plot had caused huge waves of shock to rise in his heart, he was able to suppress them. However, when he found out that they had forced his beloved mother to deplete her life force, an uncontrollable killing intent rose within Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart for the very first time. Thus, when Zhou Yuan heard Master Qin¡¯s words, he could no longer control his emotions. The blood in his body frantically rushed towards his head, causing his face to turn blood red. That delicate and immature face now appeared rather sinister. ¡°Wu clan, you dare to cause harm to my mother! You truly deserve to die!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were blood red. Overflowing rage and killing intent surged in his heart, while his entire body shook. Zhou Qing carried Qin Yu, and leaned her against a jade couch. His hair seemed to be a little whiter, and his dignified aura had practically vanished as he numbly said, ¡°It has been said that since the Wu clan¡¯s foundations were weak, sufficient destiny is needed for them to establish a country, allow their line to continue, and awe everyone with their power. With regards to all this, your sacred dragon blessing was the ideal.¡± ¡°King Wu seized your destiny, and granted it to his son and daughter. Henceforth, Great Wu was protected by the dragon and phoenix, allowing their country to prosper. The flourishing Great Wu Empire owes everything to your stolen destiny.¡± ¡°Meanwhile, forcibly taking away your sacred dragon blessing naturally gave rise to intense resentment. That king Wu purposely sealed this resentment in your body, thus creating the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. It continuously strengthens itself by devouring your essence blood until a certain day where it will finally mature. Then, it will erupt and completely devour your life force.¡± ¡°Meanwhile, your sacred dragon root was damaged, causing your naturally formed eight meridian channels to disappear. Till now, your eight meridian channels have yet to show themselves, making your journey of cultivation extremely difficult¡­¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s tone was rather bleak, and contained an endless feeling of powerlessness. It was difficult to imagine how much despair that day had been to their Zhou clan. On that day, the python and sparrow cried outside the city. Multi-colored lights had exploded, while they seized the opportunity to transform. On that day, the sacred dragon wailed inside the city, turning into green smoke that rose in spirals, before fading away. This was the python and sparrow swallowing the dragon. Next Chapte Chapter 2 Genesis Runes Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 3 Su Youwei The lecture hall was instantly quietened by the sudden words of the youth in embroidered clothes. All the youths that looked towards the former silently withdrew their gazes, because the status of the one who had spoken was not ordinary at all. The youth in embroidered clothes name was Xu Lin. His father was a senior official of the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s western province. Of course, Xu Lin¡¯s status was naturally far lower than the prince of the Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Yuan. However, everyone knew that Xu Lin had the backing of the little prince of Qi Manor, Qi Yue. Zhou Yuan lightly tapped his fingers on the desk as he looked at Xu Lin, before indifferently withdrawing his gaze. When it came to currying favor with Qi Yue, this fellow was truly unscrupulous. ¡°Since this Xu Lin fawns over Qi Yue so much¡­ it is likely that his father has also thrown his lot in with king Qi¡¯s camp¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes seemed to become somewhat deeper. He had once heard his father mention that this king Qi was backed by the Great Wu Empire Therefore, he had constantly stirred up trouble behind the scenes over the years. It was obvious that he intended to disrupt the peace of Great Zhou. Moreover, because Zhou Qing was afraid of giving Great Wu an excuse to deal with the Great Zhou Empire, he could not openly take action against king Qi, However, there was naturally a battle going on between the two parties behind the scenes. It was due to this relationship that there were similarly sparks between Qi Yue and Zhou Yuan in the Great Zhou Institute. Xu Lin¡¯s mocking smile grew even wider when he saw that Zhou Yuan did not retort. Just as Xu Lin was about to speak again, the lecturer suddenly glared at him in a stern manner, causing him to have no choice but to shut his mouth. After all, it would be a huge loss for him if he was expelled from the Great Zhou Institute. As the two parties became silent, the atmosphere in the lecture hall was gradually restored. The lecturer continued to elaborate on the three Genesis Runes until two incense sticks of time later, when the bell started to ring. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have to stop here today. We will continue tomorrow.¡± The lecturer kept his belongings and walked out of the lecture hall. As the lecturer left, the tense atmosphere in the hall immediately became relaxed. The many youths congregated together as lively laughter and noise erupted. Zhou Yuan absent-mindedly tidied his desk in preparation to leave. ¡°Your highness.¡± While he was tidying up,he suddenly heard a gentle voice. Zhou Yuan raised his head, and saw a girl smiling at him in front of his desk. This girl wore the uniform of the Great Zhou Institute. Although it was a little large on her, the contours of her well developed curves could still be seen. That simple pair of pants truly made those long and slender legs stand out. Her fair skin, raised nose, shapely eyebrows and almond-like eyes were all evidence that she was a beauty in the making. In particular, the tear-shaped birthmark at the corner of her eye gave her a sort of unique charm. Her rosy little lips were currently slightly pursed. Although she wore no costly jewelry and looked rather plain, she had a strong look paired with a long pony-tail that bounced with vitality. Merely standing there drew the coverted gazes of numerous boys in the lecture hall. Zhou Yuan looked at the pretty girl as a smile emerged on his scholarly face. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Youwei.¡± The girl¡¯s family name was Su, and her name was Youwei. Su Youwei¡¯s pretty face reddened a little as she met Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze. Subsequently, she looked away and her gaze fell upon Zhou Yuan¡¯s messy desk as she knelt down and said, ¡°Your highness, I had better help you tidy up.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and did not reject. After all, the relationship between the two of them was indeed not ordinary. Hence, the girl started to busy herself with Zhou Yuan¡¯s study desk, helping him neatly tidy up everything. This drew the gazes of numerous boys in the study hall. Their eyes seemed to be about to burn holes through Zhou Yuan, and the envy within them was practically bursting out. ¡°Has your grandfather recovered from his illness?¡± As Zhou Yuan watched the busy girl, he propped up his chin with his hand and asked. Su Youwei slightly lifted her pretty face when she heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words as her fair hand pulled back a stray strand of hair that had fallen in front of her eyes. Soon after, a smile emerged on her face. ¡°He has made a full recovery. Grandfather says he wants to invite your highness over if you have time, but our house is just a little too unsightly, I¡¯m afraid¡­¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go during our next vacation period.¡± Su Youwei gently bit the red lips of her little mouth when she heard Zhou Yuan reply without the slightest hesitation. A glimmer of water seemed to flash in her eyes as she looked towards him, before she hastily lowered her head, afraid that he would see it. She still remembered the day she met Zhou Yuan a year ago. It was perhaps the most despairing day of her life, but was also the same day that she started to welcome hope once again. On that day, the grandfather whom she had relied on since young had fallen deathly ill, causing her already broken family to completely fall apart. She had no choice but to brave the torrential rain with her grandfather on her tiny back in search of help. Because they lacked money, she could only kneel before each clinic, crying as she implored for their aid, hoping that a doctor would be able to save her grandfather. The her from back then had been drenched in mud, a sight that was miserable to the extreme. In the end, every single clinic¡¯s door remained coldly closed. Under the pouring rain, she felt the entire sky darken as her heart grew cold as ice. Just as her desperation was about to reach a numbing level, she sensed someone walk to her side and place an umbrella in her hand, before walking forward and barbarically kicking open the tightly shut doors of the clinic in front of her unfocused gaze. At that time, a cold voice seem to have rang out. ¡°Open up and save this person!¡± The one who had kicked open the doors of the clinic was naturally Zhou Yuan. Back then, Su Youwei could only blankly gaze upon his back. In the past, the ones she had most hated were those children from wealthy families, yet, at that very moment, she knew that she would never forget the back of the boy who had kicked open those large doors... It was from that very day that she came to be acquainted with Zhou Yuan. Later on, she discovered his identity; the royal highness of the Great Zhou Empire. Later on, Zhou Yuan had by chance discovered her talent for cultivation. Hence, he had recommended her into the Great Zhou Institute. It was then that she started to undergo a magnificent transformation... The very first month after she entered the Great Zhou Institute, she successfully opened the first meridian channel, becoming the fastest channel opener ever since the Great Zhou Institute''s establishment. Henceforth, she also became the so-called genius that everyone in the Great Zhou Institute spoke of. This sudden change from being an existence no one took notice of to the center of attention felt rather unnatural for Su Youwei. Moreover, there were times when people would find the relationship between her and Zhou Yuan unsightly, and secretly say that Zhou Yuan had only helped her because he had taken fancy to her looks. However, Su Youwei merely smiled in response. Only she clearly knew what a dirty and malnourished little girl she had been when she first met Zhou Yuan... ¡°Hey, how high are you going to stack my books?¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly looked at Su Youwei. The latter was obviously a little out of it at the moment. She had stacked the books on his table into a giant pyramid that reached the heavens. ¡°Ah?¡± Su Youwei returned to reality and saw her masterpiece. Her little face immediately turned beet-red as she hurriedly unstacked the books. ¡°Sorry your highness, I will redo it!¡± This appearance of hers was clearly even more adorable, causing the gazes that were looking at Zhou Yuan to instantly turn much fiercer. If not for Zhou Yuan status as a prince, it was likely that they would have long rushed out to save their goddess. Upon sensing their gazes, Zhou Yuan could only shake his head as he whispered, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve become so pretty, I no longer dare to order you about.¡± Su Youwei softly laughed when she heard this and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to smear some dirt on my face in future to make myself a little uglier.¡± Zhou Yuan could only roll his eyes in response. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right¡­¡± Zhou Yuan pointed at the table as he continued, ¡°How many meridian channels have you opened so far?¡± Su Youwei was slightly taken aback. She glanced at Zhou Yuan, before very cautiously replying, ¡°I¡¯ve already opened the third meridian channel.¡± She knew that Zhou Yuan seemed to be unable to open his channels and cultivate for some unknown reason. Thus, she would not voluntarily bring up the topic of opening channels when the two were together, and never flaunted her progress. She was afraid that this sensitive topic would upset Zhou Yuan. ¡°The third already. At this rate, all eight channels will be fully opened in one or two years.¡±Zhou Yuan sighed in admiration. Su Youwei¡¯s talent in cultivation was obviously extremely outstanding. In less than a year, she had already accomplished what others had worked years to achieve. This made him exceptionally pleased. Looks like he had unintentionally picked up a treasure. ¡°There¡¯s only two more months to this year''s newcomer exam, so work hard, try to unblock your fourth meridian channel, and aim for the top ten. I spent a great deal of effort to secure a slot for you. As long as you are ranked amongst the top then, you will be able to receive personal guidance from the institute head and the other instructors. This will be extremely beneficial for you.¡± said Zhou Yuan. Su Youwei¡¯s tiny hand suddenly stiffened as she was tidying up the table. She lowered her head and did not dare to look at Zhou Yuan. ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan was rather puzzled when he sensed this change in her. Su Youwei¡¯s was practically burying her head in her chest as she replied in a tiny voice, ¡°I, I no longer have the participation token.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. Soon after, his eyebrows tightly furrowed as he inquired, ¡°What happened?¡± His tone was not stern, but it caused Su Youwei¡¯s heart to beat a little faster. Her pearly white teeth bit into her red lips, and she did not speak for a long time. Instead, a girl who was rather close to Su Youwei interjected from the side, ¡°Who else but Xu Lin. A few days ago, he was spreading bad rumours about you in the institute, causing Youwei to argued with him and demand an apology. That fellow said that he would apologize if Youwei beat him in a match, but if she lost, she would have to give him her entry token for the newcomer exam.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed. ¡°That Xu Lin has only opened two meridian channels. He should not have been able to beat Youwei, right?¡± The girl frowned and said, ¡°Youwei only opened her third channel recently, while Xu Lin was also extremely shameless. He had the advantage of a Genesis weapon, and eventually managed to beat Youwei by some fluke.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was rather ugly. He stared at Su Youwei¡¯s lowered head and scolded, ¡°Why did you not tell me earlier?¡± Su Youwei¡¯s fair hands were clasped together as she softly said, ¡°It¡¯s me who is useless, I don¡¯t want to cause more trouble for your highness.¡± Zhou Yuan felt a little sorry when he saw this appearance of hers. The stubbornness of this lass would really give one a headache at times. Therefore, his cold gaze shifted towards the smilingly watching Xu Lin inside the lecture hall. ¡°Setting a trap to bully a girl. Your methods are truly great huh?¡± Zhou Yuan sneered. This fellow clearly had his eye on the newcomer exam entry token in Su Youwei¡¯s hands. Thus, he had intentionally goaded her into using it as a wager. Xu Lin lazily replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know what your highness is talking about. There are many people who saw me use my own strength to win. I will no return it even if your highness personally asks.¡± Zhou Yuan coldly said, ¡°Do you dare to wager it on another fight?¡± Xu Lin chuckled. ¡°Not interested.¡± His previous victory had been mere luck. Moreover, Su Youwei had already opened her third meridian channel, and he would definitely not be her match. Zhou Yuan icily smiled as his eyes swept towards Xu Lin. ¡°I don¡¯t intend for you to fight Youwei. I¡¯m saying that you and I will fight!¡± As he spoke, he fished out a glowing jade pendant and placed it on the study desk. ¡°If you win, this Genesis Gathering Jade will be yours.¡± A series of gasps immediately erupted in the hall as numerous gazes looked at the jade pendant with longing. This Genesis Gathering Jade was very advantageous for cultivation. If worn long enough, it would be able to increase the rate of opening one¡¯s eight meridian channels. A rather pricey and precious item indeed. ¡°Your highness!¡± Su Youwei was greatly alarmed. It was not due to the Genesis Gathering Jade, but because Zhou Yuan wanted to personally deal with Xu Lin. Zhou Yuan had not opened even a single meridian channel, how could he possibly be a match for Xu Lin who had opened two? Zhou Yuan waved his hand at Su Youwei to stop. He toyed with the jade pendant as he smiled at Xu Lin in a mocking manner. ¡°Do you have the courage to fight now?¡± Xu Lin¡¯s eyes were burning with desire as he stared at the Genesis Gathering Jade and licked his lips. He then coldly chuckled at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Since your highness insists on gifting this Genesis Gathering Jade to me, it will be rude to refuse.¡± ¡°However, as the saying goes, fists and feet have no eyes. Please do not blame me if your highness is injured.¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions baffled Xu Lin, he did not believe that a person like him, who had opened two meridian channels, would be unable to defeat someone who had not even opened a single channel! Zhou Yuan declined to comment and said, ¡°I hope that you are as skilled as you say.¡± Xu Lin laughed loudly, believing that Zhou Yuan was merely being sharp-tongued. With a swing of Xu Lin¡¯s sleeves, he walked out of the hall as laughter tinged with amusement and ridicule continued to resound from outside. ¡°Alright, I will wait for your highness at the practice grounds. I really want to see how your highness will win back the newcomer exam participation token!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 4 The Power of Genesis Runes Practice grounds of the Great Zhou Institute. Many practice platforms stood in the practice grounds, while the numerous youths atop them yelled out as they exchanged blows. Each punch and kick had the vigour and ferocity of a tiger, a rather imposing sight. Below the platforms were crowd of spectators who would burst into cheers from time to time. There was no lack of young and pretty girls amongst the crowds, and their pretty watching eyes made the boys on the platforms fight with even more enthusiasm, hoping to show off their moves and thus bask in the limelight. It evident that this practice grounds was a rather popular location in the Great Zhou Institute. When Xu Lin lazily walked onto a platform, news of his fight with Zhou Yuan had already been secretly spread by the former to the entire practice grounds. ¡°What? His highness Zhou Yuan is going to fight with Xu Lin?!¡± ¡°How is that possible! His highness Zhou Yuan has yet to open even his first meridian channel, on the other hand, Xu Lin had already opened two!¡± ¡°This Xu Lin is truly a bully, he surely used some despicable means to force Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°......¡± When the many students heard this news, cries of disbelief and surprise immediately erupted. Some of the commoner students felt that such a fight was really a little too unfair for Zhou Yuan. For any Channel Opening stage practitioner, the opening of every meridian channel would raise the innate quality of one¡¯s body. Strength, speed, reflexes etc. far surpassed those who had yet to open their channels. To put it bluntly, a Channel Opening stage practitioner was able to effortlessly defeat dozens of cultivators who had yet to open their channels. Atop the stage, Xu Lin merely chuckled when he heard these voices. No matter what they said, after today, his vicious beating of Zhou Yuan would definitely spread to the entire Great Zhou Institute. Such news would undoubtedly be a blow to Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation, thus making him a laughing stock. While these malicious thoughts swirled in Xu Lin¡¯s head, the black mass of a crowd around the practice platform suddenly split apart. One could only watch as a thin youth slowly walked forward. This thin youth had a scholarly face and gave off an aura of culture. He looked just like a weak and delicate scholar. Naturally, this was Zhou Yuan. Under the many varied gazes, Zhou Yuan headed straight for the practice platform where Xu Lin was. ¡°Your highness.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s little face was somewhat anxious as she followed closely behind him. It was clear that she still wanted Zhou Yuan to give up on fighting Xu Lin. Zhou Yuan gently smiled at Su Youwei and said, ¡°I can no longer back off at this point. Or else, I will be known as the prince who ran away just before the battle.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s footstops stopped as she tightly bit into her red lips. She knew that it would indeed be a huge blow to his reputation. Su Youwei lifted her pretty face and looked at Xu Lin, who was stop the practice platform. At this very moment, her eyes slightly narrowed, and seemed to become a little ferocious. ¡°Your highness, it is my fault for not handling matters properly this time and causing trouble for your highness. In future, I will no longer be careless nor merciful.¡± said Su Youwei in a soft voice. Truth be told, she had lost to Xu Lin previously mainly because she was lacking in ruthlessness. Otherwise, Xu Lin would not even have the chance to use his Genesis weapon. This lesson allowed her to understand that if one does not give the snake a fatal blow, one would surely be bitten. Zhou Yuan was a little stunned. He blinked at Su Youwei and said, ¡°We are friends. It is only right for a friend to help settle another¡¯s problems.¡± By the time his words faded, he had already stopped onto the practice platform. Su Youwei smiled a little as she gazed at his back. A warm feeling flowed within her heart. Soon after, her eyes slightly lowered; she had already made a decision. If Xu Lin dared to hurt Zhou Yuan, she would let the former know the meaning of a little girl¡¯s grudge and vengeance. ¡°Oh? Your highness actually dared to come. I had believed that you would secretly run away to the palace.¡± Xu Lin mocked with a smile as he watched Zhou Yuan, who had walked to his front. Zhou Yuan gently arranged his sleeves as he said, ¡°Looks like you are very confident in yourself.¡± ¡°I never imagined that even someone like your highness would act so rashly for a pretty girl. This seems to be rather unwise.¡± Xu Lin shrugged his shoulders. It was clear that he believed Zhou Yuan¡¯s rash behaviour was to gain Su Youwei¡¯s favor. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Zhou Yuan had no intentions of continuing this nonsensical bantar. His legs slid away from each other and seemed to tightly root themselves to the ground like an old tree, before he beckoned to Xu Lin. ¡°I¡¯ll allow you to attack first.¡± The moment these words were said, the numerous youths surrounding the platform looked to each other. They did not understand what Zhou Yuan was thinking. He was clearly the weaker party, yet he still acted so wantonly. ¡°Since your highness cannot wait to be humiliated, I¡¯ll have to oblige.¡± Being looked down upon by Zhou Yuan in this manner caused rage to rise in Xu Lin¡¯s heart. With a sneer, his foot powerfully stamped on the ground, and his body shot out like an arrow. Five fingers were tightly clenched into a fist as a punch flew towards Zhou Yuan. This punch of Xu Lin brought with it a stream of air and was full of power. If it hit a rock, a crack form. Zhou Yuan watched the powerful punch fly towards him and made no movements to dodge. He merely crossed his arms before him in a defensive posture. However, when the crowd below say this stance of his, they could not bear to continue watching. With Xu Lin¡¯s two channel opened body, this punch would likely break Zhou Yuan¡¯s bones. Under the nervous gazes of the crowd, Xu Lin was akin to fierce tiger. He held nothing back as his overbearing punch heavily slammed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms. Dong! A muffled sound rang out. Next, the crowd was unsurprised to see Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet draw two several meter long trails on the ground before he managed to stabilize his body. Ah! A miserable cry erupted. However, the cry had not erupted from Zhou Yuan but Xu Lin. Everyone was dumbstruck as they watched this scene. Xu Lin screamed miserably as he hugged his fist. His fist was entire red, as if it had been smashed onto hard steel. Xu Lin howled at Zhou Yuan, ¡°You! What did you hide in your sleeves?! Despicable!¡± Xu Lin was in so much pain that even tears were about to flow from his eyes. The surrounding gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan in astonishment. Could his highness have used some petty trick? Under the crowd¡¯s apprehensive gazes, Zhou Yuan slowly pulled back his sleeves. Subsequently, the crowd discovered a complicated rune of light on his arms. The rune emitted faint black light that spread and covered Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms. At a glance, it seemed as if his skin had turned to incomparably hard black metal. ¡°This¡­¡± Numerous students were shocked as they gazed at this complicated rune. In the end, some suddenly cried out, ¡°That is the Metal Skin Rune that the lecturer had taught previously!¡± A flash of understanding struck everyone. It was a Genesis Rune! Su Youwei¡¯s tense heart relaxed at this moment. She breathed a sigh of relief as she said, ¡°So his highness is already able to draw a Genesis Rune on his body.¡± Xu Lin came back to his senses as he stared at the black Genesis Runes on Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms and said in disbelief, ¡°You, you actually drew a Genesis Rune on your body?!¡± Although Xu lin had seen Zhou Yuan draw a Metal Skin Rune in the lecture hall previously, it had only been drawn on a jade tablet. To draw it on the body, one needed to be proficient in the locations of the acupuncture points and meridian channels of the body. Only then would one be able to prevent the Genesis Rune from harming the body. Hence, drawing a Genesis Rune on the body was far more challenging than drawing it on a jade tablet. Yet, while they were still unable to draw Genesis Runes on jade tablets, Zhou Yuan had already started to learn and even use it¡­ this gap was not small. ¡°Did you really believe that I would be powerless just because I have not opened my channels?¡± said Zhou Yuan with a smile. Xu Lin¡¯s face was steely green, and had a look of anger from being toyed with as he coldly said, ¡°Do you really believe that you will be able to beat me by relying on a Metal Skin Rune?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you have a good look at the gap between a Channel Opening stage practitioner and one that has yet to open any channels!¡± ¡°Channel open!¡± As Xu Lin roared, faint lines of flowing light emerged around his body. The dust under his feet swept outwards as Genesis Qi poured into his body in sync with his breathing. Huu huu. Even his clothes started to flutter at this moment. The surface of his skin began to glow, and everyone could feel Xu Lin¡¯s aura rapidly soar at this moment. The expressions of the many students slightly changed. There was now Genesis Qi flowing within Xu Lin¡¯s body. Genesis Qi circulating within his meridian channels would undoubtedly cause his power and speed to rise sharply. Under the numerous grim gazes of the students, Zhou Yuan stared at Xu Lin as he muttered to himself, ¡°Opening two channels huh¡­¡± ¡°Since I let you attack first, it is now my turn.¡± The instant these words were spoken, Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot had already stamped on the ground as his body charged straight at Xu Lin. ¡°Arrogant. Your speed, power and the innate quality of your body is now not even a tenth of my own. You still dare to attack?¡± Xu Lin sneered when he saw Zhou Yuan charging towards him. ¡°Is that so?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth seemed to form a smile. In the next instant, faint light suddenly surfaced at his ankles, and one could vaguely see runes of light spreading on them. Rustle! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body seemed to become much lighter at this moment, and his speed sharply increased as he pounced forward like a cheetah. ¡°That is¡­ that is the Light Body Rune!¡± Someone with good eyesight immediately cried out when he saw the light runes on Zhou Yuan¡¯s ankles. While this cry rang out, Zhou Yuan had already closed in on Xu Lin. With a sudden jerk of the former¡¯s shoulder, a faint glow emerged from inside his sleeves. Although it was not clear, everyone could clearly feel that Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist was now filled with rampaging power. ¡°Rampaging Bull Rune!¡± Another piercing cry was heard. As Zhou Yuan neared Xu Lin, the former¡¯s arm suddenly jerked as a faint glow spread from under his clothes. Although it was barely discernible, everyone could clearly feel the rampaging power that filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s flying fist. Metal Skin Rune, Light Body Rune, Rampaging Bull Rune! At this time, even Su Youwei could not help but cover her tiny mouth while disbelief filled her pretty face. In a short span of several breaths, Zhou Yuan had activated three Genesis Runes in succession. This also meant that the three Genesis Runes taught by the lecturer had already been mastered by Zhou Yuan and even used on himself. Bang! Under both the watching eyes of the crowd and Xu Lin¡¯s horrified eyes, a fist containing domineering power had already slammed into Xu Lin¡¯s body in an incomparably swift and violent manner. Dong! With the aid of these three Genesis Runes, the current Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed, power and innate body quality was clearly not inferior to Xu Lin. Hence, when this punch landed, Xu Lin felt a giant surge of force. His body was directly blown away, before smashing onto the ground outside the practice arena. The originally noisy surroundings of the platform turned deathly silent at this moment. Numerous youths stared at Zhou Yuan in disbelief. No one could have imagined that the fight would end in such a way. Atop the platform, Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew his fist. The runes of light on his arms swiftly faded as if they had used up all their power. He massaged his wrist, jumped off the platform and fished out a piece of jade from Xu Lin¡¯s clothes. It was the participation token for the newcomer exam. ¡°Can¡¯t even beat a person who has yet to open a single meridian channel. It''s best that you miss this year''s newcomer exam to avoid losing face.¡± Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response to Xu Lin¡¯s death stare. Upon hearing these words, Xu Lin once again felt the mocking gazes around him. A miserable feeling filled his heart, and he could not help but vomit a mouthful of fresh blood. The scene before his eyes turned to darkness as he fainted. He knew that starting tomorrow, he would become the newest laughing stock of the many the Great Zhou Institute students... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 5 Qi Yue and Liu Xi ¡°Alright, the show is over, everyone can scatter now.¡± Zhou Yuan tossed and caught the jade piece in his hand before smiling at the numerous spectators. Upon hearing his words, the crowd smiled back and left. However, there was an additional trace of amazement in their gazes when they took one final look at Zhou Yuan before they left. This was because the fact that Zhou Yuan was unable to open his channels was long known by everyone in the Great Zhou Institute. Thus, many people believed although this prince of theirs had a high status, he did not have any power. However, the scene today made them completely drop this belief. Zhou Yuan was indeed temporarily unable to open his channels, but he wielded another kind of power; Genesis Runes. With Genesis Runes, even someone like Xu Lin, who had opened two meridian channels, was not the former¡¯s match. In this world, status was admittedly also a kind of power. However, the power that was most easily acknowledged by others was undoubtedly still one¡¯s own power that had been gained through the culmination of one¡¯s efforts. Because this kind of power would not be changed by one¡¯s status or position. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t lose it again alright.¡± Zhou Yuan tossed the jade piece at Su Youwei who had walked over. A breeze blew past, causing her uniform to hug her body, accentuating the fine and exquisite curves of a young lady that could cause one to have rather wild thoughts. Su Youwei was a little embarrassed as she bit her red lips. Her clear eyes stared at Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Girls were after all very attentive. She could see how Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand seemed to tremble slightly. ¡°Heh heh, you¡¯ve discovered it huh.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. He lifted his hand, and one could see that it was very red. This had been brought about by the ferocious punch from before. ¡°Without any channels opened, the innate quality of the body is after all a little lower.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Although he had borrowed the powers of the Metal Skin Rune, Light Body Rune and Rampaging Bull Rune to temporarily boost his strength, speed and toughness of his skin, the interior of his body was still too weak. A tiny bit of the backlash had invaded his body, causing him to feel rather terrible. ¡°Instructor has said that there are some Genesis Runes that can temporarily strengthen one¡¯s entire body. If you manage to learn them, you will not be hurt by the backlash of power.¡± Su Youwei said after mulling for a while. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°The grade of such Genesis Runes is not low.¡± It was said that Genesis Runes were divided into nine grades. However, the ones Zhou Yuan had used were only of the elementary level and could not even be considered grade one. Hence, he was not able to learn such Genesis Runes for the time being. Su Youwei bit her red lips and said in a worried manner, ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to work hard. In the newcomer exam next month, unless you are able to draw a grade one Genesis Rune, it is unlikely that you will be able to achieve the top ten rankings.¡± If Zhou Yuan did badly in the newcomer exam, bad rumors would surely spread. Zhou Yuan massaged his hand as he replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I have to do.¡± His eyes slightly narrowed. At this time, he could only hope that the trip to the ancestral grounds two days later would be able to help him solve the major issue of his eight meridian channels not appearing. If not, the only thing left would be to invest all of his energy into Genesis Rune study. It was just that he really could not resign himself to solely studying Genesis Runes. When Su Youwei saw Zhou Yuan fall silent, she knowingly changed the topic. Her eyes seemed to twist in thought as she beamed. ¡°Your highness, shall I help you apply some ointment?¡± ¡°Forget it, if I accept such a great gesture from a pretty girl, I¡¯m afraid that someone would see and surely employ some underhanded tactics against me.¡± Zhou Yuan playfully smiled in response. After all, Su Youwei was rather popular in the Great Zhou Institute. Su Youwei unhappily rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Since you are so timid, I¡¯ll not bother with you any further. I still have to go to the library to tidy up the books.¡± This was a part-time job she had found for herself to earn a little income. After all, her family situation was not good and she still had a grandfather to care for. Thus, she usually found some work to do in the Great Zhou Institute during the school term. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan hesitated a little before saying, ¡°There is only a month left till the newcomer exam, and time is of the essence. I feel that you should spend more time on opening your meridian channels. If needed, I¡­¡± ¡°Your highness.¡± Zhou Yuan was interrupted before he could finish. He looked towards Su Youwei. The girl¡¯s red lips were currently slightly pursed as she earnestly stared at him. Her voice was soft and gently, but it contained a strength that could not be ignored. ¡°You¡¯ve already helped me a lot. You brought me to this place where I can change my destiny, and I am grateful to you from the bottom of my heart. However¡­ you¡¯ve said before that we are friends, right?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback as he gazed at the girl before his eyes. The depths of her glistening eyes seemed to hide something that would be difficult to sense for an outsider. It was that final shred of dignity at the bottom of her heart that needed to be preserved. She knew that as long as she opened her mouth, Zhou Yuan would settle everything that she needed. However, if that happened, a certain change would occur in her relationship with him. She had very carefully maintained the relationship between them since the beginning. Zhou Yuan was the prince of the Great Zhou Empire, a status that was high as could be, while she on the other hand, was a commoner. The gap between the two was too great, hence it very easily drew the criticism of others. She was not afraid of such criticism, but she did not want to be looked down upon by Zhou Yuan. Therefore, she put in her greatest efforts after she entered the Great Zhou Institute such that she would be able to become independent. She likewise worked hard in her cultivation to change the large difference of status between them. She had been very successful. As the fastest channel opening genius ever since the founding of the Great Zhou Institute, everyone began to value her talent. So much so that even Zhou Yuan¡¯s father, Zhou Qing, started to hear of her name. ¡°Alright then.¡± In the fact of the girl¡¯s stubborn gaze, Zhou Yuan was defeated in the end and could only hold up his hands in surrender as he bitterly smiled, ¡°I will not interfere.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s eyes bent into a crescent moon when she heard this. Meanwhile, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart. She knew that if Zhou Yuan were to insist, she would not be able to reject. It was just, that would be a little disappointing. At the very least, she knew that Zhou Yuan had respected her last bit of dignity till now. His choice to concede made a glimmer flash in her eyes as her heart filled with a peculiar kind of gratefulness. ¡°Don¡¯t worry your highness, I will not slack off in my training. I promise you that I will definitely obtain one of the top ranks in the newcomer exam and enter the A class.¡± Su Youwei smiled sweetly. Her bright and beautiful smile was filled with confidence. There was a dozen classes in the Great Zhou Institute and the A class was naturally the strongest. Zhou Yuan nodded. He pondered for a moment before suddenly taking out the Genesis Gathering Jade he had used as a wager in the fight against Xu Lin previously. Subsequently, he lifted Su Youwei¡¯s fair hand and placed it on her palm. ¡°Don¡¯t take this wrongly, I am not giving but lending this to you. I have yet to open any meridian channels and can¡¯t make use of it for now.¡± Zhou Yuan immediately said when he saw that Su Youwei was about to reject it. When Su Youwei heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, she swallowed the words that were about to exit her mouth before giving him a glare. This fellow, how could he say it in such a manner! ¡°I¡¯m leaving!¡± Su Youwei kept the Genesis Gathering Jade and with a soft snort, she brushed past Zhou Yuan. ¡°So defiant yet lovable¡­¡± Zhou Yuan watched the graceful and slim figure of the girl as she departed and shook his head. Just as he was also about to leave, he suddenly sensed something. He raised his head and looked towards a building in the distance, only to find a figure in white was currently looking back at him with a gaze that was as sharp as a blade. ¡°Qi Yue.¡± As Zhou Yuan gazed at the figure in white, his eyebrows raised slightly. The figure in white was the heir of Qi Manor, Qi Yue. A slight smile surfaced on Qi Yue¡¯s face when he felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze as the former cupped his fists together towards the latter. Zhou Yuan coldly chuckled in his heart, but maintained a smile as he nodded his head, before turning to leave. Atop the building, Qi Yue watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s leaving figure. A playful look emerged on Qi Yue''s face as he mumbled to himself, ¡°I never imagined that his highness would unknowingly attain some proficiency in the Dao of Genesis Runes¡­¡± A pretty figure walked out behind Qi Yue. It was a tall and slender girl whose looks were also very beautiful. The only flaw was her slightly thin lips which made her look a little unkind. Compared to Su Youwei, the former did lack some charm. She disdainfully glanced in the direction Zhou Yuan had left in as she coldly snorted. ¡°Genesis Runes are after all a side path. No matter how great one¡¯s attainments, one would still be unable to transform oneself and there will remain a limit to one¡¯s lifespan. Carelessness might even result in being killed by an ordinary person.¡± She was known as Liu Xi and her father was a marquis of Great Zhou. People called him Marquis Liu, and he was naturally one of the big shots. On this topic, there could be said to be some relation of sorts between Liu Xi and Zhou Yuan. Several years ago, Zhou Qing became aware of how powerful Qi Manor was growing. To keep them in check, he planned to place a ¡®weight¡¯ on Marquis Liu. Thus, Zhou Qing proposed a marriage between their factions; he intended for Zhou Yuan and Marquis Liu¡¯s daughter, Liu Xi, to be married and strengthen the ties between the two clans. Marquis Liu was somewhat hesitant with regards to Zhou Qing¡¯s proposal. After all, the royal family of Great Zhou was in decline and the sole successor, Zhou Yuan, was unable to open his meridian channels. In addition, Marquis Liu was extremely doting on Liu Xi, and thus asked her about her thoughts. Liu Xi was an extremely proud girl and felt that Zhou Yuan was merely a crippled prince. Hence, she rejected the proposal without any hesitation, and even spread word that his highness was a toad that wanted to dine on a swan¡¯s meat. It even became a popular joke back then. Upon seeing her response, Marquis Liu use it as reason to reject Zhou Qing. Although this matter had occurred long ago, Liu Xi naturally felt a little uncomfortable in her heart when she now saw Zhou Yuan, the same Zhou Yuan whom she had once called a toad. Qi Yue laughed and nodded upon hearing her words. ¡°The highly ranked students partaking in this newcomer exam have already cast their lot in with me. If our prince Zhou Yuan believes that he will be able to make it through with just this teensy bit of proficiency in Genesis Runes, I can only make him lose all face.¡± At this point, he paused as his eyes narrowed. ¡°However, that Su Youwei¡¯s talent is indeed astonishing, and her future prospects are very bright. If there is a chance, we need to do all we can to pull her over to our side.¡± A look of unhappiness flitted across Liu Xi¡¯s face when she heard these words. She frowned and replied, ¡°She is merely a lowly lass who has opened three meridian channels. If we cannot win her over, we should find an opportunity to cripple her.¡± Liu Xi¡¯s was of a noble family and was also very talented. In the past, she was undoubtedly the most dazzling pearl in the Great Zhou Institute. However, ever since Su Youwei¡¯s appearance, the former¡¯s radiance had been suppressed. This undoubtedly caused Liu Xi to find this commoner girl Su Youwei extremely distasteful. Qi Yue was naturally able to hear Liu Xi¡¯s dislike for Su Youwei. He chuckled and did not speak about it. Instead, he merely stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s disappearing figure. ¡°Looks like this Zhou Yuan no longer has any confidence in himself. That is why he intends to support a genius to rely on in future¡­¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan. The sacred dragon of the Zhou clan has truly become a crippled dragon.¡± ¡°Since that is so, your Zhou clan is going to be done for.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 6 The Ancestral Grounds Shrine As the sun began its ascent, warm morning sunlight shined down on the City of Great Zhou, brightening the place. Great Zhou Royal Palace. Zhou Yuan had been unable to sleep for the entire night. By the time he rushed to the palace gates, the imperial guards were already respectfully standing there. The thousand strong imperial guards wore heavy armour and wielded spears which flickered with cold light. It was a powerful military force. Zhou Qing sat on a fine fiery-red horse. He smiled as he watched Zhou Yuan hurry over and asked, ¡°Are you ready?¡± Today was Great Zhou¡¯s ancestor offering ceremony. Zhou Yuan forcefully nodded his head while hope surged in his eyes. He knew that whether or not the eight meridian channels in his body would surface again, allowing him to begin channel opening cultivation, would hinge upon this very day. A guard led another fiery-red steed over. Flames burned at the tip of the horse¡¯s tail, but its head was that of a ferocious-looking lion. This creature was known as the Fire Lion-Horse, and was a grade 1 Genesis Beast. It was able to gallop a thousand miles without rest. The originally irritable Fire Lion-Horse had long since been tamed. Thus, when Zhou Yuan mounted it, it merely swung its flaming tail for a moment before calming down again. Zhou Yuan pulled the horse reins. The youth¡¯s pitch-black pupils seemed to burn as he opened his mouth and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go father.¡± Zhou Qing chuckled and nodded his head, before waving his hand. Woooo! A horn sounded and the thousand-men force swiftly turned into a torrent that engulfed Zhou Qing and Zhou Wei, protecting them within it. Next, they surged out of the royal palace with rumbling sounds of movement, travelling along the city streets as they hurried towards the city exit. ... The Great Zhou royal clan ancestral land was also where the Great Zhou royal tomb was located. Although the royal tomb was about a hundred miles from Great Zhou city, given their pace, they would reach their destination in four hours. Under a lofty green mountain, Zhou Qing and Zhou Yuan got off their horses while the imperial guards spread out and positioned themselves at the various entry points. Even a bird would be killed if it neared. ¡°This is where the tomb of our Great Zhou royal clan is located.¡± Zhou Qing pointed at the majestic green mountain before their eyes. After being silent for some time, he slowly said, ¡°Back then, this was where our Zhou clan began and after much hard work, we eventually created the Great Zhou Empire. I just never imagined that our forefathers¡¯ efforts would be beaten back to its original shape at my hands.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at Zhou Qing¡¯s somewhat dejected face and softly said, ¡°Father should not blame himself, the Wu clan were scheming and heartless and no one could have predicted that they would plot for a hundred years. The fault does not lie with father.¡± Zhou Qing bitterly laughed. He did not speak any further on the topic and merely walked towards the stone steps. ¡°Follow me.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and quickly caught up. The stone steps led to the peak. There were nine thousand and ninety nine steps which reached straight into the clouds. The two wore solemn expressions as they slowly ascended. An incense stick of time later, they finally reached the peak where a black shrine stood. The shrine was ancient and seemed to have bathed in the rays of countless moons. These three mountain ranges snaked along the ground like hidden dragons. They surrounded and protected the green mountain below Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet like three dragons coiling around a pearl. A majestic aura seemed to rise spontaneously when one watched them. ¡°What a powerful presence.¡± Zhou Yuan praised. Looks like their Zhou clan ancestral grounds had excellent fengshui*. No wonder they had been able to establish an empire. Zhou Qing smiled and said, ¡°Luck exists in this world, and this land contains a part of it. The fact that our Zhou clan was able to rise to power is mostly thanks to the fengshui* of our ancestral land.¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips and replied, ¡°The land¡¯s fengshui* did play a part, but the greater part was still due to our forefathers¡¯ efforts. As the saying goes, the universe never stops so the nobleman must ceaselessly strive. As long as one works hard to improve, there will be a chance to change one¡¯s fortunes no matter how bad the hand one is dealt.¡± ¡°Likewise, regardless of how great one¡¯s hand, the one that reaps what others have sown will always be in danger of being defeated.¡± Although the youth¡¯s voice sounded somewhat immature, the determination that faintly seeped out was taken note of by Zhou Qing as the smile on his face grew even wider. ¡°Looks like the bitter experiences over the years were not completely bad.¡± Zhou Qing tousled Zhou Yuan¡¯s hair before walking into the shrine. As Zhou Yuan followed, he saw the many memorial tablets within the large shrine amidst the lingering incense smoke, tablets which belonged to the forefathers of the Great Zhou royal clan. Under Zhou Qing¡¯s lead, Zhou Yuan offered joss sticks and bowed at every tablet. In the end, Zhou Qing¡¯s steps paused before a memorial tablet at the deepest part of the shrine. This was the first emperor of their clan that had founded Great Zhou. After Zhou Qing paid his respects, he reached out and lightly turned the tablet. Rumble. A rumbling noise was immediately heard when the tablet was turned. Zhou Yuan watched in astonishment as as a thick and heavy set of secret stone doors slowly cracked open on the wall behind the memorial tablet. The interior of the stone doors were filled with a deep darkness, and appeared rather mysterious. Zhou Qing¡¯s expression was somewhat complicated as he gazed at the stone doors and said, ¡°Whether or not you will be able to open your meridian channels and start cultivating will depend on this place.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression grew nervous as his fists tightly clenched. No matter how mature he was, he was after all still a child and was hence unable to maintain his calm before important matters related to opening his meridian channels. Zhou Qing glanced at Zhou Yuan before walking past the stone doors. Behind them was a long stone corridor. Lamps burned on the floor of the corridor, giving the place a dusky lighting. The two did not speak. Only the faint sound of footsteps filled the corridor. After walking for about a dozen minutes, Zhou Qing¡¯s and Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps finally stopped. They had reached the end of the corridor, and a vast ancient cavern had appeared before their eyes. At the end of the cavern stood a stone platform. Zhou Qing headed straight for the stone platform. Only at this moment did Zhou Yuan discover that the numerous ancient Genesis Runes were carved onto the surface of the stone platform. These Genesis Runes formed a certain picture. With Zhou Yuan¡¯s current understanding of Genesis Runes, he was completely unable to recognize what grade these Genesis Runes were. Just vaguely trying to picture them in his mind made his spirit greatly exhausted, leaving him feeling a little light-headed. Hence, he immediately withdrew his gaze. ¡°Father¡­¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhou Qing. Could the solution to the gordian knot of his missing eight meridian channels be found here? Zhou Qing¡¯s expression grew more solemn as he gazed at the ancient Genesis Runes on the stone platform and said, ¡°A certain secret saying has been passed down in our Zhou clan. It says that a great destiny is hidden in this secret room that can help our Zhou clan truly flourish for ten thousand years.¡± ¡°The key to this great destiny is the blood of our Zhou clan¡¯s successor. However, although every successive emperor has come here in an attempt to unlock the great destiny with his blood, every single one of them ultimately failed.¡± At this point, he looked towards Zhou Yuan before continuing. ¡°That is why I have brought you here to see if you are able to unlock this great destiny. If you are successful, solving the problem of your eight meridian channels should not be hard.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at the ancient stone platform in amazement. He had evidently never expected that such a secret saying had been passed down in their Zhou clan. ¡°Go on.¡± Zhou Qing said as he patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulders. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath. His heart was thumping like a drum, but he still mustered his courage and walked onto the stone platform before seating himself amongst the many ancient and mysterious Genesis Runes. He took out a small sharp knife and gritted his teeth as he moved it across his wrist. Fresh blood immediately flowed out and spread along the groves of the Genesis Runes. In the short span of several breaths, the Genesis Runes on the stone platform had taken on the color of fresh red blood. Outside the stone platform, Zhou Qing watched this scene with eyes filled with anxiety as his fists subconsciously clenched tightly. As Zhou Yuan felt the flowing fresh blood, his young and somewhat scholarly face instantly turned even paler. His unwavering gaze was fixed on the complicated Genesis Runes while his heart thunderously beated. ¡°Is this my last chance¡­¡± Zhou Yuan tightly gritted his teeth and endured the waves of dizziness that battered at this mind. At this very moment, the scene of his mother, Qin Yu, vomiting blood once again surfaced before his eyes, causing waves of piercing pain to spread in his heart. ¡°For my sake, mother¡¯s health was greatly affected and her lifespan was cut!¡± ¡°For me, father lost an arm to king Wu!¡± ¡°My destiny was stolen, my sacred dragon root damaged and poison gnaws at my life!¡± ¡°Great Zhou is a mess inside while danger lurks outside. We risk being overthrown at any time!¡± ¡°Therefore, I want to change all of this. I want to help mother recover her lost lifespan and father regain his aspirations. I want to ensure that my people no longer have to worry or be afraid. I want to take back everything that I have lost!¡± ¡°... this great destiny is mine!¡± Howls abruptly rang out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. In that split second, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body seemed to shake violently, as if a furious and unresigned dragon roar was echoing from the deepest recesses of his body. Buzz buzz! It was at this very moment that blinding light exploded from the bloodied ancient Genesis Runes. The light converged like silver water and rapidly swallowed Zhou Yuan. This sudden turn of events caused Zhou Qing to be stunned. He hastily looked towards Zhou Yuan and watched in shock as Zhou Yuan vanished into thin air... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 7 A Mysterious Place Blinding light flooded the eyes, followed by a barbaric pulling force. Zhou Yuan was hit by vertigo as if he had fallen into a whirlpool. Fortunately, the pulling sensation did not last for long. Zhou Yuan felt a huge force rush towards him and his body was flung into the air. Bang! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body landed heavily on the ground, causing him to eat a mouthful of soil in the process. However, he was rather quick-witted. Ignoring the pain when he landed, Zhou Yuan swiftly rolled on the ground, distancing himself from where he had originally landed. At the same time, the Metal Skin Rune, that had been prepared in advance on his arms, started to flicker with a faint glow, ready to activate at any moment. Fortunately, the ambush he had expected did not come, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s tense body gradually relaxed. Only then did he leisurely inspect the surroundings. ¡°This is?¡± Zhou Yuan was wide-eyed as he looked around him. The cavern had long since disappeared, and in its place was a quiet and peaceful ancient forest. Giant trees thrust into the sky, while their dense leaves covered the heavens. A clear stream flowed by the side, emitting the sounds of running water. It was a tranquil sight. ¡°What is this place?¡± Zhou Yuan was completely baffled. He remembered being in the secret cavern inside the shrine just moments ago. How had he come to this unfamiliar place in the blink of an eye? ¡°Strange.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as he observed his surroundings. Could it be that the so-called great destiny was this land? ¡°But there are no signs of any people.¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself. As his gaze swept back and forth, his pupils abruptly shrunk while the expression on his face froze as if he had seen a ghost. It was because he had just discovered that a beautiful figure had unknowingly appeared under one of the giant trees to his front. At closer inspection, it was a girl in green. The girl¡¯s body was slender and she was currently leaning with her back against the tree trunk as a pair of bright eyes calmly observed him. When Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze met her own, an indescribable feeling of numbness spread across his scalp. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s mental resilience was after all pretty good, and he very quickly calmed himself. A smile immediately emerged on his immature face, trying his best to appear harmless, as he cupped his fists together and said, ¡°Big sis, may I know where this is? I am Zhou Yuan and I did not mean to trespass. Please forgive me if I have offended you in an manner.¡± The girl before his eyes looked to be of similar age to himself. However, a little politeness at such a time was never a bad thing. However, the mysterious girl in green did not seem to take any notice of Zhou Yuan¡¯s respectful mannerisms. Her slim and fair hand pulled back a strand of black hair in front of her forehead, before she walked towards Zhou Yuan. When she walked out of the shade, light immediately sprinkled down on her body. As she approached, Zhou Yuan was finally able to clearly see her, and a look of amazement involuntarily flitted across his eyes. The girl had snow-white skin. Her fine black hair was lightly bundled up, while her simple green clothes outlined her wonderful curves. She had a very exquisite set of facial features. In particular, her bright eyes seemed to contain a certain aura of mysteriousness, causing them to appear both unpredictable and distant. At this very moment, the girl seemed to tread on shards of sunlight against the backdrop of towering ancient trees. A gentle breeze blew past and lifted her fringe, allowing one to catch a glimpse of an extremely ancient rune between her brows, a sight that gave off an aura of indescribable mysteriousness. This scene was so beautiful that it made Zhou Yuan breathless for a moment. ¡°Big sis.¡± Zhou Yuan displayed a smile. Although this scene was breathtaking, he still maintained a little cautiousness. After all, both this foreign environment and the mysterious girl before him were unknowns. ¡°Big sis?¡± The girl in green curled her lips slightly when she heard how Zhou Yuan addressed her as if it was somewhat amusing. She inquisitively sized-up Zhou Yuan for a moment before muttering, ¡°Grandpa Hei was right, someone really came here today.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhou Yuan was unable to clearly catch what she had said. However, the girl in green ignored him. She turned around and headed towards the ancient forest. As she passed by the giant tree from before, the girl called out. ¡°Tuntun, time to go home.¡± Upon hearing the girl in green¡¯s call, Zhou Yuan immediately discovered the small gray creature lying under the giant tree. The little creature looked like an unremarkable small dog. ¡°A pet doggy?¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled. Ao ao! As if it had heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s mumbling, the small creature¡¯s hair immediately bristled and it started to bark at him. However, because its body was too small, the barks from it lacked any destructive power and instead made it appear rather cute. The small creature seemed to have realised that its barking had not intimidated Zhou Yuan. Its tail stood straight up as it jumped in front of a boulder, before opening its mouth and taking a vicious bite. Crunch crunch! As it continued to chomp down in this manner, one could only watch as the boulder rapidly shrank at an alarming speed. In the short span of several breaths, the boulder had completely disappeared. All of the hard pieces of rock had been swallowed into the little creature¡¯s tiny stomach. The expression on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned rigid as he secretly gasped. He was a little dumbstruck as he stared at the little dog-like creature. What exactly was this thing? To think that such a huge boulder would be devoured in a few bites. What strong teeth and healthy appetite! Zhou Yuan wiped away the cold sweat on his head and no longer dared to look at this seemingly plain little beast. The latter¡¯s teeth had been able to easily chew threw rock, what hope could his frail body have against it? No wonder it was called Tuntun*. (Means swallow or devour) Upon seeing the shock on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, the little creature called Tuntun happily swung its tail. It rolled its eyes at him in an extremely human-like manner, before catching up to the girl in green while still shaking its tail. When the girl in green walked into the forest, she tilted her head back a little, slightly raising her snow-white chin at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Come along if you want to find your great destiny.¡± After speaking, she walked into the forest, her pretty figure flashing between the gaps in the trees. A contemplative look emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he watched the girl in green and small creature grow smaller and smaller. All of this was very mysterious, and he could not make heads or tails of it. He was clearly unable to understand why he had come to this foreign place from the stone platform in the secret cavern of their ancestral shrine. However, since he was already here, there was obviously no way to back out. After all, he did not plan on returning empty handed. Huu. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath. Without any further hesitation, he opened his stride and quickly caught up to the girl and little beast. A boy, girl and beast travelled within the ancient forest, a lush green forest that was full of life. From time to time, ferocious beast howls could be heard in the distance. But every time that happened, the little Tuntun at the girl in green¡¯s side would emit a bark. Although the bark was not loud, the entire forest seemed to fall silent, as if they were afraid of this small creature. Zhou Yuan could not help but took another look at the mysterious little beast. The little gray-dog-like creature seemed to be very special. It was clear that the girl in green had not intentions of speaking with Zhou Yuan. Hence, Zhou Yuan could only maintain his silence as he closely followed behind. They advanced in this manner for an hour, before Zhou Yuan finally sensed the girl in green¡¯s footsteps come to a stop. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± The girl¡¯s voice echoed from the front. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart jumped slightly as he raised his head and peered at through the greenery of the forest. A clearing had appeared within the forest where a cottage peacefully stood. There were three fences around the cottage. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze ultimately paused on a recliner in front of the cottage where an old man in black was peacefully resting as he gently rocked back and forth. As if he had sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, the old man opened his eyes and looked at the former. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart faintly trembled when he saw the old man¡¯s eyes. Those eyes were filled with an indescribable ancientness, as if they had experienced countless eons. At the same time, Zhou Yuan was able to feel a thick declining and decaying aura cloaking the old man. However, the moment their gazes met, Zhou Yuan also felt the sensation of being seen through. It was as if all of his secrets had been put on display before the old man¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hehe, a little fellow who possess the sacred dragon blessing has indeed come.¡± The old man in black slowly withdrew his gaze as a raspy voice was heard. However, the voice was akin to thunder when they fell upon Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears. ¡°However it¡¯s a pity that the sacred dragon blessing has been stolen, and even the sacred dragon root has been damaged. Oh, is this the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison?¡± ¡°Tragic, truly tragic.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 8 Searching for the Eight Meridian Channels The old man¡¯s voice was undoubtedly akin to a sudden clap of thunder when it landed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears, causing the seas of his heart to churn. All it had taken was a single look for this old man to discover everything that had happened to him. The girl in green walked to the old man¡¯s back and glanced at the shocked Zhou Yuan. Tuntun started to jump with the intent of throwing itself into her arms, but was instead ignored as she picked it up and offhandedly threw it into a water jar. Tuntun appeared a little upset, but since it knew of the girl¡¯s obsession with cleanliness, it could only obediently start to wash itself. It was an exceptionally comical scene. However, Zhou Yuan was completely indifferent to this amusing scene. All he could do was stare in shock at the mysterious old man in black. A long while later, his shock finally started to recede as a glimmer of hope began to shine in its place. Since this old man was able to discover the problems of his body in a single glance, the former was definitely no ordinary individual. Perhaps, the predicament of his eight meridians would really be solved in this place. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, suppressing the intense emotions that were surging in his heart, before he cupped his hands together and spoke in a respectful manner, ¡°This junior one is known as Zhou Yuan. Greetings elder.¡± The old man nodded and replied, ¡°It is indeed someone from the Zhou clan.¡± The old man eyed Zhou Yuan, who seemed to desire to speak. It was as if the old man knew what Zhou Yuan was thinking in his heart as the former smiled in a strange manner and said, ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking. You¡¯re not wrong, I can indeed help you solve your eight meridians problem. However, why should I help you?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. After some silence, he seemed to consider what to say before he gave his answer, ¡°Junior neither knows where this place is nor who elder is. However, since my Zhou clan forefathers left behind a secret cavern that led to this place, elder should have some relation to my Zhou clan forefathers.¡± The old man in black did not comment when he heard this. By this time, Zhou Yuan had already completely regained his calm. He stared at the old man and slowly continued, ¡°Given junior¡¯s current state, I have nothing that could possibly move elder. However, I can tell that elder has likely been¡­ waiting for me, right?¡± In the split second that the elder had looked at him earlier, Zhou Yuan was able to ascertain with his sharp senses that a strange light had flashed in the depths of the old man¡¯s eyes. The slowly rocking recliner finally slowed to a stop at this moment as the old man¡¯s eyes faintly narrowed. It was impossible to tell if he was furious or pleased as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Little child, your words are rather bold. Do you really believe that you have anything that is worth my waiting?¡± In response to the old man¡¯s words, Zhou Yuan merely smiled as he shook his head. ¡°I do not know the answer to this question, but elder might perhaps be aware?¡± The old man in black stared at Zhou Yuan with eyes that were filled with ancientness. Although the former did not give off a terrifying aura, a pressuring feeling had emerged, causing the entire ancient forest to become deathly silent. Outside the cottage, the tactful youth wore a slight smile as he looked straight at the old man without any fear like a newborn calf. He believed that the secret saying in his Zhou clan was not a shot in the dark. There surely must be a reason as to why he was able to come here. In addition, he believed in his intuition. The oppressive feeling akin to billowing thunderclouds lasted for a rather long time until a helpless smile surfaced on the old man¡¯s expressionless face. He lay on in the recliner and sighed, ¡°Looks like I have really grown old. Can¡¯t even scare a little baby.¡± Behind the old man in black, the girl in green¡¯s bright eyes swept across Zhou Yuan as her clear voice sounded in an indifferent manner, ¡°He¡¯s acting. In fact, he¡¯s very afraid.¡± ¡°Eh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned a little rigid. Soon after, he revealed an awkward smile. His back was indeed already wet with cold sweat. After all, no matter how calm he was, he could not possibly fully keep his composure in the face of his only hope. ¡°Elder¡­¡± Zhou Yuan anxiously looked towards the old man. ¡°Aih.¡± The old man withdrew his aura, looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°I can solve the problem of your eight meridians, however, I have one condition.¡± ¡°Condition?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned, but he very quickly nodded his head in an earnest manner. ¡°Please tell me.¡± The old man softly sighed, tilted his head and looked at the elegantly standing girl beside him as he slowly said, ¡°I want you to leave this place with Yaoyao, and protect her.¡± ¡°Yaoyao?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned once again as he too looked towards the girl in green. This was evidently her name and was a good match for her pretty and tender look. ¡°Grandpa Hei.¡± The girl in green bit her red lips as a look of unwillingness and resistance was revealed on her aloof and pretty face. The old man lightly patted the girl¡¯s hand as he gently said, ¡°Yaoyao, grandpa Hei has something to do and will have to leave for some time, I cannot continue staying by your side.¡± The crystal clear eyes of the girl called Yaoyao dimmed. She looked at Zhou Yuan and softly said, ¡°Grandpa Hei, he is too weak.¡± An awkward expression filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. It was indeed true that he was practically powerless as someone who had yet to open even a single meridian channel. The old man could not help but chuckle upon hearing this. His gaze swept over Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°Although this kid is weak now, it is hard to say what he will become in future.¡± ¡°Grandpa Hei, will I still be able to see you in future?¡± Yaoyao asked in a low voice. As an intelligent girl, how could she not sense that the old man¡¯s actions was similar to entrusting her to someone else. It was evident that he was going to do something extremely dangerous, so dangerous that he might even pay with his life. The old man in black did not reply, but instead gently patted Yaoyao¡¯s little hands. He then turned his head, looking towards Zhou Yuan as he smiled and said, ¡°So how about it?¡± A serious expression covered Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He respectfully bowed to the old man as he slowly said, ¡°Although I do not have any power now, I can promise elder that if anyone wants to hurt big sis Yaoyao, he will have to first walk over my corpse.¡± Although the youth¡¯s voice sounded rather immature, it had an unquestionable tone that made one raise one¡¯s brows. Upon hearing this, a satisfied smile was revealed on the old man¡¯s face. ¡°Since that is so¡­¡± The old man chuckled as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°I¡¯ll now solve the problem of your eight meridian channels¡­¡± Zhou Yuan immediately felt a surge of excitement as he eagerly gazed at the old man in black. A strange smile emerged from the corners of the old man¡¯s lips when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s expectant gaze, before the former suddenly waved his sleeve. Boom! The earth shook and an enormous crack opened below Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet, forming a deep abyss. With a single gulp, it swallowed the pale and horrified Zhou Yuan. Aaahh! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body frantically fell as a shriek emerged from his mouth. While this happened, a sticky and viscous black liquid appeared from the darkness and wrapped around his hands and feet. As the black liquid creeped up inch by inch, an intense pain washed over Zhou Yuan as if the skin of his body was being melted away. The most alarming thing was that the black liquid was invading his body through his pores and destroying the inside of his body. Wherever the black liquid passed, everything; his blood, his flesh, his channels, were being completely eroded away. Along with the intense pain, fear invaded Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart and he started to smell the scent of death. He knew that he would really die if he allowed the black liquid to continue its destruction. Zhou Yuan frantically struggled, activating the three Genesis Runes he had inscribed on his body without any hesitation. However, the moment the three Genesis Runes started to glow, the black liquid surged over and extinguished their light. In the end, even the three runes were wiped away by the black liquid... Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart turned completely ice-cold when the three runes were utterly destroyed. The black liquid continued to spread and eventually covered Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Intense pain exploded and seemed to erode even his eyes as the entire world faded into darkness. In the darkness, Zhou Yuan could feel the intense pain that originated from inside his body as the black liquid descended layer by layer. The smell of death grew increasingly strong. This was no illusion. If he was unable to stop the black liquid, he would really die! ¡°I cannot die in this place!¡± ¡°I still need to help mother recover her lifespan! I still need to avenge father for the loss of his arm! And there is still the sacred dragon blessing that was stolen from me!¡± ¡°How can I possibly die here without completing all of that?!¡± ¡°I cannot die!¡± In the darkness, an angry and unresigned roar echoed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, a roar that contained the deep desire to live. Just as death approached, Zhou Yuan mind suddenly sank into his body. In that moment, he was barely able to discern eight faint meandering paths of light in the deepest depths of his body. These eight paths of light were akin to eight hidden dragons. ¡°Are these¡­ the eight meridian channels of cultivation?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart violently shuddered as he stared at the eight paths of light while comprehension started to bubble forth within him. These eight paths were the eight meridian channels that had never revealed themselves since the beginning! Roar! It was when death truly approached that they seemed to sense danger and immediately started to slowly squirm while emitting low dragon roars. Buzz! Dazzling light abruptly exploded from the deepest recesses of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. As the light unfurled, the black liquid began to dissipate at a speed which could be detected by the naked eye. In a short span of several breaths, the darkness had completely withdrawn. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes also opened at this moment as bright light once again flooded them. He fell down on his bottom, sweat flowing down his young face as if he had been fished out from a body of water. *Pant* *Pant* Zhou Yuan gasped for breath as his gaze darted all around him. He was currently still in front the cottage, as if everything from before had been an illusion. ¡°Was what happened earlier a hallucination?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°What do you think?¡± An elderly voice was transmitted from his front. The old man in black was currently faintly smiling as he looked at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately. He had clearly felt how real death had been just moments ago. He slowly lifted his hand as his pupils abruptly shrank. He had seen something black stealthily fade away at his fingertips. It was exactly the same as the black liquid from before. ¡°It was real?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shuddered. He was now certain that everything that had happened previously was real. This old man¡¯s methods were just too unimaginable. The old man chuckled and said, ¡°Feel the interior of your body.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and concentrated. It was at this same moment that his heart suddenly thudded like thunder and a look of disbelief emerged on his young and pale face. It was because he could now clearly sense eight meridian channels in his body. They were akin to hidden dragons that had flown out from the abyss. These eight meridian channels were the very same meridian channels that marked the beginning of one¡¯s cultivation! Zhou Yuan abruptly opened his eyes that were now filled with surging emotions. He stared at the old man in black as he spoke in a trembling voice. ¡°My¡­ my eight meridians have appeared?!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 9 Emergence of the Eight Meridian Channels In front of the cottage, the youth¡¯s rather thin-looking face was currently filled with disbelief while overwhelmed with emotions as his trembling hands touched his body. This feeling of rebirth made even the mature Zhou Yuan involuntarily grin like a fool. After all, this was far too important to him. As he grew older, the other kids had all started to their channel opening cultivation, revealing their varying aptitudes. Although Zhou Yuan had hid it very well, the depths of his heart was still filled with envy. He likewise desired to open his channels, step into the great Dao of Genesis Qi and wield the power that filled this world. He had deeply yearned for this day for a very long time. The old man in black gazed at the emotionally overwhelmed Zhou Yuan as he chuckled and said, ¡°You were born with eight naturally open meridian channels. Unfortunately, you encountered a disaster at birth. Sensing the external danger, the eight meridian channels in your body hid in the deepest recesses of your body as a form of self-defence. That was why your eight meridian channels did not show themselves even when you reached the normal age where they were suppose to appear. ¡°Though your eight meridian channels had hidden themselves, they were still able to sense danger. Thus, the only way to bring them out once again was to place yourself at the doors of death. Only then would the eight meridians be forced to reveal themselves.¡± The eyelids of the old man raised as he continued in an indifferent tone, ¡°Do not believe that the smell of death from before was fake. If you were unable to rouse the eight meridian channels to protect yourself at the final moment, you would have died.¡± The still emotional Zhou Yuan felt a chill pass through his entire body when he heard this. His face paled slightly as he dazedly stared at the old man in black. It was clear that Zhou Yuan was recalling the thick scent of death from before. He even had a premonition that if he had roused his meridian channels just a split second later, he would really have died. It was obvious that the old man had used an extremely dangerous method to rouse the eight meridian channels in his body. The old man in black was all smiles as he asked, ¡°Why? You blame me for not warning you beforehand?¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, shook his head and slowly replied, ¡° I am willing to take even the greatest risk as long as I can channel opening training. Hence, it is not important even if I did not know in advance. I just feel some lingering fear when I recall it.¡± Only then did the old man nod his head and speak with some admiration, ¡°Little kid, you may be young, but your mettle is rather decent. ¡°However, do not be too happy just because your eight meridian channels have reappeared. Although you were originally born with naturally open meridian channels, due to the many years of concealment, your eight meridian channels have once again been blocked and sealed. Therefore, if you want to begin your cultivation, you will have to first completely unblock your eight meridian channels. Only then will you be able to cross over from the Channel Opening stage to the Qi Nourishing stage. ¡°Moreover, unblocking your meridian channels will be even more difficult than normal. This is because the eight channels in your body had sealed themselves back then to avoid disaster. The hardships you will face when unblocking your meridian channels will be even greater than those faced by an ordinary person.¡± The old man shook his head as he elaborated. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly upon hearing this, but quickly came to accept it and said, ¡°At the very least, I now have more hope than before, isn¡¯t that so?¡± No matter how bad the current situation was, could it possibly be as bad as before when his eight meridian channels were nowhere to be found? So what if it was more difficult to unblock or open his meridian channels? There was now hope, wasn¡¯t that right? Behind the old man in black, the girl in green lifted Tuntun out of the water jar and lightly shook it. Specks of red light emerged from the little creature¡¯s body, drying away all of the water. Only then did she cradle it on her arms, satisfied. Her fair hand gently stroke the little creature as she calm gazed at Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that the latter¡¯s dedication towards channel opening cultivation had surprised her a little. Yaoyao¡¯s red lips cracked opened slightly as she said in an unemotional voice, ¡°Being incapable of channel opening cultivation is nothing to be fret about. I too am unable to use Genesis Qi.¡± The girl in green clearly belonged to the group of people who were a little more indifferent by nature. They would not take even a second glance at people or things that they did not care about. Thus, these words of hers were slightly meant as consolation. Zhou Yuan was somewhat astonished as he stared at her. To think that this girl in green was also unable to use Genesis Qi. ¡°Hehe, due to certain reasons, Yaoyao is indeed unable to utilise Genesis Qi.¡± The old man in black chuckled, before he playfully said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°However, don¡¯t belittle her because of this as she has received all of my teachings with regards to Genesis Runes. Although her age is similar to your own, she has more than enough attainments in Genesis Runes to become your teacher.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with bewilderment. It was really unexpected that this girl in green would have such great mastery over Genesis Runes. ¡°However, you should not undervalue yourself either. Though it is true that you will have great difficulty in unblocking your meridian channels, as the saying goes, with great effort comes great reward. Thus, the benefits you will obtain every time you open a meridian channel will be much greater than normal.¡± said the old man with a smile. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened slightly. He knew that the innate quality of one¡¯s body would rise every time a channel was opened. According to the old man in black, he would become much stronger than any ordinary person. As such, although unblocking channels would be harder, he was able to accept it. A thought formed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. He suddenly looked towards the old man in black and said in a seemingly bitter manner, ¡°Elder, although I am now able to begin my channel opening cultivation, my starting point is already a step behind everyone else. I¡¯m afraid that it will take quite some time before I am able to reach the stage where I will be able to protect big sis Yaoyao.¡± The old man in black seemed to smile as he looked back at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Kid, what exactly do you want to say?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and replied, ¡°Why not elder be a good samaritan till the end and bestow a little destiny onto me?¡± The old man before Zhou Yuan was obviously unfathomable. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimates, the old man¡¯s power had likely already reached an unimaginable level. At the very least, his father Zhou Qing, could not compare at all. Usually speaking, given Zhou Yuan¡¯s current status, he would not be able to come into contact with such an expert. Yet, since he had the fortune to meet this old man, Zhou Yuan naturally intended to make full use of this opportunity. This was also a kind of destiny. The old man in black released a chuckle when he heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words and said, ¡°Such a crafty kid, to think that you would be so greedy.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s keen senses could detect that there was no anger in the old man¡¯s words. Hence, he smiled and replied, ¡°Is junior¡¯s request not for the sake of better accomplishing the task elder has entrusted me with? Else if I really encounter some danger, with my small arms and legs, there will be nothing else I can do but die in front of big sis Yaoyao.¡± His seemingly pained appearance together with his immature face did seem somewhat amusing, causing Yaoyao to involuntarily bend over slightly as her eyes seemed to swirl in thought. This fellow was really interesting. Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun as her red lips parted slightly, ¡°Grandpa Hei, if you want him to protect me and not become a burden, I think it will be better to accept his request.¡± When Zhou Yuan heard this, he immediately gave her a look of gratitude. However, the girl remained expressionless as if she had not seen it. The old man gently stroked his beard as his eyes faintly flickered. He pondered in silence for some time, before softly sighing in the end. ¡°Yaoyao, you are right. If this kid is too weak, he will instead become an inconvenience to you.¡± The old man in black stared at Zhou Yuan with his seemingly bottomless eyes as he slowly said, ¡°However, my techniques are not to be passed on to an outsider.¡± Zhou Yuan was a smart lad. Upon hearing these words, he immediately went on his knees and respectfully said, ¡°Disciple Zhou Yuan greets master!¡± ¡°Heh, brat, you are indeed quick-witted.¡± The old man in black clicked his tongue in response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s swift and direct actions. The former had only showed a slight opening in his words, and this kid had straightaway acknowledged the old man as his master. As the saying went, when attacked with a stick, the snake would immediately slither up. This kid was truly skillful at catching an opportunity. The old man in black shook his head. Soon after, he sighed deeply and said, ¡°Our meeting here can also be considered destiny of sorts. Although you have come here for my techniques, I will still accept you as my disciple for the time being.¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed when he heard this and immediately bowed. The old man¡¯s eyes became a little gentler when he saw Zhou Yuan meticulously complete the traditional rites of a disciple and said, ¡°Since you are so willing, I cannot be stingy.¡± ¡°Now that your eight meridian channels have emerged, I will teach you a Qi drawing method.¡± During the Channel Opening stage, the body was incapable of storing Genesis Qi and thus unable to learn or use any real cultivation techniques. Hence, one could only learn a Qi drawing method. Only when all eight meridian channels were opened and one reached the Qi Nourishing stage would one be able to truly master and utilise cultivation techniques. A faint glow appeared at the old man¡¯s fingertip and there seemed to be tiny words flowing within it. Subsequently, he suddenly touched Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead. Boom! When the finger touched Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead, he immediately felt his head start to swell. Next, a huge amount of information poured in, causing him to become a little dizzy. However, the dizzy spell passed quickly and Zhou Yuan proceeded to savor the information that had appeared in his head. Qi drawing method, Dragon Breathing? This Qi drawing method was called Dragon Breathing, a name that sounded rather mighty. It was unknown how effective it would be for cultivation, but it should be rather extraordinary since it was from the old man in black. The old man withdrew his finger, stared at Zhou Yuan and smiled, ¡°I have seen the Genesis Runes inscribed on your body earlier, are you interested in this path?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and earnestly replied, ¡°The path of Genesis Runes is both broad and deep. It cannot be underestimated.¡± He had focused on Genesis Runes for the past two years and was faintly able to tell how formidable the essence of Genesis Runes was. The path of Genesis Runes was somewhat similar to the butterfly effect. Using a little power to construct mysterious runes would result in an extremely great force. It was a pity that Genesis Runes could not allow the body to undergo a metamorphosis. Moreover, due to its broadness and depth, one would have to invest a great deal of effort in order to attain some accomplishment in this path. Hence, the majority of Genesis Masters viewed it as a side path and did not bother with it too much. The old man in black nodded his head in approval when he heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. ¡°The people of the world who view Genesis Runes as a side path are ignorant. They dislike it because it is difficult to master, but what they do not know is that crux of the Dao of Genesis Runes is in the spirit. If mastered, it will complement the Dao of Genesis Masters.¡± Zhou Yuan felt a little proud while the old man in black talked about Genesis Runes. He knew in his heart that the old man likely had extraordinary attainment in this path. ¡°I can see that your spirit is full of vigour and is indeed rather suited to Genesis Runes. I will also teach you a spirit tempering method.¡± The old man in black laughed. In the next instant, a bright light suddenly flew out from his eyes and shot into Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. A loud sound suddenly boomed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head as if a great bell had been struck as countless ancient characters circulated in his pupils. In the end, they gradually quietened down as information started to flow in his mind. ¡®Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method¡¯ Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 10 Tutelage of Destiny The sound of a loud bell continued to echo in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head for quite some time before gradually fading away. Amidst this, Zhou Yuan could feel the spirit tempering method, ¡®Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method¡¯, being branded into his mind. However, this was not the time savour this new skill. Hence, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and respectfully bowed towards the smiling old man in black, ¡°Thank you for this technique master.¡± He could faintly feel that both the Qi drawing method and the spirit tempering method were no ordinary techniques. Although the old man before his eyes was mysterious, he had indeed bestowed a huge opportunity onto Zhou Yuan. The old man in black waved his hand. After some hesitation, he suddenly reached into his sleeve and retrieved a black foot-long brush. The black brush seemed to be made from bronze and was mottled with bits of coloring, as if it had been marked by the long passage of time. It gave off an antique aura. However, the black brush appeared to be rather dull and lacked the usual glossy luster as if it had lost its innate spirit. The old man in black seemed somewhat reluctant as he held the black brush, but in the end, he still offered it to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Let this be master¡¯s gift to you of our first meeting.¡± Zhou Yuan carefully accepted the black brush in a respectful manner. It felt rather weighty when it entered his hands. As he observed the ancient patterns on the brush, he could faintly feel a kind of formidable aura. Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°Is this a Genesis Rune Brush?¡± The old man in black replied, ¡°It is both a Genesis Rune Brush and a Genesis Weapon.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback, feeling a little confused. A Genesis Rune Brush was a unique medium for inscribing Genesis Runes, while a Genesis Weapon was used for battle. The two described completely different things. How could they both be used on a single object? Moreover, the black brush in his hand looked rather weak. How would it be used to hurt an enemy? ¡°Heh, looks like it¡¯s been underestimated.¡± The old man in black could not help but chuckle when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression. ¡°The name of this brush is Heavenly Yuan Brush. It was once a Sacred Genesis Weapon.¡± ¡°Sacred Genesis Weapon?!¡± Zhou Yuan gasped and dumbly stared at the mottled black brush in his hand with eyes filled with disbelief. In this world, Genesis Weapons were more or less divided into different grades, namely Normal, Black, Heaven and Sacred. According to what Zhou Yuan knew, the strongest Genesis Weapon of their Great Zhou royal clan was the Nine Flames Spear wielded by his father, and it was only an upper tier Black Genesis Weapon. The Sacred Genesis Weapons spoken of in legend possessed indescribable power. Power so great that it could burn mountains and evaporate the seas, a power that people both desired and feared. Was the seemingly powerless mottled black brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand really a Sacred Genesis Weapon? ¡°I said that it was once a Sacred Genesis Weapon.¡± The old man in black softly snorted before continuing, ¡°This Heavenly Yuan Brush has accompanied me in countless battles. In one of these battles, it was seriously damaged.¡± Only then did Zhou Yuan understand. It was a damaged Sacred Genesis Weapon. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression, the old man could not help but unhappily say, ¡°Little brat, do you really think that I would be so petty and give you a useless piece of rubbish? Although this Heavenly Yuan Brush was heavily damaged, it is after all a Sacred Genesis Weapon and still retains some remnant spiritual power. As long as you nourish it consistently, it might gradually recover.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Yuan was amazed. To think that this Sacred Genesis Weapon was still able to be saved. The old man in black pointed at the black brush and said, ¡°Do you see the nine runes on the brush?¡± Zhou Yuan lowered his head, only to discover the faint outline of nine ancient and complicated runes on the mottled black brush. They had been difficult to see because they were a little too faded. ¡°These nine runes represent the power of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. When the day comes that you are able to light all nine runes, the brush will recover its Sacred Genesis Weapon power.¡± ¡°How do I light them?¡± Zhou Yuan asked with interest. If he could help this Sacred Genesis Weapon regain its power, it would undoubtedly become a huge aid to himself. ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s simple. The Heavenly Yuan Brush has a spirit of its own. If you feed it the spirits of Genesis Beasts, it will gradually regain its power.¡± ¡°Of course, the higher the quality of the Genesis Beast spirit, the better the effect.¡± ¡°As for how the Heavenly Yuan Brush will become a weapon to do battle with others, you will naturally find out when you light the first rune.¡± The old man in black grinned as he explained. Although Zhou Yuan knew that the recovery of the Heavenly Yuan Brush to the Sacred Genesis Weapon level would surely not be simple, he still nodded in acknowledgement. The Heavenly Yuan Brush nimbly spun once at his fingertips as he smiled at the old man in black again and said, ¡°Many thanks to master for giving me this brush. There is one thing though, till now, this disciple has yet to know of master¡¯s name.¡± The old man in black smiled faintly when he heard this and replied, ¡°Cang Yuan. That is master¡¯s name. Master also has two other disciples, and they can be considered your senior brother disciples. If fate allows it in future, you might be able to meet them and if not, then let it be.¡± After Cang Yuan said these words, he shifted his attention away from Zhou Yuan, turning his head to look at the girl in green. The latter¡¯s pearly white teeth were gently biting into her moist lips, while her slightly lowered eyes contained some sadness of their imminent separation. She had lived here with Cang Yuan ever since she could remember, and he was undoubtedly her closest kin. Hence, she still felt rather sad despite her rather indifferent and aloof character. ¡°Aih, foolish girl. There is no such thing as a banquet that never ends.¡± Cang Yuan softly sighed. He was silent for some time, before he suddenly fished out a jade pendant from his clothes. The jade pendant glowed faintly, and there seemed to be a nine-petal fire lotus burning on it. Every petal was of a different color. ¡°Yaoyao, I know that there are many things that you want to ask me, but this is not the time for it. Take it. If there is a chance in future, you will perhaps come to understand.¡± ¡°Besides this, you must be very careful in the event that this jade pendant fire lotus starts to burn, because they will be about to find you!¡± Yaoyao urgently asked, ¡°Who are they? Why are they searching for me?¡± Her heart was full of questions. Who were they? Why was it that she had lived here alone with grandpa Hei as if they were hiding from something. Cang Yuan was silent. He did not reply Yaoyao¡¯s questions, but merely gently placed the jade pendant in her hands before looking towards Zhou Yuan and speaking in a deep voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you must remember this at all costs. Do not let Yaoyao undo the seal and use Genesis Qi. Else a calamity will surely arrive.¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly shaken and glanced at the faintly discernible rune of light between Yaoyao¡¯s brows. It turns out that it was a seal. So it was not that Yaoyao was unable to use Genesis Qi, but because she had been sealed... But why? Zhou Yuan¡¯s was rather puzzled. However, he sensibly chose to not probe any further. Both Cang Yuan and Yaoyao were undoubtedly full of mystery. There was likely some kind of story behind them. In addition, given his current capabilities, he still did not have the qualifications to know such a story. Zhou Yuan earnestly replied. ¡°Don¡¯t worry master, I will remember.¡± Cang Yuan nodded before continuing, ¡°You can seek out Yaoyao if you encounter any problems in your training in future. After following me for so many years, she has long since learnt everything I know. But of course, whether you will recieve help or not will depend on her mood.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes seem to brighten slightly as he looked towards the big sis in green. He had originally been worried about hiccups in his cultivation due to being alone, and would never have anticipated that this big sis had concealed herself so deeply. Looks like he would need to curry favor with her in future. However, the big sis in green was still immersed in her sadness and did not pay any attention to him. ¡°Both of you should go.¡± Cang Yuan patted the girl¡¯s tiny hands as he slowly said. ¡°Now?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. Was this not a little too quick? ¡°Leave now!¡± There was an additional trace of sternness in Cang Yuan¡¯s voice. Zhou Yuan did not say anything else. He could feel that Cang Yuan was chasing them away and it was likely that something was about to happen here. Cang Yuan waved his sleeve and dust started to rise from the ground in front of the cottage as ancient runes swiftly followed. If one took a closer look, one would discover that these were profound and mysterious runes. These runes were exactly the same as the runes on the stone platform from which Zhou Yuan had arrived from. Zhou Yuan saw the look in Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes and swiftly walked forward into the array formed by the runes. Meanwhile, the girl in green hugged the little creature called Tuntun while she blankly stared at Cang Yuan. ¡°Go, there may perhaps still be a day where we will meet again in future.¡± Cang Yuan waved his hand. The girl in green¡¯s eyes were slightly tinged with red, but she did not break out into tears in the end. Instead, she bowed deeply to Cang Yuan before walking into the array and stood beside Zhou Yuan. Cang Yuan¡¯s finger immediately jabbed at the air when he saw this. Light exploded from the runes and coverged together, swiftly enveloping both Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. ¡°Zhou Yuan, remember the promise you made to master, you must protect her!¡± Light flooded the eyes. When space began to distort, Zhou Yuan heard Cang Yuan¡¯s deep voice, a voice that seemed to contain a slightly pleading tone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry master! Since I have undertaken your teachings, I will naturally protect her!¡± Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and uttered in his heart. Light blossomed before the cottage as a gale erupted. In the next instant, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao vanished into thin air, and only the flickering runes remained. The runes continued to flicker for some time before being thoroughly extinguished, leaving no traces behind. Cang Yuan gazed at the spot where the two had disappeared with some melonchany in his eyes as he softly mumbled, ¡°Zhou clan¡­ it is indeed as that old fellow said, I was still able to take another disciple. However, what the future holds will depend on his luck and destiny.¡± He shook his head as he collected himself, slowly laying back on the chair as he gently started to rock back and forth. The entire place was quiet and peaceful. It was unknown how long this peace lasted when Cang Yuan suddenly opened his tightly shut eyes and indifferently stared at the empty space. Rumble! A wild clap of thunder suddenly boomed across the area. It seemed as if lightning was pouring down in the distant sky above, ripping open this domain in an extremely barbaric manner. The ground started to collapse as patches of forests fell. ¡°So it has still come in the end.¡± Cang Yuan watched the devastation, but his aged face remained expressionless as he mumbled to himself. ¡°Oh well, these old bones of mine are about to become rusty after recuperating for so many years, it is indeed time for some exercise¡­¡± Cang Yuan grinned before slowly standing up from his chair. Cang Yuan appeared hunchback, but the moment he stood up, his black robes slowly began to flutter as an indescribably terrifying aura completely awakened like an angry dragon being roused from a deep sleep. Lightning seemed to cover the entire sky as it poured down, and three figures wrapped in lightning slowly descended from within. When they appeared, three frightening auras unfurled from their bodies and engulfed the land as if they were high ranking gods. Their ice-cold gazes were thrown towards Cang Yuan¡¯s far away body. ¡°Hehe, to think that the almighty emperor Hei will hide like a rat for so many years. Truly a tale that brings tears to the eye¡­¡± An emotionless voice descended from the heavens. As it spread, the domain began to show signs of rapidly falling apart. ¡°Hand her over! Or this place will become your grave today!¡± A mocking smile formed on Cang Yuan¡¯s face when he heard the cold voice, and a thunderous laughter echoed in response. ¡°Haha, come, come, come. I really want to see exactly whose grave this place will be today!¡± Cang Yuan took a step forward and his clothes immediately disintegrated, revealing a thin and withered body. This body was inscribed with numerous complicated ancient runes, every rune pulsing with terrible power. Buzz! Blinding light erupted from the runes at this moment. The light was akin to the steadily rising scorching sun, while Cang Yuan¡¯s originally withered body suddenly started to swell. In the short span of several breaths, a giant now towered on the ground as a torrential and tyrannical aura unfurled. He roared at the heavens, the wave of sound devastating the surroundings. In the next instance, his foot stamped on the ground and a titanic body shot upwards, slamming into the endless sea of lightning that descended from the sky with a loud bang. Boom boom boom! It was at this very moment that the entire domain started to fall apart. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 11 King Qi’s Appetite Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 12 Genesis Food The atmosphere in the inner palace was somewhat stifling. Zhou Qing¡¯s expression was dark while murder surged in his eyes. It was clear that he was now full of killing intent due to king Qi¡¯s actions. However, Zhou Qing ultimately gritted his teeth and restraint his killing intent. This was because the current king Qi was also very powerful. Moreover, the Great Wu Empire secretly supported him. If Zhou Qing was to openly declare war, even if he won, their Great Zhou¡¯s many years of recovery would be wasted. When that happened, the internal troubles and outside hostility facing Great Zhou would cause it to be wiped out. King Qi needed to be eliminated, but this had to be done step by step. The current Great Zhou could not afford too much turmoil. Zhou Qing deeply breathed in and slowly said, ¡°There is still half a year to the class ranking exam. Who has the best chance of obtaining the top rank this time?¡± Chu Tianyang was silent for a while before he replied, ¡°There are indeed some pretty good saplings amongst this batch of students, but I¡¯m afraid that the most outstanding one is B class¡¯ Qi Yue. He has already opened his sixth meridian channel.¡± ¡°Qi Yue¡­¡± It was impossible to tell whether Zhou Qing was angry or happy as he said in a low voice, ¡°King Qi¡¯s two sons are truly talented.¡± Qi Yue was the second of king Qi¡¯s two sons. ¡°So it looks like first place will land in Qi Yue¡¯s hands?¡± Chu Tianyang mumbled to himself a little after hearing this before he replied, ¡°That might not be the case. Our Great Zhou Institute still has a genius that is even more outstanding than Qi Yue. If she enters the A class, there might be a possibility of contesting against Qi Yue half a year later.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Qing was slightly taken aback. A student that was even more talented than Qi Yue in the Great Zhou Institute? Chu Tianyang chuckled before looking to Zhou Yuan as he grinned and said, ¡°Could your majesty have forgotten his highness little girlfriend, Su Youwei?¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat embarrassed by Chu Tianyang¡¯s teasing laughter. The former¡¯s face was slightly red as he replied, ¡°Youwei is a friend, not a girlfriend!¡± Zhou Qing also understood at this moment and suddenly said, ¡°You mean the little lass that Yuan¡¯er recommended into the institute right?¡± Chu Tianyang nodded and said, ¡°Yes, she is called Su Youwei. However, she has already opened her third meridian channel. Although she entered the institute a little later than usual, she will surely be able to take one of the top spots in this year''s newcomer exam.¡± Zhou Qing exclaimed in surprise. ¡°Already opened her third meridian channel?¡± This speed was indeed rather quick. At this rate, she might open all eight meridian channels in a year and reach the Qi Nourishing stage. The little lass called Su Youwei was indeed rather talented and her prospects practically limitless. ¡°Looks like Yuan¡¯er has unearthed a genius for Great Zhou.¡± Zhou Qing smiled at Zhou Yuan. Chu Tianyang also smiled. Soon after however, he said in a somewhat worried manner, ¡°But according to the information I have gathered, Qi Yue has come into contact with Su Youwei in hopes of drawing her over to their side. If he succeeds, I¡¯m afraid that Su Youwei will join the B class after the newcomer exam.¡± He then looked towards Zhou Yuan as he smiled and said, ¡°Hence, another reason why I came here was to ask for your highness help. At the minimum, I hope that you can help our A class get a stable hold on Su Youwei.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly became a little more imposing upon hearing this. To think that Qi Yue would actually dare to target Youwei. Zhou Yuan fairly trusted Su Youwei, and felt that Qi Yue could not possibly entice her to their side, but he was worried that Qi Yue would try to hinder her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry your highness, I have long since sent people to secretly protect Su Youwei. She will not be hurt.¡± Said Chu Tianyang with a smile as if he knew what Zhou Yuan was thinking. Only then did Zhou Yuan breath a small sigh of relief before he lightly nodded. ¡°Headmaster also does not need to worry. After the newcomer exam, Su Youwei and I will join the A class.¡± Only then did Chu Tianyang nod as he smiled and said, ¡°As long as your highness can bring Su Youwei into the A class, I will bend the rules and also allow your highness in.¡± According to the rules, only the top ten individuals had the qualifications to enter the A class. Despite Zhou Yuan¡¯s bit of skill in Genesis Runes, it was likely that he would still be unable to rank amongst the top ten given that he had yet to open even a single meridian channel. Thus, from Chu Tianyang¡¯s point of view, Zhou Yuan needed certain special procedures in order to enter the A class. Zhou Qing could not help but laugh as he remarked, ¡°To make a stickler to the rules like you make such a concession, looks like you think very highly of Su Youwei.¡± Zhou Yuan also smiled as he looked at Chu Tianyang. ¡°It is Youwei¡¯s fortune to be so highly appraised by headmaster. As for me, there is no need to make things difficult for headmaster with regards to opening a backdoor for me. I will do my best to take one of the top ten spots in the newcomer exam.¡± If it was before, where he was unable to open his meridian channels, Zhou Yuan would perhaps have no better option than to rely on Genesis Runes. But now that his eight meridian channels had appeared, he could formally begin his channel opening training and was naturally no longer worried that he would not be able to catch up to those people. Chu Tianyang was under the impression that the young Zhou Yuan wanted to maintain his dignity when he heard this reply. Hence, Chu Tianyang planned to persuade the latter again. ¡°Hehe, let him try.¡± Zhou Qing waved his hand at Chu Tianyang while chuckling. ¡°Yuan¡¯er¡¯s eight meridian channels have emerged and can formally begin his cultivation training.¡± Chu Tianyang was initially stunned by these words. Happiness involuntarily surged on his face as he cupped his fists together and said, ¡°So that¡¯s why. Then I¡¯ll have to congratulate your majesty and your highness.¡± It was only now that he understood why Zhou Qing was so cheerful today. The cultivation problem that had plagued Zhou Yuan for many years had finally been resolved. ¡°My A class awaits your highness¡¯ grand arrival. Hehe, your highness will perhaps even be able to achieve some glory for my A class in the class ranking exam in half a year.¡± Of course, these words of his were mostly flattery. After all, from his point of view, although Zhou Yuan was able to begin channel opening cultivation, his starting point was still rather late compared to others. At the very least, it was likely that he would not be able to contest against the Great Zhou Institute¡¯s top students in the a short period of half a year.¡± Chu Tianyang was clearly much more at ease after confirming the matter of Su Youwei. After discussing some matters with Zhou Qing, the former bid his goodbyes and left. Seeing that Chu Tianyang had left, Zhou Qing turned to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Now that your eight meridian channels have appeared, prepare to begin your training tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Though his thin and immature face was calm, his eyes burned with impatience. He could not wait to get started. ... The next day. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao carrying Tuntun sat on the left side of a table, while Zhou Qing and Qin Yu sat on the right. On the table was a porcelain bowl the size of a washbasin. It was filled with a brown soup-like liquid which faintly glimmered with small specks of light. A strong fragrance rose from the bowl and a single breath of it made one¡¯s face flush red. Zhou Qing smiled at Zhou Yuan and explained, ¡°This is the Nine Beast Soup and is made from nine types of tier 1 Genesis Beasts. The ingredients neutralize each other and it is a great supplement to a beginner practitioner like yourself. The past you was unable to open your meridian channels and thus could not drink this as your body might not be able to take it. But now, you can.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He knew that this Nine Beast Soup was their royal clan¡¯s secret recipe and a single bowl was worth a fortune. Ordinary clans would likely not be able to afford it even with half a year of earnings. This was the so-called cultivation resource. ¡°Besides this, you shall no longer eat normal rice.¡± With a wave of Zhou Qing¡¯s hand, a servant girl brought in a silver bowl. It was a bowl of rice. However, this rice was sparkled like crystal. Every grain was equally plump, while mystical patterns were barely discernible on the each one. The rice emitted extremely gentle Genesis Qi undulations. ¡°This is the Mysterious Crystal Rice, a grade 2 Genesis Food. It contains extremely pure and gentle Genesis Qi that is easy to absorb. If eaten in the long run, it will help speed up the rate of opening one¡¯s meridian channels.¡± ¡°So this is Mysterious Crystal Rice¡­¡± Zhou Yuan curiously observed the bowl of crystal-like rice. He had long heard of this dish because it was practically considered Great Zhou¡¯s strategic resource. The medicinal effect of this Mysterious Crystal Rice was was perhaps incomparable to the earlier Nine Beast Soup. However, the Mysterious Crystal Rice had the advantage of being gentle in nature and consuming it in the long run would better the quality of one¡¯s body, hence speeding up the rate of channel opening. Thus, the cultivation method for the Mysterious Crystal Rice was controlled by the royal clan and was used to both reward those who did good service and win over the hearts of the people. Hence, though it was only a grade 2 Genesis Food, due to certain special reasons, its true value was difficult to put in words. Zhou Qing could not help but chuckle as he watched the excited Zhou Yuan. Zhou Qing knew that the Zhou Yuan of the past coveted this Mysterious Crystal Rice, but because his eight meridian channels had never appeared, he was unable to consume and utilise it. ¡°Our Great Zhou royal storage room originally had an extremely potent grade 4 Genesis Food, ¡®Blood Rain-Dragon Barley¡¯. Long term consumption would strengthen one¡¯s physical body and cause Blood Rain-Dragon scales to grow. These scales possess great defensive power.¡± Said Zhou Qing with a sigh. ¡°Grade 4 Genesis Food, Blood Rain-Dragon Barley?¡± Zhou Yuan licked his lips. With the knowledge of how awesome the grade 2 Mysterious Crystal Rice was already, just how crazy would that grade 4 Blood Rain-Dragon Barley be? Zhou Qing nodded in acknowledgement. Soon after however, his expression dimmed as he said, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that these strategic treasures of our Great Zhou royal storage were taken by king Wu during the chaos caused by Great Wu back then.¡± Zhou Yuan was initially stunned before he involuntarily gritted his teeth. This wretched king Wu had really cleaned out the treasures that originally belonged to Great Zhou. Zhou Qing regained control of his feelings and said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°Eat these first then prepare to start training.¡± Zhou Yuan forcefully nodded. Although king Wu was loathsome, what Zhou Yuan needed to do now was to eat and work hard in his cultivation. Only when he became strong would he be able to take back what Great Zhou had lost. A bowl of Nine Beast Soup and Mysterious Crystal Rice were similarly placed in front of Yaoyao. ¡°Yaoyao, you can try if these are to your liking. If you like them, they will be also be prepared for you in future.¡± Qin Yu smiled warmly as she looked at Yaoyao. Yaoyao could feel Qin Yu¡¯s kindness and lightly nodded in response before she drank a mouthful of Nine Beast Soup. However, it seemed that she was not too interested in the highly nutritious beast soup but instead lifted the bowl of Mysterious Crystal Rice and ate one small mouthful at a time. ¡°Woo.¡± Tuntun anxiously gazed at her from her lap, wagging its tail as it emitted pitiful-sounding ¡®woo woo¡¯ noises. Yaoyao glanced at it and brought the Nine Beast Soup over to it after some thought. Upon seeing this, Zhou Qing smiled and said, ¡°Eh Yaoyao. The medicinal properties of the Nine Beast Soup is too strong. Ordinary pets cannot drink it¡­¡± Ao! However, before he could finish his sentence, Tuntun had already widened its mouth and swallowed the soup together with the bowl in a single gulp. After wolfing down the Nine Beast Soup, Tuntun let out a belch. Its patted its stomach with its paw while its eyes narrowed as if it was not sufficient. Zhou Qing was astonished as he looked at the perfectly fine Tuntun. ¡°Father, Tuntun is a special creature.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but grin after seeing this scene. Tuntun could easily finish off a boulder in two to three bites, let alone a bowl of Nine Beast Soup. Zhou Qing could only show a forced smile as he nodded before he picked up a jade bottle at his side and pour himself a cup of jadeite-color alcohol, causing the strong fragrance of alcohol to spread. The smell of alcohol spread, causing the eyebrows of the silently eating Yaoyao to suddenly raise slightly as her clear and bright eyes looked towards Zhou Qing. ¡°May I have some of that?¡± Zhou Yuan and Qin Yu stared at Yaoyao in shock. It was the first time that a strong look of desire had appeared on her usually emotionless face. Zhou Qing was also taken aback. In particular, he felt even more awkward when he saw the gaze of reproach Qin Yu threw at him for absentmindedly drinking in front of the children as he said, ¡°This is Jadeite Brew. It is a strong alcoholic drink and not suitable for a young lady.¡± However, Yaoyao continued to stare at him with bright and clear eyes, causing Zhou Qing to let out a bitter laugh before he signalled for a servant girl to place a bottle of Jadeite Brew in front of Yaoyao. Yaoyao raised the wine bottle and tilted her head slightly, revealing slender swan-white neck, before she directly took a huge mouthful of the alcohol. A crimson flush immediately arose on her pretty jade-like face. ¡°Good.¡± Yaoyao released a soft laughter, a laughter akin to the chime of a silver bell. Qin Yu glared at Zhou Qing, causing him to rub his nose and drink his alcohol in a slightly depressed manner. He would never have imagined that this mysterious girl, who always wore an uninterested look, would be fond of drinking. By the side, Zhou Yuan seemed to be full of interest. When Yaoyao drank, she undoubtedly appeared even more breathtaking and full of life. After downing an entire bottle of Jadeite Brew, Yaoyao¡¯s clear eyes had become a little more watery. With a soft chuckle, she reached into her sleeve as a flash of light shot out and landed before Qin Yu. Yaoyao smiled and said, ¡°Auntie Qin, I can tell that your weak aura is most probably due to poor health. This little gift shall be my payment for the alcohol.¡± The light gradually receded and transformed into a green palm-sized lotus. Eight lotus seeds flickered with green light within the flower like a jade masterpiece. ¡°This is?¡± Qin Yu blankly gazed at the green lotus. Zhou Qing¡¯s expression subconsciously changed as he said in astonishment, ¡°Those are Green Jade Lotus Seeds, a rare Genesis resource. It has lifeforce nursing properties and also moisturizes the body.¡± With a complicated expression, Zhou Qing continued, ¡°This item is enormously beneficial to you. Your body is too weak and these Green Jade Lotus Seeds will be able to help you stop the loss of life energy.¡± These Green Jade Lotus Seeds were very rare and an uncommon sight even in their Great Zhou royal treasury. Qin Yu hurriedly shook her head upon hearing this. ¡°Yaoyao, a bottle of Jadeite Brew is not worth so much.¡± Yaoyao merely pursed her lips and smiled before carrying Tuntun and leisurely walking away, leaving three wide-eyed people at the table. Zhou Yuan scratched his head and said, ¡°Accept it mother, we will find an opportunity to repay big sister Yaoyao in future.¡± He was rather grateful towards this act of Yaoyao¡¯s. After all, he knew that the reason why Qin Yu¡¯s body was so weak was completely because of him. Qin Yu exchanged a look with Zhou Qing, only to see a nod from the latter. She became a little more fond of the girl. Zhou Yuan smiled before lifting the bowl of Nine Beast Soup and sending it straight towards his mouth. ¡®Gulp gulp¡¯. His throat continuously swallowed as he drained the entire bowl. Having finished the Nine Beast Soup, he lifted the bowl of Mysterious Crystal Rice and swallowed each mouthful after two to three rounds of chewing. ¡°Delicious!¡± Praised Zhou Yuan. This Mysterious Crystal Rice was full, soft and moist enough. Every grain was very savory. Phew. After several minutes, Zhou Yuan put down the bowl and let out a drawn out breath. The breath of air floated in front of him like white fog as he face flushed red. His body felt like a stove, a burning sensation circulating all over within it. As he felt the burning sensation in his body, Zhou Yuan licked his lips while his eyes flooded with excitement. He was finally going to formally begin his training! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 13 Unblocking the Meridian Channels Hundreds of flowers contested with their fragrances in the flower park where a stone pavillion stood and a little stream flowed. It was a refreshing and serene place. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were closed as he sat inside the stone pavilion while instructions flowed in his mind. It was the Qi drawing method, ¡®Dragon Breathing¡¯, that Cang Yuan had imparted to him previously. One was unable to practice cultivation techniques during the Channel Opening stage, and could only utilise Qi drawing methods to draw the natural Genesis Qi of the land into the body and attack the sealed eight meridian channels to open them bit by bit. Hence, there was no need to doubt the importance of a Qi drawing method to one at the Channel Opening stage. A high class Qi drawing method would allow a Channel Opening stage practitioner to achieve better results with less effort. There were also Qi drawing methods in the royal treasury. However, after Zhou Yuan gave it some consideration, he still chose Cang Yuan¡¯s ¡®Dragon Breathing¡¯. After all, Cang Yuan was an unfathomable individual and the techniques that he imparted were likely extraordinary. ¡°Like its namesake, Dragon Breathing mimics the breathing of a dragon. Each breath has the power to extinguish wind and clouds.¡± ¡°Extreme skill and practice is needed for a human to imitate a dragon¡¯s breathing. Only when one is able to achieve resonance of the flesh and blood and release a dragon roar would one be able to absorb Genesis Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan meticulously savoured the ¡®Dragon Breathing method¡¯ and eventually found the most important instructions hidden within it. ¡°Ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon.¡± Toughening the inner flesh was required for a human to mimic a dragon¡¯s breathing, and this hidden ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon was the most important piece. One by one, unusual forms flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. There were a total of ninety eight strange forms. Together, they faintly resembled a frolicking dragon. Zhou Yuan engraved these movements in his heart before walking out of the stone pavilion. He then lifted his arms started to slowly momic the first form. His first round of practice undoubtedly appeared rather rough. By the time Zhou Yuan slowly completed all ninety eight actions, he was already drenched in sweat and his body felt like a burning stove. However, what caused Zhou Yuan to frown slightly was that although his body was burning after completing all ninety eight movements, he did not absorb even the tiniest bit of Genesis Qi. ¡°It feels as if I¡¯m still lacking a little something.¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself before wiping his sweat and continuing his practice of the frolicking dragon forms. An incense stick of time later, Zhou Yuan was dripping with sweat as he finally stopped. He had completed three whole cycles. However, he had yet to absorb any Genesis Qi, causing him to feel as if he had been practising a fake technique. ¡°It is indeed a little inconvenient to fumble about on my own without a master¡¯s guidance.¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head. Looks like he needed to practice a few more times to try and grasp its essence. Just as Zhou Yuan was planning to continue, he suddenly saw a beautiful figure standing in the flower park from the corner of his eye. His eyes immediately brightened a little as he smiled and headed over. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, you¡¯ve come at the right time. I hope to seek some guidance from you.¡± The beautiful figure was naturally Yaoyao. Upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice, she crooked her head and looked at him while carrying Tuntun in her arms. Subsequently, a slight smile was revealed on her exquisite and fair face as she extended five slender fingers. ¡°Guarantee that I will be given five bottles of Jadeite Brew daily and I will teach you.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Soon after, his eyebrows furrowed as he replied, ¡°Five bottles is too many. That alcohol is too fierce in nature and will harm your body. I can only give you one bottle a day.¡± Yaoyao was about to speak again. ¡°Any more will be impossible, if not I will go mull over it myself.¡± However, Zhou Yuan was firm. If Cang Yuan found out that Yaoyao became a heavy drinker mere days after following Zhou Yuan, the former would likely kick Zhou Yuan out from his discipleship in rage. Yaoyao could only wrinkle her nose and let out a soft snort after seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s resolve before she threw Tuntun forward. ¡°Take a good look.¡± ¡°What do I look at?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan in bewilderment. Yaoyao did not seem to have any intentions of showing him the frolicking dragon forms. Yaoyao pointed to the ground at Tuntun and said in a slightly unhappy manner, ¡°Look at it!¡± The corner¡¯s of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched for a moment. However, before he could speak, his pupils abruptly shrank, his face looking as if he had seen a ghost. On the ground, the short and stout Tuntun had suddenly stood up on two legs and started to do a series of profound actions. It was the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon. ¡°This¡­ Tuntun can learn the frolicking dragon forms?!¡± Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s stupefied gaze, Tuntun smoothly completed all ninety eight movements. After the final action was done, Tuntun¡¯s body suddenly jolted as it opened its mouth wide and the faint roar of a dragon could be heard. Huuhuu! Genesis Qi surged over from the surroundings and transformed into a white line that poured into Tuntun¡¯s mouth. After gulping down the vigorous Genesis Qi, Tuntun patted its stomach in satisfiction and turned its head to look at the dumbstruck Zhou Yuan as it disdainfully rolled its eyes. Zhou Yuan gradually came to his senses at this moment and oddly stared at the little fellow. Exactly what kind of Genesis Beast was Tuntun? To think that it would actually be able to learn human techniques. ¡°Have you understood?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s airy voice could be heard. Zhou Yuan pushed down the shock in his heart and muttered to himself for a while. A long time later, he slowly said, ¡°It¡¯s breathing! To master the frolicking dragon forms, one needs to maintain the tempo of one¡¯s breathing and allow one¡¯s body and breathing to resonate.¡± ¡°Dragon Breathing imitates the breathing of a real dragon. A dragon¡¯s breathing is drawn-out and unbroken, Tuntun¡¯s every action began with inhalation and ends with exhalation. Only when both are in sync will Dragon Breathing be triggered.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s eyes flashed when she heard this as she stared in astonishment at Zhou Yuan. A rare sigh of praise was emitted as she said, ¡°Your comprehension ability is not bad.¡± To realise the essence after merely watching Tuntun complete a set of frolicking dragon forms. It was no wonder that he had caught grandpa Hei¡¯s eye. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and recalled the rhythm of Tuntun¡¯s breathing from before. A long while later, his legs slowly stretched out as his fists were lifted and he once again started to perform the first action of the dragon frolicking forms. A youngster¡¯s body swayed in the flower park. His chest heaved up and down as he breathing became drawn-out. From a distance, it looked as if a young dragon was stretching its body. The ninety eight movements were tightly linked together, while Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes seemed to grow increasingly brighter. He could feel the flesh and bones inside his body start to vibrate at this moment. A breath climbed up along his flesh before finally dashing up his throat. With this final movement, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face flushed red as his tightly shut mouth abruptly opened. Roar! A faint dragon roar emerged through his throat from within his body. At the same time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest sunk inwards. Like a giant dragon breathing in water, the Genesis Qi in the flower park was drawn towards him, directly turning into a white line that could be seen with the naked eye, as it shot into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body with a single gulp. This influx of a single mouthful of Genesi Qi immediately caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin to become scalding hot. The Genesis Qi from the consumption of the Nine Beast Soup and Mysterious Crystal Rice from before also rose at this moment and joined the pure Genesis Qi that had entered his body. Like a wave, the newly merged Genesis Qi surged towards his first meridian channel. The rush of Genesis Qi towards the sealed first channel caused intense pain to emerge, resulting in a muffled groan from Zhou Yuan. However, he fiercely gritted his teeth, enduring the intense pain as he controlled waves of Genesis Qi and continually attacked the sealed first meridian channel. Genesis Qi surged towards the first meridian channel in waves. This lasted for half an incense stick of time before it finally ended due to the exhaustion of Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was covered in sweat, but his eyes were filled with surprise as he said, ¡°What a formidable technique.¡± Although he had never learnt any other Qi drawing methods, he knew that the higher the quality of a Qi drawing method, the more abundant and powerful the Genesis Qi drawn into the body. According to his knowledge, the Genesis Qi gathered by the ¡®Yuan Strengthening Method¡¯ in their royal treasury could only last for half a finger-sized incense stick of time before being completely used up. On the other hand, the Genesis Qi from the Dragon Breathing from before had lasted half a regular incense stick of time. This was almost ten times more than the Yuan Strengthening Method. Although it was true that the Nine Beast Soup and Mysterious Crystal Rice had played a part, this result was enough to show how powerful the Dragon Breathing method was. ¡°You are only at the elementary stage of the Dragon Breathing method. If you become highly proficient, you will no longer need the aid of the frolicking dragon forms. When that time comes, you will have already become capable of doing it on instinct. Even if you do not activate Dragon Breathing, you will be able to use Dragon Breathing to take in the Genesis Qi of the land at any time.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s airy voice sounded from the side. Zhou Yuan was emotionally moved. To transform ordinary breathing into dragon breathing and endlessly take in Genesis Qi. Given this effectiveness, just how crazy would that be? ¡°I managed to unblock a tiny portion of my first meridian when I attacked my meridian channels for the first time earlier. At this rate, I will completely open my first meridian channel in less than a month.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s fists were tightly clenched while his heart seemed to surge. This efficiency was thanks to the Dragon Breathing. Of course, the Nine Beast Soup and Mysterious Crystal Rice also contributed a little. ¡°Time to continue training!¡± After some rest, Zhou Yuan intended to begin practicing the frolicking dragon forms once again but was stopped by Yaoyao. The latter¡¯s eyes scanned him once as she said in a cool voice, ¡°You¡¯re really out of your mind. Attacking one¡¯s channels will damage them, thus most people only attempt it once a day. They must wait till their channels recover on the second day before continuing to unblock the channels. If not, they will end up injuring the meridian channels.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. It was not that he was unaware of this but¡­ He felt the first meridian channel inside his body and hesitated for a moment before he said, ¡°But I feel that my meridian channel can still take it.¡± Now it was Yaoyao¡¯s turn to be stunned. Her watery eyes stared at Zhou Yuan in doubt as she said, ¡°Is that true?¡± Zhou Yuan earnestly nodded. Upon seeing this, Yaoyao pondered a little before she said, ¡°Could it be because you are someone born with naturally open meridian channels. It is possible that although they were sealed up again, your meridian channels are still much sturdier than an ordinary beginner. ¡°Then try again.¡± Yaoyao placed her hands behind her back. With her clothes wrapped around her lovely figure, this posture of hers propped up her chest slightly, revealing a very enticing sight. However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to continue looking because Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes were currently staring at him. ¡°I do want to see exactly how many times you will be able to attack your meridian channel.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 14 Spiri Under the attention of Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body started to move once again as the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon were unhurriedly performed. It was done in a much more experienced manner this time, and felt a little more natural with his now coordinated breathing. Roar! As the final action was done, Zhou Yuan once again opened his mouth as a faint dragon roar echoed from within his body. His body immediately jerked while Genesis Qi converged towards him, transforming into a white stream that was swallowed by Zhou Yuan with a single gulp. Rumble! As Genesis Qi entered, his body felt like a burning stove. With a thought from Zhou Yuan, the Genesis Qi once again began to surge towards the first meridian channel in waves. This lasted for another half an incense stick of time. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body glowed with red light as a wave of heat evaporated his sweat. He could feel the slightly more loosened first meridian channel and a smile emerged from the corners of his lips. After some rest, he started to do the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon again under Yaoyao¡¯s watching eyes. In the following period of time, two faint dragon roars sounded in succession. This meant that Zhou Yuan had attacked his channels twice more. In addition to the previous two times, the total number had reached four! Four sets of meridian channel unblocking! An ordinary practitioner that had yet to open his first meridian channel could only attempt to unblock his meridian channels once a day before it would become somewhat unbearable to continue. Yet, Zhou Yuan had done it four times. Just how tough were these meridian channels of his? As she stood by the side, ripples finally emerged in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. However, Zhou Yuan was currently in no mood to pay any attention to Yaoyao¡¯s expression. His burning body was seated on the floor and he could feel a faint piercing pain pulsing from the meridian channels in his body. This showed that his meridian channels were about to reach their limits after four sets. A smile involuntarily formed on his lips as he felt his first meridian channel. The originally sealed channel had clearly loosened even more after the fourth set. ¡°At this rate, I might not even need a month. In ten days, I will be able to completely unblock my first meridian channel!¡± Even with his mental fortitude, Zhou Yuan could not help but become rather emotional when he thought of this. Cang Yuan had said back then that opening his chanels again would be even more difficult than normal, so he had been prepared to wait several months before opening his first channel. Yet who could have expected that the toughness of his meridian channels and the might of the Dragon Breathing technique would shorten this time to such an extent. Back then, Su Youwei had used a month to open her first meridian channel, an achievement that made her the fastest channel opener in the Great Zhou Institute. Just imagine what level his pace of ten day would be. Of course, Zhou Yuan understood that Su Youwei¡¯s achievement was solidly based on her own talent and hardwork. After all, she had neither a high class Qi drawing method, Nine Beast Soup nor Mysterious Crystal Rice. Hence, it was really difficult to say who was better. However, one point was certain. Due to the fact that it was his second time opening his meridian channels, Zhou Yuan would be surely be more powerful than Su Youwei when she had opened her first meridian channel. As for how much stronger, he could only test it when the time came. ¡°Looks like even grandpa Hei has underestimated a second-time channel opener like you.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s airy voice was tinged with a sliver of shock. Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Someone as pitiful as myself is probably quite rare.¡± Yaoyao nodded in acknowledgement when she heard this as a faint smile started to show it self on her face. ¡°That is true. Born with naturally open meridian channels yet having them sealed later on. Such a situation is indeed very rare.¡± ¡°Ch ch.¡± On the ground, Tuntun pointed at Zhou Yuan with mockery in its eyes. Having been mocked by a little creature, Zhou Yuan grinded his teeth, grabbed a stone and threw it at Tuntun. Ao! However, Tuntun ate the stone in a single gulp before giving a provocative and menacing look to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan laughed. His eyes seemed to turn in thought as he fished out a piece of dried meat from his clothes. It was Genesis Beast meat that had been roasted with the utmost care and was used to recover his energy. Tuntun¡¯s eyes were immediately glued to the piece of dried meat the moment it appeared. Its pink tongue peeked out while saliva dripped from the tip. ¡°Hehe.¡± Zhou Yuan evilly chuckled as he stuffed the meat in his mouth and started chewing. *Little bastard, you dare to fight me.* Ao ao! Tuntun was infuriated upon seeing this and released a few barks. While Yaoyao watched Zhou Yuan tease Tuntun, she suddenly said, ¡°If it really becomes angry, it will even eat a human. Do you plan on seeing what the inside of its stomach looks like? I for one have never seen anything come out alive from Tuntun¡¯s stomach.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s chewing mouth suddenly froze. He carefully observed the now erect-tailed Tuntun that was glaring at him before looking at Yaoyao with a forced smile. ¡°You will stop it, right?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips curved slightly as she seemingly smiled and replied, ¡°Perhaps.¡± ¡°You¡¯re good!¡± Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and immediately took out all of the Genesis Beast dried meat he had on him. With a smile plastered across his face, he offered them to Tuntun and said, ¡°Come on, feel free to eat till you¡¯re full!¡± Tuntun instantly pounced towards Zhou Yuan. It pulled all of the meat into its mouth with a single swipe of its tongue and started chewing furiously. However, it looked as if it was very satisfied with the taste as its tail was happily wagging from side to side. After devouring the dried meat, Tuntun seemed to find Zhou Yuan a little more pleasing to the eye. It stood up and lightly patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder with a paw, as if saying ¡®you¡¯ve done a good job¡¯... Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched a little. This little bastard was practically human. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, exactly what rank Genesis Beast is Tuntun?¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and asked in curiosity. He had never seen such an intelligent Genesis Beast. The origins of this seemingly little-dog-like Tuntun were surely extraordinary. Yaoyao seemed to mull about it for a while, before ultimately shaking her head. ¡°I too do not know. Tuntun has been at my side ever since I can remember. However, grandpa Hei has said before that if Tuntun fully matures, there will be practically nothing in this world that it cannot eat.¡± Zhou Yuan inwardly wet his lips. To think that Cang Yuan had given such a high evaluation of Tuntun. Looks like this little bastard was really not simple at all... ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, master said before that you are pretty skilled in Genesis Runes?¡± Zhou Yuan pushed Tuntun¡¯s paw away from his shoulder before looking up at Yaoayo with a smile. Yaoyao¡¯s long shapely eyebrows raised slightly as she replied, ¡°You want to learn Genesis Runes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve always been learning Genesis Runes. After all, if I was really unable to open my meridian channels, that would have been my final hope.¡± Zhou Yuan honestly confessed. Yaoyao bent down slightly as her slender fingers picked up Tuntun. She held it in her arms and she gently stroked its fur while the now slightly arched Tuntun comfortably lay on her satin-like skin. This sight made the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes twitch as he secretly cursed the little bastard¡¯s luck. Yaoyao lightly stepped forward, walking in to the stone pavillion and elegantly seating herself on a stone stool. She propped up her cheek with a hand as she languidly looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°It is too tiring to teach. I don¡¯t feel like it.¡± Zhou Yuan also sat himself on another stone stool and quoted his offer. ¡°Although the Jadeite Brew is a fine liquor, there are plenty of things that are better than it. I will help you find them.¡± A beautiful smile emerged on Yaoyao¡¯s small face when she heard this. The brilliance of that moment made even the hundreds of flowers in the flower park lose their color, while also causing Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart to beat a little faster. She faintly smiled and said, ¡°So understanding.¡± Zhou Yuan also smiled. Soon after, he said, ¡°But you may still only drink a bottle a day.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s smile was withdrawn as she scowled at him. However, Zhou Yuan did not concede. After all, interest was interest and should not be without control. Cang Yuan had mentioned that Yaoyao was unable to utilise Genesis Qi. Thus too much excessive drinking would harm her body. Yaoyao could only grind her teeth when she saw that Zhou Yuan was unwilling yield, but she could ultimately only give him a vicious glare. ¡°Since you¡¯ve studied Genesis Runes before, you should naturally understand what is most important, right?¡± Yaoyao put out the embers of rage in her heart as she spoke in a flat voice. ¡°The spirit.¡± Replied Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao nodded as she slowly said, ¡°Then do you know of how the different levels of Spirit are classified?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 15 Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method ¡°There are four levels to the Spirit, The Illusory stage, the Corporeal stage, the Transformation stage and the Godroamer.¡± ¡°Only those who possess powerful Spirits will be able to draw high tier Genesis Runes. Your Spirit talent is not bad, but it is not even at the Illusory stage.¡± A young girl¡¯s airy voice echoed in the stone pavilion. Sunlight sprinkled down on her fair and pretty face, making her appear exceptionally attractive. ¡°The Spirit is originally formless and only by continuously tempering it will one by able to allow the formless Spirit to gain a form. This first stage with a form is called the illusory form, also known as the Illusory stage.¡± ¡°There are two ways to strengthen the Spirit. One is to wait for one¡¯s strength to rise and the Spirit will follow suit and strengthen as well. However, this method is rather slow and there is an upper limit to how strong the Spirit will grow. The second way is to practice a Spirit tempering method. However, there are such techniques are very rare in this world and only a couple of the powerful factions possess them.¡± At this point, Yaoyao glanced at Zhou Yuan before continuing, ¡°The ¡®Primal Chaos Godly Polishing Visualisation Method¡¯ that grandpa Hei imparted to you is an extremely high grade Spirit tempering method. However, great courage to conquer great terror is needed to practice this method, something that you will eventually come to know when you practice it.¡± ¡°Given the current level of your Spirit, you will not be able to draw grade 1 Genesis Runes. I advise you to start early on your practice of the ¡®Primal Chaos Godly Polishing Visualisation Method¡¯ and raise the level of your Spirit to the Illusory stage. When your Spirit steps into the Illusory stage, I will teach you grade 1 Genesis Runes.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He had long intended to try out the Primal Chaos Godly Polishing Visualisation Method. After taking a deep breath, he sat down cross-legged on the stone stool and slowly closed his eyes. Darkness descended as Zhou Yuan¡¯s heartbeat gradually slowed, allowing his mind to enter a state of absolute calm. Dong! Dong! The chirping and wind from the outside world stealthily faded. Only the sound of a beating heart echoed in the darkness. Within the darkness, Zhou Yuan urged his Spirit to sense the brand that had been passed to him by Cang Yuan, the brand that contained the ¡®Primal Chaos Godly Polishing Visualisation Method¡¯. As Zhou Yuan continued to reach out, a slowly spinning glimmer of light suddenly appeared within the darkness. Its depths was immeasurable, as if it hid something terrifying. However, while Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was hesitating, a powerful suction force suddenly exploded from the glimmer of light and sucked Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit inside. A momentarily wave of dizziness washed over Zhou Yuan as he felt his surroundings begin to change. Darkness receded as a formless void took its place. The primal chaos here had devoured time, space and everything else, making it appear as if time had gone back to the place before everything had started. Zhou Yuan¡¯s formless Spirit stood within this vast nothingness as a feeling of insignificance overwhelmed him. Rumble! While Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit gazed upon this endless expanse of primal chaos, a loud sound suddenly resounded from within it. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit looked towards the sound and a split second later, a shuddering-like feeling madly surged over, causing his Spirit to shiver uncontrollably. It was because he had seen an incomparably colossal shadow slowly appear. The shadow was akin to a black hole that endlessly devoured everything. However, it was not a black hole but a giant grindstone that seemed without end. The giant grindstone was mottled and covered all over by the scars of time. The dark splotches decorating it looked as if they were the remnant traces of the blood of pulverised gods and devils. Rumble! The giant grindstone loomed within the void as it slowly rotated. It could grind anything down into nothingness. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit stood before the giant grindstone like an insignificant grain of sand. It was at this very moment that a mysterious piece of information flowed into his mind. It was the cultivation instructions for the ¡®Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method¡¯. ¡°The divine grindstone was born within the primal chaos, a single turn capable of annihilating gods and devils¡­¡± ¡°Visualise the divine grindstone and feel it grind with the Spirit as your anchor¡­¡± ¡°Nine rotations, every rotation a new realm¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit faintly trembled. It was at this very moment that he finally understood why Yaoyao had said that the will to overcome great terror was needed to learn the ¡®Primal Chaos Godly Polishing Visualisation Method¡¯. Uncontrollable terror would swallow the Spirit of anyone who stood in an endless expanse before the world-destroying divine grindstone... Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit shook as he stared at the divine grindstone within the primal chaos. Just standing here required a great amount of courage. Let alone the fact that one needed to cast one¡¯s Spirit onto the grindstone and be grinded by it... If Zhou Yuan did not have such great mental fortitude, he would have long turned around and run for his life. ¡°If I die then so be it!¡± Amidst his endless trembling, Zhou Yuan was ultimately able to maintain a sliver of rationality. He fiercely gritted his teeth and drifted towards the divine grindstone, directly landing upon its infinite mass. Boom! The instant Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit landed on the titanic grindstone, he could only watch helplessly as a shadow loomed towards him. Terror and pain swiftly exploded from his Spirit. In the short span of several breaths, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit turned into nothingness under the grinding of the divine grindstone. Something faintly trembled within the primal chaos as an invisible ripple converged to a single spot. It was Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. If a Spirit had a face, Zhou Yuan¡¯s would be deathly pale, eyes overflowing with terror. In that very moment from before, the feeling of being destroyed was just too real. Yet although he had been scared witless, between being pulverised into nothingness and the subsequent reconstruction had seemed to make his Spirit become an eensy bit more coporeal. ¡°What an insane Spirit tempering method!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shuddered. Anyone with a little less mettle would have long been destroyed by fear. Once fear of the divine grindstone left its mark in one¡¯s heart, Cang Yuan¡¯s primal chaos divine grindstone brand would fade and the ¡®Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method¡¯ would fail. ¡°This Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method is to continuously cast one¡¯s Spirit onto the divine grindstone. Amidst the millions and millions of times of being obliterated into nothingness, the endless destruction and reconstruction will allow one to undergo a metamorphosis and grow stronger¡­¡± ¡°According to the instructions, there are nine rotations to this Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method, and every rotation a new realm. This so-called nine rotations refer to the divine grindstone completing a full round nine times. As long as the Spirit is able to persevere till an entire round is complete, it will undergo a single transformation.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards the divine grindstone within the primal chaos. It was split into an upper layer and a lower layer, while a vertical faint dark-gold line could be seen joining these two layers as if it was a scale of sorts. As the divine grindstone rotated, the upper part of the golden line would move. When it once again returned to its original position and joined with the bottom part, an entire round would be completed. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had only managed to endure for several breaths before being destroyed. Looks like it would not be easy to persist till an entire rotation was complete. ¡°The Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method is indeed extraordinary, a single attempt has made my Spirit a tiny bit stronger. As expected of the Spirit tempering method big sis Yaoyao praised as one of the highest ranked.¡± Zhou Yuan breathed in deeply in an effort to suppress the fear he had towards the primal chaos divine grindstone. With a clench of his teeth, his Spirit flew forward again and landed on the slowly rotating mottled divine grindstone. Boom! As the divine grindstone turned, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was once again pulverised into nothingness. An invisible ripple appeared and Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit reformed once more. His Spirit violently shuddered, but he was evidently still able to control his emotions. A long while later, he gritted his teeth again and cast himself towards the divine grindstone. Boom! In the vast expense of primal chaos, the divine grindstone turned again and again, completely obliterating the speck of dust that was cast into it over and over. Each time it was destroyed, the continuously reconstructed Spirit gradually started slowly turn from incomporeal to corporeal. The eighty eighth time. Zhou Yuan finally stopped after his Spirit was destroyed and reforged for the eighty eighth time. He could feel intense tiredness and pain gushing out from within his Spirit. This allowed him to know that he had finally reached his limit today. If he forced himself any further, it would instead do more harm than good. Although his Spirit was exhausted, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was overflowing with happiness. After over eighty times of being destroyed, his originally formless Spirit had now taken on an illusory color. The Illusory stage! When the Spirit turned from formless to illusory, it meant that he had finally reached the Illusory stage! ¡°A down right awesome visualisation method.¡± Zhou Yuan praised with a sigh. The very first training session had allowed his Spirit to reach the doorstep of the Illusory stage. Although he understood that this was partly because his Spirit¡¯s foundations were pretty solid, it was still enough for him to realise how extraordinary the visualisation method was.¡± In the stone pavilion, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly opened. Although his face was as white as sheet, the excitement in his eyes could not be hidden. ¡°I¡¯ve reached the Illusory stage!¡± Yaoyao was a little taken aback by Zhou Yuan¡¯s words as she doubtfully asked, ¡°So fast? How many times did you endure the divine grindstone?¡± ¡°Eighty eight times.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s eyes narrowed a little as a peculiar look flashed within them. Ordinary people were only able to endure a dozen or so times on their first attempt. Yet Zhou Yuan had endured eighty eight times, a far from ordinary result. ¡°As expected of the one who once possessed the sacred dragon destiny. Compared to your wounded body, your Spirit does not seem to have suffered any damage.¡± Yaoyao softly praised before continuing, ¡°Your Spirit is still too weak. When you recover, I will teach you a grade 1 Genesis Rune.¡± She stood up carrying Tuntun as she glanced at the mottled black brush hanging at Zhou Yuan¡¯s waist. ¡°You need to properly nourish the Heavenly Yuan Brush given to you by grandpa Hei and light the first rune as quickly as possible.¡± Zhou Yuan lowered his head and retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush hanging at his waist. It nimbly twirled in his hand as he smiled and nodded his head. Cang Yuan had said that Genesis Beast Spirits could be used to recover the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s spirituality. This was not difficult for him. His status as the prince of Great Zhou allowed him to easily obtain several Genesis Beast Spirits. Zhou Yuan really looked forward to the transformation after lighting the first rune. After all, he was very interested to find out exactly how this foot-long Heavenly Yuan Brush would change for it to become a Genesis Weapon... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 16 Digging at a Corner of the Wall Early morning the second day. After Zhou Yuan drank a bowl of Nine Beast Soup and ate a bowl of Mysterious Crystal Rice, he continued his practice of the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon, absorbing Genesis Qi to attack and unblock his meridian channels. A good part of the afternoon was spent on another four waves of attacks on the meridian channels. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s channels ached and he dripped with sweat, he could feel his first meridian channel loosening more and more, causing unconcealable excitement and anticipation to fill his heart. A servant girl offered a towel from the side and waited till Zhou Yuan wiped clean his sweat before respectfully saying, ¡°Your highness, the items you wanted have already arrived.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed when he heard this and swiftly walked into the room. Sure enough, he saw a jade plate on the table where a dozen crystals of varying colors and lusters were neatly arranged. On closer inspection, one would discover faint silhouettes within the crystals. These silhouettes were shaped like various beasts and emitted a strange light. These were Beast Spirit Crystals. After the death of a Genesis Beast, its beast spirit would be condensed into a crystal form as a form of protection. Evidently, Zhou Yuan wanted these Beast Spirit Crystals to nourish the Heavenly Yuan Brush. ¡°All grade 1 Beast Spirit Crystals.¡± With a glance, Zhou Yuan saw that these Beast Spirit Crystals came from grade 1 Genesis Beasts. This was rather appropriate. It was likely that given the current state of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, it would not be able to deal with too highly ranked Beast Spirit Crystals. Zhou Yuan retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his waist and stroked it with his hand. The mottled body of the brush felt rather rough while the hairs at its tip appeared slightly dull. The mysterious and ancient runes were the only evidence that this Heavenly Yuan Brush was once extraordinary. Zhou Yuan fetched a small metal hammer and used it to strike one of the Beast Spirit Crystals, creating a small hole. Subsequently, he placed the head of the Heavenly Yuan Brush into the hole. The Heavenly Yuan Brush vibrated the moment it touched the beast spirit within the Beast Spirit Crystal. Subsequently, the hairs at the tip of the brush reached out and swept up the beast spirit. With a sucking sound, the beast spirit disappeared into the Heavenly Yuan Brush. As the beast spirit disappeared, a faint glow emerged from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The first ancient rune on its body seemed to have become a little brighter. ¡°It is indeed effective.¡± Zhou Yuan was pleased. Using the same method, he broke each Beast Spirit Crystal before using the Heavenly Yuan Brush to suck out the beast spirit inside. One by one, the beast spirits were absorbed by the Heavenly Yuan Brush and its glow grew increasingly bright. In addition, the first ancient rune also began to give off a faint radiance. However, the Heavenly Yuan Brush suddenly stopped after it absorbed the eighth beast spirit. It no longer emitted a suction force no matter how Zhou Yuan fiddled with it, while its light also gradually receded. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ full?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. He finally understood and let out a laugh due to annoyance. This blasted Heavenly Yuan Brush. He had allowed it to absorb beast spirits to regain its spirituality and yet it wilfully decided against overeating?! However, the Heavenly Yuan Brush was stubborn and refused to eat after it was full. There was nothing Zhou Yuan could do. He did not know whether to laugh or to cry as he kept the brush and prepared to continue nourishing it the next day. If this was the situation, some time would be needed to light up the first rune. However, Zhou Yuan was not too anxious. After placing the Heavenly Yuan Brush back on his hip, he walked out of the room. He planned to visit the Great Zhou Institute today. Although he believed that Su Youwei would not be enticed to Qi Yue¡¯s side, Zhou Yuan needed to to be vigilant so as to ensure that Qi Yue would not secretly cause trouble for her. ¡­ The Great Zhou Institute. Zhou Yuan did not see Su Youwei after a stroll around the campus. Only after asking did he find out that she was working in the library. The library of the Great Zhou Institute used to be considerably deserted. However, ever since Su Youwei started to work part-time there, it had become one of the popular spots in the institute. People would slip over from time to time and feign borrowing books with the hopes of getting closer to Su Youwei. Zhou Yuan did not see Su Youwei at the front desk when he walked into the library. Hence, he took a trip around the place and paused before a large bookshelf. A slim girl was standing on a tall stool, tidying the bookshelf as she very carefully wiped away the dust. At this moment, a ray of sunlight shot in from outside the window. Dust danced within the light, while the girl¡¯s pretty face seemed to sparkle. Her long lashes gently fluttered as her small raised mouth softy hummed a little tune, a scene filled with youthful vigour. *Cough*. Zhou Yuan¡¯s soft cough heartlessly broke the beautiful scene. Su Youwei seemed come back to reality as she hastily lowered her head. Joy immediately surged onto her pretty face when she saw Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan walked under the tall stool and lifted his head, only to be stunned. It was because the bottom half of the uniform Su Youwei wore was a skirt, resulting in two long and slender white legs being imprinted in his eyes. They were as glossy as jade and made one have the urge to cop a feel. ¡°Your highness!¡± Su Youwei immediately blushed when she felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze and cried out in an embarrassed and angry manner. The thick book in her hand was jolted, causing a layer of dust to fall and obstruct Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze. ¡°Waa, I¡¯m blind.¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly took advantage of this turn of events to cover his eyes. Su Youwei gracefully hopped off the tall stool and placed the book back on the bookshelf. Her face was red as she rolled her eyes at the acting Zhou Yuan and spit out, ¡°Low-class.¡± Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and helplessly replied, ¡°It was an accident.¡± Su Youwei softly snorted. ¡°Why has the care-free and unambitious prince come here?¡± ¡°Heh heh, if I did not come, I¡¯m afraid that my little Weiwei would be kidnapped by someone.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Eeih, so sickening! Don¡¯t address me in such a way!¡± Su Youwei¡¯s pretty face was red as she resentfully glared at Zhou Yuan. Her little mouth stuck out slightly as she said in a somewhat distressed manner, ¡°You also know of this huh? That Qi Yue has approached me quite a few times. So annoying.¡± ¡°He request that you enter the B class after the newcomer exam?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. This Qi Yue was indeed determined, to think that he would dare to dig at the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s wall! Su Youwei nodded. She did not thoroughly understand the struggle for the position of headmaster, but she knew that Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue did not get along. Hence, she made excuses whenever Qi Yue tried to win her over to his side. ¡°What did he offer?¡± Su Youwei rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan again. His words were unpleasant to the ear, but she knew that that was not what he meant. Hence, she replied, ¡°Let¡¯s not mention the wealth and power he guaranteed, he even promised to give me a tier 3 Genesis Qi technique after I reach the Qi Nourishing stage.¡± ¡°So generous huh.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat amazed. A tier 3 Genesis Qi technique. The highest tier Genesis Qi technique in their royal treasury was only tier 4. ¡°However, I still rejected his offer.¡± Water glimmered in Su Youwei¡¯s eyes as she continued in a low voice, ¡°He was not too happy and asked what you gave me.¡± ¡°I told him that his highness did not give me anything. He merely helped me kick open a door.¡± Her voice became softer and softer towards the end, but it still made Zhou Yuan chuckle bitterly. It had been pure chance that he had passed by and seen a little girl braving the torrential rain as she kneeled and begged before a clinic. He had only kicked open the tightly shut doors of the clinic due to a sudden surge of anger at this injustice. How could he know that his unintentional actions from back then would be deeply carved by Su Youwei onto her heart. Zhou Yuan said, ¡°That fellow Qi Yue probably almost died from anger.¡± ¡°Well that has nothing to do with me.¡± Su Youwei covered her mouth as she softly chuckled. Zhou Yuan nodded but secretly thought to himself that he should also prepare a decent technique for Su Youwei after she reached the Qi Nourishing stage. Else her talent would really be wasted. ¡°How has your channel opening been going recently?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Su Youwei casually replied, ¡°Not bad, unblocking the fourth meridian channel before the newcomer exam should not be difficult.¡± Zhou Yuan clicked his tongue in praise. Su Youwei¡¯s talent was indeed outstanding. If she was under the same conditions as himself; drinking Nine Beast Soup and eating Mysterious Crystal Rice daily, it was likely that even Qi Yue would not be able to compare to her. However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to mention giving Nine Beast Soup and Mysterious Crystal Rice to Su Youwei. This lass was not only very sharp but also extremely stubborn. She definitely would not accept such help from Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan looked towards Su Youwei and said, ¡°Headmaster Chu told me earlier that I must make sure that you enter the A class.¡± Su Youwei thought for a moment before she smiled and said, ¡°You can tell him that I will enter the A class if you are also allowed to enter.¡± Although she had spoken in an off-handed manner, there was some worry in her eyes. The requirement for entering the A class was placing top ten in the newcomer exam, and Zhou Yuan had not even unblocked a single meridian channel. It was obviously an uphill task for him to achieve such results with just his elementary level Genesis Runes. According to what she knew, headmaster Chu was a person that felt strongly about the rules. If Zhou Yuan was unable to take any of the top ten spots, headmaster Chu might not give the former face even if he was the prince. How could Zhou Yuan not know her thoughts. He was a little touched as he looked at her and smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I will surely enter the A class.¡± When Su Youwei saw how serious Zhou Yuan was, there was really nothing much to say. She could only nod her head. The two happily chatted as they walked out away from the bookshelf. Just as they reached a turn, a figure suddenly appeared before them. It was a rather tall young man who was also rather handsome. His expression changed a little when he saw Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei walk out together, but he quickly revealed a polite smile, ¡°Your highness.¡± Subsequently, his gaze turned towards Su Youwei as his eyes became much gentler. ¡°Youwei, are you finished with your work? Are you free today? May I ask you out for a meal?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed as he watched this handsome young man. He had recognized the latter. Lin Feng, another influential figure amongst the new batch of students. He was rumoured to be the most promising individual in the newcomer exam. But according to what Zhou Yuan knew, this fellow had already been pulled over to Qi Yue¡¯s side. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 17 Lin Feng While Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, Su Youwei also eyed the confident and relaxed young man before them. Her long and shapely eyebrows slightly knitted together before she displayed a smile and said, ¡°So it is young master Lin. However, I¡¯m afraid that I do not have time today.¡± Lin Feng was not the least bit dejected by So Youwei¡¯s gentle rejection. Instead, he grinned as he nodded. ¡°Since that is so, maybe next time.¡± He did not stubbornly insist but instead appeared rather polite. However, it was this very attitude that made So Youwei helplessly sigh in her heart. Such individuals were the most difficult to deal with. Zhou Yuan did not say anything and merely smiled faintly at Lin Feng before walking away with Su Youwei. Lin Feng watched the two departing figures as his kind face turned somewhat darker. ¡°Hehe, looks like you do not have much of a chance.¡± A soft chuckle was suddenly heard from behind. Lin Feng turned his head only to find Qi Yue wearing white clothes. ¡°Little prince.¡± Lin Feng controlled his expression and bowed slightly. Qi Yue seemed to smile as he stood beside Lin Feng and he looked in the direction that Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei had left in. ¡°Although our prince is unable to start channel opening cultivation, he still has his status. Moreover, Su Youwei owes a debt of gratitude towards him. I¡¯m afraid that you don¡¯t really have much of a chance.¡± Lin Feng¡¯s eyes were somewhat dark while his lips were tightly pursed. It was clear that he was extremely unresigned. ¡°You¡¯ve really fallen for Su Youwei?¡± Qi Yue could not help but smile and ask when he saw Lin Feng¡¯s appearance. ¡°Su Youwei might be a mere commoner but she has qualifications to change everything. She will surely separate herself from the ordinary and become the focus of everyone¡¯s attention in future.¡± Lin Feng explained. Qi Yue nodded and sighed. ¡°That is true. It is only a matter of time given her talent. Prince Zhou Yuan is really lucky, to think that any random person he picked up would become a genius.¡± Lin Feng¡¯s expression grew increasingly passionate as he slowly said, ¡°Even more so why I will not give up.¡± Qi Yue grinned a little. ¡°Honestly speaking, you are not weaker than his highness. The only thing he has over you is his status as prince. Without it, he will not even have the qualifications of receiving a second glance from you.¡± Lin Feng did not reply, but a sliver of pride appeared in his eyes. From his point of view, if Zhou Yuan was not the prince of Great Zhou, someone like him who was unable to open his meridian channels truly would not even enter Lin Feng¡¯s eyes. ¡°I do hope that you will be able to obtain Su Youwei. If that happens, there will be one less huge inconvenience for me.¡± Qi Yue chuckled as he continued, ¡°I went looking for her previously and made many offers, but was still unable to convince her to enter the B class after the newcomer exam. From the looks of it, she is really committed to his highness Zhou Yuan.¡± Lin Feng¡¯s expression became a little uglier. ¡°However, I do have an idea.¡± Qi Yue paused for moment. ¡°There is still one more month till the newcomer exam and Zhou Yuan is also participating. If he fails miserably, it will be a rather substantial blow to someone of his status.¡± Lin Feng¡¯s eyes flickered. Cultivation was mainstream in Great Zhou and it was a nation established on martial prowess. Even if Zhou Yuan was prince, if he did not produce any results, people would surely start talking. At that time, Su Youwei should be able to clearly see that a crippled prince could not be relied upon. ¡°What are little prince¡¯s intentions?¡± Qi Yue faintly smiled as he said, ¡°I will pull some strings during the exam and ensure that Zhou Yuan bumps into you. When that happens, you should know what to do to dim his princely halo.¡± Lin Feng was somewhat hesitant after hearing this. ¡°But he is after all the prince, if we go too far¡­¡± ¡°In a match, fists and legs have no eyes. No one will say anything.¡± Qi Yue shook he head before continuing, ¡°Since your Lin clan is already standing on the side of my Qi Manor, we will protect you even if something happens.¡± Lin Feng¡¯s eyes flickered. A short while later, he fiercely gritted his teeth and replied in a low voice, ¡°Alright, I understand. If I meet him in the newcomer exam, I will make sure that his highness will lose in the most humiliating fashion.¡± A venomous look flashed across his eyes as he lifted his head and looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s departing figure. Since a crippled prince wanted to snatch away his woman, he could only make sure that this prince suffered when the time came. Qi Yue laughed softly. If Zhou Yuan was beaten into the mud, Qi Yue would go look for Su Youwei again. This girl should be able to tell who was the stronger one. As long as she cast her lot in with the B class, there would no longer be anyone who could threaten him in the class ranking exam and the Great Zhou Institute would fall into the hands of Qi Manor. Henceforth, the students that graduated from the Great Zhou Institute would be branded by Qi Manor. When that happened, it would be time for the ruler of the Great Zhou Empire to change. ¡­ ¡°I¡¯m afraid that Lin Feng is already working together with Qi Yue.¡± Zhou Yuan conversed with Su Youwei as they walked along the corridors of the institute. ¡°This might even be Qi Yue¡¯s scheme. Since he is unable to openly draw you to his side, he decided to use a handsome man to entice you.¡± Su Youwei unhappily shook her head upon hearing this. ¡°Don¡¯t worry your highness, this tactic is useless against me.¡± She paused for a moment before asking in a somewhat worried manner, ¡°However your highness needs to be more careful. Most of the talented individuals amongst the new batch of students have been pulled over by Qi Yue to his side. I worry that they will hinder you during the newcomer exam.¡± Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, it was already very challenging to take one of the top ten spots in the newcomer exam. If others were to hinder him, it would become even harder. Zhou Yuan grinned and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have my own plans.¡± He gently spat out a breath of air before slowly speaking again, ¡°Qi Manor¡¯s foundations are truly solid.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s offers were difficult to reject. Such wealth was no less than the royal clan. Looks like father was right, the Great Wu was likely backing the Qi Manor. At this point, a cold light flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Qi Manor was truly a tumor of the Great Zhou. To think that they now even planned to dip their fingers into the pie that was the Great Zhou Institute. Moreover, it was easy to imagine how great a blow it would be if the institute fell into Qi Manor¡¯s control. Thus¡­ Zhou Yuan absolutely could not let them succeed. Of course, the most important thing now was to quickly open his meridian channels to face the upcoming newcomer exam. ¡­ In the following few days, Zhou Yuan stayed in the royal palace. He diligently practiced the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon in the early morning and did four waves of attacks on his meridian channels. At night, he practiced the ¡®Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method¡¯ to train his spirit. Zhou Yuan¡¯s improvement over these few days was not small. The first meridian channel in his body grew increasingly loose and opening it completely was in sight. Moreover, his spirit had also stabilized at the initial Illusory stage. This progress made Zhou Yuan very excited and put in even more effort into his training. Another day. Ding! The small hammer in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand struck and broke open a hole in a Beast Spirit Crystal. He placed the Heavenly Yuan Brush inside and the beast spirit within the crystal was absorb with a sweep of its hairs. Buzz! Just as Zhou Yuan was preparing to break open a hole in the next Beast Spirit Crystal, a faint buzzing noise was suddenly emitted from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. At the same time, a strange light slowly emerged from the brush body. Zhou Yuan was first stunned by this scene before joy broke out on his face. It was because he had seen the first ancient rune on the Heavenly Yuan Brush completely light up at this moment and give off a mysterious glow. Evidently, after several days of nourishing it, the brush had finally recovered some of its spirituality and power. ¡°Master and big sis Yaoyao said that I will come to know of its wonders once the first rune is lighted. I¡¯m really interested to find out the peculiarities of this once Sacred Genesis Weapon Heavenly Yuan Brush!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes lighted up as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. He had long been filled with curiosity towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush. While grasping the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slowly closed. Light blossomed on the brush as a cryptic message poured into his mind. ¡°First rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Culture and Martial.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 18 Culture and Martial ¡°Culture and Martial?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered brightly after opening. At this very moment, he finally understood why Cang Yuan had said that the Heavenly Yuan Brush was both a Genesis Weapon and a Genesis Rune Brush. It was due to this rune known as ¡®Culture and Martial¡¯ that bestowed two different forms to the Heavenly Yuan Brush. ¡°Martial form!¡± Brush in hand, a thought flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind as he softly called out. Buzz! Intense light exploded from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Next, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with amazement as he watched the foot-long brush in his hand suddenly start to grow. In the short span of several breaths, a roughly five foot long thick black brush appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. This black brush was almost as tall as Zhou Yuan and its mottled body faintly flickered in a glossy manner. In particular, the soft snow-white hairs that were originally at the tip of the brush were now tightly packed together and flickered with cold light. At a glance, it seemed like the sharp tip of a spear. ¡°It¡¯s pretty heavy!¡± Zhou Yuan gazed upon the rather enormous black brush in his hands. It was not light and even caused his arms to sink a little. ¡°I should test its power.¡± Zhou Yuan left the room and walked into a spacious courtyard. With a thought, the Heavenly Yuan Brush shook slightly as the surrounding Genesis Qi rippled and poured into the brush. A Genesis Weapon was able to absorb Genesis Qi and release tremendous power. As Genesis Qi poured into it, the brush gradually started to glow. In particular, light seemed to lengthen and shorten indeterminately on the brush tip made from snow-white hairs as if it was a sharp tip of a spear. Zhou Yuan brandished the brush with both hands as if it was a heavy spear. He had never used such a strange weapon before and naturally appeared rather untrained. However, the force generated by the spear was not weak and was akin to a ferocious tiger as it swung about. Ch! The spear suddenly turned and ferociously thrust at a copper cauldron by the side. A clear and crisp sound was immediately heard. One would look over only to find that the tip of the brush had pierced the cauldron and exited from the opposite side. ¡°Not bad. It¡¯s sharp enough.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly when he saw this. This level of sharpness would easily tear apart the body of a two channel practitioner. ¡°It should have barely reached the Normal mid tier Genesis Weapon level.¡± Zhou Yuan was rather pleased with this outcome. If he continued to nourish it by allowing the Heavenly Yuan Brush to absorb beast spirits, it would likely reach the Black tier pretty soon. Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, ¡°It really is somewhat surprising for a brush to become a weapon. Although it is a brush, it is similar to a spear. I should learn some spear techniques in future.¡± His gaze now burned a little hotter as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush. To think that the first rune had already caused such a transformation. Zhou Yuan wondered how formidable the brush would become when all nine ancient runes completely recovered. Zhou Yuan waved the martial form Genesis Rune Brush until he was satisfied before a thought flashed in his mind. ¡°Culture form!¡± The tall as a human Heavenly Yuan Brush suddenly shrunk till it was a foot long and landed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. The brush tip that was previously sharp enough to pierce metal also became soft, its brush hairs gently swaying back and forth. With a gently flick of his fingertips, the Heavenly Yuan Brush nimble spun a single time in his hand as light emerged from the soft tip of the brush. This form was called the Genesis Rune Brush and could be used to draw Genesis Runes. ¡°Such a magical Culture and Martial Genesis Rune.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed in praise. Genesis Runes that were able to change the form of an object were certainly not ordinary. This ¡®Culture and Martial¡¯ rune was surely very high grade. ¡°Finally activated the first rune?¡± While Zhou Yuan was excitedly changing between the two forms in the courtyard, a somewhat surprised voice was heard. Zhou Yuan raised his head and saw Yaoyao elegantly standing outside the courtyard, while a whimpering Tuntun closely followed at her feet. ¡°Yea, just a while ago.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The Heavenly Yuan Brush turned into its culture form and landed in his hand as he somewhat eagerly said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, I now have a Genesis Rune Brush. When will you teach me Genesis Runes?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s steps were light as she slowly walked over. She stood before Zhou Yuan as a snow-white hand was outstretched. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth turned downwards when he saw this. He had no choice but to instruct a servant girl to bring over a jade bottle. ¡°This is Red Tiger Liquor, an extremely strong alcohol that I stole from father¡¯s secret stash.¡± Yaoyao received the jade bottle and tipped back her head slightly, revealing her slender swan-like neck, as she took a small sip. Her pretty face immediately flushed red as her eyes sparkled. ¡°Not bad, you did not skimp on me.¡± One could tell that she was very satisfied with the liquor Zhou Yuan had found. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw this. Just as he was about to speak, he felt a tug a his clothes and lowered his head only to find Tuntun biting at his trousers, before it stuck out its tongue and extended a paw. ¡°You¡¯re the same as your owner!¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes twitched as his cursed inside. However, he could only instruct a servant girl to bring over a plate of dried Genesis Beast meat and place it at his foot. Only then did Tuntun release Zhou Yuan, perfectly satisfied as it lay down and gobbled up each piece of meat with a single gulp, its eyes narrowing in pleasure as it enjoyed the delicious dried Genesis Beast meat. Zhou Yuan squatted and stroked Tuntun¡¯s soft fur as he gave it two forceful strokes. In response to this, Tuntun glanced at the former. It decided not to pay much attention to that disrespectful fellow on the grounds that he had brought it meat. ¡°Alright, I will teach you grade 1 Genesis Runes today.¡± After a few mouthfuls of Red Tiger Liquor, Yaoyao nodded in contentment before walking into the stone pavilion. Jade tablets for Genesis Rune practice had already been placed on the stone table within. Yaoyao elegantly stood before the table and shot a glance at Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll first write while you watch.¡± With a clench of her hand, a slender green Genesis Rune Brush appeared within it. This Genesis Rune Brush gave off a faint green glow and numerous runes of light seemed to flutter within the glow, making it appear extremely mystical. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was a little moved by this sight. This Genesis Rune Brush of Yaoyao¡¯s was obviously not ordinary. Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face immediately became serious as she held the brush. A distinct aura spread from her body as the brush tip gently landed on a jade tablet and began to move as she desired. Zhou Yuan stood by the side and watched Yaoyao¡¯s gently moving hand as he could not help but praise in his heart. ¡°Such a pretty hand.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s small, slim and slender hand seemed to be suffused with jade light. It was so pretty that one would find impossible to shift one¡¯s eyes away. However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to pay too much attention to it, and his gaze very quickly shifted to the jade tablet. Light immediate surfaced on the tablet the moment Yaoyao¡¯s final stroke was complete. A complicated rune seemed to have leapt onto the tablet as a tiger roar was faintly heard. Yaoyao explained in an unenthusiastic voice, ¡°This is known as the Tiger Roar Rune and is a grade 1 Genesis Rune. It can be inscribed on the throat and when activated, a tiger roar sound wave would erupt. If used at close-range, it may even stun the enemy.¡± ¡°A sound wave type Genesis Rune?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback. This type of Genesis Rune was rather rare and could save one¡¯s life or even turn the tides of the battle if used at the opportune moment. ¡°Take a closer look. How many strokes are there in this Genesis Rune?¡± Said Yaoyao in a casual manner. When Zhou Yuan heard this, he understood that Yaoyao wanted to test his foundations in Genesis Runes. After all, no matter how high grade a Genesis Rune was, it was still made from the combination of various strokes. The ability to identify and recognize these strokes was the fundamentals of learning Genesis Runes. Zhou Yuan carefully observed the ¡®Tiger Roar Rune¡¯ on the jade tablet. A short period later, he slowly said, ¡°I can see four hundred and thirty seven strokes.¡± Previously, when Zhou Yuan was studying elementary Genesis Runes, there would at most be approximately a hundred strokes. This grade 1 Genesis Rune had more than four times that amount. Yaoyao nodded and said, ¡°To be more precise, there are four hundred and forty eight strokes. However, the fact that you were able to see four hundred and thirty seven strokes is proof enough that your fundamentals are rather decent.¡± ¡°In the following few days, you will practice copying this ¡®Tiger Roar Rune¡¯ and fully master this grade 1 Genesis Rune.¡± A surge of eagerness surfaced in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes when he heard this. If he was able to learn this grade 1 Genesis Rune, his strength would be greatly boosted. Given how close the newcomer exam was, he needed to the strength of four channels to get into the top ten. Thus, he would take any chance he could to grow stronger. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 19 Channel Opening To fully master a Genesis Rune was not easy at all. This was because it was not simply drawing the rune. One needed to use one¡¯s spirit as ink for every Genesis stroke. At times, when the spirit was just the tiniest bit too strong when the brush landed, the Genesis stroke would be unable to withstand it and become defective. Moreover, a single defective stroke meant that the entire Genesis Rune would become a failed product. Hence, a tremendous amount of practice was needed to reach perfection and ultimately allow the Genesis Rune to form. Therefore, in the following days, besides practicing the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon and the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method, Zhou Yuan also took some time to practice the ¡®Tiger Roar Rune¡¯. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan also squeezed out some time to learn some basic spear techniques. This was for the sake of familiarizing himself with the Heavenly Yuan Brush as a weapon so as to avoid the scenario where he had zero fundamentals and no idea what to do when he wielded it. This arrangement allowed Zhou Yuan¡¯s time to be amply utilised. However, he knew that time was of the essence and diligently worked hard every day. Under his efforts, an important juncture swiftly approached. On this day, the practicing Zhou Yuan in the flower park was solemn-face while a trace of excitement and anticipation leaked from his eyes. He could feel that the first meridian channel in his body growing looser and looser over the past few days. If nothing unexpected occurred, it was very possible for the channel to be completely opened today. ¡°This day has come at last.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s fists were tightly clenched. He had dreamt of the day he would open his meridian channel for many years. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, allowing his emotions to calm down a little. Subsequently, his fists were raised and the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon were very naturally displayed. Roar! As the final form was completed, the Qi and blood in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body boiled and his skeleton vibrated. His back undulated up and down as a faint dragon roar emerged from within his body. Huu! Zhou Yuan sucked in and the surrounding Genesis Qi was immediately drawn towards him. It surged over, transforming into a white mist that was swallowed into his body with a single gulp. Once the Genesis Qi entered his body, Zhou Yuan directed it towards the final bit of blockage in the first meridian channel and ferociously attacked. Pop! The last bit of blockage did not pose much of an obstruction. A faint sound was heard as if an invisible membrane was broken. At the same time, Zhou Yuan could feel that the first meridian channel in his body was completely opened at this very moment! Zhou Yuan felt as if the surroundings had become very quiet. The Qi and blood in his body boiled with gurgling noises, while the first meridian channel seemed to have come alive, slowly squirming as it continuously devoured the Genesis Qi that poured into the body as if it had been starved. The meridian channel absorbed Genesis Qi and swiftly fed it to the flesh. Waves of piercing pain pulsed within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, but he did not panic. Instead, ecstacy overflowed on his face. Along with the piercing pain, a feeling of transparency filled his body. His entire body seemed to grow lighter at this moment while a numbing sensation washed over his muscles, skeleton and skin. It was an indicator that his physical body was strengthening! This feeling lasted for a dozen minutes before Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slowly cracked open. He immediately smelled an odd odour from his body and lowered his head, only to find that his skin was covered in filth. It was the impurities that had been expelled from his body when it had been strengthened earlier. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes seemed to become much brighter at this moment while the world around him also grew much clearer. ¡°Is this channel opening?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers slowly closed as he felt the increased power in his body, while his eyes filled with happiness. The scene he had yearned for even in his dreams had finally become reality. ¡°Go inform father and mother.¡± Zhou Yuan entered a room to wash his body while instructing a nearby servant girl. By the time Zhou Yuan had cleaned himself and reemerged, he saw that Zhou Qing and Qin Yu were already waiting. Their faces were filled with both surprise and joy. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, you¡¯ve unblocked your first meridian channel?!¡± Upon seeing Zhou Yuan emerge, Qin Yu quickly walked forward, emotions stirring on her gentle face. Zhou Qing also walked over, flames seemingly burning within his eyes as he looked at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart warmed when he saw the emotions on their faces as he nodded his head. With a thought, the first meridian channel in his body vibrated and a suction force was emitted. The surrounding Genesis Qi immediately flowed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body through his pores, causing the surface of his skin to glow a little. ¡°Drawing Qi into the body. He has indeed opened his channel!¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes flickered brightly. Even he seemed to have lost some self-control at this very moment as he heartily laughed and said, ¡°Good, good. As expected of the sacred dragon of our Zhou clan. You¡¯ve opened your first meridian channel in the short span of ten days. No one in Great Zhou has ever achieved such speed before!¡± Qin Yu¡¯s eyes were red as she hugged Zhou Yuan and choked out between sobs, ¡°Yuan¡¯er is able to cultivate. The outbreak of Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison three years later will be suppressed!¡± Zhou Yuan gently patted Qin Yu¡¯s back as he consoled with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry mother, your child will definitely dispose of that Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison.¡± ¡°Come, Yuan¡¯er. Let father see how strong your body has become.¡± Zhou Qing beckoned to Zhou Yuan. Every time a channel was opened, the quality of the channel opener¡¯s body would improve, allowing it to far surpass an ordinary person¡¯s. Zhou Yuan eagerly nodded upon hearing this. Cang Yuan had said before that although opening his channels for the second time would be far more difficult than normal, it would also benefit him much more once they were opened. Now, he wanted to test exactly how much more beneficial it was. Zhou Qing casually stood on the spot and beckoned at Zhou Yuan. The former¡¯s seemingly careless posture and position rippled with a presence that made Zhou Yuan¡¯s breathing stifle slightly. ¡°Father is indeed worthy having broken through the Heaven Gate and reaching the Alpha-Origin stage.¡± For Genesis Masters, channel opening was the beginning. After all eight meridian channels were unblocked, the Qi Dwelling could be opened, allowing one to advance to the Qi Nourishing stage. At the perfect Qi Nourishing stage, Qi could be used to attack the Heaven Gate, and once broken, Genesis Qi will be able to leave the body to move mountains and overturn the seas. A power that was unmeasurable. The Alpha-Origin stage was what came after the Heaven Gate stage. Channel Opening, Qi Nourishing, Heaven Gate and Alpha-Origin. These were the first four greater stages for Genesis Masters. The current Zhou Yuan had only opened his first meridian channel. Thus, he was naturally awed by the presence of an Alpha-Origin stage expert. Zhou Qing extended his hand and said, ¡°We¡¯ll test your power first. Use all of your strength.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. His foot powerfully pushed off the ground as his body shot out like an arrow. With a twist of his hip, power surged in his body and converged at his fist. Fist winds immediately emerged as a punch filled with vigorous power heavily slammed into Zhou Qing¡¯s extended hand. The soil beneath Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet was sent flying while Zhou Qing¡¯s body remained unmoved. His hand had likewise not budged a single inch, but an expression of surprise appeared in his eyes. Zhou Yuan massaged his fist, a little dejected as he withdrew. His full power had not been able to move Zhou Qing¡¯s hand at all. ¡°How did I do father?¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards Zhou Qing. Zhou Qing did not respond but said, ¡°Let¡¯s test your speed.¡± With a twirl of his hand, a dozen pebbles rose from the ground and revolved above his palm. A sudden wave of his hand and the pebbles shot towards Zhou Yuan like a torrential rain storm. Every pebble was akin to an arrow and the sound of rapidly speeding through the wind could be faintly heard. The tip of Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot pushed off the ground as his body swiftly backed away, avoiding the majority of the pebbles. However, several pebbles still shooting towards him at a crafty angle, making it impossible for him to dodge. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes faintly shivered. At this moment, the spirit between his brows jumped and his senses instantly became extremely sharp, making the trajectories of the pebbles exceptionally clear. As a result, he suddenly reached out and caught all of the pebbles with two soft ¡®pluck¡¯ sounds. The force from the pebbles made Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand hurt somewhat. He grinned as he swung his hand and said to Zhou Qing, ¡°Almost wasn¡¯t able to catch them.¡± ¡°Father?¡± Zhou Yuan sudden realised that Zhou Qing blankly staring at the hand which had caught the pebbles. Zhou Qing came back to his senses upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice and looked at him in a strange manner. Zhou Qing had intentionally increased the force of behind those few pebbles from before to measure Zhou Yuan¡¯s resistance to strikes, in other words, the toughness of his body. However, he never imagined that Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes would be so sharp. He had seen through the trajectories of the pebbles and caught all of them. Was this a coincidence, or something else? Zhou Qing shook his head and shot a glance at Zhou Yuan. The former¡¯s finger suddenly flicked and a red bolt of lightning shot out. In the blink of an eye, it blasted Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. Crash! Zhou Yuan was sent flying and smashed into a tree. He covered his chest with a hand and cried out in pain. Qin Yu hastily walked over and helped him up before angrily looking towards Zhou Qing. ¡°Why did you use Flame-Lightning Qi?¡± After an awkward laugh, Zhou Qing walked forward and looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. Although it was bruised somewhat green, this was clearly a superficial wound. Zhou Qing¡¯s eyelids immediately twitched. How did someone who had only opened a single meridian channel be so sturdy? ¡°How was it?¡± Zhou Yuan massaged his chest and asked with a pained face. Zhou Qing looked at Zhou Yuan oddly and replied, ¡°Are you certain that you¡¯ve only opened one meridian channel?¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but roll his eyes. Did his father think that you could really open two meridian channels at one go? Qin Yu also sensed that something was amiss and nervously asked, ¡°What is it? Is there something wrong with Yuan¡¯er?¡± ¡°Something wrong?¡± Zhou Qing bitterly chuckled. ¡°Something is indeed wrong, because regardless of whether it is power, speed or toughness, let alone a single channel opener, even a two channel opener cannot compare to this child¡¯s body.¡± ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen such a thing in many many years. To think that the body quality of a mere single channel opener would be so great.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 20 Genesis Technique ¡°Better than a two channel opener?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Qin Yu¡¯s eyes involuntarily opened wide when they heard Zhou Qing¡¯s words. ¡°Master Cang Yuan did not lie. Although it is more difficult to open my channels, the benefits are indeed greater.¡± Excitement flooded Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. From his father¡¯s evaluation, it seemed that the quality of his body was even higher than a two channel practitioner and far surpassed normal one channel practitioners. If he added in the Genesis Runes he knew, in terms of battle power, even a three channel practitioner might not be able to defeat him. ¡°If I master the Tiger Roar Rune, victory will practically be ensured as long as I don¡¯t encounter a four channel practitioner.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan in his heart as a wave of happiness washed over him. His hard work over this period had indeed achieved rather pleasing results. Most importantly, this had given Zhou Yuan hope, a hope that he could continuously climb till the day that he would be able to change everything. Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes seemed to sparkle as he looked at Zhou Yuan. The only arm he had was extended as he heavily patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder while the latter could see unconcealable excitement and hope in the former¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, You¡¯ve done very well!¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s voice was somewhat shaky at this moment, and even his eyes had become red. ¡°King Wu believed that stripping you of your sacred dragon blessing would plunge our Zhou clan¡¯s sacred dragon into an endless abyss, but from the looks of it, he has underestimated you!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s mood fluctuated somewhat as he gazed at the emotional Zhou Qing. The former knew that the years where he had been unable to open his channels had caused his father¡¯s lofty aspiration to be slowly and cruelly grinded away by reality, while his father¡¯s heart had perhaps also started to despair. Reality had made Zhou Qing unable to see even the slightest hope. The Great Zhou Empire was at death¡¯s door, while the Great Wu Empire grew increasingly prosperous and powerful. He knew that once the deadline of king Wu¡¯s vow arrived, Great Zhou would have to welcome its end. Now however, at the very moment when Zhou Yuan opened his meridian channel, the despairing Zhou Qing had finally seen a glimmer of light. Even if this glimmer was still extremely faint, Zhou Qing believed that there would eventually come a day when this glimmer would transform into a great blazing sun. The fires of revenge would thoroughly incinerate Great Wu, taking back everything that Great Zhou had once lost. Currently, Great Wu was waging war against two other nearby empires and could not spare any attention to Great Zhou. Hence, this was the best time for Zhou Yuan to grow. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, pushing down the emotions in his heart. He knew that there was still an immeasurable gap between him and Great Wu. Thus, he needed to pull back his sights from such a distant place. What he needed to do now was to enter the A class through the newcomer exam and ultimately ruin Qi Manor¡¯s scheme targeted at the position of Great Zhou Institute headmaster. ¡°Practically all of the hopefuls for the top ten spots in the newcomer exam have the strength of four channels. I may be unafraid of any three channel practitioner, but my chances against a four channel practitioner are not great.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered. To make certain that no mishaps would occur, he needed to improve again in the time before the newcomer exam and unblock his second channel. As long as his second meridian channel was opened, Zhou Yuan would have nothing to fear. It was likely that he would have some chance even if he encountered the one who was said to have the best odds at first place, Lin Feng. ¡°Looks like I can¡¯t relax if I intend to enter the A class.¡± Zhou Yuan secretly thought. ¡°Yuan¡¯er. Now that your first channel has been opened, you can learn some Genesis techniques and bring out the full potential of your power.¡± Said Zhou Qing after regaining his calm. Genesis techniques were techniques that utilised one¡¯s Genesis Qi in a more powerful manner. In this world, Genesis techniques were similar to Genesis Weapons and were divided into four tiers, Normal, Black, Heaven and Sacred. However, the higher the grade of the Genesis technique, the greater its requirement on the body. Most Channel Opening stage practitioners could only learn Normal tier Genesis techniques. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to send you some suitable Genesis techniques from the royal treasury for you to try.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Although he had now opened his channel, it could only be said that all he had was power that he was unable to fully utilise. The root cause was that he had never learnt any Genesis techniques. Therefore, a new module was added to his daily cultivation routine from this day. ... Zhou Qing was highly efficient. Thus, several Genesis techniques were swiftly sent into Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. In the stone pavilion, Zhou Yuan browsed through the Genesis techniques. The most formidable amongst them were the Universe Origin Fist and the Bright Air-Shattering Fist. Both were mid grade Genesis techniques. Zhou Yuan was deep in thought as he stared at these two Genesis techniques. Although they were naturally not too complicated, they were better than low grade Genesis techniques. Of course, the Genesis Qi one had at the Channel Opening stage was not overly abundant, hence even if a more profound Genesis technique was learnt, one would be unable to bring out its true power. While Zhou Yuan was immersed in the two mid grade Genesis techniques, he suddenly smelt a light fragrance. His expression immediately changed a little as he lifted his head, only to find that Yaoyao was standing beside him as she cast an indifferently glance at the two Genesis techniques in his hands. ¡°Very ordinary Genesis techniques.¡± Yaoyao quickly withdrew her gaze and heedlessly remarked. Zhou Yuan helplessly smiled and said, ¡°They¡¯re only Normal mid grade Genesis techniques, how complicated do you expect them to be?¡± ¡°You want to learn Genesis techniques?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze remained on the manuals as he nodded and said, ¡°Now that I¡¯ve opened my first meridian channel, I am able to use some Genesis Qi and naturally intend to learn Genesis techniques to supplement my battle power.¡± If one did not learn any Genesis techniques, there would be no other option than to clash with the quality of one¡¯s body in battle. Yaoyao could not help but give Zhou Yuan a strange look when she heard this. ¡°You already have superb techniques on you, why do you still look through these ordinary ones?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly focused. He lifted his head and looked at Yaoyao as his brows furrowed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Upon seeing this appearance of his, Yaoyao¡¯s ruddy little mouth frowned slightly. ¡°Stupid.¡± Zhou Yuan clenched his jaw and said with a hateful tone, ¡°Has all my good liquor been drunk in vain?¡± Yaoyao placed her hand on her cheek and lazily replied, ¡°Have you not realised anything after so many days of frolicking dragon forms practice?¡± A look of thought emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. After a long time, he suddenly stood up, walked out of the stone pavilion, raised his fists and slowly started to do a set of ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon. He did not quickly complete the set this time. Every action and movement was done rather slowly. Half an incense stick of time had already passed by the time he finished the entire set He stood on the spot and seemed to immerse himself in each and every movement. A long while later, his pupils suddenly shrunk as shock appeared on his immature face. Subsequently, he raised his head and looked towards the stone pavilion at Yaoyao, his voice containing a tone of disbelief. ¡°This¡­ this frolicking dragon forms hides Genesis techniques?¡± A small smirk emerged on Yaoyao¡¯s exquisite as an autumn moon face. ¡°Although you¡¯re a somewhat slow, you are not beyond redemption.¡± Next, she extended two slender fingers and coolly said, ¡°To be precise, there are two Genesis techniques hidden in the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 21 Dragon Step, Dragon Tablet Hand ¡°Two Genesis techniques?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook, eyes full of excitement as he looked towards Yaoyao. The Dragon Breathing method master Cang Yuan had imparted to him was deeply profound and obviously not ordinary at all. Hence, the two Genesis techniques contained within it were likely not simple as well. Yaoyao gently stroked the Tuntun and slowly said, ¡°These two Genesis techniques are known as the Dragon Step and the Dragon Tablet Hand.¡± ¡°Dragon Step? Dragon Tablet Hand?¡± A pensive look emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He could faintly sense that there were indeed some mysteries within the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon. However, he was incapable of clearly identifying them. After all, the only thing master Cang Yuan had done was throw Dragon Breathing at him, and a disciple groping about in the dark by himself would undoubtedly result in rather slow progress. Thus, he begged with his eyes at Yaoyao. Yaoyao displayed a very faint smile and winked at him. Zhou Yuan knew what she meant. With a wave of his hand, a servant girl immediately sent over a bottle of fine liquor. Only then did Yaoyao nod her head in satisfaction before lifting Tuntun and throwing it out of the stone pavilion. Upon seeing her actions, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids jumped as a feeling of unease bubbled within him. ¡°Could it be that Tuntun also knows?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips curved slightly, displaying a playful expression as she replied, ¡°Back then, grandpa Hei would teach Tuntun whenever he had nothing to do. Strictly speaking, Tuntun can be considered your senior brother disciple.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched as he involuntarily howled in his heart, ¡°Was Tuntun a human wearing the skin of a beast? How the heck was it even able to learn Genesis techniques?! Exactly what kind of beast was it?¡± No matter how he howled in his heart however, he still had to learn what needed to be learnt. Hence, he could only look towards Tuntun, gently rub its head and show an extremely kind smile. ¡°Good Tuntun. Show me the Dragon Step and Dragon Tablet Hand.¡± However, Tuntun was currently in a bad mood due to being thrown by Yaoyao. Thus, it merely swept a lazy glance at Zhou Yuan before laying down, refusing to move. Zhou Yuan extended a finger and prodded Tuntun¡¯s fat stomach, causing a wave of meat to ripple. However, no matter how he poked and prodded, the latter did not respond at all as if it was dead. Zhou Yuan raised an eyebrow when he saw that the little bastard was acting dead. Subsequently, he beckoned with his hand and a servant girl immediately brought over a plate of dried Genesis Beast meat. Tuntun¡¯s eyes moved the moment its smelled the fragrance of food. It instantly got up and pounced at the plate with a bark. Zhou Yuan pulled the plate away, causing Tuntun to pounce at empty air. It immediately bared its teeth at Zhou Yuan and snarled. ¡°Show me a first and I¡¯ll let you eat.¡± Zhou Yuan was all smiles. Tuntun looked at Zhou Yuan and then looked at the enticing Genesis Beast meat. In the end, it came to a compromise before the delicious food and stood up on two legs. Its paw-feet slanted at an angle and it began to display a series of bizarre footwork. Each step was wide and bold but gave off a mist-like sensation. Its body quickly became somewhat blur and it faintly seemed as if a real dragon was soaring within the mist, making it difficult to make out. A small creature standing up on its hind legs and displaying complicated footwork was usually a rather comical sight. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was exceptionally serious while his eyes were unblinkingly fixed on Tuntun. ¡°This is known as the Dragon Step. A dragon hides within the clouds, barely visible. Dragon Step similarly has a misty and illusory feeling, making others incapable of catching hold of you.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s indifferent voice echoed from the stone pavilion. ¡°You may try to attack Tuntun.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan clenched his hand and the Heavenly Yuan Brush landed within it. ¡°Martial form!¡± The foot-long Heavenly Yuan Brush abruptly grew as Zhou Yuan grabbed it with both hands. Its body swiftly shot forward, wind accompanying the tip of the brush as it pierced towards Tuntun in a tricky manner. Zhou Yuan had spent a substantial amount of time practicing basic spear techniques recently. Therefore, the way he used the Heavenly Yuan Brush now looked a little imposing. The brush tip ferociously shot forward. However, just as it was about to strike Tuntun, the latter¡¯s feet slanted and its body seemed to fade away, causing the brush tip to slide past. Zhou Yuan could not believe his eyes. Power circulated in his arms as the Heavenly Yuan Brush fiercely thrust forward with swishing sounds. It was a rather intimidating sight. However, Tuntun continued to move, neither fast nor slow, as its body seemed to fade away from time to time. Zhou Yuan was unable to even graze the former no matter how he attacked. In the end, Zhou Yuan stopped, gasping for breath as light blossomed in his eyes. He had realized the greatness of the Dragon Step. Such mist-like footwork could toy an enemy dizzy. It was clearly no ordinary auxiliary Genesis technique. Tuntun also slowed down when it saw that Zhou Yuan had stopped. Its little claw patted its fat stomach and pointed Zhou Yuan with a sneer. ¡°Once the Dragon Step is learnt, one¡¯s Genesis Qi will vibrate with the air, creating a smokescreen-like effect. That is how the fade-away effect comes about. In other words, others might see that an attack is aimed at your throat but in reality, the attack has deviated three inches away from your real body. It is these three inches of deviation in which the Dragon Step displays its greatness.¡± ¡°Next is the Dragon Tablet Hand.¡± Said Yaoyao in a drawn-out manner. Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards Tuntun. It ferociously pounced, its paws swiping and grabbing in a wild and free manner. This sight vaguely resembled a giant dragon reaching out its claws and gave off a bold and powerful aura as if a giant dragon was smashing a mountain with a tablet. Bang! Claw shadows appeared and heavily slammed into a boulder, instantly shattering it, causing countless pieces of shattered rock to be flung outwards. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrunk a little. The power behind this strike was truly domineering. Most importantly, he could feel that Tuntun had not used powerful Genesis Qi. This meant that the power of this technique would not be weak if he was the one to use it instead. The Dragon Tablet Hand was clearly much stronger than the Universe Origin Fist and the Bright Air-Shattering Fist. Ao ao. Tuntun hopped till it was right in front of Zhou Yuan, pointed its paw at the plate of dried Genesis Beast meat and barked as if to hurry him. Zhou Yuan put down the dried meat with a look of contemplation in his eyes. He considered himself to be achieved basic mastery of the frolicking dragon forms after practicing for the past few days. Thus, he could tell with a single glance that both the Dragon Step and Dragon Tablet Hand from earlier were basically derived from the dragon frolicking forms. Zhou Yuan stood in silence for a long time before he suddenly lifted his foot and stepped forward at an angle. His steps were abnormally eccentric, yet remarkable like a soaring dragon. Meanwhile, the first meridian channel in his body began to absorb the surrounding Genesis Qi before diffusing it out from his body. The instant the circulation of Genesis Qi in his body aligned with his steps, Zhou Yuan shifted his feet horizontally and his body blurred for a moment, unable to be found. It was rather bizarre. In the stone pavilion, Yaoyao¡¯s eyes faintly flashed when she saw this. Soon after, a smile of admiration was revealed on her face. Evidently, Zhou Yuan had grasped a little of the Dragon Step. Zhou Yuan continued to practice. An incense stick of time later, his originally inexperienced steps had grown much more practiced. He seemed to absent-mindedly shift his feet, causing his body to fade away from time to time, becoming as difficult to discern as the mist. Zhou Yuan eventually stopped, eyes filled with surprise and excitement. The Dragon Step was really amazing. The moment one seemingly faded away was in fact due to a certain special reaction between one¡¯s Genesis Qi and the surrounding air. It hid one¡¯s true location, making it hard to tell what was real or fake, ultimately making it difficult for others to find. After gaining some understanding of the Dragon Step, Zhou Yuan¡¯s thoughts shifted to the Dragon Tablet Hand. This bold and powerful Genesis technique was akin to a giant dragon smashing a mountain with a tablet. That instantaneous explosion of power was obviously rather shocking. The technique was not overly complicated. One only needed to visualise the destructive feeling of a giant dragon flinging a tablet while making Genesis Qi flow along one¡¯s channels and brazenly attack. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist seemed to flicker. It appeared to move in slow-motion but gave off a feeling of heaviness as if dragging a heavy tablet while energy brewed within it. Meanwhile, Genesis Qi flowed along the meridian channel in his body and poured into his fist. At a certain moment, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly focused as his immature face became stern. His hand abruptly moved, one pulling, the other guiding, as if he was a giant dragon smashing the stone tablet in his claws at an unbroken mountain range. Boom! Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist heavily smashed into a thick tree trunk. Berserk power exploded from the centre of his fist, immediately causing wood splinters to fly as he piercedthe entire trunk with a single punch. Sweat flowed down Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. He knew that his battle power would jump with the Dragon Step and the Dragon Tablet Hand. Next, once he unblocked his second meridian channel, he would no longer have anything to fear in the newcomer exam. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 22 Advent of the Newcomer Exam As time flowed, the date of the newcomer exam grew increasingly near. For the greater part of the month, Zhou Yuan had not relaxed even for a single moment. He practiced the frolicking dragon forms daily, relentlessly attacking his meridian channels time and time again, while every night was spent on the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method to temper his spirit. In addition, the gaps in between were spent learning Genesis Runes from Yaoyao along with diligently practicing the Dragon Step and Dragon Tablet Hand. This enriching and highly intensive training made even Zhou Yuan¡¯s body ache all over at the end of each day, while his mind was even more exhausted. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan would become as lively as a tiger and filled with energy after the night¡¯s practice of the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. It was then that Zhou Yuan finally felt the benefits brought by the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. Although the training was tough, the results from persevering through it made Zhou Yuan jump with joy. He had finally unblocked his second meridian channel just two days before the newcomer exam... ¡­ In the flower park. Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot shifted as his figure gave off a faint feeling of mist. He seemed to move carelessly, but his speed was extremely quick, appearing a dozen feet away in a few steps. At the same time, his fist seemed to flicker. Every punch was slow and heavy, but when he punched, the faint sound of wind could be heard, making it clear that these punches contained great force. These were obviously the Dragon Step and Dragon Tablet Hand. The Dragon Step was ungraspable as the mist, while the Dragon Tablet Hand gave off a weighty feeling. Fast feet and slow fist. Contrary to expectation, the combination of the two was rather impressive. Dong! Zhou Yuan¡¯s faintly flickering fist suddenly slammed into an artificially placed rock in the park. The rock immediately shook as numerous cracks grew on it. In the end, the rock collapse with a loud boom. Phew. Zhou Yuan deeply exhaled, releasing a ball of white Qi. He looked towards the shattered rock in satisfaction. Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, ¡°The Dragon Tablet Hand has three levels, shatter the mountain, split the earth and break the sky. With my two channel strength, I can only use shatter the mountain.¡± After half a month of bitter training, he had gained an even greater understanding of the Dragon Tablet Hand and now knew that there were three levels to this technique. Of course, the names of these levels had come from Zhou Yuan himself for the sake of intimidating his opponents. After all, given his two channel strength, he would not be able to shatter an entire mountain even if he obtained complete mastery of the technique. No matter how high grade a Genesis technique was, it needed the support of abundant and powerful Genesis Qi to fully display its might. On this point, his current Genesis Qi was still much too sparse. If he was to reach the Heaven Gate stage, his Genesis Qi would become so abundant that a mere breath would be able to shatter a mountain. Even so, Zhou Yuan was already very satisfied with the power of the Dragon Tablet Hand. After all, the opponents he had to face at his current level were not so inconceivably powerful. ¡°It is nearly time for the newcomer exam. I have to take one of the top ten spots and enter the A class, else with just Youwei alone, it will be difficult to keep Qi Yue in check.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered. Qi Yue was the source of the confidence for Qi Manor to take the position of headmaster. The headmaster position was too important. If it fell into Qi Manor¡¯s hands, king Qi would definitely do a clean sweep of the ranks and stealthily change the Great Zhou Institute into the Great Qi Institute. This would be a fatal blow to the royal clan and Zhou Yuan absolutely could not let it happen. Thus, he would do everything in his power to ensure that the number one spot of the year-end class rankingl exam ended up with the A class. Zhou Yuan inhaled as his eyes gradually turned sharp. Of course, before all of that, he had to first make sure that he would successfully enter the A class through the imminent newcomer exam. ¡­ On the day of the newcomer exam, the fish-belly-white sun rose from the horizon as the atmosphere over the Great Zhou Institute became extremely lively and filled with excitement. Every new student who entered the institute would have to take part in the newcomer exam after a year of training. They would subsequently be allocated to a class and continue on to more advanced training. Therefore, there was no need to doubt the importance of the newcomer exam in the institute. When Zhou Yuan arrived at the exam practice field, it was already a boiling cauldron of noise. Numerous boys and girls gathered in groups as they chatted with each other, each and every one wearing expressions of both nervousness and excitement. Zhou Yuan saw Su Youwei in the biggest group. She was undoubtedly the group¡¯s center of attention and the sight of this appeared somewhat like a bunch of stars surrounding the brilliant moon. After all, not only was she pretty, her talent was likewise amazing and she had a determined character. All these factors undoubtedly made Su Youwei the focus amongst the newest batch of students. A faint smile emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he watched this scene. He could still recall the time when he met Su Youwei a year before, back when she was only a little girl covered in grime. It was as if she had undergone a complete metamorphosis.Not only was she enchantingly beautiful, she also gave off a glow of confidence, causing numerous boys to adore her. All of these changes originated from her own efforts. All Zhou Yuan had done was point out a road for her to walk. In the crowd, the faintly smiling and chatting Su Youwei seemed to have sensed something and lifted her pretty face. Her gaze met Zhou Yuan¡¯s and the smile on her lips fully blossomed. The brilliance in that moment caused the eyes of the surrounding boys to brighten. However, before they could redouble their efforts to be friendly, Su Youwei had already politefully smiled at them and exited the crowd. With her small hands behind her back, she unhurriedly walked towards Zhou Yuan, eyes like crescent moons and a smile on her lips. Zhou Yuan stared at Su Youwei. He could faintly sense that the Genesis Qi surrounding her body seemed to have grown stronger and immediately asked, ¡°Opened your fourth meridian channel?¡± ¡°Opened it long ago. The reason why you do not know is because you¡¯ve not come to the institute recently.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s bright eyes blinked a few times as she spoke in a somewhat grudging tone. Zhou Yuan could not help but let out an awkward chuckle when he saw her gaze. ¡°I was also working hard in my training.¡± ¡°So are you confident in your chances?¡± Su Youwei¡¯s eyes contained some worry. She did not know that Zhou Yuan had already found his meridian channels and thus believed that he could only depend on Genesis Runes. Zhou Yuan grinned as he nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely enter the top ten.¡± Su Youwei was somewhat relieved when she saw his confident smile and responded with a light nod. While Zhou Yuan was chatting with Su Youwei, several gazes habouring malicious intentions were staring at them from a nearby platform. ¡°Looks like our prince does have the balls to take part in the newcomer exam.¡± A smile was plastered across Qi Yue¡¯s face though it contained a trace of mockery. ¡°To think that learning a few Genesis Runes would make him so conceited. He truly overestimates himself.¡± At Qi Yue¡¯s side was the girl called Liu Xi. She had a pretty appearance with thin red lips, and was currently staring at Zhou Yuan in disdain. Her gaze would shift over to Su Youwei from time to time as jealousy flitted across her eyes. In the past, she, Liu Xi, was the most adored pearl in the Great Zhou Institute. However, all of this had changed after Su Youwei appeared. Not only was she extremely popular amongst the newer students, even the boys from the various classes would talk about her from time to time. Such popularity was clearly not ordinary at all. This made Liu Xi extremely furious. In her eyes, Su Youwei was merely a lowly commoner, someone worlds apart in both status and nobility compared to herself. Yet, this commoner girl had obtained popularity that surpassed her own, a fact that really infuriated her. Lin Feng stood slightly behind Qi Yue. The former was expressionless as he watched the chatting Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei, but a cold look flashed in his eyes. When Qi Yue saw the look in Lin Feng¡¯s eyes, he could not help but chuckle as he patted the latter¡¯s shoulders. ¡°No need to worry, everything is already in place. I have prepared the most excellent opponents for his highness for every match.¡± He smiled superficially as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Since he dares to come, I will let him receive so much humiliation that he will no longer dare to show his face in the Great Zhou Institute ever again.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lin Feng and Liu Xi exchanged a look and laughed. Looks like there was going to be a good show during today¡¯s newcomer exam. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 23 First Sign of the Excellence Clang! Clang! As more and more new students gathered on the practice field, a loud sound spread from a tall platform. Everyone raised their heads and saw an examiner standing there. ¡°For this newcomer exam, your opponents will be decided through drawing lots. Everyone come forward and draw your lot, those with the same number will be matched with each other.¡± The examiner¡¯s powerful voice spread across the entire field. Following this, the numerous new students went forward to draw their lots, causing the place to become increasingly bustling. The upper echelons of the Great Zhou Institute were gathered on a viewing platform west of the field. Seated at the very centre was the current headmaster, Chu Tianyang. Beside him was middle-aged man in purple robes. The man¡¯s face was thin and he had deeply set eyes, making him look rather stern. His was expressionless as he sat with his back against the chair, cup of tea in hand. This person was the vice-headmaster of the Great Zhou Institute, and the one in charge of the B class, Xu Hong. Xu Hong observed the field as he faintly smiled and said, ¡°Headmaster Chu, I¡¯m afraid that your A class will only be able to select those ranked eleven and below this time.¡± Chu Tianyang was expressionless. He naturally knew that most of the outstanding individuals of the new batch had already been enticed to Qi Yue¡¯s side and would undoubtedly enter the B class after the newcomer exam. Chu Tianyang coldly replied, ¡°Vice-head Xu, acting so smug so soon might not be a good thing.¡± Xu Hong did not mind Chu Tianyang¡¯s anger-filled response, the former¡¯s lips curling into a mocking smile. His B class had already obtained the top position in the class ranking exam for the past two years. If they took first place again this year, he would be able to contest for the headmaster position in accordance to the rules of the institute. When that happened, the new headmaster of the Great Zhou Institute would be him, Xu Hong. The other surrounding class masters could only maintain their silence as they watched the two parties clash. They understood very well that behind this contest for the headmaster position was the battle between the Great Zhou royal clan and Qi Manor. Chu Tianyang was deeply enraged by Xu Hong, but there was nothing he could do. Even he could not match majority of the promises Qi Yue had made to entice those students. ¡°The only thing I can do now is hope that Su Youwei will perform well. She is very talented. If she enters the A class and is properly groomed, there might be a chance to for her to vie with Qi Yue during the year-end class ranking exam.¡± Chu Tianyang softly sighed in his heart. Soon after, his gaze suddenly shifted to Zhou Yuan¡¯s location with some worry in his eyes. Although Chu Tiangyang knew that Zhou Yuan was now able to unblock his meridian channels, it had only been a month since then and even if Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent was not less than Su Youwei¡¯s, he would have likely barely managed to unblock only one channel. With such strength, top ten was certainly out of the question and it was likely that he would not even be able to win a few matches today. Zhou Yuann was the prince of Great Zhou, and the halo of this identity would surely draw the attention of others. Hence, it would damage the Great Zhou royal clan¡¯s reputation if he lost in an unsightly manner. Chu Tianyang shook his head and mumbled in his heart, ¡°I hope that his highness will be able to endure for a few matches.¡± At this current moment, Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei had already drawn their lots on the practice field. Zhou Yuan had drawn eighteen while Su Youwei forty seven. ¡°Thank goodness we did not draw the same number.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but smile upon seeing this. Su Youwei softly laughed. Soon after, she said in a serious manner, ¡°If you meet me, I will not go easy on you.¡± Zhou Yuan could only roll his eyes in response. While they were conversing, the referees had already ascended each practice arena and loud shouts sounded in succession. ¡°Number one, Qin Ya and Liu Ying!¡± ¡°Number two, Cheng Yu and Zhao Qingshan!¡± ¡°.¡­..¡± As strong and healthy figures leapt onto each arena, the atmosphere of the entire practice field began to boil. Each arena was surrounded by numerous boys and girls while various cheers and shouts could be heard. Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei did not join in the fun and merely observed from afar. As time passed, the matches on these martial arenas quickly came to a close. The victors would rejoice while the losers hung their heads in dejection. However, the exam would not stop for anyone¡¯s loss. Hence, intense battles continued to play out on the arenas and Zhou Yuan¡¯s turn quickly arrived. ¡°Number eighteen, Zhou Yuan and Pei Yun!¡± As this shout spread, the hearts of numerous youths skipped a beat. Their attention was drawn over from all direction because everyone in the Great Zhou Institute knew of Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity. What shocked them even more was Zhou Yuan¡¯s opponent, Pei Yun. This individual was quite famous amongst the new batch of students. Not only had he already opened his third meridian channel, he was also one of the more outstanding practitioners amongst the three channels. ¡°His highness Zhou Yuan¡¯s first match is against Pei Yun?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s really unlucky. Pei Yun is one the stronger three channel practitioners¡­¡± ¡°Although prince Zhou Yuan is rather good in Genesis Runes, it is quite unlikely that he will be able to defeat a three channel practitioner.¡± ¡°Is prince Zhou Yuan going to be eliminated in the first match?¡± ¡°.¡­..¡± Whispers spread in the practice field. Zhou Yuan had a rather good reputation in the institute, hence many people felt that this match-up was rather unfortunate for him. ¡°To think that it would be Pei Yun.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s face was somewhat ugly. She had naturally heard of Pei Yun and knew how powerful he was. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He looked towards a nearby high platform as if he had sensed something, only to see Qi Yue watching him with a strange smile. A thought flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind as he said to himself, ¡°It is really too much of a coincidence for me to meet such an opponent in my first match.¡± His eyes faintly flickered with thought. It was likely that Qi Yue had a hand in this matter. However, the fact that he could pull off such a thing was enough to show how deeply Qi Manor had infiltrated the institute. ¡°To think that he would not hesitate exposing some of Qi Manor¡¯s secret pawns just to cause me trouble¡­¡± This thought flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind before he smiled at Su Youwei, whose eyes were filled with worry, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m afraid that a three channel practitioner is not enough to stop me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be going.¡± After speaking, Zhou Yuan waved his hand at Su Youwei and briskly walked towards the practice arena. Qi Yue watched this scene from the high platform and could not help but grin at Lin Feng and Liu Yi. ¡°The show is about to start. I hope that our prince will be able to at least last for a while and let us properly enjoy it.¡± A gloating look flitted across Lin Feng¡¯s and Liu Yi¡¯s eyes when they heard this. Both of them also smirked and looked towards the arena. On the viewing platform to the west, Chu Tianyang frowned slightly when he saw this same scene and helplessly sighed in his heart. With such an opponent, it likely going to be very difficult for Zhou Yuan to achieve victory in his first match. Under numerous pitying gazes, a calm-looking Zhou Yuan ascended the arena. He looked to his front, only to find a boy in blue fearlessly standing there, a mocking look in the latter¡¯s eyes. Pei Yun had an odd look in his eyes as he smiled and said, ¡°I really did not imagine that I will meet your highness in the first match. Do forgive me if my blows are too heavy later on.¡± ¡°Did Qi Yue set this up?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan in an emotionless voice. Pei Yun¡¯s eyes widened a little, before he smiled and replied, ¡°I do not know what your highness is talking about.¡± Zhou Yuan adjusted his clothes. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that things will not end well for the one who volunteered to be the first to test the waters.¡± Pei Yun was a little angered and coldly replied, ¡°It will be better for your highness to think about your own situation. I pray that you will not be humiliated too greatly today.¡± While they were talking, a referee sternly cried out, ¡°Begin!¡± Pei Yun¡¯s eyes were filled with iciness. Hence, his figure bolted out like a panther the moment the referee¡¯s cry rang out, fingers tightly clenched into a powerful punch that was thrown at Zhou Yuan. He did not hold back at all with regards to this punch. Three channels of power fully poured out, covering the surface of his fist with Genesis Qi and even the sound of wind could be heard due to its momentum. This was obviously an extremely domineering and powerful punch. Even a three channel practitioner would not dare to underestimate it. The crowd around the arena could not help but shake their heads. It was likely that Zhou Yuan would lose when this punch landed. Under the watching eyes of the crowd, intimidating fist winds pounced at Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He gazed at the rather twisted look on his opponent as his hand suddenly shot out to catch the latter¡¯s fist. ¡°Courting death!¡± Upon seeing this, Pei Yun¡¯s anger transformed into laughter. Could Zhou Yuan have been frightened silly? Pei Yun¡¯s punch could shatter even rock and yet Zhou Yuan dared to catch it? Was he not afraid of breaking his arm? Thump! A sinister look filled Pei Yun¡¯s eyes as he watched his deadly punch heavily smashed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm, causing a pleased smile to emerge from the corners of the former¡¯s lips. However, this smile immediately turned rigid a split second later. He had seen that Zhou Yuan¡¯s outreached hand had not budged at all. Wild power gushed out from Pei Yun¡¯s punch, but it was as all of this power was charging into a black hole. There was no response at all. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± A horrified cry sounded in Pei Yun¡¯s heart, his expression suddenly changing, as a feeling of unease rose within him. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth turned into a cold smile as he watched the changing expression on Pei Yun¡¯s face. Zhou Yun had already unblocked his second meridian channel, greatly strengthening his body. Even a three channel practitioner could not compare to him now. He held Pei Yun¡¯s fist and slowly exerted force with a grip as solid as that of an eagle. The growing power caused Pei Yun to feel as if his fist was about to be crushed. ¡°Three channels open!¡± Pei Yun wore a horrified expression as he fiercely gritted his teeth and howled. The three meridian channels in his body abruptly started to vibrate, pulling in the surrounding Genesis Qi. Immediately, a powerful force exploded within his body. However, just as he was able to free himself from Zhou Yuan¡¯s grip, the latter suddenly made his move, or more accurately swung his leg. Powerful kick-wind blew as a foot surrounded by slivers of swirling Genesis Qi was swiftly flung at Pei Yun¡¯s chest. ¡°Scram!¡± Thump! A muffled sound was heard as Pei Yun felt an indescribably huge force slam into him. The force was so great that he would not be able to match it even if he use all three meridian channels to take in Genesis Qi. Thus, his body was sent miserably flying off the arena, before crashing into the ground as he vomited a mouthful of blood. The surroundings immediately turned silent. Everyone was dumbstruck as they watched this scene. The exchange between Zhou Yuan and Pei Yun had been too quick. They had only seen Pei Yun charge at Zhou Yuan, and before they could react, the aggressive Pei Yun had been kicked off the stage by Zhou Yuan a millisecond later¡­ Just how much power was in that kick?! Everyone looked at Zhou Yuan as if they had seen a ghost. They clearly knew that he had not used any Genesis Runes this time. Therefore, the kick from earlier was completely Zhou Yuan¡¯s own power. Even a three channel practitioner could not compare, right?! Since when had this prince of theirs, whom was said to be unable to find his channels, become so strong? Su Youwei¡¯s hand covered her mouth, while her face filled with disbelief. She had not understood why Zhou Yuan had been so confident before. Only now did she understand¡­ Zhou Yuan had been hiding his power all along! On the tall platform, the smiles of the trio whom were originally ready to enjoy a good show also turned rigid at this moment as their faces turned white with anger, disbelief and shock. This turn of events had far exceeded their expectations. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 24 Show of Migh ¡°How is this possible?!¡± Lin Feng¡¯s and Liu Xi¡¯s faces were filled with astonishment. Their eyes were glued to the slender figure on the nearby arena as they said in shock, ¡°He removed the three channel Pei Yun from the arena with a single kick?!¡± Qi Yue¡¯s face twitched, his eyes like dark clouds as he said in a chilling voice, ¡°It seems that we¡¯ve been tricked by Zhou Yuan. He used Genesis Qi in his previous kick, meaning he has already unblocked at least one meridian channel!¡± Lin Feng¡¯s and Liu Xi¡¯s pupils shrunk. They knew that Zhou Yuan¡¯s eight meridians refused to show themselves so why had they suddenly been unblocked now? Zhou Yuan had concealed himself very deeply indeed! Qi Yue inhaled deeply and darkly said, ¡°He has likely unblocked his channels recently and cannot possibly have opened too many. Pei Yun lost so quickly because he was caught off-guard and did not even have the chance to use any Genesis techniques.¡± ¡°If he was prepared, Zhou Yuan might not have won.¡± Upon hearing this analysis, Lin Feng and Liu Xi regained their calm and nodded in agreement. Zhou Yuan had purposely hidden his strength, making his opponent careless before taking victory in a flash. ¡°Such craftiness.¡± Liu Xi sneered. ¡°However, this method can only be used once. Let¡¯s see how he fares in the next match!¡± Lin Feng slowly nodded. He had originally planned to wait for Zhou Yuan to be thoroughly humiliated in front of Su Youwei. Lin Feng never imagined that Zhou Yuan would pull off something like this and it truly angered him. Qi Yue¡¯s eyes flickered as he darkly stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. No one knew what the former was thinking. Meanwhile, on the observation platform, Chu Tianyang¡¯s face was filled with shock as when he saw this scene. Bewilderment fluctuated indeterminately in his eyes as he said, ¡°How did prince Zhou Yuan become so powerful?¡± He clearly understood that Zhou Yuan had only been able to begin his channel opening training a month ago. Yet, the power of that kick from before had been even greater than that of a three channel practitioner! He could not figure it out at all and could only inwardly shake his head. However, he also secretly sighed in relief. Looks like Zhou Yuan did have some chance in this newcomer exam. No wonder he had declared that he would enter the A class through the newcomer exam a month ago. It turned out that he did have the ability to match his words. Beside Chu Tianyang, Xu Hong frowned a little when he saw Zhou Yuan obtain victory, but did not say anything. Although the power that Zhou Yuan had shown was astonishing, it was still rather optimistic for him to take one of the top ten positions. Thus, there was no need to worry. Under the gazes of astonishment from all around, Zhou Yuan hopped off the arena after hearing the referee¡¯s decision and walked towards Su Youwei. ¡°You¡¯ve really concealed your abilities really well!¡± Su Youwei pouted a little as she looked at Zhou Yuan. To think that she had been worrying all along because she was in the dark with regards to the fact that he had already begun unblocking his channels. Zhou Yuan hurriedly explained, ¡°There was no time to tell you because I was training non-stop.¡± Su Youwei softly snorted, a clearly unhappy look on her small face as she replied, ¡°Then tell me truthfully, how many channels have you opened?¡± ¡°Two.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, not hiding anything. After all, everyone would know after today. Su Youwei¡¯s long and shapely eyebrows furrowed slightly as she shot a skeptical look at Zhou Yuan. ¡°That kick from earlier was not from a two channel practitioner.¡± That attack had been able to kick even a three channel practitioner off the stage. Its power was completely unlike something a two channel practitioner was capable of. Zhou Yuan could only let out a helpless laugh. The quality of his two channel body was practically akin to a four channel practitioner. Hence, sending Pei Yun flying with a kick was not difficult at all. However, he naturally could not explain this so as to avoid drawing attention he could not afford. Fortunately, Su Youwei did not dwell on this topic. Instead, her eyes contained joy as she said, ¡°Two channels. If you add in your Genesis Runes, you might even have a chance of charging into the top ten rankings.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. The newcomer exam went on while they talked. An unceasing string of intense battle on the various arenas continued to incite cheers and shouts from the numerous surrounding boys and girls. It soon came to Su Youwei¡¯s turn. Su Youwei¡¯s opponent was a mere two channel new student. The latter¡¯s face turned somewhat pale when he realised he had been matched with her. After all, the gap between both parties was far too great. Thus, there was no suspense at all in this match. After a few exchanges, Su Youwei¡¯s opponent had been completely defeated and he subsequently jumped off the stage. After a few more rounds, Zhou Yuan¡¯s turn came once again. ¡°Zhou Yuan, Shi Yu!¡± When this shout rang out in the field, numerous gazes were instantly drawn over. The first match had ended way too quickly and many people did not understand how Zhou Yuan had won. Hence, they were extremely curious about this next match. Zhou Yuan walked onto the arena unde the attention of numerous gazes. The boy called Shi Yu facing him had a rather well-built body. However, Shi Yu was currently full of vigilance as he stared at Zhou Yuan. It was evident that this second opponent had learnt a lesson from his predecessor. ¡°Begin!¡± Shi Yu made his move the instant the judge¡¯s shout was heard. ¡°Three channels open!¡± Following Shi Yu¡¯s roar, Genesis Qi flooded into his body. His clothes flapped about, while light that could be seen with the naked eye swirled on the surface of his body. It was a rather imposing sight. As he felt the explosion of power in his body, the wariness in his eyes receded substantially. Shi Yu tightly stared at Zhou Yuan and a split second later, the former¡¯s foot pushed off the ground as he shot forward. His body appeared in front of Zhou Yuan, five fingers curling like an eagle¡¯s claw while Genesis Qi light flowed at his fingertips. The sharpness of this attack was enough to tear through rock. Shi Yu¡¯s attack was extremely swift and ferocious, reaching Zhou Yuan¡¯s neck in the blink of an eye. However, just as it was about to land, Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet suddenly inclined as his body turned blurry. The hand-claw surrounded by wisps of Genesis Qi light slashed downwards, but what made Shi Yu¡¯s pupils shrink was that his originally sure-hit attack had landed on empty air. ¡°Not good!¡± A chill rose in his heart. However, a figure flashed before his eyes before he could pull back his hand and defend. Zhou Yuan rapidly closed-in, a slim palm penetrating Su Yu¡¯s defences and lightly landed on his chest. The palm strike seemed to be a light blow, but it contained astonishing power. Thump! Shi Yu was barely able to direct Genesis Qi light to his chest in defence before he quickly felt an overbearing power pour onto his chest. Shi Yu¡¯s body was directly blown away by the power and his sorry figure landed on the arena. He miserably steadied himself before hastily rolling away in hopes of avoiding Zhou Yuan¡¯s follow-up attack. However, the moment his body stopped, Shi Yu saw a flash from the corner of his eyes as a figure closely followed him like a shadow, causing him to scared out of his skin. However, before he could take any action, he felt a hand grab his forehead. Power surged at the center of the hand, causing his body to freeze, no longer daring to make any movements. If that power was released, his head would be crushed. ¡°I admit defeat!¡± Cold sweat drenched Shi Yu¡¯s body as he loudly shouted without the slightest hesitation. Upon hearing Shi Yu concede, Zhou Yuan released his hand and his gaze swept around him. The surroundings of the arena were completely silent. Everyone¡¯s mouths were wide open having seen the swift and direct end to the match. ¡°Great!¡± This silence lasted for a split second before countless cheers followed. The swiftness and ferocity Zhou Yuan had shown earlier paired with his almost phantom-like speed was truly stunning. Was this still the prince that was rumored to have been unable to begin channel opening cultivation? On the tall platform nearby, Qi Yue, Liu Xi and Lin Feng turned silent while their expressions fluctuated indeterminately. Lin Feng slowly said, ¡°Very fast!¡± A serious look had finally appeared in his eyes. As an observer, he was naturally able to clearly see that Shi Yu had lost because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed. No matter how the former retreated at full speed, Zhou Yuan had followed behind like a shadow. Liu Xi gritted her teeth as she angrily scolded Shi Yu, ¡°What a useless piece of trash.¡± Qi Yue was expressionless. His hands slowly stroked the railings as he said in a voice void of any warmth, ¡°The quality of his body is very high, practically able to match a four channel practitioner.¡± His tone turned much icier as he looked towards Lin Feng. ¡°Three channel practitioners are no match for him. It seems that we can only rely on you.¡± Cold light flowed in Lin Feng¡¯s eyes as he nodded. ¡°Relax. He will not pass me. I will let him know just how powerful a true four channel practitioner is!¡± On the viewing platform, shock was revealed on Chu Tianyang¡¯s face as he mumbled to himself, ¡°The quality of his body is comparable to a four channel practitioner, but the Genesis Qi undulations are not as strong as a four channel practitioner, strange¡­¡± Zhou Yuan jumped off the stage. He could feel an additional trace of respect in the gazes that were cast at him from all around, respect not because of his status or identity, but because of the power he had displayed. In a world where cultivation was the mainstream, even a prince like Zhou Yuan being unable to start channel opening cultivation wouldmake others feel sympathy and pity for him. Zhou Yuan did not like those gazes. That was why he had such a strong attachment to Genesis Qi cultivation. Now, these feelings were no longer present in the gazes that were directed at him. ¡°So powerful.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s pretty face was filled with astonishment as she watched Zhou Yuan walk over. As a four channel opener, she could naturally tell how formidable his attacks had been on the arena. Especially that speed, even she did not dare to underestimate it. Zhou Yuan chuckled before turning his head as he looked towards the tall platform nearby. Qi Yue¡¯s gaze coincidentally met Zhou Yuan¡¯s, both seeing the frostiness in each other¡¯s eyes. Qi Yue stared at Zhou Yuan in a cold and dark manner as his lips cracked open into a smile, revealing a set of sinisterly white teeth. Subsequently, he extended his hand and slid it across his throat, an action that was filled with provocation. Zhou Yuan merely let out a laugh in response as he softly said to himself. ¡°Still so lively. Just wait and see how I will beat you to death in the class ranking exam at the end of the year¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 25 Battling Lin Feng The field was over-saturated with people. The intense battles on each of the various arenas would cause deafening cheers to erupt from the many boys and girls from time to time. It was a pretty explosive atmosphere. As time passed, more and more new students were eliminated. However, the remaining students were becoming increasingly elite, causing the battles that followed to naturally become even more amazing. Over this period, Zhou Yuan had another two matches. There were no surprises to the outcomes. His three channel opponents were utterly defeated at his hands. Hence, he entered the top twenty. In front of a certain martial arena, Zhou Yuan gazed at the stage where two figures were criss-crossing at high speeds. Genesis Qi light flowed around their bodies and every clash of fists and legs would cause the air to make ear-piercing noises. The one on the stage was naturally Su Youwei, and her opponent was similarly a four channel practitioner. If she won this match, Su Youwei would advance to the top ten and possess the qualifications to enter the A class. Su Youwei¡¯s beautiful figure moved nimbly like a willow in the wind. Her opponent was a well-built youth whose attacks were wild and free, extremely barbaric like a ferocious ape. In response to her opponent¡¯s wildness, Su Youwei chose to not meet him head-on. Instead, she borrowed the force of her opponents punches and strikes to agilely dodge. This went on for a long time until the strong youth¡¯s ferocious attacks finally grew weary. Su Youwei¡¯s eyes flashed as she changed her strategy, her pretty figure abruptly closing in on her opponent. However, it was at this moment that a bright light flashed in the youth¡¯s eyes. His originally somewhat weary attacks were suddenly revived. With a loud shout, Genesis Qi light swirled around a hard fist containing alarming force whilst accompanied by a faint sonic boom as it powerfully struck at Su Youwei. Formidable fist-wind rushed over, causing Su Youwei¡¯s fine black hair to fly. However, there was no trace of panic in her eyes. Her two fingers jutted out like a sharp sword and violently thrust forward, beating the youth by half a beat as it landed on his chest. The fist-wind came to an abrupt halt. The youth¡¯s eyes were wide with fury, his body faintly trembling and his face flushed red as he said through gritted teeth, ¡°You¡¯ve actually mastered the Jade-Breaker Finger?¡± Su Youwei smiled faintly as her outstretched hand gently pushed and the well-built youth¡¯s body immediately fell to the ground with a loud thud. At the same time, the crowd finally saw a jade-like luster on Su Youwei¡¯s slender fingers. It sparkled in a translucent manner while giving off a formidable aura of coldness. The numerous watching boys and girls surround the arena exploded into cheers. ¡°That is the Jade-Breaker Finger, right? A mid grade Genesis technique said to be very difficult to master. I never imagined that Su Youwei would actually succeed.¡± ¡°This technique concentrates power at a point to break through and has extremely great destructive power. A moment ago, there was a gap in Zhao Feng¡¯s powerful assault which was exploited by Su Youwei¡¯s finger attack, resulting in his defeat.¡± ¡°So awesome, as expected of the fastest channel opening genius of our Great Zhou Institute.¡± ¡°.¡­..¡± Numerous boys lamented, their gazes turning even more passionate when they looked towards Su Youwei. There was also thick adoration within their eyes. Under those passionate gazes, Su Youwei got off the stage and headed straight for Zhou Yuan. There was no longer any trace of the decisiveness and ruthlessness from the recently ended fight in her current smiling appearance. ¡°How was it?¡± Su Youwei lightly hoisted her snow-white chin like a young child showing off candy. ¡°Very formidable. The power of that Jade-Breaker Finger was fairly shocking. Even the body of a four channel opener will not be able to withstand it.¡± Zhou Yuan sincerely praised. He would likely be unable to take the might of that finger attack if it landed on his body. Upon obtaining Zhou Yuan¡¯s praise, the corners of Su Youwei¡¯s ruddy little mouth turned upwards. Just as she was about to speak, a referee¡¯s shout was suddenly heard from a nearby arena. ¡°Zhou Yuan, Lin Feng!¡± The moment this shout was heard, the originally noisy field instantly fell silent. Soon after, booming cheers exploded as practically every person flooded towards that particular arena. After winning the previous few matches, Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly become the most dazzling black horse in the newcomer exam. However, the opponent he encountered this time was Lin Feng! Lin Feng was hugely popular amongst the new batch of students and was rumoured to be the most likely candidate for the number one position in the exam. Amongst the new batch of students, Lin Feng was definitely one of the very best. Would Zhou Yuan be a black horse till the end, or would he be stopped by Lin Feng just outside top ten? Everyone was burning to find out. Su Youwei¡¯s expression also changed drastically at this moment. It was obvious that it had never occurred to her that Zhou Yuan and Lin Feng would meet. One must know that even she would have prepare for a hard fight against Lin Feng, what more the merely two channel Zhou Yuan? Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He lifted his head and looked towards the nearby tall platform where Qi Yue revealed a smile at him. Subsequently, the latter reached a hand and tapped Lin Feng¡¯s shoulder. Lin Feng also looked towards Zhou Yuan with an expressionless face. However, there was coldness and disdain in those eyes of his. Lin Feng seemed to smile and say something to Qi Yue before pushing off the ground with the tip of his foot, causing his body to rise into the air. He landed on the arena in a confident manner that drew cheers from the surrounding crowd. A cold smile also emerged from the corners of Liu Xi¡¯s lips when she saw this. ¡°Let¡¯s see how he will win this time!¡± Qi Yue also smiled and nodded. Lin Feng¡¯s strength was top tier amongst four channel practitioners. Dealing with a mere Zhou Yuan should not be too difficult. On the viewing platform, Chu Tianyang frowned a little upon seeing that Zhou Yuan and Lin Feng had been matched. Soon after, a cold glint flitted across his eyes as he beckoned to a guard and said in a flat voice, ¡°After today, fire the one who¡¯s in-charge of the arrangements for this exam.¡± He had already realised that it was rather strange for Zhou Yuan repeatedly encounter formidable opponents. Now that even Lin Feng had been matched with the former, how could he possibly fail to grasp what was going on. Fury instantly flooded his heart. To think that these people actually dared to target Zhou Yuan in front of him. By the side, Xu Hong¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a little too much?¡± Chu Tianyang coldly chuckled and replied, ¡°All of you know full well what you have done. Besides, I am the headmaster and do not need the likes if you to teach me how to do things.¡± There was a little anger in Xu Hong¡¯s eyes, but in the end, he only snorted and did not speak any further. Although Qi Yue had exposed some of Qi Manor¡¯s men, it did not affect the the grand scheme of things. Under numerous gazes of pity from the field, Zhou Yuan also stepped onto the arena. Lin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, looking rather tall and handsome. He looked at Zhou Yuan and said with a superficial smile, ¡°Your highness is truly surprising. To think that you were actually able to come all the way here.¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at Lin Feng and replied in an indifferent tone, ¡°You will be even more surprised later on.¡± Lin Feng let out a cold laugh. ¡°I look forward to it.¡± Sparks were already flying in the exchange of words between the two like two needles clashing at their tips. ¡°Match begin!¡± The referee¡¯s shout rang out in the arena, breaking the exchange between the two. On the arena, Zhou Yuan and Lin Feng stared at each other, cold light flashing in both of their eyes. Bang! In the next instant, Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Lin Feng¡¯s bodies shot out at practically the same moment. With a stamp from Lin Feng¡¯s foot, his body rose into the air. A whip-leg ripped through the air with a ¡®chi la¡¯ sound, filled with astonishing force. Like a whip, it viciously snapped at Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. This kick could shatter even rock. Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm swept out horizontally, blocking the kick. The powerful force caused his arm to be violently jolted, while his other arm had already thrust forward, five fingers curling into a fist as it headed straight for Lin Feng¡¯s chest. Pa! Lin Feng¡¯s body abruptly swivelled in mid-air as his five fingers also formed a fist that smashed against Zhou Yuan¡¯s like a javelin. Thud thud thud! In a short span of less than a dozen breaths, the two already exchanged a dozen blows. Each strike was deadly and aimed at the vitals, causing the onlookers outside the arena to be greatly disturbed. Strong winds unfurled on the arena, sweeping up the dirt as Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Lin Feng¡¯s bodies were jerked back time and time again. Waves of noise rippled from below the arena. The crowd now looked at Zhou Yuan in a new light. Both of the participants had not used any Genesis Qi in their earlier exchanges and fully relied on the quality of their respective bodies. However, Lin Feng¡¯s four channel body was not able to obtain even the slightest advantage over Zhou Yuan. This caused them to be rather shocked. No matter how much they racked their brains, they could not understand why Zhou Yuan¡¯s body would be so strong. The commotion below the stage also caused Lin Feng¡¯s expression to become somewhat ugly. The cold light in his eyes immediately became colder as he took in a deep breath and no longer held anything back. ¡°Four channels open!¡± The moment Lin Feng¡¯s shout rang out, Genesis Qi surged over from all around and poured into his body. Strands of Genesis Qi light swirled around Lin Feng¡¯s body, and faint cracks started to grow on the stone arena below his feet. It was very intimidating. Bang! Lin Feng¡¯s foot stomped, cracking the stone floor of the arena. His speed soared and he instantly appeared in front of Zhou Yuan, palm-wind screaming as a strike powerfully swept towards Zhou Yuan. The powerful wind that pounced towards Zhou Yuan caused his heart to shiver a little. The fact that Lin Feng was able to become one of the top students amongst the new batch was definitely proof of his strength. Zhou Yuan¡¯s steps inclined at an angle, activating the Dragon Step, as his figure turned mist-like and blurry. Lin Feng¡¯s palm swept past but only managed to brush Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. ¡°What a strange body-type support skill!¡± Lin Feng¡¯s pupils shrunk slightly. He had previously seen Zhou Yuan¡¯s bizarre auxiliary technique. When his body became blurry, it seemed as if any attack would land on empty air. ¡°Mid grade Genesis technique, Demon Bull Stomp!¡± Bright light flickered in Lin Feng¡¯s eyes as his foot suddenly stamped on the ground. Stone was immediately shattered as a ripple that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled. Regardless of how amazing Zhou Yuan¡¯s auxiliary technique was, he was still affected by the shockwave area attack. His body immediately jerked, freezing for an instant. ¡°Time for you to get off the stage!¡± Lin Feng instantly grabbed ahold of this opening. With a loud shout, his five fingers curled into a fist as he threw a punch at Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest like an angry lion. As wind whistled towards him, Zhou Yuan did not dare to tarry as his foot stamped on the ground. ¡°Two channels open!¡± Genesis Qi poured into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as flowing Genesis Qi light appeared on the surface of his body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s crossed his arms in a defensive posture. Boom! Lin Feng¡¯s fist heavily landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms, power pouring out in torrents. Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet shook as his body rapidly slid backwards, only coming to a stop dangerously close to the edge of the arena. Cries of alarm immediately exploded from below the arena. Su Youwei¡¯s hand covered her mouth, her pretty face filled with anxiety. Lin Feng sneered, ¡°You are really tenacious.¡± Zhou Yuan lightly shook his numb arms as he replied, ¡°The power of four fully open channels is indeed formidable.¡± If he had not braced his lower body earlier, the explosion of power would have likely thrown him off the arena. Lin Feng coldly said, ¡°You¡¯re going down next time!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, the expression in his eyes gradually growing sharper as he stared at Lin Feng. The former took a step forward, his body bending forward slightly, like a tiger that was about to go all out and rip its prey to shreds. A dangerous feeling spread from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as he grinned at Lin Feng, revealing a set of eerily white teeth that made one¡¯s heart beat a little faster. ¡°I feel that you will not have another chance!¡± The instant his voice rang out, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had already shot forward! His full power counter attack had begun. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 26 Rise Swish! The moment Zhou Yuan¡¯s words faded, his body had already swiftly lunged forward like a cheetah. Threads of flowing Genesis Qi light swirled on the surface of his body, allowing his power and speed to soar. Ferocious! ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Cold light seemed to overflow from Lin Feng¡¯s eyes when he saw Zhou Yuan begin his counter attack. Lin Feng was after all a four channel practitioner and this response from Zhou Yuan was really belittling this four channel status. ¡°Since you are so confident, I will completely obliterate this confidence of yours in front of everyone!¡± Lin Feng¡¯s five fingers slowly clenched tightly as flowing Genesis Qi light emerged on the surface of his body. His clothes flapped while the muscles beneath his skin vibrated as explosive power rapidly converged. An imposing aura spread from Lin Feng¡¯s body. The power of four channels had been displayed to the limit at this moment. The crowd below the arena also felt Lin Feng¡¯s aura, their expressions changing slightly in response. Even Su Youwei¡¯s pupils shrank slightly, her fair hands tightly clenched as a look of worry flitted across her pretty face. Lin Feng¡¯s strength was top tier even amongst four channel openers. Zhou Yuan was likewise able to feel his opponent¡¯s presence. However, he had no intentions of withdrawing and instead stamped his foot on the ground as the glow of a Genesis Rune emerged from the bare part of his leg. ¡°Light Body Rune!¡± His speed instantly rose sharply once again. ¡°Metal Skin Rune!¡± His arms glowed with black light as if they were made from metal. ¡°Rampaging Bull Rune!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder shook as a faint bull cry rang out, bringing with it rampaging power. Three Genesis Runes had been simultaneously activated, causing Zhou Yuan¡¯s aura to surge. His ferocious appearance let everyone know just how formidable his counter attack would be. This sight also made the numerous boys and girls below the stage cry out in surprise. On the tall platform however, the corners of Qi Yue¡¯s and the girl called Liu Xi¡¯s mouths lifted to form mocking smiles when they saw this scene. Qi Yue¡¯s ten fingers were clasped together. He watched Zhou Yuan menacingly pounce towards Lin Feng as he said in a mocking voice, ¡°Looks like our prince does not know that Lin Feng¡¯s specialty is not attack, but defence¡­¡± ¡°Among those at the four channel level, no one has been able to break Lin Feng¡¯s defence.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why the more powerful his attacks, the more miserable his defeat will be. Hehe, I truly look forward to it.¡± Under the attention of numerous tense gazes from the crowd, Zhou Yuan and Lin Feng were practically inches away when the corners of Lin Feng¡¯s lips raised slightly. Suddenly, he took half a step forward as he body leaned forward. ¡°Mid grade Genesis technique, Metal Demon Wall!¡± A roar abruptly emerged from Lin Feng¡¯s mouth. One could only watch as the flowing Genesis Qi light on the surface of his body whizzed out, forming a faint membrane of black light in front of him. Although this light film was extremely thin, its dark luster gave off a feeling of indestructible solidness. Upon seeing the black light membrane that had appeared on the surface of Lin Feng¡¯s body, the expression on Su Youwei¡¯s pretty face immediately changed drastically. She knew that this Metal Demon Wall was considered top tier amongst mid grade Genesis techniques. Not only did it possess extremely strong defensive power, it was even able to reflect a portion of the enemy¡¯s attacks. In other words, if it was not instantly destroyed, the more powerful an attack, the greater the backlash on the attacker. In addition, even Su Youwei did not have absolute confidence in instantly destroying this Metal Demon Wall. ¡°Making you lose to your own attacks, prince Zhou Yuan, your miserable appearance will spread throughout the entire Great Zhou Institute.¡± A smile of disdain emerged from the corners of Lin Feng¡¯s mouth as he watched as Zhou Yuan grow closer and closer. Under the numerous gazes of the crowd, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes similarly detected the black light film that had appeared on the surface of Lin Feng¡¯s body. The power surging within it caused the former¡¯s brows to raise slightly. ¡°So he plans to rely on a tortoise shell¡­¡± Zhou Yuan coldly chuckled as coldness surged in his eyes. ¡°Since you are so confident in this tortoise shell, I will have to insist on breaking it!¡± His figure shot forth and appeared right in front of Lin Feng. In the next moment, he suddenly breathed in and everyone saw a rune of light appear on his throat. ¡°Another Genesis Rune?!¡± Lin Feng¡¯s pupils shrunk when he saw this. Roar! While Lin Feng¡¯s heart was in shock, Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth abruptly opened, and a deafening tiger roar ferociously swept out in a wave like fashion. ¡°Grade 1 Genesis Rune, Tiger Roar Rune!¡± The crowd around the arena hastily covered their ears. The feeling of Qi and blood in their bodies churning about immediately caused them to turn pale with horror. The power of this Genesis Rune was definitely not at the elementary level! Even the bystanders had been affected. As the main target, Lin Feng¡¯s head was buzzing. The black membrane on the surface of his body rippled violently and seemed to freeze for an instant. It was at this same instant that Zhou Yuan closed-in on Lin Feng. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers tightly grasped together and swung forth in an incomparably heavy manner. Even the air seemed to explode in the face of this punch. ¡°Dragon Tablet Hand, shatter the mountain!¡± Genesis Qi swirled around his fist as it smashed into the black light membrane. Buzz! The light membrane pulsed violently as ripples frantically spread. It was at this moment that Lin Feng finally recovered from the tiger roar sound wave and his expression immediately changed on the spot. He could feel a frightening power surging towards him. The source of that power was Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist. ¡°How can his strength be so terrifying?!¡± Lin Feng¡¯s heart shook as terror appeared in his eyes. ¡°Break!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s icy roar rang out at this moment. Bang! The moment he roared, everyone was overwhelmed with shock to see the layer of black light on the surface of Lin Feng¡¯s body shatter in response. ¡°I admit¡­¡± Terror filled Lin Feng¡¯s face as he hastily tried to cry out. However, Zhou Yuan did not wait for him to finish. The fist containing all of his power heavily slammed into Lin Feng¡¯s chest. Urgh! A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out as Lin Feng¡¯s body was sent flying backwards under many shocked gazes. His body flew past several arenas before heavily landing on the ground, smearing a long scar in the dirt before fainting on the spot. Following Lin Feng¡¯s fall to the ground, the entire field was blanketed in silence. Everyone was stupefied as they watched this scene. Even Su Youwei¡¯s eyes were wide open, her hand over her mouth. ¡°How¡­¡± Everyone mumbled to themselves, their faces full of disbelief. Just moments ago, they had been admiring Lin Feng¡¯s solid defence and a split second later, that seemingly indestructible Metal Demon Wall had been smashed to pieces by a single punch from Zhou Yuan¡­ Just how powerful was that punch? Was this really what a two channel opener was capable of? ¡°Excellent!¡± Chu Tianyang burst out on the viewing platform. He quickly rose to his feet, his eyes flashing brightly, his face filled with amazement. The power of Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier punch was definitely not that of a two channel practitioner. Looks like this prince of theirs had finally started reveal his extraordinariness after so many years of silence. This was undoubtedly a tremendously joyful occasion for Great Zhou. Meanwhile, Xu Hong¡¯s face twitched slightly, bewilderment flickering indeterminately in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan. On the tall platform, Qi Yue¡¯s and Liu Xi¡¯s smiles froze. Crack. Qi Yue¡¯s hands suddenly clenched, crushing the railing in front of him. His handsome face had become turned white with rage. ¡°How could he have broken Lin Feng¡¯s Metal Demon Wall?!¡± A pale face Liu Xi spit out between gnashed teeth. The Metal Demon Wall that no four channel practitioner had been able to break had now been shattered by a mere two channel Zhou Yuan. How could anyone not be stunned by this? Was this still the same crippled prince they knew? Qi Yue¡¯s gaze was tightly glued to the young figure on the nearby arena as murder surged in his eyes. In the past, he had treated Zhou Yuan as a joke, yet at this very moment, Qi Yue could genuinely feel a very faint feeling of threat. Cracking sounds could be heard as Qi Yue¡¯s five fingers tightened. His eyelids twitched as he muttered in a low and raspy voice, ¡°Could it be that the Zhou clan¡¯s crippled dragon really intends to rise from the ashes?¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 27 End of the Newcomer Exam The silence outside the arena continued for quite some time till it was eventually broken by thunderous cheers. The eyes of numerous boys and girls were filled with fire as they gazed at the thin figure on the stage. No one would have dreamt that this prince of theirs, who was rumoured to be incapable of opening his channels, would give such a miraculous performance today¡­ By now, all of them clearly believed that the past Zhou Yuan had merely been concealing his strength. Zhou Yuan merely smiled when he heard the cheers resounding below the stage. He cupped his hands together towards the audience before leaving the stage and walking towards Su Youwei. Upon seeing that Su Youwei had been unblinkingly staring at him all along, he could not help but chuckle and say, ¡°Oh? Have you been subdued by my charm?¡± Su Youwei¡¯s face turned slightly red. She made a soft ¡®pshaw¡¯ sound before snorting. ¡°Your hiding skills are top tier.¡± She had previously been all kinds of worried when she found out that Zhou Yuan and Lin Feng had been matched. Who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would have so many astonishing cards up his sleeve, and that even Lin Feng would fall at his hands. ¡°It turns out that even Lin Feng is not your match. Looks like the number one position amongst the new students belongs to you.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a nonchalant smile in response. He did not have much interest in being number one amongst the new batch of students. The reason for fighting this time was completely for the sake of entering the A class and helping headmaster Chu stabilize his position. After all, the Great Zhou Institute was of paramount importance to the Great Zhou royal clan. His original goal had been to enter the top ten nad now that it had been achieved, he did not have much interest in the following matches. Moreover, even Lin Feng had been defeated by him. Hence, there was naturally nothing to worry about for the next few matches. These thoughts were swirling in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind when he suddenly raised his head and looked towards the nearby tall platform. He was just in time to see Qi Yue¡¯s black to the maximum face, and immediately showed a small smile to the latter. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s smile, Qi Yue¡¯s face grew even uglier. Power surged in his hands as the railing was once again crushed. He had utilised all kinds of methods to make sure that Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was to be thoroughly smeared into the ground. Yet, who could have expected that everything he had done would instead end up growing Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation. This undoubtedly made Qi Yue extremely furious. By the side, Liu Xi hatefully said through gnashed teeth, ¡°Truly someone who loses control due to joy. Does he really believe that defeating Lin Feng gives him the right to do as he please in the Great Zhou Institute?!¡± Both she and her Liu clan belonged to the Qi Manor camp. Hence seeing Qi Yue thwarted naturally made her angry at Zhou Yuan. ¡°It is just a newcomer exam. Even if he takes the number one position, he will only be considered average amongst the various classes. Does he not know that even Lin Feng does not have the guts to make any moves in front of you?¡± Liu Xi disdainfully glanced at Zhou Yuan as she consoled Qi Yue. Qi Yue took in a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his heart. His face regained its cold and detached look as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It will be useless even if he enters the A class. Once the end-of-year class ranking exam comes, I will personally beat him into the mud once again. When that happens, the Great Zhou Institute will also end up in Qi Manor¡¯s hands.¡± Upon seeing Qi Yue recover, Liu Xi also nodded. She did not doubt Qi Yue¡¯s words. Even though the strength Zhou Yuan had displayed today was astonishing, one must know that the current Qi Yue had already opened six meridian channels, and would grow even stronger by the end of the year. Thus, compared to Qi Yue, Zhou Yuan still substantially lacking. Although she did not know why Zhou Yuan would suddenly spring up, from what Liu Xi could see, Qi Yue was the true pride of the heavens. The crippled prince and the Great Zhou royal clan would ultimately be trampled under Qi Yue¡¯s and Qi Manor¡¯s feet. With such thoughts in mind, she rather looked forward to their future confrontation. Would Zhou Yuan still be able to smile in such a pleased manner when he was crushed under Qi Yue¡¯s feet? On the field, the exam continued. However, after Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Lin Feng¡¯s intense battle, the other fights seemed rather lacklustre. Fortunately, the exam finally came to an end after one last big battle. On the viewing platform, Chu Tianyang watched the exam reach its end and nodded his head in satisfaction. Both Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei had made it to the top ten, a fact that made him especially happy. After all, he had originally only placed his hopes in Su Youwei. Who would have imagined that Zhou Yuan would suddenly become so ferocious that even Lin Feng would be defeated at his hands. Moreover, he knew that Zhou Yuan¡¯s had only been engaging in channel opening training for a month. Two channels in a month of training and battle power that surpassed even the four channel Lin Feng. Such talent was likely even greater than Su Youwei¡¯s. How could Chu Tianyang not be overjoyed by an unexpected haul like this. He now had a little confidence in the originally completely hopeless year-end class ranking exam. ¡°Now that the newcomer exam has concluded, next up will be the class allocation. You may select your class as long as you meet the conditions.¡± Chu Tianyang gazed at the numerous boys and girls on the field as his powerful voice boomed in everyone¡¯s ears. His gaze first looked towards the top ten new students. ¡°The top ten may enter the A class. Are any of you willing?¡± At this moment, Xu Hong walked to Chu Tianyang¡¯s side and added in with a superficial smile, ¡°If any of you desire, you may enter my B class. You should also know that my B class has placed first in the Great Zhou Institute for the past two years.¡± Anger rose in Chu Tianyang¡¯s eyes, but what Xu Hong said was true and he could only let out a snort. ¡°I hope to enter the B class.¡± ¡°I shall also enter the B class.¡± ¡°.¡­..¡± In the wake of Xu Hong¡¯s words, several voices immediately rang out simultaneously. A total of seven people amongst the top ten indicated that they wished to enter the B class. It was obvious that these people had been bought over by Qi Yue¡¯s generous promises long ago. Although Chu Tianyang had anticipated this, his face could not help but turn somewhat green. After all, practically every person who ranked amongst the top ten would chose the A class several years ago. Yet, only two or three would make the same decision in the present. Xu Hong let out two hearty chuckles when he saw Chu Tianyang¡¯s ugly expression. ¡°Alright, since that is that case, all of you will be part of my B class from now on.¡± ¡°I¡¯m entering the A class.¡± It was at this moment that Zhou Yuan calmly declared, interrupting Xu Hong¡¯s loud laughter. ¡°I will also enter the A class.¡± Said Su Youwei without any hesitation. The final person hesitated for a moment before finally choosing the A class. Upon seeing that the two most outstanding individuals of this newcomer exam had chosen to enter the A class, Xu Hong¡¯s pleased expression receded a little as he brushed his sleeves with an icy snort. Chu Tianyang¡¯s expression seemed to ease somewhat as he turned towards Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the third person. ¡°Since that is so, you three will be part of my A class after today.¡± ¡°The rest of my fellow class masters may begin to recruit your members.¡± Chu Tianyang looked towards the other class masters. After the ten best seedlings had been allocated, the remaining students would be divided amongst the other classes. The martial practice field was a abuzz with activity. Things only quietened down a long while later when all the new students had been split into the various classes. ¡°Today¡¯s newcomer exam is formally over. After today, everyone will enter their respective classes to train. Do not slack off.¡± Headmaster Chu¡¯s deep voice boomed. On the field, the many boys and girls respectfully responded. After all these matters were settled, headmaster Chu glanced in the direction of Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei, giving them a slight nod before turning around to leave. The field was bustling with noise and excitement. Numerous girls and boys were exceptionally happy. After today, they would finally leave behind their new student status and become true members of the Great Zhou Institute. After all, the treatment of new students and true students would be as different as black and white. Zhou Yuan called out to Su Youwei, planning to leave, but suddenly raised his head as if sensing something. On the tall platform nearby, an expressionless Qi Yue glanced at the former, his eyes flickering with spookily cold light, before he turned and left. Zhou Yuan watched him leave with eyes that were similarly frosty, while his five slender fingers curled and unfurled. He knew that the war with Qi Yue was not over just because the newcomer exam had ended. Instead, the struggle between them would grow even fiercer after he entered the A class. However, Zhou Yuan did not fear any of this. He knew that Qi Manor intended to take the headmaster position and as the prince of Great Zhou, he naturally would not allow them to succeed. He could not deal with the likes of king Qi for the time being, but Qi Yue on the other hand would be an opponent Zhou Yuan would properly duel in the following days. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 28 The A Class Royal palace. ¡°Great, great, Yuan¡¯er is truly the dragon of our Zhou clan!¡± At the dining table, there was a healthy radiant glow on Zhou Qing¡¯s face while his usually sterness was replaced by unconcealable happiness. He beamed as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and chuckled, ¡°You might not know but Chu Tianyang specially made a trip to the palace and praised you a whole lot.¡± Evidently, he was aware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in the newcomer exam today. By the side, Qin Yu was practically glowing as she looked at Zhou Yuan, her eyes similarly filled with joy. Zhou Yuan ate his food and merely smiled in response to Zhou Qing¡¯s and Qin Yu¡¯s praise as he said, ¡°It¡¯s only a newcomer exam. The important one is the class ranking exam at the end of the year.¡± Zhou Qing nodded upon hearing this and gleefully said, ¡°No arrogance after victory. Brat, your years of suffering have not been in vain.¡± ¡°The year-end class ranking exam is indeed very important.¡± Zhou Qing slowly continued, ¡°Qi Manor has been eyeing the Great Zhou Institute and have secretly schemed for a long time. If they are allowed to take the number one spot in the year-end class ranking exam again, I¡¯m afraid that they will begin to make things difficult.¡± Cold light flashed in Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes. It was clear that he hated Qi Manor to the extreme. Qin Yu tenderly looked at Zhou Yuan and said in a somewhat hesitant manner, ¡°But that Qi Yue has already opened six meridian channels and will likely become even stronger by theend of the year. Yuan¡¯er¡¯s starting point is much later than his¡­¡± To make up for the gap between them, Zhou Yuan had to put in a tremendous amount of hard work. Contrary to expectation, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained undisturbed. He smiled at Qin Yu and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry mother and father. I will not let them have their way.¡± Due to being unable to locate his meridian channels, the past him could only hide beneath his father¡¯s wings. Now that he was able to cultivate, Zhou Yuan would naturally give his best effort to share some of the pressure his father was facing. He clearly understood how dangerous the current situation was for Great Zhou. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu felt gratified when they saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s sensibility. However, the feelings of self-blame and heartache were greater. If they had realised king Wu¡¯s plot in advance back then, Great Zhou would not have fallen to such a state and Zhou Yuan would not have to shoulder these burdens at his tender age. Zhou Yuan sensed Zhou Qing¡¯s and Qin Yu¡¯s gloomy moods and immediately changed the topic. ¡°Truthfully speaking, my success in the exam is mostly thanks to big sis Yaoyao¡¯s guidance.¡± By the side, when the silently dining Yaoyao with Tuntun on her lap heard these words, her gaze lightly swept across Zhou Yuan as if unhappy that he had shifted the attention to her. Zhou Qing nodded upon hearing this and smiled. ¡°Miss Yaoyao is indeed our benefactor. Come, I¡¯ll toast a cup to you.¡± The moment he said this, Qin Yu¡¯s displeased glare arrived. In her eyes, Yaoyao was still a young girl and Zhou Qing¡¯s actions were practically leading her astray. However, before she could speak, the eyes of the originally silent Yaoyao brightened slightly as she raised her wine cup and drained it in a single gulp. Zhou Qing was stunned. He glanced at Qin Yu, seeing her displeased gaze and awkwardly laughed before quickly finishing the wine in his cup. After which, he no longer dared to speak of toasting. ¡­ Qi Manor. An oil lamp burned within a study, spreading dusky yellow light. A middle-aged man in yellow robes sat upright behind a desk, expressionless as he flipped through the books. A cold and stern aura rose from between his brows, while a faint pressure spread outwards, causing no one to dare to underestimate this individual. Qi Yue stood in front of the desk, his hands hanging by his side while his face respectful. ¡°You say that crippled prince is now able to engage in channel opening cultivation?¡± After a long silence, the middle-aged man in yellow finally shifted his gaze away from his books and dully said. ¡°Yes father. He has defeated the four channel Lin Feng with the strength of two channels.¡± Qi Yue immediately responded. This middle-aged man in yellow robes was king Qi of Great Zhou, Qi Yuan. King Qi¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly like a viper as he slowly said, ¡°As expected of the one who once possessed the sacred dragon blessing. He can still crawl up even after being crippled to such an extent. Such tenacity.¡± Killing intent flitted across Qi Yue¡¯s eyes. ¡°Father, do we send news of this to the Wu Empire?¡± King Qi mumbled to himself for a while before shaking his head. ¡°The Wu Empire is currently engaged in war with two neighbouring empires. How could they possibly spare any time for a Great Zhou on the verge of death. As for the crippled prince, his sacred dragon blessing was taken and he even received backlash in the form of the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. It is not so easy for him to recover. His current state is probably akin to the final radiance of a dying star.¡± Qi Yue nodded upon hearing this. Zhou Yuan had been crippled far too greatly back then. Clawing his way back up would indeed be difficult. ¡°Moreover, even if he is really able to crawl back up, do you believe that I, Qi Yuan, will be afraid of a hairless brat?¡± Qi Yuan coldly chuckled before continuing, ¡°I¡¯ve prepared for so many years, and even Zhou Qing does not dare to do anything to me now. How can a mere two channel brat possibly alter the grand scheme of things?¡± ¡°If we have to inform Great Wu of a mere crippled prince, it will instead make them look down on us. If that happens, even if we take over Great Zhou in future, they will believe that we succeeded with little effort.¡± Qi Yuan threw the book in his hand onto the table as he continued, ¡°As long as the B class takes the number one position in the year-end class ranking exam, the Great Zhou Institute will be mine. That is most important.¡± ¡°Therefore, you must take first place in the year-end class ranking exam.¡± In response to Qi Yuan¡¯s gaze, Qi Yue nodded without the slightest shred of hesitation and confidently said, ¡°Relax father. No one in the Great Zhou Institute will be able to compete with me in the year-end class ranking exam.¡± ¡°As for Zhou Yuan, if he does not tactfully back down, I will crippled him again and see if he is still able to crawl back up!¡± As he spoke, a sinister smile emerged from the corners of his lips. ¡­ The next day. In the early morning, Zhou Yuan continued his uninterrupted practice of the ninety eight frolicking dragon forms before proceeding to the daily channel unblocking. After finishing, he washed his body and left the royal palace, heading straight for the Great Zhou Institute. Now that he had entered the A class, he could not longer frequently miss classes like before. Great Zhou Institute, A class courtyard. A dozen figures were gathered in a spacious lecture yard, the atmosphere abuzz with noise and excitement. When Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the other new student entered, the dozen gazes in the yard turned towards them, filled with curiosity and anticipation. The Zhou Yuan trio were taken aback by such attention. While they were stunned, two figures in the lecture yard walked over, one male, the other female. The young man¡¯s body looked strong and sturdy, and his skin was a little tanned. A smile decorated his rather rough-looking face, making him appear like a straightforward individual. The young lady was rather pretty. Although she could not compare to Su Youwei, her long and slender legs were quite eye-catching. The tanned and straightforward-looking youth smiled at the Zhou Yuan trio and said, ¡°Hehe, welcome you three. I am the class head of the A class, Yang Zai.¡± ¡°I am Song Qiushui.¡± The pretty girl winked at the trio, smiling happily as she continued, ¡°We found out yesterday that your highness Zhou Yuan and the rest of you chose the A class, so here we are today waiting for you guys.¡± She looked towards Su Youwei and pursed her smiling lips, ¡°Of course, those fellows are more likely looking forward to meeting the number one beauty of our Great Zhou Institute.¡± Upon hearing her teasing, Su Youwei¡¯s fair face blushed a little. Her enchanting appearance drew the dumbstruck stares of quite a few boys in the yard. Yang Zai chuckled as he looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Your highness¡¯ performance in the newcomer exam yesterday has already spread throughout the entire institute. With you three joining the A class, our power and fame will definitely rise.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his hands together and smiled. ¡°There is no ¡®your highness¡¯ here, call me Zhou Yuan.¡± Yang Zai was a little taken aback by Zhou Yuan¡¯s placid mannerisms, but quickly showed a simple-looking smile as he nodded his head. ¡°Since your highness says so, we will feel free to do so.¡± The group introduced themselves to each other and the A class members were swiftly acquainted. These older students were also youths and were both kind and friendly. Thus, there was no case of ¡®putting the new students in their place¡¯ and the group quickly grew closer after getting to know each other. It was in this time that Zhou Yuan came to know that Yang Zai was the number one individual in the A class, hence his election as class head. He had opened five meridian channels and while Song Qiushui was slightly weaker, she too had opened five meridian channels. Such strength was indeed inferior to Qi Yue. No wonder Chu Tianyang constantly worried about the year-end class ranking exam. While the group was getting to know each other better, Chu Tianyang walked into the yard and coughed softly, immediately causing the many noisy boys and girls to quieten down as they respectfully said, ¡°Greetings class master.¡± Chu Tianyang nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°From today, there will be three more members in our A class. You guys should have already acquainted yourselves with them right?¡± The many boys and girls responded with a yes. ¡°Good. From today, your training will be doubled.¡± Chu Tianyang indifferently declared with his hands behind his back. The moment these words were heard, a series of complaints and grumbling erupted. Chu Tianyang coldly snorted, suppressing the various noises as he raised his voice. ¡°The year-end class ranking exam is not far off. If you guys still do not put in more effort in training and no one is able to reach six channels by the end of the year, you won¡¯t even have the qualifications to vie with others. When that happens, the A class will become the B class. What face will you guys have left then?!¡± Ashamed looked emerged on the students faces after being chided as they hastily lowered their heads, while the strongest Yang Zai and Song Qiushui let out a bitter laugh. Though they had done all they could to catch up, the momentum was currently with the B class and Qi Yue was just too formidable, firmly suppressing them from start to end. Upon seeing that everyone no longer dared to speak, Chu Tianyang¡¯s expression relaxed as he said, ¡°Everyone make your preparations, the Jade Spirit Waterfall opens today. I hope that no one will delay us.¡± The moment these words were said, the eyes of the many boys and girls in the yard abruptly brightened as their faces filled with excitement. ¡°Jade Spirit Waterfall¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled slightly when he heard this as interest and curiosity was revealed in his eyes. He had long heard father mention a cultivation treasure land in the Great Zhou Institute, which was the ¡®Jade Spirit Waterfall¡¯ that Chu Tianyang had spoken of. This was also one of the main reasons why Zhou Yuan was unwilling to miss any classes after entering the A class. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 29 Jade Spirit Waterfall In the mountains behind the Great Zhou Institute was a lush and verdant mountain peak where a silver-river-like waterfall was located. The rumbling sounds of crashing water spread throughout the entire mountain range. It was a very majestic sight indeed. Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the rest of the A class students were currently standing below the waterfall where a giant lake lay, its waters as clear as a mirror. ¡°So this is the Jade Spirit Waterfall?¡± Su Youwei gazed at the falling torrent of water, curiosity all over her face. It was clear that She had heard of it before. Song Qiushui nodded from the side as she said with a grin, ¡°This is the cultivation treasure land of our Great Zhou Institute, the Jade Spirit Waterfall. It is said that there is a patch of purple spirit quartz growing at the top of the waterfall, and the water that flows down contains a sliver of extremely gentle quartz energy. When the powerful force of the waterfall strikes the body, the quartz energy within will be pushed into the body which helps us unblock our meridian channels.¡± ¡°Of course, the most important aspect is that this extremely gentle quartz energy will not damage our meridian channels. So even if our meridian channels have reached the daily limits of the usual unblocking method, we will still be able to make use of the Jade Spirit Waterfall for channel opening training.¡± Exceptional splendour instantly blossomed in Su Youwei¡¯s eyes when she heard this. Due to the threshold of the meridian channels, there was a limit to the number of daily channel unblocking sessions for each individual. Yet, this Jade Spirit Waterfall before their eyes was able to help them unblock their channels without harming them even after the channels had reached their limit. This point alone allowed one to understand the value of the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Zhou Yuan also smiled and nodded. This was why he regarded the Jade Spirit Waterfall as important. After completing several rounds of channel unblocking sessions each day, his channels would reach their limit, but with the aid of this Jade Spirit Waterfall, he would be able to continue unblocking his channels. There was no doubt that this would speed up his training. ¡°However, the Jade Spirit Waterfall needs to absorb the natural Genesis Qi of the land to provide a steady stream of quartz energy. Hence, it only opens for use once every two days.¡± Yang Zai chuckled at Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei before continuing, ¡°You guys are pretty lucky to come across such a chance the moment your enter the A class.¡± Zhou Yuan seemed to ponder as he gazed at that waterfall that contained faint dashes of purple. ¡°How is the time allocated?¡± There was only one Jade Spirit Waterfall after all, while the Great Zhou Institute had five classes and several hundred students. It was evidently impossible for everyone to enter the Jade Spirit Waterfall together for training. Thus, there was definitely some sort of allocation. Yang Zai explained, ¡°The Jade Spirit Waterfall is open for 16 hours. According to the rules, our A class is allocated 6 hours, the B class 4 hours and the other classes 2 hours. Because we are the A class, both the amount of time and our time slot is the best.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in understanding. Soon after, he clicked his tongue and said, ¡°To think that we only have 6 hours.¡± Yang Zai let out a gentle chuckle. ¡°6 hours is already a lot. Moreover, you might not be able to last that long.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Yang Zai laughed mischievously but did not elaborate. He merely said, ¡°You will find out later.¡± ¡°Alright, no more nonsense. Prepare to enter the rooms and get your Genesis Runes inscribed.¡± At the front, Chu Tianyang clapped his hands together, interrupting everyone¡¯s conversations. He pointed towards the nearby lakeside where two large bamboo rooms where located. ¡°We need to get Genesis Runes inscribed?¡± Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei were stunned upon hearing this. Song Qiushui explained, ¡°Yes. Every time we come to the Jade Spirit Waterfall to train, the institute will dispatch teachers proficient in Genesis Runes to draw a Genesis Gathering Rune for every student. It is a grade 1 Genesis Rune that increases the effectiveness of absorbing quartz energy from the waterfall,¡± They arrived at the bamboo rooms while conversing. There were two bamboo rooms, one for the guys and the other for the girls. Everyone lined up to enter, but while the male students were queuing up, shifty gazes would shoot towards the girls room from time to time. Zhou Yuan¡¯s turn quickly arrived. He entered the room and saw an instructor holding a Genesis Rune Brush waving at him, indicating for him to shed his clothes and lie on the bench provided. The tip of the brush descended and gradually drew a Genesis Rune on Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. In the wake of the final stroke, a faint glow emerged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s back before concealing itself. When the Genesis Rune was complete, Zhou Yuan felt that he had become much more sensitive to the surrounding Genesis Qi. ¡°This Genesis Gathering Rune is not much different than the Genesis Gathering Jade other than the fact that it lasts for only a short while.¡± Zhou Yuan put on his clothes and bowed towards the instructor before walking out. At the mention of the Genesis Gathering Jade, Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at the warm jade pendant hanging from his neck. Ever since Su Youwei found out that he was able to engage in channel opening training, she had insisted on returning it to him, a matter he felt particularly helpless about. However, he understood her stubborn character. Thus, Zhou Yuan did not push it. After exiting the bamboo room, Zhou Yuan happened to see Su Youwei walking out. He walked over and stealthily glanced at her back. Past her fair neck, he was able to see some portions of a faintly glowing rune. ¡°Where do you think you are looking!¡± Su Youwei¡¯s pretty face blushed a little as she glared at him when she sensed his gaze. Zhou Yuan chuckled. He cast a glance at the stream of girls exiting the bamboo room one after another and could not help but ask, ¡°Is it also a male instructor over there?¡± If that was the case, it would really be too huge of a loss! Su Youwei lightly stamped on Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot in a humiliated and angry manner as she bit down on her teeth and said, ¡°What nonsense are you saying! Of course it¡¯s a lady!¡± One¡¯s clothes needed to be taken off when inscribing a Genesis Rune on the body. It would be too outrageous if a male instructor was allowed to do this deed for the girls. Zhou Yuan let out a hollow laugh. The banter between the two had drawn all of the other A class students over. Chu Tianyang also shot a glance at them before turning around to lead everyone to the waterfall. Rumble! The enormous waterfall was akin to a roaring water dragon. Water pounded downwards into the lake, causing huge waves to rise and vapor to fill the air. Chu Tianyang took out a large incense stick and lit it before placing it in a crevice between the rocks beside him. Next, he sternly looked towards the group and said, ¡°Get ready. You only have 6 hours. I hope that none of you will waste this chance.¡± As he spoke, he looked towards Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the other new student before continuing, ¡°You three wait here first and observe.¡± The Zhou Yuan trio nodded and looked towards Yang Zai, Song Qiushui and the rest. Their gazes were both expectant and somewhat fearful as they looked at the Jade Spirit Waterfall. In the end, they took in a deep breath, gritted their teeth and charged into the training platform in the middle of the waterfall. Rumble! A boundless torrent roared as it fell. Yang Zai and gang dashed into the waterfall, their legs powerfully gripping the rock below them as they allowed the water the pound onto their bodies. The force from such a gigantic waterfall was undoubtedly tremendous. Therefore, the bodies of Yao Zai and the rest shook even though they were using all of their strength. They tightly gritted their teeth as torrents of water smashed into their bodies. It was akin to being continuously slapped, causing their faces to distort somewhat in pain. The Genesis Runes on their backs emitted a faint glow as wisps of purple energy seemed to flow into their bodies while the water crashed down upon them. Rumble! Numerous students endured the battering of the waterfall. This lasted for about a ten minutes before some began to waver. In the end, the students were washed into the lake below one after another with a respective shriek. Yang Zai and Song Qiushui persisted the longest, but were only able to last for slightly over twenty minutes before falling into the lake. When they crawled out from the lake, their skin was bruised black and green as if they had been beaten. From their miserable grimacing appearances, it was obvious that their entire bodies were in pain. Only now did Zhou Yuan understand why they both loved and hated the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Though the quartz energy was admittedly able to help unblock their meridian channels, they would be bruised all over by the water each time. It was akin to receiving a series of vicious beatings. Chu Tianyang said to Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the other remaining student, ¡°You three are up next.¡± ¡°Heh heh, good luck. The first time always ends rather quickly.¡± Yang Zai mischievously chuckled at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan exchanged a look with Su Youwei before they advanced, stopping in front of the waterfall as they watched the thundering waters descend. In the end, they gritted their teeth and took a step in. Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin tensed the moment he entered the waterfall, while his feet were akin to the roots of a great tree and tightly gripped the ground. A split second later, he felt an enormous force accompanied by water slam down onto him from above and engulf his entire body. ¡°How painful!¡± The boundless torrent viciously pummelled him, causing Zhou Yuan to gasp. Such power was really too brutal and had almost swatted him into the lake . However, as the water pounded him, Zhou Yuan could faintly feel a suction force emerge from the Genesis Gathering Rune on his back as an extremely gentle energy flowed into his body. The appearance of the gentle energy slightly alleviated the intense pain. ¡°Is this quartz energy?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook. He had indeed felt the third meridian channel in his body loosen a little in that brief moment. Upon sensing such a change, Zhou Yuan immediately braced himself, gritting his teeth as he endured the battering water and greedily absorbed tiny bits of quartz energy from within. AAHHH! While Zhou Yuan was tenaciously holding on with gritted teeth, a cry was heard from the side. The new student could endure no longer and had been swept into the lake by an enormous torrent of water. Zhou Yuan sneaked a peak from the corner of his eye and saw the faint silhouette of Su Youwei¡¯s lovely figure tottering on the verge of collapse under the rampaging water. However, she bitterly persisted. ¡°This quartz energy is indeed very effective! However it¡¯s a pity that it¡¯s somewhat sparse.¡± Thoughts spun in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. If he was able to absorb more quartz energy, he should be able to fully alleviate the physical pain due to the boundless flowing water. If that happened, he would be able to endure longer. However, the Jade Spirit Waterfall was wide and the water that crashed down onto his body would at most contain a wisp of quartz energy. It was not likely for him to have more. When his thoughts reached this point, Zhou Yuan could not help but shake his head. Soon after however, an idea struck him. The other students might be unable to sense the quartz energy, but it may not be so for himself. His Spirit had already reached the Illusory stage and it was likely that no one at the Channel Opening stage could compare to him with regards to sensing ability. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try!¡± Zhou Yuan closed his eyes without hesitation. The Spirit between his brows began to stir as his senses spread outwards. The thundering sound of water became silent and Zhou Yuan was able to clearly sense strands of purple energy swimming within the endlessly falling waterfall. ¡°I can indeed sense the quartz energy!¡± Pleasant surprise rose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He nudged his Spirit with a thought and a strange glow appeared between his brows. One could faintly see a translucent figure seated there. It was Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. A suction force emerged from the illusory figure. This suction force was not strong, but it was focused and only targeted the purple strands of flowing energy. While Zhou Yuan was using his Spirit to absorb the purple energy, a faint purple glow emerged from the water that was continuously battering his body and steadily tunnelled into his body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s slightly shut eyes suddenly opened at this moment as they filled with wild joy and excitement. In that brief moment earlier, he had felt the amount of quartz energy flowing into his body multiply a dozen fold! ¡°To think that it actually works!¡± As Zhou Yuan felt the increasingly loosening third meridian channel in his body, he could not help but jump in excitement. Crash! However, this jump immediately separated himself from the ground. Water slammed into him and with a crash, Zhou Yuan was viciously swatted into the lake below amidst a miserable yelp. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 30 Opening the Third Meridian Channel Plop! Zhou Yuan¡¯s excited face emerged from the lake waters. His eyes seemed to burn with passion as he look at the giant Jade Spirit Waterfall. He never imagined that using the power of his Spirit would actually help him absorb the nearby quartz energy. Others were only able to absorb quartz energy from the water that hit their bodies, but he had the ability to consciously absorb and his range was much greater. The difference between the two need not be said. ¡°At this rate, I will be able to unblock my third meridian channel in a few days!¡± According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimates, he would likely need half a month or so to unblock his third meridian channel. Yet, that estimation had now been shortened by more than half. From this, one could tell just how effective the Jade Spirit Waterfall was. ¡°This is the benefit brought by a Illusory stage Spirit.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. Other students did not know any Spirit tempering methods, hence, their Spirit could not possibly be as strong as his which naturally led to being unable to sense the quartz energy or consciously absorb it. Plop! While Zhou Yuan was happily sighing, a figure also fell into the water beside him. A head emerged, revealing Su Youwei. Her pretty face was rather pale and bruises could be seen all over her fair wrist. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze continued its path downwards before it came to a point where he could no longer turn away as a wave of heat seemed to surge up his nose. Due to the water, Su Youwei¡¯s clothes were wet and tightly hugged her lovely figure, causing her exquisitely enchanting curves to show. He could even faintly see her fair skin that glowed with the radiance of youth. Crash! However, before Zhou Yuan could get a better look, water splashed into his face. His raised his gaze, only to find Su Youwei glaring at him with a beet-red face. Zhou Yuan gave a hollow laugh. Su Youwei tightly gritted her pearly-white teeth. This fellow was really adept when it came to taking advantage of others. If it was anyone else, she would have long sent a slap flying over. However, she could not gather any hate for Zhou Yuan and only felt bashful and angry. ¡°Hooligan!¡± Su Youwei pushed with her hands, causing a wave of water to crash into Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. At the same time, she used the resultant force to gracefully fly out of the water, nimbly landing at the edge of the lake as Genesis Qi light flowed around her body, rapidly evaporating the water in her wet clothes. An even more drenched Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head before also leaving the lake, landing on an empty spot nearby. Happiness was revealed in Chu Tianyang¡¯s eyes when he looked at the two of them as he praised, ¡°Not bad. The two of you persevered for about ten minutes. That¡¯s a pretty good time for a first timer.¡± With the exception of Yang Zai and Song Qiushui, the majority of the older class A members had only managed to endure for roughly ten minutes. Thus, Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Su Youwei¡¯s performance was pretty good for new students that had come into contact with the Jade Spirit Waterfall for the first time. By the side, the faces of Yang Zai, Song Qiushui and the rest of the older students were filled with amazement as they looked at the two. Though they were not too surprised by Su Youwei¡¯s achievement because she was after all a four channel practitioner, it was different for Zhou Yuan. The latter had only opened two channels, yet his tolerance level was not any weaker than a four channel opener. ¡°Hehe, if such a pathetic time can be considered pretty good, the Jade Spirit Waterfall has truly been squandered.¡± While they were sighing in amazement, a sneer was suddenly heard, causing the atmosphere to pause for a moment. Subsequently, angry gazes turned towards the direction of the sound one by one. However, they froze when they saw who had spoken. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. He raised his head, only to find that a large group of people had arrived at some unknown time. At the front of the group, a handsome Qi Yue stood straightly with his hands behind his back, giving off a dignified aura. Beside him was the beautiful and eye-catching Liu Xi. Disdain was currently visible on her face as she stared at the members of the A class. It was she who had spoken earlier. The rest of the B class students also showed contempt on their faces as if looking down upon the performance of the many A class students. ¡°The B class.¡± Yang Zai¡¯s face was riddled with fury while the others were also brimming with rage due to the undeserved remark. To come and criticize them even during their training was a really intolerable act. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned a little frosty as he swept a glance at Liu Xi and said in a flat voice, ¡°May I ask how long you lasted in the Jade Spirit Waterfall during your first time?¡± Liu Xi¡¯s pretty face turned rigid. She was clearly angered but was unable to reply. Qi Yue smiled superficially as he interjected, ¡°There¡¯s no need for your highness to lower yourself to her level. I¡¯m not too clear on how long Liu Xi managed to endure during her first time, but I recall that I persisted for 30 minutes for mine.¡± Although they knew that Qi Yue was doing this on purpose, Yang Zai, Song Qiushui and the many A class members were incapable of retorting and felt a little dejected. Qi Yue¡¯s first time had already been 30 minutes, while they on the other hand were barely able to achieve a time of slightly over 20 minutes even till now. With an abnormality like Qi Yue in the B class, will their A class ever be able to rise up again? The morale of the A class was a little low for a time. ¡°Do you guys still intend to train?!¡± While they were silent, Chu Tianyang¡¯s stern voice boomed through the air. He looked towards Qi Yue and the rest and said with an expressionless face, ¡°If it is not the B class¡¯ turn, do not come here and disturb others¡¯ training or you will be punished!¡± The B class students shrunk back in response to Chu Tianyang¡¯s chilly gaze. Only Qi Yue remained unaffected as he replied with a nonchalant smile, ¡°No need to get angry headmaster, we have only assembled here in advance to wait for our turn at the Jade Spirit Waterfall. If just watching will interfere with their training, the A class students would really be a little too delicate.¡± The A class students hatefully gritted their teeth upon hearing the mockery hidden in his words. Chu Tianyang swept a cold glance at Qi Yue before withdrawing his gaze and saying in a loud voice, ¡°Continue training!¡± When they heard this, Yang Zai and the rest turned around and headed for the Jade Spirit Waterfall again. However, there was now a rather depressed mood hanging around them. ¡°That guy is really loathsome.¡± Su Youwei muttered in a low voice. The originally pretty good atmosphere had completely ruined by Qi Yue¡¯s arrival. Zhou Yuan gently tapped his fingers in the air as he looked towards Qi Yue and said, ¡°Is half an hour considered long?¡± After speaking, he did not say anything else but instead turned around and walked towards the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Since Qi Yue had decided to use such an underhanded tactic to lower the A class¡¯ morale, Zhou Yuan could not possibly allow him to get away with it. ¡°Tch, what a sharp tongue! Look at him, does he really believe he can compare to you?¡± Liu Xi could not help but let out a laugh of contempt as she watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s leaving figure. It was obvious that she had taken his words as a stubborn refusal to admit defeat. Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in the exam was not bad, but he should see who he was competing him. Qi Yue was after all currently the strongest student in the Great Zhou Institute. Qi Yue smiled, a smile that was filled with a toying sensation. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to take a good look later on. However, I do hope that he tries to show off since he will be the one that suffers in the end.¡± The other B class members agreed with a nod. Likewise, they did not know exactly what qualifications a two channel practitioner like Zhou Yuan believed he had to entertain the notion that he could compete with Qi Yue. Under the expectant gazes of the B class group, Zhou Yuan once again arrived before the Jade Spirit Waterfall. He gazed at the endlessly falling torrent of water and took a step in without the slightest shred of hesitation. Boom! With his body now within the waterfall, Zhou Yuan¡¯s legs bent slightly, tightly gripping the ground. The raging water smashed down onto him as he closed his eyes and the Spirit between his brows began to vibrate. A suction force that was difficult to detect for ordinary individuals stealthily emerged. Wisps of quartz energy immediately converged over from the curtain of water, slapping onto his body along with the violent water. The Genesis Gathering Rune on his back emitted a glow as it unceasingly absorbed each strand of quartz energy into his body. Strands of gentle and cooling energy shuttled within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, substantially relieving the intense pain wherever it passed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s originally somewhat wobbly body gradually grew stable. No matter how the waterfall crashed down onto him, his body remained unmoving like a boulder. At the same time, strands of quartz energy surged in his body, continuously attacking his third meridian channel, causing it to become looser and looser. Crash! Crash! Students once again fell into the lake one after another. Perhaps because of their low morale, the performance of many students was even worse than earlier, the time they were able to endure shorter. At the lakeside, Chu Tianyang¡¯s face turned stormy black as he watched this. On the other hand, the smiles on the faces of Qi Yue, Liu Xi and the rest of the B class students grew wider and wider. Crash! Su Youwei also fell into the water. She had endured for a whole 20 minutes this time, an achievement that made the A class students exclaim in admiration. This timing was fast approaching Yang Zai¡¯s and Song Qiushui¡¯s. Su Youwei¡¯s performance also made Chu Tianyang¡¯s expression lighten a little. Almost immediately after Su Youwei, Yang Zai and Song Qiushui also landed in the water with an inward sigh. They were still unable to last 30 minutes. The entire group was silent as they left the water, bathed in a rather stifling atmosphere. Suddenly, Su Youwei¡¯s slightly alarmed voice sounded, ¡°Zhou Yuan is still up there?¡± The group was stunned upon hearing this and their gazes turned towards the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Sure enough, they saw the faint silhouette of a figure within. Song Qiushui covered her mouth with a hand as she cried out, ¡°Zhou Yuan is about to reach 30 minutes?!¡± Yang Zai scratched his head, a look of disbelief on his face. Unlike them, Su Youwei¡¯s eyebrows were knitted together, worry clouding her eyes. She was worried that Zhou Yuan was purposely pushing himself over the limit and stubbornly holding on. If that was the case, it would instead hurt his body and affect his channel opening. ¡°Interesting.¡± Qi Yue could not help but softly chuckle as he watched. The depths of his eyes were full of disdain as he stared at the faint silhouette in the waterfall. From what he could see, Zhou Yuan¡¯s stubbornness would only hurt himself. ¡°I¡¯m interested to see just how long he can continue acting tough!¡± Liu Xi sneered. Her pretty face had a gloating look on it. Hence, everyone¡¯s gazes were directed at the figure in the waterfall. They were so fixated that Su Youwei and the rest did not have the mood to climb up again and ended up standing there watching. Under their tense gazes, time swiftly flowed. 30 minutes. 40 minutes. ¡­ An hour! By the time it reached an hour, everyone at the bank of the lake had become silent. Even Qi Yue¡¯s eyes had started to flicker in uncertainty, slowly frowning as unease gradually crept up inside him. The B class students looked to each other. An hour. Besides Qi Yue, no one in their B class could accomplish this. Furthermore, Qi Yue was a six channel practitioner! What about Zhou Yuan? Only two channels! Liu Xi tightly clenched her jaw and could not help but mumble, ¡°Could something have happened?¡± Boom! Just as her words faded, a noise was heard from the waterfall. Everyone could only watch as Zhou Yuan¡¯s body finally fell, plunging head-first into the lake below. His figure emerged on the lake, but his eyes were tightly shut. Upon seeing this, Liu Xi immediately sneered. ¡°Looks like his injuries are not light.¡± The moment her sneer appeared, Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. Everyone could see a stream of Genesis Qi light curl around his body, causing whirlpools to form in the surrounding lake waters. His sleeves flapped as a faint rumble spread from his body. Streams of Genesis Qi rushed into him, causing his aura to soar. ¡°This is?!¡± The pupils of Qi Yue, Liu Xi and the rest shrunk when they saw this. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± Su Youwei, Yang Zai, Song Qiushui also gasped. Chu Tianyang¡¯s face trembled with emotion. His eyes seemed to shine as he stared at Zhou Yuan, pausing between each word as he mumbled, ¡°To think¡­ he has actually unblocked his third meridian channel?!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 31 Establishment of Power In the lake, Genesis Qi surged around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Streams of light seemed to flow on his skin as invisible undulations spread outwards, pushing back the surrounding lake waters such that they were unable to flow back in. On the lake bank, everyone was wide-eyed and opened-mouth as they stared at him. This scene was very familiar to them. It was a scene that only appeared when one opened one¡¯s meridian channel. ¡°Opened his third channel? How is that possible!¡± Green and white interlaced on Liu Xi¡¯s attractive face as a burning sensation washed over it. She had previously mocked Zhou Yuan for overdoing it. Who could have anticipated that the latter would not only be uninjured, but even unblock his third meridian channel on the very spot! The expression in Qi Yue¡¯s eyes turned ominously stormy at this moment. His five fingers were tightly clenched as he stared at Zhou Yuan like a viper while rage boiled in his heart. He had similarly never imagined such an outcome. Moreover, what he could not fathom was how Zhou Yuan¡¯s mere two channel body could possible endure for an hour in the Jade Spirit Waterfall. ¡°How did he do it!¡± The other B class members were speechless as they looked to each other, evidently both intimidated and in awe of this scene. In the lake, bright light flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes as they slowly cracked open. He lowered his head, looking at the swirling Genesis Qi light surging around his body. Unrestrained joy bubbled in his heart as he felt the now completely unblocked third meridian channel. He too never expected that he would actually open his third meridian channel. According to his original estimate, he would need at least several days of training. However, he seemed to have somewhat underestimated the quartz energy of the Jade Spirit Waterfall. The tremendous amount of quartz energy absorbed had allowed him to unblock his third meridian channel today. ¡°Unfortunately, the quartz energy was likely so effective because it was my first time absorbing it. Once my body becomes accustomed to it, there will no longer be such quick and visible results.¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself as joy was revealed in his eyes. Even so, opening his third meridian channel made Zhou Yuan exceptionally happy. After all, it had only been a few days since he had unblocked his second channel. With a soft inward chuckle, the tip of Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot pushed as his body flew to the lake bank. When he raised his head, he found everyone staring at him in complete silence. ¡°Clap clap!¡± Applause suddenly rang out. Chu Tianyang¡¯s usually unsmiling and serious face was currently decorated by a warm smile. His eyes filled with emotion as he stared at Zhou Yuan and clapped. Su Youwei, Yang Zai, Song Qiushui and the rest came back to their senses and immediately started clapping too as their faces flooded with excitement. They had just earlier been intimidated by Qi Yue, causing their morale to plummet. Who could have imagined that Qi Yue¡¯s record would be broken by Zhou Yuan in the blink of an eye, even leaving the former far far behind. With a mere two channel body, he had persisted in the Jade Spirit Waterfall for an hour. This was something that had never happened before in the Great Zhou Institute. The crowd¡¯s clapping first stunned Zhou Yuan, but he soon broke out into a smile. Next, he lifted his head and his line of sight turned towards Qi Yue and the rest of the B class students. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan look over, the B class members seemed to shrink back as their faces burned. After all, they had been mocking him just moments ago and before they could even blink, their mockery had now turned on them. Liu Xi¡¯s steely-green face had twisted in an extremely ugly manner, but she could not utter even a single word. All she could do was bite down forcefully on her teeth. On the contrary, Qi Yue wore a dark expression as a sinister voice seeped out between the crevices of his teeth, ¡°Good, excellent. Your highness really surpasses one¡¯s expectations.¡± Zhou Yuan swept an indifferent glance at Qi Yue and replied with a faint smile, ¡°Behave yourselves if you want to watch and stop trying to hold a drama here, we really don¡¯t have time to entertain you guys.¡± The corners of Qi Yue¡¯s eyes twitched, but he ultimately took breathed in deeply, suppressing the rage in his heart. However, the eyes that looked towards Zhou Yuan had become increasingly menacing and cold. Zhou Yuan no longer bothered with Qi Yue after seeing this. He turned his head and smiled towards Su Youwei, Yang Zai, Song Qiushui and the rest as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s continue. There¡¯s not much time left.¡± Of the 6 hours they had, almost half had passed. ¡°Alright!¡± Responded all the A class students, their morale rapidly rising. The gazes that looked towards Zhou Yuan were much different than before. Before, there existed a tiny bit of the mentality of a senior student viewing a new student. However, not only had Zhou Yuan¡¯s accomplishment intimidated Qi Yue and the rest of the B class, it had also made them, the A class students, feel more respect for the former. By the side, Chu Tianyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the A class students regain their morale. The gaze with which he looked towards Zhou Yuan had subconsciously become increasingly pleased. Over the past year, Qi Yue was practically a boulder that weighed heavily in the hearts of all the A class students, making them feel as if they would never be able to prevail over him. But Zhou Yuan had let everyone know today that it was not impossible to beat Qi Yue. As the saying went, there was always someone better. No one had been able to keep Qi Yue in check because that someone had yet to appear¡­ but now¡­ That someone had perhaps finally appeared. Chu Tianyang secretly thought as he looked at Zhou Yuan. Under the Jade Spirit Waterfall, the now spirited A class students continued their training once again. While the thundering waterfall washed over them, the figures standing within seemed to have become much more powerful. In the following period of time, Zhou Yuan maintained his 1 hour timing during each attempt, a fact that made everyone exclaim in admiration. No one could understand how he did it. Most importantly, Zhou Yuan was still rather lively even after enduring for an hour, and few bruises could be seen on his body. This appearance made it seem as if the waterfall was unable to damage him at all. Hence, the gazes which looked towards Zhou Yuan grew increasingly respectful. The 6 hour training session soon came to an end. Subsequently, the spirited A class students walked past the B class students under Zhou Yuan¡¯s lead. The B class students were silent as they watched them leave. Liu Xi hatefully gnashed her teeth and said, ¡°Acting so pleased just because he was able to persist a short while longer! Does he really think that opening his third meridian channel will allow him to fly?¡± ¡°Qi Yue, you cannot allow him to keep doing as he pleases!¡± Qi Yue was expressionless as he coldly said, ¡°What¡¯s the rush.¡± A cold luster pulsed in his eyes as he turned his head and looked towards the enormous Jade Spirit Waterfall. Moments later, he icily chuckled and said, ¡°Looks like this Jade Spirit Waterfall is rather useful to him¡­¡± A frosty glint flashed in his eyes as he looked towards Liu Xi. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that 6 hours is a little too much for the A class?¡± Liu Xi¡¯s eyes brightened upon hearing this. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Qi Yue chuckled as the ominous look on his face faded. ¡°It just so happens that I previously heard class master Xu mention how unfair the Jade Spirit Waterfall allocation was. The other class masters also have some opinions with regards to this.¡± ¡°No one would say anything if the A class is able to tower above the other classes like before, but does the current A class have such qualifications?¡± ¡°Do they still have the face to consider themselves the leader of the classes after two consecutive years of being suppressed by our B class?¡± Qi Yue looked towards the direction Zhou Yuan and the rest had left in, the cold glint in his eyes growing even colder while the smile that hung from his lips overflowed with mockery. ¡°I feel¡­ that it is indeed time to deal with this Jade Spirit Waterfall allocation problem.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 32 Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune Time in the Great Zhou Institute flowed extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. Over this half a month, Zhou Yuan gradually grew accustomed to the training lifestyle in the A class. However, it was a pity that the Jade Spirit Waterfall training was no longer as effective after unblocking his third meridian channel. Though this was the case, his fourth meridian channel was gradually being unblocked with the aid of the quartz energy¡­ Completely opening the channel was only a matter of time. On a certain day. Zhou Yuan had just left the inner palace after finishing his breakfast when he caught sight of a certain pretty silhouette in the nearby flower park, causing his heart to tremble slightly. The Jade Spirit Waterfall in the Great Zhou Institute would be open again today. However, the effectiveness of the Jade Spirit Waterfall had already fallen somewhat for Zhou Yuan as his body had likely grown accustomed to the quartz energy. Hence, Zhou Yuan had to think of other ways to grow stronger. ¡°A Genesis Gathering Rune is drawn on my body every time I enter the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Big sis Yaoyao¡¯s attainments in the art of Genesis Runes is extremely high and far surpasses the Genesis Rune teachers of the institute. I wonder if she knows of a more effective grade 1 Genesis Gathering Rune. If she does, my quartz energy absorption efficiency will rise to a higher level.¡± When his thoughts reached this point, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes subconsciously brightened slightly, his pace growing quicker as he walked into the stone pavilion within the flower park. Yaoyao gracefully stood in the stone pavilion. The tip of the Genesis Rune Brush in her hand moved to and fro on the scroll that had been laid out on the tablet. Her gorgeous and fair face was currently fully concentrated. This earnestly working appearance of hers gave off a special sort of charm. Zhou Yuan quietly arrived at Yaoyao¡¯s side and looked towards the scroll, only to discover that it was a landscape painting. The mountain range within weaved about like a snaking dragon, while the meandering river gleamed like real water under the sunlight. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression gradually became serious as he observed the majestic work of art. A trace of amazement rose in his eyes when he realised that there were Genesis Rune strokes hidden within the painting. The picture hid a very profound Genesis Rune! This was definitely no low grade Genesis Rune. An icy sensation soaked Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body while he tried to feel the Genesis Rune as if he was facing some sort of terrible creature. Meanwhile, astonishing undulations slowly pulsed from the painting. Zhou Yuan was overwhelmed with shock as he cried out in his heart, ¡°This Genesis Rune has likely reached grade 3!¡± Grade 3 Genesis Rune. Even Heaven Gate stage experts did not dare to underestimate one. Moreover, the thing that shocked Zhou Yuan the most was that Yaoyao was able to blend the Genesis Rune in her landscape painting. From this, one could see just how deep her mastery of Genesis Runes went. While Zhou Yuan was immersed in the Genesis Rune landscape painting, a small fair hand blocked his line of sight, allowing him to come back to his senses. ¡°Your current mastery of Genesis Runes has yet to reach that level. Falling too deeply into it will hurt your Spirit.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s flat voice was transmitted into his ear. Sure enough, Zhou Yuan felt a little dizzy after hearing this. He hastily turned away and sighed with admiration. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao¡¯s attainments in Genesis Runes are indeed amazing.¡± He looked towards Yaoyao with eyes filled with curiosity. ¡°May I ask what is the highest grade Genesis Rune big sis Yaoayao can currently draw?¡± Normally speaking, grade 3 Genesis Runes were comparable to a Heaven Gate practitioner. If it was grade 4, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s father, Zhou Qing, would have to be somewhat vigilant. Unfortunately, even in the entire Great Zhou, the most skilled person in Genesis Runes that Zhou Yuan knew of was unable to draw a grade 4 Genesis Rune. Yaoyao gently rolled up the painting in front of her as she offhandedly said, ¡°For the time being, I can only draw grade 3 Genesis Runes. But if I make ample preparations, it might be possible to try grade 4.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but grin.The power of grade 3 Genesis Runes was able to match a Heaven Gate stage practitioner. In other words, Yaoyao might seem weak because she was unable to use Genesis Qi, but in actual combat, armed with the power of Genesis Runes, even a Heaven Gate stage practitioner would be unable to stop her. ¡°Can¡¯t believe that master expects me to protect her. Just who exactly will be doing the protecting?¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh bitterly in his heart. As if she knew what Zhou Yuan was thinking about, Yaoyao glanced at him and said, ¡°Grandpa Hei is not counting on the you of now. The one he hopes to rely on is the future you.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook slightly as he recalled the day Cang Yuan had sent Yaoyao and him away. Back then, Cang Yuan had clearly given off a feeling of urgency, as if an imminent danger was approaching that even he was not confident of dealing with. Zhou Yuan probed, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, do you know of master¡¯s origins?¡± Cang Yuan possessed unfathomable strength. An unknown danger that even he was not sure he could overcome would surely be an extreme terror. Thus, Zhou Yuan wanted to know more such that he could prepare himself. A vacant look emerge in Yaoyao¡¯s pretty eyes when she heard this and she retrieved an ancient jade pendant from her clothes. A life-like seven-color fire lotus had been carved onto the pendant. She stroked the pendant and gently shook her head as she replied in a tiny voice, ¡°Grandpa Hei never told me anything.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Cang Yuan and Yaoyao were undoubtedly filled with mystery that he was unable to investigate. Seeing the somewhat depressed Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan did not dare to probe any further and hastily changed the topic. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, do you know the Genesis Gathering Rune?¡± Yaoyao replied in an absent-minded manner, ¡°The Genesis Gathering Rune is a very common grade 1 Genesis Rune. There is practically no need to ask.¡± ¡°Then what is the most effective Genesis Gathering Rune that my body is able to support?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes seemed to burn as he stared at Yaoyao. Genesis Runes could not be carelessly inscribed. For example, if a grade 3 Genesis Rune was drawn on someone like Zhou Yuan, even if he was able to someone activate it, it would only harm to his body. Yaoyao pondered for a while before casually drawing a Genesis Qi in the air, ¡°Is this the Genesis Gathering Rune you used previously?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The Genesis Rune Yaoyao had drawn was the most ordinary Genesis Gathering Rune. It was the same one that the Great Zhou Institute instructors had inscribed on their bodies. Yaoyao held her green-jade-like Genesis Rune Brush, gently pressing its tip on her chin as she thought and said, ¡°There are many kinds of Genesis Gathering Runes and I naturally know of those that are more effective than this one.¡± It was as if a surge of energy had suddenly flooded through Zhou Yuan as he anxiously looked at Yaoyao. ¡°Can you help me draw one?¡± Upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, Yaoyao¡¯s little hand folded into a fist as she lowered her head, revealing a thoughtful expression. Zhou Yuan tacitly retrieved a jade bottle from his sleeves. ¡°Hundred Flower Brew. I spent a great deal of effort in order to get this.¡± Yaoyao received the jade bottle and took a light sniff. Only then did she smile in satisfaction. Her fair hand twirled the jade-green Genesis Rune Brush as she said, ¡°Take off your clothes.¡± Zhou Yuan shed his clothes without any hesitation. Having trained for quite some time, his body now appeared much healthier and even had some muscle definition. ¡°This Genesis Rune of mine is called the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune and can be considered top tier amongst the grade 1 Genesis Runes. However, you will have to suffer a little.¡± ¡°No problem. Bring it on.¡± Zhou Yuan did not seem to mind. Yaoyao nodded. Without delay, the tip of the brush flickered with a faint luster as it landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. As the brush tip flowed, Genesis strokes appeared one after another. As the Genesis strokes on his back continued to appear, Zhou Yuan gradually started to feel a strange sensation, as if fiery heat and icy coldness had appeared on his back. As fire and ice continuously interweaved, an intense stabbing pain could be felt. Hss! Zhou Yuan gasped in a mouthful of cool air. The sensation of ice and fire was clearly unpleasant. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± A short few minutes later, Yaoyao pulled back her hand, lifting the brush tip. One could see that the Genesis strokes had come together to form a complicated Genesis Rune on Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. Fire and ice seemed circulate on the Genesis Rune, a rather peculiar sight. As the Genesis Rune took shape, Zhou Yuan felt the surrounding Genesis Qi begin to converge towards him. This was far more effective than an ordinary Genesis Gathering Rune. ¡°It is indeed pretty awesome!¡± An expression of surprise was revealed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. This Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune was more than twice as effective as a normal Genesis Gathering Rune! ¡°With this Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune, the amount of quartz energy I absorb during this trip to the Jade Spirit Waterfall will increase again!¡± Excitement flooded Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. After all, their A class was only allocated 6 hours of the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Since there was nothing he could change with regards to the allocated time, the only thing left was to try and absorb more quartz energy during this period. Zhou Yuan regretfully said, ¡°Such a pity, 6 hours is still too short. If it was a little longer, the time taken to unblock my fourth meridian channel will be shorten.¡± ¡°The effectiveness of this Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune is pretty good. If Su Youwei has one too, she should be able to very quickly unblock her fifth meridian channel.¡± As his thoughts reached this point, a certain idea hit him. Su Youwei¡¯s cultivation talent was extremely high and he naturally did not desire her progress to be delayed. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao¡­¡± Zhou Yuan shamelessly looked towards Yaoyao. ¡°Is it possible for you to help my friend draw one of these Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Runes?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s shapely eyebrows knitted together upon hearing this as she said without the slightest hesitation, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it.¡± She was obsessed with cleanliness and if it was not because she had been living with Zhou Yuan for so long, she would not have helped him draw a Genesis Rune. Zhou Yuan hurriedly said, ¡°She is a girl.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face eased slightly when she heard it was a girl. ¡°It is boring for big sis Yaoyao to spend all day in the palace. It just so happens that you can follow me to the Great Zhou Institute for a stroll to relieve your boredom.¡± Zhou Yuan swiftly struck while the iron was hot. Yaoyao hesitated for a while. She had stayed in the palace for over a month and was indeed a little bored. ¡°Alright, I will go with you. However, I will only help one person.¡± Yaoyao gave a light nod. However, she still took some precaution. If Zhou Yuan was to find ten or eight girls, she would really lose it. Zhou Yuan hurriedly nodded as he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. One was obviously enough as he only wanted to help Su Youwei. As for the others, once he learnt this Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune, he would consider helping those whom he had a good relationship with. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 33 The Two Girls Mee Great Zhou Institute. When Zhou Yuan walked past with Yaoyao, he could clearly feel the surroundings grow silent as stunned gazes continuously turned towards them from all directions. Of course, these gazes were not directed at him but the leisurely strolling Yaoyao beside him. She was currently still in her simple green clothes. Her figure lovely and tall, her long legs thin and slender, and her supple little waist that was just too unreasonable. She carried a lazy Tuntun in her arms, who could occasionally turn and twist its body, squeezing deeper into the slightly developed curves of her chest. This caused countless people to secretly curse the little bastard, washing they could replace it. Above that fair graceful neck was an gorgeous yet aloof face that seemed to have been carved from ice. A faint rune of light was faintly discernible on her forehead, giving her an air of mysteriousness, a mysteriousness that could be admired but not be touched. Based on face alone, Yaoyao and Su Youwei had their own individual charms, but Yaoyao possessed a mysterious and ungraspable-as-mist presence. A feeling that made one understand that they could never get to close to her yet could not help but want to chase her. Thus, when Yaoyao appeared in the Great Zhou Institute, the youths she passed were all awed by her beauty and presence. Although amazement and wonder emerged in the eyes that closely followed her, no one dared to go up and talk to her. Zhou Yuan ignored these gazes as he led Yaoyao straight to the A class. As the two left, the Great Zhou Institute students exploded into whispers of curiosity. ¡°Such a pretty girl. Who is she? Is she also a student at our institute?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of such a person in the Great Zhou Institute.¡± ¡°With regards to prettiness, I¡¯m afraid that only our Great Zhou Institute¡¯s Su Youwei can compare.¡± ¡°I feel that this girl is more stunning,¡± ¡°Tch, I feel that Su Youwei is better. She¡¯s pretty and easy to approach. This one is too cold and it seems hard to get close to her.¡± ¡°.¡­..¡± From a certain spot in the Great Zhou Institute, Qi Yue and Liu Xi were watching Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Yaoyao¡¯s departing figures with different expressions. As Liu Xi gazed at the backs of the now distant figures, she could not help but grit her teeth and say, ¡°Humph. This fellow is not strong, but his butterfly drawing ability is nothing to scoff at.¡± Years ago, she had almost been betrothed to Zhou Yuan but ultimately managed to reject the marriage. Hence, she had never given a second glance to him. Who could have imagined that the girls that appeared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side would become more and more remarkable. This naturally made her feel extremely uncomfortable. A look of amazement flitted across Qi Yue¡¯s eyes as he watched Yaoyao¡¯s lovely figure. Although Yaoyao¡¯s and and Su Youwei¡¯s faces had their own charms, someone of high status like himself had a preference for girls an aura similar to Yaoyao, mysterious and an aloofness that made her seem so high up that she was practically untouchable. Those that others could never obtain was what Qi Yue wanted. ¡°But I¡¯ve never heard of this girl. Why does she have such a close relation to Zhou Yuan? Where did she come from?¡± Qi Yue¡¯s eyes faintly narrowed. Soon after, he smiled and said, ¡°However, this prince of ours seems to be doing pretty well recently. He even has time to play with flowers.¡± ¡°Is there any update with regards to the matter you spoke of before?¡± Said Liu Xi through gritted teeth. She did not wish to see Zhou Yuan have such a free and easy time. The corners of Qi Yue¡¯s mouth lifted slightly. ¡°The preparations are almost done. The other three classes also have some objections towards the A class¡¯ 6 allocated hours. Today will be a good day to raise this problem.¡± As he spoke, he looked in the direction Zhou Yuan had left in, the smile on his lips filled with playfulness. ¡°Strolling with a beauty is indeed a fine thing. However, you chose the wrong time to do so. Be careful of losing all your face.¡± A class courtyard. When Zhou Yuan brought Yaoyao in, every gaze immediately shifted over with a woosh, before becoming stunned when they saw the girl in green at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. Su Youwei was talking to Song Qiushui and the rest when she caught sight of Zhou Yuan. Just as she was about to call out to him, her body froze momentarily as her pretty limpid eyes landed on Yaoyao. Su Youwei¡¯s heart shook faintly as her teeth bit into her red lips. It was obvious that she did not know what the relationship between Zhou Yuan and this girl in green was. ¡°It seems that this prince of ours really likes to womanize.¡± Song Qiushui felt injustice for Su Youwei. Over this period of time, Su Youwei had already become the most welcomed person in the A class. After all, she was pretty, had amazing talent and there was not a single trace of the usual arrogance of a genius. ¡°Elder sister Qiushui, please do not speak such nonsense.¡± Su Youwei hastily pulled at Song Qiushui¡¯s sleeve. ¡°You!¡± Song Qiushui helplessly glanced at Su Youwei and said in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯re hopeless. You are definitely going to be thoroughly used for your entire life.¡± ¡°We are only friends.¡± Su Youwei explained with a blush. ¡°Tch.¡± Song Qiushui curled her lips. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled as he walked over. ¡°Your highness.¡± Su Youwei smiled at Zhou Yuan before seemingly looking towards Yaoyao by accident as she softly asked, ¡°This person is?¡± Zhou Yuan pondered for a while before he smiled and said, ¡°This is my little senior sister disciple.¡± Yaoyao glanced at him but did not refute. Zhou Yuan was Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple, hence calling her little senior sister disciple was considered appropriate. Su Youwei was somewhat astonished. She had never heard of Zhou Yuan having a little senior sister disciple. However, since Zhou Yuan had said so, she naturally chose to believe him. ¡°Come, follow me.¡± Zhou Yuan ignored everyone else¡¯s gazes and beckoned towards Su Youwei as he led Yaoyao to an empty room by the side. Su Youwei¡¯s pretty eyes were filled with doubt, but she still followed. The three entered the room and Zhou Yuan closed the door before starting to remove his clothes. ¡°Your highness, what are you doing?!¡± Su Youwei¡¯s face immediately turned beet-red when she saw this. She stamped her foot in nervousness as her eyes drifted away, not knowing where she should look. Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head and turned around, revealing the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune on his back. ¡°I want you to look at this.¡± Only then did Su Youwei shift her gaze over, however, her face was still red as she stared at the rune on Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. Moments later, she gasped in surprise, ¡°This is a Genesis Gathering Rune?¡± Zhou Yuan put his clothes back on and nodded. ¡°This is the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune inscribed by my little senior sister disciple. It is even more effective than an ordinary Genesis Gathering Rune, which is why I invited her over to help you draw one too. It will increase the effectiveness of your training in the Jade Spirit Waterfall.¡± Su Youwei was taken aback. She gazed at the quietly standing Yaoyao carrying Tuntun in a somewhat amazed manner. It was obvious that the former never imagined that the latter would have such high attainments in Genesis Runes. One must know that the Genesis Rune teachers of the Great Zhou Institute were unable to inscribe such a unique Genesis Gathering Rune. However, while she was amazed, a warm feeling flowed in her heart due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions. Zhou Yuan smiled at Yaoyao and Su Youwei as he said,¡°There is a inner room here, you two go in. I will stand guard outside.¡± Yaoyao nodded and walked into the inner room. Su Youwei glanced at Zhou Yuan before quickly following. Inside the inner room, Yaoyao sized-up Su Youwei without batting an eyelid, but secretly praise in her heart. The girl before her looked intelligent and enchanting. The spirited feeling given off by Su Youwei¡¯s eyes was akin to a beautiful embryo. ¡°You are called Su Youwei, right?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s voice was a little gentler than usual. After all, anyone would feel better in front of such a pretty and intelligent girl. Su Youwei nodded. She looked at Yaoyao and hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°What about you big sis?¡± ¡°I am Yaoyao.¡± ¡°Then may I call you big sis Yaoyao?¡± Yaoyao gave a light nod. ¡°Take off your clothes.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s face turned red again when she heard this. Although they were both girls, it was still embarrassing for her to undress in front of others. However, she was ultimately not a procrastinator. With a clench of her jaw, she removed her clothes. The moment her clothes fell, the entire inner room seemed to become somewhat brighter as a snow-white body blessed with enticing curves appeared. Su Youwei¡¯s face was dyed red as she turned around, revealing a flawlessly bright and fair back. Her arms hugged her chest, faintly emphasizing a rather full set of curves. Any male would have a nosebleed at such an exhilarating sight. ¡°What a lovely girl.¡± Yaoyao inwardly exclaimed in admiration before retrieving her green jade brush and cautioning, ¡°It might be a little painful.¡± Su Youwei shyly nodded. The jade brush descended, flickering with specks of light as it landed on Su Youwei¡¯s back. The brush tip swirled about, drawing stroke after stroke, each one pulsing with Spirit energy. The scorching and freezing sensation from Su Youwei¡¯s back made her grit her teeth, but she did not release even the slightest sound of pain. Yaoyao nodded upon seeing this. The inner room was silent for a long time before Yaoyao withdrew her brush. One would see a rune akin to swirling ice and fire slowly emerge on Su Youwei¡¯s back. It emitted a peculiar undulation and absorbed the surrounding Genesis Qi. ¡°Eh?¡± However, the moment the Ice and Fire Genesis Rune was formed, Yaoyao suddenly let out a cry of surprise. Her pretty eyes stared at the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune, because in that brief moment earlier, she had faintly sensed the effectiveness of this rune seem to grow substantially. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Yaoyao suddenly said before she reached out a fair hand and gently pressed it on Su Youwei¡¯s back. After sensing for a moment, a thoughtful look was revealed on her pretty face. ¡°There seems to be a feeling of Yin and Yang in the depths of her body and it appears to be a little similar to the legendary Yin Yang Genesis root. But why is it so weak? It is because it has yet to fully mature?¡± Yaoyao mumbled to herself in her heart. This Yin Yang Genesis root was an extremely unique root. It was similar to the sacred dragon root Zhou Yuan once possessed, giving one abilities that far surpassed the ordinary man. However, Su Youwei¡¯s Yin Yang Genesis root was very weak and may have yet to fully mature. Hence, Yaoyao could not be certain for the moment. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, what is it?¡± Su Youwei hurriedly asked as she looked at the pondering Yaoyao. Yaoyao thought for some time before shaking her head. After all, there was no need to speak of it since she was not sure. She only said, ¡°The effect of this Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune is even better on you than Zhou Yuan.¡± Su Youwei was somewhat shocked when she heard this. However, she did not overthink things. After all, the effectiveness of Genesis Runes would indeed vary depending on the person and a difference could be considered normal. After inscribing the Genesis Gathering Rune, the two girls walked out. Outside, the waiting Zhou Yuan smiled when he saw them. ¡°Finished?¡± Yaoyao and SuYouwei nodded. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief before pushing open the room doors. Once they left, Zhou Yuan immediately felt searing gazes shoot over. The many boys of the A class were grinding their teeth. It was all because Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions had drawn too much hate. To think that he actually pulled two great beauties into a small room! In response to their gazes, Zhou Yuan merely rolled his eyes. It was at this moment that a figure hurriedly ran over from outside. It was profusely sweating Yang Zai. Upon seeing everyone, he hastily shouted, ¡°Headmaster Chu wants us to hurry over to the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Something has happened!¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned by the situation and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The other A class members also cast puzzled gazes over. Yang Zai wiped his sweat as he spoke through gritted teeth, ¡°It¡¯s that damned Qi Yue. Their B class has united with the other classes and say that the cultivation allocation time for the Jade Spirit Waterfall is unfair. They want to cut our A class¡¯ time!¡± *Uproar*! The moment these words were said, an outburst instantly erupted as anger stirred in the crowd. Everyone¡¯s eyes seemed to be spitting fire. The Jade Spirit Waterfall was the cultivation treasure land of the Great Zhou Institute and was extremely important to them. If their allocated time was cut, it would definitely cause everyone¡¯s channel opening speed to slow. Qi Yue¡¯s actions was practically cutting off the path of their A class! Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes faintly narrowed upon hearing this as a cold glint surfaced within them. This tactic of Qi Yue¡¯s was truly vicious... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 34 Jade Spirit Waterfall Conspiracy By the time Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Su Youwei and the rest rushed to the Jade Spirit Waterfall, it was already flooded with people. All the students from the five classes of the Great Zhou Institute had gathered here. For a time, it was a boiling cauldron of voices, bustling with noise and excitement. Zhou Yuan¡¯s group passed through the crowd and arrived at the very centre. Their gazes swept about, only to find a steely-green-faced Chu Tianyang and Xu Hong standing in front of the former. Behind Xu Hong was Qi Yue and Liu Xi. When Qi Yue saw Zhou Yuan rush over, he could not help but reveal a slight smile towards the latter. However, his smile was filled with a toying sensation. Chu Tianyang also caught sight of Zhou Yuan but did not say anything. He merely stared at Xu Hong with a steely-green face of anger, his fists clenching so hard that cracking noises could be heard as he said in an icy voice, ¡°Xu Hong, don¡¯t go overboard. The Jade Spirit Waterfall time allocation has been decided long ago. How can it possibly change at your whims?!¡± ¡°Hehe, what is headmaster Chu saying. The Jade Spirit Waterfall is the most important cultivation treasure land of our Great Zhou Institute and we naturally want to utilise it as efficiently as possible.¡± Xu Hong looked at Chu Tianyang and slowly said, ¡°In the past, the A class was the strongest class of our Great Zhou Institute and we naturally had nothing to say with regards to them using 6 hours of the Jade Spirit Waterfall.¡± ¡°But what about now? The A class has already been suppressed by our B class for two consecutive years and is no longer the leader of the classes. Since that is so, isn¡¯t 6 hours a little unjustifiable?¡± Cold light flashed in Chu Tianyang¡¯s eyes as he retorted, ¡°The Jade Spirit Waterfall allocation was determined by his majesty back then. If you have any objections, go look for his majesty.¡± Xu Hong did not seem to mind these words as he smiled and said, ¡°Ever since the Great Zhou Institute was established, we have been free to decide the matters of the institute and even his majesty will not interfere. Hence, there is no need for headmaster to use his majesty as a shield.¡± He had long cast his lot in with king Qi, something that naturally substantially diminished his respect for Zhou Qing. ¡°You!¡± Chu Tianyang was furious. A ferocious look surged in his eyes as he suddenly took a step forward. His body immediately shook as a crimson red aura soared from his the top of his head. The crimson red aura was akin to a hundred foot long red cloud. Incomparably hot, it hovered in the sky above Chu Tianyang as a crimson red glow spread, causing the air in the area to turn blistering hot. A powerful pressure swept outwards at this moment, causing all of the students¡¯ expressions to change drastically as their legs began to tremble. ¡°So this is a Heaven Gate stage expert? It is indeed terrifying. Qi that breaks through the Heaven Gate is powerful enough to move mountains and split the land!¡± Reverence emerged in the eyes of the many students. The Genesis Qi they were able to use at the Channel Opening stage was akin to a drop in the ocean when compared to a Heaven Gate stage practitioner like Chu Tianyang. Behind Chu Tianyang, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was also filled with astonishment as he glanced at the overbearing crimson red Qi. His heart shuddered as he thought, ¡°Is this the Genesis Qi that Chu Tianyang has cultivated, the grade 3 Crimson Sun Qi?¡± There were 9 grades of Genesis Qi. The better the Genesis Qi cultivation technique, the higher the grade of the cultivated Genesis Qi. Currently, the highest level Qi cultivation technique in their Great Zhou royal treasury could only cultivate grade 4 Genesis Qi. ¡°Humph, want to fight? Do you really think that I am afraid of you?!¡± Xu Hong¡¯s eyes turned frostier when he saw Chu Tianyang¡¯s actions. The former also stepped forward as an equally powerful Genesis Qi burst out from the top his head like a shooting star. This Genesis QI was akin to a silver torrent and was filled with bone-piercing coldness. An aura of coldness unfurled, causing frost to grow on the surrounding ground. Grade 3 Genesis Qi, Silver Frost Qi! As the two Heaven Gate stage experts faced each other, a suffocating pressure spread, causing the numerous students present to feel a surge of fear, afraid that they would be caught in the aftershocks. After all, a battle between Heaven Gate practitioners was nothing like the childish fights of Channel Opening stage practitioners. It was a stage where even the slightest move would cause mountains to crumble and the earth to split. ¡°Headmaster Chu, class master Xu, this is not the place to fight!¡± However, while Chu Tianyang and Xu Hong clashed with their auras, someone finally shouted, breaking the confrontation between the two. The one who had shouted was a man in a black robe. It was the C class master, Qin Xiao. The other two class masters also hastily called out. After all, it would benefit neither party if they were to battle here, Following the interjection of the other class masters, Chu Tianyang and Xu Hong knew that they could not really go at it. Both immediately let out a cold snort as the crimson red and silver-frost-like auras were withdrawn, burrowing back into the top of their respective heads. Chu Tianyang icily declared, ¡°Humph, I definitely will not agree to changing the Jade Spirit Waterfall allocation!¡± Rage emerged in Xu Hong¡¯s eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Qi Yue suddenly smiled and said, ¡°Headmaster Chu, our proposal is not aimed against the A class, but for all of the students of our Great Zhou Institute.¡± ¡°Headmaster should know how important the Jade Spirit Waterfall is to us students. In the past, the allocation was based on how the A class stood above all the other classes. Hence none of us had any dissent towards the A class having 6 hours.¡± ¡°But the current A class in the decline. If it is still allowed to occupy so much time, won¡¯t it be a little too unfair to the other students? Thus, reallocating the cultivation time is what everyone wants.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s voice sounded righteous and awe-inspiring, causing the numerous students around the Jade Spirit Waterfall to secretly nod in agreement. Everyone knew that the Jade Spirit Waterfall was extremely useful to those at the Channel Opening stage. If they were allocated a little more time, their channel opening rate would rise. With regards to obtaining benefits for oneself, everyone would always be a little selfish. Qi Yue laughed inside when he saw the acknowledgement from the crowd. He gazed at the increasingly ugly expression on Chu Tianyang¡¯s face as he continued, ¡°Headmaster Chu, although you are the class master of the A class, do not forget that you are also the headmaster of the Great Zhou Institute. If you cannot be fair, I¡¯m afraid that you will lose the will of the people.¡± Chu Tianyang¡¯s expression changed completely, because these words of Qi Yue¡¯s were practically putting his head on the chopping block. If he dared to deny them, it would surely turn the other students against him. ¡°You!¡± Chu Tianyang¡¯s cheeks faintly twitched. Behind Chu Tianyang, the numerous A class students were likewise speechless while their faces had also turned rather ugly. After all, Qi Yue was doggedly grabbing onto the fact that the current results of their A class was no good and did not have the qualifications to be the leader of the classes. This was a point that they could not refute. ¡°According to the rules, if you want to take the A class¡¯ place as the leader of the classes, you will have to wait till the A class loses first place in the class ranking exam for three consecutive years. Since the year-end class ranking exam has yet to arrive, isn¡¯t kicking the A class down from their leader status being a little too impatient?¡±While the many A class students expressions were twisted, a calm voice suddenly rang out. Numerous gazes converged towards the origin of the voice, only to find that it was a thin, scholarly youth standing behind Chu Tianyang. It was Zhou Yuan. Qi Yue faintly smiled when he saw that Zhou Yuan had spoken. ¡°Since the current A class has already lost first place in the class ranking exam for two successive years, this year will naturally be no exception. Therefore, being the leader of classes now only exists in name. There is no need for your highness to force this point.¡± ¡°Rules are the rules. Moreover, I do not believe that our A class will lose first place this year.¡± Zhou Yuan also smiled. His voice was flat and did not waver. Qi Yue¡¯s eyes narrowed as disdain emerged from the corners of his mouth, matching tit for tat as he replied, ¡°Your highness opinion seems to be rather naive. There are only a few months till the year-end class ranking exam and the outcome is already more than obvious. Why should the A class still occupy 6 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training and waste this cultivation resource?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°I do not feel that our A class Jade Spirit Waterfall training is a waste of cultivation resource.¡± Qi Yue coldly chuckled. ¡°Since you insist on being stubborn with words, do you dare to prove your words with action?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly. ¡°Relax, I do not plan on having a match with you guys. That will be a little too unfair.¡± Qi Yue smiled superficially. His tone was filled with both contempt and disdain, causing the faces of the numerous A class students to turn steely-green with rage. Qi Yue pointed at the flowing Jade Spirit Waterfall as a penetrating look surfaced in his eyes. ¡°If you are unconvinced, each of us will send one representative into the Jade Spirit Waterfall and see who lasts the longest. This will naturally show exactly who is wasting this cultivation resource!¡± It was at this very moment that he finally revealed his plan. Chu Tianyang said in a low voice, ¡°You have long opened six meridian channels and the quality of your body is very high. Who can possibly endure as long as you in the Jade Spirit Waterfall?¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in the Jade Spirit Waterfall was outstanding and the time he managed to persist was growing longer and longer, one must know that Qi Yue could do the same with just the high quality of his body. Qi Yue indifferently said, ¡°If headmaster Chu feels that this is not fair, you can only blame your A class for having no one who is able to reach the six channels.¡± Fury flooded Chu Tianyang¡¯s eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Yuan said, ¡°What are the stakes?¡± Zhou Yuan could tell that Qi Yue had come prepared and would not let the matter drop so easily. Thus, it was likely that they would have to go through with it no matter what. ¡°The stakes huh¡­ if our B class wins, the A class will have to cough up 3 hours of training time. 2 hours will end up with my B class and the remaining hour will be split amongst the other three classes. How does that sound?¡± The corners of Qi Yue¡¯s lips raised as he stared at Zhou Yuan as if the latter was prey that was about to be caught. ¡°3 hours?!¡± Rage immediately covered the other A class students¡¯ faces when they heard this. Practically half of their A class 6 hours would be taken away. This would be a substantial blow indeed. The students of the other classes did not remark. It was clear from the current situation that the A class and B class were competing. However, they would be rather satisfied if they could ultimately get some additional Jade Spirit Waterfall training time. Hence, most of the students decided to wait and see from the sidelines with regards to Qi Yue¡¯s overbearingness. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at the smiling Qi Yue. A brief moment later, the former slowly said, ¡°3 hours huh? Deal! However, if you lose, the B class also needs to pay 3 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall cultivation time!¡± If they were to face each other head-on, Zhou Yuan, who had yet to open his fourth meridian channel, did not favor his chances against a six channel Qi Yue. But if they were to compete in Jade Spirit Waterfall training, Zhou Yuan was confident that he did not need to fear any of the Great Zhou Institute students. He knew the Qi Yue was prepared, but he should not look down on Zhou Yuan. Moreover, similar to how Qi Yue was eyeing the 6 hours belonging to their A class, Zhou Yuan likewise felt that these 6 hours were too short¡­ He just never had any justification so far and was unable to change anything. Since Qi Yue suddenly decided to send a big present over, Zhou Yuan did not have any reason to reject. Qi Yue¡¯s expression turned a little rigid at this moment, evident unprepared for Zhou Yuan¡¯s straightforward agreement. However, he soon recalled his hidden trump and an eerily vicious look involuntarily flitted across his eyes. ¡°Alright! If we lose, our B class will also lose 3 hours!¡± As Qi Yue¡¯s words faded, a commotion exploded from the numerous surrounding students as they swiftly began to stir. From the looks of it, there was no need to wait till the year-end class ranking exam. The clash between the A class and the B class would begin here¡­ However, it was obvious that they favored the B class, because the B class had Qi Yue. As the only six channel student in the current Great Zhou Institute, he was an existence that towered over everyone else. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan had only opened three meridian channels. How could he possibly match Qi Yue? Why had the usually calm and level-headed prince Zhou Yuan lost his cool today? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 35 Jade Spirit Waterfall Battle The atmosphere in front of the Jade Spirit Waterfall instantly fired up after Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue settled on the bet. More and more Great Zhou Institute students came over after hearing the news, stuffing the area until not even a drop of water could seep through. After all, the stakes were far too great. 3 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time. One must know that with the exception of the A class and the B class, the other classes only had an hour. ¡°The fish has taken the bait.¡± The corners of Liu Xi¡¯s mouth lifted to form a delighted smile the moment she saw this, as if she was already able to see Zhou Yuan¡¯s miserable appearance after he was defeated. By the side, a dark and cold look flitted across Xu Hong¡¯s eyes. Did Zhou Yuan really believe that he had the ability to challenge Qi Yue just because his performance in the Jade Spirit Waterfall was rather decent? Truly naive. Although the numerous surrounding B class students were a little alarmed by Qi Yue¡¯s acceptance of the bet, these feelings were swiftly replaced by excitement. They knew how strong Qi Yue was and even if the competition this time was not a clash of fists, it would not be too difficult for Qi Yue to achieve victory. Hence, they felt as if the A class¡¯ 3 hours were practically already in the bag. In contrast to the feeling of certain victory that shrouded the B class students, the atmosphere of the A class was rather heavy, and the expressions of many students were gloomy. After all, Qi Yue¡¯s reputation was just a little too overwhelming. ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you believe in your chances?¡± Asked Chu Tianyang in a low voice, worry in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled in response. Chu Tianyang eased up somewhat when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s relaxed smile. The other party was clearly prepared and would not let up until their aim was achieved. Thus, agreeing to the bet was the only thing they could do. ¡°You can do it!¡± Su Youwei waved her little fists with the intention of boosting Zhou Yuan¡¯s morale. ¡°Zhou Yuan, the future of our A class rests on your shoulders!¡± Song Qiushui could only anxiously look towards Zhou Yuan. Their A class were already in a rather disadvantageous position in the struggle with the B class. If they were to lose 3 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time, it was likely that no one in their A class would be able to reach six channels when the class ranking exam arrived. Hence, it was not too much to say that the futures of all the A class students hinged on this bet. Zhou Yuan nodded in response when he saw the worry and hope in the many A class students eyes. Under the attention of numerous gazes, Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue advanced towards the Jade Spirit Waterfall. ¡°If your highness has started regret, you can admit defeat sooner so as to avoid suffering too much.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s smile was as light as a breeze. ¡°I¡¯ll send those words back at you.¡± Zhou Yuan did not even look at Qi Yue as he replied in an indifferent voice. ¡°Looks like it is as the saying goes, one does not cry till one sees the coffin. Since that is so, do not blame me later.¡± A look of mockery surfaced from the corners of Qi Yue¡¯s mouth. Without further ado, the tip of his foot pushed off the ground and his body landed on the other side of the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue stood on opposite ends of the waterfall as their gazes met. Each could feel the coldness in the other¡¯s eyes. Huu! A split second later, the two took in a deep breath before stepping into the violent waters of the Jade Spirit Waterfall under the attention of countless watching eyes. A seemingly boundless torrent of water, along with an almighty force, viciously slammed into the two individual¡¯s bodies. However, their bodies were akin to boulders, their feet tightly gripping the ground, unmoving as they allowed the water to crash onto them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s were shut, the Spirit between his brows throbbing as strands of Spirit sense spread outwards, sucking over all of the nearby quartz energy within the flowing waters to ease the intense pain brought about by the water striking his body. Meanwhile, the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune on his body began to emit a faint glow. Cold and heat interweaved as the quartz energy was swiftly absorbed. The speed of absorption was far greater than an ordinary Genesis Gathering Rune. ¡°This Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune is indeed effective!¡± Zhou Yuan praised in his heart as he felt the difference. Boundless water continued to descend, making Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Qi Yue¡¯s figures barely visible. Outside the waterfall, everyone¡¯s gazes were unblinkingly fixed on the duo. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous limit seems to be an hour while Qi Yue on the other hand can reach one hour fifty minutes.¡± Liu Xi stared at the two silhouettes in the watercall as she coldly smiled, ¡°So the victor will be decided in an hour.¡± It seems that Zhou Yuan¡¯s ego had swelled somewhat after having such an easy time in the newcomer exam. Did he truly believe that Qi Yue was in any way like the trash he had faced in the newcomer exam? In Qi Yue¡¯s eyes, there was probably no difference between Zhou Yuan and the trash he had defeated. Xu Hong nodded. He was very confident in Qi Yue. After all, the quality of a six channel body was enough to allow him to easily endure in the Jade Spirit Waterfall. The numerous students on the B class side also wore smiles and appeared rather relaxed. After all, Qi Yue¡¯s reputation in the Great Zhou Institute was just too great. He and Zhou Yuan were on completely different levels. In contrast to them, every one of the A class students wore looks of worry. Yaoyao glanced at the tightly clenched fists of Su Youwei and consoled in a flat voice, ¡°No need to worry. Zhou Yuan will not lose.¡± Her Spirit was powerful and it was likely that no one here could even hold a candle to her. Therefore, she could naturally sense that Zhou Yuan was using the power of his Spirit to absorb large amounts of quartz energy. Moreover, with the aid of the Ice and Fire Genesis Gathering Rune, Zhou Yuan was practically able to endlessly endure in the Jade Spirit Waterfall without tiring. On the other hand, Qi Yue was relying on his strong body. But no matter how strong the body, the continuous damage from the Jade Spirit Waterfall would gradually erode at it until it reached its limit. This was why the victor was clear from the start. Although Su Youwei did not know why Yaoyao was so certain, the former felt a little more at ease. However, her pretty eyes still unblinkingly stared at the waterfall. Under everyone¡¯s attention, time swiftly passed. Ten minutes¡­ half an hour¡­ fifty minutes¡­ An hour rapidly approached. However, what puzzled the crowd was that Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure remained unmoving and had not started shaking, as if he was having an easy time. There was no indicator that he had reached his limit at all. Xu Hong¡¯s brows faintly furrowed as he glanced at Liu Xi. She was biting down hard on her teeth as she said, ¡°It¡¯s merely stubbornness. Let¡¯s see how long he can continue acting!¡± And so, another ten minutes passed and an hour was reached. Low gasps could be heard from the bank of the lake. They had realised that Zhou Yuan still showed no signs of being washed away by the waterfall, remaining as steady as a rock. Doubt began to fluctuate indeterminately in Xu Hong¡¯s eyes, while Liu Xi felt her face burn. Her expression also flickered in uncertainty, no longer daring to make irresponsible remarks because she could already feel some of the B class students cast odd looks at her. ¡°That kid is still able to endure?¡± In the Jade Spirit Waterfall, Qi Yue frowned as he sensed the still persisting Zhou Yuan. By this time, intense pain had started to emerge in Qi Yue¡¯s body, but it was still within his tolerance threshold. ¡°I¡¯ll wait and see if he is acting tough.¡± While Qi Yue waited, another half an hour passed. However, there was still no signs of any movement from Zhou Yuan. Qi Yue¡¯s face was now rather ugly. He could feel that he was about to reach his limits. ¡°This brat. No wonder he agreed so easily. Turns out that he was holding back before.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s eyes darkened, a cold glint surfacing in his eyes as he glanced at Zhou Yuan. ¡°However, do you think that I did not make any preparations for this bet?¡± Qi Yue¡¯s eyes slowly shut as he waited for time to pass. Another twenty minutes passed in this manner and the total time had now reached one hour and fifty minutes, which was also Qi Yue¡¯s limit. Qi Yue opened his eyes as a sinisterly cold light emerged within them. ¡°Zhou Yuan. Since you cannot appreciate my kindness, don¡¯t blame me for what happens next.¡± The moment this thought was finish, he flipped his tongue and a dark red pill appeared in his mouth before being swallowed in a single gulp. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 36 Underhanded Tactic As the dark red pill was swallowed into Qi Yue¡¯s stomach, he immediately felt an icy sensation appear in his body that headed straight towards his forehead. This pill was known as the Spirit Strengthening Pill and could temporarily strengthen one¡¯s Spirit. However, there were repercussions. After usage, the Spirit would be depleted for a period of time. It was obvious that Qi Yue no longer cared about such things at this point in time. As his Spirit swelled, a faint ray of light emerged from the spot between Qi Yue¡¯s brows and seemed to transform into an illusory figure. It was his Spirit. Evidently, Qi Yue¡¯s Spirit had stepped into the Illusory stage with the aid of the Spirit Strengthening Pill. With his Spirit now at the Illusory stage, Qi Yue immediately discovered what he had previously been unaware of. He could sense strands of quartz energy in the Jade Spirit Waterfall continuously flowing towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°So that¡¯s what¡¯s going on! To think that your ability to last so long in the Jade Spirit Waterfall is because of your Spirit!¡± Qi Yue¡¯s pupils shrank. He had finally discovered the secret to why Zhou Yuan was able to endure even longer than himself. ¡°Humph. It is fortunate that I made preparations for this day. Else it would really be akin to capsizing on a calm lake!¡± Qi Yue¡¯s expression darkened. Soon after, a Genesis Rune gradually appeared between his brows. This rune was known as the ¡®Spirit Needle Rune¡¯, a grade 1 rune which he had specifically found someone to help him inscribe. Its function was to condense the Spirit into the shape of a needle that could attack the enemy. Normally speaking, one needed to at least be at the advance Illusory stage to use Spirit based attacks. Qi Yue was barely able to reach the initial Illusory stage with the help of the Spirit Strengthening Pill and thus needed to rely on an external power in order to utilise Spirit attacks. Qi Yue could not attack directly in the waterfall. Hence, he could only choose a concealable method like Spirit attacks. Swish! Following the activation of the ¡®Spirit Needle Rune¡¯, the spot between Qi Yue¡¯s brows flashed as a long needle made from a strand of Spirit shot out. The long Spirit needle pierced through the water and headed straight for Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan immediately sensed the Spirit needle the moment it shot towards him and the expression in his eyes instantly sunk. ¡°A Spirit attack? How can Qi Yue¡¯s Spirit be so strong?!¡± Even the current Zhou Yuan could not perform Spirit attacks. Though he was bewildered, Zhou Yuan did not dare to tarry. Although the Spirit attack might not seem imposing and was unable to do any damage to the body, its destructive power to the Spirit was extremely great. Once one¡¯s Spirit was hurt, it would be even more difficult to recover than a physical wound. Thus, Zhou Yuan immediately stopped absorbing quartz energy. His Spirit withdrew and entrenched itself between his brows, creating multiple layers of defence. Ch! A faint sound was heard as a strand of Spirit power was directed to Zhou Yuan¡¯s eye. Zhou Yuan could now see a long Spirit needle drill its way out of the flowing water and shoot straight towards his head. Ch ch! Stabbing pain could be felt from between his brows as his expression grew increasingly grave. The Spirit needle was sharp and had managed to penetrate the layers of his Spirit defence he had set-up. ¡°Since you wish to seek death, I will have to oblige!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered as the corners of his lips lifted to form an icy smile. The current him might not be a match for Qi Yue in a battle of fists, but if it was Spirit, Qi Yue was practically courting death! Zhou Yuan used his Spirit to continuously grind away at the sharpness of the Spirit needle. A short while later, he suddenly dispersed his defences with a thought. ¡°Success!¡± An evil grin appeared on Qi Yue¡¯s face when he sensed this. Boom! However, the moment this sinister smile emerged on his face, a loud sound was transmitted into his ear. Subsequently, the scenery before his eyes rapidly changed as he found himself in an endless starry sky. Rumble! This sudden turn of events caused Qi Yue¡¯s expression to change drastically as a rumbling sound thundered. He raised his head and was swiftly overwhelmed by inconsolable terror when he saw an infinitely stretching giant grindstone slowly appear. A shadow that could cover the heavens descended as the behemoth hurled towards him. Endless dread surged in Qi Yue¡¯s heart. The titanic grindstone crushed downwards and there was nothing he could do to resist as he felt his Spirit being smashed to pieces. Crack! A faint cracking sound emerged from between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows, marking the shattering of Qi Yue¡¯s Spirit needle as an icy chuckle to left the former¡¯s mouth. Between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows was the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone brand left by Cang Yuan. Hence, Zhou Yuan was not afraid of Spirit attacks. Any Spirit attack that entered would naturally be crushed by the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone. AAH! When Zhou Yuan shattered the Spirit needle, a miserable shriek suddenly rang out nearby. The shriek immediately draw the attention of everyone outside the waterfall. Subsequently, they were appalled to see Qi Yue¡¯s figure start to shake before ultimately being washed away by the boundless flow of water, falling into the cold waters of the lake below. ¡°How is this possible?¡± Xu Hong¡¯s expression abruptly changed. He face was steely-green as he stared at the trembling Qi Yue that had fallen into the lake. By the side, Liu Xi¡¯s small mouth was wide open while disbelief filled her attractive face. The other B class students were silently trembling, their faces white as sheet. Of course, it was not just them. Even Chu Tianyang, Su Youwei and the other A class students had faces overflowing with shock. It was obvious that this outcome had surpassed everyone¡¯s expectations. The surroundings of the Jade Spirit Waterfall was complete silence, as if everyone had just seen a ghost. While a blanket of silence covered the crowd, a figure flew out from the Jade Spirit Waterfall, his foot pushing off the surface of the water before confidently landing by the lake side. Tall and straight, who else could it be but Zhou Yuan. He looked at the ugly to the max expressions on Xu Hong, Liu Xi and the rest as he said in a flat voice, ¡°The victor is already clear. What else do you have to say?¡± Some students fished out Qi Yue from the lake, only to find that his face was deathly pale while his eyes were full of fear. His shivering appearance was extremely miserable. This baffled everyone. They were clearly unable to understand how he became like this. ¡°This is¡­ Spirit injury?¡± Xu Hong¡¯s expression immediately changed when he saw Qi Yue¡¯s appearance. When Liu Xi heard this, she immediately pointed at Zhou Yuan and shrieked, ¡°Despicable! You cheated!¡± The many students also looked towards Zhou Yuan in doubt. ¡°Cheated?¡± Zhou Yuan sneered and pointed towards Qi Yue¡¯s head where the remains of a rune was gradually fading, ¡°If I am not wrong, that is the grade 1 Genesis Rune, Spirit Needle Rune, right?¡± ¡°If he did not attack me with a Spirit needle earlier, he would not have fallen into such a state.¡± The moment these words were said, an uproar exploded from the crowd as their gazes turned towards Qi Yue¡¯s forehead. Sure enough, they found the fading remains of a rune and those proficient in Genesis Runes immediately identified it. ¡°Qi Yue is clearly stronger than prince Zhou Yuan. To think that he still made use of such despicable tactics!¡± Numerous students muttered while the gazes that looked at Qi Yue now had an additional trace of despise. Liu Xi¡¯s face turned steely-green when she sensed these gazes, while fire practically spit from her eyes. However, she could not say even a single word in rebuttal because the truth was already more than clear. If Qi Yue had not done anything fishy, what was this Spirit Needle Rune for? If she tried to explain, it was likely that even she would be drowned in the crowd¡¯s spittle. As they heard the voices from the crowd, the many B class students looked to each other with ugly expressions. The respect from before was no longer present in their gazes when they looked towards Qi Yue, instead, there was now blame. After all, Qi Yue had lost the bet, causing their B class to lose 3 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time. In other words, all they had left was a single hour¡­ This was a tremendous blow to their B class. Someone could not help but mutter, ¡°Challenging others without absolute confidence. Great job, there¡¯s now practically nothing left to lose.¡± Liu Xi immediately swept her furious gaze over, but was unable to find who had spoken and could only grind her teeth in anger. ¡°Hehe, class master Xu, our A class kindly accepts your B class¡¯ 3 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time.¡± Chu Tianyang heartily laughed at this moment. It felt really awesome to look at Xu Hong¡¯s steely-green face. Never in his wildest dreams would Xu Hong have ever expected that causing trouble for the A class would instead result in such a huge loss for the B class. Rage churned in Xu Hong¡¯s stomach, but he not act out on his anger. He could only show a forced smile as he looked at Chu Tianyang and Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too early. The class ranking exam is fast approaching and as long as our B class takes first place again, whatever you¡¯ve taken away now will have to be spit out twice fold!¡± After saying this, he flung his sleeves, turned around and left. Liu Xi and the other B class students could only weakly follow. Their figures were an extremely sorry sight. As the left, thunderous cheers exploded from the A class as they surged forward, wishing they could throw Zhou Yuan up into the air. Zhou Yuan hurriedly put a stop to their crazed happiness and smiled towards the surrounding students from the other classes as he said, ¡°Of the 3 hours our A class has won, 1 hour will be split amongst the other three classes. Take it as thanks for cheering us on today.¡± The moment these words were said, the students of the other three classes were taken aback. Soon after, ashamed looks were revealed on their faces. The truth was that their three classes had been a little akin to those who threw stones at someone who was already down. Who could have expected that not only would Zhou Yuan not bear a grudge, he would even give them an hour of his winnings. This act of requiting goodness for evil made them feel both shame and admiration. ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to thank your highness!¡± Numerous students cupped their fists towards Zhou Yuan with gratitude on their faces. Praise involuntarily flitted across Chu Tianyang¡¯s eyes when he saw this. This move of Zhou Yuan¡¯s was just too beautiful and had practically bought over the will of the students. From this day onwards, Zhou Yuan¡¯s popularity would likely surpass Qi Yue¡¯s. Moreover, after receiving such benefits from Zhou Yuan, no one would agree to whatever trickery the B class tried in future. The expressions of Qin Xiao and the other two class masters were complicated. Their hearts shivered as they glanced at Zhou Yuan. It was at this very moment that they finally realised that this prince of theirs was not simple at all. Looks like they definitely could not offend him in future... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 37 Double Breakthrough Smash! In a certain room, Qi Yue¡¯s eyes were entirely red as he smashed everything he could get his hands on. It was a long time later before he finally stopped, panting for breath with a twisted face that was menacing to the extreme. Qi Yue violently punched a hole in the table as he snarled through gnashed teeth, ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± By the side, Liu Xi waited till he finished venting before approaching as she consoled, ¡°Qi Yue, there¡¯s no need to be angry. Zhou Yuan was just lucky this time. If it was a real fight, he would be no match for you. He merely relied on his meagre attainments in the Spirit.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s jaw was clenched. Of course he knew that Zhou Yuan would not be nothing in a real fight, but he did after all lose the bet. Moreover, he had lost in a such an unsightly manner in front of all of the Great Zhou Institute students. It was easy to imagine how his popularity and fame in the institute would be destroyed after this affair. Especially when he had lost 3 of the 4 hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training the B class had. One could easily imagine how the B class students might not dare to openly say anything, but would surely blame him in their hearts. When he recalled those gazes, the proud Qi Yue felt so sullen that he almost vomited a mouthful of blood. Liu Xi said, ¡°The class ranking exam is fast approaching. During the class ranking exam, you will openly defeat him and let him know exactly how great the gap between the both of you is. When that happens, you will take everything back.¡± Qi Yue took in a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his heart as he slowly nodded and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will make sure that he returns everything to me in the class ranking exam!¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s something very odd about that brat so I can¡¯t afford to relax. I need to redouble my training and make sure that he will not even have the slightest chance to make a come back.¡± Liu Xi nodded, gratified by Qi Yue¡¯s words. In the end, he had not allowed his anger to overwhelm his rationality and instead began to view Zhou Yuan as a rival. She believed that with Qi Yue¡¯s talent, as long as he no longer looked down on Zhou Yuan like before, it would be impossible for the latter to vie with Qi Yue. The most dazzling person in the year-end class ranking exam would be Qi Yue! Additionally, she was not wrong to have called Zhou Yuan a toad back then! Qi Yue¡¯s fists gradually loosened as he eyes narrowed slightly, flickering maliciously. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better remember this!¡± ¡­ The following ten days were exceptionally good for the A class members. The time they had to train in the Jade Spirit Waterfall had grown from 6 to 8 hours, allowing the channel opening rate of many students to rise and several were even attempting to unblock their next channel. The formerly high and mighty students of the B class quickly made themselves scarce whenever they saw an A class student and no longer mocked the latter. This made the A class members feel rather carefree. As for the students from the other classes, they were extremely friendly to the A class students due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions. For a time, the morale of the A class members soared and they sincerely admired Zhou Yuan in their hearts a little more than before. Rumble! In the Jade Spirit Waterfall, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were shut as he allowed the boundless water to wash over him. Meanwhile, strands of quartz energy were continuously absorbed by his body. While Zhou Yuan was quietly training, he suddenly heard cheers from the lakeside. ¡°Wow! Youwei, you are really too awesome! You¡¯ve unblocked your fifth meridian channel so quickly!¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat startled when he heard this. He opened his eyes and looked through the curtain of water and was barely able to make out Su Youwei¡¯s figure surrounded by numerous A class students at the lake bank. ¡°Oh? Su Youwei has unblocked her fifth meridian channel? That¡¯s really fast!¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh in admiration. Su Youwei¡¯s talent was indeed superb. The fact that her achievements were so outstanding even without much cultivation resources was truly amazing. ¡°Good job Youwei. Very well done indeed!¡± At the lake side, Chu Tianyang was all smiles as he looked at Su Youwei with a joyful expression. With this, their A class now had three five channel students. Su Youwei smiled faintly. Her pretty eyes looked towards the Jade Spirit Waterfall and saw a familiar silhouette give her a thumbs-up. The smile on her lips grew wider, making her even more attractive and enchanting. ¡°Youwei has even opened her fifth channel, I cannot fall too far behind. Fortunately, I¡¯m almost there!¡± Zhou Yuan very quickly calmed his heart as his senses peered into his body. The fourth meridian channel had been growing increasingly loose over the past few days of training and he was extremely close to being completely unblocked. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slowly closed once again as he began to increase the rate of quartz energy absorption. This lasted for two whole hours. The sun gradually set, casting rays of light on the Jade Spirit Waterfall, making it turn a rather darkish red. Within the waterfall, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure began to tremble at this moment while he tightly gritted his teeth as if bearing tremendous pain. Inside his body, waves of quartz energy were ruthlessly charging into the final sliver of blockage in his fourth meridian channel under Zhou Yuan¡¯s guidance. Pop! A tiny sound was heard. Almost immediately after, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes abruptly opened as the surrounding Genesis Qi surged over and poured into his body. Cackle crack! Genesis Qi rumbled and his flesh and blood seemed to boil while faint vibrations were emitted from his skeleton. Like a set of firecrackers, the quality of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body soared once again as waves of Genesis Qi washed over it. Surging heat flowed in his four limbs and skeleton. The fourth meridian channel had finally been unblocked! Strands of Genesis Qi light swirled on the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, stopping even the torrential waters from touching it. A carefree smile emerged from the corners of his lips as he felt the sharp rise of power in his body. After more than an entire month of tough training, his fourth meridian channel was now open! Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself,¡°With my fourth meridian channel unblocked, I no longer have to fear a direct clash against Qi Yue. However, at the very minimum, Qi Yue will definitely reach the seventh channel by the year-end class ranking exam. Thus, the fourth channel is still not enough to take first place.¡± The current him had at last began to catch up to Qi Yue, but Zhou Yuan was still not absolutely sure of comfortably beating Qi Yue in the class ranking exam. After all, Qi Yue was not staying stagnant while Zhou Yuan was growing stronger, and it was very possible that the former would soon unblock his seventh meridian channel. However, what made Zhou Yuan feel somewhat troubled was that as his fourth meridian channel was unblocked, the effectiveness of the Jade Spirit Waterfall was growing worse and worse. It should be because his body had absorbed too much quartz energy and had now become rather resistant to it. Hence, it was likely that he could not count on the Jade Spirit Waterfall to open his fifth meridian channel. Zhou Yuan was rather vexed as he massaged his head and mumbled to himself, ¡°Looks like I have to find other methods. Or else, I¡¯m afraid that my fifth meridian channel will not be open when the class ranking exam arrives¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 38 Black Forest Mountain Range The sun rose into the sky as its rays enveloped the entire Great Zhou royal palace. ¡°Not bad. As expected of our Zhou clan¡¯s sacred dragon, you¡¯ve opened your fourth meridian channel in such a short period of time.¡± At the dining table, Zhou Qing watched Zhou Yuan drain a bowl of Nine Beast Soup with a face full of gratification. Zhou Yuan cleaned out the entire bowl with a single gulp and began to feel a rising heat within his body. He licked his lips as he picked up a bowl of Mysterious Crystal Rice and wolfed it down together with the meticulously prepared Genesis Beast meat dish on the table. As the quality of his body increased, more and more nutritious Genesis Beast meat was added to his diet to make up for the energy used during his daily training. Only after finishing his food did Zhou Yuan finally smile at Zhou Qing. A short while later, the former regretfully shook his head and remarked, ¡°However, the effectiveness of the Jade Spirit Waterfall is growing worse and worse. I need to think of other methods to quickly unblock my fifth meridian channel.¡± The difficulty of opening his channels was far higher than an ordinary person and normal methods would be far too time consuming, something that he obviously could not afford. A thoughtful look appeared on Zhou Qing¡¯s face when he heard this. By this point in time, he already knew that it was way harder for Zhou Yuan because it was the second time he was opening his channels. From the side, the quietly eating Yaoyao suddenly said, ¡°I have an idea to more quickly open your channels.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Yuan and Zhou Qing looked towards her in shock. In response to their gazes, Yaoyao¡¯s face remained expressionless as she elaborated, ¡°I know of a Genesis Rune called the Thirty Six Beasts Channel Opening Rune. Using the blood of thirty six kinds of grade 1 Genesis Beasts as an anchor, it can be inscribed on a person¡¯s body, allowing the person to borrow the savage energy within the Genesis Beasts¡¯ blood to unblock his channels.¡± ¡°However, this method is somewhat dangerous. If one¡¯s will is not strong, the savage energy contained within the blood of the Genesis Beasts will sunder one¡¯s mind.¡± In simple terms, one would become nothing more than a simple fool. The moment these words were said, Zhou Qing¡¯s and Qin Yu¡¯s expressions changed slightly. In contrast, joy flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He was extremely confident in his willpower. After all, he had survived even the torture of the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison and there was thus no reason to be afraid of the savagery of a few grade 1 Genesis Beasts. Zhou Yuan said without hesitation, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, we¡¯ll use this Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune!¡± Qin Yu wanted to say something but Zhou Yuan smiled at her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry mother, I will be fine.¡± There was nothing else Qin Yu could say upon hearing this and she could only slowly nod her head. Zhou Qing also nodded as he slowly said, ¡°I will not stop you since you are so determined. I will get someone to gather the fresh blood of thirty six grade 1 Genesis Beasts.¡± He was very happy with the determination that Zhou Yuan had shown. After all, the road of cultivation was a hard one. If one did not have great courage and drive, it would be difficult to travel very far on this road. Yaoyao shook her head as she softly said, ¡°It will be better to let him gather the blood himself. He currently lacks actual combat experience and his battle awareness is not strong. If he continues to train in this manner, he will become a barbarian that relies solely on brute force.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned, but soon after, a look consideration surfaced in his eyes. Yaoyao was right, he had far too little combat experience and his battle awareness was weak. This was the reason why he had failed to make much progress with regards to the Dragon Tablet Hand for some time and was ultimately still unable to master the second level of the technique. If this situation persisted, even if he managed to raise his strength, it was very probable that he would end up encountering an unexpected failure in a true life and death struggle. As his thoughts reached this point, Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhou Qing and said, ¡°Father, I will be spending some time in the Black Forest Mountain Range.¡± The Black Forest Mountain Range was a grand mountain range in the vicinity of Great Zhou City. Countless Genesis Beasts lived within it and it was a rather dangerous zone. The ability to fight was essential to survive there. Zhou Qing fell silent for some time before he slowly nodded his head. ¡°It is good that you have such thoughts. One will ultimately appear rather immature without experiencing some life and death struggles.¡± ¡°You may go, but I will get Lu Tieshan to follow you with some men. Don¡¯t worry though, they will not interfere and will be there purely for your safety.¡± Lu Tieshan was a captain in the imperial guard, a Heavenly Gate stage expert and was deeply trusted by Zhou Qing. Zhou Yuan knew from Zhou Qing¡¯s expression that he would not give in, hence, the former could only nod his head. ¡­ The next day. Early in the morning, when Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao arrived at the palace gates, a tanned and muscular metal-tower-like figure greeted them. ¡°Your highness!¡± The welcomer¡¯s face was cold and impassive like a block of ice. Faint wisps of a metallic bloody aura rose around his body, evidence that he was a veteran of the battlefield. It was Lu Tieshan, a captain of the Great Zhou palace imperial guard. ¡°We¡¯ll be troubling captain Lu. Let¡¯s set off.¡± There was no delay as Zhou Yuan faintly smiled and nodded at Lu Tieshan. Lu Tieshan nodded. With a wave of his hand, a dozen strong-looking figures rushed over and escorted Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao out the palace gates. The group merged into the flow of the crowd and swiftly disappeared. The Black Forest Mountain Range was half a dozen miles from the city. The mountains that sprawled across the land contained countless Genesis Beasts and various natural treasures. This was why the Black Forest Mountain Range was one of the popular locations in the vicinity of Great Zhou City. Numerous Genesis Masters gathered here from all over in hopes of chancing upon some luck in the perilous mountain range, trying to see if they could change their destiny and become one who stood above others. At the entrance to the mountains, many Genesis Masters were seeking companions or groups to join. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s entourage did not stop and headed straight into the mountain range. After all, with a Heaven Gate stage expert like Lu Tieshan with them, there would not be much problems unless they encountered grade 3 Genesis Beasts. Zhou Yuan and gang stopped after venturing about fifteen miles into the mountain range. This was the outer layer of the Black Forest Mountain range and majority of the Genesis Beasts here were grade 1. They set up two tents in a randomly chosen valley before Lu Tieshan withdrew with his men, leaving the place to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. As Lu Tieshan and the rest left, Zhou Yuan breathed out deeply as he gazed at the dark forest, smelling the faint scent of blood in the air while his hand slowly closed around the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his hip. He knew that he needed to train here in the following period of time and hoped that he would be able to unblock his fifth meridian channel here. ... Qi Manor. In a certain room, Qi Yue¡¯s gaze was chilly as he looked at the middle-aged man before him and slowly asked, ¡°Zhou Yuan has gone to the Black Forest Mountain Range?¡± ¡°Yes. Lu Tieshan personally escorted him and it¡¯s likely that he plans to train there.¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes were deep set and his skin a rock-like faded yellow. This person was housekeeper of Qi Manor, Qi Ling. Qi Yue could not help but let out an icy chuckle when he heard this. Cold light flickered in his eyes as he mumbled to himself, ¡°I won¡¯t be able to do anything if you stayed in the city, but you¡¯ve actually voluntarily went to the Black Forest Mountain Range. You are truly reckless.¡± ¡°Does second young master intend to take action against him?¡± Qi Ling frowned as he continued, ¡°If we are discovered, the royal clan will surely retaliate.¡± Qi Yue faintly smiled, ¡°That¡¯s why I need a very meticulous plan. Moreover, I do not intend on killing him. Leaving him half dead to relieve some of this pent up anger is fine.¡± He thought for a while before he said in an emotionless voice, ¡°Get two people to fake a robbery at Qi Manor. After which, you will lead some men and go after them, chasing them all the way to the area where Zhou Yuan is where you will find an opportunity to delay Lu Tieshan. As for the rest, leave it to our two ¡®robbers¡¯.¡± ¡°If anything happens, those two will take the blame and it will have nothing to do with us. After all, Qi Manor was the victim of robbery. Make sure to silence them as soon as possible so that no one will be able to say anything.¡± Qi Ling was stunned. Soon after, he smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s a pretty good plan.¡± Qi Yue let out an icy laugh as he retrieved a jade scroll form his clothes. A faint radiance was emitted by the scroll as if ancient text had been carved onto it. ¡°But we must ensure that everything is done properly in order decrease suspicion. Hand this item to the two that will carry out this task.¡± Qi Ling recieved the scroll and glanced at it, causing his expression to change drastically. ¡°The Auraflare technique? This is one of the most powerful Genesis techniques of Qi Manor and was obtained by master from the Wu Empire.¡± ¡°I retrieved it from the treasury earlier. It is even more suitable because it is important. When the two have completed their mission, you will assist Lu Tieshan to kill them and retrieve it.¡± ¡°This can be considered an explanation of sorts. After all, I expect that the royal clan will have nothing to say since our Qi Manor narrowly lost such a treasure. As they saying goes, a mute that eats a bitter gourd will be unable to complain. The royal clan will have no choice but to suffer in silence.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s voice was sinisterly cold. His vicious plan made even Qi Ling involuntarily nod in approval. ¡°Excellent. Second young master¡¯s plan is very thorough.¡± Qi Ling grinned evilly. As a follower of king Qi, he no longer cared about the Great Zhou royal clan and showed no fear even when they were plotting against Zhou Yuan. Qi Yue laughed and raised his head. There was a venomous look in his eyes as he looked towards the direction of the Black Forest Mountain Range. ¡°Zhou Yuan. Since you made me lose face in the Great Zhou Institute, I will take half your life!¡± ¡°Fight me? Humph, you are still too experienced!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 39 Enemy Encounter Towering trees stood within the gloomy forest while dried yellow leaves carpeted the ground. Shadows flashed within the dense foliage. The place was brimming with danger. On a certain clearing in the forest, Zhou Yuan¡¯s crouched body was stretched taunt while his eyes were fixed straight ahead where a night-black Genesis Beast with a silver horn was staring back at him with cold animal eyes. It was a Silver Horn Beast, a grade 1 Genesis Beast. Growl! The Silver Horn Beast¡¯s body slowly lowered before suddenly shooting forward a split second later like a shadow. The pungent scent of blood was strong as it pounced at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Dragon Step!¡± The Silver Horn Beast was swift and ferocious, hence Zhou Yuan did not dare to be negligent. His feet immediately inclined at an angle and moved as his body turned blurry. Sch! The Silver Horn Beast¡¯s sharp claws grazed past the skin of Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers clenched into a fist, Genesis Qi light swirling around it as he viciously punched at the lower back of the Silver Horn Beast. Thud! The Silver Horn Beast let out a howl of grief as it slammed into the ground, creating a crater. However, when it hit the ground, its tail whipped out like a metal whip and smashed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was swept backwards, only managing to stabilize himself after a dozen steps. Ignoring the burning pain from his arm, Zhou Yuan ferociously pounced forward again, his hand sweeping out at a horizontal angle while all the Genesis Qi in his body surged through his meridian channels and poured into his palm. ¡°Dragon Tablet Hand, shatter the mountain!¡± A low cry was followed by the sound of wind then A faint sonic boom. Bang! Without waiting for the Silver Horn Beast to crawl up to its feet, Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand powerfully swatted onto its head, immediately causing its hard skull to shatter as its body fell to the ground with a loud thud. Having killed the Silver Horn Beast with a palm strike, Zhou Yuan sighed in relief as his tense body began to relax. Ch! However, the instant he relaxed, a shadow suddenly shot out from the shade of the tree behind him. Sharp fangs flickered coldly as they viciously closed in on Zhou Yuan¡¯s throat. ¡°Martial form!¡± A shout suddenly rang out. Light surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand as a mottled black brush appeared. The snow-white hairs of the brush tip binded together tightly like a lotus flower shaped spear tip with unparallelled sharpness, while strands of Genesis Qi swirled around it. With a swish, it pierced through the air, penetrating the shadow through its bloody, wide-opened mouth and pinning it on the tree trunk. With his hands grasped around the end of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Zhou Yuan lifted his head, only to find a thick black snake nailed to the trunk, fresh blood flowing from it. It was a Shadow Python, another a grade 1 Genesis Beast. ¡°Come at me again?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned at the snake¡¯s corpse. He had suffered quite a bit at the very beginning. If his Spirit had not reached the Illusory stage, giving him keen senses, it was likely that he would have been swallowed as food when he first encountered this particular creature. Zhou Yuan retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush, transforming it back to its culture form and stuck it back into his waistband. Subsequently, he hoisted up both the python and Silver Horn Beast corpses before walking out of the forest. After exiting the forest, he came to a valley after approximately a dozen minutes of walking. Yaoyao was seated on a rock by the little stream, her bare feet dipping into the cool waters as she leisurely played in the water. Meanwhile, Tuntun was shuttling up and down in the stream, catching the fish swimming within. Upon hearing some noise, Yaoyao turned her head and glanced at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Not bad, at least you didn¡¯t get injured this time.¡± Zhou Yuan threw the two Genesis Beast corpses onto the ground, feeling a little embarrassed when he heard her words. It was already his fifth day in the Black Forest Mountain Range and he had just barely gotten accustomed to the fighting and killing of Genesis Beasts. However, on his first day here, he had been riddled all over with injuries. In particular, the claw wound on his chest had been so deep that bone could be seen. It was then that Zhou Yuan finally understood the difference between practice fights and true life and death battles. These Genesis Beasts had experienced numerous fights to survive, and every single one was both cunning and ruthless. If Zhou Yuan treated them as easily slaughtered reared cattle, it was likely that he would not be able to walk out of this mountain range. However, although the past few days of fighting and killing had been extremely dangerous, it had also brought about a significant change to Zhou Yuan. In the past, Zhou Yuan had a slight scholarly aura and looked like a weak scholar that would be blown away by a breeze. But now, he gave off a faint aura of danger when he entered battle mode. Yaoyao threw over two bottles and instructed, ¡°Collect the beasts¡¯ blood, remember to only take the blood of the heart where the savage energy is the strongest.¡± Zhou Yuan caught the bottles and nodded. He used a small knife to cut open the skin of the two Genesis Beasts with ease before collecting the heart blood in the bottles. ¡°Up till now, you¡¯ve already killed fifteen Genesis Beasts. You only have eleven more to go.¡± Yaoyao rose, her bare feet stepping on the rock. The snow-white fairness made the surrounding light seem a little dimmer. Zhou Yuan nodded in acknowledgement. Thirty six different kinds of grade 1 Genesis Beasts were needed for the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune. Thus, some time was required to gather the ingredients. However, it was not urgent and in any case, he could use this period of time to temper himself. He could feel that he was growing a little stronger each day, strength not of the body but of the mind. At the very least, he was confident that the current him was able to effortlessly beat the him from before entering the Black Forest Mountain Range. ¡­ While Zhou Yuan was killing Genesis Beasts in the Black Forest Mountain Range, certain events had occurred in Great Zhou City. The most notable amongst them was that Qi Manor had been robbed and was rumored to have lost something very important. The entire Qi Manor had practically been turned inside out and the search for the thieves ultimately extended throughout the city, causing it to become abuzz with activity. However, this was after all an affair of Qi Manor. Therefore, everyone merely watched from the sidelines, even gloating somewhat before no longer paying any attention. Ta ta! On the second day after Qi Manor was burgled, the housekeeper of the manor, Qi Ling, led a group of men out the city, heading straight for the Black Forest Mountain Range where some clues were said to have been found. Qi Ling stood with his hands behind his back at the entrance to the Black Forest Mountain Range. His deep set eyes were fixed onto the mountain range like an eagle¡¯s. Someone reported from behind in a low voice, ¡°Master Qi, the men have already entered the Black Forest Mountain Range and are closing in on the target.¡± Qi Ling nodded and said, ¡°Prepare to search the mountains and make sure to cause a bigger disturbance. We will be heading to where Lu Tieshan is.¡± ¡°Roger!¡± The person behind him responded before waving his hand as a dozen figures shot out and flew towards the mountain range. Half a day later. At a certain location in the mountain range, Lu Tieshan was seated cross-legged in front a towering tree. He suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze firmly fixed on the forests in front of him as he shouted in stern voice, ¡°Who?!¡± Behind him, several figures grasped the weapons at their side as the Genesis Qi in their bodies began to circulate. ¡°Hehe, no need to be nervous brother Lu, it¡¯s me.¡± A chuckle emerged from the forests followed by Qi Ling and his men. ¡°Qi Ling?¡± Lu Tieshan was stunned before he frowned and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Qi Ling helplessly replied, ¡°The manor has been burgled and the thieves seem to have hidden themselves in the Black Forest Mountain Range. Me and my men have chased them all the way here.¡± Lu Tieshan¡¯s furrowed brows relaxed a little. He had heard of the recent Qi Manor burglary. Though he looked as large as a bear, he was very prudent and cautious, else he would not have become a captain of the imperial guard. Thus, although he seemed to have relaxed his guard, he tilted his head and instructed the imperial guards behind him, ¡°Send two men to protect his highness.¡± Two imperial guards immediately responded and stealthily withdrew. Qi Ling was all smiles as he watched this happen. As he walked forward to greet Lu Tieshan, the hand behind his back lightly waved as shadows seemed to retreat in the dark. ¡­ In the valley, Yaoyao was seated on a rock, her long legs folded under her while Tuntun lay on her lap. Her fine black hair draped over her shoulders, while the dried yellow leaves of an ancient cedar fell behind her. This beautiful scene was akin to a painting. Roar! Suddenly, the lazy Tuntun on Yaoyao¡¯s lap opened its eyes and looked towards the nearby darkness as a roar was released from its throat. Yaoyao¡¯s brows knitted together slightly as she also raised her pretty face and looked in the same direction. ¡°Heh heh. I never imagined that I would meet such an extremely gorgeous little lady in the deep mountains.¡± A voice that was filled with evilness echoed from the darkness as two figures slowly walked out. Both figures had the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear. The one in front had a tattoo on his face, while an ominous look brewed in his eyes. At this current moment, his gaze seemed to burn like magma as he stared at the lovely figure nearby as if he was about to swallow the latter in the single gulp. The man with a tattoo on his face said to his partner as he pointed towards the nearby woods, ¡°Luo Tong, you go deal with the target. He should be nearby.¡± Although he was speaking, his eyes remained tightly glued to Yaoyao¡¯s body. ¡°That kid should have only opened four meridian channels. You will be able to easily dispatch him with your six channel strength.¡± Although the man called Luo Tong was somewhat reluctant when he heard this, he did not dare to go against the tattoo-face man¡¯s words. After all, the latter had already stepped into the Qi Nourishing stage. Luo Tong licked his lips and said, ¡°Boss, you have to leave a bite of such a high quality good for me. I have never seen such a pretty girl in my life.¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry. I will definitely wait for you to return, but you must be quick.¡± The perverse light in the tattoo-face man¡¯s eyes blossomed as he grinned. ¡°Great.¡± Luo Tong nodded his head in a satisfied manner when he heard this before he quickly shot towards the forest. Upon seeing Luo Tong leave, the tattoo-face man beamed as he walked towards the Yaoyao, who had not moved from the spot. He looked at the latter¡¯s alluring hands and her beautiful breathtaking face as he felt a fire burn in his body. ¡°Little beauty, come have some fun with me. I will be very gentle with you.¡± The tattoo-face man did not sense any Genesis Qi undulations from Yaoyao¡¯s body and hence was not even the slightest bit wary. His eyes wantonly swept across her figure as he grinned. Yaoyao shot an indifferent look at him. Not even the slightest fluctuation could be seen in her bright eyes. Her calm appearance caused the tattoo-face man to be stunned as he felt a tiny bit of unease. ¡°Tuntun.¡± Before he could do anything else, Yaoyao¡¯s red lips had already opened slightly. Her clear and sweet voice was completely ice-cold. As Yaoyao¡¯s voice faded, the tattoo-face man¡¯s pupils immediately shrank. He watched in horror as the tiny body of the originally pet-like Tuntun lying on Yaoyao¡¯s lap began to grow. Its fur receded and in its place grew scarlet red scales. A pair of scarlet red animal eyes were brimming with endless ferocity, while black light faintly emerged in the slightly opened mouth of the creature as if it could devour all things. In the blink of an eye, the originally cute little pet had become a mysterious and horrible beast. An ominous aura dashed into the sky, while an alarming pressure slowly spread from its body. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 40 That’s All That’s Lef Roar! Moments after a tiger roar rang out in the forest, a fist surrounded by strands of swirling Genesis Qi blasted through the air with violent power as it ruthlessly smashed into its head. Phew. Zhou Yuan watched the beast corpse before him gradually turn rigid and breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Subsequently, he conveniently wiped his bloody fist on its fur. It was a Wind Tiger. An extremely quick Genesis Beast that was considerably difficult to deal with amongst the grade 1 Genesis Beasts. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had the Dragon Step. Its ability to make him akin to the mist had just barely brought him victory. ¡°This is the thirty sixth grade 1 Genesis Beast¡­¡± Zhou Yuan smiled as he bent over to lift it up. Swish! It was at this moment that a flash of cold light suddenly shot out from the darkness, heading straight for Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart at a crafty angle. However, just as the flash of cold light was about to hit Zhou Yuan, his arm jerked, causing the tiger corpse to slant and block his heart. The flash of cold light pierced the corpse, the entire blade of the dagger firmly lodging itself into its flesh. From this, one could see just how powerful the force behind it had been. ¡°Eh?¡± A cry of surprise involuntarily echoed from the darkness when the hit missed. ¡°Who is it? Come out!¡± The sudden ruthless sneak attack caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression to change. With another jerk of his arm, the tiger corpse was sent smashing towards the darkness. A figure swiftly shot out from the darkness, pushing off on the tiger corpse with a foot before landing in front of Zhou Yuan like a feather. Zhou Yuan frowned as he looked at the bulky man with an ominous look in his eyes and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°The one who has come for your life.¡± The one who had come was naturally Luo Tong. He gazed at Zhou Yuan, a look of contempt rising from the corners of his mouth as he icily said, ¡°Kid, obediently receive your death. The little beauty back there is still waiting for me to enjoy her!¡± Zhou Yuan expression immediately changed upon hearing this, but he quickly regained his calm. Although Yaoyao might seem as powerless as a bound up chicken, Zhou Yuan knew how deceiving that appearance was. Moreover, there was an enigmatic Tuntun at her side protecting her. It was likely that Yaoyao would be fine even in the face of a Heaven Gate stage expert. Heaven Gate experts were the most powerful practitioners in Great Zhou and would not appear so easily. Although Zhou Yuan had calmed down, cold light flickered in his eyes. These bastards that dared to have designs on Yaoyao truly deserved to die. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers slowly clenched as he said, ¡°I guarantee that you will not be able to walk out of the Black Forest Mountain Range alive today.¡± ¡°You overestimate yourself brat! Watch how I kill you with a single punch!¡± Luo Tong grinned hideously upon hearing this. In a flash, his figure had already charged forward, five fingers turning into a fist surrounded by flowing Genesis Qi as a sonic boom rang out. Luo Tong had the strength of six channels and the power of his punch was definitely astonishing. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm in the face of Luo Tong¡¯s ferocious punch. The former¡¯s tightly clenched fist also ferociously thrust forward. ¡°A mere four channel dares to exchange fists with me?¡± Luo Tong¡¯s hideous smile grew even wider when he saw this, believing that Zhou Yuan was making a mistake due to his immaturity. Luo Tong immediately put more power into his attack, intending to break Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm with this punch. Boom! However, the hideous smile on Luo Tong¡¯s face turned a little rigid when their fists collided. He could feel that the power from Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist was not any weaker than his own six channel power! ¡°How is this possible?¡± Luo Tong¡¯s heart shook slightly, knowing that he had encountered a tough foe. As such, he no longer dared to show any more contempt. His fist abruptly changed into a claw, finger-winds ripping through the air as an attack that seemed to flicker with cold light slashed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s throat. Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet inclined at an angle and moved, displaying the Dragon Step, while his body seemed to flicker, appearing somewhat blurry. The formidable finger-winds missed Zhou Yuan¡¯s body by three inches while he quickly followed up with a powerful punch aimed at Luo Tong¡¯s face. The attack was both fierce and direct, not showing even the slightest mercy. The rapidly growing fist reflected in Luo Tong¡¯s eyes caused alarm to shoot through his heart as his body suddenly jolted. ¡°Six channels open!¡± Boom! The surrounding Genesis Qi surged over and poured into Luo Tong¡¯s body. His clothes immediately began to flap about as Genesis light flowed out from his pores, covering him in a faint glow. Boom! Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist slammed into the Genesis Qi light flowing on Luo Tong¡¯s face, but was unable to advance any further. Instead, Zhou Yuan was catapulted backwards by the threads of Genesis Qi. ¡°To have forced me to open six channels to deal with you, you can die with no regrets!¡± Luo Tong gnashed his teeth in rage. The fact that he had almost suffered a lost against a four channel brat had made him extremely angry. Swish! Luo Tong shot forward once again, his speed even greater this time. A night-black glow emerged from his fingertips as the faint foul smell spread. ¡°Mid grade Genesis technique, Black Ghost Palm.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly and extended his hand in a slow and heavy manner as if he was carrying a giant mountain. However, every tiny shift of his hand would cause piercing sounds to emerge from the surrounding air. ¡°Four channels open!¡± The meridian channels in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body vibrated, emitting a suction force that continuously absorbed the surrounding Genesis Qi into the body, turning it into surging power that poured into Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. A faint but imposing pressure spread from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. ¡°Dragon Tablet Hand, split the earth.¡± A soft voice was gently spat out from his mouth. Over this period of fighting and killing Genesis Beasts, Zhou Yuan was finally able to use the second level of the Dragon Tablet Hand. Bang! The ground beneath Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet seemed to shake violently as his fist flew forward. The air in front of it was ripped apart as an overwhelming force spurted out. ¡°Genesis Qi leaving the body?!¡± Luo Tong was astonished. Such a phenomenon could only be done with the strength of the Qi Nourishing stage or through a Black tier Genesis technique that far surpassed ordinary Genesis techniques. But how could a four channel brat possibly master a Black tier Genesis technique? However, no matter how shocked he was, the faintly glowing deadly fist-winds had already surged over and slammed into his chest without giving him any time to dodge. Bang! Luo Tong¡¯s body was sent flying backwards like a cannonball as he wildly vomited a mouthful of fresh blood. Ignoring his heavy injuries, he crawled up and started to run. After the previous exchange, he had already realised that the battle power of the mere four channel youth was terrifying. Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes when he saw Luo Tong run. A Genesis Rune emerged on his throat as Zhou Yuan opened his mouth and roared. Grade 1 Genesis Rune, Tiger Roar Rune! A sound wave rippled outwards, causing Luo Tong¡¯s body to stiffen momentarily. His head was spun while the Qi and blood in his body churned. By the time he regained his senses, it was too late to even cry out as Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand slammed into his head, knocking him unconscious. Zhou Yuan glanced at the now unconscious Luo Tong, picked him up and started running towards the valley. Although he knew that Yaoyao had many tricks up her sleeve, he was still worried that something might happen. He ran to the valley as if there was a fire under his feet while panting heavily, painting an extremely miserable image. When he arrived at the valley however, he was immediately stunned by the sight before him. It was still peaceful and Yaoyao was seated on a rock, lightly tilting a jade bottle to sip from it while Tuntun yawned as it lay on the ground beside her. ¡°This¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was a little dazed. Not even the smallest traces of a battle could be seen. Zhou Yuan walked over and asked through pants. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, are you alright?¡± Yaoyao could not help but smile slightly when she saw the anxious eyes of the rather miserable looking Zhou Yuan. There was a sliver of warmth in her smile as she shook her head and replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She paused before continuing, ¡°But a little accident happened to a rather unlucky fellow.¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly asked, ¡°Where is he?¡± Yaoyao extended a finger and pointed at Tuntun. In response, it wagged its tail and spit out a jade scroll. She then pointed at the jade scroll and smiled, ¡°That¡¯s all that¡¯s left.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 41 Auraflare Technique ¡°That¡¯s all that¡¯s left?¡± Zhou Yuan blankly stared at the jade scroll Tuntun had spat out before he suddenly understood. That unlucky fellow had been swallowed by Tuntun. ¡°What an unfortunate way to die.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips twitched as he felt a huge amount of sympathy. What a tragic fate, he wondered just how much mental damage the poor soul had suffered towards the end. Zhou Yuan bent over, picked up the jade scroll and took a look, only to be stunned. He had seen a glow emerge from the jade scroll and was barely able to make out the numerous words contained within. Yaoyao off-handedly said, ¡°It¡¯s probably used to record a Genesis technique.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened when he heard this. It was not worthwhile for ordinary Normal tier Genesis techniques to be recorded in such a manner. Could those two thugs actually possess something good? Zhou Yuan poured Genesis Qi into the jade scroll, causing the light on it to flicker. A ray of light was projected onto the air above as clear words began to flow downwards. Zhou Yuan scanned it as his eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Low grade Black tier Genesis technique, Auraflare technique?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a Black tier Genesis technique?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little emotionally moved. A Black tier Genesis technique was considered a treasure even to the royal treasury and was normally used to reward those who did great services for the country. ¡°Why does this Auraflare technique sound a little familiar?¡± Zhou Yuan pondered. He had a faint feeling that he had heard of it somewhere before. ¡°I remember! Qi Manor! This Auraflare Technique is one of best Genesis techniques of Qi Manor and it is said to have been bestowed onto them by the Great Wu Empire.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately. Were these two thugs from Qi Manor? But given their strength, how could they possibly be in possession of one of Qi Manor¡¯s top Genesis techniques? Zhou Yuan shook his head, unable to understand. However, although he could not figure it out, Zhou Yuan still let out an icy laugh and shoved the jade scroll into his clothes. He recalled that Zhou Qing had once told him that Qi Manor¡¯s Auraflare technique was extremely formidable. Although it was only a low grade Black tier Genesis technique, its power was great enough to match techniques at the mid grade Black tier. Since such an item had landed in his hands, don¡¯t even think about letting him spit it out. ¡°But why is captain Lu not here yet?¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head and peered into the distance as he frowned. Given the sharp senses of a Heaven Gate stage expert, he should have felt that something was wrong, right? ¡­ An hour earlier. Lu Tieshan had dispatched two imperial guards to protect Zhou Yuan, but after a long time, he sensed some activity in the nearby forest. ¡°Go!¡± Lu Tieshan frowned and suddenly stood up. Without saying anything to Qi Ling, Genesis Qi surged around his body as his transformed into a flash of light that shot towards the direction of the disturbance. Several minutes later, Lu Tieshan¡¯s figure appeared and gazed at an empty clearing to his front where four people were fighting. Two of them were the guards he had sent to protect Zhou Yuan earlier. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Lu Tieshan waved his sleeve as a torrent of Genesis Qi light burst forth, splitting up the four people. When the two imperial guards saw Lu Tieshan, they hastily said, ¡°Sir, we were rushing to his highness location when these two appeared and obstructed us.¡± ¡°Are you two seeking death?!¡± Lu Tieshan¡¯s turned eerily cold when he heard this and immediately looked towards the other two individuals. ¡°Please do not be angered captain Lu. They are from Qi Manor and I previously instructed them to search for the thieves. They might have mistaken your men for the thieves.¡± Qi Ling rushed over from behind with an apologetic face. He then turned towards the two individuals and scolded, ¡°Still not going to scram? You hindrances!¡± Lu Tieshan¡¯s eyes were ice-cold as he watched this, before his stare turned towards Qi Ling. ¡°Qi Ling, what exactly are you plotting?¡± ¡°Roar!¡± Qi Ling chuckled. Just as he was about to speak, the roar of a tiger suddenly emerged from the nearby forest. ¡°Tiger Roar Rune?! Oh no! It¡¯s his highness!¡± Lu Tieshan¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank when he heard the tiger roar. He suddenly seemed to understand something at this moment as his twisted face turned to Qi Ling. ¡°How ballsy of you Qi Ling!¡± ¡°Hehe, I do not know what captain Lu is talking about.¡± Qi Ling smiled. It was likely that those two thieves had already succeeded by now, right? Lu Tieshan thundered, ¡°If anything happens to his highness, I will not let you off!¡± The Genesis Qi around his body suddenly erupted as his foot stomped on the ground, splitting the earth as his figure rose into the sky like a rainbow, heading straight for the valley. Qi Ling watched Lu Tieshan¡¯s hurrying figure as a sneer emerged from the corners of his lips. With a wave of his hand, he swiftly followed with his men. The group travelled as quickly as they could and reached the valley after some time. Qi Ling was all smiles as he walked out of the forest and looked towards the valley. He believed the place should be a mess and expected to see a half dead Zhou Yuan. With such thoughts in mind, the smile on his lips grew even wider. However, in the next moment, he suddenly saw something nearby. A thin youth was staring at him with a smile. Qi Ling¡¯s smile froze. ¡°Zhou Yuan? Why is he fine?!¡± The corners of Qi Ling¡¯s eyes twitched slightly as he cried out in both rage and disbelief in his heart. Meanwhile, Lu Tieshan sighed in relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders before he kneeled on one knee and said, ¡°Punish me for my late arrival your highness!¡± ¡°Please stand captain Lu, I am fine.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Lu Tieshan stood up, his eyes brimming with an ominous light as he cast his gaze at the unconscious Luo Tong and frostily said, ¡°Is this the one who attacked your highness?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the thief!¡± However, before Zhou Yuan could speak, a furious howl emerged from behind Lu Tieshan. Qi Ling swiftly walked forward, grabbed Luo Tong and sent a slap flying towards him. ¡°Speak! Where is the item you stole from Qi Manor?!¡± The unconscious Luo Tong was slapped awake. When he saw Qi Ling¡¯s twisted face, he hastily struggled as he tried to speak, ¡°Qi¡­¡± ¡°Stubborn pig! Die!¡± However, before he could finish speaking, Qi Ling¡¯s eyes turned frosty as a force spurted out from his hand and crushed Luo Tong¡¯s neck. Luo Tong¡¯s wide-opened eyes stared at Qi Ling as if he was unable to believe what had just happened. Qi Ling ignored the dead man¡¯s gaze and ripped apart the corpse¡¯s clothes, searching all over for something. Moments later, he stopped with an extremely ugly expression. ¡°Qi Ling, why does it seem that you are silencing the culprit?¡± Lu Teishan¡¯s eyes were eerily dark. With a wave of his hand, the dozen imperial guards stealthily encircled Qi Ling. Qi Ling¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he replied in an indifferent tone, ¡°What is captain Lu saying. The fact that this thief dared to touch his highness warrants a death sentence. What¡¯s more, they even stole Qi Manor¡¯s Auraflare technique.¡± ¡°Auraflare technique?¡± Lu Tieshan was stunned. Qi Manor¡¯s Auraflare technique had been stolen? Qi Ling looked towards Zhou Yuan and cupped his hands together, ¡°Your highness, there were two thieves. Do you know where the other thief is? Qi Manor¡¯s Auraflare technique should still be in his hands.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled upon hearing this. ¡°That I have no idea. I only saw one person. The other one might have escaped with the treasure.¡± Qi Ling¡¯s face twitched as he said in a certain manner, ¡°Impossible!¡± Zhou Yuan seemed to smile as he said, ¡°Why is housekeeper Qi so certain that he did not escape?¡± Qi Ling¡¯s heart jumped, the expression in his eyes fluctuating indeterminately. ¡°I really have not seen the other person. Housekeeper Qi can continue to search for him.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand as he continued in an indifferent voice, ¡°It¡¯s rather messy here so I shall not insist on housekeeper Qi staying.¡± Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan was chasing them away, Qi Ling¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly. They had originally planned on dealing with Zhou Yuan today, but not only was the latter safe and sound, the Auraflare technique had even gone missing. This was practically a double whammy. King Qi would definitely be enraged when he returned. Although Qi Ling did not know exactly what had happened here, he had a feeling that the Auraflare technique was now in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. But what could he do? How could he possibly forcibly search Zhou Yuan? Did they think he was blind to how Lu Tieshan was eyeing him as if the latter wanted to swallow him whole? As these thoughts churned in his heart, Qi Ling could only clench his jaw and cup his fists together. Without saying another word, he waved his hand, and led his men away in a dejected manner. He knew that Qi Manor had suffered atruly huge loss this time. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 42 Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune ¡°Your highness.¡± Lu Tieshan watched Qi Ling depart. What had happened today was definitely related to Qi Manor, hence he was rather unwilling to let them off so easily. Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, ¡°They are very clever and have likely long prepared an excuse. In addition, the two culprits are already dead and they will never admit to anything unless we declare war on them now.¡± Upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, Lu Tieshan¡¯s heart shivered a little. Looks like the other thief had indeed died here. However, there was something that puzzled him. The other thief was rumoured to have the strength of the Qi Nourishing stage, but Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, who gave off no Genesis Qi undulations, were the only ones here. Just how did that Qi Nourishing stage thief die? Lu Tieshan¡¯s heart was filled with questions, but knew that it was no appropriate to ask. Hence, all he could say was, ¡°Your highness, I will send men to inform his majesty of this matter.¡± Zhou Qing needed to know that such a thing had happened so as to take further precautions. Zhou Yuan nodded and Lu Tieshan withdrew with his men. However, they did not station themselves too far this time to be avoid being separated from the prince. Thus, they ended up standing guard just outside the valley. ¡­ In the valley, Yaoyao looked at the thirty six bottles that had been placed in front of her,bottles that contained the essence blood of thirty six different grade 1 Genesis Beasts. After checking them, she nodded and said, ¡°Not bad, all the ingredients have been gathered. Let me make some preparations first. I¡¯ll help you inscribe the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune tomorrow.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in a rather expectant manner. Soon after, he asked, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, what grade is the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune?¡± Zhou Yuan had never seen a Genesis Rune that could aid one in the unblocking of channels, and no one in the entire Great Zhou knew of such a rune. From this, one could see just how precious the rune was. Yaoyao off-handedly replied ¡°It¡¯s a grade 2 Genesis Rune. I will teach you when you reach the second level of the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method.¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head as he asked, ¡°May I teach it to others?¡± The Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune was very valuable, especially to Great Zhou. Although there was some risk, the success rate should be pretty decent if those with strong will power were selected. Hence, if he could impart it to the army, it would definitely raise the strength of many Channel Opening stage practitioners and make Great Zhou stronger. However, the rune belonged to Yaoyao after all. Her permission was needed if he wanted to teach it to others. Yaoyao fiddled with the bottles as she indifferently said, ¡°No need to ask me if you want to impart it to others. Everything was taught to me by grandpa Hei. As his disciple, you naturally have the right to do with them as you please.¡± ¡°Thank you big sis Yaoyao!¡± Zhou Yuan was both delighted and grateful. A grade 2 Genesis Rune might be nothing to Yaoyao, but it was extremely valuable to Great Zhou. ¡°Go rest. Tomorrow, we will try out the effect of this Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡­ ¡°What? The Auraflare technique has gone missing?!¡± Qi Manor. When Qi Yue heard Qi Ling¡¯s words, he quickly stood up as his face turned ashen, fire practically spitting out of his eyes. Upon seeing Qi Yue¡¯s man-eating appearance, Qi Ling could only brace himself as he nodded and said, ¡°By the time I rushed over, Luo Tong had already been captured, while not even Luo Hao¡¯s shadow was to be seen.¡± Qi Yue gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Luo Hao is at the Qi Nourishing stage and it is impossible for Zhou Yuan to be his match, while the girl Yaoyao does not even give off any Genesis Qi undulations. Hence, Luo Hao cannot possibly be dead!¡± Qi Ling said with some hesitation, ¡°Could he have run with the treasure?¡± ¡°Does that dog have the balls?¡± Cold light flowed in Qi Yue¡¯s eyes as he continued, ¡°Send out pictures of him and spare no efforts in searching. We need to find the Auraflare technique at all costs!¡± One must know that the Auraflare technique was bestowed upon his father by the Great Wu Empire, and was one of the strongest Genesis techniques of Qi Manor. Only those who have done great service to the manor would obtain the right to learn it. Now that it had been lost by him, one could imagine just how furious Qi Yuan would be when he returned. Qi Yue felt his scalp grow numb when he imagined that scene. Qi Yue¡¯s face was warped as he deeply breathed in and lifted the tea cup by his side. However, he was ultimately unable to calm the raging fire in his heart and the tea cup was viciously smashed into the ground. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I will not let you off!¡± In the room, Qi Yue¡¯s voice was so full of fury that it sounded like the howl of a beast. He had originally planned on teaching Zhou Yuan a lesson, but events had spiralled out of his control. How could the prideful Qi Yue accept this? ¡­ Early morning. A chill blanketed the forest, covering the lush green leaves with a thin layer of frost. Yaoyao lightly shook the transparent bottle in her hand, a bottle half filled with a thick and viscous red liquid. As the bottle swayed back and forth, a savage aura gushed out and the faint howls of beasts could be heard. ¡°Just this little from so much essence blood?¡± Zhou Yuan was shocked. A whole thirty six bottles of grade 1 Genesis Beast heart-blood and not even half a bottle was produced. ¡°Yes. I only collected the most quintessential part. The savage energy within the blood of thirty six Genesis Beasts have been gathered in this bottle, causing the savage energy to multiply.¡± ¡°This half bottle about should be enough for five attempts.¡± Yaoyao twirled the jade-green Genesis Rune Brush in her hand before beckoning to Zhou Yuan with her chin, ¡°Take off your clothes.¡± Zhou Yuan did not delay. He shed his clothes, revealing a healthy-looking body. Although his muscles were not huge, they were well defined and looked full of manliness. ¡°Your figure is not bad.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s expression was unperturbed but she still offhandedly praised. Zhou Yuan felt a little embarrassed. The corners of Yaoyao¡¯s small red mouth lifted slightly. Soon after, her face turned serious as she instructed, ¡°Closely guard your heart and do not allow the savage energy to invade your mind or your Spirit will be wounded.¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath upon hearing this and steadied his heart as if he was about to face a formidable foe. When Yaoyao saw this, the brush in her hand dipped into some of the vicious essence blood before slowly descending. When brush tip moved, Zhou Yuan could not help but draw in a breath of cold air. It felt as if the brush had been dipped into magma, bringing a burning sensation to his skin. Cryptic Genesis strokes continuously appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. This went on for several minutes before Yaoyao¡¯s snow-white hand shook gently and final stroke descended. ¡°The preparations are done!¡± At the same time, her gentle sounding shout rang out by Zhou Yuan¡¯s ear. Buzz! The instant her voice was heard, blood red light immediately blossomed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s back as beast roars rang out one after another. Zhou Yuan pupils abruptly tightened at this moment. He could feel a ruthless to the extreme presence maniacally pour into his back, charging into the interior of his body. Roar roar roar! Savage beast roars echoed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, causing him to feel a wave of dizziness as if his conscious was being bitten by numerous beasts. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan was prepared. The Spirit between his brows buzzed slightly as he began visualising the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone. The divine grindstone turned and the menacing beast roars were pulverised till nothing remained. His dazed consciousness gradually began to recover. Subsequently, Zhou Yuan felt a stream of heat appear in his body, a barbaric scalding heat that charged about in his body. He knew that this stream of heat was the power of the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune. With a thought, he directed the stream of heat towards the blocked fifth meridian channel. The stream of heat charged in, causing a faint loosening sensation to appear in the originally blocked fifth channel. Joy bubbled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart when he felt this change. He focused even more on controlling the heat to continuously attack the channel. When the stream of heat finally dissipated a long time later, a small portion of the originally tightly blocked fifth channel had been forced open. This progress made Zhou Yuan overjoyed. It was not less effective than his first time in the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Phew. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and spat out a breath that smelled of blood. He did not care about the stench, his eyes shining brightly. The effectiveness of the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune had exceeded his expectations. At this rate, he was confident that he would be able to completely unblock his fifth meridian channel in a month. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 43 Learning the Auraflare Technique In the following period of time, Zhou Yuan engaged in daily channel unblocking attempts with the help of the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune. It must be said that although this channel opening rune was rather dangerous, its effectiveness was astonishingly good. In a mere few days, Zhou Yuan¡¯s fifth meridian channel grew increasingly loose as the blocked portions were continuously cleared. At this rate, completely unblocking the fifth channel was practically just around the corner. However, there was some slight delay due to the troublesome ingredient procurement process. The heart-blood Zhou Yuan had painstakingly gathered for such a long time could only last for five uses. Therefore, he had not choice but to spend the majority of each day hunting grade 1 Genesis Beasts and acquire more heart-blood. In the blink of an eye, ten days passed in the mountain forest. ... Bang! In the forest. An entirely blood-red giant of a creature charged at Zhou Yuan, who had just killed a Genesis Beast. The former was extremely ferocious, leaving Zhou Yuan no choice but to jump onto the branches of a tall tree with a push of his foot, avoiding the blood-red creature¡¯s charge. Having chased Zhou Yuan away, the giant beast ignored the former¡¯s furious gaze as it lowered its head and began to tear apart the Genesis Beast corpse Zhou Yuan had killed. ¡°This god damned bastard!¡± Atop the tree, Zhou Yuan could not help but curse when he saw this. However, there was nothing he could do as he had no way to deal with the giant blood-red creature. This creature was known as the Flame Plate Rhino and was a grade 1 Genesis Beast. However, it was extremely hard to deal with compared to other grade 1 Genesis Beasts. Its strength was comparable to a six channel human practitioner, but its defence could match a seven channel expert, power that allowed it to reign as the little tyrant of this particular zone. Even Zhou Yuan¡¯s Dragon Tablet Hand did not have much of an effect on the exceptional defensive prowess of this Genesis Beast, while the Heavenly Yuan Brush could only leave bloody scratches but was unable to do any real damage. Hence, Zhou Yuan chose to avoid the Flame Plate Rhino whenever he encountered it, but who could have expected that the bastard would grow more and more unreasonable, even beginning to steal his kill today. It was clear that Zhou Yuan had now been targeted by the Flame Plate Rhino due to his frequent hunting of Genesis Beasts in the area. ¡°I¡¯m being bullied by a beast.¡± Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or to cry, but he knew that there was no point in lingering. Thus, he decisively turned around and dashed forward, the tip of his feet pushing off one giant tree after another as he rushed out of the forest, hurrying back to the valley. In the valley, Yaoyao was a little surprised when she saw that Zhou Yuan had returned empty handed. Zhou Yuan awkwardly explained when he saw Yaoyao¡¯s gaze, ¡°I was robbed by a Flame Plate Rhino.¡± Yaoyao was unable to restrain her smile when she heard this. ¡°The Flame Plate Rhino has strong defensive ability and even a seven channel human practitioner will find it very troublesome to deal with. You might be able to break through its defences if your Heavenly Yuan Brush reaches the upper tier Genesis Weapon level.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He had been feeding the Heavenly Yuan Brush daily but still had yet to light the second ancient Genesis Rune. The corners of Yaoyao¡¯s mouth bent slightly as she said, ¡°If you do not think of a way to deal with this Flame Plate Rhino, I¡¯m afraid that you will not be able to hunt anymore Genesis Beasts unless you change location.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth pulled downwards. Chased away by a rhino? He really could not afford to be humiliated in this manner. Therefore, he had to think of some way to deal with it. ¡°Although the Dragon Tablet Hand is bold and unyielding, it is indeed a little lacking in the face of such a highly defensive Genesis Beast.¡± A look of thought emerged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He needed to learn a Genesis skill that could amplify his offensive power. As his thoughts reached this point, something suddenly hit him as he reached into his clothes and retrieved a jade scroll. It was the Auraflare technique he had obtained a few days ago. ¡°I should take a look at the technique that is so highly valued by Qi Manor.¡± Zhou Yuan seated himself and poured Genesis Qi into the scroll. Light was immediately emitted, shining on the air in front of him as words started to flow. Zhou Yuan focused on the words. They were the introduction and cultivation method for the Auraflare technique. ¡°Oh, this Auraflare technique is somewhat peculiar.¡± While Zhou Yuan was immersed in the cultivation method of the Auraflare technique, he suddenly heard a cry surprise. He turned his head, only to find that Yaoyao was standing beside him. Her bright penetrating eyes were glued to the screen of light. Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. Having just looked through it, he now knew the theory behind the Auraflare technique. Basically, this technique made use of a unique method to continuously compress the Genesis Qi in the meridian channels, concentrating it. After continuous compression, the Genesis Qi would become highly concentrated, giving it astonishing force and piercing power. Zhou Yuan exclaimed in admiration, ¡°As expected of a Black tier Genesis technique. Its profoundness far surpasses Normal tier Genesis techniques.¡± A thoughtful look was revealed in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes as she said, ¡°This technique is rather interesting. It looks simple but it takes a very extreme approach of compressing Genesis Qi to the limit.¡± ¡°The true rank of this Auraflare technique should not be merely low grade Black tier. However, it is somewhat incomplete.¡± ¡°Incomplete?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled a little. ¡°This Auraflare technique was given to king Qi by the Great Wu Empire. They may not have given him the complete version.¡± Yaoyao nodded. ¡°You may try to learn this technique but you should know that high level compression of Genesis Qi in the meridian channels will be a huge burden on them. After all, a lapse in concentration might cause you to lose control and damage your meridian channels.¡± However, Zhou Yuan smiled when he heard this. With regards to the toughness of meridian channels, it was likely extremely difficult to find anyone who could better him amongst those at the same cultivation level. After all, he was born with eight naturally open meridian channels and although they were subsequently sealed, the strong foundations remained. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give this Auraflare technique a go!¡± It was obvious that Zhou Yuan was extremely interested in the Auraflare technique. As the saying went, do what you plan to. After informing Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan sat down in a cross-legged position. With a thought, a suction force was emitted from his channels, pulling strands of Genesis Qi into his body. As Genesis Qi poured into his channels, Zhou Yuan followed the compression method recorded in the Auraflare technique. He exerted control over each strand of Genesis Qi in his channels, making them slowly revolve. The compression method was called Spin Refining. One directed Genesis Qi to form a ¡®whirlpool¡¯ that spun at high speed, continuously compressing the Genesis Qi until the ¡®whirlpool¡¯ finally dissipated and a ¡®concentrated flare¡¯ was created. It seemed easy when described, but actually doing it was very difficult. After all, such level of control was not easy to achieve. If too much power was used, the pulling force would grow too strong and hurt the meridian channels. On the other hand, if too little power was used, the ¡®concentrated flare¡¯ would not be created. In the beginning, Zhou Yuan failed time and time again, the Genesis Qi whirlpools in his meridian channels dissipating each time. On the bright side, his strong Spirit made him aware of even the smallest details, allowing him to gradually learn from every failure. Hence, Zhou Yuan was already able to somewhat successfully utilise the Spin Refining method after an entire day. This went on for another five days. As the glorious sun rose into the sky, its scorching rays shined down upon the seemingly endless Black Forest Mountain Range, covering it in a layer of golden gauze. In a certain valley, Zhou Yuan was silently seated on a rock. The view within his meridian channels however was completely different from the peacefulness on the outside. Genesis Qi whirlpools spun at high speeds, emitting ¡®ch ch¡¯ noises as a pulling force spread, causing the channels to twitch. This was only possible due to the toughness of Zhou Yuan¡¯s meridian channels. The channels of any other ordinary four channel practitioner would have been torn by this time. Even so, there was still a piercing pain that Zhou Yuan had to endured. Hummm! Faint vibration sounds could be heard within his meridian channels. Meanwhile, the whirlpools spun faster and faster, rapidly increasing the pulling force which in turn caused the piercing pain to intensify. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows tightly scrunched together, but he did not plan on giving up. Instead, he braced himself and increased the rotation speed of the whirlpools. Boom! As the rotation speed rose, the strands of Genesis Qi lingering above it were compressed to the very center and in the next moment, the whirlpool exploded. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes abruptly opened. However, there was no disappointment on his face but instead overflowing joy. He extended his hand, making two fingers jut out. With a thought, a layer of extremely faint green light slowly emerged from his fingertips. The faint green light seemed to lengthen and shorten randomly and looked extremely feeble. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fingers suddenly slashed at the rock below him. One would only hear a ¡®shlick¡¯ sound as a stupefied Zhou Yuan watched the boulder being cleanly sliced open as if it was tofu, the rock within glossy as a mirror. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes shined while his breathing became a little ragged. ¡°So this is the Auraflare technique? Such frightening sharpness and shocking penetrating power.¡± Zhou Yuan was full of praise. A single attack would likely seriously injure anyone who was less than seven channels and even a seven channel expert would have no choice but to avoid such an attack. ¡°With this Auraflare technique, if that bastard dares to appear again, I will stab it dead with a single finger!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 44 Su Youwei’s Progress ¡°There are two levels to the Auraflare technique, the green flare and the purple flare. What you have currently has just barely reached the doorstep of the green flare level.¡± Yaoyao explained from the side when she saw that Zhou Yuan had succeeded. Zhou Yuan nodded. He looked at the faint pulsing green light at his fingertips and said, ¡°The destructive power of this Auraflare technique is astonishing indeed but there are some flaws. The Qi concentrating process is troublesome and it uses too much Genesis Qi.¡± If he had not activated the Dragon Breathing technique and sucked in a mouthful of Genesis Qi, he would not have succeeded in creating this tiny green flare no matter how long he spent. With his current four channel strength, it took everything he had to create this tiny wisp of light. If it was to be used against an enemy, he would have to kill in a single strike or the light would automatically dissipate after some time. ¡°If only I could reach the Qi Nourishing stage.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Reaching the Qi Nourishing stage was akin to entering the inner chambers from the main room. Once the Qi Dwelling was open, Genesis Qi could be stored in the body. This would be countless times better than his current pitiful state where he had to draw in strands of unpurified Genesis Qi from his surroundings every time he wanted to use it. With the support of sufficient Genesis Qi in the body, Black tier Genesis techniques would be able to display their true power. After sighing for a while, Zhou Yuan steadied his heart. After all, he had to take things one step at a time. What he needed to do now was to fully open his eight meridian channels, creating a better foundation for future cultivation. ¡°Alright then, it¡¯s time for me to go slaughter that bastard. A beast that dares to interfere with my training cannot be pardoned.¡± Zhou Yuan stood up and called out to Yaoyao before his body shot forth, heading straight into the mountain forests. He could not wait to try out the might of the Auraflare technique. Once he entered the forest, Zhou Yuan rushed straight towards its depths. A long time later, he stood on a giant tree and sat down. He knew that the Flame Plate Rhino was extremely sensitive to presences and would likely discover him the moment he stepped into the deeper part of the forest. Thus, he only needed to wait for the rhino here. Zhou Yuan shut his eyes. After about ten minutes, he felt the ground begin to tremble and his gaze looked towards the depths of the forest, only to see towering trees falling one after another as a fire-red figure madly charged over, thunderous rumbling sounds in its wake. An over ten feet tall fire-red figure ultimately came to a stop in the clearing. Its scarlet eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan as grouchy snorting noises emerged from its mouth. It was the Flame Plate Rhino. The surface of its body seemed to be covered in fire-red armor, blazing hard armor that thoroughly protected it. ¡°You¡¯ve come?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned a little as he looked down from above at the Flame Plate Rhino. No longer did he avoid it like before. Instead, his figure leaped into the air and landed on the ground ¡°Bring it on you bastard.¡± Zhou Yuan extended a finger towards the creature and beckoned. As if sensing Zhou Yuan¡¯s contempt, the madness in the Flame Plate Rhino¡¯s eyes immediately intensified. With a powerful stomp of its foot, the ground cracked open as its enormous figure transformed into fiery shadow that charged towards Zhou Yuan with terrifying momentum. Meanwhile, the thick flame armor on its body glowed with scarlet light as if it was burning. Even the air itself cackled under such force. Even a seven channel practitioner had no choice but to avoid the sure-kill charge of a Flame Plate Rhino. However, Zhou Yuan did not move nor showed no intentions of retreating. He merely lowered his gaze as Genesis Qi turned into whirlpools in his meridian channels, continuously compressing and refining. Several breaths later, Zhou Yuan slowly extended his hand as a faint green aura slowly surfaced. The aura pulsed indeterminately as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure also dashed forward, colliding with the Flame Plate Rhino in the blink of an eye. At the moment of impact, Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand took the form of a blade and fiercely chopped downwards as splitting the mountains, slamming onto the ferocious face of the Flame Plate Rhino. Ch! A faint noise seemed to ring out when the hand landed. In the next instant, fresh blood wildly spurted out. The enormous body of the ferocious rhino had been sliced into two! Due to the tremendous momentum behind its giant body, the two halves of the rhino continued to charge forward for quite some distance before ultimately crashing to the ground with a loud bang, dyeing the ground in fresh blood. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan remained unmoved on the spot, still in his chopping posture as a bloody mist descended. It sprayed on his face, making it appear enchantingly bizarre. The faint green glow gradually faded from his hand while Zhou Yuan¡¯s slightly tottering body gently fell the ground on his butt. The previous chop had cleaned out all of his energy. He turned his head slightly, glancing at the two halves of the Flame Plate Rhino and could not help but grin. The destructive power of the Auraflare technique was really frightening. In addition, the new little tyrant of this area was now him, Zhou Yuan. ... Time passed in the mountains. While Zhou Yuan concentrated on his training deep in the mountains, things were not going well for Qi Yue. No matter how they searched, they were unable to find any traces of Luo Hao, let alone the Auraflare technique. In a certain room, Qi Ling said with a rather ugly expression, ¡°Second young master, we have already extended the scope of our search to many cities but we are still unable to find even the slightest trace of Luo Hao. It¡¯s as if he vanished into thin air.¡± Cold light flickered in Qi Yue¡¯s eyes. It was a long time later before he finally replied, ¡°If he can¡¯t be found even with this level of searching, I¡¯m afraid that there might not even be a corpse left of him.¡± Qi Ling frowned slightly. ¡°You are saying that he¡¯s been killed?¡± Qi Yue clenched his jaw. ¡°Although I do not know who killed him, I have a feeling that the Auraflare technique is in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands!¡± Qi Ling¡¯s expression fluctuated . ¡°If that is so, it will be very troublesome.¡± Ever since the previous incident, Zhou Qing had increased Zhou Yuan¡¯s level of protection. Lu Tieshan had also chased away all outsiders in the area Zhou Yuan was in. It was practically impossible to repeat the play they had staged before. A dark and vicious look appeared in Qi Yue¡¯s eyes. After some silence, he coldly said, ¡°Get me Liu Xi.¡± Qi Ling looked at Qi Yue. Although he did not know what the latter was planning, he still did as instructed. ... The beautiful rays of the setting sun enveloped Great Zhou City. In the Great Zhou Institute, Su Youwei had just left the institute after her classes, walking along the street towards the southern part of the city where her home was located. She did not linger for long in the institute recently because Zhou Yuan was pretty much absent. A young girl¡¯s long and slender legs lightly hopped over a ditch. Her pony tail bouncing with the vigour of youth, drawing admiring gazes from passersby. Passing through familiar street after street, her footsteps suddenly stopped after taking a corner as she raised her head and looked to her front. Liu Xi was leaning against the wall, several figures behind her. Liu Xi¡¯s pretty face was icy as she coldly stared at Su Youwei. The latter¡¯s elegant appearance caused tiny embers of jealousy to flit across her eyes as she frostily smiled, ¡°Come walk with me Su Youwei.¡± ¡°What do you plan on doing?¡± Su Youwei¡¯s eyebrows knitted together slightly. Liu Xi coldly snorted, ¡°Humph, Zhou Yuan has stolen something from Qi Yue. You will be used to exchange for it.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s pretty face turned a little frosty when she heard this. ¡°What a joke. Do you think that Qi Yue¡¯s things would even catch his highness¡¯ eyes?¡± ¡°Sharp-tongued wench!¡± Liu Xi¡¯s eyebrows turned almost turned vertical as she shouted, ¡°Catch her!¡± The moment her words faded, two figures immediately shot out from behind her. Faint Genesis Qi undulations surrounded their bodies, testament to their five channel strength. Su Youwei did not move as she icily stared at the two individuals that were shooting towards her. It was only when the their hands grabbed at her like eagle claws that she suddenly made her move. Two fingers were thrust forward, jade light swirling around them while formidable Genesis Qi tore through the air like a mealstrom. Ch ch! The two fingers landed, causing the two figures to be sent flying backwards, fresh blood flowing from their shoulders. Su Youwei¡¯s hands hung by her side while Genesis Qi light swirled around her body, causing her aura to rise steadily. Liu Xi stared at Su Youwei, eyes wide open and her jaw clenched so hard she almost shattered her teeth. ¡°You¡¯ve unblocked your sixth meridian channel?!¡± She clearly remembered Su Youwei had only just unblocked her fifth meridian channel slightly over a month ago. How had she so quickly unblocked her sixth channel too? Su Youwei flatly replied, ¡°Unblocked it ten days ago.¡± Su Youwei had not slouched off while Zhou Yuan was away from the institute. She received the full efforts of headmaster Chu Tianyang¡¯s personal tutelage. After all, in Chu Tianyang¡¯s opinion, compared to the explosive Zhou Yuan, a stable type like Su Youwei was less worrying. Hence, he had done all he could to train her over this period of time. Thus, she had not been stagnant while Zhou Yuan was progressing. Liu Xi¡¯s face was steely green with anger, fire practically spitting from her eyes. She had only managed to unblock her sixth meridian channel half a month ago after lengthy amounts of training and a huge expenditure of resources. Yet, Su Youwei was now practically at her heels using only half the time. How could this not make her jealous. Liu Xi frostily said, ¡°Do you believe that you will be able to leave just because you have unblocked your sixth meridian channel?¡± ¡°Liu Ye, go catch her for me. It will be best if you also carve up that little minx¡¯s face!¡± As Liu Xi¡¯s words rang out, a figure slowly walked out from behind. Powerful Genesis Qi spread, displaying the strength of seven channels. Su Youwei¡¯s expression finally became grave when she saw this. However, while she was trying to think of a plan, her heart suddenly shook as two figures shot out from behind and landed at her side. They seemed to be ordinary men but the Genesis Qi undulations from their bodies had reached the level of seven channels. ¡°You are?¡± Su Youwei was taken aback when she saw the two newcomers. The two replied with a soft chuckle, ¡°We were sent by his highness miss Su. His highness was worried that Qi Yue would let out his anger on you, thus we have been protecting you in secret.¡± Su Youwei blinked when she heard this. Although she did not say anything, the corners of her mouth subconsciously raised a little while her sour mood due to Liu Xi¡¯s appearence took a turn for the better. The two men lifted their heads, looked Liu Xi and said in a flat voice, ¡°Please watch yourself miss Liu. Do not become Qi Yue¡¯s chess piece.¡± Liu Xi¡¯s face had practically become purple due to the interference, but she knew that she could no longer do anything to Su Youwei. ¡°That blasted Zhou Yuan!¡± Liu Xi furiously cursed. Abandoning the deadlock, she led her men and left with a stomp of her foot. The two imperial guards turned their heads and said to Su Youwei in a low voice, ¡°Miss Su, let us send you back home.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be troubling elder brothers.¡± Su Youwei did not reject. She paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°Do you know how his highness is doing? He has been absent for almost two months.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry miss Su, his highness is a crucial point in his training. He will definitely be back for the class ranking exam in half a month.¡± Su Youwei nodded. She did not know what would be the outcome of Zhou Yuan¡¯s training session, but she had heard that Qi Yue had already unblocked his seventh meridian channel. For their A class to take back first place at the year-end class ranking exam, a bitter battle could not be avoided... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 45 Before the Class Ranking Exam In the mountain forests. Zhou Yuan stood on a rock, five snarling giant green wolves currently circling him. These Wind Spirit Wolves were also grade 1 Genesis Beasts. They specialized in speed and were extremely difficult to deal with due to their pack nature. Even seven channel experts would avoid them as much as possible. They could be said to be the tyrants of this particular area. However, there was not much fear on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face but instead some eagerness. Swish! One of the Wind Spirit Wolves took the lead and attacked, a green figure darting forward like a shadow, sharp claws ripping through the air as they mercilessly slashed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. However, its surprise attack was not the least bit effective. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure seemed to flicker as it turned blurry, causing the sharp claws to slice through empty air. Bang! Zhou Yuan¡¯s counterattack was as swift as thunder. Five fingers tightly clenched into a fist as vigorous Genesis Qi surged around it. A punch slammed into the attacking wolf¡¯s waist, breaking bone with a crack and sending the wolf to its death. Ahwoo! The moment it died, scarlet red washed over the other four wolves eyes as they shot forward with a howl. ¡°Martial form!¡± Zhou Yuan let out a hearty laugh as he charged towards the remaining four Wind Spirit Wolves. He grasped the growing Heavenly Yuan Brush and swung it horizontally like a long spear, sending one of the wolves flying. Ch ch! In the forest, a human exchanged vicious blows with four wolves. Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush like a heavy metal spear, devastating force wreaking havoc as it swept forth, making it practically impossible for the four wolves to approach. The snow-white hairs of the brush tip flickered with sharpness, cutting deep and bloody wounds everytime it swept across a wolf¡¯s body. The battle started intensely and ended quickly. After several minutes, Zhou Yuan stood on the spot, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand standing on the ground at a slightly slanted angle. Fresh blood dripped from the tip of the brush while the corpses of five WInd Spirit Wolves gradually turned cold around him. A breath was slowly spat out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth while a stern glint surged in his eyes like a sharp blade. Two months of training in the mountain forest had given Zhou Yuan a faint aura of ferocity. ¡°Culture form.¡± The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand swiftly shrunk, becoming a foot long again as Zhou Yuan stuck it back into his waistband. He raised his head, eyes narrowing slightly as he watched sunlight spill through the cracks in the trees and mumbled, ¡°Only a few days left till the class ranking exam. It¡¯s about time to return.¡± He had trained for about two months in the mountain forests and his fifth meridian channel had already been completely unblocked a month earlier. He had not returned because his channel opening speed would drop once he left this Genesis Beast infested mountain forests. Instead, he used the Genesis Beasts in the forest to temper himself. He bent down to dig out the Beast Spirit Crystals from the heads of the five Wind Spirit Wolves before turning around and leaving the forest. Half an hour later, he arrived at the valley. ¡°Are we returning?¡± When Yaoyao saw that Zhou Yuan had returned, she seemed to know that he was ready to go back. She stretched lazily, displaying the enchanting outline of her waist. She had previously lived with Cang Yuan in a domain void of any other people and was used to this kind of life. Thus, her two months her had been rather leisurely. Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded before whistling. After a brief period, a dozen figures flew out from the mountain forests. They were the imperial guards that had been protecting him from the shadows. ¡°Inform captain Lu to prepare our return to Great Zhou City.¡± Zhou Yuan watched the imperial guards withdraw before turning his head. His gaze seemed to penetrate the dense forests and see Great Zhou City. ¡°The guards reported some time ago that Qi Yue has already unblocked his seventh meridian channel¡­ that guy does have some ability.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips were tightly pursed as coldness surfaced in his eyes. Qi Yue had constantly caused trouble for him ever since he entered the Great Zhou Institute and most recently even using such an underhanded tactic at the Jade Spirit Waterfall. Qi Yue had even tried to use Su Youwei to threaten Zhou Yuan after the former¡¯s subsequent loss of the Auraflare technique. These actions had already roused Zhou Yuan¡¯s desire to kill. ¡°There were never any chances in the past, but in the class ranking exam¡­ Qi Yue, it is time for us to properly write off these debts!¡± ... Great Zhou royal palace. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu rushed over the moment Zhou Yuan arrived at the royal palace. Qin Yu quickly walked forward the moment she saw Zhou Yuan, grabbing his shoulders as she said in a tender voice, ¡°My child, you did not return for so long after you left, look at how thin you¡¯ve become.¡± The current Zhou Yuan had actually become leaner, but to Qin Yu, training in the mountain forests was purely suffering. Zhou Yuan smiled as he hugged Qin Yu. After some consoling, he let Yaoyao accompany Qin Yu as he walked away with Zhou Qing. ¡°Unblocked your fifth meridian channel?¡± Zhou Qing grinned as he glanced at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Lu Tieshan has told me what happened. I did not expect Qi Yue would be so bold and actually target you.¡± A cold look flitted across Zhou Qing¡¯s face. Looks like the past few years of tolerating Qi Manor¡¯s actions had now made them fearless. However, he did have his difficulties. After all, if he fully fall out with Qi Manor, the Great Zhou Empire would definitely have to welcome a war that would hurt them to the very core. This would be extremely detrimental to Great Zhou. Hence, he somewhat blamed himself for the attack on Zhou Yuan. If he was not such a useless father, Zhou Yuan would not have fallen into such danger. Zhou Yuan knew how his father suffered in silence. With a smile, he fished out the Auraflare technique jade scroll form his clothes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on it too much father, I was not the one who suffered a loss this time.¡± ¡°Auraflare technique? It has indeed landed in your hands!¡± Zhou Qing was a little taken aback but soon burst out into laughter. He was naturally aware how Qi Manor had practically turned the place upside down in search of this very technique. ¡°Let them pay a little interest first. As for Qi Yue, father need not worry. I will properly resolve the debts between us in the class ranking exam three days from now.¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm, the confidence in his voice made Zhou Qing feel rather gratified as he nodded. Two months of training in the deep mountain forests had slightly unsheathed the blade that was Zhou Yuan. Zhou Qing slowly said, ¡°The upcoming class ranking exam is extremely important. If the A class is defeated by the B class again, the headmaster position might fall into Qi Manor¡¯s hands. All their years of plotting have cumulated into this very day.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He clearly understood the importance of the upcoming class ranking exam. It might seem to be a contest between the two classes, but the truth was that it would affect both the Great Zhou royal clan and Qi Manor. The him of the past was unable to find his meridian channels and naturally could not be of much aid with regards to this matter. But since he had now opened five channels, Qi Manor would have to first ask his permission if they intended on taking over the Great Zhou Institute. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as his eyes narrowed. All his months of bitter training were for this very day! Previous Chapte Chapter 46 Beginning of the Class Ranking Exam Three days passed in the blink of an eye. When the third day arrived, faint undercurrents began to stir a little in Great Zhou City as numerous factions turned their gazes towards the Great Zhou Institute in unison. They knew that today was the class ranking exam. Of course, a mere class ranking exam was naturally incapable of drawing the attention of so many factions. It was because this class ranking exam concerned the struggle between the royal clan and Qi Manor. Everyone knew that Qi Manor had been eyeing the institute for many years and had used all sorts of methods to infiltrate it. It was now time for them to reap their harvest. As long as the B class was able to take the number one spot in the class ranking exam this year, Qi Manor¡¯s representative, Xu Hong, would likely replace Chu Tianyang and become the new headmaster of the institute. If so, the Great Zhou Institute would secretly become the Great Qi Institute. This would be a huge blow to the royal clan because it also meant that Qi Manor was gradually gaining the upper hand in the struggle between the two parties, a fact that would undoubtedly sway the stances of the other factions towards Qi Manor, hence furthering the royal clan¡¯s decline. Thus, the outcome of this class ranking exam could be said to even shake the royal clan¡¯s position and its importance was self-evident. ¡­ Great Zhou Institute, A class courtyard. When Zhou Yuan once again stepped into the A class courtyard, he immediately felt the many students within look over before being stupefied by the subsequent orderly applause. Zhou Yuan asked in bewilderment, ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± Su Youwei, Song Qiushui and Yang Zai were all smiles as they approached. ¡°Are we not thanking you? If it weren¡¯t for you winning an additional two hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time from the B class, our A class would have no hope for this class ranking exam.¡± Zhou could not help but smile when he heard this. ¡°Looks like you guys have grown substantially stronger over the past two months.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s little mouth was pursed as she let out a soft laugh. ¡°The three of us have already unblocked our sixth meridian channel.¡± Yang Zai also chuckled as he said, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the additional Jade Spirit Waterfall training time. Or else, we would likely need another month to unblock our sixth channel.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat amazed. Looks like the two additional hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time had done a rather huge service to them. Zhou Yuan asked with interest, ¡°What about the B class? With only an hour of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time left, they should not have made much progress, right?¡± Song Qiushui pondered a little before she replied, ¡°The morale of the B class has been rather low recently and they seem to hold some resentment towards Qi Yue.¡± After all, three quarters of their B class¡¯ originally four hour long Jade Spirit Waterfall training time had been lost by Qi Yue. Who could tolerate such a huge drop? Even if they did not dare to say anything due to Qi Yue¡¯s status, some resentment could not be avoided. ¡°All of you will be gravely mistaken to believe that the B class¡¯ strength has fallen just because they lost those three hours.¡± A voice was suddenly heard while they were talking. Zhou Yuan¡¯s looked over and saw a solemn-face Chu Tianyang walking over with his hands behind his back. Everyone greeted one after another. ¡°Class master!¡± Chu Tianyang waved his hand and glanced at Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, ¡°As far as I know, Qi Yue has secretly brought several B students to Qi Manor over the past two months.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed when he heard this. ¡°He plans to do all he can to groom them with Qi Manor¡¯s resources?¡± Chu Tianyang¡¯s expression was ugly as he nodded. Qi Yue¡¯s actions were nauseating but there was nothing the former could say. After all, outsiders did not have any right to comment on how others were training. Qi Manor had abundant resources and it was a very simple task for them to groom another handful of people. However, this also made the other B class students feel rather unhappy and unfairly treated. Thus, there had been a lot of complaints recently from the B class about Qi Yue, complaints that ended up forcibly suppressed by Xu Hong. Chu Tianyang said in a stern voice, ¡°So don¡¯t become complacent just because you have unblocked your sixth meridian channel because Qi Yue has already reached seven channels!¡± The numerous A class students turned silent as worry emerged in their eyes. The pressure Qi Yue gave to the A class was really too great. Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Qi Yue in the Jade Spirit Waterfall that one time, it was after all a very limited kind of contest and was nothing like the upcoming class ranking exam where one needed to rely on one¡¯s own strength. As the crowd worried, several gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan. After all, he was the only person who had been able to ¡®defeat¡¯ Qi Yue in the past year. Hence, they naturally held some expectations for him. Zhou Yuan smiled as he looked at Chu Tianyang and said, ¡°Relax class master, I will deal with Qi Yue.¡± Chu Tianyang nodded. However, there was still some worry in his eyes. After all, the class ranking exam was nothing like the Jade Spirit Waterfall contest. However, he also understood that he could not allow the A class¡¯ morale to be affected at such a time. Hence, he waved his hand and said, ¡°If everyone is ready, follow me to the class ranking exam site.¡± He turned around the moment his words faded while Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the rest of the A class students flocked over. ¡­ The class ranking exam site was the northern district of the Great Zhou Institute. An enormous field sprawled across the place. Five tall platforms of varying heights rose on the field, platforms which were also known as the class ranking exam stages. At this current moment, the surroundings of the field was already a sea of people. Practically all of the students had gathered here and even quite a number of people from the city had come to watch. Thunderous noises echoed across the field. Zhou Yuan and the rest of the A class students arrived at the field. Their gazes turned towards the five tall platforms before ultimately stopping at the tallest one, the platform that represented the leader of the classes. Every year, the first amongst the classes would place their class flag upon it. Currently, a tall flag fluttered on the class leader platform. A flag marked by a bold ¡®B¡¯. ¡°Our A class has lost the class leader platform for two years.¡± Chu Tianyang sighed softly from the side. This was the shared pain of every A class member. The glory that was originally theirs had been monopolized by the B class for two years, making their title as leader of the classes nothing but an empty name. Zhou Yuan pursed his lips as a stern look emerged in his eyes. If the B class still wanted to dominate the leader class platform this year, they would have to first ask his fists. As the sun hung high in the sky, the crowd surrounding the class ranking exam field grew larger and larger. ¡°His and her majesties have arrived!¡± A loud shout suddenly rang out across the area. One could only watch as Zhou Qing, Qin Yu and Yaoyao appeared on the central viewing platform and seated themselves on the highest seats. This class ranking exam was so important that even Zhou Qing could not help but personally make a trip over. ¡°King Qi has arrived!¡± Not long after Zhou Qing arrived, another loud shout rang out. One would turn only to see a procession of people rushing over from another direction under the attention of countless gazes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were fixed at the front of the procession where a middle-aged man in official-looking robes was located. His steps were as majestic as a tiger, his expression cold and stern, while his eyes shined brightly. An invisible pressure spread, making it such that no one to dared to look directly at this man. ¡°King Qi, Qi Yuan¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at the man. This person was the biggest tumor of Great Zhou and the secret needle Great Wu had stuck here. King Qi had the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage and was one of the top experts in Great Zhou. Chu Tianyang frostily remarked, ¡°It seems that today¡¯s class ranking exam is also very important to king Qi.¡± On the central viewing platform, Qi Yuan cupped his fists together towards Zhou Qing but did not offer him the greetings of a subject. Zhou Qing expression did not change as he nodded. The level of hostility between the royal clan and Qi Manor was clear as day. Dong dong! After Zhou Qing and Qi Yuan appeared, the excitement in the air reached its peak as the sound of a gong reverberated across the area. ¡°The class ranking exam begins!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 47 Strange As the gong reverberated across the area, the excitement surrounding the field instantly soared. Chu Tianyang¡¯s figure appeared at the center of the field, Genesis Qi surging around him as his powerful voice rang out by everyone¡¯s ears, ¡°The rules of the class ranking exam are the same as usual. Every class will send four participants that are free to challenge each other. Defeating all four members of a class will allow your class to replace their current position.¡± ¡°Participants from the respective classes, please ascend your respective platforms!¡± As Chu Tianyang¡¯s loud voice faded, figures immediately shot out from each of the classes. Amongst the cheers that filled the sky, the figures landed on the stages, allowing everyone to see them. The participants from the A class had been decided long ago. Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei, Yang Zai and Song Qiushui. ¡°You guys can do it!¡± The numerous A class students cheered loudly. Zhou Yuan and the other three exchanged a look and nodded before their figures flew onto the second highest platform. The highest belonged to Qi Yue and the other three B class participants. Qi Yue stood with his hands behind his back while Liu Xi stood beside him. At this very moment, they were looking down from above at Zhou Yuan and the rest on the lower platforms. Iciness overflowed from Qi Yue¡¯s eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said in a cold voice, ¡°This class leader stage will still end up with my B class this year. I advise all of you to not have any designs on it.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled upon hearing this and replied, ¡°Many thanks for your gift of the Jade Spirit Waterfall training time. I believe that the rich Qi Manor should not mind too much since you can even afford to groom others from your own pockets.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s face twitched slightly. Losing to Zhou Yuan in the Jade Spirit Waterfall had caused his reputation in the B class to become extremely terrible. Moreover, the substantial amount of the good will he had painstakingly cultivated was now gone. Liu Xi sneered as she said, ¡°Humph, what¡¯s there to be happy about. After the class ranking exam, you guys will lose your title as the A class. When that time comes, all of these things will still be ours.¡± Su Youwei flatly replied, ¡°It¡¯s a little early to speak of who will win or lose.¡± Liu Xi said with disdain, ¡°Who do you think you are? Do you believe that someone like you has the right to talk to me?" Su Youwei¡¯s eyes lowered slightly. ¡°Status does not mean anything on this stage. If you lose, your words will merely be a joke.¡± Liu Xi¡¯s eyelids twitched as she said through gnashed teeth, ¡°Sharp-tongued commoner girl, if you fall into my hands later, prepare to see just how I will deal with you!¡± ¡°You should also be careful. I too plan to properly settle things between us with regards to what happened previously.¡± Cold light also surged in Su Youwei¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that you don¡¯t have that capability!¡± Sparks were already flying between the two parties before the battle began. Zhou Yuan¡¯s group sat down on the mats atop the platform as he shot a look at Qi Yue¡¯s group with narrowed eyes. Behind Liu Xi were two tall and well-built youths whose bodies were surrounded by faint Genesis Qi undulations. Beside Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei softly said, ¡°Those two are Cao Ling and Fan Wu, elites of the B class. If my guess is correct, both of them should have already unblocked their six meridian channel.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod as he glanced at the duo. He seemed to sense a faint but strange aura from the two. Dong dong! As the participants from the various classes ascended the stages, the sound of the gong grew increasingly frequent until the last hurried yet drawn out ¡®dong¡¯, marking the start of the class ranking exam. ¡°D class¡¯ Li Tong challenges C class¡¯ Wu Jian!¡± ¡°E class¡¯ Chai Yanzhi challenges D class¡¯ Sun Qing!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± A series of shouts immediately followed the final gong. Figures quickly flew out one by one and landed on the empty stone stages. ¡°I¡¯ll go test the waters.¡± On the A class side, Yang Zai was the first to stand up. His gaze locked onto Cao Ling on the B class side and yelled, ¡°A class¡¯ Yang Zai challenges B class¡¯ Cao Ling.¡± The youth called Cao Ling was expressionless as he stood up on the class leader platform and leaped onto the stone stage. Yang Zai also flew up to the stone stage and cupped his fists together towards Cao Ling. A referee landed on the stage and looked at the both of them before waving his hand. ¡°Begin!¡± Bang! Two figures immediately shot forward as two low shouts rang out, ¡°Six channels open!¡± Both of them had the strength of six channels and did not intend to hold anything back. Six channels were opened from the beginning, their respective full power blasting out. Strands of Genesis Qi swirled on both of their bodies as punches and kicks whizzed forth, causing even the air to be blasted away, neither party willing to give a single inch. Thump! Thump! The two figures clashed under the attention of countless gazes, fists zipping here and there. Neither showed any mercy and every attack was aimed to hurt, making the fight look exceptionally dangerous. Su Youwei remarked in a low voice while concentrating on the fight, ¡°They are pretty even.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. Both individuals had the strength of six channels, giving neither an advantage over the other. Victory would hinge on who had stronger Genesis techniques and the better battle sense. His gaze turned towards Qi Yue, only to discover a strange look on his face as he watched the two exchange blows. Zhou Yuan immediately frowned, feeling that something was amiss. Rumble! On the stage, Yang Zai¡¯s and Cao Ling¡¯s battle grew increasingly intense. However, no one had discovered the slight tinge of redness in Cao Ling¡¯s eyes and the additional sliver of berserk and heavy feeling in the Genesis Qi that poured out from his body. These changes were most clearly felt by Yang Zai. He suddenly felt much more pressured and there were signs of being suppressed in the subsequent clashes. ¡°Why is this happening?¡± Yang Zai was filled with confusion. ¡°Get lost!¡± Following a brief lapse in Yang Zai¡¯s movement, red light surged in Cao Ling¡¯s eyes as a roar emerged. He pounced like a tiger that had just been released from its cage and sent the weakened Yang Zai flying with a punch, causing him to vomit a mouthful of fresh blood. *Uproar* A commotion immediately broke out in the field. No one had expected the originally even fight to abruptly end in Yang Zai¡¯s defeat. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows were tightly knitted together. In that brief moment earlier, he had faintly felt the Genesis Qi in Cao Ling¡¯s body pulse strangely before suddenly becoming more berserk and violent. On the class leader platform, Qi Yue grinned as he watched this scene before his gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan, a dark and cold look flitting across the former¡¯s eyes. This class ranking exam was extremely important to Qi Manor. Thus, he had pulled out all the stops to make sure Zhou Yuan had no chance. ¡°I¡¯ll go next.¡± Song Qiushui¡¯s stood up with a grave expression. ¡°Be careful.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod. Upon seeing Song Qiushui rise, Qi Yue looked at Fan Wu and said in an emotionless voice, ¡°You, go.¡± Fan Wu stood up and flew onto the stage while Song Qiushui swiftly followed suit. Both sides did not waste any time with words. Six channels were opened the moment the referee signalled the start. Genesis Qi poured into their bodies as surging power filled their limbs. Two figures shot forth, cracking the stone beneath their feet. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were glued to the duo that were exchanging blows on the stage. Like before, the gap between them was not big and the fight was naturally rather even. However¡­ as time passed, Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils suddenly tightened when he once again sensed the Genesis Qi in Fan Wu¡¯s body show faint signs of becoming berserk. Boom boom! Fan Wu¡¯s attacks became more ferocious, each punch filled with violent Genesis Qi that shattered the air, causing explosion sounds to emerge. Qi Yue indifferently said as he watched. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± YAA! A thunderous howl from Fan Wu shook the ground as a punch containing churning Genesis Qi stirred up a storm and blasted towards Song Qiushui with a momentum that could overturn mountains and the sea. Thump! Although Song Qiushui did all she could to defend, the power of the attack was far too great, causing her to catapult off the stage with a muffled thump. An uproar once again swept through the entire field. The A class had suffered two consecutive defeats¡­ On the tall platform, Zhou Qing¡¯s expression became rather ugly. In contrast, a strange and mysterious smile hung on Qi Yuan¡¯s lips. Zhou Yuan stared hard at Fan Wu. Moments later, his eyes seemed to flash as he slowly said, ¡°I know what trick they used¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 48 Nex ¡°What do you mean?¡± Su Youwei was stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were a little cold as he looked towards Cao Ling and Fan Wei and said in a flat voice, ¡°If my guess is correct, they have used the Blood Boiling Rune.¡± ¡°Blood Boiling Rune?¡± Zhou Yuan slowly explained, ¡°It is a grade 1 Genesis Rune which uses Genesis Beast essence blood as an anchor. When drawn on the body, it can burn the essence blood in the body, allowing one¡¯s Genesis Qi to become berserk and violent. However, it is very harmful to the user and will cause a loss of essence blood. In serious cases, it may even damage one¡¯s meridian channels, making it difficult to progress one¡¯s cultivation in future.¡± The Blood Boiling Rune was somewhat similar to the Nine Beast Channel Opening Rune. However, the former was not as refined at the latter. The expression in Su Youwei¡¯s pretty face changed slightly. ¡°Such Genesis Runes are forbidden! They wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°They¡¯ve concealed it well, making it extremely difficult to discover. It is likely that no runes can be found on their bodies.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be found? Then how were they drawn?¡± Su Youwei was puzzled. She was clearly not as proficient in Genesis Runes as Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan slowly explained, ¡°They probably had the Blood Boiling Rune inscribed on their bodies every day before the class ranking exam, allowing some of the rune¡¯s power to remain in the body. Hence, the blood within their bodies will gradually start to boil as the battles intensifies. As such, no one will be able to find out.¡± ¡°However, this will cause even greater harm to the users body. I¡¯m afraid that Cao Ling and Fan Wu will likely become cripples in the future.¡± Su Youwei could not help but clench her jaw. ¡°How vicious.¡± Coldness flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he said, ¡°Looks like Qi Manor is very prudent. To think that they would resort to such tactics to ensure that nothing unexpected would happen even with Qi Yue at the helm. It seems that they are very determined on obtaining the Great Zhou Institute.¡± ¡°They likely plan on using Fan Wu and Cao Ling to tire you.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s eyes narrowed a little, a stern look emerging in them as her hand slowly closed into a fist. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I will not let them succeed!¡± She could vaguely sense how important this class ranking exam was to Zhou Yuan and intended to do everything in her power to help him. For him, she would sweep away all of the stumbling blocks in his path. At the very least, she needed to ensure Zhou Yuan was at his peak condition when he faced Qi Yue and not allow anyone to tire him out. Zhou Yuan had begun to think of a way to deal with the situation, but it was at this moment that a ball of paper was suddenly thrown over, landing at his side. Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He picked up the ball of paper and slowly unfurled it, only to find three beautifully drawn words: Clear Heart Rune. ¡°These words¡­ big sis Yaoyao?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. Subsequently, he raised his head and looked towards a distant platform where Yaoyao was holding Tuntun as she lazily observed the field. As if sensing his gaze, Yaoyao tilted her head and gave him a small smile. It was obvious that she had also discovered the problem. Her mastery of Genesis Runes was even greater than Zhou Yuan, hence she had very quickly worked out a solution. ¡°So that¡¯s how¡­¡± With this pointer from Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan immediately understood. He grinned as he turned to Su Youwei and said, ¡°It is not impossible to deal with the Blood Boiling Rune. Give me your hand.¡± Su Youwei was a little confused but she still reached out a hand as instructed. He her hand was soft, supple, fair and slender, while her nails were akin to little shells, neat and cute. Without much thought, Zhou Yuan also reached out and grabbed Su Youwei¡¯s small hand. Upon seeing his actions, Su Youwei was a little alarmed as her face flushed red. However, before she could say anything, Zhou Yuan retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush from his waist and swiftly started to draw on her palm with a serious expression. He was done pretty soon and continued to hold Su Youwei¡¯s hand as he said in a low voice, ¡°This is a Clear Heart Rune. Although it is only an elementary level rune, it will be very useful in this situation.¡± ¡°Clear Mind Rune?¡± Su Youwei was somewhat surprised. She naturally knew of this elementary rune but did not understand how it would be of use against the Blood Boiling Rune Zhou Yuan smiled and said in a mysterious manner, ¡°When they activate the Blood Boiling Rune later, use this hand to attack the top of their head.¡± Although she was still somewhat puzzled, Su Youwei obediently nodded. Her clear-water-like eyes subsequently looked towards Zhou Yuan as she said with a red face, ¡°Are still not going to let go?¡± Only then did Zhou Yuan realise that he was still holding a small, soft hand and immediately released his grip. Soon after, he said without a change in expression, ¡°I was talking about important matters and did not intend to take advantage.¡± Su Youwei softly snorted. ¡°You¡¯ve become accustomed to it anyways.¡± Zhou Yuan felt somewhat embarrassed. Just as he was about to try and explain, he saw Yang Zai and Song Qiushui walk over with shame on their faces. ¡°Sorry. We lost.¡± The two hung their heads in dejection. Zhou Yuan had won two hours of Jade Spirit Waterfall training time for them, but they had still lost in the class ranking exam, making them feel that they had let him down. Zhou Yuan did not seem to mind as he smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t mind it, it was not your skills that were lacking but our opponents¡¯ tactics that were far too devious.¡± He lifted his head and looked at the class leader platform, only to see Qi Yue look back with a superficial smile. From the curve of his lips, it was as if victory was already assured. ¡°Already so happy huh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze as an icy smile emerged on his face. At this current moment, countless gazes from the field were looking towards the A class. Evidently, the A class¡¯ two consecutive losses had led many believe that they would once again be suppressed by the B class. Several factions were also mumbling to themselves, ¡°Looks like the Great Zhou Institute is really going to fall into Qi Manor¡¯s hands.¡± Su Youwei stood up under the attention of these gazes. She was wearing black training attire today, consisting of a black shirt and black pants. The clothes outlined her slender figure and the rise and fall of her ample bosom, while the waistband around her waist further enunciated an unreasonable tiny waist. A ponytail hung over her back, emitting a youthful vibe. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± Su Youwei smiled at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Go for it.¡± Zhou Yuan responded with a nod and smile. Su Youwei looked at Zhou Yuan. As the rays of the sun shined down on her, it seemed as if she had the attention of the entire world. She gave him a slight smile that was both bright and enchanting and in a voice only the two of them could hear, she said, ¡°Your highness, when you kicked open a set of doors for me back then, I told myself that I would do my best to become very strong. I will make sure that all hindrances will not be able to touch you.¡± When her final word faded, the young girl had already agilely flew forth with a light push off the ground. She landed on the tall stage as a clear voice sounded, ¡°A class¡¯ Su Youwei challenges B class¡¯ Cao Ling.¡± This clear and pleasant voice drew the attention of countless gazes. When they saw the valiant and elegant girl on the stage, they could not help inwardly cheer. The jealousy in Liu Xi¡¯s eyes multiplied as she watched Su Youwei draw more and more attention. ¡°Cao Ling, go teach her a lesson!¡± Cao Ling soundlessly stood up and ascended the stage. ¡°Begin!¡± As the referee signalled the start of the match, the Genesis Qi around Cao Ling¡¯s body immediately erupted. Six meridian channels were instantly opened as Genesis Qi surged into his limbs. His body shot forth like a panther as deadly fist-winds ripped through the air, turning into countless punches that seemed to envelope Su Youwei. In response to Cao Ling¡¯s flurry of attacks, Su Youwei gracefully shifted like a wisp of smoke. Each time an attack was about to land, she would borrow the incoming force to cleverly avoid, causing Cao Ling¡¯s attacks to be unable to connect. Thus, Cao Ling frantically attacked on the stone stage while Su Youwei effortlessly dodged in a manner that was neither hurried nor slow. As time passed, red light surfaced in Cao Ling¡¯s eyes once again, while the Genesis Qi in his body gradually turned violent as his blood boiled. ¡°Get lost!¡± With a stamp, Cao Ling¡¯s figure bulleted forward, appearing in front of Su Youwei as a palm was swung horizontally in a ferocious and imposing manner. However, just as his palm-wind whizzed forth, Su Youwei style did a 180, now advancing instead of retreating. A fair hand gently landed on Cao Ling¡¯s head as the Genesis Rune on her palm emitted a faint glow. A refreshing aura tunnelled into Cao Ling¡¯s head, causing the boiling blood within his body to suddenly turn peaceful. This sudden change also made the berserking Genesis Qi fade and the contrast caused the Genesis Qi in Cao Ling¡¯s body to fall into chaos. Swish! Su Youwei decisively attacked. Two fingers suffused with jade light ripped through the air and swiftly hit Cao Ling¡¯s chest. Urgh! Cao Ling¡¯s figure jerked as a mouthful of fresh blood was vomited from his mouth before crashing to the ground on his back. *Uproar*! The entire field erupted. No one had expected the previously unstoppable Cao Ling to be so easily defeated at Su Youwei¡¯s hands. Under countless gazes of shock, Su Youwei¡¯s pretty face remained as calm as water. She merely looked towards the class leader platform as a flat voice followed. ¡°Next.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 49 Battling Liu Xi ¡°Next.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s clear, flat voice sounded from the stone stage, causing numerous cheers to erupt. After all, Su Youwei¡¯s victory was simply beautiful. Cao Ling¡¯s attacks had seemed fierce but he had ultimately been led around by the nose all along. Numerous A class students burst into cheers, shouting out praise and encouragement for Su Youwei while Chu Tianyang¡¯s tense expression seemed to loosen slightly as he nodded. Thankfully, the hopes and expectations he had placed in her had not been for naught. Qi Yue frowned as he listened to the deafening cheers from the field, while Liu Xi angrily clenched her jaw. The one thing she could not bear was to see Su Youwei become the focus of everyone¡¯s attention. Liu Xi icily said, ¡°Fan Wu.¡± Fan Wu nodded and his figure leapt onto the stone stage. Fan Wu cupped his fist towards Su Youwei and said, ¡°Please give me some pointers.¡± The judge loudly shouted, ¡°Begin!¡± Bang! Like the previous match, Fan Wu was the first to make a move. Power surged in his legs, shattering rock as his figure ferociously pounced at Su Youwei. His hand took the form of a claw as it viciously slashed at her, ¡°Ripping Tiger Claw!¡± Ch ch! Ear-piercing noises vibrated from the air as his claw-hand slashed downwards. However, no matter how fierce his attacks were, they were unable to even graze Su Youwei¡¯s figure. Her figure drifted like a wisp of smoke, every punch hitting nothing but air. ¡°High grade Genesis technique, Drifting Smoke.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed as he softly praised. This auxiliary Genesis technique was one of the hardest to learn in the Great Zhou Institute. Who could have imagined it would be mastered by Su Youwei. Drifting Smoke may not be as profound as his Dragon Step, but it did have its own unique characteristic. Its concept was based on borrowing external force to move, the fiercer the opponent¡¯s the attacks, the lesser the chance of landing a blow. ¡°Fan Wu¡¯s defeat is unavoidable.¡± As Zhou Yuan made this judgement, like Cao Ling from before, the blood in Fan Wu¡¯s body began to boil due to the intensifying fight. Redness surged in his eyes and his Genesis Qi gradually grew violent. Su Youwei¡¯s eyes flashed as her figure made a sudden turn and shot straight at Fan Wu. Upon seeing this, Fan Wu bellowed and threw a fist, blasting away the air in front of him as ferocious power pounced at Su Youwei. However, a split second before impact, Su Youwei ingeniously gave a light tap to the incoming blow with her foot and her body flew above Fan Wu. At the same time, a palm was sent downwards, striking the top of Fan Wu¡¯s head. Yet another strand of refreshing energy poured into Fan Wu¡¯s body, calming the boiling blood within. Genesis Qi immediately started to throb and without any further action from Su Youwei, Fan Wu¡¯s fell on his back with a groan, fresh blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. This scene undoubtedly gave rise to cheers that seemingly filled the sky. Liu Xi gnashed her teeth together so hard that cracking sounds could be heard, while fire practically spouted from her eyes. Qi Yue¡¯s eyes also darkened slightly as he said, ¡°She has discovered the Boiling Blood Rune and found a way to counter it.¡± Although Qi Yue did not know why, he could sense that Su Youwei had purposely waited for Cao Ling¡¯s and Fan Wu¡¯s blood to boil before she made her move. ¡°Su Youwei is indeed a problem.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s brows were tightly knitted together. The two matches they had painstakingly won had been single handedly reduced back to zero by Su Youwei, thwarting his original plan to tire out Zhou Yuan to ensure that nothing would go wrong. Su Youwei gracefully stood on the stone stage. She calmed the Genesis Qi in her body before a pair of cold eyes turned towards Liu Xi as an emotionless voice rang out, ¡°A class¡¯ Su Youwei challenges B class¡¯ Liu Xi.¡± These words immediately caused countless tongue to click. To think that Su Youwei actually planned on fighting three consecutive battles. ¡°Hehe. good, good. This lowly wench actually dares to challenge me. Truly a fool who does not know her limits!¡± Liu Xi was so angered that she burst out into laughter before giving Su Youwei a vicious glare. Liu Xi flew onto the stone platform, her icy gaze fixed onto So Youwei as she said, ¡°Since you are asking for trouble, I will gladly accommodate!¡± Su Youwei replied in a cold voice, ¡°It¡¯s too early to decide exactly who is the one asking for trouble.¡± ¡°Do you really believe that you have the qualifications to challenge me after beating those two useless pieces of trash? When I started training in the institute, who knows where you were begging for food!¡± Liu Xi continued her mocking, ¡°Do you really think that you would have the qualifications to enter the institute if Zhou Yuan had not picked you up from the dirty streets?¡± However, Su Youwei¡¯s eyes merely lowered in response to Liu Xi¡¯s harsh words as she replied in a calm voice, ¡°That is the very reason why I will help him sweep away all stumbling blocks like you guys.¡± The referee shook his head in response to the atmosphere between the two girls, wasting no more time as he waved his hand, ¡°Begin!¡± Sparks flew as the two girls¡¯ gazes met. ¡°Six channels open!¡± Genesis Qi light flowed around the two girls at practically the same time. A split second later, Liu Xi made her move. She appeared in front of Su Youwei in a flash as a hand was sent chopping downwards. Genesis Qi swirled around her finger tips, giving off a faint aura of sharpness. ¡°Wind Chopper Palm!¡± Ch ch! Even the air itself was split apart by this chop. Liu Xi showed no mercy, using a high grade Genesis technique the moment she attacked. Its astonishing power could cleanly slice even a rock into half. As the daughter of Liu Hou, Liu Xi naturally received a tremendous amount of cultivation resources and the Genesis techniques she had in her arsenal were not ordinary. Upon seeing Liu Xi¡¯s formidable attack, Su Youwei¡¯s foot pushed off the ground as she once again displayed the Drifting Smoke technique and retreated like the mist. ¡°Do you think that I am the same as those two fools?¡± ¡°Wind Spirit Step!¡± A smile of disdain emerged on Liu Xi¡¯s red lips. Wild winds rose and she appeared in front of the retreating Su Youwei like a gale with a single step as a chop was once again sent hacking downwards. ¡°Jade-Breaker Finger!¡± In response to Liu Xi¡¯s dogged pursuit, two of Su Youwei¡¯s fingers fiercely thrust forward, flashing with jade light as they clashed head-on against Liu Xi¡¯s falling hand. Clang! The collision was akin to jade smashing together. The opposing Genesis Qi caused wind to sweep outwards as cracks grew on the stone ground below them. Both Su Youwei and Liu Xi were pushed back a dozen steps. However, it was clear that Liu Xi had taken the upper hand in this clash. After all, her Wind Chopper Palm was a high grade Genesis technique while the Jade-Breaker Finger was only mid grade. ¡°Let¡¯s see how many attacks you can take!¡± Liu Xi sneered as she activated Wind Spirit Step again. A gale seemed to scream as her figure headed straight for Su Youwei, while a palm suffused with deadly Genesis Qi hacked apart the air, leaving scars on the ground below. Su Youwei continuously retreated, falling into a disadvantageous position for some time. ¡°She¡¯s being suppressed by the opponent¡¯s Genesis techniques¡­¡± Zhou Yuan frowned a little as he watched. Su Youwei was truly talented, but high grade Genesis techniques were already considered top tier in the Great Zhou Institute, let alone the fact that contribution was needed in order to learn them. She naturally could not match Liu Xi who possessed numerous Genesis techniques that were handed down to her in her clan. Several of the sharper individuals were already able to see the awkward predicament Su Youwei was in, causing them to feel some pity. They could tell that the situation would likely be reversed if Su Youwei knew Genesis techniques of the same level. Ch ch! Two figures fluttered and dodged like butterflies on the stone stage, one attacking one defending. Liu Xi was elated as she watched Su Youwei being continuously suppressed by herself and sneered, ¡°Humph, so what if you¡¯re talented? In my eyes, you are merely a lowly dirt-poor wench. Challenging me is akin to seeking your own humiliation!¡± Su Youwei was silent as she continued to dodge. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel it¡¯s unfair? Laughable wench, the gap between us has long since be decided! No matter how much effort you put in, you will never be able to surpass the difference in status between us!¡± The corners of Liu Xi¡¯s lips raised to form a thin smile. ¡°If a mere high grade Genesis technique can already put you into such a miserable state¡­¡± ¡°Then what about¡­ a Black tier Genesis technique?¡± Cold light blossomed in Liu Xi¡¯s eyes. She would shatter all of Su Youwei¡¯s self confidence, affecting her future state of mind and leaving a shadow of doubt in her heart. Hence causing her future cultivation journey to be littered with obstructions. This was nothing but vicious. Liu Xi figure came to abrupt halt. One could only watch as her fingers curled while streams of Genesis Qi converged towards her hand, frantically gathering at the center of her palm, ultimately culminating into a blade of wind. The wind blade vibrated with a piercing sound as the air around it was continously blasted away. ¡°Low grade Black tier Genesis technique, Green Wind Blade!¡± Cruelness flashed across Liu Xi¡¯s eyes as she suddenly hacked at Su Youwei. The wind blade whizzed forth with a swish, slicing through the air as it shot straight towards her. The entire place exploded when they saw this, and even the referee prepared to interfere to save Su Youwei. However, not even the slightest change could be seen in Su Youwei¡¯s bright eyes as she stared at the green wind blade. Its sharp aura caused her to feel a piercing pain on her skin even from a distance away. But she still did not move to avoid it. Su Youwei¡¯s lips parted slightly as she looked at the overjoyed Liu Xi and said, ¡°It is true that I do not have many high level Genesis techniques like you. However, I do not agree with your words. The gap between us is not insurmountable as you say.¡± ¡°How can someone like you possibly imagine my efforts?¡± Su Youwei¡¯s hand slowly closed as powerful Genesis Qi suddenly erupted from within her body, causing her clothes to flutter and her hair to fly. ¡°Seventh channel open!¡± The entire field went crazy when Su Youwei¡¯s shout rang out as countless individuals cast their shocked gazes over. Not even in their wildest dreams would anyone have imagined that Su Youwei would forcibly open her seventh meridian channel in battle. Previous Chapte Chapter 50 Breathtaking ¡°Seventh channel open!¡± A clear shout resounded across the area as Genesis Qi surged towards Su Youwei. Meanwhile, a powerful aura exploded from within her body. Su Youwei¡¯s black hair seemed to dance in the wind as Genesis Qi light shuttled through her body. The light finally converged at her two fingers, making her fingertips sparkle prettily like jade while flickering with deadly power, vibrating the air around it. ¡°Jade-Breaker Finger!¡± Su Youwei gazed at the green wind blade that was shooting towards her. The green light was so sharp that it could split the ground but there was no fear on her face. Instead, she gracefully stepped forward as her two jade-like fingers powerfully stabbed at the wind blade. Clang! Two forces crashed into each other as the sound of metal striking metal rang out. However, everyone saw the green wind blade begin to tremble violently at this moment before bursting apart with a bang, transforming into specks of green light. Though Liu Xi had ultimately managed to display this low grade Black Genesis technique, she had just barely been able to pull it off. Hence, Su Youwei was able to use the abundant Genesis Qi of seven channels to forcibly disperse the former¡¯s attack. This scene caused Liu Xi¡¯s face to warp as she shrieked in disbelief, ¡°Impossible!¡± She refused to believe that her Black Genesis technique had been scattered by Su Youwei¡¯s mid grade Genesis technique. Swish! However, Su Youwei did not give Liu Xi any time to be stunned and instantly rushed towards the latter. In response, Liu Xi hastily used Wind Spirit Step to retreat. Previously, she had been able to use Wind Spirit Step to match Su Youwei¡¯s speed, but the latter was now on a whole new level after opening her seventh channel. Thus, it only took Su Youwei several breaths to close in on Liu Xi. Liu Xi¡¯s expression changed when she saw Su Youwei rapidly near with an icy face and shouted, ¡°Lowly wench, you dare to hurt me?!¡± In response to Liu Xi¡¯s question, Su Youwei¡¯s jade fingers darted forward like lightning, tearing through the air before landing on Liu Xi¡¯s shoulder. Fresh blood immediately spurted out as Liu Xi¡¯s body was sent flying with a miserable shriek. She crashed into the ground, smearing a long scar on it before coming to a stop. Su Youwei slowly walked forward and arrived at the now miserable figure of her defeated opponent. The former¡¯s face was frosty as she lowered her gaze, the iciness flickering in her eyes inducing a shiver from Liu Xi. Su Youwei stared at Liu Xi and said in an indifferent voice, ¡°It is true that I am not from a powerful clan like you, but I will use all of my talent and effort to make up for every bit of this disparity. Thus, you are not that amazing in my eyes.¡± Liu Xi tightly clenched her teeth. ¡°Besides this, there is something I¡¯ve wanted to say to you for a long time.¡± The corners of Su Youwei¡¯s tiny mouth lifted in a disdainful manner as she softly said, ¡°You once said that his highness is a toad, but I¡¯ve always wanted to tell you that compared to him, you are the true toad at the bottom of the well!¡± ¡°Because the self-important you can¡¯t even match up to a girl he picked up from the streets.¡± Liu Xi almost went crazy with anger. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that she would be called a toad and be unable to refute. Not only had she lost, her defeat at Su Youwei¡¯s hands had been really pathetic. It was really too much to bear for her and her eyes rolled, showing whites, as she fainted. The approaching referee let out a bitter laugh when he saw this before his strong voice sounded, ¡°A class, Su Youwei¡¯s victory!¡± *Uproar*! The entire field exploded and countless cries were heard as stunned gazes shot towards the valiant yet elegant girl standing on the stone stage. No one had expected that she would actually be able to reverse the situation and defeat Liu Xi who knew so many high tier Genesis techniques. Every member of the A class stood up and clapped as they cheered. The gazes that looked towards Su Youwei were filled with even more adoration than before. Such a girl! She did not have an amazing family background, but she was as tenacious as a swaying hibiscus in a storm, unafraid of the wind and rain as it fearlessly blossomed. ¡°This young lady is not bad at all.¡± On the central viewing platform, Zhou Qing could not help but praise her. He could naturally tell that Su Youwei had forcibly opened her channel earlier, an extremely risky move in a fight. However, that valour and decisiveness really made one raise one¡¯s eyebrows. He lamented as he thought how given Su Youwei¡¯s talent and character, she would have likely long become a pride of the heavens if she had been born in a good clan, making countless geniuses bow to her. The cheers that flooded the field had not ended. Su Youwei paid no attention to those cheers as her gaze swept towards Zhou Yuan, only to see the latter giving her a thumbs-up. Her lips curled slightly as a certain resolution surfaced in her eyes. Under the attention of countless gazes, she turned her head and look straight at Qi Yue as her clear voice sounded, ¡°A class¡¯ Su Youwei challenges B class¡¯ Qi Yue!¡± Silence! The cheers that filled the sky came to an abrupt halt, everyone stupefied as they watched. They clearly never imagined that Su Youwei would continue on to challenge Qi Yue! Zhou Yuan was likewise stunned by Su Youwei¡¯s action and immediately muttered under his breath, ¡°This girl is too reckless!¡± By his side, Yang Zai and Song Qiushui also looked at each other but did not know what to say. On the class leader platform, Qi Yue¡¯s expression looked rather dark. He stared at Su Youwei and stood up as he said in a flat voice, ¡°You are not my match. Excuse yourself from the stage.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll only know once we try.¡± Su Youwei did not budge, cold light emerging in her eyes as she stared at Qi Yue. Since you planned on tiring out Zhou Yuan, I will do the same to you. Even If I cannot beat you, I can exhaust some of your energy. She knew that this class ranking exam was very important to Zhou Yuan and intended to do all she could to increase their chances. Qi Yue¡¯s expression was stormy. He naturally understood Su Youwei¡¯s intentions and could not help but feel somewhat angered. The tactic that he had originally planned to use on Zhou Yuan was now being used by Su Youwei on himself. Qi Yue frostily said, ¡°Stubborn girl, you¡¯re too reckless!¡± Soon after, the tip of his foot pushed off the ground as his figure flew onto the stone stage. ¡°I will show you the true power of seven channels!¡± With a stomp, Genesis Qi poured into his body. Light swirled around him as the stone floor beneath his feet was shattered. An astonishing aura pulsed, an aura even stronger than Su Youwei¡¯s. After all, Qi Yue had opened his seventh channel quite some time ago, while Su Youwei had only just made her breakthrough. The gap between the two was naturally not small. ¡°If you can receive a single punch of mine, we¡¯ll take it as your victory!¡± Qi Yue proudly sneered. A split second later, he had already lunged forward, his five fingers tightly clenching into a fist as the Genesis Qi within his body surged like a wave, gushing through his channels and into his fist. His fist immediately lighted up as if an explosive power was contained within. ¡°Low grade Black Genesis technique, Galloping Thunder Fist!¡± A punch was thrown with an icy cry from Qi Yue. Rumbling thunder immediately emerged as a fist-shaped-seal whizzed forth, like a bolt of lightning as it ferociously blasted towards Su Youwei. Qi Yue had begun the fight with a Black tier Genesis technique, evidently planning to finish the fight in a flash and regain all of the face their B class had lost earlier. Su Youwei¡¯s pretty face turned extremely grave at this moment as all the Genesis Qi in her body began to circulate. She observed the rapidly approaching glowing Genesis fist-seal, and in the next instant, her body swiftly retreated. From the momentum of the punch, she knew that she could not receive it head-on. Hence, she immediately changed her strategy, intending to use footwork to gain a little more time. ¡°Can you escape?¡± Qi Yue merely let out a cold chuckle when he saw this. His eyes flashed and the speed of the fist-seal suddenly rose. Like a thunderbolt, it appeared in front of Su Youwei in a flash and slammed into her. Bang! The air seemed to explode at this moment while cracks grew on the stone stage. All Su Youwei could feel was an unstoppable domineering power surge at her. Her body was flung backwards, blood appearing at the corner of her mouth as she let out a groan. Sighs of pity could be heard. Qi Yue was truly the overlord of the Great Zhou Institute. Su Youwei was unable to compete even after opening her seventh channel. As Su Youwei¡¯s figure was thrown off the stage, another figure rose into the air, reaching out his arms and catching the girl before gently landing. Su Youwei gazed at the familiar face that had appeared before her eyes. She chuckled softly and said in a slightly embarrassed manner, ¡°I couldn¡¯t beat him. Looks like I tried to show off too much.¡± The one who had caught Su Youwei was naturally Zhou Yuan. Murder flashed in his eyes when he looked at the glaring red at the corner of Su Youwei¡¯s mouth as he replied in a gentle voice, ¡°You¡¯ve already done some pretty amazing things so just leave everything else to me. Don¡¯t worry, we will not lose.¡± There was no longer any strength left in Su Youwei¡¯s body, so she lay in Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms with slightly narrowed eyes like a languid cat. The valiance from before was now nowhere to be seen. Zhou Yuan landed and handed the feeble Su Youwei to Song Qiushui. Only then did he raise his head as his blade-like gaze shot towards the proudly standing Qi Yue. With a stomp of his foot, his figure soared into the air under countless watching eyes and landed on the stage like a great Peng. At the same time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s chilling voice rang out. ¡°A class¡¯ Zhou Yuan challenges B class¡¯ Qi Yue.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 51 Zhou Yuan VS Qi Yue The entire field reached its boiling point the instant Zhou Yuan stepped onto the stage. Practically every gaze converged on the stage, making it the center of attention. ¡°Isn¡¯t that prince Zhou Yuan? Wasn¡¯t it rumoured that he was unable to cultivate?¡± ¡°That¡¯s old news. Prince Zhou Yuan has already opened his channels in the newcomer exam. I¡¯ve heard that he has already reached five channels.¡± ¡°Five channels? How can he possibly compete with Qi Yue? Didn¡¯t we just see even the seven channel Su Youwei lose?¡± ¡°Looks like Qi Manor has this this class ranking exam in the bag.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Whispers filled the air. Based on their exterior strength, it was clear that the majority felt that victory was already in Qi Yue¡¯s gasp. After all, he had always been the strongest existence in the Great Zhou Institute for the past two years. On the central viewing platform, both Zhou Qing¡¯s and Qi Yuan¡¯s backs were straight, while their burning gazes were glued to the stone stage. They clearly understood that the battle between Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue would decide who the institute would ultimately belong to. Qi Yue stood with his hands behind his back on the stone stage that was now the focus of everyone¡¯s attention. His white clothes fluttered in the wind, painting a picture of dignity, as his indifferent eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Your highness has truly surprised me by coming all the way here.¡± One must know that a year ago, Zhou Yuan had merely been a crippled prince that was unable to cultivate in Qi Yue¡¯s eyes. A crippled prince that would not draw even a shred of seriousness. Yet, in a short period of half a year, it was as if Zhou Yuan had suddenly awakened, leaping from a state where he was unable to cultivate to five open channels today. Such progress secretly amazed even Qi Yue. ¡°However, this is as far as you will go.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s voice was emotionless, as if Zhou Yuan¡¯s fate was already in his hands to do as he pleased. Qi Yue had tried all kinds of methods in order to cripple Zhou Yuan, but none of them had succeeded, causing him to lose his patience. This class ranking exam was his best opportunity. Zhou Qing would not be able to do anything even if Zhou Yuan was crippled here. ¡°That may not be so.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was akin to rippleless well, but killing intent surged in the depths of his eyes. Qi Yue¡¯s past actions had similarly long touched Zhou Yuan¡¯s bottom line, rousing his killing intent. Thus, he likewise intended to return everything Qi Yue had thrown at him during this class ranking exam. On the stone stage, sparks and killing intent appeared when their gazes met. Every gaze on the field had converged on the stage, and there was no longer anyone who was paying attention to any of the matches between the other classes. Everyone knew that the match between Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue would cause violent ripples in the Great Zhou Empire. ¡°Begin!¡± The silence on the stage was abruptly broken by the sudden shout of the referee. Qi Yue was the first to move. Power poured into his legs as he stomped on the ground, his body transforming into a black blur as it rushed towards Zhou Yuan. Boom! A punch was thrown, fist-winds blasting apart the air like a sonic boom. The punch rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as his feet suddenly slanted at an angle, causing his figure to blur momentarily. It was the activation of Dragon Step. The incoming punch only hit empty air, causing a tiny glimmer to appear in Qi Yue¡¯s eyes. He was long aware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s miraculous auxiliary Genesis technique that would turn his figure blurry and enable him to avoid numerous attacks. Qi Yue¡¯s fist immediately transformed into a palm, Genesis Qi surging as it swept out like a blade, ripping through the air. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers clenched into a fist as a punch containing similar power collided against the palm-blade that was slashing at this throat. Bang! Fist met palm as the air exploded. Ripples that could be seen with the naked eye pulsed outwards, blowing up the dust on the ground. Bang bang bang! In the next instant, Zhou Yuan and Qi Yue simultaneously let loose a flurry of attacks. Punches seemed to be followed by after-images as they ferociously rained upon the opponent like a storm. In a short span of a dozen breaths, the two had clashed over a dozen times, making the onlookers a little giddy. Dong! After yet another head-on clash, Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Qi Yue¡¯s bodies jerked backwards, their feet sliding over a dozen steps on the ground before stopping. A faint disturbance could be observed in the crowd, while the eyes of numerous onlookers held some surprise. They had discovered that the merely five channel Zhou Yuan had not fallen into much of a disadvantageous position in the violent clash. Originally, they had believed that Zhou Yuan would be completely suppressed by Qi Yue. Zhou Yuan massaged his fist as he remarked, ¡°Seven channels is indeed formidable, much harder to deal with than those wild beasts.¡± He had killed several beasts comparable to human seven channel experts, but none of them were as tough as Qi Yue. Qi Yue had a somewhat grim look in his eyes. Although he had long known about Zhou Yuan¡¯s unusually strong body, it was only after experiencing it first hand did he truly realise exactly how powerful it was. One must know that he had the strength of seven channels and the quality of his body had risen time and time again. Yet, he could do nothing against a mere five channel Zhou Yuan, a fact that made him rather sullen indeed. ¡°Seven channels open!¡± Following a roar from Qi Yue, Genesis Qi whizzed over and poured into his body. Light immediately emerged on the surface of his body as an astonishing aura exploded. Crack! The stone floor under Qi Yue¡¯s feet steathily shattered, an indication of just how much power was gathered in Qi Yue¡¯s body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as his expression became a little more serious. As the saying went, a lion should use all its power even to catch a rabbit. Let alone the fact that this Qi Yue was no harmless rabbit. ¡°Five channels open!¡± Genesis Qi also surge into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as power flowed in his limbs. Swish! Qi Yue¡¯s body moved. His speed was several times faster now that he had opened seven channels. In a flash, he had already appeared behind Zhou Yuan. ¡°Galloping Thunder Fist!¡± Qi Yue did not hold anything back, his gaze icy as a Black tier Genesis technique was released. The air immediately exploded as cracks grew inch by inch from under his feet, a rather spectacular sight indeed. This punch was even stronger than the one used against Su Youwei previously. ¡°Dragon Tablet Hand, shatter the mountain!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand swept out in a horizontal arc, incomparably heavy as if he was carrying a mountain. The overwhelming force slammed into the incoming punch from behind. Dong! Shockwaves swept out from under the two¡¯s feet, ripping apart the solid ground below. ¡°You blocked it?! Try blocking again then!¡± Ferociousness flashed in Qi Yue¡¯s eyes as he pounced like a cheetah. Fist, leg, elbow. Each had turned into deadly weapons, blasting apart the air as they maniacally rained down on Zhou Yuan¡¯s vital spots. Qi Yue had already pushed his power to its limits. He needed to obtain dominance and destroy Zhou Yuan¡¯s confidence. The sight of such a torrential flurry of attacks made the scalps of countless onlookers turn numb. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly in response to Qi Yue¡¯s berserk offensive. It was as if his entire view had been filled to the brim with his opponent¡¯s attacks and even using Dragon Step would not allow him to avoid them. Although Zhou Yuan was alarmed, he did not panic. His Spirit flickered between his brows as his senses stretched forth, causing the attacks that flooded his vision to instantly change appearance. With his Spirit senses, the trajectories of every single one of Qi Yue¡¯s attacks were now extremely clear in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Thus, he boldly made his move. Genesis Qi rapidly swirled on his fists and legs. His counter-attack was not as chaotic as Qi Yue¡¯s and instead appeared rather slow, but it was these seemingly slow attacks that were accurately able to land on the weakest points of Qi Yue¡¯s flood of attacks. All it took was a gently tap to dispel all of the latter¡¯s ferocious power. Like how a long enough lever would be able to lift the earth. Qi Yue¡¯s expression grew increasingly ugly. He could feel that his ferocious attacks were ultimately unable to break Zhou Yuan¡¯s defence. The latter¡¯s seemingly slow counter-attacks were able to accurately disperse his power. Dong! Another heavy punch was thrown by Zhou Yuan, landing on Qi Yue¡¯s elbow. The powerful force jerked Qi Yue¡¯s entire arm, causing his body to freeze momentarily. ¡°An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Eat this!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed as his fist suddenly turned into a palm. The Genesis Qi in his body surged out, flowing along his channels before pouring into his palm, causing the surrounding air to vibrate. An astonishing aura rippled from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. ¡°Dragon Tablet Hand, split the earth!¡± In accompaniment to his shout, Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm swung out horizontally. Dazzling Genesis light emerged at the center of his palm, boiling even the air itself as it flew past. This strike was directly aimed at Qi Yue. Qi Yue¡¯s expression abruptly changed at this moment. It was clear that he had sensed the shocking power within this counter-attack from Zhou Yuan. The former immediately crossed his arms before him as Genesis Qi light flowed on them. ¡°High grade Genesis technique, Metal Arm!¡± Dong! Zhou Yuan paid not heed to Qi Yue¡¯s actions as his ferocious without equal attack slammed into Qi Yue¡¯s arms. A loud boom was heard as an overwhelming force erupted. Dong dong dong! Qi Yue¡¯s arms shook violently due to the heavy blow, his feet leaving many footprints on the stone ground as he miserably shot backwards in retreat. An uproar shook the entire field, every wave stronger for each step Qi Yue took backwards. Bang! Qi Yue was finally able to forcibly stabilized his body. As he listened to the noise from the crowd, his face turned so stormy that it was as if rain was going to fall from it at any moment. Fury flooded his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan while a shout brimming with murder rang out from between the crevices of his teeth. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are courting death!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 52 True Power ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are courting death!¡± A howl of rage emerged from Qi Yue¡¯s mouth as chilling killing intent exploded from his body. Veins crawled up in his eyes, making him appear exceptionally sinister. He had originally believed that it would be an easy fight for him. After all, his seven channel strength was enough to crush any student of the institute. Yet, who could have that he would not only be unable to achieve a clean victory against a mere five channel Zhou Yuan, but to even be pushed this far. To Qi Yue, this outcome was undoubtedly akin to losing all face. ¡°Exactly who is courting death has not been decided!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was calm, but murder also blossomed in his eyes. Qi Yue¡¯s bloodshot eyes glared at Zhou Yuan. A brief moment later, the twisted expression on his face slowly disappeared, replaced by calmness. However, his voice grew increasingly eerie as he said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I have to admit that you coming this far has already surpassed my expectations.¡± ¡°However, do you believe that this will be enough to beat me?¡± Upon seeing Qi Yue¡¯s eerie expression, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as his expression became a little more serious. He knew that Qi Yue had definitely made certain preparations for this class ranking exam. Qi Yue deeply breathed in as a ruthless look flitted across his eyes. In the next instant, his body violently shook as a howl rang out. ¡°Channel Breaker Art!¡± Buzz! One could only watch as Genesis Qi suddenly surged over from the surroundings and poured into Qi Yue¡¯s body. Everyone quickly sensed Qi Yue¡¯s aura begin to climb. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression finally changed at this moment as he slowly said, ¡°To think that you would use the Channel Breaker Art. That¡¯s some real determination indeed.¡± This Channel Breaker Art was a type of Gensis technique that could temporarily force open another meridian channel. Since Qi Yue was already a seven channel practitioner, breaking open one more channel would allow him to reach the eight channel state. However, the technique would harm one¡¯s body and greatly prolong the time it subsequently took to open the eighth channel. Genesis Qi light swirled around Qi Yue¡¯s body as his clothes flapped. His five fingers clenched into a fist, releasing cracking noises as he felt the overwhelming power in his body. ¡°For the sake of obtaining the Great Zhou Institute, this small price is really nothing.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s tone was apathetic as he continued, ¡°Moreover, Qi Manor has already prepared mystical treasures to aid in my quick recovery.¡± ¡°However, before that, I feel that you will be the one who is going to pay!¡± Bang! His body shot forward the moment the final word left his mouth. ¡°Such speed!¡± Zhou Yuan was a little startled. Qi Yue¡¯s strength has risen to a whole new level after forcibly opening his eighth channel. ¡°Dragon Step!¡± Zhou Yuan wasted no time as his body stepped out at an angle. Boom. A fist surrounded by swirling Genesis Qi light viciously thrust towards him from behind, brushing past his chest. However, the moment the attack missed, Qi Yue¡¯s fist suddenly transformed into a palm and slapped downwards. Genesis Qi blasted apart the air, the powerful force caused pockets of air to explode, hitting Zhou Yuan in the chest. Thud thud! Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure rapidly retreated as he felt waves of pain from his chest. Although he had only been hit by the explosion of air from Qi Yue¡¯s previous blow, it had been more than enough to cause damage. It was clear that Qi Yue had grown even more powerful after forcing open his eighth channel. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can continue to dodge!¡± Cold light was revealed in Qi Yue¡¯s eyes as his figure shot forth once again. A flurry of swift attacks enveloped Zhou Yuan in waves. In response to the now extremely formidable Qi Yue, Zhou Yuan could only retreat, retreat and retreat. Zhou Yuan instantly fell into a disadvantageous position. On the field, countless cries were heard due to the sudden change in the situation. Anyone could tell that Qi Yue had gained complete dominance in the fight. If Zhou Yuan did not have anything else up his sleeve, the pace of the match would fall into Qi Yue¡¯s control. On the A class side, graveness and worry filled the face of every student. Su Youwei¡¯s hands were tightly clenched, while her pretty face was somewhat anxious. The current Qi Yue was really too powerful. On the tall viewing platform, Zhou Qing¡¯s expression was also grim. In contrast, a pleased smile emerged on Qi Yuan¡¯s face. Rumble! Two figures continued their chase across the stone stage. Qi Yue¡¯s attacks were relentless, wave after wave of deadliness forcing Zhou Yuan to continuously duck and dodge. However, under Qi Yue¡¯s pressure, the amount of space Zhou Yuan had to dodge grew tinier and tinier. Until a certain point in time when his foot arrived at the edge of the stone stage. It was then that Qi Yue¡¯s face filled with a twisted smile as fist-wind suddenly slashed downwards, causing cracks to grow on the ground below. This palm strike was enough to sweep Zhou Yuan off the stage and decide the victor. Hence, cries of alarm rose and fell across the field. ¡°Time for you to get off the stage. Did you really believe that you could change anything?!¡± Qi Yue¡¯s evil chuckle rang out at this moment. Palm-winds struck Zhou Yuan in the face as he suddenly lifted his head. Not even a single trace of panic could be seen, instead, there was only a chillingly icy smile. ¡°I¡¯ve said it before. Losing yourself to joy is not good at all!¡± Boom! A strange sound suddenly emerged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as the surrounding Genesis Qi flooded towards him, causing his Genesis Qi undulations to soar. Zhou Yuan¡¯s change naturally drew the attention of countless people as shouts filled with disbelief sounded one after another, ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan has also unblocked his sixth meridian channel?!¡± ¡°Did he also use the Channel Breaker Art?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the Channel Breaker Art. The Genesis Qi in prince Zhou Yuan¡¯s body is still as vigorous as before and shows no signs of disorder, a sigh of practiced control. Thus, it cannot be the Channel Breaker Art.¡± ¡°This can only be achieved if he has truly unblocked his sixth meridian channel.¡± ¡°Which is to say that prince Zhou Yuan¡¯s sixth channel has been unblocked long ago and he was concealing his strength!¡± ¡°Such cunning. To think that he purposely acted weak to give Qi Yue the impression that victory was in his grasp, giving rise to carelessness!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Countless voices could be heard. Everyone was shocked by Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden explosion of power. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± Qi Yue¡¯s pupils also shrank at this moment. He had originally believed that he had forced Zhou Yuan to the end of the rope. Who could have expected the latter to suddenly bare his fangs a split second later? ¡°Do you really believe that I only unblocked my fifth channel after two months of training in the Black Forest Mountain Range?!¡± Zhou Yuan let out a chilling chuckle. He had spent all day and all night fighting Genesis Beasts in the Black Forest Mountain Range, plus he had Yaoyao help him inscribe the Thirty Six Beast Channel Opening Rune. It could be said that he had underwent every kind of suffering. Therefore, it was only natural that he had unblocked his sixth meridian channel five days before leaving the mountains. However, he had concealed this fact all along and only showed the strength of five channels. ¡°Dragon Tablet Hand, split the earth!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s counter-attack was exceptionally swift and ferocious. His palm swept out horizontally, Genesis Qi surging along as the air continuously exploded in its wake. Its momentum was practically unstoppable. Zhou Yuan¡¯s counter-attack made all the airs on Qi Yue¡¯s body stand as a feeling of danger washed over him. He had no time to think and could only desperately squeeze out as much Genesis Qi as he could. ¡°Galloping Thunder Fist!¡± In his haste, Qi Yue threw a punch which smashed intoZhou Yuan¡¯s palm a split second later. Bang! A muffled sound echoed. The stone floor beneath both their feet cracked even further as a shockwave unfurled, sweeping up the shattered stone. As pieces of the floor danced in the air, everyone saw Qi Yue¡¯s body jerk back as it was sent sliding backwards on the ground. When he finally came to a stop, a groan was released as blood emerged from the corner of his mouth. In contrast, Zhou Yuan had only been pushed half a step back due to his fierce counter-attack. *Uproar*! The entire field exploded once again as countless people secretly cheered. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tactic of displaying weakness to the opponent had undoubtedly achieved pretty good results. ¡°Pretty good and shrewd battle senses.¡± Several of the sharper individuals present nodded to themselves. Although Qi Yue might seem stronger on paper, he was lacking in battle sense when compared to Zhou Yuan. Moreover, Zhou Yuan¡¯s fierce attacks were akin to those of a seasoned fighter. Each explosion of power was sure to be effective. On the stone stage, Qi Yue slowly wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth as his face faintly twitched. In the end, he breathed in deeply, firmly suppressing the violent rage that was about to overwhelm his rationality. Qi Yue frostily remarked, ¡°I never imagined that you had already opened your sixth meridian channel!¡± Zhou Yuan replied with a faint smile, ¡°Well, I¡¯ve got to keep something up my sleeve, no?¡± If he used all of his trump cards from the beginning, he would not have been able to catch Qi Yue off guard. At the very least, Qi Yue had now been injured due to his carelessness. A pair of cold and dark eyes stared at Zhou Yuan as Qi Yue slowly replied, ¡°Indeed. You have taught me a valuable lesson.¡± He closed his eyes and nodded as he continued in a detached voice, ¡°That is why in order to thank you, I will use my greatest power to defeat you. I will rip apart every single one of the trump cards you are so proud of and allow you to have a taste of true despair.¡± As his voice faded, Qi Yue slowly lifted his hand, allowing everyone to see the faint green glow that had emerged on it. Light fluctuated indeterminately as it gave off an aura of sharpness that changed one¡¯s expression. Even the air itself was being ripped to shreds by the green aura. The expression of some of the more knowledgeable experts present changed as voices of shock rang out, ¡°That is¡­ one of Qi Manor¡¯s top tier Genesis techniques, the Auraflare technique?!¡± ¡°Qi Yue has mastered the Auraflare technique?!¡± ¡°Not good, things are going to get dangerous for prince Zhou Yuan. Although the Auraflare technique is said to be a low grade Black tier Genesis technique, its power surpasses several mid grade Black tier Genesis techniques!¡± ¡°With this technique, Qi Yue is practically invincible amongst those below the Qi Nourishing stage!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 53 I Know This Too Green light pulsed on Qi Yue¡¯s hand, never stretching beyond half a finger in length. As the green light throbbed, even the air itself was sliced apart with ¡®ch¡¯ sounds, making clear its astonishing destructive power. Only a single glance was needed for everyone to realise the identity of the green aura. It was one of the most powerful techniques of Qi Manor, the Auraflare technique. The insanely terrifying power of this technique made it such that ordinary practitioners would not dare to engage it in a direct clash. Hence, there were very few experts under the Qi Nourishing stage who could face Qi Yue while he was using this technique with eight open channels. Hence, the situation was reversed once again. Qi Yue¡¯s entire body brimmed with killing intent as he stared and Zhou Yuan and said in a chillingly eerie voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ll admit that you are indeed very capable. I would never have imagined that a cripple from half a year ago would become such a huge threat to me!¡± ¡°The great threat that you pose has made me feel that it would be better to cripple you once more!¡± Qi Yue revealed a set of spookily white teeth as he smiled sinisterly. Surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he stared at the throbbing green aura on Qi Yue¡¯s palm. The former had clearly not expected Qi Yue to have learnt the Auraflare technique. However, Qi Yue¡¯s green aura was extremely faint and seemed rather unstable. It was evident that he had just barely managed to bring out this technique. Even so, the power of the green aura far surpassed the low grade Black tier Galloping Thunder Fist from earlier. ¡°It just so happens that you and I have opposite views.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was indifferent as he looked at Qi Yue¡¯s twisted face that oozed with killing intent. ¡°Because I have never seen you as a threat from the very beginning. In my eyes, you are merely a small pebble in my path of cultivation.¡± Qi Yue¡¯s pupils shrank, his seething rage ultimately releasing itself in the form of laughter. To have a once crippled prince see him as a tiny pebble in the latter¡¯s path made him feel humiliation he had never experienced before. ¡°I truly hope that you will still be able say these words when you are kneeling at my feet later!¡± Qi Yue¡¯s killing intent had reached its peak. His presence raged like a tiger as the green aura pulsed on his palm. He could not longer restrain the killing intent in his heart. His foot stomped on the ground, shattering the stone floor, as his figure swiftly shot towards Zhou Yuan amidst countless cries of alarm. Qi Yue¡¯s palm sliced through the air. The faint green glow around it emitting extremely deadly pulses. Zhou Yuan remained where he stood. In the onlookers¡¯ eyes, it seemed as if he had been frightened silly by Qi Yue¡¯s ferocity. On the A class side, Su Youwei¡¯s face paled a little. She was almost about to lose control and dash towards the stage, but firmly suppressed this desire with her rationality. By the side, Chu Tianyang¡¯s fists were tightly clenched, a tense expression on his face as he unblinkingly stared at the stage. On the central viewing platform, Zhou Qing¡¯s body leaned forward as faint traces of Genesis Qi surged around him. It was obvious that he planned to step in at the final moment to ensure that nothing happened to Zhou Yuan. Below him, Qi Yuan smiled faintly, as if victory was already in his grasp. Under countless gazes of pity, Zhou Yuan stared at Qi Yue as he murmured, ¡°Is the Auraflare technique really that great?¡± He stepped forward, his body suddenly jerking and his back rising as he opened his mouth, ¡°Dragon Breath!¡± Roar! The roar of a dragon echoed faintly as the surrounding Genesis Qi transformed into a stream of white that was swallowed by Zhou Yuan with a single gulp. As he grew more and more proficient with the ninety eight forms of the frolicking dragon, Zhou Yuan now no longer needed to perform all the stances and could vibrate his bones to activate Dragon Breath. The mouthful of rich Genesis Qi that entered his body immediately started to spin at high speeds in his channels as it was compressed. Zhou Yuan raised his head, gazed at Qi Yue¡¯s increasingly distorted face and slowly extended his hand. Disbelief flooded everyone¡¯s eyes as they watched a green glow emerge from Zhou Yuans palm, a green glow that pulsed as it shredded the air. The green glow was exactly the same hue as the one on Qi Yue¡¯s hand, only a little deeper. Most importantly, Zhou Yuan¡¯s green glow was a whole inch long, while Qi Yue¡¯s was less than half a finger long. Countless cries erupted throughout the entire field. ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan is also¡­ using the Auraflare technique?!¡± ¡°How is that possible? Isn¡¯t the technique exclusive to Qi Manor? How could prince Zhou Yuan have learnt it?!¡± ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan¡¯s aura is deeper and longer! His mastery is clearly even greater than Qi Yue¡¯s!¡± ¡°How is this possible¡­¡± Cries of alarm and surprise rose and fell. Everyone was shocked by the scene before their eyes. The eyes of the rapidly approaching Qi Yue also widened at this moment as he stared at the throbbing green light on Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth lifted when he saw Qi Yue¡¯s appearance as he mockingly said, ¡°Sorry but I also know the Auraflare technique!¡± When the final word left his mouth, Zhou Yuan abruptly stepped forward as his hand ruthlessly chopped at the incoming Qi Yue like a green blade. Ch ch! As the palm descended, the air was split apart and cracks emerged on the ground below. Under the attention of countless gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Qi Yue¡¯s palms slammed into each other as the two green lights emitting deadly auras clashed. Ch! A very faint sound seemed to echo. Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Qi Yue¡¯s figures crossed each other, both taking several steps forward before slowly coming to a stop. Their backs faced each other as the green aura on their hands continued to flicker. The entire field had become extremely quiet and every gaze was glued to the two participants. They knew that the outcome of this battle of the titans was about to appear. ¡°How is this possible¡­¡± A low voice broke the silence. Everyone watched as Qi Yue mumbled, ¡°Why do you know the Auraflare technique? And why is it so powerful?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that it¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was emotionless. Qi Yue¡¯s pupils shrank as if something suddenly clicked in his head and his face immediately twisted. ¡°So¡­ Luo Hao died at your hands!¡± No wonder they could not find any traces of Luo Hao no matter how they searched. It turns out that he had long been killed by Zhou Yuan. Moreover, the Auraflare technique had fallen into his hands and had even been secretly learnt by him. Zhou Yuan ignored Qi Yue. With a light swing of the former¡¯s sleeve, a blade of wind whizzed forth. The wind blade swept past and countless onlookers on the field gasped as they watched Qi Yue¡¯s entire arm slowly fall off, fresh blood spurting out as it dropped onto the ground. The place of the cut was as glossy as a mirror. ARRGH! It was at this very moment that a Qi Yue¡¯s miserable shriek rang out. The entire field was dead silent, everyone blankly staring at the miserably shrieking Qi Yue. They knew the outcome of the match had been decided at this very moment. However, this outcome had clearly exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations. No one could have imagined that the very same Qi Yue, who had practically reigned supreme over the Great Zhou Institute for the past two years, would lose in such a miserable manner at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands today. Gaze after gaze was tinged with amazement as they turned towards the stage where Zhou Yuan stood with his hands hanging at his side. They never imagined that the crippled prince, whom was rumoured to be unable to begin his channel opening cultivation, would unknowingly begin to reveal his potential. The Great Zhou royal clan was perhaps not as in the decline as they had thought. On the tall viewing platform, Zhou Qing and Qi Yuan were similarly shaken by the outcome of the match. However, Zhou Qing was pleasantly surprised, while Qi Yuan¡¯s face was green with anger. When he saw Zhou Yuan cut off Qi Yue¡¯s arm, he could not longer control the rage in his heart and suddenly stood up as he howled, ¡°Child, how vicious!¡± Boom! A pillar of golden Qi dashed out from the top of his head, transforming into a giant golden hand that grabbed at Zhou Yuan. If this palm landed, it would crush the entire stone stage. Grade 4 Genesis Qi, Primal Gold Qi! However, as the giant gold hand descended, a similarly powerful red Qi also dashed into the sky, transforming into a giant scarlet hand that mercilessly smashed into the gold hand. Grade 4 Genesis Qi, Flame-Thunder Qi! An earth shaking noise reverberated across the area as the land shook and terrifying gales swept outwards, filling the sky with dust. At the same time, Zhou Qing¡¯s rage filled voice thundered, ¡°Qi Yuan, are you planning on rebelling?!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 54 Triumph Rumble! The clash of two Alpha-Origin stage experts could be said to shake the mountains. The entire field began to tremble violently at this moment, the spreading aftershocks making countless people feel as if they were unable to breath. When Zhou Qing¡¯s furious shout rang out, a large group of imperial guards flooded out from behind the field. But at the same time, numerous figures reached for their weapons in the field as they gathered towards king Qi. Both factions were on high alert. The suddenly suffocating atmosphere did nothing for the various factions that were secretly in shock. Was the royal clan and Qi Manor really going to war today? Both parties were clearly unprepared. If they were to start a war now, Great Zhou would definitely descend into internal chaos, chaos which would in turn allow a third party the opportunity to reap the benefits. Zhou Qing¡¯s expression was frosty as vigorous scarlet red Flame-Thunder Qi continuously shot out from the top of his head. An astonishing aura accompanied the faint rumble of thunder as the Qi stormed in the sky above. His eyes were ice-cold as he stared at Qi Yuan. Any movement from the latter would definitely provoke a response. Qi Yuan¡¯s face twitched faintly under Zhou Qing¡¯s hawk-like gaze. Although there was anger and murder surging in the former¡¯s eyes, he was after all no ordinary individual. He knew that both sides would suffer terrible losses if they were to clash here, allowing a third party to take advantage. Hence, with a deep breath, the vigorous Genesis Qi that had poured out from his head was sucked back into his body. A smile was revealed on his stormy face as he cupped his fists together towards Zhou Qing and said, ¡°Your majesty, please quell your anger. I was reckless due my anxiousness and hope that you can forgive me.¡± As he spoke, he looked towards Zhou Yuan on the stone stage, ¡°Your highness, please do not take offense if I scared you earlier.¡± At the sight of the smile on Qi Yuan¡¯s face, Zhou Yuan could not help but think to himself, ¡°King Qi is truly a formidable person, knowing when to bow and submit. No wonder he has caused so much trouble for father.¡± Zhou Yuan was growing increasingly wary of Qi Yuan, but maintained a smile full of apology as he replied, ¡°I do not blame you, it is my fault for being unable to restrain myself earlier so I should be the one who apologises.¡± The corners of Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes twitched as he shot a glance at the screaming Qi Yue, who was grabbing the stump where his arm once was, but could only force a smile, ¡°Punches and kicks have no eyes and accidents are unavoidable. I can only say that Qi Yue was not as skillful.¡± Zhou Yuan seemed to breath a sigh of relief as he happily said, ¡°Nothing is better than king Qi¡¯s understanding.¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Qi Yuan chuckled. There was a twinkle in his eye as he continued, ¡°Is the technique previously used by your highness our Qi Manor¡¯s Auraflare? May I inquire where your highness obtained it?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled upon hearing this. ¡°Someone tried to assassinate me some time ago while I was training in the Black Forest Mountain Range, but the attempt was ultimately foiled by myself. I found the technique on his corpse.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s what happened.¡± It was as if a flash of understanding had struck Qi Yuan. ¡°Qi Manor was burgled some time ago and it just so happens that this very same Auraflare technique was stolen. I believe that the burglar must have been the one who attacked your highness.¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s smile became gentle as he continued, ¡°I should really thank your highness. If not for you, Qi Manor would have truly lost the Auraflare technique.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly. King Qi was such a wily old fox, but did he really believe that the Auraflare technique would be returned with a few simple words? Thus, Zhou Yuan immediately let out a sigh and said, ¡°I would naturally return the technique to Qi Manor if I still had it. Unfortunately, it was ripped to pieces in a fight with a Genesis Beast so I had to throw away the remains.¡± The smile on Qi Yuan¡¯s face turned rigid as his fists involuntarily clenched tightly. Even a three year old would not believe Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. It was clear that the latter had no intentions of returning the technique. However, there was nothing Qi Yuan could do unless he wanted to fall out with the royal clan here. Zhou Qing let out an icy chuckle in his heart when he saw this and withdrew his Genesis Qi. Although he too had been greatly angered by Qi Yuan¡¯s unbridled actions, the former also knew that this was not the time to go to war with Qi Manor. As the two individuals withdrew their Qi, the tense atmosphere smothering the field gradually dissipated. Although everyone knew that the royal clan and Qi Manor were at loggerheads, the final membrane had not been broken. If it was torn apart here today, no one would be able to avoid the subsequent turmoil that would surely engulf Great Zhou. With a wave of Qi Yuan¡¯s hand, two figures flew onto the stage and assisted the still shrieking Qi Yue off. Only then did the referee return to his senses and shout, ¡°A class, Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory!¡± ¡°All the B class participants have been defeated so the A class has won their challenge! I now announce that the A class is this year¡¯s leader of the classes!¡± As the referee¡¯s voice boomed, the numerous A class students burst out into cheers, cheers accompanied by thunderous applause from the countless audience members around the field. Gaze after gaze was filled with amazement as they looked towards the thin figure of the youngster atop the stage. No one had expected the once crippled prince to reach such heights. Those that had experienced the events from over a dozen years ago sighed inwardly. To think that even the calamity back then had been unable to completely ruin his highness. This clearly showed how just how tenacious his highness was. However, when all was said and done, Zhou Yuan had after all lost the sacred dragon blessing. Hence, it was hard to determine exactly how far he would be able to go. After all, the sacred dragon blessing that once belonged to him was currently the country blessing of Great Wu. In addition, its power had also been bestowed onto the two born with the python and sparrow blessings that were born on the same day as himself. With just the power of Great Zhou, taking it back would be harder than ascending the heavens. In contrast to the celebratory atmosphere of the A class, an oppressive atmosphere covered the completely silent B class. Their class master, Xu Hong, had a steely-green face of compressed anger akin to a volcano that was on the verge of erupting. A single step was all that separated him from the position of headmaster. He should taken control of the Great Zhou Institute after today, but who could have expected such a turn of events. The originally sure-win Qi Yue had lost to Zhou Yuan! It was at this time that the unconscious Liu Xi finally awakened. However, her pretty face immediately turned deathly pale when she heard the referee¡¯s announcement. ¡°Qi Yue lost to Zhou Yuan? How can it be?!¡± She blankly stared at the stone stage, only to see Zhou Yuan standing there with his hands behind his back. His tall straight figure and his thin face gave off an aura of sharpness that no one dared to underestimate. ¡°How is it possible¡­ how could he have beaten Qi Yue! He¡¯s nothing but a crippled prince!¡± Liu Xi mumbled to herself, still unable to accept reality. The other class B students gloated a little as they watched Liu Xi. Qi Yue had been the only one to be acknowledged by this arrogant girl who acted superior to all of her other B class classmates. You once said that prince Zhou Yuan was a toad that you would never give a second glance. Yet, he has now become so outstanding, so outstanding that even Qi Yue can no longer compare. Looks like Su Youwei was right. Compared to prince Zhou Yuan, Liu Xi was the real toad. On the tall viewing platform, Qi Yuan knew that their plan had already failed. His expression was somewhat dark as he looked towards Zhou Qing and said with a faint smile, ¡°The outcome of this class ranking exam is truly unexpected. Congratulations your majesty.¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s expression was calm as he replied, ¡°It¡¯s a pity with regards to all the thought and effort king Qi has put into the Great Zhou Institute over the years.¡± Qi Yuan laughed, ¡°Qi Manor made a wrong move this time, but your majesty should not be too overjoyed. Qi Manor is still the same Qi Manor even without the Great Zhou Institute.¡± ¡°Besides¡­¡± He paused, revealing a slight smile as he glanced at Zhou Yuan. ¡°My eldest son Qi Hao is said to have gained recognition under the great general. Perhaps your majesty should pay some attention to this.¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s pupils shrank a little upon hearing these words, but his expression remained unchanged as he replied, ¡°The great general is no rebel. At the very least, this is something that I still believe in.¡± ¡°Hehe, I hope so. But it seems that he does not intend to repay your majesty¡¯s faith.¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s words seemed to hold a deeper meaning. Without further ado, he smiled and cupped his fists together towards Zhou Qing before turning around to leave. Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes grew colder as he watched Qi Yuan leave. The former knew that Qi Manor would not just leave it at this after this failure. Looks like the future clashes between them would only grow more and more ruthless¡­ However, the one thing he knew was that no matter what, he would never allow a repeat of the events from back then! Previous Chapte Chapter 55 Wei Canglan The Great Zhou Institute class ranking exam was over. This year¡¯s class ranking exam however had caused some pretty big ripples in Great Zhou City. The most enthusiastically discussed amongst them was the extraordinary performance of their prince. The prince rumoured to be incapable of beginning channel opening cultivation had used his six channel strength to obtain an overwhelming victory over Qi Yue, whom had relied on the Channel Breaker Art to reach eight channels¡­ The spread of this news caused numerous gasps of surprise. For the very first time, Zhou Yuan had begun to gain some reputation for himself in the Great Zhou Empire without relying on his status as prince. ¡­ A long break followed the class ranking exam. For Zhou Yuan however, there was no relaxation after victory and his daily training routine continued. It was just as he had said to Qi Yue. In Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, the latter was not much of a threat at all. Qi Yue had merely been a small pebble on Zhou Yuan¡¯s path to growing stronger. After kicking this pebble aside, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned back once again to a more distant goal. A month later. The inner chambers of the royal palace. Zhou Yuan walked into the chambers and looked behind the desk at Zhou Qing, ¡°Father, you were looking for me?¡± Zhou Qing lifted his head with a smile and replied, ¡°How has your training been recently?¡± Zhou Yuan responded, ¡°Pretty good. I should unblock my seventh meridian channel soon.¡± He had diligently training around the clock for the past month and the seventh channel was now in sight. Zhou Qing nodded in gratification. Looks like the class ranking exam victory had not made Zhou Yuan lose himself to joy and slack off on his training. Zhou Qing could not help but sigh and say, ¡°It was really all thanks to you. If not for you, the Great Zhou Institute would not have escaped Qi Manor¡¯s claws.¡± Recalling the class ranking exam still caused him to be a little on edge. ¡°As a subject of Great Zhou, it is only natural for me to do what I can.¡±Zhou Yuan smiled. The smile on Zhou Qing¡¯s face grew even wider. Soon after, he slowly said, ¡°We may have been able to stop Qi Manor this time, but they will not give up.¡± Cold light was revealed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he said, ¡°Father, Qi Manor is a tumor to Great Zhou. To strengthen Great Zhou, this tumor must be destroyed.¡± Zhou Qing nodded. ¡°I naturally desire to eliminate Qi Manor at all times, but they are currently no weaker than the royal clan. If we were to go to war with them, both of us will surely suffer huge losses. Unless¡­¡± ¡°Unless what?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little startled. Zhou Qing continued in a soft voice, ¡°Unless the great general will firmly stand on our side and help us deal with Qi Manor.¡± ¡°Great general? Wei Canglan?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook. It was obvious that he had heard of this individual before. Zhou Qing lightly nodded. ¡°The three strongest factions in the current Great Zhou are us, the royal clan, Qi Manor and the great general¡¯s faction.¡± ¡°Great general Wei is also an Alpha-Origin expert and the Canglan army under him is one of the three strongest armies of Great Zhou.¡± As for the other two armies, one was the royal clan¡¯s imperial guards and the other was Qi Manor¡¯s King Qi Guards. ¡°Father, could great general Wei have thoughts of rebelling?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. Zhou Qing shook his head. ¡°Back then, great general Wei stood at my side even against Great Wu. He is not the kind of person who would entertain thoughts of rebellion. Truthfully speaking, it is I who let him down.¡± At this point, Zhou Qing¡¯s expression dimmed somewhat. Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Qing stood up and pointed at a map of Great Zhou hanging on the wall behind him. On the north-west part of the map was an area called Canglan County. Next to the county was a sprawling large black mass akin to an abyss. Zhou Qing pointed at the black area on the map and asked with a serious expression, ¡°Do you know of this land?¡± ¡°This is¡­ Blackwater?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed a little. Blackwater was well known in Great Zhou as a vile land populated by countless savage Genesis Beasts. No empire was able to occupy this region, allowing many independent practitioners to gather there, forming numerous factions of varying sizes. These factions would poke at Great Zhou¡¯s borders from time to time, plundering and slaughtering. No crime was beyond them. Zhou Qing elaborated in a heavy voice, ¡°Blackwater¡¯s most powerful faction is known as Black Venom City and its lord goes by the title Black Venom King. He is a very infamous Alpha-Origin expert.¡± ¡°Back then, the Black Venom King invaded Great Zhou but was stopped by great general Wei. In retaliation, the Black Venom King besieged Canglan County and although he was pushed back in the end, great general Wei was struck by the Black Venom King¡¯s secret technique, Devil Miasma Poison.¡± ¡°Although great general Wei was tortured by the poison, he was after all an Alpha-Origin expert and was ultimately able to suppress it. But no one could have expected what happened next. Great general Wei¡¯s only son, Wei Bin, was afflicted by the poison at birth. He has been paralyzed and bedridden till this day and is constantly tormented by the poison.¡± ¡°With his only son poisoned, great general Wei was overwhelmed by rage and his hatred for Black Venom King reached all the way to the heavens. From then on, great general Wei has never taken even half a step from Canglan County. He views the Black Venom King as a thorn and is constantly plagued by thoughts of vengeance.¡± ¡°This is why great general Wei has shut himself in Canglan County for the past few years and pays no attention to the affairs of the Great Zhou Empire.¡± At this point, Zhou Qing¡¯s voice lowered, ¡°I know that great general Wei still blames me. It was I who asked him delay the Black Venom King back then while I led troops to encircle the latter. Who could have imagined that king Qi would chose such a time to intervene and impede us. By the time I arrived with the troops, great general Wei had already been struck by the Devil Miasma Poison.¡± ¡°That is why I too am somewhat responsible for the plight that had befallen great general Wei¡¯s son.¡± It was only after listening to Zhou Qing¡¯s story that Zhou Yuan finally understood. To think that there was such a tale behind this matter. It was likely that great general Wei held a little grudge against father. In addition to the waning power of the royal clan, there was now enough reason for great general Wei to shut himself away in Canglan County. After all, Wei Canglan would not dare to do such a thing if the royal clan was as powerful as it had been back in the day. As for Wei Bin¡¯s misfortune, it was a similar situation to his own. The only difference was that the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison was many many times worse than the Devil Miasma Poison. Therefore, great general Wei could be said to be a neutral faction. He neither acknowledged Qi Manor nor receive commands from the royal clan. No wonder father said that the side Wei Canglan chose to stand on would obtain absolute superiority. Zhou Qing slowly said, ¡°According to my sources, Qi Yuan¡¯s eldest son, Qi Hao, headed to Canglan County after graduating from the Great Zhou Institute and enlisted himself under great general Wei. It is said that he now has somewhat of a reputation in Canglan County. Qi Yuan clearly plans on getting closer to the great general through his son, making it easier for him to tilt great general Wei to their side.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. If Wei Canglan chose to help Qi Manor, the royal clan would be at risk of being overthrown. ¡°But you need not worry too much. great general Wei is someone I understand rather well. There is no chance that he would side with Qi Manor to deal with Great Zhou.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly replied, ¡°But he will not help the royal clan deal with Qi Manor either.¡± Zhou Qing stiffened momentarily before nodding with a bitter smile. Zhou Yuan let out a soft sigh. Great Zhou was in a really unstable position, crisis looming at every corner. His victory in the Great Zhou Institute had merely been akin to pouring a little water onto the blazing fire that was Qi Manor. If this tumor was not removed, there will never be peace for Great Zhou. ¡°I called you over because I have something to tell you.¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s expression turned rather serious. Zhou Yuan could not help but ask when he saw Zhou Qing¡¯s expression, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s gaze turned to the Blackwater region on the map as he slowly said, ¡°I received information some time ago of some ruins that had been discovered in Blackwater.¡± ¡°Ruins?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Blackwater was an incomparably vast land. The discovery of a few ruins should be rather ordinary. It was as if a fire had been lit in Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes at this moment as he elaborated in a soft voice, ¡°Someone found an unusual plant in the ruins. Red like fire, its absorbs sunlight to grow and its seeds look like fire crystals.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan was baffled. ¡°If I am not wrong, it is likely the Fire Spirit Grain, a grade 4 Genesis Food!¡± ¡°Grade 4 Genesis Food?!¡± Upon hearing these words, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression finally changed. One must know that even the Mysterious Crystal Rice owned exclusively by their royal clan was only a grade 2 Genesis Food. Even so, it had been extremely beneficial to his channel opening and had even won over many talents to their side. It was really difficult to imagine just how much more amazing a grade 4 Genesis Food would be. Only when Great Zhou was at her peak did they possess a similar grade 4 Genesis Food, the Blood Rain-Dragon Barley. If the royal clan could gain possession of the Fire Spirit Grain, Great Zhou¡¯s strength might even rise to the point where she could once again threaten Great Wu. A Genesis Food like this was a true strategic resource of utmost important to any empire. Thus, Zhou Yuan finally understood why Zhou Qing had become so emotional earlier. Zhou Yuan declared, ¡°This Fire Spirit Grain must land in the hands of the royal clan.¡± It was easy to picture how this item would enable Qi Manor¡¯s power to swiftly grow in a few years, surpassing the royal clan. Zhou Qing nodded and shot a glance at Zhou Yuan as he continued, ¡°Besides the Fire Spirit Grain, it seems that there is also a gem-like tree which bears jade fruits akin to a new born child.¡± Zhou Qing stared at Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, ¡°This fruit is called the Jade-Infant Fruit and can be used to supplement one¡¯s lifespan.¡± Bang! Zhou Yuan felt as if his head had exploded. His breathing grew heavier while his eyes turned scarlet red. His mother had lost a substantial amount of her lifespan in order to save him and now had less than ten years to live. This had always been a thorn in his heart, and he had many a times mulled over how to extend his mother¡¯s lifespan. But mystical items that could prolong one¡¯s life span were just too rare, and even using all of the royal clan¡¯s resources had not beared any fruit. Zhou Yuan would never have imagined such information would reach his ears today. Zhou Yuan licked his lips, determination filling his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Qing, speaking with a pause between each word, ¡°We must obtain the Jade-Infant Fruit!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 56 Wu Huang ¡°Of course.¡± Zhou Qing nodded strongly. If he had not been such a useless father and husband back then, Zhou Yuan would not have been tortured by the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison for so many years and Qin Yu would not used so much essence blood to save Zhou Yuan and end up having her lifespan cut. These were things he had blamed himself for for many years. Therefore, now that such hard to come by information about a lifespan supplementing treasure had arrived in his hands, he naturally did not plan on giving up so easily. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pounding heart gradually quietened down and he asked in a low voice, ¡°Father, has this information been verified?¡± Zhou Qing replied, ¡°It is true. Someone unintentionally entered this particular ruins and saw the Fire Spirit Grain and Jade-Infant Fruit. However, there seemed to be a powerful Genesis Beast guarding the ruins so he had no choice but to hastily flee.¡± ¡°If this news has spread, I¡¯m afraid that Qi Manor will know of it too.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. Qi Manor would became a really huge threat if they managed to obtain the Fire Spirit Grain. That was after all a true strategic resource that was indispensable to any faction. With such a resource in hand, grooming one¡¯s own forces and recruiting powerful practitioners would become much more effective. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Qing nodded. His expression grew somewhat solemn as he said, ¡°That is why I plan to send Lu Tieshan.¡± Zhou Yuan said, ¡°Father, let me go too.¡± He had already unblocked six channels and would soon reach the Qi Nourishing stage. Once he stepped into the Qi Nourishing stage, he would be considered a little powerhouse. In the Great Zhou Empire, Alpha-Origin stage experts stood at the pinnacle. They were followed by Heaven Gate stage experts, while the Qi Nourishing stage made up the core of the elite forces. In the military, those at the Qi Nourishing stage were qualified to take on heavy responsibilities. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan volunteer himself, Zhou Qing smiled and said, ¡°That is why I called you here. Besides aiding Lu Tieshan, there is another important task that I have for you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Qing let out a sigh before he said, ¡°On this mission you will have to first head for Canglan County. If possible, I hope that you will be able to think of a way to draw the great general to our side and help us deal with Qi Manor.¡± ¡°At the very least, you must ensure that Qi Hao does not pull the general to Qi Manor¡¯s side.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. As the prince, going to Canglan County would show the sincerity of the royal clan. Zhou Yuan replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry father, I will do my best.¡± Zhou Qing chuckled before reaching into his clothes and fishing out a scarlet red jade scroll on which light seem to flow. ¡°You will soon reach the Qi Nourishing stage and will formally be able to practice a Qi Cultivation Method. This is the Flame-Thunder mantra of our royal clan and will allow you to cultivate the grade 4 Flame-Thunder Qi. Take it and have a good look. If it is suitable, you may practice it.¡± ¡°So this is the Flame-Thunder mantra?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes quivered. In this world, Genesis Qi cultivation methods were categorised into nine grades. In other words, there were nine grades of Genesis Qi. The better the Qi cultivation method, the better the quality the Genesis Qi. Grade 4 Genesis Qi was practically top tier in Great Zhou, and the masses were only able to cultivate grade 1 or grade 2 Genesis Qi. ¡°Master didn¡¯t have time to impart any Qi cultivation methods to me back then, I wonder if big sis Yaoyao has any.¡± Zhou Yuan smacked his lips. Given master Cang Yuan¡¯s mysteriousness and unfathomable power, the Qi cultivation methods he knew should far surpass the royal clan¡¯s Flame-Thunder Qi. Although he had such thoughts in mind, Zhou Yuan still took the Flame-Thunder mantra. If Yaoyao did not have any Qi cultivation methods, he would have no choice but to choose the former. ¡°Qi Nourishing stage¡­¡± Zhou Yuan tightly grasped the jade scroll as anticipation flooded his eyes. The Channel Opening stage could only be considered creating one¡¯s foundations. Only at the Qi Nourishing stage would one be able to finally take one¡¯s first step onto the path of cultivation. Only after reaching that level would one be able to truly experience the true wonders of Genesis Qi. ¡­ Great Wu Empire. Royal city, Subdue Zhou City. Years ago, the Wu clan had rebelled against Great Zhou and seized her lands. From the name of Great Wu¡¯s capital, it was obvious that Great Wu intended on completely subduing Great Zhou, ensuring that she would never rise again. Majestic structures rose one after another in the Great Wu royal palace, extending all the way till the end one one¡¯s sight. Powerful Genesis Qi rippled from the many pagodas, enveloping every corner of the royal palace. Compared to Great Zhou, Great Wu¡¯s royal palace was undoubtedly much grander, and the latter¡¯s security was likewise far superior. This showed just how powerful Great Wu was. In a certain inner palace within the royal palace, a youth in yellow robes sat behind a desk. His skin was as fair as jade, while a pair of eyebrows akin to the a sword¡¯s edge decorated his extremely handsome face. The simple act of sitting there made him exude an aura of nobility, standing high above everyone else like the pride of the heavens. A faint aura seemed to rise behind him like the roar of a coiling dragon. A faintly glowing blood red dot seemed to have been embedded between his brows. A sight that was both mysterious and strange. This youngster was the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire, Wu Huang. His face was indifferent as he flipped through the scrolls before him. Although he was only a youth, due to his special status in Great Wu, king Wu had allowed him to take part in the national affairs of Great Wu since a young age. At this moment, someone respectfully walked in, kneeled before the table and respectfully said, ¡°Crown prince, the secretary supervisor has sent some news.¡± Wu Huang lifted his eyelids and reached out a hand to receive the bamboo tube. He removed the paper roll inside and slowly opened it as his eyes swept across it. ¡°Oh?¡± Wu Huang¡¯s expression suddenly changed. A strange look surfaced on his handsome face as he said in an emotionless voice, ¡°How interesting, it¡¯s about the Zhou clan¡¯s sacred dragon.¡± ¡°What a tenacious person. So he managed to survive even after having the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison sealed in his body by father?¡± The kneeled figure asked in a cold voice, ¡°Your highness, shall we eliminate him?¡± Wu Huang let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Our Great Wu Empire is currently busy with the Thousand Beast Empire and the Sword Empire. How can we possibly spare any attention to a practically dead Great Zhou.¡± The figure replied in a low voice, ¡°But Zhou Yuan once possess the sacred dragon blessing and was claimed to be the sacred dragon of the Zhou clan.¡± The moment these words left his mouth, he saw Wu Huang¡¯s cold eyes sweep over and immediately swallowed the rest of his words. Wu Huang wore an apathetic look as dragon Qi rose behind him, making him appear incomparably noble. His voice was calm as he said, ¡°You are wrong. Zhou Yuan is not a true sacred dragon. If he was, how would our Wu clan have succeeded?¡± ¡°The sacred dragon blessing originally belonged to me and he was merely a tiny mistake. This error has already been corrected and brought back to the proper path. Hence¡­¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is nothing but a fake dragon who once bore a destiny that did not belong to him, resulting in both he and Great Zhou paying a steep price.¡± ¡°On the other hand, I am the true dragon. Therefore, the sacred dragon blessing ultimately returned to me.¡± He stared at the figure before him as he slowly continued, ¡°So please do not make this blunder again. It was not I who stole his sacred dragon blessing but he who took what was mine. All I did was take it back.¡± ¡°This is called returning to its rightful owner.¡± ¡°Understand?¡± The figure shivered as he gazed at the slightly smiling Wu Huang and hastily acknowledged in a respectful manner. Wu Huang threw away the bamboo tube and said in an indifferent voice, ¡°Go check on what this fake dragon is doing. Six channels¡­ Do you know? With such pathetic strength, he does not even have the qualifications to stand before me.¡± The figure respectfully responded, ¡°Your highness is the true dragon and Zhou Yuan is only an ant in comparison that is not even worth mentioning.¡± Wu Huang picked up the rest of the scrolls and said, ¡°During the subsequent period of time, I have to focus on training so as to prepare for Cangmang Continent¡¯s approaching battle of the saints. It is this battle that is truly important. Do not bother me with matters regarding the crippled dragon in future.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The figure responded. Wu Huang stared at the scrolls for a while, before he said, ¡°But since this matter has already come to my attention, I cannot take it as if nothing has happened. Tell them to give the Qi clan more support. If they are able to overthrow the Zhou clan, our Great Wu will have saved some effort. Else it will be somewhat troublesome due to the vow father made back then.¡± He smiled at his point. ¡°Let this be a lesson for that crippled dragon. Let him know that he should properly behave himself as a cripple in future.¡± His words were simple, but they seemed to have decided the fate of Great Zhou. He then smiled at the figure and said, ¡°Have a good look. What you see is a true dragon¡± A single sentence to determine life or death. A single sentence to decide the destruction of a nation. Previous Chapte Chapter 57 Ancestral Dragon Scripture Great Zhou royal palace, the fragrance pavillion. Yaoyao sat with a straight back in front of a crystal mirror while Tuntun lazed on her lap. Her fine black hair was draped over her shoulders, reaching all the way down to her slim waist. The soul wrenchingly beautiful face reflected in the mirror wore a distant and emotionless look. Behind Yaoyao, Qin Yu wore a gentle look as she helped comb Yaoyao¡¯s long hair. Ever since Yaoyao came to the royal palace, Qin Yu had become extremely fond of the former and practically treated her as a daughter. Although Yaoyao was rather distant, she had grown much gentler in response to the sweet and warm-natured Qin Yu. Therefore, the two grown increasingly close. ¡°So pretty.¡± Qin Yu tied Yaoyao¡¯s long hair into a simple high ponytail, causing the usually distant girl to give off a slight aura of lively youthfulness. It was a sight that would take away one¡¯s breath. Yaoyao smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you aunt Qin.¡± Qin Yu smiled as she stroked the girl¡¯s head. ¡°No need to be courteous. If staying in the palace is boring, get Zhou Yuan to accompany you out for a stroll.¡± Yaoyao gave a slight nod. Tuntun suddenly opened its eyes at this moment and barked at the door. It transformed into black blur as it dashed forth, slamming into the stomach of the figure that had just entered. ¡°Hey, that hurt.¡± The person who had just stepped through the door was Zhou Yuan. He was currently clutching his stomach with one hand, while the other supported Tuntun. The latter was currently biting and pulling his collar with a force so huge that Zhou Yuan was almost flipped over. ¡°Stop pulling, stop pulling!¡± Zhou Yuan cursed as a servant girl brought over a plate of meticulously marinated Genesis Beast dried meat from behind. Only then did Tuntun let go of Zhou Yuan¡¯s collar and jump onto the silver plate, eyes narrowed as it started to savour the meal bite by bite. ¡°Does this little brute really take me as a meal ticket?¡± Zhou Yuan jaw was tightly clenched in anger as he looked at Tuntun. The little brute¡¯s eyes practically turned green with anxiety whenever it saw him. Zhou Yuan shook his head, ignoring Tuntun as he walked towards Qin Yu and greeted her. ¡°I shan¡¯t disturb you children then.¡± Qin Yu grinned, tousling Zhou Yuan¡¯s hair before leaving in an unhurried manner. Yaoyao stroked her ponytail and tilted her head, causing the end of the ponytail to bounce a little as her eyes swept towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan let out a chuckle as he fished out a scarlet red jade bottle from his sleeve and said in a somewhat miserable voice, ¡°You¡¯re becoming more and more picky. I spent a thousand Genesis crystals to buy this scarlet spirit wine.¡± Yaoyao reached out, received the scarlet red jade bottle and took a small whiff, causing her eyes to brighten slightly. Soon after, she looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°One does not curry favor for no reason. Speak. What do you want?¡± Zhou Yuan let out an awkward chuckle. Soon after, he earnestly replied, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, unblocking my seventh meridian channel is just around and corner and the eight meridian channel is likewise not far off. After unblocking all eight channels, I will be able to step into the Qi Nourishing stage and establish a Qi dwelling. When that happens, I should practice a Qi cultivation method.¡± ¡°So you want a Qi cultivation method.¡± A soft laughter escaped Yaoyao¡¯s mouth. She propped up a cheek with a hand and continued, ¡°Is your royal clan¡¯s Flame-Thunder mantra not good enough for you?¡± ¡°The Flame-Thunder mantra can only cultivate grade 4 Genesis Qi. Even if I find a higher tier Qi cultivation method in future and change, much time will be wasted.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Grade 4 Genesis Qi was indeed top of the line in Great Zhou, but his eyes were looking at a much further place. Yaoyao cocked her head and pondered. ¡°I do have a few Qi cultivation methods.¡± ¡°However, it still depends on your choice.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Yaoyao pressed a hand onto her waist where an exquisite little cloth bag was hanging. It was a Universe bag that contained a pocket space. Such items were rather uncommon. At the very least, there were less than a handful in the royal treasury and the space within them spanned a dozen feet at most. The Universe bag flashed and a black jade strip appeared in Yaoyao¡¯s hand. ¡°This is grandpa Hei¡¯s Qi cultivation method, the Heavenly Yuan Canon. It can cultivate grade 7 Genesis Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils tightened as he involuntarily cried out, ¡°Grade 7 Genesis Qi?!¡± Shock filled his face. Let alone someone like himself, not even his father had seen such high grade Genesis Qi. Even the entire Great Zhou Empire could not be exchanged for such a high class Qi cultivation method! Zhou Yuan¡¯s breathing grew hurried as his eyes turned a little red. Fortunately, he had considerable mental fortitude and did not snatch it from Yaoyao. Instead, he took in a deep breath, looked at Yaoyao and said, ¡°Are there other options?¡± Since Yaoyao had mentioned a choice earlier, there were definitely other alternatives. Qi cultivation methods that could be placed alongside the Heavenly Yuan Canon were likely not ordinary, right? Yaoyao grew silent for a while upon hearing this. With a gentle press of the Universe bag, a bone fragment appeared in her hand. The bone fragment was mottled with age and faint cracks could be seen on it. However, the moment it appeared, an indescribable pressure spread, causing the circulating Genesis Qi in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body to turn sluggish. Roar! Behind them, the hairs of the slowly eating Tuntun abruptly stood up as it ferociously pounced in front of Zhou Yuan and let out a roar at the bone fragment. One could see a faint scarlet red glow emerge on its body. Evidently, the bone fragment made Tuntun feel very threatened. ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan was similarly frightened by the pressure from the mysterious bone fragment. Yaoyao¡¯s red lips parted slightly as she answered, ¡°A Qi cultivation method is recorded in this bone fragment. It is called.. the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.¡± ¡°Legend speaks of a certain creature that was born when the world was created, a creature known as the Ancestral Dragon. It is said to be capable of devouring the heavens and destroying the land, an existence that towers even over the apex. It was from the body of the Ancestral Dragon that all living beings eventually emerged and from then on, numerous life forms appeared in the world.¡± Zhou Yuan asked, ¡°More powerful than the Heavenly Yuan Canon?¡± Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°In the beginning, it will only be able to cultivate grade 5 Genesis Qi.¡± ¡°Grade 5 Genesis Qi?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°There are four levels to the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. The first is the Omni Python Qi, a grade 5 Genesis Qi, the second is the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi, a grade 7 Genesis Qi, and the third is the Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi, a grade 9 Genesis Qi.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s soft voice felt like thunder in Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears, causing his entire scalp to turn numb as his body trembled. ¡°Grade 9 Genesis Qi?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s shaky voice rang out. In this world, grade 9 Genesis Qi was already the apex. Who could imagine just how powerful someone who cultivated it would be. ¡°Wait!¡± Alarm washed over Zhou Yuan as he looked at Yaoyao. ¡°Did you not say there were four levels?¡± If the third level was already grade 9, then what could the fourth level be? Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful eyes seemed to turn as deep as the night at this moment as she nodded, before her airy voice sounded out once again, ¡°The fourth level is the true Ancestral Dragon Qi and it surpasses grade 9.¡± Zhou Yuan fell butt first onto the chair behind him, his eyes almost popping from their sockets while his mouth hung wide open. ¡°There are Qi cultivation methods in this world that exceed grade 9?!¡± This Qi cultivation method had already went beyond Zhou Yuan¡¯s common sense. He even doubted the existence of such a heaven defying Qi cultivation method. Could this Qi cultivation method be the reason why master Cang Yuan and Yaoyao were pursued by their mysterious enemy, forcing them to hide constantly? Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°There are many mysteries in this world. 9 grades of Qi cultivation methods is just one way of thinking. If you never heard of something, it does not mean that it does not exist.¡± ¡°However, although the Ancestral Dragon Scripture is powerful, practicing it is difficult and practically unprecedented. In addition, once you begin practicing the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, you will be unable to change to other Qi cultivation methods, or you will be devoured by it.¡± ¡°What a tyrannical Qi cultivation method!¡± It was at this point that Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression could not help but change. If that was true, it meant that every other road would be closed to him. The only option was to continuing advancing on the path of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Yaoyao gave a light nod. ¡°Besides this, there is another condition you must fulfill in order to practice this Qi cultivation method.¡± Zhou Yuan immediately cut in, ¡°What condition?¡± Yaoyao glanced at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You must carry a dragon type blessing.¡± ¡°Dragon type blessing?¡± ¡°It is said that the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s body transformed into all living things. Amongst them are some who are born with great luck. Strange signs appear at their births, seeming to take the shapes of carps, snakes, pythons, serpents¡­ all of these can be considered dragon type blessings. It means that there is a sliver of Ancestral Dragon Qi in their bodies, allowing them to possess talent that surpasses the masses.¡± ¡°To begin practice of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, this sliver of Ancestral Dragon Qi must be used as a primer.¡± ¡°However, even if one fulfills the requirements, very very few people will be able to truly master this Qi cultivation method. Let¡¯s not even mention the fourth level, I¡¯m afraid that since time immemorial, only one individual has been able to reach the third level.¡± Yaoyao stared at Zhou Yuan as she continued, ¡°As for you, you were born with the sacred dragon blessing, and the Ancestral Dragon Qi in your body was even greater than other dragon type blessings. Hence, you might even have a ten percent chance of getting through the first stage of beginning the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, but it¡¯s still hard to say how many levels you will ultimately master.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, your sacred dragon blessing was stolen and the majority of it was obtained by Great Wu¡¯s python and sparrow.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s fists involuntarily clenched tightly as he bitterly laughed. ¡°So I am fated to never learn the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.¡± He could not help but become a little dejected. After all, anyone who watched such an amazing heaven defying Qi cultivation method slip away would not be able to remain unaffected. However, Yaoyao shook her head. She reached out and grabbed Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand as she faintly said, ¡°That may not be so.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at her in confusion. Yaoyao slowly opened Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand, revealing the blood-red lump at the center of his palm. Malicious resentment spread from it, causing one¡¯s heart to shiver. Yaoyao pointed at the blood-red lump and said in a soft voice, ¡°The ignorant king Wu believed that sealing the sacred dragon¡¯s resentment into your body will suppress you forever, but he did not know¡­ that this Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison is actually also a sliver of Ancestral Dragon Qi!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. ¡°You mean?¡± Yaoyao nodded. ¡°You may use the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison as a catalyst to initiate the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Thus, you will also be able to practice it.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes silently stared at Zhou Yuan as her airy voice echoed, ¡°So¡­ what is your decision?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 58 Genesis Resources ¡°So what is your decision?¡± In the fragrance pavilion, Yaoyao bright eyes were fixed on Zhou Yuan. The soft words that left her red lips caused him to fall into conflict, his eyes flickering indeterminately. It was hard to choose between the two. Of course, the Heavenly Yuan Canon would undoubtedly be the more reliable choice. Grade 7 Genesis Qi was more than enough for him to reign supreme over those of the same cultivation level. In fact, it would even allow him to have some confidence against enemies at a higher cultivation level than himself. Compared to the stable Heavenly Yuan Canon, the mysterious Ancestral Dragon Scripture was brimming with innumerable possibilities. Based on what Yaoyao had told him, Zhou Yuan could sense just how difficult it was to practice this Qi cultivation method. It was so difficult that he might not even surpass the first level in his entire lifetime and this first level could only grant grade 5 Genesis Qi, Genesis Qi that was clearly unable to satisfy him. Most importantly, there was no turning back once he chose to practice th Ancestral Dragon Scripture. One could change to other Qi cultivation methods if one felt that one¡¯s own was unsuitable, but this option was unavailable for the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. It akin to a path of no return. For the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the only option was to advance endlessly. A choice that undoubtedly required a tremendous amount of courage and charisma. It was true that the path of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture would be fraught with danger, but¡­ the possibility of unlimited growth caused excitement to flood Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. It was basically impossible to give up on it. Hence, in the face of these two choices, even the normally decisive Zhou Yuan was stuck in a dilemma. His face fluctuated indeterminately, unable to make a decision. Yaoyao did not hurry him and merely watched in silence. The silence in the fragrance pavilion lasted for a very long time, before finally being broken by a long sigh. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and looked towards Yaoyao as he slowly declared, ¡°I choose¡­¡± ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Scripture!¡± Yaoyao¡¯s hand seemed to tremble a little, somewhat surprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s choice. After all, compared to the Heavenly Yuan Canon, the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was filled with too much uncertainty. Zhou Yuan looked at Yaoyao, laughed in a somewhat self-mocking manner and said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, I do not want to experience the events of the past ever again; having others take away what belongs to me, even hurting those closest to me while I am powerless to do anything. Never again.¡± Every time he saw his mother¡¯s pale complexion, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart felt as if it was being cut by a blade. He knew that he would have long been dead if not for Qin Yu¡¯s constant infusion of essence blood to him. There was also Zhou Qing. He had been betrayed, his empire stolen and even had an arm cut off by king Wu when he tried to protect the things that mattered to him. He ultimately failed to save his own son, and greatly blamed himself day and night. All of this had happened due to powerlessness. ¡°The enemies I have to face in future will likely become stronger and stronger. Therefore, I need the greatest of powers in order to protect my family and myself.¡± ¡°I want to be so strong that any existence would be unable to be even the smallest threat to me and those I care about.¡± ¡°The Heavenly Yuan Canon is strong, very very strong, but it cannot give me the strength I yearn for. Thus¡­¡± He stared at Yaoyao and declared once again, slightly pausing between each word, ¡°I choose the Ancestral Dragon Scripture!¡± Yaoyao could see the burning determination in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, causing her to give a light nod before offering the mottled bone fragment in her hand. Zhou Yuan reached out, grabbed it and gave a little tug, but was unable to take it. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you will have no other roads to walk once you select it. Hence, you cannot regret this decision in future.¡± A grave look emerged on Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face. Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, I¡¯ve been tormented by the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison since young and have experienced how people treated me due to being unable to find my meridian channels. Therefore, I understand very well just how determined I am.¡± ¡°This road may be difficult, but¡­ I will definitely walk till the end!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was filled with resolution. Without any hesitation, he pulled even harder, removing the mottled bone fragment from Yaoyao¡¯s grasp. His expression was incomparably serious as he kept it. On the path of cultivation, the state of one¡¯s heart was the most important. Zhou Yuan¡¯s past experiences taught him that determination was essential if one wanted power. Once one was set on a goal, one needed to do all one could to realize it. Hence, one needed great willpower! Yaoyao watched Zhou Yuan keep the mottled bone fragment and sighed. ¡°Four Genesis resources are needed for you to begin practicing the Dragon Ancestral Scripture¡¯s first level.¡± Yaoyao took out a piece of paper and handed it to Zhou Yuan. With a glance, Zhou Yuan saw the beautifully written words on the paper. However, when he took a closer look at the four Genesis resources needed, his face could not help but twitch. ¡°Genesis Swallowing Rock? Heavenly Gold Marrow? Nine Underworld Black Spring Crystal? Grade 4 python type Genesis Beast spirit?!¡± Each of the four ingredients caused Zhou Yuan to cry out in surprise as his hands subconsciously trembled. Every single one of them was an extremely rare Genesis resource. Amongst them, Zhou Yuan had heard a little of the Heavenly Gold Marrow, which just happened to be present in the royal treasury. However, there were only a few drops. The addition of a single drop while forging a Genesis Weapon would allow the weapon to become much sharper than usual, and might even raise the grade of the final product. This was why it was extremely valuable. Moreover, the one that troubled Zhou Yuan the most was the grade 4 python type Genesis Beast spirit. Grade 4¡­ this was comparable to a human Alpha-Origin stage expert! There were only a handful of Alpha-Origin stage experts in the Great Zhou Empire andobtaining a grade 4 Genesis Beast spirit was no different from killing an Alpha-Origin stage expert. The mere thought of this task made Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shiver. After reaching the Qi Nourishing stage, one needed to use one¡¯s body as a furnace in order to refine your own Genesis Qi. To further elaborate, the Genesis Qi absorbed from the world is the most basic ingredient, while the Qi cultivation method is the blueprint or instructions. Genesis resources on the other hand are supplementary materials that can be added according to the blueprint. It is through refining and fusing all of these various components together followed by tempering that one will ultimately be able to create Genesis Qi of one¡¯s own. Every single piece is indispensable. Hence, even the supplementary Genesis resources must be properly prepared. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s rather uncomfortable looking face, Yaoyao could not help but laugh and say, ¡°Do you regret your choice? There is still time to change.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh, he did feel a little regret. Just the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture already required such rare Genesis resources. Who knew what kind of mysterious ingredients were needed for the second, third and fourth levels? Only now did Zhou Yuan understand how difficult it was to practice the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. The prerequisites alone were already insane. However, determination quickly filled hiseyes. ¡°I will think of a way to get these Genesis resources.¡± Since his choice had already been made, such difficulties were naturally unable to shake him. Otherwise, he would have given up long long ago. Zhou Yuan¡¯s unwavering determination was a little admirable in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯ll have to hurry up if you do not plan on using the most basic Genesis Qi after reaching the Qi Nourishing stage.¡± Ordinary Genesis Qi had no attribute nor any special effects. Hence, it was very lacking in battle power when compared to Genesis Qi produced through Qi cultivation methods. Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly as he nodded. Looks like he would have to trouble Zhou Qing since the current him really had no means of gathering these materials. ¡­ Previous Chapte Chapter 59 Advance Illusory Stage On the fifth day after obtaining the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, Zhou Yuan finally managed to completely unblock his seventh meridian channel. This brought him one step closer to the Qi Nourishing stage and made him increasingly anxious with regards to gathering the ingredients needed for the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Royal palace. ¡°Father, have the Genesis resources I requested been prepared?!¡± A pair of expectant eyes shot towards Zhou Qing the moment Zhou Yuan entered. In response, Zhou Qing could not help but let out a bitter chuckle. ¡°You brat, do you genuinely think that our royal treasury is all powerful?¡± Even Zhou Qing could not help but shudder when he recalled the four items Zhou Yuan had requested. ¡°Moreover, are the Genesis resources you need really only used to cultivate grade 5 Genesis Qi?¡± Zhou Qing was after all a knowledgeable individual and had encountered grade 5 Genesis Qi before. None of the grade 5 Genesis Qi he knew of required such rare and high quality Genesis resources. Zhou Yuan awkwardly laughed in response. Yaoyao had warned him that the Ancestral Dragon Scripture must be kept secret, hence, he had told Zhou Qing that he intended to practice a grade 5 Genesis Qi cultivation method. Zhou Yuan asked with a slightly vexed voice, ¡°Even the royal treasury is unable to gather them?¡± Zhou Qing released a helpless sigh before retrieving a jade box from behind him. He opened the box, revealing a transparent jade bottle. The bottle was filled with water in which a drop of vicious gold liquid slowly revolved. It was the Heavenly Gold Marrow! Beside the jade bottle was a black crystal dotted with holes. An astonishingly cold chill swept out from it, causing frost to form in the surrounding air. Meanwhile, sounds of flowing water could be heard from inside the crystal, as if spring water was flowing within it. The Nine Underworld Black Spring Crystal! Zhou Qing pointed at the jade box and said, ¡°The royal treasury only has these two.¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head. ¡°No Genesis Swallowing Rock or grade 4 python type Genesis Beast spirit?¡± A displeased Zhou Qing glared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Greedy brat, the four items you requested probably cost a total of 500,000 Genesis crystals. Moreover, you likely won¡¯t be able to purchase them even if you have the money.¡± A year of collected taxes for the entire Great Zhou Empire only amounted to a million. From this, one could tell just how expensive these items were. Zhou Yuan smiled awkwardly. 500,000 Genesis crystals was a frightening sum indeed. It was practically enough to purchase an high tier Black Genesis Weapon from the auction house. And the only high tier Black Genesis Weapon of the royal clan was the Nine Flames Spear that belonged to Zhou Qing. ¡°Then what can we do?¡± A miserable look emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. If he did not gather the four Genesis resources, he would not be able to initiate himself into the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Zhou Qing frowned as he pondered for a while. ¡°I have heard of something like the Genesis Swallowing Rock before.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened. As long as there was news, there would be a way. Zhou Qing elaborated, ¡°There is a rock in the great general¡¯s residence that is able to continuously absorb Genesis Qi and expel purer Genesis Qi in return. Thus, when placed in a room, training in the room will be more effective.¡± ¡°Geat general Wei Canglan?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. What a coincidence, he was about to head to Canglan County after all. ¡°Yes, but due to how valuable it is, whether or not you will be able to obtain it from him will depend on your abilities.¡± Zhou Qing was unable to help. After all, it was not appropriate for him to force the great general to give this Genesis Swallowing Rock to Zhou Yuan. ¡°I will give it a try.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. At the very least, he now had some information. As for how to obtain it, he would have to think of a way. ¡°What about the grade 4 python type Genesis Beast spirit?¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhou Qing again. Zhou Qing¡¯s head started to ache somewhat when he heard this as he helplessly said, ¡°A grade 4 python type Genesis Beast.. even I find it rather troublesome to deal with a Genesis Beast of that level, to think that a brat like you actually wants its beast spirit.¡± ¡°There is currently no news of such an item but I will continue to help you search for it. Besides this, with regards to the place you¡¯re heading to, Canglan County, the neighbouring Blackwater is home to innumerable Genesis Beasts. Likewise, countless Genesis masters hunt the Genesis Beasts there and with some luck, you might bump into the creature you seek.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a helpless sigh. Looks like he would have to try his luck in Canglan County to get ahold of the remaining two Genesis resources. Zhou Yuan inquired, ¡°Father, when will we be leaving?¡± His head had nothing but thoughts of quickly searching for the last two Genesis resources and then begin practicing the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Omni Python Qi. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s impatient appearance, Zhou Qing could only helplessly chuckle and reply, ¡°In five days. I will instruct Lu Tieshan and a group of imperial guards to protect you on this trip to Canglan County.¡± ¡­ Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, four days had passed. Night of the fourth day. On the bed, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were tightly shut, a faint light flickering between his brows where a blurry seated figure could be seen. It was Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. Rumble! A rumbling noise rang out from between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brow at this moment, indicating the divine grindstone was rotating. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan was currently using the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method to temper his Spirit. It had almost been half a year since he began practicing the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was growing increasingly tough and powerful under his relentless training. In a formless black space, an unimaginably huge grindstone slowly turned. Anything that was cast unto it would be crushed into nothingness. An illusory silhouette was currently bitterly enduring within the titanic grindstone. The upper and lower wheels slowly crushed its body. Every touch caused the illusory figure to tremble violently, as if it was bearing an immense pain. As it bitterly persisted, the two golden markings on the slowly turning grindstone suddenly joined together again. Nine rotations of the divine grindstone, every rotation a whole new realm! After half a year of tempering, Zhou Yuan¡¯s spirit had finally endured an entire rotation of the divine grindstone. Crack! As the two golden lines became one once again, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit finally reached its limit and shattered. But soon after, an invisible ripple converged in front of the divine grindstone as an illusory figure was reconstructed. It was Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. At this moment, the Spirit¡¯s eyes were shut a unique undulation pulsed from it. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had undoubtedly become much more material compared to before. In the room, Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and a bright light shot out from them. The rippling Spirit aura between his brows abruptly strengthened! ¡°Advance Illusory stage!¡± Zhou Yuan felt the pulsing Spirit between his brows as wild joy flooded his face. After half a year of training, his Spirit had finally stepped into the advance Illusory stage. Now that it had reached this level, his Spirit power could materialize in the outside world, allowing him to perform Spirit based attacks like the Spirit Needle Rune Qi Yue had used in the Jade Spirit Waterfall back then. If he managed to catch an enemy off guard with such an attack, it would surely be very effective. Most importantly of course was that Zhou Yuan could now begin learning grade 2 Genesis Runes! Even a Qi Nourishing stage opponent would be wary of grade 2 Genesis Runes. Being unable to quickly cultivate the Omni Python Qi had originally caused Zhou Yuan to be a little vexed, but now that he had the potential aid of grade 2 Genesis Runes, there was no longer a need to fear Qi Nourishing stage foes whom have learnt Qi cultivation methods. Huu. Zhou Yuan let out a drawn out breath as he body gradually relaxed. ¡°I can finally head to Canglan County without too much worry.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 60 Journey The next day. In front of the royal palace. A group of imperial guards stood ready and waiting. Beside them, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze constantly swept outwards into the distance as he talked to Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, whom had come to send him off. Clatter clatter! The hurried sounds galloping was transmitted from afar as a fiery red horse seemed to fly towards them. It eventually came to a stop a short distance from them with a neigh and lithe figure gracefully dismounted. The figure naturally turned out to be Su Youwei. Today, she wore a grey shirt and trousers, while her long hair was bundled into a ponytail, making her look relaxed and pretty. The imperial guards did not stop her, allowing her to pass through and walk to the carriage. Due to having hurried here, her pretty face was a little flushed and beads of sweat dotted her fair forehead. ¡°Youwei greets his and her majesties.¡± The first thing Su Youwei did was cup her fists and bow towards Zhou Qing and Qin Yu. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu responded with warm smiles. They had seen Su Youwei¡¯s performance during the class ranking exam and were quite fond of this strong and independent girl. ¡°Youwei, treat this trip as a training experience. Also, help me take care of Zhou Yuan and don¡¯t let him cause too much trouble.¡± Qin Yu smiled. Zhou Yuan chuckled. Both Yaoyao and Su Youwei were tagging along this time. Yaoyao was coming because she had become rather bored in the palace. As for Su Youwei, he hoped that she would be able to gain different experiences which would be beneficial for her cultivation. After all, Su Youwei was on the verge of unblocking her eight meridian channel and stepping into the Qi Nourishing stage. Hence, the Great Zhou Institute no longer had much to offer her. So as to not delay her cultivation progress, Zhou Yuan decided to bring her along on this trip to Canglan County. ¡°It¡¯s about time, prepare to set off.¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at the sky before turning to Lu Tieshan. ¡°You shall be tasked with protecting them.¡± Lu Tieshan replied in solemn voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry your majesty, I will offer you my head if anything happens to his highness.¡± ¡°I do not wish for anything to happen to any one of you.¡± Zhou Qing waved his hand. Lu Tieshan nodded, before he stood up and mounted his horse. With a wave of his hand, he loudly shouted, ¡°We¡¯re setting off!¡± Zhou Yuan took a step onto the carriage, waving his final goodbye to Zhou Qing and Qin Yu before entering. The group began their journey, accompanied by rumbling sounds of movement as they passed through various streets, ultimately exiting Great Zhou City and heading straight towards Canglan County. ¡­ When Zhou Yuan left Great Zhou City. Qi Manor. In a certain study, Qi Manor¡¯s housekeeper, Qi Ling, respectfully reported, ¡°Master, Lu Tieshan and a thousand imperial guards have accompanied Zhou Yuan out of the city. Their destination should be Canglan County.¡± Behind the desk, Qi Yuan nodded with an emotionless face. ¡°Looks like the royal clan has also heard of the most recent news regarding those ruins.¡± An eerie light flickered in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes as he indifferently said, ¡°Things did not turn out well for us in the Great Zhou Institute matter, but this time, I am determined to get my hands on the Fire Spirit Grain!¡± The Fire Spirit Grain was a grade 4 Genesis Food, an item with an inestimable value. With it, Qi Manor would be able to both nurture and gather multitudes of experts. Just think about it, the royal clan had managed to stabilize their situation with the grade 2 Mysterious Crystal Rice. If Qi Manor obtained the Fire Spirit Grain, Qi Yuan believed that they would be able to completely crush the royal clan in less than a year. ¡°I will stay in Great Zhou City to keep Zhou Qing in check. You shall set off immediately, head for Canglan County and get in contact with Hao¡¯er. He has after all managed to build up a place for himself there over the past two years. I want the both of you to find a way to pull Wei Canglan to our side!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes hardened as he continued, ¡°As long as Wei Canglang stands with us, there will no longer be anything to fear and we will immediately take action to remove the royal clan.¡± ¡°Of course¡­¡± Tea cup in hand, Qi Yuan icily said, ¡°If Wei Canglan shows any indications of leaning towards the royal clan, it will be best that you find a way to eliminate him. Once Wei Canglan dies, the Canglan army would be akin to a headless dragon, allowing Hao¡¯er to swiftly take over and use them to attack the royal clan.¡± Qi Ling responded, ¡°Understood!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed like a vicious wolf as he said in a hair-raising voice, ¡°As for Zhou Yuan, tell Hao¡¯er if there is a chance, make sure that the little bastard never returns to Great Zhou City!¡± ¡°Canglan County is right next to Blackwater. It will not be strange for anyone to die there, even a prince.¡± ¡°Since the little bastard cut off my son¡¯s arm, he shall repay this debt with his life!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was as cold as a malicious spirit that had crawled out from the abyss, dripping with so much venom that hearing it would cause one¡¯s heart to shiver uncontrollably. Qi Ling immediately acknowledged before turning around and leaving. Qi Yuan watched Qi Ling leave before he lifted his head and looked in the direction of the royal palace as a cold voice echoed in the study, ¡°Zhou Qing, don¡¯t be so happy just because you won in the Great Zhou Institute affair. Once the Fire Spirit Grain falls into my hands, your royal clan will never be able to rise again!¡± ¡°Qi Manor will definitely win this time! When that happens, I make sure to let both father and son have a taste of what it¡¯s like to be stray dogs!¡± ¡­ Canglan County sat at the southwest border of the Great Zhou Empire and was quite some distance from Great Zhou City. At Zhou Yuan and group¡¯s current pace, it would take several weeks to reach their destination. Fortunately, there was the company of Yaoyao and Su Youwei. Under the sunlight, those two beautiful faces were a rare treat for Zhou Yuan, making the dull journey rather exhilarating instead. However, this feast for the eyes was quickly cut short by Yaoyao because she did not want to watch Zhou Yuan pass his days so comfortably. ¡°Since you look so free and your Spirit has reached the advance Illusory stage, I will teach you a grade 2 Genesis Rune.¡± In the carriage, Yaoyao threw a jade tablet at Zhou Yuan. The extremely complex rune on the tablet glowed faintly. ¡°This is a grade 2 Genesis Rune, Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune¡­ when drawn on the body, it will amplify the strength of one¡¯s body, greatly increasing one¡¯s power.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yuan joyfully caught the jade tablet. Grade 2 far surpassed grade 1. If he inscribed the Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune on his body, the resultanting power would make the previous Rampaging Bull Rune pale in comparison. ¡°How complicated.¡± Zhou Yuan shot a look at the complex rune on the jade tablet and could not help but frown. He estimated that the rune was made up of almost a thousand strokes. Without a strong Spirit, a few glances would definitely make one dizzy. Zhou Yuan shook his head, catching Su Youwei pursing her lips with a smile. She seemed to be amused by his pained look. ¡°What¡¯s there to see, don¡¯t think that you¡¯ll be let off either.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little miffed as he rolled his eyes at her. Subsequently, he fished out a jade strip and tossed it at Su Youwei. Su Youwei hastily caught the jade strip and asked in a puzzled manner, ¡°What is this?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°A low grade Black Genesis technique I took it from the royal treasury, Heavenly Luo Hand. It¡¯s pretty suitable for you.¡± Su Youwei grasped the jade strip as she said in a rather hesitant manner, ¡°Your highness, this is too precious.¡± She knew the value of a low grade Black Genesis technique. Even the Great Zhou Institute did not own any techniques of this level. It would at the very least cost several tens of thousands Genesis crystals, a price she would not be able to raise even if she sold herself. Zhou Yuan sternly said, ¡°We¡¯re not on a sightseeing trip. You¡¯re about to unblock your eighth meridian channel and reach the Qi Nourishing stage. If you manage to learn the Heavenly Luo Hand, you will have some battle power if we encounter any enemies.¡± Su Youwei gently bit her red lips. She was not an unreasonable person after all and soon tightly gripped the jade strip as she earnestly nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry your highness, I will master it as soon as possible!¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and nodded. Before leaving Great Zhou City, Zhou Qing had given him a mid grade Black Genesis technique, Emperor Extreme Seal. Unfortunately, this technique was too adamant and inflexible in nature, hence not suitable for Su Youwei. Therefore, he planned to leave it for himself. ¡°Looks like we can no longer relax.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. He then began to concentrate all his attention on the jade tablet as he slowly copied each stroke. Thus, the following few weeks were mostly spent studying the Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune. If he had any free time, he would use it to practice the Emperor Extreme Seal, making him awfully busy. As this high intensity studying continued, Zhou Yuan and gang slowly slowly approached Canglan County. However, before they reached their destination, a certain incident made Zhou Yuan have no choice but to slow their speed. After almost two months of training, Su Youwei had finally unblocked her eighth channel. And once all eight channels were unblocked, the Qi Dwelling would emerge. Su Youwei was about to step into the Qi Nourishing stage. Previous Chapte Chapter 61 Yin Yang Qi Dwelling In a certain spacious carriage. Su Youwei¡¯s eyes were tightly shut, her back straight, while her legs crossed together in a lotus position. Faint rumbling sounds could be heard as the surrounding Genesis Qi converged towards her and poured into her body. The rumbling sounds were due to the vibration of her eight channels, a precursor to the opening of a Qi Dwelling. There was both nervousness and curiosity on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he stared at her. This was the first time he would see someone establish a Qi Dwelling. While the swirling Genesis Qi caused Su Youwei¡¯s clothes to flap, Zhou Yuan lowered his gaze. He could sense streams of Genesis Qi swiftly gathering towards her lower abdomen area. The Qi Dwelling was one of the mysteries of the human body, seemingly present yet not and difficult to detect. Only when all eight meridian channels were unblocked would one be able to call out to the Qi Dwelling and open it, connecting it to the rest of the channels in the body. More and more Genesis Qi converged at Su Youwei¡¯s lower abdomen area. Moments later, a very faint bubbling sound was heard. It was as if a tiny hole had appeared and all of the Genesis Qi was sucked into it. At the same time, Zhou Yuan suddenly saw a cyan light appear at Su Youwei¡¯s lower abdomen, clearly visible even through her clothes. ¡°A cyan Qi Dwelling?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. Due to the varying circumstances of each individual, the Qi Dwelling opened was generally classified into four different tiers. The first was the most ordinary and common colorless Qi Dwelling. Second, the cyan Qi Dwelling, third, the purple Qi Dwelling and finally the golden Qi dwelling. A higher tier Qi Dwelling was tougher and could store more Genesis Qi. Everyone knew that the Qi Dwelling was a vessel to store Genesis Qi and would constantly expand through cultivation. Starting with a higher tier Qi Dwelling would undoubtedly be advantageous. In fights with those of the same cultivation level, not only would one¡¯s Genesis Qi would be stronger, more Genesis Qi would also allow one to last longer in battle. Yaoyao corrected, ¡°It is not cyan... ¡° Zhou Yuan was a little stunned. He concentrated and sure enough, he saw a tiny purple dot emerge as the cyan light grew deeper and deeper. Purple light gradually engulfed the cyan light. ¡°A purple Qi Dwelling!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face filled with emotion. Based on his knowledge, a cyan Qi Dwelling meant that one was pretty outstanding, while the even rarer purple Qi Dwelling was an indication of the most talented geniuses of crazy potential. ¡°I never imagined that Su Youwei¡¯s innate talent would be so great.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Although he could tell from her cultivation speed that she was very talented, he never expected that she would actually open a purple Qi Dwelling. The purple light intensified more and more before gradually fading away after some time. Su Youwei¡¯s tightly shut eyes opened at this moment, shooting out rays of Genesis Qi light. Her skin gleamed like jade as a feeling of pressure slowly unfurled from her body. The Qi Nourishing stage! ¡°Is this the Qi Nourishing stage? It is indeed something.¡± Zhou Yuan clicked his tongue in amazement. Su Youwei¡¯s aura was several times stronger than before, and even he felt a little pressured. According to his estimate, without the Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune, he would not be able gain any advantage in a fight against Su Youwei. ¡°Congratulations. Not only have you reached the Qi Nourishing stage, you have even opened a purple Qi Dwelling.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Su Youwei¡¯s pretty face was overflowing with joy. However, she frowned slightly a moment later and said in a somewhat hesitant manner, ¡°My Qi Dwelling feels a little strange.¡± Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were stunned, unable to understand what her words meant. Su Youwei was also a little puzzled as she elaborated, ¡°I do not know why but my Qi Dwelling feels as if it has been divided into two sections.¡± Zhou Yuan was completely lost. ¡°Aren¡¯t Qi Dwellings one complete body? What do you mean divided into two?¡± Yaoyao pondered for sometime before she suddenly approached Su Youwei, casting a backward glance at Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°Turn around.¡± Zhou Yuan was utterly confused but still turned around under Yaoyao¡¯s watching eyes. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan turn, Yaoyao then said to Su Youwei in a soft voice, ¡°Let me take a look.¡± Only after seeing Su Youwei nod did Yaoyao stretch out a hand and gently pull aside Su Youwei¡¯s clothes, revealing a tiny flat waist. The fair stomach was flat and supple to the touch, not even the slightest trace of excess fat could be seen. Su Youwei blushed a little. She now understood why Yaoyao had asked Zhou Yuan to turn around. Yaoyao shut her eyes as she gently touched Su Youwei¡¯s small stomach, her Spirit senses reaching out. A long while later, Yaoyao opened her eyes and withdrew her finger. A trace of surprise could be seen on her face. Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°Your Qi Dwelling is indeed split into two parts.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Yuan turned around and asked in a rather worried voice, ¡°Did something go wrong?¡± Yaoyao mulled for quite some time before she answered, ¡°Nothing is wrong. If my guess is correct, her Qi Dwelling is likely the legendary Yin Yang Qi Dwelling.¡± She had faintly sensed a Yin Yang Genesis Root in Su Youwei¡¯s body when helping the latter inscribe the Genesis Gathering Rune previously. It was a rather unique Genesis Root. Therefore, the strange development today was likely related to the Yin Yang Genesis Root. ¡°Yin Yang Qi Dwelling?¡± Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei looked at each other, they had obviously never heard of such a thing. ¡°Relax, a Yin Yang Qi Dwelling is not a bad thing but instead very advantageous.¡± Yaoyao waved her hand as if shooing away their worries. ¡°Advantageous?¡± ¡°Yes, its greatest advantage is that she is able to practice two different Qi cultivation methods at the same time.¡± Yaoyao lifted a snoring Tuntun into her arms, gently stroking it as a faint smile emerged on her lips. ¡°Two different Qi cultivation methods?¡± Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei were taken aback. Did this not mean that there would be two different kinds of Genesis Qi in the Qi Dwelling at the same time? Would the two different Qis not clash? ¡°If it was a normal Qi Dwelling, it would indeed only be capable of containing one type of Genesis Qi.¡± Yaoyao nodded as she spoke. ¡°But it is different for her. The Yin Yang Qi Dwelling is somewhat akin to having two Qi Dwellings. Thus, it is able to accommodate two Genesis Qi without them clashing.¡± ¡°However, you need to practice a Yin and a Yang attribute Qi cultivation method in future and absolutely must not practice dual Yin or dual Yang attribute Qi cultivation methods. Or else, your Yin Yang Qi Dwelling will be unable to maintain balance, ultimately resulting in the destruction of the Qi Dwelling.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°Moreover, there cannot be too huge of a gap in the grade of Yin and Yang Qi cultivation methods or equilibrium will be broken.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s expression turned stern as she continued, ¡°Although the Yin Yang Qi Dwelling is powerful, there are numerous restrictions. Of course, if you are one day able to break the partition in the Qi Dwelling and allow Yin and Yang to blend, you will definitely become an apex-like existence in this world.¡± Su Youwei blinked in a somewhat uneasy manner and looked at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was full of happiness. He quickly retrieved a jade strip from his clothes and said, ¡°Yang nature Qi Genesis method? It just so happens that the royal clan¡¯s Flame-Thunder mantra is of the Yang attribute.¡± ¡°Your highness, only those of the royal clan can learn this!¡± Su Youwei was startled. She had naturally heard of the royal clan¡¯s Flame-Thunder mantra. It was a Qi cultivation method that allowed one to generate grade 4 Genesis Qi, and its value far exceeded the Heavenly Luo Hand from before. ¡°It¡¯s only grade 4 Genesis Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan forced the jade strip into Su Youwei¡¯s hands. ¡°Truthfully speaking, its grade is a little unsatisfactory. Don¡¯t worry though, I may not have the capability now, but I will let you change to a better one in future.¡± In response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s overbearingness, Su Youwei could only bite her red lips as her slender fingers tightened around the jade strip. She ultimately did not reject as she gave Zhou Yuan a deep look with bright eyes that flickered with a little moisture, a sight that tugged a little at one¡¯s heart. ¡°Since he gave you a Yang attribute Qi cultivation method, I will provide a matching Yin attribute Qi cultivation method.¡± Yaoyao smiled upon seeing this and retrieved a jade strip from the Universe Bag at her hip before offering it to Su Youwei. A cold aura emanated from the jade strip. ¡°This is the Niflheim sutra and can cultivate grade 4 Niflheim Qi.¡± Su Youwei hesitated for a moment and looked towards Zhou Yuan. Only after a nod from the latter did she receive the jade strip and gratefully said, ¡°Thank you big sis Yaoyao!¡± Yaoyao offhandedly replied, ¡°It is only a grade 4 Qi cultivation method. When you grow stronger in future, you should try to find better Yin and Yang Qi cultivation methods.¡± ¡°However, you must remember that balance is key. If balance is broken, Yin and Yang will fall into chaos and you will suffer the consequences.¡± Su Youwei forcefully nodded. ¡°I will remember big sis Yaoyao.¡± Zhou Yuan enjoyed the sight of the two pretty girls from the side. One was elegant and pretty while the other was exquisite and aloof. It was like watching the moon and stars dance in the sky, a naturally relaxing sight. However, before he could admire any further, Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes swept towards him. ¡°Have you mastered the Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune yet?¡± A crestfallen Zhou Yuan could only turn his head around upon hearing this and continue studying the rune. Su Youwei could not help but cover her mouth to muffle her laughter when she saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s deflated look, while the corners of Yaoyao¡¯s lips turned slightly upwards. The two gorgeous faces made the inside of the carriage substantially brighter. Previous Chapte Chapter 62 Canglan County, Wei Qingqing Canglan County was sat on the southwest border of the Great Zhou Empire. By the time Zhou Yuan and his group reached the outskirts of the city, half a month had already passed. Zhou Yuan observed the gigantic city from the carriage. Compared to the grandness of Great Zhou City, Canglan City seemed a little menacing. It was after all close to the border and had a first row seat to the skirmishes that constantly broke out. Hence, a taunt aura of vigilance naturally surrounded the place. In addition, majority of the passersby gave off a faint bloody scent and varying Genesis Qi undulations. Canglan County neighboured Blackwater, and only god knew how many Genesis Masters gathered here first before heading to Blackwater to hunt Genesis Beasts or search for other opportunities. The Black Forest Mountain Range Zhou Yuan had went to previously was practically a child in comparison. Lu Tieshan rode over on his horse and reported in a strong voice, ¡°Your highness, Canglan City is just ahead, but we cannot enter the city because our numbers are too many and have to head for the neighbouring Canglan barracks instead.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s getting late. We¡¯ll go to the barracks and visit general Wei tomorrow.¡± Lu Tieshan acknowledged and turned around to pass the order. Soon after, the thousand men group transformed into a rumbling flood that flowed past the city, heading straight for the barracks. The approach of unfamiliar troops naturally drew a response from Canglan barracks. Dozens of riders quickly exited the barracks and rode towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Who goes there!¡± The riders blocked their path, a commander in red armor at their head. As Zhou Yuan and the rest approached, they realised that the commander was a girl. The red soft-armor she wore nicely wrapped around her rather toned figure. Below her scale-like battle skirt were a set of long slender legs that appeared even more enchanting when paired with her battle boots. Under her helmet was a cold yet pretty face, the long shapely eyebrows slightly erect, giving her an air of valiance. ¡°A captain of the imperial guard, Lu Tieshan.¡± Lu Tieshan gazed at the riders as he continued in a stern voice, ¡°We have come on orders of the king and plan to enter Canglan barracks.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s captain Lu.¡± The face of the red armor girl thawed slightly. It was clear that she had received news of their arrival. ¡°Wei Qingqing greets you.¡± ¡°Wei Qingqing?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook slightly when he heard this name. Wei Canglan had a son and a daughter whose name was Wei Qingqing. It seems that this daughter was valiant looking female commander before them. ¡°So it¡¯s general Wei¡¯s daughter.¡± Lu Tieshan cupped his fists together. Upon hearing this, Wei Qingqing indifferently said, ¡°The only one present here is Canglan army¡¯s second-in-command Wei Qingqing, there is no general Wei¡¯s daughter.¡± Lu Tieshan seemed to choke for a moment, before he helplessly nodded his head and moved to the side, revealing Zhou Yuan. ¡°This is his highness Zhou Yuan. He has come with me this time.¡± Wei Qingqing lifted her gaze and looked towards Zhou Yuan. She had originally never heard of the latter, but he had become quite a hot topic recently after the class ranking exam of the Great Zhou Institute. Word on the street was that their once crippled and unable to cultivate prince had defeated Qi Manor¡¯s second prince, Qi Yue. However, her brows quickly knitted together because she had spotted Yaoyao and Su Youwei at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. The two were extremely beautiful and made him look like one of those frivolous princes. ¡°So, it is prince Zhou Yuan.¡± Due to having a bad first impression, Wei Qingqing¡¯s face was stoic as she cupped her hands together while shaking her head inside. Looks like someone must have pulled some strings in the class ranking exam. She was truly unable to believe how a frivolous prince that would even bring along two beauties on a trip would be able to defeat Qi Yue, whom was rumoured to be rather talented. Ever since young, Wei Qingqing had a rather strong character and hated those scummy men whom indulged in pretty women. Else she would never have become a part of the Canglan army with her identity as a woman. ¡°Follow me. I will arrange a place for all of you to stay.¡± Wei Qingqing did not wait for Zhou Yuan to reply and immediately turned her horse around. ¡°Eh¡­¡± This sight caused Zhou Yuan to be a little baffled. Why did it seem that this girl held some dislike towards him? ¡°Let¡¯s go your highness. We have no choice but to keep a low profile on someone else¡¯s territory.¡± Lu Tieshan advised, afraid that Zhou Yuan had been angered. After all, their biggest goal was to bring Wei Canglan to their side. If Zhou Yuan fell out with Wei Qingqing here, it would likely worsen Wei Canglan¡¯s image of them. Zhou Yuan chuckled, showing that he did not mind. He had been on the receiving end of such treatment for many years and naturally would not be angered by Wei Qingqing¡¯s attitude. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand, indicating for the troops behind to follow. They quickly caught up to Wei Qingqing and entered the enormous Canglan army barracks. A thousand imperial guards poured into the barracks, drawing the attention of countless eyes as they passed. However, the majority of these gazes were filled with curiosity and provocation. The three strongest armies in the Great Zhou Empire were known to be the imperial guards, king Qi¡¯s army and the Canglan army. As troops that were equally well known for being the strongest, the Canglan army soldiers were naturally sizing up the imperial guards, hoping to see if the latter did truly have the qualifications to be as famous as themselves. While Zhou Yuan and group advanced, the crowd in front of them suddenly parted as several figures emerged. Wei Qingqing dismounted upon seeing them and muttered something under her breath. Zhou Yuan and Lu Tieshan also walked forward at this moment. Wei Qingqing turned around and said, ¡°These are the officers of Canglan army, and this is my elder cousin, Wei Ting.¡± She pointed towards a certain woman as she spoke. The latter was also clothed in a set of soft-armor that did nothing to hide her sexy figure. However, her facial features were not as pretty as Wei Qingqing¡¯s. Wei Ting¡¯s eyes swept across Zhou Yuan as a superficial smile emerged on her lips. ¡°Isn¡¯t this our famous prince? It must be so nice to have two beauties accompany you even on such a long journey.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned when he heard her words. He could sense that this woman seemed to have something against him. However, he soon found the reason behind her hostility. A tall and slim young man walked forward from the woman¡¯s side. He wore a set of white armor while his helmet was currently tucked under his arm, displaying a handsome smiling face. Faint but powerful Genesis Qi pulsed around him, evidence that he was a Qi Nourishing stage expert. Moreover, it was the advance Qi Nourishing stage! Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes faintly narrowed as he observed the young man in white armor. The latter¡¯s face was a little familiar. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s watching eyes, the white armor man approached with smile and said, ¡°You are prince Zhou Yuan? We can be said to have met before.¡± The white armor youth grinned as he extended a hand towards Zhou Yuan, however, the former¡¯s gaze was akin to a snake¡¯s. ¡°I am Qi Hao. I heard that my disappointing younger brother had one of his arms chopped off by your highness?¡± Zhou Yuan eyes hardened. As expected, this young man was Qi Yue¡¯s elder brother, Qi Hao. ¡°As the saying goes, punches and kicks have no eyes in a fight. No one else can be blamed for his lack of ability.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression and voice were calm as he also extended a hand to shake Qi Hao¡¯s. The smile on Qi Hao¡¯s face grew wider as he nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°Indeed, that brat does deserves to lose an arm.¡± He looked straight at Zhou Yuan and continued in a seemingly genuine voice, ¡°Us Canglan army brothers are very happy to hear that our guests today are the imperial guards. Your highness must absolutely attend the welcome party tonight.¡± ¡°Moreover, we army people are rather straightforward in nature. If your highness is unable to make it, I¡¯m afraid that everyone will feel that your highness is looking down on them.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids dipped a little as he replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since all of you are so welcoming, I will definitely make an appearance.¡± Qi Hao smiled and nodded before he said in a low voice, ¡°However, I feel that there is something I should warn your highness about first. Canglan County is right next to Blackwater, it won¡¯t be strange for even a prince to die here. Hence, your highness must be careful in this place.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and also lowered his voice, ¡°Then you should be even more careful. Since even a prince may die, a little manor prince dieing will be even more inconspicuous.¡± Hearty laughter erupted from Qi Hao as the two tightly grasped each others hand, before releasing at the same time. However, chilling murderous intent swelled in their clashing gazes. Previous Chapte Chapter 63 Awe in a Single Move Nighttime. Numerous bonfires burned in the enormous barracks, chasing away the darkness of the night as they illuminated half of the sky. At the very center of the barracks was a wide platform, several bonfires burning around it. Every bonfire was surrounded by soldiers who were happily drinking and eating, making noise that soared into the heavens. Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Su Youwei and Lu Tieshan were seated at the center. Opposite Zhou Yuan and his group, Wei Qingqing shot a look at at the two girls beside him and said, ¡°It must feel great to have beauties accompany you everywhere.¡± Yaoyao merely glanced at the Wei Qingqing and did not say anything. On the other hand, Su Youwei could not longer tolerate this girl¡¯s treatment towards Zhou Yuan. Hence, her red lips parted slightly as she retorted, ¡°Since deputy-commander Wei is also a lady, why do you treat other women as objects to be admired?¡± As she spoke, Genesis Qi trembled around Su Youwei, displaying her Qi Nourishing stage strength. Wei Qingqing was stunned. There was now an additional trace of seriousness when she looked at Su Youwei. The fact that she was able to reach the Qi Nourishing stage at her age definitely meant that she was a genius, and in no way a mere pretty vase to admire. ¡°I was blind, my apologies.¡± Wei Qingqing was rather straightforward and immediately gave Su Youwei a slight nod, showing that she was sorry. However, Wei Qingqing¡¯s frown grew even deeper than usual when she looked towards Zhou Yuan again, as if she felt that the company of such an outstanding girl was truly wasted on him. At this moment, Qi Hao suddenly smiled from beside Wei Qingqing and asked, ¡°Hehe, your highness, there are many brothers in Canglan army that are dying to exchange pointers with the brothers of the imperial guard and liven up the place abit. We hope to know his highness¡¯ opinion.¡± Loud cheers from the numerous surrounding Canglan army warriors followed. Their eyes were filled with the desire to battle. Zhou Yuan looked towards Lu Tieshan. The latter nodded and loudly said towards the imperial guards, ¡°Make sure to properly receive all challenges, do not lose the face of the imperial guards!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The ones who had been dispatched this time were the elite of the imperial guard, and hence naturally proud individuals. They had long been itching to respond to the repeated provocations from the Canglan army. A muscular figure shot out, landing on the stage as a powerful voice echoed, ¡°Imperial guard, Tong Wudi. Which brother from the Canglan army wants to have a go?!¡± Genesis Qi swirled around this figure, displaying his initial Qi Nourishing stage strength. He was one of the officers in the imperial guard. ¡°Haha, great! Canglan army, Sun Meng. I will entertain you!¡± A figure also shot out from the Canglan army side. He was clearly not any weaker than Tong Wudi. Cheers erupted from all around the moment both individuals got onto the stage. Both parties did not waste any time with words. After cupping their fists together, ferocious attacks exploded, causing dust to fly. Punches and kicks flew one after another, making the intensity of the fight more than clear. The atmosphere below the stage was explosive, troops from both sides madly shouting and cheering. The fight lasted for quite some time before ending in Tong Wudi¡¯s narrow victory, causing countless cheers to sound out once again. After the opening act, experts from both sides ascended the stage one after another. The intensity of the fights made the cheering around the stage rise and fall like waves. Zhou Yuan eagerly relished each fight. All of these warriors had been tempered by blood and fire, and their attacks were decisive and fierce, far surpassing the bouts between the students of the Great Zhou Institute. As the atmosphere grew more and more lively, Qi Hao suddenly stood up and said with a seemingly casual smile, ¡°I heard that your highness managed to turn around a pretty desperate situation during the class ranking exam and become pretty famous in Great Zhou. This has made us Canglan army brothers rather curious about your highness. Will you show us a thing or two to broaden our horizons?¡± The surrounding eyes swept over and stared at Zhou Yuan in interest. Everyone had heard of the rumors that their prince was unable to cultivate, and were thus very surprised when they heard news about the recent class ranking exam. ¡°He target is me after all.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He just knew that Qi Hao wanted to cause trouble for him tonight. The latter was clearly planning on making Zhou Yuan lose face in front of the Canglan army in an attempt to hurt the both his reputation and the royal clan¡¯s. So even if Wei Canglan chose to side with the royal clan in future, the Canglan army soldiers would feel that the royal clan was useless, allowing for other thoughts to rise in their minds. A seemingly small matter was in actuality filled with Qi Hao¡¯s evil intentions. Qi Hao grinned as he looked at Zhou Yuan. With a wave of the former¡¯s hand, a thin man stood up. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that his highness defeated my younger brother while he was using the Channel Breaker art to unlock all eight channels. So our Canglan army will send a true eight channel expert to test his highness abilities!¡± The smart Qi Hao did not send out a Qi Nourishing stage expert because no one would find it disgraceful for Zhou Yuan to lose. Therefore, someone who had unblocked all eight channels but had yet to open a Qi Dwelling was the most suitable opponent. It was more than clear that Qi Hao had put quite a lot of thought into this decision. ¡°Hehe. It is fine if your highness feels that there is no need. After all, us common folk and your highness live in completely different worlds.¡± Qi Hao sighed deeply as if he fully understood, but his intentions were extremely malicious. If Zhou Yuan were to reject at this point, the Canglan army soldiers would feel that he was looking down on them due to his status as prince. As such, their impression of him would naturally become rather negative. By the side, Wei Qingqing¡¯s expression changed. She had just realised Qi Hao¡¯s intentions and was about to speak up. Just as Wei Qingqing was about to speak, beside her, Wei Ting said to her ear, ¡°Qingqing, we should take this chance to see exactly how capable our prince is. The atmosphere in Canglan County has become a little restless due to the recent news regarding the ruins. If the prince does not have any ability and is humiliated, he will likely be unable to take it and leave, saving the rest of us some trouble.¡± Wei Qingqing hesitated a little upon hearing this but eventually nodded. Wei Ting did have a point. If Zhou Yuan was really not capable, returning to Great Zhou City would be the safer option so as to prevent inciting Zhou Qing¡¯s anger if anything unfortunate happened. Countless gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan at this moment, waiting for his reply. Under their gazes, Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked at the grinning Qi Hao before suddenly smiling, ¡°Since everyone is in such high spirits, I can¡¯t possibly ruin the mood.¡± How could he not know Qi Hao¡¯s intentions. However, Qi Hao was a little too gullible if he believed that this would suppress Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan stood up, jumped and landed on the stage as the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his hand. The martial form was immediately activated, causing the brush to grow into a long spear. The Heavenly Yuan Brush pointed to a ground at a slanted angle as a faint smile emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Come on up, we¡¯ll count it as my defeat if you manage to receive a single blow from me.¡± ¡°Oh oh oh!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s words instantly drew countless strange noises from the watching crowd. Soldiers from the both the Canglan army and the imperial guard could not help but cheer. Disregard Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength for the moment, just his boldness alone was very to their liking. Wei Qingqing was momentarily stunned before she remarked, ¡°Bold words.¡± Beside her, Wei Ting smirked in disdain. Qi Hao chuckled softly before retrieving a long fiery-red blade and handing it to the lean man. ¡°Go. If you win, this mid grade Genesis Weapon will be yours.¡± The lean man quickly received the weapon, joy bubbling in his eyes. A mid grade Genesis Weapon was worth over a thousand Genesis crystals, something that a soldier like him would never be able to afford. Blade in hand, the lean man leapt onto the stage, eyes practically burning as he stared at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan ignored the searing gaze, his expression akin to deathly still water. The surrounding Genesis Qi flowed into his body through his nose and a split second later, he suddenly shot forward, headed straight for the lean man. ¡°High grade Genesis skill, Flaming Blade Beheader!¡± The lean man did not dare to delay. With a roar, he grasped the blade with both hands and swung it downwards as flames emerged on its body. It was an extremely deadly chop that gave off an air of violence. It was evident that the lean man¡¯s strength was top tier amongst eight channel practitioners. His attack was both fiercer and more ruthless than Qi Yue¡¯s had been during the class ranking exam. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body did not even flinch in response to such a powerful blow. His charge continued, the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush bringing up sparks as it streaked across the ground. Huu. Zhou Yuan suddenly took in a deep breath as Genesis Qi poured into his body. With a sudden jolt of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, green light spilled from its tip. ¡°Auraflare technique!¡± This time, the green aura extended several inches from the brush tip. This combined with the power of the Heavenly Yuan Brush far exceeded the time when Zhou Yuan had used it during the class ranking exam. Swish! The Heavenly Yuan Brush was thrust like a spear as his body shot forward, accompanied by a piercing sound while it shredded even the air itself. In the end, the brush clashed against the flaming blade of the lean man under the watching eyes of the crowd. Clang! The sound of metal against metal rang out as sparks flew. At the same time, everyone watched as one of the figures miserably shot backwards, taking step after step on the ground, only managing to steady himself several dozen steps later. Uproar! While he was stabilizing his body, everyone looked towards him before bursting out into noise. The figure was the eight channel lean man. No one had expected him to be incapable of handling even a single blow from Zhou Yuan! The lean man¡¯s face was filled with shock. He slowly raised the fiery-red long blade in his hand, only to discover the numerous cracks that had emerged on its body, before it shattered soon after¡­ Astonishment rose in the eyes the onlookers. Did prince Zhou Yuan just destroy a mid grade Genesis Weapon? Just how much power was needed to do that? Near a certain bonfire, Wei Qingqing¡¯s eyes widened slightly when she saw this. She could clearly feel just how destructive Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous blow had been. Even an initial Qi Nourishing stage expert would feel threatened by its power. A sliver of amazement flashed in Wei Qingqing¡¯s eyes as she stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure and mumbled, ¡°So the rumors are true.¡± On the stage, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand was slanted towards the ground as he smiled, ¡°Thanks for letting me win.¡± Qi Hao had believed that sending someone who was about to open a Qi Dwelling would be enough to defeat Zhou Yuan, but the former never imagined that Zhou Yuan had grown stronger after the class ranking exam and unblocked his seventh meridian channel. It was likely that only a handful of people under the Qi Nourishing stage would be capable of receiving a single blow from the current him. *Cheer*! Countless Canglan army soldiers burst out into cheers below the stage. Respect and admiration was now present in the eyes that looked towards Zhou Yuan. His beautiful move had evidently won over all of these soldiers who respected the strong. ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan! Prince Zhou Yuan!¡± No one knew who started it, but deafening cheers began to sound out one by one, echoing across the entire barracks. Beside one of the bonfires, Qi Hao¡¯s face appeared a little rigid under the fire light. It was obvious that he never imagined his original plan to ruin Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation would instead do the opposite. The prince from Great Zhou City had gained the acknowledgement of the Canglan army warriors. This was a little akin to a certain saying: go for the wool and come home shorn. Previous Chapte Chapter 64 Master Ying After returning to his seat beside the bonfire, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the changes in how everyone looked at him. There was no longer any scrutiny, but instead admiration and surprise. ¡°It seems that it is true, you did defeat Qi Yue.¡± Wei Qingqing¡¯s bright eyes glowed with amazement as she stared at Zhou Yuan. She had previously been under the impression that something fishy had been going on during the class ranking exam, but the formidable attack Zhou Yuan showed earlier had stunned even someone like herself. Only a handful of people under the Qi Nourishing stage would be capable of receiving such a strike. ¡°I was blind previously. Please accept this toast as an apology.¡± The straightforward Wei Qingqing raised her winecup towards Zhou Yuan and downed it in a single gulp. Her motions were confident and contained no traces of deception. Zhou Yuan smiled as he returned the toast. The tiny bit of sulkiness he had from before due to Wei Qingqing¡¯s tartness has faded away. In fact, he rather admired the latter¡¯s forthcoming attitude. Beside Wei Qingqing, Wei Ting smirked and said, ¡°Hehe, prince Zhou Yuan does indeed have some skill. However, the extremely dangerous Blackwater is located right next to Canglan County. Defeating an eight channel practitioner is really no reason to feel secure. I¡¯m afraid that your highness will still have to be a little more careful while you¡¯re here.¡± Zhou Yuan faintly smiled in response. ¡°There is no need for you to worry too much on my behalf.¡± He could tell that Wei Ting was a little smitten with Qi Hao and as the saying went, if you loved someone, you¡¯ll also hate his enemies. Thus, Zhou Yuan could feel that she was pitting herself against him. However, it did not really matter to him. Wei Ting was only Wei Canglan¡¯s niece, and her status nowhere near as important as Wei Qingqing¡¯s. Qi Hao¡¯s rigid expression recovered at this moment, a smile emerging on his face once again as he said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°Your highness is pretty good. No wonder my unworthy little brother lost to you.¡± Zhou Yuan replied with a slight smile, ¡°It¡¯s mostly thanks to Qi Manor¡¯s Auraflare technique.¡± Qi Hao¡¯s face instantly blackened. Even someone as shrewd as himself was barely able to hold back a spew of vulgarities in response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. Yet, he could not refute those words because they were true. Zhou Yuan had used Qi Manor¡¯s Auraflare technique to defeat both Qi Yue and the eight channel man from earlier. Qi Hao¡¯s eyes were stormy as he said, ¡°Your highness should be careful. Things that belong to Qi Manor are not so easily swallowed!¡± ¡°Then I hope that no one else will deliver such treasures to me again.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Murder flowed in their eyes as they looked at each other. *Cough*! Suddenly, a soft cough from Wei Qingqing broke the tension as she shot each of them a glance and said in a calm voice, ¡°This is Canglan County. Regardless of how huge of a grudge there is between you two, it is best that neither of you breaks Canglan County¡¯s rules.¡± As Wei Canglan¡¯s daughter, how could she not know of the terrible relationship between the royal clan and Qi Manor. But since Wei Canglan chose to be neutral, they naturally would not help either party. Qi Hao¡¯s smile became gentle as his gaze shifted towards Wei Qingqing, before he approached her and said, ¡°Qingqing, I will bring someone to pay a visit to great general tomorrow.¡± Wei Qingqing frowned. ¡°My father is not in a good mood recently. I hope that you will not disturb him.¡± She knew that Qi Hao¡¯s goal was to draw great general Wei to Qi Manor¡¯s side. By Wei Qingqing¡¯s side, Wei Ting hurriedly smiled as she interjected, ¡°Ai yah Qingqing, don¡¯t say such things. I heard Qi Hao tried very hard to find a master highly proficient in Genesis Runes. This master is especially proficient in expelling poisons and Qi Hao likely hopes to help little Bin this time.¡± Wei Qingqing was taken aback. Her expression was now a little warmer when she looked at Qi Hao. The biggest concern of the Wei family was to expel the poison in her little brother. After all, he was the only son of the entire Wei family. Her little brother¡¯s worsening condition was the reason for her father¡¯s troubled self. Wei Qingqing asked in a rather nervous manner, ¡°A master proficient in expelling poisons? Will it work?¡± The Dao of Genesis Runes was both broad and deep. Hence, some support base Genesis Runes existed which were capable of expelling poisons. Qi Hao replied, ¡°This master is proficient in grade 3 Genesis Runes.¡± ¡°Grade 3 Genesis Runes.¡± Wei Qingqing¡¯s pretty eyes brightened. Such talent was extremely rare even in the entire Great Zhou Empire. Looks like Qi Hao had indeed invested a great deal of time and effort. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to thank you.¡± Wei Qingqing nodded as a smile emerged on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, it¡¯s only natural that I do so. As his big bro, seeing little Bin¡¯s state makes my heart ache.¡± Qi Hao smiled, continuously trying to better the relationship between them through his words. Zhou Yuan frowned as he observed from the side with the cool eyes of a bystander. It seems that Qi Manor was becoming more and more aggressive, even investing a lot of thought into this issue and inviting a Genesis Rune expert over.If they managed to cure Wei Bin, the Wei family would owe them a huge debt of gratitude. When that happened, even someone like Wei Canglan would likely be shaken no matter how firm on neutrality he currently seemed. Moreover, Zhou Yuan¡¯s most important mission this time was to ensure Wei Canglan did not side with Qi Manor. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered with thought, before he lifted his head and smiled at Wei Qingqing. ¡°It just so happens that we also intend to pay great general Wei a visit tomorrow.¡± Wei Qingqing responded with a nod, before once againing turned towards Qi Hao and began bombarding him with questions regarding the background of the Genesis Rune expert. It was clear that this was very important to her. Qi Hao wore a slight smile of his face, a pleased look flitting across his eyes as he shot a glance at Zhou Yuan. ¡­ As the sky grew darker, the welcome party came to an end. A complentatize look decorated Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he and his group returned to their allocated lodgings. Beside him, Lu Tieshan¡¯s expression was rather grim. After a quick scan of their surroundings, he said in a low voice, ¡°Your highness, if Qi Hao really manages to cure Wei Bin, our situation here will become rather problematic.¡± Receiving such a huge favor would likely make Wei Canglan lean towards Qi Manor. After all, Wei Bin was the only son of the Wei family and only he could carry on their bloodline. Zhou Yuan gravely nodded. Soon after, he looked towards Yaoyao and asked, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, will you accompany me tomorrow?¡± Yaoyao slightly rotated her head, casting a glance at Zhou Yuan. Even under the night sky, her gorgeous face gave off a faint jade glow. ¡°When the time comes, I will help you take a look.¡± After speaking, entered her tent with Tuntun in her arms. Zhou Yuan could only worriedly scratch his head in response to her curt answer. ¡­ The next day. Zhou Yuan, Lu Tieshan, Yaoyao and Su Youwei saw the waiting Wei Qingqing, Qi Hao and the rest when they arrived at the east gate of the barracks. However, there was now one more person at Qi Hao¡¯s side, a grizzled hair old man. This elder had a pair of sunken eyes which appeared rather cold and stern. His expression was indifferent, making him appear rather arrogant. Before this elder, even Wei Qingqing was wearing a slight smile on her face. ¡°Your highness, are all of you ready?¡± Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan and his group of four had arrived, Wei Qingqing smiled before pointing at the elder beside her and said, ¡°This is master Ying, the Genesis Rune master Qi Hao invited to help expel the poison in my little brother.¡± After hearing Wei Qingqing¡¯s introduction, master Ying swept an indifferent glance at Zhou Yuan and gave a slight nod, his expression still filled with arrogance. The strength of a master that could draw grade 3 Genesis Runes was comparable to a Heaven Gate stage practitioner. However, such masters were very rare in the Great Zhou Empire. ¡°A mere grade 3 Genesis Rune and he dares to call himself a master. The one beside me hasn¡¯t even said anything.¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled in his heart as he nodded at master Ying. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Wei Qingqing did not waste any more time, evidently rather anxious. With a wave of her hand, her steed shot forward, galloping straight towards Canglan County city. Qi Hao pulled the reins of his horse, coming to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side with a playful smile as he said in a low voice, ¡°Your highness, I¡¯m afraid that Canglan County will no longer welcome you after today. I suggest that you scram back to Great Zhou City as soon as possible.¡± With a loud laugh, he kicked his horse and the fiery-red steed also shot forward. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned frosty as he watched Qi Hao¡¯s leaving figure. Without further ado, Zhou Yuan also waved his hand, bringing the group along as they swiftly caught up. He was still somewhat doubtful. Why did a master proficient in grade 3 Genesis Runes have such confidence in dealing with the Black Venom King¡¯s poison? A poison that even an Alpha-Origin stage practitioner would be greatly wary of. He really wanted to see just what kind of tricks Qi Hao was going to pull today! Previous Chapte Chapter 65 Getting Rid of the Poison The general¡¯s residence stood at the center of Canglan County city and was undoubtedly the most well guarded place in the entire city. In fact, detachments of patrolling guards could be seen patrolling the streets as the group neared their destination. Fortunately, with Wei Qingqing leading them, they did not face any obstructions all the way to the general¡¯s residence. The group got off their horses and entered the residence, walking past several corridors and courtyards before finally arriving at the main hall. The moment they stepped through the doors, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze was cast towards the master¡¯s seat where a middle aged man was seated. He wore purple robes and appeared rather lean, while numerous little black dots were visible on his face. An extremely strong presence emanated from his body as he sat there, causing Zhou Yuan and the rest to feel some pressure. Evidently, this middle aged man in purple was the great general of the Great Zhou Empire, Wei Canglan. Wei Qingqing called out as she entered the main hall, ¡°Father.¡± Wei Canglan raised his head and looked at the group. His gaze paused on Zhou Yuan for a moment as he rose and said in an indifferent voice, ¡°Wei Canglan greets his highness Zhou Yuan.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. ¡°Zhou Yuan greets great general. Father has asked me to ask how you are doing.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s expression did not change as he replied in a flat voice, ¡°I¡¯m not doing too great.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes lowered slightly. It was obvious that Wei Canglan still held a grudge from his response. After answering Zhou Yuan, Wei Canglan turned his gaze towards Qi Hao and the elder beside him. ¡°I believe that this honoured guest is master Ying right? I have long heard of you.¡± His cold face grew much kinder at this moment, clearly aimed at master Ying. ¡°Greetings great general.¡± Master Ying withdrew his arrogance in front of Wei Canglan, respectfully bowing as he cupped his fists together. Wei Canglan asked, ¡°I heard from my little girl that master is adept in the art of Genesis Runes and specializes in poison expelling Genesis Runes?¡± Master Ying smiled slightly as he answered, ¡°General¡¯s son has been afflicted by the Devil Miasma Poison, right? I once encountered this poison while in Blackwater and ultimately managed to neutralize it.¡± Upon hearing these words, Wei Qingqing¡¯s face immediately filled with joy, growing respect in her eyes as she looked at master Ying. Even a smile had emerged on Wei Canglan¡¯s solemn face. Wei Canglan cupped his fists and said, ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to trouble master Ying. I will be greatly thankful if you cure my son!¡± Qi Hao smiled a little at this moment. ¡°Great general need not be so courteous. It¡¯s mostly thanks to my father that we managed to invite master Ying this time.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s expression fluctuated for a moment. Qi Hao¡¯s words were clear. Accepting master Ying¡¯s help would be akin to accepting Qi Manor¡¯s good will. Although this did not mean that they would now side with Qi Manor, Canglan County¡¯s neutral position would be slightly affected. Wei Canglan shot a glance at Zhou Yuan as he hesitated for a while. However, his love for his only son ultimately won and he said in a low voice, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to thank Qi Manor for their kindness. If my son is cured, I will surely pay a visit to give my thanks.¡± A grin was revealed on Qi Hao¡¯s face as he covetedly swept a pleased glance at Zhou Yuan. If Wei Canglan visited Qi Manor, it would undoubtedly signal to numerous factions that the great general¡¯s faction was no longer neutral. This would undoubtedly affect the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s current state of affairs. Zhou Yuan was expressionless as he lowered his gaze slightly, while anxiety flitted across Lu Tieshan¡¯s eyes. Wei Qingqing cast them an apologetic look but did not say anything. The poison in Wei Ben was a thorn in their entire family¡¯s hearts, and they had did all they could to help him recover. Now that such a hard to come by chance to resolve the problem had appeared, they were naturally unwilling to give up on it. Wei Canglan was rather anxious as his gaze turned towards master Ying. ¡°There is no time to lose, please start the treatment.¡± Master Ying responded with an indifferent nod. Upon seeing this, Wei Canglang said to Wei Qingqing, ¡°Qingqing, arrange a place for prince Zhou Yuan to rest.¡± Zhou Yuan interjected at this moment, ¡°Great general, please allow us come along and have a look. It just so happens that I too study the art of Genesis Runes, and hope to observe master Ying¡¯s techniques such that I may learn a thing or two.¡± Wei Canglan hesitated for a while. It was not appropriate for him to reject since he had done a disservice to Zhou Yuan earlier and thus looked towards master Ying. Master Ying merely swept an eye at Zhou Yuan as a smile of disdain formed on his mouth. ¡°Since your highness is also proficient in the ways of Genesis Runes, feel free to follow and have a look. However, my skills are not so easily learnt.¡± Evidently, he was under the impression that Zhou Yuan wanted to steal his techniques. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Wei Canglan did not waste any more time upon seeing this and led the way out of the hall, heading towards the rear courtyard, while everyone else quickly followed. A spacious and brightly lit room was located in the rear courtyard. Wei Canglan practically flooded in with the rest. As Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes swept around the place, he saw a young nine year old boy on the bed. The boy¡¯s face was sickly pale, and black dots could be seen all over body, dots that gave off a foul smell. Currently, the boy was shyly peeking at the huge group that had entered. When Wei Qingqing saw this, she hurriedly walked forward and soothed him in a soft voice, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid little brother, they have come to help you get rid of the poison.¡± There was no longer any trace of the valiance she had displayed in the barracks. Wei Canglan tenderly gazed at the young boy as he walked forward and gently stroked the latter¡¯s head. Subsequently, hope-filled eyes turned towards master Ying. ¡°Please help him master.¡± Master Ying strutted over as Wang Canglan hastily gave up his seat. After being seated, master Ying looked at the black spots on Wei Bin¡¯s body and said, ¡°The poison has already entered deep into the bone. This is very serious indeed. If delayed any longer, I¡¯m afraid that he would not longer be able to keep his life.¡± The moment these words were said, Wei Qingqing paled, while Wei Canglan¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Master, you have to save my little brother!¡± Wei Qingqing begged with red eyes. Qi Hao stepped forward, his hand landing on Wei Qingqing¡¯s shoulder as he consoled in soft voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry Qingqing, master Ying will definitely save him.¡± Wei Qingqing promptly nodded, taking no notice of the hand that was now on her shoulder. Master Ying smiled as he nodded and pridefully said, ¡°General Wei and miss Wei can rest easy. Since I have come, I¡¯m naturally confident in dealing with the poison.¡± ¡°Undress young master Wei.¡± Master Ying instructed with a wave of his hand. A servant girl immediately stepped forward from the side and very carefully removed Wei Bin¡¯s clothes, revealing the black dots and pale body underneath. Master Ying retrieved a dark grey Genesis Brush from his waist, concentrating slightly as the brush descended. The brush tip flickered as it slowly painted cryptic stroke after stroke on Wei Bin¡¯s body. Everyone held their breaths, afraid to make even the slightest noise. Wei Qingqing¡¯s and Wei Canglan¡¯s faces were filled with anxiety and hope, while Qi Hao wore a faint smile. There was a pleased look in his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and the rest from time to time, as if victory was already in his grasp. Zhou Yuan was expressionless, while a restless Lu Tieshan tightly clenched his fists. They knew that their situation in Canglan County would become extremely thorny if master Ying succeeded in curing Wei Bin. Moreover, the subsequent contest for the treasure of the ruins would become extremely disadvantageous. After all, given their strength, it would be very difficult to put up a fight against those from Blackwater without Wei Canglan¡¯s support. The implications of this matter were really far too great. While varying expressions decorated everyone¡¯s faces, Yaoyao carried Tuntun in her arms, her beautiful face indifferent and her bright eyes faintly flickering as she observed the Genesis Rune being drawn by master Ying. Previous Chapte Chapter 66 Exposed Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 67 Thousand Poison Eroding Rune Looks of gratitude were revealed on Wei Canglan''s and Wei Qingqing''s faces when they saw Zhou Yuan nod. Although they were somewhat skeptical of how Zhou Yuan would be able to neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison, they had no choice but to grasp this final straw. Zhou Yuan walked to the bedside, swept a glance at the hopeful eyes of the young boy that was looking back at him, and let out a bitter laugh. He then turned towards Yaoyao and asked in a low voice, ¡°How do I save him?¡± Who better understood his own capabilities than himself? None of the Genesis Runes he had mastered were able to neutralize poisons. Yaoyao''s red lips curled slightly upon seeing Zhou Yuan''s appearance, before she raised her head and said to Wei Canglan, ¡°He says that he needs to make some preparations, it''ll take about ten days.¡± Wei Canglan was stunned. ¡°What is needed? I might be able to help.¡± ¡°Just some ingredients for the Genesis Rune, there''s no need to trouble general Wei.¡± Wei Canglan warmly said, ¡°I will immediately prepare a guest room in my residence for your highness and the rest to stay over this period. It''s safe here and no mishaps will occur.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded as he shot a glance at Yaoyao. The latter''s earlier performance made him feel a little less guilty. After all, Yaoyao was not someone who messed around. It was likely that she had her reasons for doing things this way. Zhou Yuan regained his cool and slowly said,¡°Great general, I can save young master Wei, but I have two conditions.¡± Wei Canglan solemnly replied, ¡°Please speak your highness. Wei Bin is the only son of my Wei family and I will not hesitate to even give my life.¡± Zhou Yuan did not waste time with frivolities and directly stated his goal, ¡°First, I hope that great general will aid me in obtaining the Fire Spirit Grain and Jade Infant Fruit.¡± Wei Canglan was not surprised. After pondering for a while, he responded, ¡°The information regarding the recent discovery in the ruins has already spread in Canglan County and Blackwater. Hence, an intense battle will not be avoidable.It is likely that even the Black Venom King will also participate.¡± Murder overflowed in Wei Canglan''s eyes at the mention of the Black Venom King. ¡°However, if your highness is really able to save Wei Bin, the Canglan army will do everything we can!¡± Wei Canglan''s deep voice rang out. In his eyes, Wei Bin''s life was number one. Wei Canglan''s decisiveness somewhat shocked Zhou Yuan. Soon after, he chuckled and said, ¡°As for the second condition, I''ve heard of a certain item belonging to the general''s residence, the Genesis Swallowing Rock. I hope to request this item from you.¡± ¡°The Genesis Swallowing Rock huh¡­¡± Wei Canglan fell into thought. He eventually nodded and said, ¡°Although it is a treasure, it is nothing compared to my son''s life.¡± ¡°As long as your highness saves my son, these two conditions are no problem at all!¡± Having come to an agreement, happiness flitted across Zhou Yuan''s eyes. He cupped his fists together and declared, ¡°I will do my best to neutralize the poison in young master Wei.¡± Wei Canglan smiled and said, ¡°Great. Qingqing, bring his highness to their lodgings and ensure that they are well received.¡± Wei Qingqing nodded and turned towards Zhou Yuan. A rare gentle smile decorated her pretty face, her long legs taking a step forward as she proceeded to lead the group. Wei Canglan watched them leave as he began to frown. After guiding Zhou Yuan and the rest, Wei Qingqing returned the room. She hesitated somewhat before she asked, ¡°Will prince Zhou Yuan really be able to get rid off the Devil Miasma Poison?¡± Although master Ying was repulsize, he was still rather skilful in Genesis Runes. No matter how one looked at it, Zhou Yuan had inferior Genesis Rune abilities. Wei Canglan''s expression was rather complicated. A soft sigh escaped his lips, before he replied, ¡°The only option left to us now is to treat a dead horse as if it were alive. I hope that he is not lieing, or else, I will chase him out of Canglan County even if he is the prince of Great Zhou. ¡° ¡­ Guest room of the great general''s residence. Once through the door, Lu Tieshan worriedly looked at Zhou Yuan, ¡°Your highness, are you truly able to neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison?¡± Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes in response, ¡°You''re asking me? Then who should I ask?¡± Lu Tieshan smiled bitterly. ¡°Then I''m afraid that we will be chased out of Canglan County ten days later.¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head before turning towards the currently leisurely seated Yaoyao, who was toying with Tuntun, as he inquired with an awkward smile, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, isn''t this sabotaging me? Given your mastery of Genesis Runes, won''t the Devil Miasma Poison problem be easily resolved with a wave of your hand?¡± Yaoyao carried Tuntun in her arms, her slender finger lightly tapping it''s head as she lifted her gaze, ¡°That fellow must be dreaming if he believes I will help after threatening me earlier. You wish.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan''s mouth twitched. To think that this little goddess would actually be so petty. By the side, Su Youwei covered her mouth, hiding her smile. Zhou Yuan sat himself beside Yaoyao, a pained look on his face as he said, ¡°I don''t know anything about poison neutralizing Genesis Runes. In addition, the Devil Miasma Poison is a really thorny problem. How will I resolve this?¡± Yaoyao replied in an offhand manner, ¡°I''ll teach you.¡± ¡°I can''t draw grade 3 Genesis Runes.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter chuckle. The current level of his Spirit allowed him to at best draw grade 2 Genesis Runes. As for grade 3, it would have to wait till his Spirit reached the advanced Illusory stage. ¡°Who says you need to draw a grade 3 Genesis Rune?¡± Yaoyao rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan. ¡°That old man could only depend on a grade 3 Genesis Rune to suppress the Devil Miasma Poison because he is too useless.¡± ¡°In the following ten days, I will teach you a grade 2 Genesis Rune known as the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune and a grade 1 poison expelling rune. After which, it should not be difficult to neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison as long as you follow my instructions.¡± Yaoyao took out a white piece of paper and wrote some things on it before passing it to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Additionally, quickly prepare the ingredients written here.¡± Zhou Yuan received the paper and took a quick glance. His expression immediately changed as he burst out, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, isn''t this too ruthless? All of these are poisonous blood from various Genesis Beasts. Are you trying to kill young master Wei?¡± Every item written on the paper was poisonous in nature. This caused Zhou Yuan to wonder if Yaoyao was still mad at the Weis. Yaoyao unhappily retorted, ¡°Nonsense, these are all ingredients for the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune. This is called fighting poison with poison!¡± Zhou Yuan worriedly asked, ¡°Nothing will go wrong, right?¡± Young master Wei was in terrible health. If Zhou Yuan caused the former''s death by accident, he would never be able to wash away this sin. Wei Canglan may even go crazy and make Zhou Yuan accompany his son in death¡­ Yaoyao ignored him this time and turned around to continuing toying with Tuntun. Zhou Yuan could only force a smile as he handed the paper to Lu Tieshan. ¡°Prepare these items.¡± Lu Tieshan''s face also twitched when he saw the list. In the end, he did not say anything and proceeded to comply. But from the looks of it, it was clear that he had already begun to make preparations with regards to escaping. Zhou Yuan looked at Yaoyao again. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, when shall we start the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune lessons?¡± Yaoyao stretched, displaying her amazing curves. She stood up with Tuntun in her arms and lazily said, ¡°Tomorrow. I''m too tired today.¡± After speaking, she brought Su Youwei along into the inner courtyard. Zhou Yuan watched the two gorgeous figures leave as thoughts of the ruthless Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune swirled in his head. In the end, he could only shake his head with a sigh. ¡°What a petty big sis.¡± ¡°My big sis Yaoyao is really something. She may not be full of vicious words, but one really cannot afford to offend her.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 68 Preparation In the following ten days, all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s energy was invested into learning the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune. After all, the method Yaoyao had chosen this time was a little on the fiercer side, and it was very likely that the sickly Wei Bin would die if even the slightest mishap occurred. Therefore, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to redouble his enthusiasm to ensure that he would not be killed by a Wei Canglan turned crazy due to the loss of his only son. Fortunately, his Genesis Rune talent was pretty good, plus his Spirit had reached the advance Illusory stage. Therefore, it was not too strenuous for him to learn a new grade 2 Genesis Rune. After about seven days, Zhou Yuan had managed to grasp the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune. Next, he would have to practice. ¡­ Great general¡¯s residence, the study. Wei Canglan raised his head, looking towards Wei Qingqing as he asked, ¡°What has prince Zhou Yuan been up to these past few days?¡± Wei Qingqing hesitated for a while before answering, ¡°He seems to be practicing Genesis Runes.¡± Since Zhou Yuan was staying in the great general¡¯s residence, every little thing he did was naturally easy to monitor. Wei Canglan¡¯s face twitched. Was this a hasty last-minute effort? What exactly was prince Zhou Yuan doing? ¡°Besides this¡­ I have discovered that Lu Tieshan has recently bought several things in the city.¡± Wei Qingqing hesitated somewhat, but eventually retrieved a piece of paper and handed it to Wei Canglan. Recorded on the paper were the poisonous ingredients Zhou Yuan had asked Lu Tieshan to purchase. Wei Canglan received the paper and took a look. His face soon began to twitch once again. If he was not certain of Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity, he would suspect that Zhou Yuan had a secret motive. ¡°Father, are we really going to let prince Zhou Yuan treat little brother? Should we find someone else instead?¡± Asked Wei Qingqing. Zhou Yuan¡¯s situation really made one apprehensive after all. Wei Canglan sighed. ¡°Have we not already spent so much time and effort searching? If the Black Venom King¡¯s Devil Miasma Poison was so easy to neutralize, he would not be reigning as a tyrant in Blackwater for so many years.¡± ¡°Now¡­ we can only place our trust in prince Zhou Yuan.¡± Wei Canglan swept a glance in the direction of the guest courtyard as his eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Moreover, this prince of ours is very intelligent. He should clearly understand what will happen if he thoughtlessly treats little Bin.¡± Wei Qingqing nodded when she heard this. Zhou Yuan had been both earnest and serious back then, even stating all his conditions. He would not do dare to do so unless he had some confidence, else it would only be akin to humiliating himself. ¡°Then we¡¯ll wait during these final three days. I hope that he will be able to save little brother.¡± Wei Qingqing sighed. Wei Bin¡¯s poison had already become a disease in the hearts of their Wei family. If this disease was not eliminated, the great general¡¯s residence will continue to be choked by its stifling atmosphere. Zhou Yuan had brought them a sliver of hope, but it was unknown whether this hope would turn into even greater despair. ¡­ A certain large manor in the city. ¡°Hehe, Zhou Yuan¡¯s self-confidence is really something. To have even stated all of his conditions already.¡± In the room, Wei Ting stood before a stormy-face Qi Hao. It was evident that he had obtained news of Zhou Yuan¡¯s current situation in the great general¡¯s residence from her. Wei Ting remarked in disdain, ¡°That kid is very arrogant indeed. Even the master Ying you invited was unable to neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison, what does someone like him think he can do?¡± ¡°Is there any other news?¡± Asked Qi Hao. Wei Ting beamed as she pressed against Qi Hao, while the latter reached out an arm and wrapped it around her slender waist. Subsequently, Wei Ting fished out a piece of paper from her sleeve. ¡°This is a list of things Lu Tieshan recently bought in the city.¡± Qi Hao received the paper and took a look. His brows immediately furrowed. ¡°All of these items are poisonous. Just what exactly are they up to?¡± He pondered for a moment, but did not arrive at any answer. Thus, he could only coldly chuckle and say, ¡°Let them do what they want, we¡¯ll see whether Wei Canglan will go mad if Wei Bin ends up dead due to their shenanigans.¡± He too did not believe that Zhou Yuan had the ability to neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison. Qi Hao said, ¡°Tingting, help me keep a good eye on Zhou Yuan in the great general¡¯s residence and inform me at once if anything occurs. In addition, if he makes any mistakes, find a chance to secretly fan the flames and thoroughly anger Wei Canglan. We cannot allow Zhou Yuan to leave the great general¡¯s residence alive.¡± ¡°Besides all this, Wei Qingqing will definitely be heartbroken if Wei Bin dies at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. When that happens, ask her out for me. Her guard will be greatly lowered and it will be the best time for me to take advantage.¡± Wei Ting¡¯s pouted upon hearing this. ¡°You want me to help you obtain another woman?¡± Qi Hao smiled slightly as he explained, ¡°Tingting, you will need my father¡¯s consent to mary into Qi Manor. As long as you are able to help me obtain Wei Qingqing, I will be able to dabble my hand in the pie that is the Canglan army. Our success will be a huge contribution to Qi Manor and my father will surely allow me to marry you.¡± Even after a year in the Canglan army, he had ultimately been unable to enter the inner circle. He knew that Wei Canglan was wary of him, thus, the only way for him to obtain the Canglan army was by first getting to Wei Qingqing. This woman was had a strong influence in the Canglan army. Wei Ting foolishly asked, ¡°Really?¡± Qi Hao nodded with a smile. Wei Ting bit her red lips. Soon after, she forcefully nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I will do all I can to help you!¡± The two continued to cuddle for a while, before a satisfied Wei Ting left. The smile on Qi Hao¡¯s face turned cold as he watched her leaving figure. Subsequently, he somewhat irritatedly tugged at this clothes and said in a dull voice, ¡°What a delusional woman.¡± A figure walked out from the screen behind him. It was the housekeeper of Qi Manor, Qi Ling. Qi Ling said with a frown, ¡°First young master, what exactly is Zhou Yuan up to? Could he really be able to cure Wei Bin?¡± Qi Hao immediately let out a icy laugh upon hearing this and answered, ¡°A brat like him? In his dreams.¡± Just how many years had Wei Canglan struggled with the Devil Miasma Poison? It was not as if he had not seeked the help of various experts and masters. However, all of them were ultimately powerless. All of these facts made Qi Hao greatly doubt that a mere Zhou Yuan, who had not even stepped into the Qi Nourishing stage, would be able to do what everyone else had failed to. ¡°Although I do not believe that brat will succeed, we should still plan for the worst.¡± Iciness flickered within Qi Hao¡¯s eyes. If Zhou Yuan somehow miraculously succeeded like a blind cat bumping into a mouse, Wei Canglan would inevitable chose to help the former obtain the Fire Spirit Grain. Qi Hao raised his head, killing intent surging in his eyes as he looked towards the great general¡¯s residence. ¡°Wei Canglan ah Wei Canglan. If you really decide to help Zhou Yuan, I will have no option but to think of a way to get rid of you. Don¡¯t worry, I will make sure to take good care of your daughter and the Canglan army after you are gone.¡± ¡­ Under the watch of various parties, the final three days unhurriedly passed by. In the courtyard, Zhou Yuan was busy keeping his things. He could not help but roll his eyes as he shot a glance at the grim-faced Lu Tieshan, before he beckoned to Yaoyao and Su Youwei with his chin. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Today will determine whether we live or die!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 69 Revelation of Skill A particular room located in the rear courtyard of the great general¡¯s residence. When Zhou Yuan and the rest arrived, Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing were already waiting. The two swiftly walked forward to welcome Zhou Yuan upon seeing him. Wei Canglan then proceeded to ask with a smile, ¡°Your highness, will you be starting the treatment today?¡± Zhou Yuan returned the smile and nodded. Without further ado, he walked into the house and arrived in front of the bed where Wei Bin was currently lying. His complexion looked much better than before, but Zhou Yuan knew that it was only because master Ying had forcibly suppressed the Devil Miasma Poison in Wei Bin¡¯s body. When the poison erupted once again, it would instantly take his life. Zhou Yuan reached out and lightly tapped the black Universe bag at this waist. Before they left Great Zhou City, Zhou Qing had retrieved a Universe bag from the royal treasury and given it to Zhou Yuan. Although its grade was not very high, and the rather tiny space within only extended to a few feet, it was still very convenient. Several bottles appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Next, he retrieved a plate and very carefully dripped the liquid contents of the bottles onto it, beginning a process of modulation. An appalling stench spread the moment the liquids emerged. A single whiff would cause one to feel giddy, clearly showing just how toxic the liquids were. Although Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing had anticipated this, their expressions still changed. Wei Qingqing bit her red lips and asked, ¡°Your highness, what do you plan on doing?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°The Devil Miasma Poison is extremely domineering. The only way to neutralize it is to find a master that can draw a grade 4 poison neutralizing Genesis Rune. However, I¡¯m afraid that such masters are extremely rare in our Great Zhou Empire.¡± ¡°Hence, I will have to use another method.¡± He paused at this point before continuing, ¡°Poison against poison.¡± ¡°As for the details, you two will have a first hand view later on. Please do not worry great general, I understand the consequences of this matter and would not have selected such a foolhardy method if I did not have any confidence.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was indifferent as he gazed straight at Wei Canglan. Wei Canglan took one deep look at Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, ¡°Since your highness is confident, do what you must. If your highness is truly able to cure my son, my Wei family will owe you a huge debt of gratitude.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, but did not speak any further and instead continued to adjust the vicious poisons. A long while later, he finally stopped when the horrifying smell reached its peak. He unhooked the Heavenly Yuan Brush from his waist, and dabbed the brush tip on the poison concoction. After which, his expression grew serious as he took in a deep breath, before the brush tip slowly descended. Yaoyao was already standing slightly behind Zhou Yuan. If anything unexpected happened, she would have to personally take action to save the situation. Shch! The brush that had been smeared in poison landed on Wei Bin¡¯s skin, causing ¡®shch¡¯ sound to be emitted as black strokes began to appear. Zhou Yuan¡¯s wrist twisted and turned, the brush tip never stopping like flowing water and moving clouds, as stroke after stroke swiftly emerged. Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing began to frown as they stared at the strokes Zhou Yuan had drawn. Although they did not have in-depth knowledge of Genesis Runes, they were still able to tell that the rune Zhou Yuan was currently drawing was a grade 1 Genesis Rune. A grade 1 Genesis Rune was practically useless against the Devil Miasma Poison. Although their hearts were filled with doubt, it was not a good time for them to speak up as it would disturb Zhou Yuan. Hence, the two could only continue to watch in silence. Zhou Yuan¡¯s full attention was on his work, ignoring everyone else¡¯s gazes. After completing the grade 1 Genesis Rune, his brush once again descended and another grade 1 Genesis Rune began to emerge¡­ In the subsequent hour, Zhou Yuan drew a total of eight grade 1 Genesis Runes. ¡°These eight grade 1 Genesis Runes¡­ seem to have nicely surrounded the spot three inches above Wei Bin¡¯s tail bone.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s eyes flashed when he finally made this discovery. The grade 1 Genesis Runes Zhou Yuan had inscribed were similar to a troop encirclement, tightly sealing off all escapes routes of the Devil Miasma Poison hidden in Wei Bin¡¯s spine area. Zhou Yuan exhaled, his forehead now dotted with some perspiration after drawing eight grade 1 Genesis Runes in succession. He closed his eyes and rested a little before beginning once again. This time, his expression was much more serious than before. The rune he was about to draw was the grade 2 Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune he had recently learnt. What¡¯s more, it was key with regards to dealing with the Devil Miasma Poison. Zhou Yuan gathered his concentration for a moment, before his brush abruptly descended. His Spirit flickered between his brows as it seemed to fuse together with the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. Shsch shsch! Pitch-black stroke after stroke appeared, perfectly joined together. Subsequently, Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing watched in astonishment as a complicated and mysterious Genesis Rune slowly emerged. ¡°A grade 2 Genesis Rune.¡± Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing exchanged a look, both could sense something extraordinary about this grade 2 Genesis Rune. The tip of Zhou Yuan¡¯s brush finally stopped, and he let out a sigh of relief as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders as he gazed at the completed Genesis Rune. The Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune had been successfully completed. ¡°The most important step comes next.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s and Wei Qingqing¡¯s hearts shook when they heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s following words. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand gently dotted on the most inner grade 1 Genesis Rune. A gentle glow immediately rose from it as it began to slowly squirming like an eight-claw snake sending out a taunt. As the grade 1 Genesis Rune twisted and taunted, Wei Bin suddenly cried out in pain. Everyone watched in horror as the skin on his spine area suddenly began to turn black as the night. The black patch began to spread like ink, pouncing directly at the surrounding grade 1 Genesis Rune. When the Devil Miasma Poison ferociously surged over, the grade 1 Genesis Rune suddenly dispersed as if an entire battalion had turned into smoke. This caused the surging Devil Miasma Poison to charge into the layers of Grade 1 Genesis Runes that had surrounded it. All of the grade 1 Genesis Runes activated at this moment. As they rotated, the Devil Miasma Poison was sliced into various chunks. Each chunk of poisonous Qi blackened patches of Wei Bin¡¯s skin, a rather ghastly sight. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change as the Heavenly Yuan Brush dotted once again. One of the separated pieces of Devil Miasma Poison charged out of the encirclement, arriving in front of the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune. The Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune also contained a powerful poison. Hence, when the two poisons bumped into each other, it was akin to the meeting of two ferocious tigers in the mountainous woods, no words were spoken and the fight immediately began. The Devil Miasma Poison transformed into a black mist as it surged towards the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune. The latter seemed to joyfully respond without any fear, the rune squirming like a gigantic mouth. It allowed the Devil Miasma Poison to flow in and thoroughly devoured it. After swallowing the Devil Miasma Poison, the rune slowly rotated as a strange black light flickered on it. Moments later, the light dimmed as everyone saw a sliver of black poison mist rise from Wei Bin¡¯s skin. This sliver of poison mist gave off a nauseating miasma-like stench. However, Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing could not help but glow with joy when they saw the poison mist. It was very familiar to them, this poison mist was the Devil Miasma Poison! In other words, the Devil Miasma Poison in Wei Bin¡¯s body had been neutralized! ¡°It¡¯s still not finished. This is only the beginning.¡± Zhou Yaun reminded them because another piece of the Devil Miasma Poison had rushed towards the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune. Wei Canglan¡¯s eyes shined and could not help but praise out loud, ¡°Impressive, truly impressive!¡± Wei Qingqing was somewhat puzzled. ¡°How is this grade 2 Genesis Rune of his able to neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison?¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s eyes were filled with admiration as he explained, ¡°That is the amazing part about his highness¡¯ method. It¡¯s similar to a war strategy. First, one of the grade 1 Genesis Runes acts as the bait, drawing out the Devil Miasma Poison. Next, the seven grade 1 Genesis Runes slice up the Devil Miasma Poison, continuously weakening it before sending each piece to the waiting grade 2 Genesis Rune.¡± ¡°The grade 2 Genesis Rune contains a powerful poison. Poison against poison, poison to neutralize poison. Each piece of Devil Miasma Poison that comes ends up thoroughly neutralized.¡± ¡°If this continues, the Devil Miasma Poison in Wei Bin¡¯s body will finally be fully neutralized!¡± ¡°Amazing! Truly amazing!¡± Wei Canglan stared at Zhou Yan as if he was a treasure. Zhou Yuan¡¯s method may not look as impactful as when master Ying showed his grade 3 Genesis Rune, but with the teamwork of many grade 1 Genesis Runes and a grade 2 Genesis Rune, the Devil Miasma Poison could only dance on the palm of his hand. Even an Alpha-Origin stage expert like Wei Canglan was awed by such Genesis Rune mastery and finesse. By the side, Wei Qingqing was also inwardly shocked after hearing her father¡¯s explanation. It was obvious that she had not expected that Zhou Yuan would be achieve such a feat. ¡°Looks like little brother will be saved!¡± Wei Qingqing was overwhelmed by emotion, her white teeth biting into her red lips as her eyes turned slightly red. An extraordinary splendor appeared in her eyes as she looked towards the bedside where the handsome youth was seated. Previous Chapte Chapter 70 Ge Wisps of black smoke together with a nauseating stench occasionally rose into the air within the bright and spacious room. However, the people in the room did not show any disgust in response to the appalling smell. Instead, only joy could be seen on their faces. It was because this meant that more and more of the Devil Miasma Poison was being neutralized. Wei Canglan¡¯s eyes were filled with emotion as he looked at Wei Bin¡¯s waist area, where the patch of pitch-black had already receded substantially, the black from before not as deep as it had been. By the side, Wei Qingqing tightly clenched her fists. It was hard for her to control her overflowing emotions. Although they were both a little overwhelmed, they did not make any noise that would disturb Zhou Yuan. The latter currently wore a solemn look on his face, while perspiration dotted his entire forehead. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand continued to descend, patching the parts of the Genesis Runes that had faded due to the repetitive attacks of the Devil Miasma Poison. In fact, several places had even been broken. Thus, Zhou Yuan needed to continuously do repairs to maintain the formation. If not, it would become much more difficult to encircle and draw out the Devil Miasma Poison again if it were allowed to break out. Light flickered between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brow, a sign that his Spirit was being pushed to its limit. Controlling a formation of eight grade 1 Genesis Runes and a grade 2 Genesis Rune was pretty exhausting even for someone like Zhou Yuan whose Spirit was at the mid Illusory stage. The only thing he could do was tough it out, clench his teeth and endure. Sweat fell dripped from his forehead into his eyes, causing a prickling pain. Suddenly, a faint fragrance drifted over as a fair hand reached out with a handkerchief, wiping away the sweat on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned and was somewhat shocked to see that the owner of the handkerchief was Wei Qingqing. Upon sensing Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, Wei Qingqing pursed her lips into a slight smile. Zhou Yuan nodded, indicating his gratitude, before casting his attention back to the Genesis Runes. Time slowly flowed and noon unknowingly arrived. Only a half-fist sized patch of pitch-black Devil Miasma Poison was left at Wei Bin¡¯s lower backbone area. In addition, it had also become less concentrated. From the looks of it, full neutralization was not far off. However, just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the lump of Devil Miasma Poison suddenly began to squirm, suddenly splitting up and charging in all directions as if it had gone mad. ¡°Oh no! The Devil Miasma Poison wants to escape. It intends to hide in the depths of little Bin¡¯s body!¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s expression changed slightly. The Devil Miasma Poison was troublesome indeed, it had instinctively began to search for somewhere to hide the moment it sensed its life was threatened. It will be very dangerous if it was allowed to conceal itself again. Zhou Yuan calmly said, ¡°Relax, it will not be able to escape.¡± After which, with a dot of the Heaven Yuan Brush, the layers of Genesis Runes suddenly began to swell, cutting off all routes of escape. At the same time, the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune that was originally outside the encirclement also slipped in and began to counter-attack. Blobs of Devil Miasma Poison dashed in all directions, but it was completely useless. Every one was eventually swallowed by the Thousand Poisons Erosion Rune, transforming into wisps of black smoke that rose into the air. After dozens of minutes, the final piece of Devil Miasma Poison was purged and the entire room lapse into silence. Phew. Zhou Yuan breathed out heavily as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Just as he desired to stand up, a wave of dizziness washed over his head, causing him to stumble backwards. Thud! However, his body did not fall to the ground. Instead, he crashed into something fragrant, warm and soft. This caused him to be stunned, his eyes quickly turning as the sight of a beast baring its fangs appeared before him. Tuntun was snarling at him. He raised his head, only to find Yaoyao¡¯s distant eyes staring at him. Yaoyao¡¯s red lips parted slightly and she said, ¡°If you don¡¯t get up, I will let Tuntun swallow you whole.¡± Tuntun grinned, showing its teeth to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body instantly straightened, standing up while secretly cursing the insatiable little beast in his heart. All of the dried Genesis Beast meat he had fed it had truly been wasted. Zhou Yuan massaged his forehead as he smiled at the still silent Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing, ¡°Great general, I have by some chance not humiliated myself and managed to complete the task.¡± ¡°*Sniffle*, little brother!¡± Wei Qingqing was the first to regain her senses. She immediately pounced over and hugged the young boy as she cried. The only son of their Wei family had at long last been saved. Wei Canglan¡¯s somewhat trembling hands wiped at his eyes, before he turned towards Zhou Yuan and bowed deeply. Zhou Yuan hurriedly pulled the great general up as he said, ¡°Please rise great general, I cannot accept such a grand gesture.¡± ¡°Your highness, there is not much to say. My family will remember this debt.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s voice was a little soft. By the side, Lu Tieshan, whose entire body had been tense while he stared at Wei Canglan from start to end, inwardly sighed in relief. Thankfully, his highness had succeeded. Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°Each of us did what we had to for what we needed. There is no need for great general to go so far.¡± Wei Canglan waved his hand. A servant girl brought over a small jade box which he took and personally passed to Zhou Yuan. ¡°The Genesis Swallowing Rock is inside.¡± Excitement rose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart when he heard this. He very carefully received the small jade box and opened it. A palm-sized dusty-yellow rock lay within it. There were two holes on the rock, a big one and a small one. A suction force spread from the small hole, absorbing the surrounding Genesis Qi while Genesis Qi poured out from the big hole. He could feel that the Genesis Qi that exited the big hole was purer than normal. This was indeed a Genesis Swallowing Rock! Joy emerged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he kept the box in his Universe bag. The Genesis Swallowing Rock was his at last. Now, he only needed to obtain the grade 4 python-type Genesis Beast spirit and all the ingredients for him to learn the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture would be gathered. This transaction was not a loss for him at all. Wei Canglan solemnly said, ¡°Your highness, I will discuss with you in detail with regards to the ruins in Blackwater later on. Don¡¯t worry, since I¡¯ve agreed to your conditions, I will definitely do all I can to help!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to give my thanks to great general.¡± Zhou Yuan was elated. With Wei Canglan¡¯s promise, he now had some guarantee of sorts in the battle of the ruins. After all, the great general¡¯s faction was one of the two strongest powers in the area. Zhou Yuan and the rest understood that the Wei family was currently in a celebratory mood,thus and did not plan on disturbing. Hence, they bid their goodbyes, giving the family some time for themselves. ¡­ ¡°Zhou Yuan cured Wei Bin?! How is that possible?¡± In a certain manor, Qi Hao abruptly stood up, his face full of disbelief. By the side, Qi Ling also had an expression of shock. Wei Ting smiled bitterly as she nodded. Although she too felt that it was unbelievable, it was indeed the truth. Qi Hao¡¯s face was white with anger, cracking sounds emitting from his tightly clenched fist as he howled in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you dare to spoil my plans!¡± Now that this had happened, the entire year of effort he had invested in Canglan County had basically been wasted. Qi Hao¡¯s eyes turned as dark as a storm as he said, ¡°If Zhou Yuan has really cured Wei Bin, given Wei Canglan¡¯s character, he will very likely do all he can to aid Zhou Yuan in obtaining the treasures in the ruins.¡± ¡°First young master, we cannot linger any longer in Canglan County or we will surely fall under Wei Canglan¡¯s surveillance.¡± Qi Hao gnashed his teeth, eyes filled with iciness, his face sinister as he cursed, ¡°Wei Canglan, since you wish to seek death, I will grant your wish!¡± After cursing in a low voice, he decisively said, ¡°Go, we¡¯ll leave Canglan County. Qi Manor must obtain the Fire Spirit Grain. If Wei Canglan dares to help Zhou Yuan vie with us, I will let him know that he is not as important as he thinks in the eyes of Qi Manor!¡± As he walked out of the door, a dark gaze shot towards the general¡¯s residence while his five fingers clenched into a fist. ¡°Zhou Yuan, do not think that you have won because Wei Canglan is now aiding you. If you dare to enter Blackwater, I will ensure you that you do not return!¡± ¡°Qi Manor has already decided that the Fire Spirit Grain will be ours. If you dare to have any designs on it, Blackwater will be your grave!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 71 Roped In Great general¡¯s residence, main hall. Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing were seated in the upper area. Both of their faces were currently filled with joy, and the worry that had long entrenched itself between their brows had already completely faded. Evidently, Wei Canglan had very carefully searched Wei Bin¡¯s body after Zhou Yuan and the rest had left. After sensing the growing life force within Wei Bin¡¯s body, they were finally certain that the Devil Miasma Poison had been completely neutralized. The worry that had hovered over the great general¡¯s residence for several years had finally been dispersed. When Zhou Yuan and his group entered the main room, Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing hastily rose and cupped their fists together, ¡°The Wei family will never forget your highness kindness!¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as he shot a glance at Yaoyao beside him. Truthfully speaking, he would not have been able to neutralize the Devil Miasma Poison without her guidance. Hence, Zhou Yuan was now even more in admiration of Yaoyao¡¯s attainments in Genesis Runes. The method of utilising eight grade 1 Genesis Runes and a grade 2 Genesis Rune in unison was no less effective than a true grade 3 Genesis Rune. ¡°Please sit your highness. I understand that your goal for coming to Canglan County is the ruins in Blackwater, right?¡± Wei Canglan smiled. Zhou Yuan nodded, his expression solemn as he replied, ¡°The Fire Spirit Grain is of paramount importance to Great Zhou and we have to obtain it. Or else, it will become an extremely huge threat if it falls into anyone else¡¯s hands.¡± He stared at Wei Canglan as he spoke. A grade 4 Genesis Food like the Fire Spirit Grain was just too great of a strategic resource. Hence, Zhou Yuan could not be sure if Wei Canglan harbored any thoughts about it. After all, Wei Canglan¡¯s faction would be able to rapidly grow if he were to obtain it. Wei Canglan cast a glance at Zhou Yuan. An experienced and shrewd man like him was naturally able to decipherl the meaning behind Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze. With a soft laugh, Wei Canglan said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry your highness, I do not have much ambitions and only want to safeguard the peace of my family.¡± Zhou Yuan answered, ¡°I hope that you are not overly offended by my suspicions with regards your intentions.¡± Although he uttered these words, his expression did not change. It was after all necessary to probe Wei Canglan¡¯s intentions. Wei Canglan waved his hand, indicating that he did not mind. ¡°Since your highness is here for the treasures within the ruins, do you know of the details concerning it?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. His knowledge was very limited due to being pressed for time. Thus, he had planned on collecting information after arriving at Canglan County. Wei Canglan slowly said, ¡°Blackwater is extremely vast and to be honest, the Blackwater we currently know of is only the outer area. It is said that countless powerful Genesis Beasts occupy the deepest areas andeven grade 4 Genesis Beasts are a common sight there.¡± ¡°Long long ago, many powerful factions existed in Blackwater, but they gradually disappeared as time passed. As such, Blackwater slowly became the deserted forbidden danger zone it is today.¡± ¡°From the information we have gathered, the ruins that have appeared this time are likely left behind by a faction that once existed in Blackwater, an ancient faction known as the Battle Puppet Sect.¡± ¡°Battle Puppet Sect?¡± Surprise colored Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. It was evident that he never imagined that the ruins would have such an origin. ¡°It is rumored that this ancient faction specialized in creating extremely powerful battle puppets. Therefore, there will likely be various kinds of battle puppets in the ruins, making it very dangerous.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s expression was grave as he continued, ¡°The biggest problem however is the presence of an extremely formidable battle puppet, a giant python battle puppet that uses a grade 4 python-type Genesis Beast spirit as its core. It will be very difficult for even an Alpha-Origin stage expert to face it.¡± At this point, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed as he interjected, ¡°Grade 4 python-type Genesis Beast spirit?¡± Wei Canglan nodded. ¡°Never imagined that I would encounter a grade 4 python-type Genesis Beast Spirit here.¡± Zhou Yuan was pleasantly surprised, but soon after, he let out a bitter laugh. To obtain the beast spirit, he would have to first eliminate the battle puppet that comparable to an Alpha-Origin stage expert. For someone like himself, it was a task as difficult as ascending the heavens. ¡°What a headache.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. It seems that learning the first level Omni Python Qi was truly an uphill task. ¡°Also¡­ besides the dangers of the ruins, there are other things that must not be overlooked.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s voice was a little heavy. Zhou Yuan asked, ¡°Is great general referring to the factions in Blackwater?¡± ¡°All of the Blackwater factions are nothing to worry, with one single exception, which is also our most formidable foe!¡± At this point, cold light flashed in Wei Canglan¡¯s eyes. ¡°The Black Venom King.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes also became grave. Wei Canglan slowly nodded. ¡°The Black Venom King has reigned like a tyrant in Blackwater for many years and Black Venom City is currently the strongest faction in Blackwater. Someone as ambitious as the Black Venom King definitely will not miss out on the Fire Spirit Grain.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He clearly understood the strategic value the Fire Spirit Grain had to any faction. The Black Venom King would never give up on such an item as long as there was even a tiny trace of ambition in his heart. Therefore, it was a must to guard against the Black Venom King. ¡°There is one other factions besides the Black Venom King¡­¡± Zhou Yuan paused. Wei Canglan shot a look at Zhou Yuan and nodded in agreement. ¡°Indeed, Qi Manor has been watching the situation like a tiger, but king Qi is likewise being kept in check by Zhou Qing in Great Zhou City, making it impossible for him to rush over. It will be difficult for Qi Hao to stir up anything alone.¡± Zhou Yuan softly said, ¡°It will still be best to be a little cautious.¡± Wei Canglan fell into thought for a moment before beckoning to a guard with a wave of his hand. ¡°Send some soldiers to the manor Qi Hao is staying at and blockade it off. No one will be allowed to leave.¡± The guard hesitated for a moment upon hearing this before replying in a low voice, ¡°Great general, there is something I have to report beforehand. Qi Hao has already left the city with his men two hours ago. We do not know where he has went.¡± Wei Canglan frowned. ¡°This brat is a sharp one, to think that he escaped so quickly.¡± Zhou Yuan was likewise a little amazed by how fast Qi Hao had ran, however, there was nothing they could do now that he was gone. At very least, he had gained the upper hand in their previous clash and won the aid of the powerful Wei Canglan. Zhou Yuan asked, ¡°General Wei, when shall we set off?¡± Wei Canglan answered, ¡°The various factions are currently mobilizing their manpower, however, the ruins are layered with danger and an army loses its effectiveness there. Hence, we should send a group of elites.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. The Canglan army would not be very useful in such a place even if they managed to squeeze all of them in. In fact, it would probably increase the number of casualties instead. Wei Canglan smiled and declared, ¡°I will personally be leading a group this time. There are eight Heaven Gate stage experts in the Canglan army. Three will be left to defend the city, while the other five will follow me into the ruins. In addition, there will also be an elite squad of Qi Nourishing experts joining us. We will set out in five days and head into Blackwater.¡± This group was practically the strongest force the Canglan army had to offer. Wei Canglan was clearly a man of his word. Since he had promised to help Zhou Yuan, he would naturally do everything he could. An understanding Zhou Yuan immediately cupped his fists and thanked, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to give my thanks to the great general.¡± Zhou Yuan and his group left after discussing some other details. Wei Canglan leaned against his seat, watching Zhou Yuan¡¯s leaving figure as he lightly tapped the tabletop and sighed, ¡°I never imagined that the frail little boy from so many years ago would grow into such a promising young man. His majesty is truly fortunate.¡± By the side, Wei Qingqing gave a slight nod as she said, ¡°His talent in Genesis Runes is indeed amazing, however, his strength is still a little lacking. He hasn¡¯t even reached the Qi Nourishing stage.¡± Wei Canglan could not help but chuckle. ¡°You would not say such a thing if you knew that he was not even able to find his eight meridian channels half a year ago, making him incapable to beginning channel opening cultivation.¡± ¡°Half a year ago?¡± Wei Qingqing was stunned. She seemed to vaguely recall that Zhou Yuan had been unable to locate his meridian channels in the past, but she never knew that his rise had happened over such a short period. After all, even she had spent two years to reach the Qi Nourishing stage. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan would likely unblock his eighth meridian channel in less than a month. Wei Canglan sighed softly, pity in his eyes as he gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s leaving figure. ¡°It¡¯s such a pity. Our prince originally possessed the sacred dragon blessings. If not for Great Wu¡¯s python and sparrow stealing his blessings, who knows what kind achievements his highness would have attained by now.¡± ¡°In all likelihood, even I would not dare to butt heads with him and can only choose to yield.¡± Wei Qingqing¡¯s face changed slightly when she heard the respected Wei Canglan speak such words. She raised her head, looking in the direction that Zhou Yuan had left in as she gently bit her red lips, admiration rippling in her eyes. The young prince whom she had first viewed to be a player was obviously not as simple as she had thought. Previous Chapte Chapter 72 Black Venom King In a certain serene courtyard. Su Youwei was silently seated on a boulder. Her back was straight, the curves on her chest faintly visible, while her supple and slender waist really made one have to impulse to hook an arm around it. Genesis Qi flowed around her body, thread after thread converging towards her from the surroundings and ultimately pouring into her body. Meanwhile, the faint rumble of thunder seemed to echo from within her body. Su Youwei suddenly opened her clear as water eyes and a flash of scarlet-red lightning seemed to flit across them. In the next instant, she reached out a hand and gently grasped. Rumble! Scarlet-red Genesis Qi rose from her right hand. It seemed as if lightning was dancing and fire burning inside as a domineering aura spread. She extended her left hand and ice-blue Genesis Qi rose from it. This Genesis Qi gave off an extremely cold aura, freezing even the air itself as it ascended towards the sky. Grade 4 Genesis Qi, Flame-Thunder Qi! Grade 4 Genesis Qi, Niflheim Qi! The Flame-Thunder mantra and the Niflheim sutra had finally been simultaneously mastered by Su Youwei. Su Youwei¡¯s bright eyes were filled with joy, emotion skipping across her face as she observed the two different attribute Genesis Qi surging on her hands. She could clearly feel that her strength had rose sharply after mastering these two types of Genesis Qi. Although she had previously reached the Qi Nourishing stage, the Genesis Qi in her body had remained at the most basic attributeless state because she had not learnt any Qi cultivation methods. This naturally meant that her attacks did not have any special effects and was much weaker than others. *Clap clap!* While Su Youwei was happily watching the two types of Genesis Qi, applause was suddenly heard. She lifted her head to look and found Zhou Yuan standing nearby, a huge grin on his face as he clapped. ¡°Your highness.¡± Su Youwei revealed a faint smile. ¡°Congratulations. Now that you¡¯ve mastered these divine techniques, unifying the world is just around the corner!¡± Zhou Yuan teased. Su Youwei¡¯s gaze were somewhat charming as she rolled her eyes at him. She then raised her hand and let out a soft snort. ¡°Want to test its power?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s smile twisted awkwardly. Su Youwei¡¯s battle power had undoubtedly soared after successfully learning the two grade 4 Genesis Qi. She may only be at the initial Qi Nourishing stage, but in a real fight, it was likely that even an advance Qi Nourishing stage expert would find it difficult to beat her. After all, wielding two types of Genesis Qi was enough to give her opponents a huge headache. Zhou Yuan was confident that he was not weaker than the Su Youwei when she had initially stepped into the Qi Nourishing stage. But now, it was likely that he was no longer Su Youwei¡¯s match. He would have to reach the Qi Nourishing stage and borrow the powers of Genesis Runes to have any chance of matching the current Su Youwei. Of course, that was under the precondition that he had not learnt the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and obtained the Omni Python Qi. ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Scripture is really difficult.¡± As these thoughts churned his head, Zhou Yuan involuntarily let out a sigh. In Su Youwei¡¯s case, although many Genesis resources were needed to learn the Flame-Thunder mantra and the Niflheim sutra, these resources could be bought with Genesis crystals. This was how Su Youwei was able to successfully master them with her talent in about ten days. In contrast, he had yet to even gather the Genesis resources he needed, a comparison that really made him want to cry. Fortunately, his eighth meridian channel was growing increasingly loose due to his efforts. It would not be long before it was completely unblocked. ¡°Let¡¯s go, we will be heading to Blackwater today.¡± Zhou Yuan withdrew his frustrations and smiled towards Su Youwei. Su Youwei gave a small nod in response and followed Zhou Yuan out of the general¡¯s residence after tidying up a little. Wei Canglan was already waiting outside the residence. Beside him was a slender and elegant figure clothed in red soft-armor, battle skirt and battle boots, Wei Qingqing. Her slightly high battle boots really emphasized those unreasonable pair of fair, long and slender legs. Even Zhou Yuan could not help but cast them a second glance. Wei Qingqing might not be able to match Su Youwei¡¯s and Yaoyao¡¯s peerless looks, but her impressive long legs were a huge boost to her points and made one unable to forget them. Behind Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing were five figures. Powerful Genesis Qi surged around them, evidence that they were experts of the Heaven Gate stage. Even further behind was a squad of roughly a dozen elites. Every single one of them had the strength of the Qi Nourishing stage. This group was probably the most powerful force in Canglan County. Beside Wei Canglan¡¯s group was the squad from the imperial guards. Lu Tieshan led the group of three Heaven Gate stage experts and twelve Qi Nourishing stage practitioners. The combination of both line-ups was pretty grand indeed. ¡°Are you ready your highness?¡± Wei Canglan smiled upon seeing Zhou Yuan emerge. Zhou Yuan nodded. Wei Canglan was a swift and decisive individual. With a wave of his hand, he yelled, ¡°Then let us set off.¡± As his shout rang out, the two groups began to move. They surged out of the city like a flood, speeding towards Blackwater. ¡­ Blackwater, Black Venom City, residence of the city lord. A familiar figure was seated in the guest room. It was Qi Hao, who had slipped away from Canglan County some time ago. ¡°Oh? Qi Manor wants to cooperate with me?¡± A raspy voice echoed in the guest room. If one turned to look, one would find a middle-aged man dressed in a black robe wearing a superficial smile on his face. His nose was sharp and black specks dotted his face. Wisps of black Qi rose around him, spreading a faint stench. This middle-aged man in black robes was the infamous lord of Black Venom City, the Black Venm King! Facing the infamous Black Venom King caused cold sweat to emerge on Qi Hao¡¯s forehead. However, he was able to maintain his bearings as he nodded and cupped his fists together. ¡°With regards to the ruins that have appeared in Blackwater this time, the Great Zhou royal clan and Wei Canglan have already joined forces. Although Black Venom City can be said to be the overlord of Blackwater, as the saying goes, a single tree cannot support an entire forest. If you cooperate with Qi Manor, we will definitely be able to cause them heavy losses.¡± ¡°I do not fear Wei Canglan.¡± The Black Venom King chuckled, his expression eerie as he stared at Qi Hao. ¡°Moreover, do you really believe I do not know that Zhou Qing has not come. Without another Alpha-Origina stage expert like him, Wei Canglan will not be able to handle me.¡± ¡°Therefore, I conclude that you¡¯ve come with the hopes of borrowing my power to deal with Wei Canglan.¡± ¡°Since that is so, show me your sincerity, or else¡­¡± The rising black Qi around the Black Venom King caused Qi Hao to freeze for a second. Soon after, he said in a low voice, ¡°Black Venom King should know that Wei Canglan views you as a giant thorn in his side and seeks to eliminate you at all times.¡± ¡°I believe that you too wish to eliminate this huge danger, am I right?¡± The Black Venom King¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Wei Canglan had stationed himself in Canglan County, carefully observing every single movement from Black Venom City. The moment they made a move, Wei Canglan would immediately react and stop them, causing numerous problems for the Black Venom King over the past few years. Hence, the Black Venom King similarly viewed Wei Canglan as a huge problem that needed to be solved. ¡°As long as Black Venom King helps Qi Manor obtain the Fire Spirit Grain, when we finally overthrow the royal clan, Canglan County will belong to Black Venom City.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The Black Venom King raised an eyebrow. ¡°So certain that you will be able to overthrow the royal clan?¡± Qi Hao laughed coldly. ¡°Qi Manor has the backing of the Great Wu Empire. Does Black Venom King believe that a pitifully struggling Great Zhou royal clan will be able to match the Great Wu Empire?¡± The Black Venom King was silent for some time, before he slowly said, ¡°A treasure like the Fire Spirit Grain is very valuable to Black Venom City.¡± Qi Hao flatly replied, ¡°But Black Venom City will not be able to obtain it. If you do, Qi Manor will not let this matter rest, nor will the Great Wu Empire behind us allow it.¡± The Black Venom King snorted disdainfully when he heard the front half of Qi Hao¡¯s words, but the former¡¯s expression changed upon hearing Great Wu Empire as fear flitted across his eyes. After all, the current Grea Wu Empire was nothing like Great Zhou. Great Wu was a flourishing nation that had numerous experts, an existence that greatly exceeded his Black Venom City. If they offended Great Wu, he, the Black Venom King, would end up a stray dog. What the Black Venom King did not know however, was that Great Wu was currently warring against two other empires, and did not have any attention to spare to a remote place such as Blackwater. The Black Venom King¡¯s eyes flickered with thought. A long while later, he slowly said, ¡°I can cooperate with you.¡± Joy immediately lit up Qi Hao¡¯s face. ¡°However¡­¡± The Venom King paused before he coldly said, ¡°Canglan County alone isn¡¯t enough to move me, I will need the two other cities neighbouring Blackwater.¡± Qi Hao¡¯s expression instantly changed when he heard this. There were only thirteen cities in the entire Great Zhou Empire and the Black Venom King planned to swallow three of them, including Canglan County. This was practically a quarter of Great Zhou¡¯s land. Such an appetite could only be described as enormous. The Black Venom King said in an indifferent voice, ¡°If you do not agree, please return to where you came from.¡± The expression in Qi Hao¡¯s eyes fluctuated rapidly, before he eventually gritted his teeth and gave his answer. ¡°Alright. As long as you aid us in obtaining the Fire Spirit Grain, those three cities will belong to Black Venom City in future!¡± A smile finally appeared on the Black Venom King¡¯s sinister-looking face when he heard these words. ¡°Since that is so, Black Venom City will accept this transaction.¡± Qi Hao secretly sighed in relief. As he raised his head, a vicious look flitted across his eyes as he looked towards the distant Canglan County. Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be so happy just because you managed to win over Wei Canglan. The victor in this battle for the ruins has yet to be decided! Previous Chapte Chapter 73 Into Blackwater Blackwater, a land fraught with danger. But at the same time, a place that was overflowing with opportunity. In the far past, numerous powerful factions existed within Blackwater. Every one of these factions was stronger than the empires currently bordering Blackwater. Due to some unknown reason, the factions within Blackwater disappeared one after another, allowing more and more Genesis Beasts to flood Blackwater, transforming it into the Genesis Beast heaven it is today. However, although these ancient factions had disappeared, some things would ultimately be left behind, things that made countless Genesis Masters madly scramble towards them. In Blackwater, luck would occasionally favor certain fortunate souls, allowing them to ascend to the skies in a single step and let their names echo loudly across the land. Over time, more and more Genesis Masters swarmed towards this place, risking all sorts of dangers as they searched for opportunities in hopes of becoming the next individual to earn luck¡¯s blessings. But the ones who are graced by luck are ultimately few in number, and majority end up as part of the piles of bones buried under this bloody and chaotic land. ¡­ Blackwater was a place of chaos and killing, a place where the strong preyed on the weak. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s group was obviously not weak prey. Thus, although they drew countless eyes wherever they went in Blackwater, no one dared to make any moves against them. Many factions of various sizes existed within Blackwater, each king of their own territories. The passing of Zhou Yuan, Wei Canglan and the rest of the group would cause these factions to be on high alert. After all, anyone who spent most of their time in Blackwater knew that there were two factions that could not be offended. One was the infamous Black Venom King, and the other was great general Wei Canglan of Canglan County. Zhou Yuan¡¯s group may be few in number, but all of them were elites. Moreover, there was an Alpha-Origin expert with them, Wei Canglan. This line-up was enough to easily sweep away any faction with the exception of Black Venom City. Hence, upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s group, the Blackwater factions would fall into a state of panic, afraid that this terrifying party would pounce on them in the next moment. However, Zhou Yuan and the rest obviously paid no attention to these factions. As long as they did not obstruct the former, Zhou Yuan and gang would quickly pass through. This situation continued for several days as Zhou Yuan and the rest gradually approached their destination¡­ Devil Prison City, the city closest to the ruins. The city lord was an advance Heaven Gate stage expert and was rather famous in Blackwater. He was after all capable enough to govern a city here. Although Devil Prison City was normally a rather bustling place, ever since news of the ruins had spread, the city had immediately become a lodging point for the numerous factions that had come in search of treasures. Thus causing the population of the city to rise dramatically. Countless people journeyed to the ruins every day, though none dared to venture too deep. After all, there were all kinds of bizarre battle puppets inside, which would potentially become a thorny problem if one caught their attention. Yet, there were also some fortunate fellows who stumbled into certain places and brought out several strange ¡®toys¡¯. Such items were very popular and sold for handsome sums of Genesis crystals, allowing these lucky fellows to earn a small fortune¡­ None of the city guards dared to stop Zhou Yuan, Wei Canglan and the rest when they entered Devil Prison City, allowing the latters to do as they pleased. In Devil Prison City, Zhou Yuan and gang booked an entire inn, settling everyone''s accommodations. After helping everyone settle down, Wei Canglan found Zhou Yuan and suggested, ¡°Your highness, this is the closest city to the Battle Puppet Sect ruins and quite a number of people have already made their way to the ruins from here. We should be able to obtain information regarding the ruins here so I suggest that we take a look.¡± Zhou Yuan was pretty much fine with anything. Their non-stop travels over the past few days had been exceptionally dull. Did no one else see the looks of interest on Su Youwei¡¯s, Wei Qingqing¡¯s and even Yaoyao¡¯s faces when they heard Wei Canglan make his proposal? Therefore, after tidying up a little, the group left the inn along with a few bodyguards. Devil Prison City was not as grand as Great Zhou City or Canglan County, the former gave off a rather simplistic feeling and was filled with disorder. Two waves of men would clash from time to time on the streets, every strike from each individual fatal in nature. This resulted in still warm bodies being thrown out occasionally, causing the entire city to be blanketed in an aura of cruelness. Zhou Yuan and his group drew several gazes as they walked in the city. Of course, the majority of these gazes were aimed at Yaoyao, Su Youwei and the long-legged Wei Qingqing. Beauties of such calibre were clearly very rare in such a place. However, those that could survive till now in Blackwater were at least somewhat discerning. Hence, no one dared to come forward although the gazes filled with various intentions continued to size-up the three girls. After a few turns, Zhou Yuan and the rest eventually arrived at a comparatively cleaner street, a street overflowing with people and clearly much busier and exciting than everywhere else. Stores filled the street. The dazzling goods on display very attention grabbing. ¡°Come, come and take a look. We have newly arrived stock from the ruins. All kinds of treasures can be found here so be sure not to miss out!¡± Zhou Yuan and gang followed the shouting and arrived at the biggest store, where an assortment of objects in various states of disrepair were on display inside a crystal cabinet. Every item gave off an ancient aura as if they had just been excavated. ¡°Have a look everyone, this is a Genesis Weapon we uncovered from the Battle Puppet Sect. It likely used to be a Black tier Genesis Weapon and we¡¯re offering it at a hugely discounted price. Just one thousand nine hundred Genesis crystals and you¡¯ll be able to take it away!¡± Someone yelled from inside the store. Zhou Yuan turned to see a long bronze spear in the man¡¯s hands. Its body was quite damaged, and it gave off a dim Genesis Qi pulse. Let alone a Black tier Genesis Weapon, it was likely that it would not even match a Normal mid grade Genesis Weapon. But this was only logical. If it was truly a Black tier Genesis Weapon, it would cost at least ten thousand Genesis crystals, not a measly thousand nine hundred. Few responded to the spear and only a scattering called out their bids. In the end, it was sold for two thousand five hundred Genesis crystals and it could be assumed that the buyer had purchased it with the mentality of hoping to find a treasured pearl under the dust. Several broken-looking items appeared in succession, each one likely obtained from the Battle Puppet Sect ruins. Zhou Yuan took a look, but nothing piqued his interest. With his Spirit perception, he could sense that these items were indeed completely damaged and no longer had any value. After a while, Zhou Yuan intended to leave with everyone. Just as he turned his body, Yaoyao suddenly pulled him, her snow-white chin indicating towards crystal display cabinet. ¡°Buy the item at the bottom left corner.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. His gaze shifted, only to find an object that resembled a black jade tile. The surface of the jade tile was mottled, and several cracks could be seen, but a faint pattern was barely visible. Zhou Yuan was somewhat confused, because he could sense that there was not even the slightest trace of Genesis Qi from the black jade tile. ¡°What is it?¡± He asked in a low voice. Yaoyao smiled faintly as she said, ¡°The jade tile itself is not worth anything, but there seems to be a rather peculiar incomplete Genesis Rune on it. Something that can give me such a feeling should be rather special to the Battle Puppet Sect.¡± The corner¡¯s of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched for a moment. You¡¯re pretty arrogant little miss, I won¡¯t possibly dare to refute your reasoning. As he shook his head inside his heart, Zhou Yuan did not probe any further and pointed at the jade tile and asked directly, ¡°How much?¡± The seller¡¯s lips puckered slightly like a monkey. A single look was all it took to know that this was a shrewd man. Although he too did not know the function of this black jade tile, when he saw Zhou Yuan ask for a price, his eyes seemed to rotate in thought as his mouth opened, intending to ask for a very generous sum. ¡°My money is not so easily scammed. Are you certain that the ones behind you will be able to swallow it?¡± An indifferent voice emerged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips. The man¡¯s mouth immediately closed. He had seen Wei Canglan turned towards him with an apathetic look. The pressure from an Alpha-Origin expert made the man understand that the person before him could not be offended. ¡°Hehe, the one who put it up for sale is only asking for two thousand Genesis crystals.¡± It was a rather indignant reply. Zhou Yuan nodded, not wanting to needlessly waste any more time. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take it for two thousand Genesis crystals.¡± With a wave of his hand, Liu Tieshan fished out the Genesis crystals and prepared to make payment. ¡°Wait, I offer three thousand for the jade tile.¡± However, a chuckle was suddenly heard at this moment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he turned his head slightly, only to see the crowd part for a group of people. At the very front, a familiar figure entered Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Qi Hao?¡± An icy look immediately flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes when he saw this figure. To think that he was hiding in Blackwater. Qi Hao grinned at Zhou Yuan before pointing at the black jade tile as he lazily said, ¡°I¡¯ll take three thousand for it.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 74 The Black Jade Tile Qi Hao¡¯s sudden appearance instantly caused the atmosphere to become rather tense. Behind Zhou Yuan, Genesis Qi surged around Lu Tieshan and the rest, their eyes like an eagle¡¯s as they locked onto the former. Wei Canglan frowned slightly, staring at Qi Hao as he faintly said, ¡°Qi Hao, there should be no need for Qi Manor to interfere in such a matter. It will be better for you to return.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that a single sentence from general Wei is not enough to deter Qi Manor.¡± Qi Hao laughed, his tone filled with mockery. He had previously been courteous to Wei Canglan because Qi Manor wanted to draw the great general to their side. Since Wei Canglan had now chosen to help Zhou Yuan, Qi Hao naturally would not give the former any face. ¡°Oh?¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s eyes opened slightly wider as an astonishing pressure spread from his body, directed straight at Qi Hao. In the face of an Alpha-Origin stage expert¡¯s pressure, Qi Hao¡¯s body immediately stiffened. ¡°Hehe, Wei Canglan, you are still so easily irritable even after so many years.¡± However, a raspy voice was heard the moment Wei Canglan¡¯s pressure spread. A figure in black robes slowly walked out from behind Qi Hao as black Qi rose, completely blocking Wei Canglan¡¯s aura. ¡°That¡¯s the Black Venom King!¡± The emergence of the black robed figure immediately drew cries of horror from the surroundings. The crowd noisily withdrew, eyes filled with terror. It was clear to see how infamous the Black Venom King was in Blackwater. ¡°Black Venom King!¡± Wei Canglan was first stunned by the appearance of the middle-aged man in black robes, but his expression quickly darkened. Intense killing intent surged out of his body, causing the surrounding Genesis Qi to rebel. ¡°Oh? Wei Canglan, do you plan on having another bout with me here? Could it be that you have forgotten the suffering I dished out back then?¡± The Black Venom King let out a sinister laughter, the black Qi around his body churning as a horrible stench spread. Two gazes clashed, hatred and biting-cold murder raging within them. ¡°Honoured ones, this little city of mine will not be able to survive a battle between the both of you. With the Battle Puppet ruins right before our eyes, this is no place for the both of you to fight or others will take advantage!¡± As the auras of both individuals grew stronger and stronger, a loud voice suddenly rang out as a figure flew over from far away and landed nearby. It was the city lord of Devil Prison City, an individual with the strength of the advance Heaven Gate stage. Like everyone else, he did not dare to interfere directly in the clash of two Alpha-Origin stage experts. Fortunately, his quick-wittedness with words made Wei Canglan¡¯s and the Black Venom King¡¯s eyes flash and their astonishing auras slowly receded. Neither party was stronger than the other. If they were to fight and end up injured, it would instead present an opportunity to others. Wei Canglan icily said, ¡°Humph, if I see you in the ruins, I will definitely kill you!¡± ¡°Hehe, it is more likely that you will not be able to leave Blackwater this time.¡± The Black Venom King matched the former word for word. After seeing both of them back down, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned towards the seller of the store who currently had an agonized look on his face. Neither side was going to be accommodating, and he did not dare to offend either one. ¡°Five thousand Genesis crystals.¡± Zhou Yuan did not waste his breath and flatly gave his offer. ¡°Six thousand.¡± Qi Hao immediately responded. Although he did not know what use the black jade tile would be, he was hell bent on making things difficult for Zhou Yuan. ¡°Ten thousand.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice remained emotionless. Qi Hao¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°Fifteen thousand.¡± ¡°Twenty thousand.¡± An uproar broke out around them, everyone secretly licking their lips. No one could have imagined that such a seemingly worthless object would cause such a crazy bidding war. Of course, from what they could see, Zhou Yuan was purely unwilling to back down due to pride. Qi Hao was likewise somewhat stunned. He stared at the black jade tile for a long time, but was unable to discover anything. Not even the tiniest wisp of Genesis Qi could be detected from the black jade tile. Hence, he laughed and said, ¡°Your highness is truly generous. As the saying goes, a gentleman should not take what another wants. I¡¯ll yield this item to you.¡± There was a trace of mockery on his lips as he spoke. The original price of two thousand Genesis crystals had been raised to twenty thousand by him, a fact that was enough to screw Zhou Yuan over this time. As such, Qi Hao¡¯s pent up frustration due to the previous incident had finally been let out. The surrounding onlookers looked at Zhou Yuan as if he was a fool. This was not a small sum, spending twenty thousand Genesis crystals to buy a useless black jade tile was really somewhat dumb. It was obvious that prince Zhou Yuan had been tricked by Qi Hao. Zhou Yuan ignored the surrounding gazes and instructed Lu Tieshan to pay as he grabbed the black jade tile. He did not sense anything even after some observation and thus passed it to Yaoyao as he softly muttered, ¡°It is worth it?¡± The truth was, even he himself felt a little foolish, but he still bought it because he trusted Yaoyao¡¯s judgement. Twenty thousand Genesis crystals was no small amount. The Qi Nourishing stage Genesis Masters present who possessed ten to twenty thousand Genesis crystals after toiling for many years were already considered rather rich. As for prince Zhou Yuan, his many years of savings only equated to about fifty thousand Genesis crystals, almost half of which had been spent in the past few minutes. Yaoyao gently felt the jade tile with her hand as she observed the ancient patterns on it. With a sudden laugh, she replied, ¡°You¡¯ll know later on whether it¡¯s worth it or not.¡± Zhou Yuan could only helplessly shake his head. At this moment, the Black Venom King walked over, his eyes fixed on Zhou Yuan as black Qi surged around his body. Wei Canglan took half a step forward, his eyes vigilant as he stared at the Black Venom King. The Black Venom King glanced at Wei Canglan before turning towards Zhou Yuan as his raspy voice sounded, ¡°Hehe, are you the prince of the Great Zhou Empire? I¡¯ve heard that you managed to neutralize my Devil Miasma Poison.¡± Evidently, he had found out from Qi Hao that Zhou Yuan had neutralized the poison in Wei Bin¡¯s body. ¡°The Devil Miasma Poison is not that great, neutralizing it is nothing strange.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm. The Black Venom King¡¯s eyes opened slightly wider. ¡°What an arrogant little brat!¡± With a sinister smile, he said, ¡°Do not feel so confident just because Wei Canglan is protecting you.¡± He cast a sideways glance at Wei Canglan as he continued, ¡°Even he suffered quite a bit at my hands. I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯ve bet wrongly this time.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s face turned black with anger. The Devil Miasma Qi of the Black Venom King was extremely difficult to deal with. Due to its poisonous nature, it had indeed caused him much suffering and even affected Wei Bin. The Black Venom King smiled. ¡°Kid, Qi Manor promised to give me three cities after completing this task, if you give me six cities, I will help you instead.¡± Upon hearing this offer, fury flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, A chilling look appeared in his eyes as he looked towards Qi Hao. To think that this bastard actually dared to do a transaction with Great Zhou¡¯s land and citizens. However, Qi Hao merely smiled nonchalantly in response. Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze and said in a calm voice, ¡°It¡¯s enough that general Wei is with me. As for the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s land, anyone who dares to hope for a share shall be killed.¡± The Black Venom King was taken aback. Soon after, he laughed and pointed at Zhou Yuan. ¡°What a charismatic kid. Excellent. Pray hard that you will never land in my hands, because I really want to have a taste of what it will be like to boil the prince of Great Zhou.¡± ¡°I will not even bother to boil you. A single chop to remove your dog-head is all that is needed.¡± Zhou Yuan revealed an icy smile. He had intense hate for someone who repeatedly infringed on Great Zhou¡¯s borders and slaughtered her citizens. By the side, Qi Hao let out a mocking laugh and prepared to speak. ¡°Qi Ritian , your fate will be the same if you land in my hands.¡± Before Qi Hao could speak however, Zhou Yuan¡¯s cold gaze swept over. The fact that this son of a bitch used Great Zhou¡¯s land in a transaction infuriated the former even more. Zhou Yuan would not be merciful if Qi Hao landed in his hands. ¡°Qi Ritian?¡± Qi Hao was stunned. Soon after, he burst into rage as he frostily said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you dare to humiliate me?!¡± Zhou Yuan retorted, ¡°The only thing in your family¡¯s bones is rebellion, so what if I humiliate you?¡± Qi Hao smiled angrily. ¡°You think you are so great. You¡¯ve not even reached the Qi Nourishing stage and yet you dare to speak to me in such a manner. If no one was protecting you, I would have killed you where you stand.¡± He was a true-blue advance Qi Nourishing stage practitioner, while Zhou Yuan had only unblocked seven meridian channels. It would be easy to slay Zhou Yuan in a direct clash. ¡°You will have your chance. When the time comes, we will see exactly who will be killing who.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was emotionless. Once he reached the Qi Nourishing stage, even without the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Omni Python Qi, he may not necessarily fear Qi Hao if he were to utilise the power of his Spirit and Genesis Runes. Qi Hao¡¯s expression darkened after being smothered by Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. The former knew that there was not much point in continuing to compare whose tongue was sharper. Therefore, he shot a eerily cold glance at Zhou Yuan, before waving his hand as he turned and left with the Black Venom King and the rest of the party. Zhou Yuan watched them leave as his expression became grave. Although it had been easy beat them with words, he did not dare to underestimate them in the slightest. ¡°Our most troublesome foe is the Black Venom King that even general Wei will not have much of an advantage over in a fight. Looks like we have to think of a way to deal with the Black Venom King¡¯s Devil Miasma Poison, or the situation will become extremely unfavorable to us if anything unfortunate befalls general Wei¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. In the end, he looked towards Yaoyao as a smile emerged on his lips. The twenty thousand Genesis crystals must not be spent in vain. [1] *Æëê» & ÆëÈÕÌì The ¡®Hao¡¯ (ê» ) character from Qi Hao¡¯s name is made up of two characters, ¡®Ri¡¯ (ÈÕ) and ¡®Tian¡¯ (Ìì) Hence, Zhou Yuan is making mockery of Qi Hao¡¯s name by calling him Qi Ritian. Previous Chapte Chapter 75 The Eighth Meridian Channel In the inn. After what had happened previously, everyone¡¯s expression had become a little grave. They understood that the collaboration between Qi Manor and Black Venom City would undoubtedly become their biggest obstruction. Zhou Yuan wore a serious expression as he looked towards Wei Canglan and inquired, ¡°General Wei, what are you chances of winning against the Black Venom King?¡± Wei Canglan hesitated for a moment before he slowly answered, ¡°There are nine levels to the Alpha-Origin stage and both the Black Venom King and myself are at the second level. Neither of us should be able to gain the upper hand if we go at it for real¡­ but the Black Venom King has the Devil Miasma Qi, a top-tier grade 4 Genesis Qi. It is an overbearing poison Qi that can easily infect an opponent in a fight without him knowing, hence why I suffered at its hands back then.¡± ¡°This Devil Miasma Qi is a huge headache.¡± Afraid that their morale will suffer, Wei Canglan hastily added in. ¡°Although I am wary of the Devil Miasma Poison, I will definitely be able to stall the Black Venom King when the time comes.¡± Zhou Yaun had a look of complentation on his face. This was no insurance at all. If anything unexpected happened, the situation would become far too unfavorable for them. After some thought, he suddenly cast his gaze at Yaoyao, smiling as he asked, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, could you think of something?¡± Yaoyao currently had her head lowered as she studied the black jade list while carrying Tuntun. She lifted her head, showing her pretty face as she glared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°I just knew that you were going to ask me.¡± On the way back, she had felt Zhou Yuan look towards her from to time to time. However, she also knew that this was a matter of paramount importance. Hence, after glaring at Zhou Yuan, her hand reached towards the Universe bag on her hip and retrieved a green scroll which she then placed on the table. ¡°This is known as the Thousand Wood Poison Safeguard Rune, a top-tier grade 3 Genesis Rune. When activated, it will be able to guard against all kinds of poisons and the Devil Miasma Poison should be unable to break its defences.¡± ¡°A top-tier grade 3 Genesis Rune?¡± Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing and the rest stared in amazement at Yaoyao. Was this young lady before them, who did not give off even the slightest Genesis Qi undulation, really have such high mastery in the art of Genesis Runes? Such a Genesis Rune stood at the pinnacle even in the entire Great Zhou Empire. Only now did Wei Qingqing realise why Zhou Yuan always insisted on having this seemingly burdensome girl at his side. ¡°Great! With the aid of this Genesis Rune, the Black Venom King will no longer pose any threat towards me. I will be able to attack without worry and thoroughly suppress him. In fact, I may even find a chance to kill him!¡± As Wei Canglan grasped the scroll, his face turned slightly red due to intense emotions. His hatred towards the Black Venom King had long seeped deep into his bones, and he had tried everything he could to eliminate the latter. Unfortunately, his fear of the Devil Miasma Poison had ultimately made him lose out in their previous exchanges. Now that he had this top-tier grade 3 Genesis Rune, the Thousand Wood Poison Safeguard Rune, the Black Venom King¡¯s greatest weapon no longer posed any threat towards him. Everyone in the room gave a slight sigh of relief after hearing Wei Canglan¡¯s confident declaration. Zhou Yuan also smiled and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m relieved that general Wei is confident. Since our information gathering is almost complete, we shall move out tomorrow and enter the Battle Puppet Sect ruins.¡± No one had any objections. ¡­ Night fell. The gates of Devil Prison City were tightly shut, while countless Genesis Beast howls resounded in the mountain forests outside the city. Blackwater was even more dangerous at night. In one of the rooms in the inn, Zhou Yuan was seated on the bed, his eyes tightly shut and his body faintly trembling. The faint roar of a dragon could be heard as Genesis Qi pulsed around his body, transforming into white threads that flowed into his body through his nose. After meeting Qi Hao and the Black Venom King today, Zhou Yuan now felt a sliver of danger. Although he had the protection of a group of elites, the most dependable thing after all was one¡¯s own strength. Hence, his seven channel strength had began to feel rather lacking in Blackwater. It was time for him to advance to the Qi Nourishing stage. Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest rose and fell in cycles as Genesis Qi surged within his meridian channels, continuously attacking the increasingly loosening eighth meridian channel. After these past few days of dogged daily training, he could sense that unblocking the eighth meridian channel was just around the corner¡­ Genesis Qi continuously surged within the meridian channels inside his body. Suddenly, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body violently jerked, activating the Dragon Breath technique as another stream of Genesis Qi was absorbed into his body. Like a wave, it ferociously slammed into the final bit of obstruction in the eighth meridian channel. Pop! A faint sound was heard, as if a membrane had been broken. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and lowered his head to look at his hands. He could feel a feeling of transparency and lightness flood his body. It was as if he had suddenly broken free of chains and shackles. The surrounding Genesis Qi voluntarily surged towards his body as the quality of his body swiftly rose. The eighth meridian channel had finally been unblocked! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body shook as an indescribable feeling rose in his heart. After half a year of hard work, he had finally unblocked all eight meridian channels. Eight meridian channels were fully opened once again after over a dozen years. Zhou Yuan violently sucked in two breaths of air, allowing himself to regain his cool before closing his eyes. Now that all eight meridian channels had been unblocked, it was time to open his Qi Dwelling. Only after opening the Qi Dwelling would one be considered to have truly stepped into the Qi Nourishing stage. ¡°Come!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes burned with excitement and anticipation. He had waited far too long for this day to come. An almost inaudible dragon roar echoed from within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. This time, the output from activating Dragon Breath had increased drastically. The Genesis Qi in the room shuddered violently, transforming into much thicker white threads that were ultimately swallowed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body with a single gulp. The Genesis Qi in his body swiftly converged towards his lower abdomen, transforming into a swirling vortex. When the rotation of the vortex reached its peak, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt a dot appear at the center of the vortex. The inside of this Genesis dot seemed akin to a mysterious domain, sometimes present yet sometimes not. Infinitely small, yet also infinitely massive. The moment this Genesis dot appeared, the flowing Genesis Qi in his body seemed to have been given a sudden tug. Genesis Qi surged inside his channels, pouring into the Genesis dot. Following the influx of Genesis Qi, it was as if life had emerged from the formless mass of creation inside the Genesis dot. Space began to develop, forming the Qi Dwelling. It was at this very moment that the Qi Dwelling in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was finally created. At long last, the Genesis Qi he absorbed during his daily training now had a place to be stored, allowing it to gradually grow stronger. It would be nothing like the past, where the majority of the absorbed Genesis Qi would subsequently fade after improving the quality of his body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit entered the Qi Dwelling and a unique domain entered his eyes where Genesis Qi flowed in an endless cycle. Subsequently, he saw green light begin to blossom, dying the entire Qi Dwelling green. A newly created Qi Dwelling was classified into four different ranks based on one¡¯s talent and the innate potential of the body. These four ranks were denoted by color: colorless, green, purple and gold. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit nervously watched the transformation of the Qi Dwelling. Although he knew that the rank of the Qi Dwelling was not an absolute representation of one¡¯s future accomplishments, it could not be denied that the higher rank the Qi Dwelling, the greater the advantage. Green light grew richer and deeper until a speck of purple light began to emerge within it. Purple light spread, giving the Qi Dwelling a new color. ¡°Purple Qi Dwelling.¡± Upon seeing his Qi Dwelling turn purple, Zhou Yuan finally nodded, clearly very satisfied with this outcome. The Qi Dwelling seemed to stabilize at purple, causing Zhou Yuan to breathe a sigh of relief as he began to leave the Qi Dwelling. Rumble! At this moment however, the Qi Dwelling suddenly began to shake. Zhou Yuan abruptly sensed a clearly very foreign, yet extremely familiar Genesis Qi surge out from the depths of the Qi Dwelling. The purity level of this new Genesis Qi shocked Zhou Yuan. Moreover, it gave off a very faint primal aura, as if it was origin of all life, the very first breath of Source Genesis Qi predating the formless mass of creation. ¡°What is going on?!¡± However, Zhou Yuan was even more shocked by the origin of this mysterious Genesis Qi. He could clearly sense that it had not come from his training. But why, why was there a familiar feeling? As millions of thoughts flickered across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, a flash of understanding suddenly struck him, causing him to blurt out in astonishment, ¡°Could it be¡­ when I was born and my eight meridian channels connected to the Qi Dwelling, this Genesis Qi had hidden itself in the depths of my Qi Dwelling?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eight meridian channels were naturally open when he was born. Logically speaking, the opening of his Qi Dwelling should naturally followed. However, due to the unforeseen calamity that struck, a wisp of Source Genesis Qi had hidden in the deepest recesses of his uncomplete Qi Dwelling. Now that Zhou Yuan had successfully opened his Qi Dwelling again, the Source Genesis Qi that had hidden for fourteen years had once again emerged upon sensing his presence. A dazed Zhou Yuan felt the pure Genesis Qi as complicated feelings churned in his heart. Meanwhile, the Source Genesis Qi surged into his Qi Dwelling and Zhou Yuan was shocked once again as he watched a trace of gold slowly blossomed like a rising sun within the deep purple light. Previous Chapte Chapter 76 Opening the Qi Dwelling Golden light emerged like a rising run and immediately spread, causing the purple light to recede as it was replaced by gold that now filled the entire Qi Dwelling. Thus, the Qi Dwelling became a resplendent gold, an impressive look indeed. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s a gold Qi Dwelling?!¡± Zhou Yuan blankly stared at the resplendent gold Qi Dwelling. Such an outcome had never occurred even in his wildest dreams! He had originally hoped for a purple Qi Dwelling, satisfied as long as he could reach the same level as Su Youwei. Yet, he would never have expected that the breath of Source Genesis Qi in the depths of his Qi Dwelling would cause the rank of his Qi Dwelling to rise a level. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart overflowed with joy and excitement. The rank of a Qi Dwelling not only determined its potential growth, but was also able to raise the quality of his Genesis Qi. For someone with a gold Qi Dwelling, even if he were to cultivate grade 2 Genesis Qi, his output power would be greater than someone with a green Qi Dwelling and grade 3 Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself in surprise, ¡°I never imagined that I will open a golden Qi Dwelling.¡± Gold light swam in the Qi Dwelling. Under its shine, the flowing Genesis Qi grew more compact and powerful. While Zhou Yuan was immersed in joy due to the golden Qi Dwelling, he did not realise that the lump of blood-red Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison on his palm had suddenly began to squirm. Hss hss! A strange sound echoed within the golden Qi Dwelling as wisps of blood mist emerged from an unknown place and began to flood into the Qi Dwelling It was then that Zhou Yuan finally realised what was happening. His heart shook when he saw the invading blood mist as a horrified cry rang out in his heart. ¡°This¡­ it¡¯s the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison?!¡± A dragon roar filled with bitter resentment spread from within the blood mist as blood colored light surged out. Like a virus, it swiftly spread across the golden Qi Dwelling. Zhou Yuan was horrified by this sudden turn of events. Never would he have expected that the almost six months dormant Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in his body would suddenly emerge and slip into his Qi Dwelling when it was formed. Zhou Yuan anxiously watched the inside of the Qi Dwelling. As the blood light spread, the golden light in the Qi Dwelling began to fade as it gradually fused with the blood light. In the end, the entire Qi Dwelling had become bright red. Bizarre and mysterious. Zhou Yuan was taken aback once again. A blood-red Qi Dwelling? What the heck was this? I¡¯ve never heard of such a thing! ¡°That blasted Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison!¡± Zhou Yuan howled in his heart. Just a touch from that blasted Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison had turned his beloved golden Qi dwelling into this blood-red Qi Dwelling which he had never heard of before. In the room, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, his face an ugly greenish-white. He deeply breathed in, pushing down the rage in his heart as he began to very carefully inspect the Qi Dwelling in his body. If there were any problems with it, it would undoubtedly become a huge hindrance to his cultivation. Fortunately, he did not find anything wrong. In fact, the amount of Genesis Qi the Qi Dwelling could hold seemed to have risen somewhat compared to when it was gold in color. However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to relax. His frowned deeply as he summoned Genesis Qi from his hand with a thought. Normally speaking, the Genesis Qi of those who had yet to learn any Qi cultivation methods was as clear as water. Yet, when Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi came surging out, he discovered a faint strand of blood-red flowing within it. The strand of blood-red was very familiar to Zhou Yuan. It was the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison had been fused into his Genesis Qi? What the heck was this? Dragon poison Qi? ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Zhou Yuan was at a complete loss, evidently unable to understand why such a change had occurred. Although he did know if this was detrimental for the time being, at the very least¡­ he could feel that the Genesis Qi that had now been tinged with a hint of Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison seemed to have become much fiercer in nature. Zhou Yuan had after all personally experienced how domineering the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison was. Zhou Yuan felt really weary inside. This new Qi Dwelling had given him three waves of surprise. First it was purple, then gold and now a blood-red color he had never encountered before¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll ask big sis Yaoyao tomorrow¡­¡± Unable to come to a conclusion, Zhou Yuan could only release a pained sigh. ¡­ The next day. Everyone was stunned when Zhou Yuan walked out of the inn. They could clearly feel that the Genesis Qi undulations surrounding Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had become far stronger than yesterday. Wei Canglan asked in surprise, ¡°Your highness has broken through to the Qi Nourishing stage?¡± Wei Qingqing also looked towards Zhou Yuan in amazement. ¡°I had a breakthrough yesterday.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. Su Youwei¡¯s eyes were filled with astonishment as she said, ¡°Your highness is truly impressive. In less than a year, you grew from someone who was unable to find his meridian channels to the Qi Nourishing stage. In fact, you¡¯re practically at my heels.¡± In contrast, Yaoyao took another look at Zhou Yuan as a puzzled look flitted across her clear eyes. Because there were to many people present, Zhou Yuan did not approach her with his problem. Instead, he faced everyone and said, ¡°If all the preparations are done, let¡¯s move out.¡± The group nodded and quickly mounted their horses, subsequently transforming into a flood as they surged out Devil Prison City, heading in the direction of the Battle Puppet Sect ruins. Along the way, Zhou Yuan found a chance to secretly pull Yaoyao to one side and explain in detail what had happened with an agonized face. ¡°Blood-red Qi Dwelling?¡± Yaoyao was stunned after hearing the details. It was obvious that she too had never heard of such a thing. ¡°It should be because of the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, but this may not be a bad thing. Your Qi Dwelling is still basically a golden Qi Dwelling, and was only transformed into such a state because the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison mixed itself in.¡± ¡°As for whether there will be any problems, I cannot say for sure. You can only try to pay extra attention in future.¡± In response to her answer, there was nothing Zhou Yuan could do but nod his head. ¡°I guess that¡¯s the only thing to do.¡± ¡­ While Zhou Yuan¡¯s group was rushing towards the Battle Puppet Sect ruins, in Devil Prison City, Qi Hao, the Black Venom King and the rest of the group were ready to set off. Genesis Qi churned around the over hundred men group, testament to their eliteness. After listening to a report, Qi Hao sad to the Black Venom King, ¡°Zhou Yuan has already left earlier.¡± The Black Venom King nonchalantly replied, ¡°The ruins are layered in danger and there is no advantage for them even if they arrive first. Why not let them help us clear the path.¡± He paused for a moment, staring at Qi Hao as he continued, ¡°On another note, you mentioned that you prepared a little special something for this mission, exactly what did you prepare?¡± Qi Hao smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯ll find out when the time comes. Don¡¯t worry, with us joining hands, Zhou Yuan and Wei Canglan will not be able to leave Blackwater.¡± The smile on his lips gradually turned malicious. ¡°The only thing that awaits them is death!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 77 Jade Infant Frui The Battle Puppet Sect ruins was about two hundred miles from Devil Prison City. Zhou Yuan and his group managed to reach their destination in two hours. Zhou Yuan and the rest stood on a hill, their gazes fixed to their front where a forest of giant trees stood. White fog lingered in the depths of the forest, revealing only the faint silhouettes of various dilapidated buildings. Light seemed to flicker in the sky above the ruins as a feeling of unknown danger spread. Yaoyao took one look at the flickering light and said, ¡°There is a Genesis Rune boundary above the ruins.¡± A Genesis Rune boundary was a more complex and large-scale way to utilise Genesis Runes, somewhat akin to a formation or array. This Genesis Rune boundary was likely the sect protecting boundary used by the Battle Puppet Sect while it still existed in Blackwater. Following the disappearance of the sect, the sect protecting boundary had faded due to the lack of Genesis Qi, though it was clear that some part still remained. Casually entering through the sky would very likely result in an encounter with the remnant boundary, something that even an Alpha-Origin stage expert would not be able to handle. After all, the power of a sect protecting boundary was nothing to scoff at. ¡°It seems that we can only enter on foot.¡± Wei Canglan looked towards Zhou Yuan and continued, ¡°Your highness, according to the information we gathered, there are numerous abandoned buildings in the ruins which may contain treasures, how shall we proceed?¡± Zhou Yuan did not hesitate at all and replied, ¡°We will first head to the area where the Jade Infant Fruit is located.¡± His most important goal was the Jade Infant Fruit and the Fire Spirit Grain. Since the Fire Spirit Grain was in the deepest part of the ruins, it would naturally make sense to obtain the Jade Infant Fruit first. Wei Qingqing leaned her hand against the longsword on her waist as she said, ¡°The Jade Infant Fruit is located in the southwest sector of the ruins. Several people have went there, but none were able to obtain it.¡± ¡°We must obtain it no matter what.¡± The resolution in Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was firm. His mother¡¯s lifespan had been cut substantially. How could he possibly be at ease unless he found her one of those treasures that could supplement one¡¯s life span? ¡°First the Jade Infant Fruit, then the Fire Spirit Grain. As for other treasures, there is no need to concern ourselves with them for the time being!¡± Zhou Yuan decisively declared. The treasures in the ruins may be rare, but one should not be too greedy and instead understand what to prioritise. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Wei Canglan and the latter responded with a nod. With a wave of his hand, the hundred man group transformed into a flood, surging into the ruins under the wary gazes from the surrounding groups. ¡­ Not long after Zhou Yuan and his group entered the ruins, another group swiftly approached. It was Qi Hao and the Black Venom King¡¯s group. A figure quickly rushed over from nearby. ¡°They¡¯ve entered?¡± Asked Qi Hao in a flat voice. He had stationed some men around the vicinity of the ruins in advance to keep track of the movements of Zhou Yuan¡¯s group. . ¡°Yes, we have sent someone to follow them. They seem to be heading towards the Jade Infant Fruit location.¡± The figure immediately answered. ¡°Jade Infant Fruit?¡± Qi Hao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°The Jade Infant Fruit is a quality item. It can prolong one¡¯s lifespan and is extremely valued.¡± A look of greed surfaced in the Black Venom King¡¯s eyes. ¡°Zhou Yuan has likely gone searching for the Jade Infant Fruit because of his mother.¡± Qi Hao coldly chuckled. He had a clear grasp of the royal clan¡¯s situation. ¡°Humph Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve repeatedly foiled my plans, this time, I will make sure that you will not have your way! I¡¯m really interested to see how flustered you will become when the Jade Spirit Fruit lands in my hands.¡± A vicious look flitted across Qi Hao¡¯s eyes. Soon after, he waved his hand and commanded, ¡°Let¡¯s go and catch up to them.¡± ¡­ Fog filled the ruins. Crumbling walls could be seen wherever one looked, a rather desolate sight indeed. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s group did not dare to tarry, maintaining their formation as they slowly pushed forward. The surrounding mists grew increasingly thicker, so thick that even Spirit perception was affected. Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps suddenly paused. ¡°Careful, something is approaching.¡± Although his Spirit perception had been affected, his senses were still much sharper than an ordinary person¡¯s. Wei Canglan nodded, evidently having also sensed something. He immediately waved his hand and the surrounding guards immediately began to prepare themselves as Genesis Qi began to surge around their bodies. The white fog gently rippled. A dull red light seemed to appear within the white fog, accompanied by faint noises as a dozen of shadows emerged from within the mist, forming a wall in front of Zhou Yuan¡¯s group. Zhou Yuan and the rest looked over and focused. The black shadows were revealed to be night-black wild beasts, but on closer inspection, one would realise that their bodies were akin to black metal, gleaming with black light, while the red glow in their eyes lacked any sort of intelligence. These dozen shadows were battle beast puppets. ¡°So these are battle puppets?¡± Zhou Yuan stared at them in wonder. The Genesis Qi that faintly pulsed from the battle beast puppet bodies showed that they were comparable to Qi Nourishing stage experts. Wei Canglan responded, ¡°It is said that at their peak, the Battle Puppet Sect possessed a hundred thousand strong battle puppet army. An army that was practically invincible and unstoppable.¡± Zhou Yuan clicked his tongue. A hundred thousand strong battle puppet army. If they were all at the Qi Nourishing stage, it was likely that no empire would be able to match them. Yet, why had these ancient factions of Blackwater ultimately disappeared? Wei Canglan waved his hand and twenty figures shot forward, heading straight for the dozen battle beast puppets that were blocking their way. Thump thud! Genesis Qi erupted the moment both parties clashed. Wei Canglan had sent out Qi Nourishing stage practitioners, but the dozen battle beast puppets knew neither fear nor death, hence, the fighting was exceptionally intense. The battle lasted for several minutes, before it gradually came to a close. The dozen battle beast puppets had been dismembered, but five of the twenty Qi Nourishing stage guards had also been injured. It was clear that these tireless and fearless battle beast puppets were rather troublesome opponents. Yaoyao walked over with some interest while carrying Tuntun and began inspecting the dismembered battle beast puppets. Her fair slender finger gently traced the now dim runes as she mumbled to herself, ¡°Powered by Genesis Runes¡­¡± After some examination, she stood up and walked back to the group. Zhou Yuan then nodded to Wei Canglan and they began to advance once again. In the following period of time, they encountered wave after wave of battle beast puppets. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan¡¯s group was a strong well trained force, and they were able to cleanly sweep away all resistance they encountered. As such, they arrived at a lake half an hour later. Other human figures were already present by the lakeside, likely other treasure seekers that had rushed here. The fact that they had been able to arrive here was testament to their strength. These people also sensed the arrival of Zhou Yuan¡¯s group and their eyes immediately filled with wariness. Wei Canglan took one quick look at the surroundings and pointed towards the middle of the lake. ¡°The Jade Infant Fruit is at the center of the lake.¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look, and saw fog drifting over the surface of the lake. At the very center of the lake was a small island where a giant jade-green tree stood at the middle. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze locked onto the tree from which two crystal-like fruits hung. The fruits were shaped like a rather adorable newborn baby and gave off a sweet and enticing fragrance. His heartbeat quickened as he observed the fruit that was seemingly made from crystal. ¡°Jade Infant Fruit, I¡¯ve finally found you!¡± Not long after Zhou Yuan¡¯s group arrived at the lake, some noise was heard from another direction and everyone watched as another group emerged from the mists. ¡°Qi Hao.¡± A frosty look flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes when he saw the familiar figure leading the group. Qi Hao and the Black Venom King arrived at the lakeside and shot a look in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. The corners the former¡¯s mouth immediately lifted as he pointed at the center of the lake and displayed a playful smile at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you want the Jade Infant Fruit, you¡¯ll have to first ask me if I agree or not.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 78 Method to Reach the Island Although Zhou Yuan remained expressionless after hearing Qi Hao¡¯s words, intense killing intent emerged within the former¡¯s eyes. The Jade Spirit Fruit was connected to the matter of his mother¡¯s lifespan. He would not let anyone snatch it away no matter what methods he had to use. It was at this moment that Wei Canglan suddenly remarked, ¡°Your highness, there is something strange about this lake.¡± Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze. He had similarly sensed that something was amiss. So many people had arrived here before them, but all of them only waited at the lakeside, not daring to enter the lake and seize the Jade Infant Fruit. It was obvious that they were afraid of something. Yaoyao cast a glance at the air above the lake and said, ¡°There is a damaged Genesis Rune boundary above the lake.¡± Wei Canglan nodded in agreement. The damaged Genesis Rune boundary made even someone like himself feel threatened, and he did not dare to carelessly enter. This place was evidently rather important to the Battle Puppet Sect. ¡°Can we cross by walking across the water?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao shook her head. ¡°There is something strange about the water. It seems that the stronger one¡¯s Genesis Qi, the more easily one will sink¡­¡± Wei Canglan was a little taken aback. He quickly waved his hand, indicating for some of his men to confirm. Sure enough, they discovered that those with stronger Genesis Qi would sink more easily, as if the lakewater was unable to support them. ¡°It will be difficult for even a Qi Nourishing stage expert to walk across the water.¡± Wei Canglan frowned. If so, won¡¯t an Alpha-Origin stage expert like himself sink straight to the bottom? He could feel danger from the bottom of the lake. It was highly likely that portions of the damaged Genesis Rune boundary had fallen into the lake, making it extremely dangerous. Yaoyao¡¯s mouth opened slightly as she said, ¡°It seems that this place does not welcome Genesis Qi users¡­ likely a precautionary method of sorts. With such a precaution in place, they would only need a few disciples to protect the Jade Infant Tree.¡± Su Youwei curiously asked, ¡°How would one cross the water without Genesis Qi?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought for a moment, before turning to meet Yaoyao¡¯s gaze as he slowly said, ¡°Spirit.¡± Spirit power was completely different from Genesis Qi. Moreover, Zhou Yuan had discovered that the Spirit that had originally been suppressed in the fog had turned lively again after reaching the lake. ¡°Let me try.¡± Zhou Yuan walked forward and placed a foot onto the water, the Spirit between his brows flickering as Spirit power surged out and covered his legs. The body that had originally sunk slightly into the water immediately stabilized. ¡°As expected, the power of the Spirit can be used here.¡± A look of glee flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°So you have to rely on the Spirit¡­¡± Nearby, Qi Hao raised an eyebrow as he watched. Soon after, he waved his hand and a man immediately walked forward from behind. This man¡¯s complexion was rather pale, and his lips were as thin as the edge of a blade. The Genesis Qi undulations around him were quite weak, but light flickered indeterminately between his brows. He was clearly a Spirit practitioner. ¡°Zhao Qingfeng, your teacher master Ying was framed by this brat, causing him to fall into the hands of the great general¡¯s faction. This is the best opportunity for you to take revenge.¡± Qi Hao smiled at the man. Iciness flashed in the pale man¡¯s eyes when he heard this. He looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°How can a kid like him possibly be my master¡¯s match?¡± ¡°He is after all the prince of Great Zhou and naturally has his ways.¡± Qi Hao smiled faintly as he continued, ¡°As long as you are able to seize the Jade Infant Fruit, not only will I guarantee your master¡¯s safety, you will become a valued guest of Qi Manor in future and we will provide you all of the cultivation resources you need.¡± Desire flashed in the eyes of the man called Zhao Qingfeng as he nodded and said with a cold smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if we compete in Spirit, dealing with him will not be difficult.¡± His tone was filled with pride. Though he had only trained under master Ying for three years, his Spirit had already reached the mid Illusory stage, and even his master often praised his talent. Thus, he did not believe that a much younger Zhou Yuan would be able to match him in Spirit. After leaving these words behind, Zhao Qingfeng flew forward and landed on the water. Spirit power shook as his sole touched the water¡¯s surface without sinking. A mocking smile formed on his lips as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. While the two stood on the water, the other factions also came to the same realization. Hence, after some activity, another dozen figures appeared on the surface of the water, each individual clearly a Spirit practitioner. Wei Canglan shot a look in Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s direction and remarked, ¡°That person¡¯s Spirit is not weak.¡± ¡°If only Spirit can be used here, I may be able to help you.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes seem to swirl. Given her Spirit level, no one here would be able to contend with her. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment after hearing this, but he ultimately shook his head. ¡°The situation is complicated and no one knows if there will be other hidden dangers. It is not ideal for you to go.¡± Although Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit was powerful, she was unable to utilise Genesis Qi, resulting in an extremely frail body. If anything unexpected happened, the probability of Yaoyao being seriously injured was high. Therefore, while Yaoyao was very powerful, she was also very weak. Back then, master Cang Yuan had solemnly entrusted him with Yaoyao¡¯s safety. Hence, he did not dare to let Yaoyao take such a risk. Zhou Yuan said, ¡°Observe first, if anything happens to me, at least there will be the great general and you to save me.¡± Yaoyao did not persist after hearing this and her sharp snow-white chin gave a tiny nod. Atop the lake, Zhou Yuan calmly cast a glance at the nearby Zhao Qingfeng. Undisguised hostility burned in the latter¡¯s eyes, but it did not matter to Zhou Yuan. No one would be able to stop him from obtaining the Jade Infant Fruit today. The lake water under his feet rippled as he took in a deep breath and looked towards the small island at the center of the lake. He then took a step forward, beginning his step by step advance on the lake surface. The others also started to very cautiously walk forward. Around the lake, no one dared to blink at they watched the figures walking on the water. It was completely silent. Several minutes later, Zhou Yuan and the rest gradually approached the area within a hundred feet of the small island. The lake was still calm and no one had encountered any obstructions. When the crowd by the lakeside saw this, they could not help but murmur in bewilderment, ¡°So simple?¡± Under those puzzled gazes, Zhou Yuan and the rest stepped into the area within a hundred feet of the island. Buzz! A buzzing sound seemed to emerge from the small island at this moment, and everyone watched as dazzling jade light was released from the Jade Infant tree at the center of the island. Plop! The jade light seemed to sway as countless barely discernible specks of light shot out from within. Like a storm, they began to engulf the ones who had stepped into the hundred feet perimeter around the island. ¡°It¡¯s a Spirit attack!¡± Zhou Yuan focused on the barely visible specks of light. These light dots contained Spirit power. He did not dare to delay a moment longer and the Spirit between his brows began to flicker.If one looked, one would be able to see a blurry silhouette seated in a cross-legged position. An invisible ripple pulsed outwards as Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand pulled out the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his waist. The tip of the brush rapidly moved across the air, leaving behind almost visible strokes. ¡°Grade 1 Genesis Rune, Spirit Shield!¡± The completed Genesis Rune immediately transformed into partly transparent shield of light. The Genesis Qi ripples from the light shield were extremely weak because the shield was mainly composed of Spirit power. Plop plop! Jade light rained down from the sky, falling upon the transparent light shield, causing it to ripple violently. Ah! Blood-curdling screeches began to ring out. Several individuals were unable to guard in time, and were immediately shot full of holes by the jade light, their bodies crumpling before sinking into the water. As these individuals fell into the water, berserk undulations exploded within the lake. Bloody water quickly rose and spread across the lake surface. The ones that had fallen into the waters had been instantly blasted to pieces. This sight caused the hearts of Zhou Yuan, Zhao Qingfeng and the other fortunate survivors to shiver. It seems that the waters below were indeed filled with danger, ensuring certain death if one was to fall into them. Looks like reaching the small island at the heart of the lake and retrieving the Jade Infant Fruit not going to be as easy as expected. These ruins were abundant with death traps. Previous Chapte Chapter 79 Fear After the a round of jade light bombardment, almost half of the individual''s standing on the lake surface had been wiped out. Of course, the ones that were left naturally had some ability. In front of each of them stood a flickering translucent light shield similar to Zhou Yuan¡¯s, that fully protected their bodies. With their bodies protected by Spirit shields, the footsteps of Zhou Yuan and the rest did not stop as they continued their cautious advance towards the small island. As they approached, the Jade Infant Tree sent out another two waves of jade light bombardments, shattering the shields of several individuals, causing them to fall into the water and transform into pools of blood. By this time, Zhou Yuan and several others were only twenty feet from the island, practically moments away from reaching it. At the lakeside, everyone held their breath in silence as they watched. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were tightly fixed on the small island. The nearer he got, the more tense he became. He had a feeling that the obstruction from the island was not merely limited to its earlier antics¡­ Step by step, Zhou Yuan and the rest approached the island and soon reached the distance of only ten feet from its shore. Bang! It was at this moment that jade light once again exploded from the Jade Infant Tree on the island, sweeping outwards in a circular fashion. Zhou Yuan and the rest were immediately engulfed by the light. Buzz! A buzzing noise immediately rose in the heads of Zhou Yuan and the rest as the scenery before their eyes faded into darkness. A wasteland quickly appeared before them. Only one thing stood on this barren land, a giant jade colored tree. Tiny as ants before this giant tree, an indescribable pressure swallowed them, causing them to feel intense fear. Fear that made one¡¯s Spirit tremble so hard that it began to show signs of dissipating. By the lakeside, Su Youwei gazed upon the surface of the lake where Zhou Yuan, Zhao Qingfeng and the rest had stopped moving, their bodies now completely still. She immediately sensed that there was something wrong, worry flashing in her eyes as she turned towards Yaoyao and asked, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, what is going on?¡± Yaoyao frowned a little. ¡°It¡¯s Spirit pressure. They¡¯ve been caught by a certain type of Spirit attack and if they are unable to endure, even their Spirit will be crushed to pieces.¡± The expressions of Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing, Lu Tieshan and the others changed. If the Spirit was shattered, one would become a vegetable. In other words, the consequences were extremely serious. Wei Canglan declared in a low voice, ¡°We must save his highness.¡± Yaoyao shook her head as she softly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he is not so easily defeated.¡± If it was anyone else, Yaoyao would not have spoken with such confidence, but since it was only a Spirit attack, hurting Zhou Yuan who had learnt the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method was practically impossible. While they were conversing, the remaining figures on the lake began to fall one by one. The eyes of each one becoming hollow as if their minds had been wiped clean. Splash. Their bodies fell into the water, sinking to the bottom of the lake where they were ripped to shreds by the damaged Genesis Rune boundary before rising again as pools of blood. In the short span of a few breaths, only two figures were left atop the lake. Zhou Yuan and Zhao Qingfeng. ... The colossal jade tree towered before the eyes of two individuals as waves of pressure swept over them. ¡°Spirit pressure huh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the incomparably gargantuan jade tree. Although his Spirit was trembling due to the overwhelming pressure of the tree, he did not crumble in fear. After all, the terror he had experienced before was far greater than anything this jade tree could produce. ¡°Let me show you the meaning of true terror.¡± With a thought, formless and primal chaos began to descend from outside the barren land. From within the void emerged a mottled divine grindstone as a seemingly infinite shadow slowly descended. A slowly turning divine grindstone evaporated everything into nothingness. The giant jade tree was already frozen with shock. Before the mottled divine grindstone, the former was extremely small and tiny. The divine grindstone slowly approached and the jade tree together with the barren land were turned into nothingness¡­ On the lake, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes suddenly opened. The life flowing within them made it clear that his Spirit had not been destroyed by the Spirit pressure. He turned his head and waved towards the anxious Su Youwei and the rest on the bank, indicating that there was no need for them to worry. Wei Canglan, Su Youwei and the rest breathed a sigh of relief when they saw this. After freeing himself from the Spirit pressure of the Jade Infant Tree, Zhou Yuan walked forward once again, and soon stepped foot onto the small island. He did not face any obstructions this time. When Zhou Yuan stepped onto the small island, Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s body shook and his tightly shut eyes slowly opened, fear flashing within them. The giant jade tree had previously immobilized him with fear. Fortunately for him however, he had managed to endure till the bitter end. ¡°How the hell does this Jade Infant Tree possess such a powerful Spirit pressure? Thank god my Spirit is strong. I should be the first to have broken free.¡± Zhao Qingfeng wiped away the cold sweat on his brows as he mumbled to himself. He then lifted his head, only to see Zhou Yuan stepping onto the island, a sight that made the former¡¯s expression abruptly change. Zhao Qingfeng cried out in alarm, ¡°How?!¡± Angry white and green interlaced on his face. He had originally believed that his mid Illusory stage Spirit was enough for him to turn his nose up on everyone else here. Yet, how could he have imagined that the youth that looked even younger than himself be freed from the Spirit pressure before him. The fluctuating emotions within Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s eyes ultimately culminated into a flash of viciousness. As someone who had already aligned himself with Qi Manor, if he failed here, his value in Qi Hao¡¯s heart would surely fall, something that was undoubtedly extremely disadvantageous to him. Hence, he had to obtain the Jade Infant Fruit. As this thought flashed in his mind, Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s Genesis Rune Brush abruptly streaked across the air, the Spirit between his brows flickering. A Genesis Rune was completed a split second later. ¡°Grade 2 Genesis Rune, Ghost Face Spirit Devouring Rune!¡± In the wake of Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s final stroke, light exploded from the Genesis Rune, transforming into a ray of greyish-black that shot towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. The expressions of Su Youwei and the rest instantly changed upon seeing this as they anxiously shouted, ¡°Careful your highness!¡± A piercing noise rang out as the greyish-black light shot through the air. If one was struck by this Spirit attack, the body would be fine, but one¡¯s Spirit would definitely be gravely injured, an outcome that was even worse than losing a limb. From this, one could see just how malicious Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s attack was. As the greyish-black light whistled towards Zhou Yuan, he too sensed something and abruptly turned his head. Murder flitted across his eyes as the view of the attack and Zhao Qingfeng entered his eyes. ¡°I originally planned to ignore you, but since you want to die so badly, I¡¯ll just have to grant your wish!¡± Light flickered between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows as a rune of light slowly emerged. It was a Genesis Rune that had been prepared in advance. ¡°Grade 2 Genesis Rune, Spirit Severing Rune!¡± With a swish, the rune turned into a ray of invisible light as it shot forth. Like a blade made of Spirit, it powerfully slashed downwards at the incoming greyish-black light. Zhou Yuan had made use of the time while they were journeying towards Blackwater to learn several grade 2 Genesis Runes from Yaoyao. The Spirit Severing Rune was one of them and utilised Spirit power to attack. He had originally planned on saving this rune for Qi Hao. Who could have expected that he would end up using it at this juncture. Ch! A faint ¡®ch¡¯ sound was heard as the greyish-black ray was split into two. Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s pupils shrank as he involuntarily cried out, ¡°What?!¡± His grade 2 Genesis Rune had actually been sliced into half by Zhou Yuan? ¡°Mid Illusory stage. So you too are at the mid Illusory stage!¡± It was at this same moment that Zhao Qingfeng finally sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit undulations, Spirit undulations that were the same mid Illusory stage as himself. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were cold. The Spirit between his brows flashed as a blurry silhouette shot out. A second later, it appeared in front of Zhao Qingfeng and rushed towards his forehead. ¡°Since the jade tree was unable to satisfy your craving for fear, let me send you another helping!¡± As Zhou Yuan¡¯s icy voice faded, the scenery before Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s eyes began to ripple. This time however, instead of a barren wasteland, it was a formless void. Rumble! A loud sound was suddenly heard. Zhao Qingfeng raised his head and quickly saw the endless giant shadow of a divine grindstone slowly looming towards him. Before the divine grindstone, the towering jade tree from earlier now seemed so insignificant in comparison. An indescribable feeling of dread surged in Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s heart as his Spirit began to tremble uncontrollably. A faint breaking sound was heard as cracks started to surface on Zhao Qingfeng¡¯s spirit. AAHHH! Zhao Qingfeng let out a blood-curdling scream as his eyes rapidly became hollow and blank. His Spirit had crumbled on the spot, unable to withstand the fear of the divine grindstone. Splash! His body fell into the water, ultimately transforming into a pool of blood. The lake bank was completely silent as everyone watched this scene in shock. Though a bout of Spirit power was not visible, everyone clearly understood just how dangerous it was. However, none of them had expected the one to make the first move, Zhao Qingfeng, would suffer such a pathetic defeat mere moments later¡­ This was clear evidence of just how powerful prince Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was! ¡°Useless!¡± A terrifyingly icy voice escaped from between the teeth of a stormy-faced Qi Hao as he watched this scene. Zhao Qingfeng had bragged of how great of a genius he was in front them earlier. Yet, this very same ¡®genius¡¯ had turned out to be such weakling in front of Zhou Yuan and was defeated after a single exchange. On the small island, Zhou Yuan cast an indifferent glance at the body that had fallen into the lake. Without further ado, he turned around and walked towards the Jade Infant Tree at the center of the island. As he raised his head to gaze at the two crystal infant-shaped fruits hanging on the tree, a look of excitement surged in his eyes. ¡°Eh?¡± However, just as he was about to pluck the Jade Infant Fruit, he suddenly turned towards one of the branches where a dull silver ring was hanging. A faint but peculiar ripple pulsed from the ring. Previous Chapte Chapter 80 Treasure Obtained ¡°What is this?¡± Under the jade glow, Zhao Yuan blankly stared at the flickering silver ring. The undulations from the silver light felt a little familiar to him. He hesitated slightly as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand suddenly grew, transforming into its martial form. With a gentle flick of the brush tip, he retrieved the ring from the branch. Zhou Yuan reached out and grabbed the ring as a cold sensation entering his hand. At closer inspection, he realised that there were some ancient-looking patterns on the ring which gave off a strange aura. Moreover, while he was holding the ring, Zhou Yuan felt the Spirit between his brows stir restlessly as if its power was being amplified. ¡°This ring can strengthen one¡¯s Spirit?¡± A thought flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind as he raised his head and looked at the Jade Infant Tree. the Spirit undulations from the Jade Infant Tree had weakened after removing the ring from the branch. ¡°The earlier Spirit attacks were the Jade Spirit Tree¡¯s instinctive protective measures, but how can a Jade Infant Tree have such a powerful Spirit?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered with thought before he turned once again to stare at the dull silver ring in his hand. Could it be¡­ that this ring was the reason why the Jade Infant Tree¡¯s Spirit had been strengthened, giving it the power to protect itself. After mulling over it for some time, Zhou Yuan decided to give up for the time being and let Yaoyao take a look later. She would likely know the ring¡¯s function. Zhou Yuan kept the ring and retrieved two jade boxes from his Universe bag. The tip of his foot pushed off the ground as he flew up towards the Jade Infant Tree. Light flashed at his fingertips and the two Jade Infant Fruits on the tree fell into the boxes. Zhou Yuan immediately closed the boxes so as to prevent better preserve the effects of the Jade Infant Fruit ,before very carefully returning them to inside his Universe bag. ¡°Finally got them.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body relaxed as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Now that he had obtained the Jade Infant Fruit, he would be able to help his mother regain her lost lifespan. Then, he would no longer have to worry about Qin Yu¡¯s ten year life expectancy... ... By the lakeside, Qi Hao expression was rather ugly as he watched Zhou Yuan collect the treasures on the island. There was a mysterious expression in the Black Venom King¡¯s eyes as he remarked, ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan does indeed have some skills.¡± Qi Hao¡¯s expression was as dark as a storm as he flatly said, ¡°Let him be happy a little while longer. Don¡¯t worry, whatever he obtains now will ultimately fall into our hands.¡± ¡°The current him is merely akin to the dowry of a bride.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be interesting to see what kind of expression he will have when all of the treasures he so painstakingly collected ends up in our hands.¡± After speaking, Qi Hao could no longer be bothered with this area and stormed off. Nearby, Wei Canglan and the rest finally began to relax upon seeing the Qi Hao¡¯s group depart. The former had been closely watching the latter since the beginning. Wei Canglan and the rest understood that it was not because Qi Hao¡¯s group had given up, but because they did not want to start a fight with the former here. After all, the most important Fire Spirit Grain had yet to be seen. Zhou Yuan inspected the entirety of the small island. Only after ascertaining that there was nothing else was he satisfied. He then proceeded to return with the two Jade Infant Fruits and the dull silver ring. Wei Canglan smiled and cupped his fists together towards Zhou Yuan who had just reached the lake bank.¡°Congratulations on successfully obtaining the treasures your highness.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, his eyes narrowing as he shot a glance in the direction Qi Hao had left in. He knew that this was only a tiny setback to the latter, and the real battle would only begin when they found the Fire Spirit Grain. There were still several factions around the lake watching Zhou Yuan with greed-filled eyes. The allure of the Jade Infant Fruit was not small after all. However, due to the strength of Zhou Yuan¡¯s party and the Alpha-Origin stage Wei Canglan, all of these groups had no choice but to restrain the greed in their hearts as they regretfully withdrew, turning towards other places in the ruins to see if they would be luckier there. Zhou Yuan did not intend to waste any more time and said, ¡°Qi Hao¡¯s group has already headed towards the depths of the ruins where the Fire Spirit Grain is located. We cannot tarry any further, let us prepare to move.¡± The Fire Spirit Grain was too important and could not be allowed to fall into Qi Manor¡¯s hands or their strength would definitely soar. Everyone nodded upon hearing this. Hence, the party swiftly began their preparations before heading towards the depths of the ruins. Along the way, Zhou Yuan found a chance to pass the dull silver ring to Yaoyao and let her have a look. ¡°This ring is a treasure¡­ it should be a Genesis artifact.¡± There seemed to be some interest in Yaoyao¡¯s voice as she continued to inspect it. ¡°It seems to have the function of strengthening and nourishing one¡¯s Spirit and is very beneficial for Spirit cultivation. The Spirit attacks from the tree were probably only possible through the help of this artifact.¡± ¡°But¡­ it seems to be broken.¡± Yaoyao pointed at the faded ancient rune on the dull silver ring. It seemed that it had been damaged because the Jade Infant Tree had used too much of the ring¡¯s power. ¡°If this artifact is repaired, it may be able to temporarily amplify one¡¯s Spirit to a pretty astonishing level.¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head. ¡°Is there anyone who can repair it?¡± With his mastery of Genesis Runes, he could not even identify the Genesis Rune on the ring, let alone repair it. ¡°Who else do you know besides me?¡± Yaoyao laughed softly. Only then did Zhou Yuan chuckle. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble big sis Yaoyao.¡± ... The group no longer made any pit stops on their way to the deepest part of the ruins. Every obstruction they encountered was completely swept away by their full power. They would occasionally pass by several locations leaking the light of treasures that drew over numerous factions. But Zhou Yuan decisively chose to turn a blind eye and continue towards the depths of the ruins. The Fire Spirit Grain was the most important thing for now. After an hour of their full speed travelling, they began to sense the surrounding ruins grow increasingly clustered and grand. The battle puppets that appeared were also growing stronger and stronger, so strong that even an elite party like theirs suffered several injuries. Rumble! A berserk wave of Qi exploded from a particular area in the ruins, shattering the surrounding rocks. Atop a boulder, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was grave as he observed the battle field in front of him where eight Heaven Gate level battle puppets had appeared. As such, even Lu Tieshan and the other Heaven Gate experts had been forced into action this time. ¡°It is fortunate that we managed to win general Wei to our side. I really cannot imagine how great of a price we would have to pay to enter the deepest part of the ruins without him.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed in his heart. As he sighed, the intense battle drew to a close. Lu Tieshan and the rest gradually defeated the battle puppets with their superiority in numbers. However, their side had also suffered injuries. The only silver lining was that no one had died yet. Zhou Yuan gazed at Lu Tieshan and the other fighters as he smiled and said,¡°It¡¯s been hard on all of you.¡± ¡°Your highness, the Fire Spirit Grain is likely right ahead.¡± Wei Canglan suddenly interjected. He had sensed that the Genesis Qi some distance to their front was extremely abundant and vigorous. Zhou Yuan nodded as his eyes seemed to burn. ¡°Go!¡± The party proceeded onwards with a wave from Zhou Yuan after Lu Tieshan and the other fighters rested for a while. A flurry of figures shot forth as the sounds of shuttling wind rang out. The group swiftly ascended a hill as the view before them suddenly opened up and a desolate valley appeared before their eyes. Another group was standing on one side of the valley. It was Qi Hao and the Black Venom King. They had also sensed the arrival of Zhou Yuan¡¯s group, but only gave the latter a glance before turning their heads away, their burning gazes staring into the valley. Zhou Yuan and the rest stopped on another side of the valley and looked down. They immediately saw dazzling fiery-red plant gently swaying at the bottom of the valley. The plant was entirely red, as if flames were burning on it. A wave of pure Genesis Qi pulsed from it along with a faint fragrance. The eyes of Zhou Yuan and his group could not longer shift away after seeing the fiery-red plant. Zhou Yuan licked his lips, his eyes burning with excitement. ¡°Is this the grade 4 Genesis Food, Fire Spirit Grain?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 81 Great Battle in the Valley Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 82 Tuntun’s Show of Power Qi Hao¡¯s cold mockery-filled voice echoed in the valley, sounding as if victory was already his. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Qi Hao¡¯s seemingly blind confidence made the former feel a trace of danger. The latter should also understand that the strengths of both parties were currently equal. Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that your group cannot take down the giant battle puppet python alone.¡± Qi Hao laughed, a strange smile on his lips as he replied, ¡°I feel that you are the ones who should worry about this problem.¡± Su Youwei, Wei Qingqing and the rest exchanged a look, confusion in their eyes. Was Qi Hao so certain that the giant battle puppet python would not attack his party? Qi Hao merely smiled when he saw their expressions. With a grasp of his hand, a black flute appeared within it. The flute gave off a faint glow and one could barely make out runes flowing on its surface. It was an exceptionally mysterious sight. ¡°This is the spirit controlling flute. It is specially made to control beast spirits¡­¡± Qi Hao softly chuckled before he continued, ¡°Although this giant battle puppet python is a puppet, its core is a grade 4 python-type Genesis beast spirit. What do you think will happen when I control its beast spirit?¡± The expressions of Zhou Yuan, Wei Qingqing, Lu Tieshan and the rest finally changed. They never imagined that Qi Hao would have such a treasure in his possession. An item that could temporarily control a grade 4 Genesis Beast spirit was certainly invaluable. Qi Hao spun the black flute as he grinned. ¡°Truthfully, it is all thanks to your highness¡¯ rising reputation that increased the support provided to us by the Great Wu Empire, thus enabling such a treasure to fall into our hands.¡± ¡°So I really have to thank you for this.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned deeply as he gazed at Qi Hao¡¯s superficial smile. If Qi Hao was truly able to temporarily control the giant battle puppet python, the balance between their parties would be broken. A single giant battle puppet python was enough to tie up all of them, while Qi Hao could take the chance to retrieve the Fire Spirit Grain without any obstructions. Woowoo! While Zhou Yuan was thinking of a way to save the situation, Qi Hao had already began to blow the black flute. A faint but peculiar ¡®woowoo¡¯ sound rang out, echoing around the valley. The red eyes of the giant battle puppet python gradually brightened as if awakening. Soon after, its red eyes turned in the direction of Zhou Yuan¡¯s group. Swish! The giant battle puppet python swung its tail, causing the ground below to crumble as its body transformed into a series of after-images, darting towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s group like lightning. It was a very intimidating sight. In the sky, Wei Canglan¡¯s expression changed when he saw this and quickly moved to try and save them. ¡°Heh, your opponent is me. Stop being distracted!¡± However, a stream of black Genesis Qi shot over at this moment, bringing with it an appalling stench. Wei Canglan had no choice but to throw a strike with the back of his palm, dispersing the black Genesis Qi. However, his window of opportunity was already gone. ¡°Protect his highness!¡± Lu Tieshan yelled with a grave expression. Eight Heaven Gate experts attacked together, each throwing a punch as eight jets of Genesis Qi shot forth, slamming into the body of the incoming giant battle puppet python. Bang! A loud sound was heard as the giant battle puppet python¡¯s charge was finally stopped. However, its tail suddenly shot forward, blasting apart the air and leaving behind numerous after images as it descended from the sky. Boom! An entire section of the valley ridge was hacked open by the tail, scattering rocks everywhere. Lu Tieshan and the seven Heaven Gate experts could only scatter as they miserably tried to evade. Although they had the advantage in numbers, it was obviously not that easy to match an Alpha-Origin giant battle puppet python. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as he watched Lu Tieshan and the rest continuously try to dodge the giant battle puppet python¡¯s attacks. This turn of events had already surpassed his expectations. ¡°Your highness, what do we do?¡± Wei Qingqing looked towards Zhou Yuan, worry flashing in her eyes. Zhou Yuan shook his head and soothed her a little. Although his expression was grim, there was not much panic to be seen. Qi Hao may have a trump card, but Zhou Yuan similarly had his own. His trump card was Yaoyao. Long before they had entered the ruins, Zhou Yuan had told Yaoyao that he hoped she would be able to act if the situation became unfavorable and she had naturally agreed. Zhou Yuan had tried his best to control the situation since the beginning such that he would not need to borrow Yaoyao¡¯s power.However, now that the odds were beginning to fall completely in Qi Hao¡¯s favor, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to ask the little lady to act. The intense battle continued. The combined efforts of Lu Tieshan and the seven Heaven Gate experts were still not enough against the giant battle puppet python. All they could do was bitterly endure. As Qi Hao watched from far away, the smile on his face grew wider and wider. Boom! Yet another ferocious attack sent eight figures flying backwards, leaving behind several sets of deep imprints on the ground. Their clothes were in tatters, making them appear extremely ragged. Lu Tieshan said with an ashamed tone, ¡°Your highness, we cannot stop the battle puppet.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He looked towards the slithering giant body that was beginning to approach, before turning his head to Yaoyao. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, is there any way to deal with this giant battle puppet python?¡± Yaoyao cocked her head slightly and thought for a bit. Soon after, she let out a soft laugh. ¡°There is naturally a way.¡± ¡°Eh? Big sis Yaoyao is going?¡± Yaoyao shot a glance at the ugly head of the giant battle puppet python, her nose scrunching up in dislike as she shook her head. She then threw Tuntun at Zhou Yuan. ¡°This fellow has eaten so much of your Genesis Beast meat, it is time for it to do some work.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat stunned at he caught Tuntun. The latter innocently stared at him with its intelligent beast eyes, causing the corners of his mouth to twitch. Allow it to go deal with that giant battle puppet python? Although he was utterly confused, due to his trust in Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan rubbed Tuntun¡¯s head and gently said, ¡°Good Tuntun, I¡¯ll prepare ten plates of dried Genesis Beast meat for you if you finish off that big guy!¡± Having lived with Tuntun for so long, Zhou Yuan understood how to motivate this lazy little fellow. Sure enough, the moment Zhou Yuan spoke, Tuntun¡¯s laziness filled eyes immediately brightened. Hss hss! The giant battle puppet python hissed as it charged towards them. Everything in its path was crushed to pieces. Under the stupefied looks of Su Youwei, Wei Qingqing and the rest, Zhou Yuan threw Tuntun forward. The little creature somersaulted in the air and landed on the ground. ¡°Your highness, are you really going to let Tuntun fight that big guy?¡± Su Youwei¡¯s lips were pursed as she shot a look at Zhou Yuan, eyes filled with doubt. Tuntun might be very adorable, but could it really use that adorableness to defeat the giant battle puppet python? Wei Qingqing¡¯s look was practically screaming ¡®how cruel¡¯. Zhou Yuan laughed awkwardly. The only thing he knew about Tuntun was its insatiable appetite. He too was unaware of how powerful it was. ¡°Throwing out a little beast? Are they completely out of moves?¡± Qi Hao and his group were first stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions, before involuntarily bursting out into laughter. Tuntun was just too adorable and not the least bit intimidating. Rumble! However, the giant battle puppet python did not show any mercy. It ferociously rushed forward as its giant python tail slammed downwards. The astonishing power contained within blowing away the air as it viciously swatted towards at Tuntun. This swat was enough to level a mountain. Su Youwei and Wei Qingqing were unable to continue watching. Boom! The python tail smashed into the ground, causing the surrounding area to collapse. Giant rocks flew outwards as cracks continuously extended. However, a sky-shaking howl suddenly rang out at this moment, shaking the surrounding trees. Bang! Everyone watched as the python¡¯s titanic body was suddenly sent flying as if it had been struck by a heavy blow. Crash! The giant python smashed into a wall of the valley and was buried in the rubble. This abrupt scene caused everyone¡¯s faces to be filled with shock, Su Youwei¡¯s and Wei Qingqing¡¯s mouths hanging slightly open. Swish! Every gaze in the place converged towards the spot where Tuntun was at this moment, only to see dust filling the air. Scarlet light seemed to emerge from within the dust and everyone watched in astonishment as an approximately ten feet tall beast slowly walked out from within, its heavy footsteps pounding on the ground. The giant beast¡¯s entire body was scarlet-red and covered in fiery-red scales. Its eyes looked like burning flames, and there seemed to be black light in its mouth, light that could devour all things. An alarming aura gradually spread from its body, causing the entire mountain forest to fall silent. It was as if a mysterious ferocious beast had walked out from an ancient primal era. Mysterious and ferocious. Previous Chapte Chapter 83 Contes Everyone was stupefied as they stared at the mysterious beast that had stepped out from the smoke. Even Zhou Yuan himself was dumbstruck. Su Youwei covered her little mouth as she asked in disbelief, ¡°Is¡­ is that Tuntun?¡± Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment before nodding. ¡°It should be.¡± Although it was a little unbelievable for him to relate this mysterious and ferocious creature to the usually lazy Tuntun that did nothing but eat, his rationality told him that the intimidating beast before their eyes was indeed Tuntun¡­ Wei Qingqing mumbled in shock, ¡°It possess also Alpha-Origin strength¡­¡± ¡°Tuntun is still a child.¡± Yaoyao smiled faintly. These words caused everyone to be stupefied once again. The corners of Wei Qingqing¡¯s little red mouth twitched as her heartbeat quickened. Already possessing the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage as a child? What kind of terrifying Genesis Beast was this?! Just how frightening would Tuntun become once it reached maturity? Zhou Yuan involuntarily wet his lips. Although he had known all along that Tuntun was not of ordinary origin, never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that it would reach the Alpha-Origin stage as a child. Such a thought was just too terrifying. While Zhou Yuan¡¯s group was stunned by Tuntun¡¯s battle form, opposite them, the expressions of Qi Hao¡¯s group turned extremely ugly. ¡°Where did Zhou Yuan find an Alpha-Origin Genesis Beast?¡± Qi Hao¡¯s voice was filled with shock. One must know that although he could control the grade 4 python-type battle puppet, it was only for a short period of time, and he could not bring the battle puppet away. In contrast, the giant beast that had appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s side could listen to one¡¯s commands. ¡°Could this be a hidden trump card of the royal clan?¡± Qi Hao¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. ¡°Hss!¡± While these thoughts churned in Qi Hao¡¯s mind, the giant battle puppet python freed itself from the rubble and hissed at Tuntun as the ancient runes on its night-black body began to glow. With a fling of its tail, a good chunk of the valley collapsed. Boulders tumbled down and were catapulted towards Tuntun with a follow-up swipe of the python¡¯s tail. As the boulders arrived, Tuntun¡¯s sharp claws swiped across the air. Chla! Cold light seemed to flash past as five scars were torn open in the air. The boulders disintegrated in the air before they could come anywhere near Tuntun. Tuntun stood on one side of the valley, its scarlet-red eyes seemingly filled with disdain as it stared at the python-type battle puppet. Roar! Tuntun roared deeply, like a king whose might was being challenged. One of its paws slammed into the ground and everyone watched as the surrounding ground swiftly began to crack and crumble. Swish! Tuntun¡¯s figure shot forth like a flash of scarlet-red light, fast as thunder, intimidating and ferocious. The giant battle puppet python hissed and opened its huge mouth. One could only watch as a thick pillar of red Genesis Qi shot out. The Genesis Qi was fiery and berserk in nature, leaving behind black scorch marks on the ground below. The power of this Genesis Qi was enough to insta-kill any Heaven Gate stage expert. Swoosh! However, Tuntun did not slow down at all. Instead, it opened its large mouth, revealing a mysterious flickering black light within as it chomped down on the pillar of red Genesis Qi. After devouring the red Genesis Qi in a single gulp, Tuntun¡¯s figure appeared directly in front of the python-type battle puppet. Faint black light glimmered between the former¡¯s claws as it violently slashed downwards. Scree! Claw-light swept over the python-type battle puppet¡¯s enormous body as a screeching noise sounded. Next, everyone watched in astonishment as the giant battle puppet python¡¯s tail was split into two¡­ There were even five seemingly bottomless claw marks on the ground. The sharpness of Tuntun¡¯s claws was practically comparable to a high tier Black Genesis Weapon The giant battle puppet python hissed crazily as its forked-tongue darted about madly, wildly spewing out red Genesis Qi. Tuntun fearlessly pounced forward in the face of the now out-of-control giant battle puppet python. Two titans tangled together, causing landslide after landslide in the valley. Qi Hao¡¯s expression grew exceptionally stormy when he saw this. He could naturally see that the giant battle puppet python was being suppressed by the mysterious beast, and was likely not be able to endure much longer. ¡°God damnit!¡± Qi Hao could not help but curse out loud. He had originally believed that the giant battle puppet python would be enough for him to control the situation, making sure that Zhou Yuan and his group would never leave this place. Who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would also have something similar up his sleeves. Qi Hao said in a low voice, ¡°This cannot be allowed to continue, we have to seize the Fire Spirit Grain!¡± Now that the situation had spun out of his control, he had to quickly take the Fire Spirit Grain. It would be their victory once they obtained it. ¡°Go!¡± Qi Hao delayed no further and led the charge into the valley. A large group closely followed, protecting him at the center. ¡°Qi Hao has made his move, we¡¯ll move out too!¡± Zhou Yuan had his eyes fixed on Qi Hao since the start. Hence, the former immediately detected the latter¡¯s movement. Su Youwei, Wei Qingqing, Lu Tieshan and the rest nodded in acknowledgement. Both sides had shown all their cards. All that was left was a head-on clash. Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, keep an eye on the outside of the valley and don¡¯t let anyone take advantage.¡± Quite a number of factions had already gathered outside the valley, but none dared to make any moves due to the intense battle between Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King in the sky and the two giant creatures on one the side of the valley. However, they were clearly waiting for a chance, and there was no choice but to guard against them. Yaoyao gave a slight nod. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan led the group forward with a wave of his hand. Somewhere deeper into the valley, Qi Hao and his group had raised their speeds to the limit. With a sideway glance, he saw the closely following Zhou Yuan¡¯s group, causing the former¡¯s eyes to grow increasingly dark. ¡°Stop them!¡± Several Heaven Gate experts led by Qi Ling immediately shot out. ¡°Captain Lu!¡± Zhou Yuan instantly responded. ¡°Understood your highness!¡± Lu Tieshan nodded and led several Heaven Gate experts to stop the them. The two forces clashed, Genesis Qi devastating the surrounding area, turning the valley become even more chaotic. Two parties swiftly advanced while trying to delay the other. As the core member of their groups, Zhou Yuan and Qi Hao rushed towards the bottom of the valley without pause, while the number of guards around them continuously dropped as they were dispatched to slow the other group. Soon after, only Su Youwei and Wei Qingqing were left at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, while Qi Hao had four Qi Nourishing stage guards. Qi Hao darkly glanced at Zhou Yuan and gave a small nod. The four Qi Nourishing stage experts immediately moved, creating an encirclement around Zhou Yuan¡¯s three man group. ¡°Your highness, I will only be able to deal with two of them.¡± Genesis Qi began to surge out from Wei Qingqing¡¯s body as her cold gaze locked onto two figures, an advance and initial Qi Nourishing stage expert. ¡°Your highness, go get the Fire Spirit Grain. I will stop the other two.¡± Su Youwei looked towards the remaining two. Both had the strength of the mid Qi Nourishing stage. ¡°Will you be okay?¡± Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment. Su Youwei was only at the initial Qi Nourishing stage, while her opponents were mid Qi Nourishing stage experts. Su Youwei merely smiled upon hearing this and did not reply. Flame-Thunder and Niflheim Qi slowly rose from her fair hands, the glows from the two different attribute Genesis Qi giving a certain charm to her pretty face. Wei Qingqing spoke up at this moment, ¡°Your highness, you only need to delay Qi Hao. We will come to your aid after dealing with our opponents.¡± From what she could tell, Zhou Yuan was only at the initial Qi Nourishing stage, while Qi Hao was had already reached the advance Qi Nourishing stage. Their fighting strength was clearly not equal. Zhou Yuan smiled, not say anything in response as he decisively shot forward. Qi Hao and Zhou Yuan were now alone, one in front, the other behind, as they charged towards the bottom of the valley. Atop the slopes of the valley, the various factions secretly shook their heads upon seeing this. Prince Zhou Yuan was really overestimating himself by chasing Qi Hao alone. An abandoned herb cultivation area lay at the bottom of the valley, where the scarlet-red flame-like Fire Spirit Grain gently swayed as it gave off a sweet fragrance. Qi Hao¡¯s figure stopped some distance away from the Fire Spirit Grain and slowly turned around, his frosty gaze locking onto Zhou Yuan as a sinister smile emerged on his face. ¡°Pretty brave of you to follow me without anyone¡¯s protection.¡± ¡°Looks like no one will be able to save you today.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 84 Tyrannical Dragon’s Resentment Poison Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change much as he gazed at Qi Hao¡¯s sinister smile. If the former had not opened his Qi Dwelling and advanced to the Qi Nourishing stage, it was likely that he would not be the latter¡¯s match. Unfortunately for Qi Hao, Zhou Yuan had formally stepped into the Qi Nourishing realm before entering the ruins, and even opened a blood colored Qi Dwelling. ¡°Relying on words alone, you are really deserving of your name Qi Ritian.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Qi Hao¡¯s face turned black with rage, his eyes overflowing with killing intent as he angrily clenched his jaw. ¡°Little piece of trash, just wait till I cut off your tongue when you fall into my hands later.¡± ¡°Your younger brother Qi Hao said the same thing, but it he ended up having an arm taken away by me and now cowers in Qi Manor, too afraid to come out.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids raised. ¡°Hahhaha.¡± Qi Hao¡¯s intense rage turned to laughter as the killing intent in his eyes surged to even greater heights. Without further ado, his five fingers clenched into a fist as Genesis Qi began gushing out from his body and covering him. The Genesis Qi around Qi Hao had a golden hue and gave off a domineering and forceful aura. It was the strongest Genesis Qi of Qi manor, grade 4 Genesis Qi, Primal Metal Qi. Although Qi Hao was rather loathsome, the strength he possessed was the real deal. With the Primal Metal Qi, he would be considered top tier amongst those of the Qi Nourishing stage. With a thought, Genesis Qi also began to gush out of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Qi Dwelling and swirled around his body. His Genesis Qi was translucent, but slivers of blood-red could be seen swimming within it. On the ridges of the valley, gaze after gaze converged on the two individuals facing each other at the bottom. When they saw the two different Genesis Qi, whispers began to spread. ¡°That Qi Hao should be at the advance Qi Nourishing stage right? He¡¯s even cultivated Qi Manor¡¯s top tier Genesis Qi, the Primal Metal Qi. His battle power will definitely be very impressive.¡± ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi¡­ he hasn¡¯t even learnt any Qi cultivation methods?¡± ¡°Truly akin to a young calf being unafraid of a tiger. However, it never ends up well when a calf challenge a tiger.¡± ¡°Heh heh, if prince Zhou Yuan dies here, the Great Zhou Empire is going to become very messy.¡± ¡°Messy is great. Only then will we from Blackwater have a better chance of plundering in the Great Zhou Empire.¡± ¡°......¡± While they whispered, a mix between gloating and pity was present in their eyes as they looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. It was clear that they had already deemed him dead since he was facing a much stronger Qi Hao. At the bottom of the valley, Qi Hao was stunned slightly when he saw the Genesis Qi surging from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body before he sneered, ¡°So you¡¯ve already stepped into the Qi Nourishing stage, no wonder you dare to face me alone.¡± Even if Zhou Yuan had advanced to the Qi Nourishing stage, he would merely be at the initial stage, while Qi Hao was already at the advance stage. ¡°Moreover, this Genesis Qi of yours... could it be that you have yet to even learn a Qi cultivation method?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t you find out once you have a taste?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was emotionless. ¡°Bluffing won¡¯t save you!¡± Qi Hao laughed chillingly. Iciness flashed in his eyes as he pushed off the ground with the tip of his foot. Cracks spread as his figure swiftly shot towards Zhou Yuan like a flash of golden light. Qi Hao had made his move. A sparkling gold silhouette rapidly expanded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. However, the only response to Qi Hao¡¯s ferocity was a faint glimmer in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He did not chose to avoid the attack, his body remaining on the spot as the pulsations from Genesis Qi around him grew more and more violent. ¡°Fool, you¡¯re courting death!¡± Upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s lack of movement, a cold look flashed in Qi Hao¡¯s eyes. He was an advance Qi Nourishing stage expert, and had even cultivated a grade 4 Genesis Qi, facts granting him practically complete superiority over Zhou Yuan. Hence, facing Qi Hao in a head-on clash was akin to courting death for Zhou Yuan. Boom! Qi Hao threw a punch, fist-winds rumbling like thunder as golden Genesis Qi shuddered, while the sound of metal clanging against metal seemed to echo. The punch screamed of unyielding forcefulness, and even a boulder would be shattered to dust by it. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, iciness flitting across his eyes as his five fingers curled and a fist was thrown forward. He wanted to test just how powerful his Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison laced Geness Qi was. Bang! The fists of both individuals collided as a shockwave swept outwards, blowing up the dust on the ground. They were only locked in place for a few breaths, before Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was jerked backwards, his soles stepping several times on the ground before managing to forcibly steady his body. However, the Qi and blood in his body continued to churn violently. ¡°Advance Qi Nourishing stage with grade 4 Genesis Qi is indeed formidable.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers unfurled, as pain faintly echoed throughout his arm, a sign that he had been hurt. It was obvious that he had somewhat underestimated Qi Hao¡¯s power. However¡­ Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards Qi Hao, who was a dozen steps away. The latter should not be feeling too good either because a wisp of blood in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had taken the opportunity to enter Qi Hao¡¯s body in their earlier clash. ¡°Truly reckless.¡± Outside the valley, numerous people secretly shook their heads as they watched. An initial Qi Nourishing stage clashing directly with an advance Qi Nourishing stage, Zhou Yuan did not seem to know how the word death was written. ¡°But why has Qi Hao not pressed the advantage and continue attacking?¡± Someone suddenly asked in a puzzled voice. Qi Hao had not moved from the spot and showed no signs of chasing Zhou Yuan. Someone else asked, ¡°Could he have been injured in their earlier clash?¡± Another person immediately snorted disdainfully, ¡°How can that be. Qi Hao is at the advance Qi Nourishing stage and has even cultivated a grade 4 Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan is already very lucky to survived after one punch.¡± While they discussed, at the bottom of the valley, Qi Hao¡¯s body faintly trembled as golden light and a blood-red hue continuously interchanged on his face. A dozen breaths later, his body violently jerked as he spit out a mouthful of blood. Urgh! The blood landed on the ground and began to corrode it. *Uproar*! His actions naturally landed in eyes of the numerous observing parties, causing them to burst out into an uproar. Everyone was stupefied by this scene. It was suppose to have been completely one-sided, so why had Qi Hao suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood?! What exactly was going on? Qi Hao¡¯s expression was stormy as he wiped off the blood at the corner of his mouth. He looked towards Zhou Yuan and bellowed through gritted teeth. ¡°There¡¯s poison in your Genesis Qi?!¡± Moreover, a poison so tyrannical that it made his heart shiver in fear. Both of them had only been in contact for a very brief moment earlier and Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had indeed been forcefully dispersed by Qi Hao, but at the same moment that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was dispersed, a sliver of strange blood-red poison Qi had invaded Qi Hao¡¯s body. The blood-red poison Qi had immediately began to manically devour his essence blood, scaring Qi Hao silly as he frantically tried to suppress it and was eventually able to expel the poison Qi from his body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened a little when he saw the now somewhat disorderly state of Qi Hao¡¯s Genesis Qi. It seemed that the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison within his Genesis Qi was much more domineering than expected. Only a wisp had been able to invade earlier, if there was a little more, Qi Hao would probably have been killed off by the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison without additional help from Zhou Yuan. ¡°Don¡¯t you enjoy a good head-on clash? Come on, let¡¯s have another go.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Fear flashed in Qi Hao¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was no threat to the former, but the wisps of dreadful poison Qi within were extremely frightening. Qi Hao took in a deep breath, suppressing the oppressed feeling in his heart. With a grasp, a golden long spear appeared in his hand. It glowed brightly and was evidently a high tier Genesis Weapon. It was obvious that he no longer dared to clash directly against Zhou Yuan with his body, so as to safeguard against being invaded by that terrifying poison Qi. Golden long spear in hand, Qi Hao¡¯s eyes turned cold and serious as he slowly pointed the tip of the spear at Zhou Yuan. Upon seeing that Qi Hao had become cautious, a grave expression gradually surfaced on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He knew that a terrible battle was unavoidable if he wanted to obtain the Fire Spirit Grain today. Since that was so, let us see exactly who will kill who! Previous Chapte Chapter 85 Battling Qi Hao Bottom of the valley. When the golden long spear appeared in Qi Hao¡¯s hands, the Genesis Qi undulations around his body grew increasingly intimidating. His aura rose steadily as a a suffocating pressure spread. Zhou Yuan did not underestimate the now fully serious Qi Hao and retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his waist. ¡°Martial form.¡± Light surged on the Heavenly Yuan Brush as it transformed into a man-sized giant black brush. The hairs of the snow-white brush tip tightly bunched together, forming a flower bud shaped spear tip which gleamed coldly. Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush, its tip pointed towards the ground at an angle as his eyes gradually turned icy. The swirling translucent Genesis Qi around his body gradually converged towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush, forming an exceptionally sharp blade at the brush tip through the amplification of the brush. Two gazes met in the air, each surging with killing intent. Bang! In the next instant, the two figures shot forward at practically the same time, colliding on the empty ground several breaths later. Clang! A golden spear and a black brush were filled with power, tearing through the air as blow after blow was exchanged, each clash accompanied by loud ¡®clangs¡¯. Swish! Swish! Both individuals had pushed their Genesis Qi to the limits, and every attack was filled with savageness. Spear and brush were followed by numerous after images, swift as lightning as they met again and again. In less than a minute, the two had already fought over a dozen rounds. However, anyone could tell that Qi Hao clearly had the upper hand in their exchanges. After all, he had the strength of the advance Qi Nourishing stage and had cultivated the grade 4 Genesis Qi, Primal Metal Qi. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan was only at the initial Qi Nourishing stage, and had yet to learn a Qi cultivation method, resulting in a less power. The fact that he could fight Qi Hao to such an extent was already pretty unimaginable. A golden spear swept forth, surging with Genesis Qi, blasting away the air around it. Clang! The spear slammed into a black brush, causing sparks to fly. The powerful force made Zhou Yuan retreat several steps as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand drew a deep scar on the ground. Huu. Zhou Yuan steadied himself and breathed out deeply. The Qi and blood in his body was still violently churning after the previous clash, a feeling that made his expression grow increasingly grave. He now clearly understood that his opponent was indeed a whole lot stronger himself. Without the advantage his Qi Dwelling provided, it was likely that he would have lost long ago. Moreover, Qi Hao no longer dared to have any physical contact after having a taste of the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison earlier. Instead, he used the power of his Genesis Weapon to attack, giving the Dragon¡¯s Resent Poison no chance to affect him. ¡°If I had cultivated the Omni Python Qi from the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, I should be able to beat him even at the initial Qi Nourishing stage.¡± Zhou Yuan felt a little regret. Unfortunately for him, the grade 4 python-type Genesis beast spirit he needed was still inside the battle puppet¡¯s body. Qi Hao proudly stood with his spear as he said in a cold voice, ¡°To have lasted so long against me as an initial Qi Nourishing stage that has yet to practice any Qi cultivation method is truly testament of your abilities.¡± While Zhou Yuan was inwardly sighing in regret, Qi Hao was secretly astonished. Logically speaking, their cultivation levels were completely incomparable, and killing Zhou Yuan should not take more than a few rounds. Yet, Zhou Yuan had not even been heavily injured even after so many rounds. It was simply unbelievable. However, this also made Qi Hao even more certain that he had to kill Zhou Yuan. The latter was already such a problem at the initial Qi Nourishing stage. If Zhou Yuan was allowed to reach the advance stage and practice a Qi cultivation method, Qi Hao would likely not even have the qualifications to fight the former. ¡°This is the best chance for me to eliminate him. I will make this valley his grave!¡± Murder surged in Qi Hao¡¯s eyes as the golden long spear in his hand emitted a sharp flash. His figure shot forward once again, his spear dashing forward like a ray of golden light as it headed straight for Zhou Yuan. Qi Hao¡¯s attacks had grown fiercer and anyone could clearly see his intent to kill. ¡°Qi Hao is going to kill him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that prince Zhou Yuan¡¯s life is in danger.¡± ¡°...¡± Whispers broke out when the numerous parties outside the valley saw this change. Zhou Yuan had already been completely suppressed in the earlier exchanges. Now that Qi Hao¡¯s attacks had grown even fiercer, it was likely that Zhou Yuan¡¯s defeat was near. Zhou Yuan raised his head at this moment, his gaze falling upon the golden spear that was rapidly closing in on him as cold light surged in his eyes. He breathed in deeply as a glow emerged under his clothes. ¡°Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune!¡± A low shout echoed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart as a complicated rune began to surface on his skin. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body began to shake. He could feel an astonishing power explode within his body and spread to his limbs. As the power surged within him, his body seemed to grow a little bigger. Five fingers tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as his foot stamped on the ground. Cracks spread as his body shot forward in a perfectly straight line, the Heavenly Yuan Brush thrusting forward, clashing once again with the golden spear. Clang! Brush and spear tips ferociously collided. A ripple that could be seen with the naked eyes swept outwards, sweeping away all the loose rocks on the ground, even turning a quite a few to dust. Bang! Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Qi Hao¡¯s bodies jerked slightly at this moment, each feeling an astonishing force surge towards them. The force destabilized their bodies, causing them to take a dozen shaky steps backwards. *Uproar*! This scene caused an uproar to emerge from the numerous onlookers. Because neither party had gained the upper hand in this clash! ¡°How is this possible?!¡± Shock surfaced in Qi Hao¡¯s eyes. He had practically gone all out in his previous attack with the intention of overwhelming Zhou Yuan. Who could have imagined that it would lead to such a result. Zhou Yuan steadied himself. In contrast to Qi Hao¡¯s shock, the former was much calmer. The Gold Ape Moves the Mountain Rune was a grade 2 Genesis Rune, and granted its user a tremendous amount of power. With this power, he was finally able to match the advance Qi Nourishing stage Qi Hao. ¡°Finally filled the gap...¡± Zhou Yuan gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he looked towards Qi Hao and grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s have a good fight.¡± The brush tip shook as green light suddenly poured out. The light extended a whole ten inches as its color grew deeper and deeper. It was the Auraflare technique. Qi Hao expression grew even darker as he gazed upon the flickering green light at the tip of Zhou Yuan¡¯s brush. With a jerk of the golden spear, a sharp without equal green light also surged out. Qi Hao frostily said, ¡°Using your Auraflare technique before me is truly reckless!¡± Swish! A chill surged through the air as their gazes met, before they both shot forward a split second later. Bang! Bang! At the bottom of the valley, two figures criss-crossed at lightning speed, spear and brush clashing time after time as the aftershocks of their attacks devastated the area. Deep scars decorated the ground wherever they passed. Both individuals had pushed themselves to their limits. Numerous gazes were gathered on the fight. The ruthlessness and viciousness of the two made several expressions change. No one had expected that the one whom they had originally thought would be easily crushed, Zhou Yuan, would be able to go so far in a direct clash against Qi Hao. ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan is actually rather capable.¡± ¡°Who ends up winning or losing is really up in the air now¡­¡± ¡°But Qi Hao still has a greater chance at victory. After all, the Genesis Qi of an advance Qi Nourishing stage expert is both more abundant and stronger than an initial stage practitioner like Zhou Yuan. Such a pity, such a pity indeed¡­¡± ... Previous Chapte Chapter 86 Erode Clang! A golden spear tore through the air as it powerfully thrust forward where it was met and blocked by a brush. A clear ¡®clang¡¯ sound resonated from the point of contact as a shockwave swept outwards. Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Qi Hao¡¯s figures were blown backwards. Both individuals wore frosty expressions as Genesis Qi churned around their bodies. Traces of blood was visible on their skin, evidence that blood had been drawn in the intense clash earlier. From this, one could see just how desperate the battle was. Qi Hao looked at the wounds on his body and coldly chuckled. He slammed the bottom of his spear on the ground as he said in a low voice, ¡°Unbreakable Metal!¡± As his shout faded, gold light suddenly flooded out from under his skin and gradually dyed Qi Hao¡¯s skin gold, making it look as if it was made from gold. At the same time, his wounds completely faded away. Mid grade Black Genesis Technique, Unbreakable Metal! Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened when he saw this. Unbreakable Metal was a Genesis Technique that was paired with Primal Metal Qi and boasted extremely strong defensive powers. Qi Hao¡¯s trump cards were being revealed one by one as they fought. Rumble! Qi Hao¡¯s body glowed with golden light as he charged forward once again, his spear akin to a cold glittering star as it rapidly thrust at Zhou Yuan¡¯s vitals. Zhou Yuan feet performed Dragon Step, avoiding the thrusts while the brush in his hand darted towards Qi Hao¡¯s shoulder, leaving behind a streak of green light in its wake. Clang! However, a clear ¡®clang¡¯ rang out as the brush tip scraped across Qi Hao¡¯s shoulder, leaving behind a tiny red mark. The brush tip had only managed to penetrate half a fingernail before being stopped by gold light. Thud! Qi Hao laughed sinisterly as the golden long spear in his hand swept forth, slamming into Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. The powerful force sent Zhou Yuan flying backwards into a boulder, causing cracks to grow on it. ¡°What a difficult opponent.¡± Pain pulsed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s back as he frowned deeply. With Unbreakable Metal, Qi Hao¡¯s defence had reached an astonishing level and even the Auraflare technique was unable to breakthrough. ¡°You really surprise me. To think that a mere initial Qi Nourishing stage practitioner can last so long against me without exhausting your Genesis Qi.¡± Qi Hao¡¯s tone was rather chilling as killing intent overflowed from his eyes. Zhou Yuan rubbed his chest. If not for his strong body, his chest would have been caved in by the earlier spear sweep. Zhou Yuan said, ¡°You are a little harder to deal with than expected.¡± ¡°You should stop being so sharp-tongued when your death is so near.¡± Qi Hao let out an icy chuckle. Golden Genesis Qi surged on his body as he lifted the long spear in his hand, pointed it at Zhou Yuan and said in a voice dripping with killing intent, ¡°You will no longer be capable of speaking next time.¡± Swish! Qi Hao¡¯s figure shot forward the moment he finished speaking, the long spear in his hand dragging across the ground, leaving a deep scar and a trial of sparks. ¡°Mid grade Genesis Technique, Heavenly Gold Genesis Splitter Spear!¡± The killing intent in Qi Hao¡¯s eyes soared as his spear stabbed forward. The golden light on the spear flared as an extremely sharp aura condensed at its tip, an aura so sharp that the air at the spear tip could clearly been seen splitting apart. Numerous deep scars were also etched into the ground below. It was a breathtaking spear attack and was clearly Qi Hao¡¯s strongest move. Outside the valley. The expressions of the onlookers changed at this moment, evidently having felt the power of Qi Hao¡¯s spear attack. It was likely that no one amongst the Qi Nourishing stage would be able to directly receive this attack. It seemed that Qi Hao had been angered and intended to end this match with this deadly blow. ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan is dead meat.¡± Said one of the onlookers. Qi Hao¡¯s defence was too overwhelming, allowing him to be unafraid of Zhou Yuan¡¯s attacks. In addition, Qi Hao¡¯s attacks were both ruthless and fierce. How would Zhou Yuan be able to withstand them? Numerous others nodded in complete agreement. In the valley. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression grew increasingly grave. He breathed in deeply as the Genesis Qi in his body began to churn. In the next instant, the brush tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush began to dance as Genesis Qi pulsed from it. Vigorous Genesis Qi poured out of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, gathering at the tip of the brush. ¡°Die!¡± Yelled Qi Hao as a golden spear rapidly expanded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The cumulation of Genesis Qi at the brush tip finally reached its peak. With a jerk of his arm, Zhou Yaun roared in his heart, ¡°Emperor Extreme Seal!¡± Buzz! The brush tip trembled as the gathered Genesis Qi transformed into a dazzling ray of light, light that gave off an extremely tyrannical aura. This was the Emperor Extreme Seal that Zhou Yuan had learnt. It was also a mid grade Black Genesis Technique and boasted impressive power. Two attacks containing the full power of two individuals finally collided under the watching eyes of the many onlookers. Boom! The moment of collision was akin to a storm devastating the area. The ground below both individuals¡¯ feet was scraped away layer by layer, while the surrounding boulders were disintegrated to dust. ¡°What a crazy clash. I would never have imagined that a fight between an initial Qi Nourishing stage and advance Qi Nourishing stage would reach such levels.¡± Numerous onlookers lamented. Bang! A shockwave filled with berserk energies exploded at the bottom of the valley, tearing open deep gorges in the ground. Zhou Yuan and Qi Hao practically received the full brunt of the impact and were sent flying as if struck by a powerful blow, before crashing into the sides of the valley. Blood appeared at the corner of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. He was currently in a rather miserable state with wounds all over his body, but his eyes remained cold as he looked towards his front. There, Qi Hao¡¯s figure was also embedded into the side of the valley, but he very quickly freed himself. In comparison to Zhou Yuan, the golden glow on Qi Hao¡¯s body had only dimmed substantially. It was clear that the defensive power of Unbreaker Metal had made it such that he was in a far better state than Zhou Yuan. Qi Hao suppressed the churning Qi and blood in his body before shooting a sinister gaze at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You¡¯re truly tenacious¡­ to think that even this has not killed you.¡± Qi Hao let out an evil laugh before continuing, ¡°But it seems that your injuries are pretty serious, no?¡± ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve lost. With Unbreakable Metal, my defensive capabilities far surpass your own. Hence, the one who remains standing at the end will always be me!¡± Qi Hao gripped his long spear as he walked towards Zhou Yuan, the killing intent in his eyes growing greater with every step. Many inwardly shook their heads as they watched. Looks like it was over. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance was perfect, it was obviously not enough against the far stronger Qi Hao. With his strong defensive ability, Qi Hao was the one who had remained standing in the end. ¡°What a pity¡­¡± Qi Hao slowly approached Zhou Yuan. The former could feel that the Genesis Qi in the latter¡¯s body had become much weaker. This was the best chance to kill Zhou Yuan. There was unexpectedly neither panic or fear on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he watched Qi Hao slowly walk towards him. Qi Hao¡¯s icy voice sounded, ¡°I did not expect you to have such an expression before your death. How loathsome.¡± ¡°I just feel that you are very pitiful¡­¡± There was a faint smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips. Qi Hao¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. ¡°Because you still do not know who has won or lost¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s smile seemed to become somewhat strange. Qi Hao chillingly said, ¡°Still trying to bluff, die!¡± Without any hesitation, the long spear in his hand gleamed with cold light as it mercilessly thrust towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. However, Zhou Yuan showed no signs of stopping the fatal attack, his face impassive. Ch! The sharp spear tip suddenly stopped an inch away from Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Qi Hao¡¯s pupils frantically shrank as terror and shock emerged on his face. He had suddenly lost control of his body. ¡°You, what did you do?!¡± Qi Hao was horrified. Zhou Yuan looked at the wounds on his body as he indifferently said, ¡°Do you really think that I am so stupid. I clearly knew that your defensive abilities had been boosted by Unbreakable Metal, yet why did I still choose to exchange blow after blow with you?¡± Zhou Yuan gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush beside him and slowly lifted it, pointing its sharp tip at Qi Hao. Light suddenly appeared below the Martial and Culture Rune on the mottled body of the brush as an ancient rune slowly became clear¡­ The second rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Erode. Previous Chapte Chapter 87 Kill ¡°Erode.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the second rune on the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he mumbled. Soon after, he laughed. ¡°Truly formidable, as expected of the Heavenly Yuan Brush.¡± It had been several months since the first rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush had been awakened. Over this period of time, Zhou Yuan had not stopped feeding it Genesis Beast spirits. Even so, the second rune had only awakened on the fifth day after entering Blackwater. The awakened rune was called Erode. Qi Hao¡¯s face was filled with terror as he howled in disbelief, ¡°What have you done to me?!¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at him as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand suddenly vibrated. One could only watch as the brush tip made a beckoning motion and Qi Hao¡¯s body began to shake violently. A miserable scream rang out from his mouth as snow-white hairs so thin that they were barely visible began to tunnel out from his pores. The hairs sparkled as if they had absorbed a large amount of Genesis Qi. Like a flock of birds returning to the nest, the hairs flew towards the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. As the hairs returned, Zhou Yuan immediately felt the Genesis Qi in the Heavenly Yuan Brush begin to rise rapidly, while the flickering green light at its tip grew even sharper. Zhou Yuan looked towards Qi Hao. The latter wore an expression of horror as the golden light on his body swiftly receded. Unbreakable Metal had been dispelled. What terrified him the most however, was that the Genesis Qi in his body seemed to have been eroded and stolen away by something and was rapidly depleting. Qi Hao regained control of his body, but the fear on his face remained. Due to having his Genesis Qi depleted, a sour feeling of powerlessness began to spread within his body. Zhou Yuan gave the Heavenly Yuan Brush a little shake as he smiled, ¡°Every time my Heavenly Yuan Brush pierced your skin, a hair invisible to the naked eye would enter your body.¡± ¡°These hairs concealed themselves in your blood and flesh as they secretly eroded away your Genesis Qi, seizing it as their own. They will ultimately leave with the Genesis Qi and provide it to the Heavenly Yuan Brush.¡± At this point, Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. This ability was just too frightening. The slightest negligence would result in the hairs secretly entering one¡¯s body without notice and erode away one¡¯s Genesis Qi. Most importantly, these hairs were even able to return to the Heavenly Yuan Brush and pass the stolen Genesis Qi to it, practically allowing the brush to maintain its power indefinitely. In other words, the current Heavenly Yuan Brush would still be able to display its power without any consumption of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi. ¡°It really lives up to having once been a Sacred Genesis Weapon.¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed in his heart. Although the first awakened rune was pretty unique, Zhou Yuan had not felt that the brush was truly amazing. However, now that the second rune had been awakened, the Heavenly Yuan Brush had finally began to slowly reveal how extraordinary it was. ¡°I wonder what kind of abilities the subsequent seven runes will possess.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with expectation. Given how out of this world the second rune was, it was difficult to imagine the power of the Heavenly Yuan Brush when it recovered all of its abilities. ¡°Do you understand now?¡± There was a faint grin on Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips as he gazed at the terrified Qi Hao. Qi Hao¡¯s face was deathly pale. It was only at this point did he understand why Zhou Yuan had continued to exchange injuries with him even after he had brought out Unbreakable Metal. He had previously believed that Zhou Yuan was a fool, and it was only now that he realised that it had all been part of Zhou Yuan¡¯s plan. It had been for the sake of allowing the brush hairs to invade his body. No matter how strong his defences were with Unbreakable Metal, it could not defend against attacks from the inside. Zhou Yuan slowly lifted the Heavenly Yuan Brush, light pulsing at the brush tip as it pointed at Qi Hao. Fear flooded Qi Hao¡¯s face. How could he have imagined such a turn of events. He should have been able to stably maintain the upper hand, eventually crush Zhou Yuan under his heel and slowly torment the latter. Due to fear, Qi Hao no longer cared about anything else and quickly turned around, the little Genesis Qi he had frantically circulating to help him escape. Sch! However, he had only managed to take a few steps before a piercing sound rang out behind him. Qi Hao¡¯s body suddenly became rigid as he slowly lowered his head, only to find a spear tip made of snow-white brush hairs protruding from his chest¡­ The fresh blood that flowed along the snow-white hairs quickly dripped off, allowing the hairs to maintain their pristine white appearance. ¡°In your next life, use your head a little when you fight with others. Being overjoyed because of a small advantage will only lead to one¡¯s death.¡± A cold voice echoed from behind him. In the end, Qi Hao vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, the scene before his eyes gradually turning to darkness as his body crumpled to the ground. Outside the valley, everyone fell silent at this moment. It was a long while later before a loud uproar erupted. ¡°Qi Hao has died?!¡± ¡°How is this possible?! The advantage had been his all along, how was he defeated all of a sudden?!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°.....¡± Everyone was stupefied as if they had seen a ghost. A minute ago, they had been pitying Zhou Yuan because they felt he would die at Qi Hao¡¯s hands, an outcome that was reversed a minute later. ¡°Something seemed to have come out from Qi Hao¡¯s body earlier.¡± Some of the individuals with better eyesight had managed to catch sight of some clues. ¡°It was likely some trick of Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Qi Hao unknowingly fell prey to it.¡± These people looked to each other and ultimately gasped in surprise. No matter what trick Zhou Yuan had used, he was the ultimate victor. ¡°It¡¯s really hard to believe that he killed the advance Qi Nourishing stage Qi Hao with his initial Qi Nourishing stage strength!¡± ¡°More importantly, he hasn¡¯t even learnt a Qi cultivation method!¡± ¡°What a monster!¡± ¡°To think that the Great Zhou Empire would have such an abnormal prince¡­ looks like we have to be more careful in future.¡± ¡°......¡± Meanwhile, near the bottom of the valley, Wei Qingqing and Su Youwei had begun to dominate their fights and eventually ended them. The moment they were done, both girls simultaneously shot towards the bottom of the valley. It was clear that they were both worried about Zhou Yuan. However, when they reached the bottom of the valley, they were just in time to see Qi Hao¡¯s figure slowly fall to the ground. Behind Qi Hao was the slender figure of a handsome youth wielding the Heavenly Yuan Brush. ¡°Qi Hao¡­ is dead?¡± Wei Qingqing¡¯s mouth hung slightly open, disbelief all over her face as she stared at Zhou Yuan. She clearly understood just how powerful Qi Hao was, and even she herself only had a fifty percent chance of victory against him. Yet, a foe that even she had difficulty facing had died at the hands of the initial Qi Nourishing stage Zhou Yuan? ¡°Your highness is truly too amazing.¡± Su Youwei was not surprised at all and openly exclaimed in praise. For her, it would always make sense no matter how unbelievable a feat Zhou Yuan had accomplished. Wei Qingqing was speechless. How was this amazing, it was more apt to call it monstrous, right? Just how exactly had Zhou Yuan killed Qi Hao? While the two girls blankly stared at this scene, Zhou Yuan turned his head and grinned at them. Soon after, he involuntarily grimaced in pain due to the injuries on his body. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands rapidly shrunk before being stuffed back into Zhou Yuan¡¯s waistband. He then lifted his head, looking towards the fire-like Fire Spirit Grain as he breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been removed from his shoulders. The Fire Spirit Grain had finally been obtained. Previous Chapte Chapter 88 Fire Spirit Grain Obtained At the bottom of the valley, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement as he stared at the gently swaying Fire Spirit Grain. Moments later, he pushed down the intense emotions in his heart and quickly walked forward. He retrieved a man-sized jade pot from his Universe bag which had several Genesis Qi preservation runes inscribed upon it. Next, he retrieved a shovel and very carefully began to transfer the dirt around the Fire Spirit Grain into the jade pot. He did not dare to make any big motions, afraid that he might damage its roots. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s meticulous work, the soil around the Fire Spirit Grain was cleaned out. He then very carefully lifted the plant and placed it into the jade pot, before filling the rest of the pot with the dirt from before. Zhou Yuan was already perspiring profusely by the time he was done. It felt even more exhausting than the intense battle against Qi Hao. Zhou Yuan gazed at the Fire Spirit Grain in the pot, the plump Fire Spirit kernels on it glowing faintly. Although there was only one stalk, it could be replanted to obtain more seeds. However, it was said that a special method was required to grow new seeds for a Genesis Food of this rank which needed to be planted within a certain radius of the original Fire Spirit Grain. Any new seeds that left this radius would wither and die, making it unable to be harvested. ¡°Is this the Fire Spirit Grain?¡± Wei Qingqing and Su Youwei crowded over, their curious eyes locking onto the fiery-red plant swaying in the jade pot. Zhou Yuan grinned and nodded. ¡°The general¡¯s faction has done a great service this time. When the Fire Spirit Grain matures in future, there will definitely be a share for you guys.¡± Wei Qingqing smiled. ¡°Then I shall give my thanks your highness first. I¡¯ve actually never eaten a grade 4 Genesis Food before and I imagine that its effect will be rather special.¡± When Zhou Yuan saw that Su Youwei was still fixed on the Fire Spirit Grain, he chuckled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you will also have a share.¡± Su Youwei blushed slightly and hastily tried to explain, ¡°I, I was just wondering how it will taste, I don¡¯t really need a share.¡± While they were conversing, the numerous factions outside the valley could not help but grow somewhat restless upon seeing Zhou Yuan collect the Fire Spirit Grain. After all, everyone knew its value. Even if not used by oneself, it could be sold for an unimaginable price. In fact, any faction that had ambition would be willing to sell off everything they had in order to purchase it. Hence, some of the stronger practitioners began to stir as Genesis Qi rose around their bodies. This was the time when Zhou Yuan¡¯s party was at its weakest. If one was able to enter, one would definitely be able to seize the treasure and run off. However, while these thoughts churned in these individuals¡¯ minds, Yaoyao¡¯s indifferent gaze swept over from the top of the valley. With a grasp of her fair hand, a scroll appeared within it. The scroll slowly unfurled, revealing a complicated Genesis Rune. The surrounding Genesis Qi frantically began to gather towards the scroll as if drawn in by something. Yaoyao¡¯s fair hand trembled as the scroll was sent flying and a dazzling radiance soon exploded. Rumble! The Genesis Qi collected by the rune transformed into a black cloud. Lightning flashed within the billowing black cloud as a suffocating pressure spread. Outside the valley, the expressions of the now restless experts immediately changed when they saw this as they cried out in horror, ¡°Grade 4 Genesis Rune?!¡± It was definitely a grade 4 Genesis Rune or it would not give off such an alarming pressure. Gaze after gaze was filled with terror as they turned towards the breathtakingly beautiful young girl in green atop the valley. No one would have ever imagined that the girl from which they could not feel even the slightest Genesis Qi undulations would have such terrifying mastery over Genesis Runes. The black cloud hung over the valley, thunder rumbling. It intimidated all of the experts from the various factions, causing them to not dare to try anything funny. They knew that the black cloud would blast them with lightning if they took even a single step forward. In the face of such attacks, even Heaven Gate experts would be easily struck down one by one regardless of how many were sent. At the bottom of the valley, Zhou Yuan also detected the disturbance outside the valley and coldly snorted. He swiftly kept the jade pot in his Universe bag and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look at the situation.¡± His figure took the lead, dashing forward and eventually arriving at one side of the valley. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze first turned towards Tuntun¡¯s battlefield where the activity was the greatest. However, he was immediately startled by what he saw. Amongst the rubble, there was only ten feet left of the battle puppet python¡¯s originally titanic body. A good half of its body had already been torn away. The only saving grace was that it was a battle puppet that was unable to feel any pain, or it would have long died to the pain. On the other hand, the current Tuntun resembled a cat toying with a mouse, slapping the giant battle python puppet around as if it was a ball. The battle puppet python was sent flying towards the sides of the valley time and time again, a sight that made one involuntarily shiver in fear. ¡°Tuntun is really frightening!¡± Su Youwei could not help but utter when she was this scene. To think that the normally lazy and extremely adorable little creature would become so savage in its battle form. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. He was feeling a little insecure as he recalled the times when he had reduced the portions of Tuntun¡¯s meals. Would he not be filled with grievance if by some chance the little beast was angered, grew big and swatted him to death with a single swipe? ¡°Looks like I can¡¯t cut its food portions in future.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. By this time, Tuntun seemed to have grown bored of playing. Black light swirled around its claws as it suddenly slashed downwards, tearing open the giant battle puppet python¡¯s head with a piercing noise. The giant battle puppet python finally fell to the ground. Tuntun¡¯s large claw pushed open its head, revealing a human head sized sparkling crystal. The silhouette of a giant python could be seen inside this crystal. It was its beast spirit. Tuntun stared at the beast spirit crystal, clearly desiring to devour it. When Zhou Yuan saw this, he was immediately spooked out of his mind and loudly yelled, ¡°May your mouth have mercy!¡± His figure quickly shot forward and landed at Tuntun¡¯s side. Tuntun jumped a little in fright and surprise due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden yell. The latter took the opportunity to swiftly dash to the beast spirit crystal and keep it into his Universe bag. Obtaining the grade 4 python-type beast spirit had been one of his objectives for entering Blackwater. Now that it had been obtained after much difficulty, he would be truly dumbfounded if he were to allow Tuntun to swallow it. Just imagine how much time would be wasted if he had to find a second grade 4 python-type beast spirit. Tuntun lowered its head and was immediately enraged when it saw that the beast spirit crystal had been taken by Zhou Yuan. It roared at Zhou Yuan. To think that this fellow dared to snatch away its food. ¡°One hundred plates of meat!¡± Zhou Yuan immediately shouted In response to Tuntun¡¯s angry roar. Tuntun¡¯s roaring stopped as its eyes seemed to flicker with thought. It began to calculate how much meat a hundred plates was worth and eventually nodded its head, indicating that it had agreed to this transaction. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and patted Tuntun¡¯s paw in satisfaction. Now that the grade 4 python-type Genesis Beast spirit had been obtained, he could finally begin to cultivate the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Omni Python Qi. Once he succeeded, his battle power would undoubtedly soar, making it difficult to find a worthy opponent amongst those of the Qi Nourishing stage. After the battle between Tuntun and the giant battle puppet python ended, the situation was now completely in Zhou Yuan¡¯s favor. It was also at this time that Qi Ling discovered the cruel reality that Qi Hao had been killed by Zhou Yuan. Qi Ling¡¯s eyes turned completely red, but he still decisively waved his hand and shouted, ¡°Retreat!¡± The moment his voice rang out, acrid smoke exploded from under the entire group¡¯s legs and their figures swiftly vanished. Zhou Yuan was indifferent towards their escape. His gaze was fixed onto a certain individual in the distant sky who was still stuck in a battle with a relentless Wei Canglan. The Black Venom King was a malignant tumor to the Great Zhou Empire, often infringing upon their borders to plunder and kill. Who knew just how many of the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s citizens had died at his hands. This was the best chance to eliminate him and bring peace to the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s borders. Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes before he patted Tuntun¡¯s paw, pointed towards the Black Venom King and slowly said, ¡°Tuntun, he¡¯s worth two hundred plates of meat!¡± Dazzling light instantly blossomed in Tuntun¡¯s eyes when it heard this. It immediately locked onto the rapidly shifting figure of the Black Venom King in the air as if it was looking at plates of meat dancing in the sky. Roar! Tuntun let out a roar towards the sky as its paw pushed off the ground, transforming into a flash of fiery light as it soared into the air. ... Previous Chapte Chapter 89 Surrender Roar! Scarlet-red Genesis Qi rose below Tuntun¡¯s feet. The scarlet-red Genesis Qi seemed to be tinged with patches of black light, making it appear rather mystical. The vigorous Genesis Qi under Tuntun¡¯s four paws lifted it into the air as it transformed into a flash of scarlet light that shot straight towards the Black Venom King. Such aggressiveness was naturally detected straight away by the Black Venom King. His gaze swept over and was narrowly shocked out of his body. His battle was Wei Canglan was currently in a stalemate, hence the addition of an even more ferocious Genesis Beast would cause him to be at a complete disadvantage. Although he had previously been locked in battle with Wei Canglan, he had seen how the giant battle puppet python had been torn apart. Thus, he clearly understood just now terrifying this mysterious Genesis Beast was. ¡°You dare to let yourself be distracted in a battle with me?!¡± However, while the Black Venom King¡¯s heart churned, Wei Canglan¡¯s icy chuckle cut through the air as a fist filled with sharp golden Genesis Qi viciously punched towards the former¡¯s fatal spots. Buzz! The Black Venom King¡¯s sleeve jerked as black Genesis Qi came pouring out, blocking the golden Genesis Qi. However, his body was also pushed backwards. ¡°Why the need to be so hostile general Wei, all of this is part of Qi Manor¡¯s scheme!¡± The Black Venom King hurriedly said. His tone was one of submission, evidently already well aware of how terrible his current situation was. ¡°Heh, tell that to the big guy behind you!¡± A smile was revealed on Wei Canglan¡¯s face. The Black Venom King¡¯s heart shivered, immediately sensing the foul smell that was assaulting his back. He hastily turned around, his palms seemingly dancing as vigorous Genesis Qi gathering towards them and a strike was sent flying, ¡°Poison Devil Palm!¡± Bang! Claws suffused with black light swung towards the palm containing powerful poison, both forces slamming into each other. Boom! A loud noise resounded in the air as the Black Venom King¡¯s body was sent flying like a cannonball. He crashed into a hill, causing the entire head of the hill to collapse. In the air, Tuntun was also pushed half a step back. Foul-smelling black Qi twined around its paw as if attempting to burrow into its body. *Cough* The Black Venom King slowly rose from the rubble. There were five deep and bloody gorges on his chest, proof that he had been injured by Tuntun. A venomous look was revealed in his eyes as he looked towards Tuntun. ¡°What a brainless brute, to think that it dares to allow my poison touch its body!¡± However, as this thought flashed in his head, Tuntun suddenly lowered its head, opened its mouth and sucked, swallowing the black poison Qi on its paw into its body. Huu. Tuntun shook its head, black mist spewing from its nose as it roared in anger, evidently very unhappy with the poison Qi¡¯s smell. The venomous look on the Black Venom King¡¯s face instantly froze as he stared in disbelief at Tuntun. He never imagined that his invincible Devil Miasma Poison would have no effect on Tuntun. Evidently, Tuntun¡¯s poison resistance far surpassed his expectations. Roar! However, Tuntun had already been infuriated by the bad tasting poison Qi and its scarlet-red eyes quickly locked onto the Black Venom King. It rode on its scarlet-red Genesis Qi as it shot forward once again, pouncing towards the Black Venom King. Wei Canglan took this opportunity to beat a dog while it was drowning, golden Genesis Qi whizzing forth as he began to seal off all the Black Venom King¡¯s escape routes. In the sky, the Black Venom King miserably fled and dodged, while Tuntun and Wei Canglan blocked off the former¡¯s escape routes one by one, slowly forcing him into a dead end. ¡°Your highness, I admit defeat. As long as you let me leave, I will restrict the many factions of Blackwater and ensure that none of them even dream about infringing the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s borders!¡± Death imminent, fear finally began to bubble in the Black Venom King as he hurriedly shouted in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. The numerous factions outside the valley kept silent out of fear when they saw the Black Venom King, who was practically unstoppable in Blackwater, being pushed so far. No one dared to harbour even the slightest ill-intent. Those that were originally wondering if it was possible to steal the Fire Spirit Grain also rationally dispelled such thoughts. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was cold and indifferent. The Black Venom King had done so much harm to the Great Zhou Empire, how could Zhou Yuan let the latter off so easily? Thus, he did not stop Wei Canglan and Tuntun. As if sensing Zhou Yuan¡¯s intent to kill him, the Black Venom King¡¯s fear intensified. He threw away all other thoughts and hurriedly said, ¡°Your highness, I am willing to submit to the royal clan and work for them!¡± Only then did Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifferent expression ripple slightly. The Black Venom King was after all an Alpha-Origin expert. If he sided with the royal clan, it would undoubtedly be a huge boost to their power. Wei Qingqing earnestly reminded when she heard this.¡°Your highness, that fiend is vicious and cunning. Be careful of being betrayed.¡± The general¡¯s faction had fought far too many times with the Black Venom King and knew just how sly he could be. Zhou Yuan nodded in acknowledgement. He was naturally aware of this. Hence, he moved to Yaoyao¡¯s side and asked, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, is there any way to control him such that he will not harbour any thoughts of backstabbing in future?¡± Yaoyao pondered for a while, before her snow-white chin gently nodded. ¡°There naturally is, but the precondition is that the Black Venom King cannot put up even the slightest resistance, or the method will not succeed.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, lifted his head towards the Black Venom King and said in a cold voice, ¡°If you really mean it, give up on all resistance and allow me to deal with you.¡± The Black Venom King¡¯s eyes flashed as hesitation flitted across his face. Abandoning all resistance was akin to putting his life in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. ¡°It seems that you are not willing. Since that is so, go accompany the slaughtered citizens of Great Zhou.¡± Iciness flowed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Tuntun¡¯s and Wei Canglan¡¯s attacks immediately grew increasingly ferocious. The Black Venom King was steadily forced into a corner, the smell of death growing increasingly closer in his heart. In the end, he gritted his teeth and yelled, ¡°Your highness, I submit!¡± The moment he said these words, the Genesis Qi around him rapidly receded into his body. Swish! Wei Canglan¡¯s figure appeared in front of the Black Venom King as a palm strike was sent flying towards his chest. Urgh. The Black Venom King vomited a mouthful of fresh blood as his body fell from the sky, crashing into the ground in front of Zhou Yuan and the rest. The former¡¯s face was deathly pale, showing that he had been seriously injured. The Black Venom King ignored the intense pain from his body and hurriedly said, ¡°Your highness, your highness, I submit!¡± Wei Canglan landed beside Zhou Yuan, a guarded look on his face as he stared at the Black Venom King. Tuntun also descended as its giant body rapidly began to shrink. It eventually returned its usual appearance and jumped into Yaoyao¡¯s arms. However, it was obvious that no one dared to underestimate it even in this form. Even Wei Canglan¡¯s gaze was filled with wariness when he looked at it. ¡°If you intend to submit, I will do something to you such that you will no longer be able to entertain any thoughts of rebelling.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s tone was indifferent as he stared at the Black Venom King. Upon hearing these words, the Black Venom King¡¯s heart jumped as unease rose within him. However, under Wei Canglan¡¯s and Tuntun¡¯s watching eyes, the former ultimately forced himself to nod. At the end of the day, preserving his life was the best course of action. ¡°Restrain the Genesis Qi in your body and do not circulate it. Also, make sure that you have no thoughts of resistance.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s tone was cold as he continued, ¡°This technique can only be used once. If it does not succeed¡­ you will die.¡± The Black Venom King shivered as he listened to Zhou Yuan¡¯s murder-laced words. Zhou Yuan then looked towards Yaoyao and saw her give a slight nod before she slowly walked forward, jade-green Genesis Brush in hand. The brush tip stopped three inches before the spot between the Black Venom King¡¯s brows and began to draw. An extremely complex Genesis Rune began to slowly take shape. A long time later, the completed Genesis Rune slowly descended, landing between the Black Venom King¡¯s brows. It slowly submerged into his skin, leaving behind a green rune. Yaoyao glanced at the Black Venom King and said, ¡°This is known as the Spirit Locking Son-Mother Rune. If you have any thoughts of rebelling, activating the mother rune will instantly destroy your Spirit.¡± The Black Venom King was ashen-faced. He had evidently sensed something lock onto his Spirit. Yaoyao passed a piece of jade to Zhou Yuan on which an even more complicated Genesis Rune was carved. ¡°This is the mother rune. If you find any disloyalty in him, shatter the jade and he will die.¡± Zhou Yuan felt a little happy as he grasped the jade. He looked towards the Black Venom King and said, ¡°Since that is so, you will work for the Great Zhou Empire in future. This may also be considered a form of atonement for the numerous innocents that died at your hands.¡± The Black Venom King¡¯s expression was a mix between crying and smiling when he heard this. In the end, he could only nod. As the saying went, better a bad life than a good death, living was still better than dying. ¡°Understood your highness!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 90 Left Behind Treasures The great battle in the valley had finally ended with the surrender of the Black Venom King. The Great Zhou royal clan Zhou Yuan represented was clearly the biggest winner of this affair. Outside the valley, the other factions tactfully withdrew one after another upon seeing this. After all, Qi Manor had been defeated and even the Black Venom King had submitted. The royal clan¡¯s power will definitely soar to astonishing levels after this event. In the face of such a powerful royal clan, there were no longer any factions in Blackwater that could match the former. ¡°Congratulations your highness.¡± Wei Canglan withdrew his Genesis Qi and cupped his fists together towards Zhou Yuan. It was clear that Zhou Yuan had grown even more important in Wei Canglan¡¯s eyes, and there was even a trace of respect in his tone. After all, besides the mysterious giant beast and grade 4 Genesis Rune proficient Yaoyao, there was now an additional Black Venom King at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. These three were comparable to Alpha-Origin experts. Such strength could easily subdue the entire Great Zhou Empire. The truth was, the most important reason why Wei Canglan had been able to ignore the imperial edicts was because the royal clan only had one Alpha-Origin expert, Zhou Qing. This number had now shot up to four. Hence, if the royal clan wanted to, the great general¡¯s faction could be easily disappear. The balance of power between both parties was no longer equal, and Wei Canglan was naturally not foolish enough to treat Zhou Yuan in the same manner as before. ¡°Great general¡¯s help was paramount to the success in obtaining the Fire Spirit Grain. After I return, I will make sure that your service will not be forgotten. When the Fire Spirit Grain is cultivated in future, great general¡¯s residence will definitely have a share.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together towards Wei Canglan. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take this chance to thank your highness first.¡± Wei Canglan chuckled. Soon after, his expression grew solemn as he said, ¡°However, due to Qi Manor¡¯s failure and the fact that Qi Hao has been killed by your highness, Qi Manor will not take this lying down.¡± Zhou Yuan let out an icy chuckle. ¡°The ones that will not let this matter rest should be us.¡± Previously, Zhou Qing had been very patient and accommodating because the royal clan¡¯s power was equal to Qi Manor¡¯s. If they clashed, it would be a huge blow to the Great Zhou Empire. However, after the events of Blackwater, the royal clan¡¯s power would undoubtedly rise sharply, making it the best opportunity for them to completely eradicate this malignant tumor of the Great Zhou Empire. Wei Canglan¡¯s heart shivered slightly at the coldness in Zhou Yuan¡¯s tone. He knew that the royal clan would soon begin hostilities against Qi Manor. ¡°Great general, Qi Manor has been harbouring thoughts of rebelling. If a war breaks out, I hope that you will be able to lend us your aid.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was earnest as he looked towards Wei Canglan. Wei Canglan hesitated for a split second. In the past, he had refused to interfere in the struggle between the royal clan and Qi Manor. However, this hesitation quickly faded. Since he had already helped Zhou Yuan in the contest for the Fire Spirit Grain, it was likely that Qi Manor already viewed him as part of the royal clan¡¯s camp, making him a thorn in their side. Therefore, why not fully side with the royal clan and aid them in eliminating the threat known as Qi Manor. Wei Canglan replied in a solemn voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry your highness, if it is needed, the great general¡¯s residence will do all we can to exterminate the rebels.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed in relief upon hearing Wei Canglan¡¯s promise. With his aid, the royal clan¡¯s power would rise once again. Zhou Yuan looked towards the rest and smiled, ¡°The Fire Spirit Grain is already ours, let¡¯s leave.¡± Everyone nodded. Yaoyao however cast her gaze towards the bottom of the valley and suddenly asked, ¡°Have you collected all of the treasure?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°The Fire Spirit Grain is already in our hands.¡± Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun¡¯s fur as her red lips parted slightly, ¡°The Battle Puppet Sect is a rather decent sect, their ruins are likely not as simple as your imagine.¡± Zhou Yuan was utterly confused. However, he seemed to have caught a hold something amongst Yaoyao¡¯s words and probed, ¡°Are there other undiscovered treasures here?¡± Surprise surfaced in the eyes of everyone else. Yaoyao said, ¡°You¡¯ll know once you have a look.¡± After which, she walked forward towards the bottom of the valley. Zhou Yuan and the rest looked to each other before quickly following.¡¯ The group advanced towards the bottom of the valley. Their footsteps eventually came to a stop just outside the abandoned herb cultivation field where Zhou Yuan had dug up the Fire Spirit Grain. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes darted everywhere, but all he found were the rather desolate bare walls of the valley. There were no traces of anything out of the ordinary. Wei Canglan¡¯s gaze also scanned the area and was likewise unable to discover anything. Thus, they could only turn their doubtful gazes towards Yaoyao. ¡°Are there really other treasures here?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little skeptical. Yaoyao ignored him as she walked forward into the abandoned herb cultivation field. She squatted down and gently rubbed the ground as she closed her eyes. Upon seeing this, no one dared to make any noise. Several minutes later, Yaoyao opened her eyes and pointed towards the large hole that had been left behind after Zhou Yuan had dug out the Fire Spirit Grain earlier and said, ¡°Continue digging there.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat puzzled. He was the one who had dug that hole, and had not felt any peculiar undulations from below. However, he still nodded towards Lu Tieshan and the rest due to his trust in Yaoyao. Thus, Lu Tieshan and a few Heaven Gate experts moved forward began to circulate their Genesis Qi, sending waves of Genesis Qi into the hole to dig deeper and deeper. Layers of soil were sent flying and the originally six feet deep hole very quickly became over thirty feet deep. If one looked in, all one would see was pitch-black darkness. Buzz! As one of the Heaven Gate experts shot out another stream of Genesis Qi into the soil, a sound was heard as something had been struck. Light suddenly emerged from the depths of the hole, blasting away the Heaven Gate expert with a ¡®bang¡¯, causing him to slam into one of the valley walls. This sudden turn of events stunned everyone. ¡°It¡¯s a Genesis Rune boundary!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered brightly as he stared at the bottom of the pitch-black hole. When the light appeared earlier, he had sensed a very faint pulse from inside. ¡°Let¡¯s go down and take a look.¡± Everyone carefully descended into the pit. They quickly discovered a barrier stretching over one corner of the pit where a bronze door stood. Wei Canglan uttered in astonishment, ¡°I never imagined that there would be such a thing below the herb cultivation field.¡± Zhou Yuan also gasped in surprise. The barrier outside of the bronze door was a Genesis Rune boundary that both protected and sealed off any undulations. No wonder he was unable to detect it before. Thank god for Yaoyao¡¯s powerful Spirit perception, or no one would have realised that there were still treasures under the herb cultivation field. ¡°This Genesis Rune boundary seems to be very powerful.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s expression was grave as he stared at the barrier. Even someone as powerful as himself could feel an extremely fatal sensation from it. Yaoyao observed the barrier as she explained, ¡°This is a special Genesis Rune boundary, and a very specific Genesis Rune is needed to open it. Forcibly opening it would cause it to self-destruct, turning the trespasser and the treasures inside to nothingness.¡± ¡°If it self-destructs, I¡¯m afraid that nothing within a hundred mile radius will survive.¡± Upon hearing her words, everyone¡¯s hearts trembled as they involuntarily took several steps backwards. Even Zhou Yuan was a little frightened. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s hopeless for us.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. It was likely that only the most high-ranking members of the Battle Puppet Sect knew of the special Genesis Rune, let alone people like themselves. Without the special Genesis Rune, they would not be able to open the barrier regardless of how capable they were. Everyone else nodded in agreement as feelings of regret rose within them. A treasure mountain stood before their eyes, but none of them could enter. However, while everyone was feeling regret, Yaoyao suddenly grinned. ¡°That may not be so¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 91 Underground Palace ¡°That may not be so¡­¡± The moment these words left Yaoyao¡¯s mouth, Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei, Wei Canglan and the rest immediately cast their gazes towards her, looks of bewilderment on their faces. Could it be that Yaoyao was able to decipher even a Genesis Rune boundary like this? As if she could read their minds, Yaoyao shook her head and said, ¡°One needs to have at the minimum mastered grade 5 Genesis Runes to attempt deciphering this Genesis Rune boundary. The current me is unable to do so.¡± Everyone was even more confused after hearing this. Since she was unable to decipher it, what other method was there? Yaoyao said in an offhand manner, ¡°Won¡¯t we be able to open it as long as we have that special rune?¡± Everyone forced a smile and shook their heads. Why would they be standing around if they knew the special rune? However, Su Youwei¡¯s eyes glimmered at this moment as she asked, ¡°Does big sis Yaoyao know the special rune?¡± Yaoyao carefully inspected the runes on the Genesis Rune boundary. A while later, she finally nodded. ¡°It seems that I was correct.¡± As she spoke, she tapped the Universe bag at her waist and a black jade tile appeared in her hand. Zhou Yuan was taken aback when he saw the black jade tile. It was the item he had payed an unfair price of twenty thousand Genesis crystals previously in Devil Prison City. He looked towards Yaoyao in disbelief. ¡°Is the Genesis Rune on the black jade tile the key to open this Genesis Rune boundary?¡± If so, his twenty thousand Genesis crystals were very well spent indeed. ¡°It should be.¡± Yaoyao touched the somewhat faded Genesis Rune on the jade tile. ¡°I shall give it a try.¡± She turned her head slightly and looked towards the others as she said, ¡°All of you withdraw from the ruins first such as to prevent the worst case scenario. I¡¯m unsure of what changes have occurred to the Genesis Rune boundary after so many years have passed, so I cannot ascertain if anything unexpected will happen.¡± After hearing this, even Wei Canglan felt that he should comply. After all, the dangerous sensation from the Genesis Rune boundary was just a little too overwhelming. Zhou Yuan opened his mouth and said with a smile, ¡°You guys wait outside the ruins. I will stay here.¡± Lu Tieshan hastily spoke up upon hearing this, ¡°Your highness.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand before looking towards Yaoyao. ¡°I believe in big sis Yaoyao¡¯s ability.¡± Yaoyao cast a glance at him, her eyebrows curling as she teased, ¡°More like you¡¯re afraid that I will secretly take all the treasures.¡± Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes in response. ¡°I will also stay behind.¡± Su Youwei lifted a fair little hand. No fear could be seen on her small and pretty face. Zhou Yuan did not object and looked towards the rest to urge them to leave. Wei Canglan and the rest ceased resisting and withdrew from the pit one by one. After everyone left, Yaoyao grasped her jade-green Genesis Rune Brush as her expression turned serious. She stared at the glowing Genesis Rune boundary before her for a few seconds, before the tip of her brush suddenly descended. The brush tip flowed like water as stroke after stroke emerged in a unique rhythm. Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei stood behind her, their expressions grave, heartbeat quickening as they watched the complicated Genesis Rune slowly take shape. After all, a single mistake might cause the Genesis Rune boundary to go haywire, which would undoubtedly be a disaster for all of them. The atmosphere in the deep pit was suffocatingly silent. The only noise that could be heard was the very soft movement of Yaoyao¡¯s Genesis Rune Brush. This silence lasted for a long time before the Genesis Rune was finally completed. The extremely complicated rune slowly descended and eventually came into contact with the Genesis Rune boundary. Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and Su Youwei did not dare to blink as they stared at the Genesis Rune boundary. Buzz buzz! Under their gazes, the Genesis Rune boundary soon began to ripple violently, waves of berserk undulations pulsing. This caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression to change slightly, under the impression that the boundary was about to explode. Fortunately, this only continued for a dozen breaths before gradually calming down. Next, the trio watched in joy and surprise as the Genesis Rune boundary slowly began to part, revealing a way through. Su Youwei joyfully blurted out, ¡°It worked!¡± Yaoyao gently stroked her fair cheek as a faint smile rose on her lips. ¡°Awesome!¡± Zhou Yuan gave a thumbs-up to Yaoyao. ¡°Go open the door.¡± Yaoyao hoisted her sharp little chin. Zhou Yuan walked forward, placed his hand on the ice-cold bronze door and gave a little push. A creaking sound could be heard as the bronze door that had been tightly shut for many many years slowly cracked open. As the bronze door was pushed open, dusky yellow light peered through. The trio cautiously walked in. Behind the door was what appeared to be a spacious underground palace. Though it had been sealed for a long time, there was still fresh air flowing through. The first sight that greeted them was the countless silhouettes silently seated within. ¡°Are all of these¡­ battle puppets?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression immediately changed. He had discovered that these battle puppets were similar to those they had encountered before, only they appeared even more high-class. ¡°No need to panic, the cores of these battle puppets are in a dormant state. Moreover, they have not been given any commands. In other words, they are masterless puppets.¡± A single look was all that was needed for Yaoyao understand the state of the battle puppets here. Zhou Yuan gasped upon hearing this. All masterless puppets? Did this not mean that the royal clan had a chance to control them? ¡°There are no less than ten thousand battle puppets here!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened in shock. If the royal clan possessed an army of ten thousand battle puppets, their power would undoubtedly soar. Yaoyao said, ¡°However, you won¡¯t be able to gain control of them in the short term. Several experts proficient in Genesis Runes will be required to personally activate them one by one. Thus, a tremendous amount of time is needed to gain control of this army.¡± Zhou Yuan regretfully shook his head after hearing this. If the royal clan could swiftly gain control over this battle puppet army, sweeping away Qi Manor would be too easy. However, he could still inform his father about this matter, letting the latter secretly send some people to take charge of this task and eventually take full control of the battle puppet army. While the trio were conversing, they passed through the underground palace and arrived at the front of the battle puppet army where a stone platform stood. On the stone platform were three jade cases. Zhou Yuan cautiously walked forward and carefully lifted open one of the cases. Buzz! A flash of light immediately escaped from the case, revealing itself to be a crystal. The crystal emitted rays of light that gathered into a screen if light before them. On the light screen was a ten thousand mile long mountain range where an endless procession of buildings stood. Countless battle puppets could be seen amongst the structures, while numerous figures busily shuttled around. It was clearly a scene from the time when the Battle Puppet Sect still existed. Such grandness and magnificence proved just how powerful the sect had been. Rumble! The scene suddenly changed. It was as if all color had faded from the world as space was torn open high up in the sky and a dazzling figure slowly flew out. The body of this figure was suffused with sacred and holy light. His eyes were completely void of any emotion, while a vertical blood red scar was embedded between his brows. The moment this figure appeared, a terrifying pressure seemed to descend from the sky, causing the many mountain peaks to crumble while drawing countless fear-filled gazes. The figure indifferently looked down from high up in the sky as an emotionless voice resounded across the land. ¡°The prides of our Sacred race have died here. I declare this place a sinful land that shall receive holy punishment. All life within an eighty thousand mile radius shall be destroyed.¡± The voice was full of destruction. As it faded, endless heavenly lightning fell from the sky causing the entire place to swiftly disintegrate. It was a bombardment nearly akin to punishment from the heavens. The only fate for the Battle Puppet Sect was to be turned to ashes. Heavenly lightning descended, leaving only death within an eighty thousand mile radius. Zhou Yuan watched in horror as his heart violently shuddered. The scenes depicted were very likely what had happened many years ago in Blackwater. Was this how the numerous ancient factions of that era had been annihilated? Why was the human figure that glowed with sacred light so terrifying? A single sentence was all it took to destroy every living creature within an eighty thousand mile radius. Could it be? Just because a few talented geniuses of this so-called Sacred race had died here, all life had been sentenced to death in punishment? While Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei were in shock, neither saw the icy coldness that even Yaoyao herself did not detect flit across her eyes as she stared at the glowing figure. She suddenly reached out a head as a nine-color lotus flower jade pendant appeared within it. Light seemed to flash across the usually dormant nine-color jade pendant at this moment. Previous Chapte Chapter 92 Treasure The underground palace was completely silent while Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei watched the light screen in shock. Only when the light screen faded a long time later did they finally return to their senses. ¡°What a cruel punishment. To think that he would annihilate all life within an eighty thousand mile radius.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was somewhat downcast. ¡°All because geniuses from their Sacred race died here.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s face had turned a little pale. The actions of this so-called Sacred race were just too tyrannical and heartless. Zhou Yuan had a grim expression as he slowly mumbled, ¡°Just what exactly is the Sacred race. To think that they have the power to wipe out all life within eighty thousand miles with a few simple words.¡± This world was too vast and there were still too many things he did not know. As he sighed in his heart, Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and was immediately taken aback. The latter¡¯s bright eyes seemed to be filled with a chillingly cold aura at this moment. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao?¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly called out to her. Upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice, Yaoyao seemed to come back to her senses. The iciness in her eyes faded, replaced by confusion as she looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head in response. Had his eyes been playing tricks on him earlier? ¡°It seems that the images in the crystal were recorded when the Battle Puppet Sect was wiped out.¡± Zhou Yuan decided not to overthink things as his gaze quickly turned towards the other two jade cases. ¡°These two cases shouldn¡¯t contain recording stones too right?¡± Muttered Zhou Yuan before he once again carefully opened the second jade case. Swish! The instant he opened the case, a flash of black-white light suddenly shot out, its speed akin to lightning. This sudden turn of events startled Zhou Yuan. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand rapidly grew as the brush tip stabbed at the black-white light with formidable sharpness. Clang! The collision shook Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand and the black-white light was catapulted away. However, it suddenly turned, trembling faintly as it shot towards Su Youwei instead. Zhou Yuan was greatly alarmed and hurriedly shouted, ¡°Careful Youwei!¡± Unfortunately, the black-white light¡¯s speed was too quick. Su Youwei was barely able to respond when the black-white light arrived and flew into the spot between her brows. The sight of this caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes to almost burst open in rage, turning entirely red as he rushed towards Su Youwei. Meanwhile, Su Youwei¡¯s body trembled a little as she felt the area between her brows with her hand and hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m fine your highness!¡± Zhou Yuan quickly arrived at her side and looked at the spot between her brows, ¡°What was that thing earlier? Are you sure you are alright?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened either.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s eyebrows knitted together. Yaoyao also walked over at this moment and observed Su Youwei for a while, before she spoke, ¡°Check your Qi Dwelling.¡± Su Youwei nodded. She closed her eyes as her mind sunk into her Qi Dwelling. After a while, she finally sensed something different. A black-white glimmer floated within her Qi Dwelling. At closer inspection, one would discover a silhouette of a sword within the black-white light. On the sword were two barely discernible ancient words. ¡°Yangming Sword.¡± The sword silhouette vibrated as an astonishing aura pulsed from it. However, the entire sword was dim as if its energy had been completely depleted. Su Youwei opened her eyes and said in an amazed voice, ¡°A sword has appeared in my Qi Dwelling.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. Yaoyao thought for a bit and said, ¡°An object capable of being kept into the Qi Dwelling is likely a Heaven tier Genesis Weapon.¡± ¡°Heaven tier Genesis Weapon?¡± Su Youwei¡¯s little mouth hung slightly open. One would not be able to find a single Genesis Weapon of this tier even in the entire Great Zhou Empire. Yet, such an object had somehow burrowed into her Qi Dwelling? After being shocked for a while, Su Youwei nervously looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Your highness, maybe I should try to expel it?¡± Such a precious treasure would likely be a huge help to Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Genesis Weapons that have reached the Heaven level have a consciousness of their own and will chose their own masters. This Yangming Sword has likely chosen you as its host due to its Yin Yang attribute.¡± ¡°Even if you manage to retrieve it from your Qi Dwelling, Zhou Yuan will not be able to subdue it. Forcing it to submit will do no good.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips cracked open into a grin as he said, ¡°This is your blessing, there is no need to force it out.¡± Although a Heaven Genesis Weapon was rare, there was no regret in Zhou Yuan. As the saying went, only what suited oneself was the most powerful after all. Moreover, the fact that Su Youwei had been able to chosen by a Heaven Genesis Weapon was something that made him rather happy. After all, landing in Su Youwei¡¯s hands was countless times better than landing in the hands of an enemy. ¡°Can you summon the Yangming Sword for us to see?¡± Zhou Yuan was instead more interested in the strength of this Heaven Genesis Weapon. Although his Heavenly Yuan Brush used to be a Sacred Genesis Weapon, only its second rune had been awakened. Hence, it had only reached the low grade Black Genesis Weapon level. In comparison, if news of such a Heaven Genesis Weapon spread, let alone the Alpha-Origin experts of the Great Zhou Empire, even the experts from other empires would flood towards this place. After all, a Heaven Genesis Weapon would raise one¡¯s battle power to an astonishing level. Su Youwei tried for a while, but ultimately shook her head. ¡°The sword seems to have fallen into dormant state and cannot be summoned for now.¡± Zhou Yuan felt some regret after hearing this, but did not insist. Instead, his gaze turned towards the third jade case. ¡°I wonder what kind of treasure is in this last case.¡± This time, Zhou Yuan was even more careful. Genesis Qi circulated within him and he prepared the best he could before very carefully lifting the lid of the third jade case. Unexpectedly, nothing happened when the jade case was opened. Only when the case was fully open did the trio finally see a silver ball lying within it. After closer inspection, the trio realised that this round silver ball was made from a silver liquid which flowed continuously as if it had a mind of its own. Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°What is this?¡± Yaoyao analyzed it as interest emerged in her eyes. ¡°What a marvelous thing. There seem to be many Genesis Runes within the liquid.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Genesis Qi surged in his eyes as he too discovered the extremely tiny Genesis Runes within the silver liquid. ¡°Inscribe Genesis Runes on liquid?¡± Su Youwei was likewise full of amazement. Just how good did one need to be to achieve such a feat? Zhou Yuan asked in bewilderment, ¡°Then¡­ what¡¯s the function of this thing?¡± Yaoyao was silent for a moment before she said, ¡°Drip a drop of blood on it and see what happens?¡± Zhou Yuan hesitated a little. He then gritted his teeth and bit open a tiny hole at the tip of his finger. A drop of fresh blood fell and landed on the ball made from silver liquid. The trio¡¯s eyes were tightly fixed onto the ball as the drop of blood swiftly fused into the silver liquid. Buzz! Light suddenly surged within the silver liquid as it slowly rose into the air. Silver water flowed downwards and gradually transformed into a set of silver battle armor that covered every part of the body. Genesis Runes flickered on the battle armor, making it appear rather mysterious. A flabbergasted Zhou Yuan stared at the silver battle armor. It gave off a formidable and cold aura, every part seemingly filled with killing intent, while a faint pressure spread, causing one¡¯s heart to beat a little faster. ¡°What the hell is this thing?¡± ¡°A transforming battle armor?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 93 Silver Shadow Shock was present on Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Su Youwei¡¯s faces as they stared at the silver battle armor before them. There was also some amazement in Yaoyao¡¯s pretty eyes as she observed the armor for a while before she said, ¡°This is not a battle armor, but a battle puppet." ¡°Battle puppet?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°The Battle Puppet Sect does have some ability. To think that they managed to create a battle puppet of this level.¡± There was some admiration in Yaoyao¡¯s voice. ¡°If I am not wrong, this battle puppet does not function independently, but fuses with a person and operates as a support of sorts, giving the wielder astonishing power.¡± ¡°To fuse human and battle puppet, tch tch, this Battle Puppet Sect really dares to innovate.¡± ¡°Fusion with a human?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned, evidently unable to comprehend. Yaoyao instructed, ¡°Touch it with your hand.¡± Zhou Yuan hesitated a little before reaching out, his finger very cautiously touching the silver battle armor in front him. Rumble! The moment Zhou Yuan¡¯s finger came into contact with the battle armor, the latter swiftly began to dissolve, transforming into silver liquid that began to flow along Zhou Yuan¡¯s finger towards his arm. In a short span of a few breaths, the silver liquid had completely covered Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body. After covering his body, the silver liquid began to solidify and the silver armor from before swiftly emerged on his body. The tightly shut eyes of the silver battle armor suddenly opened. Silver light seemed to flow within them as a cry of surprise emerged from its mouth, ¡°What a magical battle puppet!¡± Although the voice was a little different, it had clearly originated from Zhou Yuan. ¡°I feel that I¡¯ve become terrifying powerful.¡± Zhou Yuan was very surprised. The silver battle armor was tightly wrapped around his body, and he could control this battle puppet as if it were his own body. The two had truly fused together and were in perfect harmony. The most shocking thing for Zhou Yuan however, was that he now seemed to have become overwhelmingly powerful. The silver battle armor had bestowed an astonishing amount of power unto him. As he felt the violently surging power, Zhou Yuan could not help but want to give it a try. Hence, he suddenly clenched his hand and the silver battle armor¡¯s sharp hand also closed immediately. Zhou Yuan went down on one knee and sent a fierce punch at the ground below. Boom! This punch caused the entire underground palace to shake violently. Next, Zhou Yuan watched in shock as a giant crack grew on the ground in front of him, extending to multiple cracks akin to the shell of a tortoise. Zhou Yuan joyfully cried out, ¡°Such power. This punch is comparable to the attack of an Alpha-Origin expert!¡± However, the moment his voice faded, an intense pain suddenly emerged between his brows as the scene before his eyes rapidly darkened. The silver battle armor abruptly retracted, returning to the form of a silver ball as it hovered in front of him. Zhou Yuan tumbled out from the armor, falling head first to the ground. His eyes closed in grimace while his face had become rather pale. ¡°Your highness?!¡± Su Youwei¡¯s expression immediately changed when she saw this and hastily rushed forward to support him. Su Youwei worriedly asked, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, what happened to him?¡± Yaoyao also walked forward and took a look. ¡°He¡¯s fine, it¡¯s just that he exhausted his spirit. He¡¯ll slowly recover after some rest.¡± Su Youwei breathed a sigh of relief. Her fair and slender fingers reached out and gently massaged Zhou Yuan¡¯s temples. Zhou Yuan¡¯s coma lasted for almost an hour before he groggily came back to his senses. The first thing he did was grab his head with both hands, a head that felt as if it was about to explode. Quite some time later, the pain finally subsided somewhat, but his face was still deathly pale. He looked towards Yaoyao, heart thudding loudly as he inquired, ¡°What happened to me?¡± Yaoyao irritably rolled her eyes at him and said in a displeased voice, ¡°Who asked you to use such power so carelessly.¡± ¡°This battle puppet will link to your Spirit after fusion and is powered by your Spirit. Have a good look at what level your Spirit is currently at, do you really believe that you can easily utilise a battle puppet that possesses power akin to the Alpha-Origin stage?¡± ¡°The consequence of forcibly using such power will be the exhaustion of your Spirit. Fortunately, you were pretty lucky this time and did not use too much power, or your Spirit would have been sucked dry.¡± Horror surfaced on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. It was clear that he had never expected such dangers when using the battle puppet. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier!¡± Lamented Zhou Yuan. How could he possibly have known? There was some lingering fear together with feelings of regret in his heart as he looked at the floating silver ball again. He had previously believed that he would be able to match Alpha-Origin experts with the battle puppet, but he now realised that he had been far too naive. There was indeed no such thing as power that came without any price in this world. Zhou Yuan massaged the spot between his brows as he said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, you should take this puppet, it suits you.¡± ¡°So self-aware?¡± Yaoyao playfully smiled, but shook her head soon after. ¡°Your blood has already fused with it earlier and I do not know the reversal procedure. I¡¯m afraid that no one else besides yourself will be able to use this silver battle puppet.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head, he had evidently not expected that the drop of blood from before had already caused the battle puppet to acknowledge him as its master. Yaoyao said with some interest, ¡°However, you can pass it to me to study for the time being. If I manage to gather enough material in future, I may try to create one.¡± Zhou Yuan naturally nodded. ¡°Looks like I have to at least raise the level of my Spirit to the Corporeal realm to properly bring out the power of this battle puppet.¡± Zhou Yuan felt that it was such a pity. He was currently at the mid Illusory stage and god knows just how long it would take to reach the Corporeal stage. ¡°Keep dreaming, this battle puppet is likely the best masterpiece of the Battle Puppet Sect. Think about it, fusion of human and battle puppet such that even one¡¯s Genesis skills and techniques can be used through borrowing the power of the battle puppet. It¡¯s hard to imagine how they managed to implement such a bold idea.¡± ¡°Moreover, if you become more proficient in Genesis Runes in future, you may even make it even stronger.¡± Yaoyao stared at the silver ball as she sighed in admiration, ¡°It possess the ability to grow, a trait that other battle puppets are unable to match. This is why I said that the Battle Puppet Sect does have some ability.¡± After hearing Yaoyao¡¯s evaluation, Zhou Yuan was at last able to comprehend just how awesome the silver battle armor was, causing him to grin involuntarily. This battle puppet was indeed a real treasure. Even if he was unable to utilise it for the time being, it may become a huge aid to him in future. ¡°I¡¯ll call you Silver Shadow.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled at the silver ball. A unique existence such as itself deserved a proper name. As if hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, a silver glow emerged from the silver ball. Zhou Yuan returned the silver ball back into the jade case, before very carefully keeping it in his Universe bag. Subsequently, they searched the underground palace again, but did not find anything else. Though this was the case, Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei were already very satisfied with their haul, while Yaoyao did not really care at all. Since they had already obtained the treasures of the underground palace, Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The trio left the underground palace, the bronze doors closing behind them as the Genesis Rune boundary was gradually restored. Zhou Yuan gazed at the boundary that had closed itself once again as worry faded from his heart. When they returned to Great Zhou City, he would tell Zhou Qing to send men to manage this place. Once they were able to take control of these battle puppets, the power of the Great Zhou royal clan would definitely soar. This underground palace was the beginning of hope for the Great Zhou Empire. ... Previous Chapte Chapter 94 Qi Manor’s Rebellion The Zhou Yuan trio exited the underground palace and met up with Wei Canglan and the rest outside the ruins. Upon seeing that the trio were safe and sound, Wei Canglan, Lu Tieshan and the rest breathed a sigh of relief. Only the Black Venom King felt that it was rather unfortunate, but did not dare to show his true feelings. ¡°Black Venom King, you should have some influence in Blackwater, right?¡± Zhou Yuan was all smiles as he stared at the respectful face of the Black Venom King. Zhou Yuan was aware that the latter was a ruthless character and would not be submit to him willingly, but he did not mind. As long as the Spirit Locking Rune jade was in his hands, there was nothing that the Black Venom King could do. The Black Venom King hastily responded, ¡°Is there anything your highness needs me to do? There are few who dare to challenge my authority in Black Venom City.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Since that is so, send some men to the valley from earlier and make sure no one enters.¡± There were an enormous number of battle puppets in the underground palace. This was an extremely formidable force. Although the Genesis Rune boundary could stop intruders, Zhou Yuan still wanted to have some people around as insurance. Moreover, in the chaotic Blackwater, the influence of Black Venom City was obviously greater than the Great Zhou Empire. Zhou Yuan then looked towards Wei Canglan and said, ¡°Great general, now that the Fire Spirit Grain has landed in the hands of the royal clan, Qi Manor will definitely not let this matter rest. I¡¯m afraid that Qi Manor will begin their rebellion soon.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s heart shivered when he heard these words. If Qi Manor were to rebel, the Great Zhou Empire would definitely descend into chaos. However, he knew the situation Zhou Yuan spoke of would likely occur. After all, the Fire Spirit Grain was far too important, and the royal clan¡¯s power would only grow stronger and stronger once they began to cultivate it until the day came where they would easily suppress Qi Manor. Therefore, there was no way that Qi Yuan would just sit and wait for death. Zhou Yuan stared at Wei Canglan and slowly said, ¡°I hope that great general will be able to help us eliminate Qi Manor.¡± Not only was Wei Canglan an Alpha-Origin expert, he also controlled the Canglan Army, a powerful and influential force in the Great Zhou Empire. His aid would make a great difference against Qi Manor. Wei Canglan was silent for a while. Just some time back, he would have chosen to watch from the sidelines if the royal clan and Qi Manor were to go to war. However, the current situation was different from before. The originally waning royal clan seemed to have suddenly become rather powerful. For example, the girl in green and the seemingly cute little creature in her arms were equal to two Alpha-Origin experts. What¡¯s more, Zhou Yuan had forced the Black Venom King into submission. As such, the royal clan now possessed the power of four Alpha-Origin stage experts. Such power far surpassed Qi Manor and his own faction. At this point, Wei Canglan suddenly felt a little frightened. The eyes that now looked towards the faintly smiling young man before him had now become somewhat different. It seemed that all of the odds had begun to fall in the royal clan¡¯s favor ever since this youngster had arrived at Canglan County. The current royal clan was nothing compared to before. The seemingly ever waning existence in everyone¡¯s eyes had started to change after the appearance of this young prince¡­ Respect emerged on Wei Canglan¡¯s solemn face as he looked at Zhou Yuan and declared in a solemn voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry your highness, as the great general of the Great Zhou Empire, it is my duty to put down all rebels!¡± Lu Tieshan and the rest were overjoyed when they heard Wei Canglan state his position. When they looked towards Zhou Yuan again, their eyes were filled with both admiration and reverence. His majesty had been unable to solve the Wei Canglan issue even after so many years, but who could have imagined that Zhou Yuan would earn the full support of the great general mere months after arriving at Canglan County. Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and smiled, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to thank great general.¡± Zhou Yuan was not surprised by Wei Canglan¡¯s decision. The past royal clan had been in the decline and relied solely on Zhou Qing to uphold the situation. Unfortunately, he was kept in check by Qi Yuan at all times, allowing Wei Canglan to reign freely over Canglan County. Things however had now begun to change and Zhou Yuan clearly understood the power he currently possessed at his side, power that Wei Canglan also knew very well now. Such power was enough to threaten the great general¡¯s faction. Dignity originated from power. Since the royal clan possessed power again, dignity would naturally follow suit. As long as Wei Canglan was not a fool, he should understand his status and what he should do. The future Great Zhou Empire would likely no longer permit the great general to ignore royal decrees. Wei Canglan said, ¡°Your highness, I will follow you back to Great Zhou City and have an audience with his majesty, while Qingqing will reorganize the Canglan Army. If Qi Manor tries anything funny, the Canglan Army will move out immediately.¡± ¡°Nothing will be better.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. The act of following him to Great Zhou City alone was in itself a display of Wei Canglan¡¯s current stance. ¡°Then I will stay behind in Blackwater to help your highness keep an eye on the other factions here, so as to prevent them from causing additional trouble if the Great Zhou Empire falls into chaos.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled thinly as he looked towards the Black Venom King. ¡°Given your strength, it would be a waste of talent for you to stay behind in Blackwater. So you will also follow me to Great Zhou City.¡± If Qi Manor started a rebellion, it would definitely be a world-shaking affair. Hence, Zhou Yuan would never allow an Alpha-Origin expert such as the Black Venom King to hide in Blackwater. The Black Venom King had a pained look on his face. How could he not know that following Zhou Yuan to Great Zhou City most likely meant that he would surely be dispatched to the risky vanguard once the fighting started. However, Zhou Yuan possessed the Spirit Locking jade, thus the Black Venom King could not object. ¡°Let¡¯s go, there is no time to lose. Quickly return to Great Zhou City!¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards the direction of Great Zhou City as iciness surged in his eyes. Qi Manor, you¡¯ve acted so arrogantly for so many years. Now, it is time for me to properly punish you lot! ... Several days later. Great Zhou City, Qi Manor. Crash! A teacup smashed into the ground and shattered to pieces as Qi Yuan abruptly stood up. His expression was twisted in rage as he stared at the kneeling Qi Ling before him and howled in disbelief, ¡°What did you say?! Qi Hao was killed by Zhou Yuan?! And the Fire Spirit Grain was taken by them?!¡± By the side stood an one-arm Qi Yue who mumbled to himself, ¡°How can this be possible?! Elder brother¡¯s strength is at the advance Qi Nourishing stage. Won¡¯t killing Zhou Yuan be as easy as a flip of his palm?!¡± An ashen face Qi Ling trembled as he spoke, ¡°Your servant does not know how Zhou Yuan did it, but first young master has indeed died at his hands.¡± ¡°Although we managed to get the Black Venom King on our side, Zhou Yuan managed to obtain Wei Canglan¡¯s support.¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s face was twisted, no longer having any sign of the calmness he usually had as he roared, ¡°Didn¡¯t you have the spirit controlling flute? Wasn¡¯t it able to control the giant python-type battle puppet?¡± Qi Ling was almost crying as he responded, ¡°But Zhou Yuan had a little beast at his side that had the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage, and even the giant battle puppet python was destroyed by it.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. He had not heard this information before. ¡°Moreover, the girl in green at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side is extremely proficient in the art of Genesis Runes and can draw grade 4 Genesis Runes!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s five fingers tightly clenched into a fist as his complexion turned ashen. ¡°Impossible! If the royal clan possessed such power, they would have taken action against Qi Manor long ago!¡± Qi Ling hastily said, ¡°Everything your servant has said is true!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately. He knew that there was no need for Qi Ling to lie about such things, as such, they were likely true. But this only confused Qi Yuan even more. After all, he had been closely monitoring the royal clan all this time, and clearly understood just how much power they had. How did an Alpha-Origin Genesis Beast and a master proficient in grade 4 Genesis Runes suddenly appear? Qi Ling urgently said, ¡°My lord, the royal clan¡¯s power has risen dramatically and even Wei Canglan has sided with them. If we wait till they arrive at Great Zhou City, they will surely link up with Zhou Qing and attack you. We need to think of a countermeasure as soon as possible!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s expression turned stormy. He slowly sat down as a vicious look flashed across his face. ¡°It seems that I have indeed underestimated Zhou Qing. I originally believed that the only route left for the royal clan was to slowly die off. Who could have imagined that he would actually be able to create such a reversal!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s voice was chillingly cold. ¡°However, such power might have been able to threaten me a year ago. But now, it won¡¯t be so easy for them.¡± ¡°Fortunately for us, thanks to that little bastards deeds, his reputation has already spread to the ears of the Great Wu Empire¡¯s crown prince. The noble prince dislikes such news to sully his ears and has increased the support given to us, clearly intending on using us to eliminate that little bastard.¡± Cold light flashed in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes, his hand slamming onto the table as he decisively said, ¡°We¡¯ll leave Great Zhou City and head back to Qi County. I originally planned on allowing Zhou Qing to enjoy some peace for a few years, but since they are so intent on courting death, I will grant them their wish!¡± He stood up, his eyes dripping with venom, his expression turning sinister as a demon as he turned towards the direction of the royal palace. ¡°Little brat Zhou Yuan, since you dare to kill my son, I will make sure your entire family is buried together with you!¡± As his words faded, he had already walked out of the room, Qi Yue and Qi Ling following behind. ... The next day. Zhou Yuan and his group finally arrived at Great Zhou City after travelling at full speed. However, the moment they entered the city, a short message spread from Qi Manor. ¡°Qi Manor seeks independence to establish the Great Qi Empire. Hence, we announce our withdrawal from the Great Zhou Empire.¡± ¡°King Zhou¡¯s mediocrity has caused the Great Zhou Empire to become fractured and broken, its citizens forced into suffering. The Great Qi Empire seeks to follow the will of heaven and replace the Great Zhou Empire.¡± Thus, the entire Great Zhou Empire was shocked.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 95 Dispute ¡°Rebellion!¡± In the royal palace. Zhou Qing¡¯s face was white with rage, his fists hammering the table thunderously, while his eyes overflowed with chilling murder. It was obvious that the message from Qi Manor had already spread to his ears. There were also numerous military leaders and ministers in the large hall whose expressions were currently fluctuating indeterminately. Practically everyone knew that king Qi had harboured thoughts of rebelling for the past few years, but no one had expected him to go all the way today. ¡°King Qi has already revolted, what do all of you think we should do?¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s gaze swept downwards, his penetrating eyes locking onto the group of ministers below. He knew that due to the decline of the royal clan over the years, it was inevitable that some of these ministers and military leaders would be swayed by Qi Manor, their stances shaken. After all, everyone knew that the Great Wu Empire was backing Qi Manor. Qi Manor¡¯s decision to become independent may even have happened due to the support from the Great Wu Empire. If the royal clan was overthrown by Qi Manor, the fates of those who went against Qi Manor now would not be pleasant. Thus, the great hall became somewhat silent for a time. A voice suddenly rang out at this moment, ¡°Your majesty, Qi Manor has already grown too powerful and is a difficult force to match. I suggest we allow Qi County to separate themselves from the empire and try our best to negotiate peace with them such as to prevent any conflicts.¡± Everyone looked over, only to find that the one who had spoken was Liu Hou. Liu Hou was Liu Xi¡¯s father, and had grown very close to Qi Manor over the past few years. Zhou Qing¡¯s expression turned extremely dark when he heard this. The corners of his mouth raised to form a mocking smile as he stared at Liu Hou and said, ¡°So Liu Hou means that not only should I restrain from sending any military force to curb this rebellion, but also give them control of their land and beg for peace?¡± Liu Hou had a fair complexion and no beard. He expression remained unchanged as he faced Zhou Qing¡¯s man-eating gaze and said, ¡°Then may I ask if his majesty has any confidence in eliminating king Qi?¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s five fingers clenched tightly as cracking noises were emitted. Qi Manor had already grown strong, and had the support of the Great Wu Empire. Hence, this rebellion was definitely not on a whim. Even Zhou Qing himself did not dare to affirm that he would be able to suppress king Qi. Zhou Qing¡¯s shut his eyes and took in several deep breaths, controlling the emotions in his heart. When he gradually opened his eyes again, they were filled a chilling coldness. ¡°I will no longer compromise even if it means battling to the death.¡± The hearts of everyone present shivered when they heard the icy killing intent in Zhou Qing¡¯s voice. It seemed that a life and death battle between the royal clan and Qi Manor was unavoidable. Liu Hou indifferently said, ¡°Your majesty¡¯s decision will put the Great Zhou Empire in huge danger.¡± ¡°Does your majesty still not understand how much power the current Great Zhou Empire has? The empire¡¯s strength is at most only equal to Qi Manor¡¯s. In addition, the great general, Wei Canglan, does not follow any of the royal commands and instead holes himself up in Canglan County, refusing to leave. It is likely that he will ignore Qi Manor¡¯s rebellion.¡± ¡°Therefore, a forceful approach will instead cause the Great Zhou Empire to fall into a state of near destruction.¡± Liu Hou¡¯s words resounded in the hall, causing the faces of the many ministers and military leaders to turn gloomy. Some of the originally somewhat spirited military officers had lost their morale due to having truly understood the crisis they potentially faced. Zhou Qing¡¯s complexion turned ashen when he saw the fallen morale in the hall. ¡°Liu Hou¡¯s words are laughable. If we give in and seek peace, Qi Yuan will definitely press us harder and harder until the day our Great Zhou Empire ends up fully devoured. From what I can see, Liu Hou¡¯s advise will only lead to death!¡± While the hall was silent, an icy laugh suddenly rang out. The sudden voice caused the numerous ministers and military leaders in the hall to be taken aback. They quickly turn their heads and found a slim youth walking in from the entrance. ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan?¡± Upon seeing who it was, everyone was stunned. Liu Hou merely glanced at Zhou Yuan and sneered, ¡°Your highness is still too young and naturally will not consider the consequences. Given the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s current strength, what confidence do we have in a direct clash against Qi Manor?¡± ¡°I feel that your highness should go wait in the rear hall. This is a place to discuss official matters, not a place for you to say whatever you want.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was indifferent as he replied, ¡°Liu Hou, looks like Qi Yuan did not tell you everything.¡± Liu Hou¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What are you trying to say?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s frosty gaze locked onto the former as a mocking smile rose on his lips, ¡°Aren¡¯t you interested to know why Qi Yuan was in such a rush to escape from Great Zhou City, not daring to stay even a moment longer in is his own Qi manor?¡± Liu Hou sneered. ¡°Oh? Might it have something to do with your highness?¡± His tone was filled with mockery but who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would actually nod in response. ¡°Looks like your brain is still functional. Qi Yuan was indeed afraid that I would come back ahead of time, giving him no chance to even escape from Great Zhou City.¡± The moment these words were said, the numerous ministers and military officers in the great hall looked to each other in disbelief, evidently unable to take his highness words seriously. How could a mere Qi Nourishing stage kid like you possibly scare Qi Yuan so much that he did not even dare to stay a moment longer in Great Zhou City? This was practically the biggest joke of the century. ¡°Nonsense.¡± Liu Hou sneered. Zhou Qing frowned. Zhou Yuan¡¯s words were indeed rather arrogant, but they did confuse the former. After all, given Zhou Yuan¡¯s character, it was very unlikely that he would brag in such a senseless manner. If so, why had Zhou Yuan said such things? Zhou Yuan ignored everyone¡¯s gazes and merely turned his body to the side as his gaze looked outside of the hall. Upon seeing his actions, everyone in the hall, including Zhou Qing, also cast their puzzled gazes at the entrance. As everyone watched with rapt attention, the sound of heavy armor clinking was suddenly heard, and everyone soon saw a well-built figure wearing heavy armor walk into hall. The figure came to a stop at the center of the hall and knelt on one knee. He slowly removed his helmet as a low voice resounded across the hall. ¡°General Wei Canglan greets his majesty!¡± *Uproar!* Every person in the hall stared at the figure in shock, and even Zhou Qing abruptly stood up as he gazed at Wei Canglan¡¯s figure in disbelief. Ever since the Black Venom King attacked Canglan County many years ago, great general Wei Canglan had never taken a single step into Great Zhou City and not responded to a single one of the imperial edicts. Hence, everyone believed that he would continue to be independent. No one would have even dreamt that on the same day Qi Manor announced its rebellion, he would once again come to Great Zhou City and display a posture of servitude. Liu Hou¡¯s expression changed. Wei Canglan would undoubtedly be a huge aid if he chose to side with the Great Zhou royal clan. However, he could not fathom why Wei Canglan would make such a decision after ignoring the royal command for so many years. Wei Canglan said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ve stubbornly persisted in my wrong doings for far too long, and it was only thanks to his highness that I was recently enlightened. I am deeply ashamed of my past actions and hope that your majesty can send me to deal with the rebels!¡± Everyone had a strange look in their eyes as they turned towards Zhou Yuan, even Zhou Qing was rather bewildered. They did not understand what Zhou Yuan had done to bring about such a change in Wei Canglan¡¯s attitude. Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response to the puzzled gazes before he looked towards Zhou Qing and said, ¡°Father need not worry about those Qi Manor rebels.¡± Next, he extended both hands and clapped softly. Under everyone¡¯s watching eyes, a black robed figure walked in from outside the hall. The figure also stopped at the center of the hall and knelt on one knee as his raspy voice sounded out, ¡°I am the lord of Black Venom City and have long heard of the mighty Great Zhou Empire. I have specially made a visit today to submit to the empire and am willing to do all I can for the empire!¡± The lord of Black Venom City? The Black Venom King?! The moment these words were said, an uproar arose in the hall as a portion of the crowd pulled back in fear. Everyone was dumbstruck as they stared at the Black Venom King, evidently no stranger to his name. However, after fright came utter confusion. The situation was now a little beyond their comprehension. The Black Venom King was a tyrant in Blackwater and had the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage. No one would believe that such a ferocious individual would submit to the empire after hearing of its might. Thus, the corners of Zhou Qing¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Who better knew the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s might than himself? Wanting an Alpha-Origin experts to join them after hearing of their might was practically a pipe dream. Hence, after a long silence, everyone in the hall turned towards Zhou Yuan. He was clearly the one behind this. However, Zhou Yuan ignored these gazes and looked towards the now pale faced Liu Hou as an indifferent voice echoed in the hall. This time however, no one dared to look down on the young man¡¯s words. ¡°Does Liu Hou still feel that the Great Zhou Empire needs to give in and beg for peace?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 96 Five As Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice resounded within the great hall, Liu Hou became ashen faced and unable to speak for some time. After all, no one would have imagined that Zhou Yuan would actually obtain the support of Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King. A flash of understanding struck everyone as they recalled Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier words. No wonder Qi Yuan did not dare to linger in Great Zhou City, he had already known all of this information regarding Zhou Yuan. It was indeed true that Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King working together was enough to ensure Qi Yuan was unable to leave the city. Zhou Yuan calmly said, ¡°In Blackwater, Qi Yuan sent Qi Hao to vie with me for the Fire Spirit Grain. They ultimately failed, Qi Hao lost his life at my hands, and I obtained the support of general Wei and the Black Venom King. Qi Yuan was forced to rebel because he knew this.¡± Everyone was dumbstruck. After all that had happened, it turned out that king Qi had been forced into rebelling by Zhou Yuan. But this made sense once one started to think about it. With the aid of Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King, the royal clan¡¯s power had practically multiplied and there was no way that they would continue to tolerate Qi Manor¡¯s existence. If king Qi did not want to sit and wait for death, the only option he had was rebellion. ¡°But¡­ just how did he do it?¡± The hearts of the many ministers and military leaders shook as they looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s rather young face. To think that the Wei Canglan issue that had troubled Zhou Qing for numerous years had been so easily resolved by Zhou Yuan. It was really inconceivable. Liu Hou¡¯s heart was akin to a churning sea as he gazed at the calm face of the young man. A sliver of regret suddenly arose within him, regret due to the marriage Zhou Qing had proposed between Zhou Yuan and his daughter Liu Xi. Though nothing had come out of it due to Liu Xi¡¯s vehement disagreement, it must be said that at that point in time, Liu Hou himself was not optimistic about the future of the royal clan and Zhou Yuan. Thus, he ultimately allowed and made use of Liu Xi¡¯s objection to refuse the marriage. Yet, the one whom they had not been optimistic about had undergone an almost magical transformation in less than a year. Not only had he defeated Qi Yue, taking the number one spot in the Great Zhou Institute¡¯s class ranking exam, he had now even managed to gain the support of Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King through some unknown method. How could an ordinary person achieve such feats? In the great hall, Zhou Qing finally returned to his senses after a period of shock. He immediately looked towards Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King and said, ¡°Please rise. With your help, the Great Zhou Empire will definitely eliminate the rebels!¡± The originally low morale that had blanketed the hall soared at this moment as the many military officers began to volunteer themselves one after another. It seemed that their morale would be rather high for some time. With the support of great general Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King, the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s power now surpassed Qi Manor. Upon seeing that the morale had recovered, Zhou Qing¡¯s face looked much better. His gaze swept across the great hall as a strong voice rang out, ¡°From today onwards, the Great Zhou Empire begin to prepare for war. The imperial guard will take charge of Great Zhou City and send out scouts to observe every movement of those rebels Qi Manor!¡± His eyes fell upon Liu Hou before he continued in an icy voice, ¡°As for Liu Hou, you will not be allowed to leave your residence over this period of time.¡± It was obvious that he intended to confine Liu Hou. Moreover, it was easy to imagine how Zhou Qing would begin to purge the Great Zhou Empire of Qi Manor¡¯s spies, some of whom were currently present and would likely not be able to escape. Liu Hou¡¯s face was deathly pale. He knew that it was all over for the Liu family. Zhou Qing¡¯s decisiveness and ruthlessness caused the atmosphere in the great hall to become somewhat heavy. ¡°All other military officers will guard their current allocated areas. We will not allow the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s land to be taken!¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s solemn voice boomed in the hall. ¡°Understood!¡± A series of respectful responses emerged within the hall. After he had given his instructions, Zhou Qing allowed everyone to leave while making sure to send someone to prepare accomodations for Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King. The hall suddenly became rather empty. Zhou Qing and Zhou Yuan were the only ones who remained. Zhou Qing looked at the slender youth in the hall, happiness overflowing in his eyes. He walked towards Zhou Yuan and gently patted the latter¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, I really have to thank you this time.¡± If Zhou Yuan had not gained the support of Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King, the only option left would be a battle to the death with king Qi. Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°Father has shouldered such a huge burden for so many years, it is only right for me to help ease it a little.¡± How could he not know Zhou Qing¡¯s pains. The Great Wu Empire¡¯s rebellion from many years ago had shattered the dignity of the royal clan. Even though they had managed to painstakingly preserve the Great Zhou Empire, it was not so easy to recover the lost dignity. In such a situation, the royal clan would naturally fall into a decline. If it was not for Zhou Qing¡¯s bitter persistence, their clan would have disappeared long ago. For the sake of the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s safety, he had given in time and time again to the unreasonable Qi Manor, swallowing all the terrible resultant feelings into the pits of his stomach without even the slightest grumble. As he gazed at Zhou Yuan, even the eyes of someone like Zhou Qing could not help but turn a little red as he mumbled. ¡°Yuan¡¯er has finally grown up.¡± ¡°Father, since Qi Yuan still dares to rebel even after finding out that I have gained the support of Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King, it is likely that he has something to fall back on. We must take precautions against this.¡± Zhou Yuan expression turned a little grave as he cautioned. Zhou Qing nodded. ¡°If I am not wrong, I¡¯m afraid that the Great Wu Empire has given him a tremendous amount of support.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes seemed to turn as deep as the night. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that news of my performance during the class ranking exam has reached the ears of the Great Wu Empire¡¯s crown prince. It is because he cannot be bothered to personally deal with this that he seeks to borrow king Qi¡¯s hand to eliminate me.¡± Zhou Qing gnashed his teeth as murder flashed in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Yuan¡¯er. With Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King on our side, the royal clan now possess three Alpha-Origin experts, a force powerful enough to control the situation.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled upon hearing this. ¡°It is more accurate to say five.¡± Zhou Qing was taken aback. Thus, Zhou Yuan told Zhou Qing about Yaoyao and Tuntun. ¡°If not for Yaoyao and Tuntun, I¡¯m afraid that we will not have been able to subdue the Black Venom King and even Wei Canglan might not have bothered with this rebellion.¡± Truthfully speaking, subjugating Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King had been done through force. The only difference was that Wei Canglan¡¯s situation had been gentler, while the Black Venom King¡¯s direct and rough. Zhou Qing sighed. ¡°Yaoyao is truly the benefactor of our Zhou clan. I really do not know how we will be able to repay her.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°If father wishes to thank big sis Yaoyao, give her all of the good alcohol you have been saving. I¡¯m sure that she will be very happy.¡± A small smile emerged on Zhou Qing¡¯s lips. ¡°Okay, they will be given to her.¡± Father and son exchanged a look and burst out into laughter. After laughing for a while, Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked outside the hall into the distance, where black clouds seemed to be gathering as he slowly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry father, the Great Zhou Empire will be fine.¡± ¡°I was too young back then, and could only allow both of you to protect me without being able to do anything myself. But it¡¯s different now¡­¡± ¡°Now, if they still dare to do anything, they will have to first ask if I agree.¡± The smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face seemed to contain an endless frostiness. ¡°All that they¡¯ve taken away will sooner or later be taken back by us¡­¡± ¡°And now, we will begin with Qi Manor¡­¡±Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 97 Declaration of War Qi Manor¡¯s rebellion together with their declaration to establish the Great Qi Empire undoubtedly set off towering waves that swept across the entire Great Zhou Empire. Everyone feared that the events from many years ago would replay once again. For a time, everyone¡¯s hearts were shrouded in trepidation. Qi Manor¡¯s rebellion together with their declaration to establish the Great Qi Empire undoubtedly set off towering waves that swept across the entire Great Zhou Empire. Everyone feared that the events from many years ago would replay once again. For a time, everyone¡¯s hearts were shrouded in trepidation. It was at this time however that Wei Canglan appeared in Great Zhou City and announced with his status as the great general of the Great Zhou Empire that Qi Manor were rebels and will be dealt with using force. Wei Canglan was a well known and respected figure in the Great Zhou Empire. It was only because he had not left Canglan County for the past few years that rumours that he and the royal clan were at odds had spread. His appearance immediately dispelled these rumours, while also slightly easing the troubled hearts of the citizens. After Wei Canglan, the Black Venom King also made an appearance and proclaimed that Black Venom City had submitted to the Great Zhou Empire. News of this caused wave after wave of uproar to spread. Who did not know of the infamous Black Venom City that constantly infringed on Great Zhou borders, but who could have imagined that such a ferocious character would chose to submit to Great Zhou at this juncture. Although the news stupefied countless people, it also gave everyone a little more confidence in the Great Zhou royal clan. Hence, the people¡¯s hearts were put at ease. While the addition of Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King bolstered the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s might and reputation, there was not even the slightest hint of any response from Qi Manor. They latter merely continued to train their forces as if completely unaffected. King Qi, Qi Yuan, even sent out a declaration of war. ¡°Our troops will arrive at Great Zhou City after ten days.¡± This declaration immediately caused countless uproars. From the looks of it, Qi Yuan intended to tackle the root of the problem. Once Great Zhou City was breached, it was easy to imagine the fate of the royal clan. Great Zhou would be overthrown. The only thing that everyone did not understand was that since there were now three Alpha-Origin experts stationed in Great Zhou City, just where did Qi Yuan find the confidence to make such a declaration of war? ... ¡°Troops will arrive at Great Zhou City after ten days¡­¡± In a certain courtyard, Zhou Yuan gazed at the declaration of war in his hands as a look of thought flitted across his eyes. This declaration clearly represented Qi Yuan¡¯s confidence. Without this confidence, Qi Yuan the declaration would instead become a huge blow to his reputation if he ended up failing. ¡°Looks like he has obtained a tremendous amount of support from the Great Wu Empire.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed coldly as he mumbled to himself in a hair raising voice, ¡°The crown prince of Great Wu that stole my blessing seems to really dislike me having peaceful days.¡± Regardless of the support king Qi had obtained, the only choice they had was to respond with force and counter each move as it came. Zhou Yuan breathed in deeply, suppressing the feelings in his heart. The most important thing he had to do now was to learn the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and cultivate the Omni Python Qi. Once he cultivated this Genesis Qi, he would have truly stepped into the the realm of the Qi Nourishing stage. He did not have the time to do so previously because he had been rushing back to Great Zhou City, so the current moment was the most opportune. ¡°Are you ready?¡± A melodious voice was transmitted from the side. Yaoyao was seated to one side, carrying Tuntun as she stared at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan solemnly nodded. Without further ado, he gently patted his Universe bag and several flashes of light flew out, landing on the stone table before him. Heavenly Gold Marrow. Nine Underworld Black Spring Crystal. Genesis Swallowing Rock. Grade 4 python-type beast spirit. Zhou Yuan could not help but breath a sigh of relief as he admired the four Genesis materials before him. He had finally gathered everything after investing so much effort and time. Excitement gradually gushed out in his eyes together with anticipation. This was a day Zhou Yuan had been looking forward to ever since he obtained the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. He looked towards Yaoyao and gave her a slight nod, before his expression grew solemn. With a pat of his Universe bag, a mysterious mottled bone piece appeared in his hand. An indescribable presence spread from the bone piece. Growl! Tuntun suddenly jumped out of Yaoyao¡¯s arms and emitted a low growl. Faint scarlet light seemed to flow on its now rigidly raised fur as if it was about to transform into battle mode. Even though Tuntun had encountered the bone piece previously, it still displayed a deep wariness at the mysterious bone piece. Zhou Yuan glanced at the clearly agitated Tuntun. Even a mysterious Genesis Beast like it was so wary of the Ancestral Dragon bone piece. One could imagine just how powerful the legendary Ancestral Dragon was. ¡°To obtain the Ancestral Dragon Scripture within the Ancestral Dragon bone, one needs to use a dragon type blessing as the key¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat nervous as he raised the hand on which the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison had entrenched itself. The sacred dragon blessing that originally belonged to him had been stolen by Great Wu¡¯s python and sparrow. The current him could only try to use the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison as the key. If he failed, it could be said that the paths of himself and the Ancestral Dragon Scripture were not fated to meet. Upon seeing the nervousness in his eyes, Yaoyao frowned a little and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Since I¡¯ve said it will work, it will definitely work!¡± Zhou Yuan let out an awkward laugh. Soon after, he began gathering his concentration. Without further ado, the hand that contained the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison slowly tightened around the Ancestral Dragon bone piece. The moment the Ancestral Dragon bone piece came into contact with the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison on his palm, Zhou Yuan immediately sensed faint runes of light emerge on the mottled bone piece. These runes seemed breathe, pulsing between strong and weak. The blood-red Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison on Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm began to squirm as if it had been attracted by something. Strands of blood-red tunnelled out from his palm and poured into the Ancestral Dragon bone. The runes on the Ancestral Dragon bone grew even brighter as an extremely ancient dragon roar seemed to cross time and space, echoing from the dragon bone. All noise began to fade from the courtyard. The Ancestral Dragon bone shook violently at this moment. A split second later, a mysterious light shot out from within, flashing through the air as it shot into the spot between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows. Boom! A deep booming sound resounded within Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit trembled as if it had now arrived at the formless mass that existed before creation itself, a time when the heavens and earth had yet to be born.All of a sudden, a life form was born within the primal chaos, its body tremendous beyond imagination. It was the Ancestral Dragon! The Ancestral Dragon roared, blasting apart the primal chaos, an act akin to the creation of a new world. It slowly lifted its head, titanic eyes flickering with the glow of primal chaos as it seemingly caught sight of Zhou Yuan. In the next instant, the light of primal chaos shot out from its eyes and headed straight for the latter. Boom! The light of primal chaos instantly scattered Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened at this moment, sweat dripping from his body. Although he did not know if what his Spirit had seen earlier was real, the pressure he had felt had almost destroyed him. If he had not constantly practiced the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method that honed his will to overcome great terror and tempered himself, it was likely that his Spirit would have dispersed the moment the Ancestral Dragon looked at him. However¡­ he had managed to withstand its gaze. Zhou Yuan extended a faintly trembling finger and gently felt the area between his brows as a smile of uncontrollable excitement emerged from the corners of his lips. A certain Qi cultivation method was currently flowing within his mind. It was the Qi cultivation method for the Omni Python Qi. At long last, he had finally obtained the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 98 Omni Python Qi Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 99 King Qi Besieges the City Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 100 Seven Alpha-Origins Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 101 Arrival of War Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 102 Besieged City Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 103 Activate Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 104 Silver Shadow’s Power Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 105 The Feelings Behind that Strike Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 106 Zhou Yuan Slays an Alpha-Origin Sorry, content is lost, You ¡¯re reading Novel on Novelhall.COM, we will fix it as soon as possible, thank you Chapter 107 It’s Over ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan! Prince Zhou Yuan!¡± Deafening cheers continued to echo, causing Great Zhou¡¯s morale to soar. ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan killed an Alpha-Origin expert?!¡± The troops were not the only ones who had been shocked by this outcome. Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King were likewise astonished and confused. They were all too clear with regards to just how strong Zhou Yuan was, how could a mere Qi Nourishing stage practitioner have accomplished such a feat? However, the facts were right before their eyes. They had no choice but to accept it no matter how unbelievable it was. It was at this very moment that respect towards Zhou Yuan arose within the hearts of these two Alpha-Origin experts. They had been courteous to him in the past mostly due to his status, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s feat of slaying an Alpha-Origin expert who stood on the same level as themselves made them involuntarily feel respect towards him. In this world, one¡¯s own power was the most convincing. The shock lasted for a while before their hearts gradually settled down. The advantage Great Qi previously had no longer existed after losing two Alpha-Origin experts. Moreover, Great Qi¡¯s soldiers were not the only ones whose morale had dropped. Even the eyes of the still battling Alpha-Origin experts were now filled with confusion and certainty, causing their momentum to fall somewhat which made them no longer as ferocious as before. They had begun to realize that something had gone wrong. They had originally arrived in an overbearing manner, seven Alpha-Origins were more than enough enough to crush Great Zhou. Who could have imagined that their information would be so off, Zhou Qing was not the only Alpha-Origin Great Zhou had, but instead, five had appeared! The most frightening however, was the Qi Nourishing stage girl and Zhou Yuan. These two individuals were clearly the weakest, merely two insignificant insects that did not even have the qualifications to fight them. And yet, these two had been the first to strike deadly blows, swiftly slaying two Alpha-Origin experts in the most overbearing of ways¡­ Such a turn of events naturally made the remaining Alpha-Origin experts on Great Qi¡¯s side feel that things were taking a turn for the worst. Thus, they held back a little of their power, preparing to escape if the need arose. However, this minute change did not escape the eyes of their opponents. Wei Canglan¡¯s and the Black Venom King¡¯s attacks grew even fiercer, hell bent on ensuring the other party would be incapable of freeing themselves. ... ¡°It seems that the situation has not developed as you had expected.¡± In the sky above the main gate, Zhou Qing smiled coldly as he and Qi Yuan battled intensely, Genesis Qi clashing violently. Qi Yuan¡¯s expression was exceptionally ugly. He never imagined that events would unfurl in such a manner. They originally had a total of seven Alpha-Origins on their side, a force that should have steamrolled over Great Zhou. Who could have guessed that two of the seven would be killed in such a short span of time! ¡°Zhou Yuan is really a bringer of misfortune. If I knew that this would have happened, I would have found an opportunity to get rid of him earlier!¡± Qi Yuan gnashed his teeth in regret. He had at long last began to dawn upon a certain truth. Ever since Zhou Yuan had demonstrated his talents in the Great Zhou Institute, everything had slowly began to change. Whether it was the failure of his ploy to obtain the Great Zhou Institute, Zhou Yuan¡¯s success in bringing Wei Canglan to the royal faction¡¯s side, or even the mysterious grade 4 Genesis Rune proficient girl and giant Genesis beast, all of these incidents were somehow tied to Zhou Yuan. The originally declining royal clan had grown strong again in less than a year. Only when Qi Yuan gave it some careful thought did he discover to his horror that everything had changed because of Zhou Yuan! Rumble! While Qi Yuan was distracted by his thoughts, a ball of fiery and violent Genesis Qi smashed towards him like a fireball, causing him to respond by hastily spitting out a mouthful of Genesis Qi. A wave swept out from the center of the collision, blowing his figure away. ¡°Qi Yuan, you dare to be distracted while I¡¯m here.¡± Zhou Qing brandished the Nine Flames Spear, his chilling gaze locked onto Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan¡¯s expression darkened as he retorted in a cold voice, ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy Zhou Qing!¡± ¡°Your situation seems to be growing worse and worse.¡± Zhou Qing let out an icy laugh. He slightly tilted his head to the side, only to see that Zhou Yuan had turned into a flash of silver light, shooting towards another gate after killing Wang Chaotian. Qi Yuan also caught sight of this, his expression immediately turned even uglier. Zhou Yuan was currently the only person who was free to do as he pleased. As such, whichever battlefield he joined would soon result in a defeat. ¡°Rebel, it¡¯s already too late for regrets.¡± Zhou Qing laughed heartily. Without further ado, his attacks suddenly intensified, covering the sky as they descended and engulfed Qi Yuan. ... After killing Wang Chaotian, waves of piercing pain pulsed from between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows. This pain made him understand that too much of his Spirit had been depleted, and he would not last much longer. ¡°I need to make use of this opportunity to further our advantage. At least one more Alpha-Origin has to be killed to truly bring about a reversal.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept towards the other Alpha-Origin battlefields. Of the five battlefields, the ones closest to a stalemate were Wei Canglan¡¯s and the Black Venom King¡¯s. In contrast, Yaoyao and Tuntun were having the easiest time. Tuntun in particular was overwhelming. Any Genesis Qi from its opponent was devoured, causing the latter to be in an extremely miserable state. ¡°Him!¡± Zhou Yuan immediately chose the Alpha-Origin expert that had been forced into such a miserable state by Tuntun. What he needed to do at this very moment was to eliminate the third Alpha-Origin in the swiftest way possible, such as to completely destroy the current equilibrium. Silver light flashed as he shot forth. ... Boom! Boom! Pillar after pillar of ice-cold Genesis Qi whizzed through the sky, freezing even the surrounding air, and leaving scars of frost behind wherever they passed. However, Tuntun neither avoided nor back downed in the face the extremely cold Genesis Qi. It merely opened its huge mouth, devouring everything before expelling mist from its nose. ¡°Blast it, what kind of Genesis Beast is this?!¡± The Alpha-Origin expert fighting Tuntun was both alarmed and horrified. His Genesis Qi was cold by nature, cold extreme enough to freeze sea water. Yet, after being devoured by Tuntun, the latter was not the least be affected, showing just how tyrannical its body was. After swallowing the ice-cold Genesis Qi, Tuntun transformed into a flash of light as it shot forth. Claws suffused with black light viciously swiped at the Alpha-Origin expert. Ptchl! Claw marks were left behind in the air while an astonishingly dangerous aura pulsed from the black light that swirled around Tuntun¡¯s claws. The Alpha-Origin expert had already experienced the deadliness of Tuntun¡¯s claws and naturally would not face it head on. His figure rapidly withdrew, no daring to engage in a direct clash with the latter. Swish! However, a flash of silver light suddenly appeared behind the Alpha-Origin expert the moment his figure moved. The Alpha-Origin expert was filled with fear and alarm. His eyes swivelled to the side, the sight of the silver armor figure appear behind him had instantly terrified him silly. However, Zhou Yuan was not courteous enough to give the Alpha-Origin expert any time to react. With a shake of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, a deep green aura flooded out from its tip, an aura sharp without equal. ¡°Auraflare technique!¡± The brush tip transformed into flash of light as it ruthlessly thrust at the Alpha-Origin expert¡¯s back. Vigorous Genesis Qi churned around it, amplifying the ferocity of the attack. The horrified Alpha-Origin expert immediately sent his palm sweeping backwards. Ice-blue Genesis Qi gathered at the center of his palm, transforming into a layer of ice crystals that quickly covered his entire hand. Pch! However, ice crystals instantly shattered on contract. The deep green aura penetrated the ice crystals, piercing the Alpha-Origin experts hand. AHH! A miserable shriek exploded from the Alpha-Origin expert¡¯s mouth. Fresh blood flowed from his hand as his sorry figure hastily retreated. Roar! At this moment however, a huge shadow appeared behind the Alpha-Origin expert. A giant mouth descended as if it could devour the entire land, swallowing the Alpha-Origin expert in a single gulp¡­ Tuntun stood on scarlet-red Genesis Qi, rumbling thunder booming from its enormous body as if a crazed final resistance was occurring inside it. However, the resistance did not last for long and gradually faded away. Tuntun patted its stomach as it let out a satisfied belch. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. There was indeed nothing that Tuntun could not devour. Even an Alpha-Origin expert had no chance after falling into its stomach. ¡°What a terrifying stomach.¡± Zhou Yuan lamented. However, they had at long last eliminated another Alpha-Origin expert. He lifted his head, eyes brimming with killing intent as he looked in Qi Yuan¡¯s direction. At this very moment, Great Qi¡¯s advantage in the overall battle had ceased to exist. It could even be said that this war was over.Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 108 King Wu’s Imperial Decree The balance was finally broken by the third Alpha-Origin expert¡¯s deaths at the hands and mouth of Zhou Yuan and Tuntun respectively. Besides Qi Yuan, the expressions of Great Qi¡¯s remaining three Alpha-Origin experts changed, no longer any hesitation as they rapidly withdrew. In the wake of the three Alpha-Origin experts¡¯ retreat, Great Qi¡¯s offensive instantly crumbled. Huge groups of soldiers wept for their parents as they madly fled. Only god knew how many were crushed in the stampede. The morale of the entire Great Qi had been utterly destroyed. Boom! Zhou Qing and Qi Yuan clashed once again, each taking a dozen steps back. As Qi Yuan¡¯s face flushed with exertion, he looked down at his crumbling army and immediately felt a slight sweetness in his throat, causing him to nearly vomit a mouthful of blood. He would never have imagined that the originally favorable situation would develop into such a disaster. ¡°Qi Yuan, it¡¯s already over. We should withdraw.¡± Zhao Tianlun and the other two remaining Alpha-Origin experts had appeared behind Qi Yuan, their expression rather ugly. Victory had already begun leaning towards Great Zhou. Qi Yuan¡¯s face twisted in anger. He had plotted and schemed for so many years all for the sake of replacing Zhou with Qi. However, these numerous years had now gone up in smoke, and there would no longer be any place for him in Great Zhou after today. Far away, Zhou Qing brandished the Nine Flames Spear in mid-air as he said in a chilling manner, ¡°Humph, it won¡¯t be so easy for you rebels to escape today!¡± Wei Canglan, the Black Venom King, the silver armor Zhou Yuan and Tuntun had gathered behind him, eyes tightly fixed on Qi Yuan¡¯s group. Qi Yuan¡¯s face twisted as he replied, ¡°Don¡¯t be so happy Zhou Qing, it is still not certain who has won or lost!¡± The moment these words were said, Qi Yuan made a grabbing motion as golden light suddenly emerged from his hand. As the golden light flowed, an extremely astonishing pressure spread from within. This pressure was vast and boundless, as if it was the aura of a king. Everyone looked over, only to see a scroll within the golden light. Zhao Tianlun and the rest were stunned as they involuntarily cried out, ¡°This is¡­ king Wu¡¯s Imperial Decree?!¡± The presence from the scroll was all too familiar to them. It was the same presence from the Great Wu Empire¡¯s king Wu. ¡°You actually possess an Imperial Decree of king Wu¡¯s?¡± The eyes with which Zhao Tianlun looked at Qi Yuan were filled with envy. King Wu¡¯s Imperial Decree was no ordinary Imperial Decree. In a certain manner of speaking, it represented king Wu himself. Its most extraordinary attribute was that it was also a Genesis Treasure that had been imbued with king Wu¡¯s will and the blessings of the Great Wu Empire. Even the numerous military leaders and great ministers of the Great Wu Empire would have to bow before anyone who possessed it. Most importantly, king Wu¡¯s Imperial Decree had the ability to summon a projection of king Wu that wielded incredible power. Hence, king Wu¡¯s Imperial Decree was insanely valuable and extremely difficult to create. It was rare to find anyone who had one even in the Great Wu Empire. No one had expected that Qi Yuan would actually have one! The golden Imperial Decree in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand gave off rays of light as the aura of a king pulsed outwards, causing everyone to involuntarily feel like kneeling. However, a chilling coldness was revealed in Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes as he gazed at the golden Imperial Decree. Had Qi Yuan brought king Wu¡¯s Imperial Decree to Great Zhou to show off? ¡°Zhou Qing, I was originally unwilling to use this treasure, but I have no choice now that it''s come to this.¡± Said Qi Yuan through gnashed teeth. King Wu¡¯s Imperial Decree was a one use item that would disappear soon after. Thus, Qi Yuan would only use it as a final resort. Mockery suddenly surfaced on Qi Yuan¡¯s face as he stared at Zhou Qing. ¡°Zhou Qing, a shadow was left in your heart when you lost to king Wu and he took one of your arms, causing your strength to fall, never improving even till now. Today, I will use king Wu¡¯s projection to kill you!¡± ¡°I want you to know just how useless you are when compared to king Wu, because he is a true king!¡± Qi Yuan laughed loudly. Without any hesitation, the golden scroll in his hand was flung open. Thousands of golden rays immediately shot out, as a faint human silhouette seemed to emerge from within. The human silhouette was very blurry. He seemed to sit atop an imperial throne, eyes filled with dignity as he looked down from above. Anyone who met his gaze would be awed by the aura of a king. The most shocking aspect of the golden figure was his Genesis Qi undulations, undulations that had reached the fifth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage! Out of all the individuals present, only Zhou Qing and Qi Yuan had reached the third layer of the Alpha-Origin stage, while everyone else was at the two layer level. Five layer Alpha-Origin was clearly enough to steamroll over everyone here. The golden figure on the throne was clearly just a projection, yet it caused the entire area to turn silent. ¡°Is that¡­ king Wu?¡± Zhou Yuan also observed the golden figure, his fists clenching tightly as iciness flowed within his eyes. It was this very person who had placed him on that cold atlar many years ago and stole his sacred dragon blessing. That same man had even sealed the dragon¡¯s resentment in his body, causing the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison to form. ¡°King Wu¡­ Wu Xuan!¡± In front of Zhou Yuan, Zhou Qing¡¯s body trembled, veins of blood crazily climbing up in his eyes his unwavering gaze locked onto the golden figure. Back then, he had fought king Wu outside Great Zhou City, lost an arm and even personally witness his son¡¯s blessing being stolen. These scenes had once again emerged from deep within his memories, still as bloody and bone reachingly painful as it had been on that very day. A pleased look flitted across Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes when he saw Zhou Qing¡¯s current appearance. With a cruel smile and a swing of the golden Imperial Decree, the golden figure slowly stood up from the throne. Astonishing Genesis Qi undulations exploded from its body, shaking the very heavens itself. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned grave. The power of five layer Alpha-Origin was enough to reverse the situation once again. He looked towards Wei Canglan and the rest and said in a serious voice, ¡°We¡¯ll attack together. The power of this Imperial Decree may be strong, but it will not last for long.¡± The others nodded in acknowledgement. Any one of them would likely be killed if they were to face a five layer Alpha-Origin stage opponent alone. However, just as Genesis Qi began to surge around them, Zhou Qing, who was at the very front, suddenly extended his hand to stop them. ¡°Your majesty?¡± Wei Canglan looked towards Zhou Qing in confusion. Zhou Yuan also looked over. Zhou Qing¡¯s hand tightly gripped the scarlet-red Nine Flames Spear while his body continued to tremble. Blood red veins had already climbed out in his eyes as he stared at the golden figure. Moments later, a hoarse voice sounded from this mouth. ¡°I will deal with him.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s expression immediately changed upon hearing this and could not help but say, ¡°Please don¡¯t be reckless your majesty. That Imperial Decree golden figure¡­ has cultivation of the five layer Alpha-Origin stage!¡± The current Zhou Qing was only at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage! Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately. Zhou Qing slowly turned his head and looked towards Zhou Yuan, his voice still hoarse as he spoke, ¡°The defeat from back then left a shadow in my heart, leading to a huge drop in my strength and making me unable to progress ever since that day¡­¡± ¡°I need to overcome this myself, or I will never be able to take another step forward.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose suddenly felt a little sour as he gazed at the Zhou Qing¡¯s bloodshot eyes. How could the former not understand at this point that Zhou Qing had likely been living in that shadow for so many years? Wasn¡¯t the appearance of the Imperial Decree golden figure a chance for Zhou Qing? However, this chance may end up in failure. If so¡­ Zhou Qing would never be able to walk out from that shadow. Just how much courage was needed to make this decision? Warmth suddenly surfaced in Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes as he looked at Zhou Yuan. He gently patted the latter¡¯s shoulders as he smiled and said, ¡°My failure to protect you back then was my mistake, but¡­ I will not let him hurt you this time.¡± This was his final pride as a father. After saying these words, Zhou Qing delayed no further. With a small jerk of the Nine Flames Spear, he slowly advanced as he pointed the spear at the golden figure of king Wu. ¡°Come Wu Xuan!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 109 Destroying the Shadow Zhou Qing took a step forward as the scarlet-red spear pointed at the golden figure. His expression was determined, as if nothing could stop him from destroying the shadow that had been left in his heart. ¡°Zhou Qing ah Zhou Qing, it seems that you will not shed tears till you see the coffin.¡± Qi Yuan let out a sinister laugh, his eyes filled with mockery when he saw that Zhou Qing was going to take on king Wu¡¯s projection alone. ¡°If you were at your peak, this Imperial Decree golden figure would not be able to do anything to you. But the current you is a mere third layer Alpha-Origin, yet you still dare to be so arrogant?¡± Zhou Qing ignored Qi Yuan¡¯s mockery. The former¡¯s gaze was so tightly glued to the blurry golden figure that it was as if no other foe could enter his sights. ¡°Since you wish to seek death, I will grant your wish!¡± Qi Yuan laughed icily, more than happy to watch Zhou Qing try to act tough. If Zhou Qing was killed, the advantage would be theirs again. With these thoughts in mind, Qi Yuan shook the golden Imperial Decree. Astonishing Genesis Qi exploded from the golden figure, making it even more intimidating. The bottom of Zhou Qing¡¯s spear slammed into the ground. Thunder rumbled within his scarlet-red Genesis Qi as it dashed out from the top of his head. Boom! A hundred feet long stream of scarlet-red Genesis Qi swept out and headed straight for the golden king Wu projection. The Genesis Qi was scorching and violent, burning even the surrounding air. However, the king Wu projection did not even flinch. Instead, it shot forward as a punch was sent straight into the scarlet-red stream. Bang! The berserk Genesis Qi was blown away by the punch, causing the scarlet-red stream to fall apart. The power of this king Wu projection was more than enough to overwhelm any third layer Alpha-Origin. Zhou Yuan and the rest were naturally clearly able to see this, causing worry to rise in their eyes. Rumble! The king Wu projection stepped forward, fast as lightning as numerous fist images began to engulf Zhou Qing. Zhou Qing did not back down, choosing to match force with force! However, the outcome a dozen rounds later was him sent flying backwards. Blood had appeared at the corner of his mouth, evidence that he had gained no advantage in the previous clashes. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that Zhou Qing has gone mad.¡± Qi Yuan laughed coldly. It was indeed insane for a third layer Alpha-Origin to clash directly against a fifth layer Alpha-Origin. Beside him, the Zhao Tianlun trio nodded. It seemed that Zhou Qing had been triggered by the golden king Wu projection, causing him to lose all reason. The two figures continued to exchange blows in the sky. Zhou Qing seemed not to care how much he was being overwhelmed, continuing to relentlessly charge forward and meet the king Wu projection head-on. Thud! Thud! Muffled sounds echoed in the air, originating from the king Wu projection¡¯s fists landing on Zhou Qing¡¯s body. Crack! Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were glued to the battle in the sky, fists clenched so tightly that cracking noises were emitted. After a few minutes, the king Wu projection was practically undamaged, while Zhou Qing¡¯s figure now appeared exceptionally miserable, his lone arm gripping his spear as fresh blood dripped from his body. Even with such serious injuries, the Nine Flames Spear in his hand did not tremble as it was slowly raised. It was a tragic yet solemn scene. However, Zhou Yuan and the rest knew that the one Zhou Qing was challenging was not the golden king Wu projection in front of him, but the shadow that had been branded in his heart when king Wu had taken one of his arms so many years ago. Fresh blood flowed down the long scarlet-red spear as Zhou Qing looked at the king Wu projection and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Come!¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s expression darkened somewhat. Zhou Qing¡¯s tenacity made him a little uneasy. Hence, he immediately said in an eerie voice, ¡°Fine, since he wants to die, I shall grant him his wish. It has been tiring for him to live in king Wu¡¯s shadow for so long after all.¡± The golden Imperial Decree in his hand jerked. The king Wu projection paused for a moment before making a grabbing motion as powerful Genesis Qi began to gather behind it. As golden light surged, the Genesis Qi transformed into a golden wheel of light that was about a dozen feet wide. Rays of golden light emerged from the wheel, floating in the air in front of it as each ray transformed into a golden sword made from Genesis Qi. Swish! Swish! In the next instant, several thousand golden swords abruptly shot forward, seemingly covering the entire sky while blocking every possible route of escape for Zhou Qing. Such an attack could be said to be a finishing move. Golden swords filling the entire span of his vision, Zhou Qing roared, the Nine Flames Spear in his hand spinning like a fiery-red wheel. Flames and lightning twisting around it, forming a wheel of light. Clang clang! The swords arrived and smashed into the fire lightning wheel, astonishing Genesis Qi undulations exploding from every hit. The scarlet-red wheel did its best to endure, but the golden swords were too many and too powerful. Several penetrated the wheel¡¯s defences, stabbing into Zhou Qing¡¯s body with a ¡®squilch¡¯. A dozen breaths later, the golden swords finally disappeared. Countless gazes were cast in Zhou Qing¡¯s direction, only to see that his head was slightly lowered, his only arm tightly gripping the Nine Flames Spear. Golden swords dotted his body, fresh blood dripping from them. Even with such serious injuries, his body remained as straight as a rod like the spear in his hand. This scene shook everyone from both sides, making them incapable of speaking. Even the soldier¡¯s of Great Qi were awed by his unretreating and fearless posture. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly reddened at this moment. He seemed to see the scene from over a dozen years ago when he had just been born, a figure standing in this same manner on the city walls, exhausting all of his power to stop king Wu. Although he had ultimately failed, he had clearly done everything he could. ¡°He should soon be dead, right?¡± Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes were grim as he stared at the extremely battered form of Zhou Qing. The former could feel the Genesis Qi around the latter gradually weakening. Every gaze both inside and outside the city had converged on Zhou Qing. Blood slowly dripped from the long spear. However, Zhou Qing¡¯s shut eyes slowly cracked open at this moment. With a jerk of his body, the golden swords embedded in it were shattered. His eyes seemed to become extremely dazzling at this moment, as if the many years of dirt that had obscured them was gradually being washed away. The bloody holes on his body had also began to close. He stared at the king Wu projection. Although he knew that it was merely an empty vessel endowed with power, he still slowly said, ¡°The battle back then had indeed ended your victory.¡± ¡°And I had always believed that I lost to you.¡± ¡°But¡­ I now suddenly realise that I did not lose¡­¡± ¡°Because I managed to protect my son¡¯s life.¡± ¡°You may have won the lands of the Great Zhou Empire and the sacred dragon blessing¡­ however, you will one day realise that all of these external things you have won is not even worth a single hair on my son.¡± ¡°He will definitely take everything back!¡± ¡°The battle between Zhou and Wu has not ended yet!¡± The moment his final word faded, scarlet-red Genesis Qi suddenly exploded from within Zhou qing¡¯s body like a volcano. His eyes became as glaring as the sun, while his Genesis Qi undulations began to rise! Fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage! Fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage! In short span of several breaths, Zhou Qing¡¯s cultivation had risen from the third layer to the fifth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage! Horror immediately filled the faces of Qi Yuan, Zhao Tianlun and the rest. ¡°His majesty¡­ has broken free of the shadow in his heart and his strength has gradually begun to recover!¡± Wei Canglan trembled as he watched, his eyes suddenly reddening. Zhou Qing seemed to have cast off his many years of concession and tolerance, once again regaining his kingly dignity. Just like many years ago during the golden age of the Great Zhou Empire, the king whose might made even the seas shudder. Zhou Qing gripped his scarlet-red spear as powerful Genesis Qi erupted like a volcano. In the next instant, his figure disappeared as a streak of scarlet-red was painted across the horizon. Speed so quick that no one could detect him. Nine flaming pythons seemed to curl around the long scarlet-red spear while lightning danced at its tip. Squerch! Zhou Qing¡¯s figure appeared behind the king Wu projection as a flash of scarlet pierced the golden figure¡¯s chest. Back facing back, Zhou Qing¡¯s hand closed around the Nine Flames Spear that landed within it. The king Wu projection began to tremble violently at this moment. In the end, it gradually crumbled, transforming into golden light that filled the sky. Bang! The golden Imperial Decree in Qi Yuan¡¯s hand exploded at this moment. Behind him, Zhao Tianlun and the rest were trembling, ashen-faced as they looked up at Zhou Qing in the sky. They never imagined that the shadow that had trapped Zhou Qing for so many years would be broken by him today through the king Wu projection! ¡°It¡¯s¡­ truly over now.¡± Despair began to rise in Qi Yuan¡¯s eyes. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 110 End of the War Outside the main city gate, Zhou Qing stood in the air, flames burning and lightning cackling on the Nine Flames Spear in his hand. The powerful pressure that flooded out from his body was akin to a storm as it engulfed the land. As countless people gazed upon this figure, they seemed to once again see the dignified king of the Great Zhou Empire at its peak. ¡°King Zhou Qing!¡± ¡°King Zhou Qing!¡± Innumerable cheers filled with reverence exploded from the city walls, almost bursting one¡¯s eardrums. Joy flooded Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he gazed at Zhou Qing¡¯s mountain-like back. Overcoming the shadow in his heart meant that his strength would gradually recover, something that made Zhou Yuan sincerely happy. ¡°Father, you did not lose to king Wu. The baby you gave everything to protect has now began to grow up.¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± ¡°Quickly!¡± While Great Zhou¡¯s morale had skyrocketed, Great Qi¡¯s had completely crumbled. Even Qi Yuan had a frightened look on his face as he yelled for them to withdraw. A split second after giving the signal, he was the first to shoot away, hoping to escape. The Zhao Tianlun trio also beat a frightened retreat. Zhou Qing¡¯s strength had reached the five layer level, making none of them his match. ¡°Stop them. Since you¡¯ve decided to come, don¡¯t even think of leaving.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed coldly when he saw them flee. Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King nodded in acknowledgement before immediately giving chase. In the air, Zhou Qing coldly looked over, his gaze locking onto Qi Yuan as his grip around the spear slowly tightened. He indifferently said, ¡°I allowed you do as you place in the Great Zhou Empire for the past few years. Allow me to personally correct all of these mistakes today.¡± Vigorous scarlet-red Genesis Qi surged around him as the faint sound of rumbling thunder echoed, giving off an imposing pressure. Swoosh! Zhou Qing took a step forward, his figure transforming into a streak of scarlet that headed straight for Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan¡¯s expression immediately turned to terror when he sensed this. Without the slightest hesitation, he pushed his Genesis Qi to the limit and frantically fled. However, the current Zhou Qing was much stronger than before, far surpassing a three layer Alpha-Origin like Qi Yuan. Thus, it only took several breaths for Zhou Qing¡¯s figure to appear right behind the latter. Zhou Qing was expressionless, the long spear in his hand akin to a dragon of fire and lightning, rippling the surrounding space as it dove towards Qi Yuan. The ferocity of the attack caused Qi Yuan to be filled with horror. Metallic runes of light exploded from the sword in his hand as he frantically poured Genesis Qi into it. Swish! Qi Yuan thrust his sword. All of his Genesis Qi had been poured into this very strike and it could be said to be deadly without equal. Clang! However, it was as if lightning exploded the moment the spear tip touched the sword as a surge of astonishing power cackled. Bang! Space violently warped and rippled. Qi Yuan let out a miserable cry as the Black tier Genesis sword in his hand disintegrated. Terrified, he hastily shouted, ¡°I surrender your majesty, I surrender!¡± Unfortunately, the only response was a decisive fatal thrust from Zhou Qing¡¯s spear. With a squwelch, it pierced Qi Yuan¡¯s heart. Violent blazing Flame-Thunder Qi crazily poured into Qi Yuan¡¯s body, scorching away everything inside in a short few breaths. The terror on Qi Yuan¡¯s face turned rigid at this moment. He grasped the spear that had penetrated his chest, his eyes staring at Zhou Qing as he mumbled, ¡°Zhou Qing¡­ king Wu will not let you off!¡± Zhou Qing was expressionless. With a jerk of the spear, Qi Yuan¡¯s body fell from the sky, his life fully extinguished. ¡°King Qi has been executed. Kill everyone who does not surrender!¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s icy voice thundered across the battlefield. The morale of the originally fleeing king Qi army hit rock bottom when they heard of king Qi¡¯s death. Countless individuals fell to their knees and cast off their weapons and armor, making the ground look like a complete mess. The Alpha-Origin Zhao Tianlun trio were surrounded by Zhou Yuan, Tuntun, Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King, each of the trio cutting a more sorry figure than the previous. While Zhao Tianlun was evading, he angrily shouted, ¡°Zhou Qing, don¡¯t push it! If you kill us, king Wu will not let you off!¡± ¡°Even if I do not kill you lot, neither king Wu nor myself will let this matter rest!¡± Zhou Qing let out an icy chuckle. With a swing of the spear in his hand, he too joined the encirclement. The Alpha-Origin Zhao Tianlun trio were quickly defeated and subsequently killed after a dozen exchanges. Three Alpha-Origin experts fell one after another, their blood spraying onto the ground below. Countless individuals in the Great Qi rebel army shuddered as they lay on the ground, not daring to make even the smallest of movements. The imperial guard surged out from the city like a flood and swiftly took control of the battle field. It was at this very moment that the flames of rebellion were finally smothered. The many residents inside the city exploded into earth-shaking cheers when they saw this. ¡°All hail the king!¡± ¡°All hail the prince!¡± Amongst cheers that filled the sky, Zhou Qing landed on the city wall, his only arm holding the Nine Flames Spear as a smile appeared on his determined face. The gloominess that had entrenched itself between his brows for far too long had completely vanished. After this battle, the king of Great Zhou from many years ago had finally returned. ¡°Congratulations father. You will surely ascend to your peak again after dispelling the shadow in your heart.¡± The silver armor Zhou Yuan also landed and grinned at Zhou Qing. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, I really have to thank you this time.¡± Zhou Qing sighed. If not for Zhou Yuan, victory would have been Qi Yuan¡¯s even without the king Wu Imperial Decree. Moreover, Zhou Qing would naturally not receive the chance to break free of the shadow in his heart. Zhou Yuan smiled before he turned towards the corpses of Qi Yuan and the rest. ¡°Although we managed to suppress king Qi¡¯s rebellion, news of this will definitely spread to king Wu¡¯s ears.¡± There was a little graveness in his eyes. Though Qi Yuan and the rest had been troublesome to deal with, they were a problem that could be solved. In comparison, the Great Wu Empire was akin to a giant mountain crushing down upon the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s heart, and was an extremely dangerous entity. The current Great Wu Empire was enjoying a golden age of prosperity and had numerous powerful practitioners. The Great Zhou Empire was far too weak in comparison. Zhou Qing slowly said, ¡°The Great Wu Empire is currently occupied with other top tier empires such as the Sword Empire and has no time to worry about us for the time being. As long as I recover my strength, any petty tricks they try will not be able to affect us.¡± ¡°However¡­ when they are finally able to find some time to deal with us, I¡¯m afraid that they will attempt to deal a fatal blow to the Great Zhou Empire.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Soon after, he chuckled and said, ¡°It seems that we still have a little room to breathe¡­¡± Crack! Suddenly, he heard a faint crack. His eyes narrowed when looked down and saw the crack that had appeared on the silver ring on his finger. ¡°I used up so much power that even the Genesis artifact has been damaged.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. He could feel his Spirit gradually begin to weaken as a piercing pain erupted. He knew that this was the repercussions of forcibly strengthening his Spirit to use Silver Shadow. ¡°Father¡­ I¡¯ll be leaving the subsequent clean up to you.¡± The silver armor on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body began to melt, transforming back into silver liquid as his body was revealed. His complexion was frighteningly pale, while the spot between his brows had become very dim. ¡°Yuan¡¯er?¡± Zhou Qing was alarmed by this appearance. Zhou Yuan no longer had any strength to reply. His eyelids gradually lowered, darkness completely engulfing his vision as his body fell to the ground. Right before he passed out, Zhou Yuan helplessly sighed in his heart. ¡°Still too weak¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 111 The Old Man in Gray Robes King Qi¡¯s rebellion had ultimately been quelled. News of this outcome shook the entire Great Zhou Empire, making the various factions dumbstruck. No one had expected the seemingly unstoppable king Qi to met such a fate¡­ One must know that the royal clan had previously been unable to anything to king Qi. If not, the former would not have tolerated the latter growing so powerful. However, the power displayed by the royal clan during the battle stunned everyone. In their shock, the various factions began to realise that the seemingly waning royal clan was in actuality not as weak as they had expected. As the saying went, a malnourished camel was still bigger than a horse. The once titan-like entity that was the Great Zhou royal clan was not to be underestimated even after experiencing so many failures and setbacks. Thus, the factions that were originally planning on taking advantage of the situation had no choice but to retract their ready claws, afraid that someone might catch a glimpse. Everyone knew that after purging the cancerous king Qi, the royal clan would soon regain its authority in the Great Zhou Empire. Any factions that dared to challenge them would likely end up with the same fate as king Qi. Hence, the atmosphere in the Great Zhou Empire seemed to become substantially better for a while. No one dared to go against the king¡¯s orders, afraid they might become the next target of the royal clan. ... ¡°Unconscious for an entire month¡­¡± Hundreds of flowers bloomed in a certain courtyard within the royal palace where Zhou Yuan sat on a stone chair, his face filled with lamentation. It had been a whole month since king Qi¡¯s rebellion was quelled. He had spent all that time in an unconscious state, not awakening till today. This was evidently the price of forcibly strengthening his Spirit to control Silver Shadow. ¡°This is already pretty lucky. If you had not practiced the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method that made your Spirit much tougher than normal, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be the case of being unconscious for a month, but forever.¡± A monotone voice was transmitted from behind Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan smiled awkwardly as he turned his head to see Yaoyao walking over. The young lady¡¯s slender figure looked even more exquisite than usual when wrapped by her green clothes. Yaoyao stared straight at Zhou Yuan and solemnly said, ¡°I advise you to not use this method in future. Your Spirit is still too weak to control Silver Shadow. If you keep forcing yourself, your Spirit might even be irrevocably damaged, a situation that would be very unworthwhile indeed.¡± Zhou Yuan could sense Yaoyao¡¯s seriousness and knew that she was showing concern for him. He smiled and nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it will only be a last resort.¡± After all, the previous battle had been far too important. If he had not borrowed Silver Shadow¡¯s power, king Qi¡¯s side would have absolutely dominated them. If that happened, the ones who ended up crumbling first would be them. Such an outcome was unimaginable. It was likely that the royal clan would be annihilated. Zhou Yuan would never allow that to happen. Hence, even while aware of the extreme risk, he was still duty-bound to use Silver Shadow. After all, there were responsibilities he needed to shoulder as the prince of the Great Zhou Empire. ¡°It isn¡¯t all bad news though, it seems... that I have ascended to the mid Qi Nourishing stage.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. As he extended his hand, one would see dark gold Genesis Qi rising from the center of his palm. At closer inspection, strange blood-red threads were visible within the Genesis Qi. Yaoyao offhandedly said, ¡°Mid Qi Nourishing stage¡­ do you feel restricted after falling to this level from being able to kill an Alpha-Origin?¡± Zhou Yuan pondered for a while before shaking his head. ¡°It was true that borrowing Silver Shadow¡¯s power made me very powerful, but such power is ultimately not my own. So don¡¯t worry, I will not be drunk with such external power and allow myself to stray.¡± He waved about the rising dark gold Genesis Qi on his palm as he grinned. ¡°This is the power that truly belongs to me. It may be very weak now, but I believe that the day will come when it becomes very strong.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s snow-white chin nodded as appreciation appeared on her perfectly beautiful face. She was satisfied with Zhou Yuan¡¯s mentality. If he allowed his heart to sway, huge problems would plague his cultivation journey. The two continued to converse for a while until Yaoyao suddenly recalled something. ¡°Since you¡¯ve awoken, you should go visit Su Youwei. She seems to have encountered a little trouble.¡± ¡°Youwei? What happened? Is it the repercussions of the attack she performed that day?¡± Zhou Yuan hastily asked in alarm. He knew that Su Youwei had borrowed an unknown power and slayed Lin Nian with a single strike from her sword. It was clear that such power did not belong to Su Youwei. Yaoyao began to explain, ¡°The blow she performed back then should be from the Yangming Sword in her body. She was subsequently unconscious for a few days but managed to awaken quite some time ago and there weren¡¯t much after effects.¡± Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief before he proceeded to ask, confused, ¡°Then what trouble is there?¡± Yaoyao gently stroked the languid Tuntun as she said, ¡°Go take a look.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat bewildered but still nodded in acknowledgement. He was after all planning on paying Su Youwei a visit to thank her since she had done such a huge service to the Great Zhou Empire. With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Yuan decided to delay no further. After bidding his goodbyes to Yaoyao, he left the royal palace, heading straight for Su Youwei¡¯s residence. South of the city, outside a clean courtyard. Zhou Yuan knocked on the courtyard door and waited for a brief moment, before hearing the soft sound of quickly approaching footsteps. The door was opened and a pair of bright, pretty eyes on a face that was beautiful regardless of anger or happiness was revealed. It was Su Youwei. She was first stunned when she saw Zhou Yuan outside the door, before joy and surprise quickly flooded her eyes. ¡°Your highness, you¡¯ve awoken?!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. He breathed a small sigh of relief upon seeing Su Youwei¡¯s lively and energetic appearance before he said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao says you¡¯ve encountered a little trouble?¡± ¡°Just tell me if there¡¯s anything bothering you. There is no problem I cannot solve in the Great Zhou Empire.¡± Zhou Yuan thumped his chest and grinned. Who could have expected that Su Youwei would frown upon hearing this as she sighed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that your highness won¡¯t be able to help...¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head, utterly bewildered. There should no longer be anyone foolish enough to offend the royal clan in the current Great Zhou Empire, right? ¡°Please come in first your highness.¡± A soft laugh escaped Su Youwei¡¯s slightly pursed red lips as she opened the door and let Zhou Yuan in. She led the way along a little cobbled path as they entered the rear courtyard. There were two recliners in the rear courtyard where two elderly men were leisurely lying. One of them was Su Youwei¡¯s grandfather, a very familiar individual to Zhou Yuan. Upon seeing him, the former gave a kindly greeting which was met by smile from Zhou Yuan. Subsequently, he cast his gaze towards the other elderly man in gray robes. There were no Genesis Qi undulations around this old man, but a piercing pain was transmitted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit when he saw the former. His Spirit trembled, giving Zhou Yuan a fierce warning. It was obvious that this seemingly ordinary old man was not ordinary at all. Shock and fear filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. When had such a terrifying powerful individual appeared in the Great Zhou Empire? According to his estimates, even Zhou Qing was nothing compared to this mysterious old man in gray. While Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned grave, the gray robed old man lazily raised his head, his murky eyes casting a glance at Zhou Yuan before turning to Su Youwei as he lethargically stretched and sighed. ¡°Little lass, is it because of this kid that you¡¯re unwilling to leave with this old man?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 112 Su Youwei’s Destiny In the courtyard, Zhou Yuan vigilantly watched the gray robed old man before him. Though there were no Genesis Qi undulations from the latter¡¯s body, he clearly understood that it was because the old man¡¯s Genesis Qi had been perfectly concealed. The gray robed old man was evidently an individual of unfathomable depths whose strength likely exceeded even the Alpha-Origin stage. ¡°Elder¡­¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together, his expression respectful as he cast a glance at Su Youwei and said, ¡°May I ask what elder wants with Youwei?¡± The gray robed old man smiled indifferently as he replied, ¡°I plan on taking her away. A place like this will only waste her talent. She should not be squandering away her time here.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback by the old man¡¯s words. Complicated feelings soon rose in his heart as he looked towards Su Youwei. The dirty little girl he had pulled up in front of the clinic back then had now begun to reveal the radiance that belonged to her alone. Zhou Yuan had known from the very beginning that Su Youwei¡¯s talent was extraordinary. It was only a matter of time before her dazzling radiance was revealed. Given Su Youwei¡¯s talent, if she was born in another family and had the chance to come into contact with cultivation earlier, she would have long become a goddess that countless geniuses could only look up to. While a prince from a tiny empire such as himself would likely be incapable of drawing even a single glance from her. As Zhou Yuan sighed in his heart, he gave a little nod and said, ¡°To be viewed so highly by elder is Youwei¡¯s fortune.¡± It was indeed as this gray robed elder had said. Su Youwei¡¯s talent was akin to a precious pearl left to collect dust if she stayed in the Great Zhou Empire. A phoenix should be perched atop a chinese parasol tree and not a dead tree. Zhou Yuan was truly happy for Su Youwei. The gray robed elder chuckled and said, ¡°But she is not very willing.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. When he looked towards Su Youwei, she avoided his gaze, her tiny mouth pouting slightly as she said, ¡°I did not say that I won¡¯t.¡± The gray robed elder nodded. ¡°But she has a condition¡­¡± He stared at Zhou Yuan before continuing, ¡°She wants me to bring you along.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. How could he not guess by now that Su Youwei had also realised how unfathomably powerful the gray robed old man was. It would be a blessing for him if he could tag along too. The gray robed elder smiled a little, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°Truthfully speaking, you are also no ordinary individual. As one that once possess the sacred dragon blessing, your talent cannot possibly be too pathetic.¡± ¡°However¡­ my teachings may not be suitable for you.¡± Su Youwei instantly began to panic when she heard this. ¡°Why? His highness¡¯ talent is no less than my own.¡± The gray robed elder¡¯s murky eyes seemed to glimmer deeply. His gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, ¡°I can faintly feel the remains of an extremely powerful presence from his body. Hence, he has likely encountered a destiny of his own and it is inappropriate for me to interfere.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little shocked inside. Could the powerful presence the old man had spoken of be master Cang Yuan? Zhou Yuan did not expect that the old man would be able to sense it even after a whole year. It seems that this elder was truly unimaginably power. Su Youwei gritted her teeth and declared, ¡°If you do not bring his highness along, I won¡¯t be going either.¡± The gray robed old man chuckled, pointed at Su Youwei and said, ¡°Little lass, you truly do not realise how fortunate you are. Do you know who I am? Do you know how many geniuses in this world desire to follow me?¡± Su Youwei bowed towards the old man and earnestly answered, ¡°I understand that it is my blessing to have obtained elder¡¯s favor, but elder was only able to meet the current me because his highness once helped me. If not for his highness, I will not be what I am now.¡± Perhaps, if her grandfather had not received treatment for his illness, the orphaned little girl would have been gradually embraced by death within cold. The gray robed old man was a little taken aback as he slowly stroked his beard. Zhou Yuan sighed softly. He smiled at Su Youwei as he placed his hands on her soft shoulders and said in a gentle voice, ¡°Youwei, I know that you are very grateful to me for helping you back then. However, it was not for the sake of binding you to my side. I treat you as my best friend, so I hope that you will be able to obtain better cultivation conditions.¡± Su Youwei blushed a little, but when she heard the words ¡®best friend¡¯, her limpid eyes faintly dimmed for an instant. ¡°But your highness¡­ this goodbye may last several years.¡± Su Youwei bit into her red lips as her eyes reddened. She had already grown accustomed to staying by Zhou Yuan¡¯s side; feeling his presence, listening to his voice. In her opinion, no matter how amazing her future would be, it would never be as unforgettable as everything she had experienced during the past year she had spent in the Great Zhou Institute. If they parted, even she did not know when they would meet again. This thought made even the usually tough Su Youwei feel somewhat sad. Zhou Yuan smiled as he reached out a hand and gently wiped away the glistening drops that had appeared on the young lady¡¯s long lashes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Believe me, we will definitely meet again.¡± He paused for a moment before chuckling. ¡°I¡¯m only worried that you¡¯ll become too outstanding when that time eventually comes, and feel that knowing a prince from a small remote place will instead be humiliating.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s tears turned into a smile as she softly said, ¡°Your highness, in my eyes, even the most wonderful of places cannot compare to the Great Zhou Institute, even the most amazing geniuses will never match up to you.¡± The gray robed old man rolled his eyes upon hearing this as he remarked, ¡°Lass, you¡¯ve seen far too little. This kid is nowhere as good as you¡¯ve described.¡± However, Su Youwei paid no attention to him. ¡°Your highness, will you come searching for me in future?¡± Su Youwei stared at Zhou Yuan, her teary eyes filled with anticipation. ¡°I will, I definitely will.¡± Zhou Yuan earnestly replied. Su Youwei likewise held a very important place in his heart. If there was a chance, he would absolutely pay a visit to her and see how she was doing. Su Youwei displayed a slight smile, her smiling face akin to elegance with a dab of bright beauty. She hesitated for a moment, before suddenly finding the courage to take a step forward, trembling hands reaching out and hugging Zhou Yuan. The sudden warm and fragrant softness that entered his embrace dazed Zhou Yuan for some time. He could feel the sadness within Su Youwei¡¯s heart at their departure, and thus also reached out and gently patted her back, comforting her. Su Youwei very quickly fled Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms, her small face beet-red as she hid herself in the room. The sudden absence of softness made Zhou Yuan feel both a little disappointed and frustrated. The sadness of their parting had likewise filled his heart. Just like how Su Youwei had become accustomed to following at his side, he too had grown used to this strong and pretty young lady that was always beside him. Cough! The gray robed old man coughed, seemingly in a bad mood as he shot a look at Zhou Yuan before sighing. ¡°Kid, at the end of the day, I still have to thank you for persuading the little lass.¡± Although he really did not want to admit it, the gray robed elder knew that if Zhou Yuan had not given his approval, the stubborn little lass would really not leave with him. Zhou Yuan smiled, cupped his fists together at the gray robed old man and said, ¡°I hope that elder will take good care of her in future.¡± ¡°This you don¡¯t have to worry. Not just anyone is allowed to follow me because I¡¯m very fussy when it comes to selecting someone. Since I¡¯ve made my choice, I will naturally give my all.¡± The gray robed elder glanced at Zhou Yuan before continuing, ¡°Are you disappointed that I am not bringing you along?¡± Zhou Yuan mere chuckled. ¡°Elder has already said that each person has their own destinies. Even if I do not follow you, I may not end up as an ordinary individual in future.¡± This was not arrogance. He was cultivating the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, and even practicing the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. Although he did not know where this gray robed elder came from, he believed that as long as he mastered what he had, he would naturally stand tall even in this world. ¡°Oh, you do have a little backbone.¡± The gray robed old man laughed, now a little in admiration of Zhou Yuan. The former pondered for a moment before he said, ¡°I dislike owing you a favor. Since you helped me, I will help you this once.¡± ¡°I may not have anything to teach you, but I can still give you a little pointer¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes focused as he solemnly replied, ¡°Then this young one will respectfully listen.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 113 A Gif In the courtyard, the gray robed old man was all smiles as he gazed at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Kid, you should currently be at the peak of the younger generation in the Great Zhou Empire, right?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled in self-mocking manner, ¡°The Great Zhou Empire is merely a small corner of the world, is there meaning in being the best here?¡± The gray robed old man grinned as he remarked, ¡°At least you¡¯re a little self-aware.¡± ¡°I believe that the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s old enemy is the Great Wu Empire, right?¡± ¡°As for you¡­ the strongest enemies you now face are the Great Wu Empire¡¯s python and sparrow.¡± ¡°Heh, it may be a little inappropriate to call them python and sparrow now. Thanks to you, these two have begun to spread their wings and soar like a true dragon and phoenix.¡± The gray robed elder¡¯s gnarly fingers lightly tapped the back of his recliner as he continued in an apathetic tone, ¡°It is said that the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire, Wu Huang, is already at the advance Heaven Gate stage, and is only a step away from the Alpha-Origin stage.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils tightened slightly. Had Wu Huang already reached the advance Heaven Gate stage? This was indeed much further than himself. Though Zhou Yuan had previously displayed the power to kill an Alpha-Origin during king Qi¡¯s rebellion, he clearly understood that he had been borrowing an external power. Without Silver Shadow, he would be easily crushed by any Alpha-Origin expert. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimates, he should be able to directly face an initial Heaven Gate expert with the aid of the Omni Python Qi and the Dragon¡¯s Resent Poison. His chances against an advance Heaven Gate opponent however, were less than 10%. As for Silver Shadow, the repercussions were just far too great. Zhou Yuan did not dare to use it unless it was truly a life or death situation. ¡°Additionally, don¡¯t even think for a second that Wu Huang is an ordinary advance Heaven Gate stage practitioner¡­ from what I know, he is also a fierce fighter capable of doing battle with those above his cultivation level. It is said that he once slayed an Alpha-Origin stage practitioner with the strength of the advance Heaven Gate stage.¡± ¡°His kill was based on his own abilities. Compared to him, I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯re pretty lacking.¡± The gray robed old man grinned like a cheshire cat. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was rather calm in the face of the gray robed old man¡¯s teasing. He had never underestimated the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire. The cultivation resources available to the latter could only be greater than his, while the latter¡¯s Qi cultivation method, Genesis techniques, Genesis Weapons and other Genesis treasures were definitely not ordinary. The accumulation of such advantages would naturally give one the ability to do battle with those beyond one¡¯s cultivation level. Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°The pointer mentioned by elder doesn¡¯t refer to demoralising me with this information, right?¡± The gray robed elder shook his head. ¡°The Great Zhou Empire is too small and is akin to a bird cage. For an eagle to soar in the nine heavens, it must face the baptism of numerous storms. Staying in a small cage like this will only limit one¡¯s view and waste one¡¯s talent, ultimately resulting in the gradual decline towards mediocrity and being left completely behind by other geniuses.¡± A look of thought was finally revealed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Truth be told, he agreed with the old man¡¯s words. The Great Zhou Empire was indeed too small, while the talented individuals he could come into contact with here were far too few, preventing him from using them as grindstones to improve himself. Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°Elder¡­ means for me to leave the Great Zhou Empire?¡± The gray robed old man smiled thinly. ¡°A long time ago, there was a Saint that died on this land. When his holy blood fell, it transformed into Saint Remains Domains filled with various wonders and opportunities, drawing countless geniuses to vie against each other for these treasures.¡± ¡°Only by obtaining the Saint¡¯s blood will one be able to call oneself the Saint¡¯s successor and establish a Saint foundation. This can be said to be a huge blessing and opportunity. In the future, the Saint¡¯s successor might even be able to condense a Saint fetus, open a Law Domain and maybe even¡­ have a peek into the greatness of that Saint.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat dazed after listening to the gray robed elder¡¯s aged voice. Everything had already surpassed the boundaries of his knowledge. ¡°What is¡­ a Saint?¡± Zhou Yuan seemed to struggle as he asked. The word seemed to contain an overwhelming divinity, and merely speaking it made the Genesis Qi in his body grow restless. The gray robed old man thought for a while, before he smiled and said, ¡°This subject is still too far off for you. You only need to know that those who may call themselves Saints are as rare as phoenix feathers or unicorn horns in this world.¡± ¡°A single drop of blood from a Saint can turn into an azure sea.¡± ¡°When the Saint from back then died, his Saint blood and remains landed in various places, forming several Saint Remains Domains.¡± ¡°And one of these Saint Remains Domains exists in the Cangmang Continent.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils involuntarily shrunk. Was the main topic finally here after so much talking? The gray robed elder chuckled and continued, ¡°Practically every genius of the Cangmang Continent¡¯s younger generation is currently training hard in preparation to enter this Saint Remains Domain.¡± ¡°What¡¯s more, I¡¯ve heard that the Great Wu Empire¡¯s crown prince has been arduously training for several years specifically for this event, and is clearly determined on being the final winner.¡± ¡°Other large empires and great clans are also doing all they can to groom their young talents. Everything is solely for the sake of seizing the greatest gift within the Saint Remains Domain.¡± ¡°Once the greatest gift is obtained, the six sacred sects of Cangxuan Heaven will turn their attention to you and come to receive you.¡± Zhou Yuan interjected in confusion, ¡°The six sacred sects?¡± He was aware that Cangxuan Heaven was the name of the world he lived in, while the Cangmang Continent was only one of the many continents within it. However, he had never heard of the six sacred sects. ¡°Having no knowledge about them is normal. Let alone someone at your level, even your father has yet to come into contact with such information.¡± The gray robed old man chuckled before he began to elaborate, ¡°In simple terms, the six sacred sects are the overlords of Cangxuan Heaven. Their hands cover this entire world, while all of you are merely ants beneath them.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. This was indeed information that was far too distant, information that the current him should not be able to access. However, Zhou Yuan finally had a grasp of how important the Saint Remains Domain was after this explanation. Even the prided geniuses of the various large empires and great clans, such as Wu Huang, greatly desired it. One could imagine just how huge of an opportunity it was. Zhou Yuan suddenly asked, ¡°Since the Saint Remains Domain is so important, won¡¯t the various factions dispatch their powerhouses?¡± If the large empires sent Alpha-Origin or even the stronger Divine Dwelling stage practitioners, none of the young geniuses would have a chance no matter how strong they were. ¡°The Saint¡¯s pressure covers the Saint Remains Domain, and the stronger the individual, the greater the suppression faced inside.¡± The gray robed elder grinned as he continued, ¡°The fear of their cultivation being suppressed and being killed by one of the younger ones makes it such that these powerhouses would not dare to enter so casually.¡± He stared at Zhou Yuan, a spark flashing in his murky eyes as he smiled and said, ¡°Kid, if the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain falls into the hands of Great Wu¡¯s crown prince, I can say with certainty that your already minute chances of surpassing him will drop to rock bottom. He will use this advantage to spring himself even further ahead of you... so much further that you may never have the chance to turn the tables.¡± The gray robed old man paused, before he continued once again, ¡°Of course¡­ I¡¯m afraid that it will be rather difficult for you to vie with him given your current strength.¡± ¡°So how about it? Do you have the courage to desire that greatest gift?¡± The gray robed elder seemed to smile as if greatly interested in Zhou Yuan¡¯s answer. Zhou Yuan shut his eyes and took in a deep breath. It was a long time later before they slowly opened again as a dazzling light surged within them. Wu Huang was already ahead of him. If the former managed to obtain the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain, the gap between the two of them would widen once more. As the saying went, once one was a single step behind, one would always be a step behind. If Zhou Yuan wanted to catch up, he needed to grab every chance he got. The prided geniuses of the various large empires and great clans would soon gather in the Saint Remains Domain. Compared to them, Zhou Yuan had no advantage at all. However, he had never lacked courage ever since the day he had rediscovered his eight meridian channels. Even stealing his sacred dragon blessing and being unable to find his eight meridian channels had not stopped him. What could these so-called prided geniuses possibly do? Therefore, Zhou Yuan looked towards the gray robed elder and solemnly cupped his fists together as he bowed. ¡°Zhou Yuan thanks elder for his pointer.¡± He was glad to have met the gray robed old man. If not, he would have completely missed out on the chance to come into contact with the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 114 Saint Remains Domain ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve been tempted?¡± The gray robed elder smiled from ear to ear as he stared at Zhou Yuan. The latter¡¯s answer had clearly indicated his decision. Zhou Yuan displayed a slight smile as he replied, ¡°It would be fine if I did not have this information, but since elder has already pointed the way, won¡¯t I be a lost cause if I still do not grasp this chance?¡± The Saint Remains Domain was clearly the most important opportunity in the Cangmang Continent. Even the prided geniuses of the many large empires, great clans and powerful factions were currently doing all they could in preparation for this grand event. So what reason did he have for turning a blind eye? This was no small squabble, but a true contest for the grand prize! The path of cultivation was fraught with untold dangers and difficulties. Only the one who was able to grasp each chance that descended and continuously surpass every strong foe encountered would ultimately stand at the peak of the world. ¡°At least you have some courage.¡± The gray robed elder nodded. Having already said so much, if Zhou Yuan did not even have the balls to vie with the prided geniuses of the large empires, great clans and powerful factions, he future would truly be limited, making him unworthy of the old man¡¯s concern. The old man retrieved a map from his sleeves and said, ¡°This is a map of the entire Cangmang Continent. The location of the Saint Remains Domain has been marked on it. It will likely take several months to reach it from the Great Zhou Empire. Fortunately, there is still half a year till the opening of the Saint Remains Domain so you should be able to make it.¡± Zhou Yuan received the map and unfurled it. His gaze swept across the map, coming to a stop at the very center where a giant eye-grabbing blood-red area had been marked out. From the terrain, it really looked as if the area had been formed from a drop of blood. The only thing was that¡­ this drop of blood seemed to be a little too terrifying to imagine. Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, ¡°So this is the Saint Remains Domain.¡± Soon after, he let out a sigh. He had realised that he would have to pass through the territories of dozens of empires in order to reach his destination. Basically, really really far. Even rushing along at full speed would take several months at least. Zhou Yuan stared at the map. It was likely that practically every outstanding genius was already on their way to the Saint Remains Domain. It would truly be akin to warlords vying for supremacy or a gathering of talented geniuses. But this was exactly why it would be even more marvelous. On the path of the strong, one needed to constantly improve. Weren¡¯t the prided geniuses from the various factions the best whetstones for this? Blazing battle lust surged out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. After the gray robed elder handed the map to Zhou Yuan, he began to rummage about again in his sleeves. In the end, he fished out a jade tile and threw it to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan hastily caught it. The word ¡®Cang¡¯ had been carved onto the jade tile. ¡°What is this?¡± Asked a puzzled Zhou Yuan as he grasped the jade tile. The gray robed old man lazily replied, ¡°If you manage to distinguish yourself in the Saint Remains Ruins, you will naturally find out what it is. But if you fade away into mediocrity, don¡¯t bother taking it out.¡± Zhou Yuan was bewildered, but could only nod in acknowledgement before keeping the tile into his Universe bag. The gray robed elder suddenly declared, ¡°Kid, I¡¯ve already said all that I need to. I will be leaving with Su Youwei and her grandfather today.¡± ¡°Today?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. There was a complicated expression in his eyes as he shot a glance at the little house Su Youwei was in. In the end, he nodded. In the room, Su Youwei tidied up before walking out. The expression on her pretty face had become downcast once again. She lifted her head, meeting Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze. However, both of them were silent for a time. ¡°Your highness, you must remember to look for me in the future!¡± Said Su Youwei in a soft voice. Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I will not go back on the promises that I¡¯ve made.¡± A bright and beautiful smile appeared on Su Youwei¡¯s face when she heard this. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The gray robed old man smiled faintly. He shot one last glance at Zhou Yuan, but did not say anything. With a wave of his sleeve, a gust of Genesis Qi unfurled, sweeping up Su Youwei and her grandfather as it transformed into a streak of light that soared into the sky. ¡°Work hard kid, if you fail to distinguish yourself in the Saint Remains Domain, I would advise against looking for her because you¡¯ll only be hurting your own ego. Haha.¡± Laughter slowly echoed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears as the gray robed old man transformed into a streak of light that dashed into the sky. Zhou Yuan raised his head and watched the streaks of light vanish into the distance. It was a long while later before he finally withdrew his gaze in a somewhat crestfallen manner. He looked towards the small clean courtyard as he recalled the first time he had sent Su Youwei home¡­ Back then, she had only been a dirty little girl, but now, her radiance had been revealed and no one knew just how far she would go in the future. It was perhaps truly as the gray robed old man had said, the future Su Youwei would reach such a dazzling level that even he would not be able to come close. ¡°I wonder if things will be the same between us the next time we meet¡­¡± Zhou Yuan sighed softly. Su Youwei had her own path to walk, while he likewise had to fight for his own destiny. ¡°I should work hard or it will be quite shameful if I end up unable to compare to her when we next meet.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as a radiance shined in his eyes. He lowered his head and gazed at the map in his hands. ¡°It seems that the Saint Remains Domain¡­ will be very exciting¡­¡± ¡°Wu Huang¡­ is it finally time for us to meet¡­¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly before walking out of the small courtyard, slowly closing the doors behind him. The people here had already left, who knew when these doors would open once again. Su Youwei, I hope that your future will be amazing. ... ¡°What? You¡¯re leaving the Great Zhou Empire?¡± In the royal palace, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu cried out in surprise when they heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s plans. Zhou Yuan nodded as he placed the map in front of them and pointed at the Saint Remains Domain. ¡°Father, mother, all the geniuses from our continent will be vying for the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain, including the Great Wu Empire¡¯s Wu Huang. If I miss out on this chance, I will probably regret it for the rest of my life.¡± ¡°The Saint Remains Domain huh¡­¡± Zhou Qing sighed as he gazed at the map, evidently having heard of this place before. However, the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s status was nothing like it had been in the past, and they were naturally no longer able to covet the Saint Remains Domain. He never expected that Zhou Yuan would still come to know of it from somewhere else. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, that Saint Remains Domain is extremely far away and your competitors will be the geniuses from all kinds of places.¡± Qin Yu seemed to be in pain. How could she not know just how many hardships one needed to face in the struggle for the greatest blessing. Such struggled would likely be life or death battles. ¡°Does mother not believe in me?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Rebellious brat.¡± Qin Yu smiled bitterly. Her son was naturally unrivalled in her heart, but the thought of Zhou Yuan leaving them and bearing all that pressure alone still cut deeply into her heart. Zhou Qing was silent. Moments later, he said, ¡°Your choice is correct.¡± He knew how significant this blessing was. If Zhou Yuan managed to obtain it, it would become an incomparably important aid to his future cultivation. ¡°But it will be very difficult to vie with the other geniuses.¡± Zhou Qing clearly understood that the young individuals who received the full support of their respective factions would be top tier amongst the younger generation. Zhou Yuan was already a step behind due to the late discovery of his meridian channels. Hence, competing with others would naturally be an uphill challenge. Zhou Yuan nodded as he grinned and said, ¡°If it was easy, it would not be a worthwhile contest.¡± He had long prepared himself for these handicaps. Although those geniuses were definitely extraordinary, they were in for a very bad time if they were to underestimate him. Zhou Yuan said, ¡°Father, you need to quickly and covetly send men to take charge of the Battle Puppet Sect ruins and obtain control of the battle puppet army within. The Great Zhou Empire needs to rapidly strengthen itself and this army will definitely be a huge help against the Great Wu Empire.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already arranged for experts proficient in Genesis Runes to learn how to open the Genesis Rune Boundary from Yaoyao.¡± ¡°When are you preparing to leave?¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head and peered into the distance where clouds were beginning to gather. ¡°In three days.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 115 Young Lady in Purple Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Outside the gates of Great Zhou City. Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head as he looked at the teary eyed Qin Yu. The only thing he could do was continue to comfort her. Zhou Qing helplessly said as he watched, ¡°Alright, alright. Yuan¡¯er is no longer a child and should head out to experience the world. There¡¯s no need to be so over sensitive about it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry aunt Qin, I will keep an eye on him.¡± Yaoyao also spoke up to console Qin Yu. Zhou Yuan was naturally bringing Yaoyao and Tuntun along. After all, Zhou Yuan was the sole reason they had stayed in the Great Zhou Empire. Qin Yu finally nodded after hearing Yaoyao¡¯s words and said, ¡°I will be a lot less worried with Yaoyao around. If he does not listen to you, go ahead and discipline him.¡± Yaoyao faintly smiled as she pursed her red lips. Zhou Qing retrieved five black crystal cards from his clothes and passed them to Zhou Yuan. Extremely complicated patterns were inscribed on the faintly glowing cards. Zhou Qing explained, ¡°These are Heavenly Crystal Pavilion crystal cards. Each one can be traded for one hundred thousand Genesis crystals at any Heavenly Crystal Pavilion branch. You will likely need them on your journey.¡± Zhou Yuan received them with a wide smile and clicked his tongue as he said, ¡°Five hundred thousand Genesis crystals, almost can¡¯t believe that father is willing to part with such a sum.¡± Five hundred thousand Genesis crystals. Such an enormous sum would probably be able to buy a high grade Black tier Genesis Weapon or treasure. To put things into perspective, the small fortune Zhou Yuan had managed to save up after so many years only amounted to a mere fifty thousand Genesis crystals. Zhou Qing rolled his eyes at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Stinking brat, you¡¯d better be frugal. The Great Zhou Empire is currently experiencing a period of growth and squeezing out these five hundred thousand Genesis crystals has already given me several white hairs.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned and kept the cards into his Universe bag. As he raised his head again, his gaze met Zhou Qing¡¯s. Zhou Yuan could faintly see the concern deeply concealed within the latter¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan softly said, ¡°Then¡­ I¡¯ll be going.¡± Zhou Qing waved his hand and said, ¡°Go if you want to, stop being so wishy washy.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and reached out to hug Qin Yu. Subsequently, he mounted his Fire-Lion Horse and looked towards Zhou Qing. ¡°When your son returns, he will demand justice for all of the grievances and humiliation you had to suffer back then!¡± ¡°When that time comes, everything the Great Zhou Empire has lost will be taken back!¡± As his words faded, he no longer hesitated and pulled at the reigns. With a neigh, rider and ridee transformed into a blur of red, not turning back a single time as they galloped along the main street. Yaoyao waved her little hand at Zhou Qing and Qin Yu before swiftly catching up on her own horse. As they watched the two swiftly departing figures, Zhou Qing¡¯s strained face could no longer maintain its facade. His eyes reddened as he mumbled, ¡°This stinking brat has finally grown up.¡± He reached out the only arm he had and embraced the softly sobbing Qin Yu as he continued to stare blankly into the distance. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, father will be waiting to see the day you soar into the heavens, and the mere mention of your name causes the entire continent to shudder.¡± ¡°I want everyone to know that the sacred dragon of our Zhou clan is not so easily crippled!¡± ... The Great Wu Empire. In a certain pavilion within a grand but well guarded palace. Bead curtains swayed with the wind, emitting crisp chink chink noises. A row of servant girls knelt outside the bead curtains, no one making even the slightest noise. A go boardwas set Inside the pavilion, black and white distinctly separate. Clack! A go piece slowly descended. The one who had placed it wore a set of bright yellow robes. He had a handsome face, the dark red dot between his brows exceptionally eye-catching, while an aura of dignity spread from his body. It was the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire, Wu Huang. In front of Wu Huang, a small fair as jade hand pinching a black stone slowly fell as an indifferent voice sounded. ¡°The opening of the Saint Remains Domain approaches. When will you be leaving?¡± Wu Huang lifted his head and looked at the person before him. She was a young lady in purple. Her beautiful face was akin to a painting, her skin seemingly sparkling like translucent snow. There was likewise an attention grabbing dark red dot between her brows, but it did not affect her beauty, but instead gave her a slightly otherworldly look. She had a pair of long and narrow phoenix eyes . Although she was young, when she narrowed them slightly, a majestic presence could be felt as if she was a true phoenix that had descended onto the mortal realm. Long fine black hair flowed down along her slender waist before ultimately touching her fair feet. Bewitching to every living thing. Only such words could describe the young woman¡¯s face. ¡°I will be leaving tomorrow.¡± Wu Huang slowly said, ¡°I was not blessed with the same opportunity that has enabled you to ascend the heavens in a single step and save so much time on training and polishing yourself.¡± ¡°Each person has their own destiny and one should never force destiny.¡± The young lady in purple merely continued looking at the go board, not a single change in her voice as she continued, ¡°You will not be too shabby either if you managed to obtain the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain.¡± Wu Huang emotionlessly said, ¡°It will definitely be mine.¡± The young lady in purple seemed to sigh softly. ¡°Too much arrogance is not good. Cangmang Continent¡¯s current batch of younger generation has never been of higher quality.¡± ¡°The one from the Sword Empire that blinded both his eyes for the sake of his sword cultivation¡­¡± ¡°The Little County Lord from the Thousand Beast Empire that is said to be capable of controlling a hundred beasts¡­¡± ¡°The Little Yama King from the Yama Sect¡­¡± ¡°The Battle Junky from the Ning clan¡­¡± ¡°The Enchantress from the Zouqiu clan¡­¡± The young lady in purple propped up a cheek with one of her fair hands, excitement rising in her eyes as she continued, ¡°All of these individuals are prided geniuses that the various factions have poured all of their resources into for the sake of the Saint Remains Domain. ¡°What a pity¡­ I originally wanted to stay here and have an enjoyable battle with everyone.¡± The young lady in purple slowly shook her head, as if regretful that she would not be a part of the upcoming fight. She was clearly a girl, yet her words would occasionally give off both a domineering feeling and lust for battle that did not lose to any man. Wu Huang frowned. A small glimpse of a passionate desire that no one knew of flitted past the depths of his eyes as he stared at the young lady in front of him and said, ¡°The second line of the clan prophecy really makes no sense at all.¡± The first line of the Wu clan prophecy; when python and sparrow devour the dragon, the Great Wu Empire will flourish. The second line of the Wu clan prophecy; the phoenix must not see the dragon. ¡°You and I are twins, why can we not see each other?¡± Wu Huang¡¯s voice was filled with doubt. The young lady in purple¡¯s pretty face was expressionless. She gently held a black stone between her fair fingers as light seemed to flow within her eyes. After being silent for a short period, her nonchalant voice rang out, ¡°The dragon may not refer to you.¡± Bang! The subsequent silence in the pavilion only lasted for a split second. In the next instant, raging Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from Wu Huang¡¯s body like an erupting volcano, turning the entire go board to ashes. The numerous kneeling servant girls outside the pavilion trembled, not daring to make even the tiniest sound. They could feel just how furious their esteemed crown prince currently was at this very moment. They very rarely saw their crown prince, whom usually did not show any emotions on his face, lose his composure. Wu Huang was still seated in a kneeling position, but his handsome face had turned exceptionally stormy as he stared at the young lady in purple and demanded in an icy voice, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± ¡°Wu Yao, who else but me is worthy of standing shoulder to shoulder with you?!¡± [1] [2] Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 116 Gathering Clouds Wu Huang¡¯s expression was ominously dark. Genesis Qi violently surged around him like waves on a stormy night, wave after wave emerging from his body and shaking the entire pavillion. However, his piercing gaze and Genesis Qi pressure seemed to have no effect on the young lady in purple. She stared at the ashes that had once been the go board as she somewhat disappointedly put down the stone in her hand. The young lady in purple indifferently said, ¡°Wu Huang, this is my advice to you. Do not overlook that person.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget that he is ultimately the source of our blessings. From a certain point of view, he is the one who made us, but since we managed to take the initiative, it will be best to maintain vigilance at all times.¡± ¡°That¡¯s if you don¡¯t want it to be taken back in the end.¡± Fire burned in Qi Huang¡¯s eyes as he retorted, ¡°You¡¯re referring to that crippled dragon? Do you really believe he has the qualifications?¡± ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve told you this more than once. Stop it with the belief that we stole his blessings. We were merely retrieving what belongs to us!¡± ¡°It is he who is the thief!¡± ¡°A thief that was created due to a mistake of the heavens!¡± The young lady in purple called Wu Yao shot him a calm look as she responded, ¡°The crippled dragon you speak of has quelled king Qi¡¯s rebellion a month ago. Even the six Alpha-Origin experts you secretly dispatched as support ultimately lost.¡± ¡°Moreover, that so-called crippled dragon personally slew the Alpha-Origin Wang Chaotian in battle.¡± Wu Huang let out an icy chuckle. ¡°From the information I¡¯ve obtained, that crippled dragon only has the strength of the Qi Nourishing stage, and had relied on the power of a silver armor like object to kill Wang Chaotian. You and I should clearly understand that there will definitely be consequences after relying on such an external power, such power cannot be used so easily. Therefore, that crippled dragon probably had no choice but to resort to such a measure.¡± ¡°Who knows whether he died due to the repercussions.¡± ¡°As for slaying Wang Chaotian¡­¡± The corners of Wu Huang¡¯s mouth lifted in a mocking manner as he continued, ¡°A battle achievement that relies on an external power does not enter my eyes.¡± The young lady in purple frowned slightly. ¡°Wu Huang, there will eventually come a day where you will lose because of your pride and arrogance.¡± Wu Huang calmly said, ¡°Because I have that right.¡± The young lady in purple slowly shook her head, her interest waning. She had already warned Wu Huang. If he still persisted in his attitude, she could not be bothered to speak any further on this matter. Upon seeing this, Wu Huang¡¯s expression softened as he quietly said, ¡°Relax, after I obtain the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain, I will think of a way to completely eliminate the Great Zhou Empire so as to prevent any potential trouble in the future.¡± Wu Yao did not comment. She waved her small hand and said, ¡°Go make your preparations. I will also be leaving after tomorrow. Who knows when we will next meet.¡± Wu Huang stared at her, passionate feelings flowing within the depths of his eyes as he said, ¡°Wu Yao, I will show you that I am the true dragon. Only you and I are the most compatible in this world.¡± The moment he finished speaking, he decisively turned around with a wave of his sleeves and left. Wu Yao¡¯s gaze lingered in the direction he had left in, not even the slightest change in her eyes. In the end, she turned her head and looked towards a certain distant place. ¡°Sacred dragon of the Zhou clan¡­¡± ¡°Although I¡¯ve borrowed your blessings, this is a world where the strong prey on the weak. Never mind if you are crippled here, but if you are truly able to climb back up¡­¡± The tip of Wu Yao¡¯s soft tongue slowly emerged and licked the rosy lips of her little mouth as a bewitching light appeared within her eyes. ¡°Then I¡­ will devour you again!¡± ... The next day. Before the main hall of the Great Wu royal palace. Numerous ministers and military leaders were looking upwards where red Genesis Qi was soaring into the sky from a tall pavillion. The Genesis Qi was akin to a dazzling sun and gave off extremely hot undulations, so hot that even the surrounding air had started to distort due to the burning heat. ¡°We respectfully send off the crown prince!¡± ¡°We will be praying for our crown prince¡¯s triumphant return!¡± Many voices buzzed from below. Swish! Red Genesis Qi whizzed forth like a cloud of fire. A tall figure stood atop the fire cloud with his hands behind his back, disdain on his face. He ignored the crowd that had come to send him off and instead cast his gaze towards a certain building deep within the palace. ¡°Wu Yao, I will prove to you who exactly is the true dragon.¡± He withdrew his gaze moments later. Without any further hesitation, he disappeared into the horizon under the watching gazes of the crowd. ... Sword Empire. Below a lonely peak shaped like a sword. A figure walked out from within the mountain. As he approached, one would discover that it was a young man in ash colored robes. However, a black cloth had been wrapped around his eyes. On his back was a plain looking black sword that had no tip. A faint but astonishing sword Qi spread from it. Wherever he passed, the rocks on the ground would silently split apart, the interior of the cut pieces smooth as a mirror. He raised his head as the eyes concealed by the black cloth were seemingly cast towards the distance. ¡°Saint Remains Domain¡­¡± His voice sounded exceptionally hoarse. ¡°I need a true rival to sharpen my sword.¡± ¡°The Battle Maniac from the Ning clan and Wu Huang from the Great Wu Empire should be good opponents, right?¡± The black sword on his back trembled slightly, as if itching to get it on with the other elites of the same generation. ... The Thousand Beast Empire. Roar! A deafening roar echoed within the city. The entire city watched as an enormous winged beast flapped its titanic wings and rose into the air. A young lady was seated in a kneeling position atop the winged beast¡¯s back. She had a head full of long green hair and eyes filled with liveliness, an overall bizarre appearance. A small ice-blue bird hopped on her soft shoulders as it chirped. Its eyes seemed to be filled with an endless frost. ¡°Hehe, little frost, we can finally go out and play!¡± The young lady stroked the small bird, her tiny face blooming with excitement. ¡°I heard that the Saint Remains Domain is going to be really fun this time and there¡¯s going to be many formidable characters there. Hehe, not a single one of our peers here in the Thousand Beast Empire has been able to beat us in a fight. I hope that those fellows will not be too boring.¡± ¡°Onwards!¡± With a loud shout from the young lady, the winged beast roared. Its wings beating powerfully as its speed rapidly rose, riding the winds into the distance. ... Boom! In a certain martial courtyard. A burst of violent Genesis Qi swept outwards, sending a dozen figures flying while turning the courtyard into a complete mess. ¡°Haha, all of you are too weak!¡± ¡°Meaningless, meaningless. Tell father that I am going to the Saint Remains Domain. Staying here is just too meaningless!¡± Only a single figure remained standing within the mess, his thick muscular body akin to a metal tower. His gaze swept across the area, eyes filled with battle lust. It was as if he was a ferocious ape. He grinned and let out a hearty laugh, no hesitation whatsoever as he stamped his foot on the ground and his body soared into the sky. Several leaps later, he disappeared. Everyone in the courtyard breathed a sigh of relief as they watched him leave before bursting into cheers. ¡°That monster is finally gone¡­¡± ¡°We will no longer be tortured by him.¡± ¡°I feel a little sorry for those going to the Saint Remains Domain, it¡¯s pretty much over once that maniac has his sights on you¡­¡± ¡°....¡± ... North of the Cangmang Continent, the noble Zouqiu clan. Outside the dwelling of a certain young lady, a servant girl¡¯s cautious voice sounded, ¡°It¡¯s time miss. The clan leader has sent me to notify you that we may leave.¡± Inside the building, a lovely snow-white figure lay under a thin quilt on a soft bed. Even so,the quilt was unable to hide her extremely alluring curves. Upon hearing the servant girl¡¯s voice, the figure rose from the quilt. The quilt fell, immediately revealing a body as fair as lamb fat. Her long hair hung in front of her, covering two heart-poundingly busty mounds. ¡°Come in.¡± She raised her head, only to reveal an exceedingly charming little face akin to a little pixie¡¯s, a face that would make one feel a rush of excitement. The servant girl carefully pushed open the door and walked in. Even though she was also a girl, the erotic sight on the bed caused the servant¡¯s girl gaze to involuntarily sweep across that unreasonable to the extreme figure. The servant girl quickly started to retrieved some clothes and helped the young lady put them on. The long black dress that now covered her body made her lovely figure appear even more mesmerising. Slender yet bountiful in all the right places, those curves alone were enough to draw the gaze of everyone in the area. ¡°Hehe, thank you little Bi. Tell father that I will definitely bring back a groom this time!¡± The little enchantress beamed as she gave a little peck to the servant girl¡¯s cheek. The servant girl helplessly reminded, ¡°Miss, clan leader said that you must obtain the greatest gift!¡± ¡°What kind of gift can compare to finding a good husband?¡± The little enchantress winked as she chuckled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m off!¡± However, she did not tease the girl any further. With a wave of her hand, after images of her figure rapidly appeared and disappeared, disappearing into the distance several breaths later. The servant girl could not help but praise as she watched her lady¡¯s phantom like movement technique. ¡°Milady¡¯s movement technique definitely stands at the peak of those from the same generation in the Cangmang Continent.¡± ... This was an eerie mountain where white bones piled up like hills, the entire area smothered in an aura of the dead. Crack. A sound suddenly rang out from the mountain as a procession of figures lumbered out. Their footsteps were stiff and rigid, skin an unhealthy white and eyes akin to empty holes. At closer inspection, one would realise that there were no signs of life on their bodies. Almost as if they were dead men. They carried a huge sedan on their shoulders. The spookily white sedan decorated by ghastly pictures drawn in blood-red gave off a strangely sinister aura. A chilly wind blew past, lifting the white curtains of the sedan. A young bloodlessly-pale face appeared under the curtains. His eyes were the color of ash and the aura of death seemed to swirl around him, a sight that would make one shiver all over. A hundred ghosts carrying a sedan. The white sedan faded into the distance as an eerily cold voice seemed to echo. ¡°As the Yama King passes, the living scurry away¡­¡± ... Meanwhile. Numerous famous geniuses from all across the entire Cangmang Continent had begun to move. Their target was one and the same; every gaze pointed towards the Saint Remains Domain at the center of the continent. As a result, countless gazes from the entire Cangman Continent converged to this place. Everyone wanted to know how amazing it would be when the numerous prided geniuses and elites of the younger generation clashed. The Saint Remains Domain had already become the focus of the entire continent. A storm was gathering, and the hidden dragons will naturally begin to reveal themselves. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 117 Magical Python Scales Cangmang Continent. Deep within the mountains in the southwest region. Roar! The deafening roar of a giant creature echoed in the mountain forests. The creature had the appearance of a lion which was covered in silver scales, while cackling lightning danced on the surface of its body. It was a grade 2 Genesis Beast, the Rushing Thunder Beast. A beast like this would usually be avoided by even advance Qi Nourishing stage practitioners. However, a human figure was currently dashing towards the Rushing Thunder Beast at this very moment. Dark gold Genesis Qi exploded from the surface of the figure¡¯s body as a ferocious without equal punch was thrown, its power so great that even the ground below the figure¡¯s feet cracked open. Roar! The Rushing Thunder Beast roared as lightning gathered on its head. In the next instant, it transformed into a bolt of lightning and clashed with the human figure. Boom! Shockwaves devastated the surrounding area as layer after layer of the ground below their feet was peeled away. The Rushing Thunder Beast let out a cry of anguish as its enormous body was launched into the air. Its head had been shattered, killed on the spot in a single blow. The figure landed on the Rushing Thunder Beast corpse, fished out the Beast Spirit Crystal and retrieved the mottled black brush hanging on his waist. The brush hairs swept forth, swallowing the Beast Spirit. This human figure was naturally Zhou Yuan whom had left the Great Zhou Empire. It had been two whole months since he left the Great Zhou Empire. Over these two months, Yaoyao and him had passed through numerous regions. The majority of the routes they had chosen to take however were through deep mountains and dense forests, because only in such places would one be able to encounter many Genesis Beasts for training purposes. Numerous prided geniuses would soon gather at the Saint Remains Domain, and he needed to make use of every single second to raise his strength. Only then would his chances of becoming the final victor be a little bit higher. The past two months of bitter training had allowed him to progress substantially. There were already faint indications of breaking through to the advance Qi Nourishing stage. ¡°Can¡¯t believe that a grade 2 Rushing Thunder Beast can¡¯t even survive my full power punch.¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, a little proud of his achievement. After all, even ordinary Qi Nourishing stage experts did not dare to face such a beast. ¡°Is this really worth being happy about?¡± A clear voice rang out from the side. Yaoyao carried Tuntun in her arms as she rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan and said in a slightly miffed manner, ¡°Two entire months of training and you haven¡¯t even managed to bring out the wonders of the Omni Python Qi, what¡¯s there to be pleased about?¡± ¡°Urgh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Yaoyao helplessly shook her head. ¡°The Omni Python Qi is a grade 5 Genesis Qi and originates from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Do you really believe that it is only a little more powerful and domineering than ordinary Genesis Qi?¡± Zhou Yuan let out an awkward laugh before he sincerely said, ¡°Please guide me big sis Yaoyao!¡± ¡°Go prepare dinner for Tuntun first.¡± Yaoyao merely chuckled softly while Tuntun released a bark of approval. Zhou Yuan was helpless. All he could do was hoist the Rushing Thunder Beast on his shoulders and return to their camp where he set up a frame over the fire and began roasting the meat. Such chores had been handled by him for the past two months. Thus, his movements were now smooth and practiced. Only when the fragrance of roasted meat gradually emerge did Yaoyao finally place a fair hand on her cheek, a small smile on her lips as she asked, ¡°Have you felt any changes in the Omni Python Qi recently?¡± Zhou Yuan fell into thought before giving a little shake of his head. The corners of Yaoyao¡¯s red lips curved downwards. ¡°Tuntun, give it to him.¡± Upon hearing this, Tuntun excitedly stood up from her arms, its eyes shining as it stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Eh? Wait!¡± Zhou Yuan jumped back a little in fear. Swish! However, Tuntun ignored him. Its tiny body flashed and appeared in front of Zhou Yuan as a paw was sent swatting over. Zhou Yuan hurriedly lifted his arms as dark gold Genesis Qi whizzed out. Thud! Tuntun¡¯s tiny paw landed and Zhou Yuan was instantly blown away as if struck by a heavy blow. He crashed into a giant tree, intense pain jerking through his arms. Zhou Yuan hissed through gnashed teeth, ¡°You little bastard, biting the hand that feeds you! Don¡¯t even think about having any more meals in future!¡± Yaoyao let out a soft laugh. ¡°Did you feel the tiny change in the Genesis Qi inside your body at the instant of impact?¡± Zhou Yuan viciously glared at Tuntun, before beginning to mutter to himself, somewhat hesitant as he replied, ¡°It seems as if the Omni Python Qi wanted to fuse into my flesh and blood when I was hit.¡± The truth was that signs of this phenomenon had already been detected by Zhou Yuan. The only reason why it had been overlooked because it was far too faint. Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°Grasp that feeling and allow nature to take its course.¡± ¡°Tuntun.¡± Yaoyao called out once again. Tuntun barked in response and looked towards Zhou Yuan. However, it seemed to hesitate as if Zhou Yuan¡¯s threat of not giving it any food earlier had actually worked. ¡°Bring it.¡± Said a peeved Zhou Yuan when he saw this. Swish! Tutun barked excitedly and shot forward once again, extraordinary power within its tiny paw as it was sent swatting towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression grew solemn. This time however, the instant Tuntun¡¯s little paw arrived, he concentrated on feeling the minute change in the Genesis Qi within his body. Sure enough, he discovered that some Genesis Qi was automatically fusing into the flesh and blood of his arms. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body seemed to put up some resistance, preventing the Genesis Qi from fusing into it. Zhou Yuan seemed to comprehend something, and immediately fully relaxed his body with a thought. The resistance faded along with this action and strands of Omni Python Qi began to merge into his arms. The instant this happened, Zhou Yuan saw a faint green glow emerge on his arms. Next, he watched in astonishment as green scales began to grow. The green scales had a hidden luster like the scales of a python. Thump! Tuntun¡¯s paw swung downwards and Zhou Yuan was blown a dozen steps back again. However, he did not feel as much pain from his arms this time. It was clear that the majority of the force had been dispersed by the scales that had appeared on his arms. ¡°What is this?¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled in shock. With a thought, the green scales on his arm swiftly receded. The previous scene was already more than enough to display the strong defensive powers of the green scales. Yaoyao smiled faintly when she saw this and answered, ¡°This is the first wonder of the Omni Python Qi, the Magical Python Scales!¡± ¡°Magical Python Scales?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°When the body encounters an attack, the Omni Python Qi will automatically protect its owner. Genesis Qi will fuse into the body, creating a layer of scale armor to protect it.¡± ¡°There are said to be three levels to this Magical Python Scales which are shown by the color of the scales. The first level is green, the second is gold and the third is purplish gold.¡± Yaoyao continued in an unhurried manner, ¡°If you can reach the purplish gold level, even the full power of an Alpha-Origin expert will not be able to break your defences.¡± Sss. Zhou Yuan sucked in a breath of cold air. He couldn¡¯t believe that the Magical Python Scales would possess such insane defensive power. ¡°The Omni Python Qi is amazing.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but praise out loud. Although Tuntun¡¯s previous attack had not been serious, it had enough power to match an initial Heaven Gate stage practitioner. Yet, the attack had been unable to break the scales. In other words, the green Magical Python Scales were capable of blocking an initial Heaven Gate expert¡¯s attacks. With the protection of the Magical Python Scales, the Zhou Yuan would now be able to put up a fight even against an elite initial Heaven Gate expert. The grade 5 Omni Python Qi of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture had finally began to reveal a trace of its wondrous power. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 118 Gu Territory Deep in the mountains. Beside the bonfire of a certain campsite. Nearly an entire roasted Rushing Thunder Beast had already entered Tuntun¡¯s stomach. Zhou Yuan on the other hand was fully immersed in the recently discovered Magical Python Scales and was continuously activating it. Green scales would emerge on his arms, fists and face from time to time like a layer of protective scale armor. Yaoyao was holding a map, verifying their route as she declared, ¡°We should be out of these mountains in another three days.¡± ¡°After leaving these mountains, we will be in an area known as the Gu Territory. It does not fall under the rule of any empire, but is instead governed by an influential family called the Gu clan. In the Gu Territory, the Gu clan is akin to the local tyrant.¡± Yaoyao elaborated. She had brought along a lot of material on the various regions and territories in the Cangmang Continent, and was hence able to find out all kinds of information after some checking. ¡°The Gu Territory is already part of the central region and is relatively close to the Saint Remains Domain.¡± Yaoyao smiled a little, a smile that appeared exceedingly dazzling under the illumination from the bonfire. ¡°As for the Gu clan, they seem to be a little interesting from what I¡¯ve read.¡± Yaoyao reached out a slender fair finger and lightly tapped on a certain area of the map. ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head in surprise. There weren¡¯t many things that could attract Yaoyao¡¯s interest. Yaoyao explained with some interest, ¡°The members of the Gu clan have pretty strong Spirits. The Gu clan is therefore a clan proficient in Genesis Runes.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°Could it be that the Gu clan possess a Spirit tempering method?¡± ¡°A Spirit Tempering Method alone will not be able to make the clan members¡¯ Spirits strong, talent is also a factor¡­¡± Yaoyao shook her head before continuing, ¡°It seems that this Gu clan owns a Spirit Refining Tower where one¡¯s Spirit can be tempered.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart stirred a little. To think that the Gu clan actually had such a treasure. His Spirit had currently stabilized at the mid Illusory stage and had not been able to make much progress. If he had a chance to enter the Spirit Refining Tower, his Spirit may be able to ascend to the advance Illusory stage. Once that happened, he would be able to learn and use grade 3 Genesis Runes. However¡­ a cultivation treasure like the Spirit Refining Tower would surely be tightly guarded by the Gu clan, and outsiders would definitely be unable to enter. Hence, he had no choice but to discard such thoughts. Zhou Yuan sighed as he recollected himself and said with a smile, ¡°Such a treasure has nothing to do with us. After leaving these mountains, we will first replenish our supplies in Gu City before leaving and heading straight towards the Saint Remains Domain.¡± Yaoyao nodded in agreement. She shot a glance at the currently stretching Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°Thinking about resting? Have you practiced the grade 2 Genesis Runes I taught you?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned rigid. Yaoyao¡¯s head was lowered, continuing to look at the map as she said in a drawn out voice, ¡°Don¡¯t slack off. None of the individuals heading to the Saint Remains Domain will be easy to deal with, and your mid Qi Nourishing stage strength is really nothing to look at. How will be able to vie with the others if you do not work on your strong suits?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t plan on returning the Great Zhou Empire with your tail between your legs, it will be best for you to behave.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little sullen after being chided by Yaoyao, but he could only obediently take out a jade tablet, draw the Heavenly Yuan Brush at this waist and begin practicing the grade 2 Genesis Runes Yaoyao had taught him during the past two months. ... Three days later. Zhou Yuan was silently seated on a certain mountain. The surrounding Genesis Qi transformed into strands of white that ultimately entered his nose as he breathed. As Genesis Qi flooded in, dark gold Genesis Qi rose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Qi Dwelling, the silhouette of a dark gold python hissing faintly discernible within. As the python silhouette breathed, the Genesis Qi that had flowed into the body was completely sucked away. This training lasted for two hours, before Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slowly opened. A dark gold luster filled his eyes as the surging Genesis Qi around him suddenly began to rise steadily. Genesis Qi seemed to conflict with the air, emitting rumbling sounds while cracks began to grow on the boulder he was seated on. ¡°Advance Qi Nourishing stage!¡± Joy streaked across Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he felt the vigorous Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling. After two months of arduous training, his Genesis Qi cultivation had finally progressed once again, entering the advance Qi Nourishing stage. After reaching the advance Qi Nourishing stage, Zhou Yuan was now a step closer to the Heaven Gate stage. The gap between him and the prided geniuses was being shortened bit by bit. Phew. A breath of white air was dispelled from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. With a leap, he landed on the ground where Yaoyao, carrying Tuntun, shot him a glance and gave a slight nod of satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯ve finally advanced. The two months of training weren¡¯t wasted after all.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, it¡¯s time to leave these mountains.¡± Yaoyao leisurely turned around, her footsteps light as she slowly began to head out of the mountains. Zhou Yuan lifted his head and peered into the distance. He had been cooped up in these mountains for two whole months, the outside world was likely already bustling with excitement by now, right? ... It took Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao half a day to walk out of the mountains. Along the way, traces of humans grew more and more abundant. As they had anticipated, the majority were youngsters filled with youthful energy that were clearly aiming for the Saint Remains Domain. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao also drew quite a bit of attention. To be more precise, practically every gaze was focused on Yaoyao, filled with amazement at her beauty. As they walked along the main road, it did not take long for them to see a huge city appear some distance to their front. The city looked simple and rustic, while two huge words were engraved above the city gates. Gu City. The city of the Gu clan. Gu city was considerably grand. People came and go, making it a hubbub of activity, evidence that it was clearly an extremely popular place. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao entered the city, only to find it filled with numerous tall towers, a rather different style in contrast to Great Zhou City. The two walked in the city, eventually coming to a stop before a large store. When they lifted their heads, the three words ¡®Precious Treasures Pavillion¡¯ came into view. A steady stream of people passed in and out of the entrance, a sign that it was a pretty popular. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao exchanged a look and entered. Zhou Yuan¡¯s daily Genesis Rune practice required jade tablets, various types of beast blood and other supplementary materials. They also needed to restock on the daily necessities that they had used up during their two months in the mountains. Precious Treasures Pavilion was clearly able to meet Zhou Yuan¡¯s needs. When they entered the building, the first thing to greet them was the gorgeous decor. Everything was practically glittering under the illumination from the crystal lamps. Maybe because the Gu clan specialized in Genesis Runes, all kinds of ready use Genesis Runes were sold in the building. However, when Zhou Yuan took a look, he was immediately taken aback by their prices. The price tag on a grade 2 Genesis Rune had reached a garantum sum of several thousand Genesis crystals. While a grade 3 Genesis Rune cost over ten thousand! Grade 4 Genesis Runes were scarcer, their prices reaching the tens of thousands while being low in stock. ¡°To think that a Genesis Rune would actually be so expensive.¡± Zhou Yuan involuntarily licked his lips before looking towards Yaoyao. Her battle tactics mostly consisted of throwing Genesis Runes. In other words, she was smashing her opponents with money. Casually throwing tens of thousands of Genesis Crystals with a fling of the hand, even Alpha-Origin experts would not be able to withstand such a barrage. Yaoyao paid no attention to Zhou Yuan. Her focus was instead on some worn out and damaged texts that had been placed in one of the displays. Badly damaged ancient Genesis Runes could be seen on the texts that were very worth researching. ¡°Go buy Tuntun some food.¡± Without a shift in her feet, Yaoyao threw Tuntun to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan caught Tuntun, the eyes of the human large in comparison to the small eyes of the beast as they stared at each other for a moment. In the end, Zhou Yuan helplessly nodded, calling out once to Yaoyao before turning around and heading to another area to resupply. In the resupply district, Zhou Yuan found an attendant girl and gave her a list of everything he required. The latter invited him to have a seat first, before proceeding to prepare the goods. Thus, Zhou Yuan sat there, Tuntun on his lap as he waited. While they waited however, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt a strange gaze directed at him. He immediately frowned slightly and turned around, only to be taken aback by what he saw. A pretty girl with long green hair was standing some distance behind him, her eyeballs practically popping out of their sockets as she stared at him while a string of sparkling saliva dripped down from one corner of her tiny mouth. Zhou Yuan was baffled by the green haired girl. It was at this moment that she quickly walked forward. Only then did Zhou Yuan realise that her gaze had not been focused on him, but Tuntun. ¡°Yes?¡± Zhou Yuan vigilantly watched the green hair girl. She wiped away the sparkling strand of saliva at the corner of her mouth. Black and white distinctly separate in her large eyes that seemed to be bursting with scorching desire as she stared at Zhou Yuan, and said in a voice so sickeningly sweet that it would make one involuntarily shiver. ¡°Little bro, sell this small creature to me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to pay any price!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 119 The Green Haired Girl ¡°Buy Tuntun?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned by these words. Soon after, an expression containing a mix between laughing and crying appeared on his face. Tuntun likewise understood the green haired girl¡¯s intentions and stared at her as if it was looking at a fool. ¡°Not selling.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head and gave a clean rejection. He knew just how violent the small creature in his arms could be, and was very certain that if he dared to nod his head, the little bastard would send a paw swatting towards him that would instantly cripple him. Only after hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s resolute and decisive reply did Tuntun squint in satisfaction. It reached out and patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm with a paw, as if complimenting the latter¡¯s tactfulness. The green haired girl became a little anxious due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s answer and hastily said, ¡°Sell it to me little bro! I, I offer five million Genesis crystals!¡± Her eyes were filled with blazing desire as she stared at Tuntun. Others may not be able to sense how incredible Tuntun was, but she had a unique method that told her just how amazing it was. ¡°Five million Genesis crystals?¡± Zhou Yuan was scared silly by this terrifying sum, bewilderment in his eyes as he stared at the green haired girl before them. Five million Genesis crystals was practically an entire year of revenue for the Great Zhou Empire. Just who was this girl? He could not believe that she would dare to call out such a price. From the almost fanatical look in the green haired girl¡¯s eyes, it was clear that she was not bragging and was really able to take out such a huge sum. ¡°So it''s true that I¡¯ll encounter all sorts of characters outside of the Great Zhou Empire.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed in his heart. It would be almost impossible to meet someone who could immediately call out a bid of five million Genesis crystals in the Great Zhou Empire. However, even though he had been a little shocked by the five million Genesis crystals, Zhou Yuan shook his head to reject without the slightest hesitation. Don¡¯t joke around, it was not like he did not know how mysterious Tuntun was. Just the fact alone that it already possess the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage as a child meant that it would definitely become incomparably terrifying when it matured. Five million Genesis crystals might seem like an astonishing amount, but it was completely unable to compare to Tuntun. The repeated rejections caused the green haired girl to stamp her feet in agitation as sweat appeared on her fair forehead. She lowered her head and looked at the back of her unblemished little hand where a glowing pattern could be seen. The pattern was currently giving off extremely intense heat. This glowing pattern could detect the bloodline of a Genesis Beast. The stronger the bloodline, the hotter it would become. As for the intense heat it was currently giving off, she had never felt it reach such a degree even when she had obtained Little Frost. In other words, the bloodline of the little creature before her eyes was even stronger than Little Frost which possess a tiny portion of the ice phoenix bloodline. For her, this possess an almost fatal attraction. The green haired girl grinded her teeth, the slight impulse of doing things by force rising in her head. Why not snatch the little creature, leave behind Genesis crystals and run? As if sensing the green haired girl¡¯s intentions, her clothes shuffled for a moment and a little ice-blue bird emerged from her collar, its eyes suffused with extreme cold Qi as it looked towards Zhou Yuan. Frost began to emerge in the surrounding air. At the appearance of the ice-blue bird, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed as the Spirit between his brows shook for a moment, evidently sensing a powerful threat. His expression immediately turned serious as he looked at the bird. The latter was clearly no simple creature. ¡°This girl is even less so.¡± Wariness filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The fact that she had such a formidable Genesis Beast at her side indicated that she was no ordinary character. In Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms, Tuntun almost fully closed eyes opened a little as its gaze swept towards the little bird. Its mouth opened slightly, faint black light dancing within as a growl emerged from its throat. Tuntun had clearly sensed the faint hostility the little bird had directed at Zhou Yuan. In response to Tuntun¡¯s warning growl, the little bird trembled a little, hesitating for several breaths, before its head slowly retreated back into the girl¡¯s clothes. The green haired girl¡¯s face instantly crumbled upon seeing her strongest Little Frost intimidated. Looks like the forceful route was not going to work, hence, she could only pitifully look towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Little bro, what price will you be willing to sell it at?¡± ¡°How about¡­¡± The green haired girl began to rack her brains. ¡°How about I grant you a dukedom in the Thousand Beast Empire? You can ask the Thousand Beast Empire for any cultivation resources you need!¡± ¡°A dukedom in the Thousand Beast Empire?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He was not unfamiliar with the name of this empire. The main reason why the Great Zhou Empire had time to catch their breath was because the Great Wu Empire was warring with the Thousand Beast Empire and the Sword Empire. The fact that the girl before him could so easily give away a dukedom of the Thousand Beast Empire meant that she likely had some kind of amazing status. However, Zhou Yuan ultimately shook his head. ¡°Since you can see how extraordinary it is, you should also understand that it is priceless.¡± ¡°I will not sell it, so please stop entertaining such thoughts.¡± As he finished speaking, the attendant from earlier finally returned and notified him that everything was ready. He paid the Genesis crystals, kept the items into his Universe bag and turned around to leave. The green haired girl gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back in a crestfallen manner. It had not been easy for her to encounter a Genesis Beast which possess such a powerful bloodline, but it already has a master who was unwilling to sell it. ¡°No, no. I can¡¯t give up!¡± But the green haired girl soon began to stamp her feet. Obtaining that mysterious little beast would be far too helpful to her cultivation. Therefore, she could not give up so easily. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to sell it to me, I¡¯ll keep following you!¡± The green haired girl¡¯s eyes rotated in thought before quickly catching up to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Little bro, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Little bro, where do you come from?¡± ¡°Little bro, are you also going to the Saint Remains Domain? We can form a team, I¡¯m pretty strong and definitely will not be a burden!¡± ¡°......¡± After several steps, the veins on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head were practically about to leap off. He took in a deep breath, before turning around to face the beaming bum beetle of a green haired girl that had been following him. Zhou Yuan crankily said, ¡°Why are you following me?¡± The green haired girl responded with a wide grin, ¡°Our meeting is fate, why the need to be so cold. Can¡¯t we get to know each other better?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched irritably. Who can¡¯t tell that you have designs on Tuntun. Hence, he paid no further attention to the girl and quickened his footsteps, walking towards the place Yaoyao was at. Upon seeing this, the green haired girl doggedly followed, continuing to force her yammering into his head. The duo passed by one last hall as Zhou Yuan turned to look towards the place Yaoyao had originally been at. His eyes instantly widened. At the display nearby, Yaoyao was still focused on the damaged ancient texts within. However, there was now a young man in white at her side. The youth was rather handsome and gave off a cultured and refined aura. He smiled warmly as he stood beside Yaoyao as if continuously trying to say something. Several servant girls followed behind him. Wherever Yaoyao¡¯s footsteps stopped, he would wave his hand and buy all of the damaged texts her gaze had paused on. Thus, in a brief few minutes, the servant girls¡¯ arms were already bursting to the brim, drawing many gazes from the surroundings. Zhou Yuan reached out to scratch the back of his head, a little puzzled by this scene. What was going on? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 120 Gu Lang Gu Lang¡¯s mood was pretty good today. Especially when he saw incomparably breathtaking girl in Precious Treasures Pavillion who was now in front of him. This made his already good mood grow even more perfect. As the young master of the Gu clan, Gu Lang¡¯s status in the Gu Territory was obviously very high. Moreover, his looks, identity, background and cultivation talent naturally made him one of the most outstanding individuals amongst his generation in the area. Over the years, Gu Lang had encountered countless beauties and was confident of maintaining his cool in front of any of them. Till today, when he saw this girl in green. A single look had instantly shattered his cool. Gu Lang swore that he had never ever seen a girl like this who could captivate him so deeply after a single glance. Her aloofness, as if no one else existed in the same world as herself, her mysteriousness, her ungraspable as air aura. All of these traits made intense desire rise within the heart of Gu Lang, who had not had much interest in girls for a long time. Thus, he very naturally approached to hit on her. Unfortunately for him, the girl in green was completely unresponsive towards the young master of the Gu clan. So much so that she did not even lift her gaze and instead continued to be glued to the damaged Genesis Runes in the display. This rare failure only managed to flame the interest in Gu Lang¡¯s heart. Gu Lang was after all a veteran player, and very quickly found an entry point. ¡°Miss, are you interested in these damaged Genesis Runes? Heh heh, I just so happen to be a manager of the Precious Treasures Pavillion. If you¡¯d like, I can gift you everything you¡¯ve taken a fancy to.¡± Gu Lang gently waved the silver fan in his hand, a slight smile on his face. His confident and gentle expression, plus his generous attitude was indeed enough to stir the hearts of many girls. The eyes of the girl in green seemed to ripple a little. She finally raised her head and looked at him. ¡°Gift everything to me?¡± The silver fan in Gu Lang¡¯s land gently tapped his palm as a pleased feeling rose in his heart. On the surface however, he continued to smile as he gave a light nod and said in a gentle voice, ¡°They are merely collecting dust here, if miss has taken a fancy to them, it could be said to have given them value.¡± The girl in green seemed to smile. Without further ado, she began to walk forward. Gu Lang did not hesitate to display his magnanimity. With a wave of his hand, servant girls came forward to retrieve all of the damaged texts the girl in green had been looking at previously. As they continued to walk, the load in the servant girls¡¯ arms grew larger and larger. This scene drew the attention of quite a number of people. However, practically everyone here knew Gu Lang¡¯s identity and inwardly shook their heads as they cast pitying gazes at the girl in green. Every girl that the young master of the Gu clan had set his sights on had ultimately been unable to escape his hands. It was at this time that Zhou Yuan arrived and coincidentally caught sight of this scene. Although he did not know what had occurred previously, as another man, he was naturally able to see the desire in the youth¡¯s eyes towards Yaoyao. This fellow clearly believed that such a method would move Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan pinched Tuntun¡¯s ear as he helplessly remarked, ¡°*Sigh*. "Both of you are troublemakers.¡± Due to Tuntun, they had attracted the attention of a baffling green haired girl. While on Yaoyao¡¯s side, her beauty and aura seemed to have drawn a lascivious guy. Zhou Yuan walked forward as he shook his head. Yaoyao seemed to sense Zhou Yuan¡¯s arrival, immediately lifting her gorgeous face to look at Zhou Yuan, the corners of her rosy lips raising slightly as she asked, ¡°Have you bought everything?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Gu Lang¡¯s eyes narrowed when he saw this. He could naturally sense Yaoyao clearly grow a little more lively while she conversed with Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that the relationship between them was not ordinary. However, Gu Lang maintained the kind smile on his face as he cupped his hands together towards Zhou Yuan and greeted, ¡°I am Gu Lang, a member of the Gu clan.¡± ¡°The Gu clan huh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan expression was unchanged. ¡°Zhou Yuan.¡± Gu Lang sized up Zhou Yuan, a kind smile on the surface while an almost undetectable trace of contempt flitted across the depths of his eyes. He had evidently already discovered that Zhou Yuan was only at the Qi Nourishing stage. Such strength could only be considered trivially ordinary in the central region where geniuses were now plenty. At the same time, it also showed that Zhou Yuan did not have any overly powerful backers or he would not be limited to such progress. Gu Lang no longer looked at Zhou Yuan, his gaze turning towards Yaoyao as he smiled. ¡°I still haven¡¯t asked for your name miss.¡± Yaoyao pointed at the damaged texts in the arms of the servant girls behind him and inquired, ¡°Are they all for me?¡± Gu Lang grinned. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Keep them.¡± Yaoyao looked towards Zhou Yuan. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched for a moment, before he walked forward, received the damaged texts from the servant girls and kept them all into his Universe bag. The smile on Gu Lang¡¯s face grew even wider when he saw Yaoyao accept his gifts. It seemed that he had already accomplished the first step. The girl in green would soon become his plaything. ¡°Hehe, miss, you¡¯re quite an unfamiliar face and I¡¯m guessing that you just arrived here. How about I be your host and show you around.¡± Gu Lang beamed. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± However, almost immediately after he finished speaking, Yaoyao nonchalantly signalled to Zhou Yuan, before turning around to leave. The expression on Gu Lang¡¯s face could not help but turn rigid, a little dazed by this turn of events. That¡¯s not how the script should be¡­ shouldn¡¯t the other party proceed to the next step after accepting his gift? What was this? Leaving right away after eating? Zhou Yuan cast a sideways glance at Gu Lang. Did this fellow really believe that Yaoyao was someone who would so succumb so easily to sweet words and gifts? In her eyes, it was your honour for her to take your things¡­ Zhou Yuan inwardly shook his head, paying no further attention to Gu Lang as he caught up to Yaoyao. Gu Lang quickly came back to his senses. How could he allow the meat that was almost at his lips to escape? He swiftly walked forward and cut in front of Yaoyao. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Yaoyao frowned, indifference in her eyes as she looked towards him. Gu Lang froze momentarily. Soon after, his eyes seemed to flicker in thought as he revealed a warm smile and said, ¡°The fact that the two of you have arrived here can be said to be fate of sorts. How about this, my clan¡¯s Spirit Refining Tower will be opening tomorrow, and numerous geniuses hope to enter to train their Spirits. There is, however, a limited amount of places. If the two of you are interested, I can gift two spots to you as a token to the start of our friendship.¡± Gu Lang fished out two bronze tokens from his sleeves. The Gu clan insignia and a black tower had been engraved on the tokens. ¡°Enter the Spirit Refining Tower?¡± Zhou Yuan was instantly taken aback, shock in his eyes as he looked towards Gu Lang. The Spirit Refining Tower was the Gu clan¡¯s treasure. Were they really willing to open it to outsiders? Would the Gu clan actually be so kind? While Zhou Yuan was still in shock, Yaoyao¡¯s faint voice was transmitted into his ears. ¡°Accept it. That Spirit Refining Tower is a little interesting after all.¡± Zhou Yuan shot a look at Yaoyao. Given how smart the latter was, she likely also had suspicions about Gu Lang¡¯s motives. But she probably had her own plans since she had uttered such words. Therefore, Zhou Yuan grinned at Gu Lang and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to thank young master Gu.¡± He reached out and received the bronze tokens. Yaoyao still did not say a single word to Gu Lang, merely sweeping an indifferent gaze at him, before her long legs began to walk towards Precious Treasures Pavillion¡¯s exit. Gu Lang watched Yaoyao¡¯s and Zhou Yuan¡¯s leaving figures as the kind smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a chilling coldness. ¡°Go find out where they are staying, and make sure they don¡¯t sneak away. My gifts aren¡¯t so easily accepted.¡± The silver fan in Gu Lang¡¯s hand gently smacked his palm as a strange smile grew from the corners of his lips. ¡°No one can reject a spot to enter the Spirit Refining Tower.¡± ¡°However¡­ there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 121 Beast Heart Communicator On the street, Zhou Yuan played with the two bronze tokens in his hand, his eyes flickering in thought as he said, ¡°Why do I keep feeling that something is not quite right. A treasure such as the Spirit Refining Tower can¡¯t possibly be enough for the training of their own clan members. I can¡¯t believe that the Gu clan is willing to open it to others.¡± Yaoyao tilted her head slightly and shot him a look as she remarked, ¡°There should be something strange about this matter.¡± She was far too intelligent, and although she looked to be rather indifferent to the rest of the world, a single glance was all it took for her to discern the truth behind numerous matters. Gu Lang¡¯s ploy was practically meaningless before her. ¡°Then why did you accept?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s tone was slightly miffed. Yaoyao chuckled. ¡°Because if the tower can truly temper your Spirit, it will be very beneficial to you, and may even allow you to step into the advance Illusory stage.¡± Advance Illusory stage! Zhou Yuan snapped to attention at this point. It had been almost half a year since his Spirit had reached the mid Illusory stage, but he was still unable to ascend to the advance stage. It was evidently not going to be easy to reach the advance Illusory stage. But once he reached it, Zhou Yuan would be able to begin learning grade 3 Genesis Runes. When that happened, his battle power would soar, allowing him to put up a fight even against those truly talented geniuses. It was because he understood this that Zhou Yuan had not dared to slack off on his Spirit training for the past few months. However, he had not been able to achieve the results he desired. ¡°In any case, we¡¯ll go take a look. Even if there are any problems, a single Gu clan should not be able to stop us.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s tone was unconcerned, showing almost no fear at all. Warmth blossomed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Yaoyao was willing to take such a risk so that he could progress in his Spirit cultivation. Zhou Yuan said, ¡°If it seems that things are about to go wrong, we can always give up.¡± Yaoyao did not comment, her footsteps suddenly pausing as she said, ¡°What¡¯s up with her?¡± Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned. He followed Yaoyao¡¯s gaze and looked back, only to feel an oncoming headache when he saw a green haired girl suspiciously tailing them. ¡°Hehe, what a coincidence.¡± After being discovered by the Zhou Yuan duo, the green haired girl grinned as she hopped forward and said to Yaoyao, ¡°You¡¯re so pretty big sis.¡± Yaoyao cast a puzzled gaze at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan massaged his forehead as he explained, ¡°We met her earlier. She wants to buy Tuntun.¡± Yaoyao observed the green haired girl and slowly remarked, ¡°A beast heart communicator.¡± The green haired girl¡¯s smiling face finally changed slightly, now somewhat on guard as she stared at Yaoyao. It was the first time someone had seen right through her in a single glance. ¡°Beast heart communicator?¡± Asked a confused Zhou Yuan. He had clearly never heard of such a thing. Yaoyao elaborated, ¡°In simple terms, she has the innate talent of communicating with Genesis Beasts, and can command tens of thousands of beasts. In addition, she is able to borrow the power of Genesis Beasts. Don¡¯t think of her as an ordinary Heaven Gate stage practitioner. Once she borrows the power of a Genesis Beast, I¡¯m afraid that even you will not be her match.¡± There was finally some change in the gaze with which Zhou Yuan looked towards the green haired girl. He had not expected this eccentric girl to hide such an astonishing ability. ¡°You¡¯re pretty formidable big sis.¡± Said the green haired girl rather apprehensively. Some wariness now present in her eyes when she looked towards Yaoyao. She wanted to leave, but her eyes involuntarily looked towards Tuntun. ¡°Are you really not selling?¡± The green haired girl pouted. Yaoyao¡¯s tone seemed to contain some interest as she responded, ¡°Tuntun is a free creature. If you¡¯re able to make it follow you, we will not stop it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The green haired girl¡¯s large eyes brightened. Yaoyao crossed her arms and nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t regret your words!¡± The green haired girl¡¯s eyes rotated in thought. She practically leapt in front of Zhou Yuan, looked at the lazy looking Tuntun in his arms, before she very carefully reached out a hand as the mysterious pattern on the back of the hand began to glow. Due to her ability to communicate with Genesis Beasts, the green haired girl had never encountered a Genesis Beast that could resist her. This was why she could easily pass through any mountain forest that was overflowing with Genesis Beasts. Hence, she believed that the mysterious little creature before her eyes would definitely follow her once she established a connection with it. Rays of light emerged from the green haired girl¡¯s palm and shined on Tuntun¡¯s head. A pattern similar to the one on the back of her hand slowly began to take shape on Tuntun¡¯s forehead. Upon seeing the pattern appear, joy immediately revealed itself on her pretty face. Crack. However, the moment her smile appeared, the pattern on Tuntun¡¯s forehead began to disintegrate. Tuntun still had the same lazy appearance from before, and merely shot her a sideways glance. ¡°Ah? How is this possible?¡± The green haired girl was dumbstruck. This was the first time she had encountered such a situation. Unable to believe she had failed, she suddenly bit the tip of her finger, causing a dash of red appeared. She began to draw in the air, ultimately culminating into a glowing blood-red pattern that descended onto Tuntun¡¯s forehead. However, the pattern did not last for long, and swiftly disintegrated once again. ¡°Why?¡± The successive failures made the green haired girl frantic. Yaoyao explained in a dull voice, ¡°Because its bloodline is too powerful.¡± ¡°You are too weak in its eyes. For example. while walking on the road, would you pay any attention to an ant that wishes to communicate with you?¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Tuntun in amazement. To think that this little fellow was actually so prideful. But wait a minute, if the green haired girl was akin to an ant in its eyes, won¡¯t Zhou Yuan himself be of similar status? As if it could read Zhou Yuan¡¯s thoughts, Tuntun raised its head, the expression in its eyes seemingly saying, ¡°Have you just realised?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched as he hatefully grinded his teeth. The green haired girl had also received rather substantial blow. Her crestfallen appearance was really pitiful. At this moment, Yaoyao chuckled and said, ¡°But the fact that Tuntun has allowed you to place two heart link patterns on its head in succession means that it is already considerably friendly towards you. If not, you would have already been swallowed by it long ago.¡± ¡°Really?¡± The corners of her little mouth dipped a little further. However, she quickly recovered from her dejection and looked towards Yaoyao with a grin, ¡°Although I¡¯ve failed, I still have to thank big sis. Ordinary people will not dare to give me a chance so easily.¡± She then turned her head and shot a look at the two bronze tokens in Zhou Yaun¡¯s hands. ¡°Are you going to the Gu clan¡¯s Spirit Refining Tower?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°We plan to have a look.¡± The green haired girl said, ¡°I¡¯ll also be going tomorrow. In fact, I spent fifty thousand Genesis crystals to buy a spot!¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. What a wealthy little lady. ¡°Heehee, our encounter is part of fate, and I¡¯d be happy to befriend the two of you. I am called Luluo.¡± Said the green haired girl. However, her large eyes were still mostly focused on Tuntun. Although she had failed earlier, the girl was clearly still extremely fond of Tuntun. Zhou Yuan looked at Yaoyao and received a light nod from the latter. She could sense that the girl before them was pretty innocent and did not harbor any ill intentions. Zhou Yuan said with a smile, ¡°Zhou Yuan. This is my senior sister disciple, Yaoyao.¡± ¡°Little bro Zhou Yuan, big sis Yaoyao, we should go to the Spirit Refining Tower together tomorrow. It would be good to watch each other¡¯s backs.¡± Said Luluo with a lovely smile. ¡°Watch each other¡¯s backs?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°Isn¡¯t the Spirit Refining Tower a place to temper the Spirit? Do you feel that there is some danger?¡± Luluo¡¯s large eyes blinked, a trace of craftiness flashing within them as she answered, ¡°Who knows. But one should be careful of any kind of ¡®free lunch¡¯, right?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Although there was limited places, the Gu clan¡¯s Spirit Refining Tower was indeed akin to a free lunch for many people. After all, raising the power of one¡¯s Spirit would undoubtedly be a huge help to anyone. High tier Spirit tempering methods were not available to just anyone. Hence, a treasure that could temper the Spirit was naturally very precious. ¡°Agreed.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Although the girl before them seemed innocent, she hid a sharp wit. Whoever believed that she was an easy target would likely be in for a surprise. ... Nighttime. Inside a certain large manor at the center of Gu City. Dull yellow lamp light lit up a secret room where the atmosphere was rather secretive. ¡°Has everything been prepared?¡± A raspy voice rang out in the secret room. One would see a figure under the lamp light. His appearance was that of a middle-aged man, but his face was shrunken with age. Light flickered between his brows, emitting powerful Spirit undulations. ¡°Yes, father.¡± A young man in white respectfully nodded. It was Gu Lang. The old-looking middle-aged man nodded, a dark and stern look in his eyes as he said, ¡°Choose some suitable ones amongst them to have their Spirits extracted. With the nourishment they provide, my Spirit should be able to reach the advance Corporeal stage. When that happens, our Gu clan¡¯s power will rise once again.¡± ¡°The two elders and I will oversee things tomorrow.¡± Gu Lang nodded and retrieved a string of bronze tokens from his sleeve. Lifelike portraits could be seen on the tokens. ¡°I¡¯ve already done the selecting. They will become food once they enter the Spirit Refining Tower.¡± He gently tapped a bronze token, his gaze tinged with playfulness and mockery as he stared at two particular ones amongst them. The portraits on these two tokens belonged to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. He tenderly touched Yaoyao¡¯s portrait, desire gushing in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve said this before, you won¡¯t be able to escape the palm of my hand.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 122 Spirit Refining Tower? The next day. The entire Gu City had become abuzz with excitement and activity as countless people flooded towards the center of the city. Today was the day the Gu clan opened its Spirit Refining Tower. There was no one in the area who did not know of the wonders of the Gu clan¡¯s Spirit Refining Tower. It was due to the existence of this tower that the Gu clan was able to specialize in Genesis Runes and have each member achieve high attainments in Spirit cultivation. This was why numerous people would flock when the Gu clan opened the Spirit Refining Tower to the outside every year, evidently hoping to borrow the wonders of the tower to strengthen their Spirit to the next level. The huge manor at the center of the city had opened its doors to welcome the guests that had come from all over. Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and the green haired girl called Luluo also arrived together as a group. The trio followed the crowd, and eventually ended up at the center of the manor where an enormous black stone tower stood on an empty spacious land. Countless ancient patterns had been carved into the body of the tower, pulsing brightly like a beating heart. ¡°Is this the Spirit Refining Tower?¡± Luluo was brimming with curiosity. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as he stared at the black stone tower. He did not know why, but he could faintly feel that something was off. While Zhou Yuan mulled over this feeling in his heart, a figure dressed in white arrived in front of the tower. It was Gu Lang whom they had met yesterday. Gu Lang also caught sight of the Zhou Yuan duo, or to be more precise, Yaoyao. As for Zhou Yuan, the former¡¯s gaze merely skimmed over him, evidently completely unconcerned about the latter. Gu Lang smiled warmly at Yaoyao, before his gaze turned towards the crowd as a loud and clear voice rang out, ¡°Everyone here should know that today is the day my Gu clan opens the doors of the Spirit Refining Tower to outsiders. The tower has the effect of tempering one¡¯s Spirit, a point that I believe everyone here is already familiar with.¡± The crowd fervently gazed at the Spirit Refining Tower. Gu Lang smiled again when he saw this as he continued, ¡°However, there is something I have to mention beforehand. There are certain risks in the tower, so I hope that everyone will be a little careful.¡± However, the only thing everyone could see at this moment was the tower. Who could have possibly heard Gu Lang¡¯s warning? A faint smile was plastered on Gu Lang¡¯s face, while a strange look flitted across his eyes. ¡°Open the tower doors!¡± Gu Lang loudly shouted, and the doors of the Spirit Refining Tower slowly rumbled open. As the tower doors opened, a humming sound seemed to emerge from within the tower, a sound that made one¡¯s hair stand on end. Swish! However, there was not the slightest bit of hesitation in those that were grasping the bronze tokens in their hands, their figures rapidly shooting forward the moment the tower doors opened. Zhou Yuan did not move for the time being. Instead, his gaze look towards Yaoyao as he asked in a low voice, ¡°How is it?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s gaze had been glued to the ancient patterns on the tower ever since they had arrived here. Upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice, her pupils seem to swivel for a moment as she replied, ¡°I have a rough idea¡­¡± Her tone contained some interest as she continued, ¡°Let¡¯s go in first and have a look. I hope that my guess is not wrong.¡± Zhou Yuan naturally had no objections. He smiled at Luluo and said, ¡°We¡¯ll be going in, you¡¯re free to make your own decision.¡± After finishing, he and Yaoyao moved forward together, dashing into the Spirit Refining Tower. Luluo pouted as she watched their figures. ¡°As if I¡¯m afraid!¡± Thus, she too followed without any hesitation. ... After entering the tower, a vast inner space greeted them. As the trio walked within the tower, it felt as if they were on a desert. From time to time. they would catch sight of some of the other figures that had entered. Luluo¡¯s large eyes continuously scanned their surroundings as she remarked, ¡°I don¡¯t see anything that can temper the Spirit.¡± Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun as she replied, ¡°Wait a little.¡± Not long after Yaoyao¡¯s words faded, a faint mist suddenly began to fill the tower. A weak black hue emerged from within the mist as a faint humming sound spread. Zhou Yuan suddenly frowned while observing the faint black mist. He could feel his Spirit shaking violently as if strongly drawn in by something. The feeling was akin to a thirsty traveller seeing a stream and could not wait to throw himself in. ¡°It''s the Spirit Refining Mist. Absorbing it will temper the Spirit!¡± Several ecstatic voices rang out in the distance. These individuals sat down straight away, and began urging their Spirit to absorb the faint black mist. ¡°Spirit Refining Mist?¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly stunned. He had heard of this mist before. It was extremely difficult to create and was considerably pricey. It was hard to believe that the Gu clan was willing to allow outsiders to take advantage of it. Luluo also spoke out in amazement, ¡°This is the good stuff.¡± However, Yaoyao suddenly said, ¡°Don¡¯t breathe it in.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shivered at her words, no hesitation whatsoever as he brought out his Genesis Qi to cover his body, completely isolating himself from the black mist. The little ice-blue bird on Luluo¡¯s shoulder also spit out a cloud of cold Qi that quickly wrapped around her. Yaoyao waved her hand, summoning a ball of the black mist, and began observing with rapt attention. A short while later, she slowly said, ¡°What a devious trick.¡± Zhou Yuan hastily asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Yaoyao flicked her finger, dispersing the black mist as she explained, ¡°This mist can indeed be considered a type of Spirit Refining Mist. However, a few extra ingredients have been added¡­¡± ¡°Once ingested, one¡¯s Spirit will gradually become intoxicated, eventually making it impossible to free oneself.¡± ¡°Come, let¡¯s continue walking.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s long leg took a stride forward, passing by figure after figure. Each and every one had their eyes tightly shut with a look of intoxication on their face, while a faint black mist lingered between their brows. Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps suddenly paused, his eyes filled with confusion as he looked towards a figure to their front. The figure¡¯s face was expressionless, and there was a bloody hole between his brows. Zhou Yuan said in a low voice, ¡°His Spirit is gone.¡± ¡°What a bizarre Spirit Refining Tower.¡± Luluo¡¯s face changed slightly. Something was very wrong about this place. Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face remained unchanged as she gazed at the black mists and said, ¡°Looks like my guess is not wrong.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Yuan and Luluo looked towards her. Yaoyao smiled faintly. ¡°There was definitely something wrong with the patterns on the tower from earlier. Now that we¡¯ve entered, I¡¯m even more certain¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that this tower is not a Spirit Refining Tower.¡± ¡°But.. a Spirit Devouring Tower.¡± ¡°No wonder the Gu clan members have strong Spirits that seem rather hollow and unconcentrated¡­ it turns out that they have been relying on this Spirit Devouring Tower to cultivate.¡± ... In the depths of the black tower. Gu Lang stood in front of a mirror, watching the various happenings inside the tower that floated within. There was also a black crystal ball in front of the mirror. The crystal ball was connected to the ground, black Qi churning inside it as Spirit energy continuously poured into it from all directions. Behind Gu Lang were three stone platforms where three figures were seated, powerful Spirit ripples pulsing from between their brows. Gu Lang grinned as he watched the scenes inside the mirror, when he suddenly recalled a certain beauty. He immediately tapped the mirror, causing it to glow as a certain image began to surface. When the image appeared, however, the smile on Gu Lang¡¯s face suddenly turned rigid. He had just seen the Zhou Yuan trio slowly walking inside the mirror, not absorbing any of the ¡®Spirit Refining Mist¡¯! At this moment, Yaoyao seemed to sense that they were being observed and suddenly lifted her head. The Spirit between her brows vibrated, dispersing the picture on the mirror. Behind Gu Lang, the Gu clan leader and two elders also felt this disturbance and immediately rose to their feet, faces frosty as they demanded, ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± One of the elders said in a grave voice, ¡°That girl¡¯s Spirit cultivation is not weaker than our own, why is she inside the tower?!¡± Gu Lang¡¯s expression had become pretty ugly. How could he have expected this? Why had the seemingly frail little beauty he invited suddenly turn into a ferocious wolf? The other elder spoke up at this moment, ¡°What do we do? They have discovered the secret of the Spirit Devouring Tower!¡± There was a grim expression in the Gu clan leader¡¯s eyes. Killing intent flashed within them as he regained his cool and said, ¡°Since it¡¯s already come to this¡­ we¡¯ll just have to make sure they die here.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 123 Small Fry Inside the Spirit Devouring Tower, the trio of Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and Luluo walked within the black mist. Yaoyao¡¯s footsteps suddenly paused, her red lips parting slightly as she said, ¡°They¡¯ve discovered us and are likely going to deal with us soon.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as the Genesis Qi around him began to churn. On the other hand, Luluo¡¯s large eyes brightened slightly, unmistakably eager to do battle. The trio stopped walking. After some silence, they saw the black mist to their front heave as three figures slowly descended, landing some distance away. The leader of the group had a shrunken aged face. It was the Gu clan leader, Gu Qiu. Gu Qiu¡¯s deep-set eyes were akin to a malicious spirit as he stared at Yaoyao and slowly remarked, ¡°I did not expect that someone would actually be capable of discovering the secret of my Gu clan¡¯s Spirit Devouring Tower.¡± Yaoyao nonchalantly asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that news of you using such a method to strengthen the Spirit will spread?¡± Gu Qiu¡¯s eyelids raised as his raspy voice sounded, ¡°My Gu clan has already warned everyone that there will be risks before entering. Who else is there to blame but yourselves for choosing to enter? Moreover, my Gu clan is not unreasonable. We only take the Spirits of a few individuals each year while the majority are even allowed to benefit from the Spirit Refining Mist.¡± Luluo made a funny face at him as she interjected, ¡°How shameless!¡± Yaoyao said, ¡°The benefit you speak of is only temporary. Your Spirit Refining Mist secretly contains an insidious poison that damages the Spirits of those who absorb, making it difficult for any further progress.¡± Gu Qiu chuckled. ¡°Anything mishap that happens in the future is already out of our hands.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at the trio and slowly said, ¡°It seems that you plan on making sure we never leave this place.¡± If not, the other party would not have said so much. Gu Qiu smiled and nodded. ¡°It is far too normal for a few individuals to die in here.¡± He sighed before he continued, ¡°If you must blame someone, blame yourselves for being too smart.¡± Luluo snorted. ¡°Big words. I¡¯m afraid that a lousy place like this will not be able to contain anyone.¡± Beside Gu Qiu, one of the elders laughed sinisterly. ¡°Our Gu clan has set up a Genesis Rune boundary in this Spirit Devouring Tower long ago, allowing us to endlessly replenish our energy. You on the other hand are merely prey that have already been caught in the net!¡± The other elder said in a low voice, ¡°No need to waste any more words on them. Let¡¯s kill them and get this over with!¡± Gu Qiu nodded as vigorous Genesis Qi exploded from his body, while his Spirit flickered brightly between his brows. He was evidently strong in both Genesis Qi and Spirit cultivation. The other two elders also brought out their Genesis Qi as three astonishing auras immediately swept across the place. As Yaoyao watched this scene, she suddenly turned towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°We will stay here to deal with them. You go deeper into the tower and find its core, which should also be the center of the Genesis Rune boundary. Destroy the core and the Spirit Devouring Tower will lose its power.¡± ¡°These are three are the Gu clan¡¯s only Alpha-Origin experts, so it is likely that such an important location will be personally guarded by Gu Lang. That guy has the strength of the Heaven Gate stage¡­¡± Luluo suddenly interjected from the side, her large clear eyes sweeping towards Zhou Yuan. Although she had not completed her sentence, the implied meaning was very clear. The advance QiNourishing stage Zhou Yuan did not seem to be his opponent¡¯s match. However, Zhou Yuan did not mind her gaze. He merely smiled at Yaoyao and said, ¡°You guys be careful.¡± Without any hesitation, his body dashed towards the depths of the tower. The Gu Qiu trio were originally about to stop him, but stopped themselves when they realised his cultivation level. A mere Qi Nourishing stage small fry was not worth their attention. Yaoyao gently threw out Tuntun as the latter¡¯s tiny body began to grow. With a final surge of scarlet light, it transformed into a giant ferocious beast. Scarlet light orbited around it, its four legs seemingly doused in flames, while black light hovered inside its huge mouth. Mysterious and powerful. An astonishing and intimidating pressure slowly spread from Tuntun. The Gu Qiu trio¡¯s expression involuntarily changed when they felt the beast¡¯s aura, obviously surprised that seemingly pet like little creature from before possessed such power. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, Tuntun is truly amazing!¡± By the side, Luluo¡¯s large eyes were practically glowing as she stared at Tuntun. Her drooling with desire appearance caused even the battle mode Tuntun to shiver slightly. ¡°Little Frost!¡± Luluo stroked the little ice-blue bird on her shoulder, causing the latter to release a dazzling ice-blue radiance. Extreme cold Qi pulsed as it transformed into a giant ice-blue bird that was approximately a dozen feet tall. Frost swirled around the giant bird¡¯s wings. When it flapped its wings, gusts of wind swept outwards, covering the ground in a layer of frost. This ice bird also possessed Alpha-Origin strength. Tuntun¡¯s eyes swept over, shooting a glance at the menacing ice bird. The ice bird immediately cowered in response, withdrawing its aura as its icy feathers shivered. Luluo pouted upon seeing this. ¡°Tuntun, don¡¯t bully Little Frost.¡± The Gu Qiu trio expression had become rather grave. They did not dare to be negligent in the face of two Alpha-Origin Genesis Beasts. ¡°No wonder you dare to cause trouble in my Gu clan. It turns out that you do have something to rely on.¡± Gu Qiu icily chuckled, before exchanging a look with the two elders. The Genesis Qi around their bodies grew increasingly berserk as glowing patterns appeared on their bodies, evidently runes that had been inscribed beforehand. The path they walked was similar to Zhou Yuan¡¯s, dual Genesis Qi and Spirit cultivation. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit cultivation was the fruits of his training using a spirit tempering method, which gave him a solid foundation. The Gu clan on the other hand relied on a vile method via the Spirit Devouring Tower. Although their progress was quick, their foundations were not stable, making it difficult for them to achieve big things. Tuntun and Little Frost hissed before they shot forth, scarlet-red and ice-blue Genesis Qi charging towards their opponents. The two elders did not dare to tarry and met the two beasts with their full power. Boom boom! A wave of Genesis Qi unfurled from their clash, shaking the entire tower. Gu Qiu¡¯s gaze was fixed onto Yaoyao. Due to his powerful Spirit, he could sense that the danger from this seemingly Genesis Qi-less girl was no less than either Genesis Beast. Under Gu Qiu¡¯s cold gaze, Yaoyao¡¯s fair hand gently patted her Universe bag. A split second later, several scrolls appeared in her hand. Glowing runes pulsed in the scrolls, emitting extremely violent undulations. ¡°Grade 4 Genesis Runes!¡± Gu Qiu¡¯s pupils shrank when he saw these scrolls. It had finally dawned upon him that the girl in green¡¯s Spirit mastery could only be higher than his own. ¡°However, we have the homeground advantage in the Spirit Devouring Tower. All of you will definitely lose!¡± ... Deep in the Spirit Devouring Tower. Gu Lang¡¯s expression was somewhat grim as he gazed at the mirror in front of him. The aftershocks from the fight were far too strong, making him unable to see what was going on. ¡°Damnit, I didn''t expect that little bitch to be so formidable!¡± Gu Lang¡¯s complexion was steely green. He had originally taken Yaoyao as someone without any Genesis Qi, who could have imagined that her Spirit cultivation had already reached such astonishing heights. ¡°But even if you guys are strong, we possess an endless amount of power in this Spirit Devouring Tower so all of you will lose sooner or later.¡± Coldness flashed in Gu Lang¡¯s eyes. ¡°When you land in my hands, I will seal your Spirit. Just wait and see how I will torment you then!¡± As if he could already see that scene, a lustful fire rose inside Gu Lang¡¯s body. ¡°Oh?¡± However, Gu Lang¡¯s fantasy was soon cut short. He lifted his head and looked to his front as an icy light surfaced in his eyes. The mists parted as a young figure slowly walked out. It was Zhou Yuan. ¡°Found it at last.¡± Zhou Yuan looked to his front and grinned. Gu Lang was expressionless as he gazed at Zhou Yuan, no longer needing to mask the mocking smile his lips. He gently stretched his neck from side to side as a cold voice filled with sinister killing intent rang out within the mist. ¡°My mood is not very good now. So¡­ Qi Nourishing small fry, have you thought of how you would like to die?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 124 Break the Sky Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze scanned the area, eventually coming to a stop on a certain spot behind Gu Lang where a black crystal ball that shined with a strange light lay atop a stone pedestal. Ancient patterns spread down the pedestal, reaching into the ground. The crystal ball should be the core of the Spirit Devouring Tower. ¡°Small fry?¡± Zhou Yuan seemed to smile when heard Gu Lang¡¯s words. The former was after all someone who had once slayed an Alpha-Origin expert. Although he had borrowed Silver Shadow¡¯s power, the one before him, Gu Lang, was merely a mid Heaven Gate stage practitioner. ¡°How does it feel to smash your own foot with a rock?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled thinly. If not for Gu Lang having designs on Yaoyao and subsequently giving them two entry tokens to the Spirit Refining Tower, they would have likely left, no desire to involve themselves in this affair. Gu Lang¡¯s indifferent face did not change as he replied, ¡°You think you can stop me? Do you even think that you¡¯re qualified to be a stone in my path? At best, you¡¯re a tiny pebble that I can easily kick aside.¡± An eerie smile appeared from the corners of his lips as he stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You seem to have a pretty good relationship with that girl, right? Don¡¯t worry, after we capture all of you, I¡¯ll make sure you have a front row seat as I properly enjoy her!¡± Zhou Yuan emotionlessly lifted his head, his eyes focusing on Gu Lang as he sighed, ¡°Looks like you really won¡¯t be able to live past today.¡± His filthy words had already triggered Zhou Yuan¡¯s killing intent. ¡°Oh?¡± The smile on Gu Lang¡¯s lips gradually turned malicious. He took a step forward as violent Genesis Qi abruptly erupted from his body, the strength of the initial Heaven Gate stage fully on display. Gu Lang¡¯s Genesis Qi had a dim yellow hue and gave off an aura of extreme heaviness, as if it contained the power of mountains. This was the Gu clan¡¯s best Genesis Qi, grade 4 Genesis Qi, the Thousand Subduing Mountains Qi! ¡°Small fry, where exactly did you find the confidence to to spew such bold words before me? Especially with your mere Qi Nourishing stage strength.¡± Gu Lang grinned evilly. Bang! His body abruptly shot forward he instant his words faded, appearing in front of Zhou Yuan in a few breaths. The former¡¯s eyes were filled with viciousness as a fist was sent blasting at the latter. Cackle! The air in front of the punch was violently blown away. Berserk punch winds wrapped in dim yellow Genesis Qi were akin to enormous boulders rapidly tumbling down from above, full of raw and violent power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. In the next instant, dark gold Omni Python Qi abruptly burst out from his body. He showed no signs of backing down as his five fingers also tightened into a fist and punched! Bang! Two fists slammed into each other, instantly cracking the ground below their feet. A shockwave devastated the surroundings as both figures first jerked back before shooting backwards. Dust filled the air. Gu Lang had a dark expression as he stared at Zhou Yuan. The former could not believe that he had not gained the slightest advantage in their previous clash. Moreover, he could sense an extremely tyrannical poison in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi which had maniacally tried to invade his body upon contact. If not for his perceptive Spirit, he would have likely suffered quite a bit. All of these observations slightly amazed Gu Lang. He was after all a Heaven Gate stage expert, while Zhou Yuan was merely at the advance Qi Nourishing stage. The gap between the two should be huge. ¡°The Genesis Qi this guy cultivated is not simple.¡± However, Gu Lang quickly understood, his eyes now burning with greed as he stared at the dark gold Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The quality of the latter¡¯s Genesis Qi had evidently exceeded grade 4. ¡°So that¡¯s the source of your confidence.¡± ¡°I have become rather interested in your Genesis Qi. After I capture you, there will be a way to extract its Qi cultivation method from your mouth.¡± Gu Lang grinned in a sinister manner. Zhou Yuan merely followed with a faint smile. ¡°Since you¡¯re so interested in it¡­ it will be fitting for me to use it to beat you to death.¡± Swish! Two figures shot forward at practically the same time. On the ground, two figures seemed to weave into one, punches and kicks rapidly thrown one after another, leaving numerous after images behind. While they were fighting, an insidious look flitted across Gu Lang¡¯s eyes. His five fingers clenched into a fist as a rune began to light up on his arm. ¡°Grade 2 Genesis Rune, Metal Rhino Rune!¡± Gu Lang¡¯s fist instantly transformed into a flash of black metal like light as alarming power erupted. The sudden rise in power of this punch was enough to pulverise an opponent of the same cultivation level. However, the instant the black metal like fist was thrown, an icy light surfaced in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he jerked his shoulder. ¡°Golden Ape Moves the Mountain Rune!¡± A glowing rune appeared on his shoulder as his strength rapidly soared. A punch was sent blasting through the air, ferociously slamming into Gu Lang¡¯s fist. The ground below the two fissured as they staggered a dozen or so steps back. Zhou Yuan lifted his head and grinned at Gu Lang. ¡°I too have grade 2 Genesis Runes.¡± Since he already knew that the members of the Gu clan had strong Spirits, he was naturally on guard against any Genesis Runes his opponents had prepared in advance on their bodies. Graveness flitted across Gu Lang¡¯s eyes. It was only at this moment that he finally began to realise how troublesome an opponent the so called small fry was. Any other ordinary opponent, even another initial Heaven Gate practitioner, would have been defeated by him long ago. In fact, if he relied on the power of grade 2 Genesis Runes, Gu Lang was even confident of putting up a fight against mid Heaven Gate experts. However, the current situation seemed to show¡­ that he was somewhat helpless against an advance Qi Nourishing stage youth. Gu Lang took in a deep breath, throwing out all of the contempt he originally had towards Zhou Yuan. It would be truly foolish to hang on to such notions at such a time. ¡°My task is to defend the central area. As long as the Genesis Rune boundary is not broken, father and the elders will be able to eternally sustain their battle power, eventually wear out and defeat their opponents. When that happens, this guy will become mere meat on the chopping board. Hence, there¡¯s no need to take any unnecessary risks just for some silly pride.¡± Upon seeing the look in Gu Lang¡¯s eyes, Zhou Yuan knew that the latter had changed his strategy. Gu Lang was no longer going to attack, but instead defend and delay for time, focusing on protecting the Genesis Rune boundary. ¡°I originally wanted to keep using you as grindstone and test the power of the Heaven Gate stage.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°But since you are unwilling, you no longer have any value.¡± ¡°Shameless boasting you small fry.¡± Gu Long mocked, fully under the impression that Zhou Yuan was just being stubborn. Though it was true that Gu Lang had previously been unable to quickly obtain victory, at the very least, he was confident that he could stop Zhou Yuan in his tracks and make it impossible for him to advance a single step further. Zhou Yuan did not waste any more time bantering, and merely closed his eyes as he exhaled. He took half a step forward, his body swaying as an arm was extended. His hand began to move, a slow yet heavy movement as if he was holding a mountain while palm winds swept forth, vibrating the surrounding air. The Genesis Qi in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body began to surge violently at this moment. Wind unfurled from under Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet, sweeping up the dust on the ground. As Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm was swung, dark gold light heaved as if a giant dragon¡¯s claw was reaching out to grab a mountain and smash it at the heavens. An astonishing aura exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. ¡°I have a move that can sunder the sky.¡± Zhou Yuan stepped forward, appearing in front of Gu Lang as a hand descended as if it was throwing a giant stone monument. The ground in front of him was barbarically ripped apart. Dragon Tablet Hand, third level. Break the Sky. Gu Lang¡¯s expression instantly turned to terror. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 125 Black Crystal Ball Boom! The ground trembled as Zhou Yuan swung his palm. One could only watch as a dark gold hand of light swept forth like a golden rainbow, domineeringly heavy as it headed straight for Gu Lang. The golden rainbow pulsed like a giant dragon dragging a mountain with the desire of sundering the heavens. Imposing and astonishing. As the golden rainbow flew, long tears were ripped open on the ground in front of Zhou Yuan. Dragon Tablet Hand, third level. After nearly a year of training, Zhou Yuan was finally able to use the third level. Its power made him secretly in awe. The might of this strike had even exceeded the mid grade Black tier Genesis technique, Extreme Emperor Seal, reaching the high grade level. It was likely that even mid Heaven Gate experts would have no choice but to avoid this strike. Gu Lang ¡®s expression had become colored in shock and fear, horror flitting across his eyes. He would never have imagined that the Qi Nourishing small fry would be able to pull off such an astonishing attack. Gu Lang cut a sorry figure as he rapidly retreated in hopes of avoiding the attack. However, the golden rainbow stuck to him like a shadow, arriving right in front of him in a few breaths. Unable to dodge, a resolute look flashed in Gu Lang¡¯s eyes as all the Genesis Qi in his body erupted. Five fingers tightly clenched and a punch was sent blasting. Boom! The air in front of him cackled as it was blown away. ¡°Thousand Mountain Fist Seal!¡± Berserk Genesis Qi gathered, transforming into a storm of raging power that smashed into the incoming golden rainbow. Bang! The aftershocks devastated the surroundings, fissuring the ground below them. Gu Lang¡¯s body was sent flying as if he had been struck by a heavy blow, spitting out a mouthful of blood along the way. However, a malicious look emerged on his face when he was sent flying. He rolled up his tongue and spit, shooting out a tiny speck of black light. The speck of light pierced through the aftershocks of the attack like a flash of lightning and headed straight for Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead. Gu Lang miserably crashed into the ground. His complexion was deathly pale and he felt as if all the organs in his body had been shifted, clearly badly injured by the overwhelming powerful hand of light. However, although he had been seriously injured, Gu Lang let out an ominous chuckle as he looked in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction and said, ¡°Kid, you¡¯re still too green. You¡¯ll definitely be dead after being hit by my Spirit Destroying Needle!¡± The dust around Zhou Yuan gradually receded, but when his figure finally appeared, the smile on Gu Lang¡¯s face turned rigid bit by bit. A green scale had appeared between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows. The thin black needle was stuck on the scale, unable to advance any further. Zhou Yuan reached out and removed the black needle, his eyes indifferent as he looked towards Gu Lang. ¡°How can it be?!¡± Gu Lang involuntarily cried out in fright. His previous sneak attack had been as swift as thunder, his timing practically perfect. How could it have been blocked by Zhou Yuan? ¡°You really are rotten all the way down to the core.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice sounded. A deathly pale Gu Lang scrambled back as he watched Zhou Yuan approach step by step, murder brimming within the latter. ¡°If you kill me, the Gu clan will not let you off!¡± A mocking smile hung from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. At this point in time, there was already no other paths for them and the Gu clan to take. Gu Lang likewise seemed to understand this. He suddenly crawled up, slamming his hand into the ground as his figure rapidly retreated, hoping to take this opportunity to escape. However, how could Zhou Yuan possibly give him the chance? The black needle was flicked from his fingertips, transforming into a flash of light that rapidly caught up to Gu Lang, piercing him through the back of his head. The expression on Gu Lang¡¯s face froze as his body crashed into the ground, life fading from his eyes. Only at this moment did he finally regret provoking the girl and guy duo in Precious Treasures Pavillion¡­ It seemed that the Qi Nourishing small fry was much more powerful than he had expected. Zhou Yuan¡¯s cold eyes watched the life fade from Gu Lang¡¯s body. Who knew just how many people had been harmed by the Gu clan¡¯s Spirit Devouring Tower. Retribution had finally caught up with them today. He paid no further attention to Gu Lang¡¯s corpse and headed towards the stone pedestal, his gaze falling upon the black crystal ball atop it. Black fog rose from the ground and swirled around the crystal ball, as if endlessly pouring something into it. Zhou Yuan observed it for a moment, before his pupils suddenly shrank. He had discovered that the thing flowing in was Spirit energy. Moreover, once the Spirit energy entered the black crystal ball, it would begin to be refined. Gathered within the black crystal ball was the culmination of an outrageous amount of pure Spirit energy. Zhou Yuan could not help but mutter to himself, ¡°Just what is this crystal ball? To think that it can even absorb and refine Spirit energy.¡± It was clearly due to the existence of this crystal ball that the Gu clan members had strong Spirits. ¡°Whatever it is, I¡¯ll take it away first.¡± Zhou Yuan grabbed the black crystal ball, removing it from the stone pedestal. After the black crystal ball was removed, the stone pedestal began to shake as cracks gradually began to grow. At the same time, the faint black mist inside the Spirit Devouring Tower slowly began to disappear. ... Boom! In a certain area within the Spirit Devouring Tower, an intense battle was still ongoing. However, in the face of Tuntun¡¯s and the ice bird¡¯s fierce attacks, the two elders of the Gu clan were showing signs of weariness. The battle power of Genesis Beasts was after all pretty ferocious, let alone the fact that these two were no ordinary beasts. The only saving grace was that they were receiving an endless amount of power inside the Spirit Devouring Tower. This was how they had been able to endure the offensive of the two beasts. Yaoyao¡¯s and Gu Qiu¡¯s battlefield on the other hand was rather comical. Yaoyao was unable to utilise Genesis Qi. Hence, she did battle in the most simple and crudest manner. One could only watch as scroll after scroll of grade 4 Genesis Rune appeared in her hand, before being thrown at her opponent. As the one on the receiving end of Yaoyao¡¯s ¡®money¡¯ bombardment, Gu Qiu¡¯s situation was extremely miserable while unable to believe what was happening. Grade 4 Genesis Runes. Although it was something their Gu clan had too, they were treated as high-end strategic treasures and the consumption of each one would greatly pain the heart. Yet, the girl in green seemed to have an endless supply of Grade 4 Genesis Runes, a fortune even greater than the entirety of their Gu clan. Though he was in quite a difficult situation due to Yaoyao¡¯s onslaught of grade 4 Genesis Runes, he had been able to persist with the home ground advantage. ¡°Our power is inexhaustible in the Spirit Devouring Tower. Let¡¯s see which runs out first, your Genesis Runes or my perseverance.¡± A grim expression clouded Gu Qiu¡¯s eyes. Just as this thought flashed across his head however, he suddenly realised that the black mist within the tower had begun to dissipate. The entire tower began to tremble at this moment. Those still immersed inside the black mist began to awaken one after another, dazed looks in their eyes. ¡°Darn it, the Spirit Refining Crystal has been removed!¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t Gu Lang protect it? Is he incapable of even dealing with a Qi Nourishing stage small fry?!¡± Gu Qiu¡¯s complexion turned ashen. Boom! The two Gu clan elders were miserably flung backwards. Their expressions rapidly changed when they saw the receding black mist, causing them to involuntarily cry out, ¡°How is this possible? How could that small fry have made it past Gu Lang?!¡± Upon hearing their voices, Luluo¡¯s eyes widened in shock. She had originally believed that Zhou Yuan would fail, and thus never imagined that he would actually succeed. Luluo large eyes blinked as she mumbled to herself, ¡°Little bro Zhou Yuan is pretty amazing huh.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 126 Escaping Unscathed The black mist faded from the Spirit Devouring Tower. Numerous figures blankly stared at their surroundings, evidently still in the dark about what had happened. However, the battle between Yaoyao¡¯s side and the Gu clan was quickly noticed by several individuals, making them start to realise that something was wrong. Yaoyao¡¯s gaze took one quick sweep around the area. Her Spirit began to flicker as a voice suddenly rang out in everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°This is no Spirit Refining Tower but a Spirit Devouring Tower. If you do not want your Spirit to be completely devoured and be used for the Gu clan¡¯s cultivation, leave quickly!¡± The moment these words were heard, the expression of countless people turned aghast with horror. ¡°What? Not a Spirit Refining Tower but a Spirit Devouring Tower?¡± ¡°But why do I feel that my Spirit cultivation has improved?¡± ¡°EH? Someone died here? Why is his Spirit gone?!¡± ¡°Just what exactly happened here?!¡± ¡°......¡± Cries of alarm rang out one after another. Although Yaoyao¡¯s words were shocking, there were still some who felt that something was fishy about the situation and began to withdraw one by one with the intent of leaving the tower. ¡°Little bitch!¡± Upon seeing this, Gu Qiu was so infuriated that his eyes turned red. News would definitely spread once these people left. When that happened, information of how the Gu clan had been strengthening their Spirit would surely be leaked. One could easily imagine what a devastating blow this would be to the prestige of the Gu clan, and how it would even create numerous enemies for them. In his rage, Gu Qiu icily commanded, ¡°Call everyone here. I will make them pay today!¡± One of the elders immediately nodded and retrieved a black whistle. A peculiar sound spread, instantly notifying every expert of the Gu clan, causing them to hurriedly flood towards the Spirit Devouring Tower. ¡°Spirit Link!¡± Gu Qiu¡¯s eyes were cold and ruthless as he looked towards the two elders. The two elders hesitated for a moment. Spirit Link was a secret technique of their Gu clan that gathered the Spirits of several people to perform combined attacks. However, the repercussions were not small, and negligence would lead to hurting one¡¯s Spirit. However, they quickly nodded in acknowledgement, swiftly appearing behind Gu Qiu and placing their hands on his shoulders. Their Spirits flickered between their brows as Spirit energy flooded into Gu Qiu¡¯s body. Light began to rise from between Gu Qiu¡¯s brows, his Spirit power rapidly rising. Rumble! An invisible ripple swept outwards. Although not as striking as Genesis Qi, invisible Spirit attacks could take one¡¯s life without drawing a single drop of blood. Roar! Tuntun¡¯s and the ice bird¡¯s titanic bodies jerked back as they howled, their Beast Spirits affected by the invisible ripple. Vigilance immediately surfaced within their eyes. Though their bodies were tough, Spirit waves could ignore the body and directly attack their Spirits. Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit flickered as she extended a hand. ¡°Spirit shield!¡± A transparent shield of light appeared in front of here, blocking the Spirit wave. However, the surface of the shield rippled violently, a clear indicator that it would not last for long. The gathered power of three Spirits had greatly amplified Gu Qiu¡¯s Spirit cultivation. ¡°Big sis, things aren¡¯t looking good.¡± Said Luluo in a soft voice. This was after all the Gu clan¡¯s territory, and many experts were rushing over each second. If they were surrounded, the situation would become extremely dire. Yaoyao gave a slight nod and said, ¡°Prepare to break out.¡± Their goal had already been reached. There was no need to waste any more time here. Upon hearing this, a clear whistle immediately rang out from Luluo¡¯s mouth. The ice bird called Little Frost flapped its wings and flew towards her as her tiny body leaped into the air and landed on its back. Tuntun also arrived on scarlet Qi and Yaoyao landed on its back. At the same time, Zhou Yuan bolted over from far away. With a stamp of his foot, his soared into the air and landed behind Yaoyao, his hands naturally reaching out to embrace the slender waist in front of him. The instant he came into contact with Yaoyao¡¯s waist, Zhou Yuan felt her body stiffen for a split second, before she turned her head shot him a half bashful half angry glare. An extremely rarely seen blush had appeared on her white as jade like face. Zhou Yuan awkwardly raised his hands and said, ¡°There¡¯s nowhere else to put them.¡± Yaoyao softly snorted. She knew that this was not the place to dish out some punishment. With a wave of her hand, Tuntun transformed into a flash of scarlet that shot out of the tower. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?!¡± Roared Gu Qiu when he saw this. The Gu clan¡¯s plans had been ruined by the Zhou Yuan trio, and the following days will not be easy for them. Allowing the troublemakers to escape would likely cause him to die in anger. Light flashed between Gu Qiu¡¯s brows as an almost fully corporeal Spirit appeared above his head. The Spirit was as tall as Gu Qiu and transformed into a translucent blur that rocketed towards Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and Tuntun at an incredibly fast speed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression immediately changed at the sight of this scene. He could sense how powerful Gu Qiu¡¯s Spirit was. If they were hit, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit would surely be gravely injured. At this moment however, Yaoyao swung her hand and several dazzling objects shot out from her sleeve, transforming into numerous scrolls on which complicated runes began to appear. Boom boom boom! The scrolls exploded, each clearly a grade 4 Genesis Rune. Berserk energies engulfed the area, blowing away Gu Qiu¡¯s Spirit. Tuntun took this split second opportunity to burst forward, charging out of the black tower and right into the horizon in a few breaths. ¡°Stop them!¡± Outside the tower, the many waiting Gu clan experts attacked. Pillar after pillar of Genesis Qi seemed to cover the sky as they closed in on Tuntun. Roar! Tuntun merely roared in the face of these attacks and opened its mouth. Black light surged like a black hole, swallowing every single one of the attacks. The Gu Qiu trio finally arrived outside of the tower, but could only watch in frustration as the silhouettes of the two Genesis Beasts rapidly shrank into the distance. There was no longer any hope of catching up. ¡°Haha, I¡¯ll be helping you keep this treasure of yours so as to prevent any further victims.¡± While they left, Zhou Yuan turned his head, swinging the black crystal ball in his hand as his hearty laughter echoed across the area. Gu Qiu¡¯s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he howled, ¡°Little thief, put down my Gu clan¡¯s supreme treasure!¡± The Gu clan had been able to specialize in Genesis Runes due to the existence of the black crystal ball. Once it was gone, it was hard to imagine how great of a loss it would be. However, Zhou Yuan ignored his howls. The two Genesis Beasts swiftly disappeared into the horizon, leaving behind the scattered mess that remained of the Gu clan. Urgh! As Gu Qiu watched them leave, he could no longer contain his anger and vomited a mouthful of blood. He pulled one of the elders to him and said in a voice dripping with bitter resentment, ¡°Send news of what happened to Gu Ling. Tell her that her brother has been killed and the murderers are likely headed for the Saint Remains Domain.¡± ¡°As the prided genius of the Black Yin Sect, she must kill that piece of trash and take back our Gu clan¡¯s supreme treasure!¡± Towards the end, his voice had practically become a hiss. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 127 Splitting the Treasure Deep in the mountains far from Gu City, two Genesis Beasts descended from the sky. Tuntun turned back into its little beast form and jumped into Yaoyao¡¯s arms, while the ice bird also transformed into a small bird and hopped onto Luluo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Quick! Take out the treasure for us to see.¡± Luluo¡¯s large eyes were filled with wonder as she looked at Zhou Yuan, her face overflowing with curiosity and anticipation. After causing such havoc in the Gu clan, the only benefits they got was that thing in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. He patted his Universe bag and the black crystal ball appeared in his hand. ¡°What is it?¡± Luluo inspected the ball, somewhat puzzled. Although she was able to detect the extremely pure Spirit source contained within the crystal ball, she could not identify it. Yaoyao walked forward and concentrated on the ball for a few moments, before a slightly bewildered voice sounded, ¡°This is¡­ a Saint Spirit Crystal?¡± ¡°Saint Spirit Crystal?¡± Asked both Zhou Yuan and Luluo. They had evidently not heard of it before. Yaoyao seemed to sigh as she explained, ¡°It is a true treasure and has been called the gem of the Spirit. I would never have expected to find it in the hands of a tiny clan such as the Gu clan.¡± Zhou Yuan curiously inquired, ¡°What function does it have?¡± ¡°With it in your possession, even if you do not practice any Spirit tempering method, your Spirit will be continuously be refined and strengthened.¡± Yaoyao looked towards Zhou Yuan as she continued, ¡°Of course, if you also practice a Spirit tempering method, it will be akin to adding wings to a tiger.¡± ¡°Moreover, the most amazing thing about it is its ability to absorb Spirit power and transform it into Spirit source energy to strengthen itself. If you are able to refine the crystal and make it your own, as long as the difference is not too great, anyone who dares to attack with the Spirit will likely end up as its food. Thus, it is said to be the ultimate treasure with regards to defending against Spirit attacks.¡± Zhou Yuan and Luluo wet their lips when they heard this. In a certain sense, both of them could be said to be Spirit cultivators, and hence clearly understood the value of the Saint Spirit Crystal. The function of being able to increase one¡¯s Spirit cultivation speed alone made it practically priceless. They understood just how difficult it was to temper one¡¯s Spirit. In fact, Zhou Yuan had spent almost an entire year practicing the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method, but had yet to reach the advance Illusory stage. However, there only one of these crystals. Zhou Yuan somewhat helplessly scratched his head. Luluo had been a huge contributor to their success in obtaining the Saint Spirit Crystal. If her ice bird had not stopped one of the Alpha-Origin elders, Yaoyao would have been under a tremendous amount of pressure. Hence, it was really going to be a little troublesome to split the goods. However, Luluo generously spoke up at this moment, ¡°No need to take me into consideration. If not for you guys, I may have even fallen for the Gu clan¡¯s plot.¡± She knew that the majority of the risk had been taken by Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan. In addition, she had originally intended on entering the Spirit Refining Tower. If not for Yaoyao deciphering the secret of the Spirit Devouring Tower, her Spirit may have even be sucked away like some of the more unfortunate individuals. Yaoyao gave Luluo a second glance when she heard this. Soon after, she said with a smile, ¡°Relax, there¡¯s something for everyone.¡± These words made Luluo rather happy and pleased. If there were enough benefits to be split, no one would grumble that his share was too much. Yaoyao pointed at the black crystal ball and said, ¡°Over the years, the Gu clan has used this Saint Spirit Crystal to absorb quite an incredible amount of Spirit source energy. However, their crude methods were incapable of taking out all of this accumulated energy.¡± ¡°In turn, this has now benefited us.¡± As her words fell, Yaoyao took out a Genesis Brush. The brush tip descended, drawing extremely complex Genesis Runes on the black crystal. These Genesis Runes weaved together, emitting a peculiar undulation. Luluo could not help but praise out loud as she watched, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, your mastery over Genesis Runes is truly amazing!¡± Her Spirit was not weak, but the sight of those Genesis Runes still made her feel a little dizzy. It was obvious that the runes Yaoyao were drawing were not ordinary at all. Yaoyao was fully immersed in her work, making her unable to reply. It would seem it was going to be a little strenuous even for her this time, densely packed sweat appearing on her gleaming forehead. Zhou Yuan pulled back the insatiably curious Luluo such that Yaoyao would not be disturbed. This lasted for almost an entire hour before Yaoyao finally breathed out as if a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders. In front of her, the surface of the black crystal ball was already dotted with numerous Genesis Runes. The Genesis Brush in Yaoyao¡¯s hand gently pointed at the crystal. One could only watch as the runes began to glow brightly. Rays of light that were both dazzling and divine seemed to burn like a holy fire as they fully engulfed the crystal ball. Ch ch! The sound of frying oil seemed to echo from within the light. Zhou Yuan and Luluo watched in amazement as the crystal ball rapidly began to shrink while a mysterious liquid slowly dripped down from it. Yaoyao nimbly retrieved a few jade bottles and collected the mysterious liquid. In a short few minutes, the originally head-sized crystal ball had shrunk to the size of a baby¡¯s fist. It was no longer black , but instead a milky white on which faint and mysterious patterns could be seen. Yaoyao lightly swirled one of the jade bottles. One could see drops of liquid slowly flowing within as if they possess a mind of their own, an extremely mystical sight. Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°What is it?¡± The sight of the liquid caused his Spirit to stir hungrily as if a starving person had suddenly seen a sumptuous feast. ¡°It is the purest Spirit source energy, one of the best supplements for the Spirit.¡± Yaoyao smiled. ¡°There¡¯s a total of twelve drops here.¡± Yaoyao handed one of the jade bottles to Luluo and said, ¡°These four are for you.¡± ¡°Thank you big sis!¡± Luluo¡¯s large eyes were practically glowing as she received the bottle. These four drops of Spirit source energy were akin to half a year of tough training. It was indeed a huge haul. Yaoyao held out another bottle and swayed it before the anxiously waiting Zhou Yuan. ¡°As for you¡­ you get two drops.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a pained look. ¡°Why do I get two drops?¡± Yaoyao flatly said, ¡°The other two drops have been deducted by me due to your earlier transgressions.¡± She was obviously referring to the matter of Zhou Yuan grabbing her waist. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face had practically turned green as he howled, ¡°This is clearly abuse for your own personal vengeance!¡± Yaoyao swept him a glance and nonchalantly responded, ¡°I originally planned on giving the Saint Spirit Crystal to you, but since you believe that I¡¯m being unfair, we can forget about it.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression instantly changed, no hesitation whatsoever as he declared, ¡°I was wrong.¡± By the side, Luluo clicked her tongue and said with a grin, ¡°Little bro, your skin is pretty thick.¡± Yaoyao likewise rolled her eyes at him. With a flick, the Saint Spirit Crystal was flung towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan happily caught it. This operation had been really worth it! With this item, he should soon step into the advance Illusory stage, right? Once he was there, he would finally possess the qualifications to vie with the other prided geniuses in the Saint Remains Domain. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 128 The Youth in Ash Robes On the peak of a certain mountain. Zhou Yuan was seated on a boulder, his eyes lightly shut. A baby fist sized milky white crystal ball hovered three feet above his head, seemingly divine light sprinkling down and enveloping Zhou Yuan. An illusory figure was seated cross-legged between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows, greedily absorbing every wisp of divine light. Every bit of light that entered the Spirit seemed to make it a little more corporeal than before. This training lasted for nearly two hours before Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes. The milky white crystal ball above his head slowly descended, ultimately submerging into the spot between his brows. The illusory figure was still seated between his brows, but there was now a milky white crystal ball floating above its head that constantly gave off divine light, making the Spirit more corporeal little by little. The light from the crystal ball was akin to a circular light screen that protected Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit, allowing no foreign presence to enter. After ending his training, Zhou Yuan shook his head in regret. Although he could feel that his Spirit was growing increasingly corporeal, he was ultimately unable to break through into the advance Illusory stage. ¡°Spirit cultivation is truly difficult.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. However, he understood that cultivation could not be hurried, and had to be taken a step at a time. Hence, he soon dispelled such thoughts as his figure floated down from the mountain. In the spacious forest. When Zhou Yuan returned, he saw Yaoyao and Luluo seated on the ground, while Tuntun was carrying a recently hunted Genesis Beast in his mouth some distance to their front. It joyfully hopped in front of Yaoyao and presented his catch to her. It clearly wanted Yaoyao to roast the beast for it to eat. However, Yaoyao merely swept Tuntun an uninterested gazed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t know.¡± Tuntun was stunned for a while, before looking towards Luluo. The green haired girl blinked, a dazzling smile revealing itself as she shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do such chores either.¡± It obvious that this was another young lady that had everything delivered to her with a wave of her hand. How could she possibly know how to roast meat? Tuntun gave up and powerlessly fell to the ground. ¡°Another little lady.¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly watched this scene. He had only went to train for a while, and they were now hungrily staring at each other, clearly no indication of anyone going to do any chores even if their lives were at stake. Zhou Yuan walked forward, causing Tuntun to immediately bark happily at him. ¡°Little bastard, you only know how to curry favor with me at such a time.¡± Cursed Zhou Yuan inside, but he still walked over and began to get busy, removing the skin of the Genesis Beast before placing it on a rack to roast. Yaoyao felt a little embarrassed when she saw how busy Zhou Yuan was and asked with some concern, ¡°Still no breakthrough?¡± Zhou Yuan shrugged. Yaoyao pondered for a moment before she said, ¡°If you should be able to advance if you absorb a drop of Spirit source energy.¡± Luluo cupped her cheeks with her tiny hands as she said, ¡°But big sis Yaoyao, didn¡¯t you say that two Genesis resources are needed to achieve the full effect of the Spirit source energy?¡± ¡°What are the two Genesis resources called?¡± Zhou Yuan interjected, ¡°The Underworld Spirit Fruit and the Vermillion Blood Grass.¡± He frowned as he continued, ¡°These two Genesis resources are rarely seen and not easy to find.¡± Lulup smiled. ¡°No hurry, we should be able to buy them once we reach Saint Remains City.¡± Saint Remains City was one of the largest cities just outside the Saint Remains Domain, while the city lord residence was one of the strongest factions in the vast Saint Remains Domain. The group¡¯s current destination was Saint Remains City. Once they reached it, they be as close as they could to the Saint Remains Domain. Zhou Yuan nodded. Looks like that was the only option. Zhou Yuan suddenly said, ¡°As for the Gu clan, will there be any trouble? Since we took their supreme treasure, I don¡¯t think that they will not let us off.¡± Yaoyao responded, ¡°We¡¯ve already publicized their evil schemes, and they should currently be under a lot of pressure. They should not have the time to deal with us, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt for us to be a little careful.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. After toiling for an hour, he was finally done roasting the Genesis Beast. Zhou Yuan retrieved a dagger and cut a slice for each of the two young ladies, before dumping a good chunk of the leftovers to the drooling Tuntun. Dong dong! However, while they were engrossed in enjoying their food, they suddenly felt the ground begin to shake. The trio lifted their heads and peered into the depths of the mountain, only to see numerous Genesis Beast fleeing in fright as if something terrifying was right at their heels. Luluo muttered in alarm, ¡°It can¡¯t be the Gu clan, right?¡± Zhou Yuan eyebrows knitted together as Genesis Qi began surging around his body. His eyes were tightly fixed on the dense forest where he could faintly sense an extremely sharp and dangerous sensation. Was it really the Gu clan? A long while later, a rustling sound emerged from the depths of the dense foliage under Zhou Yuan¡¯s alert gaze, and he watched as a figure slowly walk out. As the figure emerged, Zhou Yuan was finally able to get a clear view of him. It was a young man in ash colored robes. He carried a heavy black sword on his back, while a piece of black cloth had been wrapped around his eyes. Even so, his footsteps were both firm and steady. Moreover, wherever he passed, the trees nearby would silently split open, the revealed interiors smooth as a mirror. ¡°What formidable sword Qi!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned grave as he observed the youth whose eyes were wrapped in black cloth. The aura from the latter¡¯s body made him feel a prickling pain all over his skin. It was obvious that this young man was astonishingly powerful. The youth in ash robes slowly approached, eventually arriving before Zhou Yuan¡¯s group. Roar! Tuntun released a low roar, black light surfacing within its mouth. The youth¡¯s footsteps paused, clearly having sensed several extremely powerful existences in front of him. Zhou Yuan vigilantly watched the youth in ash robes. They would take action the moment they detected any strange movements from the latter. Thus, the atmosphere became silent for a time. Growl. However, the atmosphere was suddenly broken a moment later by a certain sound as strange expressions emerged in the Zhou Yuan trio¡¯s eyes. The sound had come from the stomach of youth in ash robes who had just made an extremely cool entrance. The situation became rather awkward all of a sudden. An almost undetectable tremble seemed to ripple past on the youth in ash robes¡¯ face as he finally opened his mouth and croaked, ¡°I¡¯ve been starving for three days.¡± Pfff. Luluo could no longer hold back her laughter. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. Brother, your entrance was so cool. Why did you have to use such a comical opener. However, he also breathed a sigh of relief. Looks like it wasn¡¯t the Gu clan. ¡°It just so happens that we have some food here, we can eat together.¡± Zhou Yuan pointed at the remaining half of the roast meat. The youth in ash robes nodded at Zhou Yuan before seating himself. He did not bother with any pleasantries, immediately grabbing the roast meat as he began to ravenously wolf it down. Zhou Yuan was a little shocked by the sight of him eating. ¡°There are Genesis Beast all over in the mountains, why didn¡¯t you just kill one and roast it to eat?¡± The youth in ash robes swallowed the meat in his mouth, before he replied, ¡°Don''t¡¯ know how, it will taste horrible.¡± Zhou Yuan let out an exasperated chuckle. All three of them were little lords and ladies. Come on, he was also a prince in the Great Zhou Empire, how had it come to this point where he was now practically a chef?! Luluo propped up her chin, all smiles as she stared at the youth in ash robes and remarked in a drawn out voice, ¡°I never thought that I would actually encounter the rumored Blind Sword of the Sword Empire¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 129 Saint Remains City When Luluo¡¯s voice rang out, Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. To think that the youth in ash robes was actually from the Sword Empire¡­ Moreover, Zhou Yuan had heard of this individual¡¯s past achievements, and could easily say that he was the cream of the crop amongst the younger generation in the Cangmang Continent. In fact, he would not be the least bit inferior even when matched up against the likes of Wu Huang. Zhou Yuan never imagined that he would actually meet this legend here. The youth in ash robes paused for a moment, before lifting his black cloth covered eyes as looked in Luluo¡¯s direction and replied in a raspy voice, ¡°I too never expected that I would meet the Little County Lord of the Thousand Beast Empire here.¡± Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding. No wonder Luluo had dared to promise him a dukedom in the Thousand Beast Empire. It turns out that she was that Little County Lord. These two were the elite amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent. The youth in ash robes suddenly turned towards Yaoyao, a slight trace of graveness visible on his rather impassive face as he slowly said, ¡°Although there are no Genesis Qi undulations from your body, I feel that you extremely dangerous.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids jumped. Although this guy was blind, he was able to see more clearly than anyone else. Ordinary people would not be able to sense how dangerous Yaoyao actually was. Yaoyao merely continued to gracefully take small bite after bite of the roast meat, paying no heed to the youth in ash robes¡¯ words. ¡°And this Genesis Beast¡­¡± The youth in ash robes looked towards Tuntun. Tuntun turned away, butt now facing him as it dug into its meat. The youth in ash robes finally shifted his gaze towards Zhou Yuan and earnestly said, ¡°You seem to be somewhat weaker.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched as his face turned black as a storm. Can¡¯t you just eat your meat in peace? Why do you have so much to say? After which, the youth in ash robes fell silent. He once again began to ravenously devour every scrap of the roast meat in his hand, even licking his fingers clean. When the final bit of food was eaten, he was finally satisfied. He lifted his head to look at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Thank you. I owe you a debt of gratitude.¡± Zhou Yuan nonchalantly waved his hand. ¡°Farewell.¡± The youth in ash robes did not intend to make any conversation. After saying what he needed, he turned around and left. Direct and efficient, no beating around the bush. Zhou Yuan rather admired such directness and suddenly spoke up, ¡°Are you going to Saint Remains City?¡± The youth in ash robes seemed to nod, but his feet did not pause. Zhou Yuan asked, ¡°Want to go together?¡± The youth in ash robes shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m used to being alone.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°I just want to tell you that you¡¯re heading in the wrong direction. Saint Remains City is that way.¡± He extended a finger and pointed in a certain direction. The youth in ash robes¡¯ footsteps finally came to a halt as the atmosphere became awkward once again. He was silent for a long time, before somewhat rigidly turning around and quickly walking in the direction Zhou Yuan had pointed in. In a few breaths, he faded from view, though the last glimpse of his back seemed to cut a slightly sorry figure. Zhou Yuan watched his figure disappear, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. This guy seemed to be pretty directionally challenged. Just how had he managed to walk all the way here from the Sword Empire? Luluo also watched the youth in ash robes leave as she remarked, ¡°Blind Sword seems to have grown stronger again, he¡¯s likely on the brink of stepping into the Alpha-Origin stage.¡± ¡°It is said that he was already able to kill an Alpha-Origin expert at the advance Heaven Gate stage. I wonder how strong he will be once he reaches the Alpha-Origin stage.¡± Luluo clicked her tongue. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that even Little Frost and I together will not be able to beat him.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod. The youth in ash robes was indeed very formidable. Zhou Yuan had sensed an extremely threatening aura from the former that made him understand that the current him would not be his match. After all, being late by two years in opening his meridian channels had resulted in a gap between Zhou Yuan and these elite geniuses. However, he was confident that he was continuously shortening the gap between them. Yaoyao elegantly wiped her little red lips and shot a look at Zhou Yuan. ¡°If Wu Huang is on the same level as him, it will be rather dangerous for you.¡± Luluo interjected in surprise, ¡°Eh? Little bro, that Wu Huang is your enemy?¡± Soon after, her large eyes looked at Zhou Yuan with pity. ¡°Then it¡¯s over for you. There is no way that you will be able to beat him. That monster is very strong. When the Sword Empire and the Great Wu Empire were at war, Wu Huang and Blind Sword once had a duel with each other.¡± Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°Who won?¡± Luluo secretly grinned. ¡°Neither. So they ended up killing an Alpha-Origin expert from the opposing side to dispel some of their frustration.¡± Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes, tributing a moment of silence to the sacrifice of the two Alpha-Origin experts. ¡°That¡¯s why it will be best for you to quickly run away if you encounter Wu Huang in the Saint Remains Domain.¡± Luluo concluded with a wide grin. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth slanted downwards. Wu Huang was indeed very strong, but if Zhou Yuan was able to ascend to the Heaven Gate stage and level up his Spirit to the advance Illusory stage, his battle power would not be weaker than the latter. However, after hearing Luluo speak such words, Zhou Yuan was now somewhat anxious. He had yet to fulfil even one of these two conditions. ¡°We should also hurry.¡± Said Zhou Yuan. He wanted to get to Saint Remains City as soon as possible and obtain the two Genesis resources. Only then would he be able to absorb the Spirit source energy which would aid his Spirit in breaking through into the advance Illusory stage. Yaoyao and Luluo naturally did not raise any objections. Thus, after a short rest, they started to travel once again. In the following few days, they no longer made any pit stops and travelled at full speed. As such, they soon began to gradually approach their destination. However, just as they were about to leave the mountains, Yaoyao suddenly made the other two wait for a while as she slipped into the dense forest alone. Zhou Yuan and Luluo exchanged a puzzled look. After waiting for some time, they saw a figure in white leisurely walk out from the dense foliage. It was a sight that made their jaws fall open and eyeballs practically pop from their sockets. Because the one that had walked out was tall, slim and blessed with an extremely handsome-pretty face. The long fine black hair had disappeared into thin air, while the slight curves of her chest had somehow been masked up by something, making it flat as a board. Yaoyao had transformed from a young lady into an incomparably handsome pretty young man. ¡°What the heck are you up to?¡± Zhou Yuan felt as if his head was lost in the mist. Yaoyao calmly replied, ¡°The appearance of a girl is too attention grabbing and troublesome.¡± In Gu City, it was her beauty that had drawn the nuisance called Gu Lang. Although they had been the ones who gained in the end, the whole affair had still been an inconvenience in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. Therefore, she had decided to masquerade as a guy. ¡°So handsome!¡± Luluo¡¯s large eyes were practically spewing light. This guy version of Yaoyao was just too outrageously handsome that even someone who knew the secret like herself felt her heart flutter a little. ¡°This appearance of yours¡­ is really going to steal all of my thunder.¡± Zhou Yuan felt as if he had a toothache. He himself was an okayish handsome fellow, but when compared to Yaoyao¡¯s current appearance, that slight handsomeness was now suppressed to a mere background prop. ¡°What thunder can you have?¡± Yaoyao casually retrieved a fan, creating a picture perfect look of the ideal man. ¡°I¡¯ll be handing Tuntun over to you. As a man, carrying it around will make me look bad.¡± Yaoyao offhandedly threw the innocent looking Tuntun to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan held up Tuntun and looked at it as his face turned black. Come on, I¡¯m the real man here. Do you think carrying Tuntun will make me look good? However, Yaoyao did not care about such matters and leisurely strolled forward with a wave of her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan could only let out a long sigh as he gazed upon her back. He placed Tutun on his shoulders and quickly caught up. The thick forest began to disperse before them as their view abruptly widened. A magnificent city proudly stood some distance away, an enormous Genesis Rune boundary extending from above the city, covering it like a dome. Sounds of rustling wind were unceasing as figure after figure arrived from every direction atop their Genesis Qi and landed inside the city. Zhou Yuan involuntarily swallowed a deep breath as he marvelled at this scene, while excitement gradually began to blaze in his eyes. This was it! The nearest city to the Saint Remains Domain! It was at this very place that the countless prided geniuses of the Cangmang Continent were beginning to converge. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 130 House of Geniuses Saint Remains City sat at the central region of the Cangmang Continent, and was the largest city in the vicinity of the Saint Remains Domain. The city was pretty famous even in the entire Cangmang Continent. Not only because it was built in a favorable location, but more so due to the powerhouse faction it represented. The power of Saint Remains City was no weaker than the great clans and empires in the continent. Over the years, Saint Remains City had borrowed the reputation of the Saint Remains Domain to continuously strengthened itself. Now, if based on just scale alone, not many cities could match it even in the entire continent. This was especially so when the Saint Remains Domain showed signs of opening. During this period, Saint Remains City would become the focal point of the entire continent¡­ ... ¡°What a magnificent city.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh in admiration when the trio walked into the city and gazed upon the scenery within. Great Zhou City was like a child when compared to this place. Spacious street after street where people came and go. It was a racket of activity. An enormous Genesis Rune boundary descended from the sky, protecting the entire city in its embrace. ¡°¡±It is likely that only a Divine Dwelling expert will be able to break this Genesis Rune boundary.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself as he gazed upon the gigantic Genesis Rune boundary, feeling the power contained within. A Genesis Rune boundary of this level would likely consume an incredible amount of Genesis crystals just for daily operation alone. This was why it was usually on warning mode, and would only reveal its fangs when an invasion occurred. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimates, constructing a Genesis Rune boundary of this scale would require at the very minimum a master proficient in grade 5 Genesis Runes. It was hard to imagine how much the services of such a master would cost. The fact that Saint Remains City had managed to stand tall in the central region of the continent for so many years was a testament to their solid foundations. ¡°There¡¯s a place called the House of Geniuses in Saint Remains City where most of the geniuses lodge at after arriving here, and I suggest that we head there too. We can also obtain first hand information about the Saint Remains Domain there.¡± Luluo looked towards Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. From the looks of it, she had done her homework. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao naturally had no objections. Thus, the gang of three followed the streets until they arrived at the central district of Saint Remains City, where they were greeted by the sight of an extremely grand building. The building was a marvel of construction, the dragon and phoenix statues that decorated it were so lifelike that one could almost feel a boundless aura from them. Above the building was a board on which bold and flamboyant golden words were written. ¡®House of Geniuses¡¯ These three simple words seemed to emanate a feeling a pride. After all, those who could call themselves geniuses were definitely outstanding amongst their peers. As for ordinary people, they naturally had no place here. Countless people gathered outside, yearning in their eyes as they looked towards the House of Geniuses. The Zhou Yuan trio did not pause, walking directly towards the doors of the House of Geniuses under the attention of the crowd. Numerous guards were stationed at the door, making it appear that security was rather tight here. ¡°Please halt.¡± When the trio approached, a middle-aged man walked out, a faint smile on his lips as he cupped his hands together towards them, ¡°My humble self is called Xiao Luo, and I am a manager of the House of Geniuses. If you intend to enter, you will need to report your name, title or affiliations. Ordinary individuals are not allowed into the House.¡± Luluo raised her eyebrows. ¡°So many rules.¡± However, she did not make any further remarks, and instead said in a flat voice, ¡°Thousand Beast Empire, Luluo.¡± The pupils of the middle-aged man shrank when he heard this, the smile on his face suddenly becoming warm and welcoming. ¡°Oh it''s the Little County Lord of the Thousand Beast Empire, I have long heard of your name, please pardon me for my lack of manners.¡± ¡°Can we enter now?¡± Luluo could not be bothered with him and directly headed into the House of Geniuses. However, although she successfully entered, when it came to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, the guards extended their spears, stopping the two in their tracks. ¡°What do you think you are doing?¡± Luluo¡¯s gaze turned icy. Xiao Luo smiled as he cupped his hands together and explained, ¡°The Little County Lord is indeed a talent amongst talents, and can naturally enter the House of Geniuses. But these two need to report their names.¡± Several people cast their gazes down from the building at this moment, gazes filled with mockery and interest. A Qi Nourishing stage and someone that did not even have any Genesis Qi. Did these two really think they could enter the House of Geniuses? With so many gazes looking at them as if they were monkeys, Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows knitted together as he said in a toneless voice, ¡°Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Yuan.¡± Xiao Luo smiled superficially and said, ¡°I seem to be rather ill-informed. According to our sources, there is no one from the remote Great Zhou Empire who is worthy of being called a genius.¡± He looked earnest on the surface, but his words were tinged with a hint of mockery. He then looked towards Yaoyao and said, ¡°Please report your name.¡± However, Yaoyao merely swept him a cold look. She did not reply, but instead clenched her hand as a Genesis Rune scroll appeared within it. Rays of light exploded from between her brows, her Spirit shaking as the grade four Genesis Rune trembled on the verge of activation. *Uproar*! The undulations from the grade 4 Genesis Rune gave rise to a storm of noise. Even the various geniuses that had already entered in the upper floors of the building cried out in surprise. ¡°Grade 4 Genesis Rune?¡± ¡°Corporeal stage Spirit?!¡± Xiao Luo¡¯s pupils violently shrank as fear flitted across in his eyes. It was obvious that he had not expected this unbelievably pretty guy to possess such a powerful Spirit. Grade 4 Genesis Runes were a match to an Alpha-Origin expert. Such strength was first class even amongst the geniuses of the Cangmang Continent. ¡°This young master has truly concealed your power well, it is I who had no eyes.¡± Xiao Luo let out an awkward chuckle. Soon after, however, his eyes flashed as he cast his gaze towards Zhou Yuan and sincerely said, ¡°My friend, these two may enter the House of Geniuses, but over the years, there has never been a case of a Qi Nourishing stage practitioner entering our House. So I can only ask you to make a detour to somewhere else.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s frown deepened. He could faintly sense that this person seemed to be purposely making things difficult for them. But this was their first time here, the other party should not know who they were, right? Luluo¡¯s face turned frosty. ¡°You dare to chase out someone I brought?¡± Xiao Luo smiled and explained, ¡°I hope that Little County Lord can empathize that we are just doing our jobs. I¡¯m sure that you must also know the rules of the city lord residence.¡± He had already brought out his backer through his words. It was clear that the rules of the House of Geniuses were set by the city lord residence. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face remained cool and collected. ¡°What are the qualifications of a genius?¡± Xiao Luo chuckled. ¡°One must be of the younger generation plus be able to reach the Heaven Gate stage, if not, one naturally cannot be considered a genius.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod. ¡°How strong are you?¡± Xiao Luo answered with a faint smile, ¡°Mid Heaven Gate stage.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned as iciness flashed in his eyes. Rumble! Dark gold Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as his figure dashed forward. In a flash, he had appeared in front of Xiao Luo. His five fingers tightly clenched as a punch was sent flying, punch winds blasting apart the air. Green scales had also appeared on his fist, giving off a faint shine. ¡°Impudent!¡± Xiao Luo¡¯s expression changed as he loudly shouted. Vigorous Genesis Qi erupted from his body and he also sent out a full power punch. He intended to give some proper guidance to this arrogant little brat. Bang! Under the numerous watching eyes of the crowd, two fists ferociously slammed into each other. A wave of air swept outwards as Xiao Luo¡¯s expression rapidly changed, horror surfacing in his eyes. At the moment of impact, he had felt an unparalleled power rush towards him. The power of that punch was definitely not something a Qi Nourishing stage should have! Boom! The air rippled as Xiao Luo¡¯s body jerked and was sent catapulting backwards. He smashed into a stone pillar and spit out a mouthful of blood. The upper levels of the House of Geniuses had turned silent, while amazement appeared in numerous gazes. It was clear that no one had imagined that the mid Heaven Gate stage Xiao Luo would be blown away by a single punch from an advance Qi Nourishing stage kid. Their gazes were now different when they looked towards Zhou Yuan again. It was indeed true that those who could reach this place were not ordinary at all. Under the watching gazes of the crowd, Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew his fist, his eyes unchanged as he looked towards Xiao Luo. ¡°It seems that your mid Heaven Gate stage is nothing to be proud about.¡± As his words faded, he paid no further attention to Xiao Luo and walked into the House of Geniuses. This time, no one dared to stop him. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows were still slightly furrowed. Just who exactly was secretly targeting him? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 131 Heavenly Luo Halberd The trio had finally successfully entered the House of Geniuses and were led to their room by a servant. ¡°It seems that someone is out to get us.¡± Once they were in the room, Luluo¡¯s eyebrows knitted together. Someone as sharp as her had naturally realised that there were some problems with Xiao Luo¡¯s attitude. Zhou Yuan frowned. It was the first time they had come here, and none of them knew anyone, why were they being targeted? On the way here, the only one they had offended was the Gu clan. Could the Gu clan¡¯s hands have reached all the way here? Luluo seemed to be able to read Zhou Yuan thoughts, shaking her head as she said, ¡°The faction behind the House of Geniuses is the city lord residence. I doubt that Gu clan can make them do anything.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. The city lord residence? Why was this faction making things difficult for them? The trio thought about this matter for a while, but were unable to arrive at a conclusion. Hence, they could only drop it for the time being. Luluo wrinkled her nose as she said, ¡°No need to be too worried. Although the city lord residence is strong, they do not dare to do as they please. It''s not like we don¡¯t have any powerful backers.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll head out and ask around for some information while also looking up where to buy the Underworld Spirit Fruit and the Blood Vermillion Grass.¡± Luluo grinned. She was clearly someone who was unable to sit still for long. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao nodded. The House of Geniuses was a mix of both good and bad characters that they did not intend to mingle with. They would rather stay in the room to train. Thus, Luluo went out alone, but it was not long before she slipped back in again, her face brimming with excitement. ¡°There¡¯s news!¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised. That was fast. Luluo eagerly blurted out, ¡°There will be an auction tonight in the House of Geniuses, and both the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Blood Vermillion Fruit have been mentioned. Moreover, the ones gathered here are the various geniuses from all over the Cangmang Continent so any treasure can be put on sale regardless of where they came from. Hence, there¡¯s likely going to be quite a few gems.¡± From the looks of it, she was extremely fond of such rare and lively events. Zhou Yuan was also a little thrilled at this news. There was finally information about the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Blood Vermillion Fruit. As long as he could obtain these two Genesis resources, his Spirit would be able to ascend to the advance Illusory stage, allowing him to begin learning grade 3 Genesis Runes. When that happened, he would no longer have to fear advance Heaven Gate stage opponents. The current him was amongst a gathering of geniuses of which several possess the strength of the advance Heaven Gate stage. If Zhou Yuan did not raise his battle power, he would be disadvantaged when he met them in a fight. ¡°Then we¡¯ll have a look at the auction tonight.¡± Zhou Yuan decided. The current him needed to the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass far too much. Time flowed as night began to envelope the enormous Saint Remains City. The outside of the city was pitch-black darkness, while the inside was brightly lit. Under the House of Geniuses was a vast underground room that was the chosen venue for the auction. At this current time, several geniuses from all over were flooding into the room. It was obvious that many were interested in the auction tonight. After all, the Saint Remains Domain was about to open, and everyone wanted to make themselves as strong as possible. Obtaining a powerful Genesis weapon or treasure would certainly be hugely beneficial to them. Luluo¡¯s reputation was clearly much greater than Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Hence, the group of three easily acquired a VIP room for themselves. The room had a view looking down from above, the transparent glass allowing them to clearly see the entire place and the auction stage. ¡°The other VIP rooms are likely occupied by the super geniuses of our Cangmang Continent.¡± Luluo smiled craftily at Zhou Yuan as she continued, ¡°Wu Huang may even be amongst them.¡± The hand holding Zhou Yuan¡¯s cup trembled slightly, but he did not reply. The expression in his eyes however turned a little graver. He knew that Luluo¡¯s words were likely true. Zhou Yuan took a small sip of the wine in his cup as its fiery taste entered his mouth. He had the faint premonition that his meeting with Wu Huang was not far off. The one that has my sacred dragon blessing, you¡¯ve been having a pretty good life¡­ Dong! While Zhou Yuan was lost in thought, the sound of a gong suddenly reverberated throughout the auction area. The noise quickly died down as excited gaze after gaze focused on the stage. The stage lit up and an elderly figure walked out. The moment he appeared, powerful Genesis Qi undulations spread from his body. This elder was clearly an Alpha-Origin expert. When Zhou Yuan saw this, he uttered in amazement, ¡°To think that they¡¯ve actually sent an Alpha-Origin expert to host this auction, impressive.¡± ¡°The latter part of the auction will definitely be hosted by the city lord residence. This Alpha-Origin expert is likely also a member of the city lord residence.¡± Said Luluo. Zhou Yuan nodded. While they were conversing, the elder on the stage swept his gaze around the place as his voice rang out in everyone¡¯s ears, ¡°Since everyone has come here from far away, I shall dispense with the pleasantries. A long time has been spent preparing for this auction, and I believe that everyone will be very interested in our selection.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± The atmosphere intensified as the elder¡¯s final word faded, every gaze in the place now tightly glued to the former. The elder merely waved his hand and a dozen steel tower like men carried out a certain item, their footsteps heavy as if they were lifting a mountain. The elder reached out a gnarly hand and lifted the black cloth that covered the item. A heavy night-black halberd instantly appeared in everyone¡¯s sights. The heavy halberd was several feet long and covered all over in veined patterns. An astonishing killing intent spread from it, causing the hairs of anyone who felt it to stand on end. However, it was a pity that there were several cracks on the heavy halberd, making it apparent that this weapon was a damaged article. The elder slowly said, ¡°This is a damaged quasi-Heaven tier Genesis Weapon. It is known as the Heavenly Luo Halberd.¡± *Uproar* The auction area practically exploded. To think that the first item would be a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. Although it was damaged, it could still be considered Heaven tier, and a quasi-Heaven tier weapon was not ordinary at all. ¡°Amazing, the first item is already a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. Looks like they really put some thought into aweing the crowd.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but exclaim in admiration. One must know that the highest tier Genesis Weapon in the entire Great Zhou Empire was the Nine Flames Spear owned by his father. But even it was merely a high grade Black Genesis Weapon. Don¡¯t scoff at this quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon just because it was damaged. Its power definitely surpassed a high grade Black Genesis Weapon, making it an extremely lethal weapon in battle. With this halberd, an advance Heaven Gate expert would even be able to do battle with a first layer Alpha-Origin expert. Back then, Su Youwei had used the remnant power of the Yangming Sword in her body to insta-kill an Alpha-Origin expert. From this, one can see just how much power a Heaven tier Genesis Weapon possessed. Of course, it must be mentioned that the Yangming Sword was definitely much higher up on the ladder than this Heavenly Luo Halberd.¡¯ ¡°Bids for this item starts at 500,000 Genesis crystals.¡± The elder¡¯s gaze swept across the entire auction area as his powerful voice rang out. The auction area was silent for a split second before instantly being broken by a wave of voices. ¡°600,000!¡± ¡°I bid 700,000!¡± ¡°800,000! I hope that everyone will give me, Lu Dameng, some face!¡± ¡°Who do you think you are, I¡¯ve never even heard of you. One million!¡± ¡°......¡± In the short span of a dozen minutes, the Heavenly Luo Halberd¡¯s price had reached a whopping bid of 1.5 million. Zhou Yuan itched to join in as he watched exhilarating exchange of bids, but could ultimately only let out a helpless sigh. He had no money. Only now did he realise how pathetic his 500,000 Genesis crystals were. After the bid reached 1.5 million, less and less people were able to participate. In the end, a few more rounds of bidding left the bid at 2.1 million. The Heavenly Luo Halberd was auctioned away at a price of 2.1 million as regretful sighs rang out in the auction area. There were even more people who were clenching their teeth in frustration because no one knew whose hands the halberd had landed in. Although the majority of the crowd was rather regretful, the atmosphere in the auction area had become pretty lively, and countless burning gazes quickly turned to the stage again. The first item was already so valuable. Looks likes the quality of the goods this time was indeed going to be pretty high. The only question was whether even better things would appear later on¡­ Hence,the auction continued under the countless expectant gazes, unstoppable as wildfire. Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 132 Goods Ge Item after item continuously appeared on the auction stage. Although none of them could match the Heavenly Luo Halberd, every item was still considerably rare. Hence, the atmosphere of the auction remained extremely exciting. At this current moment, the elder was once again taking out another item on the auction stage. It was a glass bottle in which a fiery-red liquid swam. The viscous liquid was akin to the essence of fire, flames endlessly burning around it. ¡°This is the Earth Essence Flame that was extracted from the depths of Wanzai volcano. If it is absorbed by someone who is cultivating a fire type Genesis Qi, as long as that Genesis Qi is below grade 5, it will be able to raise the raise the rank of the Genesis Qi by one minor grade.¡± These words shook the auction area once again, burning desire instantly rising in the eyes of countless individuals. The previous items, including the Heavenly Luo Halberd, were ultimately external aids. This Earth Essence Flame on the other hand was able to raise the rank of one¡¯s Genesis Qi! Although it only worked on Genesis Qi below grade 5, it was still a tremendous boost. If absorbed, a low tier grade 4 Genesis Qi would rise to the mid tier. Such an increase in power was definitely not insubstantial. ¡°Never imagined that they would even have such a thing.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh, his heart stirring a little. Although the Omni Python Qi he cultivated was already grade 5, his father¡¯s Flame-Thunder Qi was only grade 4. If he gave this item to his father, the Flame-Thunder Qi would definitely reach the peak of grade 4. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s stirring heart was quickly crushed by reality, because the starting bid for the Earth Essence Flame was 800,000 Genesis crystals. ¡°I feel so poor.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but cover his face with a hand. The Great Zhou Empire had not been a good place for the past few years, resulting its prince having little savings. He was not like the others who could easily accumulate a few million. The bidding war for the Earth Essence Flame was even more intense than the earlier Heavenly Luo Halberd. After several minutes of back and forth, the price finally stabilized at 2.58 million. Only after the struggle for the Earth Essence Flame was over did the heated atmosphere cool down somewhat. Zhou Yuan silently waited for the items he needed. After about a dozen minutes, he finally heard the words he was expecting. ¡°Underworld Spirit Fruit, 100,000 Genesis crystals.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s lightly shut eyes opened, his gaze burning with desire as he stared at the stage where the elder was holding a jade case. A black fruit lay within the case. This Genesis resource had a very particular function, hence, not many were interested in it and it¡¯s starting bid was naturally pretty tame. Few were vying for this item, and the bid only managed to rise to 150,000 after a few rounds. Zhou Yuan waited for his opportunity. When it was about time, he finally opened his mouth, ¡°200,000 Genesis crystals.¡± The sudden increase of 33% was not trivial at all. Several parties immediately give up, while the remaining two only gave in after raising the bid to 250,000. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. His entire fortune only amounted to 500,000 Genesis crystals, and just this Underworld Spirit Fruit alone would consume half of it. The rest of his money was still needed to buy the Vermillion Blood Grass. The elder scanned the area as his powerful voice echoed, ¡°Are there any other bids?¡± Silence. However, just as Zhou Yuan had relaxed, a soft chuckle was suddenly heard. ¡°300,000.¡± The abrupt arrival of this voice caused whispers to spring up in the auction area. Many were bewildered. Why had the price of an Underworld Spirit Fruit risen to such a level? Zhou Yuan¡¯s complexion changed slightly, the expression in his eyes sinking a little as he said in a calm voice, ¡°350,000.¡± ¡°400,000.¡± The other bidder immediately kept pace. ¡°500,000.¡± Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Someone was making things difficult for them again. The other bidder was clearly purposely stirring trouble and did not intend to buy it. When Zhou Yuan called out his bid of 500,000, the other voice seemed to laugh softly before no longer making any noise. Thus, the Underworld Spirit Fruit ultimately landed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands, but he had to pay 500,000, completely wiping out his entire fortune. There was no change in Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression, but fury flashed in his eyes. By the side, Luluo stared at the VIP room in the distance and muttered, ¡°The one that bidded is also in a VIP room. According to my information, that room is exclusively used by the city lord residence.¡± ¡°City lord residence?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. When had he offended the Saint Remains city lord residence? Moreover, given the city lord¡¯s status, he could not possibly lower himself to vie with those of the younger generation. Luluo pondered for a while. ¡°The one inside is definitely not the city lord¡­ but according to what I¡¯ve heard, the only other person who frequents that VIP room is the city lord¡¯s son, the junior city lord, Xiao Tianxuan.¡± ¡°Xiao Tianxuan?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. He did not know this person at all, so why was he making things difficult for them? Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought for a while, eventually returning to calmness. However, ice-cold light flashed in the depths of this calmness. It did not matter why Xiao Tianxuan was targeting them. Since the act was done, Zhou Yuan would naturally remember. He then looked towards Luluo and asked, ¡°Luluo, can you lend me some Genesis crystals?¡± All 500,000 of his Genesis crystals had been used up. He no longer had any left for the subsequent Vermillion Blood Grass. Luluo waved her hand. ¡°Small matter, I¡¯ll help you bid it later!¡± Zhou Yuan did not say anything, but he made sure to remember this debt of gratitude. The auction continued. It was not long before the Vermillion Blood Grass finally made an appearance. The starting price for the Blood Vermillion Grass was only 80,000 Genesis crystals, and the competition even less than before. Luluo was the first to shout, ¡°200,000!¡± Her bid directly silenced the place. Those originally planning on bidding instantly became quiet. This bid was akin to roadblock, there was no reason for them to pay such a high price for a stalk of Vermillion Blood Grass. The silence only lasted for a moment. Just as Luluo began to believe that she had already succeeded, a faint laughter was once again heard from a particular VIP room. ¡°300,000.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids lowered slightly as the frostiness in his eyes intensified. Xiao Tianxuan was really a bit too much. Luluo¡¯s face also turned ice-cold. Although Xiao Tianxuan was the junior city lord of Saint Remains City, he did not amount to much in her eyes. Thus, she immediately responded, ¡°600,000.¡± Directly doubling the bid. That VIP room was clearly silent for a moment after Luluo¡¯s bid. In the end, a soft laugh emerged. ¡°Since Little County Lord likes this item, I shall not compete.¡± The Vermillion Blood Fruit was now also in the bag, but Luluo¡¯s pretty face did not look happy at all. Xiao Tianxuan knew that she was the one bidding, but still raised the price. It was obvious that he did not think much of her. ¡°Thanks.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded at Luluo. He slowly said, ¡°Will the junior city lord be going to the Saint Remains Domain?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Luluo nodded. Zhou Yuan softly muttered, ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Luluo¡¯s large eyes looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Are you planning on getting even in the Saint Remains Domain? That guy is no pushover, he too is one of the elite geniuses of the Cangmang Continent.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was steady as he replied, ¡°I have also slain an Alpha-Origin.¡± Luluo¡¯s eyes turned round, somewhat unable to believe him. Wu Huang and Blind Sword had killed an Alpha-Origin expert, but at least they were at the advance Heaven Gate stage. Did Zhou Yuan really slay an Alpha-Origin at the Qi Nourishing stage? Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, his eyes cool and calm as he looked towards that particular VIP room. Xiao Tianxuan was it? If we meet in the Saint Remains Domain, I will make you spit out ten times the amount you made me spend today. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 133 Little Heaven Genesis Technique With the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass now in his hands, there was no longer anything else that Zhou Yuan needed from the auction. Hence, he calmly watched as the exciting auction progressed. In contrast, Luluo excitedly bidded and won several items. However, what puzzled Zhou Yuan was that she did not face any obstructions from that particular VIP room. This felt rather strange to him. Could the other party know that these two Genesis resources were important to him? Yaoyao, whom had not said anything since the beginning, suddenly spoke up at this moment, ¡°It seems the reason why Xiao Tianxuan is making things difficult for you is related to the Gu clan.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°The Gu clan does have some capable people, and one of them has likely guessed the two Genesis resources needed to perfectly absorb Spirit source energy. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been facing obstructions here.¡± Zhou Yuan was able to work things out with Yaoyao¡¯s hint. Someone from the Gu clan must have went to Xiao Tianxuan. However, there was still one thing he could not wrap his head around. Just who exactly in the Gu clan had the ability to turn the junior city lord against him? While these thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, the auction gradually approached its end. It was at this moment that the final item appeared, shocking everyone in the auction area. Even Zhou Yuan could not help but cast his gaze over. One could only watch as the elder on the auction stage very carefully raised a golden case. Within the case was a small stone tablet on which ancient characters were carved. The tablet gave off a slight glow, forming a halo around it. It was a very mysterious and mystical sight. ¡°The Genesis technique that has been carved onto this stone tablet is called the Spirit Subduing technique. It boasts peerless power, and is a genuine little Heaven tier Genesis technique!¡± The elder¡¯s eyes were filled with desire. Even he coveted to a technique of this level. *Uproar*! ¡°Little Heaven Genesis technique?¡± The entire auction area seemed heave at this moment. Every gaze was filled with burning desire as they stared at the stone tablet. Above the Black tier was the Heaven tier. Though the Black tier was still considerably common, the Heaven tier on the other hand¡­ even in the entire Cangmang Continent, the factions that possessed it were as rare as unicorn horns or phoenix feathers. As for the little Heaven tier, in a certain manner of speaking, it stood above the Black tier but below the Heaven tier. However, since it was worthy of three words Heaven Genesis technique, a little Heaven tier technique definitely possessed overwhelming power. If one obtained it, one would even be able to kill an Alpha-Origin opponent at the Heaven Gate stage. This was the might of a little Heaven tier Genesis technique. ¡°A little Heaven Genesis technique¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan. Even he felt a rush at this moment. He had once heard Zhou Qing say that the Great Zhou Empire had once possessed a Heaven Genesis technique at its peak, but it was subsequently taken away by the Great Wu Empire. By the side, Luluo¡¯s large eyes were practically emitting beams of light. ¡°Never imagined that a little Heaven Genesis technique would actually make an appearance. Even the Thousand Beast Empire only has three little Heaven Genesis techniques. In fact, a technique that has reached this level can even be called the ultimate technique of an empire.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The strongest Genesis technique he currently had was the third level of the Dragon Tablet Hand, which had reached the power levels of a high grade Black tier Genesis technique. When set next to the Heaven tier, the gap between the two was akin to the distance between the sky and the land. ¡°Rumor says that one can obtain true-blue Heaven techniques in the Saint Remains Domain. These techniques were mastered by the fallen Saint while he was alive, and were thus imprinted into his blood. Since the Saint¡¯s blood transformed into the Saint Remains Domain, various miracles can naturally be found inside.¡± Luluo wet her mouth. This was the true Heaven Genesis technique that even the Thousand Beast Empire did not possess. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart surged in excitement when he heard this. The Saint Remains Domain truly contained unimaginable treasures. While they conversed, the auction area rapidly reached its boiling point due to the little Heaven Genesis technique. Shout after shout using all of their lungs continued to resound one after another. ¡°4 million!¡± ¡°4.3 million!¡± ¡°5 million!¡± ¡°......¡± In a mere few minutes, the price of the little Heaven Genesis technique reached the terrifying sum of 5 million. Luluo had bidded once in between, but her bid was quickly surpassed by other zealous bidders. This depressed her a little, but she ultimately decided to give up after some thought. ¡°The prerequisites to learn a little Heaven Genesis technique will be rather demanding, it¡¯s not just a matter of being able to practice it once you buy it.¡± Muttered Luluo. Zhou Yuan had zero intentions of bidding because the price was just too high. 5 million Genesis crystals was practically akin to a year¡¯s worth of income for the Great Zhou Empire. However, he did need to be a little careful since the technique was going to land in someone else¡¯s hands. Anyone who encountered the eventual owner in the Saint Remains Domain would likely be faced with a huge problem. Everyone was fixated on the bidding war, even those in the VIP rooms, who had been rather silent throughout the auction, had began to bid. After a bitter and intense struggle, a bid of 7.9 million ultimately ended the contest for the Spirit Subduing technique. ¡°7.9 million¡­¡± Zhou Yuan sighed as he shook his head. A little Heaven Genesis technique was really far too pricey. After all, a technique of this level was already considered top tier in the Cangmang Continent. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan rose to his feet. He already had everything he needed, and could begin absorbing the Spirit source energy tonight, allowing his Spirit to step into the advance Illusory stage, and open the doors to begin learning grade 3 Genesis Runes. The trio left their VIP room and proceeded to pass through the corridor. At this moment however, Zhou Yuan realised that Luluo¡¯s footsteps had slowed, while her originally smiling face had turned frosty. Zhou Yuan followed her gaze, only to find a group approaching them from another direction. At the very front was a guy and a girl. The guy was pretty tall, and was brimming with both confidence and grace. He was currently playing with two golden balls on which runes could faintly be seen. The girl was also rather attention grabbing. She had a hot figure, the black leather that tightly hugged her body accentuating her practically perfect curves, causing many men to secretly swallow their saliva. This group soon arrived before the Zhou Yuan trio. Luluo¡¯s face was taunt as she icily said, ¡°Xiao Tianxuan, you still dare to appear before me?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils immediately shrank as iciness flitted across the depths of his eyes. So this was the guy, the junior city lord of Saint Remains City, Xiao Tianxuan. Xiao Tianxuan wore a smile, the golden balls in his hand slowly revolving as he responded, ¡°No need to get angry Little County Lord, if you are upset about that bit of Genesis crystals, I¡¯ll pay you back.¡± Luluo coldly snorted. Her concern was not those few hundred thousand Genesis crystals. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s gaze shifted slightly, ultimately pausing on Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°I believe that this friend must be Zhou Yuan, right?¡± ¡°Is there anything I can help you with junior city lord?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was neither friendly nor cold. ¡°Hehe, nothing much, nothing much. I only wish to introduce someone to you.¡± Xiao Tianxuan chuckled and looked towards the sexy girl beside him. The girl opened her long legs as she took a step forward, stopping in front of Zhou Yuan. Her long and narrow eyes seemed to glisten, but Zhou Yuan could sense the snake like gaze contained deep within them. ¡°Are you Zhou Yuan?¡± The sexy girl seemed to smile charmingly. ¡°I am Gu Ling, and I come from the Black Yin Sect¡­ the one that died at your hands, Gu Lang, is my younger brother.¡± Only at this very moment did Zhou Yuan finally understand why he was being targeted after arriving at the House of Geniuses. It turns out that the source of everything was this girl called Gu Ling. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 134 Gu Ling ¡°Gu Ling¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes rippled for a moment as he looked at the sexy girl in black before him. However, almost no change could be detected on his face as he nodded and said in a calm voice, ¡°Oh.¡± Gu Ling was a little taken aback by Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifference, but fury soon flashed in the depths of her eyes. The group of guys behind Gu Ling were extremely dissatisfied with Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude, their tone hostile as they chided, ¡°You¡¯re pretty darn arrogant kid, why are you still not begging for forgiveness after killing Gu Ling¡¯s brother?!¡± The thug like way they spoke was rather inconsistent with their faint air of nobility. Together with the strong Genesis Qi that rippled around their bodies, these characteristics made it painfully obvious that they were the so-called ¡®prided geniuses¡¯. Gu Ling revealed a heartbroken look at this moment as she softly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry everyone, there must be some misunderstanding between our friend Zhou Yuan and my Gu clan which led to such an outcome. Gu Lang only has himself to blame for his death.¡± However, that appearance of hers only made them glare even harder at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan indifferently watched this scene play out as if he was a bystander. This girl¡¯s methods were superb. From the way she handed this group of geniuses, it was more than likely that they would fight to offer her the moon and the stars. Xiao Tianxuan continued to rotate the golden balls in his hand as looked towards Zhou Yuan and said in a gentle voice, ¡°My friend, whatever grudge you guys have with the Gu clan is not important. Since you have already killed Gu Lang, let it end at that.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his eyebrows, but did not say anything. He knew that Xiao Tianxuan was not finished. Sure enough, Xiao Tianxuan paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°But the Gu clan¡¯s supreme treasure you stole should be returned to Gu Ling.¡± Xiao Tianxuan smiled slightly as he stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Gu Ling has told me that as long as you return their supreme treasure, she will generously let bygones be bygones. If you feel that I am worthy, I can help resolve the grudge between the two of you and allow enemies to become friends.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh. These fellows were indeed after the Saint Spirit Crystal. However, it had already been assimilated by him, and now tempered his Spirit night and day. They were dreaming if they believed that he would hand it over. Zhou Yuan smiled and asked, ¡°Is that why you purposely raised the bid earlier?¡± Xiao Tianxuan was momentarily stunned, but soon responded in an uninterested tone, ¡°It¡¯s just a few Genesis crystals, I can repay you if you¡¯re upset.¡± A slight hint of mockery could be seen from the corners of his mouth, evidently secretly thinking how typical of a prince from a lowly remote empire to be so upset over a mere several hundred thousand Genesis crystals. ¡°No need, there may be a chance for me to get them back in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head, his tone cool and calm. Xiao Tianxuan may believe that his actions during the auction were just a little lesson for Zhou Yuan, but the latter¡¯s principle was that every action had a consequence. Simply returning the money was not going to be so easy. Zhou Yuan stared Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling and slowly said, ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered to elaborate on the Gu clan¡¯s dirty deeds, but they did try to silence us. If not for our resourcefulness, our fates would be rather grim.¡± ¡°Therefore, I¡¯m afraid that the likes of you is still not enough to resolve our grudge.¡± ¡°As for the supreme treasure of the Gu clan, don¡¯t even dream that I¡¯ll return it.¡± They nearly lost their lives for this treasure. Xiao Tianxuan must have a crazily high opinion about himself if he believed that it would be returned with a single sentence from him. Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling¡¯s expressions finally changed. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s expression was now as dark as a storm as he asked, ¡°Does this mean that you are not giving me face?¡± ¡°Hehe, do you really think you deserve so much face?¡± Luluo sneered. Although they were currently in Saint Remains City and Xiao Tianxuan was the junior city lord, matters between the younger generation was settled by the younger generation. Hence, Xiao Tianxuan would not be able to use the power of Saint Remains City against them. If he did, it was not like they did not have their own backers. No one would be the winner once the situation degenerated into a battle between numerous factions. Without the power of Saint Remains City, Luluo naturally did not fear Xiao Tianxuan. ¡°Impudent, a mere prince from a tiny empire dares to be so insolent in such a place?¡± The geniuses behind Gu Ling sneered in succession. They knew Luluo¡¯s background and strength, and thus did not dare to pit themselves against her. Hence, the one they turned their fangs at in exchange was Zhou Yuan. A blue robed young man nearest to Gu Ling ominously said, ¡°Humph, a mere Qi Nourishing stage dares to be so arrogant. Aren¡¯t you afraid of being slaughtered after entering the Saint Remains Domain?¡± This person was called Lan Ting, and was likewise a prided genius from one of the influential clans in the Cangmang Continent. In the group, his strength was likely only second to Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling. Zhou Yuan smiled as he gazed at these geniuses, a smile that was overflowing with eerie iciness. ¡°We¡¯ll have to enter the Saint Remains Domain first to see who gets slaughtered.¡± The group of geniuses shot angry glares over. Gu Ling¡¯s face was somewhat ugly, but this was quickly remedied by her as she sighed softly and said, ¡°It seems that my Gu clan has indeed greatly offended this honorable friend. Why else would you refuse to give face to even the junior city lord and the rest of these amazing geniuses.¡± Zhou Yuan swept a cold gaze at her. This woman was good. Her seemingly simple words had further deepened the enmity between him and the geniuses beside her. ¡°Woman, you¡¯re being rather unreasonable.¡± However, a voice suddenly sounded out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s side at this moment. The crowd looked, only to find that it was the white clothed Yaoyao. She was currently disguised as a male, but her face was still unparallelled in the looks department. Even though Xiao Tianxuan and the rest were pretty decent themselves, they instantly dimmed in comparison to Yaoyao. Gu Ling¡¯s eyes brightened slightly at the sight of Yaoyao. Such a handsome pretty boy was truly rare. However, her expression soon turned a little rigid due to Yaoyao¡¯s words. Yaoyao slowly fanned herself, using some unknown method to make her voice neutral sounding as she indifferently said, ¡°The supreme treasure of the Gu clan was indeed taken by us. If you want it back, there¡¯s no need to use these tricks to incite these fools. The Saint Remains Domain is about to open, and when it does, feel free to throw everything you have at us inside. You will be able to take it back if you have the ability.¡± ¡°Of course, any action you take will be accompanied by a price. If you fail to snatch it back, no one can be blamed for what happens in the end.¡± Towards the end, Yaoyao¡¯s words gave off a sliver of iciness that made one involuntarily shiver. She stared at Gu Ling as she dished out the final few words. ¡°If you want to play, we will gladly keep you company.¡± The atmosphere became rather silent all of a sudden, everyone stunned by Yaoyao¡¯s words. She had already made things very clear. Don¡¯t dream of the treasure being returned. If they wanted to snatch it, bring it on, but make sure to be prepared for the consequences. Gu Ling¡¯s pretty face was a blend of green and white. Over the years, she had used her looks to make every male she met grovel under her skirt. Who could have imagined that she would be exposed by a male that was even prettier than herself today? This truly made her feel humiliated. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s expression was also rather ugly. He had not expected that this pretty boy would be even less respectful than Zhou Yuan. Fools? He had actually said that geniuses like them were fools? Fury surged in his heart, but surprisingly, Xiao Tianxuan did not say anything in response. He knew that the Spirit cultivation of this seemingly Genesis Qi-less outrageously pretty boy had reached the Corporeal stage. That was true power that could match the Alpha-Origin. Anger also festered in the hearts of the other geniuses, but they too did not say anything. However, the gazes that looked towards Zhou Yuan grew even more hostile. It was obvious that they had pushed all of their rage onto Zhou Yuan. A soft persimmon was easier to squeeze after all. Zhou Yuan rubbed his nose as he gave Yaoyao a thumbs-up in his heart. These words were really too domineering. What were these fellows that had been duped by a single girl if not fools? ¡°Hehe, what an domineering young master¡­¡± While everyone was silent, a charmingly lovely chuckle was suddenly heard. Everyone raised their heads, only to find a young lady wearing a black dress leaning against the wall nearby. A flirtatious set of eyes were currently filled with interest as they stared at Yaoyao. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 135 Zuoqiu Qingyu The sudden voice caused everyone to lift their heads and looked towards the young lady in a black dress leaning against the wall nearby with her hands across her chest. Several pairs of eyes brightened slightly the moment they saw her. The girl in black was bare-footed, a string of silver bells around the ankles of her fine jade-white legs. A faint mist seemed to linger beneath her feet, making it seem as if she never touched the ground. Her facial features were extremely pretty, and overflowed with seductive charm, like an enticing little enchantress. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s eyes turned a little graver as he gazed at the girl in black and said, ¡°Zuoqiu Qingyu.¡± The pupils of the geniuses around him also shrank slightly, clearly having heard of this name before. ¡°Is it that Zuoqiu Qingyu of the Zuoqiu clan?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes also rippled slightly. It was rumoured that she too was one of the strongest amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent. Luluo¡¯s eyes widened as she curiously stared at the little enchantress before them. She had naturally heard of the latter¡¯s reputation, but this was the first time she was seeing this individual in person. However, every one of these gazes were practically nonexistent to the girl called Zuoqiu Qingyu. Her peach blossom like eyes focused only on Yaoyao. Her figure suddenly moved, accompanied by the clear twinkling of bells as she appeared in front of Yaoyao like a phantom. ¡°So quick!¡± Practically everyone present was shocked. None of them had been able to clearly see her movements. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s your name? I¡¯m Zuoqiu Qingyu, let¡¯s be friends!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu beamed as she looked at Yaoyao, the former¡¯s limpid eyes filled with curiosity. This person was actually as pretty as herself! In addition, the thing that drew her interest the most was Yaoyao¡¯s demeanor, especially those eyes that seemed to be both penetrating and empty. When Zuoqiu Qingyu made her entrance earlier,everyone else had their breaths taken away. He was the only one that seemed to have no reaction at all. Zuoqiu Qingyu could sense that Yaoyao was not pretending, and was truly not interested in the former. Yaoyao was also slightly taken aback at the sudden appearance of Zuoqiu Qingyu so close to her, but soon regained her wits. She was currently disguised as a guy after all. However, Yaoyao was not interested in explaining things and casually answered, ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao.¡± ¡°Heehee, your name is as pretty as mine.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips twitched. Zuoqiu Qingyu was a little narcissistic, but she did have the assets that were worthy of such narcissism. Yaoyao paid no attention to Zuoqiu Qingyu. She looked towards Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling and said, ¡°Remember my words. If you want it back, come and snatch it after entering the Saint Remains Domain. Such useless and petty tricks are better kept under the table.¡± Her tone was light, not even the slightest hint of anger, but it contained a cold authority that no one dared to retort against. She turned around to leave after finishing, leaving behind a group of stunned young men and women. Zhou Yuan and Luluo hastily ran after her, while Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s eyes spun in thought for a moment before also following. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s handsome face was somewhat ugly as he watched their leaving figures. The matter today was supposed to be have been easily resolved; Zhou Yuan should have given him face as the junior city lord and returned the Gu clan¡¯s supreme treasure to Gu Ling. He was initially debating whether he should make Zhou Yuan apologize and make amends to Gu Ling after returning the treasure. Who could have expected that the other party would have no intention of giving him any face. Now, not only did they fail to get the treasure back, they had even been intimidated quite a bit. By the side, a stormy look flashed in Gu Ling¡¯s long and narrow eyes, but she made sure to reveal nothing on her face as she let out a bitter laugh and said, ¡°I¡¯ve really wasted junior city lord¡¯s painstaking efforts, I had thought that this matter could be solved peacefully.¡± Her words only fanned the flames of rage in Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s heart as he replied in a low voice, ¡°Humph, although that person¡¯s Spirit is at the Corporeal stage, he¡¯s still too arrogant. So what if your Spirit is strong, if you carelessly allow someone to close in, you will still be killed in a single blow.¡± The other geniuses echoed in agreement. Though it was true that those who focused solely on Spirit cultivation could borrow the power of Genesis Runes, their bodies were exceedingly weak and a single slip may result in the destruction of their physical bodies. ¡°Moreover¡­¡± Iciness flashed in Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Zhou Yuan seems to have a grudge with Wu Huang of the Great Wu Empire.¡± ¡°I wonder, will he be able to protect Zhou Yuan from Wu Huang with just his Spirit¡± Gu Ling¡¯s eyes immediately brightened when she heard this. Only a handful of individuals amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent could compare to Wu Huang. He was after all someone who had slayed an Alpha-Origin expert with the strength of the advance Heaven Gate stage. Though that handsome pretty boy did possess a Corporeal stage Spirit, he would not be able to find any advantage against Wu Huang. ¡°The Saint Remains Domain is filled with mystery and anything can happen there, and he cannot possibly protect Zhou Yuan all the time. Once they¡¯re separated, killing Zhou Yuan will be as easy as a flip of the hand.¡± Xiao Tianxuan looked towards Gu Ling as he continued, ¡°That¡¯s why there¡¯s no need to worry. A mere Qi Nourishing stage kid won¡¯t be able to create any splashes.¡± Gu Ling smiled faintly, her gaze seemingly much gentler when she looked towards Xiao Tianxuan. Xiao Tianxuan suddenly said, ¡°The envoys from the six sacred sects will arrive at Saint Remains City tomorrow. I believe that the Saint Remains Domain will open soon.¡± Joy and anticipation were revealed in the eyes of Gu Ling and the other geniuses. The Saint Remains Domain was surrounded by a giant holy river. It was said that even a leaf would sink when it fell into the waters of the holy river, while fog dominated the sky above the river all year long. This fog was extremely strange. Anyone who entered would immediately lose his sense of direction, and a single wrong turn was all it would take to fall into the river and drown. Fortunately, the mist would grow thinner every once in a while. As long as a powerful practitioner took advantage of this timing, a route could be torn open, allowing people to be sent in. There were no practitioners of this level in the Cangmang Continent, only the six sacred sects had such power. Hence, they would send out envoys to help open the Saint Remains Domain, which also gave them first pick of the prided geniuses that managed to distinguish themselves from the rest. The arrival of the envoys from the six scared sects meant that the Saint Remains Domain everyone yearned for even in their dreams was about to open. ... ¡°I¡¯m so mad! That bastard Xiao Tianxuan. I¡¯ll definitely teach him a lesson if we meet in the Saint Remains Domain!¡± Along the way, Luluo was still seething, clearly rather miffed that Xiao Tianxuan had actually dared to not give her face. Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not say anything about this topic. Although there were some twists and turns, they had ultimately succeeded in obtaining the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass. Tonight, he would borrow the power of these two Genesis resources to absorb a drop of Spirit source energy. Once he did so, he would surely break into the advance Illusory stage. He suddenly turned his head somewhat helplessly and looked in Yaoyao¡¯s direction, only to find Zuoqiu Qingyu grinning widely as an unending stream of words left her mouth, ¡°Brother Xiaoyao, where are you from?¡± ¡°I can see that although you do not have any Genesis Qi, your Spirit is extremely powerful. We should team up so we can watch each other¡¯s backs in the Saint Remains Domain.¡± Yaoyao was split between being annoyed and amused, but she could not be bothered to explain things, so she ended up ignoring Zuoqiu Qingyu. Yaoyao said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°I¡¯m hungry, let''s eat.¡± A smiling Zuoqiu Qingyu quipped, ¡°Everyone, since fate has brought us together, let me treat all of you to a meal. The delicacies of the House of Geniuses is number 1 in Saint Remains City!¡± Yaoyao paid her no attention, Luluo¡¯s large eyes began sparkling when she heard the word delicacies, while Zhou Yuan was naturally indifferent. Although Zuoqiu Qingyu was a little odd, she was indeed very strong, and having more friends was something Zhou Yuan would not reject. Hence, the group was led to the upper floors of the House of Geniuses by Zuoqiu Qingyu. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps suddenly froze the moment he stepped onto a certain floor. He lifted his head as if sensing something, and looked towards the far right where a figure in gold robes was peacefully seated next to the window. The seats around him were empty because of the astonishing aura that swirled around his body, an aura that made everyone wary. Bzz! When Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze fell upon the figure in gold, the Omni Python Qi in his body involuntarily began to heave as if releasing an angry roar. The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison on his palm also hissed as an intense pain pulsed from his hand. The emotions on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face were cut away bit by bit, still as a statue as he stared at the figure in golden robes. The figure in golden robes also seemed to sense something, the moving tea cup in his hand pausing slightly, before he slowly turned his head. The gazes of the two met at this moment. The entire world seemed to fall into silence. Rumble! Thunder rumbled in their bodies as their blood began to boil. In an instant, both of them simultaneously knew who the other party was. Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Yuan. Great Wu Empire, Wu Huang. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 136 First Encounter with Wu Huang Boom! A surge of powerful Genesis Qi swept out from the figure in golden robes like a storm. The flesh, blood and bones in his body seemed to vibrate at this moment as a faint dragon roar echoed. A mighty and dignified aura spread from his body as if he was a king. The other diners in the vicinity were also caught in the aftershocks, their sorry figures backing away one after another. Although they were pretty mad inside, they could only swallow the angry yells that were about to escape their mouths when they saw who the figure was. The mighty aura converged into a maelstrom of power before sweeping towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Hee hee, my word, isn¡¯t the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire being a little too tyrannical? This place isn¡¯t owned by your family, can¡¯t you let others eat in peace?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s peach blossom like eyes narrowed slightly as she softly chuckled. She took a step forward as similarly powerful Genesis Qi burst out from her body, completely blocking the pressure from Wu Huang. Yaoyao¡¯s face was unchanged, the only difference was the light now flashing between her brows as she extended a finger and lightly tapped in the air. Pop! It was as if an invisible Spirit wave had shot out. The powerful aura from Wu Huang seemed to have been pierced by something, emitting a faint sound as it disappeared without a trace. The choking pressure followed suit, fading from the area. ¡°Pissing me off, is this little lady really such an easy target!¡± There was an ugly expression on Luluo¡¯s little face. Why was everything going wrong today? Why did it seem that everyone was out to bully her. She really could not take it anymore! Ice-blue light blossomed from the little ice-blue bird on her shoulder as deadly cold Qi akin to freezing air locked onto the figure in gold next to the window. The actions of these three ladies instantly made the atmosphere become hostile. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was akin to still water. He merely stared at the figure in gold robes, his five fingers tightly clenched around the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison on his palm. The poison roared as if it wanted to burst out, but it was firmly suppressed by him. The view before his eyes seemed to ripple faintly, as if a long forgotten memory had been unlocked. It was an ice-cold altar. He had been placed at its centre, and in front of him lay another tiny baby boy. When he looked over, the baby boy seemed to grin at him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes gently closed, darkness descending, before being opened once again as the view before him returned to normal. Everyone on the floor watched the stand-off as low whispers and cries of shock sounded. ¡°Is that the Great Wu Empire¡¯s Wu Huang?¡± ¡°He is indeed as powerful as the rumors say!¡± ¡°Tch tch, is that Zuoqiu Qingyu? And the Little County Lord of the Thousand Beast Empire¡­ these two ladies are not easy to deal with!¡± ¡°There¡¯s also that other worldly beautiful guy, I¡¯ve heard that his Spirit has already stepped into the Corporeal stage.¡± ¡°No wonder he was able to dispel Wu Huang¡¯s pressure with a single finger.¡± ¡°But who is that Qi Nourishing kid?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of him before, he seems to be Zhou Yuan from the Great Zhou Empire¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s him! I know the story behind them. I heard that the Great Wu Empire rebelled against the Great Zhou Empire, and the phenomenon of the python and sparrow devouring the dragon back then refers to them taking the sacred dragon blessings of the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s prince, while that prince is called Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°So that¡¯s it, these two truly are old enemies!¡± ¡°But the gap between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang is too great¡­ without those few at his side, he would have likely been swatted to death by a single palm.¡± ¡°......¡± Numerous voices stealthily sounded as many people watched this scene in interest. While everyone thought that a battle would break out, Wu Huang suddenly withdrew his aura, his expression neither happy nor angry as he stood up. He did not speak, eyes directed to his front as he brushed past Zhou Yuan and the rest. Only when he passed by Zhou Yuan did his footsteps finally pause for a moment. He did not look towards Zhou Yuan, eyes fixed on the empty air in front of him as he spoke in a seemingly disappointed manner, ¡°I¡¯ve given you so much time, but you¡¯re still only an eyesore.¡± He shook his head, no further words as he walked down the steps. No change at all could be seen from Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression. He slowly released his grip, the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison on his palm finally suppressed. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± He said. The group seated themselves at a table, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s peach blossom like eyes curiously sweeping across Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as she asked, ¡°You have a quarrel with Wu Huang?¡± ¡°Shall I play arbiter for the both of you?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and answered, ¡°It¡¯s a life or death quarrel, and only one of us can live.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu was silent for a while, before she said, ¡°Then you¡¯re truly unlucky. You¡¯re completely outclassed by him.¡± ¡°There are no absolutes in this world.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°A year ago, my eight meridian channels were nowhere to be found, making cultivation impossible, but have I not come all the way here too?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo were startled for a moment. This guy had only began his cultivation journey a year ago? ¡°Tch tch, it seems to me that there is a tiny possibility that you do have the sacred dragon blessing.¡± Luluo propped up her cheeks and grinned. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, with us here, even Wu Huang can¡¯t do anything to you!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and passed the menu to Luluo, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to give my thanks, go ahead and order.¡± A rough glance had told him that all the food here was really high-class. Let alone grade 3, even grade 4 Genesis Beasts were available, the only thing was the excessively high prices numbering in several hundreds of thousands of Genesis crystals. Luluo received the menu, her large eyes glancing towards Zuoqiu Qingyu as she said with a wide smile, ¡°Since somebody is treating us¡­ we¡¯ll have all the most expensive ones!¡± ¡°Steamed thunder tiger head!¡± ¡°Simmer-fried spirit beef!¡± ¡°Ice flame python!¡± ¡°......¡± The corners of Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s mouth twitched slightly as she listened to Luluo shout out dish after this. This lass was really not the least bit polite! ... Night arrived. Zhou Yuan was seated on a bed in their room. With a grasp of his hand, the jade bottle containing the Spirit source energy appeared within, while the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass appeared in front of him with a wave of his sleeve. His eyes seemed to sparkle a little as he gazed upon these three items. After seeing Wu Huang today, he had no choice but to admit that the latter was very powerful. However, this did not give rise to any fear within him. Instead, it made a raging battle intent surge out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He knew that Wu Huang was a stumbling block on his path of cultivation. Only by defeating the latter would he truly be able to walk the road of the sacred dragon. ¡°Wu Huang, we¡¯ll see just who dies at whose hands in the Saint Remains Domain.¡± ¡°When the time comes, I will let you know that my blessings are not so easily devoured. All of the misfortune you guys have caused me is merely a form of training in my eyes.¡± ¡°Only by stepping over all of you will I finally become the true sacred dragon!¡± ¡°That¡¯s why¡­ don¡¯t celebrate too early!¡± There was no longer any hesitation in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Rays of light emerged from between his brows as the illusory figure of his Spirit emitted a suction force, directly consuming the drop of Spirit source energy. At the same time, the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass in his hands burst apart, transforming into strands of black and red Qi that rose into the air and poured into Zhou Yuan head. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 137 Advance Illusory Stage The drop of Spirit source energy transformed into extremely pure Spirit Qi that endlessly poured into Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. Meanwhile, the black and red Qi from the Underworld Spirit Fruit and Vermillion Blood Grass also flooded in, entwining with the pure Spirit Qi. Chch! A change immediately occured when the three parties met. One could only watch as the pure Spirit Qi seemed to be refined once again, causing a faint crystal like rainbow radiance to emerge. Strands of crystal Qi sprinkled onto the Spirit, while the latter greedily devoured the former. The illusory figure gradually began to become more and more corporeal. As Zhou Yuan felt the climbing power of his Spirit, he began to activate the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. In the void, a limitless mottled grindstone slowly turned. It was as if all things that were cast upon its wheel would be crushed into nothingness. However, the current Zhou Yuan¡¯s fear of the grindstone had already retreated. His Spirit drifted forward, no hesitation whatsoever as it cast itself onto the wheel. Rumble! The divine grindstone began to revolve, pulverising the tiny Spirit. Dreadful power enveloped Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit, causing it tremble uncontrollably. However, he gritted his teeth and desperately endured while the Spirit Qi from the Spirit source energy continuously supported him. Thus, Zhou Yuan Spirit persisted as the divine grindstone turned. The dark gold marking on the mottled grindstone slowly shifted. Almost an eternity seemed to have passed, while cracks had begun to appear on Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit, a sign that he was about to reach his limit. Even so, even under the intense pain that was practically about to burst apart his Spirit from the inside, Zhou Yuan did not entertain any thoughts of giving up. Meeting Wu Huang today had made Zhou Yuan feel some pressure. Regardless of what had happened, Wu Huang stood at the peak of the Cangmang Continent¡¯s younger generation, and his strength was far greater than Zhou Yuan¡¯s own. For Zhou Yuan to shrink this gap, the upgrade of his Spirit had to succeed! ¡°If I can¡¯t even overcome this little hardship, what right do I have to step onto the sacred dragon road again?!¡± A roar seemed to thunder in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Bzz! As if sensing Zhou Yuan¡¯s will, a powerful ripple suddenly exploded from his Spirit as the cracks that had appeared on it were swiftly repaired. Click! A faint click was heard. It was the sound of the dark gold vertical markings on the top and bottom halves of the mottled divine grindstone joining once again. Zhou Yuan had finally endured the second revolution of the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method! Every revolution a whole new realm! A voice was transmitted into Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears as he finally relaxed. His Spirit was pulverised as the grindstone began to revolve once again, reforming itself several breaths later outside the grindstone. The reformed Spirit was several times more condensed than before, so much so that there were faint signs of it turning truly corporeal. Advance Illusory stage! Uncontrollable joy surged out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. After suffering numerous hardships, his Spirit had finally stepped into the advance Illusory stage! Now that it was at the advance Illusory stage, he could finally learn grade 3 Genesis Runes. Although his current Genesis Qi cultivation was still stuck at the advance Qi Nourishing stage, his true power was much greater due to the domineering Omni Python Qi and his blood-red Qi Dwelling. As such, even if he were to only use Genesis Qi in battle, Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle power would not lose out to a mid Heaven Gate stage expert. When grade 3 Genesis Runes were thrown into the mix, advance Heaven Gate stage opponents would no longer be able to threaten him so easily. However, Zhou Yuan felt a little regretful that these advance Heaven Gate stage experts did not include the apex prided geniuses like Wu Huang. These individuals already stood at the pinnacle of the advance Heaven Gate stage, and also possessed the ability to do battle with those at a higher cultivation level. Hence, for Zhou Yuan to face Wu Huang in a direct clash, the former needed to at the very least raise his Genesis Qi cultivation to the Heaven Gate stage. Though this was so, Zhou Yuan was not discouraged, because the gap between them was rapidly shrinking. In the room, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly opened, while the flickering light between his brows gradually receded. He raised his head and looked outside the window, where the night sky was slowly withdrawing as the first rays of dawn broke through the heavy layers of clouds, shining onto the magnificent Saint Remains City. While his eyes peered outside, his five fingers slowly tightened into a fist. ¡°Wu Huang, let¡¯s fully settle the grudge between us in the Saint Remains Domain.¡± ... After ascending to the advance Illusory stage, the first thing Zhou Yuan did was find Yaoyao. ¡°You¡¯ve broken through?¡± The latter immediately asked upon seeing him. When she saw Zhou Yuan nod, she too nodded as a slight smile emerged on her lips. ¡°Only when one knows shame can one truly display one¡¯s power and courage. Not bad.¡± She was clearly referring to yesterday¡¯s event when they met Wu Huang. Zhou Yuan had turned that pressure into motivation for his breakthrough. Zhou Yuan grinned and said, ¡°Can you teach me grade 3 Genesis Runes today?¡± The Saint Remains Domain was about to open so he needed to make use of what little time he had to learn a few grade 3 Genesis Runes. Only then would he have some insurance when he entered the Saint Remains Domain. ¡°Good idea, I can avoid those two dragging me out to window shop.¡± Yaoyao lazily stretched her back. She was really somewhat helpless with regards to the situation. Luluo had already been too energetic, and now, there was another Zuoqiu Qingyu who looked at Yaoyao in a strange manner. To the peace loving Yaoyao, their attention was practically akin to torture. Thus, the two found a quiet room and began to practice grade 3 Genesis Runes. The lesson went on all the way from the early morning till the sun was setting in the sky. Yaoyao rubbed Tuntun as she said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°You should now have some elementary understanding of these few grade 3 Genesis Runes. However, you still require a tremendous amount of practice in order to successfully utilise them.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°I will master them as soon as possible.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Looks like Wu Huang has given you a substantial amount of pressure.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded, not denying it. ¡°He indeed stronger than me. I need to raise my strength.¡± Yaoyao touched her cheek with one hand as the slender fingers of her other hand tapped the table. ¡°Wu Huang is indeed a remarkable person.¡± After yesterday¡¯s encounter, even Yaoyao with her high standards had judged that Wu Huang was considerably outstanding amongst the younger generation. Although he was arrogant, he had the ability to back up his pride. ¡°However¡­¡± Yaoya suddenly paused, staring at Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°His life has been smooth sailing since young, his triumphs and rapid progress naturally making him arrogant.¡± ¡°But from what I can see, compared to him, the you that broke free from your hopeless situation and never felt inferior as you earnestly worked hard to move forward, is even more outstanding than him.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback, a smile involuntarily forming on his face. ¡°Are you praising me?¡± This was far too rare. Given Yaoyao¡¯s standards, Zhou Yuan had never seen her praise in such a tone. Yaoyao¡¯s red lips lifted slightly. ¡°It can be considered praise.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± Burning battle intent rose in his eyes. Like Yaoyao had said, Wu Huang¡¯s strength originated from the smooth road king Wu had paved for him, an easy road of triumphant progress. On the other hand, he had to face despair since young. His eight meridian channels had been nowhere to be found, making it impossible for him to cultivate. He had ultimately created his own path through these tribulations one step at a time. He had never felt that he was any less a person than Wu Huang. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, calming the emotions in his heart. In the next instant however, their expressions suddenly changed slightly as they stood up and cast their gazes at the sky outside Saint Remains City. At this current time, six shooting star like objects were streaking past the horizon as vast and indescribably mighty auras filled the land, enveloping the entire city. The Genesis Rune boundary above Saint Remains City began to open at this moment. A powerful voice rang out across the entire city. ¡°Saint Remains City, Xiao Tianluo , respectfully welcomes the envoys of the six sacred sects!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 138 Barefoot Uncle The arrival of the envoys from the six sacred sects had undoubtedly become the most discussed topic in the city. The blood of every prided genius was boiling, the eyes on their raised heads filled with anticipation. Everyone had heard of the famed six sacred sects; entering any of them to train was akin to ascending the heavens in the single step. The six sacred sects were just too powerful, the overlords of this world. Even an enormous continent like this was merely akin to a remote corner in their eyes. However, the envoys did not show themselves after arriving at Saint Remains City. It was said that even the city lord Xiao Tianluo was unable to meet them in the city lord residence. After all, the disparity in status between them was just far too great. Even if one party was only an envoy, it was still far from what a mere lord of a city could compare to. Although the envoys from the six sacred sects did not reveal themselves, it did not hinder the gradual rise in excitement within the city. At the very least, everyone knew that the arrival of the envoys meant that the opening of the Saint Remains Domain was fast approaching. Unlike everyone else, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the arrival of the envoys. All his attention had been invested into learning grade 3 Genesis Runes. Under his nearly fanatical studying, the grade 3 Genesis Runes Yaoyao taught him were gradually being mastered at the elementary level. At this current point in time, it had already been five days since the envoys from the six sacred sects had arrived at Saint Remains City. ... House of Geniuses. Inside a certain restaurant. Zhou Yuan sat alone next to a window. Yaoyao had been dragged out by Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu again. He had spent yet another day immersed in the study of grade 3 Genesis Runes, and was currently taking a little time off. After drinking two cups of the restaurant¡¯s wine, Zhou Yuan shook his head in dissatisfaction. Having spent so much time with Yaoyao, he had now grown to become exceptionally picky about his alcohol. He seemed to fall into thought for a moment, before retrieving a jade bottle from his Universe bag. It was part of the ¡®good stuff¡¯ he had collected for Yaoyao, and it just so happened that this was a good time for him to have a secret sample. As such, Zhou Yuan enjoyed his drinking alone, his tense mental state slowly relaxing in the process. The truth was, his zealous practicing for the past few days had indeed been due to the pressure from Wu Huang. It would indeed be a joke if the lead that the latter had accumulated over the years was so easily surpassed. ¡°Even though my Spirit has already stepped into the advance Illusory stage, I still have stand no chance against Wu Huang.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze faintly flickered in thought. Of course, it was true that he might be able to put up a fight if he were to borrow Silver Shadow¡¯s strength. However, that was only to be used in the worst case scenario, because once he used Silver Shadow, Zhou Yuan did not know how long he would be unconscious. Being unconscious for too long in a place like the Saint Remains Domain was practically suicide. ¡°It seems that I need to find a chance to ascend to the Heaven Gate stage in the Saint Remains Domain.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart churned. While Zhou Yuan was lost in thought, he suddenly sensed some activity beside him. He lifted his head to look, only to find that a middle-aged man was now seated in front of him. This man¡¯s appearance was pretty unkempt and was even barefoot, while green smoke wafted from the pipe in his hand. He looked exactly like an old farmer that had just left his fields. At this current moment, the man was anxiously staring at the jade bottle full of excellent wine that stood before Zhou Yuan as he forced a smile and said, ¡°Youngin, your wine is not bad.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned, somewhat unable to figure out where this barefoot middle-aged man had come from. He was unable to sense much Genesis Qi undulations from the latter¡¯s body. Even so, Zhou Yuan was no petty person. The sight of the man¡¯s anxious appearance made him smile as he pushed the bottle over. The old farmer like man hurriedly received it upon seeing this, and poured a cup for himself. A mouthful later, an enchanted look filled his face. ¡°Not bad, not bad.¡± ¡°If uncle likes it, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. The middle-aged man¡¯s eyes immediately brightened as he excitedly responded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll give you my thanks youngin.¡± He took another mouthful before picking up his pipe again and drawing in a deep breath. Green smoke rolled out, its acrid flavor causing the surrounding geniuses to frown. The unkempt middle-aged man enjoyed a puff of smoke as he remarked, ¡°Youngin, there¡¯s something amiss about the way the others look at you.¡± Zhou Yuan shot a glance at his surroundings. The various geniuses were looking at him as if they were looking at a dead person. He knew that it was because news of the grudge between him and Wu Huang had already begun to spread. From their point of view, he was only a Qi Nourishing stage practitioner, and yet he had an enemy like Wu Huang. This was undoubtedly akin to having half a foot in the grave. Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°I have a life or death enemy called Wu Huang, and they likely believe that I¡¯m screwed.¡± ¡°Wu Huang?¡± The middle-aged uncle seemed to have heard of this name. His gaze immediately filled with pity as he looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Then you are indeed rather pitiful¡­¡± Zhou Yuan laughed, unoffended. He was already used to such a response. However, the middle-aged uncle quickly crowded over and said in a low voice, ¡°Moreover, I¡¯ve heard that the envoy from Sacred Palace has already met Wu Huang and is very satisfied with him. As long as Wu Huang is able to distinguish himself in the Saint Remains Domain, he will be accepted into Sacred Palace and become their disciple.¡± ¡°Sacred Palace?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook a little. By this current point in time, he had already gained some knowledge with regards to the six sacred sects. It was said that Sacred Palace was the strongest amongst the six sects. He never imagined that the envoy from Sacred Palace had already met with Wu Huang¡­ Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered, before eventually returning to calmness. He stared at the sloppy looking uncle and asked, ¡°Does uncle work at the city lord residence?¡± Outsiders would not be privy to such information. Only those in the city lord residence might catch some scraps. The slovenly uncle chuckled and continued to drink his wine. He sucked on his pipe and breathed out swirling green smoke as he shot a sideways glance at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Youngin, if you wish to take your revenge, the Saint Remains Domain will be your final chance.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, not saying anything else. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking this wine, don¡¯t drink too much.¡± The uncle grinned as he kept the bottle into his sleeves. He breathed out a puff a smoke as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Youngin, the Saint Remains Domain will open tomorrow. There¡¯s someone who has great expectations of you, so you better put in some effort. If your performance ends up terrible, it will really be a little embarrassing.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback, somewhat confused. There seemed to be a deeper meaning within the uncle¡¯s words. Plus, how did he know when the Saint Remains Domain was opening? Zhou Yuan frowned and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± The slovenly uncle did not reply, merely waving his hand as he puffed out another ring of green smoke. His bare feet walking on the ground as he unhurriedly made his exit. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with confusion. This barefoot uncle was not as simple as he had thought. However, he did not dwell too much on this event, spending a little more time sitting alone, before rising and returning to the room. Not long after he returned, news that shook the entire Saint Remains City began to spread. The Saint Remains Domain was opening tomorrow! In the room, Zhou Yuan was dazed by this news. The unkempt uncle had been right¡­ just who exactly was he? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 139 Attack By the time the next day arrived, the entire Saint Remains City was already boiling with excitement. Especially when six streaks of light flew out from the city lord residence and headed directly for the Saint Remains Domain. The countless geniuses inside the city also rose into the air, treading on Genesis Qi as they shot forth, covering the sky and earth like locusts. Zhou Yuan gazed upon this magnificent scene, before turning his head towards Yaoyao, Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu. ¡°We should go too.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu had practically attached herself to Yaoyao for the past few days. Yaoyao could not be bothered to explain, while Luluo was purely waiting for the fun to start when the truth was revealed. This was why Zuoqiu Qingyu had yet to realise that the beautiful man in her eyes was actually a fake. Yaoyao and the rest naturally had no objections. Hence, the group also moved, heading towards the Saint Remains Domain. The Saint Remains Domain was about thirty miles from Saint Remains City. At full speed, it did not take much time for the group to reach their destination. Zhou Yuan peered into the distance, where a giant, practically endless basin had appeared at the end of his sight. Mist shrouded the sky above the basin, giving off faint but strange undulations that made one¡¯s heart shiver. Under the mist was an incomparably large river. Light glimmered on the surface of the river¡¯s calm and rippleless waters that gave one a feeling of depthlessness. This should be the holy river the encircled the outer region of the Saint Remains Domain. Countless figures descended, extending all the way to the end of one¡¯s sight. No one knew just how many people had come. Outside the Saint Remains Domain were six titanic stone platforms on which figures were landing one after another. Zhou Yuan¡¯s group also landed on one of the platforms. Above the platforms, six powerful Genesis Qi torrents whizzed about like storms. Within thestorms, one could just barely discern six seated figures. Zhou Yuan inquired in a low voice, ¡°Are those the envoys from the six sacred sects?¡± Luluo nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, it is said that all six are experts that have reached the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± ¡°Six Divine Dwelling stage practitioners.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh in admiration. These experts were top class even in the Cangmang Continent. Zuoqiu Qingyu was making a ¡®binoculars¡¯ with her hands as she said with a grin, ¡°I heard that the one above this stone platform of ours comes from Sacred Palace.¡± ¡°Sacred Palace¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. The barefoot uncle from yesterday had mentioned that the Sacred Palace envoy had already taken a liking to Wu Huang. As long as the latter¡¯s performed well in the Saint Remains Domain, he would be accepted into Sacred Palace, ascending the heavens in a single step. While these thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, he suddenly lifted his head and looked towards a certain spot in the distance where a golden figure was standing with his hands behind his back. A strong and powerful aura pulsed from his body, making it such that none of the surrounding geniuses dared to approach. That pressure naturally originated from Wu Huang. Wu Huang also tilted his head at this moment, his emotionless gaze sweeping across Zhou Yuan before pausing. ¡°His Spirit has reached the advance Illusory stage.¡± Wu Huang¡¯s eyes rippled faintly. The crippled dragon of the Zhou clan did have some ability. ¡°Truly a troublesome fly.¡± Mumbled Wu Huang as a strange light suddenly appeared in his eyes. It was at this very moment that Zhou Yuan suddenly felt all the hairs on his body stand as an indescribable feeling of danger surged in his heart. His eyes firmly locked onto Wu Huang. The latter suddenly raised his hand at this moment, his five fingers tightly clenching into a fist, before throwing a punch at Zhou Yuan. Rumble! Scarlet-red Genesis Qi whizzed forth like a scorching sun, swift as thunder as it shot towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Wu Huang, you¡¯re too much!¡± Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu detected the attack and immediately shouted out in anger, vigorous Genesis Qi exploding from their bodies. Iciness also flashed across Yaoyao¡¯s eyes as the Spirit on her bright forehead began to shake. Tuntun also released a low roar from her arms. However, just as they were about to stop the attack, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended from the sky, forcing all of their Genesis Qi back into their bodies. ¡°The Sacred Palace envoy?!¡± Luluo¡¯s and Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s pretty faces changed. The pressure had come from the Sacred Palace envoy seated in the sky above. Meanwhile, the scarlet-red fist of light had already arrived before Zhou Yuan. Even an advance Heaven Gate practitioner would fear the immense power contained within it. ¡°That guy is dead.¡± One of the geniuses in the vicinity sighed. No one had expected that Wu Huang would suddenly attack, not to mention his mercilessness. He clearly intended to kill Zhou Yuan with a single punch. Scarlet-light filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyeballs, the ferocious undulations that swept towards him naturally making his pupils tighten. However, he did not panic at this critical juncture, but instead suddenly took half a step forward. He crossed his arms in front of him as a rune of light appeared on them. ¡°Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Mighty Tortoise Armor Rune!¡± In the wake of the yell in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, light began to weave together in front of him, forming a dim gray tortoise shell that was a few feet wide. The mottled shell gave off a feeling of sturdiness as if it was capable of withstanding a heavy blow that could shatter a mountain. Boom! The scarlet-red light fist smashed into the tortoise shell, scarlet-red light raging as cracks began to appear on the shell. In the end, the shell only managed to bitterly endure for several breaths before shattering with a boom. The remains of the scarlet-red light fist slammed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms. Thump! His body shot backwards, his legs smearing long scars on the ground as dust filled the air. Countless gazes looked over as several people frowned. Wu Huang¡¯s actions were really somewhat ugly. His strength was clearly far beyond Zhou Yuan¡¯s, and yet the former still had to resort to such tactics. ¡°Zhou Yuan is probably dead, right?¡± Numerous voices rang out as they looked towards the dust cloud. Somewhere else far away, Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling and the rest involuntarily burst out into laughter when they saw this scene. The sight of Zhou Yuan had finally become too irksome to Wu Huang. Wu Huang¡¯s expression remained indifferent, as if his previous action had merely been akin to swatting an annoying fly. Everyone stared as the dust settled. Next, their expressions suddenly changed. They had discovered that a figure was still standing within the falling dust. The stone floor beneath his feet had fractured, and green scales could faintly be seen on his crossed arms. However, the scales were currently in bits and pieces. Fresh blood flowed down along his arms, dripping onto the ground below. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was serene, but the killing intent that swelled within his eyes were practically akin to a bursting dam. If not for his elementary mastery of a defensive grade 3 Genesis Rune and the defensive powers of the Magical Python Scales, Wu Huang¡¯s punch would have killed him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you alright?!¡± Yaoyao, Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu rushed to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. Tuntun jumped out from Yaoyao¡¯s arms and roared, its tiny body rapidly growing as it transformed into a mysterious giant beast. Black light pulsed from its enormous mouth as it glared at Wu Huang. It was extremely intelligent, and although it normally treated Zhou Yuan with disdain and dislike, in Tuntun¡¯s eyes, Zhou Yuan was the closest person to it besides Yaoyao. It was fine for it to bully him, but the fact that this person had suddenly attacked was truly unforgivable. The surrounding prided geniuses hastily retreated when they felt Tuntun¡¯s ferocity. By the side, Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face had turned inconceivably cold for the first time. Her hands were tightly clenched and her gaze eerily frosty as the rune between her brows began to ripple faintly ¡°Don¡¯t be rash!¡± Zhou Yuan reached out a bloody hand, grabbing Yaoyao¡¯s tiny hand and gripped it tightly. He remembered master Cang Yuan had said never to allow the seal on Yaoyao¡¯s head to loosen. Yaoyao looked towards Zhou Yuan. Her normally clean freak self did not mind Zhou Yuan¡¯s bloody hand this time. She blamed herself slightly; she had nearly allowed Wu Huang to kill Zhou Yuan in front of her. ¡°Stop!¡± A booming shout descended from the sky at this moment. The Sacred Palace envoy had turned his gaze down, the pressure of a Divine Dwelling expert sweeping down, suppressing Tuntun such that it was unable to move. The Sacred Palace envoy growled, ¡°The Saint Remains Domain is about to open, don¡¯t cause any trouble!¡± Luluo angrily said, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you stop Wu Huang earlier?!¡± The corners of Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s also curled downwards as she remarked, ¡°This envoy doesn¡¯t know the meaning of fair.¡± How could they not understand by now that the Sacred Palace envoy had purposely suppressed them earlier, preventing them from aid Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that the envoy of Sacred Palace was protecting Wu Huang. The surrounding geniuses also broke out into whispers. The actions of the Sacred Palace envoy was indeed rather unfair. In the sky above, the envoy¡¯s expression turned somewhat ugly. He swept a cold glance at Zhou Yuan and the rest and declared, ¡°Since you have complaints, don¡¯t enter the Saint Remains Domain.¡± Luluo¡¯s and Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s faces turned somewhat ugly. What a disgraceful envoy. However, just as the Sacred Palace envoys¡¯ words rang out, a figure within a similarly dazzling ball of light in the far off sky seemed to turn his gaze and looked in their direction as a mocking voice subsequently followed. ¡°Heh heh, Zhao Pan, you¡¯re representing the Sacred Palace after all, so can you not look so ugly?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 140 Saint Remains Domain As the mocking voice rang out in the sky, countless gazes were drawn over. The one who had spoken was also one of the envoys from the six sacred sects. Under the attention of those countless gazes, the glaring rays from the ball of light began to weaken, revealing the figure within. One would see a rather messy looking middle-aged man seated there with a pipe hanging from his mouth. Boundless Genesis Qi violently swirled around him like a storm, seemingly causing the world around him to tremble. Zhou Yuan was stunned by the sight of this figure. It was the same person who had asked him for wine yesterday. He would never have imagined that the sloppy looking uncle would turn out to be one of the envoys from the six sacred sects. Above the stone platform where Zhou Yuan and the rest were located, a dark look was revealed on the fair clean shaven face of Sacred Palace envoy called Zhao Pan. He shot a glance at the slovenly middle-aged man and said, ¡°Oh? What teachings do you have, Mu Wuji?¡± The scruffy looking middle-aged man puffed out a breath of green smoke, smiling faintly as he replied, ¡°I¡¯ve no interest in teaching. I only want to tell you that you don¡¯t have the right to banish anyone here, because amongst them may be the future seedlings of the other five sects.¡± Zhao Pan¡¯s expression darkened. Just as he was about to retort, the other four envoys spoke up to mediate, ¡°Both of you should hold back a sentence or two. All six of us are required to breakthrough this mist, and it will be almost impossible if anyone is missing.¡± In the end, Zhao Pan coldly snorted. His gaze icily swept across Zhou Yuan and the rest, before glancing at Wu Huang with a trace of dissatisfaction, evidently displeased that the latter had not killed Zhou Yuan in a single punch, causing trouble for him. Wu Huang paid no heed to this dissatisfaction. He merely looked towards Zhou Yuan as his eyes narrowed slightly. The fact that the latter had blocked his punch had likewise surprised him. Zhou Yuan lightly swung his bloody arms. The intense pain that emanated from them was testament to the power of Wu Haung¡¯s earlier punch. If Zhou Yuan did not have his defensive grade 3 Genesis Rune, he would have likely ended up seriously injured or dead. It seems that the other party was beginning to feel a little threatened now that his Spirit had reached the advance Illusory stage, and planned to finish him off in the quickest way possible. However, from a certain point of view, wasn¡¯t this a good thing? Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was akin to a serene rippleless lake as he stared at Wu Huang, but the killing intent in the former¡¯s eyes had reached its peak. With a sudden laugh, Zhou Yuan slowly lowered his eyelids. From what he could see, Wu Huang was not as indifferent towards Zhou Yuan as he looked. The actions of the former were clearly saying that he, Wu Huang, was afraid. He was afraid that he would lose everything he possessed. He was afraid that Zhou Yuan was really able to take everything back. Zhou Yuan gently patted Tuntun¡¯s head, causing the latter¡¯s gigantic body to slowly begin to shrink. However, malicious intent still filled its eyes as they tightly locked onto Wu Huang. By the side, Yaoyao was silent for a while before she said, ¡°I will teach him a lesson if I meet him in the Saint Remains Domain, but don¡¯t worry, I will not kill him.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment, before shooting a glance at Yaoyao. It seemed that Wu Huang¡¯s actions had truly angered her this time. Zhou Yuan scratched the back of his head, and could only say, ¡°Try to take it easy.¡± By the side, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s little hands were holding her red cheeks as she dreamily gazed at Yaoyao. The latter was so domineering at this moment. After all, there were not many who had the qualifications to speak such words in the face of Wu Huang. As the hostile atmosphere began to recede, the watching Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling and the rest shook their heads in disappointment. No one had expected that Zhou Yuan would actually be able to withstand Wu Huang¡¯s powerful punch. ¡°This kid does have a little ability.¡± Remarked Xiao Tianxuan in a nonchalant manner. The corners of Gu Ling''s ruddy little mouth turned downwards. "He''s just lucky. Given his capabilities, only death awaits him if he encounters Wu Huang for real." The others nodded in agreement and chorused, "If he''s unfortunate enough to bump into us in the Saint Remains Domain, we''ll be sure to teach him a proper lesson and give Gu Ling some justice." As they spoke, the six envoys in the sky concentrated on the mist above the holy river and suddenly acted at the same time. Rumble! Six raging rivers of Genesis Qi that spanned several hundred feet abruptly burst out from the top of their heads. Like giant pillars, the Genesis Qi barbarically shot into the seemingly endless mist. The Genesis Qi pillars began to sweep and vibrate, tearing apart the mist one layer at a time. However, there was a terrifying power within the mist. Ancient runes appeared and began blasting the six Genesis Qi pillars, shaving away layer after layer of Genesis Qi. In the sky, the faces of the six envoys were grim, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent as they poured all of their attention into their Genesis Qi. Astonishing auras erupted from their bodies, causing even the color of the world around them to change slightly. The prided geniuses below were silenced due to fear. Such power was still far beyond their reach. ¡°Is this the power of the Divine Dwelling stage?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan under his breath. After the Alpha-Origin stage was the Divine Dwelling stage. Once one reaches this level, the Qi Dwelling in one¡¯s body will undergo a transformation. It was said that the Genesis Qi of those that have successfully transformed their Qi Dwellings into Divine Dwellings would also evolve, becoming far more powerful than ordinary Genesis Qi. Under the watching eyes of the countless geniuses, six glowing pillars of Genesis Qi continued to stir within the mist. The six envoys gave their all, and everyone soon began to see a faint cavity appear within the thick, almost vicious mist. As one peered past the thin mist, one seemed to be able to see the ancient land of the Saint Remains Domain. ¡°Everyone, enter now!¡± While the crowd was focused on the gap within the mist, the shouts of the six envoys rang out like thunder. Rumble! The moment these words were said, it was as if the entire world began to heave. Countless prided geniuses immediately shot forward, transforming to glowing figures as they charged into the cavity within the mist. Zhou Yuan looked towards the rest and said, ¡°We should get a move on too. No one knows what will happen in the Saint Remains Domain so be careful.¡± Yaoyao, Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu nodded. Swish! In the next moment, they shot forward together. The group reached the hole within the mist in the short span of a dozen breaths. No one dared to tarry, pushing their Genesis Qi to the limits as their speed soared. ¡°We¡¯re about to enter!¡± Zhou Yuan watched the faint white mist surge towards him as he took in a deep breath, the Genesis Qi around him rippling as it protected his body. Boom! Their bodies finally hit the mist. Space began to distort as if they were crashing into another world, making it impossible to steady one¡¯s body, and have no choice but to be randomly tossed around. Zhou Yuan was thrown around till he saw stars. A long time seemed to pass, before he finally felt the space around him solidify as his body was powerfully flung outwards. Crash! Zhou Yuan crashed into the ground, eating a mouthful of soil. He ignored the pain, performing a tumble before getting up. What met his eyes was an ancient world as if he had been transported back to a prehistoric era¡­ ¡°Is this the Saint Remains Domain?¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself as he gazed upon the ancient land before him. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 141 Enemies Inevitably Mee While the countless prided geniuses of the Cangmang Continent flooded into the Saint Remains Domain, no one knew that something important was happening in a certain far off continent. On this particular continent, dazzling light was currently exploding from a mountain top. One would see that an enormous Genesis Rune boundary had been inscribed into the ground. Astonishing undulations pulsed from it, gathering all of the surrounding Genesis Qi. At this current time, five figures stood at the center of this gigantic Genesis Rune boundary. Several figures stood in the air outside the giant Genesis Rune boundary. Extremely powerful Genesis Qi rippled from their bodies as terrifying pressures suffocated the area. Outside the Genesis Rune boundary, a stern elder said in a low voice,¡°Ye Ming, the Saint Remains Domain in the Cangmang Continent has already been opened, and we will soon start up the teleportation Genesis Rune to send the five of you in. The five of you are the most elite prided geniuses of our Dongxuan Continent, and your task will be to snatch away the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain. If you succeed, your futures will definitely be limitless!¡± Another old granny in black said, "The Cangmang Continent is a chaotic mess in comparison to our Dongxuan Continent that it controlled by us, the five great clans. While the five of you are the most elite prided geniuses that the five great clans have spared no effort in nurturing. Therefore, you absolutely cannot lose to the geniuses from the Cangmang Continent!" One of the five individuals inside the Genesis Rune boundary scratched the back of his head, displaying an innocent smile as he asked, "Although there are no powerful factions in the Cangmang Continent, the envoys from the six sacred sects will be there. Will they make things difficult for us if we''re found out?" The stern elder answered in an indifferent tone, "The gifts and blessings of the world do not belong to any one person. If the geniuses of the Cangmang Continent are incapable of securing the gifts offered them, it will naturally be passed on to those with ability. That''s why the six sacred sect envoys will not say anything even if they find out. As long as you succeed, you will also naturally be able to enter the six sacred sects." In the Genesis Rune boundary, a tall and slender girl waved her hand and nonchalantly said, ¡°Relax, it¡¯s just a mere Cangmang Continent. We¡¯ve already familiarized ourselves with their top geniuses, and they won¡¯t be much of a problem. The granny in black looked towards the center of the group where a young man in black robes stood. ¡°Ye Ming, you will serve as the leader on this mission, and everyone else will listen to your orders.¡± The eyes of the youth in black robes had been lightly shut since the beginning, only slowly opening after hearing the granny¡¯s words. Black pupils that seemed to contain pure darkness, a sight that was incomparably strange. He did not reply the granny, but instead looked towards the other four prided geniuses with those pitch-black eyes as he said in a detached manner, ¡°Regardless of whether it is the geniuses of the Cangmang Continent or you guys, whoever obstructs me will be¡­ killed.¡± His tone was as ordinary as could be, containing neither emotion nor killing intent. When he spoke, however, the other four elite geniuses of the Dongxuan Continent shivered and unexpectedly did not retort. Upon seeing that no one had anything to say, the youth in black robes lifted his head, looked outside of the Genesis Rune boundary and nonchalantly said, ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± The stern elder and the other four nodded. With a wave of their sleeves, vigorous Genesis Qi whizzed out and poured into the Genesis Rune boundary. It immediately began to shake as space started to twist and distort. While the space around them distorted, the five figures within the Genesis Rune gradually faded away. With one final burst of light, their figures completely disappeared. Upon seeing the five figures vanish, the stern elder and his group finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°The Cangmang Continent is nothing special, yet they possess a Saint Remains Domain. We can¡¯t be blamed for having designs on it.¡± ¡°Haha, relax. Ye Ming and the other four are the most outstanding younger generation talents of our five clans. With them in play, what can the geniuses of a tiny Cangmang Continent possibly amount to?¡± ¡°Yes, there will be no obstructions this time. As long as they manage to obtain the greatest gift, an expert that can open a Law Domain might appear in our five clans. When that happens, we may even end up establishing our own sect and become a true behemoth like existence in Cangxuan Heaven. ... What appeared before Zhou Yuan was an endless ancient land. Ancient trees that reached into the sky, giant mountains that seemed to pierce the clouds. The entire land was filled with an ancient and barbaric aura. When one looked towards the sky, one would no longer see the swirling mist, but instead a dim yellow hue that was clearly different from the outside world. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that this Saint Remains Domain exists in a different space.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. This Saint Remains Domain may perhaps be a tiny corner of the Cangmang Continent, but the land reflected his eyes was extremely vast. If one really had to compare, it may even be larger than the entire Cangmang Continent. ¡°To think a drop of blood from a Saint would become such a mystical land¡­¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. He truly wondered how strong the so-called Saint was that a single drop of blood could transform into a world of its own. ¡°Hmm¡­ I seem to be separated from Yaoyao and the rest.¡± Zhou Yuan scanned his surroundings, finding it completely empty and without a single soul in sight. It was more than obvious that Yaoyao and the rest were not here. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to get going alone.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. He was not worried about Yaoyao. Although she was unable to use Genesis Qi, her Spirit cultivation was outrageously amazing. Only a handful of prided geniuses from the Cangmang Continent would be able to threaten her. Zhou Yuan did not hesitate for long, randomly choosing a direction as Genesis Qi began to rise around him. With a stamp of his foot, his body shot forward. After travelling at full speed for about a dozen minutes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly focused. A lake had appeared some distance to his front. Zhou Yuan concentrated, his expression involuntarily changing a split second later. He had discovered a figure standing by the lakeside. Golden robes and a dignified aura. Everything about the figure was just too familiar. It was Wu Huang! As the saying went, it was inevitable for enemies to meet! So many people had been scattered, but he just had to encounter Wu Huang. When Zhou Yuan discovered Wu Huang, the latter also seemed to sense something. He turned his head, his gaze instantly finding Zhou Yuan, causing him to be momentarily stunned. However, Wu Huang swiftly regained his wits, and could not help but break out into a soft laughter that gradually grew louder and louder. After laughing for some time, he finally stopped, staring at Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°Do you know what I was thinking about just now?¡± ¡°I was thinking about where should I go to find you, the cripple dragon of the Zhou clan, so I can finally eliminate any potential threat you might become.¡± ¡°And just as this problem was beginning to vex me, you decided to appear¡­¡± ¡°Do you know what this means?¡± ¡°It means I possess the true blessings. Whatever I wish for will naturally become reality.¡± Wu Huang stared at Zhou Yuan, a toying look in his eyes as if he was looking at prey that could not escape the palm of his hand. ¡°Crippled dragon of the Zhou clan, that is why I am the true dragon!¡± ¡°With no one to protect you this time, how will a crippled dragon like you flail about before your inevitable doom?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 142 Perilous Situation In front of the lake. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression had turned rather grave as he gazed upon the toying look on Wu Huang¡¯s face. Meeting Wu Huang here was definitely not part of his plans. This was really quite unlucky. After all, the current Zhou Yuan was completely outclassed. Hence, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered slightly for an instant, before Genesis Qi suddenly exploded below his feet. Not even a shred of hesitation could be seen as his figure turned and fled. The only thing to do in this situation was run. ¡°Can you really escape?¡± However, Wu Huang merely smiled faintly in response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s decisive choice to escape, a smile that contained a faint hint of mockery. His foot slammed into the ground as vigorous scarlet-red Genesis Qi erupted from within his body. Unbearable heat pulsed, making the lake waters boil as the ground rapidly cracked. Bang! Wu Huang¡¯s figure abruptly shot forth. In the mere span of a few breaths, he had appeared directly behind Zhou Yuan, a scarlet-red hand swatting downwards at the latter with power so great that the ground below to fissure. ¡°Dragon Step!¡± Zhou Yuan did not dare to be even a split second late and hurriedly performed Dragon Step. His figure turned somewhat blurry as the hand descended, causing the attack to brush past his body. Bang! The ground split apart, while Zhou Yuan borrowed the force to propel himself even further away. Though his attack had missed, Wu Huang was unaffected, neither hurried nor slow as his figure continued to closely give chase. The smile on his face was akin to a cat toying with a mouse as he sent a hand swatting towards Zhou Yuan from time to time, making the latter cut an extremely sorry figure. In a short few minutes, Zhou Yuan had seen his life flash past his eyes multiple times after nearly taking several direct hits from Wu Huang. He was also clearly growing rather weary as the chase dragged on. "What a pitiful crippled dragon¡­" Wu Huang walked towards Zhou Yuan with his hands behind his back, his face full of compassion as he said, "But don''t worry, after killing you, I will destroy the Great Zhou Empire so that your family can keep you company." Boom! However, the moment he neared Zhou Yuan, the wearines on the latter''s face abruptly disappeared, replaced by an icy coldness. With a stamp, Zhou Yuan no longer tried to flee, but instead charged at Wu Huang like a bolt of lightning. "Dragon Tablet Hand, break the sky!" His hand was swung, Genesis Qi rumbling as the air in front of it was rapidly blasted away. "Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Black Gold Hand Rune!" In conjunction with using the strongest move in his arsenal, a light rune appeared on Zhou Yuan''s palm. A black gold radiance emerged, amplifying the destructive power of the attack and the hardness of the hand. An astonishing amount of power exploded in a split second. Boom! A hand containing all the power Zhou Yuan could muster powerfully swung towards Wu Huang. Wu Huang''s eyes narrowed slightly, his five fingers clenching into a fist as he punched. Dong! A deep sound rang out as the ground below the two cracked open. Zhou Yuan''s body was flung backwards, his feet leaving deep grooves on the ground. Wu Huang''s sleeves had been torn open, the force making him take a dozen steps back. His expression became extremely ominous at this moment, killing intent flaring as he stared at Zhou Yuan. "So even a cornered rabbit can bite back." "But you''ve now truly angered me!" Powerful scarlet-red Genesis Qi flooded out from the top of Wu Huang''s head like a tsunami as an extremely domineering heat spread. It was clear that he no longer planned to play the role of a cat toying with a mouse. He was now out to kill. Zhou Yuan''s expression grew increasingly grave. He rubbed the silver ring on his finger as a grim coldness flashed in his eyes. If there was really no other choice, he would have to use Silver Shadow. The current him was already at the advance Illusory stage, and would surely be able to quickly escape Wu Huang by borrowing Silver Shadow¡¯s power. The only uncertainty was how long he would be unconscious after using Silver Shadow. It was extremely risky. There was no one around to protect him, and he was in the Saint Remains Domain that was filled with unknown dangers. But¡­ it would at the very least be better than dying at Wu Huang¡¯s hands. Wu Huang¡¯s body slowly rose into the air, standing on Genesis Qi as he looked down from above at Zhou Yuan and indifferently said, ¡°I should really let Wu Yao see your miserable appearance. I believe she will no longer have any doubts about the fact that I am the true dragon, don¡¯t you agree?¡± He shook his head, deciding that he would not waste anymore time. His hands slapped together, and scarlet-red Genesis Qi roared out, like a river of magma filled with overwhelming destructive force that flowed towards Zhou Yuan. Space warped and twisted wherever the scarlet-red flood passed. Scarlet-red filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s vision. He took in a deep breath as a resolute look flitted across his eyes. With a pat of his Universe bag, a silver ball appeared in his hand. Bzz! However, right before Zhou Yuan was about to activate Silver Shadow, a peculiar sound suddenly rang out across the area, a sound that seemed similar to the cry of a sword. Swish! The flood of red descended, but it was at this very moment that a black shadow suddenly zoomed over from behind at a shocking speed. A sharp aura burst forth, cutting deep wounds on the ground. Bzz! The black shadow met the scarlet-red flood, the berserk aftershocks from their clash tearing up the surrounding ground. As the dust gradually settled, Zhou Yuan was stunned to see a thick tipless black broadsword standing in front of him. Sharp sword Qi pulsed from the sword as it trembled. Wu Huang¡¯s expression sunk when he saw the black broadsword and icily shouted, ¡°Blind Sword Li Chunjun! Why are you being a busybody?!¡± ¡°Blind Sword?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook as he turned his head, only to see a figure in black slowly approaching. The figure¡¯s footsteps were not quick, but in a mere few breaths, he had already arrived in front of Zhou Yuan, standing behind the black broadsword. He raised his head, his black cloth covered eyes looking towards Wu Huang as he placed both hands on the sword grip and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°I owe him a meal debt.¡± Wu Huang¡¯s gaze darkened as the scarlet-red Genesis Qi around him began to churn, clearly now enraged. The black clothed youth called Li Chunjun tilted his head slightly and said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°Go, I will stop him.¡± The silver ball in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand returned to his Universe bag. He looked at Li Chunjun in silence for some time, before he said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Although he still had his final trump card, it was naturally best to avoid using it. Li Chunjun shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m merely repaying the roast meat debt.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t kill him¡­ I intend to personally end him.¡± Lu Chunjun was taken aback, evidently surprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s charisma. The former could feel that the latter was trying to act tough, but was truly serious about it. For the first time, a faint smile appeared on his stiff face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the current me cannot kill him.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and nodded, before raising his head as he looked towards the stormy-face Wu Huang and said, ¡°Such a great opportunity, and yet you¡¯ve still failed to kill me. What do you think this means?¡± ¡°It means that your blessing is a fake¡­¡± Zhou Yuan let out a hearty laugh, paying no further notice to Wu Huang, whose face had grown so stormy that it was about to break into a downpour. There was no hesitation as Zhou Yuan turned around and transformed into a flash of light that rapidly disappeared into the horizon. A voice seemed to echo from far away. "Wu Huang, make sure to take good care of your head so I can take it the next time we meet!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 143 String of White Qi By a stream deep within a mountain. Zhou Yuan squatted by the stream as he drank two mouthfuls of water. It had been half a day since he encountered Wu Huang. The former had most of the time travelling at full speed without stopping for a single break. It was difficult for even Zhou Yuan to manage such a high pace. ¡°But I should now be free of him.¡± Zhou Yuan wiped away the water at the corner of his mouth, his eyes narrowing slightly as a fierce look flitted across them. He did not feel that running away from Wu Huang was humiliating. The latter¡¯s strength far surpassed his own, a lead that had arisen due to various reasons. What he needed to do now was to shrink that gap with all his might, not fight to the death while knowing that he was clearly outclassed because that was not bravery, but foolishness. One¡¯s path cannot be smooth sailing forever, and there were times when it was essential to patiently bear with the situation. This was not weakness, but similar to a spring, shrinking back not due to fear, but in preparation for the moment when one would let loose the strongest blow. The vast Saint Remains Domain was filled with opportunities, and this was where Zhou Yuan¡¯s chance lay. He needed to grasp some of these opportunities and strengthen himself till he reached the level that allowed him to oppose Wu Huang. When that time finally came, Zhou Yuan would naturally no longer harbor even the tiniest thought of retreating. ¡°I wonder how Yaoyao and the rest are doing¡­¡± Zhou Yuan stood up and swept his gaze about his surroundings. The Saint Remains Domain was just too huge, and he did not know how to find them. While scanning the area, he eyes suddenly froze. He had seen a giant black beast walk out of the forests to his front, its beady beast eyes tightly glued to him. The giant black beast looked like a lion, but a flame burned on its tail. Fire also raged within its enormous mouth. ¡°Mid Heaven Gate strength¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was a little amazed by the sight of the black lion. It was likely a Genesis Beast of the Saint Remains Domain and was pretty strong too. ¡°It seems that I¡¯ve been categorized as prey again.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as his hand reached towards his waist and pulled out the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The brush swiftly expanded, its snow-white hairs twisting into a sharp spear tip. He raised the tip of the brush and pointed at the blazing black lion. ¡°After being forced to flee for so long, I¡¯ll be more than happy to use you as an outlet for my frustration.¡± Roar! The blazing black lion roared in response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s provocation. In a flash, it transformed into a blur of black as it dashed forward, its sharp claws tearing through the air, viciously slashing at Zhou Yuan. Dark gold Genesis Qi exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as the Heavenly Yuan Brush shivered slightly. Deep green light gathered at its tip, revealing an incomparable sharpness. ¡°Auraflare technique.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s toes pushed off the ground as his body abruptly rocketed forward, and the two figures crossed above the stream. The blazing black lion¡¯s sharp claws slashed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder, but instead of blood, all it could draw was sparks from the green scales that had appeared on his skin. While the blazing black lion¡¯s claws scraped across Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulders, the brush tip that pulsed with a green aura pierced the former¡¯s throat. Fresh blood spurted out like a fountain. Zhou Yuan and the blazing black lion had exchanged places, but the latter¡¯s enormous bodysoon crashed to the ground with a loud thud. Zhou Yuan turned around and looked at the fallen blazing black lion, only to be stunned. He had just caught sight of a wisp of faint white Qi rise from its corpse. A string of white surged towards Zhou Yuan, splitting into two. One half homing in on Zhou Yuan, while the other swam towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. Zhou Yuan cautiously observed the strands of white Qi. His Spirit senses reached out, but did not detect any danger. Instead, he could feel extremely pure Genesis Qi contained within them. It was even purer than the Genesis Qi here. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Confusion colored Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He hesitated for a few moments, before very carefully absorbing the strand of pure Genesis Qi. Once it entered his body, it flowed through his eight meridian channels, before ultimately arriving in his Qi Dwelling where it was subsequently transformed into a sliver of Omin Python Qi. This process was smooth, without a single hiccup occuring. So smooth that it was even more effortless than his usual training. In addition, it was also more effective. The gains from that single strand from earlier was approximately equal nearly two hours of training. Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, ¡°Why do the Genesis Beasts in the Saint Remains Domain possess such pure Genesis Qi?¡± His gaze flickered in thought. It was a long time later before he arrived at a conclusion. ¡°The Saint Remains Domain originated from a Saint¡¯s blood, and the same is likely true for these Genesis Beasts within it. That¡¯s why their bodies contain extremely pure Genesis Qi, Genesis Qi that probably originated from the fallen Saint.¡± ¡°Only then does it explain how such a tiny sliver can have such a huge effect on my cultivation.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes grew increasingly bright. If this conjecture was true, hunting Genesis Beasts in the Saint Remains Domain would be an extremely effective training method. In addition¡­ He lowered his head and looked at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. After absorbing the strand of Genesis Qi from earlier, the third ancient rune on its mottled body had become a little brighter. The absorption of the white Qi was clearly extremely beneficial to the Heavenly Yuan Brush. At this rate, it would not be long before the third rune of the brush was awakened, and there was a high chance that it would reach the high grade Black tier level. Most importantly, every awakened rune would bestow a new ability unto the brush, an ability that would surely become a powerful support to Zhou Yuan. For the sake of gaining the power to contend against Wu Huang, the current Zhou Yuan needed to raise his battle power from every avenue possible. ¡°As expected of the Saint Remains Domain.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed as his gaze gradually filled with excitement and anticipation. He knew that this information would soon be known by all of the prided geniuses that had entered. When that happened, the competition would become much fiercer. ¡°I¡¯ve gotta take advantage of this time to act!¡± Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush and looked towards the mountains before him, from which the faint cries of beasts could be heard. No longer hesitating, his figure moved, transforming into a shadow that charged straight in. Zhou Yuan¡¯s entry broke the peace of the mountain. Majority of the Genesis Beasts here had the strength of grade 3, and were comparable to the Heaven Gate stage, making them very appropriate opponents for someone of his level. It only took a day for Zhou Yuan to reach the deeper parts of the mountain where he finally encountered some resistance. ... In the depths of the mountain. Zhou Yuan eyes fell upon the over ten feet tall golden ape before him as it released a deafening roar. At this moment however, there was an extremely strange look in his gaze as his stared at the creature. The latter¡¯s strength had reached the peak of grade 3, and was comparable to an advance Heaven Gate practitioner. But what made Zhou Yuan puzzled was not the golden ape¡¯s strength, but the fact that¡­ it actually knew a Genesis technique! The last Genesis Beast he had seen using one was Tuntun. But Tuntun was an extraordinary existence. Could it be? Did this golden ape possess a special bloodline like Tuntun? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 144 The Third Rune Roar! Deep in the mountains. A golden ape roared as it hammered its chest, creating a thunderous din. Berserk Genesis Qi exploded from its body, shaking the surrounding space. It eyes fell upon Zhou Yuan as it suddenly shot forward with a sudden stamp of its foot. It appeared above Zhou Yuan in an instant, giant fists hammering downwards with power so wild that even cracks began to appear on the ground below. Zhou Yuan did not dare to be negligent in the face of the golden ape¡¯s incoming attack. The big guy¡¯s strength had reached the advance Heaven Gate stage, plus it had a strong physical body, traits that made it a pretty tough opponent. ¡°Dragon Tablet Hand, break the sky!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand was swung, heavy as can be. The howling palm winds that accompanied it blasting away the air. This attack of his was similarly ferocious to the extreme. Boom! The two forces collided in the most violent manner. Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves immediately unfurled upon impact, causing cracks to extend along the ground, while towering tree after tree was snapped at their waist. Countless falling leaves were instantly turned to dust. Roar! The golden ape¡¯s titanic body jerked, before being sent flying backwards, crashing into a cliff wall as it let out a painful yelp. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was also forced a dozen steps back, but what made his face turn a little grave, however, was the strange force contained within the Genesis Qi of the golden ape¡¯s attack that had stealthily exploded when they came into contact. He had suffered when they clashed earlier, the stealthy explosion making the Qi and blood in his body churn. ¡°The force should be from some kind of Genesis technique¡­¡± There was amazement in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He could sense that the reason why a mysterious force was hidden within the golden ape¡¯s attack was because it knew a particular Genesis technique. ¡°Interesting.¡± Zhou Yuan laughed as his body rocketed forward. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand turning into numerous after images that filled the sky and began to engulf the golden ape. Ch ch! The images descended, piercing the golden ape¡¯s defences, carving bloody scar after scar on its giant body. Roar! The golden ape roared madly, and suddenly slammed its heavy fists into the ground. A wave of Genesis Qi immediately unfurled, shattering all of the brush images. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body drifted backwards. He looked at the now crazed ape as he suddenly extended a finger and lightly pointed. The golden ape¡¯s body abruptly froze. Soon after, it wailed. One could only watch as glowing snow-white hairs suddenly shot out of its body. The interior of its body had been completely destroyed by the invading hairs, instantly wiping out its lifeforce. Heavenly Yuan Brush, Erode. The brush tip shook as the hairs returned like birds to the woods. A Genesis Beast like this was blessed with raw physical strength, but it lacked intelligence. This was why it had been unable to sense the invasion of the hairs. As the golden ape died, a thick stream of white rose from its body. The mist parted into two like before, pouring into Zhou Yuan and the Heavenly Yuan Brush. A smile emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he felt the increasingly bountiful Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling. Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, ¡°I am already at the peak of the advance Qi Nourishing stage. Only a single step separates me from the Heaven Gate stage.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± While Zhou Yuan was delighted by the steady rise in his strength, he suddenly discovered that besides the stream of white Qi, a glowing ball had also risen from the golden ape¡¯s corpse. Zhou Yuan quickly walked forward while staring at the glowing ball, only to realise that it was a jade strip. Astonishment filled his face as he carefully grabbed the jade tile. The moment he did so, a surge of information instantly rushed into his head. ¡°Mid grade Black tier Genesis technique, Yuan Explosive Force. An explosive force can be melded into one¡¯s Genesis Qi attacks, amplifying its power.¡± Zhou Yuan was stupefied. He finally understood. The explosive force contained within the golden ape¡¯s Genesis Qi from earlier had originated from this technique, Yuan Explosive Force! ¡°How can a Genesis Beast learn a Genesis technique? And the Genesis technique it knows can even become a jade strip after its death?!¡± Zhou Yuan was dumbfounded for a long time, eventually shaking his head with a bitter smile. The reason behind all of this was likely somehow related to the Saint Remains Domain. This place was created from the blood of a Saint, and that same blood contained the various Genesis techniques he had mastered over his lifetime. The Genesis Beasts here had likely inherited these Genesis techniques at birth. After killing these Genesis Beasts, the techniques they knew would emerge in the form of a jade tile. A rush of excitement bubbled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He may not know what level a Saint was at, but it was clearly an unimaginable existence. The Genesis techniques in the arsenal of such an existence was absolutely not limited to mere Black tier ones, there were likely little Heaven tier and even true Heaven tier Genesis techniques! ¡°Which means, there may be Genesis Beasts that possess little Heaven tier or even Heaven tier Genesis techniques in the Saint Remains Domain!¡± A burning radiance blossomed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. At the Saint Remains City auction, a little Heaven Genesis technique had been sold at an astronomical price of several million Genesis crystals. Zhou Yuan may not be able to afford it back then, but he now had the chance to obtain something similar here. He would be able to obtain one as long as he could find and kill a Genesis Beast that knew a little Heaven Genesis technique. However, Zhou Yuan estimated that given a Genesis Beast with a mid grade Black tier Genesis technique was already comparable to the advance Heaven Gate stage, a Genesis Beast that knew a little Heaven tier technique would very likely reach grade 4, an existence comparable to the Alpha-Origin. One would likely need a meticulous plan to kill such a Genesis Beast. Zhou Yuan tossed and caught the jade tile as he said to himself, ¡°Although this Yuan Explosive Force technique is only at the mid grade Black tier, it can amplify the power of my Genesis Qi so I should probably learn it.¡± Although its level was not that high, a Genesis technique like this that could amplify the power of one¡¯s Genesis Qi was definitely not cheap. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimate, even high grade Black tier attack type Genesis techniques would not be more expensive than it. ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze suddenly turned towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. The brush that had fallen silent after absorbing the white Qi from the golden ape earlier had suddenly began to shake. Light began to blossom on its mottled body. Zhou Yuan watched in surprise as the dim third rune on the brush began to brighten bit by bit. The third Genesis Rune was awakening. Joy flooded out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. What he currently needed the most was to raise his battle power, and the awakening of this third rune would undoubtedly be akin to giving wings to a tiger. ¡°I wonder what power the third rune possess.¡± Zhou Yuan curiously reached out and gently touched the ancient third rune. At the moment of contact, information quietly flowed into his head. Heavenly Yuan Brush, third rune, Myriad Transformations. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 145 Grade 4 Genesis Beas ¡°Myriad Transformations¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s finger brushed across the ancient Genesis Rune as a brilliant splendour blossomed in his eyes. In that split second earlier, he had already understood the function of this Genesis Rune. His hand gradually tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush, suddenly jerking it a moment later. Bzz! A powerful Genesis ripple pulsed from the brush as the snow-white hairs at its tip began to expand and lengthen. Swish! Zhou Yuan swung the brush as its hairs transformed into a long snow-white whip that swept across the area. Pch! The air was blasted away with a cackle as the long snow-white whip swept past. After a full round, the towering ancient trees in the vicinity were cleanly cut at their waists, the interiors smooth as a mirror. The hairs that made up the long whip shook again. In a split second, they had already dispersed, transforming into countless almost invisible white threads that engulfed the area to their front. Chch! The wall in front of them was poked full of innumerable holes so deep that it was impossible to see the bottom. Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm jerked and the countless snow-white hairs shot back towards him, returning to the brush tip. ¡°So¡­ this is Myriad Transformations!¡± A fire seemed to burn within Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as they gleamed brightly. The third rune seemed to have bestowed life unto the Heavenly Yuan Brush, allowing the hairs of the brush tip to take on countless forms. As such, the brush would become even stranger and more unfamthomnable, making it hard to defend against it. In future fights, the transformation powers of the Heavenly Yuan Brush would surely make his opponents suffer. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the Heavenly Yuan Brush only recovered to the mid grade Black tier level after unlocking the third rune.¡± Zhou Yuan had originally thought that it would be able to rise to the high grade Black tier level. Though it was a little disappointing, a mid grade Black tier Genesis Weapon was still more than sufficient. The current Heavenly Yuan Brush and its three runes was no weaker than high grade Black tier Genesis Weapons. In fact, when using the third rune Myriad Transformations, there was likely no weapon that could come close to it in the bizarreness aspect. Zhou Yuan continued to play with the brush for some time, before grudgingly turning it back to its smaller form and returning it to his waistband. Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, ¡°I should hurry up and kill more Genesis Beasts, take their pure Genesis Qi and strengthen myself such that my Genesis Qi cultivation will advance to the Heaven Gate stage as soon as possible.¡± There was an insane difference between the Qi Nourishing stage and the Heaven Gate stage. Bluntly put, the Qi Nourishing stage was akin to laying one¡¯s foundations, while the Heaven Gate stage was where one was finally bestowed destructive powers. Only at the Heaven Gate stage would the Genesis Qi in the body be allowed to freely leave and display its true might. Even though Zhou Yuan was currently able to temporarily achieve a similar effect with the amazing Omni Python Qi and Black tier Genesis techniques, there was still a gap between this and the true Heaven Gate stage. Of course, the most direct and observable difference could be seen when he was travelling. Even when Zhou Yuan was in a rush, he could only leap and sprint, unable to achieve the feat of temporary flight like abilities by using Genesis Qi to support one¡¯s body. Thus, reaching the Heaven Gate stage was the most important goal for the current Zhou Yuan. ... In the following few days, Zhou Yuan swept across the area like a hurricane. Every mountain he passed was nearly turned upside down as ferocious Genesis Beast after beast became victim to his brush. As he hunted and killed, Zhou Yuan could feel the Genesis Qi in Qi Dwelling strengthen day by day, growing more abundant and powerful. However, there was one thing that baffled him; the feeling that he was going to breakthrough to the next cultivation level still did not come to him. In a deep barren valley. Corpses were scattered all over the ground, while Zhou Yuan sat in the middle of the carnage. His current appearance was rather ragged, bloody wound after wound visible on his body, evidence that he had just experienced a pretty tough battle. It was indeed as it looked. Zhou Yuan had discovered this valley half a day prior, which contained over a hundred Metal Bone Wolves. Amongst them, a little more than twenty were comparably to the Heaven Gate stage, while the rest had Qi Nourishing stage strength. Although the individual battle power of each wolf was less than the golden ape from before, their numbers made them an incomparably ferocious force. For Zhou Yuan, it had been a bitter fight indeed. While Zhou Yuan sat atop a boulder, strings of white mist rose from the wolf corpses and poured into his body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were closed as he concentrated on absorbing. After about an hour, he finally opened his eyes, but his brows involuntarily knitted together. There was still no indication of an imminent breakthrough. ¡°Why¡­¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled, his eyes filled with confusion. It was not that he had not seen a practitioner at the peak of the Qi Nourishing stage, but the gathered Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling had clearly already far surpassed the levels of ordinary peak advance Qi Nourishing stage experts. ¡°Normally speaking, after the Genesis Qi reaches a certain level, it will break out of the Qi Dwelling and dash towards the Heaven Gate, but why are there no signs of anything happening even after so long?¡± Zhou Yuan was perplexed. He scratched the back of his head. It was so troublesome without Yaoyao by his side, he was practically akin to a blind man groping about in the dark with regards to his cultivation. ¡°Why does it not break out of the Qi Dwelling?¡± Muttered Zhou Yuan with uncertainty. A long while later, a flash of inspiration hit him as he voiced his thoughts in a somewhat hesitant manner, ¡°Could it be¡­ due to my blood color Qi Dwelling?¡± Ordinarily speaking, the Qi Dwelling had limited capacity. When this capacity reached its limit, the Genesis Qi would break out of the Qi Dwelling and attack the Heaven Gate. This process would allow the Qi Dwelling to expand in size. But this was for normal Qi Dwellings. Zhou Yuan¡¯s was an unprecedented blood colored Qi Dwelling, and its capacity was surely far beyond the limits of ordinary ones. ¡°After mulling over it for a whole day, it turns out that I¡¯ve been tricked by my own unique blood color Qi Dwelling.¡± After realizing this, Zhou Yuan could not help but let out a bitter chuckle. It seems that he had to first fill his blood-red Qi Dwelling in order to ascend to the Heaven Gate stage. Even so, Zhou Yuan was a little excited. Since his breakthrough method was different from others, wouldn¡¯t it mean that the outcome would also be pretty special? As such, the subsequent few days of his schedule was packed with hunting and killing again. Time passed in this manner. Zhou Yuan grew more familiar with the Saint Remains Domain, and began to meet several of the other prided geniuses that had entered this place. However, he had not intentions of partying up with them, choosing instead to continue his travels alone. Over this period of training, Zhou Yuan had began to faintly feel that his blood-red Qi Dwelling was finally about to reach its maximum capacity. ¡°Not easy huh!¡± On a certain mountain, Zhou Yuan sighed as he shook his head. Any ordinary person would have long ascended to the Heaven Gate stage, while he was still stuck suffering at the Qi Nourishing stage. It was akin pregnancy lasting ten months for others while he just had to be pregnant for three whole years. He stood up, planning to cast himself back into the depths of the mountain. At this moment however, he suddenly saw the numerous geniuses hunting in the vicinity abruptly begin heading down the mountain. Zhou Yuan was a little bewildered. He moved to stop one of them and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The one who had been stopped revealed a look of impatience, and was about to curse when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s Qi Nourishing stage cultivation. Boom! However, Zhou Yuan calmly sent out a punch. Berserk Genesis Qi rippled outwards, creating an empty space in the dense forests to their right. The one who had been about to curse immediately swallowed his words, and resentfully answered, ¡°I just heard the news that a certain Genesis Beast was discovered in the mountains three hundred miles from here¡­¡± ¡°This particular Genesis Beast is rumored to know a little Heaven tier Genesis technique. Everyone in the area is currently heading there.¡± Upon hearing the latter part, a dazzling radiance instantly exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He had been searching for such a Genesis Beast recently, but had been unable to find one till now. He never imagined that he would finally encounter one today. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 146 Saint Remains Squad An empty pocket of space lay at the foot of several mountains. This particular area was currently abuzz with activity today. Numerous figures were already gathered, while even more were streaming in from far away. This place had practically become a gathering point of sorts. When Zhou Yuan rushed over, he was stunned by the sheer number of people. This was the first time he had seen so many geniuses together ever since he entered the Saint Remains Domain. Zhou Yuan silently melded into the crowd and began to gather information about the little Heaven Genesis technique Genesis Beast. After a dozen minutes or so, he consolidated his findings. It seemed that a group had first encountered the Genesis Beast deep within the mountains, and the entire party of five was nearly wiped out, leaving only one survivor behind. Each member of the group had the strength of the Heaven Gate stage, hence, it was deduced that the Genesis Beast had definitely reached the grade 4 level and was comparable to an Alpha-Origin expert. In addition, the fact that it knew a little Heaven Genesis technique likely made its battle power even more overwhelming. News of this immediately drew numerous prided geniuses to this area. After all, everyone was aware by now that contained within the Genesis Beasts of the Saint Remains Domain was extremely pure Genesis Qi, Genesis Qi that was very beneficial to one¡¯s cultivation. Although no one had managed to slay a grade 4 Genesis Beast yet, it was easy to imagine the potential giant leap in strength from absorbing the pure Genesis Qi in its body. However, the problem was that this little Heaven Genesis technique grade 4 Genesis Beast was not an easy opponent. Its strength was comparable to the Alpha-Origin after all, while practically everyone here was only at the Heaven Gate stage. A tiny slip was all it would take to end up being crushed to a bloody pulp by the grade 4 Genesis Beast. Thus, although many had already gathered here, no one dared to be the first to make a move. More importantly, there was only one little Heaven Genesis technique and one breath of pure Genesis Qi in the beast¡¯s body. While so many geniuses had already gathered here. As the classic saying went, if there were many monks and only a little porridge, how would one divide the porridge? While these thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, there was a sudden disturbance in the crowd, and many people began surging towards the west. Zhou Yuan pondered a little before deciding to follow. Several figures proudly stood on a certain spot rather high up on the west side of the valley. Zhou Yuan caught sight of two familiar figures amongst them, the junior city lord, Xiao Tianxuan, and Gu Ling. The rest of the figures stood behind the two, each wearing a prideful look on their faces. Powerful Genesis Qi surged around them, proof of their impressive might. Every one of them was an elite even amongst the prided geniuses here. ¡°Everyone, it is our blessing to have encountered a little Heaven Genesis technique Grade 4 Genesis Beast. Since no one has taken the lead yet, our Saint Remains squad has decided to hunt it together.¡± Xiao Tianxuan confidently swept his gaze around as he continued with a faint smile, ¡°If there are any like minded friends here, you can choose to join our Saint Remains squad. However, there is a restriction. Your strength needs to be at the advance Heaven Gate stage, or you won¡¯t be able to withstand a single blow from the grade 4 Genesis Beast even if you go.¡± These words caused an outbreak of whispers from the crowd. Xiao Tianxuan had made himself very clear. The grade 4 Genesis Beast had been booked by their Saint Remains squad. In other words, if they were able to kill the beast, the little Heaven Genesis technique and its pure Genesis Qi would belong to them. Such actions were clearly tyrannical, but no one said anything. After all, it was practically courting death for them to seek out that grade 4 Genesis Beast. However, someone finally spoke up from below, ¡°Won¡¯t there be no benefits for us?¡± Xiao Tianxuan shot a look at Gu Ling. The latter displayed an enchanting smile as she answered, ¡°That grade 4 Genesis Beast the leader of several beast packs. The Genesis Beasts from these packs also possess a substantial amount of pure Genesis Qi. Our Saint Remains squad¡¯s mission is to kill the grade 4 Genesis Beast, while we¡¯ll leave the leaderless beast packs to the rest of you. The Genesis Qi from these beasts will naturally go to whoever manages to slay them.¡± ¡°Alright, those whose strength have reached the advance Heaven Gate stage can choose to join our squad. There is surely more than one little Heaven Genesis technique in the Saint Remains Domain which we¡¯ll be going after one by one. Those that join us will definitely get a little Heaven tier technique.¡± Her words shook the hearts of some of the stronger prided geniuses present. They were already well aware that with the exception of that select handful of super elite prided geniuses, no one was able to kill these little Heaven Genesis technique Genesis Beasts alone. Zhou Yuan watched this with the detached eyes of a bystander. The fact that Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling had already begun to rope in others meant that they had pretty good heads on their shoulders. If they were to succeed in this hunt, it was easy to imagine the subsequent rapid growth of their squad. In the end, they would gain the qualifications to vie with the super elite geniuses through the power of numbers. Quite a number of individuals present were interested in joining the Saint Remains squad. After all, once they were accepted, they would be able to borrow the power of the squad to kill little Heaven technique Genesis Beasts and take their techniques. The only problem was the stringent requirement of reaching the advance Heaven Gate stage. Though the bar was high, there were still a few present who had reached it. Hence, those with the strength of the advance Heaven Gate stage began to walk towards Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s and Gu Ling¡¯s group under the envious eyes of the crowd. Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling exchanged a look when they saw this, pleased smiles emerging on their lips. Xiao Tianxuan smiled and said in a low voice, ¡°Looks like your idea is pretty good.¡± Gu Ling smiled faintly in response. ¡°There are many gifts and blessings in the Saint Remains Domain, but only the strongest of us have a shot at obtaining the best ones. Since we are just that tiny step lacking compared to the super elites, we need to borrow the power of others. As long as we succeed in growing our Saint Remains squad, even Wu Huang and the other apex geniuses would not be able to stop us.¡± Xiao Tianxuan nodded in approval. ¡°However, once the squad has grown strong, you must remember to fulfil your promise.¡± Hatred flashed in Gu Ling¡¯s long and narrow eyes. Xiao Tianxuan chuckled. ¡°Relax, after the Saint Remains squad has strengthened, the first thing I will do is to search for traces of Zhou Yuan. Once we find him, we will capture him and leave him for you to do as you please.¡± ¡°He¡¯s merely a Qi Nourishing stage trash that doesn¡¯t have any powerful factions backing him. No one will care if he dies.¡± Gu Ling nodded in satisfaction when she heard this. Zhou Yuan had not only killed her younger brother, but even stolen the supreme treasure of her Gu clan. This was unforgivable. She naturally knew of the henies deeds committed by the Gu clan, but so what? For a mere Qi Nourishing trash like Zhou Yuan, a few tricks was all that was needed to condemn him to death. In the crowd, Zhou Yuan coldly observed the now bustling crowd. The addition of each advance Heaven Gate expert slowly made the Saint Remains squad grow stronger and stronger. Such a line-up might really lead to a successful hunt. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes faintly flickered. He cast a glance at Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling, and suddenly laughed. There was already a feud between him and these two individuals, and it could be said that they were already enemies. Zhou Yuan was not someone who would stand by and do nothing as he watched his enemies grow stronger. ¡°Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling¡­¡± ¡°I believe it is time to return the hundred thousand Genesis crystals you cheated me of during the auction.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 147 Mysterious Heavy Mud The Saint Remains squad was quickly organized. They now boasted a pretty good line-up consisting of thirty individuals, each possessing the strength of the advance Heaven Gate stage. When all of them were gathered together, an intimidating aura could be felt, causing respect to rise in the eyes of the crowd around them. Xiao Tianxuan had a look of satisfaction in his eyes. This line-up would be able to put up a fight even against an Alpha-Origin expert. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s gaze fell upon the group as he said with a grin, ¡°Since all of you have chosen to join our Saint Remains squad, you¡¯re now one of us. There are many gifts and blessings in the Saint Remains Domain and as long as we work at one, there will be nothing for us to fear.¡± His speech was made with authority and confidence. As the junior city lord of Saint Remains City, his status and reputation was plain for all to see, while also lending some weight to his words. Hence, no one gave any objections when he spoke and acted as their leader. Xiao Tianxuan did indeed have the qualifications. ¡°There¡¯s not much else for me to say. The first target of our newly established Saint Remains squad is that grade 4 Genesis Beast. We must obtain victory so as to grow the reputation of the squad.¡± Xiao Tianxuan did not beat about the bush. Although they had gained some elite members, whether or not these new members stayed on hinged upon their first battle. As long as they could pull off a beautiful victory, the name of their Saint Remains squad would spread and attract even more elite geniuses. If this positive feedback loop continued, he would definitely gain the power to match the super elite geniuses. Thus, with a wave of his hand, he took the lead and flew off, while the new recruits of the Saint Remains squad immediately followed. Genesis Qi surged as a group of thirty Heaven Gate experts leapt into the air, an impressive sight indeed. Even more of the surrounding onlookers also followed like a swarm of locusts. Many of them knew that although they would not be able to enjoy the spoils from the grade 4 Genesis Beast and its little Heaven Genesis technique, they could still take advantage of this opportunity to kill the beast packs that followed the grade 4 Genesis Beast. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered faintly as he watched the exodus and seamlessly melded into the crowd. The large group swept through the mountain range like an unstoppable tsunami, easily cutting through every beast in their path. After an hour, they reached the depths of the mountain range. A high-spirited Xiao Tianxuan led the Saint Remains squad, standing on a hill as he looked to his front where an enormous mountain valley lay. The valley was dyed in a silver black luster, while howling wind and muffled thunder originated from within. By this time, the beast packs that were originally stationed outside the valley had already been cleaned up. ¡°That grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast is in this valley.¡± Fear flitted across Gu Ling¡¯s face as she gazed into the depths of the valley. If not for their numbers, none of them would dare to provoke a grade 4 Genesis Beast. Let alone the fact that this grade 4 Genesis Beast knew a little Heaven Genesis technique. Behind Xiao Tianxuan, one of the advance Heaven Gate stage members said, ¡°Squad leader, I don¡¯t think any of us will be able to withstand the little Heaven Genesis technique of that Wind Thunder Beast.¡± The others nodded. Thirty advance Heaven Gate practitioners might seem impressive, but a single mistake was all it would take for their entire group to be wiped out by a little Heaven Genesis technique. Xiao Tianxuan smiled faintly and replied, ¡°If it does use the little Heaven Genesis technique, I will naturally have a way to deal with it.¡± The sight of his confident appearance made the others secretly breathe a sigh of relief. If Xiao Tianxuan had been planning on paying for victory with their lives, none of them would accompany him any further. Fortunately, it seemed that Xiao Tianxuan did live up to his junior city lord status, and had some powerful trump cards in his arsenal. Xiao Tianxuan instructed, ¡°Prepare to draw out the Wind Thunder Beast as planned.¡± One of the members responded, and began to very carefully approach the mountain valley. Zhou Yuan was seated in a mountain forest some distance away, his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed this scene. He knew that it was not time to act yet... ¡°Xiao Tianxuan, show me just what kind of tricks you have up your sleeve¡­¡± Roar! When the Saint Remains scouting member neared the valley, an irritated roar rang out from within. The roar was akin to thunder, violently shaking the sides of the valley. The advance Heaven Gate scouting member turned deathly pale, no hesitation whatsoever as he turned and fled. Swish! However, the moment his body turned around, a bolt of lightning shot out from the valley and appeared right behind him in a flash. A black shadow descended as a claw suffused with lightning viciously smacked the scout¡¯s body. Bang! A muffled sound rang out and the scouting member vomited a mouthful of blood. His body crashed into the ground like a cannonball, creating a deep pit. No one knew whether he was dead or alive. Roar! Only at this moment was everyone finally able to get a clear view of the creature. It was a giant of beast, a dozen feet tall, while lightning cackled at its feet. Its body stood tall and straight, but its head was that of a green ox. Lightning danced on its body and gales emerged as it breathed. It was the grade 4 Genesis Beast, the Wind Thunder Beast. Berserk Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from its body like thunder, shaking the surrounding space. An astonishing and ferocious aura filled the area. The expressions of the crowd watching from far away could not help but change as some of them involuntarily stepped back. The aura of a grade 4 Genesis Beast was too unbearable for them. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s expression had also turned a little graver. He did not back down however, but instead made a grabbing motion and a long dim red spear appeared within his hand. Lava seemed to drip from the scarlet-red spear. With the spear in his hand, Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s aura seemed to steadily rise. ¡°It¡¯s Saint Remains City¡¯s Fire Devil Spear, a high grade Black Genesis Weapon. Never imagined that it would be in Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s possession.¡± ¡°Well, only a high grade Black Genesis Weapon will be able to do damage to the grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast.¡± ¡°......¡± Whispers spread in the mountain forests. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s rapidly rising aura made the other Saint Remains squad members regain their wits. They immediately gritted their teeth and retrieved their weapons. Genesis Qi surged, showing that every weapon had reached the Black tier. Formidable aura after aura began to rise, drawing the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s attention as the wind and lightning around it intensified. Roar! It roared, treading on wind and lightning as it transformed into a flash of lightning that bolted straight for Xiao Tianxuan. It could also sense that the latter¡¯s threat towards it seemed to be the greatest of the bunch. Rumble! The charge of a grade 4 Genesis Beast was extremely intimidating, wind and lightning blasting at the air around it. Xiao Tianxuan did not panic as he watched the menacing Wind Thunder Beast rapidly approach. Instead, he waved his hand, signalling for everyone to scatter while he remained where he stood. Lightning rumbled, blasting the mountain top Xiao Tianxuan was at. Boom! The entire mountain top crumbled. The ferocious charge of the Wind Thunder Beast was practically akin to natural disaster. Swoosh! Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s figure rose into the air as he clenched his fist. Everyone watched as a ball of mud appeared in his hand, mud which seemed to be covered in profound and mysterious patterns. The mud in Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s hand poured down, transforming into a deep yellow waterfall that fell from the sky and landed on the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s enormous body. The mud rapidly solidified the moment it came into contact with the Wind Thunder Beast. It seemed to be insanely heavy, instantly suppressing the beast¡¯s speed. Roar roar! The Wind Thunder Beast roared madly, wind and lightning arcing across its body. However, the scattered mud immediately regrouped as if it was an immortal entity. In a split second, Xiao Tianxuan had displayed one of his cards, restricting the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s most troublesome speed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank when he saw this scene as his expression became a little graver. ¡°That mud¡­ it seems to be the Mysterious Heavy Mud?¡± Mysterious Heavy Mud was a kind of Genesis Treasure. It was not easy to manufacture, very pricey and a one-time use item. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s Mysterious Heavy Mud likely cost several hundred thousand Genesis crystals. Once one came in contact with the mud, not only would it feel as if there was a heavy mountain on one¡¯s back, one would also need to constantly disperse the mud using one¡¯s Genesis Qi. If the mud was allowed to grow, it would eventually cover one¡¯s entire body, creating a mud prison. Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, ¡°This guy has really made ample preparations. In fact, it seems that they are highly likely to succeed in hunting this grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast¡­¡± Soon after, he softly chuckled. A situation like this was something he was more than happy to see. A one-sided slaughter by the Wind Thunder Beast was boring after all, and a close fight between the sandpiper and the clam was exactly what a fisherman like him needed to strike at the most optimal opportunity. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 148 Watching Tigers Figh Roar! The Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s roar was akin to thunder. Berserk Genesis Qi violently pulsed from its body in waves, continuously scattering the seemingly endless mud. It could sense that if left alone, the mud would pile up and eventually trap it. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t hold anything back!¡± A sneer appeared on Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s face as he gazed at the Wind Thunder Beast whose speed had been restricted. A beast was a beast after all, and did not possess much intelligence or he would not have succeeded so easily. The other Saint Remains squad members were overjoyed by this scene as a surge of confidence rose in their hearts. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s Mysterious Heavy Mud had practically halved the beast¡¯s power. ¡°Attack together!¡± The thirty advance Heaven Gate experts shouted together, powerful Genesis Qi erupting from their bodies as the Black Genesis Weapons in their hands gleamed sinisterly. Rumble! They shot forward, making sure not to come to close as they fired off various Genesis techniques that endlessly bombarded the grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast. Boom boom! Powerful Genesis techniques landed on the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s body, forcing it back step by step. The Wind Thunder Beast was furious, wind and thunder wildly raging around its body as it dashed forward and attempted to swipe at the humans. However, due to the Mysterious Heavy Mud that was bogging it down, the humans were able to avoid its attacks. Swish! While the Wind Thunder Beast was focused on the bombardment from the group, Xiao Tianxuan found an opportunity to appear behind it, magma flowing along the Fire Devil Spear as it thrust forward like a spout of magma exploding from the ground. Pch! The Fire Devil Spear tore open a deep and bloody wound on the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s tough body, flowing magma continuously tunnelling towards the wound. Roar! The sudden pain caused the Wind Thunder Beast to roar as a giant claw was sent hacking down at Xiao Tianxuan, the powerful force shredding even the ground below. Xiao Tianxuan drifted away on his Genesis Qi like cotton willow in the breeze, avoiding the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s sharp claws. He hovered in the vicinity of the Wind Thunder Beast, darting in to attack from time to time. Every attack deviously targeted the beast¡¯s openings, borrowing the power of the high grade Black tier Fire Devil Spear to gorge bloody wound after wound on its body. The other members continued to blast the Wind Thunder Beast with an endless stream of Genesis Qi attacks from some distance away. The situation was clearly under the Saint Remains squad¡¯s control. Even further away, the owners of the numerous gazes that had their attention on this area could not help but sigh in admiration. Xiao Tianxuan was a capable individual indeed. Zhou Yuan also nodded his head in acknowledgment. One must know that Lu Tieshan and his group had paid an extremely terrible price to stop a single Alpha-Origin expert during king Qi¡¯s rebellion. In comparison, Xiao Tianxuan and the squad were making things pretty miserable for a grade 4 Genesis Beast. Such a feat was truly a testament to their capability. ¡°Although they are well prepared and hold the numbers advantage¡­ I¡¯m afraid that it won¡¯t be so easy to kill a grade 4 Genesis Beast.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan. His perceptive eyes could see that even though the Wind Thunder Beast looked to be in a pretty sad state, this was practically nothing to its strong body. The Mysterious Heavy Mud was admittedly very troublesome, but it may not be able to fully restrict the movements of the Wind Thunder Beast. Roar! As these thoughts flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, the state of the battle suddenly took a turn. With a roar, lightning frantically jumped out from the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s body as if stimulating it. Its body swiftly began to grow eventually reaching a height of two dozen feet, now towering over everyone like a little mountain. Bang! The Mysterious Heavy Mud that had been stuck to its body was completely destroyed, falling from its body like dirt. ¡°Crap! It has freed itself from the Mysterious Heavy Mud!¡± A horrified voice sounded. Swish! The enormous body of the Wind Thunder Beast that had now regained its speed appeared behind a few of the squad members. Cruelness flashed in its eyes as a claw suffused with wind and lightning slashed downwards, ripping apart the air. Pcsh! The bodies of five geniuses were shredded as blood curdling shrieks rang out. The crowd that was dealing with the beast packs far away felt their scalps turn numb. Hunting a grade 4 Genesis Beast was indeed akin to walking on the edge of a blade, even an advance Heaven Gate practitioner could be killed in an instant. ¡°Bastard!¡± Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s complexion turned ashen. Wind and thunder raged around the beast, its beady eyes overflowing with savagery. Its gaze swiftly locked onto Xiao Tianxuan, the Genesis Qi in its body suddenly beginning to churn as a terrifying aura pulsed. ¡°It''s going to use the little Heaven Genesis technique!¡± Upon seeing this scene, the remaining geniuses from the Saint Remains squad cried out in terror, no longer caring about anything else as they hurriedly retreated. The Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s huge mouth opened, lightning and wind frantically gathering within it. A pulse swept outwards, shaking the surrounding space. Roar! In the next instant, a foot wide lightning ball tinged with green was formed in the beast¡¯s mouth. Lightning rampaged within the ball while wind howled, the two constantly clashing forces making a thunderous din. Swoosh! The green black wind lightning ball shot out like rushing thunder. In a flash, it had already appeared in front of Xiao Tianxuan. Fear flashed in the eyes on which the green black lightning ball was reflected in, but he quickly gritted his teeth and pulled out the jade pendant hanging from his neck. Ancient and mysterious patterns had been carved into the jade pendant. A pained look emerged on his face as he looked at the jade pendant, before suddenly snapping it between his fingers. Bzz! Rays of light blossomed from the pendant, forming a translucent shield of light in front of him. The shield looked thin, but faintly gave off an astonishing presence. Boom! The green black lightning ball arrived, slamming into the shield. Boom! Dreadful shockwaves unfurled, instantly flattening the entire valley and the surrounding forests. Zhou Yuan avoided the shockwaves. He gazed at the now empty land before him, as his expression turned grave. ¡°Is this the power of a little Heaven Genesis technique? Frightening indeed!¡± ¡°A high grade Black tier Genesis technique doesn¡¯t even come close.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered in thought. A little Heaven Genesis technique was really too powerful, and Wu Huang and the other super elite geniuses likely already possessed one in their arsenal. Hence, Zhou Yuan mentally raised the danger levels of these super elite geniuses once again. Zhou Yuan decisively declared, ¡°I need one too, or it would be far too disadvantageous for me in a real fight.¡± He lifted his head and looked in Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s direction as his eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Xiao Tianxuan is indeed a junior city lord, he has so many treasures to protect himself.¡± The light shield that had appeared in front of Xiao Tianxuan previously was likely a one-time use Genesis treasure. Or it would not have been capable of defending against the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s little Heaven Genesis technique. The dust dispersed, revealing an unscathed Xiao Tianxuan, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s expression was rather grim, mostly due to the pain from losing the pendant. It had been bought for him by his father at an extravagant price, and could withstand a full power blow from a fourth layer Alpha-Origin expert. ¡°But everything will be worth it as long as we kill this beast and obtain its little Heaven Genesis technique.¡± Ruthlessness flitted across Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s eyes. As he gazed at the roaring Wind Thunder beast, he suddenly made a grabbing motion with his hand and an ash black jade disk appeared within. The jade disk was thrown out, disappearing into the ground upon contact. Rumble! The ground began to shake at this moment. One could only watch as the area around the Wind Thunder Beast began to fracture. Countless spikes shot out, forming an earth prison of spikes that trapped the Wind Thunder Beast. These earth spikes were exceedingly sharp, and even the Wind Thunder Beast was cut till it was now drenched in blood. Moreover, a huge suction force had emerged from the ground, slowing the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s speed to a crawl. ¡°Kill it!¡± Xiao Tianxuan wasted no time. With a wave of his hand, he led the remaining geniuses to attack, ruthlessly targeting the beast¡¯s weak points. In an instant, the Wind Thunder Beast had fallen into a precarious situation. From the looks of it, it was going to be slowly attacked to death. Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh when he saw this. ¡°How wealthy.¡± The jade disk from earlier was a Genesis Rune boundary disk on which a one-time use Genesis Rune boundary had been inscribed. From a certain point of view, it was more expensive than a grade 4 Genesis Rune scroll, mostly because of how complicated it was to manufacture. It seems that Zhou Yuan had still underestimated Xiao Tianxuan. Fortunately, the Wind Thunder Beast had helped the former scout out the latter¡¯s entire hand. Otherwise, even Zhou Yuan would be beaten black and blue by this junior city lord¡¯s seemingly endless trump cards. ¡°It should be about time, right?¡± Zhou Yuan stood up, smiling slightly as he continued to watch the ongoing fight. Xiao Tianxuan was practically tearing out his lungs. ¡°It seems that it is finally time for me to make an appearance.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 149 The Fisherman Waits and Reaps Boom! Boom! The sound of Genesis Qi blasting something continuously rang out in the remains of what was once a forest. Sharp earth spikes shot out of the ground one after another, gleaming with an icy sharpness. Blood dripped from the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s enormous body as it struggled within the earth spike array. Its mutilated flesh a clear sign that it had been gravely injured. However, the Saint Remains squad was not doing too well either. Although Xiao Tianxuan had used numerous trump cards to injure the Wind Thunder Beast, it was still a grade 4 Genesis Beast that was comparable to an Alpha-Origin expert. Hence, its crazed counter attack had torn genius after genius to pieces. The entire battlefield was an extremely wretched sight. ¡°Quick, it¡¯s about to fall!¡± Howled Xiao Tianxuan. The confidence from before was no longer present as his red eyes locked onto the desperately struggling Wind Thunder Beast. He had used practically all of his trump cards in this hunt, a state akin to gambling till one was left in only underwear. Upon hearing his howl, the Saint Remains squad members drummed up one final surge of energy, madly bombarding the nearly spent Wind Thunder Beast with the last ounce of Genesis Qi they could muster. As he watched the situation gradually tip in their favor, Xiao Tianxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Ecstasy and excitement no longer concealable on his face. Though the battle today had been a bitter one, he had finally emerged as the victor. It was easy to imagine how his name would soon spread, making his reputation no less than any of the super elite geniuses. The Saint Remains squad would have also proven themselves, making it easier to recruit more members and grow their reputation, eventually allowing them to become a tyrant like existence in the Saint Remains Domain. When that happened, Xiao Tianxuan would have the power to vie with the super elite geniuses. As for that brat Zhou Yuan, he would be no problem at all. While Xiao Tianxuan was fantasizing about the future, he did not notice that a figure had stealthily slipped into the chaotic battlefield. The figure was naturally Zhou Yuan. No one had noticed him due to the chaos. He watched the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s injuries grow worse and worse under the seemingly endless waves of attacks as his eyes flashed in thought. He could not allow Xiao Tianxuan and his squad to kill the beast. Otherwise, how would he become the fisherman that reaps everything in the end? Hence, his figure suddenly shot forward, making it seem as if he was aggressively charging at the Wind Thunder Beast. Boom! However, although the Wind Thunder Beast was heavily injured, it was still full of ferocity. A punch was sent flying towards him, blowing away Zhou Yuan. No one saw the tiny shadow that had flown out of his sleeves and landed on a certain spot on the Genesis Rune boundary. Within the shadow was a scroll, a Genesis Rune scroll to be more precise. A ray of light exploded from the Genesis Rune scroll at this moment. Although it was not large, it just so happened to cover a certain area at the center of the Genesis Rune boundary. Crack! A faint crack was suddenly heard. The seemingly infinite sharp stone spikes gradually came to a stop, while the suction force that had trapped the Wind Thunder Beast abruptly disappeared. The disappearance of the suction force initially stunned the Wind Thunder Beast, but a creature as quick as it soon realised what had happened. It immediately released a roar as its battered body shot forth, shredding two individuals with a swipe of its claw. ¡°The Genesis Rune boundary has been broken!¡± Someone finally discovered that something was wrong as a horrified piercing cry escaped. The members of the Saint Remains squad that had originally been about to charge at the Wind Thunder Beast immediately did a 180, beating a hasty retreat and no longer daring to approach. Although the beast was gravely injured, it still had to power to easily kill any of them. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s expression changed drastically as he hurriedly yelled, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid! It¡¯s already on the verge of death. Stop it quickly, we cannot let it escape!¡± He could already see that the Wind Thunder Beast had escaped their encirclement, and was planning on fleeing. However, his yells were of little use. Many had died, while the threat of death had already been thoroughly beaten into the rest. Roar! By borrowing this tiny gap, the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s enormous body suddenly shot forth, all the remaining Wind Thunder Genesis Qi swirling around its body as it transformed into a flash of green and black that dashed into the vast mountain range. ¡°Useless trash! All of you are useless trash!¡± Xiao Tianxuan flew into a rage, no longer able restrain himself after seeing the Wind Thunder Beast escape. He had practically used up every trump card in his arsenal to hunt the Wind Thunder Beast, trump cards that would have allowed him to briefly vie with the super elite geniuses. Moreover, the breath of extremely pure Genesis Qi from killing the grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast may have been his chance to reach the peak of the Heaven Gate stage, or even enable him to touch the Alpha-Origin. Unfortunately, everything had gone up in flames. Gu Ling arrived behind Xiao Tianxuan, a rather ugly look on her pretty face. They had paid such a steep price, but it had all been for naught. Xiao Tianxuan roared at the Saint Remains squad members, ¡°Idiots! Chase after it!¡± In response, indignant looks appeared on the squad members¡¯ faces. They had only chosen to join because of Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s promise that he would be able to deal with the grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast, but look at how many had been injured or killed, they were practically using their lives in exchange for results. ¡°Humph, even if we do kill that Wind Thunder Beast, the first person to benefit would be you. Why should we pay for your benefits with our lives? This little lord will no longer stay in your Saint Remains squad!¡± One of the more irritable individuals coldly snorted, ignoring Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s ugly expression as the former turned around and left. Now that someone had taken the lead, more and more members left one after another. Of the Saint Remains squad¡¯s originally grand line-up, only a few lonely figures remained. This sight infuriated Xiao Tianxuan so much that he nearly blacked out and vomited a mouthful of blood. Things had turned out very differently than he had expected. He could not figure it out. Why had the originally stable situation slipped out of control so suddenly? ... While Xiao Tianxuan was hopping with rage, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure quietly slipped deeper into the mountains, his gaze fixed towards a certain direction. He knew that the heavily injured Wind Thunder Beast would definitely draw numerous coveting eyes. In fact, some of those originally watching from far away may even begin to entertain certain thoughts. However, the Wind Thunder Beast was extremely quick. It would not be easy to find it again in the vast mountain range. Even so, Zhou Yuan had made his preparations. When he moved earlier, he had secretly left behind some powder on the beast without anyone realising, allowing him to track it. Hence, his pushed his speed to the limit as he dashed through mountain after mountain. His chase lasted a whole four hours. As the saying went, the heavens do not let down those who are determined. When Zhou Yuan arrived at the top of a certain hill and cast his gaze into the distance, he saw a familiar giant beast by the lakeside, weakly lying in a pool of blood. This scene caused Zhou Yuan to breathe a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been relieved from his shoulders. He had finally found it. Previous Chapte Chapter 150 Little Heaven Genesis Technique, Great Wind and Thunder ¡°Found you at last.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at the giant creature lying by the lakeside. The latter was drenched in blood, its aura rapidly weakening, clear signs that it had sustained life threatening injuries. ¡°Xiao Tianxuan is indeed rather capable.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Someone incapable would not have been able to force a grade 4 Wind Thunder Beast to such a pitiful state. However, no matter how capable the junior city lord was, the fruits of his labor were destined to be plucked by Zhou Yuan today. Zhou Yuan tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as it rapidly enlarged. There no hesitation whatsoever as he shot forward, heading straight for the gravely injured beast. Roar! The Wind Thunder Beast immediately sensed the Genesis Qi ripples, and released a weak roar of anger. Its giant mouth opened as wind and lightning spewed out, viciously blasting towards Zhou Yuan. However, the Wind Thunder Beast was heavily injured, and had exhausted almost all of its Genesis Qi, hence, it did not even have a tenth of its original power. Therefore, the wind and lightning attack was shattered with a single sweep from Zhou Yuan¡¯s brush. Upon seeing that the situation did not bode well for it, the Wind Thunder Beast began to flee again. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Zhou Yuan laughed as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand jerked. The snow-white brush hairs suddenly shot forth, becoming a white whip that wrapped around the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s claws. After binding it, the hairs began to frantically burrow into the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s body through its wounds. The Wind Thunder Beast howled as wind and lightning began vibrating from its body. Unfortunately, it was unable to blast away the white hairs. Zhou Yuan leaped into the air, landing on the beast¡¯s head. There was no hesitation whatsoever as green scales emerged on his fist and a punch was sent downwards. ¡°Dragon Tablet Hand, break the sky!¡± A punch containing berserk Genesis Qi slammed into the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s head, shattering it and extinguishing the beast¡¯s life. Crash! The Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s enormous body powerlessly crashed to the ground, causing the surrounding area to shake and ripples to appear on the lake. Zhou Yuan kept the Heavenly Yuan Brush as his eyes began blazing with anticipation. As the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s lifeforce faded, wisps of white mist began to rise from its body. Every wisp contained extremely pure Genesis Qi. ¡°As expected of a grade 4 Genesis Beast, the Genesis Qi from it is so much more abundant than the beasts from before.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed in praise. He had only gained a strand of Genesis Qi from the Genesis Beasts he had hunted previously. In comparison, there was more than ten times the amount from the Wind Thunder Beast. White mist continued to rise, ultimately gathering into a white ball the size of a human head. The ball of Qi gradually began to shrink, transforming into a white bead that was the size of a fingernail. The bead seemed to contain a sea of clouds, and was very pretty. The vigorous Genesis Qi that pulsed from it made Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth water. Zhou Yuan wiped the corners of his mouth. He had the feeling that his Qi Dwelling would be finally be fully filled after he absorbed the white Genesis bead. When that happened, he would be able to take that final step and ascend to the Heaven Gate stage! Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, suppressing his surging excitement. He very carefully grabbed the white Genesis bead and kept it into his Universe bag. After doing this, his eyes began to light up with excitement again as he watched another wisp of white mist rise from the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s body and transform into a piece of green and black jade. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand shot out like lightning, grabbing the jade as his eyes boiled with excitement. The moment he touched it, information began to flood into Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes to better digest the information, only opening them again a few seconds later, revealing a look of pure ecstacy. It was just as he had expected, a little Heaven Genesis technique was recorded in the jade. This little Heaven Genesis technique was called Great Wind and Thunder. The cultivation method could not be extracted because it was a one-use item. Once used, the jade would shatter, making it impossible for a second person to learn the technique. ¡°Got it at last.¡± A satisfied Zhou Yuan kept the jade piece. He had finally obtained a little Heaven Genesis technique. If was able to learn it, his strength would increase by an astronomical amount. ¡°The haul this time is pretty good.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle to himself. He had not only obtained a white Genesis bead that could help him advance to the Heaven Gate stage, but also a little Heaven Genesis technique. Swish! While Zhou Yuan was figuring out how to deal with the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s corpse, the air suddenly trembled as the piercing sound of something fast rang out. A deadly force whizzed towards him from behind, heading straight for his head at a crafty angle. Zhou Yuan¡¯s response was not slow. The Heavenly Yuan Brush jolted in his hand as its snow-white hairs transformed into countless white strings that weaved together behind him, forming multiple layers of white nets. Bzz! A flash of scarlet-red hit the white nets, forcibly plowing through layer by layer. However, it used up its energy a foot before reaching Zhou Yuan, transforming into a fiery-red long spear as it was catapulted back. Zhou Yuan turned around, his eyes locking onto a certain mountain top nearby, where several figures were currently standing. The two in front were Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling. ¡°Can¡¯t believe they actually managed to chase the beast all the way here.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat astonished by the sight of them. ¡°So you are the reason behind everything!¡± Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s expression was exceptionally ugly, killing intent surging within his eyes as he darkly glared at Zhou Yuan. How could he not realise by now why such problems had occurred earlier. Zhou Yuan had definitely secretly done something that allowed that Wind Thunder Beast to escape their encirclement. Beside Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling¡¯s face was not a pretty sight either as she laughed icily and said, ¡°So it was you. What a good fisherman you are, patiently waiting for the beast and us to exhaust each other.¡± Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s gaze was both icy and eerie as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°If not for the Mysterious Heavy Mud that was left on the Wind Thunder Beast, you may even have succeeded.¡± He extended his hand at Zhou Yuan, his tone indifferent as he continued, ¡°If you understand, hand over the things you obtained from the Wind Thunder Beast, and the Gu clan supreme treasure while you¡¯re at it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to enjoy any of these things.¡± Zhou Yuan laughed when he heard this. He patted his Universe bag, and the white Genesis bead appeared in his hand. ¡°Are you talking about this?¡± Xiao Tianxuan greedily stared at the white Genesis bead. Ordinary Genesis Beasts only had a strand of pure Genesis Qi in their bodies, while the Wind Thunder Beast¡¯s Genesis Qi had accumulated into a bead. From this, one could see how much more Genesis Qi the latter had. ¡°Hand it over!¡± Zhou Yuan rolled the white bead between his fingers as he revealed a strange smile to Xiao Tianxuan. In the end, with a gentle flick, the white Genesis bead was thrown into his mouth and swallowed in a single gulp. Zhou Yuan grinned from ear to ear as he said, ¡°Won¡¯t I be able to enjoy it now?¡± Xiao Tianxuan was stunned. A split second later, a twisted expression abruptly rose on his face. He roared, ¡°Zhou Yuan! I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± He had used up so many trump cards in order to exhaust the Wind Thunder Beast. Who could have imagined that it would end up benefiting Zhou Yuan! ¡°Kill him!¡± Howled Xiao Tianxuan. Behind him, several advance Heaven Gate stage prided geniuses looked at Zhou Yuan with hostility. However, Zhou Yuan ignored them. He did a backflip, disappearing into the lake as a faint voice echoed, ¡°Xiao Tianxuan, we will settle this debt when I reach the Heaven Gate stage!¡± This was not the time to fight. After swallowing the Genesis bead, he needed to find a place to absorb the energy and advance to the next level. Swish! Xiao Tianxuan and gang swiftly arrived at the lakeside, diving in head first. However, they soon emerged again with grim expressions. Gu Ling gnashed her teeth, ¡°There are too many tunnels in the lake, we can¡¯t possibly tell which one he took.¡± Xiao Tianxuan was shaking with anger. It was a long time later before he finally suppressed the rage in his heart and declared in a chillingly eerie voice, ¡°He can¡¯t have run very far. Search this place inch by inch. When we find him, I will make sure he begs for death!¡± Murder overflowed from his voice.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 151 Saint Table In a certain cave deep within the mountains. Zhou Yuan was seated on a rock, his eyes lightly shut. The white Genesis bead he had swallowed previously had already landed in his Qi Dwelling and was currently giving off a seemingly endless stream of Genesis Qi that was ultimately refined by the Omni Python Qi. Zhou Yuan could feel the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling growing more and more abundant. ¡°It should be about time for a breakthrough.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. He opened his eyes and cast a glance at the cave entrance which he had blocked with a giant rock. In addition, he had inscribed several Genesis Runes on it that could conceal Genesis Qi undulations. He believed that this was enough to ensure his safety. There was no way that Xiao Tianxuan would let this matter rest, and he would definitely lead a search in the mountains. However, there were many mountains in the area and together with the concealing Genesis Runes, Xiao Tianxuan should not be able to locate him. Zhou Yuan let out an icy chuckle. Without any further hesitation, he closed his eyes again and turned his attention towards his Qi Dwelling, controlling the Omni Python Qi to devour every strand of pure Genesis Qi. The surging Genesis Qi around him began to rise steadily. ... Meanwhile, at another location in the same mountains. Xiao Tianxuan gazed at the vast mountain range before him, his expression white with anger. They had spent a good part of the day searching, only to end up with no results, It was as if Zhou Yuan had vanished into thin air. ¡°Bastard!¡± Cracking sounds emerged from Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s fists, the rage in his heart on the verge of making him turn crazy. This was the first time he had been toyed with in such a manner, and it was even by a Qi Nourishing stage trash! ¡°No need to worry, he cannot hide for long.¡± Gu Ling consoled from the side. A vicious look flashed in her eyes as she said, ¡°We can spread the news that Zhou Yuan has obtained a little Heaven Genesis technique. He is merely at the Qi Nourishing stage, and I¡¯m sure that many people will soon become interested in him.¡± Xiao Tianxuan suppressed his anger, his eyes narrowing slightly. In the end, he nodded his head. ¡°Alright. Since he dares to snatch away what¡¯s mine, I will let him become the focus of everyone¡¯s attention and ensure he will no longer have any peace!¡± ¡°Besides this, I want to issue a bounty. Anyone that kills Zhou Yuan will be rewarded 3 million Genesis crystals!¡± A savage smile was revealed on Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s face. Once Zhou Yuan dared to reveal himself, he will be plagued with an endless amount of trouble. Gu Ling nodded with a slight smile. She lifted her gaze and looked towards the depths of the mountains. Zhou Yuan might think that playing fisherman was fun, but little did he know how much trouble was waiting for him once the fisherman was exposed. If he wanted to blame someone, he should blame his own lack of strength. So weak and yet still daring to seize a little Heaven Genesis technique. Bzz! While the two were conversing, they suddenly sensed a strange disturbance from high up in the sky. They immediately lifted their heads in astonishment, only to discover thousands of light rays converging in the sky high above them, transforming into an enormous stone tablet. ¡°What is that?!¡± Xiao Tianxuan involuntarily cried out. The stone tablet seemed to be extremely far away, but when they looked at it with their eyes, it was clearly visible. It was a magical feeling. Gu Ling also stared in astonishment at the stone tablet that had suddenly appeared in the sky. At closer observation, she remarked, ¡°There seems to be some words on the stone tablet.¡± Xiao Tianxuan also focused. Sure enough, he saw several ancient looking words; Those that can leave their names on the tablet will be allowed to enter the sacred grounds. At the top of the tablet were three words; distinguished battle achievements. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s heart shook violently, his eyes suddenly turning incomparably hot. ¡°Sacred grounds?! I once heard father mention a certain area that exists within the Saint Remains Domain called the sacred grounds. It is there that the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain is hidden!¡± ¡°But it has never appeared before, why has it appeared now?¡± Gu Ling covered her red lips in shock. Gu Ling could not help but mumble, ¡°Those that can leave their names on the tablet, what does this mean? How would one leave one¡¯s name?¡± Xiao Tianxuan pondered for a while, before he slowly said, ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, it should refer to the distinguished battle achievements¡­¡± ¡°Distinguished battle achievements?¡± Gu Ling frowned. Xiao Tianxuan nodded. ¡°The Saint Remains Domain originated from the blood of a Saint and is filled with mysteries and wonder. The Saint Tablet that has appeared should be able to sense everything that happens in the entire Saint Remains Domain.¡± ¡°Which is to say, only those whom the Saint Tablet judges to have distinguishable battle achievements will have the right to have their names on the tablet and be allowed into the sacred grounds.¡± The gazes of the other prided geniuses beside Xiao Tianxuan also began to burn with excitement. The sacred grounds contained the greatest gift. If they could enter and obtain it, it would be akin to soaring straight into the heavens. ¡°It seems that we¡¯ll have to find out what is considered a distinguished battle achievement¡­¡± Mumbled Xiao Tianxuan. However, a vicious look soon appeared in his eyes. ¡°But before that, we should first focus on dealing with Zhou Yuan.¡± ... Practically every individual in the entire Saint Remains Domain had sensed the appearance of the Saint Tablet in the sky high above them, causing them to raise their heads. The ancient words on the stone tablet was likewise clearly seen by everyone. The entire Saint Remains Domain began to boil with excitement, the eyes of countless prided geniuses burning with anticipation. All of them clearly understood what it meant to enter the sacred grounds. Only there would the greatest gift be found. Therefore, countless prided geniuses began to rack their brains. How distinguished did the so-called battle achievements had to be? ... At a certain area of the Saint Remains Domain. Beside a clear stream, a figure with matchless looks was currently extending her bare feet into the stream, gently dipping into its cool waters, her pretty eyes shut in enjoyment. This familiar appearance, who else could it be but Yaoyao. At this current moment, her long black hair was hanging down over her back, reaching her slender waist. She enjoyed the cool waters for a while, before unhurriedly raising her head and gazing at the Saint Tablet in the sky above. ¡°Distinguished battle achievements?¡± Yaoyao lazily stretched her back as she mumbled to herself, ¡°I wonder how Zhou Yuan is doing. Hope that he hasn¡¯t ended up stuck somewhere again after offending someone.¡± Soon after, she lightly shook her head. ¡°Shan¡¯t think about him first, and deal with my own matters.¡± Her slender body rose, clothes whiter than snow appearing as her features turned to a mix of pretty and handsome again. It was truly the perfect pretty boy young master. However, a certain iciness was currently gathering in the mysterious and aloof eyes of the pretty boy young master. Bright rays appeared on her clean clear forehead as an incomparably powerful Spirit ripple slowly pulsed outwards. The stream below her feet seemed to become extremely silent at this moment, the little waves within seeming to bow down while cowering. Yaoyao slowly turned around as she looked towards the sky nearby where scarlet-red Qi was streaking across the horizon in a dignified and domineering manner. Yaoyao icily gazed at the scarlet-red Qi. A finger suddenly extended and gently pointed in the air. Plop! An invisible Spirit ripple suddenly exploded, transforming into a berserk wave of Spirit energy that blasted at the scarlet-red Qi. Bzz! The sky seemed to shudder for a moment, before the scarlet-red Qi descended from the sky, ultimately landing on a mountain top near the stream. The scarlet-red Qi slowly receded, revealing a figure in golden robes. It was Wu Huang! Wu Huang was expressionless as he lowered his head. His pupils tightened slightly as he looked towards Yaoyao and slowly said, ¡°Why did you stop me?¡± Yaoyao stared at Wu Huang, the iciness in her pupils more than enough to freeze the entire stream. ¡°Don¡¯t you like causing trouble¡­ now, let me cause some trouble for you.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s voice was clear, without the slightest hint of any emotion. She thought for a while, before she continued, ¡°At the same time, I also want to know if defeating you will count as a distinguished battle achievement.¡± The moment her words faded, her long sleeves trembled faintly as scroll after scroll appeared in front of her, astonishing Genesis Qi slowly spreading from each one. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 152 Qi Dashing out of the Heaven Gate ¡°Have you heard? That kid Zhou Yuan actually managed to snatch away a little Heaven Genesis technique from the hands of Xiao Tianxuan and his squad!¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be, right? Isn¡¯t Zhou Yuan only at the Qi Nourishing stage?¡± ¡°I heard that he took advantage of the moment when Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s group and the grade 4 Genesis Beast exhausted each other.¡± ¡°Tchtch, what great luck. That¡¯s a little Heaven Genesis technique!¡± ¡°Heh, Xiao Tianxuan has promised 3 million Genesis crystals to anyone who can catch Zhou Yuan. Many have already went to the area he was last seen in hopes of capturing him, taking the little Heaven Genesis technique and then the bounty on his head.¡± ¡°What a case of treasuring a jade ring becomes a crime. He¡¯s so weak and yet he still dares to have designs on a little Heaven Genesis technique, that¡¯s practically courting death.¡± ¡°Shall we go and try our luck too? If we somehow meet him, it will be akin to striking lottery.¡± ¡°Heheh, that¡¯s exactly what I had in mind. He¡¯s only at the Qi Nourishing stage, it should be easy to deal with him if we encounter him.¡± ¡°Quick then, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°......¡± ...... Xiao Tianxuan stood with his hands behind his back on a certain mountain top. As he gazed at the figures that seemingly covered the sky and land as they searched for a particular individual, a chillingly eerie look emerged in his eyes. ¡°He is really good at hiding!¡± Xiao Tianxuan frostily said. He had done as Gu Ling suggested, and sure enough, many individuals had been drawn over to search for any traces of Zhou Yuan. Although there was a lot of activity, they were still unable to find Zhou Yuan. ¡°No need to be anxious. Zhou Yuan is definitely still in the area.¡± Gu Ling consoled from behind. Her long and narrow eyes stared at the vast mountain forests like a viper as she said, ¡°He is now merely a rat that has already been caught in our net. As long as we continue to tighten the net, he will eventually appear.¡± ¡°When that happens, his Qi Nourishing stage strength will not be able to save him from death!¡± Xiao Tianxuan nodded, before forcefully expelling a long breath of air as he wanted to get rid of all the resentment he had towards Zhou Yuan. His path had been smooth sailing for many years, and his status as the junior city lord of Saint Remains City made it such that praise and compliance were all he would meet wherever he went. He never imagined that he would actually succumb to a ploy from a Qi Nourishing stage kid. No matter what, he would not take this lying down. Gu Ling softly said, ¡°Come on, a rat is not worth getting angry over. How can such a person compare to you? Even when you discount your status, you¡¯re still someone who has already stepped into the realm of the advance Heaven Gate stage, and is even an elite amongst those of the same cultivation level. Besides those few individuals, who else amongst the entire younger generation of the Cangmang Continent can match you?¡± Xiao Tianxuan let out a bitter laugh. ¡°If not because I used up too many trump cards to deal with the Wind Thunder Beast, I would not even fear those few super elites.¡± There would be no deficient if he had been able to kill the Wind Thunder Beast with those trump cards, and he would have even grown his reputation, unfortunately... While Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling were talking, they suddenly detected a disturbance from the mountains some distance away. They immediately exchanged a look, seeing the joy that was surging out in each other¡¯s eyes. Was it that little rat? Their figures abruptly shot forth, landing on a giant tree several minutes later as their gazes looked to the front where several figures could be seen. These figures had surrounded a certain location, a faintly visible cave that had been blocked with a boulder. ¡°So he¡¯s been using Genesis Runes to conceal any Genesis Qi undulations. No wonder we couldn¡¯t find him!¡± Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s gaze swept across the cave, sensing the faint Genesis Rune undulations from behind the boulder as he icily chuckled. ¡°The rat is hiding inside. Break the boulder. Whoever brings him out will be rewarded 3 million Genesis crystals!¡± Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s chilling voice echoed across the area. The eyes of several figures brightened. 3 million Genesis crystals was no small sum. ¡°Heh heh, to think that a little Qi Nourishing rat would be worth such a fortune. I¡¯ll be glad to take it!¡± Voices rang out one after another. A dozen figures swiftly shot forward, streams of powerful Genesis Qi lashing at the boulder blocking the cave entrance. Boom! The entire mountain seemed to shake as the boulder was destroyed. ¡°Charge!¡± The dozen figures had already begun dashing towards the cave as rock fragments shot outwards, each clearly intent on being the first to reach the target so as not to lose to the others. Xiao Tianxuan smiled indifferently as he watched the dozen figures charge towards the cave. All of them had the strength of the Heaven Gate stage. There was no way Zhou Yuan would be able to escape. Boom! However, while Xiao Tianxuan was waiting for Zhou Yuan to be dragged out, an astonishing Genesis Qi ripple suddenly pulsed from the cave like an erupting volcano. Rumble! The Genesis Qi ripple was tyrannically domineering, causing cracks to form on the cave. Thump thump! When the astonishing Genesis Qi erupted, everyone also saw the dozen figures, that had just moments ago been menacingly charging into the cave, being flung out from the cave. They tumbled on the ground like bottle gourds, bumping against the ground till their faces were a bloody mess. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s pupils shrank. One of the figures that had been sent flying replied in a horrified voice, ¡°He¡­ he has ascended to the Heaven Gate stage!¡± This caused even more frowns of confusion. Even if Zhou Yuan had ascended to the Heaven Gate stage, he would merely be at the initial level. However, the pulse of Genesis Qi earlier did not seem to be that of an initial Heaven Gate stage practitioner. Bzzbzz! While many were still puzzled, the Genesis Qi undulations from the cave grew more and more berserk as the entire mountain began to tremble. Rumble! Genesis Qi crazily converged towards the cave until a certain moment when it pierced through the walls of the mountain and dashed straight into the heavens! Everyone watched as a dozen feet wide pillar of dark gold Genesis Qi soared into the sky, rapidly rising feet by feet... ¡°He has indeed ascended to the Heaven Gate stage!¡± Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s voice was filled with iciness. Gu Ling coldly snorted. ¡°The phenomenon of Qi dashing through the Heaven Gate is measured in feet. Do you recall how many feet your Genesis Qi reached when you reached the Heaven Gate stage?¡± Xiao Tianxuan indifferently answered, ¡°Only 94 feet.¡± His tone was normal, but clearly contained a faint trace of pride. Such an accomplishment was after all already top tier amongst those of the same generation. A smile surfaced from the corners of Gu Ling¡¯s ruddy little mouth. ¡°The Genesis Qi of ordinary individuals usually reached about 20 feet when they advance to the Heaven Gate stage. Your 94 feet has already surpassed the great majority.¡± Xiao Tianxuan sighed. ¡°So what, I heard that when Wu Huang¡¯s Qi dashed past the Heaven Gate, his seemingly endless Genesis Qi soared straight into the sky, reaching a height of 238 feet.¡± Gu Ling also sighed when she heard this. ¡°Its rumored that Wu Huang has a gold Qi Dwelling. Achieving such a feat is not strange at all.¡± Her eyes seemed to swivel, a hint of mockery in her gaze as she looked towards the slowly rising dark gold Genesis Qi from the mountain top before them. ¡°This kid has hidden for so long, believing that he will be able to turn the situation around once he reaches the Heaven Gate stage. I¡¯m really interested to find out how many feet his Genesis Qi will rise to.¡± Xiao Tianxuan laughed inside, no longer anxious for the time being. He intended to patiently wait till Zhou Yuan fully ascended, when the latter was full of confidence, to thoroughly beat him into the ground, a defeat so complete that it would leave a shadow in his heart that would be almost impossible to break free of. Xiao Tianxuan placed one hand behind his back, a toying look in his eyes as he looked to his front. The gaze of everyone in the area converged on this very spot. Hence, under the attention of numerous gazes, the dark gold Genesis Qi that was still shooting out of the cave rose feet by feet at a steady pace...Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 153 Measure Bzzbzz! Every gaze in the area was raised towards sky where a dark golden pillar of Genesis Qi was rising into the heavens. This scene was not unfamiliar to everyone present. The same thing had also happened to them when they reached the Heaven Gate stage. It was known as Qi dashing through the Heaven Gate, and was measured in feet. Simply put, the higher one¡¯s Qi rose, the more abundant one¡¯s Genesis Qi was. Of course, there were also various other factors such as the grade of the Genesis Qi, the grade of the Qi Dwelling... It was not always the case that the higher one¡¯s Genesis Qi rose, the stronger one would be in the future. But at the very least, for a certain period in one¡¯s cultivation, the higher one¡¯s Genesis Qi soared, the bigger the lead one would have over others. In a certain sense, this achievement represented one¡¯s foundations. The sturdier and stronger one¡¯s foundations, the greater the heights one¡¯s Genesis Qi would reach when dashing past the Heaven Gate. ¡°That kid has really ascended to the Heaven Gate stage¡­¡± ¡°Already over 40 feet, that¡¯s not bad at all¡­¡± ¡°But it seems to be rising still?¡± ¡°It will very likely approach its limit soon.¡± ¡°......¡± Amongst the numerous whispers, the dark gold Genesis Qi pillar continued its unhurried ascent. A dozen breaths later, the whispers began to fade as everyone¡¯s expressions changed slightly. The dark gold Genesis Qi pillar had unknowingly reached a height of over 70 feet. Such a height had already surpassed many of those present. ¡°Humph, he does have some ability.¡± Gu Ling¡¯s pretty face had turned slightly cold. Back when she had advanced to the Heaven Gate stage, her Genesis Qi had only reached slightly over 70 feet. Zhou Yuan¡¯s result was already comparable to her own. Xiao Tianxuan did not remark, the expression in his eyes fluctuating indeterminately as he stared at the dark gold pillar. A faint sense of unease rose within him. He had discovered that even till now, the dark gold Qi pillar was still very concentrated and showed no signs of waning. In other words, Zhou Yuan still had a substantial amount of reserves. It was indeed as he had expected. The rate at which the dark gold Qi pillar climbed did not drop, but instead began to increase... *Uproar*! An uproar washed over the mountains, gaze after gaze filled with astonishment. Swish! After another ten breaths, the rising dark gold Qi pillar broke past the 90 feet mark, directly reaching a hundred feet under Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s ashen complexion. Numerous faces began to be colored by emotion. A hundred feet. This result was able to match the top tier geniuses... Did Zhou Yuan really have such talent and potential? One of the onlookers wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead as he muttered, ¡°It¡¯s already reached a hundred feet, it should be over now, right?¡± However, the dark gold Qi pillar seemed to have heard this individual¡¯s words. The moment it reached a hundred feet, its speed suddenly began to rise rapidly. The previous foot by foot progress had now turned into a ten feet by ten feet dash... *Uproar*! *Uproar*! Wave after wave of noise pulsed across the mountains as if unable to stop. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s and Gu Ling¡¯s expressions grew uglier and uglier. 130 feet, 150 feet, 200 feet... In the short span of a dozen breaths, the dark gold Qi pillar had already reached 200 feet! The place had become very silent, disbelief on everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°Still not stopping?¡± A trembling voice rang out, the owner looking at the Qi pillar as if it was a monster. The number of individuals whose Qi could reach 200 feet in the Cangmang Continent could be counted one one hand! The names of every one of these geniuses was well known in the Cangmang Continent. Trembling gaze after gaze watched the dark gold Qi pillar continue its climb. In the end, it gradually reached its limit, stopping at a whopping height of 484 feet! 484 feet! The entire mountain range was dead silent. Cold sweat had appeared on everyone¡¯s foreheads. They never heard of anyone who had ever been able to reach this height! Just how much Genesis Qi was required to achieve this? One must know that even some of the advance Heaven Gate experts present may not be able to achieve such a feat. Yet, Zhou Yuan had done it moments after reaching the Heaven Gate stage... Which is to say, the amount of Genesis Qi he had at the initial Heaven Gate stage was not any less than an advance Heaven Gate stage expert! How had Zhou Yuan done it?! Within the silence, Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s expression was already extremely ugly. Zhou Yuan had never been able to enter the former¡¯s eyes, and had all along only been akin to a troublesome rat. Yet, the little rat had now clearly shown Xiao Tianxuan just how huge a gap there was between their potentials... After all, even Wu Huang¡¯s greatness would be thoroughly suppressed by the result of 484 feet. Gu Ling¡¯s teeth were tightly clenched. Zhou Yuan dominance was clearly not something she wished to see. Even so, her heart still trembled faintly. From the scene before her eyes, she knew that Zhou Yuan¡¯s future was definitely limitless. His talent was not to be underestimated! Beside Gu Ling, Xiao Tianxuan suddenly icily said, ¡°He¡­ must die.¡± The intense killing intent within his voice made even Gu Ling shiver for a moment. She turned her head, and saw that Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s expression was calm and collected. However, Gu Ling could also clearly see the fear that had flitted across his eyes, fear that was soon replaced by ruthlessness. Previously, Xiao Tianxuan had merely viewed Zhou Yuan as a rat, but now, the former was beginning to feel threatened, very deeply threatened. Genesis Qi that reached 484 feet at the Heaven Gate stage already spoke volumes about his sturdy foundations and talent. Such a person would definitely accomplish amazing things in the future if all went well. However, for Xiao Tianxuan and Saint Remains City, this person would become a huge threat. Since the grudge had already been made, he had to make sure cleanly cut off such a threat. ¡°Whoever kills Zhou Yuan will be awarded 5 million Genesis crystals.¡± Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s deep voice slowly echoed. The eyes of numerous individuals in the area began to fill with greed. 5 million Genesis crystals was no small sum. It seems that Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s killing intent towards Zhou Yuan had already reached its peak. However, although many were tempted, some of the smarter individuals present decisively decided to withdraw from the area after some thought, clearly no longer planning on interfering in the grudge between Xiao Tianxuan and Zhou Yuan. The previous Zhou Yuan was merely a Qi Nourishing small fry, hence why they did not mind eliminating the former for Xiao Tianxuan. However, the situation was now different. Zhou Yuan had broken through to the Heaven Gate stage, and had displayed his extremely terrifying potential. The small fry had turned into a huge whale all of a sudden... It was naturally fine if such a person was killed here, but if he were to escape and allowed to grow, his revenge would surely be catastrophic. Those present were elites amongst their generations, and there were few fools amongst them. After some considerations, everyone naturally made their decision. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s face twitched faintly as he watched several people withdraw. Soon after, the murder in his eyes intensified. There were still quite a number of people left in the area, but none of them acted rashly, choosing instead to cautiously observe for the time being. It was at this moment that a clear whistle rang out in the mountains. As the whistle dashed into the sky, the mountain top crumbled, a figure shooting out before slowly landing on the ground. He landed on the ruins of the mountain top, opened his mouth and violently inhaled. The pillar of dark gold Genesis Qi that had reached 484 feet rapidly shrunk, and was eventually swallowed into the figure¡¯s stomach. Rumble! Powerful Genesis Qi undulations began to pulse from the figure¡¯s body, his aura surging as the air around him trembled. Clothes flapping wildly, the young figure turned around and looked in Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s direction. The revealed face naturally belonged to Zhou Yuan. He stared at Xiao Tianxuan, a smile seemingly appearing on his face. ¡°5 million Genesis crystals is truly a huge sum, even I am a little tempted to hand my head over to you¡­¡± His five fingers slowly closed into a fist as he paused. ¡°However, before thinking about that, I believe that it is time for us to settle our debt¡­¡±Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 154 Golden Magical Python Scales Atop the mountain peak. Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes fluttered, his eyes suffused with a sliver of iciness as he stared at Xiao Tianxuan some distance away. Not only had the latter caused him to pay extra in the auction for no good reason, Xiao Tianxuan had even placed a bounty on Zhou Yuan, causing him no small amount of trouble. It was now finally time for these debts to be cleared. Xiao Tianxuan did not seem to mind Zhou Yuan¡¯s icy gaze, instead, mockery appeared on the former¡¯s face as he coldly said, ¡°What bold words.¡± ¡°Do you truly believe that advancing to the Heaven Gate stage makes you invincible? Who here is not also at the Heaven Gate stage?¡± ¡°Moreover, so what if your Genesis Qi can reach over 400 feet? At the end of the day, you are merely an initial Heaven Gate practitioner.¡± His gaze turned towards the numerous restless individuals in the area as he continued to speak, ¡°My bounty I previously placed on his head is still valid. Whoever can take his life will be awarded 5 million Genesis crystals.¡± Those that stayed were clearly aiming for the bounty. 5 million was no small sum after all, and was more than enough to buy the cultivation resources they needed. Hence, several gazes filled with ill intent began to turn towards Zhou Yuan. It was just as Xiao Tianxuan had said. Zhou Yuan¡¯s feat of reaching over 400 feet was indeed stunning, and was more than a testament to his solid foundations. When all was said and done however, he was still only an initial Heaven Gate stage practitioner. Turning their Genesis Qi into a pillar that was over 400 feet tall was something that several of the advance Heaven Gate stage practitioners present were also capable of. The current Zhou Yuan was merely an initial Heaven Gate stage practitioner. Although he was one cultivation level higher, this did not make much of a difference to the advance Heaven Gate stage practitioners present. Therefore, it was not long before a bald man walked out. He had a fierce looking face while cruelness flickered in his eyes. He displayed a savage smile to Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve butchered quite a few geniuses, but its my first time dealing with someone like you.¡± Boom! Vigorous Genesis Qi exploded from his body, revealing that he was an advance Heaven Gate stage expert. Bang! His body lowered slightly and his foot powerfully slammed into the ground, causing it to crack as his figure was sent shooting forward like a cannonball, charging straight at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Mid grade Black Genesis technique, Metal Devil Head!¡± The bald man¡¯s shout was akin to thunder. One could only watch in surprise as he used his head as a weapon, Genesis Qi surging over it as the smooth head took on a gleaming metallic black luster. The terrifying charge blasted away the surrounding air, an attack that was forceful and unyielding to the limit. The bald man¡¯s attack looked rather comical, but its ferocity still made the expressions of several people present change slightly. Surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he watched the black figure ferociously charge towards him. Every individual specialized in a different kind of offense, while this person¡¯s most deadly weapon was his gleaming bald head. ¡°If it was before breaking through to the Heaven Gate stage, I would have to be a little more cautious about this headbutt.¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. He did not move to avoid the attack, merely slowly closing his five fingers into a fist as tiny scales emerged on the back of his hand, scales that appeared golden. In a few breaths, a layer of gold python scales had appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. They were the Magical Python Scales. As Zhou Yuan advanced to the Heaven Gate stage, the scales also evolved, turning from the green of the first level to the gold second level. Color was not the only change, the scales had also clearly grown much stronger. Zhou Yuan tightened his fist as he stepped forward, sending a punch at the incoming black head, the two forces violently clashing together. Clang! A loud clang rang out at the moment of impact, before a shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye swept outwards, causing crack after crack to grow from under Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet. Bang! A split second after these cracks appeared, everyone watched as Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist continued forward, sending the bald man¡¯s body flying backwards even quicker than he had arrived with a miserable cry. Thud thud! Blood flowed from the bald man¡¯s head as his body was sent flying into the forest, smashing through several giant trees before slowly coming to a stop. His figure was only visible for a brief moment before being buried by numerous broken trees. No one knew whether he was dead or alive. Silence, complete silence. Everyone blankly watched this scene as they swallowed a mouthful of saliva. No one had expected that the ferocious headbutt charge of the bald man would end up with him being sent flying with a single punch from Zhou Yuan. The bald man had put his everything into that attack, not to mention that he was also an advance Heaven Gate expert. The might of his earlier blow was so great that those of the same cultivation level had no choice but to avoid it. But¡­ why had he been sent flying by a single punch from Zhou Yuan? Gaze after gaze stared at Zhou Yuan in a strange manner. Although the latter had just ascended to the Heaven Gate stage, the power he possessed was clearly extremely astonishing. Under numerous shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan lowered his head in surprise and looked at his gold scale covered fist. The power of the earlier punch had likewise also exceeded his expectations. ¡°Is this the effect of the gold Magical Python Scales¡­¡± Zhou Yuan quickly understood as amazement flitted across his eyes. It turned out that the second level of the Magical Python Scales could not only form a defensive layer to protect him, but also amplify his strength and power. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimate, the places where the gold scales appeared would multiply the power released from there. Zhou Yuan laughed. He looked towards the crowd that had been awed by his punch and said, ¡°Is there anyone else who wants the bounty? If so, please hurry up.¡± Everyone looked to each other, bitterly shaking their heads in the end as they began to withdraw. Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier punch had already made clear his strength. It was not known whether the advance Heaven Gate bald man was dead or alive after receiving a single punch, and most of them were at best only equal in strength to the latter. If they stubbornly chose not to back off, they would likely end up with the same fate as the bald man. Therefore, although Genesis crystals were valuable, they were not worth one¡¯s own life. Given the current situation, people like them could no longer interfere. Zhou Yuan nodded his head in satisfaction when he saw them withdraw. He could not be bothered with these people, and they would only waste his energy. Hence, his gaze turned towards Xiao Tianxuan. The latter¡¯s expression was currently extremely ugly, clearly surprised that the bald man did not cause even a single injury to Zhou Yuan. Instead, the bald man had even become an example for others, making them too intimidated to interfere any longer. Xiao Tianxuan took in a deep breath, his grim expression gradually returning to an expressionless one. He stared at Zhou Yuan, killing intent flooding out in his eyes as his hand slowly closed around the fiery-red long spear that appeared within it. Powerful Genesis Qi erupted from his body like a storm, shaking the surrounding space. An overwhelming pressure enveloped the area. The numerous gazes in the vicinity looked towards him in respect. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s strength was clearly a different level than ordinary advance Heaven Gate experts. The spear in his hand was slowly raised, pointing towards Zhou Yuan as an icy voice sounded across the mountain. ¡°I originally wanted to save myself the trouble, but it seems that I have to do this personally. Well¡­ guess I¡¯ll save myself 5 million Genesis crystals.¡± The numerous figures on the mountain began to back away, their gazes filled with searing anticipation as they looked towards Xiao Tianxuan. Was the junior city lord of Saint Remains City finally going to fight?Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 155 Zhou Yuan VS Xiao Tianxuan In the mountain forest. Magma flowed along the long spear in Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s hand as he pointed it at Zhou Yuan while Genesis Qi churned in the sky above, forming a giant fiery-red cloud. Berserk and searing undulations spread from within it. Xiao Tianxuan had yet to attack, but the pressure from him had already exceeded the bald man from earlier. ¡°As expected of Saint Remains City¡¯s junior city lord.¡± Numerous figures whispered inside the mountain forest. There was no need to question Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s strength. He was an elite even amongst the many prided geniuses. The current him had already reached the peak of the advance Heaven Gate stage, and was much stronger than ordinary advance Heaven Gate experts. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that Zhou Yuan will not be able to flaunt his power like before.¡± It was true. When you compared the two, Xiao Tianxuan was clearly superior. He was at the peak of the advance Heaven Gate stage, wielded a high grade Black Genesis Weapon, and had numerous tricks up his sleeves. No matter how one looked at it, Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s chances at victory were higher. ¡°Humph, let¡¯s see who will save you this time.¡± Iciness flowed in Gu Ling¡¯s eyes. She had originally believed that it would be easy to deal with Zhou Yuan, but the latter just seemed to become more and more of a problem. In the end, even Xiao Tianxuan had been forced to personally take action. However, it was over now. Gu Ling looked towards the remaining few Saint Remains squad members and coldly said, ¡°Block off all of his escape paths. He will not be allowed to flee this time.¡± The remaining few members had already completely cast their lot in with Xiao Tianxuan. Hence, all of them nodded after hearing Gu Ling''s words before dispersing in all directions, sealing every path of escape available to Zhou Yuan. On the mountain top, Zhou Yuan merely calmly watched them do so, not seeming to care at all. His gaze soon locked onto Xiao Tianxuan. The strength displayed by the latter was indeed far beyond regular Heaven Gate experts. The fire of battle intent slowly rose in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. Before his cultivation breakthrough, his chances of victory against an opponent at Xiao Tianxuan''s level were naturally slim, but now¡­ it was going to be very different. "Martial form." The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan''s hand began to grow, the snow-white hairs of the brush tip tightly clenching together into the sharp tip of a spear that flickered with a chilling light. Dark gold Genesis Qi also began to swirl around Zhou Yuan like a storm, turning all the rocks in the vicinity to dust¡­ Xiao Tianxuan''s tightly gripped his spear as he coldly said, "I will let you know that your 400 feet tall Genesis Qi is not enough to permit such arrogance before me!" Swish! The instant he finished speaking, Xiao Tianxuan''s figure abruptly shot forward, his figure blinking from place to place before arriving in front of Zhou Yuan. The former''s spear shook, transforming into countless flashes of scarlet-red light that seemed to cover the sky as they engulfed Zhou Yuan, targeting his vitals. Formidable, deadly, ruthless. However, Zhou Yuan merely let out a prolonged laugh in response, no fear whatsoever as the Heavenly Yuan Brush thrusted forward to meet the attack head on. A dark gold radiance curled around the brush tip like a thousand stars. Clang clang! Spear and brush clashed, sparks flying with loud clangs. Genesis Qi rippled violently every time they met, shaking the surrounding air. In a short span of a dozen breaths, the two had already exchanged dozens of blows. Every strike ruthless without the slightest shred of mercy. Clang! Spear and brush collided, only to be pushed back once again. Zhou Yuan''s arm suddenly jerked as the brush tip transformed into a stream of white that swiftly shot forward, stabbing towards Xiao Tianxuan''s throat at a tricky angle. However, just as the attack was about to land, a spear pierced towards it, slightly changing the trajectory of the white hairs. Zhou Yuan''s expression was icy. With a thought, the snow-white hairs suddenly scattered, transforming into countless strings that seemed to cover the sky as they descended, aimed at every inch of Xiao Tianxuan''s body. "What a bizarre Genesis Weapon!" Xiao Tianxuan''s pupils tightened slightly. Zhou Yuan''s black brush Genesis Weapon was extremely strange. Its white hairs could take in numerous forms at any moment, making it very challenging to counter. However, Xiao Tianxuan was no weakling. With a jerk of the Flame Devil Spear in his hand, scarlet-red magma began to rise from it, forming a shield of boiling magma in front of him. Ding ding! Countless snow-white hairs stabbed at the magma, but all were repelled in the end. Zhou Yuan''s and Xiao Tianxuan''s figures were simultaneously blown backwards. Xiao Tianxuan''s expression was grave, the Flame Devil Spear drawing a long scar on the ground. Opposite him, Zhou Yuan drifted backwards while the snow-white hairs rapidly gathered back to the tip of the brush, pointing towards the ground at an angle... The attacks of both parties had been vicious in their previous clash. However, every attack had ultimately been blocked. The pupils of everyone watching the fight shrank slightly at this moment, evidently surprised that Zhou Yuan did not seem to be at a disadvantage even against a peak advance Heaven Gate expert like Xiao Tianxuan. "I''ve truly underestimated you. To be capable of so much at the initial Heaven Gate stage is remarkable... " Xiao Tianxuan''s eyes lowered slightly, his tone indifferent as he continued, "If given some time, I''m afraid that even Wu Huang will not hold much superiority against you¡­ your talent is truly terrifying." "In fact, I''ve begun to believe it now." Zhou Yuan''s eyebrows raised slightly. "Believe what?" Xiao Tianxuan calmly answered, "Believe that you really are the so-called sacred dragon of the Zhou clan, and that Wu Huang had merely stolen your blessing, allowing him to reach where he is today." Zhou Yuan smiled but did not comment. "However¡­ " Xiao Tianxuan paused, an extremely dangerous look emerging in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan. "That is also why I''ve decided that it will be best to kill you here." Zhou Yuan chuckled. "I''m afraid that you''re not that capable." Xiao Tianxuan flatly responded, "I know that you obtained that little Heaven Genesis technique, but I also know that you have not learnt it." Zhou Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly. "The requirements to learn a little Heaven Genesis technique are exceedingly stringent, plus your focus has been on breaking through into the Heaven Gate stage while hiding here for the for the past few days, and you naturally did not have the time nor conditions. Therefore, you cannot possibly have learnt it." Xiao Tianxuan''s calm explanation was filled with certainty. Zhou Yuan slowly replied, "You are pretty smart." It was indeed as Xiao Tianxuan had guessed. Although Zhou Yuan knew how to practice the little Heaven Genesis technique, Great Wind and Thunder, he had yet to learn it. Xiao Tianxuan laughed, his hand slowly tightening around the long scarlet-red spear as a toying look surfaced in his eyes. "It''s just such a pity, you don''t have a little Heaven Genesis technique¡­ but¡­" The Genesis Qi around him began to churn violently at this moment, akin to a scarlet-red storm as it swept outwards, while astonishing ripples pulsed from his body. The ground below his feet began to tremble. "But I have one!" Shocked gaze after gaze watched as scarlet-red Genesis Qi shot out from the top of Xiao Tianxuan''s head, culminating into a giant halo. An almighty and frightening pressure pulsed. As Zhou Yuan gazed at the scarlet halo, his eyes narrowed.Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 156 Python Swallows Devil Halo A titanic scarlet-red halo floated above Xiao Tianxuan, emitting scorching and berserk undulations that dried up and cracked that ground below. Every gaze in the mountain forest was tinged with fear and astonishment as they watched this scene. "That''s¡­ a little Heaven Genesis technique!" "Xiao Tianxuan is the junior city lord of Saint Remains City, it is not strange for him to have mastered one." "Xiao Tianxuan has so many trump cards... " "It''s going to become dangerous for Zhou Yuan. Given Xiao Tianxuan''s strength, even those super elite geniuses will have to face such power with seriousness." "It''s a little Heaven Genesis technique after all, its power is enough to be a game changer." ¡°......¡± Numerous whispers rang out. There was now a trace of pity in the gazes that looked towards Zhou Yuan. The latter had displayed his extremely solid foundations when he advanced to the Heaven Gate stage, but it was ultimately still only the initial Heaven Gate stage. Someone sighed, "Zhou Yuan is still young and has yet to realise his full potential. If he had patiently bided his time instead and mastered the little Heaven Genesis technique, Xiao Tianxuan will not be able to do anything against him." Gu Ling''s pretty face radiated with happiness when she was this. Her gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan, a mocking look emerging as she said, "The consequences of angering Xiao Tianxuan is not something the likes of you can withstand... " Under those numerous pitying gazes, Zhou Yuan''s expression turned rather grave as he stared at the giant scarlet-red halo above Xiao Tianxuan. The undulations that pulsed from it were extremely destructive. Such power had indeed far surpassed the high grade Black tier level. "Can''t believe that he has mastered a little Heaven Genesis technique... " Muttered Zhou Yuan under his breath. Xiao Tianxuan was indeed a formidable foe. If it was before his breakthrough, he would likely have no choice but to avoid. Unfortunately for Xiao Tianxuan¡­ Dark gold Genesis Qi began to surge out of Zhou Yuan''s body, swirling and expanding around him like a howling dark gold hurricane. Astonishing undulations pulsed outwards, shaking the mountain below his feet. Gasp after gasp rang out when the onlookers saw this scene. "Zhou Yuan is really remarkable. He''s only at the initial Heaven Gate stage, but his Genesis Qi levels does not lose to an advance Heaven Gate stage practitioner." "Moreover, from how concentrated his Genesis Qi looks, it''s definitely not low grade." "No wonder he dares to pit himself against Xiao Tianxuan... " "But even so, I''m afraid that he is still not Xiao Tianxuan''s match." ¡°...¡± The scarlet-red halo above Xiao Tianxuan faintly trembled, a sign that its power was about to approach its peak. His cold eyes gazed at Zhou Yuan as he said, "Why do you still try such meaningless actions, wouldn''t it be better to obediently wait for death?" His finger slowly extended, pointing towards Zhou Yuan as an emotionless voice echoed from his mouth. "Little Heaven Genesis technique, Scarlet Devil Wheel." Bzzz! The giant scarlet-red halo shook violently for a moment, before suddenly disappearing from sight a split second later. It was too fast to be seen by the naked eye, the only things everyone was able to observe was space distort and a flash of scarlet. As scarlet swept past, the ground below dried up and crumbled. In the face of such a devastating attack, even those with the strength of the Heaven Gate stage would feel their scalps turn numb. Was this the power of a little Heaven Genesis technique? If they were the ones in Zhou Yuan''s place, they would not even have any chance of dodging and be killed in an instant¡­ Scarlet light lit up the horizon, rapidly enlarging in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. Even the surrounding air seemed to burn, producing a burnt smell. Huu. A breath was slowly dispelled from Zhou Yuan''s mouth. His hands came together as a low voice seemed to quietly escape his lips. ¡°Omni Python Qi, Python Swallows the Heavens!¡± The instant Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was heard, the dark gold Genesis Qi storm around him suddenly expanded once again. One could only watch as a dark gold giant python emerged from the storm. Python Swallows the Heavens technique! Back then, Zhou Yuan had used this move to kill Wang Chaotian. Although he had only been able to use it with the aid of Silver Shadow, after stepping into the Heaven Gate stage, he was now able to activate it with his own power. However, the giant dark gold python appeared rather illusory, evidence that its power was pretty lacking compared to the previous time it was used. Though this was so, Xiao Tianxuan was also unable to match an Alpha-Origin expert like Wang Chaotian. Hsss! The giant Genesis Qi python hissed, opening its enormous mouth to swallow the incoming scarlet wheel. Boom boom! Sounds of explosions rang out from the dark gold giant python¡¯s body, but did not continue for long. Meanwhile, the python¡¯s titanic body shrank with each explosion. The little Heaven Genesis technique that Xiao Tianxuan had put all his power into had been easily neutralized in this manner. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± Countless cries of surprise rang out at practically the same time, eye after eye nearly popping from their sockets. How could they have imagined such an outcome... To think that Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s terrifyingly powerful little Heaven Genesis technique had disappeared like this without causing even a tiny ripple. How had Zhou Yuan done it?! The expression on Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s face turned rigid little by little. Some distance behind him, Gu Ling looked as if she had just saw a ghost, her mouth so wide an egg could be easily popped in. ¡°It seems that your little Heaven Genesis technique has yet to be properly mastered¡­ its power seems to be a little weak.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled when he saw Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s stiff expression. His Python Swallows the Heavens technique was the strongest technique in his current arsenal. In addition, because it originated from the Omni Python Qi, the power from the combination of the two was even more devastating. In fact, even the Alpha-Origin expert Wang Chaotian had been directly swallowed whole by it. ¡°What kind of Genesis technique is this?!¡± Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s complexion was ashen. Zhou Yuan ignored the question. With a flick, the now much smaller dark gold python abruptly darted forward, heading straight for Xiao Tianxuan. The python was extremely quick, appearing in front of Xiao Tianxuan in a flash. Fear finally flitted across Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s eyes. He gritted his teeth as rapidly retreated, while another jade pendant appeared in his hand and was quickly snapped. Bzz! A circular shield of light appeared in front of him. It was obviously another defensive Genesis treasure. Boom! The dark gold python slammed into the shield causing it to ripple violently. Xiao Tianxuan continued to hurriedly flee backwards as cracks began to appear on the shield. His gaze flickered in calculation. In the end, a grudging look flitted across his eyes as his figure retreated back to Gu Ling¡¯s side, grabbing her wrist as he shouted, ¡°Go!¡± A scroll appeared in his hand and was quickly torn. Rays of light instantly exploded from it, swallowing the both of them. Crack! However, the shield also broke at this moment. There was no time for the python to bite them, but two small balls of blood-red Qi shot out from its mouth, burying themselves in Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s and Gu Ling¡¯s bodies. The light below their feet grew brighter and brighter, evidently some kind of Genesis Rune used for escaping. ¡°You should leave behind something before you leave, right?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s really had plenty of life preserving methods. However, did he think that Zhou Yuan would so easily let the latter escape as he pleased? With a cold chuckle, Zhou Yuan sent out a thought and a suction force emerged from the python¡¯s mouth. Xiao Tianxuan could only watch in surprise as the Universe bag at his waist flew out and was swallowed by the python. However, the Genesis Rune below his feet completed its activation at this moment. Light enveloped the two figures as they disappeared with a swish. Although Xiao Tianxuan had disappeared, his exasperated howl echoed. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I will not let you off!¡±Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 157 Haul The battle between both parties ended unexpectedly quick. Before any of the onlookers could react, Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling had already disappeared, leaving only an exasperated cry in the mountains. The crowd gradually returned to their senses, involuntary swallowing their saliva when they gazed upon the mess of a battlefield once again. No one had expected that the junior city lord of Saint Remains City would actually flee... He had the strength of the peak advance Heaven Gate stage, and only a handful of people amongst the Cangmang Continent¡¯s younger generation surpassed him. Yet, he had been beaten by Zhou Yuan, a recently ascended initial Heaven Gate practitioner. Moreover¡­ Xiao Tianxuan had lost even after bringing out his little Heaven Genesis technique. Gaze after gaze seemed to gradually change when they looked towards Zhou Yuan again. There was now a little less scrutiny and a little more respect. Silence blanketed the mountains. Everyone knew that Zhou Yuan¡¯s name would resound in the Saint Remains Domain after today¡¯s battle. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to their gazes. He merely made a beckoning motion with his hand and the dark gold Genesis Qi returned, bringing with it a Universe bag. Zhou Yuan caught the bag, gently swinging it from side to side. "He''s really good at running." Zhou Yuan shook his head. He had still underestimated the tricks Xiao Tianxuan had up his sleeve. The latter was practically overflowing with treasures to preserve one''s life and escape. "Well, you won''t be feeling too good either even if you escaped." Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. At the final moment, he had sent two bundles of Dragon''s Resentment Poison into Xiao Tianxuan''s and Gu Ling''s bodies. The poison will teach them what it''s like to beg for death. Zhou Yuan had personally experienced it for over a dozen years after all. "Time to see what else mr junior city lord has." Dark gold Genesis Qi surged towards the Universe bag in Zhou Yuan''s hand. A faint Genesis Rune appeared at the mouth of the bag, blocking the foreign power. However, the resistance was not much of an obstruction to Zhou Yuan. After sending out a dozen waves of Genesis Qi, the Genesis Rune gradually dimmed, eventually shattering. With a thought, Zhou Yuan''s senses swept into the bag and took a good look at its contents. The first items to appear was 8 gold crystal cards. These were Genesis crystal cards of the Heavenly Crystal Pavilion, and each gold one could be exchanged for a million Genesis crystals. Eight gold Genesis crystal cards represented 8 million Genesis crystals. "... what a wealthy little lord." The sight of these 8 gold crystal cards made the corners of Zhou Yuan''s mouth twitch a little. Zhou Qing had only passed him 500,000 Genesis crystals when the former left the Great Zhou Empire. In comparison, there were 8 million Genesis crystals in Xiao Tianxuan''s Universe bag. An absolutely enormous sum of money. "But 8 million should be his entire fortune." Zhou Yuan grinned. The loss of 8 million would definitely be akin to cutting one''s flesh even for someone like Xiao Tianxuan. "I should return Luluo her money when I meet her again." Zhou Yuan continued to inspect the contents of the Universe bag. There were many useful and valuable things inside, including several rare Genesis Resources. This spoke volumes about Xiao Tianxuan''s wealth. "Eh, a lightning rod stone?" A deep black stone suddenly appeared in Zhou Yuan''s hand. The mottled stone was full of holes and seemed to faintly give off a gleam akin to lightning. Pleasant surprise flashed in his eyes when he saw it. To learn the little Heaven Genesis technique, Great Wind and Thunder, Zhou Yuan needed to draw wind and lightning into his body during a thunderstorm to create a certain mark. Only then would the completed Great Wind and Thunder technique possess the power of wind and lightning, granting it destructive power. The lightning rod stone could help Zhou Yuan smoothen the process of drawing lightning into his body, increasing the speed of mastering the technique. "What a pleasant surprise." After going through the entire bag, Zhou Yuan felt rather regretful that there was no Scarlet Devil Wheel little Heaven Genesis technique inside. But it made sense, a little Heaven Genesis technique was a valuable treasure even to a powerful faction like Saint Remains City. Xiao Tianxuan could not possibly be allowed to easily take it with him. Even so, the haul this time was pretty good. Now that Zhou Yuan was done with the bag, his gaze turned towards the figures that were still in the vicinity as he said, "The battle is already over, what are all of you still doing here? Waiting to claim my bounty?" He was naturally not going to be nice to those who had come for his bounty. Upon hearing his words, the figures on the mountain laughed awkwardly. If it was before, they would have likely cursed and scolded. However, the current Zhou Yuan had beaten off even someone like Xiao Tianxuan. Such frightening battle power was something they naturally did not dare to offend. Hence, the figures of the mountain retreated in a slightly dejected manner. Zhou Yuan paid them no attention. He also prepared to leave the area and find an appropriate place to learn the Great Wind and Thunder technique. At this moment however, he suddenly sensed something and lifted his head, gazing towards the untouchable Saint Tablet high up in the sky. The table was currently shaking. Practically every prided genius in the entire Saint Remains felt this disturbance. Heads were immediately raised, looks of astonishment soon arising on their faces. Light began to converge in the tablet, and for the first time, ancient words slowly appeared. It was a name. The first name that had appeared on the Saint Tablet. The name was¡­ Zhou Xiaoyao? Zhou Xiaoyao, battled Wu Huang, Wu Huang retreated. They were just eight simple words, but they caused tremendous waves in the Saint Remains Domain. Countless geniuses were flabbergasted as they stared at the tablet, completely shocked by the information that had appeared on it. They naturally knew who Wu Huang was. He was one of those that stood at the apex of Cangmang Continent''s younger generation, and one of the greatest contenders for the greatest gift of the Saint Remains Domain. And yet, the tablet had declared that Wu Huang had been beaten into retreat?! Who was Zhou Xiaoyao? How can he possess such terrifying strength? Moreover, there were countless intense battles that had already occurred in the Saint Remains Domain, and even the fight between Zhou Yuan and Xiao Tianxuan had not been recorded by the Saint Tablet. While only this particular battle had been acknowledged by the tablet, what did this say? This meant that battle had already reached the level where it could be acknowledged by the Saint Tablet. One could imagine how intense it was. In the mountain forest, Zhou Yuan''s eyes were wide open, mouth agape as he stared at the Saint Tablet. A long while later, he violently sucked in a breath of cool air. Others may not know who Zhou Xiaoyao was, but how could he not? It was Yaoyao! Yaoyao had actually encountered Wu Huang? And even exchanged blows with him? From the looks of it, Yaoyao seemed to have forced Wu Huang into withdrawing, meaning she had taken the advantage in their fight. Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched the back of his head as he recalled the words Yaoyao had said to him before entering the Saint Remains Domain. If she met Wu Huang, she would teach him a lesson. Who could have imagined that she would really make those words a reality¡­ A warm feeling flowed in Zhou Yuan''s heart. Yaoyao had such a nonchalant and uncaring character, the reason she purposely went to cause trouble for Wu Huang was very likely because of him. "Even Yaoyao has left her name on the tablet, looks like I''ll have to work harder... " "From the looks of it, one will have to achieve a battle accomplishment on the level of the Alpha-Origin in order to leave one''s name on the tablet¡­" Numerous ideas swirled in Zhou Yuan''s head. In the end, his ceased hesitating, his toes pushing off the ground as dark gold Genesis Qi surged out from beneath his feet, forming a dark gold cloud that brought him into the sky. "I should first master the Great Wind and Thunder technique before meeting up with Yaoyao and the rest... " Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 158 Cooperation A certain area in the Saint Remains Domain. Wu Huang was seated on a mountain peak, his head raised to view the Saint Tablet in the sky. The expression on his face did not fluctuate much as he stared at the 8 words on the tablet. Moments later, he mumbled to himself, "Zhou Xiaoyao¡­" "Why have I not heard of this person before, and what relation does he have with Zhou Yuan?" Wu Huang frowned slightly. It was just as described on the Saint Tablet, he had fought with Zhou Xiaoyao, and the outcome was him being in a disadvantageous position, leaving him no option but to withdraw. The battle was extremely intense, pretty much the hardest battle Wu Huang had experienced in the past few years. The opponent clearly had no Genesis Qi, but his Spirit was exceptionally strong. In addition, his mastery over Genesis Runes was nothing short of amazing, each Genesis Rune easily flowing from his hands like water, overwhelming and unfathomable. Although Wu Huang knew the strategy to beat such a person was to close in, none of his numerous attempts had succeeded in breaching the distance of ten feet around Zhou Xiaoyao. Even Wu Huang found the endless stream of Genesis Rune scrolls incomparably difficult to deal with. Moreover, Wu Huang could faintly sense a dangerous sensation from Yaoyao. It was this very sensation that made him ultimately chose to retreat instead of battling to the death. "His Spirit is extremely powerful and is likely also holding back something." Wu Huang slowly muttered, his expression turning much graver for the first time. He had a feeling that Yaoyao would likely be his biggest obstacle this time. "It will be a huge problem if I don''t find a way to eliminate him¡­" Mumbled Wu Huang to himself. His eyes suddenly narrowed slightly as he icily said, "Since you''re already here, show yourself. Sneaking around and hiding, what difference is there between you and a rat?" The surroundings remained silent. A cold light flashed in Wu Huang''s eyes. His five fingers suddenly clenched into a fist as he fiercely punched in a certain direction. Boom! Scarlet-red Genesis Qi whizzed forth, melting even the ground below his feet. The Genesis Qi shot towards a certain spot. However, just as it was about to hit, the space there suddenly rippled as a pale hand slowly reached out. The hand gently twirled, stopping the domineering scarlet-red Genesis Qi when it was right in front of the palm. Night black Genesis Qi gushed out from the pale hand, clashing against the scarlet-red Genesis Qi. In the end, the latter was completely corroded away with a final fizzle... "Why the need to be so hostile against a guest from far away." A raspy voice suddenly rang out. Space rippled again as a figure in black robes slowly appeared. The young man in black had a set of pitch-black pupils that looked akin to vortexes, a sight that made one shiver. "Who are you? I don''t recall someone like you amongst those from the Cangmang Continent." Wu Huang frowned as he stared at the black pupil youth. The aura from the latter''s body made him feel the need to be a little wary. This youth was clearly no ordinary individual. The youth in black robes seemed to grin. "Dongxuan Continent, Ye clan, Ye Ming." Wu Huang''s pupils shrank slightly as he said in a cold voice, "Someone from the Dongxuan Continent? This Saint Remains Domain belongs to our Cangmang Continent, you people from the Dongxuan Continent dare to sneak in? Looks like you are up to nothing good, and probably intend to snatch away the greatest blessing.¡± The youth in black robes shook his head. "Blessings are granted by the will of the heavens, and is not exclusive in nature. Only the strong are worthy of it.¡± ¡°If I manage to take it, it would only mean that I am more qualified than the prided geniuses of the Cangmang Continent.¡± Wu Huang faintly said, ¡°Then let me test if you do have the qualifications.¡± Scarlet-red Genesis Qi began to rise from his body, forming a great scarlet-red sun behind him as the rock below him began to melt. The Genesis Qi Wu Huang cultivated was a little similar to Xiao Tianxuan''s, only more domineering. The youth in black waved his hand. "I am not here to fight you, but propose a certain cooperation." "Cooperation?" Wu Huang''s eyes narrowed. The youth called Ye Ming answered in a raspy voice, "I saw the battle between you and Zhou Xiaoyao." Wu Huang''s heart shivered a little. He had not realised there was someone hiding nearby. It seems that Ye Ming had some very strange abilities. "You didn''t know I was there, right? Hehe, but Zhou Xiaoyao knew. The reason why he did not use his full power was because he was guarding against me." The vortexes in Ye Ming''s black pupils rotated. "It is true that I never expected someone like that to appear in your Cangmang Continent." Ye Ming showed a thin smile. Wu Huang was expressionless. "I heard that Zhou Xiaoyao has a pretty good relationship with your mortal enemy Zhou Yuan. That''s why he will ultimately pit himself against you." Ye Ming slowly continued, "He''s a great threat, but if we cooperate, we will surely be able to eliminate him." "I feel that such a cooperation will be very important to you." The expression in Wu Huang''s eyes became deep and unreadable. He was indeed a little enticed by this deal. Zhou Xiaoyao was too mysterious and will definitely become a huge problem, an even bigger there''s than Li Chun and the rest. As for whether working together with those from the Dongxuan Continent would invoke the ire of the other prided geniuses of the Cangmang Continent, Wu Huang did not need to take it into consideration. There was nothing he would not stoop to in order to walk the path of the strong. Wu Huang said in a low voice, "Although Zhou Xiaoyao has no Genesis Qi, he is a complete mystery. Even if we do manage to defeat him, we may not be able to eliminate him." "The two of us may not be able to, but what if we add another four?" Ye Ming smiled faintly. The moment these words were said, Wu Huang sensed Genesis Qi undulations erupt from the surroundings. Next, four figures rose into the sky and landed around him. These four figures were extremely young, but the powerful Genesis Qi ripples spread from their bodies made Wu Huang''s pupils shrink a little. The four of them were likely not weaker than Blind Sword. It seems that the Dongxuan Continent had come prepared, their goal, the greatest blessing. There was no change in Wu Huang¡¯s expression. Even though he was currently surrounded by five people, he did not display any fear. If he wanted to leave, there would naturally be a way. Wu Huang slowly said, ¡°If it¡¯s now, I believe it should be enough.¡± Such a line-up could only be described as terrifying. No matter how mysterious Zhou Xiaoyao was, once he was trapped in their net, escape would practically be impossible. Ye Ming softly chuckled. ¡°Since that it so, our alliance is temporarily established. However, there is something else that we¡¯ll need your help with after. Wu Huang calmly asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°These teammates of mine are rather interested in the super elite geniuses of your Cangmang Continent¡­ and plan to use them to leave their names on the tablet.¡± Wu Huang indifferently responded, ¡°I can lead the way, but they are no kind buddhas either. It is not certain who will end up trampling who in the end. Of course, the best outcome would be for both parties to end up injured.¡± ¡°There is no need for you to worry about such matters.¡± Ye Ming shook his head. Soon after, he looked towards Wu Huang and smiled, ¡°Are you not worried that our Dongxuan Continent will take all the top places, making the prided geniuses of your Cangmang Continent lose all their face?¡± Wu Huang thought about it for a moment. ¡°What does that got to do with me?¡± Ye Ming was stunned, but soon began to laugh. ¡°I hope we¡¯ll have a happy alliance.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 159 Encirclemen Seven days had already passed since the battle between Zhou Yuan and Xiao Tianxuan. During these seven days, the Saint Remains Domain gradually began boiling with activity. More and more opportunities were appearing in the form of various mystical areas where anyone who could successfully enter would obtain some pretty good blessings or gifts. Over the past few days, news had already spread of several lucky individuals obtaining various blessings, allowing them to be completely reborn, their originally mediocre strength leaping into the sky, transforming them into elites even amongst the many prided geniuses. This caused the eyes of countless geniuses to burn with excitement and anticipation. For a time, searching for these mystical places became the most sought after dream of everyone here. Of course, this naturally led to numerous intense battles from which some geniuses were able to distinguish themselves, making their names resound loudly across the Saint Remains Domain. Included amongst them was Zhou Yuan who had defeated Xiao Tianxuan¡­ However, when compared to Yaoyao, all of them appeared insignificant. Till today, only her name alone could be seen on the Saint Tablet. It was clear as day that achieving the so-called distinguished battle accomplishment was not easy at all. As such, everyone put theirs energy and time into training, killing many Genesis Beasts to raise their strength as fast as possible. Only then would they raise their chances of being acknowledged by the tablet. Zhou Yuan was of the same mind. While hunting Genesis Beasts to raise his strength, he kept a lookout for any stormy areas, because only in a thunderstorm would he be able to initiate himself into the little Heaven Genesis technique, Great Wind and Thunder. His search eventually led him to an appropriate location. ... Rumble! It was a barren land where mountains gathered together in groups, their tall peaks piercing the clouds. No trees could be found on these mountains, their bare appearance making the place look rather desolate. Thunderclouds were present at the peaks of these mountains all year round, the endlessly rumbling thunder filling the area. Zhou Yuan currently stood on one of these majestic mountains. The top of the mountain was immersed in thunderclouds, surrounded by ominous black in which lightning madly flashed a flickered. It was a sight that would make one''s heart jump and flesh tremble. However, Zhou Yuan''s face was overflowing with joy. This was the best place to master the Great Wind and Thunder technique. "Finally found it after so many days." Zhou Yuan sighed. He would surely master the technique here. Once he did, his battle power would rise once again. He sat down on the mountain peak, and gradually began to fall into a state of concentration. The rumbling thunder that filled the area seemed to gradually fade away into the background. A complex and profound intonation slowly flowed into his mind. It was the cultivation method of the Great Wind and Thunder technique. "Feel the wind, feel the lightning, infuse your Genesis Qi, converge into a mark¡­" It was a long time later before Zhou Yuan''s eyes slowly opened. He closed his hand as the lightning rod stone appeared within it. The black stone slowly rose into the air, ultimately hovering some distance above his head. Zhou Yuan began to pour Genesis Qi into the stone, immediately causing a peculiar cry of thunder to faintly echo from its many holes. Rumble! The wind and lightning in the vicinity began to move as if being beckoned by something. With a loud boom, a foot long lightning bolt struck the lightning rod stone. The stone trembled as it absorbed the lightning. After which, lightning began spouting out if its many holes, bombarding Zhou Yuan''s body. Zhou Yuan''s body immediately began to shake, the flesh all over his body squirming as intense pain pulsed from the surface of his body. Zhou Yuan grimaced in pain, but resolutely gritted his teeth as he endured. Only by experiencing wind and lightning attacks would the body gradually grow accustomed to them, allowing one to gain a better understanding of their nature and properties and eventually create a wind thunder mark on one''s body. A little Heaven Genesis technique was profoundly powerful, an existence far beyond the realm of Black tier techniques. Hence why the method to learn one was even stranger and difficult. "It is fortunate that I have this lightning rod stone that can continuously absorb wind and lightning. Or the process would be much slower." Muttered Zhou Yuan to himself. Rumble! Thunder boomed endlessly on the mountain top. Within the glaring lightning, one would faintly see Zhou Yuan''s trembling figure. ... A certain area in the Saint Remains Domain. Deep within the forest. Yaoyao was dressed in white, leaning against the trunk of the tree, legs dangling over the branch. Her long legs appeared exceptionally slender when wrapped by her long white pants. She gently swung her legs as she retrieved a jade cup from her Universe bag and extending it into a hole in the tree. When the cup exited, it was filled with green liquid that gave off the strong and fragrant smell of good wine. "Heh, never expected to encounter such good stuff here." Yaoyao took a little sip, her pink tongue tip slowly licking her lips. A satisfied smile was revealed on her beautiful as jade like face. "Ouu ouu!" A group of apes angrily grunted below the tree, but did not dare to approach. They could only work themselves into a fluster, screeching unceasingly. "I''m only going to have a little¡­" Upon hearing the din, Yaoyao tilted her head downwards and looked at them before continuing, "But if you keep disturbing me¡­ I''ll get rid of all of you." The piercing noise instantly turned to silence, the hairs all over the apes'' bodies standing as they clumped together trembling. At this very moment, they could feel that the human before their eyes was very scary¡­ "So obedient." Yaoyao gave a faint nod of approval, raising her fair and slender neck again as she downed an entire cup of alcohol. As she casually threw the cup away, iciness slowly gathered in her clear eyes as she indifferently said, "It seems that the lesson I taught you previously was not enough." A figure wrapped in scarlet-red light descended some distance in front of her. It was Wu Huang. He stood on the leaves that carpeted the ground, his body completely still as he stared at Yaoyao and slowly said, "What is your relationship with Zhou Yuan? If you chose not to help either of us, I will allow you to leave today." A fan appeared in Yaoyao''s hand, gently tapping her palm as she cocked her head slightly, looking at Wu Huang as she replied with indifference, "I have no good feelings toward a thief." "What did you say?" Wu Huang''s gaze turned frosty as an astonishing aura spread from his body. Yaoyao propped the fan below her sharp chin and lazily said, "Taking something that doesn''t belong to you, what can it be called besides stealing?" "Looks like you''re tired of living!" Flames seemed to surge in Wu Huang''s eyes. His ice-cold voice was filled with chilling murder. "It''s only been a few days, but it seems that you''ve already forgotten the pain from your wounds." Spirit light began to flicker on Yaoyao''s bright forehead as a powerful Spirit ripple spread. "Hehe, what a powerful Spirit¡­" A raspy voice suddenly rang out within the forest. One could only watch as a figure in black slowly walked out some distance behind Yaoyao. It was Ye Ming. "The one who was spying on us last time was you, right?" Yaoyao turned her head slightly and stole a glance at Ye Ming. "I did not expect that the both of you would work together." Ye Ming sighed softly. "Amongst the younger generation, I''ve never seen someone whose Spirit is as strong as yours. That''s why¡­ to eliminate uncertainty, I feel that you should no longer appear in the Saint Remains Domain." "You will become our greatest obstruction." Yaoyao stood up on the tree branch, her thin figure seemed rather domineering at this moment as she calmly said, "The combination of you two is indeed very strong, but you may not be able to keep me here." Ye Ming chuckled as he nodded. "Then what about now?" His hands reached out and gently clapped. Boom! Four powerful Genesis Qi ripples suddenly exploded from the forest, sweeping away the surrounding trees. They formed an array that trapped Yaoyao from far away. Yaoyao shot a glance at her surroundings. This time however, her brows slowly knitted together. To think that the other party had sent out such a lineup to deal with her, a lineup that was going to be quite troublesome to deal with¡­ Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 160 Wind and Thunder Mastered, Yaoyao Injured Rumble. Black thunderclouds spat silver snake like lightning, each bolt striking the black lightning rod stone. In turn, the stone emitted wind and lightning power that poured onto the seated Zhou Yuan below. Every time the wind and lightning power descended, Zhou Yuan''s body would tremble uncontrollably. Although he was already numb to the intense pain, his body would subconsciously react. Zhou Yuan''s eyes were tightly shut, ignoring the pain from his body. After several days of training in this manner, he had already grown used to the strike of lightning. At this current moment, all his attention was on the interior of his body. Powerful Genesis Qi surged within his blood-red Qi Dwelling where the faint glow of lightning could be seen. Along with the lightning, the sound of rustling wind could be heard. Lightning flickers as wind blew, the two forces weaving into one while absorbing wisps of Genesis Qi from time to time. Slowly, the amalgamation seemed to transform into a mystical mark. This mark was similar to lightning and wind, and looked as if it was naturally formed. It was also extremely cryptic and profound. A mark like this was known as a technique mark. Such a mark could only be obtained through special cultivation methods. Once formed, it would be imprinted on the Qi Dwelling like a seed of sorts. In future, one would only need to fuse Genesis Qi into the mark to activate the technique. However, it was clearly much simpler to successfully imprint a little Heaven Genesis technique mark. The difficulty was substantially greater for true Genesis techniques, and required extremely high talent and comprehension ability. It was rumored that the great powers were masters of innumerable techniques, their Qi Dwellings akin to the starry sky, while powerful Genesis technique after technique easily flowed from their hands. After these great powers died, their technique marks could be left behind through the power of their wills. Just like the Saint Remains Domain where Genesis techniques existed within the bodies of the native Genesis Beasts¡­ The Great Wind and Thunder technique mark Zhou Yuan had just managed to acquire was only at the elementary stage. To perfect it, one needed to keep exposing one''s body to wind and lightning, and gain increasing understanding of the power within. Boom! Zhou Yuan''s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened at this moment, the glow of lightning flashing within them. His hands curled slightly and were placed together at the base of the palm, one on top, one on the bottom as if he was cupping the sun or moon. Meanwhile, the technique mark in his Qi Dwelling began to vibrate. Pchla. A glow emerged as lightning began flickering between Zhou Yuan''s palms, starting off as a tiny dot that rapidly swelled in response to the influx of Genesis Qi, transforming into a foot wide green black lightning ball. Violent ripples pulsed from the surface of the lightning ball. Zhou Yuan''s hands were flung forward, shooting the black lightning ball. Its speed was astonishingly fast, travelling a hundred feet in a flash before slamming into a mountain peak. Boom! The entire mountain peak instantly collapsed, boulders tumbling down. Its destructive power was insane. "As expected of a little Heaven Genesis technique!" Zhou Yuan was shocked by the technique''s destructive power. He had merely been trying to test it earlier, and had not used his full power. However, the resultant destructive power was already greater than his fully powered Dragon Tablet Hand. Joy surfaced on Zhou Yuan''s face. Great Wind and Thunder had not disappointed him after all, the time spent being struck by lightning had not been wasted. "Now that I have learnt the Great Wind and Thunder technique, my battle power has risen once again." Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. He would be able to put up a fight even if against encountered those apex geniuses now. Bzz. While Zhou Yuan was mumbling to himself, he suddenly sensed some activity from the Saint Tablet in the sky. He immediately lifted his head and saw rays of light converging on the tablet. This sight caused Zhou Yuan''s pupils to shrink. When the Saint Tablet acted in this manner, it meant that changes were being made on it¡­ "Who will be leaving a name on the tablet this time?" Under Zhou Yuan''s attention, light swept across the tablet and ancient words gradually appeared. Wu Huang. Dongxuan Continent, Ye Ming? The first two rows of words that had appeared stunned Zhou Yuan. He knew who Wu Huang was, but who was Ye Ming? The Dongxuan Continent? He wasn''t from the Cangmang Continent? How had he entered the Saint Remains Domain? Zhou Yuan frowned. A split second later however, his expression instantly changed when he saw the words that appeared behind the two names, chilling killing intent abruptly gushing out in his eyes. "Wu Huang, Ye Ming, joined hands against Zhou Xiaoyao... " "Zhou Xiaoyao, injured." Boom! Berserk Genesis Qi suddenly burst out from Zhou Yuan''s body as his expression twisted into ferocity. "Wu Huang, I will kill you!" A howl filled with murder ripped through the mountain, drowning out even the rumbling thunder. Wave after wave of berserk Genesis Qi pulsed violently, only gradually returning to calmness a long while later. Zhou Yuan forcible regained his composure, his gaze still tightly fixed on Wu Huang¡¯s name. It was obvious that Wu Huang had initially been overwhelmed by Yaoyao, but later on joined forces with the Dongxuan Continent¡¯s Ye Ming. Since he was acknowledged by Wu Huang, Ye Ming¡¯s strength was surely unfathomable. In the face of two apex prided geniuses, though Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit was strong, she had her weakness too; she did not have any Genesis Qi, and had a comparatively weaker body. Once anyone got too close, it was very easy for her to be injured. ¡°Yaoyao is injured. No good, I need to find her immediately!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s complexion was ashen. He leaped off the mountain top, a cloud of dark gold Genesis Qi appearing beneath his feet while he fell that brought him soaring into the sky. He had promised master Cang Yuan to protect Yaoyao, and yet she had now been injured. If anything were to happen to her, Zhou Yuan would spend his whole life blaming himself. Murder churned and surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Wu Huang, the Saint Remains Domain will be your grave!¡± ... When Zhou Yuan saw the changes on the Saint Tablet, the numerous prided geniuses in the entire Saint Remains Domain were also shown the two names on it, causing them to immediately explode into a din that reached into the heavens. ¡°Wu Huang has also left his name on the tablet?¡± ¡°But who the heck is Ye Ming? Blasted, it¡¯s someone from the Dongxuan Continent?¡± ¡°The Saint Remains Domain is a blessing of our Cangmang Continent, how did these Dongxuan people sneak in? Are they planning on snatching our blessing?¡± ¡°Wu Huang is so shameless. To think that he actually worked together with those from the Dongxuan Continent to deal with Zhou Xiaoyao!¡± ¡°Humph, I originally thought he was a remarkable individual. Can¡¯t believe that he is actually so unscrupulous. Doesn¡¯t even try to be at least a little bit honorable; when he can¡¯t win, he gangs up with outsiders.¡± ¡°He is indeed shameless. If I meet him, I will definitely spit in his face!¡± ¡°......¡± The voices flooded every corner of the Saint Remains Domain. Everyone was shocked by the information revealed on the Saint Remains Tablet. Of course, the thing that filled them with the most indignation was the one from the Dongxuan Continent, Ye Ming. Did this not mean, that the geniuses of the Dongxuan Continent had already infiltrated the Saint Remains Domain? Their target was definitely to snatch away the Cangmang Continent¡¯s blessings. It seems that the waters in the Saint Remains Domain were exceptionally deep this time... ... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 161 Chase Deep in a certain mountain. Wu Huang and Ye Ming stood on the mountain peak, Genesis Qi surging within their eyes as their sharp gazes scanned the vast mountain range. Swish! Swish! Four figures flew over on Genesis Qi, landing in front of them. ¡°Can¡¯t find him.¡± Said each of the four individuals. Wu Huang frowned, but his tone remained indifferent as he said, ¡°We paid quite a substantial price previously, exchanging wound for wound in order to injure Zhou Xiaoyao. Our advantage lies in our Genesis Qi cultivation that gives us strong bodies, allowing us to gradually recover no matter how grave the injury. In contrast, Zhou Xiaoyao¡¯s body weak, and his current state is when he is at his weakest.¡± ¡°Since we¡¯ve already done the deed, we need to be sure to do a thorough job. We cannot give him any chance to recover or all of us will be threatened.¡± Ye Ming nodded as he smiled and said, ¡°Well spoken brother Wu, since we¡¯ve already done it, we cannot leave any loose ends.¡± ¡°As such, I will no longer hold back.¡± He grinned as he raised his pitch-black pupils. Vortexes seemed to spin within them as the world before his eyes began to change. Everything turned to a shade of dull gray, the magnificent mountain forests now translucent. Glowing forms appeared within, each glow representing the light of Genesis Qi. There were countless Genesis Beasts in the forests. Hence, Ye Ming skipped over these balls of light in search of the less visible Genesis Qi ripples. After several minutes, his eyes finally paused. Far towards the north was an extremely faint Genesis Qi glow. Its rays were practically non-existent, and would be easily overlooked if one was not careful. ¡°Found him.¡± A drop of blood flowed down from Ye Ming¡¯s shut eyes. Activating this secret technique was clearly detrimental to his eyes. ¡°Go.¡± However, he ignored it, taking the lead as he shot towards the north. Wu Huang and the rest immediately followed. Meanwhile, a slender figure had came to a stop in a certain forest far away. It was Yaoyao. Her pretty face appeared extremely pale, but there was no panic between her brows, only an increasing indifference. ¡°I¡¯ve been found huh¡­¡± She muttered to herself in a low voice as she firmly grasped the scroll in her hand. Light spread from the scroll and enveloped her body, concealing her presence. However, she did not expect that the other party would be so resourceful too, and were still able to detect her. Boom! A berserk Genesis Qi ripple suddenly soared in the sky before descending, ferociously blasting towards Yaoyao. Yaoyao nimbly darted to the side, avoiding the blast of Genesis Qi. She raised her head, only to find several dazzling Genesis Qi figures shooting towards her from the sky, the faces of Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest already visible. ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao, your delicate body will not last for long. It will be best for you to give up and allow yourself to be captured.¡± Ye Ming¡¯s raspy voice echoed from far away. However, Yaoyao ignored him. Yet another scroll appeared in her hand and was torn. Swish! Light covered Yaoyao¡¯s body, the space around her distorting for a moment before she disappeared, appearing a thousand feet away a split second later. Wu Huang¡¯s and Ye Ming¡¯s gazes shivered upon seeing this as they remarked inside, ¡°Can¡¯t believe he has also mastered short range instant teleportation Genesis Runes, what frightening Genesis Rune talent¡­¡± They exchanged a look, seeing the intensifying killing intent in each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Such instant teleportation is based on travelling through space, and will place stress on the body. He has no Genesis Qi and definitely will not be able to keep this up for long.¡± ¡°We cannot let him escape!¡± Genesis Qi exploded beneath Wu Huang¡¯s and Ye Ming¡¯s feet, their speed rapidly soaring as they continued to give chase. One group chased while one figure fled, crossing only god knows how many mountains in half a day. However, Wu Huang and Ye Ming remained extremely persistent and stubborn, unrelentless in their chase without even a second to relax. Some distance to their front, Yaoyao¡¯s face grew increasingly pale, the chase draining a huge portion of her energy. No one discovered that the iciness in Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes was growing colder and colder, while the ancient rune between her brows gradually became more and more visible. All of a sudden, Yaoyao seemed to lose her patience, her figure suddenly coming to a halt. ¡°He¡¯s on his last legs!¡± Wu Huang and Ye Ming were overjoyed, their bodies arriving some distance behind Yaoyao with one final spurt, while the other four moved to surround her from all directions. Wu Huang said, ¡°Finally ready to accept your fate?¡± Yaoyao raised her head, her face emotionless as she gazed at Wu Huang and replied, ¡°Do you really believe that the reason why you are able to live for so long is because of your ability? I merely promised Zhou Yuan that your life is his to take.¡± Wu Huang¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Still so sharp-tongued even at death¡¯s door.¡± The long hair draped over Yaoyao¡¯s shoulders gradually began to rise, her pretty face ice-cold. ¡°However, I feel that you¡¯re really too detestable, so my promise to Zhou Yuan shall no longer be valid.¡± Her face was expressionless, while the ancient rune between her brows began to give off a faint glow. ¡°Something¡¯s not right, kill him!¡± Shouted both Ye Ming and Wu Huang as they frowned. The two immediately threw a punch, berserk Genesis Qi whizzing forth to viciously attack Yaoyao. Yaoyao¡¯s face was ice-cold as she watched the rapidly expanding Genesis Qi attacks, a long slender finger reaching towards the ancient rune between her brows. The air was filled with the faint feeling that something terrifying was about to be released. Boom! Genesis Qi seemed to scream as it approached. However, when Yaoyao¡¯s finger was still half a finger from her head, a figure suddenly appeared like a phantom, grabbing Yaoyao in one fluid motion as it broke through the encirclement with a flash of green. ¡°Stop him!¡± Ye Ming was the first react. The four Dongxuan Continent geniuses did not hesitate, quick as lightning as they as they pounced at the green light. ¡°Heehee.¡± Lovely tinkling laughter spread from within the green light. One could only watch as the green light flashed, like a fish as it swam past the encirclement of the four, displaying godly movement technique that dazzled the eyes. The green light did not stop after escaping, disappearing into the vast sea of trees in several flickers. Boom! Only at this moment did Wu Huang¡¯s and Ye Ming¡¯s attacks finally land on the empty space, ripping and tearing apart the ground. Ye Ming¡¯s expression was rather stormy. He did not expect such a turn of events when they were just about to succeed. Even he was shocked by the green light¡¯s speed. ¡°Who is that? Pretty decent strength, but that speed is really amazing.¡± Ye Ming looked towards Wu Huang. Although it had only been a few brief moments, the former had already gauged that though the green light¡¯s strength was decent, it was still within manageable levels. That speed however, would leave even him in the dust. Wu Huang¡¯s ugly face stared at the direction the green light had disappeared. A long time later, a chillingly furious voice hissed from between the cracks of his teeth. ¡°Damned Zuoqiu Qingyu!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 162 Qingyu’s Aid By the edge of a stream. Green light flashed past as two figures appeared. One was wearing a black dress, her figure enchanting while her bewitching face akin to a little succubus. This was naturally Zuoqiu Qingyu ¡°How¡¯s my beauty saves the hero? Did your heart stir?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu held her waist with her little hands, a clearly pleased look on her smiling face. Yaoyao¡¯s face was slightly pale as she sat on a rock. One of her hands was pressed against her shoulder where a dash of red had appeared. However, her expression had remained cool and collected from start to end. She lifted her head, and was silent for some time as she looked at Zuoqiu Qingyu, before she said, ¡°If you did not come, all of them would likely be dead now.¡± ¡°Arrh?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu was stunned. Soon after, her little red lips pouted. ¡°Insisting on saving face even till death. You shouldn¡¯t feel humiliated though, no one else in the entire Cangmang Continent¡¯s younger generation can make someone as arrogant as Wu Huang chose to put his pride aside and cooperate with others.¡± She evidently thought Yaoyao was just being stubborn. Yaoyao shook her head, deciding not to explain. However, she gave Zuoqiu Qingyu a faint nod as she said, ¡°However, I should still give my thanks.¡± She could indeed eliminate Wu Huang and the rest, but doing so would require breaking the seal between her brows. Although she did not know what would happen after, given how sternly grandpa Hei had warned her, the consequences would likely be very serious. To her, it was best that she did not break the seal. Hence, Yaoyao felt a slight bit of gratitude towards Zuoqiu Qingyu for saving her. Upon hearing Yaoyao¡¯s thanks, Zuoqiu Qingyu giggled happily. Her eyes seemed to spin in thought as she looked towards the injury in Yaoyao¡¯s shoulder, before she seated herself a hand¡¯s length away and said in a gentle voice, ¡°You¡¯re injured? Shall I help you clean your wound?¡± Yaoyao was stuck between being angry or laughing when she saw Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s twinkling eyes. The latter was still under the impression that she was a man, and wanted to take advantage of her... Yaoyao could not help but smile and say, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have such thoughts about me.¡± Her relationship with Zuoqiu Qingyu was not that good before, hence why Yaoyao could not be bothered to explain things. But since she now owed Zuoqiu Qingyu a debt of gratitude, Yaoyao was naturally no longer going to allow this misunderstanding to continue any further. ¡°Why?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu pouted as she unhappily said, ¡°Am I not good enough for you? Which part about me is no good? Humph, you don¡¯t know just how many people are fond of me.¡± Yaoyao helplessly shook her head. She did not respond but merely lightly patted with a hand. Light immediately enveloped her body, before fading several breaths later. And then, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s little mouth hung wide open. The originally pretty-boy young master seated on the rock before her now had a long black luscious hair hanging from his head, his absolutely gorgeous face seemingly without a single blemish, his skin white as jade while glowing with a healthy light. Perfect curves rose and fell on his slender and exquisite figure. Zuoqiu Qingyu was extremely proud of her body, but the girl before her was even more outrageous than herself. Especially those mysterious eyes that seemed as if nothing could ever enter, and gave the girl an unparalleled presence. In the blink of an eye, the pretty young master had become a gorgeous beauty. ¡°I did not want to draw unnecessary trouble previously, so I disguised myself.¡± Explained Yaoyao. Her voice had returned to normal, clear and sweet, like a flowing spring that would ease any troubled heart. ¡°Do you understand now?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu was dumbstruck. It was a long while later before she finally replied with a face as if she was about to die, ¡°Is my first love gone just like that?¡± A swivel of an eye later however, she suddenly gritted her teeth, staring at Yaoyao for a moment before pouncing towards her as she yelled, ¡°I don¡¯t care, I don¡¯t care. Since you¡¯re so pretty, I won¡¯t give up even if you¡¯re a girl!¡± Yaoyao was startled by Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s sudden change in attitude, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry. Everyone had said she was a little succubus, and it now seemed that this title had not been given for no reason. Her way of thinking truly deviated from the norm. How can a girl like another girl? Yaoyao¡¯s long, slender finger reached out, stopping the pouncing Zuoqiu Qingyu at her forehead. With a vexed flick, the former said, ¡°Move away, I don¡¯t have time to play such games with you.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu rubbed her forehead, her large eyes watery as she looked at Yaoyao and said in an unresigned manner, ¡°You evil devil, you destroyed my first love, compensate me.¡± Yaoyao pondered for a moment, before she offhandedly said, ¡°I¡¯ll compensate you with Zhou Yuan.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu frowned. ¡°He can¡¯t even beat me, I don¡¯t want someone weaker than myself.¡± Yaoyao ignored her, squatted by the stream and loosened her clothes, revealing a beautiful collarbone and shoulder. On her shoulder was a deep bloody wound that appeared rather frightening. Iciness flitted across Yaoyao¡¯s eyes as she shot a glance at the wound. She then turned to Zuoqiu Qingyu and said, ¡°Help me apply some medicine.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu darted over with a swish, her eyes glowing as she stared at the white jade like flesh and exquisite collar bone. She then secretly cast a glance downwards, immediately catching sight of lovely snow white curves. A sight so erotic that any man would have a spouting nosebleed. However, Yaoyao seemed to sense the former¡¯s gaze and immediately sent a cold look over. Zuoqiu Qingyu hastily withdrew her gaze, retrieved a bag of medicine and began properly applying some ointment for Yaoyao. ¡°Have we lost them?¡± Asked Yaoyao. Zuoqiu Qingyu pridefully answered, ¡°Relax, though I admittedly cannot beat them in a real fight, if we were to talk about escaping, even Wu Huang will only be able to eat my dust.¡± ¡°I believe that they can¡¯t even find a single trace of us now, so we are absolutely safe.¡± Yaoyao gave a slight nod. ¡°I¡¯ll rest for a few days and prepare a few things.¡± ¡°What after?¡± Yaoyao stared at the clear waters of the stream. The beautiful face reflected in its waters grinned slightly as a ice-cold murder was revealed. ¡°Make them pay of course¡­¡± ¡­ In a mountain forest far from where Zuoqiu Qingyu and Yaoyao were located. Ye Ming¡¯s expression was rather ugly as his gaze fell upon the seemingly endless mountain forests, blood appearing from the corner of his eye. It was obvious that he was using his searching eye technique again. ¡°Can¡¯t find them?¡± Upon seeing his expression, Wu Huang¡¯s heart sunk slightly. Ye Ming nodded. ¡°She is too quick, and has already thrown us off long ago. I can no longer find her.¡± Wu Huang¡¯s expression was frosty as he sent a punch towards the giant tree in front of him, blowing it to splinters to release the fury in his heart. They pretty much had no option left but to exchange injury for injury in order to hurt Zhou Xiaoyao, creating a chance like that would be very difficult to find again in future. And yet, Zhou Xiaoyao had still been allowed to escape. This would undoubtedly become a huge danger to them. Ye Ming shook his head and said, ¡°We cannot do anything about him now, it will be better to first let them leave their names on the Saint Tablet.¡± He looked towards the four figures behind them. Wu Huang indifferently said, ¡°Are you certain it will not end up benefiting the top tier prided geniuses of the Cangmang Continent instead?¡± Behind Ye Ming, the fiery-red long haired girl from amongst the four laughed when she heard this and said, ¡°Actually, you can personally try us.¡± Her words were filled with provocation, clearly unafraid of Wu Huang. ¡°How can anyone decent come from a place as tiny as the Cangmang Continent?¡± The one who had spoken was a metal tower like youth. Glowing runes were faintly visible on his muscular body, while a trace of disdain was revealed on his face. Wu Huang¡¯s expression remained indifferent, no anger whatsoever, as if unaffected by their words. ¡°That¡¯s good, since there will be no one to collect your corpses if you get beaten to death.¡± After speaking, his figure moved, stepping on Genesis Qi as he soared into the sky. The eyes of the four Dongxuan Continent geniuses turned icy, and were about to stop him but they saw Ye Ming wave his hand, stopping them instead. ¡°There¡¯s no meaning in a battle of tongues. Use your actions to show your worth.¡± Ye Ming gazed at Wu Huang¡¯s figure as he continued in a nonchalant voice, ¡°The super elite prided geniuses are the mental pillar of the Cangmang Continent¡¯s younger generation. We only need to defeat them to destroy their morale, making it such that they would naturally no longer have any thoughts with regards to the blessings of the Saint Remains Domain.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why¡­¡± He softly chuckled at the four individuals, a chuckle from which sinister chillingness flowed. ¡°From now onwards, we shall let those from the Cangmang Continent tremble under the shadow of our Dongxuan Continent¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 163 Chance Encounter Swish! Dark gold Genesis Qi shot across the horizon, eventually landing on a certain mountain top as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was revealed. His expression was rather dark and stormy. During the day long journey he took to rush here, he had constantly tried to ask for information, but did not discover any news about Yaoyao. The Saint Remains Domain was just too vast. ¡°Continuing to search like a headless fly is far too ineffective.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. To obtain more information, he had to go where many were gathered. ¡°On the way here, the people in this area have been heading towards the southwest direction where a golden pond is said to have appeared. The pond is extremely mysterious and is rumored to be the materialization of a top tier blessing.¡± A look of thought was revealed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°There should be many geniuses there, making it a hub of information. If I head there, I should be able to obtain news regarding Yaoyao.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered. Without any further hesitation, Genesis Qi surged as he once again transformed into a ray of dark gold light that dashed into the sky. Half a day later. A continuous mountain range appeared within Zhou Yuan¡¯s sights. Thick fog lingered in the sky above it all year round, making it impossible to clearly see the situation inside. Faint Genesis Qi undulations were also present within the mist, spreading an aura of danger. However, if one was to peer past the endless fog, one would seem to see a mysterious golden light fading and appearing at its deepest depths¡­ On the fringe of the mountain range. Countless figures were pouring in from all directions, creating a line-up that appeared rather magnificent. Evidently, news of the golden pool had already spread. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure headed directly to the edge of the mountain range. He too did not dare to land in the fog, afraid that he might draw the attention of some unknown creature. His figure landed in the forest. This was the outer region of the mountain range, and several figures could be seen flying towards the mountains. He too followed, occasionally stopping individuals to inquire about Yaoyao. After some time, he managed to gather a bit more information. However, the majority only mentioned that they had caught glimpses of Wu Huang and his group chasing someone, but did not know the rough direction or location. This caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s frown to grow deeper and deeper. Zhou Yuan did not slow down, the surrounding mists growing thicker and thicker around him. He could hear numerous roars and howls echoing from far away, while faint but violent Genesis Qi ripples pulsed from time to time. Zhou Yuan flew out of the forest as a plain emerge in front of him. However, his footsteps suddenly came to a stop, because a figure had appeared some distance to his front. There were faint skeleton like pictures on the figure¡¯s clothes, while an extremely dark and icy aura emanated from him, causing a chill to fill the surrounding air. Zhou Yuan frowned as he gazed at the figure, but he did not say anything and turned around to leave. Pch! However, just as he turned around, the figure lifted his hand and gray Qi suddenly shot out. The Qi released a piercing hiss, quick as lightning as it swept towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan sent a punch backwards as dark gold Genesis Qi surged, rippling the air as it scattered the cold gray Genesis Qi. When the gray Genesis Qi was scattered, Zhou Yuan felt an icy Qi invade his body, slowing the flow of blood and causing his flesh to turn rigid wherever it passed. However, just as the gray Genesis Qi was about to take another step, blood-red Qi whizzed out, devouring it in a single gulp. ¡°Oh?¡± The figure let out a faint cry of surprise. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows were tightly knitted together as he looked towards the figure and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± He did not seem to know this person, but since the latter had attacked at their first encounter, meaning he was clearly here for Zhou Yuan. The figure slowly turned around, only to reveal the extremely pale face of a young man. It was as if all the blood had been drained from him, and his ash-colored eyes seemed to contain the hair-raising aura of death. He coughed softly, before he slowly said, ¡°Yama Sect, Zhen Xu.¡± ¡°Zhen Xu (Very weak)?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. Soon after, he scanned the other party¡¯s pale complexion as he nodded his head and said, ¡°You are looking a little weak, you have to get more nourishment¡­¡± The pale youth was expressionless as he stared at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s a joke. Does the honorable Little Yama King of the Yama Sect have nothing better to do than to come here and stop me? I believe there is no grudge between us.¡± The youth called Zhen Xu flatly said, ¡°The Yama Sect owes Saint Remains City a debt of gratitude.¡± Only then did Zhou Yuan understand. It turns out that it was a helper enlisted by Xiao Tianxuan. What a capable fellow, to think that he would be able to employ even an apex level prided genius like the Little Yama King. Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°How did you find me?¡± ¡°Someone else¡¯s Universe bag should not be taken so casually.¡± Zhen Xu¡¯s tone was completely calm, devoid of any feeling. Zhou Yuan nodded, so that was how. Zhen Xu shot a look at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Xiao Tianxuan has almost been tormented to death by the blood poison you sent into his body. That¡¯s why I have to capture you and bring you back to neutralize the poison for him.¡± There was always a hint of eeriness in his voice, an eeriness that made one shiver all over. Zhou Yuan flatly said, ¡°He has only himself to blame.¡± Zhen Xu said in an indifferent manner, ¡°I do not have time to bother with the grudge between you two. I only need to capture you and bring you back to neutralize the poison. After which, the Yama Sect and Saint Remains City will no longer owe each other anything.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°I too have no time to bother with your debt.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m going to capture you, I did not say that I have to obtain your permission.¡± At the final word, Zhen Xu¡¯s body suddenly shot forward like a phantom, pouncing straight at Zhou Yuan. The hands inside his sleeves reached out, revealing their skeletal appearance. They had a grayish black hue, while a terrifying stench seemed to circle around them. Sharp fingernails slashed, tearing even the air itself. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, but he did retreat. Five fingers tightly clenched into a fist, dark gold Genesis Qi surging as a punch was sent flying. Its power was so great that the thick leaves beneath his feet were shredded to pieces. Bang! Fist and palm collided as two different Genesis Qis clashed, instantly cracking the ground below their feet. ¡°Corpse Poison Hand.¡± A dark look flitted across Zhen Xu¡¯s eyes as a chilling light appeared on his fingertips, viciously scratching the back of Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Corpse poison was contained in the former¡¯s hand and would invade the flesh of anyone that came into contact with it. Screeech! However, his fingertips did not draw blood but a spluttering of sparks. Golden scales had emerged on the back of Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. ¡°Like to play with poison? Then have a taste of mine!¡± Zhou Yuan icily chuckled as his palm thrust forward. Dark gold Genesis Qi whizzed out, squeezing out a line of blood that swiftly shot towards Zhen Xu¡¯s head with a swish. The line of blood was naturally the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. Roar! As it flew, the faint resentful roar of dragon could be heard. Zhen Xu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew that this was the blood poison that had brutally tortured Xiao Tianxuan. He did not dare to let it touch him, quickly waving his sleeves as layers of cold grayish black Genesis Qi gathered in front of him. Sizzle sizzle! The strand of Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison was continuously consumed, ultimately completely vanishing an inch from Zhen Xu. Boom! Two blasts of powerful Genesis Qi clashed, snapping the waists of the nearby trees, while Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Zhen Xu¡¯s figures were thrown backwards. However, the instant Zhen Xu¡¯s body was sent flying backwards, his expression suddenly turned graver as he caught sight of the ice-blue Genesis Qi sweeping towards him from the corner of his eye, creating layers of ice on the ground wherever it passed. ¡°Corpse Bone Finger!¡± A lightning quick finger attack was sent out by Zhen Xu as an aura of death surged out. The green leaves on the ground were turned to dust when the grayish black Genesis Qi swept past. Ch ch! The attack tore through the ice-blue Genesis Qi. Zhen Xu turned his head slightly, his expression somewhat grim as he stared at the forest to his right. Moments later, a petite figure slowly walked out with a smile. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes also fell upon the familiar figure, and was immediately stunned. ¡°Luluo?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 164 Luluo Seeks the Golden Pool A petite girl with a head full of long green hair beamed as she walked out from the forest, a teasing look in her eyes as she looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You¡¯re really unlucky, always being attacked wherever you go.¡± She then turned towards the pale Zhen Xu. ¡°And always by such troublesome individuals.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, somewhat surprised as he responded, ¡°I did not expect to meet you here.¡± On Luluo¡¯s shoulder, the little ice-blue bird hopped about energetically as it chirped. She gave it playful hit as she said, ¡°The golden pool¡¯s blessing is not small. Of course I¡¯ll be here to try my luck.¡± As the two spoke, Zhen Xu¡¯s brows knitted together slightly. He too did not expect that Luluo would suddenly appear. He knew that the latter was also an apex level genius of the Cangmang Continent, and was not the slightest bit inferior to himself. In the earlier exchange with Zhou Yuan, the latter had displayed a strength that secretly shocked Zhen Xu. Now that there was another Luluo that was no weaker than himself, he would clearly not have much of an advantage in a two versus one situation. Zhen Xu stared at Luluo and asked, ¡°You intend to interfere?¡± Luluo grinned as she answered, ¡°Nope, you guys can fight, I will just be over here watching.¡± Zhen Xu frowned, evidently unconvinced by Luluo¡¯s words. This girl was too eccentric, and as wily as a fox. It was very possible that she would suddenly sneak an attack while they were locked in battle. Just like what had happened previously. Hence, Zhen Xu took in a deep breath, eyes flickering slightly, before he decisively turned around and left. Given the current situation, there was clearly no way to continue. Since that was so, it was only a waste of time to stay. ¡°*Sigh*, going just like that¡­¡± Luluo was stunned by Zhen Xu¡¯s sudden departure. Soon after, she looked towards Zhou Yuan with eagerness as she suggested, ¡°How about we work together to stop him?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that it won¡¯t be easy, and there¡¯s no need to take such desperate measures.¡± As one that was also called an apex level geniuses of the Cangmang Continent, Zhen Xu was clearly no ordinary individual. In addition, the relationship between them had not reached the extent where they would be forced into a battle to the death. Luluo nodded her chin. ¡°Dead face guy might appear ill and feeble, but he is indeed very difficult to kill. Rumor says that his body has gone through an extremely cruel refinement process that, as long as his heart is intact, even the most serious of injuries will not be fatal.¡± ¡°I even heard that he once battled an Alpha-Origin expert, exchanging wound for wound until the other party was slowly drained to death.¡± Astonishment flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes when he heard this. Sure enough, every person who could become an apex level genius was no simple individual. ¡°Right, have you heard any news about Yaoyao?¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly asked. Luluo pondered a little before she answered, ¡°You should already know that Wu Huang is working together with those from the Dongxuan Continent in order to deal with big sis Yaoyao, right?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s grimly nodded. ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve heard that big sis Yaoyao met Zuoqiu Qingyu. With that temptress around, even Wu Huang will not be able to catch up.¡± Luluo indicated that there was no need for Zhou Yuan to worry. ¡°Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s speed and movement technique are definitely the best amongst the Cangmang Continent¡¯s younger generation.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat amazed. Luluo explained, ¡°From what I know, the Zuoqiu clan owns an incomplete Heaven tier Genesis technique called ¡®Swimming Black Carp¡¯, which is also the origin of Qingyu¡¯s name* (black carp in pinyin is qingyu). Most importantly, she was able to master this movement based Heaven Genesis technique.¡± ¡°A movement based Heaven Genesis technique?¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly shocked. That was a Heaven Genesis technique, not the little Heaven tier. One must know that a Genesis technique at this level was extremely rare even in the entire Cangmang Continent. Although it was incomplete, its profoundness and wondrousness far surpassed the little Heaven tier. Only now did Zhou Yuan finally relax a little. With Zuoqiu Qingyu around, it was impossible for Wu Huang to trap Yaoyao again, while if he were to try to take her on alone, he would be beaten into a pig¡¯s face by the now angered Yaoyao. ¡°Although she should be fine, I have to find her.¡± Said Zhou Yuan, and began turning around to leave. Hearing Yaoyao was hurt had given him a huge scare. He could not imagine how he could face master Cang Yuan if something happened to her. ¡°Hai, hai hai¡­¡± Luluo hurriedly pulled Zhou Yuan¡¯s sleeve when she saw this, stopping him as she blinked her large eyes and said, ¡°The Saint Remains Domain is huge, how will you find her? If you keep searching around like a headless fly, won¡¯t you miss every blessing in here?¡± ¡°It is enough as long as I have the blessings I need. If it is fate, they will naturally come.¡± Zhou Yuan was rather open-minded. Luluo rolled her eyes. They seemed to swivel in thought for a moment, before she said, ¡°I have a better idea. Since so many prided geniuses have gathered here, we should distinguish ourselves and obtain the blessing here. Our names will then begin to spread, and with so many people helping us spread our reputation, it will definitely land in big sis Yaoyao¡¯s ears sooner or later.¡± ¡°Then they will know our location and come to find us. Isn¡¯t this more convenient?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. There was some logic to this method. Soon after, he seemed to smile as he looked towards Luluo. ¡°It seems that you are very interested in the golden pool¡¯s blessing?¡± Luluo wanted him to stay because she desired a dependable helper. Luluo nodded, not denying it. ¡°Did you know? It''s said that the golden pool is full of wonders. Not only does it possess the power to purify and strengthen the body, it can even nourish the Spirit and temper one¡¯s Genesis Qi. Most importantly of course, it can allow a bloodline to return to its ancestral state.¡± ¡°Returning a bloodline to its ancestral state?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. He shot a thoughtful glance at the ice-blue bird on Luluo¡¯s shoulder. Such a function was clearly more useful to Genesis Beasts. ¡°Little Frost possess the ice phoenix bloodline. If it can enter the golden pool, its bloodline will definitely return to its ancestral state, allowing it to grow closer to the state of an ice phoenix.¡± Luluo anxiously looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Tempering one¡¯s Genesis Qi¡­ if so, I wonder if my Magical Python Scales will evolve once again and reach the purplish gold level?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself inside. If his Magical Python Scales reached the purplish gold state, even an Alpha-Origin expert will not be able to breach his defenses. A sliver of interest rose within him. ¡°You can¡¯t reach the golden pool even with your ability?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Luluo was one of the apex level geniuses of the Cangmang Continent. Her skill and techniques could not be weak. Luluo showed a pained look on her small face. ¡°It¡¯s said that there are many grade 4 Genesis Beasts in the vicinity of the pool. I managed to get close a few days ago, but encountered one of them. It was not easy for Little Frost and me to beat it, but that bastard quickly called over three other grade 4 Genesis Beasts.¡± ¡°So many grade 4 Genesis Beasts?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little shocked. Normally speaking, a grade 4 Genesis Beast was already a tyrant like figure in the Saint Remains Domain. Why had so many of them gathered in this place? ¡°I don¡¯t know either¡­ I heard that there weren¡¯t so many of them here before.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you a beast heart communicator? Can¡¯t you communicate with them?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Bewilderment filled Luluo¡¯s face. ¡°That¡¯s right, I am normally able to communicate even if I encounter a grade 4 Genesis Beast, but it doesn¡¯t work with the Genesis Beasts here.¡± ¡°However, I managed to obtain some information from a Genesis Beast elsewhere.¡± ¡°What information?¡± Luluo hesitated for a moment, before she very carefully said, ¡°It seems that these grade 4 Genesis Beasts¡¯ have a boss, and its this boss that called them here from the other mountains...¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were wide open. These grade 4 Genesis Beasts had a leader? What grade could command such authority? Who would dare to trespass against such security... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 165 Dongxuan Attacks In the empty space within the forest, Zhou Yuan was wide-eyed as he stared at Luluo. He was truly unable to understand where she found such courage. She clearly knew that there was a mysterious Genesis Beast guarding the golden pool, but she still dared to have designs on it. Being stared at by Zhou Yuan made Luluo feel a little guilty. ¡°Although the Genesis Beast leader won¡¯t be weak, as the saying goes, enough ants can bite an elephant to death. With so many geniuses now gathered here, what¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes at here. It was true that there were many geniuses, but there were even more Genesis Beats in the mountains with no lack of grade 4 amongst them. Luluo¡¯s eyes were watery as she pitifully begged, ¡°Help me please, Little Frost really needs the golden pool.¡± Zhou Yuan shot a glance at the clearly acting Luluo and fell into thought for a brief moment, before he said, ¡°It¡¯s not that we can¡¯t give it a try, but if I find that the Genesis Beast leader is too strong, we can only choose to withdraw.¡± If the mysterious Genesis Beast reached grade 5, there would be no chance at all, because only a Divine Dwelling expert would be able to match it. Luluo immediately nodded upon seeing that Zhou Yuan¡¯s tone had loosened. ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. ¡°This mountain range is covered in a fog that will distort one¡¯s senses, but after being scouted by numerous individuals, some paths to the golden pool were found.¡± ¡°However, these paths are guarded by Genesis Beasts. Those below grade 4 are not a problem, but there will be grade 4 Genesis Beasts nearer to the pool. It was there that I was stopped before.¡± Explained Luluo. ¡°If the two of us work together, it should be easy to break through!¡± Zhou Yuan shrugged at the sight of the confident Luluo. Since she was so insistent, they could give it a try. He was a little interested in the golden pool too after all, and naturally would not reject a share of its blessings. ¡°We can give it a try.¡± Declared Zhou Yuan. Luluo excitedly nodded her head. With a wave of her hand, she began to lead the way, bypassing the forest and heading towards the mountains. Zhou Yuan observed the path she took, sure enough, he discovered that the fog was thinner, unlike other areas where it was so thick that it made it impossible to discern any direction. Zhou Yuan curiously inquired, ¡°Aren¡¯t there others on this path?¡± A path like this should be choked full of people, right? ¡°Because it belongs to me.¡± Replied Luluo in a pleased manner. ¡°The others did not object?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan in surprise. Luluo cocked her head. ¡°They did in the beginning, but after being beaten up a few times by me, they withdrew their objections. After which, this path was mine.¡± Zhou Yuan gave her a thumbs up. What a character, one really could not afford to offend her. The group of two laughed and chatted as they travelled. Along the way, Zhou Yuan could faintly sense numerous beast cries from the surrounding mist, pair after pair of eyes secretly observing them. However, these Genesis Beast did not show themselves to stop them. Zhou Yuan knew that it was likely because of Luluo. Although she had no way to deal with the grade 4 Genesis Beasts, those below grade 4 could be communicated with and commanded. Hence, their passage was exceptionally smooth going. This continued all the way until they stepped into the deeper region of the mountain range, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps slowly came to a halt. He had sensed a ferocious presence occupying the spot in the distance, as a heavy and ominous pressure pulsed continuously. Luluo¡¯s face tensed up as she said, ¡°That¡¯s the grade 4 Genesis Beast blocking our way.¡± Ice-blue Genesis Qi began surging from the little bird on her shoulder. Zhou Yuan gaze was firmly fixed to his front where the ground was faintly trembling. In the end, he saw a dozen feet tall multi-colored tiger with a pair of wings on his back slowly walk out from the fog. The beast¡¯s cruel eyes were locked onto them. ... A certain area in the mountain range. Zhen Xu leisurely walked forward, his ash-colored eyes seemingly devoid of any trace of life. He was akin to a walking dead person, no warmth at all from his ice-cold body. Suddenly, his moving feet slowly came to a stop. He lifted his head and looked forward where a giant tree stood within the thin fog. There was currently a figure seated on one of its branches, head lowered and looking at him. It was a young man with an innocent looking baby face. A single look of his smiling appearance gave one a rather favorable impression. However, Zhen Xu merely stared at him in a nonchalant manner. ¡°Heh heh, how are you¡­¡± The youth smiled at Zhen Xu. There was no response. The youth did not seem to mind, still smiling brightly as he said, ¡°I am Jiang Quan from the Jiang clan of the Dongxuan Continent.¡± Zhen Xu¡¯s eyes finally moved. He stared at the youth called Jiang Quan and said, ¡°It seems that quite a few of you Dongxuan rats have sneaked in.¡± Jiang Quan grinned. ¡°You should be the Little Yama King from the Yama Sect, right?¡± ¡°I plan to leave my name on the Saint Tablet, so¡­ I¡¯ll have to ask you to do me a favor¡­¡± ¡°Please die at my hands, alright?¡± Jiang Quan¡¯s gaze abruptly turned ice-cold at the final word. With a flick, the ground under Zhen Xu¡¯s feet suddenly crumbled as two sharp blue icicle shaped Genesis Qi stabbed towards him like a bolt of lightning. Zhen Xu¡¯s figure instantly rose into the air at this moment. Blue Genesis Qi streaked past, ripping apart the air, leaving two deep holes on Zhen Xu¡¯s shin. However, holes gave off an ash gray glow, but no blood flowed from them. Zhen Xu¡¯s expression remained indifferent as if unable to feel the wound on his leg as his hand suddenly made a grabbing motion. Grayish black Genesis Qi stealthily snaked towards Jiang Quan from behind like a viper in the shadow, shooting straight for the fatal point on his back. Ch! Blue Genesis Qi rose behind Jiang Quan like a grand sea, blocking the sneak attack. The corpse poison contained within the grayish black Qi was scattered and neutralized the moment it came into contact with the blue Genesis Qi. Jiang Quan grinned. ¡°As expected of an apex level genius of the Cangmang Continent¡­ I really have to be vigilant.¡± Grayish balck Genesis Qi churned below Zhen Xu¡¯s feet, lifting him into the air. His ash-colored eyes locked onto Jiang Quan as he said, ¡°A rat will always be a rat, only knowing how to sneak attack.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the same, already secretly prepared an attack the moment we met.¡± Jiang Quan chuckled. ¡°However, it does seem like you do have some ability. Guess I have not specially come here in vain.¡± Jiang Quan slowly lifted his hand. In an instant, astonishing Genesis Qi exploded from his body. Blue Genesis Qi surged behind him like a wave, giving off an alarming pressure. ¡°I heard that you once exhausted an Alpha-Origin to death?¡± Jiang Quan smiled slightly. ¡°What a coincidence, there¡¯s also an Alpha-Origin that was toyed to death by me in the same manner.¡± ¡°And today¡­ I will also let you have a taste of how he felt.¡± Rumble! However, rumbling grayish black Genesis Qi had already unfurled from Zhen Xu¡¯s body before the former¡¯s words could fade. In a split second, the Genesis Qi turned into countless streams of grayish black that seemed to fill the sky as they headed towards Jiang Quan from all directions. ¡°You talk too much.¡± *Crash*! Jiang Quan¡¯s gaze was ice-cold. With a wave of his sleeve, blue Genesis Qi whizzed forth like a wave with a weight of a hundred thousand pounds, crashing against the countless grayish blacks streams. Boom! The full power of the two caused a shockwave of devastation to sweep outwards, causing the ground to instantly crumble... Jiang Quan licked his lips, a cruel look emerging in his eyes as his cold voice echoed in the forest. ¡°After today, the apex level prided geniuses of your Cangmang Continent¡­ will become the stepping stones of our Dongxuan Continent¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 166 Zhu Ying Boom! A shockwave of berserk Genesis Qi devastated the surrounding forest, towering tree after tree snapped at their waists, while cracks grew like spider webs on the ground. At the epicenter of the Genesis Qi, a giant multi-colored winged tiger roared. Above it, a huge ice-blue bird flapped its wings, sending ice-cold Genesis Qi sweeping downwards that covered the land in a layer of ice. The tiger opened it mouth as a violent Genesis Qi charged out like a flood, clashing with the icy Genesis Qi. The battle between the two titans could be said to shake the mountains. Zhou Yuan and Luluo were watching the battle nearby. The ice bird Luluo called Little Frost clearly also had grade 4 strength that did not lose to the multi-colored tiger. ¡°However, this tiger does not have a little Heaven Genesis technique. It seems that not all grade 4 Genesis Beasts possess one.¡± Zhou Yuan secretly mumbled to himself as he watched the fight. When Luluo saw that the two beasts were at a stalemate, she opened her mouth and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m going to help Little Frost. Help me keep watch.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded upon hearing this. Luluo¡¯s toes pushed off the ground, her petite body leaping into the air and landing on the ice bird. She reached out a small hand and pressed it against the bird¡¯s body. EE! A spirited light seemed to flash in the eyes of the bird as it flapped its wings and rose into the sky. Genesis Qi whizzed forth, transforming into countless ice feathers. The ice feathers were sharp without equal and extremely cold. Swish! The ice feathers seemed to block out the sky as they descended. The tiger raised its head and roared, creating a powerful sound wave. The sound wave fused into its Genesis Qi, visible to the naked eye as it spread, shattering any ice feathers in its path. ¡°This tiger is a pretty difficult opponent.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned a little graver as he watched from some distance away. The strength displayed by the beast was remarkable. ¡°But Luluo is also very strong. As expected of an apex level genius.¡± A look of thought was revealed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Luluo¡¯s strength had likely already reached the quasi Alpha Origin level, and only half a step separated her from the true Alpha-Origin. In addition, Zhou Yuan could tell that when Luluo and Little Frost came into contact, the two seemed to fuse together. The ice bird¡¯s attacks began to display liveliness and fluidity, and had even started to give off the same ripples from a Genesis technique. ¡°The shattered ice feathers¡­¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the battlefield. The feathers that had been shattered by the tiger had turned into almost undetectable dust. The dust floated in the air, and was unknowingly breathed in by the tiger, entering its body. ¡°What a formidable tactic. Can¡¯t believe she is able to take things to this level.¡± Shock filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. The previous ice feather bombardment had only been a ruse. Luluo¡¯s true aim was to conceal the existence of the ice dust, dust that contained extremely cold Qi. If Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had not reached the advance Illusory stage that gave him astonishingly sharp senses, he would have likely been unable to discover the dust that could not be seen with the naked eye. ¡°The tiger is going to lose.¡± Remarked Zhou Yuan in his heart. Sure enough, things went just as Zhou Yuan had expected. Unbeknownst to the tiger, its speed began to drop as the battle went on, while a faint layer of frost began to appear on its fur. At a certain moment, Luluo¡¯s eyes seemed to harden as her mouth opened, spitting out a ball of ice-blue Genesis Qi. Little Frost also opened its beak as cold Qi whizzed out, transforming into an icy gale that abruptly swept across the area. Icy winds howled past, instantly freezing the ground. Just as the tiger was about to circulate its Genesis Qi to block, its body suddenly turned rigid as the cold Qi inside abruptly exploded. In the short span of a few breaths, the giant multi-colored tiger had transformed into a life like ice statue. ¡°Phew, so tiring!¡± Luluo¡¯s shoulders slumped, her face a little pale. The earlier battle might have seemed easy, but at the end of the day, the tiger was still a grade 4 Genesis Beast, power that was comparable to the Alpha-Origin. ¡°Amazing, you¡¯ve actually soloed a grade 4 Genesis Beast.¡± Zhou Yuan gave Luluo a thumbs up. This was the first time he had seen someone take on a grade 4 Genesis Beast alone, and had even won. Luluo grinned and said, ¡°The big guy was just a little too stupid, allowing my ice spirit dust to enter its body. If it was an ordinary Alpha-Origin practitioner, it would not have been so easy.¡± She hopped off Little Frost¡¯s back, arriving in front of the frozen giant tiger as she reached out a hand. With a gentle knock, the ice sculpture shattered, leaving only scattered pieces of ice on the ground. White Genesis Qi rose and converged in the air, forming a white Genesis Qi bead. Luluo¡¯s hand reached reached out, attempting to grab the Genesis Qi bead, However, the instant she touched it, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed as he cried out, ¡°Careful!¡± The moment this word left his mouth, a flash of scarlet suddenly shot out from the forest behind them, vicious and ruthless as it shot towards the fatal spot on Luluo¡¯s back at an indescribable speed. A rip could be seen in the air in that split second moment. Luluo also sensed the sudden force that was heading her way, causing her expression to involuntarily change. However, she had just relaxed her guard, and would not be in time to circulate her Genesis Qi. The attacker had chosen the most perfect timing. Pchla! Scarlet light arrived like a flash of lightning. Just as it was about to hit Luluo however, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body swiftly dashed over, throwing himself forward like a pouncing tiger as he grabbed Luluo and crashed into the ground. They tumbled several times before coming to a stop, Zhou Yuan covering her body with his own from start to end. Boom! The scarlet light landed on the now empty ground, causing a wave of berserk Genesis Qi to unfurl. The ground was torn open, the boiling heat melting even rocks. The wave of heat burned a good chunk of Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes, leaving a piercing pain on his skin. He frowned as he looked down at the pale Luluo and asked, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Luluo was still in a somewhat panicked state, but hurriedly shook her head after swallowing a mouthful of saliva. Zhou Yuan stood up while pulling Luluo to her feet, before his dark gaze turned towards the dense forest behind them. ¡°Come out, you sneaky dirty thing.¡± Luluo¡¯s eyes were wide with rage, her teeth tightly clenched together as she stared in the same direction as Zhou Yuan. If he had not responded as quickly as he did earlier, the sneak attack would have likely succeeded. Luluo angrily commanded, ¡°Little Frost, go and capture him!¡± EE! Little Frost released an angry cry, its wings suddenly flapping as a surge of freezing air swept forth. Any tree it came into contact with was instantly turned to ice. ¡°Hehe, what a violent little lass.¡± When the freezing air swept past, scarlet light suddenly exploded like burning flames, completely blocking the attack. The scarlet-red Genesis Qi parted, allowing Zhou Yuan and Luluo to see a beautiful figure elegantly and slowly walking out from within. Only when she neared did they realise that it was an extremely pretty girl, her hair red like fire. ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows furrowed. They clearly did not know this red-haired girl. Upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s question, the red-haired girl smiled faintly, displaying a lovely smiling face. However, there was not much warmth in her smile, but instead a chilling eeriness. ¡°Zhu Ying, Dongxuan Continent, Zhu clan.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 167 Battling Zhu Ying ¡°Zhu Ying? Dongxuan Continent?¡± Zhou Yuan and Luluo¡¯s expression slightly changed at this moment. Zhou Yuan stared at the red-haired girl called Zhu Ying, frowning as he said, ¡°Looks like your Dongxuan Continent has been eyeing our Cangmang Continent¡¯s Saint Remains Domain for a long time.¡± The other party''s timing had been impeccable, secretly slipping into the Saint Remains Domain through some unknown method the moment it opened. This clearly meant that they had been planning this operation for a long time. "Humph, Dongxuan rat, why did you attack me?" Luluo''s face was rather unfriendly as she stared at Zhu Ying. "To leave my name on the Saint Tablet of course." Zhu Ying softly chuckled. "Your Cangmang Continent does not have many decent apex level geniuses, leaving me no choice but to seek you out." "The likes of you? Little Frost, go mess her up!" Luluo let out an icy laugh. She was clearly infuriated by the red-haired girl''s earlier actions, and did not want to waste anymore time talking. EE! Little Frost flapped its wings, immediately causing icy Genesis Qi to gather towards it. It was a domineering and impressive sight, even the air began to freeze into countless ice crystals. Swish! Little Frost transformed into a flash of cold light that shot towards Zhu Ying at an astonishing speed. The corners of Zhu Ying¡¯s red lips curled slightly, the tip of her foot pushing off the ground as her body rose into the air. Meanwhile, scarlet light shot out from her sleeve like a coiling fire python. Pchla! The scarlet light descended, wrapping around Little Frost. It turned out to be a long fiery-red whip that seemed to burn with fire as it firmly bounded Little Frost. No matter how hard it struggled, the bird was unable to break free. ¡°Hehe, how do you like my Scarlet Flame Beast Binding Whip?¡± Zhu Ying chuckled. ¡°Little Frost!¡± Luluo was greatly alarmed, evidently never expecting that Zhu Ying would possess a means to restrain Genesis Beasts. A single move was all it had taken to bind the unprepared Little Frost. ¡°Flame Devil Seal!¡± Zhu Ying understood that she could not give any chances to a formidable foe. After trapping Little Frost, she appeared in front of Luluo in a flash, forming a seal with her hand as she sent it towards the latter. Boom! Scarlet-red Genesis Qi whizzed forth, seemingly transforming into a burning fist. The howls of flame devils echoed from within as it ferociously blasted towards Luluo with violent, overwhelming might. Luluo gritted her teeth as she thrust her hand forward, Genesis Qi surging with a piercing hiss. Bang! The two clashed directly. Zhu Ying ended up nimbly drifting backwards, why Luluo was violently shaken, staggering back several steps before steadying herself. Her bright and clean face was flushed red, the Qi and blood in her body clearly churning uncontrollably. ¡°Tch tch. You seem to be only so-so without that Genesis Beast.¡± Zhu Ying let out a pleasant sounding laugh. Luluo¡¯s face turned green with fury. She had many skills and techniques, but all of them needed the cooperation of a Genesis Beast to release their greatest power. However, due to her mistake, Little Frost had been trapped at the beginning of the battle. ¡°If that is all you have, there will be one less apex level genius in your Cangmang Continent today.¡± Zhu Ying seemed to sigh regretfully, but the smile on her lips was exceptionally cold. Swish! Her body shot forward once again, scarlet-red Genesis Qi erupting from her body like a volcano, the rippling wave of heat that ensued causing tree after tree to burst into flames. She was like an avatar of fire as she charged towards Luluo, fingertips flickering with a cold inhumane light yet incomparably hot at the same time. ¡°You think I¡¯m scared of you?!¡± Zhu Ying¡¯s overbearingness caused Luluo¡¯s temper to flare. She gritted her teeth as her Genesis Qi began to stir, intending to accompany this woman all the way. Just as she was about to move however, a figure blocked her from the front. She looked over, only to be stunned. ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± She immediately hastily said, ¡°Leave quickly, that crazy woman is very difficult to deal with!¡± Although she knew that Zhou Yuan had stepped into the Heaven Gate stage, he was after all only at the initial level, while Zhu Ying likely had the strength of the quasi Alpha-Origin, strength that was even greater than Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s. It was obviously impossible for Zhou Yuan to be her match. Zhou Yuan waved his hand. ¡°You go find a way to free Little Frost, let me deal with this woman.¡± Without Little Frost¡¯s aid, there were many techniques that Luluo was unable to use. In her current state, she would not be Zhu Ying¡¯s match. ¡°You¡­¡± Luluo was somewhat hesitant. ¡°Hehe, are all you Cangmang people so arrogant? To think that a mere initial Heaven Gate dares to obstruct me.¡± Zhu Ying was pretty amused by this scene, but the light flickering within her eyes was full of ridicule. ¡°Since you want to play the hero, I shall grant your wish.¡± Zhu Qing laughed in a mocking manner. Scarlet light swirled around her body as her red hair danced, making her look like a flame devil. Her hands clenched tightly, before she sent out a punch. Bang! The air exploded, while the fist winds cut deep scars in the ground below her feet. This punch could easily create a hole in an advance Heaven Gate stage practitioner. There was no fear in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he watched the ferocious attack rapidly approach, but instead a surge of burning excitement. ¡°Quasi Alpha-Origin huh¡­ I do want to see just how strong that is.¡± ¡°Magical Python Scales!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers also clenched into a fist. Dark gold Genesis Qi rushed out of his Qi Dwelling, covering his body while golden Magical Python Scales appeared on the surface of his hand. ¡°Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Black Gold Hand Rune!¡± As Zhou Yuan shouted in his heart, a black luster appeared over his scale covered fist, giving off an aura of invincibility. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was akin to an arrow that had been released, rocketing forward as he tore through the air. A punch was sent out without the slightest shred of hesitation, smashing straight towards Zhu Ying¡¯s own. ¡°Reckless fool!¡± Zhu Ying mocked. This was the first time she had seen an initial Heaven Gate practitioner dare to clash directly against her. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± Luluo could not help but cover her eyes. ¡°Dragon Tablet Hand, Break the Sky!¡± At the instant of impact, Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist seemed to become slow and heavy as power rippled outwards, shaking the air and fissuring the ground. The power of this punch was not only enhanced by Genesis Qi, but also the golden Magical Python Scales and the grade 3 Black Gold Hand Rune. Its might was ferocious to the extreme. Boom! Two fists containing dreadfully terrifying force slammed into each other. A muffled boom filled the surroundings. The world seemed to fall silent for an instant, before a shockwave of devastation unfurled. The surrounding ground began to crumble inch by inch. Rocks torn to pieces, while tree after tree disintegrated into splinters that filled the sky. The entire place was now in a complete mess. Luluo looked towards the site of the clash, only to see Zhou Yuan and Luluo¡¯s figures taking a dozen steps backwards. Zhu Ying¡¯s face had become extremely ugly. Luluo¡¯s gaze swept over the former, discovering a huge bruise on her hand, while fresh blood dripped from her fingertips. In comparison, several of the golden scales on Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist had been shattered, but he had not sustained any injuries. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan had taken the upper hand in the earlier exchange. Luluo was so shocked that her tiny mouth hung wide open. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fingers slowly relaxed as the golden scales receded. He lifted his gaze and looked towards the grim-faced Zhu Ying as he softly chuckled and said, ¡°Although you are a quasi Alpha-Origin¡­¡± ¡°If we talk about hardness, you¡¯re not as hard as me.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 168 Meeting Once More In a devastated forest. Zhou Yuan slowly relaxed his fist. His opponent had not managed to gain even the slightest advantage in their previous clash. Evidently, when Zhou Yuan activated the golden Magical Python Scales and the grade 3 Black Gold Hand Rune, he gained the power to face a quasi Alpha-Origin head-on. ¡°Hey, fight properly, stop being a vulgar hoodlum.¡± While Zhou Yuan was secretly being pleased with himself, Luluo¡¯s voice was suddenly heard from behind. Zhou Yuan was stunned, confusion on his face as he looked towards the blushing Luluo, who was currently glaring at him. ¡°Aah??¡± A red faced Luluo seriously said,¡°The other party is a girl, how can she compare hardness with you?¡± Zhou Yuan immediately felt as if he had been blasted by lightning till his outsides were charred black and his insides turned to mush. Green and white interlaced on his face, stupefied as he stared at Luluo. It was a long while later before his anger finally overwhelmed his embarrassment as he yelled, ¡°Shut up!¡± He was clearly talking about the hardness of their fists. How had Luluo twisted things so far! Luluo made a funny face as him. He was the one being vulgar, why the need to be so fierce. Nearby, Zhu Ying had also heard Luluo¡¯s words, immediately causing her already ugly face to twist even more, while her ripe chest heaved in anger as if it was about to explode. ¡°Bastard, I¡¯m definitely killing you today!¡± Zhu Ying¡¯s shout was trembling with white hot rage. Boom! Scarlet-red Genesis Qi burst out from her body like raging flames. The ground below began to melt, emitting an extremely terrifying heat. ¡°Scarlet Devil Hand!¡± With a thought from Zhu Ying, the scarlet-red flame like Genesis Qi turned into a giant flaming hand that viciously swatted down onto Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan did not dare to delay, dark gold Genesis Qi dashing out from the top of his head to form a dome. Boom boom! The flaming hand continued its ferocious swatting, causing the dark gold Genesis Qi dome to tremble without end. However, although the latter kept rippling, it was ultimately able to endure and was not broken by the flaming hand. After about a dozen swats, Zhu Ying gradually regained her cool, a sliver of graveness entering her eyes. The previous exchange had already told her that this seemingly initial Heaven Gate youth was not simple at all. The latter¡¯s Genesis Qi was plentiful and concentrated, far surpassing that of the initial Heaven Gate stage. In fact, it was comparable to the advance Heaven Gate stage. Moreover, the dark gold Genesis Qi was definitely extremely high grade, hence it did not seem to falter even in a direct clash of Genesis Qi like this. ¡°Humph, I don¡¯t believe that I, Zhu Ying, can¡¯t even handle a heaven Gate stage like you!¡± Zhu Ying¡¯s anger had been roused again. With a grasp of her hand, a fiery-red fan appeared within it. The surface of the fan was filled with fire like patterns, and every feather burned with raging flames, evidently retrieved from a fire-type flying beast of sorts. ¡°Try my Five Birds Blaze Fan!¡± Zhu Ying¡¯s hand jerked as the feather fan fanned, releasing a giant wave of fiery-red Genesis Qi. The Genesis Qi transformed into magnificent flames that began to cover the sky, like a rain of fire as they bombarded Zhou Yuan. Every drop of fire concealed volatile undulations that would explode and release an enormous destructive force upon contact. The rain of fire seemed to engulf Zhou Yuan as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand began to grow. With a jolt of his arm, the snow-white hairs extended outwards and weaved around him, forming a shield. Bang! Bang! The rain of fire clashed with the shield made from hair, resulting in a violent explosion that seemed to incinerate even the surrounding air. The explosion lasted for a brief moment, turning the snow-white hairs a glowing red. However, the tip of the brush shook as the hairs returned, swiftly recovering to their normal state. Although the current Heavenly Yuan Brush was only a Black Genesis Weapon, the materials it was made from were extremely amazing. Hence, it was impossible to burn the brush hairs. After blocking the fire rain, Zhou Yuan did not politely wait for his opponent¡¯s next move. His body swiftly shot forth, snow-white hairs once again taking the shape of a lotus bud, swift as lightning as it thrust towards Zhu Ying. îõ! Clang! Zhu Ying¡¯s fan blocked horizontally with its surface as her lips parted, spitting out a ball of fiery-red Genesis Qi at Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Dark gold Genesis Qi rushed out of Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose, blocking the fire ball. Clang clang clang! The exchange between the two was lightning quick, brush tip and side of the fan meeting time and time again with metallic clangs as sparks spluttered. Every attack of both individuals was ruthless, but every one was blocked by the other party. While the two were locked in battle, Luluo arrived at the trapped Little Frost¡¯s side, her small hand reaching out as astonishing cold Qi began flowing out from Little Frost¡¯s body, attacking the fiery-red whip. Luluo said through gritted teeth, ¡°Crazy woman, I¡¯ll show you my awesomeness after I free Little Frost.¡± Zhu Ying sensed Luluo¡¯s actions, causing the former¡¯s eyebrows to furrow as a surge of annoyance rose within her. She had originally thought that she would be able to easily deal with Zhou Yuan. Who could have imagined that he would turn out to be so powerful, making it such that she was unable to extract herself instead. If Luluo managed to free the ice bird, the addition of their combined might would make Zhu Ying¡¯s side fall into a perilous situation. ¡°I need to finish off this brat!¡± A determined and ruthless look flitted across her eyes. Soon after, her figure suddenly backed away, tightly gripping the fiery-red feather fan as she sucked in a deep breath, cold light flashing in her eyes. ¡°Little Heaven Genesis technique, Five Birds Fire!¡± She bit the tip of her tongue and spat out essence blood that landed on the fan before sending out a powerful swing. Cackle! Scarlet-red flames rose, transforming into a ball of fire. Above the fire ball, one could faintly see five birds dancing in the air. Runes of light also drifted around it as an astonishing heat wave rippled. The appearance of the fire ball bathed the entire forest in an aura of scorching heat, making it feel as if it would burst into flames at any moment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned extremely grave. The ball of fire was akin to a volatile compressed mass of overwhelming destructive power. Let¡¯s not mention the Heaven Gate stage, even a quasi Alpha-Origin would be instantly burned to ashes if hit by it. Zhu Ying was indeed someone with ability. Luluo also sensed the disturbance and hastily shouted, ¡°Zhou Yuan, quickly retreat! That¡¯s a little Heaven Genesis technique, its power is insane!¡± Zhou Yuan did not budge. The Genesis Qi under his feet rose him into the air as his expression turned serious. Five fingers stretched outwards as lightning suddenly leaped from his palm. ¡°You should also have a taste of my little Heaven Genesis technique!¡± Battle lust surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. This was the first time he was going to use the technique after learning it, which made him very interested in just how powerful it was going to be. Pchla! Wind and lightning gathered on Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. Genesis Qi pulsed a dozen breaths later as a several inch wide green black lightning ball appeared in his hand. ¡°Great Wind and Thunder!¡± Rumble! Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm was flung and the green black lightning ball rocketed forth with a rumble. In the next instant. Fire and lightning ball clashed. Boom! An indescribable storm of energy unfurled, the air cackling with both fire and lightning. The forest in a hundred feet radius was turned into a barren land, while the ground was scorched black... Zhu Ying¡¯s figure appeared. Her current appearance was rather miserable. She had been caught up in the aftermath of the attack earlier, the berserk shockwaves shaking the Qi and blood in her body, casing a trace of blood to appear at the corner of her mouth. ¡°He should be dead with this, right?¡± Zhu Ying gritted her teeth as she looked to her front. The dust gradually settled. However, Zhu Ying¡¯s face turned ugly once again. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure remained unmoved from the spot, though a turtle shell like shield of light had appeared in front of him. It was this light shield that had defended Zhou Yuan against the shockwaves. ¡°Good going Zhou Yuan!¡± Luluo cheered nearby, her large eyes filled with astonishment. She never expected that Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength would rise to this level when they met again. Zhu Ying¡¯s strength was surely no less than her own. Even so, the former was unable to take any advantage in the fight. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan had grown very rapidly ever since entering the Saint Remains Domain. Zhu Ying bit down on her teeth in anger, nearly cracking them in the process. She stared at Zhou Yuan as she raised an eyebrow and muttered, ¡°Zhou Yuan? Now that I think about it, this name is rather familiar¡­¡± After some thought, she finally remembered. ¡°So you are Wu Huang¡¯s mortal enemy, that Zhou Yuan?¡± Zhu Ying let out an icy chuckle. ¡°So this is where you were. Good, your enemy is also here. I will call him over to play with you!¡± The moment the final word left her mouth, she waved her hand as a ball of fire flew into the sky. The ball exploded, sending out a peculiar undulation. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly when he saw this. Wu Huang was also here? Not long after Zhu Ying sent out her signal, Zhou Yuan heard the sound of rushing wind swiftly speed towards them. In the end, he saw the fog far away ripple as two figures slowly walked out. One of them was wearing golden robes. It was Wu Huang. The other was dressed in black, and even his eyes were pitch-black vortexes that gave one an indescribable strange feeling. Wu Huang walked forward with his hands behind his back. The first thing he saw was Zhou Yuan, causing him to be taken aback for a moment, before a playful look emerged from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I did expect to meet you again¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 169 Wu Huang’s Killing Inten In a devastated forest. Zhou Yuan involuntarily frown at the sight of two individuals who had walked out from the fog, Wu Huang and the youth in black robes. ¡°You¡¯ve teamed up with the Dongxuan people?¡± Wu Huang indifferently replied, ¡°Short-sighted. The future me will not be limited to a mere continent. Why should my Cangmang Continent identity restrict me?¡± ¡°How shameless.¡± Luluo sneered. ¡°You colluded with these Dongxuan people to gang up on Yaoyao. You truly are the worst.¡± Wu Huang shook his head, his voice unchanged as he said, ¡°The only truth is that the victor is right, and the process is of little importance. Since there was a stumbling block in my way, I will naturally have to remove it.¡± Zhou Yuan swept a gaze towards him. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that you even threw away your face, but were still unable to achieve your goal.¡± Wu Huang¡¯s expression finally turned slightly rigid, his gaze somewhat frosty as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Finding you here is an unexpected but pleasant surprise. I heard that you are on pretty good terms with Zhou Xiaoyao, am I right? If you are caught and used as bait, do you think that he will still choose to come even though it¡¯s clearly a trap?¡± Boom! Wu Huang was swift and decisive, powerful Genesis Qi exploding from his body like a storm at his final word. His Genesis Qi was akin to a scorching sun, shining brilliantly with awe-inspiring power. Swish! He was extremely quick, appearing in front of Zhou Yuan in a single step. The tip of Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot also pushed off the ground as his figure rapidly retreated. However, Wu Huang was like a shadow, sticking close to Zhou Yuan no matter how hard the latter tried to escape. Indifference was the only thing on the latter¡¯s face as a punch was sent flying. Scarlet-red light blossomed, appearing below the fist like a dazzling sun. The punch caused the surrounding space to ripple slightly, while the air around turned blazing hot. Wu Huang displayed extreme power, power that was even more domineering and unreasonable than Zhu Ying¡¯s. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils tightened slightly as the punch whizzed towards him. There was no hesitation whatsoever as Genesis Qi surged within his body, causing golden Magical Python Scales to emerge on his fist. ¡°Magical Python Scales!¡± ¡°Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Black Gold Hand Rune!¡± Zhou Yuan also sent out a punch, a black glow sweeping across the golden scales, giving it a blackish gold luster that seemed impenetrable. Boom! The two fists slammed into each other, cold cruelness flitting across Wu Huang¡¯s eyes as he said in a chilling voice, ¡°Do you believe that you will possess the qualifications to face me head-on because you reached the Heaven Gate stage? Naive!¡± The dazzling sun below his fist seemed to explode at this moment, transforming into a frightening force that spectacularly swept towards Zhou Yuan. Dong! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body jerked backwards, his feet smearing long lines on the ground as he was pushed back. Swish! However, the moment he was blown backwards, Zhou Yuan¡¯s sleeve shook as a flash of green and black shot out. Its speed was akin lightning, swiftly appearing in front of Wu Huang. It was a green black lightning ball that was several feet wide. Lightning and wind rapidly swirled within it, while the faint sounds of rumbling thunder and howling wind could be heard. Berserk energies spread from the ball. Wu Huang¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. ¡°Great Wind and Thunder.¡± An almost inaudible voice was gently spat out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. Boom! Wind and lightning exploded. Even though Wu Huang immediately used his Genesis Qi to shield himself, he was still blasted till his shield shook violently as he staggered a dozen steps back. His sleeve had been burnt and shredded, his blood churning slightly. Although he was not injured, his expression had become exceptionally stormy. Because this was the first time he had been beaten back by Zhou Yuan. This was simply unacceptable to him. The one who was once an ant in his eyes had unknowingly gained the power to shake him. Intense killing intent flashed in Wu Huang¡¯s eyes. He could feel that Zhou Yuan growing far too fast. Before they had entered the Saint Remains Domain, a single punch from the former could heavily injure and even kill the latter. And yet, he had sent out the same punch just moments earlier, but the only thing it had achieved was forcing Zhou Yuan back. In fact, the latter had even found an interval to counter attack, catching him unprepared. If this continued, it would not be long before the once ant like existence grew strong enough to face him directly. The thought of such a scene made killing intent practically spew from Wu Huang¡¯s eyes. He could not imagine it, because it would finally touch the forbidden fear in the deepest recesses of his heart. Almost material killing intent surged around Wu Huang¡¯s body, sweeping up the surrounding lives. It was as if the temperature had suddenly dropped. However, Zhou Yuan paid no heed to Wu Huang¡¯s killing intent. His rapidly retreating figure did not stop even for a second, while he made a sign to Luluo with the hand behind his back. The current situation was too unfavorable to them. Zhu Ying was still watching from the side, and there was an even more dangerous youth in black. The danger he felt from the latter was not any less than from Wu Huang. In addition, his Spirit senses had already detected that the Genesis Qi was faintly beginning to gather around the youth in black. EE! Little Frost was finally freed by Luluo. It immediately shook its wings, transforming into a flash of icy light that swept up both Zhou Yuan and Luluo, before shooting into the fog without any hesitation. Meanwhile, the youth in black robes called Ye Ming had just stealthily lifted his hand only to be stunned. He could only watch as the two humans and beast were cast into the fog, disappearing from sight. Ye Ming said in amazement, ¡°What a sharp kid.¡± Zhou Yuan had clearly realised the moment Ye Ming showed signs of secretly preparing to make his move. Thus, the former decisively chose to withdraw, and even into the fog. As such, they would also have to enter the fog if they chose to chase. Wu Huang¡¯s expression was ominously dark. It felt as if he had been played. Just how many times had Zhou Yuan safely escaped from his hands? Ye Ming remarked, ¡°This foe of yours is no simple individual. He is clearly only at the initial Heaven Gate stage, but even Zhu Ying was forced to admit defeat.¡± Wu Huang was expressionless as he looked towards Ye Ming. ¡°Are we chasing? Zhou Xiaoyao will surely voluntarily seek us out if he is captured.¡± Ye Ming chuckled. ¡°If he truly is so magnetic, it will save us some effort.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll chase then. Although Zhou Yuan is quick-witted and chose to hide in the fog. He does not know that the fog no hindrance in my eyes.¡± Ye Ming grinned a little. A strange light surfaced in his pitch-black pupils as a tear of blood dripped from the corner of his eyes. The world before him began to change, the layers of mist receding as the figures of two humans and a beast brightened in his sights. ¡°That way. Let¡¯s go.¡± Ye Ming¡¯s finger stretched out and pointed in a certain direction. Wu Huang was the first to rocket forward, his figure quick as lightning as he gave chase, while icy murder surged in his eyes. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you will not escape this time!¡± ¡°I will no longer give you any opportunity to grow. That¡¯s why, this place will be your grave!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 170 Interception Swish! The sound of rapidly travelling wind suddenly sounded within the thick fog as a blue figure swept past. Icy winds blew, freezing the leaves on the nearby trees. Within the blue light was an enormous ice bird, while Zhou Yuan and Luluo were seated on its back. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows were slightly furrowed as he looked behind and mumbled to himself, ¡°The youth in black robes should be the one who joined hands with Wu Huang to injure Yaoyao, Ye Ming,¡± ¡°He is indeed no ordinary person.¡± Although Ye Ming had yet to do anything earlier, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit senses could feel that the level of threat he posed was no less than Wu Huang. Wu Huang, Ye Ming plus Zhu Ying. The line-up on the other side was clearly much stronger than Luluo and him. That¡¯s why Zhou Yuan did not entertain any thoughts of taking them on, but instead made use of the clash with Wu Huang to decisively escape. ¡°Zhou Yuan, we¡¯ve entered the fog. It will disrupt our senses, making it very troublesome.¡± Luluo was rather worried. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°We had no choice. A single second later and they would have unleashed their full power to stop us. If we were trapped, it will be extremely unfavorable.¡± ¡°Only by entering the fog can we try to shake them off.¡± Luluo angrily gnashed her teeth. ¡°Those bastards, taking advantage of their numbers. When we join up with big sis Yaoyao and the rest, just see if I won¡¯t kill them!¡± She was the Little Country Lord of the Thousand Beast Empire. How could she suffer the indignity of being forced to flee. Zhou Yuan chuckled, much more open-minded in comparison. His eyes narrowed slightly as he recalled his earlier clash with Wu Huang. It was obvious that he was already much stronger than before. In their previous clash, he had practically been overwhelmed without any resistance, but just earlier, he had been able to receive Wu Huang¡¯s attack head-on. This spoke volumes about his progress. ¡°Wu Huang, I wonder how you¡¯re feeling now?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth curled slightly. Swish! Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed as he looked towards the dense fog behind them where faint ripples could be seen. ¡°Luluo, increase our speed. They¡¯ve come chasing.¡± Luluo was startled. ¡°Even after we entered the fog? Are they not afraid of losing their bearings?¡± Zhou Yuan calmly replied, ¡°It seems that I¡¯ve scared Wu Huang too much, and he is now very determined to get rid of me.¡± Wu Huang should have also felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s progress, progress what was clearly going to soon wrest the situation out of Wu Huang¡¯s control. Luluo lightly patted the ice bird, immediately causing it to release a clear cry. Its wings flapped, cold Qi exploding behind it as its speed rapidly soared, transforming into a blur that swiftly shot forward. Not long after the ice bird transformed into a blur and disappeared into the distance, the must began to ripple as three figures emerged. ¡°How fast.¡± Wu Huang was expressionless. The vortexes in Ye Ming¡¯s eyes swirled as he indifferently said, ¡°Zhou Yuan has very sharp Spirit senses. His Spirit should be pretty strong, allowing him to sense our approach.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t worry, he can¡¯t escape.¡± His gaze suddenly turned to another direction and flicked his finger. A ball of Genesis Qi exploded, transmitting a peculiar undulation. Soon after, the mist in that direction was torn open as three figures emerged. They were the three other apex level Dongxuan geniuses. ¡°Jiang Quan, how did it go?¡± Ye Ming looked towards the youth who had barred Zhen Xu¡¯s way. The baby face Jiang Quan grinned as he nodded. ¡°He was pretty good, and had a very tough body. However, he is now injured and has fled into the fog.¡± Ye Ming¡¯s pitch-black eyes scanned the area as he indifferently said, ¡°No rush, none of them can escape.¡± ¡°Go.¡± With a wave of his hand, he and Wu Huang flew forward. ¡­ ¡°Their numbers has increased?¡± Zhou Yuan spread out his Spirit senses in the fog, pouring all his energy into scouting. Soon after, his expression changed slightly. He could faintly feel that the Genesis Qi undulations to their rear had increased. Moreover, each one was extremely strong, indicating that they did not belong to a weakling. Luluo¡¯s face also changed slightly, clenching her jaw as she said, ¡°Looks like they plan to surround us.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. A brief moment later, the expression in his eyes suddenly turned solemn as he thrust the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. Snow-white hairs transformed into a long whip as they shot towards a certain spot in the fog. Plop! A tree burst apart, revealing the figure behind it. Zhou Yuan and Luluo¡¯s gazes shot over, only to be stunned. The figure¡¯s clothes were in tatters, making him look rather miserable. That pale complexion could only belong to the Yama Sect¡¯s Zhen Xu. ¡°Zhen Xu?¡± Luluo was surprised. ¡°Why are you hiding here?¡± A thought suddenly struck Zhou Yuan as he gazed upon Zhen Xu¡¯s expressionless face. ¡°You were also attacked by those Dongxuan people?¡± Zhen Xu was silent for a moment, before he nodded. ¡°You couldn¡¯t beat your opponent?¡± Luluo said with disdain. Zhen Xu frowned as he said, ¡°I do not fear the one who fought me, but there were two other individuals hidden nearby who had locked onto me, causing me to split my attention while not daring to use my full power. Hence how he found an opening.¡± Luluo was stunned. ¡°So despicable?¡± Luluo hatefully said, ¡°Why are these Dongxuan people causing trouble for us!¡± Zhou Yuan calmly answered, ¡°Because only those on your level can pose a threat to them.¡± ¡°They are unified, while you guys are scattered. Breaking all of you one by one will naturally lower the morale of all the Cangmang geniuses, taking away their courage such that they will no longer be able to vie for the gifts and blessings of the Saint Remains Domain.¡± Zhen Xu coughed weakly twice, not saying anything as he turned around to leave Zhou Yuan gazed upon Zhen Xu¡¯s back and suddenly said, ¡°They seem to be capable of seeing through the fog. I advise you to join us.¡± Zhen Xu was obviously quite seriously injured. If he were to move alone, Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest would definitely catch up. When that happened, things would not be pretty. Zhen Xu¡¯s foot paused, turning his head slightly as his ash-colored eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°I attacked you earlier, but you¡¯re still fine with helping me?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled thinly. ¡°There is no big grudge between us, but the fact is that those fellows behind have joined up with Wu Huang. Thus, I naturally have to know what¡¯s important.¡± Zhen Xu was silent. ¡°Stop being so wishy-washy. You should clearly know your current state. If you want to die, go ahead and leave.¡± Zhen Xu¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. In the end, his figure suddenly launched into the air and landed on the ice bird¡¯s back. ¡°Thank you. I will remember this debt.¡± Said Zhen Xu with some difficulty. He was clearly a somewhat conflicted and embarrassed. After all, he had attacked Zhou Yuan not too long ago, but now needed to borrow the latter¡¯s strength. Zhou Yuan nonchalantly waved his hand. Wu Huang had allied himself with the Dongxuan people, so he naturally needed to gather some allies of his own. Zhen Xu and the others, whom were being targeted by the Dongxuan people, were obviously the best choice. ¡°What do we do now? Where do we go? They have the numbers superiority, while we have injured on our side. We will surely be wiped out if we faced them.¡± There was a bitter look on Luluo¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan pondered in silence for a few moments, his eyes flickering in thought. A short while later, he pointed towards the deepest depths of the fog. ¡°You said before that there are quite a number of grade 4 Genesis Beasts, and even a mysterious Genesis Beast leader at the deepest part of the mountain range where the golden pool is?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s where we¡¯ll be heading¡­ only by stirring up some chaos will we be able to lose them.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 171 The Mysterious Beas Fog pervaded the mountains as an icy shadow swept past. Zhou Yuan was seated on Little Frost¡¯s back, his Spirit senses spreading outwards. Although the fog could distort one¡¯s sense of direction, Zhou Yuan was just barely able to guide them through his powerful Spirit. ¡°To the left.¡± Uttered Zhou Yuan. Little Frost immediately shook its wings, turning directions. ¡°We¡¯ve already reached the depths of the mountain range.¡± Zhou Yuan glanced to his rear, his gaze frosty as he continued, ¡°They¡¯re still closely following us. How patient.¡± He could detect several presences some distance behind, tailing them like shadows. It was clear that Wu Huang and gang did not intend to give up so easily. Zhen Xu said in a low voice, ¡°What do we do now? Any deeper and we will begin to encounter grade 4 Genesis Beasts.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared into the depths of the fog, faintly seeing a shimmer of gold, while he also began to sense several powerful Genesis Qi ripples. They clearly nearing the golden pool. The Genesis ripples he had sensed likely belonged to the beasts protecting the pool Zhou Yuan decisively declared, ¡°Go in!¡± Luluo gritted her teeth and patted Little Frost. With a loud cry, its speed rose sharply. A short few minutes later, Zhou Yuan and group discovered that they had exited the fog. Behind the fog lay an ancient mountain forest where numerous towering trees proudly stood. Roar! Brief moments after Zhou Yuan and gang charged out from the fog, a loud roar was suddenly heard. An enormous shadow descended from the sky with violent and dreadful power. Little Frost agilely shot forward, avoiding the shadow. Boom! The shadow slammed into the spot where Zhou Yuan and the rest had been just moments before, causing the ground to crumble. As dust began to fill the air, the Zhou Yuan trio saw a giant ape covered in scales. It ferociously stood there, its scarlet-red beast eyes staring at them. Powerful Genesis Qi undulations rippled around the scaled ape like a storm. A grade 4 Genesis Beast! The ferocious aura caused the trio¡¯s pupils to shrink. Against a Genesis Beast of this level, they would have to use their full strength in order to put up a fight. Swish! A few seconds after the giant scaled ape appeared, the fog rippled once again, and six figures swiftly flew out, landing nearby Zhou Yuan¡¯s group. The six figures were naturally the closely following Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest. Roar! The scaled ape was greatly enraged by the sight of more humans invading. With a loud roar from its blood-red mouth, its titanic body leaped into the air as a giant fist ruthlessly smashed towards Wu Huang¡¯s group like a cannonball, heralded by an astonishing wind pressure. Even before the punch hit, the shape of a fist had already been imprinted into the ground. Wu Huang was indifferent as he watched the scaled ape rapidly grow in his eyes. Five fingers tightened into a fist as his foot slammed into the ground, cracking it. His figure appeared in front of the ape in a split second, fist like a blazing rising sun, glaring with brilliant might that allowed no resistance. Boom! Man and beast fiercely clashed in the air as a ripple that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled, followed by a series of rapid booms as the air was blasted away. At the epicenter, the giant scaled ape released a cry of anguish as its enormous body was sent flying backwards. It crashed into the ground, causing the surrounding area to tremor. The ape¡¯s body tore across the ground, creating a long scar as towering trees continued to fall one after another. In contrast, Wu Huang had only been forced a dozen steps back before he slowly drifted down, his expression as indifferent as before. Besides Ye Ming, the other four from the Dongxuan Continent glanced at Wu Huang in amazement. Luluo could not help but remark, ¡°This guy is really monstrous!¡± Though she had previously finished off a grade 4 Genesis Beast, it had only been possible after pulling out all the stops. In comparison, Wu Huang had grandly suppressed a grade 4 Genesis Beast in a direct clash of power. A trace of graveness also appeared on Zhen Xu¡¯s pale expressionless face. No emotion was present in Wu Huang¡¯s gaze as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Did you believe that hiding here will make me afraid?¡± Zhou Yuan seemed to smile, a smile that had a hint of ridicule. Roar! It was at this moment that the giant scaled ape climbed to its feet and released a deafening roar of anger. The roar echoed into the distance, resounding across the mountain forest. Rumble! Almost immediately after, wild Genesis Qi began to explode in the depths of the forest one after another. The mountain forest shook as four giant beasts swiftly emerged, stopping behind the giant scaled ape. Genesis Qi churned around these four titans, clearly indicating that each and every one was a grade 4 Genesis Beast. Wu Huang and Ye Ming¡¯s expression finally changed slightly. Ye Ming shot a glance at Zhou Yuan and remarked, ¡°What a beautiful plan of urging tigers to devour wolves.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, it won¡¯t work.¡± His pitch-black pupils stared at the five grade 4 Genesis Beasts before them as the vortexes within slowly began to swirl, and a strange ripple began to spread. The bodies of the giant scaled ape and the other grade 4 Genesis Beasts turned slack for a moment, black vortexes appeared in their eyes as if they had fallen into a hallucination. Tears of blood fell from the corners of Ye Ming¡¯s eyes as a tired look appeared within them. ¡°He¡­ he has taken control of the five grade 4 Genesis Beasts?¡± Luluo¡¯s shocked voice sounded. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened at this moment. ¡°Its an eye technique powered by Spirit energy. Genesis Beasts may have strong bodies, but their Spirits are comparatively weaker, making them easily countered by him.¡± Zhou Yuan said in a low voice, ¡°To the golden pool!¡± Little Frost shot forth the moment his voice rang out. ¡°None of you will escape today!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s icy voice followed, his figure transforming into a flash of scarlet light, fast as rushing thunder as he doggedly gave chase. Behind him, Ye Ming and the rest quickly followed. Rumble! Two groups, one fleeing, one chasing, giving rise to a huge disturbance in the depths of the mountain range. They crossed numerous mountains in a short few minutes. Golden light soon blossomed before their eyes, only for them to see a giant mountain standing some distance to their front. The top of the mountain was akin to a volcano, only endless gold light spread from its mouth, dazzling like a pool of gold. ¡°The golden pool!¡± Luluo¡¯s eyes glowed as she stared at the mountain top. Behind them, Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest closely followed, desire surfacing in their eyes as their gazes fell upon the resplendent golden pool. ¡°It seems that the golden pool blessings are fated to be ours.¡± Ye Ming laughed as he rubbed his hands together. ¡°I really have to thank you for leading the way.¡± Roar! However, several roars suddenly rang out across the area the moment Ye Ming¡¯s laughter faded. Next, the pupils of everyone on both sides shrank when they saw enormous beast after beast appear on the mountain top, scarlet-red eyes rapidly locking onto the humans. Over a dozen grade 4 Genesis Beasts! This line-up made the expressions of both parties change. However, it was still not over. The titanic beasts prostrated themselves, their heads lowered as if they were bowing. Zhen Xu¡¯s expression did not look too good either as he said, ¡°Rumor speaks of a mysterious Genesis Beast leader at the golden pool to whom numerous grade 4 Genesis Beasts have yielded.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows tightly knitted together. It seems that the rumors were true. This was really unlucky for them, tigers behind and wolves in front... ¡°If things become worse, we¡¯ll quickly escape amidst the chaos.¡± Said Zhou Yuan in a soft voice. Luluo and Zhen Xu nodded. Even Luluo was no longer thinking about the golden pool now. Some distance behind them, Wu Huang and Ye Ming¡¯s expressions turned grave. They could faintly feel an alarmingly powerful undulations in the depths of the golden light. Under their guarded gazes, a low roar filled with dignity rang out from the top of the giant mountain, causing every Genesis Beast on the mountain to tremble. A giant figure slowly emerged from within the golden light. In the end, the figure stepped out, appearing in everyone¡¯s sights. Eh? Everyone was stunned the moment the figure revealed itself, because the thing that had appeared was no behemoth, but a dull gray little dog like creature. The little beast yawned lazily, its beady eyes disdainfully looking towards the gathered crowd. Zhou Yuan and Luluo blankly watched this scene. Moments later, they were unable to stop themselves from vigorously rubbing their eyes before very carefully looking again as their expressions turned extremely spectacular. Luluo asked in a hesitant voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­ are my eyes deceiving me? Why does that little creature look almost exactly like Tuntun?¡± Zhou Yuan was silent. In the end, he violently nodded his head. ¡°Your eyes aren¡¯t wrong!¡± ¡°This little bastard has been enjoying his time as a king here while we were outside desperately fighting for our lives!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 172 Tuntun’s Rage Numerous beasts had prostrated themselves at the top of the mountain. The target of their respect was unexpectedly not a mighty giant beast, but a mysterious little dull gray creature. Zhou Yuan and Luluo had naturally recognized it immediately. This little creature was the final one that had yet to be found ever since entering the Saint Remains Domain, Tuntun! Even Zhou Yuan could not help but be somewhat stupefied, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Who could have expected that Tuntun would be hiding here as the king of the mountain, enjoying a free and easy life. ¡°You know this little creature?¡± In contrast to Zhou Yuan and Luluo¡¯s shock, Zhen Xu¡¯s face was filled with graveness. He was no ordinary individual, and naturally did not believe that the little creature was as simple as it seemed. Did no one see how respectful the other grade 4 Genesis Beasts were being to it? The little creature was obviously the most terrifying Genesis Beast here. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything should be fine now.¡± Zhou Yuan consoled. He then lifted his hand and waved at Tuntun. However, Tuntun ignored his wave, its eyes still filled with the same disdain. Zhen Xu shot a skeptical look at Zhou Yuan. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched in embarrassment. Subsequently, he let out an icy laugh as his hand suddenly patted his Universe bag, causing a piece of dried meat to appear. Swish! The moment the meat appeared, the disdain in the little creature¡¯s eyes instantly changed, transforming into a shadow as it shot forward with a swish. With a flip of his hand, the meat disappeared. Tuntun appeared in front of him, circling him twice as it roared impatiently. ¡°Are you going to continue pretending?¡± Zhou Yuan sneered. Tuntun jumped into Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms, sticking out its tongue to lick the latter¡¯s face, a fawning look in its beady eyes. Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes, before throwing the dried meat to it. Zhou Yuan ignored Tuntun, which was now immersed in the beautiful flavor of the dried meat, as he turned around with an unfriendly look in his eyes. His seemingly smiling gaze was cast at Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest, whom expressions had begun to change. Ye Ming¡¯s expression sunk slightly as he muttered, ¡°How did this happen? Why does that mysterious little creature know him?¡± The scene before their eyes had already surpassed everyone¡¯s expectations. Wu Huang¡¯s complexion was a little ashen. ¡°There was indeed a little creature at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, but I never imagined that it would be so capable that even these grade 4 Genesis Beast have submitted to it.¡± Zhu Ying, Jiang Quan and the rest moved closer together, their expressions vigilant. If the little creature commanded these grade 4 Genesis Beasts to attack them, they would have no choice but to flee. While the expression on the other side were looking pretty ugly, Zhou Yuan evily looked towards them and coldly chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t it feel really good when you guys were chasing us earlier?¡± Zhou Yuan gently patted Tuntun¡¯s head, while his other hand pointed towards Wu Huang and Ye Ming. ¡°You selfish creature, to think that you were enjoying your life here instead of protecting Yaoyao.¡± ¡°Do you know that these two bastards ganged up on Yaoyao, resulting in her being injured, and we can¡¯t even find her now.¡± Tuntun, who was originally still savouring the dried meat, suddenly stiffened. Its attention immediately left the meat as a somewhat terrifying roar was released from its throat. Tuntun¡¯s intelligence was extremely high, and knew that its duty was to protect Yaoyao as her guardian beast. Thus, there was no way it would allow Yaoyao to sustain even the smallest injury even at the expense of being unable to eat delicious dried meat. It lifted its head, its beady eyes staring straight into Zhou Yuan¡¯s own, as if confirming what he had said earlier. Zhou Yuan looked into its eyes and slowly nodded. Tuntun silently threw away the dried meat in front of it, before jumping out of Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms as its beady eyes were cast towards Wu Huang and Ye Ming. Everyone could feel the astonishing ferocity that exploded from Tuntun¡¯s tiny body at this moment. Roar! Scarlet light unfurled as Tuntun¡¯s body abruptly grew. In a few breaths, a mysterious and dignified giant scarlet-red beast had appeared in front of Zhou Yuan¡¯s group. The scarlet armor on its body was akin to flowing magma, while the black light in its giant mouth seemed to be capable of devouring all things. A storm of Genesis Qi violently swept out from its body, stirring up the surrounding space. Roar! Upon sensing Tuntun¡¯s rage, the dozen grade 4 Genesis Beasts let loose deafening roars, making the entire mountain range shiver. The expressions of Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest involuntarily changed, clearly feeling the almost crazed killing intent in Tuntun¡¯s roar. Boom! A dozen grade 4 Genesis Beasts suddenly shot forward, pouncing towards Wu Huang¡¯s group. Ye Ming decisively shouted, ¡°Retreat!¡± Their figures rapidly withdrew. ¡°Hehe, trying to escape?¡± However, the moment they began to move, Luluo had already appeared some distance behind them riding Little Frost. Its wings flapped, shooting out a torrent of ice spikes. Her attack was instantly torn apart by Wu Huang and the rest, but the ice dust had already began to drift across the area, seemingly freezing the space around them and slowing their speed. It was at this moment that the dozen Genesis Beasts arrived amidst thunderous roars, their merciless attacks seemingly covering the sky as they swept towards Wu Huang¡¯s group. Bang bang! The land seemed to crumble. Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest did not dare to face the bombardment, their figures rapidly retreating. Tuntun¡¯s flame like scarlet eyes locked onto them. All of a sudden, its body transformed into a flash of scarlet light as it shot forward. Wu Huang¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank. He had seen a scarlet-red figure appear behind him from the corner of his eye. Enormous claws slashed downwards as strange black light flickered, washing the originally scarlet-red claws in a layer of black. Five tears were ripped open in space itself, while the long scars were torn open on the ground below by the surplass force, their insides clean as a mirror. ¡°What a terrifying Genesis Beast!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s expression was grim. He could already feel the astonishing undulations contained beneath the claw. As for the flickering black light, it seemed to be an extremely tyrannical power. He did not dare to underestimate the attack at all. A thunderous shout exploded from his mouth. ¡°Little Heaven Genesis technique, Golden Crow Heaven Seal!¡± One hand formed a seal as fiery-red Genesis Qi erupted, culminating into a seal of light that was several dozen feet large. Within the seal, a three-legged golden crow was faintly discernible as it spat out boundless flames. The moment he used this move, the ground within a thousand feet radius instantly dried and cracked. The light seal shot forward, slamming into the enraged Tuntun¡¯s claw. Boom! The entire world seemed to shake for an instant. Next, a terrifying shockwave unfurled, blowing away everyone nearby. As the dust settled, everyone cast their gazes over. The ground had been sundered, creating an enormous crack. Tuntun¡¯s giant body had also been sent flying backwards, its claws digging into the ground, leaving behind deep claw marks. Its claws were a little burnt, evidently due to Wu Huang¡¯s attack. Opposite Tuntun, Wu Huang had slid over a hundred feet back. His expression was pretty grim, the five deep to the bone wounds on his arm dripping with blood. Luluo¡¯s eyes nearly popped out from their sockets, clearly surprised that Wu Huang had been injured after a single clash. ¡°An angry Tuntun is too scary¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 173 Leaving One’s Name on the Saint Table The ground was scorched black and in a complete mess. Wu Huang grimly looked towards the wounds on his arm as his eyes twitched slightly. He had not expected the sharpness of Tuntun¡¯s claw attack to reach such an astonishing level. His Genesis Qi defenses had not put up much of a resistance, and were easily torn apart. Ye Ming approached Wu Huang, shooting a glance at the latter¡¯s arm as his pupils shrank slightly. ¡°This Genesis Beast is not normal.¡± Wu Huang nodded. ¡°Its bloodline is extremely powerful.¡± The mysterious Genesis Beast was ferociously overbearing. He did not dare to hold anything back against it. However, the current situation would very likely not allow him to engage it in a one on one fight. Wu Huang coldly said, ¡°If you have nothing else up your sleeves, I will be finding a way to leave on my own. None of us will be able to escape if this continues.¡± The current situation was extremely unfavorable to them. Without mentioning the watching Zhou Yuan and gang, just those dozen grade 4 Genesis Beasts alone were already enough to give them a terrible headache. If this continued, things would go wrong sooner or later. Ye Ming also clearly understood this. He could not help but sigh as his gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°I did not expect the situation to develop in such a manner. Zhou Yuan is indeed a problem. No wonder he could become your arch-enemy¡­¡± ¡°But don¡¯t worry, if we want to leave, they will not be able to stop us.¡± He slowly walked forwards, both hands suddenly forming a seal as black vortexes surfaced in his pitch-black pupils and began to spin wildly. ¡°Night Devil Qi, Night Devil Heaven!¡± Two night black beams of Genesis Qi abruptly shot out from Ye Ming¡¯s eyes. In an instant, the entire land seemed to fall into an endless darkness. Darkness filled the sky and covered the land. Not only was one¡¯s sight obstructed, even one¡¯s Spirit senses had been weakened to the limit. Roar! The grade 4 Genesis Beasts lost their sense of direction, making them afraid to carelessly attack. They held their positions and took measures to guard themselves as they released low roars. ¡°Keep close, gather together.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice spread. Such darkness was difficult to dispel. Attacking alone would undoubtedly give the other side a chance to find an opening. Zhen Xu and Luluo approached the origin of the voice, and kept close to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. As for Tuntun, its scarlet-red eyes swept across the area, before slowly moving backwards. ¡°Truly troublesome.¡± Mumbled Ye Ming in the darkness. He had originally planned on catching them off guard before striking. If the other side was to carelessly attack, he could gather his forces and wipe them out as fast as possible. However, Zhou Yuan had swiftly responded, causing his plan to fail. ¡°Looks like we can only withdraw.¡± He shook his head, before flicking with his finger. A faint sound was transmitted into the ears of Wu Huang, Zhe Ying and the rest, causing everyone to immediately fall back. The darkness gradually faded. Luluo immediately looked towards the area Wu Huang and the rest had been at, only to find that it was now empty. Their figures were already at the edge of the horizon, evidently having decided to escape some time ago. ¡°They¡¯ve fled!¡± The outcome was clearly not to Luluo¡¯s liking. Zhou Yuan also felt rather regretful. It had been an opportunity to bury Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest here, but their seemingly endless bag of tricks made this task very difficult. Zhou Yuan gazed in the direction they had disappeared in as his eyes narrowed slightly, icy killing intent flashing within. ¡°No hurry, we will have our chance. We¡¯ll eventually have to decide the ultimate victor in the Saint Remains Domain after all.¡± In the wake of Wu Huang and gang¡¯s departure, the dozen grade 4 Genesis Beasts turned around and roared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s group with the intent of chasing them off. Roar! However, Tuntun roared at them, its thunderous roar shaking the forest. After being blasted by Tuntun¡¯s roar, the grade 4 Genesis Beasts slowly withdrew. Tuntun shook its body as it swiftly began to shrink. In the end, it returned to its usual dull gray appearance, a little cute but unremarkable. After the earlier battle however, everyone clearly knew just how terrifying this lazy looking little fellow was. Tuntun jumped onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder, its beady eyes flickering as it patted him. ¡°Its asking about big sis Yaoyao.¡± Luluo helped interpret its words. Zhou Yuan patted Tuntun¡¯s head and said, ¡°Yaoyao has already escaped them and is fine for the time being. She is likely recovering somewhere and will meet up again with us when she is back to full health.¡± Only after hearing this did Tuntun feel a lot more relieved. Bzz! While they were talking, everyone suddenly sensed something and lifted their heads to peer into the sky. The Saint Tablet had suddenly started shaking. Light converged towards it as ancient words began to appear. Luluo uttered in astonishment, ¡°Someone has left their name on the tablet!¡± Zhou Yuan and Zhen Xu turned their attention over. Only Yaoyao, Wu Huang and Ye Ming had managed to leave their names on the Saint Tablet, but now, another name was appearing beneath their¡¯s. ¡°Jiang Quan, Dongxuan Continent.¡± ¡°Battle accomplishment; battled Zhen Xu, victory.¡± Luluo cast a sympathetic gaze towards Zhen Xu. Having his name up there as a negative example was honestly a little humiliating. Zhen Xu¡¯s complexion was as pale as ever, no emotion visible on his face as he calmly said, ¡°If not for his teammates hiding nearby, it would not have been so easy for him to beat me.¡± However, his hands were tightly clenched, evidently not as cool inside as he appeared on the surface. After all, Zhen Xu naturally had his pride as one of the apex level geniuses of the Cangmang Continent. Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. Given the pride displayed by Zhen Xu, the former believed that these were not the words of a sore loser. Moreover, those Dongxuan people were indeed very unscrupulous. Anyone could see that from how they choose to ignore fairness and gang up on Yaoyao. Moments after Jiang Quan¡¯s name appeared, light began to gather again below it as another name swiftly began to emerge. ¡°Zhu Ying, Dongxuan Continent.¡± ¡°Battle accomplishment; battled Luluo, narrow victory.¡± The corners of Luluo¡¯s mouth instantly curved downwards. She had just mocked Zhen Xu, and now she too had become another ¡®negative example¡¯. ¡°How infuriating. Since when did I lose to her!¡± Luluo clearly did not accept this judgement. If not because she had been caught by surprise and let Little Frost be trapped, stopping them from combining their power, what could Zhu Ying possibly do against them? While Luluo was shouting, light began to appear again, as another name slowly surfaced. ¡°Zhou Yuan, Cangmang Continent.¡± ¡°Battle accomplishment; battled Zhu Ying.¡± ¡°Victory.¡± An expression of shock appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He never imagined that his previous battle with Zhu Ying would be acknowledged by the Saint Tablet, allowing his name to be engraved upon it. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 174 The Golden Pool ¡°I¡¯ve actually gotten my name on the tablet?¡± Zhou Yuan beamed as he gazed at the dazzling Saint Tablet in the sky, clearly rather surprised by this outcome. Although he had taken the upper hand in the battle against Zhu Ying, he had been interrupted by Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest before he could properly defeat her. But it seems that the Saint Tablet had still acknowledged that battle. ¡°Was it because the gap between our cultivation levels was too large?¡± On the surface, Zhou Yuan was only at the initial Heaven Gate stage, while Zhu Ying was quasi Alpha-Origin, a tremendous disparity. Hence from a certain point of view, the battle itself could be considered a remarkable achievement. Luluo was seething as she said, ¡°Does this mean that I can¡¯t even compare to you?¡± She had lost to Zhu Ying, and Zhu Ying had lost to Zhou Yuan. Didn¡¯t this mean that she was two levels below Zhou Yuan? Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Relax, if we meet Zhu Ying again, you will definitely be able to take revenge as long as you¡¯re on guard against her Genesis Beast trapping method.¡± His words were not solely consolation. Once Luluo and Little Frost were linked, her strength would reach an astonishing level that was enough to kill ordinary Alpha-Origin experts. Luluo gently bit down as she declared, ¡°I¡¯ll not let her off when I see her again.¡± Her large eyes suddenly rotated, a wide smile emerging on her face as she looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder where Tuntun currently was. ¡°Hehe, good boy Tuntun. Are you the boss here?¡± Tuntun nodded in a rather pleased manner. Luluo¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°Which is to say, you¡¯ve taken possession of the golden pool?¡± Tuntun seemed to realise something, its eyes now guarded as it stared at Luluo. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook a little. He could also sense that Tuntun was quite a bit stronger than before. Could it be due to the golden pool? ¡°Good boy Tuntun, lend us the golden pool for a while okay?¡± Luluo¡¯s large eyes blinked appealingly. Tuntun shook its head. ¡°Petty!¡± Luluo glared at it. By the side, Zhou Yuan rubbed his chin. He too wanted to have a look at the golden pool. It had not been easy for them to come here, and he naturally hoped to obtain a share of the blessings. However, Tuntun was clearly the boss here, so they needed to convince it somehow. Zhou Yuan let out a dry cough, before he began to speak in a seemingly sincere and heartfelt manner, ¡°Tuntun, don¡¯t those bastards that ganged up on Yaoyao make you angry?¡± Roar! The hair all over Tuntun¡¯s body began to stand up, an ominous glint appearing in its beady eyes as it growled. ¡°We are also very angry.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°But you saw it, right? There are quite a few of them, and if we want our revenge, we will also have to gather up more teammates while raising our strength.¡± ¡°Now look at the golden pool, it should be pretty beneficial to us if we are allowed to enter for a while. Raising our strength will enable us to better seek justice for Yaoyao against those guys, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Tuntun hesitated upon hearing this. It could feel that Zhou Yuan¡¯s argument was rather reasonable. The previous clash against Wu Huang had taught it just how formidable the latter was. After pondering for a few brief moments, Tuntun finally gave in and nodded. ¡°Hehe, Zhou Yuan is the best!¡± Luluo immediately cheered upon seeing this. By the side, Zhen Xu was silent for a moment before he said, ¡°Since Wu Huang and the rest have already withdrawn, I should also leave.¡± He was pretty much a loner, while also being extremely prideful. Being saved once by Zhou Yuan was already weighing pretty hard on him, making him feel that he owed the latter a debt of gratitude. If he were to stay and partake in the blessings Zhou Yuan had basically single-handedly acquired for them, he would not know where to bury his head. Zhou Yuan merely smiled when he heard this. "Since you already owe me, would it matter whether it''s once or twice." "Jiang Quan is tagging along with Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest, and will surely obtain various blessings, raising his strength. If you don''t plan on falling behind, I advise you not to give up on this one." Zhou Yuan was no samaritan, but merely wanted Zhen Xun in his camp. After all, Wu Huang had teamed up with the Dongxuan people, forming a rather alarming line-up. To match them, Zhou Yuan would have to recruit a few apex level geniuses to his side. Such geniuses were definitely proud individuals, making it an uphill task to convince them. Hence, Zhou Yuan chose to work on them through kindness and benevolence, which was also one of the ways to win over others. Zhen Xu was no fool, and naturally understood Zhou Yuan¡¯s intentions. Jiang Quan may have engaged underhanded tactics against Zhen Xu, but even without them, he would never let Jiang Quan off. Hence, after some silence, Zhen Xu finally said, ¡°I will repay these debts in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand, before grinning at Tuntun. ¡°I¡¯ll be troubling you to lead the way.¡± Tuntun seemed to sigh as if greatly pained by the act of sharing its beloved things. It powerlessly got up, and headed towards the top of the giant mountain. The Zhou Yuan trio hurriedly followed. Genesis Beasts would peer towards them from time to time, but none dared to show themselves due to Tuntun. In the end, Zhou Yuan and gang smoothly reached the mountain top. The giant mountain top was akin to the mouth of a volcano, but it was instead filled with golden liquid, making it a pool of gold. Golden light blossomed as a faint, strange fragrance spread. Zhou Yuan, Luluo and Zhen Xu gazed at the golden pool with desire. They could feel the Genesis Qi within their bodies grow lively. ¡°Is this the golden pool?¡± The trio drooled, their hearts beating faster as they gazed upon it. Plop. Tuntun was the first to jump in. It idled about on the surface, its eyes slightly shut as if was the best feeling in the world. Zhou Yuan and the rest watched as strands of golden light from the rippling golden water began to pour into Tuntun¡¯s body. ¡°The blessing is already before us, how much we gain will depend on ourselves.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled at Luluo and Zhen Xu, before he also hopped in. With Little Frost in her arms, Luluo¡¯s eyes glowed brightly, no hesitation whatsoever as she leaped in and began joyously cheering inside with Little Frost. Zhen Xu¡¯s heart rippled for a brief moment, and swiftly followed suit. Once Zhou Yuan was inside, he could feel a peculiar golden light endlessly rush towards him. The golden light poured into his body and was greedily devoured by his squirming flesh and blood. Golden light fused into his blood, making it flow with greater gusto and force. It fused into his muscles, making them stronger and filling them with explosive power. It fused into his bones, making them harder and sturdier. Golden light washed across his body, some of it eventually arriving at his Qi Dwelling. The dark gold Genesis Qi within also began to greedily absorb the light, rapidly growing more and more powerful. As he felt his strength grow, Zhou Yuan fell into a kind of drunken stupor. His eyes were tightly shut, as if never intending to wake up ever again. However, Zhou Yuan ultimately broke out from this state. He unhappily opened his eyes, only to see Tuntun licking his face. ¡°What the heck?¡± Zhou Yuan glared at it. Tuntun tugged at Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes with its mouth before sinking towards the bottom of the golden pool. Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Did Tuntun want him to follow? Was there something at the bottom of the pool? He hesitated for a moment, taking a glance at Luluo and Zhen Xu were. The two seemed to be sleeping in the golden pool, clearly drunk in the changes happening inside their bodies. ¡°I¡¯ll follow and take a look¡­¡± Zhou Yuan thought for a bit, before decisively diving into the pool. He was rather curious; what exactly had captured Tuntun¡¯s interest. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 175 Saint Rune Inside the golden pool. Zhou Yuan cut through the water, eyes fixed his guide Tuntun as he closely followed. As they continued to dive deeper, Zhou Yuan began to feel a powerful pressure surge towards him from all directions. The magnitude far surpassed that of ordinary water. ¡°What a strong pressure. Even though I¡¯ve already stepped into the Heaven Gate stage, it¡¯s still a bit unbearable.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was grave. The depths of the golden pool was clearly not a place ordinary people could go to. Dark gold Genesis Qi began to flood out of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, wrapping around him. However, it was not long before his Genessi Qi barrier already gradually reached its limits. Zhou Yuan helplessly came to a stop, revealing a bitter smile. He had not expected it to be so difficult to reach the bottom of the golden pool. Tuntun swiftly swam back upon realising this. It pondered for a bit, before laying itself on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Powerful Genesis Qi spread, enveloping Zhou Yuan like a bubble. The overwhelming pressure immediately vanished. ¡°Thanks.¡± Zhou Yuan rubbed Tuntun¡¯s head. Tuntun waved its paw, and began rapidly descending with Zhou Yuan once again. After a few minutes, they finally saw their destination... The bottom of the golden pool was covered in resplendent golden light. Numerous rocks had been dyed gold, making them exceptionally dazzling. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the area, a puzzled look in his eyes. His Spirit sense was not weak, but was unable to discover anything out of the ordinary. Tuntun continued to descend, landing on the bottom of the pool, before its paws suddenly began to dig at a certain spot. Countless golden rocks were sent flying. A long while later, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly concentrated. As Tuntun continued to dig, he saw a damaged stone tablet appear at the bottom of the golden pool. Zhou Yuan waved his sleeve, sending out a wave of Genesis Qi that swept away the scattered rocks, allowing the stone tablet to be fully uncovered. The stone tablet was mottled and pretty badly damaged, covered in the vestiges of erosion. It seemed to be exceedingly ordinary, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze were still glued to its surface. One would find ancient patterns on the surface of the stone tablet. These patterns looked as if they were naturally formed when the world began, mysterious and immeasurable. Weak rays of light connected the patterns to each other, forming an ancient and mysterious rune of light. Zhou Yuan stared hard at the mysterious rune. He felt the Genesis Qi in his body turn sluggish at this moment as if under an indescribable pressure. It was obvious that this pressure originated from the mysterious rune. ¡°There is a slightly familiar aura from it¡­¡± Emotions churned in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Moments later, his eyes suddenly flashed. ¡°I remember it, it¡¯s the same aura from the Saint Tablet!¡± But this was not strange. The Saint Remains Domain had after all originated from the fallen Saint. ¡°This is a Saint Rune¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. The rune was definitely from the fallen Saint. Although he was unable to unravel its mysteries, anyone with half a brain would know that the Saint Rune was extraordinary. If not, Tuntun would not have been so insistent. Tuntun extended its paw at this moment, pointing towards the stone tablet then pointing towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°You want me to touch it?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Tuntun nodded repeatedly. Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately gritted his teeth. His figure descended as he reached out his hand and very carefully touched the ancient and mysterious Saint Rune on the stone tablet. Bzz! The instant Zhou Yuan¡¯s finger made contact, blinding rays of light exploded from the Saint Rune, shooting into the spot between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows. Boom! An explosion resounded in Zhou Yuan mind the moment the light touched him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit rippled violently as the world began to spin around him. An unimaginable enormous ancient rune appeared in front of him, slowly revolving as a terrifying pressure swallowed him. Crack! Cracks instantly appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit, clearly unable to withstand such pressure. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was filled with terror. He knew that his Spirit would not last even ten breaths under the ancient rune¡¯s pressure. If this continued, his Spirit would surely be turned to dust. ¡°How did this happen?!¡± A cry of horror echoed in his heart. ¡°I cannot panic. This Spirit pressure is from the ancient Saint Rune!¡± Zhou Yuan forcibly calmed himself down. He knew that panic would likely only lead to his Spirit¡¯s demise. ¡°If it¡¯s the Spirit¡­¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath and suddenly closed his eyes as the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method began to flow in his head. Boom! The space behind Zhou Yun began to shatter, turning into an endless starry sky. Within the primal chaos, a seemingly endless mottled grindstone slowly appeared. The mottled grindstone loomed from behind Zhou Yuan, heading straight for the ancient Saint Rune. Creak! Two similarly ancient existences met in the void. It felt as if the entire world had begun to crack due to their clash. The Spirit crushing pressure finally faded as Zhou Yuan gasped as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. His heart thudded loudly as he looked towards the two behemoth existences. ¡°What exactly is this Saint Rune. To think that it so frightening that even master Cang Yuan¡¯s Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method is unable to pulverise it.¡± Zhou Yuan was inwardly shocked. The divine grindstone mark between his brows was inscribed by Cang Yuan and contained a sliver of the divine grindstone¡¯s aura. It was due to this very mark that anyone who used Spirit attacks on Zhou Yuan in the past had succumb to terrible fates. Every one of these Spirit attacks had ultimately been crushed by the divine grindstone. This time however, the divine grindstone could not display an effect akin to a hot knife through butter. Instead, the ancient Saint Rune had been able to withstand its might. The two titans were stuck in a deadlock. ¡°The only thing I can do now is wait.¡± There was nothing that Zhou Yuan could do. A clash of such proportions was not something an advance Illusory stage like him could interfere in. Therefore, he sat down and watched. This lasted for only god knew how long, until even Zhou Yuan Spirit began to feel a little exhausted... Boom! Just as Zhou Yuan was no longer able to endure, a loud noise suddenly rang out. Zhou Yuan hurriedly looked over, only to see the mottled divine grindstone slowly backing away, before ultimately disappearing into the murky primal chaos. On the other hand, rays of light exploded from the ancient Saint Rune as it rapidly shrank. In the end, it transformed into a flash of light that descended from the sky and shot into Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. At the bottom of the golden pool. Zhou Yuan tightly shut eyes finally opened at this moment. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 176 Leap in Strength Bzz! A frightening ripple abruptly pulsed from between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows the moment he opened his eyes. The pulse shook the bottom of the golden pool, forming a gigantic whirlpool with Zhou Yuan at its epicenter. Endless golden light whizzed over, flooding into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Pahpah! As the boundless golden light poured in, pitter-patter noises sounded in his body. His flesh and blood began to boil, while more and more golden light flowed into his Qi Dwelling, causing the Genesis Qi inside to grow steadily. In a short period of several minutes, a layer of foul-smelling scabs appeared on the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. It was the impurities that had been expelled. Zhou Yuan shook slightly, breaking the scab layer, and revealing skin under which golden light flowed. It was an extremely magical sight. Dazzling light blossomed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he felt the strong surge of power in his body, causing bliss to appear on his face. Zhou Yuan shut his eyes and began to view his Spirit. It silently sat between his brows, giving off a gentle glow. Compared to before he had entered the golden pool, his Spirit was undoubtedly more concentrated and corporeal. The illusory feeling from before was gradually fading as it began to shift toward being corporeal. This was a sign that his Spirit was about to corporealize. Once his Spirit stepped into the Corporeal stage, its amazingness and wonders would gradually be revealed. The Spirit would even be capable of leaving the body and perform numerous Spirit attacks, making it even more unfathomable. ¡°What a crazy blessing. Spirit cultivation is so difficult. I had originally forecasted at least half a year of training to reach the peak of the advance stage, but I ended up reaching it so quickly.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was filled with joy. Back then, he had spent nearly a year bitterly training to raise his Spirit from the mid Illusory stage to the advance level. Above his seated Spirit, the milky white Saint Spirit Crystal hovered, giving off holy light that tempered the Spirit bit by bit. It was the Saint Spirit Crystal from the Gu clan. The golden pool blessing may have been the main reason for the rapid progress of his Spirit cultivation this time, but the Saint Spirit Crystals tireless nourishing was not to be ignored. In addition, a faint glow surfaced between the brows of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit, an ancient rune barely visible... The rune was ancient, holy and sacred, as if it had been born the moment the world was created. ¡°Is this¡­ that Saint Rune?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shuddered violently. This rune was clearly the same ancient and mysterious Saint Rune from before! ¡°That mysterious Saint Rune has been imprinted onto my Spirit?¡± Zhou Yuan was shocked. He did not know what exactly this mysterious Saint Rune was, but it was definitely of unbelievable origins, something that could clearly be seen from how it was able to match the primal chaos divine grindstone. ¡°I wonder what function this mysterious Saint Rune has.¡± Zhou Yuan tried to activate it, only to discover that even after giving his all, the rune merely brightened a little without any other response. ¡°Is it because my strength is lacking?¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Evidently, a tremendous amount of power was needed to activate the mysterious Saint Rune, which he was currently still unable to provide. He inwardly shook his head, and temporarily gave up on the idea, turning his attention instead to his Qi Dwelling. ¡°The Genesis Qi inside my body has upgraded, reaching the mid Heaven Gate stage.¡± Zhou Yuan peered into his blood-red Qi Dwelling, finding that the dark gold Genesis Qi whizzing about within was more concentrated and abundant than before, a sign that it had already reached the mid Heaven Gate stage. ¡°As expected of the Saint Remains Domain, a single blessing is akin to reaching the heavens in a single step!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart overflowed with happiness. His progress was nothing but amazing. His Spirit had grown more corporeal, while his Genesis Qi had received a breakthrough again, ascending to the mid Heaven Gate stage. Most importantly of course, he had obtained the mysterious Saint Rune. Although he had yet to discover its abilities, he just knew that they would surely be extraordinary. ¡°If I encounter Wu huang again now, I will finally be able to truly face him in battle!¡± Battle intent burned in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The first time he met Wu Huang, the latter¡¯s aura alone had been able to suppress him, while each subsequent meeting had been pretty much one-sided. However, this did not make him depressed. Instead, each thrashing merely served to fuel his growth as the gap between them continued to shrink. Until today... ¡°Wu Huang, it is time for us to settle the grudge between us once and for all.¡± Iciness flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Crack! The sound of something shattering was suddenly heard at the bottom of the golden pool. Zhou Yuan looked down, and saw the mottled stone tablet began to crumble, turning into dust, while the mysterious Saint Rune on it also disappeared. Zhou Yuan felt his forehead. He knew that the rune had already been imprinted onto his Spirit. Following the disintegration of the stone tablet, Zhou Yuan felt the golden light in the pool begin to dim as the golden water gradually returned to clearness. The mysterious energy that filled it also started to fade. ¡°Could the golden pool¡¯s energy have come from the Saint Rune?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. With the Saint Rune now imprinted on his Spirit, it was naturally unable to distribute its energy, causing the golden pool to become normal. While Zhou Yuan was still lost in thought, the pool waters rippled. Tuntun swam over, circling around Zhou Yuan twice as its beady eyes stared at the spot between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows in amazement as if sensing something there. ¡°I almost died because of you.¡± Zhou Yuan sullenly said. The mysterious Saint Rune clearly possessed terrifying power. If not for the divine grindstone mark master Cang Yuan had left him, not only would he have been unable to obtain the Saint Rune, he would have likely instead by crushed by its terrifying pressure. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had managed to ride it out and had even obtained an enormous reward. Risk and opportunity always came hand in hand. Hence, Zhou Yuan did not complain any further, beckoning to Tuntun as he swam towards the surface. After several minutes, he pierced through the water surface with a plop and landed by the side of the pool. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re finally out!¡± Luluo¡¯s voice was heard the moment he emerged. Zhou Yuan turned his head, and found Luluo with her hands on her waist nearby, eyes wide open as she stared at him in amazement. ¡°You¡¯ve been in there for half a month!¡± ¡°Half a month?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. He had been under the impression that it had only been half a day. To think so much time had already passed. One would indeed lose track of time when cultivating. ¡°Sorry.¡± Zhou Yuan apologetically looked towards Luluo and Zhen Xu. It was obvious that they had been waiting here for him all this time. Zhen Xu¡¯s face was still the same pale white, but from the Genesis Qi undulations spreading from his body, it was clear that he had benefited greatly from the golden pool too. He shook his head and said, ¡°However, a storm has been gathering in the Saint Remains Domain over the past half a moth. You¡¯ve missed several major events.¡± Upon hearing this, something clicked inside of Zhou Yuan as he immediately raised his head to look at the Saint Tablet high up in the sky. Next, surprise, astonishment and amazement flooded out onto his face. ¡°To think that such a huge change has happened to the Saint Tablet¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 177 Saint Tower Light still flowed on the Saint Tablet, but an enormous change had occurred to it when compared to half a month ago. The most eye-catching change was the greatly increased number of names on the tablet. Originally, there had only been a handful of people; Yaoyao, Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Zhou Yuan and the rest. But now, the number of names had reached 38! ¡°38 people have gotten their names on the Saint Tablet?¡± Zhou Yuan was rather stupefied. Since when had it become so easy? Luluo also raised her face as she explained, ¡°You may not know this, but during the past half a month, blessings and gifts continuously appeared in the Saint Remains Domain. After an intense struggle, they were ultimately won by several fortunate individuals.¡± ¡°The clear outcome from obtaining such blessings was the rapid increase in strength, allowing one to ascend the heavens in a single step.¡± ¡°Numerous geniuses that had been stuck at the advance Heaven Gate stage had managed to use this opportunity to step into the Alpha-Origin stage!¡± ¡°What¡¯s more, the Saint Tablet¡¯s rules seemed to not be limited to battle accomplishments. Anyone who can obtain blessings and step into the Alpha-Origin stage will be able to leave their names on the tablet.¡± ¡°In other words, the 38 individuals on the tablet all possess the strength of the Alpha-Origin!¡± Amazement surfaced in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. So you only needed to step into the Alpha-Origin stage to leave your name on the Saint Tablet. However, only a handful of geniuses had been able to reach the Alpha-Origin before entering the Saint Remains Domain. Now however, that number had increased to 38. From this, one could see just how beneficial the Saint Remains Domain was. Zhou Yuan sighed and began to earnestly inspect the Saint Tablet. ¡°Eh?¡± While he was looking, his eyes suddenly widened. He had seen a familiar name. Li Chunjun. The one known as Blind Sword from the Sword Empire had helped him fend off Wu Huang once. ¡°Li Chunjun, defeated Fang Zong (Dongxuan Continent).¡± ¡°Fang Zong? He should be one of the four apex level geniuses following Ye Ming from the Dongxuan Continent. Looks like Ye Ming and gang had went searching for Li Chunjun.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. However, Li Chunjun was clearly too powerful, and had ended up beating the apex level genius from the Dongxuan Continent instead. Luluo piped in, ¡°Although Li Chunjun defeated Fang Zong, he later encountered Ye Ming. It is said that an epic battle was fought between the two, ultimately ending in Ye Ming¡¯s victory.¡± Zhou Yuan continued to look. Sure enough, he saw another row of words behind. ¡°Lost to Ye Ming by a single move.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. ¡°These Dongxuan people are purposely targeting the apex level geniuses in hopes of weakening the morale of the other geniuses, making them no longer have the courage to contest.¡± Simply put, Ye Ming was making an example. And the most famous Luluo, Li Chunjun and the rest were clearly the best choices. ¡°Ye Meng is indeed very capable.¡± Zhou Yuan had came into contact with Li Chunjun before and knew just how strong he was. He was someone that could put up a fight even against Wu Huang, hence why it was pretty unexpected that he had lost to Ye Ming. Zhou Yuan continued to look downwards. After a while, his gaze suddenly paused ¡°Ning Zhan went a 108 rounds with Wu Huang but ultimately lost.¡± ¡°Who is Ning Zhan? I can¡¯t believe he was able to push Wu Huang so far.¡± Zhou Yuan was rather amazed. Wu Huang¡¯s strength was immeasurable, and even in the many times they had met, Zhou Yuan could feel that the latter was still holding some of it back. He never imagined that this person called Ning Zhan would be able to last so long against Wu Huang. Luluo grinned and answered, ¡°He¡¯s also one of the apex level geniuses of the Cangmang Continent, the Ning clan¡¯s Battle Junky. Have you not heard of him? This battle junky encountered Wu Huang in one of the blessing zones and fought an earth-shaking battle. However, Wu Huang still managed to take the upper hand in the end.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. ¡°There truly are many hidden dragons and crouching tigers.¡± He had finally finished reading the entire Saint Tablet. Practically every person on it had become the greatest benefactors of this batch¡¯s Saint Remain Domain. ¡°The two of you also seemed to have stepped into the Alpha-Origin?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned towards Luluo and Zhen Xu. He could feel that the Genesis Qi inside their bodies had grown much stronger. Those undulations clearly belonged to the true Alpha-Origin. ¡°We¡¯ve at last managed to take that final step thanks to the blessings of this golden pool.¡± Zhen Xu¡¯s raspy voice sounded. Both himself and Luluo had originally been a single stop from the Alpha-Origin. In fact, Zhen Xu had previously been considered a quasi Alpha-Origin. By borrowing the power of the golden pool, he was now a true-blue Alpha-Origin. Luluo cut in, ¡°The Alpha-Origin stage has the ability to connect to the Alpha-Origin Heaven, drawing Alpha-Origin Qi from within to refine Genesis Qi. However, we only advanced recently and do not dare to make any rash attempts.¡± The Alpha-Origin Heaven was said to be an extremely mysterious space that appeared when the world was created. However, one would only be able to sense it after reaching the Alpha-Origin, and enter to absorb the Alpha-Origin Qi to refine one¡¯s own Genesis Qi. This was also how the Alpha-Origin stage had derived its name. Zhou Yuan nodded as he sighed. It seems that he was not the only one that had grown. The apex level geniuses had borrowed the blessings in this place to rapidly upgrade themselves. It was likely that Wu Huang, Ye Ming and their group had also made substantial progress over the past half a month. If they were to meet again, there would surely be an epic earth-shaking battle. ¡°When does the Saint Remains Domain end?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Luluo and Zhen Xu shook their heads. ¡°Every batch is different, so no one knows what will happen. Normally speaking however, once the greatest blessing is taken, the Saint Remains Domain will change¡­¡± ¡°The greatest blessing?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. Just as he was about to speak again, a faint stabbing pain was suddenly felt between his brows. An ancient rune seemed to appear and flicker for a split second. It was at this moment that every genius in the Saint Remains Domain heard a strange rumbling noise emerge from the Saint Tablet. Millions and millions of light rays slowly blossomed from the Saint Tablet. Rays of light extended as a giant tower slowly emerged from within, appearing within everyone¡¯s sights. Light also gathered in front of the tower, forming a platform. Meanwhile, an ancient voice that seemed to have travelled through time echoed across the land, filled with an indescribable dignity and mysteriousness. ¡°Those whose names are on the tablet may enter the Saint tower.¡± ¡°The one that ascends the top of the tower may obtain the greatest blessing.¡± The entire Saint Remains Domain instantly exploded into an uproar. Countless geniuses wailed, because they had yet to leave their names on the tablet. All they could do now was watch, unable to vie for the greatest blessing. Bzz! The names on the Saint Tablet suddenly started glowing brightly one by one, transforming into pillar after pillar of light that descended from the sky. The light pillars landed, enveloping 38 figures... The fight for the ultimate blessing of the Saint Remains Domain had finally began at this moment. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 178 Gathered Swish! Swish! Giant pillars of light fell from the sky under the attention of countless watching eyes. It was truly a grand sight. The light pillars landed in various areas of the Saint Remains Domain, but at the end of every pillar was a figure... These people were clearly the owners of the names on the Saint Tablet! In the vicinity of the golden pool. Three pillars of light also descended from the sky, falling upon Zhou Yuan, Luluo and Zhen Xu. Tuntun however, was stuck outside the light pillars. Tuntun let out a low roar of dissatisfaction and slammed into one of the light pillars twice, but the latter did not budge at all. Zhou Yuan was somewhat stunned, but he soon shook his head. Looks like Genesis Beasts were not allowed to obtain the greatest blessing of the Saint Remains Domain, and did not even have the right to enter. ¡°Tuntun, wait here for us.¡± Zhou Yuan attempted to pacify it. Tuntun gloomily lay down, displaying a dispirited and downcast look. Luluo regretfully said, ¡°What a pity. If Tuntun could tag along, it would be a huge aid.¡± Tuntun¡¯s battle power was not to be underestimated. Didn¡¯t everyone see how even Wu Huang had been injured by it? After lingering in regret for a while, Luluo lifted her head, face now filled with excitement as she stared at the Saint tower in the sky. She knew that the most intense battle would soon begin. ¡°Is the final act finally about to start?¡± Everything before this was merely akin to little squabbles. Now was the real deal. Under such a situation, even Zhen Xu¡¯s pale face was now slightly flushed. His ash-colored eyes were similarly filled with excitement and anticipation. Zhou Yuan looked to the sky, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at the pillar of light around him. A sharp aura surged as his five fingers clenched tightly. Wu Huang, it is time to settle the debt between us. The things all of you stole back then shall be personally taken back by me today! In the Saint Remains Domain, the 38 pillars grew increasingly dazzling as a rising upward force emerged. The 38 figures slowly began to rise towards the platform before the Saint tower. Countless geniuses in the Saint Remains Domain could only watch the slowly rising 38 figures in envy. ¡°What a pity to have lost the chance to fight for the greatest blessing.¡± ¡°*Sigh*, my skills were lacking.¡± ¡°At least we¡¯re lucky enough to personally witness the battle. I wonder who will be the one who will ultimately reaches the top?¡± ¡°It will likely be Wu Huang or Lu Chunjun¡­¡± ¡°Ye Ming has a good chance too. He is exceedingly powerful, and even Li Chunjun lost at his hands.¡± ¡°If we let those Dongxuan rats obtain the greatest blessing, our Cangmang Continent will lose all face¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget Zhou Xiaoyao. He was the one who forced Wu Huang and Ye Ming to join hands, and his strength definitely stands above the crowd. I wonder if we will be able to see his dazzling power today?¡± ¡°Heh heh, truly a battle of the titans. Since we are not fated to be a part of it, we¡¯ll just have to play our part as the audience. At least this trip wasn¡¯t in vain.¡± ¡°......¡± Countless regretful whispers rang out in every corner of the Saint Remains Domain. Under countless watching eyes, 38 figures moved up along the pillar, eventually landing on the giant platform of light. Zhou Yuan stepped onto the glowing platform, the feeling below his feet as solid as the ground below. His gaze swept across the area. All 38 figures stood on the giant platform, a guarded look in their eyes when they met eyes with another. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze soon stopped nearby where two beautiful figures stood. Their pretty face seemed to make the other shine with even greater beauty, drawing the attention of several gazes. It was obviously Yaoyao and Zuoqiu Qingyu. ¡°Hey, big sis Yaoyao!¡± Luluo hurriedly waved at them. Upon hearing her voice, Yaoyao cast her gaze over, a faint smile appearing on her aloof face when she saw Zhou Yuan. She gracefully walked over, bringing Zuoqiu Qingyu along. ¡°Heehee, big sis Yaoyao, you¡¯ve resumed your real identity?¡± Luluo cheekily looked towards Yaoyao¡¯s side where Zuoqiu Qingyu was. ¡°Luluo! I can¡¯t believe that you did not tell me!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu tightly gritted her teeth as she hatefully glared at Luluo. Now that she thought about it, Luluo had been watching her play the fool during the days they spent in Saint Remains City. ¡°Who can only blame yourself for being so stupid.¡± Luluo made a funny face. Yaoyao ignored the quarrel between the two girls as she looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Not bad, you somehow managed to make it up here.¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly replied, ¡°I can¡¯t be that bad, right?¡± He did not mind because he knew that Yaoyao was merely teasing. However, his eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Yaoyao understood that Zhou Yuan was referring to the matter of Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest ganging up on her. She immediately shook her head. ¡°It was I who was a little careless¡­¡± Luluo squawked, ¡°No need to fear big sis Yaoyao, we now have quite a few teammates on our side too. If we meet them, we¡¯ll fuck them up!¡± ¡°Vulgar.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu rolled her eyes. She looked Zhou Yuan up and down as astonishment flashed across her face. ¡°Not bad, you¡¯ve reached the Heaven Gate stage¡­¡± In Saint Remains City, Zhou Yuan had only been at the Qi Nourishing stage, leading Zuoqiu Qingyu to be under the impression that he had been relying on Yaoyao to come all the way here. But from the looks of it, she had underestimated him. ¡°Don¡¯t look down on Zhou Yuan. In fact, you may not be able to beat him in a real fight!¡± Luluo snorted. ¡°Well he¡¯ll have to capable of catching up to me first.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu responded. Yaoyao chuckled and seemed to joke, ¡°See, Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t as weak as you think. Didn¡¯t you want me to compensate you previously? Are you satisfied now that you¡¯ve had a look?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s red lips stuck out. She scanned Zhou Yuan again and said, ¡°This little lady¡¯s expectations are high, we¡¯ll discuss this after he¡¯s able to beat Wu Huang!¡± Zhou Yuan was baffled as he watched. He had no idea what they were talking about; what did she mean by compensation? While they were conversing, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s expression suddenly paused before they slowly turned their heads. At a certain nearby corner of the platform, several figures were gathered together, an astonishing aura slowly spreading from their bodies. The group was headed by Wu Huang and Ye Ming. Besides the four apex level Dongxuan geniuses, there were also several other geniuses behind Wu Huang. Amongst them were two familiar figures, Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling. It was clear that Wu Huang had recruited some members over the past half a month. Wu Huang and Ye Ming¡¯s gazes also turned towards Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao at this moment. Their gazes clashed, sparks seemingly flying while killing intent flowed. Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Zhen Xu also walked forward to stand at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s side, eyes filled with hostility as Genesis Qi surged around their body, creating a similarly powerful presence. The two sides faced each other from far away. The other geniuses withdrew, not daring to stand too close to the two most powerful groups here such as to avoid being caught in the crossfire. Ye Ming¡¯s gaze looked towards Yaoyao as he softly sighed and said, ¡°I never expected the one that gave me such a huge headache would be such an amazing pretty beauty¡­¡± ¡°However, I will not show any mercy regardless of sex.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as dangerous light flitted across her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, a black figure slowly walked out. Black cloth was wrapped around his eyes, his hand on the grip of a sword that stood on the floor. ¡°If we meet in the Saint tower, your opponent will be me.¡± A hoarse voice stealthily sounded. On the platform, the pupils of numerous geniuses shrank, fear flashing in their eyes as they stared at the figure in black robes. The one who had spoken was Blind Sword, Li Chunjun. ¡°Heh heh, Wu Huang, we weren¡¯t able to properly enjoy ourselves the last time. Let¡¯s go again!¡± A powerful voice rang out at this moment. One could only watch as a muscular figure stepped forward. It was a bare torso young man whose eyes were akin to a ferocious ape that were filled with wild battle lust. Battle Junky Ning Zhan! Wu Huang cast an indifferent glance at Ning Zhan. ¡°The current you is not my match¡­¡± His gaze then slowly turned towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°It seems that you didn¡¯t bring that brute along¡­¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Wu Huang, a sharp light in his eyes as he softly said, ¡°Wu Huang, there¡¯s some words I¡¯ve been wanting to give you long ago¡­¡± ¡°Enjoy the things you took from me a while longer¡­ because I will soon personally take them back!¡± Boom! At this moment, terrifying killing intent suddenly exploded from Wu Huang¡¯s body. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 179 Entering the Saint Tower Dreadful killing intent swept across the glowing platform like a wave, causing the expressions of several top tier geniuses top change slightly, their gazes filled with fear as they looked towards Wu Huang. Under the attention of the crowd, Wu Huang¡¯s eerily chilling eyes stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°The most pitiful thing about you is that you don¡¯t deserve to possess such things.¡± ¡°Moreover, it is said that you still naively believe that you will be able to take them back.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Mockery rose from the corners of Wu Huang¡¯s lips. ¡°This time, I will let you understand that you were only a carrier for the sacred dragon blessing, while I am its true owner!¡± ¡°I will show you the taste of true despair!¡± Powerful and domineering Genesis Qi violently unfurled from Wu Huang¡¯s body like a storm, his voice almost a growl as it rang in everyone¡¯s ears. Several gazes were cast towards Zhou Yuan at this moment, most of them containing some pity. Although Zhou Yuan had reached the mid Heaven Gate stage, when compared to Wu Huang, the gap between them was still far too large. Though the focus of Wu Huang¡¯s murderous gaze and numerous gazes of pity, there was no change in Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression. He merely chuckled softly and said, ¡°You¡¯ve already declared the exact same thing back when I was still at the Qi Nourishing stage, but unfortunately, things have never turned out as you wished¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why¡­¡± ¡°Wu Huang, you will still be disappointed this time.¡± Their gazes clashed in mid-air, killing intent so thick that even the surrounding air felt a little colder. Rumble! While killing intent dripped from the air, a rumbling sound was suddenly heard from the Saint tower behind the platform. Numerous geniuses swiftly turned their gazes, to see the giant doors of the tower slowly opening... ¡°The Saint tower is opening!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes instantly lit up with boiling excitement. The greatest blessing of the Saint Remains Domain was inside this very tower, and it was likely the fabled sacred land. Everyone on the platform had obtained a portion of the Saint Remains Domain¡¯s blessings, however, it was nothing compared to the one before their eyes. Obtaining it would be akin to rocketing straight into the heavens, surpassing everyone else. In the face of such temptation, none of those present could maintain a heart as cool and collected as still water. With the exception of Yaoyao¡­ her eyes that looked towards the Saint tower were akin to a hidden pool, without even the slightest ripple of emotion. In fact, her shapely eyebrows had even slightly knitted together. She did not know why, but the tower gave her an indescribable feeling. As if she had seen it somewhere before... However, no matter how hard she tried, she was unable to recall anything. It was a feeling that she did not like. ¡°The Saint tower is open, let¡¯s enter quickly!¡± The tower doors opened fully. The platform was silent for a split second before figure after figure rapidly shot forth like a swarm as they charged towards the doors. Even Wu Huang and Ye Ming exchanged a look, before swiftly turning around, leading their group as they made a beeline towards the doors. Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and the rest as he said, ¡°We should go too.¡± The group naturally had no objections. In fact, they were filled with eagerness. ¡°Go!¡± Swish! Genesis Qi whizzed out, transforming into numerous glowing figures that ultimately dashed into the Saint tower under the countless envious watching eyes in the Saint Remains Domain. ¡­ Outside the Saint Remains Domain. There were also many people gathered here. They represented the various factions of the Cangmang Continent, and were waiting here for the final outcome of the Saint Remains Domain. They knew that the outcome would very likely change the faction landscape of the Cangmang Continent. In the sky, six streams of majestic Genesis Qi surged in the sky, forming six clouds. Six figures were seated on these clouds, the pressure from their bodies causing reverence to appear on the faces of the many faction representatives present. They were the envoys from the six sacred sects. Their eyes had been closed since the beginning, bodies still as statues. Today however, those tightly shut eyes suddenly twitched before slowly opening. ¡°The sacred grounds inside the Saint Remains Domain has appeared.¡± Six gazes were cast towards the Saint Remains Domain. They could faintly sense a strange undulation appear inside the Saint Remains Domain at this moment. ¡°The sacred grounds has indeed appeared¡­¡± The eyes of the Sacred Palace envoy known as Zhao Pan narrowed slightly as they stared at the Saint Remains Domain. Light flickered in his eyes, but only he knew what was on his mind. Towards another direction, the bare-footed uncle that had once helped Zhou Yuan lightly tapped his pipe. A complicated look was revealed in his gaze as he looked towards the Saint Remains Domain. ¡°Heh heh, I wonder who will obtain the greatest blessing in this batch¡¯s Saint Remains Domain?¡± One of the six chuckled. The fair clean-shaven Zhao Pan smiled thinly. ¡°Wu Huang possess great luck, is blessed by the heavens and has amazing talent. There is no doubt that he is number one amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent. The blessing will surely end up with him.¡± The bare-footed uncle called Mu Wuji scoffed. ¡°From your tone, it seems that your Sacred Palace has already reserved him in advance?¡± Zhao Pan glanced at the former. ¡°A phoenix will seek the best tree to perch. Isn¡¯t this very normal? Wu Huang has made the best decision.¡± ¡°Best tree? Heh.¡± Mu Wuji sneered, intense iciness in his voice as he continued, ¡°Do you Sacred Palace people dare to enter this Saint Remains Domain?¡± Zhao Pan indifferently replied, ¡°Mu Wuji, it seems that your Cangxuan Sect still refuses to let go of the matter that happened back then.¡± ¡°That ancestor of yours disobeyed the Sacred order, drawing the fury of the Sacred. He has only himself to blame for his fate.¡± ¡°Humph, if you have any opinions, feel free to debate them in the Sacred Palace¡­ however, do you really believe that your Cangxuan Sect is still the number one sect in Cangxuan Heaven?¡± Mu Wuji¡¯s hand tightened around his pipe, killing intent spitting from his eyes. Zhao Pan however still had the same icy grin on his face. Genesis Qi drummed around him, forming a grand, magnificent cloud that churned behind him as an overwhelming pressure spread. The atmosphere between the two instantly turned hostile. Alarm and surprise filled the faces of the numerous representatives below as they gazed upon this scene, clearly unable to comprehend why the two envoys had been angered. The other four envoys spoke out to douse the sparks. ¡°No need to argue you two, they¡¯ve already entered the sacred grounds, and we should also begin¡­¡± Zhao Pan and Mu Wujin coldly snorted as they withdrew their boundless Genesis Qi. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± The six envoys formed seals with their hands. Boundless Genesis Qi suddenly shot forth, swirling in the air in front of them as it gradually turned into a giant Genesis Qi mirror. Light gathered within the mirror as a picture slowly appeared. If one took a closer look, one would see the 38 figures that had entered the Saint tower... After the 38 figures entered, they saw a towering Saint mountain that stretched even further than the end of their sights. The grand and vast mountain also appeared in the mirror. Outside the Saint Remains Domain, the various representatives seemed to jolt awake as their gazes looked towards the mirror. They knew that the subsequent battle would definitely shake the entire Cangmang Continent. Who would be able to distinguish themselves from the numerous elite geniuses, and make everyone else tremble before them? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 180 Green Flood ¡°So this is the inside of the Saint tower¡­¡± Inside the Saint tower, Zhou Yuan lifted his head, astonishment involuntarily appearing on his face as he gazed upon the seemingly endless majestic mountain that had appeared before his eyes. The giant mountain gave off a sacred glow, faint mists swirling around it. The peak was hidden in the mists that no one present was able to peer through. 38 figures stood on Genesis Qi as they floated at the foot of the mountain, their heads tilted upwards to gaze upon it. To their front was an enormous stone staircase. Every step was taller than a person, and the steps continuously extended upwards all the way to the ends of one¡¯s sight. From a distance, it looked akin to a coiling green dragon. The stone was old and discolored, and seemed to contain a mysterious aura. This was also the only path to the mountain peak on the entire Saint mountain. ¡°It seems that to obtain the greatest blessing, we can only ascend the peak via this stone staircase.¡± Luluo cupped her hands over her eyes as she gazed at the seemingly endless giant stone staircase. Zhou Yuan also stared at the stone staircase and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that it will not be so easy to pass through this stone staircase.¡± With his Spirit senses, he could faintly feel dangerous undulations from it. The others nodded. Although their Spirit senses were not as sharp as Zhou Yuan¡¯s, anyone would understand after some thought. How could the final test be easy? ¡°The Saint tower is fading?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu suddenly cried out in shock. Zhou Yuan and the rest raised their heads. Sure enough, they saw the Saint tower they had entered begin to turn transparent. As such, the scenery inside was soon exposed to the numerous geniuses watching outside. Though the tower had become transparent, it still existed as if protecting the Saint mountain. This change also landed in the eyes of the countless geniuses in the Saint Remains Domain, causing them to explode into numerous cries of surprise. "Is that the interior of the Saint tower?" "Could that mountain be the final test to enter the sacred grounds?" "It seems rather simple, no?" "How can the final test be easy. Just wait and see, things should get exciting soon¡­" The countless whispers outside were naturally not heard by those inside the tower. What''s more, all of their attention was currently on the mysterious staircase. 38 figures temporarily fell silent. The silence lasted for quite some time before someone''s patience finally hit its limit. He flew forward with extreme caution and landed on the stone staircase. The geniuses on the step protected his body with his Genesis Qi. However, no traps appeared like everyone had expected. The one on the step was completely safe... "He''s fine?" The genius was stunned for a moment, before his eyes lit up with joy. His figure moved again, beginning to climb the enormous stone steps. His actions sparked everyone else into movement. They gritted their teeth, landing one after another on the stone steps with swishing wind sounds. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and the rest as he said, ¡°We should go too. Everyone be careful. This place is likely not so simple.¡± The rest of the gang naturally nodded. Thus, their group also moved, landing on the giant stone staircase. In less than a minute, everyone had arrived on the stone steps. Next, they very carefully leaped into the air, climbing step after step as they swiftly ascended. ¡°Seems¡­ that there is really no danger?¡± Nothing happened after several minutes. One of the geniuses could no longer wait, Genesis Qi exploding beneath his feet as his speed rapidly rose. He darted up like a shadow, crossing a dozen steps in a short few breaths. Luluo was also a little unable to hold back upon seeing this, intending to increase her speed too. Just as her figure was about to burst forward however, Zhou Yuan grabbed her wrist. He raised his head and looked towards the end of the stone steps and said, ¡°Something¡¯s wrong. Don¡¯t be rash.¡± The moment Zhou Yuan¡¯s words faded, everyone faintly felt the land tremble slightly. Yaoyao stared at the end of the steps and suddenly said, ¡°Something¡¯s coming down.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened a little. He took a closer look and sure enough, he caught sight up green light pouring down from the end of the stone steps... Rumble! The shaking of the land grew more and more obvious. Soon, Zhou Yuan and the rest were finally able to get a clear view. A green flood was crashing down from the end of the steps. The green flood was boundless, endless, as if everything would be destroyed when it passed through. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a Genesis Qi flood!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank, a sliver of shock and alarm in his voice. When such a vast Genesis Qi flood crashed downwards, it was an earth-shaking sight. In the face of the flood, Zhou Yuan and the rest were ain to ants. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was grave as he urgently shouted, ¡°Quick, avoid or defend!¡± Boom! By this time, the green Genesis Qi flood had already arrived. The genius at the very front was the first to face it... ARGHHH! All he had time for was a miserable shriek. Though he had immediately summoned his Genesis Qi to defend, he was instantly swept away by the flood, ultimately washed off the stone steps as the flood continued to surged past... The green flood did not stop, wrapping around him as a part of it blasted out of the Saint tower and threw him towards the Saint Remains Domain. ¡°He¡¯s be thrown out of the Saint tower!¡± An icy sensation filled everyone¡¯s hearts when they saw this. It turns out that you will lose the right to contest for the greatest blessing if you leave the stone steps. Now, no one dared to hold any more contempt for the steps. Rumble! The flood rapidly expanded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. With a deep breath, a rune appeared on his palm, light erupting from it as it transformed into a 10 feet tall tortoise shell light rune. ¡°Grade 3 Genesis Rune, Mighty Tortoise Shell!¡± His foot also slammed into the ground, Genesis Qi surging below his soles to glue him to the ground. Boom! The moment Zhou Yuan was finished, the green flood arrived. It slammed into the tortoise shell rune, immediately causing it to shake violently... An indescribable force pushed Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet a whole step back, but instantly steeled himself and persistently endured. ¡°What a frightening assault!¡± Veins popped up on his forehead as dark gold Genesis Qi began to surge out of his body, pushing back against the endless, limitless force. It felt like a tsunami was crushing him while walking on the stone steps. ¡°It is indeed not going to be easy to reach the peak. I don¡¯t even dare to let my attention stray, let alone ascending to the top which I can¡¯t even see yet¡­¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. His gaze did a quick scan. Nearby, Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Zhen Xu and the rest were using their own means to endure the battering of the green flood. Further to the front, Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Li Chunjun and the rest were also engaging various methods. Miserable shrieks could be heard from time to time, indicating someone was no longer able to endure and had been washed straight out of the Saint tower by the flood... ¡°I need to first get used to this green flood before I think about climbing.¡± Zhou Yuan gradually calmed down, but his expression abruptly changed a split second later. His gaze urgently swept around the place, because he had realised he was unable to find Yaoyao¡¯s figure on the stone steps! Had she been washed out of the tower by the green flood?! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 181 Each with One’s Own Method On the giant stone steps, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was pretty ugly, his brows tightly furrowed. ¡°Although Yaoyao has no Genesis Qi, it¡¯s impossible for her to have been blown away immediately!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. Yaoyao¡¯s methods were akin to a bottomless pit, there was no way that she would have been pushed out so easily. But if Yaoyao had been able to resist, why was her figure suddenly missing from the stone steps? ¡°What the hell is going on?¡± Zhou Yuan tightly clenched his jaw. Yaoyao was clearly carrying numerous secrets, many of which he was unable to know. However, he still wanted to do his best to protect her. It was his promise to master Cang Yuan. And yet, Yaoyao had fallen into danger time and time again, a fact that Zhou Yuan undoubtedly blamed himself for. While Zhou Yuan was distracted, cracks gradually appeared on the tortoise shell, a sign that it was about to reach its limit. The terrifying force continued to flood towards him, pushing Zhou Yuan¡¯s body back step by step. In the short span of a dozen breaths, Zhou Yuan had been pushed to the back of the group, almost about to be swept off the stone stairs. Luluo sharp eyes spotted this and hurriedly cried out to warn him, ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be distracted!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu, whom had been pushed towards another direction by the green flood, also spoke up in a chiding manner, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Yaoyao will be fine. You should know her capabilities.¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath and nodded. If Yaoyao was only swept out of the tower, it was still okay, because she would at least be fine. But if it was some other scenario, he had a hunch that he needed to conquer the Saint mountain to find out what happened to her. Dark gold Genesis Qi slowly rose from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as his sliding feet slowly came to a stop. He raised his head and looked to his front. The three dozen or so geniuses that had entered the tower had already been split into several distinct groups by the first wave of green. At the very front was naturally Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Li Chunjun and the rest... Wu Huang was the first. Scarlet-red Genesis Qi ferociously exploded from his body, the powerful Genesis Qi stopping even the pouring green flood for a brief moment.. Wu Huang extended a hand as scarlet-red Genesis Qi gathered on his palm. It eventually took the shape of a foot wide glowing scarlet-red ball, extremely astonishing Genesis Qi ripples concentrated within it. Scorching heat pulsed, burning even the surrounding air. When the green flood battered against the scarlet-red ball, sizzling noises could be heard as the former was swiftly evaporated. Wu Huang held up the scarlet-red ball, feet steady as he walked forward, climbing up step by step. While he advanced, he glanced towards the back of the pack at Zhou Yuan as contempt appeared from the corners of his mouth. The gap between the two of them was clearly beginning to show. He paid no further attention to the latter, and concentrated on climbing the stone steps. Vortexes seemed to swirl within Ye Ming¡¯s black pupils. He reached out both hands to the front as black Genesis Qi transformed into swirling vortexes on his palm. The green flood automatically parted when it encountered the black vortexes as if being pushed aside, leaving a gap for Ye Ming to advance. When he did this however, black blood began to flow from the corners of his eyes. Swish! Li Chunjun gripped his black greatsword and swung downwards. Formidable sword aura swept forth, slicing open a half foot long crack in the green flood. Li Chunjun advanced in this manner, swing, step, swing, step. ¡°Haha, this is great!¡± Ning Zhan heartily laughed at the sky. Vigorous Genesis Qi rose from his body as it suddenly swelled a size bigger, making him look even more like a human shaped ape. His method was the most barbaric, his strong body withstanding the force of the flood as he walked up the stone steps. The four of them were at the very front, undoubtedly displaying their overwhelming strength. The numerous geniuses behind involuntarily licked their lips in secret as they gazed upon the backs of these four individuals. ¡°Heh, we can¡¯t let them steal all our thunder!¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to show my skills too!¡± Luluo giggled when she saw this. Her small face soon turned serious. With a shake of a flash of blue light flew out and landed on her shoulder. It was Little Frost, the ice bird that had the ice phoenix bloodline. Likely due to the connection it had to Luluo, Little Frost had not been expelled from the light pillar when it descended like Tuntun. Luluo opened her mouth as icy Genesis Qi was blown out. The ice bird also opened its sharp beak at the same time, spitting out a bundle of icy Genesis Qi. The two Genesis Qi weaved together and landed on the green flood in front of them. A patch of the flood immediately froze, transforming into ice that extended dozens of feet. Luluo¡¯s toes pushed off the ground as she leaped forward. ¡°Hey Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m going too. You can only depend on yourself now. Whether or not you catch up will hinge on your ability.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu looked towards Zhou Yuan, a mischievous smile revealing itself on her alluring face. ¡°Since Yaoyao is not around, if you¡¯re able to catch up to me, I may consider letting you be one of the candidates.¡± ¡°Candidate? What candidate?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Zuoqiu Qingyu let out a tinkling laugh, but did not answer. Her slender body twisted as she dashed straight into the green flood, like a swimming black carp as she climbed upwards. ¡°Zhou Yuan, although I am indebted to you, I cannot give way to you here. I¡¯ll be going ahead first. I hope that you¡¯ll soon catch up.¡± Zhen Xu¡¯s raspy voice sounded. Gray Genesis Qi spiralled around his body. His hands came together as the Genesis Qi between his palms seem to transform into a skull. The skull opened its mouth, and began to suck in the green flood while Zhen Xu took this opportunity to dash forward. All three were apex level geniuses. Now that they decided to use their full power, their speeds immediately soared, beginning to catch up to the first group of Wu Huang and the rest. Behind them were the many second tier geniuses such as Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s coldly glanced at Zhou Yuan, who was all the way behind, as a sneer appeared from the corners of his lips. Gu Ling¡¯s eyes also contained hints of mockery. ¡°Humph, you can only rely on the power of your own Genesis Qi in order to advance through this flood. Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle power may be decent, but he is after all only at the Heaven Gate stage. The fact that his foundations cannot compare to our own has now been shown¡­¡± They naturally did not know that Zhou Yuan was distracted by Yaoyao¡¯s disappearance, believing instead that his Genesis Qi reserves were waning, hence causing him to be forced back. Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling exchanged a look, seeing the joy in each other¡¯s eyes. So what if his battle power was overwhelming. If he could not pass this stage, all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous efforts would be wasted. Phew. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, suppressing the worry in his heart. He was not an indecisive person and knew that worrying now was useless anyways. The most important thing now was to first ascend the Saint mountain. His gaze peered past the green flood, looking towards the front where Wu Huang¡¯s figure continued to climb as an icy light surged in his eyes. ¡°Since that is so¡­¡± His body lowered slightly, like a panther that was about to pounce on its prey. ¡°Let¡¯s have a good competition!¡± ¡°To see who will reach the peak first!¡± Dark gold Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like an erupting volcano at this moment. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 182 Chase Saint Remains Domain. Countless geniuses gazed at the majestic Saint mountain inside the Saint tower. They were naturally also able to see the green flood that poured down from the endless stone steps. Even from so far away, they could still clearly feel its dreadful power. Under the surging green flood, the geniuses within were akin to ants... ¡°Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Li Chunjun and the rest are pretty amazing. Can¡¯t believe that they¡¯ve adapted so quickly and have already begun their steady advance forward.¡± ¡°As expected of these apex level geniuses. There is clearly a gap between them and the others.¡± Many whispers could be heard. Numerous individuals also noticed Zhou Yuan, whom was dead last. After all, his performance in the Saint Remains Domain had been extremely attention grabbing. ¡°What¡¯s up with Zhou Yuan? To think that¡¯s he¡¯s fallen to last place.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is only at the Heaven Gate stage. His explosive power is pretty good, but his Genesis Qi cultivation is unable to match the others. That¡¯s why his performance is so lacklustre.¡± ¡°From the looks of it, it will not be long before he is washed out of the tower and loses his qualifications¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s already amazing for him to have reached this stage.¡± Several individuals were gloating at Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance. They had been unable to enter the Saint tower to vie for the blessing within, and naturally felt a little better seeing someone struggle inside. ... Outside the Saint Remains Domain. The Sacred Palace envoy, Zhao Pan, watched the first group, his eyes staying on Wu Huang in particular as a satisfied smile surfaced on his face. ¡°Good. Wu Huang, continue bravely advance towards the peak in this manner. If you want to join the Sacred Palace, you¡¯ll have to crush all the other geniuses and become the strongest one!.¡± With a slight smile on his face, Zhao Pan¡¯s gaze shifted downwards a little, landing on the figure at the back of the pack. The corners of his lips immediately lifted slightly in a mocking manner. ¡°What a useless person, he¡¯s unworthy of being Wu Huang¡¯s foe.¡± He secretly shook his head. ¡°This brat¡­ what the heck is he doing?¡± The Cangxuan Sect envoy, Mu Wuji, was gently tapping his pipe, a frown on his face as he watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Although it was true that one needed to rely on one¡¯s Genesis Qi to resist the green flood, Mu Wuji did not believe that this was where Zhou Yuan would be stopped in his tracks. ¡°Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, that old mister thinks so highly of you, so you¡¯d better buck up. Or how am I going to explain things when I return?¡± Mu Wuji sucked on his pipe as smoke drifted out from his nose, his expression turning solemn within the rising smoke. ¡°Oh?¡± Almost immediately after however, Mu Wuji¡¯s eyes suddenly focused. At the same time, the other five envoys also gasped softly. All of their sharp eyes had seen powerful gold Genesis Qi suddenly erupt from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body at this moment. The strength of this Genesis Qi was in no way weaker than those geniuses who had stepped into the Alpha-Origin stage! Mu Wuji¡¯s eyes brightened as he cursed with a grin, ¡°Stinking brat, to think that he was acting weak.¡± However, he too did not know that Zhou Yuan had no such intentions. It was purely Yaoyao¡¯s disappearance that made him lose himself for a while, resulting in him being pushed to the last spot by the green flood. ¡°Kid, show me your true capabilities. Let''s see why that old mister has so highly recommended you¡­¡± ... Rumble! On a stone step, dark gold Genesis Qi spouted out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like an erupting volcano. Along with it came a tremendous power that flowed throughout his body and into his limbs. Although Zhou Yuan was currently at the mid Heaven Gate stage, with regards to the power and abundance of Genesis Qi, he would not falter even when directly facing a true Alpha-Origin expert. After all, his Genesis Qi had been able to reach a height of over 400 feet when he reached the Heaven Gate stage, a height that could match numerous advance Heaven Gate practitioners. With his blood-red Qi Dwelling, the Omni Python Qi and the steps he had taken in his cultivation since then, the current him would not fear a true Alpha-Origin even in a head-on clash of Genesis Qi. Boom! Dark gold Genesis Qi roared around Zhou Yuan. The green flood charged towards him again, but a foot long crack was torn open within it by the dark gold Genesis Qi. Dong! Zhou Yuan took a sudden step forward as his figure rapidly shot forth. Thump thump thump! The green flood before him was rapidly ripped apart, a muffled thump echoing each time Genesis Qi smashed into Genesis Qi. Under countless shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet crossed stair after stair as he swiftly dashed upwards. ¡°So fast!¡± Countless cries of surprise erupted in the Saint Remains Domain. In their eyes, Zhou Yuan seemed to have transformed into a flash of dark gold light, breaking through layer after layer of the green flood as he continuously passed the geniuses in front of him. In a short span of a dozen breaths, Zhou Yuan had climbed over a hundred steps, directly leaping from his original last position to rapidly closing in on the second tier group... Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling also sensed the activity behind them. Their gazes swept over only for shock to immediately fill their faces. Zhou Yuan had already appeared a short distance behind them. ¡°That bastard, is he on drugs? How did he suddenly become so fierce?!¡± Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s expression had turned pretty ugly. He had originally believed Zhou Yuan¡¯s lack of Genesis Qi was the reason why he had fallen so far behind. Yet, it was now clear that his Genesis Qi was no weaker than an Alpha-Origin expert. ¡°He¡¯s merely putting on a false front; bringing out all the Genesis Qi in his body in one go. His momentum may seem to be unstoppable, but it he will not be able to keep this up for long.¡± Gu Ling sneered. ¡°Such actions are truly foolish. We can¡¯t even see the end of these stairs, who knows how long it¡¯ll take to reach the top. His rash actions will soon lead to the exhaustion of his Genesis Qi, and when that happens, he will be washed out of the Saint tower, losing his qualifications.¡± She had a deep grudge with Zhou Yuan, and naturally did not want to see the latter succeed. Hence, most of her thoughts were related to Zhou Yuan suffering to ease the resentment in her heart. Xiao Tianxuan nodded. He had been greatly tormented by the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison Zhou Yuan had previously sent into his and Gu Ling¡¯s bodies. If not for Wu Huang¡¯s help, they would have likely been tortured to death. Fortunately, their misfortunate had led to luck. They had managed to obtain some blessings, through which they managed to gain the right to enter the Saint tower. As such thoughts flashed past in his head, Xiao Tianxuan looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s rapidly approaching figure, intending to wait for the latter¡¯s miserable appearance after using up his Genesis Qi. However, what Xiao Tianxuan waited for was never going to happen. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm, not even glancing in their direction. Dark gold Genesis Qi surged, continuously smashing apart the incoming green flood, while his fast and steady footsteps continued to zoom past the stone steps below his feet... There were now only a dozen steps between him and the second tier group. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s and Gu Ling¡¯s expressions had already turned a little ugly. Thud! Thud! However, Zhou Yuan ignored the two of them, his steps swift and powerful. In a mere two minutes, his figure abruptly straightened as he reached the second tier group amidst countless cries of shock, now walking shoulder to shoulder with Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling and the rest amidst. Zhou Yuan did not see the astonished gazes that were now directed towards him, but instead lifted his head and looked to the front. Several hundred steps away, was the swiftly ascending first group, consisting of Wu Huang and the other apex level geniuses. Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Zhen Xu were also closely following behind them. At this time, the gap between the geniuses was gradually being revealed. The first group of apex level geniuses was gradually leaving the latter groups further and further behind, a sight that gave rise to despair. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He had already fallen a step behind earlier, so a greater amount of energy was clearly needed to catch up. Huu. A breath was expelled from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth as the expression in his eyes turned extremely serious. Dark gold Genesis Qi tinged with slivers of blood-colored light poured out from his body. A split second later, his foot slammed into the ground as his body shot forward, barbarically tearing through the flood in front of him. Xiao Tianxuan, Gu Ling and the rest were dumbstruck by Zhou Yuan¡¯s instantaneous burst of speed. Only now did they realise that Zhou Yuan had still been holding back earlier! ¡°How can this be?! He is only at the Heaven Gate stage!¡± Howled Xiao Tianxuan in his heart as a feeling of defeat rose within him. No one paid any attention to his frustration however, because the numerous geniuses were blankly staring at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Dark gold Genesis Qi churned around him, seemingly transforming him into a giant golden python. The giant python bravely advanced through the pouring green flood, as if there was a dragon gate to the front that would grant it a complete transformation... Boom! For an instant, it seemed as if the green flood had frozen for a single breath. In short few minutes, the gap of several hundred steps had been crossed by Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet. Such activity was naturally detected by the first group of apex level geniuses. They immediately turned their heads, only to be stunned by rapidly approaching giant golden python that was Zhou Yuan... ¡°This guy¡­¡± A startled look was revealed on Ye Ming¡¯s face. ¡°What an interesting person¡­¡± Mumbled Li Chunjun. ¡°A mere Heaven Gate stage has actually managed to catch up to us. This kid is extraordinary!¡± Ning Zhan also exclaimed in amazement. While cutting through the flood at full speed, Luluo cheered, ¡°Go Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°So he really has caught up¡­ this guy does have some ability.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s mouth hung slightly open, surprise on her pretty face. At the very front, Wu Huang also turned his head slightly, staring at the swiftly approaching golden figure as an eerily cold light flitted across his eyes. ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you really in such a hurry to die?!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 183 Saving Each Other Swish! Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure broke through the merciless green flood like a giant golden python as he rapidly advanced, giant step after step passing under his feet. Zhou Yuan had displayed an astonishing explosive power in the past few minutes. From last place, he had leaped past the second tier group and was now beginning to close in on the first group. Such a turn of events naturally caused waves of uproars outside the Saint Remains Domain. Everyone knew that to advance against the endlessly pouring green flood, one needed to rely on one¡¯s Genesis Qi. If one¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation was insufficient, it would result in the exhaustion of Genesis Qi and the subsequent ejection from the tower. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s explosive display of power had yet to show any signs of waning, but was instead growing more and more ferocious. A sight that made countless people dumbstruck. ¡°This¡­ how can this be? He¡¯s merely at the Heaven Gate stage, how can he possess such an abundance of Genesis Qi?¡± Numerous geniuses were unable to wrap their minds around it. Outside the Saint Remains Domain, a relieved smile emerged on Mu Wuji¡¯s originally slightly grim face. His gaze continued to be glued to the figure in the mirror as he mumbled to himself, ¡°Such abundant Genesis Qi at the Heaven Gate stage¡­ this means that the grade of his Qi Dwelling is definitely pretty high. It is at the very minimum the purple level, or even¡­ the gold level. If so, I wonder what grade is that gold Qi Dwelling.¡± ¡°A gold Qi Dwelling¡­ no wonder that old mister thinks so highly of him.¡± Mu Wujin laughed. Although having a higher grade Qi Dwelling was not a definite guarantee of one¡¯s future accomplishments, it was still an advantage over those at the same level, while also an indicator of one¡¯s talent. Mu Wuji¡¯s mood became pretty good. He shot a glance at the Sacred Palace envoy, Zhao Pan, as he said with a wide grin, ¡°Its seems that your eyes don¡¯t work properly quite often.¡± The former had seen the disdain in the latter¡¯s eyes earlier when he was looking at Zhou Yuan. Zhao Pan was expressionless. ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too early. So what if he catches up? If he truly angers Wu Huang, he won¡¯t be able to walk out of this alive.¡± Mu Wuji tapped his pipe. ¡°I have the feeling that things won¡¯t turn out as you envision.¡± Zhao Pan laughed mockingly, his tone chilling as he said, ¡°I hope that you will be able to say so when that kid is killed by Wu Huang.¡± Mu Wuji coldly chuckled as he turned his gaze back to the mirror. ¡°We¡¯ll wait and see.¡± ... Rumble! The seemingly endless green flood continued to pour downwards. Made from Genesis Qi, its destructive power would easily sweep away even mountains. It this current moment, there were about three dozen figures on the endless stone stairs that were bitterly struggling as they pushed forward against the green flood... It was also at this moment that Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure truly joined the first tier group. Currently, Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Li Chunjun and the rest were at the very front, roughly a gap of ten steps in between them, while the other apex level geniuses were slightly further back. After entering the first group, Zhou Yuan¡¯s crazy speed finally began to slow. Sweat appeared on his forehead, a sign that his earlier explosion of power had been extremely taxing on him. If not for his blood-red Qi Dwelling and plentiful Genesis Qi within it, he would have been out of juice long ago and be swept away by the green flood. But even so, a great portion of the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling had already been spent. As such, he chose not to maintain the same output as before, slowing his speed instead to recover Genesis Qi. After all, no one knew what would happen next. Huu! Zhou Yuan mind calmed as he lifted his head and gazed at the seemingly endless steps. His breathing began to turn long and drawn out, his chest shrinking back slightly with each inhalation. The Genesis Qi around transformed into string of white that were sucked into his body. Dragon Breath technique! This was also why Zhou Yuan had dared to neglect his Genesis Qi consumption earlier. The main reason behind his explosive burst previously was because he could rapidly recover the used Genesis Qi in an extremely short period through the power of the Dragon Breath technique. As such, the Genesis Qi surging around him soon became robust again. This astonished the numerous gazed on Zhou Yuan. Many had originally been under the assumption that due to his earlier burst of power, Zhou Yuan would not last for long and soon be washed away. Who could have expected that his recovery speed would surpass their imaginations, allowing him to quickly stabilize his position in the first tier group. ¡­ The green flood tirelessly crashed down. As time passed, everyone began to feel the flood gradually grow stronger. This realization caused the expressions of even those numerous apex level geniuses of the first group to grow increasingly grave. Because their Genesis Qi consumption was rising. However, there was still no end to be seen to the stone stairs. Another incense sticks of time unknowingly passed by. Rumble. Zhou Yuan suddenly frowned slightly as he looked up. He seemed to have felt a faint tremble a moment earlier. Zhou Yuan''s pupils abruptly tightened a split second later as his expression changed drastically. He had just seen a giant hundred feet tall wave rise some distance to their front, creating a giant shadow as it ruthlessly towered over them. The giant green wave was also composed purely of Genesis Qi. Its presence alone was enough to know how terrifying it would be. The sudden appearance of the giant wave made Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the rest''s expressions change. It was too abrupt, and even they were caught off-guard. Rumble! By the time they hurriedly strengthened their Genesis Qi, the giant green wave had already mercilessly slammed into them. That instantaneous explosion of power was several times the magnitude of before. Boom! The powerful force caused even the bodies of Wu Huang and the others at the from to jerk back violently as they were rapidly pushed back. Fortunately, their solid foundations enabled them to forcibly stop being themselves to a stop. Thump thump! The apex level geniuses behind them were also struck, each one forced to desperately grab onto the ground. ARGHH! A piercing shriek was heard as the huge wave slammed down. Zhou Yuan lifted his gaze and saw Zuoqiu Qingyu''s body being flung away. Her movement technique was extremely high class, allowing her to avoid most of the force, but the huge wave from earlier contained a strange force that had disrupted her steps, causing her to lose balance. She was immediately pinched up by the green flood, joining it as it tumbled down the stone steps. Zuoqiu Qingyu''s face was now rather pale. She did all she could to stabilize her body, but was unable to gather any Genesis Qi due to being thrashed about by the green flood. In the end, she could only helplessly give up her resistance. An unresigned look filled her eyes, evidently having never considered that she would fail here. Swish! However, the moment Zuoqiu Qingyu gave up, the sound of rushing wind rang out. A stream of white shot towards her, tunneling through the green flood, and wrapping around her tiny slender waist. Zuoqiu Qingyu looked over in surprise, only to see Zhou Yuan wielding a giant black brush on a stone step nearby. The white hairs at the brush tip had extended, transforming into the white whip that was now grabbing her. Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth as he resisted the battering flood. With a gentle shake, the brush hairs returned, bringing Zuoqiu Qingyu along as it flew back to the brush. Brush hairs returned to the brush tip while Zuoqiu Qingyu''s waist agilely twisted as she landed on Zhou Yuan''s back. Her fair snow-white wrists tightly wrapping around his neck, a fragrant breath leaving her little red lips. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Zhou Yuan twisted uncomfortably. The warmth and softness on his back made him feel rather awkward. Zuoqiu Qingyu was still a little out of it, only gradually coming to her senses a few moments later. She looked towards the side of Zhou Yuan''s head with gratitude and said in a soft voice, "Thank you." She knew that Zhou Yuan had taken a huge risk to save her. Once one was caught in the flood, gathering Genesis Qi was almost impossible, meaning one could basically say goodbye to the tower. Zhou Yuan smiled. "You saved Yaoyao, of course I have to save you." Zuoqiu Qingyu calmed down, immediately regaining her usual temptress character. She giggled charmingly as she exhaled at Zhou Yuan''s ear. "I suddenly feel that you''re pretty handsome, why not come back with me to the Zuoqiu clan as my husband?" The corners of Zhou Yuan''s mouth twitched. Can you not be so open! Zhou Yuan''s appearance made Zuoqiu Qingyu laugh. She lowered her head slightly, her ruddy little mouth cracking open slightly as she gently bit Zhou Yuan''s ear. The warm wetness on his eat almost made Zhou Yuan''s legs turn to jelly and fall into the green flood. "Hehe, here''s your reward." Zuoqiu Qingyu''s sly laughter sounded. Her slender body twisted, transforming into a flash of green light as she dashed away like a fish, stepping once again into the green flood. Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. He gazed upon her leaving figure, and could not help but shake his head. ¡°What a little temptress." ¡°I saved you out of the kindness of my heart and you repay it by teasing me!" Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 184 Saint Stairs Stone Stage The appearance of the green wave had sent a good number of geniuses out of the Saint tower. This caused a shiver to run through everyone¡¯s hearts, making them no longer dare to relax. Ascending these stone steps was clearly going to be a lot more difficult than they had imagined. Thus, the subsequent stair climbing grew increasingly difficult for the numerous geniuses. The flood was endless, giant waves forming within it from time to time. Its power could blast apart mountains, which was why Zhou Yuan and the rest needed to concentrate all of their Genesis Qi into defending each time. As such, their rate of Genesis Qi consumption rapidly multiplied. By this time, even the expressions of the apex level geniuses had become rather ugly. They had already realised that their Genesis Qi would eventually be completely used up if this continued. They raised their heads and gazed upon the stone steps, still no end in sight, as they bitterly cried out in their hearts. ¡°When will these steps end?¡± ¡­ Outside the Saint Remains Domain. The six envoys watched the scenes within the mirror. ¡°At this rate, all of them will reach their limits in three inscence sticks of time.¡± The six envoys were Divine Dwelling experts, their sharp end experienced eyes naturally able to accurately approximate everyone¡¯s limits with a single glance. ¡°It¡¯s truly hard to climb these stairs.¡± With regards to the pouring green flood, even the six envoys inwardly shook their heads. They knew that if they suppressed their strength to the same level as Wu Huang and the rest, they may not be able to last this long. From this, one could see just how difficult it was to obtain the greatest blessing. ¡°Next, we¡¯ll see who will be able to endure till the end¡­¡± ¡­ Time continued to flow, and two incense sticks of time quickly passed. By this time, the original three dozen or so had already been cut substantially. Those in the rear were constantly washed away by the flood and sent out of the Saint tower, leaving only a handful behind. In fact, even the first group of apex level geniuses were no longer as calm as they had been in the beginning, their bodies no longer as stable. AAHHH! A miserable shriek suddenly sounded from behind. Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling were no longer able to hold on, both blown off their feet by a green wave. Amidst their unresigned cries, the two were beaten black and blue before ultimately being flung out of the tower. At this point, besides the first group of apex level geniuses, every other genius that had entered the tower had been wiped out. This cruel scene caused the countless geniuses inside the Saint Remains Domain to shiver inside and feel a little fortunate that they had not qualified to enter the tower. The end result for those like them would likely not be pretty. On the stone steps... The apex level geniuses remaining were still gritting their teeth as they persisted. However, things were not looking optimistic, the surging Genesis Qi around them no longer as resplendent and robust as in the beginning. Luluo could not help but curse with a slightly pale little face, ¡°Where the heck is the end to these blasted stairs!¡± On her shoulder, Little Frost was also looking a little listless, a sign that it was overworked. Though the others remained silent, they were clearly also cursing at the absurdness of these steps in their hearts. ¡°Eh?¡± While everyone was inwardly cursing however, their eyes suddenly widened slightly as they lifted their heads and looked up. Some distance to their front, a wide stone platform floated next to the stairs. ¡°What is that? Could we have reached the end?¡± Everyone was uncertain. They carried their bewilderment as they gradually approached the stone platform floating next to the steps. Their gazes swept over, only to find a stone tablet at the center of the platform on which several ancient glowing words were carved. ¡°It seems to be a Genesis technique?¡± A rough look was all that was needed for them to vaguely identify it. ¡°There are words at the top of the tablet!¡± Zhou Yuan and the rest looked towards the top of the tablet. Sure enough, they saw a line of ancient words. ¡°The Saint stairs has nine platforms. Those that enter may receive treasures, but they will not be allowed to leave.¡± Everyone read the texts as a thoughtful look was revealed in their eyes. ¡°Which is to say there are a total of nine of these stone platforms? This should be the first one¡­ entering means getting a treasure, but not allowed to leave would mean that we will not be able to re enter the Saint steps?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered, slightly comprehending the meaning behind those words. This was likely a reward of sorts for those who managed to endure till this point. However, it was also obvious that the stone platforms that appeared later on would have better prizes. All the apex level geniuses were smart individuals, and soon realised this point. Hence, they gritted their teeth, choosing to continue trudging forward instead of entering the stone platforms. These people were prideful individuals. How could they possibly allow themselves to stop here! Therefore, the advance continued. Rumble! Under the unyielding efforts of the apex level geniuses, they saw another three platforms in succession after half an incense stick of time. However, they merely hesitated briefly, before unanimously choosing not to enter. All of them wanted to endure just a little longer so that the blessing they eventually obtained would be even better. Time passed as everyone''s footsteps grew heavier than ever. Their pace had slowed to a crawl as if there was a heavy mountain on each of their backs. The fifth stone platform finally appeared. The Dongxuan Continent genius, Zhu Ying, was pretty pale. Sweat drenched her body, the feeling almost gone from her legs. Her gaze flickered indeterminately as she stared at the fifth stone platform. In the end, she helplessly sighed, knowing that she had reached her limit. Continuing would only result in being washed away. When that happened, she would be ejected empty handed. Therefore, she grunted softly as her figure leaped upwards and landed on the stone platform. She obviously did not plan on persisting, changing her focus instead to obtaining the blessing on this stone platform. "Humph, I''ve been watching you for a long time. Let us properly settle our grudge from last time!" The moment Zhu Ying landed on the fifth platform, Luluo icily snorted and also left the stone steps, landing on the same stone platform. It was not a rash decision made purely out of anger. She too understood her current condition. If she continued, it was very likely that she would not be able to endure till the fourth stone platform. As such, she had to contest for the fifth platform. "You!" Zhu Ying''s gaze turned frosty when she saw Luluo also land on the same platform and sneered. "Since you wish for death, I will fulfil your wish!" Their actions immediately caused an uproar in the Saint Remains Domain, countless gazes beginning to light up with excitement. "They''re going to fight!" "Go Little County Lord, beat up that woman. The Saint Remains Domain blessings belong to our Cangmang Continent. We cannot allow those Dongxuan people even a single one!" Voices rose and fell in the Saint Remains Domain. Practically everyone was supporting Luluo against the outsider. On the stone steps, Zhou Yuan and the rest paused for a moment, but soon began their climb again. "Be careful Luluo." Zhou Yuan cautioned. Luluo waved a small hand. "Relax, I will no longer give the same chance from the previous time." There was nothing more for Zhou Yuan to say. He continued advancing, gradually leaving the fifth stone platform behind. His gaze gradually sharpened. He had a feeling that the most intense phase was about to begin¡­ Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 185 Dragon Breath An endless torrent rushed down the long stone steps. There were now only ten figures on it... Every one of them was an apex level genius. It was only because of their strong solid foundations that enabled them to last till now. On the fifth stone platform, Luluo and Zhu Ying had chosen to enter and vie for its blessing, while everyone continued to push forward with all their strength. However, anyone could see that even these apex level geniuses were beginning to tire, their footsteps growing heavier and slower. ¡°From the looks of it, someone will stay behind on every subsequent platform.¡± Outside the Saint Remains Domain. The numerous gazes that saw this scene understood that the climax was imminent. Every subsequent platform would be occupied, and likely by more than one individual. In other words, bitter battle after battle for the blessings on the stone platforms were soon to erupt. ¡°The Dongxuan rats dare to secretly sneak into our Cangmang Continent and steal our blessings. How hateful!¡± The various faction representatives outside the Saint Remains Domain were outraged upon realising the identities of Ye Ming and gang. They looked towards the six envoys in the sky, but realised that they were not going to say anything. Hence, the representatives could only helplessly cease their curses since there was no way they could throw Ye Ming and gang out of the Saint Remains Domain at this time. ¡°If those Dongxuan people are smart enough, they will allocate one person to each of the subsequent stone platforms such as to prevent a scenario of fighting amongst themselves.¡± Some of the more intelligent individuals were able to clearly understand the current situation. ¡°When that happens, the battle for the blessings would become a contest between our Cangmang Continent and the Dongxuan Continent.¡± There were numerous continents within Cangxuan Heaven, including the Cangmang and Dongxuan Continents. If these Dongxuan geniuses managed to travel all the way to the Cangmang Continent and snatch away the blessings here, the Cangmang Continent would definitely be humiliated. Others would surely say that there were no capable people in the Cangmang Continent. Matters that affected everyone¡¯s face were not to be brushed off. After all, no one wanted to be seen as useless when meeting those from other continents. ¡°I hope that the remaining apex level geniuses will be able to stop those Dongxuan geniuses, and secure the blessings for our Cangmang Continent¡­¡± ... Under the attention of countless gazes, the sixth stone platform finally made its appearance. Ye Ming¡¯s narrowed slightly as he gazed at the floating stone platform nearby. After a brief silence, he made a hand gesture towards the remaining Dongxuan members behind him. Including Ye Ming, there were still four geniuses remaining from the Dongxuan Continent. When they saw Ye Ming¡¯s hand gesture, they understood his intentions. He wanted them to give their all for the following few blessings on the stone platforms. The youth called Jiang Quan spit onto the ground. Soon after, his toes powerfully pushed off, blue Genesis Qi akin to flowing water under his feet, sending him towards the sixth stone platform. He clearly no longer planned on advancing, choosing instead to take the blessing on the sixth stone platform. Zhou Yuan and the rest naturally saw this. In that split second, with the exception of the seemingly uncaring Wu Huang, the rest of the geniuses exchanged a look. ¡°Allow me to go for this sixth stone platform.¡± A rather gloomy and raspy voice sounded. The one who had spoken was Zhen Xu. The others were silent for a moment, before they nodded. ¡°I hope that the rest of you will work harder and don¡¯t let the Dongxuan people take away the blessings. Or others will laugh at our Cangmang Continent¡¯s younger generation and say all of us are trash.¡± After finishing, Zhen Xu¡¯s toes pushed off the ground, his figure dashing into the flood before landing on the sixth stone platform. ¡°Spineless rat, you didn¡¯t even have the courage to take me on alone previously. Who will help you this time?¡± Zhen Xu¡¯s frosty gaze was cast towards Jiang Quan as a cold ruthless look flashed in his eyes. In their previous fight, Jiang Quan¡¯s companions had been nearby watching in secret. As a result, Zhen Xu did not dare to use his full power, allowing Jiang Quan to take advantage. Zhen Xu had been waiting for payback for a long time. ... Not long after the appearance of the sixth stone platform, the seventh also emerged. This time, Zuoqiu Qingyu took the initiative. Green light flashed as she landed on the platform before looking towards the last three Dongxuan geniuses. ¡°Who intends to challenge me for this blessing?!¡± Ye Ming¡¯s expression was indifferent as he looked towards the muscular metal tower like youth. The latter¡¯s body seemed as if it had been forged from metal, and gave off an aura of brutalness. ¡°Qin Tong, you¡¯re up.¡± The metal body youth nodded. His foot slammed into the ground, sending him soaring in the air. He landed on the seventh stone platform and looked towards Zuoqiu Qingyu with a savage smile. ¡°What a bewitching little beauty. All of the women I¡¯ve toyed with over the years ended up dying pretty quickly. Will you be able to hold up?¡± Disgust flitted across Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s eyes, but the smile on her enchanting face only grew increasingly sweeter. ¡°Won¡¯t you know once you try? You big clumsy bull.¡± ... The flood continued to surge downwards. However, the countless watching gazes had become rather tense at this moment as they stared at the last six figures on the stone steps. ¡°I wonder who will be entering the eighth platform?¡± ¡°It will likely be Zhou Yuan. It¡¯s already unimaginable for him to have lasted so long. He should likely be at his limit, right?¡± ¡°Who amongst the rest is not the cream of the crop even amongst the apex level geniuses. Wu Huang, Lu Chunjun, Ning Zhan¡­ all of them should last longer than Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°......¡± Countless whispers rang out. High up in the sky above the Saint Remains Domain, Mu Wuji frowned a little as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. The latter¡¯s Genesis Qi did indeed appear the weakest amongst the remaining six. ¡°Zhou Yuan is after all only a Heaven Gate stage practitioner. Although his high grade Qi Dwelling had given him more Genesis Qi than ordinary Alpha-Origin experts, the remaining few were truly top tier even amongst the best of them. They were likewise very talented and the grade of the Qi Dwelling was definitely nowhere near the low side. ¡°Compared to them, Zhou Yuan is at a disadvantage.¡± Mu Wuji sighed in his heart. He knew that the green flood was a test of the amount and recovery rate of one¡¯s Genesis Qi. For the mere Heaven Gate stage Zhou Yuan, this was clearly unfavorable. ¡°It¡¯s not easy for him to reach this stage.¡± Mu Wuji knew that Zhou Yuan was not to blame. However, at this rate, Zhou Yuan would soon lose the right to continue. This was something Mu Wuji felt was extremely regretful. ... Zhou Yuan was naturally unaware of the discussions in the outside world, but he understood his current condition. The Genesis Qi around him had grown much weaker. After all, the consumption along the way here had been far too great. In fact, his Genesis Qi recovery was sometimes unable to keep up despite him using the Dragon Breath technique. However, determination still filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he focused every fibre of his being. It was as if the only thing in his eyes was the green flood. He was not willing to give up so easily here. A roar seemed to echo in his heart. The world turned silent at this moment, his rapid breathing the only sound echoing in his head... *Inhale*! *Exhale*! In this split second moment, his breathing became even more drawn out. Unbeknownst to even himself, there was now an extremely faint roar of a dragon mixed in with his breathing. The Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan rippled slightly, before endlessly flowing towards his nose, transforming into strands of white that rushed in through his nostrils. ¡°This is?!¡± Zhou Yuan finally detected something as his heart began to tremble. He had realised that every breath he took contained the power of a dragon¡¯s breath that could endlessly suck in Genesis Qi from the surroundings. Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself in shock, ¡°My proficiency in the Dragon Breath technique¡­ seems to have grown!¡± At the very beginning, Zhou Yuan needed to perform an entire set of frolicking dragon forms in order to use a single breath of the Dragon Breath technique. As his mastery grew, he no longer required the frolicking dragon forms, and could activate Dragon Breath through the movement of his bones, a more convenient and faster method compared to before. However, the true advance level of the Dragon Breath technique was to perfectly harmonize with one¡¯s breathing, allowing every breath to transform into a dragon¡¯s breath that could effortlessly take in Genesis Qi. In the past, Zhou Yuan had been unable to achieve this feat, but he had now finally came into contact with it due to the pressure from the green flood! Although he had yet to achieve perfection, the effectiveness of the technique was already several times greater than before! *Breathe*! Zhou Yuan continued to breathe as the surrounding Genesis Qi endlessly surged over, transforming into a white mist that was rapidly sucked in by him. As this process continued, his originally somewhat feeble Genesis Qi slowly began to brighten and grow robust again. Swish! His speed abruptly increased, step after step flying past under his feet. In a single leap, his position rose from the last amongst the six to stand shoulder to shoulder with Wu Huang, Ye Ming, Li Chunjun and the rest! These changes were immediately discovered by the rest of them, causing them to be startled. They had originally believed that Zhou Yuan would be the next to yield. Who could have imagined that such a change would suddenly occur? A dark look flitted across Wu Huang¡¯s face, the killing intent in his eyes growing thicker and thicker. He could feel that Zhou Yuan was becoming more and more of a threat... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 186 Green Wave Obstructs the Sacred Path The instant Zhou Yuan came to stand side by side with those at the very front, wave after wave of noise exploded outside the Saint Remains Domain, the expressions of countless people changing slightly. They were unable to comprehend how the clearly nearly spent Zhou Yuan had suddenly become so lively and energetic. He had not fallen behind even further, but had instead rose to be on the same level as Wu Huang and the rest. One must know that at the end of the day, Zhou Yuan was still only a Heaven Gate stage expert, while Wu Huang and the rest had were bona fide Alpha-Origin practitioners! The gap between these two levels was not small. And yet, Zhou Yuan had still managed to catch up. How could anyone not be surprised? Outside the Saint Remains Domain, Mu Wuji was somewhat astonished when he saw this scene and mumbled to himself, ¡°This kid seems to have mastered some kind of high level Qi drawing method.¡± His sharp eyes had seen through Zhou Yuan in a single glance. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was being rapidly replenished. Such speed could only be attributed to a high class Qi drawing method. ¡°But at least he has managed to push on¡­¡± Mu Wuji chuckled, drawing in a breath of smoke as it puffed from his nose, causing smoke to pervade the area. He then looked towards the Sacred Sect envoy, Zhao Pan. The latter was currently expressionless as he stared at the mirror. However, from the twitching corners of his eyes, the former knew that he was not as calm as he seemed on the surface. ¡°Looks like this kid will really become a black horse¡­¡± Mu Wuji¡¯s mouth cracked open into a smile. Old mister¡¯s eyes were really one of a kind. ... Not long after Zhou Yuan burst of speed that put him on the same line Wu Huang, Ye Ming and the other top class geniuses, the eighth platform appeared within their sights. Ye Ming¡¯s gaze shot towards the final Dongxuan member still following behind him. It was a white hair youth with a frigid face. However, from the robustness and quantity of the Genesis Qi spreading from his body, he was clearly stronger than Zhu Ying and the rest. ¡°Fang Zong, you¡¯re up.¡± The white hair youth did not reply. His toes pushed off the ground, his body like phantom as it appeared on the stone platform. His indifferent eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan, Li Chunjun and Ningzhan as he said, ¡°Who will fight me for the blessing on this stone platform?¡± The gazes of the Zhou Yuan trio met, before Li Chunjun slowly suggested, ¡°The one with the weakest Genesis Qi now shall go, any opinions?¡± Ning Zhan awkwardly scratched his head and looked towards Zhou Yuan. His Genesis Qi had originally been the weakest, but after the previous change, the latter¡¯s Genesis Qi was still going strong. As such, Ning Zhan was now just that slight beat weaker. ¡°I really wanted to fight Wu Huang again, never expected that I¡¯ll have to stop here.¡± Ning Zhan smiled helplessly. Soon after, his wild battle lust filled eyes burned passionately as they were cast towards the whtie hair youth. ¡°But this guy looks like he¡¯ll put up a pretty good fight. I hope that I¡¯ll be able to enjoy this!¡± ¡°Heh, you there, the one called Zhou Yuan. If you get matched up with Wu Huang, give him a good beating for me!¡± Ning Zhan yelled at Zhou Yuan before charging forward. With a loud boom, he landed on the eighth stone platform like a cannonball. Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod as he gazed upon the former¡¯s figure. As Ning Zhan and Fang Zong entered the eighth platform, only the figures of Zhou Yuan, Wu Huang, Ye Ming and Li Chunjun were left on the stone steps... These four were this batch¡¯s best and finest. Countless gazes blazed with excitement as they watched. The stone steps challenge was clearly growing more and more intense and amazing... What they were most curious about however, was which two apex geniuses would be vyng on the ninth platform. Countless gazes both inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain eagerly watched, causing the entire place to become silent. A short dozen minutes stealthily passed by in this silence. ¡°It¡¯s appeared!¡± ¡°The ninth stone platform has appeared!¡± Countless cries suddenly filled the sky, breaking the silence. Gaze after gaze looked over, and sure enough, they saw a stone platform floating some distance to the front. It was the final stone platform on the Saint stairs! Once they passed this platform, they would soon reach the peak of the Saint mountain where they would be able to obtain the greatest blessing! At this very moment, practically every gaze began to burn even hotter than before, no one daring to even blink. They weren¡¯t the only ones of course. Even the hearts of Zhou Yuan and the other three began to thump when they saw the ninth stone platform, faintly feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders. Because the appearance of the ninth platform meant that they were about to reach the end of these Saint steps. Boom! However, the moment the four breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts, the entire stairs suddenly began to tremble. Horror surged onto their faces as they saw the green flood above begin to gather, forming a giant green wave that continued to rise higher and higher. In a short few breaths, the giant green wave had reached a height of over ten thousand feet. The wave was filled with berserk Genesis Qi, the terrible power within unmatched by anything from before. ¡°God damnit!¡± In the face of such a huge wave, even the Zhou Yuan quartet could not help but curse. Rumble! However, the ten thousand feet wave cared naught for their cursing. With a violent shudder, it crashed down towards the four of them with vast, unimaginable power. From its overwhelming presence, it was certain that anything that stood in its way would be destroyed. The four took in a deep breath, before dashing forward a split second later. They understood that this was the final obstacle. Once they passed through, it would definitely be the peak! Wu Huang yelled as scarlet-red Genesis Qi whizzed out behind him, transforming into a rising giant scarlet-red sun. In the sun, one could faintly see a three legged golden crow. Lu Chunjun wielded his black broadsword, man and sword as one as they shot forward like a flash of sword light. The vortexes in Ye Ming¡¯s eyes swirled, black Genesis Qi converging towards his palms, rapidly growing as it transformed into black vortexes placed defensively in front of him. Zhou Yuan released a long howl as the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling exploded forth without reservation. Dark gold Genesis Qi seemed to form the silhouette of a giant golden python. The python swallowed Zhou Yuan into its giant mouth, before charging forward with a wave of its tail. Rumble! The four figures had drawn out every last bit of their power. Under countless watching eyes, they crashed head-on against the ten thousand feet tall wave. Thump thump! The entire Saint stairs seemed to shudder slightly. Berserk shockwaves frantically devastated the area. Every gaze was glued to the four figures. They charged into the wave, breaking through it inch by inch as if going to penetrate its entirety. Everyone knew what awaited them after this ten thousand feet wave; the peak of Saint mountain! But, who was going to be the one?! In this very moment, everyone both inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain did not even dare to breath. Zhao Pan¡¯s eyes were wide open as he stared. Mu Wuji even forgot to puff his pipe, all their gazes tightly fixed on the mirror. Everyone wanted to know who would be the final winner of this intense battle! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 187 Into the Clouds Rumble! The green wave churned, bursting with power that could sweep away mountains and overturn the seas. Ten thousand feet tall, the sight of it could only be said to be magnificent. However, everyone clearly knew of the terror within such magnificence. At this current moment, there were four figures inside this giant wave. These four were using all of their power to frantically push through every layer in the wave. They wanted to pierce through the wave, blasting past this final obstruction. Every gaze both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain was gathered on the four figures. The four of them seemed to have pushed their Genesis Qi to the limit. However, anyone could see that the final green wave contained way too much power, power so great that the four individuals were extremely serious expressions, and did not dare to let their attention stray. In a short span of a dozen breaths, they were nearly at the halfway point in the wave. Outside the Saint Remains Domain, one of the six envoys suddenly remarked, ¡°They¡¯re about to run out of steam.¡± Mu Wuji and Zhao Pan¡¯s pupils shrank. They were also naturally able to sense that Zhou Yuan, Wu Huang and the other two were swiftly depleting their Genesis Qi. It was obvious that even they felt a huge pressure from the ten thousand feet tall green wave. ¡°The Saint mountain is indeed difficult to climb.¡± Another envoy sighed. ¡°From the looks of it, I¡¯m afraid that the four of them will have no choice but to land on the ninth stone platform.¡± If they chose the ninth stone platform, they would be unable to reach the peak, and no longer be able to obtain the greatest blessing. The envoys gazes were tightly glued to the mirror. They knew that result was about to appear. ... ¡°Not good.¡± In the green wave, Ye Ming¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed together, his expression rather grim. He was aware of his rapidly depleting Genesis Qi, and knew that he would not be able to pass the green wave if this continued. Li Chunjun¡¯s expression was still akin to a rippleless well. However, the destructive power of his sword Qi had clearly become much weaker. Wu Huang and Zhou Yuan were also giving their all with grave expressions. Another dozen breaths passed in this manner. The black vortex in front of Ye Ming suddenly paused, a sign that it was about to crumble, while Lu Chunjun was forcibly battered out of his man and sword as one state. Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang¡¯s speed also dropped. Countless sighs of pity rang out in the Saint Remains Domain at this moment. Boom! However, just as everyone felt the four were no longer able to push forward, berserk Genesis Qi suddenly erupted from Wu Huang¡¯s body as the giant scarlet-red sun before him exploded. By borrowing this sudden explosion of power, Wu Huang¡¯s speed soared. *Uproar*! Uproars swept through the insides and outsides of the Saint Remains Domain. No one had that Wu Huang had still been holding something back. ¡°Excellent!¡± The Sacred Palace envoy Zhao Pan laughed heartily. On the other hand, Mu Wuji¡¯s frowned deeply. Ye Ming and Li Chunjun were also startled by Wu Huang¡¯s sudden burst of power. Especially Ye Ming, a dark look flitting across his eyes. ¡°Wu Huang, since we can be said to be companions, we should naturally naturally go through thick and thin together. Abandoning me as you ascend the peak is definitely a no go. That¡¯s why, it will be better for you to stay here and keep me company!¡± Ye Ming icily chuckled as he suddenly made his move. With a jerk of his sleeve, black Genesis Qi shot out, transforming into a black spear that thrust towards Wu Huang like lightning. The black spear pierced through the air, clearly containing Ye Ming¡¯s full power. Since he could not reach the peak, no one else should reach it! ¡°What a vicious person!¡± Ye Ming¡¯s sudden attack drew countless gasps. No one had expected that the one to attack Wu Huang would be the one he partnered with. Swish! The black spear arrived like a bolt of lightning, instantly appearing behind Wu Huang. However, instead of being alarmed by the sudden attack, a strange smile surfaced on Wu Huang¡¯s face. One could only watch as his body paused slightly and his hands began to make circular motions. Scarlet-red Genesis Qi began to swirl, causing the black spear to stop. With a twist of his hand, the black spear ferociously shot towards the front with even more power than before. Wu Huang¡¯s figure leaped onto the spear, stepping on its body as it rapidly pierced through the green wave... ¡°Ye Ming, did you really think I would not be on guard against someone as devious as you?¡± Wu Huang¡¯s laughter was heard as he left on the spear. Ye Ming¡¯s expression was stormy. He had never imagined that Wu Huang would already be prepared. He had purposely shown an opening, baiting the former to attack such that he could borrow the former¡¯s power to travel through the wave. And now, Ye Ming¡¯s strength was spent, no longer able to advance even half a step forward. ¡°Beautiful!¡± Countless exclamations sounded in the Saint Remains Domain. No one had expected Wu Huang would end up using Ye Ming¡¯s attack to help him progress. ¡°Looks like Wu Huang will be the only one to ascend the peak of the Saint mountain.¡± Zhao Pan rubbed his hands together as he laughed loudly. He shot Mu Wuji a glance from the corner of his eye, a mocking look on his lips. Zhou Yuan, Li Chunjun and Ye Ming were already on their last legs. It was impossible for them to break through the final green wave and reach the top of the mountain. Inside the green wave. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes began to flicker in thought as he gazed upon Wu Huang¡¯s rapidly departing figure atop the spear. Soon after, the former took in a deep breath. ¡°To think that you still had something in reserve even at such a time. Wu Huang, you are really extraordinary.¡± ¡°However, if you believe this will cement your victory, you¡¯re taking things too easy!¡± Resplendent rays of light suddenly emerged between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows as a Spirit pulse exploded. His Genesis Qi had indeed been depleted, but one cannot forget that Genesis Qi was not the only thing he relied on. In fact, his Spirit mastery was greater than anyone here! An illusory Spirit was faintly visible, silently seated between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows. Rumble! Genesis Qi returned to his body, but it was now surrounded by a powerful invisible force. The green wave was continuously torn apart as his figure dashed forward, chasing after Wu Huang. The invisible force was obvious Spirit power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden burst of speed immediately drew countless shocked gazes. ¡°Zhou Yuan still has Genesis Qi?!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not Genesis Qi, it¡¯s Spirit power!¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how he did it. His Spirit cultivation is pretty high, but he has not used it since the beginning because now is the best timing!¡± ¡°......¡± Wave after wave of noise pulsed through the crowds, countless individuals amazed. Who could have imagined such a series of highs and lows. Even till now, no one was able to say for sure who will be the final winner. Swish! Zhou Yuan shot forward, slicing through the green wave. Lu Chunjun¡¯s footsteps stopped at this moment as he measured the remaining power in his body. He then shot a look at Zhou Yuan, and was silent for a brief moment, before tightly gripping his heavy black sword. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I will send you off. I hope that you will reach the peak.¡± Li Chunjun grasped his sword with both hands and suddenly sent a slash flying. Swoosh! A formidable without equal flash of sword light rocketed forward, appearing in front of Zhou Yuan to help him cut through the green wave. Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback. He soon cast a grateful gaze at Li Chunjun. With Li Chunjun¡¯s aid, he was now confident of passing through the entire wave and ascend the peak. ¡°Thanks!¡± With a soft thanks, his speed rapidly rose. Several breaths later, he was already at Wu Huang¡¯s heels. Wu Huang looked over, their gazes meeting. The thick killing intent could practically freeze the surrounding air. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you really are akin to a lingering spirit!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s voice was chilling. He never imagined that the crippled dragon of the Zhou clan, whom he would not even give a glance, would one day be right at his heels! ¡°Wu Huang, let us fully settle our grudge today!¡± The murder in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes trembled. ¡°Ha, you?!¡± Wu Huang laughed disdainfully. ¡°Fine. I will kill you today, destroying any hopes that your Zhou clan may have!¡± Boom! Under the attention of the countless excited gazes both inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain, Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang¡¯s figures finally broke out of the ten thousand feet tall green wave, heading straight into the clouds. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 188 Two Dragons The instant Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang¡¯s figures broke through the ten thousand feet tall green wave and dashed into the clouds, the atmosphere outside and inside of the Saint Remains Domain abruptly reached its boiling point. Countless were stupefied. No one had expected that there would not be one but two who broke through the final obstacle. Moreover¡­ they were Wu Huang and Zhou Yuan. Of course, the crowd was still able to accept Wu Huang since everyone knew of his reputation. Zhou Yuan on the other hand, was completely unbelievable. After all, Zhou Yuan was only at the Heaven Gate stage. Who could have imagined that amongst the many many geniuses in the Saint Remains Domain, a Heaven Gate stage practitioner would be the one to reach this stage... Outside the Saint Remains Domain, there was only surprise on the faces of the representatives from the various factions. ¡°Zhou Yuan should be from the Great Zhou Empire?¡± ¡°The Great Zhou whose lands were taken away by the Great Wu Empire through some kind of plot? I thought that they had been wiped out by Great Wu¡­¡± ¡°Tch tch, can¡¯t believe that such a talented individual would come from Great Zhou. His future possibilities will likely be limitless.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent may indeed be extraordinary, but it¡¯s a pity that he was not patient and tolerant enough. Wu Huang would not let him off for choosing to ascend the peak at such a time.¡± ¡°Yeah. Wu Huang is definitely not someone you should offend.¡± ¡°......¡± Numerous whispers could be heard, but it was clear that everyone was not too optimistic about Zhou Yuan¡¯s situation. Wu Huang was just far too famous, his strength practically immeasurable. In comparison, although Zhou Yuan was a splendid dark horse, he was still weaker overall. ¡°Zhou Yuan is rather capable.¡± Several envoys could not help but remark when they saw this, some admiration in their gazes as they looked towards Zhou Yuan. However, this clearly did not include Zhao Pan. He indifferently glanced Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure and said, ¡°His talent is not bad, but it¡¯s a pity that he¡¯s in a rush to seek death.¡± Mu Wuji tapped pipe and said, ¡°Young people should bravely advance, creating a path to the heavens from impossibility.¡± Zhao Pan smiled coldly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid his path is more akin to the road to hell.¡± Hints of mockery could be heard in Mu Wuji¡¯s voice as he spoke, ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who said that Zhou Yuan was completely incapable of competing with Wu Huang and the rest? Yet, he has now managed to ascend the peak at the same time as Wu Huang. Zhao Pan ah Zhao Pan, is your memory really so bad?¡± Zhao Pan¡¯s eyes hardened as he disdainfully said, ¡°One may be able to somehow cheat their way through the steps, but a life or death battle will be next. That brat will undoubtedly die at Wu Huang¡¯s hands.¡± Mu Wuji smile faintly. ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that you¡¯re going to lose all face again.¡± Zhao Pan sneered chillingly. ¡°Since you have such a high opinion of Zhou Yuan, I feel that you should get ready to collect his corpse.¡± ... Zhou Yuan was naturally unaware of the various happenings on the outside. At this current moment, he seemed to be falling within the clouds. His figure slowly landed, down towards mists. The seemingly endless stone steps had already disappeared. ¡°The steps to the mountaintop are gone.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. As he fell, he suddenly realised his feet had touched solid ground, and the surrounding mists began to swiftly disperse. Only now did Zhou Yuan discover that he was standing on an incomparably large white jade plaza of sorts which clearly lay upon the peak of the Saint mountain. ¡°This place is the peak of the Saint mountain!¡± Excitement blazed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. After so much painstaking effort, he had finally reached his goal. His eyes suddenly narrowed slightly as he looked to the front where the mists were swiftly dissipating, revealing a figure in golden robes standing with his hands behind his back. The figure coldly looked over, endless killing intent surging around him. Who else could it be but Wu Huang. Their gazes met in the white jade plaza, killing intent spilling in every direction. ¡°I truly never expected this¡­ back then, I could not even be bothered to give you a single glance, and now, you¡¯ve come all the way here to stand on the same stage as myself¡­¡± Wu Huang¡¯s voice was indifferent, without the slightest hint of any emotion. ¡°I do feel a little regret now. I should have taken things more seriously in the past, and completely destroy your Zhou clan.¡± ¡°If I had done so, it would have saved me a lot of trouble today.¡± Back when Great Zhou was at its weakest, if he had given king Qi just a little more support, the latter might have overthrown the Great Zhou royal clan. However, the him from back then had believed sending four Alpha-Origins would be enough. Who could have imagined a single thought would make such a difference. The crippled dragon in his eyes had steadily advanced one step at a time, until he reached the very same stage Wu Huang now stood on¡­ and now even posed a threat to him. ¡°I feel¡­ that your regret will grow a little more after I kill you.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned, revealing a set of eerily white teeth, his killing intent bare for all to see. ¡°Ha, kill me? You? The crippled dragon of the Zhou clan?!¡± Wu Huang was expressionless, his gaze overflowing with unconcealed ridicule and haughtiness. Zhou Yuan laughed. ¡°Where does a petty thief like you find the face to act as if you¡¯re in the right.¡± ¡°Petty thief?!¡± Mockery was rich in Wu Huang¡¯s voice. ¡°It seems that the pitiful worm you are really believes you¡¯re that sacred dragon?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°I do not care whether or not I truly am that sacred dragon.¡± He smiled faintly as he continued, ¡°Wu Huang, that fateful event caused me to suffer endlessly over the years. However, I do not believe that it was all bad.¡± ¡°Similarly, that fateful event allowed you, the crown prince of Great Wu, to have smooth sailing life, never suffering a single setback or defeat. Likewise, this may not have been good for you either.¡± A dark and cold expression emerged in Wu Huang¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s speech made him feel an uncontrollable rage, because he had heard these very same words from someone that mattered a lot to him. Wu Yao. Wu Yao may speak such words to me, but how dare you crippled dragon of the Zhou clan?! Moreover, how dare you use the same tone as her?! Wu Huang closed his eyes, Genesis Qi madly churning around him, only gradually calming down a long while alter. However, anyone could tell that this calm was only temporary. Like a volcano, it was being suppressed for now for the sake of a more terrifying eruption later on. ¡°Zhou Yuan, after I kill you, I will personally lead an army to exterminate the Great Zhou empire!¡± Endless killing intent spilled from Wu Huang¡¯s voice, causing the air to freeze. Zhou Yuan raised his eyelids, his hand grasping around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as it grew with a flash of light, the sharp brush tip slanted at an angle towards the ground. He stared at Wu Huang with a gaze that was similarly bone bitingly cold. ¡°Wu Huang, your Wu clan stole my blessings back then, took an arm from my father and caused my mother to lose a great deal of her lifespan¡­ I will make sure to properly clear all of these debts with your Great Wu empire one by one.¡± ¡°And now, I will be taking the first one from you!¡± Rumble! Dark gold Genesis Qi exploded. Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes flapped, icy and deadly murder in his eyes. ¡°Haha!¡± Wu Huang laughed heartily at the sky. ¡°The likes of you?!¡± ¡°Haha, fine, fine. I will cut you down here today and use your blood to prove to Wu Yao whether or not I am the true dragon!¡± Rumble! Scarlet-red Genesis Qi erupted like a volcano, shaking the space around it. Under the countless watching gazes both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain, two boundless murder filled auras violently clashed like a storm on the white jade plaza. The silhouette of a dragon seemed to rise behind them, roaring at the heavens. The only difference was that Wu Huang¡¯s dragon was gold, while the dragon behind Zhou Yuan was blood-red! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 189 Python Devours Crow Roar! The faint roar of a dragon echoed across the white jade plaza as two boundless murder filled auras ferociously clashed. The iciness that rippled outwards froze even the air itself. Dark gold Genesis Qi erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body without reservation, as he icily stared at Wu Huang. In the next instant, Genesis Qi exploded beneath the former¡¯s feet, sending his figure rocketing forward. In a short span of a few breaths, he appeared in front of Wu Huang. With a jerk, the Heavenly Yuan Brush powerfully thrust forward, snow-white hairs whistling through the air as the brush tip ruthlessly approached the latter¡¯s throat. The reflection of snow-white hairs rapidly grew in Wu Huang¡¯s pupils, but he stepped to the side, avoiding the sharp brush tip. ¡°Zhou Yuan, since when did you have the courage to take the initiative against me?¡± Wu Huang¡¯s chilling voice sounded. Zhou Yuan was expressionless. One could only watch as the brush tip shuddered, the snow-white hairs transforming into numerous white threads. Every thread gave off a sharp aura, seemingly covering the sky and land as they shot towards the fatal spots on Wu Huang¡¯s body. The attack was clearly merciless. ¡°Humph!¡± Wu Huang coldy snorted. His foot slammed into the ground as Genesis Qi burst out like a rising sun. Thud thud! Countless white threads struck the scarlet-red Genesis Qi, but every single one was ultimately flung backwards. Wu Huang¡¯s eyes were ice-cold. His hand made a grabbing motion as rays of light began to emerge, and a dark red spear appeared. Carvings of flying golden crows decorated the spear¡¯s body while it emitted a searing Genesis Qi ripple. Golden Crow Spear, a high grade Black Genesis Weapon. The moment Wu Huang¡¯s hand closed around the Golden Crow Spear, his aura turned even more berserk and violent. With a furious roar, the long spear whipped through the air, leaving after images behind it as it was powerfully swung down towards Zhou Yuan. A long scar began to melt on the white jade floor. Clang! The Heavenly Yuan Brush blocked horizontally above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, a loud clang resounding from the collision of brush and spear. Sparks flew as their gazes clashed again, murder spilling into their surroundings. Wu Huang¡¯s spear was withdrawn, its tip pointing towards the ground at an angle. Genesis Qi began to converge at the tip of the spear, culminating into a flare that was several feet long. The flare first appeared as green, before ultimately turning purple. The purple flare pulsed, so sharp that no words could describe it. In fact, even the ground was easily cut open. ¡°Watch me pierce your lousy brush!¡± Wu Huang icy voice sounded as his body shot forward. The purple flare pulsed as it sliced across the ground, splitting the floor open wherever it passed, the insides of the cuts smooth as a mirror. ¡°Auraflare technique? I know it too.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed when he saw the pulsing purple flare on Wu Huang¡¯s spear. With an icy chuckle, the brush tip¡¯s snow-white hairs shivered as Genesis Qi gathered towards it, forming a pulsing flare. His flare likewise appeared green at the start, before gradually turning purple. There were two levels to the Auraflare technique, which were based on color; green and purple. Initially, Zhou Yuan had only managed to reach the green level of the Auraflare technique, but as his strength continued to rise, he was finally able to push the power of the technique to the next level. Swish! His figure also shot forward, meeting Wu Huang in the white jade plaza several breaths later. Berserk Genesis Qi unfurled, showing that the two figures had poured all their power into their attacks. Clang clang clang! They forced their speeds to the limit, making it practically impossible to clearly see either figure. One would only be able to see two afterimages colliding time after time as purple spurted in all directions, shredding the surrounding ground. Anyone could clearly tell that both parties were merciless in their attacks. Countless gazes both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain were tightly glued to ferocious exchange between the two figures on the jade white plaza... In a short span of a mere dozen breaths, they two individuals had clashed over a hundred times. The crazed rapidness nearly causing many onlookers to be unable to catch their breaths. Everything in the vicinity was a complete mess. Pchla! The ground was torn up once again as two blurs shot at each other. Purple flares pulsed from the spear and brush as they ripped through the air, powerful colliding a split second later. Clang! A clear clang sounded, followed by an extremely berserk shockwave. The figures were caught in the shockwave, their bodies blown away by the powerful force. Zhou Yuan slid dozens of feet backwards, the brush tip leaving a line of sparks on the ground. On the other hand, Wu Huang was only pushed ten feet back, quickly stabilizing his body with a sweep of his spear. It was clear that Wu Huang had taken the upper hand in their clash. However, Wu Huang¡¯s expression did not look happy at all, but instead grew increasingly dark and stormy. He still clearly remembered how Zhou Yuan was unable to receive even a single punch from him when they had just entered the Saint Remains Domain. But now, Zhou Yuan was already able to push him so far! How could this not infuriate Wu Huang? Of course, buried in the depths of his anger was a sliver of fear that Wu Huang would never admit to. The rate of Zhou Yuan¡¯s growth was clearly leaving the former no choice but to begin taking him seriously. A breath of white was slowly spat out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose. He gazed at Wu Huang¡¯s dark, stormy eyes and said, ¡°Two years ago, you, the great crown prince of the Great Wu Empire, were pretty unreachable in my eyes¡­¡± Two years prior, he had still been unable to find his channels. Let alone Wu Huang, even Qi Yue had been an untouchable existence in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Yet, in a mere two years, this cultivationless youth was now able to go toe to toe with the crown prince of the Great Wu Empire. ¡°Wu Huang, you¡¯ve had the lead for so many years, but I was still able to catch up in such a short period of time. What do you think this means?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. ¡°It means that I am even more outstanding than you.¡± Wu Huang¡¯s gaze was chillingly sinister, staring at Zhou Yuan as if he was about to devour him, while the Genesis Qi around him began to rage violently. However, he ultimately closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, slowly suppressing the anger inside. Wu Huang frostily asked, ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you planning to anger me with your words to find an opening?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even dream of it. I know that I used to look down on you in the past, however¡­ I will make up for all of these mistakes by paying with your life!¡± ¡°Your foundations are strong, but unfortunately, at the end of the day, you¡¯re just a Heaven Gate stage practitioner!¡± ¡°While I am already at the Alpha-Origin stage!¡± At the final word, scarlet-red Genesis Qi shot out from the top of Wu Huang¡¯s head like a beam of light, dashing straight into the heavens, and began to burn the sky. ¡°Golden Crow Sky Burning Qi!¡± In the wake of Wu Huang¡¯s thunderous shout, a glowing silhouette suddenly gathered within the scarlet-red Genesis Qi, slowly turning into an enormous golden three-legged crow. Flames burned around the golden crow, causing the temperature to rise. ¡°This guy¡¯s Genesis Qi¡­ is also grade 5?¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the barely visible golden three-legged crow. This Genesis Qi had definitely reached the realm of grade 5. Zhou Yuan knew that he could not withdraw at such a time, and immediately took a step forward. Dark gold Genesis Qi erupted, golden light filling the horizon. Everyone watched as the dark gold Genesis Qi converged into a translucent giant dark gold python. The giant python coiled behind Zhou Yuan as it released a deafening roar towards the heavens. ¡°Golden Crow Sky Burning Qi, Golden Crow¡¯s Heavenly Inferno!¡± Howled Wu Huang as the golden three-legged crow swept forth. Scarlet-red flames began to burn on its body, distorting the space wherever it passed. Even the ground below was charred black. Countless gazes both outside and inside the Saint Remains Domain gasped as they watched. Though they were not present in the battlefield, they could still sense the tyrannical power of Wu Huang¡¯s attack. The golden three-legged crow descended like a giant sun, a terrifying sight to behold. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was grave as scarlet-red rapidly grew in his eyes. He spat out a breath of air as he hands came together and a low voice sounded in his heart. ¡°Omni Python Qi, Python Swallows the Heaven!¡± Hss! The python hissed as it shot forth, crashing into the golden three-legged crow a moment later, its giant mouth opening and swallowing the crow whole... Zhou Yuan watched this happen with a fierce look in his eyes. ¡°Wu Huang, let us see which is stronger, your Golden Crow Burning Sky Qi or my Omni Python Qi!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 190 Risking One’s Life in Battle Hss! With a hiss, the giant dark gold python opened its giant maw, swallowing the incoming golden three-legged crow in a single gulp under countless shocked gazes. This scene was rather provoking to the eyes. Waves of noise spread inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s techniques are not shabby at all.¡± ¡°Both of them likely have grade 5 Genesis Qi, else it would be very difficult for their Genesis Qi to take on such forms.¡± ¡°I thought that Zhou Yuan would lose rather quickly, but from the looks of it, he can still last for some time.¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m of the opposite opinion, just consider how strong Wu Huang is. No matter what, Zhou Yuan is one cultivation level lower. If he was also at the Alpha-Origin stage, Wu Huang may not be able to beat him, unfortunately¡­¡± In the sky outside the Saint Remains Domain, the six envoys and the numerous representatives watched the scenes within the mirror in rapt attention. When the giant dark gold python swallowed the golden three-legged crow, Zhao Pan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, but an icy smile appeared from the corners of his lips as he said, ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s appetite is quite large, isn¡¯t he afraid of eating beyond his means?¡± Someone of his calibre was naturally able to tell that both individuals possessed grade 5 Genesis Qi. Such Genesis Qi was already pretty extraordinary. However, although both parties were the same grade 5, Zhou Yuan was only at the Heaven Gate stage, while Wu Huang was an Alpha-Origin expert. The difference in Genesis Qi cultivation between them was not small at all. Zhou Yuan may have previously been able to take advantage of others with his grade 5 Genesis Qi, but that advantage was no longer present against Wu Huang. Upon hearing Zhao Pan¡¯s remarks, the other envoys gave a slight nod. They were naturally also able to tell that Zhou Yuan would not have any advantage in a clash such as this. Mu Wuji did not comment this time. He merely continued to stare at the giant dark gold python that had swallowed the golden three-legged crow as he frowned slightly. Under their attention, the python suddenly hissed as scarlet-red flames began to unfurl inside its body. ¡°You¡¯re too arrogant Zhou Yuan. You may have grade 5 Genesis Qi, but I have one too.¡± ¡°Your Genesis Qi is powerful and plentiful, but mine is even more so!¡± ¡°And now, you dare to forcibly swallow my Genesis Qi? That¡¯s just seeking death!¡± Wu Huang coldly stared at Zhou Yuan. Soon after, a mocking smile raised from the corners of his lips as he made a seal with one hand. *Cackle*! Scarlet-red flames abruptly burst out from the giant dark gold python¡¯s body. The flames burned, turning python into nothingness. From within the flames, the three-legged crow formed once again. Although it was now much smaller, it still gave off an astonishing presence. *Gasp*! ¡°Be burnt to ashes by my Golden Crow Sky Burning Qi!¡± With a cry from Wu Huang, the golden three-legged crow descende, heading straight for Zhou Yuan. This scene instantly caused countless gasps both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain. Boiling heat filled the sky as it surged over. Zhou Yuan raised his head, but there was not even the slightest shred of fear on his handsome face as he gazed at the rapidly growing three-legged crow. Zhou Yuan spoke in a calm voice, ¡°If it¡¯s just Genesis Qi, mine is indeed weaker than yours. However¡­ anything that has been swallowed by my python will be able to escape so easily.¡± He slowly extended a hand, aiming it at the incoming golden three-legged crow. Wu Huang¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank at this moment. Because he had seen a strange lines of blood suddenly appear on the golden three-legged crow. The lines squirmed and twisted as they gave off an extremely eerie aura. Ch ch! Light emerged from the bloody lines as the ferociously sweeping down golden three-legged crow seemed to let loose a miserable cry, the burning flames on its body rapidly dimming at an alarming speed. Bang! The crow exploded when it was still dozens of feet from Zhou Yuan, transforming into a rain of fire. Dark gold Genesis Qi transformed into a cloud above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, blocking every last drop of fire. ¡°Eh?¡± Several envoys involuntarily cried out in shock outside the Saint Remains Domain. The sneer on Zhao Pan¡¯s lips turned a little rigid, his expression now a little ugly. He clearly never expected that Wu Huang¡¯s advantage would be so easily dispelled by Zhou Yuan. Mu Wuji breathed a sigh of relief. So the reason why Zhou Yuan had dared to engage in a direct clash of Genesis Qi was because he did have something up his sleeve. Mu Wuji mumbled in his heart, ¡°This brat¡¯s Genesis Qi seems to contain an extremely tyrannical and sinister presence¡­¡± Wu Huang¡¯s golden three-legged crow had clearly been contaminated by this sinister presence earlier when it was inside the python¡¯s body, causing it to swiftly fall apart in the end. Mu Wuji chuckled. Zhou Yuan had originally been unable to match Wu Huang in Genesis Qi due to the difference in their cultivation levels. But if Zhou Yuan had the aid of that strange and tyrannical presence, Wu Huang may not be able to do anything against the former in this aspect. ¡­ ¡°What did you do?!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s chilling gaze glared at Zhou Yuan, clearly having also sensed that strange tyrannical presence. Zhou Yuan slowly extended his hand, his palm facing Wu Huang. A lump of blood-red slowly wiggled at the center of his palm as it gave off heart shaking resentment. ¡°Have you forgotten? This is the present your father left for me.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifferent voice sounded. Wu Huang¡¯s pupils shrank. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison?!¡± He naturally knew that the sacred dragon blessing had given birth to resentment when his father stole it from Zhou Yuan many years ago. His father had sealed this resentment in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, resulting in the formation of the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison that continuously devoured his essence blood, crippling him completely. But from the looks of it, not only had Zhou Yuan survived the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, he had even made it a strong ally. Due to the tyrannical and strange nature of the poison, even someone like Wu Huang did not dare to let it enter his body. The fact was that he had already felt the poison¡¯s domineering nature when he met Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling. However, the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in their bodies had been too thin, leading Wu Huang to disregard it. Only now that he personally witnessed it today did he truly understand its terror. Wu Huang sinisterly said, ¡°You are really like a cockroach, to think that even that did not kill you.¡± Zhou Yuan indifferently retorted, ¡°How can I possibly die before I return each and every one of these gifts to your Wu clan?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Wu Huang¡¯s eyes were eerily cold as the Golden Crow Spear suddenly shot out of his hand, transforming into a flash of scarlet light. With unmatched berserk power, it rocketed towards Zhou Yuan like a bolt of lightning. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand shuddered as it floated into the air. A vicious kick was sent towards the back of the brush, transforming it into a streak of light as it shot forth. Clang! Spear and brush smashed in mid air as an earthshaking clang resounded. Both weapons were flung backwards, stabbing into the white jade plaza as cracks extended on the ground around them. The tip of Wu Huang¡¯s feet landed on the head of the spear, his eyes filled with murder as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Wu Huang¡¯s hands swiftly formed a seal as scarlet-red Genesis Qi surged over. He deeply inhaled, before abruptly blowing. *Cackle*! Scarlet-red Genesis Qi spouted out in an arc, swirling around in front of him as it transformed into a glowing head-sized scarlet-red bead. The silhouette of a golden crow could be faintly seen within it as berserk Genesis Qi ripples pulsed. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you may not have died back then, but I feel it is time for you to die now!¡± ¡°Little Heaven Genesis technique, Golden Crow Detonation Bead!¡± Wu Huang foot slammed into the spear with a stern shout, causing the Golden Crow Spear to bend at an extreme angle. A sudden jerk later, Wu Huang¡¯s body instantly appeared some distance in front of Zhou Yuan Killing intent violently surged out from Wu Huang¡¯s eyes as the spinning scarlet-red bead in his hand was viciously swung downwards at Zhou Yuan. The ground below his feet instantly shattered at this moment. Extreme heat filled the air. Zhou Yuan gazed upon the figure that had appeared slightly above him, as a ruthless look suddenly surged in his eyes. ¡°Dog reared Wu clan, you cruelly bullied me back when I was a baby. Today, I will first take this mix-blood mutt as interest!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s handsome face seemed to twist hideously into savagery. All the killing that he had suppressed in his heart for so many years came blasting out at this moment. In response to Wu Huang¡¯s ferocious attack, Zhou Yuan neither avoided nor dodged, his sleeve suddenly blasting apart as his fingers violently dug into the wind lightning ball that had appeared on his palm. Mad ruthlessness in his eyes, he sent his hand swatting towards Wu Huang. ¡°Little Heaven Genesis technique, Great Wind and Thunder!¡± Life for a life! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 191 Heaven Genesis Technique Rumble! Wind and thunder churned violently, berserk undulations madly pulsing from the lightning ball as it was sent slapping towards Wu Huang. Zhou Yuan did not bother with any defensive measures, choosing instead the most terrible and cruel price of meeting the attack head-on with violence. The numerous gazes inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain were stunned. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­ is he crazy!¡± ¡°What a fierce guy, that¡¯s practically akin to throwing away your life.¡± ¡°He¡¯s intent on making sure that the both of them go down.¡± ¡°Lunatic¡­¡± Everyone dripped with cold sweat due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s madness and ferocity. Such a risky life for life tactic just was too vicious, leaving no way out for both oneself and the opponent. Boom! Under the attention of stunned gaze after gaze, Wu Huang¡¯s Golden Crow Detonation Bead slammed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, while the Great Wind and Thunder in his hand mercilessly struck the former¡¯s body. A deafening, earthshaking noise exploded! Followed by the eruption of a devastating Genesis Qi shockwave. Rumble! The white jade floor beneath their feet was completely shattered, the shockwave wreaking havoc in the area, leaving the ground a giant mess. Scarlet light swallowed Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body like fire. Opposite him, Wu Huang¡¯s body was also engulfed by destructive, devastating lightning... Bang! Two figures flew backwards as if struck by a heavy blow, leaving a long smear on the ground as dust filled the air. Everyone¡¯s gazes were closely watching, not even daring to breathe too loudly. They did not know who would end up worse off in such a high risk exchange. The dust gradually dissipated. Wu Huang¡¯s figure was the first to appear. When the crowd¡¯s eyes fell upon his figure, low gasps of surprise rang out. Scarlet-red light swirled around Wu Huang¡¯s body, forming a scarlet-red battle armor that covered his entire body. The chest portion of the armor was scorched black, cracked, broken and mostly in extremely bad shape, evidently the handiwork of the Great Wind and Thunder technique. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°A defensive Genesis technique?!¡± The sight of the Genesis Qi battle armor caused waves of noise to erupt both in and out of the Saint Remains Domain. No one had expected that Wu Huang would even have a defensive Genesis technique in his arsenal. Moreover, it looked pretty high class. Zhao Pan smiled when he saw this. Soon after, he remarked with mockery in his voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan must have lost his mind. To think that he intended to risk his life to take Wu Huang¡¯s. It may seem like a ruthless tactic, but it is in actuality mere foolishness.¡± The other envoys secretly nodded. At the very least, it looked like Zhou Yuan¡¯s tactic had not done much damage to Wu Huang, while the latter¡¯s Golden Crow Detonation Bead had squarely hit Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. It was likely that even an ordinary Alpha-Origin stage would be instantly killed by such a blow. Mu Wuji was expressionless, paying no heed to Zhao Pan¡¯s words. The former merely stared at the spot that Zhou Yuan had been previously, where the dust was also gradually receding. On the white jade plaza. Wu Huang¡¯s eyes darkly stared at the dust nearby as he sneered, ¡°A life for a life? I admit that I underestimated your resolution and ruthlessness. But Zhou Yuan, you and I have different destinies, so I¡¯m afraid that you will not succeed so easily.¡± ¡°After being struck by my Golden Crow Detonation Bead, I believe you won¡¯t be feeling so good now, right?¡± The dust receded as footsteps slowly sounded. Faint golden light appeared, as a calm voice echoed from the dust, ¡°Pretty good name, but it¡¯s a pity that your attack doesn¡¯t live up to its namesake.¡± Zhou Yuan walked out from the dust, appearing within everyone¡¯s sights. Countless gazes immediately focused. Golden light flickered on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, the golden scales akin to a set of scale armor. A large portion of the golden scales on his chest area had been shattered and destroyed, but were swiftly recovering under the glow of the golden light. The Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan was still robust, a sign that he had not sustained any serious injuries. ¡°Wu Huang, did you really believe that you¡¯re the only one with cards up your sleeve? If I did not take any precautions, why would I try such a risky tactic?¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Wu Huang and icily chuckled. ¡°Because from what I can see, my life is definitely worth much more than yours.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s crazed ruthlessness from earlier may seem like he was hell bent on risking his life to take Wu Huang¡¯s, but the truth was that he had a fall back plan. With the protection of the Magical Python Scales, Zhou Yuan boasted an extremely strong defence. The only thing that had exceeded his expectations was that Wu Huang also had a defensive Genesis technique... Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan had walked out unharmed, numerous yelps of surprise erupted both outside and inside the Saint Remains Domain. How could they not understand by now that Zhou Yuan had done it on purpose. If not for that fact that Wu Huang also had a defensive Genesis technique, he would have been dealt a serious blow by Zhou Yuan. Mu Wuji laughed, rubbing his hands together as he praised, ¡°Not bad, not bad at all. He has both courage and brains.¡± The corners of Zhao Pan¡¯s mouth twitched as he darkly stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the mirror. ¡°Humph, he may have courage and brains, but he may soon no longer have his life!¡± The other envoys also looked towards the mirror with interest. They originally believed that the fight would be easily dominated by Wu Huang. No one had expected the situation to develop in such a manner. Wu Huang, who originally possessed the absolute advantage, was being dragged into a deadlock by Zhou Yuan. It seems that this battle was becoming more and more meaningful¡­ ¡­ Wu Huang¡¯s expression darkened as he stared at the golden scale armor on Zhou Yuan. He too never expected the once ant like existence in his eyes to become such a huge problem. ¡°No matter how you jump and hop, you will definitely die today!¡± Killing intent violently suged in Wu Huang¡¯s eyes. Boom! His foot stomped into the ground, a berserk aura spreading from his body as he shot straight towards Zhou Yuan. Fists transformed into flashes of scarlet light, filling the sky as they descended upon the latter. The Genesis Qi of Wu Huang¡¯s attacks was vigorous and robust. One must know that he too was fierce individual capable of battling those above his cultivation level. Although he had recently advanced to the Alpha-Origin stage, if one were to compare how much Genesis Qi he had, it was likely that some second layer, and even third layer Alpha-Origin experts would not be his match. Now that he was going full throttle, the terror of his power was naturally revealed. Zhou Yuan gaze was ice-cold. He took in a deep breath as he watched the madly attacking Wu Huang approach, but did not retreat as the gold Magical Python Scales released a dazzling radiance. His strength soared through the amplification of the Magical Python Scales. ¡°I do want to see just how you¡¯ll kill me!¡± Zhou Yuan sneered. The floor beneath his feet shattered once again as he shot forward, colliding head-on with Wu Huang. Thud thud! Fists and kicks left numerous after images as they rapidly flew like lightning, the resultant shockwaves tearing apart the ground around them. Both parties were overflowing with murder, each strike aimed to kill. One relied on the protection of his battle armor, while the other relied on his golden scales. Hence, it was an exchange of attacks, each punch slamming into the other¡¯s body, making the onlookers¡¯ hearts jump. If it was anyone else, they would have been beaten to death long ago. These two however, were exceptionally sturdy and stubborn, only growing increasingly ferocious as time passed. In the short span of a few minutes, the two had fought over a hundred rounds. Everyone both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain watched the bitter, inhuman fight with bated breaths. However, as time passed, Mu Wuji¡¯s brows suddenly furrowed slightly. He could faintly feel a strange undulation spreading from Wu Huang¡¯s Genesis Qi. His gaze swept towards Zhao Pan from the corner of his eye, only to discover a strange smile appearing from the corners of the latter¡¯s lips. He closely inspected Wu Huang, and suddenly found that scarlet-red Genesis Qi had appeared above his head at some unknown time, seemingly transforming into scarlet-red clouds. The scorching scarlet clouds seemed to rouse the surrounding Genesis Qi, causing it to rapidly surge over. ¡°Drawing in the surrounding Genesis Qi¡­¡± Mu Wuji¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank as he involuntarily cried out in his heart, ¡°Not good, Wu Huang has mastered a Heaven Genesis technique?!¡± Only a word seperated the little Heaven and Heaven, but the difference between them was as immense as the sky. Even Mu Wuji had never expected Wu Huang to possess a Heaven Genesis technique. One must know that such a technique was an extremely rare existence in a continent like this. Evidently, after being pushed so far by Zhou Yuan, Wu Huang was beginning to reveal his true power, the trump cards that invoked fear and terror finally exposed. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 192 Heavenly Tortoise Boundary @@ Dong! On the white jade plaza, Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang¡¯s fist and leg slammed into each other, a blast of Genesis Qi exploding from the epicenter. The ground around them was completely shattered, while Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang¡¯s figures were sent flying backwards. Zhou Yuan forcibly steadied his body with a stomp. He frowned slightly as he lowered his head, seeing the mostly broken golden scale armor on his body from which traces blood oozed out. From this, one could see just how intense the battle between him and Wu Huang had been. ¡°Thank god for the Magical Python Scales¡¯ protection, or I would have really suffered in such a clash.¡± Zhou Yuan remarked inside. Wu Huang had the strength of the Alpha-Origin after all, making the quality of his physical body greater than Zhou Yuan¡¯s own. Without the Magical Python Scales... Previous Chapter@@ Chapter 193 The Saint Rune’s Power Bzz! The tortoise shell like dome glowed brightly as mystical runes appeared on it, giving it an indestructible feeling. Zhou Yuan stood within it as he watched the scarlet gravel sweep down from the sky. Hulala! Under countless nervous watching gazes, the scarlet gravel ruthlessly smashed into the tortoise shell Genesis Rune boundary. Bang bang! An unceasing chain of explosions immediately began. Every scarlet rock contained volatile explosive power, and the cumulation of so many was definitely extremely terrifying. Even a mountain would be destroyed by their combined force. Scarlet shockwaves that could been seen with the naked eye unfurled as the Genesis Rune boundary violently rippled. Every gaze both outside and inside the Saint Remains Domain were tightly glued to the scenes in the mirror. Everyone clearly wanted to know if Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Rune boundary would be able to withstand such a frightening attack. If it failed¡­ it would likely be the end of the battle. Every eye in the place did not dare to even blink. Bang! Bang! Inside the Genesis Rune boundary, Zhou Yuan stared at the wildly rippling Genesis Rune boundary. He could feel just how powerful the bombardment was. If he was exposed, things would indeed become very difficult. ¡°A Heaven Genesis technique sure is terrifying¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan. Even a low grade Heaven Genesis technique was already able to rouse the surrounding Genesis Qi, creating a frightening attack. Such power was far from anything a Black Genesis technique could achieve. His gaze peered into the distance where Wu Huang was standing on scarlet-red Genesis Qi in the air. The latter¡¯s face was currently sinisterly dark, a gaze that could swallow a man whole locked onto Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you¡¯re living in such misery, you should not so desperately delay the inevitable¡­¡± Wu Huang¡¯s chilling voice sounded. His hand seal changed, immediately causing the scarlet cloud in the sky to shake as more and more scarlet gravel rained down, covering the entire sky as they plunged towards the violently rippling Genesis Rune boundary. The increasingly ferocious attacks caused the entire tortoise shell like Genesis Rune boundary to begin shaking wildly. ¡°That Genesis Rune boundary is about to reach its limit.¡± This scene immediately fell into the eyes of numerous people, resulting in a series of pitying sighs. ¡°What a pity, Zhou Yuan was really amazing.¡± ¡°Yeah, with the cultivation of the Heaven Gate stage, he forced even someone like Wu Huang to use a Heaven Genesis technique. Even if he loses, his name will surely shake the Cangmang Continent.¡± ¡°Agreed. If he also had Alpha-Origin stage cultivation, it would be difficult to say who would win this battle.¡± Rumble! Amidst the numerous voices, the Genesis Rune boundary shaking grew more and more violent, the tortoise shell like boundary weakening layer by layer under the bombardment of countless scarlet gravel. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you will die today!¡± The murder in Wu Huang''s eyes grew thicker and thicker as he watched the weakening Genesis Rune boundary. In the next instant, he suddenly put his hands together and shouted, "Scarlet Gravel Punch!" Bzzz bzzz! The scarlet gravel in the sky began to gather at this moment, forming a several dozen feet large scarlet-red fist. The giant fist was the sum of innumerable scarlet gravel, wild and berserk undulations pulsing from it. ¡°Die!¡± Wu Huang laughed savagely as his palm swung downwards. Swish! The giant scarlet gravel fist descended at an indescribably fast speed. Even Zhou Yuan was only able to see a blur fly past as a series of muffled explosion rang out in the sky. Pchla! In a mere instant, the scarlet fist had already appeared above the Genesis Rune boundary, slamming down a split second later. The Genesis Rune boundary seemed to freeze at the moment of impact. Almost immediately after, ripples crazily pulsed from the point of contact... Crack. A faint sound was heard from the Genesis Runes on the ground, cracks appearing on them. Cracks similarly began to emerge on the Genesis Rune boundary. It was clearly on the verge of shattering. Countless onlookers shook their heads inside. As expected, Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Rune boundary was still a little lacking. "Looks like it''s not enough¡­" Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. The central pillar of his Genesis Rune boundary were grade 3 Genesis Runes. If he could replace them with grade 4, it may be enough to withstand the attacks. Boom! The giant scarlet gravel fist trembled as the Genesis Rune boundary finally reached its limit and burst apart with a boom. Having blasted apart the Genesis Rune boundary, the scarlet fist continued to descend, heading straight for Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan''s legs bent, about to use Dragon Step to dodge. The attack was too powerful, and it was impossible for him to receive it head-on given his current strength. However, the moment Zhou Yuan was about the dodge, he suddenly felt a tremble from between his brows as a faint ancient rune appeared. "The Saint Rune from the golden pool?!" Zhou Yuan''s heart shook. He had tried so hard to get a reaction from the Saint Rune previously, but his efforts bore no fruit. It was surprising for it to suddenly appear at this critical juncture. Lines suddenly extended from the rune, ultimately piercing Zhou Yuan''s pupils. A slight prickling pain was felt from his eyes. Unbeknownst to him, ancient patterns began to fill Zhou Yuan''s pupils. Before he could panic, he suddenly realised that world before him seemed to be different. The quick as thunder giant scarlet gravel fist seemed to have slowed substantially. Moreover, several dots of light had appeared in the giant fist. These light dots were scattered all over, making it difficult to make any sense of them. However, Zhou Yuan could feel that the area in the vicinity of these light dots were extremely unstable, the Genesis Qi there somewhat in chaos. "These are¡­" Zhou Yuan pupils suddenly tightened. "Weak points?!" The light dots were definitely the most vulnerable areas of the giant scarlet gravel fist. In other words, weak points! But this realization also confused Zhou Yuan. These vulnerabilities were concealed by the scarlet gravel, making them almost impossible to detect. Yet, they were now as bright as lamps in his eyes. "Is this the ability of the Saint Rune?!" Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding. The Saint Rune could allow him to see the many vulnerabilities in Genesis techniques? Zhou Yuan''s heart was akin to a raging sea because he knew just how frightening this ability was. Vulnerabilities existed in any Genesis technique. If he could find these vulnerabilities, it would be akin to achieving a huge effect with little effort, paying the smallest possible price to destroy an opponent¡¯s Genesis Qi. The figure that was about to retreat paused slightly. "If so, perhaps I no longer need to avoid¡­" He raised his head, looking at the rapidly descending giant scarlet gravel fist as his eyes narrowed slightly. His legs bent again, swiftly shooting forward a split second later. Five fingers clenched tightly into a fist as the golden Magical Python Scales emerged. Dark gold Genesis Qi whizzed out, shaking the surrounding air. ¡°He¡­ isn¡¯t going to dodge?!¡± Horrified yelps exploded when this scene fell into the eyes of the many onlookers. Everyone was both shaken and stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s foolish actions. Mu Wuji¡¯s expression also changed slightly. While a malicious smile was revealed on Zhao Pan¡¯s face. Wu Huang looked down from above, ridicule and disdain lifting from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you want death so badly, you can only blame yourself in the underworld!¡± Under countless gazes of disbelief, Zhou Yuan continued his advance with a cold look on his face. A fist covered in golden scales powerfully slammed into the descending giant scarlet gravel fist with the strongest power he could muster... Dong! The entire white jade plaza seemed to violently tremble at this moment. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 194 Dragon Transformation The entire world seemed to fall silent for an instant when Zhou Yuan¡¯s golden scale covered fist collided with the giant scarlet gravel fist. Next, everyone watched as a berserk Genesis Qi shockwave frantically unfurled... The tiles on the giant white jade plaza were vaporised to dust. Such a clash made even several Alpha-Origin experts shiver inside. If they were the ones on the battlefield, they would likely be incapable of withstanding such a crazy shockwave. Everyone¡¯s eyes were tightly glued to the epicenter of the shockwave. ¡°Zhou Yuan is definitely dead.¡± The crowd secretly shook their heads inside. Zhou Yuan¡¯s foolish actions were undoubtedly no difference from plunging to one¡¯s death in their eyes. After all, the attack Wu Huang had used was a Heaven Genesis technique! Even Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Rune boundary had been unable to stop it, let alone taking it directly with his body. Wu Huang stood on his Genesis Qi, eyes ice-cold as a savage smile slowly lifted from the corners of his lips. Zhou Yuan, have you finally given up?! Crack! At this moment, an extremely faint sound rang out. Wu Huang suddenly cast his gaze downwards as his eyes focused, before a look of disbelief flooded his face. He had just seen a faint crack appear on the giant scarlet gravel fist. At this time, even with his mental fortitude, Wu Huang involuntarily cried out, ¡°How is this possible?!¡± ¡°Nothing is impossible¡­¡± A voice rang out from under the giant scarlet gravel fist. Dazzling golden light suddenly erupted, a sliver of purple seemingly present within it. Boom! Rays of light that seemed to contain tremendous power blossomed as cracks rapidly emerged on the giant scarlet gravel fist. In the end, it exploded with a loud boom! The giant fist transformed into countless specks of scarlet light that danced in the sky. Everyone was dumbstruck. Even Zhao Pan¡¯s mouth hung slightly open, his face filled with shock. Mu Wuji blinked in disbelief as he mumbled, ¡°How did the kid do it?¡± Wu Huang¡¯s previous offensive could not have been any more powerful. According to Mu Wuji¡¯s estimates, even a three layer Alpha-Origin expert would not dare to face the attack head-on, leaving no option but to withdraw. And yet, the Heaven Gate stage Zhou Yuan had somehow blasted it apart in the most simple and barbaric of manners? Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure emerged from the specks of light that danced and filled the sky, still in a punching posture, while golden scales flickered on his fist. At closer inspection, one would discover a faint trace of purple on the golden scales, causing them to give off a purplish gold luster. ¡°Is this the third level of the Magical Python Scales, the purplish gold scales?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze was lowered, looking at the hint of purplish gold on the scales. ¡°But the purple is too thin. It seems that it¡¯s still not the true purplish gold scales.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. Even so, he could already feel the overwhelming power brought by the faintly purplish gold Magical Python Scales. In his feat of destroying the giant scarlet gravel fist with a single punch, the Saint Rune may have played the main cast, but the contribution from the Magical Python Scales could not be ignored either. Zhou Yuan raised his head, his icy gaze looking towards the shocked Wu Huang. Without wasting any time, the former slammed his foot into the ground. Thud! The ground cracked. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was launched forward, appearing behind Wu Huang in a flash. Five fingers tightly clenched into a fist as a punch blasted through the air. Wu Huang¡¯s returned to his senses and hurriedly spat out a ball of scarlet-red Genesis Qi that rapidly turned into a red shield in front of his body. Ancient patterns flickered in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils, immediately finding several light dots on the Genesis Qi shield. Zhou Yuan was expressionless as his fist punched into one of the light dots. Berserk power swept forth, instantly shattering Wu Huang¡¯s Genesis Qi defenses. Wu Huang¡¯s expression changed, unable to comprehend why Zhou Yuan had suddenly become so formidable. Even so, the former¡¯s senses told him that Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had still not risen to the point where he could overwhelm Wu Huang. But why was Zhou Yuan able to so cleanly and easily destroy his defenses? Wu Huang¡¯s figure quickly retreated in a rather miserable manner. Zhou Yuan chased like a shadow, crazed attacks sweeping towards his opponent. No matter what kind of defences Wu Huang put it, they were all ultimately destroyed in the most efficient of manners. ¡°Blasted, why is this happening?! How can he so easily shatter all my defenses?!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s eyes had turned red, filled with both alarm and anger. Swish! Zhou Yuan paid no attention to Wu Huang, appearing behind him again in a flash as fists surrounded by vigorous Genesis Qi viciously attacked. Wu Huang had no time to avoid this time, Genesis Qi once again forming a scarlet-red battle armor on his body. However, Zhou Yuan seemed to not even see the armor, fists quick as lightning as they simultaneously struck dozens of spots on the armor. Every hit landed on the weakest areas of the Genesis Qi battle armor. As such, it was blown apart in practically an instant. Thud! Wu Huang vomited a mouthful of fresh blood, his figure shooting straight downwards into the ground, creating a deep pit in the white jade floor. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were as cold as the edge of a blade. Without any hesitation, his figure swiftly shot downwards, his knees slamming into Wu Huang¡¯s body as a rain of punches descended with a loud yell. Thud thud! Every punch struck flesh, cracking open the ground below a little more with each hit. Wu Huang was having a really miserable time, blood wildly spouting from his mouth. Both the inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain was completely silent as they watched Zhou Yuan pummel Wu Huang... None of them understood why Zhou Yuan had suddenly become so overwhelming all of a sudden, as if he had taken some kind of battle drug. It seemed that any attack of Wu Huang¡¯s was merely equivalent to air in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes... Zhao Pan¡¯s expression was so stormy that it nearly about to rain. Mu Wuji could not help but awkwardly scratched his head. He felt as if Zhou Yuan had transformed into a completely different person, so fierce that it was a little unreasonable. Boom! On the white jade plaza, Zhou Yuan¡¯s fists suddenly paused from their onslaught as a burst of berserk Genesis Qi frantically erupted from Wu Huang¡¯s body, catapulting the former away. Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet slid on the ground before he quickly steadied his body, eyes now slightly narrowed as he looked to his front. There was a huge hole there. Wu Huang¡¯s bloodied body lay within it, a sight that was sorry to the extreme. Zhou Yuan panted as he clenched his fists. The scales tinged with a slight trace of purplish gold had broken in many places. Blood also dripped from them, raw flesh visible in some areas where even bone could be seen. However, Zhou Yuan ignored his wounds, his eyes akin to a sharp blade as he stared at Wu Huang¡¯s figure in the hole. The latter was a miserable sight, clearly pretty badly hurt by Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier barrage. However, he was frowning slightly because every time he tried to deal a fatal blow, he could faintly feel a force in Wu Huang¡¯s body neutralizing any strike that was enough to kill... ¡°This guy¡­¡± As Zhou Yuan stared, Wu Huang¡¯s bloody body shakily stood up from the hole. Wu Huang¡¯s eyes were a sea of blood-red, filled with indescribable fury and savageness. Never in his wildest dreams would he have ever imagined that he would be beaten into such a pathetic state by that crippled dragon. For the prideful and arrogant Wu Huang, this was even harder to accept than dying. ¡°Hahahaha¡­¡± Wu Huang stared at Zhou Yuan. In the end, he lifted his head to the sky and laughed loudly, a laugh thick with murder. ¡°Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, I truly never expected that there will come a day when I, Wu Huang, would fall into such a pathetic and miserable state because of you.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± ¡°Even so, you still cannot kill me!¡± Mockery rose from the corners of his lips as he stared at Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Do you know why?¡± The savagery in his eyes grew more and more violent, before he suddenly ripped his clothes apart, revealing his naked body. One would see the faint silhouette of a dragon coiling on the surface of his skin. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils abruptly tightened, staring hard at the dragon silhouette in Wu Huang¡¯s flesh. A heart rendering pain suddenly tore through him the instant he saw it. An intense pain that had flooded out from the deepest part of his memory. Back then, he had lain on that ice-cold altar while king Wu stole his sacred dragon blessing and poured it into Great Wu¡¯s python and sparrow. The intense pain he felt at that moment so many years ago was the same one he felt now... Blood surged up in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes bit by bit. ¡°Can you feel it?¡± Wu Huang laughed sinsiterly. The blood-red dot between his brows seemed to grow increasingly redder at this moment as a low dragon roar echoed from within his body. ¡°Hahahaha¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. This is the sacred dragon blessing that had been stripped from your body back then!¡± ¡°With it protecting me, how can you possible kill me?!¡± Crisp cracking sounds emanated from Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist, his fingernails digging deep into his flesh. He face twitched faintly as violent savagery flooded his eyes. ¡°So what if you¡¯re angry?¡± Wu Huang released a chilling chuckle, cocking his head as he continued to stare at Zhou Yuan. ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve never experienced the sacred dragon blessing before, right? Since that it so, I¡¯ll let you have a good feel today.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan, how do you feel about dying by the sacred dragon blessing that originally belonged to you?¡± ¡°Haha, you pitiful worm! All of your efforts will turn to foam today!¡± Wu Huang laughed madly. In the next instant, his expression twisted into incomparable maliciousness and savagery as a dark and chilling voice abruptly sounded. ¡°Dragon blessing, Dragon Transformation!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 195 Scarlet Dragon Breath Roar! The berserk roar of a dragon seemed to thunder from Wu Huang¡¯s body at this moment. While it continued to echo, the dragon silhouette on Wu Huang¡¯s skin faintly trembled, before flooding into his flesh and blood. Wu Huang¡¯s body immediately began to swell. Dragon scales emerged on the surface of his body, while his hands also started showing signs of draconification, sharp fingernails flickering with icy light that made one¡¯s heart thud a little harder. Of course, the most terrifying transformation of all was the steadily strengthening Genesis Qi that had erupted from Wu Huang¡¯s body. Even the surrounding floor began to crumble inch by inch do to the powerful Genesis Qi pressure. Every person both in and outside of the Saint Remains was speechless for a time as they looked at the horrifying thing Wu Huang had become... No one had expected such a degree of abnormality from Wu Huang. To think that he still had such an astonishing trump card up his sleeve after such an intense battle! ¡°He is truly is unfathomable¡­¡± ¡°Wu Huang is number one amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent.¡± These were the only evaluations the crowd could give as they shook their heads. Mu Wuji also let out a bitter laugh when he saw this. Who could have predicted such an intense fight between two of the younger generation... However, in the face of Wu Huang¡¯s endless arsenal of trump cards, even he could not help but sigh in admiration. This guy was truly a genius blessed by the heavens. ¡°To have come this far, Zhou Yuan is already very outstanding.¡± Mu Wuji secretly said in his heart. Zhao Pan breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. His eyes flickered in thought as he stared at Wu Huang¡¯s figure and secretly mumbled to himself, ¡°Wu Huang is indeed a good seedling. No wonder even palace master said that he possesses the will of the heavens and must be brought into Sacred Palace.¡± ¡°It should be over this time, right?¡± As Zhao Pan spoke, even he did not realise that he was no longer as certain as he had been in the beginning. He was now clearly afraid due to Zhou Yuan, scared that he would suddenly pull something out of the bag again, causing the situation to fall into uncertainty once again. ... Zhou Yuan frowned deeply as he gazed upon the Wu Huang, who was now substantially bigger and covered in dragon scales. The latter was currently giving off an extremely frightening aura. Wu Huang¡¯s lifted his face and gave Zhou Yuan a savage smile. His foot slammed into the ground, cracking it as his figure rocketed forward. ¡°How quick!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. The ancient Saint Rune appeared within it, allowing him to clearly see Wu Huang¡¯s body. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was unable to respond in time. ¡°Mighty Tortoise Armor Rune!¡± Yelled Zhou Yuan as a tortoise shell like glowing rune appeared in front of him. Craang! However, it was shattered by a single punch almost immediately after it appeared. Wild punch winds blasted into Zhou Yuan¡¯s Magical Python Scale covered arms. Thump! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body jerked back before being sent flying backwards. Most of the scales on his arms had shattered and broken, making them a bloody mess. Wu Huang did not give Zhou Yuan any chance to breathe, a storm of attacks immediately following. The ancient Saint Rune in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils spun round and round. He could still see the vulnerabilities in Wu Huang¡¯s attacks, but when his attacks landed on them, they were unable to break through. As such, he was naturally unable to achieve the same effect as before. ¡°Crap, his Genesis Qi has grown stronger and my attacks are no longer able to affect him, not even at the weakest points of his attacks.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression had turned rather ugly. He could see the vulnerabilities, but he did not have enough force to make use of them. Thud thud! Two figures continued to clash on the white jade plaza. This time however, the situation was reversed. Wu Huang laughed madly, his attacks like a torrential downpour, while Zhou Yuan continuously retreated. Wu Huang¡¯s attacks would pierce his defences from time to time and land on his body, causing blood to appear from the corner of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Haha, Zhou Yuan, weren¡¯t you very pleased with yourself earlier?!¡± ¡°You are indeed a formidable foe to have forced out even my final trump card!¡± ¡°However, it is time for you to pay the price for doing so.¡± ¡°And that price will be your life!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s eyes were scarlet-red, his face twisted with violence as his attacks grew increasingly vicious. Genesis Qi pulsed in the air as a flurry of fists descended, bombarding Zhou Yuan to no end. Boom! Genesis Qi exploded as Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet slid across the ground. His body was blown over a hundred steps back, the blood at the corner of his mouth growing increasingly apparent. Every single inch of his body was radiating an intense pain. ¡°How stubborn.¡± Wu Huang looked down from above, a certain eeriness emanating from the corners of his lips as he said, ¡°I really want to find out if you will still be able to stand after I break every bone in your body.¡± His hands slowly came together as he suddenly inhaled deeply. Berserk Genesis Qi flooded in through his nose, his chest swelling as an alarming Genesis Qi ripple frantically converged. The ground below Wu Huang¡¯s feet began to crumble, unable to support the brewing power. Wu Huang indifferently stared at Zhou Yuan. A split second later, the former¡¯s chest shrank as he abruptly opened his mouth and roared, ¡°Scarlet Dragon Breath!¡± Rumble! Scarlet-red Genesis Qi spouted out like a dragon¡¯s breath, so searingly hot that the ground instantly melted. It was likely that anyone below the third layer Alpha-Origin would be instantly killed by it! Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression involuntarily changed. The Saint Rune quickly flickered in his eyes, faint light dots appearing on the incoming scarlet-red dragon breath. They were vulnerabilities. ... However... Even if he could see them, Zhou Yuan did not have enough power to neutralize the attack. ¡°My power is insufficient¡­¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, his eyes falling deep into thought. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you''re dead!¡± Everyone inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain sighed in pity when they saw this scene. The tumultuous battle was finally about to end. Mu Wuji¡¯s expression turned ugly, his hands tightly clenched as he muttered, ¡°Just admit defeat you stupid kid, the most important thing now is to preserve your life!¡± However, Zhou Yuan could not hear these words, and even if he did, he would not make such a decision. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body lowered slightly. In the next instant, the ground below his feet shattered as he swiftly shot forth, heading straight for the scarlet-red dragon breath. ¡°Hss!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions caused countless people to gasp as they muttered to themselves, ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­ has really gone insane¡­¡± Mu Wuji could not help but bellow, ¡°Fool!¡± The current Wu Huang was not something Zhou Yuan could defeat! In fact, the dragon breath was even more terrible than Heaven Genesis technique earlier! The cold cruel smile that hung from the corners of Wu Huang¡¯s lips grew even icier. ¡°Come on, dying to the sacred dragon blessing that originally belonged to you is the best ending you could ever wish for.¡± Under the attention of countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan appeared in front of the dragon breath in a few breaths. The scorching heat surged towards him, causing a piercing pain to pulse from his skin. Zhou Yuan lifted his head slightly, peering past the scarlet-red Genesis Qi to see Wu Huang¡¯s cruel eyes and ice-cold face... ¡°Wu Huang¡­¡± His hand made a slight grabbing motion and a silver ball suddenly appeared within. The moment it appeared, it melted into liquid that swiftly spread along Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm. Silver light blossomed for an instant, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure slammed into the dragon breath under the crowd¡¯s stares... ¡°It¡¯s time for this battle to end¡­¡± At the moment of impact, it seemed as if Zhou Yuan¡¯s faint voice stealthily rang out. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 196 The Firs Froohm! The scarlet-red dragon breath unfurled, barging through the white jade plaza as it left behind a long black scar and melted white jade wherever it passed. The dragon breath had completely engulfed Zhou Yuan... Everyone both inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain fell silent, before bursting out into numerous regretful sighs. Zhou Yuan was really too foolish. It was unbelievable for him to meet that attack head-on. ¡°The young are always so foolhardy. If only he had chosen to yield this one time and wait for another chance in the future.¡± ¡°Once you lose your life, there will be no more chances for you.¡± ¡°To have pushed Wu Huang so far is actually already be a victory for him.¡± Everyone shook their heads. Mu Wuji tightly gripped his pipe, wishing that Zhou Yuan could have been more level-headed as he said through gritted teeth, ¡°Stupid kid, what the hell were you thinking!¡± He was truly unable to understand why Zhou Yuan had rushed to his death. Such actions were foolish beyond reason. Where had all the brilliance he had previously displayed gone to? And now, everything was over. On the other hand, Zhao Pan breathed a heavy sigh of relief as if every burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He shot a sideways glance at Mu Wuji and snidely said, ¡°What a pity, looks like that brat won¡¯t have the fortune of entering your Cangxuan Sect.¡± The corners of Mu Wuji¡¯s mouth twitched as he shot Zhao Pan a venomous glare. Zhao Pan showed no fear, all smiles as he continued to speak, ¡°Don¡¯t be too heartbroken brother Wuji, even if he did enter the Cangxuan Sect, he will only bring it shame. At least he had a clean death here.¡± ¡°You!¡± Mu Wuji¡¯s eyes boiled with rage as the boundless Genesis Qi around his body began to soar into the sky, rippling the clouds above. Zhao Pan grinned nastily, ¡°Does brother Wuji wish to exchange pointers with me here?¡± The moment his voice faded, similarly majestic Genesis Qi whizzed out, giving off powerful Genesis Qi undulations. Although they stood facing each other, ready to fight, neither party attacked in the end. Each gave the other a vicious glare before gradually withdrawing their Genesis Qi. Both clearly understood that this was neither the place nor time. ¡°Eh?¡± All of a sudden, one of the envoy¡¯s eyes concentrated slightly as he said with some hesitation, ¡°There seems to be something strange inside?¡± Mu Wuji, Zhao Pan and the rest immediately cast their gazes towards the white jade plaza. A split second later, their pupils abruptly shrank. They seemed to have caught sight of a flash of silver within the scarlet-red dragon breath. On the white jade plaza. Wu Huang¡¯s maniacal laughter continued to echo. His eyes were scarlet-red as he gazed at the destruction wreaked by the dragon breath, while the smile on lips grew increasingly chilling and eerie. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve lost!¡± ¡°Tragic and pitiful worm, you were already a failure when you were born, and now you¡¯re still that same failure!¡± ¡°You should know by now just who the true dragon is, right?!¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry. I promise that I will hang your corpse on my banner when I crush your Great Zhou Empire. I want to let everyone know how useless the so-called sacred dragon is!¡± Wu Huang lifted his head and gazed at the sky as a beautiful figure surfaced in his mind. The proud and noble figure had been branded into his heart, never to be removed. ¡°Do you see this Wu Yao? I¡¯ve said before that I will prove to you that I am the true dragon!¡± ¡°No matter how great your blessings, I believe that I will eventually catch up to you. In this world, only you and I are a perfect fit!¡± A sick, crazed look flitted across Wu Huang¡¯s eyes, before he closed them in a somewhat intoxicated manner and took in a deep breath. ¡°Is that so?¡± At this moment, a low voice stealthily sounded. Wu Huang¡¯s eyes abruptly opened, alarm and doubt within them as he looked towards the scarlet-red dragon breath that was still travelling across the white jade plaza. Next, his pupils suddenly shrank as he saw a flash of silver light shoot out from the dragon breath. When it passed by, even the dragon breath was forcefully ripped open. The crazed smile on Wu Huang¡¯s face froze as he cried out in horror, ¡°What?!¡± ¡°No! Impossible! How can you be alive!¡± Howled Wu Huang in disbelief, His heart was akin to a churning sea, filled with terror and astonishment. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that Zhou Yuan would actually survive the dragon breath! Countless gazes both inside and outside of the Saint Remains Domain blankly stared at the silver light as they rapidly swallowed their saliva. Mu Wuji was also dazed. A brief moment later, he pinched his face and mumbled, ¡°Why are the younger generation now all so fierce beyond reason¡­¡± ¡°Blasted, they¡¯re clearly just a mere Heaven Gate practitioner and an Alpha-Origin practitioner¡­ why is their battle even more intense than one between Divine Dwelling experts? My heart can¡¯t take it anymore¡­¡± Under the countless dazed looks, the silver figure swept past, tearing through the scarlet-red dragon breath. In the blink of an eye, it pierced through completely... Only then did everyone finally get a clear view. The silver figure was a person clothed in silver armor. The flickering ancient patterns that decorated it gave off a mystical aura, while extremely powerful Genesis Qi undulations violently pulsed from the armor. Although the silver armor also covered the figure¡¯s face, everyone knew that it was Zhou Yuan! An ice-cold gaze seemed to shoot out from the silver armor, landing on Wu Huang¡¯s frozen face. Silver liquid flowed down the armor, clearly an aftereffect of passing through the dragon breath. Swish! Without a pause, the silver armor transformed into a flash of silver light that headed straight for Wu Huang. ¡°Zhou Yuan! You really are like an unbanishable spirit! Die!¡± Wu Huang finally returned to his senses and furiously roared. His hands came together as scarlet-red Genesis Qi transformed into a hundred feet wide wall that stood before him with the intention of stopping Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure did not stop, straight like a pencil as he shot forward. Five fingers tightly clenched into a fist that ruthlessly punched at the fire wall. Bang! A shockwave of destruction instantly blew apart the wall of flames. After activating Silver Shadow, Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had risen dramatically, now so high that it no longer lost to the draconized Wu Huang. Adding in the Saint Rune¡¯s ability to detect vulnerabilities, Wu Huang¡¯s defenses were practically nonexistent before Zhou Yuan. ¡°Impossible! Impossible!¡± Howled Wu Huang as his figure rapidly retreated while frantically sending blast after blast of Genesis Qi at Zhou Yuan. Bang! Bang! However, the silver figure dashed through like hot butter through knife, each blast of Genesis Qi blowing apart one after another. In the short span of several breaths, every single one of Wu Huang¡¯s attacks had been neutralized. Silver light appeared in front of Wu Huang, the two individuals now a mere few feet from each other. Their gazes met in the air, both a sea of blood red, both filled with cruelness and ferocity. Wu Huang roared, ¡°Die Zhou Yuan!¡± Another burst of Genesis Qi exploded from his body. This time however, Zhou Yuan did not give the former any chance to attack. In a single step, he appeared beside Wu Huang. ¡°Wu Huang, I will take back everything your Wu clan has stolen from me¡­¡± ¡°And now, you shall be the first!¡± There was no emotion whatsoever in the ice-cold voice that softly sounded by Wu Huang¡¯s ear. Wu Huang¡¯s pupils violently shrank. Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang¡¯s figures crossed each other. The entire world seemed to go into slow mo at this moment. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 197 Battle Between the Two Dragons; Victory and Defea On the white jade plaza, even the sound of wind seemed to slow to a crawl. Countless gazes had their full focus on the two figures that had crossed. Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang were now back to back. The bright silver light on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body began to dim, transforming into silver liquid that flowed down, ultimately becoming a silver ball as it floated by his side. Urgh! Once the silver armor was off, Zhou Yuan could not help but vomit a mouthful of blood. Intense pain pulsed from between his brows, nearly causing him to lose consciousness. However, he forced himself to endure it while the Spirit between his brows rapidly dimmed. Fortunately, the Saint Spirit Crystal began to emanate rays of light that wrapped around his Spirit. Strands of cooling aura poured into his Spirit, allowing him to maintain his final shred of consciousness. The sight of those caused the onlookers both inside and outside the Saint Remains Domain to cry out in alarm, ¡°Zhou Yuan seems to be seriously injured?¡± Anyone could sense that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was also swiftly weakening, undoubtedly a sign that he would no longer be able to fight. Mu Wuji, Zhao Pan and the other four envoys watched closely, not daring to blink. Under their watching eyes, Zhou Yuan feebly wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. His usage of Silver Shadow had been very brief this time, which was why Zhou Yuan had not directly lost consciousness like before. Even so, Zhou Yuan could feel that his Spirit had become extremely weak. He did indeed no longer possess the strength to do battle. However, no panic appeared on his face. He lowered his head to look at his hand, seeing fresh blood drip from his fingertips, but it did not belong to him... Zhou Yuan declared in an indifferent voice, ¡°Wu Huang, you all will never be able to take what¡¯s truly mine.¡± Back still facing each other, Wu Huang¡¯s hoarse voice was transmitted over, ¡°How can this be?! How can I lose to trash like you?! It¡¯s not fair!¡± His howls were filled with indignation. ¡°You were too prideful.¡± Replied Zhou Yuan. Wu Huang¡¯s expression twisted as he recalled the words Wu Yao once said to him when he left the Great Wu royal palace. ¡°Wu Huang, there will eventually come a day where you will lose because of your pride and arrogance.¡± The him from back then had laughed at these words, because he had never felt that the crippled dragon Zhou Yuan was even worthy enough to enter his eyes. He saw the latter as an ant, an ant that could easily be swatted away into the endless abyss with a simple flip of his hand. However, he would never have imagined the things that had happened today... The once ant like existence in his eyes had destroyed all of his trump cards... The pride he once had began to vanish completely at this moment. ¡°I¡­ won¡¯t accept¡­¡± Mumbled Wu Huang. Squerrch! A line of blood slowly appeared on his neck. In the next instant, Wu Huang¡¯s head fell from his body... Blood dashed into the sky. The entire Saint Remains Domain and the area outside was completely silent, before countless gasps sounded. ¡°Wu Huang has been killed!¡¯ Gaze after gaze stared at this scene in shock. No one had expected the unfathomably powerful Wu Huang would be killed by a Heaven Gate stage youth. Mu Wuji¡¯s mouth hung wide open, the pipe in his hand shaking as he mumbled, ¡°This kid, how the heck did he do it?!¡± Moments ago, he had been certain that Zhou Yuan was dead! But who could have expected him to suddenly break through Wu Huang¡¯s terrifying attack, almost instantaneously reversing the situation, and then taking his head... ¡°How can this be?!¡± Zhao Pao also roared. His abruptly stood up with a stormy expression, chillingly staring at the mirror with eyes filled with disbelief. He was likewise unable to accept that Wu Huang had lost to Zhou Yuan! The entire place was plagued by an endless uproar. However, no matter how much they did not believe it, the scenes in the mirror made them understand how cruel reality was. In the Saint Remains Domain, Xiao Tianxuan and Gu Ling were dumbstruck when they saw this scene. Moments later, they swallowed a mouthful of saliva. When they looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure again, there now some fear in their eyes. They clearly knew how powerful Wu Huang was, and yet, even someone as unreasonably strong as him had lost at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands... Meanwhile, rays of light suddenly exploded from the fifth to ninth stone platforms along the stone stairs. The light gradually weakened as the situation within the five stone platforms was clearly revealed. On the fifth stone platform, Luluo was seated on the ground, her small face rather pale. Little Frost feebly lay on her shoulder, the glow around it now pretty dim. Some distance to her front, a life-like ice statue glittered under the sunshine. Inside it, Zhu Ying¡¯s face was frozen, never to move again. On the sixth stone platform, Zhen Xu¡¯s clothes were torn and tattered, countless deep blade cuts all over his body. However, no blood flowed from his wounds, his body akin to a dried corpse. Before him, Jiang Quan was also covered in wounds, one of them however, had pierced the spot between his brows... On the seventh stone platform, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s fair feet stood on the shoulders of a muscular metal tower like figure. Blood could be seen at the corner of her mouth, making her red lips even more enchanting. The metal tower like man below her feet called Qin Tong had one knee on the ground. It was unknown whether he was dead or alive. On the eighth stone platform, or what was left of it. It was as if the entire platform had been blown apart. Ning Zhan climbed out from the rubble. His body was riddled with injuries, but the smile on his face was filled with wild excitement. One would faintly see white hair poking out from the rubble nearby. On the ninth stone platform, two figures were seated cross-legged. Bloody hole after hole could be seen on Blind Sword¡¯s body. His face was very pale, while the hand that grasp his black heavy sword trembled without end. Ye Ming was seated some distance to his front. However, a deep sword wound ran from his shoulder to his waist, practically splitting him into two. Both individuals¡¯ injuries were a terrible sight to behold. It was a case of neither party winning due to serious injuries. *Uproar*! The sight of this caused an uproar to wash across the entire place once again, but it was soon followed by deafening cheers. With the exception of the ninth stone platform, every other fight seemed to have ended in the Cangmang Continent¡¯s victory... However, Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the rest were currently lifting their heads to look towards the peak of the Saint mountain. Next, they saw the kneeling Zhou Yuan, a head falling behind him as blood spurted into the sky from Wu Huang¡¯s headless body... ¡°What a freak¡­¡± Mumbled Luluo. ¡°To think that he was able to do it¡­¡± Said Zhen Xu in a soft voice. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s eyes shined. With a lovely laugh, she slyly said, ¡°Looks like¡­ this guy is a pretty good option too¡­¡± Ning Zhan stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure with a solemn expression, ¡°How formidable, I really want to¡­ go at it with him!¡± Blind Sword Li Chunjun lightly grasped his heavy sword in silence for a while, before he spoke, ¡°Zhou Yuan, it seems that you will a better grindstone for my sword than Wu Huang in the future¡­¡± Ye Ming coughed out some blood as he shook his head and smiled. ¡°Heh heh, Wu Huang ah Wu Huang, I truly never expected that you will ultimately lose to him¡­¡± Every gaze had converged onto the white jade plaza. Where an exceptionally shocking scene was present. Under the lingering rays of the sun, a figure kneeled on one knee, while a head fell, blood spraying into the sky... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 198 Splitting the Sacred Dragon Blessing On the ruins of what was once a white jade plaza, Zhou Yuan was kneeling on one knee. His expression was deathly pale, the Genesis Qi around his body extremely weak, while the Spirit between his brows was so dim that it seemed as if it was about to be extinguished. He gently turned his gaze, eyes indifferent as he looked towards the headless body behind him. Bzz! All of a sudden, Wu Huang¡¯s headless corpse began to tremble faintly. A split second later, a flash of light dashed out from his stump of a neck, the roar of a dragon echoing within it. A faint translucent dragon silhouette was revealed within the light. The dragon silhouette was ancient and noble, like a gift from the heavens. Zhou Yuan heart violently shook when he saw it. He could feel an extremely intimate and familiar aura from it... ¡°The sacred dragon blessing¡­¡± There was a slight tremble in Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice. Back then, king Wu had extracted the sacred dragon blessing from his body and infused it into Great Wu¡¯s python and sparrow... He never imagined that a dozen years later, he would once again be able to feel the sacred dragon blessing that originally belonged to him. Hss! The Omni Python Qi in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Qi Dwelling began to stir violently. A hiss seemed to echo, filled with an indescribable thirst and desire. Bzz! The translucent dragon silhouette coiled in mid-air for a moment, before suddenly sweeping dowards. However, it was not headed towards Zhou Yuan but Wu Huang¡¯s decapitated head. ¡°Wu Huang, I knew that you will not die so easily!¡± Chilling light blossomed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, no hesitation whatsoever as he immediately threw a punch. The tiny bit of Genesis Qi that had just recovered in his body whizzed out without reservation, ruthlessly blasting towards Wu Huang¡¯s head. At this moment, the head on the ground suddenly opened its eyes. Light appeared between its brows, revealing a faint illusory figure. It was Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit. Zhou Yuan had slayed Wu Huang¡¯s physical body, but his Spirit had hid itself between his brows. When the gazes both inside and outside Saint Remains saw this, they burst out in alarm, ¡°Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit has not faded together with his body?¡± ¡°It seems that he has a Spirit protection treasure. That¡¯s how his Spirit hid in his head.¡± ¡°But the Spirit is useless without a body unless it steps into the Corporeal stage. However, Wu Huang''s Spirit was clearly far from that level!" "Zhou Yuan only needs to pulverise his head. His Spirit will then have nowhere to hide, making it an easy target." ¡°...¡± Swish! Spirit power spread from the spot between his brows, lifting the head into the air and avoiding Zhou Yuan''s attack. The head''s mouth opened, attempting to suck away the sacred dragon blessing. "Heavenly Yuan Brush!" Zhou Yuan drew the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his waist with ice-cold eyes. With a little shake, the brush began to grow, its snow-white hairs stretching into long snow-white whips that swiftly pierced towards Wu Huang¡¯s head. Wu Huang no longer dared to take back the sacred dragon blessing, quickly abandoning his previous actions. His head rose, avoiding the snow-white hairs. Wu Huang¡¯s head flew about, his mouth opening and closing as an eerie voice sounded, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I was indeed too confident this time. However, it will not be so easy for you to kill me!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly and suddenly grabbed with his hand. Ch! Hairs that could not be seen with the naked eye suddenly appeared out of nowhere, quickly surrounding Wu Huang¡¯s head. In the next moment, all of them shot towards their target, piercing Wu Huang¡¯s head. Bang! As the hairs swept past, Wu Huang¡¯s head burst into pieces. Though the head was destroyed, Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. He had caught sight of a palm-sized illusory figure rising from the mist of blood. That Spirit naturally belonged to Wu Huang. However, there was a layer of glittering star light wrapped around Wu Huang¡¯s illusory Spirit like a set of clothes. It was the protection of this star clothes that allowed Wu Huang¡¯s mid Illusory stage Spirit to separate from his body. ¡°Spirit armor?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. The star clothes was a kind of Spirit armor that could protect one¡¯s Spirit. Even normal Corporeal stage Spirit cultivators were unable to create one. It was obvious that Wu Huang had a very powerful backer. Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit looked over and coldly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I said that you can¡¯t kill me!¡± ¡°Humph, want to take back the sacred dragon blessing? Dream on. It has been in my body for over a dozen years, making my control over it greater than yours. Once I take it back, there will naturally be a chance for revenge in the future!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s hands quickly formed a seal, and the sacred dragon blessing began to tremble. In the end, it began to flow towards Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were ice-cold. It had not been easy for him to find an opportunity to slay Wu Huang¡¯s physical body and draw out the sacred dragon blessing within. If he allowed Wu Huang to retrieve it, Zhou Yuan did not know how long he would have to wait for another chance like this would come by. In addition, even if he ended up being unable to completely destroy Wu Huang today, losing the sacred dragon blessing would be an unimaginably huge blow to the latter. Therefore, Zhou Yuan absolutely could not allow Wu Huang to succeed. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath and gave the Heavenly Yuan Brush a little jerk. Its snow-white hairs flew under his feet, lifting him into the air and making a beeline for the sacred dragon blessing. ¡°Stop dreaming Zhou Yuan. You cannot take away this sacred dragon blessing!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit laughed loudly. An icy light flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, ¡°Is that so?¡± He slowly lifted his right hand where a lump of blood-red slowly squirmed on his palm, giving off an aura of resentment. Zhou Yuan asked in a low voice, ¡°Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, do you recall the reason for your existence? Don¡¯t you want to take back this sacred dragon blessing?!¡± The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison had a mind of its own. Ever since the sacred dragon blessing¡¯s appearance, Zhou Yuan had felt it stirring impatiently. Roar! The moment Zhou Yuan¡¯s words faded, the lump of blood-red abruptly began to shudder. It pierced out of Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm, blood-red Qi surging forth, transforming into a blood-red dragon head in front of his hand... The dragon head roared and ferociously sucked. Wu Huang was immediately shocked and terrified by this. The sacred dragon blessing that had originally been flowing towards him was now surging towards Zhou Yuan at an astonishing speed. ¡°God damn it!¡± Howled Wu Huang as he hurriedly used all his might to frantically suck up the sacred dragon blessing in an attempt to regain it. Thus, the sacred dragon blessing split in the air, surging towards two different directions. But, the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison was clearly much faster! In the short span of several dozen breaths, the sacred dragon blessing had disappeared. Nearly two thirds of it had been swallowed by the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison Wu Huang was only able to get back a third. ¡°AAARHH!¡± Wu Huang completely lost it this time, his eyes entirely red. He had not acted in such a manner even when his physical body was slain earlier, all because he clearly understood the functions of the sacred dragon blessing. As long as he possessed it, it would only be a matter of time before he rose again! But a large portion of the sacred dragon blessing had now been taken back by Zhou Yuan. This would affect not only himself, but also the country blessing of the Great Wu Empire. However, there was nothing he could do no matter how angry he got. The only thing left of him was his Spirit, and it would not be easy for him to escape from Zhou Yuan, let alone trying to do anything to the latter. Dazzling star light exploded from Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit, sweeping him up as it soared into the sky, before disappearing as if penetrating through space itself. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I will never let you off!¡± As Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit disappeared, his mad howls continued to echo. ... Outside the Saint Remains Domain. Zhao Pan¡¯s expression was dark and stormy as he retrieved a star disc from his clothes. Star light shined from it, gathering in front of him to ultimately form a spatial passageway. Swish! A flash of star light shot out from within, landing on the star disc together with Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit. Zhao Pan was evidently the one who had saved Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit. Nearby, Mu Wuji sneered and said, ¡°Heh, I never imagined that you would have even brought the Sacred Palace¡¯s Star Spirit Disc. Could you guys have predicted Wu Huang¡¯s loss?¡± Zhao Pan¡¯s expression was white with anger, but he ignored the former and instead shot a cold glance at the Spirit in the star disc as he scolded in his heart, ¡°What a useless piece of trash. If not for palace master, I would not have saved you¡­¡± Although he was furious at Wu Huang¡¯s uselessness, he still carefully kept the star disc, allowing Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit to recover within it. After all, before leaving Sacred Palace, palace master had personally tasked him to bring Wu Huang back even if all that was left was a tiny wisp of his Spirit. Zhao Pan had initially scoffed at such a notion, but who could have imagined that Wu Huang¡¯s physical body would be slain, only escaping with his Spirit... Zhao Pan raised his head and looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the mirror as killing intent involuntarily flitted across his eyes. ¡°Can¡¯t believe that this brat was able to go so far¡­¡± But he knew that with Mu Wuji watching, there was nothing he could do to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly become the greatest winner in the Saint Remains Domain. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 199 Lost Country Blessing On the white jade plaza, Zhou Yuan calmly gazed at the spot where Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit had disappeared as his body slowly descended. Wu Huang¡¯s escape was a little out of his expectations. Fortunately, two thirds of the sacred dragon blessing in Wu Huang''s body had been forcibly wrestled away by the Dragon''s Resentment Poison and him. Losing the majority of the sacred dragon blessing would undoubtedly be a huge blow to Wu Huang, leaving many negative repercussions. Years ago when king Wu extracted the sacred dragon blessing in his body, it had been split into three. Great Wu¡¯s python and sparrow were each bestowed one portion, while the final one was turned into the country blessing of the Great Wu Empire. At this current point in time, Zhou Yuan had only managed to take back a small portion. Zhou Yuan raised his hand and looked at the blood-red lump of Qi on his palm that gave off a heavy aura of resentment. The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. After absorbing two thirds of Wu Huang¡¯s sacred dragon blessing, it seemed to have grown even more intense, while its form was gradually turning from the initial lump of blood-colored mist to a faint mini blood dragon silhouette. ¡°The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison has grown stronger.¡± Zhou Yuan could sense that it had become even more tyrannical, making him somewhat worried. The poison may be a deadly weapon at times, but at others, it was only a source of fear. After all, it had tortured and tormented Zhou Yuan to no end during the past dozen or so years. ¡°You and I share the same body. That sacred dragon blessing cannot be enjoyed by you alone.¡± The moment his voice fell, the Omni Python Qi in his Qi Dwelling began to circulate. A faint hiss was heard as the dark gold Genesis Qi took on the shape of a python. It opened its mouth, emitting a peculiar suction force. As suction force reached out, the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison on his palm began to shudder, releasing a low dragon¡¯s roar. Wisp after wisp of sacred dragon blessing left the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison and surfed into the Omni Python Qi. Roar! The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison roared, as if trying to resist. However, its resistance barely had any effect. Zhou Yuan could not possibly sit by and watch as it devoured the sacred dragon blessing and strengthened itself, turning into a huge problem in the future. Moreover, the sacred dragon blessing was clearly extremely beneficial to his Omni Python Qi. Sliver after sliver of scared dragon blessing was continuously absorbed by the Omni Python Qi. Zhou Yuan detected a change in the Omni Python Qi, its dark gold luster turning a little brighter... In addition, its grade was also steadily rising. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glimmered. As expected, the sacred dragon blessing was akin to a huge booster for the Omni Python Qi. According to his estimates, at this rate, the Omni Python Qi would definitely rise from grade 5 to 6! Although it was only an upgrade of a single grade, Zhou Yuan clearly understood just how big of a difference it would make. Grade 6 Genesis Qi. Even the great empires of the Cangmang Continent did not possess such a thing. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that Wu Huang was still able to take away some of it, or the Omni Python Qi may have been able to evolve, becoming the grade 7 World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi!¡± Zhou Yuan felt some regret. The sacred dragon blessing he obtained today could at most raise his Omni Python Qi by a single grade, and was not enough for it to evolve to the grade 7 level. However, he was not someone who would be overly fixated on the sacred dragon blessing. In fact, it was already out of his expectations to take back a portion of the sacred dragon blessing today. As for Wu Huang, it would not be so easy for him to recover from such a serious blow. ¡°Sacred dragon blessing¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers slowly clenched into a fist. He took in a deep breath as his gaze turned ice-cold. ¡°I will sooner or later take all of it back!¡± He calmed his surging emotions, allowing the Omni Python Qi to continue absorbing the sacred dragon blessing from the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, before he raised his head and looked towards the depths of the white jade plaza. The mists there suddenly dissipated, revealing a little stone path. Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a brief moment, before lifting his leg, walking towards the little stone path. He wanted to see exactly what kind of blessing he could obtain after all the painstaking effort it had taken to come all the way here. ... The Great Wu Empire. In a great hall where numerous officials discussed matters of the state. A figure in dragon robes was seated on the king¡¯s seat. A powerful aura of dignity spread from his body, giving rise to respect in anyone who felt it. Genesis Qi faintly converged above his head, seemingly forming a cloud for which Genesis Qi light shines down. He was a middle-aged man with a stern and dignified face. Those eyes however were somewhat sunken, making him appear extremely cold. This individual was the king of the Great Wu Empire, king Wu! At this current moment, his eyes were slightly closed as he listened to the reports of his ministers. All of a sudden, kind Wu''s eyes opened and looked outside the great hall. The roar of a dragon suddenly sounded in the sky above the royal palace as the Genesis Qi in the area began to descend into chaos. The land shook as disorder began washing over the royal palace. King Wu''s expression immediately turned rather grim and stormy. Light surfaced in his eyes as he looked towards the sky outside the palace which was originally occupied by the presences of a dragon and phoenix. These two presences swirled around the royal palace, and represented the country blessing of the Great Wu Empire. At this current moment, the phoenix QI was still present, but the dragon QI was rapidly dimming at an alarming speed. "Some dragon Qi has been lost?!" King Wu abruptly stood up, his expression changing drastically as he said in disbelief, "Something has happened to Huang''er?!" "The Genesis Qi of the land shifting towards the east!" "The east¡­ that''s towards the Great Zhou Empire!" The expression in king Wu''s eyes turned extremely terrifying. "Well done Great Zhou Empire, looks like you can''t even die in peace!." Although he did know exactly what had happened, the country blessing they lost had clearly moved towards the Great Zhou Empire, causing the Genesis Qi of the land to shift towards the east. He suddenly looked towards his officials and sternly commanded, "Quick, immediately send men to the Saint Remains Domain and find the crown prince. They must ensure his safety!" ... The Great Zhou Empire. In the royal palace, Zhou Qing was accompanying Qin Yu for a stroll in the flower park. His footsteps suddenly paused, somewhat bewildered as he lifted his head in uncertainty. Genesis Qi surged in his eyes, and he immediately saw a peculiar presence appear out of nowhere with a sudden surge of Qi. The presence flew about for a moment before making itself comfortable, taking on the shape of a dragon. At this moment, the Genesis Qi in the entire Great Zhou Empire seemed to become a little more lively and robust. Zhou Qing was stunned and involuntarily cried out, "This, this is a country blessing?!" Back in its golden age, the Great Zhou Empire naturally possessed a country blessing. It was only later on after the Wu clan''s rebellion, when the Great Zhou Empire had weakened that its country blessing dissipated substantially, the tiny bit left bitterly persevering. Who could have imagined that it would appear again today?! Zhou Qing blankly stared at this scene. Moments later, his eyes reddened as he said in a trembling voice, "It''s Yuan''er!" "Yuan''er must have taken back the sacred dragon blessing!" "Yuan''er was headed for the Saint Remains Domain. He must have encountered Wu Huang and taken back a portion of the sacred dragon blessing from him!" Zhou Qing was quickly able to make some conjectures. Still a little in disbelief, he grabbed Qin Yu''s hand and excitedly said, "Yuan''er must have defeated Wu Huang!" "It that true?!" Qin Yu also found this unbelievable, but was so overjoyed that tears began gathering in her eyes. She had been worrying about Zhou Yuan ever since he had left. After all, only the elite geniuses journeyed to the Saint Remains Domain, and Zhou Yuan was undoubtedly lacking somewhat compared to them. However, she had just heard that he had defeated Wu Huang... Zhou Qing forcefully nodded his head. ¡°Or else the country guardian dragon Qi would not possibly appear in the Great Zhou Empire!¡± He could not help but laugh heartily, those usually tiger like eyes now flooding with uncontrollable tears. ¡°Excellent! Excellent! Let¡¯s see who still dares to say our Yuan¡¯er is the crippled dragon of the Zhou clan!¡± For the past few years, he had been under tremendous pressure from king Wu and the Great Wu Empire. He had painstakingly tried to hold the Great Zhou Empire together, but each day was filled with darkness, not the slightest ray of hope to be seen. In addition, Zhou Qing¡¯s failure to protect Zhou Yuan and allow such a calamity to befall him at his birth was something Zhou Qing deeply reproached himself for. All till now... He raised his head and looked towards the direction of the Great Wu Empire, as if seeing king Wu¡¯s enraged appearance. ¡°King Wu¡­ you believed that taking my son¡¯s sacred dragon blessing would plummet him into an endless abyss¡­¡± ¡°You believed that you had already won, right?¡± ¡°However, it seems¡­¡± ¡°That you still haven¡¯t won completely!¡± ¡°And my Great Zhou has not lost completely either!¡± ... An old, ancient hall sat on a certain mountain peak, mists swirling around it. In a pavilion within, a young lady in purple opened her long and narrow eyes. Her beautiful face was peculiarly bewitching, the potential to charm anyone already visible even at such a young age. Especially her presence, noble and mysterious like a phoenix. This was clearly the Great Wu Empire¡¯s Wu Yao. She had just moments ago faintly felt that something had happened. The young lady indifferently muttered to herself, ¡°Wu Huang¡­ I told you that you will sooner or later lose due to your pride and arrogance.¡± She was Wu Huang¡¯s twin, and had also obtained a portion of the sacred dragon blessing which naturally allowed her to sense the changes in it. Evidently, Wu Huang had lost. Moreover, he had last to the so-called crippled dragon from the Great Zhou Empire. However, Wu Yao did not really feel anything towards Wu Huang¡¯s loss and the subsequent seizure of the sacred dragon blessing. Because she was a cold and aloof person. In addition, she could detect the abnormal love Wu Huang had towards her, something that she was not fond of at all. "Zhou Yuan¡­" She softly said his name. Soon after, a bewitching smile rose from the corners of her red lips as she softly said, ¡°It seems that you truly are that sacred dragon. Even after falling into a dark abyss, you still managed to crawl back out¡­¡± Her gaze lifted slightly, as if piercing through space to see a certain figure in Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°I know that you want to take back all of the sacred dragon blessing, right? What a coincidence. The truth is that I too plan on enjoying the blessing alone¡­¡± Wu Yao¡¯s slender fingers gently lifted the fine black hair that hung over her cheek, her dignified looking eyes slowly closing as a faint voice seemed to sound. ¡°Zhou Yuan, keep on growing even stronger¡­ because the day we eventually meet will be the day I devour you¡­¡± ¡°You should take care. After all, I am not an idiot like Wu Huang¡­¡± ¡°Heehee¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 200 Difference in Treatmen Faint mists swirled in the vicinity of the small cobbled path on which Zhou Yuan cautiously advanced. After several minutes, the view before his eyes gradually expanded as a stone pavilion appeared in his sights. Zhou Yuan approached the pavilion, only to be stunned. To his surprise, there was already someone inside. In the stone pavilion, a beautiful figure in white leaned against a stone chair. Her white clothes outlined her slender curves, fine black hair hanging downwards, a bottle in one hand and a cup in the other as she leisurely poured for herself and drank. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze paused on the beautiful figure¡¯s face. the corners of his mouth immediately beginning to twitch. ¡°Yaoyao?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes nearly popped out from their sockets. Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, ¡°You! Why are you here?!¡± Yaoyao lifted her gaze, looking towards Zhou Yuan as she softly chuckled. ¡°Ha, not bad. I did not expect you to be the ultimate winner¡­ this has truly surpassed my expectations.¡± Yaoyao cocked her head as she smiled and continued, ¡°I too do not know how I arrived here. When the green flood descended, I was picked up and sent here.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face practically turned green with indignation. He had fought nail and tooth, In contrast, Yaoyao had done nothing at all, but she was still able to reach this place earlier than him! Even with his mental fortitude, Zhou Yuan could not help but feel a little shattered by this difference in treatment. How could the gap between two people be so tremendous? "How is this fair!" Zhou Yuan walked into the pavilion, snatching the cup in Yaoyao''s hand and downing it in one fluid motion. Yaoyao stared at the cup in Zhou Yuan''s hand which she had been drinking from earlier. Her eyes immediately narrowed dangerously as she asked with a slight smile, "Zhou Yuan, do you want to die?" Upon hearing her danger laced tone, Zhou Yuan instantly understood and hastily put down the cup as he awkwardly said, "I''m seriously injured, and any little knock might kill me. Please don''t be rash." Yaoyao rolled her eyes at him and snatched back the cup. If an outsider dared to do what Zhou Yuan had just done, she would have blasted him to ashes with a hundred Genesis Rune scrolls long ago. Zhou Yuan hurriedly tried to change the topic with a smile, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, what is this place? Isn¡¯t there suppose to be a blessing here?¡± Yaoyao stretched her back, exposing her proud, soul-stirring curves as she lazily said, ¡°No idea. I¡¯ve been sitting here drinking for most of the day and haven¡¯t gotten a look around.¡± Zhou Yuan was speechless. Others would be willing to even throw away their lives just to vie for the blessing, while this Yaoyao was gifted with a headstart but barely showed any interest. In her eyes, finding the blessing was clearly ranked much lower than finding good alcohol. ¡°I was waiting here to see who would eventually come in. If it was Wu Huang or Ye Ming, it would mean that you failed, and I will help you chase them out.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s spirited and clear eyes stared at Zhou Yuan with some surprise as she continued, ¡°However, I did not expect that you would actually make it¡­ meaning Wu Huang lost to you?¡± A slight warmth flowed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart when he heard this. So the main reason why Yaoyao had stayed here was because of him. Zhou Yuan calmly said, ¡°Yea, I fought with him, slayed his physical body and snatched back a portion of the sacred dragon blessing. Unfortunately, his Spirit escaped.¡± ¡°Tch tch.¡± Yaoyao placed a hand on her sharp snow-white chin as she smiled and said, ¡°Such an outcome is indeed somewhat out of my expectations. Her eyes swept across Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, seemingly smiling as she said, ¡°Why are you acting so calm, you¡¯re clearly very pleased with yourself, right?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched in embarrassment. Yaoyao¡¯s fine crystal-like nails gently tapped the jade bottle. ¡°But it is a feat you should be pleased about. Even I never expected you to reach so far.¡± Zhou Yuan was surprised. ¡°You¡¯re praising me?¡± Yaoyao extended a hand and gently rubbed Zhou Yuan¡¯s head as she earnestly said, ¡°You have potential little boy.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned black with anger as he lightly smacked away her hand. ¡°As for his Spirit escaping, it doesn¡¯t sound like it will be a problem because he has already lost his best chance.¡± Said Yaoyao with a chuckle. Zhou Yuan nodded, an additional trace of confidence on his calm face as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve already slayed him once, and will naturally be able to kill him a second time. He won¡¯t be so lucky next time.¡± In the past, he had lagged far behind Wu Huang, making it the most dangerous period for him. Even so, he had managed to persist through this period. It was as Yaoyao said. Wu Huang had lost his best chance. And such a chance would not appear again Yaoyao rose to her feet, her black hair swinging past Zhou Yuan''s face along with a whiff of tranquil fragrance. She lifted her perfect, unblemished face, light shining upon it as she peered into the distance and said in an unenthusiastic voice, "Hai, since we''re here, let''s head further in and see what''s here." Zhou Yuan''s eyes glowed upon hearing this, his eyes filled with impatience. He had suffered all sorts of hardships in order to come here, all for the sake of the greatest blessing. Hence, compared to Yaoyao''s laziness, his heart was practically leaping from his throat. The two walked out of the stone pavilion, heading deeper into the place. They walked along the cobbled mountain path, passing through a dense forest before their footsteps finally came to a halt. To their front was a cliff. Beyond the cliff was seemingly endless swirling mists. A giant pine tree stood by the edge of the cliff, under the tree which was jade white, there was a stone chair on which a figure could be seen. "Finally here?" The moment Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan''s eyes fell upon the figure, a gentle and kind voice was transmitted over. The figure raised his head. One would see that his jade like skin was just like a baby''s. Long hair scattered behind him, his face was that of a young man. His eyes however seemed to contain an ancientness that spoke of countless years of experiences. When Zhou Yuan met his gaze, the former felt an indescribable pressure, pressure that even made his Spirit tremble faintly. This made Zhou Yuan understand that the handsome young man before them was an extremely terrifying existence. In fact¡­ he was likely the legendary Saint that had died. Of course, the one before them was likely just a mere fragment of the original. Even though he was only a fragment, he was still able to make Zhou Yuan feel an indescribable pressure. After spending some time accustoming themselves to the pressure, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao approached. "Elder." Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together, respect on his face. Yaoyao was still somewhat listless, even unable to stop herself from covering her mouth as she yawned. The young man merely smiled faintly. He stood up as his gaze swept across Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, those bottomless eyes seemingly able to see through all secrets. He walked over, giving a casual nod in response to Zhou Yuan''s respect, before casting his gaze towards Yaoyao. He looked at Yaoyao, a long and close look. In that moment, Zhou Yuan could sense satisfaction and admiration appear in the man''s gaze. He then laughed softly. "I''ve finally met you¡­" Zhou Yuan was practically on the verge of tears. Come on! I was the one who fought all the way up here with my abilities. Why is there such a huge difference in treatment? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 201 Patriarch Cang Xuan When Zhou Yuan was nearly about to burst into tears due to the difference in treatment, Yaoyao raised her eyebrows slightly, looking at the mysterious existence that wore the form of a young man and asked, "You know me?" The refreshingly handsome young man chuckled, but did not answer her question. "I know Cang Yuan." "You know master Cang Yuan?" Zhou Yuan was taken aback, some astonishment in his gaze at he looked towards the young man. "Elder, you are?" The young man before them seemed to be about the same age as them, but his seemingly bottomless ancient eyes told them that he was definitely an ancient monster like existence. The handsome young man fell in thought for a bit, before he smiled and said, "I am the Saint who died¡­ you may call me patriarch Cang Xuan." Zhou Yuan secretly remarked in his heart, ¡°As expected, this young man is that legendary Saint.¡± ¡°Of course, the current me is merely made from a little Spirit energy. My original body has already died.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan spoke with a faint smile, his expression honest and forthcoming. ¡°But why is Cang Yuan not by your side?¡± Asked patriarch Cang Xuan as he looked towards Yaoyao. Yaoyao''s pretty face dimmed slightly. "Grandpa Hei was attacked by mysterious enemies, so he left." Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eyes widened a little. ¡°Elder, do you know where I can find grandpa Hei?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes looked towards patriarch Cang Xuan. She had grown up under Cang Yuan¡¯s care, and treated him as a grandpa. She was naturally worried about Cang Yuan, but did not know how to find him. Patriarch Cang Xuan shook his head. ¡°You need not worry for him. The old guy¡¯s pretty capable, and will naturally seek you out when he feels that it¡¯s safe.¡± A trace of disappointmented flitted across Yaoyao¡¯s eyes, before she began to ask another question, ¡°Does elder know of my roots?¡± She had lived with Cang Yuan in the isolated domain since young, and had never come into contact with the outside world nor knew where she came from. At the very least, she should have parents, right? Cang Yuan had never mentioned such matters to her, although Yaoyao did not mind too much. In addition, there were the mysterious enemies that even grandpa Hei was fearful of. Where had they come from? She could feel that those people were likely after her. Patriarch Cang Xuan was silent for a while, before he spoke, ¡°It is not appropriate for me to speak of these matters, but you will discover the answers for yourself if you find a chance in the future.¡± His words were clearly avoiding Yaoyao¡¯s question. Hence, Yaoyao did not ask any further on the topic. ¡°Hehe, am I right to say that the two of you have come here searching for my blessing?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan smile widely as he hurriedly shifted the topic. Yaoyao did not respond, leaving Zhou Yuan no option but to step in. ¡°We were directed here by the Saint Tablet¡­¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled and said, ¡°Do you want to hear my story?¡± Before either of them could reply however, he had already seated himself by the white jade tablet and summoned two stools from the mist with a wave of his hand, before he warmly said, ¡°Come, have a seat.¡± Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao exchange a look, before they sat down. Patriarch Cang Xuan beamed as he shot a look at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Cang Yuan has good eyes, he¡¯s gotten himself another pretty decent disciple. Over the years, this is the first time I have seen such a weak person arrive here.¡± Zhou Yuan''s face turned black. Was this praise or an insult. With a faint smile, patriarch Cang Xuan beckoned with his hand, causing the mist to gather. It filled their surroundings, the surging mists transforming into a screen of sorts. In the screen, a figure stood in the air. From his appearance, it was patriarch Cang Xuan. Vast and seemingly endless Genesis Qi surged above patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s head, covering the heavens. It was impossible for anyone to imagine how powerful such Genesis Qi was. However, patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s expression was extremely grave, while seemingly carrying something in his arms. At closer inspection, one would find that it looked a little like a baby. The world in the screen was suddenly torn open at this moment. Endless lightning poured out as if to destroy the entire world. From within the endless raging lightning, three rays of light descended, landing at three different directions around patriarch Cang Xuan. Inside, one would faintly see three figures standing in the air. Their bodies gave off a holy, sacred light, and authority that no one was allowed to even question. It felt as if they were existences that were high and mighty to an indescribable degree, like the gods themselves. The mere sight of those barely visible figures made Zhou Yuan feel pressure swallow his body, causing his Spirit to shiver. An earthshaking battle erupted in the screen. The three godlike figures surrounded and attacked patriarch Cang Xuan, while he responded in kind. However, patriarch Cang Xuan was not a match for them in the end. At the final, critical juncture, patriarch Cang Xuan ripped open space itself and pushed the baby in as his body was struck by the three godlike figures... Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s body burst apart, transforming into a million rays of light that slowly scattered as they fell. The scene playing on the screen ended at this point. The surroundings of the white jade table was silent. Shock colored Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Although there were no sounds from the screen, he could still feel an indescribable pressure. A battle of such proportions was truly akin to armageddon... But who were those godlike figures? Why had they attacked patriarch Cang Xuan? ¡°Do you know who was the baby I was protecting is?¡± There was a smile on patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s youthful face as he looked towards the two. Before either of them could reply, his gaze paused on Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful face as he said, ¡°You are that baby.¡± Zhou Yuan was stupefied, even his ears buzzing somewhat. The one patriarch Cang Xuan protected till his death was Yaoyao? Yaoyao¡¯s hands suddenly clenched tightly, a blank look in her eyes. It was clear that she did not have any memories about this incident. ¡°Elder must be joking right? If that baby was big sis Yaoyao, the time doesn¡¯t match up.¡± Said Zhou Yuan with some difficulty. Patriarch Cang Xuan had died over a thousand years ago, while master Cang Yuan said that Yaoyao had been living with him for about a dozen years in their isolated domain. Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled. ¡°She is not ordinary, so you shouldn¡¯t judge her by the logic of ordinary people. Of course, frankly speaking, her age is indeed not far from your own.¡± Zhou Yuan could not find any words to say. Yaoyao¡¯s identity was indeed shrouded in mystery, while also involving unimaginably huge matters. Else they would not have come into contact with people like master Cang Yuan and patriarch Cang Xuan. These were true ancient monster like existences. Behind all this was likely some sort of conspiracy that extended to the very ends of the sky. Yaoyao was silent for a long time, before she softly said, ¡°If so¡­ you can be said to be my saviour?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled in a carefree manner. Yaoyao fell into thought for a while, before suddenly taking out a cup. She then fished out a jade gourd, filled the cup and offered it to patriarch Cang Xuan. ¡°This cup is thanks towards old mister.¡± Although she did not know why, at the end of the day, the person before her had died while saving her. In addition, Yaoyao could sense that he was not lying. Patriarch Cang Xuan was stunned for a moment as he stared at the cup before him. Soon after, he chuckled and said, ¡°I find myself liking this cup of alcohol.¡± He held it with both hands and downed it in one swift motion, seemingly wanting to bask in this moment a little more. Yaoyao gazed at patriarch Cang Xuan and asked, ¡°Who are the three figures that attacked old mister? They should be after me, right? And grandpa Hei¡¯s departure is likely also related to them.¡± "They are the¡­" Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s brows seemed to lock together. He was silent for a very long time, before he slowly spat out two words that seemed to contain an inexplicable presence. "Sacred race¡­" Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 202 Sacred Race ¡°Sacred race?¡± As these two words echoed through the mist, space seemed to ripple faintly. There was no longer any noise to be heard from their surroundings, as if all things were being suppressed. From the sight of patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s gloomy expression, Zhou Yuan could faintly feel the suffocating feeling from those two words. All of a sudden, he recalled the scenes he had seen in the underground palace of the Battle Puppet Sect in Black Water. A long time ago, many powerful sects existed in the vast land of Black Water. Later on however, due to one of the so-called Sacred race''s prided geniuses dying there, they sent down divine punishment, exterminating every last life form in Black Water... Heartless and powerful. This was the only impression Zhou Yuan had towards the Sacred race. He had thought it would be a long time before he would encounter this entity again, but who could have expected that he would once again hear of it here... Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, ¡°What is the Sacred race?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes also looked towards patriarch Cang Xuan. She had read many ancient texts, but was unable to find much information regarding the Sacred race. Patriarch Cang Xuan looked towards the sky with a complicated expression, an expression mixed with sorrowful hatred and fear. ¡°At the beginning, before any living had come into existence, the first race to be born from the primal mass of creation was the Sacred race.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan slowly continued, ¡°The Sacred race was endowed with superior talent, making them extremely powerful. In ancient times, they were the rulers of the world. Every other race, whether man, beast, or anything else were enslaved by them, living under their control. ¡°Later on, the various races rebelled, causing a great war to break out. Only through this were they able to free themselves from their slave shackles.¡± ¡°Even so, the Sacred race still act as if they are better than everyone else, making it forbidden to insult them. Members of the Sacred race have extremely high status, and the other races do not dare to make enemies of them, allowing them to thread over the races as they please.¡± "Only the inexhaustible human race was able to grow strong on their own and make a place for themselves in the world. From our tiny beginnings, we struggled and grew, countless honorable ancestors protecting each generation. By paying a tremendous price, the human race was able to carve a place for ourselves. Even so, we were still at a disadvantage.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan sighed softly. ¡°Do you know what land we are currently on?" ¡°Cangxuan Heaven?¡± Answered Zhou Yuan. Patriarch Cang Xuan then asked, "What about outside Cangxuan Heaven?" Zhou Yuan was rather taken aback. Cangxuan Heaven was already vast beyond his view. As for outside Cangxuan Heaven, how would he know? His current level was far too low after all. "To be precise, the world we''re on is called Tianyuan World. It is composed of nine Heavens, and Cangxuan Heaven is one of them. Zhou Yuan was wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Only now did he realise how tiny he was. The seemingly endless Cangxuan Heaven in his eyes was a mere one of nine... Just how vast was the entire Tianyuan World? "Of the nine Heavens, the Sacred race owns four, while the other five are shared by the various races." Only now did Zhou Yuan truly understand how tyrannical the Sacred race was. To think that a single race would own nearly half of Tianyuan World. "Then why is the Sacred race after me?" Yaoyao frowned slightly. This was clearly the greatest mystery. The Sacred race relentlessly hunted her down, and even a Saint level expert like patriarch Cang Xuan had been willing to die in order to protect her. Not to mention grandpa Hei who had also been protecting her all this time. In response to this question, patriarch Cangxuan was silent for some time, before he said, ¡°I cannot give you an answer because the implications are far too great. Both of you are still too weak, knowing too much will only allow you to be more easily found by the great powers of the Sacred race.¡± He stared at Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan as he continued, ¡°In the future, when both of you become truly strong, you will naturally find out.¡± Yaoyao gently bit into her red lips in silence. Patriarch Cang Xuan laughed and began to speak again, ¡°Moreover, you were not the only reason why the Sacred race attacked me.¡± ¡°I was once the number one expert in Cangxuan Heaven after all, and founder of the Cangxuan Sect. Back then, my sect was the number one sect in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± ¡°Cangxuan Sect huh?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook slightly. The bare-foot uncle he met in Saint Remains City seemed to be from the Cangxuan Sect. He never imagined patriarch Cang Xuan would be the founder and teacher ancestor of the Cangxuan Sect. Zhou Yuan suddenly asked, ¡°Then what relation does Sacred Palace have to the Sacred race?¡± The envoy of Sacred Palace had just come to mind. In the current Cangxuan Heaven, the Sacred Palace was the strongest. Scorn appeared in patriarch Cangxuan¡¯s eyes when he heard the two words Sacred palace as he sneered, ¡°What else can they be but the Sacred race¡¯s dogs. After the great war, the various races were freed from the Sacred race¡¯ enslavement and set-up the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, which restricted the entry of the apex level experts of the Sacred race into the five great Heavens. However, the Sacred race began to recruit members of the human race, creating a faction that served them, treated them as gods and did their bidding.¡± ¡°If not for the Sacred Palace¡¯s meddling, resulting in a vulnerability in the Chaos Origin Saint Killer Array that in turn allowed the apex level experts of the Sacred race to descend, I would have long wiped them off the face of this world!¡± At this point, chilling killing intent rose in patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Though you were part of the reason why the Sacred race attacked me, the other part is because they were after the Cangxuan Saint Stamp in my possession.¡± ¡°Cangxuan Saint Stamp?¡± Zhou Yuan blinked. What was it? A solemn expression emerged on patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s face as he slowly explained, ¡°When the world was formed and the nine Heavens took shape, nine objects were born from the source energy. They are known as the Nine World Stamps, and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is one of them.¡± ¡°The owners of these Saint Stamps are the rulers of each of the Heavens. They are known as the Heaven Masters!¡± ¡°And I was the previous Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven!¡± Patriarch Cangxuan smiled faintly as he declared this, a rarely seen pride together with a stern, dignified aura appearing on his youthful handsome face. ¡°Heaven Master¡­¡± Zhou Yuan secretly wet his lips. What a domineering title. The master of a Heaven huh. Looks like patriarch Cangxuan was really damn amazing. ¡°Sacred Palace schemed to obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp to replace me and become the new Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. Hence why they purposely drew over the apex level Sacred race experts.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eyes were ice-cold. Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, ¡°Then¡­ did they succeed?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled. ¡°Although they killed me and divided my Spirit into parts that were sealed, they underestimated me. Cangxuan Saint Stamp was also split and scattered by me, so how could they have succeeded?¡± Zhou Yuan breathed a tiny sigh of relief when he heard this. He had no good feelings towards Sacred Palace. What¡¯s more, the Sacred Palace envoy had secretly tried to help Wu Huang kill him outside the Saint Remains Domain. Thus, he would naturally be opposed to seeing Sacred Palace flourish. Patriarch Cang Xuan looked at Zhou Yuan and suddenly said, ¡°Do you know the origins behind the Saint Rune you obtained?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned, seemingly realising something as his eyes widened. ¡°Could it be?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan smile faintly and slowly nodded his head. However, his voice was akin to thunder when it landed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears, causing him to be shocked into a daze. ¡°That¡¯s right. The Saint Rune you obtained comes from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 203 Four Saint Runes ¡°No wonder it¡¯s so amazing.¡± A long while later, Zhou Yuan gradually returned to his senses as he sighed in amazement. This Saint Rune was able to find the vulnerabilities in numerous Genesis techniques, allowing him to break the opponents techniques with the minimum amount of power. Such an ability was practically cheating. In the previous battle with Wu Huang, if not for the Saint Rune¡¯s miraculous power, Zhou Yuan would have had to pay an even steeper price to obtain victory. Hence why Zhou Yuan was struck by a sudden flash of understanding when he heard it had originated from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. ¡°This Saint Rune is called the Decoder Saint Rune, and has the ability to find the vulnerabilities in all things. It¡¯s also one of the four Saint Runes that I split off from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± Patriarch Cangxuan smiled faintly. ¡°One of the four split off Saint Runes?¡± Zhou Yuan quickly realised the key words. Patriarch Cang Xuan nodded as he elaborated, ¡°When I was ambushed by the great powers of the Sacred race, they tried to take the Cangxuan Saint Stamp I controlled. However, they never imagined that I was already long prepared for such a scenario. I had sealed the main vessel, while splitting off the four Saint Runes on it, weakening its power and preventing the Sacred race from finding its location.¡± Zhou Yuan licked his lips inside. So there were a total of four of these mysterious Saint Runes. The Decoder Saint Rune was already so amazing. Zhou Yuan wondered what kind of powers the other three possessed. Patriarch Cang Xuan grinned as he gazed at Zhou Yuan, and suddenly said in a serious voice, ¡°Little lad, I see that you have fantastic talent, and have an important mission for you.¡± Zhou Yuan could sense that something was wrong. ¡°Elder, you can¡¯t be thinking of asking me to find the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, right?¡± ¡°Smart lad.¡± Praised patriarch Cang Xuan. Zhou Yuan immediately began shaking his head. ¡°Elder you think too highly of me. I¡¯m only a little Heaven Gate stage practitioner, how can I possibly have the qualifications to even touch such an ultimate treasure!¡± He was not brain damaged. Sure, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was an ultimate treasure, but Zhou Yuan knew that it was also akin to a scalding hot sweet potato. Let alone the Sacred race, even Sacred Palace was already an unimaginable behemoth in his eyes. If he were to come to possess the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and Sacred Palace somehow detected it. The disaster that followed would definitely be beyond his ability. ¡°Unambitious brat!¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan glared at Zhou Yuan. However, the former was a little surprised that Zhou Yuan was able to reject him. After all, any ordinary person would have long lost any semblance of rationality after hearing about this ultimate treasure, only greed left in them as they desperately tried to think of how to get their hands on it. In a certain way, he did admire Zhou Yuan for having such rationality. ¡°Brat, don¡¯t you want to protect her?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan shot a glance to the side at Yaoyao. There was no hesitation in Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice as he answered, ¡°That is my promise to master Cang Yuan.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan merely let out an icy chuckle. ¡®But you now know what kind of person she is, right? Do you dare to provoke her enemies? Do you think the likes of you can protect her?¡± Zhou Yuan calmly replied, ¡°I do not know whether I will be able to protect her, but I will do everything in my power. I promised master Cang Yuan that the only way anyone will be able to hurt her is by stepping over my corpse.¡± By the side, Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes seem to swirl a little. She cast a casual glance at him as her red lips curled slightly downwards. ¡°For the past one to two years, I¡¯ve been the one protecting you.¡± Although she said so, there was a glimmer of a smile in her pupils. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned red as he tried to explain, ¡°You¡¯ve gotta give me time to grow stronger!¡± ¡°That¡¯s a little more like it.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled before he continued, ¡°However, I have to tell you that if the Cangxuan Saint Stamp lands in the hands of Sacred Palace, the Sacred Palace master would become the new master of Cangxuan Heaven. When that happens, the range of his senses will grow beyond your imaginable. In fact¡­ he may even be able to discover Yaoyao.¡± ¡°In addition, because you¡¯ve already obtained one of the Saint Runes, the first agenda on the Sacred Palace master¡¯s list after obtaining the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would be to find the four Saint Runes, and allow the stamp to regain its full power.¡± ¡°And you¡­ will definitely be the first person in his crosshairs.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression could not help but change. It had clearly yet to strike him that the Sant Rune was also a scalding hot sweet potato. ¡°Elder, didn¡¯t you say that the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was sealed by you and no one will be able to find it!¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled faintly. ¡°It was indeed sealed by me, but Sacred Palace has never stopped searching for it. The Sacred Palace master is not useless either, and at this rate, he will be able to sense it sooner or later.¡± Zhou Yuan was speechless. When patriarch Cang Xuan saw the increasingly pained look on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, his tone softened slightly as he said, ¡°Moreover, I don¡¯t intend for you to find the Cangxuan Saint Stamp now. You may first search for the other three Saint Runes. That way, even if the Cangxuan Saint Stamp really ends up in the Sacred Palace¡¯s hands, the Sacred Palace master would not be able to become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven.¡± He shot a sideways glance at Zhou Yuan while he said, ¡°I don¡¯t believe that you aren¡¯t interested in those three Saint Runes.¡± Zhou Yuan wet his lips. It would be a lie to say he wasn¡¯t interested in them. He had already experienced the amazing ability of the Decoder Saint Rune, and was naturally itching to find out what powers the other three Saint Runes possessed. However, Cang Xuan¡¯s words were not wrong either,. The Sacred race clearly wanted to capture Yaoyao, and as the dogs of the Sacred race, Sacred Palace would definitely become a huge threat to Yaoyao if they were to obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Although he currently did not have the strength to oppose Sacred Palace, he was definitely willing to secretly create trouble for them, and at the very least prevent them from obtaining the complete Cangxuan Saint Stamp. After some thought, Zhou Yuan finally asked, ¡°Then where can I find the other three Saint Runes?¡± The current him may not have the qualifications to find the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, but he could search for the four Saint Runes that had been split off from the Saint Stamp. Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan was finally on board, patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled and said, ¡°The second Saint Rune was sealed in the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°Cangxuan Sect, Saint Genesis Peak?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled as he nodded. ¡°There are a total of seven peaks in Cangxuan Sect. Every peak has countless disciples, each with their own jobs and cultivation techniques. The Saint Genesis Peak is where I used seclude myself.¡± Zhou Yuan said, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that mean that I¡¯ll have to enter Cangxuan Sect in order to obtain the second Saint Rune?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled. ¡°Why? Are you not willing? My Cangxuan Sect may not be as powerful as it was in the past, but it is still one of the strongest sects in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. He was naturally happy to join Cangxuan Sect. After all, he did need a powerful shield for him to go about his mission. Without a backer, Sacred Palace would be able to do anything they pleased with him whenever they wanted. ¡°The Saint Genesis Peak was sealed by me before I died, making it such that no one can enter. After the two of you enter Cangxuan Sect and pass the peak selection ceremony, you can use my signet to enter the Saint Genesis Peak, break the seal and reopen it.¡± ¡°How troublesome¡­¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth drew back. ¡°Old man, you¡¯re the founder of Cangxuan Sect. Can¡¯t we take your signet straight to the sect master and seek permission to enter the Saint Genesis Peak to find the Saint Rune?¡± ¡°No.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan slowly said, ¡°The secret of the Saint Runes is too important, and no one in Cangxuan Sect knows of it. That¡¯s why you cannot reveal it.¡± ¡°Moreover¡­¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan was silent for a brief moment, before he said, ¡°I suspect that my death was not solely because of outsiders¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. Could there be a spy in Cangxuan Sect? ¡°How dangerous.¡± A pained look filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He stared at patriarch Cang Xuan and said in a voice that seemed to imply something else, ¡°Elder, the task you¡¯ve given is not easy at all. As the saying goes, if you want a horse to run fast, you¡¯ve got to feed it well¡­¡± When patriarch Cang Xuan saw how openly this fellow dared to ask, he could not help but let out an exasperated laugh, before he said in a slightly peeved voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t starve to death!¡± He extended a hand as golden rays of light gathered towards it, gradually taking the shape of a drop of golden liquid. It looked look a drop of golden blood. The appearance of this golden drop of blood immediately caused wind to blow loudly as endless Genesis Qi began to surge over. ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze was glued to the golden drop of blood as he swallowed his saliva. Patriarch Cang Xuan softly chuckled. ¡°This is what all of you dream of obtaining in the Saint Remains Domain¡­ a drop of my Saint blood.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 204 A Step into Alpha-Origin ¡°Saint blood...¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze seemed to boil with excitement as he stared at the drop of golden blood. He could already feel the boundless Genesis Qi contained within it, the purity level causing his scalp to turn slightly numb. How could he not know? Wasn¡¯t the reason why all of the geniuses in the Cangmang Continent gathered here was for this legendary drop of Saint blood? This drop of Saint blood held the wonders of a Saint. It was said that absorbing it would wash one¡¯s bones of impurities and strengthen them. When taken by practitioners that had yet to open their meridian channels, it would take them past the Channel Opening stage, and directly to the Qi Nourishing stage. Moreover, their foundations would be unimaginably solid. However, there was clearly no one who would be willing to use such a valuable thing on someone who had yet to open any meridian channels... In addition, the Saint blood could reconstruct one¡¯s foundations. If one encountered problems in one¡¯s cultivation that led to instability in one¡¯s foundations, the reconstruction process would be able to perfectly fix these problems. Most importantly of course, there were numerous marvels contained within the Saint blood, which were extremely beneficial to one¡¯s future cultivation progress. Patriarch Cang Xuan seemed to smile on the surface as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Brat, is this enough to fill you?¡± Zhou Yuan wiped away the saliva hanging from the corner of his mouth as he made a thumbs-up gesture. ¡°Patriarch is so generous.¡± He then paused for a moment, before he said, ¡°Is there anymore?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s handsome youthful face instantly blackened. ¡°You think this is some vegetable you can bulk buy in the market? Even at my prime, losing a drop of Saint blood will take very long to recover!" Zhou Yuan let out a dry laugh. "It''s a joke, please don¡¯t be angry." Patriarch Cang Xuan asked in a rather miffed voice, "Then what about the task I want you to do?" Zhou Yuan hurriedly said, "Don''t worry patriarch, since Sacred Palace is a threat to big sis Yaoyao, they will naturally be my number one enemy. No matter what, I will not let the other three Saint Runes land in their hands." Truthfully speaking, he would still choose to help patriarch Cang Xuan even without any benefits. After all, in a certain manner of speaking, Sacred Place was indeed a potential threat to Yaoyao. "Go make your preparations. You''ll absorb the Saint blood here since you might not be able to protect yourself if you leave." Patriarch Cang Xuan softly snorted. Zhou Yuan nodded upon hearing this. Patriarch Cang Xuan was right. The Saint blood was just too enticing, and who knows how many factions were already gathered outside the Saint Remains Domain. If they were to find out that he had a drop of Saint blood, who knew what kind of evil thoughts would rise in their hearts. He would surely be plagued by an endless amount of trouble. He sat down under the pine tree, his face filled with anticipation. Patriarch Cang Xuan flicked his finger, and the golden Saint blood transformed into flash of gold as it shot out. It rapidly expanded in the air, turning into a viscous golden mist that flowed into Zhou Yuan through his nose. Boom! A loud boom instantly exploded in Zhou Yuan''s mind. He felt as if a volcano was erupting in his body. Scorching golden mist frantically washed through his four limbs and bones like lava. In his Qi Dwelling, the dark gold Omni Python Qi hissed and began greedily devouring the golden mist. Viscous golden mist filled every corner of Zhou Yuan''s body, slowly seeping into his flesh, blood and bones... It this moment, glowing specks of gold began to surface in the blood, flesh and bones within his body. The Genesis Qi undulations from Zhou Yuan''s body steadily rose¡­ It was not only his Genesis Qi, even the originally dim and feeble Spirit between his brows due to using Silver Shadow started to recover at an astonishing speed... The wounds from his earlier battle instantly began to mend. Moreover, as his Spirit absorbed the golden mist, it began to strengthen, growing more and more corporeal. At this very moment, every part of Zhou Yuan''s body was undergoing a drastic transformation. A young man was seated under a pine tree. Genesis Qi spread from his body, seemingly taking the shape of a giant python behind him which continuously devoured sliver after sliver of golden mist¡­ Patriarch Cang Xuan''s eyes focused slightly as he glanced at the faint giant python behind Zhou Yuan. "This Genesis Qi seems to only be grade 5, yet, it seems to contain limitless potential¡­" "If I''m not wrong, it should be the legendary Ancestral Dragon Scripture, right?" Patriarch Cang Xuan looked towards Yaoyao. Yaoyao gave a slight nod, also staring at Zhou Yuan as she said, "Between the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and grandpa Hei''s Heavenly Yuan Cannon, he chose the former." "What an ambitious little fellow." Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled. Ordinary people would not have the courage to make such a decision. After all, the Ancestral Dragon Scripture is too difficult to cultivate, and once one steps onto this path, there is no turning back. Either you become a dragon, or you become a worm. "I wonder whether his choice is good or bad... " Patriarch Cang Xuan shook his head, an unreadable expression on his face. "Let this little guy slowly enjoy the transformation brought by the Saint blood." Patriarch Cang Xuan waved his sleeve as the mists formed into a go board in front of him. He smiled and asked, "Do you know how to play go?" Yaoyao held a piece between her fingers as it made a clear clack on the board. Yaoyao''s bright eyes stared at the go board as she slowly asked, "Why was old mister willing to pay such a price to protect me?" Patriarch Cang Xuan let out a long sigh. "For the future of the human race." Yaoyao''s brows furrowed slightly. "Do I really have such ability?" Patriarch Cang Xuan helplessly responded, "You shouldn''t probe me for information. The questions in your heart will naturally be answered in time. However, if you have a chance in the future, you may head to Hunyuan Heaven." "Hunyuan Heaven?" Yaoyao''s eyes swirled. Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled as he nodded. "The strongest Heaven amongst the five great Heavens. It''s where Cang Yuan came from¡­" Yaoyao fell a little silent as she gave a faint nod. "Thank you old mister." ... Half a month later. Genesis Qi surged and churned under the pine tree where the figure of a youth was also silently seated. Vigorous Genesis Qi trembled around him, causing his clothes to flap without wind. All of a sudden, his body shook violently as a pillar of Genesis Qi light abruptly shot out from the top of his head. Genesis Qi charged into the sky, transforming into the silhouette of a dark gold python. The giant python hissed at the heavens as it moulted off a layer of dark gold light, the new ''skin'' underneath now tinged with a hint of purple. At closer inspection, one would see two faint golden little lumps on the giant python''s head, while claws seemed to emerge at its belly area. Patriarch Cang Xuan and Yaoyao lifted their heads to look at the giant python. "Oh, the little guy''s Genesis Qi has risen to grade 6¡­" Yaoyao nodded. "The first signs of dragon horns and claws have appeared, a sign that the python is going to transform into a serpent. It¡¯s a pity that it isn¡¯t a full transformation, or his Genesis Qi would evolve to the grade 7 World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi.¡± Evidently, Zhou Yuan had properly absorbed all of the sacred dragon blessing from Wu Huang, hence allowing such a huge change to occur to the Omni Python Qi. From now on, his Omni Python Qi would be at the grade 6 level. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened at this moment as a clear whistle sounded from his throat. Whooh! The giant python with hints of serpent features swept downwards, transforming into boundless slightly purplish gold Genesis Qi as it was swallowed back into Zhou Yuan¡¯s abdomen in a single gulp. Rumble! The rumbling sound of thunder abruptly boomed inside Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. He stood up as powerful Genesis Qi undulations erupted from his body like a storm. He was much stronger than he had been half a month ago! Zhou Yuan could not help but gasp as he felt the robust Genesis Qi in his body. He had discovered that in the short period of half a month, he had rose from the mid Heaven Gate stage to the quasi Alpha-Origin stage! The true Alpha-Origin stage was now only mere inches away! It could be said to be reaching the Alpha-Origin in a single step. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 205 End of the Saint Remains Domain Saga By the cliff, under the pine tree. Unconcealable joy and surprise flooded Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he felt the robust Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling. He never expected that a single drop of Saint blood would leap him straight from the mid Heaven Gate stage to the quasi Alpha-Origin stage. In fact, he was already able to faintly sense a mysterious domain. If he was not wrong, it should be the rumored Alpha-Origin Heaven. There were nine levels in the Alpha-Origin Heaven, and each contained ancient Alpha-Origin Qi. Absorbing this Alpha-Origin Qi would gradually alter one¡¯s Qi Dwelling, causing enormous changes. When the Qi Dwelling eventually reaches its limit, it would evolve, turning into the Divine Dwelling. Once the Divine Dwelling was formed, one may step into the Divine Dwelling stage. At which point, one¡¯s Genesis Qi would become as vast as the clouds, able to cover an area spanning a hundred miles, making it incomparable to the Alpha-Origin stage. ¡°Now that I¡¯m already able to sense the existence of the Alpha-Origin Heaven, I only need to enter it to truly step into the Alpha-Origin stage.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. At Zhou Yuan¡¯s original speed, he would need at least a year of tough training in order to reach the quasi Alpha-Origin stage from the mid Heaven Gate stage. Who could have imagined that he would be able to achieve the same outcome in half a month. Most importantly, this jump in cultivation did not make Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundations unstable, but instead increasingly sturdy and solid. The wonders of the Saint blood was truly difficult to imagine for ordinary people. ¡°How is it? Are satisfied with my drop of Saint blood?¡± While Zhou Yuan was immersed in his joy, laughter was suddenly heard from the side. Zhou Yuan raised his head, seeing patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s handsome smiling face. ¡°Many thanks to elder for your gift.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his hands together with a solemn expression. He had personally felt the benefits brought by the Saint blood. Not only had it made his foundations even more stable than before, it also raised his strength. Most importantly of course, there were several marvels contained within that would perhaps bring him numerous benefits on the future road of his cultivation journey. Patriarch Cang Xuan waved his hand and said, ¡°This blessing was won with your own hands.¡± Zhou Yuan could see that patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s seemed to have become much more illusory, likely because his Genesis Qi was about to be completely exhausted. It was obvious that after giving the drop of Saint blood to Zhou Yuan, the tiny bit of Spirit energy that patriarch Cang Xuan was composed of would not last much longer. ¡°Kid, no need to be sentimental. The purpose of this tiny bit of Spirit energy was to wait for the one I needed to wait for. Now that my purpose has been fulfilled, it¡¯s naturally time for me to go.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled. ¡°You only need to remember the task I set you.¡± Zhou Yuan said in a heavy voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry elder, I will definitely give my all, and not let the other three Saint Runes land in Sacred Palace¡¯s hands.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan nodded. ¡°As for the locations of the third and fourth Saint Runes, you will naturally find out when you obtain the second Saint Rune.¡± Evidently, he was leaving out some information as insurance, such that if Zhou Yuan was somehow caught by some kind of technique or ploy, he would not be able to divulge all of the Saint Rune locations at once. Yaoyao rose from the white jade table. Patriarch Cang Xuan looked at her, before his gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan as his expression gradually turned serious. ¡°Lastly, I hope that you will be able to properly protect her. Since even Cang Yuan believes in you, I too believe that you can do it.¡± Zhou Yuan solemnly nodded. He could sense that Yaoyao¡¯s identity had great implications, or legendary figures such as patriarch Cang Xuan and master Cang Yuan would not place such heavy emphasis upon it. After patriarch Cang Xuan was done, he waved his head and said, ¡°Go.¡± Respect rose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart as he gazed at patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s illusory figure. Zhou Yuan was still too weak and small now, so he could not understand what exactly patriarch Cang Xuan and the rest were doing. However, his actions of protecting Yaoyao even at the price of his own life was something Zhou Yuan respected and admired. Zhou Yuan bowed to patriarch Cang Xuan, before turning around with Yaoyao, soon disappearing into the mists. Patriarch Cang Xuan watched them leave as he sighed meaningfully and mumbled to himself, ¡°Whether or not the human race will survive the foretold Sacred disaster will depend on them¡­¡± ¡­ When Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao walked out of the mists, they felt the entire world around them begin to tremble. The two lifted their heads, finding that the sky above the Saint Remains Domain was slowly splitting open... Through the crack, a familiar land appeared. It was the area outside the Saint Remains Domain. Evidently, the path out was being opened. Swish! Swish! While the Saint Remains Domain was being opened, countless streaks of light dashed into the sky, like locusts as they flew towards the crack, making it a rather busy sight. While Zhou Yuan was cultivating during the past half a month, patriarch Cang Xuan had closed the Saint Remains Domain. All of the numerous geniuses within were unable to exit, and could only silently wait here. Fortunately, the Genesis Qi in the Saint Remains Domain was strong and plentiful, so it felt pretty good to cultivate in here for a while. Now that Zhou Yuan was done, the Saint Remains Domain was once again opened by patriarch Cang Xuan. Swish! A surge of Genesis Qi light whizzed over, making a beeline for Yaoyao. Yaoyao stretched out her arms and caught it as the light faded, revealing Tuntun¡¯s figure. Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun¡¯s head while it narrowed its eyes and enjoyed the caress, releasing happy noises from its mouth. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze looked down, feeling somewhat sentimental as he gazed upon the vast, endless Saint Remains Domain. Before entering, he was practically a nobody in the Cangmang Continent. However, when he left, it was likely that his name had already shaken the entire Cangmang Continent. This was not arrogance on his part. The splendid achievements he had racked up along the way were already enough to make him number one amongst the younger generation of the Cangmang Continent. Moreover, after receiving the Saint blood¡¯s benefits, he was much stronger compared to half a month ago. If Zhou Yuan were to encounter Wu Huang again now, the battle would be a little one-sided... ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Said Zhou Yuan to Yaoyao before Genesis Qi began to spread, forming a cloud of dark gold beneath their feet. Genesis Qi soared into the sky, carrying the two towards the crack. The instant they charged through the crack, the entire world seemed to become wider and bigger. On the land in the distance, a majestic city was barely visible. It was Saint Remains City. At this current time, the area outside of the Saint Remains Domain was extremely lively and bustling, a seemingly unending stream of geniuses flying out... Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s appearance instantly drew countless gazes, every one of them filled with respect. The shocking scene of Zhou Yuan defeating Wu Huang was still deeply carved into everyone¡¯s minds. ¡°Heh, you¡¯re pretty good Zhou Yuan, to think that even Wu Huang was beaten by you!¡± Two rays of Genesis Qi light flew over and approached Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao as a lovely laughter was heard. It was Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu. Luluo¡¯s large eyes blinked as she stared at Zhou Yuan, amazement and astonishment filling her small face. ¡°How about you?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan with a chuckle. On the Saint stars, Luluo had met Zhu Ying again. Luluo answered in a smug manner, ¡°Humph, how can she be my match. I was merely caught off guard the previous time.¡± By the side, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s pretty eyes swirled as she stared at Zhou Yuan with interest and grinned, ¡°How does it feel? You¡¯re now the number one person amongst the Cangmang Continent¡¯s younger generation.¡± Yaoyao carried Tuntun, her red lips curling slightly as she shot Zuoqiu Qingyu a look. ¡°Then are you still interested in my earlier proposal?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu stared at Yaoyao¡¯s perfect, unblemished and fair face, unable to resist slipping over and hooking a hand around Yaoyao¡¯s slender waist as she said in a low voice, ¡°I am indeed a little interested now, but you¡¯re still the one I¡¯m most interested in. How about the three of us tie the knot?¡± Two young ladies, one perfectly beautiful but rather cold and aloof, the other enchantingly bewitching. When their faces were put side by side, it caused several geniuses to cast somewhat lustful gazes over. ¡°Get lost.¡± Yaoyao was expressionless as she reached out and flicked Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s forehead, pushing her away. The words of this little temptress was really too brazen. Zhou Yuan was pretty close to them, and was hence able to hear Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s words. His entire body seemed to instantly heat up, his gaze involuntarily sweeping across the two young ladies¡¯ faces. Yaoyao seemed to sense his gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked towards him. Zhou Yuan felt a chill and hurriedly withdrew his eyes, not daring to meet her gaze. *Cough*! After the many geniuses left the Saint Remains Domain, a soft cough suddenly rang out across the area, somehow covering every other noise. The entire place fell silent. Every genius watched as six Genesis Qi clouds drifted over from far away. Six figures were seated on each cloud, powerful Genesis Qi pressure rippling from their bodies. It was the six envoys. Upon their arrival, the crowd of geniuses grew nervous. They knew that the end of the Saint Remains Domain was the start of the selection by the six envoys. Those that they found worthy would be allowed to enter the six sects to train. These were the strongest sects in Cangxuan Heaven. For every genius present, it was akin to a carp leaping through the dragon''s gate! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 206 Entering a Sec Six clouds of Genesis Qi hovered in the air. Six figures were seated on each one, powerful and vigorous Genesis Qi spreading from their bodies that intimidated and awed everyone in the area. In the face of these six Divine Dwelling experts, the numerous geniuses were all extremely respectful, not daring to show a slightest hint of arrogance as they patiently waited. Because they knew that these six practically had complete control over the futures of every genius here. The six sacred sects were the strongest sects in Cangxuan Heaven. As long as one could enter and train inside, one¡¯s future would be incomparable to staying behind in a continent like theirs. After all, the best resources and experts of Cangxuan Heaven were gathered in these six sects. Hence, many people felt that even entering these six sects as an ordinary disciple would be better than being a genius in the Cangmang Continent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze also looked towards the six envoys. He had already gained information about the six sacred sects In the Saint Remains Domain, and now knew that the bare-footed uncle was an envoy of the Cangxuan Sect. As for the fair, clean-shaven Zhao Pan that looked like a dishonorable middle-aged man, he was the envoy of Sacred Palace. The other four sects were the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, Sword Seeker Sect, Heavenly Ghost Sect and the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. These four great sects were also very famous in Cangxuan Heaven, and were said to be behemoth like existences. On one of the clouds, the Sacred Palace envoy, Zhao Pan, swept his cold gaze across the crowd. His gaze was akin to the edge of a blade, no one daring to meet it. ¡°Although you are the geniuses of the Cangmang Continent, it will not be so easy to enter our six sacred sects. You should know that there are millions of continents in Cangxuan Heaven, and the Cangmang Continent really doesn¡¯t stick out amongst them.¡± ¡°The other continents also have all kinds of geniuses of uncountable numbers. Envoys from the six sacred sects have also been sent to these places to select disciples.¡± ¡°Therefore, do not feel so pleased with yourselves just because you performed somewhat decently in the Saint Remains Domain. If put amongst the entire younger generation of Cangxuan Heaven, none of you are anything special.¡± Zhao Pan¡¯s indifferent voice was akin to a basin of cold water, giving a cold awakening to numerous geniuses that had originally been under the impression that they had performed pretty well in the Saint Remains Domain. Zhou Yuan also frowned slightly. He could feel that Zhao Pan¡¯s frosty gaze seemed to pause on Zhou Yuan when he spoke, as if these words were directed at the former. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change, neither showing joy nor anger. Luluo mumbled in a low voice, ¡°How loathsome.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu glanced at Zhou Yuan and quietly said, ¡°I managed to gather some information earlier. The one who saved Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was the Sacred Palace Envoy, Zhao Pan.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened a little as anger flitted across the depths of his eyes. So this fellow was the one who had ruined things. If not for that, Zhou Yuan would have been able to kill Wu Huang¡¯s Spirit in the Saint Remains Domain, bringing a clean end to the matter, unlike the current situation, where there were loose ends. ¡°Hehe, envoy Zhao Pan need not be so stern. I feel that there are some pretty good seedlings among these little ones. If we provide guidance and training for them, they may even become pillars that support the sect in the future.¡± While the numerous geniuses in the area were completely silent, a laugh suddenly rang out. If one turned to look, one would discover that the one who had spoken was the currently smiling envoy of the Cangxuan Sect, Mu Wuji. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not waste any more time. Begin the selection process.¡± The one who spoke this time was a man in white robes. His face was cold and stern, the Genesis Qi around him extremely sharp, while a sword lay across his lap. He was the envoy of the Sword Seeker Sect. ¡°Those who managed to reach the Saint stairs may take a step forward.¡± A woman¡¯s kind and gentle voice sounded. She wore palace robes on which an exquisite pattern of a hundred flowers could be seen. She was clearly the envoy from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Sect. At the sound of her voice, a few dozen figures walked out from the crowd of geniuses. They were the group who had managed to reach the Saint stairs, and included Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Luluo and the rest. What caused Zhou Yuan to be somewhat surprised however, was that Ye Ming was also present, though the other few were nowhere to be seen. The six envoys suddenly moved as they gazed upon these three dozen or so geniuses. Genesis Qi swept forth, transforming into giant hands that barbarically grabbed several individuals and threw them onto the Genesis Qi clouds behind the envoys, not caring whether these geniuses were willing or not. Soon, only a handful of figures were left. They were Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Luluo and the other more outstanding geniuses. ¡°My Sword Seeker Sect lives for the sword, are you willing to join us?¡± The Sword Seeker Sect envoy first looked towards Li Chunjun, his voice much gentler, clearly pretty fond of the latter¡¯s talent in the sword. Li Chunjun gave a slight nod. ¡°I¡¯m willing.¡± His original goal was the Sword Seeker Sect after all. The other geniuses understood upon seeing this. The final few were the envoys¡¯ focus, hence why they would even voluntarily ask for these individuals¡¯ opinion. Unlike the previous geniuses that had been casually divided amongst the envoys without caring about what they thought. Even so, numerous geniuses were still overflowing with envy. After all, they did not even have the qualifications to be casually divided by the envoys. The spooky looking man in black robes looked towards Zhen Xu and said, ¡°The King Yama Sect you previously cultivated at was founded by someone who was once an envoy of the Heavenly Ghost Sect. Are you willing to enter the Heavenly Ghost Sect?¡± Zhen Xu respectfully nodded. ¡°These two little lasses are not bad. Why not both of you join the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace?¡± The beautiful woman smiled as she looked towards Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu. Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu exchanged a look. After seeing that none of the other envoys were going to say anything, they gracefully bowed to the beautiful woman. The beautiful woman smiled faintly, before she cast her gaze towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s side at Yaoyao and said, ¡°I really like this little girl too¡­¡± Although Yaoyao barely had any Genesis Qi, the beautiful woman could see that the former¡¯s Spirit was extremely powerful. If she were to focus solely on Spirit cultivation, her future accomplishments may be pretty amazing too. Mu Wuji coughed and said, ¡°*Cough*, envoy Shang Yu, I believe two is enough.¡± The other envoys nodded. The main reason why they had allowed the Hundred Flower Fairy Palace to take two was because they could not be bothered to compete with a women. After all, the Hundred Flower Fairy Palace was rather unique, only accepting female disciples. Upon seeing the other envoys¡¯ objections, the beautiful woman could Shang Yu could only regretfully shake her head. The next one was Ning Zhan who entered the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. At this moment, the Sacred Palace envoy, Zhao Pan, suddenly looked towards Ye Ming and said in an indifferent voice, ¡°Ye Ming, you should enter my Sacred Palace.¡± The numerous geniuses in the area began to stir, everyone feeling rather discontent. After all, Ye Ming was from the Dongxuan Continent, and it already felt against rules for them to come here to participate in the Cangmang Continent. They never expected that he would still gain the attention of the Sacred Palace envoy. However, Zhao Pan did not even give them a single glance, merely looking at Ye Ming. Ye Ming hesitated slightly, but ultimately nodded his head. Sacred Palace was on the rapid rise in Cangxuan Heaven, and entering it to train was definitely an excellent choice. Mu Wuji breathed out smoke, smiling as he glanced at Zhou Yuan, before speaking towards Yaoyao beside him, ¡°Are you willing to enter my Cangxuan Sect?¡± Yaoyao nonchalantly nodded. As such, only Zhou Yuan was left... Every gaze in the area looked over. Everyone knew that Zhou Yuan was the most outstanding in this batch¡¯s Saint Remains Domain. Sure enough, Mu Wuji smiled and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, as the only one to reach the peak of Saint mountain in this batch¡¯s Saint Remains Domain, you may choose to join any sect you wish.¡± The world around fell silent, waiting for Zhou Yuan¡¯s answer. But just as Zhou Yuan was about to speak, the Sacred Palace envoy, Zhao Pan, suddenly intercepted, ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you enter my Sacred Palace, we will let you off for killing Wu Huang¡¯s physical body.¡± ¡°Moreover, you should know that my Sacred Palace is currently the strongest sect in Cangxuan Heaven. Once you enter, you will naturally receive guidance and tutelage. Zhao Pan looked down from above at Zhou Yuan, his tone appearing rather proud. From what he could see, he had already given Zhou Yuan enough face, and even offered the latter an olive branch. If Zhou Yuan had any brains, he should know what to choose. The truth was that Zhao Pan had spoken these words not because he thought highly of Zhou Yuan. After all, it was only a selection from geniuses of a tiny Cangmang Continent. The reason why he had given this offer was because he knew that Zhou Yuan was very important to Mu Wuji. The former just had to stir up a little trouble to make things difficult for Mu Wuji. Sure enough, Mu Wuji¡¯s expression immediately turned rather ugly as he glared at Zhao Pan. ¡°Heh, let him off? It¡¯s his fault for not being good enough and getting his physical body killed. Just who do you intend to not let off?¡± Mu Wuji sneered. Zhao Pan ignored him, merely continuing to look down at Zhou Yuan. Gaze after gaze all turned towards Zhou Yuan. Under the watching eyes of the crowd, Zhou Yuan chuckled and lifted his head to look at Zhao Pan. ¡°I appreciate envoy¡¯s thoughtfulness, but Sacred Palace¡¯s requirements are too high, and I¡¯m afraid that I won¡¯t be able to reach them.¡± After finishing, he looked towards Mu Wuji and said, ¡°I wish to join the Cangxuan Sect.¡± His voice echoed across the area. Zhao Pan¡¯s expression instantly turned dark and cold, fury appearing in his eyes. A split second later, he suddenly took a step forward as berserk Genesis Qi pressure swept towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Unappreciative thing!¡± ¡°Since that is so, let¡¯s have a chat about the matter of killing Wu Huang¡¯s physical body!¡± His chilling voice rang out across the area. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 207 A Single Palm Strike Rumble! Boundless and vigorous Genesis Qi ferociously swept out from Zhao Pan¡¯s body like a thunderstorm, causing the world around him to tremble slightly. The expressions of the countless geniuses present involuntarily changed. The anger of a Divine Dwelling expert was not something the likes of them could withstand. The Genesis Qi pressure charged towards Zhou Yuan, making him feel the brunt of it. In that moment, he felt as if his body was deep in the sea, terrifying pressure rushing towards him from all directions as if intending to crush him to a pulp. The bones all over his body creaked and cracked. Hsss! In his Qi Dwelling, the Omni Python Qi let out a hiss in response as it swiftly broke out of his body, transforming into a giant Genesis Qi python around him to block the frightening pressure. ¡°Zhao Pan, what do you think you¡¯re doing!¡± However, Zhou Yuan did not suffer for long before Mu Wuji¡¯s angry voice was suddenly heard. Rumble! Equally powerful and vast Genesis Qi erupted from Mu Wuji¡¯s body, meeting Zhao Pan¡¯s Genesis Qi pressure head-on. The stand off between two Divine Dwelling experts immediately made the Genesis Qi in the area show faint signs of boiling. Zhao Pan icily said, ¡°Humph, this vicious and merciless kid slayed the physical body of a genius my Sacred Palace had our attention on. If he is not punished, won¡¯t others look down on my Sacred Palace!¡± ¡°Mu Wuji, I advise you to hand over the kid. Or else when I report this to the palace master, my Sacred Palace may step up to formally demand your Cangxuan Sect to hand him over!¡± Cangxuan Sect¡¯s power had been on the decline ever since the death of patriarch Cang Xuan, while Sacred Palace was akin to a rising sun, even showing signs of soon becoming the number one sect in Cangxuan Heaven. This was why they had grown increasingly overbearing over the years. Mu Wuji laughed in extreme anger when he heard this. ¡°Zhao Pan, who the heck do you think you are. Do you really believe my Cangxuan Sect is afraid of your Sacred Palace?!¡± ¡°Such a fate befell Wu Huang because his skills were lacking. Aren¡¯t you afraid of becoming a laughing stock if you continue to pester us here.¡± The other four envoys frowned slightly, evidently also thinking that Zhao Pan was causing trouble for no reason. Zhao Pan¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°It seems that you¡¯re not going to hand him over. If so, I¡¯ll have to take him myself!¡± Rumble! Magnificent Genesis Qi whizzed out, transforming into a giant hundred feet wide hand that grabbed at Zhou Yuan. Mu Wuji coldly snorted as green Genesis Qi rapidly blew out from his nose. Like a giant Genesis Qi chain, it wrapped around the Genesis Qi hand, binding it and preventing it from descending. ¡°Green Smoke Dragon Bind technique!¡± At the same time, the pipe in Mu Wuji¡¯s hand shook as green smoke rose from it. A split second later, the smoke seemed to penetrate space, directly appearing in the air around Zhao Pan as it began to coil around his body. The green smoke may appear thin and weak, but the surrounding space began to warp and distort when held in its clutches, as if even a giant dragon would be unable to escape its grasp. Poof! However, the moment the green smoke wrapped around Zhao Pan, his body suddenly began to distort. In the end, his body transformed into a shadow with a poof and slowly faded away. The moment his figure faded, Zhao Pan¡¯s icy snort rang out. ¡°Humph, I¡¯ve long heard of Mu Wuji¡¯s dragon bind technique, how can I possibly not be prepared?!¡± ¡°Shadow Split technique?¡± The eyes of the other four envoys widened slightly when they saw this. It was a rather high level Genesis technique of Sacred Palace. They had not expected Zhao Pan to have mastered it. In the sky, the giant Genesis Qi hand Zhao Pan had sent forth earlier suddenly split open, revealing his true body as his icy gaze locked onto the nearby Zhou Yuan. ¡°Let¡¯s see who can save you today!¡± Zhao Pan transformed into a blur as he shot forward. The sight of this caused Zhou Yuan''s expression to change slightly as a cold look filled his eyes. He never imagined that Zhao Pan would be so shameless as to use the might of a Divine Dwelling expert to deal with a younger generation like himself who had only recently touched the Alpha-Origin stage. "Space Lock Palm!¡± Boundless Genesis Qi gathered towards Zhao Pan''s outstretched hand, before he suddenly swatted downwards. The palm seemed to abruptly enlarged in Zhou Yuan''s eyes, covering the entire sky as if blocking off any escape. Beside him, Yaoyao''s pretty face had turned exceedingly frosty as her chest rose slightly, an indication that she had truly been angered. A faint glow began to emerge between her brows. However, it was at this moment that Zhou Yuan suddenly grabbed Yaoyao''s cool as jade hand. He looked towards her ice-cold eyes and faintly shook his head, before reaching out to grab her slender waist as their figures rapidly backed away. At the same time, the Saint Rune began to spin in his eyes "Humph, the Space Lock Hand will seal the surrounding space. How can you possibly escape?¡± Mocked Zhao Pan, the gaze that looked towards Zhou Yuan akin to a cat toying with a mouse. Zhou Yuan did not answer. He knew how powerful a Divine Dwelling expert was, and had no intentions of facing the attack directly. The ancient Saint Rune spun in his eyes, the originally sealed area seemingly becoming much blurrer. Several weak points appeared. Zhou Yuan used Dragon Step as he rapidly retreated. Huu! He took a dozen steps back at an angle. When the final step fell, the sealed area suddenly vanished, the giant sky encompassing hand also disappearing... At this moment, Zhao Pan''s palm fully landed. The expression on his face immediately turned rigid as he stared at Zhou Yuan in disbelief. "Eh?" The other envoys cried out in bewilderment. They clearly knew that no one under the Divine Dwelling stage could possibly avoid Zhao Pan¡¯s palm, and yet it had just been ingeniously evaded by Zhou Yuan. *Uproar*! The countless geniuses in the area broke into an uproar, shocked gazes looking towards Zhou Yuan. No one had expected him to survive an attack from a Divine Dwelling stage expert! Mu Wuji¡¯s figure flew over in a flash, blocking in front of Zhou Yuan. However, the eyes that looked towards the latter were likewise filled with shock and amazement, evidently unable to understand how he had avoided Zhao Pan¡¯s palm. The noises that filled the sky caused Zhao Pan¡¯s face to be interlaced by green and white, before ultimately transforming into red rage, killing intent spilling from his eyes. ¡°Bastardly thing, you dare to make a fool out of me. I will not forgive you!¡± Howled Zhao Pan, the humiliation he felt turning into extreme rage. It was already shameful for him to attack Zhou Yuan with the power of the Divine Dwelling stage, while failing to achieve anything with the attack was akin to adding insult to injury. If news of this spread, it would become a black stain on his record that would follow him throughout his. Rumble! Genesis Qi rose around Mu Wuji, his expression hardening as he gazed upon the now enraged Zhao Pan. It seems that a battle with the latter was unavoidable. Rumble! However, just as Genesis Qi began converging towards the howling Zhao Pan, the world seemed to shake all of a sudden. Countless gazes looked over, only to see a vast torrent of light suddenly sweep out from the still open Saint Remains Domain. It transformed into a giant hand, containing terrifying power as it descended towards Zhao Pan. At the same time, a low voice boomed across the area. "When I died back then, I said that the trash of Sacred Palace will not be allowed near here. You little piece of shit, who gave you the balls?!" The voice dazed the numerous geniuses, while the expressions of Mu Wuji and the other envoys rapidly changed. The still howling Zhao Pan immediately fell silent, confusion flitting across his face for a split second before he suddenly seemed to recall something. His complexion instantly turned deathly pale as indescribable fear flooded out in his eyes. ¡°Pa¡­ patriarch Cang Xuan?!¡± Zhao Pan involuntarily cried out. In the next instant, he had already turned a hundred and eighty degrees, desperately running away like a dog that had lost its home. He knew how terrifying an existence he had offended. Even though that person had already died, his lingering will remained in the place he had fallen. Even a mere lingering will was incomparably terrifying to Zhao Pan. Rumble! However, the giant hand in the sky continued to descend, ignoring the laws of space as it appeared behind Zhao Pan. Boom! The sky shook violently. Everyone could only watch as Zhao Pan''s figure fell like a cannonball, smashing through mountain after mountain¡­ In the end, Zhao Pan was buried in a giant pile of rubble¡­ Countless geniuses were stupefied. No one had expected the ferocious Zhao Pan from a dozen breaths ago would be thrashed in an instant, no one knowing whether he was dead or alive¡­ Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 208 Before Leaving The giant hand in the sky gradually dissipated, leaving behind broken mountain after mountain. It looked as if half of the mountain range had been torn apart¡­ Countless people stupidly stared at this scene. Even Zhou Yuan was flabbergasted. He clearly never expected Zhao Pan''s actions to incite patriarch Cang Yuan''s remaining power¡­ "Patriarch¡­" Mu Wuji blankly stared at this scene, his lips faintly quivering. His face was overwhelmed with emotion, while his eyes were filled with reverence. "Zhao Pan is really unlucky¡­" The other four envoys secretly shook their heads. They naturally knew that patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death had something to do with Sacred Palace. Hence why the patriarch hated those from Sacred Palace. After patriarch Cang Xuan''s death, his body transformed into the numerous Saint Remains Domains littered all over Cangxuan Heaven. If anyone from Sacred Palace got too close, they would incite patriarch Cang Xuan''s power, drawing huge trouble to themselves. As such, every member of Sacred Palace did not dare to approach any of these Saint Remains Domains. However, Zhao Pan had not been that close to this Saint Remains Domain, and yet he had somehow still incited patriarch Cang Xuan''s power, causing him to suffer bloodily. Bang! Under countless pitying gazes, a pillar of Genesis Qi burst out from the rubble as a figure soared into the sky, his miserable figure hovering in the air. The crowd looked over, only to be shocked. Zhao Pan was drenched in blood, his clothes torn and tattered, while Genesis Qi feebly lingered around him. He had clearly sustained extremely serious injuries. Zhao Pan¡¯s entire body trembled uncontrollably, both terrified and angry. How could he ever have imagined that he would incite patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s power... "Blasted! I was clearly pretty far away, why did this still happen?!" Howled Zhao Pan in his heart. How could he not know that the Saint Remains Domains did not welcome those from the Sacred Palace like him. Hence why he had also been maintaining his distance since the beginning, though he somehow still ended incurring the patriarch¡¯s wrath. Mu Wuji let out an icy chuckle as he mocked, ¡°Heh, Zhao Pan, it seems that you¡¯re even more loathsome than others, so loathsome that even patriarch can¡¯t stand the sight of you.¡± Zhao Pan¡¯s complexion was steely white with anger, but he no longer dared to show any of the bossiness from before. The previous blast of power had terrified him silly, and taking another one would likely kill him on the spot. Moreover, patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s fame and reputation was just too great. Even though he was already dead, the name of the ex number one expert of Cangxuan Heaven still possessed a certain level of intimidation. ¡°I¡¯ll not forget what happened today!¡± Zhao Pan gnashed his teeth, his venomous gaze looking past Mu Wuji to pause on Zhou Yuan, the killing intent within so thick that it was practically oozing out. Evidently, he was firmly convinced that Zhou Yuan was the main reason for his humiliation today. After leaving these threatening words behind, Zhao Pan no longer had the face to stay even a microsecond longer. With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi swept out, wrapping around Ye Ming and the rest as the group began flying towards Saint Remains City. Hence, what was originally suppose to be a fight between Divine Dwelling experts ended in a pretty lackluster manner. Countless geniuses sighed in regret before beginning to scatter. Their expressions were somewhat disappointed, because only a tiny fraction had ultimately been chosen by the six envoys... An icy look flitted across the depths of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he watched Zhao Pan¡¯s leaving figure. ¡°Zhao Pan right¡­ I too will not forget you. There will come a day when I will give you a proper end to today¡¯s matter¡­¡± Zhou Yuan icily said to in his heart. The current him was not Zhao Pan¡¯s match, but he was pretty good at holding grudges. If there was a chance in the future, Zhou Yuan would make sure to return everything Zhao Pan had given him today. Mu Wuji turned around, looked towards Zhou Yuan and remarked with a grin, ¡°I did not expect you to be so capable¡­¡± He was naturally referring to Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier feat of avoiding Zhao Pan¡¯s seemingly sure-hit attack. Zhou Yuan smiled. Zhao Pan was a Divine Dwelling expert whose strength for surpassed his own. If he were to face the attack head-on, he would surely be instantly killed. But if it was just dodging, he would be able to tango for a little while with the power of the Decoder Saint Rune. Mu Wuji said, ¡°From now on, the two of you can be said to be the entry level disciples of the Cangxuan Sect¡­¡± ¡°In a few days, I will bring you two out of the Cangmang Continent and head to the Cangxuan Sect.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going there directly?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°Relax, I will send someone to your empire to inform your parents.¡± Said Mu Wuji with a smile. Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment as he turned his head towards the north, where the Great Zhou Empire was located. ¡°Are you worried about the Great Wu Empire?¡± Asked Mu Wuji when he saw this. He had evidently found out pretty much everything with regards to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan nodded. Although his father had already been freed from the shadow that used to haunt him and was gradually recovering his strength, it was still not enough to put up a fight against king Wu. Moreover, the Great Wu Empire¡¯s power far surpassed the Great Zhou Empire. He had defeated Wu Huang and taken back some of the sacred dragon blessing. Once king Wu found out, he would definitely be enraged. Zhou Yuan was afraid that king Wu would turn his fury to the Great Zhou Empire, and the former did not wish to see a broken Great Zhou when he returned. ¡°I wonder how things are progressing with the Battle Puppet Sect ruins. Once we convert every puppet, the Great Zhou Empire''s power would surely grow tremendously. When that happens, we may not need to overly fear the Great Wu Empire." Thought Zhou Yuan. My Wuji took a puff of his pipe and said, "I will send someone to keep an eye on the Great Wu Empire, so you need not worry too much." He then looked at Zhou Yuan. "Besides this, you should also know that king Wu is pretty strong, and has likely reached the Divine Dwelling stage. Your Great Zhou Empire on the other hand doesn''t have a single practitioner at this level." ¡°A single Divine Dwelling expert is enough to change everything.¡± "If you want your empire to possess the power to contend with the Great Wu Empire, you''ll need power that matches the Divine Dwelling stage¡­" "The Cangxuan Sect is one of the strongest sects in Cangxuan Heaven. Only there will you be able to truly spread your wings and grow to become a true powerhouse." "That''s why you need to grasp this chance." After hearing Mu Wuji''s sincere advice, Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod. He naturally understood that only by entering the Cangxuan Sect would he be able to truly bring out his talent. The Cangmang Continent was just too small for him, and staying here would instead limit his growth. Even the most talented eagle would ultimately descend into mediocrity if trapped in a cage. "I know¡­" Zhou Yuan nodded, his hands slowly clenching as he peered into the distance. "Father, mother¡­ although I can''t bear to leave you, as the saying goes, an eagle will one day have to leave its nest. But don''t worry, when I return to the Great Zhou Empire¡­" "I will personally take back everything our Great Zhou Empire has lost!" ¡°So¡­ you must wait for my return!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 209 Cangxuan Blessings, Shengzhou 60% Within a study in the Great Zhou royal palace. Zhou Qing was seated at his disk with Qin Yu by his side. In front of them stood Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing and the Black Venom King with their hands behind their backs. There was a golden slip of paper in Zhou Qing''s hand. His expression was somewhat complicated as he touched it and said, "An envoy from the Cangxuan Sect paid us a visit earlier." The words Cangxuan Sect caused the expressions of everyone present to tremble. They clearly understood what these words represented. That one of the overlords of Cangxuan Heaven, an existence that made the Great Zhou Empire look akin to an ant. Alpha-Origin practitioners were basically the most elite battle force in the Great Zhou Empire, but when put in the Cangxuan Sect, they would only be ordinary disciples. Wei Canglan and the rest were nervous. After all, both sides were nowhere near the same level. If the Cangxuan Sect wanted to do anything to the Great Zhou Empire, they would not even have the qualifications to resist. The sight of their expressions made Zhou Qing chuckle for a moment, before he said, "No need to be so nervous, the letter says that Yuan''er has distinguished himself from the numerous geniuses in the Saint Remains Domain, and has been recruited into the Cangxuan Sect. He is now likely already on his way there.¡± These words stunned Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King. Soon after, they could not help but sigh in amazement. ¡°His highness truly is a genius blessed by the heavens. I can¡¯t believe that he has joined the Cangxuan Sect!¡± Wei Canglan was rather taken aback, his heart filled with admiration. They clearly understood how bright Zhou Yuan¡¯s future would be after joining the Cangxuan Sect. By the side, Wei Qingqing¡¯s eyes also rippled, a little emotional as she recalled their first encounter. The first time she had seen Zhou Yuan in Canglan Country, he had still appeared rather immature though his worth was gradually being revealed. How could she have imagined, that the one she had once believed to have cheated his way to first place in the class ranking exam, would in a short span of a year, reach such giddying heights. Zhou Yuan¡¯s name had long since spread across the entire Cangmang Continent¡­ everyone knew the epic of how the prince of Great Zhou had, with his Heaven Gate stage strength, defeated the Alpha-Origin prince of Great Wu, Wu Huang, in the Saint Remains Domain, becoming the number one individual amongst the Cangmang Continent¡¯s younger generation... And now, Zhou Yuan had stepped through the doors of the Cangxuan Sect like a carp jumping through the dragon¡¯s gate. It was becoming more and more difficult to imagine how dazzling the young man would be when they met again. ¡°His highness truly is a sacred dragon.¡± Sighed the Black Venom King. He had no choice but to acknowledge Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle accomplishments. From what he could see, even he may not be able to achieve victory against Zhou Yuan now. The immature young man he had encountered in Blackwater had already begun to surpass him. Their words made Zhou Qing grin widely, a smile filled with pride. Zhou Qing said, ¡°On the letter, Yuan¡¯er told us to be a little more careful of the Great Wu Empire, especially the now angered king Wu.¡± Wei Canglang cupped his fists together and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry your majesty, I have already sent the majority of our forces to the border to keep a tight eye on any activity from the Great Wu Empire.¡± Zhou Qing nodded. He then looked towards the Black Venom King and inquired, ¡°How is the progress at the Battle Puppet Sect ruins?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve already discovered five Alpha-Origin battle puppets, and the number of Heaven Gate puppets has reached the hundreds, and we foresee even more in the future.¡± Zhou Qing nodded his head in satisfaction. Five Alpha-Origin battle puppets and several hundred Heaven Gate battle puppets was a powerful force. Such a force would undoubtedly greatly boost the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s might, making it such that the Great Wu Empire would not be able to achieve anything significant unless they used all of their forces to attack. The Great Wu Empire¡¯s forces were currently tied up, making them unable to do so. ¡°Great. It¡¯s been hard one everyone. The Great Zhou Empire needs to conceal our strength and bide for time as we accumulate power. I believe that the day will eventually come when the Great Zhou Empire will regain our former glory!¡± Said Zhou Qing with a faint smile. From Zhou Qing¡¯s expression, Wei Canglan and the Black Venom King could sense the former¡¯s growing kingly dignity. A change that could be attributed to removing the shadow in his heart and the gradual recovery of his strength. A complicated expression rose on Wei Canglan¡¯s face. The Great Zhou Empire was no longer depressing and waning like before, but instead filled with a certain drive as it steadily grew... It seemed as if everything had begun to change when their prince found his eight meridian channels and began to cultivate. The face of a gentle and calm youth surfaced in Wei Canglan¡¯s mind as he sighed in his heart. ¡°The Zhou clan does indeed have a sacred dragon.¡± After a brief discussion, Wei Canglan and the rest withdrew, leaving Zhou Qing and Qin Yu behind. The smile on Zhou Qing¡¯s face faded, his fingers feeling the golden paper in his hand as he softly sighed. ¡°I wonder when Yuan¡¯er will return¡­¡± Qin Yu¡¯s eyes were slightly red. She was the most pained and unwilling to see her son go so far away. ¡°But don¡¯t worry Yuan¡¯er. Father may not be as capable as you, but I will do all I can to protect the Great Zhou Empire and ease your worries. You only need to concentrate on your cultivation in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Zhou Qing raised his head, his expression turning a little grim as his gaze penetrated the window and looked towards the direction of the Great Wu Empire. King Wu was a giant mountain that loomed over the entire Great Zhou Empire... Zhou Qing knew that the former had already stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage, wielding power that far surpassed his own. ¡°King Wu, you are indeed an outstanding individual¡­ on this point I admit that I am inferior to you.¡± "However, you''ve made one fatal mistake." ¡°That is¡­ you¡¯ve overly underestimated the sacred dragon of my Zhou clan!¡± "So what if you''ve reached the Divine Dwelling stage¡­" ¡°When the sacred dragon of my Zhou clan returns, it will be time for your Wu clan to pay its debts!¡± ¡­ High up in the sky. The clouds were suddenly torn open as a giant shadow zoomed past. The shadow cleanly cut layer after layer of cloud into two, its speed as fast as a shooting star. At closer inspection, one would discover that it was a giant boat. Countless ancient patterns had been carved into the boat¡¯s body, giving off magnificent Genesis Qi undulations. The boat was known as a Sky Breaker Shuttle. It was a Genesis treasure used for rapid long distance travelling, and boasted extremely high speeds. In addition, it could withstand numerous natural elements, allowing it to travel freely. On the giant boat was a beautiful hundred flowers pattern, indicating that it belonged to the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. The passengers on board were the six envoys and the chosen geniuses from the Cangmang Continent. The Cangmang Continent was extremely far from the continent where the six sacred sects were situated, and not all the continents along the way were equipped with teleportation arrays. Therefore, the only option was to travel through these continents. However, there were strong astral winds between the continents, which could only be crossed by a vessel such as the Sky Breaker Shuttle. Trying to cross without one was extremely exhausting, and not a feat that ordinary people would be capable of. Given the cultivation of Zhou Yuan and the rest, they clearly did not possess the qualifications to cross between continents. On a certain level on the giant boat. Mu Wuji was seated crossed-legged as he puffed his pipe. Before him were Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, and the other dozen or so geniuses that had been chosen to enter the Cangxuan Sect. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were seated at the front, clearly the leaders of the group. In the small group behind them was a familiar figure. It was the junior city lord of Saint Remains City, Xiao Tianxuan... At the very beginning, Zhou Yuan had been rather astonished that Xiao Tianxuan had managed to enter the Cangxuan Sect. Later on, Mu Wuji explained that he had given his permission because the city lord had personally pleaded. Although Zhou Yuan was not really fond of the guy who had given him quite a bit of trouble in the Saint Remains Domain, he did not make things difficult. After all, following Zhou Yuan¡¯s rise in strength, Xiao Tianxuan was no longer a threat. Xiao Tianxuan was a smart individual, and knew that his status as junior city lord was useless here. Hence, he was much more well-behaved on their journey, as if afraid that Zhou Yuan would target him. "At our current speed, we should reach the Shengzhou Continent in a month¡­" ¡°Do all of you know of the Shengzhou Continent?¡± Mu Wuji felt that it was a good time to teach these little ones some common knowledge. Everyone shook their heads. Mu Wuji sighed and began to explain, ¡°The Shengzhou Continent is the number one continent in Cangxuan Heaven. Legend says all of the other continents in Cangxuan Heaven were split off from Shengzhou Continent.¡± ¡°Hence, if one were to say that the total blessings of Cangxuan Heaven was ten, the Shengzhou Continent would be blessed with sixty percent. That¡¯s why it has been called the gathering place of Genesis Qi¡­¡± ¡°The Shengzhou Continent¡¯s vastness is far beyond your imagination, and every one of the six sacred sects have been established there. Although we six sacred sects are the strongest factions in Shengzhou Continent, there exists several sects with ancient roots and strong foundations that are not to be underestimated.¡± After spending a good part of the day talking, Mu Wuji took one final puff of smoke, before he glanced at the group and slowly said, "Besides all this, there is something I should tell all of you. Although you guys were selected by me, it does not mean that you will be able to truly become disciples of the Cangxuan Sect." These words caused everyone''s expression to freeze for a moment. "There are millions of continents in Cangxuan Heaven, and the geniuses of these continents will also be selected by the Cangxuan Sect. At the end of the day, the number of new disciples will likely be over ten thousand¡­" "These individuals are the same as yourselves, each one an outstanding elite in their respective continents." "After you guys arrive at the Cangxuan Sect, all of the new disciples will have three months to acclimatise and train. After which will be the peak selection ceremony. And only by passing the peak selection ceremony would you be allowed to enter one of the seven peaks, and formally become disciples of the Cangxuan Sect." "About half of the participants will be eliminated during the peak selection ceremony. In other words, likely half or even more of you guys will be eliminated. These individuals can only become recorded disciples which may only train outside the peaks. Only after making sufficient contributions will they be permitted to join the seven peaks¡­" Upon hearing these words, even Zhou Yuan''s eyes widened slightly. To think that half would be eliminated¡­ looks like it wasn''t so easy to enter the Cangxuan Sect. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 210 Third Class Disciple The atmosphere in the room became much heavier in the wake of Mu Wuji¡¯s previous words. The other geniuses, including Xiao Tianxuan and the rest, had taunt expressions, uncertainty coloring their eyes. They were indeed the cream of the crop amongst the Cangmang Continent''s younger generation, but the ones they were up against now were also elites in their respective continents. In fact, their competitors would likely even include the Shengzhou Continent''s finest¡­ Mu Wuji had explained earlier that if Cangxuan Heaven had ten blessings, six would go to the Shengzhou Continent. From this, one could imagine how much more powerful the geniuses from there would be. They had left the Cangmang Continent for what they viewed in their hearts as the holy land of cultivation, their families and clans placing all their hopes upon them. If they failed to become formal disciples, it would be a huge blow to their confidence. Mu Wuji swept a look at the group, but did not say anything to console them. The Cangxuan Sect''s standards were exceedingly strict, and not just anyone could become a formal disciple. In between, there were naturally those who ended up laughing, and those who ended up in tears. ¡°When you guys reach the Cangxuan Sect, all of the new disciples will be divided into categories; first class disciples, second class disciples and third class disciples¡­¡± "Is there a difference?" Asked Zhou Yuan. "Of course there''s a difference." Mu Wuji chuckled. ¡°First class disciples will not only be given their own personal dwellings, but even have a Genesis Rune boundary inscribed in the area, making the Genesis Qi more abundant and concentrated, far surpassing the dwellings of the other disciples. Staying in such a place will naturally bring many benefits.¡± ¡°In addition, first class disciples will be granted a bag of grade 5 Genesis Food, Heaven Heart Body Tempering Corn, by the sect every week. Daily consumption will temper the body and speed up Genesis Qi cultivation. Of course, the other cultivation resources for first class disciples will also exceed the ordinary disciples.¡± ¡°Grade 5 Genesis Food?!¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but cry out when he heard these four words as his breathing began to intensify. One must know that the Fire Spirit Grain Zhou Yuan had spared no effort in obtaining was merely a grade 4 Genesis Food, while the Mysterious Crystal Rice he consumed daily was even lower at grade 2. Even so, he had benefited substantially from these two Genesis Foods. Though his talent and hard work were the main factors that contributed to his rapid progress in a short two years, the external factors such as cultivation resources could not be neglected. Hence why he was so taken aback when he heard that one could consume grade 5 Genesis Food as daily meals in the Cangxuan Sect. He was truly unable to imagine how insanely beneficial long term consumption of the Heaven Heart Body Tempering Corn would be. Mu Wuji was all smiles as he looked towards the group, his gaze ultimately pausing on Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful face. ¡°However, I¡¯m afraid that the only one amongst you guys that can be rated as a first class disciple is Yaoyao.¡± Although Yaoyao had no Genesis Qi, Mu Wuji could sense that the strength of her Spirit had likely reached the mid Corporeal stage. ¡°As for you¡­¡± Mu Wuji turned towards Zhou Yuan and joked, ¡°Based on your cultivation level alone, I¡¯m afraid that you won¡¯t even make it to third class disciple¡­¡± However, Mu Wuji knew how overwhelming Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle power was. In a real fight, he may not lose to those second or third layer Alpha-Origin geniuses. After all, he had already defeated the first layer Alpha-Origin Wu Huang when he was at the mid Heaven Gate stage. Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly. Mu Wuji suddenly said, ¡°Right, take out the token that old mister gave to you.¡± Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood. He was talking about the old mister that had taken Su Youwei away. Zhou Yuan fished out the token from his Universe bag and handed it to Mu Wuji as he curiously asked, ¡°What use does it have?¡± Mu Wuji received the token and chuckled. ¡°With this token, even a cripple will be able to enjoy the first class disciple treatment.¡± These words immediately caused Xiao Tianxuan and the rest to look towards the token with burning desire and envy. Zhou Yuan was also somewhat astonished. He never imagined that they would give the old mister so much face. ¡°Does teacher uncle Mu know that old mister¡¯s origins? Is he also from the Cangxuan Sect?¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but ask. Only after the old guy left did Zhou Yuan realise that after all that talk, the old man had not even told him where he was bringing Su Youwei! An act that the old man had obviously done on purpose. Mu Wuji shook his head. ¡°That old mister is not from the Cangxuan Sect, but from Hunyuan Heaven.¡± ¡°Hunyuan Heaven?¡± Zhou Yuan stunned. By now, he naturally knew that Hunyuan Heaven was the strongest amongst the five Heavens. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this mean that Youwei has gone to Hunyuan Heaven?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little sad. This truly was akin to being a world apart. He did not know when or where he would see her again. Mu Wuji¡¯s gaze shifted towards the rest as he said, ¡°That¡¯s why all of you should not have the mindset that you will be able to smoothly enter the Cangxuan Sect just because you were selected by me. If you slack off on your training and end up being eliminated, there will be no one to blame but yourselves.¡± Mu Wuji¡¯s warning made the hearts of the numerous geniuses shiver. They knew that they had been taking it too easy recently, and had even slacked off on their cultivation. No one dared to tarry, immediately acknowledging one after another. ... A bright moon hung high in the sky. A giant boat smoothly shot past. Several figures were silently seated around a circular tablet near the front of the boat. They were Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu, and even Zhen Xu, Lu Chunjun plus Ning Zhan. Luluo had originally been the only one Zhou Yuan had called over, but Zuoqiu Qingyu wanted to have a gathering before they split up in the Shengzhou Continent. To their surprise, even Zhen Xu, Li Chunjun and the not so familiar Ning Zhan had joined in. All of them clearly understood that no matter how famous they previously were in the Cangmang Continent, the halo they used to have would now fade upon reaching the Shengzhou Continent. Their future paths would have to be forged by themselves. No one knew whether or not they will once again ascend the peak or return mediocrity. The three girls talked and laughed at one side, while Zhou Yuan raised his cup and smiled at Li Chunjun. "I''ve been wanting to thank you for some time. If not for your help on the Saint stairs, Wu Huang would have likely taken first place." On the final leg of the Saint stairs, Li Chunjun had aided Zhou Yuan, allowing him to catch up to Wu Huang and ascend the peak together. Li Chunjun''s black cloth wrapped eyes ''looked'' towards Zhou Yuan as he too raised a cup and emptied it, before his raspy voice sounded, "It was because only you could do it. Wu Huang is very strong, and I cannot slay his physical body." "If you want to thank me, let me use you to polish my sword if there comes a chance in future¡­" Zhou Yuan grinned and said in a carefree manner, "I''ll accompany you any time." Ning Zhan''s eyes glowed when he heard this, unable to stop himself from saying, "When that time comes, have a good battle with me too!" "We can go at it now too." Zhou Yuan chuckled. Ning Zhan froze a little, shaking his head as he said, "I doubt I''ll be able to beat you now. You are even stronger than when you fought Wu Huang." Although he was a battle junky, his senses were extremely sharp. Thus, he could tell that Zhou Yuan was a whole other level compared to when he had fought Wu Huang. By the side, Zuoqiu Qingyu placed her hand on her chin, smiling as she looked at Zhou Yuan. "Zhou Yuan, I heard that there are more geniuses in the Shengzhou Continent than fish in the river, almost too many to count. You¡¯d better not let yourself vanish into the crowd, making it such that I won¡¯t even hear of your name.¡± "So what if you do hear his name, are you going to tell others that he¡¯s the groom you chose?¡± Luluo chuckled. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s eyes swirled in thought, charmingly enchanting as she boldly declared, ¡°If his name truly does spread in the Shengzhou Continent, I won¡¯t lose out if Itell others that he¡¯s a potential groom I have my eye on.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, you¡¯ve got to work hard Zhou Yuan.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu grinned widely. There was a faint smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. The truth was that he knew. He knew that everyone was feeling some pressure after realising the future challenges they will face. Zuoqiu Qingyu might seem to be teasing him, but under it all, was she not also encouraging him? Zhou Yuan raised his cup, his gaze sweeping across everyone. After a brief silence, he smiled. ¡°Friends whom I have stood beside me in battle. Although our Cangmang Continent is a tiny place, when we one day stand at the pinnacle of the Shengzhou Continent¡¯s younger generation, they will know how amazing that tiny Cangmang Continent actually is.¡± ¡°Everyone, I hope to see all of you again at the peak.¡± Under the rays of the moon, that young, kindly face wore a calm smile. It was as if an inextinguishable flame burned in his eyes, a sight that would slightly move anyone¡¯s heart. When Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s glittering eyes gazed at the Zhou Yuan in that moment, she was a little surprised that the usually mild young man would have such an eye raising pride. Li Chunjun, Ning Zhan and Zhen Xu felt the blood in their bodies stir slightly, before they lifted their cups and smashed them together. ¡°Haha, alright then, let¡¯s see how many of us will shake the Shengzhou Continent in a few years!¡± The passionate voices of these youth were filled with the carefreeness of the young. At the top floor on the giant boat, Mu Wuji, the beautiful woman in palace garbs and the other few envoys seemed to sweep their gazes below, before they exchanged a look and let out a soft chuckle. ¡°How nice to be young¡­¡± Nearby, there was a sinister look in Zhao Pan¡¯s eyes as a mocking and disdainful smile rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°What a bunch of foolish country bumpkins. When you reach the Shengzhou Continent and see the true Chosens, you will know how laughable your promise looked today¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry Zhou Yuan¡­ after I return and report everything to palace master, the Chosens from my Sacred Palace will likely crush your pitiful confidence to pieces¡­¡± ¡°Hehe, I really look forward to that day.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 211 Shen Wanjin Time swiftly flowed as they traveled, and month unknowingly passed. On a certain day. In one of the holding quarters of the ship, Zhou Yuan¡¯s shut eyes suddenly opened, breaking him out of his cultivation state. He had suddenly sensed some strange activity in the surrounding Genesis Qi which seemed to be stirring violently. At the same time, numerous cheers could be heard outside the room. Zhou Yuan opened the windows and looked outside. The thick layers of clouds were being torn apart as an extremely distant land began to appear. His heart trembled slightly when his gaze fell upon it. He could sense an extremely concentrated and boundless natural Genesis Qi filling the sky above the land. Its concentration level far surpassed that of any continent Zhou Yuan had visited before. In addition, the Genesis Qi seemed to slip between various forms and shapes, giving off a spontaneously unique feeling, as if it was a blessing and right belonging only to them. Zhou Yuan seemed to realise something as he mumbled to himself, "Is¡­ this the Shengzhou Continent that enjoys 60% of the entire Cangxuan Heaven''s blessings?" It was indeed vast and practically limitless. In a place like this, even if two people had similar talent, the one who trained here would achieve far more than the one in any other continent. In a certain sense, the entire Shengzhou Continent was basically an indescribably enormous cultivation paradise¡­ "No wonder teacher uncle Mu told us the geniuses here would be exceedingly arrogant. If you grew up here, geniuses from other continents would indeed look like country bumpkins." Zhou Yuan sighed deeply. *Knock knock*! While Zhou Yuan was sighing, the sound of knocking was heard from the door. Zhou Yuan called out to come in, and the door quickly opened, revealing a round face that smiled charmingly at Zhou Yuan. "Little Yuan bro, teacher uncle Mu told us to get ready. Once we reach the Shengzhou Continent, we''ll be leaving the boat and heading towards the Cangxuan Sect." The one at the door was a little fatty. Though a smile was usually present on his face, light often flickered brightly in his small eyes, an indication of his exceptional brilliance. The little fatty was called Shen Wanjin, and was also one of the geniuses from the Cangmang Continent. His Shen clan was an overlord of its own domain, equipped with wealth that could match entire empires. Of course, this did not mean the little fatty was weak, or he would not have been selected by Mu Wuji. Ever since Mu Wuji''s warning, the Cangmang geniuses had understood that their previous status in their homeland would no longer be valid in the Shengzhou Continent, making them extremely ordinary instead. In fact, they may not even be able to become formal disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. The cruel reality was a wake up call for everyone. Most of them began to train frantically, hoping to at least raise their strength a little before reaching the Cangxuan Sect, so as to avoid becoming a third class disciple and be looked down upon by others. On the other hand, this little fatty, Shen Wanjin, had chosen the most direct and efficient method; relying on Zhou Yuan¡­ the little fatty had practically become Zhou Yuan''s servant during this period, obediently abiding his every command. With regards to this, Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. However, he was pretty surprised by Shen Wanjin''s decisiveness to give everything up just like that. Although he was nothing special to look at, he was clearly still very talented¡­ Hence, after trying to dissuade him several times to no avail, Zhou Yuan could no longer be bothered, letting the former do as he wanted. After spending some time together over this period, Zhou Yuan found that Shen Wanjin was actually pretty straight forward. There was no beating about the bush, but instead a direct declaration; big bro, I¡¯m here to grab ahold of you with all my might. I¡¯m yours from now onwards so please do shelter me. Towards someone with such a thick skin, there was nothing Zhou Yuan could do but laugh bitterly. "Alright." Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. After tidying up abit, he walked out of the door, heading towards the bow of the ship with Shen Wanjin. As they walked, Zhou Yuan swept a glance at Shen Wanjin and said with a smile, "I say, you''re the young master of the Shen clan after all, and your clan is nothing but stronger than my Great Zhou Empire. Why is there a need for this?" If this was the Cangmang Continent, Shen Wanjin would already outclassed him in both status and background. Shen Wanjin beamed in response. "Little Yuan bro, do you know what my Shen clan places the most emphasis on? Two words¡­ good judgement!¡± ¡°My clan is fond of making friends, regardless of whether they are strong or weak. That¡¯s why my clan has the most friends in the Cangmang Continent. As for how to choose those worthy of investing in from amongst these friends, it would depend on one¡¯s judgement ability.¡± ¡°I may be mediocre in every other aspect, but I¡¯m confident in my ability to judge. From what I can see, you¡¯ll definitely become akin to a fish in water inside the Cangxuan Sect in the future. So I¡¯m choosing to help you now and create some good karma. Who knows, you may become my most successful investment in the future.¡± Said Shen Wanjin in a pleased manner as he rubbed his fat belly. ¡°As for myself, Although my cultivation talent is not as good as yours, I do know a thing or two about business and making money. Little Yuan bro, you only need to be my backer, while I earn the cash, and then we¡¯ll split the profits. Won¡¯t this be a happy cooperation?¡± Upon seeing that he had even written the entire story in his head, Zhou Yuan could only smile and sigh. What a talent... However, Zhou Yuan had to admit that he was a little moved by this proposal. He clearly understood just how important cultivation resources were, and most of the time, one needed to use Genesis crystals to purchase them. Now that he had already left the Cangmang Continent, he would have to rely on himself. It was true that he did not know much about how to make money from money, every bit of Genesis crystals he used would only deplete his supply. If Shen Wanjin was able to help him earn money to purchase cultivation resources, it would be a pretty good collaboration. While the two talked, they soon arrived at the head of the ship, only to find Mu Wuji seated at the very front, while Yaoyao, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest had already arrived. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan walk over, the other geniuses cast friendly gazes towards him. They knew that he would definitely become a first class disciple due to that token of his, making his status higher than their own. Hence, they needed to create good relations with him as soon as possible. However, they were evidently unable to be as straightforward as Shen Wanjin, instead still holding on to some of the aloofness from before. Zhou Yuan did not display any happiness in response to their friendly gazes, his expression calm and cool from start to end as he replied everyone with a faint smile. In the end, he walked to Yaoyao¡¯s side. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao!¡±Shen Wanjin seemed to bow and scrape in an exaggerated manner. Yaoyao glanced at him and gave a faint nod. Besides blindly following Zhou Yuan over this period of time, Shen Wanjin has also engaged his ¡®favorable impression¡¯ attack on Yaoyao. His strategy, attack through her likes. And what did Yaoyao like? It was naturally high quality alcohol. Hence, after gifting many rare liquors to her without any regard to cost, Yaoyao finally had a slight impression of this little fatty. If not, given her character, there would likely be no one else here she would nod her head to with the exception of Zhou Yuan. At the head of the boat, Mu Wuji took a puff of his pipe after seeing that everyone was here, before he unhurriedly said, ¡°In half a day, we will reach the Shengzhou Continent.¡± ¡°When that happens, you guys will leave the boat with me and head for the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Everyone nodded with solemn expressions. After speaking , Mu Wuji closed his eyes to rest, while the others seated themselves in silence. Half a day passed, and a tremor was suddenly felt. They had finally entered the Shengzhou Continent. Mu Wuji stood up and gave his pipe a shake, causing green smoke to rise. The smoke transformed into a several dozen feet wide cloud that floated outside the boat. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Mu Wuji moved, appearing on the green cloud. Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and the rest also got onto the cloud one after another. As he stood atop the green cloud, Zhou Yuan lifted his head and gazed at the giant boat, where several figures were looking towards them from the side of the boat. It was Luluo, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun and the rest. ¡°Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, take care!¡± Luluo waved her small hands. Zuoqiu Qingyu laughed enchantingly, before she smiled and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ll be waiting for the day your name resounds across the Shengzhou Continent.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together at them and grinned, his eyes lowering slightly as he softly said, ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s work hard together.¡± With a deep breath, he turned around and sat down, giving a little wave with his hand towards the back. Mu Wuji gave his pipe a tap and the green cloud ferrying everyone shot forth, disappearing into the horizon in a mere few breaths. On the cloud, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, anticipation and excitement surging out within them. "Cangxuan Sect¡­" ¡°I really look forward to it¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 212 Entering Cangxuan A green cloud flitted across the sky with a whoosh. Zhou Yuan and the rest were seated atop the cloud, their gazes full of curiosity as they observed the vast land before them. Ever since entering the Shengzhou Continent, they could clearly feel that the Genesis Qi here far surpassed the Cangmang Continent¡¯s. Moreover, they could see for themselves how vast the Shengzhou Continent was. Eight days had passed since they left the hundred flowers boat, every day spent rushing without rest. They had already lost track of how many cities they had passed, and how many teleportation arrays they had used, not even knowing how many hundreds and thousands of miles each jump had covered... Even so, they had yet to reach their destination. Such vastness really opened their eyes. All of a sudden, Mu Wuji opened his mouth and said, ¡°We¡¯ll reach the Cangxuan Sect tomorrow.¡± These words were akin to pumping a surge of energy through Zhou Yuan and the rest. Although they had not used any Genesis Qi during the past eight days of travel, it was still a rather tiring affair. Fortunately, their destination was finally within sight. As such, a day swiftly past under an atmosphere of bubbling anticipation. When the sun rose high into the sky the next day, the resting Zhou Yuan and gang suddenly felt the surrounding Genesis Qi become stronger. They immediately opened their eyes, and saw mists swirling in between countless ancient mountain ranges, each giant peak like a titan that could hold up the heavens. Amongst the giant mountains, one would faintly see countless halls, pavilions and other buildings, the misty feeling seemingly filled with a celestial aura. Meanwhile, countless figures of light rapidly shuttled between... Genesis Runes were faintly discernible high up in the sky. These Genesis Runes were connected to each other, forming an enormous Genesis Rune boundary. The boundary stretched downwards, covering the innumerable mountain ranges. Power that could not be described spread from them. Although they were only slivers and strands, they gave rise to fear within Zhou Yuan. The green cloud under Mu Wuji¡¯s feet approached the Genesis Rune boundary. Rays of light shined from it, as if checking his identity. Moments later, a crack peeled open in the boundary. Mu Wuji directed the green cloud in. The moment they entered, Zhou Yuan and the rest immediately felt the world around them become fresher and clearer. Concentrated Genesis Qi flowed into their bodies along with the air, wave after wave washing through their bodies. ¡°What a paradise.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but praise. Training here would undoubtedly be amazing for one¡¯s cultivation. The others curiously asked, ¡°Is this the Cangxuan Sect?¡± ¡°This is only the outer mountains of the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Mu Wuji chuckled. ¡°Only after you guys pass the peak selection ceremony will you be able to see the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s true face.¡± ¡°Next, I¡¯ll bring you guys to the gathering point for the new disciples.¡± By the time his words faded, he had already driven the green cloud past several towering mountains. Dozens of minutes later, their speed began to slow as an extremely magnificent mountain appeared within their sights. At the waist of the mountain was a gigantic plaza. A seemingly endless stream of light figures were flying over from every direction and landing on the plaza, making it appear extremely busy. When Mu Wuji landed the green cloud on the plaza, a man in Cangxuan Sect¡¯s green robes approached and welcomed them with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re finally here teacher uncle Mu. Yours is already the last batch of new disciples.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t help it, the Cangmang Continent is just too far.¡± Mu Wuji waved his hand, before turning his head to look at the group behind him. ¡°Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, follow me. The others wait here.¡± After finishing, he led the two of them towards a building at the back of the plaza. ¡°Whose in charge of this new batch of outer mountain disciples?¡± Along the way, Mu Wuji asked the Cangxuan Sect disciple that had welcomed them earlier. ¡°Teacher uncle Chen Yuan from the Heavenly Lightning Peak.¡± Answered the disciple. ¡°Chen Yuan?¡± Mu Wuji¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, but he did not say anything else. They passed through the plaza, arriving before the building and pushed the doors open. ¡°Heheh, I was wondering who it was. So it¡¯s you old Mu. Your efficiency is really not that good, you¡¯re the last to return this time.¡± Zhou Yuan looked over, only to find that the one who had spoken was a thin middle-aged man. Though he was smiling, there was a feeling of evil intentions behind it. Mu Wuji retorted, ¡°Want to try going to the Cangmang Continent?¡± ¡°How can anyone good come from such a remote place, what¡¯s the point in going.¡± The man called Chen Yuan smiled in an insincere manner. Mu Wuji could not be bothered with him, pointing at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao as he said, ¡°These two are the new disciples from the Cangmang Continent. The need two first class disciple quotas.¡± Chen Yuan shot a look at the two and frowned, a difficult look emerging on his face as he said. ¡°Old Mu, you returned too late. The number of new disciples this time has already exceeded the limit. There are not many first class disciple quotas, and all have them have been reserved in advance.¡± Chen Yuan suggested with a wave of his hand, ¡°How about I gave the two of them second class disciple quotas.¡± Mu Wuji¡¯s pipe slammed into the table as he coldly snorted, ¡°Don¡¯t give me that crap. Who doesn¡¯t know of your methods. Have you secretly exchanged away the first class disciple quotas?¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s thin face turned rather ugly. ¡°What are you saying¡­ why not I give this girl a first class quota. Her Spirit is strong and she does have the qualifications.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± He shot a glance at Zhou Yuan, before he continued, ¡°Letting a quasi Alpha-Origin kid get a quota will be against the rules. You will not have the high ground in this matter even if you escalate it.¡± Mu Wuji could not be bothered to reply. Instead, he retrieved the token and tossed it to Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan caught the token, his eyes widening slightly when he glanced as it and muttered in confusion, ¡°How can a youngster from a place like the Cangmang Continent possess this?¡± Only those who had some relation to their Cangxuan Sect would possess such a token. Chen Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered for a moment. He looked towards Zhou Yuan and sincerely said, ¡°Little fellow, I can give you a first class disciple quota, but I should also let you know that the competition between the new disciples is extremely intense. I feel that you may not be able to hold onto this quota with your quasi Alpha-Origin strength, and will only become a target for the other disciples. Therefore, I feel that it will be most appropriate for you to take a second class disciple quota first, and when your strength rises in the future, I will immediately upgrade you to first class. How does that sound?¡± He was clearly intending for Zhou Yuan to voluntarily give up his first class disciple quota. Zhou Yuan merely chuckled upon hearing this. ¡°Many thanks to teacher uncle for your consideration, however¡­ I¡¯m not afraid of trouble.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s expression froze for a second, clearly surprised that the mere quasi Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan would be so arrogant. There was some resentment on his face as he helplessly retrieved a booklet and registered Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s information. ¡°Alright, you can go now. When the new disciples assembly later and the classes are announced, you will know just how much trouble you brought upon yourself.¡± Chen Yuan waved his hands to chase them off. Mu Wuji was clearly at loggerheads with the former. He immediately led the two of them away. Upon seeing their leaving figures, Chen Yuan threw the booklet onto the table as disdain rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Foolish kid, you don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you and refuse to listen to my good advice. Since that is so, I¡¯ll be waiting to see how many days you will be able to hold on to that first class disciple status¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 213 Luo Song Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao followed Mu Wuji out of the building, before the latter smiled at the two of them and said, ¡°I¡¯ll have to go hand in my report. You guys will be staying here for the next three months.¡± ¡°Many thanks to teacher uncle Mu for receiving us from so far away.¡± Zhou Yuan solemnly bowed to Mu Wuji. Although the latter had been tasked by the sect to head to the Cangmang Continent, it could still be considered as a favor to them. In addition, Mu Wuji had stood up when the Sacred Palace envoy was being overbearing. This was why Zhou Yuan heart was filled with good will towards this slovenly barefoot uncle. By the side, Yaoyao also gave a slight nod. Although she had not conversed much with Mu Wuji, she could feel that the latter was quite open-minded, and did not treat the new disciples with an air of arrogance. Over all, he was a pretty decent person. Mu Wuji waved his hand, smiling as he said, ¡°I¡¯m usually cultivating in the Bleak Sky Peak. If you have any problems in the future, you may come and find me.¡± He shot a glance at the building, before he continued in a low voice, ¡°Chen Yuan and I are pretty much at each other¡¯s necks all the time. He¡¯s definitely not happy that we made him cough up two first class disciple quotas.¡± ¡°Although he won¡¯t dare to go overboard, the competition between the new disciples will indeed be very intense. Both of you should take note, those that were selected from the various continents will not be ordinary individuals.¡± ¡°In fact, even in the past batches, there were definitely no lack of first class disciples whom had their status stolen¡­¡± Mu Wuji cautioned, ¡°However, don¡¯t feel restricted because of this. There¡¯s no need to show any courtesy to those who come looking for trouble. As long as it¡¯s within the rules, even if the matter blows up all the way to the sect master, he will give the owner of this token some face.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded his head, indicating that he understood the advice. Mu Wuji spoke a little more, before waving his hands at the two as he rose into the sky on green smoke, disappearing into the many mountains in the blink of an eye. As they watched his leaving figure, Zhou Yuan let out a long sigh. He gazed upon the now unfamiliar surroundings, knowing that he would be staying here for a long period of time. Because this place would allow him to grow even stronger. ¡°Let¡¯s go. There¡¯s nothing to be scared of in a mere Cangxuan Sect¡­¡± Yaoyao gently rubbed Tuntun, her red lips parting slightly as she continued, ¡°At the very least, you have me and Tuntun.¡± Tuntun opened its eyes and looked at Zhou Yuan as it reached out a paw to pat his arm, as if saying ¡®Relax, I¡¯ll protect you¡¯. Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle as a feeling of warmth flowed in his heart. When he thought about it, Yaoyao and Tuntun had already accompanied him for almost two years... At the very beginning, however, he was merely a weak youngster that could not even unblock his eight meridian channels. Now, he had already walked out of the Cangmang Continent, and even entered a behemoth like the Cangxuan Sect... Many things had changed during these two years. But Zhou Yuan also understood that the true challenge had perhaps only just began. To find a place for himself in such an enormous sect would likely be harder than he imagined. Fortunately, he was not alone. It was as Yaoyao had said, he still had her and Tuntun... Zhou Yuan raised his head to the sky, light shining down on his youthful face as he smiled a smile of dazzling confidence. So what if it was the Cangxuan Sect... So what if the competition will be intense... Even the despair from back then had not crushed him, what was now in comparison? ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Said Zhou Yuan to Yaoyao, before he took the lead and walked towards the giant bustling plaza. ... The giant plaza was already flooded by a sea of people. A quick glance would reveal that they were all pretty young, each individual in high spirits and overflowing with youthful vitality. The atmosphere was boiling with excitement. Gathered here were the numerous geniuses from the various continents in Cangxuan Heaven. Even so, they were still clearly gathered into distinct circles. The most attention grabbing was the area at the very front of the plaza where groups of all sizes could be seen. The main similarity was that at the center of each circle was a proud looking young man or lady... Powerful Genesis Qi spread from their bodies, far surpassing those beside them. ¡°Over here, little Yuan bro!¡± When Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao returned to the plaza, a familiar voice was heard nearby. Shen Wanjin¡¯s eye-grabbing round body was beckoning at them. Zhou Yuan walked over. Behind Shen Wanjin were several figures. They were the Cangxuan Continent geniuses, including Xiao Tianxuan. However, at this current time, these illustrious geniuses in the Cangmang Continent had began to appear a little unnatural. They could sense that the superiority they were originally proud of was now completely gone. Practically all of them had turned from a genius to an ordinary person. It was because of this sudden unease and loss that they involuntarily converged towards Zhou Yuan when they saw him. Xiao Tianxuan had a complicated expression as he followed at the very end of the group, not daring to meet Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze. ¡°Little Yuan bro, Cangxuan Sect is amazing indeed. There are over ten thousand new disciples here, each and every one a genius from the various continents¡­¡± Shen Wanjin looked at the surroundings in amazement. ¡°I just found out that there will be about a hundred first class disciples in this batch.¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback. A hundred first class disciples? Didn¡¯t that mean that all of these individuals possessed the strength similar to the third layer Alpha-Origin? ¡°What an eye opener.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. As expected, he would only be able to see such a grand line-up here. However, Zhou Yuan was also pretty astonished that Shen Wanjin could gather such information in such a short span of time. The latter¡¯s smiling and friendly appearance was indeed a great tool for approaching and getting friendly with others. ¡°Within these hundred or so, they must be little Yuan bro and big sis Yaoyao!¡± Shen Wanjin grinned widely as he said, ¡°I hope that big brother and big sister will take extra care of your little bro in future.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle when he heard this. However, just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly interjected. ¡°Hehe, how can a quasi Alpha-Origin become a first class disciple. You guys are treating this matter too lightly.¡± The sudden interjection stunned the group. Their gazes turned, and found a figure looking at them nearby. It was a slightly handsome young man. He had a smile on his face, while a group crowded around him like stars to the moon. Genesis Qi rippled from the young man¡¯s body, revealing that he had reached the second later Alpha-Origin stage. When the young man saw Zhou Yuan and gang look over, a carefree smile immediately appeared on his face. But anyone could see that his eyes were fixed on Yaoyao from start to end. ¡°I am Luo Song from the Tianqing Continent¡­¡± The young man cupped his hands together with a smile. ¡°We can be said to all be fellow disciples in future, so we should keep an eye out for each other.¡± He seemed to offhandedly mention, ¡°I should be rated at a second class disciple this time, and if I work hard in the future, I should have a chance at becoming a first class disciple.¡± Several individuals at the young man¡¯s side began to flatter, ¡°Hehe, getting acquainted with brother Luo is your fortune.¡± They could naturally tell that Luo Song was after Yaoyao. After all, she was far too beautiful, and many had been trying to find out more about her ever since she had appeared. However, in response to Luo Song¡¯s slightly thirsty gaze, Yaoyao did not even give him a single glance from start to end. She merely continued to play with Tuntun. Zhou Yuan secretly chuckled inside. Luo Song may seem like a kind person on the surface, but the arrogance in his tone could not be concealed. Hence, Zhou Yuan smiled as he shook his head and said, ¡°We¡¯re from the Cangmang Continent. As for looking out for each other, there¡¯s really no need.¡± Luo Song was clearly stunned that Zhou Yuan had actually rejected him. The former had obviously never expected that this group would reject him, causing his expression to turn a little rigid. His followers frowned and said, ¡°What an unappreciative brat.¡± ¡°To be recognized by brother Luo is your blessing, don¡¯t be so muddle-headed.¡± There were also several pretty good looking young ladies amongst them who disdainfully glanced at Zhou Yuan. They clearly felt that his actions were not tactful at all. After all, a quasi Alpha-Origin was really too unremarkable, and had no right to put on airs. Luo Song let out a dry laugh. He had to show gracefulness in front of a beauty after all. Hence, he waved his hand and gave Zhou Yuan a deep look as he said, ¡°My friend, this is not the continent you guys lived in previously, so it would be better for you to behave properly such as to avoid suffering¡­¡± ¡°Hehe, if you guys change your mind in the future, you can always come and find me.¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly sighed. He looked at Yaoyao and said in a low voice, ¡°We just got here and you¡¯re already attracting bees and butterflies. Maybe you should continue to dress-up as a guy?¡± Yaoyao rolled her eyes at him. ¡°No more dressing up. If I attract the attention of someone like Qinyu again it will become an even bigger headache.¡± Fury flashed in Luo Song¡¯s eyes when he saw Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao intimately conversing in hushed voices, completely ignoring his existence. Just as he was about to speak again, a gong suddenly sounded across the plaza. They watched as Chen Yuan slowly walked out on a tall stage as his nonchalant voice echoed across the entire place. ¡°Everyone quiet. I will be announcing the classes of the new disciples¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 214 First Class When Chen Yuan¡¯s voice spread across the plaza, the originally noisy plaza instantly became quiet, every gaze nervously looking towards the stone stage. Although the youngsters present were the geniuses from the various continents, they clearly understood that with the exception of a few special monsters, everyone else would become ordinary. When compared to their status and rank in the past, it would be a drop of a thousand feet. In the Cangxuan Sect, they would experience competition that they had never experienced before. To raise one¡¯s status, one needed to work hard to raise one¡¯s strength. It was obvious that those who became first class disciples in the first disciple evaluation would undoubtedly gain several advantages. Under the attention of countless gazes, Chen Yuan waved the booklet in his hand and said, ¡°There will be a total of 148 first class disciples for this evaluation, 1056 second class disciples and 9500 third class disciples.¡± These words immediately caused the plaza to stir restlessly. Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised. There were over ten thousand geniuses from the various continents, and yet only slightly over a hundred were able to become first class disciples. From this, one could see just how valued a first class disciple quota was. The people at Luo Song¡¯s side continued to sing his praises, ¡°Can¡¯t believe there will only be a thousand second class disciples. Brother Luo is indeed the best amongst the Tianqing Continent geniuses.¡± A meaningful smile was revealed on Luo Song¡¯s face as he waved his hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s only a second class disciple, I still need to strive harder to become a first class disciple. When that time comes, I will have the chance to see how amazing the legendary grade 5 Genesis Food is.¡± While he spoke however, his gaze constantly swept towards Yaoyao, the pleased look in his eyes completely unconcealable. The gazes of the group around him were filled with envy, some of the better looking young ladies even constantly casting flirtatious glances at him. This caused Luo Song to grow even more pleased with himself. His gaze shifted towards Yaoyao again, only to realise that the latter had not even taken notice of him, an observation that made him somewhat disappointed. ¡°This girl is quite arrogant, but she does have the beauty and presence to match it. I may not know what kind of relationship that kid has with her, but it should be no issue. A mere quasi Alpha-Origin is no competition at all. After some time in the Cangxuan Sect, he will naturally realise that he is not a fit for her at all.¡± Muttered Luo Song in his heart. It was clear that he did not take the quasi Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan very seriously. ¡°Next, I shall be announcing the list of first class disciples.¡± On the tall stage, Chen Yuan indifferently said, ¡°Those whose names have been called, come forward to receive your disciple tokens.¡± ¡°Shengzhou Continent, Lu Feng.¡± The first name immediately caused a disturbance on the plaza. Zhou Yuan and the rest watched as a youth in white flew onto the stage. It was as if his face had been sculptured, giving off a bold and striking sensation. Powerful Genesis Qi seemed to ripple from his body, making him feel intimidating even when he was not angry. Lu Feng seemed to be pretty famous, his appearance causing several girls to shriek. Zhou Yuan also looked towards the youth in white called Lu Feng, as his eyes widened slightly. He could indeed feel a faint feeling of danger from the latter¡¯s body. This individual was definitely not simple. Beside Zhou Yuan¡¯s group, Luo Song sighed loudly as he said, ¡°Lu Feng is said to be from the Lu clan of the Shengzhou Continent. He has a powerful background and is extremely talented. He will surely be one of the core members of the Cangxuan Sect in the future.¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao as he nonchalantly said, ¡°I even talked with him two days ago, so we at least recognize each other by face.¡± Someone at his side quickly started the bootlicking again. ¡°I heard that Lu Feng is extremely proud, and ordinary people won¡¯t even enter this eyes. The fact that Brother Luo was able to speak with him is truly amazing.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but exchange a look with Yaoyao. Were these people idiots? Was talking to someone really something you should be proud of? Though Luo Song¡¯s narcissism was rather loathsome, the information he revealed was committed to memory by Zhou Yuan. ¡°Shengzhou Continent, Gu Hongyi.¡± A stunning fiery-red figure nimbly leaped onto the stage. When the crowd looked over, the gazes of numerous males were immediately lit with burning desire, because the one that had appeared on the stage was a young lady in red. The young lady¡¯s skin was akin to snow, while her face seemed as if it was painted. Her long, slender legs were relatively attention grabbing, and it was hard to turn away from the sight of her sexy figure. A heroic aura seemed to sprout from the young lady in red, while the long red whip that hung on her slender waist only accentuated it even further. ¡°This girl is called Gu Hongyi, and is said to be related to one of the high ranking personnel in the Cangxuan Sect. She is very strong and pretty, and no one knows how many have tried to gain her favor. Though she is beautiful, she is extremely fond of battle, so it will be rather troublesome if you offend her.¡± Names continued to be read during the next ten minutes as extraordinary young men and women ascended the stage to receive the highest rank status token under the envious eyes of the crowd. In the blink of an eye, over a hundred people had ascended the stage. A look of thought could be seen on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he watched from below. He had realised that half of the hundred first class disciples were from the Shengzhou Continent. ¡°The Shengzhou Continent truly is blessed by the heavens.¡± Zhou Yuan secretly sighed in his heart. The geniuses from the other continents were already a step behind in comparison. Catching up would not be easy. One name after another continued to sound out, and the list soon approached its end. ¡°Cangmang Continent, Zhou Xiaoyao.¡± When this name was read, Yaoyao walked forward with Tuntun in her arms. ¡°Eh, what are you doing?¡± Luo Song hastily called out when he saw this. Yaoyao naturally paid no attention to him, heading straight to the tall stage and directly climbed up under Luo Song¡¯s stupefied gaze. The instant she stepped onto the stage, the entire plaza fell silent, every gaze colored with unconcealable amazement. Gu Hongyi was already a rare beauty in the making, but she lacked in presence when compared to Yaoyao. Restlessness soon spread in the crowd. ¡°Wow, who is that? She¡¯s so beautiful!¡± ¡°She seems to be from the Cangmang Continent? I¡¯ve never heard of the place¡­¡± ¡°But has managed to become a first class disciple? Why can¡¯t I feel any Genesis Qi undulations from her?¡± ¡°Her Spirit cultivation should be extremely high, I can feel that her Spirit is exceedingly powerful¡­¡± ¡°......¡± Countless whispers rose one after another. At the front of the plaza, Lu Feng, who originally had his eyes closed, also opened them at this moment. He looked at Yaoyao with interest as he muttered, ¡°What a strong Spirit.¡± ¡°She¡­ she¡¯s a first class disciple?¡± Luo Song¡¯s face was a mix of white and green, while his entourage had obediently shut their mouths this time, their faces burning when they recalled their earlier actions. On the stage, Yaoyao rather disliked being under the attention of those countless searing gazes. She quickly took her status token, walked off and returned to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. Several gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan at this moment, but when they saw that the latter was merely at the quasi Alpha-Origin, they nonchalantly shifted their gazes away. Luo Song no longer dared to speak to Yaoyao. He glanced at Zhou Yuan as he secretly mumbled to himself, ¡°Kid, that girl is too superb. I may not have the qualifications, but you are even worse¡­¡± On the stage, Chen Yuan glanced at the booklet, mockery lifting from the corners of his mouth as he said, ¡°Next is the last first class disciple¡­ also from the Cangmang Continent, Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Zhou Yuan understood the former¡¯s intentions from his gaze. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change as he began to walk forward. The corners of Luo Song¡¯s eyes twitched frantically, while the followers around him looked to each other. ¡°He... what is he going to do?¡± ¡°He can¡¯t be Zhou Yuan, right?¡± While they were still stuck in their disbelief, Zhou Yuan had already passed through the crowd, expression calm as he walked onto the stage and received the status token under the crowd¡¯s stares. When he stood on the stage, the entire plaza fell silent for an instant. A split second later, bewildered voices exploded, filling the sky. ¡°Quasi Alpha-Origin?¡± ¡°Such strength has the qualifications to become a first class disciple?!¡± ¡°How can this be? A quasi Alpha-Origin first class disciple? What kind of joke is this!¡± A sky of doubtful voices surged like a flood. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 215 Accommodation ¡°How does a quasi Alpha-Origin like him have the qualifications to become a first class disciple?¡± ¡°If even he can become a first class disciple, why can¡¯t we?¡± ¡°......¡± Questioning voices swept across the sky and land. Practically everyone present was filled with indignation when they saw this. Those evaluated as second class disciples in particular were extremely unhappy. Even they had not been evaluated as first class, so why did a quasi Alpha-Origin kid get it? The third class disciples were even more envious and jealous, their eyes practically tinged red. Only the high and mighty first class disciples merely watched with the cold eyes of a bystander. However, their gazes were not too friendly when they looked towards Zhou Yuan, as if a dirty dog had somehow entered the ranks of tigers and leopards. The young man in white called Lu Feng merely watched with an uncaring gaze. He only glanced at Zhou Yuan once, before withdrawing his eyes, clearly paying no heed to this matter. On the stage, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm in the face of the numerous questioning voices. Chen Yuan wore a smile on his face. Only after the voices faded somewhat did he extend a hand to indicate for everyone to be quiet as he said, ¡°This new disciple¡¯s situation is a little different. There¡¯s an esteemed master who has vouched for him.¡± These words first silenced the plaza, before they burst out into an even greater uproar. ¡°Tch, so he got in through the back door¡­¡± Numerous new disciples shook their heads inside, disdain flowing out on their faces. Although they too wished deep down that they could be in the same situation, when it happened to someone else, they could not help but begin mocking. Dressed in red, the slender, sexy Gu Hongyi had initially been interested to know how a quasi Alpha-Origin could become a first class disciple. After hearing Chun Yuan¡¯s words however, her red lips curled downwards slightly. She shook her head in disappointment as her eyes turned away, no longer giving Zhou Yuan any further attention. On the stage, Chen Yuan waved his hand at Zhou Yuan and said with a wide grin, ¡°Alright, you can go now.¡± Zhou Yuan indifferently glanced at the former. How could he not know that this was done on purpose. However, he did not say anything because it was true that he did appear to be a quasi Alpha-Origin on the surface, a fact that would draw criticism regardless of when he became a first class disciple. The only way to deal with such criticism was to prove oneself, something he would naturally have a chance to do in the future. Hence, he directly returned to his original spot under numerous watching gazes. The nearby group of Luo Song and gang returned to their senses at this moment. With a hollow laugh, he put on a fake smile as he said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°I did not expect this friend to have such solid relations¡­¡± ¡°However, you¡¯ll only end up losing out in the end. Not many disciples will be willing to come into contact with you in the future.¡± The crowd around him nodded. Although they were envious inside, they righteously criticized Zhou Yuan for pulling strings. Yaoyao frowned slightly and turned her head to the side, revealing a perfect side face profile, her skin seemingly suffused with a jade glow. Luo Song was elated when he saw Yaoyao look at him for the first time. Before he could speak however, Yaoyao¡¯s red lips parted slightly. ¡°Scram.¡± Luluo¡¯s expression instantly turned rigid, while the corners of the mouths of his group twitched. It was obvious that none of them had expected this aloof goddess like girl would be so crude. White and green interlaced on their faces, but they did not dare to say anything in the end. Yaoyao was after all a true-blue first class disciple. Luo Song shot a look of hatred at Zhou Yuan before leaving in embarrassment. On the stage, Chen Yuan faced the still clamouring crowd and said in a nonchalant voice, ¡°There is no need for any of you to grumble. The Cangxuan Sect¡¯s rules are fair, and will not be biased towards anyone. If you cannot accept this result, feel free to challenge them.¡± ¡°A first class disciple may not be fixed forever. If one is incapable, he or she will naturally be replaced.¡± ¡°So, don¡¯t be relieved just because you became a first class disciple. The right path is still to continue training hard.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s words made several disciples begin to stir as several malicious gazes were cast in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. If one was to consider who would be the easiest to replace amongst the over hundred first class disciples present, the answer was pretty obvious. Chen Yuan ignored the crowd¡¯s response as he continued to speak, ¡°Starting now, you will be training here for the next three months, after which will be the peak selection ceremony. Only those that pass the ceremony and enter the seven peaks can be truly considered disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. Those that fail will become outer mountain disciples, and may also enter the seven peaks if the contribution conditions are met.¡± The hearts of the numerous new disciples shivered. Those that could enter the Cangxuan Sect were naturally prideful geniuses. Hence, failing to enter the seven peaks would be a tremendous blow to them. ¡°Your accommodation can be found on the disciple token.¡± ¡°From tomorrow onwards, every disciple will begin training in Genesis Mountain. It is a specially constructed cultivation paradise of the Cangxuan Sect, so you better grasp this chance well.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s words caused another surge of noise to wash over the plaza. Desire rose in the eyes of the Shengzhou Continent geniuses, clearly already aware of what it was. The geniuses from the other continents were at a loss, and could only humbly seek help. Thus, several of the Shengzhou geniuses looked towards the other continent geniuses as if they were looking at country bumpkins, and said with an air of superiority, ¡°You guys don¡¯t even know of Genesis Mountain?¡± ¡°Genesis Mountain is a type of cultivation haven created by the Cangxuan Sect. It¡¯s shaped like a volcano with a Genesis Rune boundary carved on its insides to absorb Genesis Qi which is then purified by several Genesis Rune boundaries, causing the Genesis Qi that spouts out to be so much more pure.¡± ¡°The most wonderful aspect of Genesis Mountain is the Heavenly Genesis Flower planted on every cultivation platform. One only needs to feed Genesis jade to this Heavenly Genesis Flower, and it will draw out the Genesis Qi in the mountain and send it spouting out.¡± ¡°The Genesis Qi from the Heavenly Genesis Flower is not only purer than normal, but also contains some of its essence that can continuously temper the flowing Genesis Qi in the body. It can be said to be a cultivation treasure.¡± The numerous new disciples from the other continents were confused. Although they sounded very amazing, what exactly were these Genesis jade and Heavenly Genesis Flower? ¡°Genesis jade is an item manufactured by the Cangxuan Sect. You may treat it as a substitute for Genesis crystals, though it can only be used in the sect. One can exchange Genesis jade in the Hidden Scripture Pavillion and the Glittering Jewels Pavillion for all kinds Genesis techniques, medicinal pills, Genesis Weapons¡­¡± Chen Yuan opened his mouth to speak at this moment, ¡°You new disciples will receive 30 Geneses jade pieces at the beginning of every month. The Genesis jade pieces for this month has already been placed in your quarters.¡± ¡°As for Genesis Mountain, you will naturally understand when you train tomorrow.¡± He waved his hand and said, ¡°Everyone should go find their living quarters.¡± After speaking, he turned around and left in an unhurried manner. The plaza turned into a chaotic mess as numerous disciples began to scatter, using the instructions on the token to search for their living quarters. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao also followed the instructions, passing through the verdant mountain, before ultimately coming to a stop at the rear of the mountain. At the waist of the mountain stood exquisite little house after house, powerful Genesis Qi pulsing in the surroundings. Behind them, Shen Wanjin sighed and remarked, ¡°Little Yuan bro, big sis Yao, the first class disciple treatment really is countless times better than third class disciples like us.¡± Perhaps for the new disciples to better look out for each other, the Cangxuan Sect had temporarily grouped the geniuses from the same continent together. Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest were situated at the foot of the mountain nearby. However, their living quarters were what seemed to be a series of joined little huts that looked rather simplistic. Compared to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, the difference was pretty vast. The others nodded one after another, envy filling their eyes. They were geniuses that had lived a life of luxury in the past. Now however, their living standards had fallen drastically, and it was going to be pretty hard to get used. Zhou Yuan chuckled and comforted them a little, before beginning to climb up to the waist of the mountain with Yaoyao. Their two little houses were quite close after all. After entering their respective houses, Zhou Yuan began to look around with some interest, finding the place very satisfactory. Most importantly, he had discovered the Genesis Rune boundary in the little house that continuously collected the surrounding Genesis Qi. Living in such a place for a long period would definitely be very beneficial to his cultivation. On a table in the house, he saw a cloth bag which he picked up and shook, causing tinkling sounds to emerge. He reached in a grabbed a strip of jade that was the size of a baby¡¯s fist. The clear jade sparkled as pure Genesis Qi spread from it. Zhou Yuan curiously mumbled to himself, ¡°Is this a Genesis jade piece?¡± Everything here felt so fresh. Zhou Yuan arrived at the balcony on the second floor as warm sunlight sprinkled down and bathed his body. It felt extremely comfortable. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes in enjoyment for a brief moment, before he suddenly felt a gaze looked towards him from far away. He looked over, only to see another little house on the right. A pretty figure in red gracefully stood on the balcony, her slender and sexy figure made even more apparent when she leaned against the railing. It was Gu Hongyi. Upon sensing Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, Gu Hongyi frowned slightly before turning around and entering the house. She clearly did not approve of this first class disciple that had pulled strings to obtain his status. Zhou Yuan merely chuckled upon seeing this, unbothered by her attitude. *Knock knock*! Knocking sounded from below. With a thought from Zhou Yuan, the doors opened as Yaoyao leisurely walked in carrying Tuntun. She began to examine the place, eventually arriving on the balcony that received ample sunlight and nodded in a satisfactory manner. ¡°What are you doing?¡± At the sight of this, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt that something was amiss. ¡°My place is too shad, and it¡¯s much better here. I will be staying on the second floor while you live on the first floor.¡± Yaoyao smiled faintly at Zhou Yuan, no reservation whatsoever as she took over the best spot in the house. Zhou Yuan was stunned. ¡°You¡¯re going to live with me?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t cultivate anyways, so I won¡¯t use your Genesis Qi.¡± Replied Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan hastily said, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant.¡± Yaoyao limpid eyes narrowed slightly as she looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°You are objecting?¡± Ow ow! In Yaoyao¡¯s arms, Tuntun barked menacingly. Thus, Zhou Yuan could only let out a hollow chuckle. ¡°No.¡± Only then did Yaoyao nod her head in satisfaction. As he gazed at her graceful figure, Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. What the heck was this? Living under the same roof? He shook his head, shifted his gaze towards the bright sky and suddenly laughed. Life in the Cangxuan Sect¡­ seemed to be pretty good. He was looking forward to the future here. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 216 Forming Factions A certain house in the outer mountains. Chen Yuan sat on a chair as he calmly took a sip of tea. Before him stood a young man in blue with a respectful expression. His face was ordinary, but his eyes appeared a little devious, somewhat similar to a wolf. ¡°Teacher Chen, you were the one who agreed that I would get a first class disciple quota.¡± Said the young man in blue with a pained face. Chen Yuan waved his hand and replied, ¡°I too did not expect things to turn out this way. Mu Wuji forcibly shoved someone in.¡± Chen Yuan indifferently said, ¡°Hehe, Han Shan. I was the one at fault this time. I will return everything.¡± The youth in blue called Han Shan hurriedly said, ¡°How can I take back the gifts I¡¯ve given teacher Chen.¡± Chen Yuan nodded in admiration. He lightly tapped the table as he said, ¡°Although Zhou Yuan has become a first class disciple, it¡¯s not like you don¡¯t have any chance at all.¡± ¡°According to the rules, competition is encouraged amongst the new disciples. You are currently at the second layer Alpha-Origin, while Zhou Yuan is merely at the quasi Alpha-Origin. You only need to find a chance to challenge him, and once you succeed, you will naturally replace him as a first class disciple.¡± ¡°Tomorrow will be good. That kid will have already enjoyed a night in the little house, so he will not be overly unhappy even if beaten back to where he belongs.¡± Joy immediately flitted across Han Shan¡¯s eyes when he heard this. ¡°Does teacher Chen mean that...¡± Chen Yuan glanced at the former and said, "If you defeat him in front of everyone, I will take away his first class disciple status and transfer it to you." Han Sheng was over the moon. "Thank you for the advice teacher Chen!" In his opinion, Zhou Yuan would not be any problem as long as he had Chen Yuan''s approval. To Han Shan, it was just too easy to deal with a quasi Alpha-Origin. Chen Yuan grinned widely as he waved his hand. Upon seeing this, Han Shan tactfully withdrew. Chen Yuan toyed with the cup in his hand as he watched the former leave. He chuckled to himself as he said, "Zhou Yuan is not tactful at all. I¡¯ve already waited for a good half of the day, if he had voluntarily come to offer me generous gifts, I may have sheltered a little. Unfortunately¡­¡± "He''s just too stupid." "Although it isn''t appropriate for me to personally go after you, if you are eliminated in accordance to the rules, even the two elders above me won¡¯t have anything to say.¡± In the outer mountains, besides himself as the manager, there were two outer mountain elders. However, these two elders usually did not give any attention to such matters. Hence, it could be said that Chen Yuan was the greatest authority in the outer mountains. ... Night gradually arrived, enveloping the mountain forests. On the contrary however, the outer mountains only grew even more busy. After the disciple classification announcement in the day, secretly undercurrents flowed violently between the numerous new disciples. As the saying went, wherever there were people, there will be conflict. Even the Cangxuan Sect was no exception. Majority of the new disciples were fresh off the boat. Several of the more quick-witted ones began to call friends together to form factions. In any place, a faction would clearly have an advantage over an individual. The existence of first class disciples became the core of several groups, rapidly increasing their status. As such, the brightly lit little houses in the mountains became a hub of activity. ... In one of the little houses, several dozen people were gathered, making the atmosphere pretty lively. Luo Song was also included amongst them. Two individuals were seated in the center like a moon surrounded by stars. Calm indifference filled their expressions as they enjoyed the respect from the surrounding crowd. These two were obviously first class disciples. One was called Wei Wu, while the other was named Xu Ao. Luo Song wore a bright smile as he declared, ¡°Hehe, all of us will follow brother Wei and brother Xu in future.¡± The others nodded. Wei Wu and Xu Ao were sure to enter the seven peaks and had bright futures ahead of them. Now was clearly the best time to curry favor. Wei Wu chuckled and said, ¡°All of us from the other continents, and cannot compare to the local Shangzhou geniuses. So we naturally need to take extra care of each other.¡± One of the individuals in the group angrily said, ¡°Those from the Shengzhou Continent are really too arrogant. Just earlier, I tried to invite a second class disciple on brother Wei¡¯s behalf, but that fellow didn¡¯t give any face at all.¡± Wei Wu¡¯s expression darkened slightly when he heard this, but he still waved his hand and said, ¡°We just have to do our best. Since the Shengzhou geniuses are so prideful, there is no need for us to be friendly just to be snubbed.¡± Xu Ao nodded in approval. ¡°There seems to be two other first class disciples from the Cangmang Continent, shall we go rope them in?¡± Suggested someone. Luo Song sneered. ¡°You mean the one that went through the backdoor?¡± Wei Wu shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with the Cangmang people. I heard earlier that Han Shan will be making his move against Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Although Han Shan is a second class disciple, he is one of the local Shengzhou geniuses that has several formidable friends. Now that he had decided to move, Zhou Yuan will be beaten back to where he belongs tomorrow. Luo Song¡¯s eyes brightened when he heard this. Soon after, he chuckled and remarked, ¡°What an unlucky guy. He can only enjoy a single day of first class disciple status before falling to the bottom again.¡± The others also roared in laughter, before no longer mentioning this subject. They clearly already believed that ZHou Yuan would be the loser. Similar situations had happened several times in many places after all. Therefore, practically everyone came to know in a single night that when tomorrow came, Zhou Yuan would become the shortest lived first class disciple in history... ... The next day. When the first rays of the morning sun broke through the clouds and shined on the mountain forests, the outer mountains immediately became a hive of activity. Zhou Yuan pushed open the doors and walked out of the little house with Yaoyao. The moment they left, they saw a group of people hurriedly rush towards them. TI was Shen Wanjin and the rest. When Shen Wanjin and gang lifted their heads to see Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao emerge together, their mouths fell open, before looking at him with admiration. Any man would understand such a gaze. They clearly never imagined that the usually so aloof and distant Yaoyao that was as cold and proud as a goddess would be subdued by Zhou Yuan. As people did not know the details, they had clearly misunderstood the two of them. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched as he shot a glance at Yaoyao. The latter¡¯s pretty face was even calmer than his own, practically no desire to explain the situation. Hence, he could only sigh, not bothering to say much about the issue either. ¡°What is it?¡± He looked at the worried crowd. Only then did Shen Wanjin recall that there was a serious matter to report. Sweat dripped down his fat face as he anxiously said, ¡°Not good little Yuan bro, I heard that someone is going to take your first class disciple status today!¡± ¡°So it has come after all.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change when he heard this. He knew that such a situation would definitely occur. After all, who asked him to appear like the easiest target? ¡°Do you know who it is?¡± Shen Wanjin immediately answered, ¡°He¡¯s called Han Shen a second class disciple from the Shengzhou Continent, second layer Alpha-Origin.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he faintly nodded. A flash of red swept out from the mountain in the distance. It was Gu Hongyi. When she saw the situation here, her bright eyes shot a quick glance at Zhou Yuan, seemingly a little gloating. Evidently, even she already knew about this matter. Zhou Yuan ignored the various gazes that were on him, merely nodding to Shen Wanjin as he began to walk forward. ¡°Let¡¯s go to Genesis Mountain.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 217 Genesis Mountain A tall, towering mountain rose amongst the many mountains in the outer mountain area, piercing straight through the clouds. This mountain was the most conspicuous of all the mountains. Not only was it a grand and majestic sight, its tip shaped like a volcano, while countless faint Genesis Runes could be seen on its body, seemingly forming incomparably enormous Genesis Rune boundaries. These Genesis Rune boundaries were carved into every inch of the mountain. The surrounding Genesis Qi was endlessly drawn over, flooding into the giant mountain. It was a very spectacular sight. When Zhou Yuan gang arrived, a startled look was revealed on their faces as they gazed upon the giant of a mountain. ¡°What a sum they must have invested.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but exclaim in admiration. With his Spirit senses, he could feel that the Genesis Runes in the giant mountain were all pretty high grade, while the Genesis Rune boundaries were definitely not the work of any ordinary person. Evidently, there were existences in the Cangxuan Sect that with powerful Spirit cultivation. ¡°Such ingenious methods.¡± Rarely seen amazement had appeared on Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face as she said, ¡°There are likely over twenty Genesis Rune boundaries in this giant mountain¡­ each one closely interlinked. It¡¯s practically perfect.¡± ¡°To accomplish such a feat¡­ the Spirit cultivation of the one who did this must at the very least be at the perfect Materialization stage.¡± ¡°Perfect Materialization stage¡­¡± Zhou Yuan wet his lips inside. A Spirit of that level was already fast approaching the pinnacle. Genesis Runes could be easily formed with every gesture, making one¡¯s power immeasurable. ¡°It seems that this is Genesis Mountain.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept about, seeing streaks of Genesis Qi endlessly streaming towards the place, ultimately landing on the giant mountain. They were the numerous new disciples. Zhou Yuan and gang were currently floating in the air on their Genesis Qi. When the new disciples that arrived from all over saw him, they looked at him in a slightly smirking manner. ¡°These bastards are all waiting for you to be humiliated.¡± Shen Wanjin swore and cursed. The other Cangmang geniuses were also filled with feelings of indignation. They already knew that all of them had been marked as the same Cangmang group, while Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were basically their representatives. Their relationship with Zhou Yuan basically consisted of the following; when Zhou Yuan gained glory, they would gain glory, when Zhou Yuan was shamed, they would be shamed. If Zhou Yuan¡¯s first class disciple status was taken by Han Shan today, they would also be implicated and be shunned by the others. Zhou Yuan merely chuckled, not really angered by the situation. It was very normal for others want misfortune to befall him. After all, he appeared to be a mere quasi Alpha-Origin practitioner, and yet he had somehow managed to occupy one of the first class disciple spots. As the saying went, treasuring a jade ring can become a crime. To him, the first class disciple status was the jade ring. There was no way for him to use words to remove everyone¡¯s doubts, nor was it going to be effective. Hence, Zhou Yuan prefered to use the most direct method... ¡°Let¡¯s go. We should see how amazing this Genesis Mountain is.¡± Said Zhou Yuan as the Genesis Qi below his feet brought him and Yaoyao rising through the air, ultimately landing on the enormous Genesis Mountain. Genesis Mountain was majestic without equal. When they reached the waist of the mountain, Zhou Yuan and the rest found numerous cultivation platforms that were several feet wide installed on the mountain, reaching all the way from waist to the tip. A rough look would give an estimate of over ten thousand, making it an extremely magnificent sight. However, the cultivation platforms seemed to grow larger towards the mountain top. There were markings on every cultivation platform that corresponded to their respective disciple status tokens. As such, no one could randomly occupy a platform. There were also several young boys in the area that were yelling, ¡°First class disciples may enter the peak, second class disciples at the waist of the mountain, and third class at the bottom.¡± It was clear that the Genesis Qi at the peak would be the most concentrated. Hence why only first class disciples had the right to enjoy the best positions, while second and third were treated accordingly. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao temporarily split up with Shen Wanjin and the rest, heading for the peak under the many watching envious gazes. As they neared the peak, they saw numerous cultivation platforms that were even wider than the ones below. What¡¯s more, faint Genesis Runes could be seen on the stone that composed these platforms. Zhou Yuan followed the marking on his disciple token and landed on the stone cultivation platform that belonged to him where he found a mat at the center. The mat gave off a faint golden glow and seemed weaved from countless gold threads. Genesis Qi faintly pulsed from it, indicating that it was a cultivation support type Genesis treasure. When Zhou Yuan sat on the mat, he immediately felt a cooling aura flow into his body, giving him a refreshing sensation. This instantly made him secretly praise inside. The cultivation conditions provided by the Cangxuan Sect were really going to be hard to let go off once one had tried them out... To hold on to these cultivation resources and prevent others from taking them away, he needed to constantly move forward and surpass those around him... Zhou Yuan sighed, before his gaze turned towards his front where the most important object in the entire mountain was located. The Heavenly Genesis Flower. The golden flower before him was about ten feet tall, while petals as large as a washbasin grew from it like a sunflower. Although it was a flower, Zhou Yuan could feel that it seemed to be slowly breathing. As it breathed, the surrounding Genesis Qi flowed into it, making its petals grow increasingly dazzling. ¡°Is this the Heavenly Genesis Flower?¡± Zhou Yuan was in awe. It was said that the Heavenly Genesis Flower was a rare and unique treasure. It could continuously absorb Genesis Qi, creating pollen that possessed the miraculous power of tempering Genesis Qi. This was what made it extremely pricey. The Cangxuan Sect was clearly in possession of the method to grow these Heavenly Genesis Flowers, hence why they would own such a huge number of them. ¡°Utilising the Heavenly Genesis Flower to cultivate, can¡¯t believe the Cangxuan Sect can even think of this.¡± While Zhou Yuan continued to sigh, more and more disciples arrived at Genesis Mountain. They eventually found their cultivation platforms and began to excitedly observe the Heavenly Genesis Flowers. However, they soon stealthily raised their gazes, looking towards a certain spot near the peak where Zhou Yuan was currently located. Swish! A streak of light descended from the sky, coming to a halt above the peak. Genesis Qi took the shape of a cloud as Chen Yuan sat atop it, looking down from above at the numerous disciples. His gaze seemed to pause slightly when it swept past Zhou Yuan location, before a deep voice sounded, ¡°Since everyone is here, we will prepare to activate Genesis Mountain and begin the training.¡± ¡°Please wait teacher Chen, I have something to say.¡± However, a sharp voice followed Chen Yuan¡¯s. Every gaze on the mountain looked over, and saw a young man stand up, his vicious looking eyes akin to a wolf¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s Han Shan¡­ as expected, he¡¯s going after Zhou Yuan!¡± The sights of this young man caused numerous whispers to explode as gloating gaze after gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan. There was no change in Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression. Chen Yuan glanced at Han Shan and slowly asked, ¡°What is the matter?¡± Disdain lifted from the corners of Han Shan¡¯s mouth as he looked towards Zhou Yuan, cupped his fists together and said, ¡°I want to challenge senior brother Zhou Yuan, because I feel that he is not worthy of being a first class disciple.¡± According to the rules of the Cangxuan Sect, disciples had to defer to each other based on their rank, irregardless of age. Zhou Yuan was currently a first class disciple, hence why Han Shan had to call him senior brother. Han Shan¡¯s words caused a wave of noise to erupt. Luo Song watched as he remarked in a somewhat elated voice, ¡°It¡¯s over for this kid. From this point on, he will likely become a laughing stock in our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Several individuals that were jealous of Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. Shen Wanjin and the rest of the Cangmang geniuses did not look too good, their expressions both tensed and worried. Near the peak, Lu Feng and numerous other first class disciples merely watched with the detached eyes of a bystander, the sense of superiority in the expressions unconcealable. Gu Hongyi felt a little pity as she shot a look at Zhou Yuan. After today, he would become the shortest lived first class disciple in the history of the Cangxuan Sect. In the air, Chen Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he nonchalantly said, ¡°In a challenge between disciples, both parties must be willing. As long as Zhou Yuan agrees, you may naturally proceed.¡± He then looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Will you accept Han Shan¡¯s challenge? If you lose, your first class disciple status will be stripped.¡± Every gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan. There was neither fear nor alarm on his face as he calmly said, ¡°Does that mean I can decline?¡± These words immediately gave rise to numerous hisses of displease, disdain emerging in the gazes that looked towards him. A weakling that avoided battle was even more looked down upon. Gu Hongyi shook her head, the earlier pity instantly vanishing into thin air. A person may be weak, but if one¡¯s character was weak and submissive, one was not even deserving of pity. Chen Yuan softly chuckled. ¡°Does that mean that you¡¯re going to decline?¡± If Zhou Yuan really declined, his reputation would become terrible. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Teacher Chen misunderstands. I merely want to know whether I am allowed to decline.¡± Chen Yuan frowned, unable to understand Zhou Yuan¡¯s goal.. Zhou Yuan ignored the former, his gaze shifting to Han Shan instead as he said, ¡°You¡¯ve heard it. I have the right to decline¡­ however, I can give you a chance to challenge me, but you must first pay me thirty Genesis jade pieces.¡± The entire mountain fell silent, dumbstruck gaze after gaze staring at Zhou Yuan. No one had expected him to propose such a condition. This would totally catch anyone off guard! There was no change in Zhou Yuan in response to these gazes. If he lost, he would lose his status as a first class disciple, but if Han Shan lost, he wouldn¡¯t really lose anything. This was obviously way too unfair. Hence, he needed to tell everyone; challenge him? Sure. But you¡¯ll have first have to pay the challenge price... Or else, anyone would challenge him when they had nothing better to do. Did they think he was too free? Han Shan¡¯s face turned black as he said through gnashed teeth, ¡°Thirty Genesis jade pieces? You must be crazy!¡± ¡°Are you afraid of losing?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°A first class disciple status and thirty Genesis jade pieces, you should know which has more value, right?¡± The corners of Han Shan¡¯s mouth twitched. In the end, a vicious and resolute look flashed in his eyes. ¡°Fine, I agree!¡± Han Shan viciously glared at Zhou Yuan. The former had already decided that he would not show any mercy at all. He would make it such that this country bumpkin from the Cangmang Continent would not enjoy spending his money! It was clear that Han Shan did not believe the quasi Alpha-Origin stage Zhou Yuan had any chance at victory. ¡°Since you¡¯ve paid, I will definitely satisfy you¡­¡± Upon seeing Han Shan agree, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned cold. He stood up, slivers of iciness flowing in his eyes as he looked towards the former, and everyone felt an astonishing aura slowly spread from his body. ¡°Come.¡± A frosty voice sounded from his mouth. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 218 One Punch is Enough When Zhou Yuan stood up on the cultivation platform, everyone felt something different about his aura. Several of the sharper disciples narrowed their eyes slightly in amazement. From his aura, they could tell that Zhou Yuan had experienced numerous battles. Because only through continuous battle would such an aura appear. ¡°Unfortunately, he is still only a quasi Alpha-Origin practitioner.¡± Several individuals secretly shook their heads. The gap between these two was just far too great. Rumble! No mercy could be seen in Han Shan¡¯s eyes as he gazed at Zhou Yuan. Maliciousness soon began to appear from the corners of the former¡¯s mouth as robust Genesis Qi rapidly erupted from his body like a volcano. The surging Genesis Qi stirred the wind and clouds, the power of a second layer Alpha-Origin undoubtedly on full display. The expressions of numerous third class disciples changed slightly when they felt the overbearing Genesis Qi pressure. Although Han Shan was vicious, he was indeed rather capable. On a certain cultivation platform near the peak, one of the first class disciples turned to his side and asked Lu Feng, ¡°Hehe, Lu Feng, who do you think will win?¡± Lu Feng wore an uncaring expression, his eyelids lowering slightly, showing that he had no interest at all in watching such a fight. He offhandedly answered, ¡°Although Han Shan is only average amongst the Shengzhou Continent¡¯s younger generation, it will be easy for him to deal with a quasi Alpha-Origin.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing worth watching in such a battle.¡± The first class disciple was amused. ¡°Does this mean Zhou Yuan was planning to extort those thirty Genesis jade pieces as compensation?¡± Lu Feng nonchalantly said, ¡°I don¡¯t care about such unimportant things.¡± From what he could see, neither Han Shan nor Zhou Yuan was worthy of his attention. To him. it was merely a little squabble. Some distance away, Gu Hongyi had a hand on her chin, now a little interested after seeing the change in Zhou Yuan¡¯s aura. ¡°Could he have some ability?¡± Rumble! Under countless watching eyes, the Genesis Qi around Han Shan roared. A split second later, his foot slammed into the ground, cracking it as his body transformed into a blur that headed straight towards Zhou Yuan. Genesis Qi rapidly swirled around his body like a storm, and even the air was blasted away from his feet. ¡°A single move shall send you tumbling down!¡± Ferocity flooded Han Shan''s eyes as his five fingers tightly clenched into a fist. The Genesis Qi in his body surged out without reservation, his ferocious aura causing the expressions of even some of the first and second class disciples to change. Han Shan was clearly holding nothing back. Zhou Yuan stood on his cultivation platform and watched as a figure rapidly grew in his eyes. Violent Genesis Qi shock waves had already began to pounce towards him like sharp blades. "Second layer Alpha-Origin¡­" The expression on Zhou Yuan''s youthful face remained unchanged. He laughed softly as he mumbled, "Back then on the walls of Great Zhou City, I had to use every trump card in my arsenal to kill that second layer Alpha-Origin expert¡­" "But now¡­" Iciness appeared in his eyes. Zhou Yuan''s fingers instantly clenched into a fist, as the golden Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling erupted with a loud rumble. Scales extended from his fist, practically covering his entire arm. These scales were no longer the golden ones from the past, now giving off a true purplish gold luster instead! Third level of the Magical Python Scales, purplish gold scales! After the baptism of the Saint blood, the Magical Python Scales had reached perfection, their color now purplish gold¡­ Berserk power that slightly alarmed Zhou Yuan wildly churned inside his body. The power amplification from these purplish gold scales went far beyond the gold level. Hss! A fierce hiss was faintly heard. Everyone watched as golden Genesis Qi dash into the sky from the top of Zhou Yuan''s head, seemingly taking the shape of a giant golden python. If one were to take a closer look, one would discover two lumps on the python''s head and claws near its belly. The golden python hissed, a hiss that somehow faintly resembled a dragon''s roar. The Genesis Qi python enveloped Zhou Yuan''s body. He suddenly moved, taking a step forward under the innumerable watching gazes. Bang! The air exploded, a sonic boom left in the dust behind Zhou Yuan. His figure disappeared the moment his foot touched the ground. Almost immediately after, everyone''s pupils shrank when they saw Zhou Yuan''s figure appear in mid-air halfway down the mountain. He was now only a few feet from Han Shan. "Such speed!" Cries of astonishment rose one after another. Everyone had jumped back a little at Zhou Yuan''s sudden burst of speed. "You¡¯re just a mere quasi Alpha-Origin, stop putting up an act!¡± With a shout, Han Shan¡¯s expression twisted as the Genesis Qi in his body circulated. "Tiger Roar Mountain Subduing Seal!" A punch was sent flying, vigorous Genesis Qi faintly forming the silhouette of a giant tiger. The deafening roar of a tiger followed, intimidating and threatening anyone who heard it. The roaring giant tiger was reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he lightly expelled a breath of air. With a thought, the Omni Python Qi descended, the claws at its belly reaching out and superimposing with Zhou Yuan¡¯s scaly fist. In that moment, the space around him shook faintly. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face remained impassive as a punch was sent blasting forward. Under the attention of countless eyes, it powerfully slammed into Han Shan¡¯s ferocious fist seal. It was a simple punch, but it contained all of the Omni Python Qi and purplish gold scales¡¯ power. Boom! A shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye violently pulsed outwards. In the air, Chen Yuan¡¯s pupils suddenly tightened while he was observing their clash. Every gaze in the mountain was tinged with shock as they looked towards the epicenter of the clash where Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist was effortlessly piercing through. Bang! The roaring giant tiger was instantly ripped apart in a barbaric manner. A berserk force exploded. Disbelief flooded out in Han Shan¡¯s eyes. He could feel an indescribably overwhelming power surge towards him in an unstoppable manner, forcibly ripping through all of his power in the most tyrannical way. His second layer Alpha-Origin Genesis Qi was unable to put up even the slightest resistance! He involuntarily cried out in horror, ¡°How is this possible!¡± Boom! The air was violently blasted away as a fist covered in purplish gold scales gracefully pierced all of his defenses and landed on his chest. Thump! A muffled sound rang out as Han Shan¡¯s chest seemed to cave in. His body was instantly sent flying, like a rolling bottle gourd as he tumbled like a rag doll from the waist of the mountain to its foot. The entire mountain was silent. Shocked gaze after gaze looked towards the sky where Zhou Yuan was still in a punching posture. The expression in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes was unchanged as he looked towards the foot of the mountain where Han Shan had been blasted to. Only then did he finally finish his earlier sentence, ¡°Now¡­ one punch is enough.¡± On the now silent Genesis Mountain, Lu Feng¡¯s lightly shut eyes trembled slightly as they finally opened. A sliver of astonishment flowed on Gu Hongyi¡¯s pretty face. The others were wide-eyed. No one had expected the second layer Alpha-Origin Han Shang to be incapable of withstanding even a single punch from Zhou Yuan... They had originally believed that it would be a fierce fight. Instead, it was as if the battle had ended before it had even started... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 219 Establishing One’s Migh The enormous Genesis Mountain was blanketed in silence. Numerous gazes were fixed on a certain spot in the air, where Zhou Yuan was still in his punching posture. The purplish gold scales on the latter¡¯s arms began to recede. There was no change in his expression from start to end, as if the stunning punch earlier did not have anything to do with him. The silence lasted for a rather long time before it was gradually broken. Luo Song swallowed multiple times, a trace of fear now present in his eyes when he looked towards Zhou Yuan. Although he was also at the second layer Alpha-Origin, his battle power was weaker than Han Shan¡¯s. And yet, Han Shan had been crushed by a single punch from Zhou Yuan, ¡°This is too frightening¡­¡± He mumbled, still unable to believe what had just happened. He truly could not imagine that the second layer Han Shan would not be able to withstand even a single punch from Zhou Yuan. Han Shan was a Shengzhou genius after all. Although he was only considered average, he was already stronger than many others. Even so, his defeat at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands had been far too clean. From this, one could see how overwhelming Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle power was. Luo Song grinned. He had previously felt that it was rather regretful that Han Shan had managed to take the lead on them, but now, Luo Song was pretty glad for that. Or else, the one who was sent to the foot on the mountain with a single punch would likely be himself. ¡°Little Yuan bro is still so fierce.¡± After a brief period of shock, Shen Wanjin and the other Cangmang geniuses breathed a heavy sigh of relief. They felt honored by Zhou Yuan¡¯s achievement. Especially when they felt the now no longer present contempt in the gazes of the other disciples. ¡°Let¡¯s see who else dares to say our Cangmang geniuses are useless.¡± Xiao Tianxuan was silent, though his body relaxed slightly. Although there had been a grudge between him and Zhou Yuan in the Cangmang Continent, at the end of the day, they were both from the same Cangmang Continent. Any setbacks Zhou Yuan faced would not be good news to him either. Near the peak of Genesis Mountain, one of the Shengzhou first class disciples laughed as he remarked, ¡°Hehe so he does have some skills¡­¡± His gaze contained hints of a toying sensation when he looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Han Shan turns out to be rather disappointing.¡± This was the evaluation of the Shengzhou first class disciples, clearly extremely displeased with Han Shan¡¯s performance. After all, Han Shan had been defeated by a genius from some remote continent, a fact that would undoubtedly affect the superior status of the Shengzhou geniuses. One of the first class disciples looked towards Lu Feng and asked with a smile, ¡°Lu Feng, what¡¯s your opinion?¡± Lu Feng nonchalantly glanced at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure before withdrawing his gaze. ¡°He¡¯s not bad. The Genesis Qi he cultivates has likely reached grade 6, which is pretty rare. Such a high level Genesis Qi cultivation method almost never seen in these remote continents. It seems that he had a fortunate encounter.¡± ¡°However, his cultivation is too low. The previous punch may seem simple, but it contained the majority of his power. Any of you would have been able to block it.¡± ¡°All in all, he¡¯s only a small threat, so there¡¯s no need to make a fuss about it.¡± Upon hearing Lu Feng¡¯s evaluation, the other Shengzhou first class disciples chuckled. In contrast to the shock the other disciples felt, their insight was much better and would naturally not react so drastically to Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch. However, the contempt they had towards Zhou Yuan previously had now waned slightly. As Shengzhou disciples, they naturally had an air of superiority towards the disciples from the other continents. Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyes contained a sliver of interest as she stared at Zhou Yuan. It seems that had been wrong. Zhou Yuan may look like a quasi Alpha-Origin on the surface, but his true battle power was pretty much off the charts. ¡°Looks like his first class disciple status was not fully due to pulling strings.¡± Mumbled Gu Hongyi to herself, before she slowly withdrew her gazze. Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier performance could be said to be perfect. However, it at most made her feel slightly amazed, the complete and utter shock the other disciples felt was evidently not too probably with her. Under the various gazes all over the mountain, Zhou Yuan slowly pulled back his fist. He gazed at the sorry figure that had tumbled to the bottom of the mountain and suddenly shook his sleeve. A stream of Genesis Qi shot out, lifting a cloth bag from Han Shan¡¯s body. A tinkling sound was heard as the cloth bag swayed. It was the sound of Genesis jade pieces. Swish! However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to retrieve the bag, another stream of Genesis Qi shot over, grabbing the other end of the bag. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly as he lifted his head, only to see a young man in scarlet robes indifferently looking at him from one of the cultivation platforms near the peak, the latter¡¯s scattered hair hanging behind him. ¡°My fellow disciple, since you¡¯ve already won, there¡¯s no need to be so overbearing, right?¡± The young man in scarlet robes revealed a faint smile. Numerous gazes looked towards him, whispers immediately rising. ¡°It¡¯s Zhu Feng. I knew he would do something. I heard that he and Han Shan are very close, but most importantly, he is also a Shengzhou disciple.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at the young man in scarlet robes and chuckled. ¡°I am only retrieving what should be mine, that¡¯s not overbearing, right?¡± The eyes of the young man narrowed slightly. ¡°Han Shan was indeed reckless earlier, but you¡¯ve already taught him a lesson. Will you leave these Genesis jade pieces behind on my account?¡± Although his tone was calm, there was no room for discussion, as if the matter had already been decided. ¡°If senior brother had stepped forward earlier, today¡¯s matter would not have happened.¡± Said Zhou Yuan. ¡°As for now¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that it¡¯s already too late.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes hardened as he flicked his finger. Genesis Qi instantly tore open the cloth bag. With a wave of his sleeve, another stream of Genesis Qi flowed out and caught all the falling Genesis jade pieces before returning to him. If he had lost today, Zhu Feng would not have spoken up for him. Hence, he would naturally not show any courtesy to such a bias person. ¡°You!¡± Upon seeing Zhou Yuan directly snatch away the Genesis jade pieces, an act that clearly gave no face, Zhu Ying¡¯s eyes also hardened, iciness appearing in his gaze when he looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°What an arrogant kid!¡± Zhu Ying smiled in anger. ¡°Do you really dare to step over all our Shengzhou disciples heads?!¡± Zhu Ying¡¯s words were malicious, instantly pitting Zhou Yuan against every Shengzhou disciple, evidently planning on making him face the fury of the crowd. Some Shengzhou disciples seemed to look over. They were naturally not feeling too good about Han Shan¡¯s miserably defeat, and it was difficult to avoid having opinions about the one who had beaten him. ¡°Hehe, there seems to be a mistake in brother Zhu¡¯s words. Before the challenge, Han Shan had already agreed to the terms, which every disciple here clearly heard. It is only reasonable for junior brother Zhou Yuan to retrieve his spoils of battle, so why the need to be so overbearing?¡± A voice sounded all of a sudden. Unexpectedly however, it was speaking up for Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised. He turned his head, and found that the one who had spoken was a faintly smiling thin young man. Zhou Yuan had a faint impression of the former. He was also a first class disciple, and should be called Qiao Qing. He too was not from the Shengzhou Continent, and was hence pretty popular amongst many non Shengzhou disciples, making him a celebrity of sorts. After Zhou Yuan had displayed his strength, the opinion that he was someone who went through the back door had changed, and there were now people who were willing to show friendly gestures to him, though he honestly did not mind either way. Due to his popularity, Qiao Qing¡¯s words drew a series of verbal support from the non Shengzhou disciples. Zhu Feng glared at Qiao Qing when he saw this, but he knew that there was no longer anything he could do to Zhou Yuan today. Hence, Zhu Feng frostily glanced at Zhou Yuan, before retrieving his gaze. However, anyone could see that the former was not going to forget this. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to Zhu Feng¡¯s gaze, instead turning his head slightly to look at Qiao Qing, causing the latter to display a friendly smile. Since it was not appropriate for him to be too cold, Zhou Yuan nodded in response. Subsequently, his gaze swept across the area as he cooly asked, ¡°Is there anyone else who wants to challenge me?¡± The entire mountain was silent. Which one of the second class disciples would dare to respond after witnessing Han Shan¡¯s miserable fate? On the other hand, the first class disciples merely watched like bystanders. Thus, no one responded to Zhou Yuan. Upon seeing this, he returned to his cultivation platform and lifted his head towards Chen Yuan, who was seated in mid air. ¡°Teacher Chen, may we begin the Genesis Mountain training?¡± Only at this moment did Chen Yuan return to his senses. He deeply looked at Zhou Yuan, evidently not expecting such an outcome. No wonder Mu Wuji was not worried about Zhou Yuan¡¯s first class disciple status being stolen in the blink of an eye. It turns out that this kid was not as simple as he seemed. However, this kid likely did not know that defeating Han Shan would end up offending the Shengzhou disciples. There would only be more and more scuffled in the future. Chen Yuan wondered if Zhou Yuan would still be so cool and collected then. Chen Yuan¡¯s gazes flickered in thought for a moment before withdrawing it. His gaze then swept across the over ten thousand cultivation platforms on Genesis Mountain as he calm voice sounded. ¡°Activate Genesis Mountain!¡± With a wave of his sleeve, a stream of Genesis Qi fell into the volcano like mouth at the peak, seemingly activating a certain Genesis Rune. Bzz! The surroundings immediately began to stir. Every disciple lifted their heads in astonishment as they watched the surrounding Genesis Qi flood towards Genesis Mountain like surging mist. The Heavenly Yuan Flower before them began to sway at this moment, absorbing the Genesis Qi in Genesis Mountain. In the end, its petals gradually opened as boundless Genesis Qi spouted out along with innumerable golden pollen... On Genesis Mountain, Genesis Qi sprayed from ten thousand flowers, a scene that was spectacular and beautiful. Zhou Yuan also raised his head as anticipation appeared in his eyes. He was dying to see just how effective the legendary Heavenly Genesis Flower would be... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 220 Alpha-Origin Heaven *Gurgle*! Heavenly Genesis Flower after flower swayed on the titanic Genesis Mountain, golden light pulsing in circles. It made the flowers look as if they were made of gold, an exceedingly gorgeous sight indeed. A fragrance spread, filling the area. The roots of the flowers dug deep into the mountain, continuously absorbing the Genesis Qi within. Golden flower after flower gradually blossomed, the petals suddenly erupting as boundless and pure Genesis Qi sprayed out. Numerous golden pollen drifted within the pure Genesis Qi, giving it a strange fragrance. ¡°Such pure Genesis Qi!¡± Amazement flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he watched Genesis Qi stream out of the Heavenly Genesis Flower. He could sense that this Genesis Qi was purer than the normal. Bzz! Genesis Qi infused with golden pollen spread. Just as it was about to leave the cultivation platform, the runes on the platforms suddenly began to glow, transforming into a dome of light that sealed off the entire cultivation platform. This prevented the golden pollen Genesis Qi from drifting away. Thus, the golden pollen Genesis Qi continued to accumulate, gradually engulfing the figures seated in the platforms. Every disciple hurriedly closed their eyes at this moment, swiftly entering a state of cultivation as they greedily devoured the golden pollen Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan likewise also shut his eyes, the Omni Python Qi in his Qi Dwelling slowly beginning to stir. With a hiss, the giant golden python emitted a powerful suction force. The surrounding golden pollen Genesis Qi was immediately drawn towards him, transforming into streams of gold as it rapidly flowed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body through his nose. Golden pollen Genesis Qi swam along his meridian channels and entered the Qi Dwelling, before being swallowed by the giant golden python within it. The golden pollen Genesis Qi was swiftly refined, transforming into strand after strand of Omin Python Qi. The thing that surprised Zhou Yuan the most, was that as the golden pollen Genesis Qi was refined, he could feel a faint burning sensation flowing within his Genesis Qi. When Zhou Yuan took a closer look, he saw faint, almost invisible impurities transforming into smoke and rising from his Omni Python Qi... Meanwhile, the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling was becoming even more concentrated and purer. Zhou Yuan could not help but exclaim in amazement in his heart, ¡°This Heavenly Genesis Flower is amazing. The pollen infused Genesis Qi it produces can continuously concentrate one¡¯s Genesis Qi while training, while also burning away the impurities within¡­¡± It may not show much effect in the short term, but the cumulative results over time was pretty darn amazing. When two Genesis Qi of similar grade clashed, the upper hand would go to the one that was more concentrated and robust. Hence, the flower would undoubtedly give the Cangxuan Sect disciples an advantage. ¡°As expected of the sect that was once the strongest in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan could not stop praising. Regardless of whether it was the Genesis Mountain he stood on or these Heavenly Genesis Flowers, unique methods were required to create them. Ordinary factions did not possess the qualifications to do so. By this point, Zhou Yuan was even more certain that only in the Cangxuan Sect would he be able to truly dig out of all of his potential. Only here would he reach the Divine Dwelling stage in the shortest time possible, and gain the power to match the Great Wu Empires¡¯ king Wu. Zhou Yuan¡¯s concentration gradually increased as he began to immerse himself in his training. While this happened, golden pollen Genesis Qi continued to be spouted from the Heavenly Genesis Flower, making the cultivation platform grow even more dazzling. On another cultivation platform near to Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Under the cover of golden light, Yaoyao leisurely watched the floating golden pollen Genesis Qi, no desire to absorb any at all. In her arms, Tuntun¡¯s mouth was wide open, the black light emerging from within causing its giant mouth to seemingly transform into a black hole. Black light pulsed. No matter how much golden pollen Genesis Qi spouted out from the Heavenly Genesis Flower, every last bit was ultimately eaten by Tuntun. In fact, Tuntun even began to feel that this was too slow, and hopped directly on top of the Heavenly Genesis Flower. Whenever the flower released its load, Tuntun would open its mouth and swallow, its eyes squinting in enjoyment as it happily wagged its tail... Every cultivation platform on the giant Genesis Mountain was filled with golden light. The flickering golden light seemingly turning the entire mountain gold. Time gradually flowed, and four hours swiftly passed. After four hours, the spouting Heavenly Genesis Flower finally began to slow down as the glowing golden cultivation platforms gradually dimmed. However, everyone was still immersed in enjoying the sweet benefits, and could not possibly be willing to stop. Several disciples immediately retrieved a piece of Genesis jade and flung it towards the Heavenly Genesis Flower. The moment the Genesis jade touched the Heavenly Genesis Flower, a crack split open on the flower, swallowing the Genesis jade like a mouth. After swallowing the jade, the originally somewhat wilting flower began to shine dazzlingly as it began to energetically spout out more Genesis Qi. Only now did the many disciples finally understood how precious the Genesis jade was... As long as one had enough Genesis jade, one would practically have an endlessly spouting Heavenly Genesis Flower, making one¡¯s cultivation speed faster than others. At this point, everyone could not help but feel some pity for Han Shan, because he had already lost all of this month¡¯s Genesis jade pieces... Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, falling into thought for a brief second, before fishing out a Genesis jade piece and feeding it to the Heavenly Genesis Flower. While training earlier, he had faintly felt the existence of the Alpha-Origin Heaven. Once he succeeded in sensing it, he would truly step into the Alpha-Origin stage. *Gurgle*! After eating the Genesis jade piece, the flower once again began to tirelessly draw out the Genesis Qi from the mountain. In the end, Genesis Qi mixed with golden pollen covered Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure like a golden mist. With a single piece of Genesis jade, the Heavenly Genesis Flower would be able to continue for another two hours. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was just barely discernible in the golden pollen Genesis Qi mist. His eyes were tightly shut, his Spirit seemingly drifting in the murkiness. Something deep down inside of him could feel a very faint sensation, while his Spirit slowly followed this faint feeling. He did not know how long this continued, until a certain moment when his Spirit seemed to bump into something. With a jolt, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit violently returned to his senses as the world before him rapidly changed... What appeared in his sights was a mysterious world that was filled with the aura of primal chaos. The aura seemed to stir, giving off a feeling of ancientness. ¡°Is this place¡­ the Alpha-Origin Heaven?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit trembled as he was struck with a flash of understanding. Then was this primal chaos like aura the so-called Alpha-Origin Qi?! Absorbing it would transform his Qi Dwelling, allowing it to gradually evolve into a Divine Dwelling! Joy flooded Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He knew that the moment his Spirit entered this mysterious Alpha-Origin Heaven, he had finally truly stepped into the Alpha-Origin stage! ¡°Use the Spirit to receive Alpha-Origin Qi, and transform the world of the Qi Dwelling¡­¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 221 First Collection Tiny wisps of what seemed to be the essence of the world drifted within the primal chaos like space, giving off an ancient aura. With regards to the mysterious world essence like Qi, desire instinctively rose in Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit stood in this domain as his senses stretched forth. The domain seemed to be endless, making it impossible for him to find its boundaries. ¡°So this is the Alpha-Origin stage.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. Only those that had stepped into the Alpha-Origin stage would be able to sense the Alpha-Origin Heaven and enter with their Spirit. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to use my Spirit power to move the Alpha-Origin Qi here back into my body to begin transforming my Qi Dwelling.¡± Evidently, the more powerful the Spirit, the greater one¡¯s advantage in the Alpha-Origin Heaven. With a powerful Spirit, moving Alpha-Origin Qi would be more effective, allowing one to surpass others in this aspect. At this point, Zhou Yuan laughed softly. This just so happened to be his strong point. Amongst those at the same level, he rarely encountered anyone whose Spirit was as powerful as his own. With the exception of Yaoyao of course. After all, not just anyone would possess a high class Spirit tempering method like the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. After the baptism of the Saint blood, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had grown even more corporeal again, and was now at the perfect advance Illusory stage. All that was needed was an opportunity for him to smoothly reach the Corporeal stage. Normally speaking, for those who did not practice any Spirit tempering methods, when their Genesis Qi cultivation reached the Alpha-Origin stage, their Spirit would also strengthen. However, this boost was limited, and most would only reach the initial Illusory stage. In comparison to Zhou Yuan¡¯s perfect Illusory stage, the distance between them was tremendous. Therefore, at the very least, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit would give him a huge advantage at the Alpha-Origin level. With these thoughts in mind, Zhou Yuan decided not to waste anymore time. His Spirit power extended, seemingly transforming into numerous giant invisible hands that began to scoop up the tiny streams of world essence Qi¡­ Spirit power swirled around his Spirit together with the now secured world essence, growing more abundant as wisp after wisp continued to be collected. After an incense stick of time, the flowing world essence Qi around him had thickened to strands. By this time, all of the world essence Qi in the vicinity had already been collected. Ordinarily speaking, an initial illusory stage Spirit would only last about an incense stick of time in the Alpha-Origin Heaven, before being forcibly kicked out due to exhaustion. However, Zhou Yuan was clearly not a part of this group. He could feel that his Spirit power was still sufficient, and thus began to drift forward, finding another spot that was abundant in world essence Qi, and begin the collection process again. As such, the following period of time was spent happily collecting world essence Qi, only stopping when his Spirit began to tire. By now, the world essence Qi swirling around Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was akin to tiny twisters, a pretty impressive sight indeed. Zhou Yuan nodded as he gazed upon the fruits of his hard work in satisfaction. With a thought, his Spirit began to leave the Alpha-Origin Heaven. The invisible Spirit herded the world essence Qi towards the pull of the physical body... ... Genesis Mountain. At this current moment, the dazzling golden light on the numerous cultivation platforms had already gradually dimmed. Stalk after stalk of Heavenly Genesis Flower drew back their leaves and petals, the golden glow they previously gave off now much duller, a sign that they had used up all their energy. The many disciples sat on the cultivation platforms, their faces overflowing with joy. The training session had benefited them substantially, and most importantly, they had finally truly tasted the wonderfulness of entering the Cangxuan Sect. The outside world was definitely unable to provide such a unique training method, because ordinary sects completely lacked the means... Yaoyao stretched her back, boldly displaying the amazing curves of her slender waist that drew several barely detectable glances. As a first class disciple, Yaoyao¡¯s fame and reputation amongst the new disciples was even greater than Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Many were already secretly trying to find out more information about her since yesterday. After all, Yaoyao was just too beautiful. In addition, her cold and distant demeanor made it such that ordinary people would not dare to approach. Only those first class disciples of the same status with ability worth bragging about would dare to have designs on her. Yaoyao chose to completely ignore these gazes. With Tuntun again in her arms, she looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation platform, and a soft cry of surprise suddenly sounded from her red lips, ¡°Oh?¡± She had sensed some strange activity from Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. ¡°This ¡­ his Spirit has entered the Alpha-Origin Heaven? Has he finally stepped into the first layer Alpha-Origin stage?¡± Yaoyao was somewhat surprised. Bzz! The moment Yaoyao¡¯s words faded, a strange noise suddenly sounded in the sky. Numerous disciples lifted their heads in bewilderment, only to watch in astonishment as strands of world essence Qi began hanging down from high up the sky like a tassel. ¡°This is¡­ Alpha-Origin Qi?!¡± The sight of the world essence Qi caused numerous disciples to cry out in surprise. ¡°Someone has just stepped into the Alpha-Origin stage?¡± Everyone was somewhat stunned. The scene before their eyes was very familiar; it occured when someone reached the Alpha-Origin stage, linked to the Alpha-Origin Heaven and brought back Alpha-Origin Qi. In other words, someone had ascended to the Alpha-Origin stage. However, there was someone who had yet to reach the Alpha-Origin stage amongst them? ¡°It¡¯s Zhou Yuan!¡± Someone quickly regained his wits. Who else was there who had to reach the Alpha-Origin stage besides Zhou Yuan. Thus, surprised gaze after gaze was cast in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. Sure enough, they saw that his eyes were still closed, the world essence Qi hanging down from the sky surrounding his body as it streamed in. ¡°Heh, he¡¯s already caused such a ruckus at the quasi Alpha-Origin stage, wouldn¡¯t that mean he¡¯ll be going to turn the world upside down after he steps in the first layer Alpha-Origin?¡± Several Shengzhou first class disciples could not help but cheekily joke when they saw this. In between there words was mockery and arrogance. One of the first class disciples smiled as he asked Lu Feng, ¡°Lu Feng, when you reached the Alpha-Origin stage, how long did the Alpha-Origin Qi you brought back last?¡± Lu Feng¡¯s face was impassive as he answered, ¡°935 breaths.¡± This period of time started when the Alpha-Origin Qi first appeared and ended when all of it entered the Qi Dwelling. It would normally be over pretty quickly, and was hence counted in breaths. When one reached the Heaven Gate stage, the Genesis Qi dashing past the Heaven Gate was measured in feet. At the Alpha-Origin stage, it was measured based on how much Alpha-Origin Qi was brought back. The more abundant the Alpha-Origin Qi, the longer it lasted. ¡°Awesome.¡± Praised the other first class disciples when they heard Lu Feng¡¯s answer as their faces lit up with admiration. ¡°The first time I brought back Alpha-Origin Qi, it only lasted for 400 breaths.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡°Looks like brother Lu Feng¡¯s Spirit is pretty strong too.¡± Lu Feng chuckled softly. ¡°I had a fortunate encounter in the past, and my Spirit just happened to reach the mid Illusory stage when I ascended to the the Alpha-Origin stage.¡± ¡°No wonder.¡± The crowd nodded. Most of them were only at the initial Illusory stage and naturally could not compare to Lu Feng. ¡°Hehe, I wonder how long the Alpha-Origin Qi Zhou Yuan brought back will last.¡± They grinned as they looked towards Zhou Yuan as if something amusing was going to happen. Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory over Han Shan had in a certain manner made the Shengzhou disciples lose face. Hence, they were naturally keen on gloating over him. While the crowd was whispering, Gu Hongyi also looked over. The first time she had brought back Alpha-Origin Qi, it had lasted a thousand breaths, a record even longer than Lu Feng¡¯s. Hence, she too was interested to find out what the one who had overwhelmed Han Shan could achieve. Besides them, even the Qiao Qing and the other non Shengzhou disciples, whom had spoken up for Zhou Yuan earlier, also cast their gazes over. In mid air, Chen Yuan also turned his attention towards Zhou Yuan. Under the numerous watching gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes remained shut as the world essence Qi continued to descend... Time swiftly passed breath by breath... Previous Chapte Chapter 222 Genesis Qi Stars A stream of world essence seemed to have been squeezed out of some unknown domain, appearing in the sky above Zhou Yuan, before endlessly falling onto him... Under the attention of countless gazes, time swiftly flowed. A hundred breaths faded away in an instant. Every gaze was unblinking as they continued to count the time. A hundred breaths¡­ a 150 breaths, 200 breaths... It soon reached 300 breaths. However, the descending stream of world essence was still as clear and bountiful as before, showing no signs of waning. 400 breaths. 500 breaths. By this time, the expressions of the first class Shengzhou disciples had turned a little ugly. This timing had already surpassed their own. They could not help but sourly remark, ¡°He does have some ability.¡± Only Lu Feng remained impassive, not even the slightest ripple visible on his face. World essence Qi continued to fall as time continued to flow. It soon reached 700 breaths. Low cries of surprise began to ring out in the mountain. This timing had already surpassed 90% of the people here, and even some first class disciples would be left far behind in the dust by this number. ¡°I can¡¯t believe his Spirit cultivation is so high.¡± Said Qiao Xiu in amazement. Lasting this long was clearly out of his expectations. Lu Feng frowned slightly. ¡°This guy.¡± He had detected that even at 700 breaths, the Alpha-Origin Qi that descended from the sky still showed no signs of stopping. It looked as if the reserves were still ample... 750 breaths¡­ 800 breaths, 1000 breaths. The entire Genesis Mountain had fell deathly silent. The Shengzhou first class disciples swallowed their saliva and looked towards Lu Feng, seeing the latter¡¯s brows now tightly furrowed together. Zhou Yuan had already surpassed his record. The thing that made Lu Feng¡¯s expression sink the most was that even at a thousand breaths, the falling stream of world essence still showed no indications of weakening. Several of the first class disciples could not help but blurt out, ¡°Just how strong is his Spirit?! How can he bring back so much Alpha-Origin Qi on his first time?!¡± Lu Feng¡¯s gaze flickered for a moment. He stared deeply at Zhou Yuan and indifferently said, ¡°Interesting.¡± ¡°How interesting.¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyes also glimmered faintly, her voice filled with interest. She had realised that she could no longer estimate the extent of his abilities. The young man who had originally been nothing special in her eyes now seemed a little unfathomable. As soft gasps sounded across the mountain, the Alpha-Origin Qi continued to fall, lasting all the way till 2359 breaths under everyone¡¯s stunned gazes. Numerous disciples looked to each other, not knowing what to say. Even now, the Alpha-Origin Qi they could bring back was far from being able to match this number. And yet, Zhou Yuan had achieved it on his very first try... Although this did not determine one¡¯s future accomplishments, like how tall one¡¯s Genesis Qi could reach at the Heaven Gate stage, it would at least give Zhou Yuan the absolute advantage during the Alpha-Origin stage. A single round for him would be equivalent to several round for them. How could they match his efficiency? Lu Feng let out a long breath, his eyes turning as deep as the night. He looked towards the stunned Shengzhou disciples in the vicinity and said in a nonchalant voice, ¡°No need to make a mountain out of a molehill. His Spirit is likely stronger than ours because he practices a Spirit tempering method.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll admit that he does have ambition, training both Genesis Qi and Spirit.¡± ¡°Though ambition is good, one should only do what¡¯s within one¡¯s capabilities. Dual cultivation would result in having to split one¡¯s efforts and attention, making him unable to be as focused as us. Therefore, when the comes where we step into the Diving Dwelling stage, he will likely still be struggling at the Alpha-Origin stage.¡± ¡°Likewise, how long he lasted doesn¡¯t mean anything, because the most important factor is still how many Genesis Qi he managed to create, the true representation of one¡¯s foundations.¡± The other disciples nodded in agreement after hearing this. It was indeed as he had said, dual cultivation might give one the ability to utilise multiple strategies, but it also meant difficulting in achieving proficiency in both. Thus, it may be better to focus on one like themselves. At the very least, if they could reach the Divine Dwelling stage, though their Spirits would not be as strong as Zhou Yuan¡¯s, they would still be able to easily finish him off in a fight. As for the Genesis Qi stars, they were tiny specks of light created from the amalgamation of Genesis Qi and Alpha-Origin Qi, and looked similar to stars. Hence why they were called Genesis Qi stars. Someone asked, ¡°How many Genesis Qi stars did senior brother Lu create on your first try? I believe I managed slightly over 20.¡± ¡°I only had a little more than 50 on my first try.¡± Lu Feng smiled faintly. The others once again secretly wet their lips. Having over fifty Genesis Qi stars after reaching the Alpha-Origin stage was enough to show the abundance of Lu Feng¡¯s Genesis Qi. Gu Hongyi¡¯s gaze concentrated on Zhou Yuan. She too understood that although how long the Alpha-Origin Qi lasted showed the strength of his Spirit, the most important thing to the Alpha-Origin stage was the number of Genesis Qi stars. ¡°I made sixty three back then, I wonder how many Zhou Yuan will create.¡± ... While the entire mountain was in shock due to Zhou Yuan, the person himself was completely unaware, because he was currently viewing the interior of his Qi Dwelling. As the robust Alpha-Origin Qi flowed into his Qi Dwelling, enormous changes began to appear. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Qi Dwelling had originally given off a blood-red luster, but as more and more Alpha-Origin entered, the Qi Dwelling gradually began to expand, growing even larger. Faint ancient patterns began to appear. Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the Alpha-Origin Qi enlarge his Qi Dwelling, allowing for more Genesis Qi to be stored. In addition, when the Alpha-Origin Qi began to mix with the Genesis Qi within, a strange but wonderful mist began to rise, condensing into specks of light that seemed akin to stars in the sky of the Qi Dwelling. These light dots were filled with pure Genesis Qi, while a barely discernible python like mark could be seen on each one. ¡°My Genesis Qi is being consumed¡­¡± Zhou Yuan felt the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling rapidly deplete as each Genesis Qi star appeared. ¡°Is this the mark of the Alpha-Origin, Genesis Qi stars?¡± Zhou Yuan carefully absorbed the star like dots. These Genesis Qi stars symbolize the Alpha-Origin stage and were extremely useful. In battle, the Genesis Qi from detonating these Genesis Qi stars would possess even more explosive and destructive power than usual. Genesis Qi transforming into Genesis Qi stars was undoubtedly an evolution of sorts. Zhou Yuan mumbled in his heart, ¡°It¡¯s said that Divine Dwelling experts have a whole world made from Genesis Qi in their Qi Dwelling which is populated by millions of stars. In a fight, they can turn the stars into Genesis Qi at any time at a far more effective rate than any Alpha-Origin.¡± At this point in time, 146 Genesis Qi stars had been created in his Qi Dwelling. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the greater the number of Genesis Qi stars at the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage, the higher quality the Divine Dwelling formed.¡± Zhou Yuan was eager to find out how many Genesis Qi stars he would have when he advanced to the Divine Dwelling stage. With such thoughts in mind, he once again looked towards the stars in his Qi Dwelling, before withdrawing from his state of cultivation. On the cultivation platform, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes finally opened, immediately feeling the countless gazes on his body. ¡°Hey.¡± A clear voice sounded. Zhou Yuan raised his head, and saw Gu Hongyi staring at him with bright eyes as she directly asked, ¡°How many Genesis Qi stars do you have?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 223 Importance of Genesis Jade When Gu Hongyi¡¯s clear voice sounded, various emotions appeared within the countless gazes that were currently focused on Zhou Yuan. The amount of Alpha-Origin Qi Zhou Yuan brought back was something to be envious about. However, the amount only showed that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit cultivation was high. The most important thing to the Alpha-Origin stage was still the number of Genesis Qi stars. From a certain point of view, it represented the amount of Genesis Qi one had. Of course, this did not mean that the more Genesis Qi stars the more powerful someone would be. There were still various other factors to consider such as the grade of these Genesis Qi stars and etc. Even so, at the end of the day, having more Genesis Qi stars would give one an advantage. Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback by Gu Hongyi¡¯s directness. Soon after, he shook his head and said, ¡°No comment.¡± The number of Genesis Qi stars was a rather personal thing, and would allow another party to estimate one¡¯s strength. Although Zhou Yuan did not really mind, he felt that there was really no benefit to revealing it here besides maybe causing some eyeballs to pop out of their sockets. Therefore, he cleanly rejected. Tch! Zhou Yuan¡¯s words immediately caused a series of noises indicating displeasure. ¡°You!¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyes widened slightly, somewhat peeved as she glared at Zhou Yuan. Given her status, she was seldom rejected by those of the opposite sex. ¡°Tch, it seems that he¡¯s too ashamed to tell us.¡± Several of Gu Hongyi¡¯s admirers sneered. ¡°Yea, he likely doesn¡¯t dare to say it. After all, he had brought back so much Alpha-Origin Qi earlier and probably wasted it all. What a pity.¡± Others began to chime in. They clearly believed Zhou Yuan¡¯s reluctance to answer was due to a lack of confidence. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm in the face of their words. ¡°If anyone wants to know how many Genesis Qi stars I have, won¡¯t you find out once you challenge me?¡± The numerous disciples froze, before cursing out loud. Everyone present knew that you would have to pay 30 Genesis jade pieces per challenge. The price was far too high. Hence, they could only inwardly shake their heads. After seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle prowess earlier, they no longer dared to underestimate this first class disciple who seemed the easiest to bully on the surface. Most importantly, Zhou Yuan was now even stronger than before, because he had now also stepped into the first layer Alpha-Origin stage. Zhou Yuan was a little disappointed that no one was interested. It seems that plan of winning Genesis jade crystals using this method was not going to work¡­ after the first time, these people won¡¯t fall for the same trick twice. As for the first class disciples, they were unlikely to act before getting a proper grasp of his abilities. Gu Hongyi gritted her pearly white teeth. In the end, she could only glare at Zhou Yuan. Although she was curious about how many Genesis Qi stars Zhou Yuan had, there was no grudge between them, and thus no reason for her to challenge him. ¡°Is he using this method to attract my attention?¡± Gu Hongyi blinked a few times. There were after all too many young men who adored her, amongst which were no lack of individuals that tried various methods to catch her eye. However, such thoughts were quickly discarded, because she had just glanced in Yaoyao¡¯s direction. After a brief comparison, she could only bite her red lips. Even someone as prideful as herself had no choice but to admit that this mysterious and distant girl was truly one of the most remarkable beauties in this world. She did not know the former¡¯s relation with Zhou Yuan, but one could not deny that they were very close. If not, they would not be living together. In the air, Chen Yuan looked down from above, his indifferent gaze sweeping across Zhou Yuan before shifting towards the numerous disciples as he said, ¡°Today¡¯s training session shall end here. In the future, all of you will need to train in Genesis Mountain every day.¡± With regards to this, everyone nodded in approval. Genesis Mountain was just too effective, and after personally experiencing its wonders, they were naturally dying to train in it everyday. ¡°Although Genesis Qi cultivation is important, do not neglect your Genesis techniques.¡± ¡°You may head to the outer mountains Hidden Scriptures House to rent Genesis techniques. However, the higher tier Genesis techniques will cost more to borrow. Of course, everything will be paid in Genesis jade.¡± ¡°There are also many instructors in the Hidden Scriptures House whom you may approach if you¡¯re having any difficulties with the Genesis techniques you¡¯ve selected. Similarly, this service will require Genesis jade, and the better the instructor, the higher the cost.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s words made the heads of the numerous disciples swim. Why was Genesis jade needed for everything? They had originally not thought much about the Genesis jade, but today, its importance had been deeply carved into them. Without Genesis jade, even the time they could use on the Heavenly Genesis Flower would be less than others. It seemed that thirty Genesis jade pieces per month was really not enough. At the sight of the pained faces of the crowd, Chen Yuan instantly knew what they were worrying about. Hence, he continued to speak, ¡°As for Genesi jade, besides the thirty given to you guys every month, you may earn more by completing various tasks from the Task Pavillion.¡± ¡°They give out all kinds of missions such as patrolling, night watch duty, hunting various Genesis Beasts, searching for Genesis resources and many others. As long as you complete such tasks, you will receive Genesis jade as a reward.¡± Only after hearing this did everyone breathe a sigh of relief. So there was another method to obtain Genesis jade. If not, their days would have to be spent very frugally. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened. He was not interested in going to the Task Pavillion to take on any assignments for the time being. After all, he had won thirty Genesis jade pieces from Han Shan. Therefore, he was more interested in the outer mountains Hidden Scripture House. Although it was the outer mountains, it was still the Cangxuan Sect, and the Genesis techniques found within should not be too low grade, right? ¡°Amongst the Genesis techniques I have, only the Great Wind and Thunder technique is at the little Heaven level, and even then, it just barely makes the cut. All the other techniques have somewhat fallen behind my cultivation, including Dragon Tablet Hand.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. As his strength rose, there was less and less use for the previous Genesis techniques he had learnt. In fact, he had been mostly relying on the Omni Python Qi¡¯s Genesis techniques in battle, such as the Magical Python Scales. Hence, he urgently needed a few little Heaven tier Genesis techniques to bolster his arsenal. Unfortunately, techniques at this level were difficult to come by, which could be seen for how hard he had to work in order to obtain a single Great Wind and Thunder technique. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be dropping by the Hidden Scriptures House.¡± While Zhou Yuan was talking to himself, Chen Yuan had finished his explanations, and began to leave. The atmosphere of Genesis Mountain relaxed as chatter began to fill the place. Gu Hongyi swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, no intentions of talking to him as she turned around and began descending the mountain. She was clearly still a little miffed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s rejection. Lu Feng also headed down the mountain with numerous Shengzhou disciples crowding around him. His expression was indifferent, but when he walked past Zhou Yuan, he paused and said, ¡°I am not too interested in you, but I am an acquaintance of Hongyi¡¯s family, and hence hope that you will not become too friendly with her, while also giving her a little more respect.¡± ¡°I do not intend to cause trouble for you, but I also hope that you do not come looking for it.¡± Without waiting for Zhou Yuan¡¯s reply, the former seemed to disdainfully brush past the latter. The Shengzhou first class disciple entourage fearlessly swept their gazes at Zhou Yuan, as if slightly pitying the fact that he had drawn Lu Feng¡¯s attention. Zhou Yuan paid no heed to their gazes, frowning slightly as he gazed at Lu Feng¡¯s back. The superior airs these Shengzhou disciples put up was really very unlikeable. ¡°I too hope that you will not provoke me¡­¡± His eyes narrowed slightly, a certain sharpness appearing no his slightly pursed lips. Or else, my fist will not give any face to your identities as Shengzhou geniuses... Previous Chapte Chapter 224 Resolve Hundred Fragrances House. This was an eatery in the outer mountains area. For the numerous outer mountain disciples, it was a place with extremely good service. The wide range of delicacies available was only second to the high grade ingredients used. Not only would the food satisfy your appetite, it would even benefit your cultivation. Of course, one needed to pay Genesis jade to enjoy the services here. Hence, extremely few disciples could afford to come here during the initial period. At this current moment, Zhou Yuan had brought Yaoyao, Tuntun, Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest of the Cangmang geniuses here, and booked a table to celebrate his breakthrough to the Alpha-Origin stage. The more important reason was that the moment they reached its doors, Tuntun suddenly charged in as if it had gone mad, making it practically impossible to stop this little creature... ¡°Heh heh, I saw this place yesterday, but did not even dare to step in. Thanks to little Yuan bro, I can finally have a taste of its delicacies today.¡± Shen Wanjin chuckled, his face practically gleaming. After arriving at the Cangxuan Sect, everyone had become rather poor, no longer the doted and pampered geniuses they were before. Hence, they were initially unable to afford coming to such a place. Zhou Yuan smiled, a smile filled with raw physical pain. When he ordered earlier, he had discovered that the main component of practically all of the dishes were grade 4 Genesis Beasts. Even for the soup, numerous rare Genesis resources were used to enhance its flavor. While at the Channel Opening stage, he had once consumed the royal clan¡¯s Nine Beast Soup. Compared to this place however, the Nine Beast Soup was akin to a little shrimp in the ocean. Of course, the better the food, the higher the price. A single meal had cost Zhou Yuan ten Genesis jade pieces. When his thoughts reached this point, he could not help venomously glare at Tuntun, which was currently drooling with its mouth wide open and its tail happily wagging from side to side. ¡°Little Yuan bro was so cool today. Let¡¯s see if they still dare to look down on our Cangmang Continent.¡± By the side, a rather pretty young girl with a goose egg shaped face grinned widely. She was called Shuixi and her clan was also an overlord in the Cangmang Continent. The others also smiled and nodded. One could see that they had completely put down their previous mental block and started to truly treat Zhou Yuan as their core. Over the past two days, they had clearly felt how intense the competition was in the Cangxuan Sect. If they did not group together, they would only be bullied and trampled on by others. As the only two first class disciples from the Cangmang Continent, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were the strongest amongst them. Thusm they naturally became the central pillars of the group. Zhou Yuan looked at everyone and said, ¡°Shen Wanjin told me that the other disciples have begun forming their own groups and factions during the past two days, while we Cangmang disciples were the only ones that were left out. On hindsight, it was due to me that you guys were implicated.¡± He softy chuckled, before continuing, ¡°I¡¯m honestly not too interested in forming a group, but since we are all from the Cangmang Continent, when possible, I will naturally try to take care of you guys.¡± Shen Wanjin lifted his cup and declared, ¡°These words of little Yuan bro are enough already.¡± As he spoke, he suddenly nudged the silent Xiao Tianxuan beside him. The latter''s expression was somewhat rigid. He lifted his head and glanced at Zhou Yuan, hesitating somewhat before he finally said, ¡°Before we left the Cangmang Continent, my father told me that he has sent an envoy to the Great Zhou Empire to seek an alliance.¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback. It was hard to believe that the city lord of Saint Remains City had done such a thing. One must know that Saint Remains City was one of the strongest factions in the Cangmang Continent, and was not much weaker than the Great Wu Empire. The reason why Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s father had done so was likely because he knew about the grudge between his son and Zhou Yuan. Was this how the former planned to resolve it? ¡°What charisma, he¡¯s an amazing man.¡± Zhou Yuan secretly thought to himself. The Saint Remains City lord had chosen to ally with the Great Zhou Empire because of him. Although Saint Remains City was a long distance away from the Great Zhou and Great Wu Empires, and would not be able to do much if something were to happen, Saint Remains City would still be able to function as a threat of sorts, ensuring that the Great Wu Empire would have to watch its back if it were to try anything with the Great Zhou Empire. Thus, Zhou Yuan could not help but be grateful to the Saint Remains City lord¡¯s actions. Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh inside. No wonder Saint Remains City was growing increasingly powerful under the city lord¡¯s leadership. Zhou Yuan picked up his cup, and was silent for a moment, before he lifted it towards Xiao Tianxuan and said, ¡°Let all our previous grudges end here.¡± The main reason why Xiao Tianxuan had made things difficult for Zhou Yuan in the Saint Remains Domain was due to Gu Ling¡¯s egging. However, the former had ended up gaining nothing, and was instead nearly tortured to death by Zhou Yuan. After leaving the Cangmang Continent and arriving at the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan¡¯s view of the world had changed, and Xiao Tianxuan no longer posed any threat in his eyes. Since the city lord wanted to resolve the grudge between the two of them, there was no reason for him to make a fuss. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s lips moved, but did not say anything in the end, merely lifting his own cup and downing it in a single go. Following the closure of their grudge, the atmosphere immediately eased up, turning noisy and lively. Everyone present was a youngster, and had come a long way from home to this unfamiliar place. Hence, they soon warmed up to each other. Delicious dishes began to arrive one after another, and everyone could not help but begin to gorge themselves. Tuntun was the most terrifying of the bunch, its mouth opening wide as it swallowed food several times larger than its body... Yaoyao was the most graceful, merely sampling some of the vegetables, no interest in any of the food that was too strong in flavor. As more and more food entered their stomachs, everyone¡¯s faces began to flush as boiling heat rose within them. They could feel searing Genesis Qi flowing within their bodies, ultimately swiftly flooding into their Qi Dwellings. While everyone was happily diggin in, laughter was heard, ¡°Hehe, junior brother Zhou Yuan is so generous. Not many disciples will patronise the Hundred Fragrances House at such a time.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head, and saw a young man standing to the side, a slight smile on his face as he watched them. It was the one who had spoken up for Zhou Yuan in Genesis Mountain, Qiao Xiu. Zhou Yuan had some good feelings towards the former, and immediately rose as he cupped his fists together. ¡°So it¡¯s senior brother Qiao Xiu.¡± Disciples of the same status would differentiate their rank by age. Qiao Xiu was evidently older than Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan could tell that Qiao Xiu had something to say, and thus pointed beside him and said, ¡°Want to come over and have a seat?¡± Qiao Xiu cheerfully consented, proceeding to sit down and chat with the rest for a while, before he finally looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, are you interested in joining us along with everyone else?¡± He did not beat about the bush, directly stating his objective. Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest fell silent. There was not much surprise on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, evidently having already guessed Qiao Xiu¡¯s aim. Qiao Xiu smiled and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan should know that the competition in the outer mountains is extremely fierce, and the many disciples here have already formed various factions and groups.¡± ¡°Grouping up and watching each other¡¯s backs is after all better than fighting alone.¡± ¡°Moreover, the Shengzhou disciples advantage is too great. They are too powerful and any non Shengzhou disciple will be suppressed by them.¡± Qiao Xiao stared at Zhou Yuan as he slowly continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that there will only be ten gold sash quotas in the upcoming peak selection ceremony, and the Shengzhou disciples have already declared that they will be taking them all, a truly overbearing declaration." "Gold sash quotas?" Zhou Yuan''s brows knitted together slightly. "Looks like junior brother Zhou Yuan has yet to hear of this." Qiao Xiu chuckled. "We are currently outer mountain disciples, and if we manage to enter the seven peaks, we will become inner mountain disciples." "These inner mountain disciples are also divided into different categories, from highest to the lowest, purple sash disciples, gold sash disciples and black sash disciples." "The higher one''s rank, the higher one''s status in the seven peaks. In addition, one will also be granted completely different cultivation resources. The top ten performers of every peak selection ceremony will directly become gold sash disciples, by passing the black sash rank." "Moreover, only the top ten will be allowed to choose which peak to enter. The others will be allocated by the sect." At this point, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao began to frown. They had come to the Cangxuan Sect to enter Saint Genesis Peak and obtain the second Saint Rune patriarch Cang Xuan had sealed within it." If they ended up forcibly allocated to one of the other peaks, won''t they be unable to achieve their goal? Zhou Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly. Looks like Yaoyao and him needed to each take one of the top ten spots in the peak selection ceremony¡­ As such, they would have to take them from the shengzhou disciples, an act akin to taking food from a tiger. Previous Chapte Chapter 225 Ethereal Form Seated at the table, Qiao Xiu smiled slightly as he looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression and said, ¡°I can see that junior brother Zhou Yuan is someone with ambition, and will not be satisfied with being the lowest rank black sash disciple when entering the seven peaks.¡± Cangxuan Sect disciples were strictly regulated by a ranking system, which aimed to motivate the disciples. A higher ranked disciple would not only enjoy high status, but also obtain more cultivation resources than the other disciples, cultivation resources that undoubtedly meant gaining a lead on others. Sometimes, it was as the saying went; once you¡¯re one step behind, you will always be that step behind. In fact, it may even result in you being forever being crushed under heel by others. Hence, there was no disciple who was willing to give up on their chance so easily during the peak selection ceremony. ¡°The group I¡¯m in has five first class disciples including myself. If we were to talk about strength, our group is one of the stronger ones amongst the non Shengzhou disciple factions.¡± Qiao Xiu fervently looked at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao as he continued, ¡°If junior brother Zhou Yuan and senior sister Yaoyao join us, we will be able to attract even more disciples to our group. When that happens, we will not lose out even to the Shengzhou factions.¡± He then looked towards Shen Wanjin and the rest as he said, ¡°When that time comes, the other Cangmang disciples can also join us.¡± However, Shen Wanjin, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest did not speak. They merely looked towards Zhou Yuan, clearly waiting for his decision. Zhou Yuan held in cup in silence for a while, before he slowly shook his head under Qiao Xiu¡¯s fervent gaze. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to join senior brother Qiao Xiu¡¯s group.¡± He had still ended up rejecting Qiao Xiu¡¯s invitation, because he knew that though there was power in numbers, it also came with more disputes and troubles. Zhou Yuan main objective in the Cangxuan Sect was to reach the Divine Dwelling stage as fast as possible. Only then would he truly possess the power to deal with the Great Wu Empire. Though the Great Wu Empire was currently doing all it could to stabilize the situation at its borders, once king Wu got his hands free, he would surely turn his eyes to the Great Zhou Empire. Therefore, Zhou Yuan needed to step into the Divine Dwelling stage before that happened. He did not wish to waste any potential training time on the disputes and meaningless politics in groups such as these. Disappointment rose on Qiao Xiu¡¯s face in response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s rejection. The former was not angry however, only feeling that it was such a pity. ¡°Although I cannot join your group, I am willing to become friends with senior brother Qiao Xie. If we have any needs in the future, we can always help each other.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. He did not want to tangle himself in the matters of a group, but he was willing to be friends with Qiao Xiu. The latter¡¯s character was pretty good, and quite to Zhou Yuan¡¯s liking. Qiao Xiu also smiled when he heard this and candidly said, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m looking for.¡± He did not try to persuade or force Zhou Yuan, because he was confident in his judgment. Zhou Yuan might seem as if he had just reached the first layer Alpha-Origin stage, but Qiao Xiu had the feeling that the latter was not as simple as he appeared on the surface. ¡°Although junior brother Zhou Yuan is not joining us, the others can still join us if they are interested.¡± Qiao Xiu indicated towards Shen Wanjin and the rest with a grin. Shen Wanjin and the rest were all third class disciples, and Qiao Xiu was naturally not interested in their strength. However, he was a person with values and since he knew that these were Zhou Yuan¡¯s friends, he would give Zhou Yuan some face and allow them to join. Shen Wanjin and the rest were definitely tempted. After all, they clearly understood their current situation as outer mountain disciples. Ordinary third class disciples that did not have any faction behind them would only face bullying everywhere. Although Zhou Yuan had shocked and awed everyone today, they naturally hoped to make more friends that would be able to help them. However, they did not nod but instead look towards Zhou Yuan. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. It just so happened that he intended to concentrate on his cultivation, and was afraid that he may not be able to take care of everyone all the time. With Qiao Xiu¡¯s help, he would not have to worry about this. Zhou Yuan lifted his cup and said, ¡°I am thankful to senior brother Qiao Xiu.¡± Qiao Xiu chuckled, knowing that Zhou Yuan was showing that he owed the former. Since both of them were now much closer, Qiao Xiu could not help but ask, ¡°Right¡­ junior brother Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m dying to know since you brought back so much Alpha-Origin on your first try, how many genesis Qi stars did you create?¡± Shen Wanjin and the rest also opened their ears, evidently equally curious. Zhou Yuan laughed and lifted his cup, downing in a single gulp, before he answered, ¡°Only about a hundred.¡± *Gasp* A series of gasps sounded around the tablet, Shen Wanjin and the rest dumbstruck. They were also first layer Alpha-Origin practitioners, but the number of Genesis Qi stars in their Qi Dwellings only numbered slightly over thirty. Qiao Xiu also opened and closed his mouth. In the end, he let out a bitter chuckle. Let alone Shen Wanjin and the rest, even a third layer Alpha-Origin like himself only had a hundred or so stars. In other words, if they were to compete purely based on amount of Genesis Qi, a third layer Alpha-Origin like himself may not be able to beat Zhou Yuan. This caused to sigh deeply. He was truly unable to comprehend how Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had reached such a level. However, this also made Qiao Xiu rejoice. It seems that his judgement was right after all. The young man before him was indeed extraordinary. Though the latter currently did not have much of a reputation, Qiao Xiu had a premonition that there would be no one in the future Cangxuan Sect who would not know Zhou Yuan... ... The next day. Early in the morning, Zhou Yuan was naturally not absent for the Genesis Mountain training. However, Yaoyao could not be bothered to go this time, merely throwing Tuntun to him, and telling him to put it on her cultivation platform. Thus, a strange sight could be seen on Genesis Mountain today. A little creature lay on Yaoyao¡¯s cultivation platform, its mouth wide open as it ate the surging Genesis Qi, a sight that made numerous disciples could not help but envy. After the Genesis Mountain training, Zhou Yuan carried Tuntun down the mountain, heading straight for the Hidden Scriptures House. He had been itching to visit this place ever since yesterday. The Hidden Scriptures House was a majestic ancient looking building that stood at the peak of one of the towering mountains. From the seemingly unending stream of disciples flying towards it, one could see that this place was undoubtedly one of the most popular locations in the outer mountains. The Hidden Scriptures House was extremely enormous, and was divided into three levels. Black tier Genesis techniques were stored on the first level, little Heaven on the second, and it was said that the third held true Heaven tier techniques. However, the rental fee was extremely high, and current disciples could not possibly afford them. Hence, Zhou Yuan made a beeline to the second level. A little Heaven Genesis technique was more than attractive enough to his current self. There were very few disciples on the second level, because although the little Heaven Genesis techniques here were powerful, they were even more difficult to learn. Everyone currently did not have many Genesis jade pieces at hand, and thus did not want to waste them, planning instead to visit later on when they had accumulated enough. The second level looked even better than the first, numerous jade strips hovering above white jade displays. Light shined from these jade strips, forming numerous words in the air in front of them. ¡°There¡¯s so many¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned by this sight. He estimated that there were over a hundred of them after a cursory glance. This number truly shocked him to the core. One must know that a little Heaven tier technique would be cherished as one of the most prized possessions by the factions in the Cangmang Continent. And yet, they were now so common here. From this, one could see just how terrifying the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s foundations were. Zhou Yuan wet his lips, his gaze burning as he walked forward step by step, passing white jade platform after platform. ¡°Low grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Earth Covering Finger Seal.¡± ¡°Low grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Sword Heart Dipper.¡± ¡°Mid grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Metal Devil Genesis Body.¡± ¡°...¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the words in front of numerous jade strips, discovering that the little Heaven Genesis techniques here had been meticulously categorised. According to his estimates, the Great Wind and Thunder technique he obtained in the Saint Remains Domain would be classified as a mid grade little Heaven Genesis technique. ¡°What I need the most now is a movement type Genesis technique.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. The Dragon Step technique he initially learnt was no longer enough as it was after all only a Black tier technique. Hence, Zhou Yuan had been planning on finding a little Heaven level movement technique. His feet continued its slow advance. After about half an incense stick of time, they finally came to a stop in front of a certain white jade display as Zhou Yuan¡¯s burning gaze stared at the ancient jade strip before him. ¡°Mid grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Ethereal Form.¡± ¡°Make the body akin to an illusion, making it difficult to discern what is real, and impossible to catch like the clouds.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook. Ethereal Form was clearly out of the ordinary. Without any hesitation, he reached out to grab the jade strip. However, just as his fingers touched it, another fair hand suddenly appeared from the side, grabbing the other corner of the jade strip. Zhou Yuan was stunned. He turned his head, only to see a pair of bright eyes glaring at him. A closer look revealed that it was a young lady with a sexy body and eye-grabbing legs in red. Who could it be be but Gu Hongyi? Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 226 Zhu Yue ¡°Gu Hongyi¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was a little dazed for a time as he gazed at the girl in red who had also chosen the Ethereal Form technique. She was usually the focus of attention amongst the outer mountain disciples, and was not only blessed with good looks, but also superb talent. Most importantly of course, it was said that she had some ties in the Cangxuan Sect, practically making her one of the most welcomed individuals in the eyes of the male outer mountain disciples. ¡°You¡¯re also choosing it? Then you can have it first.¡± Although most of the Shengzhou disciples gave off an air of superiority and were extremely arrogant, not much of it could be seen from Gu Hongyi. It was as if there was no difference between the disciples in her eyes, which was also why Zhou Yuan voluntarily released his grip. Just because someone else had chosen a Genesis technique here did not mean that others no longer had any chance. Hence, Zhou Yuan did not mind giving way to a lady. ¡°Oh, how courteous.¡± Gu Hongyu glanced at him, but did not accept Zhou Yuan¡¯s goodwill. She released her fingers and said, ¡°Forget it, there¡¯s still a copy version.¡± After speaking, she confidently turned around and left, leaving behind a slight fragrance as her fine black hair brushed past in front of Zhou Yuan. However, she suddenly stopped after two steps, slightly tilting her head backwards as her bright eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°But I advise you not to choose this Genesis technique.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned a little. Gu Hongyi replied, ¡°Because Zhu Feng is also practicing it.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s frown deepened, his tone calm as he asked, ¡°What does that have to do with me? Am I not allowed to learn any Genesis techniques he selects?¡± The corners of Gu Hongyi¡¯s red lips rose slightly. ¡°No comment.¡± One could tell that she was still harboring a tiny grudge from when Zhou Yuan had rejected her in front of everyone yesterday. Hence, she returned him the exact same words he had given her. Zhou Yuan watched her slender, graceful figure leave. As she strided forward with her long legs, every male disciple on the second level seemingly followed her. ¡°Women are indeed good at holding grudges.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. However, he had no interest in Gu Hongyi, and this did not care about her attitude. His gaze quickly turned towards the jade stripe before him, a satisfied smile forming on his lips as he reached out to take it. With the jade strip now in hand, some simple information flowed into his head; the cost of renting the jade strip. Five Genesis jade pieces a day. Recorded within these jade strips was the detailed cultivation method and the experiences of numerous elders and seniors. Even so, it was exceedingly difficult to learn, requiring ordinary disciple would have to spend a tremendous amount of time. This would undoubtedly be a huge expenditure of Genesis jade. Therefore, majority of the disciples would seek out instructors in the Hidden Scriptures House after choosing a Genesis technique. These instructors would point them in the right direction, allowing them to more easily master the technique. ¡°So expensive.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. Though the forty or so Genesis jade pieces might seem like a lot, they were really not enough. Zhou Yuan continued advancing with the jade strip, but stopped again after a few steps, his eyeballs nearly popping from their sockets as he stared at a jade strip that was now before him. ¡°Nine Dragons Canon, high grade little Heaven Genesis technique.¡± ¡°Transform one¡¯s Genesis Qi into dragons, peerless and tyrannical.¡± These short few words gave off a tyrannical aura, displaying the power of the technique. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled with desire, but his expression turned stiff when he saw the rental price. The Nine Dragons Canon required twenty Genesis jade pieces a day, four times of the Ethereal Form technique! ¡°Damnit.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but curse through gritted teeth, ultimately making the painful decision to give up on it for the time being. He planned to first master Ethereal Form, gather enough Genesis jade and then return to rent the Nine Dragons Canon. Zhou Yuan forcibly pulled his gaze away from the jade strip, tightening his grip around the Ethereal Form jade strip as he turned around and quickly walked off. He soon arrived at the counter and handed the jade strip to a middle-aged man behind it. The man picked up a jade booklet to record as he asked, ¡°Pass me your disciple token. Also, the Ethereal Form technique costs five Genesis jade pieces a day, how many days do you plan on leasing it?¡± Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and answers, ¡°I¡¯ll go with Five days.¡± He¡¯ll first see to what extent he can master the Ethereal Form technique in five days. The middle-aged manager nodded and said, ¡°Are you intending to find a Genesis technique instructor that has learnt it already?¡± Zhou Yuan was silent for a brief moment before asking, ¡°Do you have any recommendations?¡± Little Heaven Genesis techniques were rather difficult to comprehend, and it was easy to take the wrong path if one were to blindly grasp about on his own, causing even more time to be wasted. At times, having someone else¡¯s guidance would be a huge help. Therefore, if the conditions were right, Zhou Yuan naturally intended on finding an instructor to guide him. The middle-aged manager thought for a bit, retrieved a jade tile and handed it to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Most of the instructors here are inner mountain disciples from the seven peaks, and there¡¯s currently only one of them who has learnt the Ethereal Form technique. The price of listening to his teachings is also five Genesis jade pieces per day.¡± Zhou Yuan curiously received the jade tile, and found a name inscribed on it. ¡°Zhu Yue.¡± Without raising his head, the middle-aged manager continued, ¡°The practice halls are in the mountain behind the Hidden Scriptures House. You can go find them yourself. Remember to return the jade strip when the deadline comes, or it will be forcibly take back together with a fine.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. He picked up the Ethereal Form jade strip and left the Hidden Scriptures House, heading towards the rear mountain. In the rear mountain, he saw several unique buildings where disciples were constantly entering and leaving, an exceptionally bustling sight. Zhou Yuan followed the directions, eventually arriving before a wide and spacious building. After confirming the instructor¡¯s name at the front door, he walked in. Behind the doors was an extremely spacious hall where a dozen or so figures were seated in a circle. At their center was a tall man who was currently eloquently giving a lecture. Zhou Yuan¡¯s entrance interrupted the lecture, causing the dozen listening figure to turn their heads and look. The moment they saw Zhou Yuan, looks of amusement immediately emerged in their eyes. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, because he had just seen a familiar figure amongst them. It was the one who had a quarrel with him due to Han Shan on Genesis Mountain, Zhu Feng. Gu Hongyi was also seated a few places from Zhu Feng. The corners of her red lips turned slightly downwards when she saw Zhou Yuan enter. As expected, this guy did not listen to her advice. The instructor seated in the center looked towards Zhou Yuan and nonchalantly asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± He had a thin face and a stern expression in his eyes, while powerful Genesis Qi rippled around him. ¡°Outer mountain disciple, Zhou Yuan.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm as he cupped his fists together towards the man. His gaze swept towards Zhu Feng before turning back to the inner mountain disciple called Zhu Yue. The two rather resembled each other, making him begin to realise why Gu Hongyi had warned him earlier. ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± Zhu Yue was taken aback, casting a glance at Zhu Feng as the latter nodded with an icy smile. The former had heard an exaggerated description of how arrogant this kid from a remote continent was from Zhu Feng earlier, but he never imagined that Zhou Yuan would actually come here and seek guidance from him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was still unchanged as he said in a neither overbearing nor servatile tone, ¡°I¡¯ve chosen the Ethereal Form technique, and have come here hoping to listen to the key points with regards to it. Here¡¯s five Genesis jade pieces¡­¡± The inner mountain disciple Zhu Yue swept a nonchalant gaze at Zhou Yuan as contempt faintly rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°No need. The class is already full and we won¡¯t be accepting anyone new for the time being.¡± Zhu Feng was his younger brother, and since he had a dispute with Zhou Yuan, Zhu Feng naturally found Zhou Yuan a sore sight. Zhu Yue¡¯s words caused laughter to sound in the hall. Most of the disciples here were from the Shengzhou Continent, and thus looked towards Zhou Yuan with mocking eyes. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, evidently not expecting Zhou Yue to take things so far. Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°Isn¡¯t senior brother Zhu Yue¡¯s actions a little against the rules?¡± A full class was clearly an excuse. ¡°Oh? A mere outer mountain disciples thinks he has the right to talk to me about the rules?!¡± Zhu Yue¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a sneer appearing from the corners of his mouth. In the next moment, powerful Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body, forming an overwhelming pressure that loomed towards Zhou Yuan. Zhu Yue¡¯s strength had at the very least reached the five layer Alpha-Origin stage, far surpassing everyone present. Hence, when the Genesis Qi pressure surged towards Zhou Yuan, his breathing turned a little ragged. Roar! However, just as Zhu Yue was about to force Zhou Yuan into a miserable state, the clothes at his area moved as Tuntun stuck its head out and released a low roar from its throat. Tuntun leaped out, landing in front of Zhou Yuan as its tiny body began to grow rapidly. In a short span of a few breaths, it turned into its battle form, savagery violently pulsing from it as berserk Genesis Qi began to wreaked havoc with a roar. Roar! The entire hall shook as Zhu Yue¡¯s Genesis Qi pressure was instantly ripped to shreds, causing him to forced back several steps by Tuntun¡¯s ferocity as his face paled slightly. Zhu Yue¡¯s complexion was steely green with fear and anger as he sternly shouted,¡°You, you dare to use a beast to hurt me?!¡± Zhou Yuan swept the former a cold look as he lightly caressed Tuntun¡¯s head. After sweeping a glance at Zhu Yue, its body swiftly began to shrink. The hall was now a mess, Zhu Feng and the other disciples scurrying to the side as they looked towards Tuntun in uncertainty. Only Gu Hongyi remained seated. Her red lips parted slightly as she said, ¡°Senior brother Zhu Yue, your rejection is not in line with the rules. It will not be good for you either if the law enforcement group finds out.¡± Zhu Yue looked at Gu Hongyi as a smile was revealed on his face. ¡°Since junior sister Hongyi has spoken, I will naturally give face.¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s elder was one of the high ranking members of the Cangxuan Sect, and Zhu Yue naturally did not dare to offend her. His gaze turnedZhou Yuan as he coldly snorted. ¡°You may stay on account of junior sister Hongyi. However, no bastardly beasts are allowed in my hall, so you¡¯ll have to throw that bastard out before returning.¡± However, Zhou Yuan merely glanced at the former coldly and said, ¡°Can¡¯t even beat a beast, what can I learn by staying here? It will only be a waste of Genesis jade.¡± Contempt rose from the corners of his mouth, ignoring Zhu Yue¡¯s white with ragecomplexion as he turned around and left with Tuntun in his arms. Zhu Yue¡¯s eyes darkened as he watched Zhou Yuan leave. Soon after, he let out a chilling chuckle. ¡°What an ignorant fool¡­ go ahead with your arrogance, do you really think you¡¯ll be able to learn the Ethereal Form technique without my guidance?¡± ¡°When you¡¯ve squandered away all of your Genesis jade, you¡¯ll still end up coming back to beg me!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 227 Retribution After leaving the rear mountain, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was still somewhat gloomy. He had not expected such a coincidence to occur. To think that the instructor he encountered would be Zhe Feng¡¯s elder brother... Looks like Gu Hongyi had meant well when she tried to warn him earlier. She was just a little too proud, and had not fully explained everything. ¡°I refuse to believe that I will be unable to learn the technique without an instructor.¡± Zhou Yuan grasped the jade strip as his eyes hardened. It was indeed not a simple task to learn a little Heaven Genesis technique, but he did not believe he would really be unable to learn it without any guidance. In the worst case scenario, he would just have to waste a little more time. Even though he said so, Zhu Yue had really ruined his mood today. Zhou Yuan was in a slightly foul mood as he left the rear mountain and returned to his little house. On the balcony of the little house, Yaoyao lazily soaked in the warm rays of the sun as she casually flipped through an ancient book. Her perfect side face view glowed like jade, while her fine black hair seemed to spill down, a sight so beautiful that it would shake anyone¡¯s heart. When Zhou Yuan saw this scene, the last traces of the bad mood he was in stealthily disappeared. Yaoyao seemed to sense something and tilted her head as she inquired in a rather lazy tone, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan sat down beside her, breathing in the light fragrance of the young lady beside him as he somewhat helpless explained what had happened today. Yaoyao attentively listened, her bright eyes narrowing slightly, making it impossible for anyone to tell what she was feeling. Only after he was finished did she say in a clear voice, ¡°A mere inner mountain disciple will at best have an elementary mastery of the Ethereal Form technique. How can he possibly have the qualifications to master it completely. If you had chosen to stay, it would only have been a waste of Genesis jade.¡± ¡°Those Genesis jade would be better off used to improve Tuntun¡¯s meals.¡± By the side, Tuntun immediately barked in excitement when it heard this, its eyes shining brightly. ¡°You were pretty good today, I¡¯ll bring you to Hundred Fragrances House later on.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as he rubbed Tuntun¡¯s heard. If not for this little thing, he would have barely been able to face Zhu Yue. Although the other party did not dare to do anything excessive, Zhou Yuan would likely have ended up in a pretty miserable state. Fortunately, Tuntun has protected him, making Zhu Yue suffer instead. ¡°Show me the Ethereal Form technique.¡± Yaoyao extended a hand, her seemingly sparkling fingers slim and long. Zhou Yuan retrieved the jade strip and passed it to Yaoyao. Yaoyao took it and slightly shut her eyes. A long while later, she slowly opened them and said, ¡°This Genesis technique is a little meaningful. Your judgement is not bad¡­¡± ¡°Learning it is not difficult, it merely requires first unblocking a 108 apertures in the body, before pouring in mist essence to temper them. At the advance stage, one will be able to turn one¡¯s body ethereal like the mist, and travel a thousand miles in an instant¡­¡± ¡°However, the slightly more troublesome part is that there are millions and millions of apertures in the body, and their locations are different for everyone. Only by gradually trying to feel them would one be able to unblock the 108 apertures. I believe the so-called instructor will only be giving them some suggestions when the disciples are doing the sensing wrongly, and get them to restart the process, making him pretty much useless.¡± A brief observation was all Yaoyao needed to understand the intricacies of the Ethereal Form technique. Such terrifying comprehensive ability stupefied Zhou Yuan a little. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were practically glowing as he stared at Yaoyao and impatiently asked, ¡°Does big sis Yaoyao know how to sense the 108 apertures?¡± Yaoyao shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± However, she then extended a finger and pointed at Zhou Yuan. ¡°But you can.¡± Zhou Yuan was utterly confused, evidently unable to understand what she meant by that. Yaoyao could not help but laugh at the sight of his lost appearance. She gently tapped the spot between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows with a cold finger, where the ancient Saint Rune was hidden. ¡°You truly like someone who does not realise he lives on a treasure mountain.¡± ¡°The Saint Rune between your brows was split off from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and patriarch Cang Xuan has told us that it is called the Decoder Saint Rune.¡± ¡°It has the ability to see the vulnerabilities or weak points in any Genesis techniques.¡± ¡°Not only the enemy¡¯s but also your own.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes grew brighter and brighter as she spoke. He now understood the meaning behind Yaoyao¡¯s earlier words, and slowly said, ¡°So I can use the Decoder Saint Rune to view the Ethereal Form technique¡­¡± Yaoyao gave a slight nod as a lovely smile was revealed on her face. ¡°As such, there is no need for you to painstakingly feel out the aperture locations. You only need to use the Decoder Saint Rune to find them.¡± ¡°This will be multiple times more effective than others. So why would you need an elementary level inner mountain disciple¡¯s guidance?¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but powerfully hammer his fists together. Even someone usually as calm as himself could not help but be overwhelmed by joy as he lunged towards Yaoyao. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, you¡¯re too awesome!¡± Before his hands could touch Yaoyao, her slightly narrowed eyes swept towards him, causing him to freeze on the spot. Zhou Yuan awkwardly withdrew his hands, grasping the jade strip as he resentfully said, ¡°I¡¯ll go try it out first and see if I can find the apertures in my body.¡± After speaking, he slipped away to the rear courtyard to try out the Ethereal Form technique. A slight smile appeared on Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face as she watched Zhou Yuan leave. Soon after, she looked outside their little house as her red lips pursed in a slightly chilling manner. ¡°Tuntun¡­¡± She gently patted Tuntun. Tuntun raised its head. ¡°Go teach that fellow a lesson¡­¡± Said an expressionless Yaoyao. Although she could bully Zhou Yuan, what right did a mere inner mountain disciple have. Roar! Tuntun released a low roar upon hearing this, an excited look flooding out in its beady beast eyes. Its figure moved, transforming into flash of black light as it shot forth. Yaoyao watched Tuntun disappear before she lay down once again, leisurely bathing in the sunshine as she read the ancient book in her hands. ... Night descended. Zhu Yue walked out of his teaching hall to watch the disciples disperse. Their respectful farewells to him when they left made him feel increasingly pleased with himself inside. Behind Zhu Yue, Zhu Feng laughed and said, ¡°Hehe, I have to thank elder brother for giving Zhou Yuan such a miserable time today. It was so refreshing.¡± Zhu Yue smiled faintly. ¡°He¡¯s merely an ignorant country bumpkin from some tiny continent. Does he really believe that a little Heaven Genesis technique will be so easy to learn? When he comes begging, watch how I¡¯ll humiliate him.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also told the other inner mountain senior and junior brother disciples to make sure he won¡¯t find even a single instructor. I¡¯ll make it such that he¡¯ll be unable to learn even a single Genesis technique!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see what he¡¯ll have to Zhu Feng also laughed icily and nodded. Zhu Yue said, ¡°Head on back first, and work hard to master the Ethereal Form technique during the next few days such that you will have something to show for yourself in the peak selection ceremony.¡± Zhu Feng acknowledged, turned around and left. After sending him off, Zhou Yue began to return to his dwelling. Inner mountain disciples naturally received far better treatment than the outer mountain disciples, each one owning a good place to cultivate. Zhe Yue rose on his Genesis Qi, flying past a mountain when his expression suddenly changed, because a flash of black light was rapidly approaching him from below like a bolt of lightning. ¡°Who!¡± Roared Zhu Yue as the Genesis Qi in his body began to surge out. With a swing of his hand, Genesis Qi transformed into a giant hand that was dozens of feet wide, mercilessly swatting down at the black light. Pchla! However, the black light showed no indications of stopping. A low roar seemed to be heard as sharp claws suffused with black light abruptly slashed downwards. In that instant, even space itself seemed to disintegrate. The giant Genesis Qi hand was ruptured in a mere few breaths as sharp claw winds continued on their path. A foul smell assaulted Zhu Yue¡¯s face, quickly followed by intense pain. ARGH! He could not help but scream. A bloody claw appeared in front of his face, slashing all the way to his waist as his clothes were torn to shreds, making him an extremely miserable sight to see. Fresh blood dripped down his eyes, causing Zhu Yue to explode with anger. Genesis Qi madly burst out, but before he could counter attack, the black light had already disappeared into the boundless night sky. Zhu Yue blankly stared at his surroundings in the air as his body trembled uncontrollably. He was no fool. How could he not know that the black light was definitely related to Zhou Yuan. In fact, it may even be the little bastardly beast from earlier today! But so what if he knew? Could he say that he was brought to such a state by an outer mountain disciple? What face would he have if this spread back to the seven peaks? Thus, Zhu Yue burst into rage. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°I will make sure you¡¯re unable to learn even a single Genesis technique!¡± In the night, Zhu Yue¡¯s furious and bitter howl rang out like a wild beast¡¯s. Previous Chapte Chapter 228 Apertures A creek flowed in the mountain, making clear sounds as water beat against the rock. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was seated on a rock by the creek with his eyes faintly shut. At this moment, his breathing seemed to become extremely weak. The Genesis Qi in his body slowly began to flow in his channels according to the instructions in the Ethereal Form technique. The crux of this technique was to unblock a 108 apertures, and at this point in time, Zhou Yuan was going to find the location of the first aperture. This was something he had to do by himself, because even though he possessed the Decoder Saint Rune that could view the weak points of any Genesis technique, he needed to first give it somewhere to start. Without the first aperture as a primer of sorts, how could the Decoder Saint Rune find the second aperture? The Genesis Qi in his body circulated in his channels time and time again, an exceedingly boring process. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was akin to a still lake as he concentrated on sensing any strange disturbances in the Genesis Qi flow. Half a day passed in this manner. Only now did Zhou Yuan understand how troublesome it was to practice the Ethereal Form method. He had already used slightly over half a day for the first aperture alone. It was difficult to imagine how long it would take if he were to find and unblock even more apertures by himself... Fortunately, on the 300th round along the route indicated by the Ethereal Form technique, Zhou Yuan finally sensed a tiny disturbance. The instant this tiny disturbance appeared, the long waiting Zhou Yuan immediately turned his Genesis Qi, directing its full force towards the origin of the disturbance. Ch! A faint prickling pain was felt as Zhou Yuan felt an aperture open in his body. The moment this happened, the Genesis Qi flowing through the route given by the Ethereal Form technique began to flow in little by little. A certain subtle sensation rose that allowed Zhou Yuan understand that he had found the first aperture and unblocked it. ¡°Next, I¡¯ll have to smoothen the aperture with Genesis Qi, before infusing it with mist essence.¡± Zhou Yuan breathed an almost inaudible sigh of relief, before he once again began to circulate his Genesis Qi, wisp after wisp flowing into the aperture that began to smoothen it according to a unique method. Inside the aperture, sliver after sliver of Genesis Qi gathered, seemingly transforming into a rolling wheel that soon started to spin at a unique frequency as it smoothed the aperture. This smoothing method was the essence of the Ethereal Form technique. Only by using this procedure would the mist essence be able to fuse with the aperture later on. Zhou Yuan very carefully manipulated his Genesis Qi as he continued to smoothen the aperture. In the beginning, his control was rather rough and unpracticed, but gradually grew more and more polished as time passed, allowing the smoothing process to become much quicker. Hence, after about four hours, the aperture felt smooth and round. The process was done. With a slight grin on his face, Zhou Yuan gave a light tap to his Universe bag, causing a transparent jade bottle to appear in his hand. Inside the bottle, a milky-white mist swirled. The mist within this bottle was the so-called mist essence. Mist essence was formed from the agglomeration of Genesis Qi and the clouds when the sun and moon interchanged. It was a rather bizarre but seemingly magical process. Of course, Zhou Yuan had not collected it himself, but had bought it with Genesis jade in the Glittering Jewels Pavillion. A single bottom of mist essence had cost him two pieces of Genesis jade. ¡°It should be enough for three days¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. With a thought, wisps of mist began rising from the bottle, transforming into white smoke that flowed in through Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose. Once the mist essence was in his body, Zhou Yuan began directing it through his channels. There was not much Genesis Qi contained within the mist essence, making it very easily absorbed or dispersed by the Genesis Qiin his body. Hence, Zhou Yuan needed to guard it with his full attention as he sent sliver after sliver into the aperture he had smoothed earlier. Chch! Mist essence flowed into the aperture, drifting about as it stealthily fused into it. As mist essence continued to be infused, Zhou Yuan began to feel a very faint sensation spreading from the aperture, seemingly akin to the ungraspable mist. This went on for another two hours. Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, faint mists seemingly swirling within them, before scattering completely a moment later. Joy appeared on his face. He had finally completed the first of the 108 apertures of the Ethereal Form technique! He lifted his head to look at the sky, discovering that the first aperture had taken him nearly an entire day. At this rate, it would take nearly a month to complete the first level of the Ethereal Form technique. There were three levels to the Ethereal Form technique, only by unblocking a set of 36 apertures would one reach the next level. ¡°Thankfully, I have the Decoder Saint Rune!¡± Zhou Yuan grinned slightly. Now that the first aperture was done, he could use the Decoder Saint Rune to find the location of the second one. As such, he would be able to cut out to most troublesome sensing process. At this point, Zhou Yuan sent out a thought without any hesitation, and the faint ancient Saint Rune between his brows began to descend, fusing into the deepest recesses of his eyes. ¡°Decoder Saint Rune!¡± The Genesis Qi in his body began to follow the path indicated in the Ethereal Form technique again, while Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils seemed to pierce through his body, focusing on the location of the first aperture. It strange yet wonderful ripple seemed to pulse. It was the power of the Decoder Saint Rune. The ripple spread, and a few minutes later, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart violently shook when he saw a strange ripple suddenly pulse from a certain location in his body. There was no hesitation whatsoever as Genesis charged towards it. Ch! The familiar prickling pain was felt as another aperture was opened. The instant it opened, Zhou Yuan sensed a thin thread of Genesis Qi extended from the first aperture, linking up with the new aperture and establishing a connection. This phenomenon clearly showed that this was the correct location of the second aperture. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes opened as they rapidly filled with elation. Sensing the first aperture had taken a good half of the day, but with the power of the Decoder Saint Rune, he had drastically shortened the time required. Moreover, the subsequent apertures would only become harder and harder to sense, but this was clearly not going to be a problem for him. ¡°The Decoder Saint Rune is just too awesome!¡± Said Zhou Yuan. Only now did he fully realise how miraculous its power was. With it, he would be able to more efficiently master any Genesis technique he desired, making him far more efficient than others. A fire began to burn in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he softly chuckled. ¡°Zhu Yue, I¡¯ll show you that even without your guidance, I will still be able to master the Ethereal Form technique!¡± With a deep breath, he closed his eyes again, and began to polish the smoothen the second aperture. The Decoder Saint Rune could find the aperture locations, but he would still have complete the subsequent processes himself. Hence, besides being present for the Genesis Mountain training, all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s time during the next three days was invested into the Ethereal Form technique. As he tirelessly continued to work, a total of 18 of the 108 apertures were unblocked by him in three short days. The first level of the Ethereal Form technique was fast approaching. ... However, while Zhou Yuan was immersed in his training, waves were churning in the outer mountains, causing many disciples to be shocked. The origin of these waves was to everyone¡¯s surprise, the instructors from the rear mountain of the Hidden Scriptures House. These instructors had high status in the outer mountains due to two main reasons. Firstly, they were inner mountain disciples. Secondly, they guided the other disciples in learning Genesis techniques, However, several instructors secretly spread that Zhou Yuan would be restricted from attending the lectures for the Genesis techniques they were in charge of... This news caused quite an uproar, numerous disciples feeling pity towards Zhou Yuan. No one had expected him to have stirred up these instructors this time... With regards to such matters, the outer mountain manager Chen Yuan should have stepped up to put a stop to it. However, he seemed to be ignoring it, causing it to become an extremely hot topic in the outer mountains. ¡°I heard that Zhou Yuan angered Zhu Yue. Zhu Yue is after all an inner mountain disciples, and has many friends. The other instructors would naturally not risk offending, hence why they¡¯ve declared that they won¡¯t be teaching Zhou Yuan any Genesis techniques.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is really too arrogant. To think that he even dares to offend senior brother Zhu Yue.¡± ¡°Yea, without the guidance of the instructors, what can Zhou Yuan possibly learn by himself? Hehe, if this continues, he won¡¯t be able to perform well in the peak selection ceremony three months later.¡± ¡°He deserves it. Let¡¯s see what he can do now that he¡¯s being shut out by all the instructors.¡± ¡°......¡± Similar whispers spread to every corner of the outer mountains, an indication that the number of gloating people were not few. After all, they were many people who were envious of Zhou Yuan¡¯s first class disciple status. Hidden Scriptures House, rear mountain. In a certain hall, Zhu Yue stood with his hands behind his back, while Gu Hongyi, Zhu Feng and the rest of the disciples were seated on mats in front of him, their eyes closed as they tried to sense for apertures. All of a sudden, Gu Hongyi opened her eyes, happiness flashing across her lovely face as she exclaimed, ¡°I¡¯ve found my sixth aperture!¡± The others also opened their eyes, their envious gazes looking towards her. The scars on Zhu Yue¡¯s face had yet to fully heal. He smiled and nodded. ¡°There¡¯s no need for the rest of you to be envious. Gu Hongyi¡¯s talent is better than yours, so her progress is not surprising.¡± The other disciples respectful said with a smile, ¡°Well it¡¯s still thanks to senior brother Zhu Yue¡¯s guidance.¡± Gu Hongyu hesitated slightly, before she too cupped her fists together towards Zhu Yue, showing her gratitude. Zhu Yue seemed to nonchalantly wave his hand, but the pleased look that faintly rose from the corners of his mouth was a little difficult to hide. With his hands behind his back, he raised his gaze and peered into the distance as an icy smile suddenly appeared on his face. He wondered how many apertures Zhou Yuan had managed to unblock. It was likely that he had yet to even reach that point, right? ¡°Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, you must be regretting it now that there¡¯s no one to teach you, right? Heh, but even if you go down on your knees and beg me now, I will never teach you!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯ve offended me, I¡¯ll let you know the meaning of eternal despair!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 229 Earning Genesis Jade By the side of a creek. Zhou Yuan still spent the majority of his time here training, while naturally blocking off the various matters and happenings of the outside world. All of his attention was placed on mastering the Ethereal Form technique. It was the fifth day since he borrowed the jade strip. Although these five days were short, they were unbelievable enriching to Zhou Yuan. In these short five days, he had unblocked 30 of the 108 apertures... Only 6 remained till he reached the first level. When that happened, the true wonders of the Ethereal Form technique would begin to be revealed. Atop the rock, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, mist gathering within them before gradually disappearing as a satisfied smile appeared from the corners of his lips. He had just completed another aperture, his total count now reaching 31. 31 apertures in five days. If not for the Decoder Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan would not have even dared to imagine such progress. ¡°But the mist essence has been used up, I¡¯ll have to go buy more¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s also time to return the jade strip, but it¡¯s a little unfortunate about the numerous experiences from the seniors and elders recorded inside. Looks like I¡¯ll need to borrow it again when needed.¡± Zhou Yuan began to calculate, and a pained look suddenly rose on his face. He had realised he now had less than ten Genesis jade pieces remaining. All of his time had been spent on the Ethereal Form technique, and he had not visited the Task Pavilion nor taken on any assignments there. Hence, he naturally had no Genesis jade earnings. While Zhou Yuan sighed, several figures flew over form far away, landing beside the creek. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, discovering that it was Qiao Xiu, Sheng Wanjin and the rest. ¡°Hey, little Yuan bro, you¡¯re living a little too relaxed.¡± Shen Wanjin¡¯s oily face was filled with worry. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re in really big trouble this time.¡± Qiao Xiu let out a bitter laugh. ¡°How did you end up offending the instructor? They¡¯re after all inner mountain disciples, while we¡¯re merely tiny shrimps in comparison. Moreover, we have to rely on their guidance to learn our Genesis techniques.¡± During the past two days, news that Zhou Yuan had been shut out from all the instructor lessons had spread like wildfire. As a result, Qiao Xiu, Shen Wanjin and the rest were no longer able to sit still, and came rushing over. Zhou Yuan did hear about it a little, but did not pay much attention to it. From his point of view, he currently did not need the guidance of those so-called inner mountain disciples. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, maybe you should yield to senior brother Zhu Yue. I¡¯ll go back and help you send him some gifts to see if we can resolve this matter.¡± He thought very highly of Zhou Yuan, and did not want him to end up being unable to learn any Genesis techniques due to a single impulsive clash that had led to Zhu Yue sabotaging the former. Everyone was desperately trying to raise their strength during these three months, and learning Genesis techniques was one of utmost importance. If Zhou Yuan were to be disadvantaged in this aspect, he would surely fall behind others in the peak selection ceremony three months later. Zhou Yuan merely chuckled when he heard this, his impression of Qiao Xiu growing a little more favorable. After all, there were not many disciples who would even dare to approach him recently, let alone offer him a helping hand. He waved his hand and said, ¡°Senior brother Qiao Xiu need not worry, I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± At the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression, Qiao Xiu could only let out a bitter chuckle. He knew that though the young man before him seemed like a gentle person, he was in actuality very stubborn. Shen Wanjin was the most shrewd amongst the group, and thus knew what Zhou Yuan currently lacked the most. Hence, he grinned and said, ¡°Little Yuan bro, I see that you¡¯ve been training hard these past few days and didn¡¯t really come out to accept any missions, so you should be almost out of Genesis jade pieces, right? If you need, we can loan you some.¡± Zhou Yuan thought for a bit, but ultimately shook his head. ¡°No need for the time being. If it does come to that, I will go look for you guys.¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll be heading to the Hidden Scriptures House to return the Genesis technique jade strip.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled at the group, before he flew off into the sky atop his Genesis Qi. As they watched him leave, Qiao Xiu, Shen Wanjin and the rest exchanged a look and sighed. They did not truly understand Zhou Yuan¡¯s current situation, and thus were under the impression that he was just being stubborn. ¡°This is no good¡­ if this continues, little Yuan bro will not be able to learn even a single Genesis technique after the three months are over. What will he have to show in the peak selection ceremony then¡­¡± ... When Zhou Yuan once again arrived at the Hidden Scriptures House, the passing disciples constantly swept their gazes towards him, gazes that were filled with pity. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm as he proceeded to return the jade strip at the counter. ¡°Hehe, isn¡¯t this Zhou Yuan? Have you learnt the Ethereal Form technique yet?¡± At this moment, mocking laughter was heard from the side. Zhou Yuan turned his head, seeing Zhu Feng with several figures behind him, their eyes filled with a toying look as they watched the former. Evidently, Zhu Feng had received news the moment Zhou Yuan arrived, and thus brought several others to come watch. Zhou Yuan indifferently said, ¡°I¡¯ve net seen your elder brother recently, are the wound on his face still not healed?¡± By now, he already knew that Yaoyao had commanded Tuntun to secretly attack Zhu Feng, an act that he could only secretly give a thumbs up to. Zhu Feng¡¯s expression turned rigid, a vicious look in his eyes as he glared at Zhou Yuan and said through gnashed teeth, ¡°What¡¯s there to be proud of by relying on a beast!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled superficially as he retorted, ¡°Are you saying that your elder brother is inferior to a beast?¡± ¡°You!¡± Zhu Feng¡¯s eyes hardened as powerful Genesis Qi exploded from his body. He stared daggers at Zhou Yuan and threatened, ¡°Do you want to die?!¡± ¡°This is the Hidden Scriptures House and fighting is prohibited here. Do all of you want to be punished?¡± A clear voice sounded from the side. They turned, only to realise Gu Hongyi was frowning slightly as she watched them. Zhe Feng took in a deep breath, having no choice but to suppress the fury in his heart. Anger still colored his eyes as he glared at Zhou Yuan and said with a disdainful sneer, ¡°Zhou Yuan, go ahead and continue to be so arrogant.¡± ¡°There is no longer anyone who will guide you in your Genesis techniques, so just wait and see, your first class disciple status will likely be gone soon!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see how long your stubbornness will last!¡± Zhu Feng coldy snorted, before turning around and leaving with his group. The numerous disciples in the vicinity looked towards Zhou Yuan in pity before gradually scattering. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to them as he gave a slight nod to Gu Hongyi, before beginning to head down the mountain. The main thing now was to figure out how to obtain Genesis jade. Would he really have to take on missions too? Gu Hongyi hesitated for a moment as she watched him leave, before suddenly catching up to him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you were too rash. How can you learn any Genesis techniques now that you¡¯ve offended Zhu Yue?¡± ¡°If you really are a capable person, you should know when to give in or exercise patience. There will always be a chance to turn things around in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat astonished by Gu Hongyi¡¯s words. ¡°You¡¯re worried about me?¡± Gu Hongyi rolled her eyes at him and said, ¡°This is called pity. I just don¡¯t want to see your talent being squandered away for no reason. Zhu Yue¡¯s actions are indeed somewhat petty.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. He suddenly thought of something, rubbing his chin as he looked at Gu Hongyi with interest. Gu Hongyi felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze. Her pretty face immediately turned slightly hostile as she fiercely said, ¡°What are you looking at?!¡± Zhou Yuan asked, ¡°How¡¯s your training been going at Zhu Yue¡¯s place?¡± The corners of Gu Hongyi¡¯s red lips lifted slightly, somewhat pleased as she answered, ¡°I¡¯ve already unblocked my tenth aperture. I should be able to reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month.¡± ¡°The tenth aperture?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°Do you understand the benefits of having someone to guide you now? Did you think that five Genesis jade pieces were being spent in vain everyday?¡± Gu Hongyi looked at Zhou Yuan with a pitiful gaze. ¡°Is it that easy to earn Genesis jade?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glowed. Gu Hongyi¡¯s brows knitted together, somewhat unhappy as she shot a look at Zhou Yuan and said in a disappointed manner, ¡°I had thought that you would see the truth. Looks like there¡¯s really no saving you.¡± She turned around as she spoke, intending to leave. However, Zhou Yuan hastily cut her off. Upon seeing her frown slightly, he hurriedly said, ¡°If I have a method to let you master the first level of the Ethereal Form technique and unblock more apertures than at Zhu Yue¡¯s place, would you be interested?¡± Gu Hongyi was stunned. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting, mastering the first level in ten days¡­ I¡¯ve never heard of anyone who has managed to do so!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°But what if it¡¯s true?¡± Gu Hongyi pondered for a brief moment, before she replied, ¡°Then I will naturally be interested. Genesis jade is secondary, the most important thing is to save my time.¡± This was clearly a wealthy little lady, someone who practically didn¡¯t care about Genesis jade. She suspiciously looked at Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Do you know someone who is better in the Ethereal Form technique than Zhu Yue?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned widely. ¡°I do not know whether or not he¡¯s better than Zhu Feng, but his efficiency is definitely incomparable.¡± ¡°Who? If he can really let me reach the initial stage of the Ethereal Form technique, I am willing to learn from him. Genesis jade is not a problem.¡± Gu Hongyi stared at Zhou Yuan. Although she did not really believe him, he should not dare to joke about such a matter, right?¡± Joy sprouted from between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows as he pointed to himself with a smile, ¡°That person is me of course¡­ come on, it¡¯ll be fity Genesis jade pieces, you can pay half first.¡± His voice grew smaller and smaller towards the end, because Gu Hongyi¡¯s pretty face had abruptly turned ice-cold. She made a grabbing motion with her hand, as the scarlet-red whip on her hip appeared within it. A fiendish look appeared on Gu Hongyi¡¯s pretty face as she swung the whip. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I see that you¡¯re tired of living. To think that you even dare to make fun of me!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 230 Persuasion Chapter 230 Persuade Pchla! The scarlet-red whip was akin to a fire python, giving off searing Genesis Qi undulations as it swung down towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s skull. Zhou Yuan hastily dodged, causing the whip to narrowly miss his body and viciously smash into the ground, tearing open a long crack. Zhou Yuan sucked in a breath of cold air. ¡°That¡¯s too ruthless of you.¡± This wasn¡¯t just a light smack on the face, but would likely leave a bloody scar. Gu Hongyi¡¯s hand jerked as the whip rolled back to her and wrapped around her wrist. She frostily glanced at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you really think that I won¡¯t?¡± Zhou Yuan promptly shook his head at the sight of the somewhat angered Gu Hongyi and said with a forced smile, ¡°Don¡¯t get so angry¡­ I wasn¡¯t making fun of you. If you follow me, I can really allow you to achieve initial mastery of the Ethereal Form technique in ten days.¡± Gu Hongyi frowned so deeply that her eyebrows were almost vertical as she sneered, ¡°Arrogance, how long has it been since you started learning the Ethereal Form technique? Have you even found any apertures? Although Zhu Yue¡¯s character is somewhat lacking, do you know how many apertures he has unblocked?¡± ¡°41 apertures!¡± ¡°How can you compare to him?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°Only 41 apertures after practicing for so long, Zhu Yue¡¯s talent is indeed quite mediocre. No wonder he¡¯s still a black slash disciple.¡± ¡°Shameless boasting!¡± Gu Hongyi had reached the limits of her anger due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude. He was clearly nowhere as good as others, and yet he stubbornly refused to admit they were better. She had originally been a little interested in the talent Zhou Yuan had displayed, but she was now exceedingly disappointed. No matter how good one¡¯s talent, if one was unable to realise one¡¯s faults, one would be able to walk far on the road of cultivation. Hence, she could no longer bothered to stay a single second more, and began to turn around to leave. Upon seeing this Zhou Yuan immediately said, ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll believe me if I told you I¡¯ve already unblocked 31 apertures¡­ how about this, why not you punch me once to see?¡± ¡°31 apertures?¡± Gu Hongyi gnashed her teeth. ¡°It¡¯s only been five days and you¡¯ve unblocked 31 apertures? Are you insulting my intelligence?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips curled downwards. If not for the Genesis jade, he would not bother explaining so much. He immediately extended a hand and beckoned. ¡°Quit being so wishy-washy, you¡¯ll know once you attack.¡± Gu Hongyi laughed in anger. This was the first time she had heard others make such an assessment of her. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll let you know the price of making fun of me!¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s hand clenched as vigorous Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from her body. Her Genesis QI was fiery-red, like a wave of fire. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Gu Hongyi was indeed a formidable individual, and was likely top tier even amongst the three layer Alpha-Origin practitioners. In a real fight, even he would find her quite problematic. Swish! Gu Hongyi¡¯s foot pushed off the ground as her body shot forward. Surging Genesis Qi gathered towards her hand as a simple punch was sent blasting forth. Bang! The air was blasted away bythe punch, seemingly causing a sonic boom. Gu Hongyi may look as delicate as a flower, but her attack was extremely simple and violent. A two layer Alpha-Origin disciples were to facethis seemingly small fist instead, he would likely be forced to his knees. However, Zhou Yuan did not move at all. He watched the fist winds blast towards him and suddenly took a step forward. His hand reached out, Genesis Qi surging as he met Gu Hongyi¡¯s punch head-on. Thud! A muffled noise rang out as winds violently unfurled, blowing away the scattered rocks around them. However, the instant palm met fist, Gu Hongyi¡¯s face suddenly changed. she had felt a large portion of her power being neutralized when it surged towards Zhou Yuan. It felt as if most of her punch had landed on air. Gu Hongyi concentrated on Zhou Yuan''s palm, only for her heart so shake violently. She had seen his palm seem to turn slightly incomporeal at this moment, giving off a faintly ethereal feeling. ¡°How can this be?!¡± Gu Hongyi could not help but cry out. She clearly understood that this was a sign that someone was about to reach the initial stage of the Ethereal Form technique. Only then would one be able to etherealize a part of their body, causing the power of any attack that landed on that part to be greatly neutralized. This was the essence of the Ethereal Form technique. When mastered, any attack that landed would feel as if it had struck air, causing a portion of its power to be neutralized. The fact that Zhou Yuan was able to etherealize his hand meant that his mastery of the Ethereal Form technique had already far surpassed her own. With the ten apertures she had currently unblocked, achieving with a feat would be impossible. Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew his hand as it rapidly returned to normal, and let out a soft laugh of satisfaction. The Ethereal Form technique was marvelous indeed, and would greatly enhance his survivability once mastered. It was said that the first level would bestow upon one the ability to temporarily etherealize any part of the body. This would be an invaluable skill indeed to counter any sudden or sneak attacks. At the second level, one would be able to etherealize the entire body, making one akin to the mists. As for the third level, it was even more amazing. One would be capable of full etherealization, giving one the ability to merge with the world around. From a certain point of view, it could be said to be invisibility that could also avoid other¡¯s detection... Over all, the Ethereal Form technique was a wonderful technique could pretty much cover every aspect of survivability, from defense, to escaping and hiding. This was also why Zhou Yuan had not hesitated to choose it the moment he saw it. "You¡­" Gu Hongyi blankly stared at Zhou Yuan, not knowing what to see for a time. What had just happened was way too shocking. She was unable to believe that Zhou Yuan was nearly at the initial stage after a mere five days of practice. ¡°You¡¯ve really unblocked 31 apertures?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°You should at least believe your own eyes, right?¡± ¡°How did you do it?!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. ¡°Perhaps my sensing is just better¡­ how about it? Are you interested? I should be able to guarantee you reaching the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in ten days.¡± He did not dare to make any guarantees for the second level, because he could already feel how increasingly difficult it was becoming to sense the latter apertures. Even with the Decoder Saint Rune, it would take some time. Gu Hongyi''s eyes flickered brightly as she stared at Zhou Yuan. She had originally been under the impression that he was spouting nonsense. Who could have expected that he would be so capable. Even without anyone¡¯s guidance, he had rapidly progressed at such an astonishing speed. ¡°This is fifty Genesis jade pieces.¡± Gu Hongyi was a swift and decisive person. Since she had already personally witnessed it, there was naturally no need to delay. With a flick of her wrist, a cloth bag was thrown towards Zhou Yuan, the clear tinkling of Genesis jade pieces clearly heard as it flew through the air. ¡°How generous.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his thumb in response. She was indeed a richy little lady, not even a single grumble before paying the full amount. To think that he was originally planning on only taking half the payment first. ¡°But where did you get so many Genesis jade pieces?¡± Zhou Yuan curiously asked. He had not seen Gu Hongyi undertake any missions, and yet she seemed to be very wealthy. ¡°Why be such a busy body.¡± Gu Hongyi rolled her eyes at him. Zhou Yuan nodded in understanding. As expected, she did have ties in the sect. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m warning you that my money is not so easily earned. If I do not reach the first level after ten days¡­¡± Gu Hongyi shot a look at Zhou Yuan. ¡°I will not let you off.¡± ¡°Relax, this is already a bargain and I will not cheat anyone.¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly pledged. This was his first customer, and he had to make sure she was satisfied at all costs. ¡°When do we begin training?¡± ¡°Our time is precious, so we¡¯ll of course be starting now. Follow me.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand, tossing the bag of Genesis jade in the other as he walked down the mountain. Gu Hongyi looked at his leaving figure, before looking towards the lecture halls in the rear mountain as she hesitated for a moment. In the end, she gritted her teeth and quickly caught up. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re dead meat if you dare to lie to me!¡± ... Rear mountain, lecture hall. Zhu Yue watched the numerous outer mountain disciples arrive one after another, and suddenly frowned. He had not seen Gu Hongyi amongst them. At this moment, Zhu Feng suddenly rushed over, his expression extremely ugly. Zhu Yue frowned and asked, ¡°What is it?¡± The other disciples also looked over. Zhu Feng hesitated for a second, somewhat unable to believe his own words as he explained, ¡°Gu Hongyi sent someone to say that she will not be coming.¡± ¡°Not coming?¡± Zhu Yue was taken aback, somewhat unhappy as she said, ¡°Wasn¡¯t she doing well so far? Does she no longer plan on learning the Ethereal Form technique?¡± Gu Hongyi was from a powerful background, while also being very pretty. Hence, Zhu Yue had some designs on her, and was currently attempting to fulfill the dream of ¡®marrying into power and wealth¡¯, hoping to make use of this opportunity while teaching her to get into her good books. Gu Hongyi¡¯s sudden absence had disrupted his tempo. Zhu Feng summoned his courage and said, ¡°She¡­ she¡¯s still learning, but¡­ she has went to learn from Zhou Yuan.¡± The lecture hall immediately fell silent, numerous disciples looking to each other first before quickly breaking out into a din. ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°Gu Hongyi is learning the Ethereal From technique from Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°What the heck is she doing?¡± Zhu Yue was also stupefied. Soon after, his complexion turned steely green with rage. He was truly unable to comprehend what Gu Hongyi was thinking. Did she sustain some brain damage? It was preposterous for her to learn Genesis techniques from another outer mountain disciple! What kind of medicine had Zhou Yuan given her?! Most importantly, if news of this spread, where would Zhu Yue be able to hide his face?! Zhu Yue gnashed his teeth, no longer able to restrain his emotions. He violently kicked a nearby table to dust, his expression twisting as he roared, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re practically asking for death!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 231 Ability Zhu Yue raged in the hall, his twisted expression causing the outer mountain disciples to keep silent out of fear. Zhu Yue was undoubtedly akin to a volcano on the verge of eruption at this moment. Although Zhu Yue was seeing red, he still retained some of his rationality, and soon took in a deep breath. He knew that if an inner mountain disciple like himself were to lash out at Zhou Yuan in a fit of rage for no real reason, it would be a violation of the rules. Of course, the most important factor was the extremely powerful mysterious little creature at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side which was in no way weaker than himself. Even if he did try something, it would likely not end well for him. Zhu Yue¡¯s anger gradually returned to calmness, though his face remained stormy. He looked at the crowd of disciples and flatly said, ¡°Continue your training.¡± ¡°This is Gu Hongyi¡¯s personal decision, so no one can interfere.¡± ¡°I do hope that this ¡®great master¡¯ she has found will be able to help her advance by leaps and bounds.¡± At this point, everyone could hear the hint of ridicule in his voice. Evidently, he felt that Gu Hongyi was asking for trouble. It was hard to believe that she had become so muddle-headed because of Zhou Yuan. The other disciples nodded one after another, though a puzzled look remained in their eyes. ¡°Why has Gu Hongyi chosen to learn from Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°Could she¡­ be interested in him?¡± However, these words were immediately rebutted in a clearly sore manner, ¡°How can that be possible? Who do you think Gu Hongyi is? How can she possibly fancy that country bumpkin.¡± ¡°Then why did she do that?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Everyone looked at each other, unable to think of an answer. Zhu Feng tried to pacify Zhu Yue, ¡°Don¡¯t worry elder brother, when Gu Hongyi returns to her senses, she will realise Zhou Yuan¡¯s true colors. When that happens, she will definitely return.¡± Zhu Yue coldly snorted as he uncaringly said, ¡°It is her choice, so she¡¯ll bear the consequences.¡± ¡°If she continued under my tutelage, with her talent, she would have mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month¡­¡± He shook his head, as if feeling that it was such a pity. ¡°But who could have imagined that she would choose to ruin her own future.¡± ¡°I do want to see how much she will be able to learn from Zhou Yuan¡­ humph, if word of this matter spreads to the ears of that elder of Gu Hongyi¡¯s, that person will not forgive Zhou Yuan.¡± A mocking angle seemed to be hooked up from the corners of Zhu Yue¡¯s lips, as if he could already see Zhou Yuan¡¯s tragic fate. ... By a certain creak in the mountain. Zhou Yuan stood on a rock, gazing at the young lady in red before him and inquired, ¡°You¡¯ve completed the tenth aperture of the Ethereal Form technique?¡± Gu Hongyi nodded, her shapely brows knitting together slightly as she responded, ¡°But it¡¯s getting harder and harder to sense them the more apertures I find. I¡¯ve already spent an entire day trying, but I¡¯ve yet to sense the eleventh aperture.¡± She suspiciously looked at Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°So how will you help me?¡± ¡°Sit down.¡± Zhou Yuan pointed to a rock. Gu Hongyi sat down with her back straight. Her red clothes wrapped around her full curves that extended all the way to her waist as her chest stealthily rose and fell. Zhou Yuan also sat down in front of her. ¡°Stretch out your hands.¡± Gu Hongyi glared at Zhou Yuan, her eyes a little cold. Zhou Yuan helplessly sighed. ¡°Can you just listen to me?¡± Gu Hongyi snorted softly as she glared daggers at Zhou Yuan. "If I find out that you''re trying to take advantage of me, I will not let you off." After finishing, she extended her hands, palms facing Zhou Yuan. The corners of Zhou Yuan''s lips curled slightly downwards as he also extended his hands, placing them against Gu Hongyi''s. A slight cooling sensation spread from their touching palms, causing Gu Hongyi''s heart to tremble a little. Although she was viciously glaring at Zhou Yuan, a blush had risen on her face. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and said, "Circulate the Ethereal Form technique." Only upon seeing that Zhou Yuan was seemingly no trying anything funny did Gu Hongyi forcibly attempt to ignore the uncomfortable feeling from her palms. She shut her eyes, willing herself into calmness, before beginning to direct her Genesis Qi along the Ethereal Form training route. Genesis Qi began to flow, circulating round after round. Gu Hongyi also began to sense the location of the eleventh aperture. Zhou Yuan activated the Decoder Saint Rune, sending its power searching in Gu Hongyi''s body¡­ Water flowed in the creak, while two figures sat facing each other. The atmosphere was rather peaceful. An incense stick of time stealthily passed as Gu Hongyi gradually became somewhat disappointed. She was still unable to find the eleventh aperture. After some hesitation, she decided to leave her cultivation state. It was at this moment however, that Zhou Yuan''s voice was transmitted into her ears, "Don''t be distracted and do not resist. I will soon begin guiding your Genesis Qi." Gu Hongyi frowned deeply, somewhat hesitant. Allowing someone else to guide one''s Genesis Qi was extremely dangerous. If the other party had any ill intentions, he could cause havoc with the Genesis Qi, a situation which may even result in one''s channels being damaged. Zhou Yuan seemed to know what was on Gu Hongyi''s, and hence did not rush her, but instead patiently waited for her answer. After all, there was nothing he could do without her cooperation. He could understand Gu Hongyi''s hesitation. If he was in her place, he too would not easily allow someone else to direct the flow of Genesis Qi in his body. This silence lasted for a few dozen breaths, before Zhou Yuan suddenly felt the Genesis Qi in Gu Hongyi''s body slow down, as if control had been withdrawn. "Zhou Yuan, let''s see whether you''re a liar or someone who truly has ability." Gu Hongyi''s calm voice sounded. She was a decisive person. Since she had already chosen to place her faith in Zhou Yuan, there was naturally no reason to hesitate anymore. However, if he was lying to her, she would let him know what kind of price there was to pay. Zhou Yuan secretly sighed in admiration of Gu Hongyi''s decisiveness. Without further ado, he began to direct the Genesis Qi in her body. Genesis Qi flowed along her channels, suddenly speeding up a split second later as it prepared to charge towards a certain point in her body. Gu Hongyi''s body tensed up at this moment, her heart beating rapidly. Pch! A faint sound was heard. Next, a stunned Gu Hongyi felt an aperture being forced open in a certain part of her body. The moment this aperture appeared, the previous ten apertures she had unblocked began to vibrate in resonance. This response¡­ the answer was already clear, she had found the eleventh aperture! Zhou Yuan had actually succeeded?! Gu Hongyi''s heart was filled with shock. To think that what she had been unable to accomplish with an entire day of hard work had been completed by Zhou Yuan so quickly. How had he done it? Gu Hongyi was so astonished that she even forgot to begin the next step of polishing the aperture. "You¡¯ll have to polish the aperture yourself, I won¡¯t be able to help you in this segment.¡± Only when Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice sounded in her ears did Gu Hongyi return to her senses. She hurriedly began circulating her Genesis Qi, sending wisp after wisp into the aperture to polish it. Zhou Yuan withdrew his hands, secretly breathing a sigh of relief as he watched Genesis Qi rise around Gu Hongyi. It was fortunate that he had succeeded, or it would not have ended well for him given Gu Hongyi¡¯s temper. ¡°Fifty Genesis jade pieces¡­ looks like I can continue to purchase mist essence, but it¡¯s a pity I still can¡¯t afford to rent out the Nine Dragons Canon from the Hidden Scriptures House. It seems that I¡¯ll have to work harder.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed inside. Gu Hongyi was finally done two hours later, the eleventh aperture in her body fully polished, before being infused with mist essence, allowing her to take another step forward towards the first level of the Ethereal Form technique. Her long eyelashes trembled faintly as she slowly opened her eyes. Zhou Yuan stood on a rock to her front, and was currently looking at her. ¡°How is it? You should believe that I¡¯m not a liar now, right?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Gu Hongyi blushed slightly, a somewhat complicated expression in her eyes as she looked towards Zhou Yuan. A long while later, she finally responded, ¡°How did you do it?¡± Zhou Yuan offhandedly said, ¡°My senses are just above average.¡± Gu Hongyi did not probe any further. After a slight hesitation, she finally said in a soft voice, ¡°Thanks.¡± She knew that she was the big winner this time. Zhou Yuan had greatly increased her efficiency, something that Zhu Yue would never be able to achieve. Zhou Yuan waved his hand. ¡°You provided the money and I provided the effort. Each of us is just fulfilling the other¡¯s needs.¡± ¡°It¡¯s getting late. You may find me here during the next ten days. I¡¯ll do my best to let you reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique before these ten days are over¡­¡± After he finished speaking, he waved as he turned and left in a carefree manner, leaving only the sight of his back. Gu Hongyi watched him leave as she bit her red lips. It was a long time later before she finally mumbled to herself in a soft voice, ¡°This guy¡­ does have a little ability after all¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 232 In the following few days, having tasted the sweet fruits of success, Gu Hongyi came by the creek practically everyday to receive Zhou Yuan''s aid in mastering the Ethereal Form technique. With Zhou Yuan''s help, she progressed by leaps and bounds. In a short four days, the number of apertures she had unblocked rose from 10 to 25. One must know that the later apertures would become harder and harder to sense. In a normal situation, Gu Hongyi would at best unblock 5 apertures in four days. The rapid progress under Zhou Yuan''s guidance slightly alarmed even Gu Hongyi herself. Hence, even someone as prideful as her was now a little more respectful when she saw Zhou Yuan during these few days. However, Zhou Yuan did not pay much heed to her change in attitude. After all, the Genesis jade he wanted was already his... The only thing that bothered him was that this tiny amount of Genesis jade was still nowhere near enough to rent out the high grade little Heaven tier Nine Dragons Canon. ... A creek flowed within a mountain. Zhou Yuan was seated on a rock, his eyes shut in cultivation, while Gu Hongyi was also present nearby. Huu. Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes as he slowly expelled a breath of white Qi from his mouth. At this moment, a peculiar undulation spread from his body. One could only watch as half his body gradually turned incorporeal, giving off a faint feeling of transparency. "You¡­ you''ve mastered the first level?!" A shocked voice sounded from the side. Gu Hongyi had opened her eyes, and was now staring at Zhou Yuan in astonishment. Etherealising half one''s body was only achievable when one reached the first level of the Ethereal Form technique. Zhou Yuan''s expression did not change as he swept her a look and said, "You''ve already completed 25 apertures, is it that strange for me to reach the first level?" Gu Hongyi froze momentarily, feeling a little foolish due to how shocked she was. When she thought about it, however, she felt that it was a very normal reaction. It was after all far too rare for someone to reach the first level in such a short span of time. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve mastered the first level, any attack that lands on my body will have its power neutralized by nearly 30%.¡± A satisfied look filled his eyes as he looked at his etherealized hand. Do not look down on this 30%, because it would often be enough to bring about a reversal in battle. Of course, the neutralization effect was not absolute, and there existed certain special methods that could counter it. If not, the Ethereal Form technique would not be limited to a mere mid grade little Heaven Genesis technique, but instead be qualified to enter the ranks of even the true Heaven tier. All in all, the Ethereal Form technique would greatly boost one''s survivability on all fronts. ¡°You¡¯re actually pretty low-key¡­¡± Gu Hongyi suddenly laughed as she looked at Zhou Yuan. "Although you appear to be a first layer Alpha-Origin, after spending these past few days with you, I''ve come to realise that you should have a place amongst the recently established outer mountains'' top ten." Nearly half a month had passed since the many disciples arrived at the Cangxuan Sect. The acclimatization period was basically over for everyone, causing them to naturally shift their attention to competing and comparing. As such, after some estimation and general consensus, the outer mountain disciples came up with the so-called ten great outer mountain disciples. It had spread like wildfire during the past two days, making it one of the hottest topics in the outer mountains. The one who stood at the top was to no one''s surprise, Lu Feng. While Gu Hongyi was second. Amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples, seven were geniuses from the Shengzhou continent, while only three were from the other continents¡­ and it just so happened that Qiao Xiu was number ten. As for Zhou Yuan¡­ no one had even mentioned him. He was after all a first layer Alpha-Origin, and there appeared to be just too huge of a gap between him and the third layer Alpha-Origin disciples. However, Gu Hongyi was clearly not of the same opinion, hence her previous words. From what she could see, Zhou Yuan was too good at concealing his strength. If he wanted to, he would surely have a place amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples. Zhou Yuan mere chuckled when he heard this. "Is there any meaning to these rankings? It''s not the peak selection ceremony will be decided based on it." He was indeed not the slightest bit interested in it. After all, the higher one was ranked, the more humiliating it would be if one ended up being unable to match up in the peak selection ceremony. Moreover, it was preposterous that Yaoyao had not even been included in the ten great outer mountain disciples, a fact that only made Zhou Yuan look down on its weight. He knew that if Yaoyao were to act, even Lu Feng would not be her match. Gu Hongyi frowned slightly. "We''re all youngsters, if we don¡¯t have aspirations, we won¡¯t have drive. How then will we aim for even greater heights? You¡¯re the weird one, so young and yet so similar to an old man.¡± Zhou Yuan could only helplessly roll his eyes. Can''t I not be a part of your pointless rankings? "Oh?" Just as Zhou Yuan was about to speak, he suddenly sensed something and lifted his head towards a certain direction where the sound of rushing wind could be heard. A figure hurriedly flew over, his round, fat figure making it painfully apparently as to who it was. It was naturally Shen Wanjin. Shen Wanjin was currently dripping with sweat. The moment he caught sight of Zhou Yuan, he hastily shouted, "Little Yuan bro, Zhu Feng is heading here with several others! They don''t look friendly at all." "Zhu Feng?" Zhou Yuan''s eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed that the two brothers had finally reached their limits. He knew that it was impossible for Zhu Yue to silently sit by when Zhou Yuan had ¡®snatched¡¯ Gu Hongyi away. "Is Zhu Yue amongst them?" Asked Zhou Yuan. If Zhu Yue was coming too, Zhou Yuan would have to go bring Tuntun over. After all, a good man would not purposely suffer for no reason. No matter how arrogant he was , he would not directly face an inner mountain disciple like Zhu Yue when he was only at the first layer Alpha-Origin stage. "Nope." Shen Wanjin shook his head. Zhou Yuan let out a carefree laugh. If Zhu Yue''s wasn''t coming, a mere Zhu Feng would not be able to cause any trouble. Shen Wanjin only grew even more worried at the sight of Zhou Yuan''s carefree appearance. Though Zhu Feng was not part of the newly crowned ten great outer mountain disciples, he was still above average amongst the first class disciples, his strength far surpassing Han Shan''s. While they conversed, the sound of rushing wind had already approached the entrance to the mountain. Zhou Yuan soon saw a dozen figures fly over, landing a short distance from the creak. The one leading the group was naturally Zhu Feng. Zhu Feng stared at Zhou Yuan with hostility as he frostily said, "Zhou Yuan, I do not know what kind of honeyed words you used to scam junior sister Gu Hongyi, but I advise you to stop with your tricks, because you will not be able to bear the responsibility of affecting her training!" Gu Hongyi''s pretty face immediately turned ice-cold as she angrily said, "Zhu Feng, what does where I train have to do with you? You¡¯d better get lost!" Her bright eyes icily looked towards Zhu Feng and gang, causing them to stumble slightly in response. However, Zhu Feng was not scared off by this, summoning his courage as he said, ¡°Junior sister Hongyi, we¡¯re doing this for your sake. You should not listen to this guy¡¯s flowery words.¡± Gu Hongyi''s anger turned to laughter. "Flowery words? Do you fools know what level I''ve reached while practicing the Ethereal Form technique with him?" "I''ve already unblocked 25 apertures. If I were to continue under Zhu Yue instead, I don''t think I''ll even reach 15, right?!" Zhu Feng''s expression changed slightly, while the other disciples looked towards Gu Hongyi in disbelief as they involuntarily cried out, "25? How can that be?!" However, they knew that someone like Gu Hongyi would never lower herself to lie to them. Could Zhou Yuan really be so capable? Zhu Feng''s expression fluctuated indeterminately. Soon after, he looked towards Zhou Yuan in contempt and said, "All of us know how talented junior sister Hongyi is, so it''s not surprising for her to accomplish this in a few days." "But I''m afraid you don''t have the qualifications to take credit for her success." His words were clear insinuating that Gu Hongyi''s amazing talent was the only reason for her accomplishments, and had nothing to do with Zhou Yuan. Gu Hongyi''s earlier words were merely her trying to defend him. The others inwardly nodded upon hearing this, finding this the more acceptable explanation. After all, they would rather believe in Gu Hongyi''s astonishing talent than a mere first layer Alpha-Origin having such capability¡­ Gu Hongyi was so frustrated that she no longer knew what to say. The brains of these people were too good at coming up with bullshit. Just as she was about to begin scolding again, Zhou Yuan stopped her with an outreached hand. Zhou Yuan helplessly said, "It is useless for you to reason with them." Gu Hongyi glared at Zhou Yuan. Why would she bother if not for him. "When you encounter such people, there''s no need to talk too much¡­" Zhou Yuan grinned at Gu Hongyi as something seemed to slowly climb up in his eyes. "Didn''t you say something about me earlier? I recall you saying I''m like an old man, right?" "It¡¯s just drive, I do have some too¡­¡± His gaze turned towards Zhu Feng and the rest, his grin widening with a hint of blade like iciness. "Aren''t you guys here to stir up trouble¡­" "Come then, you guys are just a bunch of trash anyways. Shall I take on all of you alone, or do you guys want to come at me together¡­" "I leave the choice to you." At the final word, Zhou Yuan''s expression turned completely cold as ice, berserk Genesis Qi abruptly erupting from his body like a storm. Behind him, a strange splendour appeared in Gu Hongyi''s eyes as she gazed at the now overbearing young man who gave off an incomparably pressuring aura. It was as if the current Zhou Yuan and the gentle young man who usually taught her were two completely different people. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 233 Unbreakable Genesis Qi violently swept out from Zhou Yuan''s body, rapidly swirling around him like a golden hurricane as his aura steadily rose. In front of him, Zhu Feng and gang were first stunned by Zhou Yuan''s sudden change, but upon hearing his words, every one of them began to see red. "Hehe, you truly are arrogant!" Zhu Feng laughed angrily, his eyes filled with ridicule as he disdainfully said, "Taking us all on alone? Who do you think you are?" "Do you really believe that defeating Han Shan has given you the qualifications to show such arrogance in the face of real first class disciples like us?" The faces of Zhu Feng and gang were filled with amusement and contempt, evidently feeling that Zhou Yuan was truly a joke. After all, Zhou Yuan was merely a first layer Alpha-Origin in their eyes. Though his feat of defeating Han Shan in a single punch had been pretty shocking, it was really nothing to be proud of to Zhu Feng and the rest. Han Shan was only a second class disciple, his strength merely at the second layer Alpha-Origin. Hence, Zhou Yuan¡¯s current appearance was extremely comical to them, as if they were looking at a clown. Zhu Feng¡¯s laughter continued for quite some time before finally coming to a halt. He was actually pretty happy that Zhou Yuan had voluntarily jumped out. After all, the former had indeed come here today to cause trouble. Even if Zhou Yuan had not voluntarily spoken up earlier, Zhu Feng would not easily let the matter rest. "You can forget all of us ganging up on you, it is far too shameful.¡± Zhu Feng shook his head, a sliver of iciness rising in his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Your flowery words are useless against me, so I will be using my fists to reveal your true colors in front of junior sister Hongyi!¡± He took a step forward as powerful Genesis Qi abruptly burst out from his body, the full might of the third layer Alpha-Origin undoubtedly on full display. By the side, Shen Wanjin was intimidated by Zhu Feng''s pressure, causing his expression to change slightly as worry emerged in his eyes. Zhu Feng was after all pretty famous amongst the first class disciples. Seeing that a fight was about to break out, Shen Wanjin''s gaze kept darting towards the outside of the mountain. Swish! The sound of rushing wind was suddenly heard at this moment, rapidly approaching the creak as a cold and stern shout rang out, "Zhu Feng, if you plan on taking on junior brother Zhou Yuan, you''ll have to first ask for my permission!" Several figures of light landed, revealing their appearance. The one leading them was naturally Qiao Xiu. They had evidently heard the news, and were afraid that Zhou Yuan would be in for a hard time. Hence, they had hurried over to lend their aid. Qiao Xiu wore a solemn expression as powerful Genesis Qi pulsed around him. Things had been going pretty well for him over the past half a month, even gaining the title of one of the ten great outer mountain disciples. Although he was only ranked tenth, the fact that he was able to enter the ranks as a non Shengzhou Continent disciple was enough to show his ability. Zhu Feng frowned when he saw Qiao Xiu, a trace a wariness in his eyes. Qiao Xiu was after all tenth amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples, an individual that was indeed more powerful than himself. Even so, there was no fear on Zhu Feng''s face as he indifferently said, "Qiao Xiu, this matter does not concern you. It will be best if you do not interfere." Qiao Xiu responded in a low voice, "Zhu Feng, you are the one who should not be too overbearing. Junior brother Zhou Yuan is not someone who actively stirs up trouble. Why must you provoke him." Mockery rose from the corners of Zhu Feng''s mouth. "We weren¡¯t the ones provoking him, he was the one who just declared that he will take us all on alone." The others laughed loudly in accompaniment. Qiao Xiu''s expression sunk slightly. "If you insist on making things difficult, don''t blame me later on." Zhu Feng''s eyes hardened as he said, "Qiao Xiu, don''t think for a second that I am afraid of you. I only said so much earlier to give you some face. There should be some amongst you that are learning the Ethereal Form technique from my elder brother, right?" The threat in his final few words was already clear as day. Qiao Xiu''s expression changed a little, evidently not expecting Zhu Feng to so shamelessly use that to threaten him. However, he was no coward. Since he had already decided to reveal himself, he would not be so easily frightened off by Zhu Feng. Without further ado, Genesis Qi began to stir as his piercing gaze looked towards Zhu Feng. Zhu Feng likewise did not expect Qiao Xiu to be so stubborn, causing his expression to turn somewhat ugly. "Hehe, Qiao Xiu, it seems that you''re pretty fond of sticking your doggy paws into other people''s business. Since you''re so free, why not exchange a move or two with me." Just as Zhu Feng''s expression turned ugly, a bout of laughter suddenly sounded as a figure of light flew over and landed nearby. It was a thin man who looked rather monkey like with a pair of deep set eyes. However, the Genesis Qi undulations from his body were in no way weaker than Qiao Xiu¡¯s. Shen Wanjin could not help but softly gasp at the sight of this person, "It''s Sun Jinglei." Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He had heard this name before. It was said that he was ranked ninth amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples, one position higher than Qiao Xiu. It seems that Zhu Feng had predicted Qiao Xiu¡¯s interference and invited this expert over to help. The expression in Qiao Xiu¡¯s eyes sunk when he saw the monkey like young man as he sighed inside. It seems that Zhu Feng was not going to let this matter go with words alone. Zhou Yuan looked over at this moment and smiled at Qiao Xiu. ¡°Senior brother Qiao Xiu, I can handle things here.¡± Zhou Yuan was already a little touched that Qiao Xiu had come to his aid so many times. Qiao Xiu let out a bitter laugh. ¡°Be careful junior brother Zhou Yuan.¡± Although he was very optimistic about Zhou Yuan¡¯s future, the latter was currently only at the first layer Alpha-Origin stage. In contrast, Zhu Feng was already a veteren of the third layer Alpha-Origin. In a clash between them, Zhou Yuan would likely be much worse off. Zhou Yuan smiled in a carefree manner, before lifting his head to look towards Zhu Feng. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you one last time, are you certain all of you aren¡¯t coming together?¡± Zhu Feng¡¯s expression darkened as he sneered. ¡°Still talking so big, looks like I¡¯ll have to teach that mouth of yours a lesson.¡± Rumble! Without the slightest shred of hesitation, Genesis Qi violently erupted as his expression turned serious. He immediately took the initiative, his body akin to flash of lightning as he bolted towards Zhou Yuan. A palm was swung horizontally, creating several palm shadows that homed in on Zhou Yuan¡¯s fatal spots in a flash. Zhu Feng¡¯s attack was extremely vicious, showing no mercy at all. Qiao Xiu, Shen Wanjin and the rest watched with anxious eyes. They had realised that Zhou Yuan was not moving, as if he had no intention of avoiding. ¡°You dare to display such carelessness before me, do you think that I¡¯m Han Shan?¡± Zhu Feng let out an eerie laugh, under the impression that Zhou Yuan was just being foolish. However, the former did not restrain his power, but instead poured even more ferocity into his attack. In the end, several palm shadows landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Thud thud! Muffled thuds continued to sound one after another as the aftershocks wreaked havoc in the surroundings, tearing up the ground around Zhou Yuan. Every gaze on the mountain was tightly fixed on the fight. "Zhou Yuan is really too arrogant. To think that he did not even try to avoid senior brother Zhu Feng''s attack? Does he think he''s unbreakable?" The group that had come here with Zhu Feng laughed mockingly. The dust gradually settled. In the next instant, the mocking smiles that hung from the corners of their mouths slowly turned rigid. Zhou Yuan was still standing there, his figure unmoved from the spot. His expression was one of indifference, and not a single wound could be seen on his body, as the earlier attack had zero effect on him. "How can this be?!" Astonished cry after cry rang out. "Impossible!" Zhu Feng''s pupils violently tightened. He had held nothing back earlier, and every attack had indeed solidly landed on Zhou Yuan''s body. But why? Why had every attack seem to sink into his body as if it was a stone being thrown into the vast sea, giving no feedback at all. Zhou Yuan''s expression did not change, merely frowning slightly as gazed at Zhu Feng and dully ask, "You haven''t eaten?" Zhu Feng''s expression filled with embarrassment and anger. With a loud yell, Genesis Qi frantically converged towards his palm as his five fingers tightly clenched. A punch was sent forth, the punch winds rumbling like thunder. THUD! A punch that had enough power to turn a boulder to dust slammed into Zhou Yuan''s chest. Under Zhou Yuan''s clothes, his chest area had turned incorporeal, while purplish gold Magical Python Scales had emerged. The purplish gold Magical Python Scales possessed strong defensive capabilities. Now that there was also the Ethereal Form technique neutralising a portion of the power, Zhu Feng''s full power punch was unable to pierce Zhou Yuan''s defences. Therefore, Zhou Yuan''s body merely swayed back a little. He stared at Zhu Feng and remarked, "Looks like you really have not eaten. You power is really weak." The others were stupefied by this sight¡­ "His defence is so strong?!" Even the pupils of Qiao Xiu and Sun Jinglei shrank a little. If they were they ones in his place, it would be impossible for them to come out unscathed after taking a direct hit from Zhu Feng''s full power punch with their bodies. Zhu Feng was shocked and horrified. As he blankly stared at Zhou Yuan''s body, he suddenly discovered that the latter''s chest area had turned rather incorporeal, and was abruptly struck by a flash of understanding. A piercing voice filled with both terror and astonishment immediately rang out. "You¡­ you''ve mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique?!" Previous Chapte Chapter 234 Beating Up a Group Zhu Feng¡¯s horrified voice caused disbelief to fill the faces of everyone else present with the exception of Gu Hongyi, making them dumbstruck as they stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°How is this possible? It¡¯s only been a few days, how can he possibly have mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique?!¡± ¡°But¡­ etherealisation of the body is clearly only achievable by someone who has mastered the first level!¡± ¡°This is the only way to explain how he was able to receive Zhu Feng¡¯s attacks with his body.¡± ¡°...¡± Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin were stunned as they looked to each other. The Ethereal Form technique was one of the more popular Genesis techniques in the outer mountains, and had been selected by many disciples. This was because of how amazing it was. Once mastered, it would substantially boost one¡¯s overall survivability. But Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin also knew that although many people were learning it, only a handful were able to reach the first level. Mastering the first level in a span of less than ten days was practically unheard of. In addition, they knew that Zhou Yuan had not received any guidance during this process, everything had been achieved with his own ability... ¡°Could it be? Gu Hongyi was only able to progress so rapidly in the Ethereal Form technique because she chose to learn under Zhou Yuan?¡± Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin¡¯s mouths subconsciously hung slightly open. Truth be told, they had felt Gu Hongyi¡¯s choice of Zhou Yuan over Zhu Yue was way too weird. If they were not well acquainted with Zhou Yuan and knew that Gu Hongyi was not some easily love-struck girl, they would have likely believed that there was something going on between the two... White and green interlaced on Zhu Feng¡¯s face, some horror still lingering in his eyes. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined Zhou Yuan had actually mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique... While Zhu Feng was still lost in shock, Zhou Yuan lightly tapped his chest under everyone¡¯s gazes and said in a calm voice, ¡°I told you earlier that all of you should come at me together, and yet you kept insisting on taking me on alone¡­ since that is so¡­¡± By the time Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice faded, his body had already moved. Half of his body seemed to turn incomporeal as he took a step forward. Faint mist appeared around him as his figure swiftly shot forward like the wind. ¡°Such speed!¡± Zhu Feng¡¯s heart shivered. Zhou Yuan was so quick that even he was beginning to see faint after images. In the face of the current Zhou Yuan, Zhu Feng no longer displayed any of the arrogance from before. His feet rapidly moved as his figure hastily retreated in a rather miserable manner. However, his speed was far from being able to match Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Zhou Yuan merely took a single step forward and appeared in front of Zhu Feng like a phantom. No matter how Zhu Feng tried to evade, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure closely followed like a shadow. ¡°This speed¡­¡± Qiao Xiu and Sun Jinglei¡¯s expressions changed slightly when they saw this. ¡°Get lost!¡± Zhu Feng was scared stiff by Zhou Yuan¡¯s phantom like speed. The humiliation and anger in the former¡¯s heart reached its peak, and with a howl, berserk Genesis Qi unfurled from his body, dashing in all directions. Swish! However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure merely flickered a few times, breaking through the wave of Genesis Qi as purplish gold scales appeared on his hand. A palm strike was swiftly sent forth, instantly piercing Zhu Feng¡¯s defences and landing on his chest. Thud! Genesis Qi exploded, and Zhu Feng¡¯s body was sent catapulting backwards as if he had been struck by a heavy blow. However, mere moments after his figure was sent flying, Zhou Yuan¡¯s somewhat ethereal figure appeared below the former as a kick lashed out along with Genesis Qi. Thud! A whip like leg ripped through the air, kicking Zhu Feng in the stomach as he let out a miserably cry and was sent flying once again. AHhh! AHhh! The crowd¡¯s eyelids twitched as they watched Zhu Feng¡¯s body being bounced around in mid-air, unable to land. It was an exceedingly wretched sight. The mountain was blanketed in silence, everyone speechless as they watched Zhou Yuan effortlessly kick Zhu Feng around like a ball, a sight that caused them to shiver involuntarily. Especially the disciples that had come with Zhu Feng. They had originally believed Zhou Yuan would be easily crushed, allowing him to understand his place. But who could have expected¡­ that the three layer Alpha-Origin Zhu Feng would be unable to even touch Zhou Yuan¡¯s shadow, and would end up being hit around like a ball. ¡°What are you guys still standing around for! Go get him together!¡± In the air, Zhu Feng, who had been beaten about till he was now somewhat dizzy, lost his composure and howled. These disciples looked to each other. In the end, they ignored the fact that there were going to gang up on Zhou Yuan and forced themselves forward, surrounding him from all directions. ¡°I already told you guys to come at me together earlier, but you guys just had to insist on wasting time.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled softly when he saw them approach as the mist around him thickened, causing his speed to soar once again. Swish! He was akin to the shadow of a phantom as he charged into the midst of the dozen or so disciples. Thud! Thud! The battle was a completely chaotic mess. Although these disciples were pretty strong, they were unable to even touch the edges of Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes. In contrast, whenever Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure dashed past, a fist covered in purplish gold scales along with robust Genesis Qi would slam into their bodies without any trace of politeness. Each punch moulded itself into the flesh, painting an exceptionally violent picture. In a short few minutes, the ground was littered with bodies, each one with a bloody nose and swollen face, traces of blood at the corner of their mouths as they groaned in pain. At the middle, Zhou Yuan stood with his hands by his side as his partially incorporeal gradually returned to normal. His expression was still indifferent, unchanged even through the entire ordeal. He looked towards the ground in front of him where Zhu Feng was staggering to his feet. The latter had received the most of Zhou Yuan¡¯s care, making him look the most pitiful of the bunch. Zhu Feng trembled uncontrollably as he gazed upon Zhou Yuan, a trace of terror in his eyes. He truly never imagined that they would still lose in such a miserable manner even after the dozen or so of them ganged up on Zhou Yuan. Now that Zhou Yuan had mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique, he was not only untouchably quick, but his defence was also extremely terrifying, allowing him to practically ignore their attacks. One must know that there were two other first class disciples amongst the group that had the strength of the third layer Alpha-Origin! But even so, they had been easily dealt with by Zhou Yuan... How crazy was this? Even the outer mountain top ten disciples such as Qiao Xiu and Sun Jinglei did not dare to claim they would be able to so effortlessly deal with several first class disciples without taking any damage. ¡°After today, junior brother Zhou Yuan will definitely have a spot as one of the ten great outer mountain disciples.¡± Qiao Xiu could not help but sigh. Zhou Yuan had previously been way too low profile. Although he had obtained victory over Han Shan, it had only made others feel that he was at least worthy of being a first class disciple, though many believed that he was one of the lowest ranking amongst them. After today¡¯s battle, there was likely no one would continue to say so. This battle was enough for his name to shake the outer mountains. Sun Jinglei¡¯s expression had turned rather grave, wariness now present in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan. The former had not taken the latter very seriously earlier, which led to his prompt agreement when Zhu Feng had asked him for support. But now, he was feeling a slight bit of regret. Zhou Yuan was clearly not as simple as he looked, and Sun Jinglei had now offended him for no real reason. *Clap clap*! Loud and clear clapping sounded from behind. One would find Gu Hongyi grinning as she watched this scene, an additional trace of admiration in her eyes when she looked at Zhou Yuan. The way Zhou Yuan had beaten them all up alone was clearly very much to her liking. Zhou Yuan chuckled, growing increasingly satisfied with the Ethereal Form technique. Although he would not fear the other party if he had not learnt the technique, he would not have had such an easy time. The Ethereal Form technique allowed him to etherealize his physical body, greatly increasing his speed and thus making his movements extremely agile and nimble. When the defensive capabilities of the Magical Python Scales was added, the strength of three layer Alpha-Origin was basically unable to break his defences. He raised his head, his eyes uncaring as he glanced at the miserable figures of Zhu Feng and gang. ¡°Although your elder brother Zhu Yue is an inner mountain disciple, he is very narrow minded and petty. It was only a small dispute, and yet he tried to stop all the other inner mountain disciples from teaching me¡­¡± If he did not possess the Decoder Saint Rune, he may have really been in some trouble. After all, the effectiveness would definitely be lower without anyone¡¯s guidance. Though Zhu Feng did not dare to retort when he heard Zhou Yuan criticizing Zhu Yue, the former coldy snorted inside. His elder brother was an inner mountain disciple after all, an existence that Zhou Yuan would not dare to clash against directly even if he had mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique. ¡°Zhou Yuan, we admit defeat this time, but don¡¯t be too happy yet. You won¡¯t have a good time after offending my elder brother!¡± Said Zhu Feng through gnashed teeth. Zhou Yuan merely smiled faintly. ¡°I believe I should be the one saying these words.¡± Although Zhu Feng was in a pretty bad state, mockery still surfaced in his eyes as he sneered. ¡°Oh? What can you even do to my elder brother?¡± Although Zhou Yuan had mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique, he would still amount to nothing much in Zhu Yue¡¯s eyes. The latter was after all an inner mountain disciple. Zhou Yuan seemed to smile. Upon seeing his expression, Zhu Feng suddenly a sliver of unease, but he could not figure out what Zhou Yuan was planning. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze looked towards the other disciples that had followed Zhu Feng here. They were basically the disciples that were learning the Ethereal Form technique from Zhu Yue. ¡°From today, I will begin teaching the Ethereal Form technique. As for my effectiveness, you can look to Gu Hongyi as an example. I guarantee that everyone under my tutelage will reach the first level of the technique in a month.¡± As for the price, Zhu Feng charges five Genesis jade pieces a day, so mine will be a little cheaper, let¡¯s say three Genesis jade pieces a day.¡± ¡°If any of you are interested, you can transfer over any time.¡± The mountain was deathly silent, even Qiao Xiu and Sun Jinglei were dumbstruck as they blankly stared at Zhou Yuan. No one had expected that Zhou Yuan was planning on brazenly recruiting disciples and teach them the Ethereal Form technique! Zhu Feng also blankly stared at Zhou Yuan as his scalp suddenly numbed. He had realised that if Zhou Yuan really did as he had said, Zhu Feng¡¯s elder brother, Zhu Yue, was going to have a pretty hard time in the subsequent days. After all, even Zhu Yue did not dare to guarantee helping someone else master the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month. Zhou Yuan¡¯s declaration was basically going to cut off Zhu Feng¡¯s income! This counterattack could be said to be merciless to the extreme! Previous Chapte Chapter 235 Zhou Yuan’s Counterattack Everyone foolishly stared at Zhou Yuan after listening to his words. The shock factor of these words were clearly even greater than his feat of beating down the entire group alone. None of them had ever heard of someone giving guidance to other disciples while he was still an outer mountain disciple... Moreover, none of the inner mountain disciples had ever dared to claim they could help the disciples under their tutelage reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month. Even Zhu Yue did not have the ability. Hence, Zhou Yuan words somewhat tempted even Qiao Xiu. He may not have chosen to learn the Ethereal Form technique, but if Zhou Yuan was truly able to help him reach the first level in a month, he did not mind starting from scratch... After all, they understood how difficult it was to learn a little Heaven Genesis technique. The amount of time and effort required was tremendous, and reaching initial mastery in a month was already amazingly fast. Zhu Feng¡¯s complexion paled, cold sweat appearing on his forehead as horror filled his eyes. He never imagined that Zhou Yuan would Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°Is there a rule that says an outer mountain disciple can¡¯t give guidance to others?¡± Zhu Feng froze, the expression on his face fluctuating indeterminately as he looked towards the individuals around him. These people had been learning the Ethereal Form technique from his elder brother, but their gazes were now flickering slightly in thought, evidently tempted by Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. It was clear to them after all. If they continued with Zhu Yue, the cost was not only higher, but they may not even reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month. In comparison, Zhou Yuan¡¯s quality to price ratio was undoubtedly better! Zhu Feng began to panic as he hurriedly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be bewitched by him! Even if he can reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique, it does not mean that he will be able to help others do the same in a month. Gu Hongyi is super talented, how can you guys compare to her?¡± He was aware that coming to the outer mountains to teach was a nice cushy job that his elder brother had gone through much difficulty to acquire. It was after all a job where Genesis jade could be earned more easily. If Zhou Yuan were to suddenly stick his hand into this pie, Zhu Yue would end up being akin to someone who uses a wicker basket to collect water. Zhu Feng¡¯s words made the other disciple hesitate somewhat. After all, when Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue were compared, the latter¡¯s inner mountain disciple status was more trustworthy. Zhu Feng did not dare to linger any longer, afraid that they would be enticed away. He frostily looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, one should always leave a way out. If you really intend to teach the Ethereal Form technique, my elder brother will not take this lying down.¡± His words and tone implied both a threat and a warning. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change as he smiled faintly and replied, ¡°Did you guys leave me a way out when you collaborated with the other instructors to stop me from learning Genesis techniques?¡± If he did not have a few tricks up his sleeve, he would have likely been hard-pressed due to Zhu Yue¡¯s actions. Any ordinary person would have had his future ruined by the latter. After all, the competition in the Cangxuan Sect was just too intense, being delayed a single step would often times lead to one being unable to surpass another again. Zhu Feng icily said, ¡°Humph, you stubborn fool, just wait for the fury of my elder brother to descend!¡± ¡°Go!¡± With a wave of his sleeve, he took the lead and left, though his figure appeared a little pathetic. The other disciples hesitated for a moment. In the end, they still chose to follow. Zhou Yuan did not feel their departure was the least bit unfortunate. ¡°Heh heh, little Yuan bro, are you really planning on the teaching the other disciples the Ethereal Form technique? From what I know, there are at least a hundred people amongst the outer mountain disciples that are practicing it. If all of them came here to learn from you, you will receive an income of several hundred Genesis jade pieces per day!¡± Shen Wanjin¡¯s eyes were practically glowing, saliva nearly dripping from his mouth. After doing the calculations, he had realised that Zhou Yuan could become the richest amongst the outer mountain disciples in a month. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart involuntarily beat a little faster when he heard this. The truth was, he had only said so earlier to take revenge on Zhu Yue, but now that he gave some thought to it, he realised that it was practically the best way to rake in huge amounts of Genesis jade! In comparison, going to the Task Pavillion everyday to take on some missions now seemed akin to tough, meaningless labour. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze stealthily lit up with excitement and desire. As long as a third of those practicing the Ethereal Form technique came to him, his coffers would be overflowing with money. With such wealth, he would finally be able to rent out the Nine Dragons Canon, and maybe acquire some of the treasures he had taken a fancy to in the Glittering Jewels Pavillion. ¡°You seem to know quite a lot.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Shen Wanjin with a wide smile. ¡°Are you interested in helping me with this venture?¡± Shen Wanjin patted his chest, a dazzling light in his eyes as he responded, ¡°You¡¯ve found the right man for the job little Yuan bro. Such matters are my forte. I will first help you spread news of this, especially to the disciples that are learning the Ethereal Form technique.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure many disciples will be tempted by your guarantee of reaching the first level in a month.¡± ¡°If we add in information about you having already achieved this feat, together with a famous person like Gu Hongyi¡¯s endorsement, the worries and reservations of the other disciples should gradually be dispelled.¡± ¡°As long as we take it one step at a time, I dare say that not even a single figure will be seen at Zhu Yue¡¯s place in the end!¡± Zhou Yuan began to chuckle as he listened. Shen Wanjin¡¯s aid would indeed save him a lot of trouble. Qiao Xiu¡¯s eyes burned with desire as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, can you really allow other disciples to reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month?¡± Zhou Yuan pondered a little, before he replied, ¡°It should not be much of an issue if I have a month, but I can only guarantee the first level. The subsequent levels are another matter.¡± The later apertures would only grow more and more difficult to sense. Hence, Zhou Yuan did not intend to waste all of his effort helping others find their apertures. If he did, where would he find the time for his own cultivation. Qiao Xiu sighed in admiration. Soon after, he smiled and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll also be renting out the Ethereal Form technique when I return.¡± As one of the most popular choices amongst the outer mountain disciples, Qiao Xiu naturally knew how formidable the Ethereal Form technique was. He had only given up on it for the time being because he also understood how troublesome it was to find the apertures. Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, ¡°You guys can learn free of charge.¡± Qiao Xiu was a pretty decent person, and Zhou Yuan had a very favorable impression of him. Hence, the latter naturally did not mind lending a hand to the former. Qiao Xiu did not argue upon hearing this, merely grinning as he said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to give my thanks.¡± Learning a Genesis technique was very costly, so he did not want to end up paying more than he should because of pride. He intended to save every bit he could. Qiao Xiu remarked, ¡°When news of this spreads, I¡¯m afraid junior brother Zhou Yuan will become the most famous person amongst the outer mountain disciples.¡± It was true. After all, such a thing had never happened before. ¡°Besides this, junior brother Zhou Yuan needs to be a little more careful with regards to Zhu Yue. This venture of yours can be said to have threatened his livelihood. I¡¯m afraid he will not silently let this matter rest.¡± When all was said and done, Zhu Yue was still an inner mountain disciple, possessing status and strength beyond outer mountain disciples like them. Zhou Yuan chuckled and nodded. He was not overly worried about Zhu Yue. If that fellow really lost his rationality and directly struck at Zhou Yuan, he would not have any reservations locking Zhu Yue in with Tuntun... Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin worked out a few other details before leaving. Excitement colored their eyes when they left, clearly already able to imagine how huge this would be once news of Zhou Yuan giving guidance on the Ethereal Form technique spread in the outer mountains. As Gu Hongyi watched them leave, she lifted her head and smiled superficially at Zhou Yuan, ¡°Your ambition is not small...I wonder how much Genesis jade you will earn when you succeed.¡± ¡°No one asked them to keep targeting me as if they had nothing better to do.¡± Zhou Yuan shrugged. If not for Zhu Yue¡¯s overbearingness, the former would not be so ruthless. ¡°You¡¯re only teaching the first level of the Ethereal Form technique?¡± Gu Hongyi suddenly changed the topic. Zhou Yuan smiled and answered, ¡°The later part is too difficult, and I won¡¯t be of much help. You¡¯ll have to rely on yourself.¡± Gu Hongyi pouted slightly. ¡°I somehow feel that it¡¯s not that you can¡¯t, but that you don¡¯t want to, right?¡± Zhou Yuan raised his eyebrows. The intuition of a woman was terrifyingly sharp. The smile on Gu Hongyi¡¯s lips grew even wider when she saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s lack of a response as she said in a low voice, ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve acknowledged it with your silence. Teach me till the second level then!¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°Rejected.¡± The second level required much more effort than the first, and clearly could not be compared. Gu Hongyi¡¯s face seemed to become more charming after Zhou Yuan¡¯s clean rejection. She sauntered up to him, breathing a little heavier than normal as she seductively blew at his ear. ¡°Zhou Yuan, my family¡¯s old ancestor is the master of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Hongya Peak. What do you think will happen if I tell him that you bullied me?¡± The smile that hung from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth turned slightly rigid. He did not expect Gu Hongyi¡¯s backer to be one of the seven peak masters of the Cangxuan Sect. Wasn¡¯t that way too much! ¡°That¡¯s a little unreasonable, right?¡± Zhou Yuan forced a smile. Gu Hongyi blinked innocently as she said in a sweet voice, ¡°Reasoning with a girl? Are you stupid?¡± Zhou Yuan said, ¡°May I ask what kind of compensation I will get?¡± Gu Hongyi cocked her head in thought for a moment, before she smiled charmingly and answered, ¡°You¡¯ll get a more favorable opinion from Gu Hongyi.¡± Zhou Yuan, ¡°...¡± Although he nearly vomited a mouthful of blood, he managed to grit his teeth in the end and bitterly spat out, ¡°You win!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 236 Sensational The events that had occurred by the creek in the mountain spread as if it had wings, stirring up the entire outer mountains into a frenzy. First of all, everyone was amazed and astonished by the strength Zhou Yuan had displayed. A single individual mowing down Zhu Feng and other first class disciples? How strong did one needed to be to achieve such a feat? One must know that Zhou Yuan was currently still at the first layer Alpha-Origin. The previous ten great outer mountain disciples had not even taken Zhou Yuan in to consideration. After all, many felt that although he had overwhelmed Han Shan, it had only proven that he was qualified to be a first class disciple. On the other hand, these ten great outer mountain disciples were supposed to be the finest even amongst all the first class disciples, so Zhou Yuan clearly did not have the qualifications to enter their ranks. However, no one had expected someone who supposedly did not have the qualifications to turn out to be such a fierce individual. Taking on an entire group alone that even included three first class disciples, and achieving an almost effortless victory. This was something that only a few of the current ten great outer mountain disciples could accomplish. Hence, the strength displayed by Zhou Yuan once again made the all of the outer mountain disciples exclaim in admiration. However, these feelings only lasted for a moment before being completely swept away by another piece of news... What else could it be but Zhou Yuan¡¯s offer to teach disciples the Ethereal Form technique. News of this immediately caused even bigger waves in the outer mountains. Every disciple was dumbstruck upon hearing it, because it was something that had never been done before. How could an outer mountain disciple have the qualifications to teach other outer mountain disciples? ¡°What a joke, he¡¯s an outer mountain disciple just like us and yet he dares to claim he can teach the Ethereal Form technique? This is too laughable.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve heard that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Ethereal Form technique has already reached the first level. That¡¯s why Zhu Feng and gang were defeated without even touching his clothes once.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be, right? How long as it been since he started learning the Ethereal Form technique? In fact, I personally witnessed him renting it out just recently.¡± ¡°Even Gu Hongyi is learning from him. I heard that she unblocked over 20 apertures in a short few days¡­¡± ¡°Could he really be so capable?¡± ¡°Tch, Gu Hongyi is super talented, so it¡¯s not surprising for her to master it so quickly. Zhou Yuan is most likely boasting by taking credit for her success.¡± ¡°I feel that we have to carefully consider this matter. Zhou Yuan may be trying to scam Genesis jade¡­¡± ¡°......¡± Similar opinions could be heard in every corner of the outer mountains, many debating whether Zhou Yuan had the qualifications to teach other disciples the Ethereal Form technique... However, the majority were skeptical. After all, none of them were willing to believe that another outer mountain disciple would so greatly surpass them. Because it would only make them feel ashamed of their inferiority. ... Hidden Scriptures House, rear mountain. The atmosphere in Zhu Yue¡¯s lecture hall was somewhat oppressive. Numerous disciples were secretly whispering, evidently affected by the news. After all, the claims Zhou Yuan had made were rather shocking. The doors to the lecture hall were pushed open as an indifferent looking Zhu Yue walked in, causing every whisper to instantly vanish. Zhu Yue nonchalantly said, ¡°I know that all of you have heard the news. If anyone wants to go over, feel free to leave.¡± None of the disciples present dared to make any noise. Zhu Yue was after all an inner mountain disciple, and it would not be good to offend him. Zhu Yue¡¯s expression finally softened a little when he saw this. ¡°Zhou Yuan does have his way with words, but he should be careful of eating more than his fill. Even if he was able to reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month, it does not mean that he can help anyone else do so.¡± ¡°But junior sister Hongyi is said to have already unblocked over 20 apertures.¡± Said someone in a low voice. Ridicule rose from the corners of Zhu Yue¡¯s mouth. ¡°Gu Hongyi has astonishing talent, and the old ancestor of her family is the master of the Hongya Peak. He will have naturally given her some amazing treasures to aid her in mastering the Ethereal Form technique.¡± ¡°In fact, I¡¯m of the opinion that Zhou Yuan may have been so fast because he managed to bask some of Gu Hongyi¡¯s light.¡± ¡°He is an exceptionally devious, cunning and scheming person, as shown by how he approached Gu Hongyi and somehow gained her favor. However, he is far too arrogant. I¡¯m looking forward to see how he will wrap this matter up after making such bold claims.¡± Zhu Yue¡¯s tone grew increasingly disdainful as he spoke. In the lecture hall, the disciples nodded inside as they listened, feeling that his words were not without logic. After all, they would rather believe Zhou Yuan had benefited from Gu Hongyi rather than succeeding through his own capabilities. Zhu Yue¡¯s explanation eased the expressions of the disciples present as they began to make fun of Zhou Yuan. The sight of this made Zhu Yue chuckle softly as he began to speak once again, ¡°Zhou Yuan really silly and arrogant to have made such claims. It would be fine if he can truly fulfil his promises, but if he can¡¯t, I will have no choice but to report this to the Law Enforcement Hall. When that happens, Zhou Yuan will likely be kicked out of the outer mountains.¡± Everyone¡¯s heart shivered as they secretly sighed in pity for Zhou Yuan. It could be said that he was going to bring about his own downfall this time. From Zhu Yue¡¯s tone, he clearly held a deep grudge against Zhou Yuan and would not let this matter rest. ... It was still the same creek in the mountain. However, the usually tranquil mountain creek had now become the most popular location in the outer mountains. Black masses of people stood on both sides of the creek, their gazes filled with interest as they gazed down at the creek below where Zhou Yuan was standing on a rock, his expression cool and collected. Shen Wanjin said from Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, ¡°Little Yuan bro, we¡¯ve already spread the news, but very few people believe us. Especially those Shengzhou disciples, all they do is mock.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, unsurprised by this information. The Shengzhou disciples were extremely arrogant after all, and looked down upon the disciples from the other continents. They would naturally be unwilling to believe Cangmang disciple like him would be able to do something that was impossible for them. As the saying went, every beginning is always difficult, so Zhou Yuan was mentally prepared for this. He lifted his head and shot a glance at both sides of the creek. These people were here for entertainment, not to learn the Ethereal Form technique. ¡°Little Yuan bro, Zhu Yue has made known that if you do not fulfil your promises, he will report this matter to the Law Enforcement Hall, and get you convicted.¡± Shen Wanjin was pretty worried. ¡°Let him do what he wants.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, showing no concern for this issue. ¡°Haha, junior brother Zhou Yuan, we¡¯ve come to cheer you on.¡± Laughter was heard at this moment as Qiao Xiu led a dozen figures to towards the creek. Included in the group behind him were Xiao Tianxuan and several other Cangmang disciples. They obviously knew that the starting would be the most awkward for Zhou Yuan, and had come here to make up the numbers. However, with the exception of Qiao Xiu, most of the group were still rather doubtful. They only did not openly show it. They had agreed to follow mostly on account of Qiao Xiu. Laughter began to spread from both sides of the creek, evidently of the opinion that it was pretty embarrassing for Zhou Yuan to resort to such measures... ¡°Senior brother Qiao Xiu, is this really going to work? I feel like we¡¯re clowns.¡± Beside Qiao Xiu stood a pretty girl in a long dark blue skirt. She was called Zhou Yu, and was also a pretty prideful first class disciple. At this current moment, she was feeling a little uncomfortable under the many mocking gazes in the vicinity. Hence her earlier grumbling. Evidently, she too did not believe that Zhou Yuan was able to teach the Ethereal Form technique. Qiao Xiu smiled awkwardly when he heard this, somewhat uncertain as he answered, ¡°It should work out.¡± Zhou Yu unhappily rolled her eyes. ¡°Senior brother Qiao Xiu, you¡¯re too good hearted.¡± ¡°Senior sister Zhou Yu, brother Yuan would only make such a claim because he is confident.¡± Said a girl called Shuixi in a soft voice. As someone who was also from the Cangmang Continent, she would naturally side with Zhou Yuan. ¡°I hope so, or he will not be able to deal with the consequences.¡± Zhou Yu crossed her arms, declining to express any further opinions. While they were chatting, Zhou Yuan looked over. He knew that everyone would be doubtful, but he did not intend to convince them with words. Everything would be shown through facts. With so many people watching, he would make good use of this chance to show them the truth. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± Every gaze in the vicinity of the mountain creek converged towards him when they heard him speak. Most of these gazes, however, were filled with doubt and ridicule. Previous Chapte Chapter 237 Before Everyone’s Eyes In the vicinity of the mountain creek. Gu Hongyi was gracefully standing nearby, her pretty eyes gazing towards the creek. ¡°Tell me the truth Hongyi. Was he able to master the first level of the Ethereal Form technique so quickly because he got some kind of amazing treasure from your old ancestor?¡± At Gu Hongyi¡¯s side was a young lady in pink clothes. She was rather pretty, her beauty enhanced by her limpid eyes. Her greatest assets however were the proud, astonishing curves on her chest that were tightly wrapped by her clothes, causing many of the surrounding male disciples to involuntarily cast a peek as they swallowed uncomfortably. This girl was called Han Qiushui, and was also a first class disciple from the Shengzhou Continent. She was rather well known in the outer mountains, though not as famous as Gu Hongyi. She was also acquainted with Gu Hongyi, hence why she had taken the chance to secretly ask her earlier question. ¡°You believe such rumors?¡± Gu Hongyi frowned as she glanced at the former. Han Qiushui chuckled. ¡°I feel that these so-called rumors are a little more believable than the alternative.¡± Her eyes swept across Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Though there was no contempt in her gaze, it still contained a little of the pride all Shengzhou disciples had. Evidently, she too did not believe that a kid from some remote continent would be able to achieve something they Shengzhou disciples could not. Gu Hongyi shook her head, not bothering to explain anything, and merely said, ¡°Just watch and see.¡± Han Qiushui was rather surprised by the deep trust Gu Hongyi had in Zhou Yuan, especially because she clearly knew how proud and distant the latter was. Ordinary disciples were unable to even catch her eye, and even Lu Feng¡¯s repeated attempts to get close were only met by cold responses. Hence, Han Qiushui was unable to wrap her head around why a blessed daughter of the heavens like Gu Hongyi would have so much faith in a kid from another continent. Han Qiushui timidly said, "Hongyi, you seem to have become quite close to Zhou Yuan recently¡­ I''ve heard that Lu Feng is feeling very uncomfortable due to this." Gu Hongyi frowned slightly. "Is any of this Lu Feng''s business?" Han Qiushui replied, "Do you still not understand his intentions?" Gu Hongyi cast a sideways glance at the former. "He asked you to speak for him?" Han Qiushui smiled awkwardly. Gu Hongyi icily said, "You can tell him that it will be in his best interests not to interfere. Or else, don¡¯t blame me for falling out with him." Han Qiushui helplessly said, "I''m only a messenger, don''t flare up at me." Gu Hongyi coldly snorted, choosing not to speak anymore as she looked towards the creek again. Han Qiushui swallowed, and also turned towards the creek as she unhappily said, "Alright, I''m interested to see for myself just how capable this huge braggart is, that even our proud big missy Hongyi has acknowledged him." "But I also hope that he isn''t just full of hot air, or it will not be easy to wrap up this matter today." ... ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± The moment Zhou Yuan''s words sounded, countless amused gazes on both sides of the creek looked down towards him, as if waiting to watch an entertaining show. Qiao Xiu, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest exchanged a look, before seating themselves beside the creek. "Junior brother Zhou Yuan, what do we do next?" Asked Qiao Xiu. Although he appeared relaxed, a sliver of anxiousness was visible in his eyes. After all, if Zhou Yuan failed today, the consequences would be very dire indeed. Just the mocking laughter of the numerous disciples present would likely drown him. What''s more, Zhu Yue had already declared that he would report Zhou Yuan to the Law Enforcement Hall if he were to fail. This would likely result in Zhou Yuan being kicked out of the outer mountains, an extremely terrible price to pay. Zhou Yuan casually said from the rock he was seated on, "Everyone should begin circulating the Ethereal Form technique." Everyone closed their eyes upon hearing this, and began to circulate the Ethereal Form technique. Under the attention of countless gazes, Zhou Yuan pulled out the Heavenly Yuan Brush at his waist. It began to grow as his hand grasped around it, the snow-white hairs at its tip shooting out, turning into a dozen strings that wrapped around the wrists of Qiao Xiu and the rest. "I will send my senses into your bodies through the brush hairs. When the time comes, you guys only need to release your control over your Genesis Qi, and allow me to direct it." Zhou Yuan''s voice was transmitted into everyone''s ears. After hearing these words, Zhou Yu could not help but blurt out in a low voice, "Can he really do it? What if he doesn''t know what he''s doing, and ends up causing our Genesis Qi to lose control which may in turn damage our channels?" Qiao Xiu hesitated for a moment. In the end, he gritted his teeth and said, "Relax everyone, junior brother Zhou Yuan is not a reckless person. He understands the gravity of the situation." Qiao Xiu was reputable individual, so everyone else could only nod after hearing his words. No one else said anything as they began to direct the Genesis Qi in their bodies, following the route indicated by the Ethereal Form technique. As such, the area around the creek grew silent. Every gaze on both sides of the creek unblinkingly watched this scene. By the creek, the only sound to be heard was the gurgling of flowing water. Time seemed to slowly slip past as the water flowed. Two hours quickly passed¡­ however, there was still no activity. Han Qiushui yawned as she said in a bored voice, "Is he out of moves or something?" Gu Hongyi frowned. ¡°As someone who has not tried practicing the Ethereal Form technique, can you cut down on your comments? Sensing apertures is not that easy, and he¡¯s even doing it for a dozen people. How strong do you think his Spirit senses have to be?¡± After being scolded by Gu Hongyi, Han Qiushui could only pout unhappily as she viciously stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll watch and see how long he can keep up this act!¡± Time continued to flow, and another two hours swift passed. Faint grumbling due to impatience could already be heard from both sides of the creek. Only the disciples that practiced the Ethereal Form technique before understood its difficulty, and continued to wait in silence. Time continued to flow, and the six hour mark soon approached. Warm light fell from the sky, shining on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, making the young man seem as if he was glowing brightly at this moment. It was at this very moment that Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened. ¡°Release your control!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice sounded in the ears of Qiao Xiu and the rest, causing their hearts to shake violently as they involuntarily gave up control of the Genesis Qi in their bodies. The instant this happened, they felt an external force direct the Genesis Qi in their bodies, guiding it through their channels. A dozen breaths later, their Genesis Qi suddenly turned, ferociously charging towards a certain spot in their bodies. Bang! Bang! At the moment of impact, Qiao Xiu, Zhou Yu and the rest suddenly felt a strong vibration spread from inside their bodies. Next, they were astonished to feel something being unblocked at the location that Genesis Qi had struck... An aperture had appeared within their senses. The Genesis Qi in their bodies began to dribble in little by little. Yes, it¡¯s really been unblocked! Qiao Xiu and the rest opened their eyes at this moment, eyes filled with disbelief. ¡°Haha, it¡¯s been unblocked, the aperture has appeared!¡± Some of the others were unable to hold back their emotions as they began to dance and laugh. *Uproar*! An uproar exploded on both sides of the creek at this moment, every disciple dumbstruck by the outcome. ¡°What? Unblocked? He helped a dozen people unblock their apertures at the same time?¡± Some of the disciples whom had practiced the Ethereal Form technique even jumped in shock, a stunned look on their faces as they mumbled, ¡°This can¡¯t be true, right?¡± They clearly understood how troublesome and difficult it was to sense apertures. And yet, Zhou Yuan had just succeeded in helping not only one, but a dozen individuals sense their apertures at the same time? Just how strong were his senses? ¡°It can¡¯t be.¡± Han Qiushui¡¯s mouth hung wide open, unable to stop herself from saying, ¡°All of this must be part of an act, right?¡± After she said this, even she did not believe herself. Afterall, it was too easy to expose such an act. But if it wasn¡¯t an act, wouldn¡¯t mean it was real? Han Qiushui¡¯s eyes glimmered as she gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure and mumbled, ¡°To think that he¡¯s truly so capable!¡± The commotion did not stop for a long time, everyone stuck in shock. All of a sudden, everyone¡¯s burning gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan turned a blind eye to these gazes as he tiredly massaged his forehead. Helping a dozen people at once had indeed exhausted his Spirit. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re way too amazing!¡± Qiao Xiu¡¯s face was flushed with excitement. Beside him, the lips of the girl called Zhou Yu moved, the shock on her face yet to fade away completely. She had clearly been shocked silly by Zhou Yuan¡¯s feat. Zhou Yuan waved his hand at them, before lifting his head and looking towards the countless figures on both sides of the creek with a calm expression as his indifferent voice sounded. ¡°After my earlier testing, I¡¯ve discovered that my ability is limited, so I¡¯ve decided to restrict the maximum number to a hundred individuals. I will no longer accept anyone once this number is reached.¡± Zhou Yuan words instantly caused his surroundings to fall silent. Numerous disciples blinked. Didn¡¯t this mean there were only a hundred quotas? The silence only lasted for a few breaths before suddenly being disrupted by a chaotic outbreak. One could only watch as figure after figure descended like locusts, heading straight for the creek, while frenzied shouts rang out one after another. ¡°Me! I want to sign up!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°Big bro, please save a spot for me!¡± ¡°......¡± Han Qiushui watched as mayhem descended upon the creek as she swallowed. Soon after, she smiled charmingly as she looked towards Gu Hongyi and sweetly said, ¡°Hongyi, you¡¯re quite close to Zhou Yuan. Help me ask for a spot.¡± Gu Hongyi rolled her eyes, before also casting her gaze towards that figure below as a faint smile rose from the corners of her lips. This guy was now going to be famous. Previous Chapte Chapter 238 An Excellent Harves t It only took half a day for Zhou Yuan¡¯s feat of simultaneously helping a dozen people unblock their apertures to spread to the entire outer mountains. A commotion immediately swept through countless disciples, each and every one unable to believe the news. The disciples that had practiced the Ethereal Form technique were even more stupefied than their more ignorant counter parts. They were well aware that the hardest part of the technique was sensing the apertures, which required a tremendous amount of time. There were only two months left before the peak selection exam, and everyone was intensifying their efforts, making time become a more and more precious commodity. Many disciples had originally not taken it seriously, evidently believing that it was some kind of joke or farce. No one had imagined that this ¡®farce¡¯ would result in such an outcome... By now, it had already been proven that Zhou Yuan did possess the ability to help others unblock their apertures... Hence, the numerous disciples that were practicing the Ethereal Form technique began to stir restlessly. ... A certain lecture hall in the rear mountain. Zhu Yue was currently explaining something to the disciples present when a disturbance was suddenly felt from outside. He immediately frowned slightly, but before he could say anything, someone barged in and shouted, ¡°Zhou Yuan has simultaneously helped a dozen disciples unblock their apertures!¡± *Uproar*! The lecture hall was instantly flooded with noise, the numerous disciples within completely dumbstruck. Zhu Yue¡¯s reasoning from before had already convinced them that Zhou Yuan was merely a fraud. Who could have imagined that he would really succeed... The many disciples in the lecture hall looked to each other. In the end, their gazes eventually turned towards Zhu Yue, looking at him in a strange manner. Zhu Yue was clearly also stunned by the news, but his expression soon turned extremely dark and stormy. The corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, a clear sign of the violent rage that had surged out in his heart. But he ultimately took in a deep breath, suppressing the alarm and anger inside as he said in an icy voice, ¡°Humph, that kid probably found some actors to put on a show with him!¡± At this time, he would never accept that Zhou Yuan was more capable than himself. However, the many disciples did not speak this time, their gazes flickering in thought. They understood that it was basically impossible for Zhou Yuan to pull off any tricks with so many people watching. Zhu Yue was just being stubbornly unreasonable. Wouldn¡¯t this mean that Zhou Yuan did possess the astonishing capability to help others reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month? Everyone¡¯s hearts began to beat a little faster. If so, wouldn¡¯t this give them an advantage over others? In addition, they had heard it only cost three Genesis jade pieces a day there, a much more competitive price than Zhu Yue¡¯s five Genesis jade pieces. The atmosphere in the lecture hall had become rather bizarre. Although many were tempted, no one dared to display their true feelings for the time being. After all, Zhu Yue was here watching them, and it would not be good to offend him. When all was said and done, he was an inner mountain disciple. While the situation fell into a deadlock of sorts, the one who had barged in spoke again, "I''ve also heard that Zhou Yuan has set a quota, and will only be accepting a hundred people. Once it''s full, he will not be teaching anyone else." *Uproar*! Many were no longer able to sit still after hearing these words. The number of disciples practicing the Ethereal From technique in the outer mountains had already surpassed a hundred. If others beat them to it, won''t they lose this chance? The veins on Zhu Yue''s forehead twitched violently, his gaze akin to a knife as he looked towards the one who had spoken. The latter''s head seemed to shrink back, before he hurriedly escaped. However, it was already too late. The hearts of the disciples inside the lecture hall had already began to stir, no longer possible to repress. "Aiyah, I have a stomachache, I have to go to the toilet." One of the disciples suddenly clutched his stomach, pale faced as he stood up and began staggering towards the exit. Another equally quick witted disciple weakly said, "I''m also feeling a little unwell all of a sudden. It may be an inner injury I sustained in a practice bout yesterday. I''ll be leaving first to rest." "Come here my good brother, how can you be so careless. I''ll help you back to rest." ¡°......¡± The lecture hall immediately descended into chaos, all kinds of excuses flying left and right. None of the disciples dared to look at Zhu Yue as they began to slip away one after another. In a short few minutes, the originally slightly squeezy lecture hall had become quite empty. Zhu Yue''s body trembled uncontrollably in anger as he watched the clearly acting disciples leave like a whirlwind. Did they think he was clueless? Every one of these bastards was likely rushing to Zhou Yuan the moment they stepped out the door. "Elder brother, what do we do?" Zhu Feng watched everything happen with a pale face. He did not expect Zhou Yuan to be so merciless, forcing them into such a miserable state all of a sudden. Zhu Yue tightly gritted his teeth as a sliver of regret flitted past in his eyes. If he knew Zhou Yuan would be such a huge problem, he would not have offended the latter due to some petty little squabble of Zhu Feng''s. However, he knew that there was no use regretting anything now, and his expression immediately turned ferocious. "Zhou Yuan, since you dare to cut off my income, don''t blame me for what I will do!" He had spent a great deal of effort to land this cushy job in the outer mountains. But now that everything had been ruined by Zhou Yuan, he would not take things lying down. Or he would likely become a laughing stock if this matter spread to the inner mountains. ... A seemingly endless stream of outer mountain disciples rushed towards a certain mountain creek. The area around the creek was already a huge mess. Zhou Yuan stood somewhere to the rear, leaving the administrative matters to Shen Wanjin, while Qiao Xiu and his group also helped out where they could. After an hour, only ten of the hundred quotas were left. It was at this moment that another wave of disciples began to swarm over, turning the place even more chaotic as they struggled to obtain the final ten quotas. In fact, some of the disciples even began to fight. Shen Wanjin¡¯s eyes spun in thought when he saw this. With a dry cough, he said, ¡°Since no one is willing to give in, we¡¯ll auction off the last ten quotas. They will go to the highest bidder, and the bidding will start at three Genesis jade pieces a day.¡± He could tell that the ones who had rushed over at this time mostly composed of Shengzhou disciples. These people were pretty rich, but most importantly, they had not believed Zhou Yuan earlier, hence why it had taken them so long to come. Although Zhou Yuan did not really care, Shen Wanjin felt that he could not let these people have such an easy time, hence why he had come up with such a ruthless move. These disciples glared at Shen Wanjin in anger when they heard this, evidently realising the latter¡¯s intentions. But even if they knew, for the sake of the quotas, they could not be bothered too much at such a time. One the the Shengzhou disciples quickly shouted, ¡°I bid four Genesis jade pieces!¡± ¡°I bid five pieces!¡± Another gritted his teeth and followed. This price was already the same as Zhu Yue¡¯s place, but since Zhou Yuan was more effective, the price was still within an acceptable level. ¡°Six pieces!¡± In the end however, there was someone even fiercer, snatching away the quota with a bid of six Genesis jade pieces. Numerous disciples secretly wet their lips at the sight of this. Six Genesis jade pieces a day meant a total of a hundred and eighty by the time one was done in a month. This was a huge, painful price. With the exception of the first quota being bidded away at a price of six Genesis jade pieces, the other quotas stabilized at about five pieces. As such, a handsome sum was easily earned. Zhou Yuan chuckled inside as he watched. Shen Wanjin was indeed good at ripping others off. After the auction of the last ten quotas, Shen Wanjin announced that they would no longer be accepting anymore students. The numerous disciples that had yet to sign up began to sigh repeatedly, feeling disappointed inside. Only now did they regret not believing Zhou Yuan earlier. Though they were disappointed, no one tried to stir up any trouble. It was likely that after witnessing Zhou Yuan capability, these outer mountain disciples now had some respect towards him. After all, everyone still hoped to receive guidance from him, and naturally would not dare to offend him. As such, peace finally began to slowly return to the long chaotic area around the creek. Shen Wanjin grinned from ear to ear as he practically sprinted over, a large sack hoisted over his back. The clear tinkling of Genesis jade pieces could be heard from within, an extremely beautiful sound indeed. He allowed the sack to land with a loud thud in front of Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Little Yuan bro, everything is basically in order. Here¡¯s the fees for tomorrow, a sum of over three hundred Genesis jade pieces.¡± Saliva seemed to flow down from his mouth as he spoke. This was only the first day. In a month, Zhou Yuan would have earned nearly ten thousand Genesis jade pieces, an enormous sum even to the numerous inner mountain disciples. Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. It had been way too easy to earn these Genesis jade pieces. With their support, he could finally squander money as he pleased. With a flick, Genesis Qi wrapped around a hundred pieces in the sack and sent them flying towards Shen Wanjin, Qiao Xiu and the rest. ¡°You guys have worked hard today.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t reject this tiny bit of good will, all of you should know that it¡¯s really nothing to me.¡± Shen Wanjin, Qiao Xiu and the rest were just about to decline, but stopped themselves after hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. After all, they did need these Genesis jade pieces. Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°All of you should come here again from tomorrow onwards. I will help you guys with the Ethereal Form technique.¡± Qiao Xiu, Shen Wanjin and the rest nodded. After seeing this, Zhou Yuan did not waste any more time. He kept the sack of Genesis jade and leisurely turned around, leaving the creek and heading back to his little house. ¡°Now that I have the money, I can have my every meal at the Hundred Fragrances House¡­¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled softly. He was not a gourmet, but after the benefits from the nutritious food of the Hundred Fragrances House. He strolled through the mountains, arriving back at his little house. When he reached his destination however, he was suddenly stunned. On a stone table in front of the little house, Yaoyao was elegantly seated while carrying Tuntun, a serious look on her gorgeous face, while an old man in gray sat opposite her. The elder¡¯s face was also solemn as he stared at the jade board on the stone table. Both he and Yaoyao were holding Genesis Rune Brushes. Zhou Yuan had been stunned by this strange scene. What were they doing? He stealthily approached, and looked over, only to see stroke after stroke being drawn as Yaoyao and the elder¡¯s brushes descended. The drawn strokes were similar to a game of go, each one trying to devour the other. These two were having a game of Genesis Runes! Previous Chapte Chapter 239 The Elder in Gray As the two Genesis Rune Brushes danced on the jade board, stroke after stroke took shape and began to attack one another as if they were on a battlefield, while a kind of desperation seemed to spread within the silence. A contest based on Genesis Runes like this was not affected by how strong one¡¯s Spirit cultivation was, and purely relied on one¡¯s understanding of Genesis Runes. Zhou Yuan stood behind Yaoyao, amazement in his eyes as he watched their game unfurl. He could faintly sense the brilliance behind every stroke that was laid down, a feat that required extremely high mastery of Genesis Runes. At the very least, the majority of the strokes made the area between his brows seem to swell in pain. ¡°Who is this old man? It¡¯s hard to believe he¡¯s able to compete in Genesis Runes with big sis Yaoyao¡­¡± Zhou Yuan looked in astonishment at the solemn looking old man in gray. Yaoyao¡¯s Genesis Rune mastery was practically immeasurable. In fact, this was the first time he had seen Yaoyao¡¯s serious appearance. However, the elder in gray was clearly having a very hard time against the serious Yaoyao, as could be seen from the intense look on his face. The two went at it as if possessed, the deadlock lasting for an incense stick of time. Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun''s soft fur as she glanced at the elder and said, "Old mister, you''ve been attacking for so long without any breakthrough, why keep stubbornly persisting?" The elder in gray huffed at his beard, seemingly on the verge of hiding his face in shame as he retorted, "Don''t be so conceited little girl, I merely held myself back because you''re a junior." Yaoyao''s red lips curled downwards. "Old mister, the only gap between us is in our Spirit cultivation, which is only there because you have the advantage of age. If we were to solely compare Genesis Rune mastery and foundations, I''m afraid that you may not be able to beat me." The elder''s voice was tinged with embarrassment and anger. "Little girl, don''t think that you can spout whatever nonsense you want just because you''re pretty!" "You weren''t even born when I was learning Genesis Runes!" Yaoyao nonchalantly said, "You''ve trained for so long, and yet you can''t even beat me. I can only say that old mister still has plenty of room for improvement." Her voice sounded gentle, but her words were mercilessly. The elder huffed angrily as he glared at her. With a wave of his sleeve, the strokes on the jade board were wiped clean as he snorted and said, "I''ll be going back to research some things for abit. I''ll break your defence next time." Behind Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh. This old man''s skin was really thick, to think that he would even resort to such tactics. Upon hearing Zhou Yuan''s laughter, the old man in gray glared at him, a faint threatening pressure rising. Zhou Yuan was taken aback, his laughter coming to an immediate stop as he looked towards the elder in uncertainty. This old man did not seem to be ordinary¡­ "You can flaunt your power after beating me." Said Yaoyao at this moment. Upon hearing Yaoyao''s blunt words, the elder in gray could not help but say, "Do you know who I am little girl? You dare to say such things to me!" "Don''t know. Don''t care." A faint smile rose on Yaoyao''s beautiful face. The elder glared daggers at her for a long time, before letting out a bitter laugh. "How did a weirdo like you appear in this batch of outer mountain disciples¡­" "But your mastery over Genesis Runes is indeed exceedingly amazing. It seems that you''ve learnt from someone else, right?" The elder''s tone seemed to hint at something deeper. Yaoyao indifferently responded, "Why? Does the Cangxuan Sect not allow us to bring our own skills in?" The elder in gray chuckled. "We do permit it. The Cangxuan Sect accepts anyone as long as they harbour no ill intent towards us." He smiled as he continued, "Little girl, I''ve seen how outstanding your Genesis Rune talent is. Are you interested in entering the Spirit Rune Peak? If you are, I can recommend you in now, and let you directly become an inner mountain disciple." Zhou Yuan was slightly shocked. To become inner mountain disciples, one had to go through that peak selection ceremony. The old man before them could allow one to bypass this important test. Looks like his status was not low at all. Zhou Yuan was already aware that the Spirit Rune Peak was one of the seven peaks of the Cangxuan Sect. It was a rather unique peak as all of its disciples focused solely on Genesis Runes. It was said that the sect¡¯s cultivation paradise, Genesis Mountain, was one of the works of the Spirit Rune Peak. Yaoyao glanced at the elder and shook her head. ¡°Not interested.¡± The elder in gray was stunned, never expecting that Yaoyao would be such a character. She clearly did not care about this chance to directly become an inner mountain disciple. He extended a finger and pointed at Yaoyao for a long time. In the end, he shook his head with a bitter smile and said, ¡°Fine, do as you want.¡± ¡°You only need to let me know if you ever become interested in joining the Spirit Rune Peak in the future. My Spirit Rune Peak has numerous ancient Genesis Runes, and we can be said to have abundant resources.¡± One could tell that he had become very fond of Yaoyao¡¯s talent. After all, the Genesis Rune talent she displayed had truly taken his breath away. None of the disciples he had encountered in the past had ever displayed such amazing talent. At the words ancient Genesis Runes, Yaoyao¡¯s eyes seemed to move, but she eventually shook her head. Zhou Yua needed to enter the Saint Genesis Peak to obtain the second Saint Rune, hence, she was not willing to go somewhere else. The elder in gray helplessly chuckled, no longer trying to convince her. ¡°Your Genesis strokes have a certain uniqueness to them. I¡¯ll go back and research how to deal with them.¡± He slowly stood up, and suddenly looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°As for you, you¡¯ve been causing quite a ruckus in the outer mountains recently.¡± He began to size up Zhou Yuan as he continued to speak, ¡°However, the fact that you were able to help others sense apertures is indicative of your ability. Only someone with extremely sharp Spirit senses will be able to do so.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, but did not say anything. He was naturally not going to reveal the existence of the Decoder Saint Rune. "The two of you are not simple at all." Remarked the elder in gray with a grin, before he turned around and slowly left. Zhou Yuan watched him leave and asked, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, who is he?¡± Yaoyao lazily yawned before replying, ¡°No idea. I was studying Genesis Runes here earlier, when he suddenly popped out and said he wanted to teach me. So I told him that he¡¯s not good enough to be my teacher.¡± ¡°Then he got angry, and wanted to compete with me in Genesis Runes. In the end, he was unable to win.¡± Zhou Yuan''s mouth opened and closed. Big sis Yaoyao, you really are a domineering tyrant. The elder in gray was clearly not ordinary, and likely had pretty high status in the Cangxuan Sect. And yet you so bluntly told him that he¡¯s not good enough¡­ thank god his temper isn¡¯t bad, or he would have flipped. Zhou Yuan shook his head, deciding not to dwell on this matter. With a smile, he said, ¡°Forget about him. Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll bring you guys to the Hundred Fragrances House to eat to your heart¡¯s content today.¡± He patted the Universe bag at his waist and said in a rather pleased manner, "We''ve got money now." Roar! There wasn¡¯t much of a response from Yaoyao, but Tuntun roared excitedly, its beady beast eyes glowing brightly. They had passed by the Hundred Fragrances House quite a few times previously, and Tuntun had always tried to dash in again. However, it was forcibly dragged back by the prepared Zhou Yuan, because he really could not afford it at that time. Since he had just made a killing, Zhou Yuan naturally intended on rewarding Tuntun. After all, if Zhu Feng suddenly went crazy and decided to seek Zhou Yuan out, he would have to throw Tuntun out and let it do its work. ... Previous Chapte Chapter 240 Zhu Yue’s Methods The area around the creek became extremely lively during the subsequent few days. Over a hundred disciples would gather here at a specific time, while numerous others also came over to observe. Zhou Yuan would spend some time everyday helping everyone unblock their apertures. However, due to the number of people, it had become much more troublesome to sense apertures even with the power of the Decoder Saint Rune, causing his efficiency to drop. Even so, he was able to maintain a speed of one to two apertures per day for everyone. Though Zhou Yuan was a little unsatisfied with this pace, the disciples that had come for his help were delighted by it, emotions and excitement often flushing their faces. After all, they would usually take quite a few days to unblock a single aperture. In comparison, the rate at Zhou Yuan¡¯s place was clearly much faster. At this speed, the first level promised by Zhou Yuan would definitely be reached in a month. Hence, as the days passed, the gazes of numerous disciples seemed to burn hotter and hotter when they looked towards Zhou Yuan, and there was even an additional trace of admiration now present in their eyes. Zhou Yuan had used reality to prove his ability... After each daily training session, the elated disciples would brag about their progress to those whom had been unable to obtain a spot, causing the latter to be madly envious and so regretful that they felt as if it would be better to die. If they had believed in Zhou Yuan a little earlier, they would not be in their current predicament where even a spot was out of their grasp. At this rate, the disciples receiving guidance from Zhou Yuan would very likely reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique in a month. By that time, the gap between them would become clear. Those originally stronger disciples may soon be surpassed by others. Such thoughts made the many disciples who practiced the Ethereal Form technique very anxious. Moreover, the progress at Zhu Yue¡¯s place seemed to be growing slower and slower recently although they still had to pay the same considerable tuition fees. Therefore, some of the disciples withdrew from Zhu Yue¡¯s classes, and began to save up Genesis jade, waiting for Zhou Yuan¡¯s next round of recruitment. As such, although far more than a hundred outer mountain disciples were practicing the Ethereal Form technique, the disciples at Zhu Yue¡¯s place gradually lessened. In the end, only a meagre dozen disciples were left, a pretty pitiful sight indeed. Hence, while the many lectures halls in the rear mountain remained abuzz with activity, only Zhu Yue¡¯s place appeared rather lonely and desolate. The other inner mountain disciple instructors were secretly alarmed by this scene, all of them committing Zhou Yuan¡¯s name to heart. When Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue clashed previously, they had naturally felt that a mere outer mountain disciple could not possibly be so capable. Hence, they had unhesitatingly chose to support Zhu Yue when he asked for their help. But now, that decision of theirs did seem rather foolish. Zhou Yuan was clearly no samaritan. Wasn¡¯t it clear already what state Zhu Yue had fallen to after clashing with the former? As inner mountain disciples, they understood what a great job it was to teach Genesis techniques in the outer mountains, and numerous inner mountain disciples would fight tooth and nail for it. Zhu Yue had paid a tremendous price to obtain this cushy job, but who could have expected things to end up like this. ¡°Zhou Yuan should not be provoked¡­¡± The sight of Zhu Yue¡¯s lonely and desolate lecture hall made the other inner mountain disciple instructors sigh inside. As a result, they would occasionally sing praises about Zhou Yuan while giving their lectures, hoping that it would eventually travel to Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears as a show of good will. The previous lecture ban on Zhou Yuan also quietly disappeared. Zhu Yue¡¯s fate had clearly frightened them. No one knew whether Zhou Yuan was also capable of teaching other techniques. If they pushed him too far, and he began to teach their Genesis techniques too, Zhu Yue¡¯s case was already a prime example of what could happen. In Zhu Yue¡¯s lecture hall. Zhu Yue¡¯s expression was ashen as he gazed at his lonely lecture hall. The dozen or so figures within looked rather distracted and did not seem to have any intentions of diligently learning. Who knew where their minds were at this moment. Zhu Feng looked towards Zhu Yue and anxiously said, ¡°Elder brother, we can¡¯t continue like this, or no one will come here anymore.¡± Zhu Yue¡¯s Genesis technique lectures was a great source of income, while the younger brother was also able to obtain a tidy sum for himself. This allowed Zhu Feng to lead an extremely comfortable life in the outer mountains, numerous disciples often gathering around and flattering him. Now that Zhu Yue was being repeatedly suppressed by Zhou Yuan, the former¡¯s Genesis jade income had received a huge hit, making the Zhu Feng¡¯s situation very awkward. Zhu Yue remained expressionless, but blazing rage burned in the depths of his eyes. He peered into the distance, seemingly crossing numerous mountains to see the bustling scene at the creek. Compared to the desolateness here, it was akin to night and day. Zhu Yue glanced at Zhu Feng and emotionlessly said, ¡°A mere outer mountain disciples thinks he can trod all over me. Looks like I¡¯ll need to teach him about respect for his seniors.¡± Before his words faded, he had already began walking out of the lecture hall. Zhu Yue descended the rear mountain, ultimately arriving at the highest mountain in the mountain rage where he came to a stop in front of a courtyard at the waist of the mountain. In the stone pavilion within it, Chen Yuan smiled when he saw Zhu Yue and said, ¡°It seems that you can¡¯t take it any longer.¡± Zhu Yue cupped his fists together in greeting before he walked forward. He did not speak, but merely retrieved a big case and placed it on the tablet. As he lifted the lid, an interior lined full of Genesis jade pieces was revealed. Zhu Yue finally said, ¡°Teacher uncle Chen, I hope that you will kindly accept these two thousand Genesis jade pieces.¡± Chen Yuan reached out a hand to caress the cooling Genesis jade pieces as he grinned. ¡°You¡¯re the one who best understands the proper way one should act.¡± His cast a glance in a certain direction as he shook his head. ¡°The new kids are all full of youthful vigour, and have yet to learn the importance of the rules. Some of them gained so many benefits out of the blue, but do not know that they should give offerings to show some respect.¡± A mocking look rose from the corners of his mouth. Zhu Yue chuckled. ¡°The youngsters only just arrived at the Cangxuan Sect, and do not clearly understand where they stand. They might be under the impression that they are still in the same remote continent from before, and can act as the same genius everyone flatters. That¡¯s why they are unable to understand how to behave properly.¡± Chen Yuan nodded with a wide smile. ¡°What do you plan on doing? Although that brat is arrogant, truth be told, he is not breaking any of the sect¡¯s rules.¡± A smile rose from the corners of Zhu Yue¡¯s mouth. ¡°Although there is no rule that says an outer mountain disciple doesn¡¯t have the right to teach, teacher uncle Chen should not forget that there is another rule that states only one person is needed to teach one Genesis technique.¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°There is such a rule¡­ but that kid is just an outer mountain disciple. Do you intend to bully him out with force? If so, people will say an inner mountain disciple is bullying an outer mountain disciple.¡± Zhu Yue softly chuckled. ¡°If I wanted to use such a method, he would have stomped into the ground long ago.¡± He looked towards Chen Yuan and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t the kid brag that he¡¯s pretty good at the Ethereal Form technique? I don¡¯t need to compete with him in other aspects, only the Ethereal Form technique. The better one will naturally be the better instructor.¡± ¡°What do you think teacher uncle Chen?¡± Chen Yuan could not help but laugh when he heard this. ¡°A competition solely based on the Ethereal Form technique? You are pretty smart.¡± Although it was said that Zhou Yuan had reached the first level, Zhu Yue had been practicing the technique for two years. No matter how talented Zhou Yuan was, he could not possibly surpass Zhu Yue in less than a month, right? In addition, Zhu Yue had chosen a Genesis technique competition. Since no Genesis Qi was involved, it would not be seen as bullying, and would be within the limits of acceptability if news of it were to spread. ¡°Fine, do as you please.¡± Chen Yuan nodded. Chen Yuan was also not very fond of the upstart brat that had been causing a ruckus recently. Most importantly, the brat was completely ignorant of how the world functioned, and did not know how to show respect to one¡¯s seniors. Hence, Chen Yuan did not mind letting him learn the harsh ways of society. ¡°I will spread the word that the two of you will compete based on the Ethereal Form technique in five days. Whoever wins will become the only Ethereal Form technique instructor in the outer mountains.¡± Joy finally flooded Zhu Yue¡¯s eyes when he heard this. He lifted his head and looked in the direction of the mountain creek as chillingness and ridicule flitted across in the depths of his eyes. Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, if you want to fight, I have ways to toy with you to death! Previous Chapte Chapter 241 Zong Ming News that Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue would compete based on Genesis technique to see who should possess the right to be an instructor of the Ethereal Form technique, very quickly spread to the entirety of the outer mountains. This matter undoubtedly led to a huge uproar. The sharper individuals could already see that this was Zhu Feng¡¯s counter attack. Although everyone knew that Zhou Yuan was extremely talented in the Ethereal Form technique, at the end of the day, he had only been practicing it for less than a month. Zhu Yue on the other hand had spent nearly two years on it. No matter how one looked at it, a competition purely based on technique was completely in Zhu Yue¡¯s favor. ¡°This is too shameless! Does being at a higher level in the Ethereal Form technique means he will surely be a better teacher?¡± ¡°Yeah, Zhou Yuan can train you to the first level in a month, can Zhu Yue do that?¡± ¡° Zhu Yue is clearly causing trouble on purpose!¡± ¡°......¡± Countless whispers spread in the outer mountains, especially from the disciples that hoped to obtain Zhou Yuan¡¯s guidance, all of them of one mind as they spoke up for Zhou Yuan.After all, training with Zhou Yuan was not only cheaper but also more effective. If Zhou Yuan¡¯s right to teach was taken, they would have no choice but to return to Zhu Yue. An outcome that would undoubtedly waste more time and Genesis jade. However, their opposition was unable to amount to anything. After all, the disciples that practiced the Ethereal Form technique was only a fraction in the entire outer mountains. Even more disciples were waiting to be entertained, especially the Shengzhou disciples. Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation had grown too great recently, making them slightly unhappy. Hence, they were naturally more than happy to watch him being suppressed by Zhu Yue. In addition, this was a matter decided by the outer mountain manager, Chen Yuan, so none of the disciples could object. ... By the mountain creek. News of the Genesis technique competition swiftly spread to this place and landed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears. Zhou Yuan was seated on a rock, pretty much no change in his expression. However, the hundred or so disciples before him immediately burst into noise. ¡°Zhu Yue is too much!¡± ¡°Do we have to even ask him where we¡¯re allowed to train the Ethereal Form technique?¡± ¡°His place is so expensive and so inefficient, who would want to go there.¡± ¡°......¡± Gu Hongyi also frowned slightly. She came to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side and said, ¡°Zhu Yue¡¯s bullying is intolerable, I can¡¯t believe that he decided on this competition without notifying you or seeking your opinion!¡± This information had only reached Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears when it was being spread. From this, one could see that Zhu Yue clearly did not care about Zhou Yuan¡¯s opinions. Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯ve clearly been an eyesore to someone for quite some time.¡± There was no way that Zhu Yue would be able to decide on this match with just his inner mountain disciple status alone. Everything had to first be approved by the outer mountain manger, Chen Yuan. ¡°What are you plans?¡± There was some worry in Gu Hongyi¡¯s bright eyes. Although Zhou Yuan had mastered the first level of the Ethereal Form technique, Zhu Yue had reached the this level long ago. Moreover, although it was not a real fight but a Genesis technique match, the odds were clearly still stacked against Zhou Yuan. ¡°Since my opponent has thrown out this move, I will naturally have to receive it.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. He knew long in advance that Zhu Yue would never let this matter rest. His source of income had been cut off by Zhou Yuan after all. Zhou Yuan also understood that he needed to eliminate Zhu Yue in order to continue earning Genesis jade. Now that the other party had played his hand, it was undoubtedly Zhou Yuan¡¯s best chance to remove the former. Since both of them were eyeing the Genesis jade income from teaching the Ethereal Form technique, one of them would naturally have to be eliminated. It was not that Zhou Yuan had not considered teaching another Genesis technique, but if he did so, he would offend even more people. He was currently only an outer mountain disciple, so there was no need for him to be so greedy. Gu Hongyi rather admired the fact that there was no fear on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, but worry still flooded her eyes. She understood that no matter how pathetic Zhu Yue was, he was still an inner mountain disciple. ¡°I previously heard Zhu Yue say that he has already unblocked 41 apertures. However, he may have been hiding his true strength.¡± Gu Hongyi told Zhou Yuan the information she knew. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Someone as devious as him will not reveal his bottom line so easily.¡± 41 apertures was likely just a front, or Zhu Yue would not have so confidently fixed a Genesis technique match while clearly knowing that Zhou Yuan had also reached the first level. It was obvious that Zhu Yue was confident in his abilities. Zhu Yue may have his confidence, but Zhou Yuan too should not be looked down upon. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned towards the clamouring crowd below as he said in a calm voice, ¡°No need to be alarmed. Since Zhu Yue wants a competition, I¡¯ll just have to accept.¡± Upon hearing that Zhou Yuan was going to accept the match, the numerous disciples looked to each other in dismay, seeing the worried looks in everyone¡¯s eyes as they began to speak in low voices. They were clearly afraid that Zhou Yuan would lose, giving them no option but to return to Zhu Yue. However, since the competition was already set in stone, their worry would not change anything. The only thing left was to nervously wait for the match in five days. ... The crowd dispersed after the training was over, but some whispers could still be heard. One could imagine how the Genesis technique competition in five days would soon become the focal point of the entire outer mountains. Zhou Yuan ignored all of this as he headed back to his little house. In front of the little house. The elder in gray came here daily to engage in a match of Genesis Runes with Yaoyao on the jade board. After each vicious clash, he would leave in a carefree manner. Zhou Yuan stood behind Yaoyao as he gazed upon the jade board. The swelling pain from his Spirit grew increasingly intense, as if something was brewing within. Zhou Yuan knew that it was likely a sign that his Spirit was about to step into the Corporeal stage. Observing the Genesis Rune game between the two of them for the past few days had clearly been very beneficial to him. As another game approached its end, there was still not clear victor between the two. The elder in gray sighed in regret, the admiration in his eyes growing even greater as he looked towards Yaoyao and said, ¡°I really want to know who taught you. Can¡¯t believe your Genesis Qi mastery had reached such a high level at this young age.¡± ¡°If your Spirit cultivation rises, your accomplishments on the path of Genesis Runes will be unimaginable.¡± There was still no change in Yaoyao¡¯s flawless face despite his praise. Only laziness could be sensed from on her seemingly glowing fair skin. Yaoyao suddenly asked, ¡°Old mister should be one of the two outer mountain elders, right?¡± The elder was stunned, somewhat surprised as he replied, ¡°How did you know?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips parted slightly as she answered ,¡±There are two elders in the outer mountains that possess the highest authority, but they usually do not bother with ordinary matters, leaving everything to Chen Yuan.¡± ¡°Your Genesis Rune mastery is equally as good as mine. Even being an elder in the outer mountains is a little unbecoming for you.¡± The elder in gray chuckled. ¡°Little one, are you indirectly praising yourself?¡± Soon after, he nodded. ¡°My name is Zong Ming, and I am indeed an outer mountain elder.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at the former in amazement, clearly never expecting the old man¡¯s status to be so high. An outer mountain elder was pretty much the highest authority in the outer mountains. Even Chen Yuan would not dare to speak against him. Yaoyao placed a hand on her sharp chin as she said, ¡°Since you¡¯re an outer mountain elder, I want to inquire why two of you have not done anything with regards to Chen Yuan repeatedly targeting Zhou Yuan?¡± The elder in gray playfully said, ¡°Why? You want to lodge a complaint?¡± Yaoyao nonchalantly said, ¡°This Genesis technique match of Chen Yuan¡¯s clearly does not conform to the rules.¡± The elder in gray, Zong Ming, chuckled. ¡°Who asked this brat to be so greedy. To think that he intends on eating up all of Zhu Yue¡¯s pie.¡± As he chuckled, he looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°But since she has spoken, I can cancel the match if you don¡¯t want to participate.¡± Zhou Yuan merely smiled upon hearing this. He quickly shook his head and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to cancel it. I only hope that it will be a fair match.¡± Chen Yuan seemed to rather dislike Zhou Yuan, hence the latter wanted to prevent any unexpected trouble during the match. Surprise flitted across Zong Ming¡¯s eyes, clearly not expecting Zhou Yuan to be so unafraid. The former immediately asked in an interested manner, ¡°You actually dare to compete with Zhu Yue in the Ethereal Form technique?¡± ¡°If we are to compete based on Genesis Qi, the current me will not be able to match him. But if it is the Ethereal Form technique, it will not be so easy for him to beat me.¡± ¡°Teaching a Genesis technique is a delicious pie indeed, it¡¯s really hard for me to return it after having a slice.¡± ¡°Just like how Zhu Yue wants to kick me out, I too want to get rid of him and enjoy the pie alone.¡± Zong Ming looked towards Zhou Yuan and grinned, ¡°You¡¯re young, but your ambitions are not small.¡± In the end, he nodded. ¡°Although I do not know where your confidence comes from, you do not need to worry. No one will be able to try anything funny during this Genesis technique competition because I¡¯ll be personally overseeing it.¡± Zong Ming stood up, smiling as he looked at Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I have the feeling that the Cangxuan Sect will become very lively with you two little ones here¡­¡± With a wave of his hand, he turned around and left. Only after watching him leave did Yaoyao finally lift her head and looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Are you confident in your chances? Zhu Yue will likely be prepared.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned slightly. ¡°Relax, I was originally planning on renting out the Nine Dragons Canon sometime during the next few days, but it looks like I¡¯ll have to focus all of my efforts on the Ethereal Form technique¡­¡± His eyes were suffused with an icy light. ¡°When the time comes, I¡¯ll give Zhu Yue a pleasant surprise.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 242 Advent of the Match In the following five days, the Genesis technique match between Zhou Yuan and Zhu Feng had undoubtedly become the focus of the entire outer mountains. It was the most popular topic for a time, drawing the attention of countless disciples. No one had expected Zhu Yue to counter attack in such a manner. But it was undoubtedly a very smart move. If it was only a Genesis technique competition, no one could say that Zhu Yue was using his superior might to bully Zhou Yuan. However, things were not looking good for Zhou Yuan. From what everyone could see, no matter how talented Zhou Yuan was in the Ethereal Form technique, he would not be able to match Zhu Yue, whom had not stopped walking on this path for nearly two years. After all, someone who could become an inner mountain disciple would not be an easy opponent. Many of the outer mountain disciples felt that it was such a pity. If Zhou Yuan lost, they would have no choice but to return to Zhu Yue¡¯s place to learn the Ethereal Form technique... ... A certain little house in the outer mountains. Dressed entirely in white, Lu Feng was seated inside a stone pavilion as the surrounding Genesis Qi surged over, transforming into white smoke that flowed into his body through his nose. The sound of rushing wind was heard behind him, causing Lu Feng to open his eyes, only to find a young man in blue robes standing behind him. The youth¡¯s eyes were long and narrow, and seemed to smile all the time. But there was a blade like feeling from his smile that made no one dare to look directly at him. The young man in blue robes was called Yang Xiu and was also an influential figure amongst the outer mountain disciples. He was ranked third amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples, losing only to Lu Feng and Gu Hongyi. Yang Xiu grinned and said, ¡°Heh, have you heard? That kid Zhou Yuan is going to compete with Zhu Feng in the Ethereal Form technique.¡± Lu Feng¡¯s expression remained indifferent as he said, ¡°Overestimating his abilities.¡± Yang Xiu chuckled. ¡°It seems that you have a lot of opinions about him¡­¡± There was only calmness on Lu Feng¡¯s face as he replied, ¡°He does not have the qualifications for me to have any opinions about him. However, he is very cunning. He deliberately approached Hongyi in hopes of making use of her connections.¡± ¡°And recently, Hongyi and him have been meeting far too many times.¡± Lu Feng¡¯s gaze lowered slightly as iciness flashed in his eyes. ¡°He truly is not tactful at all. I had warned him after all.¡± Muttered Lu Feng to himself. Upon hearing Lu Feng¡¯s words, Yang Xiu grinned and said, ¡°That kid is rather unfortunate to have caught your attention¡­¡± Lu Feng indifferently said, ¡°But it seems that there is no need for me to act. Although Zhu Yue is only a black sash disciple, he has still managed to enter the inner mountains, and even if it is only an Ethereal Form technique match, he should still be able to steamroll that kid.¡± ¡°Zhu Yue doesn¡¯t really have much ability. It¡¯s been years, but he¡¯s still only a black sash disciple.¡± Yang Xiu¡¯s tone was full of contempt towards Zhu Yue. Lu Feng glanced at the former. ¡°Do not underestimate him. Zhu Yue is very cunning, and has likely concealed his abilities.¡± He raised his head and looked towards a certain direction in the outer mountains as iciness and disdain appeared in his eyes. ¡°When Zhu Yue crushes that arrogant kid, he should learn to be a little more well behaved, right?¡± ¡°To think that a peasant prince from some remote continent dares to steal my woman.¡± The corners of Lu Feng¡¯s mouth curled as he said to Yang Xiu, ¡°When the date of the match arrives, we¡¯ll also go watch the entertainment.¡± ... For the next few days, the training sessions by the creek was not put on hold. Zhou Yuan still continued to help everyone unblock their apertures. The only difference was that he was spending the majority of his time immersed in his own training. By the creek, the numeros disciples often looked towards Zhou Yuan with complicated expressions. They could sense that Zhou Yuan seemed to be trying his best to make every last second count. However, when this scene fell in their eyes, it undoubtedly made them feel that Zhou Yuan was not confident. Hence, they could only lament continuously inside. After all, the progress while training here was just too delightful. The thought that they would lose it all in a few days only made them more depressed. After another training session ended, the numerous disciples slowly dispersed, while Gu Hongyi walked to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side and said, ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve not been looking too good these past two days.¡± She could also sense that Zhou Yuan had become much more silent during the past two days, his entire being seemingly tensed up as if feeling an immense pressure from Zhu Yue. Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes and smiled somewhat helplessly. ¡°Zhu Feng has such a huge head start on my in the Ethereal Form technique, of course I have to speed up my training.¡± ¡°A hasty last-minute effort¡­¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s red lips curled downwards. She hesitated for a moment, before she said in a low voice, ¡°How about I help out. I can find someone to transfer Zhu Yue back to the inner mountains.¡± Her old ancestor was the master of the Hongya Peak, someone with extremely high status. As long as he were to open his mouth, transferring an inner mountain disciple would not be difficult. Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised as he glanced at Gu Hongyi, unable to stop himself from grinning as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t you hate those who go through the back door the most?¡± He recalled that at the very beginning, Gu Hongyi had been exceedingly unfond of him, because she had been under the impression that he had relied on his relations to become a first class disciple. Now, this same prideful Gu Hongyi was actually willing to help him pull strings. This was something that Zhou Yuan was extremely surprised by. Gu Hongyi¡¯s pretty face involuntarily blushed when she heard this. Soon after, she glared daggers at Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°I¡¯m only doing this out of consideration for the numerous outer mountain disciples who are learning the Ethereal Form technique. Since you have the capability, you are naturally the most suitable person for this role. Why should you be replaced?¡± ¡°Furthermore, you¡¯ve promised to help me reach the second level of the Ethereal Form technique. If the right to teach is stripped from you, what will I do?!¡± Zhou Yuan began to laugh, his opinion towards Gu Hongyi growing a little more favorable. However, he waved his hand and said, ¡°Thank you for your good intentions, but it will be best for me to resolve this matter myself.¡± If her were to rely on Gu Hongyi¡¯s connections, it would surely affect her reputation once word of it spread. A mere Zhu Yue did not have the qualifications to force him to rely on a girl¡¯s connections. Gu Hongyi softly snorted. ¡°I¡¯ll see how long you can continue to be stubborn.¡± Though her mouth said so, she gave a tiny sigh of relief in her heart. Though she could empathize if Zhou Yuan had agreed, she would likely also be disappointed. The young man before her may seem quite kind and good looking when he smiled, but the pride inside his bones did not lose to anyone else. ¡°Then you¡¯d better train hard. I do want to see how far you can push the Ethereal Form technique during these few days¡­¡± With a twist of her tiny waist, Gu Hongyi turned around, her red figure akin to an escaping bundle of fire. ... Five days gradually passed under the expectant gazes of the many outer mountain disciples. On the morning of the fifth day, a ray of sunlight broke through the thick layers of clouds, shining on the unbroken mountain range. The outer mountains that had been silent for a night suddenly began to burst into activity and noise at this moment. Countless figures rose into the sky on their Genesis Qi, heading towards a certain giant mountain. Before one of the houses, a fully dressed Zhu Yue walked out the door, where Zhu Feng was already waiting. Zhu Feng looked towards Zhu Yue, who was in glowing spirits, and said, ¡°Elder brother, we¡¯ll finally be able to resolve all of our grievances today.¡± Zhu Yue¡¯s expression remained unchanged, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed towards a certain creek in the outer mountains. In the end, a sneer of contempt appeared from the corners of his mouth as he rose into the sky with a stomp. ¡°Let¡¯s go. After today, I¡¯ll make it such that Zhou Yuan will no longer dare to utter the three words Ethereal Form technique!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 243 Ethereal Form Technique Match on the Green Mountain A majestic, lush mountain stood amongst the mountain range of the outer mountains. Today, a seemingly endless stream of Genesis Qi light figures descended from the sky at the foot of this verdant mountain, breaking its peace and serenity by filling the area with excitement and noise. Today was the day of the match between Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue, and the venue was this very mountain. This was why it had become the focal point of the outer mountains. After all, there had never been a competition between an outer mountain disciple and an inner mountain disciple for so many years¡­ hence, even a mere Genesis technique based match had managed to draw everyone¡¯s eyes. A dozen or so figures descended from the sky, landing just outside the green mountain. They immediately drew gaze after gaze filled with respect, because the one that led them was Lu Feng, dressed in his usual white clothes. There was no one who did not know Lu Feng¡¯s name in the outer mountains. Everyone acknowledged him as the strongest amongst this batch of outer mountain disciples. One could imagine how great his prospects were for the future even in a place like the Cangxuan Sect. The one at Lu Feng¡¯s side wearing blue robes also drew everyone¡¯s attention. The fact that Yang Xiu was able to be ranked third amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples was enough to show his strength and talent. The group of them basically stood at the peak of the outer mountain disciples. Hence why numerous other mountain disciple cast respectful gazes over at their arrival. In response to this gazes, Lu Feng¡¯s expression remained apathetic. His eyes scanned the area, eventually coming to a stop nearby. It was where Gu Hongyi and Han Qiushui were standing shoulder to shoulder. Both young ladies had slender, sexy figures that could stir the soul, drawing quite a number of gazes towards them. Han Qiushui nudged Gu Hongyi slender waist and said, ¡°Hey, Lu Feng¡¯s looking at us.¡± Gu Hongyi glared at her, before sweeping a cold gaze at Lu Feng. Upon seeing her look over, a gentle smile appeared on the latter¡¯s cold, prideful and handsome face. A glance was all Gu Hongyi took before withdrawing her gaze, frowning slightly as she looked towards a certain direction. Time slowly flowed as more and more disciples arrived, causing the place to turn increasingly lively. Swish! All of a sudden, two streams of light descended from the sky, landing at the foot of the mountain. The appearance of these two figures instantly drew countless gazes, because the one in front was one of the main actors for today, Zhu Yue. Zhu Yue stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent. Not long after Zhu Yue¡¯s appearance, the sound of rushing wind was heard. The crowd watched as Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao flew over, also landing at the foot of the mountain. Now that the two leads were here, the atmosphere immediately heated up. A cloud of Genesis Qi drifted over in the sky, Chen Yuan seated atop it. He beamed as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue, an indescribable luster in his eyes as he said, ¡°The both of you should already know that the loser of this match will lose the right to teach other disciples the Ethereal Form technique.¡± ¡°Do either of you have any objections?¡± Zhu Yue shot an icy look at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°No objections.¡± Zhou Yuan sneered in his heart. These two had secretly came up with this competition without informing him nor asking for his opinion. Asking such a question now was truly a joke. Hence, he merely swept a glance at Chen Yuan, ignoring the question. Upon seeing this, Chen Yuan chuckled softly as he secretly remarked to himself, ¡°Arrogant brat, I¡¯ll be waiting to see you cry later.¡± Hence, he spoke again, ¡°I shall oversee this match.¡± ¡°I believe it will be better for me to oversee it instead.¡± Just as his voice faded however, an elderly voice interjected. Chen Yuan frowned, a stern gaze immediately turning towards the direction where the voice had come from. ¡°Who dares¡­¡± Before he could finish however, his words froze at his mouth. He had seen an elder in gray seated on a tree nearby wearing a nonchalant expression. ¡°Elder Zong Ming!¡± Chen Yuan¡¯s rigid face stretched to form a smile as he hurriedly cupped his hands together. ¡°Why didn¡¯t elder inform me so I can come and receive you.¡± *Uproar* The surrounding mountain forests broke out into waves of noise. Amazement in the eyes of numerous outer mountain disciples as they looked towards the elder in gray. The most senior person they had seen since coming to the outer mountains had been Chen Yuan. They had of course heard that there were two elders in the outer mountains, but the likes of them did not have the qualifications to meet such individuals. Who could have expected one of the elders would voluntarily show himself, and even oversee the match between two disciples. The elder in gray glanced at Chen Yuan and said in an indifferent voice, ¡°If I still did not appear, you might have forgotten that there¡¯s someone above you.¡± Cold sweat appeared on Chen Yuan¡¯s head. His lips moved, but he did not dare to say anything. Elder Zong Ming did not elaborate in front of the numerous disciples, but merely said, ¡°I shall oversee this match. Do you have any complaints?¡± Chen Yuan hurriedly said, ¡°I won¡¯t dare. Having elder oversee the match is naturally the most fair choice.¡± His gaze secretly swept towards Zhu Yue below. The latter was also stunned by this turn of events, but his gaze soon flickered for a moment as he regained his cool. ¡°This kid¡¯s luck is pretty good. To think he even managed to draw out elder Zong Ming¡­¡± Zhu Yue¡¯s eyes were cold. He and Chen Yuan had originally planned for the latter to oversee the match, allowing him to secretly making things difficult for Zhou Yuan such that he would have no chance at all. However, it seems that these methods could no longer be used. Even so, Zhu Yue did not really care, because they were only one of his many contingencies. Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and asked, ¡°Elder Zong Ming, how will we be competing in this match?¡± The other disciples curiously looked over. They too wanted to know what kind of match it would be. After all, the Ethereal Form technique was not like offensive techniques which could be judged based on power. Zong Ming softly chuckled. ¡°The essence of the Ethereal Form technique lies in two areas, speed and neutralization power.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a faint nod. The technique allowed one to etherealize the body, causing one¡¯s speed to rise to a level that ordinary people would find difficult to match. The Ethereal Form technique also gave the ability to neutralize any force that struck the body, making these two aspects the essence of the technique. ¡°Hence, today¡¯s match will be based on your speed and neutralization power in the ethereal form. Zong Ming gazed at the majestic green mountain before him as he suddenly took a deep breath before abruptly blowing. Whooooo! The breath of Genesis Qi that emerged was akin to the milky way. It swept through the air, completely covering the green mountain. Boundless Genesis Qi whizzed about the mountain like a million astral winds, booing and hissing. A faint but enormous pressure spread from it. Everyone watched this scene in shock. A breath of Genesis Qi from the elder could be said to be earth-shaking. Such power was practically immeasurable. ¡°This mountain has already been enveloped by my Genesis Qi. Once you enter, you will be exposed to my Genesis Qi pressure, making you feel as if you are carrying a mountain on your back. Besides this, the astral winds my Genesis Qi has turned into will attack you. You will be unable to avoid, and can only bear the attacks with your bodies. This will reveal how much power your ethereal form can neutralize.¡± Zong Ming grinned. The numerous disciples cried out in shock when they heard this. To reach the peak, the two of them would have to rely on their speed while neutralizing the astral winds. It was a very appropriate test for the Ethereal Form technique. ¡°How about it, do the two of you feel this is fair?¡± Zong Ming looked towards Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue. A serious look appeared on both their faces, but they still nodded in the end. ¡°Since the two of you have no objections¡­¡± Zong Ming waved his sleeve as two paths opened at the foot of the mountain, before his voice sounded like thunder. ¡°Let the match begin.¡± ¡°Let us see which of you is more adept at the Ethereal Form technique!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 244 Fast as Lightning Genesis Qi astral winds wreaked havoc on the lush, green mountain, like blades made from wind as they swept past, shredding even the air to pieces... Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan and Zhu Feng stood at the foot of the mountain. The two looked at each other, iciness appearing in their eyes. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I admit that you have some talent. In a few more years, you will likely have a place in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Zhu Yue¡¯s eyes were ice-cold. Soon after, he let out an icy chuckle as he said, ¡°However, your mistake was to hop out now.¡± ¡°The current you still does not have the qualifications!¡± Zhou Yuan laughed and responded, ¡°You can save these words for when you reach the peak before me.¡± ¡°Stubborn fool.¡± Zhu Yue shook his head, mockery flashing in his eyes. Rumble! A split second later, robust Genesis Qi simultaneously erupted from Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue¡¯s bodies. The two transformed into flashes of light as they charged into the green mountain enveloped by berserk Genesis Qi. The instant they entered, Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue¡¯s figures paused slightly. It was due to the suppression from elder Zong Ming¡¯s Genesis Qi, making the air akin to a quagmire. The movements ordinary individuals who entered would be greatly restricted, making it difficult for them to advance. ¡°Ethereal Form!¡± Shouted Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue. Nearly half of their figures began to gradually etherealize under the crowd¡¯s watching gazes as their speed rapidly rose. Fast as lightning. A series of gasps rang out in the vicinity of the green mountain, clearly shocked by the speed Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue had displayed. ¡°Although the Ethereal Form technique is only at the mid grade little Heaven tier, it does have its merits.¡± Yang Xiu¡¯s eyes narrowed, smiling as he observed the rapidly moving figures on the mountain. Lu Feng¡¯s expression remained indifferent. ¡°No matter how fast they run, they will only be rabbits, still merely prey in the eyes of a real predator.¡± ¡°Who do you think will win?¡± Asked Yang Xiu. Lu Feng uncaringly replied, ¡°It will depend on how much Zhu Yue has concealed his abilities.¡± While the two were conversing, the two figures on the mountain seemed to leave behind a trail of mist as they advanced. It was at this moment that the Genesis Qi that enveloped the mountain began to rear its fangs. Genesis Qi darted forth transforming into countless glowing Genesis Qi knives. These knives seemed to cover the sky and land as they swiftly descended upon the two figures. Ch ch! Zhou Yuan and Zhu Feng were unable to dodge, having no choice but to receive the attacks with their bodies. Therefore, in a short span of a dozen breaths, fresh blood began to appear on their bodies, cut after cut appearing one after another. Even so, anyone could see that Zhou Yuan and Zhu Feng had used the etherealized parts of their bodies to receive the attacks. Although their bloody appearances looked extremely miserable, the majority of the force had been neutralized by the Ethereal Form technique. From start to end, their figures were neck to neck. In the short span of a few minutes, the duo had already reached the halfway point. Even till now, however, both parties were still equal. Zhu Yue''s gaze swept across Zhou Yuan from the corner of his eyes. Soon after, iciness flashes in his eyes as the corners of his lips lifted slightly. "It''s time to show you the difference between us!" Rumble! With a thought, the apertures in his body instantly lit up. In a short few breaths, the number of apertures in his body rose from 30 plus to 45. He had clearly began to reveal his hidden strength. As more and more apertures were opened, everyone saw Zhu Yue''s body grow more and more ethereal as faint mists began to spread around it. Swish! His speed soared, over taking Zhou Yuan in a single breath. His body met the innumerable Genesis Qi knives head-on as he rocketed towards the peak. Zhu Yue''s sudden explosion of speed instant drew numerous gasps from the surroundings of the mountain. "As expected, he has concealed his strength!" Numerous disciples sighed in amazement. They could naturally sense that Zhu Yue''s Ethereal Form had grown even more formidable. Gu Hongyi''s hands began to clench tightly, her teeth biting into her red lips as she stared at the figure that had fallen behind. Han Qiushui could not help but remark from the side, "It''s over for him Hongyi. Zhu Yue''s mastery of the Ethereal Form is much greater than Zhou Yuan''s." From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan¡¯s first level mastery was practically unable to compare to Zhu Yue. Gu Hongyi did not speak, merely continuing to stare. She believed that Zhou Yuan would not lose so easily. Somewhere else, Shen Wanjin, Qiao Xiu, Xiao Tianxuan and the rest anxiously watched the widening gap between the two individuals of the mountain, their eyes filled with worry. ¡°Go little Yuan bro!¡± But there was nothing they could do besides sending out prayer after prayer in their hearts. ¡°You were so arrogant previously, but you shall now have a taste of what it feels like to eat a rotten fruit." There was a look of ecstasy mixed with excitement in Zhu Feng''s eyes when he saw this. Soon after, he began to laugh. Sighs rang out in the vicinity of the mountain, pained looks on the faces of the disciples that practiced the Ethereal Form technique. Even more disciples however, were enjoying the show, happy to see Zhou Yuan being suppressed. After all, if Zhou Yuan performed too outstandingly, the rest of them would appear useless in comparison. Elder Zong Ming sat on a tree as he looked towards the now leaving Zhu Yue, before turning to Zhou Yuan. The former''s eyes suddenly squinted as he mumbled, "The apertures in this kid''s body¡­" From the looks of it, he would never be able to catch up. Numerous disciples shook their heads inside. As expected, there was no point to this match at all. No matter how talented Zhou Yuan was, he had only been learning the Ethereal Form technique for a month. What about Zhu Yue? Nearly two years. However, there were some sharper disciples that suddenly remarked in uncertainty, ¡°Eh, Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed seems to be getting faster and faster¡­¡± The moment these words were heard, the crow began to closely observe. Sure enough, they discovered that Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed was rising little by little. Although it was not as explosive as Zhu Yue¡¯s earlier burst, the increase was extremely stable. ¡°The¡­ the apertures in his body are being unblocked one by one¡­¡± Said someone in shock. They could just barely make out dots of light appearing and linking one after another on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Such a sight was not foreign to those who practiced the Ethereal Form technique, it was an indication that an aperture had been unblocked. Elder Zong Ming let out an amused chuckle when he saw this. His perceptive abilities were naturally extraordinary, and had managed to discover the truth with a single look. Zhou Yuan¡¯s apertures were likely already unblocked by him, but had not been properly linked up due to the lack of time. As such, when his Genesis Qi began to circulate, the apertures would be connected one by one... Swish! Under the countless astonished gazes, more and more light dots appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, while his speed also grew faster and faster. Mist began to surge around him, as if was riding on a cloud. Every gaze was tightly fixed on the faintly discernible light dots on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Each one represented a newly linked aperture. ¡°There¡¯s already 43 apertures¡­¡± Gasps would sound out from time to time, the numerous disciples stupefied. No one had expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s mastery to have also reached such a high level. Moreover, the aperture light dots were still increasing. After a dozen breaths, it reached 48. A number that had already surpassed Zhu Yue. Hence, a large portion of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body began to etherealize, faint mist spreading from within as his speed soared to the limits. The countless astral wind knives that shot towards him ending up passing straight through his body, only leaving behind tiny sprinkles of blood... Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure once again appeared a dozen or so feet behind Zhu Yue, rapidly catching up. ¡°Wow!¡± Countless cries of amazement rang out in the surroundings of the mountain. No one had imagined that Zhou Yuan would really catch up! ¡°God damnit!¡± Zhu Yue was naturally able to detect the piercing sound of rushing wind behind him. A gaze swept to his back from the corner of his eye, fury appearing within his eyes when he saw the rapidly approaching Zhou Yuan. Zhu Yue took in a deep breath as he made a seal with one hand. One could only watch as apertures also began to light up on his body. ¡°Zhou Yuan, did you believe that 45 apertures is my limit!¡± With a low howl, the dot after dot began to light up on his body. It was obvious that Zhu Yue had been forced to use his full power. Two figures bolted up the mountain like lightning, while also appearing akin to two clouds. Many disciples could only barely make out the two blurry figures within... Everyone¡¯s eyes were wide open, watching the race without blinking. ¡°Zhu Yue¡¯s apertures has already reached 54¡­¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s has also risen above 50¡­¡± ¡°This is way too crazy!¡± Countless whispers emerged. Shock was apparent on everyone¡¯s faces as they watched the two figures persistently nipped at each others heels. Only a third of the distance was left to the peak. No one had expected such a neck to neck race. Zhu Yue¡¯s lead had already been forcibly taken back inch by inch by Zhou Yuan... Zhu Yue¡¯s expression turned extremely dark and stormy at this moment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s stubbornness had already exceeded his expectations. ¡°All 58 of my apertures are already opened, a strength that I have concealed for a long time. It had originally been for the sake of stealing the limelight during the seven peak martial meet, so I never imagined that my hand would be forced today!¡± Zhu Yue violently gritted his teeth. Most importantly, even his full power was unable to crush Zhou Yuan. Instead, it was as if he was tenaciously holding on to the former¡¯s tail. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you forced me to do this!¡± ¡°No matter how great of a price I¡¯ll have to pay, I will crush you beneath my heel!¡± Zhu Yue knew that he would definitely be mocked if he lost to Zhou Yuan and returned to the inner mountains. Hence, the former had to grab victory at any cost. A resolute look appeared in Zhu Yue¡¯s eyes. With a deep breath, a scarlet pill was rolled out from under his tongue, before being swallowed into his stomach. Previous Chapte Chapter 245 Corporeal Stage Once the scarlet pill entered Zhu Yue¡¯s stomach, a surge of heat exploded from within it, like magma as it frantically flowed through his channels. This pill was known as the Level Breaker Pill, and was said to have the effect of temporarily raising the power of one¡¯s Genesis techniques. There were some negative repercussions however, though the current Zhu Yue clearly could not be bothered by such things to achieve victory. He knew that he would likely lose all face if he lost to Zhou Yuan here. Therefore, he absolutely could not lose. Scarlet-red surfaced in Zhu Yue¡¯s eyes as an evil look flashed within them. In the next instant, his speed abruptly soared, a flash of red faintly visible in the mists swirling around his body. In a short few breaths, he had widened the lead once again. With the Level Breaker Pill, Zhu Yua¡¯s speed was now comparable to the Ethereal Form technique with over 60 apertures unblocked... *Uproar* An uproar once again swept through the surroundings of the green mountain, everyone stunned by Zhu Yue¡¯s sudden explosion of speed. No one had expected him to have concealed his abilities so deeply. ¡°It¡¯s truly hopeless now¡­¡± The crowd shook their heads. Zhu Yue¡¯s explosion of speed this time was just too frightening. His figure had practically become mist, the sky full of astral wind knives unable to stop him for even a split second. This level of mastery was already fast approaching the second level. Han Qiushui¡¯s mouth hung wide open as she involuntarily muttered, ¡°Has Zhu Yue¡¯s mastery already reached such heights?¡± Gu Hongyi frowned deeply, somewhat uncertain. Although she had felt that Zhu Yue was hiding his abilities, had he really hidden them to such an extent? The current level of Zhu Yue¡¯s Ethereal Form was already very close to the second level. The situation did indeed look extremely bad for Zhou Yuan. ¡°Why does it suddenly seem as if Zhu Yue is on steroids!¡± Yelled Shen Wanjin, his eyes filled with worry. Just as Zhou Yuan had been about to surpass Zhu Yue, the latter suddenly released another burst of speed. Moreover, the sharp acceleration this time was basically despairing. Qiao Xiu sighed regretfully. ¡°It has not been easy for Junior brother Zhou Yuan to reach this level. He¡¯s only spent so much time on the Ethereal Form technique after all. If he had more time, reaching the second level would have been just around the corner.¡± Nearby, Yaoyao¡¯s eyebrows also knitted together slightly when she saw this scene. On the tree, elder Zong Ming¡¯s indifferent gaze merely swept of Zhu Yue as a bright light fitted past the depths of his eyes, clearly detecting something. His hand began to rise, and just as he was intending to speak, he suddenly let out a soft cry of surprise. His gaze was currently looking towards Zhou Yuan, who had now been left far behind, as a look of interest appeared in his eyes. It this very moment, he could sense that the Genesis Qi in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had begun to ripple violently. Evidently, Zhou Yuan did not intend to give up just because Zhu Yue had suddenly rocketed ahead. On the mountain, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was akin to lightning. No panic appeared on his face as he gazed at the figure to his front that was rapidly pulling ahead. Instead, he took in a deep breath of cold air. The swelling pain from the Spirit between his brows was growing more and more intense. It was an indication that the Spirit was about to ascend from the perfect Illusory stage to the Corporeal stage. The truth was that he had felt his Spirit was on the verge of a breakthrough during these past few days. For the sake of stability however, he had slightly suppressed it. And now was finally the time for it to be released. His Spirit sat between his brows with the Saint Spirit Crystal revolving above it. Holy light spread from the crystal that continuously tempered the Spirit. At this current time, the Spirit¡¯s illusory figure was gradually becoming corporeal, looking almost as if it was solid matter. In addition, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power was rising at an alarming speed. Invisible Spirit power shuddered around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, seemingly whipping up a storm. In that very instant, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt his senses grow even sharper, all things around him appearing even clearer than before, while also allowing him to better see their source. Even the mist wrapped Zhu Yue to his front was now within the range of his senses. Zhou Yuan could feel a tiny flash of scarlet-red light in the mists surrounding Zhu Yue, faintly pulsing in a berserk manner. ¡°So that¡¯s what happened¡­¡± Iciness flooded Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Zhu Yue¡¯s sudden burst in speed was likely due to some kind of pill that had forcibly strengthened the Ethereal Form technique. ¡°Is this the Corporeal stage¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were clear and calm, but this was not the time for him to discover the wonders of the Corporeal stage. With a thought, the Saint Rune between his brows flowed down into his pupils. ¡°Decoder Saint Rune!¡± A low shout sounded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart as the ancient Saint Rune slowly began to revolve in the depths of his pupils. A peculiar power abruptly erupted, immediately giving him a clear view of his entire body. After reaching the Corporeal stage, the activated Decoder Saint Rune had grown even more detailed and effective. Under the probing of the Decoder Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan could faintly see dot after dot of light suddenly begin to emerge... There were a total of 14 light dots. Currently, 58 apertures had already been unblocked in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. If these 14 were added, it just nicely added up to 72... 72 unblocked apertures meant that one had truly stepped into the second level of the Ethereal Form technique. ¡°Although it would be safer to unblock them one by one, it seems that I have no choice but to do them all at one go.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. The Genesis Qi in his body began to churn violently, eventually whizzing through his channels as it charged towards the 14 apertures in succession. Ch! Ch! Apertures were easily unblocked wherever his Genesis Qi passed. All 14 apertures were threaded together by Genesis Qi in a short few breaths. 72 apertures were now completely unblocked. Although the 14 new apertures had yet to be polished and infused with mist essence, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Ethereal Form technique had now just barely reached the second level. And this was already enough. Zhou Yuan raised his gaze, looking towards the figure that was zooming towards the peak, as a certain angle slowly rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Zhu Yue, I¡¯ll show you what the true second level looks like!¡± With a stomp of his foot, the space around him shook. Countless gazes in the vicinity of the mountain looked over in shock and astonishment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was gradually etherealizing, seemingly transforming into a figure made from mist. At a cursory glance, one would only be able to see a blurry silhouette. A storm of noise immediately exploded. ¡°What? Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body has etherealized?!¡± ¡°How can that be?! One needs to be at the second level to achieve that state!¡± ¡°Although it¡¯s quite impossible, the facts are staring right at us¡­¡± ¡°My god¡­¡± ¡°......¡± Overwhelmed voices sounded one after another, everyone completely stupefied as they gazed upon the fully mist like figure. Han Qiushui had covered her mouth with her hands, shock coloring her entire face. Beside her, Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyes flickered with a resplendent light as emotions surged in her heart. ¡°Little Yuan bro is awesome.¡± Uttered a dazed Shen Wanjin. Qiao Xiu also swallowed time and time again. ¡°This guy¡­¡± Yang Xiu¡¯s expression had turned rather serious. Next to him, although Lu Feng did not say anything, his eyes had narrowed slightly. The current Zhou Yuan gave him a faint feeling of danger. Under the countless shocked gazes across the area, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body fully etherealized. His toes pushed off the ground as he transformed into a blurry figure that shot forward at an astonishing speed! Previous Chapte Chapter 246 Obtaining Victory Swish! Every gaze in the area was focused on a single thing. Zhou Yuan fully ethereal figure shot forth like a shadow as a seemingly entire sky¡¯s worth of Genesis Qi knives continuously swept past his body. This time however, the knives seemed to be piercing through mist, unable to amount to much of a hindrance or do any harm to Zhou Yuan. The second level of the Ethereal Form technique had allowed Zhou Yuan¡¯s body to turn completely ethereal. He was now akin to a bundle of mist, ungraspable and formless. His speed had also rose to an alarming level. Numerous disciples could only see a blur shoot past, unable to make out Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. In the short span of a dozen breaths, the gap between Zhou Yuan and Zhu Yue rapidly shrunk. The activity from behind was also detected by Zhu Yue at this moment. His gaze swept back, only to be scared stuff, horror and disbelief filling his eyes. ¡°How is this possible?! How can his body fully etherealize?!¡± Howls of terror and shock rang out in Zhu Yue¡¯s heart. How could it not know that the full etheralization of the body was a mark of stepping in the second level of the Ethereal Form technique. Which was to say, Zhou Yuan had already unblocked 72 apertures! But how could this be?! How long had Zhou Yuan practiced the Ethereal Form technique? Was his talent really at such a monsterous level? Although Zhu Yue had borrowed the power of the Level Breaker Pill to forcibly raise the level of his Ethereal Form technique, it was for one only temporary, second, it had only allowed him to come very close to the second level of the Ethereal Form technique. There was still a gap between this and the true second level. Zhu Yue¡¯s face began to warp and distort, evidently overwhelmed by this information. ¡°Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It must be some kind of trick!¡± Howled Zhu Yue in his heart. The Genesis Qi in his body quickly began to circulate even faster, pouring all of its power into the Ethereal Form technique as he frantically dashed towards the peak. The peak was almost within reach, and he had to reach it first at any cost. If not, he would surely become a laughing stock. Zhu Yue became quicker and quicker, as if squeezing out every ounce of his potential, as he headed straight towards the peak. When the numerous gazes saw that Zhu Yue was about to reach the peak, their hearts leaped to their throats, clearly very anxious. ¡°I¡¯m going to win!¡± ¡°As long as I reach the peak first, I will have won this match!¡± Zhu Yue¡¯s eyes were tightly glued to the rapidly approaching peak. At this current time, nothing else could enter his eyes. The peak grew closer and closer. A hundred feet¡­ sixty feet¡­ thirty feet¡­ ten feet... An almost crazed smile slowly began to emerge from the corners of his lips as the tree at the peak was reflected in his eyes. No matter what happened, he would be able to take everything back as long as he won this match! So what if you have insane talent? I¡¯m the one who will be winning this match! However, when he was only a few feet from the peak, he suddenly heard the piercing sound of rushing wind behind him. The corners of his eyes twitched as his gaze swept to his back, causing his entire body to turn cold as he saw a blurry ethereal figure rapidly approach from behind as if riding on a cloud. In the end, the figure brushed past him in a single step. Their gazes seemed to meet in that very moment. However, Zhu Yue¡¯s was filled with terror, while Zhou Yuan¡¯s remained chilly, not even the slightest ripple to be seen. ¡°NOOO!¡± A cry of misery erupted from Zhu Yue¡¯s mouth. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s ethereal figure had already taken the next step, reaching the peak of the majestic verdant mountain as countless gasps and cries sounded. At the peak was a giant boulder on which Zhou Yuan now stood. His ethereal body gradually returned to normal as he looked down from above, the view of the countless figures dotting the surroundings of the mountain entering his eyes. The instant Zhou Yuan stood on the peak, Zhu Yue¡¯s body stiffened. He stood there, merely a few feet from Zhou Yuan, a dull look in his eyes and his face deathly pale. He never imagined that he would actually lose. In the air, Chen Yuan¡¯s expression had also turned a little ugly at this scene. The corners of his mouth twitched as he cursed inside, ¡°Useless trash!¡± This outcome had also exceeded his expectations. Woah! The vicinity of the mountain was silent for an instant before cries of surprise swept across the sky and land. Stunned looks could be seen on every disciple. They too had not expected the ultimate winner to be Zhou Yuan... An outer mountain disciple had beaten an inner mountain disciple in a Genesis technique match? This was something that had never happened before in the Cangxuan Sect... The sight of the young figure that stood atop the peak made even the proud Shengzhou disciple click their tongues in wonder at this moment. Although they were somewhat unwilling to accept it, the young man from a remote continent had indeed obtained a beautiful victory today. ¡°Wow, this guy is a little too amazing!¡± Han Qiushui¡¯s hands were cupping her pretty face, a tiny trace of admiration in her watery eyes as she dazedly stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. After all, they clearly understood how difficult it was to win an inner mountain disciple even in a Genesis technique match. Gu Hongyi¡¯s snow-whtie chin nodded faintly, a slight smile flowing out from the corners of her lips. Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance was indeed breathtaking. On the huge tree, Zong Ming stood up and moved, appearing directly at the peak. His gaze swept across the deathly pale Zhu Yue as he announced, ¡°The winner of this match is Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°From today onwards, Zhou Yuan will have the right to teach the Ethereal Form technique, while Zhu Yue will be stripped of his Ethereal Form technique instructor status.¡± ¡°You shall return to the inner mountains tomorrow.¡± Zong Ming looked towards Zhu Yue and indifferently said, ¡°Besides this, you broke the rules during the match, so make sure to receive your punishment at the disciplinary hall.¡± He had obviously caught Zhu Yue using a pill during the match. Zhu Yue¡¯s body shook as his complexion paled even further. In the end, his legs turned to jelly as he crumpled to the ground. He never imagined that he would face such a complete defeat this time. As Zong Ming¡¯s voice sounded across the mountains, numerous cheers began to erupt from the surroundings. The disciples that were hoping to receive tutelage from Zhou Yuan even more excited and elated. The other disciples sighed inside. Zhou Yuan was going to become famous after this match. It was likely that no one in the entire outer mountains would continue to look down on him. Yang Xiu looked towards Zhou Yuan with interest as he listened to the cheers that filled the skies. Soon after, he sighed and said, ¡°He does have some ability. If it were a real fight, his speed will be rather troublesome.¡± Lu Feng¡¯s expression remained indifferent. He looked towards Gu Hongyi below, and just happened to catch sight of her looking at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure with a smile. The former¡¯s expression immediately sunk a little. He had used numerous methods in an attempt to deepen their relationship, but there was ultimately no progress. Gu Hongyi did not seem to have any feelings for him. Although he did not know whether Gu Hongyi was really interested in Zhou Yuan, Lu Feng did not like this attitude she had towards him¡­ because Lu Feng himself had never experienced the same thing before. Lu Feng raised his head, looking towards the figure on the peak as his expression darkened slightly. ¡°Zhou Yuan, there are certain things that someone like you does not have the right to even think about¡­ the most important thing for anyone is to know one¡¯s place.¡± ¡°You had best not provoke me.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 247 Nine Dragons Canon The curtains had finally closed on the Genesis technique match. However, the resultant excitement bathed the entire outer mountains for the subsequent few days. After this feat, Zhou Yuan¡¯s name was now well known in the outer mountains. Although many disciples had heard of him at the very beginning, the impression they had was one of mockery and disdain towards him, merely assuming he was a first class disciple that had taken the back door in. Now however, there was no longer contempt in one¡¯s tone when one talked about Zhou Yuan, because that contempt had been replaced by admiration. After all, not just anyone could achieve the feat of winning an inner mountain disciple in a Genesis technique match... After that day, there were busibodies that began to dispute the outer mountain disciple rankings. All of them felt that Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength would be able to enter the top five. The reason why he was not ranked higher was because the Ethereal Form technique highly specialized in speed, while his cultivation was only at the first layer Alpha-Origin. If he were to fight against the higher ranked outer mountain disciples, everyone felt that Zhou Yuan may not be able to win. On the other hand, if Zhou Yuan had faced and won Zhu Yue in a real battle, it was likely that no one would object even if he was ranked first amongst the outer mountain disciples... Even so, Zhou Yuan was now already an existence that could not be ignored in the outer mountains. ... Hidden Scriptures Pavillion, a certain rear mountain lecture hall. Since Zhu Yue had already been sent back to the inner mountain, the lecture hall he originally used was now empty. Hence, elder Zong Ming allocated the hall to Zhou Yuan, giving him permission to teach disciples here. The lecture hall was currently almost bursting with people. Zhou Yuan sat at the center, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. Its snow-white hairs spread, wrapping around the wrist of every disciple. The numerous disciples present wore respectful and solemn looks on their faces. Although there were many people inside, it was peaceful and silent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were closed, his senses reaching out through the brush hairs as the Spirit between his brows twinkled. Ever since Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had reached the Corporeal stage, it had become much easier for him to sense the apertures of others, and he no longer felt as exhausted as before. Likewise, his sensing effectiveness had also grown. Zhou Yuan''s eyes had been shut for a long time. At a certain moment, they suddenly opened as he began directing the Genesis Qi in the many disciples'' bodies, sending it charging towards a certain spot in their bodies. Chch! A faint noise rang out as joy surfaced on the numerous disciples'' faces. Everyone had clearly felt an aperture being unblocked in their bodies. A wave of happiness washed over the lecture hall. Zhou Yuan waved his hand. "Today''s session shall end here. All of you should polish and complete your newly unblocked apertures after leaving." The numerous disciples rose upon hearing this, respectfully cupping their hands together at Zhou Yuan, before leaving one after another with excited expressions. Zhou Yuan stretched his back, easing the tension between his bones. Giving guidance every day was a dry and boring task, and he definitely would not do it if not for the Genesis jade. Most importantly, it was cutting into his own training time. Hence why he had yet to complete the 14 apertures he had unblocked in the match with Zhu Yue. The disciples scattered, leaving only a single pretty figure behind. It was naturally Gu Hongyi. She grinned widely as she gazed at Zhou Yuan and said, "Hey, everyone else has unblocked an aperture today, but there¡¯s nothing on my end¡­¡± Zhou Yuan shot a helpless look at her. ¡°You¡¯ve already reached the first level, it''s only natural that sensing your apertures is more difficult.¡± Gu Hongyi had fully completed 36 apertures two days ago, allowing her to reach the first level of the Ethereal Form technique. However, she was clearly unsatisfied with this result, hence wanting to continue onwards to the second level under Zhou Yuan¡¯s guidance. Gu Hongyi pitifully looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°But you promised me.¡± ¡°Stop faking it.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head in an annoyed manner. Someone like Gu Hongyi was clearly unable to pull off a convincing pitiful act. Gu Hongyi glared at him, before she placed her hands on her hips and pretended to be fierce. ¡°Kid, if you dare to break your promise, just wait and see how I¡¯ll punish you.¡± Towards the end, she could not help but break out into a smile. Zhou Yuan sighed. He really could not be bothered with her antics. He stood up and walked towards the exit as he said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you some special service later, I really can¡¯t afford to offend you after all.¡± Gu Hongyi was indeed pretty talented, and had a powerful background. She would definitely become a core member of the Cangxuan Sect in the future, plus her character was not bad. Therefore, Zhou Yuan did not mind having her as a friend. Only then did Gu Hongyi let out a soft, satisfied laugh. The corners of her lips could not help but raise slightly at the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s helpless appearance. Though he was ferocious and ruthless in battle, he was very easy-going most of the time. ¡°I¡¯ll be making a trip to the Hidden Scriptures House to borrow a Genesis technique.¡± Zhou Yuan began to head towards the Hidden Scriptures House, his goal this time obviously the high grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Nine Dragons Canon, that he had been eyeing for so long. After reaching the second level of the Ethereal Form technique, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel his rate of progress take a rather sharp dip. Even with the aid of the Decoder Saint Rune, he would need a long time to reach the third level. Hence, it just so happened that Zhou Yuan now had time to spare to learn the Nine Dragons Canon. It was almost two months since they arrived at the Cangxuan Sect, and only a single month was left till the peak selection ceremony. It was said that only the top ten disciples would gain the right to choose their peaks. Therefore, Zhou Yuan needed to ensure he was part of this top ten group, or it would become very troublesome for him to find the second Saint Rune in the Saint Genesis Peak if he was allocated to one of the other peaks. ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you!¡± Go Hongyi skipped towards him with her hands behind her back. The duo passed through the rear mountain, and entered the Hidden Scriptures House. Zhou Yuan¡¯s objective was clear, heading directly towards the Nine Dragons Canon. The Nine Dragons Canon jade strip was still hovering in the same spot, no indication of anyone touching it. This was because high grade little Heaven tier techniques were much pricier than their counterparts, so very few disciples would come to select the Nine Dragons Canon. ¡°Borrowing it once costs 600 Genesis jade pieces.¡± Zhou Yuan involuntarily wet his lips when he saw the price. It was much higher than the Ethereal Form technique. If not for the tidy income he received from giving guidance on the Ethereal Form technique, he would not be able to afford it. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze filled with burning excitement as he grasped the jade strip. In contrast to the speed based Ethereal Form technique, the Nine Dragons Canon was a pure attack type technique that boasted astonishing power. If he mastered it, it would definitely be a huge boost his battle power. ¡°You really know how to choose. It¡¯s said that this Nine Dragons Canon is extremely powerful, but is also very difficult to learn. Even amongst the inner mountain disciples, there are not many who practice this technique.¡± Gu Hongyi was somewhat surprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s choice. Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not say anything, grabbing the jade strip instead as he prepared to register his loan. The two laughed and chatted as they proceeded to the counter, when Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps paused all of a sudden. He had seen a figure dressed entirely in white that brimmed with confidence and elegance. It was Lu Feng. He also seemed to be here to select a Genesis technique. Upon hearing the activity behind him, he turned slightly and saw the Zhou Yuan and Gu Hongyi walking together. The hand grasping the jade strip seemed to tighten substantially. His eyes narrowed slightly, before he displayed a warm smile towards Gu Hongyi. Gu Hongyi frowned slightly, but she still gave him a small nod. Lu Feng¡¯s gaze did not even once look towards Zhou Yuan. The former withdrew his gaze, received the now recorded jade strip and walked out of the Hidden Scriptures House. Zhou Yuan could feel that Lu Feng was purposely ignoring him, but he did not display any unhappiness. His expression remained ordinary as he walked forward and handed the Nine Dragons Canon jade strip to the middle-aged man behind the counter. The middle-aged man was clearly somewhat surprised that he wanted to borrow the Nine Dragons Canon, but the former still helped him record it down. After keeping the jade strip, Zhou Yuan and Gu Hongyi left the Hidden Scriptures House. The two had already arranged the evening training venue, hence, they each left in their respective directions. Zhou Yuan leisurely walked on the mountain path, when his footsteps suddenly stopped. His gaze looked to his front, where a figure dressed in white was standing with his hand behind his back. Who else could it be but Lu Feng. Lu Feng slowly turned around, a fear inducing iciness spreading from his usually indifferent eyes. He stared at Zhou Yuan as a faint voice echoed across the mountain path. "Zhou Yuan¡­" "Did winning an inner mountain disciple in a Genesis technique match give you the courage to think that you can now trample over me?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 248 Conflic t On the mountain path. Zhou Yuan frowned as he looked towards his front where Lu Feng stood with a hand behind his back, eyes suffused with iciness as he stared at the former. Although there was not much apparent disdain in Lu Feng¡¯s eyes, Zhou Yuan could feel an arrogance that transcended everyone else, the way he looked at others always containing contempt. A gaze like this was even more detestable than disdain that one showed on the face, because it meant that no matter what you did, he would always feel that he is better than you. Therefore, Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°First things first, you and I have never even talked before this. As for trampling over you, I have zero interest¡­¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t feel that there¡¯s anything great about it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the type to stir up trouble, so I hope that trouble does not come knocking at my door either. But if some opinionated fellow voluntarily sticks his head out, I wouldn¡¯t mind stepping on his head for a bit.¡± ¡°So can you step aside and let me pass?¡± A faint, sharp light was present in his eyes as he stared at Lu Feng. Lu Fung was stunned, seemingly unable to comprehend that Zhou Yuan would not only show no fear, but instead so directly come at him with such sharp, stinging words. ¡°Ah¡­¡± A dark look rose within Lu Feng¡¯s already cold eyes. He stared at Zhou Yuan and pondered for a brief moment, before asking, ¡°... what exactly is it that makes you think you can speak in such a manner to me?¡± ¡°Is it because you won an inner mountain disciple in a Genesis technique match?¡± Lu Feng slowly walked forward, standing right in front of Zhou Yuan, the two now mere feet apart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s youthful, impassive face was reflected in the Lu Feng¡¯s cold eyes as he softly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you may have been able to ride roughshod over everyone in the tiny continent you came from, fully enjoying the status of a genius, but you need to recognize exactly where you are now¡­¡± ¡°This is the Shengzhou Continent, the Cangxuan Sect¡­¡± ¡°The one who stands before you comes from the Shengzhou Lu clan. My clan is of noble lineage in the Shengzhou Continent¡­ a level that you probably do not even know of.¡± ¡°I have a senior that is an elder in the Sword Cometh Peak, and an elder sister in my clan is the personal disciple of the Sword Cometh Peak master¡­¡± Lu Feng stared at Zhou Yuan in interest. Every word that was spat from his mouth seemed to bring with it an indescribable pressure. He obviously wanted to show that his background and relations from far from anything a no good Zhou Yuan could compare to. If it was any other ordinary disciple, hearing Lu Feng¡¯s words would likely give rise to fear in his heart. Unfortunately, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes remained calm from start to end, not even the slightest ripple to be seen. Seeing no response of any sort from Zhou Yuan, Lu Feng seemed to believe that the former was stunned and awed. An almost undetectable curve slowly lifted from the corners of his lips as he reached out a hand to gently pat Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°So can I ask you to keep your distance from Hongyi?¡± When it was mere inches from Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, Lu Feng¡¯s hand was grabbed by Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Zhou Yuan¡¯s stared at Lu Feng, frowning as he said, ¡°I originally believed that you should at least have some ability as the person recognized as number one in the outer mountains. I never expected that you would be so pathetic¡­¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Lu Feng¡¯s eyes darkened. As Zhou Yuan grabbed the former¡¯s hand, he shook his head and said, ¡°If you had talked about your own capabilities, I would have at least given a little recognition. But you ended up parading all of so-called background and relations. So what if your clan is powerful? Can it control the Cangxuan Sect?¡± ¡°If it could, why would you need to say so much nonsense. You could have just kick me out long ago.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, your so-called background has no effect on me.¡± Disdain slowly rose from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth as he gazed at the cold expression on Lu Feng¡¯s face and said, ¡°Lu Feng, Gu Hongyi is only practicing the Ethereal Form technique with me. If you can change her mind about it, feel free to go find her.¡± ¡°As for me, since I¡¯ve accepted her tuition fees, I will definitely teach her if she comes.¡± ¡°With regards to what you think, I don¡¯t have the tiniest bit of interest.¡± ¡°If you really intend to do something, go ahead and take action. There¡¯s no need for you to put on an act and come warn me time and time again. As for your so-called background, if you are really able to beg for their help, feel free to¡­¡± Every word from Zhou Yuan made Lu Feng¡¯s expression turn a little stormier and darker. By the time the final word was said, a storm was already long brewing on his handsome face. Zhou Yuan blunt words had made Lu Feng feel extremely humiliated. He could not understand why a kid without any background at all would dare to speak in such a manner towards him?! ¡°I had originally intended to use the common people methods of people like Zhu Feng and Zhu Yue to make you understand that you should back off, but from what I can see, someone like you will only cry upon seeing the coffin!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you want to die, I will grant your wish!¡± Lu Feng¡¯s eyes turned terrifyingly cold. A split second later berserk and ferocious Genesis Qi violently exploded from his body. ¡°I wonder what kind of punishment I¡¯ll receive after I beat you to death today?¡± Rumble! The ground below his feet cracked open at this moment. Lu Feng¡¯s five fingers turned into a fist as he sent a punch flying. Space around it distorted slightly as robust Genesis Qi surged, like thunder as it swung straight towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly, his body immediately etherealization as he drifted back like mist. Lu Feng¡¯s punch may have been akin to a sudden and violent storm, but Zhou Yuan was long prepared for it. With the Ethereal Form, he completely avoided all the punch winds. Boom! However, there were still punch winds that ignored space and surged towards him. Zhou Yuan immediately opened his mouth and spat out a gush of golden Genesis Qi, blocking these punch winds. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you today that no matter how fast you can run, you¡¯re ultimately only a rabbit to be hunted!¡± Lu Feng¡¯s expression was eerily cold. The tip of his foot pushed off the ground, his speed rapidly soaring as he pounced at Zhou Yuan. Rumble! Berserk Genesis Qi continuously erupted from his body, falling many giant trees in the vicinity. Zhou Yuan coldy snorted as he gazed at Lu Feng, who was about to use his full power. Genesis Qi also exploded from the former¡¯s body, golden Genesis Qi dashing out from the top of his head, faintly forming the silhouette of a giant golden python in the air above. ¡°Lu Feng, you¡¯d better stop!¡± However, a sudden rage filled shout suddenly rang out the moment Lu Feng charged forward as a fiery-red whip descended from the sky, viciously flicking towards him. Pah! The air cracked under the whip. Lu Feng¡¯s figure paused for a moment, before he drifted backwards. He raised his head, only to see Gu Hongyi standing on a nearby boulder with a fuming look on her pretty face. Flames burned on the scarlet-red whip in her hand, melting the ground around her. Gu Hongyi¡¯s voice was fierce and stern. ¡°Lu Feng, if you keep trying such things behind my back, I will not easily let you off even if our families have some ties.¡± Lu Feng frowned, and indifferently replied, ¡°Hongyi, it¡¯s just a quarrel between me and him.¡± ¡°As a senior disciple, I should teach my junior how to act properly. If I don¡¯t, given junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude, he will draw even more trouble to him in the future.¡± However, he shook his head, knowing that there was no longer anything he could do to Zhou Yuan today now that Gu Hongyi was here. The Genesis Qi around the former gradually withdrew as Lu Feng frostily looked towards Zhou Yuan and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, ¡°Zhou Yuan, she may be able to protect you now, but she can¡¯t protect you forever¡­¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re so unyielding¡­ I¡¯ll make sure to properly play with you. But you must be careful not to be toyed to death by me¡­¡± After the final word, Lu Feng turned around and left. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the former leave. A dangerou light flickered within his eyes as he mumbled to himself, ¡°Lu Feng¡­¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t joking with you either. If you do decide to stick out your head¡­¡± ¡°I will really step on it.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 249 Splitting the Quotas Chapter 249 Allocation The hostile atmosphere on the mountain path faded following Lu Feng¡¯s departure as the churning Genesis Qi gradually calmed down. Gu Hongyi flew to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. She bit her red lips as she watched Lu Feng leave, before looking towards Zhou Yuan with apology in her eyes. How could she not know that she was the reason why Lu Feng had attacked Zhou Yuan. If she had not practiced the Ethereal Form technique with Zhou Yuan, Lu Feng would not be hostile towards the former. Zhou Yuan smiled at Gu Hongyi as he waved his hand. ¡°Our characters conflict with each other. Even with you out of the picture, a clash will likely be unavoidable in the future.¡± Lu Feng was just too damned arrogant, believing himself far superior to others. He may appear uncaring and nonchalant on the surface, but the truth was that he looked down on everyone else, and even more so the non Shengzhou disciples. Many disciples would show a lowelier posture when they encountered Lu Feng, but this was something Zhou Yuan could not do. In addition, although he was not someone that constantly seeked out trouble, he did have his own sharp edge. Once Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng came into contact, the two would be akin to two needles, making the other uncomfortable. Therefore, Zhou Yuan felt that even without Gu Hongyi, conflict would easily arise between him and Lu Feng. However, Gu Hongyi took it as if Zhou Yuan was only consoling her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, although Lu Feng does have some powerful and influential people behind him, if he dares to deal with your through them, I will not just stand by and watch.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, ¡°He only brought them up to intimidate me. Given his proud character, it would be humiliating for him to seek their help just to deal with me.¡± Gu Hongyi gave a slight nod of agreement. She hesitated somewhat, before she asked, ¡°Then¡­ will I still be able to learn the Ethereal Form technique with you?¡± She was not someone who liked to implicate others, but without Zhou Yuan¡¯s aid, a lot more time and effort would be needed for her to reach the second level of the Ethereal Form technique. Zhou Yuan laughed softly before he responded, ¡°I just said earlier that as long as you¡¯re willing to come, I¡¯ll be willing to teach. No one can change my mind.¡± He did indeed hope to create ties with Gu Hongyi. After all, it no good to only offend others, friends were also very important. Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyes seemed to give off a happy glow. Zhou Yuan¡¯s decision to continue guiding her also meant that he was ignoring the pressure from Lu Feng. From a certain point of view, it meant that Zhou Yuan had chosen her over Lu Feng. However, she would not let Zhou Yuan bear the pressure from Lu Feng. ¡°Zhou Yuan, if Lu Feng tries anything funny, feel free to come find me. I will settle him for you.¡± Declared Gu Hongyi. Zhou Yuan did not reply when he heard this, merely smiling in response. ¡°As long as he does not shameless bring out all the people he spoke of earlier, I''ll receive any moves he comes at me with. It just so happens that I''m also interested to experience for myself how good our number one outer mountain disciple is." Although his tone was calm, there was a faint iciness contained deep within it. The things Lu Feng had done today had clearly already angered Zhou Yuan. Upon hearing that Zhou Yuan intended to cross swords with Lu Feng, worry bubbled within Gu Hongyi as she hurriedly tried to caution him. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate him. Lu Feng is very strong, and has a tremendous amount of rallying power amongst the Shengzhou disciples.¡± ¡°Relax, I will not underestimate anyone. Although Lu Feng is strong, if he believes I¡¯m a soft persimmon, I¡¯m afraid that he will crack his teeth¡­¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand, indicating he did not wish to speak any further on the topic. He then continued on his way along the mountain path. As she watched him leave, Gu Hongyi clenched her teeth as she mumbled, ¡°Why are you trying to act cool at a time like this¡­¡± She then turned her head, looking towards the direction Lu Feng had left in earlier as iciness flitted across her eyes. ¡°Lu Feng, you¡¯d better not push your luck. You should know of my temper¡­¡± ... Night enveloped the outer mountains. However, numerous figures were gathered in a certain little house. The most eye-catching amongst the group was a young man dressed in white, Lu Feng. Lu Feng sat in the center, the surrounding gazes containing a trace of respect when they looked towards him. As the undisputed number one amongst the outer mountain disciples, Lu Feng commanded a tremendous amount of support and respect amongst the outer mountain disciples. There were currently dozens of disciples present, all of whom were first class disciples while also from the Shengzhou continent. They could be said to be the elites amongst this batch of outer mountain disciples, making them the strongest disciple faction in the outer mountains when gathered like this. In the face of their might, any of the other outer mountain groups could only give way. ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to invite us over old Lu. There must be something you want to tell us today, right?¡± Yang Xiu had a wide grin plastered across his face. He was likely the only one present who could address Lu Feng in this manner. After all, although he was less talented than Lu Feng, he was no slouch either. In addition, the Yang clan he came from was a powerful faction in the Shengzhou continent. ¡°If there¡¯s anything we can do for brother Lu, feel free to let know.¡± An intimidating young man smiled from the side. His name was Qin Zhen, and he was one of the more well known figures amongst the outer mountain disciples, while also ranked sixth amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples. If one were to sweep one¡¯s gaze across the group at this moment, one would be surprised to see nearly half the ten great outer mountain disciples present. The other disciples nodded and agreed in succession. Lu Feng softly chuckled, reaching out a hand to call for silence. His gaze swept around the group as he said, ¡°There is only a month before the peak selection ceremony.¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions tensed a little, clearly understanding the importance of the ceremony. It was an event that would determine their future prospects in the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the one who takes first place will be rewarded by the sect. The ultimate winner will not only be given a Heaven Genesis technique, but they have even made an exception this time and decided to also bestow the champion a single Genesis Marrow Baptism.¡± Upon hearing Lu Feng¡¯s words, the surroundings burst into noise, everyone¡¯s eyes now burning with desire. ¡°To think that it would be Genesis Marrow Baptism!¡± Yang Xiu clicked his tongue in amazement. ¡°It¡¯s said that only purple sash disciples get to enjoy such a thing. It is very precious and valuable indeed.¡± Yang Xiu¡¯s words made the disciples that had yet to fully understand lick their lips in desire. Purple sash disciples. That was the highest rank in the inner mountains. ¡°But first place will definitely end up with brother Lu.¡± Someone sighed. Although they coveted the first place reward, they were well aware of their worth. With Lu Feng participating, none of them would be able to compete. Lu Feng chuckled. ¡°Besides first place, anyone who enters the top ten will be able to directly become gold sash inner mountain disciples. If they become purple sash disciples in the future, they will also get to taste the Genesis Marrow Baptism.¡± The young man called Qin Zhen rubbed his chin and said, ¡°But the competition for top ten will be very intense. There are quite a few capable individuals in this batch of outer mountain disciples.¡± ¡°Yeah, some of the riff-raff other continents are pretty good.¡± Added in someone else. Lu Feng said, ¡°I¡¯ve gathered everyone here today for this very matter.¡± His gaze swept across the crowd as he continued, ¡°The peak selection ceremony will be a fierce contest, hence, I intend to fix the top ten spots so as to prevent any unnecessary fighting.¡± Everyone looked to each other, evidently not understanding what he meant. What right did they have as disciples to fix the top ten spots? ¡°Do we have the right to fix the top ten spots?¡± Asked an uncertain voice asked. ¡°Whoever has the harder fist will have the right.¡± Lu Feng smiled faintly. ¡°We Shengzhou disciples will take eight of the top ten spots. The other two will be thrown for the other continent disciples to fight over.¡± The crowd¡¯s eyes brightened. If they could occupy eight spots, it would undoubtedly be great news for them. However, eight seemed to be a little too much. Qin Zhen could not help but ask, ¡°Will the other continent disciples agree?¡± One had no choice but to admit that there were more disciples from the other continents. Although they could not compare in quality, it would not be easy to convince so many of them to fight for just two spots. Lu Feng smiled slightly and said, ¡°Anyone who disagrees can come and find me.¡± ¡°Brother Lu is so domineering!¡± The others gave him a thumbs-up, already unable to restrain their excitement. From the looks of it, Lu Feng intended to forcibly occupy eight spots for the Shengzhou disciples. ¡°Since we have come to an agreement, if anyone does not follow the rules during the peak selection ceremony, we¡¯ll just have to expel him or her¡­¡± Lu Feng¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. The numerous Shengzhou disciples exchanged a look, before all of them said, ¡°Everything shall be as brother Lu says.¡± Lu Feng nodded, before he said in an uncaring manner, ¡°Besides this, if the other continent disciples have any opinions, tell them that all of this started because of Zhou Yuan.¡± This was undoubtedly forcing the other continent disciples to grow resentful towards Zhou Yuan. Only now were the many disciples struck by a flash of understanding. So Zhou Yuan had offended brother Lu... ¡°Don¡¯t worry brother Lu, that kid has been growing too big headed recently. It is time to let him know exactly who calls the shots in the outer mountains¡­¡± Lu Feng chuckled as he gazed upon the group now filled with righteous indignation. He raised his head, his cold eyes looking towards a certain mountain creek far away. ¡°Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan. Look at me, I only need to arrange a few things to make everyone your enemy¡­¡± ¡°I heard that you intend to take one of the top ten spots in the peak selection ceremony?¡± ¡°Hehe, since that is so, you will only be able to contest for those two spots. I hope that you will not drown in the saliva from everyone¡¯s cursing when that happens¡­¡± ¡°As for the other eight, if you dare to touch them, there won¡¯t even be a need for me to take action. These Shengzhou disciples will ensure you¡¯re beaten black and blue¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 249 Allocation The hostile atmosphere on the mountain path faded following Lu Feng¡¯s departure as the churning Genesis Qi gradually calmed down. Gu Hongyi flew to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. She bit her red lips as she watched Lu Feng leave, before looking towards Zhou Yuan with apology in her eyes. How could she not know that she was the reason why Lu Feng had attacked Zhou Yuan. If she had not practiced the Ethereal Form technique with Zhou Yuan, Lu Feng would not be hostile towards the former. Zhou Yuan smiled at Gu Hongyi as he waved his hand. ¡°Our characters conflict with each other. Even with you out of the picture, a clash will likely be unavoidable in the future.¡± Lu Feng was just too damned arrogant, believing himself far superior to others. He may appear uncaring and nonchalant on the surface, but the truth was that he looked down on everyone else, and even more so the non Shengzhou disciples. Many disciples would show a lowelier posture when they encountered Lu Feng, but this was something Zhou Yuan could not do. In addition, although he was not someone that constantly seeked out trouble, he did have his own sharp edge. Once Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng came into contact, the two would be akin to two needles, making the other uncomfortable. Therefore, Zhou Yuan felt that even without Gu Hongyi, conflict would easily arise between him and Lu Feng. However, Gu Hongyi took it as if Zhou Yuan was only consoling her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, although Lu Feng does have some powerful and influential people behind him, if he dares to deal with your through them, I will not just stand by and watch.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, ¡°He only brought them up to intimidate me. Given his proud character, it would be humiliating for him to seek their help just to deal with me.¡± Gu Hongyi gave a slight nod of agreement. She hesitated somewhat, before she asked, ¡°Then¡­ will I still be able to learn the Ethereal Form technique with you?¡± She was not someone who liked to implicate others, but without Zhou Yuan¡¯s aid, a lot more time and effort would be needed for her to reach the second level of the Ethereal Form technique. Zhou Yuan laughed softly before he responded, ¡°I just said earlier that as long as you¡¯re willing to come, I¡¯ll be willing to teach. No one can change my mind.¡± He did indeed hope to create ties with Gu Hongyi. After all, it no good to only offend others, friends were also very important. Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyes seemed to give off a happy glow. Zhou Yuan¡¯s decision to continue guiding her also meant that he was ignoring the pressure from Lu Feng. From a certain point of view, it meant that Zhou Yuan had chosen her over Lu Feng. However, she would not let Zhou Yuan bear the pressure from Lu Feng. ¡°Zhou Yuan, if Lu Feng tries anything funny, feel free to come find me. I will settle him for you.¡± Declared Gu Hongyi. Zhou Yuan did not reply when he heard this, merely smiling in response. ¡°As long as he does not shameless bring out all the people he spoke of earlier, I''ll receive any moves he comes at me with. It just so happens that I''m also interested to experience for myself how good our number one outer mountain disciple is." Although his tone was calm, there was a faint iciness contained deep within it. The things Lu Feng had done today had clearly already angered Zhou Yuan. Upon hearing that Zhou Yuan intended to cross swords with Lu Feng, worry bubbled within Gu Hongyi as she hurriedly tried to caution him. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t underestimate him. Lu Feng is very strong, and has a tremendous amount of rallying power amongst the Shengzhou disciples.¡± ¡°Relax, I will not underestimate anyone. Although Lu Feng is strong, if he believes I¡¯m a soft persimmon, I¡¯m afraid that he will crack his teeth¡­¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand, indicating he did not wish to speak any further on the topic. He then continued on his way along the mountain path. As she watched him leave, Gu Hongyi clenched her teeth as she mumbled, ¡°Why are you trying to act cool at a time like this¡­¡± She then turned her head, looking towards the direction Lu Feng had left in earlier as iciness flitted across her eyes. ¡°Lu Feng, you¡¯d better not push your luck. You should know of my temper¡­¡± ... Night enveloped the outer mountains. However, numerous figures were gathered in a certain little house. The most eye-catching amongst the group was a young man dressed in white, Lu Feng. Lu Feng sat in the center, the surrounding gazes containing a trace of respect when they looked towards him. As the undisputed number one amongst the outer mountain disciples, Lu Feng commanded a tremendous amount of support and respect amongst the outer mountain disciples. There were currently dozens of disciples present, all of whom were first class disciples while also from the Shengzhou continent. They could be said to be the elites amongst this batch of outer mountain disciples, making them the strongest disciple faction in the outer mountains when gathered like this. In the face of their might, any of the other outer mountain groups could only give way. ¡°It¡¯s rare for you to invite us over old Lu. There must be something you want to tell us today, right?¡± Yang Xiu had a wide grin plastered across his face. He was likely the only one present who could address Lu Feng in this manner. After all, although he was less talented than Lu Feng, he was no slouch either. In addition, the Yang clan he came from was a powerful faction in the Shengzhou continent. ¡°If there¡¯s anything we can do for brother Lu, feel free to let know.¡± An intimidating young man smiled from the side. His name was Qin Zhen, and he was one of the more well known figures amongst the outer mountain disciples, while also ranked sixth amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples. If one were to sweep one¡¯s gaze across the group at this moment, one would be surprised to see nearly half the ten great outer mountain disciples present. The other disciples nodded and agreed in succession. Lu Feng softly chuckled, reaching out a hand to call for silence. His gaze swept around the group as he said, ¡°There is only a month before the peak selection ceremony.¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions tensed a little, clearly understanding the importance of the ceremony. It was an event that would determine their future prospects in the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the one who takes first place will be rewarded by the sect. The ultimate winner will not only be given a Heaven Genesis technique, but they have even made an exception this time and decided to also bestow the champion a single Genesis Marrow Baptism.¡± Upon hearing Lu Feng¡¯s words, the surroundings burst into noise, everyone¡¯s eyes now burning with desire. ¡°To think that it would be Genesis Marrow Baptism!¡± Yang Xiu clicked his tongue in amazement. ¡°It¡¯s said that only purple sash disciples get to enjoy such a thing. It is very precious and valuable indeed.¡± Yang Xiu¡¯s words made the disciples that had yet to fully understand lick their lips in desire. Purple sash disciples. That was the highest rank in the inner mountains. ¡°But first place will definitely end up with brother Lu.¡± Someone sighed. Although they coveted the first place reward, they were well aware of their worth. With Lu Feng participating, none of them would be able to compete. Lu Feng chuckled. ¡°Besides first place, anyone who enters the top ten will be able to directly become gold sash inner mountain disciples. If they become purple sash disciples in the future, they will also get to taste the Genesis Marrow Baptism.¡± The young man called Qin Zhen rubbed his chin and said, ¡°But the competition for top ten will be very intense. There are quite a few capable individuals in this batch of outer mountain disciples.¡± ¡°Yeah, some of the riff-raff other continents are pretty good.¡± Added in someone else. Lu Feng said, ¡°I¡¯ve gathered everyone here today for this very matter.¡± His gaze swept across the crowd as he continued, ¡°The peak selection ceremony will be a fierce contest, hence, I intend to fix the top ten spots so as to prevent any unnecessary fighting.¡± Everyone looked to each other, evidently not understanding what he meant. What right did they have as disciples to fix the top ten spots? ¡°Do we have the right to fix the top ten spots?¡± Asked an uncertain voice asked. ¡°Whoever has the harder fist will have the right.¡± Lu Feng smiled faintly. ¡°We Shengzhou disciples will take eight of the top ten spots. The other two will be thrown for the other continent disciples to fight over.¡± The crowd¡¯s eyes brightened. If they could occupy eight spots, it would undoubtedly be great news for them. However, eight seemed to be a little too much. Qin Zhen could not help but ask, ¡°Will the other continent disciples agree?¡± One had no choice but to admit that there were more disciples from the other continents. Although they could not compare in quality, it would not be easy to convince so many of them to fight for just two spots. Lu Feng smiled slightly and said, ¡°Anyone who disagrees can come and find me.¡± ¡°Brother Lu is so domineering!¡± The others gave him a thumbs-up, already unable to restrain their excitement. From the looks of it, Lu Feng intended to forcibly occupy eight spots for the Shengzhou disciples. ¡°Since we have come to an agreement, if anyone does not follow the rules during the peak selection ceremony, we¡¯ll just have to expel him or her¡­¡± Lu Feng¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. The numerous Shengzhou disciples exchanged a look, before all of them said, ¡°Everything shall be as brother Lu says.¡± Lu Feng nodded, before he said in an uncaring manner, ¡°Besides this, if the other continent disciples have any opinions, tell them that all of this started because of Zhou Yuan.¡± This was undoubtedly forcing the other continent disciples to grow resentful towards Zhou Yuan. Only now were the many disciples struck by a flash of understanding. So Zhou Yuan had offended brother Lu... ¡°Don¡¯t worry brother Lu, that kid has been growing too big headed recently. It is time to let him know exactly who calls the shots in the outer mountains¡­¡± Lu Feng chuckled as he gazed upon the group now filled with righteous indignation. He raised his head, his cold eyes looking towards a certain mountain creek far away. ¡°Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan. Look at me, I only need to arrange a few things to make everyone your enemy¡­¡± ¡°I heard that you intend to take one of the top ten spots in the peak selection ceremony?¡± ¡°Hehe, since that is so, you will only be able to contest for those two spots. I hope that you will not drown in the saliva from everyone¡¯s cursing when that happens¡­¡± ¡°As for the other eight, if you dare to touch them, there won¡¯t even be a need for me to take action. These Shengzhou disciples will ensure you¡¯re beaten black and blue¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 250 Dragon Type Genesis Beast Essence Blood Time galloped past like a white steed, swiftly passing in the outer mountains. Unknowingly, there was now gradually only a month left of the initial three month period before the peak selection ceremony. Due to this, the atmosphere covering the entire outer mountains seemed to become tenser. Numerous disciples were desperately training, working hard in hopes that they would be able to raise their strength to better their chances of getting a good placing in the peak selection ceremony, while also hopefully catching the eye of some of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s teacher seniors, and obtain good cultivation prospects. After all, numerous high level personal would be present on the day of the peak selection ceremony, making it an excellent chance to display one¡¯s abilities. As such, the atmosphere in the outer mountains was no longer as relaxed as before during this period, even the air itself seemingly filled with a tense feeling. If they were not training on Genesis Mountain, everyone would be in one of the many lecture halls working on their Genesis techniques, all of the sake of growing stronger... Zhou Yuan was likewise no exception. The time he had now everyday was exceptionally enriched with activities; training on Genesis Mountain, giving Genesis technique guidance, studying the recently acquired Nine Dragons Canon. Of course, after his Spirit had stepped into the Corporeal stage, he had also begun to make some time to learn grade 4 Genesis Runes from Yaoyao... Although he was certain he would get into the top ten, he knew that there were many capable individuals in the outer mountains, and if he were to become complacent, he would likely be surpassed at any time. Hence, Zhou Yuan maintained a vigilant state of mind, now allowing himself to relax as he invested all his time and effort into improving himself... After all, Zhou Yuan was well aware of his goal; to make use of the excellent training conditions here to raise his cultivation to the Divine Dwelling stage in the shortest possible time. Back in the Cangmang Continent, the Great Zhou Empire eyed like prey by the Great Wu Empire. The ambitious king Wu had definitely already turned his eyes to the Great Zhou Empire ever since Wu Huang¡¯s blessing had been taken back by Zhou Yuan. Once king Wu found an opportunity, the Great Zhou Empire would surely face a calamity once again. Hence, if Zhou Yuan did not the Great Zhou Empire to be destroyed when he returned, he needed to make use of every second he had to strengthen himself... ... On the balcony of a certain little house. Zhou Yuan was seated in a pool of sunshine, his eyes lightly shut as he held the Nine Dragons Canon jade strip in his hand. His mind entered the strip as he immersed himself in its marvels. After a long time had passed, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slowly opened. He had been trying to comprehend this high grade Heaven Genesis technique for several days, and was gradually beginning to grasp the important points. Zhou Yuan gazed at the jade strip as he mumbled to himself, ¡°This technique is fantastic¡­¡± According to what was written in the jade strip, a unique method was needed to practice the Nine Dragons Canon. It required one to refine nine different dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood, and meld them together into a Genesis technique mark, before branding it on the Qi Dwelling. Once learnt, one would be able to form dragons with one¡¯s Genesis Qi in battle. At the advanced level, nine dragons could be sent out that boasted extremely overwhelming power that was almost comparable to a true Heaven tier technique. The most amazing thing about it, was that the higher grade the essence blood, the more powerful the technique would be. ¡°However, the difficulty lies in refining the dragon type Genesis Qi essence blood¡­ such essence blood will surely be violent and untameable. If fused into the body, the slightest negligence would give it the chance to erode and invade the body. Hence, one would need absolute control over it.¡± Those that could be considered dragon type Genesis Beasts were definitely not weak. The essence blood of such Genesis Beasts was extremely berserk, and ordinary people would not dare to fuse it into one¡¯s body. Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a brief moment, before shaking his head, deciding not to think too much about it. It seems that he had to make a trip to the Glittering Jewels Pavillion. He should be able to find the essence blood he required there. With these thoughts in mind, he decided to act. He left the balcony and walked down the steps to the first floor. In front of the little house, Yaoyao also followed with Tuntun upon hearing that he was going to the Glittering Jewels Pavilion. She was tagging along purely because there were many items in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion, and maybe even some good alcohol... The Glittering Jewels Pavilion was located on one of the central peaks. The giant octagonal building seemed to spread outwards like some kind of behemoth, while wind chimes could be seen hanging at all eight corners. When the wind blew, a clear tinkling sound would spread that was extremely pleasing to the ear. This was likewise one of the most popular places in the outer mountains, and was frequented by numerous disciples. After all, there were many treasures inside, and people would occasionally find themselves shopping here for an entire day. After entering, Zhou Yuan left Yaoyao to her own devices, while he went to seek out one of the servants girls. ¡°I need dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood, the higher the rank the better!¡± Zhou Yuan generously declared as if money was something he did not lack. After all, being an instructor of a Genesis technique had indeed recently made him rather wealthy. The servant girl was initially stunned by his words. Soon after, she sweetly said, ¡°Please follow me, I will find the manager for you.¡± Hence, the servant girl led Zhou Yuan into one of the inner rooms to be seated. Zhou Yuan waited inside for a while, and a middle-aged man soon entered. He smiled as he sized-up Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°I am Cao Jin, a manager of the Glittering Jewels Pavillion. Young brother Zhou Yuan has become quite a popular figure in the outer mountains recently.¡± Although Cao Jin was a manager at the Glittering Jewels Pavillion, he was also an outer mountain disciple. It was due to his age that he had been assigned here. ¡°I heard that young brother Zhou Yuan wants dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood?¡± Cao Jin smiled. ¡°You must be intending to practice the Nine Dragons Canon, right?¡± Although there were not many disciples currently who could practice the Nine Dragons Canon, there were ultimately still a number of them. It was obvious that they had also come to the Glittering Jewels Pavillion in search for dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood. Zhou Yuan nodded as he cupped his fists together. ¡°I¡¯ll be troubling manager Cao.¡± ¡°Not a problem.¡± Cao Jun chuckled. With a wave of his hand, a servant girl brought in a silver plate on which sat three jade bottles. The bottles were crystal clear, the viscous scarlet liquid within giving off a faint berserk aura. ¡°These are the essence blood of the Yin Python, Three-headed Flame Snake, and the Fire Dragon-Lizard. All of them are initial grade 4 Genesis Beast, and each bottle of will cost 500 Genesis jade pieces.¡± ¡°Initial grade 4 huh...¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. ¡°Is there anything better?¡± Initial grade 4 was only equivalent to the first to third layer Alpha-Origin, a level that did not satisfy Zhou Yuan at all. After all, the higher quality the essence blood, the more powerful the Nine Dragons Canon. Although he did not dare to hope for anything that was too high grade, initial grade 4 was still rather low in his opinion. ¡°Looks like young brother Zhou Yuan does not lack Genesis jade.¡± Cao Jin laughed upon hearing this. Normally speaking, most of the disciples that practiced the Nine Dragons Canon would be more than satisfied with such Genesis Beast essence blood. It was mainly because the outer mountain disciples were currently not very rich. He waved his hand and another servant girl brought in two silver plates covered by red cloth. He pulled off the first plate as another three bottles appeared. Scarlet blood bubbled within these bottles, the berserk undulations able to permeate the special material from which the bottles were made from. Just the smell alone made one feel one¡¯s body heat up. ¡°These are from the Scarlet Fire Dragon, the Thousand Year Earth Lizard and the Purple Devil Snake¡­ all of them are high tier grade 4 Genesis Beasts, and are exceedingly formidable. Even seventh layer Alpha-Origin practitioners would find them difficult opponents.¡± Cao Jin chuckled. ¡°However, they are also very expensive. A single bottle will cost 1500 Genesis jade pieces.¡± He looked towards Zhou Yuan and grinned. ¡°How about it, are you satisfied now?¡± Amazement was displayed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. The Glittering Jewels Pavilion really had everything. High tier grade 4 was indeed an excellent cultivation resource for him. However, they were indeed expensive. Ordinary outer mountain disciples only received 30 Genesis jade pieces a month. They may earn more by working hard on missions, but it would at most reach a sum of a few hundred Genesis jade pieces, which was far from enough to purchase these essence blood. Zhou Yuan pondered for a bit, before suddenly looking towards the other still covered silver plate as he curiously asked, ¡°What about this?¡± He could faintly sense even more berserk undulations spreading from it. Cao Jin was taken aback. Soon after, he said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that young brother Zhou Yuan might not be able to use that essence blood¡­¡± ¡°Why?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Cao Jin lifted the red cloth, revealing three jade bottles. The scarlet blood within had already formed mini whirlpools in which a faint silhouettes seemed to hover. An alarming berserk undulation violently pulsed from them. ¡°These are?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. He could feel a dangerous aura from the essence blood in these three jade bottles. Cao Jin¡¯s expression was somewhat solemn as he slowly said, ¡°The essence blood of three grade 5 dragont type Genesis Beasts¡­¡± Zhou Yuan pupils involuntarily shrunk slightly. Grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood¡­ wasn¡¯t that equivalent to a Divine Dwelling expert? He never imagined that the Glittering Jewels Pavilion would have essence blood of this level too! Only now did Zhou Yuan realise why Can Jin had said he would be unable to use them. Grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood was too volatile and violent. Ordinary first layer Alpha-Origin disciples would not dare to refine and absorb it. However, Zhou Yuan was never one to be afraid of challenge. Most importantly, though other first layer Alpha-Origin practitioners did not dare, it did not mean that he did not... In addition, if he was able to refine grade 5 Genesis Beast essene blood, the Nine Dragons Canon would undoubtedly be even more powerful. It was this point that truly enticed Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan chuckled in sastifaction, and decisively said, ¡°Manager Cao, how much are these three bottles? I want them.¡± Can Jin was stunned, evidently not expecting Zhou Yuan to have such boldness. However, he soon let out a bitter laugh as he awkwardly shook his head. ¡°Young brother Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m afraid that I can¡¯t sell them to you¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 251 Grade 5 ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Yuan was likewise taken aback by Cao Jin¡¯s words. The former soon frowned as he asked, ¡°Is it a problem with the price? Or are you worried that I will not be able to refine them? Manager Cao need not worry about such matters, I understand my limits.¡± Cao Jin waved his hand, and awkwardly said, ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­ these three bottles have already been booked by someone else.¡± ¡°I only took them out earlier just in case. I did not expect that they would actually end up catching your eye.¡± He truly had not expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s standards to be so high that even high tier grade 4 was unable to catch his fancy. As it happens, Zhou Yuan just had to end up taking a fancy to these grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood. One must know that they were equivalent to the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± How could an ordinary first layer Alpha-Origin practitioner have the balls to even try essence blood at this level. Zhou Yuan¡¯s frown deepened. He had not expected these bottles of essence blood to be booked by someone else. ¡°Are there any others of the same level?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Cao Jin shook his head. ¡°These are the only ones we have in the outer mountain branch. We¡¯re not the inner mountain after all, they will likely have ample stock.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat speechless. He was really a little unwilling to give up the three grade 5 dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood. Hence, he could not help but ask, ¡°May I inquire as to which fellow disciple has booked them? I can buy them from him or her at double the price.¡± The Nine Dragons Canon had high requirements towards the quality of the Genesis Beast essence blood used. Zhou Yuan naturally wanted the process would be as perfect as possible, while also minimising the risk of any flaws. Cao Jin hesitated upon hearing this. Just as he was about to speak, faint laughter was suddenly heard from outside the door, laughter that contained a hint of playfulness. ¡°Hehe, it seems that tutoring Genesis techniques really does pay well. I would never have imagined that I, Lu Feng, would one day be offered such a good deal.¡± The doors were pushed open as Lu Feng walked in wearing a faint smile, a mocking look in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression involuntarily darkened. He had not expected the one who had booked the three bottles of Genesis Beast essence blood to be Lu Feng. ¡°Are you also practicing the Nine Dragons Canon?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Nine Dragons Canon?¡± Lu Feng laughed. ¡°Although it''s not bad, I naturally have better options. I was merely bought the essence blood for fun.¡± Iciness flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. It was obvious that Lu Feng knew he was practicing the Nine Dragons Canon and had intentionally taken actions to obstruct him in secret, pre booking the highest quality essence blood in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion. Through this, Lu Feng would be able to lower Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in the peak selection ceremony a month later. ¡°Lu Feng!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned ice-cold as vigorous Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body. Golden Genesis Qi swirled around him, faintly forming the silhouette of a giant golden python that hissed at Lu Feng. ¡°Oh? You want to go at it? Who gave you the courage?¡± Lu Feng playfully laughed staring mockingly at Zhou Yuan without a single hint of fear as powerful Genesis Qi swept out from his body. ¡°Both of you stop!¡± Cao Jin hurriedly shouted when he saw that the two were about to fight, standing in between them to stop them. ¡°If you fight in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion, there will be consequences!¡± With a wave of his hand, a swarm of figures surged out within the Glittering Jewels Pavilion, Genesis Qi after Genesis Qi rising as they targeted the two individuals. Iciness flashed as Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng¡¯s gazes clashed. In the end, both of them withdrew their Genesis Qi with a cold snort. They knew that it would be almost impossible to escape punishment if they were to fight here, which would only end up wasting their precious training time. Lu Feng laughed icily. Soon after, he waved his sleeve, sweeping away the three grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood on the plate as he uncaringly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, even if all of the essence blood rots away in my hands, I will never sell them to you.¡± The iciness in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes gradually receded, however, it still raged like a tsunami in the depths of his eyes. He ignored Lu Feng, turning his head instead to look towards Cao Jin. ¡°Manager Cao, I¡¯ll purchase the high tier grade 4 Genesis Beast essence blood.¡± Since there was no grade 5, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to use the high tier grade 4 for the time being. Hopefully, it would only result in a slight decrease that would not be too noticeable. Cao Jin apologetically looked at Zhou Yuan and nodded, before instructing someone to bring over the Genesis Beast essence blood. Zhou Yuan received them and paid. Without saying anything else, he turned around and headed for the exit. When he brushed past Lu Feng, the latter suddenly smiled faintly and said, ¡°Do you think this is over Zhou Yuan? You will soon get to enjoy all the fun I¡¯ve prepared for you.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he tilted his head to look at Lu Feng. ¡°You like to stir up trouble?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you are determined to win first place in the peak selection ceremony?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips seemed to be slowly hooked up by something, forming an icy angle. Lu Feng also turned his head and grinned. ¡°What do you think you can do?¡± Zhou Yuan stared at him, and slowly said, ¡°I¡¯ll have to regretfully inform you that you will no longer be able to take first place.¡± ¡°If you want to play, I¡¯ll accompany you until both of us are satisfied!¡± Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze, turned around and walked off. Lu Feng was stunned as he watched the former leave. Soon after, a mocking smile involuntarily spread from the corners of his lips. He shook his head as if having heard the most ridiculous and laughable thing. ¡°Truly such an¡­¡± ¡°Ignorant and overly proud fool.¡± ¡°Heh¡­ I do want to see how you¡¯ll snatch first place from me!¡± ... After leaving the room, Zhou Yuan exhaled deeply, spitting out the unhappiness in his heart. Lu Feng¡¯s actions had indeed disgusted the former this time. ¡°Without the grade 5 dragon type Genesis Best essence blood, I¡¯ll just have to make do with high tier grade 4.¡± Muttered Zhou Yuan to himself. He no longer wanted to think any further about this topic as he began searching for Yaoyao in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion. After accompanying her shopping for half a day, they leisurely left the place, walking back towards their little house. As they walked through the mountains, Yaoyao¡¯s clear eyes swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, her red lips parting slightly as she asked, ¡°You¡¯re clearly in a bad mood, did something anger you again?¡± ¡°Is it that clear?¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly touched his face. Was he really so obvious? Yaoyao¡¯s eyes remained on his face. Zhou Yuan shrugged, and could only begin to tell her what had happened earlier. After hearing his story, Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face seemed to ripple slightly. ¡°Does the Nine Dragons Canon require dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°But I can only buy high tier grade 4 dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood from the Glittering Jewels Pavilion which is less than ideal. The Nine Dragons Canon I end up with will be weaker too.¡± Said Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao suddenly smiled as she cocked her head, her fine black hair seemingly pouring downwards, revealing on half of her gorgeously pretty face. ¡°Then this is really not much of a problem¡­¡± She looked towards Zhou Yuan as she lowered her voice. ¡°I have a method to make your high tier grade 4 essence blood even better than grade 5.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened as he asked in bewilderment, ¡°Really?¡± Yaoyao forcefully nodded her snow-white chin, before she reached out her hands, covering the Tuntun¡¯s ears under Zhou Yuan¡¯s puzzled gaze as she softly said, ¡°Let me tell you a secret. If you mix Tuntun¡¯s blood with the essence blood of those high tier grade 4 dragon type Genesis Beasts, you can raise their quality¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet instantly froze in place as he swallowed and looked straight at Yaoyao. Yaoyao grinned slightly and said, ¡°You cannot tell Tuntun that you heard this from me.¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, before displaying his kindest and friendliest smile as he took the dazed Tuntun from Yaoyao¡¯s arms. He gently caressed it as he said in a tender voice, ¡°Little cutey, want to go to the Hundred Fragrances House?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be treating, eat as much as you want!¡± The light of desire instantly shined in Tuntun¡¯s beady beast eyes. At this current moment, Zhou Yuan seemed to have suddenly become extremely grand and amazing in its eyes. Previous Chapte Chapter 252 Collecting Blood Tuntun was exceedingly smart, and possessed high intelligence. Hence, it naturally understood Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, causing it to feel a little awkward, using its tiny paws to cover its eyes. It knew that Zhou Yuan was only given 30 Genesis jade pieces a month. If Zhou Yuan did not have any other income, this meal for Tuntun would be worth several years... ¡°Do you want to constantly enjoy such meals too in the future?¡± Zhou Yuan continued to entice. Tuntun vigorously nodded its little head, its eyes practically glowing. Zhou Yuan revealed a warm smile as he said, ¡°If you want to eat such meals regularly, I¡¯ll have to first have enough Genesis jade. That¡¯s why I need you to do me a tiny little favor such that I will be able to obtain even more Genesis jade in the future and let you regularly have great, sumptuous meals.¡± Tuntun was taken aback. Soon after, it somewhat warily looked at Zhou Yuan. It had sensed a faint hint of danger by instinct. On the balcony, Yaoyao bathed in the rays of the sun with an ancient text in her hand. Her pupils glanced towards the inside of the house as a slight angle rose from the corners of her red lips. Zhou Yuan gazed at Tuntun as he retrieved a tiny little jade bottle from his sleeve and said with a faint smile, ¡°It¡¯s actually very simple, I just need a tiny bit of blood from you!¡± All the hairs on Tuntun¡¯s body stood on end. It curled up its body and barked at Zhou Yuan. This fellow wanted its blood! ¡°If you can¡¯t even help me with this small favor, I¡¯m afraid that we¡¯ll no longer be able to enter the Hundred Fragrances House in future.¡± Said Zhou Yuan in a calm voice. However, the threat within his words was extremely clear. Hesitation flashed across Tuntun¡¯s beady eyes. It was evidently violently struggling inside. ¡°Do you want to eat stuff like the sumptuous meal you just had or is dried meat better? Won¡¯t it be regretful if you can¡¯t ever go again?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s words were filled with temptation. In the end, Tuntun let out a pained wail, before it dejectedly extended a paw, evidently no longer able to resist Zhou Yuan¡¯s enticement. A grin cracked opened from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips when he saw this. The Heavenly Yuan Brush began to grow, its snow-white hairs flickering with a sharp cold light. Ch! Zhou Yuan channelled his strength, the brush tip transforming into a flash of light as it ruthlessly thrust towards Tuntun¡¯s paw. Sparks flew when the sharp brush tip landed on Tuntun¡¯s scaly paw. However, it had only made a tiny dent, unable to pierce even the tiniest little hole. Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck. This defense was way too strong. Tuntun cast over a disdainful gaze. I let you cut but you can¡¯t even cut it open, so useless... Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned hot as he muttered, ¡°My Heavenly Yuan Brush is only a mid grade black tier Genesis Weapon. The fourth rune just refuses to awaken¡­¡± He raised the brush again and took in a deep breath. Genesis Qi surged along the brush, converging into a purple aura at its tip. It was the Auraflare technique. The brush tip whizzed forth once again. It finally worked this time, cutting open a tiny hole on Tuntun¡¯s paw from which fresh blood immediately dripped out. Zhou Yuan hurriedly stretched forward the bottle to catch the drops of blood. Only now did he discover that Tuntun¡¯s blood had a deep gold hue. Every drop seemed to be extremely heavy, while giving off a mysterious sensation. ¡°So heavy.¡± The hand holding the jade bottle sunk slightly. Tuntun¡¯s blood was exceptionally heavy. ¡°This truly is the good stuff.¡± Zhou Yuan licked his lips. His senses told him that Tuntun¡¯s blood was extraordinary. He immediately grabbed Tuntun¡¯s paw and squeezed it tightly to make more blood drip out faster. Hence, after a few minutes, Zhou Yuan was finally able to fill a bottle. However, he could not help but lick his lips as he swiftly fished out another bottle, eyes seemingly burning as he said, ¡°A little more, a little more!¡± This was such a hard to come by opportunity, he would get every last drop he could! Roar! However, Tuntun released angry roar in response to his actions. Its paw suddenly raised and mercilessly swung towards the loathsomely greedy Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. Thump! A muffled thump was heard, followed by a miserable cry. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was thrown backwards, smashing one of the windows of the little house as he arced across the air, before crashing into the ground with a yell of pain. On the balcony, Yaoyao lifted the ancient text in her hand, blocking her gaze. She was not going to look at this terrible fellow who was now suffering the consequences from trying to take advantage. Zhou Yuan lay on the ground, hand clutched over his chest as he crawled up. The first thing he did was check that the bottle had not been broken, before breathing a sigh of relief. Next, he shook his head and said, ¡°Petty fellow, it¡¯s just one more bottle¡­¡± He massaged his painful chest. Tuntun had been too vicious. ¡°But at least I got it.¡± He gently swivelled the bottle in his hand as a look of joy appeared on his face. It was as Yaoyao had said, Tuntun¡¯s blood would make the high tier grade 4 Genesis Beast essence blood he had become comparable to grade 5. ¡°What are you doing?¡± While Zhou Yuan was elated inside, a lovely voice suddenly rang out from the side. He raised his head, and saw Gu Hongyi standing nearby, her pretty face filled with confusion as she looked at him. Zhou Yuan kept the jade bottle and grinned, ¡°Nothing.¡± He then asked, ¡°Why brought you here?¡± Gu Hongyi hesitated for a moment, before she said, ¡°I heard that your went the Glittering Jewels Pavilion to purchase Genesis Beast essence blood for the Nine Dragons Canon, but ended up being beaten to it by Lu Feng?¡± Zhou Yuans¡¯ expression was calm as he nodded. ¡°He managed to buy up all of the grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood.¡± Gu Hongyi lightly clenched her teeth as fury flashed in her eyes. She had only despise for Lu Feng¡¯s actions. She suddenly jerked her hand, throwing a black shadow to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan caught it in surprise, feeling a cool sensation as it entered his hands. It was another jade bottle, a wild and berserk aura spreading from the viscous blood flowing within. ¡°Grade 5 dragon type Genesis Beast blood?¡± Zhou Yuan was startled. ¡°I managed to pull some strings to get it from the inner mountains, but I only have one.¡± Explained Gu Hongyi. Zhou Yuan was rather astonished, evidently not expecting Gu Hongyi would help him obtain such an item. He immediately shook his head. ¡°No need¡­¡± Gu Hongyi waved her hand, cutting him off. ¡°No need to be courteous. The grudge between you and Lu Feng is ultimately due to me. I will not stand by and do nothing.¡± She looked at Zhou Yuan and suddenly laughed as she teased, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you told Lu Feng you would take away number one from him in the peak selection ceremony?¡± ¡°Word has already spread. Many are laughing at you for overestimating yourself.¡± Zhou Yuan was speechless. He had not expected news of this to spread so quickly. Looks like it was because of Lu Feng again. ¡°I¡¯m not the type to stir up trouble, but he¡¯s provoked me time and time again. It won¡¯t be me if I don¡¯t throw a punch back.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Why, do not fancy my odds?¡± ¡°Rationality tells me that your chances are not good.¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s red lips pouted slightly. ¡°However, I do hope to see you snatching away first place from him.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll accept those well wishes then.¡± Gu Hongyi was a direct and efficient individual. With a wave of her hand, she turned around, stepping on Genesis Qi as she cast her gaze back towards the little house by the creek. ¡°Work hard. There¡¯s not much time left to the peak selection ceremony. I for one am really looking forward to your performance.¡± Her voice echoed within the mountain. Zhou Yuan watched her figure disappear, before he began to swivel the bottle of grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood. He peered into the distance, iciness filling his eyes as they narrowed. ¡°Lu Feng¡­¡± ¡°Taking away the essence blood means that there exist some wariness of me in your heart. Hence why you would resort to such methods to ensure nothing goes wrong¡­¡± ¡°However, if you believe this will be enough to hinder me, I can only say that you¡¯re too naive!¡± ¡°During the peak selection ceremony, the number one position you¡¯re so fixated on¡­ will be taken by me!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 252 Refining the Essence Blood The bright moon hung high in the sky, while a seated Zhou Yuan bathed in its gentle glow. Three jade bottles stood in front of him, a savage and violent aura pulsing from the blood-red liquid within. They contained the essence blood of three high tier grade 4 dragon type Genesis Beasts. As he gazed at the three bottles of essence blood, Zhou Yuan briefly fell into thought, before he retrieved another bottle. Inside this bottle was gold blood that shined with a mysterious luster under the moonlight, a faint peculiar roar seemingly echoing from it. Tuntun''s blood seemed to contain a mysterious power. "I wonder what kind of creature Tuntun is¡­ to think that its blood can raise the quality of other Genesis Beast essence blood." Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. Tuntun was just like Yaoyao, filled with mystery. It was not only overwhelmingly powerful, but also wielded a terrifying devouring power that seemed to be capable of devouring anything. Such a frightening ability was clearly not something an ordinary Genesis Beast would possess. It was rumored that grade 6 Genesis Beasts had intelligence that did not lose to the human race. What¡¯s more, some Genesis Beasts with powerful bloodlines possessed amazing abilities that even the numerous powerful experts of the human race did not dare to underestimate. Tuntun''s origins were clearly not ordinary. Zhou Yuan shook his head, scattering these messy thoughts. The important thing now was to test if Tuntun''s blood was able to raise the quality of essence blood like Yaoyao had claimed. Zhou Yuan began to concentrate, one hand holding one of the bottles of Genesis Beast essence blood, as the other very carefully dripped golden blood into it. The moment the golden blood entered the bottle, its contents abruptly began to boil. Golden light spread, infusing the originally blood red-essence blood with a faint golden glow. At this very moment, Zhou Yuan felt the surrounding Genesis Qi begin to converge towards the bottle. The blood-red essence blood boiled as a faint bloody mist began to rise. The mist ultimately took the shape of a tiny python silhouette and released a soft hiss. The savage aura from the blood also steadily strengthened. Joy surged in Zhou Yuan''s eyes when he saw this. As expected, Yaoyao had been speaking the truth. Tuntun''s blood was indeed able to raise the quality of Genesis Beast essence blood. According to his estimates, this Genesis Beast essence blood was now not the slightest bit inferior to the grade 5 essence blood from the Glittering Jewels Pavilion! This was an upgrade of an entire level. "How terrifying¡­" Zhou Yuan involuntarily gasped. Although it was only a single bottle, one could already see how amazing Tuntun''s blood was. "If Tuntun was eaten by a grade 6 Genesis Beast, the beast would likely advance to grade 7 or maybe an even higher grade!" Zhou Yuan swallowed as his expression turned grave. Looks like this information had to be kept secret at all cost. If not, it would surely draw the attention of many people, something that would be extremely detrimental to Tuntun. One must know that a grade 6 Genesis Beast was already equivalent to a human Divine Dwelling expert, while the Divine Dwelling stage was considered elite even in a behemoth like the Cangxuan Sect. As for grade 7 and grade 8 Genesis Beasts¡­ they were existences that even the Cangxuan Sect would not dare to offend. "I should start refining the essence blood, and begin practicing the Nine Dragons Canon¡­" Without further ado, Zhou Yuan slammed his hands together, shattering the jade bottle. Red liquid rose, transforming into two thin streams of blood that were sucked into Zhou Yuan''s nostrils. The pungent scent of blood assaulted his senses, nearly making him puke, but Zhou Yuan forcibly pushed down the urge. Rumble! The Genesis Beast essence blood immediately began to rebel the moment it entered his body, a savage aura spreading with the intent to invade. However, Zhou Yuan was prepared. Genesis Qi flooded over from all directions, surrounding the essence blood to prevent it from causing any harm to the body. Rumble! The essence blood charged with all its might, making the insides of Zhou Yuan''s body shake violently. The savage aura continued to rise, stirring up vexed feelings in his heart. Red appeared in his eyes as the desire to destroy began to engulf him. However, the moment this urge rose, the Spirit between Zhou Yuan''s brows began to vibrate as a cooling sensation spread, allowing him to regain his senses. "It is indeed dangerous to refine Genesis Beast essence blood. If the heart and mind are not strong, one will easily be infected by the savagery, entering a state of uncontrolled violence that would likely lead to the descent into madness." Zhou Yuan''s heart shivered, not daring to delay any further as he began to refine the Genesis Beast essence blood in accordance to the instruction in the Nine Dragons Canon. Moonlight sprinkled onto the land. Zhou Yuan sat on the ground, faint bloody mist rising from his pores, before being blown away by the wind. According to the Nine Dragons Canon, one needed to slowly whittle away the savageness inside the Genesis Beast essence blood. Once this step was complete, one would be able to fuse the essence blood with one''s own Genesis Qi. The fusion of the two would bestow one the ability to release extremely berserk Genesis Qi attacks. The most important factor for the whittling process was time, time Zhou Yuan was already prepared to spend. However, when he began to direct the Omni Python Qi, he discovered that every time his Genesis Qi neared the Genesis Beast essence blood, the savage aura contained within seemed to be suppressed as if it was faintly trembling in fear. After observing this phenomenon a few times, Zhou Yuan could not help but feel somewhat puzzled. ¡°It seems that the Omni Python Qi has a special suppressive effect on dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan with uncertainty. ¡°The Omni Python Qi does originate from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and contains a little of its primal aura. It is possible that this is why it has a suppressive effect on the dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart jumped slightly. If so, it would be much more convenient for him to whittle away the savageness in the essence blood. He immediately got to work, whittling away the savageness in the essence blood with his Genesis Qi. Sure enough, the originally untamable and violent essence blood feebly gave up most of its resistance, allowing the Omni Python Qi to swiftly neutralize the savageness contained within it. After an entire night. The essence blood in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had grown much calmer. At this rate, he would be able to fully refine it in a few days... When that happened, he would have completed the initial step. Phew. A slightly pungent breath of air was puffed out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose as his tightly shut eyes slowly opened. A look of satisfaction flitted across them. The night had been much more fruitful than expected. He had originally been prepared to spend a long time on this process. Who could have expected that his Omni Python Qi would be an exceptional match for the Nine Dragons Canon. ¡°I should be able to reach the first level of the Nine Dragons Canon in three more days.¡± Anticipation flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He was itching to try the power of a high grade little Heaven Genesis technique. Zhou Yuan brushed his clothes and stood up. The moment he stood up, he saw two figures rapidly approaching from far away. When he concentrated, he saw that it was Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin. Both individuals were rushing towards his location, worried looks on their faces. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as his figure moved, like mist as it drifted forward and landed in front of the two. "What is it?" He asked. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan, Qiao Xiu panted a few times before looking towards Zhou Yuan with an ugly expression as he said, ¡°Lu Feng gathered many of the more highly ranked outer mountain disciples last night to fix the top ten spots of the peak selection ceremony.¡± ¡°He said that the Shengzhou disciples are going to take eight of them.¡± ¡°If we from the other continents want to compete, we can only fight for the last two spots. Whoever breaks this rule will become an enemy of all the Shengzhou disciples!¡± Qiao Xiu¡¯s expression turned complicated as he gazed at Zhou Yuan. The outer mountains was currently in an uproar due to this news. ¡°Finally, he also said¡­ that you are the reason behind all of this.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 253 Refining the Essence Blood Chapter 252 Refining the Essence Blood The bright moon hung high in the sky, while a seated Zhou Yuan bathed in its gentle glow. Three jade bottles stood in front of him, a savage and violent aura pulsing from the blood-red liquid within. They contained the essence blood of three high tier grade 4 dragon type Genesis Beasts. As he gazed at the three bottles of essence blood, Zhou Yuan briefly fell into thought, before he retrieved another bottle. Inside this bottle was gold blood that shined with a mysterious luster under the moonlight, a faint peculiar roar seemingly echoing from it. Tuntun''s blood seemed to contain a mysterious power. "I wonder what kind of creature Tuntun is¡­ to think that its blood can raise the quality of other Genesis Beast essence blood." Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. Tuntun was just like Yaoyao, filled with mystery. It was not only overwhelmingly powerful, but also wielded a terrifying devouring power that seemed to be capable of devouring anything. Such a frightening ability was clearly not something an ordinary Genesis Beast would possess. It was rumored that grade 6 Genesis Beasts had intelligence that did not lose to the human race. What¡¯s more, some Genesis Beasts with powerful bloodlines possessed amazing abilities that even the numerous powerful experts of the human race did not dare to underestimate. Tuntun''s origins were clearly not ordinary. Zhou Yuan shook his head, scattering these messy thoughts. The important thing now was to test if Tuntun''s blood was able to raise the quality of essence blood like Yaoyao had claimed. Zhou Yuan began to concentrate, one hand holding one of the bottles of Genesis Beast essence blood, as the other very carefully dripped golden blood into it. The moment the golden blood entered the bottle, its contents abruptly began to boil. Golden light spread, infusing the originally blood red-essence blood with a faint golden glow. At this very moment, Zhou Yuan felt the surrounding Genesis Qi begin to converge towards the bottle. The blood-red essence blood boiled as a faint bloody mist began to rise. The mist ultimately took the shape of a tiny python silhouette and released a soft hiss. The savage aura from the blood also steadily strengthened. Joy surged in Zhou Yuan''s eyes when he saw this. As expected, Yaoyao had been speaking the truth. Tuntun''s blood was indeed able to raise the quality of Genesis Beast essence blood. According to his estimates, this Genesis Beast essence blood was now not the slightest bit inferior to the grade 5 essence blood from the Glittering Jewels Pavilion! This was an upgrade of an entire level. "How terrifying¡­" Zhou Yuan involuntarily gasped. Although it was only a single bottle, one could already see how amazing Tuntun''s blood was. "If Tuntun was eaten by a grade 6 Genesis Beast, the beast would likely advance to grade 7 or maybe an even higher grade!" Zhou Yuan swallowed as his expression turned grave. Looks like this information had to be kept secret at all cost. If not, it would surely draw the attention of many people, something that would be extremely detrimental to Tuntun. One must know that a grade 6 Genesis Beast was already equivalent to a human Divine Dwelling expert, while the Divine Dwelling stage was considered elite even in a behemoth like the Cangxuan Sect. As for grade 7 and grade 8 Genesis Beasts¡­ they were existences that even the Cangxuan Sect would not dare to offend. "I should start refining the essence blood, and begin practicing the Nine Dragons Canon¡­" Without further ado, Zhou Yuan slammed his hands together, shattering the jade bottle. Red liquid rose, transforming into two thin streams of blood that were sucked into Zhou Yuan''s nostrils. The pungent scent of blood assaulted his senses, nearly making him puke, but Zhou Yuan forcibly pushed down the urge. Rumble! The Genesis Beast essence blood immediately began to rebel the moment it entered his body, a savage aura spreading with the intent to invade. However, Zhou Yuan was prepared. Genesis Qi flooded over from all directions, surrounding the essence blood to prevent it from causing any harm to the body. Rumble! The essence blood charged with all its might, making the insides of Zhou Yuan''s body shake violently. The savage aura continued to rise, stirring up vexed feelings in his heart. Red appeared in his eyes as the desire to destroy began to engulf him. However, the moment this urge rose, the Spirit between Zhou Yuan''s brows began to vibrate as a cooling sensation spread, allowing him to regain his senses. "It is indeed dangerous to refine Genesis Beast essence blood. If the heart and mind are not strong, one will easily be infected by the savagery, entering a state of uncontrolled violence that would likely lead to the descent into madness." Zhou Yuan''s heart shivered, not daring to delay any further as he began to refine the Genesis Beast essence blood in accordance to the instruction in the Nine Dragons Canon. Moonlight sprinkled onto the land. Zhou Yuan sat on the ground, faint bloody mist rising from his pores, before being blown away by the wind. According to the Nine Dragons Canon, one needed to slowly whittle away the savageness inside the Genesis Beast essence blood. Once this step was complete, one would be able to fuse the essence blood with one''s own Genesis Qi. The fusion of the two would bestow one the ability to release extremely berserk Genesis Qi attacks. The most important factor for the whittling process was time, time Zhou Yuan was already prepared to spend. However, when he began to direct the Omni Python Qi, he discovered that every time his Genesis Qi neared the Genesis Beast essence blood, the savage aura contained within seemed to be suppressed as if it was faintly trembling in fear. After observing this phenomenon a few times, Zhou Yuan could not help but feel somewhat puzzled. ¡°It seems that the Omni Python Qi has a special suppressive effect on dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan with uncertainty. ¡°The Omni Python Qi does originate from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and contains a little of its primal aura. It is possible that this is why it has a suppressive effect on the dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart jumped slightly. If so, it would be much more convenient for him to whittle away the savageness in the essence blood. He immediately got to work, whittling away the savageness in the essence blood with his Genesis Qi. Sure enough, the originally untamable and violent essence blood feebly gave up most of its resistance, allowing the Omni Python Qi to swiftly neutralize the savageness contained within it. After an entire night. The essence blood in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had grown much calmer. At this rate, he would be able to fully refine it in a few days... When that happened, he would have completed the initial step. Phew. A slightly pungent breath of air was puffed out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose as his tightly shut eyes slowly opened. A look of satisfaction flitted across them. The night had been much more fruitful than expected. He had originally been prepared to spend a long time on this process. Who could have expected that his Omni Python Qi would be an exceptional match for the Nine Dragons Canon. ¡°I should be able to reach the first level of the Nine Dragons Canon in three more days.¡± Anticipation flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He was itching to try the power of a high grade little Heaven Genesis technique. Zhou Yuan brushed his clothes and stood up. The moment he stood up, he saw two figures rapidly approaching from far away. When he concentrated, he saw that it was Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin. Both individuals were rushing towards his location, worried looks on their faces. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as his figure moved, like mist as it drifted forward and landed in front of the two. "What is it?" He asked. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan, Qiao Xiu panted a few times before looking towards Zhou Yuan with an ugly expression as he said, ¡°Lu Feng gathered many of the more highly ranked outer mountain disciples last night to fix the top ten spots of the peak selection ceremony.¡± ¡°He said that the Shengzhou disciples are going to take eight of them.¡± ¡°If we from the other continents want to compete, we can only fight for the last two spots. Whoever breaks this rule will become an enemy of all the Shengzhou disciples!¡± Qiao Xiu¡¯s expression turned complicated as he gazed at Zhou Yuan. The outer mountains was currently in an uproar due to this news. ¡°Finally, he also said¡­ that you are the reason behind all of this.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 254 Response ¡°I¡¯m the reason huh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly after hearing what they had to say. Lu Feng was clearly doing this on purpose, his aim to make the other continent disciples resent Zhou Yuan. When that happened, he would not only have to face hostility from the Shengzhou disciples but also the criticism of the disciples from the other continents. With unfriendliness from both sides, Zhou Yuan¡¯s situation would not be good. ¡°There¡¯s already some other continent disciples that have began to complain. They feel that it¡¯s clearly a grudge between only you and Lu Feng, but it has now ended up implicating them¡­¡± Qiao Xiu smiled bitterly. If this continued, Zhou Yuan would become highly criticized. A mocking look rose from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth as he said, ¡°It¡¯s clearly Lu Feng who started this, what kind of logic is it to throw their complaints to me instead of him?¡± Although Lu Feng¡¯s tactics were underhanded, Zhou Yuan felt that the disciples who blamed him were even more stupid. Shen Wanjin¡¯s mouth pulled outwards as he said, ¡°These guys only know how to bully the weak and fear the strong. They don¡¯t dare to voice their objections to Lu Feng, so they made up another reason to vent their frustrations.¡± Lu Feng clearly knew that this would be the outcome, hence why he had acted so outrageously. After all, the title of the number one individual amongst the outer mountain disciples was a powerful deterrent force. Even though Zhou Yuan had defeated an inner mountain disciple in a Genesis technique match, he was still unable to compare to Lu Feng. Everyone felt Lu Feng was very likely to become a well known figure of this batch in the Cangxuan Sect, and his future prospects were practically limitless. Hence, they would naturally not dare to offend him. Qiao Xiu nodded. ¡°However, quite a number of people have complaints against you, while even more are very angry at Lu Feng¡¯s overbearingness but can¡¯t do anything about it.¡± ¡°According to these rules of his, the Shengzhou disciples will be occupying eight of the top ten spots, leaving the rest of us to fight for the remaining two. There are so many of us from the other continents, can you imagine how wretched and desperate the situation will be.¡± Zhou Yuan counter asked, ¡°On what basis should we listen to him? Does the likes of him have the right to allocate these places?¡± The top ten spots of the peak selection ceremony should be contested based on one¡¯s own strength. Who the hell did Lu Feng think he was, and how thick skinned was he to think he could decide on how they should be split? Qiao Xiu smiled bitterly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the peak selection ceremony will be a free-for-all battlem, while the quality of the Shengzhou disciples far surpasses the rest of us. Take the top ten outer mountains disciples for example, a total of seven are from the Shengzhou continent.¡± ¡°Hence, when the time comes to vie for the top ten spots of the peak selection ceremony, they will have the upper hand.¡± ¡°What¡¯s more, they have Lu Feng, whom no one has been able to come close to. Now that he has even brought together the Shengzhou disciples to decide the allocation of the top ten spots, whoever tries to touch those spots would have to face all of the Shengzhou disciples.¡± ¡°In the face of this power, the disciples from the other continents are merely akin to a plate of scattered sand. Who would dare to object? After all, once the other party is provoked, they can easily join hands in the peak selection ceremony to make things difficult. Let alone the top ten, one might be hard pressed to even obtain a decent ranking.¡± Zhou Yuan indifferently remarked, ¡°In the end, it depends on whose fist is harder.¡± He looked towards Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin as he continued, ¡°I do not know whether the others will acknowledge his allocation, but with regards to my ranking, I¡¯m afraid that they don¡¯t have the qualifications.¡± ¡°Moreover¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in the other spots either, the only thing I want in the peak selection ceremony is first place.¡± His tone was ordinary, but the words he spoke stunned Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin. There was no one who did not know that Lu Feng had already declared first place was his. In the face of his overwhelming might, no one dared to have any opinions. Hence, practically everyone felt that Lu Feng taking number one in his batch was already set in stone. Who could have expected Zhou Yuan to also declare he wanted first place. As such, would this not mean that he would have to compete with Lu Feng? Qiao Xiu swallowed, before he said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan¡­ Lu Feng will not be easy to deal with. I suspect that he has already reached the fourth layer Alpha-Origin.¡± Most of the first class disciples were at the third layer, and Lu Feng was likely the only one who had reached the fourth. Zhou Yuan laughed in a carefree manner. ¡°Whether or not he¡¯s easy to deal with, I¡¯ll find out when we fight.¡± He wanted to see how ugly Lu Feng would look when the first place he coveted so much was taken by Zhou Yuan in the peak selection ceremony. When that happened, would Lu Feng finally regret provoking Zhou Yuan? Lu Feng had repeatedly use various methods to make things difficult. If Zhou Yuan beared with all this without counter attacking, he would not be Zhou Yuan. Upon hearing this, Qiao Xiu knew that Zhou Yuan had already made his decision. Looks like things were no longer going to be peaceful during the peak selection ceremony. However, Qiao Xiu felt a little apprehensive. Although no one had a good grasp of Zhou Yuan¡¯s abilities, the one he was facing this time was not the likes of Zhu Feng, but Lu Feng, a ruthless individual that was known to stand at the top of all the outer mountain disciples. ¡°Little Yuan bro, if you''re really planning on vieing for first place with Lu Feng, I advise you to cooperate with some of the other continent disciples. They have already been enraged by Lu Feng''s overbearingness, and only lack someone to step up and take the lead. If little Yuan bro can get them on your side, you will not have to face the Shengzhou disciples alone." Shen Wanjin suddenly suggested. Qiao Xiu fell into thought for a while, before he said, "I know some first class disciples that are also unhappy with Lu Feng. They will be a considerable force if you manage to recruit them." Zhou Yuan fell silent some time. In the end, he nodded. Lu Feng had already gathered a huge group of Shengzhou disciples, an alarming powerful force indeed. Although Zhou Yuan did not feel that numbers meant victory, it was true that going alone would at times be more physically and mentally exhausting. If he could recruit these other continent disciples to his cause, he would not lose to Lu Feng in presence. When Qiao Xiu saw Zhou Yuan nod, he continued to speak again, "However, all of them are elites amongst the outer mountain disciples, proud individual that will not easily submit to anyone. Without sufficient strength, it will be very difficult to convince them." Lu Feng had been able to become the leader of the Shengzhou disciples due to his strength. In contrast, there was no one amongst the other continent disciples like him who could sweep away everyone else with power. This led to the current situation in the outer mountains. The other continent disciples formed their various groups and factions. Though they may seem to have the advantage due to their superior numbers, they were completely unable to match the Shengzhou disciples. Qiao Xiu intended to caution Zhou Yuan. After all, the former was worried that Zhou Yuan would be unable to control the situation after recruiting these proud and untamable individuals. If the situation turned into a farce, Zhou Yuan would lose all face. Who amongst those who could come to the Cangxuan Sect was not a prided genius? Everyone was full of pride, making it an uphill task to make them all voluntarily acknowledge a single person. At the very least, such a person had never appeared during the past two months. Zhou Yuan naturally understood this. He softly chuckled and said, "Senior brother Qiao Xiu need not worry. You only need to call them over, and I''ll handle the rest." With these words from Zhou Yuan, there was nothing much for Qiao Xiu to say, and he could only nod. "We''ll depend on junior brother Zhou Yuan''s methods when the time comes." Previous Chapte Chapter 255 Method Qiao Xiu was very efficient. By the time afternoon arrived, he had already invited over all of the outstanding individuals from other continents amongst the current batch of outer mountain disciples. In a certain little house by the mountain creek. Zhou Yuan was seated on a rock, a dozen youthful figures seated before him. Robust Genesis Qi spread from these figures, every action and gesture they made filled with a certain aura of pride. Most of the individuals whom had been invited were after all elites amongst the first class disciples. They were normally surrounded by many of their peers, enjoying the feeling the world seemingly revolving around them. Hence, it was natural that they did not lack pride. Especially the two figures at the very front, a young man and woman. The young lady wore a long dark cyan dress, her fine black hair reaching all the way to her waist. Her face was pretty, and her skin white as snow. She was called Song Wanxi, and was quite well known amongst the outer mountain disciples. Due to her good looks, she had many admirers. The male wore long gold robes, his hair scattered behind him. His wild looking face gave off a proud aura. He was known as Zhao Kun. These two were also ranked amongst the top ten outer mountain disciples, and could be said to be one of the rare few from the other continents that were able to vie with the Shengzhou disciples. Song Wanxi appeared calm, though her eyes would covertly sweep towards Zhou Yuan to examine him. Zhao Kun, on the other hand, was even more unbridled, his gaze uncourteously sizing up Zhou Yuan, as if trying to discover the latter¡¯s bottom line. Song Wanxi inquired in a soft and gentle voice, ¡°May I ask why junior brother Zhou Yuan has gotten Qiao Xiu to gather us here?¡± The numerous disciples present cast their gazes over. If it was two months prior, not a single one of them would have answered Zhou Yuan¡¯s call. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation had recently rose, making no one dare to underestimate him. Thus, they had decided to come here out of respect after listening to Qiao Xiu¡¯s words. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm as he gazed upon the group. There was no beating about the bush as he said, ¡°I believe everyone has already heard of how Lu Feng intends to divide the top ten spots in the peak selection ceremony.¡± Everyone could not help but frown slightly upon hearing this. Zhao Kun let out an icy chuckle. ¡°This matter may even be related to junior brother Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Are you trying to say that if there was no feud between me and Lu Feng, he would put up with you guys?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes hardened slightly as he looked towards Zhao Kun and said in a cold voice, ¡°Hoping for others be more lenient and give you some scraps, is this all your dignity is worth?¡± By the side, Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin were alarmed, not expecting Zhou Yuan¡¯s words to be so sharp even at the start. Sure enough, the numerous disciples present began to buzz angrily, rage filling their eyes as they looked towards Zhou Yuan. Their proud selves were evidently unable to accept Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. Zhao Kun¡¯s complexion turned green with anger as he gnashed his teeth and said, ¡°You do have a way with words, why not go reason with Lu Feng.¡± A trace of unhappiness could also be seen on Song Wanxi¡¯s pretty face as she said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you should also know how powerful Lu Feng is. What else can we do but be accommodating?¡± ¡°If you asked us here only to humiliate us, then we will not accompany any further.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids lowered slightly as he looked towards the indignant crowd and said, ¡°Looks like you guys still have a bit of fight in you. If not, it would have been meaningless to gather you.¡± He shook his head, looking directly at them as he cut straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯ve asked all of you here to tell you that I intend to contest for first place with Lu Feng in the peak selection ceremony.¡± ¡°If you guys don¡¯t plan on struggling for those two pathetic spots, listen to my instructions when the time comes.¡± Qiao Xiu grabbed his face. Zhou Yuan¡¯s words were way too direct. It seemed as if he had no plans of trying to properly talk things out. Sure enough, the numerous disciples looked to each other, before sniggers began to emerge. ¡°What shameless boasting. A first layer like you intends to vie for first place with Lu Feng?¡± Zhao Kun was the first to lose control. ¡°How much did your arrogance swell after defeating Zhu Yue in a Genesis technique match?¡± ¡°Naive Time is pressing for me, so I¡¯m afraid that I can¡¯t afford to entertain your delusions any longer.¡± Zhao Kun coldly snorted as he stood up, intending to leave. Song Wanxi also shook her head. Zhou Yuan seemed to be way too arrogant. There was only indifference on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he watched Zhao Kun stand up. The former knew that words were useless with these proud and unyielding fellows. The only way for them to submit was to beat them till they were convinced. Hence, he immediately said, ¡°Receive a strike from me and I will apologize right here, right now.¡± ¡°Arrogant!¡± Zhao Kun¡¯s eyes widened as he laughed in anger. Rumble! However, Zhou Yuan could no longer be bothered to speak. He formed a seal with one hand, before his palm suddenly flew forth. Vigorous Genesis Qi abruptly erupted, akin to a flood of gold as it roared out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. When it surged out, it seemed to turn into a giant lizard covered in dragon scales that released a dragon like roar. An extremely alarming aura violently unfurled. This palm strike had clearly been imbued with the Nine Dragons Canon! The Genesis Qi faintly shaped like a giant lizard was the dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood Zhou Yuan refined. However, it appeared somewhat indistinct because he had yet to fully refine it. Even so, the strike was imposingly powerful, tearing apart even the ground itself. A ferocious aura pounced towards Zhao Kun, causing his expression to change drastically. It was as if a high tier grade 4 Genesis Beast was charging towards him, intending to trample him into the ground. He did not dare to delay. With a loud yell, Genesis Qi also exploded from his body, the power of the third layer undoubtedly on full display. Boom! His foot slammed into the ground as he body shot forth like a flash of light, colliding with the roaring giant lizard made from Genesis Qi. Wild winds devastated the surroundings, causing cracks to extend across the ground. Thump! Under the now stupefied gaze after gaze, the menacingly charging Zhao Kun was blown away by the giant lizard a split second later. He heavily crashed into a wall of the mountain, causing cracks to fill the entire wall. The area around the mountain creek was deathly silent. Zhou Yuan was expressionless. With a wave of his sleeve, the giant Genesis Qi lizard returned into his hand. Plop. Zhao Kun fell from the mountain wall, and crashed into the ground as he spat out a mouthful of blood. He raised his head, shock and fear in his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan, evidently never expecting his three layer strength to be incapable of receiving even a single blow from Zhou Yuan. Song Wanxi¡¯s red lips were slightly ajar, her full chest heaving slightly as she stared deeply at Zhou Yuan. "Is there anyone else who wants to leave?" Zhou Yuan''s voice was shockingly calm. Silence. Everyone was silent, not daring to make any noise. The scrutiny from before had now completely vanished. One must know that Zhao Kun was ranked seventh amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples. However, even someone like him had been defeated in a single strike. How terrifyingly powerful did one have to be to achieve such a feat? They had believed that no matter how strong Zhou Yuan was, he would at most be a little stronger than them. Yet, the scene before their eyes made them understand how wrong they had been. ¡°Are you guys going to listen now?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across them. Anyone who came into contact with it hurriedly lowered their heads in embarrassment. Song Wanxi¡¯s red lips parted slightly, and apologetically said, ¡°We were blind earlier, I hope that junior brother Zhou Yuan does not blame us too much.¡± Zhao Kun wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. He was a straightforward person, so after being utterly defeated by Zhou Yuan, he did not leave, but instead returned and sat down again. ¡°You¡¯re good, and I was the one who was blind earlier. Go ahead and let us know what should be done.¡± The strength Zhou Yuan displayed had subdued them, causing certain thoughts to rise in their minds. Perhaps Zhou Yuan did have the power to contend against Lu Feng... Qiao Xiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. All of these guys were indeed miserable bastards. When words were used, they refused to listen, and only after being beaten did they submit. Zhou Yuan glanced at Zhao Kun and said, ¡°First, we will not accept their suggestion of leaving us only two of the top ten spots.¡± Everyone exchanged a look. Of course they did not want to accept it, but... ¡°What do we do about Lu Feng? He said we have to go find him if we have any objections.¡± Asked someone. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was uncaring. ¡°Who does he think he is?¡± ¡°Spread the word that we want six of the top ten spots. The Shengzhou disciples can only have four.¡± Cold sweat emerged on the heads of Zhao Kun and the rest, even Song Wanxi¡¯s lips stretched slightly taunt as she forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m afraid Lu Feng will not agree.¡± Zhou Yuan offhandedly said, ¡°If they disagree, we¡¯ll see which of us is more skilled in the peak selection ceremony.¡± Someone weakly said, ¡°With regards to quality, the Shengzhou disciples are indeed a little stronger than us. I¡¯m afraid that we won¡¯t be able to do much.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the group as he said, ¡° Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and the rest¡¯s eyes could not help but brighten. They knew that Zhou Yuan seemed to be astonishingly talented in practicing Genesis techniques. If they had his guidance, they may even raise their strength to the next level. ¡°In return, all of you have to listen to me during the peak selection ceremony, whoever I direct you guys at, you guys will go and beat up.¡± "Any objections?" Zhou Yuan slowly said. This time, everyone nodded one after another, their eyes filled with burning excitement. At the rear, Qiao Xiu and Shen Wanjin inwardly sighed in admiration upon seeing this. This was truly a beautiful move from Zhou Yuan. First intimidate them like a blast of thunder, before dangling a carrot in front of their eyes. All of these normally untamable elite disciples were immediately subdued into obedience... As such, Zhou Yuan had suddenly changed from a lone ranger to an existence that was now able to match Lu Feng¡¯s gang of Shengzhou disciples... Qiao Xiu licked his lips as a fire began to burn in his eyes. All of a sudden, the peak selection ceremony in a month was going to be an electrifyingly exciting event. Previous Chapte Chapter 256 Trouble Knocking at the Door News of Zhou Yuan recruiting elite disciples from the other continents swiftly spread in the outer mountains, undoubtedly causing a giant wave to rise. Of course, the declaration Zhou Yuan made next was even more shocking. Out of the top ten spots, the non Shengzhou disciples would take six, while the Shengzhou disciples shall have the remaining four! These words were akin to the impetus for a volcanic eruption, numerous Shengzhou disciples openly mocking them. "Haha, this is the joke of the century. Ever since the Cangxuan Sect was founded, there has never been less than five Shengzhou disciples amongst the top ten in the peak selection ceremony!" "Such shameless bragging from Zhou Yuan. Who does he think he is? Can''t imagine how he dares to allocate the top ten spots!" "Looks like he''s lost his mind, does he believe he''s senior brother Lu Feng?" "Humph, we Shengzhou disciples are blessed by the heavens, and should naturally enjoy better treatment. Who does Zhou Yuan think he is? I heard that he even plans on vieing for first place with senior brother Lu Feng, what a joke." "It seems that defeating Zhu Feng and obtaining victory over Zhu Yue in the Genesis technique match has given him the impression that there''s no one capable amongst us Shengzhou disciples, how cocky." "Let''s see how he''ll take responsibility for his words this time. Truly a fool who doesn¡¯t know the immensity of the heavens.¡± ¡°......¡± The outer mountains descended into boiling anger, a tsunami of opposition exploding from the Shengzhou disciples as if they had been greatly humiliated. In response to the enormous ruckus, even more non Shengzhou disciples inwardly curled their lips. Where was all this self-righteousness when you guys decided that you would be taking eight of the top ten spots and leave two for us as ¡®charity¡¯? Now that someone had finally stood up amongst the non Shengzhou disciples, these guys were acting as if they had been utterly humiliated, and would never let this matter drop. Hence, many non Shengzhou disciples secretly applauded Zhou Yuan¡¯s decision to bravely step forward. Although they did not know why he dared to so openly face Lu Feng, it was better than before, when everyone was so afraid of Lu Feng that no one had the courage to even raise his or her head. However, they did feel somewhat awkward. This matter would certainly draw violent backlash from the Shengzhou disciples, backlash that they did not know whether Zhou Yuan would be able to deal with. If he failed, his bold declaration would only turn into a joke, making them have to bow their heads even lower in front of the proud Shengzhou disciples. ... Genesis Mountain. The training sessions here were not missed by a single outer mountain disciple, with the exception of Yaoyao¡­ However, there was something different about the atmosphere today, a faint hint of tenseness and hostility in the air. Countless gazes sneaked glances towards a certain spot near the peak, where Zhou Yuan was seated on his cultivation platform with his eyes closed, no hint of any other emotion on his calm face. Many gazes also looked towards another cultivation platform nearby, where dressed entirely in white, was Lu Feng, an equally nonchalant look on his face. The atmosphere covering Genesis Mountain was strangely tense. This lasted for a long time, before a figure suddenly stood up. It was a young man with fierce eyes, vigorous Genesis Qi pulsing around his body. It was Qin Zhen. He was not some unknown individual, but the number six amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples. He looked towards Zhou Yuan with hostility, before lifting his leg as he began stomping menacingly towards the latter. Figure after figure also stood up, following behind him. Their eyes were filled with toying looks as they gazed towards Zhou Yuan. A dozen figures soon gathered. All of them were first class disciples, while also from the Shengzhou continent. Any one of them was usually objected to admiration and respect. When all of them were gathered together, they became a force that was exceptionally intimidating. The expressions of several non Shengzhou disciples changed slightly, feeling somewhat nervous. From the looks of it, these Shengzhou disciples were going to cause trouble for Zhou Yuan. ¡°That¡¯s Qin Zhen, ranked six amongst the outer mountain disciples¡­¡± ¡°Do you see the silver hair young man beside him? That¡¯s Lei Hongtao, an even more formidable character that¡¯s ranked fourth amongst the outer mountain disciples.¡± ¡°The others are no ordinary individuals too.¡± ¡°It seems that they don''t have friendly intentions." ¡°.....¡± Numerous whispers spread as every gaze on Genesis Mountain shifted over. When Lei Hongtao, Qin Zhen and the rest menacingly walked towards Zhou Yuan, the expressions of Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and gang changed slightly. How could they not know what the other party was up to. Their gazes immediately converged, and a split second later, figure after figure stood up and gathered behind the trio, before moving to stand in front of Zhou Yuan. Countless gazes watched the two parties that were about to collide, their hearts jumping erratically in their chests. These two groups were basically composed of the elites amongst this batch of outer mountain disciples. If they were to clash, it would be an earth shaking event. "Lei Hongtao, Qin Zhen, what are you guys planning on doing?!" Asked Qiao Xiu in a low voice. "Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, scram!" There was an ominous look in Qin Zhen''s eyes, no trace of any civility in his words. Powerful Genesis Qi burst from his body as a suffocating pressure spread. "Qin Zhen, do you think I''m made from mud?!" Zhao Kun was also a proud individual. His eyes immediately hardened as he too stepped forward, violence brimming from his eyes as he looked towards Qin Zhen. "Oh, have your balls grown Zhao Kun? Do you really believe you''ve found a reliable backer?" Qin Zhen''s tone was filled with ridicule. "But the Zhao Kun''s gaze turned icy. Genesis Qi swirled around his hands as they faintly expanded, undulations violently pulsing from them. By Qin Zhen''s side, the silver hair youth called Lei Hongtao spoke up in an indifferent voice, "Zhao Kun, this matter does not concern you guys. I advise you to open your eyes a little wider, and not be so easily tricked by others. There are some people who have no ability, but wield their tongues with impeccable finesse." His gaze seemed to sweep to the back, where Zhou Yuan was seated, clearly putting no effort to conceal the disdain within them. Song Wanxi''s lips opened slightly as she calmly said, "What we do is our own business. There''s no need for senior brother Lei''s concern." Lei Hongtao coldly snorted. "Junior sister Song, in our previous bout, your Black Ying Scripture really caught me off guard. However, I''ve now mastered the Red Yang Law, so feel free to come at me again.¡± Song Wanxi frowned a little upon hearing this. She naturally knew that the Red Yang Law just so happened to counter the Black Ying Scripture she practiced. Qin Zhen coldly chuckled, no longer bothering with them as his gaze looked straight towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, didn¡¯t you say that we Shengzhou disciples can only occupy four of the top ten spots? We¡¯re here to find out what right you have to say such things!¡± His expression turned serious as he stepped forward, his thunderous voice rumbling across the entire Genesis Mountain. ¡°So get your ass over here!¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t give us an explanation today, you will not be able to walk out of Genesis Mountain!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 256 Suppressed Qin Zhen¡¯s thunderous voice echoed, causing the hearts of countless disciples to jump in their chests. From the looks of it, these Shengzhou disciples intended to deal with Zhou Yuan today. They obviously knew that Song Wanxi and the rest derived their confidence from Zhou Yuan, so as long as they were able to force him into submission in front of everyone here, the other disciples would naturally understand that the dignity of the Shengzhou disciples was not to be challenged. Gaze after gaze converged on Zhou Yuan. Qin Zhen sternly looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Humph. Zhou Yuan, if you apologise to us Shengzhou disciples today, we can act as if we never heard those words you said previously.¡± ¡°Or else, we Shengzhou disciples will not let this go!¡± Zhao Kun was practically about to explode due to Qin Zhen¡¯s overbearingness, the former¡¯s rage channelled into a single laugh as he said, ¡°If you want to play, I¡¯ll happily accompany you!¡± Genesis Qi also began to surge around Song Wanxi and Qiao Xiu, a sharp iciness brimming in their eyes. Behind them, the non Shengzhou disciples also got ready to fight. After all, Qin Zhen and the rest were being way too outrageous. If they were allowed to do as they pleased with Zhou Yuan, the non Shengzhou disciples would no longer have any hopes of rising up against the Shengzhou disciples. ¡°The one who causes trouble should be the one to resolve it. Zhao Kun, you guys should stop erring any further.¡± However, just as Zhao Kun and the rest were about to act, a faint voice was suddenly heard. It seemed to bring with it a mighty pressure that instantly made the surging Genesis Qi around Zhao Kun and the rest grow sluggish. Zhao Kun and gang¡¯s expressions changed as they lifted their heads, to find Lu Feng indifferent looking towards them on his cultivation platform nearby. In the face of Lu Feng¡¯s gaze, Zhao Kun and the rest immediately felt an indescribable pressure, as if they would be truly suppressed by Lu Feng if they were to go any further. As the number one individual amongst the outer mountain disciples, Lu Feng¡¯s presence clearly made others extremely wary. ¡°You chicken-hearted thing, all you do is to hide yourself far to the rear and come up with all kinds of underhanded tactics. Do you really believe sending trash like them will achieve anything?¡± While Zhao Kun and gang¡¯s expressions were fluctuating indeterminately, a calm voice broke the deadlock. Countless gazes looked over, only to see that Zhou Yuan had opened his eyes, and was now looking straight at Lu Feng, his words clearly referring to the latter. Lu Feng¡¯s eyes hardened slightly. ¡°All you have is a sharp tongue, and the reason why I don¡¯t personally deal with the likes of you is because I do not feel that you have the qualifications.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®trash like them¡¯? What right does a mere first layer Alpha-Origin have to put on such airs?!¡± Qin Zhen¡¯s expression darkened as he ferociously glared at Zhou Yuan, evidently angered by the latter¡¯s earlier words of disdain. ¡°Do you think the likes of you is worthy enough for senior brother Lu Feng to take action?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned a little colder as he looked towards Qin Zhen, shaking his head as he said in a soft voice, ¡°Reckless fool.¡± ¡°What did you say?!¡± Qin Zhen¡¯s rage hit its peak. The manner in which Zhou Yuan viewed the former as insignificant was really grating hard on his nerves. He truly could not understand why Zhou Yuan would have the gall to show such an attitude towards him. Zhou Yuan shook his head, deciding not to waste anymore time arguing. His body abruptly etherealized, like mist as he shot towards Qin Zhen. ¡°Out of the way, watch me kill him with a single punch today!¡± Howled Qin Zhen as ferocious Genesis Qi exploded. His hands rapidly expanded as faint glowing runes appeared, giving off an endless aura of forceful unyieldingness. Light flickered in his pupils, detecting a blurry figure dash towards him from an angle. ¡°Die!¡± With a fierce cry, his palm suddenly chopped downwards, creating a dozen feet long dipper Qi that tore open a glossy deep cut in the ground below. However, his deadly strike landed on empty air. The blurry mist-like figure seemed to circle once around him, and by the time everyone could clearly see the figure again, Zhou Yuan had already returned to his cultivation platform. ¡°Just hopping back and forth, do you believe you¡¯re a rabbit?¡± Ridicule was revealed in Qin Zhen¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan was admittedly very fast, but did he really think speed alone would be able to intimidate Qin Zhen? The moment he said this, however, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. Everyone around him was looking above head in horror. ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Zhen was immediately alarmed, and also jerked his head upwards, only to find runes appearing above him, weaving into a complex Genesis Rune! An astonishing undulations rippled from the Genesis Rune. It was a grade 4 Genesis Rune! ¡°Genesis Rune?! When did he have time to draw it!¡± Qin Zhen¡¯s pupils shrank violently. Under countless gazes tinged with alarm and shock, Zhou Yuan expressionlessly extended two fingers and lightly snapped them, a clear snap echoing across the area. ¡°Magic Mountain Suppression Seal Rune!¡± Rumble! Light abruptly exploded from the Genesis Rune as the surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly swept over. In the short span of a few breaths, the Genesis Rune transformed into a giant Genesis Qi mountain that was over three hundred feet tall. The mountain began to descend, crushing down onto Qin Zhen. AH! Fear rose on Qin Zhen¡¯s face as he hastily circulated his Genesis Qi, both arms reaching out to push back. Urgh! However, he vomited a mouthful of blood the moment his hands came into contact with the mountain. It was indescribably heavy, pushing down on him till his entire body began to creak. Intense pain spread along his arms, making them feel as if they were about to snap. His body was forced down bit by bit, nothing changing no matter how he howled. The Genesis Qi mountain seemed to have a Genesis Qi suppressive effect. Once touched, it would continuously seal away and suppress one¡¯s Genesis Qi... Countless gazes all over Genesis Mountain watched in shock as Qin Zhen was easily suppressed and immobilized by the giant Genesis Qi mountain. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to be capable of employing such tactics! To think that his Genesis Rune mastery had reached such a level! ¡°Qin Zhen!¡± Lei Hongtao and gang turned pale with fright, evidently completely unable to imagine that Qin Zhen would be suppressed by Zhou Yuan after a single exchange. They gritted their teeth and shot forward, intending to help. Pch! However, when they were a few feet from Qin Zhen, runes suddenly began rising from the ground, like an incomparably hot dome of fire that cut Qin Zhen off from the outside world. It obviously was another Genesis Rune! Lei Hongtao and gang frantically attacked the fire dome, causing it to shake violently. Although the dome looked as if it would not last for long, inside it, Qin Zhen looked even worse off as he desperately tried to endure... Zhou Yuan gazed at the bitterly perservering Qin Zhen and asked in an indifferent voice, ¡°Are you convinced now?¡± Qin Zhen¡¯s face twisted as he redoubled his efforts to withstand the giant Genesis Qi mountain. His entire body trembled uncontrollably as it dripped with sweat, unable to say even a single word. By the side, Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and the rest involuntarily swallowed at this scene. They never imagined the powerful Qin Zhen would be forced into such a miserable state by Zhou Yuan... Although it was partly because Qin Zhen had been caught off guard, Zhou Yuan mastery over Genesis Runes had clearly exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations. When they looked towards Zhou Yuan, there was now a faint unfathomable feeling. They were not the only ones. Even the other disciples now looked towards Zhou Yuan with respect. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better release him!¡± When Qin Zhen was rapidly approaching his last legs, Lu Feng was finally no longer able to restrain himself. He had originally intended for Qin Zhen and gang to embarrass Zhou Yuan, causing the weak alliance he had created to fall to pieces. But he never expected that Zhou Yuan would act so decisively. Not only had Lu Feng failed to strike a blow to Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation, it had ended up growing it instead. If Lu Feng allowed Qin Zhen to be suppressed by Zhou Yuan before his eyes, Qin Zhen would not be the only one to be humiliated, and even Lu Feng would be affected. However, Zhou Yuan did not show even the slightest response to Lu Feng¡¯s shout. ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is too much!¡± Iciness flashed in Lu Feng¡¯s eyes, no longer hesitating as he violently jerked his sleeve. A dozen feet wide torrent of Genesis Qi swept forth, surging towards the giant Genesis Qi mountain. He had finally made his move. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flashed as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand also jerked. The brush instantly grew, its snow-white hairs seemingly turning into a stream of white as they whizzed forth. Golden Genesis Qi swirled around the hairs as they smashed into the Genesis Qi flood. Boom! A violent explosion Genesis Qi swept outwards. The snow-white hairs were scattered, before they returned to the brush tip. At this instant, however, Zhou Yuan extended a hand and lightly pushed downwards. Rumble! The giant Genesis Qi mountain shook as it suddenly pushed down with more power AHHH! Screamed Qin Zhen. The Genesis Qi mountain powerfully slammed into the ground, flattening his entire body. It was a very miserable sight. ¡°I yield! I yield!¡± He screamed, no longer able to bear the pain. Rumble! A flood of Genesis Qi blasted the giant Genesis Qi mountain, smashing it to bits. Specks of light seemed to dance as they filled the sky. The entire Genesis Mountain was deathly silent as countless gazes looked towards Lu Feng, the latter¡¯s handsome face currently an angry shade of steely green. He darkly glared at Zhou Yuan as a terrifying aura began to rise from his body. A split second later, an eerily cold voice slowly rang out from his mouth. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re courting death!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 257 Suppressed Qin Zhen¡¯s thunderous voice echoed, causing the hearts of countless disciples to jump in their chests. From the looks of it, these Shengzhou disciples intended to deal with Zhou Yuan today. They obviously knew that Song Wanxi and the rest derived their confidence from Zhou Yuan, so as long as they were able to force him into submission in front of everyone here, the other disciples would naturally understand that the dignity of the Shengzhou disciples was not to be challenged. Gaze after gaze converged on Zhou Yuan. Qin Zhen sternly looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Humph. Zhou Yuan, if you apologise to us Shengzhou disciples today, we can act as if we never heard those words you said previously.¡± ¡°Or else, we Shengzhou disciples will not let this go!¡± Zhao Kun was practically about to explode due to Qin Zhen¡¯s overbearingness, the former¡¯s rage channelled into a single laugh as he said, ¡°If you want to play, I¡¯ll happily accompany you!¡± Genesis Qi also began to surge around Song Wanxi and Qiao Xiu, a sharp iciness brimming in their eyes. Behind them, the non Shengzhou disciples also got ready to fight. After all, Qin Zhen and the rest were being way too outrageous. If they were allowed to do as they pleased with Zhou Yuan, the non Shengzhou disciples would no longer have any hopes of rising up against the Shengzhou disciples. ¡°The one who causes trouble should be the one to resolve it. Zhao Kun, you guys should stop erring any further.¡± However, just as Zhao Kun and the rest were about to act, a faint voice was suddenly heard. It seemed to bring with it a mighty pressure that instantly made the surging Genesis Qi around Zhao Kun and the rest grow sluggish. Zhao Kun and gang¡¯s expressions changed as they lifted their heads, to find Lu Feng indifferent looking towards them on his cultivation platform nearby. In the face of Lu Feng¡¯s gaze, Zhao Kun and the rest immediately felt an indescribable pressure, as if they would be truly suppressed by Lu Feng if they were to go any further. As the number one individual amongst the outer mountain disciples, Lu Feng¡¯s presence clearly made others extremely wary. ¡°You chicken-hearted thing, all you do is to hide yourself far to the rear and come up with all kinds of underhanded tactics. Do you really believe sending trash like them will achieve anything?¡± While Zhao Kun and gang¡¯s expressions were fluctuating indeterminately, a calm voice broke the deadlock. Countless gazes looked over, only to see that Zhou Yuan had opened his eyes, and was now looking straight at Lu Feng, his words clearly referring to the latter. Lu Feng¡¯s eyes hardened slightly. ¡°All you have is a sharp tongue, and the reason why I don¡¯t personally deal with the likes of you is because I do not feel that you have the qualifications.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®trash like them¡¯? What right does a mere first layer Alpha-Origin have to put on such airs?!¡± Qin Zhen¡¯s expression darkened as he ferociously glared at Zhou Yuan, evidently angered by the latter¡¯s earlier words of disdain. ¡°Do you think the likes of you is worthy enough for senior brother Lu Feng to take action?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned a little colder as he looked towards Qin Zhen, shaking his head as he said in a soft voice, ¡°Reckless fool.¡± ¡°What did you say?!¡± Qin Zhen¡¯s rage hit its peak. The manner in which Zhou Yuan viewed the former as insignificant was really grating hard on his nerves. He truly could not understand why Zhou Yuan would have the gall to show such an attitude towards him. Zhou Yuan shook his head, deciding not to waste anymore time arguing. His body abruptly etherealized, like mist as he shot towards Qin Zhen. ¡°Out of the way, watch me kill him with a single punch today!¡± Howled Qin Zhen as ferocious Genesis Qi exploded. His hands rapidly expanded as faint glowing runes appeared, giving off an endless aura of forceful unyieldingness. Light flickered in his pupils, detecting a blurry figure dash towards him from an angle. ¡°Die!¡± With a fierce cry, his palm suddenly chopped downwards, creating a dozen feet long dipper Qi that tore open a glossy deep cut in the ground below. However, his deadly strike landed on empty air. The blurry mist-like figure seemed to circle once around him, and by the time everyone could clearly see the figure again, Zhou Yuan had already returned to his cultivation platform. ¡°Just hopping back and forth, do you believe you¡¯re a rabbit?¡± Ridicule was revealed in Qin Zhen¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan was admittedly very fast, but did he really think speed alone would be able to intimidate Qin Zhen? The moment he said this, however, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. Everyone around him was looking above head in horror. ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Zhen was immediately alarmed, and also jerked his head upwards, only to find runes appearing above him, weaving into a complex Genesis Rune! An astonishing undulations rippled from the Genesis Rune. It was a grade 4 Genesis Rune! ¡°Genesis Rune?! When did he have time to draw it!¡± Qin Zhen¡¯s pupils shrank violently. Under countless gazes tinged with alarm and shock, Zhou Yuan expressionlessly extended two fingers and lightly snapped them, a clear snap echoing across the area. ¡°Magic Mountain Suppression Seal Rune!¡± Rumble! Light abruptly exploded from the Genesis Rune as the surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly swept over. In the short span of a few breaths, the Genesis Rune transformed into a giant Genesis Qi mountain that was over three hundred feet tall. The mountain began to descend, crushing down onto Qin Zhen. AH! Fear rose on Qin Zhen¡¯s face as he hastily circulated his Genesis Qi, both arms reaching out to push back. Urgh! However, he vomited a mouthful of blood the moment his hands came into contact with the mountain. It was indescribably heavy, pushing down on him till his entire body began to creak. Intense pain spread along his arms, making them feel as if they were about to snap. His body was forced down bit by bit, nothing changing no matter how he howled. The Genesis Qi mountain seemed to have a Genesis Qi suppressive effect. Once touched, it would continuously seal away and suppress one¡¯s Genesis Qi... Countless gazes all over Genesis Mountain watched in shock as Qin Zhen was easily suppressed and immobilized by the giant Genesis Qi mountain. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to be capable of employing such tactics! To think that his Genesis Rune mastery had reached such a level! ¡°Qin Zhen!¡± Lei Hongtao and gang turned pale with fright, evidently completely unable to imagine that Qin Zhen would be suppressed by Zhou Yuan after a single exchange. They gritted their teeth and shot forward, intending to help. Pch! However, when they were a few feet from Qin Zhen, runes suddenly began rising from the ground, like an incomparably hot dome of fire that cut Qin Zhen off from the outside world. It obviously was another Genesis Rune! Lei Hongtao and gang frantically attacked the fire dome, causing it to shake violently. Although the dome looked as if it would not last for long, inside it, Qin Zhen looked even worse off as he desperately tried to endure... Zhou Yuan gazed at the bitterly perservering Qin Zhen and asked in an indifferent voice, ¡°Are you convinced now?¡± Qin Zhen¡¯s face twisted as he redoubled his efforts to withstand the giant Genesis Qi mountain. His entire body trembled uncontrollably as it dripped with sweat, unable to say even a single word. By the side, Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and the rest involuntarily swallowed at this scene. They never imagined the powerful Qin Zhen would be forced into such a miserable state by Zhou Yuan... Although it was partly because Qin Zhen had been caught off guard, Zhou Yuan mastery over Genesis Runes had clearly exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations. When they looked towards Zhou Yuan, there was now a faint unfathomable feeling. They were not the only ones. Even the other disciples now looked towards Zhou Yuan with respect. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better release him!¡± When Qin Zhen was rapidly approaching his last legs, Lu Feng was finally no longer able to restrain himself. He had originally intended for Qin Zhen and gang to embarrass Zhou Yuan, causing the weak alliance he had created to fall to pieces. But he never expected that Zhou Yuan would act so decisively. Not only had Lu Feng failed to strike a blow to Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation, it had ended up growing it instead. If Lu Feng allowed Qin Zhen to be suppressed by Zhou Yuan before his eyes, Qin Zhen would not be the only one to be humiliated, and even Lu Feng would be affected. However, Zhou Yuan did not show even the slightest response to Lu Feng¡¯s shout. ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is too much!¡± Iciness flashed in Lu Feng¡¯s eyes, no longer hesitating as he violently jerked his sleeve. A dozen feet wide torrent of Genesis Qi swept forth, surging towards the giant Genesis Qi mountain. He had finally made his move. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flashed as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand also jerked. The brush instantly grew, its snow-white hairs seemingly turning into a stream of white as they whizzed forth. Golden Genesis Qi swirled around the hairs as they smashed into the Genesis Qi flood. Boom! A violent explosion Genesis Qi swept outwards. The snow-white hairs were scattered, before they returned to the brush tip. At this instant, however, Zhou Yuan extended a hand and lightly pushed downwards. Rumble! The giant Genesis Qi mountain shook as it suddenly pushed down with more power AHHH! Screamed Qin Zhen. The Genesis Qi mountain powerfully slammed into the ground, flattening his entire body. It was a very miserable sight. ¡°I yield! I yield!¡± He screamed, no longer able to bear the pain. Rumble! A flood of Genesis Qi blasted the giant Genesis Qi mountain, smashing it to bits. Specks of light seemed to dance as they filled the sky. The entire Genesis Mountain was deathly silent as countless gazes looked towards Lu Feng, the latter¡¯s handsome face currently an angry shade of steely green. He darkly glared at Zhou Yuan as a terrifying aura began to rise from his body. A split second later, an eerily cold voice slowly rang out from his mouth. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re courting death!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 258 ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re courting death!¡± When Lu Feng¡¯s bone-chilling voice rang out, an alarming torrent of Genesis Qi ferociously exploded from his body like a storm. Cracks began to extend on the ground below his feet. The expression of the numerous disciples in the vicinity changed slightly, somewhat unable to bear the Genesis Qi pressure as they backed away. A sliver of fear flitted across the eyes of Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu and the rest when they looked towards Lu Feng, now understanding the gap between them and the latter. As the true-blue number one disciple of the outer mountains, Lu Feng was someone they both feared and respected. The surrounding disciples retreated one after another. Only Zhou Yuan remained seated on his cultivation platform, his eyes akin to a cold blade as he stared at Lu Feng. ¡°Why? Are you finally no longer able to sit still?¡± Said Zhou Yuan in a frosty voice. The Omni Python Qi hissed inside its body as it charged out from the top of his head, taking on the faint silhouette of a giant python as it looked down from above at Lu Feng. Lu Feng¡¯s eyes were akin to a brewing storm tinged with the occasional flash of rage. It had been his will for Qin Zhen and gang to go after Zhou Yuan with the intention suppression the latter, making him lose all respect in the hearts of the non Shengzhou disciples. However, Lu Feng had not expected Zhou Yuan to respond so swiftly and decisively. Moreover, it was also the first time he had witnessed the latter display his skill in Genesis Runes. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation was only at the first layer Alpha-Origin, he was capable of drawing grade 4 Genesis Runes, a level of Genesis Runes that even the run of the mill third layer Alpha-Origin would find hard pressed to defend against. In conclusion, with the aid of Genesis Runes, ordinary third layer Alpha-Origin practitioners were no longer Zhou Yuan¡¯s match. Like what had happened just earlier. Zhou Yuan had struck like thunder with the power of Genesis Runes, causing Qin Zhen to be caught unprepared. In the end, he had been easily suppressed in a single exchange, a fact that undoubtedly made Lu Feng lose all face. In contrast, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation had grown tremendously. This outcome was completely opposite to what Lu Feng had intended, hence why he was no longer able to watch and do nothing. ¡°You arrogant and ignorant fool. I originally wanted to save you for the peak selection ceremony, but since you¡¯re already unable to wait, I will show you today that you are merely an ugly little clown in my eyes!¡± Lu Feng¡¯s ice-cold voice rang out. The Genesis Qi in his body grew more and more vigorous, turning into a howling gale that screamed around his body. Genesis Qi transformed into countless green blades of wind that began to shred even the air itself. Imposing and terrifying. ¡°I¡¯ve long wanted to see exactly what qualifications you have to be the so-called number one of the outer mountains!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze was cold and piercing, his clothes flapping loudly as the Omni Python Qi howled. Their auras ferociously clashed, causing a hostile atmosphere to choke the entire Genesis Mountain. Every disciple secretly wet their lips at this sight. No one had imagined that even in the face of someone as formidable as Lu Feng, Zhou Yuan would still meet the former head-on, refusing to give even an inch. Were the two most talked of individuals recently finally going to clash for real today? Numerous disciples opened their eyes a little wider, a sliver of curiosity and anticipation contained within. ¡°All of you stop!¡± However, when Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng¡¯s gazes were growing increasingly chilling, a loud shout was suddenly heard. A thunderous voice swept downwards along with boundless Genesis Qi, directly suppressing both Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng¡¯s Genesis Qi. Innumerable disciples lifted their heads, only to see a cloud of Genesis Qi drift over. Chen Yuan stood atop it, while a pretty red figure stood beside him. It was Gu Hongyi. Chen Yuan looked down from above, staring at Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng as he frowned and said, ¡°The peak selection ceremony is just around the corner. If you have any grudges, you can resolve them then. Don¡¯t even think about having any personal squabbles here.¡± The truth was that he had long known about what was going to happen today. Hence, he had intentionally been missing today. After all, Zhou Yuan really was a sore sight in his eyes, and he was naturally happy to let Lu Feng teach the former a lesson. However, Chen Yuan had not expected Gu Hongyi to come knocking at his door, giving him no choice but to rush over. After all, Gu Hong¡¯s background was too great, and he did not want to offend her. Chen Yuan¡¯s appearance meant that there would no longer be a battle between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng. Both of them exchanged an icy glance, before withdrawing the surging Genesis Qi around their bodies. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better treasure what time you have left. When the peak selection ceremony arrives, I will personally pummel you into the abyss. Then, you will know that you amount to nothing in my eyes.¡± Lu Feng stood with his hands behind his body, his eerily chilling gaze directed straight at Zhou Yuan. Their grudge had started with Gu Hongyi, but now, Lu Feng would still view Zhou Yuan as an enemy even without her. Because Lu Feng could already feel that Zhou Yuan was beginning to threaten his position. In the past, Zhou Yuan had merely been an ant in his eyes, not even worthy of any attention. Later on, however, Lu Feng began to observe Zhou Yuan¡¯s astonishing rise amongst the outer mountains disciples, the concealed sharp blade he was no longer able to be hidden. Lu Feng had began to feel threatened, and he could not tolerate a disciple from another continent challenging his position and prestige. As the one at the forefront of this batch of outer mountain disciples, he needed to win, because this would also decide his future prospects and position in the Cangxuan Sect. Therefore, he must destroy Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan could sense the intense iciness in Lu Feng¡¯s eyes, however, it did not bother him at all as he softly chuckled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll send these words right back at you. I hope that you won¡¯t lose too miserably, or it will really be boring.¡± ¡°You think you are worthy?¡± Lu Feng was expressionless, contempt appearing from the corners of his mouth. Zhou Yuan ignored him, lifting his head instead, as he smiled at the Gu Hongyi. He knew that she was likely the one who had brought Chen Yuan over, and probably knew that Lu Feng was going to make things difficult today. As for Chen Yuan, he merely showed the minimum courtesy of cupping his hands together with a cold expression. Chen Yuan had always been the one to oversee the Genesis Mountain training sessions, and yet, he had found some excuse to be absent today. This was obviously intentional, and he had likely known in advance that Qin Zhen and gang would be stirring up trouble today. Hence, Zhou Yuan guessed that Chen Yuan had purposely created an opportunity for Qin Zhen and gang to do so. In view of this, Zhou Yuan naturally was not going to happily thank Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan was likewise able to see Zhou Yuan¡¯s half-heartedness, causing the former to snort inside. However, he did not get angry. Elder Zong Ming¡¯s sudden appearance to help Zhou Yuan previously had clearly made Chen Yuan wary. He no longer dared to so casually cause trouble for Zhou Yuan. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Said Zhou Yuan to Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun, Qiao Xiu and the rest, before he turned and walked towards the foot of the mountain. A sliver of respect flowed out in the eyes of Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and the other first class disciples as they gazed upon Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. His almost effortless suppression of Qin Zhen and direct confrontation of Lu Feng had completely won over these usually head strong disciples. Lu Feng¡¯s suppression was the reason why they had previously feared competing with the Shengzhou disciples, but now, Zhou Yuan had appeared on their side. As such, they no longer feared Lu Feng as much as before. With such thoughts in mind, they exchanged a look, began to follow one after another, creating a crowd behind Zhou Yuan. With them taking the lead, more and more non Shengzhou disciples began to flood over, forming a black mass that surged down the mountain. The sight of this caused the expressions of numerous Shengzhou disciples to turn somewhat unnatural. For the first time, they felt that these country bumpkins were no longer easy targets. The corners of Lu Feng¡¯s lips involuntarily twitched at this sight, fury boiling within his eyes. In a certain manner of speaking, this was akin to stepping on their faces. He never imagined that he would not only fail to destroy Zhou Yuan, but end up helping him instead, creating a central pillar that all these country bumpkins could now rally around... Lu Feng took in a deep breath, his five fingers slowly clenching into a fist. The gaze that stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back was filled with a chilling iciness. ¡°Go ahead and be happy for now. During the peak selection ceremony, I will personally stomp you into the ground!¡± ¡°I will teach you that the higher you climb, the harder the fall!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 259 Guidance After the confrontation on Genesis Mountain, the atmosphere in the outer mountains grew increasingly tense. Various clashes happening between the Shengzhou and non Shengzhou discipes time and time again. However, there was one change compared to before. The non Shengzhou disciples no longer tolerated the bullying of the Shengzhou disciples, fiercely striking back instead, causing the Shengzhou disciples to be caught off guard. After all, the Shengzhou disciples had only been able to act so proud and arrogant because Lu Feng had the power to sweep away all the other disciples, making many disciples afraid to even raise any objections against him. However, after the confrontation between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng on Genesis Mountain, the non Shengzhou disciples suddenly realised that there was someone amongst them that had deeply concealed his abilities. If this was the case, why should they continue to be accommodating and show tolerance to these guys? Therefore, even though the day of the peak selection ceremony was fast approaching, conflicts constantly rose between the two sides, each wanting to force the other into submission. With regards to the disagreements between the disciples, the Cangxuan Sect outer mountain showed no concern, allowing them to do as they pleased. It was an unspoken rule in the Cangxuan Sect. Although the Cangxuan Sect was a titan like existence in Cangxuan Heaven, competition was needed for sustained growth. Without it, the Cangxuan Sect would become a lifeless pool of stagnant water. The clashes between the Shengzhou and other continent disciples would allow them to polish each other, propelling them to strive even harder in their cultivation. From a certain point of view, it was a kind of motivation. As for the disciples that were unable to adapt to such competition, they would eventually be eliminated. However, while such disagreements continued to break out between the disciples, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation began to rise at an alarming speed, until it was basically equal to Lu Feng¡¯s. Zhou Yuan was now known as one of the top contenders amongst outer mountain disciples of this batch. Of course, this was an opinion mostly shared by non Shengzhou disciples. The Shengzhou disciples on the other hand, merely viewed this with extreme contempt. They believed that if it was not for Chen Yuan¡¯s interference, Zhou Yuan would have long been beaten back to his original shape on Genesis Mountain. When all was said and done however, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation in the outer mountains was now no lesser than Lu Feng¡¯s. As for who exactly amongst the two would become the true number one, everyone would only find out during the peak selection ceremony. ¡­ Currently, Zhou Yuan would still give guidance for the Ethereal Form technique everyday. Even more of his time, however, was spent on his own cultivation. Lu Feng was no ordinary individual. Although he was loathsome, his strength was admittedly the real deal, a point that Zhou Yuan could not deny. Hence, he would not allow himself to relax. While focusing on his own training, Zhou Yuan also started to fulfil his promise towards Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and the rest, the promise of giving them pointers in their Genesis techniques. After all, he had already recruited them, and would also require their help in the peak selection ceremony. Thus, raising their strength would also end up benefiting himself. By a certain mountain creek. Zhou Yuan sat on a boulder, his gaze looking first towards Zhao Kun as he said, ¡°The Genesis technique you practice is the Sky Dipper Hand, right?¡± The Sky Dipper Hand was a mid grade little Heaven tier Genesis technique. It was powerful and unyielding in nature, and every strike would be accompanied by dipper wind. Even metal would seem akin to tofu before its might. At the advanced level, tearing apart mountains would be an effortless task. It was as if a bolt of energy surged through Zhao Kun, while anticipation also began bubbling in the eyes of Song Wanxi and the rest also. After so many days, Zhou Yuan was finally going to begin guiding them. The past few days had been rather vexing for them. They had heard whispers that Lu Feng had managed to pull some strings, and arranged for personal tutors to guide some of the better ranked outer mountain disciples such as Qin Zhen and Lei Hongtao, allowing them to rapidly grow stronger. This news made them feel very uneasy. After all, if the gap started to widen, their chances of winning would drop in the peak selection ceremony, making it extremely difficult to vie for the top ten spots. However, they did not have the connections Lu Feng had, and were thus unable to obtain personal guidance from these tutors. Hence, they could only place their hopes on Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan had not even hinted at this matterfor the past few days, leaving them no option but to wait in silence. Now that Zhou Yuan had finally voluntarily brought it up, they were naturally elated. However, there was still a little doubt mixed in with this happiness. After all, although they knew that Zhou Yuan seemed to have astonishing talent in Genesis techniques, each of them practiced a different technique. Would Zhou Yuan be proficient in all of them? Hence, with regards to Zhou Yuan¡¯s promise to give them guidance, they were still holding a ¡®seeing is believing¡¯ mindset. Zhao Kun felt a little awkward as he asked, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, will you really be able to help me with the Sky Dipper Hand technique? You¡¯ve yet to see ts cultivation method, right?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ve not seen it before.¡± He had indeed not seen the cultivation method for the Sky Dipper Hand. However, he possessed the Decoder Saint Rune, and could clearly find the weaknesses or deficiencies in any Genesis technique. Therefore, he only needed to bring their attention to places, naturally allowing them to avoid making such mistakes, allowing them to progress more efficiently. This was something that no other instructor could so. Of course, this was the extent of the aid he could give. Each individual had to continue spending time practicing and better understanding their techniques to improve. The Decoder Saint Rune was not all-powerful after all. Zhao Kun could not help but let out a bitter laugh in response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s honesty. ¡°There are three levels to the Sky Dipper Hand. I¡¯ve managed to master the first level, but am having difficulties with the second for quite some time.¡± ¡°The one you suppressed a few days ago, Qin Zhen, also practices this technique. I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s made significant progress during the past two days, and will likely reach the second level before the peak selection ceremony.¡± ¡°Rumor says that Lu Feng has found some instructors to personally guide them.¡± At this point, Zhao Kun grinded his teeth in regret. The disciples from the Shengzhou Continent did have several advantages over the rest of them. Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod upon hearing this. He was naturally also aware of this piece news. It was this very information that caused the minds of Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu and the rest to wander, and also hence why Zhou Yuan had brought up this matter today. If he were to delay any further, Zhao Kun and gang would likely soon lose their morale, let alone the other disciples. This was obviously another one of Lu Feng¡¯s schemes that aimed to destroy everyone¡¯s faith. Zhou Yuan did not want to waste any more time, and directly instructed, ¡°Activate the Sky Dipper Hand.¡± The sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm appearance made Zhao Kun feel a little less awkward. It seemed that he had some confidence? Zhao Kun took in a deep breath as the Genesis Qi inside his body began to ripple. His hands started to grow a little, Genesis Qi light swirling around them to form glowing runes. Strands of dipper wind circled around his hands, shredding even the air to pieces. With a loud yell, Zhou Kun swung his hand. Dipper winds immediately swept forth, chopping open a 90 feet long cut on the ground in front of him, the dreadful force splitting even the boulders in its path. The surrounding disciples inwardly sighed in amazement. The Sky Dipper Hand was indeed ferocious and domineering. ¡°The levels of the Sky Dipper Hand are marked by the power of the dipper winds. It¡¯s said that the second level can reach over 240 feet, while I am currently only capable of about 90 feet.¡± Said Zhao Kun in a somewhat regretful manner. ¡°But my progress has slowed to a crawl recently, only making 3 feet of headway after several days of nonstop practice. At this rate, it will take at least half a year to reach the second level.¡± ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, what do I need to do?¡± He gazed a Zhou Yuan, a flash of hope in his eyes. The others also awkwardly looked towards Zhou Yuan. If he could solve Zhao Kun¡¯s problem, they would naturally have more faith. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, an ancient rune appearing in the depths of his pupils. When Zhao Kun used the Sky Dipper Hand earlier, he had clearly seen how the Genesis Qi circulated along the channels and meridian points in the latter¡¯s body. At certain locations, Zhou Yuan had seen the circulating Genesis Qi turn a little sluggish. While Zhou Yuan did not speak, everyone else fell silent, causing the atmosphere to become extremely suffocating. Moments later, Zhou Yuan finally withdrew his gaze. He looked towards the grim faced crowd and chuckled. ¡°No problem. It¡¯s quite simple.¡± Everyone was stunned, even Zhao Kun also a little in disbelief and unable to speak for a time. Zhou Yuan was not offended by their response. He grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as its snow-white brush hairs shot out, swiftly marking out several locations on Zhao Kun¡¯s body. ¡°When you circulate your Genesis Qi through these locations, increase the speed by 30% and power by 40%¡± Zhao Kun was taken aback. Although he was utterly confused, he still nodded in the end, still skeptical as he began to circulate his Genesis Qi. When it flowed through the locations indicated by Zhou Yuan, Zhao Kun followed the instructions given, increasing the speed and power. Bzz! Dipper Qi exploded from Zhao Kun¡¯s palm as he ferociously chopped downwards. Boom! The ground before him was once again torn apart by dipper winds. It was at this moment that Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu and the rest¡¯s eyes aburptly widened. The scar left behind by the attack had reached 129 feet! Compared to before, it had grown by a whole 24 feet! Sss! A series of gasps were heard as everyone turned towards Zhou Yuan in shock. No one had expected a few seemingly casual tips from him to bring about such apparent improvement. Zhao Kun was likewise stupefied. It was a long time later before he looked towards Zhou Yuan with burning eyes and quivering lips. Even someone as proud as himself could not help by tremble as he said, ¡°Young brother Yuan, I¡¯m convinced.¡± The other disciples instantly shifted their practically searing gazes towards Zhou Yuan. Song Wanxi pretty eyes looked at Zhou Yuan as she said in a soft and sweet voice, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, may I also ask for your guidance in my Black Ying Scripture.¡± ¡°Young brother Yuan, please guide me in my Flame Thunder Force!¡± ¡°My, my Thousand Wave Scroll!¡± ¡°.¡­..¡± A wave of excited voices exploded by the mountain creek, drowning out the sound of flowing water. With Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying talent in Genesis techniques, the numerous disciples suddenly felt extremely confident in the face of the fast approaching peak selection ceremony. They would perhaps really end up taking six of the top ten spots in the peak selection ceremony! Previous Chapte Chapter 260 Secre The date of the peak selection ceremony grew closer every day. The outer mountains were bathed in an atmosphere of desperate training, everyone making full use of every second they had in hopes of making themselves just a tiny bit stronger before the arrival of the peak selection ceremony. After all, everyone clearly understood what it represented; their future prospects. They had travelled millions of miles, and crossed uncountable continents just for the chance of entering the Cangxuan Sect. If they were unable to grasp this opportunity to enter the inner mountains, they would surely have to wait a long time for their next chance. Even if they managed to succeed then, they would have already lost the most ideal timing, and those of the same generation would have likely long left them in the dust. Hence, not a single person in the outer mountains could relax in the face of such an important event. Zhou Yuan was no exception. By the mountain creek, Zhou Yuan was seated with his eyes closed as robust gold Genesis Qi whizzed around his body. One would see three swirling torrents of Genesis Qi in which the barely discernible figures of three beasts could be seen. A savage and domineering aura spread from them along with the faint echoes of dragon roars. Rumble! The three torrents of Genesis Qi shuddered, cracks suddenly appearing on the boulder Zhou Yuan was seated on as muffled explosions rang out in the air. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly opened, light blossoming within them before gradually receding. He spat out a breath as faint joy sparkled in his eyes. After half a month of training, he had finally refined the three dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood, successfully cultivating three Nine Dragons Canon Genesis Qi. The only thing he needed to do next was to break them in. These three Nine Dragons Canon Genesis Qi definitely possessed overwhelming power. ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve reached the initial level of the Nine Dragons Canon.¡± While Zhou Yuan was appreciating his progress, a figure in red flew over, bringing along a slight fragrance. Gu Hongyi stood in front of Zhou Yuan with a wide grin. Zhou Yuan glanced at her and smiled, ¡°The Shengzhou and non Shengzhou disciples have been on pretty bad terms recently, and yet you still come here everyday.¡± Over this period of time, she did as she wanted, coming to receive guidance from Zhou Yuan in the Ethereal Form technique. She was clearly not the least bit affected by the disagreements between the disciples on both sides. Gu Hongyi pouted a little. ¡°What do such meaningless conflicts have to do with me?¡± She understood that the Shengzhou disciples believed a little too deeply that they were superior to others, while the non Shengzhou disciples whom were prided geniuses in their respective continents were naturally proud individuals. Contact between the two parties would naturally result in conflict. With regards to such conflicts, she neither had the power to stop them, not did she want to interfere. Zhou Yuan said, ¡°If everyone was like you, these troubles would naturally cease to exist.¡± Although Gu Hongyi was also a proud individual, she did not bully and humiliate others by relying on her background. This was something Zhou Yuan admired about her. Gu Hongyi sat down in front of Zhou Yuan as she inquired with interest, ¡°After the peak selection ceremony, which peak do you want to enter?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He did not answer, but asked instead, ¡°What about you?¡± Gu Hongyi placed a hand on her chin as she answered, ¡°Of course I want to enter the Cangxuan Peak. It¡¯s the peak where the sect master resides, and can be said to be one of the most popular peaks amongst the disciples.¡± Zhou Yuan asked in surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t your old ancestor the master of the Hongya Peak?¡± Gu Hongyi frowned. ¡°The Hongya Peak specializes in external tempering techniques, and everyone there is covered all over in metal lump like muscles, so ugly. I¡¯ll never go to the Hongya Peak.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. Once Genesis Qi cultivation reached a certain level, it would be divided into internal and external tempering. Internal tempering referred to the cultivation of Genesis Qi in the Qi Dwelling, making it magnificent as a river of stars, boundless and endless. External tempering on the other hand referred to using Genesis Qi to temper the body. The fusion of the two would allow one to shatter the sky and land with one¡¯s bare hands and feet. It was said that at the pinnacle, one¡¯s body would achieve the Saint level, a realm where a single flick was enough to shatter stars. However, regardless of whether it was internal or external, one¡¯s cultivation first needed to reach a certain level. At the very least, the current Zhou Yuan did not have the qualifications, because he lacked sufficient Genesis Qi. There was no point mentioning internal or external tempering when even his Qi Dwelling had yet to be filled. Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°What about the other peaks?¡± Gu Hongyi laughed and explained, ¡°The Sword Cometh Peak for example focuses on using one¡¯s Genesis Qi to nourish the sword, allowing it to transform into sword Qi. Their attacks are sharp and deadly, with the potential to cut the milky way. With regards to sharpness, they are said to be the number one in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± ¡°Hence why the Sword Cometh Peak is also extremely popular amongst the disciples.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils spun a little. Lu Feng had previously mentioned he had a high ranking senior in the Sword Cometh Peak. Gu Hongyi carefully scanned the surroundings, before she said in a low voice, ¡°From what I know, the master of Sword Cometh Peak was a servant boy under patriarch Cangxuan.¡± ¡°It was only later on after listening to the patriarch lecture about the dao, and obtaining the patriarch¡¯s personal sword did he establish the Sword Cometh Peak after the patriarch died.¡± ¡°But the patriarch has never mentioned taking him as a disciple. So strictly speaking, he is not truly considered part of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s lineage.¡± ¡°You should take note never to mention the words servant boy in front of this peak master, because it is taboo.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He never imagined that the master of Sword Cometh Peak was not actually a disciple of patriarch Cangxuan, but a servant boy under the latter¡¯s employ. This was likely a deeply kept secret of the Cangxuan Sect, a secret that Gu Hongyi would not have known if her old ancestor was not the peak master of the Hongya Peak. ¡°Are all the other peak masters disciples of patriarch Cangxuan?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. ¡°Patriarch Cangxuan has only taken four disciples. Our current sect master is his first disciple, while my old ancestor and the masters of the Spirit Rune Peak and Snow Lotus Peak respectively are the other three.¡± ¡°What about the Thunder Prison Peak?¡± Zhou Yuan realised that Gu Hongyi had left out this peak. ¡°The master of Thunder Prison Peak huh¡­ this individual is likely the most senior person in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Gu Hongyi said in a low voice, ¡°He too is not a disciple of patriarch Cang Xuan, but used to be one of the patriarch¡¯s old friends. When the patriarch established the Cangxuan Sect many many years ago, this old friend of his came to join. The patriarch gave him many pointers and guidance, allowing him to reach greater heights in his cultivation. Later on, he established the Thunder Prison Peak, and took charge of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s law enforcement and punishment duties.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod. He had not expected that there would be such interesting stories behind the seven peaks. However, the complexity of the situation made Zhou Yuan rather wary. Back in the Saint Remains Domain, patriarch Cang Xuan had once ambiguously hinted that part of the reason for his death was that there may be a mole in the Cangxuan Sect. It may perhaps only be patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s guess, hence why he had been so uncertain. Regardless, Zhou Yuan felt that it would not hurt to be a little more cautious. ¡°Eh, there¡¯s still one last peak, the Saint Genesis Peak. It¡¯s the most unique peak in the Cangxuan Sect, because it used to be the place patriarch Cang Xuan secluded himself in. The main peak was sealed for many years after patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death, causing it to decline. Very few disciples will choose this peak.¡± Added Gu Hongyi. Zhou Yuan nodded. Just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed slightly as he lifted his head, and looked in a certain direction where a slight disturbance was suddenly felt. Zhou Yuan cast his gaze over, only to see the numerous disciples training there retreat like the tide, alarm and fear on their faces. He frowned slightly as he stood up, and saw a young lady in black slowly walked through the now parted mass of disciples. The young lady had beautiful features, and her skin was as white as snow. Her eyebrows, however, gave off a sharp and cold feeling. In her hand was a long sword with a green edge. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze finally came to a stop at her tiny waist, where a golden sash outlined its slenderness. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened a little. An inner mountain golden sash disciple. Gu Hongyi also caught sight of the young lady at this moment. Her shapely eyebrows immediately bunched together as she slowly muttered, ¡°Why is she here?¡± ¡°Who is she?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Gu Hongyi helplessly shot a look at him and said, ¡°Lu Xuanyin, a golden sash disciple from the Sword Cometh Peak.¡± Zhou Yuan instantly understood. This must be the elder sister of his clan that Lu Feng had mentioned before. Looks like this guest was not friendly. Previous Chapte Chapter 261 Lu Xuanyin Sword in hand, the young lady in black slowly walked towards the mountain creek. The numerous disciples would give way one after another wherever she passed, fear and respect in their eyes. They could clearly feel the deadly sword Qi emanating from the young lady. Moreover, a golden sash was wrapped around her slender waist, clearly indicating her identity. An inner mountain golden sash disciple. One must know that most of the inner mountain disciples that came to the outer mountains to teach were merely black sash disciples. With regards to status, they were far from being able to match this young lady in black. However, the girl in black paid no attention to the gazes of the many surrounding disciples. There was only icy haughtiness in her eyes. None of these outer mountain disciples were worth even a single glance. She continued to walk, ultimately arriving at Zhou Yuan and Gu Hongyi¡¯s location. Zhou Yuan warily stared at her. This woman was Lu Feng¡¯s elder clan sister. Suddenly coming here at such a time could only mean that she likely did not have any friendly intentions. However, the girl called Lu Xuanyin merely swept a nonchalant glance at him, before looking towards Gu Hongyi. Only then did a smile appear on her cold and haughty face. She walked forward and pulled Gu Hongyi¡¯s hand, smiling as she said, ¡°Hongyi, I¡¯ve been wanting to meet you ever since Lu Feng told me you have also come to the Cangxuan Sect. This is great, when you enter the inner mountains, we will be able to meet more often.¡± Gu Hongyi felt a little unnatural in response to Lu Xuanyin¡¯s enthusiasm. She and the latter were indeed acquainted due to the friendly relations between their two clans, and had spent some time together when they were younger. However, these feelings had dulled during the past few years while Lu Xuanyin was training in the Cangxuan Sect. Hence, Gu Hongyi was unable to acustom herself to the sudden friendliness. Gu Hongyi seamlessly retrieved her hand as she responded, ¡°Senior sister Lu, why have you suddenly come out from the inner mountains?¡± Lu Xuanyin laughed softly. ¡°Isn¡¯t it because I heard that you¡¯re here and wanted to see you. I just notified Lu Feng earlier too, the three of us can have a little gathering. I recall you and Lu Feng were pretty close when you were young.¡± Gu Hongyi frowned slightly. An intelligent girl like her realised that Lu Xuanyin was not here for Zhou Yuan, but herself. Her conclusion was spot on. Lu Xuanyin had indeed come here to create chances for Lu Feng to better his relation with Gu Hongyi. From what Lu Feng had told her, Gu Hongyi seemed to be growing more and more distant towards him, instead becoming chummy with a country bumpkin from another continent. Lu Xuanyin found this rather difficult to accept. The old ancestor of the Gu clan was the illustrious master of Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Hongya Peak. If Lu Feng and Gu Hongyi were to become a couple, it would be greatly beneficial to the Lu clan. It was such an important matter that even the master of the Sword Cometh Peak had personally asked her about it. In Lu Xuanyin¡¯s opinion, Lu Feng had outstanding qualities, and was also exceptionally talented, a practically perfect match for Gu Hongyi. And yet, some country bumpkin had suddenly emerged out of the blue and ruined this fairytale, a truly disgusting act. Therefore, she put aside her training, and came over to the outer mountains in hopes of finding an opportunity to match make the two of them. Gu Hongyi shook her head, and responded as if she was in a somewhat difficult position, ¡°Senior sister Lu, the peak selection ceremony is just around the corner, and the only thoughts on my mind are to concentrate on my training.¡± Lu Xuanyin hurriedly smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s also important to relax, choosing the appropriate time to rest will not hinder your training.¡± Gu Hongyi felt an oncoming headache; a woman like this was truly difficult to deal with. She tried to reject once again. ¡°I¡¯m training the Ethereal Form technique with Zhou Yuan, and he only has limited time everyday. So I¡¯m really not free.¡± Lu Xuanyin was stunned for a moment. A sliver of iciness emerged in her eyes as she turned towards Zhou Yuan and said with a faint smile, ¡°I believe this must be junior brother Zhou Yuan? I¡¯ve heard of your recent exploits even in the inner mountains.¡± Zhou Yuan did not comment, merely smiling in response. Lu Xuanyin offhandedly said, ¡°How about this junior brother Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ll give Hongyi some time off today, and make up for it at a later date. How does this sound?¡± She had a slight smile on her face. Although she seemed to be asking a question, her tone indicated that she had already decided the matter. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained indifferent, his eyes lowering slightly as he replied, ¡°The daily training sessions have already been fixed. If she misses it, she¡¯ll have to wait for the next one. There are too many disciples learning Genesis techniques here, so we do not do make-up lessons.¡± The smile on Lu Xuanyin¡¯s face froze a little. She had originally believed that given her status, a mere outer mountain disciple like Zhou Yuan would surely tactfully follow her wishes. After all, this was only a small matter. She never imagined that Zhou Yuan would be so ignorant. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan really has some character.¡± Lu Xuanyin withdrew her smile. She began to observe Zhou Yuan with indifferent eyes. Lu Feng had naturally mentioned the disagreements between himself and Zhou Yuan. However, neither Lu Feng nor Lu Xuanyin felt that it was worth their concern. As for Zhou Yuan declaring that he would take away first place from Lu Feng in the peak selection ceremony, Lu Xuanyin merely laughed in amusement, feeling that this country bumpkin was really overconfident in his abilities. In her eyes, a first layer Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan did not even have the right to challenge Lu Feng. Hence why she had come here purely because of Gu Hongyi, no intentions whatsoever of doing anything to Zhou Yuan. From what she could see, during the peak selection ceremony, this country bumpkin would naturally be crushed under Lu Feng¡¯s heels and be thoroughly humiliated. However, she never expected that the country bumpkin would dare to even not give her face. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m merely following the rules, rules that will be the same regardless of who it is. I hope that senior sister Lu does not blame me.¡± His tone was calm, as if he was being earnest. However, Lu Xuanyin did not think so. She coldly stared at Zhou Yuan as the Genesis Qi around her began to tremble, and the faint but extremely sharp cry of a sword rang out. A piercing pressure swept towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Senior sister Lu!¡± Gu Hongyi was the first to detect it and immediately took a step forward to stand in front of Zhou Yuan, her brows knitting together as she said in a somewhat angry voice, ¡°What are you doing!¡± Lu Xuanyin pursed her lips for a brief moment. She could sense Gu Hongyi¡¯s anger, and immediately withdrew her sword Qi as she regretfully said, ¡°Hongyi, are you really not going to take this chance to hang out with me?¡± Gu Hongyi curtly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve been busy with training recently, and really do not want to be distracted However, she understood that Lu Xuanyin would not relent so easily, and could only compromise. ¡°If that¡¯s really not okay with you, we can find a time to meet up after the peak selection ceremony.¡± Lu Xuanyin was naturally aware that Gu Hongyi had finally made a concession. The former immediately grinned and nodded. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll wait till the peak selection ceremony is over. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll surely be here to attend such a grand occasion.¡± After finishing, she turned around and left. While leaving, her icy gaze seemed to sweep across Zhou Yuan. Under the attention of numerous gazes, Lu Xuanyin left the mountain creek, eventually arriving at the entrance of the mountain, where she met Lu Feng in his usual white attire. Lu Feng frowned slightly upon seeing that Lu Xuanyin had exited alone. ¡°Is Hongyi not coming?¡± Only then did Lu Xuanyin¡¯s pretty face turn stormy, iciness flashing in her eyes as she coldly said, ¡°That little peasant boy is indeed a hateful one.¡± She had clearly placed all of the blame on Zhou Yuan. ¡°Lu Feng, if you find a chance during the peak selection ceremony, cripple him.¡± ¡°I want to let him know that a peasant boy should obediently stay in his little peasant village dump, and stop dreaming of tasting a swan¡¯s meat!¡± Her voice was chillingly cold. Lu Feng nodded, an ominous look in his eyes as they swept towards the direction of the mountain creek. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will make him understand that he has offended someone he should never have offended.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 262 What Are We Playing Time stealthily flowed as the final month gradually reached its end. There was only a single day left before the peak selection ceremony. The atmosphere in the outer mountains was tense to the limit, numerous disciples everywhere wearing grim expressions, while nervousness hid within the depths of their eyes. Every single one of them understood the importance of tomorrow''s peak selection ceremony. A single step to become a dragon, or a single step to become a worm. In these short three months after arriving at the Cangxuan Sect, they had deeply experienced how immense of an entity it was, possessing various cultivation resources that their empires or clans could never hope to have. Just the outer mountains alone was already such an eye-opener. What kind of world would they see if they became inner mountain disciples? It was clear as day to them. Only here could they truly step onto the great path of cultivation. The imminent peak selection ceremony was the first trial they had to face in the Cangxuan Sect. Only by passing it would they finally ascend the dragon¡¯s gate. ¡­ By a certain mountain creek. After the daily session was over, Zhou Yuan''s gaze swept across the crowd as he said, "Everyone, tomorrow is the day of the peak selection ceremony. Our futures will be decided there and then." Below, Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun and the rest wore solemn expressions. A sliver of respect could be seen in their gazes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. For the past month, Zhou Yuan had indeed fulfilled his promise to them. He had guided them in their Genesis techniques, allowing them to grow substantially stronger. Song Wanxi gazed at Zhou Yuan and earnestly said, "Junior brother Zhou Yuan, we will not let ourselves forget this debt. If there''s anything you need in the future, just say the word, and we will do all we can to help." Even the domineering Zhao Kun earnestly nodded his head. "I, Zhao Kun, rarely acknowledge anyone. Young brother Yuan, you''re the first. After we enter the inner mountains, I will not give even half an excuse if you ever need my help." The other disciples also said their piece one after another. One could tell that they were indeed grateful towards Zhou Yuan. After all, if he had not stepped up, they would not have the courage to challenge the Shengzhou disciples led by Lu Feng. What''s more, Zhou Yuan had even taken the time to tutor them. He had indeed shown them his sincerity. Qiao Xiu smiled when he heard this and said, "Young brother Yuan''s future prospects after entering the inner mountains will surely be limitless, and will soon become one of the pillars that supports the sect. When that happens, you may even find yourself ranked in the Chosens List. What help can we possibly offer when that happens." His provocative words immediately drew a series of laughs and curses from the crowd, making the atmosphere much livelier. Zhou Yuan chuckled as he waved his hand and said, "I helped you guys for the sake of fighting Lu Feng and the rest during the peak selection ceremony. I can only say that each of us merely fulfilled each others needs.¡± Although he was not afraid of Lu Feng, he did have the numbers on his side. It would be very troublesome for Zhou Yuan if Lu Feng made use of this advantage. Hence why Zhou Yuan had recruited Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and the rest of the gang. At the end of the day, Zhou Yuan had not done it out of kindness, but to further his own agenda. However, Song Wanxi and gang merely chuckled. Regardless of Zhou Yuan''s initial goal, at the very least, they had benefited from him, and this was already enough in their eyes. "The peak selection ceremony is tomorrow. After training for long so long, it¡¯s time to relax a little. Let¡¯s go, it¡¯ll be my treat at the Hundred Fragrances House today.¡± Zhou Yuan stood up and grinned widely. His words immediately drew a series of cheers, joy filling the faces of the many disciples present. The Hundred Fragrances Pavilion was not cheap, and disciples like them were not as rich as the Shengzhou disciples. Therefore, most of them could only drool outside the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion, not daring to enter even if it was empty. They never imagined that Zhou Yuan would fulfil one of the wishes in their hearts today. Hence, the group rowdily left the mountain creek, heading straight for the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion in an excited manner. When they entered, however, the joy on their faces froze for a brief moment. They had seen numerous figures already gathered inside, and at closer inspection, Lu Feng and numerous elite Shengzhou disciples were identified amongst the crowd. At the same time, Lu Feng, Yang Xiu, Qin Zhen and the rest had also caught sight of the newcomers. Qin Zhen was the first to react, and mockingly said, ¡°Oh! You guys are also rich enough to come here?¡± Zhao Kun and the rest were immediately angered by his mocking tone. ¡°You guys can come, so why can¡¯t we?¡± Zhou Yuan walked forward, his expression indifferent as he glanced at Qin Zhen. This glance made Qin Zhen tremble slightly as he recalled the scene where he had been suppressed by Zhou Yuan. The former¡¯s expression immediately turned somewhat ugly, but he did not dare to speak again. Zhou Yuan paid him no attention, merely looking towards Song Wanxi and the rest as he said, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go in.¡± Although the presence of these guys made them rather uncomfortable, retreating at this point would only make the other party more overbearing and arrogant. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s lead, the group also surged into the building, finding a table across from the Shengzhou disciples, before seating themselves. The two groups sat opposite each other, making the atmosphere in the Hundred Fragrances House turn rather strange. Lu Feng¡¯s eyes turned a little colder as his gaze clashed with Zhou Yuan¡¯s, sparks flying. Thud! While stuck in the strange atmosphere, the sound of a cup slamming into the table was suddenly heard. Zhao Kun and the rest immediately looked over, only for their expression to change slightly. They had seen a girl in black seated beside Lu Feng. She was quite the gorgeous specimen, but her eyes were filled with an icy haughtiness. The most eye-catching thing, however, was the exquisite golden sash around her slender waist. Lu Xuanyin, an inner mountain gold sash disciple. Lu Xuanyin was expressionless, staring at her cup as her cold voice sounded in the Hundred Fragrances House, ¡°Since when does the Hundred Fragrances House allow just anyone to come in? This is really affecting my appetite.¡± Zhao Kun, Qiao Xiu and the rest turned red with embarrassment and anger after hearing the words that were clearly directed at them. Rage filled their eyes, but none of them dared to retort due to Lu Xuanyin¡¯s status as an inner mountain gold sash disciple. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were calm as he offhandedly asked, ¡°Since when does a gold sash disciple manage the rules of the Hundred Fragrances House?¡± Upon hearing that Zhou Yuan actually dared to retort, Lu Xuanyin¡¯s eyes hardened as she frostily said, ¡°As expected of an outer mountain disciple, doesn¡¯t even know proper behaviour.¡± She looked towards the manager of the place and said, ¡°Manager Liu, I¡¯ll be booking the entire place today. Get these eyesores to leave so they won¡¯t keep ruining my mood.¡± The middle-aged man called manager Liu bitterly complained in his heart. He knew that Lu Xuanyin was well liked in the Sword Cometh Peak, and was not someone a manager of the Hundred Fragrances House like himself could afford to offend. Hence, he could only turn his gaze towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s group. Zhou Yuan frowned, staring at manager Liu as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard that the Hundred Fragrances House can chase other disciples out.¡± Manager Liu could only let out a bitter laugh. Liu Xuanyin suddenly stood up, crossing her arms before her chest as she looked towards Zhou Yuan and the rest with ridicule and toyingly said, ¡°Don¡¯t say that your senior sister is too overbearing, you may be able to stay if you want. As long as one of you can receive a single strike from my sword, I will happily pay all of your expenses here today.¡± ¡°But if you don¡¯t have the courage, you¡¯d better leave soon so as not to spoil my appetite.¡± By this point, her words were filled with iciness. Zhao Kun and the rest had ugly expressions. Lu Xuanyin was an inner mountain gold sash disciple, someone whose strength far surpassed outer mountain disciples like themselves. Even a fourth layer Alpha-Origin would be hard pressed to receive a single attack from her sword. Lu Feng smiled faintly as he watched, secretly praising Lu Xuanyin inside. If the other party dared to accept, he or she would surely be crippled. If they did not, it would be a devastating blow to their morale, making it very difficult for them to bring out their full power during the peak selection ceremony tomorrow. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression darkened somewhat. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s plan was truly disgusting. The peak selection ceremony was literally tomorrow, and she could still come up with such a tactic to demoralise them. He may perhaps be able to receive Lu Xuanyin¡¯s attack, but did not plan to take such a risk, because he knew that she was certainly waiting for him to take the bait. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm. Qiao Xiu secretly inquired, ¡°Young brother Yuan, what do we do?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was cool and collected. ¡°We wait.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Qiao Xiu was taken aback, completely confused. ¡°Oh? You guys looked so proud earlier, why have you now become akin to ostriches who have stuck their heads in the sand?¡± Lu Xuanyin sneered as she gazed upon the crowd. The Shengzhou disciples immediately laughed loudly in accompaniment. Zhao Kun and the rest sat uncomfortably in their seats, anger and restraining fear interchanging on their faces as they looked towards Zhou Yuan. While they were waiting for Zhou Yuan¡¯s decision, a cold, lazy sounding voice sounded from the entrance of the Hundred Fragrances Pavilion. "Are you the one who wants to play?" The place fell silent, every gaze gathering at the entrance a split second later. An amazingly pretty figure gracefully stood at the door, a little creature in her arms. Her fine black hair hung down from her head, while a pair of clear eyes seemed to contain an indifference towards all things. The moonlight fell upon her, making her seem akin to a fairy from the moon palace. Even someone as beautiful as Lu Xuanyin seemed to lose all color before this goddess. Her clear eyes gazed towards the slightly rigid Lu Xuanyin as a nonchalant voice sounded once again, "What are we playing? Let me accompany you." Previous Chapte Chapter 263 Yaoyao Takes Action A clear, indifferent voice sounded from the entrance of the Hundred Fragrances House, causing the interior to fall silent. Numerous gazes turned to the doors, only to be glued to the moon fairy like figure standing there, unable to shift away. Every gaze had been instantly bespelled, amazement flitting across their eyes. Zhao Kun, Qiao Xiu and the rest were also unable to turn away, while even a girl like Song Wanxi could not help but remark under her breath, ¡°So beautiful!¡± They had naturally recognized the person that had appeared at the entrance. It was Yaoyao. However, they could only bitterly smile at the words Yaoyao had spoken, words that could only possible peaceful resolve this matter... ¡°Little junior sister Yao is too fierce.¡± Zhao Kun forced a smile. Given Lu Xuanyin¡¯s character, there was no longer any hope of peacefully ending this dispute. ¡°Your mother, are we that afraid of them. I refuse to believe that a single inner mountain disciple can so willfully bully the outer mountain disciples.¡± Said Qiao Xiu through gritted teeth. Everyone else nodded one after another. As for Zhou Yuan, he merely grinned with a calm face. He had not shown any panic earlier when Lu Xuanyin was being overbearing because he had already specifically gotten Shen Wanjin to invite Yaoyao over. Of course, his goal was to let Yaoyao also join in the fun. Lu Xuanyin stirring up trouble for them had been out of his expectations. ¡°Since big sis Yaoyao has made her timely arrival, there is no need for us to interfere in this matter.¡± Said Zhou Yuan as he stared at the group, a rather mysterious smile hanging from the corners of his mouth. Zhao Kun and the rest looked at each other, unable to understand. They had never seen Yaoyao¡¯s abilities before. The latter normally did not even attend the Genesis Mountain training sessions, hiding away in Zhou Yuan¡¯s little house to study Genesis Runes instead. Hence, Yaoyao was extremely mysterious in the eyes of many disciples. As such, they were unable to estimate how powerful she was, which was also why her name had never appeared in the ten great outer mountain disciples rankings. However, Lu Xuanyin was an inner mountain gold sash disciple, her strength at the very minimum reaching the six layer Alpha-Origin stage. Such power was not something any of the outer mountain disciples that had only recently joined the Cangxuan Sect could match. No matter how formidable Yaoyao was, she could not possibly exchange blows with Lu Xuanyin, right? Hence, all of them felt somewhat awkward in response to the nonchalance Zhou Yuan was showing. By the door, Yaoyao slowly walked in at this moment, and arrived beside Zhou Yuan and gang. Her clear eyes first swept towards Zhou Yuan, still caressing Tuntun as she said, ¡°I just knew that there won¡¯t be anything good from your invitation.¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly gave her his seat as he helplessly said, ¡°I really wanted to invite you to join us for a gathering so you won¡¯t be too bored by yourself.¡± Yaoyao shot a look at Zhou Yuan, staring at him for a long time before withdrawing her gaze as if letting him off the hook this time. She elegantly seated herself on Zhou Yuan¡¯s chair, before her clear eyes swept across the table, immediately causing Zhao Kun, Qiao Xiu and the rest to turn meek. Her presence was far too overwhelming. Cold sweat appeared everyone¡¯s backs. Compared to Lu Xuanyin¡¯s haughty aura, Yaoyao¡¯s was able to make them truly feel suppressed. Such pressure could not be described in words, but it made them feel that they should never ever anger her. As Yaoyao walked in, Lu Feng¡¯s side gradually returned to their senses. Numerous disciples still cast their gazes towards her, unable to conceal the amazement and astonishment in their eyes. Even Lu Feng¡¯s breath was taken away, surprise coloring his eyes. The only one that fully regained her wits was Lu Xuanyin. Her pretty face instantly twisted, jealousy flitting across her eyes as she looked towards Yaoyao. The latter¡¯s appearance and aura truly made her feel a sense of inferiority she had never experienced before. Such feelings made Lu Xuanying¡¯s complexion turn steely green with rage. ¡°A mere outer mountain disciples dares to spout such words before me?¡± Lu Xuanyin icily stared at Yaoyao, contempt rising from the corners of her mouth as she continued, ¡°Are you certain you want to receive a strike from my sword? I will not go easy on you because you¡¯re a girl. If you pretty face ends up being accidentally cut up by my sword, don¡¯t come threatening me with death later on.¡± ¡°Receive a strike from your sword?¡± Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun as she swept an indifferent glance towards Lu Xuanyin. ¡°That¡¯s not interesting at all¡­¡± She reached forward and picked up a cup, gazing at the wine within it as she offhandedly suggested, ¡°How about this, I have a certain Genesis Rune. If you¡¯re able to neutralize it, I will admit defeat and let you do whatever you want to me.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lu Xuanyin¡¯s eyes narrowed, staring at Yaoyao as she sneered. ¡°How arrogant. There are not many in the Cangxuan Sect who dare to say such words to me!¡± ¡°So how about it?¡± Said Yaoyao while holding her cup. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s hand slowly tightened around her sword as she mockingly answered, ¡°Since you want to humiliate yourself, I will naturally fulfill your wish.¡± Thud! The cup in Yaoyao¡¯s hand suddenly slammed into the table, causing the liquid within to leap into the air, transforming into countless droplets. A Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in Yaoyao¡¯s hand. Light flickered at its tip as it seemingly transformed into a series of after images, drawing numerous complex trajectories in the air. The countless floating drops of alcohol gradually weaved into a complicated Genesis Rune that rapidly took shape above Yaoyao. ¡°Go.¡± With a casual final flick of her brush, the Genesis Rune abruptly shot forward as the surrounding Genesis Qi swiftly converged towards it. The liquid Genesis Rune rapidly expanded as it took in Genesis Qi, eventually transforming into a giant water dragon under the many shocked and frightened gazes. The dragon¡¯s body was covered in ancient and complex patterns. A wild and violent dragon roar thundered. Rumble! The roaring water dragon seemed to contain endless power as it charged towards Lu Xuanyin. The instant the Genesis Rune water dragon appeared, Lu Xuanyin¡¯s expression abruptly changed as shock flashed in her eyes, clearly realizing how powerful this Genesis Rune of Yaoyao¡¯s was. ¡°This woman¡­ to think that she would be so astonishingly masterful in the art of Genesis Runes?!¡± Lu Xuanyin¡¯s heart churned with emotion as her expression turned exceedingly grave. She tightly gripped her sword, and a split second later, its sharp blade abruptly left its sheath. Shiing! ¡°Autumn Moon Swordplay, Moon Flash!¡± With a stern shout abruptly rang out from Lu Xuanyin¡¯s mouth. Everyone present felt a sword flash past as if it was moonlight, even space itself faintly quivering under its blade. Moonlight like sword Qi ferociously slashed downwards along with a chillingly sharp and deadly aura. In the face of the ferociously intimidating water dragon, Lu Xuanyin did not dare to delay, immediately unleashing a ruthless attack. Pch! The banisters in restraint disintegrated, the remaining stumps smooth as a mirror. In the face of this sword Qi, even the expressions of Zhou Yuan, Lu Feng and the rest changed slightly. No matter how anyone below the below the fifth layer Alpha-Origin were to defend, they would very likely be seriously injured by this strike. Lu Xuanyin may be haughty, but her strength was indeed that of a true-blue golden sash disciple. Under the many horrified gazes of the disciples, the moonlight like sword Qi sliced past, smashing directly into the roaring water dragon Genesis Rune. Pchlah! The two forces clashed as an astonishing Genesis Qi shockwave violently unfurled. However, when the sword light passed through, everyone saw the water dragon being cut apart. The sword light continued on its path, piercing the wall as it vanished into the night. Liquid with a strong alcohol smell fell in the Hundred Fragrances House. The expressions of Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and gang changed slightly. Yaoyao¡¯s Genesis Rune water dragon seemed to have been cut apart and scattered. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s sword Qi was unimaginable powerful. From the looks of it, Lu Xuanyin had still taken the upper hand in their exchange. The crowd on Lu Feng¡¯s side had already burst out into laughter, clearly already bathing in their victory. Lu Xuanyin likewise grasped her sword as she looked down from above at Yaoyao, a toying sensation growing from the corners of her smile as she said, ¡°Although you excel in Genesis Runes, you were still unable to withstand my sword.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say earlier that I get to do whatever I want to you?¡± Yaoyao gazed upon Lu Xuanyin, who was so certain that victory was already in her grasp. The former¡¯s expression was still as indifferent as before as she said, ¡°You seem to believe that you¡¯ve already won.¡± ¡°Have I not?¡± Lu Xuanyin sneered, under the impression that Yaoyao was being stubborn. However, her expression abruptly changed the instant her words sounded. She had just realized that the spreading water vapor had landed on her body without her noticing. The water vapor instantly solidified, turning into water snakes that tightly bounded her hands and legs. The Genesis Qi in Lu Xuanyin¡¯s body instantly erupted with the intent of breaking these water snakes. However, glowing runes suddenly emerged on the surface of the water snakes. When Lu Xuanyin¡¯s Genesis Qi came into contact with the runes, it swiftly shrank back as if being sealed. Water wet her clothes, exposing Lu Xuanyin¡¯s lovely figure. The laughter of Lu Feng and the other Shengzhou disciple came to an abrupt halt like ducks who had been grabbed by the neck. Every one of their expressions became a brilliant sight to behold as they gazed at the bounded Lu Xuanyin. Their eyes were still filled with disbelief, unable to imagine how a golden sash disciple like Lu Xuanyin would be so easily subdued by an outer mountain disciple. Their terrified gazes turned towards the outrageously pretty Yaoyao as their bodies began to tremble faintly. Yaoyao paid no attention to their gazes, merely raising her eyes and looking towards the frantically struggling Lu Xuanyin as an indifferent voice sounded in the building. ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve lost¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 264 Shock and Awe Water vapor tinged with the smell of alcohol spread in the Hundreds Fragrances House. The entire place, however, was deathly silent. Terror colored the eyes of Lu Feng, Yang Xiu, Qin Zhen and gang as they gazed upon the sight of Lu Xuanyin being bounded, the cups in their hands slowly falling, crashing into the ground below. No one had expected Lu Xuanyin to lose! Lu Feng¡¯s complexion was white with fear as he mumbled in disbelief, ¡°How can this be?!¡± The others looked towards Yaoyao as if she was a ghost, gazes filled with horror. One must know that Lu Xuanyin was an inner mountain gold sash disciple, and had the strength of the sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage! Such power was enough to sweep away any outer mountain disciple, and even the likes of Lu Feng was far from being able to compare. However, who could have expected the sixth layer Alpha-Origin Lu Xuanyin to be so effortlessly subdued by Yaoyao?! Just how immeasurable was Yaoyao¡¯s strength? While Lu Feng¡¯s side was overwhelmed by terror, everyone on Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, with the exception of himself, wore marvelous expressions. Some were even rubbing their eyes, believing they had seen some kind of hallucination. ¡°Little junior sister Yao is too terrifying¡­¡± Zhao Kun swallowed time and time again. Yaoyao had rarely shown her abilities since entering the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s outer mountains. Hence no one knew how powerful she was. The scene from today, however, was scalp numbing. While both parties were stunned by this outcome, Lu Xuanyin, who was still bounded in the air, felt so humiliated that she''d rather die on the spot. She madly thrashed about, the Genesis Qi in her body charging out again and again in an attempt to cut the water snakes. However, the Genesis Rune water snakes were clearly not ordinary, and were able to seal away Genesis Qi. This, Lu Xuanyin was unable to free herself. Yaoyao glanced at the still struggling Lu Xuanyin and asked in an uncaring voice, ¡°Do you yield?¡± Lu Xuanyin tightly gritted her teeth, staring daggers at Yaoyao. ¡°If you don¡¯t, you continue waiting there like this. The Genesis Rune will naturally dissipate six hours later.¡± Said Yaoyao. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s expression changed. If she was strung up here for six hours, all of her face would be lost. There would be no end to the laughter if news of this spread back to the inner mountains. She tightly gritted her teeth. In the end, she forcibly endured the humiliation as she said in a trembling voice,¡±I¡­ admit defeat!¡± With a light flick of Yaoyao¡¯s finger, the water snakes binding Lu Xuanyin¡¯s limbs immediately dissipated. The latter fell, stumbling onto the ground. Once she landed, icy light began to gather in Lu Xuanyin¡¯s eyes as she grabbed her longsword, killing intent beginning to surface from her body. However, when Yaoyao¡¯s indifferent gaze cast onto the former¡¯s body, she faintly trembled as a feeling of dread filled her. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s senses told her that if she were to continue, the unfathomable girl before her would no longer show any mercy. ¡°Who exactly are you?!¡± Asked Lu Xuanyin through gritted teeth. She was truly unable to imagine how someone with such mastery over Genesis Runes would only be an outer mountain disciple. Strength like this would be considered elite even amongst the disciples of the Spirit Rune Peak. Yaoyao shot a look at her and said, ¡°Why is an inner mountain disciple like you interfering in the matters of the outer mountains?¡± Lu Xuanyin¡¯s face turned a little ugly. ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy. I won''t forget what happened today, and there will come a time when I¡¯ll pay you back in the future!¡± Yaoyao uncaringly replied, ¡°Feel free to come at me anytime. But you must remember that any action has its consequences. If you provoke me next time, the consequences may not be as simple as stringing you up for a while.¡± Lu Xuanyin¡¯s pretty face turned red with anger. She knew that she had already been thoroughly humiliated today, and could not bear to stay a second longer in this place. With one final stamp of her foot, her icy face turned towards Lu Feng and the rest as she growled, ¡°Go!¡± Lu Feng and gang silently stood up, their expressions pretty ugly. Especially Lu Feng, who constantly looked towards Yaoyao with a depressed look in his eyes. The strength she had displayed was far too astonishing, making him feel extremely awkward. He had previously believed that Zhou Yuan would be his only opponent in the peak selection ceremony, but now, it seemed that Zhou Xiaoyao was the unfathomable one. In the face of a monster like her, even the proud Lu Feng did not have any confidence. With this girl here, what point was there in the peak selection ceremony tomorrow? Lu Xuanyin saw his expression, but there was nothing she could do but say, "With her around, all of you should just forget about first place." Even she was not Yaoyao''s match, let alone Lu Feng. Yaoyao''s bright eyes swept over, pausing on Lu Xuanyin as she nonchalantly said, "No need to incite me. Relax, I will only take one of the top ten spots tomorrow. First place does not interest me at all." "In addition, I will not interfere in the fight between him and Zhou Yuan." "If he wins, it will naturally be because of his ability, and if Zhou Yuan loses, it would only mean that he is lacking." Yaoyao was naturally aware of the fight between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng. However, she had no intention of interfering. She understood that the road of cultivation was littered with difficulty and obstructions, and one could only rely on oneself to reach its end. Lu Feng may be a threat to Zhou Yuan, but the former was also able to bring out Zhou Yuan''s potential. If every danger was eliminated by her, then the only fate awaiting Zhou Yuan would be to eventually become crippled¡­ Someone as intelligent as Yaoyao would thus never do such a thing. A fledgling that only knew how to hide in its nest and be protected would never become a ruler of the skies. Only by continuously engaging strong opponents would one be able to rouse one''s potential, and eventually soar across the nine heavens. Yaoyao had only taken action against Lu Xuanyin because the latter had not abided by the rules. But she would help Zhou Yuan sweep away every single obstruction in his battle with Lu Feng, because this would not benefit Zhou Yuan at all. Yaoyao''s words stunned both Lu Xuanyin and Lu Feng, before joy flooded the Lu Xuanyin''s eyes as she asked, "Are you serious?!" Yaoyao cast an indifferent glance at them. Although she did not answer, her meaning was already clear. Lu Xuanyin let out an icy laugh. "Since you''re so arrogant, during the peak selection ceremony tomorrow, I''ll let you personally witness how Lu Feng crushes him! Don''t regret it when that happens." "Lu Feng will make him pay for today¡¯s debt!¡± ¡°Go.¡± After finishing, she did not linger a moment longer and was the first to leave the building. Lu Xuanyin know that there was no way she could deal with Yaoyao. Hence, she would let Lu Feng get even through Zhou Yuan tomorrow, making sure the debt was fully paid. Lu Feng and the rest hurriedly caught up, but his tense body had clearly relaxed, even toyfully looking towards Zhou Yuan just before he left. It was clear that Lu Feng no longer felt much pressure after determining that Yaoyao would not be competing for first place. As they left, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and gang felt somewhat regretful. If Yaoyao took action tomorrow, she would definitely be able to thoroughly suppress the Shengzhou disciples and they would not dare to even whimper. However, Yaoyao ignored their regret, her bright eyes turning towards Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°Are you disappointed that I did not help clear away all your troubles?¡± A grin appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s youthful face as he chuckled softly. ¡°If you did, the peak selection ceremony will really become a little boring.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I understand your intentions. I will obtain what I want with my own capabilities.¡± ¡°Moreover¡­¡± ¡°No one will be able to snatch away first place.¡± The sight of the confidence in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes made Yaoyao feel slightly gratified. At the very least, Zhou Yuan understood her thoughts, causing a very slight angle to rise from the corners of her little ruddy mouth. It was only a faint smile, but it could take away the breath of anyone who saw it, causing the numerous youngsters present to be dazed. However, the smile disappeared in the blink of an eye. Yaoyao caressed Tuntun as her gaze turned towards the direction Lu Xuanyin, Lu Feng and the rest had left in. For the very first time, Yaoyao was a little interested in the peak selection ceremony tomorrow. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that it won¡¯t be so easy to take back this debt from Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 265 Arrival of the Ceremony The next day. Sunlight sprinkled down on the cool morning air, gradually chasing away the darkness that had enveloped the land. After a night of silence, the entire outer mountains seemed to suddenly come awake, bursting with torrents of excitement and anticipation. Like a cold water that was splashed into a deep fryer, noise instantly broke apart the silence. Boiling battle intent filled every inch of the outer mountains. All because today was the day of the peak selection ceremony. Numerous disciples had come here from various continents in Cangxuan Heaven. After months of training, they had gradually begun to grow accustomed to life in the Cangxuan Sect, while also sampling the cultivation resources available here. It was here that they could finally see how grand the road of cultivation was. As long as they could step onto it, they may have the chance to laugh arrogantly even at the entire world and tower over even the mighty heroes, becoming a true dragon amongst men. However, the peak selection ceremony was currently the biggest obstacle standing in their path. Only by crossing it would they enter the inner mountains, and finally come into contact with the grand road of cultivation. Hence, every single disciple had given their all for the past three months, investing everything into raising their strength. Everything was for the sole sake of performing will during the peak selection ceremony today, and become the carp that manages to leap through the dragon¡¯s gate. As such, when the battle intent that had been brewing for three months finally exploded, the Genesis Qi in the outer mountains seemed to respond, beginning to heave agitatedly... After three entire months of waiting, the peak selection ceremony was finally here. ¡­ ¡°All disciples listen, immediately begin your preparations to follow me to the location of the peak selection ceremony!¡± Amplified by surging Genesis Qi, a powerful voice thundered across every corner of the outer mountains. Countless disciples began to flood out one after another. When they raised their heads and looked, they found Chen Yuan standing on a Genesis Qi cloud with two elders behind him, their hands behind their backs. One of them was elder Zong Ming. Moments after Chen Yuan¡¯s voice sounded, countless light figures began to shoot out from the outer mountains, an extremely busy sight indeed. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao also walked out from a certain little house on a particular mountain. Zhou Yuan gazed upon the practically boiling world around him as he felt the blood within his body begin to burn. He too had been looking forward to the peak selection ceremony ever since three months ago. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He shot a look at Yaoyao, before Genesis Qi begin rising under their feet, carrying the two individuals into the sky. While the two of them rose in the air, a cloud of Genesis Qi also rose nearby on which stood Gu Hongyi. When she saw Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan, her gaze could not help but linger a little more on Yaoyao. Gu Hongyi soon looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard Lu Xuanyin was pretty angered by last night¡¯s events. Lu Feng will not let you off during the peak selection ceremony today.¡± It seems that she had already found out about the events that happened the night before. Likewise, she also knew that Yaoyao would not interfere in the battle between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng. If so, Lu Feng would definitely blame everything on Zhou Yuan. When they fought, the former would surely show no mercy. Zhou Yuan could naturally hear the warning in Gu Hongyi¡¯s words. He smiled and nodded. ¡°Relax, I know what I have to do.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be looking forward to seeing your abilities today.¡± Gu Hongyi laughed, not saying anything more. With a tiny stamp of her foot, Genesis Qi rose as she headed off first. Yaoyao watched her fiery-red figure leave, before looking towards Zhou Yuan and suddenly remarking, ¡°You¡¯re quitea player, it¡¯s only been three months and someone has already become so concerned about you.¡± Zhou Yuan was instantly embarrassed by her words. ¡°We¡¯re only friends!¡± Yaoyao did not comment, her red lips merely curling slightly. ¡°Young brother Yuan!¡± A voice was suddenly heard from behind at this moment. Zhou Yuan turned his head, and saw a dozen figures fly over on Genesis Qi. It was Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and the rest. At this current moment, their expressions were tinged with anticipation while burning battle intent filled their eyes. However, their excitedness dimmed somewhat when they caught sight of Yaoyao as they solemnly cupped their fists together towards her. After last night, all of them now knew just who was the most terrifying person in the outer mountains... ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Without further ado, he waved his sleeve and led the way. Behind him, Qiao Xiu and gang immediately followed, their Genesis Qi akin to vast sea of clouds. Not long after they left, another group menacingly charged out from the vast sea of people, causing numerous disciples to quickly give way. At their head was naturally the extraordinary Lu Feng, dressed in his usual white. Many of the figures behind him belonged to the elites amongst the outer mountain disciples. When gathered together, their presence was naturally able to sweep everyone else away. However, when the group caught sight of Yaoyao, their originally domineering presence weakened substantially as they hurriedly avoided her gaze, not daring to even entertain the thought of provoking her. Instead, they cast hostile gazes towards Zhou Yuan and the rest. Zhou Yuan naturally ignored them, leading his group as they followed far behind Chen Yuan. The mountain range rapidly fly past below their feet. After an incense stick of time, Chen Yuan and the two outer mountain elders gradually slowed down. The gazes of Zhou Yuan and the rest looked to their front, before their expression violently shook. One would see seemingly endless rays of light spreading from the sky high above the numerous majestic peaks. The light seemingly converged into a giant golden pyramid that towered over the land. However, if one were to take a closer look, one would discover many wide and spacious stone platforms within the pyramid of light. There were a total of 9990 stone platforms. These stone platforms gathered together, forming the shape of a pyramid. The higher up on the pyramid, the wider the stone platforms. At the apex were nine stone platforms that glowed with a silver radiance, as if they had been made from silver. Above these nine silver stone platforms was a stone platform that captured everyone¡¯s attention, a stone platform that dazzled like gold. It clear as day. Only the number one individual of the peak selection ceremony would be able to ascend the golden platform. At this moment, Zong Ming and the other elder suddenly raised their heads, looking towards a certain direction as their voices echoed across the place, ¡°Disciples, get ready to greet sect master and the peak masters.¡± Upon hearing this voice, the hearts of every disciple shook, respect rising in their eyes as they looked towards the sky. The only ones whom the two outer mountain elders would treat in such a manner were naturally the sect master and the seven peak masters... Under the numerous respectful gazes from the disciples, layers upon layers of Genesis Qi clouds suddenly appeared far away as a boundless presence unfurled from the horizon. The Genesis Qi cloud layers seemed stir the surrounding space, appearing in the vicinity after several breaths. As the clouds churned, millions and millions of light rays seemed to shine across the land. The disciples looked towards the clouds, finding six figures seated within. Even space itself seemed tremble under their gazes as they sat there like gods, possessing power that could shake the land. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shuddered as he gazed upon the six imposing figures. Although he had seen patriarch Cang Xuan before, he had been incomplete. The six figures before his eyes, however, truly gave off an aura of terrifying power. Such power seemed to be capable of bringing about ammergadon. ¡°This¡­ is this the strength of the sect master and the peak masters¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 266 The Six Hegemons Clouds churned as they swept across the area. Every outer mountain disciple lifted their heads, reverence in their eyes as they looked towards the Genesis Qi clouds. At the center, Genesis Qi took the shape of a lotus platform where a figure was currently seated. The figure wore azure robes, and looked like a middle-aged man. However, his hair was entirely white, while his eyes seemed to contain an immeasurable depth as if it was the starry sky, giving off an unfathomable feeling. An indescribable presence spread from his body, like the deepest pool, like the highest peak, making solemn respect involuntarily rise within anyone who felt it. All he did was smile slightly as he sat on the lotus platform, while the entire world around him seemed to shiver slightly along with his breathing. Even though he had already retrained the majority of his presence, the tiny slivers that spread from him still made the numerous outer mountain disciples feel a boundless pressure. It was as if they were standing before a god that could not be defied. This person was the ruler of the current Cangxuan Sect, sect master Qing Yang. At the same time, he was also the eldest disciple of patriarch Cang Xuan. Now, however, he was an existence that stood at the apex of Cangxuan Heaven, and could be said to be a hegemon. Zhou Yuan sighed in amazement at sect master Qing Yang¡¯s presence, before turning his gaze towards the sect master¡¯s right, where three slightly smaller Genesis Qi lotus platforms could be seen. On these three platforms also sat three figures that gave off a majestic presence. As Zhou Yuan focused, the first person to enter his eyes was the tall and slender figure of a gorgeous woman. She was dressed in lotus decorated palace garbs which accentuated her fine curves. Her facial features were also extremely pretty, her fine black hair pulled backwards, giving her a mature and graceful aura. It was an aura that even a perfect beauty like Yaoyao did not possess, because it required the accumulation of experience over the years. Shen Wanjin secretly said beside Zhou Yuan, ¡°Heh heh, little Yuan bro, that should be the master of Snow Lotus Peak, Liu Lianyi. People call her fairy Lianyi¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that when she was younger, she was a famous great beauty of Cangxuan Heaven. From what I can see, she does live up to her reputation.¡± ¡°Snow Lotus Peak is also one of the most popular choices in the Cangxuan Sect. Their male disciples are handsome, while their female disciples are heart-stirringly beautiful. With regards to appearance, they are definitely the best in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Shen Wanjin was practically drooling at this point. Soon after, he regretfully said, ¡°However, it¡¯s unfortunate that I won¡¯t be able to enter.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Shen Wanjin touched his fat face as he gloomily said, ¡°This Snow Lotus Peak master of ours only likes good looking people. Looks is number one in her criteria for recruiting disciples, while talent is number two¡­ I¡¯m afraid that someone like me would be kicked off the moment I step into the place.¡± Amazement flooded Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, not knowing whether he should laugh or cry. He never imagined a peak master would have such character; recruiting disciples based on their face... He sighed as he shook his head, before turning his gaze towards the other two lotus platforms. The one next to peak master Lianyi was a elderly white-haired figure. The old man had a pair of white eyebrows that connected in the center, making the expression on his aged face seem somewhat miserable. Aura rose around the white brow elder, seemingly forming millions of ancient and profound runes. Every rune would make the heart of anyone who saw it beat a little faster. ¡°His Genesis Rune cultivation¡­ is extremely powerful. Of all the people I¡¯ve seen over the years, his mastery of Genesis Runes is the closest to grandpa Hei¡¯s.¡± Yaoyao pretty face turned grave as she stared at the white brow elder, while interest flooded her eyes. From what she could tell, the white brow elder was likely second only to Cang Yuan in Genesis Runes. Zhou Yuan could not help but be taken aback by her words. He had deeply felt master Cang Yuan¡¯s immeasurable strength before, and never imagined that the white brow elder would receive such an assessment from Yaoyao. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, he should be the master of Spirit Rune Peak, old man Tian Shu.¡± Said Zhou Yuan in a low voice. If one were to talk about Genesis Runes, this white brow elder was likely number one in the entire Cangxuan Sect. ¡°If there¡¯s an opportunity, I do hope that I can ask him for some pointers.¡± Interest could be heard in Yaoyao¡¯s tone. There were not many things she was interested in, and Genesis Runes were one of them. However, her standards were impossibly high due to following Cang Yuan for many years, making it very difficult for her to find someone she could treat were earnesty. Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Given the status of these peak masters, how could any ordinary disciple hope to seek guidance from them. He shook his head as his gaze shifted towards the third lotus platform. Atop it was a metal tower like figure, an elder that was bare all the way down to the waist. However, the elder¡¯s body was not hunched over like an old man¡¯s. A dark gold luster shined on his skin, light seemingly swirling on it as if it was made from gold. Faint, mysterious patterns could be seen on the surface of his body. He was also imposingly muscular, practically overshadowing the whtie brow elder beside him. As he crossed his arms across his chest and breathed, theQi andblood in his body seemed to circulate like an unstoppable flood, while rumbling thunder was continuously emitted, pulsing with terrifying power. If he had not painstakingly restraint it, just the rumbling from the Qi and blood in his body would likely kill all the Alpha-Origin disciple present. This elder had a different aura from the white brow elder, an aura of unmatched ferocity, as if he was a giant that had walked out from the prehistoric era. Zhou Yuan wiped away the cold sweet on his brows. This individual was likely the master of Hongya Peak. Wasn¡¯t this Gu Hongyi¡¯s old ancestor? No wonder she rather die than go to the Hongya peak... ¡°These three and sect master Qing Yang are the four disciples of patriarch Cang Xuan¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression shivered a little as he looked towards the left side of sect master Qing Yang, where the torrential Genesis Qi had also transformed into two lotus platforms. On one of the lotus platforms was a figure wearing a set of simple hemp garments. At closer inspection, one would see a kindly expression on his young and handsome face, his skin glowing like jade. A mottled stone sword lay across his knees, giving off a faint but terrifying aura. The Genesis Qi around him faintly vibrated as the cry of a sword rang out from within, as if a sea of swords were hidden around him. All Zhou Yuan did was look at the handsome youth for a while, when he felt a piercing pain in his eyes, causing him to hurriedly withdraw his gaze. ¡°This person¡­ should be the master of Sword Cometh Peak.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered in thought. Gu Hongyi has told him previously that the master of Sword Cometh Peak was once a servant boy under patriarch Cang Xuan. However, the latter now possessed high status in the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°The final one must be the master of Thunder Prison Peak, the most senior person in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards the last figure, only to see that sky in the area was dark, lightning flashing in the clouds as if a lightning dragon was flying within. On the lotus platform was an elder in black robes with an impassive face. Lightning swam in his eyes as a frightening pressure slowly spread, shaking the space around him. Zhou Yuan could sense a destructive power in the black robed elder¡¯s body, that seemed to briefly reveal itself before vanishing the next moment. ¡°The master of Thunder Prison Peak is definitely terrifying.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression had turned grim. The master of Thunder Prison Peak was an old friend of patriarch Cang Xuan. With regards to seniority, even sect master Qing Yang showed respect towards the former. ¡°Huu.¡± Zhou Yuan breathed in deeply, gradually controlling the emotions in his heart. These six figures before his eyes were the six hegemons of the Cangxuan Sect. Each one wielded immeasurable power. It was no wonder that the Cangxuan Sect had been able to remain amongst the six sacred sects even after patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death. Behind the six hegemons were numerous figures that gave off powerful presences, evidently the powerful experts of the Cangxuan Sect. It seems that the internal department of the Cangxuan Sect also viewed this event with extreme importance. On the clouds, sect master Qing Yang cast his gaze downwards. It was as if nothing could hide from his gaze as it shined upon every disciple. A single glance from him was seemingly capable of piercing even the netherworld, allowing him to clearly view every aspect of every individual. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao seemed to feel sect master Qing Yang¡¯s gaze pause just a little when it swept across them, before continuing on its path. At the same time, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s grand and loud voice boomed across the area from high above like rumbling thunder. ¡°The inner mountains are recruiting 9999 disciples this time. A single person per platform. I hope all the disciples will give their all.¡± ¡°The top ten will directly become inner mountain gold sash disciples.¡± ¡°While the champion will be bestowed a Heaven Genesis technique and a single Genesis Marrow Baptism.¡± These words immediately caused the numerous outer mountain disciples below to burst into a frenzy, gaze after gaze beginning to burn as they overflowed with battle intent. Sect master Qing Yang smiled slightly at this sight, before his powerful voice thundered again, ¡°Disciples, let the peak selection ceremony begin.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 267 The Ceremony Begins The instant sect master Qing Yang¡¯s words left his mouth, boiling battle intent exploded from the countless outer mountain disciples as burning gaze after gaze looked towards the pyramid made from 9999 stone platforms... Theses platforms represented the number of people that could become inner mountain disciples, meaning there were only 9999 spots. In comparison, there were several tens of thousands of outer mountain disciples. In other words, the majority would ultimately be eliminated. It was definitely going to be a highly intense struggle. To occupy a platform and take a spot for yourself, you would need to experience difficult battle after battle. Only then would the other competitors be too intimidated to challenge you. The gazes of countless disciples met, sparks flying. Rumble! Genesis Qi suddenly erupted. It was as if a fuse was lit, tearing apart the deadlock as countless disciples began to shoot forward a split second later. They swarmed into the sky like locusts, flying towards the many stone platforms floating in the air. It was indeed a spectacular sight. ¡°Go! Today will be the day we show our might!¡± Lu Feng let out an icy laugh as his cold gaze swept towards the nearby Zhou Yuan. With a wave of his sleeve, vigorous Genesis Qi erupted, and Lu Feng took the lead to dash into the sky. Behind him, Yang Xiu, Qin Zhen and other powerful Shengzhou disciples also shot forth, closely following behind. Their menacing aura made it such that no one dared to obstruct them. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s go too!¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he gazed upon the sky full of glowing figures, burning battle intent rising from the depths of his eyes. Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi, Qiao Xiu and the rest heavily nodded with equally excited gazes. After three months of bitter training, it was finally time for them to show their worth. Rumble! With a surge of Genesis Qi, their figures also shot forth, the dozen gathered figures also pretty eye-catching. In a short span of a dozen breaths, numerous figures landed on the lowest stone platforms. However, with the exception of a tiny handful, most did not linger for even a second, instead using the platform as a foothold to propel their bodies forward again, heading towards the higher platforms. Everyone knew that the higher the platform, the better one would be able to show one¡¯s abilities. The rankings would also be different, enabling one to receive better treatment in the future. Hence, everyone wanted to climb as high as they could instead of dwelling at the bottom of the pyramid. Of course, not everyone had the courage. Disciples that were satisfied as long as they could become an inner mountain disciple stayed behind, standing at the center of the stone platforms, indicating their determination to vie for it. Anyone that was also interested in competing would step onto the same stone platform and begin the fight to decide who would ultimately have the right to occupy it. Hence, in a short few minutes, bouts of berserk Genesis Qi were already exploding on many stone platforms, the figures within engaged in battle. The world around them was filled by the sounds of Genesis Qi clashing. On the Genesis Qi clouds high above, numerous gazes were cast down, watching the Genesis Qi clashes on the stone platforms. Sect master Qing Yang gazed at the five individuals around him as he smiledand said, ¡°I wonder who will end up as the champion.¡± On his left, the youthful looking Sword Cometh Peak master, Ling Jun, whose face gave off a healthy jade like glow, let out a gentle chuckle as he said, "I''ve heard that the Lu clan''s Lu Feng has been recognized as the head of the ten great outer mountain disciples. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be the greatest contender for first place." On sect master Qing Yang''s left, the Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi''s long and narrow phoenix eyes swept over as she said with an implicative tone, "I''ve heard Lu Feng has already received much attention from peak master Ling Jun. I believe he will likely join the Sword Cometh Peak after the ceremony, right? The Sword Cometh Peak has managed to snatch quite a number of excellent seedlings over the years." Sect master Ling Jun smiled slightly. "My Sword Cometh Peak has relatively weaker foundations after all, giving me no choice but to recruit more disciples. We''re still far from being able to match the Cangxuan Peak." Sect master Qing Yang smiled and said, "The Sword Cometh Peak''s current accomplishments cannot be separated from peak master Ling Jun''s efforts." "The Cangxuan Sect is teacher''s life blood after all. I naturally want to do my part." Said peak master Ling Jun with a smile. Upon hearing these words, sect master Qing Yang continued to smile faintly, while the Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi''s eyes narrowed slightly without anyone''s notice. It this moment, a figure suddenly stepped forward from behind sect master Qing Yang and respectfully reported, "Sect master, though it is true that Lu Feng''s chances are great, there is someone that should be able to compete with him." If one looked over, one would discover that the person who had spoken was the one who had brought Zhou Yuan to the Cangxuan Sect, My Wuji. "Oh?" Sect master Qing Yang chuckled upon hearing this. "Is it the one from the Hongya Peak master''s clan?" Upon hearing sect master Qing Yang''s words, the Hongya Peak master Gu Tianhong¡¯s lips cracked open as he laughed, before he said in a booming voice, ¡°That little lass is quite talented, but she is still lacking a little compared to Lu Feng. If they fought, her chances at winning will not be high.¡± Mu Wuji also chuckled and said, ¡°Gu Hongyi¡¯s does have astonishing talent. If given more time, no one would be her match in the peak selection ceremony. However, the one I¡¯m referring to is not her, but¡­ a little fellow called Zhou Yuan.¡± He pointed towards a certain spot below as the hegemons gazes followed. They saw Zhou Yuan leading a group of disciples as they climbed to higher platforms. A short distance ahead, was Lu Feng and gang. One look was all it took. Anyone could see that these two groups were the elites amongst this batch of outer mountain disciples. ¡°This little one only has the strength of the first layer Alpha-Origin. How did he make so many people submit to him?¡± Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi¡¯s tone was one of interest. ¡°His Spirit is not weak and should have reached the Corporeal stage. No wonder.¡± However, she soon sensed the strength of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. The white brow elder also looked down, a trace of interest appearing on his seemingly miserable looking face. ¡°His Spirit talent is not bad, he should be pretty decent in Genesis Runes.¡± Mu Wuji said, ¡°Zhou Yuan comes from the Cangmang Continent, where he distinguished himself in the Saint Remains Domain and obtained the patriarch¡¯s Saint blood baptism.¡± These words immediately caused the eyes of the six hegemons to widen a little. Soon after, all of them fell silent. Sect master Qing Yang slowly said, ¡°Teacher¡¯s body split into many parts when he died, falling onto various locations in Cangxuan Heaven to form numerous Saint Remains Domain. However, only a small handful have managed to obtain his Saint blood baptism. It seems that Zhou Yuan should have some ability.¡± The Hongya Peak master Gu Hongtian¡¯s five fingers tightly clenched, space shattering around his hand. His expression was stormy as an icy voice filled with rage sounded, ¡°Those Sacred Palace bastards!¡± They naturally knew that patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death back then was very likely linked to Sacred Palace. However, the current Sacred Palace was steadily rising in power, and there was also the terrifying Sacred Race behind them. Hence, even the Cangxuan Sect could only bury their hatred deep in their hearts. The air around Liu Lianyi and the white brow elder also turned much colder. In the end, sect master Qing Yang waved his hand and said in a low voice, ¡°Think about the big picture.¡± ¡°Humph!¡± Fury flashed in the eyes of Liu Lianyin as she let out an icy snort. She looked as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately resisted the urge. However, her soul-stirringly beautiful face was clearly covered in frost. The white brow elder lowered his gaze and remained silent. The Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun sighed softly. The Thunder Prison Peak master remained expressionless. Sect master Qing Yang chuckled, consoling everyone two more times, before casting his gaze to the numerous stone platforms below. Amongst the innumerable figures, Zhou Yuan and the dozen he led rapidly ascended the pyramid. Sect master Qing Yang concentrated on the youthful figure as he said in a soft voice, ¡°Let us see whether this little one will be able to give us a pleasant surprise¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 268 Fight for the Top 9999 stone platforms were gathered in the shape of a pyramid as they floated in the sky, dazzling brilliantly when the rays of the sun shined upon them. Boom! Boom! At this current moment, berserk Genesis Qi violently pulsed from numerous platforms. One would see a swarm of glowing figures continuously leaping upwards, jumping from platform to platform as they climbed. There was pretty much no other rules for this peak selection ceremony. At the center of each stone platform was a mat. As long as someone could sit on it without being disturbed for an incense stick of time, the stone platform would close, restricting anyone else from entering. When this happened, it would mean that the platform had been occupied. Any means could be used to achieve this. Therefore, when someone powerful appeared on a stone platform, others might gang up on this individual, making the situation extremely chaotic. Swish! Swish! Zhou Yuan, Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and the rest stuck close together as stone platform after stone platform rapidly passed by under their feet, their figures never lingering even for a second. There was slightly over fifty people in their group, each an elite amongst the outer mountain disciples. Hence, their goal was the top hundred in the peak selection ceremony and this place was clearly not their final destination. A short distance to their front on the right was another group leaping past platform after platform. They were the Shengzhou disciples led by Lu Feng. The gazes on both sides clashed from time to time, sparks flying. Although the numbers of these two parties were nothing special when taking into account all the outer mountain factions, they were two most unified groups, hence why their every action seemed exceptionally attention grabbing. The other disciples on the stone platforms gave way one after another, not daring to compete with these two groups. As time passed in this manner, the two groups of disciples rapidly passed by numerous platforms and began to gradually approach the upper area of the pyramid. This was where the top one hundred stone platforms lay. The disciples that were confident enough to come here were all powerful in their own right. Thus, the battles between them grew increasingly intense. By this point, individuals from the two groups finally began to break off and select their stone platforms, not advancing any further. Of course, besides the two factions led by Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng, there were also many other disciples vieing for these stone platforms, which consisted of both Shengzhou and non Shengzhou disciples. After all, not every outstanding disciple had been recruited by Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng. Even more had chosen to remain neutral, declining to be part of the grudge between the two parties. However, they were currently faced with the situation of limited platforms. Hence, they no longer cared which party anyone belonged to, directly engaging any competitor they met in combat. Lu Feng was at the very front, his icy gaze occasionally sweeping towards Zhou Yuan, who was just a short distance behind. He had originally planned to recruit elite Shengzhou disciples and forcibly occupy the top ten spots. If Zhou Yuan dared to contest, the group would gang up on him and chase him off. If that were the case, Zhou Yuan would not even have the chance to duke it out with Lu Feng. However, Lu Feng had not expected that Zhou Yuan would also recruit a group of elite disciples. Together, they were an extremely strong force, making it impossible for his initial plan to work. ¡°Since that is so, I will personally stomp you into the ground!¡± Lu Feng¡¯s eyes were filled with ridicule. As long as Zhou Xiaoyao did not interfere, he would let Zhou Yuan understand the gap between them. He wanted Zhou Yuan to know that a peasant like him should have obediently stayed in his shitty peasant village. How could a peasant like him have designs on a girl blessed by the heavens like Gu Hongyi? Lu Feng raised his head as the top most area of the pyramid came into view. Nine silver stone platforms glittered under the sun. These were the top ten spots. By this time, there were only nine figures remaining behind him. However, powerful Genesis Qi undulations spread from all of them, clearly showing that each one was formidable individual qualified to compete for the top ten. Their eyes gradually began to burn with excitement, clearly understanding that the true battle was finally about to begin. ¡°Qin Zhen, Lei Hongytao, Gu Meng¡­¡± Lu Feng took in a deep breath. In the next instant, a shout akin to thunder boomed, ¡°Do it!¡± The instant Lu Feng shouted, ominous glints flashed in the eyes of Qin Zhen and the rest as waves of berserk Genesis Qi violently swept unfurled, transforming into streams that bombarded Zhou Yuan¡¯s group. Several torrents of Genesis Qi whizzed towards them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered faintly, but no change could be seen on his face, evidently having already anticipated this. He extended a hand and gave a slight wave. Behind him, Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun, Qiao Xiu and the rest also acted together as Genesis Qi flooded the sky, directly clashing against the other side¡¯s attacks. Rumble! Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves unfurled like a storm. It was extremely chaotic. Qin Zhen and the rest sternly shouted, ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you want to pass, you¡¯ll have to first ask if we agree!¡± ¡°Haha, Qing Zhen, the likes of you does not have the qualifications to obstruct young brother Yuan. I¡¯ll be the one to play with you!¡± The moment Qin Zhen¡¯s voice was heard, Zhao Kun shot forward, howling with laughter. ¡°You¡¯re going to stop me?¡± Ridicule appeared on Qin Zhen¡¯s face. Zhao Kun did not respond, his figure flashing as it appeared in front of Qin Zhen. Genesis Qi rapidly swirled around the former¡¯s growing hands along with deadly dipper Qi. Boom! Zhao Kun sent a chop flying, deadly dipper winds violently slashing downwards. The two clashed directly, the air under their hands rapidly torn to pieces. A shockwave unfurled as both figures landed on a stone platform and stumbled several steps back. Qin Zhen¡¯s originally mocking expression had turned much uglier as he grimly said, ¡°Why has your Sky Dipper Hand also reached the second level?!¡± One must know that his progress in the Sky Dipper Hand was attributed to the personal tutor invited by Lu Feng and numerous cultivation resources. Only through these did he manage to reach the second level. From what he knew, Zhao Kun¡¯s Sky Dipper Hand had fallen behind substantially, making it practically impossible for him to catch up. But the power of the dipper wind from Zhao Kun¡¯s previously palm strike had clearly reached the second level of the Sky Dipper Hand. Zhao Kun wet his lips, the dipper winds around his tightly clenched fists madly devastating the surroundings with astonishing destructive force. He grinned widely and said, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you guys. If you guys had not decided to deal with young brother Yuan, he would not have given us guidance in our Genesis techniques.¡± Qin Zhen¡¯s eyes filled with wavering uncertainty. He had indeed heard that Zhou Yuan was giving pointers to Zhao Kun and the rest, but had not thought much of it. After all, none of them would believe that Zhou Yuan could possibly be so capable. But the undeniable fact before him was that Zhao Kun¡¯s Sky Dipper Hand was indeed not inferior to his own. Qin Zhen frostily declared, ¡°Humph, what¡¯s there to be happy about. Senior brother Lu will teach Zhou Yuan who will be the true champion of the peak selection ceremony! You peasants are delusional to think that you can challenge the status of us Shengzhou disciples!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll know whose right after we fight!¡± Zhao Kun let out an icy laugh. Without further ado, his foot slammed into the ground, rocketing his body forward. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Qin Zhan laughed in anger. The Genesis Qi inside his body burst out without reservation as he met Zhao Kun¡¯s charge head-on. Deadly dipper winds devastated the surroundings, leaving scar after scar on the stone platform. ... On another stone platform, Song Wanxi stood in front of Lei Hongtao. Lei Hongtao said with his arms across his chest, ¡°Junior sister Song, your Black Ying Scripture is countered by my Red Yang Law, I advise you to leave while you can.¡± Song Wanxi softly chuckled upon hearing this. ¡°There¡¯s a mistake in senior brother Lei¡¯s words. The counter you speak of also holds true if reversed. As long as my Black Ying Scripture is more practiced than your Red Yang Law, you will be the one to be countered instead.¡± Mockery rose from the corners of Lei Hongtao¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯ve received guidance day and night for the past month, and my Red Yang Law has already reached the initial stage. In terms of mastery, you are far from my match.¡± As he spoke, red light began to rise from his body as a dreadful heat slowly spread, charring the ground around him. However, Song Wanxi merely smiled faintly in response to the domineering heat. Genesis Qi surged in her body as frighteningly cold Yin Qi suddenly pulsed, instantly freezing the ground below her feet. Cold air rose, completely blocking Lei Hongtao¡¯s red light. ¡°Senior brother Lei is too complacent, my Black Ying Scripture has also advanced to the next level under junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s guidance during the past month.¡± She suddenly laughed charmingly. ¡°To be honest, I should be thanking you guys.¡± Lei Hongtao¡¯s expression turned somewhat ugly at the sight of the alarming Yin Qi spreading from Song Wanxi¡¯s body. Soon after, he inhaled deeply and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan does have some ability.¡± ¡°However, things won¡¯t go as he wants this time.¡± ¡°You guys maybe able to stop us, but don¡¯t forget that Yang Xiu is only slightly weaker than senior brother Lu, and there¡¯s no one on your side who can stop him!¡± Song Wanxi frowned slightly. Yang Xiu was ranked third amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples. Although he did not flaunt his abilities, he was definitely the strongest person on Lu Feng¡¯s side. She looked towards a stone platform in the distance. Ever since arriving at the top ten platforms, Yaoyao had leisurely occupied one of them, before beginning to set-up several Genesis Runes on it. Besides a few ignorant disciples who tried to charge in and were insta-killed at the beginning, there was basically no one who dared to approach her platform. Even Lu Feng and the rest voluntarily avoided her. After occupying it, Yaoyao sat there looking as if she was only going to watch as a bystander, clearly showing no signs of helping Zhou Yuan. Song Wanxi let out a bitter chuckle, before she lifted her head slightly to look above where three figures were leaping into the air. Zhou Yuan was just below the golden stone platform, while two figures currently stood in the air before him. Lu Feng and Yang Xiu. Lu Feng cast a mocking glance at Zhou Yuan, as he nonchalantly remarked, ¡°It seems that you did not recruit enough people.¡± There was a really superficial smile plastered across his face. ¡°Do you plan to take the both of us on alone?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 269 Hongyi’s Aid Zhou Yuan stood in the air above a silver stone platform, golden Genesis Qi forming a cloud under his feet. He was currently looking to his front with an expressionless face. In front of him stood Lu Feng and Yang Xiu with their hands behind their backs. Two powerful presences rose into the air like two towering mountains that blocked the path towards the final golden stone platform. Like two tigers blocking the road. Lu Feng¡¯s indifferent gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is where you stop.¡± He did not speak any further, his gaze turning towards Yang Xiu. ¡°Brother Yang, I¡¯ll be handing him to you. Delay him for an incense stick of time, and will be able to occupy the champion¡¯s platform.¡± Yang Xiu smiled slightly and replied, ¡°Sure, but you must fulfil the promise you made.¡± Yang Xiu was just that tiny bit weaker than Lu Feng, and came from the prominent Yang clan. Hence, he was naturally not subordinate to Lu Feng, but rather friends of sorts. Since Lu Feng had asked him to take on this task, the latter would naturally have to pay a certain price. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Lu Feng nodded, before his cold gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan, mockery lifting from the corners of his mouth, ¡°Brother Yang will play with you for a bit. I¡¯ve told you before that you shouldn¡¯t dream of taking first place.¡± The moment he finished, his figure suddenly rose upwards, making a beeline towards the highest golden platform. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly at this sight and took a step forward. Rumble! Alarming Genesis Qi undulations abruptly exploded from Yang Xiu¡¯s body, undulations that reached the fourth layer Alpha-Origin. Yang Xiu was clearly no weakling. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, why the need to cling so tightly to first place, you should be satisfied that you can already reach top ten.¡± Yang Xiu smiled. His hands began to close as silver Genesis Qi that flickered with lightning whizzed from his palms with a loud rumble, ultimately transforming into a giant lightning dragon. Rumble! The lightning dragon roared as it charged towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, no bothering to say anything. Since Yang Xiu was intent on helping Lu Feng stop him, the only thing to do was to step over this obstacle. Although it would be a little troublesome, as long as Zhou Yuan could deal with Yang Xiu within an incense stick of time, he would naturally be able to stop Lu Feng from taking first place. Golden Genesis Qi unfurled from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, taking the shape of a python as its hiss echoed across the area. Pchla! However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to act, his expression suddenly changed slightly. A flash of red descended from the sky, viciously lashing at the Genesis Qi lightning dragon. Boom! Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves swept outwards. The flash of red shot back to where it came from, turning into a long red whip that ultimately landed in a fair hand. Countless gazes looked over, only to find a fiery-red figure proudly standing in the air, a red whip wrapped around its wrist like a circle of fire. It was obviously Gu Hongyi. ¡°Hey, did you guys forget about me?¡± Gu Hongyi smiled faintly. Yang Xiu was taken aback, evidently not expecting Gu Hongyi to suddenly interfere. Given the latter¡¯s ability, no one would dare to snatch any of the top ten spots she occupied. ¡°Hongyi!¡± At this moment, the expression of Lu Feng, who had originally been heading towards the tallest golden stone platform, turned ugly when he saw this, and angrily said, ¡°Hongyi, what are you doing?! All of us are Shengzhou disciples, what would the others say about this?¡± Gu Hongyi shot an icy look at him and retorted, ¡°In my eyes, there is no difference between Shengzhou and the other continents, everyone who enters the Cangxuan Sect is a Cangxuan disciple.¡± ¡°You!¡± The veins on Lu Feng¡¯s head bulged. His anger had clearly reached its peak. However, Gu Hongyi ignored him, her bright eyes turning towards Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°Go and fight for first place, I¡¯ll play with him.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. From her words, Gu Hongyi clearly planned on helping him obstruct Yang Xiu. If so, she would also have to give up on the chance to vie for first place. Gu Hongyi waved her hand and said in a straightforward manner, ¡°Don¡¯t be so wishy washy, you guided me in the Ethereal Form technique, so this is how I¡¯ll be paying you back.¡± She paused for a moment, before continuing, ¡°However, this is all I can help you with. Whether or not you beat Lu Feng will depend on your abilities.¡± Zhou Yuan gaze at Gu Hongyi and laughed softly. He did not argue, instead cupping his fists together. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give my thanks.¡± With a deep breath, his foot suddenly pushed downwards. Golden Genesis Qi enveloped his body, transforming him into a flash of gold that dashed towards the sky. In a few dozen breaths, he stood at the same height as Lu Feng. Lu Feng¡¯s handsome face was currently ominously stormy. He stared hard a Zhou Yuan for a long time, before gradually suppressing the churning rage in his heart. Lu Feng frostily remarked, ¡°You really are like a lingering ghost.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned, before lifting his head to look towards the golden stone platform. ¡°If not because you provoked me time and time again, I would not have had much interest in first place.¡± It was indeed as he had said. His original goal had been top ten so that he would qualify for the right to choose his peak. As for number one, he never really gave it much thought. But who would have expected the petty and narrow-minded Lu Feng to repeatedly target him, and even impede him by buying up the Genesis Beast essence blood from Glittering Jewels Pavilion in advance. Such actions truly disgusted Zhou Yuan. Hence, Zhou Yuan started his counter attack. Lu Feng¡¯s expression had already fully returned to normal. He stared at Zhou Yuan, a faint trace of disdain hanging from the corners of his mouth as he uncaringly said, ¡°Are you saying this to make me feel regret?¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan, you overestimate yourself.¡± ¡°Do you truly believe that you are any threat to me? In my eyes, you¡¯re just a dirty and disgusting mud snake. All you are is an eyesore, but since you¡¯ve now truly angered me, I can only stomp you to death!¡± A chilling light flitted across Lu Feng¡¯s eyes. ¡°Fine, since you¡¯re such an ignorant fool that does not know the immensity of the heavens and earth, I will beat you till you wake up from your delusions, and let you know that compared to Shengzhou geniuses like us, you¡¯re ultimately just a peasant that has never seen the world!¡± When the final word left his mouth, powerful Genesis Qi exploded from Lu Feng¡¯s body like a storm. The Genesis Qi carried him straight into the sky, before landing him on the golden stone platform. At the same time, Lu Feng¡¯s intensely chilling shout sounded across the area, ¡°Zhou Yuan, get your ass up here!¡± ¡°I will make sure that you will no longer dare to appear before me ever again!¡± Zhou Yuan eyes narrowed slightly. A split second later, golden Genesis Qi turned into a giant python under his feet and ferociously shot forth. Swish! His figure also slowly landed on the highest golden stone platform under the attention of countless watching eyes. Two figures faced each other on the golden stone platform. It was akin to the confrontation between a tiger and a lion in the forest. Previous Chapte Chapter 270 Wind Sea Technique On the golden stone platform. Two figures faced each other, vigorous Genesis Qi continuously erupting from their bodies like a storm. Even the sky above seemed to have been affected, turning dark and stormy. The innumerable gazes in the area converged onto this very location. Without doubt, the battle here would decide the champion of the peak selection ceremony. On the Genesis Qi clouds, even the six hegemons and numerous higher echelons of the Cangxuan Sect cast their gazes downwards, stopping on the two young figures. ¡°Looks like first place really will be decided between these two.¡± Sect master Qing Yang laughed with interest. Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyin swept a glance at the Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun and remarked, ¡°Having competition is good. If Lu Feng was the only one in the running with no one to fight him, this peak selection ceremony would be boring.¡± Over the years, Sword Cometh Peak had constantly used all kinds of means to get their hands on highly talented disciples, making them grow stronger and stronger. Although this was done with sect master Qing Yang¡¯s approval, Liu Lianyi did not feel comfortable about it. She felt that Ling Jun¡¯s actions were disrupting Cangxuan Sect¡¯s atmosphere. A face as fair as jade, the youthful looking Ling Jun smiled slightly and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit is not weak, and should have some tricks up his sleeve. However, I¡¯m still more optimistic about Lu Feng¡¯s chances. ¡°His Genesis Qi cultivation far surpasses his opponent, is from the Lu clan, and his very stable and solid foundations. He is not to be underestimated.¡± His gaze suddenly swept towards Gu Hongyi¡¯s figure as he frowned slightly without anyone noticing. Didn¡¯t Lu Feng admire Gu Hongyi? Wasn¡¯t their relationship suppose to be good? Why had Gu Hongyi chosen to help Zhou Yuan instead? The attitude she displayed towards Lu Feng, did not look as if she had a good opinion of him. With such thoughts in mind, his gaze looked towards Lu Xuanyin. Cold sweat immediately appeared on the latter¡¯s fair forehead upon sensing his gaze, her pretty face turning rather ugly. Fortunately, peak master Ling Jun quickly withdrew his gaze, allowing Lu Xuanyin to breathe a sigh of relief. Soon after, she tightly gritted her teeth as she gazed at the golden stone platform. ¡°Lu Feng, you must properly put this peasant in his place!¡± Lu Xuanyin viciously glared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure as she muttered in her heart, ¡°As long as you crush him under your foot, Gu Hongyi will naturally understand that a mere peasant can¡¯t even compare to a single hair on your body!¡± Subsequently, she looked towards Yaoyao. The latter was currently leisurely seated on a mat, not a single soul daring to even step on the stone platform she was on. At the sight of Yaoyao¡¯s appearance, Lu Xuanyin grew even angrier. She bit down hard on her teeth and secretly said, ¡°Continue to act! Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ll have the same expression when Zhou Yuan is crushed under Lu Feng¡¯s foot?!¡± Under the attention of countless gazes, on the golden stone platform, Lu Feng¡¯s gaze grew increasingly icy as he stared at Zhou Yuan, the former¡¯s glare as sharp as the edge of a blade. He did not waste his breath speaking, because he could no longer be bothered to say anything. The thing he wanted to do the most now was to crush Zhou Yuan¡¯s face under his foot. Only so would he be able to release the pent up rage in his heart. ¡°How dare a peasant like you have designs on the woman I¡¯ve taken a fancy to?¡± Lu Feng¡¯s five fingers abruptly clenched tightly as dark green Genesis Qi erupted from his body without reservation. Genesis Qi turned into a several hundred feet wide green hurricane that violently raged around him. The Genesis Qi cultivation displayed by Lu Feng had already reached the peak of the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, far surpassing all the other outer mountain disciples. Genesis Qi pressure spread, sweeping towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan stared at Lu Feng. He could feel the Genesis Qi pressure pulsing from the latter¡¯s body, causing his expression to turn serious. He had never underestimated Lu Feng before. The latter was after all a peak fourth layer Alpha-Origin expert. The Genesis Qi around Lu Feng¡¯s body grew increasingly vigorous, the iciness in his gaze finally peaking as word after word was spat out from his mouth in a chilling voice, ¡°Zhou! Yuan!¡± Swish! The instant the last word was said, Lu Feng¡¯s body seemed to turn into a series of after images as he abruptly shot forth, a fist brutally punching towards Zhou Yuan. Dark green Genesis Qi swirled around the fist, like a howling tornado that caused even the golden ground below to be crack. Even a third layer Alpha-Origin practitioner would immediately be heavily injured if hit by this punch. Lu Feng had clearly made full advantage of his peak fourth layer Alpha-Origin strength. The fist rapidly enlarged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. His body shook faintly as mists appeared, while his body fully etherealized. Ethereal Form! His figure instantly disappeared from the spot. Boom! Lu Feng¡¯s punch landed on empty air, the empty space rippling due to its power. Lu Feng¡¯s expression was eerily cold as his body shot forth once again. A few dozen feet away, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had just revealed itself when the sharp sound of rushing wind followed like a shadow. Swish! Swish! Two figures seemed to teleport on the giant golden stone platform, the piercing sound of rushing wind continuously ringing in the area. They were so quick that several people were dazzled by their speed. However, from what everyone could see, Lu Feng was fully in control of the battle. His attacks were swift and ferocious like a storm, ceaselessly trying to engulf Zhou Yuan, causing him to retreat time and time again. Although the Ethereal Form made him extremely fast, Lu Feng¡¯s Genesis Qi was also able to enhance his speed, making him just that tiny bit slower than Zhou Yuan. There were many instances where Zhou Yuan seemed to narrowly dodge by a hair¡¯s breadth, making the onlookers¡¯ hearts jump in their bodies. On 9999 stone platforms, some of the disciples whose battles had already ended lifted their heads, their expressions changing as they watched the battle on the golden stone platform. They would likely not last even ten rounds if they were in Zhou Yuan¡¯s place, before being effortlessly defeated by Lu Feng¡¯s torrent of attacks. Boom! Lu Feng¡¯s punch blasted empty air again, his vigorous Genesis Qi making space itself tremble. A sharp force pierced through space, landing on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. However, the latter¡¯s etherealized body merely shook slightly, neutralizing the force. His figure borrowed its momentum to fly even further away, his nimbleness hitting the extreme. Lu Feng¡¯s expression was coldly indifferent as he frostily said, ¡°Do you only know how to dodge like a rabbit?¡± However, his words had no effect on Zhou Yuan. He was no fool. Speed was his advantage, and though Lu Feng¡¯s attacks were swift and powerful, it would take a toll on his body if he continued. To abandon one¡¯s advantage after a single provocation from the opponent was something only an idiot would do. Lu Feng¡¯s eyes hardened when he saw that Zhou Yuan was ignoring him. ¡°It seems that you believe I have no way to deal with that!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve said this before, no matter how fast you run, you¡¯re only a rabbit!¡± ¡°Your Ethereal Form technique is no threat to me at all!¡± ¡°Watch how I break your Ethereal Form!¡± Lu Feng¡¯s hands abruptly came together, a mocking smile rose from the corners of his lips as a chilling voice sounded, ¡°Little Heaven Genesis technique, Wind Sea technique!¡± In that instant, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt all the wind in the area sweep over, covering every inch of the stone platform. Space rippled faintly as the wind began to take on the shape of countless wind blades. The wind blades came together, forming a sea of blades. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure stood at the center of the sea, a slightly grave look appearing on his face. Lu Feng was capable indeed. This method had directly sealed off his speed advantage. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I will show you the gap between us!¡± Lu Feng¡¯s gaze was akin to the edge of a blade as his hand abruptly clenched. Bzz! Countless dark green wind blades vibrated. A split second later, they seemed to cover the entire sky as they shot forward, engulfing Zhou Yuan, who had no place to hide. Alarm and shock filled every gaze in the area. Lu Feng was indeed a formidable individual. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s red lips curled slightly, a look of release filling her eyes. To think that a mere peasant dared to compete with Lu Feng. How could country bumpkin possibly compare to a genius from the Lu clan. ¡°Make sure to cripple him!¡± At this very moment, Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly fallen into the sure kill trap Lu Feng had set for him. The former had instantly fallen into a precarious situation. Previous Chapte Chapter 271 Card after Card Bzzz! Green wind blades seemed to form a sea as they engulfed every corner of the golden stone platform. The innumerable vibrating wind blades flickered with an icy light, a sight that made one¡¯s heart shiver inside. In a brief moment, Lu Feng had displayed an impressive tactic, showing that his title as the number one amongst the ten great outer mountain disciples was not just for show. Gazes that could fill the sky converged on the spot where Zhou Yuan had been in the sea of wind blades as everyone wiped sweat off their foreheads. "Kill!" A chilling light glowed in Lu Feng''s eyes. Without any hesitation, his hand closed as a sky full of wind blades shuddered. With a howl, all of them shot towards Zhou Yuan''s location. ¡°No matter how fast you are, you can¡¯t escape from the range of my wind blade sea!¡± Zhou Yuan also seemed to understand that he would not be able to avoid this. Hence, his body did not move from the stop, merely concentrating on the wind blades that were zooming towards him. Every wind blade contained deadly Genesis Qi. Let¡¯s not mention the third layer Alpha-Origin, even an ordinary fourth layer Alpha-Origin would be pierced full of holes. As the one who was trapped deep inside this sea of wind blades, Zhou Yuan¡¯s situation was far from reassuring. Under the attention of countless gazes, the sea of green wind blades arrived at their destination, drowning Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in a few brief moments. Chchch! A piercing noise stealthily sounded as the golden ground riddled full of holes. A sea of wind blades swept forth, tirelessly unleashing a torrent of attacks. It was a long while later before the sea of wind blades finally stopped their assault. Every single gaze in the area immediately looked over, only to see Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure standing on the exact same spot. A cold smile was revealed on Lu Feng¡¯s face. To forcibly endure his attack, let alone a first layer Alpha-Origin like Zhou Yuan, even a fourth layer Alpha-Origin expert would be gravely injured. However, just as the smile on his face was widening, it suddenly froze slightly when his gaze looked to the front. Zhou Yuan stood there, his etherealized body covered in purplish gold scales that protected him. On the purplish gold scale armor flickered complicated glowing runes that gave off a peculiar power. It was the power of Genesis Runes. The purplish gold scale armor was covered in cut marks, and even broken in some places. But as a whole, the sea of wind blades had failed to break through his layers of defences. An uproar began to spread in the area. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to so easily withstand the attack that was powerful enough to seriously injure a fourth layer Alpha-Origin... On the Genesis Qi clouds, sect master Qing Yang nodded and said, ¡°Not bad, that should be the Ethereal Form technique. Reaching this level in a short three months really shows his talent.¡± The Hongya Peak master Gu Tianhong¡¯s voice was akin to a clap of thunder. ¡°Those purplish gold scales seem to be a little similar to the external tempering style. This kid is suited to walk the path of external tempering.¡± The miserably looking white brow elder from the Spirit Rune Peak shook his head and said, ¡°Although the purplish gold scales have decent defensive capabilities, the main reason why the kid was able to block Lu Feng¡¯s Wind Sea technique was the grade 4 defensive Genesis Rune he had drawn on the scales.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, I feel that Genesis Rune cultivation is stronger than external tempering techniques. The latter will easily result in the body growing too powerful, making one become stupid.¡± Gu Tianhong¡¯s widened in a glare as he angrily said, ¡°Old white, no matter how much bullshit you spout, Genesis Rune cultivation will still be a path one takes when every other option has been exhausted. How can it possibly compare to external tempering?!¡± The white brow elder shook his head and sighed. ¡°Like playing the lute to a cow, simpleton.¡± The Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi looked towards Ling Jun and said, ¡°It seems that it will not be so easy for Lu Feng to become champion.¡± The Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun merely displayed a kindly smile as he replied, ¡°You are mistaken peak master Liu, Lu Feng had merely been probing his opponent earlier. If Zhou Yuan was unable to even deal with such attacks, he would really be a little too weak.¡± ¡°Lu Feng has held the initiative from start to end. The fact that Zhou Yuan is able to last so long with his first layer Alpha-Origin strength is already very impressive, but it will be very difficult for him to stop Lu Feng.¡± Liu Lianyin smiled faintly and said, ¡°We shall watch and see.¡± Beside Ling Jun, Lu Xuanyin did not dare to interject into the conversation between the two peak masters. However, her little red mouth curled slightly. In her opinion, Lu Feng was sure to win this battle, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s resistance was ultimately akin to a mantis trying to block a cart. On the golden stone platform. Lu Feng¡¯s expression darkened slightly as he gazed at Zhou Yuan, who had managed to withstand his wind blades. The former¡¯s eyes grew even colder as he nonchalantly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you do have some ability.¡± He had originally believed Zhou Yuan would be injured by his technique, but it looks like he had miscalculated. Evidently, he had still underestimated Zhou Yuan¡¯ strength. Although the latter was only at the first layer Alpha-Origin, he had numerous tricks up his sleeve, making it hard for anyone to pin down. The purplish gold scales on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body gleamed. He did not intend to reply, as a similarly icy light flashed in his eyes. Thud! His foot slammed into the ground, and his etherealized body disappeared from the spot. A split second later, he appeared in front of Lu Feng, a fist covered in purplish gold scales blasting towards the latter along with volatile Genesis Qi. He had begun his counter attack. ¡°Oh? Finally dare to face me directly?¡± Mockery rose from the corners of Lu Feng¡¯s mouth when he saw this. He did not back down, a fist also flying forward as Genesis Qi tore through the air. Thud thud! The two exchanged dozens of blows in an instant, each attack ruthlessly aimed at the other¡¯s fatal spots. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s attacks were ferocious, all of them were blocked by Lu Feng. The advantage of being a fourth layer Alpha-Origin meant that his Genesis Qi was much stronger than Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Lu Feng mocked through the lightning quick exchange of blows, ¡°Is this all your attacks amount to?¡± He swung his palm as he sneered, squarely hitting Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist shadow. The Genesis Qi in Lu Feng¡¯s body flooded out, slapping Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist shadow away. Plah! However, the moment Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist shadow was scattered, his right hand came swinging through, an alarming amount of Genesis Qi suddenly converging towards the center of his palm. The Genesis Qi transformed into a glowing Genesis Qi ball swirling with wind and lightning, berserk undulations violently pulsing outwards. ¡°Great Wind and Thunder!¡± A deep voice echoed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Lu Feng¡¯s pupils violently shrank. Zhou Yuan¡¯s true attack had been hidden under his numerous fist shadows, the earlier attacks merely a distraction. The wind and lightning ball rapidly enlarged in Lu Feng¡¯s eyes. However, Lu Feng was no ordinary individual after all. At this perilous moment, he suddenly sucked in a deep breath as his cheeks rapidly ballooned, before blowing out a stream of green Qi. ¡°Green Light Source Needle!¡± The green Qi transformed into a thin shadow that shot forth at an alarming speed. In a flash, it smashed into the wind and lightning ball. Bang! A violent shockwave unfurled, sweeping Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng away. Their feet smeared across the ground, leaving behind long skid marks, while they stabilized their bodies. Lu Feng¡¯s expression had grown even uglier. He had nearly been caught in Zhou Yuan¡¯s sneaky attack earlier, forcing him to reveal one of his hidden trump cards. One should know that the Green Light Source Needle was a little Heaven Genesis technique. It was made from condensed Genesis Qi and possessed astonishing power. If used at the right moment, it could even bring about a reversal. However, it needed to be refined in advance, and had now been forced out by Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, not because he had failed to injure Lu Feng, but because the latter was still hiding such a card up his sleeve. The green shadow from before was way too quick, and Zhou Yuan would likely be struck if he was not guarding against it. Fortunately, he was now prepared for it. Huu. Lu Feng¡¯s icy gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan as he suddenly shook his head and said, ¡°It seems that I have underestimated you. As such, don¡¯t blame me for bullying you because of your weak and poor background.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows knitted together as vigilance appeared in his eyes. Lu Feng let out an icy chuckle. With a deep breath, his hands abruptly began to form a series of seals. Green light immediately dashed into the sky from the top of his head, the earth-shaking cry of a sword ringing from within. Just like an eagle¡¯s cry. Countless gazes converged towards the spot, and saw a long green sword within the green light. Piercing rays of light exploded from the sword as an astonishing aura unfurled. The eyes of innumerable disciples abruptly widened at this moment, as cries of shock and horror began to sound one after another. ¡°That is¡­ a Heaven Genesis Weapon?!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 272 Evolution of the Heavenly Yuan Brush Chapter 271 Evolution of the Heavenly Yuan Brush Green light whizzed out from the top of Lu Feng¡¯s head. Inside the light, a green sword released a loud and clear sword cry. A formidable pressure spread from the sword. Countless gazes looked over in horror and shock, seeing the ancient patterns that had been carved onto the sword. Green light swirled around it, giving off an aura of mystery. The handle of the sword was covered in green feathers making it appear similar to a soaring green eagle. This green eagle sword had clearly surpassed the Black tier! On the Genesis Qi clouds above, sect master Qing Yang gazed at the green eagle sword and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Lu clan has a treasure called the Green Eagle Sword. It¡¯s a mid grade Heaven tier Genesis Weapon that was made from the beak and feathers of a grade 6 Genesis Beast, the Green God Eagle.¡± ¡°Although the sword Lu Feng has summoned seems similar, it does not give off the same sharpness, and is likely an imitation.¡± ¡°Even so, it has reached the quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon level, a mighty power to any Alpha-Origin practitioner.¡± Liu Lianyin frowned slightly and said, ¡°It¡¯s rather unfair to rely on an external item to achieve victory.¡± Peak master Ling Jun chuckled and responded, ¡°There is no rule that bans the usage of Genesis Weapons in the peak selection ceremony. After all, obtaining a Genesis Weapon is part of one¡¯s luck, which is also a kind of strength.¡± Lu Feng would join the Sword Cometh Peak after the ceremony. Hence, peak master Ling Jun was more than happy to see him become champion. In fact, the former may even become guide of sorts that will draw even more disciples to the Sword Cometh Peak, allowing it to grow stronger. Liu Lianyi swept an indifferent glance at the former, but did not say anything. After all, using a Genesis Weapon was indeed within the rules. She looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure and secretly said in her heart, ¡°This kid had better not lose so easily¡­¡± She did not like Ling Jun. Although it was impossible for her to do much since they were part of the same sect, disrupting his plans a little would make her feel a little better. As the countless gazes in the area converged onto the golden stone platform, Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as he gazed at the sword within the green light. The power that pulsed from it made his heart shiver a little in fear. However, he could sense that it had yet to truly reach the Heaven Genesis Weapon level. A Genesis Weapon at that level would be able to draw in and direct the surrounding Genesis Qi, giving it enormous power. Lu Feng¡¯s sword was evidently still somewhat lacking. Even so, it had indeed surpassed the Black tier, hence why it was ranked in between the Black and Heaven tier. ¡°How troublesome.¡± Muttered Zhou Yuan. Lu Feng already had the strength of the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, and wielded powerful and abundant Genesis Qi. The addition of the green eagle sword was akin to giving wings to a tiger, making it very difficult for him to find a worthy opponent amongst the fourth layer Alpha-Origin. While Zhou Yuan was observing, Lu Feng¡¯s icy gaze shot over as he indifferently said, ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for bullying you. I¡¯m from the prestigious Lu clan and will naturally have better resources than you. This is my advantage, an advantage I would never intentionally give up, because that would only be too foolish.¡± His tone was filled with pride. After all, there were times when being born in a powerful clan was also part of one¡¯s luck and strength. Without waiting for Zhou Yuan to respond, Lu Feng made a sword seal and shouted, ¡°Ha!¡± ¡°KUUOR!¡± The green eagle sword released a clear eagle cry as a thousand rays of green light exploded, filling the air with deadly sword Qi. Swish! With a jolt, the sword transformed into a streak of green. It pierced through space at extreme speed, shooting straight towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body instantly etherealized as he rapidly withdrew. ¡°No matter how fast you are, you¡¯ll never match the speed of my sword!¡± Lu Feng merely sneered. Bzz! The streak of green shuddered, and bizarrely appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. A flash of sword light swept forth, heading straight for the fatal spots on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Before the deadly sword Qi arrived, the purplish gold scales had already began to crack. This told Zhou Yuan that even the Magical Python Scales would not protect him if he was stabbed by the green eagle sword. The might of a quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon was not something the body of someone who had never practiced any external tempering techniques should clash against. Sword light rapidly enlarged in his pupils. At this moment, Zhou Yuan suddenly made a grabbing motion as the Heavenly Yuan Brush grew in his hand. Its snow-white hairs darted forward like a white snake, wrapping around the green sword light. Clang clang clang! However, the green sword light was too powerful, scattering the snow-white hairs in a flash. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body continued to back away as Genesis Qi surged towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Countless snow-white hairs transformed into obstruction after obstruction that was flung towards the green sword light one after another. However, the green sword light continued to press forward, destroying any obstacle in its path. The Heavenly Yuan Brush was steadily being beaten back. At the end of the day, the Heavenly Yuan Brush had only awakened its third rune, and was only a mid grade Black Genesis Weapon. It may have once been a Sacred Genesis Weapon, but it was currently akin to a ferocious tiger in deep sleep. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure continuously retreated. Lu Feng stood in the air with his arms across his chest, a toying look in his eyes as he watched Zhou Yuan being pushed back step by step. The Genesis Qi in the former¡¯s body streamed endlessly into the green eagle sword , allowing it to maintain its assault. Zhou Yuan may have been able to tango with Lu Feng earlier, but that was only through the speed of the Ethereal Form and the former¡¯s powerful defences. But now, the green eagle sword was faster than Zhou Yuan, and possessed enough destructive power to penetrate his defences. Hence, Zhou Yuan was now being completely suppressed. Gazes that could fill the sky watched the battle on the golden stone platform. Numerous disciples sighed inside at this scene. As expected, Lu Feng was still the more formidable individual. As someone who was born in the Lu clan, his resources and foundations were far from what any ordinary disciple could match. A quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon was not something an ordinary disciple would possess. At a location extremely close to the golden stone platform, Gu Hongyi and Yang Xiu faced each other. They had not fought because Yang Xiu did not plan on becoming Gu Hongyi¡¯s enemy, instead, they were watching the battle between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng. As they watched, Yang Xiu chuckled at Gu Hongyi and said, ¡°See, even if you did stop me, he is still not Lu Feng¡¯s match. His defeat will happen sooner or later.¡± Gu Hongyi swept an icy glance at the former, but did not reply. However, she sighed regretfully in her heart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s current situation did not look good at all. Under the numerous watching eyes, Zhou Yuan continued to be pushed back on the golden stone platform, gradually approaching its edge. However, his gaze had begun to flicker faintly as he continued to retreat. There was a peculiar look in his eyes as he looked towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands. While being suppressed by the green eagle sword, he could faintly sense a tiny sliver of anger begin stirring within it. As if the dignity of a king was being challenged. Rage was slowly brewing in the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The brush had once been a Sacred Genesis Weapon, and although its grade had now fallen, a king was still ultimately a king. Therefore, the continuous suppression by a mere quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon had now angered the fragment of a spirit that was left inside it. A king may fall, but that did not mean it may be bullied. Zhou Yuan¡¯s glowing gaze stared at the mottled body of the brush, where a faint light was gradually emerging in the long slumbering fourth rune under the intense clash. For a long time, Zhou Yuan had continued to feed the Heavenly Yuan Brush with Beast Spirits every day. However, the fourth rune had ultimately showed no signs of awakening, a fact that had really weighed down on Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He never imagined that the long silent fourth rune would voluntarily begin to awaken under the continuous assault of the green eagle sword. The dignity of the brush that was once a Sacred Genesis Weapon made it incapable of tolerating a quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon stepping on its head. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips slowly raised at an angle. He had not expected the green eagle sword¡¯s suppression to bring about such an outcome. This would save him a lot of effort. The dim fourth rune on the brush¡¯s mottled body grew brighter and brighter. It was at this moment that Lu Feng suddenly frowned, faintly feeling that something was wrong. He could sense that the originally scattered and beaten snow-white hairs seemed to be gradually growing more and more concentrated, causing the power of the sword light to drop. ¡°I cannot delay any further. I¡¯ll slash him off the stage!¡± Lu Feng¡¯s eyes hardened as he changed his sword seal. The green eagle sword released an explosive sword cry in response, green light bursting forth as the sword seemed to breath. The light rapidly expanded to a hundred feet and chopped downwards, tearing open a crack in space. Numerous gasps and cries sounded across the area. Everyone clearly understood that Lu Feng had lost his patience, and was now going to end the battle with this strike. Even amongst the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, there was likely no one capable of blocking this attack. Gu Hongyi¡¯s expression changed slightly, worry flashing in her eyes as she tightly clenched her fists. The green sword light rapidly descended. Just as it was about to hit, Zhou Yuan suddenly raised his head, seemingly endless light surging within his eyes. His grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush with both hands and shook it as the snow-white hairs converged into a flower bud like spear tip that spouted a sharp light. Expressionless, he powerfully swung the Heavenly Yuan Brush overhead as if it was a thousand ton hammer. ¡°Courting death!¡± Lu Feng coldy snorted when he saw this. ¡°Watch how my sword will chop apart that lousy brush of yours!¡± Clang! Countless gazes gathered on the golden stone platform as the dazzling green sword light abruptly fell, smashing into the vertically swung Heavenly Yuan Brush. A resonant sound of clashing metal echoed across the area. The moment the loud sound emerged, however, Lu Feng¡¯s pupils violently shrank as horror appeared on his face. He had seen the green eagle sword shudder at the moment of impact, as it released a pained wail. The sword light was scattered as the sword was blasted away by the black brush. It was as if the swing of Zhou Yuan¡¯s brush was accompanied by an endless torrent of power, power terrifying and domineering to the max! In fact, even the faint cry of a whale could be heard. ¡°How can this be?!¡± Countless cries of disbelief rang out across the area. Even sect master Qing Yang and the rest of the hegemons softly cried out in surprise. Under countless shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan spat out a long drawn out breath, his gaze burning with excitement as his hand slowly ran across the mottled body of the brush. As his palm passed by, an ancient Genesis Rune began to glow with a mysterious light. The fourth rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Million Whale. Previous Chapte Chapter 273 Fourth Rune, Million Whale Chapter 272 Fourth Rune, Million Whale Bzz! The green eagle sword was sent flying, its originally unmatched sword light now scattered. Lu Feng hastily circulated his Genesis Qi, stabilizing the green eagle sword. He looked over, only to find a glaring scratch on the sword. It was also trembling faintly, as if having sustained an injury. Lu Feng¡¯s complexion turned ashen, disbelief filling his eyes. The green eagle sword was just moments ago thoroughly suppressing Zhou Yuan, why had the situation suddenly been reversed? The strange black brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands was clearly only a mid grade Black Genesis Weapon. How had it scattered the sword light of his green eagle sword? On the Genesis Qi clouds above, set master Qing Yang and the rest of the hegemons looked down with a sliver of shock in their gazes. All of them were focused on the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. ¡°Hehe, how interesting. The black brush in this little one¡¯s hands seems to be extraordinary too.¡± Sect master Qing Yang chuckled in surprise. ¡°The black brush was only a mid grade Black Genesis Weapon earlier, but it seems to have evolved, leaping across the upper grade to reach the quasi Heaven Genesis Weapon level¡­¡± The white brow elder¡¯s tone was filled with interest as he continued to vocalize his findings, ¡°The brush seems to also function as a Genesis Rune Brush, how amazing¡­¡± ¡°It seems that this kid is also blessed by luck.¡± Gu Tianhong nodded. Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi¡¯s red lips curved slightly, smiling as she gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. ¡°This little one is not bad, I¡¯m beginning to like him more and more.¡± As she spoke, she swept a glance at Ling Jun. Ling Jun softly chuckled, but did not respond. His gaze merely paused on Zhou Yuan for a brief moment. Beside him, Lu Xuanyin clenched her teeth as she hatefully glared at Zhou Yuan. This fellow was really akin to mud, so difficult to get rid of once you touched it. Under the countless gazes of shock from all around, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was rather calm, though a burning fire had appeared in his eyes as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush. ¡°The Million Whale rune huh¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. When the fourth ancient rune awakened, he had gained knowledge of its powers. If the previous three runes were said to bestow numerous variations and transformations to the brush, then the fourth rune could be said to bring raw, astonishing power. Million Whale referred to the Ancient Dragon Whale that was said to possess limitless power. The power of a single Ancient Dragon Whale could flip mountains and overturn the sea, hence, its title as the Million Whale, which was also testament to its terrifying might. It was said that if one had sufficient Genesis Qi, activating this rune would bestow the power of a Million Whale. A single swing of the brush would destroy anything in its path. ¡°Amazing¡­¡± Zhou Yuan laughed. After awakening the fourth rune, the Heavenly Yuan Brush had leapt across the high grade, directly reaching the quasi Heaven tier. He could feel that the power contained within it had multiplied several fold, causing a heart palpitating pressure to spread. Zhou Yuan gripped the black brush and thrust, creating a series of after images. He raised his head and looked towards the ugly expression on Lu Feng¡¯s face and said, ¡°It seems that your so-called background and resources is not actually better than my own¡­¡± Lu Feng could not help but laugh in anger when he heard this, and icily said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better not celebrate too early!¡± His hands came together as vigorous Genesis Qi dashed into the sky, merging with the green eagle sword that had been sent flying. The sword immediately shook as resplendent sword light exploded once more. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that I cannot chop apart your lousy brush!¡± With a howl from Lu Feng, green light exploded from the green eagle sword. A giant eagle seemed to emerge within the green light, releasing a long cry as an alarmingly savage aura swept forth. ¡°Go!¡± Yelled Lu Feng with a dark expression. The giant green eagle like figure opened its beak, swallowing the green eagle sword, before transforming into a flash of green that dived down towards Zhou Yuan. Ferociously Imposing. Destructive sword Qi rippled endlessly from the green eagle¡¯s body as if intending to sunder the land. Lu Feng had roused the remnant Green God Eagle Spirit inside the green eagle sword, and its presence caused the expressions of numerous disciples to change. The green eagle dived downwards in a threatening and ferocious manner. However, Zhou Yuan merely let out an icy snort. Now that the Heavenly Yuan Brush had evolved again and had also reached the quasi Heaven tier, the other party¡¯s advantage no longer existed. ¡°I¡¯ll use you to test the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s might¡­¡± A sharp glint flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Without any hesitation whatsoever, he wrapped both hands around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as the Genesis Qi in his body began to rush out, flooding into the brush. Rumble! Golden light erupted from the brush, filling the sky as it took the shape of a gargantuan Ancient Dragon Whale. As it swam in the sky, it seemed to pulse with boundless power. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, before the Heavenly Yuan Brush was ferociously swung. The dragon whale howled, merging with the Heavenly Yuan Brush as they boldy advanced. In the end, they crashed into the giant green eagle under countless shocked gazes. Boom! At the moment of impact, an extremely berserk Genesis Qi shockwave violently swept outwards. Every gaze was tightly glued to the epicenter of the clash, where they saw the green eagle release a piercing shriek as an endless torrent of sword Qi rained down on the dragon whale. However, none of this mattered to the latter as it continued to charge forward with terrifying power, smashing directly into the giant green eagle. Clang! A loud clang rang out. A wail immediately burst from the giant green eagle, its enormous body blown to bits by the charge of the dragon whale. As the green light began to dim, the green eagle sword was flung backwards, crack after crack appearing on its blade. Urgh! Lu Feng paled and vomited a mouthful of blood, evidently also affected. Gasp after gasp sounded in succession. No one had expected that Lu Feng would be the first to be injured in the clash between these two... Gu Hongyi breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, coldly smiling as she looked at Yang Xiu and said, ¡°It seems that who becomes the champion is still up in the air.¡± Yang Xiu frowned as he replied, ¡°Zhou Yuan is indeed very capable.¡± He paused for a moment, before he continued, ¡°However¡­ he has now fully angered Lu Feng. Hongyi, you should know that Lu Feng will not lose so easily.¡± Roar! The moment the final word left his mouth, a furious roar suddenly thundered from the golden stone platform. A surge of alarming Genesis Qi undulations swept out from Lu Feng¡¯s body. His originally handsome face had turned extremely dark and stormy, intense rage boiling between his brows. Zhou Yuan¡¯s counter attack had thoroughly humiliated him. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± With an eerily chilling shout, he suddenly bit the top of his tongue and spat out a mouthful of essence blood on the green eagle sword. Bloody light blossomed from the sword as it ferociously shot forth, unleashing a rain of attacks on the Heavenly Yuan Brush to keep it occupied. At the same time, a scarlet glow surfaced in Lu Feng¡¯s eyes as his body moved, appearing in the sky above Zhou Yuan. His hands rapidly formed a series of seals as dark green Genesis Qi began to flood the area behind him. ¡°Star Scripture, Triple Comet!¡± Vigorous Genesis Qi frantically gathered, turning into three hundred feet wide green comets above him. The comets began to fall with frightening velocity, heading straight towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°It¡¯s the Star Scripture! That¡¯s a high grade little Heaven Genesis technique and is one of the strongest in the outer mountains. So that¡¯s the technique Lu Feng selected in the Hidden Scriptures House.¡± Numerous cries of shock were heard. Many disciples could not help but sigh as they shook their heads. Who could have imagined that the battle between these two individuals would reach such levels. Even some of the more normal inner mountain disciples would be unable to achieve this, right? However, would Zhou Yuan be able to stop the now enraged Lu Feng? Under the attention of innumerable gazes, Zhou Yuan gazed at the three green comets falling from the sky as he felt the astonishing undulations contained within them. *Inhale* Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as his hands rapidly formed a series of seals, before slamming his foot into the ground a second later. The Genesis Qi in his body erupted with a rumble. Three hundred feet tall pillars of Genesis Qi dashed into the sky from the top of his head. Savage violence pulsed from the three pillars, and at closer inspection, one would discover the glowing silhouettes of three ferocious Genesis Beasts within the pillars. The moment the three Genesis Qi pillars emerged, the three Genesis Beasts inside them hissed and roared, faintly resembling a dragon roar as a cruel and savage aura spread across the area. The eyes of countless disciples widened, evidently recognizing the technique. The technique Zhou Yuan had used was also one of the high grade little Heaven Genesis techniques of the outer mountains Hidden Scriptures House, the Nine Dragons Canon! Under the many shocked gazes, three boundless Genesis Beast like torrents of Genesis Qi shuddered as they smashed into the three green comets falling from the sky. For an instant, the world around them seemed to shake. Previous Chapte Chapter 274 Might of the Nine Dragons Canon Roar! Three hundred feet tall pillars of Genesis Qi dashed into the sky as a savage and cruel aura unfurled. One would faintly see the Genesis Qi pillars take on the shape of Genesis Beasts... The three beasts were the three dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood Zhou Yuan had refined. They had now fused with Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi, greatly amplifying its power and giving it ferocious and domineering characteristics when used. Lu Feng¡¯s eyes widened slightly when he saw the three Genesis Qi beasts that were charging into the sky. Soon after, he let out an icy chuckle. ¡°Only a hundred feet? It seems that being denied grade 5 essence blood has affected you substantially.¡± He was naturally aware that Zhou Yuan was practicing the Nine Dragons Canon. However, the power of this technique was dependant on the quality of the essence blood. Back then, Lu Feng had bought out the three bottles of grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood in advance, making Zhou Yuan have no choice but to choose the grade 4 essence blood. As such, the power of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nine Dragons Canon was naturally unable to reach its peak. ¡°Let me destroy your Nine Dragons Canon with my Star Scripture!¡± An ominous light flitted across Lu Feng¡¯s eyes. Both of them were using high grade little Heaven tier Genesis techniques, and he had smoothly mastered his, while Zhou Yuan¡¯s three Genesis Qi beasts were surely lacking because he was unable to obtain to most suitable essence blood. If they clashed, Lu Feng knew that he would have the upper hand, hence his expression showed not even the tiniest trace of fear. Lu Feng¡¯s seals changed as the three green comets began to tremble violently, their dreadful power shaking even the sky itself, making the expressions of numerous disciples turn grave. Under the attention of countless gazes, the three beasts released a torrential flood of ferocity, baring their fangs and claws as they tore through the air. Each one of the three Genesis Qi beasts was stronger than Zhou Yuan¡¯s Great Wind and Thunder technique. With all three lined up, even a fourth layer Alpha-Origin would have no option but to retreat. Zhou Yuan had likewise sensed that Lu Feng had no thoughts of backing down. The former¡¯s gaze flickered slightly. It seems that the other party was very confident. It only took a moment for Zhou Yuan to understand the origin of his opponent¡¯s confidence, causing an icy smile to rise from the corners of his mouth. There was nothing to say at this point. Their battle had already reached the peak, and there was no longer any point in holding back. Zhou Yuan raised his hand, and the three beasts smashed into the three falling green comets. The world around them seem to shudder violently at this moment. ¡°Destroy them!¡± An icy glow was revealed in Lu Feng¡¯s eyes. Terrifying power pulsed from the three green comets, a force so great that it could level every mountain in a thousand mile radius. Rumble! The green comets admittedly contained dreadful destructive power. At the instant of impact, the three Genesis Qi beats were immediately forced back, causing them to fall along with the momentum of the comets as they howled angrily. It was clear that Lu Feng¡¯s Star Scripture was stronger. When he saw this, the corners of his mouth slowly began to raise. ¡°Zhou Yuan, have you finally reached your limits? If so, first place will be mine!¡± Lu Feng¡¯s hands suddenly pressed downwards, causing berserk Genesis Qi to spew out from the green comets again as if intending to smash the three Genesis Qi beasts to smithereens. The three beasts continued to howl, but were still slowly pushed down little by little. While regretful sighs filled the sky, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm from start to end. He gazed at the slowly descending green comets, sensing that their power had already reached the limit. ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s my turn!¡± Muttered Zhou Yuan to himself. A split later, he suddenly produced a long, drawn out whistle. The whistle was akin to a clap of thunder. At this very moment, the three suppressed Genesis Qi beasts released thunderous roars in response. As they roared, the savage auras pulsing from their bodies begin to steadily rise all of a sudden. The originally hundred feet tall Genesis Qi pillars abruptly began to grow, reaching a height of three hundred feet. ¡°What?!¡± This sudden turn of events made Lu Feng¡¯s pupils shrink. ¡°How can this be?! He clearly only refined high tier grade 4 Genesis Beast essence blood, how can it possibly be so powerful?!¡± He had studied the Nine Dragons Canon before. It was said that only by refining grade 5 essence blood would the Genesis Qi beast pillars reach a height of three hundred feet. He clearly remembered that there was no other grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained indifferent. He had indeed only managed to obtain the grade 4 essence blood. However, he had used Tuntun¡¯s blood to upgrade the grade 4 essence blood, making them not the least bit inferior to real grade 5 essence blood. Roar! Astonishing power exploded from the three three hundred feet tall beasts. They waved their long tails, wrapping them around the three green comets as a ferocious aura erupted. Dong! The three green comets were instantly shattered, turning into specks of light that filled the sky. *Uproar*! An uproar filled the sky. No one had expected yet another twist. The advantage Lu Feng originally had was now completely gone. Roar! After shattering the three green comets, the three beasts shrank substantially though they still contained alarming power. In a flash, they appeared above Lu Feng. The three beasts roared as they pounced, their frightening power engulfing Lu Feng. Horror surfaced on Lu Feng¡¯s face as he hurriedly circulated his Genesis Qi to create a hundred foot tall green wall of Qi in front of him... Boom! Berserk shockwaves swept outwards from the collision. Everyone watched as Lu Feng¡¯s green Qi wall was blasted apart. His body was caught in the aftershocks, falling from the sky like a cannonball. With a loud boom, he smashed into the golden stone platform. Cracks emerged on the stone platform while dust filled the air. In the sky above, the three beasts had used up all of their energy, and began to gradually fade away. Zhou Yuan spat out a breath of air, his face expressionless as he gazed at the spot Lu Feng had landed. The world around them fall silent for an instant. The fights that were still ongoing elsewhere also paused for a moment as shocked gaze after gaze looked towards the top stone platform. Compared to the battle there, the rest of them really looked like little kids. When they saw Lu Feng being struck down from the air, all of them could not help but swallow again and again, terror now filling their gazes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. No one had expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle power to be so overwhelming. Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyes were also tinged with a little surprise as she looked towards the figure left standing on the golden stone platform. The strength displayed by the latter had similarly surpassed her expectations. Gu Hongyi looked towards Yang Xiu with an icy grin, ¡°What do you think?¡± Yang Xiu¡¯s expression had turned exceptionally grave. He sighed softly and answered, ¡°He is indeed formidable. I am not as good as him.¡± He knew that if he was the one in Lu Feng¡¯s place, his defeat would be even more thorough. However, his paused for a brief moment as a complicated expression rose in his eyes. ¡°However¡­ Lu Feng will do anything to achieve victory¡­ Hongyi, Zhou Yuan cannot win this match.¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s pupils shivered upon hearing this. Just as she was about to reply, she suddenly sensed something and lifted her head to look at the golden stone platform. The dust was gradually dissipating as a figure slowly walked out. This figure naturally belonged to Lu Feng. However, his current appearance was exceedingly pathetic. His clothes were tattered and there was even blood at the corner of his lip, a clear sign that he had been injured by Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier Nine Dragons Canon. But although his appearance was miserable, a heart palpitating fire burned within his eyes. He stared at Zhou Yuan as a twisted, sinister smile appeared from the corners of his lips. ¡°I truly never imagined that a day would come where I would be pushed to such a miserable state.¡± ¡°However, it will not be so easy for you to use me as a stepping stone!¡± As Lu Feng¡¯s eerie voice faded, his body gradually turned scarlet-red, as if the blood inside was burning. At the same time, everyone felt alarming Genesis Qi undulations frantically erupt from his body like a volcano, gradually growing stronger and stronger. After a short span of a few breaths. Lu Feng¡¯s Genesis Qi had broken past the limits of the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, stepping into the realm of the fifth layer. Deafening cries washed over the sky. No one had expected the battle between Zhou Yuan and Lu Feng to become so intense. Lu Feng had clearly already lost his mind to rage, and intended to crush Zhou Yuan at any cost. If Zhou Yuan did not have any more trump cards, he would not be able to continue competing with Lu Feng. If that happened, first place would undoubtedly fall into Lu Feng¡¯s hands. Lu Feng felt to rapidly rising Genesis Qi in his body, his eyes scarlet-red as he sent a dark stare at Zhou Yuan and pointed down at an angle. A chilling voice followed. ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you still have a little tact, get off this stage yourself.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t force my hand, or¡­ it will be life or death!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 275 Breakthrough Vigorous and ferocious Genesis Qi swept out from Lu Feng¡¯s body like massive plumes of smoke as a domineering pressure engulfed the entire golden stone platform. On the Genesis Qi clouds above, Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi¡¯s eyebrows knitted together when she saw this. ¡°To think that he has even used a blood burning secret art. Lu Feng seems to be really unwilling to it let go.¡± A blood burning secret art was technique that could temporarily raise one¡¯s strength through burning one¡¯s essence blood. However, the repercussions were extremely serious. The fact that Lu Feng had used it was a clear indication that he was willing to do anything at this point. Sect master Qing Yang, the white brow elder, and Gu Hongtian also frowned a little. Although there were no restrictions in the peak selection ceremony, it was after all a competition between disciples, and Lu Feng¡¯s actions were indeed rather unsightly. ¡°They¡¯re youngsters after all who are prideful and eager for victory. It¡¯s difficult to avoid letting the heat get to their heads.¡± Peak master Ling Jun chuckled. He seemed to be reproaching Lu Feng while also playing down his actions, turning Lu Feng¡¯s unscrupulousness into being overly eager for victory. Peak master Liu Lianyi¡¯s red lips curled slightly, a trace of mockery flowing out in her eyes, evidently finding peak master Ling Jun¡¯s explanation laughable. However, she did not argue, but merely regretfully glanced at Zhou Yuan. This little one was truly remarkable to have fought with Lu Feng to this extent with just the strength of a first layer Alpha-Origin. Unfortunately, he lacked a little luck. Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s gaze looked towards Lu Feng as the smile on his face slightly receded, before sweeping a glance at Lu Xuanyin, a faint sliver of anger in his eyes. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s pretty face paled slightly. She understood that peak master Ling Jun was already disappointed in Lu Feng¡¯s performance. After all, now that he was forced to use a blood burning secret art by a first layer Alpha-Origin disciple, it would not look good even if he won. Her hands clenched tightly, not daring to say anything to peak master Ling Jun. When she looked towards Zhou Yuan, her gaze was filled with hatred. ¡°Filthy peasant!¡± She cursed in her heart. Lu Feng should have been able to beautifully take first place. It would have made him highly valued by peak master Ling Jun when he entered the Sword Cometh Peak, allowing him to become an important candidate for grooming, and eventually turn into one of the core members of the Cangxuan Sect. But who could have foreseen that this beautiful future would be ruined by that dirty peasant. Even if Lu Feng won now, his victory would already be sullied. ¡°Lu Feng, you must cripple that peasant. Make him pay the price!¡± Under the countless shocked gazes that could fill the sky, Lu Feng sinisterly stared at Zhou Yuan. How could he not be aware that using this secret art would be a blemish even if he won. However, he had no choice. He could not let Zhou Yuan take first place away from him, or he would not know where to hide his face. Therefore, even if he had to smear his reputation a little, he needed to succeed today. In response to his sinister gaze, Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. Soon after, he said in an indifferent voice, ¡°If you want first place, come and fight for it. Don¡¯t bother with such childish threats.¡± Lu Feng¡¯s laughed in anger. ¡°Excellent. Since you wish to die, I will grant your wish!¡± Genesis Qi exploded from his body without reservation, the Genesis Qi pressure directly making Zhou Yuan¡¯s body feel akin to lead. If Lu Feng was still at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, Zhou Yuan would have been able to close the gap between them through various means. But now that the former was at the fifth layer, the disparity between them was far too great. Lu Feng¡¯s figure slowly rose into the sky as if riding the violent winds. Genesis Qi spread behind him, turning into a green starry sky. ¡°Star Scripture, Green Comet!¡± Genesis Qi frantically converged, ultimately transforming into an enormous green comet. As it slowly rose, extremely astonishing Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from it. This green comet was basically the entirety of Lu Feng¡¯s Genesis Qi. He clearly no longer had any patience left, and intended to end the fight with a single attack. In the face of this gargantuan green comet, the expressions of numerous disciples changed, and even Yang Xiu, Gu Hongyi and the rest could not help but tremble. No one under the sixth layer Alpha-Origin could block an attack of such proportions. As the green comet steadily rose higher and higher, Zhou Yuan naturally felt a suffocating pressure, causing his expression to grow increasingly grim. He knew that he would not be able to withstand this attack with his first layer Alpha-Origin strength. Since that was so... Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slowly closed at this moment, causing many gazes to look over in bewilderment. While they were trying to figure out why, someone suddenly sensed the Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body begin to ripple. The rippling started out weak, but after a dozen breaths, it became akin to boiling water, shuddering volatilely. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Numerous gazes flickered in confusion. ¡°His Genesis Qi is growing!¡± Cried out someone. They had sensed the Genesis Qi inside Zhou Yuan¡¯s body gradually begin to strengthen at this moment. ¡°Is he also using a secret art?¡± ¡°It¡¯s different. His Genesis Qi growth is extremely stable and natural, unlike how Lu Feng had forcibly raised his earlier¡­¡± While numerous whispers spread, Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes flapped as the Genesis Qi undulations grew stronger and stronger. In the end, it suddenly rumbled with a violent shake! Golden Genesis Qi exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, dashing straight into the sky. The silhouette of a giant python formed within the golden light and hissed at the heavens. A hiss like thunder while also bearing resemblance to a dragon¡¯s roar. His Genesis Qi undulations forcibly broke into the second layer Alpha-Origin stage at this moment! *Uproar*! Countless cries of alarm and surprise rang across the area. Face after face was filled with shock and astonishment. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to have a breakthrough at this moment, stepping from the first layer Alpha-Origin stage into the second layer! Zhou Yuan¡¯s lightly shut eyes slowly opened, golden light swimming within them. He could feel the drastic increase of Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling, causing him to laugh softly. The truth was that after three months of tough training in the outer mountains, he should have long stepped into the second layer Alpha-Origin. However, he had repeatedly suppressed it in order to better stabilize his foundations. His original plan was to ascend after entering the inner mountains, but it seemed that now was also an appropriate time. As golden Genesis Qi surged, the pressure from Lu Feng¡¯s body unknowingly weakened substantially. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation had clearly soared after stepping into the second layer Alpha-Origin stage. In the air, Lu Feng had naturally also sensed the changes in the Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, causing the former¡¯s face to distort. He never imagined that this peasant would surpass his expectations time and time again. Intense envy and anger bubbled out in his heart. ¡°God damnit!¡± ¡°I am a genius of the Lu clan. How can a peasant like you possible compare! Won¡¯t you obediently let me crush you under my feet, and become my stepping stone?!¡± ¡°Why, why are so intent on death!¡± ¡°Since that is so, die!¡± Howled Lu Feng in his heart with scarlet-red eyes. With a shriek, he spat out a mouthful of essence blood which landed on the titanic green comet, immediately causing the Genesis Qi on it to grow exceedingly berserk. Rumble! The gigantic green comet plummeted towards Zhou Yuan, bringing with it an impossible large shadow and destruction. A dreadful pressure descended from the sky. Zhou Yuan raised his head, revealing the indifference on his face as he suddenly sucked in a deep breath. His hands came together as his body trembled faintly. Several breaths later, everyone saw a pillar of Genesis Qi light abruptly fly into the sky. Roar! A deafening roar thundered from within the Genesis Qi. Countless gazes shot over. Everyone watched as an enormous beast swiftly began to form inside the Genesis Qi, while a dreadful aura of ferocity unfurled across the land. This beast for surpassed the three from before, reaching over six hundred feet in height! Gu Hongyi gasped as she gazed upon the Genesis Qi beast, evidently having recognized it. It was the grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood she had given Zhou Yuan previously. However, for some unknown reason, the savage aura from this beast was extraordinarily powerful! ¡°Nine Dragons Canon, Fourth Dragon!¡± Countless shocked gazes watched as Zhou Yuan suddenly stomped the ground, while a deep voice emerged from his mouth. Roar! The over six hundred feet tall Genesis QI beast roared like a dragon as it charged forward. In the end, it slammed into the giant green comet that was falling from the sky. Everyone was glued to this scene. They knew that this was the deciding moment. Previous Chapte Chapter 276 Champion of the Ceremony Boom! An earth-shaking explosion unfurled high up in the sky, the berserk shockwaves that swept outwards causing the sky to slightly distort. Even the air in the vicinity was unable to bear the force, multiple explosions booming one after another. Every gaze was tightly glued to the sky, not daring to even blink once. They knew that it was finally time to decide the winner. Everyone wondered who would be the one to remain standing till the end. Under the attention of countless gazes, the destructive energies in the sky gradually began to dissipate after some time. The golden platform was finally revealed, now full of holes and cracks, as if it had undergone a terrifying impact. However, no one paid any attention to the damage. Every gaze cast towards the two figures atop it instead. Two figures that were currently frighteningly still. A breeze blew past, rolling up the dust. Lu Feng¡¯s eyes were red as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°How¡­ how can your Nine Dragons Canon be so powerful?!¡± He had undoubtedly bought up all of the grade 5 Genesis Beast essence blood in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nine Dragons Canon had surely been limited, but the earlier move had shaken even Lu Feng¡¯s heart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm as he let loose a long, drawn out breath. The golden light in his eyes gradually receded as the Genesis Qi around him shrank back into his body. He slowly said, ¡°It seems that you can¡¯t take first place in the peak selection ceremony.¡± He had no choice but to admit that Lu Feng was indeed very powerful, and the battle could be considered a bitter struggle for Zhou Yuan. Unfortunately for Lu Feng, Zhou Yuan¡¯s preparations had been more thorough this time. Lu Feng¡¯s eyes were dyed red, unable to accept this outcome. Urgh! A mouthful of fresh blood was abruptly vomited from his mouth as he body slowly fell face flat towards the ground, causing him to fall unconscious due to his heavy injuries. Dong! The moment Lu Feng touched the ground, the entire world around them seemed to fall silent. The mouths of countless disciples slowly fell open as shock and amazement gathered in their eyes. *Uproar*! In the next moment, a torrential wave of noise that filled the sky exploded, so deafening that it could probably turn over a mountain. No one had imagined that Lu Feng would lose the contest. ¡°Little Yuan bro is too damn amazing!¡± Shen Wanjin and the rest were dumbstruck as they gazed upon the only standing figure on the golden stone platform. Although they had hoped all along that Zhou Yuan would win, they did not truly understand his abilities, making them feel rather awkward and uncertain even when supporting him. After all, Lu Feng¡¯s reputation was just far too overwhelming. Hence, when Lu Feng finally fell, it had been a pretty huge blow to them. Xiao Tianxuan had a complicated look on his face, fear in his gaze as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. At this very moment, all he felt was admiration for his father¡¯s judgement. Given the talent Zhou Yuan had displayed, there was no doubt that he would become a core member of the Cangxuan Sect, and have an extremely bright future. When that time came, his name would likely be known even in the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Such a person was someone you would absolutely not want to hold a grudge with. Gu Hongyi raised her clean, bright and pretty face, an exceptional splendour in her eyes as she gazed at Zhou Yuan''s figure. This result had likewise also shaken her. Although she was not fond of Lu Feng, she had no choice but to admit that he was indeed a capable individual. At the very least, the current her would not be able to take the upper hand against him. However, Zhou Yuan had defeated him. She clearly understood that Zhou Yuan was from some remote continent, and naturally could not match the cultivation resources of people like them from the prestigious clans of the Shengzhou Continent. And yet, the latter had still managed to grasp victory in the end. Just how amazing was he? Gu Hongyi''s pursed her red lips, recalling the first time she saw him. Back then, he had been mocked by many because he had used the back door to become a first class disciple. Everyone had thought only disdain for him then. However, who could have foreseen that the one they looked down on would stand at the pinnacle of the peak selection ceremony three months later, becoming an existence they now had to raise their heads to look at. ¡°Looks like you saved me.¡± Yang Xiu suddenly let out a bitter chuckle. There was wariness in his eyes as he gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure and sighed. He knew that if he was the one fighting the latter, his defeat would have been even swifter and more miserable. As such, Gu Hongyi¡¯s obstruction had ended up saving his face. While the numerous disciples were practically in frenzy, there was also a little disturbance in the Genesis Qi clouds above. Sect master Qing Yang looked at the youthful figure and nodded his head with a smile. ¡°Not bad. As expected of the one who obtained teacher¡¯s Saint blood baptism.¡± A soul stirring smile appeared on peak master Liu Lianyi¡¯s gorgeous face. Her eyes turned as she looked towards Ling Jun and grinned, ¡°It seems that your Sword Cometh Peak miscalculated.¡± The smile on Ling Jun¡¯s fair as jade face receded slightly. One could tell that this outcome had exceeded his expectations. However, he was after all a hegemon and someone whose thoughts were pretty much impossible to read. Therefore, he responded in a nonchalant voice, ¡°This young one is extraordinary, Lu Feng¡¯s loss is not without reason.¡± He deeply looked at Zhou Yuan, before turning to the rubble where Lu Feng had collapse, taking a mere glance before withdrawing his gaze, evidently extremely disappointed in the latter. Beside him, Lu Xuanyin¡¯s pretty face was deathly pale. She gazed at the golden stone platform in a daze, before suddenly feeling a wave of humiliation drown her as she lost control of herself and said, ¡°How can Lu Feng have lost to him? Zhou Yuan must have cheated!¡± The moment these words left her mouth, she sensed Ling Jun¡¯s stern and powerful gaze sweep towards her, causing her to instantly clamped her mouth in fear. ¡°This is no place for you to speak. You will seek punishment after returning to the Sworth Cometh Peak.¡± Ling Jun¡¯s tone was one ofindifference. Lu Xuanyin trembled, not faring to object as she hurriedly lowered her head and acknowledged. Sect master Qing Ying¡¯s deep as the night gaze looked downwards. All of the 9999 placings had already been decided, the peak selection ceremony clearly already near its end. However, he was a little surprised that six of the top ten spots came from non Shengzhou continents, an event that rarely occurred. After all, the disciples from the Shengzhou Continent had many advantages over those from other continents. As for first place, it would go to a Shengzhou disciple eight out of ten times. Zhou Yuan¡¯s strong showing this time was truly akin to a stunning dark horse. Sect master Qing Yang waved his sleeve, causing specks of light to fall from the sky, like dew as it landed on everyone on the stone platforms. The specks of light submerged into the many disciples bodies, and they were pleasantly surprised to discover their Genesis Qi instantly recover. In addition, their numerous injuries were now fully healed. ¡°We thank sect master!¡± The numerous disciples cupped their fists together. Sect master Qing Yang chuckle softly, before his grand voice rang out, ¡°Starting today, all of you will be part of the inner mountains.¡± Joy was revealed on the faces of the disciples on the 9999 stone platforms upon hearing this, as if a burden had been lifted from their shoulders. Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s gaze turned towards the top ten figures as he continued, ¡°The top ten may choose their peaks, and will also be bestowed the status of a gold sash disciple, allowing them to enjoy the cultivation resources of a gold sash disciple.¡± Before the many disciples gazes could shoot over, his gaze had already paused on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as a smile emerged on his face, his voice also growing much warmer and kinder. ¡°Zhou Yuan, as the champion of the ceremony, you may also select your peak.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask you now, which of Cangxuan¡¯s seven peaks do you wish to join?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 277 Choosing A Peak By the time sect master Qing Yang¡¯s words faded, every gaze in the area had undoubtedly converged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body once again. As the champion of the ceremony, Zhou Yuan would receive special treatment no matter which peak he chose. Sect master Qing Yang gazed at Zhou Yuan, those deep as the night eyes seemingly smiling as he said, ¡°My Cangxuan Peak is the number one peak in the Cangxuan Sect. If you are willing, you may join.¡± ¡°Senior brother sect master, that¡¯s too much!¡± Peak master Liu Lianyan immediately rolled her eyes at sect master Qing Yang. ¡°The Cangxuan Peak is already the number one peak, why compete with the rest of us?¡± She was clearly very satisfied with Zhou Yuan. He had a scholarly look and was more importantly quite the handsome young man. In addition, his talent was pretty astonishing. If he could be recruited into the Snow Lotus Peak, there would surely be another outstanding disciple of the Snow Lotus Peak in the future. When that happened, the Snow Lotus Peak may even get another person on the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s ten great Chosens. That lass Li Qingchan would also no longer need to represent the Snow Lotus Peak alone. However, peak master Liu Lianyi had barely finished when the Hongya Peak master Gu Tianhong shook his head and said in a voice akin to thunder, ¡°This kid is suited to external tempering. He should enter my Hongya Peak.¡± He looked towards Zhou Yuan as he continued, ¡°Young one, if you enter my Hongya Peak, I promise to promote you to a purple sash disciples in three years.¡± His words immediately drew countless envious gazes towards Zhou Yuan. Promotion to a purple sash disciple in three years. This was already rather quick.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat dazed, clearly not expecting several hegemons to fight over him. These hegemons had been so mysterious and dignified earlier, why had they suddenly become akin to peddlers that were enthusiastically trying to sell their wares... ¡°Barbarian Gu!¡± Berated Liu Lianyin as her phoenix eyes glared at Gu Tianhong. The words had barely left her mouth when the white brow elder from the Spirit Rune Peak stroked his hanging eyebrows and slowly said, ¡°I can see that your Spirit is at a decent level. If you practice the art of Genesis Runes, you will definitely achieve extraordinary things. It just so happens that my Spirit Rune Peak is number one in the area of Genesis Runes in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Peak master Lianyi laughed in anger. These bastards, she had clearly been the one most concerned about Zhou Yuan earlier, but now that he became champion, the rest came to snatch him away one after another. She cast her gaze at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you enter my Snow Lotus Peak, I will gift you a Genesis Mountain. These words instantly caused the eyes of many disciples to turn crazed with desire. Even Zhou Yuan could not help but lick his lips. A Genesis Mountain¡­ one must know that there was only one in the whole of the outer mountains, which was used by several tens of thousands of disciples. Peak master Liu Lianyi was actually going to bestow an entire Genesis Mountain to a single person, him. Although it would most definitely not be as grand as the one in the outer mountains, the effectiveness of having it for one¡¯s sole usage would naturally be out of this world. It was said that even in the inner mountains, only the most outstanding disciples would get to enjoy such treatment. The fact that Zhou Yuan would be given such a reward when he entered the inner mountains just showed how high of an opinion peak master Liu Lianyi had of him. While the numerous disciples were practically drowning in envy, the Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun chuckled softly, an unknown look in his eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you enter my Sword Cometh Peak, you will receive the same treatment as the Snow Lotus Peak.¡± Lu Xuanyin could not help but tightly clench her jaw when she heard this, but did not dare to interject. The only thing she could do was send hateful and angry glared at Zhou Yuan. All of this should have originally belonged to Lu Feng. But now, it had been taken away by a filthy peasant. Zhou Yuan was slightly stunned as he glanced at peak master Ling Jun. He was naturally aware of Lu Feng¡¯s close ties to the Sword Cometh Peak, and his defeat of the latter to obtain first place could from a certain point of view be akin to humiliating peak master Ling Jun. Hence why he was quite surprised by the former¡¯s words. However, the current situation had become quite a headache. At this moment, a cold and stern voice suddenly rang out, ¡°Sect master and my fellow peak masters, Though it is gratifying that all of you love talent, do not break the rules. The resources of the sect are to be exchanged via contribution. Carelessly gifting resources away is an infringement.¡± His voice seemed to rumble like thunder as it boomed across the area. Zhou Yuan looked over. The one who had spoken was the one who had stayed silent since the beginning, peak master Lei Jun of the Thunder Prison Peak. This peak master was the most senior person in the Cangxuan Sect. Hence, even sect master Qing Yang faintly nodded at his words and said, ¡°Peak master Lei Jun is right. Everything shall be done in accordance to the rules.¡± Peak master Liu Lianyi and the rest said no more after hearing this. Sect mater Qing Yang looked towards Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, as the champion of the ceremony, you have the right to select your peak. Go ahead.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression trembled slightly as he acknowledged, before falling silent for a moment. His gaze turned to a stone platform in the distance and met with Yaoyao¡¯s. Every gaze in the area was gathered on his body. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath and looked towards sect master Qing Yang and the rest as he said in a deep voice, ¡°This disciple wants to enter the Saint Genesis Peak.¡± After all, he had been directed to the Cangxuan Sect by patriarch Cang Xuan to obtain the second Saint Rune hidden in the Saint Genesis Peak. Zhou Yuan¡¯s words immediately made everyone¡¯s eyes widen. Even sect master Qing Yang, peak master Liu Lianyi and the rest were taken aback, shocked as they looked towards Zhou Yuan. This was evidently out of their expectations. Even the quiet Thunder Prison Peak master Lei Jun raised his head and cast his cold and stern gaze over. Sect master Qing Yang was silent for a while, before he slowly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you should know that Saint Genesis Peak was where our teacher secluded himself. However, following teacher¡¯s death, most of the areas in Saint Genesis Peak were sealed. It currently has no peak master, and is managed by several elders. Over the years, very few disciples would choose Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°In fact, not a single one of our Cangxuan Sect¡¯s ten great Chosens comes from Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°So why do you wish to choose it?¡± Under the gazes of the hegemons, Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and answered, ¡°I was able to come to the Cangxuan Sect because I obtained the patriarch¡¯s Saint blood baptism in the Saint Remains Domain. I owe the patriarch a debt of gratitude, and although I dare not say I will make it flourish, I hope to enter Saint Genesis Peak such that I may do my best to stop its decline. This is the only thing I can do to repay the patriarch.¡± His gaze was slightly lowered. The secret of the Saint Runes was related to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, a true god-tier artifact whose implications were far too great. Hence, patriarch Cang Xuan had repeatedly warned him that he could not reveal this secret. Therefore, Zhou Yuan was naturally not going to divulge the information that the second Saint Rune was hidden in the Saint Genesis Peak. Most importantly, patriarch Cang Xuan suspected that his death may be related to the inner department of the Cangxuan Sect. As such, it was even more crucial that Zhou Yuan did not reveal anything. If the patriarch¡¯s suspicious turned out to be true, Zhou Yuan would not be able to ensure his safety. Thus, he needed an extremely good excuse to enter Saint Genesis Peak. Zhou Yuan¡¯s words immediately caused the gazes of sect master Qing Yang, peak master Liu Lianyi and the rest to ease slightly. Patriarch Cang Xuan was their deeply respected teacher after all. Although they felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s words of repaying his debt of gratitude were rather immature, it exactly why he still had the naive character of a youth. A regretful look appeared in peak master Liu Lianyi¡¯s eyes, her gaze turning even gentler as she looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Since you have this wish, go ahead and do what your heart wants. If there is anything you do not understand in the future, you may seek instruction from my Snow Lotus Peak.¡± Zhou Yuan hastily thanked her in a respectful manner. He could feel that peak master Lianyi was filled with kind intentions. Sect master Qing Yang also nodded. ¡°Since that is your choice, I can only fulfil it. From now onwards, you will be part of Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief inside his heart as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He had finally succeeded. After he entered, he would find a chance to search for the second Saint Rune. Previous Chapte Chapter 278 Reward Zhou Yuan¡¯s ultimate choice of the Saint Genesis Peak was an outcome that undoubtedly surpassed everyone¡¯s expectations. After all, although Saint Genesis Peak was of amazing origins, and was said to be the place where the founder secluded himself for cultivation, at the end of the day, patriarch Cang Xuan was already dead. The main peak of the Saint Remains Peak had been sealed when patriarch Cang Xuan died. As a result, no new peak master had been appointed till now, leaving only three elders to manage it. These along with various other reasons led to the decline of Saint Genesis Peak, causing less and less disciples to choose it. Currently, not a single one of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s ten great Chosens were from Saint Genesis Peak. From this, one could see the pitiful state of Genesis Saint Peak. Under such circumstances, Zhou Yuan choice clearly baffled many people. While confused, they were also secretly glad. Given the capabilities he had displayed, he would definitely begin to spread his wings and soar if he entered any of the other six peaks, and in several years very likely become known as the figurehead of this batch of disciples. Since Zhou Yuan had now given up on the six peaks and headed for the Saint Genesis Peak instead, it would undoubtedly delay his progress, giving other disciples the chance to catch up and even surpass him. Beside peak master Ling Jun, Lu Xuanyin was also stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s choice. Soon after, wild joy flitted across her eyes. ¡°Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, I never imagined that you would actually choose the Saint Genesis Peak. It seems that even the heavens do not favor you!¡± Lu Xuanyin tightly clenched her hands, joy nearly spilling from her eyes. There used to be a senior member of their Lu clan who occupied one of an important elder position in the Sword Cometh Peak. Some time ago, this elder just so happened to be dispatched to the Saint Genesis Peak by peak master Ling Jun. Therefore, one of the three elders of the Saint Genesis Peak was that senior member of their Lu clan. Wasn¡¯t Zhou Yuan¡¯s selection of the Saint Genesis Peak akin to throwing himself into their nets? ¡°Zhou Yuan, you snatched away Lu Feng¡¯s first place, a grudge that we will naturally properly settle in the future!¡± ¡°So what if you¡¯re the champion of the ceremony, you will ultimately regret offending our Lu clan.¡± Lu Xuanyin icily chuckled inside, finally feeling as if all the pent up frustration from earlier had been released. On the Genesis Qi clodus, sect master Qing Yang looked towards Zhou Yuan again and said, ¡°As the champion, you have other rewards.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, a glowing bundle descended from the sky, transforming into an old looking book. It was as if a sun was rising on the old book, giving off an extremely scorching aura that slightly distorted the surrounding space. ¡°This is known as the Heavenly Sun God Record, a low grade Heaven Genesis technique.¡± These words immediately drew countless gasps, envious gaze after gaze practically glowing as they gazed at the floating old book in front of Zhou Yuan. It was a real Heaven Genesis technique! One must know that even in the Shengzhou Continent, a low grade Heaven Genesis technique was an ultimate treasure to the many factions, and would oftentimes be the cause of countless bitter struggles. Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth was also a little dry, his eyes unable to pull themselves away from the old book before him. This was a true-blue Heaven Genesis technique. One must know that he had never caught a glimpse of such a technique even in the Saint Remains Domain. Although he had learnt several little Heaven Genesis techniques, even the Nine Dragons Canon was far from being able to match this Heavenly Sun God Record. It was said that one could exchange Genesis jade for a Heaven Genesis technique in the inner mountains Hidden Scriptures House. However, the amount needed was far too enormous, likely reaching the tens of thousands. It would take many disciples working hard for an extremely long time in order to earn enough for one. ¡°Thank you sect master.¡± Zhou Yuan bowed, before very carefully receiving the old book and keeping it into his Universe bag with a gleeful look on his face. Sect master Qing Yang chuckled. ¡®There is still one more prize for this batch¡¯s champion, the Genesis Marrow Baptism. With regards to this matter, a slot will be bestowed to you after entering Saint Genesis Mountain.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, part curiosity, part anticipation in his heart. It was said that only the purple sash disciples were able to enjoy the Genesis Marrow Baptism, which was extremely beneficial to one¡¯s cultivation. After settling things on Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, sect master Qing Yang finally turned towards the other top ten disciples and said, ¡°All of the other top ten also have the right to choose their own peaks.¡± It was exactly as Zhou Yuan had declared previously, including himself, six of the top ten spots had been occupied by non Shengzhou disciples. Song Wanxi, Zhao Kun and Qiao Xiu had managed to defeat their opponents. All of the top ten disciples were clearly already prepared to select their peaks, and swiftly vocalised their decisions one after another. Gu Hongyi chose the Cangxuan Peak, Song Wanxi the Snow Lotus Peak, while Qiao Xiu and Zhao Kun both picked the Hongya Peak. As for the rest, they were basically split such that each of the six peaks had at least one person joining. When it came to Yaoyao¡¯s turn however, before she could speak, the white brow elder from the Spirit Rune Peak cut in, ¡°Little girl, your Genesis Rune talent is the best amongst everyone I¡¯ve seen over the years. If you join my Spirit Rune Peak, in the future... I may perhaps pass down my position as peak master to you.¡± His words not only stupefied every disciple, but even sect master Qing Yang and the rest looked towards him in shock. The white brow elder ignored their gazes, his glowing eyes gazing at Yaoyao. The emotions currently present within them had not appeared even when he was facing Zhou Yuan earlier. The truth was that the white brow elder had been focusing on Yaoyao ever since she ascended a platform. He had already found out from Zong Ming about her Genesis Rune talent, and had thus paid special attention to her in secret. He discovered the way she set-up her Genesis Runes had the makings of a grandmaster, allowing him to understand how terrifyingly amazing her talent was. For someone like Yaoyao, once her Spirit cultivation caught up in the future, she would have unlimited prospects in the path of Genesis Runes, and perhaps even surpass himself. The Thunder Prison Peak master Lei Jun slowly said, ¡°Peak master white brow¡­ your actions are a little inappropriate.¡± However, the white brow elder did not back down after peak master Lei Jun¡¯s words this time. The former shook his head instead as he firmly said, ¡°Peak master Lei Jun, as the peak master of Spirit Rune Peak, I have the right to decide my successor.¡± Peak master Lei Jun fell silent. He too never expected the white brow elder to place such importance in this young lady. Thus, he spoke no further, because it was as the white brow elder had said, he did have the right. Sect master Qing Yang and the rest exchanged a look, but did not say anything. They could tell that the girl called Zhou Xiaoyao possessed amazing Genesis Rune talent. For some unknown reason, however, there were barely any Genesis Qi undulations in her body. Hence, it would be best for her to enter Spirit Rune Peak. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s eyes turned red with envy when she saw this. The value the white brow elder saw in Yaoyao far surpassed Zhou Yuan. In fact, the promise the white hair elder made was practically unheard of. If Yaoyao really ended up choosing Spirit Rune Peak, won¡¯t that mean she could become its peak master in the future? How high of a status would that be? At this thought, the blaze of envy in Lu Xuanyin¡¯s heart was already nearly about to burn her alive from the inside. However, contrary to everyone¡¯s expectations, Yaoyao¡¯s slightly glowing drop dead gorgeous face remained calm from start to end, even in the face of the impossible to reject promise from the white brow elder. In the end, she shook her head and pointed towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°I do not want to be separated from him, so I will also be joining the Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Zhou Yuan immediately saw countless fire-spitting gazes shoot towards him, as if wanting to burn him alive. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 279 End of the Ceremony Chapter 277 End of the Ceremony Innumerable fire-spitting gazes converged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, anger boiling within them. After all, anyone would feel a stab of pain in their heart when they heard a girl as beautiful as Yaoyao say such words for a guy, why wasn¡¯t it them instead... Amongst all the gazes, the most piercing one naturally belonged to the white brow elder. His burning gaze was fixed on Zhou Yuan, the original miserable look on his face had been replaced by a faintly fuming one. Over the years, this was the first time he had seen someone with such outstanding Genesis Rune talent. Even when compared to Zhou Yuan, there was undoubtedly a vast difference. Such talent had made ripples appear in the white brow elder¡¯s calm as an ancient well like heart. In his eyes, Yaoyao was akin to a perfect, but unpolished gem. Only through proper training would she reach the pinnacle of Genesis Runes in the future, and likely even surpass himself. Therefore, when he heard that Yaoyao had actually rejected him because she did not want to be separated from Zhou Yuan, it was very difficult to swallow. As such, even though he had a very favorable opinion of Zhou Yuan just moments ago, the latter had now become somewhat of an eyesore! In response to the countless fire-spitting gazes, Zhou Yuan felt rather awkward, not knowing what to say. He naturally knew that this was an excuse Yaoyao had come up with, but why could she not give an excuse that was easier for others to accept? This current one was basically dragging him through the mud. The white brow elder viciously glared at Zhou Yuan several times, before turning back to Yaoyao as he said in a kind and friendly manner, ¡°Little girl, my Spirit Rune Peak has countless old Genesis Rune texts, and an abundance of other similar resources. Even in the entire Cangxuan Sect, there¡¯s no other place that has a collection as grand as ours.¡± ¡°If you join us, all of them can be browsed by you at any time.¡± The white brow elder had found out about Yaoyao¡¯s fondness for Genesis Rune books from elder Zong Ming, especially those from long long ago. Hence, he threw out this carrot, hoping it would change her mind. His words had indeed caused Yaoyao¡¯s heart to shake a little. However, after some thought, she still regretfully shook her head. She was a little worried about leaving Zhou Yuan in Saint Genesis Peak alone. After all, his goal was the second Saint Rune hidden in Saint Genesis Peak. If some accident were to occur while she was not around, it would be extremely dangerous for him. The white brow elder tried to persuade with sincere advice, ¡°Little girl, if you go to Saint Genesis Peak, there will be no one to teach you Genesis Runes. It will only be a waste of your talent.¡± Yaoyao chuckled softly. She had followed at Cang Yuan¡¯s side for so many years, and had already received the true essence of his teachings. She was currently only limited by her Spirit cultivation. If her Spirit was powerful enough, she was confident that only a few individuals in the Cangxuan Sect would be able to surpass her in Genesis Runes. The white brow elder¡¯s face regained its miserable look after the repeated rejections. This was likely the first time he encountered someone who showed nearly no interest in their Spirit Rune Peak. Sect master Qing Yang and the rest exchanged a look, every individual helpless. Zhou Xiaoyao was even more a character than Zhou Yuan. Sect master Qing Yang could not help but open his mouth to speak when he saw the white brow elder¡¯s appearance, ¡°How about this, you can stay in Saint Genesis Peak, and when you have time, you may go to Spirit Rune Peak to let peak master white brow give you guidance in your Genesis Rune cultivation. In addition, you may freely browse the many Genesis Rune texts in Spirit Rune Peak. How does this sound?¡± The white brow elder hesitated for a moment, before he nodded and said, ¡°Sect master¡¯s suggestion will work too.¡± He felt that it would be better to first get this little girl on the hook first. When she gradually became a grandmaster of Genesis Runes in the future, she would naturally remember the kindness he had shown. By that time, it would not be too late to discuss other matters. Yaoyao was somewhat surprised, likely not expecting that they would value her so greatly. She fell into thought for some time, feeling that the other party was truly sincere. If she kept rejecting again and again, it would indeed be a little disrespectful. After all, she and Zhou Yuan were currently both disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. From the looks of it, their stay here would not be short. Therefore, she ultimately gave a slight nod and said, ¡°If I have any free time in the future, I will seek guidance at the Spirit Rune Peak.¡± Upon seeing that she had finally agreed, the white brow elder breathed a sigh of relief as if a load had been lifted from his shoulders. The pained look on his face had receded substantially, now brightened by a smile instead. Only now did the numerous disciples understand after seeing this scene. Zhou Xiaoyao was the one who had concealed her talents the best amongst this batch of outer mountain disciples. All of them had fought tooth and nail for the right to enter the seven peaks. In comparison, she was so popular that she had even been able to reject even peak master white brow¡¯s personal invitation. Compared to her, even the champion of the ceremony, Zhou Yuan, felt rather lacking. Now that the top ten disciples had chosen their peaks, sect master Qing Yang turned his head and gave a slight nod to the other five hegemons. Rumble! In the next instant, the six hegemons acted at the same time. Vast Genesis Qi soared into the sky, transforming into a sea of different colored lights. When one took a closer look, one would realise that there were exactly six colors, each representing one of the six peaks. These specks of light began to fall, ultimately landing between the brows of the over 9000 disciples. As such, all of the disciples were now allocated. However, none of these disciples had the right to choose, and were instead forcibly divided by sect master Qing Yang and the rest. However, none of these disciples were unhappy with such treatment. After all, there were still several tens of thousands of disciples that did not even obtain the qualifications to enter the inner mountains. In a short time of about half an incense stick, every disciple had been allocated, causing the entire mountain to be filled with excited voices. The outer mountain disciples that had failed to obtain a spot were clearly saddened. They knew that they would have to continue staying in the outer mountains to train. They could still enter the inner mountains if they managed to reach the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage within a certain time period. However, they knew that by the time that happened, they would have already lost the initiative. Even if they entered the inner mountains, they would have fallen behind the nearly ten thousand disciples that had succeeded today. Moreover, priority would be given to the earlier disciples for numerous cultivation resources. This was the so-called, once one fell a step behind, one would always be a step behind. To catch up and even surpass them, a tremendous amount of effort and luck would be required. As such, there were those who were overjoyed, and those who cried, all kinds of emotions present in the air. Sect master Qing Ying looked down as his powerful voice rang in every disciple¡¯s ears. ¡°In three days, someone will come to receive all of you.¡± ¡°Starting today, all of you 9999 disciples will become inner mountain disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. I hope that you will continue to strive in your cultivation after entering the inner mountains and not slack off.¡± ¡°Disciples understand.¡± The numerous disciples respectfully acknowledged. Sect master Qing Yang nodded. In the sky, the vast Genesis Qi clouds rippled before gradually disappearing along with the six hegemons. After the departure of the hegemons, everyone burst out into deafening cheers. The peak selection ceremony that decided their futures had finally reached its end. Zhou Yuan raised his head amongst the cheers that filled the sky, gazing into the distance as a dazzling radiance emerged from the depths of his eyes. Saint Genesis Peak... He was really quite looking forward to it. He too knew that only by becoming an inner mountain disciple would he truly be considered to have stepped into the grand doors of the Cangxuan Sect. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 280 Chosens Peak Chapter 278 Chosens Peak Three days swiftly passed under the expectant gazes of the disciples. On the giant plaza, several thousand disciples were gathered like a giant black mass that was boiling with noise. The face of every disciple present was filled with nervousness and excitement. Today was the day they stepped into the inner mountains. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao stood within the crowd, Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi, Shen Wanjin and numerous other disciples crowding around them. The gaze of any disciple that looked over was tinged with deep respect. The peak selection ceremony three days ago had already taught them who had best concealed their abilities in this batch of outer mountain disciples... Zhou Yuan sighed faintly when he saw these gazes. Three months ago, they had been in this very same place. However, no one paid them any attention back then, and were even openly laughing at him due to his first class disciple status. No one would have imagined that the young man they laughed at back then would become so dazzling in the peak selection ceremony three months later such that no one dared to even look directly at him. Zhao Kun patted his chest and boldly declared, ¡°Young brother Yuan, if there¡¯s anything you require in the inner mountains in the future, just call us and we will surely come to help.¡± The others sincerely nodded in agreement, gratitude in their gazes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. The fact that they were able to enter the top ten was undoubtedly due to his help. Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response. Qiao Xiu regretfully said, ¡°But why did young brother Yuan choose the Saint Genesis Peak? Many disciples would avoid it if they could.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not explain. He knew that many people felt his choice to be very illogical, but he could not possibly tell them he was doing for a Saint Rune, right? While they were conversing, seven streaks of light suddenly appeared from the horizon, transforming into seven Genesis Qi clouds that ultimately arrived above the plaza. When the Genesis Qi clouds came to a stop, the numerous disciples discovered seven figure standing atop them. Powerful Genesis Qi pressure spread from their bodies, immediately causing the bustling plaza to fall silent. The seven figures swept their gazes across the plaza as a powerful voice sounded, ¡°We are the envoys from the seven peaks that have been sent to receive you. If you are ready, follow us into the inner mountains.¡± *Uproar*. Excitement buzzed in the numerous disciples on the plaza again, the disciples no longer able to restrain their voices. The seven envoys merely chuckled upon seeing this, taking no action to silence them. They too had after all experienced the same thing many years ago, and knew how excited and overwhelmed these young men and women were. The seven waved their sleeves as surging Genesis Qi whizzed out. Genesis Qi rose from the plaza, transforming into clouds that carried all the disciples into the sky. Clouds swept across the horizon while the numerous disciples excitedly watched the mountains rapidly pass by under their feet. The journey lasted for an entire incense stick of time, before the many disciples felt their speed began to slow. ¡°Are we here?¡± The disciples hurriedly looked to their front. However, they were soon stunned, because the scene before them was still the same endless mountain ranges, no sign the so-called inner mountains. Yaoyao carried Tuntun as her clear eyes squinted slightly for a moment. She observed the space before them as she mumbled to herself, ¡°What an amazing Genesis Rune boundary, I can¡¯t believe a subspace can be created¡­¡± The moment her words faded, Zhou Yuan saw Genesis Qi rise from the sleeves of the seven envoys. Seven streams of Genesis Qi interweaved, seemingly forming a seal of sorts that slowly fused into the space to their front. Next, the numerous disciples watched in shock as the space before them began to ripple, before slowly tearing open. Whoosh! In that instant, it was as if boundless Genesis Qi spouted out from within as the world before their eyes began to change... The originally empty land was now filled with countless flying creatures, the calls of birds ringing across the area. Majestic mountain after mountain rose from the ground, thrusting straight into the clouds. Magnificent waterfalls poured down these giant peaks like silver rivers, the thundering of crashing water filling the ears. There were even giant Genesis Qi clouds floating in the sky. On the clouds stood numerous halls and other buildings, while uncountable glowing figures whizzed across the sky on their Genesis Qi. It was practically a picture of a grand celestial palace. The numerous disciples were dumbstruck as they stared at the heavenly scene before their eyes. The seven envoys chuckled as they gazed at the shocked disciples. With a wave of their sleeves, the Genesis Qi clouds carrying them flew into the crack. Once they were in, everyone felt rich Genesis Qi flood towards them, causing calmness to wash over their hearts, while the Genesis Qi in their bodies growing more lively. The concentration and abundance of Genesis Qi here was evidently greater than the outer mountains. ¡°Eh, what is that?¡± A disturbance suddenly rose, and Zhou Yuan followed the voices and lifted his head to look into the distance. What he saw was a towering peak standing on a thick layer of Genesis Qi clouds in the sky. On the mountain a wall that was as smooth as a mirror and flickered dazzlingly. At the top of the wall were two giant golden words that seemed to give off a mighty aura, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Chosens Peak!¡± There was feverish look in the eyes of some disciples as they cried out in surprise, ¡°Is this the Chosens Peak?!¡± Even more individuals curiously asked, ¡°What is the Chosens Peak?¡± ¡°In our Cangxuan Sect, every generation of disciples will compete to determine the ten strongest individuals, and these ten are known as the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s ten great Chosens, the ones that stand at the apex of all the disciples.¡± ¡°To encourage the other disciples, the Cangxuan Sect established the Chosens Peak, and inscribed the names of the ten Choens upon it such that they may enjoy the respect and admiration of numerous disciples.¡± ¡°It can be said that becoming one of the ten great Chosens and leaving one¡¯s name on the Chosens Peak is the ultimate dream that every Cangxuan disciple chases.¡± The many disciples gasped when they heard this, before their gazes turned towards the Chosens Peak with respect. Zhou Yuan also looked towards the smooth wall in wonder. His gaze moved from bottom to top. ¡°Zhao Zhu, ranked tenth, Sword Cometh Peak.¡± ¡°Ye Ge, ranked ninth, Spirit Rune Peak.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze moved past them one by one. He could feel the heaviness seemingly contained within each name, making no one dare to underestimate them. ¡°Shang Chunqiu, ranked fourth, Hongya Peak.¡± ¡°Li Qingchan, ranked third, Snow Lotus Peak.¡± ¡°Kong Sheng, ranked second, Sword Cometh Peak.¡± ¡°Chu Qing, ranked first, Cangxuan Peak.¡± The numerous disciples were absolutely silent, respect in their burning gazes as they stared at the ten names that had been carved into the wall. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes also flickered. He knew that these ten individuals were the most outstanding amongst this generation. However, he found that not a single person was from Saint Genesis Peak... He awkwardly scratched his head and laughed helplessly. It seems that Saint Genesis Peak was indeed a little pitiful... Previous Chapte Chapter 281 Caretaker of the Mountain The Chosens Peak stood within the clouds, shining brilliantly as it drew respectful gazes from numerous disciples. They knew that the ten disciples who had left their names on the Chosens Peak were definitely existences that stood at the pinnacle of this generation. In other words, they were akin to kings amongst the innumerable Cangxuan disciples that looked down at everyone from the peak. Envy was present in the eyes of countless disciples, hoping that they would one day get to experience the same thing. What kind of scenery would greet their eyes if they could one day leave their names on the Chosens Peak? However, their rationality allowed them to understand that reaching it would require a tremendous amount of effort and luck. Currently, besides the top ten of the ceremony, every other disciple was the ordinary black sash disciples in the outer mountains. In front of them, stood the gold and purple sash disciples. As for the ten great Chosens, only the most talented and outstanding purple sash disciples would be able to compete for such a title. In fact, some of the slightly weaker purple sash disciples may not even have the courage. From this, one could see how great of a distance there was between them and the ten great Chosens, a gap akin to the mud on the ground and the clouds in the sky. Recently promoted inner mountain disciples like them basically did not even have the qualifications to come into contact with the ten great Chosens, because they were on completely different levels... While the numerous disciples sighed, the seven envoys suddenly took action. The Genesis Qi cloud immediately split into seven separate pieces... ¡°We will not bring you guys to the peaks you belong to, this is where you shall part ways for the time being.¡± Upon hearing the seven envoys¡¯ words, the disciples hurriedly began to say their goodbyes to their friends and companions. For a time, the atmosphere was exceptionally busy and warm. Zhou Yuan looked around. Qiao Xiu, Zhao Kun, Song Wanxi and the rest had already split up, but there still one familiar figure following him. It was the fatty Shen Wanjin. Compared to the other six peaks, the disciples entering Saint Genesis Peak seemed pitifully few in number, merely amounting to a few hundred individuals. This was already after sect master Qing Yang had given some consideration for Saint Genesis Peak, and forcibly allocated some of the disciples to it. If not, even less disciples would have selected Saint Genesis Peak. As for Shen Wanjin, he was one of the disciples that had been forcibly allocated. However, compared to the bitter faces on the other disciples, Shen Wanjin was beaming happily, as if not the least bit disappointed. Zhou Yuan could not help but smile as he asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you disappointed?¡± Shen Wanjin¡¯s smile turned to one of flattery as he replied, ¡°I have a feeling that if I follow little Yuan bro, even if Saint Genesis Peak collapses, you¡¯ll still thrive well! Thus, I will follow you wherever you go!¡± He then looked towards Yaoyao and said, ¡°Moreover, isn¡¯t there also boss sister Xiaoyao?¡± Zhou Yuan could not hold back his laughter. This fellow was really planning on depending on him till the end.¡± However, he did not say anything with regards to this. He felt Shen Wanjin was a pretty decent person, and they could watch each other¡¯s backs since they were both going to Saint Genesis Peak. ¡°That¡¯s right, little Yuan bro, junior sister Gu Hongyi asked me to pass you this letter.¡± Shen Wanjin suddenly fished out a rolled up parchment. Zhou Yuan was stunned. He received it and opened it, revealing the graceful words written upon it. ¡°Be careful of Lu Hong.¡± ¡°Lu Hong?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned a little. He had found out three days ago that one of the three elders of Saint Genesis Peak was called Lu Hong. But why had Gu Hongyi warned him about the former? Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered, and eventually pieced the puzzle together. ¡°Lu¡­ could he be from the Lu clan of Lu Feng and Lu Xuanyin?¡± He had indeed previously heard Lu Feng mention a senior member of the Lu clan was a high ranking elder of Sword Cometh Peak. But wasn¡¯t this Saint Genesis Peak? He raised his head and looked towards another Genesis Qi cloud in the distance where Gu Hongyi was located. The latter winked at him upon sensing his gaze. Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod, indicating his thanks. At this moment, the seven envoys waved their sleeves, causing the Genesis Qi clouds to move, flying towards several different locations in the inner mountains of the Cangxuan Sect. The envoy from Saint Genesis Peak landed in front of Zhou Yuan and the rest. He appeared to a middle-aged and good-natured person, smiling as he said to everyone, ¡°I am the one of the stewards of Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s ushering office. You may address me as steward Fang Zhen.¡± The numerous disciples hurriedly greeted him. ¡°I¡¯ll be bringing you guys to Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Fang Zhen waved his hand, and the cloud rose, carrying the many disciples as it disappeared into the distance. The Genesis Qi cloud flew past countless ancient palaces in the clouds, the many mountains hiding amongst them. Streaks of light would shoot past one after another, most of them youthful figures. However, every single one possessed powerful Genesis Qi, either black or gold sashes tied around their waists... Compared to the outer mountains, the inner mountains truly revealed the foundations of the Cangxuan Sect. Half an incense stick of time later, Fang Zhen gradually dropped their speed. Zhou Yuan and the rest lifted their heads at this moment, and saw an unbroken mountain range rise into the sky to their front, plunging into the clouds. These mountains were dotted by numerous buildings, a spectacular, majestic sight to behold. Mysterious undulations spread from between the mountains, making one¡¯s heart beat faster. ¡°This is Saint Genesis Peak!¡± Upon hearing Fang Zhen¡¯s words, the many disciples cast their gazes over, soaking in the sight of the mist covered mountains. It was as if real dragons were hidden within the mists that none of them were able to clearly see through. However, they were still able to feel the mysterious pressure that spread from inside. ¡°The main peak of our Saint Genesis Peak was sealed after patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death, but in accordance to the rules, I will still bring all of you to the foot of the main peak to pay homage.¡± Fang Zhen chuckled, before directing the cloud towards the most majestic peak in the mists. It was so tall that they were unable to see its peak as they landed at the bottom. An old hall sat at the foot of the mountain. When Fang Zhen landed, his expression turned solemn. The sight of his appearance made the many disciples not dare to make any noise, maintaining the solemn and quiet atmosphere. In front of the old hall was a stone plaza. The disciples found that it was currently empty, the only presence a hunched back old man wearing simple hemp clothing slowly sweeping the fallen leaves on it. When their gazes swept across him, they discovered that there were no Genesis Qi undulations from the old man who faintly trembled as he went about his work. Hence, they paid no further attention to him. However, when Fang Zhen saw the old man, he solemnly bowed. The old man did not respond, as if he was deaf and mute. Fang Zhen turned towards the disciples and said in a low voice, ¡°This senior used to be the patriarch¡¯s servant, and can be considered the one who has followed the patriarch the longest. However, due to his lack of talent, his Genesis Qi cultivation is only at the elementary level.¡± ¡°On account of his loyalty, the patriarch gathered numerous previous Genesis resources to synthesize a longevity pill for him, bestowing him long life. On this topic, he is not any less senior than the Thunder Prison Peak master Lei Jun.¡± ¡°His character is rather eccentric, and is not fond of wielding power and influence. After the patriarch¡¯s death, he has been staying here at Saint Genesis Peak as its caretaker.¡± Fang Zhen sternly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be slow, call him old Xuan.¡± The disciples did not dare to delay, hurriedly bowing towards the old man. Zhou Yuan also looked towards the old man in amazement. Patriarch Cang Xuan had never told him this information back then. It was likely because that ¡®patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯ was only a fraction of his will. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze leaped past the foot of the mountain, following the mountain path as he looked towards the main peak that was concealed by the mists... The instant he did this, he suddenly felt the ancient Saint Rune hidden in the depths of his pupils seem to tremble slightly for a moment. Although it was faint, he caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart to violently shudder, the emotions in his heart akin to a raging sea. However, his expression remained calm though the hands inside his fists clenched tightly in excitement. This was the first time he had felt such a reaction from the Decoder Saint Rune. Looks like it was exactly as patriarch Cang Xuan had said, the second Saint Rune was indeed on the main peak! However, the main peak was currently sealed, so how was he going to enter? Previous Chapte Chapter 282 The Sealed Main Peak Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze withdrew from the mysterious mist covered main peak, frowning as he helplessly sighed in his heart. He was already certain that the second Saint Rune was here, but the problem now was how he was going to enter... After all, he could not possibly reveal any information about the second Saint Rune. If he did, it would likely bring disaster, because he did not know whether there was any problem with the internal circle of the Cangxuan Sect. In addition, the Saint Runes were related to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Anyone who possessed it would have the chance to become the master of Cangxuan Heaven, an existence that stood above the numerous sects. The temptation to own it was far too great, and Zhou Yuan was currently too weak to safeguard such an object. Zhou Yuan pondered for a bit, before he suddenly looked towards steward Fang Zheng and asked, ¡°Teacher uncle Fang, when will this main peak of our Saint Genesis Peak be unsealed?¡± Fang Zheng was an easy-going person after all, and answered with a smile, ¡°Truthfully speaking, it is not difficult to unseal, one would only require the peak master seal of Saint Gensis Peak to undo the seal.¡± ¡°However, the current problem is that we have no peak master. Besides this¡­ the peak master seal was left in the main peak by the patriarch, while the seal over it was personally set-up by the him. The stronger one is, the more likely one would be attacked by the seal.¡± ¡°Even sect master Qing Yang does not dare to enter so easily.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s head began to swell after hearing this. ¡°Then has our Saint Genesis Peak not considered selecting a peak master?¡± Zhou Yuan asked another question. Since they could not get a hold of the peak master seal for the time being, they should still at least be able to choose a peak master, right? The current Saint Genesis Peak was basically without a leader. Fang Zheng helplessly laughed and said, ¡°According to the rules of our Cangxuan Sect, the peak master seal is the token that signifies the identity of the peak master. Without it, one would not legitimately be recognized. Moreover, the seven peak master seals were personally made by the patriarch, and are also extremely powerful ultimate treasures that possess unlimited power. They can be said to be the ultimate treasure of the Cangxuan Sect.¡± ¡°That is why our Saint Genesis Peak needs the Saint Genesis peak master seal in order to select a peak master.¡± Not only was Zhou Yuan now speechless, even the other disciples looked to each other with bitter smiles. To pick a peak master, the peak master seal was required, but the seal had been sealed in the main peak that no one could access. Wasn¡¯t this basically an impossible loop? ¡°Does sect master and the rest have no way around this?¡± Zhou Yuan appeared as if he was in extremely concerned for their Saint Genesis Peak. Fang Zheng was under the impression that Zhou Yuan was worried as a Saint Genesis Peak disciple, causing him to smile and say, ¡°They have thought of a way. The seal on the main peak seems to respond more strongly the stronger someone is, hence why even the combined might of sect master and the other hegemons may not succeed. After trying out various methods, sect master and the rest discovered that the disciples would have a better chance.¡± ¡°Thus, sect master and the rest discussed and decided to let the chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak take on this important task.¡± At this point, Fang Zheng smiled bitterly as he shook his head. ¡°However, not a single one has succeeded after so many years.¡± ¡°Why?¡± A disciple could not help but ask. An awkward look rose on Fang Zheng¡¯s face. He coughed in embarrassment and said, ¡°There is definitely some disparity between our Saint Genesis Peak is and the other six peaks. The chief disciples of the other six peaks are always part of the ten great Chosens, but the chief disciple of our Cangxuan Peak has never been able to reach such heights for many years.¡± The expression of the numerous disciples immediately turned somewhat ugly. After beating about the bush for so long, it turns out at the chief disciples from their Saint Genesis Peak was just not strong enough to carry out the important task of retrieving the peak master seal from the main peak. A feeling of defeat rose in the hearts of the disciples. Saint Genesis Peak was indeed really pathetic. This was not a good home at all. Upon detecting the gloomy atmosphere, Fang Zheng hastily said, ¡°But you guys need not worry. This problem will soon be resolved.¡± The many disciples shot puzzled gazes over. Fang Zheng explained, ¡°The failure of the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciples over the years has also come to the attention of sect master Qing Yang and the rest. Hence, during another discussion, peak master Ling Jun suggested his Sword Cometh Peak send elder Lu Hong and the disciples under him to our Saint Genesis Peak. There are many talented disciples under elder Lu Hong, his first disciple Yuan Hong an outstanding individual even amongst the rest. Even in Sword Cometh Peak that is full of capable individuals, he is strong enough to be ranked third.¡± ¡°Although Yuan Hong is not part of the ten great Chosens, he is one of the individuals that has the potential to replace them.¡± ¡°So if Yuan Hong is able to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak after the test in a year, he would be given the chance to enter the main peak to attempt retrieving the peak master seal.¡± ¡°Once he succeeds, our Saint Genesis Peak will be able to select a peak master again.¡± The numerous disciples looked at each other, the corners of their mouths twitching as an even greater wave of defeat washed over their hearts. So Saint Genesis Peak had been unable to resolve the matter themselves, and ended up having another peak send their disciples over to take their chief disciple position... This seemed to be a little humiliating. However, they also understood that it was because the Saint Genesis Peak disciples were no good, and failed to fulfil the important task that had been placed on their shoulders. When the disciples thought about it, it did seem that elder Lu Hong was quite capable, and their lives may perhaps be better if they could join his group... While such thoughts swirled in the minds of numerous disciples, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao exchanged a look and frowned slightly. Wasn¡¯t Lu Hong Lu Feng and Lu Xuanyin¡¯s elder? Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered in thought. If the disciples under Lu Hong were allowed to retrieve the peak master seal, wouldn¡¯t Lu Hong make use of this contribution to become the peak master of Saint Genesis Peak? Although he had yet to meet this Lu Hong character, Zhou Yuan felt that it would not bode well for him if Lu Hong became the Saint Genesis Peak master. Most importantly, Zhou Yuan did not know whether the former would discover the existence of the second Saint Rune after becoming peak master. Before confirming whether there was any hidden danger in the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan felt that it was best that no one found out about the second Saint Rune. In the worst case, not only would he fail to obtain the second Saint Rune, others may even realise that he already had one. No one knew if this would be a blessing or a disaster for him if that happened. ¡°How troublesome.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh in his heart. However, there was nothing much he could do for the time being, and could only take things one step at a time. After all, there was still about a year before chief disciple selection came. Fang Zheng clapped his hands at this moment and said, ¡°Since all of you have paid homage to the main peak, we¡¯ll continue on our way. I¡¯ll bring you guys to meet the three elders where you will choose which elder to follow, and formally become disciples of our Saint Genesis Peak.¡± After speaking, he waved his sleeve as a Genesis Qi cloud rose under everyone¡¯s feet, lifting the group into the air again. As the Genesis Qi cloud rose into the sky, the sweeping hunched elder finally paused and slowly raised his aged face to look at the departing disciples, as a tiny sliver of bewilderment flitted across his murky eyes. ¡°Why do I sense a faint hint of something familiar¡­¡± He mumbled to himself in a raspy voice. Previous Chapte Chapter 283 Picking an Elder Saint Genesis Peak. On the slant of a certain mountain was a stone plaza that as currently a boiling cauldron of voices. Under Fang Zheng¡¯s lead, Zhou Yuan and the numerous other new Saint Genesis Peak disciples were now gathered here, their gazes currently directed to theirfront with curiosity and respect On the tall stage in front of them were three mats on raised pedestals on which three elderly figures sat. Boundless Genesis Qi surged around them like the immeasurable sea, giving off an indescribable pressure. These three old men were obviously the three elders of Saint Genesis Peak. ¡°The one in the middle is elder Shen Taiyuan, on the right is elder Lu Song, and on the far left is elder Lu Hong.¡± Fang Zheng secretly introduced them to the new disciples. Elder Shen Taiyuan wore black robes and had a cold, stern face that gave off an aura of strictness. Elder Lu Song on the other hand was dressed in blue robes, widely grinning like a smiling buddha. As for elder Lu Hong, he wore a calm expression that was neither happy nor angry. However, when his uncaring gaze swept past, a flash of sword light would surface, making it such that no one dared to meet his gaze. Behind these three elders were numerous figures which were likely the disciples of Saint Genesis Peak. On their waists hung black or gold sashes, while every individual gave off a powerful presence. However, although they were all Saint Genesis disciples, Zhou Yuan could sense a clear distinction between the three groups. The ones of the left and center were still okay, but there was a substantial gap between them and the group on the far left. Moreover, sparks seemed to fly whenever their gazes met, making the atmosphere somewhat uncomfortable. As for the group on the far left, their presence seemed a little colder and sterner. A sliver of arrogance could be seen in their eyes, contempt occasionally flashing within them when they looked towards the other two groups of disciples. Although the left group was slightly smaller in number, their presence was the strongest amongst the three. At the front of each of the three groups stood several remarkable looking figures. On their waists hung purple sashes, clearly marking them as the highest ranked purple sash disciples. These purple sash disciples were gathered around three figures in particular. Behind elder Shen was a tall, large youth. He appeared calm and steady, while a determined unyieldingness spread from between his brows. Genesis Qi faintly pulsed around him, making him feel rather imposing. This individual was called Zhou Tai, and was the eldest disciple under Shen Taiyuan, while also one of the top contenders for the chief disciple position. Behind elder Lu Song gracefully stood a girl dressed in white. Pretty features adorned her goose egg shaped face that gleamed like jade, her skin white as snow. She also boasted an amazing figure, alarming curves that started from her chest and suddenly sloped inwards at her slender waist. Many disciples in the vicinity would sneak glances at her rather often. However, her expression was cold and proud. When the purple sash that curled around her waist was also thrown into the mix, it made many disciples feel inferior in comparison. Her name was Lu Yan, and was not only elder Lu Song¡¯s eldest disciple, but also his granddaughter. She was currently the strongest disciple under elder Lu Song. The third disciple that stood behind elder Lu Hong was an expressionless young man. His arms were folded across his chest, his fingers appearing rather thin and withered. Sharp light faintly flashed on his fingertips like sword light. His eyes had been shut from start to end, paying no attention to anyone. However, any gaze that looked towards him would contain a sliver of fear and respect. Even the likes of Zhou Tai and Lu Yan were a little wary of the former. This individual was called Yuan Hong, and was the strongest disciple under elder Lu Hong. He was the one who was said to be ranked third even in Sword Cometh Peak, and was extremely powerful. He was also the strongest contender for this batch¡¯s chief disciple. These three individuals were the strongest amongst the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples. At this moment, Fang Zheng took a step forward, cupped his fists together towards the three elders and respectfully reported, ¡°Elders, I have brought the new disciples.¡± The solemn looking elder Shen in the middle nodded, before his stern gaze swept forth as he said in a low voice, ¡°Since you¡¯ve chosen Saint Genesis Peak, all of you will be disciples of Saint Genesis Peak from today onwards.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll not waste any time. Our Saint Genesis Peak currently only has three teaching elders. In accordance to the rules, the disciples may choose who to follow.¡± The place fell silent as the numerous disciples secretly began to size-up the three elders while their gazes flickered in thought, clearly weighing their options. While they sorted their thoughts in silence, a figure suddenly walked out from behind elder Lu Hong. It was a golden sash disciple that gave off a sharp and formidable presence, pride visible in his eyes. His gaze swept across all the disciples, before he faintly smiled and said, ¡°I am Wu Gang, and I believe my fellow junior disciples already know that teacher Lu was originally from Sword Cometh Peak. We have come to Saint Genesis Peak bearing the heavy task of retrieving the peak master seal. It is an important mission that Saint Genesis Peak has yet to fulfil after many years, so it has now fallen on our shoulders.¡± ¡°If any of my juniors wish to take on this important task with us, you should join teacher Lu¡¯s faction.¡± As his words spread, the disciples of elder Shen and elder Lu Song began to stir, anger appearing on the faces of many of them. Wu Gang¡¯s words were too obviously aimed at them. Elder Shen Taiyuan glanced at elder Lu Hong and indifferently said, ¡°Your disciple¡¯s words are truly akin to a sword, no mercy at all.¡± The clean shaven elder Lu Hong laughed as he nonchalantly replied, ¡°Our Sword Cometh Peak cultivates sword Qi after all, and are naturally direct and straightforward, never hiding our blades. I hope that elder Shen will no take offense.¡± Shen Taiyuan coldy snorted inside, but knew that he should not push the topic. After all, it had been the sect master and the other peak masters¡¯ decision to send Lu Hong and his group to Saint Genesis Peak. He too was rather helpless with regards to this, because Saint Genesis Peak had indeed never succeeded after so many years. If the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple position was to land in the hands of Lu Hong¡¯s faction, and they managed to retrieve the peak master seal, the two original factions of Saint Genesis Peak would truly lose all face. Shen Taiyuan looked towards Lu Song, only to see the latter helplessly shake his head. Saint Genesis Peak was after all unable to match the other six peaks. All the better disciples would be taken away by the other six peaks, naturally leading to them growing stronger and stronger, while the Saint Genesis Peak disciples lagged further and further behind. Now, their Saint Genesis Peak was unable to produce even a single one of the ten great Chosens... While they were speaking, Wu Gang¡¯s words had already begun to work their magic. Most of the new disciples here had been forcibly allocated to Saint Genesis Peak, and were thus naturally overjoyed to see elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction that came from Sword Cometh Peak. The Sword Cometh Peak was, after all, one of the most popular choices amongst the outer mountain disciples. As such, the disciples stirred for abit, before nearly half of them began to flood towards Wu Gang. The sight of this caused the expressions of the disciples from the other two factions to turn a little ugly. The cold, arrogant young lady called Lu Yan clenched her teeth, seething as she viciously glared at the disciples that had moved and angrily said, ¡°A bunch of favor currying fellows! We don¡¯t want them anyways!¡± A pleased smile was revealed on Wu Gang¡¯s face at the sight of this, before he turned to the remaining disciples on the plaza. These disciples stood behind Zhou Yuan, evidently waiting for him to make his decision. After all, Zhou Yuan was the champion the peak selection ceremony, and possessed a degree of influence. Seeing that he had yet to choose, the other disciples also decided to observe for the time being. Wu Gang¡¯s gaze swept across Zhou Yuan, an unknown light flashing in his eyes, before he looked towards elder Lu Hong. The latter¡¯s eyes cracked open slightly, and cast an indifferent glance at Zhou Yuan. However, elder Lu Hong did not speak, merely nodding towards Wu Gang. Wu Gang chuckled upon seeing this, before he turned to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°This junior brother must be the champion of this batch¡¯s peak selection ceremony. I¡¯ve long heard of your famous name. Our teacher Lu also rather admires you, and although you only managed to by some fluke take first place from junior brother Lu Feng, given how open-minded teacher Lu is, he will naturally do his best to guide you if you join his faction.¡± His tone was rather provocative, seemingly not caring much about the so-called champion of the peak selection ceremony. Instead, it felt as if it was Zhou Yuan¡¯s fortune to be given the chance to join them. Wu Gang grinned as he stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°What do you think about your senior brother¡¯s words? Do you want to join teacher Lu¡¯s faction?¡± At this moment, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song cast their gazes over. Behind them, the numerous disciples, including Zhou Tai and Lu Yan also looked over. They had evidently also heard that the champion of the ceremony had chosen to go to Saint Genesis Peak. This was a very rare occurrence. Under the numerous watching gazes, Zhou Yuan smiled at Wu Gang and said, ¡°There as many talented geniuses as the clouds cultivating under teacher Lu, and being able to join them is indeed an honor.¡± Upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, Wu Gang immediately laughed as he smirked slightly, clearly feeling that there was nothing special about this batch¡¯s champion. After the former joined them, they would throw him out at any time if junior sister Lu Xuanyin wanted to vent her anger. A trace of disappointed flowed out in the eyes of Zhou Tai and Lu Yan when they saw this. Lu Yan coldly remarked, ¡°The champion of this batch really has no backbone. Humph, the champion of the previous generation was senior brother Chu Qing, who has now become the leader of the ten Chosens.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is a far cry from him.¡± When she talked about senior brother Chu Qing, her eyes would ripple slightly in adoration. ¡°Not bad, your judgement is pretty good.¡± Wu Gang pointed at Zhou Yuan and nodded with a smile. ¡°Since that is the case, in the future¡­¡± However, just as he was about to wilfully appoint some silly duties, Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice sounded again. ¡°But it is exactly because there are so many talented disciples under teacher Lu, that I feel that I would only be akin to a useless decoration there. That¡¯s why¡­ I feel that the other factions will suit me better.¡± Wu Gang¡¯s voice came to an abrupt halt, his finger still pointing at Zhou Yuan as the expression on his face turned stiff little by little. Previous Chapte Chapter 288 Gold Sash Disciple When Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice sounded once again on the stone plaza, it caused the atmosphere to instantly freeze as gaze after gaze was cast over in shock. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to favor the other two factions... After all, out of Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s three current factions, Lu Hong¡¯s was clearly the most superior. However, this choice was no surprise to Zhou Yuan himself. From the very beginning, he had already decided not to choose Lu Hong¡¯s faction. It was because he could feel a tiny sliver of hostility in Wu Gang¡¯s words and elder Lu Hong¡¯s seemingly unconcerned gaze, hostility that was likely due to his relationship with Lu Feng and Lu Xuanyin. Elder Lu Hong was obviously far from being as open-minded as Wu Gang had said. Zhou Yuan could already foresee the endless amount of trouble that would be sent his way if he joined Lu Hong¡¯s faction. Furthermore, it would more than likely that Lu Hong would not support him if Lu Xuanyin and Lu Feng came seeking revenge, and instead easily discard him to appease the two of them. Therefore, Zhou Yuan would most certainly eliminate Lu Hong¡¯s faction from his choices to avoid such trouble. After all, he felt that as long as he was provided with cultivation resources, it would not make much of difference regardless of which group he joined. Truthfully speaking, as the possessor of the Decoder Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan did not require anyone to guide him in the area of Genesis techniques. Zhou Yuan¡¯s rejection also stunned the disciples under elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song. Zhou Yuan¡¯s choice had likewise surpassed their expectations. ¡°This junior brother is somewhat interesting.¡± Zhou Tai grinned, a trace of admiration now present in his gaze when he looked towards Zhou Yuan. Lu Yan¡¯s cheeks balloned slightly for a while, the icy haughtiness on her pretty face fading substantially as she said, ¡°At least he has some backbone¡­¡± The other disciples from the two factions also cast friendly and welcoming gazes towards Zhou Yuan. In contrast, hostility began to rise in the eyes of the disciples under elder Lu Hong, their slightly chilly gazes looking towards Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that they felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s rejection to be an act of humiliation towards their group. Especially Wu Gang, whose expression fluctuated indeterminately between anger and embarrassment. He had previously been under the impression that Zhou Yuan had tactfully chosen to join them. Who could have imagined that his earlier words were merely a ruse, turning the former¡¯s earlier words into a joke. ¡°You!¡± Wu Gang¡¯s gaze turned piercingly chilly as he stared at Zhou Yuan and sarcastically said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan really has character, it seems that you believe that as the champion of the peak selection ceremony, teacher Lu¡¯s faction cannot do without you?¡± ¡°Do you really think that every champion is like the Cangxuan Peak¡¯s senior brother Chu Qing?¡± There was no lack of mockery in his words. There were many champions of the peak selection ceremony in the Cangxuan Sect. After all, there was one for each generation of disciples. Amongst them, there were no lack of amazingly successful disciples, but at the same time also many that ultimately fell back into mediocrity. After rebuking Zhou Yuan, Wu Gang¡¯s tone softed slightly as he said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you do have some talent, but I advise not to be too rash. If you fail to grasp this opportunity, regret will do nothing for you in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan merely chuckled in response. ¡°Teacher Lu¡¯s faction is not too unsuitable for me, senior brother Wu Gang does not need to speak any further about this.¡± Wu Gong¡¯s words were always secretly threatening him, something that Zhou Yuan very much dislikes. Hence, he could no longer be bothered to talk it out nicely. Wu Gang¡¯s eyes hardened as an ominous look appeared on his face. He was about to speak again, but saw elder Lu Hong open his eyes, indifference within them as he waved at the former. Hence, Wu Gang closed his mouth and venomously glared at Zhou Yuan. Lu Hong nonchalantly said, ¡°Forget about it since he is not willing. We do not lack a so-called champion of the peak selection ceremony.¡± He did not give Zhou Yuan a second glance. In his opinion, not joining them was undoubtedly destroying one¡¯s own future. Once Zhou Yuan began to experience hardships in the future, he would naturally begin to understand how foolish he had been today. Moreover, it was only a champion of the peak selection ceremony, someone who was merely number one amongst the outer mountain disciples. Who in the inner mountains had not gone through rigorous and careful selection? Zhou Yuan would soon understand what it meant to vanish into averageness. Lu Hong had originally been a little interested in this batch¡¯s champion. If the latter could be recruited, Lu Hong would first make him apologise to Lu Xuanyin and Lu Feng, before giving him proper guidance. But from the looks of it, this individual was clearly not going to cooperate. Wu Gang understood Lu Hong¡¯s character, and knew from his words that Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions had already turned off teacher Lu. A gloating smile immediately revealed itself on Wu Gang¡¯s face. However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to them. He really disliked Lu Hong from the bottom of his heart, and did not know what kind of terrible future awaited him if he were to join the latter¡¯s faction. Hence, his gaze turned towards elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song as he cupped his fists together and said, ¡°This disciple hopes to study under either of the two elders.¡± Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song exchanged a look as their expressions softened somewhat. They too never imagined that Zhou Yuan would actually end up rejecting Lu Hong. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s stern face was now much more relaxed than before. He was a rather inflexible and old-fashioned person by nature, but treated his disciples with amazing earnesty. Hence, numerous disciples both respected and feared him in Saint Genesis Peak. He looked towards elder Lu Song and asked, ¡°What does elder Lu Song think?¡± Elder Lu Song laughed and said, ¡°As the one who became the champion of the peak selection ceremony, he¡¯s naturally a good seedling. This old man is tempted, but you should know that I''m a pretty mischievous one. The little guy will likely ended wasting much time with me.¡± Elder Lu Song knew that Shen Taiyuan had been brooding over elder Lu Hong¡¯s shift to Saint Genesis Peak. However, due to the repeated failures for so many years, Shen Taiyuan could only accept the arrangements made by sect master and the other hegemons. Although Shen Taiyuan was strict and old-fashioned, he did give his all when he came to his disciples. The only problem was that it was an exceedingly difficult task to find any good saplings to nature in their Saint Genesis Peak, hence why his disciples still found it hard to compete with the other peaks. Now that a champion of the peak selection ceremony had at long last came their way, and had even declined to join Lu Hong¡¯s faction, Lu Song knew that although Shen Taiyuan appeared calm on the surface, his heart was surely churning with emotions. Lu Song knew that Shen Tiayuan would never give up, and was definitely going to duke it out with Lu Hong. ¡°So I believe that it will best for this little guy to join elder Shen¡¯s ranks.¡± Lu Song smiled. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s eyebrows moved, but that face of his remained impassive. After some silence, he nodded to Lu Song. Shen Taiyuan gazed at Zhou Yuan and said in a slightly soft voice, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, you shall join us today, and I will earnestly guide you.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together towards Shen Taiyuan and bowed. As Shen Taiyuan watched, a smile finally surfaced on his stern face. With a wave of his hand, a flash of gold flew towards Zhou Yuan, turning into a golden sash. Faint, complicated runes were etched onto the golden sash as it gave off a peculiar ripple that was actually able to gather the surrounding Genesis Qi. It had clearly been inscribed with a Genesis gathering rune, and could be said to be a support type Genesis treasure. ¡°As the champion of the peak selection ceremony, I have bestowed upon you a gold sash.¡± A rarely heard kindness could be detected in Shen Taiyuan¡¯s voice. ¡°Thank you teacher Shen.¡± Under the many envious gazes, Zhou Yuan received the golden sash. He knew that he was now formally a gold sash disciple of Cangxuan Sect¡¯s inner mountains. Previous Chapte Chapter 285 Purple Genesis Cave Dwelling As Zhou Yuan tied the gold sash around his waist, the complex and ancient runes on it glittered faintly, and the surrounding Genesis Qi began to flow towards him strand by strand, ultimately slipping into his body. The numerous surrounding disciples wore looks of envy as they watched. They knew that the gold sash was not merely a beneficial tool for cultivation, but also represented one¡¯s status and perks. After wearing the gold sash, Zhou Yuan moved to the side. It this moment, Shen Taiyuan, Lu Song, and Lu Hong¡¯s gazes suddenly turned at the same time, looking towards the most soul-stirring figure on the plaza. It was naturally Yaoyao. Yaoyao wore her light blue long skirt, her facial features so pretty it was as if they had been perfectly drawn, not even a tiny blemish to be soon. Her eyes in particular were akin to a clear and empty sky that gave off a faint feeling of distance, making it that no one dared to approach. The moment Yaoyao appeared, numerous gazes of the plaza stealthily looked over as whispers began to spread in secret. ¡°This is way too pretty!¡± ¡°Her presence is also extraordinary, who is she? Such beauty and presence is stronger than even the Snow Lotus Peak¡¯s senior sister Li Qingchan!¡± ¡°They did look a little similar, both feel rather distant¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re not the same at all. Although senior sister Li Qingchan is usually akin to mountain of ice, she¡¯s actually cold and the outside and warm on the inside. The girl before us however has a cold indifference that spreads from within, and seems to be unconcerned about anything. Such coldness basically makes her untouchable.¡± ¡°Tch, acting like you understand¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Regardless of what they whispered, it was clear that every gaze was amazed by Yaoyao. Even a girl like Lu Yan, who had confidence in her looks, had nothing to say. Looks like the number one beauty of Saint Genesis Peak would undisputedly belong to Yaoyao in future. Shen Taiyuan was pondered for a brief moment, before he finally opened his mouth and said, ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao, your situation is quite unique. Peak master white brow has already sent someone to inform us that you need not take any of us three as a teacher. However, you may still stay in Saint Genesis Peak.¡± They obviously already knew about Yaoyao, and also understood how unprecedentedly valued she was by the peak master of Spirit Rune Peak. The truth was that they could not wrap their heads around this matter. Why had Yaoyao insisted on coming to Saint Genesis Peak? Given her talent, if she went to Spirit Rune Peak, peak master white brow would certainly treat her like a queen. Though they had heard that she chose to come here for Zhou Yuan, every fibre of her being seemed to give off an unapproachable feeling. Could she really be fond of Zhou Yuan? They mulled over it for a while, but were unable to reach an answer. Yaoyao nonchalantly nodded in acknowledgement. After all, she was only at Saint Genesis Peak to protect Zhou Yuan, and in her opinion, none of the three elders had the qualifications to teach her. Now that they were done with Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, the remaining disciples began to make their choices, the majority following Zhou Yuan to join elder Shen and elder Lu Song¡¯s groups. After the allocation was done, perhaps because of Zhou Yuan, the number of disciples that had joined Shen Taiyuan was roughly equal to Lu Hong. Thus, all the new disciples were split up into three groups. Of the three factions, elder Lu Song had the least number of disciples, but he was indeed more of a playful and mischievous individual, and did not have much interest in competing or grand aspirations. Elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Hong on the other hand, were very competitive. They had the most disciples, but elder Lu Hong¡¯s disciples were clearly of better quality. He was after all from the Sword Cometh Peak, the resources available to him far greater than elder Shen Taiyuan. Since they were done, elder Lu Hong stood up to leave, no intentions of discussing anything with Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song. However, it was at this moment that the silent Shen Taiyuan suddenly spoke, ¡°Please wait elder Lu Hong.¡± Lu Hong¡¯s foot paused as he turned around, looked at Shen Wanjin and said, ¡°What is it elder Shen?¡± Shen Taiyuan hesitated for a moment, before he said, ¡°I hope to discuss about the final purple Genesis cave dwelling of our Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Lu Hong¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Soon after, he seemingly smiled as he mockingly swept a glance at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Elder Shen is truly a lover of talent. To think that you would even plan on preparing a purple Genesis cave dwelling for him.¡± ¡°However, does a new gold sash disciple like him really deserve such treatment?¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised as he looked towards Shen Wanjin. During the past three days, he had gotten a better understanding of the inner mountains. Every inner mountain disciple would be given a cave dwelling, similar to the little houses of the outer mountain disciples. However, this cave dwelling was clearly even more precious than the little houses. Every cave dwelling was equipped with a spring of sorts from which an endless stream of pure Genesis Qi would spout from, making it extremely beneficial to one¡¯s cultivation. The cave dwellings were also split into different ranks which were related to disciple¡¯s status. From the lowest, the black Genesis cave dwelling, the gold Genesis cave dwelling, and finally the highest rank purple Genesis cave dwelling. Ordinarily speaking, only a purple sash disciple could enjoy the luxury of a purple Genesis cave dwelling. Hence, Zhou Yuan was rather surprised when he heard Shen Taiyuan intended to give him a purple Genesis cave dwelling. Shen Taiyuan slowly said, ¡°I can judge for myself whether or not he deserves it.¡± Lu Hong let out a mocking laugh as he shook his head and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to consider this matter any further elder Shen. The main peak of our Saint Genesis Peak is sealed, making it impossible to open many of the purple Genesis cave dwellings. Hence, there is only a limited number available. In accordance to our rules, our three factions will split the cave dwellings based on martial prowess, and since the previous nineteen have already been allocated, I am determined to win the final one.¡± ¡°All of your purple sash disciples already have purple Genesis cave swellings.¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression sunk slightly. Lu Hong sneered. ¡°Since you feel that a new inner mountain disciple has the right to use a purple Genesis cave dwelling, do my disciples not have the same right?¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression turned ugly, but he still managed to control his anger. ¡°I can bartar for the purple Qi cave dwelling with other things.¡± However, Lu Hong waved his hand and rudely said, ¡°No need. I¡¯ve already declared that I am determined to win this purple Genesis cave dwelling.¡± A look of ridicule was present in his gaze as he swept a glance in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. Of course he knew that Shen Taiyuan wanted to give the purple Genesis cave dwelling to Zhou Yuan. This was why he would never let it happen. Although Lu Hong did not appear to care when Zhou Yuan had chosen to join Shen Taiyuan earlier, it was obvious that the former held a grudge in his heart. Moreover, Zhou Yuan was after all the champion of the peak selection ceremony, making him a potential threat. Hence, cutting his cultivation resources even a little would reduce the threat he posed. Therefore, there was no way that Lu Hong would allow the final purple Genesis cave dwelling to land in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. Lu Hong smiled coldly inside. Since you value Zhou Yuan so much, go ahead and give the purple Genesis cave dwellings of your other disciples to him. But if you do so, let¡¯s see what your disciples will end up saying. Zhou Yuan frowned as he watched the exchange between them. He had at last personally witnessed how ¡®open-minded¡¯ Lu Hong actually was. ¡°Teacher Shen, although a purple Genesis cave dwelling is great, there is no need to rush things. There will always be a chance in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. However, Shen Taiyuan shook his head. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± From the looks of it, the stubborn elder was not willing to give up. Seeing the growing tension between the two parties, elder Lu Song had no choice but to stand up and say, ¡°Since neither of you wishes to give in, we shall follow the rules and decide its allocation based on martial prowess.¡± ¡°The next match shall be held in a month. Whoever wins then will naturally obtain the final purple Genesis cave dwelling.¡± Upon hearing these words, Lu Hong let out an icy chuckle, before leaving with a swish of his sleeves. ¡°Then we¡¯ll see who''s more capable in a month¡± However, he cast an icy, mocking gaze at Zhou Yuan as he left. Although he did not say anything, Zhou Yuan could guess what the former was thinking. You don¡¯t deserve that purple Genesis cave dwelling. Previous Chapte Chapter 286 Match for the Cave Chapter 284 Match for the Cave In the wake of Lu Hong and his disciples¡¯ departure, the atmosphere began to relax. However, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression was still somewhat ugly, clearly not expecting that Lu Hong would not give any face even after he had lowered himself to ask. Elder Lu Song walked over from the side and sighed helplessly. ¡°You know full well that he looks down on us. Why did you still have to ask.¡± He shot a glance at Zhou Yuan. The truth was, Lu Song did know why in his heart. Zhou Yuan was likely very important to Shen Taiyuan, and he wanted to create the best cultivation conditions for the former. A purple Qi cave dwelling was definitely necessary. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression darkened with anger as he said, ¡°He¡¯s just a lesser man in a position of power.¡± Lu Song shook his head, before he asked, ¡°Do you have any confidence in the next cave match?¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression turned rather depressed. The cave dwellings of Saint Genesis Peak were originally occupied by him and Lu Song¡¯s disciples. However, ever since Lu Hong and his disciples came from Sword Cometh Peak, there was no longer any peace in Saint Genesis Peak. Lu Hong¡¯s faction also needed cave dwellings, so they had to be redistributed once again. This was how the cave matches had come about. A cave match was basically a competition of martial prowess between the disciples from the three factions. The winner would obtain the cave dwelling. For the past year, Lu Hong¡¯s faction had started many cave matches, and overall won more than they lost. After all, the quality of his disciples were indeed better than those under Shen Taiyuan and Lu Hong. Even the final purple Genesis cave dwelling was now being eyed by Lu Hong. Shen Taiyuan naturally also coveted the final purple Genesis cave dwelling, but he knew that there was no longer anyone on his side who could match Lu Hong¡¯s disciples. In accordance to the rules, each disciple could only participate once in a cave match per year. Currently, the strong disciples under Shen Taiyuan such as Zhou Tai had already used their turns in the most intense matches. Hence, he was left with only gold sash disciples to vie for the next cave match. Although Lu Hong¡¯s purple sash disciples had likewise used up their chance long ago, Shen Taiyuan knew that there were still quite a few exceptionally strong gold sash disciples under Lu Hong, for example Wu Gang. In comparison, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s gold sash disciples were quite lacking. Therefore, Shen Taiyuan did not have much confidence in the match to be held a month later. Lu Song was also aware of the situation, and thus said in a low voice, ¡°Why not wait a while longer. At the beginning of next year, the matches will start over once again.¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression fluctuated for a moment. However, he still stubbornly shook his head in the end and declared, ¡°I will find a way.¡± After which, he waved to Lu Song before shooting a glance at Zhou Yuan and the rest as he lifted his legs to leave. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, we¡¯ll be fellow brother disciples in the future.¡± Zhou Tai smiled at Zhou Yuan. From the looks of it, the former was a rather straight forward individual. Zhou Yuan returned the smile and cupped his fists together. ¡°Greetings senior brother Zhou Tai.¡± Zhou Tai said, ¡°Although teacher Shen seems very unapproachable, he has high hopes for you.¡± Zhou Yuan responded with a slight nod. Although he barely had any contact with Shen Taiyuan, the latter¡¯s earlier actions clearly fallen into the former¡¯s eyes. Shen Taiyuan had obviously clashed with Lu Hong for the sake of obtaining the final purple Genesis cave dwelling for Zhou Yuan to aid his cultivation progress. This gesture moved Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart slightly. After all, if it was anyone else, they would likely not risk offending an elder with pretty high status for a mere disciple. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Tai, if it is too difficult, please persuade teacher Shen to drop the idea.¡± Said Zhou Yuan. Although he still did not fully understand the extent of the situation, he could sense that Lu Hong seemed to look down on Shen Taiyuan¡¯s intent to contest for the final purple Genesis cave dwelling. Lu Hong clearly believed that he had already won. Zhou Tai laughed bitterly. ¡°It will be nearly impossible to persuade teacher Shen once he has made up his mind. Given his character¡­ no one can dissuade him.¡± Soon after, he patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder and consoled. ¡°You need not worry about this matter. If not because I had already participated in a cave match, I would have helped you win the last purple Genesis cave dwelling.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, not speaking any further on the topic. After the numerous disciples bid their respectful farewell to elder Lu Song, they followed elder Shen Taiyuan. Lu Song watched them leave as he sighed helplessly. ¡°Old Shen seems to genuinely think very highly of that little fellow Zhou Yuan. I can¡¯t believe that he even butt heads with Lu Hong for the sake of helping the former obtain the last purple Genesis cave dwelling.¡± Lu Yan walked over and asked, ¡°Will elder Shen be able to win?¡± Although all three factions were competitors, Lu Song and Shen Taiyuan¡¯s groups had gotten along well for many years. Lu Hong¡¯s faction on the other hand had practically appeared out of nowhere. In addition, their methods were far too domineering, hence from an emotional point of view, Lu Song¡¯s faction naturally hoped to see Shen Taiyuan¡¯s factions win. Lu Song shook his head. ¡°It will be difficult. The disciples under Lu Hong are indeed pretty remarkable. Even though all the purple sash disciples have already used up their turns, some of the gold sash disciples cannot be underestimated. Wu Gang for example, is an elite even amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin. It will be hard to find someone who can match him amongst old Shen¡¯s gold sash disciples. ¡°As the one who managed to become the champion of the peak selection ceremony, Zhou Yuan should be quite capable, right? I wonder if he will participate.¡± One of the purple sash disciples chuckled. Lu Yan frowned slightly upon hearing this. ¡°You think too highly of him. His title of champion is only with regards to those outer mountain disciples. What can he do now that he¡¯s in the inner mountains? He should first obediently train for a year or two before trying anything.¡± She was not looking down on him, but merely stating the truth. Lu Feng, whom Zhou Yuan had expanded all his efforts to defeat, was merely a peak fourth layer Alpha-Origin practitioner. Who amongst the inner mountain gold sash disciples did not possess such strength? Some of the better gold sash disciples had even stepped into the fifth layer. Wu Gang in particular was one of the stronger ones even amongst Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s numerous gold sash disciples. From what she could see, although Zhou Yuan was talented, as someone who had only recently entered the inner mountains, he likely was not good enough to vie with the other gold sash disciples. What he should do now was to obediently bide his time and train. The purple sash disciple chuckled. He had merely been jesting earlier. After Lu Yan responded, he naturally nodded his head and said, ¡°Junior sister is right, it¡¯s not like none of the past peak selection ceremony champions have not eventually returned to mediocrity. After all, not everyone is as amazing as senior brother Chu Qing.¡± Lu Yan rolled her eyes at him, somewhat annoyed as she retorted, ¡°Could you please not compare just anyone to senior brother Chu Qing?¡± ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing became a purple sash disciple in less than a year. It is impossible for anyone to match his speed.¡± She was obviously one of Chu Qing¡¯s loyal fans, and naturally felt that no one could match him. ¡°Heh heh, yes, yes, I¡¯m wrong. I should not have so rashly compared junior sister¡¯s idol to others. Although Zhou Yuan is also a peak selection ceremony champion, how can he possibly measure up to senior brother Chu Qing.¡± The purple sash disciple chuckled as he cupped his hands together in apology. Only then did Lu Yan nod in satisfaction. As he listened to the banter between the two, elder Lu Song also laughed, making no remarks about the topic. With a wave of his hand, he turned around and left. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°I hope that old Shen won¡¯t lose too terribly a month later. If not, we¡¯ll likely not see the old fellow''s smile for at least half a year¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 287 Cao Shi Zhou Tai stood half way up a certain mountain and pointed to a cave dwelling amongst the verdant greenery as he smiled and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, this gold Genesis cave dwelling shall be your accommodation for the time being.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his gaze, and found a cave dwelling that had been built into the mountain. Sunlight peeked through the steep cliffs around it, falling down upon the cave like a silver river. A pavilion had also been built on a cliff nearby, appearing exceptionally peaceful, tranquil and grand at the same time. An accommodation like this was many times better than the little houses of the outer mountains. Most importantly, Zhou Yuan could feel pure Genesis Qi swirling around inside the cave. Anyone who stayed in it long term would surely experience amazing benefits. ¡°Hehe, junior brother Zhou Yuan, teacher Shen really has high hopes for you. You should know that a gold Genesis cave dwelling like is usually contested over by many gold sash disciples. You¡¯ve only just joined us and yet you¡¯ve already been given one, this is very enviable to others.¡± Zhou Tai sighed. However, he appeared to be quite a magnanimous person, and showed no indication that he felt it unfair. He was after all the eldest disciple under Shen Taiyuan, and had long ago gotten a purple Genesis cave dwelling, so there was no reason to be jealous. Zhou Yuan nodded as he revealed a pained smile. ¡°Being so highly regarded by teacher Shen makes me feel somewhat awkward.¡± The truth was that he never expected Shen Taiyuan to regard him so highly, a situation that ended up making him feel rather awkward. Zhou Tai shook his head as he explained, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan doesn¡¯t fully understand the circumstances of our Saint Genesis Peak. Any of the slightly more outstanding disciples that joined us were basically snatched away by the other six peaks, the only ones left are¡­ I can¡¯t say that they¡¯re left overs, but very ordinary.¡± ¡°As such, it is naturally impossible for our Saint Genesis Peak to vie with the other six peaks. It got so bad that we aren¡¯t able to occupy even a single spot in the current ten great Chosens.¡± ¡°Elder Lu Song did not use to be so cheeky in the past. It was only after repeated failures that he slowly lost his aspirations, and began to become satisfied with just getting through each day, no longer caring about reviving Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°Teacher Shen on the other hand is quite the stubborn person. He¡¯s been gritting his teeth, and refusing to give up all along, but the recent overbearing arrival of Lu Hong¡¯s group has indeed put a tremendous amount of pressure on teacher Shen.¡± ¡°After all, if Lu Hong¡¯s faction really ended up taking the chief disciple position and subsequently retrieve the peak master seal, the disciples in both our groups will no longer be able to raise our heads in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Zhou Tai let out a bitter laugh. ¡°Teacher Shen has placed such high hopes in you because he really does not have any other choice. The only path left to him is to bet everything on you. You¡¯re after all a champion peak selection ceremony, and who knows, you may even become the second Chu Qing.¡± At the mention of Chu Qing¡¯s names, admiration flitted across even the eyes of someone like Zhou Tai. However, he knew that the chances of a second Chu Qing appearing was abysmally low. He was after all someone who had stunned and amazed the entire Cangxuan Sect, and now firmly sat at the head of the ten great Chosens. Although Zhou Yuan was also a champion of the ceremony, there had been many such champions over the years, but only one Chu Qing. Zhou Yuan silently nodded. Behind him, Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes gazed at the gold Genesis cave dwelling, finding it rather satisfying. She ignored Zhou Yuan, carrying Tuntun as she slowly walked in, clearly already taking the place as her territory. The corners of Zhou Tai¡¯s eyes twitched when he saw this. Of course he knew that Yaoyao¡¯s status was special, but he never imagined she and Zhou Yuan would be so close that they would even stay in the same cave. Thus, he chuckled knowingly at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s luck with women is really something.¡± Zhou Yuan knew that the former had misunderstood. However, he could not really explain the situation. After all, he and Yaoyao did share a very special relationship. Yaoyao¡¯s character was overly aloof and distant, as if there was nothing she cared about. She was akin to a supreme existence that walked amongst lesser beings. In the past, she had likely regarded only master Cang Xuan as her kin, but after living together for the past few years, Zhou Yuan could also be considered kin, though he somehow felt that his status was only equal to Tuntun¡¯s... In fact, Zhou Yuan felt that if he really wanted to develop a relationship with Yaoyao, she would most likely blast him to death with Genesis Runes... Therefore, he could only smile helplessly in response to Zhou Tai¡¯s teasing. Zhou Tai did not waste time chit chatting. After giving some advice, he said, ¡°You can explore Saint Genesis Peak during the next three days to get used to things here. However, you can¡¯t miss the morning lesson on Alpha Cliff in three days. It¡¯s the biggest benefit we get in after entering the inner mountains.¡± ¡°Alpha Cliff?¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat puzzled. However, Zhou Tai did not explain, merely mysteriously smiling as he said, ¡°You¡¯ll know when the time comes.¡± He turned around, and was just about to leave when he suddenly hesitated for a moment. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you should be more cautious for the time being, and try your best to keep a low profile...¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Tai revealed a helpless smile and said, ¡°Teacher Shen values you far too much, which I believe will make the other brother disciples feel a sense of unfairness. Truthfully speaking, even I am a little envious of you, what more the others.¡± Although Zhou Yuan was the champion the most recent peak selection ceremony, he was too new to the outer mountains and lacked experience. However, teacher Shen had not only gifted this newest disciple a gold Genesis cave dwelling, but was even doing his best to get a purple Genesis cave dwelling for the former. When such actions landed in the eyes of the other disciples, it was easy for feelings of unfairness to rise in their hearts. Zhou Yuan silently nodded when he heard this. Zhou Tai had nothing left to say, stepping onto a Genesis Qi cloud as he rose into the sky and swiftly disappeared into the distance. Zhou Yuan remained standing on the spot, frowning slightly as he watched Zhou Tai leave. He was naturally aware that teacher Shen¡¯s actions would easily draw out feelings of jealousy and envy in the other disciples. The bottom line was that these disciples felt that he did not deserve such attention and treatment. His eyes narrowed slightly. The reason he had come to the Cangxuan Sect was for the sake of growing stronger, and eventually earn the power to face king Wu. Since the purple Genesis cave dwelling would be very beneficial to him, he naturally also coveted it. Hence, he did not intend to voluntarily give up just because other disciples felt it was unfair. He had only tried to turn it down previously because he did not fully understand the situation, and did not wish to accept such kindness from others for no reason. His eyes spun in thought. After some silence, he turned around and entered the cave dwelling. He did not wish to comment on Zhou Tai telling him to keep a low profile, because he understood that trying to be low-key alone would not be of any use in this situation. If anyone was unable to accept it, he would beat them till they did. ¡­ In a certain cave dwelling. A dozen figures were seated here, unhappy voices sounding one after another. ¡°Teacher Shen is being way too unfair. Even if that snot-nose brat Zhou Yuan managed to win the peak selection ceremony, he¡¯s only recently entered the inner mountains. To think that he would even be given a gold Genesis cave dwelling.¡± ¡°Agreed, that gold Genesis cave dwelling was clearly being eyed by senior brother Cao Shi, but has now ended up being taken away right under our noses.¡± ¡°Most importantly, from the looks of it, teacher Shen will likely send us out in the cave match a month later, but if we win? The purple Genesis cave dwelling will probably end up in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°On what basis should be enjoy such treatment? Just because he¡¯s the champion? It¡¯s not like we¡¯ve never seen one before!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The numerous disciples shared their grievances, releasing all of the unhappiness in their hearts. Amongst the crowd was was a long-haired young man whose expression appeared exceptionally stormy. It was the disciple called Cao Shi. He had been eyeing that gold Genesis cave dwelling for the longest time, and had been saving Genesis jade to trade for it. In the end, it had been so casually given to a new disciple by teacher Shen. How could he possibly Cao Shi icily chuckled and said, ¡°It will not be so easy for a mere new disciple to step on me.¡± ¡°What does senior brother Cao plan on doing?¡± Cao Shi¡¯s eyes narrowed as a faint smile appeared on his lips. ¡°There are not many gold sash disciples amongst us who can still participate in the cave match. If nothing unexpected happens, I will likely be one of the choices.¡± ¡°I will gather some of the other senior brothers who also feel that teacher Shen is showering that brat with too much attention. When the time comes, we will propose that if we were to take part in the cave match, teacher must first agree that the purple Genesis cave dwelling will not be given to that snot-nose kid.¡± These words immediately drew a series of approval from the group. ¡°Senior brother Cao is right. Zhou Yuan may have some talent, but he is ultimately only a new disciple. We must first make him understand his social standing. Before us, he¡¯s only an inexperienced and new disciple!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The sight of the crowd¡¯s indignant appearances caused a smile to rise on Cao Shi¡¯s face. He raised his cup and downed it in a single go, before lifting his head and peering into the distance as an icy smile flashed in his eyes. ¡°New kid, I will let you know that even if teacher Shen thinks highly of you, you still have to abide by the rules here!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 288 Gold Sash Third Sea Three days passed in the blink of an eye. After three days of acclimatisation, Zhou Yuan had gradually familiarised himself with Saint Genesis Peak. At the same time, he had also begun to realise the benefits of a cave dwelling. In the inner mountains, every disciple possessed a cave dwelling, the only difference being its rank. Every cave dwelling was connected to a Genesis Mountain, the higher ranked cave dwellings linked to higher ranked Genesis Mountains. At the deepest part of each cave dwelling was a spring, which was also the connection point to its Genesis Mountain. Pure, boundless Genessi Qi would endlessly gush out from spring, ultimately forming a faint mist that filled the cave. The effectiveness of training in such an environment was incomparable to the single Genesis Mountain used by tens of thousands of people in the outer mountains. Hence, Zhou Yuan was already able to feel the Genesis Qi in his body progress after the short three days he stayed in the gold Genesis cave dwelling. This made him realise how huge of a gap there was between an inner and outer mountain disciple. However, although the cave dwelling was pretty darn amazing, it did come at a cost. It was said that one could exchange Genesis jade for a cave dwelling, and the price of a gold Genesis cave dwelling was about ten thousand Genesis jade pieces. In addition, a maintenance fee of several hundred Genesis jade pieces had to be paid every month. This was clearly not cheap at all. Fortunately, inner mountain disciples were treated better than outer mountain disciples, and would receive over a thousand Genesis jade pieces every month. What¡¯s more, the missions given by the task pavilion in the inner mountains were much more rewarding. All these factors allowed the inner mountain disciples to upkeep their cave dwellings. In Zhou Yuan¡¯s case, there was no pressure with regards to this matter. His previous work as a Genesis technique instructor had already earned him a sizable fortune. In addition, his gold Genesis cave dwelling was given to him by teacher Shen, saving him over ten thousand Genesis jade pieces. The only thing he had to worry about were the routine maintenance cost. In his opinion, things that could benefit his cultivation were more useful, while Genesis jade was just a sort of means to an ends. After cultivating in the gold Genesis cave dwelling for three days, Zhou Yuan was now a little more interested in the higher ranked purple Genesis cave dwelling. Since a gold Genesis cave dwelling was already so amazing, what level did a purple Genesis cave dwelling reach? What¡¯s more, it was said that if one became one of the ten great Chosens, one would be able to enjoy an entire Genesis Mountain alone. There would only be a single cave dwelling on these Genesis Mountains, and all its Genesis Qi would be provided solely to that lone cave dwelling. One¡¯s cultivation progress would likely be even more rapid in such a place. Those cave dwellings were called Chosen cave dwellings, and were even higher ranked than the purple grade. Of course, even elder Shen and the rest did not have the qualifications to give a cave dwelling of that calibre. Approval would have to be given by sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters. However, a Chosen cave dwelling was too distant to Zhou Yuan at this current time. For now, he decided that he would first aim for a purple Genesis cave dwelling. He had finally been able to sort out his thoughts towards Shen Taiyuan over the past few days. Since the latter valued him so greatly, there was no need for him to modestly decline any more. He understood that Shen Taiyuan merely hoped that this new champion of the peak selection ceremony would be different from the rest. Shen Taiyuan prayed that after some grooming, Zhou Yuan would be able to display his potential and rise above the numerous other disciples to eventually become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, retrieve the peak master seal, and bring back glory to them. This goal of his was exactly the same as Zhou Yuan¡¯s own. After all, he needed to enter the sealed main peak in order to find the second Saint Rune. ¡­ ¡°Will you be attending this morning¡¯s class?¡± In the cave. Zhou Yuan had already made his preparations. His gaze cast towards a nearby cliff that was surrounded by mists and led into a deep dark abyss. Yaoyao was leisurely seated on a swing made from vines, Tuntun on her lap as she stared at an old book in her hand When sunlight shined through the mists and landed on her body, the originally fair as jade skin was infused with a slight glow, making it dazzle as if it was crystal. It was a sight that would take your breath away. However, Zhou Yuan was already used to this long ago. Upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s question, Yaoyao lifted her gaze slightly and lazily shook her head. ¡°Nope.¡± She was not interested in training. Zhou Yuan was not surprised by her response. With a nod, he stepped onto a Genesis Qi cloud and rose into the air, heading straight for the so-called Alpha Cliff. Along the way, he met Shen Wanjin and the other new disciples. They made quite a ruckus as they travelled together. After about a dozen minutes, their speed gradually slowed as their gazes looked to the front where a giant mountain pierced through the clouds. At its peak seemed to be a giant green cliff. The cliff looked very out of place with the mountain, as if it had been placed here from somewhere else. This cliff was likely the Alpha Cliff. On the green cliff stood a large green hall. Numerous Genesis Qi clouds were currently flying over, landing one by one just outside the hall. Zhou Yuan and the rest also landed before the giant green hall, and discovered three simple, bold words above it. ¡°Dao seeker hall.¡± Zhou Yuan and gang stepped into the hall, finding its insides rather spacious and grand. The interior of the hall seemed to be built up like steps, and at the very top sat elder Shen Taiyuan¡¯s figure. On the wide steps that descended downwards were old looking mats. These mats came in three colors, purple, gold and black. The purple mats were located higher up, and were nearest to Shen Taiyuan, followed by the gold mats and then the black mats at the very bottom¡­ it was obvious that these mats represented the status of the disciples. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the mats, faintly feeling a peculiar ripple spreading from them. These were no simple mats at all. There were only eight purple mats, on which eight figures were already seated. At their head was Zhou Tai, and they were clearly the eight purple sash disciples under Shen Taiyuan. When Zhou Yuan walked into the large hall, numerous gazes shot towards him. Zhou Tai smiled warmly at him, but the other disciples¡¯ expressions were unreadable. The three purple sash disciples closest to Zhou Tai in particular seemed to size Zhou Yuan up with sharp gazes. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you shall sit there.¡± Shen Taiyuan likewise caught sight of Zhou Yuan. However, the former¡¯s expression remained as cold and stoic like a rock as he extended a hand and pointed towards a certain spot below. It was the third spot amongst the gold mats. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s actions immediately caused a buzz to grow in the hall, envy appearing in the eyes of many disciples. The mats here was not some free-for-all seating. The closer one was to the front, the greater the benefits. At the same time, it also represents one¡¯s status, and the third gold mat represented the third seat of the gold sash disciples. If Zhou Yuan was seated there, it meant that even the more veteran gold sash disciples that had joined earlier but were ranked below third seat had to call him senior brother. In the inner mountains, rank was even more strictly adhered to, and was nowhere near as relaxed as the outer mountains where one would address another based on age. Normally speaking, however, new disciples would be placed towards the back, and slowly rise up as time passed. It was very rare to see someone like Zhou Yuan who would be given the gold sash third seat right away. Zhou Yuan also understood this, but he was already over it. Since Shen Taiyuan was grasping onto him as if he was the final straw, there was no need for him to act too modestly. He would receive any benefit with open arms, all he had to do was return the favor later on. Thus, he ignored the many gazes that were sizing him up or judging him and walked directly towards the third gold mat. However, the moment he reached it, he suddenly felt a gaze filled with hostility. He looked over, only to find that it belonged to long-haired young man that was seated on the fourth gold mat and was currently looking at him with a dark expression. It was the youth known as Cao Shi. The third seat had originally been his, but he had to give it up to Zhou Yuan today. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s treatment of Zhou Yuan was something Cao Shi was extremely jealous and unable to accept. It may be true that Zhou Yuan was the champion of the ceremony, but so what? It was not like none of the champions of the past had eventually been surpassed by numerous other disciples and returned to mediocrity. Was teacher Shen really so convinced that Zhou Yuan could become the second Chu Qing? But how could the likes of him even be worthy of being compared to Chu Qing? Previous Chapte Chapter 289 Volunteer Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the many skeptical gazes that were sizing him up. As for the clearly fuming Cao Shi, he too was ignored by the former as Zhou Yuan walked forward and seated himself on the third gold mat. Upon seeing how rude Zhou Yuan was, some of the disciples frowned slightly, evidently feeling that this new disciple was quite arrogant. Even if teacher Shen did have high hopes of him, it was merely with regards to the potential he might have.At this current point in time, they felt that the second layer Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan basically did not have the qualifications to sit in that spot. However, it was after all teacher Shen¡¯s arrangement, so even if they were unhappy about it, they could only endure for the time being and cast indifferent looks at Zhou Yuan. Cao Shi also took in a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, though the gaze that looked towards Zhou Yuan grew increasingly dark. As such, the atmosphere in the hall turned strangely suffocating. At the very top, Shen Taiyuan naturally detected the strange atmosphere, causing him to frown slightly for a moment. How could he not know that his actions would surely cause resentment to rise in the hearts of some disciples. However, there was really nothing else he could do. Saint Genesis Peak had never gotten a champion of the peak selection ceremony for many years, and since he had encountered one at long last, Shen Taiyuan could only give it a try. Of course he knew just how insanely difficult it was to encounter an exceptional genius like Chu Qing, but since there was no longer any way out, he really had no other option. Thus, Shen Taiyuan soon reaffirmed his resolution, his gaze sweeping across the place as he said in a serious voice, ¡°In a month, we will be having a cave match with Lu Hong¡¯s faction. This match will determine who the final purple Genesis cave dwelling goes to, so we cannot fail.¡± ¡°Since all the purple sash disciples have already used up their turns, I will be sending gold sash disciples to participate.¡± ¡°Tong Long, Pan Song and Cao Shi.¡± ¡°I hope to send you three as our line-up.¡± Tong Long and Pan Song were the current first and second seat gold sash disciples, while Cao Shi was fourth seat. The three of them were considered the strongest amongst the gold sash disciples. No one immediately responded to Shen Taiyuan¡¯s words. Tong Long and Pan Song¡¯s eyes seemed to flicker in thought, while Cao Shi secretly shot a look at them, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°Teacher Shen, we are willing.¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s impassive face relaxed a little. However, before he could say anything, Cao Shi began to speak again, ¡°But we hope to inquire how the purple Genesis cave dwelling will be allocated.¡± Shen Taiyuan frowned. He had made himself very clear three days earlier. The purple Genesis cave dwelling was prepared for Zhou Yuan, and yet Cao Shi was still asking even while knowing the answer... ¡°I plan to give it to Zhou Yuan.¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s tone was indifferent. The corners of Cao Shi¡¯s eyes twitched for a moment, before he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Although it is somewhat disrespectful, aren¡¯t teacher Shen¡¯s actions a little unfair? We have to do the heavy lifting of being sent out to battle, while Zhou Yuan reaps all the benefits?¡± ¡°According to the rules, the purple Genesis cave dwelling should go to one of the three that participated. It doesn¡¯t make sense for an outsider to do nothing and yet enjoy the profits.¡± Several disciples secretly nodded in approval at Cao Shi¡¯s words. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression turned slightly ugly as he said in a low voice, ¡°Are you questioning me?¡± Cao Shi hastily cupped his fists together and said, ¡°Disciple does not dare. We have worked hard for the sake of Saint Genesis Peak, and understand the pressure teacher Shen is facing. Hence, if there really is someone who can become our main pillar of strength, we will naturally give him or her our full support. However, I¡¯m afraid that some people may not be able to share teacher Shen¡¯s heavy burden, and may waste away the hope and expectations of our numerous fellow disciples.¡± His words were full of righteousness, but they secretly hinted that Zhou Yuan had neither the qualifications nor capability. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression grew darker and darker. Just as he was about to berate Cao Shi, another voice suddenly sounded, ¡°Please do not be angry teacher Shen, although junior brother Cao Shi has been rather rash to offend teacher Shen, he does not possess any ill will. It is true that junior brother Zhou Yuan is the champion of the latest peak selection ceremony, but he is ultimately still too inexperienced. If we give him a year or two, he may be able to meet teacher Shen¡¯s expectations, and I¡¯m sure that no one will object then¡­¡± Shen Taiyuan looked over, only to find that a young man with an earnest expression beside Zhou Tai had spoken. His name was Zhang Yan, and was the second seat purple sash disciple, second only to Zhou Tai. Zhou Yuan calmly glanced at Zhang Yan. Although the latter¡¯s speech sounded nicer, the hidden meaning within was clear. He was saying that the current Zhou Yuan did not deserve to possess a purple Genesis cave dwelling. He was undoubtedly supporting Cao Shi. Zhang Yan clearly had some influence over the other disciples. After he spoke, several disciples immediately voiced out their agreement, making the hall become rather noisy for a time. Especially when two other purple sash disciples indicated their support, making the opposition grow louder and louder. At the back of the hall, Shen Wanjin and the other new disciples had worried looks in their eyes as they gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure from far away. They had not expected so many disciples to object. If this matter was not handled properly, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation would be affected. However, they also understood that new disciples like them basically did not have any right to speak in such a setting. They were not the only ones. Even Shen Taiyuan frowned deeply at this scene. He did have the option to over power all opposition with force, but he still had to rely on the Cao Shi trio for the cave match. If their hearts weren¡¯t in it, their chances of victory would turn even more miniscule, practically giving away the purple Genesis cave dwelling for free. Shen Taiyuan was silent for a long time, before he slowly turned towards Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Zhou Yuan, what do you think?¡± An almost undetectable pleased look rose from the corners of Cao Shi¡¯s mouth when he heard this. Shen Taiyuan was evidently unable to ignore the objection from so many disciples, causing his previous insistence to waver a little. Cao Shi¡¯s gaze swept past Zhou Yuan from the corner of his eye as he icily chuckled in his heart. This kid was too much of a greenhorn. Did you really believe that you could ignore the rules just because teacher Shen has high hopes of you? Swatting you down is as easy as flipping my hand. Everything that had happened today was clearly the results of Cao Shi¡¯s handiwork. Under the numerous watching gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm from start to end. Truthfully speaking, though he was indeed a little interested in the purple Genesis cave dwelling, it had not reached the stage where he absolutely needed to have it. However, Cao Shi¡¯s hostility and actions made Zhou Yuan frown a little. He surmised that the various happenings today were most likely orchestrated by Cao Shi, all for the sake of trying to keep Zhou Yuan down. He tilted his head, and glanced at Cao Shi with an icy gaze. Upon detecting Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, the corner¡¯s of Cao Shi¡¯s lips rose slightly in contempt as he nonchalantly said, Junior brother Zhou Yuan, once should eat one mouthful at a time, or take things step by step. The repercussions of attempting to reach the sky in a single leap are usually far too great.¡± ¡°Listen to your senior brother and train properly for a year or two first. By that time, it will probably be easier for you to entertain such thoughts.¡± Zhou Yuan merely smiled without commenting, and said, ¡°According to the rules, I¡¯m currently third seat, while you¡¯re the fourth seat. You should be calling me senior brother instead.¡± Cao Shi¡¯s face twisted as he let out a mocking, icy chuckle. Zhou Yuan ignored the former, raising his head as he said, ¡°Teacher Shen, I feel that following the rules may not be a bad thing.¡± Zhang Yan immediately smiled when he heard this and said, ¡°It¡¯s great that junior brother Zhou Yuan thinks so.¡± Shen Taiyuan slowly said, ¡°You intend to give up on the purple Genesis cave dwelling?¡± Cao Shi laughed happily. Looks like Zhou Yuan could not handle the pressure, and knew that he still did not have the qualifications to own a purple Genesis cave dwelling. However, Zhou Yuan chuckled as he shook his head. ¡°Didn¡¯t junior brother Cao Shi say earlier that according to the rules, the purple Genesis cave dwelling should be given to one of the three participants?¡± ¡°Since that is the case, I volunteer to participate. Please allow me to become one of the three representatives for the cave match.¡± Since Cao Shi was being so overbearing, Zhou Yuan naturally did not need to show any mercy. *Uproar*! Zhou Yuan¡¯s words instantly caused the entire hall to explode into noise. The smile on Cao Shi¡¯s face turned slightly rigid. Soon after, the mocking look on lips grew even wider as he pointed at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, you really are cluelessly arrogant!¡± ¡°Do you believe the cave match is the same as the peak selection ceremony?¡± He shook his head and stared at Zhou Yuan with cold eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll be blunt, you still do not possess the qualifications to participate in the cave match. You may want to go there and humiliate yourself but we do not!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 290 Match When Zhou Yuan¡¯s words landed in the giant hall, it immediately drew a wave of stunned gazes. No one had even considered that he would plan on participating in the cave match. One must know that although the purple sash disciples from both sides were no longer able to participate, the disciples sent would be the elites of the gold sash. Though Zhou Yuan was also a gold sash disciple, he was after all far too new, and there was still a tremendous gap between him and the older disciples. Zhou Yuan had such a hard time against Lu Feng in the peak selection ceremony, an opponent who was only at the peak fourth layer Alpha-Origin, someone who was not even a true fifth layer. On the other hand, most of the inner mountain gold sash disciples had already stepped into the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage. While those such as Tong Long and Cao Shi were powerful even amongst the fifth layer. As such, many felt that Zhou Yuan basically did not qualifications to participate in battles at this level. Hence why Cao Shi could not help but mock the former after hearing his words. However, Zhou Yuan ignored the mockery and the skeptical gazes, only looking straight at Shen Taiyuan with a calm expression. Shen Taiyuan had likewise been stunned, Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions clearly out of his expectations. Soon after, he began to frown. At the end of the day, what he valued in Zhou Yuan was the latter¡¯s potential. Zhou Yuan was currently only a second layer Alpha-Origin, and although he had managed to defeat the peak fourth layer Alpha-Origin Lu Feng in the peak selection ceremony, even Lu Feng would not dare to muddle in a fight like this. If any other ordinary disciple had said such words, Shen Taiyuan would have berated him or her long ago. However, Zhou Yuan was after all somewhat different from the rest. Hence, Shen Taiyuan did not rebuke Zhou Yuan¡¯s behaviour, and merely said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you don¡¯t have to force yourself. There is no need to compete with others for the time being. Given your talent, you will surely begin to truly stand out after a year or two.¡± Although he did have high hopes of Zhou Yuan, Shen Taiyuan believed that the former had only said those words in the heat of the moment. ¡°In addition¡­ this matter affects the face of our faction, and we cannot afford to make any reckless decisions.¡± Cao Shi cooly looked at Zhou Yuan upon hearing this. Zhou Yuan calmly replied, ¡°Teacher Shen, as the saying goes, one should not get a reward one does not deserve. If I do not make any contributions, I will not be able to accept the purple Genesis cave dwelling even if we do end up winning it.¡± Cao Shi sneered and said, ¡°At least you still have some self-awareness.¡± Zhou Yuan shot the former an indifferent glance, before continuing, ¡°Teacher Shen must feel that I am not strong enough, but there¡¯s a simple solution. Allow me to have a match with one of the three current representatives. If I somehow win, I will replace him, while if I lose, I will naturally no longer speak of this matter and not entertain any thoughts about the purple Genesis cave dwelling.¡± By this point, Zhou Yuan¡¯s true goal was finally revealed. How could he not know that numerous of the more senior disciples looked down on him because he was new. At the same time, they also felt that teacher Shen was being very unfair. However, they did not have the courage to raise their objections so publicly like Cao Shi, but the truth was that they refused to acknowledge Zhou Yuan in their hearts. If not, Cao Shi would not have managed to garner so much support. In such a circumstance, for Zhou Yuan to smoothly keep the purple Genesis cave dwelling in his pocket, he would first need to win over the other disciples. But because he was only a new disciple without any experience, trying to convince them with the potential of the peak selection ceremony champion was clearly an impossible fantasy. Therefore, he would use the most direct and effective method. No argument could beat the hard truth of reality. *Uproar*! Sure enough, Zhou Yuan¡¯s words caused another wave of noise to rise in the hall, every disciple dumbstruck once again. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to have such charisma. He actually intended to use one of the three participants as an example! Was he crazy! One must know that Tong Long, Pan Song and Cao Shi were powerful practitioners even amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin, strength that far surpassed Lu Feng¡¯s. Where had Zhou Yuan found the courage to suggest facing them in battle? Tong Long, Cao Shi and Pan Song were stunned. Soon after, they looked at each other, seeing the amusement in each other¡¯s eyes. They too had never expected Zhou Yuan to be so arrogant... Just below Shen Taiyuan, Zhou Tai was also quite amazed as he let out a helpless chuckle. Junior brother Zhou Yuan was indeed no kind buddha, and refused to lose out even a little. But was a counter attack like this a little too reckless? ¡°Hehe, junior brother Zhou Yuan is really something.¡± Zhang Yan laughed in amusement. The other purple sash disciples also chuckled as they nodded. From their appearances, they clearly felt that Zhou Yuan was not using his head. This was practically akin to a calf being unafraid of a tiger. Sure, he had courage, but he lacked self-awareness. Shen Taiyuan was both surprised and amazed as he stared at Zhou Yuan. The latter¡¯s suggestion had once again surpassed his expectations. After some silence, he finally said, ¡°You mean to challenge one of the three to see who is most suitable to participate in the cave match?¡± His gaze flickered in thought as he slowly continued, ¡°Are you certain Zhou Yuan? Once I agree, there will be no turning back. If you end up losing, the purple Genesis cave dwelling will truly be out of your reach.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a calm face. Shen Taiyuan took one deep look at Zhou Yuan, before he ultimately said, ¡°Since that is your decision, we shall do as you suggested. Which the three do you choose as your opponent?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze slowly shifted under the numerous watching eyes in the hall, no surprise whatsoever as it ultimately paused on Cao Shi. Since Cao Shi was the one who had kicked up such a fuss, he shall be used to establish Zhou Yuan reputation in Saint Genesis Peak. Cao Shi was likewise unsurprised. Instead, he grinned as he shook his head towards Tong Long and Pan Song, and jokingly said, ¡°I can¡¯t believe that the day will come where I¡¯m being treated as a soft persimmon.¡± ¡°Ah well, teaching a new junior how to behave is something a senior should do. I shall accept this challenge.¡± His tone indicated that he felt no pressure at all, but was instead ready to toy with Zhou Yuan. Numerous disciples softly laughed around him. Shen Taiyuan slowly said, ¡°Since that is the case, the match between the two of you shall be held five days later. The victor shall be allowed to become one of the three participants for the cave match.¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s gaze paused on Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. He had still decided to give Zhou Yuan more time, because from a certain point of view, he hoped that Zhou Yuan would really be able to create a miracle. If that happened, it would mean that Zhou Yuan truly did possess the potential that would enable him to stand against the masses. However, if Zhou Yuan were to lose, Shen Taiyuan would not be able to stop himself from feeling disappointed, because it meant that Zhou Yuan¡¯s was merely reckless, and someone with such character could never be destined for greater things. Shen Taiyuan slowly withdrew his gaze as he sighed softly inside. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I hope that you do not disappoint me¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 291 Chosens Challenge In the wake of Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi¡¯s match being settled, the atmosphere in the hall changed once again, numerous gazes filled with pity as they constantly glanced towards Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that almost no one believed Zhou Yuan would be able to beat Cao Shi. The latter was after all a true-blue fifth layer Alpha-Origin. In fact, some of the disciples even felt that due to being unable to bear the pressure of so many people objecting to him, Zhou Yuan had intentionally found an excuse for him to gracefully leave the stage. This idea made several disciples secretly nod their heads in approval. At least this new disciple was still somewhat tactful, and understood that a purple Genesis cave dwelling was still out of his reach. At the highest point of the hall, Shen Taiyuan coughed softly, drawing back the gazes of the numerous disciples. His expression had returned to its usual stern state as his gaze swept around the hall. ¡°Many new disciples have joined us, and all of us will be of the same group in the future. I hope that we can look out for each other.¡± After saying a few more stereotypical welcoming words, Shen Taiyuan said, ¡°Everyone who has joined the inner mountains is allowed to select a Genesis Qi cultivation method.¡± ¡°Black sash disciples may choose low tier grade 5 Genesis Qi cultivation methods.¡± ¡°Gold sash disciples may choose high tier grade 5 Genesis Qi cultivation methods.¡± ¡°While purple sash disciples may choose grade 6 Genesis Qi cultivation methods.¡± The numerous new disciples exploded into noise, each disciple wide-eyed as excitement filled their faces. They had come to the Cangxuan Sect because it possessed better and higher tier Genesis Qi cultivation methods and techniques. These were the most valuable, because they would enable them to cultivate higher grade Genesis Qi. ¡°As expected of the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but praise inside. In the Great Zhou Empire, a grade 4 Genesis Qi cultivation method was already considered the best of the best, while a grade 5 Genesis Qi cultivation method would be considered an ultimate treasure even in the more powerful empires and great clans. The majority of the new disciples here were only cultivating grade 4 Genesis Qi. Now that they were finally able to obtain higher ranked cultivation methods in the inner mountains, how could they not be excited and overwhelmed with emotion. In contrast, Zhou Yuan was not interested in the Genessi Qi cultivation methods, because the Ancestral Dragon Scripture he practiced was far too tyrannical. Once one was on this road, one would no longer be able to change to another cultivation method. Of course, it was also because his Omni Python was already a grade 6 Genesis Qi. Moreover, Zhou Yuan could feel that his Omni Python Qi was top tier even amongst the other grade 6 Genesis Qi. If one were to talk about quality, Zhou Yuan believed that none of the purple sash disciples had better Genesis Qi than him. And if he really wanted to find someone who could compete in Genesis Qi quality, even in the entire Cangxuan Sect, it was likely that only the ten great Chosens would be able to put up a fight. Of course, it must be noted that the quality of one¡¯s Genesis Qi was only one of the factors that contributed to one¡¯s strength, so the person with the best Genesis Qi may not necessarily be the strongest. But at the very least, it was an advantage. While all the other disciples were bubbling with excitement, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained cool and collected. Shen Taiyuan nodded at this sight. Dropping such a huge carrot in front of them should motivate them to train hard. While he was thinking such thoughts, he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s still as an ancient well like face. ¡°This brat¡­¡± A slight surge of annoyance rose in Shen Taiyuan¡¯s heart. He pondered for a brief moment, before he spoke once again, ¡°Besides cultivation methods, our Saint Genesis Peak also has numerous Genesis techniques, eight low grade Heaven tier techniques and three mid grade Heaven tier techniques.¡± These words practically caused the entire hall to explode. Let alone the new disciples, even the eyes of the more senior ones began to glow with desire. This was a Heaven tier Genesis technique. An object of desire that could turn countless experts into an unruly crowd anywhere in Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan also felt a rush of excitement as interest flowed out in his eyes. The Cangxuan Sect was truly rich in resources. It was hard to believe that they would have so many of even Heaven tier Genesis techniques. Shen Taiyuan finally felt a little pleased when he saw that Zhou Yuan¡¯s coolness had been broken, and began to speak once again, ¡°However, nothing is more famous in our Cangxuan Sect than the seven Cangxuan arts.¡± A new disciple curiously asked, ¡°The seven Cangxuan arts?¡± Shen Taiyuan explained, ¡°The seven Cangxuan arts were personally created by patriarch Cang Xuan many years ago. When combined¡­ it is known as the Cangxuan Saint art, a true Saint tier Genesis technique.¡± Hss! Gasps filled the giant hall. Even Zhou Yuan felt his heart beat violently in excitement, as he subconsciously wet his lips. A Saint Genesis technique¡­ a legendary Saint Genesis technique! It was said that every Saint Genesis technique possessed earth-shattering power, power that could basically be described as god-like. Zhou Yuan had never heard of any information regarding a Saint Genesis technique. After all, it was just far too rare. He never imagined that he would hear of it here today... Shen Taiyuan continued, ¡°The Cangxuan Saint art was split into seven parts, each safeguarded by one of the seven peaks. Only the chief disciples of each peak would have the right to practice it.¡± ¡°The art of our Saint Genesis Peak is called the Omega Saint Spirit art, and is a high grade Heaven Genesis technique.¡± Numerous disciples clicked their tongues in wonder. To think that it would still be able to reach the high grade Heaven tier even after being split into seven. From this, one could see just how frightening it was. Shen Taiyuan grinned in a pleased manner inside when he saw the faint look of desire on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Brat, this old man refuses to believe that I can¡¯t tempt your heart. ¡°Teacher Shen, how do we gather the seven arts?¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, a fire burning in his eyes. High grade Heaven tier was indeed already crazy amazing, but he still wondered how to accumulate all seven arts. Shen Taiyuan hesitated for a moment, before he explained, ¡°Like I said earlier, each of the seven peaks have one art, and according to the rules of the sect, anyone who wishes to gather all seven will have to initiate the ¡®Chosens challenge¡¯...¡± ¡°Chosens challenge?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°Only the chief disciples of the various peaks have the qualifications to initiate the Chosens challenge. Simply put, it is to challenge the chief disciples of another peak. If one managed to clinch victory, one would be able to take the art from the loser¡¯s peak and practice it.¡± ¡°However, the Chosens challenge is very unfavorable to the challenger, because the other party would have the home ground advantage. The challenged only needs to defend his or her own peak while receiving Genesis Qi from the peak that will dramatically raise one¡¯s power.¡± Shen Taiyuan slowly said, ¡°To obtain victory, the challenger¡¯s strength would need to surpass the chief disciple of the other peaks by a substantial amount.¡± Amazement was revealed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. So this was the Chosens challenge. It really did make one¡¯s blood boil with excitement. The Cangxuan Sect really know how to make their rules. Shen Taiyuan continued, ¡°Currently, the disciple who has initiated the most challenges is the head of the ten great Chosens, Chu Qing. He has initiated five Chosens challenges, and succeeded in four of them. In other words, he has already gathered five of the seven Cangxuan arts, and is said to be the strongest Chosen even amongst all the generations.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. To think that Chu Qing was so powerful. He had managed to take five of the seven Cangxuan arts! If he managed to win two more, wouldn¡¯t he have gathered all seven arts and combine them into the Saint tier technique?! ¡°Just behind Chu Qing is the Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Kong Sheng. He has initiated three Chosens challenges and has succeeded in all of them. He now has four of the seven Cangxuan arts.¡± ¡°The Snow Lotus Peak¡¯s Li Qingchan has also initiated three challenges, and like Kong Sheng has obtained four arts.¡± ¡°The other Chosens¡­ have each initiated one Chosens challenge.¡± At this point, Zhou Yuan suddenly discovered that Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression had turned a little unnatural. The former¡¯s heart jumped in his chest, as he could not help but ask, ¡°Which of the peaks did all the ten Chosens challenge?¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s face seemed to gradually turn black with anger, before he suddenly began to curse in a muffled voice, ¡°The little bastards, all of them only know how to bully a soft persimmon. All ten of them have challenged our Saint Genesis Peak, and every single one has succeeded!¡± Zhou Yuan was stupefied, nearly choking to death in amazement. Didn¡¯t this mean that the Omega Saint Spirit art of their Saint Genesis Peak was already in the hands of every single one of the ten great Chosens?! The corners of his lips twitched as he gazed at the black-faced Shen Taiyuan. God damnit, it was suppose to be the best technique of Saint Genesis Peak, but it turns out that all ten of the Chosens each had a copy! What the heck was this? Bulk distribution?! He finally began to understand just how pathetic Saint Genesis Peak was in the Cangxuan Sect... Previous Chapte Chapter 292 Alpha-Origin Wall Chapter 290 Alpha-Origin Wall By the time Shen Taiyuan was finished, the atmosphere in the hall had undoubtedly turned somewhat awkward. Numerous new disciples looked at each other, while the senior disciples¡¯ expression appeared quite unnatural. This matter was quite humiliating after all. The ultimate technique that only the chief disciple of each peak should have, was now something that basically all ten of the Chosens also possessed... However, no matter how embarrassed they felt inside, they were pretty much helpless with regards to this situation. After all, the past few chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak were indeed lacking compared to the other six peaks. If not, their Saint Genesis Peak would not be incapable of occupying even a single spot in the ten great Chosens. Although they had yet to select their chief disciples for this generation... There was a joke many disciples shared in the inner mountains of the Cangxuan Sect. In every generation, if a new individual were to replace one of the ten great Chosens, the first thing he needed to do was to head towards Saint Genesis Peak and easily sweep away its chief disciple, and effortlessly bring back the Omega Saint Spirit art. From a joke like this, one could see just how pathetic Saint Genesis Peak was. At the highest location in the hall, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression fluctuated for some time, before gradually returning to calmness. Although it was humiliating, he was already numb to it after so many years. However, Shen Taiyuan still strongly desired to change this situation. After all, he did feel that he had nothing to be proud of when he met the other elders in the Cangxuan Sect. Hence why he currently valued Zhou Yuan so much. It had not been easy for a champion of the peak selection ceremony to come to their Saint Genesis Peak. Although Shen Taiyuan did not truly expect Zhou Yuan to be as outrageously amazing as Chu Qing, at the very least, the former hoped that he would be able to properly defend their Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s Omega Saint Spirit art, and not allow the other Chosens to take it away so easily... Shen Taiyuan took a deep look at Zhou Yuan, the meaning in his eyes extremely clear. Kid, I have very high hopes for you. As the receiver of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s gaze, the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes twitched involuntarily. I only came to Saint Genesis Peak because patriarch Cang Xuan sealed the second Saint Rune here, could you not put so much pressure on me. However, even if he did not say anything, he was indeed somewhat interested in the Omega Saint Spirit art. A high grade Heaven Genesis technique was top tier even in the entire Cang Xuan Heaven, and he naturally desired to learn it. Of course, there was also a tiny sliver of ambition in depths of his heart. He was very curious to find out what kind of power the Saint Genesis technique that resulted from combining the seven arts would be. But of course, gathering the seven arts would be an exceedingly difficult task. Didn¡¯t he hear that even the head of the ten great Chosens, Chu Qing, only managed to assemble five of the arts even till now? If he was not wrong, the remaining two likely belonged to the Snow Lotus Peak and the Sword Cometh Peak. The two peaks whose chief disciples were the second ranked Kong Sheng and third ranked Li Qingchan. These two definitely possessed extraordinary strength, and though there may be a slight gap between them and Chu Qing, as the ones who were being challenged, they had the homeground advantage and could receive Genesis Qi from their peaks. This factor was evidently enough to make up for the slight gap between them. Therefore, Chu Qing¡¯s only failure should have been at the hands of Kong Sheng or Li Qingchan. The fire of ambition slowly began to rise in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, before gradually fading away. Gathering all seven arts was still very far away, and what he needed to do now was to ground himself and take things one step at a time. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll keep this discussion for another day. Let¡¯s begin today¡¯s morning class.¡± Shen Taiyuans¡¯ gaze swept across the hall, suppressing the noise, before looking towards the new disciples. ¡°Those that have recently joined us should make good use of every morning class. This training session will be very beneficial for all of you.¡± The moment the last word left his mouth, boundless Genesis Qi began to sweep out of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s body. At this moment, Zhou Yuan and the rest discovered rays of light emerging from the old mats under them that rose up to envelope their bodies. ¡°This is¡­¡± Zhou Yuan could sense a peculiar power inside the light. There was only a tiny bit of it, and it seemed very similar to Spirit power. The numerous new disciples curiously observed this scene. The more senior disciples to the front had already closed their eyes, the Spirits between their brows beginning to flicker. They directly entered into a state of cultivation, heading towards the Alpha-Origin Heaven to transport Alpha-Origin Qi back. ¡°Everyone¡¯s Spirits have been boosted¡­¡± Zhou Yuan remarked in amazement inside. While the senior disciples were rousing their Spirits, he had felt their Spirits being strengthened. Zhou Yuan seemed to fall into thought for a brief moment. Soon after, he ceased hesitation and also closed his eyes as the Spirit between his brows fiercely shuddered. His Spirit left his body, rising into the air. In an instant, it had stepped into the wondrous Alpha-Origin Heaven. The Alpha-Origin Heaven was filled with world essence like Alpha-Origin Qi. However, astral winds were also present that tore at his Spirit. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit stood in the air and raised its hands slightly. He saw a faint barrier of light around his Spirit that not only strengthened it, but also helped to defend against the astral winds in the Alpha-Origin Heaven. ¡°So the Alpha-Origin Cliff and mat are both Genesis treasures that can amplify the power of one¡¯s Spirit while also increasing its defences. This will allow us to stay longer in the Alpha-Origin Heaven and thus bring back even more Alpha-Origin Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding, which was quickly followed by a surge of happiness. So these were the benefits of the tridaily morning class. With them, he would be able to bring back much more Alpha-Origin Qi. With such thoughts in mind, he delayed no further. With a thought, Spirit Power abruptly swept outwards, transforming into large hands that began to scoop up the surrounding Alpha-Origin Qi. Bzz! The strengthening of his Spirit greatly increased Zhou Yuan¡¯s effectiveness. Strand after strand of Alpha-Origin Qi was rapidly gathered, joining the steadily growing stream around his Spirit that gradually turned into a storm. This speed made Zhou Yuan refreshed. ¡°I wonder how many breaths the Alpha-Origin Qi I bring back will last this time?¡± In the outer mountains, the Alpha-Origin Qi Zhou Yuan brought back for the first time had lasted over 2300 breaths. As he grew more and more proficient, each trip now lasted about 3000 breaths. Zhou Yuan was itching to find out how many breaths the Alpha-Origin Qi brought back by his strengthened Spirit would be this time. ¡­ The hall was peacefully silent. Numerous disciples had their eyes shut as they cultivated, the Spirit between their brows flickering, a sign that they were collecting Alpha-Origin Qi in the Alpha-Origin Heaven. Shen Taiyuan watched them from above, his gaze ultimately stopping on Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure as his eyes seemed to glimmer. ¡°I wonder how much Alpha-Origin Qi this little fellow will bring back with the boosts from the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat.¡± The more Alpha-Origin Qi one brought back, the faster one¡¯s progress in the Alpha-Origin stage. This was also considered part of one¡¯s potential, which was why Shen Taiyuan could use this chance to probe Zhou Yuan. Although he would not be able to make a complete judgement based on this, he would at least have a peak at Zhou Yuan¡¯s potential. Shen Taiyuan looked towards the glossy walls of the hall where faint glows were emerging. If one took a closer look, one would see names appearing one after another. This was called the Alpha-Origin wall, and recorded the amount of Alpha-Origin Qi every successive generation of Saint Genesis Peak disciples managed to bring back on their first time using the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat. In Shen Taiyuan¡¯s memory, numerous astounding disciples had emerged from Saint Genesis Peak in its golden age, and the top ten disciples on the wall had brought back Alpha-Origin Qi that lasted over 6000 breaths... However, Saint Genesis Peak had gradually fell into decline later on, and not a single disciple had been able to enter the ranks of the top ten for many years¡­ a situation that was rather awkward indeed. Shen Taiyuan sighed in his heart, before focusing on Zhou Yuan as he mumbled to himself, ¡°Zhou Yuan, show me how capable the latest champion of the peak selection ceremony is¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 293 All Time Number One Chapter 291 All Time Number One Woosh woosh! Strand after strand of Alpha-Origin Qi drifted in the primal chaos like domain, giving off a mysterious and profound aura. One would see countless streams of Alpha-Origin Qi flowing towards a certain location, ultimately joining the enormous tornado there which was made entirely from Alpha-Origin Qi. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit stood at the eye of the tornado, moving constantly to seek out more Alpha-Origin Qi. There were nine levels in the Alpha-Origin Heaven, and as a second layer Alpha-Origin stage practitioner, Zhou Yuan was currently in the second level. The Alpha-Origin Qi here was clearly more concentrated than the first. Hence, Zhou Yuan could collect even more Alpha-Origin Qi than before. ¡°The Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat are amazing. I almost can¡¯t believe the huge boost they have provided to my Spirit.¡± While Zhou Yuan was gathering Alpha-Origin Qi, he was also keeping track of his Spirit¡¯s energy levels. If it were the past, he would have been fast approaching his limit by this time, but he currently felt as if he had plenty of energy left to spare. This was clearly the handiwork of the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat. He sighed, as expected of the Cangxuan Sect. They were truly rich with abundant resources, and could even provided special cultivation treasures to aid their numerous disciples. If it was the Cangmang Continent, the powerful and empires and great clans would surely hide away such treasures. ¡°The first time I brought back Alpha-Origin Qi, it lasted for over 2000 breaths, and as I gradually grew more practiced, I managed to achieve 3000 breaths.¡± ¡°But this was before my Spirit reached the Corporeal stage. After my Spirit cultivation breakthrough, I am able to bring back 4000 breaths of Alpha-Origin Qi.¡± ¡°With the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat, I may be able to touch the 5000 breath mark!¡± Joy began to flood Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He knew that bringing back more Alpha-Origin Qi only grew increasingly difficult. Though every additional breath of Alpha-Origin Qi one brought back would be more concentrated, it would also be more taxing on one¡¯s Spirit. To raise Zhou Yuan¡¯s limit by a whole 1000 breaths was proof of how incredible the two treasures were. Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation progress would undoubtedly increase with this. With happiness bubbling in his heart, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power continued to spread, swiftly sucking over strand after strand of Alpha-Origin Qi. A long time passed in this manner. At a certain point in time, Zhou Yuan finally felt a trace of exhaustion spread from the depths of his Spirit due to using too much Spirit power. He had evidently reached his limit. By this time, the hurricane of Alpha-Origin Qi rapidly flowing around Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had grown much thicker than before. Zhou Yuan felt a sense of satisfaction at the sight of the Alpha-Origin Qi tornado as thoughts of leaving the Alpha-Origin Heaven rose in his mind. However, just as he was about to leave, a thought suddenly popped up, ¡°Since the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Met can support my Spirit, what about the Saint Spirit Crystal?¡± The Saint Spirit Crystal was also considered an ultimate treasure to the Spirit. In the past, Zhou Yuan had never considered this option before, but after experiencing the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat today, he began to realise that he may have been underestimating the Saint Spirit Crystal. After a brief contemplation, he decided to give this idea a try. Thus, he began to call out the Saint Spirit Crystal. After a few breaths, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart jumped violently as he felt a tiny speck of holy light rise from within his Spirit, eventually coming to a stop above his Spirit¡¯s head. Within the holy light, a milky-white crystal ball slowly revolved. As the light sprinkled down onto his Spirit, Zhou Yuan immediately felt his originally tired Spirit begin to recover little by little... ¡°So it does work! The Saint Spirit Crystal can also be brought to the Alpha-Origin Heaven!¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. If he knew about this earlier, his cultivation progress would have been faster. As he felt his Spirit recover, Zhou Yuan delayed no further and continued to collect Alpha-Origin Qi again. With the help of the Saint Spirit Crystal, Zhou Yuan managed to push on for a substantial period of time before beginning to feel exhaustion spread throughout his Spirit. This was a sign that he had completely reached his limit, and even the Saint Spirit Crystal was no longer able to do much. His Spirit¡¯s gaze swept across the area, nodding in satisfaction as it admired the giant storm of Alpha-Origin Qi around it. With a thought, the Spirit descended, falling towards the link with its physical body. ¡­ In the hall. By this time, many disciples were already done with their training session. Some of the new disciples were whispering excitedly to each other, evidently unable to stop gushing about the benefits of the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat. The treatment they received in the inner mountains far surpassed the outer mountains. Amidst the numerous whispers, someone suddenly saw that Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were still shut, and was immediately somewhat astonished. Wasn¡¯t this a little too long? ¡°Why is Zhou Yuan still cultivating?¡± ¡°He can last so long in the Alpha-Origin Heaven?!¡± ¡°How can it be? Haven¡¯t you seen that even first senior brother Zhou Tai has already finished his training?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The numerous disciples were bewildered, some of the senior disciples in particular looking at Zhou Yuan with skepticism. After all, two of the purple sash disciples¡¯ Spirits had reached the perfect Illusory stage, but even they had already completed their session long ago. Cao Shi also opened his eyes, coldly looking at Zhou Yuan as he indifferently said, ¡°Our new gold sash third seat does have a talent for acting.¡± Evidently, he believed Zhou Yuan was putting no in act just to please the crowds. The other disciples could not hold back their laughter when they heard this. Was Zhou Yuan really so immature? The few purple sash disciples at the very front also cast their puzzled looks over. This time, even Zhou Tai was somewhat bewildered. After all, this was just far too long. However, while they were making a din, Shen Taiyuan suddenly shouted, ¡°Silence!¡± The numerous disciples were stunned as they looked towards Shen Taiyuan, only to find that the latter¡¯s eyes were glowing as he stared at Zhou Yuan, causing them to be startled. Shen Taiyuan was far stronger than all of them, could he have discovered something? ¡°Could it be? Is Zhou Yuan truly able to endure for so long in the Alpha-Origin Heaven?¡± They stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in disbelief. Bzzz! While they were still lost in their confusion, the space above Zhou Yuan began to shake. Next, the numerous disciples saw a stream of Alpha-Origin Qi begin falling from above, a seemingly endless torrent enveloping Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. It flowed in the moment it touched Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, flooding into his Qi Dwelling. The eyes of the many disciples were wide-open as they watched unblinkingly, counting how long it would last. 100 breaths¡­ 500 breaths¡­ 1000 breaths¡­ 2000 breaths... When the number of breath reached 3000, the expression of the numerous senior disciples began to tremble. 3000 breaths was something even most of the gold sash disciples could not achieve. The only ones to reach such a level were basically the few purple sash disciples. Cao Shi¡¯s originally sneering face had now turned somewhat ugly. They found that even after 3000 breaths, the flow of Alpha-Origin Qi above Zhou Yuan still showed no signs of tiring. Under the crowd¡¯s shocked gazes, the Alpha-Origin Qi continued to descend. 3500 breaths¡­ 4000 breaths¡­ 5000 breaths! When it reached 5000 breaths, the interior of the hall finally began to shake, numerous disciples gasping as their gazes were involuntarily cast towards the wall. On the Alpha-Origin wall, 5000 thousand breaths had already entered the all time top ten! For the past few years, there had not been a single disciple that had broken past 5000 during his or her first time utilising the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat! At the highest point in the hall, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s stern and aged face trembled slightly at this moment, his eyes tightly glued to Zhou Yuan. Because the Alpha-Origin Qi was still falling strand by strand. ¡°The top three on the Alpha-Origin wall were all able to reach over 5800 breaths on their first try. At that time, the Spirits of all three individuals had stepped into the Corporeal stage!¡± ¡°From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit should also be at that level, but I wonder if he will be able to catch up to those three¡­¡± Under Shen Taiyuan¡¯s nervous gaze, the Alpha-Origin Qi rapidly descended while time continued to flow. 5300 breaths¡­ 5500 breaths¡­ 5800 breaths! When it reached this number, the entire hall fell deathly silent once more, only the heavy breathing of everyone could be heard. Because all of them could see that the Alpha-Origin Qi was still continuing to fall, surpassing 5800 breaths, before eventually stopping at 6743 breaths! This number had not only surpassed the best record on the Alpha-Origin wall, but had even exceeded it by almost a thousand! Cold sweat emerged on everyone¡¯s foreheads as stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in shock and amazement. Even Cao Shi¡¯s expression had turned rigid, traces of shock still present in his eyes. On the highest seat, Shen Taiyuan breathed in deeply, his eyes burning hotter than even as he gazed at Zhou Yuan, his body shaking as he mumbled, ¡°Is my Saint Genesis Peak going to rise up once again?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 294 Shocked by 6700 Breaths There was only silence in the hall, every gaze tinged with a sliver of disbelief as they gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Everyone had clearly been shocked by the timing of over 6000 breaths. This was 6700 breaths! One must know that even in the history of Saint Genesis Peak, the most outstanding disciple had only managed to reach 5800 breaths during his first time! While Zhou Yuan had just surpassed this record by nearly 1000! How the hell did he do it?! Everyone found it unimaginable. Even Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the rest of the purple sash disciples were stunned. They clearly understood what this number represented. It meant that during the Alpha-Origin stage, Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation speed would surpass all of them. Because he was capable of bringing back several times more Alpha-Genesis Qi than them! ¡°Junior brother is extraordinary indeed. It is no wonder that teacher Shen has placed such high hopes in him.¡± Zhou Tai felt rather gratified. His was gentle and frank by nature, and did not feel threatened by the potential Zhou Yuan had displayed. Instead, he was genuinely happy that such an amazing disciple had appeared in their Saint Genesis Peak. However, it was clear that not every disciple shared the same feelings. At the very least, Cao Shi¡¯s expression was fluctuating indeterminately as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. He had never really given much thought to Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s current circumstances. In his opinion, such matters were the problem of elder Shen and the other elders, and had nothing to do with him. He was only a gold sash disciple after all. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s arrival had begun to threaten Cao Shi¡¯s status and benefits. Not only had Zhou Yuan been given the gold Genesis cave dwelling he had been eyeing, even the gold sash third seat that was originally his was now being occupied by the former. All of these factors clearly made him extremely furious. In his point of view, no matter how talented Zhou Yuan was, and regardless of how much potential he had, he was ultimately only a new disciple. What right did he have to step over Cao Shi¡¯s head? Of course, the main reason why due to his jealous heart. He had climbed his way up in Saint Genesis Peak for so many years, step by step from a normal inner mountain disciple to his current position, and faced all kinds of difficulties along the way. But what about Zhou Yuan? he had practically ascended the heavens in a single step the moment he stepped into the inner mountains. How Cao Shi¡¯s heart remain calm in the face of this? In this world, there were always those that would find fault in others instead of first examining themselves. At this current moment, the numerous disciples in the vicinity were looking at Cao Shi with strange gazes. After all, he had been the first one to start mocking Zhou Yuan. Who could have expected Zhou Yuan to counter so mercilessly, practically giving the former a blow that made him see stars. These gazes caused the expression in Cao Shi¡¯s eyes to darken, evidently extremely embarrassed and angry. He had originally intended on saying something to redeem himself, but ultimately swallowed the words at his throat. All he did was icily glare at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, grit his teeth and secretly say to himself, ¡°Kid, I¡¯ll let you be happy for now. After five days, I will naturally make you understand that there are rules in this place!¡± The Alpha-Origin Qi Zhou Yuan brought back had indeed astonished Cao Shi, but so what? Zhou Yuan was still only a second layer Alpha-Origin. While Cao Shi was a formidable individual even amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin! The gap between them was enormous. Therefore, Cao Shi planned on teaching Zhou Yuan that no matter how great your potential, it was at the end of the day only potential. The current Zhou Yuan did not have the qualifications to butt heads with him. ¡°Regardless of how much potential you have, you should come back only after you¡¯ve turned that potential into strength. As for now, you¡¯d better behave yourself!¡± Under the numerous gathered gazes of shock, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes as he felt the Genesis Qi filling his Qi Dwelling, Genesis Qi star after star flickering within it as they gave off peculiar undulations. The number of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling was now over 400, a number much greater than when had he initially reached the Alpha-Origin stage. The Alpha-Origin Qi he brought back just earlier had increased the number of stars by nearly 10, showing just how effective this training session had been. A pleased smile appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. At this rate, it would not be long till he broke into the third layer Alpha-Origin stage. ¡°The Alpha-Origin Qi I brought back this session lasted over 6700 breaths.¡± ¡°If I only take the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless mat into account, I should be able to hit roughly 6000 breaths. This means that the additional 700 breaths are attributed to the Saint Spirit Crystal.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised, clearly not expecting the Saint Genesis Crystal to possess such a function, a function that he had neglected before. Looks like the Saint Spirit Crystal was a cultivation treasure that did not lose out to the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat. As he calmed the emotions in his heart, Zhou Yuan lifted his head, only to discover traces of remnant shock in the numerous gazes around him. His expression appeared rather cool. After all, he had already experienced a similar event in the outer mountains, while also knowing what 6000 breaths represented. The silence in the hall gradually vanished as the numerous disciples in the hall met Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze. This time, however, there was less scrutiny in the eyes of the senior disciples were. They had been skeptical of Zhou Yuan earlier because they felt that he was not worthy of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expectations. But now, Zhou Yuan had at last displayed some of his potential. Although the amount of Alpha-Origin Qi one brought back would not be able to decide everything, it proved to everyone that there was indeed something special about him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve done well.¡± It was at this moment that a voice was heard. Numerous disciples looked over, only to find Shen Taiyuan gazing at Zhou Yuan with glowing eyes, an extremely rarely seen smile appearing on his usually stern and rigid face. It was obvious that he was extremely satisfied by Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance. ¡°Besides that, congratulations for breaking the all time record for most amount of Alpha-Origin Qi brought back on the first time utilizing the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat.¡± Shen Taiyuan chuckled as he pointed towards the wall. Light began to appear as a row of words appeared in the spot where first place had originally been recorded. ¡°Zhou Yuan, 6743 breaths!¡± Zhou Yuan was also somewhat astonished, clearly surprised that he had accidentally broken the all time record. Afraid that Zhou Yuan would lose himself to joy, Shen Taiyuan immediately warned, ¡°But don¡¯t become complacent. A record such as this is merely a tiny bit of encouragement, and will not guarantee your future accomplishments. You still have to work hard.¡± ¡°Disciple understands.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. A record like this would only be dismissed by a laugh from him, because he clearly understood that this record meant nothing. After all, bringing back more Alpha-Origin Qi did not mean his future achievements would be greater. One needed to courageously advance on the path of cultivation. Only the accumulation of effort and time would bring about results in the future. Shen Taiyuan nodded, feeling more and more pleased with Zhou Yuan. It seems that the heavens had not abandoned their Saint Genesis Peak. To think that they would welcome such an astonishingly talented disciple even in such miserable times. However, he soon recalled the duel between Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi in five days. After some hesitation, Shen Taiyuan said, ¡°You have great potential, there is really no rush for you to compete with the others now.¡± However, just as the words left his mouth, Cao Shi¡¯s gaze flashed as he suddenly cut in, ¡°Don¡¯t worry teacher Shen, even if Zhou Yuan loses and the purple Genesis cave dwelling ends up with us, as long as the other fellow brother disciples do not object, disciple is willing to withdraw and let junior brother Zhou Yuan have it.¡± His generous words made several disciples cast looks of amazement at him, clearly surprised that the one who had been making things difficult for Zhou Yuan at every step would suddenly choose to give in. However, Cao Shi¡¯s actions also made some of the senior disciples frown slightly, feeling that teacher Shen was being quite unfair to the former. This made them sympathize with him a little, while also giving rise to a slight rejection towards Zhou Yuan. After all, many disciples felt that Zhou Yuan was already given a lot of benefits, benefits that were taken from the share of senior disciples like them. Zhou Yuan coldly watched Cao Shi¡¯s generous and righteous performance, seeing through the latter¡¯s intentions. Cao Shi was undoubtedly applying to concept of retreating first in order to advance further, making the other disciples pity him, while giving rise to certain criticisms about Zhou Yuan. From the looks of it, Cao Shi¡¯s tactic had some effect. After all, Zhou Yuan currently did not have any influence here, and had no way to sway the others. Hence, he shook his head and said, ¡°Teacher Shen, since the match has already been fixed, there will naturally be no such thing as changing it, If not, how will disciple find a place for himself here in the future?¡± He could not be bothered with such petty tricks, because they would not amount to much at the end of the day. As long as the scheduled match five days later took place, Zhou Yuan would naturally teach Cao Shi the meaning of despair. Upon hearing this, Shen Taiyuan did not speak any further on the matter, only nodding his head. ¡°That will be all for today¡¯s morning class, everyone is dismissed.¡± The numerous disciples acknowledged one after another. Cao Shi also bowed and cupped his fists together, but while his head was lowered, he shot a glance at Zhou Yuan from the corner of his eye as a sneer rose from the corners of his lips. So what if you have potential. At the very, dealing with you now is easy as a flip of my hand! I¡¯m dying to see how disappointed teacher Shen and the other disciples will be when you lose to me five days later. Previous Chapte Chapter 295 Reaction of the Two Factions The three factions took turns to use the Dao Seeker Hall. Hence, every disciple under Lu Feng discovered the changes on the Alpha-Origin wall when they arrived for the morning lessons on the next day. Everyone in the hall, including even elder Lu Song, were dazed for quite some time. 6743 breaths¡­¡± Elder Lu Song sighed in amazement as he shook his head. The disciple called Zhou Yuan really knew how to stir things up. To think that he would stir up such a sensation on his first day of training. On the first sash purple seat below, Lu Yan¡¯s haughty and pretty face was covered in astonishment as she gazed at the Alpha-Origin wall, unable to stop herself from remarking, ¡°This guy does have some ability.¡± A disciple chuckled from the side and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Zhou Yuan has volunteered to be one of the three participants in the upcoming cave match.¡± Lu Yan was taken aback by this information. Soon after, her red lips curled downwards as she disdainfully said, ¡°I was just beginning to feel that he was not too bad, how did he suddenly become so rash and ignorant?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s record of over 6000 breaths was indeed quite a scare, but what did it mean? It would at most mean that Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation progress in the Alpha-Origin stage would be somewhat faster than normal. However, it should be known that there were plenty of treasures that could speed up one¡¯s cultivation progress. Others may not be able to match him in this aspect, but they could make up for it through other means. As such, the ability to bring back more Alpha-Origin Qi only showed that Zhou Yuan was not the average disciple, but it did not give him qualifications to do as he pleased. From what Lu Yan could see, Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions were rather foolish. No matter how much Alpha-Origin Qi you can bring back, you¡¯re still only a second layer Alpha-Origin for now. In comparison, who do you think will be participating in the cave match? The most outstanding gold sash disciples of the two factions of course. These were elites even amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage. Even if Zhou Yuan defeated the fourth layer Alpha-Origin Lu Feng in the peak selection ceremony, even the latter would not have courage to interfere in such fights for the time being. All of these were the reasons why Lu Yan felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions were truly foolish and reckless. ¡°Agreed.¡± The disciple nodded in agreement, before he said, ¡°I¡¯ve also heard that numerous senior disciples under elder Shen are quite unhappy about this affair, especially Cao Shi because he¡¯s the one that Zhou Yuan intends to replace.¡± ¡°Cao Shi huh. I¡¯ve heard that he¡¯s quite good.¡± Remarked Lu Yan. ¡°Due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s insistence, he ended up fixing a match with Cao Shi. They will fight in four days, and the winner will represent elder Shen¡¯s faction during the cave match.¡± ¡°I¡¯m of the opinion that there was some dispute with regards to who would ultimately possess the purple Genesis cave dwelling. Even if elder Shen has high hopes of Zhou Yuan, it still drew many objections from the other disciples. As such, Zhou Yuan has no choice but to accept this duel, because according to the rules, only those that have participated will have the right to be allocated the reward.¡± Lu Yan said, ¡°Elder Shen¡¯s side already does not have a good chance of victory. With Zhou Yuan as extra baggage, how can they possibly aim for the purple Genesis cave dwelling?¡± The disciple chuckled and replied, ¡°Perhaps they¡¯re hoping for a fluke. There¡¯s after all still two other participants. If they manage to win, it would be an overall victory even if Zhou Yuan loses.¡± Lu Yan¡¯s brows furrowed as she said, ¡°If that is the case, he¡¯s really too shameless¡­¡± She shook her head, the amazement from earlier due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s record of over 6000 breaths completely fading away... ¡°Looks like pushing Zhou Yuan to elder Shen is actually a good thing. If not, we¡¯ll be the ones others will be talking about¡­¡± ¡°Never mind, they are the ones who will end up being humiliated. Let them do as they please.¡± With these words, she gladly patted her full bosom as it swayed slightly. On the third day. It was now Lu Hong¡¯s turn for morning lessons in the Dao Seeker Hall. Lu Hong merely cast a single glance at the Alpha-Origin wall before withdrawing his gaze, his face as impassive as before. The other disciples also secretly sneaked glances, but did not break out into discussion, evidently already aware of this information. Below Lu Hong, the young man called Yuan Hong was seated on the purple sash first seat. He had a towering figure that made others feel a faint pressure as if they were facing a mountain. Lu Hong¡¯s gaze swept downwards as he indifferently said, ¡°Wei Youxuan, Feng Yu, Chen Ying.¡± Upon hearing Lu Hong speak, three young men on the three closest gold mats respectfully responded, ¡°Present.¡± Lu Hong said, ¡°The three of you shall participate in the upcoming cave match, are all of you confident?¡± At the gold sash disciple first seat, Wei Youxuan, who wore black clothes, chuckled softly and answered, ¡°Teacher Lu need not worry, the gold sash disciples of elder Shen¡¯s faction are nothing to be feared.¡± He paused for a moment, before continuing, ¡°As for Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ve heard that he will be contesting Cao Shi for the place of the final participant. We are not familiar with this person.¡± ¡°He¡¯s merely a little clown, and there¡¯s no need to pay any attention to him. Since Shen Taiyuan¡¯s group wants to humiliate themselves, we¡¯ll give them as much humiliation as they want.¡± Said Lu Hong. Wei Youxuan nodded. After this matter was settled, Lu Hong turned his gaze towards Yuan Hong, his expression softening slightly as she said, ¡°Yuan Hong, the competition for the chief disciple position will be held at the end of the year. You must not fail.¡± Yuan Hong opened his eyes, a sharp light surging within them as if they contained sword light. He gave a faint nod as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry teacher Lu, the other two factions only have Zhou Tai and Lu Yan. Although they are strong, they are still not my match. The position of chief disciple will definitely end up in my hands.¡± His tone was calm, but it contained an unquestionable confidence. Lu Hong let out a satisfied chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s good. When you become the chief disciple, you will be qualified to learn the Omega Saint Spirit art, and may even gain the qualifications to vie for one of the ten great Chosens spots in the future.¡± At the mention of the ten great Chosens, the light in Yuan Hong¡¯s finally brightened for a moment, as if a fire was burning within them. From what he could see, the position of chief disciple was his to take whenever he chose to, and he did not face much competition. The other two factions were just too useless, and the disciples there too ordinary. The only ones who just barely made the mark were Lu Yan and Zhou Tai, but neither posed much of a threat towards him. The reason why he had been willing to follow Lu Hong to Saint Genesis Peak was because he would gain the right to practice one of the seven arts, the Omega Saint Spirit art, once he became the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak. He had only been able to rank third amongst the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Without mentioning the first ranked Kong Sheng, even the second ranked had an edge over him, and had been able to suppress him from start to end. Even if Kong Sheng stepped down from his position as one of the ten great Chosens in the future, that ranked second guy would definitely replace the former. But most importantly, peak master Ling Jun greatly valued the latter. Hence, even if Yuan Hong stayed behind inSword Cometh Peak, he would never have a chance to practice its ultimate technique. Yuan Hong¡¯s eyes lowered slightly, unable to accept this outcome. ¡°When I become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak in the future, master the Omega Saint Spirit art and join the ranks of the ten great Chosens, peak master Ling Jun and the rest if you will understand that I, Yuan Hong, am not weaker than anyone else!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 296 Preparations Chapter 294 Preparations In the depths of a particular cave dwelling. Endless pure Genesis Qi flowed out from the eye of a spring, transforming into a faint mist that swirled around the cave. Zhou Yuan was silently seated on a boulder beside the spring. The roar of a dragon echoed from inside his body as a powerful suction force spread from his nose. One could only watch as the surging Genesis Qi transformed into white smoke that was sucked into Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth and swallowed into his body. After doing this several times, the Genesis Qi in the cave became somewhat fainter. Only then did Zhou Yuan gradually come to a stop. He opened his eyes and looked towards the center of his right palm as he frowned slightly. A lump of heart palpitating scarlet-red sat there like the figure of a slightly sinister dragon. It was the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. Ever since Zhou Yuan took back the majority of Wu Huang¡¯s sacred dragon blessing, the Dragon¡¯s Resent Poison in his body had grown stronger. Zhou Yuan could faintly feel that it was more domineering and violent than before. ¡°The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison outbreak occurs once every three years, and the next three year date is fast approaching.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed deeply. Time had passed by so quickly, and it was now nearly three years since then. When the previous Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison outbreak occurred, Zhou Yuan had yet to even unblock his eight meridian channels. In contrast, he was now an Alpha-Origin stage practitioner, an almighty force in the Great Zhou Empire. Though he had grown, the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in his body was likewise very different from before. Before it could be fully controlled, it would always be a potential danger. Zhou Yuan touched his palm as he mumbled to himself, ¡°It seems that I have to think of a way to make the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison work for me instead.¡± The sacred dragon blessing was contained within the Dragon¡¯s Resent Poison. If Zhou Yuan was unable to make the poison fully submit to him, he would be unable to properly bring out its powers. Thus, if he succeeded in this endeavour, it would give him an extremely lethal trump card. Zhou Yuan pondered about it for a moment before withdrawing his thoughts. There should still be some time before the Dragon¡¯s Resent Poison outbreak, and the most important matter he had to deal with currently was still the battle with Cao Shi. Cao Shi was after all a veteran gold sash disciple and a true-blue fifth layer Alpha-Origin practitioner. Such strength was not just a little bit better than Lu Feng. None of the people that could reach this level would be easy opponents. However, since Cao Shi had decided to block Zhou Yuan¡¯s way, he had no choice but to step over this stumbling block. But it must be acknowledged that the other party was an elite amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin, someone who boasted overwhelming battle power. Hence, Zhou Yuan know that he could not afford to underestimate this opponent. While Zhou Yuan was deep in thought, his hands suddenly came together as a ball of light floated out from his palm. Inside was an old book that seemed akin to the rising sun, giving off a scorching aura. It was the prize Zhou Yuan had received as the champion of the peak selection ceremony, the low grade Heaven Genesis technique, the Heavenly Sun God Record. Zhou Yuan senses began to probe the ancient book, only opening his eyes a long time later. ¡°As expected of a true Heaven Genesis technique, it¡¯s going to be extremely complex and troublesome to practice.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. The power of the Heavenly Sun God Record was indeed terrifying, far surpassing anything a little Heaven Genesis technique could muster. However, the conditions to learn it were exceedingly strict, likewise far beyond the difficulty of the little Heaven tier. To learn the Heavenly Sun God Record, one required the assistance of external resources such as the Nine Suns Crystal, the Heavenly Flames Rock Essence and other similar items. All of them were pretty rare, and it would likely take quite some time to gather. After giving it some thought, Zhou Yuan kept away the book again. His match with Cao Shi was too close, and there was clearly no time to spend on the Heavenly Sun God Record for the time being. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the Genesis Marrow Baptism needs two more months of preparation before it will be ready, or I would have been able to reach the next level through it.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head regretfully. The other prize from the peak selection ceremony was the Genesis Marrow Baptism, but since the time was not right, he would not be able to utilise it for now. While Zhou Yuan was still mulling over the situation, he suddenly heard the sound of faint footsteps approaching. He turned his head, to find Yaoyao gracefully walking over with Tuntun in her arms, while several jade bottles jung from between her slender fingers, giving off clinking sounds with each step. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that you managed to fall into such trouble after a single morning lesson.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips parted slightly as she glared at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan laughed helplessly, before replying with a sigh, ¡°Can¡¯t do anything about it. New disciples have no reputation or influence, so no one is willing to accept me receiving benefits. Since someone has jumped out to offer himself up as an example for the rest, I have no choice but to go along. This was very normal. A new disciple would surely be bullied by the senior disciples for a period of time. It could be said to be a certain unspoken rule of sorts, but Zhou Yuan really did not have the time to bother with such things. If he wanted to accept the purple Genesis cave dwelling with a clear conscience, he would have to first ensure all the other disciples had no objections, or it would only bring about more trouble in the future. To prevent such disputes, the most direct method was to display his strength and force the senior disciples to acknowledge him. Hence, even if Cao Shi had not provoked Zhou Yuan, he would have looked for some other avenue to display his prowess. ¡°Your opponent is a fifth layer Alpha-Origin, don¡¯t end up getting beaten instead.¡± Teased Yaoyao. Although she spoke in such a manner, she still tossed the five jade bottles towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°These were just delivered by Shen Wanjin.¡± Zhou Yuan caught them and opened their caps. The thick, pungent smell of blood immediately dashed out transforming into five beast silhouettes that gave off an aura filled with howling killing intent. These were obviously five bottles of Genesis Beast essence blood, and appeared to be of pretty high quality, every one likely reaching grade 5. Joy flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he could not help but praise, ¡°As expected of the inner mountains, you can even obtain grade 5 dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood here!¡± He had tasked Shen Wanjin to station himself at the Glittering Jewels Pavilion with the goal of purchasing dragon type Genesis Beast essence blood. Zhou Yuan had originally predicted that he would end up with two bottles at most, but Shen Wanjin had ended up surprising him with five. With these five bottles of essence blood, his Nine Dragons Canon would progress to the next level. ¡°You¡¯re pretty ambitious, take care not to end up overwhelmed by the savage aura if you refine too much essence blood.¡± Cautioned Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan touched the palm on his right hand as he grinned, ¡°No matter how savage they are, can they beat the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison?¡± He shook his head, speaking no further on this topic as his gaze suddenly locked onto the creature lazily resting in Yaoyao¡¯s arms. An extremely kind and friendly smile appeared on his face as he asked, ¡°Tuntun, do you want to try the delicacies in the inner mountain Hundred Fragrances House?¡± The ears of the originally sleepy looking Tuntun immediately stood up as its excited gaze shot towards Zhou Yuan, even its tongue poking out from its mouth. Yaoyao shook her head in a slightly exasperated manner as she threw Tuntun out by its ear and said, ¡°Unable to learn from your mistakes, you¡¯ll end up being sold off sooner or later.¡± How could she not know that it would have to give its blood once it ate its fill. Zhou Yuan grinned widely as he picked up Tuntun. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, tell the others that I will be secluding myself to cultivate and won¡¯t be attending the next morning class.¡± Yaoyao acknowledged before turning around to leave. ... The Dao Seeker Hall. It was the Shen Taiyuan faction¡¯s turn to cultivate here again. When Cao Shi arrived, the first thing he saw was Zhou Yuan¡¯s empty seat. The former chuckled in amusement, evidently already aware of latter¡¯s secluded cultivation session. ¡°Resorting to such unnecessary measures even though you only have a few short days.¡± Cao Shi shook his head, a slight sneer and contempt flowing out in his eyes. ¡°Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve already shown all your cards during your fight with Lu Feng. If that¡¯s all you have, don¡¯t blame your senior brother for bullying you¡­¡± Several of his gold sash disciple friends around him softly chuckled. Looks like there was going to be entertaining show in a few days. Previous Chapte Chapter 297 The Match Chapter 295 The Match Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi¡¯s match still ended up causing some slight ripples in Saint Genesis Mountain. However, the disciples under Lu Song and Lu Hong merely viewed it as a silly squabble that was not worth much attention. This was quite normal, because even in elder Shen¡¯s group, there weren¡¯t many who fancied Zhou Yuan¡¯s chances even if he was the latest champion of the peak selection ceremony. At the end of the day, Cao Shi was a true-blue veteran senior disciple of the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage, someone who was far stronger than Lu Feng. In the eyes of many of the senior disciples, Zhou Yuan was merely asking for trouble. While the many disciples held such thoughts, five days passed in the blink of an eye. ... Mists swirled around the pine trees, an enormous stone stage towering above them. At this current time, the vicinity of the stone stage was already filled with figures, even Shen Taiyuan already here, seated above them. Today was the duel between Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi, and elder Shen was naturally going to oversee it such as to prevent any accidents from occurring. Besides them, some of the disciples from the other two factions were also present, clearly waiting to enjoy the show. Of course, what they wanted to see was likely Zhou Yuan suffering. After all, he had been in the limelight too much recently, and was also the champion of the peak selection ceremony. However, he was also a new inner mountain disciple without enough experience. Thus, there were naturally people who were happy to see someone put him in his place. On one side of the stone stage, a smiling Cao Shi was surrounded by several disciples like a moon amongst the stars. He was pretty relaxed from the looks of it and clearly did not treat today¡¯s match seriously at all. Swish! A Genesis Qi cloud flew over from far away, eventually landing on the opposite end of the stone stage. It was Zhou Yuan with Yaoyao at his side, graceful yet cold like an exiled goddess from the heavens, her breathtaking beauty drawing numerous gazes towards her. ¡°Teacher Shen.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze scanned his surroundings, sensing the amusement in many gazes. He ignored all of them as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan and cupped his fists together. Shen Taiyuan nodded in response, a rather complicated look on his face. He truly did have high hopes for Zhou Yuan¡¯s potential, which was why he did not wish to see him clashing with Cao Shi at such a time. However, he also understood that it was because he regarded Zhou Yuan with too much importance that the senior disciples were now unhappy, leading them to make things difficult for Zhou Yuan. But why couldn¡¯t these fools just stop for a moment and question themselves instead. If they had shown a little more worth, wouldn¡¯t he have no need to place all his bets on a single person? If Zhou Yuan lost today¡¯s duel, he would surely have to give in for a period of time and keep a low profile, losing all hopes of obtaining the purple Genesis cave dwelling. Without such cultivation resources, it would undoubtedly become even more difficult for him to catch up with the veteran purple sash disciples. With such feelings churning in his heart, Shen Taiyuan ultimately sighed inside, nodding to Zhou Yuan before turning towards Cao Shi. ¡°This is a match between our own people, make sure you understand when to stop.¡± Cao Shi laughed a relaxed manner and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry teacher Shen, I¡¯m a senior after all and will show mercy.¡± The moment he finished, his figure moved, landing at the center of the stone stage as he cast playful gaze towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you can avoid any suffering if you admit defeat now. It¡¯s never a pretty sight when it comes to punches and kick after all. Zhou Yuan ignored the former, also landing in the center of the stage. He stood opposite Cao Shi, his face akin to a still ancient well. When their gazes met, iciness flashed within their eyes. Below Shen Taiyuan, the purple sash disciples were also watching. Zhang Yan wore a slight smile on his face as he said towards Zhou Tai, ¡°Hehe, senior brother Zhou Tai, this junior brother of ours does have potential, but he has a bit of a rebellious streak and doesn¡¯t follow the rules. I hope that he will be able to better behave after today, and at the very least understand that he should be more respectful towards us senior brothers.¡± Zhou Tai frowned upon hearing this. He was a gentle and magnanimous person, and although his talent was not exceptional, he did possess a substantial amount of influence amongst the disciples. He could sense the happiness in Shen Taiyuan due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s arrival, happiness that in turn made Zhou Tai blame himself and feel somewhat ashamed. Teacher Shen would not feel this way if he had been more capable as the first disciple. Thus, he showed good will towards Zhou Yuan, because he genuinely hoped that someone amazing would arise from their group. However, this mindset was clearly not shared by all the other disciples. Zhang Yan for instance disliked how much attention teacher Shen was showing Zhou Yuan. Although Cao Shi appeared to be the mastermind, Zhang Yan was likely sparing no effort to support the former. Zhou Tai also knew that junior brother Zhang Yan did not truly acknowledge him as the first disciple because the latter¡¯s talent was greater than his own. Although Zhang Yan had joined later, he was fast catching up with his senior brother. Hence, he was usually not too respectful either when they met. ¡°Junior brother Zhang Yan, junior brother Zhou Yuan has great potential, and it can be said to be our fortune that he has come to Saint Genesis Peak and teacher Shen¡¯s faction. The cultivation resources we give him now will surely be returned many fold in the future.¡± Said Zhou Tai. Zhang Yan maintained his smiling appearance, though a sneer flashed in his eyes. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Tai¡¯s words may be slightly exaggerated. I do not deny that he does have potential, but I¡¯m afraid that he is not qualified to be considered our fortune.¡± ¡°So what if he¡¯s the champion of the peak selection ceremony, would it cement his gradual ascent to one of the ten great Chosens? It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t seen any champions of the peak selection ceremony before, and quite a few of them only end up as purple sash disciples after entering the inner mountains, making them no different from any of us.¡± Zhou Tai frowned and said, ¡°Teacher Shen naturally has his reasons for placing such high hopes in Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll wait and see.¡± Zhang Yan did not comment, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure on the stone stage and said in a neither hurried no slow manner, ¡°I hope that you can still have such a mindset after this match.¡± ¡°No matter how much potential he has, it is irrelevant till the day he turns that potential into strength. As for now¡­ I feel that it would be best for him to behave a little better. A little suffering may not always be a bad thing for youngsters.¡± While they were conversing, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s gaze swept across the stone stage as he said in a solemn voice, ¡°Begin.¡± Rumble! The instant the word left his mouth, an astonishing wave of Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from Cao Shi¡¯s body, like pillar of smoke as it charged into the clouds. Cao Shi¡¯s Genesis Qi was akin to silver snow and gave off an extremely sharp aura. As it surged past, tears were left in the air. Genesis Qi pressure spread from his body, like an enormous mountain crushing Zhou Yuan from above. The expressions of numerous disciples in the vicinity turned a little graver when they felt this pressure. The fact that Cao Shi had been able to stably occupy the gold sash third seat previously was proof of his ability. Such abundant and concentrated Genesis Qi was a force to be reckoned with even amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened a little. The Genesis Qi pressure from Cao Shi was not just a little stronger than Lu Feng. Cao Shi laughed playfully when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you were the one who suggested this match a few days ago, can it be that you no longer have the courage you had back then?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was indifferent as gold Genesis Qi dashed out from the top of his head, hovering in the air like a giant halo. The faint silhouette of a titanic python emerged from within and hissed. He stared at Cao Shi as a sharp and serious look gradually flooded his eyes. A split second later, Zhou Yuan¡¯s aura changed, like a blade that had been unsheathed, no longer hiding its sharp, cold edge. ¡°Come, show me what¡¯s so amazing about our senior gold sash disciples?!¡± The instant his words faded, hsi figure had already shot forward, surging Genesis Qi whizzing in his wake. Every gaze in the vicinity of the stone stage was attentively watching. They too wanted to know whether the champion of the peak selection ceremony, Zhou Yuan, had the qualifications to be regarded so highly by teacher Shen. Previous Chapte Chapter 298 Sumptuous Feas Rumble! Golden Genesis Qi swept outwards as a hundred feet tall torrent of Genesis Qi roared, seemingly transforming into a furious python that ferociously pounced at Cao Shi. However, Cao Shu merely sneered as he slammed his foot into the ground. Silver snow like Genesis Qi also whizzed forth along with an indescribable sharpness and iciness as it met the golden Genesis Qi head-on. The two torrents of Genesis Qi collided, causing a shockwave of destruction to unfurl. Gashes were torn open on the ground while also being bombarded full of holes. The silver snow like Genesis Qi was clearly the greater force of the two. After all, Cao Shi was at the fifth layer Alpha-Origin, and the quantity and concentration of his Genesis Qi were both greater than Zhou Yuan¡¯s However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was of a high grade and extremely troublesome to deal with. This was why the silver snow like Genesis Qi ended up taking quite some time to completely obliterate the golden Genesis Qi. The instant the golden Genesis Qi was destroyed, a phantom like figure appeared behind Cao Shi as the shadow of a brush rapidly grew, its snow-white hairs instantly turning into thousands of icy needles that shot towards Cao Shi¡¯s fatal spots. ¡°Humph, I¡¯ve already studied all of your tactics!¡± Cao Shi snorted as needles that flickered with cold light shot towards him from behind. With a grasp of his hand, a metal baton that was forged from silver appeared in his hand. Numerous runes had been carved into its body, making it shine icily when Genesis Qi was poured in. The silver baton made a sweeping motion behind him, Genesis Qi whizzing along with it as it tore through the air, blowing away every single one of the needles. Iciness flashed in Cao Shi¡¯s eyes. He understood the principle of pushing the advantage, and abruptly shot forth, Genesis Qi pouring into the metal baton as it transformed into countless baton shadows that seemed to fill the sky as they ruthlessly swung at Zhou Yuan. Every baton shadow was terrifyingly violent, and even a fourth layer Alpha-Origin practitioner would only be able to retreat. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand also began to dance as countless brush shadows emerged one after another. Golden Genesis Qi swirled around each shadow, the brush tips pulsing with lethal sharpness as they clashed with the numerous baton shadows. Clang! Clang! Sparks continued to fly with each loud clang along with a mini explosion of berserk Genesis Qi. In the vicinity of the stone stage, numerous gazes watched the two figures that rapidly criss-crossed. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s is pretty feisty to match blow for blow.¡± Zhang Yan chuckled, though a faint sliver of mockery could be heard in his voice. Anyone could tell that Cao Shi had the advantage in Genesis Qi, making it such that the advantage would clearly lean in his favor in a direct clash. Everyone could see that all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s counter attacks were being smashed apart by the baton shadows. Zhou Tai frowned, but did not say anything though his lips began to purse tightly. Clang! Powerful winds swept outwards as the final baton shadow and brush shadow collided. The ground cracked as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure jerked back slightly, before shooting back in retreat. Cao Shi sneered, not giving Zhou Yuan any time to catch his breath as the former ferociously pounced forward once again. Silver baton shadows that contained the power to split mountains viciously smashed towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure suddenly etherealized when he saw this, rapidly drifting back like the mist as he avoided Cao Shi¡¯s chase. Cao Shi tried to follow several times, but was unable to even touch a corner of Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Ethereal Form technique was clearly even more proficient than before. ¡°Scurrying away like a rat again?¡± Mocked Cao Shi. Soon after, an icy light flashed in his eyes as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t think that you can escape just because you practice the Ethereal From technique. You underestimate the inner mountain gold sash disciples!¡± ¡°Little Heaven Genesis technique, Spatial Teleportation!¡± Silver light suddenly stretched out from under his feet as he stepped onto it. Swish! The instant Cao Shi¡¯s foot landed, his body seemed to ignore the laws of space, appearing directly behind Zhou Yuan as the metal baton in his hand viciously swung towards along with a hundred foot tall pillar of Genesis Qi. ¡°Little Heaven Genesis technique, Mounter Opening Baton!¡± With a furious shout, the metal baton swept downwards in an unstoppable manner. The expressions of several gold sash disciples turned grave, not daring to underestimate this attack. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened a little as the alarming force rapidly descended from above. Cao Shi¡¯s strength had somewhat exceeded the former¡¯s expectations. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as a cold and serious look exploded within them. His hands tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as the Magical Python Scales emerged on his skin, rapidly raising his strength. ¡°Heavenly Yuan Brush, Million Whale Rune!¡± He yelled in his heart as he ferociously swung the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Golden Genesis Qi exploded into a burst of dazzling light, as the faint cry of a whale echoed. The air was blasted apart, the ground instantly crumbling, unable to bear such power. The power of this strike also caused the expressions of several disciples to change slightly. Clang! Baton and brush smashed into each other again as a thunderous clang was heard. Boom! A shockwave of berserk Genesis Qi unfurled, destabilizing numerous disciples nearby. Shen Taiyuan waved his sleeve, completely quelling the shockwaves that had left that confines of the stone stage. Only then did the numerous disciples hastily look towards the stage. A crack had appeared at the center of the giant stone stage, as if splitting it into two. On both sides of the crack, Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi¡¯s figures were being flung backwards. The Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s tip left a trail of sparks on the ground, before Zhou Yuan stabilized his figure with a stomp, his expression indifferent as he looked to his front where Cao Shi was staring back with a somewhat stormy face. The counter attack Zhou Yuan had suddenly unleashed earlier had been surprisingly ferocious, managing to block what Cao Shi had thought to be a sure-kill blow. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so confident. You do have some ability.¡± Cao Shi sneered. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, merely staring at Cao Shi as he slowly said, ¡°The limits of your strength doesn¡¯t seem to go too deep either.¡± Cao Shi¡¯s eyes hardened as a smile of contempt rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°You seem to be saying that you were probing me earlier?¡± These words immediately caused strange looks to rise on the face of the numerous disciples around the stone stage. They merely took it as Zhou Yuan being reluctant to admit the truth, because Cao Shi had clearly taken the advantage in their previous clash. However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to these gazes. He slowly released his grip on the Heavenly Yuan Brush, an uncaring expression on his face as he said, ¡°Since this is all you amount to, it will be enough.¡± Cao Shi disdainfully said, ¡°Stop acting. If you still have any rationality, you should admit defeat as soon as possible. I cannot guarantee your safety if we continue.¡± His words did not draw any answer from Zhou Yuan. The latter was currently slowly placing his hands together as violent undulations suddenly pulsed from the Genesis Qi in his body. Rumble! Vigorous Genesis Qi dashed into the sky from the top of his head, the roars of beasts echoing as a faint aura of savagery and violence filled the area. Four Genesis Qi pillars revolved above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, each one roughly a hundred feet tall. The silhouettes of beasts took shape within them, giving off an aura of wildness and ferocity. ¡°The Nine Dragons Canon?¡± A sneer rose from the corners of Cao Shi¡¯s mouth when he saw this. He had already investigated Zhou Yuan¡¯s techniques, and naturally knew that this was the technique he had used to defeat Lu Feng. ¡°Do you think that I¡¯m Lu Feng? You plan on beating me with your four dragon level Nine Dragons Canon?¡± Cao Shi let out an icy laugh. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, before he suddenly took in a deep breath as a ruthless look flitted across his eyes. The flickering Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling suddenly began to tremble violently as all the Genesis Qi stored within them was being fully squeezed out by Zhou Yuan at this moment. Rumble! Boundless Genesis Qi flowed through the channels inside Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like a flood. It was at this instant that another giant Genesis Qi pillar rose into the sky from the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, quickly splitting into four as an sky-shaking roar thundered. ¡°Nine Dragons Canon¡­ eight dragons!¡± Roar! Four even larger Genesis Qi pillars spun as they roared. A savage aura saturated the area, causing the sky to take on a dim red hue. The expressions of the numerous disciples in the vicinity of the stone stage abruptly changed at this moment. Shock filled their eyes as they gazed at the right beast shaped Genesis Qi hovering above Zhou Yuan. Alarm flashed across their faces, clearly having sensed the power of these eight Genesis Qi pillars. The mocking smile on Cao Shi¡¯s face slowly turned rigid, disbelief surging out in his eyes as he said in a shrill voice, ¡°Eight dragons?! Your Nine Dragons Canon has reached the eight dragons level?!¡± He was pretty much overwhelmed by astonishment. One must know that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nine Dragons Canon had only just reached the four dragons level in his battle against Lu Feng half a month ago. How had it suddenly shot to eight?! Eight dragons was already considered the advanced stage, wielding power that went far beyond the four dragons level! One must know that even amongst the inner mountain disciples, only a rare handful had managed to reach the eight dragons level! What Cao Shi did not know was that Zhou Yuan had originally planned on preparing nine dragons for the former. However, the latter had failed after reaching eight dragons, because the Genesis Qi in his body was unable to sustain the ninth Genesis Qi beast figure. Zhou Yuan could not be bothered with any useless exchange of words, and had no intention of dragging the battle any longer after getting a grasp of Cao Shi¡¯s strength. Zhou Yuan had after all used his secluded cultivation session to specially prepared this trump card for Cao Shi. Hence, Zhou Yuan merely stared coldly at Cao Shi. Roar! Eight Genesis Qi beast figures roared at the heavens as an explosion of savageness swept outwards. A split second later, all of them abruptly shot forth, their giant shadows enveloping Cao Shi as his expression changed drastically. ¡°Have a taste of the sumptuous feast I¡¯ve prepared for you.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 299 Everyone Awed Roar! Eight Genesis Qi beasts roared as they wreaked havoc, their savage auras churning. The sky darkened as a strong stench blew past, causing dread to rise in anyone who saw this sight. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to suddenly unleash such a terrifying trump card. Similarly, no one had expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nine Dragons Canon to reach this level. At one side of the stone stage, Zhang Yan¡¯s expression turned slightly rigid. The turn of events on the stage had exceeded his expectations. Zhou Yuan¡¯s counter attack was indeed formidable, causing a chill to rise in one¡¯s heart. No one knew whether Cao Shi would be able to withstand such an attack. In the vicinity of the stone stage, tense gaze after gaze watched the battle unfurl within it. Cao Shi¡¯s face had turned extremely grave. He could sense the ferocity of the eight roaring Genesis Qi beasts, the pressure he felt making his scalp turn numb. However, he understood that he could not retreat at this point, a fierce and resolute look flashing in his eyes. ¡°So what if its eight dragons, I refuse to believe a second layer Alpha-Origin like you will be able to bring out all of its power!¡± Cao Shi gritted his teeth. ¡°You¡¯re just putting up an act, appearing powerful on the outside but in reality empty on the inside!¡± His palms abruptly slammed into each other as the Genesis Qi in his body began to circulate without holding anything back. Rumble! Silver snow like Genesis Qi swept out from the top of his head like a giant silver dragon. It coiled in the sky above him, the swirling Genesis Qi taking on the shape of a silver halo. The halo slowly revolved. A split second later, the cries of millions of swords suddenly rang out from within it. The numerous disciples watched as countless silver sword shadows spilled out from the halo, filling the entire sky. ¡°High grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Melody of the Sword Sea!¡± Countless silver sword shadows shot forth like an endless sea of blades, their cries converging together, before sweeping across the area. The sharpness they gave off seemingly piercing even space itself. At the sight of Cao Shi¡¯s counter attack, the expressions of numerous disciples changed slightly, turning a little grave. ¡°Senior brother Cao Shi is going all out, and has even used the Melody of the Sword Sea. That¡¯s his most powerful trump card.¡± The crowd was practically glued to the fight. It was clear that Zhou Yuan¡¯s counter attack had made Cao Shi feel danger. Thus, he no longer dared to hold anything back, directly activating his strongest technique. It was time to see whose trump card was stronger! Bzz! Under the attention of countless glowing eyes, the sword sea surged past, ultimately crashing into the Genesis Qi beasts. Rumble! A shockwave of Genesis Qi swept outwards, ripping tear after tear in the stone stage. The first Genesis Qi beast only lasted for a dozen breaths before being shredded to pieces by the sea of swords. The second beast quickly followed up, but was soon torn to shreds. In the short span of a few dozen breaths, the ferocious Genesis Qi beasts were slaughtered one after another. This scene stunned many disciples, clearly surprised that the seemingly powerful Genesis Qi beasts would end up being so pathetic. ¡°Why is this happening?¡± Even Zhou Tai could not help but ask. The Nine Dragons Canon and Melody of the Sword Sea were both high grade little Heaven Genesis techniques. The former should not have been broken through so quickly, right? Zhang Yan¡¯s taunt face finally relaxed slightly as he began to smile, ¡°It seems that junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi cannot match up. He¡¯s after all only at the second layer Alpha-Origin stage.¡± Many disciples nodded in agreement. They had originally believed Zhou Yuan¡¯s counter attack to be pretty deadly, but it turns out that it was only a false front. In the vicinity of the stone stage, only Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face remained unchanged. Of course, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s gaze was also flickering slightly, a look of thought on his face. ¡°Haha, junior brother Zhou Yuan, is this all you amount to?¡± Cao Shi laughed loudly at this moment, the worry from before already gone completely as he ridiculed, ¡°The Nine Dragons Canon has become the Nine Worms Canon in your hands!¡± He was under the impression that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had been lacking, and had just barely managed to use the Nine Dragons Canon. This led to his Genesis Qi being more scattered than usual, making the eight Genesis Qi beasts appear strong on the outside, while in actuality mere husks on the inside. Hence, a single touch was all that was needed to blow them apart. However, Zhou Yuan remained impassive in response to the former¡¯s taunting mockery. With a thought, the remaining Genesis Qi beasts continued to charge forward in a ferocious manner. Boom! Boom! However, the outcome was still the same. Genesis Qi beast after beast was being slashed to shreds by the sea of sword. In the blink of an eye, only specks of scattered Genesis Qi remained of the first seven beasts, leaving only the final one floating in the air. ¡°I shall finish this in one go. Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better behave better in future!¡± With a cry from Cao Shi, the seemingly endless sea of swords swept forth, shooting straight at the last Genesis Qi beast. Once the last Genesis Qi beast was torn to shreds, Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack would not no more, deciding the victor of this battle. Bzz! The sea of swords buzzed loudly as they rushed towards the final Genesis Qi beast. The eighth Genesis Qi beast coiled in the sky, its shape similar to that of a python. At this current moment, it seemed to be trembling faintly. A pair of tightly shut snake eyes slowly opened at this moment. Rumble! The instant they opened, berserk and ferocious Genesis Qi suddenly erupted. Rumble! The originally hundred feet tall Genesis Qi pillar abruptly began to swell, reaching over five hundred feet. The power of this Genesis Qi beast was even stronger than all of its seven predecessors! ¡°What?!¡± The power pulsing from the Genesis Qi instantly astonished numerous disciples, filling their faces with confusion. They could not understand why the final Genesis Qi beast would be so powerful. Zhang Yan¡¯s expression also changed slightly as he fell into thought for a brief moment. His heart immediately shuddered as the expression in his eyes fluctuated. ¡°Zhou Yuan is really cunning!¡± The reason why the previous seven beasts were so weak was not because Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was insufficient, but because he had intentionally gathered the majority of his power in the eighth Genesis Qi beast! On the other hand, Cao Shi spent a great amount of energy with the intention of finishing this in one fell sweep, causing him to exhaust quite a substantial amount of Genesis Qi up till this point. However, all he had achieved was blasting apart a few empty husks. Zhou Yuan¡¯s true killing blow was hidden in the eighth beast! Roar! Gasp after gasp was heard as the eighth beast roared. It opened its giant maw, seemingly appearing to block out the sky as it lunged towards the sea of swords. Fwoosh! A single gulp was all it took to instantly swallow the sea of swords. The silver sword shadows that had entered the Genesis Qi beast¡¯s body were instantly destroyed by the savage power inside... Everyone was stunned, including Cao Shi. ¡°How can this be?! Why is this Genesis Qi beast so strong?!¡± Cao Shi¡¯s complexion had turned deathly pale. Just moments ago, he had believed victory to be already in his grasp, but who could have expected such a reversal to happen in the blink of an eye. It felt akin to being thrown out of the heavens. The surroundings of the stone stage was silent as numerous disciples looked at each other. They too were surprised by such a turn of events. Zhang Yan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately, his brows tightly furrowed together. He had likewise been certain of Cao Shi¡¯s victory... An expressionless Zhou Yuan gazed at Cao Shi and waved his sleeve. The final Genesis Qi beast suddenly roared as it ferociously pounced towards the latter, making him hastily retreat in terror. The savage aura that assaulted his face made Cao Shi¡¯s heart shiver. The sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s cold gaze making his heart shudder even more violently, as he hurriedly yelled, ¡°I, I admit defeat!¡± If he was hit by the Genesis Qi beast, he would surely be heavily injured. Bang! The instant the words left his mouth, the Genesis Qi beast that was only a few feet away suddenly exploded, the berserk shockwave blowing Cao Shi several steps back. Huu. Zhou Yuan cast an indifferent glance at the panicked Cao Shi as he let out a long drawn out breath. The Genesis Qi around his body gradually receded, seemingly thinner than before. It was clear that the eighth dragon of the Nine Dragons Canon earlier had depleted his Genesis Qi. This was something everyone could see, but no one dared to say anything this time. The strength Zhou Yuan had just displayed made them feel a chill rise in their hearts. Zhou Yuan was after all still at the second layer Alpha-Origin stage, but even the fifth layer Cao Shi had suffered greatly at the former¡¯s hands. Such battle power was terrifying. Moreover, the current Zhou Yuan was obviously even stronger than he was during the peak selection ceremony. Such rapid progress made one¡¯s heart shiver involuntarily. ¡°Thanks for letting me win.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together with a calm expression. Fear and anger interlaced on Cao Shi¡¯s face that was not a pretty sight to look at currently. Such an outcome was something he had never even considered. Around the stone stage, all the disciples stared at Zhou Yuan in amazement regardless of what faction they hailed from. There was no longer any gazes that questioned his actions, now replaced by a sliver of wariness. In the past, numerous senior disciples had not thought much of this champion of the peak selection ceremony. Zhou Yuan was after all just a new disciple, and titles meant little. However, Zhou Yuan had now proven his worth to them... In the silence, Shen Taiyuan stroked his beard, a gratified smile appearing on his strict and aged face. Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory had also somewhat exceeded his expectations. He had originally been under the impression that Zhou Yuan was merely being rash, especially since youngsters were quite easily provoked. But from what he could see now, it was clear that he had underestimated Zhou Yuan. He softly chuckled as his gaze swept towards his disciples. ¡°Zhou Yuan had won this battle. In accordance to the agreement, he shall be the third participant in the cave match next month. Is there any of you who still has objections?¡± Numerous disciples shook their heads. Shen Taiyuan nodded as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Since that is the case, you shall be the third participant. In a month, you shall represent our faction and contest for the purple Genesis cave dwelling.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists and responded. Shen Taiyuan and the rest of the new disciples cheered in excitement. Zhou Yuan battle made them feel proud as fellow new disciples. The corners of Zhang Yan¡¯s mouth twitched when he saw this. He knew that with this battle, Zhou Yuan had established a place for himself in the inner mountains. In the future, it was likely that not many disciples would respond if anyone were to attempt suppressing Zhou Yuan based on seniority. After all, the strength Zhou Yuan had displayed in this battle was enough to convince everyone. He glanced at the deathly pale Cao Shi, and could only curse inside. ¡°Useless.¡± He had originally intended for Cao Shi to show Zhou Yuan his place, and lessen his value in Shen Taiyuan¡¯s eyes. However, it had all been ruined by Cao Shi. Zhou Yuan had ultimately managed to solidify his position. Previous Chapte Chapter 300 Stir The result of Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi¡¯s match swiftly spread in Saint Genesis Peak, undoubtedly stirring up the waters. Many had originally believed this match to be an unimportant squabble that had been started by Zhou Yuan. Even though Zhou Yuan was the champion of the latest peak selection ceremony, it had been a competition only amongst the outer mountain disciples. Cao Shi on the other hand was a veteran gold sash disciple, and a formidable individual amongst his fifth layer Alpha-Origin peers. These two were clearly not supposed to be on the same level. As such, many had dismissed the match with a laugh. But who could have expected the final result to turn out in such a manner... ¡°What? Zhou Yuan defeated Cao Shi?!¡± Lu Yan was with elder Lu Song when she heard the news, disbelief immediately flooding her pretty face as she immediately asked, ¡°How can it be? Did you make a mistake?¡± The disciple that had mae the report merely smiled bitterly as he explained, ¡°The news has already spread, and so many people have personally seen the battle. Zhou Yuan has indeed beaten Cao Shi. Lu Yan¡¯s face turned spicy hot with embarrassment. She had so certain of Zhou Yuan¡¯s defeat, hence this outcome was in truth quite shameful for her. ¡°Hehe, it seems that you¡¯ve underestimated Zhou Yuan.¡± Elder Lu Song grinned widely. Lu Yan gently gritted her teeth and snorted. ¡°Who knows whether elder Shen¡¯s faction was just putting up a show. Elder Shen may have forced Cao Shi to lose to Zhou Yuan.¡± She was still unable to believe it. Zhou Yuan was only a second layer Alpha-Origin, right? Even if he had defeated the fourth layer Lu Feng during the peak selection ceremony, there was a huge gap between Lu Feng and Cao Shi. Elder Lu Song shook his head. ¡°I understand old Shen¡¯s character. He¡¯s inflexible and stubborn, and no matter how highly he regards Zhou Yuan, he will never use such a method to help the latter.¡± The disciple that had come to inform them also said, ¡°It seems that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nine Dragons Canon has reached the eighth dragon level.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Elder Lu Song, who was currently watering a plant, paused for a moment as he remarked in surprise, ¡°This little guy does have some ability. Even amongst the inner mountain disciples, there are very few who can reach this level in the Nine Dragons Canon. In his fight with Lu Feng, he had only been at the fourth dragon¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve previously heard of Zhou Yuan¡¯s excellent comprehensive ability with regards to Genesis techniques, but I never imagined that it would be so superb.¡± He sighed. Lu Yan pouted when she heard Lu Song continuously praise Zhou Yuan. ¡°If you think so highly of him, why didn¡¯t you recruit him?¡± Elder Lu Song sighed. ¡°At present, Lu Hong¡¯s momentum is practically unstoppable, and I no longer have the drive to vie with him, leaving only that stubborn old Shen who is still unwilling to admit defeat. Since that is the case, why should I compete with him over Zhou Yuan. You can take it as me letting him hope.¡± ¡°In that one in a million chance that Zhou Yuan really does turn out to be an amazing genius blessed by the heavens, and manages to obstruct Lu Hong¡¯s faction, it would be good for us too, because as things stand, we¡¯ll likely never be able to raise our heads again in the future.¡± Lu Yan¡¯s pupils swiveled in thought as she said, ¡°Since Zhou Yuan has defeated Cao Shi, he will become one of the participants for the upcoming cave match. Grandfather, who do you think will end up winning the purple Genesis cave dwelling?¡± Lu Song chuckled and answered, ¡°Though Zhou Yuan is talented, he has after all only recently joined the inner mountains, it is likely that it took everything he had to defeat Cao Shi this time. If my prediction is not wrong, once he used the Nine Dragons Canon, he barely had any Genesis Qi left to continue the fight.¡± Upon hearing this, the disciple who had come to report immediately said, ¡°Teacher Shen has incredible foresight. It is indeed true that Zhou Yuan exhausted nearly all of his Genesis Qi after using the Nine Dragons Canon. I¡¯m of the opinion that if Cao Shi had gritted his teeth and took it, the one who lost would not have been him.¡± Lu Song nodded in agreement. ¡°He¡¯s after all a second layer Alpha-Origin, making his cultivation lacking¡­ so even if he replaces Cao Shi, he would not be of much help to elder Shen¡¯s side.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Lu Hong is sending Wei Youxuan, Feng Yu and Chen Ying¡­ these three are certainly elites amongst his gold sash disciples, each one boasting incredible strength, and may even be concealing their true power.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why even with Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden addition, Lu Hong¡¯s side still has a better chance of victory.¡± ¡°In such a situation, a mere Zhou Yuan changes nothing.¡± Only after hearing Lu Song speak such words did Lu Yan finally nod in satisfaction. Lu Song could not help but laugh when he saw this. ¡°He has never provoked or offended you, why do you always seem so happy when things aren¡¯t going well for him?¡± Lu Yan was taken aback. With a tremble of a full bosom, she self-righteously said, ¡°Well, no one asked him to be the champion of the peak selection ceremony.¡± Lu Song helplessly shook his head. How could he not be aware of his granddaughter''s wirshop of the head of the ten great Chosens, Chu Qing. The same Chu Qing that was also once a champion of the peak selection ceremony. In Lu Yan¡¯s heart, no other champion could compare to Chu Qing. Hence, for the sake of proving that she was not wrong, she would naturally adopt such an attitude towards Zhou Yuan. Lu Song glanced at Lu Yan and said, ¡°You¡¯d better not underestimate Zhou Yuan. No one can say for certain how the future will turn out. There may even come a day when he catches up to Chu Qing.¡± He was definitely not happy about his granddaughter¡¯s blind adoration of Chu Qing. Hence, he was abnormally critical with regards to Chu Qing. However, upon hearing this, Lu Yan disdainfully said, ¡°Who knows how many geniuses there are who hope to catch up to Chu Qing. I¡¯m afraid that Zhou Yuan will not be able to live up to such high expectations. Grandfather, it is impossible for that to happen.¡± ¡°Moreover, it¡¯d be better for him to think about how to handle the upcoming cave match. He¡¯d better not let the chance he worked so hard for end up being humiliation fiesta.¡± ¡°The cave match will be nothing like the match between those under the same teacher. If he loses, the entire Cangxuan Sect will know. That¡¯s pretty much going to be akin to losing all face.¡± ¡°As for catching up to senior brother Chu Qing¡­¡± Lu Yan stealthily shifted to the entrance, before making a funny face at Lu Song. She slipped away in an instant, her voice echoing from afar as her figure disappeared into the distance. ¡°Grandfather, you can keep daydreaming!¡± Lu Song blew at this beard in anger. ¡°Ill-mannered lass!¡± ... The outcome of the match also eventually made its way to Lu Hong¡¯s faction. In a certain stone pavilion. Wei Youxuan was pouring tea, Feng Yu, Cheng Ying and several other Lu Hong disciples seated beside him. Cheng Ying remarked, ¡°Elder Shen¡¯s group is becoming more and more pathetic. I can¡¯t believe that a new disciple managed to beat a veteran gold sash disciple. This Cao Shi¡­ is really too incompetent.¡± The more cautious Feng Yu slowly said, ¡°The fact that Zhou Yuan was able to defeat him likely means that he does have some ability.¡± Cheng Ying laughed and said, ¡°What ability can he have. I already know how the match went, he basically threw everything into that one attack, leaving him no way out. Zhou Yuan does have some talent in Genesis techniques, managing to reach the eighth dragon level during his secluded cultivation, and just barely defeating Cao Shi.¡± ¡°However, once it is used, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi will be fully spent, making it impossible for him to continue.¡± ¡°Over all, he¡¯s like a one trick pony.¡± Feng Yu gave a slight nod. ¡°If that is the case, there is nothing to fear. As long as that move is blocked, Zhou Yuan would become useless.¡± His gaze turned, looking towards the Wei Youxuan, who was still pouring tea, as he smiled and asked, ¡°What are senior brother Wei¡¯s thoughts?¡± Wei Youxuan toyed with the cup in his hand a faint smile was revealed on his face. ¡°No matter what games their playing, they will not have any chances in the upcoming cave match, because I¡¯ve long had my eye on that purple Genesis cave dwelling.¡± Though his voice was soft, there was a certain unshakable feeling to his words, as if they had already decided who the purple Qi cave dwelling would ultimately belong to. However, neither Feng Yu nor Cheng Ying raised any objections. Instead, gloating smiles appeared on their faces. ¡°Looks like senior brother Wei is serious¡­¡± ¡°*Sigh* Fine, senior brother Wei should take the purple Genesis cave dwelling and quickly get promoted. We¡¯ve been drooling over the gold sash first seat for a long time¡­¡± The two raised their cups and grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s toast to senior brother Wei¡¯s success.¡± Wei Youxuan smiled slightly as he their cups hit, before raising his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he peered into the distance. ¡°Tong Long, Pan Song, Zhou Yuan¡­¡± He shook his head as he chuckled softly. ¡°Are just three pieces of trash.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 301 Arrival of the Baptism Several days quickly passed after the duel between Zhou Yuan and Cao Shi, while the ripples it caused gradually vanishing. After their initial shock, many disciples began to accept the result. The match was after all between those of the same faction, and did not have much to do with the other two groups. The main takeaway of those that had watched the match was that although Zhou Yuan had won, it had been a narrow victory due to his lack of Genesis Qi. Therefore, most people felt they were about equal in strength. As such, the disciples under Lu Hong basically did not care that Zhou Yuan had replaced Cao Shi as the third participant in the cave match. From what they could see, the ultimate result would not be any different regardless of whether it was Zhou Yuan or Cao Shi. It was obvious that Lu Hong¡¯s faction did not really view elder Shen¡¯s faction as a threat. In their eyes, the only difference there would be after Zhou Yuan replaced Cao Shi, was who would end up being humiliated. Hence, the attention on Zhou Yuan only lasted for a few days before fading away, no one bothering to take any further notice of him. They knew that halo currently over Zhou Yuan would naturally dissipate during the cave match... ... Yet another morning lesson in the Dao Seeker Hall. Zhou Yuan was seated on the mat with his eyes lightly shut, his Spirit borrowing the powers of the Alpha-Origin Cliff and Timeless Mat to collect Alpha-Origin Qi. In the large hall, other disciples would look over from time to time. However, there was no longer anyone who dared to object to Zhou Yuan¡¯s status as the gold sash third seat. Even Cao Shi, who was right behind, had practically surrendered for the past few days, no longer daring to casually provoke the former. Zhou Yuan had clearly succeeded in establishing his position through the duel with Cao Shi. The hall was silent for a long time. Only after everyone completed their cultivation session did hushed whispers begin to spread. At the highest seat, Shen Taiyuan cast his gaze downwards, sweeping past Tong Long, Pan Song and Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, ¡°There are still twelve days till the cave match.¡± Every gaze in the hall immediately converged towards the trio. ¡°Are you three confident?¡± Upon hearing Shen Taiyuan¡¯s question, Tong Long and Pan Song hesitated somewhat, not knowing how to reply. After all, they knew all three individuals from Lu Hong¡¯s side were not simple at all, especially Wei Youxuan. They had never fought before, who knew what were their chances? ¡°Teacher Shen, we will give our all in battle.¡± Said Tong Long in the end, but anyone could hear the uncertainty in his voice. Shen Taiyuan frowned, somewhat unsatisfied by this answer. However, he understood that Tong Long and Pan Song were facing a tremendous amount of pressure. After all, the disciples under Lu Hong were indeed of higher quality than them. Even more disciples secretly shook their heads and sighed inside. The truth was that even they did not fancy the chances of their team. As for Zhou Yuan, nobody paid much attention to him. Although he had defeated Cao Shi, the latter was slightly weaker than Tong Long and Pan Song. Since the two of them had already said declared their views, everyone believed that Zhou Yuan would only be tagging along. However, it was not because anyone looked down on him, but because it would be the same even if it was Cao Shi. ¡°If the three of you have any problems or needs in your cultivation, you may feel free to find me directly.¡± Offered Shen Taiyuan. At such a time, he could only give them as much convenience as possible, and hope that they would succeed in raising their strength. A slight look of joy was revealed on Cao Shi and Pan Song¡¯s faces as they hurriedly acknowledged in a respectful manner. In contrast, Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a moment, before attempted to probe, ¡°Teacher Shen, I¡¯ve recently been thinking about trying to practice the Heavenly Sun God Record awarded to me by sect master, but am unable to gather some of the required Genesis resources¡­¡± Three Genesis resources were needed to learn the Heavenly Sun God Record, the Nine Yang Crystal, the Heavenly Flame Rock Essence and the Golden Crow Heart. All three were quite rare, and he had been searching the Glittering Jewels Pavilion for some time but to no avail. Since Shen Taiyuan had offered his help, Zhou Yuan decided there was no need to be courteous, and immediately struck while the iron was hot. Before Shen Taiyaun could respond, Zhang Yan smiled faintly and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t junior brother Zhou Yuan being too ambitious. The Heavenly Sun God Record is a low grade Heaven Genesis technique, and let alone gold sash disciples, even a few purple sash disciples rarely succeed in learning one. In my opinion, junior brother Zhou Yuan should put your efforts into your Genesis Qi cultivation. The opponents you meet in the cave match are no ordinary individuals after all.¡± ¡°If your opponent ends up withstanding your eight dragons Nine Dragons Canon, you will no longer have any energy to retaliate.¡± Other disciples also broke out into whispers, somewhat in agreement with Zhang Yan¡¯s words. They clearly understood just how stringent a Heaven Genesis technique was, and since Zhou Yuan was already somewhat lacking in Genesis Qi to use the Nine Dragons Canon, he would likely be unable to activate the Heavenly Sun God Record even if he did manage to learn it, right? This also made them suspect that Zhou Yuan was taking the opportunity to profit from teacher Shen¡¯s offer. Of course, it was mainly because they were quite jealous. It was a Heaven Genesis technique, and even a low grade one was something several purple sash disciples did not possess. Zhou Yuan merely glanced at Zhang Yan, paying no heed to the latter¡¯s words as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan. ¡°The Heavenly Sun God Record huh?¡± Shen Taiyuan was slightly taken aback. He had heard of this technique, and thus knew about the Genesis resources it required. As he stroked his beard, he said, ¡°You do know how to find opportunities, even I will have trouble with these three Genesis resources.¡± He looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Are you confident in learning the Heavenly Sun God Record?¡± Zhou Yuan calmly answered, ¡°I will give it my all.¡± Zhang Yan laughed upon hearing this and was just about to speak up again. However, Shen Taiyuan waved his hand, gazing deeply at Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°Since that is so, I will naturally give you my full support. I will help you collect these Genesis resources.¡± The corners of Zhang Yan¡¯s mouth twitched. He had not expected Shen Taiyuan to agree to Zhou Yuan¡¯s rather outrageous request. Ordinary disciples, and even purple sash disciples like them were not given such treatment all the time. Feeling rather oppressed inside, Zhang Yan could only glance at Zhou Yuan with a forced superficial smile as he said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, please do not let teacher Shen down. I hope that we will be able to open our eyes during the cave match, and show all of us fellow brother disciples the Heaven Genesis technique you¡¯ve mastered. Don¡¯t waste the cultivation resources you¡¯re given.¡± Some of the disciples that were closer to Zhang Yan sniggered inside. He was clearly putting Zhou Yuan on a pedestal. If the latter was unable to show them anything during the cave match, the other disciples would likely think that he was purely taking advantage, which would in turn lower his reputation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry senior brother Zhang Yan. I will do my best.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s tone was neither angry nor cold. At the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s seemingly untouchable appearance, Zhang Yan could only coldly snort inside. Shen Taiyuan looked towards Zhou Yuan and suddenly raised his hand. Two bundles of lights descended which were received by Zhou Yuan. The bundles of light turned out to be two tokens, on which a giant coiling dragon had been carved. On the dragon¡¯s body was an unbroken mountain range dotted with caves. ¡°This is?¡± Zhou Yuan was puzzled. Shen Taiyuan explained, ¡°This is your reward for the peak selection ceremony, a slot for the Genesis Marrow Baptism.¡± ¡°Oh? The Genesis Marrow Baptism is open?¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. He had been looking forward to it for quite some time. Shen Taiyuan nodded. ¡°It will formally open tomorrow.¡± ¡°The second token is for Zhou Xiaoyan, and is given by peak master white brow. If she is interested, she may also follow tomorrow.¡± Yaoyao was a toothache for Shen Taiyuan. Ever since she came to Saint Genesis Peak, she had yet to attend even a single morning lesson. As such, he had not seen her since. Zhou Yuan sighed inside. Peak master white brow truly valued Yaoyao a lot. ¡°Only the purple sash of the various peaks have the right to enjoy the Genesis Marrow Baptism once every two months, making it a grand event of sorts. Tomorrow, you will follow Zhou Tai and the rest there.¡± Said Shen Taiyuan. Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhou Tai, who responded with a warm smile. In turn, Zhou Yuan nodded. After giving a few more instructions, Shen Taiyuan waved his hand, indicating for the disciples to disperse. Zhou Yuan grasped the tokens in his hands as curiosity and anticipation flooded out in his eyes. He had been looking forward to this Genesis Marrow Baptism for a long time, and it was finally here at last. His duel with Cao Shi had likewise made him feel that his Genesis Qi cultivation was lacking. Therefore, he had high hopes for the famous Cangxuan Sect Genesis Marrow Baptism. As he kept the two tokens, he mumbled to himself, ¡°I hope that the Genesis Marrow Baptism will not disappoint¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 302 Genesis Dragon Vein The next day. When Zhou Yuan brought Yaoyao to the gathering point, he saw that Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the other few purple sash disciples were already waiting there. With the exception of Zhou Tai, the other purple sash disciples wore nonchalant expressions that gave off a slight air of superiority. They were after all purple sash disciples, status that far surpassed a gold sash disciple like Zhou Yuan. However, although they were pretty much impassive towards Zhou Yuan, the expressions in their eyes began to warm a little when they saw Yaoyao. They discreetly straightened their clothes and posture as the revealed handsome and friendly smiles to her. Ever since Yaoyao had shown herself on the first day when the new disciples selected which elder to join, her name had already spread to the entire Saint Genesis Peak. She was also immediately crowned the number beauty of Saint Genesis Peak. After all, regardless of whether it was appearance or presence, Yaoyao belong to the category of being peerless in her generation. Even someone as pretty as Lu Yan would appear extremely dull when put next to Yaoyao. Hence, Yaoyao¡¯s arrival stirred up certain thoughts in the numerous males of Saint Genesis Peak. However, their hearts were shattered when they discovered that Yaoyao was staying in Zhou Yuan¡¯s cave dwelling, barely ever stepping out. No one could even catch a glimpse of her normally, making the male disciples with certain intentions grieve and lament. Thus, when the purple sash disciples saw Yaoyao finally make an appearance, all of them suddenly became warm and friendly. If not because there was a chance that Yaoyao would appear with Zhou Yuan, none of them would have bothered waiting here for so long... Today, Yaoyao was dressed in deep black clothes, her fine black hair tied up simply, handing down to her slim as a willow waist, swaying gently as a breeze blew past. Her beautiful and graceful appearance made one unable to resist taking another look. In terms of appearance and presence, Yaoyao was at the level that could bring about calamities. Zhou Yuan had seen quite a number of beauties over the years, but with regards to appearance, it was extremely rare to find anyone who could match Yaoyao. It was as if her beauty had been sculptured by nature, not a single blemish to be found. In fact, anyone would be easily lost in her perfect face. There were times when Zhou Yuan imagined what would happen if Yaoyao had the same bewitching aura as Zuoqiu Qingyu. It was likely that there would be no man in this world who could resist her, right? Yaoyao elegantly stood beside Zhou Yuan, her gorgeous fair as snow face impassive in response to the warm and handsome smiles from the purple sash disciples, and not even the tiniest ripple could be seen in her clear, distant eyes. She watched the clouds float by in the sky as she carried Tuntun in her arms, ignoring the existence of everyone else. Zhou Tai smiled at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Since you guys are here, let¡¯s prepare to make a move.¡± Zhou Yuan responded with a smile and a nod. Zhou Tai waved his sleeve as Genesis Qi surged out, transforming into a Genesis Qi cloud that brought the group into the sky, and began flying in a certain direction. While they were flying past Saint Genesis Peak, another two Genesis Qi clouds rose from the other two peaks. Atop the two clouds were the purple sash disciples from the other two factions. Lu Song¡¯s faction was led by Lu Yan. With her hot body, she was also quite an attention grabbing sight. Although she could not compare to Yaoyao, she was still an enchanting beauty. Her gaze first landed on Yaoyao, before shifting away as if struck by a mental blow to viciously glare at Zhou Yuan as if releasing all of the blame on him. With a soft snort, she sped away on her Genesis Qi cloud. Lu Hong¡¯s faction was led by Yuan Hong. They had the most purple sash disciples of the three groups, and thus gave off a strong and impressive aura. Hence, they audaciously looked towards elder Shen¡¯s group without reservation, several disciples constantly casting their gazes at Yaoyao. Zhou Tai shot an angry glance at them, but did not intend on clashing with them here. With a stomp of his foot, the Genesis Qi cloud sped up, rapidly leaving them behind. Giant peak after peak thrust into the clouds on the vast land, Genesis Qi clouds occasionally zipping past in the sky. The calls and chirps of various birds filled the place, and one would even catch sight of squads of disciples in black flying past high in the sky in orderly formations. They were the enforcement disciples of the inner mountains. The entire place gave off a busy vibe. While they were travelling, Zhou Tai advised Zhou Yuan, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, the Genesis Marrow Baptism opens every two months, and lasts for ten days each time. You should take note of the time you have.¡± Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Tai, what exactly is this Genesis Marrow Baptism?¡± Zhou Tai did not answer, and merely said, ¡°You¡¯ll know once we reach our destination.¡± All Zhou Yuan could do was nod his head. An incense stick of tiem later, the Genesis Qi cloud under their feet finally began to slow. Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked to the front as if sensing something, only for his heart to tremble involuntarily. To their front stood majestic mountains akin to pillars that were supporting the heavens, connecting the sky and land. Between the mountains flowed vast, gigantic rivers. From above, it looked as if an endless jade dragon was twisting and coiling around them. An indescribable aura dashed into the sky, making one feel as if the faint roar of dragon was echoing across the land. Zhou Yuan and the rest landed on one of the mountains. Before the giant mountains and rivers that separate them, the group was as tiny as ants. ¡°The Genesis Qi here¡­ is so pure!¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly discovered that the Genesis Qi around him was extremely pure, beating even the Genesis Qi in his gold Genesis cave dwelling. The area was blanketed in swirling mists making it appear rather hazy, mists that would only appear when the Genesis Qi in the area was extremely pure. ¡°It¡¯s because of the rivers!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed when he gazed at the wide rivers that snaked between the giant peaks. He had seen mist continuously rise from the rivers and blend into the air. However, he also felt a peculiar pressure when he gazed at the jade dragon like rivers, making fear involuntarily bubble up in his heart. It seemed that these rivers were not ordinary at all. ¡°This is where the Genesis Marrow Baptism is held.¡± Zhou Tai grinned at Zhou Yuan as he pointed to the vast rivers. At this current moment, a seemingly endless stream of Genesis Qi were descending from the sky, landing on the various mountains. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, these rivers are no ordinary rivers. They originate from our Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Origin Dragon Vein.¡± ¡°Genesis Dragon Vein?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. There is a saying amongst the various empires, the one who obtains the Dragon Veins will obtain all that is under the heavens. In reality, the Dragon Vein is made from condensed Genesis Qi, and our Cangxuan Sect possesses one which we call the Origin Dragon Vein, meaning that it is the origin of all Dragon Veins.¡± ¡°The main reason why our sect¡¯s Genesis Qi is so rich, and can construct numerous Genesis Mountains for our training is because there is an Origin Dragon Vein below us that provides an endless amount of Genesis Qi.¡± ¡°This Origin Dragon Vein is the bedrock on which our Cangxuan Sect is built.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook violently, shocked as he gazed at the flowing jade dragon like rivers before him. No wonder he had felt an indescribable pressure, it turns out that these rivers originated from the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Origin Dragon Vein. ¡°Unbelievable¡­¡± His eyes began to burn with excitement as he mumbled. ¡°I¡¯m starting to look more and more forward to the Genesis Marrow Baptism.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 303 Dragon Genesis Marrow Zhou Yuan and the rest stood on a mountain peak, their gazes directed to the front where the jade dragon like rivers meandered through giant mountain after mountain, ultimately flowing into a giant lake. There seemed to be no end to this lake in which also stood several heaven pillar like mountains. The mountains split the lake into sections, making it seem akin to a maze when covered by the mists. Zhou Tai pointed at the seemingly endless mist covered lake and said, ¡°This is the Genesis reservoir and where the Genesis Marrow Baptism will be held. Although it is called a reservoir, it is extremely vast, so calling it a sea won¡¯t be an exaggeration.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes fell upon the so-called Genesis reservoir as his expression turned serious. He could feel a certain pressure inside it that made fear rise in one¡¯s heart, not daring to enter its waters. He knew that this was likely due to the Origin Dragon Vein. It could be said to be a gathering of Genesis Qi that was born from the land, and naturally possessed a certain natural pressure. He raised his head, and saw the faint outline of an enormous Genesis Rune boundary that descended from the sky like a dome, enveloping the entire Genesis reservoir. This was an important place in the Cangxuan Sect, and was naturally tightly guarded. Countless Genesis Qi clouds were landing in the vicinity of the Genesis reservoir, clearly the disciples from the other peaks. However, what surprised Zhou Yuan was that the majority were not purple sash disciples. Zhou Tai explained, ¡°The Genesis Qi in the vicinity of the Genesis reservoir is extremely concentrated. Although the other disciples do not have the qualifications to enter, they will benefit substantially from training at the edge of the reservoir.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and asked, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Tai, it should be time to tell me about the Genesis Marrow Baptism, right?¡± Zhou Tai nodded and pointed towards the Genesis reservoir. ¡°The most important thing you should take note about the Genesis Marrow Baptism is the Dragon Genesis Essence. It is a mysterious existence that is born from the condensation of dragon Qi from the Origin Dragon Vein.¡± ¡°Dragon Genesis Essence? How do I obtain it?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°Heh heh, the Dragon Genesis Essence is obviously found in the Genesis reservoir, but in accordance to the rules, the disciples taking part in the baptism need to rely on their own abilities to find it.¡± ¡°The Genesis reservoir originates from the Origin Dragon Vein, and is filled with a peculiar pressure. One needs to constantly circulate one¡¯s Genesis Qi to withstand the pressure, making it very taxing search.¡± ¡°In addition, the Genesis reservoir may seem calm on the surface, but it is filled with danger. Due to the overflowing life energy from the Origin Dragon Vein, the dragon Qi that leaks from it turns into various kinds of aquatic creatures that will give you a headache when you encounter them in the reservoir.¡± ¡°However, because these aquatic creatures are made from dragon Qi, if you manage to hunt them,you¡¯ll be able to obtain Dragon Genesis Essence from their bodies. The bigger the creature, the purer the Dragon Genesis Essence.¡± Zhou Tai smiled and said, ¡°Why else do you think the Genesis reservoir opens for ten days each time? It¡¯s because everyone spends the majority of the first nine days searching, while the Genesis Marrow Baptism is held on the tenth day.¡± ¡°Today can be said to be a grand occasion of our Cangxuan Sect that happens once every two months. Practically all of the purple sash disciples will be coming to search for Dragon Genesis Essence and engage in the Genesis Marrow Baptism. It¡¯s after all something that only purple sash disciples get to enjoy, and no one would easily let this chance slip by.¡± He extended a finger and pointed at the sky above the Genesis reservoir. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze followed, and saw an island floating in the air. The island was somewhat similar to an altar, numerous old and simple stone pillars adorning it. ¡°That is the baptism altar, and the stone pillars on it are called baptism pillars. On the tenth day, the disciples will head there to borrow the power of the baptism pillars to activate the Dragon Genesis Essence, ultimately completing the baptism.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze filled with interest as he looked at the giant altar in the sky. ¡°In addition, the Genesis Marrow Baptism is also divided into different ranks. When the Dragon Genesis Essence is activated during the baptism, dragon shadows will appear and coil around the body. Hence, the rank of the baptism is based on how many dragon shadows appear.¡± ¡°For example, if only one dragon shadow appears, it will be considered a one dragon baptism, the lowest ranked baptism.¡± ¡°The highest is the nine dragons baptism where nine dragon shadows will appear.¡± ¡°Naturally, the higher the rank the greater the benefits.¡± ¡°Thus, to obtain a higher ranked baptism, you¡¯ll have to work hard to search for Dragon Genesis Essence, because the amount you collect will determine the rank of your baptism.¡± Explained Zhou Tai. ¡°Nine dragons baptism¡­¡± An intense look of interest flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Tai, what rank do you usually obtain?¡± Zhou Tai awkwardly scratched his head. ¡°I don¡¯t really stand out amongst the purple sash disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, and can¡¯t last for too long in the Genesis reservoir, which limits the amount of Dragon Genesis Essence I manage to find. All of my past baptisms have only reached the four dragons rank.¡± ¡°Some of the stronger purple sash disciples are capable of reaching five dragons. I¡¯ve heard that Yuan Hong from elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction has achieved five dragons every baptism.¡± ¡°If we talk about the six dragon rank baptisms, I¡¯m afraid that only the chief disciples of the other six peaks are able to reach it.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flashed. ¡°What about the ten great Chosens?¡± Zhou Tai could not help but chuckle. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s ambition is not small¡­ however, the ten great Chosens do not need to so painstakingly search for Dragon Genesis Essence in the reservoir, because the sect will bestow them a small section of the Genesis reservoir for their personal use when they become Chosens. They can enter it any time they want, and the Dragon Genesis Essence produced inside is much greater than other places.¡± ¡°As expected of the ten great Chosens, such treatment¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned, unable to hold back a sigh moments later. The advantages of the ten great Chosens were truly enviable. To think that they would even be allocated their own personal section of the Genesis reservoir. Compared to the other disciples, they were the ones who received the full support of the sect. However, as the ones who had distinguished themselves from amongst the many disciples, they were indeed deserving of such treatment. Zhou Tai also sighed as he nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why they need not put in much effort into finding Dragon Genesis Essence for their baptism to easily reach the seven dragons rank. However, if they wish to attain an even higher rank, they would have to personally venture into the depths of the Genesis reservoir to hunt the thousand feet long aquatic beasts. Only by taking the Dragon Genesis Essence from the bodies of such beasts would their baptism reach the eight dragons rank.¡± Most of the aquatic creatures in the Genesis reservoir were about a hundred feet long. It was said that the larger the beasts¡¯ bodies, the purer the Dragon Genesis Essence. After one reaches the seven dragons rank, one would have to go after the thousand feet aquatic beasts in order to ascend to greater heights. Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a brief moment, before he inquired, ¡°How strong are the thousand feet aquatic beasts?¡± When Zhang Yan heard this from the side, he laughed softly and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, there¡¯s no need for you to consider such matters. A thousand feet aquatic beast is an existence that even we can only run from. Over the years, I¡¯ve only seen one person who has been able to hunt a thousand feet aquatic beast and enjoy the eight dragons baptism.¡± ¡°Oh, who?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan with a slight smile, paying no attention to the thorns in Zhang Yan¡¯s words. Zhang Yan slowly answered, ¡°Who else but the head of the ten great Chosens?¡± ¡°Chu Qing¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes trembled slightly. This name was akin to thunder even for a new inner mountain disciple like himself. This Senior brother Chu Qing of his had left quite a number of legends in the Cangxuan Sect. As someone who could raise the Genesis Marrow Baptism to the eight dragon rank, it seems that Chu Qing was indeed very capable. Although Zhou Yuan had yet to meet these aquatic creatures, a thousand feet aquatic beast that the other Chosens could do nothing about was definitely not going to be easy to deal with. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, although you only have one chance for now, you should make sure to properly grasp it. It will be great if you manage to earn a five dragons baptism.¡± Consoled Zhou Tai. Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded in response. While they were talking, a disturbance suddenly began to spread in the area, countless male disciples peering towards the distance with bubbling excitement. Zhou Yuan and the rest were also sensed something was going on, and immediately raised their heads in curiosity. They caught sight of a Genesis Qi cloud descending from the sky, landing on a mountain far away. Skirts of all colors fluttered on the Genesis Qi cloud as sweet and melodious voices spread from it. It had evidently been ferrying many girls. At the very front, a young lady in white gracefully stood. A breeze blew past, making her fine black hair dance in the air, the sun shining down on an absolutely stunning face. Lotus flower patterns extended from the fringes of her skirt. Her features were extremely delicate, endowed with beauty that could cause the downfall of nations. On her clean and fair forehead was a lotus flower rune that gave her a pure and holy look. However, an iciness that kept everyone else a thousand miles away spread from the girl wearing a white skirt, like an unapproachable goddess of ice. Even so, her radiance was dazzling. Though there were many pretty girls around her, they did not seem to glow as much as they should, appearing dull in comparison. Amazement flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes when he saw her, because based on appearance and presence, the girl in a white skirt did not lose to Yaoyao by much. Moreover, the two were quite similar, both the cold and distant kind that kept others a thousand miles away. Zhou Yuan had already guessed her identity. There was only one person in the Cangxuan Sect whose appearance could make so many male disciples go crazy... Who else could it be but the third ranked Li Qingchan of the ten great Chosens? Previous Chapte Chapter 304 The Genesis Reservoir Opens ¡°Li Qingchan¡­ I can¡¯t believe that she¡¯s here too¡­¡± Atop a certain mountain, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the rest gazed from afar at the stunning and graceful figure standing on another peak, surprise appearing on their faces. Each of the ten great Chosens owned a small district in the Genesis reservoir, and could thus enter any time they wanted, not needing to wait for the reservoir to open every two months like everyone else. Therefore, they almost never chose to squeeze in with the others during this period. Hence, Li Qingchan¡¯s appearance was pretty unexpected for the group. ¡°It is Li Qingchan.¡± Zhou Yuan was also looking at the pretty figure. As a male, he was naturally somewhat curious about the individual said to be the number one beauty of the Cangxuan Sect. From what he could see, she was indeed a wonder of sorts. As such, his head turned to the side to look at Yaoyao¡¯s glossy as jade face, as if attempting to do a comparison. However, the moment his gaze shifted, Yaoyao¡¯s clear and cold eyes shot over, causing Zhou Yuan to hurriedly withdraw his gaze with a forced smile. But there were still many others who held similar thoughts as Zhou Yuan. Quite a number of the disciples in the vicinity secretly began comparing the two, seemingly trying to find out which of these two gorgeous beauties of the Cangxuan Sect was the prettier one. Swish! However, just as the numerous disciples began their work, the sound of rushing wind was once again heard from far away in the sky. A dark green Genesis Qi cloud descended from the sky and landed on one of the mountain tops, drawing countless gazes over. The cloud dispersed, revealing a slim figure. It was a young man in black, his black hair scattered over his shoulders. He had a defined, chiselled look, but what stood out the most were his eyes. They were pitch-black like ink, akin to a pair of black stones, and appeared rather enigmatic. One could just barely make out the sword like runes on the black sleeves that gently fluttered as a breeze blew past, as an indescribably sharp and formidable sword Qi spread from his body, making it seem as if the cry of a sword was ringing across the area. When he stood there, it felt as if he was not a human, but an unsheathed divine sword. The eyes of countless female disciples began to glow as they passionately gazed at the youth in black. Zhou Yuan¡¯s also looked towards the youth in black as his expression turned somewhat serious. Just looking at the latter made him feel a slight stabbing pain in his eyes, because the Genesis Qi in the latter¡¯s body was just too sharp. In the Cangxuan Sect, only those from Sword Cometh Peak would possess such sharp Genesis Qi. Therefore, the identity of the youth in black was already clear as day. Zhou Yuan asked in a low voice, ¡°He is¡­ the number two of the ten great Chosens, Kong Sheng?¡± Zhou Tai nodded with a similarly serious expression. ¡°That¡¯s right. He is Kong Sheng.¡± In the face of such an individual, even purple sash disciples like them felt an enormous pressure. While they were still in shock due to Kong Sheng¡¯s appearance, another Genesis Qi cloud descended from the sky. Atop the cloud was a young man wearing daoist robes on which countless ancient runes had been inscribed. The runes alternated between glowing and dimming as unique undulations spread. The youth in daoist robes wore a warm smile on his face, looking like quite the handsome young chap as his clothes fluttered in the breeze. ¡°The Spirit Rune Peak¡¯s Ye Ge¡­¡± At the sight of the youth in daoist robes, bewilderment filled Zhou Tai¡¯s expression. ¡°What¡¯s going on today? To think that three of the ten great Chosens have come!¡± The other disciples looked at each other, everyone puzzled. If it was just Li Qingchan, it could still be a coincidence, but when three of the Chosens arrived at the same time, this matter was no longer as simple as it appeared. ¡°Ignorant, have none of you heard the news?¡± While they were confused, a clear voice was suddenly heard from behind. Zhou Tai and the rest turned their heads, and saw Lu Yan walking over with her group. ¡°Hehe, does junior sister Lu Yan know?¡± Asked Zhou Tai with a chuckle. Lu Yan¡¯s gaze swept across the group, before she slowly said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard from my grandfather that traces of a thousand feet aquatic beast were discovered some time ago in the Genesis reservoir. Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and Ye Ge should be here because of it.¡± ¡°Thousand feet aquatic beast¡­¡± Astonishment was revealed on the faces of Zhou Tai and the rest. Thousand feet aquatic beasts usually hid in the deepest depths of the reservoir, making them exceedingly difficult to find. To think that one would reveal itself at such a time. No wonder Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and Ye Ge had chosen to come. After all, if they managed to hunt that thousand feet aquatic beast, they would be able to enjoy an eight dragons baptism. ¡°The other Chosens are either in secluded cultivation or out for missions. If not, there would likely be even more of them present.¡± Lu Yan smiled as she continued, ¡°Of course, if senior brother Chu Qing came, there would be nothing for the other Chosens to do.¡± She was still the same Chu Qing fanatic. Zhou Tai chuckled as he looked towards the three figures. ¡°It seems that the Genesis Marrow Baptism will be quite entertaining this time. An eight dragon baptism is a grand affair after all. Even if we can¡¯t enjoy it, it will be a nice eye-opening experience.¡± He looked towards Zhou Yuan, finding that the latter was still staring at the three figures, and immediately patted his shoulders. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan need not envy them, the future you may also have a chance to taste that eight dragon baptism.¡± His words were originally intended to console Zhou Yuan, but when Lu Yan heard them, she rolled her eyes and said, ¡°In the current Cangxuan Sect, only senior brother Chu Qing has the ability to attain an eight dragon baptism, and even the other Chosens have never succeeded.¡± She was implying that since the other Chosens were unable to achieve it, what qualifications did he have as a gold sash disciples. Zhou Tai felt a little embarrassed. Lu Yan was really blunt when she spoke. However, Zhou Yuan paid her no heed, merely smiling at Zhou Tai with a nod. Bzz! While they were conversing, a strange sound suddenly echoed across the area. Next, all of the disciples watched in excitement as the enormous dome of light around the Genesis reservoir gradually began to turn translucent. Zhou Tai excitedly exclaimed, ¡°The Genesis reservoir is opening!¡± He then looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, the reservoir is covered in mist and divided into many parts by the mountains. You¡¯ll be on your own when you go searching for Dragon Genesis Essence.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. Under the excited gazes of the numerous disciples, the dome of light in the sky grew fainter and fainter, before ultimately fading away. The instant it did so, endless pure Genesis Qi surged out. It was as if the entire land had been cleaned, giving it a fresh new look. Rumble! However, almost no one paid any attention, numerous disciples shooting forward at this moment, Genesis Qi turning into clouds under their feet as they swarmed towards the reservoir within the mist. On their respective mountain tops, Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and Ye Ge also turned into flashes of light as they flew forth, disappearing in the mist in a few breaths. ¡°Let¡¯s get going!¡± Zhou Tai grinned at Zhou Yuan and the rest. In the next instant, they too soared into the sky on their Genesis Qi and merged into the swarm of humans. Under the envious gazes of the countless disciples that were not qualified to enter, they charged into the endless Genesis reservoir... Previous Chapte Chapter 305 Something’s Not Righ Chapter 303 Something¡¯s Not Right Swish! When Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure charged into the misty Genesis reservoir, the token in his hand suddenly shook, before combusting and swiftly turning to ashes. The sight of this caused Zhou Yuan to think for a moment. A split second earlier, he had felt something sweep through him, before the token began to combust. If his guess was not wrong, it should be due to the Genesis Rune boundary that surrounded the Genesis reservoir. Without a token in one¡¯s possession, one would be likely be flung away. At this current moment, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were standing in the air above the reservoir, while an endless stream of glowing figures flew past above them, heading towards every possible direction. Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the rest had also split up after entering, evidently planning on searching for Dragon Genesis Essence on their own. Searching for Dragon Genesis essence was a relatively personal matter, and the majority preferred to conduct this activity alone. This was to prevent any allocation problems or other disputes from occurring, which would only cause more inconvenience. However, there was no need for Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao to take such measures. Their relationship was quite special, and there would naturally be no squabbles between them due to the Dragon Genesis Essence. Moreover, Yaoyao did not even need such a thing. She had come to the Genesis reservoir not for the Genesis Marrow Baptism, but purely because she was bored. ¡°We should also find a spot for ourselves and find out how to search for the Dragon Genesis Essence.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled at Yaoyao. Yaoyao had no objections, carrying the lazy Tuntun in her arm as she nodded. Tuntun stretched out its tiny head, and stared at the mist that was endlessly billowing from the waters below. No one could tell what it was thinking. Hence, Genesis Qi rose from under Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet, bringing to two of them in a random direction The Genesis reservoir was extremely vast, numerous giant heaven pillar like mountains towering within it. These giant peaks were akin to the tall walls of a stronghold, leaving one no choice but to make long detours, making the reservoir an enormous maze. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao flew for an incense stick of time before gradually slowing down. They found a valley next to the reservoir waters and landed in it. On a rock next to the water, Yaoyao stretched out her hand to test its temperature, before gently removing her socks, revealing her fair and slender calves. Her foot peeked into the water and began to sway lightly as a satisfied look appeared on her beautiful face. Soaking her feet in the reservoir was clearly very comfortable for her. Zhou Yuan could not help but cast his gaze over, purely because of those mesmerising pair of legs. Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan, the red lips of her tiny mouth raising slightly as she said, ¡°This place is not bad. Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ll have to work harder and become one of the ten Chosens so that you¡¯ll receive a personal portion of the Genesis reservoir. Then I¡¯ll be able to come here whenever I want for a soak.¡± Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or to cry. So the biggest benefit of becoming one of the ten great Chosens for you is to come here for a soak? ¡°You can have a good soak here, I¡¯ll go inside the reservoir to have a look.¡± Zhou Yuan was clearly somewhat eager as he cast his gaze towards the misty sea like waters. Yaoyao nonchalantly nodded. Zhou Yuan did not delay, leaping directly into the waters. Once he entered, he felt his body grow heavier, as if he had jumped into a swamp. ¡°The waters of the reservoir originate from that Origin Dragon Vein, and hence contain a natural pressure that makes it extremely heavy. It¡¯s going to be very taxing on my Genesis Qi to swim inside it.¡± Zhou Yuan was already prepared. With a thought, the Omni Python Qi in his Qi Dwelling whizzed out and wrapped around his body. ¡°Eh?¡± The moment the Omni Python Qi appeared, Zhou Yuan suddenly cried out in surprise. In that split second earlier, he had felt the pressure from the water weaken substantially. The feeling of heaviness also vanished, making Zhou Yuan feel as if he was a fish in water. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± This unforeseen situation stunned Zhou Yuan. He had not heard senior brother Zhou Tai mention anything about this. To think that Genesis Qi would have the power to block the pressure from the Origin Dragon Vein. Zhou Yuan frowned as he fell into deep thought. It was a long time later before he looked towards the Omni Python Qi swirling around him as his heart trembled a little. ¡°Could it be¡­ because of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture?¡± The Omni Python Qi he cultivated originated from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, while the Genesis reservoir originated from the Origin Dragon Vein. Could they be related somehow? After all, they both had ¡®dragon¡¯ in their names... This was the only conjuncture Zhou Yuan had come up with. If not, he could not explain why the pressure from the Genesis reservoir had no effect on him. In the end, Zhou Yuan to get himself tied up over such details, especially since it was a good thing for him anyways. Without the pressure, his Genesis Qi consumption in the reservoir would be far less than the others, giving him a huge advantage. With such thoughts in mind, Zhou Yuan decided not to tarry any longer. His figure moved, swiftly swimming towards the depths of the reservoir. As he swam deeper, he discovered the presence of a faint mist inside the reservoir. Fortunately, he could still had his bearings due to his Spirit senses. After swimming for a long time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body suddenly paused, because he had felt a faint undulation. It came from under some giant boulders below him. His figure gradually descended, landing on one of the boulders, and stomped on it with one of his feet. The boulder immediately shattered as a thumb-sized ball of light slowly began to rise. Zhou Yuan grabbed it and curiously uncurled his fingers. A thumb-sized golden crystal floated on his palm, a drop of golden liquid inside it. The liquid appeared to be extremely viscous, slowly squirming about as if it was alive, while giving off peculiar undulations. ¡°Is this the Dragon Genesis Essence?¡± Zhou Yuan observed the drop of viscous fluid. If he was not wrong, it should be the most important item for the Genesis Marrow Baptism, the Dragon Genesis Essence. ¡°But this is a little too diluted.¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head. According to Zhou Tai, even the lowest one dragon baptism would require at least several dozen drops of Dragon Genesis Essence. Zhou Yuan retrieved a bottle and placed the Dragon Genesis Essence inside. However, while Zhou Yuan was engaged in this task, the water behind him rippled faintly. A faint silhouette stealthily crept out from the rocks as a somewhat translucent hundred feet look beast appeared behind him. The beast¡¯s eyes greedily stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, as if it was looking at something delicious. Next, it opened its giant mouth and lunged towards Zhou Yuan. Pchla! The moment the creature moved, a brush shadow wrapped in golden Genesis Qi tore through the water, bringing with it astonishing power as it instantaneously pierced the beast¡¯s head. Zhou Yuan turned around and gazed at the somewhat translucent giant beast. ¡°Is this the aquatic beast born from the dragon Qi of that Dragon Vein?¡± Zhou Yuan observed the heavily injured creature that was still desperately struggling. It was a bout a hundred feet long, and Zhou Yuan estimated its strength to be at the first layer Alpha-Origin. However, Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback when he saw its eyes, because he realised that it was staring at him with extreme desire, still continuously opening its mouth to bite at him, as if itching to swallow him. ¡°Aren¡¯t these aquatic beasts not suppose to have any intelligence, and move according to instinct?¡± Zhou Yuan was quite puzzled, but the greed and desire in the aquatic creature¡¯s eyes was just too clear. Was its instincts really telling it to eat him? He had never heard senior brother Zhou Tai mention anything like this. Zhou Yuan frowned, but could not be bothered to put too much thought into it. His hand grasped around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as Genesis Qi spouted out from his body. Boom! The hundred foot long body instantly exploded, a shockwave sweeping outwards as golden light begin to rise. Zhou Yuan caught the golden light, and it transformed into a golden crystal in his hand. It was the same Genesis Dragon Essence crystal as earlier, but appeared thicker and more sturdier than the previous one, while the drop of Dragon Genesis Essence within was also a little more concentrated. After keeping it, Zhou Yuan did not linger any further, turning his body to continue his search. It was not long before he stopped once again, because he had seen the water to his front rippling as giant aquatic beast after beast slowly appeared, surrounding him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s frown grew even deeper. It was not because of the number of aquatic beasts, but because he had discovered that all of their translucent beast eyes were filled with intense desire and greedy as they stared at him. Exactly the same as the one from before. ¡°Something¡¯s not right¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 306 Chased Rumble! Golden Genesis Qi appeared at the bottom of the reservoir like an angry python, tearing through the water as menacing hundred feet aquatic beast after beast was instantly ripped to pieces. Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush. With a jerk of its tip, the snow-white hairs scattered, transforming into white strings that tangled around several aquatic beasts¡¯ bodies, before suddenly tightening, causing them to burst apart. The water churned violently due to the aftershocks from the battle like a giant whirlpool, while Zhou Yuan stood at its center, killing aquatic beast after beast. After a few dozen minutes, the waters gradually returned to calmness. Zhou Yuan stood there, and waved his sleeve as dozens of golden Dragon Genesis Essence crystals flew towards him and were caught by his hand. All of the aquatics beasts that had surrounded him earlier were about a hundred feet in length. Although there had been many of them, each one was at most equivalent to a first layer Alpha-Origin, and thus naturally did not pose much of a threat towards Zhou Yuan. Hence, after a brief display of his abilities, all of them were slaughtered, gifting Zhou Yuan Dragon Genesis Essence crystal after crystal. Zhou Yuan kept the crystals, but his brows were still tightly furrowed. The crazed and desperate way the aquatic beasts had attacked him earlier was definitely not normal. From what Zhou Tai had told him, the two biggest problems he had to deal with in the Genesis reservoir were the high consumption of Genesis Qi due to the pressure in the water, and the extreme difficulty in finding these aquatic beasts due to their skill in hiding. However, from what he could see, none of the aquatic beasts had any intention of concealing themselves, delivering themselves straight to his front door instead... This was inconsistent with what Zhou Tai had told him. ¡°But it seems to be a good thing? If these aquatic beasts did not voluntarily send themselves to me, it would have taken me at least an entire day to hunt so many of them.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. At the very least, his harvest was pretty good so far. Thus, he only pondered over this matter for a little, before once again rapidly propelling himself through the water with his Genesis Qi. This time, however, his hand was tightly clenched around the Heavenly Yuan Brush, and his expression more vigilant than before. After travelling for quite some time without detecting any activity at all, Zhou Yuan began to relax a little. It may have been a coincidence earlier that he just so happened to chance across a group of aquatic beasts, right? ¡°Eh?¡± However, before Zhou Yuan could fully convince himself, his expression suddenly trembled. The Genesis Qi in his body began to circulate, covering it as his eyes gazed towards the front. The waters there were rippling as dozens of giant aquatic beasts began to surface. The two beasts leading this group had reached a length of over three hundred feet, while the rest were approximate two hundred feet long. These were comparable to the third layer Alpha-Origin. At this current moment, these aquatic beasts¡¯ eyes were likewise filled with greed as they locked onto Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan sighed softly, no longer any doubt in his heart. This was no coincidence. There seemed to be something on him that was drawing these aquatic beasts. ¡°What exactly is it?¡± Zhou Yuan pondered. *Stomach grumble*! The aquatic beasts before him clearly were not going to give him any time to think. They released a peculiar cry as their enormous bodies seemed to cut through the water, charging straight at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Million Whale Rune!¡± A giant black brush that glowed a dazzling gold was powerfully swung downwards as the faint silhouette of an ancient whale appeared. With dreadful power, it smashed into the head of the three hundred feet aquatic beast at the front of the pack. Boom! The brush landed as a wave of Genesis Qi exploded, making the waters within a thousand feet churn violently. As for the aquatic beast that was comparable to a third layer Alpha-Origin expert, it was instantly blown apart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body gradually etherealised, transforming into a blurry shadow as he shot forward. Aquatic beast after beast exploded without any resistance. The battle was swiftly over. With Zhou Yuan¡¯s current strength, he was able to directly face even a fifth layer Alpha-Origin opponent. These merely third layer equivalent aquatic beasts were naturally unable to stop him. After the battle was over, Zhou Yuan collected the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. The water rippled with a swing of his Heavenly Yuan Brush, as he let out an icy chuckle and said, ¡°I won¡¯t turn away any of the Dragon Genesis Essence sent straight to my doorstep. I¡¯m itching to see just how many you guys will be gifting me!¡± The moment his voice faded, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure swiftly shot forth again, brimming with motivation. He was done with mulling over the issue. It did not matter why these aquatic beasts were coming for him, especially since his goal was Dragon Genesis Essence. The more that came, the better it would be for him! As such, Zhou Yuan encountered another five waves of aquatic beasts in the next hour. The battles that erupted were extremely intense, Zhou Yuan going at it with his full power, causing the waters around to churn violently as all the aquatic beasts that appeared were slayed. It could be said to be a full and bountiful harvest, a look of excitement revealing itself on his face as he hunted. ¡°Nine Dragons Canon, fifth dragon!¡± Five Genesis Qi beasts roared as they pounced, ripping a nearly four hundred feet aquatic beast to pieces. A fist-sized Dragon Genesis Essence crystal rose from its remains, and was grabbed by Zhou Yuan. ¡°Who else?!¡± Zhou Yuan let out a hearty laugh. He had gradually grown more and more thrilled as he continued to hunt, because the aquatic beasts were donating a tremendous amount of Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. According to his estimation, the number of crystals he had currently collected would already be able to achieve a four dragons rank baptism. And it had been accomplished in only two hours. With such a haul, Zhou Yuan was now quite excited indeed. Worked into a killing frenzy, Zhou Yuan gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush, its tip pulsing sharply as he boldly declared, ¡°No matter how many of you come, I¡¯ll kill you all!¡± However, the instant his voice sounded, the waters to his front began to violently ripple as five hundred feet aquatic beast after beast rapidly approached at an alarming speed. There were a total of eight of these five hundred feet aquatic beasts, along with dozens of four hundred feet beasts and even more shorter ones. A line-up like this immediately made the bold look on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turn rigid. If there was only one five hundred aquatic beast, Zhou Yuan would naturally be confident of slaying it, but eight at the same time together with so many others¡­ even a sixth layer Alpha-Origin disciple would have to retreat. Green and white interlaced on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He gazed at the incoming swarm, and ultimately gritted his teeth and said, ¡°You win!¡± Next, he kept the Heavenly Yuan Brush and fled. He was no fool. Given the scale of this group, all of his Genesis Qi would likely be exhausted even if he somehow managed to win after a bitter struggle, and using up all of one¡¯s Genesis Qi in the reservoir was clearly not a smart decision. *Stomach Rumbles*! Bubbles were emitted from the giant mouths of numerous aquatic beasts as they violently jerked their bodies, rapidly cutting through the water, their figures turning into blurred shadows as they zipped towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body etherealised, his speed as quick as lightning, while cursing inside as he shot a glance back at the doggedly chasing pack. He had not expected to draw out so many of them. The only thing he could do now was to shake them off, before making any other plans. A human and a horde of aquatic beasts continued their chase in the reservoir, occasionally encountering other disciples, who were immediately stupefied by this scene. They were having such a hard time searching for aquatic beasts in the Genesis reservoir, so how the heck did so many aquatic beasts gather to chase a single person? There were actually some disciples that thought of attacking, but after getting a clearer view of how many there were, their scalps instantly turned numb as they quickly backed away. A horde of such scale was something that normal purple sash disciples had no confidence in handling. Zhou Yuan continued to flee, but he realised that more and more aquatic beasts were joining the line at his tail. This made him no longer dare to stay in the Genesis reservoir, and he hurriedly began to return on the route he had came from. In a certain valley. Yaoyao¡¯s slender legs were gently swaying in the water, while Tuntun lazily lay beside her. Tuntun stood up all of a sudden, and unleashed a few barks at the reservoir. Plop! The waters broke open, and a miserable looking figure shot out, clearly panicked as he landed on a boulder. Rumble! The water behind him continued to break open as enormous aquatic beast after beast leapt out of the reservoir, menacingly pouncing at Zhou Yuan with their mouths wide open. Roar! At the shore, Tuntun¡¯s originally tiny body abruptly began to grow at this moment. Dark gold light flowed as golden scale armor appeared, glowing as if magma seemed to be flowing under it. In a short few breaths, the cute little creature had turned into a sinister looking mysterious giant beast, as a terrifying pressure swept out from its body. Tuntun¡¯s four legs sprung off the ground, and appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. Its giant mouth opened as a frightening suction force exploded from the black light flowing within it, sucking in the entire five hundred feet long aquatic beast that was leading the pack. Roar! After swallowing one of the aquatic beasts, Tuntun roared once again, the thunderous roar violently shaking the entire valley as a powerful presence unfurled. The aquatic beasts that were just about to fly out from water immediately froze, as if being restricted by something. In the end, they unwillingly sunk back into the reservoir, disappearing from sight. The chaotic surface of the reservoir gradually returned to calmness. Tuntun¡¯s giant body also began to shrink, swiftly returning to its cute dog like form. It then turned its head and swept a gaze at Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao cocked her head slightly. The previous scene had not alarmed her at all. Instead, she stared at Zhou Yuan in interest as a playful angle rose from the corners of a ruddy little mouth. ¡°Was it fun?¡± Zhou Yuan wiped the cold sweat on his forehead. Soon after, he suddenly realised that something was amiss, his eyes widening as he looked towards Yaoyao. ¡°You, you know what¡¯s going on?!¡± From Yaoyao¡¯s appearance, it seemed as if she knew that he would be chased by the aquatic beasts after entering the Genesis reservoir! Previous Chapte Chapter 307 Helper In the valley by the shore, Yaoyao raised her arms and stretched as she let out a yawn in response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s wide eyed stare, revealing the perfect curves of her lovely body. However, Zhou Yuan was not in the mood to admire them at this moment, merely continuing to stare at Yaoyao in bewilderment. ¡°The aquatic beasts here are born from the dragon Qi emitted from the Origin Dragon Vein. Although they possess no intelligence, they are still able to act according to instinct.¡± Yaoyao gently swung her fair feet, beads of crystal like water droplets sliding down her legs, dazzling brilliantly under the sunlight. ¡°The Omni Python Qi on your body has its roots in the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, and in a certain sense also contains dragon Qi. Moreover, its dragon Qi that is closest to the original.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why the natural pressure everyone else has to withstand in the Genesis reservoir does not have much of an effect on you.¡± ¡°And it is also due to the Omni Python Qi that these aquatic beasts have been chasing you. In their eyes, you are the most delicious of delicacies, and if they manage to eat you, they may even become sentient, allowing them to transform into a true living creature instead of their current existence where they can only act on instinct.¡± There was a sliver of amusement in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes as she gazed at Zhou Yuan and continued, ¡°While you want to obtain the Dragon Genesis Essence in their bodies, they too are also thinking about eating all the time.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment. Although he had an inkling that this was the case, only after hearing Yaoyao¡¯s explanation did he truly understand the reason. So the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was the culprit. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡± Said Zhou Yuan in a slightly peeved manner. Yaoyao was clearly in the know long ago, but had chosen not to inform him. It was obvious that she wanted to watch him make a fool of himself. Yaoyao placed a hand on the tip of her snow-white chin, her beautiful eyes lowering slightly as she answered, ¡°If I tell you everything, life would be so boring.¡± Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes as he sat down and said in a slightly depressed manner, ¡°What do I do now, I¡¯ll only draw a horde of aquatic beasts if I enter the Genesis reservoir.¡± The key reason was that the aquatic beats he attracted kept growing in numbers and strength. With his current strength, he really could not handle them. Zhou Yuan let out a deep sigh as he retrieved a bottle filled with Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. These were the spoils of his hard work from earlier, and were likely only enough for him to achieve a four dragons rank Genesis Marrow Baptism. However, that was obviously not going to satisfy Zhou Yuan. He was still not a purple sash disciple, and if he lost this chance, it would likely be a long time before he could come to the Genesis reservoir again. Thus, he intended to benefit as much as his could. Swish! While Zhou Yuan was dazedly staring at the glittering Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, a shadow suddenly flashed past. Zhou Yuan suddenly felt his hand become lighter as the bottle disappeared. Zhou Yuan was stunned, and hurriedly turned his head, only to dumbstruck when he saw Tuntun holding the bottle in its mouth as it poured the contents into its belly, before smacking it lips in satisfaction. ¡°ARGHHHH!¡± A miserable howl rang out in the valley. Zhou Yuan charged over, grabbing Tuntun¡¯s neck as he shook it violently and roared, ¡°You bastard, spit it out!¡± That was the fruits of his labor! Seeing them swallowed by Tuntun had put him on the verge of exploding! However, no matter how hard he shook, Tuntun¡¯s lips remained tightly sealed, even leaving bloody scratches on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face with its paws. An ugly fight ensued between beast and man, filled with bitterness and desperation. Yaoyao sighed as she placed a hand on her temple. These two were basically idiots. After fighting for a good chunk of time, Zhou Yuan was finally able to save a thumb-sized Dragon Genesis Essence crystal from Tuntun¡¯s mouth. The price he paid was being covered all over in bloody scratches, every single one Tuntun¡¯s handiwork. *Whine* Though Zhou Yuan only managed to snatch back a single crystal, Tuntun was obviously not very happy. After all, allowing something that was already in its mouth to be snatched away was extremely humiliating to it. ¡°Your grandmother!¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but curse as he looked at the single pitiful Dragon Genesis Essence crystal in his hand. Let alone a four dragon baptism, he didn¡¯t even have a one dragon baptism now! *Piak* A small pebble hit Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead. Yaoyao rolled her eyes at him and said, ¡°No cursing Tuntun.¡± A gloating look immediately surfaced in Tuntun¡¯s eyes as it joyfully ran towards Yaoyao. However, Yaoyao shot it a glare, causing Tuntun to hurriedly come to a stop, whimpering as it lay on the ground. Zhou Yuan dragged a hand down his face as he moaned, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to head back in.¡± It was impossible for him to stop now. He had no choice but to enter the reservoir again to hunt aquatic beasts. The only thing left to find out was how many times he would be chased by them. Zhou Yuan venomously glared at Tuntun, before standing up to prepare. ¡°The Dragon Genesis Essence here originates from the Origin Dragon Vein, and is also helpful for Tuntun. That¡¯s why it snatched them away to eat.¡± Said Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan was surprised to find out. Truthfully speaking, he was not really angry at Tuntun for snatching away the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, and was mainly having a playful fight with the latter. ¡°After I get more of them, I¡¯ll give Tuntun a little.¡± Zhou Yuan shrugged. Increasing Tuntun¡¯s strength was not a bad thing for him. Yaoyao thought for a moment, before waving at Tuntun. Tuntun immediately skipped over to her, before being picked up by Yaoyao and thrown to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan hastily caught it, his eyes wide with confusion as he stared at Tuntun¡¯s small eyes. ¡°Bring Tuntun with you.¡± Yaoyao ignored their confusion. ¡°Since it wants a share of the good stuff, let it work for it. With Tuntun following you, you will no longer need to worry about being chased by the aquatic beasts.¡± ¡°Tuntun¡¯s strength is enough to guarantee your safety.¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. With a powerful helper like Tuntun, the aquatic beasts that wanted to eat him would practically be throwing themselves into his net. All of them would be killed no matter how many came. ¡°You¡¯d better work hard if you want to eat more of those Dragon Genesis Essence, and I¡¯d better not catch you slacking off.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Tuntun. ¡°Whatever we manage to get shall be split like this, eighty percent for me, twenty percent to you.¡± He gestured with his fingers. However, Tuntun was extremely intelligent, immediately understanding what he was saying. It also extended its paws, gesturing that it should get seventy percent while he got thirty. Zhou Yuan laughed due to anger. This little bastard still dared to bargain with him, did it think that he was some kind of laborer?! As such, beast and man began to argue again, hands and paws rapidly gesturing one after another. Yaoyao was beginning to feel an approaching headache due to their quarreling, deciding that she could not watch this any longer. With a casual twist of her hand, a Genesis Qi was flung, turning into snowy light after light that ruthlessly blasted man and beast. ¡°Half each. Now scram!¡± Man and beast immediately fell silent. Tuntun whimpered twice. Although it could not be bothered with Zhou Yuan, it still jumped onto his shoulder. Zhou Yuan also pouted a little as he avoided the snowy light, before his excited gaze turned towards the endless Genesis reservoir. With Tuntun¡¯s protection, the aquatic beasts were no longer any threat. ¡°Chasing me for so long earlier, come and try it again now!¡± Zhou Yuan sneered, his confidence soaring. Splash! He waved goodbye at Yaoyao, before diving head first into the reservoir again. Yaoyao massaged her forehead. Peace at last. Why is it so hard to have a nice, peaceful soak... Previous Chapte Chapter 308 Perfect Teamwork In the mist filled waters of the reservoir. Zhou Yuan zoomed past on his golden Genesis Qi, rapidly cutting through the water. Tuntun lay on his shoulder, its eyes lazily scanning their surroundings. Zhou Yuan was brimming with confidence again, no longer worried about having to flee from the aquatic beasts. ¡°When we encounter them later, I¡¯ll try to take them on first. If there¡¯s any aquatic beast I can¡¯t handle, it¡¯ll be your turn.¡± The culture form Heavenly Yuan Brush nimbly spun between Zhou Yuan¡¯s figures as he grinned. Tuntun looked at him disdainfully. Acting so dignified, you¡¯re clearly just leaving the tough bones for me. ¡°They¡¯ve come so quickly.¡± Zhou Yuan did not bicker with Tuntun, raising his head instead as he looked to the front with slightly narrowed eyes. The waters there were rippling as enormous aquatic beast after beast began to appear. Those translucent eyes were overflowing with greed and desire. *Stomach grumble*! Bubbles rose from the mouths of the aquatic beasts. In the next instant, the reservoir waters were ripped apart as their titanic bodies madly charged towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Just a group of two hundred feet aquatic beasts.¡± Zhou Yuan icily chuckled as golden Genesis Qi rose from his body, and completely wrapped around him. Rumble! His figure also shot forward, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand rapidly expanding as its snow-white brush hairs pulsed dangerously, transforming into countless after images that surrounded the numerous aquatic beasts. Thud! Thud! The water rippled violently, blown away by the powerful force as an empty space was created. Zhou Yuan charged into the herd of aquatic beasts, his attacks deadly and powerful, every thrust of the brush piercing an aquatic beast. The battle was over in a few minutes, all that remained were golden Dragon Genesis Essence crystals floating in the water. Half of them were swept up into his sleeves, while he tossed the other half towards Tuntun. Tuntun opened its mouth, gulping down all of them as a satisfied look surfaced in its eyes. While man and beast enjoyed their harvest, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed, catching sight of giant aquatic beasts swarming towards them from all directions. The dozen beasts leading the pack had all reached lengths of five hundred feet. This was even more than the horde that had chased him previously. This time, however, Zhou Yuan did not flee in panic, instead patting Tuntun on his shoulder as he said, ¡°Hey, now that you¡¯ve eaten, it''s time to work.¡± On his shoulder, Tuntun seemed to yawn lazily as its gaze swept across the giant aquatic beasts that were enclosing around them, before jumping off and standing in front of Zhou Yuan. The water around it gradually began to boil. A terrifying Genesis Qi undulation slowly spread from its body. Its tiny body began to grow little by little, transforming from a little dog-like creature into a mysterious and ferocious beast wearing golden scale armor. When Tuntun took on this form, the aquatic beasts around them froze for a moment, as if being suppressed. Although they were not Genesis Beasts but existences born from dragon Qi, they were still unable to avoid the pressure. It was akin to the unease felt by a lower life form in the face of a superior being. The dozen five hundred feet aquatic beasts grew a little restless and hesitant, but in the end, their eyes still locked onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The Genesis Qi from the latter held a fatal attraction to them. The desire won over the unease and pressure they felt from Tuntun. *Stomach Rumble*! In the next moment, the numerous aquatic beasts roared as their shadows loomed. The berserk Genesis Qi bursting out from their bodies causing giant waves to form. Tuntun watched them charge over as its front paw lightly stepped forward in the water. Its huge mouth opened, mysterious black light flowing within it. Strands of black began to converge, ultimately taking the shape of a half foot wide black ball. Not a single glimmer of light could be seen on the black ball, and any light that shined on it seemed to immediately be devoured, making it an extremely bizarre sight that gave one an exceedingly dangerous sensation. Whoosh! Tuntun¡¯s head suddenly swung as the half foot wide black ball was sent hurtling towards the dozen or so five hundred feet long aquatic beasts. Bzz! The ball was extremely quick, and seemed to pierce through space itself, appearing in the center of the dozen five hundred feet aquatic beasts. Next, it began to spin as a terrifying suction force exploded. The water around was immediately poured into it, creating a giant whirlpool with the black ball at its center. The dozen aquatic beasts were caught in the range of the frightening suction force. They struggled frantically as Genesis Qi surged out, but were unable to free themselves. All they could do was watch helplessly as they were pulled closer and closer to the ball, before ultimately touching it... Ch! At the instant of contact, wails of despair exploded from the aquatic beasts as their enormous bodies began to shrink at a speed that could be seen with the naked eye, ultimately transforming into a flash of light as they were sucked into the black ball, wiped clean from existence by its pure darkness... In the short span of a few breaths, a dozen aquatic beasts comparable to fifth layer Alpha-Origin experts had vanished, leaving only a dozen fist-sized Dragon Genesis Essence crystals floating in the water around the black ball. Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck as he watched this scene. Who could have imagined that a dozen fifth layer Alpha-Origin aquatic beasts would be so easily exterminated... Just how much strength did one need to achieve this feat? Zhou Yuan gave an odd look to the shrinking Tuntun. Just what kind of Genesis Beast was this little fellow. To think that it would be so powerful. Tuntun sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s stunned gaze, causing a pleased look to rise in its eyes. It leaped onto his shoulder and extended a paw, pointing towards the floating Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, clearly indicating for him to go collect their battle spoils. Zhou Yuan shrugged and swam forward, his eyes burning with excitement as he kept the dozen fist-sized Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. Just these dozen crystals alone should be enough for him to reach the five dragon baptism. If it was before, Zhou Yuan would perhaps be satisfied by this. But now that he had a strong aide in Tuntun, the five dragon rank was no longer able to sate his appetite. Zhou Yuan wet his lips and grinned, ¡°Good boy Tuntun. The two of us truly are perfect partners.¡± However, Tuntun merely shot him a disdainful look, as if saying that it was the one doing all the work, while his job was merely to tidy up after. Its pupils swivelled in thought, before it suddenly extended a paw and gestured that they should split the goods forty to sixty. It was actually planning to change the previous agreement, and wanted to have a sixty percent share. Zhou Yuan was exasperated. Little bastard, you dare to take advantage of me? He tossed and caught the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals in his hand as he smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t think that you should have the bigger share because you¡¯re a better fighter. Without me, these aquatic beasts would be concealing themselves in the reservoir, making it nearly impossible for you to find them. Do you really think it will be so easy to kill an entire group of them then?¡± Tuntun was stunned, before somewhat dejectedly laying down on Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder. It seems that Zhou Yuan contribution was not small. Hence, it could only whimper twice, acknowledging the fifty-fifty agreement. ¡°Little guy, do you think that I have no way to deal with you.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips curled upwards when he saw this, before continuing to speed forward on his golden Genesis Qi. As he gazed at the misty waters, an ambitious fire burned in his eyes. With Tuntun¡¯s help, he felt that he may be able to try for six dragons, or even a seven dragons baptism... Previous Chapte Chapter 309 Battle of the Chosens Mists drifted over the endless Genesis reservoir. A figure in white descended from the sky, landing on one of the towering peaks that rose from the waters. Her pupils scanned the surroundings, as if searching for something. A breeze blew past, lifting a skirt adorned with lotus patterns while also revealing a set of enchanting curves. It was obviously Li Qingchan. Her eyes widened slightly all of a sudden as a cold voice rang out, ¡°What is the great Chosen of the Spirit Rune Peak sneaking about for?¡± As her voice spread, the mist behind her began to dissipate as a young man in daoist robes walked over on the water. It was number nine of the ten great Chosens, Ye Ge. He gazed at Li Qingchan, somewhat helplessly scratching his head and said, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan truly has sharp senses.¡± Li Qingchan shot a look at him, faint iciness swirling in her pupils as she said with an expressionless face, ¡°Ye Ge, why are you following me?¡± Ye Ge chuckled and replied, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, I merely want to discuss something with you¡­¡± Li Qingchan flatly asked, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Could you give up on the thousand feet aquatic beast this time?¡± Le Ge smiled awkwardly. Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as the icy aura around her grew colder and colder, so cold that even the surrounding air began to freeze. She frostily stared at Ye Ge. ¡°Ye Ge, do you feel that you have the qualifications to say such words to me?¡± Her goal was that very thousand feet aquatic beast. If she succeeded in hunting it, she would be able to obtain an eight dragons baptism, which would undoubtedly raise her strength. In response to Li Qingchan¡¯s icy gaze, Ye Ge took two steps back as he spread out his hands and said, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, my words alone definitely won¡¯t be enough to stop you¡­ but I¡¯ve only come here for one reason, to return a favor.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s brows furrowed. She soon understood, causing her pretty face to turn frostier as she confirmed, ¡°Kong Sheng?¡± The appearance of the thousand feet aquatic beast had been very timely, coinciding nicely with the period where the other Chosens were either away on missions or stuck in secluded cultivation. She, Kong Sheng and Ye Ge were the only three Chosens available in the entire sect, making it less competitive than usual. Especially since Chu Qing would not give up on such a good opportunity if he were here. After all, thousand feet aquatic beasts usually hid themselves in the depths of the Genesis reservoir, and even Chosens like them would be hard pressed to find any. Now that signs of a thousand feet aquatic beast had appeared, Chosens like them would naturally take action. Ye Ge shrugged helplessly. The truth was that he did not want to involve himself in a matter like this, but he did owe Kong Sheng a favor, making it impossible for him to reject. Li Qingchan¡¯s pretty face turned frostier and frostier, hostility rising in her eyes as she stared at Ye Ge. Since he wanted to help Kong Sheng, she may as well get rid of him here. However, the moment this thought rose in her heart, she sensed formidable sword Qi rise from the mist in the distance, like a hiding dragon that already had her in its sights. ¡°Kong Sheng!¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s face turned towards the sword Qi, frost practically spewing from her eyes. Kong Sheng was obviously nearby, ready to stop her from dispatching his ally. ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, I hope that you can give this chance to Kong Sheng. There will be another opportunity next time.¡± Urged Ye Ge. Fury flashed in Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes. She had originally believed Ye Ge to be after the thousand foot aquatic beast too, and not a helper invited by Kong Sheng. Moreover, none of the Chosens she had better relations with were currently present. Given her strength, she would be equally matched with Kong Sheng, but if another one of the ten Chosens such as Ye Ge was added into the mix, her defeat was guaranteed. Though the ten Chosens were ranked according to strength, there was not a huge gap between them. Hence, she would indeed have no chance if Kong Sheng and Ye Ge were to join hands. However, she was really unwilling to give up like this. Li Qingchan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately as the icy aura around her grew sharper and colder. Ye Ge hurriedly retreated several steps. With a wave of his sleeve, the space around him began to distort as the complicated runes on his clothes glowed, ready to activate at any moment. In the depths of the mist, sword Qi grew sharper and sharper as the faint buzz of a sword echoed. A grand battle between Chosens was on the verge of erupting. When the hostility in the air reached its peak, however, the Genessi Qi undulations from Li Qingchan¡¯s body suddenly weakened. Her face was ice-cold as she shot a glance at Ye Ge and the sword Qi in the mist, before letting out an icy snort and turning to leave. ¡°Kong Sheng, Ye Ge, I will not forget this!¡± She had ultimately chosen to do the rational thing and give up. After all, if she were to take on the two of them alone, the one who would suffer in the end was her. Ye Ge breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Li Qingchan leave. She was after all very popular in the sect, and there were quite a few amongst the ten Chosens who adored her. If they really ended up fighting here, there would surely be trouble in the future. However, from the looks of it, they had still offended her. Ye Ge let out a bitter laugh before turning towards the mist. ¡°I¡¯ve returned my debt, the two of no longer owe each other anything.¡± The cry of a sword sounded in the depths of the mist, as if responding to Ye Ge. ... Rumble! A herd of enormous aquatic beasts hissed in the reservoir as berserk undulations unfurled, creating enormous waves. At this current moment, two glowing figures were shooting through the pack, aquatic beast after beast exploding wherever they passed... The two glowing figures were naturally Zhou Yuan and Tuntun. Ever since Tuntun had joined him, Zhou Yuan no longer had anything to fear. He boldly advanced, drawing numerous aquatic beasts to them. However, the ultimate outcome that awaited all of the aquatic beasts was being turned into Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, before being split between Zhou Yuan and Tuntun... The intense battle was over in a short few minutes Zhou Yuan swiftly swept the battlefield, collecting another few dozen Dragon Genesis Essence crystals that were of pretty high quality. ¡°Not bad.¡± Zhou Yuan was full of praise. He already had more than enough Dragon Genesis Essence crystals to achieve a six dragon baptism, but it was still not sufficient to reach seven dragons. According to senior brother Zhou Tai, a seven dragon baptism was no longer an issue of number. Instead, the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal of a seven hundred feet aquatic beast was required as a primer of sorts. In the face of such an entity, most of the purple sash disciples could only retreat. However, this was not really a problem for Zhou Yuan, because there was an existence at this side that was even more terrifying than the seventh layer Alpha-Origin... ¡°But it¡¯s not easy to find a seven hundrd feet aquatic beast. We¡¯ve yet to meet a single one¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan. While he was mumbling, the battle mode Tuntun beside him suddenly released a low growl. Zhou Yuan abruptly lowered his head in alarm, looking towards the deep darkness of the Genesis reservoir. The waters there suddenly began to churn, as if a giant wave was rapidly approaching. Next, Zhou Yuan saw a titan of an aquatic beast slowly rise from the darkness. Its size had exceeded seven hundred feet, reaching a total of eight hundred feet! Zhou Yuan could not help but swallow as he gazed upon the giant creature, before slowly backing away as he said with a solemn face, ¡°Tuntun, go and get it!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 310 Out of the Water into Disaster Rumble! Reservoir water heaved and churned as waves of berserk Genesis Qi pulsed violently. It was as if something had torn through the water in a ten thousand feet radius, leaving a giant gaping hole that immediately began filling from the surrounding water, creating a giant whirlpool. Zhou Yuan stood far away, watching the imminent battle with interest. It was going to be a clash between Tuntun and the eight hundred feet aquatic beast. Normally speaking, an aquatic beast that had reached such lengths would be an object of extreme terror to even seventh layer Alpha-Origin disciples, disciples that were basically qualified to contest for the chief disciple seat. However, an aquatic beast with such strength was currently an exceedingly sorry state, because it had encountered an existence even more terrifying than itself today... Tuntun was nowhere near as big as the eight hundred feet beast, but the aquatic beast was thoroughly suppressed at every clash, barely able to put up any resistance. Moreover, it was obvious that Tuntun was toying with it. ¡°The little guy is quite something.¡± Praised Zhou Yuan with a click of his tongue. The outcome of the fight was already clear from the get-go. In the end, it turned out exactly as expected. Tuntun was done playing after several minutes, and black light appeared with a slash of its claw. Boom! Five giant claws tore through the water, shooting straight into the dark depths at the bottom of the reservoir. The eight hundred feet aquatic beast was violently ripped to shreds. Zhou Yuan drifted over and waved his sleeve, causing a head-sized Dragon Genesis Essence crystal to slowly rise up in the water. Golden liquid flowed within it, the thickness far beyond any of the Dragon Genesis Essence from before, making Zhou Yuan stare at it with desire. He very carefully kept the Dragon Genesis Essence Crystal as he said to Tuntun, ¡°I¡¯ll keep it first, we¡¯ll split it later.¡± Tuntun did not raise any objections. It had already eaten too much Dragon Genesis Essence today. Zhou Yuan stretched his back, a little tired after so much hunting. ¡°Let¡¯s find a place to reorganize and rest for a while before we continue.¡± Tuntun snorted disdainfully, as if saying that Zhou Yuan was really useless. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to it. He randomly chose a direction and began zooming away on his Genesis Qi. ... A certain location in the Genesis reservoir. Several towering mountains partitioned the surface of the reservoir, creating a lush valley. Near the top of the valley, a bamboo house was barely discernible through the mists. Li Qingchan stood on a cliff nearby, her gaze somewhat cold as she peered into the distance. It should be about time for Kong Sheng and Ye Ge to find the thousand feet aquatic beast. ¡°Those two bastards!¡± Mumbled Li Qingchan to herself. ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, are you really not going to contest for the thousand feet aquatic beast?¡± Behind her were several pretty female disciples who were also from the Snow Lotus Peak. This district belonged to Li Qingchan, and other disciples could only enter with her permission. Some of the female disciples were quite close to Li Qingchan, and had obviously found out about the matter regarding Kong Sheng and Ye Ge¡¯s cooperation from her. Li Qingchan¡¯s pretty face was calm as she replied, ¡°Since I can¡¯t win, why should I force myself.¡± If there was only Kong Sheng, she would at least be able to put up a fight, but when Ye Ge was added in, there was really nothing she could achieve. As such, there was no need to be stubborn. Though she was admittedly still a little unwilling to accept this outcome. ¡°Ye Ge is so loathsome, we never had any quarrel with him.¡± Remarked one of the female disciples. ¡°A loss is a loss. It just means that I was not as prepared as Kong Sheng.¡± Li Qingchan shook her head, not willing to speak any further on the topic. ¡°You guys should make use of this time to search for Dragon Genesis Essence.¡± The female disciples exchanged a look, before nodding as they withdrew. Now that it was peaceful again, Li Qingchan lifted her head and sighed. Her slender fingers clenched into fists, clearly still slightly upset inside. After all, she had been preparing for a long time. With a gently push, her figure seemed to float down the cliff, landing beside a hot spring within the valley. This place was off limits to everyone else but herself, and even the Snow Lotus Peak disciples she had allowed into the valley could not enter. Li Qingchan gently undid the sash on her waist, causing the white skirt to slip down to the ground. Under the faint sunlight, an exquisite figure in inner garments was revealed. A neck as slender as a swan leading to a set of elegant collarbones and two towering soft mounds. Her tiny slender waist made one unable to resist wrapping an arm around it, while her long legs were astonishingly sleek and slim. Even another girl would find her heart beating a little harder at the sight of such an amazing figure. The erotic sight made the entire valley appear brighter. Li Qingchan gently stepped into the hot spring, soaking her body in its warm waters. Her red lips rose slightly in delight, as her usually frosty face softened. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± A body glowing with youthfulness was masked only by the light reflection off the water. Li Qingchan¡¯s fine black hair sprawled across the surface of the spring as she leaned against its sides, her lovely body completely relaxed. LI Qingchan slowly said, ¡°Kong Ming, Ye Ge¡­ I¡¯ll make sure to settle this debt with you guys in the future.¡± Her eyes slowly closed, enjoying every moment of comfort. The valley was exceptionally silent and peaceful, only the sound of the flowing breeze to be heard. In the hot spring, the goddess seemed to fall into a deep sleep, painting the gorgeous sight of a sleeping beauty that could cause the downfall of nations. Glop. The silence lasted for a long time, until a certain moment came where the surface of the spring seemed to ripple for an instant. Li Qingchan¡¯s long eyelashes trembled faintly as she somewhat lazily opened her eyes. Likely because she had just woken up, her response was much slower than usual as she dazedly stared at the ripples on the water in front of her. Plop! The ripples grew bigger and bigger, before the water surface was suddenly torn open as a figure jumped out. ¡°Phew¡­ I¡¯m out at least!¡± A voice sounded as the figure wiped away the water on its face, before beginning to scan its surroundings, while a little creature lazily lay on its shoulder. It was obviously Zhou Yuan and Tuntun. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze curiously swept around, but immediately froze a split second later as his eyes gradually widened. He had caught sight of the gorgeous figure in the spring. The gazes of the two met, both somewhat dazed. Li Qingchan was stunned, unable to stop herself from rubbing her eyes. The scene before was so shocking that she was unable to process it for the moment. It was also at this moment that Zhou Yuan saw her beautiful face. It was as if a bomb had gone off his head, instantly numbing his scalp. Li Qingchan! Not even in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that after travelling in the reservoir for a good half the day, he would encounter Li Qingchan soaking in the hot spring here! What kind of luck was this?! Luck that would be the death of him! ¡°God damnit¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was already trembling. He had just sensed an alarmingly icy aura spread from Li Qingchan¡¯s body at this moment. This was genuine killing intent. Zhou Yuan suddenly felt pain from his ear the moment he was engulfed by the icy aura. Tuntun had given him a vicious nip, jolting him back to his senses. He immediately submerged without the slightest shred of hesitation as a terrified shout rang out, ¡°I¡¯m blind, I can¡¯t see anything!¡± He fled the moment he popped back into the water, not even daring to glance backwards. Zhou Yuan¡¯s escape fully awakened Li Qingchan, her face turning so cold that frost was nearly about to form as her body trembled with rage. She never imagined that someone would suddenly appear like disaster from the sky when she was soaking in the hot spring. Her teeth clattered loudly as she beckoned with a hand, causing her skirt to fly from the edge of the spring and wrap around her body. Rumble! In the next instant, terrifying Genesis Qi exploded from her body without any reservation. Boom! Her figure shot forth, the water before her forcefully ripped apart by her terrifying Genesis Qi as she dived in like a bolt of thunder, churning with killing intent as she made a beeline for the frantically fleeing Zhou Yuan. ¡°Die you pervert!¡± A voice so cold that it penetrated all the way into the bone pierced through the water, booming right on Zhou Yuan¡¯s heels. Previous Chapte Chapter 311 Chased Again The misty waters of the reservoir were silent as usual. Swish! The silence was suddenly broken. One could only watch as an ethereal figure zoomed past, the Golden Genesis Qi at his feet propelling him forward as he desperately fled at a speed so fast that he was basically cutting through the water. This figure was naturally Zhou Yuan. His complexion was currently rather pale, while his scalp was still numb from before. The sight from earlier had really been a huge shock to him. He never expected that he would encounter Li Qingchun soaking in a hot spring at the random spot he chose to surface for a rest! The killing intent spewing from that woman¡¯s gaze earlier was practically on the verge of materializing in reality. ¡°I¡¯m finished!¡± Zhou Yuan could not stop grieving at his situation. Boom! The water behind him was suddenly ripped apart. Zhou Yuan looked back, only to be horrified by the sight Li Qingchan rapidly breaking through the water, frightening Genesis Qi whizzing around her body. From the chilling aura of murder around her, it was obvious that she would not let this go. Even while separated by a substantial amount of water, Zhou Yuan could still feel Li Qingchan¡¯s murderous gaze lock onto him from afar. It was a gaze that made a chill fill Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body, causing him to frantically circulate his Genesis Qi, pushing his speed to the limit as he made his crazed escape. However, no matter how much he accelerated, Li Qingchan remained close on his heels, killing intent angrily churning around her. ¡°Senior sister Li, it wasn¡¯t intentional! I didn¡¯t know there would be someone on the surface!¡± Wrapped in Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was transmitted towards Li Qingchan in an attempt to calm her. However, Li Qingchan ignored his words, her only response the intensifying murder in her eyes. With a grasp of her hand, Genesis Qi rose, transforming into countless lotus petals whose edges flickered with an eerily cold light. Swish swish! The blade like petals shot forth, aimed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s vitals. The icy sensation at this back alarmed Zhou Yuan, and he immediately began pushing his Ethereal Form to its peak. At the same time, Magical Python Scales swiftly covered his body as he desperately dodged left and right, narrowly avoiding the Genesis Qi petals. Even though he had not been hit, the force from the petals that sliced past had drawn several light cuts on his skin. ¡°She¡¯s crazy!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s complexion turned green with fear. Li Qingchan had shown no mercy, and had clearly already lost some of her rationality. This also told Zhou Yuan that it was impossible to reason with her. The best thing to do for now was to escape, and at the very minimum wait for Li Qingchan to calm down first before trying to talk. If she caught him, Zhou Yuan had the sinking feeling that he would be killed on the spot... On Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder, Tuntun watched with a gloating expression, clearly showing no intentions of helping. With regards to Tuntun, all Zhou Yuan could do was send it a vicious, flesh-cutting glare as he accelerated again. As such, a chase played out in the waters of the reservoir, both pursuer and the pursued giving it their all. The disturbance gave rise to giant waves, and the duo would occasionally encounter other disciples along the way. However, all of the disciples would hurriedly get out of the way at the sight of the murderous-looking Li Qingchan, astonishment on their faces as they watched the two go. ¡°Eh? Isn¡¯t that senior sister Li Qingchan?¡± ¡°Who is she chasing?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t recognize him¡­ but from the looks of it, senior sister Qingchan is very angry. What did he do to offend her?¡± ¡°He deserves it. I can¡¯t believe that he dared to anger senior sister Qingchan. He¡¯d better hope he doesn¡¯t meet me or I will catch him and bring him before senior sister Qingchan to atone for his crimes!¡± ¡°Hehe, with senior sister Qingchan personally in pursuit, there¡¯s no way that he¡¯s going to escape.¡± ¡°...¡± Though Zhou Yuan encountered many disciples along the way, what made him despair was that not a single one had any intentions of helping him, instead casting unkind gazes at him. ¡°All of them are bastards!¡± Zhou Yuan cursed inside. Behind him, Li Qingchan¡¯s face was a little surprised as she gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. She had realised that even after chasing for so long, she was still unable to catch up to him. This was somewhat inconceivable to her. She could sense that Zhou Yuan was merely at the second layer Alpha-Origin, someone whom she could basically squash with a single palm. However, why was she unable to catch up? Moreover, travelling in the Genesis reservoir was extremely taxing on one¡¯s Genesis Qi. Ordinarily speaking, a second layer disciple should have run out of steam long ago, and yet Zhou Yuan seemed to have plenty of Genesis Qi left. ¡°No matter who you are, I will not easily let you off today!¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s face was covered in frost. This was the first time she had experienced something like this. The mere thought that everything had been seen by this bastard who had suddenly appeared made rage and embarrassment surge in his heart, nearly destroying whatever rationality she had left. Iciness flashed in her eyes as she locked onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Her hand abruptly formed a seal, and vigorous Genesis Qi immediately swept out. It swiftly gathered together, forming a half foot tall snow lotus. The snow lotus was vivid and lifelike, ancient patterns adorning each of its petals. An intense cold spread from it, instantly freezing the surrounding water. ¡°Heaven Genesis technique, Snow Lotus Sealing technique!¡± She showed no mercy, directly activating an alarmingly powerful Heaven Genesis technique. Bzz! The snow lotus trembled faintly. In the next instant, it transformed into a flash of white as it shot forth, freezing the surrounding waters wherever it passed... A torrential wave of coldness swept forth, causing Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression to change drastically. His speed was affected, gradually slowing down. He looked back as his pupils abruptly shrank. The incoming snow lotus was too alarmingly quick, making it basically impossible for him to dodge. The piercing chill from it made him feel life threatening danger. If he was hit, there was no doubt that he would be instantly frozen. Tuntun looked towards his shoulder at Tuntun, who was clearly enjoying itself, as he said through gritted teeth, ¡°If you keep watching, our collaboration will be over!¡± Tuntun unhappily snorted twice, as if saying that you were clearly the one who drew this trouble, why did it have to clean up after! ¡°Less nonsense, quick!¡± Bellowed Zhou Yuan. The corners of Tuntun¡¯s mouth curled downwards in disapproval, but it still stood up on its legs. After all, it could not possibly just idly watch Zhou Yuan be slaughtered... It turned around, looking towards the incoming ice snow lotus as its mouth suddenly opened. Mysterious black light rapidly converged, ultimately condensing into a ball of incomparable darkness that was sent shooting out. Bzz! The black ball and snow lotus smashed into each other, but no noise sounded from their collision. The chilling aura turned sluggish, before ultimately vanishing along with the balck ball. Behind them, Li Qingchan was shocked by this sight, this turn of events clearly out of her expectations. How could she have expected her attack to be negated by the little creature on Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder. Zhou Yuan took advantage of this opportunity to accelerate and flee for his life, scuttling out of Li Qingchan¡¯s sights. Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes grew even colder as she watched him run away. ¡°Do you think that this will allow you to escape?¡± Genesis Qi exploded beneath her feet as her figure also cut through the water, relentlessly giving chase. ... At a certain valley by the reservoir. Plop! The water was suddenly torn open as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure miserably jumped out. He looked towards the faintly misty beach and hissed, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, save me!¡± However, his face immediately turned rigid the moment these words left his mouth. He had seen Yaoyao with half of her fair, lovely shoulder revealed on the beach, just so happening to be in the process of removing her clothes for a soak in the reservoir. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face twitched madly. What was it with him and soaking today?! While Zhou Yuan was stunned, Yaoyao¡¯s indifferent gaze swept over as the clothes that were about to be fully removed were swiftly worn again. Her bare feet began to walk along the rocks on the beach, the wet clothes on her body outlining a set of soul stirring curves. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Yaoyao gently reached out a hand as a Genesis Rune scroll appeared within it. She looked at Zhou Yuan and said in a soft voice, ¡°I feel that you¡¯ve become quite bold recently, right?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was filled with grief. Was it because he killed too many aquatic beasts earlier? Why was he so unlucky! This was retribution, wasn¡¯t it? Boom! While Zhou Yuan was still submerged in his intense sorrow, the water behind him was abruptly torn open as a pillar of water shot into the sky. At the same time, a stream of berserk Genesis Qi shot out, viciously striking at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Die pervert!¡± An ice cold voice sounded. Li Qingchan had obviously caught up at last. This sudden turn of events stunned Yaoyao. However, she soon frowned when she sensed the power behind the Genesis Qi that was aimed at Zhou Yuan. An attack of this level was not within Zhou Yuan¡¯s threshold. Who exactly was this ruthless person? With a jerk of her hand, the Genesis Rune scroll immediately began to burn as berserk Genesis Qi erupted. Genesis Qi whizzed out like a roaring black water dragon, smashing into the stream of Genesis Qi that was shooting towards Zhou Yuan, causing an alarming storm of energy to sweep outwards... Waves ten thousand feet high rose as Yaoyao indifferently looked towards the pretty figure that had attacked, while a cold voice followed, ¡°He¡¯s mine, and you don¡¯t have the right to touch him.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 312 Face-off Between the Two Girls Bang! The black water dragon collided with the stream of Genesis Qi that gave off a piercing chill, causing a wave of berserk Genesis Qi to sweep outwards. Giant waves rose from the surface of the reservoir, before crashing into the walls of the valley, making the entire place tremble. Li Qingchan stood in the air above the water, powerful Genesis Qi surging out from her body to block the aftershocks of the clash. Her brows knitted together slightly as she raised her pretty face and looked in Yaoyao¡¯s direction. The power the latter had displayed earlier had somewhat shaken the former¡¯s heart. When Li Qingchan finally got a clear view of Yaoyao, she could not help but be stunned. The latter¡¯s appearance and aura had taken away the breath of even someone like herself. This was not Li Qingchan being narcissistic. Over the years, she had grown to clearly understand how beautiful she was, though she was normally not very fond of the title of Cangxuan Sect¡¯s number one beauty that the numerous disciples in the sect had given her. However, it could not be denied that there was no girl who did not care about appearance. And now that she had seen Yaoyao, even Li Qingchan could not help but be slightly stunned. Yaoyao¡¯s appearance and aura was not the least bit inferior to her own, and as a woman, Li Qingchan could even more keenly sense the mysteriousness from Yaoyao¡¯s body. Both of them were the distant, aloof and indifferent type. However, Li Qingchan¡¯s indifference was because there were too many people who adored her beauty. All it took was a little nudge and any male would bend their heads and grovel at her feet. Previous Chapte Chapter 313 Mediation In a certain valley by the reservoir. Two beautiful figure stood facing each other, the auras surging out from their bodies clashing continuously. It felt as if thunder was rumbling in the background as giant waves rose from the reservoir, crashing into the walls of the surrounding mountains. Yaoyao and Li Qingchan¡¯s icy gazes clashed, Genesis Runes revolving around one of them, stirring the surrounding Genesis Qi, while Genesis Qi hovered above the other¡¯s head like clouds, giving off a menacing aura. Zhou Yuan wore a bitter look on his face as he watched. It was clear that neither of the two girls was planning on letting this matter rest. Since that was the case, the only thing to do as to let them vent some of their anger first. It would probably be best for him to step in only after they had cooled down a little. Although he would likely be beaten up by the both of them, he was the one who started this after all, and hence should be the one to resolve it. Zhou Yuan nervously watched the two girls as the atmosphere between them grew more and more intense. At a certain moment, both of their eyes narrowed slightly. An alarming wave of energy burst out from Genesis Qi and Genesis Runes a split second later, both individuals clearly about to go at it for real at any moment. ¡°Stop!¡± Right before they were about to attack, a shout sounded across the area like a clap of thunder. Next, Zhou Yuan felt a vast blanket of Genesis Qi descend from the sky, like a giant hand as it completely suppressed both Yaoyao and Li Qingchan¡¯s Genesis Runes and Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan immediately lifted his head, only to see a Genesis Qi cloud descend from the sky. A beautiful woman stood atop it, lotus flower like runes flickering on edge of her long skirt. A terrifying Genesis Qi pressure pulsed from her body, causing the reservoir waters to churn violently. Zhou Yuan was slightly startled by the sight of this beautiful woman. From her Genesis Qi pressure, it was obvious that her identity was not simple at all. Li Qingchan was also stunned by the sight of the beautiful woman and hastily said, ¡°Elder Miao?¡± The woman was one of the elders of their Snow Lotus Peak. The woman called elder Miao shot a somewhat helpless glance at Li Qingchan, and began to reproach her, ¡°I just so happen to be I¡¯m on duty today at the Genesis reservoir, and was drawn over after feeling your killing intent earlier. What the heck is going on?¡± Although there were quite a few scuffles between disciples in the Genesis reservoir, they were not allowed to invoke genuine killing intent. When Li Qingchan had lost her rationality due to anger earlier, the killing intent she gave off was definitely not fake, and had thus alarmed elder Miao as the on duty elder. Li Qingchan was the most outstanding disciples of this generation from their Snow Lotus Peak, and it would undoubtedly be a huge loss for them if she was punished due to any unfortunate incident here. As such, elder Miao immediately hurried over the moment she felt Li Qingchan¡¯s killing intent to prevent her from making a mistake due to recklessness. Even if she was a Chosen, killing another disciple would definitely get her punished. Li Qingchan immediately froze up when she heard the question, gritting her teeth as she hatefully glared at Zhou Yuan. How could she possibly talk about it? ¡°This, this guy¡­¡± She pointed at Zhou Yuan as she stammered for practically half a day, but was ultimately unable to say anything, only growing increasingly angry and embarrassed as she glared at him. Elder Miao suspiciously looked towards Zhou Yuan. What exactly had this kid done to anger the normally cold as an ice mountain like Li Qingchan? Under elder Miao¡¯s gaze, an awkward look emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he stepped up and said, ¡°I was indeed the one at fault, but I really did not do it on purpose. I can compensate!¡± ¡°Compensate?¡± Li Qingchan clenched her jaw even harder. How are you going to compensate? Are you going to let me see you in return? Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head, before retrieving numerous bottles from his Universe bag that were filled with many Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. ¡°Can I use these as compensation?¡± They were the fruits of him and Tuntun¡¯s labors from earlier. ¡°Oh?¡± Elder Miao could not help but be shocked by the sight of the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands, because she could sense that some of them were clearly from eight hundred feet aquatic beasts. But Zhou Yuan was merely at the second layer Alpha-Origin stage, how did he manage to hunt to many formidable aquatic beasts? She was not the only one. Even Li Qingchan was surprised for a moment, because she clearly understood how difficult it was to hunt aquatic beasts in the reservoir. Although Zhou Yuan did have quite a substantial amount of Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, they were not worth much in Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes. She owned a personal hunting ground in the reservoir, and could enter any time she wished. Ordinary Dragon Genesis Essence crystals held little allure to her. Hence, she merely swept a cold glance at Zhou Yuan. Just as she was about to speak, elder Miao suddenly arrived at her side. Elder Miao advised in a low voice, ¡°Qingchan, although I still do not know what has happened, you will only lose out even more of you insist on continuing.¡± This made Li Qingchan somewhat sullen. She was one of the ten great Chosens after all, but had ended up being completely seen by this bastard, how could she possibly swallow this? Elder Miao said, ¡°If I¡¯m not wong, that girl should be Zhou Xiaoyao who recently joined the sect. Peak master white brow regards her very highly, and values her even more than Ye Ge. In fact, peaks master white brow has even promised to pass down the position of peak master to her if she comes to Spirit Rune Peak.¡± Li Qingchan looked at Yaoyao in amazement. So she was that Zhou Xiaoyao. Her mastery of Genesis Runes was indeed immeasurable. It was no wonder that peak master white brow held her in such high regard. ¡°With her protecting Zhou Yuan, you won¡¯t be able to achieve anything.¡± Li Qingchan gently bit into her red lips, somewhat unwilling to accept this. However, she had to admit that Zhou Xiaoyao was very strong, and would surely have a place amongst the ten great Chosens if she wanted. Elder Miao chuckled softly and asked, ¡°Wasn¡¯t your initial plans obstructed by Kong Sheng and Ye Ge?¡± At the mention of this topic, Li Qingchan felt even more sullen, feeling that everything was going wrong for her. The thousand feet aquatic beast she had her sights on was snatched away by Kong Sheng and Ye Ge, and she had even been interrupted by an intruding Zhou Yuan while she was soaking in her personal hot spring. ¡°If you can calm down, I will help you mediate.¡± Said elder Miao. Li Qingchan¡¯s hands clenched slightly as her expression fluctuated indeterminately. In the end, she reluctantly nodded. She understood that there was no benefit for her to continue kicking up a fuss. After calming down, she knew that she could not possibly murder Zhou Yuan. Elder Miao breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried that Li Qingchan would chose to be unreasonable and make matters even worse, which would only be disadvantageous towards her. Hence, she pulled Li Qingchan as they landed in the valley. She looked towards Yaoyao with a smile and remarked, ¡°No wonder peak master white brow has such a high opinion of you, you are indeed an outstanding talent.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face remained indifferent. She merely glanced behind elder Miao at Li Qingchan, not speaking at all. Zhou Yuan walked over at this moment and respectfully greeted elder Miao. ¡°Zhou Yuan, although I do not know why this happened, I believe that you¡¯re not the one who has lost the most, right?¡± Elder Miao looked towards Zhou Yuan and smiled. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was full of awkwardness and embarrassment. He looked towards Li Qingchan, only to see the latter biting into her lips, her bright eyes staring at him like a sword. Of course he wasn¡¯t the one who had lost out the most... He could only awkwardly nod his head. ¡°Then are you going to make up for it?¡± Asked elder Miao. ¡°All I have are these Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, but they do no meet senior sister Li¡¯s standards.¡± Zhou Yuan forced a smile. He too did not want to offend Li Qingchan, and it would naturally be best if they could amiably resolve this matter. Elder Miao waved her hand and said, ¡°Never mind about the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. I hope that you guys can help out Li Qingchan as compensation, then we can call this matter even, and no one shall ever bring it up again in the future.¡± ¡°Help?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback as he looked towards Yaoyao. A puzzled look also flitted across her clear eyes. Elder Miao nodded and explained with a smile, ¡°Qingchan¡¯s goal is the thousand feet aquatic beast, so I hope to ask for your help.¡± Although she was speaking to the two of them, her gaze ultimately paused on Yaoyao¡¯s face, clearly aiming for the latter¡¯s aid. Yaoyao nonchalantly asked, ¡°Is she unable to deal with a thousand feet aquatic beast?¡± Li Qingchan calmly explained, ¡°I can naturally deal with a thousand feet aquatic beast, but am currently obstructed by Kong Shen and Ye Ge¡¯s cooperation.¡± ¡°Kong Sheng and Ye Ge?¡± Zhou Yuan secretly wet his lips. So the two of them were working together to exclude Li Qingchan. Elder Miao smiled as she nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. If Yaoyao can help Li Qingchan stop Ye Ge, she will have a chance to compete for the thousand feet aquatic beast.¡± By this point, Yaoyao, Li Qingchan and Zhou Yuan were all aware of elder Miao¡¯s intentions. So she planned on borrowing their power to contend against Kong Sheng and Ye Ge. Yaoyao¡¯s gaze seemed to sweep toward Li Qingchan. Li Qingchan was a little unable to shame with the humiliation any further, and somewhat stubborn said, ¡°Elder Miao, I can deal with those two. Moreover, even if I lose this chance, there will still be other opportunities in the future.¡± She was not willing to lower her head in front of Yaoyao. ¡°Both you and Kong Sheng and just that single step from the Divine Dwelling stage. If you yield this chance to Kong Sheng, he be one step ahead of you¡­¡± Said elder Miao with a solemn expression. ¡°So I hope that you will not be wilful.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s brows tightly knitted together. In the end, she could only grit her teeth and turn away. Elder Miao turned towards Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao with a friendly expression and said, ¡°I hope that the two of you can give me face and resolve the conflict you have with Qingchan, while taking this opportunity to turn an enemy into a friend¡­¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Elder Miao may appear kind and friendly, but she was obviously a formidable person. If they were to reject, based on elder Miao words, they would be disrespecting her as an elder. Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao and said, ¡°I think you should be the one to decide.¡± How could he not know that elder Miao was only concerned about Yaoyao. As for himself, he was at best some kind of accompanying freebie. Thus, he still had to seek Yaoyao¡¯s opinion. If she refused, Zhou Yuan would rather offend Li Qingchan than force Yaoyao to help. After all, Li Qingchan¡¯s importance was a far cry from Yaoyao¡¯s in his eyes, and he would respect her wishes even if he ended up offending an elder. Yaoyao fell silent for a brief moment, before gently tapping her jade Genesis Rune Brush on her palm. Her eyes seemed to swirl in thought as the corners of her mouth raised slightly. ¡°We can help¡­ but she has to ask herself.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes immediately widened, her full chest heaving slightly. Zhou Yuan could not help but place his hand over his eyes. Big sis, we¡¯ve already reached this stage, can you not cause trouble now! Previous Chapte Chapter 314 Cooperation In the end, Li Qingchan was unable to speak the words from her mouth, her gorgeously pretty face a blend of anger and shame. How could she not know that Yaoyao wanted to make her bow. However, given her unbending and stubborn character, it was obviously not going to be easy to make her submit. Hence, just as Li Qingchan was about to break the deal, elder Miao could only step up and smooth things over. Upon seeing this, Yaoyao did not persist in her request, merely giving an alternate suggestion, ¡°Since that is the case, we want half of that thousand feet aquatic beast¡¯s Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.¡± Elder Miao immediately had something to say about this. However, Li Qingchan was faster. ¡°Deal.¡± She rather split the benefits than yield. In addition, she did not want to owe Yaoyao anything. After all, Zhou Yuan was the cause of the problem, and it had nothing to do with Yaoyao. However, Yaoyao was now the one contributing, and as for Zhou Yuan¡­ from what Li Qingchan could see, he was just someone who purely relied on Yaoyao, and this collaboration had nothing to do with him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s second layer Alpha-Origin strength basically made him unqualified to be part of this fight. Hence, splitting half of the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal would make things even with Yaoyao, everyone getting what they needed and no one owing anyone else anything. It would also prevent her from feeling indebted to Yaoyao when they met again. This was something the prideful Li Qingchan could not accept. When elder Miao saw how decisively Li Qingchan had responded, she could only somewhat helplessly say, ¡°Lass, half of the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal will not be enough for you to reach an eight dragon baptism.¡± Li Qingchan calmly replied, ¡°No matter, we are not losing out either as long as we ensure that Kong Sheng is unable get a lead.¡± Elder Miao could only smile bitterly as she shook her head. This lass was really too stubborn, she could clearly enjoy the complete Genesis Dragon Essence crystal if she just opened her mouth. Yaoyao gently tapped the jade Genesis Rune Brush on her palm as she glanced at Li Qingchan in slight surprise, evidently not expecting her to make such a decision. However, it also made Yaoyao give a slight nod of approval, the dislike she had towards Li Qingchan due to her overbearingness earlier fading somewhat. Yaoyao offhandedly asked, ¡°Shall we go then?¡± Li Qingchan nodded, before her cold as an ice mountain eyes turned towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°He doesn¡¯t need to come along, right?¡± Although the matter had been forcibly resolved, Li Qingchan felt somewhat unnatural when she looked at Zhou Yuan. The moment she recalled how he had seen everything, an uncomfortable feeling would fill her entire body. Humiliation and anger, magnified to the extreme. Of course, the most important reason was because a second layer Alpha-Origin like Zhou Yuan could not possibly interfere in a battle between Chosens such as Kong Sheng and Ye Ge. To be blunt, Zhou Yuan would only be a burden if he went. Zhou Yuan naturally understood Li Qingchan¡¯s thinking, and could only laugh helplessly, not angry that he was being looked down upon. There was indeed a gap between him and the ten great Chosens such Li Qingchan, and it was only logical for him to be treated with contempt. Since it was the truth, Zhou Yuan would naturally acknowledge it. He was not so narrow-minded that he would resent her because of this. There was a slight trace of cheekiness in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes as she glanced at him and leisurely said, ¡°Let him follow us. Who knows, he may even turn out to be useful.¡± Li Qingchan frowned slightly, clearly unable to comprehend what use a second layer Alpha-Origin disciple would be in such a situation. However, since Yaoyao had spoken, it would not be appropriate for her to object. In any case, they would just make sure Zhou Yuan was far away when they fought. Although he was weak, he was admittedly very quick. At the very least, he had managed to evade her pursuit for quite some time earlier. Her gaze swept past Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan, somewhat curious about their relationship. It was clearly no ordinary relationship, and went far beyond that of simple friends. This baffled Li Qingchan even more. Based on her initial impression, Yaoyao was clearly a rather indifferent and aloof individual. If Li Qingchan¡¯s iciness was akin to a mask, Yaoyao¡¯s iciness originated from within. Someone like her was extremely difficult to get close to, what more with someone else of the opposite sex. Most importantly, Yaoyao¡¯s appearance, aura and Genesis Rune talent made her an object of adoration for numerous disciples even in a place like the Cangxuan Sect. Hence, numerous extremely talented disciple would surely be smitten by here, and these disciples were definitely even more outstanding than Zhou Yuan, whether it was in the aspect of looks or talent... In Li Qingchan¡¯s opinion, the two of them lived in completely different worlds, and yet, contrary to all reason or logic, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao had such a close relationship. This really greatly baffled the former. How had Zhou Yuan obtained the favor of a genius blessed by the heavens such as Yaoyao? While such thoughts were swirling in her heart, elder Miao spoke up, ¡°Since everything has been settled, you guys should hurry up and act. It will not be appropriate for me to interfere in the subsequent matters.¡± According to the rules of the sect, battles in the Genesis reservoir were the affairs of the disciples, and the duty elder was only here to respond to any unexpected events. The main reason she had come here was because she had been alarmed by Li Qingchan¡¯s killing intent, and now that everything had been resolved, elder Miao naturally had to return to patrolling the Genesis reservoir. Li Qingchan gave a faint nod. Elder Miao revealed a kind smile to Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan as Genesis Qi rose under her feet. She rose into the air and swiftly disappeared into the horizon. In the wake of elder Miao¡¯s departure, the atmosphere by the reservoir turned silent again. Li Qingchan and Yaoyao were both cold and unresponsive. If the other party did not speak, they would not open their mouths either. After some silence, Zhou Yuan was the first to cave in under the awkward atmosphere. ¡°Senior sister Li, shall we get going? If you know the location, lead the way.¡± Li Qingchan shot a look at Zhou Yuan and nodded. Without saying anything, she rose into the air and began flying towards a certain direction. ¡°This young lady is really very prideful.¡± Commented Yaoyao as she gently twirled her Genesis Rune Brush while watching Li Qingchan leave. ¡°No matter how prideful she is, she still can¡¯t beat you.¡± Remarked Zhou Yuan in his heart, before peering into the distance. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to see what a thousand feet aquatic beast is like.¡± Someone is already looking down on you. You¡¯d better not bring too much shame to me later on.¡± Teased Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan chuckled as if he really did not mind at all. ¡°It is indeed true that I am currently unable to interfere in a battle between Chosens. That¡¯s why she wasn¡¯t wrong¡­ of course, no one can tell what the future will hold.¡± Towards the end, a certain arrogance was finally revealed in his voice. With regards to pride, Zhou Yuan did not have less than others. However, pride was pride after all, and he had to acknowledge reality. He knew that there was indeed a gap between him and the ten great Chosens for now, but he also believed in himself. It was only a matter of time for him to catch up to them. As long as he was given some time, he would show Li Qingchan that there was really nothing amazing about a Chosen. ¡°Are you planning on slowly making her take notice of you, and ultimately sway the tender heart of a maiden? She¡¯s the number one beauty of the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Yaoyao grinned. Zhou Yuan hastily smiled and said, ¡°What number one beauty, what chance does Li Qingchan have now that big sis Yaoyao is also in the Cangxuan Sect!¡± ¡°Is that so? You¡¯ve already seen her body after all, aren¡¯t you tempted?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s tone was tinged with amusement. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned black as he hurriedly changed the topic. ¡°Let¡¯s get going, we should also find out for ourselves how good those two Chosens are¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot pushed off the ground as golden Genesis Qi whizzed out, carrying two of them into the sky, and swiftly began flying in the direction Li Qingchan had taken earlier. Previous Chapte Chapter 315 The Two Girls Allied The vast Genesis reservoir stretched out as far as the eye could see, the faint mists swirling in the area enough to make anyone become lost within it. At a certain location in the Genesis reservoir. A young man in black slowly walked on the surface of the water, his expression as calm as a deep pool. After a long time, his footsteps suddenly paused as he looked down at the bottomless depths below him. At a certain deep depth, he could just barely make out the silhouette of an enormous slowly swimming shadow. ¡°Have you finally appeared¡­¡± The young man in black was naturally the number two amongst the ten great Chosens, Kong Sheng. A flush of excitement surfaced in his black stone like eyes as he gazed at the enormous black shadow in the depths of the reservoir. The black shadow was obviously the thousand feet aquatic beast he yearned for even in his dreams. Kong Sheng slowly squatted, closing his eyes as he reached into the ice-cold waters. Powerful Genesis Qi surged out of his body without any reservation at this moment. Genesis Qi tinged with black light stealthily slipped into the water. The black light Genesis Qi rapidly began to gather above the head of the enormous shadow, transforming into a black glowing sword. Extremely sharp sword Qi began to converge on the sword. Swish! The sword descended, fast as lightning as it thrust into the thousand feet aquatic beast¡¯s body. Howl! A miserable cry exploded in the water, causing giant thousand feet high waves to rise. Though it had suddenly been attacked, the aquatic beast did not retaliate, but instead hurriedly fled with a swish of its tail, shooting away like a bolt of thunder at a speed no one could hope to match. The most troublesome part of hunting aquatic beasts in the Genesis reservoir was finding them and chasing them down. Aquatic beasts were adept at hiding in the reservoir, making them extremely difficult to discover, and it was also nearly impossible to catch up to them if they chose to run. Kong Sheng¡¯s black stone like eyes were akin to the edge of a blade, easily piercing through the waters and locking onto the giant escaping figure. He did not panic at all, and merely sent out a thought. Buzz! A black glowing sword began to form again in the direction the thousand feet aquatic beast was swimming in, pulsing with peerless sword Qi... The aquatic beast hurriedly changed directions the moment it felt the sword Qi. This repeated itself several times as the mindless aquatic beast unknowingly began fleeing in the direction Kong Sheng was directing it in... Kong Sheng walked across the waves, his steps slow and unhurried, but his figure was akin to a phantom, appearing a hundred feet away in a few breaths. This chase lasted for only a brief period. A sharp look suddenly appeared in Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes as he shouted, ¡°Ye Ge, close the net!¡± In the water some distance to the front, Ye Ge hovered on his Genesis Qi. His gaze fell upon the enormous black shadow that was rapidly approaching, and suddenly flung open his spacious sleeves with a shout, ¡°Boundary, rise!¡± Bzz bzz! The instant his shout was heard, the water within a ten thousand feet radius suddenly began to boil. Countless Genesis Qi rays of light shot out from the water, swiftly connecting to each other as if forming a giant net of light. Countless runes seemed to flow along the net, continuously absorbing the surrounding Genesis Qi. Thud! The enormous thousand feet water beast arrived, its giant body powerfully slamming into the net, causing it to stretch at an alarming angle. However, the glowing net was extremely tough, ultimately neutralizing the force as it sent the thousand feet aquatic beast catapulting backwards. The net slowly began to close, like a boundary that had completely trapped the aquatic beast, cutting off all means of escape. ¡°Success!¡± Le Ge landed on the surface of the reservoir with a faint smile. ¡°This big guy can¡¯t escape anymore.¡± Kong Sheng gently rubbed his hands together and praised, ¡°As expected of the Chosen of Spirit Rune Peak, such mastery of Genesis Runes is truly unmatched.¡± ¡°Leave the killing of the aquatic beast to me.¡± A slight smile was revealed on Kong Sheng face as he peered into the deep reservoir waters where the thousand feet aquatic beast was struggling desperately. In his eyes, there was no hope for a trapped aquatic beast. Its Dragon Genesis Essence crystal was his. Swish! However, just as Kong Sheng was about to enter the waters to slay the thousand feet aquatic beast, the mist in the vicinity suddenly swirled as a wave of frosty Genesis Qi suddenly swept over. Its temperature was so low that even the surface of the sea was frozen over. The wave of frost headed straight for Kong Sheng. The sudden attack made him frown as he fiercely swung his sleeve. Pchla! Sword Qi poured out of his sleeve, directly shredding apart the water in front of him. The wave of frosty Genessi Qi was also torn to pieces. Kong Sheng gazed at the mist and slowly said, ¡°Li Qingchan, you already know that you can¡¯t succeed, why must you still put up this useless struggle?¡± The mist gradually dissipated as a slender figure walked over on the water. The graceful figure naturally belonged to Li Qingchan. She chillingly stared at Kong Sheng and flatly said, ¡°It is not so easy to make me give up.¡± Ye Ge also helplessly shook his head and said, ¡°Why must you do this senior sister Qingchan. You have no chance at all.¡± ¡°I disagree!¡± Iciness flitted across Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes as boundless Genesis Qi soared out from the top of her head. The temperature began to plummet as frost that could be seen with the naked eyes spread from under her feet. Kong Sheng merely chuckled softly and said, ¡°Ye Ge, I¡¯ll have to trouble you to deal with her.¡± Ye Ge sighed helplessly as his arms extended from his wide sleeves and slowly met in front of him. In the next instant, a low shout rang out, ¡°Sea prison boundary!¡± Rumble! Rumble! The surface of the reservoir in the vicinity abruptly exploded as giant water pillars dashed into the sky. The pillars linked to each other, creating a prison of water with Li Qingchan at its center. Li Qingchan frowned as she took a step forward. Powerful Genesis Qi transformed into countless ice arrows that violently shot forward. Plop! Plop! However, the attacks merely passed through the water prison, unable to cause any damage to it. ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, this boundary was prepared in advance as a countermeasure against you. Never mind if you didn¡¯t come, but since you did, this boundary will stop you for long enough for Kong Sheng to slay that thousand feet aquatic beast.¡± Ye Ge slowly said, ¡°You should give up once the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal falls into his hands, right?¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s pretty face turned slightly frostier. It seems that they still had something up their sleeves even after advising her to withdraw earlier. These two were very loathsome indeed. Li Qingchan inhaled deeply, coldly glancing at the slightly smiling Ye Ge before shutting her eyes. The sight of this made Ye Ge believe that she had given up at last, causing him to breath a soft sigh of relief. It was naturally best that he did not have to fight with Li Qingchan. ¡°Are you still not going to act? Is this very fun to watch?¡± However, before his entire sigh could be released, he suddenly heard Li Qingchan¡¯s voice. Ye Ge and Kong Sheng were taken aback. ¡°Is this what a battle between you Chosens look like? It doesn¡¯t seem to be as amazing as I¡¯ve imagined¡­¡± While they were stunned, a clear, indifferent and melodious voice echoed from within the mist. The instant the voice rang out, the three individuals present discovered that the water prison trapping Li Qingchan had suddenly began to boil. At closer inspection, one would realise that lava like runes had appeared on the water pillars at some unknown time, the dreadful heat evaporating the water prison... ¡°Who?!¡± Ye Ge¡¯s pupils tightened slightly. Who was this person who could so easily unravel his Genesis Rune boundary! Ye Ge and Kong Sheng¡¯s gazes looked towards the mists nearby. The mist rippled as figure slowly walked out. Her gorgeous yet empty looking face was revealed under Ye Ge and Kong Sheng¡¯s gazes. It was Yaoyao. She gazed at puzzled Ye Ge and Kong Sheng as she indifferently said, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Xiaoyao.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 316 Occupied ¡°Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Xiaoyao?¡± Kong Sheng and Ye Ge stared in confusion at Yaoyao¡¯s figure. The former¡¯s brows were furrowed. He had clearly never heard of such an individual. Moreover¡­ Saint Genesis Peak? Wasn¡¯t that the peak that had practically hit rock bottom? When did such an amazing person appear from there? In contrast with Kong Sheng¡¯s bewilderment, Ye Ge¡¯s eyes flickered as a look of understanding flashed in his eyes. Ye Ge¡¯s wide sleeves fluttered in the wind as he looked towards Yaoyao and slowly said, ¡°So you are the Zhou Xiaoyao teacher White regards so highly that he¡¯s even willing to pass the position of peak master to you¡­¡± Amazement flitted across Kong Sheng¡¯s black stone like eyes when he heard this. He recalled vaguely hearing about this matter before, but did not put much thought into it. But from the looks of it, it seemed to be true. To think that the girl before them, whose looks and presence were not the least bit inferior, and maybe even surpassed Li Qingchan, possessed talent in Genesis Runes that amazed even peak master Bai Mei. Kong Sheng frowned. If this was true, things were going to be a little troublesome today. The other members of the ten great Chosens were either out on missions or in closed cultivation, leaving only the three of them free to participate in the current Genesis Marrow Baptism. Hence why he had collaborated with Ye Ge to stop Li Qingchan. However, he never expected that even without the other Chosens, Li Qingchan was still somehow able to find a seemingly equally troublesome helper... From how Yaoyao had broken the Genesis Rune boundary Ye Ge had spent so long preparing, her strength was clearly in no way inferior to Chosens like them. Kong Sheng looked at Yaoyao, and suddenly chuckled as a warm smile appeared on his sharp and handsome face. ¡°Junior sister, this matter is between us and junior sister Li Qingchan, and there is no need for you to interfere. If junior sister Li Qingchan has promised you anything, we can also come to an agreement.¡± One had to admit that Kong Sheng was indeed a charming individual. He was only only handsome but also had quite a presence. Thus, there were many female disciples in the sect that adored him greatly. If it was any other ordinary girl in Yaoyao¡¯s place, it would be very difficult for them to resist his charms. Unfortunately, it was Yaoyao he had encountered. In the face of his charming elegance, not even the slightest change appeared on the latter¡¯s beautiful face. There was only indifference in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes as she looked towards Kong Sheng, and said in a calm and clear voice, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your breath. If you want this thousand feet aquatic beast¡¯s Dragon Genesis Essence crystal, it would be best for you go ahead and start the fight.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s directness made the smile on Kong Sheng¡¯s face turn slightly rigid, feeling a little awkward. Li Qingchan stepped forward at this moment, powerful Genesis Qi hovering in the sky above her head like a giant storm of snow and ice. She coldly looked at Kong Sheng and said, ¡°Kong Sheng, there¡¯s no need for you little tricks. You should just go ahead and show me how much your Underworld Demon Sword Qi has improved.¡± Kong Sheng frowned as he replied, ¡°Li Qingchan, neither of us will benefit from fighting, and that aquatic beast may even end up escaping.¡± ¡°May I suggest giving in to me this one time, and I¡¯ll owe you a favor.¡± Li Qingchan chuckled coldly. ¡°Why not you give in to me instead, and I¡¯ll owe you a favor?¡± While the two of them faced each other, neither willing to back down an inch, Yaoyao suddenly spoke up, ¡°Relax, there is naturally someone who will be dealing with that thousand feet aquatic beast.¡± Kong Sheng and Ye Ge was slightly alarmed. Did Li Qingchan¡¯s group have another formidable helper? Li Qingchan seemed to realise something, her pretty face immediately turning somewhat unnatural. Yaoyao ignored all of them, merely tilting her head slightly towards the back as she said, ¡°What¡¯s a man like you doing all the way at the back? We¡¯ll let you deal with that aquatic beast.¡± Kong Sheng and Ye Ge¡¯s sharp gazes were immediately cast over, with the intent of finding out who exactly it was. Did so many capable individuals really appear in the Cangxuan Sect with nearly no one noticing? Their gazes were aimed at the mist behind girls, from which the sound of feet walking across the water could be heard. Next, they saw a young figure emerge. The moment they caught sight of him and felt the Genesis Qi undulations from his body, the expressions on their faces could not help but turn rather rigid. ¡°Second layer Alpha-Origin stage?¡± Kong Sheng and Ye Ge exchanged a look, seeing the twitching corners of the other party¡¯s eyes. Such strength was basically the lowest tier existence in the inner mountains. Where had Yaoyao found the courage to let him deal with a thousand feet aquatic beast? Even though it had already been seriously injured by Kong Sheng earlier, it was still not something a second layer Alpha-Origin disciples could face. Li Qingchan could not help but cover her forehead with a hand as if feeling a little humiliated. She did not know why Yaoyao was sending Zhou Yuan¡­ given his strength, he did not even have the qualifications to reveal himself in a battle like this. Forcibly sticking him in would only be inviting shame to them. Zhou Yuan helplessly shrugged in response to the strange gazes from the three of them, while Tuntun yawned lazily on his shoulder. Yaoyao continued to ignore the rest as she said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°You guys shouldn¡¯t have a problem with the big fellow down there, right?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Although it was a thousand feet aquatic beast, he had Tuntun¡¯s help. Tuntun was obviously going to be the main force, while he acted as support. Without further ado, he submerged into the water, slowly approaching the area where the aquatic beast had been trapped. Li Qingchan immediately looked towards Yaoyao, and could not help but ask, ¡°Are you really planning on letting him go? Isn¡¯t that just sending him to his death?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to murder him earlier? Wouldn¡¯t it go along with your wishes if he dies?¡± Yaoyao merely smiled faintly. Li Qingchan froze momentarily, before gritting her teeth. ¡°I will naturally find a chance to deal with him myself. There¡¯s no need to feed him to an aquatic beast.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Yaoyao could not be bothered to explain. While they were talking, Kong Sheng and Ye Ge watched in confusion as Zhou Yuan entered the water. They could not understand why Yaoyao would dare to let him challenge the thousand feet aquatic beast. This was no different from sending him to his death. Kong Sheng¡¯s gaze flickered in thought. Regardless of whether it was Yaoyao or Zhou Yuan, neither displayed much hesitation, especially the latter. ¡°There must be something strange about him. He cannot be allowed near the aquatic beast.¡± Kong Sheng was prudent by nature, and ultimately decided not to ignore Zhou Yuan just because he was a second layer Alpha-Origin. The former immediately wave his sleeve, causing a flash of black sword Qi to soar into the sky and explode, resulting in a faint but piercing sword cry to echo. He looked towards Li Qingchang with a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯ve also instructed several Sword Cometh Peak disciples to station themselves nearby. Although they¡¯re useless against you, it is still better to be prepared just in case.¡± Not long after he said this, a dozen flashes of Genesis Qi arrived from some distance away. They were obviously disciples from the Sword Cometh Peak, and each one was pretty strong, the majority purple sash disciples. ¡°Senior brother Kong Sheng!¡± They greeted Kong Sheng from far away. Kong Sheng nodded and pointed towards the water. ¡°Go and capture that person.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The dozen or so disciples looked downwards, finding Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, their expressions extremely relaxed. After all, they had sensed that Zhou Yuan was merely a second layer Alpha-Origin, and any one of them here could easily deal with him. Plop! The dozen figures shot forth at the same time, creating an encirclement that began to close around Zhou Yuan. Only then did Kong Sheng nod in approval, his face regaining its calm as he looked towards Li Qingchan. ¡°Since you insist on ruining things for me, neither of us shall even dream about obtaining that Dragon Genesis Essence crystal today.¡± Black Genesis Qi aburptly exploded from his body, deadly and sinisterly cold. At the same time, Ye Ge also looked towards Yaoyao, his wide sleeves swaying slightly as he said in an interested voice, ¡°Junior sister, truth be told, I¡¯m a little unable to accept how teacher Bai thinks so highly of you¡­¡± ¡°Since we just so happened to meet today, show me what exactly is so amazing about your Genesis Rune mastery.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face remained impassive, merely giving a slight nod. ¡°Sure.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 317 Two Girls VS Two Chosens On the glittering surface of the reservoir, four figures stood facing each other. Kong Sheng glanced at the water below, before withdrawing his gaze. The dozen Sword Cometh Peak disciples will teach that second layer Alpha-Origin disciple how ignorant he was. His gaze looked towards Li Qingchan as his expression gradually turned solemn, an icy light flashing in his eyes. Li Qingchan¡¯s actions had made things become uncertain again, and even someone like Kong Sheng with strong mental fortitude was beginning to grow angry inside. Kong Sheng¡¯s hands slowly closed as black Genesis Qi converged towards his palm, gradually transforming into a long black sword. Its was quite a bewitching yet ghastly sight, appearing as if it was made from black bones, while faint but piercing howls seemed to echo from its body, making the Genesis Qi in one¡¯s body grow irritated. This sword was known as the Black Demon Sword, and was a genuine low grade Heaven Genesis Weapon. It was crafted from the bones of a grade 6 Black Demon Crocodile, and boasted immeasurable power. Kong Sheng himself had already stepped into the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage long ago, and only a single step separated him from the Divine Dwelling stage. With a Heaven Genesis Weapon in his hand, the presence he gave off made the originally calm waters around them begin to churn violently as towering waves rose. Black Genesis Qi dashed straight into the sky like a sword, giving off a terrifying presence. ¡°It¡¯s been some time since I last fought with junior sister Qingchan. I too am quite interested to know if your Mysterious Lotus Qi has grown more refined.¡± Said Kong Sheng in a flat voice. Li Qingchan knew that Kong Sheng had been angered, and was going to use his real power. However, she was not afraid. Her hands came together as snow-white Genesis Qi whizzed out, transforming into an icy jade lotus below her feet. This icy jade lotus was called the Mysterious Jade Lotus and was also a low grade Heaven Genesis Weapon. Li Qingchan gently tapped the lotus with her foot. The Mysterious Jade Lotus began to tremble as its petals fell off, akin to icy jade blades as they revolved around Li Qingchan. No one could see their shadows when the jade blades moved, only the scars left behind in space itself were visible, weapons so deadly that one scalp would turn numb at this sight. In a battle between two Chosens, neither individual dared to be careless. Their gazes clashed, iciness surging between them. A split second later, both figures shot forth as powerful Genesis Qi abruptly tore up the water within a ten thousand feet radius. ... In contrast to the earth-shaking duel between Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, Yaoyao and Ye Ge¡¯s battlefield appeared rather peaceful. Neither party was adept at wielding Genesis Qi, but their Spirits shuddered between their brows, emanating Spirit energy that likewise shook one to the very core. Ye Ge¡¯s Genesis Rune Brush was striped black and white. A faint smile appeared on his handsome face as he gazed at Yaoyao. He suddenly jerked his wrist, the tip of the brush lightning quick as it danced through the air. ¡°Grade 4 Genesis Rune, Flame Dragon Wheel!¡± A complicated Genesis Rune emerged the moment his brush descended, causing the surrounding Genesis Qi to be sucked towards it. The temperature rapidly rose as a dozen feet wide wheel of fire was created at the center of the rune. Atop the wheel was a flame dragon that let out a low hiss. The water beneath their feet began to bubble and boil. ¡°Go!¡± Ye Ge¡¯s sleeve swung confidently as the flame dragon wheel shot forward, ripping apart the surface of the water below as it made a beeline for Yaoyao at an alarming speed. Ye Ge¡¯s astonishing proficiency in Genesis Runes was immediately revealed the moment he attacked, a grade 4 Genesis Rune drawn and completed in a brief period of a dozen breaths. He was indeed worthy of being the Chosen of Spirit Rune Peak. Boom! However, when the flame dragon wheel was several dozen feet from Yaoyao, the surface of the water suddenly broke open as an enormous water dragon emerged. With a roar, it swallowed the flaming wheel in a single gulp. ¡°Grade 4 Genesis Rune, Devouring Water Dragon!¡± Yaoyao¡¯s nonchalant voice echoed as she lightly tapped her jade Genesis Rune Brush in the air. Plop! The water around Ye Ge suddenly broke apart at this moment as four roaring water dragons emerged. They dashed towards him from four directions, their mouths opening wide as they ferociously attempted to take a bite out of him. ¡°Drawing four Genesis Runes in an instant¡­¡± Ye Ge¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. An ordinary Devouring Water Dragon rune would only create one water dragon, but four had appeared at the same time. This meant that Yaoyao had drawn four grade 4 Genesis Runes in the water a split second earlier. How much Spirit control was required in order to achieve such a feat? ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao is indeed remarkable.¡± A grave look appeared on Ye Ge¡¯s face. Soon after, dazzling rays of light began to shine from his daoist robe as complicated rune after rune slowly appeared, enveloping him like a giant golden bell. Dong! The roaring water dragons smashed into the giant bell, causing a loud ¡®dong¡¯ to resound across the area, the powerful sound wave causing ten thousand feet high waves to rise around him. ... While the earth-shaking battle was occurring above the surface, the depths of the Genesis reservoir seemed considerably calm in comparison. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure swiftly shot past, heading straight for the trapped thousand feet aquatic beast deep in the water. However, his figure suddenly came to a half after a few dozen breaths, frowning slightly as he looked up. The surface of the water was torn apart as a dozen figures shot downwards on their deadly sword Qi. They were the Sword Cometh Peak disciples Kong Sheng had summoned. Most of them were extremely powerful purple sash disciples that were not the least bit inferior to the likes of Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan. Hence, the look in their eyes resembled that of a cat looking at a mouse when they gazed at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Brat, you really aren¡¯t tactful at all. How can a second layer Alpha-Origin like you have the qualifications to meddle in senior brother Kong Sheng¡¯s affairs?¡± ¡°Scram or else there will be suffering.¡± The other Sword Cometh Peak disciples roared with laughter. Zhou Yuan could not help but grin as he patted Tuntun on his shoulder and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be depending on you.¡± The other party had numbers advantage, and was indeed a powerful force. If it was just him alone, it would be very unlikely for him to pass. Tuntun understood that time was of the essence, directly transforming into a flash of light as it shot forward. It abruptly began to grow, transforming into its sinister looking battle mode. Rumble! Berserk Genesis Qi undulations swept out wards like a storm. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples¡¯ expressions changed drastically, terror flashing in their eyes as they shouted, ¡°This beast is formidable, attack together!¡± They had felt the pressure from Tuntun¡¯s body, telling them that it was obviously no ordinary Genesis Beast. Swish swoosh! Deadly sword Qi exploded from the bodies of the disciples, seemingly covering the entire area as they blasted at Tuntun. Clang clang clang! However, the sword Qi was easily blocked by the dark golden scale armor on Tuntun¡¯s body. With a roar, Tuntun charged into the group, causing chaos and mayhem for a time. The previously high and mighty Sword Cometh Peak disciples were now miserably fleeing in all directions. Zhou Yuan softly chuckled as he watched the chaos. Without delaying any further, his figure moved, rapidly descending deeper into the reservoir. He eventually arrived at the location where the thousand feet aquatic beast was trapped. ¡°So this is a thousand feet aquatic beast.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but wet his lips at the sight of the enormous creature trapped inside the Genesis Rune boundary. Even though it was gravely injured, the pressure it gave off was extremely intense. This was nothing like any of the aquatic beasts Zhou Yuan had encountered before. ¡°If I manage to obtain the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal in its body, this trip to the Genesis reservoir will be perfect.¡± Zhou Yuan licked his lips, intense desire flitting across his eyes. However, he soon began to frown, feeling somewhat awkward. The thousand feet aquatic beast was already right before his eyes... But Tuntun was busy now, so how was he going to slay this thousand feet aquatic beast by himself? Previous Chapte Chapter 318 A Way Rumble! In the depths of the Genesis reservoir, giant water pillar after pillar interweaved, forming a giant net that trapped the thousand feet aquatic beast. It desperately struggled, its enormous body repeatedly slamming into the water net, making it bend at alarming angles. Zhou Yuan stood just outside the net, a grave expression on his face as he watched the struggling beast. Fortunately, the grade 4 Genesis Rune boundary Ye Ge had clearly spent a tremendous amount of effort to set-up was quite effective, and was able to withstand the repeated charges of the thousand feet aquatic beast. ¡°It¡¯s a top tier grade 4 Genesis Rune boundary after all.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed in amazement. One must know that a grade 4 Genesis Rune boundary and a grade 4 Genesis Rune were on completely different scales. A Genesis Rune boundary was not merely made from a single Genesis Rune but numerous connected runes of various grades, making it extremely complex. If one compared a Genesis Rune to a cog, a Genesis Rune boundary would be akin to complete clock. Hence, drawing a Genesis Rune may be relatively simple, while constructing a Genesis Rune boundary was very difficult. What¡¯s more, this Genesis Rune boundary of Ye Ge¡¯s was top tier even amongst other grade 4 boundaries. Zhou Yuan estimated that even someone with the strength of the ninth layer Alpha-Origin would be trapped by it. It was clear that Ye Ge had put in a lot of effort into trapping this thousand feet aquatic beast. ¡°But although this boundary is amazing, it¡¯s only a matter of time before it gets broken by that aquatic beast.¡± Zhou Yuan fell into thought as he gazed upon the aquatic beast that madly charged into the net time and time again. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared and swiftly transformed into its martial form. Pchla! With a jolt of his arm, the snow-white hairs at the brush tip thrust forward like a stream of white. A sharp aura pulsed at the brush tip, deadly without equal. The snow-white hairs pierced the thousand feet aquatic beast, however, it was basically ineffective on the aquatic beast¡¯s behemoth of a body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his hands forming a seal as he shouted, ¡°Nine Dragons Canon, eighth dragon!¡± Rumble! Eight beast shaped Genesis Qi dashed out from the top of his head, roaring as they gathered above him. They formed a line, head to tail as they charged into the net and smashed into the aquatic beast¡¯s body. Berserk undulations devastated the surroundings, making the water churn violently. However, when the waters returned to calmness again, Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows tightly knitted together. The eight dragons he had sent out had barely inflicted any damage to the thousand feet aquatic beast. However, it made sense when he thought about it. Although the aquatic beast was already in a seriously injured state, it was a powerful existence that could match a ninth layer Alpha-Origin expert. Zhou Yuan on the other hand would at best be able to face a fifth layer Alpha-Origin opponent. Rumble! After being attacked by Zhou Yuan again, the thousand feet aquatic beast thrashed about agitatedly. It made a crazed charged at the net again, ramming into it again and again. Under its mad thrashing, ripples began to appear on the water net boundary. The net was evidently about to reach its limit. ¡°Is Silver Shadow the only option?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself with a frown. The thousand feet aquatic beast had been gravely injured by Kong Sheng earlier, decreasing its battle power to seventh layer. If Zhou Yuan activated Silver Shadow, he should be able to put up a fight. However, Silver Shadow was his hidden trump card and many would likely detect it if it was used. He would rather not use Silver Shadow unless he had no other choice. As such, he muttered to himself as he stared at the water net. ... Meanwhile, on the surface. Ding! Kong Sheng stood atop the water as the black sword in his hand slashed downwards, creating a hundred feet long black sword Qi that blew away the lotus flower jade blades that were shooting towards him. Giant gaping wounds seemed to be torn open on the surface of the water, only gradually being filled up again after some time. Kong Sheng was expressionless as he shot a look downwards and said with a grin, ¡°Li Qingchan, the aquatic beast is about to break free of the water net. That brat you¡¯re counting on seems to be quite helpless.¡± Li Qingchan frowned slightly. She had naturally also sensed the activity below, and Zhou Yuan did seem powerless from the looks of it. However, there was nothing much she could do either. She did become a little hopeful earlier due to Yaoyao¡¯s confident appearance, but it seemed that her hope was not realistic at all. At the end of the day, Zhou Yuan was merely a second layer Alpha-Origin expert, and did not possess the qualifications to appear in a clash like this. Disappointment flitted across her eyes, though it did not reveal itself on her face. Kong Sheng smiled faintly and said, ¡°If the aquatic beast is allowed to break free and escapes into the depths of the reservoir, both of us will return empty handed today¡­ junior sister Qingchan, if you can let me have it, I will remember this debt.¡± His tone was filled with earnesty towards the end. However, Li Qingchan¡¯s face remained impassive, not moved at all by his proposal. It was obvious that his collaboration with Ye Ge had already angered her. How could she possibly allow Kong Sheng to get away with it so easily. She rather neither of them obtain it than let Kong Sheng have his way. Li Qingchan glanced down as she gently bit into her red lips. Of course, she was still hoping for a miracle to happen deep in her heart. What if Zhou Yuan discovered a way to deal with the thousand feet aquatic beast? Kong Sheng grew somewhat angry due to Li Qingchan¡¯s lack of response. ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve not give up yet. Are you really placing your hopes into that second layer Alpha-Origin brat?¡± ¡°Junior sister Qingchan, when did you become so naive¡­¡± Li Qingchan ignored him, her powerful Genesis Qi sweeping outwards as her attacks grew increasingly ferocious. In the depths of the Genesis reservoir. Zhou Yuan was still floating in the same place as before, deep in thought and a slight glimmer in his eyes as he gazed at the Genesis Rune boundary before him. ¡°Hey, can you do it or not? If you can¡¯t just set the aquatic beast free so neither side will get it!¡± While Zhou Yuan was thinking, a cold voice suddenly pierced through the water, wrapped by Genesis Qi as it precisely entered his ears. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression rippled slightly as he lifted his head. The one who had transmitted this message to him was Li Qingchan. She had likely sensed his lack of activity and decisively urged him to release the aquatic beast. Zhou Yuan chuckled, before he also sent his voice upwards, wrapped in Genesis Qi, ¡°Senior sister Li, don¡¯t ask a man whether he can do it or not in the future, because that is the most humiliating question for any man.¡± On the surface, anger and embarrassment interweaved on Li Qingchan¡¯s pretty face, her jaw clenching so hard that she nearly shattered her teeth. ¡°Pervert!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s how your sharp tongue will help you deal with that aquatic beast!¡± Zhou Yuan laughed again in the depths of the reservoir, as if seeing Li Qingchan¡¯s embarrassed and angry appearance. However, he soon cast away these useless thoughts, an unreadable look in his eyes as he turned towards the Genesis Rune boundary again, his fingers lightly tapping the back of his other hand. ¡°It¡¯s not like there¡¯s no way to deal with this aquatic beast¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 319 Modifying the Genesis Rune Boundary ¡°This Genesis Rune boundary¡­¡± In the depths of the Genesis reservoir, Zhou Yuan gazed at the water net boundary that was trapping the thousand feet aquatic beast as his eyes flickered in thought. It was not like there was no way to deal with this creature. However, Zhou Yuan did not plan on facing it directly. Given his current strength, it was impossible for him to be the thousand feet aquatic beast¡¯s match even though it was already heavily injured. ¡°I can make use of this Genesis Rune boundary.¡± Zhou Yuan seemed to contemplate something. In a certain manner of speaking, the Genesis Rune boundary before had the potential to deal a tremendous blow to the thousand feet aquatic beast, but it currently only functioned to trap the creature, and lacked any form of offense. If not, the thousand feet aquatic beast wouldn¡¯t be having such a good time, with more than enough energy to spare towards attempting to destroy the boundary. ¡°If I make a slight modification to this boundary and give it offensive capabilities, I should be able to make that aquatic beast suffer a little.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. However, if his words were heard by Genesis Rune experts, all of them would likely burst out into laughter. A Genesis Rune boundary was akin to a machine, every part working in unison. A slight tweak would likely cause the entire machine to fall apart. Of course, this did not mean that a Genesis Rune boundary could not be modified, but to do so would require an in depth knowledge of every tiny detail of the boundary, such that one would be able to clearly sense the flowing Genesis Qi within. It was a feat that even Ye Ge was not confident of doing. ¡°Others may not be able to¡­ but I could give it a try?¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled as an ancient rune surfaced in the depths of his pupils. It was obviously the Decoder Saint Rune. The moment it appeared, the appearance of the Genesis Rune boundary before Zhou Yuan changed, the patterns and movement of the Genesis Qi within it becoming unbelievably clear in his eyes. In a few brief moments, he understood how the Genesis Rune boundary operated. ¡°Amazing. This boundary is constructed from eighteen grade 4 Genesis Runes, over eighty grade 3 runes and several hundred lower grade ones¡­¡± Zhou Yuan sighed in admiration. A grade 4 boundary was a wonder indeed. Who knew how long Ye Ge had taken to prepare it. After observing for some time, several ideas began to pop up in his head. Before he could do anything, however, it must be noted that this Genesis Rune boundary was set-up by Ye Ge and contained traces of his Spirit power. For Zhou Yuan to make any changes, he would first have to remove the former¡¯s Spirit power. But if this was detected by Ye Ge, a single thought was all it would take for him to destroy the boundary, making all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s plans go up in smoke. Hence, he needed to think of a way to stop Ye Ge from sensing the boundary. Zhou Yuan pondered for a while, before lifting his head. Genesis Qi wrapped around his voice again as was transmitted through the water, heading straight into the ears of Yaoyao, who seemed to be somewhat interested in her Genesis Rune battle with Ye Ge. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, could you disrupt that guy¡¯s Spirit senses for a moment.¡± The Genesis Rune brush in Yaoyao¡¯s hand paused briefly as she swept a glance towards the depths of the reservoir. Soon after, the corners of her mouth raised slightly for a moment as if already knowing what Zhou Yuan was planning. ¡°Not bad, you¡¯ve learnt how to use your head at last.¡± Mumbled Yaoyao to herself in a low vocie. Spirit light suddenly dazzled between her brows as a Spirit wave unfurled, noiselessly sweeping towards Ye Ge. It was a Spirit attack. Ye Ge immediately sensed it, causing his heart to shiver. A Spirit attack may not appear as impressive as a blast of Genesis Qi, but it was far more dangerous. If one was careless, one¡¯s Spirit may end up being scattered, making one akin to a piece of meat on the chopping board. Hence, he immediately spread his Spirit power, creating a thick Spirit shield in front of him. Bang! A faint sound was heard as the invisible wave arrived. If any living being was caught in its radius, its Spirit would likely be scattered. Even with the Spirit shield, Ye Ge¡¯s Spirit was briefly dazed by the attack, making his reactions somewhat slower. ¡°To think that her Spirit is so powerful!¡± Ye Ge¡¯s expression grew increasingly grave. From the earlier attack, Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit felt akin to the Genesis reservoir below his feet, immeasurable and without end. His Spirit pulled back as he began to gather all of his power, no longer able to spare any attention to the Genesis Rune boundary in the depths of the reservoir. Meanwhile, a smile appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face in the depths of the reservoir. With the Decoder Saint Rune, he could see Ye Ge¡¯s Spirit power in the Genesis Rune boundary slowly weaken. This meant that Ye Ge¡¯s control over it was waning. ¡°I can do it now!¡± Zhou Yuan rubbed his hands together, before grabbing the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The Decoder Saint Rune in his pupils slowly began to revolve as a mysterious aura spread. The tip of his brush slowly descended, touching the boundary. Bzz! When the two came into contact, the boundary began to ripple the Genesis Qi within it stirring slightly. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged as the tip of the brush swiftly began to move. The Spirit between his brows flickered as Spirit power flowed out from the brush tip. A complicated rune gradually took shape. The moment it was complete, the brush tip pushed, sending the rune into the boundary. The boundary immediately began to shake violently as if on the verge of collapsing. However, Zhou Yuan swiftly took control of the Genesis Rune, fusing it into the boundary little by little by following the circulation of Genesis Qi to neutralize the rejection from the boundary. After his initial success, Zhou Yuan began to work once again as rune after rune was continuously sent into the boundary. ¡°Water to Toughness Rune!¡± ¡°Golden Jade Rune!¡± ¡°Reflection Armor Rune!¡± ¡°Metal Wall Rune!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± None of the runes activated after being fused into the boundary, patiently waiting for the moment they would strike. When the final rune was sent in, Zhou Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He massaged the spot between his brows, smiling as he gazed at the interior of the boundary. The thousand feet aquatic beast roared once again, as its titanic body ferociously charged at the boundary. Berserk Genesis Qi gathered at the tip of its head, the force of the charge so great that even a mountain would be blasted to pieces. If nothing was done, this charge would destroy the boundary. However, Zhou Yuan did not move to stop the beast, but instead let out a soft chuckle as he watched. The water in the reservoir was violently torn apart by the force. Boom! In the blink of an eye, the thousand feet aquatic beast was just about to hurl itself at the net, its instincts telling it that the water net boundary would definitely be broken this time. Right before impact, however, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit shook and the runes that had been fused into the boundary suddenly activated at this moment. The entire Genesis Rune boundary began to shudder violently. One could only watch as the net gradually disappeared, a screen of water taking its place. The water screen gave off a golden jade like luster, multiple layers of light flickering upon it, transforming it into an indestructible water wall! Clang! The thousand feet aquatic beast ruthlessly slammed into the water wall, a loud earth-shattering noise ringing across the area. A terrifying shockwave devastated the surroundings, towering giant waves rising in the waters within a several ten thousand feet radius. Crack! The Genesis Rune boundary finally reached its limit at this moment, and shattered. The powerful shockwave flung Zhou Yuan away, the Magical Python Scales on his body continuously shattering. From this, one could tell just how destructive the shockwave was. This activity immediately to the surface. The participants of the two battlefields were immediately alarmed as they swiftly created distance from their opponents, bewilderment in their eyes as they looked down. The first thing they saw was the shattered Genesis Rune boundary. Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan¡¯s expressions changed slightly. ¡°The Genesis Rune boundary is broken¡­ that thousand feet aquatic beast has escaped!¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s expression was quite ugly. This meant that he would be returning without achieving anything this time. Li Qingchan was also stunned for a moment, before letting out a sigh. Neither side had won in the end. ¡°The one you placed your hopes on doesn¡¯t seem to have much ability. Junior sister Qingchan, don¡¯t bring such a person to any future clashes of this level, because he will only end up making a fool of himself.¡± Said Kong Sheng, his tone filled with iciness and mockery. Li Qingchan frowned, paying no heed to his words. The Genesis Qi undulations around her gradually withdrew. Since the thousand feet aquatic beast had already escaped, there was no need to fight any further. It seems that both herself and Kong Sheng would be returning empty handed this time. Li Qingchan glanced at the depths of the reservoir, finding Zhou Yuan, who was still miserably tumbling in the water after being blasted away by the shockwave earlier. She sighed in her heart as she laughed at herself. He was ultimately only a second layer Alpha-Origin, placing her hopes in him had indeed been a rather baffling act. While she was sighing inside, calm gradually returned to the water in the depths of the reservoir. Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes nonchalantly swept past, her eyes abruptly widening a moment later as disbelief began flooding her pretty face. At the site of the Genesis Rune boundary explosion, the thousand feet aquatic beast was indeed nowhere to be seen, but there was a half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal peacefully floating in the water. Li Qingchan could not help but cover her mouth, a raging storm churning in her heart. That thousand feet aquatic beast¡­ had been killed?! Previous Chapte Chapter 320 Success The intense battle on the surface of the reservoir quietly came to an end, and peace returned to the area. While Li Qingchan stared at the depths of the Genesis reservoir in disbelief, Kong Sheng also seemed to sense something, and immediately cast his gaze downwards, before he pupils abruptly shrank. He too had seen the dazzling Dragon Genesis Essence crystal. The sight of the crystal violently shook the heart of even someone like Kong Sheng as he could not help but say, ¡°How is this possible?!¡± How had the thousand feet aquatic beast suddenly died! Zhou Yuan was merely a second layer Alpha-Origin practitioner, an existence akin to ant before the thousand feet aquatic beast even if he were to risk his life against it. So how had the thousand feet aquatic beast died? In the face of such a scene, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan could only look at each other, unable to comprehend. While the two Chosens were dumbstruck, in the depths of the reservoir, Zhou Yuan shot forward and kept the half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal into his Universe bag in one swift motion. ¡°What a stupid fellow¡­¡± Said Zhou Yuan as clicked his tongue. In a manner of speaking the thousand aquatic beast had been killed by its own charge. It had used its full power to slam into the water wall, but what it did not know was that it was no longer the soft water net from before. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s modification, the boundary had changed characteristic, becoming an extremely tough and solid wall. Water to Toughness Rune, Golden Jade Rune, Reflection Armor Rune... These runes had bestowed the characteristics of toughness and sturdiness to the water wall, and had even given it the power of reflection. The stronger the aquatic beast¡¯s charge, the greater the backlash it would suffer. Of course, Zhou Yuan¡¯s modifications had gathered up all of the Genesis Rune boundary¡¯s power, and it would have been destroyed regardless of whether it managed to stop the thousand feet aquatic beast. As such, the aquatic beast had concentrated all of its power into that one final charge, shattering the boundary while also killing itself... Zhou Yuan patted his Universe bag in satisfaction. It had not taken him much effort this time, because the main contributor was the Genesis Rune boundary set-up by Ye Ge. Without the power of the boundary, Zhou Yuan would have likely failed to slay the thousand feet aquatic beast even if he did use up every iota of his power. There was just far too great of a gap between them. Zhou Yuan began rising towards the surface, encountering the Sword Cometh Peak disciples along the way. All of them were wailing like ghosts as they were being chased around by Tuntun, each one a sorry, bloody sight with fearful eyes. Zhou Yuan shook his head at this scene. It was fortunate that Tuntun understood it was allowed to kill. If not, all of the disciples would be corpses by now. ¡°Tuntun, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan called out to it. Upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s call, Tuntun somewhat reluctantly turned around, its body rapidly shrinking to the size of a tiny dog as it landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder. Zhou Yuan glanced at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. There was no longer any trace of the arrogance from before. Each one was in an extremely pitiful state, gazes filled with terror when they looked towards him. They had clearly been thoroughly oppressed by Tuntun earlier. Zhou Yuan smiled at them, before moving again. His body rapidly ascended and eventually broke out of the water, landing on the surface of the reservoir. The surface was quite calm and peaceful. Zhou Yuan gazed at Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, who had been staring at him from the beginning, and asked, ¡°Hehe, is everyone done fighting?¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s gaze was tinged with amazement as she stared at Zhou Yuan, unable to stop herself from asking, ¡°You killed the aquatic beast?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Actually, it killed itself.¡± The corners of Li Qingchan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. How could a thousand feet aquatic beast that could match a ninth layer Alpha-Origin have killed itself? ¡°You changed my Genesis Rune boundary?!¡± It was at this moment that a voice sounded from behind Zhou Yuan. He turned around, only to find Ye Ge approaching on the water, his gaze tightly fixed onto Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao also slowly walked over, making it apparent that their battle was likewise over. Ye Ge glanced at Yaoyao, strong wariness flitting across his eyes. In their duel earlier, he now finally understood just how immeasurable she was. No matter how he attacked with Genesis Runes, Yaoyao had been able to counter in an even fiercer manner, easily destroying all of his attacks. It was obvious who was the superior one between them. After dozens of exchanges, even Ye Ge had to admit it no matter how reluctant he was. Yaoyao mastery over Genesis Runes far surpassed his imagination. Since he already knew what the outcome would be, Ye Ge stopped attacking. Yaoyao was clearly just toying with him, and it would not be very tactful of him to continue. As Ye Ge approached, his gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan. Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan may not know what had happened, but the former had faintly sensed a strange disturbance from the Genesis Rune boundary he had set-up at the depths of the reservoir. When all these observations were pieced together, he was almost certain that Zhou Yuan had modified his Genesis Rune boundary, and then used it to slay the thousand feet aquatic beast. ¡°Changed your Genesis Rune boundary?!¡± Li Qingchan and Kong Sheng were stunned, bewilderment in their eyes as they looked towards Zhou Yuan. Althoug they were not proficient in Genesis Runes, they did have a rough understanding of it. Hence, they clearly understood just how difficult it was to modify a Genesis Rune boundary. It required an extremely detailed understanding of the Genesis Rune boundary. But how long had Zhou Yuan been in contact with that Genesis Rune boundary? Li Qingchan¡¯s mouth hung slightly open. Due to the matter from before, she did have some bias towards Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao¡¯s protectiveness in particular had made the former view him as a person that could only depend on a woman. However, it new seemed as if she had been wrong about him? Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response to the trio¡¯s puzzled gazes, not bothering to explain anything as he retrieved the half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal from his Universe bag. The moment it appeared, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan¡¯s gazes immediately shot over. Kong Sheng looked at Zhou Yuan, a smile emerging on his rugged face as he said, ¡°Junior brother, if you give that item to me, I can make a promise that will surely interest you.¡± Li Qingchan shot a cold look at Kong Sheng. ¡°Kong Sheng, have you not given up yet?¡± ¡°Everything has a price, as long as one is willing to pay.¡± Kong Sheng smiled slightly. His gaze shifted towards Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, ¡°You should be junior brother Zhou Yuan of Saint Genesis Peak, am I right?¡± ¡°If you give it to me, I will let you become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Li Qingchan coldly snorted. ¡°Kong Sheng, every chief disciple made from facing countless challenges and adversity. You do not have the qualifications to give it.¡± Kong Sheng smiled. ¡°I may not have the qualifications, but I can make junior brother Yuan Hong step aside.¡± Surprise flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. It was indeed true that Yuan Hong was currently the greatest contender for the seat of chief disciple. If Kong Sheng could make him step aside, elder Shen¡¯s group would have a really good chance. Normally speaking, it was an offer that tempted one¡¯s heart. Kong Sheng¡¯s smile grew even wider when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance. ¡°How about it junior brother Zhou Yuan?¡± Zhou Yuan seemed to fall into thought for a moment, before he smiled and said, ¡°Your offer is indeed a little tempting¡­¡± He grinned as he looked towards the frosty face of Li Qingchan. ¡°What do you think senior sister Li?¡± Li Qingchan shot him a cold look as she sneered, ¡°I cannot offer the same.¡± She could clearly feel that Zhou Yuan had been tempted, and was intentionally asking her for an even better offer. When she ultimately rejected him, he could void their previous agreement with a clear conscience, and then proceed to complete the deal with Kong Sheng. Although such actions were quite shameless, Li Qingchan was a proud woman, and refused to try and threaten him with their previous agreement. In her opinion, it would instead make her appear weak. Now, she could only take it that she had collaborated with the wrong person, though she had never once thought much of Zhou Yuan. ¡°So unfriendly, no fun at all.¡± Zhou Yuan shrugged helplessly before smiling at Kong Sheng. ¡°Senior brother Kong Sheng, although your offer is very tempting, I have to apologize, because I¡¯ve already promised this Dragon Genesis Essence crystal to senior sister Li.¡± Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan were stunned. The smile on Kong Sheng¡¯s face turned slightly rigid as he softly said, ¡°You¡¯re¡­ rejecting me?¡± He stared a Zhou Yuan, a faint sensation of danger spreading his smile. In the Cangxuan Sect, a gold sash disciple actually dared to reject his offer? However, Zhou Yuan seemed to be unable to detect the dangerous sensation, merely smiling as he nodded with an apologetic face. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡± ¡°Won¡¯t give it some consideration?¡± Kong Sheng smiled again, his black stone like eyes narrowing slightly. Zhou Yuan shook his head as if put in a difficult spot. ¡°Heh¡­¡± Kong Sheng chuckled softly, shaking his finger twice at Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°You are quite interesting¡­¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan, right¡­¡± He deeply looked at Zhou Yuan, the expression in his eyes unreadable. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll remember it¡­¡± With a swish of his sleeve, he turned around and walked away on the water. Ye Ge also shot another glance at Zhou Yuan, clearly quite surprised that he would not give Kong Sheng face. This kid was really akin to an ignorant calf that was unafraid of a tiger. However, he did not say anything in the end. After cupping his fists together towards Yaoyao, he also left. On the surface of the reservoir, Zhou Yuan looked in the direction Kong Sheng had left him and shrugged. ¡°I seem to have offended someone¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 321 Offended Peace completely returned to the surface of the reservoir in the wake of Kong Sheng and Ye Ge¡¯s departure. Any signs of the earlier battle were also washed away by the water. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes faintly flickered for a moment as he gazed at Kong Sheng¡¯s back. Although Zhou Yuan had not wanted things to become so sour between himself and a Chosen, things had not turned out as he wished. Moreover, Kong Sheng may have appeared friendly when they talked earlier, but there was a faint trace of superiority in his voice. It was clear that Kong Sheng looked down on Zhou Yuan somewhat, and if not for the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal, the former would not have ¡®lowered¡¯ himself to speak to the latter One was after all a Chosen, while the other was a mere gold sash disciple. The disparity in their status was far too great. However, Zhou Yuan merely laughed it off, not feeling humiliated by this treatment. It was true that Kong Sheng currently had the qualifications to be prideful. The main reason for this was because Zhou Yuan was weak, but he had time, and believed that Kong Sheng¡¯s attitude will naturally change when Zhou Yuan one day stood amongst the ranks of the Chosens. To be treated as an equal, one naturally needed to work hard. Of course, the problem now was that although Zhou Yuan did not mind Kong Sheng¡¯s arrogant attitude, the latter rather minded the fact that Zhou Yuan had rejected the offer... In Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes, Zhou Yuan likely did not have the right to reject him. ¡°How troublesome¡­¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly stuck out his lower lip. There was already an agreement between him and Li Qingchan, and would naturally not renegade on it for Kong Sheng or he would only end up offending Li Qingchan for no good reason. After all, unintentionally trespassing into Li Qingchan¡¯s personal hot spring had already angered her. If he were to also go back on his word, he would likely be banished into the abyss in the heart of the number one beauty of the Cangxuan Sect. Moreover, Li Qingchan and Kong Sheng were both Chosens, so no matter how one looked at it, Zhou Yuan could not possibly offend Li Qingchan because of Kong Sheng. Never offend a woman. Especially one that was so pretty. While Zhou Yuan was lamenting in his heart, a fragrance suddenly drifted over from the side. He turned his head, to find that Li Qingchan had arrived beside him, a strange look in her usually cold as an ice mountain eyes. Li Qingchan nonchalantly asked, ¡°You dare to reject even Kong Sheng?¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. ¡°If I don¡¯t offend him, I¡¯ll be offending you. Do I have a choice?¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly. ¡°Are you saying that I¡¯m scarier than Kong Sheng in your eyes?¡± Zhou Yuan stretched his back and chuckled. ¡°I only feel that it will be much easier to better my relationship with you than him. He doesn¡¯t seem to think much of me, so it likely won¡¯t mean much to him even if I did give him the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.¡± Li Qingchan glanced at Zhou Yuan in astonishment, not expecting him to have such a clear view of the situation. It seems that she had still underestimated him somewhat. ¡°Since I¡¯ve offended Kong Sheng because of you, you¡¯ll have to support me in future.¡± Teased Zhou Yuan. It was suppose to be a joke, but Li Qingchan gave a slight nod in response and earnestly declared, ¡°If he does cause trouble for you, feel free to find me at Snow Lotus Peak.¡± Although she was still somewhat unable to get over the fact that Zhou Yuan barged in while she was in the hot spring, Li Qingchan agreed that Zhou Yuan had offended Kong Sheng because of her, and felt responsible for this matter. ¡°Eh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback, clearly not expecting such an earnest reply from Li Qingchan. However, Li Qingchan¡¯s gaze quickly shifted towards Yaoyao and said, ¡°But I feel that with her at your side, Kong Sheng will be pretty powerless to do anything to you.¡± Yaoyao lazily said, ¡°From the earlier exchange, the Chosens of Cangxuan Sect are indeed quite disappointing.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s frowned a little. Yaoyao¡¯s words were clearly belittling all of the Chosens, including herself. Li Qingchan icily said, ¡°Shameless boasting.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s clear, empty eyes paused on Li Qingchan¡¯s lovely figure as she said in a slightly interested voice, ¡°Try me if you don¡¯t believe my words.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll happily take up that challenge.¡± Li Qingchan immediately responded. She was a proud person after all. Since Kong Sheng had already been dealt with, the two girls seemed to be about to butt heads again. Zhou Yuan¡¯s head ached. How could not see that Yaoyao was intentionally provoking Li Qingchan. Though she was usually rather distant and unfriendly to others, she immediately responded to all of Yaoyao¡¯s provocations. Afraid that the two girls would come to blows again, Zhou Yuan hastily threw the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal to Li Qingchan. Li Qingchan hurriedly caught it, glaring at Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°According to our agreement, you two should get half of the crystal.¡± As she spoke, she moved to cut it open. However, Zhou Yuan waved his hand to step her as he said, ¡°The amount of Dragon Genesis Essence I currently have is enough for me to achieve a seven dragons baptism, I believe you should be in the same situation, right?¡± Although Li Qingchan was aware that Zhou Yuan had quite a number of Dragon Genesis Essence crystals, she could not help but be somewhat shocked when she heard he could reach a seven dragons baptism. After all, she clearly understood just how difficult it was to gather these crystals. In the entire Cangxuan Sect, only Chosens like her who owned territory in the Genesis reservoir would be able to achieve a seven dragons baptism. And yet, a mere gold sash disciple had also achieved this. Even if he had a helper at his side that did not lose to a Chosen like Yaoyao, without his own personal territory, finding so many aquatic beasts in this vast reservoir was incredibly difficult. While confusion flashed in her head, Li Qingchan nodded. ¡°Since both of us are already at the seven dragons baptism, the thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal will enable either one of us to reach the eight dragons baptism. But if split, it will only be akin to a useless ornament that will result in neither of us reaching eight dragons.¡± Explained Zhou Yuan with a smile. Li Qingchan naturally already understood this. Her eyes flowed in thought, not batting an eyelid as she secretly wondered if Zhou Yuan was trying to come up with some kind of excuse for him to take the entire crystal. ¡°What are your intentions?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°You can have the entire Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.¡± Surprised immediately appeared on Li Qingchan¡¯s face. Soon after, she warily stared at Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°So generous?¡± The Dragon Genesis Essence crystal of a thousand feet aquatic beast was something that even the ten great Chosens would fight over. Was Zhou Yuan really willing to give it to her? Did he have some kind of ulterior motive? Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh bitterly in response. ¡°Of course I¡¯m not giving it to you for free. My condition is that you give us permission to enter your territory in the Genesis reservoir where I will find a second thousand feet aquatic beast. When it''s found, you will be responsible for slaying it.¡± Half a thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal was indeed incapable of allowing Zhou Yuan to reach an eight dragon baptism. Hence, why not give it to Li Qingchan in return for a favor.¡± It was said the Chosens personal territory was abundant with aquatic beasts. Since Zhou Yuan had the ability to search in the reservoir for prolonged periods, he could attempt to find a second thousand feet aquatic beast. In the Genesis reservoir, he had even more of an advantage than these Chosens. Therefore, just because the Chosens failed to find any did not mean that he would not succeed. Li Qingchan¡¯s mouth opened slightly and closed in succession, clearly not expecting Zhou Yuan to propose such conditions. She was clearly the one who was taking advantage. ¡°Thousand feet aquatic beasts hide themselves in the deepest parts of the reservoir. If they were so easily found, Kong Sheng would not have tried so hard to snatch it from me.¡± ¡°I will deal with how to find it.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand. ¡°Will you accept my suggestion?¡± The iciness in Li Qingchan''s eyes had receded substantially. After a brief hesitation, she eventually gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Deal. However, I dislike taking advantage of you. Even if you fail to find a second thousand feet aquatic beast, I will continue to help you search until we find one!¡± ¡°Take it as repayment for your thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at her in surprise, unable to stop himself from chuckling. Although Li Qingchan was very cold and proud, she understood how to repay kindness with grace. ¡°Alright then.¡± Hence, he nodded with a grin. Li Qingchan breathed a small sigh of relief as her gaze swept across Zhou Yuan. This guy did not seem as loathsome as before. In addition, now that she had pretty much thrown away her prejudice, she was now seeing Zhou Yuan a completely different light. The many things that happened today were enough proof that this new inner mountain disciple seemed to be pretty extraordinary. Whether it was modifying Ye Ge¡¯s Genesis Rune boundary to slay the thousand feet aquatic beast, or the confidence to face Kong Sheng without bowing. ¡°This guy¡­¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s pursed her lips slightly, some bewilderment in her eyes. ¡°Is he really able to find another thousand feet aquatic beast?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 322 Bai A certain area in the Genesis reservoir. Giant mountains akin to pillars that held up the heavens separated the reservoir, forming a lush green valley. The valley was enveloped in mist, making it appear clean and untouched. In a stone pavilion atop one of the cliffs. Yaoyao sat on a mat, holding a jade pot in her hand as she poured herself a drink, painting a perfect picture of leisure and relaxation. Her fine black hair gracefully hung from her head, a faint blush on her glossy skin due to the alcohol, adding a few points more to her already perfect face. Several of the female disciples in the vicinity of the pavilion could not help but sneak a glance, their eyes filled with amazement. This was probably the first time they had seen someone who was not the least bit inferior to Li Qingchan in terms of looks. Opposite Yaoyao sat Li Qingchan sat with a straight posture. Her clothes wrapped around her alluring curves, displaying her enchanting figure. She swept a glance at the mist covered waters in the distance and said, ¡°You¡¯re quite relaxed. The Genesis reservoir will close tomorrow, but there¡¯s still no signs of a thousand feet aquatic beast.¡± This was Li Qingchan¡¯s personal territory, which she had brought Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao to after coming to an agreement back then. Zhou Yuan spent the subsequent days searching for any signs of a thousand feet aquatic beast in the Genesis reservoir. However, there had been no results after several days. The ten day limit was just around the corner, and if Zhou Yuan was still unable to find a thousand feet aquatic beast, his Genesis Marrow Baptism would be stuck at the seven dragons level. Although a seven dragons baptism was already a dream for many disciples, with the exception of the ten Chosens, Zhou Yuan¡¯s ambitions were not so small. If not, he would not be working so hard to find a thousand feet aquatic beast. ¡°It¡¯s his choice. He bears the responsibility regardless of success or failure.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s voice was clear and pleasant to the ear. She glanced at Li Qingchan and unhurriedly said, ¡°You on the other hand has received such a huge favor from him, but have not given him much help.¡± Li Qingchan calmly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve promised to help him find it in the future if he fails this time, and I won¡¯t stop until I return him a thousand feet Dragon Genesis Essence crystal.¡± Yaoyao gently swirled the cup in her hand as she said in a drawn out manner, ¡°I¡¯m just worried that someone will conveniently forget about it after obtaining an eight dragons baptism.¡± ¡°Thoughts of a lowly person!¡± Li Qingchan coldly snorted. Outside the stone pavilion, the other female disciples were secretly alarmed by the seemingly calm yet gunpowder laced exchange of words between the two girls. Who exactly was this unbelievably pretty girl. It was hard to believe that she dared to speak in such a manner to eldest senior sister. Moreover, from eldest senior sister¡¯s appearance, she seemed to be quite wary of this beautiful girl. ¡­ While the two girls were bickering, a figure zoomed past the depths of the Genesis reservoir on golden Genesis Qi, heading towards the deeper parts. It was Zhou Yuan. ¡°The Genesis reservoir is closing tomorrow. If I¡¯m still unable to find a thousand feet aquatic beast, I will be stuck with a seven dragons baptism.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze faintly flickered in thought as he continued to search in the reservoir. Although a seven dragon baptism was already very stunning, since he had a chance to bring it a step further, he would naturally chase after perfection. After all, he was still not a purple sash disciple, and it would be a long time before he got the opportunity to enter the Genesis reservoir again. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s not going to work out unless I take drastic measures.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned as he contemplated something, before tapping Tuntun on his shoulder. ¡°Ordinary methods aren¡¯t going to draw out a thousand feet aquatic beast. I plan on taking the role of bait, but it would surely attract a tremendous number of aquatic beasts. Can you help protect me?¡± Tuntun snorted in a pleased manner, before slowly extending a claw, indicating a split of eight to two. It was asking for an eighty percent share of the Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. Zhou Yuan clenched his jaw as he glared at the exploitative little creature, but ultimately nodded his head in agreement. He no longer needed any ordinary Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. Only a thousand feet Dragon Genesis Essence crystal will work as a primer of sorts to raise him to the eight dragons level. After coming to an agreement, Zhou Yuan crossed his legs and sat down in the water. With a deep breath, a resolved look flashed in his eyes as the Omni Python Qi in his Qi Dwelling erupted without reservation at this moment. Roar! The low rumble of a dragon roar echoed, causing the water to ripple violently. Golden Genesis Qi whizzed out from the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, like a several hundred feet tall golden pillar of light that pierced the reservoir. An enormous golden python was faintly discernible within the golden pillar, faint dragon claws appearing near its belly, while golden lumps rose on its head, like growing dragon horns. The Omni Python Qi unfurled, causing a huge disturbance in the depths of the reservoir. The waters churned violently as titanic translucent figures began to arrive from all over, swiftly enclosing around the area Zhou Yuan was located. Their numbers were extremely astonishing. Zhou Yuan had been suppressing his Genesis Qi in the reservoir ever since learning that it would attract aquatic beasts, so as to prevent drawing unnecessary attention. But now, he had no choice but to go all out in order to play his part as bait. However, it would put him in a perilous situation. He would surely be seriously injured if Tuntun failed to protect him. For the sake of the thousand feet aquatic beast, he could only risk it on this gamble. *Stomach rumbling*! The reservoir waters rippled as countless aquatic beasts surged towards him, giant eyes filled with greed and desire as they locked onto Zhou Yuan. Roar! Tuntun jumped off Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder as its body rapidly began to grow. It transformed into its imposing battle form as berserk Genesis Qi swept outwards like a storm. A terrifying pressure accompanied it, like the king of beasts. The pressure unfurled, suppressing the countless aquatic beasts. They stirred restlessly, not dare to advance for a time. However, as larger and larger aquatic beasts appeared, the desire for Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi gradually won over their fear towards Tuntun. In the end, one of the enormous aquatic beasts roared as they swarmed towards the two. Roar! Anger flashed in Tuntun¡¯s eyes, as if feeling its kingly dignity was being challenged. With a roar, its large mouth opened as black balls shot out one after another. Suction force spread wherever the black balls passed, destroying aquatic beast after beast. The battle erupted, berserk blast after blast of Genesis Qi shaking the depths of the Genesis reservoir. ¡­ In the stone pavilion atop the cliff. Yaoyao¡¯s hand suddenly paused, her clear eyes looking towards the reservoir. Her crescent moon like eyebrows raised slightly as she mumbled to herself, ¡°How reckless of him.¡± Li Qingchan looked towards the former and curiously asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Yaoyao put down the jade pot, elegantly raising her cups to her lips to take a small sip, before she nonchalantly said, ¡°Get ready.¡± Li Qingchan was taken aback, and hurriedly asked, ¡°What do you mean? Has Zhou Yuan found a thousand feet aquatic beast?¡± There was some disbelief in her voice. After all, she clearly understood just how difficult it was to find one. Even till now, she was under the impression that Zhou Yuan was trying to show off and would not really be able to find a thousand feet aquatic beast. However, Yaoyao did not reply, merely lightly tapping her cup with her long slender fingers, causing faint but clear sounds to be emitted. ¡­ In the depths of the reservoir. The battle was exceptionally brutal. Tuntun guarded the area within a few dozen feet of Zhou Yuan, its body transforming into numerous after images as it tore through all of the aquatic beasts that entered this zone. As for Zhou Yuan, he silently sat in the center of the battlefield without moving. Until a certain moment. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked towards a certain direction where an enormous thousand feet long object was cutting through the water, its giant shadow looming as it rapidly approached. It was a thousand feet aquatic beast at full power! Zhou Yuan immediately stood up and shouted, ¡°Tuntun, we¡¯re leaving!¡± There was no hesitation whatsoever as he turned around and shot away. To slay the thousand feet aquatic beast, he would first have to trap it, because no one would be able to stop it from escaping. Tuntun immediately followed, its body shrinking as it hopped onto his shoulder. Man and beast swiftly fled. Behind them, the thousand feet aquatic beast roared, its greedy eyes locking onto Zhou Yuan. Though its body was huge, it relentless gave chase at an astonishing speed. Previous Chapte Chapter 323 Ge Crash! The surface of the reservoir broke open. A figure on golden Genesis Qi shot out, an enormous thousand feet long aquatic beast right on his heels, its greedy eyes glued to Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Behind the thousand feet aquatic beast were numerous other aquatic beasts of various sizes. On Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder, Tuntun barked at the swarm of aquatic beasts behind, as if feeling that being chased was a humiliation, and was clearly itching to rumble with them. ¡°Don¡¯t be rash!¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly stopped Tuntun. If they did not first trap the thousand feet aquatic beast, even if they ended up defeating it, it could escape into the water, and be nearly impossible to chase. Although Tuntun was somewhat unhappy that he had been stopped, it eventually quietened down. Only then did Zhou Yuan breathe a small sigh of relief. With a backward glance towards the pursuing aquatic beasts, the golden Genesis Qi below his feet abruptly sped up. ¡­ ¡°There¡¯s still no movement from the Genesis reservoir.¡± In the stone pavilion atop the cliff, Li Qingchan gazed at the rippleless surface of the water, before turning to Yaoyao in a doubtful manner. The latter had asked her to prepare, but she had yet to detect anything out of the ordinary till now. However, Yaoyao paid no heed to the former¡¯s doubtful look, and began drawing in the air with her jade Genesis Rune Brush. Rune after rune took shape and flew out, submerging themselves into the water. Li Qingchan crossed her arms across her chest and grumpily said, ¡°Let me see what kind of nonsense you guys are up to.¡± Boom! The instant her words sounded, however, berserk undulations suddenly exploded from the reservoir, causing the originally calm water to boil. This turn of events startled Li Qingchan. Only now did she sense the activity in the depths of the reservoir. As Genesis Qi circulated in her eyes, she saw Zhou Yuan rapidly approaching, a black mass of aquatic beasts right behind him. ¡°So many?!¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s expression changed slightly, disbelief in her eyes. Especially when she saw the thousand feet aquatic beast at the front of the pack, causing her usually frosty face to fill with emotion. ¡°He has actually found a thousand feet aquatic beast?!¡± By now, even someone like Li Qingchan was unable to keep her cool. She knew just how difficult it was to find a thousand feet aquatic beast. It had taken them more than half a year to even discover any traces of one. And yet, Zhou Yuan had managed to discover one after a few short days in the reservoir. How could this not shock her? ¡°What exactly did he do? Why do these aquatic beasts appear as if they can¡¯t wait to eat him¡­¡± Li Qingchan was dumbstruck. She had also seen the crazed appearances of the aquatic beasts. Splash! While she was stunned, the surface of the water broke apart as Zhou Yuan soared into the sky. ¡°Do it big sis Yaoyao!¡± Shouted Zhou Yuan. The water was torn open behind him as the thousand feet aquatic beast and numerous others shot out, their giant mouths lunging at Zhou Yuan along with powerful Genesis Qi undulations. In the stone pavilion, the Genesis Rune brush in Yaoyao¡¯s hand pointed in the air as ripples seem to spread from its tip. In the water, countless ancient runes began to glow, erupting into a dazzling radiance a split second later that swiftly began to spread. In the short span of a dozen breaths, an enormous ball of light had appeared on the surface of the reservoir, half of it submerged in the water. Inside the ball was the thousand feet aquatic beast. The ball was covered in runes that continuously absorbed the surrounding Genesis Qi. The seemingly thin film of light was actually extremely sturdy. In addition, the ball was spinning, making the thousand feet aquatic beast ultimately unable to approach its sides to break free... This was obviously the Genesis Rune boundary Yaoyao had set-up. It was clearly far more refined than the water prison boundary Ye Ge had set-up previously. The boundary was no obstruction to Zhou Yuan, allowing him to pass through freely. He stood in the air on his Genesis Qi and looked at the other aquatic beasts that were madly attacking the boundary. ¡°You can go ahead now, we¡¯ll be handling them to you.¡± He nudged his shoulder and pointed at the innumerable aquatic beasts. Tuntun was already at the limits of its patience. It immediately roared the moment it heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words and transformed into its combat state. It charged into the reservoir, straight into the pack of countless aquatic beasts and began to wreak havoc and destruction. Zhou Yuan did not pay any further attention to it, his body moving and landing on a cliff. Yaoyao and Li Qingchan also arrived at the same spot at this moment. The latter¡¯s eyes were tightly glued to Zhou Yuan, as if seeing something inconceivable. ¡°How did you do it?¡± Li Qingchan could not help but ask. A thousand feet aquatic beast was far too rare, while also being almost impossible to find. If not, Chu Qing would not have been the only one to successfully hunt one and obtain an eight dragon baptism after so many years. However, this problem seemed to be non existent to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan grinned as he shrugged. He was naturally not going to divulge the details to her. After all, if this matter were to spread, the other Chosens would likely turn their attention to him. Li Qingchan understood that a little inappropriate of her, knowing that this was Zhou Yuan¡¯s secret and this did not probe any further. However, it was hard to stop amazement from appearing in her eyes when she looked towards him. Zhou Yuan was clearly only an ordinary gold sash disciple, but he was able to repeatedly surpass her expectations. It was as if there were numerous secrets hidden under his youthful face. She did not know why, but she had a feeling that though Zhou Yuan was currently a gold sash disciple, he would become an influential figure in the Cangxuan Sect in the future. In fact, it may not be long before he too would have a place amongst the ten great Chosens... While such thoughts swirled in Li Qingchan¡¯s head, Zhou Yuan pointed towards the thousand feet aquatic beast that was now trapped in the giant light screen and said with a smile, ¡°Senior sister Li Qingchan, it¡¯s time for you to hold up your end of the bargain.¡± The two had agreed that Zhou Yuan would be in charge of finding the thousand feet aquatic beast, while Li Qingchan would handle the task of slaying it. ¡°I will naturally fulfill my promise.¡± Said Li Qingchan. Although dealing with a thousand feet aquatic beast was not going to be easy, she did not show even the slightest hint of dissatisfaction. Her foot pushed off the ground as a lotus appeared below her feet, carrying her into the air and flying into the light screen. Rumble! After she entered, an earth-shaking battle immediately erupted. Even with the boundary, the aftershocks of the fight caused cracks to grow on the nearby mountains. Zhou Yuan took a quick look, and cast away his worries with a nod, before returning to the stone pavilion with Yaoyao. Although the thousand feet aquatic beast had strength that could match the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage, it ultimately had limited ways to attack and could not compete with a Chosen like Li Qingchan. Therefore, there was no need for Zhou Yuan to worry. Of course, it was definitely not going to be easy either for Li Qingchan to finish off the aquatic beast. There was a sort of charm to the scene of the two of them sampling alcohol in the stone pavilion as they watched the intense battle in the reservoir. The earth-shaking battle lasted for an entire incense stick of time. Swish! A figure flew over, landing outside the stone pavilion. That graceful posture could only belong to the frosty Li Qingchan. A half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal hovered in front of her. Li Qingchan¡¯s complexion was currently a little pale, while the Genesis Qi undulations around her had weakened somewhat, signs that she had just experienced a pretty tough battle. When she saw Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao leisurely drinking alcohol in the stone pavilion, her hands could not help but clench tightly as a breath of anger rose in her heart, causing her bosom to heave slightly. While she was desperately fighting in the reservoir, these two were happily watching while drinking here! ¡°Take it and scram!¡± Rage churning in her heart, Li Qingchan waved her sleeve and the crystal was ruthlessly flung at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan hastily caught it and said with a smile, ¡°As expected of a Chosen like senior sister Li, even a thousand feet aquatic beast is no problem for you.¡± Li Qingchan coldly snorted. ¡°Neither us owes the other anything from now onwards!¡± Zhou Yuan knew she was in a bad mood and said, ¡°How about we have a cup or two in celebration of senior sister Li¡¯s eight dragon baptism tomorrow?¡± LI Qingchan was immediately going to reject. She was someone who focused on a cultivation and had no interest in drinking. However, before she could respond, Yaoyao toyed with her cup and lazily said, ¡°With me here, how can she possibly dare to share a drink at the same table?¡± ¡°What a joke!¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes turned round. She refused to give even an inch in front of Yaoyao, so how could she possibly take this lying down. Li Qingchan immediately walked into the stone pavilion, snatched up the cup on the table and poured it down her throat in a single gulp. *Cough*! Li Qingchan caughed when the alcohol hit her stomach. Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck, unable to stop himself from saying, ¡°That¡¯s my cup¡­¡± However, Li Qingchan¡¯s cold gaze swiftly shot over, causing him to swallow the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Even so, Li Qingchan¡¯s gaze somehow appeared both embarrassed and angry. A flush rose on her pretty fair as jade face. Thump! Li Qingchan slammed the cup onto the table as her icy gaze turned towards Yaoyao. Yaoyao lips curled slightly, giving a light tap to the table as she said, ¡°Good, you¡¯re finally beginning to resemble a Chosen. However, you dare to sit at the same table as me with so little alcohol capacity?¡± With a wave of her hand, jar after jar of alcohol appeared beside her. The sight of this caused Li Qingchan¡¯s face to turn white, but it was impossible to make her lower her head and admit defeat in front of Yaoyao. The former gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Do you think that I¡¯m afraid of you!?!¡± She grabbed one of the jars, breaking its seal as she heroically began to gulp it down. Yaoyao naturally also took one of the jars, elegantly raising her fair neck slightly as she too began to chug it down. By the side, Zhou Yuan could not help but be stupefied by the sight of the two now red-faced girls downing the jars in their hands. If a scene like this were to land in the eyes of the other disciples, their eyes would likely be shocked out of their sockets¡­ Who could have imagined the normally cold as an ice mountain senior sister Li Qingchan to have such a side to her... He shook his head, paying no more attention to the two girls as he reached a hand to caress his Universe bag. The thousand feet Dragon Genesis Essence crystal was finally in the bag. A smile grew from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth as anticipation flooded his eyes. The Genesis reservoir will close tomorrow, and the baptism will arrive. An eight dragon baptism... I¡¯m really looking forward to it. Previous Chapte Chapter 325 Eight Dragons Appear Once More An enormous ancient altar floated in the sky above the Genesis reservoir. Stone pillars stood upon it, covered in ancient patterns that gave off a boundless aura. Elder Miao was standing in the air above the altar. As the current on-duty elder of Genesis reservoir, she was naturally overseeing the Genesis Marrow Baptism. There were also a few stewards behind her who were in charge of helping maintain order. On the numerous mountains surrounding the Genesis reservoir, countless figures were staring at the altar with burning eyes, eagerness filling their faces. However, there were rules to follow. The higher ranked disciples were naturally going to have their turn first. As such, a beautiful figure arrived from the air on her Genesis Qi right after the bell was heard. Under countless gazes of admiration, she landed on the giant stone pillar at the very center. ¡°It¡¯s senior sister Li Qingchan!¡± Li Qingchan was currently wearing a flowing white dress that outlined her exquisite figure and perfect curves. Her black hair seemed to dance in the wind, giving her an extraordinary aura that took everyone¡¯s breath away. However, her pretty face was still cold as ice, like a stern goddess of an icy mountain, an existence that no one dared to approach. However, this did not affect her popularity. The moment she appeared, the eyes of countless male disciples in the area began to heat up, unconcealed adoration lighting up their faces. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. If these people were to see how she had chugged jar after jar of alcohol with Yaoyao last night, would the fantasy image of her in their hearts be destroyed? Atop the stone pillar, Li Qingchan¡¯s expression remained ice-cold, completely ignoring the countless gazes that were looking at her. Her eyes swept across the area, seemingly coming to a stop on a certain mountain peak. It was where Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were located. Elder Miao said to Qingchan with a happy face, ¡°Get ready Qingchan.¡± Li Qingchan gave a faint nod in response, before seating herself. With a wave of her hand, numerous Dragon Genesis Essence crystals began flying out from her Universe bag, hovering around her. There were hundreds and hundreds of them, the total reaching an astonishing number. Numerous disciples could not help but become somewhat excited by the sight, desire filling their eyes. So many Dragon Genesis Essence crystals was definitely enough to achieve a seven dragons baptism. A baptism of that level was not something ordinary disciples could reach. Bang! Bang! The Genesis Qi around Li Qingchan suddenly shuddered as the astronomical number of Dragon Genesis Essence shattered all at once. Liquid like Dragon Genesis Essence fell, continuously dripping onto the stone pillar. The Dragon Genesis Essence landed on the pillar, flowing along the ancient patterns adorning it... Everyone watched as rays of light gradually began to emerge from the mottled stone as the surrounding Genesis Qi began to gather, and was absorbed into the pillar. Roar! Dazzling light continued to shoot out from the stone pillar as the faint roar of a dragon echoed. This lasted for about half an incense stick of time, before the light from the stone pavilion reached its peak. In the end, everyone watched as dragon silhouettes soared out from the mottled stone pillar into the sky, before returning to circle around Li Qingchan. One¡­ two¡­ in the blink of an eye, there were a total of seven dragon silhouettes! The Genesis Qi in the entire area seemed to converge towards Li Qingchan, forming a thousand feet wide storm of Genesis Qi... ¡°As expected, a seven dragons baptism!¡± Numerous disciples gazed at the seven dragon silhouettes with desire. This was something they dreamt of obtaining. However, amongst the uncontrollable disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, only the ten great Chosens were easily able to achieve such a feat. Other disciples, even the chief disciples of each peak, needed some luck to reach it. ¡°As expected of a Chosen. A seven dragon baptism is so easy for them.¡± On a certain mountain peak, Zhou Tai eyes were filled with envy and admiration. Each of the ten great Chosens owned a small area in the Genesis reservoir which was rich in aquatic beasts. Unlike other disciples like them who could only painstakingly run all over the place to search. Zhou Yuan smiled when he heard this. ¡°I feel senior sister Li will not stop at seven dragons this time¡­¡± Zhou Tai was stunned. ¡°Could senior sister Li be attempting an eight dragon baptism? That would require the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal of a thousand feet aquatic beast.¡± By the side, Zhang Yan also cast a glance at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan should not spout such nonsense. You¡¯re still too experienced and it¡¯s also your first time here at the Genesis reservoir. It¡¯s only natural that you do not know how difficult it is to find and slay a thousand feet aquatic beast.¡± ¡°The only one to have succeeded over the years is senior brother Chu Qing. All nine of the other Chosens have tried all means and methods but were ultimately unable to achieve an eight dragon baptism.¡± His meaning was clear. He was rebuking Zhou Yuan for spouting nonsense, and not understanding the difficulty of an eight dragons baptism. Zhou Yuan was naturally able to discern the hidden mockery within the former¡¯s words, but mere smiled in response. He ignored Zhang Yan and lifted his head to look in Li Qingchan¡¯s direction. This attitude gave Zhang Yan the impression that Zhou Yuan understood he was wrong, making the former feel slightly pleased. However, the pleased look on his face did not last for long, before countless gasps and yelps suddenly shook the area as gaze after gaze looked towards the altar in shock. Zhang Yan was also affected, hurriedly raising his head to look as the expression on his face soon turned rigid. Li Qingchan waved her hand as a half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal slowly pulsed with energy. One could just barely make out the silhouette of a dragon within the flowing essence within it. ¡°That is¡­ that is a thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal?!¡± Countless cries of surprise rang out across the area. No one had expected Li Qingchan to have the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal of a thousand feet aquatic beast. Didn¡¯t this mean that she was going to attempt an eight dragon baptism today?! This was something that only Chu Qing had achieved in the past. ¡°Senior sister Li truly amazing. I can¡¯t believe managed to obtain a thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal without anyone knowing!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Kong Sheng and Ye Ge also enter the Genesis reservoir previously? They must have gone to compete for the thousand feet aquatic beast. But they¡¯re no longer anywhere to be found, could they have lost to senior sister Li?¡± ¡°Heh heh, it seems that everyone has underestimated senior sister Li. Who knows, senior brother Kong Sheng and senior sister Li¡¯s rankings amongst the ten great Chosens might change in the near future.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The eyes of the numerous whispering disciples were filled with admiration, unable to stop the endless string of praises for Li Qingchan. Although there were several Sword Cometh Peak disciples that strongly supported Kong Sheng, they were after all too few in number, and their objections were swiftly overwhelmed by the crowd. Surprise was also revealed on the faces of Lu Yan and the rest. She gazed at Li Qingchan¡¯s figure and mumbled, ¡°I can¡¯t believe that Li Qingchan is so formidable that even Kong Sheng and Ye Ge lost to her.¡± Li Qingchan was about to reach an eight dragon baptism, an act that would destroy Chu Qing¡¯s sole dominance over this achievement. As Chu Qing die-hard supporter, Lu Yan naturally felt somewhat regretful, but it was still ultimately an outcome she could accept. After all, Li Qingchan was the third ranked Chosen. While countless gazes were shocked, Kong Sheng, dressed in black, stood with his hands behind his back on one of the mountain peaks. His face was somewhat frosty as he watched the altar in the sky, while his hands involuntarily clenched. Beside him, Ye Ge sighed and said, ¡°I did not expect that senior sister Li will ultimately beat us to it.¡± Kong Sheng was expressionless. His gaze suddenly turned towards a certain mountain in the distance where Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s figures could be seen. As the former gazed at the two of them, his expression could not help but turn a little colder. If not for the interference of these two, how could the Dragon Genesis Essence crystal have ended up in Li Qingchan¡¯s hands. Li Qingchan paid no attention to the uproar the appearance of the thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal had caused. Her hand suddenly clenched as the crystal shattered, the Dragon Genesis Essence within it flowing down onto the stone pillar. Roar! A dazzling radiance immediately exploded. It was followed by the low roar of a dragon. Everyone watched in excitement as another dragon silhouette emerged from the stone pillar and coiled around Li Qingchan. Eight dragons! The entire place exploded into noise! Li Qingchan¡¯s slightly lifted her eyes, gazing at the eight dragon silhouettes as she sighed faintly. Soon after, she ceased hesitating and took in a deep breath. Roar! Eight dragon silhouettes roared as they began to descend one after another, pouring into Li Qingchan¡¯s head. Rumble! Genesis Qi churned around her, forming a seemingly endless mist that gradually enveloped Li Qingchan¡¯s figure. However, Genesis Qi undulations continued to pulse from it, rippling through the world around her. After such a long time, an eight dragon baptism had finally appeared again in the sky above the Genesis reservoir. Previous Chapte Chapter 326 Helping One Another Clouds gathered in the sky above the Genesis reservoir. Within the clouds, a seemingly endless amount of Genesis Qi continued to converge, as the booming roar of a dragon thundered, stirring the surrounding sky. It was an extremely spectacular sight. Countless disciples watched this scene in envy and amazement. An eight dragon baptism¡­ was something that was truly a little too far to them. ¡°Is this an eight dragon baptism? It¡¯s magnificent indeed.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was also tinged with surprise as he watched. He could feel the tremendous amount of Genesis Qi contained within the clouds. By the side, Zhou Tai nodded with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that senior sister Li has reached the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage long ago, and is currently accumulating Genesis Qi to eventually attack the Divine Dwelling stage. This eight dragon baptism will substantially supplement her foundational stockpile.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a faint nod in response. By now, he was already aware that one needed to accumulate a gargantuan amount of Genesis Qi in order to ascend from the Alpha-Origin stage into the Divine Dwelling stage. The Divine Dwelling was the evolution of the Qi Dwelling, and since the Qi Dwelling was categorised into several ranks such as gold, purple, green and colorless, the Divine Dwelling naturally had its own classification. The rank of a Divine Dwelling was decided by the Genesis Qi foundational stockpile one accumulated during the Alpha-Origin stage. To be direct, the more Genesis Qi stars in one¡¯s Qi Dwelling, the higher one¡¯s Divine Dwelling rank would be, because it represented the quality and quantity of one¡¯s Genesis Qi... The more the Genesis Qi and the purer it was, the better the evolved Divine Dwelling. Therefore, one¡¯s Genesis Qi was the most important at the end of the day. The Genesis Marrow Baptism could refine one¡¯s Genesis Qi and expand one¡¯s Qi Dwelling, making it an indispensable tool for improving one¡¯s foundations. This was why even Chosens like Li Qingchan were extremely passionate about the Genesis Marrow Baptism. Rumble! Under countless envious gazes, the phenomenon above the altar lasted for an entire incense stick of time, before gradually fading. When the clouds dispersed, everyone saw the lovely and proud figure standing on the stone pillar again, the aura spreading from her body even stronger than before. It was clear that she had benefited greatly from the eight dragons baptism. On a certain mountain peak, Kong Sheng¡¯s impassive face twitched faintly when he saw this. ¡°Congratulations senior sister!¡± Several of the Snow Lotus Peak disciples in the vicinity shouted their congratulations. Most of them were pretty girls, the sound of their clear voices immediately drawing numerous disciples over to also show their support, making the place quite bustling for a time. However, Li Qingchan retained her ice mountain like appearance, merely giving a faint nod to these female disciples while ignoring the others. Elder Miao looked at Li Qingchan in satisfaction. She could be said to be the face of their Snow Lotus Peak, and was their only Chosen for now. Though they had several other outstanding disciples, all of them were still a little lacking. Hence, elder Miao was more than happy to see Li Qingchan further strengthen her foundations. Elder Miao was aware that Li Qingchan did not enjoy being under such attention and immediately said, ¡°Qingchan, you are free to leave since your baptism is done.¡± Li Qingchan fell silent for a brief moment, before cupping her fists together towards elder Miao. The former¡¯s figure then flew off, but did not leave straight away, but instead landed on one of the mountains with many Snow Lotus Peak disciples. Elder Miao was a little astonished. In the past, Li Qingchan had left immediately after her baptism was over, so why had she stayed behind today? Though she was confused, elder Miao soon withdrew her thoughts as he gaze swept across the area once again, ¡°Next, the purple sash disciples from the various peaks should begin to prepare themselves.¡± Her words immediately caused the entire place to boil. After all, the purple sash disciples were actually the main participants in this event, but due to the rules, they had to wait till the Chosen level disciples baptisms were over before it came to their turn. Things were even worse for Zhou Yuan. He had to wait till all of the purple sash disciples were finished before he could finally have a go... However, he was not too anxious for his turn and decided to properly observe first. Therefore, when numerous disciples from the mountains in the vicinity began to rise into the air and fly towards the altar, Zhou Yuan remained where his stood, interest filling his gaze. Zhou Tai had to go participate too, and left some words of consolation for Zhou Yuan, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, we¡¯ll be heading over first. Wait here for a while, your turn will be next.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. As the first disciple under teacher Shen, Zhou Tai was a magnanimous individual that truly had the air of a big brother disciple. Zhang Yan seemed to be unable to stand the sight of Zhou Tai taking care of Zhou Yuan. With a soft chuckle, the former said in a mocking manner, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Tai, you really are too good of a person¡­ but you should probably pay more attention to your own situation. You¡¯ve been doing worse than me every Genesis Marrow Baptism, and at this rate, it will likely not be long before someone else takes over your position.¡± A few disciples that were close to Zhang Yan also laughed gloatingly. ¡°The position of first disciples does suit senior brother Zhang Yan a little better.¡± Anger appeared on Zhou Tai¡¯s face. However, he was quite popular amongst the other disciples and several of them were unable to idly standby and immediately spoke up for him. Disdain was revealed on Zhang Yan¡¯s face. He merely waved his hand without responding as he led his posse off towards the baptism altar. Although Zhou Tai was still a little miffed, he still spoke up to try and pacify the other disciples. As Zhou Yuan watch, he suddenly asked, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Tai, how many dragons can you reach this time?¡± Zhou Tai chuckled bitterly and answered, ¡°It¡¯s going to be the same old four dragon baptism¡­ I tried my best in the Genesis reservoir, but only managed to obtain a few dozen Dragon Genesis Essence crystals.¡± He sighed as he shook his head. He knew that Zhang Yan should be achieving a five dragon baptism again. Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment, before pulling a confused Zhou Tai to the side. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and patted his Universe bag. Several rather large Dragon Genesis Essence crystals instantly appeared in his hands, before he pushed them towards Zhou Tai and said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Tai, I¡¯ve been wanting to thank you for your guidance and care for some time. Please take this as a little gift from me as your junior brother disciple.¡± Zhou Tai was dumbstruck as he stared at the shining crystals. Every crystal was even larger than his hand, and were clearly from large aquatic beasts. ¡°This¡­ this¡­¡± Zhou Tai was a little overwhelmed, causing him to be dazed for a time. It took awhile for him to return to his senses as he hastily declined, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, this is too much¡­¡± He pushed them towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°With these crystals, you will definitely shine dazzlingly during this baptism. Giving them to me will be a waste. I am far less talented than you after all.¡± However, Zhou Yuan refused all of the former¡¯s reasoning. ¡°If senior brother Zhou Tai does not want them, just throw them away.¡± Zhou Tai hurriedly received them in a flustered manner, a bitter smile filling his face. In the end, he could only accept the gift. ¡°Thank you junior brother Zhou Yuan.¡± He looked towards Zhou Yuan with gratitude. He had been giving advice and guidance to Zhou Yuan mostly because it was his duty as the first disciple. Moreover, teacher Shen thought very highly of Zhou Yuan, allowing Zhou Tai to understand that Zhou Yuan may perhaps become the central pillar of their faction, causing him to show extra care and concern for the former. Zhou Tai never expected he would obtain such a return for his care. Zhou Yuan grinned and waved his hand, ¡°You should get going senior brother Zhou Tai.¡± Zhou Tai nodded, before turning around to call out to several other disciples. Genesis Qi rose under their feet, bringing them towards the baptism altar. There was no longer a dispirited look on his face. Instead, it was filled with anticipation. Zhou Yuan gazed at their figures, before turning to look at Zhang Yan as an icy smile emerged on his lips. How could he not know that Zhang Yan was making things difficult for him at every juncture, and was likely jealous of the way teacher Shen treated him. Compared to the generous and sincere first disciple Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan was clearly too petty and narrow-hearted. Zhou Yuan was not someone without a temper. Since you want to make things difficult for me, don¡¯t blame me for doing something that you certainly won¡¯t be happy about... Previous Chapte Chapter 327 Six Dragons Zhou Tai Ancient stone pillars stood on the baptism altar that was currently a beehive of activity, numerous figures landing on the pillars one after another. After they landed on the altar, they impatiently began to retrieve their hard earned Dragon Genesis Essence crystals. The sounds of shattering crystals filled the area as the Dragon Genesis Essence flowed out and soaked into the ancient stone pillars... Rumble! Genesis Qi began to gather once again. Although none of them alone could match the impressive display by Li Qingchan earlier, they were an exceptionally spectacular sight together. Roar! Loud roars filled the area as dragon silhouette after silhouette streamed out of the ancient stone pillars, and began circling around the numerous disciples atop them. On the many mountains by the edge of the Genesis reservoir, countless disciples observed with curious eyes, gasps of amazement sounding from time to time. Over all, most of the purple sash disciples only managed to achieve four dragon baptisms, and only a few of the more outstanding ones reached five dragon baptisms. As for the six dragon level, a quick scan revealed a mere five! While not a single seven dragons baptism could be seen! After all, a seven dragon baptism was considered the mark of a Chosen, and was naturally a feat that ordinary disciples had great difficulty achieving. On one of the stone pillars, Zhang Yan opened his eyes. Five dragon silhouettes circled around him, showing that he had reached a five dragon baptism. This was a result that Zhang Yan felt rather satisfied with, because a five dragon baptism was already enough to prove that he was quite remarkable even amongst all the purple sash disciples in the entire Cangxuan Sect. At the very least, he was undoubtedly more outstanding than the Zhou Tai, who was forever stuck at a four dragon baptism. ¡°After this baptism is over, I should be able to surpass Zhou Tai. It may perhaps be time for him to vacate his position as the first disciple.¡± Zhang Yan let out an icy chuckle. He was envious of Zhou Yuan due to the high expectations teacher Shen had of the former, while viewing Zhou Tai as an obstacle, and was constantly preparing to replace him. Once Zhang Yan became the first disciple, even more disciples would view him as their leader. When that happened, if teacher Shen still decided to be overly supportive of Zhou Yuan, Zhang Yan would only have to object and garner support from numerous disciples. He believed that even teacher Shen would not choose to go against the majority. While Zhang Yan was feeling pleased with himself, he suddenly felt a disturbance around him, seeing gaze after gaze turning towards the same direction. He also raised his head, only to be stunned by the sight of six dragon silhouettes circling around a figure on a nearby stone pillar. Six dragon baptism? Envy flowed out in Zhang Yan¡¯s eyes. A six dragon baptism was one of the dreams he had. Unfortunately, it had evaded his reach each time, because it required far too many Genesis Dragon Essence crystals. ¡°Normally speaking, only the chief disciples of each peak are able to reach a six dragon baptism. I wonder which peak this person belongs to.¡± Zhang Yan frowned, because he suddenly felt the figure to be quite familiar. The six dragon silhouettes circling around the figure suddenly descended as they tunnelled into his head. Moments later, the figure opened his eyes and turned around, coincidentally meeting Zhang Yan¡¯s gaze. Zhang Yan¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank as disbelief flooded his face. ¡°Zhou Tai?!¡± ¡°How can this be!¡± He could not stop these words from leaving his mouth as his face turned ashen. He had never thought much of this eldest senior brother disciple of his. The latter was not as talented as himself and was also lacking in ambition, someone who tried to be on good terms with everyone else. Hence, Zhang Yan never really respected the former, the only thoughts he had was to replace this senior brother¡¯s position once he grew stronger. Over the years, Zhou Tai was only ever able to achieve a four dragon baptism each time, a result that always fell short of Zhang Yan¡¯s own. Hence why he never imagined that Zhou Tai would actually reach a six dragon baptism this time. One must know that basically only the chief disciples of each peak would achieve a six dragon baptism, people that even someone as capable as Zhang Yan felt he had no hopes of catching up to. But how? How had Zhou Tai done it?! Zhang Yan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately, his heart filled with anger, fear and alarm. ¡°How lucky was he in the Genesis reservoir?!¡± Zhang Yan gritted his teeth, a dark look in his eyes. While Zhang Yan¡¯s emotions were churning, many other disciples in the vicinity also discovered the six dragon silhouettes around Zhou Tai, and immediately gasped in surprise. A six dragon baptism was just far too rare amongst the purple sash disciples, and was usually only reserved for those few chief disciples, a group that Zhou Tai was obviously not part of. As such, they began to ask around, and soon found out his identity, Astonishment filled their faces when they discovered Zhou Tai was from Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction of Saint Genesis Peak. After all, Saint Genesis Peak had basically reached rock bottom in the Cangxuan Sect, and no one really paid any attention to them. But now, Zhou Tai had basically become an overnight sensation. What kind of amazing luck did he have in the Genesis reservoir? No matter what, Zhou Tai¡¯s name was sure to spread today. When the other disciples in the Cangxuan Sect mentioned him in the future, they would know that there was a disciple under Shen Taiyuan of Saint Genesis Peak that achieved a six dragon baptism. The baptism altar was abuzz with excitement, majority of the disciples wearing a satisfied look on their faces. It was clear that this baptism had allowed them to progress in their cultivation. Elder Miao stood in the air. Upon seeing that everyone was done, she waved her hand and said, ¡°Leave if you¡¯re done.¡± The numerous disciples hastily rose to their feet, and began leaving in succession after cupping their fists together towards her. The baptism altar soon became empty again. Zhou Tai returned with an excited look on his face, as several disciples approached to congratulate him. ¡°Humph, I did not expect senior brother Zhou Tai to be good at concealing your capabilities. I wonder how managed to obtain so many Dragon Genesis Essence crystals in the Genesis reservoir.¡± Zhang Yan¡¯s expression was somewhat ugly as he returned. Zhou Tai truly performed splendidly this time, and drew numerous gazes towards him even till now. This made Zhang Yan rather jealous, and his words rather biting. Zhou Tai knew that Zhang Yan was clearly unhappy, but could not be bothered with the latter. The former merely looked towards Zhou Yuan with a smile of gratitude. Zhou Yuan returned the gesture with a smile of his own. Those Dragon Genesis Essence crystals had been his leftovers, and were of little use to himself. In contrast, they were extremely beneficial to Zhou Tai. Zhang Yan grew even angrier when he realised he was being ignored by Zhou Tai. He followed the latter¡¯s gaze and saw Zhou Yuan, causing him to smile superficially as he said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s your turn next.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy for senior brother Zhou Yuan to gain a little prestige for us, so don¡¯t go throwing it all away later.¡± Zhang Yan almost certain that Zhou Yuan had a hard time hunting even a single aquatic beast in the Genesis reservoir, and would at best achieve a three dragon baptism... A baptism of that level was basically a waste of Dragon Genesis Essence. Zhou Yuan mere swept a glance at Zhang Yan and chuckled softly. At this moment, elder Miao spoke once again, ¡°The purple sash disciples¡¯ baptism is done, next¡­¡± She paused, feeling somewhat ridiculous. The baptism should be over at this juncture, but there was an additional Zhou Yuan this time. As the only gold sash disciple to enter the Genesis reservoir, he was the last to have his turn. She looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°It¡¯s your turn, Zhou Yuan.¡± Every gaze in the area converged towards this very spot, most of them filled with amusement. After all, what could a gold sash disciple possibly achieve in the Genesis reservoir? On one of the mountains, Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes opened, a sliver of interest within them as she looked towards the youthful figure far away. Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes were cold and indifferent. The corners of his lips curled slightly, clearly not the least bit concerned about Zhou Yuan. In a location near Zhou Yuan and gang, Lu Yan smiled as she cast her gaze over, her voice somewhat gloating. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll be seeing the lowest level baptism in history¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 328 The Meaning of Shock Around the Genesis reservoir, countless gazes were cast over in amusement, ultimately converging on a certain peak where Zhou Yuan was currently standing. According to the rules of the sect, only purple sash disciples had the qualifications to enter the Genesis reservoir to find Dragon Genesis Essence, and subsequently complete the baptism. Zhou Yuan was only a gold sash disciple, but as the most recent champion of the peak selection ceremony, they had made an exception for him this once, and bestowed upon him the opportunity to participate in the current Genesis Marrow Baptism, an exception that most purple sash disciples did not really mind. Because all of them clearly understood that entering the reservoir was the easy part. The true challenge lay in hunting the aquatic beasts inside, and obtaining Genesis Dragon Essence... Numerous purple sash disciples had worked hard for the past ten days, and the majority of them had only managed to achieve four dragon baptisms. So what could a new disciples such as Zhou Yuan possibly accomplish in the Genesis reservoir? It was likely that he may not have even gathered ten crystals. If so, even a two dragon baptism might be a little difficult... Although it was not easy to hunt aquatic beasts, majority of the purple sash disciples were still able to achieve four dragon baptisms, and were very unlikely to end up with two dragon or three dragon baptisms. After all, every purple sash disciple had the strength of the sixth layer Alpha-Origin, and would not do any worse than a four dragon baptism no matter how bad they were. Hence, when they imagined the possibility of a pitiful two dragon baptism from Zhou Yuan, they could not help but secretly snigger inside. As seasoned disciples, they were naturally more than happy to see well-behaved new inner mountain disciples that did not challenge their dignity. Thus, if the individual known as number one amongst the new disciples were to perform badly, it would undoubtedly cause the other new disciples to behave a little better... Numerous disciples watched with such thoughts in mind as Zhou Yuan stepped forward with a calm expression. Under the countless watching gazes, he landed on one of the ancient stone pillars on the baptism altar. He could naturally feel the numerous gazes on him which were clearly waiting to be entertained. Although these disciples did not have any ill will towards him, they were obviously not supportive of him either. He ignored the gazes of the crowd. The opinions of others did not matter to him after all, especially when what he needed was right about to be his. ¡°Go ahead start, and no need to feel stressed. It¡¯s your first time here at the Genesis reservoir after all, and you will still have many chances in the future when you become a purple sash disciple.¡± Elder Miao looked towards Zhou Yuan. The former¡¯s words were quite kind, perhaps because he had lent his aid to Li Qingchan. Even so, Zhou Yuan could still tell that elder Miao did not believe he would achieve much. His second layer Alpha-Origin stage strength was just far too glaring to everyone. To travel with as one pleased in the Genesis reservoir, one¡¯s strength needed to at least reach the sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage. Zhou Yuan did not say anything in response, merely smiling with a nod. The only thing that would convince everyone was facts, and he would likely be treated as a joke no matter what he said. As such, he patted the Universe bag at his waist with a cool expression. Swoosh! In the next instant, Dragon Genesis Essence crystal after crystal flew out along with an explosion of light, while the surrounding Genesis Qi began to be drawn towards him... As more and more Dragon Genesis Essence crystals gathered above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, the laughter in the area stealthily began to fade away, while the expressions of many disciples turned more and more rigid. Zhou Yuan remained oblivious to them. With a jerk of his sleeve, hundreds of crystals swirled above him like a river of crystals. The scope was not the least bit inferior to Li Qingchan from before. Moreover, every crystal had been meticulously selected, making it an even more impressive sight! The world around was deathly silent. ¡°How, how can this be¡­ how can he have so many Dragon Genesis Essence crystals?!¡± The silence was finally broken by the trembling voice a disciple that was filled with disbelief. No one knew the answer. All of them vigorously rubbed their eyes, as if the scene before them was some kind of illusion. Bang! Bang! In the silence, Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands came together and all of the crystals above him exploded. Dragon Genesis Essence fell, landing on the stone pillar. The surrounding Genesis Qi began to whizzed over, seemingly creating a thin mist. Roar! As the runes on the pillar lit up, the familiar roar of a dragon rang out once again. Next, everyone watched in astonishment as dragon silhouette after silhouette burst out from the pillar, circling around Zhou Yuan. One¡­ three¡­ five¡­ seven! There were seven dragon silhouettes, a sight that made every disciple present inhale deeply. A seven dragon baptism! Back on the mountain Zhou Yuan had come from, several of his fellow disciples were stupefied, and even Zhang Yan had a blank look on his face. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± He croaked in a trembling voice. The scene before his eyes had truly shaken him to the core. No one would have even dreamt of Zhou Yuan achieving a seven dragon baptism! How many aquatic beasts had he slayed in the Genesis reservoir?! How had he done it?! In contrast with Zhang Yan¡¯s ugly expression, a slightly stunned smile was revealed on Zhou Tai face, evidently happy for this junior brother of his. On another peak far away, Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes seemed to ripple faintly. Although she had anticipated this long ago, she could not help but sigh when she saw it for real. This guy was indeed quite capable. ¡°Interesting, achieving a seven dragon baptism after his first time in the Genesis reservoir. Looks like having someone else¡¯s help really makes a difference.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s expression was indifferent as he gazed at the seven dragon silhouettes around Zhou Yuan. A seven dragon baptism may shock the others, but it was ordinary to Chosens like them. Moreover, he was not surprised at all, because he knew that Zhou Yuan had the powerful Yaoyao at his side, an individual who was not the least bit weaker than a Chosen. When one also took into account Li Qingchan¡¯s help, a seven dragon baptism was not odd at all. Ye Ge also nodded. He did not really have any complaints about Zhou Yuan, but did feel that he had received Yaoyao and Li Qingchan¡¯s aid. On another mountain, Lu Yan¡¯s expression fluctuated rapidly as she stared at the seven dragon silhouettes, the disciples around her equally dumbstruck, and clearly substantially shocked. Lu Yan could not help but mumble, ¡°How did he obtain these Dragon Genesis Essence crystals?¡± The strength of the second layer Alpha-Origin was obviously incapable of slaying so many aquatic beasts. The other looked to each other, but no one had an answer. Lu Yan¡¯s face had turned a little red. Who could have expected Zhou Yuan to reach a seven dragon baptism in the blink of an eye, making her feel shame for her earlier gloating. She was still somewhat unable to accept the facts, and stubbornly said, ¡°But even a seven dragon baptism is far from being able to compare to senior brother Chu Qing.¡± The moment the words left her mouth, everyone saw Zhou Yuan seeme to ponder for a brief moment, before the Universe bag at his waist flashed. A split second later, a half foot large crystal had appeared above his head. *Uproar*! The instant it appeared, the numerous disciples in the vicinity could not longer hold themselves back from gasping, ¡°Thousand feet aquatic beast?!¡± This time, even the nonchalantly watching Kong Sheng and Ye Ge trembled as disbelief flowed out in their eyes. ¡°How can this be?!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 329 Third Layer Alpha-Origin The entire place exploded into an earth-shaking uproar the moment the half foot large Dragon Genesis Essence crystal appeared, the expressions on everyone¡¯s faces becoming truly an amazing sight to behold. Even Chosens like Kong Sheng and Ye Ge were affected. A seven dragon baptism may not be much of a challenge to them, but the crystal Zhou Yuan had just taken out was clearly from a thousand feet aquatic beast! As Chosens, no one knew better than them how difficult it was to find such a creature. Once a thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal came into their possession, they would be able to use it as a primer of sorts that would raise a seven dragon baptism to the eight dragons level! ¡°How can he possibly have a thousand feet aquatic beast Dragon Genesis Essence crystal?!¡± Kong Sheng was unable to stop the words from leaving his mouth. He was no longer able to retain the impassiveness of his handsome face as disbelief flooded his eyes. Beside him, Ye Ge¡¯s mouth hung slightly open, a strange expression on his face. For the past half a year, they had painstakingly tracked a thousand feet aquatic beast, only to end up losing it to Li Qingchan. Hence why their astonishment had reached the unmatched heights when they saw a thousand feet aquatic beast crystal appear in the hands of a gold sash disciple. When had a thousand feet aquatic beast become so easy to find? From how shocked the two Chosens were, one could naturally imagine how the hearts of the other disciples were akin to churning ocean. Under the countless stunned gazes, Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he hands came together once again, and the half foot large crystal above him shattered with a bang. Thick and pure Dragon Genesis Essence flowed downwards, pouring onto the ancient stone pillar as it was swiftly absorbed. Bzzz! A thousand rays of light abruptly exploded from the pillar as all the Genesis Qi in the vicinity began to be sucked over at this moment, forming a seemingly boundless cloud that floated around Zhou Yuan. Roar! At the same time, a thunderous dragon roar was heard once again. Everyone could only watch as another dragon silhouette slowly emerged from the stone pillar and circled around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. It was the eighth dragon silhouette! An eight dragon baptism! All the disciples could not help but swallow at the sight of the eight dragon silhouettes coiling around Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Although they had just seen Li Qingchan¡¯s eight dragon baptism earlier, the former¡¯s eight dragon baptism was even more shocking... Li Qingchan was a Chosen after all, and many disciples felt it within expectation for her to achieve an eight dragon baptism. But Zhou Yuan¡­ no one would have even dreamt of it! They had previously been prepared to see the lowest level baptism in history, but in the blink of an eye, Zhou Yuan had sent a big slap across their cheek that nearly knocked them unconscious. This was an eight dragon baptism! Before today, it had been something senior brother Chu Qing alone had enjoyed, but now¡­ Zhou Yuan had become the third disciple to obtain this glory. It was something even the other eight Chosens had never tasted it before. Moreover, Zhou Yuan had done it as a gold sash disciple, a fear that no one had ever achieved in the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s history. After all, even the almighty Chu Qing had only managed to attain it after becoming a Chosen. Although there was barely any significance in achieving it earlier or later in the grand scheme of things, it was hard for everyone to get over the shock it brought. On one of the mountains, Lu Yan dazedly stared at the eight dragon silhouettes circling around Zhou Yuan, the expression on her pretty face rapidly fluctuating. This scene had likewise stirred giant waves in her heart. Several disciples around her could not help but sigh. ¡°Zhou Yuan is indeed quite the capable individual. Even in the history of our Cangxuan Sect, there has never been a gold sash disciple who has enjoyed an eight dragon baptism.¡± ¡°Yeah, even senior brother Chu Qing only accomplished it after becoming a Chosen¡­¡± When she heard this, Lu Yan could not help but icily retort, ¡°It¡¯s only an eight dragon blessing, and doesn¡¯t really mean anything because there¡¯s absolutely no way that he managed to slay a thousand feet aquatic beast with his own strength. He must have gotten it through some other method.¡± A thousand feet aquatic beast was an existence that was comparable to a ninth layer Alpha-Origin expert, and even purple sash disciples like them would only flee if they encountered one. How could a second layer Alpha-Origin like Zhou Yuan have possibly killed one? The other disciples knew she was a die-hard fan of senior brother Chu Qing, and thus merely laughed it off without arguing. However, they understood in their hearts that obtaining an eight dragon baptism was an indicator of one¡¯s ability and luck. After all, hadn¡¯t Chu Qing also relied on luck to become the first person in their generation to find a thousand feet aquatic beast? Lu Yan naturally had an inkling of their thoughts from their expression, causing her to become a little frustrated inside. However, she knew that she would not be able to convince them otherwise, and could only cast a slightly peeved gaze at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. ¡°This guy¡­¡± Lu Yan gritted her teeth as her lips pulled outwards. She had to admit that Zhou Yuan¡¯s feat of achieving an eight dragon baptism was still very astonishing. ¡°No wonder teacher Shen thinks so highly of him¡­¡± Zhou Tai sighed in amazement as he gazed upon the eight dragon silhouettes. Beside him, Zhang Yan and gang still had slack-jawed faces. Zhou Tai¡¯s six dragon baptism had already surpassed the former¡¯s expectations earlier, and he would have never expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance to be even more shocking... At the sight of the eight dragon silhouettes, even Zhang Yan was unable to retort for a time. The only thing he did was resentfully withdraw his gaze. Zhou Yuan paid no heed to everyone¡¯s shocked gazes, his eyes and face burning with anticipation as he gazed at the eight dragon silhouettes ¡°Eight dragon baptism, show me just how amazing you are.¡± With a thought, the circling eight dragon silhouettes released a roar, before they charged downwards, bringing along boundless and pure Genesis Qi as they dived into his head. Rumble! The moment the first dragon silhouette arrived, Zhou Yuan felt heard a loud rumble in his head as boundless Genesis Qi began to wash over him like silver water, soaking every inch of his flesh and blood. The Genesis Qi was exceptionally pure, and did not put up any resistance when it entered his body. With a thought from Zhou Yuan, the Genesis Qi began to circulate along his channels like a raging torrent. Dragon silhouette after silhouette continued to enter his body. The majestic Genesis Qi seemed to explode in his body, making even his skin dazzle radiantly. Genesis Qi was infused into his flesh, blood and bones, and began removing the impurities bit by bit. Even more Genesis Qi flooded his Qi Dwelling, ultimately fusing with the Omni Python Qi there. Genesis Qi star after star was noiselessly created at a rate far greater than his usual training. As Genesis Qi churned inside his Qi Dwelling, the Genesis Qi pressure from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body began its steady climb... What¡¯s more, the golden Magical Python Scales started to emerge on the surface of his skin, and quietly began to absorb the dragon Qi contained within the Dragon Genesis Essence. The Magical Python Scales came from the Omni Python Qi, and in a manner of speaking also shared certain ties with the dragon Qi from the Origin Dragon Vein... As the golden scales absorbed the dragon Qi, they gradually began to change. The scales began to take on a faint azure hue, becoming less similar to the scales of a python, and instead growing to resemble that of a dragon! While these changes were occurring to the scales, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened. Rumble! He could feel a rumbling noise spread from his Qi Dwelling. The Genesis Qi pressure from his body seemed to breakthrough a certain bottleneck. A smile finally appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. By borrowing the power of the Genesis Marrow Baptism, his desire was finally fulfilled. ¡°I¡¯ve finally reached the third layer Alpha-Origin¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 330 Evaluation Under the attention of countless disciples, the clouds above the Genesis reservoir slowly began to disperse along with the boundless Genesis Qi. It was clear that the baptism was fast approaching its end. The eyes of many disciples were filled with envy. An eight dragon baptism¡­ was something that benefitted even to the ten great Chosens, let alone someone like Zhou Yuan, who was only at the second layer Alpha-Origin. It was likely that he would gain even more from it. As the clouds gradually vanished, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure slowly grew clearer. He sat on the ancient stone pillar with his eyes lightly shut, only opening them after quite some time. A flash of gold flitted across his eyes, a half python half dragon hiss faintly echoing as Genesis Qi rose around his body. Everyone could feel that the Genesis Qi undulations from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had grown a level stronger. Third layer Alpha-Origin! The crowd¡¯s hearts shivered slightly. Sure enough, the baptism had directly pushed Zhou Yuan to the next cultivation level, allowing him to step into the realm of the third layer Alpha-Origin. Numerous gazes were filled with envy. It was said that Zhou Yuan had been at the second layer stage for only slightly more than a month, and it was quite unbelievable for him to have advanced once again. Moreover, his Genesis Qi appeared exceptionally concentrated and robust, unlike that of someone who had forcibly ascended. The first thing Zhou Yuan did when he opened his eyes was send his senses into his Qi Dwelling. A smile soon emerged on his face. The number of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling had reached over 700! One must know that he only had slightly over 400 stars at the second layer Alpha-Origin! The breakthrough had nearly doubled his Genesis Qi stars. The number of Genesis Qi stars in one¡¯s Qi Dwelling decided the quantity and quality of one¡¯s Genesis Qi. In other words, the Genesis Marrow Baptism had nearly doubled Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi. ¡°Normally speaking, ordinary fifth layer Alpha-Origin disciples should have about 500 Genesis Qi stars in their Qi Dwellings. I may only be at the third layer Alpha-Origin, but my Genesis Qi is basically able to steamroll over normal fifth layer disciples.¡± There was a sliver of excitement in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. If this had happened before his duel with Cao Shi, the battle would have been very one sided. ¡°Given my current Genesis Qi, I no longer need to fear any fifth layer opponents.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. This breakthrough was extremely important to him. With this strength, he was now confident of his chances in the subsequent cave match. Zhou Yuan stood up, his burning gaze of desire looking towards the stone pillar beneath his feet. It was obvious that he was hungering for more after tasting the sweetness of its fruit. The Genesis Marrow Baptism was crazily beneficial to one¡¯s cultivation. Unfortunately for him, he was still only a gold sash disciple, and after using the chance bestowed upon him as the champion of the peak selection ceremony, he was no longer allowed to enter the Genesis reservoir. ¡°Looks like I have to become a purple sash disciple as soon as possible.¡± There was a look of thought on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Only by becoming a purple sash disciple would he be allowed to enjoy the bimonthly Genesis Marrow Baptism. Zhou Yuan ultimately cast away the numerous thoughts that were flashing past in his head, and lifted his head, seeing the countless amazed gazes that were looking at him. They had obviously been drawn by the eight dragon baptism earlier. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained rather calm, having long anticipated this. He too understood the meaning of an eight dragon baptism, because before today, only Chu Qing had achieved it amongst this generation of disciples. Clap clap Clapping was suddenly heard. Elder Miao looked towards Zhou Yuan in amazement and said, ¡°Congratulations Zhou Yuan. This is the first time someone has reached an eight dragon baptism as a gold sash disciple in our Cangxuan Sect. I¡¯m sure that your name will soon be known by everyone in the sect.¡± There was a look of admiration on her face. Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance today was truly breathtaking. Zhou Yuan remained humble as he cupped his fists together towards elder Miao and said, ¡°I don¡¯t deserve such praise, it¡¯s only a baptism and does not truly mean much.¡± Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan did not display any arrogance after performing so well, the look of admiration on elder Miao¡¯s face deepened. ¡°I did not realise previously why peak master was always feeling regretful after you chose Saint Genesis Peak, but I now have an idea why.¡± Elder Miao sighed. ¡°From what you have shown me, your future achievements may not lose to Chu Qing. Looks like there may once again be a Chosen from Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Her words showed how highly she thought of Zhou Yuan. Elder Miao had not tried to hide her praise, and it was naturally heard by numerous disciples in the vicinity, causing an uproar to rise. They never imagined that elder Miao would have such a high evaluation of Zhou Yuan. To think that she would compare his future achievements to Chu Qing! Who was Chu Qing? He was the most outstanding disciple in their generation, and the head of the ten great Chosens! Let alone the Cangxuan Sect, he was well known even in Cangxuan Heaven. In comparison, Zhou Yuan was obviously not on the same level. ¡°What nonsense! Lu Yan felt the most insulted by the elder¡¯s words, but could not possibly openly rebuke the latter. However, she still coldly snorted. ¡°What kind of genius did you think Chu Qing is? How can Zhou Yuan ever compare?¡± ¡°Although Zhou Yuan does have some ability, a single eight dragon baptism does not mean anything. When Chu Qing entered the inner mountains back then, it only took him half a year to become a purple sash disciple, and even stood amongst the ten great Chosens a year later! His rise was the fastest in the history of the Cangxuan Sect!¡± ¡°Elder Miao¡¯s appraisal of him being able to stand shoulder to shoulder to senior brother Chu Qing in the future based on the baptism alone will not convince anyone.¡± The other disciples around her secretly nodded. Even they felt that elder Miao was being a little too quick in her judgement. Zhou Yuan may have indeed taken everyone¡¯s breaths away this time, but saying he could match senior brother Chu Qing based on this alone was still an exaggeration. After all, everyone knew how remarkable Chu Qing was, and every disciple of this generation had absolute respect towards him. With just this little achievement alone, it was impossible for Zhou Yuan to match up. While the mountains were abuzz with noise, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, no happiness visible from elder Miao¡¯s overboard acknowledgement of his abilities. He merely cupped his fists together towards her before leaping off the altar and returning to the mountain he had been on before. In the wake of Zhou Yuan¡¯s withdrawal, everyone knew that the Genesis Marrow Baptism was finally over. On a certain mountain in the distance, Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes ripple faintly as she watched Zhou Yuan jump off the altar. ¡°Will you be able to match Chu Qing in the future?¡± ¡°Although I am somewhat doubtful, I do hope that you truly have that talent. If so, our Cangxuan Sect will no longer be boring in the future.¡± ¡°Show me whether you will turn out to be a hidden dragon that will soar across the nine heavens, or someone who will fade away into mediocrity¡­¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes returned to calmness as her gorgeous face regained its frosty look. She stepped on Genesis Qi as she flew into the sky and swiftly disappeared into the horizon, the owners of the many adoring gazes on her letting out a long sigh as they watched her leave. After Li Qingchan left, Kong Sheng and Ye Ge did not remain either and also departed. However, they took one last look at Zhou Yuan before they left. All of the other disciples across the mountains also began to leave. Lu Yan¡¯s lips curled downwards as she glanced in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t let it get to your head just because you were under the limelight in the Genesis Marrow Baptism. The cave match between your faction and elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction is soon approaching, and if your performance then is lacklustre, the high praise elder Miao gave you today will only end up humiliating you even further.¡± The smile on Lu Yan¡¯s face was quite the gloating one. Elder Miao¡¯s words had clearly raised Zhou Yuan reputation, making even more people turn their attention to him. If Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance did not do justice to her evaluation, one could imagine the sneers that would follow. She waved her hand and led her other fellow disciples away. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, we should get going too.¡± Said Zhou Tai. Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. He could naturally sense the various feelings behind the gazes that had looked at him before they left, but remained unfazed despite them, feeling no indignation due to their skepticism and doubt. He knew that only strength would truly gain their acknowledgement, and no appraisal would be more convincing. That¡¯s why, the purple Genesis cave dwelling they would contest for in the upcoming cave match... Was definitely going to be his. Previous Chapte Chapter 331 Stirring up a Commotion in Saint Genesis Peak It was to no one¡¯s surprise that news of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eight dragon baptism caused quite a stir when it spread to Saint Genesis Peak. The disciples from all three factions were too shocked to say anything, unable to believe the news. It was after all a little inconceivable. A thousand feet aquatic beast had strength comparable to the ninth layer Alpha-Origin, and there was absolutely no way that Zhou Yuan would be able to kill one given his current strength. However, no matter how skeptical and doubtful they were, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eight dragon baptism was a fact. No matter how envious the numerous were, there was nothing they could do. When this matter spread to Shen Taiyuan¡¯s ears, the stern elder could not stop joy from bubbling up in him. He even heavily praised Zhou Yuan during the morning lesson that day, and looked at the latter with eyes filled with even more expectation than before. Ever since Zhou Yuan had joined them, Shen Taiyuan had been pleasantly surprised far too many times. The truth was that Shen Taiyuan himself had been initially somewhat doubtful of Zhou Yuan living up to the high hopes that had been placed in him. It was because Shen Taiyuan likewise understood all too clearly that not every champion of the peak selection ceremony would turn out to be an amazing genius like Chu Qing. However, Shen Taiyuan did not have many other options. The other six peaks of the Cangxuan Sect were just too powerful, and could directly take away all of the most talented disciples. Saint Genesis Peak could only fall further and further into decline, with no signs of things taking a turn for the better. Now, even Lu Hong had been sent to Saint Genesis Peak. If Lu Hong¡¯s group was allowed to take the seat of chief disciple, Shen Taiyuan would feel utterly ashamed, and would likely never be able to raise his head ever again in the sect. As such, Zhou Yuan¡¯s arrival was viewed by Shen Taiyuan as the final hope he could grasp onto. However, Shen Taiyuan ended up being pleasantly surprised. Zhou Yuan had surpassed Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expectations time and time again, causing him to grow more and more confident in Zhou Yuan. Perhaps, the patriarch was blessing them, allowing them to finally welcome a prodigious disciple before they truly hit the bottom. ¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Zhou Yuan achieved an eight dragon baptism during the Genesis Marrow Baptism ceremony?¡± It was Lu Hong¡¯s factions turn to use the Dao Seeker Hall today. Lu Hong¡¯s gaze nonchalantly swept downwards from the highest spot, clear having also heard that news that had already spread throughout Saint Genesis Peak. Below Lu Hong, at the head of the numerous disciples was an expressionless Yuan Hong. He nodded and answered in a calm voice, ¡°It was indeed an eight dragon baptism. I personally witnessed it that day.¡± The other disciples in the hall broke out into whispers, their eyes filled with envy. ¡°So he does have a little ability.¡± Lu Hong snorted, an icy look flashing across his aged face. He had personally opened his mouth to recruit Zhou Yuan back then, but ended up being rejected by the latter. Hence, Lu Hong naturally did not want to see things go well for Zhou Yuan. Yuan Hong slowly said, ¡°However, a senior brother from Sword Cometh Peak secretly informed me that Zhou Yuan¡¯s eight dragon baptism is likely the work of senior sister Li Qingchan, because Zhou Xiaoyao had helped senior sister Li Qingchan to deal with senior brother Kong Sheng.¡± These words were akin to thunder, causing an explosion of noise in the hall. ¡°Senior sister Li Qingchan helped Zhou Yuan obtain an eight dragon baptism?!¡± Disbelief was revealed in the eyes of numerous male disciples. There was no one who did not know that senior sister Li Qingchan was akin to a cold goddess of an ice mountain, and always made sure to keep her distance with the opposite sex. Many outstanding disciples admired her, but did not dare to confess. Hence, when they heard that Zhou Yuan¡¯s eight dragon baptism was due to senior sister Li Qingchan¡¯s aid, they found it very difficult to swallow. What was so good about him that he could enjoy the favor of senior sister Li Qingchan? Yuan Hong¡¯s expression turned slightly grave as he looked towards Lu Hong. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be feared about Zhou Yuan, but that Zhou Xiaoyao¡­¡± If Zhou Xiaoyao truly had the qualifications to interfere in battle between Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, it would mean that her strength was extremely terrifying. If she participated in Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s competition for the chief disciple, even Yuan Hong did not fancy his chances. Lu Hong¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao is indeed no ordinary individual¡­ but there¡¯s no need to be overly worried. Strictly speaking, she¡¯s not considered a disciple under Shen Taiyuan.¡± Yaoyao was regarded with extreme importance by Spirit Rune Peak master Bai Mei, making it difficult for any of the three elders from Saint Genesis Peak to recruit her. In the end, Yaoyao became a rather unique existence in Saint Genesis Peak. But this was also why she would not be able to participate in the selection battle for the chief disciple. Moreover, from Yaoyao¡¯s usual behaviour, she seemed to hold zero interest in the power struggles between the three factions... Yuan Hong gave a faint nod when he heard this, his expression returning to its usual calmness. Lu Hong said, ¡°There¡¯s only a few days till the cave match¡­¡± His gaze swept across the hall, ultimately stopping on the three golden mats at the very front, or to be more precise, the first seat, Wei You. The latter¡¯s slender body was currently dressed entirely in black, a certain faint sternness visible between his brows. Upon sensing Lu Hong¡¯s gaze, Wei You smiled slightly, a sliver of pride visible on his face as he softly said, ¡°Relax teacher Lu, it¡¯s just a baptism. Although an eight dragon baptism is very effective, it can¡¯t turn a sheep into a wolf.¡± ¡°Whoever dares to reach for the purple Genesis cave dwelling will have his hand chopped off by me.¡± Though he seemed to downplay his words, there was a certain seriousness within them, a sign of the absolute confidence he had in himself. ¡°Hehe, senior brother Wei should try to leave some face for them and not win too easily. After all, we disciples of the same peak will occasionally meet each other.¡± Flattered a disciple by the side with a smile. His words were similarly filled with confidence towards Wei You. The other disciples roared with laughter. None of them were the least bit worried about the upcoming cave match, appearing as if victory was already in their grasp. Lu Hong nodded, his cold face relaxing a little as he sneered in his heart. Shen Taiyuan was truly short sighted to be so happy for the past two days. It was just a new disciple obtaining an eight dragon baptism by some fluke, did he really believe that it would change anything? Fine, I¡¯ll let you be happy for now. When the cave match arrives, you will naturally understand how repulsive your disciples are compared to my talented disciples. You should have followed Lu Song¡¯s example long ago, and obediently pull back to the sidelines instead of obstructing my way. ¡­ While the entire Saint Genesis Peak was abuzz due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s eight dragon baptism, the main actor was not wasting away his time going around bragging to everyone. Instead, he cooped himself up in his cave dwelling and cultivated in peace, digesting the benefits from the eight dragon baptism. He knew that an eight dragon baptism did not mean anything significant, and it had been his good luck to obtain one. If not for Tuntun and Li Qingchan, he would not have reached an eight dragon baptism. Even so, he would not undervalue himself either, because borrowing the power others would at times also be a type of strength. Abandoning one¡¯s advantages and insisting on bashing one¡¯s head against a brick wall was nothing but foolishness. Hence, Zhou Yuan concentrated on digesting the gains from the eight dragon baptism. What he needed to do next was to deal with the upcoming cave match. This was going to be his first real battle after coming to Saint Genesis Peak. To obtain that purple Genesis cave dwelling and become a purple sash disciple as quickly as possible to gain the qualifications to participate in the chief disciple selection at the year end, he needed to perform during the cave match. In the depths of the cave dwelling, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, the light within them gradually withdrawing as the surging Genesis Qi in his body retreated back to his Qi Dwelling. After several days of cultivation, Zhou Yuan had finally gained full control over his increased Genesis Qi. He lowered his head and slowly clenched his fist as he released a soft laugh. There was finally going to be a challenging battle. Zhou Yuan hoped that the disciples under Lu Hong would not disappoint. Previous Chapte Chapter 332 Commotion over the Cave Match The buzz brought about by news of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eight dragon baptism only lasted for a few days, before gradually fading away. What took its place was the hype for the upcoming cave match between Lu Hong and Shen Taiyuan¡¯s factions. The majority of Saint Genesis Peak being sealed off had led to the lack of cultivation resources such as cave dwellings. As such, every cave dwelling ended up being fiercely contested by numerous disciples. The cave match this time would decide which faction the purple Genesis cave dwelling would ultimately go to. It was an event that undoubtedly drew everyone¡¯s attention. After all, a cave dwelling of such quality was considered a high class cultivation resource even in the entire Cangxuan Sect, and ordinary disciples would only dream of owning one. In addition, many disciples understood that though the match seemed to be for the purple Genesis cave dwelling on the surface, it was also part of the power struggle in Saint Genesis Peak. Lu Hong¡¯s faction had practically dropped from the sky into Saint Genesis Peak, and began snatching away numerous cultivation resources from Shen Taiyuan and Lu Hong¡¯s factions in an overbearing manner. The former clearly intended on being dominant faction. In response, elder Lu Song had chosen to give in, while the old fashioned Shen Taiyuan opted to face them head-on, clearly unwilling to let an outsider take away their power and influence. Saint Genesis Peak was already at a low point. If they were to let Lu Hong lord over them too, everyone would surely forget that they even existed, making it even more difficult for them to obtain cultivation resources for their disciples in the future. Such an outcome would undoubtedly lead to them losing all their disciples, forcing the two elders into retirement, becoming elders without any authority in the sect. Before the upcoming cave match, Lu Hong¡¯s faction had won the majority of the matches between the three factions. This was also the main reason why they currently seemed so unstoppable. Hence, Shen Taiyuan could only place his hopes into winning the upcoming match to stop their streak, because if they were allowed to continue winning, it would be a deadly blow to the morale of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction. Moreover, when news of this spread, the other peaks will look down even more on Saint Genesis Peak, and believe them to be useless, causing no one to even pity them if they ended up being replaced. This was why Shen Taiyuan really did not want to lose the upcoming cave match. ¡­ After several days of anticipation, the day of the cave match finally arrived. On one of the mountains in Saint Genesis Peak was an enormous cave dwelling. Runes flickered at the entrance to the cave, forming a barrier that sealed it. Even so, extremely pure and vigorous Genesis Qi still managed to seep out from the cave, making the greenery at its entrance appear even more vibrant than normal. This was obviously a purple Genesis cave dwelling. Outside the cave was a steep cliff surrounded by swirling mists. Several giant boulders had been cut and placed upon it, creating a spacious stone stage. This was where the cave match would be held. Very few people would come here in the past, but today, it had become the most bustling place in Saint Genesis Peak. Figures continuously streamed in from the sky, landing all around the mountain, making the place appear very crowded, the noisy din from the crowd breaking the usual peace of the area. Elder Lu Song was seated in a stone pavilion atop a nearby cliff. Behind him stood Lu Yan and a few of his other purple sash disciples. Outside the pavilion were even more gold sash and black sash disciples, quite an impressive number of them in total. ¡°Why are there so many people here today?¡± Lu Song had a tea cup in his hand, a slightly puzzled look in his eyes as he scanned the surroundings. Many figures were still streaming over at this time. Moreover, these figures clearly did not belong to Saint Genesis Peak. This observation was quite baffling to him. A cave match like this would at most affect one¡¯s own peak, and have practically nothing to do with the disciples of the other peaks. So why had so many people come today? Since when had a cave match of their Saint Genesis Peak been able to draw so many disciples from the other peaks to watch? Lu Yan frowned, but said in a gloating manner, ¡°What else can it be? They must be here for Zhou Yuan.¡± Lu Song raised his eyebrows. ¡°A few days ago, elder Miao from Snow Lotus Peak said in front of everyone that Zhou Yuan¡¯s future prospects were limitless., and he may even be able to match senior brother Chu Qing in the future.¡± Said Lu Yan with a smile, but anyone could hear the sliver of disdain in her voice. ¡°What status do you think senior brother Chu Qing has in the hearts of the numerous disciples? Elder Miao¡¯s words would naturally give rise to curiosity and disagreement. Since they¡¯ve heard that Zhou Yuan will be participating in the cave match today, they will naturally come and see whether or not he is as remarkable as she claimed¡­¡± Only then did Lu Song understand. Looks like the disciples from the other peaks were not here with friendly intent. If Zhou Yuan did not give an amazing performance today, the entire sect would likely soon hear of it. Who knows how much jeering and mockery he would have to face then. Chu Qing was just too dazzling after all, making it such that even a less than extraordinary performance from Zhou Yuan would instead make him appear incompetent in comparison, even if it would only be incompetant when compared to Chu Qing. ¡°Elder Miao really has a large mouth. How can one so casually make such remarks.¡± Lu Song frowned. Even if he had high expectations of Zhou Yuan, he would never say such words in public. Now that such a crowd had been drawn, Zhou Yuan would definitely be under tremendous pressure. Although Lu Song had chosen not to fight with Lu Hong, deep in his heart the former was still leaning towards Shen Taiyuan. There was after all no benefit to Lu Song¡¯s own factions if Lu Hong¡¯s side were to win another cave match and suppress Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction even more. Lu Yan, on the other hand, was clearly ignorant to the situation. She placed her arms across her chest and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan was asking for it. Stubbornly jumping into the limelight even though he¡¯s just a new inner mountain disciple, does he really believe he¡¯s the same as senior brother Chu Qing?¡± ¡°The tallest tree will always be the first to be blown down. Without enough ability, one should try to be a little less prominent such as to protect oneself.¡± Anyone could tell that as Chu Qing¡¯s fanatical supporter, Lu Yan was very disapproving at elder Miao¡¯s evaluation. In Lu Yan¡¯s opinion, the two were on completely different levels. How could Zhou Yuan possibly be compared to senior brother Chu Qing. It was only an eight dragon baptism, and who knew what the future would be. To say Zhou Yuan was comparable to senior brother Chu Qing based on this achievement alone was truly unconvincing. As such, Lu Yan strongly believed that after the cave match, elder Miao¡¯s high praise of Zhou Yuan would instead become the same material used to ridicule him. In fact, it may even become akin to a boulder placed upon Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulders, making him unable to raise his head. Lu Song glanced at her and nonchalantly said, ¡°If they lose, it will only grow the reputation Lu Hong¡¯s faction, making them even more bold and overbearing. What good is this to us?¡± Lu Yan froze for a moment, before she resentfully said, ¡°It¡¯s not like they¡¯re depending on him¡­ he¡¯s only a third layer Alpha-Origin, and it probably there just to make up the numbers.¡± Lu Song sighed. How could he not know that Shen Taiyuan¡¯s chances were indeed not optimistic. While the two of them were conversing, a disturbance was suddenly felt in the mountain as countless gazes filled with interest cast towards a certain direction. A group of figures was slowly walking over. At the front was Shen Taiyuan, while Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan, Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and the rest followed behind. Their numbers were quite impressive. It was clear that all of the disciples under Shen Taiyuan had come this time to at least bolster their presence. When Shen Taiyuan arrived, he was immediately stunned for a moment by the black sprawling mass of figures in front of the mountain. He too had not expected the cave match to draw such a crowd. He frowned, but did not say anything as he continued to walk forward. With a nod to Lu Song, Shen Taiyuan entered another stone pavilion at the edge of a cliff. Zhou Yuan stood inside the pavilion, feeling the countless unfamiliar gazes that were tinged with amusement. This told him that these disciples from the other peaks were likely here for him. Yaoyao joked from the side, ¡°How lively, looks like you¡¯re going to become famous.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled helplessly. They were more likely here to watch him make a fool of himself. However, he was not angered by their presence, his eyes calm and serene. Regardless of why they had come, there was still only one goal he had today. To win the purple Genesis cave dwelling. Not long after Shen Taiyuan¡¯s group arrived, a clamor was heard as another wave of figures aggressively surged into the area, their astonishing presence drawing the attention of everyone present. The one leading them was naturally Lu Hong. However, Zhou Yuan saw a familiar figure at Lu Hong¡¯s side. Dressed in black that outlined a set of enchanting curves, her legs were long and slender, her waist supple and slim, while her eyes gave off a haughty and cold aura. It was Lu Xuanyin. The moment she appeared, her cold and haughty eyes immediately locked onto Zhou Yuan as a smirk appeared on her pretty face. At the same time, hatred also began radiating from her eyes. ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you took the number one spot from Lu Feng, and stole the fame he should have had, I shall personally witness how you will be thoroughly humiliated today!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 333 Cave Match Begins The moment Lu Hong¡¯s group appeared, every gaze in the area could not help but converge towards them. One had to admit that when compared to the other two factions of Saint Genesis Peak, the former surpassed the other two in presence. However, the other two groups could not be blamed for being too weak, because it was Lu Hong¡¯s faction that was too strong. Lu Hong¡¯s faction had already been a formidable force back in Sword Cometh Peak. What¡¯s more, they had taken in quite a number of talented disciples over the years, making it basically impossible for the other two factions to match Lu Hong¡¯s faction in terms of disciples. Lu Hong stood with his hand behind his back at the very front, his expression indifferent. When he arrived, he merely cast a glance at Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song, before stepping into the last stone pavilion. The disciple under him crowded around the pavilion, a rather imposing sight. Only three figures had been allowed to follow Lu Hong into the pavilion. One was naturally his first disciple, Yuan Hong, while another was Lu Xuanyin. Although she was not Lu Hong¡¯s disciple, Lu Hong was her elder in their clan. Beside Lu Xuanyin was a tall figure with excellent posture. A faint smile hung from the lips of the youth who had a head full of red hair. His eyes were imposing and gave off an invasive feeling, evidence that he was clearly no kind spirit. He was called Xu Yan and was also not Lu Hong¡¯s disciple, but from the same teacher as Lu Xuanyin. His father was an elder in the Cangxuan Sect who was quite famous in Sword Cometh Peak, while he himself was a purple sash disciple. Xu Yan¡¯s gaze swept across Zhou Yuan at this moment and asked with a grin, ¡°Xuanyin, is that the one who stole Lu Feng¡¯s number one spot in the peak selection ceremony?¡± Lu Xuanyin faintly nodded in response, still somewhat indignant as she said, ¡°He was so cunning, managing to catch Lu Feng off-guard and clinch victory by some stroke of luck.¡± Xu Yan chuckled, completely unconcerned about Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. He will become a laughing stock before the day is over. With Wei Youxuan around, only defeat awaits elder Shen¡¯s faction.¡± One could tell that Xu Yan was quite close to Lu Xuanyin. Hence, he was already fully on Lu Xuanyin¡¯s side despite never having any contact with Zhou Yuan before. Lu Xuanyin also laughed when she heard this, feeling somewhat better as she said, ¡°He deserves it for losing sight of his status. Does he really believe that this is still the outer mountains? He¡¯s just a mere gold sash disciple that many would easily be able to deal with.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t understand why elder Miao would give such a high evaluation of him, but I¡¯m sure that she will soon feel quite embarrassed after today.¡± The corners of Lu Xuanyin¡¯s mouth curled downwards as she mockingly said, ¡°The likes of him thinks he can be compared to senior brother Chu Qing?¡± While the two were talking, Lu Hong¡¯s eyelids raised as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan in the other pavilion and nonchalantly said, ¡°Since everyone is here, let¡¯s prepare to begin and get this over and done with as soon as possible. I still have other matters to attend to.¡± His tone was relaxed, clearly not the least bit concerned about the imminent cave match. Shen Taiyuan was naturally able to hear the hidden meaning behind Lu Hong¡¯s words. With an icy chuckle, the former responded, ¡°I just hope that elder Lu will still have the mood to deal with your other affairs after this.¡± A mocking smile flowed out from the corners of Lu Hong¡¯s mouth. ¡°Unfortunately, it seems that elder Shen has been the one who has been feeling down after most of the cave matches.¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s face twitched for a moment, unable to retort for a time as his expression turned ugly, even having slight trouble breathing due to anger. The mockery on Lu Hong¡¯s lips grew even greater when he saw this. With a wave of his hand, he called out, ¡°Wei Youxuan, Feng Ling, Cheng Ying.¡± Three figures walked into the stone pavilion and cupped their fists together towards Lu Hong. Lu Hong indifferently said, ¡°Go, do not shame us today.¡± The trio acknowledged with a nod. Under the attention of countless gazes, they landed on the three giant stone stages on the cliff. Shen Taiyuan took in a deep breath and said in a low voice, ¡°Tong Long, Pan Song, Zhou Yuan.¡± Tong Long and Pan Song hurriedly stepped forward, while Zhou Yuan exited the stone pavilion. ¡°All three of you must do your best today.¡± Said Shen Taiyuan, though his gaze mostly looked towards Tong Long and Pan Song. The two of them were after all the first and second seat amongst the gold sash disciples, and the strongest amongst them. Tong Long and Pan Song¡¯s expression were quite taunt, clearly somewhat nervous. However, they still managed to force out a nod. Shen Taiyuan cautioned Zhou Yuan, ¡°Zhou Yuan, there¡¯s no need to be too nervous since its is your first time in a match like this. If you¡¯re not a match for your opponent, remember that your safety is the most important. Victory or defeat is only temporary, and doesn¡¯t decide everything¡± Many disciples from the other peaks had come to watch today, and Shen Taiyuan was worried that if Zhou Yuan did not perform well, the storm of mocking laughter that followed would be too huge of a mental blow to him. Zhou Yuan was a little moved inside as he nodded with a smile. When the three of them walked out, even more gazes were cast to them than earlier. However, most of the gazes were clearing looking towards Zhou Yuan. Numerous whispers began to spread. ¡°Is he that Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem to be anything special. ¡°Hehe, looks like another person who wants to borrow senior brother Chu Qing¡¯s name to become famous.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s a pity that he chose the wrong person. Senior brother Chu Qing is just too outstanding, and even if Zhou Yuan does perform decently, he will only appear incapable in comparison.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The majority of the disciples that had come to watch were female, all of them young and pretty. They were obviously similar to Lu Yan, belonging to the group of Chu Qing¡¯s fanatical supporters. Hence, their words were merciless, and rather grating to the ear. Tong Long and Pan Song also felt these gazes, causing them to feel a little uncomfortable all over. This was the first time so many people had come to watch a cave match of Saint Genesis Peak. Moreover, most of them were not here with kind intentions. The two exchanged a look and let out a bitter laugh. They were truly innocent victims. Though they had already been affected, Tong Long was still quite broad-minded, and did not vent his frustration on Zhou Yuan. Instead, the former tried to console him. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, since it¡¯s your first time in a cave match, we¡¯ll go first later and let you observe a little. No need to be nervous.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile, showing his gratitude. If Tong Long and Pan Song were able to win, there would be no need for Zhou Yuan to stand out too much. As for the opinions of the onlookers, he couldn¡¯t care less. He was no circus monkey after all, and was not here to entertain everyone. Under the attention of countless gazes, Tong Long, Pan Song and Zhou Yuan moved, landing on the three stone stages opposite the Wei Youxuan trio. Wei Youxuan¡¯s gaze nonchalantly swept across the three figures, as a slight smile appeared from the corners of his mouth. The look in his eyes was one of amusement and ridicule. ¡°Can¡¯t believe that you three still have the courage to participate. This truly is somewhat surprising to me.¡± Wei Youxuan smiled faintly. Tong Long¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Wei Youxuan, don¡¯t brag too much. We¡¯ll only know who wins when we fight.¡± However, Wei Youxuan merely laughed in response, before his gaze shifted towards Zhou Yuan on the far right as he sarcastically said, ¡°Senior sister Lu Xuanyin instructed me previously to take good care of you, so don¡¯t go blaming me too much later.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze lowered slightly, as if he did not hear the former. While both sides were having a duel of tongues, Lu Hong opened his mouth and said, ¡°Begin.¡± His words instantly caused the atmosphere to turn tense, as every gaze in the place turned towards the six figures. Previous Chapte Chapter 334 Genesis Breaker Hand Six stone stages stood facing each other from some distance away, sparks flying as the gazes of the six figures atop them clashed. The whispering voices fell silent as gaze after gaze turned to the battle arena. Tong Long was the first seat gold sash disciple under Shen Taiyuan, and was an elite amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage, someone who was even stronger than Cao Shi, whom Zhou Yuan had fought before. He was considered the leader in this cave match, thus, after pondering for a while, he looked towards Pan Song and said, ¡°Junior brother Pan Song, you¡¯ll go and test the waters first.¡± Pan Song¡¯s strength was second only to his own, and should be able to put up a fight against Feng Yu or Chen Ying. Pan Song nodded upon hearing this, his expression turning grave as he imagined how intense the cave match was going to be. He quickly stepped forward and said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m up for the first match, which of you will be taking me on?¡± At the sight of Pan Song¡¯s figure, Feng Yu and Chen Ying seemed to smile mysteriously. Neither of them moved, while Wei Youxuan took a step forward with a mischievous expression. The moment he walked forward, faint whispers spread from the numerous watching disciples. ¡°It¡¯s Wei Youxuan. I¡¯ve heard that he¡¯s the strongest amongst the gold sash disciples under elder Lu Hong. Why is being sent out at the start? Are they not going to give the other three any chance?¡± ¡°The strongest at the start. Heh, interesting.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tong Long¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. If there was a gold sash disciple under Lu Hong whom he was most wary of, it would definitely be Wei Youxuan. The former had originally believed Wei Youxuan would save himself for last due to his status, and never expected he would be the first to fight instead. ¡°What is Wei Youxuan thinking? If he¡¯s the first one, even if he wins, it would exhaust him somewhat. When that happens, it will be very disadvantageous if I were to challenge him next.¡± There was some confusion in Tong Long¡¯s eyes. In an ordinary situation, the more powerful participant will be sent out later such as to preserve their battle power. ¡°Humph, Wei Youxuan is being too conceited!¡± Tong Long coldly snorted. He admitted that Wei Youxuan was strong, but he was at most a little stronger than Tong Long. If Wei Youxuan¡¯s condition was not as its peak, Tong Long may not have to be so wary. Besides, Pan Song was no weakling either, and it would not be easy for Wei Youxuan to defeat the former. With such thoughts, Tong Long looked towards Pan Song and nodded. Pan Song took in a deep breath, before he jumped onto the empty stone stage between them, his expression grave as he looked towards Wei Youxuan and said, ¡°Please!¡± Wei Youxuan chuckled softly as he took a step forward. Genesis Qi flickered under his feet as his figure appeared directly on the stone stage. Pan Song cautiously stared at Wei Youxuan. Without wasting any time, all of the Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling burst out from the top of his head. Genesis Qi swirled above Pan Song¡¯s head. The flowing Genesis Qi was ungraspable as the mist, and yet also seemed to pulse with the might to shatter mountains. In the face of an opponent like Wei Youxuan, Pan Song did not dare to hold anything back. He was afraid that showing the tiniest opening would result in his instant defeat. While Pan Song brought out his full power, Wei Youxuan merely stood there with a calm expression, not moving a single inch from the spot, and indifference in his eyes. Pan Song frowned upon seeing how Wei Youxuan was looking down on him. With an icy snort, his foot stomped into the ground as the vigorous Genesis Qi above him suddenly descended. Rumble! A stream of Genesis Qi containing terrifying power blasted towards Wei Youxuan like lightning. The attack screeched past in the air, leaving deep cuts on the stone stage below. Pan Song had gone all-out. Such an attack was powerful enough to force back any ordinary fifth layer Alpha-Origin disciple. The stream of Genesis Qi zipped past, appearing in front of Wei Youxuan in the blink of an eye. However, just as it was about to strike its target, Wei Youxuan¡¯s suddenly lifted his hand with a nonchalant expression, and casually swatted downwards. Pop! His palm hit the ferocious stream of Genesis Qi. Next, everyone could only watch in shock as the Genesis Qi was scattered. Wei Youxuan had dispersed the Genesis Qi with a single swing of his palm. Gasp! Gasps sounded around them. Everyone knew how deadly an attack purely made from Genesis Qi was, the slightest touch causing astonishing destructive power to explode. Thus, no one had expected Wei Youxuan to so easily scatter it with his hand. ¡°What?¡± Pan Song was also startled. His expression soon darkened as his hands violently slammed together. The swirling Genesis Qi above him swiftly began to gather, transforming into a several hundred feet wide giant Genesis Qi hand that viciously swatted down towards Wei Youxuan. It was simple and pure violence. As the giant Genesis Qi hand fell, a deep imprint was created in the ground below. ¡°Go ahead and try to scatter it again!¡± Upon hearing Pan Song¡¯s shout, the corners of Wei Youxuan¡¯s lips raised in a mocking manner. In the next instant, his foot slammed into the ground, cracks extending like a spider web as his figure shot into the air. He appeared directly under the descending Genesis Qi hand, appearing tiny and insignificant before it. However, there was no fear at all in Wei Youxuan, his expression nonchalant as he sent a palm thrusting forward. Two hands varying vast in size collided in the air. Boom! A berserk Genesis Qi shockwave unfurled, causing cracks to form in the surrounding cliffs. Numerous gazes were tightly glued to the clash in the air. Everyone could only watch as the giant hand suddenly shuddered, before cracks began to appear on it. With one loud final crack, it shattered into a million pieces. The attack Pan Song had poured all of his Genesis Qi into had been forcefully shattered by Wei Youxuan¡¯s bare hand. ¡°Impossible!¡± Pan Song involuntarily cried out as his expression changed drastically. Even if he was not as strong as his opponent, how could the other party so easily scattered his full power attack? Swoosh! At the same moment he cried out, a blur suddenly shot towards him. A hand chopped through the air, arriving in front of Pan Song¡¯s chest. The seemingly ordinary looking palm was akin to a life-snatching hand in Pan Song¡¯s eyes. Pan Song¡¯s expression drastically changed as his cheeks ballooned, spitting out a breath of pure Genesis Qi. The Genesis Qi seemed to turn into armor as it covered his body, boasting powerful defensive abilities. Wei Youxuan was too quick, and it was already impossible for Pan Song to dodge. Hence, he had no option but to face the attack. Thump! The hand struck like lightning the instant the Genesis Qi armor covered Pan Song¡¯s body, gently landing on his chest. The attack did not seem to have much force behind it, and was unable to push Pan Song back. However, Pan Song¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank at this moment as a look of horror surfaced within them. Wei Youxuan immediately drifted backwards the moment his attack landed as a breeze blew out with a gentle wave of his sleeve. Crack! The Genesis Qi around Pan Song¡¯s body shattered like glass, slowly falling as it turned into smoke that quickly faded away, while a hideous bloody palm imprint appeared on his chest. Urgh! A mouthful of blood was spat out from Pan Song¡¯s mouth, before his sturdy looking body crashed into the ground. *Uproar*! Cries of surprise immediately sounded in the vicinity, numerous disciples looking towards the backwards drifting Wei Youxuan in astonishment. No one had expected him to win so effortlessly. Pan Song¡¯s attacks had been so ferocious earlier, but they had been unable to even shake Wei Youxuan in the slightest. Instead, the former had been easily destroyed. Wei Youxuan had revealed his astonishing strength in a few short exchanges.. Tong Long¡¯s expression turned ugly at this moment. Pan Song had lost far too quickly, a fact that rather horrified him. It seemed that the former had misjudged Wei Youxuan¡¯s strength. He had hidden his true power. On the cliff, Lu Hong¡¯s disciples laughed, their eyes filled with amusement. In contrast, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples stirred restlessly. A faint smile was revealed on Lu Hong¡¯s face as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan and said, ¡°Elder Shen, it seems that your disciple need more training.¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression was somewhat stormy. He stared at Wei Youxuan on the stone stage, his gaze pausing on the latter¡¯s hands. The disciples may have been unable to sense it, but he had. Wei Youxuan had repeatedly tore through Pan Song¡¯s Genesis Qi earlier not through physical prowess, but a faint layer of unique Genesis Qi on his hands. It was likely some kind of Genesis technique. He fell into thought for a brief moment, before he muttered, ¡°It¡¯s the Genesis Beaker Hand¡­¡± The Genesis Beaker Hand was a rather unique high grade little Heaven Genesis technique. It utilised a special method to coat one¡¯s hands in Genesis Qi that had the ability to tear through the Genesis Qi of others. This technique was quite domineering, but was also not easy to master. Shen Taiyuan never imagined that one of Lu Hong¡¯s disciples would actually succeed in learning it, and even appeared to be quite proficient. Once learnt, one would basically be able to tear through any Genesis technique, allowing one to gain dominance in a fight. The disciples on the surrounding cliffs clicked their tongues. From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan¡¯s side did not have much of a chance in the cave match. Under the numerous watching gazes, Wei Youxuan did not withdraw after easily defeating Pan Song. Instead, the former waved his sleeve, smiling as he directed his gaze towards Tong Long. ¡°It¡¯s your turn next.¡± These words immediately cause a wave of noise to erupt around them. Only now did everyone realise that Wei Youxuan was actually intended to defeat all three of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples alone! How domineering! If he was allowed to succeed, it would be akin to stepping on the faces of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction... At this point, those that looked towards Zhou Yuan could not help but feel some pity. It was likely that he would become a laughing stalk in the sect after today. Previous Chapte Chapter 335 Sixth Layer When Wei Youxuan continued on to challenge Tong Long, it was not just many spectating disciples nearby that reacted. The expressions of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples in particular turned rather ugly, anger filling their eyes. ¡°Wei Youxuan is too cocky!¡± ¡°Does he really think senior brother Tong Long will be an easy opponent?¡± ¡°Humph, Wei Youxuan is admittedly very strong, but senior brother Tong Long is no weakling. What right does he have to look down on senior brother Tong Long?!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Numerous disciples angrily remarked, all of them filled with indignation. In the stone pavilion, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression sunk slightly as he glanced towards Lu Hong in the nearby pavilion. A faint hint of mockery was currently hanging from the corners of the latter¡¯s mouth. Shen Taiyuan waved his hand, suppressing the angry voices of his many disciples. Talk was useless at this point and would only make others look down on them. However, his gaze turned a little deeper as he stared at Wei Youxuan¡¯s figure on the stone stage. ¡­ ¡°Isn¡¯t Wei Youxuan being way too arrogant? To think he plans on taking down all of them by himself.¡± Over at elder Lu Song¡¯s area, Lu Yan¡¯s eyes widened as she watched. Lu Song frowned. It did seem that Wei Youxuan was not going to leave them any face. If Shen Taiyuan¡¯s side really ended up being single handedly wiped out while so many disciples from the other peaks were watching, it would be an extremely huge blow to the reputation of his group. Furthermore, when news of this spread, others would surely call them useless. ¡°Lu Hong¡­ really is overbearing.¡± Lu Song¡¯s expression was likewise a little ugly. Soon after, he let out a helpless sigh. The other party was just too strong, and even he felt powerless. Lu Yan consoled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much grandpa, Tong Long is not to be underestimated and may not lose to Wei Youxuan.¡± Although she was a little bias against Zhou Yuan, she understood that it would do them no good if the reputation of Lu Hong¡¯s faction was allowed to grow even greater. Lu Song sighed. The only thing he could do now was try and be a little more optimistic. However, Wei Youxuan was no fool. Would he be so arrogant if he didn¡¯t have some cards hidden up his sleeve? ¡­ ¡°What boastful words.¡± Under the attention of countless gazes, Tong Long expression turned rather stormy as he stared at Wei Youxuan and said, ¡°I don¡¯t intend to take advantage of you, so I advise you to go rest for a while before coming to fight me.¡± He had asked around previously about how strong Wei Youxuan was. The latter was at the peak fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage like himself, and perhaps just a wee bit stronger. However, there was a limit to how much stronger and the earlier battle had surely taken at least a little out of Wei Youxuan. Wei Youxuan merely smiled slightly upon hearing this, a look of ridicule in his smile as he shook his head and said, ¡°I do admire brother Tong Long¡¯s attitude, but would a lion care about kindness from a rabbit?¡± Tong Llong¡¯s expression turned green with anger, rage flashing in his eyes. Wei Youxuan was really way too arrogant. How could he possibly dare to compare Tong Long to a rabbit? ¡°Since you¡¯re intent on seeking your own humiliation, I will happily grant your wish!¡± Tong Long¡¯s foot pushed off the ground as vigorous Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body, coiling around him like a giant python. His body launching into the air like a cannonball, and slamming onto the stone stage Tong Long had displayed his formidable strength from the get go. His Genesis Qi was clearly even stronger than Pan Song¡¯s. The watching disciples in the vicinity gave a slight nod of approval. As the strongest gold sash disciple under Shen Taiyuan, Tong Long was indeed a powerful individual. Genesis Qi swirled around Tong Long¡¯s body, a sharp iciness in his eyes as he stared at Wei Youxuan. Not wasting any time with words, Tong Long¡¯s figure moved, shooting forward with speed that blew apart the surrounding air. In the blink of an eye, he had arrived in front Wei Youxuan as five fingers tightly clenched into a first that was sent flying forward. Boom! Vigorous Genesis Qi swirled around his fists, emitting a hissing sound. The Genesis Qi seemed to take on the form of a black python, bringing along a stench with it as it pounced towards Wei Youxuan. ¡°High grade little Heaven Genesis technique, Poison Python Force!¡± Tong Long used his most powerful trump card at the start, his Genesis Qi akin to a python that contained a lethal venom. It would contaminate anyone who came into contact with it, injuring them from the inside. Wei Youxuan¡¯s expression remained indifferent. Faint glowing runes appeared on his hands, giving off a unique Genesis Qi undulation. His hand was suddenly sent chopping forward a split second later, as if he intended on meeting Tong Long¡¯s deadly poison python Genesis Qi with his bare hands. Ch! The two parties clashed, causing the air around them to ripple as a shockwave unfurled. At the instant of impact, Tong Long¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. He had felt a peculiar tearing force ripping and piercing through his Genesis Qi... Fortunately, his Genesis Qi was quite robust, and he immediately withdraw his hand the moment he sensed something was amiss. The two backed away almost instantly. Tong Long looked towards his palm, where a faint bloody wound had appeared. If not for his fast response earlier, his opponent would have pierced his hand. Tong Long¡¯s expression sunk as he slowly said, ¡°This is¡­ the Genesis Breaker Hand?!¡± He had finally recognized the other party¡¯s Genesis technique. Wei Youxuan smiled faintly. There were some deep black blotches on his hand due to the poison, but was swiftly neutralized by the Genesis Qi in his body. ¡°Brother Tong Long is quite knowledgeable.¡± Wei Youxuan chuckled. Tong Long frowned. The Genesis Breaker Hand specialized in breaking through Genesis Qi, making it extremely deadly. He would never have expected Wei Youxuan to have mastered it. Although it was indeed a tricky technique to deal with, Tong Long would at least be able to come up with some countermeasures now that he was aware. The technique may be able to tear through Genesis Qi, but its effectiveness would depend on the strength of the target¡¯s Genesis Qi. As long as he was a little more careful and strengthened his defences, the opponent would naturally be unable to prevail. While numerous thoughts flashed past in Tong Long¡¯s heart, he took in a deep breath as Genesis Qi began to surge out of the flickering Genesis Qi stars inside his Qi Dwelling, filling his entire body. Robust Genesis Qi enveloped Tong Long like smoke, giving off a powerful pressure. Thump! His figure turned into an after image again as he shot forth, cracks rapidly growing along the ground under his feet. Boom! Boom! With the support of his Genesis Qi, Tong Long was akin to a ferocious beast, a storm of fists hurtling towards the points of vulnerability on Wei Youxuan¡¯s body. Under the flurry of attacks, even the air seemed to have been displaced, turning the area into a small patch of vacuum. Wei Youxuan did not back down, runes of light flickering on his hands as a faint but sharp aura pulsed. Palm wind continued to be hacked out like blades, clashing directly against the countless punch shadows from Tong Long. Thud! Thud! Under numerous amazed gazes, the two individuals clashed ferociously, neither showing any mercy but instead an exceptional ruthlessness. Deep gorges were torn open on the ground under their feet, while also blasted full of holes, turning the place into a complete mess. Everyone watched with wide eyes. This battle could be considered extremely intense for one between fifth layer Alpha-Origins. While they continued to pummel each other, the numerous disciples saw bloody wounds appear one after another on Tong Long¡¯s body, clearly left by his opponents shredding Genesis Qi. However, Wei Youxuan did not appear to be doing too good either. Black patches continuously emerged on the surface of his body, clearly the work of the poison. Tong Long icily said, ¡°Wei Youxuan, this is the limit of your Genesis Breaker Hand. It can¡¯t fully penetrate my defences, and can only leave some superficial wounds. On the other hand, my python poison has already began to invade your body, and you¡¯re unable to keep up with it!¡± He may seem to be covered in bloody wounds, but they were merely flesh wounds. The moment Tong Long¡¯s words faded, the corners of Wei Youxuan¡¯s lips seemed to curl upwards slightly as a look of ridicule flitted across his eyes. ¡°Is that so?¡± With two fingers extended, he suddenly thrust forward. ¡°Humph!¡± Upon seeing that the opponent was not going to give up, Tong Long coldly snorted, his five fingers clenching into a fist as vigorous Genesis Qi poured into it, making it akin to metal. A punch blasted through the air, Ch! Under the watching eyes of the crowd, fist and fingers smashed into each other. In that instant, a faint piercing sound was heard. Tong Long¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank as intense pain spread from his fist. His face instantly twisted into a grimace as a bloody hole was forcefully opened in his Genesis Qi coated fist by Wei Youxuan¡¯s fingers. ARGHH! A painful cry escaped from his mouth as his body was sent flying. It crashed into the ground, blood spurting from the hole in his fist. This sudden turn of events made everyone present jump in surprise. No one had expected such an abrupt conclusion to what had appeared to be a match between two evenly matched fighters. They could not understand how Wei Youxuan had pierced Tong Long¡¯s defences in that split second moment earlier. ¡°How can this be?!¡± Tong Long¡¯s expression was pale as he stared at Wei Youxuan. Wei Youxuan merely revealed a faint smile as he slowly withdrew his hands. However, everyone could feel the astonishing Genesis Qi that suddenly erupted from his body like a volcano. The power of this surge of Genesis Qi instantly destroyed every last trace of poison in his body. ¡°Do you understand now?¡± Wei Youxuan¡¯s tone was indifferent. Tong Long¡¯s complexion turned ashen as he mumbled in a trembling voice, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯ve already stepped into the sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage!¡± No wonder! No wonder Wei Youxuan was confident of taking all of them on without his two teammates. It turns out that he had already stepped into the sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage! Any disciples that reached this cultivation level would be allowed to participate in the purple sash selection test, leaving one¡¯s gold sash status behind and become a true-blue purple sash disciple! Wei Youxuan had been hiding his strength all along! An uproar exploded from the numerous disciples in the vicinity. Wei Youxuan was already a sixth layer Alpha-Origin expert! It was no wonder that he was so confident. In the wake of Tong Long¡¯s defeat, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s side was left with the participant that appeared the weakest. Gaze after gaze was cast towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, discovering that the latter was gazing at Wei Youxuan in surprise, seemingly in awe of the strength displayed by him. They could not help but shake their heads, the pity in their gazes growing when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. It was easy to imagine how he had already fallen into the pits of despair... Previous Chapte Chapter 336 Get Down Here ¡°Wei Youxuan truly lives up to his name as the Lu Hong¡¯s strongest gold sash disciple. I never expected that he has secretly advanced to the sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage¡­¡± ¡°With such strength, he already has the qualifications to participate in the purple sash selection test. If he succeeds, he will be able to leave his gold sash status behind, and become a true-blue purple sash disciple.¡± ¡°Amazing. No wonder he¡¯s so cocky. It turns out that he does have the ability to back it up.¡± ¡°As it stands, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s side is doomed. Tong Long and Pan Song are his first and second seat gold sash disciples, but both of them have lost¡­¡± ¡°Haha, there is no need to fret. Don¡¯t they still have a genius disciple that can supposedly match up to senior brother Chu Qing in the future? Perhaps he will be able to salvage the situation.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± ¡°.....¡± Quiet whispers and private conversations continuously sounded in the area. However, most of them were expressing their shock at Wei Youxuan¡¯s ability. Even amongst all the disciples in the Cangxuan Sect, a sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage like him was already considered one of the elites. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s pavilion and its surroundings were completely silent as he sat within it with a face devoid of emotion. However, his gnarly hands atop the table could not help but clench tightly. Beside him, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the other purple sash disciples wore gloomy expressions on their faces as they stared daggers at the triumphant Wei Youxuan, wishing that they could personally jump down and give him a beating he would remember. However, there were rules that had to be abided in the cave match. Other than the contestants, no one else was allowed to interfere. However, if Wei Youxuan managed to single-handedly defeat all three opponents today, it would be a huge blow to the reputation of elder Shen¡¯s faction. They could already imagine how much they would be mocked in the future. In contrast to the gloomy atmosphere on this side, celebratory cheers were constantly heard from Lu Hong¡¯s side, the disciples there continuously shooting derisive looks over. Seated within the stone pavilion, Lu Hong smiled as he raised the tea cup in his hand. ¡°Senior brother Wei Youxuan is indeed Uncle Hong¡¯s strongest gold sash disciple. Once he passes the purple sash selection test, he will become a genuine purple sash disciple.¡± Said Lu Xuanyin from behind Lu Hong with a grin. Meanwhile, a satisfied expression spread across her beautiful face. She cast a sadistic glance towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the arena. Now that both Tong Long and Pan Song had been defeated, wouldn¡¯t the former be panicking? Even though Zhou Yuan had taken first place in the peak selection ceremony, it only proved his dominance over the outer mountain disciples. Now that he had entered the inner mountain, however, his pathetic abilities no longer gave him the right to be arrogant. ¡°I wonder how much face you¡¯ll have left after senior brother Wei Youxuan finishes you off.¡± Lu Xuanyin felt as if she was free at last. It seemed like she could at long last vent the resentment that she has been keeping in her heart for the past month. From what she could see, since Tong Long and Pan Song had already lost, someone like Zhou Yuan would not even have the qualifications to face Wei Youxuan. As such, her goal for today would have been reached. ¡°It seems like elder Shen has been tricked again this time.¡± Lu Song stared at the scene in front of him as he sighed. It was clear that Wei Youxuan had already advanced to the sixth layer Alpha-Origin stage for some time. However, Lu Hong chose to hide his true strength. By doing so, he could temporarily avoid bringing Wei Youxuan to the purple sash selection test, and allow him to participate in the cave match as a gold sash disciple. As such, since he was able to use his sixth layer Alpha-Origin abilities against those fifth layer Alpha-Origin gold sash disciples, there was no way Lu Hong could lose. Beside Lu Song, Lu Yan also frowned. If even Tong Long and Pan Song had lost, the outcome of this cave match was already crystal clear. She glanced at Zhou Yuan, her lips pulling outwards as she said, ¡°It¡¯s all because of you. You created such a huge uproar in the Genesis reservoir, that resulted in such a huge crowd from the various peaks being drawn over to watch the cave match today. Once the outcome of today¡¯s match spreads, elder Shen¡¯s faction will lose all face.¡± Only disciples from Saint Genesis Peak would attend their cave matches in the past. Therefore, the results would not spread to the other peaks. However, today¡¯s situation was different. Since there were disciples from various peaks present, it was impossible to stop the flow of information. Lu Song sighed inside. He waved his hands in resignation as he powerlessly collapse into his chair. Looks like there was no changing the outcome. After today, Lu Hong would likely become even more overbearing in Saint Genesis Peak. Under the numerous watching eyes colored with various expressions, a smiling Wei Youxuan lifted his head, staring at Zhou Yuan as he said in a friendly voice, ¡°Brother Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s your turn.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you voluntarily challenge me so we don¡¯t waste any more time?¡± According to the rules of the cave match, a contestant was only allowed two chances to challenge an opponent. Even if one wins the first two fights, the third match would be decided by his opponent. This was to prevent a single participant from defeating all three contestants from the opposing faction, causing the opposing faction to lose all face. Therefore, after Wei Youxuan won two consecutive fights, Zhou Yuan was allowed to pick his opponent for the third match. After Wei Youxuan spoke, laughter erupted in the surrounding cliffs, the disciples who came down to watch Zhou Yuan in particular, were especially loud. Though Zhou Yuan was being mocked by the crowd around him, there was hardly any traces of anger on his face. The shock he expressed towards Wei Youxuan gradually receded, as he lifted his head and looked towards the cliff where elder Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction was. At this time, all the disciples were dejected, making the atmosphere quite depressing. Even Shen Taiyuan was expressionless. Tong Long and Pan Song¡¯s defeat had dealt a huge blow to them. Moreover, they did not believe they had even the slightest chance to mount a comeback this time. Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly, before he moved and landed on the stone stage. He looked at the smiling Wei Youxuan, and earnestly said, ¡°Senior brother Wei, you must be pretty tired after two matches in a row. It will be better for you to rest for the next two rounds. I do not wish to take advantage of you.¡± His words stunned not only Wei Youxuan, but also made the numerous disciples on the surrounding cliffs burst out into laughter. Beside Lu Xuanyin, the red-haired youth called Xu Yan involuntarily laughed as he said, ¡°Is this kid so frightened that he lost his mind. Does he actually believe that he likes of him will be taking advantage of Wei Youxuan?¡± Lu Xuanyin let out an icy chuckle, ¡°He is just trying to entertain the crowd.¡± The disciples from Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction looked at one another, finding the awkward expressions on some of their faces. Zhou Yuan¡¯s decision to throw a wisecrack at such a time was quite embarrassing... ¡°Tsk, he is so unsightly. Comparing him to senior Chu Qing is a complete insult!¡± Said Lu Yan with a deep frown, clearly somewhat upset. On the stone stage, the bewildered expression on Wei Youxuan¡¯s face only lasted for a few brief moments, before he chuckled as his eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Are you serious?¡± Tong Long had said similar words to him earlier, but had now ended up lying on the ground. To think that Zhou Yuan actually dared to utter such words to him as well. Had this fellow really scrambled his brains due to fear? Zhou Yuan ignored Wei Youxuan, and instead looked towards Feng Yu and Cheng Yin. He casually pointed at one of them and said, ¡°You will do.¡± The person he pointed to was Feng Yu. When Feng Yu saw this, he shrugged his shoulders with a smile, before he looked at Wei Youxuan and said, ¡°Sorry senior brother Wei. It seems like you won¡¯t be hogging all the limelight.¡± Wei Youxuan laughed, seemingly a little helpless as he responded, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll leave it to you. I will have to worry about staining my hands anyways even if I defeated such an opponent.¡± He was clearly under the impression that Zhou Yuan had been scared silly. With a wave of his hand, he turned around and began walking away. Feng Yu floated down and landed in front of Zhou Yuan. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, do you feel that I am the easiest one to deal with of the three?¡± Feng Yu wore a fake smile as he stared at Zhou Yuan. The cold glint in his eyes, however, clearly indicated that he was ready to teach the latter a lesson. Opposite him, Zhou Yuan lifted his eyelids as an indifferent glance was cast at Feng Yu. Boom! In the next instance, violent Golden Genesis Qi charged out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s head like a giant golden python, as all seven hundred Genesis Qi stars began to glow dazzlingly in his Qi Dwelling. Waves of Genesis Qi flooded his limbs and bones, as a terrifying force burst forth. A fearsome Genesis Qi pressure swept forth, cracking the ground beneath Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet. His figure instantly etherealized as he exploded forward, leaving an after image behind. The sound sonic boom immediately followed. The attack was swift and decisive, not a single hint of hesitation. In the blink of an eye, Zhou Yuan¡¯s ethereal body appeared in front of Feng Yu. It was only at this moment that the latter came back to his senses, immediately bellowing as the Genesis Qi within his body burst out. ¡°You ignorant fool, I can¡¯t believe you dared to take the initiative!¡± Feng Yu¡¯s expression was akin to a brewing storm. His Genesis Qi howled as it gathered at his fist, before he viciously delivered a punch. Even though the punch was not a Genesis technique, it was packed with robust Genesis Qi. Feng Yu believed that it would be able to push back even someone like Tong Long. Whoosh! At the same time, Zhou Yuan also threw his fist forward, blowing away even the air with a rumble. Two fists packed with powerful Genesis Qi collided, neither using any fancy moves. BOOM! The dreadful clash caused the air around them to ripple as a shockwave unfurled. Cracks began to extend on the ground beneath them as wild gales swept forth. However, the dark expression on Feng Yu¡¯s face changed drastically at this moment. He realized that the Genesis Qi packed within Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch was akin to an unstoppable tsunami, containing enough force to destroy mountains! The savage power of Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack far exceeded his own! ¡°Impossible!¡± Feng Yu cried out in his heart, his eyes filled with disbelief. He simply refused to believe that Zhou Yuan, who was merely at the third layer Alpha-Origin, would actually possess Genesis Qi that was surpassed his own, him, an elite fifth layer Alpha-Origin expert! One must know that there were five hundred Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling! No matter how shocked he was by this discovery, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had already begun sweeping over him, easily crushing all of Feng Yu¡¯s Genesis Qi in an instant. BOOM! The instant his Genesis Qi crumbled, Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist slammed heavily against his chest. Feng Yu¡¯s body was sent flying, slamming into a mountain wall. His entire body was wedged into the wall, now completely drenched in blood. Nobody knew if he was even still alive... The fight between the two was over in a flash. In fact, the roaring laughter had yet to even die down when Feng Yu¡¯s body was being thrown into the mountain wall... Wei Youxuan had not even finished his leisurely stroll off the stage. However, all of the laughter stopped at this moment. Wei Youxuan''s feet froze as well. Every face in the mountain slowly turned rigid. Under the illumination of the falling sun, their faces seemed somewhat comical. In the middle of the stone stage, Zhou Yuan slowly retracted his fists, his expression still impassive as before. He disregarded all of the stares, looked towards the similarly frozen Cheng Ying, as his calm voice echoed across the mountain. ¡°Get down here, it''s your turn.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 337 A Single Punch The entire mountain and its surroundings were deathly silent when Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice echoed in the area. There was a somewhat sluggish expression on the faces of every disciple as they stared at the bloody body of Feng Yu, whom had been embedded in the side of a cliff. The only thing in their heads was a soft buzzing noise, clearly unable to return to their senses for a time... Feng Yu¡­ had been unable to take even a single punch from Zhou Yuan, and ended up being instantly defeated?! Numerous disciples opened and closed their mouths, but were unable to speak even a single word... No one had expected such a scene to appear. They had previously believed Zhou Yuan¡¯s brain had already been scrambled by fear, hence why he no longer dared to challenge Wei Youxuan, but instead chose a weaker opponent in hopes of surviving a little longer, and earn back a tiny bit of the face they had lost. No one had expected the young man, whom they had all neglected, to so swiftly defeat Feng Yu, who was considered an elite amongst the fifth layer Alpha-Origin, in a single punch. A disciple¡¯s hoarsely mumbled, ¡°How can this be¡­¡± ¡°How!¡± A sharp cry exploded in one of the stone pavilions. One could only watch a stupefied Lu Xuanyin staring at the stone stage, her pretty face twisting somewhat. She had been waiting to see Zhou Yuan¡¯s miserable figure as he was beaten into the ground, but everything had fallen apart due to his sudden explosion of power, shocking her substantially. She was even beginning to suspect if Feng Yu had been bribed. If not, how could anyone possibly explain how he had been so easily defeated by a single punch? One must know that he was an expert of the fifth layer Alpha-Origin, while Zhou Yuan was merely at the third layer! There was a gap of two whole layers between the two. How could that difference in Genesis Qi possibly be filled? Had Zhou Yuan really grown so strong in a short month? After all, even Lu Xuanyin herself did not have the confidence to defeat Feng Yu in a single punch. Beside Lu Xuanyin, Xu Yan¡¯s narrowed slightly as he slowly said, ¡°It seems that everyone has underestimated him.¡± ¡°His Genesis Qi is extremely robust and strong, and far surpasses an ordinary fifth layer. He¡¯s not simple at all. To have such Genesis Qi at the third layer Alpha-Origin, his foundations must be crazily solid.¡± Xu Yan was a purple sash disciple after all, and thus had better insight than Lu Xuanyin. After the instantaneous explosion of power Zhou Yuan had displayed earlier, Xu Yan had managed to gauge that the latter¡¯s Genesis Qi was not something a third layer Alpha-Origin disciples should possess. Several fortunate encounters were definitely needed to achieve this at the third layer. In the stone pavilion, Lu Hong¡¯s expression darkened slightly, fury flashing deep within his eyes as they locked onto Zhou Yuan like an eagle. The former had originally planned on stomping all over Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction today, but as it was about to succeed, Zhou Yuan had swooped in and made a mess. Zhou Yuan¡¯s thunder like strike also made the mouths of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples hang wide open. They looked to each other, and then rubbed their eyes, a little unable to believe what had just happened. They were already prepared to accept the most cruel of outcomes, and would never have expected such a sudden twist... The gazes of numerous disciples looked towards Shen Taiyuan in the stone pavilion. Amazement flitted across his originally expressionless face, before swiftly retreating. Shen Taiyuan slowly reached his hand forward, grabbing his tea cup and taking two small sips, before turning towards the stunned disciples as he sternly said, ¡°Stop dreaming, shouldn¡¯t all of you hurry up and cheer for Zhou Yuan? Have you not had your fill of being laughed at by others?¡± Upon hearing Shen Taiyuan¡¯s scolding, the necks of many disciples involuntarily shrank back. A split second later, their excited cheers began to boom, finally breaking the spell of silence over the mountain. Their yells also brought the stupefied Lu Yan back to her senses. It was actually a pretty amazing sight to watch how her expression changing rapidly as she felt a burning sensation fill her face. She had previously taken it as Zhou Yuan being overwhelmed by fear. No one could have expected him to have concealed his strength so deeply. ¡°How did he do it¡­¡± Mumbled Lu Yan as she bit into her lower lip. Lu Song¡¯s slightly narrowed eyes widened at this moment, a somewhat complicated expression in his eyes as he stared at the youthful figure on the arena. In the end, he let out a long sigh as he softly said, ¡°You look down on him too much, perhaps¡­ elder Miao is more discerning than all of us.¡± His words meant that he was already beginning to acknowledge the appraisal given by elder Miao. Lu Yan could not help but argue, ¡°Grandpa, you¡¯re making a judgement too early¡­ senior brother Chu Qing isn¡¯t¡­¡± This time, however, she was a little smarter and did not finish her sentence. After some silence, she vaguely said, ¡°Zhou Yuan struck too quickly earlier, and even Feng Yu was a little unprepared.¡± Her meaning was clear, Zhou Yuan had caught his opponent off guard. Lu Song shook his head, not speaking any more on the topic. There seemed to be some interest now in his originally bored eyes as he turned all of his attention to the arena. The originally unsuspenseful match was now finally becoming a little interesting. ... Wei Youxuan¡¯s feet had stopped on the edge of the stone stage. He slowly turned around, looking towards the youthful figure behind him as the smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a stormy expression. ¡°I did not expect that even I would misjudge.¡± Wei Youxuan¡¯s voice was a little dark. Everything had been under his control while he finished off Tong Long and Pan Song earlier, and he had been so certain of stomping Shen Taiyuan¡¯s side today. But who could have expected that Zhou Yuan, whom he was least concerned about, would give him such a big ¡®surprise¡¯. The momentum he had created after two consecutive victories had been destroyed by a single punch from Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers slowly relaxed, no change whatsoever to his expression. He continued to ignore Wei Youxuan as his gaze turned towards Cheng Ying. ¡°I¡¯ve rested enough, how about I accompany you next?¡± Wei Youxuan¡¯s cold voice sounded. Zhou Yuan finally tilted his head and glanced at the former, as a mysterious smile appeared on his face, ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious¡­ your turn will come.¡± He turned his head towards Cheng Ying and said, ¡°Are you not coming down?¡± On the cliffs around them, numerous disciples could not help but swallow as they silently watched this scene. Zhou Yuan was not anxious to fight Wei Youxuan at all. If it was earlier, they may have believed that the former lacked the courage. But now, how could this possibly be fear. This was obviously an eye for an eye! Didn¡¯t Wei Youxuan declare earlier that he was going to sweep all of them away by himself? Since that was the case, Zhou Yuan would use the same method for his counter attack! It was hard to imagine, but if Zhou Yuan really managed to take on all three of them alone and completely turn around the situation, his name would undoubtedly spread throughout the entire Cangxuan Sect. With an achievement like this, even Chu Qing¡¯s fanatical fans would have no choice but to admit that Zhou Yuan did possess astonishing talent and potential. Wei Youxuan was likewise able to guess Zhou Yuan¡¯s aim, causing an unreadable look to appear in his eyes. Moments later, he laughed out loud due to extreme anger as he jabbed his finger at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Good, good¡­¡± They were two short words, but they gave off an endless iciness. He lifted his head and nodded at Cheng Ying. Upon seeing this, Cheng Ying took in a deep breath, before his figure floated downwards and landed opposite Zhou Yuan. However, the former¡¯s expression was grave, his eyes tightly glued to the latter. He cupped his fists together. ¡°Allow me to experience your abilities.¡± There was no longer any trace of the disdain or contempt from earlier, a deep wariness taking their place in Cheng Ying¡¯s eyes. He had to be very careful, because Feng Yu, who was equally matched to himself, was still embedded in the cliff behind him. However, he would make sure to give everything he had, and not allow himself to be caught off guard like his predecessor. Thus, he believed he would have the chance to personally confirm if that astonishing Genesis Qi from earlier was a temporary explosion of power after thoroughly suppressing one¡¯s Genesis Qi, or was this Zhou Yuan really so powerful! Previous Chapte Chapter 338 Zhou Yuan’s Strength When Cheng Ying stood in front of Zhou Yuan, every gaze in the mountain unblinkingly converged towards the two of them. Feng Yu had lost to quickly earlier, practically in the blink of an eye. Before the crowd could react, he had already been crushed. Hence, they were also dying to get a clearer look this time. Was Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous burst of power temporary, or was he really so powerful? Cheng Ying was clearly going to give them that answer. The atmosphere turned tense. Under the countless watching gazes, Cheng Ying¡¯s eyes were filled with wariness, his gaze tightly glued to Zhou Yuan. He cast away all his hesitation with a deep breath, as hundreds of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling began to glow brightly. Vigorous Genesis Qi circulated within his body, ultimately exploding from the top of his head, before diving down and coiling around his body. A powerful Genesis Qi pressure unfurled. Cheng Ying was an expert amongst the fifth layer, and was not the least bit weaker than Feng Yu. After what had happened to Feng Yu earlier, Cheng Ying was naturally not going to underestimate his opponent and immediately brought out all of his Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face barely changed when Cheng Ying summoned his full power, the former¡¯s eyes akin to a deep secret pool. Rumble! Under the numerous watching gazes, Cheng Ying decided to strike first to gain the upper hand, and not give Zhou Yuan any chance to attack. Genesis Qi whizzed forth as Cheng Ying¡¯s body shot forth like a shadow. Cheng Ying¡¯s body zipped past the air, placing his hands together as robust Genesis Qi swept out from his sleeves. ¡°Owl Shadow Kill!¡± A dozen torrents of Genesis Qi shot forth, seemingly forming a giant shadow. The shadow swooped down from the sky like a hunting owl, swift without equal as it pounced towards Zhou Yuan. Cheng Ying had used a trump card straight away. From its power, it was obviously no ordinary little Heaven Genesis technique. The piercing shriek of an owl was heard as the deadly shadow tore through the air. In the end, it slammed into Zhou Yuan, who had not moved a single inch since the beginning. Bang! The ground crumbled as dust filled the air. ¡°Genesis Feather Sword!¡± A vicious look flashed in Cheng Ying¡¯s eyes when he saw his attack land. However, he had no intentions of stopping. He clenched both his hands as the Genesis Qi swirling on his palm transformed into dozens of feather like swords. Unique patterns decorated the swords as they gave off a heart palpitating sharpness. Ch! With a jerk of his hands, the feather swords were flung forward, shooting straight into the dust filled air, causing the ground the crack even more. Boom! Cheng Ying was merciless, sending attacks raining down like a storm. Wave after wave of astonishing little Heaven Genesis techniques were thrown out one after another, blasting into the dust filled area as quickly as they could. On the surrounding cliffs, the expressions on the watching disciples changed slightly. Cheng Ying¡¯s decisiveness and ruthlessness had somewhat impressed them. Cheng Ying had no plans of engaging in a drawn out battle, using basically all of his Genesis Qi the instant he attacked. Genesis Qi transformed into wave after wave of attacks that seemingly filled the sky, before bombarding Zhou Yuan from all directions. In the face of such a bombardment, many fifth layer disciples would have no choice but to retreat. What surprised everyone, however, was that Zhou Yuan remained where he stood, eating every single one of the torrential attacks. A disciple could not help but remark in a low voice, ¡°Isn¡¯t Zhou Yuan being a little too cocky, can¡¯t believe he¡¯s not even trying to dodge¡­¡± ¡°Tch tch, directly taking every attack from Cheng Ying¡­ what is he thinking?¡± In one of the stone pavilions, Lu Xuanyin tightly gritted her teeth. ¡°Arrogant bastard!¡± Her eyes were tightly glued to the billowing dust. Zhou Yuan can¡¯t be feeling good after such an onslaught from Cheng Ying! Numerous gazes were also fixated on the floating dust. Cheng Ying¡¯s figure descended from the air, his complexion rather pale. The rapid slew of attacks he had unleashed earlier had used up ninety percent of his Genesis Qi. He stared at the scattered mess of the arena with a cruel look in his eyes. Zhou Yuan, you probably did not expect me to be even more ruthless than you, right? Cheng Ying had not left himself any way to continue to fight after his bombardment. If Zhou Yuan did not fall, there was no way Cheng Yuan was going to counter attack. A mountain breeze blew past, blowing away the dust in the air. The view gradually became clearer, revealing a scattered mess. Every gaze was immediately cast over, before their pupils abruptly shrank. On the messy arena, Zhou Yuan was still standing on the same spot, golden Genesis Qi rising from his body, seemingly taking the shape of a giant golden python that protected him. He stood inside his giant golden python like Genesis Qi, his calm expression akin to a rippleless well. Countless cries of surprise echoed throughout the cliffs. Zhou Yuan was completely unscathed after taking Cheng Ying¡¯s mad bombardment! A disciple mumbled in shock, ¡°He blocked all of Cheng Ying¡¯s attacks with his Genesis Qi¡­¡± ¡°To think that his Genesis Qi has reached such a level!¡± They clearly understood that to have withstood all of the attacks with just Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi must have already far surpassed the fifth layer. While countless gasps of surprise rang out, Cheng Ying¡¯s expression changed drastically, because the Genesis Qi undulations from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body made him feel a terrifying sensation of danger. A dangerous sensation he would only feel in the face of an expert that had stepped into the sixth layer. ¡°His Genesis Qi is already not inferior to the sixth layer!¡± Cheng Ying¡¯s scalp immediately turned numb at this thought. Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation was only at the third layer Alpha-Origin, but why was his Genesis Qi at this level! While Cheng Ying was still in the midst of processing his fear, Zhou Yuan raised his head, his indifferent eyes locking onto Cheng Ying. Cheng Ying felt as if his scalp had exploded as he rapidly retreated. Boom! However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure instantly etherealized as it swept forth like smoke, appearing directly in front of Cheng Ying as if teleporting. ¡°I admit¡­¡± Cheng Yin¡¯s pupils shrank as he hurriedly tried to admit defeat. He knew that he no longer had any chance of victory, because Zhou Yuan had already exceeded his imagination. Thump! However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s deadly fist was quicker, a punch landing on Cheng Ying¡¯s chest. Genesis Qi exploded, disintegrating cloth as his figure was sent flying with a miserably shriek. In the end, Cheng Ying crashed into a cliff wall, the sight of his entire body embedded in the rock extremely pitiful. The cliffs in the vicinity fell silent once more. Gaze after gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan as if they were looking at some kind of monstrosity. They may have believed Feng Yu had been caught off guard in the previous bout, but this time, Cheng Ying had been the first to strike, and used all of his power. But in the end, he had been unable to even break Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi defences. This made everyone understand that Zhou Yuan had not depended on luck¡­ but truly possessed such frightening power. There was no longer anyone in the fifth layer who could go a single round with him. In Lu Song¡¯s stone pavilion,. Lu Yan was in a daze. By now, no matter how much she didn¡¯t want to, she had no choice but to admit that in a short month, Zhou Yuan had grown at an alarming rate to a level that shocked everyone. Lu Song slowly said, ¡°He had to go all out to defeat a fourth layer Lu Feng during the peak selection ceremony. It¡¯s only been a month since then, but he already appears to be nearly invincible under the sixth layer¡­¡± He glanced at Lu Yan and said, ¡°Back when Chu Qing entered the inner mountains, it had taken him half a year to become a purple sash disciple¡­ as for Zhou Yuan, he already has the qualification to take part in the purple sash selection after a single month.¡± ¡°This speed is truly unrivalled.¡± Lu Yan was about to raise an objection, but could only angrily stomp her feet in the end. Even she had no option but to admit that she had indeed underestimated this new disciple... Lu Song glanced in Shen Taiyuan¡¯s direction as he sighed and said, ¡°Old Shen¡¯s luck is not bad, I never imagined he would really encounter such a good sapling.¡± On the cliffs around the stone stage, the numerous disciples gradually returned to their senses. They were not as shocked as they had been earlier, likely because they were already a little mentally prepared for this outcome. Although the disciples that had come here to watch Zhou Yuan be humiliated were somewhat unresigned, they understood that Zhou Yuan¡¯s current battle accomplishments were already enough to make him famous in the sect. Crack. The tea cup in Lu Hong¡¯s hand was crushed by him, causing tea to drip down. His aged face was filled with iciness. He slowly wiped away the tea as he cast his gaze towards Wei Youxuan and indifferently said, ¡°Wei Youxuan, you¡¯re up.¡± The indifferent voice was filled with rage that terrified many disciples. Wei Youxuan took in a deep breath as he floated down onto the stage. His cold eyes stared at Zhou Yuan as his finger pointed to one of the cliff walls in the vicinity. ¡°I¡¯ve saved that spot for you.¡± Wei Youxuan¡¯s voice echoed in the mountain, causing all of the watching disciples to swallow. They knew that the true cave match was finally beginning... Previous Chapte Chapter 339 Magical Dragon Scales Zhou Yuan and Wei Youxuan stood facing each other on the stage, their gazes cold like the edge of a blade as a heart palpitating chill seemed to flow between them. On the cliffs around them, numerous eyes were tightly glued to the two combatants. The cave match today had been a series of unexpected twists and turns. Everyone had originally believed Shen Taiyuan¡¯s side would be single handedly massacred by Wei Youxuan, making them lose all face. However, no one had expected the participant whom almost all of them had overlooked, Zhou Yuan, to step forward at the final moment, basically return an eye for an eye as he easily crushed two of his opponents. In the end, both sides were now left with a single combatant... ¡°Zhou Yuan is truly not simple at all. If he really ends up defeating Wei Youxuan today, there will no longer be anyone in the Cangxuan Sect who has not heard of his name¡­¡± ¡°Easily defeating two fifth layers at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage. His foundations are unimaginable.¡± ¡°But Wei Youxuan is not going to be an easy opponent either. He¡¯s extremely strong, and is a genuine sixth layer. Such strength is already able to match up to many of the ordinary purple sash disciples. Zhou Yuan may have won over Feng Yu and Cheng Ying, but he will certainly not have an easy time against Wei Youxuan.¡± ¡°Indeed, the previous two cannot compare to Wei Youxuan.¡± ¡°Heh, looks like a battle of titans is unavoidable. The trip here has not been a waste after all.¡± ¡°......¡± Whispers spread amongst the numerous watching disciples. The two individuals in the arena were akin to a tiger and a lion, each incomparably ferocious. With regards to these two equally powerful participants, no one could say for certain who was stronger. Everything would only be known after they fought. On the cliffs, around their respective stone pavilions, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Hong¡¯s many disciples anxiously watched. Lu Hong¡¯s disciples had been quite relaxed some time earlier, clearly under the impression that the cave match was completely in their control. However, such thoughts had already been wiped clean from their minds by Zhou Yuan. Even though they were still confident in Wei Youxuan, they did not dare to thoughtlessly jeer any more, such as to avoid the scenario where the unexpected happened and they ended up shaming themselves instead. Lu Hong¡¯s expression was extremely dark and stormy. His plan on completely beating down Shen Taiyuan¡¯s side had completely fallen through. Behind him, Lu Xuanyin¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately. As she gazed at the ugly expression on Lu Hong¡¯s face, she could only say, ¡°No need to worry uncle Lu, he can¡¯t possibly be senior brother Wei Youxuan¡¯s match.¡± Lu Hong nodded. The only thing they could do now was hope that Wei Youxuan taught that arrogant fool a good lesson.¡± ... On the stone stage, an expressionless Wei Youxuan looked at Zhou Yuan and said in a nonchalant voice, ¡°I originally thought you were only here to make up the numbers. I never imagined that you would turn out to be the strongest amongst them.¡± ¡°But you should have spent enough time basking in the limelight already, right?¡± The moment the final word was said, Wei Youxuan¡¯s eyes abruptly turned serious. Boom! Powerful Genesis Qi exploded from his body, sending out wave after wave of pressure as cracks grew from the stone floor under his feet. The expressions of the watching disciples changed slightly, evidently feeling his suffocating Genesis Qi pressure. Sixth layer! Genesis Qi hissed around Wei Youxuan¡¯s body, his oppressive presence alone enough to put a tremendous amount of mental pressure on many fifth layer disciples. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly when he felt the Genesis Qi pressure. As expected of the sixth layer. Such Genesis Qi was a good deal stronger than Feng Yu and Cheng Ying. Wei Youxuan going to be a tough adversary indeed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze lowered slightly as the seven hundred Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling began to shake violently. A torrent of pure Genesis Qi flowed out, filling his entire body. Roar! A several hundred feet tall pillar of golden Genesis Qi shot out from the top of his head. Strand after strand of golden Genesis Qi began to fall, protecting Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The Genesis Qi pressure from Wei Youxuan was fully cut off at this moment. Rumble! Their gazes met in the air, that very moment akin to the strike of lightning or an eruption of magma, as their eyes hardened into cold unfeeling blades. Genesis Qi thundered, rippling the surrounding air. Wei Youxuan was the first to shoot forward, his figure akin to a bolt of lightning as his hands came together as if enclosing the sun or moon, vigorous Genesis Qi frantically converging towards his palms. A ball of volatile Genesis Qi was created. With a jerk of his hands, the Genesis Qi ball was sent flying towards Zhou Yuan, the violent undulations from it creating faint ripples in the surrounding space. ¡°I¡¯m interested to find out just how powerful the Genesis Qi foundations of a third layer like you can be!¡± Wei Youxuan icily shouted. His attack was based purely on his sixth layer Genesis Qi with the intent of putting a stop to Zhou Yuan¡¯s seemingly unstoppable momentum. Just earlier, Zhou Yuan had relied solely on the quantity and quality of his Genesis Qi to directly crush Feng Yu and Cheng Ying. It was obvious that Wei Youxuan seeked to defeat his opponent in that same manner. The reflection of the Genesis Qi ball rapidly enlarged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils. As he felt the menacingly approaching pressure, his eyes narrowed slightly as his foot slammed into the ground. Swish! A portion of the several hundred feet pillar of golden Genesis Qi above him split off and streaked across the air like a rainbow, appearing similar to a python or dragon. Boom! The stream of Genesis Qi smashed into the Genesis Qi ball. At the instant of impact, a berserk shockwave swept outwards, slicing open crack after crack in the surrounding cliffs... The two figures nearest to the epicenter did not budge a single inch, the devastatingly powerful shockwave unable to even shake them. They were like two majestic mountains within a storm. A look of surprise appeared in Wei Youxuan¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan had not fallen in the slightest disadvantage in the previous Genesis Qi clash. In other words, his Genesis Qi foundation was not weaker than a sixth layer like Wei Youxuan. ¡°This cave match is finally becoming a little interesting¡­¡± Muttered Wei Youxuan to himself in a soft voice. ¡°Silent Shadow Step!¡± Genesis Qi swirled under Wei Youxuan¡¯s feet, his figure suddenly shooting forward a split second later. He swept past like a shadow, at a speed that was almost undetectable by the eye. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body also etherealized at this moment, seemingly transforming into a wisp of smoke as he drifted backwards. Ch! However, Wei Youxuan¡¯s figure became extremely phantom like at this moment, strangely twisting like a shadow as he appeared directly in front of Zhou Yuan in the midst of countless gasps of surprise. There was only half a foot between the two. An arc rose from the corners of Wei Youxuan¡¯s mouth. Glowing runes appeared from his center of his palm, spreading to cover his entire hand. A strange glow emerged along with an indescribable aura of sharpness. ¡°Genesis Breaker Hand, shattering fingers!¡± Two fingers jutted out as Genesis Qi frantically condensed towards them. Even small cracks seemed to be torn open in space itself at his fingertips. The attack was deadly to the extreme, killing intent surging within it. It was this very same move that had easily pierced Tong Long¡¯s hand earlier. The flickering fingers rapidly enlarged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils as his eyes flashed faintly. In the next instant, his five fingers had already tightly clenched into a fist, Genesis Qi covering it layer by layer as if forming a glowing armor. Boom! Zhou Yuan punched, blasting away all the air in front of him. Punch and fingers clashed viciously. At the sight of this scene, several individuals on the surrounding cliffs could not help but cover their eyes as they repeatedly shook their heads. Had Zhou Yuan forgotten Wei Youxuan¡¯s Genesis Breaker Hand¡¯s ability to rip through Genesis Qi? Tong Long had lost this move earlier, and this time, its power was also clearly even greater than before. In contrast, Zhou Yuan seemed somewhat stupid to meet it with his bare fist. ¡°Reckless fool!¡± Lu Xuanyin could not help but tightly grit her teeth as she sneered. Boom! Under the attention of countless gazes, fist and fingers finally collided. A look of ridicule slowly rose from the corners of Wei Youxuan¡¯s lips. However, the curling lips abruptly froze a split second later. Ch! His Genesis Qi coated fingers had indeed easily torn open the layers of Genesis Qi on Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist, but just as it was about to pierce flesh, a faint azure light had appeared on the skin of Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist. The moment Wei Youxuan¡¯s fingers touched the faint azure light, a dreadful power that could destroy mountains descended. Crack! The sound of something breaking was heard as intense pain spread from his fingertips, causing his expression to change. As ripples violently pulsed from their clash, gaze after gaze filled with disbelief watched as Wei Youxuan¡¯s figure jerked backwards, his feet sliding across the ground, and leaving deep marks on it. With a stomp, the ground cracked as Wei Youxuan forcibly stabilized his body. He lowered his head with an ugly expression, only to find his two fingers were now a bloody mess, even the bones a little fractured. It was nearly impossible to believe that he was the one who had lost out in the previous exchange! He violently raised his head, his eyes staring at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan extended his fist and smiled. Azure light flowed on the surface of his fist, seemingly forming a layer of faint azure scales. Light seemed to swirl on the scales, an exceptionally magical sight. These were the Magical Dragon Scales that had evolved from the Magical Python Scales during the Genesis Marrow Baptism! ¡°I apologize, it seems that my fist is harder than you expected. I¡¯m afraid that your Genesis Breaker Hand cannot break through.¡± Said Zhou Yuan with a faint smile. *Uproar*! Meanwhile, the numerous disciples on the surrounding cliffs opened their eyes wide as earth-shaking cries filled the area. Who could have expected that it would be Zhou Yuan who would first take the upper hand in their ferocious clash! Wei Youxuan¡¯s Genesis Breaker Hand had been broken by Zhou Yuan! In a certain stone pavilion, even Lu Xuanyin fell to her butt on a stone chair, her pretty face ashen. Previous Chapte Chapter 340 Great Black Devil Zhou Yuan stood on the stone stage, azure light swirling on his fist as faint azure scales appeared, an exceptionally bizarre sight. He cast a glance downwards, finding a few scratches on the scales, which had evidently been left by Wei Youxuan earlier. Although the latter¡¯s Genesis Breaker Hand was domineering, it specialized in dealing with Genesis Qi. Hence, he was not only unable to break the Magical Dragon Scales, but even ended up having his fingers broken by Zhou Yuan¡¯s heavy as a mountain punch. ¡°Magical Dragon Scales¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s finger lightly brushed the faint azure scales as a satisfied smile appeared from the corners of his lips. Compared to the Magical Python Scales, the evolved Magical Dragon Scales were just hugely better in both defensive prowess and strength amplification. If not, it would not have been possible for Zhou Yuan to break the bones of his opponent. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao said that if my Omni-Python Qi manages to evolve once again and become the grade 7 World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi, the Magical Dragon Scales will also ascend to the next level, transforming into the true Heavenly Serpent Scales.¡± ¡°The Heavenly Serpent Scales are strong enough to defend against the attacks of a Divine Dwelling expert, while also possessing many mystical abilities. They will basically allow one to transform into a human shaped Heavenly Serpent, an existence that is tyrannical to the extreme.¡± ¡°If there comes a day where I manage to reach the third level grade 9 Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi, it will be even more amazing. The scales will evolve into the Sacred Dragon Scales, and only god knows how powerful they will be.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but feel somewhat overwhelmed by such thoughts, but was quickly able to suppress his emotions. He knew that such things were still way too far off for him at this current time, and what he needed to do now was to take things one step at a time and strengthen his foundations. He raised his head, looking towards the storm that was gradually brewing on Wei Youxuan¡¯s face. The opponents before him were going to be the best stepping stones for this purpose. Wei Youxuan icily said, ¡°I never imagined that there will come a day when my Genesis Breaker Hand would be broken.¡± As he spoke, deep black as the night Genesis Qi violently churned around his body. Hissess were heard as it stirred the surrounding air, a sign that he was furious inside. Evidently, Wei Youxuan, whom had been smiling from the start, had finally been angered. Wei Youxuan suddenly slapped his bleeding hand onto the ground as night black Genesis Qi rapidly extended like a swamp. ¡°Black Swamp!¡± The entire stone stage was instantly engulfed by the swamp like night black Genesis Qi as countless snake like streams of Genesis Qi shot out and snaked towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure rapidly etherealized, like a wisp of smoke as he drifted across the surface of the black swamp, avoiding all of the attacks. Plop! Countless seemingly sticky black rays of light shot out from the swamp, seemingly forming a giant net that loomed at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. With a jerk of his sleeve, a giant wind lightning ball condensed in his hand, pulsing with berserk Genesis Qi undulations. ¡°Great Wind and Thunder!¡± The wind lightning ball was mercilessly slammed into the black swamp. Boom! Genesis Qi containing the primal power of wind and lightning swept outwards, forcibly shattering the black swamp that had covered the ground as the spreading black rapidly receded. The sticky giant net also burst apart, transforming into specks of light that filled the sky. Swish! As the light danced in the air, a sharp wind sound was heard as a flash of icy light with a sinister aura pierced through the air, heading straight for Zhou Yuan¡¯s throat. It was a black halberd. Zhou Yuan made a grabbing motion as the Heavenly Yuan Brush landed in his hand. With a slight tremble, it rapidly began to grow, its snow-white hairs spreading into a white net. Ch! The black halberd stabbed the white net, stretching it at a soul trembling angle, the sharp tip of the halberd merely an inch from Zhou Yuan¡¯s throat. However, it was ultimately unable to take that final step, and was bounced back by the net. As the black halberd was sent flying, Zhou Yuan¡¯s etherealised figure shot forth, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands transforming into innumerable flashes of icy light that surrounded Wei Youxuan who was dashing over from behind. Clang clang clang! Wei Youxuan brandished the black halberd, night black Genesis Qi rising like smoke around him. After images of the halberd seemed to fill the area, blocking every single thrust of the snow-white brush tip. The eyes of both individuals were ice-cold, neither showing any mercy. Every attack was aimed at a fatal spot, but was ultimately blocked by the other party. It was a passionate battle akin to that between a lion and tiger. On the cliffs in the vicinity, the hearts of numerous disciples shivered as they watched the ferocious clash between the two in the arena. From the aftershocks of each clash, any fifth layer disciple that was sent in would likely be torn to pieces in less than four rounds. A fight of this calibre was already not inferior to one between purple sash disciples. Clang! Sparks flew as brush tip and halberd tip collided, creating a shockwave of Genesis Qi that blew even the air apart. Zhou Yuan and Wei Youxuan¡¯s figures jerked, before shooting backwards. Zhou Yuan swung the Heavenly Yuan Brush, his eyes narrowing slightly as he felt the seemingly boiling Genesis Qi in his body. Both of them had clashed directly earlier, but there were still not even the tiniest indication of him being at the disadvantage. Evidently, his Genesis Qi foundations were already able to directly face a sixth layer disciple after Genesis Marrow Baptism. There were a little over seven hundred Genesis Qi stars in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Qi Dwelling, while an ordinary sixth layer disciple should have eight hundred. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Omni Python Qi was undoubtedly even more wondrous than normal Genesis Qi, being more abundant and lasting, making it not the least bit inferior to the usual sixth layer. ¡°It seems that there¡¯s nothing great about the sixth layer Alpha-Origin.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled softly as he looked towards Wei Youxuan. Wei Youxuan did not reply, merely casting an icy glance at Zhou Yuan. The former likewise understood that although the latter was only at the third layer, there was not much advantage a sixth layer like himself had in the aspect of Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan was an unexpectedly difficult opponent. However, to think that a disciple that had just joined the inner mountains would dare to brag in front of him, did the former really believe he had nothing else to show... ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, young people should not be so arrogant. Since elder Shen did not teach you how to respect your seniors, as a senior brother, I shall give you a proper lesson on the subject on his behalf!¡± An icy smile rose from the corners of Wei Youxuan¡¯s lips. Clang! The black halberd in his hand slammed into the ground, embedding itself into the floor. His sleeves suddenly disintegrated at this moment, revealing his arms. Black runes could be seen on them, wriggling like worms. These black runes gathered together into what appeared to be a strange rune. An eerie aura immediately spread, causing the surrounding temperature to drop as terrifying undulations began to surge and converge in Wei Youxuan¡¯s body. Thud! Wei Youxuan¡¯s hands slammed together as the black runes on his arms frantically began to spread. In a short few breaths, they burrowed into his flesh and blood. Wisp after wisp of black Qi began to rise from the surface of Wei Youxuan¡¯s body. Robust black Genesis Qi swirled behind him as it released a piercing whistle. The expression of the numerous watching disciple changed slightly, evidently sensing the sudden rapidly rising Genesis Qi undulations in Wei Youxuan¡¯s body... Such Genesis Qi undulations were definitely not from an ordinary little Heaven Genesis technique! It was obvious that Wei Youxuan was finally revealing his trump card. As black Qi rose, Weu Youxuan¡¯s eyes turned pitch-black as he sinisterly looked towards Zhou Yuan and grinned, revealing a set of eerily white teeth. ¡°Although I¡¯ve yet to fully master it, it should be enough to deal with the likes of you.¡± ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, I hope that you will not be too arrogant in the future. You should know that there are many in the inner mountains that have the ability to deal with you.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have the qualifications to be cocky here!¡± The instant the final word was said, his hands clasped each other as an eerily cold voice echoed in the mountain. ¡°Low grade Heaven Genesis technique, Great Black Devil!¡± Rumble! Alarming Genesis Qi erupted from Wei Youxuan¡¯s body like a volcano at this moment. The many disciples on the surrounding cliffs turned pale with horror. In a certain stone pavilion, the eyes on Lu Xuanyin¡¯s originally ugly looking face brightened up in excitement at this moment as her hands tightly clasped together. That brash Zhou Yuan had finally forced out Wei Youxuan¡¯s trump card! Do you really believe that there¡¯s no one who can control you today?! Previous Chapte Chapter 341 Ninth Dragon Ch ch! Strand after strand of black Genesis Qi continuously rose from Wei Youxuan¡¯s flesh as alarmingly violent Genesis Qi undulations swept out like a storm, causing cracks to grow from under his feet due to the Genesis Qi pressure. The expressions of the numerous disciples on the surrounding cliffs changed slightly. In one of the stone pavilions, a cold smile was revealed on Lu Hong¡¯s face. Wei Youxuan¡¯s Great Black Devil was not complete, and had not been fully mastered by him. Even so, he was still able to bring out thirty percent of its power. Even a mere thirty percent of a low grade Heaven Genesis technique was not something ordinary little Heaven Genesis techniques could compare to. When Wei Youxuan used this technique, it meant that the battle would soon come to a close. Lu Hong¡¯s cold eyes swept a glance at the nearby Shen Taiyuan. The latter¡¯s aged face was stretched taut at this moment, because he knew that though Zhou Yuan also had a low grade Heaven Genesis technique, Heavenly Sun God Record, he had yet to master it... It was different from the Great Black Devil technique, because it could not be used unless mastered. A trace of mockery rose from the corners of Lu Hong¡¯s lips. Had Shen Taiyuan really been counting on Zhou Yuan to bring about a reversal? This was really looking down on his own disciples. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know the meaning of true despair!¡± A cruel look surfaced in Lu Hong¡¯s eyes. Never mind, although it was not possible to make Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction lose all face, it would probably make Shen Taiyuan quite sullen when the hope he just discovered was immediately extinguished. In Lu Song¡¯s stone pavilion, his brows were slightly furrowed as he observed the black Qi swirling around Wei Youxuan. This event was evidently also somewhat out of his expectations. By the side, Lu Yan exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Wei Youxuan is really surprising. To think that he managed to learn the Great Black Devil technique. Even amongst the Lu Hong¡¯s purple sash disciples, there are not many who have been able to do so.¡± Lu Song shook his head. ¡°He has not fully mastered it. If not, it would not be invading his flesh.¡± Lu Yan shrugged and said, ¡°But even so, it should be enough to deal with Zhou Yuan.¡± Lu Song sighed, before he said in a rather regretful manner, ¡°What a pity¡­¡± Lu Yan¡¯s lips curled slightly downwards. ¡°What¡¯s there to feel pitiful about. He¡¯s already very capable to have pushed Wei Youxuan so far. Did you really expect him to defeat even Wei Youxuan?¡± She let out a soft laugh, clearly feeling that Lu Song was overestimating Zhou Yuan. Lu Song sighed as he nodded. ¡°Indeed, it is already quite a feat to have pushed Wei Youxuan so far with only the third layer cultivation¡­¡± ... Screech! As the black Qi rising from his flesh grew thicker and thicker, Wei Youxuan¡¯s body suddenly began to grow, breaking even his clothes. In a short few breaths, the originally handsome looking Wei Youxuan had transformed into a mini black giant. His body was covered in black runes as black Qi swirled around him, a sight that was incomparably bizarre. The Great Black Devil technique could temporarily make one¡¯s body become extremely powerful. At close quarters, the destructive power that could be released in an instant was basically a nightmare. Wei Youxuan¡¯s eyes had become pitch-black. He slowly lifted his head, his gaze locking onto Zhou Yuan like a hawk as the corners of his lips raised to form a hideous, twisted smile. ¡°I was hoping to save this for the purple sash disciple selection test. The fact that you¡¯ve forced me to use it is already proof your ability.¡± Boom! The instant the final word left his mouth, Wei Youxuan¡¯s foot slammed into the ground, shattering it as his enormous figure transformed into a flash of black that shot forth. His speed was quick as thunder. ¡°Such speed!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. Wei Youxuan was now alarmingly quick. Boom! The black shadow appeared in front of him like a phantom. However, Zhou Yuan roared, Genesis Qi surging along the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he swung it from over his head like an axe. ¡°Million Whale Rune!¡± Resplendent rays of light exploded from the brush as a faint silhouette of a giant whale appeared. The power in the brush was tremendous enough to shatter a mountain, as it powerfully hacked at Wei Youxuan with dreadful force. Wei Youxuan raised both arms in a cross above him, directly meeting the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Boom! Ripples that could be seen with the naked eye pulsed, directly fracturing the surrounding cliffs, while cracks swiftly grew on the stone stage below their feet. However, not even a single wound had appeared on Wei Youxuan¡¯s thick black arms, the resultant force from their clash blowing away Zhou Yuan instead. Swish! Wei Youxuan¡¯s figure closed in like phantom the moment Zhou Yuan was sent flying, five fingers forming a fist that blasted towards the latter¡¯s without the slightest shred of hesitation. A terrifying force assaulted Zhou Yuan, making him feel a piercing pain on his skin. In the face of the overbearing Wei Youxuan, a ruthless look flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he clenched his fist. The Magical Dragon Scales appeared, azure light swirling on them as the power in his body spiked. Thud! A giant fist and a small fist slammed into each other. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body immediately jerked back, the azure scales on his fist shattering as he took several steps back in succession. In contrast, Wei Youxuan was only pushed a dozen steps back, before managing to stabilize his body. ¡°Zhou Yuan, is this all you¡¯re capable of?¡± Wei Youxuan¡¯s sinister eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan with a hideous smile. ¡°If so, then it''s time to use the spot I saved you on the cliff!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes hardened slightly. His hands instantly came together, his body shuddering as torrent after torrent of vigorous Genesis Qi dashed out from the top of his head. Roar! ¡°Nine Dragons Canon, eighth dragon!¡± Eight Genesis Beasts created from Genesis Qi flew out, savage auras pulsing from their bodies. In the blink of an eye, all of them charged towards Wei Youxaun with a hiss. ¡°Haha, you dare to take out a mere little Heaven Genesis technique? You¡¯re only making a fool of yourself!¡± Wei Youxuan¡¯s loud laughter boomed like thunder. His bulky body shot forward in a straight line as he threw out a barrage of fists that smashed into the eight ferocious Genesis Qi Genesis Beasts. Boom boom boom! Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves devastated the area. Every beast Wei Youxuan smashed apart made him take a few steps back. By the time he finally destroyed the eighth beast, his feet had nicely arrived at the edge of the stone stage. Fresh blood dripped from his black fists. Numerous disciples were dumbstruck by this scene. No one had expected Wei Youxuan to be so fierce, using his bare fists to violently punch apart eight ferocious Genesis Qi beasts. One must know that each one of those eight beasts were able to crush a fifth layer disciple. And yet, all eight had been unable to deal with the current Wei Youxuan. ¡°Not bad, I¡¯ll admit that I underestimated your Nine Dragons Canon¡­¡± Wei youxuan looked towards his bloody fists, before his cold gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan. The former had originally believed he would be able to easily shatter the attack, and had not expected to end up ultimately paying a price to stop it. Although the Nine Dragons Canon was a high little Heaven Genesis technique, its power was extremely astonishing in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands, far surpassing that of your usual run-of-the-mill high grade little Heaven Genesis techniques. ¡°So eight dragons is not enough¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. After using the eight dragons to probe, he now knew that the other party was not an overly powerful existence he could do nothing against... As such, he somewhat helplessly sighed as he said, ¡°I originally wanted to save this too¡­¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Mockery raised from the corners of Wei Youxuan¡¯s lips. Zhou Yuan did not answer, merely lightly shutting his eyes. In the next instant, hisses suddenly rang out as eight roaring Genesis Qi Genesis Beasts emerged. ¡°Again?¡± The mockery on Wei Youxuan¡¯s lips grew even greater. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nine Dragons Canon was not weak, it was clearly unable to contend against him in this state. Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions were only a waste of Genesis Qi. ¡°Looks like that¡¯s all you have. Since that is the case¡­ it¡¯s time for me to hang you up on that cliff!¡± He stepped forward, finally intending to finish this match. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands suddenly formed a seal as his calm voice echoed, ¡°Nine Dragons Canon¡­ ninth dragon!¡± One could only watch as the eight beasts above his head suddenly released sky-shattering hisses, one of them abruptly opening its giant mouth, and swallowing another Genesis Qi beast. After devouring one, it continued to eat the other six. When the final beast was eaten, everyone could only stare at the now thousand feet long Genesis Qi beast that coiled in the air above Zhou Yuan like a ferocious without equal giant dragon. A heart palpitating sensation of violence and savagery pulsed. On the surrounding cliffs, countless disciples were stupefied as they watched this scene. Even the pupils of the three elders, Lu Hong, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song could not help but shrink. Zhou Yuan¡­ had reached the advanced level of the Nine Dragons Canon! The ninth dragon of the Nine Dragons Canon! Previous Chapte Chapter 342 Ninth Dragon Exterminates Black Devil Roar! The thousand feet long Genesis Qi beast coiled in the sky above Zhou Yuan like a giant dragon, giving off a terrifying Genesis Qi pressure. As disciples on the surrounding cliffs gazed upon the behemoth of a beast, their expressions involuntarily changed. Even some of the fifth layer disciples shivered uncontrollably under the pressure. They knew that if they were in Wei Youxuan¡¯s place, they would not even have the courage to face that terrifying Genesis Qi. The ninth dragon of the Nine Dragons Canon. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to have reached the advanced level of that little Heaven Genesis technique. Just how much time and effort had this required? It had been less than half a year since Zhou Yuan had arrived at the Cangxuan Sect, right? There was no lack of disciple who practiced the Nine Dragons Canon in the sect, but though many of them had practiced the technique for many years, only a tiny handful were able to reach the advanced level. Amongst the crowd, no one was more shocked than Lu Xuanyin, because she knew full well that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nine Dragons Canon was only at the fourth dragon level during the peak selection ceremony a month before. In a short month, he was now already able to display the ninth dragon. In the face of that titanic ninth dragon, even she was genuinely frightened. Under the many surprised gazes, Wei Youxuan, who was originally about to charge forward, stopped in his steps, his expression changing slightly as he gazed at the enormous Genesis Qi beast. He finally felt a feeling of danger this time. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nine Dragons Canon was only a high grade little Heaven Genesis technique, the Great Black Devil technique he was currently using not considered a complete Heaven Genesis technique either. The complete technique would only be given to him by Lu Hong if he managed to win. However, the arrow was already nocked, and there was no longer any way for him to retreat. He could only summon all of his courage and destroy Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack to utterly defeat the latter. A ferocious look rose in Wei Youxuan¡¯s pupils. Black Genesis Qi swirled around his sinister looking body, an explosive power flowing out as his muscles shook, shaking the air around him. ¡°So what if its the ninth dragon, when all is said and done, it¡¯s only a little Heaven Genesis technique. Even though my Great Black Devil technique is not complete, it¡¯s still enough to deal with the likes of you!¡± Wei Youxuan¡¯s hands clenched tightly, the black Qi emitting from his flesh growing increasingly vigorous as violent Genesis Qi undulations erupted from his body. Boom! In the next instant, his foot slammed into the ground. The stone stage under his feet began to crumble, a sign that it was about to cave in. Swish! His figure shot forth like a flash of black light, the mini giant like body creating a sonic boom as it accelerated. One could imagine just how fast he was. The current Wei Youxuan was like a god of destruction, the ground instantly crumbling wherever he passed, vividly displaying his astonishing destructive capabilities. In the face of Wei Youxuan¡¯s charge, let alone the fifth layer, even sixth layer disciples would be forced to avoid, not daring to meet it head-on. However, there were no signs of retreat in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, but a similar burning desire to fight. He took in a deep breath as his eyes abruptly turned serious. ¡°Go ninth dragon!¡± The thousand feet Genesis Qi beast hissed in accompaniment to his shout. In the next instant, it began its dive downwards like a giant dragon under countless shocked gazes. It was an ominous sight to behold. In the end, the thousand feet Genesis Qi beast and Wei Youxuan slammed into each other. Every gaze was tightly glued to the collision. They knew that this would be the moment when victory was decided. They were also itching to find out which was stronger, the advanced level Nine Dragons Canon or the incomplete Great Black Devil technique?! Rumble! The entire mountain seemed to fall silent at the instant of impact. Almost immediately after, a giant Genesis Qi shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled... Rumble! The surrounding cliffs were directly torn apart, the giant stone stages crumbling layer by layer. All of the cliffs were affected by the destruction. Some of the nearer disciples were sent flying, a tight feeling rising in their chest along with panic in their eyes. The aftershocks of the clash were truly a little too astonishing. In the end, the purple sash disciples from the three factions had to step forward, Genesis Qi whizzing out to stop the spreading shockwave. Only then did they prevent the stone pavilions from being affected. The aftershocks faded as gaze after gaze looked towards the crumbled stone stages. ¡°That blasted Zhou Yuan, I refuse to believe that you won¡¯t fall this time!¡± Lu Xuanyin could not stop herself from standing up, her fists tightly clenched as she cast her gaze over. At this time, she could only pray that Wei Youxuan had defeated Zhou Yuan. If not, the cave match today would become Zhou Yuan¡¯s stepping stone, making his reputation rise in the Cangxuan Sect, an outcome that would clearly make her unbearably angry. In one of the other stone pavilions, Lu Yan tense gaze was also directed at the stone stages, clearly also itching to know the final outcome. There was basically no conflict between herself and Zhou Yuan, and the only thing she loathed was others comparing him to senior brother Chu Qing. In her eyes, no one would ever be able to compare to senior brother Chu Qing, including Zhou Yuan. Previously, the only thing Zhou Yuan had to show was being the champion of the peak selection ceremony, while the Genesis Marrow Baptism could mostly be attributed to luck. However, the current cave match would be an excellent test of his worth. The moment the curtain fell on the battle, everyone would naturally know just how capable Zhou Yuan was. The aftershocks faded as the scenery within finally began to appear. The first thing to land in their eyes was Zhou Yuan standing on a corner that remained of the stone stage. The Genesis Qi around him was clearly much weaker than before, obviously due to the ninth dragon he used earlier. Facing him some distance away was the well-built black tower like body of Wei Youxuan. He was still in a punching posture, while the thousand feet Genesis Qi beast was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s ninth dragon has been destroyed?!¡± The sight of this immediate caused cries of astonishment to erupt in the surrounding cliffs. Lu Hong¡¯s disciples were unable to stop themselves from bursting into cheers. In spite of the cheering, there was no change in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he stared at Wei Youxuans¡¯ figure and slowly said, ¡°It seems that senior brother Wei still has a ways to go if you wish to teach me.¡± Urgh! The instant these words were said, Wei Youxuan¡¯s body suddenly shuddered as he violently spat out a mouthful of black blood. His giant body rapidly began to shrink, returning to his normal state, before slowly falling back first to the ground. There was an unresigned look in his eyes. If Lu Hong had given him the complete Great Black Devil technique, the one who lost today would not have been him! Thud! The cheers that filled the air came to an abrupt stop, as if someone had pinched all their throats. The joyous expressions on Lu Hong¡¯s disciples instantly froze, an extremely comical sight. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s tightly clenched fists slowly loosened at this moment, her face turning deathly pale as the spark of life seemed to leave her eyes. She had originally come here to vent her frustrations. Who could have imagined that instead of venting them, she would instead personally witness Zhou Yuan soar into the heavens. The unbearable feeling in her heart almost made her vomit a mouthful of blood. Lu Yan breathed out forcefully as her bosom faintly heaved. Although the expression on her face could be considered calm, a storm of emotions were raging in her heart. This outcome had obviously exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations. No one had imagined that Zhou Yuan, whom they had thought the least of at the beginning, would accomplish such an amazing feat, single handedly bringing about a complete reversal of a situation on the verge of collapse. In the face of such a scene, even Lu Yan, who felt Zhou Yuan was an eyesore due to Chu Qing, could not help but sigh in amazement inside. In contrast to the deathly silent atmosphere on Lu Hong¡¯s side, after a few breaths of silence, it finally clicked to Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples that the unbelievable scene in front of their eyes was indeed reality. In the next instant, deafening cheers exploded from them. In the stone pavilion, an inconcealable look of joy emerged on Shen Taiyuan¡¯s usually stern, aged face. Zhou Yuan merely chuckled softly as he listened to the seemingly endless cheers. After today¡¯s battle, there should no longer be anyone who would object to him owning that purple Genesis cave dwelling... Rumble! However, just as he was breathing a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, boundless Genesis Qi suddenly exploded in the sky. Lu Hong¡¯s stone pavilion instantly shattered around him. Lu Hong¡¯s expression was like a raging storm, seething anger in the depths of his eyes as they locked onto Zhou Yuan. A terrifying pressure swept towards him, crushing him like a towering mountain, causing his Genesis Qi to turn extremely sluggish and nearly forcing him to his knees. Seeing Zhou Yuan reverse the situation had clearly made Lu Hong lose control of his emotions. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expressions changed as he gritted his teeth, stubbornly resisting the frightening pressure. While Zhou Yuan tenaciously resisted, in another stone pavilion, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression turned extremely ugly as he abruptly stood up. Dreadful Genesis Qi immediately exploded, turning into an enormous Genesis Qi hand that seemed to cover the entire sky as it ruthlessly swatted down at Lu Hong¡¯s location. ¡°You old bastard Lu Hong, do you really believe that I¡¯m soft mud that you can squeeze as you please?!¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s furious roar thundered across the area. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 343 The Four Greater Stages Rumble! A giant Genesis Qi hand seemed to blot out the sun as it descended, its shadow engulfing the entire mountain. The Genesis Qi in the area instantly began to boil and bubble as if the entire place was about to be torn apart. Countless disciples turned white with terror, trembling uncontrollably as fear flooded their eyes. The earlier duel between Zhou Yuan and Wei Youxuan was basically akin to a squabble between children in comparison! ¡°Shen Taiyuan!¡± As the giant hand fell, Lu Hong was also startled. With a roar, Genesis Qi akin to the endless ocean dashed up into the sky, transforming into a titanic Genesis Qi dome that blocked the giant hand. Rumble! A loud noise akin to thunder continuously rumbled across the area. Although they had come to blows, Lu Hong and Shen Taiyuan had still restrained themselves, not daring to let the aftershocks spread such as to prevent injuring any of the disciples. Thus, though the noise was loud, the aftershocks had been suppressed to an extremely tiny area. Bang! The remains of Lu Hong¡¯s stone pavilion instantly turned to dust. The disciples in the vicinity of the pavilion were so terrified that their legs turned to jelly. Even the outstanding Yuan Hong¡¯s face was twitching violently, fear flashing in his eyes. If the aftershocks from earlier had managed to spread just a tiny bit more, all of the disciples here would have the same fate as the stone pavilion. ¡°Are you crazy Shen Taiyuan?!¡± Lu Hong¡¯s face was livid as he roared at Shen Taiyuan. He never imagined that the latter would actually dare to attack him in front of so many people. If the disciples were killed or gravely injured, both of them would surely be heavily punished by the sect. At the thought of such a possibility, cold sweat appeared on Lu Hong¡¯s forehead, as white hot rage flowed within him. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s aged face was covered in frost. He stared right back at Lu Hong and said in a chilling voice, ¡°Lu Hong, are you intending to throw away even your last shred of dignity? What is a loss in the battle between the younger generation, to think that you had the gall to oppress my disciple right before my eyes!¡± Lu Hong¡¯s face twitched. ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense, my emotions were merely a little unstable earlier, causing me to lose some control over my Genesis Qi.¡± There was no way he could admit that in his anger, he had attempted to use Genesis Qi pressure to force Zhou Yuan to his knees earlier. Shen Taiyuan chuckled icily as he mocked, ¡°Sore loser, if you want to play, I can accompany you till the end!¡± Being ridiculed in front of so many disciples made Lu Hong¡¯s expression turn somewhat ugly as his expression darkened. ¡°Humph, do you really think that I¡¯m afraid of you? I¡¯m also interested to find out what you can possibly amount to after hiding away in Saint Genesis Peak for so many years!¡± ¡°Try me!¡± Shen Taiyuan took a step forward as torrential Genesis Qi poured out, practically engulfing half of the horizon. Under his Genesis Qi pressure, it felt as if the entire world around them was trembling. ¡°Then I will!¡± Lu Hong laughed in anger as he also took a step forward. Two seas of Genesis Qi immediately filled the area, relentlessly crashing into each other, causing the giant mountains in the area to tremble violently as if on the verge of collapse. The numerous disciples in the vicinity turned white with fear. The aftershocks alone from a fight of this level was not something they would survive. ¡°Stop!¡± Elder Lu Song expression changed as he hurriedly stepped forward and shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t be rash both of you. If the disciples are hurt, sect master and the other peak masters will not let either of you off.¡± His figure moved and appeared between the two elders. With a wave of his sleeve, boundless Genesis Qi swept out, breaking up their clashing Genesis Qi. Shen Taiyuan and Lu Hong viciously glared at each other, but ultimately did not lose all rationality and withdrew their Genesis Qi. Only then did the terrifying Genesis Qi pressure gradually fade away. Both of them understood that if they really ended up fighting, sect master Qing Yang would surely get involved. Neither of them would benefit when that happened. As the dreadful pressure faded from the mountain, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tense body was finally able to relax. He breathed a deep sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders, his brow covered in cold sweat. The Genesis Qi pressure from earlier had made him understand the meaning of terror. A single thought from either elder was likely all it would take to wipe him off the face of this world. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes blazed with passion as he mumbled to himself, ¡°It¡¯s said that the first condition to become an elder of the Cangxuan Sect is to reach the Heavenly Sun stage¡­¡± After the Alpha-Origin stage, one would have to establish the Divine Dwelling, hence why it was called the Divine Dwelling stage. As the Divine Dwelling developed, a fetus akin to a great sun would emerge in the Divine Dwelling. Thus, the stage after the Divine Dwelling stage was known as the Heavenly Sun stage. As the Heavenly Sun grew, source energy would be born from it. Therefore, the next stage was called the Nascent Source stage. After the Nascent Source, the Law Domain would begin to form. Divine Dwelling, Heavenly Sun, Nascent Source and Law Domain. These were the four greater stages after the Alpha-Origin stage. It was clear that the three elders Lu Hong, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song were experts of the Heavenly Sun stage. Even in the entire Cangxuan Heaven, they were existences could intimidate an entire region. This was also the cultivation level Zhou Yuan was striving for. ¡°The Cangxuan Sect is indeed a hegemon level sect in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed inside. His greatest enemy at the moment was king Wu of the Great Wu empire, who was only a Divine Dwelling stage expert, someone who would not even be qualified to become an elder in the Cangxuan sect. Of course, king Wu may be insignificant to the Cangxuan Sect, but he was still a behemoth in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. For the sake of obtaining strength that could match king Wu, Zhou Yuan needed to continue working hard in the Cangxuan Sect. These churning thoughts in his mind were ultimately suppressed by Zhou Yuan. He raised his head under the attention of numerous watching disciples and looked towards Lu Hong without any fear in his eyes. ¡°Elder Lu Hong, is it time to announce the result of today¡¯s cave match?¡± His voice was calm, showing that he was not afraid even after witnessing Lu Hong¡¯s dreadful presence earlier. This was the Cangxuan Sect, and even an elder like Lu Hong had to abide by the rules. If not, sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters would not easily let him off. Lu Hong¡¯s was ugly with anger as he viciously glared at Zhou Yuan. Shen Taiyuan smiled icily. ¡°Elder Lu Hong, aren¡¯t you going to announce the results?¡± In the past, Lu Hong had mercilessly provoked him after winning. Since such a rare opportunity to return the favor had come, Shen Taiyuan was naturally going to vent some of his past frustration. Under Zhou Yuan and Shen Taiyuan¡¯s joint ¡®assault¡¯, Lu Hong¡¯s expression turned even more ugly, a stormy look filling his face. Lu Song helplessly sighed, and decided to step in as a mediator before the situation degraded any further. ¡°The outcome of the cave match is already clear. Elder Shen¡¯s faction has won, does anyone have any objections?¡± All the disciples all over the mountain shook their heads. The cave match today had been filled with twists and turns, the final outcome also exceeding everyone¡¯s expectations. At the start, no one would have imagined that the one who remained standing in the end would be Zhou Yuan, whom appeared to be at the third layer. Countless gazes were cast towards the youthful figure on the broken stage, complicated expressions in their eyes. They knew that Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation would rise in the Cangxuan Sect after today. They had originally come here to see Zhou Yuan make a fool of himself. Who could have expected that they would instead be treated to the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s astonishing and breathtaking rise. If Zhou Yuan was said to have relied on luck during the Genesis Marrow Baptism, his achievement this time would be based on genuine battle ability. Green and white interlaced on Lu Hong¡¯s face. In the end, he stormed off, clearly still seething with rage. His disciples silently followed. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s fists were tightly clenched, an unsigned in look in her eyes as she looked towards Zhou Yuan and forcefully grinded her teeth. While this happened, Xu Yan walked to her side with a faint smell, taking small whiff of her fragrance as he said in a gente voice, ¡°No need to be angry junior sister Xuanyin. The truth is that Zhou Yuan is indeed quite capable. Why not I get someone to call him over and apologize to you so we can wipe clean the slate between you two.¡± Before Xuanyin could reply, he nodded towards a disciple at the side. Zhou Yuan just so happened to fly up onto the cliff as that particular disciple approached and gave him Xu Yan¡¯s message. Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked in Xu Yan¡¯s direction, seeing the latter display a faint smile. Zhou Yuan smiled in response, before turning around and walking towards Shen Taiyuan, not going to apologize to Lu Xuanyin as Xu Yan had asked. From what Zhou Yuan could see, there was no need for him to do so. Xu Yan was a little taken aback as he watched Zhou Yuan turn around. Soon after, the former chuckled softly. ¡°So he¡¯s trying to show off¡­¡± Mumbled Xu Yan, before looking towards Lu Xuanyin. As he turned around, a voice was left behind. ¡°Let¡¯s go junior sister Xuanyin, if there is a chance in the future, your senior brother will make sure he gives you a proper explanation.¡± ¡°Hehe, it seems that this junior brother Zhou Yuan of ours¡­ has never suffered before¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 344 Creating a Stir The outcome of the cave match spread to the entire Cangxuan Sect the next day. Typically speaking, a cave match of this level would only drum up interest within its respective peak, drawing basically zero interest from the other peaks. After all, the end result would not affect other peaks. Moreover, it was merely a cave match between gold sash disciples of the most rundown Saint Genesis Peak... However, things were clearly different this time. The evaluation elder Miao of Snow Lotus Peak gave Zhou Yuan had incited the wrath of numerous fanatical Chu Qing supporters. As a result, many of them had hurried down on the day of the cave match to see for themselves just how capable Zhou Yuan was. Many of them came with the intention of watching him fail. However, they left with an additional trace of astonishment in their hearts. All because the outcome of this seemingly insignificant cave match turned out to be unexpectedly shocking... Zhou Yuan, the same Zhou Yuan who had only been the inner mountain for a month, was able to turn the tables with his third layer Alpha-Origin cultivation, and single-handedly defeat all three of elder Lu Hong¡¯s disciples. Such an achievement was definitely noteworthy. Even the disciples who came with nitpick could not find a single flaw in Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance... Therefore, every detail of the cave match began to spread throughout the various peaks the next day, shocking and awing numerous disciples. "Zhou Yuan seems to be fairly capable. Though he is only at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage, even the sixth layer Wei Youxuan is not his match¡­" "His Genesis Qi foundation is rather extraordinary." "No wonder elder Miao holds him in such high regard. It appears that he might actually have what it takes to become the second Chu Qing." "Tsk, don¡¯t be ridiculous, it was only a cave match between gold sash disciples¡­ Which of the current ten great Chosens is ordinary? Back then, all of them were also able to defeat higher cultivation opponents. This battle achievement of Zhou Yuan¡¯s is only barely passable." "Indeed. Just think about how many fortunate fateful encounters senior brother Chu Qing has had over the years. I once heard an elder remark that given senior brother Chu Qing''s talent, he will definitely become an elder within the next ten years." "Wow, seriously? The first condition to become an elder is to step into the Heavenly Sun stage..¡± "Senior brother Chu Qing is indeed Cangxuan Sect¡¯s most outstanding disciple in a hundred years¡­ Compared to him, Zhou Yuan is still severely lacking." ¡°¡­¡­¡± Similar conversations continuously played out across the seven peaks. Though most of the disciples were still skeptical of the evaluation elder Miao had given Zhou Yuan, it was no longer as one-sided as before. Evidently, after Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance during the cave match, some of the disciples had begun to acknowledge his talent and potential. At the very least, Zhou Yuan was already far ahead of his peers. When all was said and done, every disciple in Cangxuan Sect now knew Zhou Yuan of Saint Genesis Peak. In order words, he had become famous in the sect. ¡­ Sword Cometh Peak. In a stone pavilion, two young men were seated opposite each other, a chessboard atop the stone table between them. One of the two was Kong Sheng. The young man facing him had a long, slim body, and a powerful glint in his long and narrow eyes. When he stretched out his hand, the receding sleeves revealed numerous sword scars dotting his arm, a rather scary sight to behold. He was called Zhao Zhu, and he was the second Chosen from Sword Cometh Peak, ranked ten among the ten great Chosens. The two of them stood at the top of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Some distance down from the stone pavilion was a stone stage where numerous Sword Cometh Peak disciples were training. The gazes that were cast towards the two figures in the pavilion were filled with respect. "I never imagined that such an interesting fellow would pop up in the short time I was in secluded cultivation¡­" Zhao Zhu said with a smile. Even though he was smiling, his smile was akin to a sharp blade, making one feel uneasy. "Isn¡¯t Zhou Yuan the third disciple to receive an eight dragon baptism at the Genesis reservoir?" Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes remained glued to the chess board, not a single change in his expression at the mention of this name. Instead he offhandedly nodded and said, "Quite a clever one. If it wasn''t for him, Li Qingchan''s eight dragon baptism would have been mine." Zhao Zhu chuckled and said, "He actually dares to ruin senior brother¡¯s plans? That fellow is simply too daring." "Well, he is a young calf¡­ currently, he has even been called the second Chu Qing." Replied Kong Sheng. Zhao Zhu was slightly taken aback. He soon burst out in laughter, before he shook his head and said, "The new disciples are getting more and more arrogant¡­ the second Chu Qing?" Kong Sheng smiled faintly as he said, "He did have an impressive showing during the cave match, and seems to be full of drive." Zhao Zhu¡¯s lips curled, "It''s just a cave match between gold sash disciples. It seems like the disciples under elder Lu Hong are becoming more and more useless. Can¡¯t believe that they¡¯re incapable of crushing those two factions from the fallen Saint Genesis Peak, truly a disgrace to our Sword Cometh Peak." "However, since he dared to ruin senior brother''s plans, if the opportunity presents itself in the future, I will make ensure that he suffers a little¡­" Kong Sheng uncaringly replied, "Forget it. Why pay any attention to a mere gold sash disciple. It would only elevate his status if we were to cause trouble for him." "The other disciples are just shooting their mouths off. Do you really believe that he is the second Chu Qing? So many outstanding disciples have emerged in the Cangxuan Sect over the years, but just look at who ultimately became the ten great Chosens." Zhao Zhu laughed in a carefree manner when he heard this. Soon after, he nodded. That¡¯s right, a puny gold sash disciple was not even worth their time. The commotion would likely die down after the hyper was over. ¡­ Snow Lotus Peak. Li Qingchan was seated on a misty stone platform, a green dress adorning her slender figure. Her gorgeous face was as cold as ice, like a thousand year iceberg that would never melt. At this current moment, however, there was a sliver of amazement on her usually frosty face. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­ what a quite a surprise¡­¡± She muttered to herself. Evidently, she heard about what the result of the cave match that had spread from Saint Genesis Peak. She was currently rather neutral towards Zhou Yuan. In comparison, she was much more interested in the one who had quite a special relationship to him, Yaoyao. Li Qingchan was a very prideful girl, and hence naturally had high standards. However, in her eyes, Yaoyao was still too much of a mystery. After all, Yaoyao would surely be the center of attention wherever she went, and only god knew how many talented geniuses were unable to resist her being drawn to her. Therefore, Li Qingchan was baffled by the intimate relationship between Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. This was because in her opinion, the two of them were belonged to completely different worlds. To be blunt, she felt that Zhou Yuan did not deserve to have such a close relationship with Yaoyao. Even though she had cooperated with Zhou Yuan at the Genesis reservoir, the truth was that she had only chosen to work with him because of Yaoyao. Otherwise, a gold sash disciple like him would never have the qualifications to work with someone like her, the third seat Chosen. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance during the cave match was quite a surprise to her. It seemed that he did have some potential. ¡°However, the second Chu Qing huh?¡± Li Qingchan fell silent for a moment, her hand gently stirring the mist in front of her. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I am afraid that you will have to work much much harder¡­¡± Only after reaching their level would one finally understand just how formidable this number one Chosen truly was. From what she could see, the mysterious and unreadable Yaoyao could perhaps accomplish such a feat. As for Zhou Yuan¡­ be it luck or experience, he was still severely lacking. Previous Chapte Chapter 345 Reward A certain courtyard in Saint Genesis Peak. In a garden within the courtyard, Shen Taiyuan was dressed in simple robes, carefully tending to his plot with the small shovel in his hand. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan was looking at him from a nearby stone pavilion. Shen Taiyuan worked for quite some time, before he finally stood up in satisfaction. He patted off the dirt on his hands as he walked towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan sighed inside as he gazed at Shen Taiyuan, who looked just like an old farmer at this moment. Who would have guessed that this ordinary looking old man was actually a Heavenly Sun stage expert. In any other place, a person like him could establish his small sect of his own, and reign as its sect master. In fact, if he was in the Cangmang Continent, he would be an invincible existence that could cause the rise and fall of empires at his whim. However, Shen Taiyuan was merely an elder in the Cangxuan Sect, and above him were the various peak masters and sect master Qing Yang. From this, one can see how powerful the Cangxuan Sect, a sect which was once the strongest sect in Cangxuan Continent, truly was. At the same time, Zhou Yuan also felt as if he understood patriarch Cang Xuan a little more. Founder of the Cangxuan Sect, controller of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and also the patriarch of the Cangxuan Sect. That handsome young man in the Saint Remains Domain was once the most powerful expert of this world. ¡°I hope that I haven¡¯t kept you waiting too long?¡± Shen Taiyuan smiled at Zhou Yuan. After the cave match, every disciple noticed that the typically stern and conservative Shen Taiyuan had begun to smile more frequently. Zhou Yuan responded with a smile and a shake of his head. He was appreciative and grateful towards Shen Taiyuan. After all, it was always comforting to be so valued and trusted by another. Even when the crowd had turned against him, Shen Taiyuan had continued to stand up for him, an act that truly touched Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Shen Taiyuan seated himself on a stone stool, and fished out a purple token from his sleeves. ¡°This is the token for that purple Genesis cave dwelling. From today onwards, that cave dwelling shall belong to you.¡± Said Shen Taiyuan with a smile. There was joy in his eyes as Zhou Yuan received the token. After all, he knew that the purple Genesis cave dwelling was an extremely important cultivation resource, and would be hugely beneficial to his training. Moreover, this was also why he had wracked his brains so hard in order to join the cave match.. ¡°Thank you teacher Shen.¡± Said Zhou Yuan as he cupped his fists together. Shen Taiyuan waved his hands and said, ¡°You were the one who won this. I believe that there will no longer be any objections from any of the other disciples.¡± Even though Shen Taiyuan had originally prepared this purple Genesis cave dwelling for Zhou Yuan, there had been a huge backlash from the other disciples in the beginning. After all, in their eyes, Zhou Yuan was merely a gold sash disciple that did not deserve to own a purple Genesis cave dwelling. However, there were no longer any disciples who objected after the cave match. In fact, even Zhang Yan and his crew remained silent on this topic, evidently already acknowledging it. After all, nobody expected Zhou Yuan to perform so spectacularly during the cave match. He had completely turned the tables, and earned back all the respect their faction was about to lose. Shen Taiyuan smiled warmly at his disciple, a gratified look in his eyes. With a wave of his sleeve, several jade boxes appeared on the table. "Little fellow, it''s all thanks to you that I didn''t lose face. Take these as your additional rewards." Said Shen Taiyuan with a smile. Zhou Yuan was stunned. He casually opened one of the jade boxes, immediately feeling a heatwave being released from within it. "These are¡­ the Nine Suns Crystal, Sky Fire Rock Marrow and Golden Crow Heart?" Zhou Yuan stared at the objects inside the box as joy filled his heart. These were the items required to practice the Heavenly Sun God Record. He was unable to practice the Heavenly Sun God Record because he lacked these very items. It never occurred to him that Shen Taiyuan had actually managed to gather all of them for him. "Haha, these were quite hard to find. This old man had to look up a few old friends and pull out a couple of favors to obtain them. I know that they should be the things you want most now." Said Shen Taiyuan. Zhou Yuan was exhilarated. In the duel against Wei Youxuan, Zhou Yuan had realized how powerful a true Heaven tier technique was. Moreover, it was not hard to guess that Wei Youxuan¡¯s Great Black Devil technique was incomplete, hence why he had only managed to bring out less than a fifth of its true power. Nonetheless, Zhou Yuan was still forced to use his advanced level Nine Dragons Canon in order to obtain victory. This goes to show just how formidable a Heaven tier technique was. After witnessing its might, Zhou Yuan¡¯s desire towards his Heavenly Sun God Record began to grow, and had been trying his best to find the required items for the past few days but to no avail. Hence, he was naturally ecstatic that Shen Taiyuan had gathered all the items for him, saving him a boatload of trouble. "Thank you teacher Shen!" Zhou Yuan cupped his fists with sincerity. The joy on Zhou Yuan face made Shen Taiyuan chuckle. He looked at Zhou Yuan, and slowly said, "Zhou Yuan, you came to Cangxuan Sect to train with the goal of eventually returning home to deal with the Great Wu Empire, am I right?" Zhou Yuan was shocked, but soon nodded his head. Shen Taiyuan was after all an elder of Cangxuan Sect, and though he often ended up getting the short end of the stick in his struggles with Lu Hong, he was still an extremely powerful individual wherever he was put. This plus Cangxuan Sect''s resources made it a simple task to find out about Zhou Yuan¡¯s background. Of course, Zhou Yuan did not try to hide any of this either. "King Wu from the Great Wu Empire is a Divine Dwelling expert, but he is nothing much in my eyes. If I wish, I can easily suppress him with a flip of my hand." Said Shen Taiyuan. Though his tone appeared nonchalant, it gave off a domineering aura. "In the month since you became my disciple, I¡¯ve managed to find out all about the conflict between your Great Zhou Empire and the Great Wu Empire. I did this in hopes that you¡¯ll be able to focus on your training. In fact, I asked the sect to intervene and finish off the Great Wu Empire." Zhou Yuan stared at Shen Taiyuan in shock. Shen Taiyuan frowned as he continued, "However, the sect ultimately rejected my request. I suspect this had something to do with the Sacred Palace. After you destroyed Wu Huang¡¯s physical body in the Saint Remains Domain, his Spirit was taken away by the Sacred Palace." "According to the latest intel I¡¯ve received, for some unknown reason, the palace master of Sacred Palace seems to highly value Wu Huang. In fact, the former has even personally accepted him as his disciple, and helped him reconstruct his body." ¡°As such, the Great Wu Empire can be said to have the backing of the Sacred Palace, and the reason why sect master and the rest did not agree to my proposal is likely because they knew that Sacred Palace would be opposed to it.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrunk slightly. Wu Huang really was an unkillable cockroach. The former never expected that the latter would still be able to make a comeback after having physical body destroyed and half his sacred dragon blessing taken. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glimmered for a moment, before they gradually returned to calmness. Back then, Wu Huang had seemed impossibly far ahead, but in the end, Zhou Yuan caught up, and even slayed Wu Huang. Zhou Yuan had not feared Wu Huang then, why would he start now? Since he was able to kill Wu Huang once, he could do it again... He may have failed to completely kill off Wu Huang the first time, and left a loose end behind. However, he was certain that Wu Huang would not live if there was a second time. Zhou Yuan slowly asked, ¡°Teacher Shen, since the Sacred Palace is backing Wu Huang, will that be a problem for the Great Zhou Empire?¡± He did not fear Wu Huang at all. However, he was wary of the powerful and mysterious Sacred Palace. It was a massive organization that rivalled the Cangxuan Sect. Shen Taiyuan waved his hand, before he solemnly said, ¡°There is no need to worry. We do not wish to break the rules, and I believe the Sacred Palace would not dare to do so as well. However, if they try anything funny, I assure you that our Cangxuan Sect is no pushover.¡± ¡°When all is said and done, the conflict between your Great Zhou Empire and the Great Wu Empire will have to be resolved amongst yourselves.¡± Shen Taiyuan was a little apologetic as he looked at Zhou Yuan. He had initially hoped to get rid of this problem for Zhou Yuan. However, his hands were tied in the end. Zhou Yuan solemnly bowed to Shen Taiyuan. He was fairly touched by what the latter had done for him. ¡°Teacher Shen, there is no need for you to be this way. The Great Wu Empire is a thorn in my heart that I must pluck out myself. If someone else did it for me, it would only hurt my personal development.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°One day, I will personally resolve this grudge!¡± Though his voice was low, it was filled with confidence. The strong confidence in Zhou Yuan¡¯s words made Shen Taiyuan even more pleased. Regardless of attitude or talent, this disciple truly belonged to the cream of the crop. ¡°If there is anything else I can help you with, just say the word. I will do all I can to support you.¡± Declared Shen Taiyuan. Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment. Following which, he smiled as he said, ¡°There is indeed a favor I would like to ask from teacher Shen.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Shen Taiyuan smiled as he said, ¡°Go on, tell me what it is.¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips as he looked at Shen Taiyuan and earnestly said, ¡°I would like to join the purple sash selection test to be promoted to a purple sash disciple.¡± His main reason for coming to the Cangxuan Sect was to enter the main peak of Saint Genesis Peak, and search for the second Saint Rune. However, according to the sect rules, only the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak could enter the main peak. To join the chief disciple selection trial that would be held at the end of the year, he would first have to become a purple sash disciple. This meant that Zhou Yuan needed to pass the purple sash selection test, and become a purple sash disciple, or he would not have the qualification to join the chief disciple selection trial. Previous Chapte Chapter 346 Purple Sash Selection ¡°The purple sash selection?¡± Shen Taiyuan could not help but be taken aback by Zhou Yuan¡¯s request. The former soon frowned, somewhat hesitant as he said, ¡°The purple sash selection is no joke. Isn¡¯t it a little too soon for you to participate?¡± The purple sash selection was a major event in the Cangxuan Sect. This was because purple sash disciples were the most elite disciples of the sect, and were often the ones who went on to become the backbone of the sect. Therefore, every purple sash selection was extremely stringent, and personally attended by not only several peak masters, but even the sect master on occasion. Even elders like Shen Taiyuan were unable to approve the promotion to purple sash. All they could do was nominate their disciples for the selection, and pray for their success. Furthermore, there were a limited number of promotions available each cycle. As such, the participants were basically composed of the first seat gold sash disciples from each peak, making the competition extremely intense. To be blunt, even someone like Wei Youxuan, who was the number one gold sash disciple under Lu Hong, was not considered top-tier amongst all the factions in the entire sect. Thus, Shen Taiyuan felt it was a little too early for Zhou Yuan to participate in the purple sash selection. Nonetheless, he believed that given Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent and potential, it would not be difficult to pass after another half a year of serious training. ¡°Zhou Yuan, there are only ten purple sash promotions available for the upcoming selection test, while close to a hundred disciples will be taking part. It will be extremely competitive.¡± Shen Taiyuan sighed as he tried to talk Zhou Yuan out of it. Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response and said, ¡°Teacher Shen, I just want to give it a shot. There¡¯s no loss even if I fail, right?¡± Though he was wearing a smile, his words were filled with determination. Two purple sash selection tests were held every year, and the upcoming one was already the second one for the year. If he missed it, there would no longer be any chance for him to become a purple sash disciple this year. As a result, he would be unable to participate in the year-end Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple selection trial. Even if someone else became chief disciple, he or she may end up failing to break the main peak seal. However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to take such a risk. What if Lu Hong¡¯s faction succeeded? If Lu Hong became the peak master, it would become even harder for Zhou Yuan to find the second Saint Rune. Hence, he needed to take part in the upcoming purple sash selection. At the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s determination, Shen Taiyuan smiled in resignation and said, ¡°You¡¯re too impatient¡­¡± In the end, he could only sigh as he nodded and said, ¡°Fine, if that¡¯s what you want, go ahead and give it a shot. If you lose, treat it as preparation for the next test.¡± ¡°After all, there is nothing to be ashamed about if you fail. Many disciples have participated in several purple sash selection tests, only to fail over and over again¡­¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan as he continued, ¡°The next purple sash selection is in two months. You must work hard during these two months, and cannot neglect your training. I will nominate you for the upcoming selection test.¡± ¡°Thank you teacher Shen!¡± Joy appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face when he heard this. Shen Taiyuan helplessly shook his head. However, there was some pride and happiness in his eyes. Youngsters should be passionate and ambitious. If he didn¡¯t even have a little drive, how could he possibly hope to tackle the dangerous and arduous road of cultivation. Since he wants to try, I¡¯ll let him have his chance. After all¡­ this young has always been quite surprising. What if¡­ he actually succeeds? If that happened, even sect master would take notice, bringing the spotlight to their nearly forgotten faction. In fact, sect master may even let them have a few gifted disciples next time. ... A particular purple Genesis cave dwelling. Compared to the previous gold Genesis cave dwelling, the new purple Genesis cave dwelling was several times larger. The cave seemed to reach all the way into the heart of the mountain, monopolizing practically all of its Genesis Qi. A little stream flowed within the cave. Rays of sunlight shined from above, transforming into countless shimmering specks of light that illuminated the interior, making it appear as if dust was dancing within. Boundless Genesis Qi gushed out from an aperture at the deepest part of the cave, transforming into a thin mist that swirled inside, making the air feel extremely refreshing. The natural Genesis Qi here was much denser than the gold Genesis cave dwelling. There was even a large herb garden at one corner of the cave that was filled with all kinds of mysterious plants. Flowers breathed Genesis Qi, filling the place with a variety of exotic smells. These aromas had the effect of calming the mind and increasing concentration, making them quite beneficial for one¡¯s training. However, the one most pleased with this new accommodation was not Zhou Yuan, but Yaoyao. She seemed to have a special fondness for the herb garden, and had even bought a variety of seeds from the Glittering Jewels Pavilion, spending everyday leisurely tending the plants. In the depths of the cave near the Genesis Qi aperture. Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged on a sizable rock with eyes lightly shut. A scarlet-red crystal hovered in front of him, specks of light glimmering brightly inside like the sun, as an alarming heat spread. It was the Nine Suns Crystal required to practice the Heavenly Sun God Record. Zhou Yuan cupped the crystal with both hands, feeling as if he was holding the sun or the moon. Wisps of golden Genesis Qi rose from his palms and battered against the crystal, slowly grinding it like a grindstone. As the Nine Suns Crystal was grinded by Genesis Qi, grains of crystal dust began to fall off, merging with Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi. The Genesis Qi ultimately tunneled back into Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands and flowed into his Qi Dwelling. It was a fairly complicated to learn a Heaven tier technique. One needed to continuously combine various Genesis resources with one¡¯s own Genesis Qi, while attempting time and time again to achieve a certain equilibrium, before gradually stabilizing the newly created composition. This step alone had thwarted numerous practitioners, causing them to waste countless resources. Moreover, every failure would consume a portion of the Genesis resources and their Genesis Qi. Thankfully, Zhou Yuan had the Decoder Saint Rune. With its help, he was able to clearly determine how much of each resource he had to mix with his Genesis Qi, allowing him to minimize wastage... Even so, he still needed some time to flawlessly create a Genesis technique mark and brand it into his Qi Dwelling. Phew. After an unknown period of time, Zhou Yuan finally opened his tightly shut eyes as slowly spat out a breath of air. He lowered his head and looked at his palm, only to realize that the Nine Suns Crystal had shrunk by a third. ¡°At this rate, as long as nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to start forming the mark after a month...¡± There was a faint smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips. He was fairly pleased with his progress. He stretched his waist, causing all the bones in his body crack and pop, letting out a relaxed sigh as he inhaled the faint flowery fragrance in the cave. He had been exceedingly low-key for the past ten days or so. As a result, the commotion he caused due to the cave match had gradually began to die down. After all, a cave match between gold sash disciples would not continue spreading forever. Zhou Yuan also did not enjoy being in the limelight, and much rather preferred quietly growing stronger... However, he that news of his nomination by Shen Taiyuan for the purple sash selection would soon begin to spread some time during the next two days. This would likely cause another commotion again. ¡°Hmm?¡± Just as Zhou Yuan stood up, he suddenly felt some activity at the entrance. His senses reached out, and found a person standing in front of the cave, unable to enter due to the barrier. The round and fat figure naturally belonged to Shen Wanjin. Zhou Yuan quickly walked towards the entrance, dispersing the barrier with a wave of his sleeve. When Shen Wanjin saw Zhou Yuan walk out, he bounced forward with a grin as he fished out a scroll from his sleeve and said, ¡°Little Yuan bro, I have completed the task you set me.¡± ¡°This scroll contains the details of all the disciples who will be participating in the upcoming purple sash selection.¡± He clicked his tongue before continuing, ¡°However, none of these fellows are pushovers. Practically all of them stand at the peak of the gold sash disciples in their groups, and not a single one is inferior to Wei Youxuan¡­¡± ¡°Little Yuan bro, are you really going to take part?¡± He awkwardly scratched his head as he said an uneasy manner, ¡°From what I know, no slightly over a month old inner mountain disciple from our Cangxuan Sect has ever had the guts to take part in the purple sash selection¡­¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, but he did not answer the question. Instead, he slowly unraveled the scroll in his hand. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at their names and data. ¡°These are indeed no pushovers.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 347 Xu Yan’s Methods The commotion caused by the cave match stealthily faded away after a dozen days, the process probably sped up by how low-key Zhou Yuan was being over this period. In fact, hardly anyone would bring it up at this time. The Cangxuan Sect was after all such an enormous entity which had no lack of interesting events and gossip. A cave match of a decadent peak was naturally unable to hold everyone¡¯s attention for long, even if it had been quite an exciting event. Of course, the main reason was because one of the most major events of the Cangxuan Sect was to be held in two months; the purple sash selection test. It was a grand occasion that was highly anticipated by every disciple in the Cangxuan Sect. This was because a purple sash disciple was considered a true elite of the sect, a role model that all disciples seeked to emulate. If one managed to become a purple sash disciple, one¡¯s status and treatment would be completely different than before. However, the purple sash selection was extremely stringent. It was only held twice a year, and there were limited promotions available each cycle. Therefore, only the most outstanding gold sash disciples would pass the test, swapping the gold sash around their waists for a purple one... Many disciples had spent several years training hard for it. As a result, each selection would be fiercely competitive. As the date of the selection approached, the attention of every Cangxuan sect disciple gradually shifted towards it, and every topic of conversation soon began to revolve around the purple sash test. Consequently, the top candidates of this cycle quickly became everyone¡¯s topic of interest. Everyone was speculating which individuals would successfully pass the test, and leap through the dragon gate... It was at this juncture that news of Zhou Yuan¡¯s participation was stealthily leaked, naturally stirring up quite a sensation. Zhou Yuan, a name that had nearly been wiped clean from everyone¡¯s minds, suddenly became a hot topic once again. ¡°Zhou Yuan is a little too arrogant. How long has it been since he entered the inner mountains? I can¡¯t believe he actually has the guts to participate in the purple sash selection test.¡± ¡°Yeah, this must be a new record, right? I don¡¯t think there has even been a month old inner mountain disciple who dared to participate in the purple sash selection test. Even senior Chu Qing only participated after half a year, and seized first place.¡± ¡°Tsk, he seems to have forgotten his place after defeating Wei Youxuan. You know, even Wei Youxuan would not be confident in passing the selection.¡± ¡°All the participants will be the most talented gold sash disciples from their respective peaks, and not a single one will be weaker than Wei Youxuan. Where did Zhou Yuan find the balls to take part?¡± ¡°He truly is akin to a young and ignorant calf¡­¡± ¡°Fine, since he¡¯s so unafraid of death, it will be good for him to face some setbacks now that will hopefully humble him in the future. After all, there are still so many experienced seniors ahead of him.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡­ Sword Cometh Peak. An elegant room within a restaurant. ¡°Humph, Zhou Yuan is way too cocky. It¡¯s only been so long and he actually dares to turn his sights to the purple sash selection test. What an arrogant and ignorant fool!¡± Inside the elegant room, Lu Xuanyin mocked Zhou Yuan with a slightly frosty face. She had obviously found out that Zhou Yuan had been nominated to take part in the upcoming purple sash selection. The incident with Lu Feng had naturally made her quite critical of Zhou Yuan, quite a contrast from the very beginning when she had thought nothing of the latter. However, who could have expected him to improve so drastically in a month. He had grown so much that he was even about to take part in the purple sash selection test! One must know that she had trained for three years before she finally found the courage to participate. Beside Lu Xuanyin, Xu Yan with his head full of red flame like hair, chuckled softly. He lifted the wine pot, and poured her cup as he said, ¡°There is nothing to be mad about. I was originally worried that I won¡¯t be able to find a reason to make things difficult for him due to his lack of activity recently. Having him jump out like this really makes my life easier.¡± Xu Yan wore a calm expression. The truth was that he had admired Zhou Yuan a little previously, hence why he tried asking Zhou Yuan to apologize to Lu Xuanyin in order to resolve the grudge them. However, he never expected that Zhou Yuan would disrespectfully reject him in such a direct manner. This move had upset Xu Yan. After all, he possessed a rather high status in Sword Cometh Peak, and was a purple sash disciple under peak master Ling Jun. In other words, he was quite an influential person. All this plus his background naturally made him a very prideful individual. Therefore, in his eyes, he had given Zhou Yuan sufficient respect by taking the initiative to ask the latter. However, Zhou Yuan turned out to be really untactful. Since you are ungrateful, don¡¯t blame me for inflicting pain onto you. When Lu Xuanyin heard Xu Yan¡¯s words, her eyes lit up as she asked with a smile, ¡°What are your plans?¡± Xu Yan took a sip of his wine. Soon after, he said, ¡°They have arrived.¡± The doors to the elegant room were pushed open as several figures walked in. The group was mainly composed of youngsters, but they possessed extraordinary auras, and their eyes shined with fearsome glints. ¡°Senior brother Xu Yan.¡± The young men cupped their fists together towards Xu Yan. Xu Yan smiled and nodded. He looked at Lu Xuanyin and said, ¡°You should recognize them.¡± Lu Xuanyin stared in shock at the three individuals at the very front as she said, ¡°Senior brother Le Tian, senior brother Wu Qing and senior brother Luo Dao?¡± She naturally recognized these people. They were the elite gold sash disciples from the various factions of Sword Cometh Peak. Each one was extremely powerful, and all of them were taking part in the upcoming purple sash selection. However, although all of them belonged to Sword Cometh Peak, they were under different elders and thus rivals of sorts. From the looks of it, they had come together thanks to Xu Yan. ¡°May I enquire why senior brother Xu Yan has gathered us here?¡± Asked the one called Le Tian, who seemed to always have a smile on his face. Xu Yan invited them to sit down. He toyed with the cup in his hand, as he offhandedly smiled and said, ¡°It is just a small matter. I hope that everyone here can do me a tiny favour.¡± He indicated towards Lu Xuanyin as he continued, ¡°Junior sister Lu Xuanyin has some differences with Zhou Yuan, and since it just so happens that everyone here will be taking part in the upcoming purple sash selection test, I hope that all of you can help out your junior sister.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± Le Tian and the rest were taken aback for a moment. Something soon clicked in their heads as they said, ¡°The new disciple who defeated Wei Youxuan?¡± Luo Dao smiled faintly as he said, ¡°He has been pretty popular recently, and is quite gusty. It''s only been slightly over a month since he joined the inner mountains, and yet he actually dares to stick his hand into the purple sash selection. It seems that he looks down on his more experienced senior brothers like us.¡± Everyone in the room stood at the apex of the gold sash disciples in their respective factions. Though other disciples were shocked by Wei Youxuan defeat at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands, this group was only a little surprised by the matter. After all, all of them were confident that would also prevail against Wei Youxuan. As such, after they hearing Xu Yan¡¯s request, all of them heaved a sigh of relief. They were worried that Xu Yan was going to ask for their help to tackle a thorny problem, because they knew that it would be difficult to reject. None of them had expected Xu Yan had invited all of them here just to deal with a mere Zhou Yuan. Xu Yan nodded with a grin. Le Tian glanced at the rest as he smiled, ¡°Senior brother Xu Yan may be making a mountain out of a molehill. To think you invited so many of us¡­ is there really a need?¡± The ones gathered here were basically the best amongst the gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak. Xu Yan stood up and began pouring everyone a cup of wine as he said, ¡°He is quite mysterious, and I do not like surprises. Therefore, it will be best to ensure he has no chance at all.¡± Le Tian, Wu Qing, Luo Dao and the rest raised their cups towards Xu Yan with a smile, before draining the entire cup. ¡°Since senior brother Xu Yan has spoken, we will naturally give face. Senior brother Xu Yan and junior sister Lu Xuanyin can be rest assured. We believe that Zhou Yuan will no longer have any chance to stand out in the upcoming purple sash selection.¡± Xu Yan smiled faintly as he nodded. He toyed with his teacup as a sadistic smile appeared on his lips. You tactless thing, do you really think that you¡¯re untouchable? I don¡¯t even have to lift a finger against someone like you. All I need to do is to say a few words, and you will end up sinking into despair. Beside him, Lu Xuanyin¡¯s eyes glimmered with excitement. Looks like she would finally be able to vent all her resentment and hate this time. Zhou Yuan, with all of the senior brothers of my Sworth Cometh Peak banding together, there is no way you will be able to change your fate! Previous Chapte Chapter 348 Genesis Star Pill Saint Genesis Peak, Dao Seeker Hall. In today¡¯s morning lesson, numerous gazes were continuously cast towards the figure seated on the first golden mat, which belonged to the first seat gold sash disciple. It had originally belonged to Tong Long, but had been replaced by Zhou Yuan ever since the cave match. Zhou Yuan was currently the undisputed number one gold sash disciple under Shen Taiyuan. With regards to this matter, even Tong Long had no objections. After all, if Zhou Yuan had not stepped forward and ultimately turned the tables, the former would have long lost all face. The strength Zhou Yuan had displayed during the cave match had finally convinced all his fellow senior brothers. The whispers spreading in the Dao Seeker Hall today were likely related to the fact that Zhou Yuan was going to participate in the upcoming purple sash selection test. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, even though you performed spectacularly during the cave match, I¡¯m afraid that it is still a little too early for you to take part in the purple sash selection.¡± Zhang Yan walked over with a skin deep smile, and sincerely said, ¡°The participants of the selection are no pushovers, and not a single one will be weaker than Wei Youxuan. Such a rash decision may very well end up ruining your hard-earned reputation.¡± Due to the fact that he had saved the day during the cave match, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation within Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction had soared recently. Many of the disciples had been originally displeased by the extra attention Shen Taiyuan lavished on Zhou Yuan, but such complaints had now all disappeared. After all, the talent and potential Zhou Yuan displayed was enough to shut their mouths. Consequently, even Zhang Yan had wised up recently. It was only today after finding out about Zhou Yuan¡¯s participation in the purple sash selection that the former finally found a reason to speak. After all, news that Zhou Yuan was going to take part in the purple sash selection test had already spread to the entire Cangxuan Sect, causing quite a stir. Some of the other disciples faintly nodded at Zhang Yan¡¯s words, evidently of the same opinion that Zhou Yuan was taking the purple sash selection test too lightly. When Zhou Tai saw this, he spoke up for Zhou Yuan, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan merely wants to have a feel of the purple sash selection test, and prepare himself for the future. No one can say anything even if he fails. After all, who hasn¡¯t failed in the purple sash selection test before?¡± Zhang Yan smiled, ¡°I am afraid that others may not share your view.¡± At the highest seat in the hall, Shen Taiyuan opened his eyes. He ignored their argument as he looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Since I have already nominated you, there is no point in putting any more thought into your decision. Focus your attention on preparing for the upcoming purple sash selection test. As for the result, there is no need to be overly worried. Treat it as an opportunity to gain some experience.¡± Everyone could tell that Shen Taiyuan was not too optimistic about Zhou Yuan¡¯s odds either. Rather, he hoped Zhou Yuan would take it as testing the waters, and familiarize himself with the purple sash selection test. He would subsequently be able to make a proper attempt the following year. Shen Taiyuan paused for a moment, a rare smile appearing on his face as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that for the champion of the selection will be awarded a Genesis Star Pill.¡± ¡°Genesis Star Pill?!¡± These words immediately caused an uproar to erupt within the hall. Numerous disciples could not help but swallow as their eyes filled with blazing desire. Even Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the other purple sash disciples were clearly filled with longing. Zhou Yuan also felt a little overwhelmed. A Genesis Star Pill was an extremely precious pill that was exceedingly difficult to produce. Its effect was relatively simple. Like its name suggests, it could increase the number of Genesis stars in one¡¯s Qi Dwelling and strengthen one¡¯s foundation. However, one could only consume a single Genesis Star Pill during Alpha-Origin stage, and any additional pill would have no effect. Even so, fully absorbing a single pill would greatly strengthen the foundation of one¡¯s Qi Dwelling. One should know that one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was the most important factor during the Alpha-Origin stage. This was because it laid the necessary groundwork in order to enter the Divine Dwelling stage. The better one¡¯s foundations, the more powerful one would be after advancing to the Divine Dwelling stage. Therefore, the Genesis Star Pill was also known as the Alpha-Origin miracle pill. This implied that it had miraculous effects for Alpha-Origin experts. It is rumoured that even in the entire Cangxuan Sect, only the ten great Chosens had the privilege to take this pill, while the rest of the disciples could only watch in envy. Hence, rewarding a Genesis Star Pill for the purple sash selection was definitely a surprise. Such a reward filled the few purple sash disciples in the hall with envy. Also they had also been rewarded when they passed the selection, their rewards paled in comparison to the Genesis Star Pill. Zhou Yuan licked his lips as a fire was lit within his heart. The prize for the upcoming purple sash selection test was definitely extremely tempting. If he obtained the pill, it would greatly expedite his cultivation progress. Furthermore, it would also boost his chances in the year-end chief disciple selection. Zhang Yan glanced at Zhou Yuan, gloating a little as he remarked, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan is truly lucky. It¡¯s a pity that the upcoming purple sash selection test is filled with experts.¡± ¡°Su Wan from Cangxuan Peak, Wu Yue from Hongya Peak, Mu Chunlei from Snow Lotus Peak, Le Tian from Sword Cometh Peak, Wang Chen from Lightning Prison Peak, Xia Yu from Spirit Rune Peak¡­ these are all the first seat gold sash disciples from the master factions of the various peaks. Given the allure of the Genesis Star Pill, I believe that the champion will come from within their ranks.¡± The main faction of each peak was also called the master faction, and were the strongest faction from their respective peaks. Le Tian from Sword Cometh Peak for example. Back when Lu Hong¡¯s faction was part of Sword Cometh Peak, Wei Youxuan would have to bow his head and greet his senior brother disciple when he met Le Tian. From this, one could easily imagine how powerful these individuals were. The other disciples in the hall looked at Zhou Yuan in pity, evidently feeling that Zhou Yuan would stand no chance with such formidable figures around. In contrast, Zhou Yuan remained calm in response to Zhang Yan¡¯s gloating voice. Thanks to the information from Shen Wanjin, he was already aware about these individuals. They were indeed the top candidates for the upcoming purple sash selection test. Even so, which of Zhou Yuan¡¯s foes over the years had been simple pushovers? In fact, even before he had opened his channels to begin cultivation, Wu Huang¡¯s name had already spread across the entire Cangmang Continent. However, the one who had remained standing in the end had not been Wu Huang. Zhou Yuan had managed to make a come back even with such a despairing gap between them. What was the adversity he faced now in comparison? On the highest seat, Shen Taiyuan glanced at Zhang Yan, causing him to shut his mouth in embarrassment. However, he was not overly concerned by it and secretly muttered to himself, ¡°Even if he has defeated Wei Youxuan, he is still lacking compared to them. Do you really believe that another miracle will occur?¡± Shen Taiyuan did not dwell on this topic. Instead, he looked towards Zhou Yuan again and instructed, ¡°It will be very difficult to become champion, so I hope that you can settle for the next best thing and not aim for the number one spot. As long as you place within the top ten, you will still be promoted to a purple sash disciple.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in acknowledgement. However, his lowered eyes flickered in thought. If it wasn¡¯t for the Genesis Star Pill, he would have no interest in becoming champion. However, he had already been tempted by it. The so-called miracle pill of the Alpha-Origin stage was not something he could resist. This was a fortunate encounter. If he could seize it, it would further strengthen his foundation. Moreover, wasn¡¯t success on the path of cultivation dependent on whether one could seize the fortunate encounters that appeared before one¡¯s eyes? This was how Zhou Yuan had paved his path for so many years. Otherwise, how could he have reached the stage he was at today? Huuu. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, gradually suppressing the fire burning deep within his eyes. He knew that he would have to concentrate every fibre of his being in his training for the next two months and prepare for the upcoming purple sash selection, the event that would soon become the focal point of the entire Cangxuan Sect. Previous Chapte Chapter 349 In front of Spirit Rune Hall Discussions about the purple sash selection test grew increasingly heated over the next few days. Everyone was arguing over who would emerge as the champion in the upcoming selection. It went without saying that the most popular candidates were the first seat gold sash disciples from the master factions of the various peaks. Su Wan of Cangxuan Peak, Wu Yue of Hongya Peak, Le Tian of Sword Cometh Peak, Wang Chen of Lightning Prison Peak, and Xia Yu of Spirit Rune Peak¡­ these names were continuously mentioned by the many disciples, each one extremely popular. They were after all well known and powerful individuals, who were already more than qualified to challenge the purple sash selection since long ago. Through the upcoming purple sash selection, their reputations grew once again. Although all of them were formidable practitioners, there could only be one champion, and only one Genesis Star Pill would be awarded. Thus, the upcoming selection was looking to become an intense battle of the titans. As for Zhou Yuan, after the initial commotion caused by the news of his participation, his name was gradually forgotten. It was likely that after the initial surprise, many disciples simply assumed that he was participating to gain experience and prepare for future attempts. Hence, let alone being a popular candidate for champion, many felt that he would not make it to the stop ten. Zhou Yuan was not bothered at all by this treatment. He merely continued his low-key training in his purple Genesis cave dwelling, ignoring all the ongoing discussions. As such, his name gradually faded from sight in the bustling Cangxuan Sect like a pebble being washed away by the waves. After all, when put next to such a grand occasion like the purple sash selection, a single gold sash disciple was hardly noteworthy... Time slowly passed by in this manner day by day. ... Inside a certain cave dwelling. Yaoyao stood in the herb garden, tending to the various Genesis resources she had planted. Though she was wearing a simple dress, the sight of her beautiful face amidst the blooming flower garden seemed to make all the gorgeous flowers around her lose color. Quite some time later, she gently stretched her waist, before her gaze swept towards the depths of the cave. During this period of time, Zhou Yuan had hid himself deep within the cave to cultivate, hardly ever showing himself. As a result, her days were starting to become a little boring. ¡°I could make a trip to Spirit Rune Peak¡­¡± Muttered Yaoyao to herself. Just yesterday, she had sent a letter to Spirit Rune Peak to inform them of her intentions to visit Spirit Rune Hall today. She had heard rumors of its collection of countless ancient Genesis Rune, and it was the only place that could draw her interest in Spirit Rune Peak. Without it, she would have directly rejected peak master Bai Mei¡¯s invitation back then. She walked into one of the rooms, and changed into a clean set of clothes. After which, she gave Tuntun, who was anxiously following her, a little kick, sending him onto a nearby boulder. ¡°Guard the cave and make sure no one disturbs him.¡± After she spoke, she left the cave with Tuntun staring at her in bitterness. Spirit Rune Peak. Yaoyao walked up the stone steps, passing numerous Spirit Rune Peak disciples. Every disciple turned their gaze towards her. Some of the male disciples in particular could not help but stop as they stared at Yaoyao with amazement in their eyes. On the other hand, several of the female disciples were staring at her in jealousy. Yaoyao was simply too beautiful. In fact, she was so gorgeous that they couldn¡¯t even bring themselves to compare with her. The crowd would part wherever Yaoyao passed. Even though she was clearly not doing anything special, she was akin to a phoenix that had barged into a crowd of beasts, so beautiful that every beast wanted to approach, and yet also feeling too ashamed to do so. Some of the more famous male disciples stirred restlessly. However, none of them ultimately dared to take that first step and approach her. Despite the attention, Yaoyao¡¯s gorgeous face remained impassive. In fact, her gaze did not shift even a single inch, merely continuing to be directed at the stone stairs in front of her as she slowly strolled up. ¡°May I ask where Spirit Rune Hall is?¡± When she was lost, she would stop, turn to the nearby disciples and ask in a clear yet nonchalant manner. The faces of the disciples would immediately turned red immediately. The beauty before them was so gorgeous that they didn¡¯t even dare to look at her directly. Instead, they could only point in a certain direction flusteredly. ¡°Thank you.¡± A fragrance whiffed past their noses, the beauty already walking away, leaving behind countless male disciples that were staring longingly at her figure, all of them now ashamed at how poorly they had behaved previously. Though she caused quite a commotion along the way, Yaoyao eventually arrived in front of Spirit Rune Hall, a place in which innumerable ancient Genesis Runes were said to have been collected. A giant, ancient hall towered at the summit of a mountain, surrounded by thousands of stone steps. From the bottom of the stone stairs, one could experience the full majesty of the Spirit Rune Hall. Yaoyao¡¯s brows knitted together slightly when she arrived, realizing that there were already numerous disciples gathered here. Furthermore, every gaze turned towards her the moment she approached. There seemed to be something strange about these gazes. When she walked towards Spirit Rune Hall, the disciples did not give way. Yaoyao asked in an indifferent voice, ¡°Do I have to force my way through?¡± There was a commotion in the crowd, before it finally parted. Following which, a slim figure slowly walked out, eventually coming to a stop in front of Yaoyao. That familiar face belonged to Ye Ge, whom she crossed blows with in Genesis reservoir. ¡°Haha, we meet again junior sister Yaoyao.¡± Ye Ge greeted Yaoyao with a smile. ¡°What a grand line-up. Are they here to deal with me?¡± Yaoyao swept a glance at Ye Ge as she said, ¡°Has peak master Bai Mei gone back on his word? In that case, I won¡¯t enter Spirit Rune Hall.¡± Ye Ge chuckled softly as he said, ¡°Peak master naturally will not go back on his words.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that when we heard junior sister Yaoyao would be visiting today, many of us Spirit Rune Peak disciples wanted to come see you for ourselves. After all, no disciple has ever received such special treatment from our esteemed peak master.¡± There was no change in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. She merely silently stared at Ye Ge as her red lips parted slightly, ¡°So?¡± Ye Ge chuckled. ¡°Therefore, in order to welcome junior sister Yaoyao, we have set up a Genesis Rune Boundary in front of Spirit Rune Hall. If junior sister Yaoyao is interested, you can try to break through. Once you succeed, Spirit Rune Hall will naturally be open to you.¡± He paused for a moment, before he followed up, ¡°Of course, peak master is also aware of this.¡± Yaoyao finally understood. This was probably because of peak master Bai Mei offer that he would hand over the position of peak master to her in the future. Though she had zero interest in it, the whole affair was still very difficult for the Spirit Rune Peak disciples to swallow. Therefore, these disciples prepared to take her down a notch today. Ye Ge waved his hand, causing the numerous disciples to scatter, as the sight of a giant sprawling mass of mist spreading in front of Spirit Rune Hall appeared in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. Uncountable Genesis Runes glimmered within the mist. It was obviously a massive Genesis Rune Boundary. Ye Ge smiled as he said, ¡°Haha, I was merely joking earlier. This Genesis Rune Boundary was only put up by them for fun. If junior sister Yaoyao is unable to pass through it, she can enter Spirit Rune Hall from another direction. There¡¯s no need to take my earlier words seriously.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she observed the giant mist boundary. She then cast a deep look at Ye Ge as she said, ¡°A childish provocation. Even without it, I will still enter from the front.¡± After she spoke, her long legs immediately strode forward, walking into the Genesis Rune boundary under the amazed gazes of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples. As Ye Ge watched her beautiful figure vanish into the mist, admiration rose in his eyes. He turned around and walked towards a distant hut. Inside the hut, peak master Bai Mei was seated on a chair as he leisurely enjoyed his tea. ¡°Has she gone in?¡± Asked Peak master Bai Mei with a smile. Ye Ge nodded, before he sighed, ¡°Truly a prideful individual. It seems that she is very confident in her abilities.¡± A smile soon surfaced on his lips as he softly said, ¡°What a fine beauty. She definitely deserves someone amazing.¡± ¡°Heh, you¡¯ve always had very high standards. Have you finally fallen for someone?¡± Peak master Bai Mei teased. Soon after, he grinned and said, ¡°That lass is unimaginably gifted in Genesis Runes and is an amazing sapling. It will be great news for my Saint Genesis Peak if you manage to win her favor.¡± Ye Ge smiled faintly. ¡°Won¡¯t I need peak master¡¯s help for this¡­ junior sister Yaoyao is indeed extremely gifted in Genesis Runes. Can this boundary truly stop her?¡± Peak master Bai Mei stroked his long white eyebrows as he said, ¡°She is indeed extremely gifted. However, the trick to this Genesis Runes Boundary is that it has two parts to it. Therefore, it will require two individuals to working together to break it.¡± He glanced at Ye Ge as he continued, ¡°When she comes out, you should go up and offer your help. I don¡¯t have to teach you what to do next, do I?¡± ¡°A girl like her is extremely prideful, so don¡¯t expect any immediate results. You can only play the long game and slowly try to improve your relationship with her. Remember, every tiny step you advance will be akin to a tremendous amount of progress.¡± Ye Ge smiled, cupped his fists and bowed. ¡°This disciple thanks peak master for his guidance.¡± After he spoke, he turned around and left the hut, returning directly to the border of the boundary, where he waited with his hands behind his back. As time slowly flowed, and an incense stick of time soon passed. More and more Spirit Rune Peak disciples hurried over. In the end, even some of the disciples from the other peaks were drawn over, amassing into a rather huge crowd. Ye Ge stood in front of the Genesis Rune Boundary, his sleeves swaying with the wind. His handsome appearance attracted the attention of numerous female disciples. As one of the ten great Chosens, Ye Ge naturally had no shortage of admirers in the Cangxuan Sect. However, he ignored their gazes, fixated only on the mist boundary. The mists suddenly rippled, as countless gazes watched Yaoyao walk out. Her beautiful face was still as calm as before. From the looks of it, however, she had failed to pass through the boundary. The surrounding disciples immediately began to whisper among themselves. Ye Ge walked forward with a smile. Just as he was about to speak, Yaoyao¡¯s deep pool like eyes looked over, before directly walking past him. ¡°I will break this boundary tomorrow.¡± There was only indifference in her voice. The smile on Ye Ge¡¯s face turned slightly rigid. He hesitated for a moment, before he said, ¡°If you are planning on asking Zhou Yuan for help, I am afraid that he is not up to the task. This boundary can only be broken with Genesis Runes, and not through brute force.¡± Even though Yaoyao had failed, she evidently detected the trick to this Genesis Rune Boundary. Therefore, Ye Ge deduced that she was most likely going to look for Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao tilted her head and glanced at him. ¡°I believe that he can.¡± She was already far away by the time her words faded. Ye Ge shrugged helplessly as he muttered, ¡°We¡¯ll wait and see. Junior sister Yaoyao, I am the only one who can help you to break through the boundary. As for Zhou Yuan¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s no good.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 350 Challenging Spirit Rune Peak After Yaoyao¡¯s departure, the events that transpired quickly spread throughout the entire Cangxuan Sect like a gust of wind, naturally causing quite a huge uproar as a result. Although Yaoyao hardly did anything ever since she joined the Cangxuan Sect, the attention on her far exceeded that of Zhou Yuan¡¯s. In fact, the general consensus in the sect was that even Li Qingchan, the current top beauty of the Cangxuan Sect, would soon be knocked off her perch by Yaoyao. A single glimpse of the beautiful and mysterious girl during the peak selection ceremony was all it had taken for her to be imprinted in the minds of numerous male disciples. Yaoyao was not one of those girls who merely had good looks. She was also so talented in Genesis Runes that even peak master Bai Mei valued her greatly. His appraisal of her was so high that he had even made that shocking declaration that he was willing to handover the role of peak master to her in the future. As a result, even though Yaoyao kept a low profile, her popularity was no less than any of the ten great Chosens. It was also why after this most recent incident concerning Yaoyao, news of what happened spread to the entire Cangxuan Sect in the shortest possible time. ¡°What is going on with Spirit Rune Peak? Didn¡¯t peak master Bai Mei say that he would welcome junior sister Yaoyao anytime?¡± ¡°I heard that it¡¯s because many disciples are displeased by peak master Bai Mei¡¯s ¡®next peak master¡¯ offer. Thus, they set up a Genesis Rune Boundary in order to humble junior sister Yaoyao.¡± ¡°In fact, I heard that even Ye Ge showed up¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk. Ye Ge is one of the ten great Chosens, and is usually rarely seen. To think that he would actually show up huh?¡± ¡°So, what happened in the end?¡± ¡°It seems like junior sister Yaoyao failed to break the boundary. However, she left saying she will continue tomorrow.¡± ¡°That¡¯s basically challenging all the Spirit Rune Peak disciples on her own. If she does manage to break it, every Spirit Rune Peak disciple would have to hang their heads in shame when they meet her in the future!¡± ¡°Haha, interesting. I¡¯m definitely heading over tomorrow to cheer for my goddess!¡± ¡°¡­¡± In half a day, it had become the hottest topic in the sect, so widely talked about that it surpassed long reigning debate about the purple sash selection. From this, one had no choice but to marvel at the power of a beauty. ¡­ Snow Lotus Peak. Li Qingchan was stunned when she heard the news. Promptly, her beautiful eyes glimmered as she softy said, ¡°Ye Ge hates the limelight. I wonder why he voluntarily stepped up to stop Yaoyao this time?¡± ¡°Is it because of what happened in Genesis reservoir? But he doesn¡¯t seem to be such a petty fellow.¡± She pondered for a moment, gently tapping her fingers as she mumbled to herself, ¡°He seems to have another objective¡­ ah¡­¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s lips parted for a brief moment, before she lifted her face and looked in the direction of Spirit Rune Peak with a slight grin, ¡°Ye Ge, this method of chasing girls might work on ordinary girls. However, if you use it on Yaoyao, I am afraid that you are only wasting your effort.¡± ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to go watch tomorrow. Yaoyao is fairly formidable in Genesis Runes, and it is quite surprising that she returned empty-handed on the first day. It seems that Ye Ge must have put in quite a bit of effort¡­¡± ¡­ After leaving Spirit Rune Peak, Yaoyao headed straight back to the purple Genesis cave dwelling. A bored Tuntun was lying slumped on the ground in front of the cave. When it saw Yaoyao¡¯s figure, its eyes immediately sparkled as it leaped towards her. However, Yaoyao¡¯s clear eyes cast an indifferent glance at it, instantly causing Tuntun to shiver as it froze in its steps. Its senses told it that it would most definitely be sent flying if it jumped over now. Yaoyao was clearly not in a good mood although no emotion could be seen on her gorgeous face. Therefore, Tuntun could only watch Yaoyao as she headed towards the deepest part of the cave dwelling. After hesitating somewhat, it sullenly followed on its little legs. The deepest part of the cave was where the Genesis Qi spring was located. Zhou Yuan was seated by the spring with his eyes lightly shut. In his cupped hands, was a palm-sized golden heart that radiated a strong heat, golden flames spreading from within it. It was the Golden Crow Heart. The Genesis Qi from Zhou Yuan¡¯s palms continuously clashed against the Golden Crow Heart. The two entities gradually blended together, before being absorbed into his body. Under this process, the golden heart shrank little by little. This training continued for quite some time, before he finally slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Yaoyao standing next to him, her crystal-clear eyes staring at him. Zhou Yuan stretched as he asked with a smile, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, weren¡¯t you going to Spirit Rune Peak today?¡± The moment these words left his mouth, he immediately saw Yaoyao¡¯s eyes seem to narrow slightly, as a dangerous sensation radiated from her. As someone who was strongly attached to life, Zhou Yuan instantly detected the microscopic change in Yaoyao¡¯s expression. He immediately coughed as he very carefully asked, ¡°Did something happen?¡± ¡°Did some bastard anger you? Tell me who it is, and I will go right now to destroy him!¡± Zhou Yuan patted his chest as he righteously declared. Yaoyao¡¯s slightly narrowed eyes slowly returned to their original state. She sat down beside him, before she nonchalantly said, ¡°The Spirit Rune Peak disciples set up a Genesis Rune Boundary in front of Spirit Rune Hall, and want me to break through it in order to enter.¡± Zhou Yuan was shocked. He promptly frowned as he said, ¡°What about peak master Bai Mei? Wasn¡¯t he the one who allowed you to visit Spirit Rune Peak any time you please?¡± Yaoyao calmly said, ¡°That Genesis Rune Boundary was most likely set up with his guidance. After all, even Ye Ge cannot set up such an elaborate boundary. I attempted to break through earlier, but failed.¡± ¡°Even big sis Yaoyao can¡¯t pass?¡± Zhou Yuan was truly shocked this time. He knew just how unbelievably gifted Yaoyao was in Genesis Runes. ¡°That boundary is split into two parts. With the exception of instantly destroying it with brute force, it is impossible for a single person to pass through. Therefore, the cooperation of two individuals are required to simultaneously destroy the core in order to break the boundary.¡± Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°Ye Ge was hinting that I should work together with him to break the boundary¡­¡± ¡°Why would he be so kind?¡± Zhou Yuan asked suspiciously. They had ruined Ye Ge and Kong Sheng¡¯s plans in the Genesis reservoir, so why would he be so kind as to help her? There was no expression on Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face. She merely cast a sideways glance at him. A flash of understanding suddenly struck him as he blurted out, ¡°That bastard has designs on you?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened in anger as he cursed, ¡°A toad lusting after a swan. This bastard Ye Ge!¡± He may have even been the one who came up with the idea, and was trying to use it as an excuse to build a closer relationship with Yaoyao. What a cunning fellow! Furthermore, the fact that he could pull of such a stunt in Spirit Rune Peak meant that peak master Bai Mei was likely also in the know. In fact, he might even be assisting Ye Ge from the shadows. ¡°That old bastard!¡± When he thought of this, Zhou Yuan gnashed his teeth as he swore. ¡°They actually dare to dig at the corner of my wall?!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Yaoyao ominously glinting eyes were immediately cast over, a dangerous sensation pulsing from them as she asked, ¡°What did you say?¡± Cold sweat immediately popped up on Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead as he quickly said, ¡°What I meant was how dare they try and take you away. If that happens, who will guide me in future?¡± Yaoyao slowly withdrew her gaze as she offhandedly asked, ¡°What level is your Spirit currently at?¡± Zhou Yuan honestly answered, ¡°Initial Corporeal stage.¡± Yaoyao raised her brow, clearly somewhat discontent. ¡°No progress these past few months?¡± Zhou Yuan felt quite awkward. He had spent most of his effort on his Genesis Qi cultivation during this period of time, and had indeed neglected his Spirit cultivation. However, he quickly added, ¡°But I feel that I¡¯ve reached the peak of the initial stage, and a breakthrough is just around the corner.¡± Yaoyao fell silent for a moment. In the end, she stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You will go to Spirit Rune Peak with me tomorrow and break that boundary. Yes or no?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips pulled outwards into a slight grimace. He may have caused a few commotions previously, but they were all limited to Saint Genesis Peak. In comparison, Yaoyao intended to directly oppose all the Spirit Rune Peak disciples¡­ He could only imagine how intimidating it would be if followed her tomorrow. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re unwilling?¡± A smile seemed to appear on Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful face as her tone softened. The hairs on Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body instantly stood up, before he solemnly declared in a righteous voice, ¡°As long as big sis Yaoyao asks, I will climb a mountain of swords and swim through a sea of fire. A mere Spirit Rune Peak is nothing!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll destroy them tomorrow!¡± Though Yaoyao knew that he was putting on a show, a tiny smile appeared on her lips, as a sliver of warmth fleeted across her eyes. She gently patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder, before sauntering away with her hands behind her back. Although her emotionless face was as unreadable as before, her footsteps seemed to have become a little lighter. As he watched her alluring figure, Zhou Yuan rubbed his cheeks and whimpered. Looks like there was going to be a war tomorrow. However... Those bastards actually dared to bully Yaoyao¡­ Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as a murderous glint flashed in their depths. And they even dared to try and dig at the corner of his wall. Even if it was the peak master Bai Mei, Zhou Yuan would not allow it! Previous Chapte Chapter 351 Entering the Boundary Together The next day. When the prepared Zhou Yuan walked out of the little house in the cave dwelling, he saw Yaoyao gracefully standing in a pool of light nearby, her slim figure dressed in black today. The scene of sunlight being reflected off her fair and pretty face was so dazzling that one could not turn away. Although she still wore her typical nonchalant expression, Zhou Yuan could feel that the expression in her eyes was a little colder than usual. Evidently, she was still a little mad over what happened at Spirit Rune Peak. When Yaoyao saw Zhou Yuan approach, she gently tossed an object towards him. Zhou Yuan hastily caught it, discovering that it was a ring with faint Genesis Runes surfacing on its body. ¡°That Genesis Rune boundary requires two individuals to work together and simultaneously attack two points at its core. When this ring begins to heat up, you must quickly destroy the core on your side, or my side will also fall into a deadlock.¡± Explained Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan nodded at words, before he slipped the ring onto his finger. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned as he walked forward with swagger, ¡°We, the twin menace will definitely crush Spirit Rune Peak today, and make sure that they will never dare to stop sister Yaoyao ever again!¡± The corners of Yaoyao¡¯s red lips lifted slightly as she rolled her eyes at him. However, that eye roll caused even the heart of someone like Zhou Yuan, who was used to the sight of her beauty, beat a little faster, as he secretly sighed inside. Women truly were the root of all trouble¡­ it was no wonder even an influential figure like Ye Ge would go to all that trouble for her. Beside them, Tuntun also leapt into Yaoyao¡¯s arms, as it bared its fangs and growled. It clearly also understood that someone had upset Yaoyao yesterday, causing it to be given the cold shoulder. In fact, it was so angry that if no one had stopped it, it would have went ahead and eaten that bastard called Ye Ge. Two humans and a beast walked out of the cave. The moment they left, they were greeted with the sight of numerous figures gathered in front of the cave. At the very front of the group was Zhou Tai, Shen Wanjin and many other fellow brother disciples. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan looked over with a puzzled gaze, Zhou Tai awkwardly scratched his head and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, everyone already knows about what happened at Spirit Rune Peak. Technically speaking, junior sister Yaoyao also belongs to our group, and even though Spirit Rune Peak is more powerful than us, we cannot possibly let them look down on us.¡± ¡°Therefore, we will also be following you guys to Spirit Rune Peak today to cheer the both of you on.¡± The other disciples echoed in agreement. It seemed like all of them were filled with indignation at this injustice. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. None of these bastards had shown even a sliver of camaraderie when he encountered trouble in the past. However, the instant they heard that Yaoyao was facing some difficulty, it was as if all of them had been pumped full of drugs, and were now unafraid of even Spirit Rune Peak. Zhou Yuan resentfully shook his head, but did not say anything about it. He merely nodded as he began to circulate his Genesis Qi, creating a cloud that carried him and Yaoyao into the air. Behind him, Zhou Tai and the rest of the brother disciples cheered, before they quickly followed. The group sped off into the distance. After an incense stick of time, the magnificent Spirit Rune Peak appeared within their sights, along with countless glowing figures that were swarming over from all directions, before eventually descending towards Spirit Rune Peak. The bustling scene startled Zhou Yuan. These people were obviously not from Spirit Rune Peak, but disciples from the other peaks... ¡°It actually caused such a huge commotion?¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed in astonishment. Even his cave match some time ago had not attracted so many disciples. ¡°Who do you think you are? Yaoyao¡¯s fame in the Cangxuan Sect already far exceeds what little you have accomplished.¡± Just as he was marvelling at the crowd, a cold and clear voice sounded from behind him. Almost immediately after, a cloud that gave off cold Genesis Qi floated down. Atop the cloud, was Li Qingchan in a white dress. Her appearance instantly drew all the surrounding gazes over. Yaoyao lifted her head, swept a glance at Li Qingchan and said, ¡°Are you here to watch the show?¡± Li Qingchan looked at Yaoyao and replied, ¡°I owe you a favour. If you do not wish to head into that Genesis Rune boundary, I can find another way to help you destroy it.¡± Yaoyao shook her head as her red lips moved, ¡°As long as it is related to Genesis Runes, there is no reason for me to retreat. Since they want to humiliate themselves, I am naturally happy to oblige.¡± Li Qingchan slowly said, ¡°That boundary was selected personally by peak master Bai Mei. It is only thanks to his guidance that the Spirit Rune Peak disciples were able to set it up¡­¡± She then glanced at Zhou Yuan, before she continued, ¡°Are you thinking about bringing Zhou Yuan along? I am afraid he is only going to be a burden.¡± She was very direct when she spoke, and she did not bother trying to cover anything up just because Zhou Yuan was also present. ¡°You should also know what Ye Ge is after. Therefore, instead of asking him for help in the end, why don¡¯t you allow me to help you?¡± Said Li Qingchan. However, Yaoyao still shook her head and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan can do it.¡± With these final words, she led the way towards Spirit Rune Peak with Zhou Yuan following behind. Li Qingchan frowned slightly as she watched the former¡¯s back and mumbled to herself, ¡°What a stubborn person¡­ though Zhou Yuan is fairly talented in Genesis Runes, I¡¯m afraid that he won¡¯t be as useful as you imagine in a boundary of this level.¡± ¡°Hence, you will ultimately come to me for help.¡± Her words were filled with confidence, evidently already certain that Zhou Yuan would be useless today. By the time Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan arrived in the vicinity of Spirit Rune Hall, it was already packed with people. Countless gazes looked over, only to have their breaths taken away by the sight of Yaoyao walking up the stone steps. As for the one walking beside her, he had been completely ignored. The two of them walked up the steps, eventually coming to a stop in front of Spirit Rune Hall. They found numerous Spirit Rune Peak disciples standing before them with Ye Ge at the head of the group, standing with his hands behind his back. Ye Ge first looked at Yaoyao, before he turned his attention to Zhou Yuan. When the gazes of these two individuals met, lightning seemed to noiselessly flash in the background. ¡°Junior sister Yaoyao, are you prepared today?¡± Asked Ye Ge with a smile. His body leaned a little to the side he spoke in a polite manner, ¡°If junior sister Yaoyao needs my help, all you have to do is to ask.¡± Ye Ge was already a handsome guy with great manners. As a result, this gentle smile of his made many of the female disciples nearby to be secretly lovestruck. In comparison, Zhou Yuan, who stood beside Yaoyao, appeared way too unremarkable. He was only a gold sash disciple after all, and there was simple too huge of a gap between him and Ye Ge, who was one of the ten great Chosens. Behind Ye Ge, several of the Saint Peak Rune disciples who knew his intentions, smiled as they said, ¡°Junior sister Yaoyao, senior brother Ye Ge has never treated any girl so well.¡± Their gazes stealthily swept across Zhou Yuan, as a trace of disdain surfaced within their eyes. They had heard of Zhou Yuan before, and he did seem to be fairly capable. However, Genesis Qi cultivation was basically going to be useless here. The only way to break the boundary was with Genesis Runes. Therefore, they believed that a disciple like Zhou Yuan, who focused on Genesis Qi cultivation, could not possibly be too skilled in Genesis Rune. It was likely that he had been forcibly dragged along by Yaoyao to make up the numbers. Yaoyao may not be aware that the Genesis Rune boundary before her would only become more difficult to break through with someone dragging her down. Hence, not only would Zhou Yuan be of no use today, he would likely also become a burden to Yaoyao. However, this was good news as well. When that happened, Yaoyao would finally realize how incapable Zhou Yuan was, while also naturally coming to appreciate how outstanding Ye Ge was. Yaoyao¡¯s expression did not change in the face of their words, however, cold glint in her eyes intensified. Ye Ge astutely detected the iciness in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes, and quickly waved his hand to stop the crowd¡¯s chatter. He was beneath someone like him to utilise such means to belittle others. ¡°Can we begin?¡± Yaoyao indifferently asked. Ye Ge chuckled and nodded his. With a wave of his hand, the disciples behind him quickly scattered, revealing a path that led straight into mist-covered Genesis Rune boundary. Ye Ge smiled as he said, ¡°Please go ahead junior sister Yaoyao!¡± Yaoyao stared at the Genesis Rune boundary. Without further ado, she raised a foot and advanced. Zhou Yuan was one step behind, following her forward. When he walked past Ye Ge, Zhou Yuan tilted his head slightly, only to realize that Ye Ge was also looking at him. Their gazes met as both of them smiled faintly. Ye Ge smiled and said, ¡°I hope that junior brother Zhou Yuan will be able to assist junior sister Yaoyao.¡± ¡°Of course, there is no need for you to worry.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded as he stepped forward, now standing shoulder to shoulder with Yaoyao. They ultimately arrived right in front of the mist boundary. Under the attention of the crowd, they exchanged a look, before taking a step forward into the Genesis Rune boundary. Their bodies disappear into the mist. The numerous disciples in the area were boiling with excitement. All of them were eager to find out whether Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan would be able to break the Genesis Rune boundary created by the combined efforts of numerous Spirit Rune Peak disciples... Previous Chapte Chapter 352 Two Guardians The entire place seemed to erupt into a frenzy the moment Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan¡¯s figures disappeared into the mist boundary, many disciples whispering among themselves, as they debated the outcome of today¡¯s event¡­ While they were talking, Genesis Qi suddenly gathered in the air above Spirit Rune Hall, ultimately taking the form of two giant Genesis Qi mirrors under the countless gazes of the watching disciples. As the mist in the mirrors faded, two figures gradually surfaced. The two figures were revealed to be Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, who had just stepped into the boundary moments ago. Evidently, their every move was being projected by these mirrors. The noise slowly died down, as numerous disciples turned their gazes towards the mirrors, attentively watching the two figures within... ¡°Zhou Yuan simply does not understand his place. The cave match ended not too long ago, and he¡¯s already creating such a huge commotion again¡­¡± At a certain spot in front of Spirit Rune Hall, Lu Xuanyin with her arms crossed, a cold gleam appearing on her face as she gazed at the Genesis Qi mirror. Next to her, was a faintly smiling Xu Yan. The lingering trace of amazement in his eyes due to the sight of Yaoyao earlier was only gradually beginning to fade at this moment as he chuckled and said, ¡°You¡¯ve overestimated him this time. He currently does not have the qualifications to receive such lavish treatment from Spirit Rune Peak.¡± ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao is the real star of today¡¯s show.¡± At the mention of this name, Lu Xuanyin tightly pursed her lips, clearly somewhat displeased. Nonetheless, she had no choice but to admit the cruel reality that Yaoyao¡¯s popularity in the Cangxuan Sect had far exceeded her own. ¡°Can they really break this Genesis Rune boundary?¡± Asked Lu Xuanyin. She naturally hoped that Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao would fail, because if they succeeded, Yaoyao¡¯s skyrocketing popularity would likely surge even higher. Xu Yan fell silent for a moment, before he slowly said, ¡°I am afraid it¡¯s not going to be easy. Zhou Xiaoyao must be insanely talented in Genesis Runes for peak master Bai Mei to regard her so highly. However, this Genesis Rune boundary is extremely intricate, and requires two individuals working in perfect sync in order to break through.¡± ¡°If she cooperated with Ye Ge, it would be extremely easy to break the boundary. However, she chose Zhou Yuan¡­¡± ¡°According to the rules, one cannot rely on Genesis Qi but instead one¡¯s mastery over Genesis Runes to break this Genesis Rune boundary. However, Zhou Yuan does not seem to have any outstanding talent in Genesis Runes.¡± ¡°Therefore, it was a mistake for Zhou Xiaoyao to ask Zhou Yuan for help, because he would only end up dragging her down.¡± Towards the end, even Xu Yan shook his head as if lamenting the beauty¡¯s poor judgement... He paused for a moment, before he continued, ¡°Moreover, according to what I know, this boundary is split into two parts, each part possessing its own core. In addition, there is a disciple guarding each core.¡± ¡°The two core guardians are renowned individuals from Spirit Rune Peak¡­ and a battle with them will be unavoidable if the boundary is to be broken.¡± ¡°Yaoyao¡¯s side may not be a problem, but as for Zhou Yuan¡­ I am afraid he will not be able to triumph over his opponent.¡± At this juncture, a playful smile appeared on Xu Yan¡¯s lips. Upon hearing his evaluation of the situation, Lu Xuanyin¡¯s eyes brightened slightly as she smiled and said, ¡°Many are here because of Yaoyao. If she ends up failing due to Zhou Yuan, I am pretty sure that most of them would be pissed at him. Things will become very entertaining when that happens.¡± Xu Yan smiled as he nodded. ¡°This is the price to pay for basking in the limelight too often¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°Hongyi, is that the Zhou Yuan you keep bringing up? It doesn¡¯t seem like there is anything special about him.¡± At another corner, several pretty girls were gathered together. The most attention grabbing amongst them was a tall girl dressed in red. Her long legs would haunt the dreams of any man, while a red whip hung from her tiny waist, giving her a wild yet sexy look. That beautiful and familiar face obviously belonged to Gu Hongyi, who had chosen to join Cangxuan Peak. At this current moment, there was a long-haired girl standing beside Gu Hongyi, who was blessed with a great figure. It was this very girl who had spoken earlier with a grin. When the other girls heard this, they also grinned as they nodded, ¡°But he seems to be quite a troublemaker. It has not even been two months since he joined the inner mountains, and he¡¯s already caused so many commotions.¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s lips curled slightly downwards. ¡°At the very least, he ends up victorious each time. Moreover, he is going to take part in next month¡¯s purple sash selection. This already puts him far ahead of his peers, alright?¡± The beautiful girl with long hair merely pursed her lips into a smile and said, ¡°Well, that depends on whether he can be ranked among the top ten. Otherwise, what kind of accomplishment is joining just to gain experience?¡± ¡°Furthermore¡­¡± Her beautiful eyes rotated in thought as she softly said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Lu Xuanyin has asked numerous senior brothers from Sword Cometh Peak peak to help deal with him during the upcoming purple sash selection.¡± Gu Hongyi immediately frowned. Soon after, she smiled at that long-haired girl and said, ¡°Senior sister Su Wan, you are the strongest gold sash disciples from our Cangxuan Sect, and will most definitely become the champion of the upcoming purple sash selection. You have to help if you see Zhou Yuan in trouble.¡± The beautiful girl with long hair was Su Wan, the hot favorite to clinch the championship for the upcoming purple sash selection, and also Cangxuan Peak¡¯s number one gold sash disciple. Su Wan smiled playfully as she said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you being too biased? There are many other disciples from our Cangxuan Sect taking part as well. Why didn¡¯t you ask me to assist them?¡± Gu Hongyi frowned slightly and said, ¡°They have nothing to do with me.¡± With regards to Gu Hongyi¡¯s directness, Su Wan did not know whether to laugh or to be mad. All she could do was to use her fingers to prod her junior¡¯s slim waist as she said, ¡°You ungrateful lass. Do you know how many times these disciples have secretly fought over you ever since you came to Cangxuan Peak?¡± Gu Hongyi had great looks and a powerful background. Therefore, she was naturally extremely popular in Cangxuan Peak. In fact, the elders of the peak were beginning to have a headache as more and more disciples fought over her in secret. ¡°Pointless.¡± Said Gu Hongyi with a slight frown. Su Wan shook her head helplessly. She lifted her gaze towards the Genesis Rune boundary and said, ¡°But let¡¯s not talk about the purple sash selection for now. After all, whether he can win today¡¯s battle is still up in the air¡­: ¡°A Genesis Rune boundary of this level is not something a gold sash disciple can deal with. When the time comes, he will not only get stuck, but will likely even burden Zhou Xiaoyao¡­¡± From her tone, it was clear that she felt that Zhou Yuan was simply too ignorantly arrogant. In her eyes, he appeared too eager to thrust himself into the limelight with no consideration of his own strength. A worried look flashed across Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyes. She too knew that the Genesis Rune boundary before them was not simple at all. However, owing to the faith she had in Zhou Yuan, she still said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is not a reckless individual. Since he chose to enter the boundary, he must have some confidence.¡± Su Wan shook her head as she softly said, ¡°According to what I know, there are two individuals guarding the boundary core. One of them is the chief disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, senior brother Jin Zhang¡­¡± ¡°To think that it would be senior brother Jin Zhang¡­¡± A solemn expression appeared on Gu Hongyi¡¯s face. Jin Zhang¡¯s reputation in Spirit Rune Peak was inferior only to Ye Ge¡¯s¡­ ¡°However, Jin Zhang is clearly there to face Yaoyao¡­ to be frank, Zhou Yuan is not deserving of his time.¡± Su Wan paused for a moment, before she continued, ¡°However, the person Zhou Yuan will face is no pushover either.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Gu Hongyi quickly asked. Su Wan stared at the Genesis Qi mirrors floating in the air, wariness flashing across her eyes as she slowly said, ¡°It is the little genius of Spirit Rune Peak of course, junior sister Xia Yu¡­¡± ¡°She is the top gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, and is also one of the main contenders for the upcoming purple sash selection. I am afraid it will not be easy for Zhou Yuan to get past her.¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s expression changed slightly, her lips beginning to tightly purse together, as the worry in her eyes intensified. To break the boundary together with Yaoyao, wouldn¡¯t Zhou Yuan have to face senior sister Xia Yu? Even though Hongyi had ample faith in Zhou Yuan, she could not help but be apprehensive of his chances against such an opponent. After all, Xia Yu was going to be an extremely tough opponent to deal with. Previous Chapte Chapter 353 Jin Zhang and Xia Yu Zhou Yuan slowly advanced in the swirling mist, his eyes filled with vigilance as he looked around. He could just barely make out several glowing runes emerge from within the mist, a clear sign that the place was filled with countless Genesis Runes. This boundary was akin to a maze. If one moved about recklessly, one would very likely fall into one of the Genesis Rune traps inside, and ultimately be drowned by a sea of Genesis Runes. As such, every step had to be taken with extreme caution. ¡°I¡¯ve already been separated from big sis Yaoyao¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. Yaoyao should be heading towards the other location. He lowered his head, looking at the ring on his finger as he gave it a gentle rub. Looks like he had to work faster. If he wasn¡¯t ready when Yaoyao reached the boundary core, he would instead become a burden to her. His eyes faintly glimmered in thought. A long while later, his footsteps suddenly paused as he stared at the mist in front of him. He had detected a faint, strange undulation from that spot. However, Zhou Yuan did not stop here. Instead, he walked forward decisively. Buzz! The instant his foot landed, he felt the scenery around him change rapidly. Searing heat waves rushed him from every direction, as scarlet-red filled his eyes. The originally mist-filled surroundings had transformed into a world of lava. The heat was so intense that Zhou Yuan¡¯s felt skin burn. Pop! All of a sudden, giant bubbles rose from the flowing lava river in front of him. In the next instance, the bubbles exploded, transforming into a hundred feet large lava hand that viciously swiped at Zhou Yuan. With a quick grabbing motion, the Heaven Yuan Brush appeared as it rapidly drew a series of mysterious strokes in front of him. ¡°Ice Mountain Rune!¡± Boom! With one final stroke, a bright light exploded from that floating Genesis Rune, as the surrounding Genesis Qi swiftly gushed towards it. A chill spread, as a razor-sharp hundred foot tall ice mountain shot out from within the rune, directly colliding with the giant lava hand. Boom! The two forces crashed into each other, sending lava, ice and snow all over the place. Boom! Boom! Meanwhile, numerous streams of lava rose from the lava river, seemingly covering the sky and land as they blasted towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Great Golden Bell Rune!¡± The tip of the brush seemed to dance, creating a Genesis Rune above him that immediately began to glow. In the end, a faint golden bell appeared, shielding his entire body. Clang! Clang! Clang! Countless lava streams smashed into the golden bell, causing its surface to ripple. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm as he began to walk forward even under the lava bombardment, stepping onto the lava river and heading towards the bank. Attacks continuously erupted from the lava river. However, Zhou Yuan neutralized each one with Genesis Runes. After a few minutes, he finally reached the opposite bank. The world of lava instantly disappeared the moment his foot touched the ground, as mist gushed towards him once again. Zhou Yuan knew that he had just passed an important checkpoint. ¡°Although it was quite powerful, it''s still within my limits.¡± Muttered Zhou Yuan to himself. Instead of rejoicing, however, his brows furrowed slightly. Given how formidable the Genesis Rune Boundary was, the checkpoints within should be more powerful than this. The main reason was likely because eighty percent of its power was being directed elsewhere. Obviously to Yaoyao¡¯s location. The reason why he had such an easy time was because Yaoyao was doing most of the heavy lifting. Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, not feeling overly dejected because of this. After all, he understood that only by doing what he could would he best be able to assist Yaoyao. Therefore, he took a deep breath, before stepping into the mist once again. In front of Spirit Rune Hall, numerous disciples were practically glued to the two enormous Genesis Qi mirrors in the sky. ¡°It seems like Zhou Yuan does have a little ability¡­¡± Some disciples could not help but remark when they saw Zhou Yuan pass the lava checkpoint. They could not help but admit that Zhou Yuan had been fairly adept at drawing Genesis Runes earlier. However, some of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples immediately retorted, ¡°There is nothing worthwhile to see on his side, you should look at Zhou Xiaoyao instead. After all, more than eighty percent of the boundary¡¯s power has been directed to her side.¡± Other disciples echoed in agreement, and all eyes swiftly turned towards the mirror showing Yaoyao. Inside the mirror, numerous complicated Genesis Runes were given form under her brush, continuously drawing over the Genesis Qi from the surroundings to block the mad onslaught from the boundary. It was an earth-shaking sight. The scale of her battle was obviously incomparable to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, causing many of the watching disciples to secretly wet their lips. It was clear that the majority of the boundary¡¯s power was focused on Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan¡¯s side was undoubtedly much duller when compared to Yaoyao¡¯s. ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao¡¯s Genesis Rune talent is truly out of this world.¡± Xu Yan could not help but remark as he watched Yaoyao fearlessly face the berserk attacks Genesis Rune attacks from the boundary. Rune after rune was thrown out with a casual flick of her hand, neutralizing all of the incoming attacks. Lu Xuanyin bit her lip upon hearing this. Although she really did not want to accept it, she knew she had no way to retort. On the stone stairs, Ye Ge stood with his hands behind his back, the admiration in his eyes growing as he watched Yaoyao stroll forward while deflecting uncountable Genesis Rune attacks. Only a lady this outstanding could touch his heart. Even though Yaoyao was breezing through all the checkpoints, Ye Ge expression remained rather calm. He glanced at Zhou Yuan¡¯s mirror and suddenly chuckled. He knew that the key to breaking the boundary didn¡¯t lie with Yaoyao. Given how talented she was, it would basically be impossible to stop her even with Jin Zhang defending the core. Therefore, the solution to stopping the duo lay with Zhou Yuan. As long as they stopped Zhou Yuan, they boundary would never be broken no matter how much of an advantage Yaoyao had on her side¡­ Therefore, Ye Ge had no cause for concern. ¡°Junior sister Yaoyao, I¡¯ve told you before that only with my assistance will be able to pass through this Genesis Rune Boundary.¡± Ye Ge muttered to himself, a strong confidence radiated from his words. ¡°Even though it isn¡¯t honorable to force you into such a situation, every man would chase such an amazing girl, and only a powerless fool would do stand by and do nothing¡­¡± Time slowly passed. Inside the Genesis Qi mirrors, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao continued to pass each checkpoint. As they ventured deeper and deeper, the power from within the boundary grew stronger and stronger. They were rapidly approaching the core of the boundary. ¡°The¡¯re almost there¡­¡± Ye Ge suddenly muttered. Yaoyao gracefully advanced with her Genesis Rune Brush in hand. Suddenly, the scene before her eyes began to change, transforming into an endless ocean. She stood on the surface of the water, calmness in her eyes as she looked to her front. A whirlpool churned before her, as a giant water pillar rose from within. Seated atop the water pillar, was a disciple dressed in golden robes. ¡°Spirit Rune Peak chief disciple Jin Zhang greets junior sister Yaoyao.¡± The young man in golden robes smiled slightly. Meanwhile, when Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot slowly descended, he realized that he had stepped onto a mountain peak. He lifted his head, only to see a giant heaven pillar like mountain towering before him. A dainty little figure could be seen atop the giant mountain. It was a young lady with bright eyes. She had an extremely innocent look, and long ponytails which reached all the way down to her hips. There was currently a slightly shy expression in her eyes as she looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Spirit Rune Peak Xia Yu greets senior brother Zhou Yuan¡­ ¡° The young lady¡¯s soft voice sounded. A wave of excitement instantly swept through the numerous disciples in front Spirit Rune Hall, as their eyes began to burn with excitement. All of them knew what was coming next. The climax of today¡¯s event was finally here. Previous Chapte Chapter 354 Genesis Rune Battle Part 1 ¡°They finally meet¡­¡± The images projected by the two Genesis Qi mirrors caused the numerous disciples gathered in front of Spirit Rune Hall to exhale in anticipation. Now that they had finally reached this stage, the most exciting part of today¡¯s boundary breaking trial was finally about to start. As such, gaze after gaze began to fill with excitement and anticipation. ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao is truly formidable¡­¡± At a certain corner, Su Wan stared at Yaoyao¡¯s mirror as admiration and surprise flashed across her face. This was because Su Wan felt that she could not pass through any of the obstacles that Yaoyao had crossed previously. Moreover, it seemed like those obstacles hardly posed a threat to Yaoyao. This goes to show how talented she was in Genesis Rune. Gu Hongyi nodded in agreement. Yaoyao did give off an immeasurable aura. ¡°Even though she is powerful, the crux of today¡¯s match lies with Zhou Yuan.¡± Su Wan¡¯s eyes shifted towards the other mirror. She somewhat warily stared at the innocent looking girl with a ponytail. Though Xia Yu was young, she was the top gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak. From this, one could imagine just how talented she was in Genesis Runes. ¡°Based on Zhou Xiaoyao¡¯s previous performance, even if senior brother Jin Zhang may not have the upper hand even if he can tap into eighty percent of the boundary¡¯s power¡­ However, the boundary has two cores, and they need to take over both cores at the same time in order to break it.¡± ¡°Hence, if Yaoyao is the only one to succeed, the boundary will continue drawing Genesis Qi from its surroundings to maintain it, causing Yaoyao to fall into a deadlock.¡± Su Wan looked towards Gu Hongyi as she slowly said, ¡°Based on the current situation, I am afraid that it will be a tall order for Zhou Yuan to break through Xia Yu¡¯s side.¡± ¡°Xia Yu¡¯s Spirit has already reached the mid Corpoeral stage. What¡¯s more, she can also utilize the power of the boundary. In fact, Her mastery of Genesis Runes alone has already pretty much doomed Zhou Yuan¡¯s chances.¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s expression changed slightly. In the end, she stubbornly bit her lip and said, ¡°Anything is possible before the outcome is determined.¡± Su Wan smile and did not remark, clearly treating Gu Hongyi¡¯s words as her final act of defiance. However, gritting one¡¯s teeth and toughing it out in a situation like this would not change a thing. ... Above a boundless ocean. Yaoyao¡¯s gorgeous face was impassive as she stared at the young man seated atop the water pillar. The latter was also watching her, a faint smile emerging on his face as he was just about to speak. However, Yaoyao¡¯s hand suddenly descended as ancient Genesis Runes seemed to flow down from her fingers, merging into the surface of the ocean. Rumble! Scarlet-red suddenly extended from under her feet. In the next moment, the ocean surface was ripped apart, as a several hundred feet large fire dragon suddenly emerged with a ferocious roar. The scorching heat promptly evaporated the surrounding water, as the dragon charged towards that young man named Jin Zhang with earth-shocking momentum. She attacked immediately, wasting no time talking. When Jin Zhang saw this, his pupils tightened slightly, before he suddenly clapped his hands. Rumble! The surface of the ocean swelled, as ten thousand feet tall wave rose. A giant water beast howled as it emerged from within the wave, before slamming into the fire dragon. Boom! A loud sound echoed as violent shockwaves devastated the surroundings, causing huge waves to emerge from the ocean. ¡°Junior sister Yaoyao is quite the merciless one.¡± Jin Zhang sighed as waves raged on the ocean, a grave expression present in his eyes. From the previous clash, he had felt just how terrifying his opponent was. To think that she had reached the level of creating Genesis Runes with a casual flick of her hand. If it not for the fact he was able to borrow the power of the boundary, there was no way he would be her match. Jin Zhang slowly said, ¡°However, this is the core where I can borrow the power of the boundary. I am afraid that it won¡¯t be so easy for you to pass!¡± However, Yaoyao had no intention of talking. She grasped the jade Genesis Rune Brush, its glowing tip streaking across the air as uncountable strokes rapidly took shape, ultimately transforming into numerous ancient Genesis Runes. The Genesis Qi in the vicinity was rapidly sucked over. Rumble! Boundless black clouds appeared in the sky above Yaoyao¡¯s head, lightning berserkly moving within them. Thunder boomed across the area, as an astonishing pressure spread. This sight caused the expression in Jin Zhang¡¯s eyes to grow even graver. He did not dare to waste a single moment, and lifted his palm. Boom! The ocean howled as a ten thousand feet tall wave slowly rose behind him. It was so tall that it seemed to blot out the sun, and was a majestic sight to behold. Yaoyao stared at giant wave behind Jin Zhang, as her eyes lowered slightly. She soon turned to look in another direction, as she muttered, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I will do my best to draw the power of the boundary here¡­¡± ¡°As the rest, you can only rely on yourself.¡± Her brushtip fell the moment the last word left her mouth. One could only watch as giant serpent-like lightning bolts descended, seemingly covering the entire sky as they shot towards Jin Zhang from all directions. The giant wave behind Jin Zhang transformed into giant hand, and moved to meet the numerous lightning bolts. Incessant booms immediately engulfed the area. ... On a mountain peak, Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the young girl atop an even taller mountain. Even though she seemed to be a little shy and nervous, there wasn¡¯t a hint of contempt in his eyes, but instead a grave expression. This was because he could detect the scent of danger from the girl¡¯s body. Although she called him senior brother, it was only out of courtesy. Zhou Yuan knew that if they were to go by status, he should be the one to address her as senior sister instead. ¡°The top gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak huh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself as his hand slowly tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush. He could feel a slight pressure from opponent¡¯s Spirit. Evidently, Xia Yu had reached the mid Corporeal stage, a level stronger than himself. However, the most important factor for this battle was one¡¯s Genesis Rune mastery. Otherwise, given Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation, he would have no reason to fear her. ¡°Little senior sister Xia Yu, I hope that you won¡¯t hold this against me.¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, before he suddenly moved the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. A Genesis Rune quickly took shape as the surrounding Genesis Qi began to gather. ¡°Glowing Eagle Rune!¡± The Genesis Rune rapidly expanded, Genesis Qi drumming around it as it transformed into a hundred feet tall glowing eagle. That glowing eagle screamed as it soared into the sky. The eagle then tucked in both its wings, becoming a glowing blurry shadow as it dived towards Xia Yu ¡°Swift Wind Rune!¡± As the eaglep plunged through the air, Zhou Yuan sent out another Genesis Rune. The Genesis Rune wrapped around the eagle''s wings, causing its already alarming speed to increase. ¡°Mountain Piercing Blade Rune!¡± Another Genesis Rune was sent out. Light began to flow on that eagle¡¯s beak, giving it unmatched sharpness that could pierce a mountain. At the sight of this, Xia Yu¡¯s eyes brightened slightly as she softly said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan is quite adept with Genesis Runes. To think that he can actually stack them¡­¡± Extremely precise Spirit control was required to achieve this feat. Otherwise, the Genesis Runes would collide with one another, making it extremely easy for them to destroy each other. Aowww! Light streaked across the sky. Even an ordinary sixth layer Alpha-Origin disciple would not dare to underestimate such an attack. With a gently stomp, the huge mountain beneath Xia Yu¡¯s feet began to shake. Rocks began to grow from the ground, forming multiple walls of substantial thickness. Bang! Bang! Bang! The eagle screeched as wall after wall was broken through. Rocks flew in all directions, a clear testament to the exceptional ferocity of the attack. However, the Genesis Qi around the eagle would dim with every wall it pierced. When it broke through the final wall, the eagle promptly scattered into specks of light that gently sprinkled onto Xia Yu¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. The previous attack was not a casual move, but one of his most powerful techniques. Even so, it was easily blocked by her. Xia Yu gently touched her cheek, her bright eyes looking towards Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan has good technique. If not for my favorable location, I would have been a little troubled by that attack.¡± ¡°If it was any other time, I would not take advantage of you. However, this concerns the pride of all our Spirit Rune Peak disciples. Therefore, I hope that you won¡¯t blame me senior brother!¡± A purple Genesis Brush appeared in Xia Yu¡¯s hand as she slowly tightened her grip around it. The moment her hand closed around the brush, the shy expression in her eyes completely disappeared, replaced by a powerful and confident look. Her ponytail gently danced in the wind, as the giant mountain below her feet began to rumble. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s my turn now¡­¡± ... In front of Spirit Rune Hall, a smile slowly rose from the corners of Ye Ge¡¯s mouth when he saw this. Junior sister Xia Yu was finally about to get serious. Zhou Yuan, you are about to find out how difficult it is to deal with this junior sister of ours from Spirit Rune Peak... I hope you won¡¯t end up losing too badly. Previous Chapte Chapter 355 Genesis Rune Battle Part 2 Rumble! When Xia Yu gripped the purple Genesis Rune Brush, the mountain beneath her feet suddenly began to shake violently. In the next instant, the mountain split open as a stone serpent emerged from its belly the mountain with a loud roar, and charged towards Zhou Yuan. That stone serpent ferociously rushed forward, shaking the surrounding Genesis Qi as it howled. As the stone serpent''s shadow began to engulf him, a grim expression filled his face. Xia Yu currently controlled the boundary core, allowing her to use its alarming power. The Heaven Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand swept forth as a Genesis Rune was formed. It immediately dissipated, transforming into a gale that brought Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure into the sky. The stone serpent missed its mark. However, it quickly gave chase with a roar. In the sky, Zhou Yuan continued to draw with the brush in his hand, numerous Genesis Rune strokes appeared in the air. ¡°Ice Mountain Rune!¡± A massive ice mountain emerged from within the rune. Together with a bone-chilling cold, it viciously smashed into the stone serpent. ¡°Dragon Binding Rune!¡± The ice mountain shattered as the stone serpent was pushed back. Genesis Qi swiftly gathered around the serpent¡¯s body, transforming into chains that bound its limbs. Zhou Yuan had used two grade four Genesis Runes in succession with excellent coordination and timing. Even a sixth layer Alpha-Origin disciple would be trapped by this combination. However, the young girl atop the mountain merely watched with calm eyes. Unfortunately for Zhou Yuan, the stone serpent that could borrow the power of this boundary was not going to so easily dealt with. As long as the Genesis Rune hidden within its body was not destroyed, its pursuit would not stop. Roar! Just as Xia Yu predicted, the stone serpent suddenly roared as a burst of violent Genesis Qi erupted, forcefully breaking the Genesis Qi chains, before the serpent once again began charging towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan immediately dodged the attack as he frowned slightly. It seems like this stone serpent was not weaker than a sixth layer Alpha-Origin disciple... ¡°Since the stone serpent is created from a Genesis Rune, the only way to destroy it is to destroy the rune in its body.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. However, the rune was hidden deep within the serpent''s body and was nearly impossible to find. Therefore, it was naturally going to be extremely difficult to destroy. Fortunately¡­ this wasn¡¯t really a problem for him. With a deep breath, an ancient Saint Rune slowly surfaced in the depths of his eyes. The Decoder Saint Rune. The rune that could find any weak point. The Saint Rune rotated as the stone serpent reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes gradually turned transparent. Next, Zhou Yuan saw a slowly revolving Genesis Rune at a particular sport in its belly. That Genesis Rune was the source of that stone serpent. ¡°So that¡¯s where it is¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. Roar! Meanwhile, the roaring stone serpent approached again, while Zhou Yuan¡¯s rapidly retreating body suddenly stopped. The stone serpent¡¯s giant claw mercilessly slashed downwards, the tremendous power shaking even the space around it. ¡°Great Swamp Rune!¡± The Genesis Rune in his hand left a trail in the air that turned into a Genesis Rune. The rune sucked in the nearby Genesis Qi and instantly expanded, transforming its surroundings into a giant swamp. Boom! The claw slammed into the swap, as its power was rapidly neutralized. However, the strength of the stone serpent was extraordinary, its claw managing to pierce through the swamp, allowing the remaining force to slam into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Thump! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was hurtling downwards like a cannonball. His body crashed into one of the peaks below, causing the entire top of the mountain the collapse. In the air, the stone serpent released a growl, before it began to dive down, clearly not going to show even the slightest shred of mercy. However, the instant it dashed downwards, its massive body began to tremble violently as rocks tumbled down. Surprise flashed across Xia Yu¡¯s face as her gaze turned towards serpent¡¯s belly, only to realize that a glowing Genesis Rune sword was currently lodged into its stomach. Moreover, the glowing sword just so happened to pierce the Genesis Rune hidden within the stone serpent¡¯s body. The Genesis Rune began to crumble, and the massive stone serpent ultimately exploded with a loud bang. Xia Yu¡¯s tiny mouth hung slightly ajar, as a look of bewilderment flitted across her face. She turned her head to look at Zhou Yuan, who was slowly getting up from the collapsed mountain peak, as she muttered to herself, ¡°How did he know where the Genesis Rune was located?¡± That Genesis Rune had been hidden deep inside the serpent¡¯s body, and yet, Zhou Yuan had clearly known where it was. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have stopped on purpose, causing the stone serpent to reveal an opening. Zhou Yuan slowly rose into the air. He dusted his clothes, before meeting Xia Yu¡¯s gaze. Xia Yu¡¯s seemed to glimmer as she softly said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, you have truly surprised me by defeating my stone serpent rune with your initial Corporeal stage Spirit.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and replied, ¡°I quite admire junior sister Xia Yu¡¯s talent in Genesis Runes. That serpent rune was no pushover.¡± That single Genesis Rune alone was enough to tie down a sixth layer Alpha-Origin disciple. Xia Yu covered her mouth as she laughed softly. Then, she slowly said, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for this boundary, I would have been at a disadvantage after the stone serpent rune was destroyed. However, in this place¡­ my power far exceeds your imagination.¡± ¡°Therefore¡­¡± Xia Yu slowly lifted her hand, before she suddenly clenched. Rumble! The surrounding mountain peaks instantly collapsed. As boulders tumbled downwards, four stone serpents slowly arose, and began circling around Zhou Yuan. A smile appeared on Xia Yu¡¯s face as she looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Please give up senior brother Zhou Yuan. You cannot pass.¡± ... In front of Spirit Rune Hall. As numerous gazes watched the intense match between Zhou Yuan and Xia Yu, all of them involuntarily exclaimed. ¡°It seems like Zhou Yuan is fairly skilled with Genesis Runes. I can¡¯t believe that he is able to push junior sister Xia Yu to this extent¡­¡± ¡°I have underestimated him. Unfortunately, junior sister Xia Yu has the advantage of location, and there is no way Zhou Yuan can win.¡± ¡°......¡± The Spirit Rune Peak disciples were experts of their craft, and understood how powerful Zhou Yuan¡¯s counterattacks were. In fact, it was already pretty extraordinary to accomplish such a feat using Genesis Runes. Ye Ge nonchalantly glanced at the Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi mirror. There had been no change in his expression even when he saw Zhou Yuan destroy the stone serpent. ¡°He does have some Genesis Rune talent. However, he is ultimately merely at the initial Corporeal stage. Once Xia Yu becomes serious, only defeat awaits him.¡± He was obviously far more perceptive than ordinary individuals. Therefore, he could naturally tell that Zhou Yuan had basically used up all his trump cards. Xia Yu, on the other hand, was just getting started. Therefore, there was no need for him to worry about this battle. Ye Ge withdrew his gaze and turned to the other Genesis Qi mirror. Projected within this mirror, was the intense fight between Yaoyao and Jin Zhang. The fight on this side was much more intense, grand and interesting than Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Ye Ge suddenly frowned slightly while watching, as a suspicious expression flashed across his eyes. ¡°Why¡­ does something feel off¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 356 Yaoyao’s Tactic ¡°Nine Star Rune!¡± Jin Zhang stood on a water pillar, as the bronze like Genesis Rune Brush in his hand descended. A complicated Genesis Rune promptly took shape, before the surrounding Genesis Qi stirred and began flowing towards the rune. Swoosh swoosh! Starlight blossomed as the rune seemed to transform into a patch of the starry night sky. Nine giant interlinked stars shot out, and rained down upon Yaoyao with shocking power. The entire ocean surface was ripped apart by the tremendous force. Jin Zhang¡¯s attack was merciless. Moreover, he was able to utilize eighty percent of the boundary¡¯s power because was standing on the core, allowing him to wield nearly limitless power. Nine stars seemed to howl as they rapidly grew Yaoyao¡¯s clear eyes. With a gentle shake of her hand, numerous strokes flowed from her jade brush. ¡°Millenium Ice Shield Rune!¡± A Genesis Rune was swiftly formed, and immediately submerged into the water below. A thousand foot tall water shield instantly rose, standing in front of her as it transformed into a giant ice shield. Mysterious glowing runes were embedded into the shield, making it appear indestructible. Boom! Boom! The nine stars descended, viciously blasting onto the ice shield as cracks immediately appeared. Star after star fell as more and more cracks emerged. In the end, the ice shield reached its limit and promptly exploded into ice shards that filled the sky. Jin Zhang raised his brows slightly when he saw that his Genesis Rune attack was neutralized, but was not surprised. He faintly chuckled as his Genesis Rune Brush fell once again, and a Genesis Rune merged with the water below. Ch! Ch! In the next instant, a faint sound was suddenly heard from the water beneath Yaoyao¡¯s feet. One could only watch as innumerable razor sharp icicles shot out, aimed at Yaoyao¡¯s vital points. Yaoyao¡¯s foot gently tapped the air, and soared into the sky with a gentle gust as she drew another Genesis Rune. ¡°Steel Water Rune!¡± The ocean surface rippled as an area of the sea rapidly turned pitch-black like black metal. Clang! Clang! Clang! Countless razor-sharp icicles stabbed at the black metal like water. However, the black water was as tough as metal, and every icicle that smashed into it was shattered into pieces. The two parties rapidly exchanged blow after blow in an exceptionally intense battle. Every Genesis Rune boasted alarming power, making the fight far more ferocious than the duel between Zhou Yuan and Xia Yu. However, Jin Zhang was obviously the one with the initiative, borrowing the endless power of the boundary to release an unending onslaught, while Yaoyao chose to concentrate on neutralizing his attacks. As such, it naturally appeared like she was more on the defense. Atop the water pillar, Jin Zhang¡¯s eyes flickered faintly in thought as he observed Yaoyao¡¯s alluring figure. From the earlier exchanges, he could feel that Yaoyao was somewhat wary of him, likely because the latter must have deduced that he currently enjoyed a limitless source of power thanks to the boundary. ¡°Since junior Sister Yaoyao likes to play defense, try countering this attack!¡± With a slight smile on his face, Jin Zhang¡¯s brush fiercely jabbed in the air. Rumble! Countless glowing dots instantly rose from within the ocean under Yaoyao¡¯s feet. Upon closer inspection, one would realize that two large crescent moons were slowly taking shape in the water below. The crescent moons slowly spun like blades, slicing apart the water as they swept past. An indescribable sharp aura spread from them, and even the moon light that spilled out drilled numerous holes in the ocean surface. Jin Zhang looked at Yaoyao and said, ¡°This is the Double Moon Spirit Rune. Normally speaking, using it will spend all of my energy. I can only use it without restraint in a place like this.¡± ¡°I hope junior sister Yaoyao can give me some pointers on it.¡± He pointed, and the two crescent moons in the ocean quickly rose. Following which, they charged towards Yaoyao at an alarming speed, the pulsing moon light leaving two thousand foot long scars on the ocean surface... Countless gasps sounded when the crowd in front of Spirit Rune Hall saw this shocking attack. Everyone present knew that this Genesis Rune was Jin Zhang¡¯s most prided signature killing move. No expert below the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage could block his Double Moon Spirit Rune. ¡°Sigh, why did Zhou Xiaoyao allow Jin Zhang to complete the rune¡­ once its used, she has no hope of victory.¡± ¡°She has been constantly forced into the defense, and seems to be rather wary of Jin Zhang. The latter can borrow the power of the boundary after all.¡± ¡°What a pity¡­¡± Numerous disciples shook their heads as they sighed, while relaxed expressions appeared on the faces of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples. They believed that once the Double Moon Spirit Rune was used, the pace of the fight would completely fall into senior brother Jin Zhang¡¯s hands. Zhou Xiaoyao, whom was highly praised by peak master, doesn¡¯t seem to be anything special? Ye Ge¡¯s was focused on the Genesis Qi mirror, frowning as he watched their fight. Even though Jin Zhang had the initiative, the former felt uneasy for some unknown reason. Was Yaoyao really so easy to deal with? Even if Jin Zhang could utilize the power of this boundary, was that truly enough to force Yaoyao into the defense? ¡°You¡­ what exactly are you plotting?¡± Mumbled Ye Ge to himself. Buzz! Under the attention of the crowd, the two crescent moons tore across the surface of the ocean at an alarming speed, homing in onto Yaoyao from her left and right. They travelled along mysterious trajectories that sealed off all of Yaoyao¡¯s retreat paths. Yaoyao stood atop the ocean, not even the slightest ripple in her calm expression. The Genesis Rune Brush in her hand did not move either, as if she was going to do nothing and allow the two crescent moons to strike. The countless disciples in front of the Spirit Rune Hall gasped in shock. Ye Ge¡¯s pupils widened a little, but he did not make a sound. He knew that peak master was also closely observing this match, and there was no way he would allow anything to happen to Yaoyao. However, why wasn¡¯t Yaoyao putting up any resistance? Ch! Two crescent moons ripped across the surface of the ocean. In the midst of numerous shocked gasps, they flashed past Yaoyao¡¯s delicate body¡­ ¡°Was she hit?!¡± The complexions of numerous disciples paled. Not even a ninth layer Alpha-Origin expert could not withstand such an attack with his or her body, right? Moreover, Yaoyao¡¯s strength lay in Genesis Runes, and did not even have a tiny bit of Genesis Qi protecting her body. Atop the water pillar, Jin Zhang¡¯s expression changed slightly at the sight of the crescent moons cutting through Yaoyao¡¯s delicate body, as he cried out, ¡°Junior sister Yaoyao?¡± However, he immediately realized that something was amiss. Yaoyao was still silently standing there, her clear eyes indifferently looking at him. No blood could be seen on her body. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Jin Zhang¡¯s pupils shrank, while expression of the numerous watching disciples quickly changed, feeling that something was very strange about this situation. Ye Ge was the only one whose eyes were rapidly flickering in thought. A moment later, he seemed to have came to a sudden realization. Disbelief immediately flooded his eyes as he involuntarily cried out, ¡°Could it be?!¡± Crack! The moment his voice sounded, Jin Zhang suddenly saw numerous cracks appear in his surroundings like broken glass. In that instant, a wave of giddiness swept over his Spirit. Crack! Crack! The cracks grew and extended, as if the entire world around him was about to collapse. Jin Zhang initially stunned by the sight of the world crumbling around him. Following which, something suddenly struck him and he immediately bit his tongue, sending a stream of essence blood gushing out that was quickly absorbed by his Spirit. Jin Zhang shut his eyes at this moment, only opening them again several breaths later. His crumbling surroundings was stealthily repaired as the entire place fell silent. All one could only hear were the gently stirring waves on the ocean. There was no trace of the earth-shaking battle earlier. As if it was just a dream. However, Jin Zhang abruptly turned his head to look at where Yaoyao was originally standing, only to realize that it was now empty. He then lifted his trembling head, finding a beautiful figure silently standing atop a water pillar. The same pillar where the core was located. The core which he had been protecting, had been bafflingly taken over by Yaoyao... ¡°How did this happen?!¡± The numerous disciples In front of Spirit Rune Hall were stupefied. Ye Ge took in a deep breath, the expression in his eyes turning extremely solemn as he slowly said, ¡°To think that we would have the chance to observe the rare illusion Genesis Rune¡­ her Genesis Rune mastery is truly terrifying. Jin Zhang had been trapped in her illusion rune since the beginning, and that intense fight had merely taken place in his imagination.¡± Jin Zhang had appeared to have the upper hand in the fight, but what he did not know, was that he was only wasting his energy attacking empty air. On the other hand, Yaoyao had mostly likely been watching him randomly hurl out attacks from afar, while slowly walking out of the core area. In the meantime, she had slowly made her way over, and occupied the boundary core¡­ Truly¡­ a bizarre tactic. Ye Ge sighed softly and pursed his lips. As expected, everything was in the palm of Yaoyao¡¯s hand. Fortunately for them, though Yaoyao had taken over one of the cores, she still needed Zhou Yuan¡¯s coordination to break the boundary. As long as Zhou Yuan was unable to take over the core on his side, there was ultimately nothing Yaoyao could do. Ye Ge lifted his head and turned towards the other Genesis Qi mirror. ¡°Junior sister Xia Yu¡­ looks like the rest is up to you¡­¡± ¡°In the first place, we did not have any expectations of Jin Zhang. Your fight is where the real show is, and there is no way Zhou Yuan can defeat you¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 357 Spirit Suppressed ¡°Senior brother Jin Zhang has lost after all¡­¡± ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao is simply too formidable, to think that she is even capable of the extremely rare illusion rune! Moreover, even senior brother Jin Zhang was tricked!¡± ¡°Such illusion runes are extremely demanding on one¡¯s Spirit. Since senior brother Jin Zhang fell for it, this means that Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit is stronger than his¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s no wonder peak master Bai Mei has such a high opinion of her. Her Genesis Rune talent is truly unbelievable.¡± ¡°......¡± The area in front of Spirit Rune Hall burst into noise the moment one of the matches ended, the faces of every disciple filled with shock. Them had initially been under the impression that Yaoyao had been forced into the defense, and no one had expected that all of it would turn out to be the handiwork of a single illusion rune. Everything they had seen, including Jin Zhang himself, was merely an illusion. Every single one of his earth-shaking attacks had merely been a waste of his energy. Li Qingchan gracefully stood in front of a stone pavilion, amazement involuntarily rising in her eyes as she gazed at Yaoyao¡¯s figure in the mirror. The latter¡¯s victory had truly been both spectacular and bizzare. None of them expected that she would actually deploy such an unusual tactic to easily secure the boundary core. With the core now below her feet, a single thought was all it would take to shatter it. If there had only been one core in the boundary, Yaoyao would have already won. Unfortunately... Li Qingchan gently sighed as her eyes rotated to look at the other Genesis Qi mirror. To break this boundary, both cores had to be simultaneously destroyed. Though Yaoyao had already succeeded, the other core was still firmly under Xia Yu¡¯s grasp. Moreover, it seemed like Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t stand a chance at all. Li Qingchan regretfully said, ¡°Yaoyao, I¡¯ve already told you earlier that you should not pin your hopes on Zhou Yuan. Although he is fairly talented, he is ultimately still lacking.¡± It was such a waste of Yaoyao¡¯s brilliant performance.. ¡°What a pity¡­¡± Su Wan also shook her head, regret filling her face. Beside her, Gu Hongyi¡¯s hands were tightly clenched, her eyes tightly glued to Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi mirror as she said, ¡°Senior sister Su Wan, the match hasn¡¯t ended yet!¡± Su Wan looked at the Genesis Qi mirror and helplessly shook her head as she watched Zhou Yuan being chased by four stone serpents. ¡°You really don¡¯t know when to give up¡­¡± ¡°How can he possibly be Xia Yu¡¯s match¡­¡± ... Boom! Four stone serpents flew across the sky, Genesis Qi surging around their bodies. Four stone tails were suddenly swung, transforming into blurred shadows as they descended from the sky and viciously swatted at Zhou Yuan. Four serpent tails sealed off all possible paths of escape. The brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand swiftly darted across the air, drawing stroke after after as the surrounding Genesis Qi was sucked over. ¡°Metal Turtle Shell Rune!¡± A Genesis Rune extended above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, rapidly growing into a hundred foot wide glowing turtle shell that gave off a feeling of invincibility. Dong! The four serpent tails slammed viciously against the turtle shell, causing cracks to appear immediately. With a loud bang, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body shot downwards, creating a huge crater in the ground. Zhou Yuan could not help but whimper a little as he lay face up inside the crater. These stone serpents were truly ferocious, and each one was likely no weaker than Wei Youxuan. With four of them were working together, they became an even more formidable force. Roar! The four stone serpents roared. They did not give Zhou Yuan any chance to catch his breath, charging downwards once again to attack him. The tremendous pressure that pulsed from their bodies made the ground crack and crumble. Though the four stone serpents rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, there was only calmness on his face. Boom! Just as the stone serpents were about to reach him, the ground around Zhou Yuan suddenly crumbled as four earth spikes abruptly shot out. The spikes were covered in glowing runes. Ch! The four earth spikes were as swift as thunder. They pierced directly into the bodies of the stone serpents, shattering the runes within them. Zhou Yuan grinned as he watched the four stone serpents crumble. However, his smile had barely surfaced when his eyes abruptly widened. He had just discovered that as the four serpents crumbled, invisible Spirit undulations were rapidly gathering together, ultimately transforming into a giant transparent Spirit stamp that immediately descended with a loud rumble. Rumble! Even though there was no visible disturbance from the ground, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression rapidly changed the instant the Spirit stamp fell. He never expected the meek looking Xia Yu to be formidable in battle. It turns out that the stone serpents from earlier were merely decoys, and the real killing move was the giant Spirit stamp hidden within them. This wasn¡¯t an attack aimed at killing him. Instead, she clearly intended on purely using the might of her Spirit to suppress him, and leave him with no way of retaliation. Zhou Yuan sat up as the spot between his brows began to flicker. A Spirit slowly rose from within, coming to a stop above his head. This Spirit looked exactly the same as Zhou Yuan, and was fairly corporeal. It was his materialized Spirit. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit raised both of its arms as Spirit force spread from it, unwaveringly resisting the slowing descending Spirit stamp. Atop the mountain peak, Xia Yu looked at Zhou Yuan before she slowly said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, my Spirit has already stepped into the mid Corporeal stage, while yours is only at the initial stage. It is useless no matter how you resist.¡± Zhou Yuan did not answer. The Spirit above his head continued to circulate its Spirit power to push back the giant Spirit stamp. Xia Yu did not say anything else when she saw this. Her hand formed a seal, and the giant Spirit stamp slowly began to descend. As the giant Spirit stamp slowly descended, Zhou Yuan could feel an enormous pressure. He frowned slightly as his eyes flickered in thought. A moment later, a cold expression surfaced on his face. ¡°Mid Corporeal stage huh¡­¡± He muttered to himself, before he took in a deep breath and slowly shut his eyes. All of his Spirit power poured out. Due to the tremendous pressure from above, a faint light began to appear on the Spirit above his head. The Saint Spirit Crystal revolved between his brows as strand after strand of a cooling aura poured out, before being absorbed by the Spirit above his head. Though the giant Spirit stamp¡¯s descent was extremely slow, there seemed to be no way to stop it as it slowly inched downwards. At this rate, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit would eventually be suppressed. Anyone could tell that Zhou Yuan had completely fallen into a disadvantage. However, Zhou Yuan looked as if he was oblivious to his plight. Despite the overwhelming pressure from above, his Spirit continued to face the slowly descending giant Spirit stamp. Countless disciples in front of Spirit Rune Hall secretly shook their head. Zhou Yuan had caused so many commotions previously, but it seemed that he had finally met his match this time... ¡°He¡¯s finally going to suffer!¡± A smile had already emerged on Lu Xuanyin¡¯s face. She never imagined that she would see Zhou Yuan hit his first setback, not by her hand but at Spirit Rune Peak. Beside her, Xu Yan smiled faintly. Zhou Yuan was ultimately only a new disciple, and even though he was quite talented, he still lacked experience and maturity. After today, he should finally learn that in the Cangxuan Sect, a mere gold-sash disciple had no right to do as he pleased... Nearby, Su Wan gently patted Gu Hongyi¡¯s shoulder, indicating that she should look on the bright side. However, Gu Hongyi tightly bit her lip, her gaze never straying from the Genesis Qi mirror. In front of Spirit Rune Hall, numerous disciples watched the slowly descending giant Spirit stamp above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head... All of them knew that the moment it landed would also be the moment of Zhou Yuan¡¯s loss. Previous Chapte Chapter 358 Spirit Lifts Stamp A transparent Spirit stamp slowly sank in the air. Though it appeared incorporeal, the overwhelming pressure it possessed filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire face with a grim expression. Although only one lesser stage separated the initial and mid Corporeal stage, the gap between them was extraordinary. This could be seen from how Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had yet to reach the mid Corporeal stage even after several months of training. Although a large portion of the time had been spent on Genesis Qi cultivation, it did not mean that he had forsaken his Spirit cultivation. He could feel that his Spirit was already at the peak of the initial stage, and only a single step separated him from the mid stage... It was this tiny step that had obstructed Zhou Yuan for so long. Zhou Yuan knew that all he lacked was a breakthrough opportunity. The pressure from the giant Spirit stamp poured down from above, invading every pore, while the Spirit above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head beared every last ounce of it. Though the pressure attempted to overwhelm him, Zhou Yuan did not feel the least bit panicked, and instead calmly began to circulate Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. He had been searching for an opportunity for a Spirit breakthrough all this time, and this was that moment. Under the dreadful pressure, he did everything he could to withstand it so that he would reach his limits. Only at his limit would he be able to take a tiny step forward once again, breaking through the long standing obstruction that stood before him. If fate did not bestow a chance onto him, he would have to create it himself. Zhou Yuan concentrated as he steadied his heart, turning it into a deep, rippleless pool. As the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method began to circulate, he could feel his Spirit begin to glow. Under the tremendous pressure, instead of gradually falling apart, his Spirit slowly grew increasingly corporeal and condense. Above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, the giant Spirit stamp continued its descent at an extremely slow speed, already no more than a few dozen feet from Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit... If the giant stamp touched his Spirit, it would surely be injured. Even so, Zhou Yuan remained as calm and stable as a rock. ... In front of Spirit Rune Hall, countless gazes stared at the slowly falling stamp, the disturbing sight making the hearts of many disciples beat faster. ¡°What is Zhou Yuan up to? Why isn¡¯t he moving? Does he really intend on taking that stamp head on with his Spirit?¡± ¡°That¡¯s way too foolish. Little senior sister Xiao Yu¡¯s Spirit has already stepped into the mid Corporeal stage, far surpassing his Spirit cultivation!¡± ¡°What a fool. If he doesn¡¯t admit defeat soon, it won¡¯t be a pretty sight when the giant Spirit stamp lands.¡± ¡°......¡± Numerous whispers spread as the many disciples watched the slowly descending stamp gradually approach Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. It was obvious that the stamp would ultimately crush the latter¡¯s Spirit. When that happened, it would be Zhou Yuan¡¯s crushing defeat. Ye Ge was also focused on Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, but the former¡¯s brows were slightly furrowed. His sharp senses could detect that the falling Spirit stamp was becoming slower and slower... Zhou Yuan¡¯s resistance was evidently growing stronger and stronger. ¡°What is Zhou Yuan up to?¡± Ye Ge was silent for a moment, before his pupils suddenly tightened as he mumbled, ¡°Could he be¡­ purposely allowing himself to fall into danger to push himself to his limits, allowing his Spirit to break through into the mid Corporeal stage?!¡± Ye Ge¡¯s expression changed slightly. If his conjecture was true, Zhou Yuan¡¯s decisiveness and courage would be very commendable. This would undoubtedly be a gamble. If he lost, his Spirit would be injured, and recovery would certainly take a long time. Ye Ge stared at the slowly descending giant Spirit stamp above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. If Zhou Yuan failed to ascend before the stamp crushed his Spirit, he would lose this gamble... ¡°Zhou Yuan, I don¡¯t believe that you will be able to achieve a breakthrough in such a short amount of time¡­¡± ... In another location in the boundary. Yaoyao stood on a water pillar, while Jin Zhang stood on the surface of the ocean, no longer having any intent to attack. He knew that he would be even less than Yaoyao¡¯s match without the aid of the boundary core. However, he was not worried because the core¡¯s position would change as time flowed. When that happened, he would have a chance to occupy it again. As long as the other boundary core wasn¡¯t broken, he would have nothing to fear on his side, and could drag Yaoyao back into a deadlock. Jin Zhang raised his head slightly, looking in a certain direction. Junior sister Xia Yu, as long as you manage to stall Zhou Yuan, it will be our victory... ... Time slowly flowed. The giant Spirit stamp was now a single foot from Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit! The seemingly endless pressure that poured down caused sweat to drench Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body and dampen his clothes. It was at this moment that the pressure suddenly multiplied, and the stamp began to fall even faster, descending little by little under the countless watching eyes. The distance slowly shortened from a foot to two inches... Sighs of pity could be heard in front of Spirit Rune Hall. From the looks of it, a loss was already unavoidable. Gu Hongyi tightly bit into her lip as her eyes dimmed slightly. Beside her, Su Wan patted the former¡¯s shoulder and consoled, ¡°He¡¯s already pretty remarkable to have endured till now. Xia Yu is the number one gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak after all, and one of the strongest contenders for champion in the upcoming purple sash selection. There is no shame in losing to her.¡± ¡°He¡¯s lost at last!¡± In another corner of the place, a gloating smile surfaced on Lu Xuanyin¡¯s pretty face. Xu Yan chuckled and said, ¡°Truly a pity. Looks like he won¡¯t be able to enjoy the present I originally prepared for him for the purple sash selection.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit would surely be injured once he lost, and would take several months at least to recover. This would naturally make it impossible for him to participate in the purple sash selection. Under the many pitying and gloating gazes, the giant Spirit stamp descended once again. Two inches¡­ one inch¡­ Ye Ge¡¯s expression relaxed slightly at this moment as he softly said, ¡°To have persisted for so long, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit is more tenacious than expected.¡± An ordinary initial Corporeal stage Spirit would have been defeated long ago, while it had taken all the way till now for Zhou Yuan to reach his limit. Sighs seemed to envelope the mountain as the falling stamp finally came into contact with the Spirit above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. In the next instant, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit would be forcibly suppressed. On the mountain peak, relief finally began to flood Xia Yu¡¯s fair little face when she saw this as she breathed a sigh of relief. He¡¯s been dealt with at last. Zhou Yuan was clearly only at the initial Corporeal stage, but he was as tough as a rock, making him a difficult opponent to deal with. ¡°Thankfully, I¡¯ve not betrayed the expectation of the many fellow disciples of Spirit Rune Peak.¡± A faint smile appeared on Xia Yu¡¯s face. The moment her smile appeared, however, a faint buzz suddenly sounded from the giant Spirit stamp. The smile on Xia Yu¡¯s face froze slightly as she abruptly looked towards the source of the noise, only to see Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes finally slowly crack open at this moment. An extremely sharp glimmer seemed to flash across his pupils, making Xia Yu¡¯s heart shiver slightly. Zhou Yuan lowered his head and looked at the ring on his finger, which had begun to heat up. His gaze lowered slightly as the Spirit above his head suddenly opened its eyes. A halo of spirit light immediately pulsed, circling around his Spirit. Next, Xia Yu¡¯s pupils aburptly shrank. She had just seen Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit extend its arms, and prop them against the falling stamp. It was as if thunder was rumbling loudly in her ears as the giant Spirit stamp was slowly pushed up by Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. Like a giant slowly lifting a mountain. ¡°How can this be¡­¡± Mumbled Xia Yu, her face was filled with astonishment. At the same time, the innumerable disciples in front of Spirit Rune Hall, who were still sighing over Zhou Yuan, also saw this scene, causing earth-shaking cries of surprise to erupt. ¡°Oh my god¡­ Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit has lifted the stamp?!¡± ¡°How is this possible?! He¡¯s only at the initial Corporeal stage. How can he possibly lift the stamp made from little senior sister Xia Yu¡¯s Spirit?!¡± ¡°.....¡± The area in front of Spirit Rune Hall had fallen into an uproar. The relaxed smile on Ye Ge¡¯s face slowly turned rigid at this moment. Previous Chapte Chapter 359 Breakthrough, Mid Corporeal Stage! Before Spirit Rune Hall, countless gazes were dumbstruck as they stared at the scene in the Genesis Qi mirror. One could only watch as the Spirit above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head raised both its arms, and reached towards the falling giant Spirit stamp, before slowly lifting it! *Uproar*! It was as the atmosphere had exploded as a torrential flood of noise engulfed the area. ¡°How can this be?! How can he lift little senior sister Xia Yu¡¯s Spirit stamp?!¡± ¡°Little senior sister Xia Yu is at the mid Corporeal stage!¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t Zhou Yuan being suppressed earlier?!¡± ¡°......¡± The Spirit Rune Peak disciples especially were unable to believe their eyes. Every single one of them was barely able to speak, clearly extremely shocked by the sight they had just seen. They had originally believed Xia Yu¡¯s victory was already set in stone. Who would have imagined such an earth-shaking turn of events at the final moment! ¡°This¡­¡± Su Wan¡¯s mouth opened and closed as she dazedly stared at this scene, her hand still on Gu Hongyi¡¯s shoulder to console her to accept reality. Who could have imagined that in the blink of an eye, Su Wan would become the one who needed accept reality instead. ¡°How is this possible?¡± Mumbled Su Wan. Beside her, the dimness in Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyes had completely vanished, replaced by a dazzling splendour. She grabbed Su Wan¡¯s wrist and said with an overwhelmingly bright smile, ¡°Senior sister Su Wan, I told you that it won¡¯t be good to give a verdict before its over.¡± As Gu Hongyi lifted her head to look at the young figure inside the Genesis Qi mirror, she gently bit into her red lips. It seemed that he would never easily give up no matter what kind of difficulties he faced. Such will power and tenacity was truly admirable to Gu Hongyi. While Gu Hongyi was glowing with joy, the smile on Lu Xuanyin¡¯s face rapidly turned rigid as her complexion became ashen. It seemed that she had basically been slapped in the face by Zhou Yuan again? Beside her, the corners of Xu Yan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, a skin deep smile on his face as he said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is truly surprising¡­¡± The only two individuals that had been able to sense Zhou Yuan¡¯s transformation were Ye Ge and Li Qingchan. They stared hard at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, as amazement appeared in their eyes. ¡°His¡­ Spirit has advanced!¡± It was obvious that only by stepping into the mid Corporeal stage would his Spirit finally gain the power to resist Xi Yu¡¯s Spirit stamp. In other words, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gamble had paid off. He had borrowed the tremendous pressure from Xia Yu¡¯s Spirit stamp to force put himself in a dangerous situation, allowing his Spirit to reach its limit and ultimately break through this limit, completing the breakthrough. It may seem simple when described, but who knew how much risk was involved. After all, not just anyone would have the balls to challenge one¡¯s limit at such a time, because failure would result in terrible injuries. But Zhou Yuan seemed to not know the meaning of fear. Li Qingchan¡¯s cold and clear gaze stared at his figure in amazement as she mumbled, ¡°No wonder Yaoyao is so confident in him, it appears that it is I who has underestimated him.¡± The amazement on Ye Ge¡¯s face slowly receded, returning to calmness. Zhou Yuan¡¯s last-minute breakthrough had exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations, but it would only put him on the same level as Xia Yu. She currently still had the power of the boundary to augment her strength, and Zhou Yuan would not be her match even if he was also at the mid Corporeal stage. ... Rumble! The Spirit above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head slowly stood up, its arms slowly lifting the giant Spirit stamp as if it was carrying a mountain. In the end, a circular pulse of Spirit light exploded. Dong! The giant Spirit stamp was finally sent flying, hurling towards Xia Yu on the mountain peak. Xia Yu beckoned with her hand, and the stamp transformed into translucent light that submerged into the spot between her brows. She lowered her head to stare at Zhou Yuan, as she said with some admiration, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, I never imagined that you would make use of my Spirit pressure to aid in completing your breakthrough.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s decisiveness and boldness had shaken Xia Yu¡¯s heart. Zhou Yuan stretched his neck from side to side as he stood up from the giant crater, while his Spirit slowly descended and submerged into his head. ¡°Little senior sister Xia Yu is too strong, leaving me no option but to take a risk.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as he felt the vigorous Spirit power between his brows. His Spirit had become even more corporeal and condensed than before, multiplying the amount of Spirit power he could utilise by over a dozen times. This made the surroundings become even clearer in Zhou Yuan¡¯s senses. In fact, he could already faintly feel the paths of the flowing Genesis Qi in the vicinity. Xia Yu looked at Zhou Yuan and earnestly said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, if we were not in the boundary, it would likely be tough to predict which one of us would triumph over the other. Unfortunately, we are in the boundary and I have the absolute homeground advantage, so I hope that you can admit defeat because you have no chance against me.¡± ¡°It was really hard for me to reach the mid Corporeal stage, so I should give my new found strength a test drive, right?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Xia Yu helplessly shook her head. ¡°It seems that senior brother Zhou Yuan has not given up yet. Since that is so, let us continue.¡± The Genesis Rune Brush in her hand began to flicker the moment the final word left her lips. Rumble! However, Zhou Yuan was even quicker. A rune rapidly took shape at the tip of his falling brush, and propelled his body forward like a gust of wind. After advancing to the mid Corporeal stage, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel his increasing swiftness and fluidity in drawing Genesis Runes. Xia Yu also completed her move at this moment. One could only watch as the mountain burst open, sending out giant boulder after boulder that ruthlessly shot towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Heavenly Blade Rune!¡± With a shake of his wrist, the Genesis Rune Brush flitted across the air, leaving behind a complicated rune. A sharp aura pulsed from the rune as the surrounding Genesis Qi surged towards it, transforming it into a hundred foot long glowing blade. The deadly blade zoomed forward, seemingly leaving a cut in space itself when it passed. Shck! The glowing blade swept forth, slicing apart the rocks as it chopped downwards at Xia Yu like a guillotine. However, Xia Yu quickly slammed her foot into the ground, causing thick rock walls to rise from the mountain below her feet and block the glowing blade. Swish! Swoosh! Zhou Yuan took the initiative, sending out rune after rune with quick flicks of his hand. The Genesis Qi in the area stirred as a storm of attacks engulfed Xia Yu. However, Xia Yu met Zhou Yuan¡¯s offensive with a fearless smile. By tapping into the endless power from the boundary, she easily neutralized Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire bombardment. As Ye Ge had predicted, though advancing to the mid Corporeal stage had placed Zhou Yuan on the same level as Xia Yu, she still had the homeground advantage from the boundary. In the boundary, she had access to its almost boundless power. The best outcome Zhou Yuan could achieve was to drag the fight from his almost certain defeat to a stalemate. But even if he managed to do so, his side would not be able to break out of the boundary. In addition, both Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao would ultimately exhaust all of their energy as time passed, while Jin Zhang Xia Yu would remain undefeatable due to the boundary¡¯s power. Ye Ge was not the only one who came to this conclusion. As the fight between the two parties continued, more and more of the numerous disciples in front of Spirit Rune Hall also began to realize this. ¡°From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan won¡¯t be able to win even after advancing to the mid Corporeal stage.¡± ¡°Turning around what looked to be almost certain defeat is already very amazing of him. He is no simple individual.¡± ¡°He does have some ability. Unfortunately, breaking through the boundary looked to be hopeless.¡± ¡°......¡± A look of pity was likewise revealed on Su Wan¡¯s face as she remarked, ¡°Truly a pity that he¡¯s still unable to obtain victory.¡± This time, Gu Hongyi smiled faintly and said, ¡°Senior sister Su Wan¡¯s expectations are too high, it¡¯s already very amazing for him to have forced little senior sister Xia Yu into a deadlock.¡± She was clearly already very satisfied by Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance today. Su Wan nodded in agreement. A trace of graveness appeared in her eyes for the first time when she looked towards Zhou Yuan again. After the earlier breakthrough, he now had the qualifications for her to see him as an opponent. ¡°It seems that the outcome won¡¯t change¡­¡± ... Rumble! Numerous Genesis Rune attacks collided against each other, quite a grand sight to behold. Another wave of runes met, destroying each other. Xia Yu looked at Zhou Yuan with her bright eyes and said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, why do you continue with this useless assault, it¡¯s only a waste of energy.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flashed as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand suddenly jerked. Its snow-white brush hairs abruptly shot forth, wrapping around the mountain top below Xia Yu¡¯s feet like a long white whip, as his figure was pulled towards the mountain in a flash. Upon seeing this, Xia Yu pointed her brush, as a roaring stone serpent emerged and charged towards Zhou Yuan. The Saint Rune in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes spun as his figure shot into the stone serpent¡¯s giant mouth. A few breaths later, a ripple violently pulsed from the serpent¡¯s belly, the rune within its body destroyed by Zhou Yuan. Boom! The stone serpent¡¯s body exploded into countless rock fragments. A figure shot out, dashing up the mountain in a few breaths. Xia Yu¡¯s hands came together, the mountain top shuddering as countless sharp spikes rose from the ground, sealing off Zhou Yuan¡¯s path. However, Zhou Yuan was surprisingly quick. He shuttled past the countless earth spike, and appeared directly in front of Xia Yu like a phantom. Xia Yu was naturally alarmed by Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden appearance before her, but immediately regained her calm as she weakly said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, we can¡¯t rely on our Genesis Qi cultivation here, so it''s useless even if you come all the way here.¡± ¡°Moreover, this is the core, making the power I can utilise here even stronger.¡± The instant her words faded, the ground around her began to swell as rock wall after wall emerged, looming at Zhou Yuan from all directions. Zhou Yuan looked at the young girl before him, whose seemingly weak appearance seemed to contain a sliver of cunningness, as he grinned and playfully said, ¡°Is little senior sister Xia Yu really so confident in your Spirit?¡± ¡°If so, shall I test it?¡± He suddenly took a step forward, his body nearly touching Xia Yu¡¯s. As his male presence swept over her, Xia Yu¡¯s face turned a little red as she took half a step back in a somewhat panicked manner. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s head suddenly loomed towards her, his face rapidly growing in Xia Yu¡¯s eyes. Under her panicked and alarmed gaze, he gently placed his forehead against hers. When their foreheads touched, they could both feel each other¡¯s breaths, their faces practically meeting. Xia Yu¡¯s faec instantly turned beet-red. Before she could cry out in embarrassment, however, her expression suddenly changed. She had felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit ferociously charge towards her when their skin touched. ¡°Have a taste of the terror I¡¯ve experienced.¡± A low voice sounded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Xia Yu¡¯s Spirit violently trembled, finding herself now in an endless starry sky. Her Spirit stood this starry sky as a seemingly endless mottled divine grindstone slowly loomed towards her, bringing with it the overwhelming aura of destruction. In an instant, endless fear frantically rose in Xia Yu¡¯s heart like weeds. Previous Chapte Chapter 360 Breaking the Boundary An impossibly gigantic mottled divine grindstone slowly loomed towards Xia Yu¡¯s Spirit in the vast, endless starry sky. In its presence, her Spirit felt as tiny as a grain of sand. Terror wildly sprung up in her heart like weeds. No matter how strong Xia Yu¡¯s Spirit was, an uncontrollable trembling bubbled from the depths of her Spirit in the face of this scene. She could clearly sense just how terrifying the mottled divine grindstone before her was... ¡°What¡­ what is this?!¡± Even Xia Yu¡¯s voice was shaking at this moment. Rumble! The mottled divine grindstone slowly approached Xia Yus¡¯ Spirit. No matter how frantically she tried to flee, it was useless in the face of the divine grindstone¡¯s infinite mass. As such, she could only powerlessly watch as it slowly crushed down onto her. Bang! Her Spirit seemed to shatter at this moment. ARHHH! A miserable shriek followed. On the mountain top, Xia Yu¡¯s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened, fear filling her large eyes as she stumbled backwards with a deathly pale face. The Spirit between her brows had turned dim, evidently injured due to the earlier sight. As she staggered backwards, a foot suddenly found empty air, sending her body falling down a cliff. Swish! A stream of snow-white whizzed downwards, wrapping around her slender waist. Zhou Yuan was perched on the cliff, looking down at the fear and panic filled eyes of Xia Yu as he smiled slightly and said, ¡°Thanks for the win little senior sister Xia Yu.¡± With a little jerk of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, he gently tossed Xia Yu towards one of the other mountain peaks. Xia Yu landed on the mountain, her pretty face still pale as she looked at Zhou Yuan, and asked in a slightly shaky voice, ¡°What did you do to me? Was that an illusion?¡± But why had it felt so real? If it had been fake, she had no doubt that her tough Spirit would have been able to easily withstand it. Zhou Yuan merely smiled, not answering her question. It was through the divine grindstone brand master Cang Xuan had left on his Spirit that he was able to practice the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. However, those without this brand would have no way to resist the divine grindstone. Even so, it was practically impossible for him to drag someone else¡¯s Spirit into the divine grindstone¡¯s realm. If Xia Yu had not underestimated him and allowed him to approach her, he would never have succeeded. Fortunately for him, he had ultimately succeeded. And now, the mountain below his feet was the exact location of the boundary core... He raised his finger, feeling the ring on it grow increasingly hot. Yaoyao was obviously hurrying him. Hence, Zhou Yuan slammed his foot into the ground. Boom! The mountain peak instantly began to crumble, cracks spreading as boulders tumbled downwards. The original majestic mountain top was soon reduced to a pile of rubble. ... At another location in the boundary. Yaoyao stood on a water pillar, while the chief disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, Jin Zhang, yawned some distance in front of her, before he playfully said, ¡°Junior sister Yaoyao, the location of the boundary core is about to change.¡± The water pillar under her feet gradually began to shrink at this moment, evidently soon to return to the ocean. Once the boundary core location changed, Yaoyao¡¯s advantage would be reset to zero. Moreover, after suffering at the hands of the illusion rune from earlier, Jin Zhang would be even more vigilant, and try his best not to be caught by it again. Yaoyao lowered her head to look at the gradually shrinking water pillar. Not a single ripple could be seen on her face as she gently stroked the finger on her hand. She knew that Zhou Yuan would not be able to use Genesis Qi in this boundary, and his battle with the number one gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak was indeed going to be quite unfavorable for him. Thus, even if Zhou Yuan ultimately failed, Yaoyao would not feel any disappointment. In her opinion, this boundary was actually quite good training for Zhou Yuan. If they failed today, they would just come again tomorrow. Until the day Zhou Yuan would finally defeat Xia Yu. ¡°Oh?¡± However, while these thoughts were swirling in Yaoyao¡¯s head, her expression suddenly changed for the first time, as if sensing something. On the surface of the ocean, Jin Zhang¡¯s originally relaxed expression froze as he violently lifted his head to look in a certain direction, his voice tinged with disbelief, ¡°The second boundary core has been destroyed? How can this be?! How can little junior sister Xia Yu lose?!¡± He had just felt the second boundary core shatter, which meant that Xia Yu had lost. A faint smile appeared on Yaoyao¡¯s expressionless face for the first time, the breathtaking sight seemingly giving a little more vibrancy to the ocean around her. ¡°All of you only thought of how to deal with me¡­ while underestimating him.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s indifferent voice sounded. Jin Zhang let out a bitter laugh. Come on, we¡¯ve already dispatched the number one gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, Xia Yu, to handle Zhou Yuan. Is this still underestimating him? How could they possibly send out a purple sash disciple? It would only be far too disgraceful. Yaoyao ignored his response. Since Zhou Yuan¡¯s side was ready, there was no longer any need for her to wait, and she immediately stomped her foot. Crash! The water pillar below her feet instantly began to fall apart, ultimately bursting into a spray of water. When the water pillar shattered, the two boundary cores were completely destroyed. The ocean swiftly began to recede. When Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan opened their eyes again, they found themselves standing before Spirit Rune Hall, while the giant mist boundary slowly vanished. Meanwhile, they also saw the countless shocked gazes looking at them. The majority of which were directed at Zhou Yuan. After all, everyone already knew of Yaoyao¡¯s mysteriousness and immeasurable strength, but no one had expected Zhou Yuan to triumph over Xia Yu... One must know that she was the top gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, and one of the strongest contenders for the upcoming purple sash selection! Wouldn¡¯t Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory over her mean that he also had the qualifications to vie for the champion spot in the purple sash selection test? This realization was extremely astonishing to many of the disciples. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s pretty face was an ugly steely green, her fists tightly clenched as she gazed at Zhou Yuan, who was currently the center of attention. As she recalled how gloating she had been earlier, it made her feel as stupid as a clown. The mocking words she had said earlier had now transformed into slaps that loudly smacked onto her face. Beside her, Xu Yan¡¯s expression was also a little unnatural. In the end, he could only release a dry laugh and say, ¡°Why did little junior sister Xia Yu suddenly lose in the end? Did she decide to show mercy all of a sudden?¡± From what he could see, the mid Corporeal stage Xia Yu who could wield the power of the boundary should not have lost. He shook his head, turning his gaze towards the ugly looking Lu Xuanyin as he spoke some words in an attempt to comfort her, ¡°No need to be angry. Avoiding this setback means that the heavens are leaving him for you to deal with. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already made all the preparations, and you will naturally be able to release your frustrations during the purple sash selection.¡± Only after hearing this did Lu Xuanyin¡¯s expression ease up a little as she gave a slight nod. At another corner of the place, a grinning Gu Hongyi said to Su Wan, ¡°So? Didn¡¯t I say that you shouldn¡¯t give your verdict so quickly?¡± Su Wan opened and closed her mouth. Moments later, she sighed and responded, ¡°I¡¯ve been convinced. He is far too unusual. Can¡¯t believe he managed to bring about a reversal even at that stage. However, what did he do to Xia Yu at the end?¡± From she had seen, the advantage had been with Xia Yu. Even if Zhou Yuan had stepped into the mid Corporeal stage, the former should not have lost. Gu Hongyi shrugged. Although she was also somewhat puzzled, she did not think about it too deeply. After all, all was right as long as Zhou Yuan won. Amidst the countless gasps of astonishment, Ye Ge also gradually returned to his senses. He blankly stared at Zhou Yuan, and ultimately let out a bitter laugh. Who could have imagined that the error in his seemingly perfect plan would be Zhou Yuan... Li Qingchan pursed her lips, a strange look in her eyes as she looked at Zhou Yuan. She never imagined that Yaoyao would be right... Li Qingchan had been highly skeptical of Zhou Yuan earlier, and thus felt Yaoyao¡¯s insistence to be unreasonable. However, reality now told her that she was wrong once again... ¡°This guy¡­¡± She stared at Zhou Yuan with tightly pursed lips. ¡°Have I really underestimated him too much?¡± She had no choice but to admit that Zhou Yuan had pulled off a beautiful victory. Previous Chapte Chapter 361 Into the Hall The area in front of Spirit Rune Hall was a boiling cauldron of voices, numerous disciples bubbling with excitement as they gazed upon the figures of Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, who seemed to appear exceptionally dazzling at this moment. The final outcome had clearly exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations. The boundary had been the joint effort of numerous Spirit Rune Peak disciples, with even some guidance from peak master Bai Mei in secret. In a certain sense, it could be considered a masterpiece for those on the level of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples. Who could have expected that such a masterpiece would ultimately be broken by Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. Didn¡¯t this mean that the two had basically faced all of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples and triumphed? Just how amazing of an accomplishment was this? There was now a trace of respect in the countless gazes that looked towards the duo, though most of it was admittedly directed at Yaoyao. Everyone knew that she had been the main contributor. After all, nearly eighty percent of the boundary¡¯s power had to be used to deal with her. Under everyone¡¯s attention, Yaoyao glanced at Ye Ge and asked with icy indifference, ¡°The boundary is broken, can I enter the hall now?¡± Upon hearing the icy indifference in Yaoyao¡¯s tone, Ye Ge could only let out a bitter laugh as he nodded. ¡°Both of us broke the boundary, so Zhou Yuan should also be given the right to enter Spirit Rune Hall, am I right?¡± Yaoyao mercilessly shot out another question. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook a little when he heard this. Spirit Rune Hall was was basically Spirit Rune Peak¡¯s bedrock, and was home to a vast collection of numerous ancient Genesis Runes. It would greatly help his Genesis Rune mastery if he could enter and have a look. Since his Spirit had stepped into the mid Corporeal stage, it was a perfect time for him to be given an opportunity to study in Spirit Rune Hall. Ye Ge was slightly taken aback, but soon smiled in a carefree manner. ¡°Naturally. From today, junior sister Yaoyao and junior brother Zhou Yuan may enter Spirit Rune Hall any time you please. With the exception of a few restricted areas, you may freely browse through any of the other texts.¡± This was quite generous of him, while also showing no of the frustration or anger he should have had after the loss. Such magnanimity caused several disciples to give faint nods of approval. As someone who could become one of the ten great Chosens, Ye Ge was indeed an extraordinary individual. However, his magnaminty was only met by indifference from Yaoyao. In her eyes, if not for Ye Ge, she wouldn¡¯t have needed to show her abilities in front of so many spectators. Someone like her who preferred peace and quiet had zero intentions of basking in the limelight. She was clearly not fond of all these varying gazes. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Yaoyao said to Zhou Yuan before turning around and walking towards Spirit Rune Peak, while Zhou Yuan hastily caught up upon seeing this. In front of Spirit Rune Peak, Jin Zhang and Xia Yu watched the two figures approach. Jin Zhang cupped his fists together towards Yaoyao, a look of admiration coloring his eyes. The duel they had in the boundary had given him an understanding of the extent of Yaoyao¡¯s techniques. Xia Yu, on the other hand, somewhat timidly hid behind Jin Zhang, as her large eyes cast a stealthy glance at Zhou Yuan. Her fair forehead was currently a little red, evidently due to the headbutt Zhou Yuan had given her earlier. There was no longer any trace of the formidable and confident aura she had give off in their Genesis Rune fight earlier, making her appear to be nothing but a shy and weak little girl. At the sight of this, Zhou Yuan smiled apologetically at Xia Yu. The young girl immediately blushed a little at his gaze, a trace of fear still lingering in her large eyes due to the clash of their Spirits earlier, before she quickly hid away like a little fawn. Creak When the Zhou Yuan duo arrived in front of Spirit Rune Hall, its tightly shut doors automatically creaked open. A dusty, old aura surged out, as if what was inside had experienced countless eons of change. Yaoyao¡¯s footstops did not pause, stepping straight inside. Zhou Yuan followed, their silhouettes gradually fading from view under the countless watching gazes outside the hall. The numerous disciples sighed as they watched the two figures disappear, wishing the spectacular battle from earlier could continue. One could easily imagine how Yaoyao¡¯s reputation would soon reach the pinnacle amongst the uncountable disciples in the Cangxuan Sect, standing shoulder to shoulder with the ten great Chosens. The strength she had displayed today clearly proved that she possessed the qualifications to become on of the Chosens. It was a fact that truly shook everyone to the very core. Ye Ge had not moved from the spot, a melancholic expression on his face as he gazed at Spirit Rune Hall. Li Qingchan arrived beside him, glancing at him as she said, ¡°You¡¯d best not have any other thoughts. If she is truly angered, you will not be able to bear the consequences.¡± Ye Ge chuckled and responded, ¡°Can¡¯t I try a little after meeting someone who could finally stir my heart?¡± ¡°Although Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan are quite close, I can tell that there are no romantic feelings between them¡­ so I feel that I still might have a chance.¡± Li Qingchan nonchalantly said, ¡°As a woman, my intuition tells me that Yaoyao looks down on you.¡± Ye Ge frowned a little. As someone who could become a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, he was undoubtedly extremely talented. Though he may appear relaxed and carefree, he was also an exceedingly prideful individual. Thus, Li Qingchan¡¯s words were a little hard for him to accept. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your effort¡­ you should give up on such thoughts, or you may not even have the chance to become ordinary friends.¡± There seemed to be a hidden meaning in her words, that were not only directed at Ye Ge but also peak master Bai Mei. He was the one who truly hoped that Yaoyao would stay in Spirit Rune Peak, but his actions this time were really quite inappropriate. Given Yaoyao¡¯s intelligence, it would not be hard for her to figure things out. When that happened, she may even cut all ties with Spirit Rune Peak out of anger, an act that would surely make peak master Bai Mei want to cry in regret at his antics. After speaking, Li Qingchan turned around and left. Ye Ge hesitated for a moment as he watched her leave, and could ultimately only let out a sigh. From the cold indifference Yaoyao displayed towards him, it seemed that she was indeed not the least bit interested in him. The crowd of disciples in front of Spirit Rune Hall gradually dispersed. One could easily imagine the commotion that would follow after they brought news of what happened today back to their respective peaks. Gu Hongyi stretched lazily, revealing her enchanting curves. Her satisfied eyes narrowed slightly as she grinned at Su Wan and said, ¡°What do you think senior sister Su Wan?¡± At the sight of her pleased appearance, Su Wan retorted in a slightly annoyed manner, ¡°What are you so happy about, you¡¯re not even related to him.¡± She then began to closely examine Gu Hongyi as she mischievously said, ¡°Although you¡¯re quite a beauty yourself, I¡¯m afraid that you won¡¯t be able to tug at his heart strings with Zhou Xiaoyao around.¡± Gu Hongyi blushed furiously. She glared at Su Wan and said with embarrassment, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting, Zhou Yuan and I are only friends.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Su Wan was clearly unconvinced. Gu Hongyi gritted her teeth, ignoring the former as she turned around and began leaving Spirit Rune Peak. ¡°Heh heh, is the little lass embarrassed?¡± Su Wan was grinning from ear to ear as she led the group of girls to catch up, their giggling drawing the attention of quite a few disciples. At another corner of the place, Lu Xuanyin¡¯s stared at Spirit Rune Hall with a stormy face. ¡°This Zhou Xiaoyao is quite terrifying.¡± Xu Yan sighed, his eyes filled with wariness and fear. He turned his head to look at Lu Xuanyin as he smiled and said, ¡°However, you need not worry. We may not have any way to deal with her, but our target is Zhou Yuan after all¡­ he isn¡¯t that difficult to deal with.¡± ¡°However, from the Genesis Rune mastery he has displayed, we should probably increase his threat level. I¡¯ll make a few more preparations when we return to ensure that junior sister Xuanyin will have the chance to properly expel all of your resentment during the purple sash selection.¡± ¡°His spectacular performance today wil only result in numerous disciples having higher expectations of him. In fact, some may even entertain the notion of him being qualified to vie for the championship position. Since that is so, we will eliminate him at the start, making it such that he will be unable to even rank amongst the top ten. I believe this will make him quite frustrated, right?¡± ¡°Hehe, I do want to find out whether Zhou Yuan¡¯s head is harder, or my Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s sword is sharper.¡± Lu Xuanyin nodded, a little joy and anticipation in her eyes. She had indeed somewhat underestimated Zhou Yuan, but the ones who would be dealing with him this time were the most elite gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak. Lu Xuanyin breathed in deeply, casting one final icy glance at Spirit Rune Hall, before turning to leave. She did not believe that Zhou Yuan would be able to turn the tables in the face of such a line-up! Previous Chapte Chapter 362 Disadvantageous Praise News of the boundary breaking trial on Spirit Rune Peak ultimately spread in the sect, creating quite a stir as expected.. As a result, Yaoyao¡¯s already high popularity instantly soared to even greater heights, making it not the least bit inferior to any of the ten great Chosens, making her somewhat of a legendary figure within the sect. In fact, it was rumored that even sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters fell into a dispute of sorts after the event. All of them wanted to recruit Yaoyao to their peaks. After all, from the strength Yaoyao had displayed, she already possessed the qualifications to take one of the seats amongst the ten great Chosens. Thus, wouldn¡¯t recruiting her be akin to having one more Chosens from your peak? In the Cangxuan Sect, the resources allocated to each peak was decided one the quality of their disciples. This was a rule that even sect master Qing Yang had to abide by. Hence, gaining a Chosen would bestow the peak with more cultivation resources, which would be an extremely happy occasion for everyone from the peak. The numerous peak masters clearly knew how much effort and luck was required to groom a Chosen, so everyone was naturally itching to get their hands on Yaoyao. Therefore, this matter was fiercely debated over by the peak masters and sect master Qing Yang, but was ultimately unable to be resolved due to everyone being unwilling to back down. In the end, their chose to respect Yaoyao¡¯s decision, and let her decide which peak to join... While Yaoyao¡¯s reputation began to soar into the heavens, Zhou Yuan, who had also made some contributions in the boundary breaking trial, was also affected somewhat. The main reason was because he had defeated Xia Yu. Xia Yu was the number one gold sash disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, and one of the strongest contenders for champion in the upcoming purple sash selection. Zhou Yuan¡¯s triumph over her undoubtedly drew the attention of many people. Previously, news of Zhou Yuan¡¯s participation in the purple sash selection had not really garnered much interest, and quite a number of disciples had even laughed at him in secret for overestimating himself. It had only been slightly over a month since he entered the inner mountains, and yet he dared to participate in the selection. One must know that even someone as outstanding as senior brother Chu Qing had waited half a year to take first place in the purple sash selection. As such, many felt that Zhou Yuan was grossly overestimating himself by participating. However, such thoughts faded away like smoke after the boundary breaking trial. Although everyone found out later on that Xia Yu had been defeated by Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit attack due to being caught off guard, it was already enough to prove that his mastery of Genesis Runes was a force to be reckoned with, and should not be underestimated. At this current time, just his Genesis Rune mastery alone was already enough to qualify him for the purple sash selection. Hence, originally overlooked Zhou Yuan became one of the more talked about individuals in the purple sash selection, gradually becoming one of the highly supported contenders for champion, a 180 turn from his previous treatment. This change undoubtedly created even more uncertainty in the purple sash selection. ¡­ While the Cangxuan Sect was abuzz with news about them, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao seemed to have vanished from sight, locking themselves away in Spirit Rune Hall, while completely ignoring everything else that was happening outside. Spirit Rune Hall had begun collecting countless ancient Genesis Runes ever since the Cangxuan Sect was established, and boasted an amazing collection. Thus, even Yaoyao had grown quite excited after entering, wanting to bury herself here forever and never leave this place. Zhou Yuan was likewise overjoyed by the collection in Spirit Rune Hall. However, his understanding of Genesis Runes was not as deep as Yaoyao¡¯s, and was thus limited to study the Genesis Runes at his level. Even so, Spirit Rune Hall¡¯s collection was an eye-opening experience. The numerous strange and wondrous Genesis Runes drawing nothing but praise from him. Hence, the two individuals spent their days submerged in the vast sea-like Spirit Rune Hall, even forgetting the passage of time. In a short few days, Zhou Yuan could already feel his Genesis Rune mastery increase. If he were to duel with Xia Yu again now, he believed that he would have nothing to fear in a direct clash. ... On a particular day. Zhou Yuan stood in front of an old stone shelf, as he voraciously flipped through a tattered old book, the ancient Genesis Runes recorded within captivating him deeply. Some distance away, a few Spirit Rune Peak disciples would look over from time to time, their gazes filled with both respect and wariness. The boundary breaking trial a few days ago had clearly convinced these proud Spirit Rune Peak disciples of his strength. While Zhou Yuan was immersed in the old book, his ear suddenly twitched a little as a faint fragrance entered his nose. He lifted his head, and found an innocent looking young girl standing nearby, watching him with her large eyes. It was the little senior sister of Spirit Rune Peak, Xia Yu. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan look over, Xia Yu involuntarily took half a step back, but soon gritted her teeth to stop her retreating feet. ¡°Is there something I can help you with little senior sister Xia Yu?¡± Zhou Yuan gave a hollow laugh when he saw this. It seems that his actions back then had left quite a shadow in this little senior sister of his. Xia Yu very cautiously approached and said in a low voice, ¡°A junior sister from Cangxuan Peak called Gu Hongyi asked me to pass you a message. She said to be careful of Sword Cometh Peak in the purple sash selection.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback, but soon began to frown. Sword Cometh Peak? ¡°Thank you little senior sister Xia Yu.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and smiled. Xia Yu shook her little head, her large eyes gazing at Zhou Yuan as she spoke again, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯ve become one of the popular contenders for champion in the purple sash selection.¡± ¡°And most of the ones who spread this come from Sword Cometh Peak, creating quite a reputation for you.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. He and Sword Cometh Peak were not really on good terms, and he had even played a part in disrupting Kong Sheng¡¯s plans. Why would they so kindly build his reputation? It was impossible. As he gazed upon Xia Yu¡¯s large and bright eyes, a certain notion suddenly struck him, and he calmly remarked, ¡°What a brilliant plan.¡± They were obviously intending to put him on a pedestal, making everyone feel that he had a chance at the championship. Afterwhich, they would send him crashing to the ground, making his fall hurt even more than it should. The one who had thought of this was truly insidious. Zhou Yuan cupped his hands towards Xia Yu again. The girl before him was clearly a smart one, and had seen through their intentions. Hence why she had come to warn him. ¡°Little junior sister Xia Yu, I¡¯m really sorry about before.¡± The girl had held no grudge against him, and even came to inform him of this critical information. This act made Zhou Yuan feel quite apologetic for being so ruthless during the trial. Xia Yu shook her head, casting one last glance at Zhou Yuan, before she turned her head in embarrassment and left. Zhou Yuan frowned as he watched her leave. It seems that his spectacular performance had made some people raise his danger level, resulting in them coming up with such tactics to beat him into his place during the purple sash selection. ¡°Your luck with women is not bad¡­¡± While Zhou Yuan was lost in thought, a slightly teasing voice rang out behind him. He turned his head, and saw Yaoyao leaning against a stone shelf, the corners of her lips slightly raised as she looked at him. Under the stare of her clear eyes, Zhou Yuan let out a forced laugh and said, ¡°Little senior sister Xia Yu is just a kind girl.¡± Yaoyao lazily responded, ¡°You¡¯d better remember where we currently are. If you don¡¯t want trouble, don¡¯t have designs on the little flower on other¡¯s peaks.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze scanned the area. Sure enough, he discovered some hints of unfriendliness in the eyes of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples, as if unable to believe he actually dared to seduce their little senior sister. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips could not help but twitch. Yaoyao seemed to smile as she threw an old book to Zhou Yuan. ¡°You should fool around less. I picked this out for you. If you don¡¯t want to end up being targeted during the purple sash selection, I advise you to learn it during these next few days.¡± Zhou Yuan hastily caught the book, his eyes widening slightly as his gaze swept across it. ¡°Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary.¡± Yaoyao nonchalantly explained, ¡°This boundary should be your limit for now. Once you master it, it will become one of your trump cards.¡± Zhou Yuan was elated, a smile revealing itself on his handsome face as he cornily said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao still treats me the best.¡± ¡°Heh¡­¡± The corners of Yaoyao¡¯s red lips slightly curved upwards, before turning around to leave with a swish of her black hair. ¡°You should save such words to trick other young ladies, they won¡¯t have any effect on me¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 363 Taoyao Wine A study room of sorts in Spirit Rune Hall. Zhou Yuan sat before a desk with a serious expression, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand. A jade tablet had been placed in front of him. His brush fell, emitting a faint glow as almost magical strokes appeared one after another, while the surrounding Genesis Qi faintly began to gather over. He was in a state of complete focus, the brush in his hand continuing to twirl for quite some time. With a final faint jerk of his wrist, he breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders as he gazed upon the rune that now adorned the jade tablet. Zhou Yuan carefully placed the jade tablet on the table, where dozens upon dozens of other jade tablets could be found. On each tablet, one would find a complex Genesis Rune. For the past month, he had been studying the Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary Yaoyao had selected for him. This boundary was strong even amongst grade 4 boundaries, and successfully setting it up required one to coordinate several hundred Genesis Runes. For the sake of mastering these runes, Zhou Yuan spent an entire month tirelessly practicing. The tremendous effort and energy invested pushed even Zhou Yuan to his limits, oftentimes finding himself so tired that he would fall asleep mid practice. Fortunately, he had managed to endure this rigorous training, and was now quite confident in drawing the several hundred runes that composed the Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary. However, being able to draw these runes did not mean much, because these runes were only akin to the components of a machine. To complete the boundary, he would still need to properly assemble them together. This required even more practice. Creak. The study room door was pushed open as Yaoyao walked in with a stack of ancient texts in her arms. She arrived in front of the table and dumped her load, before fluidly swiping up the Genesis Rune jade tablets in front of Zhou Yuan. She quickly checked through them, only taking a minute to separate a dozen jade tablets from the pile. She then pointed towards the dozen separated tablets and said, ¡°These do not meet the mark, redo them.¡± A pained look immediately filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes swept a glance at him as she said, ¡°Although these runes of yours are barely passable, some of the strokes are not satisfactory. They may seem fine at first glance, but if you use them to assemble the boundary, these tiny imperfections will cause the entire boundary to fall apart.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t plan on your hard work culminating into a defective product that can be easily destroyed with a few attacks, you¡¯d better obediently practice more.¡± After being lectured by Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan could only nod with a bitter smile. However, after knocking him down a peg, Yaoyao gave a faint nod and said, ¡°But reaching this level in a month is already pretty good.¡± Truthfully speaking, ¡®pretty good¡¯ was quite an understatement. If any of the Spirit Rune Peak disciples found out about this, their jaws would surely drop from shock. The Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary was a grade 4 boundary that boasted astonishing power. Most disciples would take at least half a year just to grasp the basics. Zhou Yuan took out another jade tablet and placed it in front of him as he chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will fully master it before the purple sash selection.¡± Yaoyao nodded in satisfaction, looking as if her efforts on a little child had paid off. She gracefully seated herself beside him and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been hearing that you¡¯ve become quite a hot topic with regards to the purple sash selection, even catching up to the first seat gold sash disciples from the master factions of their respective peaks.¡± She seemed to ponder as she continued, ¡°It seems that someone plans for you to have a rather bad fall.¡± Compared to Xia Yu and the other master faction¡¯s first seat gold sash, Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundations were quite shallow. And yet, he had someone been hyped up. It was clear that someone was pulling the strings, intending to make a fool of him during the purple sash selection. ¡°It should be someone from Sword Cometh Peak¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was not surprised as he smiled and said, ¡°I played a part in foiling Kong Sheng¡¯s plans in Genesis reservoir, and since they don¡¯t dare to go after you, they have naturally turned their sights to an easier target like myself.¡± Yaoyao gently tapped the table, her bright eyes looking towards Zhou Yuan as she said in a low voice, ¡°Patriarch Cang Xuan mentioned that he suspects his death has something to do with the Cangxuan Sect¡­¡± ¡°Could the Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun have¡­¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head, and exchanged a look with Yaoyao as she fell silent. ¡°We cannot make wild guesses without any evidence.¡± Zhou Yuan muttered as he shook his head. ¡°The implications of such matters are too great. Without any evidence, even sect master Qing Yang would not dare carelessly take action.¡± Yaoyao gave a slight nod, not speaking any further on the topic. Such matters were still far beyond them. The most important thing now was to somehow make Zhou Yuan the chief disciple by the year end, before entering the sealed main peak, and obtaining the second Saint Rune. She had the feeling that someone would certain begin to move in the sect when the Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s main peak was opened once again. The two decided not to dwell any longer on this topic, and began to busy themselves with other tasks. Yaoyao flipped through the ancient texts she had brought in earlier. A long while later, a soft gasp of surprise suddenly sounded. Zhou Yuan raised his head, only to find that her a look of joy on Yaoyao¡¯s usually cold and expressionless face. She was currently holding an aged yellow piece of tattered paper, happiness clearly present on her face. ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan could not stop his curiosity. What could possibly cause Yaoyao to show such an expression? Yaoyao¡¯s pink tongue gently licked her red lips, before passing the tattered paper to Zhou Yuan with sparkling eyes. Zhou Yuan received it and took a look. He was first struck by confusion, before black lines began to appear on his forehead. He realised that he was looking at an extremely old alcohol brewing method. ¡°Making a fuss about nothing.¡± Said Zhou Yuan in a grumpy voice. Yaoyao softly snorted and said, ¡°What do you know. This is obviously a long lost recipe, and it''s a great fortune to have encountered it here.¡± Her fingers lightly tapped the surface of the tablet, her other hand propping up her cheek as she looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°I want you to make it for me.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. The little miss was quite the character, to think that she could so righteously make such a request. ¡°How can I possibly know how to make it!¡± Yaoyao stood up, her palms leaning on the table as her body stretched forward. Her beautiful face looked down at Zhou Yuan, a whiff of fragrance surging towards him as she expressionlessly said, ¡°Are you going to do it?¡± With her face at such close proximity, Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth immediately went dry, his eyes spinning in thought as he asked, ¡°Is there any reward?¡± ¡°What kind of reward do you want?¡± Yaoyao seemed to smile. Zhou Yuan wet his lips and blinked. Before he could speak, however, Yaoyao¡¯s cold hand reached out and gently rubbed Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Just as he was beginning to enjoy the sensation, she suddenly smiled icily as she pinched his ear. ¡°Zhou Yuan, it seems that you¡¯ve become quite a bad boy. To think that you would even dare to take advantage of me. Do you believe that I will let Tuntun devour you?¡± In a corner of the room, Tuntun snorted as it disdainfully glanced at Zhou Yuan, before turning around to to show him its round butt. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face twitched. In the end, he hastily begged for forgiveness. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll think of a way to help you!¡± Only then did Yaoyao sit back down in satisfaction. ¡°Good boy. Hmm, I¡¯ve thought of a name for it¡­ it shall be called Taoyao wine.¡± With both hands propping up each cheek, a look of anticipation rose on her face. Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes, but could not help but chuckle in his heart. He could feel that Yaoyao¡¯s aloofness and indifference was slowly fading recently. Of course, this was only towards himself¡­ in addition, he could sense that Yaoyao had grown much more comfortable with him. This should be them growing closer, right? He glanced at the unknown recipe before him, before turning to view the rare sliver of anticipation in Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes as he grinned a little. Back then, master Cang Yuan had entrusted Yaoyao to him in hopes that he would take care of her, but for the past few years, it had been Yaoyao who was always helping him instead. Without her, Zhou Yuan did not know if he would have managed to make it all the way here. Hence... I will do whatever you want, even if it''s to reach out and pluck the stars from the sky. ¡­ Time quietly flowed in the Cangxuan Sect, as the purple sash selection rapidly neared... As the event approached, the atmosphere around the Cangxuan Sect gradually began to bubble with excitement, once again drawing everyone¡¯s eyes. After all, for many disciples, the promotion to purple sash represented both glory and status, which was also their key concerns. As such, even the buzz over the boundary breaking trial in Spirit Rune Peak gradually began to be smothered by the hype for the upcoming purple sash selection... With the purple sash selection just around the corner, the most widely discussed topic in the sect became who would become the champion, many disciples even betting amongst themselves. The highly supported contenders consisted of Su Wan from Cangxuan Peak, Wu Yue of Hongya Peak, Mu Chunlei of Snow Lotus Peak, Le Tian of Sword Cometh Peak, Wang Chen of Lightning Prison Peak and Xia Yu of Spirit Rune Peak¡­ these individual were the first seat gold sash disciples of their respective master factions, and most formidable amongst the participants. Thus, their popularity. Many people predicted that the champion would be decided amongst them. Right on their heels, was no one other than Zhou Yuan. Due to his surprising display on Spirit Rune Peak and certain hidden forces, Zhou Yuan became quite a popular contender, nearly even catching up to the top few. This led to quite a number of disciples feeling rather confident in Zhou Yuan, even betting heavily on him. However, several of the more informed disciples merely shook their heads and sneered at such behaviour. Zhou Yuan had indeed been quite dazzling in the boundary breaking trial, even managing to break through Xia Yu¡¯s defense. However, everyone found out later on that he had merely managed to catch her off guard. After all, though Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit cultivation had ascended to the next level, he was still very new to the mid Corporeal stage. Xia Yu, on the other hand, was certainly more experienced, and her foundations could only be sturdier than Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Moreover, Zhou Yuan¡¯s trump cards had already been revealed during the trial, enabling the other participants to take precautionary measures. Therefore, it would not be very likely for him to catch anyone off guard any more. At the very least, the majority felt that a prepared Xia Yu should be able to triumph over Zhou Yuan. Thus, many felt very skeptical about Zhou Yuan being a championship contender, and believed that his true face would be revealed when the purple sash selection began. Hence, some of the more discerning disciples paid no heed to the recent hype surrounding Zhou Yuan, even lecturing the disciples that had placed bets on Zhou Yuan, shaking their heads and calling them fools if they still did not listen. Nonetheless, Zhou Yuan now had a spot amongst the championship contenders. One could not help but admit that certain people were quite talented at hyping him up. Under this atmosphere, the highly anticipated purple sash selection slowly arrived. Previous Chapte Chapter 364 Before the Selection When the day of the purple sash selection arrived, the entire Cangxuan Sect seem to fall into a frenzy, the atmosphere so infectious that even the surrounding Genesis Qi seemed to stir excitedly. Although the participating disciples were only a tiny fraction of the entire sect, it did not stop the purple sash selection from becoming one of the grandest occasions in the sect. In fact, the attention drawn by this event was second only to the year end chief disciple selection trial. After all, though the disciples may not be qualified to participate now, that day would eventually come, and this selection would be the path they would have to take to be promoted. Purple sash disciples were the true elites and backbone of the Cangxuan Sect. While also the goal every disciple worked hard towards. After becoming a purple sash disciple, one¡¯s treatment and status would far surpass the other disciples, becoming the envy of everyone. Hence, it was not strange for the purple sash disciple to garner so much attention. ¡­ A certain purple Genesis cave dwelling. Prepared and ready, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes could not help but brighten when he saw Yaoyao walk out of the little house. She was wearing a light green top and trousers today, the trousers lightly hugging her tiny waist while making her legs appear exceptionally long and slender. Her usually unbound hair was currently tied up behind her head, revealing her fair and graceful neck that seem to glow under the light. This attire made Yaoyao appear full of youthful vitality, a slight change from her usual aloofness. Yaoyao slowly walked over with Tuntun in her arms as she swept a glance at Zhou Yuan. ¡°So pretty.¡± Zhou Yuan was not stingy with his praise. However, Yaoyao was completely unaffected, her red lips opening slightly as she said, ¡°How¡¯s the progress on my Taoyao Wine?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face instantly turned rigid as he awkwardly said, ¡°I¡¯m still in the research phase¡­ the recipe is not simple, and all the Genesis Resources required are not easy to find.¡± ¡°A hundred year Dragon Blood Peach, Clear Spirit Rice, Mystic Sea Spring Water¡­¡± At this point, Zhou Yuan could not help but wet his lips. All of these Genesis Resources were extremely rare, and he had not managed to find a single one in the inner sect¡¯s Glittering Jewels Pavilion. It was obvious that this unknown recipe from Spirit Rune Hall was no ordinary wine. In fact, such high quality ingredients could probably be used to refine several extraordinary pills. Of course, given Yaoyao¡¯s standards, ordinary alcohol would not be able to stir her heart. In response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s complaints, Yaoyao face was akin to the calm ocean. She merely gently stroked Tuntun¡¯s soft fur as she said in a clear voice, ¡°So?¡± Her tone made alarm bells ring in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. He immediately smiled and said, ¡°So I will put in even more effort to search for these ingredients, and help big sis Yaoyao brew it as soon as possible!¡± Tuntun cast a disdainful look over. This guy really didn¡¯t have a backbone! However, Yaoyao appeared quite satisfied by Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude, the corners of her red lips raising slightly as she said, ¡°Are you properly prepared for the purple sash selection?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile of confidence. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m also itching to see what Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s meticulous planning and efforts will amount to.¡± They had invested much thought and effort into promoting him or the purple sash selection, obviously not out of good will. Hence, whatever tricks they had would soon be revealed today. No matter what moves they had, Zhou Yuan would just have to receive them. Yaoyao gave a slight nod. The duo walked out of the cave dwelling, riding on a Genesis Qi cloud as they arrived on one of the mountains of Saint Genesis Peak. At this current moment, practically all of the disciples from Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s three factions were gathered here. In a grand event like the purple sash selection, even sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters would be present. Hence, the elders of the various peaks would bring all of their disciples to watch. This was why the three elders Shen Taiyuan, Lu Hong, Lu Song and their disciples were already here when Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao arrived. The duo caused quite a stir the moment they appeared. After all, they were in a sense the most well known disciples of Saint Genesis Peak. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples greeted them with warm gazes, Zhou Tai, Shen Wanjin and gang quickly crowding over like stars around the moon. Zhou Tai¡¯s candidly said, ¡°Haha, junior brother Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ve placed quite a big bet of five thousand Genesis jade pieces on you this time. You¡¯ve got to do your best or I¡¯ll be going hungry next month.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also put my entire fortune of two thousand Genesis jade pieces on you. Little Yuan Bro, whether or not I make it big will depend on you.¡± Said Shen Taiyuan with a flattering smile, his chubby face giving off an oily gleam. The other disciples also laughed along, declaring how much they had bet one after another. Zhou Yuan smiled as he acknowledged everyone. As his reputation grew step by step during the last three months, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples had gradually begun to accept him, and were now much friendlier. The talent and battle achievements Zhou Yuan had racked up had convinced them of his abilities, dispersing the feeling of unfairness they had previously towards his preferential treatment. Of course, this was with the exception of Zhang Yan and his lackeys. The disciples from the other two factions looked over with complicated expressions. Lu Yan muttered under her breath as she watched the numerous disciples crowd around Zhou Yuan. She had been in secluded cultivation when Yaoyao and him went to Spirit Rune Peak, and was thus quite surprised when she heard the sensational news later on. Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation in the Cangxuan Sect was rapidly rising, clearly on his way to become a dark horse of sorts. Although he was still a ways from matching the ten great Chosens, he could already be considered an influential figure in the sect. ¡°What a pity, if teacher Lu had insisted a little more back then, Zhou Yuan may have ended up joining our faction. The entire Cangxuan Sect has probably already heard of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction by now¡­¡± Lu Yan glared at the disciple that had spoken and said, ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense, what can a single Zhou Yuan possibly change? He may be talented, but he still has some ways to go.¡± ¡°The Spirit Rune Peak affair was mainly Yaoyao¡¯s efforts, while Zhou Yuan merely provided some assistance. I¡¯ve no idea what those people are thinking to hype him up so much recently.¡± She coldly snorted. ¡°There will be no problem if Zhou Yuan is able to remain level-headed, but if he really thinks he¡¯s so great due to such gossip, the fall will only become even more painful if he fails.¡± Although Lu Yan did not fully understand what was happening, she was no ordinary disciple after all, and could faintly sense that something was amiss about this situation. If Zhou Yuan was not careful during the purple sash selection, he would likely have to pay a painful price. While Lu Yan and the rest were whispering amongst themselves, Lu Hong¡¯s disciples watched with the cold eyes of bystanders. Wei Youxuan and the gang in particular had rather ominous expressions with a sliver of mockery hidden within. ¡°Zhou Yuan, celebrate while you can¡­¡± ¡°Once the purple sash selection begins, you will realise that you¡¯re just a pathetic little clown!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 365 It Begins A majestic mountain range towered across the land, the mountains separated by giant snaking rivers. Mists swirled around the mountains, giving them a solemn and grand aura. This mountain range was the location of the purple sash selection, and was known as the Purple Mountains. It had also become the busiest place in the entire Cangxuan Sect today. Countless glowing figures seemed to fill the sky as they landed on the mountains in the vicinity of the Purple Mountains, causing the spacious land to become rather crowded and noisy. The popularity of the purple sash selection was evidently far from ordinary. A Genesis Qi cloud descended from the sky, landing on one of the mountain tops. Shen Taiyuan waved his sleeve, dispersing the Genesis Qi as the figures of numerous disciples were revealed, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao included amongst them. The group were quite excited as they gazed upon the lively spectacle. An occasion as grand as this only occurred a few times a year after all. ¡°Is this the venue of the purple sash selection?¡± Zhou Yuan curiously lifted his gaze to observe the majestic, unbroken mountain range. Ancient trees towered within the extremely lush foliage, which was also blanketed by a layer of mist, giving the place a somewhat mysterious air. ¡°That¡¯s right, this place is known as the Purple Mountains, and every purple sash selection will take place here.¡± Shen Taiyuan stood beside Zhou Yuan, his normally strict and stern old face filled with a smile when he looked towards his disciple. One could tell that Zhou Yuan¡¯s surprising battle achievements made Shen Taiyuan treat the former as a treasure. ¡°All of the participants will be sent into this mountain range to compete for victory.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Looks like the purple sash selection was a free-for-all brawl of sorts, making it much more complicated than the one on one bracket type duels, because it represents chaos and the lack of rules. Everything would be for the sake of obtaining victory in the end. ¡°Zhou Yuan, there are not many rules for the purple sash selection, and all kinds of tactics can be employed. The sect won¡¯t say much as long as lives aren¡¯t threatened.¡± Shen Taiyuan looked towards Zhou Yuan and cautioned, ¡°After all, the sect does not wish to nurture disciples that purely have strength without wit and tactic.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. The disciples in the sect did not face much dangers, but there would eventually come a time when they would have to leave on missions. The situation in Cangxuan Heaven was complicated, and even the disciples of a titan like the Cangxuan Sect would encounter numerous dangers outside. If all one had was recklessness, one would not survive for long. However, such chaos would also make it even more uncertain and dangerous for him. Especially knowing that someone from Sword Cometh Peak would be targeting him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I know that you are eager, but there are many strong opponents. My advice to you is not to aim for champion, but take success as managing to rank amongst the top ten and be promoted to purple sash.¡± Said Shen Taiyuan. Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry teacher Shen, I will naturally take a step back if the situation does not bode well and give up on vying for first.¡± Shen Taiyuan nodded, before pointing towards the misty mountain range as he said, ¡°There are ten peaks in the depths of the Purple Mountains. The ten individuals who manage to ascend these ten peaks will be the top ten.¡± A thoughtful look rose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Then how will the champion be decided?¡± Shen Taiyuan answered, ¡°You guys will only find out after ascending the ten mountains, because it may be different from the past selections.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He had nothing more to ask. Not long after they arrived, a Genesis Qi cloud suddenly descended from the sky. A white skirt fluttered in the wind, revealing Li Qingchan¡¯s figure. She directly landed next to Yaoyao, immediately causing countless burning gazes to look over. These two were after all the top beauties of the Cangxuan Sect, and just the sight of them standing together would make one¡¯s heart beat a little faster. Li Qingchan paid no heed to these gazes, merely sweeping a glance at Zhou Yuan, who was standing next to Shen Taiyuan, as she said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that things will be difficult for Zhou Yuan during this selection. Yaoyao did not comment, merely continuing to stroke Tuntun. Li Qingchan stared at Yaoyao¡¯s face and said, ¡°I can ask the Snow Lotus Peak disciples to aid him as repayment for the favor you did me. How about it?¡± Her prideful nature made her feel that she owed Yaoyao due to the Genesis reservoir affair. Hence, she was always trying to find a way to repay the former to remove the discomfort she felt whenever she met Yaoyao. Yaoyao thought for a moment, before she shook her head and leisurely said, ¡°I feel¡­ that he doesn¡¯t need it.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s brows knitted together. ¡°Aren¡¯t you overestimating him too much? Do you know how many individuals are after him? Your Saint Genesis Peak only has a handful of participants, and look like they won¡¯t be much of a help anyways.¡± ¡°So he¡¯ll have to depend on himself.¡± Said Yaoyao. Li Qingchan placed extra emphasis on her words as she said, ¡°Do you really think that he can challenge all of the first seat gold sash disciples from the various factions of Sword Cometh Peak alone? Every single one of them is no weaker than Wei Youxuan.¡± She clearly felt that Yaoyao¡¯s earlier words were far too irresponsible. The corners of Yaoyao¡¯s lips raised slightly. ¡°If he can¡¯t, he deserves to be beaten. It¡¯ll teach him to be more serious about his cultivation in the future.¡± Li Qingchan was speechless, but she knew that these weren¡¯t Yaoyao¡¯s true feelings. The former fell silent for a moment, before she said, ¡°Do you really believe that he can take on Sword Cometh Peak?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll know once he tries. Anyhow, he¡¯s the one that will be humiliated if he loses.¡± Yaoyao seemed to smile as she spoke. Li Qingchan stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. In the end, she turned towards Yaoyao and seriously said, ¡°I believe that he can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Why not we wait and see.¡± ... The Sword Cometh Peak disciples were gathered on a giant mountain relatively close to the Purple Mountains. At this current time, Lu Xuanyin, Xu Yan and gang had congregated at a certain location on the mountain peak. Lu Xuanyin¡¯s gaze was slightly cold as she looked towards a mountain in the distance where Zhou Yuan and the rest were currently standing. Yaoyao¡¯s presence had made their location quite apparent. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that many disciples have bet on Zhou Yuan.¡± Xu Yan wore a faint smile beside her. He too cast his gaze towards at Zhou Yuan as he playfully said, ¡°But that¡¯s fine, the higher their expectations, the greater their disappointment and anger when he falls.¡± ¡°It is time for us to let this smooth sailing junior brother of ours encounter a setback, so that he won¡¯t become too arrogant and feel that there¡¯s no one with ability in our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Lu Xuanyin nodded, a surge of happiness flashing in her eyes. Looks like the bitter frustration and resentment she held in her heart for several months was finally going to be released. ¡°Junior brother Le Tian, we¡¯ll have to inconvenience you this time.¡± Xu Yan smiled at a young man beside him, who seemed to always wear a warm smile on his face, making him look extremely friendly approachable. It was the first seat gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s master faction, Le Tian. Le Tian wore his usual smile as he said, ¡°I met senior brother Zhao Zhu last night.¡± ¡°Senior brother Zhao Zhu?¡± Both Xu Yan and Lu Xuanyin jumped at the mention of this name. This was the second Chosen of their Sword Cometh Peak, whose reputation and influence was second only to Kong Sheng. Xu Yan hastily asked, ¡°What did senior brother Zhao Zhu say?¡± ¡°He told me that youngsters these days are too proud, and should be taught a little lesson. He assures us that we can do whatever we want.¡± Le Tian grinned. Joy immediately surfaced in the eyes of Xu Yan and Lu Xuanyin. They never imagined that even senior brother Zhao Zhu would stand on their side. It seems that Zhou Yuan had really stuck out too much recently. With Zhao Zhu¡¯s words, there would no longer be any reservations in the hearts of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Xu Yan and Lu Xuanyin exchanged a look, and could not help but chuckle. Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re all out of chances now. ¡­ Clang! Clang! The excitement in the vicinity of the Purple Mountains grew more and more intense as time passed. The hot sun rose in the sky, hanging high above the land. It was at this moment that clanging suddenly began echoing across the place. Soon after, every disciple felt a grand aura descend from the sky, accompanied by an indescribable pressure that caused the land to tremble. Innumerable disciples raised their heads in reverence as they watched several glowing figures descend from the sky, ultimately landing on the highest mountain in the vicinity of the Purple Mountains where several stone seats stood. The glowing figures seated themselves as the light faded, revealing their appearances. It was sect master Qing Yang and the six peak masters! ¡°Greetings sect master!¡± ¡°Greetings peak masters!¡± All the disciples and elders bowed as they cupped their fists together. Sect master Qing Yang faintly nodded with a smile. Soon after, his booming voice rang out. ¡°It is time. The disciples may enter the mountains!¡± In the wake of his words, the entire place instantly erupted into noise. The long awaited purple sash selection had finally begun. Previous Chapte Chapter 367 One Punch Boom! A wave of berserk Genesis Qi suddenly exploded within the dense forest, tearing up the surrounding ground as thick tree after tree was snapped at their waist. A space had been cleared in the forest, Zhou Yuan standing in the middle of the crumbled ground, as a disciple fell facing the sky some distance to his front, before being swept up by a ray of light. A glowing seal landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist. He now had four seals. ¡°Sixteen more¡­¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. He had been searching for lone disciples for quite some time, only to realise that the disciples from the other six peaks had began to group up in twos and threes to guard against the other peaks for the time being. This made it harder for him to act. After all, none of the other participants were small fries, and if he was tangled up in a fight with them for too long it would take a toll on him even if he ultimately won. What¡¯s more, he also had to guard against the Sword Cometh Peak participants at all times. It was at a time like this that the pitiful state of Saint Genesis Peak was revealed. The participants from the other six peaks numbered in the dozens, while the combined total of all three factions of Saint Genesis Peak only amounted to five. Of these five individuals, three were from Lu Hong¡¯s faction. It would already very courteous of them to not cause trouble for Zhou Yuan, so it was practically impossible for him to work together with them. ¡°No wonder Saint Genesis Peak has so few purple sash disciples¡­¡± Zhou Yuan secretly shook his head. A competition like this was far too disadvantageous for Saint Genesis Peak, and it was already pretty amazing for them to have one or two new purple sash disciples each year. ¡°Who?!¡± While various thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, his eyes suddenly widened as he abruptly turned towards the forest on his right. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand rapidly enlarged as countless snow-white hairs shot out. Every hair was razor-sharp as it tore through the air, a rather formidable attack indeed. Boom! Deadly Sword Qi swept out from the forest, deflecting all of the snow-white hairs with clings and clangs. The giant trees in the vicinity were caught in the aftershocks, crashing to the ground one after another. Zhou Yuan looked over, only to find a young man sword with a green edge. The Genesis Qi around him was extremely strong and vigorous, while also exceedingly sharp, a sign that it was made from sword Qi. The young man¡¯s sword was slanted downwards at his side as he smiled at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m only passing by junior brother.¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at the back of the young man¡¯s hand, and saw three seals. This surprised him a little. To think that this fellow had also managed to defeat three disciples. Looks like this was no ordinary person. ¡°You¡¯re from Sword Cometh Peak?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan as he grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush. ¡°Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Luo Dao.¡± The young man nodded with a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve been following me for some time, right?¡± Said Zhou Yuan. The truth was that he had already faintly sensed that someone was secretly tailing him since earlier. This someone was likely Luo Dao. Luo Dao nodded again upon hearing this. ¡°You¡¯re trying to delay me?¡± A playful smile seem to rise from the corners of Luo Dao¡¯s mouth as he stared at Zhou Yuan and nonchalantly said, ¡°Delay you? Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you think too highly of yourself.¡± ¡°Although senior brother Le Tian has his own plan, I feel that you do not have the qualifications to make so many of our talented Sword Cometh Peak disciples come deal with you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m revealing myself now.¡± A dazzling radiance surged on his sword as he slowly raised it to point at Zhou Yuan. There was a sharp and proud look in the young man¡¯s eyes as he said, ¡°After I take care of you by myself, senior brother Lu Tian will understand that his plan is unnecessary.¡± Swish! However, the instant the words left his mouth, Zhou Yuan¡¯s etherealized body had already shot forward, leaving after images in the air as he dashed towards Luo Dao. ¡°Ignorant fool!¡± Fury flashed in Luo Dao¡¯s eyes upon seeing that Zhou Yuan clearly showed no concern for his words, and had instead chosen to ignore them and attack. In Luo Dao¡¯s eyes, his opponent was obviously looking down on him. ¡°Do you really believe that defeating Wei Youxuan gives you the right to be so cocky? Allow me to inform you that Wei Youxuan had already been defeated by me when he was still in Sword Cometh Peak!¡± Luo Dao¡¯s foot violently slammed into the ground as a wave of sharp Genesis Qi unfurled from his body, instantly tearing deep gashes in the ground around him. Sharp sword Qi swam through the air like fish, heading straight for Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan was even quicker, leaving an after image behind as the sword Qi landed on empty air. His gaze locked onto Luo Dao. Zhou Yuan knew that the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were definitely rushing here. Hence, he needed to finish off Luo Dao as soon as possible. The rage in Luo Dao¡¯s eyes intensified at the sight of the menacingly approaching Zhou Yuan. The sword in his hand suddenly shuddered as a sword cry rang out. Vigorous Genesis Qi poured into it, causing countless rays of sword light to explode from its body as deadly power pulsed. Even a sixth layer disciple would have to retreat in the face of such power. However, light azure scales began to appear on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body to protect him. The Heavenly Serpent Scales! Swish! Luo Dao icily chuckled as the sword in his hand thrust forward. It instantly split apart the space before him like lightning flashing through the night sky with unstoppable momentum. The sword light was reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils, but not a single change could be seen on his face. Not only did he not move to avoid the deadly strike, instead, he even extended a hand to grab it. He was going to receive it with his bare hands. ¡°Courting death!¡± Luo Dao¡¯s eyes hardened. His sword attack could cut even a mountain. To think that Zhou Yuan dared to receive it with his bare hands. Sword and hand touched. At the instant of contact, white brush hairs suddenly wrapped around Zhou Yuan¡¯s scale covered hand like a silk glove. It was the hairs from the Heavenly Yuan Brush! ¡°Grade 4 Genesis Rune, Mystic Gold Hand!¡± A Genesis Rune suddenly brightened on Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm as a peculiar ripple spread. Golden light emerged, bathing the hand covered in scales and the brush hair glove in a dark golden gleam. As if it was a hand made from solid gold. Screeech! The golden hard reached out and grabbed the sword light, its sharp blade grating against his palm, creating a shower of sparks. However, no matter how the sword light struggled, it was unable to cut through Zhou Yuan¡¯s multiple defensive layers. Shock surfaced in Luo Dao¡¯s eyes. He could not believe that Zhou Yuan had really caught the sword with his bare hands. Moreover, he had even made Luo Dao¡¯s invasive sword Qi lose its effect! Shiing! Zhou Yuan¡¯s golden hand slipped down the sword as his ethereal figure rapidly approached in Luo Dao¡¯s shrinking pupils. Boom! Golden Genesis Qi swirled around Zhou Yuan¡¯s other scale covered fist as it mercilessly slammed into Luo Dao¡¯s gut. This punch directly scattered the flowing Genesis Qi in Luo Dao¡¯s body. With the Genesis Qi his body now scattered, his body curled in pain as he turned deathly pale. He never imagined that in a single exchange, Zhou Yuan would find an opening to scatter his Genesis Qi with a punch, causing him to lose all his battle power! Zhou Yuan chuckled as he gazed at the disbelief on Luo Dao¡¯s face before he calmly said, ¡°The truth is that you should have listened to your senior brother Le Tian. Wanting to take me on alone to gain glory¡­ you¡¯re still too naive senior brother Luo Dao.¡± A ray of light fell from the sky, wrapping around Luo Dao. The instant he was being sent away, however, a jade pendant suddenly shattered at Luo Dao¡¯s waist, scattering a fragrance that rushed towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan rapidly backed away, but some of it still managed to touch him. Luo Dao howled, ¡°Don¡¯t be so happy Zhou Yuan, senior brother Le Tian and the rest will soon find you can kick you out!¡± Before his voice could fade, he had already been sent out. Zhou Yuan sniffed his body, finding an extremely faint but hard to remove fragrance. This caused him to frown slightly for a moment, before quickly turning around to dash into the dense forest. ¡°So you want to play huh¡­ then I¡¯ll accompany all of you from Sword Cometh Peak till the end!¡± As Zhou Yuan left, he did not know that the battle he had swiftly ended would cause a commotion outside the mountain range. Previous Chapte Chapter 368 Hunted The atmosphere was flooded with excitement outside the misty mountain range, numerous disciples staring excitedly at the sky, where intense battles were being projected by every mirror. The ones who had the qualifications to participate in the purple sash selection test were basically the elite gold sash disciples in the Cangxuan Sect, who possessed fairly high status. Therefore, when all of these individuals were gathered together for a competition, the fights between them were so exciting that most disciples were unable to turn away. Splash! Splash! Disciples were continuously swept up by beams of light, and tossed into the winding river around the mountain range. Those were the disciples that have been eliminated. ¡°Wow! Senior sister Su Wan from Cangxuan Peak is truly incredible. She had already gotten five seals.¡± ¡°Senior brother Mu Chunlei from Snow Lotus Peak has obtained five seals as well.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also senior brother Le Tian from Sword Cometh Peak and little senior sister Xia Yu from Spirit Rune Peak¡­ Tsk, tsk, it¡¯s no wonder they are the top gold sash disciple of amongst the various factions of their respective peaks. Their battle achievements are truly astonishing.¡± ¡°They are very powerful indeed. The rest of the disciples are still somewhat lacking compared to them.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Many disciples spiritedly discussed amongst themselves as they watched the Genesis Qi mirrors. There were also disciples who had their attention on Zhou Yuan. When they looked towards his Genesis Qi mirror, cries of surprise suddenly rang out, ¡°Is that senior brother Luo Dao from Sword Cometh Peak? I can¡¯t believe he bumped into Zhou Yuan so early!¡± Their words instantly drew the attention of numerous individuals. The numerous disciples broke out into whispers when they saw the two individuals facing each other in the Genesis Qi mirror. ¡°To think that he would run into senior brother Luo Dao. Zhou Yuan is really unlucky.¡± ¡°Yeah. Even amongst the many Sword Cometh Peak gold sash disciples, senior brother Luo Dao can be ranked amongst the top three, and is definitely an extraordinary fellow.¡± ¡°Agreed. I was watching senior brother Luo Dao¡¯s battles since earlier, and he has already defeated three disciples.¡± ¡°Heh heh, didn¡¯t Zhou Yuan defeat four opponents earlier? However, it seems that he has finally ran into a tough opponent.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The duel between Zhou Yuan and Luo Dao was obviously going to be an interesting one, and it immediately drew the attention of more and more disciples as news of their clash quickly spread. Gu Hongyi was also alerted, causing her to frown a little. She had naturally heard of Luo Dao, and was well-aware that he was quite the formidable individual. She never expected that he would be the first Sword Cometh Peak disciple Zhou Yuan encountered. ¡°It seems like junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s luck is not very good.¡± Beside Gu Hongyi, the senior brother named Qin Lan narrowed his eyes slightly, and remarked with a sarcastic smile. ¡°More importantly, Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin and the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples are all heading towards him. If Zhou Yuan allows himself to be tied down by Luo Dao, it will only be a matter of time before he¡¯ll be trapped.¡± Gu Hongyi coldly glared at him. Though she didn¡¯t retort, her hands could not help but clenched tightly. Zhou Yuan was indeed in a tough spot. Zhou Yuan, please stay safe! ¡°Oh, are they about to start?¡± Qin Lan suddenly chuckled while fixed on the Genesis Qi mirror. Derision appeared on Qin Lan¡¯s lips as he said, ¡°Haha, what a brave fellow. He actually dares to use his bare fist to meet Luo Dao¡¯s sword? Doesn¡¯t he know that the Genesis Qi of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples are the sharpest in our Cangxuan Sect?¡± He had just seen Zhou Yuan extend his arm and grab at the sword. Gasps immediately erupted from the numerous surrounding disciples. Some of the female disciples even shutting their eyes as if anticipating that Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm would be sliced apart. Gu Hongyi¡¯s face also turned a little pale. The mocking smile on Qin Lan¡¯s lips grew. He stared intently at the Genesis Qi mirror, eagerly waiting to see Zhou Yuan¡¯s miserable fate. Under his intense stare, all of the disciples watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm turn golden in a flash, before grabbing the sword. His hand slid down the sword, causing sparks to fly. Not even a single drop of blood could be seen. Next, Zhou Yuan instantly closed the distance between him and Luo Dao, and quickly delivered a punch packed with power into the latter¡¯s gut. The fight came to an abrupt end. The expression of numerous disciples immediately froze at this moment, staring in disbelief as Luo Dao slowly crumpled to the ground... It was only a single punch. Luo Dao, the third most powerful gold sash disciple from Sword Cometh Peak, was defeated just like that? Loud gulping sounds were heard one after another. It was completely different from the outcome they had imagined! The derisive smile on Qin Lan¡¯s face froze little by little. Soon after, the corners of his lips twitched as he exclaimed, ¡°How is this possible?! How could he have received Luo Dao¡¯s sword with his bare hands?¡± Given Luo Dao¡¯s strength, even someone as strong as Wei Youxuan would only end up getting cut if he were to try and receive the attack with his bare hands. So how had a third layer Alpha-Origin like Zhou Yuan done it? Beside him, Gu Hongyi heaved a deep sigh of relief, before shooting him an indifferent look. Even though she didn¡¯t utter a single word, the mocking expression in her eyes was enough to make Qin Lan¡¯s face instantly turn red with embarrassment. He had been mocking Zhou Yuan just a moment ago. In the blink of an eye, however, his words returned to slap him in the face. ¡°Senior brother Qin Lan, if you want to watch, it wouldn¡¯t hurt for you to remain quiet and keep your remarks to yourself.¡± Said Gu Hongyi in a calm manner. Her words, however, were extremely merciless, showing no respect for Qin Lan¡¯s dignity. Qin Lan¡¯s face was an angry mixture of white and green. However, he did not dare to do anything to Gu Hongyi, and had no choice but to swallow his anger. His dark gaze glared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the mirror as he secretly swore, ¡°What¡¯s there to be happy about? When Le Tian shows up, you will be in for a good time!¡± On the mountain peak where Shen Taiyuan and his disciples were standing. A wave of cheers immediately exploded from them when they saw this scene. They had previously been worrying their hearts out for Zhou Yuan. On the edge of a cliff, Li Qingchan with drew her gaze and said, ¡°That was very decisive of Zhou Yuan. The fact that he dared to use his bare palm against a Sword Cometh Peak disciple is proof of his bravery.¡± Yaoyao off-handedly replied, ¡°Just a small fry.¡± Li Qingchan could not help but be startled by these words. She was a little upset as she said, ¡°He may indeed be a small fry to you, but I¡¯m afraid that it won¡¯t be the same for Zhou Yuan. Luo Dao likely wasn¡¯t expecting Zhou Yuan to pull off such a stunt. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have been defeated by a single blow.¡± ¡°Moreover¡­ even though he defeated Luo Dao, he has now been marked by the Enchanting Jade Fragrance from Luo Dao¡¯s pendant, a fragrance unique to Sword Cometh Peak. Hence, I believe that every Sword Cometh Peak disciple will soon track him down.¡± ¡°When that happens, he will be in huge trouble.¡± ¡°Tch, a situation where a single person takes on all of the disciples from one of the peaks has never happened before in our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Yaoyao fell into thought for a while, before she earnestly said, ¡°Well, it will happen soon.¡± Li Qingchan froze. Her beautiful eyes stared at the young figure in the Genesis Qi mirror, falling silent for a moment, before she said, ¡°I hope he will not disappoint you.¡± ¡­ Swoosh! In the midst of the dense forest, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was akin to a wisp of smoke as he dashed past, leaving faint after-images in the space behind him. He had pushed his speed to the limit. Though he could no longer smell the fragrance from his body, he could feel that he was being marked by an extremely faint and peculiar scent. The scent was extremely stubborn, making it nearly impossible for him to erase for the time being. His eyes rapidly scanned his surroundings. He knew that the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were forming an encirclement around him at this very moment. His eyes flickered faintly in thought as he muttered to himself, ¡°Since you guys want to hunt me, I shall find a good spot to prepare a big surprise for all of you.¡± As his words faded, his figure had already flashed past, disappearing into the dense forest. Not long after Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure disappeared, the sound of rushing wind was heard as two figures landed on a thick tree branch. The pair consisted of a male and a female. There were Le Tian and Lu Xuanyin from Sword Cometh Peak. ¡°He sure runs fast.¡± Lu Xuanyin had an icy expression as she spoke. Le Tian, on the other hand, wore his typical smiling expression as he said, ¡°It seems that he has noticed us.¡± Lu Xuanyin frowned. ¡°Now that he¡¯s desperately running at full speed, it''s going to be rather difficult to catch up.¡± Le Tian casually replied, ¡°A panicked wild beast will always flee for its life. However, it will become easy pickings when it runs out of stamina. The other Sword Cometh Peak disciples have already formed a barricade around this area, and there is no way he can escape.¡± Le Tian scratched his face and sighed, ¡°My only concern is that it¡¯s quite shameful for so many of our talented Sword Cometh Peak disciples to deal with a mere Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°However, I¡¯m not very fond of surprises. Therefore, since I have already committed myself to this task, I will do everything I can to prevent any accidents from occurring, and destroy any glimmer of hope he may have had.¡± Beside him, Lu Xuanyin was in complete agreement as she said, ¡°That kid is a strange one, and seems to always exceed everyone¡¯s expectations.¡± Her bright eyes looked towards Le Tian as she smiled, ¡°Unfortunately for him, he is up against senior brother Le Tian this time.¡± She approved of Le Tian¡¯s meticulous way of doing things. After all, if their Sword Cometh Peak was unable to deal with Zhou Yuan even after sending out this many disciples, it would be a tremendous blow to their reputation. Le Tian chuckled. His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked in the direction Zhou Yuan had disappeared in, and waved his hand. A playful smile emerged on his face. ¡°Prepare to pull in the net.¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to let junior brother Zhou Yuan experience the methods of our Sword Cometh Peak¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 369 Sword Cometh Peak Locks Down the Valley As time passed, the fights that broke out in this massive mountain range grew increasingly intense, while the remaining disciples grew stronger and stronger. Meanwhile, the remaining participants gradually moved towards the depths of the mountain range. At a certain location in the mountain range. Three disciples from the same peak were currently travelling together. They huddled close, vigilantly scanning their surroundings as they walked. Genesis Qi surged around their bodies, ready to deal with any unforeseen occurrences. Swoosh! The trio immediately turned their heads to the right, only to see a wispy smoke-like figure zip past at a speed too quick for them to get a proper look. Instead, they were only able to detect the trees shaking faintly in its wake. ¡°Who?!¡± They shouted as the Genesis Qi around their bodies whizzed even faster in preparation to strike. However, before they could send out a blast of Genesis Qi, the wisp-like figure had already vanished from sight. The trio was dumbstruck as they turned to look at each other. Cold sweat appeared on their foreheads as they said, ¡°Who was that? That was way too fast! Just like a rabbit!¡± They didn¡¯t even manage to catch a glimpse of his appearance before he vanished. ¡°Never mind, it doesn¡¯t matter who it was. Someone so fast should be no pushover.¡± One of them said. The other two nodded in agreement. Just as they were about to change course, they suddenly felt powerful Genesis Qi ripples rapidly closing in on them from all directions, causing their expressions to change drastically. The trio hastily huddled together back to back, Genesis Qi surging as they vigilantly swept their gazes in the directions of the Genesis Qi ripples. Several dozen breaths later, the trees shook as seven or eight glowing figures shot out. They stood atop the surrounding trees, menacingly staring at the huddled trio. ¡°They¡¯re from Sword Cometh Peak!¡± The eyes of the trio widened when they saw the appearances of the glowing figures. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples glanced at the three Hongya disciples and shouted, ¡°Sword Cometh Peak is hunting Zhou Yuan, and we hope that everyone else will not interfere!¡± After leaving these words, they ignored the trio and shot forth once again. The trio was stunned by the Sword Cometh Peak disciples departure. Soon after, they could not help but mutter, ¡°To think that Sword Cometh Peak is going all out to hunt down Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s overkill, right?¡± One of the disciples frowned, before he said with disdain, ¡°Sword Cometh Peak is really shameless. Zhou Yuan is only one of the newer disciples. I can¡¯t believe they¡¯re ganging up on him.¡± The other two nodded, and said with some sympathy, ¡°That figure we saw previously should be Zhou Yuan. He¡¯s really unlucky to have the entire swarm of Sword Cometh Peak disciples after him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that he won¡¯t be able to escape this time around. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples have made it clear that they will not allow him to become a purple sash disciple¡­¡± ¡­ News of this hunt quickly caused a huge commotion in the depths of the mountain range. Numerous disciple sighing Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s shamelessness and how unfortunate Zhou Yuan was... However, even though they sympathized with Zhou Yuan, practically no one was planning to assist him. After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundations were weak, and Saint Genesis Peak was in a pitiful state. Therefore, it didn¡¯t seem worthwhile to assist him and incur the wrath of the rising Sword Cometh Peak. This situation naturally also caused quite an uproar outside the mountain range, numerous disciples showing their disapproval. After all, it was really unbecoming of Sword Cometh Peak to gang up and bully Zhou Yuan. However, their criticisms would not change anything, because there was no such thing as absolute fairness in the world. Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation had grown too quickly, and it was unavoidable for him to eventually suffer some backlash. The most outraged amongst them were naturally Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples. Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s actions were clearly displaying their complete disregard for Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction. Hence why they could so blatantly go about this operation without any fear of retaliation. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression darkened slightly, as anger flashed across his eyes. However, he ultimately suppressed his rage with a deep breath. The purple sash selection was a cruel test, and there were barely any rules. Therefore, he did not really have any grounds to lodge a complaint to sect master Qing Yang. As such, Zhou Yuan could only rely on himself. Elder Lu Song and his disciples were outraged as well. After all, they were fellow disciples from Saint Genesis Peak, making Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s actions also a display of disrespect towards them. In the face of this scene, even Lu Yan, who always seemed to have some misgivings about Zhou Yuan, frowned deeply as she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Sword Cometh Peak is simply too shameless!¡± However, there was nothing else she could do besides swearing out loud. Even if the participants from their faction went to assist Zhou Yuan, they would only be akin to a mantis before a cart. The other disciples around her fell silent. Lu Yan stared at that fleeing young figure as she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you manage to surprise me again today... then I¡­ I will acknowledge that the future you has the qualifications to chase after senior brother Chu Qing!¡± The disciples around her stared at her in shock. This was the first time a die-hard fan of senior brother Chu Qing like herself had spoken such words... Lu Yan menacingly glared back at them. ¡°What are you guys looking at? Do you really believe that he can do it?!¡± All of them shut their mouths, speechless as they shook their heads. Against the most elite gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak, how could he possibly turn the tables by himself?! In contrast to the anger from Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s disciples, Lu Hong¡¯s disciples were rejoicing at Zhou Yuan¡¯s misfortune. They were originally from Sword Cometh Peak, and did not consider themselves Saint Genesis Peak disciples. As such, they only felt delight when Zhou Yuan was being hunted by Sword Cometh Peak was. Wasn¡¯t he being really arrogant previously? But now, it seems like all he can do is to flee like a dog that has lost its home. ¡­ As the crowd watched, the pursuing figures chased deep into the mountain range. In the end, the faint silhouettes of ten misty mountain peaks began to appear. It seems like they were beginning to approach the end. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan darted into a valley. Dense mist churned in the valley, obscuring his figure. Behind him, the sound of rushing wind was heard as glowing figure after figure descended from the sky, blockading the entire valley. Le Tian and Lu Xuanyin¡¯s figures also descended, landing on a giant tree. They stared at the valley before them, and exchanged a look as mocking smiles appeared on their faces. After such a long chase, the panicked wild beast had finally run out of stamina. Quite a number of disciples soon appeared in the vicinity of the valley. The commotion caused by the Sword Cometh Peak disciples was far too large, and had naturally drawn over the disciples from the other peaks. Le Tian¡¯s gaze swept about the area as he cupped his fists together with a faint smile, ¡°This is between Zhou Yuan and my Sword Cometh Peak. If we have disturbed anyone, allow me to apologize.¡± He was subtly warning them not to get involved. The eyes of the disciples that had rushed over flickered faintly in thought. However, they ultimately did not say anything in response. They were after all not close to Zhou Yuan, and naturally did not want to offend Le Tian and his crew. However, not everyone was of the same opinion. ¡°Humph. Le Tian, isn¡¯t your Sword Cometh Peak being too shameless? If you still have a backbone, go and fight Zhou Yuan one on one. At least you¡¯ll have a respectful victory if you win. Why resort to such measures¡± A clear voice sounded as an alluring beauty walked out and coldly snorted. It was Su Wan of Cangxuan Peak. After all, she had close ties to Gu Hongyi, and the latter had even specifically asked her to aid Zhou Yuan. Therefore, when she saw Zhou Yuan being bullied, she naturally had to stand up for him. Le Tian frowned slightly when he saw Su Wan step forward. However, even before Le Tian could reply, another voice interjected, ¡°Su Wan, you¡¯re still such a busybody. Since you seem to have so much time on your hands, how about you and I have a fight now?¡± The crowd turned their heads, only to see a man in black robes walking forward. Though he looked rather ordinary, the eyes of the crowd widened at the sight of his face. Lightning Prision Peak, Wang Chen. He was also one of the top contenders for the championship. ¡°Wang Chen!¡± Su Wan¡¯s brows tightly knitted together as she icily said, ¡°And what does this have to do with you?¡± Wang Chen was expressionless, not giving her an answer. However, his stance was already clear. If Su Wan intervened, he would step forward to stop her. Su Wan angrily clenched her fists. The other disciples secretly shook their heads. Looks like Le Tian was set on giving Zhou Yuan a good dressing down, and had already made preparations in case someone tried to help him. Now that there was someone to stop Su Wan, it seems like Zhou Yuan¡¯s fate was sealed. Le Tian withdrew his gaze. He stared at the now locked down valley, his eyes narrowing slightly as his indifferent voice sounded. ¡°Go.¡± ¡°Send him out.¡± At the sound of his voice, the surrounding Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately charged into the valley. Atop the tree, the corners of Lu Xuanyin¡¯s lips raised slightly as she watched this scene. Zhou Yuan, there¡¯s no way you¡¯ll win this time! Previous Chapte Chapter 370 Turning Ethereal To Hide Swoosh! Swoosh! The instant Le Tian¡¯s voice sounded, nine Sword Cometh Peak disciples split off from the group surrounding the valley, and dashed into its fog filled depths. That valley was quite large, and its topography was rather complex. However, this was not a problem for the nine individuals, who quickly arranged themselves in a fan formation and began sweeping the area inch by inch. Le Tian stood atop a tree, his arms crossed across his chest as he instructed, ¡°The rest should prepare yourselves. We¡¯ll move the moment we pinpoint Zhou Yuan¡¯s location.¡± There were nearly ten figures stationed outside the valley, their sharp gazes continuously scanning the interior of that misty valley. Su Wan could only release a soft sigh as she watched. There were other Cangxuan Peak disciples beside her, but they had no ties to Zhou Yuan. They would probably be quite unwilling to aid Zhou Yuan, and incur the wrath of Le Tian and his crew. When all was said and done, Su Wan lacked the power to command them. This also made her rather puzzled by why the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were so obediently following Le Tian¡¯s instructions. Normally speaking, this would only happen if either the chief disciple¡­ or one of the two Chosens gave the order. However, why would someone of that standing have beef with a gold sash disciples like Zhou Yuan? Her eyes were furrowed in thought for a long time, but she could ultimately only shake her head her head in defeat, before she looked towards the valley in pity. It seems that she had no way to help this time. Zhou Yuan could only rely on himself to tide through this crisis. Of course, Zhou Yuan was already in a checkmate in Su Wan¡¯s eyes. After all, there was no way he could defeat all the elite gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak by himself. ¡°Junior sister Hongyi, your senior sister is really quite powerless this time¡­¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent at drawing trouble is really something.¡± Outside the mountain range, Gu Hongyi stared at the scene projected by the Genesis Qi mirror with gritted teeth and clenched fists. Meanwhile, the commotion was also picked up by practically all of the other watching disciples, causing them to break out into noise. ¡°Can¡¯t believe that the Sword Cometh Peak disciples have actually trapped Zhou Yuan in a valley¡­¡± ¡°Furthermore, they¡¯re even being led by Le Tian. Looks like Sword Cometh Peak is really going all out this time.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is truly unlucky. However, it''s also quite a testament to his ability to have the entire Sword Cometh Peak banding together to hunt him down. Even if he fails this purple sash selection, he will definitely become famous in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± ¡°How could this happen! I placed a huge bet on him!¡± ¡°......¡± While all kinds of opinions and discussions erupted, practically everyone in the area turned their gazes to this particular Genesis Qi mirror. Atop the most majestic peak, sect master Qing Yang and the six other peak masters also noticed the commotion. A quick scan immediately told them what had happened, as astonishment flashed across their eyes. It was extremely rare for all the disciples from a single to band together for the sake of dealing with a single person during a purple sash selection. ¡°Haha, peak master Ling Jun, it seems like your Sword Cometh Peak disciples are quite experienced in bullying others with numbers.¡± Snow Lotus Peak master Lianyi¡¯s gaze swept around as a sneer arose on her red lips. The handsome Sword Cometh Peak master, Ling Jun, was dressed in white today. He cast his rippleless deep pool like eyes towards the depths of the mountain range, as surprise flashed within them. It was evident that he did not expect his disciples to gang up on Zhou Yuan. However, he was only a little surprised, and not angry at all. Peak master Ling Jun chuckled softly, before he said in an unconcerned manner, ¡°Peak master Lianyi, the purple selection selection does has its rules, and my disciples are not breaking any of them.¡± ¡°That disciple called Zhou Yuan has been riding high recently, and others will obviously become displeased. They¡¯re youngsters after all.¡± ¡°However, after he has gone through this experience, I believe he will likely become a more composed individual in the future. Frankly speaking, this isn¡¯t bad news for him.¡± Peak master Ling Jun chuckled. He looked towards the Lighting Prision Peak master Lei Jun, as he smiled and said, ¡°Of course, if my Sword Cometh Peak disciples break the rules, I will punish them personally.¡± Even though he did not know why his disciples were targeting Zhou Yuan, it did not matter to him. After all, someone of his stature had no reason to concern himself with these matters. In his opinion, his Sword Cometh Peak disciples were not in the wrong either. Their actions aligned to to motto of their Sword Cometh Peak to be straightforward and decisive like a sword. Once you¡¯ve decided, you should go ahead without any reservations. Lighting Prision Peak master Lei Jun was in charge of the rules and punishments in the Cangxuan Sect, and was a stern and serious individual. Silver colored his eyes, as if they contained a world of lighting within them, a rather frightening sight to behold. He indifferently said, ¡°Although the Sword Cometh Peak disciples¡¯ actions have caused some tongues to wag, they did not break the rules.¡± At this moment, sect master Qing Yang chuckled and said, ¡°It is merely a dispute between disciples. There is no need for us to be overly concerned with this matter.¡± He paused for a moment, as he looked at peak master Ling Jun and said, ¡°However, their actions today will easily draw the ire of others. Peak master Ling Jun should remind his disciples that though it is good to be straightforward and decisive when one acts, the disciples from the other peaks are still your fellow brothers and sisters.¡± Peak master Ling Jun gently nodded and said, ¡°Sect master is right. I will discipline those rascals after the selection test.¡± However, judging by his expression, it was clear he did not think his disciples were in the wrong, and had only said those words because the sect master had spoken. ... Deep within the mountain range, in the outskirts of the valley. Le Tian was standing atop a tree, his gaze tightly fixed on the valley. As time passed, he suddenly frowned a little. He had realized that the search party had already scanned the entire valley once. However, they had not uncovered any signs of Zhou Yuan. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples in the valley rose into the sky, and looked towards Le Tian in confusion. ¡°Senior brother Le Tian, we can¡¯t find him!¡± Outside the valley, a wave of noise swept through the area, shock filling the faces of the many disciples from the various peaks. Had Zhou Yuan really concealed himself so well? A look of confusion flashed across Le Tian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Could he have fled?¡± Beside him, Lu Xuanyin¡¯s face was not looking too good at this moment. Le Tian shook his head and said, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. We have already sealed off this whole area. There is no way he has escaped!¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Lu Xuanyin hesitated for a moment. Their previous search had obviously failed to deliver any results. ¡°He must still be hiding inside!¡± Le Tian decisively declared. He waved his hand and said, ¡°You guys follow me in again. I will lead the search!¡± His body moved, taking charge of the nine disciples as they charged into the mist-filled valley. With Le Tian now leading them, half an incense stick of time passed, before he floated back up into the air with an ugly expression. This time, an uproar broke out even outside the mountain range, countless gazes staring at this scene in shock. None of them had expected Le Tian and his crew to lose track of Zhou Yuan after trapping him in the valley. Whispers spread, and some individuals even began to gloat. Sword Cometh Peak had caused quite a stir by so brazenly hunting Zhou Yuan down together, only to end up losing sight of him when he was right under their noses. If they allowed Zhou Yuan to escape, Sword Cometh Peak would lose all face. The commotion grew louder and louder as it spread. Finally, even sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters began to turn their attention over once again. ¡°Haha, now this is interesting.¡± Sect master Qing Yang chuckled. A look of intrigue had surfaced in his deep and wise eyes, a rarely seen expression to the disciples of Cangxuan Sect. ... Le Tian¡¯s expression darkened in response to the whispers and amused gazes. He hovered above the valley, and looked down at the mist below. With a deep breath, he suppressed his churning emotions as his eyes glowed brightly. ¡°Senior brother Le Tian, should we spread out and continue the search?¡± Lu Xuanyin could not help but ask. Her expression was also not a pretty sight. Le Tian did not answer. Instead, he continued to stare intensely at the valley below. As he stared, another half an incense stick of time passed. Behind him, Lu Xuanyin grew increasingly impatient. However, just as she was about to speak, Le Tian¡¯s deep voice slowly sounded. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan is truly amazing¡­¡± ¡°If I am not mistaken, you¡­ should have reached the advanced level of the Ethereal Form technique?!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 371 Boundary ¡°Advanced Ethereal Form?!¡± When Le Tian¡¯s voice sounded, several onlookers immediately gasped in shock as gaze after gaze tinged with astonishment looked towards the misty valley. ¡°I see¡­¡± Some disciples involuntarily exclaimed. It was said that once one reached the advanced level of the Ethereal Form technique, one would gain the ability to turn fully ethereal, even concealing the ripples from one¡¯s own Genesis Qi. It was an extraordinary survival skill that could save one¡¯s life. However, it was difficult to reach the advanced level. In the current Cangxuan Sect, only a handful of disciples have managed to achieve this feat. How long has it been since Zhou Yuan began his practise of the Ethereal Form technique? It was unbelievable for him to have reached the advanced level! Beside Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin was also taken aback. She soon gritted her teeth and said, ¡°That fellow is truly as slippery as a fish. To think that he can still put up such a fight even after being trapped!¡± She had initially believed Zhou Yuan it would be the end of the road for Zhou Yuan after trapping him here. However, who could have imagined that he would take advantage of the terrain to conceal himself, resulting in them being unable to find him. She looked towards Le Tian and asked, ¡°Senior brother Le Tian, what should we do now?¡± So many gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak had been deployed for this operation today. If Zhou Yuan was allowed to slip away right under their noses, their Sword Cometh Peak would truly lose all face. Le Tian gazed at the mist-filled valley below with slightly narrowed eyes. With a soft laugh, he said, ¡°Even though junior brother Zhou Yuan has surprised me somewhat, it will be a little too naive for him to believe he will survive with just the advanced Ethereal Form.¡± His gaze swept about the area, looking towards the Sword Cometh Peak disciples as he said, ¡°Fellow brother disciples, use your Genesis Qi to seal the valley. Deploy the Swordfish Boundary!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately responded to Le Tian¡¯s words. In the next instant, streams of powerful Genesis Qi rose from within their bodies like smoke, and quickly spread out to envelope the entire valley. The Genesis Qi was akin to a giant net, covering the entire valley. Buzz! After covering the valley, the Genesis Qi began to shake as beams of Genesis Qi light shot forth, dashing into the valley like swimming fish. As the fish swam past, the thick fog was torn apart, and gradually began to dissipate. These Genesis Qi fish were linked to each other, and could penetrate every nook and cranny, allowing them to tear through even the ungraspable mist. Evidently, this was a unique searching method from Sword Cometh Peak. Le Tian stood in the sky, his sharp gaze fixed on the valley below, as his senses observed every tiny vibration. Under his careful watch, the Genesis Qi fish continued their advance. As the Genesis Qi continued to slice through the fog, the mist in the valley grew lighter and lighter. In the end, all the mist was pushed back towards the deepest part of the valley, ultimately gathering in a small area, which was less than a few feet wide. At this juncture, the powerful Genesis Qi from the Sword Cometh Peak finally stopped, as if they had ran into an obstacle. In the sky, a small smile appeared from the corners of Le Tian¡¯s lips when he saw this. He waved his sleeve, sending out a gale of Genesis Qi. It immediately blew away the final patch of mist, and boulder promptly appeared. The air above the boulder rippled faintly. In the end, a figure gradually materialized, appearing before the eyes of the crowd. That familiar figure belonged to Zhou Yuan! Whoa! Regretful sounds were immediately heard outside the valley. Zhou Yuan had still been found in the end. ¡°What a pity. If Zhou Yuan could continue to hide from them, Sword Cometh Peak would be the ones making a fool of themselves today.¡± A disciples sighed. ¡°The fact that he was able to conceal himself from Sword Cometh Peak for so long already demonstrates that he is fairly skilled. After all, this valley isn¡¯t that big¡­¡± ¡°Le Tian is after all the top gold sash disciple of Sword Cometh Peak. Zhou Yuan is still a little inexperienced in comparison¡­¡± ¡°......¡± Outside the valley, Le Tian smiled slightly when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appear. With a wave of his hand, the numerous Sword Cometh Peak disciples surrounded Zhou Yuan and bean to approach. Finally, he stepped into the valley and walked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan has some good techniques. You nearly managed to hide from us.¡± Le Tian stood in front of Zhou Yuan as he spoke with a smile. Behind him, Lu Xuanyin was also looking at Zhou Yuan with a sneer on her face and joy filling her eyes. He had finally fallen into her hands. Seated atop the boulder, Zhou Yuan gazed at the twenty or so Sword Cometh Peak disciples surrounding him, as his gaze lowered slightly. ¡°Sword Cometh Peak must think quite highly of me to have sent so many of you. However, I believe it won¡¯t look good for you guys even if you beat me.¡± Le Tian sighed helplessly and said, ¡°I was initially of the same opinion. However, after witnessing junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s methods, I am glad that I brought along such a huge crew. If not, I may not have even found you today.¡± If he was alone, there was no way he would be able to scour every inch of the valley, and force Zhou Yuan out. With the advanced Ethereal Form, even if Zhou Yuan could not defeat Le Tian, the former would still easily be able to escape from the latter''s hands. Le Tian gazed at Zhou Yuan and chuckled. ¡°Thankfully, lady luck chose to side with me in the end. After creating so many waves in the Cangxuan Sect, I believe that you must have had your fill. Therefore, it will be best for you to lay low from now onwards.¡± ¡°As such¡­¡± ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, on account of the fact that you forced me to rack my brains to force you out, how about you voluntarily quit this purple sash selection and save us the trouble. It will save you a little pain as well.¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan with a superficial smile. ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to?¡± Zhou Yuan answered with a smile. Le Tian shrugged. He did not say anything else, and instead waved his hand. The surrounding Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately locked onto Zhou Yuan, as their formidable sword-like Genesis Qi began to surge. Zhou Yuan did not pay attention to these Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Instead, he lifted his head and looked at Le Tian, as a mysterious smile flowed out from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Senior brother Le Tian seems to be under the impression that I was only using the advanced Ethereal Form to hide from all of you?¡± Le Tian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°What else could it be? The Ethereal Form is indeed a wonderful technique. However, it is quite useless in a situation like this.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned, his smile tinged with a hint of mockery. ¡°Senior brother Le Tian, you were mistaken about something from the beginning¡­¡± ¡°I was not running from the start. My goal¡­ was to bring your Sword Cometh Peak disciples to a beautiful treasured land for a big surprise.¡± ¡°And that treasured land is right here¡­¡± Le Tian¡¯s eyes widened slightly, as he stared deeply at Zhou Yuan. However, he did not panic because of the latter¡¯s words, but instead calmly waved his hand. ¡°Send him out.¡± ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, if this is your final attempt to resist, it is a truly childish one.¡± It was obvious that he did not believe what Zhou Yun had said. From what he could see, Zhou Yuan was merely bluffing in hopes of causing them to make a mistake so that the latter may find an opening to run away. Therefore, he gave the order for them to attack without any hesitation at all. Swoosh! The Sword Cometh Peak dashed forward the moment they heard his order. Genesis Qi pulsed from their swords as they thrust towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan watched the formidable attacks approach as his gaze lowered slightly. Following which, a ripple suddenly erupted from the Spirit between his brows. Buzz! Buzz! The Spirit ripple swept outwards. In that very moment, several light beams began shooting out from the valley, interweaving together. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into a boundary that completely enveloped the entire valley. This sudden turn of events caused the numerous disciples outside the valley to be completely shocked... ¡°You guys have been chasing after me for so long. It¡¯s now time for me to return the favor¡­¡± ¡°I hope all of you will like this present that I have so painstakingly prepared for all of you.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth raised slightly as his hands joined together. ¡°Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary!¡± ¡°Go!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 372 Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Cover the Valley Rumble! When the boundary wrapped around the entire valley, everyone saw red clouds appear in the sky above, as scorching Genesis Qi waves rapidly converged. Under the searing heat, the creek flowing in the valley instantly evaporated. This sudden turn of events shocked everyone present. All of the disciples were stupefied as they blankly stared at the boundary that had risen from the valley, and the red thunder clouds in the sky above. The violent undulations radiating from the clouds were so powerful that even a sixth layer Alpha-Origin expert would feel extremely threatened. ¡°A boundary?¡± Su Wan¡¯s pretty face was filled with astonishment as she gazed upon this scene. ¡°This is the Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary.¡± A soft voice sounded behind Su Wan. She turned her head to look, only to discover that it was Xia Yu from Spirit Rune Peak, who appeared to have only just arrived. As she looked at the boundary, a look of admiration appeared on her face. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan is truly amazing. This boundary is considered a powerhouse among the grade 4 boundaries, but is extremely difficult to set it up. I never expected him to be capable of doing so.¡± This boundary could only be found in their Spirit Rune Hall. This meant that Zhou Yuan had managed to learn it in a short period of time, demonstrating his astonishing talent in Genesis Runes. ¡°With this boundary in place, it doesn¡¯t matter how many disciples Sword Cometh Peak sends, there is no longer anything they can do to senior brother Zhou Yuan.¡± Said Xia Yu. Su Wan¡¯s eyes widened, before she took in a deep breath. Zhou Yuan was indeed extremely surprising. To think that he would be able to carve out a path for himself even in such a dire situation. If Zhou Yuan managed to escape from Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s encirclement today, they would truly lose all face. When she thought of this, even Su Wan felt a little joy at their misfortune. ... While the disciples outside the valley were gasping in shock, the commotion outside the mountain range was even more unimaginable. Countless disciples burst out into gasps of astonishment, creating a tsunami of noise that flooded the area. Just moments ago, everyone was under the impression that Zhou Yuan had been forced into a dead-end by Sword Cometh Peak. Besides voluntarily withdrawing from the purple sash selection to keep his dignity, there seemed to be no other route he could take. However, none of them had expected that he would suddenly blow away their trump card in the blink of an eye... Unbeknownst to everyone, he had already set up an extremely formidable Genesis Rune Boundary in the valley! Outside the mountain range, innumerable disciples fell into a frenzied state. Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden comeback made the blood of even onlookers like them begin to boil in excitement. A gorgeous smile blossomed on Gu Hongyi¡¯s beautiful face, as her tightly clenched hands slowly loosened. She knew that Zhou Yuan would not give up so easily. If they want to force him to his knees, even the elite gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak would have to pay a heavy price. Beside Gu Hongyi, Qin Lan expression had turned rather stiff. He too never expected Zhou Yuan to have such a trump card hidden up his sleeve. ¡°Le Tian and his crew are trash. I can¡¯t believe they allowed Zhou Yuan to set up a boundary right under their noses!¡± Qin Lan cursed inside. Even though a Genesis Rune Boundary was extremely powerful, it was quite difficult and time-consuming to set it up. And yet, Zhou Yuan had managed to deploy it right under Le Tian and his crew¡¯s noses. One had no choice but to admit that Le Tian and gangwere truly a bunch of dumbassess. They had now lost the initiative, allowing Zhou Yuan to gradually tip the odds in his favor. ... ¡°To think he still had such a trump card.¡± Li Qingchan slowly withdrew her gaze and turned towards Yaoyao, who had remained calm from start to end. Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun¡¯s fur as she said, ¡°It seems that you are about to lose this bet.¡± Li Qingchan sighed and said, ¡°So he wasn¡¯t using the advanced Ethereal Form to hide. Instead, his goal was to use to conceal himself with Ethereal Form so that he could secretly set up the boundary. At the same time, he was also baiting Le Tian and the rest into the valley.¡± ¡°Now that all the prey have entered the net, it¡¯s time for him to pull it up.¡± Li Qingchan stared at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples in the mirror, before she said with some sympathy, ¡°Those guys thought that they were the ones chasing Zhou Yuan, but they would never have imagined that he had been using himself as bait from the start¡­¡± She stared at the young figure in the Genesis Qi mirror, as amazement flitted across her clear eyes. Although the current Zhou Yuan was still nothing to fear, Li Qingchan had begun to admire his mental fortitude. It was no longer as strange as before for him to have such a close relation to Yaoyao, because he did have some ability. ... Boom! Boom! Red thunder clouds churned above the valley, as scorching ripples violently pulsed. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples, who were about to attack Zhou Yuan, had stopped in a panic, a trace of fear in their faces as they gazed at the boundary before them. They could detect an extremely dangerous scent from the boundary. How could they have expected that what they originally believed would be a piece of cake would suddenly take such a turn. As they looked towards Zhou Yuan, the contempt in their gazes turned to graveness. Le Tian stared at this boundary as his face gently twitched. He gaze swept about the area, finding several glowing jade strips hidden between the cracks of the rocks around the valley. It was these jade strips that formed the boundary. However, he had not noticed them previously, and did not know when Zhou Yuan placed them down¡­ Le Tian stared intently at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You weren¡¯t using Ethereal Form to hide, but to secretly set up the boundary.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, but did not answer. It was already obvious after all. Le Tian smiled bitterly. Previously, he had thought that Zhou Yuan was merely hiding from them. Who could have imagined that the latter never had any intention of hiding. Rather, he was completing a boundary right under their noses. Behind Le Tian, there was a dazed look on Lu Xuanyin as she blankly stared at this scene. The joy in her eyes had already completely vanished, fear now in its place. ¡°Senior brother Le Tian¡­¡± She mumbled with a trembling voice. Le Tian took in a deep breath, as he gradually regained his calm. ¡°There is no need to panic, we will deal with him together. Though this boundary is extremely powerful, I don¡¯t believe that it is capable of wiping out our entire party.¡± ¡°This is his final trump card. Once we cross it, I will make him pay a painful price!¡± Thanks to Le Tian¡¯s words, the panicking Sword Cometh Peak disciples finally regained their balance. They quickly huddled towards Le Tian, as streams of powerful Genesis Qi shot into the air, forming protective Genesis Qi layers above them. Le Tian stared at Zhou Yuan like a hawk. Having the tables turned on him had obviously dealt a blow to his ego. However, he knew that there would be a chance to regain his pride as long as they managed to withstand the boundary¡¯s assault. Zhou Yuan stared at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples who have banded together, before he chuckled. ¡°Since you wanted to send me out, how about¡­¡± ¡°I give all of you a ride first.¡± Boom! The instant his voice sounded, the Genesis Qi accumulating in the rumbling thunderclouds above finally reached the limit. In the next instant, giant red thunderbolts pulsing with the scent of destruction rained down upon the land. Previous Chapte Chapter 373 Might of the Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boom! Red thunderclouds churned above the valley. In the next instant, red thunderbolts filled with the scent of destruction howled forth, raining down on the Sword Cometh Peak disciples below. Moreover, fire seemed to burn around the thunderbolts. In the face of the boundary¡¯s power, even Le Tian¡¯s expression had become solemn, his eyes filled with caution. Several powerful and thick streams of Genesis Qi shot out from Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin and the rest, forming layers of protective Genesis Qi barriers. Evidently, they planned on working together in order to withstand the attacks from the boundary. Boom! Boom! The bombardment of burning thunderbolts began, blowing apart the Genesis Qi shields one layer after another like a hot knife through butter. As each layer was shattered, Le Tian and his crew desperately squeezed out all their Genesis Qi to continuously repair the shields in order to maintain their defenses... Boom! Boom! As Le Tian and gang defended, thunderbolts continued to fall from the red thunderclouds above. The entire valley was devastated by the resulting shockwaves. The ground was rapidly torn apart, as numerous boulders evaporated into dust. Zhou Yuan sat on a boulder with a look of indifference on his face. His eyes were lightly shut, while the Spirit between his brows continuously flickered. Controlling a boundary of this level took an extremely heavy toll on his Spirit. If his Spirit had not broken into the mid Corporeal stage, he would have likely exhausted his Spirit energy after a single round of attacks. Outside the valley, countless gazes unblinkingly watched the astonishing clash. As they watched, complicated feelings rose within their hearts. Who could have imagined that the top elite gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak would wind up in such a sorry state: singlehandedly trapped by Zhou Yuan in this valley, and assaulted by a heavy barrage of attacks. They turned to look at that young figure atop the boulder,their eyes were filled with caution and respect. Before today, many of them had regarded Zhou Yuan as a new disciple who had just entered the inner mountains. Even though he had some accomplishments under his belt, he was still lacking compared to the veteren disciples, and they did not consider him as a serious threat. In fact, even after his performance at Spirit Rune Peak, many people still attributed his success to Yaoyao, which inevitability downplayed his accomplishments. However, Zhou Yuan was currently facing the most outstanding gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak all by himself, a feat that finally made everyone feel slightly in awe of him. This new inner mountain disciple had already became powerful that he now possessed the qualifications to challenge and even surpass the senior disciples... Boom! Boom! The red thunderclouds churned violently as they absorbed Genesis Qi from their surroundings, transforming it into an endless shower of red lightning. Inside the valley, Le Tian and gang bitterly hung on inside the layers of Genesis Qi shields. However, it was clear that the scales were slowly by surely tipping against them. ¡°Since the boundary is able to absorb the surrounding Genesis Qi, the ones who run out of stamina first will be us!¡± Said Le Tian in a heavy voice, the smile on his face had vanished long ago. The other disciples asked in a panic, ¡°What should we do?¡± Le Tian stared at the red thunderclouds in the sky as he said, ¡°It is meaningless for us to focus on defense. We must go on the offense instead. Only be destroying the thunderclouds will the boundary naturally crumble!¡± ¡°We must prepare our strongest attack and destroy the thunderclouds!¡± ¡°But once we disperse our defenses, how will we protect ourselves against the red thunderbolts?¡± Beside him, Lu Xuanyin gritted her teeth as she retrieved a longan-sized white glowing jade ball. The glowing ball was covered in ancient runes, and looked as if an entire sea had been poured into it. ¡°Senior brother Le Tian, this Divine Sea Pearl of mine specializes in defense, and should be able to buy us some time.¡± Le Tian¡¯s eyes lit up when he saw this. The Divine Sea Pearl was a defensive Genesis treasure, and could be found in the Glittering Jewels Pavillion. However, it was not cheap, and cost at least three thousand pieces of Genesis jade. Nonetheless, most purple sash disciples will try their best to purchase one before going out on missions. He never expected Lu Xuanyin to possess one as well. ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to trouble junior sister.¡± Lu Xuanyin shook her head, as she stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. I do not want to become his stepping stone and help grow his fame.¡± Initially, she thought that she could finally teach Zhou Yuan a lesson, and relieve the pent up resentment in her heart. However, the situation was now completely out of her expectations. In fact, a single slip was all it would take for them to end up boosting Zhou Yuan¡¯s fame via their Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s reputation. This would be extremely humiliating for Sword Cometh Peak. If that were to happen, none of them would be able to escape punishment. Dread rose within Lu Xuanyin¡¯s heart the moment she recalled their peak master¡¯s character. She knew that the stakes were already too high, and there was no way they could allow themselves to be defeated by Zhou Yuan... With these thoughts in mind, Lu Xuanyin gently flicked her wrist. The Divine Sea Pearl promptly transformed into a glowing dot as it rose into the sky. In an instant, a screen of ocean-like water spread, wrapping around them like a capsule. Glowing runes appeared on the water, pulsing with powerful Genesis Qi. Boom! Boom! Thunderbolts bombarded the water shield, stirring violent ripples on it. However, the attacks were ultimately neutralized by the water shield. As more and more thunderbolts rained down, the water shield began to grow thinner and thinner. Lu Xuanyin urgently said, ¡°Senior brother Le Tian, I am afraid that the Divine Sea Pearl won¡¯t last much longer.¡± Le Tian solemnly nodded. He icily stared Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Let¡¯s join forces and transform our Qi into swords! Shatter the thunderclouds!¡± Boom! As voice rang out, a torrent of powerful Genesis Qi shot into the sky. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples around him also began to circulate their Genesis Qi. Stream after stream of Genesis Qi gathered together, transforming into a several hundred feet tall Genesis Qi pillar in the air. The Genesis Qi rose straight into the sky like smoke. A sharp and deadly aura pulsed from it, causing the surrounding space to distort. Le Tian clapped his hands together. He was the person in charge, and the thick Genesis Qi column in the sky thus under his control. The pressure of wielding such tremendous power caused the veins to pop out on his forehead, and even his eyes began to turn blood-red. He gritted his teeth and began directing the Genesis Qi. Under the shocked eyes of the crowd, the giant Genesis Qi pillar began to shrink, before it finally transformed into a several hundred feet large glowing sword. That glowing sword towered between the land and the sky, pulsing with an unrivalled aura of sharpless. Up against this glowing sword, even a peak sixth-layer Alpha Origin disciple would be filled with terror. ¡°Le Tian is quite the capable indeed. To think that he is able to gather the Genesis Qi from the other disciples and transform it into a sword¡­¡± Several disciples sighed in admiration. ¡°The Genesis Qi that they practise seems to be of the same source. Looks like Sword Cometh Peak does have its unique methods.¡± ¡°If Le Tian can destroy the thunderclouds, Zhou Yuan¡¯s boundary will fall apart. Tsk, tsk, Le Tian does indeed live up to his title as the number one gold sash disciple of Sword Cometh Peak. It''s really amazing that he found a way out even in such a desperate situation.¡± Atop the boulder, Zhou Yuan naturally realized what Le Tian and the rest were doing. His Spirit shuddered, and the red thunderclouds in the sky began to shrink into the shape of a funnel, as alarming Genesis Qi undulations began to converge. Manipulating the boundary on such a grand scale was naturally extremely taxing on Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. In fact, blood had even begun to flow out from the corners of his eye. However, he showed no signs of stopping. At this juncture, all he could do was advance. Otherwise, all of his hard work from earlier would be wasted. Therefore, Zhou Yuan remained calm, while the shuddering of his Spirit grew increasingly violent. The Saint Spirit Crystal slowly rotated above his Spirit, giving off a glow that continuously replenished his Spirit power. Under the nervous stares of the crowd, both parties prepared their strongest attack in hopes of utterly blowing away the other. The veins on Le Tian¡¯s face squirmed violently, making him appear rather hideous. He looked at the giant glowing sword, feeling the powerful sword Qi within, before his eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan. ¡°If you want my Sword Cometh Peak to become your stepping stone, I can only tell you that you must be dreaming!¡± ¡°Break!¡± In the wake of his yell, the glowing sword suddenly dashed into the sky, leaving behind a tail of flames. Sword Qi howled, charging straight towards the red thunderclouds in the sky. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes finally opened at this moment, a trail of blood dripping from the corner of his eye. This was the sign that he had pushed his Spirit to its limit. He lifted his head, and stared at the red funnel shaped thundercloud. ¡°Red! Lightning! Fire!¡± A deep voice sounded emerged from his mouth. Cackle! A red light poured out from the thundercloud, taking the shape of a hundred feet wide flaming red ball. Lightning swam and swirled around the flaming ball, as extremely berserk undulations devastated its surroundings. The entire boundary trembled as the red ball of fire shot out. This was because it had exhausted all its Genesis Qi. Swoosh! Under the attention of numerous nervous observers, the glowing sword dashed upwards, while the red flaming ball fell. In the end, they viciously crashed into each other. Boom! An earth-shattering explosion unfurled above the valley. Su Wan, Xia Yu and the other watching disciples quickly retreated to avoid being caught in the aftershocks. Outside the mountain range, numerous gazes were glued to the epicenter of the clash. The violent shockwaves continued to wreak havoc for quite some time, before slowly dying down as the dust also began to settle. The valley had been completely destroyed, basically turning into a flat land. The debris scattered all over the ground indicated just how much destruction the shockwaves had caused... ¡°Who won?!¡± Many disciples hurriedly cast their gazes over. On the flattened valley, Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin and the rest of their crew had not moved from the spot, their bodies as still as statues. Opposite them, the boulder on which Zhou Yuan had sat had already been turned to dust, leaving him now standing instead on his original spot. Fresh blood flowed down from the corner of his eye, making him appear rather sinister. The entire valley was deathly silent. A cool breeze blew past. Urgh! Urgh! Next, countless gazes watched in shock as Le Tian and the rest of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples suddenly vomited mouthfuls of fresh blood. Under the setting sun, their bodies began to fall backwards onto the ground one after another. It was an extremely shocking sight. It was completely silent both outside the valley and the mountain range. Previous Chapte Chapter 374 Sword Cometh Peak Team Wiped Ou Huu. A gentle breeze blew past in the leveled valley, sweeping up a cloud of dust. Regardless of whether it was outside the valley or the mountain range, everyone¡¯s gazes seemed to have frozen as they stared at the figures in the valley. At this current time, a bloody fog was still drifting in the air, while the Sword Cometh Peak disciples fell on their backs, one after another. Beams of light descended from the sky, sweeping up the heavily injured disciples, and tossing them out of the mountain range... Only then did the countless stunned gazes gradually begin to return to their senses. By this time, most of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were already gone from the devastated valley, and only two figures remained. The one standing at the front was Le Tian. His hair was scattered behind him, and his complexion was deathly pale, making him cut an extremely sorry figure. Behind him, was a completely unscathed Lu Xuanyin. Her main task had been to control the Divine Sea Pearl earlier, and had thus not poured any Genesis Qi into the glowing sword. As a result, she had not been caught up in the earlier clash. However, even though she looked completely unhurt, her eyes were filled with terror. She trembled as she stared at her front, where the boulder Zhou Yuan sat on previously had already turned into dust, leaving him silently standing there. Zhou Yuan¡¯s sleeves had been blasted apart at some unknown time. He wore an expression of cold indifference, while blood flowed from the corners of his eyes, making him look rather terrifying. Zhou Yuan paid no heed to the blood, as he continued to stare at the pale Le Tian. Under his stare, Le Tian¡¯s chest rose faintly. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly vomited out a mouthful of fresh blood, before a bitter smile appeared on his face. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are truly something.¡± His voice was hoarse. Le Tian never imagined that this would be the final outcome of their hunt. Nearly twenty of the most elite gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak had joined forces, and yet, they had not only failed to easily finish off Zhou Yuan, but instead allowed him to successfully set up a boundary, turn the tables on them and wipe out their entire team. With regards to such an outcome, even Le Tian had no choice but to smile bitterly. However, he was not upset about it at all. After all, he had already went all-out against Zhou Yuan. That was the reason why he had chosen to ignore his image, and sent so many gold sash disciples after the latter. He had already tried his best, but had still lost in the end. This wasn¡¯t because he underestimated Zhou Yuan. Rather, Zhou Yuan simply had too many cards hidden up his sleeves. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± ¡°You are really formidable...¡± ¡°In the future, you might become one of the top disciples in our Cangxuan Sect¡­¡± Le Tian let out a hoarse chuckle, before slowly shutting his eyes as his body began to fall. He had also exhausted all his Genesis Qi in the previous clash. Swoosh! A beam of light fell from the sky and swept him away. When Zhou Yuan saw that Le Tian had disappeared, he finally gingerly raised his hand and wiped off the traces of blood at the corners of his eyes. A sharp pain stabbed him between his brows, making him feel a little dizzy. This was a sign that he had pushed his Spirit to its limit. If Le Tian and gang had managed to hang on for just a little while longer, the one who lost would have been him instead. His opponents were after all no push-overs, and were most outstanding amongst this batch of gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak. Each one was likely as strong as Wei Youxuan. If not for the boundary, Zhou Yuan knew that there was no way he could fight against so many of them all by himself. Thankfully, he was the last man standing. Boom! The instant Le Tian¡¯s body was swept out of the selection test, an earth-shattering commotion erupted both inside and outside the mountain range, a wave of noise dashing into the sky. What had they just witnessed?! Zhou Yuan had singlehandedly eliminated all the top gold sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak! Numerous disciples had their mouths ajar, their faces were filled with shock. The scenario of a single person eliminating all the participants from an entire peak had never happened in the Cangxuan Sect before! However, they had just witnessed it today... ¡°That¡¯s crazy, right?!¡± Some disciples muttered to themselves, while others felt that they were dreaming. Numerous disciples swallowed, respect appearing in their eyes as they looked at the young figure projected by the Genesis Qi mirror. After today¡¯s battle, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation would likely exceed even some of the veteren purple sash disciples. As she listened to the commotion that infected the many mountains, Gu Hongyi¡¯s face began to glow. She proudly stuck out her chest as she turned to look at the shell-shocked female disciples around her and said, ¡°So how was it?¡± You guys were making fun of me earlier, but now all of you must be shocked, right? The female disciples turned to look at one another, evidently so stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s accomplishment that they were at a loss for words. A pleased grin emerged on Gu Hongyi¡¯s face, before she glanced at Qin Lan, whose face was now a mix of green and white, and said, ¡°Senior brother Qin Lan, what do you think now?¡± Qin Lan¡¯s expression was rather ugly as he forced a smile and said, ¡°Haha, his luck is not bad. His boundary was also at its limit earlier, and if Le Tian had held on for just a little longer, Zhou Yuan would have been defeated instead.¡± His words drew the disdain of not only Gu Hongyu, but even made some of the female disciples, who were his fans, purse their lips. They clearly felt that Qin Lan was being too petty, and did not even have the courage to acknowledge the truth. Zhou Yuan had taken on all the gold sash disciples from Sword Cometh peak by himself. How gusty was that? And yet, Qin Lan refused to give his acknowledgement. Such pettiness was clear for all to see. Under those disdainful gazes, Qin Lan felt his face burn as he quickly withdrew. However, he was filled with anger when he looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s projection in the Genesis Qi mirror. ¡°Humph, you brainless kid. Do you really think that it is very glamorous for you to eliminate Le Tian and the rest?¡± ¡°The two Chosens of Sword Cometh Peak are known to be overprotective. You may have made a name for yourself today, but you have also offended both of them. Therefore, you will definitely suffer in the future!¡± The disciples from Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction were already cheering. All of their faces were flushed with excitement and emotion. There was no longer any of the past contempt when the disciples from the other peaks looked over, but instead curiosity in their eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in this purple sash selection test had clearly made the other disciples no longer dare to look down on Saint Genesis Peak like before. Zhou Tai sighed as he said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan is truly amazing.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory was certainly a tremendous boost to their reputation. Shen Taiyuan stroked his beard, a big smile on his typically stern face. He seemed to feel increasingly gratified as he looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Old man Shen, it seems like you have picked up a gem this time.¡± Elder Lu Song walked over as he smiled at Shen Taiyuan. The envy in his voice was difficult to conceal. Zhou Yuan had stolen the show today, and since he belonged to Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction, it would inevitably also allow Shen Taiyuan to gain face. In fact, it had been a long time since such amazing battle accomplishments had come from someone from their Saint Genesis Peak. Nearby, Lu Yan and the rest were wide-eyed as they stared at this scene. Lu Yan involuntarily said, ¡°That kid is simply too strange. It¡¯s almost like he¡¯s an abnormality!¡± One of the disciples around her quietly whispered, ¡°Senior sister, do you think that he has the qualifications to catch up to senior Chu Qing now?¡± Lu Yan made a pose like she was going to hit him, as she angrily said, ¡°Are you looking for a beating¡­¡± She paused for a moment, her lips pulling outwards as she said, ¡°I admit that he¡¯s very formidable. However, it is still a little unfair to him if he were to be compared to senior Chu Qing for now.¡± She stared at that slim figure in the Genesis Qi mirror in silence for a moment, before she slowly opened her mouth again. ¡°But if we give him another three years, I believe he might be just like senior Chu Qing, and become the apex disciple of our Cangxuan Sect.¡± ¡°Perhaps¡­ he may truly be the one that will lead our Saint Genesis Peak back to glory.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 375 Beneath the Ten Peaks A wave of noise surged through the mountains, clearly demonstrating how shocked the many disciples were inside. In fact, it even spread to the highest peak. Six powerful existences that were renowned across the entire Cangxuan Heaven, turned their attention towards the deepest part of the mountain range. They were naturally aware of the outcome of that fight. For a time, surprise flashed across the faces of sect master Qing Yang and the rest. ¡°Haha, this is interesting.¡± Sect master Qing Yang chuckled, a look of appreciation in his eyes. As the sect master of the Cangxuan Sect, he was naturally felt pleased to have such an outstanding disciple in his sect. Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi also looked in amazement at the figure in the depths of the mountain range. She soon turned to look at peak master Ling Jun and said with a skin deep smile, ¡°Peak master Ling Jun, Sword Cometh Peak has been constantly snatching up all the most talented disciples over the years. But from what I can see, they don¡¯t seem to amount to much? I can¡¯t believe that the entire team was eliminated by a Saint Genesis Peak disciple.¡± She did not get along well with peak master Ling Jun, and was naturally not going to miss out on the chance to rub it on when Sword Cometh Peak had suffered such a huge loss. Peak master Ling Jun nonchalantly smiled as he said, ¡°That disciple named Zhou Yuan is truly a rarely found good seedling.¡± His gaze swept towards a certain direction, where the elders from Sword Cometh Peak were located. When these elders noticed his gaze, all of them lowered their heads in embarrassment. The eliminated disciples belonged to their factions after all. Peak master Ling Jun suddenly said, ¡°It seems like my gold sash disciples lack training.¡± The group of elders heard his words felt their hearts shake when they heard his words. Even though they could not detect any hints of anger in peak master Ling Jun¡¯s voice, his words were evidently voicing his displeasure. Le Tian and gang¡¯s performance had made peak master Ling Jun feel quite humiliated. After today¡¯s debacle, punishment was unavoidable. As elders of Sword Cometh Peak, they clearly understood peak master Ling Jun¡¯s character. If Le Tian and his crew managed to finish off Zhou Yuan, even if others complained that they were ganging up on him, the peak master would ignore them. This was because he only cared about the results, and not the process. However, Le Tian and his crew had lost, causing Sword Cometh Peak to lose face in the Cangxuan Sect. In peak master Ling Jun¡¯s eyes, these disciples would undoubtedly be regarded as useless. As they thought about the punishment that Le Tian and the rest would face, the elders could only sigh inside. Le Tian was actually an extremely talented disciple. Otherwise, there was no way he could become the number one gold sash disciple of Sword Cometh Peak. However, peak master¡¯s opinion of him would drop drastically after today. ... While the entire place was in shock, Zhou Yuan gently massaged his throbbing head in the flattened valley, before he turned his indifferent gaze towards the pale Lu Xuanyin. She was now the only remaining Sword Cometh Peak disciple. When she saw the indifference in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, her already pale face turned even paler. The result of the fight had hit her the hardest, leaving her in utter shock. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples would be eliminated by Zhou Yuan. As she looked at the young man, who she knew in the outer mountains. The same young man who she had once never bothered to glance at. She could not believe that he had unknowingly become so powerful... The young man from the outer mountains back then was now already beyond her reach! ¡°You¡­ what do you want?!¡± Lu Xuanyin¡¯s voice trembled as she spoke. She was trying her best not to be intimidated by Zhou Yuan¡¯s aura. Zhou Yuan made a grabbing motion with his hand, and the Heaven Yuan Brush began to grow. A sharp and icy expression suddenly filled his eyes. Swoosh! He shot forward, the sharp tip of his brush akin to a spear as it tore through the air. With unmatched ferocity, it thrust towards Lu Xuanyin¡¯s head. A sonic boom sounded. The snow-white brush tip rapidly enlarged in Lu Xuanyin¡¯s eyes, causing her scalp to turn numb as she felt the murderous aura gushing towards her. She had a feeling that Zhou Yuan was truly planning on ending her life with this thrust. Over the years, Zhou Yuan had fought tooth and claw to the top, and there was naturally a ruthless side to him. He had merely been choosing to hold it back when faced against his fellow disciple in the past. However, he truly loathed Lu Xuanyin. If it wasn¡¯t for this woman, he wouldn¡¯t have to deal with so many problems. As such, he lost his cool, and allowed his vicious side to appear. In the face of his terrible aura, Lu Xuanyin rapidly staggered backwards in fear, seemingly forgetting to resist. It was only after the sharp force pounced towards her and left a small scar on her face, that she suddenly came to her senses and shrieked, ¡°I admit defeat!¡± That snow-white brush tip containing deadly force stopped inches before her. The remnant force caused her hair to turn disheveled, making her cut an extremely sorry figure. Zhou Yuan calmly gripped the Heaven Yuan Brush, as he shot an icy look at Lu Xuanyin. A beam of Genesis Qi light descended from the sky, sweeping away the terrified girl. Zhou Yuan withdrew the brush and placed it standing beside him. There was obviously no way he would actually kill Lu Xuanyin in a place like this, as it would likely get him expelled. Thankfully, the battle today should have finally scared that woman away. Moreover, Sword Cometh Peak had lost a great amount of face today, and would likely face some difficulties in the near future. Therefore, they would likely be unable to spare energy to cause trouble for him for the time being. As he lifted his hand, seal after seal began to fly over, landing on the back of his hand. There were a total of twenty six seals. These were the seals donated to him by Le Tian and the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples. With these seals, he could finally ascend one of the peaks. At the very least, he was definitely going to become a purple sash disciple. After collecting the seals, Zhou Yuan lifted his head and looked at the other disciples around the edges of the valley. They had been observing the fight between him and Sword Cometh Peak previously. When the surrounding disciples saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s look over, their eyes widened slightly as looks of caution and wariness appeared on their faces. They began to slowly back away, showing that they had no intention of fighting with Zhou Yuan. Evidently, seeing Zhou Yuan wipe out the entire Sword Cometh Peak team had left a deep impression in their hearts. Only Su Wan from Cangxuan Peak moved forward, and landed at a spot near Zhou Yuan, and said, ¡°I never expected you to be so capable. Can¡¯t believe you actually managed to eliminate all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned at her. He had a good opinion of Su Wan. After all, he had seen earlier that she was the only one who had stepped forward to help him, although she was ultimately stopped by Wang Chen from Lightning Prision Peak. ¡°The ten peaks are not far from here. Want to head there together?¡± Asked Su Wan. Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a moment, before he nodded with a smile. His Spirit was hurting badly. With Su Wan around, he could take this opportunity to recharge. Therefore, the two of them decided to travel together. The other disciples quickly gave way. There was no longer anyone dared to stand in Zhou Yuan¡¯s way after witnessing him wipe out the Sword Cometh Peak team. Hence, the subsequent travelling was a smooth, and without any obstacles. Eventually, Su Wan and Zhou Yuan began to slow down. A giant mountain stood to their front, ten peaks rising from it like ten fingers. At the bottom of each peak was a thick and heavy looking stone door. It was clear that one could ascend the peaks by passing through here. At the same time, one would finally learn what format the championship battle would take. Previous Chapte Chapter 376 Top Ten Ten peaks rose from the majestic mountain like ten fingers. At the foot of each peak stood ten heavy stone doors that one needed to cross in order to ascend the peaks, blocking the paths of numerous disciples. Zhou Yuan stood at the foot of the mountain, sighing inside as he gazed at the ten stone doors. Once he passed through any of these doors, he would finally be promoted to a purple sash disciple, and become a pillar of the Cangxuan Sect. Of course, what naturally followed was the envious luxurious treatment that every purple sash disciple enjoyed. Only god knew how many disciples worked tirelessly in hopes of receiving it. Zhou Yuan gazed at the stone doors, but did not immediately make a move. Instead, he quietly stood there as he tried to calm the stabbing pain his Spirit was experiencing... As he waited, the sound of rushing air continuously sounded in the vicinity as figure after figure arrived. There was obviously much less people compared to earlier. However, every one of them was surrounded by powerful Genesis Qi, and had sharp and determined looks in their eyes. It was obvious that none of them were ordinary individuals. After all, they had to defeat numerous opponents in order to reach this place, many of whom were considered elite gold sash disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, and were definitely not weak. There were currently five figures standing at the very front of the group. They were Su Wan from Cangxuan Peak, Xia Yu from Spirit Rune Peak, Wang Chen from Lightning Prison Peak, Mu Chunlei from Snow Lotus Peak and Wu Yue from Hongya Peak... The five of them were the number one gold sash disciples of their respective peaks, and strongest amongst everyone here. None of the other disciples even dared to stand too close to the five, clearing showing that none of them had any intentions of fighting with these five. Of course, besides these five individuals, there was also no one within a few dozen feet radius of Zhou Yuan. In fact, even Su Wan and the four other first seat gold sash disciples looked at Zhou Yuan with wariness. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan¡¯s feat of wiping out the entire Sword Cometh Peak team had simply been too shocking. What¡¯s more, Le Tian had been amongst this group, someone whose strength was equal to their own. Even so, all of them were ultimately kicked out of the selection by Zhou Yuan. Such battle power was indeed very terrifying. Therefore, no one dared to offend Zhou Yuan. Though they knew that Zhou Yuan had won because of the boundary he had set up, it was still part of his ability. As more and more disciples gathered at the foot of the ten peak mountain, Su Wan, Wang Chen, Xia Yu and the rest finally made their move. Everyone watched as they moved forward, each individual arriving in front one of the stone doors. Following which, standing in front of their respective doors, they swept their gazes around the place. Their intent was clear; these five doors were taken. When Zhou Yuan saw this, he too moved, landing in front of the sixth stone door. Anyone who disagreed could step forward and challenge any of the six. If the challenger won, he or she would be able to take their spot. However, it was obvious that not many disciples had the courage to challenge these first seat gold sash disciples of their respective peaks. If it was the past, Zhou Yuan would definitely be challenged by numerous disciples if he tried to take over one of the stone doors. In their eyes, the Zhou Yuan from back then was not qualified to do so. However, after Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle with the Sword Cometh Peak disciples, everyone had already erased such thoughts from their minds. In fact, they would rather challenge the other five. None of them had the courage to face this demon of a disciple who had wiped out the entire Sword Cometh peak team. As such, only four stone doors remained. In other words, intense battles would soon occur in front of these last four doors. In order to be promoted to a purple sash disciple, every disciple here had raised their battle power to the limit. Therefore, an extremely chaotic battle was sure to erupt in front of these doors. In contrast, the area around Zhou Yuan and the other five would be deserted and peaceful, since no one was going to challenge them.. As such, they could only quietly observe the fights taking place in front of the four remaining doors... The chaotic and intense battles lasted for nearly an incense stick of time. In the end, four disciples prevailed from amidst a heap of groaning bodies. Though they were riddled with injuries, they were bursting with excitement as they stood in front of the four stone doors, the emotions in their eyes clear for all to see. When all ten disciples stood in front of the stone doors, a series of sighs sounded outside the mountain range. Because this meant that these ten disciples now possessed the qualifications to become purple sash disciples. The eyes of countless disciples were overflowing with envy as they gazed at the ten figures. To become a purple sash disciple was the goal of every Cangxuan Sect disciple. Moreover, only by first reaching this rank would the path towards the chief disciple be open and even¡­ a Chosen in the future. ¡°Since the ten purple sash disciples have been decided, it¡¯s time for the most exciting part of the purple sash selection¡­¡± ¡°Yeah. The championship battle is next.¡± ¡°I wonder what format this championship battle will take? I am really looking forward to it...¡± ¡°No matter what format it is, I believe Zhou Yuan has a very good chance. In fact, he will likely become the champion this time.¡± ¡°That is not necessarily true. The reason why Zhou Yuan was able to team wipe the Sword Cometh Peak disciples was because Le Tian and gang were caught off-guard, allowing Zhou Yuan to set up a boundary in secret. Since everyone now knows this trick of his, there is no way they will give him the time to set it up again in a fight.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Without the help of the boundary, I don¡¯t see how Zhou Yuan could possibly match up to Su Wan, Wang Chen and the other first seat gold sash disciples¡­¡± ¡°......¡± Many disciples discussed the outcome, their eyes filled with anticipation. The ten purple sash disciples before them were the top disciples that had distinguished themselves from all the gold sash disciples in their Cangxuan Sect. And the champion would soon be decided from amongst them. One could only imagine how amazing the subsequent fights would be. ... Zhou Yuan stood in front of a stone door as he stretched out his hand. The seals on the back of his hand began to flicker, before detaching themselves and flying into the stone door. Rumble! After the seals entered, a rumbling noise immediately erupted from the stone door. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s excited gaze, the door slowly opened. Faint mist filled the area behind the stone door, while a tiny rock path extended towards the limits of one¡¯s sight. ¡°The championship battle, huh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glimmered. He would have no interest if it was just a title, as he was a very practical person. He was only interested in the championship prize, the Genesis Star Pill. With that pill, he would be able to swiftly advance into the fourth-layer Alpha Origin stage. By doing so, he would increase his odds in the year-end chief disciple selection. After all, the opponents he would face in that fight would make his current battles seem akin to small squabbles. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, before he stepped past the stone door without the slightest trace of hesitation, embracing the mist as he began walking on that small cobbled path. The cobbled path brought him upwards. His surroundings were obscured by the fog, while his curious gaze remained directed to the front. He really wanted to know what the format of the championship battle would be. Was it going to be a ten person brawl? As such thoughts swirled in his head, Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps did not pause. After half an incense stick of time, he finally realized that he had reached the end of that cobbled path. Meanwhile, the mist in front of him began to dissipate. When the mist disappeared, a spacious rocky arena appeared in front of him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze immediately locked onto the center of the arena, where a man was resting both his hands on the hilt of a dark gray sword, while his scabbard was propped up on the ground. Beside him was a three feet long incense stick wedged atop a boulder. When Zhou Yuan saw this person, his pupils shrank slightly. The figure lifted his head, and revealed a playful smile at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, it seems like you¡¯ve really made a name for yourself earlier...¡± ¡°However, I never expected that you would bump into me.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. The figure before him was not completely unknown. This person was also a disciple from Sword Cometh Peak, and seemed to be called¡­ Xu Yan? Were they dispatching veteran purple sash disciples for the championship battle? Looks like it was going to be quite a challenge. Previous Chapte Chapter 377 The Championship Battle When the disciples outside the mountain range saw Zhou Yuan ascended the peak and encounter Xu Yuan from Sword Cometh Peak, a commotion naturally ensued. ¡°To think that it would be senior brother Xu Yan from Sword Cometh Peak¡­¡± ¡°This championship battle involves veteran purple sash disciples?¡± ¡°The other nine have also been stopped by someone, all of whom are extremely powerful veteran purple sash disciples from the various peaks...¡± ¡°Could this championship battle be about who will be able to defeat these veteran purple sash disciples?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be possible. Senior brother Xu Yan and the rest have all stepped into the seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage. Furthermore, they are purple sash disciples that practice grade 6 Genesis Qi methods and cultivate grade 6 Genesis Qi . In comparison, Su Wan and the rest may be the first seat gold sash disciple of their respective peaks, but the Genesis Qi they cultivate is only grade 5. What¡¯s more, there is a gap in their Genesis Qi cultivation as well, making victory practically impossible.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The championship battle shouldn¡¯t require them to defeat senior brother Xu Yan and the rest¡­¡± ¡°......¡± Many whispers echoed within the crowd. The format of the championship battle had clearly taken many by surprise. Atop one of the mountain peaks, Yaoyao and Li Qingchan were also watching the scenes inside the Genesis Qi mirrors. ¡°Xu Yan from Sword Cometh Peak¡­¡± A look of astonishment flashed across Li Qingchan¡¯s gorgeous and icy face as she said, ¡°It seems like Zhou Yuan and Sword Cometh Peak are fated to be pit against one another. Can¡¯t believe he still managed to run into them after picking a path at random.¡± A look of thought could be seen on her face as she continued, ¡°To think that sect master and the rest would send out the veteran purple sash disciples. I believe the goal of this championship battle won¡¯t be for Zhou Yuan and the rest to defeat their opponents, but how long they will be able to last against these veteran disciples.¡± Li Qingchan looked at Yaoyao and said, ¡°If so, Zhou Yuan is quite the unlucky one. If it was anyone else from another peak, that person will likely hold back a little. However, there is no way that Xu Yan will be showing any mercy.¡± ¡°Therefore, Zhou Yuan¡¯s hopes of winning the championship might be dashed.¡± At this point, she felt a little regretful for him. After all, she had personally witnessed how Zhou Yuan had fought all the way to reach this juncture. Who could have imagined that he would encounter such a strong foe at the final stage. Yaoyao¡¯s hands gently stroked Tuntun¡¯s head. Her clear eyes gazed at the two figures facing each other in the Genesis mirror, as she slowly said, ¡°Like I said, you¡¯ll never know what¡¯s going to happen until the end.¡± Li Qingchan responded with slight annoyance, ¡°Don¡¯t you think that you are blindly putting too much faith in Zhou Yuan? The reason why he was able to eliminate Le Tian and the rest was because they did not know about his hidden trump card, allowing him to lure them into the valley and set up a boundary. However, Xu Yan is likely already aware of this information, and there is no way that he will allow Zhou Yuan to set up a boundary.¡± ¡°Without the boundary, Zhou Yuan may not even be able to defeat Le Tian with his own strength, let alone Xu Yan, a seventh layer Alpha-Origin expert.¡± Li Qingchan was a fairly logical person. That was why she could not understand Yaoyao¡¯s thoughts. She did not deny that Zhou Yuan was extremely outstanding. However, she believed that there were still limits. He was currently only at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage, and if Yaoyao believed that Zhou Yuan would be able to match Xu Yan in a clash of Genesis Qi, she would be severely underestimating the four layers gap between them. Yaoyao did not reply. She also knew that Zhou Yuan would face a tremendous amount of pressure against such a powerful foe. However, she also felt that this pressure would be good for him. As for the end result, it was honestly not important. ... While the area outside the mountain range was in an uproar, in the rocky arena, Zhou Yuan wore a slightly grim expression as he stared at Xu Yan. The Genesis Qi vibrations from the latter made him feel a significant amount of pressure. Seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage. Compared to Le Tian and the rest, this opponent was on a different level. Xu Yan nonchalantly looked towards Zhou Yuan, and unhurriedly said, ¡°The last time we met, I respectfully gave you a way to apologize to junior sister Lu Xuanyin in order to resolve the grudge between the two of you. However, junior brother Zhou Yuan, you were simply too arrogant and directly rejected my kind gesture.¡± ¡°Therefore, in order to help junior brother Zhou Yuan understand your situation, I made a request of junior brother Le Tian and the rest¡­¡± ¡°Haha, of course, senior brother Zhao Zhu was also involved.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned a little. After all this time, it turns out that Le Tian and the rest had been on Xu Yan¡¯s instructions. Moreover, Zhao Zhu? Wasn¡¯t he the second Chosen of Sword Cometh Peak? Why would he want to make things difficult for Zhou Yuan? ¡°It seems like I¡¯ve disappointed my two senior brothers¡­¡± Said Zhou Yuan with indifference. Since the two of them were clearly intent on making life difficult for him, there was no need for him to pretend to be courteous towards them. Xu Yan nodded and sighed, ¡°Yes, I was indeed a little disappointed. I did not expect that Le Tian and the rest would be eliminated by you.¡± Even till now, Xu Yan found this result quite difficult to accept. In his opinion, Le Tian and gang was already a powerful line-up. Xu Yan would never have expected them to be defeated by Zhou Yuan. Xu Yun grasped the handle of his sword with both hands, as its scabbard gently knocked on the ground. Indifference returned to his eyes as he said, ¡°Since you have showed up in front of me, you no longer need to think about passing this stage.¡± ¡°In order for my Sword Cometh Peak to regain some of its pride, I will need to give you a good thrashing.¡± ¡°If you still have abit of rationality within you, I suggest that you surrender now. Otherwise¡­¡± Xu yan gently smiled, before he continued, ¡°Don¡¯t blame this senior for bullying you in order to teach you how to abide by the unspoken rules.¡± Zhou Yuan made a slight grabbing motion, and the Heaven Yuan Brush promptly appeared in his hand. Not a single ripple could be seen in his clear eyes as he lifted his head and looked towards Xu Yan. ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about the rules. Is the objective of the championship battle to defeat you?¡± Xu Yan was taken aback, before he soon burst into laughter. However, his eyes turned colder and colder as a derisive smile appeared on his lips. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, it seems like your earlier victory has made you lose your rationality.¡± Xu Yan pointed at that three foot long incense stick behind him and said, ¡°Right now, the top ten disciples of the selection will each encounter a veteran purple sash disciple from the seven peaks. The winner of the championship battle will hinge upon which of you will be able to last the longest.¡± ¡°When this incense stick is burnt out, the one who is left standing will be the champion.¡± ¡°Therefore, junior brother Zhou Yuan, what you should be thinking about now is not how to defeat me, but how long I will allow you to last¡­¡± ¡°Truthfully speaking, we are initially supposed to go easy on all of you such as to give face to the various peaks, allowing all of you participants to last a little longer, and maintain some sense of dignity.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± Xu Yan shrugged, his eyes turning a little colder as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°My plan is to make you the first one to be eliminated.¡± By this point, it was clear that Xu Yan was not going to show any mercy. As for going easy on Zhou Yuan, that was even more impossible. A grim expression filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, as the Heaven Yuan Brush in his hand rapidly grew. Its sharp snow-white tip was pointed towards the ground at an angle, while golden Genesis Qi rose to the sky like a plume of smoke. The faint sound of a giant python hissing seemed to echo from within the golden smoke. ¡°Then I look forward to experiencing senior brother¡¯s abilities.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said. Not a single hint of fear could be seen in his eyes. Instead, a burning fighting spirit surged within them. His opponent was indeed very powerful, but Zhou Yuan was not afraid of formidable foes. In his opinion, every strong enemy was a whetstone he would use to temper himself through numerous battles. At the sight of Zhou Yuan, who was overflowing with battle intent, the derisive smile on Xu Yan¡¯s lips widened. ¡°I sincerely hope that you will be able to keep up this spirit later on¡­¡± The sword in his hand suddenly slashed behind him, causing tearing noises to be emitted from the air. Ch! The giant incense stick behind him was lit, a wisp of smoke slowly rising into the air. Xu Yan wielded his sword with one hand, while the expression in his eyes abruptly sharpened. An eight hundred foot tall pillar of dark green Genesis Qi shot out from his head and soared into the sky. His Genesis Qi was akin to a giant green sword that towered between heaven and earth. A sharp and intimidating pressure swept forth, as the cry of a sword filled the sky. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you made my Sword Cometh Peak lose plenty of face earlier. Therefore¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s now time for payback!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 378 Strenuous Battle against Xu Yan Buzz! An eight hundred foot tall dark green Genesis Qi pillar rose into the sky, stirring the wind and clouds as a powerful sword aura pulsed from it, causing the entire area to be filled with the cry of a sword. Xu Yan immediately displayed the astonishing might of a seventh layer Alpha-Origin expert. The expression on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face grew increasingly grim as he tightened his grip on the Heaven Yuan Brush. He did not dare to underestimate such a formidable opponent. Boom! When Xu Yan¡¯s Genesis Qi charged into the sky, nine other powerful Genesis Qi pillars also erupted on the other nine peaks, each one reaching the strength of the seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage. Evidently, the fights on the other nine peaks had also began. However, compared to Xu Yan¡¯s Genesis Qi, the other nine powerful Genesis Qi pillars seemed to be holding back a little. Just like what Xu Yan had said earlier, they were purposefully holding back out of consideration for their junior brothers and sisters... However, it was clear that Xu Yan had no intentions of doing so. In fact, even the many disciples outside the mountain range could detect this as well. However, they could only sigh in pity with regards to this. Zhou Yuan was truly unfortunate. Out of all the possible opponents, he just had to bump into Xu Yan from Sword Cometh Peak. Anyone else would have most likely gone easy on Zhou Yuan. In the river around the mountain range, Lu Xuanyin flew out from the water and tumbled onto the river bank. She lifted her head to look at that powerful Genesis Qi that had erupted from a certain mountain peak, as a look of hatred flashed in her eyes. She had lost all face in front of Zhou Yuan earlier. Though she resented him, she was also very fearful of him. The heartless ferocity in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes earlier as he thrust his brush towards her had sent a chill through her heart. As a result, she no longer had the courage to oppose Zhou Yuan. However, it seemed that Zhou Yuan had finally used up all of his blessings. To think that he would be unlucky enough to encounter Xu Yan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s too early for your to celebrate. Senior brother Xu Yan will make you understand how stupid it is to offend our Sword Cometh Peak!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about advancing any further in this purple sash selection. As for the championship title, you can dream on!¡± ... Clap! On the mountain peak, Xu Yan sneered as he suddenly slammed his palms together. Swoosh! That eight hundred foot tall dark green Genesis Qi pillar suddenly split apart, transforming into dozens of light rays as they fell from the sky. Each ray was in the shape of a sword, pulsing with an incomparably sharp aura as they descended. Their speed was as quick as lightning. The sound of rushing wind echoed from above Zhou Yuan. His figure instantly etherealized as he quickly retreated like a wisp of smoke. Boom! Boom! Streaks of dark green Genesis Qi viciously rained down. They struck the ground like giant swords, leaving deep scars behind. Every blast of green Genesis Qi that landed would give rise to a destructive shockwave. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan was akin to a leaf boat floating on the waves, wobbling precariously at every gust of wind. His surroundings were filled with danger, and a single slip was all it would take to capsize him. The final stream of green Genesis Qi landed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet slid across the ground, leaving two long trails upon it. His expression was extremely grim, because there were now numerous small wounds on the surface of his body. These wounds had been caused by the sword aura from the green Genesis Qi. ¡°As expected of a veteran purple sash disciple.¡± Zhou Yuan wiped off the blood on the back of his hand. Not only did Xu Yan have strong and robust Genesis Qi, his Genesis Qi had also reached the grade 6 level. As such, his Genesis Qi was able to invade the opponent¡¯s body at even the slightest contact. If not for the fact that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Omni Python Qi was of a higher grade, just the sword like Genesis Qi that invaded his body alone would give him a huge headache. According to his estimates, Xu Yan¡¯s Genesis Qi should be at the low tier grade 6. Fortunately for Zhou Yuan, his Omni Python Qi was at the peak of grade 6. This was perhaps one of the few advantages that he had over Xu Yan. Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had not been disrupted even with the many wounds on his body, Xu Yan raised his brows and said, ¡°Your Genesis Qi is quite high quality huh¡­ to think that you are able to withstand my low tier grade 6 Green Moon Sword Qi.¡± It was clear that Zhou Yuan had neutralized all the Green Moon Sword Qi that had invaded his body. ¡°But this even better. I need not worry about breaking you¡­¡± The corners of Xu Yan¡¯s mouth raised slightly, filled with a chilling sensation. His foot slammed into the ground the instant his words faded. Boom! Green Genesis Qi swept forth from under his feet like a shockwave, spreading across the entire arena in the blink of an eye. ¡°Green Moon Millimeter Sword!¡± Buzz! The Green Genesis Qi vibrated as it seemed to unravel, transforming into innumerable tiny hair-like green sword light. A split second later, hundreds of millions of sword light shot towards Zhou Yuan. In the face of this attack, Zhou Yuan was unable to avoid no matter how fast he was. As he gazed upon the green sword light that seemed to fill the sky and land, Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. His body immediately etherealized, turning slightly transparent. ¡°Ethereal Form!¡± ¡°Heavenly Serpent Scales!¡± With a shout, light azure scales appeared and covered his entire body. Zhou Yuan did not stop after taking these defensive measures. He rolled up his sleeves as a rune surfaced on his arm. The rune flickered with a glossy glow, a sign that it had been prepared some time ago. ¡°Golden Glass Body Rune!¡± In the wake of his yell, the rune instantly began to spread, as a glass like look surged out and enveloped Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Under the glass like glow, even the Heavenly Serpent Scales took on a glassy hue. The current Zhou Yuan looked like a statute. However, his defensive power had become shockingly terrifying. Cling! Clang! The countless tiny green sword light arrived just as Zhou Yuan had finished his preparations. Crisp and clear sounds of collision echoed in the mountain peak. Like a storm of green swords was violently raining down upon the land. Outside the mountain range, numerous disciples swallowed when they saw this scene. The fights on the other nine peaks were still in the warm-up phase, while Zhou Yuan and Xu Yan had already unleashed their killing intent, showing no mercy against each other. A disciple sighed and said, ¡°Xu Yan is too vicious. The fight has only just begun, and yet he has already unleashed his signature move, Green Moon Millimeter Sword. Even normal purple sash disciples would have no choice but to retreat if they were up against this attack.¡± ¡°He has no choice. Zhou Yuan eliminated the entire Sword Cometh Peak team previously. Therefore, Xu Yan must thoroughly thrash Zhou Yuan in order to restore some dignity for his peak.¡± ¡°I wonder if Zhou Yuan will survive this barrage¡­¡± ¡°......¡± Amidst the numerous whispers, the rain of tiny green swords slowly began to thin, before finally ceasing. Countless gazes immediately looked over. Countless holes had been poked into the ground. Though each hole was the size of a little finger, they were completely pitch-black, and it was impossible to see to the bottom. At the center of the destruction, Zhou Yuan stood with his arms crossed in front of him. Needle like green sword light seemed to cover every inch of his body, making him look similar to a hedgehog. It was a painful sight to behold. Xu Yan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he stared at this scene. Crack! A soft cracking sound was heard from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The glass-like scales swiftly began to shatter. As they broke, the tiny green swords stuck in them also fell off. A few breaths passed. All the glass like scales had fallen off, returning Zhou Yuan¡¯s body to its original color. Numerous tiny red dots were visible on his body, blood seeping out from them. It was a very pitiful state. However, Xu Yan snorted as he mocked, ¡°Your turtle shell is really tough.¡± These were merely superficial wounds. With his Ethereal Form, Heavenly Python Scales and the defensive rune, Zhou Yuan had managed to block the brunt of the onslaught. This made Xu Yan¡¯s expression turn rather ugly. He had initially thought that this move would be enough to leave Zhou Yuan helpless on the ground. Zhou Yuan looked at the countless bloody dots on his arms as his expression turned slightly icy. This was the first time since joining the Cangxuan Sect that he had faced so much pressure in a fight. The seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage was formidable indeed. However, even if Xu Yan was a ferocious tiger, he had better be prepared to break his teeth if he wanted to bite a hard stone like Zhou Yuan! Boom! Zhou Yuan¡¯s cheeks inflated as he blew out a stream of Genesis Qi that turned into a gale and swept up the dust on the ground. His figure vanished into the storm of dust. ¡°Advanced Ethereal Form¡­ you are indeed skilled at hiding.¡± Xu Yan let out an icy chuckle when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure disappear, the icy glow in his eyes growing even harsher and brighter. ¡°To think that you would dare to launch a counter attack, how brave of you¡­¡± ¡°Alright then. I will make you understand¡­ how it feels to be an ant shaking a tree!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 379 Moonfall Technique Chapter 377 Moonfall Technique Woo! Woo! A strong wind blew up the dust on the ground, obscuring one¡¯s vision, while Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure disappeared within. After reaching the advanced level of Ethereal Form, his body gained the ability to become fully ethereal. With a little assistance from his surroundings, he was able to completely conceal himself, and become as elusive as a ghost, making it easy for him to catch an opponent off-guard. Xu Yan stood amid the dust with a sneer on his face, as he scanned his surroundings. He knew that Zhou Yuan was not using this move to protect himself, but rather to buy time for a counter attack. ¡°You are quite smart. Unfortunately, you think too highly of yourself.¡± Xu Yan¡¯s body shook as green Genesis Qi pulsed from his body like a ring. The Genesis Qi transformed into numerous fine hair-like Genesis Qi threads that quickly began spinning at high speeds in the area around him. ¡°Even though Ethereal Form is quite remarkable, it is useless against me!¡± As the Genesis Qi threads spun, a mocking smile suddenly appeared on Xu Yan¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯ve caught you little rat!¡± His body suddenly shot forward, the sword in his hand pulsing with sharpness that could cut even space itself. The sword flickered icily as it stabbed towards a certain direction on his right. This strike was exceptionally powerful. Ding! A snow-white brush tip suddenly appeared out of nowhere, a purple glow pulsing on it as it clashed against the tip of the sword. However, Xu Yan clearly had the upper hand. His sword flickered, and blew apart the purple glow. Ch! However, right after that purple glow scattered, the tip of the brush abruptly split apart. It transformed into brush hair chains that quickly wrapped around the sword, snaking towards Xu Yan¡¯s body like a python. Xu Yan frowned. A burst of Genesis Qi erupted from within his body in an attempt to shake off the chains. However, the snow-white hairs were extremely tough, causing him to be incapable of breaking free for a time. At this moment, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body appeared behind Xu yan. The former¡¯s hands quickly formed a seal, as golden Genesis Qi dashed into the sky. ¡°Nine Dragons Canon, Nine Dragons!¡± With a yell, the sound of howling beasts immediately rang out across the area. Nine beast shaped Genesis Qi shot into the sky, and began to devour one another. In the end, a single Genesis Qi beast an overwhelmingly menacing aura emerged. Roar! That several hundred foot large Genesis Qi beast roared, before it ferociously charged towards the binded Xu Yan. It was a menacing and intimidation sight to behold. Xu Yan lifted his head and looked at the roaring titan. Its ferocious aura made his eyes narrow slightly, but a derisive smile soon appeared on his lips. ¡°Advanced Nine Dragons Canon¡­ junior brother Zhou Yuan, if this attack was used against a gold sash disciple, I believe that hardly anyone would be able to block it. Unfortunately, it seems that you¡¯re still underestimating us veteran purple sash disciples.¡± Xu Yan¡¯s cheeks abruptly ballooned as green Genesis Qi rapidly gathered in his mouth. A split second later, it transformed into a beam of green light which he spat out from his mouth. ¡°High tier little Heaven Genesis technique, Green Moon Cone!¡± The cone of green light was too fast for the naked eye to see. Countless disciples only managed to catch a flash of green, before it smashed into the Genesis Qi beast. Boom! Berserk shockwaves swept outwards, as the two alarmingly powerful attacks destroyed each other. Xu Yan jerked his body, finally breaking free from the the snow-white hair chains. Meanwhile, the hairs retreated, along with a mottled black brush, before it was caught by a hand. Zhou Yuan appeared, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand pointed towards the ground. ¡°A veteran purple sash disciple is indeed a difficult opponent¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened a little. Looks like he had gotten a little arrogant due to his recent string of victories. The Cangxuan Sect was after all one of the titans of Cangxuan Heaven, and each of their veteran purple sash disciples was selected from amongst ten thousand individuals. Outside the Shengzhou Continent, any of them would be highly sought geniuses. Moreover, Zhou Yuan was still only at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage, and the advantage a seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage expert had over him was simply too huge. If not for his peak grade 6 Omni Python Qi, and his special blood-red Qi Dwelling which gave him Genesis Qi that far exceeded the third layer, the Genesis Qi in his body would have likely been destroyed by Xu Yan after a few clashes. ¡°No wonder the criteria set by the sect is to see who can endure the longest, and not whether we could defeat them¡­¡± The expression in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes gradually turned serious. In that case, let¡¯s see who will last longer. He believed that once he became a purple sash disciple and advanced to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, he would have no longer have to fear any of these veteran purple sash disciples again. Swoosh! Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush, as his ethereal body dashed forward like a wisp of smoke. He was still going to defend by attacking. Xu Yan let out an icy chuckle when he saw this. His body also shot forth, an aura pulsing around his sword as it transformed into numerous sword shadows that went after the vital points on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Clang! Clang! Two blurry figures clashed like lightning in the arena, after-images appearing one after another. A clear clang could be heard at every clash, accompanied by an astonishing shockwave of Genesis Qi. However, everyone could see that Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure would be pushed back after each clash. He was clearly being suppressed in this direct confrontation. This caused the numerous watching disciples to shake their heads inside. Zhou Yuan was after all merely at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage. Even if he had many tricks up his sleeve, it was still a stretch for him to fight against someone like Xu Yan, who was four layers above him. Under the many pitying gazes, Zhou Yuan expression remained rather calm while locked in an intense battle with Xu Yan. As the former continued to fight, a faint dragon roar seemed to echo with each breath he took. Genesis Qi was being continuously absorbed into his body, before being swiftly refined to replenish his stamina. Dragon Breathing. Although Zhou Yuan did not have as much Genesis Qi as the seventh layer Xu Yan, the former was able to make use of Dragon Breathing to continually replenish his depleted Genesis Qi, and drag out the fight. It would be hard for his current self to defeat Xu Yan, but if Zhou Yuan only wanted to drag out the fight, it would not be so easy for Xu Yan to kick him out either... Wounds would appear on his body from time to time due to the opponent¡¯s sword aura, but the majority of the damage was neutralized by the Heavenly Serpent Scales and the Ethereal Form technique, and hence did not affect his combat abilities. As such, time slowly passed while the fight between the two grew increasingly intense. By this point, many disciples began to realize that something was amiss. Even though Zhou Yuan was being overwhelmed by Xu Yan and seemed to be in quite a desperate state, he was still able to doggedly hang on despite Xu Yan¡¯s ferocious barrage of attacks. ¡°Eh?¡± Even Li Qingchan gasped softly, clearly realising that there was something strange about this situation as well. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi may not be as abundant as Xu Yan¡¯s, but it seemed to last for an impossibly long amount of time. It was also clear that Zhou Yuan no longer entertained any thoughts of defeating Xu Yan, but instead made the logical decision to stall for time. Clang! The Heavenly Yuan Brush clashed with the sword again, pushing Zhou Yuan¡¯s body back once more. However, Xu Yan¡¯s expression was gradually turning stormy as he gazed upon Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. He had cast a glance behind him, only to find that a fifth of the giant incense stick behind had already been burnt. His original plan was to kick Zhou Yuan out within this period of time. However, judging by the current situation, though Zhou Yuan appeared to be suppressed, the latter was still full of vigor, and his Genesis Qi showed no signs of depletion. ¡°This guy¡­ is basically a tortoise. He is not only extremely tough, but also very hardy as well!¡± Xu Yan took in a deep breath, as a cold expression flowed in his eyes. This cannot continue. Since you are good at wasting time, I will take the most direct approach and destroy all your defenses with a single attack! Xu Yan shot an icy glance at Zhou Yuan, before releasing the sword in his hand, allowing it to slowly rise into the air. The Genesis Qi in the vicinity gradually began to stir at this moment. Swoosh! The sword shot into the sky as all the Genesis Qi in the area gathered towards it. Resplendent green light gradually appeared, transforming into a green crescent moon in the sky. Moonlight spread from the crescent moon like an endless torrent of sword aura, a sight that would make one¡¯s scalp turn numb. Dreadful undulations ripples from the green crescent moon. Outside the mountain range, numerous disciples stared at this scene in shock, before erupting into an uproar a split second later. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a little too ruthless of Xu Yan. To think that he would even use a Heaven Genesis technique on a mere gold sash disciple!¡± ¡°That should be the Moonfall technique of Sword Cometh Peak! It¡¯s a genuine low grade Heaven Technique!¡± ¡°This is going to reflect very badly on him¡­¡± Many disciples whispered among themselves, clearly quite critical of Xu Yan¡¯s actions. He already had the absolute advantage in terms of Genesis Qi cultivation, and yet he was still going to use a Heaven Genesis technique? Does he think he¡¯s fighting against another vetern purple sash disciple? This bullying was definitely a little overboard. However, Xu Yan would not be affected at this moment no matter how they expressed their displeasure. He stood in the middle of the arena, as his icy gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan. How could he not know that using a Heaven Genesis technique against Zhou Yuan would reflect badly on him. However, Zhou Yuan was simply too hardy. In fact, based on his current estimation, he knew that he was not going to deplete Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi before the incense stick was completely burnt. Therefore, he was forced to take drastic measures, and use overwhelming power to destroy Zhou Yuan. He looked at Zhou Yuan with icy arrogance, before he slowly clapped his palms together. ¡°I heard that Wei Youxuan used an incomplete low grade Heaven Genesis technique on you previously. Since that is the case, allow this senior to open your eyes and show you today¡­¡± ¡°What a complete Heaven tier technique is like!¡± ¡°Moonfall technique!¡± Buzz! The instant his voice sounded, the green crescent moon hanging in the sky abruptly fell. A flash of green light seemed to split the sky into two. Previous Chapte Chapter 380 Genesis Qi Clash Buzz! A green crescent moon fell from the sky like a streak of green light, seemingly tearing apart even space itself wherever it passed. The falling crescent moon was the embodiment of horrifying power. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, an extremely grave expression on his face as he gazed at the falling crescent moon. He could just barely make out the shadow of sword within the crescent moon. The crescent moon surrounding the sword was actually made from sword aura. In the face of an attack like this, Zhou Yuan knew that he would be instantly cleaved into two no matter how many layers of defense he had. Even the majority of seventh layer Alpha-Origin experts would try to flee as far as they could from this crescent moon. Numerous sighs of pity could be heard outside the mountain range. The moment Xu Yan decided to throw away his dignity and use this attack, was the moment that the battle would finally be decided. They truly could not imagine how Zhou Yuan would be able to withstand such a terrifying attack. Amidst the sighs of pity, many disciples watched as Zhou Yuan suddenly grasped his hands in front of him. Scorching undulations seemed to spread from his body, so hot that even the ground below his feet began to melt at this moment A scarlet-red aura rose from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His feet slowly spread apart as his cheeks abruptly ballooned. Everyone watched as his face suddenly turned red as a burning cold. In fact, even his eyes had taken on a scarlet-red hue. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands swiftly formed a seal as the Genesis Qi in his body violently bubbled like boiling water. The strange movements from Zhou Yuan was met by uncertainty in the eyes of countless disciples. However, some of the keener disciples soon realized something, and immediately blurted out, ¡°Zhou Yuan is using a Heaven Genesis technique!¡± ¡°From the appearance of that technique¡­ if my guess is not wrong, it should be the Heavenly Sun God Record!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Zhou Yuan was given a low grade Heaven Genesis technique by the sect when he became champion of the peak selection ceremony. That must be the Heavenly Sun God Record!¡± Cries of surprise spread, shocking countless disciples. Didn¡¯t this mean that Zhou Yuan had managed to learn the Heavenly Sun God Record?! He really is a monster! Fuu! Amidst the gasps and cries of surprise, Zhou Yuan¡¯s had already expanded as much as the could. In the next instant, his mouth suddenly opened as shout rang out from within. ¡°Heavenly Sun God Record, Heavenly Sun Fire!¡± *Cackle*! Along with his voice, a several hundred feet wide ball of white fire was spat out. It felt as if the air around was instantly combusted, while the rocky arena below their feet began to melt. This bundle of fire was enough to melt an entire mountain. Its power was domineering to the extreme! *Cackle*! The white fire dashed into the sky. Under countless astonished gazes, it ultimately slammed into the swiftly descending green crescent moon. Boom! A berserk Genesis Qi shockwave devastated the area. Under the madly burning white fire, the green crescent moon rapidly began to shrink at speed which could be seen by the naked eye. However, the pulsing green light sword Qi was also extinguishing the fire. The two forces frantically eroded each other. In a short span of a few dozen breaths, the giant blaze of white fire had been fully extinguished, while the green crescent moon had shrunk to the size of a mere foot... Swish! The green crescent moon swung downwards, its sharp edge heading straight for Zhou Yuan. Heavenly Serpent Scales appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms. His grip tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush, as he yelled. Omni Python Qi surged out, and wrapped around the brush like a giant python, before being powerfully swung at the incoming crescent moon. ¡°Million Whale Rune!¡± Clang! The Heavenly Yuan Brush and crescent moon smashed into each other as a clear clang echoed. A hundred feet wide shockwave quickly followed, plowing through the entire surface of the mountain peak. Rumble! The ground was rapidly torn apart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure received the brunt of the aftershock, leaving deep marks on the ground as his feet slid backwards. The Heavenly Yuan Brush also grated across the ground, creating a line of sparks. As the dust settled, one could see that the entire arena was a mess. Countless nervous gazes shot over. Only to find that Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had appeared on the edge of a cliff, mere inches away from falling off. The Heavenly Yuan Brush had been deeply impaled into the ground in front of him, while his arms were drenched in blood. Even the Heavenly Serpent Scales had been completely shattered due to the overwhelming force from the green crescent moon from earlier. Although he was now a pretty miserable sight to behold, anyone could see that he had successfully withstood Xu Yan¡¯s terrifying attack. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to meet it with an attack of his own. He had first used a Heaven Genesis technique to exhaust nearly eighty percent of the crescent moon¡¯s power, before striking a decisive blow that ultimately managed to destroy the attack. Such rich battle experience made one gasp in amazement. Zhou Yuan swung his hands, sending out a spray of blood. His expression remained unchanged as he muttered to himself, ¡°What a pity. If I was at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, my Heavenly Sun Fire would have been enough to destroy that green crescent moon.¡± The strength of his Genesis Qi was just unable to match up to his opponent¡¯s, resulting in him being unable to bring out the full power of the Heavenly Sun Fire. In the end, he was forced to take action, paying a substantial price in order to destroy the remaining power within the green crescent moon. The numerous disciples outside the mountain range could not help but cheer when they saw this. Zhou Yuan¡¯s response had been beautiful. Even at a clear disadvantage, he remained calm in the face of danger, paying the smallest price to neutralize it. Such ability astonished even some of the veteran purple sash disciples. On the mountain peak, the corners of Xu Yan¡¯s mouth twitched for a moment as he gazed upon the pitiful figure of his opponent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tenacity was beginning to shake Xu Yan¡¯s heart a little. The attacks he unleashed earlier would have defeated even a seventh layer disciples long ago, but Zhou Yuan just somehow managed to doggedly hang on. With such willpower and determination, it was no wonder that he had become famous in the talent filled Cangxuan Sect. ¡°This guy!¡± Xu Yan gritted his teeth, the look in his eyes showing that he was a little unable to accept the reality before him. Swish! However, while rage was boiling in his heart, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure suddenly disappeared. ¡°Humph!¡± Xu Yan icily snorted as he sent a palm strike behind him. Although using the Heaven Genesis technique earlier had used up a substantial amount of Genesis Qi, dealing with Zhou Yuan was still not going to be a problem. Thud! Palm winds swatted forth as a hand reached out from nowhere like an eagle claw to meet it, before grabbing Xu Yan¡¯s hand. Xu Yan let out an icy chuckle as he sent out a fierce thrust with his other hand, Genesis Qi surging as sword Qi pulsed from it. Thud! Zhou Yuan¡¯s other hand also moved forward, his fingers closing around Xu Yan¡¯s hand and locking it in place. As a result, the two individuals ended up tightly grabbing each other¡¯s hands, ominous glints flashing in their eyes as they glared at each other. This clearly looked to be a contest of Genesis Qi with their bodies as a battlefield! Such a situation slightly stunned Xu Yan for an instant, before a sinister smile quickly appeared on his lips. ¡°You really are seeking death. Do you believe that you¡¯ll be able to compete with me in Genesis Qi because I¡¯ve used a Heaven Genesis technique?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let you have a taste of how much stronger the seventh layer Alpha-Origin is than you!¡± With a thought, the Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling abruptly brightened as surging Genesis Qi whizzed out, flowing through his body and into his arms as it maniacally began to invade Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Xu Yan¡¯s Genesis Qi was as sharp as a sword, and was a true-blue grade 6 Genesis Qi. Sword Qi began to spread the moment it entered Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, causing him to feel a stabbing pain. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes merely hardened in response, seemingly unmoved by the pain, while his roaring Omni Python Qi charged into Xu Yan¡¯s body. The Genesis Qi of both individuals collided as they attempted to destroy the other. Numerous disciples gasped when they saw this scene. No one had expected the two to choose such a desperate mode of battle. ¡°Xu Yan clearly has the advantage in a purely Genesis Qi clash¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t understand why Zhou Yuan forced Xu Yan into it¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s because he was being overwhelmed by Xu Yan earlier, and can no longer bear to continue¡­¡± ¡°This is rather foolish of him.¡± ¡°......¡± Under the numerous puzzled gazes, Zhou Yuan and Xu Yan¡¯s figures violently shook on the mountain top, before being flung backwards a split second later, leaving behind countless footprints on the ground as they attempted to stabilize their bodies. Xu Yan¡¯s cold gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan as he said in a mocking manner, ¡°That was too foolish of you junior brother Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Your arms have now been injured by my Genesis Qi, and won¡¯t be able to move for the time being.¡± Countless gazes were cast at Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms, only to find that it was covered in bloody wounds. It looked as if countless blades had sliced into them, the fresh blood gushing out making them appear even more pitiful than earlier. If he temporarily lost the use of his arms, Zhou Yuan would no longer be able to do battle. Like everyone had expected, Xu Yan had gained the upper hand in the earlier Genesis Qi clash. Under Xu Yan¡¯s mocking gaze, Zhou Yuan lowered his head and glanced at his bloody arms. To everyone¡¯s surprise, however, there was no panic on his face. ¡°Senior brother Xu Yan¡­¡± He raised his head and looked towards Xu Yan, who appeared to be already absolutely certain of victory, as a playful smile gradually rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Did no one tell you¡­ that it¡¯s best not to engage in a Genesis Qi struggle using the body as the battlefield with me?¡± ¡°Because if you do so, the price you end up paying will be far beyond your imagination.¡± Xu Yan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. A split second later, he seemed to suddenly detect something and abruptly pulled up his sleeves. He looked down, only to see that countless sinisterly looking blood lines had appeared on his arms. These blood lines squirmed under his skin, as the resentful roar a dragon faintly echoed. Previous Chapte Chapter 381 Tyrannical Dragon’s Resent Poison On the arena atop the mountain, Xu Yan lowered his head, his expression ashen as he gazed at strange blood lines that had appeared on his arms. The lines of blood gave off a bitter aura of resentment that made one shiver uncontrollably. It was obviously some kind of terrifying poison. ¡°Do you think that a tiny bit of poison can scare me?¡± Xu Yan¡¯s voice was laced with frost. Genesis Qi swiftly began surging in his body, sweeping towards his arms in an attempt to expel the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. However, the instant his Genesis Qi came into contact with the poison, he realized to his horror that his Genesis Qi was turning blood-red as if it had been infected, causing him to lose control of it. As a result, a strange blood-red lines on his arms began to grow even darker. A sliver of terror finally appeared on Xu Yan¡¯s face. He stared at Zhou Yuan and shouted, ¡°What kind of poison is this?!¡± It was so domineering. Mere contact was all it took to infect even Genesis Qi. He had never heard of such a tyrannical poison. Zhou Yuan flung off the blood on his arms, before falling to the ground on his butt. He cast a nonchalant glance at Xu Yan, and said, ¡°If you¡¯re smart, don¡¯t use your Genesis Qi for the time being. If the infection spreads too deep, I¡¯m not sure if it will be possible to save you.¡± No one knew better than him how frightening the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison was. It was basically impossible to neutralize. Xu Yan was currently only at the initial stage of the infection. If it worsened and the poison went berserk, he would experience pain that would make one beg for death. ¡°What?!¡± Xu Yan¡¯s face twisted, rage filling it as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. If he could not use Genesis Qi, how would he kick Zhou Yuan out? ¡°You... you¡¯re too devious!¡± Xu Yan¡¯s voice was brimming with anger. Only now did he understand. Zhou Yuan may have appeared foolish previously when he chose to engage in a Genesis Qi clash within their bodies. His true goal had been to send the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison into Xu Yan¡¯s body. However, Zhou Yuan merely raised his eyelids in response, basically ignoring the former. There weren¡¯t many rules for the purple sash selection, allowing one to rely on any means one chose. Calling him devious, humph. Was Sword Cometh Peak honorable for sending so many gold sash disciples after him? Was it not underhanded for Xu Yan to use all of his veteran purple sash disciple strength to overpower Zhou Yuan in an attempt to kick him out of the selection? Since it was within the rules, no one could blame him. Moreover, Zhou Yuan clearly understood that it was practically impossible for him to defeat Xu Yan at this point in time. Hence, Zhou Yuan had selected to take an unconventional approach, forcing both parties to suffer such that Xu Yan would not have any energy left to kick him out. Both of them had now lost all their battle power. All they could do now was wait... The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth curled upwards. He continued to ignore the fuming Xu Yan and began to inspect the injuries on his arms. Xu Yan¡¯s face had nearly turned green due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s complete disregard of him, barely able to hold himself back several times from completely exploding in anger. But when he saw the strange blood liens on his arms, he could only do the rational thing and forcibly suppress his rage. He could sense how dreadful the blood-red poison was. If he tried anything reckless and irreversible damage was done, he would certainly dearly regret it. Thus, all he could do was stand there, not daring to make any moves. As such, the situation instantly turned rather awkward. The two of them had been locked in a bitter struggle just moments ago, but now, one was seated on the ground, while the other was standing there, still as a statue, as he glared at the former... This strange scene naturally caused a torrential uproar when it landed in the eyes of the countless disciples outside the mountain range. ¡°What are they doing?¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t Xu Yan attacking? Zhou Yuan has even sat down¡­ is he resting?¡± ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± ¡°......¡± Numerous disciples were completely baffled, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry. They had been fighting just a second ago, why were they now peacefully sitting and talking? Countless confused whispers spread. Fortunately, there were some sharper disciples in the crowd that said with some hesitation, ¡°There seems to be something strange about Xu Yan¡¯s condition.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t want to move, but has been forced into this situation by Zhou Yuan...¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan must have done something during that Genesis Qi clash earlier.¡± ¡°......¡± The other disciples thoughtfully nodded their heads when they heard this. This conjecture did seem to fit. It was the only way to explain why the usually rational Zhou Yuan would make such a seemingly foolish decision to clash Genesis Qi with Xu Yan. The former clearly had a goal. Xu Yan, on the other hand, had fallen prey to the trap due to underestimating Zhou Yuan. From the current situation, if Zhou Yuan and Xu Yan continued in this manner, the giant incense stick would eventually be fully burnt. When that happened, Zhou Yuan would be the one who managed to endure the longest... And the title champion would naturally become his. When they realised this, countless disciples looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in shock. Although the latter¡¯s current state of gently wiping away the blood off his arms appeared quite pitiful, it did not stop amazement and respect to rise in the hearts of numerous disciples. He had given them far too many surprises. Maybe no one would think much of these surprises if they only appeared on occasion, but if they happened too regularly, such surprises would in truth no longer be simple surprises... Evidently, this new disciples that had spent less than a year in the Cangxuan Sect was nowhere near as simple as they had imagined. ... ¡°Why did this happen¡­¡± Beside the river, Lu Xuanyin gazed upon this scene with a pale face. She stumbled in disbelief, falling to the ground on her butt as disappointment and despair appeared in her eyes. She never imagined that even Xu Yan himself would fail to finish off Zhou Yuan, and had instead been forced into such an awkward situation by him. Fear surfaced on her face as she looked at the figure in the mirror. She had repeatedly targeted Zhou Yuan, only to end up thwarted each time. As a result, she was now becoming quite afraid of him. Such a person was just far too strange and unfathomable. ... On the highest peak. Genesis Qi rippled from six imposing figures as they watched the battles occurring on the peaks deep within the mountain range. Sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters looked towards Xu Yan¡¯s figure. Beings as powerful of themselves were able to view the interior of his body with a single glance, clearly seeing the strange blood-red thing restlessly stirring inside Xu Yan¡¯s arms. ¡°Eh¡­¡± A soft sound of surprise was emitted from sect master Qing Yang when he saw the blood-red Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. He had evidently detected a peculiar undulation from it. Sect master Qing Yang slowly remarked, ¡°What a domineering poison¡­ even one such as I have never seen such a thing before.¡± The other peak masters nodded in agreement. The Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi smiled and said, ¡°The little one called Zhou Yuan is quite a surprising kid. It¡¯s hard to believe he forced the seventh layer Xu Yan to give up with the strength of the third layer.¡± She glanced at peak master Ling Jun, the mockery in her words impossible to miss. Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s expression appeared rather calm. However, those familiar with him knew that he was someone who loved face, and could not possibly be calm inside when Sword Cometh Peak had been humiliated so badly today. Peak master Ling Jun indifferently said, ¡°He merely relied on poison.¡± Sect master Qing Yang shook his head and said, ¡°The participants are allowed to utilise basically any methods they want in the purple sash selection, and poison is also a kind of strength. Zhou Yuan is weaker than Xu Yan, but he is adept at finding opportunities. He made excellent use of the fact that Xu Yan was underestimating him to deploy an unconventional tactic that ultimately landed Xu Yan in his trap. The fact that he has such rich battle experience is extraordinary.¡± Peak master Lin Jun was silent. It was impossible for him to be unaware of these points. However, he was unable to be fully composed due to the great defeat suffered by Sword Cometh Peak today. Sect master Qing Yang looked towards Zhou Yuan in admiration as he said, ¡°This little one is not bad at all. It¡¯s a pity that he went to Saint Genesis Peak¡­¡± His voice was filled with regret. Since Zhou Yuan was already Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciple, he could not possibly be so shameless as it snatch away a disciple from an elder of the sect, regardless of how greatly he cherished talent. ... ¡°I never imagined that Zhou Yuan would still have such a trick hidden up his sleeve¡­¡± The scene in the Genesis Qi mirror stunned Li Qingchan for quite some time, before she softly mumbled some praise. Her perspective of Zhou Yuan had been changed once again. She had originally believed that it would be impossible for Zhou Yuan to turn things around this time. Who could have imagined that he would create a miracle once again, turning an unwinnable fight into a stalemate¡­ though if one considered the rules, it would actually be Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory. If they continued in this manner, Zhou Yuan would be the one to benefit. In fact, one may even say that the championship title was already his... ¡°He really can¡¯t be judged through normal means¡­¡± She looked towards Yaoyao and sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve won the bet again.¡± Yaoyao lifted her face and focused on Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. However, there was no joy on her face. Instead, her brows were slightly furrowed, while traces of anger could be seen. ¡°He¡¯s too reckless¡­¡± ¡°This is the period when the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison will soon go berserk once again. I can¡¯t believe he actually dared to stir it up¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who is going to suffer if the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison erupts again.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 382 Champion On the scattered remains of the mountain peak, the awkward situation continued. Zhou Yuan and Xu Yan were only separated by a few feet, but there was already no chance that a fight would break out between them. Zhou Yuan was seated on the ground as he gradually neutralized the sharp Genesis Qi that had invaded his body. Xu Yan some distance away, not daring to even move, let alone send out his Genesis Qi to expel the poison. His previous attempt had already made him understand just how terrifying that blood-red poison was. As such, while the battles on the other nine peaks grew increasingly intense, their battle arena stayed strangely peaceful and quiet. With regards to this situation, the numerous watching disciples were unable to decide whether they should laugh or cry. They had originally believed Zhou Yuan would have zero chance in this fight. Who could have imagined that he would succeed in pulling off such a strange plan. It seems that Sword Cometh Peak was destined to lose all face due to him. On the mountain top, Xu Yan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately. He glanced at the giant incense stick at the center of the arena, finding that nearly a third of it had been burnt. In addition, the participants on the other nine peaks were gradually beginning to lose to their opponents. If this situation continued, the victor¡¯s crown would really end up on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. When that happened, Sword Cometh Peak would truly lose all face, and his mission would certainly end up in failure. In fact, he would likely be punished as well. These thoughts made Xu Yan¡¯s expression turn even uglier. Soon after, he looked towards Zhou Yuan and said in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t even think for a moment that making Sword Cometh Peak lose all face will be good for you.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his eyelids. ¡°Everyone knows that us Sword Cometh Peak disciples are not to be trifled with, and the worst possible people you can offend in the Cangxuan Sect. If you take things too far today, someone from Sword Cometh Peak will most certainly seek vengeance on you in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan nonchalantly replied, ¡°Senior brother Xu Yan, you say that I take things too far, but it¡¯s your Sword Cometh Peak that sent so many gold sash disciples to hunt me today.¡± Xu Yan turned rigid for a moment. His tone soon softened as he said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, I have a suggestion¡­¡± ¡°As long as you admit defeat now, our Sword Cometh Peak will owe you one, while also writing off everything that happened before, and no Sword Cometh Peak disciple will ever cause any trouble for you in future. How about it?¡± Zhou Yuan could not hold back his laughter. What a thick skin. To think that Xu Yan would be capable of saying such words. Looks like the current situation had put him under a tremendous amount of pressure. ¡°Forget it, I can¡¯t afford for Sword Cometh Peak to be indebted to me.¡± He shook his head as he answered in a calm voice. How could he not know that he had offended Sword Cometh Peak today. However, they only had themselves to blame. To think that Xu Yan was asking him to admit defeat now in order to save what little dignity they had left. Zhou Yuan could not possibly agree to such a shameless request. Sword Cometh Peak may be akin to a rising star, but so what? Everyone was part of the same Cangxuan Sect. If Sword Cometh Peak did go overboard, Zhou Yuan believed that sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters would not idly stand by. Moreover, he was not a weak-willed individual. Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s overbearingness this time had naturally angered him. Since you guys were the ones who started this, losing all face shall be the consequence you bear. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better not push your luck!¡± Xu Yan¡¯s tone had turned to one of anger. He had already put down his airs and tried to politely persuade the former. And yet, Zhou Yuan refused to budge, clearly showing no respect for Sword Cometh Peak. However, Zhou Yuan could no longer be bothered to respond. He closed his eyes and focused on neutralizing the Genesis Qi that had invaded his body. Upon seeing this, Xu Yan anxiously shouted a few more times. However, he was only met by silence, causing his face to turn green with rage. Time slowly flowed in this manner. At this point in time, only half of the giant incense stick was left. By this time, the battles on the other nine peaks were already nearing their end. Only Su Wan, Wang Chen, Xia Yu and the other two first seat gold sash disciples were left standing, as they bitterly struggled against their veteran purple sash opponents. However, it was clear that they would not last much longer. Xu Yan¡¯s face turned even uglier when he saw this, and opened his mouth once again to persuade Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan remained completely unresponsive. The giant incense stick burned faster and faster. When only a tenth of the stick was left, the other five remaining participants finally reached their limit and admitted defeat. The instant the final five conceded, every gaze in the entire place converged onto Zhou Yuan and Xu Yan¡¯s peak, complicated expressions filling everyone¡¯s faces. When these gazes looked at Zhou Yuan, admiration appeared in their eyes. The championship battle was a competition to see who would last the longest at the hands of the veteran purple sash disciples. Su Wan, Wang Chen, Xia Yu and the rest had tried their hardest to delay the inevitable. A vast disparity would appear when the other participants compared themselves to Zhou Yuan, because he had forced an impasse on his peak. In other words, although Zhou Yuan had been unable to defeat Xu Yan, Xu Yan could do nothing about him either. From a certain point of view, this was already considered an absolute victory. Though the youthful figure seated on the mountain top was quite a pitiful sight at this time, not a single disciple dared to look down on him. No one could find a single fault in Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance during this purple sash selection. One could say that Zhou Yuan will now become a legend in the Cangxuan Sect after the purple sash selection. His previous accomplishments from the peak selection ceremony, Genesis reservoir or Saint Genesis Peak were basically nothing in comparison to his latest one. In a certain manner of speaking, Zhou Yuan had singlehandedly crushed the entire Sword Cometh Peak during this purple selection test. A single individual crushing an entire peak. Though it was only with regards to the gold sash disciples, it was already a feat that made countless people sigh in admiration. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes also opened at this moment. He cast an indifferent glance at Xu Yan, finding the latter¡¯s face was now deathly pale and filled with despair. It was obvious that Xu Yan also understood that nothing could be changed by this point, and it would be useless no matter what he said now. He glared at Zhou Yuan and spat out through gnashed teeth, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ll regret this!¡± Zhou Yuan remained unmoved. He stood up as he slammed his palm onto the ground, causing spurts of sharp Genesis Qi to shoot out, drilling numerous deep holes on the mountain top. The Genesis Qi that had invaded his body earlier was now fully neutralized. Xu Yan¡¯s expression changed slightly when he saw this, clearly not expecting Zhou Yuan to neutralize his Genesis Qi so quickly. Zhou Yuan swept a glance at Xu Yan. The fight with the latter had made him realize how much he was lacking. To think a single veteran purple sash disciple had pushed him so far. ¡°The year-end chief disciple selection will definitely be far more difficult, because only the best purple sash disciples will have the qualifications to participate.¡± ¡°Someone like Xu Yan may not even be qualified to take part in such an event.¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he eyes narrowed slightly. Looks like he could not become complacent. If Xu Yan had not underestimated him, Zhou Yuan could not guarantee that he would become the last man standing. After all, it was already crazily difficult for him to defeat a sixth layer disciple. Challenging the seventh layer was just too much. While these thoughts swirled in his head, Zhou Yuan suddenly sensed an almighty gaze look towards him, before a warm and boundless voice sounded. It was sect master Qing Yang! ¡°The purple sash selection has ended.¡± ¡°The champion of this selection, is Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s¡­ Zhou Yuan!¡± As the booming voice echoed, countless gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan. Some were filled with amazement, some were filled with respect¡­ in the end, the numerous disciples followed the rites they had always followed; cupping their fists together and bowing. ¡°Congratulations champion!¡± Ordery and clear voices rang out across the land, shaking the seven peaks. Only at this very moment did Zhou Yuan¡¯s name finally begin to leave its mark in the Cangxuan Sect. Previous Chapte Chapter 383 Sword Cometh Peak’s Punishmen The last purple sash selection of the year had finally ended in a spectacular fashion, though the ending was completely unexpected. Though it was over, the resulting shock lingered for quite some time, every disciple in the Cangxuan Sect still relatively in awe. In fact, Zhou Yuan¡¯s outstanding accomplishments during the test made even the purple sash disciples to sigh in admiration. In the past, these same purple sash disciples would merely show indifferent haughtiness when they heard of Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle accomplishments, listening to them in a disdainful manner. This was because Zhou Yuan¡¯s opponents were merely gold sash disciples, and were hardly worthy of their attention. After this selection test, however, they finally withdrew their arrogant attitude, and began to regard Zhou Yuan as someone that was on the same level as them. After all, regardless of what methods Zhou Yuan had used, he was the one who had the final laugh. In contrast, Xu Yan had ended up in a rather sorry state. Hence, as word travelled from mouth to mouth, Zhou Yuan quickly became rather popular in the Cangxuan Sect. Although he was only a newly promoted purple sash disciple, his fame exceeded even some of the veteran purple sash disciples. While the disciples of Cangxuan Sect were in awe of Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle accomplishments in the purple sash selection, the disciples from Sword Cometh Peak were in their most awkward and embarrassed state. In a manner of speaking, the rise of Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation came at the expense of the dignity of their Sword Cometh Peak. Under the current circumstances, they naturally chose to shy away from any discussions. Therefore, even though the entire Cangxuan Sect was filled with discussions centering Zhou Yuan, the disciples from Sword Cometh Peak chose to remain silent. At the same time, a piece of news emerged from Sword Comth Peak; every purple sash selection participant from the peak would be demoted to a black sash disciple for a year. In other words, not only did Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin and the other gold sash disciples fail to become purple sash disciples, they even failed to keep their status as gold sash disciples, ending up demoted to the lowest rank black sash disciple. This demotion would last for an entire year. This meant that their rank would only be reinstated after a year. In addition, the veteran purple sash disciple, Xu Yan, was also punished. He was demoted from purple sash to gold sash for a year... In a manner of speaking, such a punishment was quite severe. Similar punishments had never been given for any of the past purple sash selection tests. This clearly showed the displeasure and anger that peak master Ling Jun felt towards his disciples¡¯ pathetic performances during this test. When news of this matter got out, the disciples from other peaks gasped in shock, making them sympathize with Le Tian and the rest for a time. However, the punishment was a direct order from peak master Ling Jun. There was no way to change it unless sect master Qing Yang stepped forward and officially said something. Furthermore, all seven peaks were ran independently, the master of each peak having the final say over any matter in his or her peak. Hence, even sect master Qing Yang would rarely intervene in such matters. As a result, Le Tian, Lu Xuanyin, Xu Yan and the rest had no choice but to endure their punishment for a year. ... Sword Cometh Peak. The atmosphere in Sword Cometh Peak had been a little stifling recently. It was because peak master Ling Jun was not in a good mood, leading to several elders to act cautiously so as not to incite his wrath. Consequently, the elders¡¯ disciples were even more cautious, and they did their best to avoid causing any trouble. After all, all of them had personally witnessed what had happened to Le Tian, Xu Yan, Lu Xuanyin and the rest. A certain tall peak in Sword Cometh Peak. Inside a stone pavilion. Two young men were seated opposite one another. One of them was dressed in white, and had an extraordinary presence. It was Kong Sheng of Sword Cometh Peak. Seated opposite him, was a man with long eyes, and a body that gave off a sharp and powerful aura. Naturally, the only disciple in the entire Sword Cometh Peak who had the qualifications to sit side by side with Kong Sheng, was the second Chosen, Zhao Zhu. ¡°You are probably the one who incited our Sword Cometh Peak disciples to gang up on Zhou Yuan in the purple sash selection.¡± Said Kong Sheng as he glanced at Zhao Zhu. ¡°Though Xu Yan was the one who came up with the idea, there is no way he could make Le Tian and the rest completely comply with his influence alone.¡± Zhao Zhu smiled helplessly and replied, ¡°They are really useless. They can¡¯t even take care of such a small matter.¡± Kong Sheng frowned slightly as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve said this before. There is no need to go after Zhou Yuan. Your actions have only ended up raising his reputation.¡± Zhao Zhu gently rubbed with the white-jade like piece in his hand, as he casually said, ¡°It was merely a off-hand remark to Le Tian¡­¡± He paused for a moment, before he continued, ¡°Nonetheless, I was negligent. I originally thought that it would only be a small matter. However¡­ it turns out Zhou Yuan is actually quite capable.¡± His eyes narrowed slightly, as a bright and fierce glint flashed across them. He had indeed sincerely believed that it was merely an insignificant matter. In fact, he had forgotten about it entirely after speaking to Le Tian that day. In his opinion, it was already a great honor for Zhou Yuan to be offhandedly mentioned by someone of his stature. However, he had never expected that this seemingly small matter would cause their Sword Cometh Peak to lose all face... Kong Sheng slowly said, ¡°Peak master was quite angered this time, and was planning on punishing Le Tian and the rest for three years. Fortunately, I managed to persuade him to lighten it to a year.¡± Though he spoke casually, the fact that he was able to change the peak master¡¯s opinion showed how highly peak master valued him. It was a feat that even several of the elders were unable to achieve. When Zhao Zhu heard these words, a look of envy flashed across his eyes. Although they were both Chosens he knew that peak master clearly had a higher opinion of Kong Sheng. Zhao Zhu smiled and said, ¡°Then I must thank senior brother on behalf of Le Tian and the rest.¡± Kong Sheng waved his hand, before he slowly lifted his head to look into the distance. Though there was no change to his handsome defined face, the tone of his voice became a little colder. ¡°However, it has been a long time since our Sword Cometh Peak suffered such a huge disgrace¡­¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is truly a calf that doesn¡¯t fear tigers. To think that he actually dares to step on my Sword Cometh Peak to boost his reputation¡­ it seems that he really thinks he¡¯s something special.¡± Zhao Zhu chuckled and said, ¡°Should we find a chance to teach him a lesson?¡± Kong Sheng helplessly replied, ¡°The kid is still far below us, and we can¡¯t throw away our dignity just to personally teach him a lesson.¡± ¡°Moreover¡­¡± He paused for a moment, before he said, ¡°His companion Zhou Xiaoyao is an enigma. I wonder where she comes from¡­¡± Zhao Zhu raised his brow slightly as he said in an uncaring manner, ¡°I heard that she is merely good with Genesis Runes, and does not have any Genesis Qi cultivation. Though she has ability, senior brother is overestimating her by giving her such praise.¡± ¡°If I bump into her in the future, I am curious to find out whether my sword is faster, or her Genesis Runes¡­¡± Kong Sheng smiled as he shook his head. He knew that Zhao Zhu was a proud person, and decided not to speak any further on this topic. Instead, he looked down from the mountain, and mused, ¡°I heard that elder Lu Hong will be paying a visit to Sword Cometh Peak today.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhao Zhu lifted his gaze. ¡°It is probably an order from peak master¡­¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s lips curled slightly as he said, ¡°Our peak master cares a great deal about face. Since the Saint Genesis Peak made our Sword Cometh Peak lose face, he is likely going to do a little something about it.¡± ¡°Moreover, what better move is there besides asking elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction, which once belonged to our Sword Cometh Peak, to take the chief disciple seat of Saint Genesis Peak and become the top faction of Saint Genesis Peak, completely suppressing the other two factions?¡± ¡°Once elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction becomes the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak, a single order from the master faction is all it will take to make Zhou Yuan our gopher, which he will have no choice but to obey.¡± Zhao Zhu was stunned. Soon after, he was unable to hold back his laughter as he imagined such an entertaining scene. ¡°Haha, it seems like our peak master is on a different level than us. Since Saint Genesis Peak caused our Sword Cometh Peak to lose face, peak master will make sure that Saint Genesis Peak will always be below our Sword Cometh Peak in the future¡­¡± The two of them exchanged a look, seeing the smile in the other party¡¯s eyes. At the same time, they were also in admiration of their peak master¡¯s methods. In fact, they were beginning to look forward to that day. Previous Chapte Chapter 384 Reward Saint Genesis Peak, Dao Seeker Hall. It was Shen Taiyuan¡¯s turn to use this place today. As a result, the atmosphere in the hall was rather jovial. Amongst the many disciples of the Cangxuan Sect that were still gushing over Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle accomplishments in the purple sash selection test, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples were likely the most excited. Over the past few days, disciples from their faction realized that they were receiving much more attention than before in the sect. In fact, disciples from the other peaks would even occasionally approach to inquire about certain things. Such a situation was basically unimaginable in the past, where others would lose interest in conversation upon learning that they were from Saint Genesis Peak. Furthermore, the other disciples would often look down on Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples, not even bothering to hide the contempt at times. After all, everyone knew that Saint Genesis Peak was the most pathetic peak in the Cangxuan Sect. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in the purple selection test had made every disciple take notice of Saint Genesis Peak again. At the same time, they now also knew of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction in Saint Genesis Peak... This raised the spirits of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s many disciples, whom had almost gotten used to being overlooked. In their excitement, they could not help but constantly cast their gazes towards a certain spot near the front of the hall. On the last purple mat sat a young and slim figure who had a purple sash around his waist. It was naturally Zhou Yuan. After the purple sash selection test, Zhou Yuan was successfully promoted to a purple sash disciple. Therefore, he was no longer the first seat gold sash disciple, but someone who now had a place amongst the purple sash disciples. Even though the strength Zhou Yuan had displayed during the purple sash selection allowed him to be placed in the middle rankings of the purple sash disciples, he rejected the position Shen Taiyuan had arranged for him. Instead, he chose to be placed last amongst the purple sash. To many disciples, one¡¯s seat represented one¡¯s rank and status. However, this was not very important to Zhou Yuan. In his eyes, the position of his seat did not matter as long as he could become a purple sash disciple. Furthermore, choosing the last seat allowed him to appease some of the other disciples, and prevent them from feeling that he was too overbearing, though he currently did have the qualifications to be so. This was how people were at times. When you had strength but choose to take a step back, others would feel that you are humble and kind, making them have a favorable opinion of you. Just as Zhou Yuan predicted, his decision to take the last seat caused several purple sash disciples to be thankful and even admire him. As a result, Zhou Yuan¡¯s influence in Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction began to grow. In fact, several of the higher ranked disciple were very friendly whenever they met him. While the hall was bathing in this warm atmosphere, a smile appeared on Shen Taiyuan¡¯s usually stern face as he looked at Zhou Yuan. His gaze was filled with satisfaction and joy. Zhou Yuan had truly won him face during the purple sash selection test. In fact, some of the elders he encountered from the other peaks would even show their envy at having such an excellent seedling who would potentially become one of the ten Chosens in the future... A disciple as talented as Zhou Yuan was not easily found after all. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Shen Taiyuan smiled as he said in a kind voice, ¡°Sect master sent someone to deliver your reward today.¡± Light glimmered on his palm, as an opened jade box appeared. A green-jade like pill silently sat within it. A strong fragrance spread, making it seem as if the Genesis Qi in the entire hall had turned richer in an instant. The Genesis Star Pill! The prize that was only given to the champion of the purple sash selection test! Whoa! The numerous disciples in the hall were practically drooling as they stared at the box. Even the eyes of purple sash disciples like Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan burned with desire. This was the Genesis Star Pill after all, known to many as the miracle pill of the Alpha-Origin stage! The Alpha-Origin stage was a stage where one had to keep on building up one¡¯s foundations. The stronger one¡¯s foundation, the more powerful one¡¯s Divine Dwelling would be when one broke into the Divine Dwelling stage in the future. Since the Genesis Star Pill could strengthen one¡¯s foundation, one could easily imagine just how attractive it was to any Alpha-Origin practitioner. However, it was quite a difficult task to manufacture this pill. Therefore, only disciples who contributed greatly or achieved amazing feats would obtain one. At the very least, none of the disciples currently in the hall had ever had the privilege of enjoying one. Zhou Yuan also lifted his head and looked at the green pill in the jade box, as desire flashed in his eyes. The reason why he fought so hard for the championship title was not for the sake of fame, but rather for this Genesis Star Pill! With this pill, he believed that he would definitely reach the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage. His fight with Xu Yan and taught him the importance of having a strong Genesis Qi foundation. If Zhou Yuan were to fight Xu Yan again after advancing to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, Zhou Yuan was confident that it was going to be difficult for Xu Yan to defeat him even if the latter was willing to sacrifice himself. Furthermore, as it was only a fight within the sect, and not a life and death struggle, it would be inappropriate for Zhou Yuan to use Silver Shadow. Truthfully speaking, it would not be a difficult task for Zhou Yuan to slay Xu Yan. With a wave of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s sleeve, the jade box landed in front of Zhou Yuan under countless envious stares. Zhou Yuan reached out with both hands and respectfully received box as he wet his lips. Looks like he should find an opportunity to go into secluded cultivation to completely absorb the Genesis Star Pill. After giving the Genesis Star Pill to Zhou Yuan, Shen Taiyuan chuckled and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, now that you are a purple sash disciple, in accordance to the rules of the sect, Saint Genesis Peak will grant you a low tier grade 6 Qi cultivation technique, allowing you to cultivate a low tier grade 6 Genesis Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned, before he promptly smiled awkwardly. Since he practiced the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, he could not learn any other Qi cultivation techniques. Furthermore, his Omni Python Qi was already a peak grade 6 Genesis Qi. Low tier grade 6 Genesis Qi could not possibly compare to it. When Shen Taiyuan saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s smile, he continued, ¡°I know that you had a fortunate encounter, and do not care for a low tier grade 6 Qi cultivation method¡­ however, it is the rules after all, and I am merely asking out of formality.¡± He paused for a moment, before he said, ¡°This should be the reward given to all newly promoted purple sash disciples. If you do not need it, it only makes sense for you to be compensated in some other form. I have already submitted a request to sect master in hopes of permitting you entry into our Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s Ancient Manuals Tower.¡± ¡°It is said that our patriarch once cultivated in the Ancient Manuals Tower, and it is a place of many wonders and mysteries. Many of the disciples who entered were bestowed Genesis Qi techniques, Genesis weapons, Genesis treasures¡­¡± ¡°If you are lucky, you may even obtain a Heaven Genesis technique.¡± His words instantly caused an uproar to sweep over the hall. This time, even Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the other purple sash disciples could not help but feel a little envious. Ancient Manuals Tower was in a manner of speaking, a treasure trove of their Saint Genesis Peak, and even the elders lacked the authority to open it. The only way to open it was to submit a request to sect master. Over the years, only a handful of disciples had entered the tower, and no one had expected Shen Taiyuan to make a request to sect master for Zhou Yuan. Such treatment truly made one green with envy. Shen Taiyuan ignored the other disciples, focusing only on Zhou Yuan as he asked with a smile, ¡°So, are you willing?¡± Zhou Yuan was similarly shocked. Soon after, he bowed respectfully to Shen Taiyuan. The former was indeed fairly touched by how much the latter appreciated and took care of him. Zhou Yuan nodded with a grateful smile on his face. ¡°This disciples is willing.¡± ¡°Thank you teacher Shen.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 385 The Child From Back Then Ancient Manuals Tower was located below the sealed main peak of Saint Genesis Peak. The next day. With Shen Taiyuan leading the way, Zhou Yuan once again arrived at the sealed main peak. At the foot of the mountain stood a slightly dilapidated ancient tower, which was covered in scars left by the passage of time. An elderly man dressed in simple clothing was standing on the steps leading to the ancient tower, holding a broom while looking as if he was about to fall asleep. It was ¡®venerable old Xuan¡¯, the caretaker Zhou Yuan met when he first came to Saint Genesis Peak. Zhou Yuan followed behind Shen Taiyuan, lifting his head to look at that majestic main peak. Mist swirled within the lush forest, giving it a mysterious look. Faint glowing runes pulsed in the air, giving off a deep and powerful aura that made one not dare to easily approach. ¡°The sealed main peak¡­¡± Waves rose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. The second Saint Rune was somewhere within the main peak. Unfortunately, though it seemed to be right in front of his eyes, there was still a huge gulf between him and the Saint Rune that was very difficult to cross. To enter the main peak, he had to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak¡­ and that was still a ways off for him. ¡°Old Xuan.¡± While Zhou Yuan was sighing inside, Shen Taiyuan looked towards the drowsy looking old man in front of the ancient tower, and respectfully bowed towards the latter. Even though there were no Genesis Qi vibrations from the old man¡¯s body, in terms of seniority, even the sect master would have to pay respects to this individual. In a manner of speaking, old Xuan was the person who had accompanied patriarch Cang Xuan the longest. The elderly man did not react initially, his eyes and ears seemingly not working too well. Therefore, Shen Taiyuan had to up his volume and call out a few more times. The old man finally awakened, lifting his murky eyes to look at Shen Taiyuan as he smiled and said in a raspy voice, ¡°It¡¯s elder Shen¡­¡± Shen Taiyuan nodded. Without wasting time with pleasantries, he pointed at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Venerable old Xuan, there is a disciple who seeks to enter the Ancient Manuals Tower.¡± Old Xuan cast his gaze at Zhou Yuan. In that instant, Zhou Yuan felt the former¡¯s gaze seemed to freeze for a split second. Old Xuan slowly said, ¡°Little one, didn¡¯t you arrive at the inner mountains not too long ago? To think that you now have the qualifications to enter the Ancient Manuals Tower, looks like you¡¯re quite capable.¡± Shen Taiyuan smiled and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is indeed quite talented. He is the champion of the latest the purple sash selection, which is why sect master has made an exception this time to grant him entry.¡± Old Xuan nodded. Without further ado, he stretched out his wrinkled hand and said, ¡°Pass me sect master¡¯s token.¡± Shen Taiyuan quickly retrieved a glowing jade token. Old Xuan took the jade token, and stared at it for quite some time, before he finally nodded his head slowly. He shakily propped himself up with his broom, before slowly pushing open the ancient door behind him. Creak! Behind the large doors lay a pitch-black darkness. Not even the faintest ray of light could be seen, making it appear quite mysterious. ¡°Little one, the Ancient Manuals Tower is where master cultivated in the past. Whatever you obtain in this place will depend on your own fate and luck. If one is not fated, it is not unusual to leave empty handed.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together, demonstrating that he had accepted the old man¡¯s teachings. He then turned to look at Shen Taiyuan, who smiled and nodded at his disciple. Without any hesitation, Zhou Yuan walked forward, arriving at the entrance. With a deep breath, he stepped in as darkness surged towards him, swallowing his entire body. Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan had entered the Ancient Manuals Tower, old Xuan sat down on the steps in a wobbly manner, hugging his broom as he returned to his half asleep state. Shen Taiyuan bowed towards old Xuan before leaving. The foot of the main peak once again descended into a peaceful silence. This silence lasted for a period of time, before suddenly being broken by the sounds of footsteps as a figure approached with his hands behind his back. He was dressed in white robes, and had the appearance of a handsome young man, while his skin gave off a jade-like glow. It was peak master Ling Jun of Sword Cometh Peak! The eyelids of old Xuan gently trembled, before he lifted his head, his murky eyes glancing at the young man in white robes. He then withdrew his gaze and became as still as a statue, clearly showing that he had no intentions of greeting the latter. Peak master Ling Jun did not mind this at all. He stood beside old Xuan, glancing at the opened Ancient Manuals Tower and asked, ¡°The little one called Zhou Yuan has entered?¡± Old Xuan did not answer. Peak master Ling Jun did not mind this either. It was just a casual question after all. Even though Zhou Yuan had caused his Sword Cometh Peak to lose all face in the purple sash selection, there was no way someone of his stature would lower himself to deal with a mere disciple. He was obviously not here for Zhou Yuan. As he stood beside old Xuan, he lifted his head to gaze at the mysterious misty main peak. After a period of silence, he slowly said, ¡°I really miss how grand this place was back then. When mister lectured, countless powerful experts from the entire Cangxuan Heaven would gather here¡­¡± Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s voice softened as he continued, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak has been in a pitiful state for far too long. I believe we should restore it to its former glory as a way to pay tribute to mister.¡± No matter what he said, old Xuan indifferent, as if his murky eyes were frozen in time. Peak master Ling Jun lowered his head and looked at the old man. With a gentle smile, he said, ¡°Old Xuan, you¡¯ve always been here at Saint Genesis Peak. When do you think the seal will be lifted?¡± Old Xuan hugged his broom, as his raspy voice finally sounded, ¡°It will naturally be lifted when it¡¯s meant to be.¡± Peak master Ling Jun helpless shook his head. It was the same answer old Xuan always gave. ¡°Old Xuan, we shouldn¡¯t idly stand by and allow Saint Genesis Peak to continue to decline. After all, this was mister¡¯s favourite place.¡± Said peak master Ling Jun. Old Xuan swept a glance at the former, before he said, ¡°If you really want to do something for master, I feel that you should avenge him. This will be much better than restoring Saint Genesis Peak to its former glory.¡± Peak master Ling Jun let out a bitter laugh and said, ¡°Old Xuan, the current Cangxuan Sect is no longer the same sect as it was when mister was around.¡± ¡°The most powerful sect in Cangxuan Heaven is no longer our Cangxuan Sect, but Sacred Palace¡­¡± He fell silent for a moment, staring at the sealed main peak, before he said, ¡°The only way to avenge him is for the next Heaven Master to come from our Cangxaun Sect¡­ and to achieve this, we will need the stamp that represents Cangxuan Heaven¡­ the Cangxuan Saint Stamp that was once in mister¡¯s possession.¡± ¡°However, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp disappeared after mister died¡­¡± He softly sighed, before his gaze turned back to old Xuan. A sliver of anticipation rose in his eyes as he said, ¡°Old Xuan, you were together with mister in his final moments. Do you not know where the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is?¡± ¡°If our Cangxuan Sect can wield the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, we will not fear even Sacred Palace.¡± The old man slowly shook his head, as his raspy voice sounded, ¡°The Cangxuan Saint Stamp originated from this heaven, and I have never seen it before. How I can possibly know where it is?¡± The light in peak master Ling Jun¡¯s eyes dimmed. Old Xuan gently stroked the broom in his embrace, as he said in a trembling voice, ¡°After all these years, it seems to me that you are the one who cares the most about the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, even more so than sect master and the rest.¡± He lifted his head and glanced at peak master Ling Jun. ¡°Do you want to obtain it?¡± Peak master Ling Jun was a little taken aback. He did not conceal his intentions and answered, ¡°The one who controls the Cangxuan Saint Stamp can become the Heaven Master. Who does not desire this? Furthermore, it is the only way I will be able to avenge mister.¡± ¡°What does Old Xuan think?¡± Old Xuan slowly shook his head and said, ¡°You are unsuitable.¡± Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s tone remained calm and unchanged as he replied, ¡°Old Xuan, I am no longer the little boy from back then.¡± Old Xuan lifted his elderly face, and focused on the mysterious misty peak. He was silent for a long time, before his raspy voice sounded. ¡°It is precisely because you are no longer the same little boy who served mister... that is why you are unsuitable.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 386 Picking a Treasure Darkness immediately descended the moment Zhou Yuan stepped into the Ancient Manuals Tower. This did not last for long, however, as starlight quickly rose from beneath his feet, and spread outwards. A starlit walkway appeared in front of him, as countless glowing balls floated up along the sides of the walkway like bubbles. When Zhou Yuan stared closely at these glowing bubble-like balls, he could faintly see the faint silhouette of some kind of object within them. ¡°The items inside should be Genesis Qi techniques, Genesis Runes, Genesis Weapons¡­¡± Zhou Yuan pondered. However, there was no way for him to know the contents of the balls. As such, he had no way of deducing their worth. Looks like everything will be up to luck. ¡°No wonder he said it¡¯s up to one¡¯s fate.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a bitter laugh. One will be sent out after selecting a glowing ball, even if it turned out to be empty. Zhou Yuan hesitated as he looked at the glowing balls, not immediately making his choice. Instead, he began to walk forward, dodging the balls that drifted towards him as he advanced. He planned to have a proper look around first. He continued to walk as his gaze swept about. Meanwhile, his Spirit sensors also reached out in an attempt to peek into the balls. However, his attempts were fruitless, as if the balls were able to block his Spirit senses. As a result, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s mid Corporeal stage Spirit failed to pry into the secrets within them. ¡°Can I only pick one at random?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. If he did so, he would simply be leaving everything up to chance. It had not been easy for him to come across an opportunity to enter the Ancient Manuals Tower, and it really felt like a waste if he really left everything up to fate. He mumbled under his breath for a brief period, before a certain idea suddenly dawned upon him. ¡°If ordinary methods do not work, what about¡­ the Decoder Saint Rune?¡± He immediately acted on his thoughts, and the Decoder Saint Rune located in the depths of his pupils began to spin. As it spun, he cast his gaze towards the floating glowing balls again. To his delight, he saw lights of varying intensities appear inside the balls. Though he still could not tell what these objects were, he could now deduce the quality of these items based on the intensity of the pulsing light within. From the looks of it, it was clear that the stronger the light, the better the item. There were also several balls that were completely empty, lacking any light within them. This was likely because there was nothing inside, and anyone who picked one of them would leave empty-handed. Joy appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. With the Decoder Saint Rune, he no longer had to grope about in the dark. Hence, he slowed down as he continued to walk forward, the Decoder Saint Rune in his pupils surveying every ball he passed. The time it took to burn half an incense stick soon passed. Along the way, Zhou Yuan found four balls that had the brightest interiors. According to his estimates, the treasures within these four balls should be equivalent to a Heaven tier technique. Zhou Yuan involuntarily licked his lips, a fiery expression burning in his eyes. A Heaven tier technique was extremely rare even in a place like the Cangxuan Sect. In fact, there was no way an ordinary disciple would obtain something of that level without some kind of major accomplishment or contribution. Even Zhou Yuan himself had only recently learnt a single low grade Heaven tier technique. Any Heaven tier technique would be a huge boost to one¡¯s battle power when mastered. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to pick one at random.¡± Zhou Yuan hesitated for a while, before he gritted his teeth and reached towards one of the four balls. Buzz! However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand suddenly froze just as it was about to grab a ball. He had just felt a faint vibration from his Universe bag. Zhou Yuan was taken aback. With a clench of his hand, a jade glow appeared. An ancient jade token slowly rose from his palm, giving off an indescribable aura. It was the signet given to him by patriarch Cang Xuan in the Saint Remains Domain. The faint undulations he had felt earlier were from this very object. ¡°What is going on?¡± Zhou Yuan stared in bewilderment at the faintly vibrating signet in his hand. This was the first time something like this has occurred ever since it was given to him. Bzz! Bzz! While Zhou Yuan was trying to figure out what was going on, the glowing balls around him seemed to have also detected the signet¡¯s presence. With a swish, they quickly darted towards the light walls, vanishing into them. Even the four balls carefully selected by Zhou Yuan had disappeared. Zhou Yuan panicked when he saw this. Why had the signet frightened off all of the balls? How was he going to pick a treasure now? ¡°What a scam!¡± However, his panicking was useless. He could only watch powerlessly as the glowing balls disappeared, nearly causing him to burst out into tears. While Zhou Yuan was at a loss, the signet in his palm slowly rose into the air, before it began to move forward. Zhou Yuan was shocked, but quickly followed after a moment of hesitation. This was where patriarch Cang Xuan used to cultivate, and since he came in with patriarch Cangxuan¡¯s signet, he won¡¯t end up suffering, right? He followed the signet forward. After a while, his footsteps gradually came to a stop, because he had reached the end of the starlight walkway. However, the signet did not stop here, but instead slowly inched forward. Next, Zhou Yuan watched in astonishment as a crack was slowly torn open at the end of the starlight walkway. The jade token flickered, as if urging Zhou Yuan to catch up. Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment. In the end, he gritted his teeth and quickly walked forward, placing a foot into the crack. The scenery before him changed the instant he stepped in, now finding himself standing inside an ancient looking room. The interior of the room was quite simple, and gave off an oldish aura. The jade token dropped onto the ground, and was picked it by Zhou Yuan before he carefully kept it. Zhou Yuan looked at the mat atop the stone bed in front of him, as he muttered to himself, ¡°Is this where patriarch Cangxuan used to cultivate?¡± He surveyed his surroundings, before his attention finally stopped on a table in front of the stone bed, where four jade scrolls quietly lay. Out of curiosity, Zhou Yuan walked forward and randomly picked one of them up, his pupils abruptly shrinking the moment he sent out his senses. ¡°It¡¯s a mid grade Heaven Genesis technique¡­¡± In the Cangxuan Sect, Heaven Genesis techniques obtained by the disciples would usually be at the low grade Heaven tier, while obtaining a mid grade Heaven tier was several times harder. Zhou Yuan never expected that a random scroll he picked up in the room would turn out to contain a mid grade Heaven Genesis technique. Shock filling his heart, Zhou Yuan picked up the other three scrolls, and to find that two of them were also mid grade Heaven tier techniques. Moreover, they seemed to be fairly high ranking even amongst other mid grade Heaven tier techniques. The last scroll was to most shocking of them all. It held a grade 7 Qi cultivation method! From how they were so casually placed in the room, it appeared that patriarch Cang Xuan did not really value them. However, this was only the case for patriarch Cang Xuan. For someone like Zhou Yuan, they were treasures that he could only dream of. In fact, he was even contemplating whether he could take them all. In the end, he managed to suppress his greed. The Ancient Manuals Tower had its own rules after all, and if he was caught, he might end up empty-handed instead. ¡°I¡¯ll just pick one of these mid grade Heaven tier techniques.¡± Zhou Yuan was stuck in a dilemma for quite some time, before he finally gritted his teeth and made his decision. Though the grade 7 Qi cultivation method was superior, it was useless to him. Hence, he reached out and grabbed a jade scroll, before turning around as he prepared to leave. However, he spotted a tiny flash of green from the corner of his eye as his body turned. He paused to take a look, only to discover a small plant that resembled a small pine tree on a corner of the bed. It was an unremarkable object that was easy to overlook even if seen. After all, there was nothing special about this small pine tree. However, the Decoder Saint Rune in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils was currently still spinning, causing him to be taken aback the moment he saw the small plant. He could clearly see ancient markings carved on the plant¡¯s body that gave off a peculiar sensation... As a result, he quickly turned back and put down the jade scroll, before he carefully lifted up that small plant. The Decoder Saint Rune in his eyes spun as the ancient markings on the plant began to converge, forming an image that was reflected in his eyes. An ancient message appeared in his brain. ¡°Immortal body, Taiyi Green Wood Mark.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 387 Taiyi Green Wood Mark ¡°Immortal body?¡± ¡°Taiyi Green Wood Mark?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression could not help but change as he savored the information that had entered his head. ¡°What a boastful claim.¡± Despite what he said, a look of pleasant surprise surfaced in his eyes. He had realized that the marks carved on the plant were actually a Genesis technique. This Genesis technique was extremely mysterious. He may not know what rank it was, but judging from how patriarch Cangxuan had painstakingly carved it onto the plant, it was obviously different from the four other mid grade Heaven tier techniques. ¡°I am curious to find out what makes this technique so special that made patriarch Cangxuan treat it so differently.¡± The Decoder Saint Rune in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eye spun, as the markings were reflected in his eyes. Boundless yet cryptic information soon surfaced in his mind. After observing it for a brief moment, Zhou Yuan finally understood what the Taiyi Green Wood Mark was. It was an extremely amazing Genesis technique personally created by patriarch Cang Xuan. It allowed one to absorb the Taiyi Qi from the surroundings, using it to create a certain mark, which was known as the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. With regards to the so-called Taiyi Qi, it only existed within magical ancient wood element objects. The older the wood, the more Taiyi Qi it contained... Although the Taiyi Green Wood mark would not increase one¡¯s power or strengthen one¡¯s body, it would bestow a frightening amount of life energy to the user. It was more than just regenerating one¡¯s limbs. If one reached the perfect level, as long as one was not disintegrated to dust in an instant, one would still be able to slowly regenerate one¡¯s entire body no matter how terrifying the injuries; even if only a head remained. In a certain manner of speaking, this could be considered an immortal body. ¡°Is it really so frightening?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart pounded loudly, as his breathing became ragged. This was the first time he had seen such an amazing Genesis technique. A technique that could bestow a terrifying amount of life-force to the user. This was practically a god-like survival skill! It was no wonder that patriarch Cang Xaun had taken the time and effort to carve it onto the plant. At the advanced level, one would surely become one of the most annoying existences in this world. Just think about it, if you were engaged in a life-and-death struggle with someone who was nearly impossible to kill, how troubling would that be... ¡°I wonder what tier this Genesis technique is?¡± Zhou Yuan licked his lips. Even though the Taiyi Green Wood Mark did not boost one¡¯s combat power, its utility may even exceed that of a high grade Heaven Genesis technique. ¡°However¡­ reaching the perfect level of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark is easier said than done.¡± After a surge of excitement, Zhou Yuan gradually began to regain his cool. To learn the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, the most critical item was that Taiyi Qi. The older and rarer the ancient wood was, the stronger the Taiyi Qi it possessed. However, such ancient wood were surely rare resources, and Zhou Yuan did not know how much Taiyi Qi he would have to absorb in order to reach the perfect level... He looked at the plant in front of him, as he awkwardly scratched his head with a bitter smile. However, it was fate that allowed him to obtain the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, and there was no way he would give up on it. With a deep breath, Zhou Yuan kept the plant into his Universe bag. He had evidently already made up his mind. He would do whatever it takes to master the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. After he keeping the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, Zhou Yuan took another look at the ancient room, before he cupped his fist and bowed. This was his way of showing his appreciation to patriarch Cang Xuan for leaving this manual behind to bless someone like himself. After which, he turned around, pushed open the door and left. The scene in front of him began to change once again, and it wasn''t long before his surroundings brightened. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, only to find that he was already standing at the entrance of the Ancient Manuals Tower. The door behind him was shut again. Zhou Yuan was stunned. His gaze did a quick turn, and he quickly realized that there were two figures standing on the steps in front of the door. The hunched over elderly man, who was sitting down with a broom in his arms, was naturally old Xuan. However, it was the young looking figure beside old Xuan who left Zhou Yuan in shock. It was the peak master of Sword Cometh Peak, Ling Jun. To think that such an important person would be here... The instant Zhou Yuan discovered peak master Ling Jun, the latter tilted his head slightly, as his deep pool like eyes nonchalantly swept a glance at the former. This glance alone caused Zhou Yuan to feel a stabbing pain all over his body. It was as if peak master Ling Jun¡¯s gaze contained an extremely dreadful sword aura. If he showed even the slightest hint of killing intent, a single glance would instantly pierce Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Fortunately, peak master Ling Jun quickly withdrew the sword aura in his eyes. He turned around, approached Zhou Yuan and said with a faint smile, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are extremely talented. Are you interested in joining my Sword Cometh Peak?¡± He did not beat around the bush, directly stating his intent to recruit Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was put on the spot by these words. Wasn¡¯t peak master Ling Jun being too direct?. ¡°Le Tian and the others lost to you because they were useless, and I have already punished them accordingly. Given your talent, it is a waste for you to stay at Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°If you come to my Sword Cometh Peak, I promise you that you will become one of the ten Chosens within three years. How about it?¡± Asked peak master Ling Jun. Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh, before he shook his head and said, ¡°This young one appreciates peak master Ling Jun¡¯s kind intentions.¡± There was no change in peak master Ling Jun¡¯s expression, seemingly unsurprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s rejection. He merely looked deeply at Zhou Yuan, before he asked, ¡°I am a little curious as to why you insist on staying in the pitiful Saint Genesis Peak?¡± Zhou Yuan replied with a calm expression, ¡°I¡¯ve already mentioned it during the peak selection ceremony. I was fortunate enough to receive a blessing from patriarch Cang Xuan in the Saint Remains Domain. I came to the Cangxuan Sect not only because of my admiration for the patriarch, but also because I hope to restore Saint Genesis Peak to its former glory so as to repay him.¡± Peak master Ling Jun fell silent. On the steps, old Xuan lifted his aged face, glanced at Zhou Yuan, and said, ¡°I never imagined that even someone from the younger generation would understand the meaning of gratitude.¡± He then turned towards peak master Ling Jun, and said with his raspy voice, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak is a lonely and desolate place that cannot match up to the liveliness of Sword Cometh Peak. You should head back soon.¡± When he realized that old Xuan was asking him to leave, peak master Ling Jun withdrew his gaze from Zhou Yuan and looked towards old Xuan. Following which, his body began to fade, ultimately vanishing from sight. Zhou Yuan finally heaved a huge sigh of relief deep inside when he saw peak master Ling Jun leave. Merely standing in front of the former had made him feel a terrifying pressure. It was after all not pleasant to stand in front of someone who could take your life in the blink of an eye. He had been truly afraid that peak master Ling Jun might still be upset with him over what happened at the purple sash selection test, and give him a literal ¡®death glare¡¯... Old Xuan slowly staggered to his feet. He leaned on his broom, as his murky eyes stared at Zhou Yuan. A long while later, he finally opened his mouth and slowly said, ¡°You¡­ entered master¡¯s training chamber?¡± He paused for a moment, before he continued, ¡°The items in there¡­ are beyond the reach of ordinary disciples¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 388 Heaven Credi ¡°Beyond the reach¡­¡± Could sweat immediately appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead when heard old Xuan¡¯s words, as he subconsciously took two steps back. He stared warily at old Xuan as he forced a smile, ¡°Elder, you can¡¯t possibly be asking me to return the item I obtained?¡± He was really feeling a little panicky at this moment, because he had already become quite attached to the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. Asking him to surrender it now would be akin to asking him to cut off a piece of his flesh, and there was no way he would willingly do so. Old Xuan¡¯s face remained impassive when he saw the drastic change in Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression. Instead, he hoarsely replied, ¡°According to the rules, you do lack the qualifications.¡± Just as Zhou Yuan was about to force his way through, old Xuan continued, ¡°But on account on how much I approve of your earlier words, I may make an exception for you this time.¡± Zhou Yuan, who was about to rush forward, suddenly stopped. He stared at the old man and secretly gnashed his teeth inside. Nonetheless, he did not dare to reveal even the slightest hint of displeasure. ¡°Thank you very much elder!¡± Old Xuan indifferently said, ¡°It¡¯s too early for you to celebrate¡­ though you may take it, it doesn¡¯t come without conditions.¡± Zhou Yuan suspiciously asked, ¡°What are the conditions?¡± Old Xuan began sweeping the ground as he said, ¡°Master¡¯s items cannot be obtained so easily¡­ if you want it, you must exchange it for a ¡®Heaven Credit¡¯.¡± ¡°Heaven Credit?!¡± Zhou Yuan was first startled by upon hearing this, before he involuntarily exclaimed. ¡°Elder, your request is too much. I¡¯m only a newly promoted purple sash disciple, how can I possibly have any Heaven Credit?¡± Zhou Yuan complained. The Cangxuan Sect gave out various tasks to its disciples, which were split into three categories; Heaven, Earth and Human. The Heaven tasks were the most difficult, but if completed, the disciple would be granted a Heaven Credit. Next were the Earth tasks, which would reward an Earth Credit when completed. A Heaven Credit was extremely attractive to any Cangxuan Sect disciple, because it could be exchanged for several treasures. These treasures include Heaven tier techniques, Heaven Genesis Weapons and even powerful Qi cultivation methods! Needless to say, a Heaven Credit was a target that every disciple of the sect strived for. However, not only was there a limited number of Heaven tasks, they would be immediately snatched up by one of the ten Chosens each time they showed up. Therefore, it was not easy for an ordinary disciple to even take on a Heaven task. Consequently, it was even more challenging to obtain a Heaven Credit. Every time a Heaven task appeared, all the purple sash disciples in the sect would become akin to a pack of wolves that had spotted an unguarded lamb. The intensity of the competition would make on involuntarily wet one¡¯s lips. Zhou Yuan was merely a newly promoted purple sash disciple, who had yet to even complete a single task, let alone a Heaven task¡­ This was why he became a little antsy when he heard old Xuan wanted a Heaven Credit. However, old Xuan ignored Zhou Yuan¡¯s complaints and said, ¡°Even though I do not know what you obtained, it is already a huge steal for you to exchange it for a Heaven Credit.¡± Zhou Yuan expression fluctuated indeterminately as he lamented, ¡°But I don¡¯t have any Heaven Credit!¡± Old Xuan unhurriedly replied, ¡°Then you¡¯ll owe me one.¡± ¡°Owe?!¡± Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck. Was this actually allowed? ¡°I will give you three months. After three months, you must bring a Heaven Credit to me¡­ and during this period, you will be allowed to keep the item you obtained.¡± Old Xuan elaborated. Zhou Yuan was taken aback, as he stared suspiciously at old Xuan. Why was this old fellow being so kind towards him? His eyes swivelled in thought, as he began to entertain a certain idea. He might be able to master the Taiyi Green Wood Mark within these three months. When that happened, there would be no need for him to bother with this old fellow. ¡°Little one, even though it seems like this old man has one foot in the grave, no one in the Cangxuan Sect, not even sect master Qing Yang, dares to reject me.¡± It was as if old Xuan could read Zhou Yuan¡¯s thoughts as he unhurriedly said, ¡°If you are up to any monkey business, I can safely tell you that even if you do master it, I am confident that I can find a way to take it all away.¡± Cold sweat instantly appeared all over Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, slightly fearful as he looked at the old man again. Looks like he was also a ruthless person. Old Xuan seemed to smile as he asked, ¡°How about it?¡± ¡°If you are unsatisfied with my offer, you can return the item, and I will permit you to pick something else.¡± There was naturally no way Zhou Yuan was going to do so. The fact that patriarch Cangxuan deliberately hid the Taiyi Green Wood Mark in such an obscure location indicated that it was definitely an extraordinary technique. Even though he did not know what grade it was, Zhou Yuan had a hunch that it was definitely extremely powerful. His eyes flickered in thought. A long while later, he finally gritted his teeth. ¡°Deal, it¡¯s just one Heaven Credit after all. In three months time, I will bring one to you!¡± Though he knew that it was going to be an extremely challenging task, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to go through with it for the sake of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. A smile seemed to appear on old Xuan¡¯s wrinkly face when he heard this. He nodded and said, ¡°At least you have some courage. Master¡¯s items must not fall into the hands of an ordinary person, or it will taint his name.¡± Zhou Yuan showed a cramped smile. Looks like one must not count one¡¯s chickens before they hatched. He had been overjoyed moments earlier after getting his hands on the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, but in the blink of an eye, he now had to deal with some troublesome matters because of it. Zhou Yuan grumpily asked, ¡°May I leave now?¡± He came here to pick a treasure. However, he ended up with such a huge problem instead. Old Xuan paid no heed to Zhou Yuan¡¯s grumpy expression, merely waving his hand to send the latter off, before lowering his head to continue sweeping the ground... At the sight of this, Zhou Yuan turned around to leave. His leaving face was filled with vexed worry, clearly fretting over how he would obtain a Heaven Credit in three months. After all, getting a Heaven task was already going to be a pain. ¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll ignore it for now, and think about it after I learning the Taiyi Green Wood Mark!¡± He gritted his teeth, and increased his pace as he quickly disappeared from the foot of the mountain. As Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure vanished, old Xuan stopped sweeping, and lifted his head, his murly eyes looking in the direction where Zhou Yuan had disappeared. A deep and unreadable light seemed to flash across his murky eyes. ¡°There¡¯s slightly familiar on that little one¡¯s body¡­¡± ¡°Is it because of you, master? How else could he have entered your training chambers?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, he is still too weak¡­¡± ¡°But at least his talent is pretty decent, though I will have to push him a little. After all, on the road of cultivation, one needs to fearlessly face any difficulty as one continuously tempers oneself...¡± ¡°I hope that he will not disappoint me.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 389 Absorbing the Genesis Star Pill Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was still creased with worry when he returned to his cave dwelling, likely still fretting over how he would obtain a Heaven Credit in three months. Due to old Xuan¡¯s seniority and rich history in the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan did not dare to doubt the weight of the old man¡¯s words. He felt that if he truly angered the latter, there was probably no way he could keep the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. All he could do now was obediently follow old Xuan¡¯s instructions, and hand him a Heaven Credit in three months In the cave dwelling, when Yaoyao could not help but ask when she saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression, ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Yuan gave a bitter laugh as he reiterated what happened with old Xuan. ¡°A Heaven Credit?¡± Yaoyao lifted her head in astonishment upon hearing this. She naturally knew how difficult it was to obtain a Heaven Credit. In fact, many highly experienced senior purple sash disciples were unable to obtain one even after numerous years. Yaoyao quickly said, ¡°Show me that Taiyi Green Wood Mark.¡± Zhou Yuan obviously had nothing to hide from Yaoyao. Therefore, he immediately retrieved the plant and handed it to Yaoyao. Yaoyao observed the green plant, before she closed her eyes. Her Spirit was extremely powerful, enabling her to just barely detect the information hidden within the plant. Though it was not complete, a brief glance was all she needed. A long while later, she opened her eyes and softly said, ¡°What a formidable Genesis technique. As expected of something left behind by that old mister.¡± To elicit such high praise from someone like Yaoyao just goes to show how amazing the Taiyi Green Wood Mark was. ¡°Exchanging a Heaven Credit for a Genesis technique like this is indeed quite a bargain.¡± Yaoyao remarked. Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly as he nodded. He naturally knew that he was not losing out, but it was simply too difficult to obtain a Heaven Credit. After all, Heaven tasks only appeared a few times a year. ¡°Ask Shen Wanjin to keep a lookout first.¡± Yaoyao suggested. ¡°As for you, you should find some time to refine the Genesis Star Pill, and quickly enter the fourth layer. If not, you won¡¯t be able to complete a Heaven task even if you manage to obtain it.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. This was what he had in mind as well. Shen Wanjin was doing quite well for himself in the Cangxuan Sect, and knew about all the latest rumours and gossips. With his aid, it would save Zhou Yuan the trouble of miserably camping at the mission hall every day... As for himself, the most important thing now was to improve his strength. Once he advanced to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, he should be able to match Xu Yan in a direct fight, no longer having to resort to the same drastic measures he had utilized previously. Hence, Zhou Yuan tasked Shen Wanjin keep an eye out for any information regarding the Heaven tasks, while he secluded himself deep within his cave dwelling as he prepared himself. He was waiting for the perfect timing to absorb the Genesis Star Pill to break into the next cultivation level. This wait lasted for five days. ¡­ Deep within the cave, pure Genesis Qi continuously gushed out from the spring, filling the area with a light mist. A few breaths of the air here would immediately invigorate one¡¯s spirits. Zhou Yuan was silently seated on boulder beside the spring. His breaths were long and drawn-out, while his chest barely even moved, almost as if he was in a state of hibernation. A long while later, he deeply exhaled from his nose as his eyes slowly opened. Light surged in the depths of his eyes, as if they were gems containing a hidden glow. After five days of preparation, he was now in tip top condition. This was the best time for him to absorb the Genesis Star Pill. Zhou Yuan probed the interior of his Qi Dwelling, where more than seven hundred Genesis Qi stars were shining. As he breathed, strands of pure Genesis Qi spread, circulating within his Qi Dwelling. ¡°Although I am only at the third layer Alpha-Origin stage, the Genesis Qi foundation of my Qi Dwelling exceeds that of a sixth layer Alpha-Origin expert¡­¡± ¡°Take Xu Yan for example. In my battle with him, I could feel that he had between one thousand to one thousand five hundred Genesis Qi stars¡­¡± ¡°However, my Genesis Qi stars are formed from the peak grade 6 Omni Python Qi, making my much than his in terms of quality.¡± ¡°I wonder how much my Qi Dwelling will grow after I advance to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage?¡± Various feelings surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. In the end, he took a deep breath, expelling all of these unnecessary thoughts. With a graphing motion, a jade box appeared in his hand, revealing a longan like green-jade pill within it. A fragrant aroma spread, seemingly enriching the mist in the entire cave dwelling. The pill slowly rose into the air, stopping in front of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth, before being swallowed by him in one gulp. Rumble! The Genesis Star Pill instantly transformed into a boundless warm stream of energy, surging down into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like magma. It was as if a mad roaring dragon was wreaking havoc in his body. The seemingly endless pure Genesis Qi caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s body to expand substantially. The bones in his body creaked loudly, as if they were under a tremendous amount of pressure. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned extremely serious. He immediately activated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, gathering the violent and scorching Genesis Qi, and directing it along his channels. Strands of Genesis Qi were refined by the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, before gradually being deposited into the Qi Dwelling where they converged into a whirlpool. In the end, a speck of light appeared deep within the whirlpool, growing brighter and brighter, before eventually transforming into a new Genesis Qi star that rose up to take its place in the Qi Dwelling. Zhou Yuan was delighted as he felt the new Genesis Qi stars being formed in his Qi Dwelling. H promptly suppressed his emotions, and concentrated on refining the pure pill energy coursing through his body... A medical fragrance emerged from deep within the cave, gradually growing stronger and stronger. As time passed, the Genesis Qi fluctuations from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body steadily began to climb. The air around him was affected as well, causing soft howls to emerge. All of this indicated that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was rapidly growing. However, while Zhou Yuan happily immersed in the increasing Genesis Qi in his body, he failed to notice the blood-red lump on his palm begin to stir, squirming as if triggered by something. A faint blood-red glow blossomed like a resentful dragon which had finally awoken from its deep slumber. Outside the cave dwelling. In a garden, Yaoyao¡¯s hair was tied up in a bun as she carefully tended to the gorgeous flowers. All of a sudden, her finger trembled as she was grabbing a flower. The flower¡¯s thorns pricked her skin, causing a sliver of dark red to appear. Yaoyao frowned a little. She placed her finger between her lips, applying a slight pressure to it. Following which, she stood up and cast her clear eyes towards the depths of the cave dwelling. In that brief moment earlier, she seemed to have heard the resentful roar of a dragon. Her eyes widened slightly, before she sighed. ¡°Has it finally arrived...¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 390 Dragon’s Resentment Poison Erupts Bzz! Bzz! In the depths of the cave dwelling, powerful waves of Genesis Qi continuously pulsed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, causing the cave around him to tremble faintly. Zhou Yuan was seated on a boulder, his clothes flapping wildly without any wind. Resplendent golden light shined from his body, originating from his Omni Python Qi. The rapidly intensifying light represented his swiftly growing Genesis Qi foundations. It was already far from comparable to half a day ago. Zhou Yuan had clearly reaped tremendous benefits from the Genesis Star Pill. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi continued to grow. After half an incense stick of time, the growth finally reached its peak as he suddenly opened his tightly-shut eyes. Boom! A golden shockwave that was visible to the naked eye, swept outwards, violently shaking the entire cave dwelling when it collided with the cave walls. A dazzling gold shimmered in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, only gradually subsiding after some time. However, the powerful Genesis Qi undulations surging from from his body were still as its peak level just moments ago, clearly far exceeding what it had been before. ¡°Alpha-Origin, fourth layer!¡± Unconcealable joy immediately flooded Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. After successfully absorbing the Genesis Star Pill, he had finally advanced to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage. He looked at the interior of his Qi Dwelling, seeing his Genesis Qi stars shining brightly within. All of them were clearly packed with powerful Genesis Qi. Wisps of of Qi rose from these Genesis Qi stars, taking on the shape of a giant python in his Qi Dwelling that let out a hiss. ¡°1200 stars!¡± With a single thought, Zhou Yuan sensed the number of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling, causing the joy on his face to reach even his brows. This breakthrough had added more than five hundred Genesis Qi stars to his Qi Dwelling! Zhou Yuan slowly tightened his fist as he savoured the power that was now coursing through his body like a raging dragon. Right now, he felt as though he could shatter mountains and split oceans with a single punch. Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, ¡°As expected of the Genesis Star Pill. Without this pill, the number of Genesis Qi stars in my Qi Dwelling will have been much lower.¡± With these 1200 Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling, Zhou Yuan was confident that Xu Yan would no longer be able to bully him with Genesis Qi alone. Zhou Yuan was in a good mood as he stood up from the boulder, clearly quite pleased with himself. Roar! While he was over the moon, however, he suddenly heard a deep dragon roar. It was a roar unlike any other that was overflowing with an endless amount of resentment. Anyone who heard it would feel their hair stand on end. When Zhou Yuan heard this dragon roar, he was first taken aback. Something quickly dawned upon him as his body began to shiver. The joy on his face rapidly disappeared like the retreating tide, as a deathly pale expression took its place. He slowly lowered his head and looked towards his palm, only to find that the blood-red lump originally occupying that spot had violently erupted. Like a sinister blood dragon, it transformed into numerous blood-colored lines that rapidly spread from his palm, rapidly turning his arm blood-red. It was a terrifying sight to behold. The Dragon¡¯s Resent Poison, which had laid dormant for years, had finally awoken from its slumber right after Zhou Yuan made a cultivation breakthrough! ¡°AAHHH!¡± A painful shriek left Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips, his handsome face hideously twisting in an instant. The intense pain from his arm made him feel as though a thousand different toxins were gnawing his heart, its intensity so great that many would rather die than suffer. It felt as though there was a malicious dragon within his body devouring his flesh and blood. Zhou Yuan fell to his knees, hugging his blood-colored arm. His head was already drenched with sweat, while his face was pale as sheet. Nonetheless, he gritted his teeth as he desperately circulated his Genesis Qi in order to resist the resentful dragon¡¯s invasion. Hss! Thankfully, Zhou Yuan was no longer the same powerless youth from back then. The Omni Python Qi hissed as it continuously clashed with the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. For a time, it seemed like he was just barely able to hold his ground. However, the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison existed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and was able to devour his flesh and blood. Therefore, Zhou Yuan would only grow weaker and weaker, until he was completely consumed by it. While Zhou Yuan was struggling against the poison with everything that he had, a figure flew towards him with a sweet fragrance and landed in front of him. A slim and icy hand gripped Zhou Yuan¡¯s wrist, ¡°Zhou Yuan.¡± It was Yaoyao¡¯s voice. Yaoyao¡¯s hand was cold like jade, the sensation allowing Zhou Yuan, who was on the brink of losing his rationality due to the intense pain, recover a little. He immediately stretched out his arms and desperately hugged her. Yaoyao¡¯s scent seemed to have a calming effect that Zhou Yuan tried to greedily suck in to suppress the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in his body. His body was covered in a filthy mix of sweat and fresh, that dirtied her clothes when he tightly gripped her in his arms. Due to how tightly he was holding her, Yaoyao felt a little pain, causing her to frown slightly. If it was any other time, she would already be tightly pinching his ear. However, she was unable to bring herself to do so at the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s twisted and pained expression. Instead, she could only struggle as she said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are hurting me.¡± However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were blood-red and clearly no longer capable of hearing her words. When Yaoyao saw this, her finger reached out and forcefully prodded the spot between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows. Spirit power quickly gushed forth, sending a message directly to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, concentrate and use the Ancestral Dragon Scripture!¡± A voice wrapped by Spirit power rushed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. The blood-red in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes finally weakened a little, as he regained a little clarity for a split second. He immediately gritted his teeth, and hurriedly activated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Hss! The Omni Python Qi seemed to have received a jump start and began to push back against the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, causing his body to fall into total chaos for a time. Golden light and a blood-red struggled against each other on the surface of his body, their battle moving everywhere, from the left to the right of his body and then back again. It was an exceptionally fearsome clash indeed. Yaoyao¡¯s expression turned a little grave as she watched. The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison was extremely overbearing, filled with deep, bitter resentment. There was no way ordinary methods would work to suppress it. ¡°The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison is too domineering. Only something as tyrannical as it can suppress it.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful eyes flashed in thought, before she promptly said, ¡°Come out.¡± Tuntun hopped over from behind, stretching out its tongue when it arrived at Yaoyao¡¯s side in a bid to please her. However, Yaoyao ignored its attempt at acting cute. Instead, she stared at it as if she had a plan in mind. Under her gaze, Tuntun seemed to feel that something was amiss and began to slowly back away. However, it had only taken a few steps back, before Yaoyao reached out, lifting it by the neck as she said, ¡°Zhou Yuan has been feeding you for quite a number of years. Isn¡¯t it time for you to repay him?¡± ¡°Sob¡­¡± Tuntun had a pitiful expression on its face as it looked at Yaoyao. Yaoyao was expressionless. ¡°Lend me some of your sacred Genesis beast blood. I will use it as a medium to draw Genesis Runes in order to help him temporarily suppress the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in his body.¡± Tuntun immediately began to struggle violently. However, Yaoyao took out her Genesis Rune brush and used it to mercilessly knock its head a few times. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Tears gathered in Tuntun¡¯s eyes. However, it had no choice but to submit under Yaoyao¡¯s fierce gaze. Its claw scratched across its forehead, causing a trial of blood to appear, as drops of glimmering dark golden essence blood rose from the wound. As the essence blood rose into the air, the fur on Tuntun¡¯s body seemed to dim somewhat, while it whined in misery. ¡°After we get through this, I will make sure Zhou Yuan properly compensates you.¡± Yaoyao comforted when she saw that it was indeed quite a loss to Tuntun. With a clench of her hand, the dark golden blood pearls quickly moved to hover in front of her. She gripped the green jade Genesis Brush as she shot a glance at hideous sight of Zhou Yuan drenched in his blood and sweat, before she gently pursed her lips. ¡°You should thank the stars that Tuntun is around this time¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 391 Suppressed When Zhou Yuan opened his eyes again, his head felt as if it was in a befuddled daze, while intense pain tore through every part of his body. *Gasp*. He violently sucked in several breaths of cool air as he struggled to climb to his feet. His gaze scanned the surroundings, only to realize that he was still in the innermost section of the cave. The only difference was that he was now in with blood, while his body gave off a light stench. It was a really pathetic sight indeed. After a brief period of disorientation, he swiftly returned to his senses. ¡°What happened to the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison?!¡± He quickly lifted his palm, finding a menacing blood-red lump embedded on it. However, Zhou Yuan was surprised to discover that there was now a dark golden circular pattern around it. The pattern appeared to be a prison that was trapping and suppressing the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. ¡°I¡¯ve helped you temporarily suppress the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison.¡± While shock was revealed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, an indifferent voice sounded. Zhou Yuan quickly lifted his head, and found Yaoyao elegantly seated on a boulder beside him. Her beautiful face was currently a little pale, while a hint of exhaustion could be seen in her eyes. Her black hair seemed to slide down her smooth cheeks, as her clear and aloof eyes observed him. Though Yaoyao was dressed in simple clothes that were smeared with traces of blood, there was no way to hide her elegance and beauty. She was like a single orchid in an empty valley that no one dared to approach. Tuntun lay powerlessly on the ground beside Yaoyao, letting out a continuously stream of whines and whimpers. Its eyes seemed to be filled with resentment when it looked towards Zhou Yuan. From their appearance, Zhou Yuan knew his Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison had tormented them quite a bit. The blood stains on Yaoyao were obviously from him. He could even vaguely recall that he had been holding her in a death grip while he was under the onslaught of the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison earlier. This made Zhou Yuan rather embarrassed and awkward. Given Yaoyao¡¯s obsession with cleanliness, she had most probably suppressed a thousand urges to slap him to death. ¡°Thank you big sis Yaoyao.¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head as he forced a smile. Yaoyao swept a glance at him as she calmly replied, ¡°You were too careless. After defeating Wu Huang and reclaiming half of his sacred dragon blessing, the one that reaped the most benefits was not you, but the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in your body.¡± ¡°Furthermore, it has also been secretly growing as you became more powerful.¡± ¡°If you had not learnt the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, and lady luck was on your side, you would have lost your life to the poison today.¡± Zhou Yuan felt a chill spread on his back, as his expression turned somewhat ugly. This outbreak had left a traumatic fear in him towards the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. It was after all the most dangerous one yet. While he was growing stronger, the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison was likewise not the same as before. ¡°The seal I placed can only suppress it temporarily.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s fists tightened as he asked, ¡°Is there really no way for me to completely subdue the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison?¡± Yaoyao replied, ¡°If you reach the third level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and master the Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi, you will be able to fully subdue the poison.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips twitched. The Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi was the third level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, and was a grade 9 Genesis Qi, the highest grade Genesis Qi in this world. How could it be easy to achieve? Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°It¡¯s still too early for you to think about subduing it completely. However, you can use other means to partially suppress it for the time being, and even make use of its powers.¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°I know of an extremely powerful Genesis Rune Boundary that can be inscribed on one¡¯s body, known as the Great Dragon Subduing Rune. Even though it is unable to completely suppress the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, it will make it very difficult for the poison to hurt your foundations.¡± ¡°However, this Genesis Rune Boundary requires numerous precious resources, and the process cannot be rushed. I will you keep an eye out for these materials.¡± Although Zhou Yuan was a little disappointed that he could not solve the problem immediately, he secretly heaved a sigh of relief deep inside his heart. Soon after, he asked, ¡°What do you mean by making use of its powers?¡± If he were to intentionally stir up the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, he could use it to invade his enemies. Any opponent that slipped up and got infected would end up in a rather sorry state. However, this was a double-edged sword. The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison was just too overbearing, and every time Zhou Yuan tried to use it, the poison would invade his own body as well. In fact, the reason why the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison erupted today, was likely because of his actions during the fight with Xu Yan. Yaoyao shot a look at Zhou Yuan as her red lips parted slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison.¡± ¡°Most of the sacred dragon blessing you snatched back from Wu Huang was devoured by the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, and it can be said to be the greatest benefactor.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded as he gritted his teeth. After all the pain he went through to defeat Wu Huang, the one that ultimately benefited the most was the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in his body. ¡°Do you recall the Sacred Dragon Transformation Wu Huang used during your fight against him? That is one way to utilize the sacred dragon blessing.¡± A thoughtful look appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He naturally remembered how Wu Huang¡¯s strength surged after activating the Sacred Dragon Transformation. If it wasn¡¯t for Silver Shadow, he may not have been able to defeat the latter. ¡°However, Wu Huang failed to utilize even a tenth of the sacred dragon blessing¡¯s power. Since half of it has been snatched away by the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in your body, if you are able to suppress the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison and make it submit to you, you will naturally find out how powerful it will be when these two forces are stacked together.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened slightly at these words as excitement stirred in his heart. After hearing Yaoyao¡¯s words, he began to look forward to the day when he would finally subdue the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. However, this was something that could not be rushed. Based on Yaoyao¡¯s words, it was going to be quite a challenging task to draw the Great Dragon Subduing Boundary, and she also had to first gather a number of rare ingredients. Fortunately, Yaoyao had managed to temporarily suppress the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison this time around. Hence, he shouldn¡¯t run into any major problems in the near future. After Yaoyao finished saying her piece, she extended her arms and tiredly stretched her back, displaying her alluring curves. She lazily stood up, and glanced at the blood stains on her dress, immediately causing her to frown in dislike. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, please hand me your clothes later. will wash them for you!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled in an attempt to please her. Yaoyao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. She walked to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, and revealed a dazzling smile that stunned Zhou Yuan for a moment. However, he soon felt a sharp pain from his ear. Yaoyao reached out to give him a vicious pinched as she chuckled, ¡°Zhou Yuan, it seems like the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison wasn¡¯t much of a threat to you, as it appears that you¡¯ve regained your ability to use honeyed words rather quickly. Looks like I should let you suffer for longer in the future before helping you.¡± There was hardly any Genesis Qi in Yaoyao¡¯s body, and naturally did not have much strength. In fact, this tiny bit of pain was something that Zhou Yuan could completely ignore. Nonetheless, he hastily begged for mercy. After venting her frustrations, Yaoyao snorted before she turned around and headed towards the small house. Zhou Yuan smiled as he watched Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful figure, and sincerely said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, thank you. You¡¯ve saved my life again.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s steps paused for a moment, as her lips seemingly moved. As she continued to walk away, her nonchalant voice sounded. ¡°You should clean yourself up. On another note, Shen Wanjin is outside waiting for you. It appears that he has information regarding a Heaven Task.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 392 The Two Captains In a courtyard inside the cave dwelling. Zhou Yuan lifted a teapot and poured a cup of hot tea for Shen Wanjin. The latter was currently surveying the purple Genesis cave dwelling, inhaling its rich and pure Genesis Qi, as an envious look involuntarily appeared in his eyes. ¡°Little Yuan bro is really the amazing one. Even though we entered the Cangxuan Sect together, I¡¯m not sure how many donkey years it¡¯ll take for the rest of us to reach your current status.¡± Said Shen Wanjin with a sigh. Zhou Yuan chuckled. He did not show any pride as he diverted the topic, ¡°You have information regarding a Heaven task?¡± Shen Wanjin gulped down the hot tea, before he complained, ¡°Little Yuan bro, I¡¯ve been running around so much for the past few days to find out about a Heaven Task for you that my feet have barely spent any time on the ground.¡± Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes and said, ¡°I know you¡¯ve worked hard for this. Once I have time, I will give you some pointers on the little Heaven technique you¡¯ve recently been practicing.¡± Shen Wanjin was delighted when he heard this and cheerfully replied, ¡°In that case, let me thank little Yuan bro first.¡± After securing his benefits, Shen Wanjin finally said in a leisurely manner, ¡°Little Yuan bro, a Heaven task is the highest level task in our Cangxuan Sect, and are extremely hard to come by. In fact, there are only a handful Heaven tasks given out every year.¡± ¡°You should know that many powerful disciples are eagerly waiting for such an opportunity.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve asked several people to secretly keep a lookout, even bribing someone working at the mission hall. That¡¯s how I finally received the latest information regarding a Heaven task.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Tell me the details.¡± Shen Wanjin replied, ¡°The task has not been officially announced yet, and I¡¯m still in the dark about the specifics. The only information I managed to gather is about the two captains that have already been decided.¡± Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°Who?¡± Shen Wanjin slowly said, ¡°The captain is Li Qingchan, while the vice-captain is Zhao Zhu.¡± ¡°Two Chosens¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. To think that Chosens would be leading the mission, looks like a Heaven task was truly extraordinary after all. He was relatively well-acquainted with Li Qingchan. As for Zhao Zhu, it seemed like he was the mastermind of the incident during the purple sash selection. As the saying went, rivals were always destined to cross paths. ¡°This Heaven task requires eight members. Other than the two captains, there are only six spots remaining.¡± Shen Wanjin was clearly also a little overwhelmed by the scale of this operation. The missions he had taken in the past really paled in comparison to such a line-up. ¡°Even though this task has yet to be officially announced, most of the strong veteran disciples have caught wind of it, and have begun to move in secret.¡± ¡°It is rumoured that the remaining team members must be approved by both captains, making Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu more popular than ever before.¡± Shen Wanjin shrugged as he said, ¡°However, there¡¯s nothing else I can do to help you with this. You¡¯ll have to rely on yourself.¡± He was merely a black sash disciple that definitely didn¡¯t have the qualifications to even meet Chosens like Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu, let alone pull strings for Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod as he began to frown. A Heaven task was extremely difficult to come by, and each time a Heaven task was announced, numerous purple sash disciples would fight over the limited number of spots available. In fact, the struggles would sometimes be so intense that even blood would be drawn. This time was obviously not going to be an exception. To be blunt, even a veteran purple sash disciple like Xu Yan lacked the qualifications and experience to obtain a spot in a Heaven task. ¡°A Heaven Credit is really going to be a pain in the ass to get.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed inside. ¡°Little Yuan bro, are you really going to take part in a Heaven task?¡± Shen Wanjin looked at Zhou Yuan, a little unable to bring himself to fully express his true opinion. Though Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation had grown rapidly within the sect, and he was now seen as the top disciple of the new generation, a Heaven task was of the highest ranked mission in the sect, and even someone like Zhou Yuan lacked the qualifications to undertake one. From the fact that both captains were members of the ten Chosens, one could tell how challenging and dangerous a Heaven task was. Zhou Yua nodded. He knew what Shen Wanjin wanted to say. However, he had no choice. If he failed to obtain a Heaven Credit, there was no doubt that old Xuan would confiscate the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. This was something that Zhou Yuan absolutely needed prevent. Encountering it had already been a great blessing for him. If he could successfully master it, it would bring him countless advantages in the future as he continued down the path of cultivation. As the saying went, if one does not accept kindness from the Heavens, one would be punished instead. ¡°If you really want to go, it¡¯s not like it¡¯s impossible.¡± While Zhou Yuan was fretting over how he could obtain a spot, a nonchalant voice suddenly sounded behind him. Zhou Yuan and Shen Wanjin lifted their heads and turned around, finding Yaoyao slowly walking towards them. It looked as though she had just taken a shower. She had changed out of her blood stained clothes, and was now wearing a white dress. Together with her alluring figure, and her gorgeous face, it made it seem as if she was glowing. In fact, the sight of her seemed to brighten the entire cave dwelling. Her long black hair was slightly damp and left hanging from her head, giving her a slightly unkempt charm. Nonetheless, she looked just as breathtaking as usual. Shen Wanjin¡¯s plump face was filled with wonder, but he quickly came back to his senses, as he said with a cheeky smile, ¡°Greetings boss sister!¡± There was currently no one in the Cangxuan Sect who did not know Yaoyao. In fact, even Zhou Yuan paled in comparison to her. After all, Zhou Yuan had only managed to defeat all the gold sash disciples participants from a Sword Cometh Peak, while Yaoyao had convincingly overwhelmed all the disciples from Spirit Rune Peak, including their Chosen, Ye Ge. Therefore, Yaoyao was obviously a much better backer than Zhou Yuan! Unfortunately, she did not seem to have any interest in helping anyone besides Zhou Yuan... ¡°Do you have a solution?¡± Zhou Yuan stared inquisitively at Yaoyao. A faint fragrance accompanied Yaoyao as she sat down beside them, and lazily said, ¡°Isn¡¯t the captain Li Qingchan? She lost a few bets to me previously, and it¡¯s about time for her to repay them.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips twitched as he asked, ¡°Are you sure this will work¡± Yaoyao ignored him as she turned to look at Shen Wanjin and said, ¡°Head to Snow Lotus Peak and invite her over. Say that I am the one who is looking for her.¡± ¡°Boss sister has swag.¡± Shen Wanjin raised both thumbs in admiration. Summoning a Chosen like Li Qingchan was something that even Zhou Yuan did not dare to do. Of course, even if Zhou Yuan tried, Li Qingchan would only ignore him¡­ after all the current Zhou Yuan was still not at that level. Shen Wanjin glanced at Zhou Yuan with a somewhat peculiar expression that also contained a tremendous amount of envy. Little Yuan bro, you are really good at mooching off women! Zhou Yuan immediately understood that look, and immediately splashed the remaining tea in his cup at the little fatty. Shen Wanjin¡¯s fat body numbly evaded the tea, as he left with a cheeky smile, heading straight for Snow Lotus Peak. Previous Chapte Chapter 393 Heaven Task The sun was about to set when Li Qingchan arrived outside the cave dwelling. Li Qingchan was dressed in white today as she approached the cave under the setting sun. The expression on her gorgeous face was as cold as frost, and she gave off an aura that made seem a thousand miles away. She was just like a snow lotus hanging on the edge of a cliff; something that one could only look at from afar, but never approach in person. She showed zero interest in the purple Genesis cave dwelling as she strolled in. As one of the ten Chosens, her own dwelling and cultivation area were undoubtedly much better than a newly promoted purple sash disciple like Zhou Yuan. Inside the cave, she saw the waiting Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. ¡°You have something to discuss with me?¡± She casually asked, looking only at Yaoyao. It was clear that she was here solely because of the latter. Someone like Zhou Yuan obviously did not have the qualifications to get her to personally come over. Zhou Yuan felt a little embarrassed. It was a little hard to swallow pulling the strings at times. However, Yaoyao did not bother showing any tact, and directly said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the sect has issued a Heaven task. Since you are the captain, I want you to take Zhou Yuan along so that he can gain a Heaven Credit.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face reddened slightly at her words. Meanwhile, Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes could not help but widen. She soon gently gritted her teeth, before she grumpily said, ¡°You are really blunt. A spot in a Heaven mission is one of the most desirable things in our sect. Other than Zhao Zhu and I, there are only eight spots remaining, which every purple sash disciple in the sect is breaking their backs in an attempt to obtain. And yet you actually want me to pull strings and grant him a spot?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled awkwardly. Yaoyao propped up her chin with a hand as she tilted her head and glanced Li Qingchan. ¡°Are you refusing to acknowledge our previous bet?¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s frosty face turned red as she quickly tried to defend herself, ¡°We can settle it in some other way.¡± ¡°A Heaven Task is no laughing matter. If he isn¡¯t sufficiently skilled, he will only end up being a burden even if I let him tag along. Moreover, if his performance is not up to par, he will not be given a Heaven Credit.¡± Li Qingchan swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, before she continued, ¡°I¡¯ll admit that he did well in the last purple sash selection test. However, you should know that even Xu Yan lacks the qualifications to participate in the upcoming Heaven task.¡± She was already being very clear. It had taken Zhou Yuan almost everything in order to obtain a pyrrhic victory against Xu Yan. If even Xu Yan lacked the proper qualifications, how could Zhou Yuan possibly possess them? After listening, Yaoyao nodded before she repeated herself, ¡°So you refuse to honor the bet?¡± Bang! Li Qingchan took two steps forward, as her hands slammed onto the stone table in front of her. Her cool and icy disposition had vanished, her busty chest gently rising as she angrily said, ¡°Don¡¯t you know any other words?!¡± Zhou Yuan secretly gulped by the side. To anger the most well-known ice queen in the Cangxuan Sect such an extent was truly evidence of Yaoyao¡¯s capabilities. Yaoyao stifled a yawn with a hand, before she replied, ¡°Zhou Yuan is not the useless ornament you think he is, and he won¡¯t be a burden if you take him along. Furthermore, you are the captain of this task, so it is only right that you get to pick someone personally.¡± Li Qingchan replied in a calm fashion, ¡°I will not know whether he is going to be useful or not. However, in terms of looks, all I can say is that he is merely average-looking, and there are many disciples in our sect that are much better-looking.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan feebly said, ¡°Can you guys stick to the topic and stop with the personal attacks?¡± However, no one paid any attention to him. The two gorgeous beauties staring at each other, neither giving even a single glance to him. Li Qingchan sat down as her brows furrowed deeply. She knew that Yaoyao would not back down so easily after making a request. Li Qingchan was feeling quite vexed as she said, ¡°If I knew this was going to happen, I wouldn¡¯t have bet with you.¡± Her expression fluctuated indeterminately. A long while later, she sighed helplessly and said, ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao, you should know that you will not obtain a Heaven Credit just by taking part in a Heaven task.¡± ¡°To obtain a Heaven Credit, you must receive a favorable evaluation and the approval from the majority of your other team mates. Only then, will it be considered a success. Therefore, even if I let Zhou Yuan tag along, if the other disciples disapprove of his performance and reports to the elders, he will not only be denied a Heaven Credit, but also be punished as well.¡± Yaoyao retrieved a jar of wine from her Universe bag and poured a cup for Li Qingchan. ¡°If Zhou Yuan does badly during the task, it will be his own fault.¡± Even though Zhou Yuan was a newly promoted purple sash disciple, he was far less experienced than the vetern purple sash disciples. However, Yaoyao felt that they weren¡¯t much better than him. Hence, Zhou Yuan would only have himself to blame if he performed badly. Li Qingchan fell silent for a moment. In the end, she gave a faint nod of agreement. ¡°Alright, I can help him out on your account. However, this is all I can do. If his performance is lacklustre, and upsets the other members, I will not be able to help him.¡± ¡°Deal.¡± Yaoyao lifted her cup. Li Qingchan also lifted her cup, and toasted the former before downing it. Zhou Yuan quickly said, ¡°Thank you senior sister Li Qingchan.¡± Li Qingchan gave him a fairly cold response. Though Zhou Yuan had a stunning showing during the purple sash selection, Li Qingchan felt that he still paled in comparison to Yaoyao. In Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes, Zhou Yuan was mostly mooching off Yaoyao. This made her rather uncomfortable. Other than her peak master, Yaoyao was the only woman in the Cangxuan Sect who she respected. As long as Yaoyao wanted to, she could become a dazzling existence in the sect. However, it seemed that she was content with staying with Zhou Yuan, and had no interest in anything else. This puzzled Li Qingchan. Yaoyao was so talented, so why was she so hung up on Zhou Yuan? She had even taken the initiative to reach out to Qingchan in order to help Zhou Yuan obtain a Heaven Credit. This was something that she felt quite indignant about. ¡°There is no need to thank me. It will be better for you to think about how to make yourself useful in the upcoming task. Should you perform badly, it will be you who will end up disgraced.¡± Replied Li Qingchan. Zhou Yuan could hear the indifference in Li Qingchan¡¯s tone. However, he was not bothered by it as he nodded and said, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, can you tell me more about the mission?¡± Li Qingchan was silent for a moment, before she said, ¡°It will be led by me and Zhao Zhu from Sword Cometh Peak. I am the captain, while he is the vice-captain.¡± ¡°There will be a total of ten menbers. Other than the two of us, the rest will be composed of elite purple sash disciples from the various peaks.¡± ¡°As for the details, we will be headed for the Black Flame Province in the Shengzhou Continent. A volcano that has laid dormant for tens of thousands of years has recently erupted, uncovering the existence of essence flames within it. It is believed to be an essence flame vein. ¡°These essence flames are very valuable, and can increase the quality of flame-type Genesis Qi cultivated.¡± ¡°As a result, our sect has rated it as a grade 6 Genesis vein.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. The many Genesis veins belonging to the Cangxuan Sect were ranked from grade 1 to 9; grade 1 being the lowest, while grade 9 was the highest. Typically speaking, a grade 7 Genesis vein was already extremely valuable, and could even incite a small-scale war. So they were being sent out for a grade 6 Genesis vein. No wonder this was a Heaven level task. ¡°This essence flame vein is not under the jurisdiction of any of the six sacred sects, making it difficult to decide who should have control over it. After the news spread, I¡¯ve heard that Sacred Palace, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace are interested in vieing for it. Furthermore, there are some powerful local factions in the Black Flame Province that are eager to contest as well. Though there are not as powerful as the six sacred sects, they are the local powers and should not be underestimated.¡± ¡°After rounds of discussions by higher ups of the various factions, they have finally decided to send their disciples to the Black Flame Province to ¡®negotiate¡¯ how the essence flame vein will be split.¡± Li Qingchan calmly said, ¡°Therefore, our task is to represent the Cangxuan Sect and fight for a stake in the essence flame vein.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank a little. He never imagined that this Heaven task would involve three other sacred sects, Sacred Palace, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. It seems like the mission was going to be much more challenging than he had expected. There will definitely be numerous squabbles over such a valuable strategic resource. In fact, there will likely be no lack of bloodshed in the so-called ¡®negotiation¡¯. A Heaven task truly lived up to its name. Li Qingchan looked deeply at Zhou Yuan, as she said, ¡°This task is very important. If it is possible, I hope that you will not participate.¡± She clearly believed that Zhou Yuan was only going to be a burden in a mission of this scale. Zhou Yuan naturally knew what she meant. However, he could only laugh bitterly because he was indeed very desperate for a Heaven Credit. Zhou Yuan solemnly declared, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, I believe that at the very least, I will not be a burden to the team.¡± Li Qingchan frowned slightly at his words, clearly not taking them to heart, and believing that he was merely putting on a front. She waved her hand to indicate there was no need to say anything else, before she stood up and headed out of the cave. ¡°We will set off for the Black Flame Province in five days.¡± ¡°If you insist on joining, I do hope that you will not let me down. I will be giving truthful report when we return, and you end up disappointing me, you will still be unable to obtain a Heaven Credit.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 394 Protes For the next few days, Zhou Yuan stayed in the cave dwelling to stabilize his Genesis Qi cultivation, which had grown rapidly after advancing to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage. It was as Li Qingchan had said, the Heaven task was very important, and he intended to do everything in his power to boost his abilities. Over this period, the Heaven task was also officially publicized by the sect. It caused a huge commotion as expected, numerous disciples eager for a spot. Everyone knew that a Heaven task represented a Heaven Credit, an item so valuable in the sect that even the ten Chosens could not afford to ignore it. Therefore, each Heaven task would result in an intense fight between the top disciples of the various peaks. Though these Heaven tasks were filled with danger, no one could resist the allure of a Heaven Credit. This time was not going to be an exception. As such, the moment the ¡®Black Flame Province¡¯ Heaven task was announced, an earth-shaking fight quickly broke out among the finest of the purple sash disciples. There were after all many purple sash disciples, but only ten spots for this Heaven task. Furthermore, two of them were already taken by the captain Li Qingchan and vice-captain Zhao Zhu. Hence, only eight spots remained, and one could easily imagine how crazy the fight for these spots would be. While the other purple sash disciples were competing fiercely among themselves, Zhou Yuan had already secured a spot thanks to Yaoyao. Thus, he could remain in his cave dwelling and concentrate on his training. Five days quickly passed in this manner. ... Inside the cave dwelling. Zhou Yuan was seated atop a boulder near the edge of a cliff, while several pieces of green wood hovered in front of him. These green wood pieces were of different shapes and sizes, and the only thing they had in common were the vestiges of time left on their bodies. All of them were clearly rather ancient wood pieces that were filled with Yimu Qi. Zhou Yuan had spent a great sum of money to purchase these century-old wood pieces from the Glittering Jewels Pavilion. His goal was to practice the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. ¡°The first step is to form a Taiyi Mark inside my body. Only after forming this mark, will I be able to infuse the Yimu Qi from these ancient wood into my flesh.¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. To carve a Taiyi Mark on his body, he also needed Yimu Qi from such ancient wood. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, and gently shut his eyes. He then interlocked his fingers, as he began coating the ancient wood pieces with his Genesis Qi. Wisps of green Qi soon seeped out from the ancient wood pieces, before flowing into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body through his nose. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit immediately took control of the green Qi, which was filled with life energy. He carefully manipulated it, fusing it into his flesh, slowly but steadily leaving faint, tiny and complex markings. Drawing a Taiyi Mark was an extremely complicated process. The mark had to cover nearly Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body, and had to be fused into his flesh. Moreover, even the slightest error would result in immediate failure. As such, the first step to mastering the Taiyi Green Wood Mark was already no mean feat. Zhou Yuan was completely immersed in his training. Four hours quickly flew by, before he gradually opened his eyes. He looked at his arm, seeing a faint green glow appear, before slowly receding. ¡°Only one percent has been completed after several days of hard work¡­¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. He had given his all during these past few days, but had only made little progress. Looks like it would take a substantial amount of time for him to complete the Taiyi Mark in his body. Of course, the most important factor was that there was too little Yimu Qi. Zhou Yuan glanced at the ancient wood pieces in front of him. They had begun to turn to dust after their Yimu Qi was drained. These ancient wood pieces were at most a century old, and did not possess rich Yimu Qi. However, it was a little difficult to find thousand-year ancient wood in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion. Zhou Yuan sighed. With a wave of his sleeve, the dust in front of him was blown away. ¡°Oh?¡± He sensed something in his mind after finishing his training. His body quickly turned slightly ethereal as he transformed into a shadow and dashed forward. In less than a few dozen breaths, he had reached the entrance of the cave dwelling. He found Shen Wanjin waiting here while he wiped his sweat. ¡°Little Yuan bro, you¡¯re done with your training session?¡± Shen Wanjin was overjoyed when he saw Zhou Yuan walking out. Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile, ¡°What happened?¡± Based on Shen Wanjin¡¯s appearance, he seemed to have been waiting for quite a while. A solemn expression appeared on Shen Wanjin¡¯s plump face as he replied in a low voice, ¡°Tomorrow is the departure day for the Heaven task. Therefore, the members must be finalized by today.¡± ¡°Over the past few days, the top purple sash disciples have fought bitterly for these eight spots.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the members have mostly been finalized¡­ and your participation has also been revealed.¡± Shen Wanjin hesitated for a moment, before he continued, ¡°It is rumored that many have objected against this.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was quite calm in the face of this news. He was not surprised by this outcome. At the end of the day, he was a newly promoted purple sash disciple, and was still lacking compared to the veteran purple sash disciples. Many of these veteran purple sash disciples had failed to obtain a place in the team, while a newly promoted purple sash disciple like him was a part of it. This would naturally result in a rather huge backlash. Furthermore, numerous disciples felt that he had used connections to obtain this spot, though that was indeed the case this time. ¡°Senior sister Li Qingchan should be able to handle these complaints, right?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Li Qingchan was the captain and team leader after all, and naturally had the right to nominate a team member. Shen Wanjin gave a bitter laugh as he said, ¡°Senior sister Li Qingchan has been able to quell the dissent. However, the problem lies with Zhao Zhu from Sword Cometh Peak. He has been strongly opposing her decision as the vice-captain.¡± ¡°Furthermore, Zhao Zhu is also one of the Chosens, and has a very valid reason for objecting her decision. As a result, he has managed to garner quite a bit of support¡­¡± ¡°Zhao Zhu insists on kicking you from the team.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. Zhao Zhu again... ¡°Normally speaking, the participating members must be approved by both captains. Since the captain and vice-captain are in disagreement, it has become somewhat troublesome¡­¡± Shen Wanjin looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Senior sister Li sent me here to ask you to head down to the mission hall.¡± Shen Wanjin was quite worried. There were quite a number of purple sash disciples gathered at the mission hall at this time. If Zhou Yuan went to the mission hall now, all it would take was a small accident for him to lose his spot. Shen Wanjin slowly said, ¡°Little Yuan bro, senior sister Li said that she will try her best to protect you. However, Zhao Zhu has been vehemently opposing her. When the time comes, you will have show your mettle, otherwise¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, no panic visible on his face. ¡°I understand.¡± He nodded. He had not expected Zhao Zhu to create such a huge fuss. Li Qingchan likely intended for him to make a trip down to display his abilities. If he could show his value, Li Qingchan would be in a better position to fight for him. However, if he performed terribly, even Li Qingchan would not be able to protect him. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± His eyes narrowed as he lifted his head. With a stomp, Genesis Qi appeared beneath his feet and propelled him into the sky. So you guys want my spot... Do you really think that I am some soft permission?! Previous Chapte Chapter 395 Dispute The mission hall was located in the southwest region of Cangxuan Sect. It was a large and majestic hall that stood atop a misty peak, from which a long stone stairs extended from the mountain top. It was quite a majestic sight to behold. The mission hall was one of the most popular places in the Cangxuan Sect. Numerous disciples would fly over everyday to receive and hand in tasks from the mission hall. At this present time, the mission hall was exceptionally rowdy. Many purple sash disciples from the various peaks were gathered here, as they quarreled with one another. They were clearly bickering over who should have a spot in the Black Flame Province Heaven task that was set to begin tomorrow. ¡°The selection process for this Heaven task is simply too unfair. I am fine with the others, but Zhou Yuan is merely a newly promoted purple sash disciple. What gives him the right to participate in this Heaven task?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Even though Zhou Yuan is quite talented, he is still lacking in experience. He may have the qualifications In one or two years, but I am afraid he is still lacking now.¡± ¡°Heh heh, I heard he was nominated by senior sister Li Qingchan. To think that he could actually catch her eye, I wonder what¡¯s so special about him.¡± ¡°Bullshit. Stop trying to insinuate something. Just think about senior sister Li Qingchan¡¯s status, and how many talented geniuses has she seen over the years. How can someone like Zhou Yuan possibly catch her fancy? There must be some other reason behind it.¡± ¡°......¡± Noisy discussions continuously rang out across the mission hall, with no lack of bitter voices amongst them. Zhou Yuan had after all been strongly recommended by the Cangxuan sect¡¯s most famous ice queen, Li Qingchan. Countless disciples were huge fans of her, and naturally felt rather sullen at the sight of their goddess pushing so hard for Zhou Yuan. Within a side hall on the mountain peak. Ten figures were present in this room. Li Qingchan sat at the head of the group with a frosty expression on her pretty face. Beside her sat a young man with long and narrow eyes. A sword rested on his legs as his slim fingers gently tapped it. A powerful but indistinct sword aura spread from his body, as the faint cry of a sword echoed in the room. This person was the second Chosen from Sword Cometh Peak, Zhao Zhu. Seated under these two were numerous young individuals with extraordinary presences. Upon closer inspection, one would realize that they were all well-known purple sash disciples. Compared to them, even the likes of Xu Yan was substantially weaker. ¡°Haha. Senior sister Li, this mission is extremely important. You should know that we are headed for the Black Flame Province, and will be up against three of the sacred sects, Sacred Palace, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. All of them will surely be sending their most elite disciples, which will be quite a challenge for us.¡± While the atmosphere within the side hall was a little stifling, Zhao Zhu smiled faintly and said, ¡°However, senior sister Li keeps insisting that Zhou Yuan should be a part of the team. Aren¡¯t you making light of the sect¡¯s interest?¡± Several figures inside the hall could not help but nod at Zhao Zhu¡¯s words. Li Qingchan¡¯s gorgeous face was covered in frost as she coldly said, ¡°This is my right as the captain. I believe that he is qualified.¡± ¡°Snort.¡± A disciple below Zhao Zhu snorted. The individual had disheveled hair, while his completely black fingernails gave off a cold and sharp sensation. This person was called Qin Hai, and was one of the most famous purple sash disciples of Sword Cometh Peak. Qin Hai smiled and said, ¡°Senior sister Li, we¡¯re a team for this mission. If you insist on bringing this burden along, you may potentially jeopardize the mission, and none of us will be able to receive any Heaven Credits. Even if you are one of the Chosens, this is something that we cannot accept.¡± ¡°I will make up for him.¡± Li Qingchan stared coldly at Qin Hai. ¡°Or are you doubting my abilities?¡± Under Li Qingchan¡¯s icy glare, Qin Hai froze as he gave a dry laugh. Though he was quite famous among the purple sash disciples, he was naturally much weaker than the third ranked Chosen, Li Qingchan. ¡°Haha senior sister Li, Qin Hai does not mean to questioning your abilities.¡± Zhao Zhu chuckled softly when he saw this, before he slowly said, ¡°However, what he said previously makes sense. We are a team, and we cannot afford to bring a burden along.¡± ¡°I will not deny that Zhou Yuan is indeed very talented. However, he is a newly promoted purple sash disciple, and is still lacking in experience. Therefore, I would like to suggest that junior brother Wang Lei take his place instead.¡± His eyes turned towards the last seat in the side hall, where a tall and muscular young man could be seen. A surge of ferocious Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from his body. Wang Lei was also a disciple from Sword Cometh Peak. As it was not easy to encounter a Heaven task, Zhao Zhu was doing everything in his power to rope in his Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Although this was the case, the disciples he recommended were of fitting strength and fame. Hence, the others had nothing to say even if they saw through his intentions. Li Qingchan¡¯s gaze turned even colder. ¡°Senior brother Zhao Zhu, although this task is important, not every participating member will end up playing a key role. Senior sister Li Qingchan barely brought any Snow Lotus Peak disciples along, while your Sword Cometh Peak disciples have already taken up four spots.¡± ¡°I feel that both of you should take a step back and compromise so we can quickly finalize the team members. We¡¯ll then be able to proceed with the mission as a team. Don¡¯t you think that this will be for the best?¡± The one who spoke was a young lady under Li Qingchan. The girl was wearing a black shirt and long pants, and was quite tall, mostly due to her especially long and slender legs. She was quite pretty as well, while her fair hands gave off a healthy glow. This girl was called Bai Li, and was quite a famous purple sash disciple from Hongya Peak. Even though she did not know why Li Qingchan insisted on bringing Zhou Yuan along, she was close to Li Qingchan and naturally chose to stand up for the latter. Furthermore, Li Qingchan had already given in to Zhao Zhu in order to protect Zhou Yuan. This was why there were so many Sword Cometh Peak disciples in the team. In spite of this, Zhao Zhu was still being too overbearing, refusing to compromise and constantly trying to push his luck. Zhao Zhu¡¯s finger gently slid across his sword, as he smiled and said, ¡°Junior sister Bai Li, I am not acting selfishly, but for the sake of our mission.¡± ¡°I believe junior sister Bai Li also doesn¡¯t want us to fail and return home empty-handed, right?¡± Bai Li was at a loss for words. Logically speaking, what Zhao Zhu said made sense. After all, none of them wanted to carry a burden that was only there for the Heaven Credit. When Zhao Zhu saw this, he continued to speak with a smile, ¡°I believe that senior sister Li Qingchan has already sent someone to deliver a message to Zhou Yuan. However, we have been waiting for nearly half a day now, and yet this junior brother refuses to show himself, leaving senior sister Li to fight his battles for him. His actions show that he lacks courage.¡± His words were extremely biting. After he spoke, even Bai Li began to frown, clearly a little upset. She also felt that Zhou Yuan¡¯s behaviour showed that he was an irresponsible individual. Why was Li Qingchan still protecting such a person? Li Qingchan was the one who nominated him after all. However, he had not dared to show his face even till today. Was this because he knew that he couldn¡¯t handle the pressure? Li Qingchan expression was still unreadable and cold as ice. However, a look of irritation flashed across her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, a commotion was suddenly heard outside the hall. Following which, all of them saw a slim young man walk in. ¡°I was training earlier and I lost track of time. I hope my senior brothers and sisters can forgive me.¡± That young man looked inside, as he cupped his fists and smiled. Finally, he looked directly at Zhao Zhu, who was seated beside Li Qingchan. ¡°Senior brother Zhao Zhu, I wonder how I can convince you that I will not be a burden to the team?¡± ¡°Why not tell me your conditions? I¡¯ll just go ahead and fulfill them today.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 396 One Move Every figure seated in the side hall raised their heads at this moment, their eyes narrowing as they looked at the young man who had just stepped in. He was no stranger to them. After all, though this disciple had only joined the inner mountains for less than a year, he had already stirred several waves in the sect. Zhao Zhu¡¯s eyelids raised slightly. He continued to tap his scabbard as he cast a nonchalant gaze at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You¡¯re junior brother Zhou Yuan? So you¡¯ve finally decided to show up. We¡¯ve been debating about you for nearly half a day now, and you¡¯ve basically missed all of it.¡± Within the side hall, the group stared at Zhou Yuan. Let alone the Sword Cometh Peak disciples, even the disciples from the other peaks had strange expressions in their eyes. Even though they had chosen to remain silent due to Li Qingchan, many of them felt opposed to the decision to include Zhou Yuan in the team for this Heaven task. From their gazes, Zhou Yuan understood that Li Qingchan must have faced an immense pressure when she tried to defend him, making him feel a little thankful in his heart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm as he said, ¡°Since there is a dispute, let¡¯s find a way to resolve it.¡± ¡°Haha, junior brother Zhou Yuan is an understanding person.¡± A mysterious smile hung from Zhao Zhu¡¯s lips. He pointed at Wang Lei and said, ¡°This mission is extremely important to our Cangxuan Sect. That¡¯s why I hope that you can give your spot to junior brother Wang Lei. Otherwise, should we fail the mission because of you, not only will you be punished, but even the person who recommended you, senior sister Li, will be punished as well.¡± ¡°You recently joined the sect and are still young. Give yourself one or two more years, and you will surely become an elite amongst the purple sash disciples. When that time comes, you will definitely have the qualifications to join a Heaven task, and I believe that no one will object to your participation then.¡± Zhao Zhu smiled. The way his spoke was akin to someone of higher standing lecturing a minor. ¡°So what do you say junior brother Zhou Yuan?¡± The side hall was completely silent. Everyone was looking at Zhou Yuan as they waited for his response. Under the attention from the crowd, a smile was revealed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s youthful face as he shook his head and said, ¡°I am really sorry senior brother Zhao Zhu. I feel that we should¡­¡± The smile on Zhao Zhu¡¯s face froze slightly. ¡°You ignorant brat!¡± At the back of the side hall, the man named Wang Lei glared coldly at Zhou Yuan. A mocking smile rose from the former¡¯s lips as he said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, do you really believe that your pathetic draw against junior brother Xu Yan has given you the qualifications to participate in a Heaven task?!¡± ¡°Senior brother Zhao Zhu is thinking about the big picture, while your stubbornness is truly too selfish.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids lowered as he replied, ¡°So how should I convince senior brother Wang Lei that I possess the qualifications?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ I need to defeat you?¡± Wang Lei was taken aback by these words, but the derisive smile on his face soon widened, while the other disciples began to frown. All of them clearly felt that Zhou Yuan was simply too arrogant. After all, Zhou Yuan only managed to force Xu Yan into a stalemate because he had underestimated the former. Moreover, amongst those present here, even Wang Lei was substantially stronger than Xu Yan. Therefore, such boastful words from Zhou Yuan just went to show how unreasonably arrogant he was. Zhao Zhu shook his head, before he shot a look at Wang Lei. An eerie smile appeared on Wang Lei¡¯s face. He took two steps forward, and said in a sinister manner, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan is young and arrogant. However, as your senior, I do not wish to take advantage of you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to prove that you can defeat me. As long as you can handle one move from me, I will acknowledge that you have the qualifications.¡± ¡°Of course, if you can¡¯t even handle one attack from me¡­ I¡¯ll advise you not to humiliate yourself!¡± The repeated mocking of this individual from Sword Cometh Peak made Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrow in a dangerous manner. Just as he was about to speak, however, Li Qingchan finally opened her mouth and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan will accept this challenge.¡± She cast her gaze at Zhou Yuan, and gave him a faint nod. This was already the most advantageous offer Zhou Yuan could get. Li Qingchan was afraid that Zhou Yuan might refuse it due to his ego, and had thus taken the initiative to accept it on his behalf. Since Wang Lei wanted to show off, they had to make proper use of this opportunity. Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly at her words. In reality, he was really itching for a real fight with Wang Lei. Otherwise, he would be in for an uncomfortable journey if he had to constantly deal with doubts from his other party members. However, Li Qingchan did not seem to have much confidence in him, and was afraid that he would end up backing himself into a corner due to his stubborn pride. As such, she had immediately cut in to prevent such a scenario. Zhou Yuan felt rather apologetic to Li Qingchan as she had indeed weathered a tremendous amount of pressure in order to protect him. Therefore, he chose to remain silent, and did not object to her decision. Upon seeing this, Wang Lei exchanged a look with Zhao Zhu as a strange smile appeared on his face. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s bravery is commendable. Come on then, let this senior brother give you some guidance!¡± Wang Lei stomped his foot as his body flew forward, and landed in an arena outside the hall. Zhou Yuan also moved, and quickly appeared on the arena. Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest swarmed out of the hall like fishes, arriving at the entrance where they watched the two figures that were now facing each other. The mission hall was usually crowded. Not to mention there were numerous purple sash disciples from the various peaks gathered here today, waiting to find out who would make the final cut for the Heaven task. Hence, Zhou Yuan and Wang Lei immediately attracted the attention of the crowd. The crowd soon found out the reason why Zhou Yuan and Wang Lei were facing each other, and various shocked voices immediately sounded. ¡°Zhou Yuan is simply too arrogant. To think that he actually dares to fight senior brother Wang Lei¡­¡± ¡°I heard that it¡¯s only a one move wager.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s only a single move, I am afraid Zhou Yuan won¡¯t be able to handle it. Senior brother Wang Lei is quite a bit stronger than Xu Yan, and will definitely go all-out for this one attack. I don¡¯t think that Zhou Yuan can win.¡± ¡°Heh, it¡¯s even better if he can¡¯t. That spot on the team isn¡¯t something that he should even think about for now.¡± ¡°Let this be a lesson for him¡± ¡°......¡± More and more disciples began to gather at the perimeter of the arena, watching the two individuals in excitement. On the stone steps, Li Qingchan gazed at the arena. Beside her, Bai Li¡¯s eyes swept across Zhou Yuan and Wang Lei, as she softly said, ¡°Though Wang Lei is quite arrogant, he is no fool. He has likely come prepared for this one move wager he suggested.¡± Li Qingchan fell silent for a moment. She was naturally aware of this as well. However, Zhao Zhu¡¯s strong opposition together with the fact that she had defended Zhou Yuan vehemently, had caused a great deal of criticism. Therefore, her only hope now was that Zhou Yuan could deliver so that she would have something to convince the crowd. ¡°Zhou Yuan is not a rash person either. Since he agreed, he should also be prepared.¡± Li Qingchan softly said, ¡°In addition¡­ if he can¡¯t even handle a single attack from Wang Lei...¡± ¡°It will be impossible for him to obtain a Heaven Credit even if he does join the mission¡­¡± She stared at the young man in the arena, as she slowly said, ¡°Now show me whether my decision to defend you is the right one...¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 397 Great Golden Bell Numerous figures descended from the sky, gathering around the arena outside the side hall. All of them were casting peculiar gazes at the two figures facing each other in the arena. These two individuals were not unfamiliar to everyone. Wang Lei was one of the most veteran purple sash disciples from Sword Cometh Peak, someone whose fame exceeded even that of Xu Yan. As for Zhou Yuan, he may only be a newly promoted purple sash disciple, but he had displayed his astonishing abilities time and time again for the past half a year, leading him to become known as the top disciple of the newest generation. Consequently, this also made him one of the more famous figures in the sect. The fight between these two was naturally going to be quite interesting. Under the attention from the crowd, Wang Lei wore a relaxed expression. He looked at Zhou Yuan with a carefree grin and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, I know that you are very talented. However, Rome wasn¡¯t built in a day, and it isn¡¯t wise for you to bite off more than you can chew.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and replied, ¡°Please go ahead and guide me senior brother Wang Lei.¡± Wang Lei shook his head in pity as he said, ¡°I was originally hoping to spare you the humiliation. However, you insist on doing things the hard way, don¡¯t blame this senior brother for bullying a junior!¡± A fierce look flashed across his eyes. Boom! In the next instant, majestic Genesis Qi rose from his head like a thousand foot tall column of smoke. Waves of powerful Genesis Qi pressure quickly spread across the entire area, causing even space itself to tremble faintly. Wang Lei instantly revealed the amazing depths of his strong Genesis Qi foundations. He was indeed a tier above Xu Yan. The numerous observers around the arena let out low gasps of surprise. Wang Lei slowly extended his hand. It appeared slightly longer than the norm, and was a little tanned. One could just barely see a lightning glow on his palm that gave off a powerful and menacing sensation. Wang Lei lowered his voice and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, since we agreed to settle this in one attack, I will not be holding back¡­ it may be quite painful for you after receiving my palm strike.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He placed his hands together, as the Genesis Qi within his body began to move. A mocking smile appeared from the corners of Wang Lei¡¯s mouth upon seeing this. Genesis Qi within his body swiftly began to circulate as Genesis Qi rapidly gathered on his palm. In the end, cackling lightning bolts began to emerge. Extremely berserk undulations pulsed from his hand. The lightning Genesis Qi spread, turning Wang Lei¡¯s entire arm into a lightning sword. The sword tip was fused with his palm, and looked both sharp and savage. The ground beneath Wang Lei¡¯s feet also began to crack and crumble. The expressions of the disciples outside the arena changed slightly at this sight. ¡°It¡¯s Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Lightning Sword Palm!¡± ¡°It¡¯s said that the Lightning Sword Palm technique is well known for its unyielding and forceful nature in Sword Cometh Peak. However, though it boasts overwhelming attack power, it consumes a large amount of Genesis Qi. Even a seventh layer Alpha-Origin practitioner will not be able to use twice in succession.¡± ¡°Wang Lei is too cunning. This so-called one move wager¡­ isn¡¯t this obviously making use of the fact that he will be out of stamina after using the Lightning Sword Palm?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a famous ¡®All-Out¡¯ technique¡­ either he destroys his opponent in one move, or he loses the battle because of Genesis Qi depletion.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Numerous disciples were talking among themselves. They finally understood why Wang Lei had proposed this one move wager. On the steps, the frostiness on Li Qingchan¡¯s face intensified. She turned towards Zhao Zhu and sneered, ¡°So this was your plan all along.¡± She had previously thought that Wang Lei had proposed the one move challenge due to arrogance, and hopes to use this opportunity to help Zhou Yuan slip through. However, it was now obvious that it was a trap set by Zhao Zhu and Wang Lei. Based on Wang Lei¡¯s current plan of attack, any opponent would be finished off in a single move. With this move, he would either gained an absolute advantage or be forced into a severe disadvantage. Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhu smiled faintly and said, ¡°Senior sister Li, there is no way the disciples from Sacred Palace and the other factions will tell us what their battle strategies are going to be.¡± Beside Li Qingchan, Bai Li gazed at intimidating Wang Lei, before she shook her head. Zhou Yuan already had such a tough time against Xu Yan previously. How could he possibly handle such an overwhelming brute force attack from Wang Lei? The fight was basically over the moment Wang Lei revealed the Lightning Sword Palm. Oh well, at least Zhou Yuan would no longer so shamelessly cling onto that spot on the team out of pride once he lost. In that case, the team would be relieved of a burden. Boom! As various thoughts ran through the minds of the crowd, the sound of thunder suddenly boomed across the arena. Wang Lei let out a hearty laugh, before his figure was sent soaring into the sky with a stomp, as he looked down upon Zhou Yuan from above. Lightning flickered on his palm as he slowly lifted it, while his sharp and icy gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan. ¡°Lightning Sword Palm!¡± Wang Lei swung his palm the instant he roared. Thunder boomed loudly in the sky, as a resplendent lightning glow poured out from his palm. Pch! A hundred feet large lightning palm descended from the sky with a boom. Moreover, it appeared as though sword shadows were lurking within the attack. Deadly, overwhelming and brutal. Even before the palm landed, cracks had already begun to grow on the arena below. In the arena, Zhou Yuan lifted his head. Winds violently whipped up his clothes, causing them to flap wildly with the wind. His gazed upon the lightning palm whose reflection was rapidly growing in his eyes, as he took in a deep breath. ¡°What overwhelming force¡­¡± His eyes widened slightly, but strangely enough, there wasn¡¯t a hint of panic on his face. Instead, only an eager expression could be seen. ¡°This is the perfect opportunity to test my Omni Python Qi¡­¡± After advancing to the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, his Genesis Qi¡¯s foundation had improved tremendously. As his Genesis Qi grew stronger, the wonders of his Omni Python Qi gradually began to be uncovered. Zhou Yuan slowly put his hands together, and gently shut his eyes. A dazzling radiance immediately erupted from the 1200 Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling, transforming into waves of golden Genesis Qi and flooded his body. Rumble! Golden Omni Python Qi charged out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and dashed into the sky. The faint silhouette of a giant python could be seen hissing at the heavens within it. The python was covered in golden scales, and it flew down from the sky, before coiling itself around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. As round after round of the giant python¡¯s body wrapped around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, it seemed to take the shape of an enormous golden bell. The golden bell was simple yet sturdy, like a formidable barrier that was indestructible. ¡°Omni Python Qi, Mystical Python¡¯s Great Golden Bell!¡± A deep voice was slowly spat out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. This was the latest defensive Genesis Qi technique he had unlocked due to the growth of the Omni Python Qi. Rumble! The lightning palm arrived the moment the golden bell was completed, ruthlessly smashing into the bell under the grave stare of the crowd. Clang! A loud metallic clang echoed across the area. Whoosh! Berserk shockwaves swept outwards, wreaking havoc in the arena. Stone and wood were totally shattered, as dust filled the air. The surrounding disciples quickly retreated. However, their gazes remained fixed on the arena. In the sky, Wang Lei stood on his Genesis Qi. He looked down at the cloud of dust, feeling pleased at the destruction he had caused. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this ignorant brat actually dared to take my attack head-on.¡± He laughed sinisterly. Zhou Yuan was most definitely severely injured. As such, it was naturally no longer possible for him to participate in the Heaven task. A gentle breeze swept past, blowing away the dust as arena gradually cleared. Numerous gazes continued to stare. As the dust retreated, everyone discovered that the entire arena had caved in. Giant cracks extended everywhere, the extent of the destruction causing several disciples to secretly wet their lips. The Lightning Sword Palm was indeed one of the most aggressive attacks of Sword Cometh Peak. ¡°Zhou Yuan has bitten off more than he can chew¡­ even someone as powerful as Xu Yan would be wounded by Wang Lei¡¯s strike, let alone the likes of Zhou Yuan¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid Wang Lei planned on seriously injuring Zhou Yuan from the start. By doing so, Zhou Yuan would become incapable of participating in the Heaven task, and his spot would naturally be forfeited.¡± ¡°At the end of the day, he was advancing too fast. He¡¯s merely a newly promoted purple sash disciple, and a Heaven task is still beyond his reach.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± Numerous whispers spread. It was at this moment that all the dust in the arena finally scattered. Every gaze looked towards at the center of the collapsed arena. All the whispers immediately stopped. In the sky, the smile on Wang Lei¡¯s face slowly turned rigid, as a look of disbelief flowed out on his face. On the steps, both Li Qingchan and Bai Li gasped in shock. Even Zhao Zhu¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. As the dust faded, everyone finally saw the small area at the center of the collapsed arena that was completely undamaged! It was at this perfectly fine spot that Zhou Yuan was currently standing. His eyes were still shut, while the golden bell stood stably around him, appearing sturdy and indestructible. Everyone stared at this scene in complete astonishment. None of them expected that Zhou Yuan would ultimately come out completely unscathed after taking Wang Lei¡¯s earth-shaking palm attack... Previous Chapte Chapter 398 Spot Secured The arena was in a sorry state, the ground caved in several feet deep. Huge cracks extended across the area as if it had been violently torn apart... However, there was a small area in the middle that was completely undamaged. Zhou Yuan stood on this tiny patch, not even the smallest injury visible on his body. Around the arena, everyone was wide-eyed as they stared at this unbelievable sight. ¡°This¡­¡± Even Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu were stunned, the outcome completely taking them by surprise. Bai Li was also a little dazed. A moment later, she looked puzzingly at the golden bell as she muttered, ¡°What kind of Genesis technique did he use? Why is its defense so terrifying?!¡± They were naturally able to see that it was the golden bell that had allowed Zhou Yuan to block Wang Lei¡¯s dreadful attack. The defensive prowess if that technique was surprisingly terrifying. ¡°It is indeed a very solid turtle shell.¡± Zhao Zhu was not looking too good as he said, ¡°However, solely relying on a defensive technique is no proof of his capabilities.¡± Li Qingchan swept a glance at him as a mocking smile appeared on her lips. ¡°Junior brother Zhao Zhu, are you suggesting that we try a different format?¡± Zhao Zhu froze. His expression soon turned a little frosty as he shut his mouth. He and Wang Lei were the ones who had proposed the one move wager, and it was obvious that they had been well prepared. And yet, this was how things turned out. If they were to go back on their word now, he would surely lose face. Under the many astonished gazes of the crowd, Zhou Yuan gently jerked his body. Golden light surged around his body as the golden bell began to dissipate, transforming into streams of golden Genesis Qi, which were sucked back into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. ¡°That¡¯s some crazy defensive power!¡± Joy flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He had only been hoping to test out this new move of his earlier, and the outcome definitely surpassed his expectations. Zhou Yuan reckoned that this technique had the best defensive properties among his entire repertoire. It was a pity that it could only be used for defense. In addition, he would need to wait a certain period of time before he could use it again. Regardless, with this new technique, Zhou Yuan now had another method to protect himself. He lifted his head and looked at the dumbstruck Wang Lei. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained completely unchanged as he said, ¡°Thank you for letting me win senior brother Wang Lei.¡± Angry green and white flashed across Wang Lei¡¯s face. A trace of blood rose in his eyes as he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I refuse to believe that I cannot break your turtle shell!¡± Rumble! Powerful Genesis Qi erupted once again from his body. However, it was clearly weaker than before due to using the Lightning Sword Palm. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as a dangerous glow flashed within them. He had already lost his patience with Wang Lei. The one move wager proposed by the bastard had obviously been a trap. If it wasn¡¯t for his new defensive technique, he would have likely ended up in quite a sorry state. In addition, Wang Lei was even refusing to admit defeat at this juncture. If so, Zhou Yuan was ready to give him the fight he wanted. ¡°Humph!¡± However, just as Zhou Yuan began to circulate his Genesis Qi in preparation for the battle, a cold snort suddenly sounded. Everyone soon felt the temperature plummet. In the sky, Wang Lei was horrified to discover that the air around him was beginning to freeze, as a stream of snow-white Genesis Qi quickly wrapped around him. The white Genesis Qi was so cold that frost rapidly covered his body, while his limbs were instantly frozen. Wang Lei turned his head with some difficulty, only to see that Li Qingchan had raised her hand, and was now staring coldly at him from the steps. The cold snow-white Genesis Qi was surging out from her palm. ¡°Are all Sword Cometh Peak disciples sore losers?¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s icy voice sounded. Several Sword Cometh Peak disciples began to turn red in embarrassment. Zhao Zhu also had an ugly expression on his face. He naturally knew that Li Qingchan¡¯s words were directed at him. He immediately waved his sleeve as Genesis Qi swept forth like a rainbow, rescuing the trapped Wang Lei, before tossing him to the side. Zhao Zhu said in a low voice, ¡°Wang Lei, you should stop bothering him since you¡¯ve already lost.¡± The expression on Wang Lei¡¯s face was ugly, feeling extremely humiliated. He was after all stronger than Xu Yan, whom Zhou Yuan had struggled so miserably against. Therefore, Wang Lei had naturally believed Zhou Yuan to be easy pickings for someone like himself. Who could have expected Zhou Yuan to grow so rapidly in less than a month. Furthermore, he had even mastered such a powerful defensive technique. It was a technique he clearly didn¡¯t have when he fought with Xu Yan. Around the arena, several disciples were staring in amazement at Zhou Yuan. Many of them had likewise realized that Zhou Yuan was now even stronger than when he had fought Xu Yan. On the steps, Li Qingchan looked towards Zhao Zhu as she indifferently said, ¡°Since Wang Lei has lost, does Zhou Yuan now possess the qualifications?¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s arms were wrapped around his sword. His eyelids lowered slightly as he replied, ¡°If senior sister Li is determined to bring him along, we naturally have no objections. However, let me give you a piece of advice. Just because he has this new turtle shell doesn¡¯t mean that he will not become a burden.¡± ¡°If the mission fails because of Zhou Yuan, I will readily accept my punishment. There is no need for you to worry.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s tone was pure ice. After she spoke, she took a step forward as her eyes swept across the crowd, before her cold voice echoed across the arena, ¡°After our latest discussion, we have agreed that Zhou Yuan will be the final member for the Heaven task. Do any of you have any objections?¡± The ones gathered here were mostly the purple sash disciples from the various peaks. Moreover, they were here because of the contentious spot held by Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan had already revealed some of his strength in the duel with Wang Lei. At the very least, most of the disciples here had no confidence in breaking his turtle shell defense. This made them understand that Zhou Yuan was much stronger than when he had fought Xu Yan. With Li Qingchan¡¯s backing added into the mix, it seemed like there was no longer any way Zhou Yuan would lose his spot now. After coming to this conclusion, the numerous disciples looked at one another, before they sighed in disappointment... No one responded to Li Qingchan¡¯s question. Upon seeing this, she nodded and calmly said, ¡°In that case, I shall officially announce that all the spots for the Heaven task have been filled.¡± The other disciples on the plaza could only shake their heads, before scattering one after another. Zhao Zhu and gang were not looking too good. They did not linger any further, and quickly turned to leave. Li Qingchan paid no heed to them. She walked down the steps, arrived in front of Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Well done. You didn¡¯t let me down.¡± Beside Li Qingchan, Bai Li stared inquisitively at Zhou Yuan as she clenched her tiny fists and said, ¡°Your turtle shell is really tough. May I try punching it a few times?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned as he looked at her. Though this girl looked skinny and frail, she was a member of Hongya Peak, a faction renowned for their external tempering. A single punch from here was likely going to be much more terrifying than Wang Lei¡¯s previous attack... As such, he chose not to reply. Instead, he looked at Li Qingchan and cupped his fists together, ¡°Thank you senior sister for all that you have done.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for Li Qingchan¡¯s unwavering support, there was no way he would have any hopes of joining this Heaven task. After all, Zhao Zhu was truly out to get him. Li Qingchan glanced at him and said, ¡°We will be setting off to Black Flame Province tomorrow. You should make your preparations.¡± ¡°In addition, don¡¯t let it get to your head just because you have mastered a powerful defensive Genesis technique. Though I do not expect much from you in this mission, I hope that you will not be a burden to the team.¡± After speaking, she turned with a swish of her black hair and walked away, leaving Zhou Yuan to stare at her alluring figure. Zhou Yuan admired the beautiful scene as he shrugged. ¡°This senior sister is really like an ice mountain¡­¡± He soon chuckled, as a look of excitement and eagerness appeared in his eyes. ¡°A Heaven task¡­ I am kind of looking forward to it.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 399 Setting Off The next day. Outside a certain cave dwelling. Zhou Yuan was all dressed up and ready to go. Yaoyao carried Tuntun in her arms as she looked at him and said, ¡°I initially wanted Tuntun to go with you. However, it lost a great deal of essence blood to help you suppress the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, and is currently still recuperating.¡± ¡°Therefore, you are on your own for this trip.¡± Tuntun snorted from Yaoyao¡¯s arms, a hint of resentment still present in its bright and beady eyes when they swept across Zhou Yuan. Helping Zhou Yuan to suppress the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison had really taken quite a toll on it. Zhou Yuan paid no heed to the creature¡¯s gaze as he smiled and said, ¡°Relax, my many years of travelling has made me fairly experienced.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips curled slightly downwards, clearly skeptical about how experienced he was. ¡°The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in your body erupted recently, so don¡¯t use this type of self-destructive method again in the future.¡± Yaoyao warned him. Zhou Yuan solemnly nodded at her words. He clearly understood the dire consequences he would face when the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in his body erupts. Furthermore, Yaoyao would not be tagging along for this trip, so he would likely lose his life should the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison erupt again. Fortunately, his strength had increased after advancing to fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, while he also had more options to protect himself. ¡°Besides¡­¡± Yaoayo paused for a moment, as her clear eyes swept a glance at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You obtained your spot because I put down my pride and asked Li Qingchan to help you. Therefore, you had best not embarrass me.¡± ¡°Otherwise¡­¡± Even though she did not complete the sentence, the implied threat behind her words was obvious. Zhou Yuan shivered as he quickly nodded with a forced smile. Yaoyao¡¯s red lips parted slightly again as she said, ¡°Go then. I will keep an eye out for the materials needed for the Great Dragon Subduing Rune here, while you can also try to search for them on the outside.¡± The Great Dragon Subduing Rune was capable of genuinely suppressing the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, and even allow one to make use of it. However, the necessary materials were extremely hard to find, and would definitely take a great deal of effort to gather. When Zhou Yuan heard her words, a warm sensation flowed through his heart. Yaoyao had always maintained a certain distance with others, but after spending all these years together, it was clear that she was slowly starting to regard him as her closest kin. Zhou Yuan looked at her other-wordly beautiful face and softly said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao¡­ don¡¯t worry. Once I become really powerful, I will definitely help you to look for master. No matter who tries to hurt you in the future, I will always be standing right beside you.¡± Yaoyao was stunned. The usual uncaring indifference in the depths of her eyes seemed to thaw a little for a moment. Her eyelids quickly lowered as she said, ¡°The likes if you? You still have a long way to go.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned slightly red as he said in an embarrassing manner, ¡°You have to give me some time.¡± The corners of Yaoyao¡¯s red lips lifted a little. She looked at that slim young man in front of her and said, ¡°You still have to deal with the troublesome Great Wu Empire too.¡± Zhou Yuan felt a little resentment at Yaoyao¡¯s teasing and tried to put up a front as he said, ¡°Just wait and see!¡± He turned around to leave. As Golden Genesis Qi rose from beneath his feet, he paused for a moment, turning his head to look at Yaoyao as he solemnly declared, ¡°However, I will definitely deliver on my promises.¡± Without further ado, golden Genesis Qi lifted him up into the sky. Years ago, Zhou Yuan had met Cang Yuan and Yaoyao in the ancestral land of his clan where Cang Yuan had tasked him to take care of Yaoyao. However, no one knew better than himself who was being taken care of for the past few years... If Yaoyao wasn¡¯t by his side, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t know if he would have reached the same heights he had today. Therefore, he felt extremely grateful towards her deep inside his heart. He owed her too much, but his current self lacked the ability to repay her. Nonetheless, he firmly believed that once he possessed sufficient power in the future, he would stand in front of her without a second thought, no matter how powerful her enemies were. Yaoyao stood at the entrance of the cave dwelling with Tuntun in her arms, her hair dancing with the wind under the glow of the morning sun. Her slim figure had all the right curves, like a perfectly sculpted goddess. As she watched Zhou Yuan depart, a faint smile and a complicated look flashed across her usually uncaring eyes. She had personally witnessed every step of his journey. From how this once feeble boy had slowly made his way out of the tiny Great Zhou Empire, till now, where he had already established a place for himself in a sect that was an overlord like existence even in the entire Cangxuan Heaven. She knew that there was something special about this young man. If not, grandpa Hei wouldn¡¯t have chosen him all those years ago... In the future, this young man who came from a small empire would reach astonishing heights that everyone would marvel at. However, she had a certain premonition for some unknown reason. When that point in the future came, she would not want to implicate Zhou Yuan. ... Outside the Cangxuan sect. Zhou Yuan descended from the sky on his golden Genesis Qi, landing on a certain mountain peak, where nine individuals were already waiting. The one at their head was also the most eye-catching person of the group. It was naturally the famous ice-queen, Li Qingchan. She was still dressed in white today, and gave off an icy aura that would keep everyone else a thousand miles away. However, her indifference was somewhat different from Yaoyao¡¯s. Yaoyao gave off a feeling that had no interest in anything at all, while Li Qingchan had cultivated her aura to help her to avoid certain problems. Behind Li Qingchan, stood Zhao Zhu with his distinctive long and narrow eyes, a sharp aura spreading from his body. He lifted his head, sweeping a casual glance at Zhou Yuan, before turning away. Though Zhao Zhu didn¡¯t say a word, the young man standing behind him called Qin Hai, revealed a fake smile and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, although you¡¯re not going to be of much help for this mission, isn¡¯t it a little too much of you to have kept all of your senior brothers and sisters waiting?¡± Including Zhao Zhu, there were four Sword Cometh Peak disciples participating in the mission, and Qin Hai was one of them. Beside Qin Hai stood a female disciple from Sword Cometh Peak. She had quite a lovely face, though there was an unconcealable haughtiness between her brows. She glanced at Zhou Yuan, a skin-deep smile on her face as she said, ¡°After yesterday¡¯s event, every disciple in our sect now knows of junior brother Zhou Yuan turtle shell like Genesis technique. He will naturally have no issue keeping himself safe.¡± It was clear that the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were not fond of Zhou Yuan at all, their words filled with hidden insults. Zhao Zhu showed no signs of stopping them, merely narrowing his eyes, while acting as if he hadn¡¯t heard anything. This was clearly condoning their behaviour. Zhou Yuan frowned a little. Before he could speak, however, Li Qingchan cast her icy gaze at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples and said, ¡°Since we¡¯re on this mission together, all of us are teammates. If anyone tries anything funny, don¡¯t blame me for showing no mercy.¡± Only upon seeing the angered Li Qingchan did Qin Hai and the rest finally shut their mouths in embarrassment. Li Qingchan let out an icy snort, before she waved her hands. A surge of light shot out from her palm, and rapidly grew against the wind. In less than a second, it had transformed into a several feet wide flying yacht. Numerous Genesis Runes were carved on the body of the yacht, making it appear quite beautiful when paired together with its sleek, streamline shape. ¡°The Black Flame Province is quite some distance from our Cangxuan sect. Therefore, we have to fly over on a Genesis artifact. Given the speed of this ¡®Willow Leaf Yacht¡¯, we should be able to reach our destination in ten days.¡± ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s board the ship.¡± As her voice rang out, Bai Li and the rest quickly launched themselves into the air and landed on that spacious flying yacht. After sending a lazy glance at Zhou Yuan, Zhao Zhu also led the others onboard. Li Qingchan walked to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side and said, ¡°For this trip, you only need to speak and do as little as possible. If we run into a powerful foe, leave it to the rest of us.¡± Even though Zhou Yuan¡¯s defensive Genesis technique had wowed the crowd the day before, in the eyes of Li Qingchan and the rest, it was more of a passive or reactive technique. It only meant that Zhou Yuan had some way of protecting himself during the mission. After she spoke, she too leapt onto the flying yacht. Zhou Yuan shrugged helplessly. Though he had showed some of his strength yesterday, it seemed that it was still not enough. It was all because of Wang Lei. Why did he have to suggest that one move challenge, why couldn¡¯t he have proposed a proper duel instead... Coward. Zhou Yuan secretly swore, before he jumped onto the flying yacht and found a seat. Next, Genesis Qi light converged towards the flying yacht. In the next instant, the flying yacht transformed into a rainbow like streak as it ripped through the sky, and disappeared into the horizon in few breaths. Previous Chapte Chapter 400 Yaoyao Takes A Trip Inside a certain cave dwelling. Yaoyao had tied up her long hair with a piece of green cloth while she tended to the plants that she had personally planted in the garden. After a long while, she finally gently dabbed away the dirt and perspiration on her face, before rising to her feet. Meanwhile, Tuntun was lazily lying on it stomach outside the garden. After Zhou Yuan¡¯s departure, the cave dwelling appeared exceptionally desolate and empty. Yaoyao felt as if something was missing as she gazed at the empty cave. Zhou Yuan should currently still be on his way to the Black Flame Province, right? She fell into a moment of silence. After which, she walked out of the garden, picked up Tuntun, and left the cave to head for the mission hall. In the past few days since Zhou Yuan left, Yaoyao would occasionally pay a visit to the mission hall. This was because she could find information on rare Genesis resources through the various mission objectives, and was hoping she would find the necessary items to help Zhou Yuan draw the Great Dragon Subduing Rune. The large hall on the peak of a mountain was bustling with activity. When Yaoyao walked in, she immediately felt the many astonished and awestruck gazes that were trying to catch a peek of her without anyone noticing. Yaoyao was already extremely well-known in the Cangxuan sect. Both her looks and ability had made her very famous. In fact, she was nearly catching up in popularity to the number one beauty Li Qingchan in the short span of less than half a year¡­ However, Yaoyao ignored the gazes. They mattered so little to her that not even the tiniest ripple appeared in her eyes as she quickly walked towards the center of the large hall, where an enormous Genesis Qi mirror towered. From time to time, scrolls of different colors would appear in the mirror. Those were the newly released tasks and missions. The tasks in Cangxuan sect were split into three levels, Heaven, Earth and Human. A Heaven task was marked by gold, and was the rarest of the three. An Earth task was silver, while a Human task was green... Most of the tasks in the mirror were green, with only one or two silver scrolls popping up occasionally. Each time this occurred, it would cause quite a commotion as several disciples fought over the Earth tasks. Yaoyao did not accept any of these tasks. Instead, she observed the information on the scrolls, which mainly composed of a simple explanation of the mission and the rewards. She studied them for quite some time, before ultimately shaking her head. It seems that there was nothing useful again today. As such, she turned around to leave. Boom! The instant she turned her body, however, a loud explosion suddenly was suddenly heard in the hall. The numerous disciples present stared at the giant mirror with burning desire as whispers rapidly spread. Yaoyao was similarly taken aback. She lifted her face and looked at the Genesis Qi mirror. She quickly realized that a golden scroll had appeared. ¡°A Heaven task?¡± Yaoyao was shocked. She never expected another Heaven task to pop up so quickly after Zhou Yuan and his team left. Yaoyao decided to take a closer look. ¡°Latest update to the sect, ancient ruins were discovered in an uncharted area of the western region of Shengzhou Continent. Currently short-handed, and am making a special request to the sect for backup.¡± ¡°Two spots, must be at the Chosen level.¡± Note, found what seems to be a dragon-type Genesis beast skeleton being suppressed by a strange plant in the ruins. ¡°Wow, can¡¯t believe another Heaven task has appeared.¡± ¡°What a pity, you have to be at the Chosen level in order to take this mission. It seems like it¡¯s not going to be an easy task¡­¡± ¡°If it were easy, it wouldn¡¯t be called a Heaven task.¡± Yaoyao ignored the numerous voices that entered her ears. Instead, she stared at the final sentence. ¡°Suspected to be a dragon-type Genesis beast skeleton¡­ being suppressed by a strange plant?¡± Yaoyao mumbled to herself. Her eyes soon brightened slightly. ¡°Could it be¡­ a Dragon Suppressing Wood?¡± This Dragon Suppressing Wood was one of the items required to draw the Great Dragon Subduing Rune. Yaoyao quickly walked forward, arriving beneath the Genesis Qi mirror where an administrator was stationed. She looked directly at the latter and pointed at the Heaven task. ¡°Only Chosen level disciples can take on the mission?¡± That administrator glanced at her and nodded. ¡°Can I take it?¡± Asked Yaoyao. That administrator was stunned. He obviously knew who Yaoyao was. As such, after a brief moment of hesitation, his lips gently a little, appearing as if he was asking the elder that was currently on duty in the mission hall. Yaoyao waited patiently upon seeing this. Quite some time later, the administrator finally stopped moving his lips, and nodded at Yaoyao. ¡°After our evaluation, though you are not one of the Chosens, the sect believes that you possess strength that is comparable to them. Therefore, you have the qualifications to accept this mission.¡± Yaoyao had displayed her prowess on Spirit Rune Peak, where she had basically subdued all the Spirit Rune Peak disciples alone. Her strength was naturally unquestionable. Yaoyao gave a faint nod before she said, ¡°I will take this task.¡± ¡°You will have to set off tomorrow. Therefore, please be at the departure peak tomorrow morning.¡± Said the administrator. Yaoyao nodded. Without further ado, she turned and left, ignoring the commotion that she stirred in the hall. ¡­ Morning on the next day. Yaoyao carried Tuntun and arrived at the departure peak. When she arrived, she realized that there was already someone waiting on the peak. The figure turned around, revealing a familiar face appeared. It was Ye Ge from Spirit Rune Peak. He was wearing his daoist robes and a dazzling smile on his face. Together with his tall and slim figure, he did look quite dashing. In reality, Ye Ge was a good catch in both looks and personality, his resplendent smile easily charming anyone who saw it. In fact, he was quite popular in the Cangxuan sect, especially with certain female disciples. However, Yaoyao¡¯s eyes narrowed in a dangerous manner when she saw him. ¡°You took the mission too?¡± Asked Yaoya in a slightly hostile tone. When Ye Ge heard the hostility in Yaoyao¡¯s voice, he quickly explained, ¡°Junior sister Yaoyao, most of the Chosens are either out on missions or in secluded cultivation. I was forced to join in order to make up the numbers!¡± The truth was that he had also been in secluded cultivation recently. However, when he suddenly received news that Yaoyao was going to take part into a Heaven task yesterday, he abruptly ended his training session, an act that greatly infuriated sect master Bai Mei. Yaoyao was expressionless. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time on me.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s voice was cold. Someone as intelligent as herself naturally knew what Ye Ge was up to. Ye Ge sighed miserably. Soon after, he could not help but ask, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be worse than Zhou Yuan, right?¡± There were still no emotions on Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful face. ¡°*Sigh*. So many junior sisters have fallen for me before, but I chose to ignore all of them. I never expected that I would be on the receiving end one day. This truly is retribution.¡± When Ye Ge saw this situation, the miserable expression on his dashing face grew even more bitter as he looked towards the sky and sighed deeply. Yaoyao was silent for a while, before she said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die during the mission, I suggest that you talk less.¡± Ye Ge cast a resentful gaze at her. He decided not to joke any longer, and spoke with a solemn expression, ¡°However, I am afraid that this is going to be a very challenging task, and both you and I must be extra careful.¡± Since they were finally discussing formal business, Yaoyao lifted her gaze and asked, ¡°Oh?¡± Ye Ge spirits were immediately lifted at this sight. With a look of mystery, he asked, ¡°Do you know who issued this mission?¡± ¡°Who?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s tone was filled with nonchalance. ¡°That fellow usually never shares any benefits. Suddenly asking the sect for help this time clearly means that he has ran into some problems¡­ however, things he would find problematic are definitely not normal.¡± Ye Ge chuckled, before he continued, ¡°Can junior sister Yaoyao guess who he is?¡± Yaoyao was silent for a moment, before her red lips opened slightly as she spat out two words. ¡°Chu Qing.¡± She had never expected that this task to be issued by the number one Chosen. Looks like it was indeed going to be quite a challenge. However, the Dragon Suppressing Wood is one of the key items needed to draw the Great Dragon Suppressing Rune. Therefore, she needed to go even if it was going to be difficult... Previous Chapte Chapter 401 An Old Acquaintance Black Flame Province was situated in the southeastern region of the Shengzhou Continent. This region was extremely vast, its mass nearly equal to half of ordinary continents. From this, one could see just how immense the Shengzhou Continent was. It was no wonder that Shengzhou Continent was said to hold sixty percent of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s blessings. Just its colossal size alone was something that other continents would never be able to match. Hence, nearly ten days had passed by the time Zhou Yuan and the team arrived at the Black Flame Province... A streak of light shot past in the endless sky. Within it was a sleek flying yacht. Numerous Genesis Runes flickered on the yacht, gathering light as it sped even faster into the horizon. In one of the cabins, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were tightly shut, while pieces of ancient wood hovered in front of him. Yimu Qi spread from the ancient wood pieces, before being completely absorbed by him. Even while travelling, he was clearly making full use of his time by absorbing Yimu Qi to perfect the Taiyi mark in his body. A long while later, he opened his eyes as the many ancient wood pieces hovering before him turned to dust. Dark green light faintly flashed past on the surface of his body before quickly receding. Zhou Yuan nodded as he felt the tiny bit of progress he had made on the Taiyi mark. Mastering the Taiyi mark could not be done in a day, and he had to take things step by step. Most importantly, he did not have many century old ancient wood left. ¡°Everyone, we¡¯re about to reach the Black Flame Mountain Range.¡± At this moment, Li Qingchan¡¯s indifferent voice sounded from outside. Zhou Yuan left the room, only to find that everyone was already gathered outside. He lifted his head and peered into the distance, seeing a black mountain range appear at the end of the horizon. An irritable heat emerged, as if they were approaching a mountain of fire. ¡°We¡¯ll be lodging at the Black Flame City outside the Black Flame Mountain Range where all the teams from the other factions will also be staying. Besides this, the sect has also dispatched an elder to oversee the situation and communicate with the higher ups from the other factions.¡± Li Qingchan looked towards the group and said, ¡°We¡¯ll first meet up with the elder in Black Flame City to get a grasp of the current situation.¡± Everyone naturally had no objections and nodded in acknowledgement. Li Qingchan said nothing else when she saw this. The yacht suddenly sped up, quickly approaching the Black Flame Mountain Range, as the silhouette of an enormous city appeared in the distance. This city appeared to be a beehive of activity, glowing figures endlessly pouring into it from all directions. ¡°Due to the volcanic eruption, the Black Flame Province has become extremely busy recently, and numerous unaffiliated practitioners have come here to try their luck.¡± Li Qingchan kept the flying yacht as she spoke, before the group proceeded to land in the city. Black Flame City was was a bustling place. Its wide, spacious streets were well connected, allowing the giant crowds to easily pass through, while also populated by all kinds of shops and stalls. Li Qingchan did not linger in this area, leading the team towards the heart of the city instead, where a lavish and impressive looking building towered. There was even a wooden sign at the entrance that read ¡®No one below the Alpha-Origin stage may enter¡¯. Zhou Yuan was somewhat speechless when he saw these words. Such discrimination tsk... ¡°This place is currently the lodging area for the various powerful factions. If you lack strength, you¡¯ll only be asking for trouble by entering.¡± Li Qingchan glanced at him before leading the way into the building. Zhou Yuan and the rest hurriedly followed. The interior of the building was extremely spacious, though it was currently nearly bursting at the seams with people, making the insides quite a racket indeed. However, one could tell that every individual inside gave off powerful Genesis Qi undulations, a clear sign of their strength. When the group stepped into the building, the originally noisy place immediately turned silent for an instant due to Li Qingchan¡¯s beauty and presence as numerous gazes looked towards her. However, these gazes immediately shrank back when they saw the Cangxuan Sect badges hanging from the waists of Zhou Yuan and the rest, no longer daring to look so wantonly. Likewise, the ones who had been about to hit on Li Qingchan quickly swallowed the words at the tip of their tongues. Everyone had obviously realized the identity of this group. As one of the overlord sects of Cangxuan Heaven, it was obvious that almost no one dared to provoke them. Li Qingchan¡¯s beautiful face remained frosty, completely ignoring the gazes as she proceeded to walk up the stairs. ¡°Tch, isn¡¯t this the number one beauty of the Cangxuan Sect, Li Qingchan? I can¡¯t believe the sect sent you this time.¡± While they were walking up, a teasing girl¡¯s voice was suddenly heard. Li Qingchan¡¯s slightly icy gaze followed the voice, before her eyes widened a little. A group was gathered on one of the higher floors. Seated at the center was an extremely beautiful girl wearing a flowery long skirt, who was currently looking at them with a wide grin. Most of the individuals around her were also girls, each one a beauty in their own right. As such, countless wolf-like gazes from the entire building would covertly glance at the group, though not a single soul dared to disturb them. Because all of these girls were from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. The girl in a flowery long skirt was called Feng Ying, and was a Chosen of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. ¡°Feng Ying? To think that Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace dispatched you this time.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s tone was a little surprised as she gazed at the lovely girl. They were acquaintances of sorts, having met several times while on missions for their respective sects. ¡°Will you do me the honor of gracing us with your presence?¡± Feng Ying seemed to smile. Li Qingchan did not hesitate as she walked over. ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s brother Zhao Zhu. It¡¯s been a long time since we last met¡­¡± As they approached, Feng Ying¡¯s eyes swept behind Li Qingchan, letting out a laugh as she spotted Zhao Zhu. Zhao Zhu smiled faintly and said, ¡°Senior sister Feng Ying has become more and more beautiful.¡± Feng Ying responded with a cheery smile. ¡°How can I call myself pretty with the number beauty of your Cangxuan Sect present?¡± While they were conversing, the gazes of Qin Hai and the rest swept towards the rest of the girls, before they could not help but stare at a certain beautiful individual amongst the pretty flowers. Among the pretty female disciples of Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace was a young lady wearing a black dress. Her skin was fair as jade, while her facial features were extremely pretty. In fact, she did not lose to Li Qingchan at all. The young lady¡¯s most unforgettable trait were her limpid peach blossom like eyes that gave her a flirtatious look. This girl was definitely an extraordinary beauty. An alluring aura such as hers was definitely held an almost fatal attraction to any guy. Hence, before Li Qingchan¡¯s arrival, the majority of gazes in the entire building had likely been gathered on this girl. The gazes of Qin Hai and the rest had been drawn by this girl. However, they quickly realized that there were already several males crowding around her. Each one had quite a presence, while a smiling young man in white robes appeared the most impressive amongst them. The young man was quite handsome, while a kind smile hung from his lips. However, the eyes of Qin Hai and the rest widened slightly when they caught sight of the badge handing at this waist. It was the badge of Sacred Palace. Li Qingchan stared at the young man in white robes and indifferently said, ¡°I did not expect that there will be someone from Sacred Palace here.¡± The youth chuckled softly as he cupped his fists together. ¡°Sacred Palace, Yang Xuan.¡± ¡°Hehe, as a Chosen, senior sister Li Qingchan can look for our Sacred Palace¡¯s senior brother Wang Chi or Cao Jin if there are any problems. I¡¯m merely a nameless nobody that shouldn¡¯t take senior sister Li Qingchan¡¯s attention.¡± After politely finishing his greeting, his gaze turned back to the young lady in black as he tried to converse with her again. He was evidently not the least bit intimidated by the presence of the two Cangxuan Sect Chosens. The girl in black wore a polite smile on her gorgeous face from start to end, seemingly friendly yet also giving others the impression that she wanted to maintain a little distance. Feng Ying shrugged at Li Qingchan and said, ¡°Although junior brother Yang Xuan is not a Chosen, he is quite famous in the Sacred Palace. However, I did not invite him. He¡¯s here for this little junior sister of ours.¡± Li Qingchan also glanced at the girl in black. That sweetly enchanting presence made even someone like herself unable to resist taking a second look. The young lady in black lifted her face slightly, her limpid gaze looking towards the Cangxuan Sect group, jumping from person to person, before suddenly being slightly taken aback when she saw Zhou Yuan standing at the back of the group. Her eyes brightened slightly. Zhou Yuan chuckled. He was also rather surprised to see that the girl in black was an old acquaintance, Zuoqiu Qingyu. Back then, she and Qing Luo had joined the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace together. He had not anticipated that they would meet again here. Since they were considered quite close friends, Zhou Yuan smiled as he lifted his hand and waved at Zuoqiu Qingyu. His actions were naturally noticed by the crowd. Qin Hai and the rest were focusing on Zuoqiu Qingyu since the beginning, causing them to immediately frown upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s directness. Do you really believe that you¡¯re so charming? Can¡¯t you see that the kid from Sacred Palace has been trying to chat with her for so long, but she still keeps a polite distance? Li Qingchan and Feng Ying also glanced at Zhou Yuan. Feng Ying playfully said, ¡°This junior brother if yours is quite interesting.¡± She was clearly under the impression that Zhou Yuan was just another smitten male that was trying to grab Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s attention. Li Qingchan¡¯s expression was not looking too good as she glared at Zhou Yuan. He really wasn¡¯t afraid of shaming himself in such a crowded place. Zuoqiu Qingyu naturally saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s wave. However, she did not respond in kind, merely sweeping an indifferent glance at him, before withdrawing her eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand froze, feeling a little awkward. Qin Hai and the rest could not help but secretly laugh inside. Zhou Yuan resentfully rubbed his nose. *Giggle* It was at this moment, however, that the unenthusiastic looking Zuoqiu Qingyu suddenly giggled. She turned back and looked at Zhou Yuan as she placed a hand on her cheek. The lively smiling appearance she displayed was extremely enchanting. Her eyes turned into crescent moons as she smiled like a sly little fox and said, ¡°Hai, long time no see Zhou Yuan¡­¡± The sight of the lively and charming smile on Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s face stunned Feng Ying and Li Qingchan. As fellow girls, how could they possibly be unable to tell that Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s current smile was no longer the same civil smile from before, but one of sincere happiness from the depths of her heart. Thus, the expressions of Qin Hai and the rest turned a little rigid. The gentle smile on Yang Xuan¡¯s lips also receded slightly, an unreadable look in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan... After suddenly becoming the focus of everyone¡¯s attention, the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips twitched slightly as he looked at Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s crafty fox like smile. Even a fool would know that he had just been played by Zuoqiu Qingyu... This little enchantress was still as frustratingly annoying as before. Previous Chapte Chapter 402 Meeting Qingyu Again No one in the noisy building had taken much notice of Zhou Yuan, but after Zuoqiu Qingyu looked at him with smiling eyes, he immediately became the focal point of the entire place, as numerous gazes shot towards him. ¡°You two know each other?¡± Feng Ying was also rather surprised, and soon began to size Zhou Yuan up. She had previously thought Zhou Yuan to be the same as those fellows surrounding Zuoqiu Qingyi, men hoping to win the favor of this beauty. However, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s response clearly showed that the two of them were actually quite close. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s sharp chin nodded as she grinned. ¡°Senior sister Feng Ying, Zhou Yuan and I are from the same continent, and he was the most outstanding one amongst our generation back then. In fact, even Luluo and I couldn¡¯t match up to him.¡± Feng Ying gazed at the smile on Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s face, before she turned back to Zhou Yuan with interest and said, ¡°Though your Cangmang Continent is small, it seems to produce many talents.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo were extremely outstanding saplings amongst the newest batch of Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples, and even the numerous elders of the palace had nothing but praise for these two girls, who were both from the remote Cangmang Continent. She never imagined that Zhou Yuan was also from the same continent. ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ve heard of the Cangmang Continent¡­ however, distinguishing oneself at that level is quite meaningless. At the end of the day, what comes later is more important.¡± ¡°There are many who manage to pull off a brilliant performance for a time, but eventually fade into mediocrity.¡± ¡°Junior sister Qingyu is very talented, and will surely become one of the most famous individuals amongst our Shengzhou Continent¡¯s younger generation in the future. There¡¯s no need for you to be so humble.¡± The group of young man around Zuoqiu Qingyu were the geniuses from the top factions of Black Flame Province, and commanded extremely high status locally. They had been amazed the moment they saw Zuoqiu Qingyu earlier, and quickly crowded over like bees to a flower. However, no matter how they tried to make conversation, Zuoqiu Qingyu had always responded with the same polite smile, keeping a certain distance. This made them feel rather defeated, yet also spurred them on. However, the lively smile she displayed when she saw Zhou Yuan made them feel uncomfortable inside. As such, they began to speak out one after another, their words aiming to belittle Zhou Yuan. Though the Cangxuan Sect was an overlord existence that their own factions could never hope to compare to, the youngsters present were not ordinary disciples in their respective factions. Hence, there was no reason for them to be overly fearful of a normal Cangxuan Sect disciple like Zhou Yuan. He was after all only a disciple, and not a Chosen like Li Qingchan and the rest. Zuoqiu Qingyu maintained her smile when she heard their remarks, but a look of annoyance flitted across the depths of her eyes. These flies were really loathsome. As for Yang Xuan, he did not join in to demean Zhou Yuan. His expression remained friendly like before, because he did not think Zhou Yuan was any threat at all. Zhou Yuan merely smiled at these words, displaying no anger because of them. It was Li Qingchan instead whose icy glaze swept over. She looked at the ones who had spoken and indifferently said, ¡°It¡¯s only been half a year since Zhou Yuan has joined the Cangxuan Sect, and he¡¯s already our youngest purple sash disciple. In fact, he may even become a Chosen in the future. With such talent, there is naturally no need for anyone to doubt him.¡± Although Li Qingchan had some opinions about Zhou Yuan due to his relationship with Yaoyao, the former felt that none of the geniuses from the various factions present could match up to his performance in the Cangxuan Sect. Upon hearing Li Qingchan¡¯s words, the young men¡¯s laughter came to an abrupt halt. They looked towards Zhou Yuan in bewilderment, obviously unable to imagine how this unremarkable looking fellow could possibly be so capable. Zuoqiu Qingyu also curiously looked at Zhou Yuan with a smile on her red lips. As expected, even in a place like the Cangxuan Sect, he was not going to live a peaceful and ordinary life. It now Yang Xuan¡¯s turn to react. He raised his brows slightly, as the unreadable look in his eyes seemed to grow a little deeper. Zhou Yuan looked towards Li Qingchan in astonishment, clearly not expecting her to speak up for him since she had always treated him rather coldly. Though he was surprised, the truth was that he did not really mind the views of these unimportant people. Feng Ying covered her mouth and softly chuckled. ¡°Looks like I¡¯m not wrong. The Cangmang Continent has indeed been producing quite a few talented individuals recently.¡± Li Qingchan say anything else on the topic. After a brief chat, she decided to leave. ¡°There will be a trade fair happening here tonight. If you have nothing else to do, you should come and take a look.¡± Sadi Feng Ying with a smile. She seemed to be on a holiday instead of a mission. Li Qingchan offhandedly nodded before turning to leave. Zhou Yuan exchanged a look with Zuoqiu Qingyu, faintly nodding before he turned to catch up to Li Qingchan. As they left, a Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciple beside Zuoqiu Qingyu looked towards Feng Ying and asked, ¡°Senior sister Feng Ying, was Li Qingchan really telling the truth earlier? The one called Zhou Yuan does not seem that strong.¡± Feng Ying fell silent for a moment, glancing at Zuoqiu Qingyu who was also looking over, before she answered, ¡°From what I can tell, Zhou Yuan is at most a fourth layer Alpha-Origin practitioner.¡± Upon hearing these words, the other pretty female disciples began to laugh. With the exception of new disciple Zuoqiu Qingyu, everyone else was at the very least the sixth layer. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fourth layer was truly a little low to them. The geniuses from the local Black Flame Province factions also smiled when they heard this, shaking their heads as they secretly breathed a sigh of relief inside. They had been under the impression that Zhou Yuan was quite capable. Turns out that he was merely at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage... With such strength, he would pose no threat to them, even if he was from the Cangxuan Sect. Zuoqiu Qingyu was the only one whose expression remained unchanged. She clearly understood that Zhou Yuan¡¯s true power was never what it appeared to be on the surface. Back then in the Saint Remains Domain, no one would ever have expected that even the strongest Wu Huang would be defeated by the weakest looking Zhou Yuan. Feng Ying lifted her gaze to look at Zhou Yuan following Li Qingchan at the back of the group and shook her head as she left her final verdict. ¡°Li Qingchan is usually so cold. I did not expect her to brag so much just to protect one of her fellow junior brother disciples. Can¡¯t believe I was nearly tricked by her¡­¡± ¡°However, it is no good to scam others, because the truth will be completely revealed once we enter the Black Flame Mountain Range¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 403 Allocation of Tasks Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Zhou Yuan and the rest were seated in a room lit by lamp light. ¡°Elder Wu.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes looked towards the front where an elder with a head full of white hair and gray robes was seated. His back was straight, and his expression was cold and stern, making him appear like a strict, grumpy old man. This old man was called Wu Lin, and was the elder sent to oversee the Black Flame Province affair by the sect. ¡°I did not expect you to be leading the team this time, Li Qingchan.¡± Elder Wu gave a brief nod to Li Qingchan. When dealing with a Chosen of a sect, even someone as stern as himself seemed to soften somewhat. His gaze swept over the rest of the team, before coming to an abrupt halt when he saw Zhou Yuan. After being stunned for a moment, elder Wu frowned deeply as he said, ¡°Why is there a fourth layer Alpha-Origin here? Which peak does this disciple belong to? Do you think someone of your level can dabble in such a mission? This is absurd!¡± Elder Wu Lin was usually overseeing missions outside the sect all year round, and thus would only return one or two times a year. He was naturally very unfamiliar with Zhou Yuan, whom had only joined the sect for half a year. A small smile appeared on Zhao Zhu¡¯s face when he saw this. Elder Wu Lin was a strict person, and had a low tolerance for troublemakers. What he hated the most were people who were only in the team to make up the numbers. Zhou Yuan was really pretty unlucky to have met him. By the side, Qin Hai and the rest secretly gloated. Li Qingchan hastily said, ¡°Elder Wu, this is the newly promoted purple sash disciple from Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan. Although he has only been with the sect for half a year, his battle achievements are extremely outstanding. He was not only the champion of the peak selection ceremony but also the recent purple sash selection. Though he is currently only at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin, his battle power does not lose to a seventh layer disciple.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Elder Wu cast a skeptical glance at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Even so, he is ultimately only a newly promoted purple sash disciple, and lacks experience when compared to the veteran purple sashes like Qin Hai.¡± Elder Wu was originally going to skold a little more, but ultimately let out a helpless sigh. He glared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Fine, since you¡¯re already here, it will be a good learning experience for you. Try your best not to be a burden.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed in his heart, and could only nod his head in acknowledgement such that the old man would not continue on without end. Elder Wu shook his head and withdrew his gaze, clearly taking Zhou Yuan as a disciple who was along for a free Heaven Credit, and thus did not have much expectations of the latter. ¡°Elder Wu, what exactly is the current situation?¡± Li Qingchan quickly shifted the topic. She had been the one to bring Zhou Yuan along after all, and was afraid elder Wu would keep him away from the task in a moment of anger. If that happened, it would be a completely wasted trip for Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan faded from elder Wu¡¯s mind as they began to talk about formal matters. ¡°The essence flame vein that appeared in Black Flame Province this time is very valuable. As such, even the three titans, Sacred Palace, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace have been drawn here.¡± ¡°Black Flame Province is not within the jurisdiction of any of our four sects. Thus, it is extremely difficult to decide who the essence flame vein will belong to.¡± Li Qingchan and the rest nodded. If Black Flame Province was part of their Cangxuan Sect¡¯s territory, the other sects would have to start a war if they wanted a share of the pie. Since the essence flame vein was located in Black Flame Province, it should strictly speaking belong to the local factions here. However, they clearly did not have enough power to monopolize this resource, and could only reluctantly allow the interference of the four overlord sects. The four sects would eat the meat, while the local factions were left with soup. This was how the world was. The stronger one was, the more meat one could eat. Wu Lin slowly said, ¡°Before you guys arrived, I¡¯ve already discussed the allocation matter with Sacred Palace, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and a few of the local powerhouse factions.¡± Li Qingchan asked in surprise, ¡°Oh? Has it already been decided then?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that easy. Who amongst them will be willing to give in?¡± Wu Ling snorted, before continuing, ¡°After our discussion, we ultimately decided that it will be allocated based on ability.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, a surge of Genesis Qi shot out and turned into a giant map. ¡°This is a map of the essence flame vein. It reached deep into the ground and covers an extensive area, making it very profitable to harvest.¡± Elder Wu pointed at the map as he explained, ¡°The method we eventually agreed on is very simple. In three days, the various factions will send their disciples into the essence flame vein area to decide on its allocation.¡± With a flick, ten rays of light shot towards Li Qingchan and the rest. When they received it, they found a small palm-sized flag within on which Genesis Runes shimmered. ¡°Every flag that has been placed will encompass a hundred mile area. As long as one manages to protect the flag for a day, the hundred mile area will belong to the faction of the flag owner.¡± Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest curiously observed the small flags in their hands. It appeared that the fight for the essence flame vein would be quite interesting. These flags represented one¡¯s territory. One only needed to plant to flag to gain a portion of the essence flame vein. Of course, this was with the precondition that one managed to resolve all the problems within this territory within a day. ¡°Each person can only occupy the area of one flag? If so, wouldn¡¯t we at most occupy ten hundred mile districts?¡± Asked Zhao Zhu. ¡°Ten hundred mile districts will already be a huge victory.¡± Wu Lin helplessly shook his head. ¡°The central region is only about three thousand miles wide, how can there be enough if all the disciples from the overlord sects occupy a piece?¡± ¡°There will definitely be a shortage of land to occupy in the end. That¡¯s when the true fighting shall begin¡­¡± The eyes of Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest widened slightly. They could already imagine the intense battles that would certainly erupt to fight for the limited land. After all, who amongst the Sacred Palace, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, and the powerful local factions wouldn¡¯t want to occupy more of the essence flame vein? The resources to be collected after being mined was nothing to scoff at. ¡°We¡¯ve already done a quick scout of the area, and found that it is filled with Heavenly Flame Lizards, a type of grade 4 Genesis Beast. You guys should be careful of these creatures when you¡¯re inside.¡± ¡°Besides this, we also discovered that the most valuable district is this area¡­¡± With a wave of his finger, a chunk of land at the central area of the map gradually turned red. ¡°Due to the limited amount of land we¡¯ll be able to occupy, we need to do our best to vie for the richest deposits.¡± Elder Wu pointed towards the center of the red region and said, ¡°Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu. As the strongest two, you will need to swiftly occupy this central area.¡± ¡°Qin Hai, Bai Li¡­ and the rest will try to occupy these neighboring districts.¡± Elder Wu continued to instruct as he pointed towards several spots on the map. As they watched, the red area was continuously split into smaller pieces. Elder Wu was obviously assigning every member their task. In the blink of an eye, only Zhou Yuan was left. Zhou Yuan had no choice but to speak up, ¡°What about me?¡± Elder Wu swept a glance at him and sighed, likely also having a headache due to this ¡®freeloader¡¯. The disciples sent by the other factions were no ordinary individuals after all, making a fourth layer Alpha-Origin like Zhou Yuan appear quite unsightly. Even though Li Qingchan had said that he was not weak, who knew how much of it was real. Elder Wu was silent for a while, before he eventually pointed towards an area outside of the red patch and said, ¡°You¡¯ll be tasked with this region. Make sure you succeed.¡± Amusement immediately appeared on the faces of Qin Hai and the rest. The area Zhou Yuan had been assigned was not even part of the core region, and was likely not rich in essence flame. It was obvious that elder Wue did not believe Zhou Yuan had the qualifications to compete in the core region, and thus half-heartedly allocated him somewhere else for safety. There shouldn¡¯t be many formidable opponents in this area. Upon seeing this, Li Qingchan hurriedly said, ¡°Elder Wu, Zhou Yuan is not as weak as you think, he¡­¡± The rewards for a Heaven task was given according to one¡¯s contributions. With such a pathetic allocation, Zhou Yuan may not be able to obtain a Heaven Credit in the end. Elder Wu waved his hand, cutting off Li Qingchan¡¯s words. ¡°I am responsible for the safety of our disciples, and one should not bite off more than one can chew. If an accident occurs due to foolishness or stubbornness, even I will not be able to escape the consequences.¡± ¡°There is no need to discuss this matter any further. If he is capable enough, it should not be a problem for him to occupy this area.¡± Elder Wu¡¯s tone was firm, indicating that nothing could be changed. ¡°All of you should follow my arrangements. When the battle begins in three days, do you best to occupy the districts you¡¯ve been allocated.¡± Upon hearing elder Wu¡¯s stern voice, everyone quickly acknowledged in unison. Zhou Yuan looked at the area he had been allocated on the map with a helpless smile. However, he did not argue. Since he had already been given his task, he would first concentrate on occupying that area before anything else. No matter what, a Heaven Credit would be his for sure. Previous Chapte Chapter 404 Flame Rock Gambling Night descended, wrapping the entire Black Flame Mountain Range in darkness. At the edge of the mountain range, however, Black Flame City remained brightly lit, enveloped in a festive atmosphere. Every faction of certain clout in Black Flame Province had sent their elite disciples to Black Flame City. Their goal was naturally the currently unowned essence flame vein. Although they knew that the biggest slices of the pie would definitely end up in the hands of the four overlord sects, just a tiny slice from a vein of such an immense scale was already a sizable haul for them. Thus, numerous factions swarmed towards this mountain fringe city, turning it exceptionally lively. ... *Creak* Zhou Yuan pushed open his room door and stepped onto the corridor. As he looked down from above, he found that the giant building was currently abuzz with activity. He leaned against the banister with interest. This was the first time he had been outside after coming to the Shengzhou Continent for so long, since he had basically spent all his time holed up in the Cangxuan Sect for training. As such, this was his first real view of the scenery in the Shengzhou Continent. While Zhou Yuan was tasting the lively atmosphere, the faint sound of rushing wind was suddenly heard as a sharp force ruthlessly stabbed towards his back. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly at this moment, while his body instantly etherealized. With a single step, the force brushed past his body as Zhou Yuan sent a strike towards a certain direction behind him. Genesis Qi surged as the sound of air being torn apart was heard. However, Zhou Yuan was a little surprised to realize his fist had landed on empty air, before he quickly sniffed a whiff of fragrance. ¡°Not bad. You¡¯ve grown much stronger in half a year.¡± A tinkling laughter sounded. Zhou Yuan raised his head to look, and found a young lady in a black dress seated on the banister beside him. Her fair and slender feet swayed slightly, the snow-white calves a dazzling sight to behold. It was Zuoqiu Qingyu. ¡°Your speed¡­ is very amazing.¡± Astonishment flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The speed at which Zuoqiu Qingyu had avoided his attack earlier was not the least be slower than his advanced Ethereal Form. It seems that Zuoqiu Qingyu had also been quite lucky after entering the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. ¡°Since my battle power is not as insane as yours, I should focus on a way to protect myself.¡± Said Zuoqiu Qingyu with a wide grin, before she gracefully leaped into the air and appeared beside Zhou Yuan. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re doing pretty well for yourself in the Cangxuan Sect. I almost can¡¯t believe you managed to participate in a mission of such calibre.¡± Although she was not familiar with the rules of the Cangxuan Sect, a mission like the Black Flame Province was surely something that only the elite members of the sect would be allowed to participate in. Since Zhou Yuan had reached this level in merely half a year, he was obviously doing quite well for himself in the sect. ¡°I¡¯m just doing what I can.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°The truth is¡­ that everyone takes me as a freeloader for this mission.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu placed an elbow on the banister as she propped up a cheek with her hand. Her lovely body leaned slightly to the side, accentuating her astonishingly slender legs, as she displayed a wide smile and said, ¡°Guess you¡¯ll be giving everyone a huge shock in the end.¡± ¡°So much faith in me?¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh. Even Li Qingchan did not have much expectations of him, and only hoped he wouldn¡¯t be a burden. He had not expected Zuoqiu Qingyu, whom he hadn¡¯t seen for half a year, to say such words. ¡°I¡¯m only flattering you, did you really believe me?¡± However, Zuoqiu Qingyu laughed teasingly in response. Zhou Yuan could only roll his eyes. He asked, ¡°How are you and Luluo doing in the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace?¡± ¡°Rather good actually. That lass Luluo is very welcomed in the sect.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s red lips seemed to stick out slightly in pride as she looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Although you managed to become the star in the Saint Remains Domain, don¡¯t celebrate too early because you may soon be surpassed by us in the Shengzhou Continent.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. He knew that the girl before him was quite a proud person inside. ¡°Right, how¡¯s Yaoyao doing in the Cangxuan Sect?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu quickly followed up. Zhou Yuan sighed deeply. ¡°Obviously doing a thousand times better than me.¡± Though Yaoyao was not a Chosen, her status was already on par with them. This was much better than being treated like a freeloader on a Heaven task. Zuoqiu Qingyu patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder and consoled, ¡°Don¡¯t be too sad. Isn¡¯t this normal. Unless you think you can compare to Yaoyao? Has your brain short circuited?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched for a moment. Is this how you console someone... However, the two of them grew more and more comfortable as they chatted, as the slight awkwardness from not seeing each other for half a year completely faded. Zuoqiu Qingyu stretched her back, displaying her alluring curves as she cocked her head slightly and said, ¡°There¡¯s a trade fair going on below. Do you want to go and have a look? We may even find something nice.¡± At the sight of the sparkling excitement in her limpid eyes, Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Looks like even the little enchantress can¡¯t help but be a normal person at times... ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He knew of Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s fondness for being part of the festivities and naturally did not decline, nodding his head to her in agreement. The two individuals made their way down, gazes continuously looking over along the way. This was mainly because Zuoqiu Qingyu was just too eye-catching. She was the very embodiment of flirtatious and sexy, making it hard for anyone to turn their eyes away. The underground floor was extremely spacious. Countless figures shuttled about within it, while the stalls seemed to be haphazardly placed all over. Gasps and cries of surprise could be heard from time to time, as if someone had found something good. Over all, it was a very festive place. Zuoqiu Qingyu was full of interest as she roamed about like a black carp, while Zhou Yuan helplessly followed behind. The two eventually stopped at a certain extremely crowded spot, where countless head-sized black rocks were laid out. These rocks seemed to give off a faint heat. Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°What are these?¡± ¡°Some kind of rock gambling. You basically purchase one of the rocks and break it open to see how old the essence flame within it is. They are categorized into the ten year grade, hundred year grade, thousand year grade and even ten thousand year grade¡­¡± ¡°If you¡¯re lucky enough to find a hundred year essence flame, you will have struck it big.¡± ¡°However, these black rocks are said to be essence flame rocks dug out from the depths Black Flame Mountain Range, and can block one¡¯s Spirit senses. Thus, no one can know what¡¯s inside.¡± ¡°Only a few extremely experienced masters will be able to find hints from the patterns on the rocks.¡± Explained Zuoqiu Qingyu. Zhou Yuan nodded. It was no wonder that this spot was so popular, it was basically a lottery. After all, if you managed to strike a hundred year or thousand year essence flame, you will have earned several hundred or even a thousand times your initial investment. A Genesis resources of such grade would be worth at least ten million Genesis crystals. He began to observe. Many rocks were opened, but most of them only contained ordinary essence flames, while a ten year grade essence flame would appear once in a while, drawing numerous cheers and gasps of surprise. ¡°I wonder if the Decoder Saint Rune works.¡± A thought suddenly struck Zhou Yuan as he watched, causing him to recall the Saint Rune in his eyes. However, just as he was about to test it, laughter was suddenly heard as a figure inserted himself between Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. ¡°Hehe, is miss Qingyu interested in flame rock gambling? If I had known, I would have brought you here to have fun long ago. Most of the flame rock gambling businesses in Black Flame Province are under my Flame Cauldron Sect after all.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as his gaze swept towards the figure. It turned out to be a young man dressed in purple and red. Several men followed behind him, creating quite an impressive sight indeed. The young man was smiling, but he only looked at Zuoqiu Qingyu, while completely oblivious to Zhou Yuan. Zuoqiu Qingyu also frowned a little. She knew this young man. He was one of the annoying flies that had been buzzing around her ever since she arrived at the Black Flame Province. However, he had a strong background; he was the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, and was called Su Duan. The Flame Cauldron Sect was one of the strongest local factions in the Black Flame Province. ¡°Do you want to return?¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Zuoqiu Qingyu. Only after hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice, did the young man in purple and red turn around and smile at the former as he said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a friend from the Cangxuan Sect¡­ I am Su Duan, the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, and am truly sorry that I did not see you earlier¡­ however, may I be so bold as to ask which Chosen from the Cangxuan Sect are you?¡± His gaze held a faint hint of hostility, evidently due to Zuoqiu Qingyu. After all, he had basically been shamelessly stalking Zuoqiu Qingyu for the past few days, but had barely made any headway. The sight of her being so familiar with Zhou Yuan naturally alarmed Su Duan, causing him to hurriedly rush over. Su Duan words may have seemed polite, but they held a deeper meaning to them. He obviously knew that Zhou Yuan was not a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, and yet he intentionally brought it up. He was implying that since you aren¡¯t a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, while he was the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, there was no need for him to be overly concerned about you. There were after all many disciples in the Cangxuan Sect. Although the Flame Cauldron Sect could not compare to the former, he was the junior sect master. If there was no grudge between them, there was naturally no good reason for him to be fearful of an ordinary disciple. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed a little as he glanced at Su Duan. However, Su Duan paid no heed to the former¡¯s gaze, and instead matched it as he pointed towards the rock gambling area in front of them with a smile that clearly hid ill intent. ¡°Is this friend also interested in flame rock gambling?¡± ¡°Do you have the courage to give it a try or two?¡± As he lifted his sleeve, a bracelet was revealed on his wrist. It seemed to be made from some kind of wood that was covered it grainy scars, making it appear quite ancient. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression had been uninterested since the beginning, remaining unchanged even under Su Duan¡¯s hostile gaze earlier. However, when Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the bracelet on the latter¡¯s wrist, his eyes suddenly widened a little. In that instant, he had felt the incomplete Taiyi Rune in his body vibrate for a moment as it gave off a certain pulse that felt like desire... A flash of bright light flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s slightly lowered eyes. What concentrated Yimu Qi. this guy¡¯s bracelet is at least a thousand year grade precious ancient wood... Wow¡­ it¡¯s like someone was sending him a pillow when he was feeling sleepy. Previous Chapte Chapter 405 Incentive Amidst the noisy surroundings, Su Duan wore a faint smile as he gazed at Zhou Yuan with interlocked hands, the old black bracelet on his wrist appearing to give off a deep lustre under the lamp light. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze merely paused on the bracelet for a split second, before turning away without anyone noticing. Su Duan was obviously here because of jealousy, and hoped to show off in front of the girl he liked, while also taking down this potential rival a peg or two. With regards to the little enchantress Zuoqiu Qingyu, all Zhou Yuan had were feelings of admiration for her. Thus, he was not really interested in involving himself in this matter. Therefore, his first reaction was to shake his head to reject. Until he saw the bracelet on Su Duan¡¯s wrist... ¡°The moment I saw your bracelet, I just knew that you and I are definitely going to be friends¡­¡± Zhou Yuan secretly said inside. His current progress in the Taiyu mark was way too slow. The root of the problem lay in the lack of rich Yimu Qi, because older precious ancient wood was really not easy to find. Su Duan¡¯s ancient wooden bracelet was obviously quite an antique. The rich Yimu Qi within it was definitely better than all the ancient wood Zhou Yuan had absorbed before. If he could obtain it, he should be able to make a huge leap in perfecting his Taiyi mark. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze faintly flickered in thought. But how should he express his desire for the bracelet without alerting Su Duan? After all, if Zhou Yuan came on too strongly, the other party would certainly make things more difficult.. While Zhou Yuan was silent, Su Duan seemed to be under the impression that he had intimidated the former, causing a look of contempt to flash across his eyes. The truth was that he had long known of Zhou Yuan, and was thus aware that he came from a remote continent. Honestly speaking, if he was not a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, Su Duan felt that a hick like Zhou Yuan would not even have the right to speak with him. After all, the people of the Shengzhou Continent usually felt superior to those from other continents. A smile appeared on Su Duan¡¯s face as he said, ¡°Relax brother Zhou, it¡¯ll just be for fun. You don¡¯t have to worry at all, I¡¯ll cover all of the costs.¡± ¡°In fact, if brother Zhou manages to open one with an old essence flame, you can go ahead and keep it.¡± With a confident smile, he said, ¡°After all, we¡¯re just having fun, winning or losing is not important at all.¡± ¡°Brother Zhou is a Cangxuan Sect disciple, someone from such a prestigious sect can¡¯t be afraid, right?¡± He stared at Zhou Yuan with a hint of ridicule in his eyes. The face off between the two plus the presence of the gorgeous Zuoqiu Qingyu beside them immediately turned them into the focal point of the place as countless gazes shot over. At the same time, a wave of imposing looking figures arrived behind Su Duan, grinning from ear to ear as they watched. ¡°Are brother Zhou and brother Su having a little wager? Haha, that¡¯s a good idea. This will be an eye-opener.¡± ¡°But brother Zhou appears to be a little undecided.¡± ¡°What rubbish are you spouting. Brother Zhou is a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, how can he possibly lack the courage?¡± These individuals were not unfamiliar. They were the ones who had been crowding around Zuoqiu Qingyu when Zhou Yuan first arrived. They were also the geniuses from the top factions of Black Flame Province, and were clearly siding together against Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s relationship with Zuoqiu Qingyu had made them feel threatened. Moreover, he was merely a country bumpkin from some remote continent, and yet he had managed to enter the Cangxuan Sect. This made them feel both disdain and envious of him. As such, when they saw Su Duan step forward to try and shame Zhou Yuan, they were naturally happy to show their support. The thought of stepping over a disciple from a titan such as the Cangxuan Sect filled them with a strange sense of euphoria. After all, they did not have the balls to challenge the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Chosens, and it just so happened that this fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage Zhou Yuan was even from another continent. This undoubtedly made him an excellent target for bullying. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s expression darkened slightly when she saw the group¡¯s continuous attempts to instigate Zhou Yuan, and was just about to speak up to berate them when she saw Zhou Yuan lift his head and give her a look. Their gazes had only met for an instant, but the eccentric and highly intelligent Zuoqiu Qingyu immediately understood that Zhou Yuan had some kind of a plan. Hence, an enchanting smile quickly appeared on her pretty face as she feigned a look of interest and said, ¡°Opening flame rocks? It sounds like it¡¯ll be fun.¡± The sight of an interested Zuoqiu Qingyu was an unexpected but pleasant surprise to Su Duan, while the other geniuses looked at him in envy. How is this guy be so lucky? To think that he haphazardly drew Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s interest. Zuoqiu Qingyu smiled and said, ¡°But a gamble like this will be quite meaningless if there¡¯s no incentive.¡± Su Duan was stunned, before he quickly said, ¡°Miss Qingyu is right. There should indeed be some kind of incentive, but what kind of incentive do you have in mind?¡± A slight smile was revealed on Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s face as she responded, ¡°Anything you currently have on you is fine¡­¡± Her gaze swept towards Su Duan, causing him to straighten his back slightly as he smiled warmly. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s gaze ultimately stopped on Su Duan¡¯s wrist as a probing look seemed to flutter in her eyes. Su Duan immediately raised his hand, displaying the black mottled bracelet on his wrist. He hesitated a little, but quickly smiled and said, ¡°This Genesis treasure was given to me by my father, and was crafted from a thousand year Jasper Pine. When worn, it will allow one¡¯s body to gradually heal even if a serious injury is sustained.¡± ¡°Since miss Qingyu wants to spice things up, allow me to wager this item as a bet.¡± He magnanimously waved his hand, a faint smile on his face as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°If brother Zhou Yuan wins, I will gift this bracelet to you.¡± While he spoke, he secretly remarked in his heart, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s only if you have the ability, you country bumpkin.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at the bracelet Su Duan had put on display for everyone, before sweeping a glance at Zuoqiu Qingyu, unable to stop himself from marvelling at her inside. His gaze had only changed briefly earlier when he saw the bracelet on Su Duan¡¯s wrist, but she had still managed to detect it. Nothing could escape a woman¡¯s eyes. Moreover, her acting had been perfect. Making Su Duan offer his bracelet without suspicion had seemed effortless for her. ¡°I¡¯ve already taken out my ¡®incentive¡¯, I wonder what brother Zhou Yuan has to offer us?¡± Su Duan suddenly asked as he grasped his bracelet. However, without waiting for Zhou Yuan¡¯s reply, Su Duan turned towards Zuoqiu Qingyu with a seemingly joking smile as he said, ¡°If I manage to win by some chance, how about miss Qingyu give me the opportunity to ask you out tomorrow?¡± The other geniuses immediately cried out in surprise. Su Duan had finally revealed his goal. Zuoqiu Qingyu merely smiled. Her long and narrow eyes seemed to glisten in a watery manner, making her look even more lovely. She swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, before she nodded. The smile on Su Duan¡¯s face instantly brightened. While he was distracted, Zuoqiu Qingyu shot somewhat chilling look at Zhou Yuan, her red lips cracking open slightly as a voice was transmitted into his ears. ¡°If you dare to lose, just wait and see how this little lady will deal with you!¡± For the sake of helping this fellow, she had even sacrificed herself this time! Previous Chapte Chapter 406 Cheating When Zhou Yuan and Su Duan decided on their wager, the rock gambling area immediately became the most popular spot in the entire fair, as even more figures started surging over. Anyone could see that it was the most classic clich¨¦ of fighting over a beauty, but the identities of the two main actors, however, generated a great deal of interest. One was a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, while the other was the junior sect master of the FLame Cauldron Sect. The Cangxuan Sect was an untouchable existence that was well-known throughout the vast Cangxuan Heaven. On the other side, although the Flame Cauldron Sect could not match up to the Cangxuan Sect, Su Duan was its junior sect master, a prominent individual of high standing. A clash between these two individuals was going to be rather interesting indeed. Thus, more and more people began to crowd over, turning this area into the most prominent place in the fair. ... While the love rivalry was intensifying, several gazes looked down from the second floor of the fair area. The second floor was not as noisy as the crowded ground floor, appearing rather peaceful in comparison. Those who were allowed here were no ordinary individuals after all. Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Feng Ying from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the others were currently located in this area. There were also a few figures opposite Li Qingchan and gang, which was clearly led by two individuals. These two also looked quite young, but gave off a certain presence that showed that they were not simple at all. Even Li Qingchan felt a little wariness when she looked at the two. Because these two were the two Chosens dispatched by the Sacred Palace. Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu. Wang Chi was the man wearing red clothes, whose features appeared slightly feminine. A smile hung from the corners of his mouth, but his gaze appeared exceedingly sharp. Two red metal balls sat in his hand, giving off a dreadful heat that could melt metal and stone, but he seemed completely unaffected as he casually grasped them in his hand. Cao Jinzhu on the other hand, had a strong and muscular body that looked akin to a metal tower. His eyes held a feral beast like ferocity which would make your hair stand on end. Beside them was Yang Xuan, whom they had met earlier in the day, still wearing a faint smile on his face. On the other side was another group of figures led by a wiry young man. Though he wasn¡¯t an eye-catching individual, those familiar with him knew the astonishing battle power contained within that thin body of his. He was the Chosen sent by the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, and was likewise overwhelmingly strong. Gathered on the tiny second floor of the fair were the Chosens from the four titan sects. The quality of the disciples here was undoubtedly high. These four groups were also clearly separated, each party guarded against everyone else. As such, the atmosphere was naturally not very friendly. It was under this hostile atmosphere that everyone sensed the commotion below, as gaze after gaze was cast downwards. Feng Ying was the first to chuckle softly as she said, ¡°Hehe, Qingchan, that little junior brother if your Cangxuan Sect is such a hot-blooded man, is he going to gamble flame rocks with the Flame Cauldron Sect¡¯s Su Duan for Qingyu?¡± Li Qginchan had naturally also caught sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, causing her to be a little taken aback. In contrast, Zhao Zhu frowned as he said in a disapproving manner, ¡°What a trouble maker. It¡¯s fine if he disgraces himself, but he¡¯d better not bring shame to our Cangxuan Sect.¡± As he spoke, he beckoned towards Qin Hai with the intent of sending him down to pull Zhou Yuan out. Li Qingchan indifferently said, ¡°Junior brother Zhao Zhu, this is his own affair, there shouldn¡¯t be a need for you to be such a busybody, right?¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s eyes lowered slightly as he replied, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, the biggest business owned by the Flame Cauldron Sect is this flame rock gambling, and Su Duan can be said to be an expert in this field. It is clear to everyone that he is egging Zhou Yuan on to humiliate him in front of a certain someone.¡± ¡°And yet, Zhou Yuan appears to be an ignorant fool. Does he believe that everyone will gave way to him just because he¡¯s a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect?¡± Li Qingchan calmly said, ¡°That is his choice, and the only one he shames will be himself. The dignity of the Cangxuan Sect will never be at stake in such an insignificant affair.¡± Zhao Zhu was somewhat speechless. In the end, he could only let out an icy snort, before he said, ¡°Then we¡¯ll just watch and see how it turns out.¡± Beside Li Qingchan, Bai Li also looked down and said in a low voice, ¡°But this kid does seem to be quite a womanizer. We¡¯ve just barely arrived, and he¡¯s already become so intimate with her.¡± It was obvious that she was also quite dissatisfied with Zhou Yuan. Since he was here for a freebie Heaven Credit, he should at least act as if he was working hard. And yet, he had ended up getting into some kind of love rivalry because of a Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciple. ¡°I should tell you now that if he ends up doing poorly in the mission, I will report only the truth to the elder when we return. When that time comes, even you will not be able to influence anything.¡± Li Qingchan did not reply to Bai Li¡¯s words, merely letting out a soft sigh inside. Her clear eyes swept towards Zhou Yuan below, as a look of disappointment flitted across them. Perhaps it was indeed a mistake to have fought so strongly to bring him along for this mission. In her eyes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions and attitude were his petty revenge against how elder Wu had treated him. ... Down below, Zhou Yuan was naturally unaware of the attention from the second floor. He was unable to stop a smile from appearing on his lips when he saw Su Duan wager his ancient wood bracelet. ¡°So how does brother Su want to play this?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice seemed to become much warmer and friendlier at this moment. Su Duan grinned as he stared at Zhou Yuan, before pointing towards the rock gambling area. ¡°We¡¯ll follow the usual rules. Each of us will go forth and select five rocks, before opening them in front of the crowd. Whoever gets the older essence flames will be the winner. How does that sound?¡± He paused for a moment, turning towards Zuoqiu Qingyu and displayed an elegant smile, before he said, ¡°Never mind, others will say I¡¯m bullying you if we do this. How about I select five flame rocks, while you can do ten.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, and was just about to say there was no need. However, Su Duan was already waving his hand, indicating there was no room for discussion. ¡°That¡¯s settled then.¡± A playful smile adorned Su Duan¡¯s face. He wanted to achieve an indisputable victory, and give Zhou Yuan no way to refute it. At the same time, Su Duan also wanted to taste the feeling of crushing a Cangxuan Sect disciple under his feet. Though he was the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, he was no spoiled pushover. He was a veteran of flame rock gambling with abundant experience that did not lose to any master of the art. As such, the thought of a loss never once appeared in his mind. The numerous local geniuses of the Black Flame Province around Su Duan began to cheer due to the magnaminty he was showing. They obviously wanted Zhou Yuan to be thoroughly humiliated in front of Zuoqiu Qingyu such that he would fall completely out of her favor. Zhou Yuan chuckled helplessly as he gazed at the seemingly dashing Su Duan. In the end, he nodded and said, ¡°Since brother Su is so generous, I naturally have no objections.¡± Su Duan grinned slightly. Without further ado, he took the lead and stepped into the rock gambling area as he gazed began to sweep across the countless pitch-black rocks. Zhou Yuan merely smiled as he gazed at his opponent¡¯s confident figure. No one knew that the Saint Rune in his pupils had already secretly activated, red light beginning to rise one after another within each flame rock in the gambling area. Just as he had expected, the flame rocks may be able to block other senses, but they were powerless before the Decoder Saint Rune. The flame rocks now clearly appeared in his eyes as burning flames of varying sizes... In the face of such a situation, Zhou Yuan could only sigh softly. Even if you¡¯re an expert with as much experience as a grandmaster... You''ll never be able to match my cheating... Previous Chapte Chapter 407 Fireworks Numerous figures crowded around the flame rock gambling area as if it was a parcel wrapped with extra layers, making the place appear exceptionally lively. Gaze after gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan and Su Duan, who were walking about inside the arena, as whispers stealthily spread. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Cangxuan Sect disciple a little too stupid. Can¡¯t believe he dares to compete with Su Duan in flame rock gambling. Hasn¡¯t he heard of the Flame Cauldron Sect¡¯s biggest business?¡± ¡°Yeah, one can say that Su Duan has been exposed to all kinds of flame rock related affairs since he was little, and is extremely experienced. In fact, he is not the least bit inferior to any of the acclaimed masters of this field.¡± ¡°Hehe, does this Cangxuan Sect disciple really believe that everyone will give in to him because of his status?¡± ¡°He¡¯s young and rash after all.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± As similar whispers continued to spread, they naturally landed in Su Duan¡¯s ears. A confident smile arose on his face, a look of disdain appearing in his gaze as he swept at glance at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure from the corner of his eye. A mere fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage country bumpkin. If he was not from the Cangxuan Sect, did he really think that he had the qualifications to gamble on flame rocks with the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect? ¡°I¡¯ll ensure that you¡¯re thoroughly humiliated this time, and let you know that even if a country bumpkin that manages to climb up on the branch that is the Cangxuan Sect, he is still only a country bumpkin!¡± Su Duan icily chuckled, before his gaze began to carefully examine the numerous flame rocks that were on display. His hands also moved to feel the heat they gave off and the complicated patterns on their surface. A serious expression soon rose on his face. The bystanders were right,. As someone who had dabbled in flame rocks for so many years, his experience did not lose to any of the masters in his sect. What appeared to others as extremely complex and chaotic patterns were in his eyes hints that would clue him to the age of the essence flame within. Of course, he was definitely also prone to mistakes, since the flame essence within the rocks may be damaged due to other reasons. However, Su Duan was confident that his experience would reduce such errors to the minimum. Thus, under the numerous watching gazes, Su Duan earnestly scrutinized every rock before him, often taking several minutes before he moved to the next one. From his serious appearance, no one would that he had the skills. At the same time, it also made everyone feel that there was no way he would lose. In contrast, Zhou Yuan somewhat resembled a country bumpkin walking into a city for the first time. He curiously gazed at the rocks, reaching his hand out to touch them. His movements appeared amatuer in comparison to Su Duan, even using his finger to tap the rocks. Several of the onlookers with some experience in flame rock gambling frowned at this sight. Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions were completely unlike those of someone with proficiency in this field. Zhou Yuan naturally ignored these gazes, his hand sweeping past numerous flame rocks in a pile, before randomly picking one up and dusting it off a little, before throwing it into a basket by the side. ¡°He chose one just like that?¡± Several people could not help but laugh. Su Duan was still carefully inspecting and feeling the patterns on the rocks, while Zhou Yuan had already made his choice. From his casual attitude, it was as if he were buying vegetables in the market. ¡°He¡¯s going to lose for sure.¡± Most of the crowd were already shaking their heads, certain that this young disciple from the Cangxuan Sect was going to end up humiliating himself today. Even Zuoqiu Qingyu red lips twitched slightly at this sight, as her hands clenched tightly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s really just messing around? I don¡¯t want to go on a date with that scoundrel!¡± Although the surroundings were noisy, Su Duan had blocked off all distractions, completely immersed in the world of flame rock patterns. As time flowed, he slowly began to choose rock after rock, placing them into the basket at his side. Su Duan blinked his eyes a few times after awakening from his state of full concentration, five carefully selected flame rocks already present in the basket beside him. The corners of his mouth lifted into a confident smile. He raised his head, only to find Zhou Yuan yawning boredly nearby. Ten flame rocks had already been neatly placed on the stone table beside him. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting all day.¡± Zhou Yuan was indeed quite bored. He did not find any fun in this rock gambling, and yet this Su Duan just had to be so serious about it. ¡°You do not understand the art of rock gambling.¡± Su Duan looked disdainfully at Zhou Yuan. It was likely the first time this country bumpkin from some remote continent had come into contact with flame rock gambling. But that made sense, a precious Genesis resource like flame essence was not something a remote continent like his could possibly possess. ¡°Let¡¯s prepare to open the rocks.¡± Under the watching eyes of the crowd, Su Duan walked to the other stone table and placed his five pitch-black flame rocks onto it. He then retrieved a specialized tool from the table; a small sharp knife. Its blade gently sliced along the veins of a flame rock as a faint sound was heard. Crack! With a quick turn of the little knife, the flame rock slowly split open. Every gaze looked over with rapt attention. Even those from the second floor contained a little interest, evident curious about the outcome. Red light spread from the opened flame rock. Everyone saw a red flame rise up, red liquid flowing within it. A surge of heat spread, filled with pure fire-type Genesis Qi. ¡°From its lustre, it should be a fifty year essence flame.¡± There was no lack of experts in the crowd, as gasps of surprise quickly followed. Although a fifty year essence flame was not that high, its value had already far surpassed a single flame rock. Anyone who managed to obtain one would have made a nice little sum for oneself. Su Duan¡¯s expression exuded calm and confidence, because this was only the appetizer. His gaze turned towards the second flame rock as his sharp little knife began its work. As such, Su Duan began to open the remaining four rocks in the next few minutes. The outcome he achieved were waves of cheers, each louder and more excited than the one before. The second flame rock contained a hundred year essence flame. The third rock, a two hundred year essence flame. The fourth, was a dud. However, no one ridiculed him, because everyone knew that even the experienced master would make mistakes sometimes. After all, there were times when the signs on the outside could not accurate detect the situation on the inside. Despite the slip-up, the confidence on Su Duan¡¯s face remained unshaken. When he opened the final flame stone, the entire place exploded into a thunderous uproar. A red flame abruptly rose from the stone, reaching a height of half a foot! This was a five hundred year essence flame! If sold, it would fetch a price of at least a million Genesis crystals, while the cost of every flame rock was only ten thousand... Winning such a huge sum with such a comparatively small investment made the eyes of several people turn red with excitement. ¡°As expected of the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect. Such insight and experience is truly worthy of admiration.¡± Many people could not help but sigh in amazement, their eyes filled with admiration when they looked towards Su Duan. Of the five rocks he had selected, only one had been a dud, while the other four were profit. The five hundred year essence flame in particular was a rare find indeed. From this, one could see how accomplished Su Duan was in this field. In response to the cheering crowd, Su Duan revealed a modest smile. He brushed off his hands, before turning towards Zuoqiu Qingyu with a confident smile. ¡°I hope that I haven¡¯t been too unsightly.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu had no choice but to admit that he had indeed been both skilled and entertaining. Hence, she could not help but become a little worried when she looked towards Zhou Yuan. At this moment, Su Duan¡¯s gaze turned towards the seemingly stunned Zhou Yuan with a hint of playful mockery as he smiled and jokingly said, ¡°Is brother Zhou planning on admitting defeat?¡± It seemed to be a joke, but it was actually forcing Zhou Yuan to continue. Zhou Yuan paid no heed to Su Duan¡¯s little tricks. Instead, he glanced at the essence flames in front of the latter as a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes. ¡°Turns out that a five hundred year essence flame is actually quite small¡­¡± He mumbled to himself, before turning to face the countless watching gazes. He did not use any tools, and instead clenched his fist under the numerous dumbstruck eyes of the onlookers, before sending out sharp punch after punch. Papapa! His fist swiftly descended as the ten flame rocks were barbarically smashed apart. ¡°How¡­ crude!¡± His actions caused several onlookers to huff at their beards in anger. Su Duan also shook his head as the disdainful smile on his lips grew even wider. From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan had never played flame rock gambling before. A country bumpkin was just a country bumpkin after all! However, the jeers only lasted for a few breaths. Because in the next instant, red flames ferociously spouted out from the shattered rocks like pillars of fire, instantly raising the temperature in the entire fair. Red pillars of fire were reflected in countless eyes. Silence. Face after face gradually turned rigid at this moment, appearing extremely comical under the flickering fire light. A mumbling like noise began to rise in the heats of several individuals. ¡°My god¡­ are you freaking¡­ setting off fireworks?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 408 Flawless Victory Pillar after pillar of scorching hot fire blasted out from the shattered remains of the flame rocks on the stone table, sparks flying everywhere as if it was a fireworks show. The originally noisy fair had abruptly turned deathly silent when the fire pillars rose into the air. The faces filled with gloating amusement just moments earlier were now completely frozen. They stared as if in a daze at the rising fire pillars. This was a grand spectacle they had never seen before in a flame rock glambling... Who has ever seen a fireworks display when opening flame rocks?! The flame pillars rose into the sky, lasting for quite some time, before gradually falling back to the earth. One could only watch as a red blood like liquid slowly flowed out from the flame rocks, pulsing with an astonishing heat. As the fire pillars fell, the countless stunned gazes also finally returned to their senses. A split second later, their hearts began to beat like mad. They had realized that amongst the ten flame rocks were three hundred year essence flames, four five-hundred year essence flame, nad two seven-hundred year... The most frightening was the final rock. The lustre of that viscous blood like liquid clearly belonged to a thousand year essence flame! The entire fair was shaken, numerous individuals who either cultivated fire type Genesis Qi or practiced fire type Genesis techniques greedily staring at the flame essences. These flame essences would be amazing for them. Next, these gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan in shock. They had never seen anyone open so many quality flame essences in one fell swoop. Moreover, not a single one had been a dud! This could not possibly be pure luck! Several lumininous gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan. If it was not luck, there was only one possibility left. Zhou Yuan had reached unimaginable heights in the art of flame rock gambling. Maybe even the apex. ¡°It can¡¯t be!¡± A howl suddenly ripped through the place. Su Duan was also stupefied as he gazed at the essence flames in front of Zhou Yuan. His face soon began to twist hideously as his eyes turned red with anger. ¡°You must have cheated! How can every flame rock you selected contain such high quality essence flames?!¡± His earlier confidence was now nowhere to be seen. Because anyone who saw such a scene could not possibly maintain calm. Zhou Yuan was rather composed in comparison. Under Su Duan¡¯s scarlet red gaze, he said, ¡°These flame rocks are from your sect¡¯s flame rock gambling business. Are you trying to say no one should be able to get any good essence flames from your business?¡± Su Duan froze. How could he possibly dare to say anything that would compromise the reputation of his sect. The local geniuses that were originally cheering on Su Duan were silent as they cast fearful gazes at Zhou Yuan. They had previously taken Zhou Yuan to be a country bumpkin that had never seen flame rock gambling before. Who could have imagined that he had actually concealed his abilities so deeply¡­ such skill was something even the great masters of the Flame Cauldron Sect would not be able to match. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s tightly clenched hands also relaxed at this moment, as a smile blossomed on her gorgeous face. As expected, he was indeed a capable person. However, she knew Zhou Yuan quite well, and was pretty sure he had never dabbled in flame rocks before. It was almost certain that he had used some kind of technique no one knew about. ¡°So is the competition over?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan with a smile. Su Duan¡¯s complexion was ashen. He had originally planned on thoroughly humiliating Zhou Yuan, and never expected he would instead be given a slap across the face but the latter. His face was all gone now. ¡°You!¡± Killing intent flashed in Su Duan¡¯s eyes, but was ultimately suppressed by him. Zhou Yuan was a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. If Zhou Yuan lost the game, Su Duan could humiliate the latter as he pleased, but if Su Duan acted against Zhou Yuan in anger, the Chosens from the Cangxuan Sect would not permit it. Zhou Yuan noticed the murderous look in the depths of Su Duan''s eyes, but merely smiled uncaringly. Zhou Yuan then walked over and reached out to pat Su Duan''s arm in a consoling manner. Next, Zhou Yuan gently removed the ancient wood bracelet from Su Duan''s wrist under his fire spitting gaze. "Hehe, thanks." Zhou Yuan displayed his most warm and friendly smile. The corners of Su Duan''s mouth twitched. He forcibly resisted the urge to attack as he smiled in an eerie manner and said, "Junior brother Zhou Yuan has concealed your abilities very well." Zhou Yuan played with the wood bracelet, feeling rather happy as he sensed the surging Yimu Qi within it, before he offhandedly replied with a smile, "If junior sect master has any more treasures in the future, do remember to invite me for another rock gambling game." Upon hearing these words, Su Duan nearly vomited a mouthful of blood. Zhou Yuan ignored the former as he walked back to the flame rocks. He pointed to the essence flames under numerous greedy gazes, as he said with a wide grin, "Didn''t you mention earlier that these essence flames will be gifted to me?" "Since that is the case, I really have to thank you. You''re such a generous person." Zhou Yuan gave a thumbs up, before keeping all essence flames with a wave of his sleeve. These essence flames were going to be very useful for him, because the Heavenly Sun God Record he practiced was also a fire type Genesis technique. His Heavenly Sun Flame was still at the initial stage, and absorbing these essence flames would definitely increase its firepower, making it a formidable weapon in his arsenal. Su Duan felt as if his heart was bleeding when as he watched Zhou Yuan sweep up the essence flames. The combined value of these essence flames were likely over ten million Genesis crystals, not a small sum at all. After taking all the benefits, Zhou Yuan looked towards the rock gambling area in a longing manner. There were at least ten thousand Flame Rocks inside, but unfortunately, all of the quality essence flames had been taken away by him earlier. All that was left were the crappy ones. ¡°The rest of these Flame Rocks don¡¯t have much value.¡± Zhou Yuan turned towards the countless gambling customers as he chuckled softly. Without further ado, he pulled Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s wrist, bringing her into the milling crowd. Su Duan angrily glared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s leaving figure. His final words had been extremely malicious. It may seem offhanded, but due to the amazing ability he displayed earlier, there was likely no longer anyone who would come over to try their luck at rock gambling. All the good stuff was already gone after all, and the remaining low quality stuff was obviously not going to be akin to winning the lottery. Hence, these ten thousand Flame Rocks were basically now expired goods, incurring a loss of several tens of million Genesis crystals for the Flame Cauldron Sect. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± Su Duan¡¯s eyes were red with rage, a sinister look surging within his gaze as he watched Zhou Yuan leave. ¡­ While the fair was still abuzz with Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous display, the second floor had likewise also fallen silent for quite some time. ¡°Wow! Qingchan, this little junior brother of yours is just too amazing!¡± Feng Ying was the first to return to her senses as she cried out in surprise, her pretty face filled with admiration. ¡°Get him to give me some pointers the next time I try my luck!¡± Feng Ying was in high spirits. She was quite interested in rock gambling, and would occasionally give it a try or two. Li Qingchan¡¯s frosty face was also quite stunned. Such an outcome had likewise surpassed her expectations. However, she soon recovered and looked towards Zhao Zhu, Qin Hai and the rest as she said, ¡°It seems that he does not require our interference.¡± Zhao Zhu withdrew his gaze as the corners of his mouth pulled outwards. He did not say anything in response. Zhou Yuan had indeed astonished everyone this time, and no one had expected him to have such talent in flame rock gambling. If they thought about it now, the so-called rock gambling competition had basically been a trap the moment Su Duan appeared. However, they had believed Su Duan to be the one digging the pit for Zhou Yuan to fall into earlier. Only now did they realize that while Su Duan was digging his pit, he was completely unaware that he was already in a bigger pit that Zhou Yuan had dug. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s coldly glanced at Wang Chi, Cao Jinzhu and the rest, before rising to leave. Zhao Zhu, Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest also followed. Upon seeing Li Qingchan and her team leave, Feng Ying and the Chosen from the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall also took their leave. The burning hot metal ball in Wang Chi¡¯s hand continued to revolve as he swept a glance towards the direction Zhou Yuan had left in and said with a faint smile, ¡°This kid from the Cangxuan Sect is a little interesting.¡± However, his attention only lasted for a brief moment. A four layer disciple was basically no threat. Even if he had a little skill in flame rock gambling, it was ultimately only useful in silly games. Wang Chi¡¯s gaze shifted towards where Li Qingchan and the rest had been seated earlier, before turning his head towards the still smiling Yang Xuan. ¡°This meeting has given us a grasp of their capabilities.¡± ¡°Our Sacred Palace intends to occupy the best essence flame vein districts. If the Cangxuan Sects plans to compete with us, we¡¯ll beat them to their knees.¡± With his eyes still on Yang Xuan, he smiled and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± Yang Xuan nodded with a chuckle. With a flick of his finger, the faint sound of rushing wind was heard. ¡°There¡¯s not much difficulty. Besides Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu¡­ the rest are basically trash.¡± He tilted his head slightly, looking towards the direction Zhou Yuan and Zuoqiu Qingyu had left in, as his lips curled into a playful smile. ¡°As for Zhou Yuan¡­¡± ¡°Since he likes to play with rocks so much, I¡¯ll make sure he has a fun time kneeling to me in the essence flame vein¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 409 Secluded Cultivation After leaving the fair, Zhou Yuan brought Zuoqiu Qingyu to a more secluded place. ¡°You had your eyes set on his ancient wooden bracelet from the start, right?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu looked at Zhou Yuan with an expression that seemingly resembled a smile, her red lips moving as she said, ¡°Why do I feel as if I¡¯ve been used by you?¡± ¡°Why do you have to put it in such an awful manner.¡± Zhou Yuan defended himself as he righteously said, ¡°All we did was stand up for injustice and worked together to deal with a local tyrant.¡± While he spoke, he lifted his hand as essence flames began to rise from his palm one after another. Each essence flame was wrapped in Genesis Qi, preventing their heat from spreading. Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, ¡°Take a few. After all, I was the one who roped you in, and can¡¯t possibly keep everything to myself.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s eyes seemed to swirl in thought as she swept a glance at the essence flames, before letting out a soft chuckle. However, she did not reject his gesture. Instead, she took two of the essence flames with a nimble wave of her hand. One was one hundred years old, while the other was five hundred years old. The combined value of these two essence flames should reach a million Genesis crystals. Zuoqiu Qingyu toyed with the two essence flames, as she grinned and said, ¡°Since you have been such a good sport, let me divulge a piece of information to you¡­¡± ¡°What information?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she softly said, ¡°In the Essence Flame Vein, watch out for that fellow from Sacred Palace named Yang Xuan.¡± ¡°Yang Xuan?¡± A handsome face wearing a warm smile flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. It was the young man that had been at Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s side during the day. ¡°In this fight for the Essence Flame Vein, my Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall have each sent only one Chosen. It is clear that we have no intentions of taking a lion''s share, and just want a cut.¡± ¡°However, I am afraid that isn¡¯t what your Cangxuan Sect or the Sacred Palace has in mind. Otherwise, neither faction would have dispatched two Chosens. Moreover, even such high ranking ones¡­¡± ¡°The Chosens from both sides are very powerful, and will be able to restrict one another.¡± ¡°Overall, both teams appear to be quite evenly matched. However, can sometimes feel from Yang Xuan¡¯s words that he does not think your team will be much of a threat.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. Yang Xuan wasn''t a Chosen, and his status in Sacred Palace should be equivalent to the veteran purple sash disciples such as Qin Hai and Bai Li, right? Furthermore, from their brief encounter during the day, he could feel that Yang Xuan¡¯s strength should around the seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage, which was on the same level as Qin Hai and Bai Li. So where did his confidence stem from? A thoughtful look flashed across his eyes. He ultimately failed to come up with an answer. Hence, he nodded at Zuoqiu Qingyu and said, ¡°Alright, I will keep an eye out.¡± When Zuoqiu Qingyu saw this, she nodded. The two of them talked a little longer, before they went back to their respective rooms. The first thing Zhou Yuan did when he returned was to quickly retrieve the ancient wooden bracelet as he stared at it in anticipation. This ancient wooden bracelet was filled with rich Yimu Qi, and was clearly made from some kind of rare thousand year ancient wood. One could just barely be able to make out Genesis Runes on the wood, a sign that it had crafted into a Genesis artifact. When wearing this bracelet, one would be able to swiftly recover from even serious physical injuries. This would naturally give one a huge advantage in a fight. In a manner of speaking, it could be considered a defensive treasure. Even if it was for the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, Zhou Yuan was still quite reluctant to absorb it... With a sigh, he sat down cross-legged on his bed, and positioned one palm above the other. Golden Genesis Qi spread, causing the wooden bracelet to float between his palms. The golden Genesis Qi vibrated gently, breaking the wooden bracelet between his palms. Ten mottled beads were left slowly rotating in the air. He slowly shut his eyes. Wisps of dark green Qi were gradually extracted from the spinning beads, flowing along Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm and into his body. ¡°Such rich and potent Yimu Qi!¡± Zhou Yuan immediately felt the difference when the first strand entered his body. The Yimu Qi he absorbed today was extremely pure, and filled with such rich life energy that it made his body give off a faint shine. This sensation filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart with joy. There was no way this thousand year ancient wood could be compared to the ancient wood he absorbed previously. Regardless of whether it was richness and purity, there was a vast gap between the former and the latter. After a moment of joy, Zhou Yuan regained his composure and began to manipulate the Yimu Qi, slowly merging it with his blood and flesh. At the same time, his Spirit ensured that the Yimu Qi would take the shape of mysterious markings at the instant of fusion. These actions were already very practised due to the numerous times he had done them during the past half a month. The only difference was that he would often be forced to stop mid-way due to the lack of Yimu Qi. Though there was still some progress, it was extremely slow. As such, not even a tenth of the Taiyi Mark had been completed after half a month... However, as the Yimu Qi poured into his body this time, he finally felt the long stagnated Taiyi Mark finally begin to progress little by little at a speed which he had never experienced before¡­ At this current rate, Zhou Yuan felt that he would make significant progress on the Taiyi Mark in a few days. By that time, even though the Taiyi mark would still not be complete, Zhou Yuan was confident that he would be more than half done. This was definitely considered extremely rapid progress. Furthermore, some the Taiyi Green Wood Mark power should begin to reveal itself. At this point, even with his mental fortitude, Zhou Yuan felt a tinge of excitement rise within his heart. ¡°Looks like I will have to go all-out for the next three days...¡± ¡­ The next day, the commotion stirred by Zhou Yuan in the fair caused his name to spread across the entire Black Flame City. Every genius from the various factions now knew that a disciple called Zhou Yuan had opened ten high quality essence flames in the rock gambling area, and there was even a thousand year one amongst them... Furthermore, even Su Duan, the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, had lost to him in flame rock gambling... This became a topic of interest for a time. As such, every faction now knew the individual known as Zhou Yuan. Meanwhile, when elder Wu of Cangxuan Sect called for Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the other disciples to gather together and discuss their strategy for the upcoming fight, they realized that Zhou Yuan was absent. ¡°Zhou Yuan mentioned that he was going into secluded cultivation for the next three days.¡± Said Li Qingchan. Zhao Zhu asked in an indifferent voice, ¡°He was so full of energy last night. Is he hiding now to avoid the growing attention? Or is he trying to make a last ditch attempt to become a little stronger?¡± Qin Hai and the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples began to laugh in a hushed manner. There was an unhappy expression on elder Wu¡¯s face. He was naturally aware of what happened last night. However, in his opinion, the art of gambling rock was merely a frivolous skill. Moreover, Zhou Yuan was not very strong, and yet he was skilled at these useless games. From what elder Wu could see, Zhou Yuan was clearly unreliable and useless. Although he never had high expectations of Zhou Yuan, such frivolous behavior was quite infuriating. Nonetheless, he did not say anything on this matter. Instead, he waved his hand and nonchalantly said, ¡°Leave him be. If he won¡¯t even help himself, he will only have himself to blame.¡± His opinion of Zhou Yuan had clearly lowered once again. In fact, he was even considering giving Zhou Yuan a bad grade after the fight for the Essence Flame Vein. ¡°Let¡¯s begin the discussion.¡± ¡­ Time stealthily passed as the atmosphere in the chaotic Blame Flame City became more and more heated Three days unknowingly passed. Previous Chapte Chapter 410 First Signs of Taiyi’s Power When the third day arrived, a blanket of restlessness seemed fall over the entire Black Flame City. Many factions from the Black Flame Province were currently gathered in this place, all of them clearly here for the Essence Flame Vein. Although the Cangxuan Sect had evaluated it to be a grade 6 vein, one must remember that the Cangxuan Sect was one of the strongest factions in the entire Cangxuan Heaven. For a top tier faction of the Black Flame Province like the Flame Cauldron Sect, this single vein was more than enough to sate them several times over. Normally speaking, once a hegemon level sect decided to get involved, ordinary local factions like the Flame Cauldron Sect would no longer have any say. However, the current situation was quite different from the norm. This essence flame vein was not under the jurisdiction of any of the hegemon level sects, thus making it an ownerless resource. Moreover, the four hegemon level sects were keeping each other in check, with no one wanting to let anyone else take advantage. As a result, the ordinary local factions were the ones who ended up benefiting. If not, they would not even have any soup left to drink after the four hegemon level sects were done. Even so, the richest part of the vein was already reserved by the four hegemon level sects. But this was fine, because the local factions were willing to settle for second best. Occupying any of the outer areas of the essence flame vein was already a huge haul for them. Hence, during these short three days, nearly ninety percent of the factions in the Black Flame Province had dispatched their elites to Black Flame City to wait for the day of the allocation battle¡­ ¡­ In a certain room. Zhou Yuan was seated on his bed, his body completely still. Dark mottled wooden beads rotated between his palms as strands of pure Yimu Qi were continuously extracted before being sent into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Dark green light continuously flashed on the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. If one were to take a closer look, one would discover that these flashes of light originated from deep within his flesh, a rather magical sight indeed. Wisps of aura rose from his body, filled with abundant life energy. Crack! A faint crack was suddenly heard. Cracks had appeared on the wooden beads between Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands as they rapidly began to dim before turning into dust... All of the Yimu Qi within had been depleted. When these beads turned to dust, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly cracked open. As he watched the dust flutter down, a look of regret flitting across his eyes. After absorbing all the Yimu Qi contained inside, the Genesis artifact was now ruined. On the bright side, it had not been destroyed for nothing... Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at his body where shimmering specks of green light could be seen on half of it. These light spots seemed to call out to each other, as threads of light spread between them, linking them up. If one took a step back, one would see what appeared to be an extremely ancient and cryptic pattern. However, it appeared to be incomplete. ¡°The Taiyi mark is half done¡­¡± Zhou Yuan felt both joy and regret. Regret that he had not managed to complete the Taiyi mark even after absorbing all of the Yimu Qi from the thousand year wood bracelet, but also happy that some of the Tiayi Green Wood Mark¡¯s powers were beginning to manifest. Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the surging life aura inside his body. Under its glow, every part of his body felt as if it was overflowing with vitality. In fact, even the Genesis Qi in his body felt as if it would last longer than before. Zhou Yuan slowly clenched his left hand, that was part of the half covered by the Taiyi mark. His gaze flickered faintly as he retrieved a sharp knife, cold light slowly swimming along its blade. A flash of icy light swept past, leaving a trail of blood. A sinister looking wound had appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm, so deep that bone could be seen while blood flowed out. However, dark green specks of light began to flash in Zhou Yuan¡¯s flesh moments after the wound appeared. Rich life energy surged towards the wound, instantly stopping the flowing blood. The deep wound slowly wiggled as new flesh grew. In a few minutes, the wound had fully recovered... Zhou Yuan could not conceal the joy in his eyes when he saw this. Though the Taiyi mark was not fully complete, its power was already beginning to reveal itself. At the very least, Zhou Yuan¡¯s recovery ability was already comparable to the external cultivators who focused on using Genesis Qi to nourish their physical bodies. When the Taiyi mark was perfected, his recovery ability would surely soar again. The most terrifying thing about this was that it was only the beginning¡­ once the Taiyi mark was formed, Zhou Yuan would be able to transform the absorbed Yimu Qi into the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. When this technique reached the advanced level in the future, Zhou Yuan would possess... an undying body. When that happened, as long as he did not receive an attack that instantly vaporized him, he would be able to recover from even the most serious of injuries... Such recovery ability would undoubtedly give him a huge advantage in a true life or death battle. Zhou Yuan nodded in satisfaction. His three days of secluded cultivation were indeed quite fruitful. *Knock knock* A knocking sound was heard at this moment, and Zhou Yuan hurriedly got off the bed to open the door. Li Qingchan stood at the entrance, her gorgeous face covered in a layer of frost as usual. She glanced at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°If you still didn¡¯t come out, we would have went ahead without you.¡± Although her tone was indifferent, it was not hard to hear the faint trace of disapproval within it. After all, besides that one time flame rocking gambling, Zhou Yuan had basically locked himself in his room for the entire time. Such an attitude was definitely not going to earn him any brownie points. Zhou Yuan¡¯s spot on the team had basically been protected by her this whole time, but now, even elder Wu seemed as if he had something to say about it. If not because he respected her as a Chosen, he would have likely even chided her about this decision. Zhou Yuan also felt somewhat awkward upon hearing this, and hastily apologized. He too understood that though he had told them he was going into secluded cultivation, others would only view it as an excuse. After all, how much could one possibly achieve in a short three days? It was obviously some kind of last-ditch effort. However, he could not possibly reveal any the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. Thus, he could only apologize without explanation. Li Qingchan merely let out an almost inaudible snort at Zhou Yuan¡¯s apology as she shook her head and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. The essence flame vein fight is about to begin, and we need to get ready.¡± ¡°Besides this, though you¡¯ve been allocated an area outside the core region this time, don¡¯t even think about complaining. The district you¡¯ve been tasked with is still considered a contribution.¡± Warned Li Qingchan. The core region she mentioned was naturally the area with the richest essence flame vein, and where the fighting would also be the most intense. It was basically the battleground of the four hegemon level sects. However, Zhou Yuan was not going to be sent in, and was instead tasked with some other location outside the core region by elder Wu where the factions from Black Flame Province would be duking it out, and fighting would naturally be less intense. Of course, his contribution would also naturally be less than the others. Zhou Yuan gave a faint nod, his expression remaining rather calm. Li Qingchan did not say anything else and turned to leave. Zhou Yuan hurriedly followed behind her. When Zhou Yuan and Li Qingchan arrived at the top floor, elder Wu, Zhao Zhu, Bai Li and the rest were already waiting. Qin Hai looked towards Zhou Yuan with a wide grin and teasingly said, ¡°Hehe, junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s three days of secluded cultivation must have been very beneficial, right?¡± Zhou Yuan merely glanced at him without replying. Elder Wu could not help but sigh as his gaze paused on Zhou Yuan for a moment, likely also feeling his presence to be quite troublesome. Placing Zhou Yuan outside the core region was was basically giving up land in the core region. But he had no choice. Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength was nowhere near enough for him to vie with the others. With a wave of elder Wu¡¯s sleeve, ten dots of light shot out towards Zhou Yuan and the rest. Zhou Yuan and the rest caught the object, only to find that it was a small thumb-sized piece of jade. The jade flickered with a peculiar gleam, and a Genesis Rune had been carved into it. ¡°This is a communication jade which will allow one to briefly communicate within a thousand mile radius. I¡¯ve given one to each of you to be used inside the essence flame vein to share information.¡± Elder Wu explained. Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest nodded before placing the jade into their ears. Upon seeing this, elder Wu waved his sleeve as Genesis Qi spread from under his feet. It took on the shape of a cloud that encompassed Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Zhou Yuan and the rest of the team. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± As his voice faded, the Genesis Qi cloud had already brought the group into the sky. Meanwhile, countless glowing figures rose into the sky from the giant Black Flame City. Like a swarm of locusts, they flew towards the far away Black Flame Mountain Range. The battle to decide the allocation the essence flame vein in the Black Flame Province was finally about to begin. Previous Chapte Chapter 411 Essence Flame Vein In the depths of the Black Flame Mountain Range. An extremely enormous and majestic mountain stood in this place. The peak of the mountain was sunken in, forming a volcano like mouth. Searing heat rose from the mouth, making the surrounding area feel unbearably hot. All of the trees within a several hundred mile radius of this mountain had already been burnt to ashes, turning the place into a glaringly barren land. This mouth of this very mountain was the entrance to the essence flame vein. Swish! Swoosh! At this current moment, countless glowing figures were descending from the sky, landing around the mouth of the volcano. It was quite a grandiose scene. When the gazes of these figures met, hostility would appear in their eyes. Once they entered the essence flame vein, anyone from another faction would be a competitor. A surge of Genesis Qi descended from the sky at this moment, landing closest to the mouth of the volcano. When the Genesis Qi scattered, a group led by elder Wu appeared. As the Cangxuan Sect team revealed was revealed, the teams from Sacred Palace, Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall also quickly appeared near the mouth of the volcano. Zhou Yuan swept a glance at the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace team, finding Zuoqiu Qingyu prettily standing among them. She quickly noticed his gaze, responding with a crafty wink. It seemed that Zuoqiu Qingyu was also going into the essence flame vein. Zhou Yuan replied with a small smile, before casting a glance towards the Sacred Palace group. They were also led by an old man who was clearly an elder of Sacred Palace. Behind him stood Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu. At their side was Yang Xuan, who was dressed completely in white. When Zhou Yuan looked over, he realized that Yang Xuan was already looking at them. Their gazes met in the air as a faint smile appeared on Yang Xuan face. However, not a single ripple could be seen in his eyes, similar to the silent cruelness displayed by a predator that was hunting for its prey. ¡°Everyone shall we start the battle for the essence flame vein?¡± The elder from Sacred Palace smiled as he looked towards elder Wu and the other two elders from the overlord sects. Elder Wu and the rest were expressionless as they nodded. Upon seeing this, the Sacred Palace elder¡¯s gaze swept towards the many restlessly stirring factions present, before raising his hand and gently letting it fall. ¡°Everyone, whatever portion of the essence flame vein you obtain shall depend on your abilities.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Rumble! The Genesis Qi began to churn violently the instant his voice rang out as countless figures shot forth, seemingly covering the sky as they bolted towards the giant mouth of the volcano, and dived into it. The sound of rushing wind was unceasing for a time. ¡°Let¡¯s go too.¡± Li Qingcahn looked towards the team, her gaze pausing on Zhou Yuan for a moment as she said, ¡°After entering, we¡¯ll head for the areas we¡¯ve been allocated.¡± Everyone nodded. A split second later, everyone¡¯s Genesis Qi erupted as they dashed into the air. Their figures soon appeared above the mouth of the volcano. A wave of searing heat pulsed from within it, but was completely blocked by the Genesis Qi around their bodies. ¡°Go!¡± Ten figures dived into the gaping mouth of the volcano. The entrance led deep into the ground where a world of crimson red slumbered. Li Qingchan, Zhou Yuan and the rest fell for several minutes before the scenery in front of their eyes abruptly widened. What appeared before them was a seemingly endless red land. Magma would occasionally rise from the ground, making the place appear exceptionally hot. It was an underground world of its own. Innumerable glowing figures descended from the mouth of the volcano, before swiftly flying off in all directions. Berserk explosions of Genesis Qi soon began to erupt all over. The battles had already begun. Li Qingchan also orientated herself, before leading the team straight towards the central region. The group flew at high speed. After an incense stick of time, they realized the land below them was beginning to grow increasingly red. A giant vein grew out of the ground somewhere in the distance, red essence flame swimming within it. Zhou Yuan gradually slowed down. Any further and it would soon be the core region. The area he had been tasked with was on route with Li Qingchan and the rest. ¡°Be careful Zhou Yuan.¡± Cautioned Li Qingchan as she shot a glance at him. In contrast, Zhao Zhu, Qin Hai and the rest had a sliver of contempt in their eyes. Looks like insisting on participating in this Heaven task had only ended up inviting shame to himself. Zhou Yuan smiled as he nodded at Li Qingchan. Without further ado, his figure turned and began flying in another direction. Li Qingchan bit her lip as she watched his figure disappear. However, she knew that this was not the time to be distracted. Once they entered the core region, they would meet the other three hegemon level sects, and an intense battle would soon erupt. Hence, she waved her hand and led the rest towards the core region. ¡­ Zhou Yuan flew past the hot and arid red land, holding a map in one hand as he searched for the district he had been assigned. At this current time, more and more members from the other factions were beginning to appear in the vicinity, displaying caution and vigilance whenever they got too close to one another. These individuals saw Zhou Yuan were momentarily stunned at the sight of Zhou Yuan, clearly recognizing the disciple from the Cangxuan Sect that had become famous a few days ago in Black Flame City. Aren¡¯t the Cangxuan Sect disciples suppose to duke it out in the core region? Why has he come all the way here... Zhou Yuan was unconcerned by these confused gazes. After searching for about half an incense stick of time, he finally found the area he had been tasked with. A scarlet-red vein rose from the ground below him like multiple hills. However, these hills were filled with red flame rocks. Although this area could not compare to the core region, it was considered a pretty rich vein in the outer region. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure fell from the air, landing on one of the taller hills. He retrieved his flag and poured Genesis Qi into it, causing it to rapidly expand to a height of several dozen feet. Zhou Yuan firmly stuck the flag into the ground. With a surge of Genesis Qi, a pillar of light swiftly emerged from the top of the flag and began spreading in a circular fashion. The circle of light quickly expanded to cover a hundred miles. This was a marking that represented that the area within a hundred miles already belonged to someone. Others who saw this marking and still insisted on entering were basically saying they wanted to contest for this area. When that happened, a battle would naturally be unavoidable. Zhou Yuan stood beside his flag, his expression calm as he looked up. Although he was treated differently from the others, he did not resent anyone. Since this was the mission he had been tasked with, he should first ensure that his job was done properly. However¡­ he was ultimately still a tiny bit unhappy at being looked down on to such an extent. His grasped the flag as his fingers rhythmically drummed against it. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze lowered slightly as an icy light flashed within them. From now onwards, the area within a hundred miles was his territory. Anyone who dared to enter... Should be prepared¡­ for all the frustration that had accumulated within him since the start of this trip... Previous Chapte Chapter 412 A Hint of Evolution On a red hill littered with rocks, a pair of red eyes swept out from one of the crevices, a savage look within them as they locked onto a young figure seated at the top of the hill. It stealthily moved from shadow to shadow, gradually approaching the figure. In the end, gruesome red fangs were suddenly revealed as it shot forth like a bolt of lightning, leaving a stench in its wake. Ch! However, it was met by a sharp brush tip. The snow-white hairs were bunched together like the tip of a spear, ripping apart even the air as Genesis Qi flowed along it. Plop! Genesis Qi swirled around the sharp brush tip as it instantly pierced the giant creature¡¯s head. Fresh blood flowed out, the beast already dead before it could let out a single cry. Zhou Yuan turned his head and looked at the giant beast behind him. It was a giant lizard fully encased in a shell of red armor, a searing and savage aura spreading from its body. This was a Heavenly Flame Lizard. A grade 4 Genesis Beast that was native to the essence flame vein, which was no weaker than an Alpha-Origin practitioner. However, it does not pose much of a threat towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan rose to his feet and dug out a red crystal from the lizard¡¯s head. Inside the crystal, the silhouette of a lizard could be seen. It was a Beast Spirit Crystal. Zhou Yuan placed the grade 4 Beast Spirit Crystal on the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Light began to emerge from the brush as it forcibly extracted the lizard silhouette inside and devoured it. The crystal soon began to dim, before shattering. To Zhou Yuan¡¯s surprise, the mottled body of the brush seemed to become a little brighter after absorbing the Beast Spirit Crystal as a faint buzzing noise emerged. A feeling akin to desire suddenly spread from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Zhou Yuan was stunned, before a look of joy appeared in his eyes. He could not help but blurt out in happiness, ¡°The fifth rune is about to awaken!¡± After awakening the fourth rune, Zhou Yuan had continued to nourish the brush with Beast Spirit Crystals everyday. However, there had been no response from the fifth rune all this time. He never imagined that it would suddenly begin to stir today. Normally speaking, the brush would only be able to absorb a limited number of Beast Spirit Crystals everyday. Only when a rune was close to awakening would it turn into a starving beast that would devour Beast Spirit Crystals without restraint to build up its energy in preparation to awaken the next rune and evolve to the next level... ¡°The Heavenly Yuan Brush is currently a high grade Black Genesis Weapon. If the fifth rune is awakened, it may rank up to the Heaven tier!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s stared at the brush with glowing eyes. For Genesis Weapons, the Heaven tier was huge leap. Every Heaven Genesis Weapon possessed power that far surpassed those of high grade Black weapons. Back when king Qi had attacked the city in the Great Zhou Empire, Su Youwei had borrowed the power of the Heaven Genesis Weapon in her body to slay a second layer Alpha-Origin expert. What¡¯s more, she had merely been at the Qi Nourishing stage. Of course, though a Heaven Genesis Weapon was alarmingly powerful, it was also extremely valuable. Even in a place like the Cangxuan Sect, only a tiny handful of disciples would own one. As such, if Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Yuan Brush could evolve to become a Heaven Genesis Weapon, his battle power would undoubtedly be greatly boosted. This was the main reason why Zhou Yuan had been so happy. ¡°But all my Beast Spirit Crystals have already been used up¡­¡± Zhou Yuan stood up, his burning gaze sweeping across the hundred mile district as he tightly grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Fortunately, there were quite a number of Heavenly Flame Lizards in the essence flame vein. He could take their Beast Spirit Crystals to nourish the Heavenly Yuan Brush to complete its awakening and evolution. ¡°It just so happens that I¡¯ve nothing to do now. Guess I¡¯ll be borrowing all of your Beast Spirit Crystals.¡± Although many fights had broken out in various spots in the essence flame vein, it was currently still peaceful here. Hence, he could make use of this time to hunt the Heavenly Flame Lizards within a hundred mile radius. Zhou Yuan immediately got to work, his Spirit vibrating as his senses spread. In a split second, he found a somewhat berserk Genesis Qi undulations in the ground nearby. ¡°I¡¯ll start from you guys.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s body leaped into the air, before hurtling back down like a cannonball. His slammed into the ground, causing it to crack open as several angry Heavenly Flame Lizards charged out roaring, their giant mouths snapping at Zhou Yuan. Bzz! With a shake, Genesis Qi flowed along the brush¡¯s snow-white hairs as it fearlessly clashed with the Heavenly Flame Lizards. Zhou Yuan spent the next incense stick of time as a god of slaughter, rampaging through the hundred mile area he had been tasked with securing. Even the Heavenly Flame Lizards hidden deep in the ground were found and killed. When he was done, he found himself with a few dozen grade 4 Beast Spirit Crystals. All of these crystals ended up being absorbed by the Heavenly Yuan Brush. However, Zhou Yuan was beginning to realize that there was a problem. Even after absorbing so many Beast Spirit Crystals, the brush was still giving off a strong feeling of desire. The amount of energy needed to reach the Heaven tier clearly exceeded Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimation. ¡°How troublesome¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s looked at the pulsing Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands. The fifth ancient Genesis Rune was blinking, evidently in the process of accumulating that last bit of energy needed for its evolution. ¡°It¡¯s like a bottomless hole¡­¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. Practically all of the Heavenly Flame Lizards in this hundred mile distract had already been exterminated by him. He would likely have to leave this area to hunt more of them. But this was the area he was supposed to occupy. Once he left, the other factions would surely swoop in. As such, Zhou Yuan found it rather difficult to leave. He fell into thought for some time, before ultimately making his decision. ¡°I¡¯ll do another sweep of this area before heading to other places to hunt the Heavenly Flame Lizards. If someone else dares to occupy this area while I¡¯m gone, I¡¯ll just return to kick them out after the Heavenly Yuan Brush has evolved.¡± Hence, Zhou Yuan hesitated no further as his figure shot forth once again. However, after half an incense stick of time, only about ten Beast Spirit Crystals had been collected when he was half way through... He could only helplessly shake his head at this outcome. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to go somewhere else once I¡¯m done here.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed softly. However, his eyes suddenly narrowed at this moment as he lifted his head, only to find several glowing figures approaching in the air. In the end, these figures intruded into Zhou Yuan¡¯s hundred mile territory. Zhou Yuan slowly rose into the air with narrowed eyes, stopping the intruders. He looked at the figures and slowly sadi, ¡°This area is already occupied, I hope that you guys can withdraw.¡± These figures were clearly part of the same faction. They looked towards Zhou Yuan, bewilderment flashing across their eyes when they saw the token hanging from his waist. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s brother Zhou Yuan from the Cangxuan Sect¡­¡± They exchanged a look, before cupping their fists together with a smile. ¡°We are truly sorry to have made this mistake. We¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± After speaking, they turned and left. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly at their decisiveness. He had a sinking feeling that something was amiss. After pondering about it for a moment, he landed next to the giant flag and decided to wait here for a while. A hundred miles from Zhou Yuan¡¯s territory. Several glowing figures landed on a certain hill. ¡°Brother Su Duan, the rich vein area in front is indeed being guarded by Zhou Yuan from the Cangxuan Sect.¡± The figures looked towards the to of the hill where another figure was standing with his hands behind his back. It was the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, who had played a game of flame rock gambling with Zhou Yuan a few days ago, Su Duan. Su Duan nodded as a cold smile was revealed on his face. ¡°The other members of the Cangxuan Sect are fighting in the core region, while Zhou Yuan has been sent all the way out here. It seems that his strength is quite lacking.¡± One of the figures asked with some hesitation, ¡°Brother Su Duan, are you really going to seize that rich vein from him? Though Zhou Yuan is not useful to them, he¡¯s still a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. If we take it from him, won¡¯t we making the Cangxuan Sect look ugly? I¡¯m afraid that their Chosens won¡¯t let the matter rest when that happens.¡± ¡°Humph, the Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect are currently being kept in check by the Chosens from the Sacred Palace, and have no time to deal with other matters. How can they possibly come all the way to the outer area for this small matter?¡± Su Duan icily snorted. However, he was not a brainless fool after all. His eyes narrowed slightly as he fell into thought for a moment, before he said with a smile, ¡°Moreover, we do not need to personally deal with that brat¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± With a wave of his sleeve, a bottle appeared in Su Duan¡¯s hand. He gently dusted it off as he said, ¡°This is a bottle of Flame Lizard Saliva that is extremely enticing to the Heavenly Flame Lizards in this essence flame vein. You guys only need to sprinkle it in the area Zhou Yuan is at, and then we¡¯ll go stir up the Heavenly Flame Lizards and draw them towards him.¡± ¡°When that happens, we would not need to do anything. Can a fourth layer Alpha-Origin withstand a beast wave of that level?¡± ¡°He will surely be forced to flee. After he¡¯s gone, we¡¯ll exterminate the beast wave and occupy that area¡­ we won¡¯t be taking it from him, but from the mouths of the Heavenly Flame Lizards.¡± ¡°This will show how useless Zhou Yuan is, and even the Cangxuan Sect can¡¯t place the fault on us. They can only berate Zhou Yuan for being useless.¡± The eyes of the others immediately brightened when they heard this, before raising their thumbs to Su Duan. ¡°Su Duan¡¯s ideas are amazing. Zhou Yuan is really going to suffer this time.¡± Upon hearing the encouragement from the group, Su Duan softly chuckled. His eyes narrowed slightly as his cold gaze turned towards a certain distant location. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­ since you humiliated me in the fair, I will make sure to pay you back in full today!¡± ¡°So what if you¡¯re a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. I still have ways to deal with you if I want to!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 413 Qingyu’s Warning A giant flag that towered over the red land. A pillar of light rose from the flag, radiating a halo of light that encompassed the surrounding hundred mile area. Beside the flag, Zuoqiu Qingyu lazily stretched her back, displaying her enchanting curves, before listlessly looked around for the umpteenth time. Although the four overlord sects were currently fiercely competing for territory in the core region, she was not going to be a part of the struggle. She was after all still a new disciple, and solely here for experience unlike Zhou Yuan... Hence, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace elder had not dispatched her to compete in the core region, instead placing her in the outer region like Zhou Yuan. Zuoqiu Qingyu was not unhappy with this placement, because it was indeed true that she was still not strong enough to vie with the others in the core region. The area she had been tasked with was home to quite a high class vein, though it was still some ways from reaching Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Although the vein elder Wu had sent Zhou Yuan after was substantially worse than the core region, it was definitely top tier in the outer region. As such, things were quite peaceful for Zuoqiu Qingyu, especially because she was also an enchanting little beauty from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Hence, the other factions did not approach to disturb her when they saw her stationed here alone. It was after all not worth it for them to offend an overlord sect like the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace for a mere high class vein. These various reasons led to the area around her being rather peaceful despite the battles that were happening all over. In fact, it was so peaceful that she was nearly about to fall asleep. Zuoqiu Qingyu when in the midst of yawning when her expression suddenly changed a little. Cupping her hands like binoculars over her eyes, she looked towards a certain spot in the distance where she had felt some faint activity. Zuoqiu Qingyu pondered for a brief moment, before her foot gently pushed off the ground, sending her body drifting forward like a phantom, as if she was walking on wind. In a short few minutes, she had already appeared on one of the hills nearby. She looked towards her front, and found two figures there. However, what puzzled her was that these two individuals had no intentions of contesting for this territory with her. Instead, they were holding a bottle from which a strange fragrance wafted. Rumble! Next, Zuoqiu Qingyu saw the ground begin to shake as red Heavenly Flame Lizard after lizard popped out. These lizards greedily stared at the bottles in the two individuals¡¯ hands, and began chasing the duo in a crazed manner. The two individuals immediately turned and ran, a huge hoard of lizards now at their heels. Zuoqiu Qingyu was somewhat dazed as she watched. These people had come all the here not to challenge her, but to draw away the Heavenly Flame Lizards? Were they actually so kind? ¡°So kind-hearted?¡± Mumbled Zuoqiu Qingyu. However, she had a faint feeling that there was something amiss about this matter. After briefly contemplating about it, her figure dashed forth, quickly catching up to the two figures without them noticing. After tailing them for a while, she was finally able to piece together their motive from scraps of their conversation. She hid behind a boulder as she watched the horde of Heavenly Flame Lizards with a grave expression. These guys were planning on luring all of the lizards to Zhou Yuan¡¯s location. ¡°So it¡¯s Su Duan who is behind this.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Soon after, she pushed off the ground and soared into the air top her Genesis Qi. ¡°I need to inform him as soon as possible.¡± From the exchange between the two, she had found out that there were others who were also luring Heavenly Flame Lizards. The scale of this operation was certainly not small, and Zhou Yuan would surely be in danger if he were to face this beast wave alone. As for the territory she was tasked to secure, she would just leave it here for the moment. It¡¯s not like their Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace really cared about it anyways. ... Zhou Yuan immediately felt Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s aura when she stepped into the range of his senses. He immediately stood up, confused as he watched the lovely figure dressed in green rapidly approaching from far away. Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°Why have you come all the way here?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu landed on the ground, her chest heaving slightly as she drew in two deep breaths, before anxiously saying, ¡°Quick, you¡¯ve got to leave. Su Duan is gathering Heavenly Flame Lizards from all over to create a wave of beast to send against you!¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned when he heard this. His frowned slightly as he recalled the individuals he had encountered earlier. He had already felt that there was something wrong with their gazes. It seems like they were scouts... ¡°Herding Heavenly Flame Lizards? How are they doing it?¡± However, instead of panic, Zhou Yuan was more concerned about a certain part of her earlier words. ¡°They seemed to be holding something that was very desirable to the Heavenly Flame Lizards.¡± Upon seeing how relaxed Zhou Yuan was, Zuoqiu Qingyu anxiously said, ¡°You idiot, what are you still standing around for, you¡¯ve got to leave now!¡± From what she could see, Zhou Yuan was currently at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, and was likely on this mission for experience like herself. The Heavenly Flame Lizards were grade 4 Genesis Beasts which were no weaker than the Alpha-Origin stage. With the advantage of numbers, even a seventh layer Alpha-Origin would have no choice but to retreat. If Zhou Yuan ended up trapped with nowhere to escape, things would definitely become extremely dangerous. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered slightly in thought. Soon after, he began to rub his chin in an odd manner. ¡°A wave of Heavenly Flame Lizards huh¡­¡± He lowered his head to look at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand, to be more precise, the fifth ancient Genesis Rune that was rapidly blinking. Desire endlessly pulse from it, as if urging Zhou Yuan to hurry up and feed it. However, all of the Heavenly Flame Lizards in the area had been wiped out by him. That¡¯s why he had been troubling over how to feed this seemingly bottomless brush. If he gave up on this district to roam about and hunt, it would definitely become extremely troublesome for himself, and he may even end up clashing with the other factions. Who could have expected such a huge gift to fall from the sky just as he was beginning to mull over this problem. Although a wave of Heavenly Flame Lizards would indeed by quite an inconvenience, it was not impossible for him to deal with... Moreover, this many lizards should be enough to satisfy the Heavenly Yuan Brush, right? ¡°This Su Duan¡­¡± Zhou Yuan licked his lips. ¡°Eh?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s bright eyes looked towards him. ¡°Is truly a samaritan. I feel that he may even be my legendary fated benefactor.¡± Said Zhou Yuan as if deeply moved. When he needed Yimu Qi, Su Duan gave him a thousand year ancient wood bracelet. When he now needed Beast Spirit Crystals for the Heavenly Yuan Brush to evolve, Su Duan had racked his brains to gather a wave of beasts for him... With regards to someone who so whole-heated took care of his every concern, Zhou Yuan was honestly a little touched. Zuoqiu Qingyu: ¡°......¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± She glared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Hehe, relax. I know what to do.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Zuoqiu Qingyu shot a suspicious look at him, evidently unable to understand how a fourth layer Alpha-Origin like him was so confident. However, due to her trust in him, she ultimately did not say anything else. Zhou Yuan stood up and stretched his body with a wide grin, ¡°Thanks for rushing here to warn me. Since they¡¯re going to send me such a huge gift, I should prepare to properly receive my awesome benefactors.¡± He winked at Zuoqiu Qingyu. ¡°Since brother Su Duan is so hospitable, I can¡¯t possibly let him be disappointed¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 414 Attack of the Beast Wave Outside the territory occupied by Zhou Yuan. Su Duan stood with his hands behind his back on a certain hill, a confident look on his face as he peered into the distance. Traces of amusement tinged his smile, as if he had full control over the situation. Swish! Several glowing figures flew over from far away and landed on the hill. One of the figures reported, ¡°Brother Su Duan, we¡¯ve lured over all the nearby Heavenly Flame Lizards.¡± The ground began to tremble the moment the words left his mouth. Su Duan watched as a tide of red surged over from the edge of the horizon, made up completely by Heavenly Flame Lizards. From the looks of it, there were likely several thousand of them. In the face of a beast wave of such scale, even Su Duan and the rest turned a little solemn. Although most of these Heavenly Flame Lizards were only equivalent to the first or second layer Alpha-Origin stage, when enough of them were gathered, they could become an extremely terrifying force. If trapped in this beast tide, even they would likely meet their end. ¡°Excellent!¡± However, joy soon washed over the slight fear in Su Duan¡¯s eyes. The more lizards there were, the more likely his plan would succeed. Zhou Yuan was merely a fourth layer Alpha-Origin after all. ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you guys. I¡¯ve already sent a few people in to secretly sprinkle the Flame Lizard Saliva inside. Next, we only have to wait for the show to begin.¡± A slight smile hung from Su Duan¡¯s lips. The others also smiled upon hearing this with gloating looks in their eyes. Rumble! While they were conversing, the red tide of Heavenly Flame Lizards rapidly approached. Just as Su Duan had said, the Heavenly Flame Lizards with crazed looks in their eyes paid no heed to the few individuals on the hill, their red eyes looking instead at a certain location to the front. With a thunderous rumbling noise, they charged into Zhou Yuan¡¯s hundred mile territory. Su Duan and gang laughed again when they saw this, before rising into the air and secretly following some distance behind. ... ¡°It¡¯s here¡­¡± Under an enormous flag, Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and peered into the distance. He could already feel the ground trembling slightly. It seems that Su Duan and gang had succeeded in luring the beast tide over. Beside him, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s peach blossom like eyes were still filled with worry. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will leave the moment I feel things aren¡¯t going well.¡± Zhou Yuan consoled her with a smile. Zuoqiu Qingyu gave a faint nod as she said, ¡°I will stay here. If you encounter any problems, I will be able to immediately bring you away.¡± She was extremely quick and though her battle prowess could not match Zhou Yuan¡¯s, if it was fleeing, even he was not as fast as her. Zhou Yuan nodded, not rejecting her kind intentions. The two were silent for a moment, before they saw a red tide appear at the end of their sights. The tide was composed entirely of red armored Heavenly Flame Lizards with crazed expressions. At the sight of this, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s hands clenched slightly, feeling somewhat nervous. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was rather calm in comparison. In fact, a look of desire had even surged out in the depths of his eyes. This many Heavenly Flame Lizards should be enough for the Heavenly Yuan Brush to complete its evolution, right? Rumble! The red tide of Heavenly Flame Lizards gave off an alarmingly imposing aura. After several dozen breaths, they finally neared the area Zhou Yuan was in. Some distance behind the beast tide, the smiles on Su Duan and the rest grew increasingly wider. ¡°Let¡¯s see whether that brat will run¡­¡± Zhou Yuan stood on the hill, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand as he watched the red tide rapidly approach and gauged the distance between them. When most of the Heavenly Flame Lizards had entered a certain boundary, the brush in his hand suddenly slammed into the ground. Bzz! It was as if an invisible shockwave erupted from under his feet. Faint rays of light began to emerge from several of the boulders in the vicinity. At closer inspection, one would discover that the light was from complex Genesis Runes that were linking to each other. When these Genesis Runes were activated, the menacing Heavenly Flame Lizards suddenly fell into chaos, and began frantically running about like headless flies. This sight told Zhou Yuan that the Genesis Runes he prepared earlier were working. Though they are unable to do much damage to the lizards, the runes could hinder their senses, temporarily turning these lizards blind and deaf... As a result, the Heavenly Flame Lizards were now unable to work together against him, bringing the threat level of the beast tide to its lowest. Now, he only needed to begin the slaughter. This change was naturally detected by the watching Su Duan and gang, causing their expression to change slightly. ¡°He was prepared for them!¡± A stormy look filled Su Duan¡¯s eyes. ¡°The disturbance we caused when gathering the Heavenly Flame Lizards may have been too big.¡± Said someone. ¡°What do we do now?¡± Su Duan¡¯s gaze flickered faintly. Soon after, he let out an icy chuckle and said, ¡°No need to worry. He must have used some kind of method to block the Heavenly Flame Lizards¡¯ senses. Even so, it will only be temporary. Unless he succeeds in exterminating all of the lizards, they will still become a huge problem when they gradually regain their senses.¡± Everyone else nodded when they heard this. There were thousands of Heavenly Flame Lizards, and it was impossible for Zhou Yuan to kill them all alone. Meanwhile, as Zuoqiu Qingyu watched this chaotic scene, she could not help but ask, ¡°Though you have sealed off their senses, how will you resolve this situation? Are you going to kill them one by one?¡± With such a crazy number of Heavenly Flame Lizards, Zhou Yuan would likely be far from done even after using up all of his Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan merely responded with a mysterious smile, not answering her questions. His figure shot forth under Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s bewildered gaze, swiftly etherealizing as he turned into a wisp of smoke that dashed into the chaotic beast herd. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure darted around in the beast herd like a phantom as the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand vibrated. The snow-white brush hairs faintly clickered as they drifted out, undetectable by the naked eye. These hairs moved with the wind, noiselessly entering the Heavenly Flame Lizards bodies through their nostrils as they heavily panted. Zhou Yuan¡¯s phantom like figure covered every inch of the beast pack, giving the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand a light flick from time to time. Of course, Zhou Yuan was not so foolish as to kill these lizards one by one, as that was far too exhausting. Hence, he went with the most direct and efficient method. The Erode Rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The ultimate goal of the Genesis Runes he had prepared was not making the lizards fall into chaos, but to dull their senses, allowing the brush hairs to stealthily invade their bodies. ¡°What is he doing? Does he think he¡¯s some kind of jumping god?¡± Su Duan and the rest looked at each other in confusion. From what they could see, Zhou Yuan did not seem to have any intentions of killing the lizards. All they saw was Zhou Yuan randomly jumping about like a headless fly. It was a rather comical sight indeed. Su Duan was also a little lost for words. Soon after, he sneered and said, ¡°He¡¯s just screwing around! If he manages to deal with all of these Heavenly Flame Lizards today, I¡¯ll eat all of their corpses!¡± The others nodded in agreement. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, it was obviously an impossible task for him to exterminate so many Heavenly Flame Lizards. As such, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure continued to shuttle about in the pack for an entire half an incense stick of time under their mocking gazes, before he finally flew onto a nearby hill. Beads of perspiration could be seen on his forehead, while the originally snow-white hairs of the brush had also dimmed somewhat. Sending out so many brush hairs also taken quite a toll on it. Zuoqiu Qingyu peered into the distance. The Heavenly Flame Lizards were still full of energy as they charged about in a chaotic manner, no signs that they had received any attacks. Thus, she turned to look at Zhou Yuan in a strange manner and said, ¡°Is this what you were planning?¡± Under her skeptical gaze, Zhou Yuan smiled mysteriously, before grasping the Heavenly Yuan Brush with both hands and slamming it into the ground. ¡°Next, it¡¯s time for the real performance.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 415 Evolution of the Heavenly Yuan Brush Bzz bzz! The instant Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice sounded, the Heavenly Yuan Brush began to shake violently as if summoning something. It was also at this moment that the numerous Heavenly Flame Lizards in the vicinity suddenly let out miserable shrieks. Ao! Ao! Ao! Zuoqiu Qingyu hastily looked over, only to see that Heavenly Flame Lizards madly rolling about on the ground as blood flowed from their orifices. In a few breaths, she watched in shock as the originally lively lizards began to fall dead wave by wave... It was as if the wind of death had blown past, granting instant death to all the Heavenly Flame Lizards... The red land that had originally filled with the sounds of hissing had turned deathly silent at this moment. In the distance, Su Duan and the rest were dumbstruck as they watched this scene. It was as if they had seen a ghost, their faces filled with horror and fear. The lizards¡¯ deaths had been far too bizarre. Due to the distance and how hard it was to properly see what was happening with the Heavenly Yuan Brush, they naturally did not know what Zhou Yuan had done. All they had seen was Zhou Yuan jumping around amongst the Heavenly Flame Lizards, before they began to fall like flies. Normally speaking, such Genesis Beasts were basically as tenacious as cockroaches. And yet, they were now dropping one after another as they had received a fatal blow. Such a strange situation made the hairs of Su Duan and gang stand on end. ¡°What the heck did he do?¡± Asked a trembling voice. Su Duan¡¯s expression fluctuated in confusion. In the next instant, his pupils suddenly shrank as he involuntarily cried out, ¡°What is that?¡± Everyone looked over, and saw the corpses of the Heavenly Flame Lizards suddenly began to tremble as fine cow hair like glowing threads slowly rose from them. Every snow-white hair was wrapped around a Beast Spirit Crystal. The crystals sparkled under the light, creating an extremely mesmerizing scene. ¡°It¡¯s those hair like things!¡± Su Duan¡¯s gaze flickered rapidly in thought, finally realizing why the Heavenly Flame Lizards had died. Su Duan gnashed his teeth and said, ¡°What a cunning kid! He placed those Genesis Runes to hinder the lizards¡¯ senses, before secretly sending these hairs into their bodies. Once he gave the command, the hairs wreaked havoc in the lizards¡¯ bodies. No matter how tenacious these lizards are, they can¡¯t possibly survive such fatal injuries.¡± The others understood in a flash as amazement filled their hearts. Their fear finally faded, because the unknown was the most terrifying thing of all, and they was nothing to be afraid of now that they knew Zhou Yuan¡¯s method. Although it was quite an unorthodox skill, it was only effective against Genesis Beasts. On the hill, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were burning with desire as he watched the hairs bringing along all the Beast Spirit Crystals as they returned. There were likely nearly a thousand Beast Spirit Crystals in total. ¡°These should be enough for the Heavenly Yuan Brush to evolve, right?¡± Zhou Yuan lightly pushed off the ground as countless snow-white hairs zoomed towards him and the brush in his hand. Pring! Prang! The crystals shattered the moment they touched the brush, while the Beast Spirits within were instantly devoured. Ray after ray of light began to emerge from the brush, causing it to grow brighter and brighter like a sun, the rays even engulfing Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Zuoqiu Qingyu swiftly backed away, bewilderment filling her pretty eyes as she stared at the dazzling ball of light before her. She could faintly sense extremely powerful Genesis Qi undulations brewing within it. ¡°His brush seems to be absorbing the Beast Spirit Crystals?¡± Muttered Zuoqiu Qingyu in an astonished voice. Only now did she understand why Zhou Yuan had not panicked when she told him Su Duan was gathering a beast tide to send against him, appearing quite excited instead. From what she could see, he seemed to be in dire need of these Beast Spirit Crystals... In the distance, Su Duan and the rest were also stunned by this scene. They looked to one another as their expressions gradually turned ugly. They were clearly also beginning to realize that all their effort in gathering the beast tide had instead been a gift that Zhou Yuan had happily received with open arms... ¡°Blasted!¡± By this time, even Su Duan could not help but curse as he angrily punched a boulder in front of him, causing cracks to rapidly spread. He felt both extremely embarrassed and furious. Just moments ago, he had been feeling so pleased with how perfect his plan had been, but the cruel reality now showed him that his so-called ¡®perfect plan¡¯ was akin to throwing a meat bun at a dog to chase it away... Whoo Woo! While Su Duan was boiling with rage and shame, the surrounding Genesis Qi seemed to turn much more violent. Everyone could only watch as all of the Genesis Qi in the area began surging towards Zhou Yuan. The Genesis Qi quickly took the shape of an enormous funnel that was wide at the top and small at the bottom, a rather astonishing sight indeed. ¡°What is he doing?¡± Su Duan and gang were alarmed by this turn of events. They could also sense the shockingly powerful Genesis Qi undulations brewing within it. ¡°This is a sign that a Heaven Genesis Weapon is being born!¡± As the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, Su Duan had a wealth of experience. A single look was all it took for him to identify the phenomenon that was occurring before their eyes. ¡°However¡­ although ordinary Heaven Genesis Weapons will create some disturbance, it should not be as extreme as this!¡± Su Duan¡¯s eyes were glued to the brightly shining ball of light as greed rose within them. ¡°This is definitely no ordinary Heaven Genesis Weapon!¡± Though he was the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, and had seen Heaven Genesis Weapons before, there was no way that such a huge commotion would be caused by an ordinary Heaven Genesis Weapon! However, he also felt a slight heartache. From the looks of it, if they had not so painstakingly gathered so many Genesis Beasts for Zhou Yuan and allowed him to collect so many Beast Spirit Crystals, he would not have been able to form this Heaven Genesis Weapon. The realization that he had contributed to this effort almost made Su Duan vomit a mouthful of blood. Woo woo! This lasted for quite some time, before the dazzling light that enveloped Zhou Yuan finally faded away. The funnel shaped Genesis Qi storm above rapidly descended, pouring completely into the mottled deep black brush silently hovering beside him. The enormous commotion had stealthily died down. Zhou Yuan looked towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush floating beside him as he slowly reached out and closed his hand around it. Next, he felt the tremendous power surging within it. A trace of excitement and happiness appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. After several years in his hands, the once Sacred tier Genesis Weapon had finally evolved to the Heaven tier today... Previous Chapte Chapter 416 Might of the Heavenly Yuan Brush Zhou Yuan silently stood on the red hill, the mottled pitch-black Heavenly Yuan Brush quietly hovering beside him. Faint pulses of light flowed along the body of the brush as an almost undetectable but powerful undulation spread. Zhou Yuan was overwhelmed by emotion as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush. He could clearly feel how much different it was now compared to before. There may only be a word of difference between a Heaven Genesis Weapon and a Black Genesis Weapon, but the disparity between them was akin to the gap between the heavens and the earth. His hand slowly unfurled as the Heavenly Yuan Brush rapidly shrank, ultimately turning into a thread of light that flew into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and out from his other palm. After advancing to the Heaven tier, Zhou Yuan no longer needed to hang the brush from his waist. Instead, he could now keep it in his body, allowing it to be nourished by Genesis Qi at all times. This would also allow the connection between the two to ascend to the next level. Moreover, Zhou Yuan could also feel his battle power soar rapidly when he held the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The Heavenly Yuan Brush should currently be a low grade Heaven Genesis Weapon, but with regards to power, Zhou Yuan felt that even mid grade Heaven Genesis Weapons may not be able to surpass it. When all was said and done, the Heavenly Yuan Brush was once a Sacred Genesis Weapon after all. ¡°So you were using these Beast Spirit Crystals to evolve your Heaven Genesis Weapon!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu approached as she rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan. Fancy that she was still worrying earlier. Who could imagine how elated Zhou Yuan had been when he saw the beast tide. Zhou Yuan chuckled, before his eyes narrowed slightly as they peered into the distance. ¡°Since the beast tide has been dealt with, it¡¯s time to resolve other problems.¡± He had already sensed Su Duan and gang when they approached earlier. His Spirit senses were after all the most powerful amongst everyone present. He knew that the mastermind behind the beast tide was Su Duan. Although the former had done him a huge favor by luring this beast tide over, Zhou Yuan was not someone who would remain passive after being schemed against. Since Su Duan had displayed hostility, he was naturally an enemy. ¡°We¡¯ve been discovered.¡± The hiding Su Duan and gang immediately felt it Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze. Everyone looked to each other, before turning towards Su Duan. Su Duan¡¯s eyes were tinged with a sliver of greed as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand and sneered, ¡°So what if we¡¯ve been discovered? Would a mere fourth layer Alpha-Origin dare to act arrogantly before us?¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s method of dealing with the beast tide earlier had been rather alarming, after understanding how he had done it, the initial fear Su Duan and gang felt had weakened substantially. After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s method may have worked against dumb Genesis Beasts, but it was likely going to be ineffective against them. ¡°But he¡¯s still a Cangxuan Sect disciple¡­¡± Said a worried voice. If they angered Li Qingchan or Zhao Zhu, the ones who ended up suffering would be them instead. ¡°The Cangxuan Sect team is likely having trouble protecting themselves at this time.¡± Su Duan¡¯s lips curled. ¡°And this essence flame vein fight basically hinges upon one¡¯s own ability. Even if Zhou Yuan is defeated, the Cangxuan Sect will likely be too ashamed to come after juniors like us. In fact, Zhou Yuan may even be punished for his defeat when he returns.¡± ¡°Without the threat of the Cangxuan Sect, what is a mere fourth layer like him?¡± The others nodded at Su Duan¡¯s words as the restraining fear in their eyes receded. Their gazes were now filled with contempt when they looked towards Zhou Yuan again. It was exactly as Su Duan had said, without the layer of tiger skin that was the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength was really not even worth mentioning. Although they were unable to compare to the likes of Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the other Chosens, all of them had at least reached the sixth layer Alpha-Origin, while Su Duan had already stepped into the seventh layer. Such strength would make them elites even amongst the purple sash disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. The latter was after all the junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, and the cultivation resources he received would not be less than a Cangxuan Sect purple sash disciple. Upon seeing this, Su Duan smiled in a satisfied manner. His figure moved, no longer bothering to conceal his presence as he rose into the sky and began slowly approaching Zhou Yuan. Su Duan looked down upon Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you really are quite remarkable¡­ I can¡¯t believe that even the beast tide failed to stop you.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at the figure that had appeared and smiled. Although the other party was clearly an enemy, he could not help but feel a little good-will to the former due to all that he had done for Zhou Yuan. ¡°Brother Su¡¯s gift is really generous. If not for it, I would have needed to toil a lot today.¡± The corners of Su Duan¡¯s mouth twitched as rage appeared in his eyes. ¡°Sharp-tongued brat. Zhou Yuan, I advise you to scram from here now, because we will be taking over this area!¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as he shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t comply.¡± ¡°The current you does not have the qualifications to say no!¡± A savage smile rose from the corners of Su Duan¡¯s lips as he suddenly raised his hand and icily said, ¡°Do it!¡± Rumble! Behind him, streams of Genesis Qi abruptly rose into the air. They surged forth like a flood, tearing apart the ground as they passed. The others still concealed behind Su Duan had sent out a barrage of attacks. They did not show even the slightest shred of mercy, nor did they hold back despite ganging up on him. Their combined attack clearly aimed to destroy him with the first move. ¡°Careful Zhou Yuan!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s expression changed when she saw this, and quickly began activating her auxiliary body technique in an attempt to save him. On one side, was the exceptionally ferocious combined attack of several sixth layer Alpha-Origin experts. On the other, was a fourth layer Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan that would surely be crushed in a direct clash. However, just as Zuoqiu Qingyu was about to move, she saw Zhou Yuan extend his hand and gently snap his fingers. Swish! The Heavenly Yuan Brush hovering beside Zhou Yuan instantly shot forth. Like a streak of light as it hurtled towards the berserk flood-like wave of Genesis Qi. ¡°Arrogant! Do you think that a Heaven Genesis Weapon will give you the qualifications to face five sixth layers?!¡± Su Duan let out a sinister laugh when he saw this. Pchla! However, his voice had barely faded when the faint sound of something breaking was heard. Su Duan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly when he saw the five streams of Genesis Qi being instantly pierced by the mottled pitch-black brush... It was as if the brush had pierced a thin piece of paper. ¡°How can this be?!¡± Behind him, the expressions of the five sixth layer experts abruptly changed. The black brush seemed to possess a strange power that made any Genesis Qi turn extremely weak before it. Swish! While their expressions were changing, the Heavenly Yuan Brush closed in on them like a phantom. The snow-white brush hairs separated from its tip, turning into five snow-white whips. Ch! The whips seemed to pierce through space itself, quickly wrapping around the bodies of the five individuals like five white pythons. The Genesis Qi in the bodies of the five sixth layer experts immediately erupted in an attempt to blow away the brush hair ropes. However, the ropes completely ignored their Genesis Qi defenses, and abruptly tightened. The five individuals were tightly bound a split second later, their movements now completely restricted. The frantically struggled, but the snow-white brush hairs appeared to be unaffected no matter how hard they tried. Instead, the bindings became tighter and tighter, causing creaking noises to emerge from their bodies. Zhou Yuan flicked his finger, causing the snow-white ropes to move. They flung themselves high into the air, before mercilessly smashing the bodies of the five individuals into the ground. Boom! The ground shook as a giant pit appeared with five bloody figures lying within it. No one could tell if they were dead or alive. The snow-white brush hairs swiftly returned as the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared back in front of Zhou Yuan in a flash. The brush seemed to sway slightly, as if it was showing off. In the air, the corners of Su Duan¡¯s eyes twitched when he saw this scene. Who could have imagined that without Zhou Yuan doing anything, the mysterious mottled black brush would already defeat five sixth experts after a single exchange... How could an ordinary Heaven Genesis Weapon possibly possess such capabilities?! Previous Chapte Chapter 417 Fifth Rune: Genesis Breaker A giant pit had appeared on the ground. Inside the pit lay five figures, no one able to tell whether they were dead or alive. No one would have guessed that just a few dozen breaths ago, these five figures had been sixth layer Alpha-Origin experts... At this current time, however, they had already been finished off by a brush. Though Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm as he gazed at the Heavenly Yuan Brush floating in front of him, a sliver of amazement and happiness flitted across the depths of his eyes. The power displayed by the brush had clearly surpassed his imagination. Zhou Yuan reached out, slowly closing his hand around the brush as excitement glimmered in his eyes. It had been several years since this once Sacred Genesis Weapon had landed in his hands, and it had finally begun to reveal glimpses of its extraordinary power. To him, the brush was undoubtedly akin to wings on a tiger. In the air, Su Duan looked towards the five bodies as his eyelids twitched uncontrollably. After a moment of silence, he finally cast his chilling gaze at Zhou Yuan. The former never imagined that everything he tried against Zhou Yuan would turn out so disastrous. This truly made raging bonfire rise in his heart. ¡°I refuse to believe that the great junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect will fail to subdue an ordinary Cangxuan Sect disciple like yourself!¡± Rumble! Vigorous Genesis Qi dashed out from the top of Su Duan¡¯s head like a plume of smoke along with his yell. The Genesis Qi pressure from it was indeed far stronger than the five individuals from before. Su Duan¡¯s expression was chillingly icy as his hands slowly began to approach each other. Crackle! Berserk and scorching Genesis Qi was frantically compressed between his palms, ultimately turning into a fireball the size of a aheadl. Inside the fire ball, the blurry silhouette of a cauldron could be seen. ¡°Flame Cauldron Technique!¡± Sheeong! The fireball rose into the air, before suddenly exploding. The burning cauldron within rapidly grew until it was a hundred feet tall, before violently smashing down towards Zhou Yuan. Su Duan did not show even the slightest shred of mercy. This Flame Cauldron Technique was was a renowned high grade little Heaven Genesis technique of his Flame Cauldron Sect. The flaming cauldron rapidly descended, but the expression in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes did not even ripple. He grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as deep black runes slowly began to appear on the sharp snow-white brush tip. In a short few breaths, the originally snow-white tip had become ink black. With a jerk, the brush dashed forward like a dragon, its pitch-black tip flashing like the night as it pierced through the air. In the most unyielding possible manner, it collided against the falling flaming cauldron. Clang! A clear clang echoed. A sneer rose from the corners of Su Duan¡¯s lips when he saw this as he formed a hand seal and shouted, ¡°Explode!¡± An extremely berserk undulation suddenly pulsed from the flaming cauldron. However, just as the cauldron was about to explode, black light seemed to sweep past. Next, the sneer on Su Duan¡¯s face froze as he watched the flaming cauldron being cleanly cut into two by the deep black brush tip... ¡°How can this be¡­¡± Su Duan cried out in horror as his pupils abruptly shrank. His flaming cauldron was made from pure Genesis Qi and was suppose to be insanely volatile. The slightest touch should have set it off, causing it to explode with even more destructive power. And yet, it had been chopped into half by a single strike from Zhou Yuan¡¯s brush? It was as if the cauldron made from his Genesis Qi had turned extremely frail in the face of the brush... ¡°I refuse to believe this!¡± Su Duan¡¯s expression began distort. With a yell, his hands slapped together as a wave of red Genesis Qi swept out, transforming into four flaming cauldrons in front of him. Every cauldron pulsed with berserk undulations. ¡°Smash him to pieces!¡± The four flaming cauldrons descended one after another. Before they landed, the ground had already began to fracture. From this, one could see just how powerful Su Duan¡¯s attack was. A wave of heat rushed at Zhou Yuan, lifting his hair. He raised his head to gaze at the rapidly falling cauldrons, but his expression remained completely unchanged. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand drew a flash of icy light in the air, strange runes flickering on its deep pitch-black brush hairs. Clang! Clang! The brush left behind a streak of black as it seemed to transform into four after images that simultaneously thrust at the four falling cauldrons. Ch! Ch! The four flaming cauldrons seemed to freeze in mid-air at this moment. Next, the glimmering black brush tips pierced the cauldrons, as black light began to spread like electricity, noiselessly disintegrating the four flaming cauldrons... Zuoqiu Qingyu could not help but cover her mouth when she saw this. She never expected that Su Duan¡¯s powerful Genesis technique would become as weak as paper before Zhou Yuan. No one knew why, but Zhou Yuan seemed to have some kind of unique destructive power against these Genesis Qi attacks! In the air, Su Duan¡¯s expression was somewhat dazed. He had clearly suffered a huge psychological blow from seeing his prided attack so easily unravelling at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. ¡°Why is this happening?!¡± He mumbled to himself. In all the battles he had ever fought, no one had even dared to approach his flaming cauldrons, because the most terrifying part of the technique was the final explosion. However, when Zhou Yuan clashed with the flaming cauldron earlier, a mysterious force seemed to have suppressed the volatile Genesis Qi within it, before silently neutralizing it. ¡°It¡¯s that black brush!¡± Su Duan¡¯s heart shook as he stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. There was bizarre black light flickering on the brush tip. The thing that had so effortlessly torn apart his Genesis Qi attacks seemed to be this black light. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, letting out a soft chuckle as he gazed at Su Duan¡¯s ashen expression. With a sudden jerk of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush within it transformed into a streak of light as it dashed into the air. Swish! The brush turned into a flash of black as it thrust towards Su Duan like a bolt of lightning, so quick that it left behind faint after images behind it. As an incomparably sharp force pounced towards Su Duan, his cheeks suddenly billowed. A split second later, red Genesis Qi spouted from his mouth, like surging flames as it swiftly turned into thick shields in front of him. Ch! The pitch-black brush tip slammed into the Genesis Qi shields. Black light flashed, and Su Duan¡¯s pupils rapidly shrunk as he watched his Genesis Qi defenses gradually disintegrating under the black light as if being infected by something. The black light seemed to specialize in destroying any kind of Genesis Qi. Swish! While this thought flashed in Su Duan¡¯s head, his scalp rapidly turned numb as his figure quickly retreated. However, it was at this very moment that his Genesis Qi shields completely shattered. The foot long black brush rapidly shrank, returning to its normal state. However, its speed rose to an extremely alarming level. Even Su Duan only managed to catch a glimpse of a blurry shadow flashing past. ¡°So quick!¡± Su Duan¡¯s was nearly scared out of his skin. This speed had already surpassed the scope of his senses. Before he could react, he felt something cold aimed at his throat, causing his retreating figure to freeze on the spot, not daring to move at all. Cold sweat flowed down his forehead. A slender black brush was noiselessly floating half an inch from his throat, blick light shimmering at its tip. It would only take a fraction of a second for this black brush to pierce his throat. The aura of death washed over his heart. Su Duan swallowed, trying to smile as he said in a trembling voice, ¡°You win, this place is all yours. We¡¯ll get out immediately.¡± He looked towards the slim figure below with fear in his eyes. How could he not know by now that the seemingly fourth layer Zhou Yuan was actually a wolf in sheep skin! That fourth layer Alpha-Origin cultivation was merely a disguise! Upon hearing Su Duan¡¯s words, Zhou Yuan displayed a warm and friendly smile. He then beckoned with his hand, and the Heavenly Yuan Brush shot back and landed on his palm. He gently rubbed the brush¡¯s mottled body with a finger, ultimately reaching the fifth ancient Genesis Rune as a look of amazement flashed in his eyes. The main reason why all of Su Duan¡¯s Genesis techniques had been broken by a single brush because of the existence of this fifth Genesis Rune. Fifth rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush... Genesis Breaker! Previous Chapte Chapter 418 Sacred Palace Moves Genesis Breaker¡¯s power was to destroy any Genesis Qi under the sky. In the face of a Genesis Qi attack, the Genesis Breaker Rune would unleash a certain power that specialized in restraining and destroying that Genesis Qi. Simply put, any Genesis Qi would be greatly weakened against Genesis Breaker. This was the main reason why Su Duan¡¯s full power attack had appeared so pathetic before Zhou Yuan. In the face of the Genesis Breaker Rune, all of Su Duan¡¯s Genesis Qi attacks and defenses became rather ineffective. This was the fifth rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Genesis Breaker. Of course, this did not mean that all Genesis Qi attacks and defenses would become useless against Zhou Yuan, because Genesis Breaker had its limits too. A limit that was based on Zhou Yuan¡¯s current strength. The stronger he was, the stronger Genesis Breaker would be. If he faced an opponent whose strength far surpassed his own, Genesis Breaker would at most be able to slightly weaken the other party¡¯s Genesis Qi. Although this was already amazing from a certain point of view, it would be nowhere near as overwhelming as it had been against Su Duan and his lackeys. With the help of the Genesis Beaker Rune, the challenge from Su Duan and gang was swiftly dealt with. In the end, Su Duan could only bring his gravely injured friends as they miserably escaped from Zhou Yuan¡¯s territory, leaving behind a scattered mess and a ground covered in beast corpses. Zhou Yuan did not do anything to Su Duan. Although the latter had repeatedly used petty tricks to against him, the truth was that someone at that level was already no longer able to enter his eyes. Even without the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s evolution, it would not have taken much for Zhou Yuan to deal with Su Duan. Zhou Yuan was actually quite forgiving towards individuals that posed no threat to him. After chasing away Su Duan, the Heavenly Yuan Brush transformed into stream of light as it tunnelled into his palm. It ultimately ended up silently hovering in his Qi Dwelling, breathing the Genesis Qi inside. Zuoqiu Qingyu walked over with light steps from behind, her limpid eyes tinged with amazement as she stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°It seems that I was worried for nothing. Su Duan was clearly not your match.¡± She was clearly a little astonished inside. Though Su Duan had only recently stepped into the seventh layer, Zhou Yuan was merely at the fourth layer. Despite this, Su Duan was not able to even put up a fight against Zhou Yuan. Just how powerful was Zhou Yuan? She had previously been worried that Zhou Yuan would fade into mediocrity after entering the Cangxuan Sect. There were after all far too many geniuses in such a hegemon level sect. Zhou Yuan may have been able to distinguish himself in the Cangmang Continent, but such an achievement would only be considered ordinary in a place like the Cangxuan Sect. But now, it appeared that her worry was unnecessary. The individual before her seemed to be outstanding no matter where he went. Zhou Yuan chuckled when he heard this. Zuoqiu Qingyu lightly dusted off her hands as she smiled and said, ¡°Alright then, since you¡¯ve resolved the matter, I¡¯ll be returning to defend my insignificant territory.¡± ¡°Thank you. Come and find me if you encounter any problems on your side.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Since they were already well acquainted, he felt no need to be overly courteous. Zuoqiu Qingyu frowned slightly. She propped up her chin with a hand and proudly said, ¡°Tch, you¡¯re just a brute that only knows how to solve problems through force¡­ truth be told, my beauty is even more powerful than your Heaven Genesis Weapon.¡± Zhou Yuan was speechless. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s beauty was indeeed an irresitable force to many men. Hence, it was quite normal for them to be so infatuated that they would prostrate themselves at her feet. In a certain manner of speaking, it was indeed a ¡®weapon¡¯ comparable to ordinary Heaven Genesis Weapons. ¡°Bye.¡± With a wave, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s body shot forth. Her figure was graceful and enchanting, like a hundred flowers drifting with the breeze, and yet also nearly impossible to catch, swiftly disappearing from Zhou Yuan¡¯s sights in a second. After seeing Zuoqiu Qingyu leave, Zhou Yuan sat down beside his giant flag. Since his Heaven Genesis Weapon had evolved, he no longer needed to go around hunting Heavenly Flame Lizards. Moreover, after defeating Su Duan and gang, the other factions should no longer dare to have any designs on the territory Zhou Yuan was occupying. Thus, it should become extremely peaceful for some time. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll continue practicing the Heavenly Sun God Record¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself as he sat down. With a wave of his sleeve, blood-red magma-like liquid began rising in front of him, It was obviously the essence flames he had won in the rock gambling area a few days earlier. These essence flames could increase the power of fire-type Genesis Qi or Genesis techniques, which included the Heavenly Sun God Record. The breath of Heavenly Sun Flame from the Heavenly Sun God Record was currently at the initial stage. Upon reaching the advanced level, the white flame should change to deep azure. If he could perfect stage, the Heavenly Sun Flame would transform from deep azure to dark gold. At that time, a single breath would possess the power to incinerate entire mountains. Zhou Yuan had started practicing the Heavenly Sun God Record again ever since he obtained the essence flames. In fact, his white Heavenly Sun Flame had already grown much more domineering than before. However, he still needed to put in more effort if he wanted to reach the advanced level. Zhou Yuan stared at the slowly flowing essence flames before him, before gently inhaling. Strands of blood-red fire threads began rising from the liquid, before flowing into his body through his nose. Heat immediately began spreading in his body, causing him to feel as if he was boiling. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, enduring the scorching pain as he began circulating the Heavenly Sun God Record. White flames rose inside his body, continuously absorbing the strands of blood-red fire. As the white flame was being refined, specks of azure light began to appear within it. Zhou Yuan silently sat on the red land, searing heat spreading from the essence flame flowing in front of him. Time flowed, and half a day quickly passed. The essence flame before Zhou Yuan gradually began to dim, a sign that it had been completely depleted. In the end, it turned into a wisp of fire before fading away. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly opened at this moment as he turned his senses towards the interior of his body. The azure specks in the white flame had grown increasingly deeper... ¡°Just a little more.¡± Zhou Yuan deeply exhaled. After consuming the several hundred year essence flames, his breath of Heavenly Sun Flame had clearly begun nearing the advanced stage. ¡°Looks like this trip has been quite beneficial.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. He would obviously have no way to obtain these essence flames if he had stayed in the sect, and the Heavenly Sun Flame would still be stuck at the initial stage. Chit chit! While Zhou Yuan was sighing, a faint ¡®ch¡¯ noise suddenly sounded by his ear. He was initially stunned by the noise, but soon recalled that he had a communication jade in his ear. It had slipped from his mind because it had emitted no noise for quite some time. ¡°Senior sister Li Qingchan, senior brother Zhao Zhu¡­ someone from Sacred Palace has entered my territory!¡± An anxious voice sounded from the communication jade. It sounded like one of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. The communication jade was silent for a moment, before Li Qingchan¡¯s voice sounded, ¡°Xu Bin, how many Sacred Palace disciples are there?¡± The disciple called Xu Bin swiftly replied, ¡°One.¡± ¡°You only need to concentrate on defending.¡± Upon hearing that it was only one person, Li Qingchan breathed a small sigh of relief. Besides Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu, the other members of the Sacred Palace team should be about equal strength to her teammates. If it was just one person, Xu Bin should not be defeated. The communication jade fell silent once again. However, this silence only lasted for about ten minutes before it was broken once again. A shocked and weak voice sounded through the jade, ¡°Senior sister Li, I¡¯ve failed to defend my spot. The other party is very powerful, far stronger than myself!¡± ¡°I¡¯m retreating towards senior brother Lu¡¯s area, but the enemy is right on my heels¡­¡± This immediately triggered a series of responses from the others, turning the situation rather chaotic. ¡°How can that be? The Sacred Palace team should be on the same level as us. How were you defeated so quickly?¡± It was Qin Hai¡¯s voice. Bai Li immediately asked, ¡°Could Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu have taken action?¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s voice also sounded, ¡°Xu Bin, who was it?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t Wang Chi or Cao Jinzhu¡­¡± Xu Bin¡¯s voice sounded rather weak, a clear sign that he had sustained rather serious injuries. ¡°It was Yang Xuan!¡± ¡°Yang Xuan?¡± Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu¡¯s voices sounded a little confused. They usually only paid attention to the Chosens of Sacred Palace, and Yang Xuan was clearly not at that level. Li Qingchan swiftly commanded, ¡°Xu Bin, withdraw to where Lu Liang is and work together.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Xu Bin responded. After which, the communication jade fell silent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows were slightly furrowed. Yang Xuan was indeed no ordinary individual. He wondered whether Xu Bin and Lu Liang would be able to defend the area... He waited in silence for quite some time, before a voice was suddenly transmitted from the communication jade at his ear. ¡°Senior sister Li, senior brother Zhao. Xu Bin and I have lost to Yang Xuan.¡± The voice should belong to Lu Liang, his words causing the communication jade to fall silent again. Everyone knew by now that something was wrong. Li Qingchan¡¯s voice had turned rather grave as she said, ¡°Everyone, retreat immediately and gather at Bai Li¡¯s area. Yang Xuan is likely Sacred Palace¡¯s secret weapon.¡± ¡°The rest of you should gather together first, before finding a chance to counter attack. Zhao Zhu and I will wait for the right moment to strike.¡± By this time, it was clearly useless to continue defending their respective areas. They needed to first face Sacred Palace in battle. ¡°Roger!¡± Several voices sounded from the communication jade before it returned to silence. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze faintly flickered in thought, a rather grave look on his face. It seems that Sacred Palace had finally began act... Previous Chapte Chapter 419 Yang Xuan The core region of the essence flame vein. Seven figures were gathered on the red land, led by Bai Li and Qin Hai. At this current time, their expressions were extremely grave as they peered towards the distance. The figures behind the two were all ready and waiting. At the very back, two figures were seated on the ground, their pale complexions a sign that they had been seriously injured. It was Lu Liang and Xu Bin, who had both been defeated by Yang Xuan earlier while defending their territory. Qin Hai glanced at the two injured individuals at the very back, as he remarked in with a grave expression, ¡°Xu Bin and Lu Liang are at the seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage, and either of us would have to expand a tremendous amount of effort in order to defeat them. I never imagined that Yang Xuan would be so powerful!¡± ¡°It seems that he has concealed his strength.¡± Bai Li nodded in agreement. Her long hair had been tied up into a ponytail, making her appear rather heroic and dashing. However, her brows were also tightly knitted together at this moment. ¡°If so, Yang Xuan¡¯s strength has likely already reached the advance seventh layer level, making him that tiny bit stronger than either of us.¡± The two individuals exchanged a glance, seeing the wariness and fear in each other¡¯s eyes. If Yang Xuan was really that powerful, they would indeed be under a huge amount of pressure this time. ¡°They¡¯re coming!¡± All of a sudden, Bai Li¡¯s eyes flashed while staring into the distance. The expressions of the disciples behind her tensed as Genesis Qi began surging around their bodies. Every gaze turned towards a certain spot in the distance where the sound of rushing wind could be heard. Several figures arrived on their Genesis Qi, ultimately landing in front of Bai Li and the rest. They were the disciples of the Sacred Palace. At the head of the group stood a young man in white with his hands behind his back. He exuded an extraordinary aura and wore a smile on his face, however, not even the slightest ripple could be seen in his eyes. It was Yang Xuan! ¡­ Meanwhile, at the entrance of the essence flame vein. Elder Wu was seated on a hill, Genesis Qi taking the form of a mirror in front of him. The images within it depicted Bai Li and the rest facing off against Yang Xuan and gang. Elder Wu¡¯s old face filled with alarm and anger as he watched everything play out in the Genesis Qi mirror. In the end, he lifted his head, eyes ice-cold as he looked towards the Sacred Palace elder nearby and said in a chilling voice, ¡°Isn¡¯t the Sacred Palace being far too overbearing this time!¡± ¡°In a competition for resources, the winner is always right.¡± The Sacred Palace elder laughed mockingly, before he continued, ¡°At the end of the day, your Cangxuan Sect was being too greedy. If you were a little better behaved, you would have done the same as the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, and be satisfied with a small slice of the pie. Who knew that you guys would compete for the lion¡¯s share with my Sacred Palace?¡± ¡°Do you really believe that your Cangxuan Sect is the same sect from the past?¡± The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall had only sent one Chosen each this time, showing that they had no intention of fighting for the biggest chunk of meat. On the other hand, the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect refused to give way to each other, and had pretty much prepared themselves for a huge war. Thus, it was natural that they would clash. Elder Wu darkly said, ¡°We¡¯re still not certain who will win!¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll wait and see.¡± The Sacred Palace elder let out a hearty laugh as a look of disdain appeared on his face. ¡­ ¡°Hehe, it seems like everyone is already here. Not bad, this will save me the trouble of having to look for you one by one.¡± Yang Xuan¡¯s ten fingers interlocked together, smiling widely as he gazed at Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest. There was a polite look on his face, as if he was merely visiting instead of challenging them. ¡°Actually, I only wanted to discuss something with all of you¡­¡± ¡°In this fight for the essence flame vein, besides the two territories occupied by your two Chosens, you may also occupy another hundred mile area¡­ which is the land all of you are currently standing on.¡± ¡°Of course¡­ besides these three territories, I hope you guys will no longer think about occupying anywhere else.¡± Yang Xuan smiled and said, ¡°Because every other territory belongs to our Sacred Palace.¡± Although he said he was here to talk things over, his tone indicated that there was no room for discussion. It was instead more similar to declaring the final verdict. Bai Li and Qin Hai¡¯s expressions turned rather ugly. Their Cangxuan Sect had originally planned on occupying at least six hundred mile territories in the core region, which was six hundred miles of the richest produce, a substantial fortune indeed. However, Yang Xuan had just declared that he was going to take away half of that amount. If they only managed to acquire three hundred mile territories, it would be a pretty terrible result.. ¡°What a bold declaration, do you really think you can eat half of our territories?¡± Qin Hai¡¯s rage turned to laughter. Yang Xuan merely shook his head in response as he sighed and said, ¡°It seems that you guys do not agree.¡± He displayed a smile that gradually turned somewhat sinister. ¡°Since you¡¯re rejecting our good will, don¡¯t blame me for not leaving your Cangxuan Sect any face today.¡± ¡°Break their legs and throw them out.¡± He extended a hand and gave a light wave. ¡°As for Bai Li and Qin Hai, leave them to me.¡± The Sacred Palace disciples behind him turned their evil gazes towards the few Cangxuan Sect disciples behind Bai Li and Qin Hai. Genesis Qi surged from under Yang Xuan¡¯s feet, slowly lifting him into the air. His gaze locked onto Bai Li and Qin Hai as he said, ¡°It will be best for both of you to come at me together. Otherwise, you guys will really have no chance.¡± Bai Li and Qin hai exchanged a look, before looking towards the rest of the party. ¡°You guys stop the others.¡± Next, they rose into the air on their Genesis Qi to stand opposite Yang Xuan. From the information they had received earlier, Yang Xuan was indeed a very formidable foe that either of them would not be able to defeat alone. Since their opponent was looking down on them, they would naturally make use of this opportunity. In the air, Yang Xuan gazed at the slightly flickering eyes of Bai Li and Qin Hai, and suddenly laughed. ¡°Although the two of you will have a tiny chance if you work together, your odds of victory is still almost negligible.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll just have to try out luck!¡± Bai Li displayed an icy smile. Qin Hai also let out a cold snort as vigorous Genesis Qi slowly pulsed from his body. It felt sharp without equal, as if sword aura was swimming within it. Jade light surfaced on Bai Li¡¯s skin as she tightly clenched her fists, terrifying power gathering in her tiny body. She was from the Hongya Peak, and specialized in external cultivation. Since her Genesis Qi was used to nourish her flesh and muscles, all of her battle power naturally originated from the body itself. Yang Xuan cocked his head as he watched the two individuals turn serious, before he smiled slightly and said. ¡°I¡¯ve been in the Sacred Palace for four years. Back when I first joined, I was known as a famous genius, but less and less people remembered me as time passed¡­¡± ¡°In their eyes, I had only managed to grow from the first layer to the fifth layer during these few years, a truly unremarkable speed indeed.¡± ¡°Do you two know the reason why?¡± Bai Li and Qin Hai¡¯s brows furrowed. Yang Xuan did not seem anything like a fifth layer, but an advanced seventh layer. ¡°It was because I sealed my own Genesis Qi.¡± Yang Xuan displayed a strange smile towards the two of them as he slowly lifted his arm. His sleeve fell, revealing a bizarre and glaring tattoo that slowly began to crack. Rumble! It was at this moment that Bai Li and Qin Hai were shocked to feel the Genesis Qi in Yang Xuan¡¯s body suddenly rise rapidly like a rocket. It instantly reached the perfect seventh layer, and now only half a foot from the eighth layer! Berserk Genesis Qi swept out from his body like a storm, along with an overwhelming pressure. Yang Xuan watched Bai Li and Qin Hai¡¯s expressions changed drastically, as the smile on his face gradually turned sinister. ¡°Now then, shall have a little fun?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 420 One-sided ¡°Perfect seventh layer!¡± When Li Qingchan heard Bai Li and Qin Hai¡¯s cries of surprise, her pretty face turned somewhat ugly. She had likewise not expected Yang Xuan, who was not very well-known in the Cangxuan Sect, to possess such strength. If Yang Xuan was only at the advanced seventh layer, Bai Li and Qin Hai¡¯s combined might may be able to match up to him. However, this seemingly tiny raise had now left the Bai Li duo with basically zero chance at victory. Yang Xuan was obviously the Sacred Palace¡¯s secret weapon for this mission! ¡°Zhao Zhu, let¡¯s go.¡± Said Li Qingchan in an icy voice. If she and Zhao Zhu did not interfere, Bai Li and the rest would soon be utterly defeated. When that happened, even if the two of them managed to defend their allocated territories, it would only amount to two hundred miles in total, an amount that would be less than even the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. This would undoubtedly be a substantial blow to the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s reputation. From the communication jade, Zhao Zhu¡¯s acknowledged in a low voice. Swish! Their figures soared into the air, powerful Genesis Qi sweeping outwards as they turned towards the direction Bai Li and the rest were located. However, mere moments after rising in the air, two figures appeared and stood in their way. It was Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu of the Sacred Palace. Cao Zhi grinned as he looked at the two of them, a dreadful heat pulsing from the red metal balls in his hand as he said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it rather inappropriate for people of your status to interfere?¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes turned a little icier as she curtly said, ¡°Wang Chi, scram!¡± Wang Chi shook his head and smiled, ¡°Chosens should face Chosens. If the two of you are itching for a fight, both of us will accompany you till the end. As for everyone else, let them decide things on their own.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes turned increasingly frosty. She knew that the Wang Chi duo definitely was not going to move aside. Since this was the case, they could only resort to force. She exchanged a look with Zhao Zhu. Both were expressionless as powerful Genesis Qi light pillars dashed out from the top of their heads. The light spread to cover the sky, as two earthshaking auras unfurled. Rumble! Two thousand feet wide Genesis Qi floods descended like meteors streaking across the night sky, thunder loudly rumbling in their wake In response to Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu¡¯s decisiveness, Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu¡¯s eyes narrowed. Both of them immediately took a step forward, as Genesis Qi rapidly converged towards their palms, before ultimately transforming into two enormous Genesis Qi disks. Boom boom! Two Genesis Qi torrents smashed into the glowing Genesis Qi disks, causing devastating shockwaves to unfurl. The ground below crumbled, hill after hill obliterated to dust in an instant. It could be said that this was an earth-shattering clash. In the sky, Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu faced off against Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu. Vigorous Genesis Qi churned churned like a raging storm behind each individual, some scorching hot, some bitingly cold... The disturbance was so great that it was even sensed by those from the far away Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. Feng Ying and the Chosen from the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall immediately moved, appearing some distance from the battle field. ¡°So they¡¯ve really ended up fighting¡­¡± Feng Ying¡¯s eyes widened a little. Normally speaking, since the Chosens from the various factions were able to easily defend their respective areas, no one would challenge them. It could be said to be an unspoken rules of sorts. And yet, the Chosens from the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace had begun fighting. The North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall Chosen approached Feng Ying and said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Sacred Palace mounted an attack on the territories guarded by the Cangxuan Sect, and have pushed them all the way to their last remaining territory.¡± Feng Ying frowned slightly. A deep grudge existed between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace. Moreover, one was once the number sect in Cangxuan Heaven, while the other was the current number one sect. As such, there was naturally going to be a lot of friction between them. In this battle for the essence flame vein, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall had no plans of contesting for a larger portion due to how far away their headquarters were from this place. Hence, they were willing to take a step back, and naturally did not have too huge of a conflict of interest with the Sacred Palace. However, the Cangxuan Sect had no intentions of giving in, while the Sacred Palace was usually very domineering due to always wanting the prime meat. Thus, there was sure to be conflict when these two factions met. Though Feng Ying was on good terms with Li Qingchan, it was not appropriate for her to interfere in this matter. After all, it was already beginning to implicate on the grudge between two overlord sects. ¡°Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu are clearly here to stop the Li Qingchan duo, preventing them from coming to the aid of their teammates. Now¡­ we can only hope that the other Cangxuan Sect disciples will be able to defend against the Sacred Palace¡¯s attacks.¡± She shook her head and sighed. ¡­ Bang! On the red land, three streams of Genesis Qi violently collided. A patch of ground immediately collapsed as a shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled, sweeping up dirt and rocks. Urgh! Two groans were heard as the shockwave spread. Soon after, two figures were flung backwards, their feet leaving long and deep marks on the ground. Any boulders they briefly touched was immediately shattered to pieces by a tremendous force. The two figures forcibly stabilized their bodies. It was Bai Li and Qin Hai. However, these two individuals currently sported rather dishevelled looks. Their expressions were quite pale, while blood dripping from their fingers. The Genesis Qi around their bodies had also turned somewhat chaotic. A figure in white slowly walked out from the dust. Yang Xuan gazed at the two Cangxuan Sect disciples and said with a faint smile, ¡°Hehe, I told you that you guys have no chance of victory. Why insist on being so stubborn?¡± Genesis Qi rose around him like thick smoke, heavy, solid and concentrated. ¡°Obediently scram from this essence flame vein. Your Cangxuan Sect cannot compete with us this time.¡± There was a disdainful smile hanging from the corners of Yang Xuan¡¯s mouth. ¡°In your dreams!¡± However, he was answered with a furious surge of Genesis Qi from Bai Li and Qin Hai that rapidly cumulated into a powerful attack that blasted towards Yang Xuan like a storm. ¡°Reckless fools.¡± Yang Xuan shook his head as a tremendous amount of Genesis Qi slowly rose from his hands. ¡°Since neither of you has any common sense, I¡¯ll just have to break your legs and throw you out¡­¡± ¡­ At the entrance of the essence flame vein. Atop a hill, elder Wu was watching the two floating Genesis Qi mirrors before him. One of them depicted the face off between the Li Qingchan duo and the Wang Chi duo. In the other mirror was the scene of Yang Xuan easily suppressing Bai Li and Qin Hai. From the looks of it, Bai Li and Qin Hai would not last much longer. Elder Wu¡¯s expression was extremely ugly. In accordance to his original evaluation the Sacred Palace disciples, he had tasked Li Qingchan and her team to take over at least six hundred miles of the richest vein. However, he never imagined that the Sacred Palace would play such a dirty trick by sending a disciple who had sealed his strength. This had disrupted all of elder Wu¡¯s plans. From the looks of it, the Sacred Palace intended on taking all of the territories the Cangxuan Sect was currently occupying. This was too much! Rage churned in elder Wu¡¯s eyes as he looked towards the nearby Sacred Palace elder. The latter merely responded with a disdainful smile. Around the mouth of the volcano, the other factions began to break out into hushed whispers. They also had Genesis Qi mirrors, and were naturally able to view the situation in the essence flame vein. From the gazes they continuously cast towards elder Wu, it was obvious that they too knew of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s current predicament. This battle may appear to be a contest for the essence flame vein on the surface, but in reality, it was a clash between the two titans, the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. From the looks of it, the Sacred Palace had taken the absolute upper hand. If so, the Cangxuan Sect would end up being knocked down a peg by the Sacred Palace this time. ¡­ Thump! Thud! The intense battle on the red land continued. Wave after wave of berserk Genesis Qi exploded, the aftershocks of the fight turning the entire area into a mess. Huu! Bai Li and Qin Hai tightly gritted their teeth, bitterly persisting as sweat dripped down their faces. The Genesis Qi around them was already growing weaker and weaker. Their gazes looked towards the front where a figure in white was slowly walking towards then. However, they did not cower but instead gritted their teeth again as their figures shot forth like lightning with an explosion of Genesis Qi. Boom! However, their figures were soon sent flying once again. At the mouth of the volcano, the various factions softly sighed. These Cangxuan Sect disciples were tenacious, but unfortunately, tenacity was not enough to fill the gap between them and their opponent. Elder Wu¡¯s hands were tightly clenched, veins popping up on his arms. Murder surged in his eyes as he stared at the Sacred Palace elder. ¡­ Outside the core essence flame region. Zhou Yuan was seated under a giant flag with his gaze slightly lowered. He made no noise, merely listening to Bai Li and Qin Hai¡¯s voices from the communication jade grow weaker and weaker. The situation was anything but encouraging. There was clearly no longer any hope to be seen for Bai Li and the rest in the core region. He lifted his face, his eyes narrowing slightly as he peered into the distance. His fingers gently tapped his knee as he fell into a long moment of silence. In the end, he raised his head to the sky and let out a deep breath. ¡°God damnit¡­¡± ¡°You guys are going to make me fail this mission¡­¡± If all their territory was snatched away by the Sacred Palace, the mission would undoubtedly be evaluated as a failure. When that happened, it would no longer be possible to obtain a Heaven Credit. He sighed. Though he did not really have any complaints with regards to elder Wu and the others neglecting him, for the sake of his Heaven Credit, he could no longer sit by and do nothing. Thus, Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips curled a little as he slowly stood up. The individual that had been ¡®exiled¡¯ to the outer region and basically forgotten, was finally going to get involved. Previous Chapte Chapter 421 Team Wiped? ¡°Sword Tiger Bite!¡± Powerful Genesis Qi swept forth as a giant wave of sword light unfurled. The sword light was akin to a giant tiger lunging with its sinister looking fangs, the combination of ferocity and deadly sharpness powerful enough to crush a mountain. Sword light swept forth along with an unmatched aura of sharpness as it furiously slashed down towards the confident looking Yang Xuan. ¡°Daluo Mystic Gold Palm!¡± A petite figure followed behind the sword light like a shadow. Her hand was suffused with golden light as it thrust forward, palm winds akin to thunder that caused even space itself to ripple a little. Both Bai Li and Qin Hai had pushed their battle power to the limit at this moment. The duo¡¯s ferocious attacks were reflected in Yang Xuan¡¯s pupils, the incoming force making his hair dance in the wind. However, not even the smallest ripple could be seen in his eyes. Instead, there was a sliver of mockery. Yang Xuan shook his head slightly, before he took a step forward and stretched out his hands. Surging Genesis Qi rose, forming a foot wide circle of light. The glowing disk was covered in countless mysterious patterns, making it an extremely mystical sight. ¡°Sacred Disk Technique!¡± Bang! The the giant tiger like sword light slammed into the sacred disk. The disk immediately began to spin as a terrifying power was unleashed, shattering the formidable sword light. Boom! A hand suffused with golden light swatted downwards, cracks appearing in space itself as if it were made from glass. In the end, the palm also slammed into the sacred disk. Yang Xuan twisted his palm as the sacred disk began to spin in reverse. Dong! The power from the reverse spin shattered the golden light on Bai Li¡¯s hand. The faint sound of bone crunching was heard as pain flashed across her pretty face. Her figure was sent flying, smashing into a hill, causing it to crumble. Urgh. A mouthful of blood was spat out from her mouth. Qin Hai hurriedly began to descend when he saw this. The moment he moved, however, Yang Xuan¡¯s figure had already appeared behind him like a phantom. A fist was sent out along with a torrent of Genesis Qi akin to a roaring giant python. Qin Hai hastily turned around and crossed his arms in front of him. Genesis Qi frantically surged out, transforming into layer after layer of defense. Boom! However, his Genesis Qi defenses were instantly blown apart. Qin Hai paled, vomiting a mouthful of fresh blood as his figure was sent shooting backwards. It had only taken a short period for the two of them to be seriously injured. In the air, Yang Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, looking down upon the two of them from above as he smiled and said, ¡°I told you that you will only humiliate yourselves, but you just refused to believe me.¡± Bai Li¡¯s eyes were spitting fire as she glared at Yang Xuan while shakily struggling to her feet. Yang Xuan merely smiled slightly when he saw this. ¡°How tenacious.¡± With a flick of his finger, a blast of Genesis Qi shot out like a cannonball and smashed into Bai Li¡¯s shoulder. Blood sprayed in the air as she was sent flying again. ¡°Yang Xuan!¡± With mad roar, Qin Hai charged towards Yang Xuan. However, Yang Xuan did not even turn around, merely waving his sleeve as a torrent of powerful Genesis Qi flooded out, blowing away the charging Qin Hai. Qin Hai was once again sent flying backwards as he vomited another mouthful of blood. Qin Hai body was embedded into a boulder as he vomited another two mouthfuls of blood. The intense pain from his entire body caused his eyes to gradually dim while feeling of powerlessness rose within him. He knew that even after joining forces, Bai Li and himself were not Yang Xuan¡¯s match. He bitterly shook his head as he mumbled in a low and hoarse voice, ¡°Senior sister Li, senior brother Zhao Zhu, we¡¯ve¡­ done our best.¡± ¡­ While the Wang Chi duo were facing off against the Li Qingchan duo, they heard Qin Hai¡¯s hoarse voice from the communication jade, causing their hearts to sink. The situation over there was obviously very terrible. The iciness in Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes was nearly about to solidify into a block of ice. However, she really could not think of any solution. After all, Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu were not to be underestimated, and if they truly wanted to delay herself and Zhao Zhu, there was nothing the two of them could do about it. ¡°Hehe, no need to be too hung up about it, we¡¯re just following orders too. If both of you retreat, we will not touch the last two hundred miles of territory you guys still have.¡± Wang Chi smiled at Li Qingchan. Li Qingchan replied in a voice so cold that it cut straight into the bone, ¡°I do hope that you guys will try, and see who ends up paying a more painful price in the end.¡± Feeling the murder from Li Qingchan¡¯s voice, Wang Li waved his hands and said with a smile, ¡°Peace, peace. No need to go so far for a mere few hundred miles of essence flame vein.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s gaze was ice-cold. By this time, it was no longer about how many much of the essence flame vein they occupied, but how the Sacred Palace intended to humiliate the Cangxuan Sect! Even if she knew this, she was powerless with regards to the current situation, and could only boil with anger inside. ¡­ At the mouth of the volcano. Elder Wu watched the situation grow increasingly unfavorable towards them as his face filled with rage. He could hear the whispers from the other factions, and the strange looks in their eyes when they looked towards him. These gazes suddenly made elder Wu¡¯s heart shiver a little as he abruptly realized something. His chilling gaze immediately looked towards the Sacred Palace elder. It seemed that the Sacred Palace was planning on sticking their hand into the Black Flame Province. This was why they had been so secretive. It was all for the sake of stepping on the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s face in front of the many factions of the Black Flame Province to both awe and intimidate them. After all, if even a hegemon level sect like the Cangxuan Sect were to repeatedly suffer at the hands of Sacred Palace, it would show just how powerful they were. With this opening, numerous options would open up for the Sacred Palace to ¡®invade¡¯ the Black Flame Province, ultimately turning this area into another base of operations for them... Such ambition was not small at tall. ¡°How scheming of them!¡± Elder Wu¡¯s expression darkened, unable to release the stifling frustration and anger in his heart. Even if he now know what they were up to, he was powerless to do anything. After all, he could not interfere or it would become a clash of an even higher level. ¡­ Crack. Yang Xuan cracked his neck, a look of what appeared to be pity in his eyes as he looked at the Bai Li duo, who were now incapable of even standing. He shifted his gaze to another direction, finding that things were not going well either for the other Cangxuan Sect disciples. The Sacred Palace side had the advantage of numbers after all. If this continued, the Cangxuan Sect would soon face complete defeat. Yangxuan chuckled at the Bai Li duo, as he said with some melancholy, ¡°It appears that your entire Cangxuan Sect team will soon be wiped out¡­¡± *Spit* Bai Li spat out an arrow of blood that contained some Genesis Qi. The arrow cut through the air, viciously shooting towards Yang Xuan¡¯s face. The Genesis Qi in Yang Xuan¡¯s body instantly created shield around him. The Genesis Qi in the blood arrow was scattered, but a few drops still managed to splash onto Yang Xuan¡¯s handsome face. He frowned as he wiped away the blood on his face before he smiled helplessly and said, ¡°Although killing you will cause me a bit of trouble, you shouldn¡¯t blame me after doing that.¡± A helpless look rose in his eyes as Genesis Qi converged on his hand. It turned into a glowing Genesis Qi spear, the tip flickering with an icy light. Swish! Yang Xuan was expressionless as he flung the spear. It swiftly shot forth, heading straight for Bai Li¡¯s head. Bai Li gritted her teeth, refusing to close her eyes as she fearlessly glared at the incoming spear. ¡°Senior sister Bai Li!¡± A Cangxuan Sect disciple cried out nearby. Swish! The glowing Genesis Qi spear rapidly grow in Bai Li¡¯s eyes. An instant before it landed, countless glowing white threads suddenly surged over from above, forming a white net that rapidly interweaved in front of Bai Li. Ch! The spear struck the net, making it stretch at a disturbingly alarming angle. However, the spear slowly came to a stop half a finger from Bai Li¡¯s face. A wave of sharpness blew out from the glowing spear, cutting a tiny wound between her brows. The faint feeling of pain from between her brows caused Bai Li to return to her senses. She abruptly raised her head, only to discover that a black brush had appeared above her at some unknown time. The snow-white brush hairs at its tip weaved downwards, creating a white net in front of her body that had helped her block the fatal blow... Yang Xuan was also stunned by this scene. Soon after, he helplessly chuckled as he tilted his head backwards, looking towards a certain spot behind him as he said, ¡°Looks like another death seeker has rushed all the way here. Your Cangxuan Sect is truly amusing.¡± A slim figure was gradually revealed, his ethereal body slowly growing clearer and clearer as he walked towards them. Bai Li stared at the figure in a daze. ¡°Zhou¡­ Zhou Yuan?¡± Her expression changed drastically a split second later as she anxiously shouted, ¡°Are you an idiot? Quick! Leave!¡± Even she and Qin Hai had been defeated. What else could Zhou Yuan possibly achieve here besides being quickly dealt with? He would only be an extra side dish! She never imagined that the safely hiding Zhou Yuan would walk straight into their enemy¡¯s net. This was far too irrational. Zhou Yuan smiled at Bai Li, but did not reply to her. Instead, his gaze turned towards the confident looking Yang Xuan as he beckoned with his hand. The Heavenly Yuan Brush swiftly returned, before being raised into the air, directed straight at the latter. ¡°Ain¡¯t I still here¡­ isn¡¯t it a little too early for you to talk about wiping out the entire team?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 422 Want to Die? Heat rose from the vast red land. All of a sudden, rushing wind noises were heard as a number of figures flew over, ultimately stopping outside the battlefield. These figures belonged to members of the other factions in the core region. As time passed, the various fights had reached a result, and after hearing that the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect were facing off here, they had swarmed over like flies in hopes of catching an exciting battle between titans. The junior sect master of the Flame Cauldron Sect, Su Duan and Zuoqiu Qingyu was also amongst this crowd. As such, they were soon treated to the sight of Zhou Yuan stepping into the battlefield... Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s expression was the first to change, a look of worry flashing in her eyes. She never imagined Zhou Yuan would so foolishly charge in. One must know that the Sacred Palace clearly had the absolute upper hand, and Yang Xuan was just too overwhelmingly powerful. Even the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Bai Li and Qin Hai had been defeated. What could Zhou Yuan possibly change? Yang Xuan was obviously far more powerful than the likes of Su Duan... In contrast to Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s worry, a look of joy arose in Su Duan¡¯s eyes. He had been taught a lesson by Zhou Yuan earlier, making him too afraid to provoke the latter again. But if he could see someone else take care of Zhou Yuan, it would naturally relieve some of the pent up frustration in his heart. ¡°Humph, that ignorant and arrogant fool. Do you think Yang Xuan can be challenged by the likes of you?¡± ¡­ Far away, Li Qingchan also heard the voice from the communication jade. Her pupils immediately shrank as she said, ¡°Zhou Yuan? What the hell are you doing here!¡± There was a trace of fury in her voice. The situation was already extremely terrible, and blindly charging in like this was obviously very idiotic of Zhou Yuan. After all, someone like him would only be a burden in a fight of this level. Her figure paused in mid-air as she peered into the distance. Spirit light surged in her eyes, immediately allowing her to see the battlefield far away. She immediately caught sight of Zhou Yuan who had just stepped into the battlefield. Zhou Yuan voice was transmitted from the communication jade, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan¡­ I¡¯m still a member of the Cangxuan Sect. Hiding outside at such a time won¡¯t look good at all.¡± Li Qingchan was a little stunned. Soon after, she let out a bitter laugh. Zhou Yuan¡¯s intentions may be good, but reality was often cruel. ¡°Humph, your good intentions will only end up making things worse. If you¡¯re not capable enough, don¡¯t try and dabble in affairs beyond your level. Otherwise, it will only cause more harm than good.¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s voice suddenly sounded, clearly in disapproval of Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance. From what he could see, Zhou Yuan¡¯s foolish actions would only build up Yang Xuan¡¯s reputation even more. Just as Zhao Zhu was about to speak again, Li Qingchan suddenly stuck her hand out to stop him. Li Qingchan slowly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is your decision, and you must know that there will be a price to pay. Yang Xuan is very ruthless, so you¡¯d better be careful. If you are not his match, retreat as fast as you can.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Answered Zhou Yuan with a smile, before the communication jade fell silence once more. Zhao Zhu appeared beside Li Qingchan, looking towards her as he said in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan is too ignorant, and you should never have brought him along on this mission. If any other veteran disciple had taken his place, things might not have gotten so bad.¡± Li Qingchan flatly said, ¡°Even Bai Li and Qin Hai¡¯s combined might lost to Yang Xuan. Do you think having an additional veteran disciple would make a difference?¡± She paused for a moment, before casting her gaze into the distance to look at a certain young figure. ¡°Zhou Yuan is not a rash person. The fact that he chose to appear here might mean that he has some kind of plan. What if a miracle happens?¡± Although she knew that the odds of such a miracle was far too low, this was the only way left to console herself. The corners of Zhao Zhu¡¯s mouth turned downwards when he heard this, most likely feeling that Li Qingchan was being far too naive. ¡°A miracle? How? What that turtle shell of his?¡± He shook his head, his voice full of mockery. Li Qingchan did not respond. She shot a glance to the front where Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu were still obstructing their way as her expression gradually turned to calmness. However, there was a certain resolve within that calmness. She had already decided that if the situation became even worse over there, no matter how steep of a price they would have to pay today, she will drag the other party to the grave even if she had to sacrifice herself. This matter now infringed upon the reputation of the Cangxuan Sect, and she would protect it even if she had to pay with her life. ¡­ At the mouth of the volcano. Elder Wu was also stunned for quite some time when he saw Zhou Yuan suddenly appear and insert himself into the battle. In the end, elder Wu could only secretly simmer inside. ¡°This Zhou Yuan is really an ignorant idiot!¡± Though elder Wu did admire Zhou Yuan just a tiny bit for how he had chosen to bravely step forward in this situation, he was ultimately far too weak. At the end of the day, he would only make Yang Xuan¡¯s battle achievements appear even more glorious. Such actions were truly somewhat unsuitable for the situation. The other factions also began to whisper again, clearly trying to find out about this new Cangxuan Sect disciple that had appeared. However, when they realized that he was only at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, they could not help but be baffled. When even outstanding disciples like Bai Li and Qin Hai had lost, the appearance of this fourth layer disciple was only asking for trouble. As such, they shook their heads one after another. It seems that the Cangxuan Sect was really going to be knocked a peg down by the Sacred Palace this time. ¡­ Under the attention of numerous gazes, Yang Xuan could not help but burst out into laughter when he heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. The former had already withdrawn his gaze, not even bothering to look at Zhou Yuan again. ¡°Your fellow Cangxuan Sect disciple is quite an interesting guy¡­¡± He grinned at the deathly pale Bai Li and Qin Hai, before waving towards one of the Sacred Palace disciples nearby. ¡°Take care of him. I feel breaking one of his legs is enough to teach him a little lesson.¡± He could not even be bothered to personally deal with Zhou Yuan. In Yang Xuan¡¯s opinion, that was too huge of an honor for a mere fourth layer disciple. The Sacred Palace disciple he gave the instructions to was a seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage expert, whose Genesis Qi undulations appeared to be even stronger than Su Duan¡¯s. At this current time, the Sacred Palace disciple was smiling sinisterly as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Kid, no one would have bothered to deal with you if you had obediently hidden outside, and yet you just had to blindly run here like an ignorant fool. You really can¡¯t blame us for what¡¯s about to happen.¡± Rumble! A burst of vigorous Genesis Qi exploded as the Sacred Palace disciple shot forth like a bolt of lightning, heading straight for Zhou Yuan. As Yang Xuan felt the burst of Genesis Qi behind him, he began to walk towards Bai Li and Qin Hai again. He intended to utterly crush them such that the mere thought of him would make them tremble in fear. An eerie smile slowly appeared on his lips. Dong! However, the moment he lifted his foot, the sound of Genesis Qi colliding was heard from behind, followed almost instantly by a miserable shriek. A shadow flew past him, before crashing into a group of boulders, nearly the entire body buried under the rubble. This unexpected event stunned everyone. They quickly looked towards the rubble, only to find an extremely pitiful blood-soaked figure. Bai Li, Qin Hai and gang were initially filled with rage when they turned towards the figure, before suddenly realizing that something was wrong. That was not Zhou Yuan! But the Sacred Palace disciple?! Yang Xuan¡¯s foot slowly came to a stop at this moment. He was silent for a moment as he gazed at the bloody body of the Sacred Palace disciple, before slowly turning around. He was just in time to see a slim figure weilding a black brush slowly walk out from the crumbled remains of the ground. Bai Li and Qin Hai¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank. They were truly unable to believe that it only taken Zhou Yuan one move to defeat a seventh layer Sacred Palace disciple. The surroundings had fallen rather silent. One could imagine the countless gazes filled with astonishment as they watched this scene. The situation seemed to have developed in quite a different direction than they had imagined. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you at least respect me a little? Do you really think that I¡¯m just another dish for you to eat?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled at Yang Xuan. Yang Xuan was silent for a moment, before he nodded with a smile. ¡°How interesting¡­ can¡¯t believe that I made such a mistake¡­¡± ¡°Over the years, I¡¯ve always been rather fond of disguising myself as a sheep to devour the wolves. I never expected to meet someone whose even better than myself this time¡­¡± He sighed, staring at Zhou Yuan as he said in a rather regretful voice, ¡°I originally intended on breaking only one of your legs, but it now seems¡­ that you really¡­¡± ¡°Want to die?¡± Towards the end, Yang Xuan¡¯s expression turned chillingly eerie, a sight so frightening it would make the hairs of anyone who saw it stand on end. Previous Chapte Chapter 423 Zhou Yuan VS Yang Xuan By the time the final word was spat out from Yang Xuan¡¯s mouth, his previously smiling face had already transformed into an eerily chilling expression. Even the temperature seemed to abruptly plummet at this moment. Anyone could sense the piercingly cold killing intent spreading from Yang Xuan¡¯s eyes. He was clearly both embarrassed and angered by his earlier error in judgement. From start to end, he had never paid much attention to Zhou Yuan, merely viewing the latter as an ant that could be easily squashed whenever he wanted to. However, the fact that Zhou Yuan had defeated that Sacred Palace disciple in a single exchange was already enough proof that was not as weak as Yang Xuan had imagined. The feeling of something leaving his control made murder surge in Yang Xuan¡¯s heart. Others in the vicinity were likewise able to sense the murder in Yang Xuan¡¯s eyes, causing them to immediately cast gloating gazes at Zhou Yuan. It seems that this guy had managed to completely enrage Yang Xuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was unexpectedly calm. As his gaze clashed with Yang Xuan¡¯s, even the air itself seemed to solidify. Extremely powerful Genesis Qi began to rise from Yang Xuan¡¯s body. His Genesis Qi had an ash-like luster, and gave off a strangely ominous aura. Yang Xuan¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations rose steadily, bringing with it a tremendous pressure. In a short few breaths, the Genesis Qi undulations around Yang Xuan reached the peak of the perfect seventh layer as the ground below his feet gradually began to crack... Boom! In the next instant, Yang Xuan made his move. Ash-white Genesis Qi swept forth like a raging flood. The Genesis Qi was akin to a roaring white python, snaking and coiling in the air around Zhou Yuan with a swoosh. An ominously icy aura spread. Countless long Genesis Qi needles slowly began to form from within the ash-white Genesis Qi. These needles were half a foot long, an ominously icy aura swirling around their thin, pale white bodies. ¡°Bone Needle Storm!¡± A cold and cruel look filled Yang Xuan¡¯s face as he slapped his hands together. One could only watch as the countless bone needles abruptly descended like a storm, covering every inch of visible space in a certain area at which Zhou Yuan stood at the center. Yang Xuan clearly had no intentions of engaging in any form of probing, giving Zhou Yuan no chance to evade from the get go. These bone needles were not only made from his Genesis Qi, but also infused with remnant bone marrow from numerous Genesis Beasts. Hence, they possessed a kind of death Qi that was extremely corrosive in nature. Once struck by the needles, the death Qi would quickly spread throughout the body while causing widespread destruction, making it an extremely vicious and domineering attack. As such, when the onlookers saw Yang Xuan unleash such a deadly move at the very start, they secretly wet their lips, pitying Zhou Yuan a little more in their hearts. Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked at the ash-white shadows that practically filled his entire vision. His eyes narrowed slightly as he felt the ominously cold aura swirling around them, before his hands abruptly slapped together. Resplendent golden Genesis Qi exploded from his body. It looked as if a golden python was dashing into the air, before swooping down to coil around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like a giant golden bell. ¡°Mystical Python¡¯s Great Golden Bell!¡± In the wake of Zhou Yuan¡¯s shout, a giant golden bell enveloped his body. Swish! Countless ash-white needles fell like rain, bombarding the golden bell, creating an unending stream of clear ¡®cling clang¡¯ noises. The ground within a fifty feet radius was riddled with pitch-black holes, each hole so deep that its bottom could not be seen. Meanwhile, the smell of decay spread as wisps of black smoke rose from the land that was previously brimming with vitality. The rising black smoke partially obstructed everyone¡¯s view. The ash-white needles continued their assault for quite some time, before the last needle finally fell. Countless gazes were immediately cast over. ¡°Zhou Yuan has likely been pierced by ten thousand needles¡­¡± ¡°Only a handful of individuals amongst the seventh layer will be able to survive this attack. That fourth layer Zhou Yuan must surely have met a pitiful end.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Numerous whispers spread. Everyone was clearly in awe of Yang Xuan¡¯s overwhelming attack. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s hands were tighly clenched, her clear peach blossom like eyes filled with worry. Excitement was revealed in Su Duan¡¯s eyes as he gnashed his teeth and said, ¡°Let¡¯s see how you¡¯ll survive this!¡± Under the innumerable watching gazes of the crowd, the black smoke was gradually blown away as glimmers of faint golden light appeared. A golden bell silently towered within the fading smoke, covered in ash-white bone needles like a porcupine. These needles only managed to penetrate half way through, unable to completely pierce through the defenses of golden bell... Numerous pupils shrank slightly at this moment as many individuals involuntarily blurted out, ¡°Such a strong defense?!¡± The golden bell¡¯s defense had clearly surpassed their expectations. Bai Li, who had been closely watching from start to end, breathed a sigh of relief. Zhou Yuan¡¯s turtle shell was thankfully as sturdy and solid as before. Yang Xuan was also a little taken aback, seemingly unable to comprehend why his attack had failed. In the end, he shook his head and said, ¡°No wonder you had the balls to come here. So it¡¯s because of this defense Genesis technique?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s defense technique was admittedly rather extraordinary to have blocked Yang Xuan¡¯s strike. However, though it had managed to withstand the barrage once, would it be able to hold up a second time? Rumble! However, the moment his voice rang out, the golden bell abruptly dissipated as a faint dragon roar echoed. Nine Genesis Beasts made from Genesis Qi dashed into the sky, rippling with savage auras. ¡°Nine Dragons Canon, ninth dragon!¡± Nine Genesis Qi Beasts swiftly fused into one. The giant behemoth roared as it dived downwards, charging towards Yang Xuan with unmatched ferocity. Zhou Yuan had evidently begun his counter attack. Not a single ripple could be seen in Yang Xuan¡¯s eyes as watched the enormous Genesis Qi Beast rapidly approach. Instead, a small mocking smile began to rise from the corners of his mouth. He extended a hand, ash-white Genesis Qi swirling on his palm as he sent a thrust towards the roaring Genesis Qi Beast. Boom! A devastating shockwave unfurled as cracks rapidly grew from under his feet like a spiderweb... Yang Xuan¡¯s figure was unmoved from the spot. In contrast, the Genesis Qi Beast that had been forced to a stop by his palm released a miserable howl, before exploding into a million specks of light. The watching onlookers sucked in a breath of cold air, nearly unable to believe how overwhelming Yang Xuan was... Zhou Yuan¡¯s counter attack had been nothing but praise worthy. Even so, it had failed to even shake Yuan Xuan¡¯s body. Instead, it had ended up being scattered with a single thrust of his palm. The Genesis Qi of both parties were on completely different levels. Yang Xuan raised his eyelids slightly, the contempt in his smile growing as his chilling gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan. ¡°Is this all you have?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened a little. This was the first time his opponent had so easily neutralized the ninth dragon. Yang Xuan was indeed an overwhelmingly powerful foe. No wonder even Bai Li and Qin Hai¡¯s combined might had been crushed at Yang Xuan¡¯s hands. ¡°If that is all you have, your fate today¡­ will be rather gruesome.¡± Only indifference was visible in Yang Xuan¡¯s gaze as he stared at Zhou Yuan. Swish! Before his words could fade, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had already etherealized as he shot forward like a wisp of smoke. Disdain flashed in Yang Xuan¡¯s eyes at the sight of Zhou Yuan stubborn persistence. ¡°Fine, if you insist on seeking death, I shall gladly fulfil your wish¡­¡± Ash-white Genesis Qi surged between his palms, pulsing with alarming undulations. All it took was a few breaths for Zhou Yuan to appear in front of his opponent, his expression frighteningly calm as his hand tightened around the rapidly growing Heavenly Yuan Brush. The snow-white brush tip curved at a sharp angle, tricky and ruthless as it thrust towards Yang Xuan¡¯s throat. As the snow-white tip cut through the air, a soft voice sounded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. ¡°Heavenly Yuan Brush, Genesis Breaker!¡± An ancient rune on the brush¡¯s mottled body slowly began to light up. Glowing black runes rapidly emerged and extended on the snow-white tip, turning it pitch-black in the blink of an eye. Black light streaked past, along with a cryptic, unreadable light. The Heavenly Yuan Brush had withdrawn all of its sharpness, seemingly returning to a state of ordinariness. However, Yang Xuan¡¯s eyes suddenly widened at this instant, his instinct whispering that something was off. The reflection of a pitch-black brush tip rapidly grew in his pupils. He suddenly twirled his hands a split second later, ash-white Genesis Qi erupting out to form a glowing circle. ¡°Sacred Disk Technique!¡± Chla! A flash of black arrived the moment the disk was formed, the brush tip stabbing the glowing disk. Black light seemed to surge at the point of contact. Next, Yang Xuan¡¯s pupils violently shrank as he watched the black tip of the brush tear through the glowing disk as if it was thin paper. ¡°How?!¡± He involuntarily cried out in his heart. Even the Bai Li duo had been unable to break the Sacred Disk Technique earlier. Why had it been so easily pierced by the fourth layer Zhou Yuan? The flash of black went directly for Yang Xuan¡¯s throat. At this juncture of life and death, Yang Xuan violently jerked his hands as the Sacred Disk Technique abruptly began spinning in reverse. An even stronger surge of power blasted out, ultimately managing to nudge the black flash at the final moment. A wave of Genesis Qi unfurled, devastating the surroundings. Two figures crossed each other, exchanging places. Not a single one of the countless gazes blinked as they watched. Next, grasp after gasp was heard. They had seen fresh blood dripping from the tip of the black brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. A sinister looking wound had appeared on Yang Xuan¡¯s shoulder, the blood instantly soaking into his clothes. An uproar exploded, sweeping across the entire place. No one had expected Yang Xuan¡­ to be injured by Zhou Yuan! Behind the two fighters, Bai Li and Qin Hai were also dumbstruck as they stared at this scene. Their bitter struggle against Yang Xuan earlier had not yielded even a single wound from him. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan had made Yang Xuan see blood in a short span of time! ¡°How can this be?!¡± They stared in shock at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Zhou Yuan lowered his head to glance the blood on the tip of his brush, as a sliver of regret flashed in his eyes. He had originally planned on piercing Yang Xuan¡¯s throat. Unfortunately, the latter was just too slippery, managing to deflect the trajectory of Zhou Yuan¡¯s thrust at the very last moment. Fresh blood splattered onto the ground with a light shake of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. He did not look back at Yang Xuan as he said, ¡°It seems that you¡¯ll have to work a little harder if you want me to die here¡­¡± Under the attention of the innumerable watching gazes, Yang Xuan slowly turned his head to look at the wound on his shoulder. His face seemed to twitch faintly as an extremely vicious and sinister look flooded out little by little. ¡°I¡¯m going to¡­¡± ¡°cripple you today!¡± Rumble! The murderous rage felt almost solid as it charged into the sky, causing the hearts of countless individuals to shiver as dread rose in their eyes. Yang Xuan seemed to have gone mad with anger. Previous Chapte Chapter 424 Zhou Yuan’s Prowess Rumble! Wave after wave of ominous ash-white Genesis Qi violently pulsed from Yang Xuan¡¯s body. A pillar of Genesis Qi light rose into the sky like smoke, seemingly filled with howls of death. The expressions of the numerous onlookers changed slightly when they felt the unmatched power of the Genesis Qi, gazes filled with fear and terror as they looked towards Yang Xuan. Bai Li could not help but shout from behind, ¡°Careful Zhou Yuan!¡± It was obvious that Yang Xuan had already gone mad with anger. After the previous exchange, even Bai Li had no choice but to admit that Yang Xuan was indeed an extremely troublesome opponent. What¡¯s more, it was more than likely that the latter had not once been completely serious against Qin Hai and her earlier. But now, after sustaining an injury from Zhou Yuan due to carelessly, Yang Xuan was now in a state of full on rage. Woowoo! Yang Xuan¡¯s chillingly eerie gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan as his hands clapped together and formed a hand seal. The ash-white Genesis Qi in the sky immediately crashed down like a wave, its immensity and vastness shaking even the land itself. Moreover, countless shadows seemed to be swimming within this Genesis Qi torrent, some appearing like beasts, while others appearing human like. It was a very bizarre sight indeed. The Genesis Qi Yang Xuan cultivated was known as the Thousand Bone Genesis Qi, and required one to fuse the death Qi from numerous bones with one¡¯s body. The Genesis Qi formed by this process contained death Qi, which was able to swiftly decay the flesh of anyone it infected, making it extremely domineering in nature. Swish! Zhou Yuan eyes widened slightly as he raised his head to gaze at the howling flood of ash-white Genesis Qi. In the next instant, his foot slammed into the ground, unexpectedly neither trying to avoid nor dodge, but instead leaping up to meet it head-on. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands vibrated as the surrounding Genesis Qi whizzed over and poured into the brush. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations began to rise at a steady pace. Zhou Yuan was a fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage expert, and even if his foundations were comparable to the seventh layer, there was still a gap between him and the perfect seventh layer Yang Xuan. However, with the boost from the newly upgraded Heavenly Yuan Brush, Zhou Yuan was in a way already able to match Yang Xuan in Genesis Qi. Ch! The thousand feet wide Genesis Qi flood descended, making Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appear like an ant in comparison. However, he showed no fear as he jerked the Heavenly Yuan Brush, causing its snow-white type to gradually turn pitch-black again. A deep, cryptic light gathered, a sign that Genesis Breaker¡¯s power was being activated once more. ¡°Break!¡± The pitch-black brush tip thrust towards the Genesis Qi flood. The entire world seemed to fall silent for an instant, before countless gazes watched in shock as the giant Genesis Qi flood began to fall apart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure continued its ascent, destroying the ash-white Genesis Qi wherever he passed. With the power of Genesis Breaker, as long as the other party did not have an absolute advantage in Genesis Qi, all their Genesis Qi attacks would become substantially weaker. Humph! Yang Xuan¡¯s expression turned even darker when he saw this. His hand seal changed and several torrents Genesis Qi immediately surged forth, linking up end to end as they blasted at Zhou Yuan in succession. Yang Xuan was obviously refusing to believe this was happening. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure flashed past in the sky as the Heavenly Yuan Brush shuddered. Brush shadows pierced through the air, each one striking and tearing through a torrent of Genesis Qi. Surprise appeared in the countless gazes watching the figure flicker in the sky above. No one expected the fourth layer Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan to be capable of scattering all of Yang Xuan¡¯s Genesis Qi attacks. Far away, light surged in Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes as these scenes also entered her sight, causing a look of amazement to appear on her beautiful face. ¡°How did Zhou Yuan suddenly become so powerful?¡± She mumbled to herself. The current Zhou Yuan was clearly much stronger than when they had left the Cangxuan Sect. Given his strength back then, it would have been nearly impossible for him to receive a single one of these attacks. By the side, Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately. In his opinion, though Zhou Yuan was very prominent amongst the newest batch of disciples, this was only limited to ¡®ordinary¡¯ disciples. In fact, it should take him several years to establish a place for himself amongst the purple sash disciples. However, who could have guessed that Zhou Yuan was actually capable of going toe to toe with the perfect seventh layer Yang Xuan. This was inconceivable to Zhao Zhu. After some observation, Li Qingchan finally understood as she muttered in a soft voice, ¡°It must be that black brush he¡¯s using¡­¡± ¡°If my guess is not wrong, that black brush has likely reached the Heaven Genesis Weapon level.¡± The Genesis Qi surrounding Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was indeed weaker than Yang Xuan¡¯s, but the brush wielded by the former was extremely bizarre, and seemed to possess a unique power that allowed Zhou Yuan to repeatedly achieve the greatest power with the smallest effort, destroying all of his opponent¡¯s Genesis Qi attacks. ¡°A Heaven Genesis Weapon?¡± Zhao Zhu was taken aback. A Heaven Genesis Weapon was no ordinary item. Even in the Cangxuan Sect, only Chosens like them would be bestowed one by the sect. As for ordinary disciples, even those with powerful backgrounds may not own such a weapon of that level. ¡°So that¡¯s how¡­¡± ... At the mouth of the volcano. The numerous factions watched the images reflected on their Genesis Qi screens as they gasped in surprise and alarm. The development of the situation had evidently surpassed their expectations. Elder Wu was like somewhat rather stupefied as he watched. ¡°This kid¡­¡± His old face filled with astonishment as he watched Zhou Yuan shatter powerful Genesis Qi light pillar after pillar. The elder would never have imagined that when it seemed as if all hope was lost, the one who would step forward to save them, would be the same person he had sent away from the core region at the very beginning... ¡°How is he actually so powerful?¡± Elder Wu could not help but mutter. Zhou Yuan was clearly only at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, and yet he was somehow able to exchange blow after blow with Yang Xuan. After observing for a long time, his gaze ultimately focused on the black brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. ¡°No wonder¡­¡± It had obviously realized something. However, elder Wu did not care how Zhou Yuan had done it, because only result mattered. As such, a sliver of expectation began to appear in the elder¡¯s gaze as he continued to watch Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. The only thing he could do now was hope for the best, and pray that Zhou Yuan would succeed in stopping Yang Xuan. Elder Wu did not expect Zhou Yuan to defeat Yang Xuan, but hoped he could at least hold off the latter as long as possible. This would create some breathing room for the others, and prevent them from being put into an even more miserable situation. ¡°Kid¡­ you gotta do your best. If you managed to stall Yang Xuan long enough, I¡¯ll give you an excellent evaluation after this mission is over!¡± ... Bang! Bang! Torrent after torrent of ash-white Genesis Qi continued to descend from the sky. Each powerful blast packed with enough destructive energy to level an entire mountain. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure continued to zip about amongst them, torrent after torrent of Genesis Qi scattering with each point of the black brush, making it appear as easy as cutting through butter with a hot knife. Yang Xuan¡¯s expression grew stormier and stormier. Even Bai Li and Qin Hai together had been unable to withstand this same barrage of Genesis Qi attacks earlier. And yet, they seemed to pose no threat towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Is it that black brush¡­¡± His dark gaze locked onto the mysterious mottled black brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. Bang! Another blast of Genesis Qi was pierced. Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as his figure instantly etherealized, seemingly teleporting as he appeared behind Yang Xuan like a phantom. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± A mysterious light surfaced on the pitch-black brush tip, rippling even space itself as it passed through. The sharp tip thrust towards a fatal spot on Yang Xuan¡¯s back at an extremely crafty angle. Pah! Yang Xuan¡¯s palms slapped together as ash-white Genesis Qi surged out, creating several layers of thick Genesis Qi defenses around his body. Pchla! However, the brush tip that pulsed with black light quickly swept past, tearing through each layer as if they were thin pieces of paper. ¡°Now!¡± Sharpness gathered in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he jerked his fist, causing the brush tip to transform into a streak of black aimed straight at Yang Xuan¡¯s fatal spot. Gasp after gasp sounded in the area. Zhou Yuan had finally found a chance after waiting for so long, and clearly planned on seriously injuring Yang Xuan with this strike. Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest of the Cangxuan Sect disciples had eyes wide open. Whoo! The brush tip swept past. However, a split second before it could pierce Yang Xuan¡¯s body, an ash-white shadow suddenly flew over and collided against the brush tip. Clang! Sparks flew in all directions. Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves erupted, scattering even the nearby clouds. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly at this moment. The jolt from the brush tip caused a feeling of pain to be transmitted from his hands. His unstoppable momentum had finally been stopped... He raised his eyes, looking towards the end of the brush tip, where a bone whip was blocking it. The bone whip had a deathly pale sheen, and strange patterns had been carved on along its body. Every slight movement seemed cause a piercing shriek to be emitted from it. The surrounding Genesis Qi surged towards the bone whip. With the bone whip in hand, Yang Xuan¡¯s aura began to raise to an alarming level. He lifted his head at this moment, sending a death glare towards the nearby Zhou Yuan as an eerily sinister smile appeared from the corners of his mouth. ¡°A Heaven Genesis Weapon¡­ did you think that I didn¡¯t have one?!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 425 The Tenaciously Troublesome Yang Xuan In the sky, the black Heavenly Yuan Brush had clashed against a deathly white bone whip. The Genesis Qi undulations that spread caused the space around them to tremble faintly. Clang! A burst of Genesis Qi exploded with a jerk of the bone whip, pushing away the Heavenly Yuan Brush along with Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Yang Xuan did not give chase, merely continuing to stand there in the air as his dark gaze stared at Zhou Yuan. Ash-white Genesis QI swirled around the bone whip in his hand, as piercing shrieks were emitted. The aura around him continued to rise. Countless gazes gathered on Yang Xuan at this moment, ultimately focusing on the deathly white bone whip in his hand as their eyes widened. ¡°Another Heaven Genesis Weapon?!¡± ¡°My god, to think that Yang Xuan has actually been forced to this extent¡­ even Bai Li and Qin Hai combined might had failed to achieve this earlier!¡± ¡°What a pity. Zhou Yuan had only been so overwhelming earlier because of his Heaven Genesis Weapon. Since Yang Xuan now has one too, the situation is likely going to change.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Amidst the numerous whispers, a grim look appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he stared at Yang Xuan. From that brief clash earlier, he could sense that the bone whip in his opponent¡¯s hand had indeed surpassed the Black Genesis Weapon level. However, it was not a true Heaven Genesis Weapon. To be more precise, it could only be considered a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. Even so, Zhou Yuan¡¯s advantage had begun to fade the moment Yang Xuan took out this weapon. After all, the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Genesis Breaker was most effective against pure Genesis Qi attacks. When pitted against the opponent¡¯s Heaven Genesis Weapon, Genesis Breaker¡¯s power would be much weaker. Zhou Yuan slowly tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as deep night black light flowed on its pitch-black tip. Swish! His eyes suddenly widened a split second later, because Yang Xuan¡¯s figure had abruptly appeared in front of him. The deathly white bone whip transformed into countless shadows that seemed to fill the sky as they attacked. Every whip shadow was accompanied by a sharp shriek that seemed to pierce straight into your ears. In fact, it even affected the Genesis Qi in one¡¯s body, causing it to become a little chaotic. Zhou Yuan hurriedly circulated his Genesis Qi in an effort to defend against the piercing shriek. With a swing, Genesis Qi surged as the Heavenly Yuan Brush rose to meet the attacks. Clang! Clang! Two figures danced in the sky like flashes of lightning, countless brush and whip shadows colliding time and time again. Every clash would cause a thousand feet tall wave of Genesis Qi to erupt that shake the sky around them. This clash could be said to have reached the limits of both intensity and ferocity. This time, however, anyone could see that Zhou Yuan had lost his unstoppable momentum from earlier against Yang Xuan, who was now armed with a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. Though Yang Xuan¡¯s bone whip was indeed unable to compare to the Heavenly Yuan Brush in terms of quality, his Genesis Qi foundation far exceeded Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Hence, after borrowing the power of the bone whip, the former was once again about to gradually reverse the situation. Gaze after gaze anxiously watched the battle between the two figures in the sky. In a short few minutes, they had already exchanged over a hundred blows. Clang! After yet another fierce clash, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was forced backwards, his expression growing increasingly grave. A Heaven Genesis Weapon was a game changer. Yang Xuan was clearly much harder to deal with than before. At this current moment, Zhou Yuan could feel a growing piercing pain from his hands. ¡°Weren¡¯t you bragging so much earlier?¡± Yang Xuan looked over as mockery appeared from the corners of his mouth. ¡°It will be better for you to celebrate after we¡¯re done fighting.¡± Zhou Yuan responded with a cold smile. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can keep up your smart-assness!¡± An icy look flashed in Yang Xuan¡¯s eyes as the bone whip in his hand suddenly jerked. The whip dashed into the sky as an icy piercing shriek rang out. The surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly surged over and poured into the bone whip as a stifling pressure began to spread. ¡°Heavenly Bone Whip, Heavenly Bone Phantasm!¡± Roared Yang Xuan as he made a hand seal. Deathly white Genesis Qi exploded from the bone whip, before gathering around the whip to form a giant phantasm made from white bones. The phantasm appeared to be some sort of chimera created by the amalgamation of countless humans and beasts. It was a very strange sight indeed. Whoowoo! An alarming amount of Genesis Qi gathered around the titanic bone chimera phantasm. It suddenly made its move a split second later, diving towards Zhou Yuan at an astonishing speed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank a little as he looked towards the bone chimera phantasm, evidently sensing the power of Yang Xuan¡¯s attack. With a deep breath, Zhou Yuan let go of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. It dashed into the sky as it began absorbing Genesis Qi. Resplendent golden light immediately exploded from the brush. ¡°Heavenly Yuan Brush, Million Whale!¡± The wail of an ancient whale echoed from the Heavenly Yuan Brush as Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand seal changed, Genesis Qi surging around the brush like a maelstrom. An enormous silhouette of a whale appeared, towering above Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Quickly followed by another... Whale after whale continued to appear, ultimately reaching a total of five! When the Heavenly Yuan Brush evolved to a Heaven Genesis Weapon, the power of the Million Whale Rune was also upgraded. At most one whale would appear when used by Zhou Yuan in the past, but that number had now multiplied five fold! Each whale possessed overwhelming power, and with five of them gathered, their combined might was likely enough to overturn the sea. In response to Yang Xuan¡¯s increasingly alarming attacks, Zhou Yuan had also begun to use his full power. ¡°Go!¡± Roared Zhou Yuan as the Heavenly Yuan Brush shuddered, releasing a buzzing sound. Next, it pierced through the air, give whale silhouettes spiraling around it as the wail of a whale filled the land. Countless gazes watched with rapt attention, unable to turn away. The giant bone chimera descended from the sky, while the Heavenly Yuan Brush led five whale silhouettes as it dashed upwards. In the end, both forces fiercely collided under the numerous nervous watching eyes. Boom! A several thousand feet tall shockwave of Genesis Qi exploded. Even the hills some distance away began to crumble, as giant fissure grew on the land... In the sky, the whale silhouettes were torn to shreds, while the bone chimera phantasm disintegrated inch by inch. As the two closest individuals to the clash, Zhou Yuan and Yang Xuan were the first to be struck. The terrifying shockwave violently blew them away, flinging their tumbling figures like rag dolls. In the end, both individuals crash landed onto two red hills. Rumble! The two hills collapsed, tumbling boulders burying the two of them. However, the boulders were sent flying a split second later as two figures dashed into the sky, facing each other as they landed two still intact hills. The many onlookers immediately shifted their gazes. Both individuals now had rather tattered clothes, while traces of blood were visible at the corner of their mouths. They had evidently sustained some minor injuries in the previous clash. Unexpectedly, both of them appeared to be equally match. An uproar swept across the area, gaze after gaze filled with shock as they stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure... They had originally believed that Yang Xuan would soon turn things around after taking out a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. Who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would be so tenacious, forcibly taking on each and every one of Yang Xuan¡¯s powerful attacks. In the sky far away, a look of joy flashed across Li Qingchan¡¯s face when she saw this result, the frosty look that originally filled her face thawing a little at this moment. ¡°He really is full of surprises.¡± She sofly mumbled under her breath. There was a hint of praise in her words. By the side, Zhao Zhu frowned a little as he said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid he may already be on his last dregs.¡± Li Qingchan frowned slightly as she replied, ¡°Junior brother Zhao Zhu, although Zhou Yuan may have some disagreements with your Sword Cometh Peak, we should be united against the outsiders at this time. I hope that you will stop with your pessimistic remarks, because neither of us will be able to escape punishment if Zhou Yuan loses.¡± After being chided by Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu could only resentfully shut his mouth. Opposite Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu, the Sacred Palace¡¯s Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu were also observing the battle far away. Their expression had been rather relaxed in the beginning, but had now gradually begun to turn a little ugly. Like everyone else, they too never imagined that Yang Xuan would be stopped by a mere fourth layer Alpha-Origin disciple... ¡°What the hell is Yang Xuan doing?¡± Said Cao Jinzhu with a frown. ¡°There¡¯s something strange about that Cangxuan Sect disciple Zhou Yuan.¡± Wang Chi slowly said, ¡°His Genesis Qi foundations appears to be inconceivably strong.¡± They had also realized that even without that strange black brush, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations were no weaker than ordinary seventh layer experts. This meant that his Genesis Qi foundations were crazily strong for his cultivation level. ¡°If Yang Xuan wishes to win, he has to use his full power¡± Wang Chi icily glanced at the Li Qingchan duo, before his voice thundered across horizon with the aid of Genesis Qi. ¡°Yang Xuan, stop holding back!¡± His voice boomed across the sky, echoing between the hills where Zhou Yuan and Yang Xuan stood. Yang Xuan frowned when he heard Wang Chi¡¯s voice as a look of hesitation flitted across his eyes. In the end, this hesitation turned into resolution. The rules of the Sacred Palace were very strict. If he made a mistake this time, he would definitely be punished when he returned. His cultivation resources would also be taken away, which would have serious repercussions on his future cultivation. Therefore, he absolutely could not lose today. A savage look surged onto Yang Xuan¡¯s face. He sent a chilling eerie glance at Zhou Yuan, before tearing apart his clothes, revealing his bare chest. A circular blood-colored rune enclosed the spot where his heart should be. The rune appeared to be covered in faint ancient patterns, and seemed to squirm within Yang Xuan¡¯s flesh. It appeared to be some kind of seal. ¡°I originally prepared this seal to vie for one of the twelve chief disciples seats of the twelve halls. I truly never expected that I would have to end up using it on you today¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve spoiled my plans.¡± ¡°So don¡¯t worry, after I defeat you, I will slowly crush every bone in your body to sate the hatred in my heart!¡± Yang Xuan¡¯s eerily chilling voice was filled with intense maliciousness as it sounded. Pu! Yang Xuan bit the tip of his tongue, and spat out a mouthful of essence blood onto his hand, before smearing it on the blood-red seal. Smoke immediately began to rise from the seal as it began to unravel. Rumble! The instant the seal was completely undone, everyone felt a frightening Genesis Qi undulation erupt like a volcano that had been suppressed for a millenium! The hill under his feet violently shuddered as it began to crumble. Countless gazes looked towards his figure in horror. As Yang Xuan¡¯s Genesis Qi rose, he broke past the boundary of the seventh layer, steadily climbing to the realm of the eighth layer! In response to this scene, the expressions of Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest changed one after another. Even Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils had abruptly tightened as his expression turned extremely grave. To think that Yang Xuan¡­ had such a shocking trump card! Previous Chapte Chapter 426 Eighth Layer? Boom! Berserk Genesis Qi erupted from Yang Xuan¡¯s body, seemingly covering the entire sky, as countless shocked and horrified gazes were drawn towards him. No one had imagined that even at this stage of the fight, Yang Xuan had still been hiding such an astonishing trump card. The Genesis Qi undulations that pulsed from his body had already broken past the perfect seventh layer level, faintly stepping into the eighth layer! Although it was still somewhat unstable, everyone could clearly sense that it had risen. ¡°God damnit!¡± Bai Li and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples could not help but curse with pale faces. Yang Xuan¡¯s strength had greatly surpassed their expectations. One must know that the eighth layer Alpha-Origin stage had the qualifications to compete with the chief disciples of the various peaks in their Cangxuan Sect. Far away, Li Qingchan¡¯s hands could not help but clench tightly when she saw this. This turn of events had instantly snuffed the sliver of hope she had earlier. This was the eighth layer Alpha-Origin stage! In the face of such a huge gap in cultivation, it would be basically impossible for even Zhou Yuan to make a comeback. Zuoqiu Qingyu lightly stamped her foot as she gnashed her teeth and said, ¡°This is too shameless!¡± Though she said so, she also knew that this was no child¡¯s game, but a true life or death struggle. The ability to conceal one¡¯s power was also part of one¡¯s skill. It was only because she had a closer relationship with Zhou Yuan, and naturally hoped for his victory. But from the looks of it, that was now going to be a little difficult to achieve. Amidst the countless gasps that seemed to fill the sky, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned extremely grave. The powerful Genesis Qi ripples spreading from Yang Xuan¡¯s body made the former feel a tremendous amount of pressure. The eighth layer was just far too powerful. While Zhou Yuan was tense and waiting, Yang Xuan slowly raised his gaze that was filled with cruelness, as he locked onto Zhou Yuan like a tiger finding its prey. Due to the whims of fate, Yang Xuan had once obtained a peculiar sealing technique. This sealing technique could seal one¡¯s Genesis Qi, allowing it to condense time after time inside one¡¯s body. When the day finally came for the seal to be broken, all of the sealed Genesis Qi would suddenly grow at an explosive rate. This final seal had originally been prepared for the chief disciple selection of the twelve halls, but Zhou Yuan had forced him to break it here and now... Breaking the seal ahead of time would naturally lead to repercussions. This was the main reason why his eighth layer Alpha-Origin stage was not stable. If he had been allowed to wait a little longer, his Genesis Qi foundations would surely have risen to even more amazing heights. Unfortunately¡­ everything had been ruined by Zhou Yuan. ¡°I will make you beg for death today!¡± A chilling voice escaped from the cracks between Yang Xuan¡¯s teeth. In the next instant, he made a grabbing motion with his hand, and the Heavenly Bone Whip swiftly landed within it. An even more terrifying burst of Genesis Qi immediately exploded from his body. Swish! He took a step forward, and his figure instantly disappeared. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed the moment he saw his opponent¡¯s figure disappear, as he rapidly began to retreat. Just as he was about to move, however, a frightening Genesis Qi undulation pulsed behind him, causing even space itself to tremble. Zhou Yuan cast a glance from the corner of his eye, and saw that Yang Xuan had appeared behind him. A flood of Genesis Qi surged from the bone whip in his hand, its presence so overwhelming that it made one¡¯s scalp turn numb. Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush with both hands as he swung it horizontal to his body. Clang! The whip slammed into the mottled body of the brush, creating a thunderous clang. The air within a ten thousand feet radius exploded, as a piercing boom resounded across the land. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was sent flying as if struck by a heavy blow, travelling over a thousand feet before managing to forcibly steady his body. When he finally managed to stabilize himself, the spot between his thumb and index finger had been ripped apart, turning his hand into a bloody mess, while even the skin on his arms had split open at several places. Fortunately, a dark green light emerged from his flesh, causing it to squirm as his wounds recovered. After a single blow, Zhou Yuan had fallen into a completely disadvantageous situation. Numerous sighs of pity sounded across the area. As expected, when Yang Xuan approached the eighth layer, Zhou Yuan was no longer able to contend. Yang Xuan¡¯s eyes were filled with cruel savagenes as he stared at Zhou Yuan. There were traces of blood on the deathly white bone whip from when blood had splattered from Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms earlier. Yang Xuan gave the whip a little jerk to shake of the blood as he said in an eerie voice, ¡°What do you think? How many strikes of my whip will it take to shatter all the bones in your body?¡± However, Zhou Yuan did not answer. His body swiftly began to etherealized as he immediately turned around and fled like a wisp of smoke. *Uproar* Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions immediately caused an uproar to sweep over the area. No one had expected him to flee when faced with a clearly much more powerful Yang Xuan. Bai Li bit into her lips when she saw this. Although she knew that this was the best choice of action, her eyes still dimmed a little in disappointment. The morale of the other Cangxuan disciples also plummeted at this moment. In contrast, the Sacred Palace disciples roared with laughter, laughter filled with mockery and disdain. An amused look emerged in Yang Xuan¡¯s eyes as he watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s fleeing figure, before he shook his head and said in a cold, emotionless voice, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a little too late for you to run?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already said that I will make you pay a painful price today!¡± Swish! Yang Xuan¡¯s figure abruptly disappeared as his voice faded, turning into a blur as he gave chase. He clearly had no intentions of letting Zhou Yuan off. As such, two figures streaked across the sky under countless watching eyes. After a few dozen breaths. The two figures appeared several dozen miles away. Yang Xian had become quite impatient. The bone whip in his hand transformed into a flash of light as it lashed out, tearing through the air as it darted towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Zhou Yuan gave the Heavenly Yuan Brush a slight shake. Its snow-white brush hairs streamed out, swiftly interweaving into a thick white net behind him that was covered in Genesis Qi. Ch! The bone whip struck the white net, causing it to stretch at an alarming angle. With its outstanding flexibility and toughness, it ultimately managed to stop the bone whip. However, the force that seeped through was still able to lash at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back, jerking him forward as a sinister looking wound appeared on his back. Yang Xuan made use of this opportunity to appear in front of Zhou Yuan, cutting off his path of escape. With a grabbing motion, the bone whip returned to Yang Xuan¡¯s hand. He pointed it at Zhou Yuan, as a cruel smile akin to a cat toying with a mouse appeared from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Little mouse, did you really believe you would be able to escape?¡± Yang Xuan smiled a little, before he continued, ¡°If you break both your legs and kneel, I may consider letting you keep your life. How about it?¡± In the face of Yang Xuan¡¯s suffocating pressure, Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath. He ignored the former¡¯s mocking words, a grave expression on his face as his hands slowly came together. The ground under his feet began to faintly tremble. Numerous rays of light burst out from under the ground, swiftly joining together as they enveloped the area within a thousand feet. Rumble! Thunder boomed as the temperature began to rise. Yang Xuan looked downwards at the ground as he focused. His expression soon turned frosty as he said, ¡°A boundary? So you were planning on luring me here?¡± Zhou Yuan did not reply. With a sudden stamp of his foot, an icy and serious look filled his eyes. ¡°Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary!¡± ¡°Rise!¡± In the next instant, lightning and fire began to pour out. Previous Chapte Chapter 427 All Cards on the Table Rumble! The surrounding Genesis Qi immediately began to churn violently when Yang Xuan stepped into the range of the boundary. Lightning and fire appeared, ultimate deadliness contained under their magnificent forms. When this scene landed in the eyes of the countless watching onlookers, cries of alarm and surprise began to spread. Only now did they realize that Zhou Yuan was not running, but feigning weakness to lure Yang Xuan into a boundary that had been set-up earlier. ¡°What a crafty kid!¡± The crowd could not help but click their tongues. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to have made such preparations before hand. Such rich battle experience was truly praiseworthy. Bai Li and the rest of the Cangxuan Sect disciples were also stunned for a moment, before their faces quickly turned a little red. They had genuinely believed Zhou Yuan was intending to escape earlier, and had felt somewhat disappointed inside. However, it was now clear that they had been too quick to jump to a conclusion, making them feel quite ashamed. ¡°A boundary huh?¡± Yang Xuan stood amidst the lightning and fire, his expression completely unchanged. Ash-white Genesis Qi slowly swirled around his body as an astonishing pressure pulsed. He lifted his head to look towards Zhou Yuan as he said in an emotionless voice, ¡°You¡¯ve really made me feel a whole new level of respect for you.¡± He had originally thought nothing of Zhou Yuan, a mere fourth layer Alpha-Origin who should have been easily swatted away like a fly. However, Yang Xuan never imagined that this ¡®fly¡¯ would be able to push him to this extent. In fact, he had even been forced to remove all of his seals, causing him to pay a tremendous price. After all, they had originally been the trump cards he had prepared for the twelve halls chief disciple selection. But now, his seals had failed to reach their perfect state, naturally causing all of his efforts to go to waste. ¡°You¡¯ve also been very surprising.¡± A sky full of lightning and fire was reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils as he shrugged helplessly. The truth was that he had likewise not taken Yang Xuan too seriously either. After all, it was not like he had never fought a seventh layer Alpha-Origin practitioner before. He had been under the impression that victory would come easily with the help of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, but who could have expected Yang Xuan to have so many trump cards¡­ and had now even seemingly reached the eighth layer. Yang Xuan lifted a hand as ash-white Genesis Qi gathered on his palm. He stirred the Genesis Qi with a finger as he said, ¡°Stop this so-called resistance, these cheap tricks of yours won¡¯t be able to change anything.¡± Although lightning and fire were violently surging around him, there was basically no fear in his eyes. In response to Yang Xuan¡¯s indifference, Zhou Yuan merely smiled and said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy for me to set this up, I should at least give it a spin, right?¡± His smile instantly receded a split second later, replaced by a solemn look. Zhou Yuan slapped his hands together, deciding that the time for words was now over. ¡°Heavenly Lightning and Mystical Fire Boundary!¡± Rumble! The brewing lightning and fire reached their peak in an instant. Under countless shocked gazes, they descended like a stream of fire that could cover the entire sky, bombarding towards the spot Yang Xuan was standing at. Yang Xuan coldly watched the lightning and fire descend. With a stomp of his foot, ash-white Genesis Qi rose from the surface of his body, rapidly bellowing outwards like an icy fog. ¡°Corpse Bone Fog!¡± Frost gradually began to grow from the ground beneath his feet. Plop! Plop! Fire and lightning rained down, fearlessly charging into the ash-white fog. The moment they touched the fog, however, lightning was instantly destroyed, and fire extinguished... The ash-white fog contained a freezing coldness that was obviously very tyrannical. However, there was still a lot more lightning and fire that endlessly rained down without showing any signs of weakening, but Yang Xuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was also going strong, his ash-white fog appearing equally inexhaustible. As such, the lightning and fire was continuously neutralized by the freezing coldness. In contrast, the nearby ground was bombarded full of holes, making it look like an extremely messy sight. Numerous gazes anxiously watched the ferocious clash. Although there were no loud booming sounds, everyone knew how dangerous such a clash was. It was clear that neither Zhou Yuan nor Yang Xuan was holding anything back. Far away, a look of worry appeared on Li Qingchan¡¯s face as she watched. Zhou Yuan¡¯s boundary was by no means weak, but it was very unlikely for him to defeat Yang Xuan with only this. Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu had clearly also realized this. Their expressions gradually returned to their earlier relaxed looks, a faint hint of mockery in their gazes as they watched. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you can do it!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu, Bai Li and the rest were secretly cheering for Zhou Yuan, However, no matter how hard their cheered, the ash-white fog around Yang Xuan remained as thick as before, clearly going strong even in the face of the endlessly falling lightning and fire. In contrast, the lightning and fire that originally filled the entire sky was gradually beginning to thin. Countless individuals let out soft sighs of pity. Sure enough, even after trying to hard to lure Yang Xuan into a boundary that had been prepared in advance, Zhou Yuan was till unable to pose much of a threat towards the latter. The eighth layer was just far too powerful. The fog rippled, revealing Yang Xuan¡¯ face. He icily stared at Zhou Yuan, a look in mockery in his eyes akin to a lion watching the final struggles of its prey. However, Zhou Yuan ignored Yang Xuan¡¯s mocking gaze. With a deep breath, his hands swiftly formed a series of seals as the Genesis Qi in his body whizzed out. An extremely hot undulation spread from his body. His mouth suddenly ballooned a split second later as his face rapidly turned red. Smoke rose from the top of his head as the temperature around him soared. Yang Xuan also sensed this activity as his eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Heavenly Sun God Record, Heavenly Sun Flame!¡± A shout rang out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart as a mouthful of churning Genesis Qi turned into flames that violently spouted from his mouth, shooting towards Yang Xuan like a dragon¡¯s breath. These flames were different from the white flames of the past. They were now azure in color! Evidently, after absorbing the essence flames, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Sun Flame had progressed, reaching the azure second level. Its power was naturally also much greater than before. Azure fire blew past, instantly melting the boulders on the ground. *Gasp* The azure fire caused the surrounding temperature to rise rapidly, while the numerous onlookers gasped again when they saw this scene. Only now did they realize that Zhou Yuan real trump card was not the boundary, but this domineering azure fire! The boundary had merely been an attempt to exhaust his opponent. Cackle! Azure fire swept forth like a dragon¡¯s breath as Yang Xuan¡¯s expression turned a little grave. Even he could feel a hint of danger from the azure flames. ¡°So this is your final trump card!¡± Yang Xuan expression was dark and stormy. However, he did not dare to wait a moment longer. His hands quickly came together as ash-white Genesis Qi burst out from his body. The Genesis Qi swiftly condensed on the surface of his body, rapidly transforming into an eerie looking white bone armor. ¡°Heaven Genesis technique, Demon Bone Armor!¡± The bone armor grew, covering Yang Xuan¡¯s entire body. It''s sinister bone-whiteness was paired with a chilling aura that would freeze one¡¯s blood. ¡°Once I block this final trump card of yours, I¡¯ll be able to do whatever I want to you today!¡± Under the bone armor, a pair of eerie eyes stared at Zhou Yuan. Numerous gazes nervously watched. Everyone could see that this was the climax of the fight. Victory and defeat would soon be decided in an instant. Would Zhou Yuan¡¯s azure fire truly be able to deal with Yang Xuan¡¯s bone armor, which clearly possessed astonishing defensive capabilities?! Cackle! Under the attention of the crowd, the azure flames finally reached Yang Xuan, quickly swallowing his figure amidst gasps that filled the sky... Previous Chapte Chapter 428 A Breath of Azure Fire Burns the Bone Armor Cackle! The azure flames swallowed Yang Xuan¡¯s body with matchless tyranny, burning even the surrounding air. Every gaze in the area anxiously looked over at this moment. They knew that this was likely Zhou Yuan¡¯s strongest move. If it failed, he would soon face Yang Xuan¡¯s extremely terrifying counterattack. At the same time, the fight would finally reach its conclusion. Bai Li, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the rest could not help but clench their hands tightly, their eyes not daring to even blink for a split second. Far away, Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu subconsciously held their breaths, the gazes of all four individuals staring at the same direction. Since the highest level fighters were currently in a stalemate, they knew that the deciding factor would instead be between Yang Xuan and Zhou Yuan... At the mouth of the volcano. Even elder Wu had stood up at this time, his gaze fixed on the Genesis Qi mirror. He could sense the nearby Sacred Palace elder¡¯s breathing weaken a little, evidently also very focused on the outcome of the clash. Even further away, the other factions were no exception. The battle between these two young men in the essence flame vein had drawn nearly everyone¡¯s attention at this moment... Because behind these two individuals stood the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace, the former and current overlord of Cangxuan Heaven. Cackle! Under the countless watching gazes, the azure fire continued to burn, melting the land the boulders upon it into glowing red magma that flowed on the ground. Yang Xuan¡¯s figure stood within the azure fire, the bone armor on his body releasing an extremely cold aura to defend against the heat from the flames. Ch ch! Sizzling noises were emitted when azure fire and bone armor met, a thin mist rising from the edges of their contact. The two forces fell into a deadlock. Time swiftly flowed. The bone armor gradually began to melt, the rising ash-white Genesis Qi immediately incinerated by the azure flames, while armor slowly began to grow thinner. A look of joy flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes when he saw this. Yang Xuan seemed to have sensed the joy in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, the corners of his lips immediately raising a little with a hint of contempt. Next, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes abruptly widened. He had discovered a faint hint of blood-red suddenly appear from the melting bone armor like boiling blood. The blood-red liquid quickly flowed out, instantly coloring the eerily white bone armor in a blood-red hue. It now looked extremely strange and sinister. Blood-red covered the bone armor seemed to be able to withstand the azure fire for a time. A blood-red glow interweaved with the azure flames, a chilling yet bizarrely beautiful sight. As time flowed, the azure flames began to weaken. Yang Xuan lifted his head and looked towards Zhou Yuan, the mockery and contempt on his lips intensifying as his voice rang out, ¡°It seems that I am still the one who has the final laugh.¡± The numerous watching gazes also sensed the weakening fire at this moment, causing them to sigh in pity. How regretful, Zhou Yuan¡¯s breath of azure fire was ultimately unable to stop Yang Xuan. Swish! Under the gazes of pity from the crowd, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. In the next instant, his figure abruptly etherealized as it shot forth. He was headed straight for Yang Xuan in the azure flames. *Uproar* An uproar swept across the area. Zhou Yuan was clearly planning on breaking the cauldrons to sink the boat. ¡°Rushing to your death?¡± A sinister smile rose from the corners of Yang Xuan¡¯s mouth. Zhou Yuan¡¯s etherealized figure dashed into the flames as a path opened for him, before suddenly erupting a split second later, the raging azure flames squeezing out their final burst of power. A terrifying heat spread. Countless gazes had their sights obstructed by the strong flames. However, even more individuals shook their heads inside. When Zhou Yuan dashed towards Yang Xuan, it meant that he was already out of tricks. After all, Yang Xuan was obviously still going strong. The gap between the two was ultimately too large. Bai Li tightly clenched her jaw as her eyes gradually dimmed. Swoosh! Amidst the azure flames, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared in front of Yang Xuan, killing intent surging as their gazes met. ¡°Fool, you¡¯re dead this time!¡± Yang Xuan let out an evil laugh. His five fingers quickly clenched into a fist, before he threw a punch covered in blood-red bone armor. Ash-white Genesis Qi surged out, blasting towards Zhou Yuan in an exceedingly domineering manner. This punch contained practically all of Yang Xuan¡¯s eighth layer power. The air was blasted away by a force that could split mountains. However, in the face of such a ferocious punch from Yang Xuan, Zhou Yuan showed zero signs of dodging. Instead, a fierce light appeared in his eyes as he too clenched his fist, choosing to meet the attack with a punch of his own. This was basically putting his life on the line. Yang Xuan merely laughed mockingly. He was currently wearing the Demon Bone Armor that boasted the most powerful of defenses, and yet Zhou Yuan still chose to engage him head on? This was basically throwing all rationality out the window. As such, Yang Xuan did not back down, the fist winds of his attack growing increasingly sharper instead. Their fists tore through the air along with surging Genesis Qi. With Yang Xuan¡¯s sinister face mere feet away, Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips moved slightly an almost inaudible voice was quietly spat out. ¡°Silver Shadow!¡± Right before both parties were about to clash, silver light suddenly exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Liquid silver rapidly spread, turning into a sleek set of silver battle armor in the blink of an eye that covered Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body. Boom! In that very moment, an astonishing aura abruptly exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Yang Xuan¡¯s pupils violently shrank. But there was no time for him to react, the two fists containing the strongest might of both individuals had already clashed at this moment. Boom! A muffled boom abruptly rang out. The ground below their geet crumbled, giant crack after crack swiftly growing like a spiderweb. An enormous shockwave spanning several thousand feet swept outwards, flattening all the nearby hills... Azure fire dashed into the sky, gradually weakening before ultimately being extinguished. Every gaze immediately looked over, quickly finding two figures connected at their fists... The two figures were as still as statues, but anyone could sense the desperation and ferocity in their final punches. The silver and blood armor on their bodies had faded along with the azure fire. Such a scene of desperation caused the surroundings to become completely silent. Everyone held their breaths as they stared at the two figures. No one knew who had won the desperate and direct clash. A breeze blew past. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes moved slightly, his entire arm now a dripping, bloody mess. However, his expression remained impassive as he lifted his head to look at the face of the nearby Yang Xuan. ¡°It seems that¡­ you started laughing too early.¡± His voice sounded somewhat hoarse. Yang Xuan¡¯s gaze was glued to his arm, disbelief seemingly flooding out from the depths of his eyes. In the next instant, his arm suddenly exploded. Flesh, blood and bone seemed to turn into tiny chunks at this moment. His entire arm was gone, bone and all. Blood and bits of flesh splattered everywhere. Countless gasps of horror immediately rang out. Under those innumerable shocked gazes, Yang Xuan¡¯s body slowly fell backwards towards the ground, a look of disbelief still present on his face... He had silently kept a low-profile for so many years, his true power sealed as he patiently waited for the day he would shake the Sacred Palace. He should have flown to the heavens in a single leap. But how? How had he lost to a mere fourth layer disciple of the Cangxuan Sect?! What was that silver armor that had appeared at the very last moment?! How had it raised Zhou Yuan¡¯s power to such a terrifying level?! This was really hard to accept! His eyes were filled with an unresigned look as darkness slowly descended, ultimately filling his entire sight. Previous Chapte Chapter 429 Against All Odds Yang Xuan¡¯s body fell to the ground, the muffled thud upon contact echoing across the entire area, while countless gazes watched as if frozen in time... In the distance, the mouths of Zuoqiu Qingyu, Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest slowly fell open. The Sacred Palace disciples seemed to have turned into statues. The other onlookers were forcefully rubbing their eyes. This atmosphere lasted for quite some time, before someone finally regained his senses. He immediately blurted out in a shocked voice. ¡°Yang Xuan¡­ has lost?!¡± *Uproar* His trembling voice was akin to a spark that quickly set everyone on fire. In an instant, horrified voice after voice exploded. ¡°How can this be?! How could Yang Xuan have lost after reaching the eighth layer?!¡± ¡°Exactly, he had absolute upper hand just a while ago!¡± ¡°What the hell did Zhou Yuan do at that final moment?!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Everyone¡¯s faces were filled with confusion. When Yang Xuan¡¯s bone armor turned red earlier, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s tyrannical azure flames had been incapable of stopping the former. Who could have known that Zhou Yuan¡¯s final strike of desperation would lead to such an outcome... Moreover, anyone could see that Yang Xuan¡¯s entire arm had been blown to bits, evidently due to some kind of terrifying force, but what kind of force could have possibly done that to Yang Xuan in his eighth layer red bone armor state?! Uncertain gaze after gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan, tinged with a sliver of fear. In the sky far away, Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu had just returned to their senses from the astonishing scene, their faces still a little dazed from the shock. Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu looked to each other, seeing the disbelief and confusion in the other party¡¯s eyes. The final result had clearly surpassed their expectations. They expressions slowly turned ugly. Since Yang Xuan had lost to Zhou Yuan, wouldn¡¯t it mean that the situation had now completely spiralled out of control?! Iciness flickered in the duo¡¯s eyes as they looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. ¡°What a vicious kid, I can¡¯t let you off!¡± Wang Chi¡¯s chilling voice sounded. In the next instant, his figure abruptly shot forth, vigorous Genesis Qi erupting along with an alarming pressure. Since Yang Xuan had already been defeated, the only way to save the situation was to finish off Zhou Yuan. Swish! However, a beautiful figure appeared in front of him the moment he shot forward. A hand thrust towards him, accompanied by churning Genesis Qi and cold Qi that froze even the air itself. Yang Xuan did not dare to be careless in the face of such a deadly attack. His figure hurriedly came to a stop as he responded with his full power. Boom! Genesis Qi swept outwards as Wang Chi¡¯s figureh hastily retreated a dozen steps. He lifted his head and saw Li Qingchan¡¯s beautiful yet frosty face. She stood in front of him, blocking his path. ¡°Oh? Didn¡¯t you say earlier that Chosens should only fight against other Chosens?¡± There a cold smile on Li Qingchan¡¯s lips. Wang Chi¡¯s face turned an angry green as he icily growled, ¡°Scram!¡± ¡°That¡¯ll depend on whether you have the ability.¡± Ice-cold Genesis Qi slowly rose from Li Qingchan¡¯s body, her eyes tinged with ridicule as she stared at Wang Chi. Even someone like Li Qingchan could not help but feel good inside at the sight of Wang Chi¡¯s angry face. This just so happened to be the perfect opportunity for them to return all of the frustration from being held up by the latter earlier. Li Qingchan lightly touched her ear as her voice was transmitted into the communication jade, ¡°Pretty well done, Zhou Yuan. Are you alright?¡± Her voice had become unprecedentedly gentle. Due to Yaoyao, she had staunchly stood her ground against the majority to bring Zhou Yuan along. As a result, she had faced a huge amount of pressure ever since the mission began, especially from elder Wu. Although he did not rebuke her due to her status as a Chosen, he had ultimately dispatched Zhou Yuan to the outer region for the sake of the big picture. This was already a form of disapproval towards her. Li Qingchan could not say anything in the face of all this opposition, and had no choice but to silently endure them. This naturally led to some frustration in her heart, causing her to be a little meaner and colder than usual with regards to Zhou Yuan, though he probably felt she treated him exactly the same as she had before. All of these pent up feelings had vanished like smoke the moment Yang Xuan fell to the ground. She never imagined that when all hope seemed lost, the one who had been abandoned at the beginning, Zhou Yuan, would be the one to step up, and against all odds defeat Yang Xuan. She peered at the young figure far away, her heart involuntarily rippling a little. Only now did she begin to understand why Yaoyao had so much faith in Zhou Yuan. This guy seemed to always create miracles at the most crucial juncture. He clearly did not look very strong, merely someone whose cultivation was at the fourth layer, but he had too many cards up his sleeve that no one seemed to be capable of guarding against. A sliver of curiosity rose within Li Qingchan¡¯s heart for a time. Just how many secrets was he hiding? ¡­ At the mouth of the volcano. Cries of shock and surprise filled the place, everyone evidently also astonished by the outcome of the fight between Zhou Yuan and Yang Xuan. ¡°Good kid!¡± Elder Wu loudly slapped his thigh, his face slightly flushed as happiness spilled from his eyes, clearly unable to contain his joy. After all, he was already mentally preparing for their Cangxuan Sect to be humiliated by the Sacred Palace. Who could have imagined such a turn of events in the blink of an eye? Elder Wu raised his head and looked towards the nearby ashen-faced Sacred Palace elder. In the end, the latter lost control, looking towards the former as he angrily yelled, ¡°Impossible! Your Cangxuan Sect cheated!¡± However, elder Wu merely responded with a disdainful chuckle, not bothering to answer such an outrageous claim. The gap in cultivation between Zhou Yuan and Yuan Xuan was tremendous, and yet, the former had ultimately clinched victory against all odds. What did this mean? It could only mean that the Sacred Palace disciples were useless. Elder Wu¡¯s gaze turned back to the Genesis Qi mirror, his usually stern face turning into a kindly one as he gazed at the young figure within it. He stroked his beard as he grinned. ¡°I never imagined that I would be the blind one this time. This kid has concealed his abilities very deeply indeed.¡± ¡°After we return, I¡¯ll definitely give you the best evaluation!¡± He had previously taken Zhou Yuan to be a useless tag along, and had thus not paid much attention to him. Who could have imagined that the one who ultimately save them against all odds would be this very disciple elder Wu had neglected from the start. Though it was a little shameful for him to have made such an error in judgement, elder Wu would obviously choose such shame any day over being stomped on by the Sacred Palace and soiling the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s reputation. ¡­ When Li Qingchan¡¯s voice was transmitted from the communication jade, Zhou Yuan gradually came back to his senses. He lowered his head to look at his arm that had been gruesomely torn in many places due to the resultant force of his attack. Dark green light was spreading from his flesh, causing flesh to regrow as the entire arm swiftly recovered in a few dozen breaths. Although the Taiyi mark was not complete, it had already began to reveal its amazingness. Zhou Yuan¡¯s regenerative ability had already far surpassed that of ordinary practitioners. He glanced at the battered body of the one-armed Yang Xuan . This guy had indeed been a very difficult opponent who had forced him to use even Silver Shadow in the end. Fortunately, no one else had discovered its existence. Silver Shadow was one of his most valuable trump cards after all, that he had not used at all in the sect. The fewer who knew about it, the better. With a deep breath, he calmed the surging Genesis Qi in his body, before replying through the communication jade, ¡°I¡¯ll be okay.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. Since Yang Xuan had been defeated, you guys should quickly take back our territory.¡± ¡°Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest shall follow Zhou Yuan¡¯s lead. We¡¯ll stop the two Chosens on their side.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s voice rang out again, shockingly handing command to Zhou Yuan. Bai Li and Qin Hai looked over with complicated expressions. If it was before, they would definitely have voiced their disapproval, because they would have believed Zhou Yuan did not have the qualifications to give them orders. However, after personally witnessing his battle with Yang Xuan, such thinking had already been flung out the window. Even their joint effort had failed to triumph over Yang Xuan, while Zhou Yuan had defeated the former¡­ one could easily imagine just how much battle power Zhou Yuan was hiding. Such strength was already enough to contest for the chief disciple seat of the various peaks in the Cangxuan Sect. But Zhou Yuan had not been this strong before leaving the Cang Xuan Sect¡­ during the purple sash selection, he had clearly been unable to obtain victory against Xu Yan. Zhou Yuan gave a faint nod. With a grabbing motion, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared his hand. Soon after, his figure appeared in front of Bai Li, Qin Hai and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples. As they looked at his figure, complicated expressions arose in their eyes. It was no longer the previous casual indifference, but a little fear and admiration. ¡°Is everyone still able to fight?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Upon seeing Bai Li and gang nod, he raised the Heavenly Yuan Brush and pointed towards the already panicking Sacred Palace disciples. ¡°If you can fight¡­ follow me to take back our territory.¡± Bai Li blinked as she gazed upon his slim figure. For the very first time, the guy she had looked down upon all along seemed to be rather dashing... Previous Chapte Chapter 430 Perfec Yang Xuan¡¯s defeat marked the appearance of an insane reversal in the battle for the essence flame vein. The disciples dispatched by the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect were roughly of equal strength, an equilibrium which was subsequently broken by the abnormality that was Yang Xuan. However, no one would have imagined that he was not the only irregular... The one who had been overlooked by everyone since the very beginning, Zhou Yuan, was in actuality and even bigger irregularity. As such, Yang Xuan was defeated and Bai Li, Qin Hai and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples led by Zhou Yuan easily crushed the other Sacred Palace disciples, causing their morale to hit rock bottom as they retreated again and again. All of the territory that had been snatched away previously was taken back by Zhou Yuan and gang one by one. In the end, an area that spanned a whole eight hundred miles became the battle spoils of the Cangxuan Sect, while the retreating Sacred Palace disciples were left with only three hundred miles of the less rich veins. This could be said to be a crushing defeat. Two Sacred Palace Chosens, Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu, were practically spitting fire from their eyes when they saw this scene, their faces ashen as they did battle with Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu. The fight between the Chosens was even fiercer and grander than Zhou Yuan and Yang Xuan¡¯s. Torrent after torrent of Genesis Qi blasted through air like raging dragons, causing the land to tremble faintly. However, such a fight was bound to have no outcome, because neither side was willing to risk their lives and the difference in strength between them was not big. Hence, the duel ultimately ended in a stalemate. Even so, anyone could see that the Sacred Palace had made a huge miscalculation in the fight for the essence flame vein. Far away in the sky, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace Chosen, Feng Ying, and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall Chosen watched as territory after territory was enveloped by a glowing barrier, before looking to each other, seeing the astonishment in the other party¡¯s eyes. The development of the situation was likewise exceeded their expectations. ¡°Zhou Yuan is quite an interesting one¡­¡± Mumbled Feng Ying to herself. She had honestly believed him to be a new disciple that was here for experience since the beginning, and only remembered him because of his friendship with Zuoqiu Qingyu. How could she have possibly predicted that the individual, who had zero presence in the Cangxuan Sect team, would ultimately single handedly turn around the entire situation. Such strength and charisma would make anyone sigh in amazement. ¡°It seems that that the Cangmang Continent has produced several amazing individuals this generation.¡± Feng Ying sighed. Without mentioning Zhou Yuan, even Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo had displayed extraordinary talent after entering the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. In the future, they would surely become elites in the sect. ¡°Mmm, there¡¯s a disciple from the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall called Ning Zhan who is also from the Cangmang Continent. His remarkable talent even caused quite a fight amongst several elders.¡± Said the Chosen from the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. Feng Ying was quite surprised when she heard this. In the past, not even half a genius would appear from a remote continent like the Cangmang Continent. She never expected that an entire swarm to emerge all at once. ¡°This Cangmang Continent must have been blessed by a little luck and destiny this generation.¡± She sighed as she gradually withdrew her gaze from the on-going battle. By this point in time, everything was basically set in stone. The Cangxuan Sect had occupied eight hundred miles of the richest veins, which essentially made them the biggest winners this time. In contrast, the originally overbearing and aggressive Sacred Palace had fell flat on their faces, and was bullied by the Cangxuan Sect till they were left with only three hundred miles of veins. This was quite a humiliating result for them indeed. Most surprisingly, the one who ended up in the limelight was not the Chosens of the various sects, but instead an unknown ordinary disciples from the Cangxuan Sect... She clapped her hands and lazily said, ¡°Looks like it¡¯s about time for us to call it a day¡­¡± ... Just as Feng Ying had predicted, the outcome of the essence flame vein fight was ultimately decided once the territories of the Cangxuan Sect team led by Zhou Yuan reached eight hundred miles. The two Sacred Palace Chosens were unable to extract themselves from their fight with Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu, while the other Sacred Palace disciples were barely able to put up any resistance against Zhou Yuan and gang. As a result, the Sacred Palace team was left with no choice but to repeatedly retreat, giving up mile after mile of territory. In the end, eight flags were thrust into eight hundred mile territories, and an enormous screen of light rose into the sky. This magnificent scene caused a look of respect to rise in the eyes of the various Black Flame Province factions who were also in the essence flame vein. At this current moment, there was no longer anyone who dared to send out a challenge to this eight hundred miles of territory. As the time limit gradually approached, the fighting Chosens in the far away sky began to back off. Wang Chi and Cao Jinzhu¡¯s expression were extremely ugly. They had been so certain of their overwhelming victory earlier, but who could have imagined such a reversal to occur in the blink of an eye. The duo¡¯s gazes looked over from afar, locking onto Zhou Yuan. The iciness surging in their eyes was practically about to solidify and freeze the latter. However, Zhou Yuan merely smiled nonchalantly under their gazes. Wang Chi turned his dark gaze towards Li Qingchan as he frostily said, ¡°Humph. Li Qingchan, you guys may have been lucky this time, but our Sacred Palace will not forget this matter!¡± ¡°The words of a loser are nothing to fear.¡± Retorted Li Qinghchan in an indifferent voice. Wang Chi icily chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy. This essence flame vein fight is merely a small squabble. I hope you will still be able to smile when the next Mythic Utopia opens.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°The day we meet in the Mythic Utopia will likely be the day you die.¡± Wang Chi let out a sinister laugh. ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s your Cangxuan Sect Chosens are the ones who have been dying in the Mythic Utopia for the past few years!¡± Intense killing intent surged in their eyes, the air between them turning colder as their gazes clashed. However, both individuals ultimately let out an icy snort, before Wang Chi flew away with Cao Jinzhu. Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu¡¯s figures moved towards where Zhou Yuan, Bai Li and the rest were gathered. Upon seeing the two Chosens, Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest hurriedly walked forward to greet them. Li Qingchan cast her indifferent gaze at Zhou Yuan, as a faint smile appeared on her usually frosty face. Her smile was akin to a snow lotus blooming on a freezing land, a sight of extraordinary beauty. ¡°Zhou Yuan, we should all be thanking you this time.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes were filled with approval as she continued, ¡°You should be the chief contributor for this mission.¡± By the side, Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression looked a little uncomfortable. The Sword Cometh Peak was not a good terms with Zhou Yuan after all, causing the former to speak up, ¡°Senior sister Li, elder Wu should be the one who decides who is the chief contributor.¡± In past Heaven level missions, the chief contributor would basically be split between the two team leaders. If Li Qingchan made such a declaration, won¡¯t it mean that Zhao Zhu would not get anything either? Upon hearing this, Bai Li could not help but speak up, ¡°If not for Zhou Yuan, we would have failed this mission. Do you think we¡¯ll even have the luxury of discussing contributions?¡± The expressions of the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples were also quite awkward. They could not possibly deny Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier contributions, but they were still disciples from the Sword Cometh Peak, making it very difficult for them to weigh in on this discussion. Li Qingchan flatly said, ¡°I will naturally make my report to elder Wu on this matter. There is no need for junior brother Zhao to worry.¡± Zhao Zhu resentfully shut his mouth. From the silence of the other disciples, he understood that Zhou Yuan had already won all of them over. If not, let alone chief contributor, wanting to give Zhou Yuan even the tiniest bit of acknowledgement would surely draw much criticism. He swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, the latter¡¯s calm appearance making him feel even more sullen inside. Zhao Zhu had originally believed Zhou Yuan¡¯s stubborn insistence on participating in this Heaven Task to be nothing more than seeking his own humiliation. Who could have expected that he would instead become the chief contributor. It was easy to imagine the uproar this incident would surely cause when news of it spread back to the sect. Who could have thought that this Heaven Task would elevate Zhou Yuan to even greater heights. Clang! While they were conversing, the loud and clear sound of a bell suddenly rang out in the essence flame vein. Upon hearing it, the expressions of the Cangxuan Sect team involuntarily relaxed. The bell represented the end of the essence flame vein fight. Moreover... The Cangxuan Sect was obviously the biggest winner. As such, it was basically a perfect completion of their Heaven Task. Previous Chapte Chapter 431 Evaluation The essence flame vein fight that affected the entire Black Flame Province ended with the Cangxuan Sect as the biggest winner. News of the crazy battle between Yang Xuan and Zhou Yuan also swiftly spread, making the numerous factions in the Black Flame Province remember this Cangxuan Sect disciple called Zhou Yuan. At the very beginning, not a single person had expected what appeared to be certain victory for the Sacred Palace to ultimately be single handedly snatched away by an existence everyone had basically overlooked... In fact, Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in his battle with Yang Xuan had made countless people gasp in admiration. Besides this, the other factions also gained an even deeper respect for the titan known as the Cangxuan Sect. After all, not just anyone could nurture a disciple that was not only low-key but also possessed such immeasurable strength. From this, one could see the strong foundations of the sect that was once number one in Cangxuan Heaven. Although the Sacred Palace was at the peak of their power and still growing increasingly powerful, the Cangxuan sect was not to be underestimated. This realization made several of the Black Flame Province factions, who were originally planning on throwing their lot in with the Sacred Palace, waver somewhat. For a time, they no longer dared to choose a side so easily even with the Sacred Palace reaching out to them. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory over Yang Xuan allowed the Cangxuan Sect to occupy eight hundred miles of the richest veins, this was only part of the harvest. The bigger part was how they had disrupted the Sacred Palace¡¯s attempt to stick their hand into the Black Flame Province. Due to this setback, it would take the Sacred Palace a lot more effort and energy to take over the Black Flame Province. Thus, Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory had created far greater ripples than what could be seen on the surface. ... After the curtain fell on the essence flame vein fight, the various factions that had swarmed towards this place gradually left one after another. This caused the previously bustling Black Flame City appear rather desolate in comparison to before. Zhou Yuan and his team did not leave immediately. They had to rest for several days after such an intense battle. Black Flame City, outside a certain lodging. Zhou Yuan looked to his front where the enchanting Zuoqiu Qingyu stood. Feng Ying and the other female disciples from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace were waiting nearby, their gazes glancing over from time to time. Zuoqiu Qingyu and the rest were returning to the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace today, and Zhou Yuan had specially come to send her off. ¡°I originally believed that I had managed to shorten the gap between us. Who could have expected that you will still be as abnormal as before, and are already able to fight against an eighth layer expert.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu sighed. ¡°He wasn¡¯t a real eighth layer Alpha-Origin.¡± Corrected Zhou Yuan with a smile. Zuoqiu Qingyu rolled her eyes at him as she softly snorted and said, ¡°But don¡¯t be too happy. Luluo and I are very valued in the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, we¡¯ll definitely have a chance to catch up to you in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. Zuoqiu Qingyu was actually amazingly talented, which could be seen from how she was permitted to tag along for such a high level mission though it had not been long since she joined the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. One could easily imagine how the future Zuoqiu Qingyu would surely shine brightly in the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. After a little more chit chat, Zuoqiu Qingyu said in a low voice, ¡°I sent a message back to the Zuoqiu clan to tell my father to show a little more concern for the Great Zhou Empire, and lend them some aid if possible.¡± She knew that Zhou Yuan had joined the Cangxuan Sect to become even stronger such that he would be able to face the looming threat of the Great Wu Empire. After all, since Wu Huang had joined the Sacred Palace, the Cangxuan Sect would not risk breaking the rules to help Zhou Yuan directly. The struggle between the two would likely still depend on who would be able to grow faster. The current Great Zhou Empire was still much weaker than the Great Wu Empire. Though the Zuoqiu clan was not afraid of the Great Wu Empire, it would not be appropriate for them to clash against the latter so openly. Thus, they could only help the Great Zhou Empire in secret, and try to delay or restrict the Great Wu Empire. Zuoqiu Qingyu clearly understood that Zhou Yuan still needed more time. Zhou Yuan was quite touched by her actions. He ultimately did not try to reject out of pride, and instead solemnly nodded as he said, "Thank you, I will remember this debt." What he needed now was indeed more time. King Wu was a Divine Dwelling stage expert, an existence that the current him still could not contend against. More importantly, Wu Huang''s entry into the Sacred Palace had greatly restricted the help Zhou Yuan could enlist from the Cangxuan Sect. There were after all certain rules between hegemon level sects. One of which was that a sect would not directly intervene in a grudge between their disciples. The sect could only provide cultivation resources and opportunities, and at the end of the day, the disciples had to resolve their disputes through their own power. In a certain sense, this was also a kind of training for the disciples. Zuoqiu Qingyu did not say anything in response, merely offhandedly waving her hand, before turning around to leave, her graceful and slender figure filled with youthful energy. "Let''s part ways here. Say hi to Yaoyao for me when you return." The young lady walked towards the setting sun, joining the other Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples, before rising into the sky on Genesis Qi under the many reluctant gazes in the vicinity. Zhou Yuan also watched her leave, his unmoving figure silently standing there for a long time. This lasted till a fragrant breeze arrived at his side as a cool voice sounded, "You''re quite the player aren''t you? How does Yaoyao tolerate you when you have so many lovers everywhere?" Zhou Yuan turned his head and saw Li Qingchan standing beside him. He was immediately struck by a wave of embarrassment as he helplessly explained, "We''re just friends." Li Qingchan did not comment, her lips merely pulling outwards as she said, "Let''s go. Elder Wu has called for us, likely to discuss the individual credit for this mission." She turned around and left after finishing. Zhou Yuan felt a surge of energy when he heard this. Wasn¡¯t this what they had spent the last two days waiting for? As the elder overseeing the mission, elder Wu was naturally the one who decided the worth of everyone''s contribution. Only by obtaining a contribution token from elder Wu would they be able to return to the sect and hand in the mission. Zhou Yuan turned around and quickly caught up to Li Qingchan as they hurried to elder Wu¡¯s room. By this time, Zhao Zhu, Bai Li and the rest were already gathered here. As such, every gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan when he walked in. After Zhou Yuan defeated Yang Xuan against all odds, there was no longer a single person present who dared to view him as transparent. This was the case even for Zhao Zhu. Though there was still some scrutiny in his eyes, the previous disdain and disregard had dwindled substantially. Elder Wu was seated at the head of the group. At the sight of Zhou Yuan, the former chuckled as he beckoned them to have a seat. ¡°This mission has been perfectly completed thanks to everyone here.¡± Elder Wu did not beat about the bush, going straight for the main topic. ¡°Since the mission is complete, it is time to discuss your individual contributions and credit.¡± Zhao Zhu and the rest looked over with shining eyes. Zhou Yuan was naturally no exception. Though one only needed to complete a Heaven level mission to receive a Heaven Credit, it must be mentioned that Heaven Credit rewarded was also split into four different ranks. Chief credit, upper credit, lower credit and the worst of the bunch, no credit. Chief credit was the most difficult to achieve, but once awarded one would be able to receive twice the rewards from the sect, which was two Heaven Credits. An upper credit appraisal was worth one Heaven Credit, while the lower credit rating could only be exchanged for half a Heaven Credit. As for the last rank¡­ it was exactly as its name implied; no credit. In other words, the entire mission would have been a waste of time. If Zhou Yuan had not stepped forward towards the end, and instead hid away in the outer region, this would have likely been his final evaluation. Elder Wu smiled a little as he looked at their luminous gazes, before he said, ¡°This mission was perfectly completed, therefore, no one received a no credit evaluation.¡± These words immediately caused everyone to breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°As for lower credit¡­¡± Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest fidgeted restlessly. ¡°There¡¯s also none¡­¡± Elder Wu chuckled. Bai Li, Qin Hai and the other disciples could not help but burst into cheers. Normally speaking, they should receive lower credit ratings, but due to how perfectly the mission had been completed this time, their appraisals had been raised to the next rank. This single rank was the difference between half a Heaven Credit and a full Heaven Credit. ¡°As for upper credit¡­ there¡¯s Bai Li, Qin Hai¡­¡± Name after name slowly emerged from elder Wu¡¯s mouth. This continued for seven names, before he paused and looked towards Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu. ¡°Both of you will also receive an upper credit rating.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s gorgeous face was calm as she gave a faint nod of acknowledgement. She was not as overjoyed as Bai Li and the rest, because as team leader, an upper credit was basically hers as long as the mission was complete. Zhao Zhu on the other hand did not look too good. The two team leaders would usually get a chief credit appraisal, but elder Wu had clearly not given him one. Although he did not feel comfortable about this inside, his rationality told him not to voice any objections because it would only be fruitless. Li Qingchan and him had only managed to stop the other party¡¯s Chosens, which was what they were supposed to do anyways. They essentially had no part in everything else that had happened, so it was quite within reason for elder Wu to give them an upper credit rating. Elder Wu¡¯s gaze finally turned towards Zhou Yuan, as a kind smile involuntarily appeared on his usually stern face. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you get the chief credit this time.¡± His gaze shifted towards the others. ¡°Do you guys have any objections?¡± Li Qingchan shook her head. Bai Li and the other non Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately shook their heads, their gazes filled with gratitude when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. If not for him, the mission would not have been rated as a perfect completion, and they would never be given an upper credit appraisal. In other words, they were basking in the light of Zhou Yuan¡¯s success, and would naturally not have any objections towards elder Wu¡¯s decision. Zhao Zhu¡¯ expression fluctuated indeterminately. He was about to speak up when he saw the flickering gazes of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples, which told him that it would be too much of him to ask them to object too. Qin Hai and the rest were likewise indebted to Zhou Yuan. Hence, Zhao ZHu ultimately chose to remain silent. Zhou Yuan had been too perfect this mission, making it impossible for anyone to find even the smallest fault with him. Elder Wu nodded in satisfaction when he saw that no one had spoken. With a wave of his sleeve, ten flashes of light shot out and landed towards the group. In each bundle of light was a token. These tokens were of different colors. Li Qingchan and the rest had silver tokens, while the one in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands was gold, representing the chief credit. As he grasped the golden token, Zhou Yuan let out a long sigh of relief inside as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He had finally got his Heaven Credit, and it was even a chief credit! Since this was the case, he would have an extra Heaven Credit after giving old Xuan one. Now, he could finally return to the sect perfectly contented. Previous Chapte Chapter 432 Returning to the Sec The Cangxuan Sect. Mission Hall. The misty peak was as bustling as it usual, countless figures arriving from all directions, and landing in front of the grand hall at the top of the mountain. It was at this time that Zhou Yuan and gang returned to the Cangxuan Sect after two months. The first place they headed to was naturally the Mission Hall. When the group led by Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu stepped into the hall, excited gaze after gaze immediately shot towards them. ¡°It¡¯s senior sister Li Qingchan and her team!¡± ¡°Have they completed their Heaven level mission?¡± ¡°Looks like it. With the two Chosens senior sister Li Qingchan and senior brother Zhao Zhu leading the team, even a Heaven level mission is no challenge.¡± ¡°How envious. From the looks of it, Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest will soon have a Heaven Credit in their pockets.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Numerous whispers spread in the grand hall, before several of the watching gazes suddenly paused. They had discovered Zhou Yuan positioned right behind Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu. This position was very close to the core of the group, second only to Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu. The crowd recalled that Zhou Yuan had been stationed at the back of the team when they left the Cangxuan Sect, a position that would basically be overlooked by everyone because of his lack of value to the team. So why was Zhou Yuan now standing so near to the core? This was way too shameless of him! Several individuals secretly curled their lips. Zhou Yuan had only managed to obtain a spot on the team previously due to Li Qingchan¡¯s strong support, a fact which made many veteran purple disciples pretty unhappy. From what everyone could see, Zhou Yuan hoping to get a freebie Heaven Credit by shamelessly clinging onto Li Qingchan. Such actions were truly disgraceful. ¡°Humph, his skin is still as thick as before. But let¡¯s see how long he¡¯ll be able to keep this up. Even if he did manage to become a member of the team, the only thing he¡¯ll be able to do is be a freeloader in a Heaven level task. In fact, he likely ended up having zero contributions, and was given a ¡®no credit¡¯ appraisal.¡± These words quickly drew approval from several others. A Heaven level mission was not over once you got a place on the team. If your performance was not up to par during the mission, you would still fail to obtain a Heaven Credit. In their opinion, the only thing Zhou Yuan had was the turtle shell defensive technique he had revealed in the duel against Wang Lei. However, just that technique alone was clearly not going to cut it in a Heaven level mission. Many of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples in particular, had mocking looks on their faces, as if eagerly waiting for the show to start. Bai Li was walking beside Zhou Yuan, and likewise sensed the whispers around them. She smiled playfully at him and said, ¡°It seems that many people are waiting to see you be embarrassed.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled helplessly. This was nothing but normal. A newly promoted purple sash disciple like himself managing to participate in a Heaven level mission should make everyone else envious. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid they will be very disappointed once they find out.¡± Bai Li was clearly enjoying the situation. Some of the other team members laughed, while Qin Hai and the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples lowered their heads in embarrassment. Most of the surrounding disciples waiting to watch Zhou Yuan humiliated were from the Sword Cometh Peak. Li Qingchan swept a backward glance at Zhou Yuan from the front. Everyone was currently crowding around the latter, a little like the moon surrounded by the stars. Their attitudes towards him were clearly much better after returning from the mission. Back when they had just left for the mission, the others were clearly not too fond of Zhou Yuan. Even Bai Li had only talked to him on account of her friendship with Li Qingchan, though it had admittedly been quite a half-hearted effort. The reason behind this was undoubtedly because they had felt Zhou Yuan would only be a burden to them, and was not worthy of their attention. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle with Yang Xuan had clearly awed Bai Li, Qin Hai and the other veteran disciples. Only then did they realize that this person, whom they had all neglected, was actually hiding so many astonishing trump cards. It was this very reason that led to Zhou Yuan transformation from an always overlooked character to the star of the show on their way back. To be honest, Bai Li was definitely being way too friendly. Li Qingchan rolled her eyes Bai Li for her lack of shame, before walking straight towards the counter for handing in missions. At this moment, several figures stepped forward from the crowd. It was Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu Xuanyin and other Sword Cometh Peak disciples. ¡°Hehe, congratulations senior brother Zhao Zhu on your triumphant return!¡± Xu Yan cupped his fists together with a wide smile, fully appearing as if he was here to give his congratulations. However, their gazes occasionally glanced behind towards Zhou Yuan, not bothering at all to conceal the gloating looks within them. These people were obviously waiting here to watch Zhou Yuan lose face. By the side, a sliver of malignant pleasure flitted across Lu Xuanyin¡¯s eyes. She no longer dared to cause trouble after being taught a painful lesson by Zhou Yuan during the purple sash selection, but she was still naturally more than happy to watch him suffer. A single glance was all Zhao Zhu needed to understand their aim, causing the corners of his lips to twitch slightly. He couldn¡¯t really say anything at this time and place, and thus chose to brush past them with an expressionless face. Xu Yan, Wang Lie and the rest were stunned. However, they did not give this strange behaviour much thought, and instead turned their mocking gazes towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, I wonder what kind of evaluation you received for this Heaven level mission?¡± Said Wang Lie with a superficial smile. If he had not fallen for Zhou Yuan¡¯s trick in that one move wager back then, it would have been him on the team instead. Zhou Yuan glanced at him, before walking past without answering. More and more disciples began to crowd over as whispers continued to spread. Everyone was clearly waiting for the entertainment to begin. Li Qingchan approached the counter for handing in missions, retrieved a jade scroll and handed it to the middle-aged attendant behind it. The latter received the scroll and sent out his senses. Surprise surged on his face as he sent a strange look towards Zhou Yuan. He shook his head before walking out. With a wave of his hand, a Heaven level mission appeared on the glowing wall to the side. It was the Black Flame Province mission undertaken by Zhou Yuan and the team. The attendant¡¯s gaze swept about the area as he said, ¡°The Black Flame Province mission has been perfectly completed.¡± Envious gasps immediately sounded all around. However, the crowd was not overly surprised, because there were two Chosens leading the team after all. The attendant continued, ¡°For this mission, the upper credit receivers are; Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Bai Li¡­¡± Name after name was read, stopping at a total of nine. The numerous surrounding disciples were rather confused. They could not figure out why Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu were only given an upper credit rating. They should be given the chief credit, right? ¡°Heh heh, I knew that Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t get an upper credit!¡± The eyes of Xu Yan, Wang Lei and the other Sword Cometh disciples brightened as they could not help but burst into laughter. The other disciples also shook their heads, a little contempt in their eyes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. He had racked his brains so hard in order to get into the team, but it only ended up as a waste of time. They clearly believed that Zhou Yuan¡¯s absence amongst the upper credit receivers could only mean that his performance had been too lackluster. As for the chief credit¡­ don¡¯t even joke about it! With two Chosens on the team, what chance did the others have? The attendant glanced at the laughing Sword Cometh Peak disciples and secretly shook his head. There was a slight trace of pity in his eyes as he said, ¡°Chief credit receiver, Zhou Yuan.¡± The noisy hall instantly fell quiet. The grins on Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu Xuanyin and the rest¡¯s faces froze, their eyes nearly popping from their sockets as they stared at the attendant as if having misheard him. The attendant ignored them, and turned towards Zhou Yuan and the rest. ¡°Kindly pass me your credit tokens.¡± Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest walked forward one by one and took out their silver tokens. Next, under the staring eyes of the crowd, Zhou Yuan walked forward and fished out a golden token... *Gulp* The sound of swallowing was rather loud in the silent hall. This was not an unfamiliar sight to them. The golden token represented the chief credit. Zhou Yuan had actually obtained the chief credit in the Heaven mission?! Dazed gaze after gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, disbelief flooding out from the depths of their eyes. Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu Xuanyin and gang were also swallowing, their faces burning as they could not help but say, ¡°Chief credit, Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°How can this be!¡± The middle-aged attendant received the tokens, before taking out several jade tiles. Peculiar patterns adorned every tile, each one representing a Heaven Credit. He then passed Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu and the rest one tile each. As for Zhou Yuan, he was handed two of jade tiles. This represented two Heaven Credits. By this time, the corners of Xu Yan, Wang Lei and the gang¡¯s mouths were trembling uncontrollably as they despaired inside. The Heaven Credits had already been out, which meant that there was definitely no mistake... Though they could not believe it, reality was also rather cruel. They looked at each other, seeing the dull, glazed looks in each other¡¯s eyes. Originally, they had personally came here to be entertained. Who could have expected that they would end up voluntarily sticking out their cheeks out again for Zhou Yuan to give them a nice, hard slap... They sighed deeply inside. Once news of what happened here spread, the recently returned peace in the sect would be broken once again... Previous Chapte Chapter 433 Commotion Numerous disciples inside the hall were still in a dazed state even after Zhou Yuan was done keeping his two jade tiles. He paid no attention to them, mere casting a glance at the rigid Xu Yan, Wang Lei, Lu Xuanyin and gang. This group had obviously specially made a trip here to watch him make a fool of himself, but they never would have imagined that the final outcome would surpass their expectations in such a manner. Zhou Yuan cupped his fists at Li Qingchan and said, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, I¡¯ll be returning to Saint Genesis Peak since the mission is over. Thanks for taking care of me during the trip.¡± Li Qingchan gave a faint nod in response. ¡°No need to be so humble. All of us know who the biggest contributor was.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, before waving his goodbyes to Bai Li and the rest. Under the attention of the crowd, he walked out of the grand hall and rose into the sky on his Genesis Qi. He had begun to miss Yaoyao and Tuntun a little after two months. After Zhou Yuan¡¯s departure, the atmosphere in the hall slowly recovered. However, many disciples still had strange looks on their faces, evidently unable to imagine how Zhou Yuan had been given the chief credit. Xu Yan, Wang Lei and gang quickly arrived at Zhao Zhu side, unable to stop themselves from asking, ¡°Senior brother Zhao Zhu, is there some kind of mistake? If even someone like you did not get the chief credit, how could Zhou Yuan possible obtain it?!¡± By the side, Li Qingchan frowned a little. She swept a glance at Zhao Zhu before walking away. Bai Li and the rest shot a look of pity towards Wang Lie and gang, before quickly following Li Qingchan. Wang Lei, Xu Yan and the rest were rather baffled by these gazes. Before they could ask, Zhao Zhu threw a vicious glare at them and growled, ¡°All of you shut up. Stop being so disgraceful!¡± With a wave of his sleeve, he left Wang Lei and the rest behind, walking away with an expressionless face. Wang Lei and gang were clearly a little resentful after being receiving such a scolding. They could only look to each other as they felt depressingly frustrated inside. ... After leaving the Mission Hall, Zhou Yuan directly returned to Saint Genesis Peak, landing just outside his cave dwelling. When he arrived, however, he saw a roly-poly figure leisurely lying right outside the cave. When he took a closer look, who else did he find but Shen Wanjin. Upon hearing the sound of rushing wind, Shen Wanjin lazily lifted his head. He seemed to jerk a little at the sight of Zhou Yuan, before hurriedly climbing to his feet as he joyfully said, ¡°Little Yuan bro, you¡¯re back at last!¡± Zhou Yuan was rather puzzled. ¡°Why are you here? Where¡¯s Yaoyao?¡± Shen Wanjin revealed a simple grin as he said, ¡°Boss sister Yaoyao also left a few days after your departure.¡± ¡°Left?!¡± Zhou Yuan was immediately alarmed, and hastily asked, ¡°Where did she go?!¡± ¡°Boss sister Yaoyao also took on a Heaven level mission, and tasked me to take care of the cave dwelling right before she left. That¡¯s why I¡¯m usually here.¡± Replied Shen Wanjin. Zhou Yuan frowned a little, unable to stop himself from becoming somewhat worried inside. Although Yaoyao was stronger than him, her identity was very mysterious. What would he do if something happened! How would he be able to explain himself to master Cang Yuan? ¡°Don¡¯t worry little Yuan bro, boss sister Yaoyao has immeasurable strength, and even a Heaven level mission should not be too dangerous for her.¡± Consoleded Shen Wanjin. Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly as he nodded. Since everything had already happened, all he could do was try to relax as he waited, while hoping that nothing bad would happen to her. After chatting with Shen Wanjin for a while, he waved goodbye and entered the cave dwelling to rest. The long journey back had been very tiring after all. While Zhou Yuan was resting, he was unaware of how news of him obtaining the chief credit was spreading throughout the entire Cangxuan Sect as if it had wings, causing a huge commotion. Most of the disciples were very doubtful in the beginning, some even suspecting if Li Qingchan was the reason behind it. After all, how could a practically negligible existence in the team ultimately end up with the chief credit? Or maybe¡­ Li Qingchan herself had given her credit token to Zhou Yuan? But such a thought was immediately met by even stronger feelings of rejection. Li Qingchan was the number one beauty in the sect, who was adored by countless disciples. She was as cold as ice, and never allowed anyone from the opposite sex to get close. What would it mean If she had indeed went so far for Zhou Yuan? Could their ice goddess have feelings for him? If this was true, it would definitely draw public anger. These opinions quickly caused giant waves in the sect, and eventually made their way to Li Qingchan¡¯s ears. It naturally made her quite outraged, but before she could make a statement, the Mission Hall beat her to the punch by publishing the details of the mission, including how Zhou Yuan had battled against the Sacred Palace¡¯s Yang Xuan, and miraculously turned the tides against all odds. Once this information was released, an uproar swept over the countless disciples of the sect, everyone completely flabbergasted. This was obviously extremely difficult for them to believe. After all, before Zhou Yuan left for the mission, his battle accomplishment had been limited to a controversial draw against Xu Yan, while the latter was clearly not as strong as Bai Li and the rest. On the other hand, Yang Xuan was an existence that even the combined might of Bai Li and Qin Hai had failed to defeat. What¡¯s more, the former was even said to have nearly reached the eighth layer level. Even among the purple sash disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, such strength was absolutely top tier, and gave one the qualifications to contend for the chief disciple seat of the various peaks. Zhou Yuan was actually able to defeat someone like this?! Had he really grown so strong in a short two months? No matter how much in disbelief they were, information from the Mission Hall was unquestionable. As such, the rare peace that had descended on the Cangxuan Sect for the past two months had once again been disrupted due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s return. ... ¡°Zhou Yuan defeated an eighth layer opponent?!¡± Saint Genesis Peak, elder Lu Song¡¯s faction. Lu Yan¡¯s eyes were extremely round, disbelief dyeing her entire face. She had obviously just heard the newly released information from the Mission Hall. There was also some surprise on elder Lu Song¡¯s face as he held a teapot in his hands. Soon after, he sighed and said, ¡°It is truly impossible to estimate that little one¡¯s abilities.¡± He then looked towards Lu Yan and asked, ¡°Do you still dare to underestimate him?¡± Li Yan¡¯s pouted. ¡°Yes yes yes, I know that he¡¯s very capable. Is this enough?¡± She paused for a moment, before continuing, ¡°However, it also says that Zhou Yuan obtained a Heaven Genesis Weapon, and only managed to put up a fight against Yang Xuan by borrowing its powers.¡± ¡°Obtaining a Heaven Genesis Weapon is his luck and fate, which is naturally also a type of strength.¡± Elder Lu Song chuckled. ¡°At this rate, Zhou Yuan may really have the qualifications to participate in our upcoming Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple selection.¡± ¡°Hehe, looks like you¡¯ve got another competitor.¡± Lu Yan softly snorted when she heard this. ¡°I admit that he is quite talented, but it will be a little too naive of him to believe that he will be able to contest for the chief disciple seat with just a Heaven Genesis Weapon.¡± Elder Lu Song laughed, before softly sighing. Compared to Zhou Yuan, Lu Hong¡¯s faction was clearly going to be the greatest obstacle for the upcoming chief disciple selection. If they allowed Lu Hong¡¯s faction to win the chief disciple seat, his faction would likely become the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak in the future. When that happened, their other two factions would undoubtedly be given less cultivation resources and bullied even more. This was not good for them at all. ... Saint Genesis Peak, elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction. In a certain stone pavilion, after hearing the report from his disciple, elder Lu Hong sneered and said, ¡°This brat really does not know his place. Can¡¯t believe he stirred up such a sensation the moment he returned.¡± Outside the stone pavilion, Wei Youxuan, who had lost to Zhou Yuan in the cave match, said with a grave expression, ¡°Teacher Lu, I¡¯ve heard Zhou Yuan has grown much stronger and is now able to fight against an eighth layer opponent.¡± ¡°If he has really grown so powerful, I¡¯m afraid that elder Shen Taiyuan will send him out to participate in the upcoming chief disciple selection.¡± A mocking smile rose from the corners of Lu Hong¡¯s lips when he heard this, before he looked towards a figure seated in front of him. The figure was tall and muscular like a metal tower, wore a cold look of indifference on his face, and a powerful pressure pulsed from his body. It was elder Lu Hong¡¯s first disciple, Yuan Hong. And also the strongest contender for the upcoming chief disciple selection. ¡°Yuan Hong, what do you think?¡± Asked Lu Hong. Yuan Hong lifted his head, his voice cold and indifferent as he responded, ¡°Yang Xuan can just barely be considered an eighth layer Alpha-Origin expert. His Genesis Qi was unstable and can suppress the likes of Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory was undoubtedly due to the advantage of his Heaven Genesis Weapon. If he dares to participate in the chief disciple selection, he will soon understand that a Heaven Genesis Weapon will not be able to protect him.¡± Not the slightest shred of emotion could be detected in Lu Hong¡¯s voice. Zhou Yuan¡¯s amazing battle accomplishment in the Heaven mission was clearly not even worth mentioning in his eyes. A smile was revealed on Lu Hong¡¯s face when he heard this, evidently extremely satisfied with this first disciple he had poured all his effort in grooming. Yuan Hong had not disappointed his teacher. After following elder Lu Hong to Saint Genesis Peak, Yuan Hong had become an insurmountable mountain in the hearts of the disciples from the other two factions. ¡°Though Zhou Yuan has talent, he is still lacking in experience. There is no need to worry about him.¡± ¡°Yuan Hong, you absolutely cannot fail in the upcoming chief disciple selection this year. In fact, peak master Ling Jun has also repeatedly reminded me about this matter. As long as our faction takes the chief disciple seat, we will become the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak¡­¡± ¡°When that happens, we shall reallocate all of Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s cultivation resources, and the other two factions will no longer have any right to compete with us. As for Zhou Yuan, so what is he¡¯s talented? We¡¯ll make up some excuse to take away his cave dwelling and cut his cultivation resources. Let¡¯s see what he¡¯ll be able to do then. So what if he¡¯s a genius? Hehe, that¡¯s the only thing our Cangxuan Sect doesn¡¯t lack the most.¡± A disdainful smile rose on Lu Hong¡¯s lips as he looked towards Yuan Hong. ¡°When that time comes, I am certain he will regret not joining our faction back then, and instead choosing that useless old coot Shen Wanjin.¡± Lu Hong nodded, cold pride in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry teacher Lu, there¡¯s nothing to fear from the other two factions of Saint Genesis Peak. The chief disciple seat will definitely be mine.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 434 Participating in the Chief Disciple Selection The next day. After a night of rest, Zhou Yuan was full of energy again. In the early morning, he walked out of the cave dwelling and rushed straight to the Dao Seeker Hall. Since he was now back from the mission, he needed to report to Shen Taiyuan while also resuming his cultivation sessions. Outside the Dao Seeker Hall. Many senior brother and sister disciples were currently hurrying towards this place. When Zhou Yuan arrived, he immediately drew every gaze in the area that quickly filled with surprise and amazement. Zhou Yuan was a little confused by their gazes, evidently still unaware that the details of the Heaven mission had already been revealed. ¡°Haha, junior brother Zhou Yuan, your performance in the mission has improved the reputation of our faction the the sect once again.¡± While Zhou Yuan was feeling puzzled, a hearty laughter was heard, before he saw Zhou Tai quickly walking over. Only then did Zhou Yuan understand. So his deeds in the Black Flame Province had already spread. Zhou Yuan smiled as he offhandedly said, ¡°I was lucky.¡± However, Zhou Tai strongly patted the former¡¯s shoulders, clearly very excited as he continued to speak, ¡°You¡¯re being way too humble. You are clearly only at the fourth layer, but even the Sacred Palace¡¯s Yang Xuan couldn¡¯t beat you. In my opinion, your current strength already qualifies you to participate in Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s chief disciples selection that will be held in two months.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± A sarcastic laugh rang out from the side just as Zhou Tai¡¯s words faded. Zhou Yuan tilted his head slightly, only to find a group of people walking over, led by the one and only Zhang Yan. Senior brother Zhang Yan¡¯s popularity was second only to Zhou Tai in elder Shen¡¯s faction. The former was also quite talented, and although he had joined a little later than Zhou Tai, he was already gradually catching up to the latter. Back when Zhou Yuan joined Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction, Cao Shi and the rest had tried to make things difficult for Zhou Yuan. The truth was that they were being secretly supported by Zhang Yan. As such, Zhou Yuan and Zhang Yan¡¯s group did not have a close relationship. Zhang Yan led his gang over as he swept a glance at Zhou Tai and Zhou Yuan and said in an indifferent voice, ¡°Although junior brother Zhou Yuan did pretty well this time, it¡¯s a separate matter for him to take part in the chief disciple selection. I feel he is still lacking in experience.¡± ¡°After all, that Yang Xuan he defeated is not a genuine eighth layer Alpha-Origin. Moreover, junior brother Zhou Yuan only managed to win due to his advantage of having a Heaven Genesis Weapon. Without it, junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s true strength will barely be able to compete with a seventh layer.¡± He paused for a moment, casting a glance at Zhou Yuan as a slight smile appeared on his lips. ¡°I¡¯m only stating the facts, I hope that junior brother Zhou Yuan will not be too unhappy after hearing them.¡± Zhou Tai frowned. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Yuan smiled and shook his head, before looking towards Zhang Yan. ¡°Senior brother Zhang Yan¡¯s points are indeed logical¡­ however, isn¡¯t there still two months till the chief disciple selection?¡± ¡°The circumstances after two months should be something that senior brother won¡¯t be able to predict, right?¡± Mockery rose from the corners of Zhang Yan¡¯s mouth. What could possible change in two months? ¡°Then I wish junior brother Zhou Yuan all the best in fulfilling your grand aspiration.¡± He shook his head, no longer bothering to talk any further on this topic as he brushed past Zhou Yuan, leading his group into the Dao Seeker Hall. ¡°Ignore him junior brother Zhou Yuan. If you want to participate in the chief disciple selection, I will support your decision. Winning or losing isn¡¯t important, just take it as experience.¡± Consoled Zhou Tai. Evidently, even Zhou Tai was not particularly optimistic about Zhou Yuan¡¯s odds. The former merely hoped for Zhou Yuan to give it a try and gain some experience in the process. Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded, before entering the Dao Seeker Hall with Zhou Tai. The hall was already filled with numerous figures, while Shen Taiyuan was already seated on the highest seat. His lightly shut eyes slowly cracked open when Zhou Yuan stepped into the hall as he revealed a faint smile to the latter. Zhou Yuan walked to his place, before cupping his fists together to greet Shen Taiyuan. ¡°Greetings teacher Shen.¡± A smile appeared on Shen Taiyuan¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back.¡± His eyes were filled with satisfaction when he looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve done very well for the Black Flame Province mission. Sect master even called for me yesterday to sing praises about you. If not for you miraculously saving the day, the reputation of the Cangxuan Sect would have been damaged.¡± Said Shen Taiyuan with a kindly expression. The other disciples in the hall cast envious gazes at Zhou Yuan, clearly not expecting even sect master Qing Yang to know of this matter. This was truly rare indeed. Zhou Yuan was also rather surprised, likewise not expecting such news to have spread to even the sect master¡¯s ears. Soon after, he chuckled and said, ¡°I¡¯m also a disciple of the sect. It¡¯s only natural for me to fight for our dignity.¡± Shen Taiyuan smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve done a great service to us. Feel free to let me know if there¡¯s any reward you want.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook when he heard this. He quickly cupped his fists together and said, ¡°No need for a reward, but if possible, I hope that teacher Shen will permit me to participate in the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciples selection.¡± These words immediately caused commotion to arise, numerous bewildered gazes shooting over. It was clear that no one had imagined Zhou Yuan would actually be gunning for the chief disciple selection. Such an appetite was not small at all. Zhang Yang was the first to sneer as he said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, the chief disciple selection is no children¡¯s game, and represents the dignity of our faction. Though you are quite talented, isn¡¯t it still a little too early for you to participate in such an event?¡± The other disciples nodded in agreement. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s string of achievements over the past year was quite amazing, he still lacked the experience and maturity to participate in the chief disciple selection. After all, only the best among the purple sash disciples would be able to represent their factions, individuals that were only stronger than Yang Xuan. whom Zhou Yuan had defeated in the Black Flame Province. A look of deep thought rose on Shen Taiyuan¡¯s face. He was aware of the more specific details with regards to Zhou Yuan¡¯s feats in the Black Flame Province. The black brush Heaven Genesis Weapon played no small part in his victory against Yang Xuan, but even so, Zhou Yuan in that state was still not enough to take on the chief disciple selection. In their faction, only Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan had the qualifications to participate in this event, while the other experienced purple sash disciples were likewise lacking. As for Zhou Yuan, he was not even in Shen Taiyuan¡¯s considerations. If one performed badly in the chief disciple selection, it would definitely be a blow to the dignity of their faction. If any other disciple made such a request, Shen Taiyuan would immediately reject. However, he hesitated somewhat in the face of Zhou Yuan, who had been able to create miracles time and time again. ¡°Zhou Yuan, there¡¯s no need for you to rush. Given your talent, if you wait a year more, the chief disciple seat will already be in the bag.¡± Said Shen Taiyun. ¡°So won¡¯t you wait a year before you try?¡± Zhou Yuan was silent. In the end, he shook his head and said, ¡°I still hope that teacher Shen will be able to grant me this request. I will definitely do my best, and not bring shame to our faction.¡± Shen Taiyuan could only let out a soft sigh. After pondering over it for a while, he said in a solemn voice, ¡°Since you are determined, it will not be appropriate for me to hinder you from giving your all. You may participate in the upcoming chief disciple selection.¡± In any case, their faction did not have much dignity left. It would not be a substantial blow to them even if Zhou Yuan lost. Whispers spread in the hall as Zhang Yan and his gang watched with cold, detached eyes. There was no way they would be happy with this development. Shen Taiyuan was obviously far too bias towards Zhou Yuan, even agreeing to such an irrational request. ¡°Fine, you can¡¯t blame anyone else if you¡¯re so insistent on making a fool of yourself¡­¡± Zhou Yuan ignored everyone else. Joy subconsciously rose on his face when he saw Shen Taiyuan give his approval, before Zhou Yuan quickly solemnly cupped his fists together in respectful thanks. This was the final hurdle between him and the sealed main peak, where he would at long last be able to begin his search for the hidden second Saint Rune... He had been waiting for this day for a very long time. However, Zhou Yuan also understood that winning the chief disciple selection was not going to be easy. Thus, it was time for him to go full throttle in his training for the next two months. Previous Chapte Chapter 435 Cashing in the Heaven Credi After the cultivation session in the Dao Seeker Hall was over, Zhou Yuan parted ways with Zhou Tai. The former stood within the swirling mists on the mountain with a thoughtful look on his face. Although Shen Taiyuan had promised to allow his participation in the chief disciple selection, Zhou Yuan understood that it was going to be very challenging. Without borrowing the power of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, his current battle power would at most be able to match the likes of Bai Li, Qin Hai and the rest. As for the other disciples who possessed the qualifications to take part in the chief disciple selection, even if they may not have real Heaven Genesis Weapons, they should be able to prepare quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapons. If that was the case, the advantage of his Heavenly Yuan Brush would be greatly diminished. Most importantly¡­ even senior brother Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan of their faction had genuinely reached the eighth layer, a realm that far surpassed the half-baked eighth layer Yang Xuan had reached. Hence, for Zhou Yuan to distinguish himself in the year end chief disciple selection, he needed to make full use of these final two months to grow as much as he could. ¡°I should first go hand one of the Heaven Credits to old Xuan.¡± After some thought, Zhou Yuan pushed away his worries for the time being. His figure soared into the sky, heading towards the main peak of Saint Genesis Peak. After half an incense stick of time. His figure landed before the simple temple at the foot of the mountain. A hunched, elderly figure could be seen on the plaza in front of the temple, still holding a broom as he slowly swept away the fallen leaves on the ground. Upon hearing the sound of rushing wind, he weakly lifted head. A smile seemed to appear on his face when his murky eyes spotted Zhou Yuan. ¡°Little one, it seems that you¡¯re a man of your word.¡± ¡°I was beginning to think you were planning on renegading on our deal. An old man like me with one foot in the grave is not the least bit intimidating after all.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips curled when he heard this. Go ahead and keep on pretending. Given your seniority and status in the Cangxuan Sect, as long as you open your mouth, even sect master Qing Yang won¡¯t be able to reject. ¡°Here¡¯s the Heaven Credit I promised.¡± A jade tile appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. He touched it for a brief moment as an extremely pained look appeared on his face. This jade tile represented a Heaven Credit that could be exchanged for a Heaven Genesis technique anytime he wanted. But there was no choice. This was the price for the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. Though he was not certain whether old Xuan would really take away the half completed Taiyi mark he had cultivated if he did not give the former a Heaven Credit, Zhou Yuan obviously did not want to take this risk. Old Xuan reached out a gnarly hand and caught the jade tile Zhou Yuan threw over. With an offhand glance, the former kept the tile in his sleeve before turning back to still miserable looking Zhou Yuan who appeared to be mumbling something under his breath, as a smile flitted across his murky eyes. Zhou Yuan did not want to stay here any longer after handing over the jade tile. His voice sounded rather dispirited as he said, ¡°Since I¡¯ve already given the Heaven Credit to you, neither of us owes the other anything now. Goodbye.¡± He turned around, intending to leave this place as soon as possible. Just as Zhou Yuan was about to leave, old Xuan¡¯s voice faintly echoed, ¡°You seem to be very keen on entering the sealed main peak? Are you interested in this place?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps paused, not a single hint of change visible in his expression as he replied, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak was the place where patriarch Cang Xuan once cultivated, and he was once the number one expert in Cangxuan Heaven. I believe that there¡¯s no one who won¡¯t be interested in the place where he trained, right?¡± Old Xuan slowly sat down on the stone steps, placing the broom by his side as he said, ¡°You plan on participating in the year end chief disciple selection, right? Only the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak will be permitted to enter the sealed main peak.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, and did not deny it. News of this had already spread after all. Old Xuan patted his knees as he leisurely said, ¡°Although the declining Saint Genesis Peak only has three factions, given your current strength, it¡¯s going to be a very difficult task indeed to vie for the chief disciple seat.¡± Zhou Yuan unhappily said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry about such matters.¡± Old Xuan continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you obtained the chief credit in the Heaven mission? Doesn¡¯t that mean that there¡¯s another Heaven Credit in your possession?¡± Zhou Yuan immediately became on guard. He placed a hand on the Universe bag at his waist as he cautiously stared at old Xuan and said, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about taking my last Heaven Credit away too.¡± He knew by now just how rare a Heaven mission was. Moreover, even if he was lucky enough for one to appear again, he would have to fight numerous other competitors for a spot, and even if he did succeed in the end, it would not be certain whether he¡¯ll be rewarded a Heaven Credit. If he encountered an exceedingly difficult Heaven mission, he may ultimately be given a ¡®no credit¡¯ appraisal and end up wasting his time. Hence, Zhou Yuan deeply treasured his remaining Heaven Credit, and did not dare to easily use it. Old Xuan did not know whether to laugh or to cry at the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance. He shook his head and said, ¡°This toy is only a treasure to you disciples. It''s useless in my eyes.¡± ¡°I merely find you to be quite a promising kid and hope to give you a small pointer, so stop being so tactless.¡± Only then did Zhou Yuan relax his hand, half doubtful and half convinced as he continued to stare at the old man before him. ¡°What do you want to advise me about?¡± Old Xuan indifferently said, ¡°That Heaven Credit will only be a useless piece of jade if you keep holding on to it. Thus, it will be best for you to exchange it for something that will benefit you, for example, a Heaven Genesis technique to raise your strength.¡± ¡°On this note, I have items you may exchange it for here.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°I can exchange it for a Heaven Genesis technique from you?¡± There was a skeptical look in his eyes as he hesitated. ¡°I think it will be a little more logical for me to do it at the sect¡¯s Hidden Scriptures House¡­¡± He could not read this old man, and did not dare to bet the only Heaven Credit he had. Old Xuan was a mix of amusement and anger when he heard this, clearly not expecting the brat to have such a look of hesitation in the face of his kind intentions. One must know that the things he had were something that even the elders of the sect greatly desired! ¡°If you don¡¯t want them, hurry up and leave.¡± Said old Xuan with a wave of his hand. Zhou Yuan pondered for a while, and chose not to leave in the end. He gritted his teeth as he stepped forward and handed over the jade tile. He said with gritted teeth, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll trust you this once!¡± ¡°Show me what kind of Heaven Genesis techniques you have.¡± Old Xuan unhurriedly received the jade tile and glanced at the nervous Zhou Yuan, before reaching a hand into his sleeves. In the end, he fished out a jade scroll. The scroll gave off several rays of light that turned into small light screens on which letters began to appear. ¡°Little Saint Spirit Art?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned when he saw these words. He did not know why but they seemed to be rather familiar. ¡°How are this little Saint Spirit Art related to the Omega Saint Spirit Art only the chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak is qualified to learn?¡± However, he quickly recalled why they appeared familiar. Back when he had joined Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction, the latter had told him that the Cangxuan Sect once had a Saint Genesis technique. However, the technique was split into seven parts, each of which were safeguarded by each of the seven peaks. The technique safeguarded by Saint Genesis Peak was the high grade Heaven Genesis technique, the Omega Saint Spirit Art. Old Xuan shot a surprised glance at Zhou Yuan, clearly not expecting the latter to be so sharp. He immediately chuckled and said, ¡°At least you know your stuff. This little Saint Spirit Art is indeed related to the Omega Saint Spirit Art¡­¡± ¡°This technique is the simplified version I created from the Omega Saint Spirit Art. Although the process lowered the rank of the technique to the mid grade Heaven tier, it has also become easier to learn.¡± ¡°If you manage to master the little Sains Spirit Art, and subsequently obtain the Omega Saint Spirit Art in the future, the latter will become much easier to master.¡± Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck, before his eyes instantly began to light up with burning desire as he stared at the jade scroll, saliva even dripping from his mouth. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that the Heaven Genesis technique from old Xuan would be the simplified version of Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s strongest Omega Saint Spirit Art. Zhou Yuan swallowed repeatedly and said, ¡°Elder, you¡¯re way too amazing¡­¡± A strange smile appeared from the corners of old Xuan¡¯s lips when he saw this, before he raised his hand. Jade scroll after scroll began to fly out from his sleeve, reaching a total of six before stopping. These six jade scrolls hovered in front of him as rays of light spread from them. ¡°I still have other options, want to continue looking?¡± Zhou Yuan looked over as his gradually turned slack-jawed. His breathing became extremely ragged as his eyes turned a crazed red. ¡°Little Mythic Body Art!¡± ¡°Little Azure Sky Art!¡± ¡°Little Lightning Prison Art!¡± ¡°......¡± All six of the jade scrolls began with the word little, and these names all gave Zhou Yuan a feeling of familiarity. His voice had even begun to tremble as he mumbled, ¡°All of these¡­ are the simplified versions of the seven Cangxuan Arts?!¡± Old Xuan nodded with a grin. Zhou Yuan felt a warm sensation from his nose, unable to stop himself from having a nose bleed. At this very moment, he had the impulse of grabbing these jade scrolls and running. Previous Chapte Chapter 436 Little Mythic Saint Body Seven glowing jade scrolls floated in the air. Their light was reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, causing his breath to turn ragged and his eyes to turn a crazy red as his heart violently thudded. He clearly understood just what these seven jade scrolls represented... Although they were not the real seven Cangxuan Arts but the simplified versions, they were obviously still incomparable to ordinary Heaven Genesis techniques. Once mastered, any of the seven Cangxuan Arts one subsequently obtained in the future would be learnt in the shortest possible time. Thus, even someone, who was usually able to keep level-headed like Zhou Yuan, felt his mind go blank for a time in the face of the seven hovering jade scrolls. In fact, he even felt the urge to snatch them and run. Fortunately, this urge quickly passed and Zhou Yuan gradually regained his wits. Although old Xuan did not seem to have any Genesis Qi, his frightening seniority was in the open for all to see. If Zhou Yuan were to try grabbing the scrolls and running, he would most definitely be kicked out of the sect on the very spot. Zhou Yuan licked his lips. When he looked towards old Xuan again, the originally vigilant look in his eyes were gone, replaced by a flattering smile. ¡°So? Is this satisfactory?¡± Asked Old Xuan as he smiled from ear to ear. ¡°Satisfactory! Absolutely satisfactory!¡± Zhou Yuan rapidly nodded like a little chick, practically drooling with desire as he said, ¡°Elder, are these seven jade scrolls for me?¡± If he could obtain all of them, wouldn¡¯t he become the only person in the Cangxuan Sect to have gathered all seven Cangxuan Arts? Though they were admittedly the simplified versions... However, old Xuan merely cast a disdainful glance at the former. He did even bother replying to the question, merely letting out a sarcastic laugh, ¡°Haha.¡± Such a huge appetite¡­ wasn¡¯t this kid afraid of dying from bloatedness? From old Xuan¡¯s sarcastic laughter, Zhou Yuan understood just how naive his question had been, causing him to chuckle awkwardly in response. After all, there was likely no disciple in the sect who could remain calm in the face of the seven Cangxuan Arts. Old Xuan ignored Zhou Yuan¡¯s delusional thoughts and lazily said, ¡°Pick one of them.¡± Zhou Yuan immediately began to frown deeply when he heard this, his gaze continuously sweeping left and right across the seven jade scrolls. He was clearly very conflicted for a time, because such a choice was truly too difficult to make! These seven jade scrolls were a simplified version of the seven Cangxuan Arts. Each one possessed mysterious and wondrous abilities, making it insanely difficult to eliminate any one of them. ¡°Should I select the little Saint Spirit Art?¡± Zhou Yuan hesitated. This could prepare him for when he obtained the Omega Saint Spirit Art in the future. After mulling over it for a long time, Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and reached for the little Saint Spirit Art. When old Xuan saw this, he said, ¡°If i were you, I will not make this selection.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Old Xuan rolled his eyes at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Won¡¯t you be able to obtain the real Omega Saint Spirit Art after you distinguish yourself in the upcoming chief disciple selection? When that happens, won¡¯t these two Heaven Genesis techniques overlap?¡± Zhou Yuan blinked repeatedly. There seemed to be some logic behind this reasoning. Old Xuan leisurely said, ¡°If you trust this old man, allow me to give you some advice.¡± ¡°Of course I trust you!¡± Said Zhou Yuan without the slightest shred of hesitation. After seeing old Xuan¡¯s collection, the former no longer dared to look down on the latter. Old Xuan pointed, and a jade scroll drifted towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan hastily received it. His gaze swept across it as he muttered, ¡°Little Mythic Saint Body?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. This appeared to be the simplified version of Hongya Peak¡¯s Mythic Saint Body, and should be an external cultivation technique that specialized in cultivating one¡¯s body. ¡°Elder, this is an external cultivation technique, and I¡¯ve never cultivated my physical body before.¡± Said Zhou Yuan with some hesitation. He had never practiced any Genesis techniques that would temper his body. Instead, he mostly walked the path of inner cultivation, which focused on growing the breath of Genesis Qi in his abdomen. Old Xuan indifferently said, ¡°Little one, both inner and outer cultivation have their own marvels, but a true expert will walk the complete path. Only by mastering both inner and outer cultivation would one become truly powerful.¡± ¡°Most importantly, you¡¯re already practicing the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, which bestows boundless life force onto your body, and gives you incredible recovery abilities¡­ with the Taiyi Green Wood Mark as the base, you will be able to practice external cultivation at a rate that far surpasses any ordinary individual.¡± ¡°Where did you think the amazingness of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark lay in? It does not directly bestow overwhelming power, but is priceless to anyone who practices external cultivation.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little moved by these words. So this was the greatest advantage of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. The bodies of external cultivation practitioners would often easily sustain damage. Thus, a good amount of natural cultivation treasures and resources were required to repair the body, nourish it, heal injuries and strengthen one¡¯s vital energy. All of these headache inducing problems to others were easily solved in Zhou Yuan¡¯s case. The Taiyi Green Wood Mark allowed Zhou Yuan to fearlessly temper and strengthen his body. As such, the little Mythic Saint Body was indeed the most suitable technique for him at this current time. He fell into thought for a brief moment as he tightly grasped the jade scroll. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll be choosing the little Mythic Saint Body!¡± Old Xuan nodded and kept the other six scrolls with a wave of his sleeve. When he lifted his head again, he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze glued to his sleeve, as if nothing would be able to shift it away. Hence, old Xuan could not help but scold with a smile. ¡°Greedy brat.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled resentfully, before reluctantly withdrawing his gaze. Old Xuan shot a glance at Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Little fellow, your Taiyi Green Wood Mark has yet to be completed, right?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly as he nodded. ¡°It¡¯s only half complete¡­ Yimu Qi is not easy to find.¡± Old Xuan frowned a little. ¡°Since you¡¯ve never practiced any external cultivation techniques before, I¡¯m afraid your body won¡¯t be able to handle a technique on the level of the little Mythic Saint Body at this point in time. You need to complete the Taiyi mark before you can start practicing it.¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head, feeling rather distressed about the situation. To complete the Tiayi mark, he needed rare ancient wood that contained Yimu Qi. Such things were not easy to find. Old Xuan helplessly shook his head when he saw this. ¡°How troublesome.¡± ¡°I do know where you can find rare ancient wood, but whether or not you¡¯ll be able to obtain any will depend on your ability.¡± He slowly staggered to his feet using the broom. Zhou Yuan was overjoyed at this news, and hastily cupped his fists together. ¡°Thank you, elder!¡± Old Xuan waved his hand before walking forward. As Zhou Yuan gazed upon the hunched figure, he hesitated for a moment, before he suddenly asked, ¡°Elder, why are you helping me?¡± How could he not feel it by now? Regardless of whether it was allowing him to exchange a Heaven Credit for one of the seven simplified Cangxuan Arts that ordinary disciples would never have the chance of seeing, or pointing him in the right direction to find rare ancient wood, these were clearly all blessings that the old man was giving him. They did not have any close relations, and had only met thrice before. Therefore, Zhou Yuan did not know why the old man would shower him with such favors. Old Xuan¡¯s footsteps paused as he said, ¡°Little one, if you did not return as agreed after obtaining a Heaven Credit, the truth is that I will not have been so cruel as to cripple the Taiyi mark you practiced.¡± ¡°I believe that you also faintly had the inkling that this would be the case¡­¡± ¡°However, you ultimately chose to honor our deal, something that did surprise me a little¡­ that is why I allowed you to see the simplified Cangxuan Arts.¡± ¡°You have control over your desires, are able to keep your promises, and did not stoop so low as to trick an old man like myself¡­¡± ¡°Truth be told, these blessings are the fruits of your decisions.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback, his heart slightly shaken. If this was the case, the Heaven Credit promise between him and old Xuan had been a test of sorts. If he had ultimately been reluctant to part with the Heaven Credit, though he may have been able to preserve the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, his ties with old Xuan would have ended there and then. As a result, he would naturally never be able to see the simplified Cangxuan Arts. The thought of this made him rejoice inside. Truthfully speaking, he had considered renegading on the Heaven Credit promise since someone as senior as old Xuan would most likely not do such a cruel thing to a junior like himself. But in the end, he had thrown out such thoughts, because he too had a sense of pride in his heart. Pride that would only make him despise such a deceitful act. If he wanted something, he would naturally do his best to obtain it instead of resorting to such scummy methods. And now, it seemed that his pride had prevented him from losing out on a tremendous opportunity. When a Heaven Credit was put on a scale with the unfathomable old Xuan, the latter undoubtedly had more value. ¡°Follow me.¡± Old Xuan beckoned with a hand as he walked towards the giant mountain covered in mist behind them. His murky eyes were fixed to the front, not turning towards Zhou Yuan behind. The truth was that there was one most important factor he had not mentioned earlier. The initial reason he had given such a test to Zhou Yuan¡­ was because he had faintly sensed a hint of a familiar presence from the latter¡¯s body. Previous Chapte Chapter 437 Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree Giant misty mountain was filled with silence. Rustle! The faint sound of someone stepping on dried leaves was suddenly heard. One could only watch as two figures, one old and one young, slowly walked over from far away, unhurriedly traversing the mountain forest. These two figures naturally belonged to old Xuan and Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan curiously observed his surroundings. They were already beginning to near the sealed main peak which ordinary disciples had been barred from approaching. ¡°Follow my exact steps and don¡¯t make any mistakes. If not, no one will be able to save you.¡± Old Xuan¡¯s voice suddenly sounded from the front. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shivered when he heard this as he looked to his front. Sure enough, he saw the several spots in space faintly distort as an indescribable feeling of danger caused his hairs to rise. Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, ¡°We can¡¯t be going into the sealed area, right?¡± Old Xuan nodded. Cold sweat immediately appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. The sealed main peak was said to be extremely dangerous. If one recklessly entered, let alone the Alpha-Origin stage, even Divine Dwelling and Heavenly Sun stage experts would be instantly killed by the seal. ¡°Relax, nothing will happen as long as you keep to the path.¡± Old Xuan consoled before walking into the region where space was faintly distorting. Zhou Yuan hesitated a little before he gritted his teeth and quickly caught up. Every step was very carefully placed on the footprints left by old Xuan, not daring to make even the tiniest of mistakes. As such, the two individuals advanced into the depths of the mountain. After an incense stick of time, cold sweat was continuously dripping from Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead, a sign that he was clearly under a tremendous amount of pressure. He softly asked, ¡°Elder, how long more?¡± However, old Xuan ignored him, leaving him no choice but to shut his mouth and follow. This continued for quite a lengthy amount of time before old Xuan extended a finger and gently swung it in the air. The mist to the front immediately scattered as the originally warping space began to return to normal. ¡°Alright.¡± Upon hearing old Xuan¡¯s voice, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tensed body slowly began to relax. He quickly scanned the surroundings. Sure enough, he found that the dangerous aura was starting to fade. There was a sliver of astonishment in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he could not help but ask, ¡°Elder, you can control the seal on the main peak?¡± Old Xuan shook his head and said, ¡°The seal on the main peak was personally made by master back then. How can I possibly control it? After staying here for way too many years, I¡¯ve become capable of just barely avoiding some of the dangers.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little disappointed. If old Xuan was truly able to control the seal, wouldn¡¯t it be super convenient? ¡°The thing you want is to our front.¡± Old Xuan pointed to the front. Zhou Yuan hurriedly raised his head and cast his gaze over. The ground some distance to their front had a deep black hue, making it look similar to a swamp. At the center of this giant swamp was an enormous ancient tree. The ancient tree gave off a timeless aura as it silently towered there. Its thick and strong trunk was covered in some kind of scale like things, while a faint but mighty pressure pulsed from it. The ancient tree¡¯s lush branches stretched out, nearly covering the entire sky in the area, while the twigs silently hung from them. As he gazed upon the ancient tree, Zhou Yuan felt the half complete Taiyi mark in his body begin to shake violently as a feeling of intense desire spread from it. This desire was even stronger than when faced with Su Duan¡¯s ancient wood bracelet from before. ¡°Elder, what is this?¡± Asked a somewhat excited Zhou Yuan. The Yimu Qi contained within this ancient tree was clearly extraordinary. ¡°It¡¯s a Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree that master transplanted here many years ago, an extremely rare ancient tree. If you manage to obtain a bit of its wood, completing your Taiyi mark will not be a difficult matter.¡± Said old Xuan with a smile. Zhou Yuan was overjoyed by this information. However, before any happiness could reveal itself on his face, old Xuan continued, ¡°But I should first give you a warning. After living for so long, this Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree has already gained some sentience, and has an extremely violent nature. It just so happens to currently be in a deep sleep, which makes this your only chance.¡± ¡°When it wakes up, let alone someone like yourself, even Heavenly Sun stage elders will not be able to approach.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly, his gaze now filled with fear as he looked towards the peaceful ancient tree again. He never imagined that an ancient tree could be so terrifying. Zhou Yuan cautiously asked, ¡°Since its in a deep sleep, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger, right?¡± Old Xuan replied, ¡°Although it is in a deep slumber, anything that has reached its level will naturally have some sort of danger sense. If a strong enemy approaches, it will naturally be aroused from its sleep. Fortunately, you¡¯re way too weak to awaken it.¡± Zhou Yuan felt rather awkward. Was being too weak really fortunate? ¡°Of course, even if it won¡¯t be awoken by you, it will instinctively attack any life form that approaches¡­ your task will be to withstand its attacks and dig out a little of the scales from its trunk.¡± Old Xuan sat down with his broom as his raspy voice sounded, ¡°Whether or not you succeed will depend on your ability. In any case, I¡¯ve already done what I can by bringing you here. If you fail, it will only mean that it was not fated.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly and shook his head as he gazed at the giant Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree and felt its faint but overwhelming pressure. The opportunity before his eyes did not seem easy to grasp at all. ¡°So? Do you dare? You should just go back if you¡¯re not confident, because it will become more difficult to return when it gets dark.¡± Old Xuan fished out an old yellow tobacco leaf, rolled it up and lit it. Spicy smoke rose from it as his murky eyes peered at Zhou Yuan through the smoke. Huu. Under his gaze, Zhou Yuan deeply exhaled as a resolute look appeared in his eyes. There was no reason for him to give up on the chance before his eyes. ¡°Since we¡¯ve already come all the way here, how can I possibly return empty handed.¡± Said Zhou Yuan. Old Xuan seemed to smile, though no one could read the emotion on his old, wrinkly face. With a wave of his sleeve, a black shadow flew towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Since you have the guts, go ahead and give it an attempt. Talk is useless after all.¡± Zhou Yuan reached out to catch the object, only to be slightly stunned when he looked towards it. It was a black wood chopping knife. The knife was mottled and did not appear to be sharp, while there seemed to be some faint traces of old blood marks on its blade. Old Xuan placed the tobacco leaf between his lips and said, ¡°Given your strength, you won¡¯t be able to chop off a single scale even if the tree just stood there to let you hack at it¡­ I¡¯ll lend you this knife. Back then, it chopped off countless scales that were used to brew tea for the master, and has some restrictive power on the tree.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded as he placed the black knife into his waistband, before his gaze locked onto the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree with a determined look in his eyes. No matter how terrifying the tree was, he still had to try today. Otherwise, his Taiyi mark would not be completed, and an incomplete Taiyi mark meant that he would be unable to practice the little Mythic Saint Body. This would surely affect his chances in the year end chief disciple selection. There were times when you just had to do your best to seize the opportunity that appeared before you! Swish! In the next instant, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes hardened as his foot pushed off the ground. His figure swiftly drifted towards the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree like a wisp of smoke. Previous Chapte Chapter 438 Retrieving the Scales Swoosh! Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure dashed towards the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree, the dried leaves on the ground completely undisturbed as his body blew past like a wisp of smoke. In a short few breaths, he was already fast approaching the area within a hundred feet of the tree. Everything was still peaceful and silent as before. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body grew increasingly tense, while a vigilant look filled his face. His gaze was glued to the tree, making sure to catch every movement it made. The tree¡¯s powerful pressure made Zhou Yuan understand just how powerful an existence it was. In the face of such a strong living being, he did not dare to be even the slightest bit negligent. Fortunately, there was still no reaction from the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar as Zhou Yuan neared. This caused joy to rise in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. It appeared that because he was as weak as an ant to an existence as mighty as the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree, he so insignificant that even its base instincts perceived no threat from him. ¡°Almost there, almost there¡­ I just need a chop off a few scales!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart violently thudded as his burning gaze looked towards the peculiar faintly glowing scales on the tree trunk. Swish! However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit suddenly trembled at this moment, sensing danger. His dashing figure immediately paused as he stepped to the side at a strange angle. A flash of black light that gave off an extremely sharp aura arrived the instant his body twisted, silently slicing through even the air itself. In the end, it brushed past Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and flew off. Pch! The black object pierced into the ground, creating seemingly bottomless whole. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze shivered as it swept to the side, because that flash of black earlier had been a black vine. The vine was covered in countless fine scales that flickered icily under the light. It was the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree¡¯s vine! Zhou Yuan raised his head with a grave expression, and found countless black vines slowly slithering in the air like pythons, their sharp, pointed ends all aimed at him. Every one of these vines gave off an extremely dangerous aura. ¡°Still been discovered huh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan sighed helplessly. He had originally hoped to escape detection with his Ethereal Form technique, and stealthily approach to chop off a few tree scales. Swish! While Zhou Yuan was sighing, the countless vines suddenly descended, leaving faint marks in the air, their sharp auras directed straight at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Mystical Python¡¯s Great Golden Bell!¡± Zhou Yuan stomped on the ground as golden Genesis Qi exploded. The Genesis Qi swiftly transformed into a giant golden bell that covered his entire body. Although these vines were merely an instinctive response from the tree, they were a huge danger towards Zhou Yuan. Hence, he did not hesitate in activating his strongest defense. Clang! Clang! Countless vines ferociously stabbed at the golden bell, creating a cacophony of loud clanging sounds. Golden light violently rippled as faint cracks began to appear on the surface of the bell. A look of horror flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. His Mystical Python¡¯s Great Golden Bell boasted astonishing defenses, and yet signs of breaking had begun to appear so quickly. Wasn¡¯t the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree¡¯s vine attacks a little too frightening? *Shatter*! More and more cracks appeared on the golden bell, before it ultimately shattered. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure shot forth once again at that very moment, pouncing straight towards the tree. Vine after vine darted through the air like lightning, like an inescapable net that was about to trap Zhou Yuan in its confines. ¡°Heavenly Sun Flame!¡± His mouth ballooned as azure Heavenly Sun Flames poured out. The vines quickly shrank back when licked by the flames, but soon after, the scales on the vines slowly emitted a glow as robust Genesis QI flowed out to cover them. Ch ch! As such, the vines that were now wrapped in green Genesis Qi no longer feared the Heavenly Sun Flames. They lashed out together, ripping apart the flames as they ruthlessly shot towards Zhou Yuan. The attacking vines seemed to cover the entire sky, and seemed very ferocious in nature. Though Zhou Yuan wanted to advance, he had no choice but to retreat. The tree appeared to be almost within reach, but this small gap was akin to a great raging river that was nearly impossible to pass. In the face of the countless attacking vines, Zhou Yuan was unable to advance, and was clearly in a very difficult situation. Further away, old Xuan breathed out a mouthful of smoke, watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s sorry situation as he nonchalantly said. ¡°As time passes, more and more vines will awaken, while the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree will also slowly be roused from its deep slumber.¡± ¡°The longer you delay, the lesser your chances.¡± Old Xuan¡¯s voice was transmitted into Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears, causing his expression to change. The tree was an extremely dreadful existence. If it awakened, even a Heavenly Sun stage expert would have his hands tied, let alone a fourth layer Alpha-Origin like himself. When that happened, obtaining scales from the tree would become a fantasy. However, he was not holding back either. The tree¡¯s vines were just too terrifying, causing him to be unable to advance even half a step... Obtaining scales from the tree was clearly not going to be as easy as he had imagined. Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth as the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his hands. The brush tip transformed into numerous after images as it defended against the attacking vines. However, every clash would force him a step back. Piercing pain could be felt from his entire hand. Even the skin between his thumb and index finger had been torn, causing fresh blood to flow out. The pain from his hands suddenly lit up a fire of anger inside Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart as a somewhat savage look filled his eyes. With a deep breath, an ancient Saint Rune appeared in the depths of his pupils and slowly began to spin. Decoder Saint Rune! When the Saint Rune surfaced, the countless attacking vines seemed to pause for a brief second. He could see Genesis Qi flowing in the vines, Genesis Qi that originated from the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree. This was the main reason why the attacking vines were so formidable. ¡°If I can block the circulation of Genesis Qi for a moment, these vines will be briefly incapacitated.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. Through the power of the Decoder Saint Rune, he was able to observe the flow of Genesis Qi from the tree. Ch ch! In Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, the vines merely paused for an instant, before continuing their terrifying and savage onslaught. However, there was a determined look in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes this time. Instead of staying on the defense, he took the initiative as his foot pushed off the ground, sending his figure dashing towards the vines. Swish! Swish! With a jerk, the Heavenly Yuan Brush transformed into countless brush shadows. Every brush shadow moved at an extremely precise trajectory, hitting certain spots on the vines. These spots just so happened to be the part of the circulation pathways from which the tree was sending its Genesis Qi into the vines. The invading force caused the circulating Genesis Qi to become stuck for a moment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure landed on the ground. Countless vines continued to shoot towards him, their reflections rapidly growing in his eyes. However, his figure remained completely still, as if ignoring all of these deadly attacks. The vines suddenly froze a split second before they were about to pierce his body. In the end, they fell from the sky like puppets whose strings had been cut, landing on the ground around him. The surroundings fell silent once again. Some distance away from the battle, old Xuan had been attentively observing Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. When he saw this scene, his old, bark like face trembled slightly for a moment, before he lifted his head and sucked in a breath of spicy smoke, as a deep and unreadable look appeared in his eyes. Zhou Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the falling vines. The Saint Rune in his eyes withdrew as he quickly walked forward and appeared beside the tree trunk. He grasped the black wood chopping knife and began hacking. The knife fell as palm-sized tree scale after scale was separated from the trunk. Light seemed to flow on the scales, as if they were precious stones, a rather beautiful sight indeed. Zhou Yuan happily chopped and hacked away with excited eyes, managing to hack off a few dozen tree scales in a short period, before he sensed the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree begin to emit a glow. A terrifying undulation slowly emerged, as if something was awakening. ¡°Greedy brat, if you don¡¯t start running, prepare to be left here as fertilizer.¡± Old Xuan¡¯s voice sounded. A chill swept through Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Only then did it dawn upon him that the tree was about to awaken! His scalp immediately turned numb. There was no hesitation at all as he swiftly grabbed the scales before turning to flee. Roar! A dreadful burst of Genesis Qi exploded behind him, flinging his body into the air. The vines on the ground roared back to life, and shot towards Zhou Yuan like lightning. Old Xuan helplessly shook his head when he saw this, and opened his mouth to spit out a mouthful of smoke. The smoke rushed forth, sweeping up the black knife in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Flashes of knife light were swung from its blade, cutting all of the incoming vines. Thud! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body crashed into the ground at old Xuan¡¯s feet, grimacing as he climbed to his feet. He turned around, and found vines filling the air behind, seemingly hissing at him like giant snakes. However, they did not dare to approach due to the black knife. Old Xuan looked at the giant Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree as he unhurriedly said, ¡°Come on, why are you being so petty. All we wanted was a few of your scales.¡± The tree swayed back and forth, causing the surrounding Genesis QI to shake. Even though the dreadful pressure did not spread, it still made Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart beat loudly in his chest. In the end, the tree slowly withdrew its terrifying Genesis Qi as peace gradually returned. Old Xuan chuckled. He cast a glance at Zhou Yuan, before turning to leave. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan hurriedly followed. The two retraced their original path back, and eventually left the mountain. After standing at the foot of the mountain for a long time, old Xuan looked towards Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°You may return. Come here and find me again when your Taiyi mark is complete. I will teach you how to practice the little Mythic Saint Body.¡± Zhou Yuan was elated. However, he could sense that there was something amiss about old Xuan¡¯s mood, and thus did not say anything in response. He only nodded before rising into the air on his Genesis Qi. Old Xuan stood outside the forest, his murky eyes watching Zhou Yuan leave. After a long time, he seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders as a soft murmur echoed in the misty mountain. ¡°So it is as expected¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 439 Yaoyao Returns When Zhou Yuan returned to his cave dwelling, the first thing he did was take out the tree scales he had hacked off from the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree. He sat on a stone platform, eyes burning with excitement as he stared at the tree scales. There were a total of eleven of them, the light faintly glimmering on their dried deep black bodies seemingly forming ancient looking patterns. Even without touching them, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the thick Yimu Qi pulsing within. Such concentration and purity levels were better than the ancient wooden bracelet he had gotten from Su Duan previously. ¡°With these scales, the Taiyi mark will definitely be completed.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat giddy with joy, the haul this time clearly exceeding his expectations. He had not only exchanged the little Mythic Saint Body from old Xuan, but also received guidance to obtain these tree scales. All of this was only possible because he had fulfilled his promise and handed a Heaven Credit to old Xuan. Zhou Yuan rejoiced at his decision once again, before raising one of his hands. Genesis Qi wrapped around a tree scale, slowly lifting it to the spot between his palms. ¡°I should begin the process of completing the Taiyi mark.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly closed his eyes. Only two months remained till the year end chief disciple selection, and he needed to make every second count. According to what old Xuan had said, Zhou Yuan needed to first master the initial stage of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark before his body would possess enough vital energy to begin practicing the little Mythic Saint Body.¡± The scale between his palms slowly began to revolve as strand after strand of pure dark green Qi slowly flowed out. The Qi moved towards his palms and fused into his flesh. Yimu Qi surged into his body, pulsing with strong life energy that caused his flesh and blood to release greedy undulations. Rich life energy melded into his flesh, blood and bones. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s control, the Qi began to condense into tiny glowing dark green dots that little by little began to complete the half done Taiyi mark. It was a very slow process. Hence, Zhou Yuan did not step out of his cave dwelling for the next five days, fully devoting himself to absorbing the Yimu Qi in the tree scale to complete his Taiyi mark. Under his tireless efforts, the Taiyi mark in his body slowly approached its complete state. When the eighth tree scale was used up, the Taiyi mark was finally completed. In a certain cave dwelling. Zhou Yuan was seated on a stone platform, a dark green glow rising from his body. Rays of light emerged from his flesh, suffusing his skin with a fluorescent glow. Rich life energy pulsed from his body, causing the weeds and vines near the stone platform to become a beautiful, healthy emerald green as they rapidly grew. If one took a closer look, one would realize that the dark green light from Zhou Yuan seemed to be form strange and complicated glowing pattern that covered his entire body that faintly gave off a mysterious and profound sensation. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly began to open at this moment. He lowered his head to look at the faintly glowing pattern on his skin as delight lit up his eyes. ¡°The Taiyi mark is finally complete!¡± After over two months of hard work, he had at long last completed the most important first step of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. Only after the Taiyi mark was complete would he be able to fuse even more Yimu Qi into his flesh and blood, and eventually achieve the so-called ¡®immortal body¡¯. Zhou Yuan lightly shut his eyes as his senses turned inwards. Vital energy was currently surging inside his body like a giant river, filled with rich life force. It felt as if he would be able to quickly recover even from the most serious of injuries. ¡°Little Yuan bro!¡± While Zhou Yuan was overjoyed by the completion of the Taiyi mark, Shen Wanjin¡¯s voice suddenly rang out outside the cave dwelling. Zhou Yuan was startled. He kept the remaining three scales, before quickly walking out of the cave where he found Shen Wanjin and asked with a smile, ¡°What is it?¡± Shen Wanjin was trembling with excitement as he replied, ¡°Boss sister Yaoyao is back! She¡¯s currently at the Mission Hall!¡± Zhou Yuan was elated by this news, the lingering worry in his heart finally fading away. ¡°It¡¯s good that she¡¯s back.¡± Said Zhou Yuan with relief. He decided to tell Yaoyao that if she wanted to go on any missions in the future, he would have to tag along. ¡°Let¡¯s go welcome her back.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned at Shen Wanjin. Shen Wanjin nodded, but suddenly moved closer as he mysteriously said, ¡°Little Yuan bro, do you know who else has returned with boss sister Yaoyao besides Ye Ge?¡± ¡°Who?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback. Shen Wanjin replied in a low voice, ¡°Chu Qing!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly. Ever since coming to the Cangxuan Sect, this name had quickly become very familiar to him. Chu Qing was the number one disciple of this generation, and the head of the ten Chosens. No one in the sect could match his popularity. However, though it had been nearly a year since Zhou Yuan had joined the sect, he had yet to see this famous individual. He never imagined that the chance to do so would finally come. With regards to the one who stood at the apex of all the Chosens, Zhou Yuan was actually quite curious. ¡°You should be careful little Yuan bro. As the one who managed to become the leader of the Chosens, Chu Qing is surely no ordinary person. Boss sister is so outstanding and blessed with extraordinary charm. What if she catches his eye? It¡¯ll be the appearance of a formidable love rival!¡± Said Shen Wanjin in a tone that seemed both serious and sincere. Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips pulled outwards as he rolled his eyes at the former. He gave no response as Genesis Qi rose around them, carrying the two into the air, before swiftly flying in the direction of the Mission Hall. There was already a sea of people present when the duo arrived, while more and more disciples were also rushing over from all over. Most of them were the female disciples of the sect, and were filled with nervousness and excitement, evidently here for Chu Qing. ¡°Is Chu Qing really so charismatic?¡± Shen Wanjin jealously said when he saw this scene. Zhou Yuan was also a little surprised, but did not make any remarks. He quickly landed and pushed his way into the bustling Mission Hall. The Mission Hall was currently filled with a giant black mass of people. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze looked towards the center, and sure enough, he saw that most attention grabbing figure. It was naturally Yaoyao. She was dressed in a light green long skirt, her fine black hair tied up, while her gorgeous face glowed beautifully. Her features were akin to a painted fairy, those clear yet empty looking eyes a sight that one would find very difficult to look away from. Like an otherworldly, ethereal fairy. The mere act of standing there made her become the focal point of countless gazes in the Mission Hall. There was a familiar figure beside Yaoyao, the famous Ye Ge of Spirit Rune Peak. However, his handsome face appeared somewhat pale, as if he had sustained some injuries. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept past Ye Ge, ultimately pausing at a certain spot to the side where a slender, eye catching figure stood. The first glance of this figure made Zhou Yuan involuntarily gasp in surprise. The figure was extremely handsome, his chiselled features making him look threateningly dashing. However, there was a certain look of laziness between his brows that made him appear lazy and lacking in energy. Even so, this lazy aura paired with his dashing good looks gave off a peculiar charm. ¡°Is that Chu Qing?¡± Zhou Yuan rubbed his chin as he nodded. Handsome, definitely very handsome¡­ however... He exchanged a look with Shen Wanjin. Both of them raised their gazes, looking towards senior brother Chu Qing¡¯s head as they fell into thought. Senior brother Chu Qing¡¯s head was smooth and shiny, not even a single strand of hair to be seen. It was basically a lightbulb that seemed to shine glaringly under the light from the hall. Why... Was senior brother Chu Qing a baldy?! To make matters worse, when they took a closer look, they found that senior brother Chu Qing¡¯s eyebrows were a little thicker than normal. His eyebrows were drawn! An eyebrowless baldy! This picture caused the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips to twitch for a moment. Shen Wanjin swiftly went around to gather information, before returning and quietly whispering to Zhou Yuan, ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that because of a technique senior brother Chu Qing is practicing¡­ he doesn¡¯t have a single hair on his body.¡± ¡°Not a single hair on his entire body?¡± Zhou Yuan and Shen Wanjin exchanged another look as they fell silent. They then shifted their gazes back in unison to give senior brother Chu Qing a quick up and down scan, before swiftly withdrawing their eyes again. Both of them shivered. The famous leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosens seemed to be¡­ quite an exceptional character. Previous Chapte Chapter 440 Chu Qing Yaoyao stood at the center of the grand hall with a calm look on her beautiful face. She carried Tuntun in her arms as numerous awed gazes were continuously cast at her, unable to shift away. She lowered her head and nudged Tuntun, somewhat longing for their tiny little cave dwelling while she wondered if he was back... *Cough* A soft cough was heard from the side as Ye Ge looked at Yaoyao and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s mostly thanks to junior sister Yaoyao this time. Otherwise, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to escape from the encirclement by the Chosens from the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect¡­¡± ¡°Ye Ge, has your head been knocked around too much¡­¡± Beside Ye Ge, the extremely handsome but shiningly bald as a light bulb youth swept a glance at the former, before looking towards Yaoyao as he listlessly said, ¡°If she hadn¡¯t secretly went off to steal the treasure while we were facing off against the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect Chosens, they wouldn¡¯t have ganged up on us in the first place.¡± ¡°We could have properly talked things over, but we ended up fighting instead. *Sigh*. Fighting is so tiring, won¡¯t things be so much better if everyone just sat down and discussed how we could divide the treasures?¡± He rubbed his shiny head with a pained expression as he lamented, ¡°So troublesome.¡± ¡°If they were willing to split the treasures with you, you wouldn''t have sent out an aid request. Given your character, you¡¯ll do anything extra if you don¡¯t have to.¡± Ye Ge chuckled. ¡°Junior sister Yaoyao merely slipped away so she could secretly establish a Genesis Rune boundary. Moreover, didn¡¯t all of us successfully return in the end?¡± Chu Qing patted Ye Ge¡¯s shoulders with sympathy. ¡°You were almost finished off, and you call it a success? She was purely using us as bait!¡± ¡°Well there will always be risks no matter what you do, right?¡± Ye Ge shrugged, not seeming to mind it. Even more pity filled Chu Qing¡¯s eyes. ¡°You¡¯re done for Ye Ge. I already told you that this woman is a heartless witch! You¡¯ll never be able to make her submit!¡± By the side, Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face remained as calm as water from start to end, basically ignoring the two of them. The mission had indeed been quite dangerous, because they had faced numerous Chosens from the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect, and even several ruthless unaffiliated cultivators of the Shengzhou Continent. To resolve these annoyances, Yaoyao had secretly set-up a boundary while using Chu Qing and Ye Ge as bait. In the end, they managed to force all of these ruthless individuals to retreat, allowing the trio to escape in one piece. Of course, Chu Qing and Ye Ge had to pay the price of fighting a bitter battle, while Ye Ge had even sustained some injuries. However, Yaoyao did not feel apologetic. She was cold and distant by nature, and if she felt the need to, abandoning the two of them to secure her safe retreat was not out of the cards. Furthermore, she could sense that Chu Qing was indeed very powerful, though he was excessively lazy and often did not use his full power in a fight. As such, Yaoyao had no qualms about using his skiving self as bait. However, Chu Qing constantly called her a heartless witch, to which she felt was an unreasonable appraisal. While Chu Qing was speaking, he looked towards the unmoved Yaoyao as he muttered in his heart, ¡°I¡¯ve only been away for half a year, how the hell did such a witch appear in the Cangxuan Sect?¡± Not only did she possess astonishing strength, she was also astonishingly indifferent and cold! In fact, she was even colder than Li Qingchan. Although Li Qingchan was cold as ice on the outside, she hid a warm interior. Yaoyao on the other hand, though her tone did not have the same frostiness as the former, there was a certain indifference in her voice as if she viewed all things like the grass on the ground. Such indifference seemed to originate from the soul and bloodline. This girl was indeed outrageously pretty, but she was just far too indifferent. During the two months they had been on the mission together, Chu Qing had not seen her smile a single time. ¡°Maybe she doesn¡¯t know how to?¡± Such was Chu Qing¡¯s thinking. However, just as this thought flashed past in his head, he saw something seem to awaken on Yaoyao¡¯s calm face as tiny glimmer rose within those rippleless eyes. Her red lips seemed to raise a teensy bit, as an almost undetectable angle appeared. In that moment, even Chu Qing felt his breath being taken away. He was somewhat shocked as he followed Yaoyao¡¯s gaze, only to find a young man walking out from the crowd and waving towards her. The changes in Yaoyao¡¯s expression was clearly due to this young man. The young man was naturally Zhou Yuan. The calmness on Yaoyao¡¯s face faded slightly at the sight of Zhou Yuan, ignoring Chu Qing and Ye Ge as she walked towards him with Tuntun. When the two met, Chu Qing saw the lazy little creature in Yaoyao¡¯s arms jump onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder, a sign that it was quite intimate with him. ¡°Who is he? I can¡¯t believe he made that witch smile?!¡± Blurted Chu Qing in shock. Ye Ge felt somewhat complicated as he watched this scene. ¡°He¡¯s the new disciple called Zhou Yuan I told you about¡­ in less than a year, he has already become a purple sash disciple, even faster than you were back then.¡± Chu Qing stroked his bald head as he mumbled, ¡°Amazing.¡± Ye Ge nodded. ¡°He is indeed very talented. In fact, he may even catch up to you in the future.¡± Chu Qing said, ¡°I¡¯m saying he¡¯s really amazing for subduing that witch!¡± His tone was genuinely filled with admiration. In Chu Qing¡¯s opinion, Yaoyao was an evil, heartless witch that no one could subdue, and yet, the impossible had happened. Someone who could make her less indifferent had appeared. Ye Ge was stunned, before he unhappily said, ¡°You¡¯re the leader of our Cangxuan Sect Chosens, why are you so against her?¡± Chu Qing rubbed his chin as he responded, ¡°After so many years, she¡¯s the first person that used me as bait. What I hate the most is being forced to fight!¡± Ye Ge laughed helplessly. It seemed that Chu Qing held quite the grudge. On the other side, Zhou Yuan also cast his gaze over, before exchanging a smile and nod with Ye Ge. However, Zhou Yuan was rather surprised when the equally eye catching Chu Qing also smiled at him in a rather casual manner. None of the pride shown by Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and the other Chosens could be seen. What slighly puzzled Zhou Yuan was that Chu Qing¡¯s smile seemed to say, ¡®Brother, you¡¯re goddamn awesome, I¡¯m seriously in admiration of you.¡¯ However, before he could go over to say hello, Yaoyao turned around to leave. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to our cave dwelling.¡± As such, Zhou Yuan hurriedly followed with Tuntun in his arms. Chu Qing watched the duo leave, before shrugging at Ye Ge. ¡°I feel that you have no chance¡­¡± ¡°Why not stop living in your delusions¡­ it¡¯s just a girl after all. Look at me, I no longer have any feeling towards pretty girls and my heart is as calm as water.¡± Chu Qing beamed. Ye Ge softly snorted. He glanced at the former and indifferently said, ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know the reason why?¡± Chu Qing let out a hollow laugh as he guiltily robbed his shiny bald head. Ye Ge watched Yaoyao¡¯s figure disappear, before also withdrawing his gaze as he said in a disappointed voice, ¡°I¡¯m going back to recuperate. You should also return to the Cangxuan Peak. Since you¡¯re constantly missing all year long, I¡¯m sure sect master has prepared some punishment for you when you return.¡± As he spoke, he waved and turned around to leave. A look of agony rose on Chu Qing¡¯s handsome face. In the end, he let out a long sigh. ¡°What a bother!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 441 Lively Cave Dwelling After leaving the Mission Hall, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao headed back to their cave dwelling. As they stepped into the peaceful cave, Zhou Yuan could feel Yaoyao¡¯s body quietly relax a little, while a trace of gentleness appeared in her bright, indifferent eyes. Now that they were back, Yaoyao left Tuntun to Zhou Yuan, and walked into the little house. Zhou Yuan sat down in the stone pavilion in front of the little house and placed Tuntun on the table. The latter dragged its body towards him and released a little whimper as it pointed towards its fatty tummy with a paw, before rubbing it with a sulky look. Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle when he saw this. Looks like Tuntun had suffered quite a lot on the mission with Yaoyao. At the very least, its appetite had not been sated. When he recalled how Tuntun had lost essence blood in order to help him suppress the Dragon¡¯s Resent Poison previously, Zhou Yuan grandly gestured with his hand as he generously declared, ¡°I¡¯ll get the Hundred Fragrances House to send you an entire table of food later so you can eat your fill.¡± Tuntun¡¯s eyes immediately glowed brightly as it stretched out a pink tongue towards Zhou Yuan in a fawning manner. While Zhou Yuan was playing with Tuntun, Yaoyao unhurriedly walked out from the house. She had evidently taken a bath, her soft black hair still glistening under the light, while a healthy and clow exuded from her beautiful face. Long, slender legs, a slim, tiny waist, a full, ample bosom, plus that misty, ethereal aura. For a time, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were nearly about to pop out from their sockets. It truly felt as if all the blessings and fortunes of the world had been gathered in a single person. Yaoyao was long used to such a gaze from Zhou Yuan. She entered the stone pavilion and sat down, propping one cheek with a hand as she lazily said, ¡°You didn¡¯t make me lose face on the mission, right?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned and replied, ¡°How could I. In fact, I was even awarded the chief credit.¡± Surprise flitted across Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. She retrieved a jade bottle and poured herself a small cup of wine, before she asked with interest, ¡°Tell me about it.¡± Thus, Zhou Yuan began to recount the tale of his mission in the Black Flame Province. When he reached the point where he had encountered Zuoqiu Qingyu, Yaoyao gave a faint nod and said, ¡°It seems that she and Luluo are doing quite well in the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.¡± After listening to the entire story, a very faint smile rose on her lips. ¡°Your performance was pretty good. It¡¯s good that you didn¡¯t make me lose face in front of Li Qingchan.¡± She was after all the one who had forced Li Qingchan to give Zhou Yuan a spot on the team. If Zhou Yuan performed terribly, it would undoubtedly make Yaoyao look bad too. ¡°What about ?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan as he chuckled. Yaoyao gently patted her Universe bag, causing a bundle of light to rise from it and hover in front of her. Inside, one could see a foot long piece of brown wood. There were extremely profound and mysterious patterns on the wood that resembled a giant coiling dragon, while a faint dragon roar seemed to echo from it. ¡°This is the Dragon Suppressing Wood, one of the main ingredients needed to draw your Dragon Subduing Rune.¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart. The fact that someone as cold and distant as Yaoyao would specially take on a mission for him was already enough proof that his status in her heart was different from others. ¡°Was the mission dangerous?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan with concern. Yaoyao nonchalantly replied, ¡°It wasn¡¯t too bad. There were several Chosens from the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect, and even more unaffiliated practitioners, none of which were pushovers. In the end, quite a grand battle broke out.¡± ¡°While Chu Qing and Ye Ge were confronting the others, I took the opportunity to secretly retrieve the Dragon Suppressing Wood. Next, I used them as bait to lure everyone into a boundary, which allowed us to successfully escape.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. Soon after, he let out a helpless chuckle. The matter was obviously not as simple as she had described. Chu Qing and Ye Ge had likely been tricked by Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°What do you think of Chu Qing?¡± He was quite interested in the one who was called the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosens. Yaoyao cocked her head and pondered for a moment, before she said, ¡°He¡¯s very strong, but he¡¯s too mischievous and lazy. He often thinks about how to minimise his efforts in battle, if he can get away with using thirty percent of his battle power, he will absolutely refuse to use forty percent¡­¡± ¡°In fact, he may have even completed this mission alone, but it would force him to pay quite a substantial price. Thus, he chose to call for help instead of relying on himself.¡± Zhou Yuan was speechless. To think that Senior brother Chu Qing was such a peculiar person. ¡°He¡¯s the complete opposite of you¡­¡± ¡°When you¡¯re in battle, you always force yourself to the limit. If you can give your hundred percent, you will never hold back ten percent¡­¡± Said Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan released a bitter laugh. ¡°It¡¯s likely due to the environment I grew up in. I was born in the Great Zhou Empire that was plagued by internal problems while also under great external pressure. If I did not use everything I had to grasp at that tiny chance to live, how could I possibly have arrived here today?¡± Chu Qing could be mischievously lazy because he had the qualifications to be so. In comparison, when had Zhou Yuan ever been in a situation where he did not have to struggle with everything he had? If he had entertained any thoughts of preserving his strength, he would not be standing here today. Yaoyao nodded. The two of them had been born into different environments, and naturally exhibited different behaviours. Chu Qing¡¯s methods did not suit Zhou Yuan, because the things he carried on his shoulders were far heavier than Chu Qing¡¯s. Zhou Yuan raised his head to look at Yaoyao as he said, ¡°You must bring me along if you go on such missions again. I worry when you go alone.¡± ¡°What use will bringing you be?¡± Yaoyao appeared to smile in amusement. Zhou Yuan softly said, ¡°I promised master Cang Yuan¡­ that even if I¡¯m unable to protect you, at the very least¡­ those who want to hurt you will have to first walk over my dead corpse.¡± Yaoyao was taken aback. Her gaze lowered slightly, causing her long black hair to cover half her face, creating a soul stirringly beautiful silhouette. ¡°Okay.¡± In the end, she gave a faint nod, the usually aphetic eyes filling with vibrant life and emotion for a moment. After finishing her wine, Yaoyao pulled back her hair and unhurriedly went to her most beloved garden where she began to tend to the plants she had left behind for the past two months. Zhou Yuan smiled slightly as he watched her figure amongst the flowers. Only after Yaoyao¡¯s return did the cave dwelling become full of life once more. ¡­ Zhou Yuan was in no hurry to meet old Xuan again during the next two days. Instead, he focused on absorbing the few remaining tree scales. Now that his Taiyi mark had already taken shape, the Yimu Qi absorbed by it would finally be condensed into the Tiayi Green Wood Mark that Zhou Yuan had constantly dreamt of. Deep inside the cave dwelling. Zhou Yuan happily lifted his hand. He could sense dark green light blossoming from his flesh and blood as a faint, ancient mark slowly emerged. This mark seemed as if it had grown naturally from his flesh. Perfect, flawless and filled with rich life energy. ¡°The first Taiyi Green Wood Mark has finally been created¡­¡± Although there was currently only one Taiyi Green Wood Mark, it continuously gave off rich life energy that soaked into Zhou Yuan¡¯s blood, flesh and bones. With this Taiyi Green Wood Mark, Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm could be regrown even if it was cut off, saving him the painstaking effort of finding some rare Genesis resource that could produce the same effect. In addition, the Taiyi Green Wood Mark also caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s vital energy to grow increasingly abundant. If Zhou Yuan were to begin practicing the little Mythic Saint Body in this state, his progress would surely be rather swift. ¡°Looks like I can go meet old Xuan tomorrow and begin practicing the little Mythic Saint Body.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself as excitement and anticipation appeared in his eyes. Previous Chapte Chapter 442 Confirmation The next day, Zhou Yuan prepared himself to head over to old Xuan¡¯s place. However, moments after leaving the cave dwelling, he was intercepted by a disciple who told him to go to the Dao Seeker Hall. A law enforcement elder was coming to Saint Genesis Peak to confirm the participants of the chief disciple selection. Only by having one¡¯s name recorded by the elder, would one officially be recognized as a participant of the selection. After all, the chief disciple of each peak represented the true elites amongst their generation, a group from which the future elders of the sect would likely come from. Hence, the selection was an extremely significant event, which was very important to the sect. Zhou Yuan naturally understood the importance of this matter, and thus decided to temporarily put aside his visit to old Xuan. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the Dao Seeker Hall then.¡± He cupped his fists together towards the messenger disciple in thanks. Yaoyao also walked out carrying Tuntun at this moment and said, ¡°I¡¯ll also tag along to have a look.¡± Yaoyao was basically the most unique individual in the Cangxuan Sect. Till now, she was strictly speaking still not a disciple of any of the peaks. All the bosses were fighting over her, ultimately resulting in a deadlock without outcome. Others may feel miserable about this situation, but Yaoyao preferred it somewhat. Hence, she did not raise any complaints and continued to maintain her unique status in the Cangxuan Sect. Zhou Yuan naturally did not have any objections towards her decision, and brought Yaoyao along as they rushed to the Dao Seeker Hall. By the time they arrived, the place was already filled with countless figures. The disciples from all three factions of Saint Genesis Peak were gathered here, making the place extremely lively. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao landed near Shen Taiyuan and the rest. The latter gave them a nod of acknowledgement upon seeing them. Zhou Tai beckoned towards Zhou Yuan, to which the latter responded by coming over. His gaze looked towards the front where an elder with gray hair could be seen on the stone stage. ¡°That¡¯s elder Lu, the one who will be acting as the judge for the upcoming chief disciple selection of our Saint Genesis Peak. He¡¯s here today to confirm the participants of the selection, before reporting it to the sect master.¡± Said Zhou Tai in a low voice. Zhou Yuan faintly nodded, before his gaze shifted elsewhere. Elder Lu Song¡¯s faction was nearby, but the one with the greatest presence was still the group directly opposite... Elder Lu Hong stood at their head, while row after row of disciples stood behind him. Their numbers were even greater than the other two factions combined, creating an intimidating sight. Elder Lu looked towards Shen Taiyuan, Lu Hong and Lu Song and said with a smile, ¡°Since all three elders and their disciples are here, let me invite each faction to begin confirming the participants for the upcoming chief disciple selection.¡± The three elders nodded and walked forward. ¡°Three of my disciples will be participating this time.¡± Elder Lu smiled and beckoned as three figures jumped onto the stage. ¡°Lu Yan, Deng Tong and Mu Shenglei.¡± Three figures stood on the stage with Lu Yan at their head. Her tall, slim figure and dashing aura making her quite an eye-catching sight. This trio was extremely well known in Saint Genesis Peak, and were also the strongest amongst the disciples under Lu Song. Hence, no one was surprised that they were representing Lu Song¡¯s faction. Upon seeing this, Shen Taiyuan said, ¡°There will also be three participants from my faction.¡± ¡°Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan¡­¡± As he said their names, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan landed on the stage, drawing numerous cheers. As the pillars of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples, these two individuals were indeed qualified to participate. ¡°And¡­ Zhou Yuan.¡± However, it was no surprise that Shen Taiyuan¡¯s last few words immediately caused whispers to spread. Besides his faction, the other disciples were clearly filled with confusion. Although Zhou Yuan had been rapidly rising as a star in the sect for the past year, he was still a new disciple at the end of the day. Wasn¡¯t he still lacking in experience to participate in an event such as this? Under numerous gazes, Zhou Yuan calmly ascended the stage. ¡°They actually sent him to participate in the chief disciple selection?¡± Muttered Lu Yan as she looked over. Though she no longer looked down on Zhou Yuan, she still felt that he was not dependable enough to stand on this stage. However, she did not say anything in the end. After all, this was an affair of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction, and it would not affect her if Zhou Yuan ended up humiliating himself. Lu Hong swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, before displaying a superficial smile to Shen Taiyuan. ¡°Hehe, elder Shen, has the quality of your disciples really fallen so far? Aren¡¯t you afraid that sending a fourth layer disciple to participate in the chief disciple selection will hurt your reputation?¡± His words were clearly full of acidic sarcasticness. Lu Hong¡¯s words were also accompanied by roaring laughter from his disciples, while the expression of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples turned somewhat ugly. Shen Taiyuan, however, remained expressionless as he responded, ¡°This old face of mine isn¡¯t worth much anyways, there is no need for elder Lu to worry on my behalf.¡± ¡°I feel that you should be the one who should be careful instead. If something unexpected happens, it will likely not be as simple as losing face for you.¡± Peak master Ling Jun had spent a tremendous amount of effort and brainpower to shift elder Lu Hong¡¯s to Saint Genesis Peak against the wishes of the majority. Their goal was clear; becoming the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak. If Lu Hong failed, they would most definitely be recalled by peak master Ling Jun and become such a disgrace that they would likely no longer dare to raise their heads in the sect. Lu Hong could not hold back his laughter when he heard this, before glancing at Zhou Yuan in a disdainful manner. ¡°Something unexpected? So this is what elder Shen is hoping for? Well then, I can only say that you¡¯ll be disappointed¡­¡± Lu Hong shook his head, before clapping once. Swish! Swish! His clap was immediately followed by the sound of rushing wind. Next, the crowd watched as six figures appeared behind Lu Hong. These six figures were led by the tall, muscular and indifferent looking Yuan Hong. As he stood there, a faint pressure seemed to spread. The other five disciples behind him also gave off powerful Genesis Qi undulations. Everyone could tell with a single glance that they were not here to make up the numbers. A total of six participants! The expressions in Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s eyes changed slightly, as their faces turned a little ugly. They had poured all their efforts into nurturing their disciples, only to end up with three that had the qualifications to participate. In contrast, Lu Hong sent out six participants with a casual wave of his hand. This truly was a show of how his faction alone could rival the combined might of the other two. It could be said that his faction was overflowing with talent. On top of this, the most worrying thing for Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song was still the disciple called Yuan Hong. He had already made quite a reputation for himself back in Sword Cometh Peak, and though he had become very low-key after coming to Saint Genesis Peak, everyone knew that it was because he felt it beneath him to mingle with the disciples here. In the upcoming chief disciple selection, elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction had the absolute upper hand in both quantity and quality. The two elders were not the only ones who could see this, even their disciples fell a little silent at this moment. Lu Hong¡¯s disciples, on the other hand, grew even more arrogant as they roared with laughter. Their gazes were filled with ridicule when they looked towards the other two factions, causing the latter to become rather angry. But anger was ultimately only anger. The cruel reality was not something that could be changed by mere words. Lu Hong¡¯s eyes seemed to smile as he looked at the six figures behind him and gave a satisfied nod. He then turned back to Shen Taiyuan, casting a quick glance at Zhou Yuan, as he said, ¡°Does elder Shen still feel that something unexpected will happen?¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression turned stormy, but he did not reply. Lu Hong¡¯s smile grew even wider when he saw this, his pleased appearance clearly showing that he already felt the chief disciple seat was in the bag. Elder Lu merely swept his gaze about the place without saying anything, though he did cast a pitying glance at Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song. These two had been so bitterly trying to support Saint Genesis Peak for so many years, only to end up being thoroughly suppressed by Lu Hong, who had basically appeared out of nowhere. Nothing could be done about it. Lu Hong was from Sword Cometh Peak, and was even supported by peak master Ling Jun, making the former a force that Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song could not possibly hope to match. If Lu Hong¡¯s faction managed to become the master faction in the future, one could easily imagine how the other two factions would be even more miserably bullied. From then on, Lu Hong¡¯s faction would quickly become the master of Saint Genesis Peak. Elder Lu raised a jade scroll. Light blossomed from the scroll, reflecting onto the participating disciples from the three factions. As such, the participants of the chief disciple selection were formally confirmed. ¡°I hope that everyone will do their best in two months.¡± Lu Hong, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song cupped their fists together. Lu Hong was all smiles as he swept yet another glance at Zhou Yuan, before turning to Shen Taiyuan in a teasing manner. ¡°Elder Shen, I¡¯ll be waiting to see what kind of surprise you¡¯ll have for us in two months. I do hope that it will make things a little more exciting.¡± With one last loud laugh, he turned around and left. Yuan Hong¡¯s emotionless eyes also swept a glance at everyone, pausing on Zhou Yuan for a moment as he said, ¡°I hope that you guys will really have some kind of surprise. Otherwise, the chief disciple selection will be far too boring.¡± As his words faded, he turned around and left. The other five disciple also chuckled softly, their laughter filled with contempt. Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan¡¯s complexions turned an angry green. Rage could also be seen on Lu Yan¡¯s pretty face as she glared at Yuan Hong¡¯s back. In the end, she walked over, glanced at Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan, before looking towards Zhou Yuan as she resentfully said, ¡°What the heck are you guys doing? Can¡¯t you even gather three people? Did you really have to pull this kid over to make up the numbers?¡± Zhou Tai felt rather awkward. Lu Yan was always overly direct when she spoke, showing no regard for anyone. How could she say such things when Zhou Yuan was right in front of her. However, Zhou Yuan expression remained calm. He merely glanced at Yuan Hong¡¯s leaving figure, before turning to cup his fists together at Shen Taiyuan. After which, Zhou Yuan also took his leave. Instead of grumbling and complaining here, it would be far better to spend his time training. Since Lu Hong¡¯s faction was so fond of surprises, he would have to work a little harder. It would not be nice of him to disappoint them too much, right? Lu Yan stomped her foot in anger at how Zhou Yuan had basically ignored her, pouring her rage onto Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan. ¡°Look at this! A few accomplishments has already made him so proud. Does he really think the likes of him is qualified to participate in the chief disciple selection?¡± She gnashed her teeth, indignation boiling within her. ¡°Humph, when the chief disciple selection beings, I¡¯ll be waiting to see what right he has to act so arrogantly!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 443 Water and Fire Tempering Dragon Stage Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao left the Dao Seeker Hall. Yaoyao offhandedly said, ¡°That Yuan Hong from Lu Hong¡¯s faction seems to be pretty powerful. Even with the Heavenly Yuan Brush, the current you will not be his match.¡± Zhou Yuan did not deny her words, nodding instead as he said, ¡°He¡¯s the first disciple Lu Hong has poured all his efforts into after all. I¡¯ve heard that Yuan Hong was even personally dispatched by peak master Ling Jun. Someone like that is naturally no ordinary person.¡± ¡°It¡¯s clear that Lu Hong¡¯s faction is very determined to obtain the chief disciple seat.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression had turned rather grave as he spoke. If the chief disciple seat landed in Lu Hong¡¯s hands, they may ultimately succeed in undoing the seal on the main peak. If they did, the main peak would fall under the control of Lu Hong¡¯s faction. When that happened, it would become much more difficult for Zhou Yuan to find the second Saint Rune. In the worst case scenario, Lu Hong¡¯s faction may even discover the second Saint Rune. Getting them to hand it over when that happened would be near impossible. Zhou Yuan declared in a solemn voice, ¡°No matter what, we cannot allow Lu Hong¡¯s faction to obtain the chief disciple position.¡± Even giving it to elder Lu Song¡¯s faction would be far better. Yaoyao nonchalantly said, ¡°Shall I step forward then. There will be no difficulty in obtaining the chief disciple position.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly when he heard this. ¡°If you did, Lu Hong¡¯s faction will certainly go crazy. Moreover, you¡¯re strictly speaking not part of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction.¡± ¡°Besides¡­¡± ¡°This is a challenge I have to face. If I depend on you for everything, what would be the point of coming to the Cangxuan Sect in the first place?¡± The road of cultivation required one to defeat numerous formidable foes. If Zhou Yuan were to seek Yaoyao¡¯s help every time he encountered a little trouble, he would only end up slowly disappearing into the crowd. Yaoyao glanced at Zhou Yuan as a faint smile appeared on her lips. ¡°At least you¡¯re aware of your own situation.¡± These were the challenges that belonged to Zhou Yuan. If he were to rely on her all the time, it would be disappointing for her too. Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes. All these tests that were being given to him all the time were really tiring. Amidst their conversation, they arrived at the foot of the main peak. The foot of the main peak was covered in mist all year round. When Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao landed outside the old temple, they immediately saw an old figure sweeping the fallen leaves. Old Xuan lifted his murky gaze and looked at Zhou Yuan, before turning towards the beautiful and graceful Yaoyao. Old Xuan¡¯s eyes seemed to widen slightly the moment he caught sight of her. He had lived far too long, and had seen way too many people. However, this otherworldly beautiful young lady before him gave him an ungraspable and unreadable sensation. Although he had seen Yaoyao once when Zhou Yuan and the other new disciples arrived for the first time in Saint Genesis Peak, old Xuan had only given them a casual glance back then. It was only now in such close proximity that this sensation had grown stronger. Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and asked, ¡°Elder, she won¡¯t be a disturbance if she comes along, right?¡± Old Xuan slowly withdrew his gaze and shook his head, before his raspy voice sounded, ¡°It is not a problem.¡± His gaze shifted towards Zhou Yuan, looking him up and down as he said, ¡°You seem to be overflowing with vital energy like a boiling stove. It must be due to reaching the initial stage of the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, right?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. After creating the first Taiyi Green Wood Mark the day before, the flesh and blood in his body had been in a kind of constantly excited state. A little nudge was all it took to abundant energy to pour out, making it near impossible to feel tired. ¡°If that brat Gu from Hongya Peak saw you in this state, I¡¯m afraid he might really abduct you to the Hongya Peak to train in their external cultivation techniques. In his words, you are what he would call a genius of external cultivation.¡± Old Xuan chuckled. Zhou Yuan also laughed. The brat Gu the former spoke of was likely peak master Gu of Hongya Peak. With regards to seniority, beside the peak master of Lightning Prison Peak, old Xuan was likely the only one in the Cangxuan Sect who could address peak master Gu in such a manner. However, Zhou Yuan was also once again enlightened on how amazing the Taiyi Green Wood Mark was. Merely practicing this technique would make one a genius of external cultivation. There was no need to say how awesome this was. Of course, it must be said that this was only the beginning. To progress even further in the future, Zhou Yuan still needed to reach even higher levels in the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. A single Green Wood Mark would only give him an advantage in the initial stages of external cultivation. ¡°Follow me.¡± The broom in old Xuan¡¯s hands swished across the ground as he turned around. Zhou Yuan glanced towards Yaoyao, seeing her give a faint nod, before both of them caught up. Under old Xuan¡¯s lead, they once again stepped into the sealed main peak. Fortunately for them, old Xuan acted as their guide, allowing the group to avoid activating the seal. This made Zhou Yuan wet his lips. It was likely that even in the entire Cangxuan Sect, only a handful of individuals besides old Xuan had entered this sealed main peak before. The group of three walked for about half an incense stick of time. Old Xuan¡¯s footsteps finally stopped. Zhou Yuan lifted his head and looked to the front, as a look of surprise appeared on his face. A giant river had appeared with a stone pillar standing in the middle like a platform. Two stone dragons could be seen on the cliffs on both sides of the pillar. The dragons coiled around the cliffs, their giant mouths facing the pillar from the left and right. Zhou Yuan curiously asked, ¡°What is this?¡± He looked towards the two stone dragons upon the cliffs. In their giant mouths, he could just barely make out several faintly glowing runes that gave off peculiar undulations. Old Xuan also gazed at the two stone dragons as a reminiscent look flitted across his eyes. ¡°This is the Water and Fire Tempering Dragon Stage.¡± ¡°Water and Fire Tempering Dragon Stage?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan. ¡°These two stone dragons represent fire and water. Ancient Genesis Runes have been carved inside them that reach deep into the ground, where they are able to draw on fire and water Qi. Once activated, fire and water Qi will simultaneously pour out from their mouths¡­¡± Explained old Xuan. ¡°The water Qi will be extremely cold, while the fire Qi extremely hot. When the body is placed between them, it will be placed under the most intensive of tempering. Of course, the pain one has to endure will naturally also be extraordinary. As such, someone without sufficient willpower is forbidden from entering the stage.¡± Zhou Yuan shivered slightly when he heard this, as if already imagining that dreadful scene. ¡°If you wish to master the little Mythic Saint Body, this will be the best place.¡± Old Xuan chuckled. ¡°Moreover, this was also where master trained back then.¡± Zhou Yuan was quite surprised. ¡°Patriarch Cang Xuan also trained here?¡± Old Xuan nodded. ¡°Do you see the stone scales on the foreheads of the two dragons? There are a total of eighteen of them, and every one that lights up represents an increase in the level of intensity. The highest is naturally level eighteen.¡± ¡°Back then, master would place himself at level eighteen all the time. When that happened, half of the Cangxuan Sect would be at the mercy of extreme heat, while the other half would be miserably cold.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s still too unimaginable for you. Let alone the eighteenth level, just being able to endure the first level alone should be enough for you to reach the initial stage of the little Mythic Saint Body.¡± Zhou Yuan sucked in a mouthful of cold air. Eighteenth level¡­ what kind of inconceivable horror was that? He would surely be instantly vaporized if he were to face it. Old Xuan grinned as he watched the changing expression on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, before pointing a gnarly finger at the stone stage. ¡°So? Do you dare to give it a little try?¡± Zhou Yuan licked his lips. Though his eyes were filled with a grave expression, not even the slightest trace of fear could be seen. Because he understood that he needed to grow stronger if he wanted to put up a fight against Lu Hong¡¯s faction in the upcoming chief disciple selection. Otherwise, Yuan Hong would be a giant mountain that lay in his path, stopping anyone who wished to cross. Since old Xuan had presented an opportunity to him, there was no naturally no way Zhou Yuan would back down because of some pain. Hence, he displayed no hesitation in response to old Xuan¡¯s teasing question. The tip of his foot pushed off the ground as his figure agilely leaped forward. He landed on the stone stage and sat down. He directly used his actions to show his determination. Old Xuan softly chuckled when he saw this. Without further ado, the broom in his hand made a gentle sweeping motion. The two giant stone dragons on the cliffs immediately began shaking. Zhou Yuan watched as burning steam began to rise from one, while cold Qi spread from the other, rapidly creating a layer of frost around it. Roar! The ground shook as the river churned violently. In the next instant, what seemed to be a deep dragon roar was heard. One could only watch as a hundred foot wide torrent of white burst out from one of the dragon¡¯s mouths along with chillingly cold Qi. From the other, a scarlet-red magma like flood poured out. Ch! The two torrents ultimately met on the stone stage, instantly swallowing Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. AHHH! A miserable shriek rang out in the mountain forest at this moment. Previous Chapte Chapter 444 An Exchange of Words AHHH! A miserable shriek echoed in the mountain forest. Fortunately for the group, this location was part of the sealed area that no one was allowed to enter. If not, that cry alone would have drawn numerous busybodies over. Ch ch! Zhou Yuan was seated on the stone stage as two torrents of water and fire spouted from the mouths of the stone dragons on his left and right, ruthlessly drowning his body. Mist could be seen rising from the surface of his body. In the mist, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was warped in pain, making it look extremely hideous. It was clear that he was under exceedingly intense pain. Half of his body was an icy blue, cold mist seemingly pouring from his pores, while the other half was a red hot with rippling burning heat rising from it, as if his blood was boiling inside. High heat and extreme cold invaded his flesh, causing every inch of it to tremble uncontrollably as fire Qi and water Qi washed over layer after layer of skin, blood and flesh. The challenges faced by those on the path of external cultivation was unimaginable. By the edge of the cliff, old Xuan¡¯s murky eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Zhou Yuan being tempered by fire and water. ¡°When are you going to start circulating the little Mythic Saint Body cultivation method to absorb the fire and water Qi to temper your body?¡± His voice was transmitted into Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears. The latter tightly gritted his teeth, his mind clearing a little as his hands came together to begin circulating the unique cultivation method of the little Mythic Saint Body. It was as if the irritable water and fire Qi was being drawn by something. The Qi began flowing on the surface of his skin as it slowly seeped into his body. Zhou Yuan could feel the water and fire Qi begin to rise within his body, most of their power poured into his skin. He was not the least bit surprised by this. There were three stages to the little Mythic Saint Body, jade skin, silver bone and golden blood. Jade skin was the first step of slowly transforming the body starting from the outside. However, it was no easy matter to master the jade skin, and one needed to experience an enormous amount of pain in the process. Just imagining it already made Zhou Yuan shiver uncontrollably. But since he had already begun, there was naturally no way he would back down. He immediately guarded his mind as he gritted his teeth, tenaciously enduring the pain from the fire and water tempering, while the veins under his skin wiggled continuously. ARHHH! After about half an incense stick of time, Zhou Yuan finally reached his limit. His figure quickly dashed into the air, before miserably crashing onto the edge of the cliff. He felt that if he were to continue, half of his body would be charred to cinders, while the half would be frozen solid. Zhou Yuan was crumpled on the ground, drenched in sweat as his body trembled unceasingly. ¡°Half an incense stick of time on your first try. That¡¯s not bad.¡± Old Xuan eyed the miserable looking Zhou Yuan with a wide grin. ¡°By this point, an ordinary person will have no choice but to call it a day, but as someone who has the Taiyi Green Wood Mark that enriches you with vigorous vital energy, you only require some rest for your body to slowly recover and continue training.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth could not help but twitch. However, he did not say anything in the end, merely gritting his teeth as he nodded. Next, he seated himself on the ground and closed his eyes. Faint dark green runes began to appear on the surface of his body as a cooling aura spread within him, swiftly recovering the damage and pain. Strong vital energy rose, as Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin began to return to normal. After a short span of a few dozen minutes, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes again. There was a rejuvenated look within them, all of the tiredness and pain from before now completely eliminated. ¡°The Taiyi Green Wood Mark is truly amazing!¡± Even Zhou Yuan could not help but become a little overwhelmed when he felt the changes in his body. With the astonishing recovery abilities of the mark, he could basically practice external cultivation techniques without restraint. There was no need to worry about injuring the body due to excessive training. Such effectiveness was several times better than ordinary individuals! No wonder old Xuan had advised him to select the little Mythic Saint Body. Now that his body had recovered, Zhou Yuan stood up again. He grinned at the silently watching Yaoyao, before casting his gaze towards the stone stage. Swish! Although there was still a little residual pain, there was no longer any hesitation in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. His body leaped forward and landed on the stage, before he seated himself. Rumble! The mouths of the two stone dragons rumbled open again, torrents of fire and water flooding out. ¡­¡­ By the edge of the cliff, old Xuan gave an almost undetectable nod as he gazed upon the twisted face of the bitterly persisting Zhou Yuan. The willpower of this young man was rather surprising. Yaoyao was elegantly seated on a run down stone pavilion on the cliff. Her bright eyes looked towards old Xuan¡¯s hunched figure as she asked, ¡°Does elder want to come over and have a seat?¡± Old Xuan turned around, looked towards Yaoyao and chuckled. He walked over with his broom, sat down in the stone pavilion, and sighed, ¡°I¡¯ve lived for so many years, and have seen many geniuses in the Cangxuan Sect. But there¡¯s never been someone like you who gives me this heart palpitating feeling.¡± ¡°Even in our Cangxuan Sect, the appearance of someone like yourself makes me feel as if a phoenix is perching on a small withered tree.¡± Yaoyao retrieved a wine pot and cup as a faint smile rose on her lips. ¡°Elder is quite the comedian. The Cangxuan Sect was once the number sect in Cangxuan Heaven, how can you call it a withered tree?¡± Old Xuan sighed again. ¡°I¡¯m not joking. I may have lived for a long time, but I can¡¯t fake this feeling.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s eyes turned towards Zhou Yuan as she suddenly asked, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯ve never bothered about any matter in the sect, so why have you now chosen to help Zhou Yuan?¡± Back in the Saint Remains Domain, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan had met a spirit fragment of patriarch Cang Xuan, and he had told them of his suspicions that his death may have had something to do with the Cangxuan Sect. Hence, Yaoyao maintained a certain vigilance against anyone who had been alive back then, even this super low-key and nearly unnoticeable old Xuan. As such, Yaoyao naturally intended to probe old Xuan about the abnormal care he had shown Zhou Yuan. Old Xuan lifted his wrinkled eyelids, and was silent for a long time, before he slowly said, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for many years.¡± ¡°What are you waiting for?¡± Asked Yaoyao. ¡°Waiting for someone who can break the status quo¡­¡± Old Xuan lifted his head and looked at the sealed main peak. ¡°The Cangxuan Sect has been too quiet, like a deep, dead pool. Some ripples are needed to startle the fish.¡± ¡°There are many matters to which I too wish for an answer.¡± Crystal clear wine flowed from the pot in Yaoyao¡¯s hand, pouring into the cup as she softly said, ¡°Regardless of what you are planning, I only hope that you will not harm Zhou Yuan. Otherwise, these pointers you have given will not be enough.¡± She pushed the filled cup towards old Xuan as she spoke. Old Xuan gave Yaoyao a deep look. He could detect the warning in her words. Normally speaking, he would merely shake his head and laugh at such a warning from a disciple. However, this impossibly beautiful girl before him made it rather hard for him to laugh. In the end, he took the cup with a bitter smile. ¡°Little lass, it is really not easy to get a drink from you.¡± Yaoyao faintly nodded as she smiled and said, ¡°There are indeed not many who may drink a cup from me.¡± Her words were extremely arrogant, but old Xuan chose to believe them. Due to certain reasons, his senses were unparalleled in the Cangxuan Sect, and even sect master Qing Yang the rest could not compare. Perhaps, even sect master Qing Yang and the rest would be unable to sense that heart palpitating aura hidden so deep within this girl that even she herself was likely unaware of it. However, old Xuan could just barely detect it. The girl before his eyes was terrifyingly mysterious. He truly did not know whether it was a blessing or a disaster for her to appear in their Cangxuan Sect. While his mind churned with various thoughts, old Xuan lifted the cup and downed its contents. Yaoyao also lifted the cup to her red lips. Just as she was about to drink, a piercing shriek suddenly sounded, causing her hand to shake. Wine spilled from the cup, wetting a corner of her skirt. Yaoyao¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly as she lifted her beautiful face. A sliver of anger surfaced in her clear eyes as she gazed upon the weeping and howling Zhou Yuan atop the stone stage. Old Xuan finally laughed when he saw this expression. Compared to the icy indifference from before that emanated from the depths of her soul, the girl felt genuinely alive at this moment. Like a real person. He turned his head to look at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure as he clicked his tongue in amazement. Perhaps it was indeed true in this world that everything has a weakness. Previous Chapte Chapter 445 Discussions While Zhou Yuan continued to temper his body on the Water and Fire Tempering Dragon Stage to practice the little Mythic Saint Body, the participants of the chief disciple selections for each peak were finalized and announced. The peace that had shrouded the Cangxuan Sect for the past few months began to fracture, as slowly brewing excitement took its place. Everyone knew that the chief disciple selections were the grandest event in the Cangxuan Sect every year, and even the earlier purple sash selection was not on the same level. The birth of every chief disciple represented the very best of each peak, the ones who could truly be called the number one disciple of their peaks. They were second in status only to the ten great Chosens. The current chief disciples of each peak had to face numerous challenges from countless talented disciples during the selection each year. To maintain their positions as chief disciple, they naturally had to work hard and continuously improve themselves. On the other side, disciples that were eyeing the chief disciple seat were constantly preparing themselves to replace the chief disciple. Hence, the start of the chief disciple selections each year was always a heart pounding time. Several normally low-key disciples may suddenly sprout wings and soar, becoming swift dark horses that quickly left their numerous fellow disciples in the dust. Such overnight celebrities would often draw gasps of admiration and respect from countless disciples. Due to these various reasons, the chief disciple selections was the grandest yearly event in the Cangxuan Sect. Powerful disciples were eager to take on the challenge, while those who felt themselves lacking would become audience members that cheered on and encouraged their peers from the sidelines with respect. The onlookers would often gaze upon their amazing senior brother and sister disciples with envious eyes as they looked forward to the day that they too would be able to step on this glorious stage. Hence, the announcement of the participant list immediately drew the attention of innumerable disciples in the sect, becoming a hot topic for a time. Every name on the list caused many fierce debates. The participants were after all the most outstanding disciples of each peak that were naturally rather well known figures. While numerous disciples were discussing the list, they suddenly caught sight of a certain name. Saint Genesis Peak, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction, Zhou Yuan. This was quickly followed by an unsurprising uproar. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Zhou Yuan the one who was recently promoted to purple sash? Is he really going to participate in the chief disciple selection so soon?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that he did pretty well in the recent Heaven mission, and was shockingly awarded the chief credit. He even defeated Yang Xuan from the Sacred Palace, meaning he¡¯s clearly quite formidable in battle.¡± ¡°Even so, isn¡¯t this a little too premature? All of the other participants have trained hard for several years, and are no ordinary individuals either.¡± ¡°It seems to me that Zhou Yuan is a little too arrogant.¡± Those who made such comments were usually jealous people. After all, Zhou Yuan had progressed far too rapidly in the past year, a fact that would draw out envy in nearly anyone. ¡°It seems that he believes Saint Genesis Peak to be the same as it had been before¡­ hehe, but this year¡¯s chief disciple selection will not be as remarkable as previous years. Elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction was ranked amongst the top five factions back in Sword Cometh Peak, while Yuan Hong is no simple individual, and has even received personal guidance from peak master Ling Jun before.¡± The surrounding disciples nodded in agreement. ¡°The upcoming chief disciples selection of Saint Genesis Peak will definitely be won by elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction. The other two factions don¡¯t even have the qualifications to compete. As for Zhou Yuan, he¡¯s probably only there to make up the numbers, so there¡¯s no need to pay any attention to him.¡± ¡°Hehe, I agree. Elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction alone has a formidable line up of six participants, while the other two factions combined were barely able to gather six, Zhou Yuan included. The quality of both parties are on completely different levels.¡± A voice of sympathy spoke up, ¡°If elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction takes the chief disciple position, and subsequently succeed in unsealing the main peak, they will become the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°When that happens, elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction will be able to command both elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song¡¯s factions.¡± ¡°These two factions are actually quite pitiful. They¡¯ve been trying so hard to sustain Saint Genesis Peak for so many years, and yet they¡¯re still unable to escape the fate of being replaced by someone else. The disciples of these two factions will be put in a rather awkward position in the future.¡± ¡°They have no one to blame but themselves. They may have persevered for many years, but they ultimately failed to unseal the main peak. We can only say that it isn¡¯t fated. As such, it will be better for someone else to take on this important task. Once the main peak is unsealed, numerous cultivation resources will become accessible, so things may not be all that bad for them.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Similar discussions were held in every inch of the Cangxuan Sect. It was clear that the majority favored elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction. They were after all unable to imagine how Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s factions would be able to match Lu Hong¡¯s lineup. As such, almost everyone treated Zhou Yuan as someone who was just there to make up the numbers, quickly forgetting about him after a good chuckle. After all, in the face of Lu Hong¡¯s formidable lineup, a mere Zhou Yuan had neither the qualifications nor strength to change anything. ¡­ Sword Cometh Peak. ¡°He really knows how to stir up a fuss. It¡¯s barely been a few months since he¡¯s been promoted to a purple sash disciple and he¡¯s already planning on participating in the chief disciple selection?¡± Beside a stone table atop a cliff, Zhao Zhu smirked as he looked at the piece of paper in his hand. The participants of the chief disciple selections had been recorded on the paper, and included among them was a certain name that made him feel very irritated. To Zhao Zhu¡¯s front, Kong Sheng, dressed entirely in white, had his head lowered as he cleaned his sword. He did not look up as he remarked, ¡°You seem to be a little overly concerned about him.¡± Zhao Zhu let out a snort. The mere thought of the previous Heaven mission, where Zhou Yuan had somehow landed himself the chief credit, filled the former¡¯s stomach with the embers of anger. Although Zhou Yuan deserved some recognition for defeating Yang Xuan, if it were not for Zhao Zhu and Li Qingchan¡¯s efforts in warding off the other party¡¯s Chosens, Zhou Yuan would have been instantly pulverized by them. That¡¯s why Zhao Zhu felt that he and Li Qingchan¡¯s were more deserving of the chief credit. Moreover, he was the vice leader, and the unspoken rules said that the chief credit should belong to them. But Zhou Yuan obviously lact any form of tact or discernment. Zhao Zhu could not believe that the former actually had the gall to accept the chief credit, this was just far too arrogant. That Li Qingchan as well! He could not comprehend why she insisted on siding with Zhou Yuan. Otherwise, if the two leaders were to object, Zhou Yuan would never be able to touch the chief credit no matter how much he contributed. In their Cangxuan Sect, almost every chief credit would end up in the hands of the the team leaders. And yet, Zhou Yuan just had to snatch it away from Zhao Zhu. In his opinion, this was a complete loss of face that was very difficult to swallow. Kong Sheng put down the white cloth, before he raised his head and looked towards Zhao Zhu with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s only a single Heaven mission, there¡¯s no need to be so concerned¡­ as for Zhou Yuan, he doesn¡¯t have many happy days left.¡± ¡°Elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction is determined to obtain the chief disciple seat of Saint Genesis Peak, and from the looks of things, there are unlikely to be any surprises.¡± ¡°You only have to wait till elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction becomes the master faction. If you¡¯re still unhappy then, you only need to say the word and elder Lu Hong will naturally make Zhou Yuan suffer.¡± From the casual way he spoke, it was clear that he blieved Lu Hong¡¯s faction would surely become the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak. Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression relaxed somewhat as he nodded. It would not be too late to vent his pent up anger when that happened. ¡°Right, Chu Qing has returned. Didn¡¯t you say you were going to challenge him again? What was the outcome?¡± Asked Zhao Zhu. Kong Sheng¡¯s handsome face immediately darkened. The sword in his hand slammed into the table as he hissed through gnashed teeth, ¡°That bastard! I have no idea where he¡¯s hiding. The duel requests I sent were all thrown away by him!¡± Zhao Zhu was speechless, and could only let out a hollow laugh in the end. Given Chu Qing¡¯s character, it was more than likely that he would sigh upon receiving the duel request and grumble about how troublesome it would be, before immediately finding somewhere to hide. Over the years, with the exception of a few unavoidable situations, every duel request sent by Kong Sheng had been evaded by Chu Qing with all kinds of illogical reasons. No matter how harsh, rude or provoking Kong Sheng had written these requests, the latter had always been able to receive them with a grin, admire them for a moment, before casually tossing them away. He just refused to accept any of Kong Sheng¡¯s challenges. The was how extreme Chu Qing was with regards to things he viewed as inconveniences, causing numerous individuals in the Cangxuan Sect to be stuck between crying and laughing. Zhao Zhu had a deep understanding of Kong Sheng and knew just how cunning and intelligent the latter was. However, Chu Qing would always manage to leave Kong Sheng boiling with anger, and completely helpless about the situation. To face Chu Qing and defeat him in a real battle had already become Kong Sheng¡¯s sole purpose. ¡­ A certain location in the Genesis Reservoir. Li Qingchan and Bai Li were soaking in a hot spring, their seductive curves just barely visible in the water though wrapped by a thin layer of cloth. Bai Li suddenly asked, ¡°Is Zhou Yuan really going to participate in the chief disciple selection?¡± Li Qingchan lazily opened her eyes and looked at Bai Li. ¡°The amount of times you¡¯ve mentioned him has multiplied many fold after returning from the Black Flame Province. Could you have fallen for him?¡± Bai Li rolled her eyes. ¡°I owe him a debt.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s hand skimmed across the water, pondering in silence for a moment, before she said, ¡°But this is too impatient of him. Lu Hong¡¯s faction was dispatched to Saint Genesis Peak by peak master Ling Jun with the aim of becoming master faction. As a result, Lu Hong¡¯s faction has amply prepared themselves, and their momentum is practically unstoppable. The other two factions really do not stand any chance at all.¡± ¡°As for Zhou Yuan¡­ although his battle power will not lose to any veteran purple sash disciple when wielding that black brush of his, every individual who can participate in the chief disciple selection will not be weaker than that Yang Xuan he fought in the Black Flame Province.¡± At this point, she shook her head in pity. ¡°If Zhou Yuan was given a year, he may be able to stop Lu Hong¡¯s faction¡­¡± ¡°But at this point in time¡­ Zhou Yuan¡¯s efforts will only be akin to a praying mantis trying to stop a cart in the face of Lu Hong¡¯s invincible lineup.¡± Bai Li let out a soft sigh. ¡°It truly is¡­ a pity.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 446 Discussion Hall Day after day flowed by in the Cangxuan Sect, as everyone became more and more excited about the chief disciple selections. As the grandest yearly event in the sect, the amount of interest garnered by the chief disciple selections far surpassed that of the purple sash selection. In fact, even sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters had turned their attention towards this event, the list of participants already placed on the desks of these big shots since quite some time ago. After all, the chief disciples of each peak were basically the ones who stood at the apex of their respective peaks, existences whose talent and attitude were essentially top tier. If properly nurtured, they would most definitely become important pillars that supported the sect in the future. This was what the so-called new blood referred to, and its importance was obvious. As such, even the few big bosses of the Cangxuan Sect had differing opinions about this event. ... The discussion hall. This was essentially the place of greatest power and authority in the Cangxuan Sect. Mist swirled around the large and majestic hall that stood on the tallest peak of Cangxuan Peak. It was a place that even ordinary elders did not have the qualifications to enter. In the hall, Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi said, ¡°I feel that the situation in Saint Genesis Peak for the upcoming chief disciple selection is not appropriate. Elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction was basically inserted in from nowhere, and while the other two factions may have failed to show much result after so many years, they have toiled hard and put in their best effort for Saint Genesis Peak. Therefore, I propose we postpone the chief disciple selection for Saint Genesis Peak and hold it next year instead.¡± In her hand was the list of participants for the various peaks. At this current moment, her gaze was on the portion for Saint Genesis Peak, which had the smallest number of participants. However, it was obvious that Lu Hong¡¯s faction had an overwhelming advantage. Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun frowned when he heard this. ¡°All of us agreed to transfer Lu Hong¡¯s faction back then, why are raising such objections now?¡± ¡°In addition, if elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction successfully secures the chief disciple position, it will naturally lead to the quicker unsealing of the main peak. Once the seal is broken, we can let more disciples enter Saint Genesis Peak in the future, allowing it to flourish once more.¡± Liu Lianyi icily chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that Saint Genesis Peak will instead become the second Sword Cometh Peak when that happens.¡± Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s handsome and youthful face darkened as he slammed his hands onto the table. ¡°Liu Lianyi, don¡¯t go overboard!¡± Peak master Liu Lianyi¡¯s icy gaze shot over. ¡°Oh? Has speaking about your sore spot made you angry?¡± A sharp look rose in peak master Ling Jun¡¯s eyes. The surrounding Genesis Qi began to stir restlessly, as ripples that could be seen with the naked eye spread. The spreading ripples seemed to form a giant domain, in which silver sword Qi rapidly condensed into swords that filled the entire sky. In that moment, it was as if the entire place was under peak master Ling Jun¡¯s control. Law Domain! In this sword Qi Law Domain, peak master Ling Jun was basically a god that had control over the life or death of any living being inside. The Genesis Qi of the entire Cangxuan Sect began to tremble at this moment. ¡°Oh? You plan to retort with force?!¡± Liu Lianyi¡¯s gaze turned frostier when she felt the looming sword Qi Law Domain. She clenched her hand as snow-white Genesis Qi rays dashed into the sky, before rapidly extending outwards with her at its center. The world turned to ice and snow, as if a wintry Law Domain had descended. The temperature of the entire Cangxuan Sect plummeted at this moment, as if winter had suddenly arrived. These abrupt changes caused numerous disciples to be filled with bewilderment and fear. The confrontation between two Law Domains caused the sky to gradually darken. Only a Law Domain could match another. However, the clash between Law Domains was an extremely terrifying thing. Although both individuals had been angered, they were still rational enough to restrain themselves. Otherwise, fully bringing out their two Law Domains would turn the area within a hundred thousand miles into a world of snow, ice and millions upon millions of swords. Thump! While peak master Liu Lianyi and Ling Jun¡¯s eyes were growing increasingly frosty, an old hand loudly slammed onto the table. Ten thousand peals of thunder seemed to boom together at that moment as violent undulations swept outwards, forcibly creating a world of thunder and lightning between the two clashing Law Domains. ¡°Both of you had better not push the rules too far!¡± A deep booming voice thundered. The stern and solemn looking black robed elder seated beside sect master Qing Yang had opened his eyes. It was as if there was a world of lightning within these eyes, a sight so glaringly bright and dazzling that it would shake anyone¡¯s heart. It was Lightning Prison Peak master Lei Jun. Peak master Lei Jun was the most senior in the Cangxuan Sect, and even sect master Qing Yang was respectful towards him. In addition, he was in charge of the rules and punishments, making him the most intimidating and imposing of the hegemons. Sect master Qing Yang helplessly shook his head, waving his sleeves as he scolded, ¡°Are the two of you still not going to withdraw your Law Domains?!¡± Only then did peak master Ling Jun and Liu Lianyu let out an icy snort. With a grasp of their hands, the dreadful Law Domains rapidly shrank, turning into halos of that withdrew into their bodies. The temperature returned to normal, while the agitatedly stirring Genesis Qi also quietened down. In the discussion hall, the other peak masters also helplessly shook their heads. These two were always bickering with each other. Master was still able to control them somewhat when he was still around, but the situation had only grown increasingly worse after master¡¯s death. If not for sect master and peak master Lei Jun, the two of them would have come to blows countless times. Sect master Qing Yang already had a headache. He pondered for a bit, before looking towards peak master Lei Jun. ¡°What does peak master Lei Jun think? Should we postpone Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s chief disciple selection?¡± Peak master Lei Jun calmly replied with a solemn face, ¡°Since we previously agreed on this, how can we make last minute changes?¡± ¡°Though Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song have worked hard in Saint Genesis Peak for many years, they were ultimately unable to achieve any results. Since this is the case, we¡¯ll let someone else take on this task to unseal the main peak as soon as possible. Only then can we allow more disciples to enter Saint Genesis Peak to cultivate.¡± Sect master Qing Yang nodded. ¡°I too am of the same opinion.¡± He then looked towards the frosty face of peak master Liu Lianyi and said, ¡°Junior sister, this matter concerns the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak, and is of utmost importance to our Cangxuan Sect. We should not allow our personal feelings to influence our decisions.¡± Peak master Liu Lianyi was expressionless. She pointed at the participant names from Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s factions and said, ¡°How has such decisions ever given any chances to these two factions?¡± Lu Hong¡¯s faction was on a completely different level than the other two. Hence, she felt that there was basically no point in Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s chief disciple selection. Although Lu Hong¡¯s faction should no longer have any relation with Sword Cometh Peak, at the end of the day, they could not change the fact that they were from Sword Cometh Peak, and would naturally lean towards peak master Ling Jun even in the future. Though Lu Hong lacked the qualifications to become the peak master of Saint Genesis Peak, his status would become much higher than ordinary elders if he obtained the peak master seal. If so, peak master Ling Jun¡¯s influence and authority would rise. Peak master Ling Jun indifferently said, ¡°There is no such thing as absolute fairness in this world. It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t given these two factions any chances, but they were ultimately unsuccessful in unsealing the main peak. Hence, they naturally cannot blame anyone else.¡± ¡°Moreover, I also made a wager back then. If Lu Hong¡¯s faction fails to obtain the chief disciple position, it will naturally mean that my Sword Cometh Peak is incompetant. We will not only give up a fifth of our cultivation resources to be split among the other peaks, but also restrict ourselves to half of our original quota for the next disciple recruitment¡­¡± ¡°My Sword Cometh Peak has already taken on such risks, and now peak master Liu Lianyin wants to invalide everything just as we¡¯re about to succeed?¡± Peak master Liu Lianyi fell silent. They had naturally argued over which peak should send their disciples to Saint Genesis Peak back then, but Ling Jun had ultimately been the most ambitious. He had put a fifth of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s cultivation resources and half their disciple recruitment quota on the line. The other peak masters were not people who liked to make a fuss, and thus backed down upon seeing peak master Ling Jun¡¯s resolve. As such, Sword Cometh Peak ended up being the ones to send a faction to Saint Genesis Peak. From the looks of things, the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak would most likely end up with Lu Hong¡¯s faction. In other words, peak master Ling Jun was basically about to win his grand gamble. This was why peak master Lianyi did not feel comfortable about this situation. Sect master Qing Yang gave a slight nod, before letting out a sigh. He was the sect master after all, and needed to mediate the relationships between the various peaks. As such, he waved his hand and said to peak master Lianyi, ¡°There shall be no more discussions about this matter. Everything will proceed as we had agreed on previously.¡± ¡°If Ling Jun loses this wager, he will have the price in accordance to what he promised before.¡± Peak master Lianyi¡¯s face was ice-cold. She glanced at peak master Ling Jun and sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate too early. In the thousand in one chance that something unexpected happens, I¡¯ll see if you¡¯ll still be smiling.¡± After finishing, she stood up and left the hall. At the sight of her leaving, the others in the hall chuckled helplessly. Peak master Ling Jun did not appear to mind her final words. He reached out to flick the list in his hand as his gaze indifferently swept across the participants of the other two Saint Genesis Peak factions. In the end, the corners of his lips curled slightly into a mocking and disdainful smile. ¡°Something unexpected?¡± ¡°With these participants? What a joke.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 447 Jade Skin Stage Time quietly flowed as a month and several days unknowingly passed by. Meanwhile, the date of the chief disciple selection also swiftly approached. The Cangxuan Sect grew increasingly abuzz with excitement as the big day neared, every discussion in every corner of the sect basically somehow related to the upcoming chief disciple selections. The participant list had already been thoroughly analyzed by numerous disciples, before they used all kinds of methods to evaluate the odds of each participant. Towards the end, some of the richer disciples even began setting up betting stands that instantly drew swarms of disciples over. After various evaluations, the most popular contenders for each peak was decided by majority opinion. Without doubt, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s most popular contended was naturally Lu Hong¡¯s first disciple, Yuan Hong. As for the other two factions, neither Zhou Tai nor Lu Yan came anywhere close to Yuan Hong in popularity. It was obvious that most of the disciples fancied Yuan Hong¡¯s odds. When even Zhou Tai and Lu Yan faced such treatment, even less needed to be said about Zhou Yuan. His name had not even appeared among the ranks of most popular contenders. In fact, the most amusing thing was that his betting odds were the highest of all the participants¡­ hitting an all time high even in the rich history of the Cangxuan Sect. One could easily see just how pathetic that was. Such odds even became a popular joke in the sect for a time, people often joking about throwing in a thousand Genesis jade pieces. In the million in one chance that Zhou Yuan managed to go against all expectations and emerge as the winner, wouldn¡¯t you have made a killing? However, no one ultimately made such a low odds gamble, because many people felt that it would purely be a waste of Genesis jade... ¡­ Boom! Two torrents of fire and water spurted out from the giant stone dragon mouths, ultimately meeting on the stone stage. The two forces crashed into each other, creating a pocket of extreme cold and heat from which steam instantly rose. On the stone stage now filled with fire and water, a figure silently sat. This figure naturally belonged to Zhou Yuan. In contrast to how he had let out a piercing shriek each time the fire and water Qi surged towards him a month ago, after a month of being subjected to this tempering, Zhou Yuan had gradually accustomed himself to it. Although the pain was still unbearable, he was ultimately able to endure it. Boundless fire and water Qi endlessly burrowed into his body, converging under his skin as they continued to slowly sink in and temper his body... Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were currently shut, several clear lines visible on his bare upper body. Although no bulging muscles could be seen, every tremble of his flesh and skin seemed to contain an extremely explosive power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin in particular had a faint jade hue. Jade light seemed to flow upon it, making it appear glossy and sleek, as if a tiny flick would crack it. Only those with powerful senses would be able to feel just how tough and unbreakable this layer of jade skin was. If one took a closer look, one would discover small dark specks under Zhou Yuan¡¯s jade like skin, a sign that it was not fully complete. Fire and water Qi flowed within his skin, continuously tempering it. The residual specks left behind were the most stubborn impurities inside his skin that were evidently not going to be easily cleared away. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly cracked open at this moment. He glanced at this skin as a small frown arose on his face. After more than a month of tempering, his little Mythic Saint Body was on the verge of attaining the first level jade skin stage. However, these final impurities seemed to have also grown accustomed to the fire and water Qi. With the current intensity, it was going to be somewhat difficult to remove them. Of course, these impurities would eventually be removed as long as he continued to expose them to tempering of the fire and water Qi. However, with the chief disciple selection fast approaching, what Zhou Yuan lacked the most was time. ¡°I need to increase the intensity of the fire and water Qi¡­¡± A determined look flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He then lifted his head and looked towards old Xuan on the cliff as he shouted, ¡°Elder, can you raise the water and fire Qi by one level?¡± There were a total of eighteen stone scales on the heads of the stone dragons and each one that lighted up represented an increase of one level. Old Xuan had previously mentioned that back when patriarch Cang Xuan was still around, he would place the water and fire Qi at the highest level at all times. What¡¯s more, even the highest eighteenth level would only feel a little cozy to patriarch Cang Xuan. Of course, that was only so to an existence like patriarch Cang Xuan. As for Zhou Yuan, even the weakest first level was already a torturous and painful experience. It had not been easy for him to slowly accustom himself to it, and the decision to challenge a higher level at this point required no small amount of courage from him. Hence, the lounging old Xuan was taken aback when he heard this request. He stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in shock and said, ¡°Are you sure, little fellow? The second level of water and fire Qi is going to be several times stronger than the first.¡± The pain from being tempered by this water and fire Qi would surely be even more frightening than before. Zhou Yuan did not reply, the unwavering look of determination in his eyes already telling old Xuan his answer. As the old man gazed upon the youth, a look of appreciation involuntarily rose within his eyes. Such willpower and courage was indeed quite extraordinary. ¡°Since you have the resolve, this old man will naturally fulfil your request.¡± A ripple spread with a sudden sweep of the broom in his hand. Next, one could only watch as the second unlighted scale on the stone dragon heads slowly began to brighten. Rumble! The land began to shake at this moment. Zhou Yuan could clearly feel two extremely vigorous Genesis Qi undulations echoing from giant cliffs that the two stone dragons were coiled around. ¡°Be careful, it¡¯s coming. If you can¡¯t endure, make sure you quickly get out of there!¡± Cautioned old Xuan. Huu. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, his entire body tensing up as jade light flowed on his skin. Rumble! The glow of water and fire appeared from the mouths of the stone dragons on both sides. In the next instant, two enormous torrents of fire and water blasted out. The moment the fire and water Qi appeared, it felt as if half the place had turned hot, while the other half was filled with a freezing cold. The magnitude was on a completely different scale. Ch ch! Two giant jets of fire and water Qi blasted out, and collided on the tempering dragon stage, simultaneously engulfing Zhou Yuan¡¯s body from the left and right. Hss! Indescribable intense pain flooded through him, causing Zhou Yuan to violently suck in a breath of cold air. Half of his body felt as if it was boiling, while the other half felt as if it had been instantly frozen... He did not dare to even hesitate and immediately started circulating the little Mythic Saint Body cultivation method. Fire and water Qi churned around him, piercing into his flesh and blood, the majority surging towards his skin. Water and fire Qi rapidly spun under Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin, as if trying to melt and freeze it away. From a distance, he was merely a silhouette wrapped by fire and water. Within the water and fire, a figure trembled violently. A grave look rose in old Xuan¡¯s eyes as he watched, prepared to interfere at any time to stop Zhou Yuan from being melted away by the water and fire Qi... Fortunately, although old Xuan could sense the figure violently trembling inside the water and fire, the figure¡¯s life force did not weaken, but instead grew increasingly powerful. Water and fire continued to churn around the figure for an incense stick of time. Until a certain moment, when the surrounding Genesis Qi suddenly shuddered, before rapidly receding like the tide, converging towards the stone stage where Zhou Yuan was seated. The water and fire around him gradually faded away, revealing his bare upper body. The surrounding Genesis Qi madly surged over at this moment, as it was swiftly devoured by Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin... The entire place seemed to fall silent for an instant. A split second later. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes abruptly opened as a dazzling jade glow burst out from the surface of his body. A warm and pure jade like luster covered every inch of his skin. All the tiny dark specks within the jade glow from before completely disappeared at this moment. His skin was now akin to a perfect and flawless piece of white jade. Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at his jade like skin, emotion rippling in his eyes as his hands slowly clenched. Even without circulating any Genesis Qi, there was already a dreadful power gathering inside his body. After more than a month of painful training, Zhou Yuan had finally reached the jade skin stage of the little Mythic Saint Body... Previous Chapte Chapter 448 Conflic Atop the tempering dragon stage, Zhou Yuan was widely grinning from ear to ear. A warm jade glow emanated from his body, making him a rather eye-catching sight when paired with his slim body and delicate features. Of course, Zhou Yuan was not someone who was overly concerned about his appearance. Instead, he was more interested in the overwhelming power secretly surging inside his body like a giant flood. His five fingers slowly closed. Even without circulating any Genesis Qi, he could feel a strong force swiftly gathering, a force that originated from his flesh. This was a feeling Zhou Yuan had never felt before. After all, he had never practiced any real outer cultivation techniques. This was his first time he had developed the power of his body. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimates, even though his cultivation was still at the fourth layer Alpha-Origin stage, with the power of the little Mythic Saint Body, he now possessed the qualifications to tackle Yang Xuan in a direct fight without borrowing the strength of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. After all, achieving the jade skin stage had not only vastly improved Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, but also bestowed him with strong defensive powers. Simply put, it would be very difficult for Yang Xuan to break through Zhou Yuan¡¯s current defenses without a Heaven Genesis Weapon. Various emotions churned in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, only slowly calming after a long time. With a thought, the flowing jade light on his skin gradually receded, withdrawing deep into his body. His toes pushed off the stage, his figure leaping into the air, and landing on the cliff. However, he was clearly still rather unaccustomed to his new found strength. As a result, the rocks on the ground where he landed were shattered and crushed, leaving behind deep footprints. ¡°Not bad, you managed to achieve the first level jade skin stage in roughly a month.¡± Old Xuan nodded, evidently very satisfied by Zhou Yuan¡¯s progress. ¡°Ordinary speaking, a normal person would take a year to reach this stage, and that¡¯s only if he or she has numerous precious Genesis resources to nourish the body.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to elder¡¯s guidance.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with gratitude as he cupped his fists together at old Xuan. If not for the latter¡¯s advice, Zhou Yuan would not have chosen the little Mythic Saint Body. Without the little Mythic Saint Body, the Taiyi Green Wood Mark would not be able to bring out its true potential either. Old Xuan waved his hand and said, ¡°If you lacked the willpower, you would have failed to endure on the water and fire tempering dragon stage. If so, it would not matter how much guidance I give.¡± Old Xuan clearly understood the pain one had to endure on the water and fire tempering dragon stage. What¡¯s more, as someone who was attempting an external cultivation technique for the first time, Zhou Yuan had surely experienced terrifying pain. However, he ultimately managed to persevere, even having the charisma and courage to raise the intensity a level. In the end, he succeeded in pushing the little Mythic Saint Body to the jade skin stage. Truthfully speaking, even old Xuan quite admired his boldness. ¡°There¡¯s still some time till the chief disciple selection, and I intend to make good use of it by training here. I hope that elder won¡¯t be too bothered.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Although he had achieved the jade skin stage, his ambitions clearly did not stop here. Old Xuan glanced at Zhou Yuan in surprise, evidently not expecting him to be so ambitious. To think that he planned on challenging even greater heights¡­ the pain that awaited him was going to be several times greater than what it was now. Old Xuan slowly said, ¡°Since you have the resolve, this old sack of bones will naturally be unafraid of guiding you through this mountain path.¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed by this response. After all, he definitely required old Xuan help in order to get to the water and fire tempering dragon stage. Otherwise, it would be far too risky to recklessly enter the sealed area himself. Zhou Yuan innocently scratched his head as he awkwardly said, ¡°There¡¯s also something else I hope elder can aid me with¡­¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Can you spare some time to take me to that Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree again¡­ I¡¯ve used up all the tree scales from before, and practicing the little Mythic Saint Body for the past month has drained the single Taiyi Green Wood Mark I have.¡± Upon hearing this, old Xuan immediately shot a sullen glance at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You¡¯re really a little too ballsy. Do you genuinely feel that the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree is your cultivation resource warehouse?¡± Zhou Yuan let out an embarrassed chuckle. He too felt quite helpless about this situation. Practicing the Taiyi Green Wood Mark required rich Yimu Qi, but he currently lacked the means to secure sufficient ancient wood. Hence, he could only place his hopes on the Dragon Scale Chinese Scholar Tree. And to harvest its tree scales, old Xuan¡¯s protection was absolutely crucial. Old Xuan helplessly sighed under Zhou Yuan¡¯s pleading gaze, before turning around to leave with his broom. ¡°Fine, as the saying goes, one should help till the end. Since I¡¯ve already helped you so much, a little more wouldn¡¯t hurt. Go back today and rest, I¡¯ll bring you to chop some tree scales tomorrow¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope that violent tree won¡¯t go crazy.¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. He hurriedly caught up and snatched away old Xuan¡¯s broom with a fawning expression. ¡°Elder is truly a good person. I¡¯ll help you carry this so you won¡¯t become too tired.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude made old Xuan unsure whether he should laugh or cry. He could only shake his head and play along with the little fellow. After leaving the sealed area, Zhou Yuan bid his goodbyes to old Xuan, before soaring into the air on his Genesis Qi. He passed by several peaks, and eventually arrived in front of his cave dwelling. His figure descended as he somewhat tiredly stretched his back. Although spending an entire day tempering his body did not exhaust his vital energy, the mental stress due to the intense pain still took quite a toll on him. Moments after he landed, however, his eyes suddenly paused as he caught sight of a figure anxiously walking to and fro in front of his cave dwelling. The figure seemed to be about to call out into the cave several times, only to shrink back time and time again. ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out. He had recognized the visitor as a disciple from the same faction, though not a very well known one. The disciple hurriedly jerked his head around upon hearing the voice. His eyes immediately lit up with joy at the sight of Zhou Yuan, as he hastily ran over and said, ¡°You¡¯re back at last senior brother Zhou Yuan! Quick, you¡¯ve got to go save Shen Wanjin!¡± ¡°Shen Wanjin?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback, before he soon began to frown. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The disciple sighed and answered, ¡°I believe senior brother Zhou Yuan should be aware of what the atmosphere has been like recently in our Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Due to the fast approaching chief disciple selection, the atmosphere over Saint Genesis Peak had turned exceptionally tense, mainly because of Lu Hong¡¯s faction. Lu Hong¡¯s disciples were basically acting as if the chief disciple position was already theirs. In their opinion, they would surely become the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak in the near future. Once they became the master faction, their status would increase. In contrast, the other two factions would be reduced to mere secondary factions, creating a rift of status between the former and the latter. As a result, Lu Hong¡¯s faction had gradually grown more and more arrogant and unbridled over the past month. The disciples of the other two factions were naturally very irritated by this change in attitude. As such, the number of conflicts in Saint Genesis Peak was even greater than it had been in the past six months combined. ¡°While we were training on a cultivation platform today, one of Lu Hong¡¯s disciples was accidentally struck by stray strike from the spar between Shen Wanjin and someone else. In the end, a huge group of Lu Hong¡¯s disciples chased us away and captured Shen Wanjin, refusing to let him go no matter what we said.¡± ¡°The one leading them was Wu Hai¡­¡± ¡°Wu Hai?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He had heard this name before. Wu Hai was quite famous in Lu Hong¡¯s faction, and was also one of the six participants in the upcoming chief disciple selection. However, why would someone like that make things difficult for a bunch of ordinary disciples? ¡°Shen Wanjin is quite timid, and is not one to provoke others. And yet Wu Hai and gang were clearly targeting him¡­¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. ¡°It seems that they have an ulterior motive.¡± In Saint Genesis Peak, there was no one who did not know that Zhou Yuan had close ties with Shen Wanjin. Instead of going after others, Lu Hong¡¯s disciples were clearly focused on Shen Wanjin¡­ the implication behind this was obvious. They were after Zhou Yuan himself. As for Shen Wanjin, he had merely been implicated. The disciple nodded with a bitter smile when he heard this, and said in a hushed voice, ¡°Wu Hai said to you have to personally go over to claim Shen Wanjin back. If you do not arrive by sun down, he will throw Shen Wanjin off the mountain.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle. Lu Hong¡¯s faction had truly become quite arrogant recently. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, shall I go inform senior brother Zhou Tai first?¡± Asked the disciple in a hesitant manner. He had also guess that the other party was after Zhou Yuan, and was afraid the latter would not be able to handle the situation. Zhou Yuan waved his hand. ¡°There¡¯s no rush, I¡¯ll go and have a look first.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi rose from under his feet as he soared into the air. ¡°I¡¯m interested to see just how capable this Wu Hai thinks he is to dare to throw my friend down from the mountain!¡± A faint voice echoed, tinged with a trace of iciness. To think that Lu Hong¡¯s faction had already grown so arrogant. Did they really believe that they would definitely win the chief disciple selection? Previous Chapte Chapter 449 Wu Hai Saint Genesis Peak. A certain cultivation platform on one of the peaks. Quite a crowd had already gathered here, while more and more figures were arriving from all directions and landing nearby. The new arrivals had clearly split themselves into three different groups. The group with the greatest presence was completely made up of Lu Hong¡¯s disciples. At this current time, all of them wore mocking expressions as they looked to the front, while occasionally bursting into loud laughter as they talked. They clearly showed no respect for the other two groups. As a faction originally from Sword Cometh Peak, they were already looking down on the sorry Saint Genesis Peak even before coming here. In addition, the chief disciple selection was just around the corner. Once this important event was over, their faction would become the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak, making their status surpass the other two factions. Thus, under Lu Hong¡¯s indulgence, his disciples had gradually grown more and more arrogant ever since the list of participants had been announced. For the past month, most of the conflicts between Saint Genesis Peak disciples had started because of Lu Hong¡¯s faction, and to make matters worse, the majority of these disagreements had ended up with Lu Hong¡¯s side as the victors. After all, regardless of whether it was quantity or quality, Lu Hong¡¯s faction was indeed number one in Saint Genesis Peak. Their repeated victories in these small squabbles only served to further fueled the embers of arrogance in Lu Hong¡¯s faction¡­ in this brief period of a month, it was as if Saint Genesis Peak was filled with gunpowder, even the slightest spark could cause an explosion. At the front of Lu Hong¡¯s numerous disciples stood a youth in blue with his hands behind his back. He wore a purple sash around his waist, his expression appearing rather cold and stern. His brows were like blades that gave off a cold and haughty aura. This person was called Wu Hai, and was quite well known in Lu Hong¡¯s faction. In fact, he was among one of the six chosen participants to participate in the chief disciple selection. From this information, one could tell just how powerful he was. Wu Hao cast an indifferent glance to the side where Shen Wanjin was being physically restrained by several disciples. From his bloodied and batter face, it was clear that he had suffered quite a bit. ¡°Shen Wanjin, it seems that Zhou Yuan is a coward. I can¡¯t believe he doesn¡¯t even dare to protect his brother.¡± A mocking smile rose from the corners of Wu Hai¡¯s lips. There was a bitter look on Shen Wanjin¡¯s face as he replied in deferential manner, ¡°Senior brother Wu Hai, there¡¯s no need for a great man like you to lower yourself to the same level as a small fry like myself. I¡¯ve apologized earlier, and I really did hit your junior sister by mistake. How about I add in a little Genesis jade as compensation too?¡± Wu Hao chuckled and said, ¡°Compensation? That sounds like a good idea. A hundred thousand Genesis jade pieces will do.¡± The surrounding disciples roared in laughter. Shen Wanjin smiled awkwardly as he replied, ¡°Senior brother Wu Hai, I¡¯m merely a lowly black sash disciple, where can I possibly find so much Genesis jade.¡± Wu Hai¡¯s eyes slowly turned frosty. ¡°Since you don¡¯t have it, shut your mouth. If Zhou Yuan does not personally come here to collect you before sundown, I¡¯ll throw you down the mountain.¡± ¡°Relax, you won¡¯t die, though you¡¯ll probably break half the bones in your body.¡± Shen Wanjin hurriedly opened his mouth to speak again. *Slap*! However, Wu Hai suddenly swung his palm, sending a force ripping through the air and loudly slapping onto Shen Taiyuan¡¯s soft face. A fresh red hand print immediately appeared. Wu Hai icily said, ¡°Shut up.¡± Shen Wanjin¡¯s fists tightened for a moment as anger flitted across the depths of his eyes. In the end, he slowly lowered his head. Wu Hai was not someone the likes of him could afford to offend. Upon seeing this, Wu Hai let out an icy chuckle as he crossed his arms. He was dying to see whether Zhou Yuan dared to come today. If he did not, Wu Hai would spread word of what had happened, causing Zhou Yuan to lose all face. After all, how capable could someone who could not even protect his dear brother be? Some distance away was a group of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples. Their eyes also flashed with anger when they saw Shen Wanjin being beaten as they stared daggers at Wu Hai. However, they did not dare to take action. Ordinary disciples like them could not take on someone like Wu Hai afterall. ¡°Quick, go find senior brother Zhou Tai or Zhang Yan¡­¡± ¡°Someone has already gone to find them.¡± ¡°What about senior brother Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°No response¡­ it seems that no one has found him yet.¡± ¡°Tch, he can¡¯t have hidden away because he has already caught wind of this matter, right? Shen Wanjin has done so many things for him, does he not care now that his brother is in trouble?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid that it will be useless even if he came. Wu Hai is no ordinary individual¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± These disciples whispered among themselves, clearly quite panicked about the situation. If Shen Wanjin was really thrown down the mountain by Wu Hai, it would be a big slap on their faction¡¯s face. At another corner of the place was elder Lu Song¡¯s disciples. Quite a number of them were already gathered here, but since it was a conflict between Lu Hong and Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction, they naturally did not interfere. Swish! Several figures flew over and landed in the area where Lu Song¡¯s disciples were. A pretty figure was revealed, that familiar slender body and long, slim legs could not belong to anyone else but Lu Yan. She was evidently also aware of the situation. She looked towards Wu Hai and frowned as she said, ¡°Has Zhou Yuan shown up?¡± A disciple nearby answered, ¡°Not yet.¡± Lu Yan¡¯s lips curled. ¡°Not showing up is rational. Wu Hai is clearly targeting him. That Shen Wanjin is merely an excuse.¡± If her guess was correct, Wu Hai was likely on orders to probe Zhou Yuan, because the upcoming chief disciple selection was just far too important for Lu Hong. Thus, even the lowest odds participant like Zhou Yuan was not neglected by Lu Hong. He intended to find out everything about Zhou Yuan such as to prevent any surprises from happening. As such, Zhou Yuan being a no show would instead cause Wu Hai to fail in his mission. However, even though Lu Yan knew this, she still shook her head in disappointment. Wouldn¡¯t Zhou Yuan be a little too cunning and heartless if he could restrain himself even at such a time? Everyone present were youths at their prime, who would naturally view such tolerance as weakness instead. ¡°Senior sister, shall we take action? Lu Hong¡¯s faction is becoming more and more arrogant.¡± Said a disciple in an indignant tone. Lu Yan fell silent for a moment, before she said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a little longer. It¡¯s almost sundown, and if Zhou Yuan still doesn¡¯t appear till the end, I will move to save Shen Wanjin.¡± They were currently in a temporary alliance with Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction. Hence, since she had seen it, she would naturally not stand by and let Lu Hong¡¯s faction grow even more unbridled. The sun slowly descended as the three groups waited. However, Zhou Yuan was still not appearing. Lu Hai could not help but shake his head. A disdainful smile rose from the corners of his mouth as he said to Shen Wanjin, ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve been abandoned. What a pitiful worm.¡± Next, he waved his hand with cold, indifferent eyes. ¡°Since Zhou Yuan is so heartless, there¡¯s no need for us to hold back. Throw him down.¡± The disciples grabbing Shen Wanjin immediately grinned upon hearing this. Regardless of how violently Shen Taiyuan struggled, they lifted him up and threw him off the cliff. ¡°Stop!¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples hastily shouted, but no one paid any attention to them. Shen Wanjin¡¯s figure was thrown as he let out a miserable shriek. Lu Yan shook her head in disappointment. Looks like Zhou Yuan had also guessed Wu Hai¡¯s objective, and had thus chosen not to make an appearance. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s morality appears to be a little questionable.¡± She indifferently said, before moving to catch Shen Wanjin¡¯s falling body. Swish! However, a split second before she could take action, the sound of rushing wind was suddenly heard. One could only watch as a flash of black zipped across the horizon, before embedding itself into the cliff wall. Snow-white hairs transformed into ropes that wrapped around Shen Wanjin¡¯s waist, catching him as he jerked and began swaying from side to side. Countless gazes looked over. They saw a black brush embedded into the cliff, its snow-white brush hairs extended to wrap around Shen Wanjin. The familiar black brush immediately caused a series of gasp to ring out. ¡°So he was unable to restrain himself in the end.¡± Wu Hai softly chuckled, before raising his head. A Genesis Qi cloud was rapidly approaching from some distance away. In the end, it landed on the cultivation platform under the innumerable watching gazes. There was a slim figure on the Genesis Qi cloud. Who else could it be but Zhou Yuan! ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan!¡± The disciples from Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction immediately cried out in joy, before worry quickly appeared in their eyes. Since Zhou Yuan had appeared, the other party would not easily let things go today. ¡°I had thought you would continue hiding in your turtle shell.¡± A wide grin was plastered over Wu Hai¡¯s face. However, there was no warmth in his smile, only mockery. ¡°It¡¯s wonderful that you¡¯re willing to show yourself. Your friend hurt my junior sister, but since he couldn¡¯t pay a hundred thousand Genesis jade, you can settle the debt on his behalf¡­¡± Wu Hai cocked his head, staring at Zhou Yuan as he continued, ¡°I believe you will obediently hand over the compensation, right?¡± ¡°Elder Lu Hong sent you to feel me out, right?¡± There was a faint smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Wu Hai¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°For the likes of you?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head, no intention on continuing this discussion as he displayed two fingers instead. ¡°Twenty thousand? That¡¯s not enough.¡± Said Wu Hai. Zhou Yuan sighed, before his voice rang out on the cultivation platform. ¡°I¡¯m saying that you have two options¡­¡± ¡°Either you voluntarily jump down from here¡­¡± ¡°Or, I break your legs, and then throw you down.¡± ¡°So which will you choose?¡± Little by little, the smile on Wu Hai¡¯s face turned rigid. Previous Chapte Chapter 450 One Punch Wind blew across the cultivation platform. Countless gazes were stupefied as they stared at the young figure that had just landed, clearly stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier words. No one had expected that Zhou Yuan would not only show no indication of being submissive towards the clearly trouble seeking Wu Hai, but instead retort in an even more uncompromising manner. One must know that Wu Hai was ranked among the top five in Lu Hong¡¯s faction! Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples looked at each other. Zhou Yuan was usually quite a good-natured person, but the current Zhou Yuan clearly had nothing to do with good-natured at all. However¡­ though such an uncompromising approach felt great, it would only serve to make Wu Hai angrier. ¡°His balls aren¡¯t small at all.¡± Lu Yan stared at this scene in a dazed manner, before she softly exhaled. It seems that she was the one who had been wrong earlier. Zhou Yuan obviously did not know the meaning of fear. ¡°Although he has courage and backbone, these alone will not solve the problem. His words have only made this matter even more irreconcilable.¡± The disciples beside Lu Yan nodded in agreement. ¡°Zhou Yuan truly is someone who refuses to take a loss.¡± ¡°Senior sister, will you still step in later?¡± Lu Yan crossed her arms as she pondered. She stared at Zhou Yuan and jokingly said, ¡°On account that his bravery has surprised me, I will lend my aid when the situation becomes disadvantageous for him later.¡± The fact that Zhou Yuan had been unafraid to take Wu Hai¡¯s bait had surprised her a little. Hence, she did not mind lending a hand at the right moment. Of course, she felt that she should first let Zhou Yuan suffer a little. Though he was talented, he was admittedly a little too prideful. She planned to let Wu Hai first teach him that a sharp tongue alone would not be able to change anything. Under numerous astonished gazes, the smile on Wu Hai¡¯s face completely receded. A playful look rose from the corners of his lips as he glared at Zhou Yuan. Wu Hai slightly tilted his head to look at the numerous disciple behind him as he chuckled and asked, ¡°Did you guys hear what he said earlier?¡± The disciples burst into laughter. ¡°It seems that he has gone crazy due to anger¡­¡± ¡°Does he believe senior brother Wu Hai is anything like the opponents he faced before?¡± ¡°Well you have to admit he has a little courage, though it¡¯s kind of wasted when paired with such stupidity.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The gazes of Lu Hong¡¯s disciples were filled with mockery, not a single one treating Zhou Yuan seriously at all, because the one standing in front them belonged to the highest class in their faction. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained impassive in the face of their laughter. With a flick, Shen Wanjin¡¯s figure was lifted by the snow-white hairs and sent behind the former. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Zhou Yuan shot a glance at him. Shen Wanjin foolishly scratched his head as he said in embarrassment, ¡°I¡¯m alright little Yuan Bro, how about we quickly escape from here?¡± Zhou Yuan did not reply, his gaze merely pausing on the glaringly red hand print on the former¡¯s face. His eyes turned even icier, before he waved at Shen Wanjin. ¡°You stand back first.¡± Shen Wanjin could only let out a bitter laugh. He clearly wanted to say something more, but ultimately swallowed the words back into his stomach. In the end, he looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back with deep gratitude. How could he not know that Zhou Yuan intended to stand up for him. Although Shen Wanjin was quite a thick skinned person that did not really mind that he had been humiliated, he could not help but sniff a little when he looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s back at this moment. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, staring at Wu Hai as he chuckled, ¡°Have you made your decision?¡± Wu Hao also laughed, as he extended a finger and waved it at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Brat¡­ you¡¯re quite the interesting one.¡± Boom! In the next instant, vigorous Genesis Qi abruptly swept out from Wu Hai¡¯s body like a storm, forcing numerous of the surrounding disciples to take several steps back. A powerful Genesis Qi pressure pulsed from him. This pressure was not the slightest bit weaker than Yang Xuan in the Black Flame Province. In fact, it even felt a little stronger. Wu Hai¡¯s expression turned ice-cold as the corners of his lips rose at a disdainful angle. ¡°Foo!¡± His five fingers reached out and suddenly clenched. One could only watch as Genesis Qi dashed into the sky, transforming into several hundred sword shadows. Sharp and deadly sword aura rippled, causing everyone to feel a chill run down their spines. Swish! Swish! Several hundred Genesis Qi sword shadows shot forth like bolts of lightning, thrusting directly towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s fatal spots at extremely fast speeds. Every single sword shadow would terrify a sixth layer disciple, and with several hundred of them together, even a seventh layer would not dare to underestimate this attack. ¡°Senior brother Wu Hai has attacked. Looks like he¡¯s really angry.¡± Lu Hong¡¯s disciples could not help but smile when they saw this. In contrast, looks of worry rose on the faces of the nearby Shen Taiyuan disciples. Swoosh! Swoosh! As the sword shadows zipped through air, Zhou Yuan finally began to move. His figure swiftly turned ethereal as he dashed forward like a wisp of smoke. Ch ch! The sword shadows brushed past this wisp of smoke, leaving deep sword gorges in the solid ground below. Zhou Yuan was as swift as a phantom, avoiding all of the sword shadows in a flash. Upon seeing this, Wu Hai raised his eyes and moved his finger. Even more Genesis Qi sword shadows filled the sky and began shooting towards Zhou Yuan. Beside Lu Yan, a disciple asked as he watched, ¡°Senior sister, can Zhou Yuan withstand this barrage?¡± Lu Yan replied, ¡°Without that Heaven Genesis Weapon, Zhou Yuan will not be Wu Hai¡¯s match in a direct clash. Although he may be able to avoid the attacks, he will not be able to keep this up for long.¡± ¡°Once he shows an opening, Wu Hai¡¯s attacks will drown him like a storm.¡± ¡°At the end of the day, his Genesis Qi cultivation is lower¡­ this is his fatal weakness.¡± At this point, she felt that it was such a pity. If Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation rose again, he may perhaps really become a dark horse in the chief disciples selection. Unfortunately, he was currently still lacking. Pch pch! Countless sword shadows darted towards the smoke like figure as it slipped forward, instantly piercing numerous holes in the ground. Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards the mockingly smiling Wu Hai nearby. The former¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as a faint jade glow appeared from his skin. Thump! His foot smashed into the ground, cracking it as his figure swiftly shot towards Wu Hai. It was an abrupt and rapid increase in speed! Sword shadow after sword shadow descended, but not a single one was able to keep up with Zhou Yuan. ¡°Oh? Increased your speed huh?¡± Wu Hai merely sneered as his hands suddenly came together. Vigorous Genesis Qi gathered, creating a three foot long sword in front of him. Lightning seemed to curl around its blade as thunder boomed from it. ¡°Lightning Sword Shadow!¡± Wu Hai swung his palm as the lightning sword whistled forward, leaving a sonic boom in its wake. The reflection of the lightning sword rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. However, he showed no signs of dodging, only calmness visible on his face as he reached out to grab at the lightning sword. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± A sinister smile rose on Wu Hai¡¯s face. ¡°Idiot!¡± Lu Yan could not help but cry out as well, her expression changing slightly. She never imagined that Zhou Yuan would not only not use his Heaven Genesis Weapon, but even dare to meet Wu Hai¡¯s Genesis technique with his bare hand. Pch! Amidst countless gasps, Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand finally reached the lightning sword, his five fingers stretching out to enclose around the sword¡¯s tip. Many disciples could not help but close their eyes. They could already see Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire hand being sliced a split second later. Pchla! Hand and sword finally met, causing sparks to fly. However, Wu Hai¡¯s twisted smile suddenly froze at this moment, as his pupils abruptly shrank. He had failed to see any blood spattering. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand had firmly caught the tip of the lightning sword, as if the formidable sword aura from it was completely ineffective against him. *Creak*! The lightning sword was unable to escape Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand no matter how it struggled. ¡°What?!¡± Numerous cries of alarm and shock immediately rang out on the cultivation platform. Lu Yan was also stunned, an inconceivable look emerging on her pretty face. She could not believe it. Even without the power of his Heaven Genesis Weapon, Zhou Yuan was able to grab Wu Hai¡¯s deadly attack with his bare hand? Crack! Under the numerous astonished gazes, jade light surged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand as he suddenly tightened his grip, forcefully crushing the lightning sword without a single change in his expression. Swish! In the next instant, his body dashed forward once again and appeared in front of Wu Hai. Zhou Yuan was expressionless as his five fingers clenched into a fist and punched. Jade light blossomed from his entire arm, while the Genesis Qi in his body roared like a flood. A terrifying power abruptly erupted like a volcano. The faint sound of cracking was heard from the space around it as the punch blasted through the air. All of Wu Hai¡¯s hairs stood on end as he hastily formed a hand seal. Genesis Qi immediately whizzed out, rapidly forming countless layers of Genesis Qi defenses in front of him. Crang! However, these defenses were instantly crumbled in the face of Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist. All the defenses were shattered before a single breath could be taken. Boom! Next, a piercing sonic boom was heard as Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist slammed into Wu Hai¡¯s chest. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was still unchanged. In contrast, horror surged in Wu Hai¡¯s eyes. Thump! A ripple that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled. Under countless shocked and horrified gazes, Wu Hai vomited a mouthful of blood as his body was sent flying like a cannonball. Thump! Thump! Thump! The ground was ripped apart. In the end, Wu Hai crashed into the wall of a cliff. Cracks spread across the entire cliff, causing it to fall apart, the falling rubble burying his body. The entire place was deathly silent. The jade light slowly receded as Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the now collapsed cliff. He grinned as a soft voice echoed. ¡°Idiot¡­¡± ¡°I already told you to jump down yourself¡­¡± ¡°What a waste of my time.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 451 The Uncompromising Zhou Yuan Deep rends had been torn open on the cultivation platform, making it an exceptionally wretched sight. At the end of these rends, a cliff continued to crumble, as boulders tumbled down. The entire place was completely silent. Every gaze stared at the tumbling boulders in a dazed manner. Lu Hong¡¯s disciples had been laughing just moments ago, thus their smiles were still currently frozen on their faces, creating an extremely comical scene. The faces of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples had been filled with panic at the sight of Zhou Yuan attempting to grab at Wu Hai¡¯s lightning sword with his bare hand, only to find Wu Hai being sent flying a split second later... The disciples around Lu Yan had likewise fallen silent, even Lu Yan herself dazedly staring at the young figure who was still in his punching posture. Everyone had not expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s counter attack to be so ferocious. ¡°How can this be?¡± Mumbled Lu Yan. Her eyes were filled with bewilderment. From what she could sense, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations had barely grown any stronger than before. So why? Why had such a terrifying power exploded from his earlier punch? Although Wu Hai had admittedly been somewhat caught off-guard by Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden explosion of power at the final moment, the layers of Genesis Qi defenses created by the former should still have been capable of easily defending against any attacks below the eighth layer. And yet, all of these defensive layers had appeared as frail as paper in the face of Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch. Moreover, Zhou Yuan had not even used his Heaven Genesis Weapon. That black brush of his was still embedded in the cliff wall. From the information released by the Mission Hall about the Black Flame Province mission, Zhou Yuan had only been able to contend against the Sacred Palace¡¯s Yang Xuan due to his Heaven Genesis Weapon. Without it, the former could not possibly have been a match for the half step into eighth layer Yang Xuan. But¡­ Zhou Yuan had not used his Heaven Genesis Weapon in this fight! Lu Yan¡¯s gaze was tightly glued to Zhou Yuan. She could faintly sense that though the latter¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations were the same as before, there was something different about him. Under the numerous stunned gazes, Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew his fist as his glowing skin gradually returned to normal. A look of amazement flitted across his eyes as he lowered his head to look at his fist. The little Mythic Saint Body was tyrannical indeed. Though he had just achieved the jade skin level, the amplified power it gave had already reached very alarming levels. The jade skin combined with his Genesis Qi gave him the power to directly face initial eighth layer opponents. As for Wu Hai, he had likely just barely reached the initial eighth layer stage. Due to his carelessness, he had allowed Zhou Yuan to close in and deliver a punch that contained all of the power of his body and Genesis Qi. To be honest, Wu Hai deserved to be blasted away by the punch. Most practitioners would make sure to keep their distance against an external cultivator with Genesis Qi attacks, because these external cultivators would only be able to bring out the superiority of their strong physical bodies at close range. Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards the crumbling cliff, before his figure moved and appeared amidst the rubble. With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi swept forth to blow the shattered rock away. As the rock was blown away, the buried figure underneath was revealed. Wu Hai was drenched in blood, making him an extremely pitiful sight. However, his eyes were still open as he glared at Zhou Yuan. Unfortunately, the former was unable to circulate any Genesis Qi due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s ferocious punch from earlier. There was only indifference in Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze as he looked down from above and said, ¡°You¡¯re the one who hit Shen Wanjin¡¯s face earlier?¡± Wu Hai icily retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy Zhou Yuan! I was merely caught off-guard earlier!¡± However, Zhou Yuan ignored him, merely extending his hand and swinging it. *Slap*! Genesis Qi whizzed forth, transforming into a palm that viciously slapped Wu Hai¡¯s face, causing a sharp and clear slap to echo. A fresh, glaring red palm print appeared on Wu Hai¡¯s face. Wu Hai seemed to have been knocked silly by Zhou Yuan¡¯s slap, but quickly returned to his senses a split second later. A hideous look immediately arose on his face as he roared, ¡°You dare to slap me?!¡± He was normally such an untouchable and high up existence in Lu Hong¡¯s faction that enjoyed flattery from everyone. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that Zhou Yuan would actually dare to slap him in public! *Slap*! However, the only response he received was another slap. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± *Slap*! ¡°Bastard, you¡¯re dead!¡± *Slap*! *Slap*! Before Wu Hai could make any noise, Zhou Yuan sent yet another slap at the former, the loud and clear sound continuously echoing without being broken. Around the cultivation platform, the disciples from the three factions were dumbstruck as they watched. As the saying went, when beating someone, one should not hit the face. Zhou Yuan was obviously not planning on leaving Wu Hai even the slightest shred of dignity. When some of the onlookers saw the icy light in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, they understood that the way Wu Hai and gang had humiliated Shen Wanjin earlier had indeed angered the former. The faces of Lu Hong¡¯s disciples were a mix of white fear and green anger. They wanted to shout out for Zhou Yuan to stop, but the sight of his chilling eyes made them subconsciously shrink back, leaving them no other option but to hurriedly say, ¡°Quick, go call for reinforcements!¡± Back on Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, after a few dozen slaps, Wu Hai¡¯s face had swollen to look like a pig. The Genesis Qi that attempted to gather in his body was dispersed by Zhou Yuan, making it impossible for him to put up any resistance. ¡°Stop! Stop!¡± The intense burning pain pulsed from Wu Hai¡¯s face paired with the giddiness from being rapidly knocked left and right finally broke him, causing even his voice to change. ¡°I¡¯m no longer saying anything!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand paused as he indifferently said, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t hear that.¡± His hand continued to raise again. Wu Hai¡¯s heart shivered as he hurriedly said, ¡°Stop hitting me, I apologize!¡± He could no longer endure the merciless Zhou Yuan. If this beating continued, Wu Hai¡¯s face would really be beaten to a pulp. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze lowered a little. ¡°Is an apology enough?¡± ¡°What else do you want?¡± Zhou Yuan thought for a bit, before he said, ¡°Genesis jade compensation. One hundred thousand pieces.¡± Wu Hai nearly vomited a mouthful of blood. He had used the same amount of a hundred thousand Genesis jade pieces to make fun of Shen Wanjin earlier. Who could have imagined that Zhou Yuan would now turn it on him. Wu Hai pushed down the sullen feeling in his heart and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a hundred thousand Genesis jade pieces.¡± Zhou Yuan expressionlessly lifted his hand. Wu Hai hurriedly said, ¡°No please, no. I don¡¯t have a hundred thousand, but I have thirty thousand.¡± He patted his spatial bag and Genesis jade immediately poured out. The jade filled the ground, gleaming dazzlingly under the light. Only then did Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand come to a halt. With a jerk of his sleeve, a surge of Genesis Qi swept up all the Genesis jade and sent it towards Shen Wanjin. ¡°Keep them.¡± Shen Wanjin was stunned, his eyes glowing as he stared at the heap of Genesis jade. In the end, he clearly struggled inside as he said, ¡°Little Yuan bro, I think it will be better that you take them.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who was beaten, not me. Take it as a little compensation.¡± Said Zhou Yuan in an annoyed manner. Shen Wanjin swallowed repeatedly as he mumbled, ¡°Thirty thousand Genesis jade pieces for a beating?¡± His eyes suddenly began to glow as he looked towards Wu Hai. ¡°How about¡­ senior brother Wu Hai beat me again?¡± The corners of Wu Hai¡¯s mouth twitched. Zhou Yuan also rolled his eyes. This guy¡¯s skin was surprisingly thick¡­ he had previously been worried about whether Wu Hai and gang¡¯s actions would cause lasting psychological damage to Shen Wanjin, but from the looks of things, Shen Wanjin¡¯s mental fortitude had surpassed his expectations. With a sigh, he turned back to Wu Hai and pointed at the edge of the cliff. ¡°Are you going to jump off yourself?¡± Wu Hai¡¯s expression turned rigid. ¡°I still have to jump?¡± Zhou Yuan was expressionless as he responded, ¡°I can always throw you down.¡± Wu Hai could not help but gnash his teeth in anger. ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t take things too far!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he slowly raised his hand again. At this moment, however, the sound of rushing wind was heard as several figures descended from the sky and landed nearby. A powerful Genesis Qi pressure immediately spread, looming over the area. ¡°Zhou Yuan, let him go.¡± An ice-cold voice rang out. There was clearly no intent of discussion, as if it was a command given by one of higher status to a lowly being. Numerous disciples looked over, only for their expressions to change. In contrast, Lu Hong¡¯s disciples were overjoyed. ¡°Senior brother Yuan Hong!¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head, and saw several figures standing nearby. The one leading them was a tall and muscular gorilla-like figure. A powerful Genesis Qi pressure rippled from his body, causing fear and alarm to rise in the eyes of several disciples in the vicinity. It was the first disciple of Lu Hong¡¯s faction, Yuan Hong. ¡°To think that Yuan Hong has come!¡± Lu Yan¡¯s expression changed slightly as wariness filled her eyes. Under the many respectful and fearful gazes, Yuan Hong stood with his hand behind his back. His indifferent eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°You¡¯ve played enough. Let him go and return the Genesis jade. We¡¯ll take it as this matter never happened today.¡± Behind Zhou Yuan, Shen Wanjin had a nervous expression, no longer daring to continue keeping the Genesis jade. After all, Yuan Hong had quite a fearsome reputation in Saint Genesis Peak. Countless gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan. In the face of the strongest contender for the upcoming chief disciple selection, he should yield no matter how domineering he was, right? However, while such thoughts were swirling in their heads, Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze from Yuan Hong¡¯s figure and turned back towards Wu Hai. Wu Hai laughed in a sinister manner. ¡°Are you regretting your actions now? Let me tell you, it¡¯s too late¡­¡± Just as a smile was forming on his face, Wu Hai saw Zhou Yuan suddenly take a step forward as a ruthless punch was slammed into Wu Hai¡¯s stomach. Violent power flooded into his body, dispersing the gathering Genesis Qi once again. Next, Zhou Yuan grabbed Wu Hai¡¯s hair and fiercely swung. His body was sent flying, falling from the cliff with a miserable cry. Wu Hai¡¯s terrified shriek continued to echo on the cliff. Zhou Yuan dusted off his hands as he muttered under his breath, ¡°Told you to jump and yet you kept wasting so much time.¡± He then lifted his head and looked towards Yuan Hong with a faint smile as he said, ¡°Senior brother Yuan Hong, what were you saying earlier?¡± The surroundings of the cultivation platform was deathly silent. Everyone, including Lu Yan, was dumbstruck as they stared at Zhou Yuan. No one had expected that even after Yuan Hong appeared, the former would not only display no indication of trying to settle this matter peacefully, but instead throw Wu Hai down the cliff right before Yuan Hong¡¯s eyes... This was way too uncompromising! Innumerable gazes shifted towards Yuan Hong. Sure enough, they saw his indifferent face gradually darken. A pair of tiger-like eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan as a dreadful pressure slowly surged from out from Yuan Hong¡¯s body. ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you provoking me?¡± The scalps of numerous disciples turned numb. As expected, Yuan Hong was now mad! Previous Chapte Chapter 452 Yuan Hong’s Strength As Yuan Hong¡¯s deep voice boomed across the cultivation platform, a heart palpitating Genesis Qi pressure slowly spread from his body. Crack! Crack after crack began to grow from the ground under his feet. Yuan Hong¡¯s clothes loudly flapped without wind. Some of the nearby figures could not help but back away to create some distance, their eyes filled with terror. Pleased looks flowed out in the eyes of Lu Hong¡¯s disciples as they viciously glared at Zhou Yuan. To think that this foolish kid actually dared to act so arrogantly before senior brother Yuan Hong. This truly was seeking one¡¯s own humiliation. In comparison, worried looks appeared on the faces of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples. ¡°Zhou Yuan is way too reckless.¡± Lu Yan could not help but remark. Throwing Wu Hai down the cliff in front of Yuan Hong was basically a clear provocation. Although it was very relieving to watch, angering Yuan Hong was obviously not a rational choice. Though she did not know how Zhou Yuan had defeated the unprepared Wu Hai, Yuan Hong and Wu Hai were clearly on different levels. Zhou Yuan could likewise feel the pressure pulsing from Yuan Hong¡¯s body, causing his eyes to narrow slightly. The one who managed to become the strongest and most popular contender for the upcoming Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple selection was indeed a formidable individual. However, Zhou Yuan did not give in. He had been relatively compliant in the past, but it seemed that his tolerance had instead been viewed as a display of weakness, which led to Wu Hai and gang actually daring to do such a thing to his close friend. If he so easily let Wu Hai off today, such incidents would never stop. Hence, even when Yuan Hong appeared, Zhou Yuan had no intentions of patching things up but instead chose to proceed in the most uncompromising manner. Jade light flowed on the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as Genesis Qi star after star began to light up in his Qi Dwelling, surging towards his four limbs. Meanwhile, he made a grabbing motion with his hand, causing the Heavenly Yuan Brush to fly over from its snug spot in the cliff. In the face of an opponent like Yuan Hong, Zhou Yuan clearly did not dare to show any negligence. The tip of the brush was pointed towards the ground at an angle as Zhou Yuan calmly said, ¡°Senior brother Yuan Hong, since Wu Hai has done something wrong, he will naturally have to pay for his actions. This is something no one can change.¡± A faint hint of mockery rose from the corners of Yuan Hong¡¯s mouth. ¡°Even if a disciple from our faction has done something wrong, we will naturally be the ones to discipline him. What right do you think you have?¡± ¡°Even Zhao Tai and Zhang Yan do not dare to be so unbridled before me. What more the likes of you?!¡± ¡°You dare to throw my junior brother down the cliff in front of me? Since that is the case, you shall accompany him at the bottom!¡± Boom! The instant Yuan Hong¡¯s final words thundered, an extremely powerful surge Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body. It transformed into a several hundred feet wide giant hand that ferociously swung down onto Zhou Yuan. The surging power within it was enough to split mountains. The Genesis Qi hand swatted with matchless violence, creating a palm print on the ground even before it landed. Yuan Hong¡¯s attack revealed his astonishing strength. In the face of this hand attack, the expressions of every disciple present changed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly, similarly feeling the overwhelming power in Yuan Hong¡¯s attack. The former tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush, ready to meet this formidable foe with his full might. ¡°Stop!¡± However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to take action, a loud yell once again sounded from above the cultivation platform. A glowing figure swiftly flew over and landed in front of Zhou Yuan. It was Zhou Tai. ¡°Scram!¡± However, Yuan Hong showed no indication of stopping, his Genesis Qi palm attack growing increasingly ferocious instead with an icy shout. Anger erupted in Zhou Tai¡¯s eyes when he saw this. With a stomp of his foot, torrential Genesis Qi dashed out from the top of his head, also transforming into a Genesis Qi hand that thrust forward. Boom! Two giant Genesis Qi hands clashed viciously in mid-air. A devastating shockwave unfurled, causing crack after crack to grow on the cultivation platform. While the two Genesis Qi hands pushed against each other, Zhou Tai was the first to let out a groan. His expression was extremely grave as Genesis Qi continued to surge out, because Yuan Hong¡¯s Genesis Qi hand was slowly but surely inching forward. Yuan Hong clearly had the upper hand in this clash. A storm seemed to churn in Yuan Hong¡¯s eyes as he coldly said, ¡°Zhou Tai, did you really think that you will be a match for me? Is this all your faction has?¡± Behind Zhou Tai, Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he prepared to back up his senior. ¡°Humph, Yuan Hong, you are too arrogant. Did you think there¡¯s no one else in our faction?¡± But before he could move, another icy shout was heard. A glowing figure appeared beside Zhou Tai, revealing itself to be Zhang Yan. Although Zhang Yan and Zhou Tai were usually at odds with each other, the former naturally could not idly sit by and watch Zhou Tai suffer when Yuan Hong was bullying their faction. Rumble! Zhang Yan¡¯s sleeves flapped as two hundred feet long Genesis Qi streams poured out. Like two hissing giant pythons, they slammed themselves into the giant Genesis Qi hand. Cah cah! With Zhang Yan inserting himself in, the three Genesis Qi attacks clashed in the air. In the end, all three attacks simultaneously destroyed each other with a boom, causing a shockwave to sweep outwards. Yuan Hong waved his sleeve, scattering the shockwave as he frostily stared at Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan with a mocking smile, ¡°Are the two of you planning to join forces?¡± ¡°Haha, fine then, show me how capable both of you are!¡± He laughed as he took a step forward in an imposing and eager manner, not the slightest bit afraid of Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan. In the face of the overbearing Hong Yuan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan¡¯s expressions turned grave as vigorous Genesis Qi spiralled around their bodies. The numerous disciples watched this scene in shock and awe. Were the top disciples from these two factions really going to go at it even before the start of the chief disciple selection? Three figures stood facing each other, as the surging Genesis Qi around them grew stronger and stronger. ¡°Hey, the law enforcement group is coming, are you guys still going to continue fighting?¡± While the trio bristled with hostility, a clear voice sounded. It was the nearby Lu Yan who had spoken. The trio¡¯s Genesis Qi paused as they lifted their heads to peer into the distance. Sure enough, they saw several glowing figures flying towards them. Yuan Hong frowned as the Genesis Qi around him receded. Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan breathed a small sigh of relief when they saw this as the Genesis Qi around them shrank back into their bodies. ¡°The two of you are quite lucky. I originally planned on crippling you guys here so your faction will no longer need to participate in the chief disciple selection next month.¡± Siad Yuan Hong with an expressionless face. Zhang Yan laughed loudly in anger, ¡°What big words!¡± Zhou Tai followed up, ¡°We will naturally seek you out in the chief disciple selection to have a taste of your skills.¡± Yuan Hao merely chuckled. His fierce tiger-like gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan behind as he extended a finger and waved it in the air. ¡°Zhou Yuan if you have even a shred of rationality left, voluntarily seal your Genesis Qi and jump off the cliff. Once that is done, I shall consider today¡¯s matter settled.¡± ¡°Or else¡­ even if you managed to escape this time, you won¡¯t be so lucky next time.¡± ¡°If we meet in the chief disciple selection¡­ it will be far too late for regrets.¡± His tone was calm, without even the slightest hint of anger, as if he was talking about an insignificant manner. It was obvious that he had never viewed Zhou Yuan as a threat since the very beginning. Countless gazes were cast towards Zhou Yuan. Given Yuan Hong¡¯s status and strength, anyone would be tremendously pressured by such words. Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh when he heard this, before he slowly said with a small pause between each word, ¡°Senior brother Yuan Hong, we¡¯ll see each other in the chief disciple selection.¡± Yuan Hong¡¯s sharp gaze stared at Zhou Yuan. Moments later, he smiled, but it was a smile devoid of all warmth, making anyone who saw it feel chills ripple in their bodies. ¡°Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan. It seems that a tough one has emerged from your faction¡­¡± ¡°I only hope that he will still be as tough when we meet in the chief disciple selection¡­¡± He indifferently withdrew his gaze, not giving a single glance more to Zhou Yuan as he waved his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± His figure rose into the air as the other Lu Hong disciples quickly followed. As Lu Hong¡¯s faction left, the tense atmosphere on the cultivation platform slowly faded away. Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan watched Lu Hong leave, before they looked to each other, finding the same sliver of graveness in the other¡¯s eyes. Although the earlier exchange had been brief, they had clearly felt the tremendous pressure brought by Yuan Hong. It seemed that a bitter fight was unavoidable in the upcoming chief disciple selection. Zhou Tai turned his head towards Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, are you alright?¡± Zhou Yuan responded with a smile and a shake of his head. Zhang Yan let out a cold snort. ¡°You¡¯re not very capable and yet you have quite a temper. Do you think the likes of you can afford to offend Yuan Hong?¡± He left these words behind as he turned around to leave. There was after all not much friendship between them, and he had only interceded earlier because Yuan Hong was looking down on their faction. Zhou Yuan could only chuckle upon seeing this. There was no point bickering about this matter. Zhou Tai patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder in consolation, before he too bid his goodbyes. However, Zhou Yuan could see the sliver of worry in the former¡¯s eyes, a sign that he was feeling the pressure even more after today¡¯s brief exchange with Yuan Hong. Zhou Yuan looked towards the direction Yuan Hong had left in, as his eyes narrowed slightly for a moment. Yuan Hong was indeed a very formidable foe. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fingers clenched tightly as he lowered his head to look at his glowing skin. It seems that he needed to redouble his training for this final stretch. Previous Chapte Chapter 453 Ripples The events that had transpired on the cultivation platform in Saint Genesis Peak ultimately spread in the rest of the sect. After all, any news related to the participants of the chief disciple selection at this juncture was sure to draw everyone¡¯s attention. What¡¯s more, one of the individuals involved in the affair was the person with the lowest betting odds in the history of the Cangxuan Sect. However, after hearing the details about the matter, the disciples originally prepared for some comic relief were so shocked that their eyes nearly popped from their sockets. ¡°What? Zhou Yuan defeated Wu Hai from elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction in a single punch?¡± ¡°That Wu Hai is an initial eighth layer practitioner. Though his breakthrough was quite recent, he¡¯s still stronger than Yang Xuan from the Sacred Palace.¡± ¡°Plus, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t even use his Heaven Genesis Weapon?¡± ¡°Wu Hai is far too useless¡­¡± ¡°Wu Hai isn¡¯t useless, but overly careless. He likely never expected Zhou Yuan to grow so much over the past month. If Wu Hai had gone all out from the start, it would definitely not be an easy fight for Zhou Yuan.¡± Another disciple stated his logical analysis. ¡°No matter what, you have to admit that Zhou Yuan does have some ability.¡± ¡°......¡± All kinds of discussions started based on this information, however, the matter ultimately did not cause big splashes. After all, neither Zhou Yuan nor Wu Hai were key figures in the chief disciple selection. Hence, the battle between them only managed to garner a tiny bit of attention, before quickly being forgotten by everyone. At the end of the day, the countless gazes in the Cangxuan Sect focused once again on the hottest contenders for the various chief disciple selections. Compared to such dazzling existences, the likes of Zhou Yuan and Wu Hai were really akin to small splashes. ... Saint Genesis Peak, Lu Hong¡¯s faction. In a certain hall. On the chief chair, Lu Hong¡¯s old face was rather stormy as he icily stared at the fearful and angry face of Wu Hai, who was standing with his hands behind his back. ¡°How useless. I can¡¯t believe a small errand like probing Zhou Yuan¡¯s abilities can result in such an accident.¡± ¡°And you still have the gall to return after being defeated in a single punch by a fourth layer Alpha-Origin practitioner.¡± Wu Hai¡¯s face burned as he said, ¡°Zhou Yuan seems to have grown substantially stronger over the past month. I only suffered because I was caught off guard.¡± Lu Hong ignored the former¡¯s explanation, as he grabbed a fist sized jade rock from a disciple beside him and poured Genesis Qi into it. A projection immediately appeared, displaying the fight between Zhou Yuan and Wu Hai. This was a kind of projection stone that could make temporary recordings. Lu Hong glued his eyes to Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. A long while later, when Zhou Yuan closed in on Wu Hai and punched, the former¡¯s eyes flickered faintly for a moment. ¡°The brat¡¯s punch is unexpectedly powerful¡­¡± Remarked a disciple beside Lu Hong. ¡°Although junior brother Wu Hai was unprepared, he managed to create numerous Genesis Qi defenses in that split second, but they were still destroyed by Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch. From the previous information we gathered, he should not have such strength.¡± ¡°The strange thing is that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations are still at the fourth layer. Though they have risen slightly, it has yet to reach the level of power he displayed¡­¡± The other disciples in the hall nodded in agreement, equally puzzled by this observation. The rays from the jade stone in Lu Hong¡¯s hands slowly withdrew as the projection dissipated, before the stone shattered into tiny pieces. ¡°There¡¯s nothing strange about it¡­¡± Lu Hong¡¯s tone was that of indifference. ¡°It¡¯s because he learnt some kind of external cultivation technique that powered up his physical body. The reason why that punch was so powerful was because it contained the combined might of his Genesis Qi and physical body.¡± He was a Divine Dwelling stage expert after all. Though others had failed to understand the secret behind Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch, Lu Hong had figured it out in a single glance. ¡°An external cultivation technique?¡± The crowd was first stunned, before being struck by a flash of understanding. No wonder Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch had been so powerful. It turns out that he had learnt an external cultivation technique to strengthen the power of his physical body. ¡°What an ambitious kid¡­ to think that he plans to practice both internal and external cultivation. Isn¡¯t he overestimating his abilities?¡± A mocking smile rose from the corners of Lu Hong¡¯s mouth. Genesis Qi cultivation was split into two paths, internal and external. Internal cultivation was to absorb and accumulate drop after drop of Genesis Qi in one¡¯s Qi Dwelling. In a fight, one¡¯s Genesis Qi would be as boundless as the ocean with immeasurable might that could to move mountains and overturn the seas. On the other hand, external cultivation was to use the absorbed Genesis Qi to temper one¡¯s flesh and blood. When the time came, the power of the body would be able to crush mountains and split the earth in an exceedingly tyrannical manner. Each path had their advantages, but overall, most cultivators chose to focus on one. Because concentrating on both internal and external cultivation would only lead to slower progress in both of them. At the same time, practicing external cultivation techniques requires one to have abundant vital energy at all times, and replenishing this vital energy was one of the biggest problems faced by all external cultivators, because it would expand a tremendous amount of time and energy. Normally speaking, very few individuals would select dual inner and outer cultivation. It would only make the two paths even harder to traverse, and progress would be far slower than focusing on one. Due to these reasons, Lu Hong could not hold back his laughter when he discovered Zhou Yuan was engaging in inner and outer dual cultivation. In his opinion, only those who bit off more than they could chew would foolishly believe that dual cultivation would make them exceptional. In the hall, numerous disciples shook their heads as ridicule rose in their eyes. Even Wu Hai spat out a breath, before he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°So it was because I carelessly allowed him to close in on me. If we fight again, I only need to obstruct him with Genesis Qi attacks, and make him exhaust all of his vital energy. When that happens, he will be incapable of bringing out the power of his body.¡± Lu Hong¡¯s expression gradually returned to indifference. After understanding the truth behind the matter, he no longer had any intentions of paying further attention to Zhou Yuan. ¡°The chief disciple seat must end up with our faction.¡± Lu Hong looked towards the many disciples in the hall. At the very front, were the six disciples who would be representing them in the upcoming chief disciple selection. ¡°Peak master Ling Jun has placed great emphasis on this matter. I also see no harm in letting all of you know now that peak master actually made a wager back then with sect master and the other peak masters to allow us to shift to Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°If our faction fails to win the chief disciple position, Sword Cometh Peak will have to cough up a fifth of its cultivation resources¡­ I¡¯m sure all of you should know how huge this is.¡± His words caused even the usually indifferent Yuan Hong to have a change in expression. The other disciples were overwhelmed, their eyes filled with shock. A fifth of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s cultivation resources¡­ it was a scale that they could not even imagine. Lu Hong¡¯s expression turned solemn. If they failed, peak master Ling Jun would surely be furious. It was due to this very reason that he had instructed Wu Hai to scout out Zhou Yuan, whom he usually could not even be bothered to give a glance... He needed to ascertain the true strength of the participants from the other two factions to prevent any accidents from occuring. Lu Hong slowly said, ¡°... if we fail, we will be transferred back to Sword Cometh Peak. When that happens, our lives will definitely not be pleasant.¡± His eyes turned frosty and stern as he stared at the crowd. ¡°That¡¯s why, we must obtain the chief disciple seat!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Wu Hai and the rest respectfully responded. Yuan Hong also solemnly nodded his head, as an eerie smile emerged on his lips. ¡°Don¡¯t worry teacher Lu, besides Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan, who have a little ability, the other participants are useless and nothing to be worried about.¡± ¡°As for Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Yuan Hong laughed, his eyes tinged with disdain. From the start, the fast rising newcomer over the past year had never once entered his eyes. Lu Hong nodded, a gratified look in his eyes as he looked towards Yuan Hong. The latter was the culmination of his many years of sweat and blood, and the most reliable presence in the upcoming chief disciple selection. He firmly believed that with Yuan Hong on the team, no one from the other two factions would be able to contend. Previous Chapte Chapter 454 Third Level On a certain misty mountain. Zhou Yuan was seated on the water and fire tempering dragon stage. His body was currently drenched in sweat as it faintly tembled without end. It was obvious that he had just endured another session of the fire and water Genesis Qi. The fight with Wu Hai had long been thrown to the back of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. He paid no attention to the ripples it caused, and instead buried himself in his training deep within the mountains. The chief disciple selection was getting nearer and nearer, and he could no longer afford to relax. ¡°Oww¡­¡± Groaned Zhou Yuan. His body had grown much stronger after reaching the jade skin stage, causing the first level of water and fire Qi to become much less effective. Hence, Zhou Yuan had gritted his teeth and moved straight to the second level. Though the tempering effect would be more effective, the pain he had to endure would also far surpass the first level. Zhou Yuan got to his feet with some difficulty, and leaped onto the cliff before falling back down on his butt. However, he did not take a rest, but instead retrieved a mottled tree scale from his clothes. Rich Yimu Qi spread from it, causing him to feel a surge of energy. The day before, he had managed to chop off over twenty more tree scales with old Xuan¡¯s help. Due to the heavy consumption of vital energy during his body tempering sessions, the single Taiyi Green Wood Markk in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had been pretty exhausted by his recent training. If he did not replenish it, it would have likely disintegrated. Without the Tiayi Green Wood Mark, Zhou Yuan obviously could no longer undergo such intense daily physical tempering. If that happened, his cultivation progress would slow to a crawl. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes as the scale began to float between his palms. Strand after strand of dark green energy rose from it and streamed into his body. Dark green specks of light glimmered faintly in his flesh, as a somewhat faded ancient pattern started absorbing the light, slowly recovering its shine. Bit by bit, vigorous vital energy and life force surged once again in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His originally somewhat pale complexion gradually returned to a healthy red, while the intense pain from earlier also stealthily faded away... Two hours later. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes as the tree bark between his palms turned to dust. The Yimu Qi within it had already been completely absorbed. As he felt the replenished vital energy in his body, Zhou Yuan spat out a deep breath. ¡°There¡¯s only slightly over twenty days till the chief disciple selection.¡± His eyes narrowed as a look of thought flitted across them. At his current strength, there was no longer any need to fear an opponent on the level of Wu Hai. Even so, it was still clearly not enough. Because the most troublesome opponent was Yuan Hong. In their brief encounter previously, Zhou Yuan had felt a dangerous aura from Yuan Hong. He was most definitely going to be the biggest obstacle in the upcoming selection. Even though he had achieved the jade skin stage of the little Mythic Saint Body, it was still not enough according to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimates. He would only feel confident if he managed to progress in the little Mythic Saint Body again and reach the silver bone stage. However, it clearly won¡¯t be easy to reach the silver bone stage. It was already amazing for him to have mastered the jade skin stage in a month, while the silver bone stage was obviously going to be a much higher mountain to climb. In fact, even though he had raised the water and fire Genesis Qi to the second level, his bones still showed no indication of transforming. While Zhou Yuan was lost in thought, old Xuan¡¯s voice sounded from the side, ¡°Kid, hurry up and continue training since you¡¯re done resting, what are you wasting time?¡± In the broken stone pavilion beside him, old Xuan was grinding leaf tobacco into powder between his fingers and pouring it into his pipe. He lit the pipe and puffed, causing smoke to rise, while his murky eyes seemed to pierce through the smoke and lazily look towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze faintly flickered in thought. A hint of struggle could be seen for a moment, before quickly being replaced by determination. He raised his head, looked towards old Xuan and said, ¡°Elder, I plan to raise the water and fire Qi to the third level.¡± The old hand holding the pipe shook as rarely seen astonishment appeared in old Xuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Do you not value your life? The second level is already very unbearable to your current self, and yet you still dare to challenge the third level?¡± He stared at Zhou Yuan, under the impression that this was just some whimsical request. However, he was only met with Zhou Yuan¡¯s determined gaze. ¡°Are you for real?¡± Old Xuan was a little in disbelief. Challenging the third level was an act that required a tremendous amount of courage. Zhou Yuan slowly nodded his head. Wasn¡¯t all the tough training he had racked up over the past year for the sake of the impending chief disciple selection? If he failed, he would have no choice but to wait for next year... But he clearly did not have that much time to wait. Therefore, he needed to use the most extreme of methods to force out all of his latent potential¡­ even if it would be rather cruel. At the end of the day, one needed to have the courage to boldly advance on the path of cultivation. Back then in the Great Zhou Empire, his eight meridian channels had not appeared, making it impossible for him to begin cultivation. At that time, if he had given up inside, there would not have been today. He had not given up back then¡­ and it was even more impossible for him to give up now. Old Xuan pulled in a deep breath from his pipe. Smoke rose into the air as he stood up and looked at Zhou Yuan with a solemn expression. ¡°Kid, the third level is a little too strong for the current you. If you insist on going through with this, you have to be prepared for a tremendous amount of pain.¡± He placed extra emphasis on the words ¡®tremendous amount of pain¡¯, clearly trying to tell Zhou Yuan that this was not going to be child''s play. Zhou Yuan merely smiled in response. His figure moved, appearing on the stone stage, before looking straight at old Xuan. Zhou Yuan had already conveyed his answer through his actions. Old Xuan was a little taken aback, as he gave a slight nod, while deep admiration seemed to surge out from the depths of his murky eyes. The road of cultivation was filled with countless difficulties and obstacles, and would never be a smooth journey. He had seen amazingly talented geniuses over the years, but at times, willpower and courage were more important than any talent. Old Xuan did not say anything else, merely gently waving the broom in his hand as a Genesis Qi ripple pulsed. Moments later, the third scale on the two stone dragon heads gradually brightened. Rumble! The entire land seemed to shake at this moment as high temperature and intense cold quietly spread, filling half the horizon. In the end, the two stone dragons opened their gigantic mouths as vast torrents of water and fire burst out. On the stone stage, Zhou Yuan¡¯s seated figure was instantly engulfed. Half of the stage turned burning red, while the other half was covered in frost. At the same time, a desperately suppressed howl of pain hysterically rang out from the torrential water and fire. An incense stick of time later. When the water and fire torrents finally began to wane, old Xuan hastily cast his gaze over, only to find a figure emitting steam from every inch of his body. All of Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin had split open, as if he had been badly flayed. It was an exceedingly pitiful and torturous sight. However, his eyes were tenaciously kept open as a very faint breathing sound was emitted from his nose. His expression was extremely tense, finally reaching his limit when the water and fire stopped, and his body fell from the stage. He had evidently fallen unconscious. A stream of Genesis Qi surged over, wrapping around Zhou Yuan¡¯s falling body. It lifted him up and gently placed him on the edge of the cliff. Old Xuan gazed at the unconscious Zhou Yuan. The former could see faint dark green patterns emerging from under his skin, pulsing with vital energy that sustained Zhou Yuan¡¯s life force as his skin gradually began to heal at a rate that could be seen by the naked eye. Old Xuan¡¯s gaze seemed to penetrate through Zhou Yuan flesh and blood, seeing a sliver of silver light flash past. Old Xuan wet his lips as he sighed inside, feeling a little admiration at the kid. ¡°What a crazy little lunatic¡­¡± ¡­ While Zhou Yuan began his crazed training on the water and fire tempering dragon stage, time quietly passed in the Cangxuan Sect as the date of the chief disciple selection grew ever nearer. The atmosphere that had been brewing over the sect grew more and more volatile, as every gaze in the entire sect converged towards the most major yearly event. The chief disciple selection was fast approaching. Previous Chapte Chapter 455 Yaoyao’s Anger As the date of the chief disciple selection gradually neared, it felt as if the entire Cangxuan Sect had been placed into a boiling cauldron. The various factions from the various were eagerly rubbing their hands together in anticipation, their eyes set on a certain position. After all, it was a position that represented the number one disciple of each peak, while also a road one needed to traverse in order to become a Chosen... From the very first day every Cangxuan Sect disciple entered the sect, the chief disciple position was the target they would strive towards for many years to come. Hence, when the chief disciple selection arrived every year, its magnificence would far surpass the earlier purple sash selection. It was known as the grandest event of the year after all. ... Yaoyao leisurely walked through the mountain forest, her slim, beautiful figure looking as if it had gracefully walked out from a painting. At her feet, Tuntun closely followed on its short stubby legs. She advanced with the aid of several markings to avoid the seal. The forest before her soon became a wide open space, as a cliff and the water and fire tempering dragon stage appeared in her sights. The next thing that entered her eyes was an unconscious figure lying on the ground. It was Zhou Yuan, except he was currently in an extremely sorry state, as if he had just been scooped up from a boiling pot. All of his flesh seemed to be undergoing necrosis, and he had clearly sustained grave injuries. Yaoyao was first taken aback, before her pretty face turned ice-cold as her eyes pointed towards the smoking old Xuan like a sword. She had not come here ever since the talk she had with old Xuan, but she never expected to see such a situation today. ¡°What did you do to him?¡± Yaoyao''s voice was as cold as ice. Roar! Tuntun also released a low roar, its beady eyes staring at old Xuan. Black light began to appear in its mouth, its tiny body starting to grow as its ferocious aura was revealed. Upon seeing this, old Xuan helplessly said, ¡°It has nothing to do with me. He¡¯s the one who insisted on increasing the water and fire Genesis Qi to the third level.¡± Yaoyao let out an icy snort, before she quickly walked forward and placed a finger under Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose. Only after sensing his faint breathing did she breathe a small sigh of relief. Her eyes proceeded to scan Zhou Yuan''s bare upper body. Under the dying flesh, she could faintly see dark green light emerging. As the light soaked into the body, black sludge poured out from his pores. As the sludge dispersed, his body slowly recovered. However, even in this unconscious state, his body was instinctively trembling. One could easily imagine just how much pain he had endured earlier. ¡°Truly reckless!¡± Yaoyao¡¯s brows were furrowed, nearly shifting till they were vertical. So this was why he was returning back to the cave dwelling later and later, and appearing weaker and weaker each time. It turns out that he had raised the water and fire Qi to level three. This was something he had not informed her about. She turned her head and looked towards old Xuan as she frostily said, ¡°He may not have fully understood the severity of this, but can you say the same for yourself? If one over tempers the body, it will rapidly break down! Can you afford to compensate him if his body is destroyed?¡± Old Xuan opened and closed his mouth, clearly not expecting that he would receive such a scolding. He did not know whether to laugh or to cry. However, old Xuan constantly felt an unexplainable feeling of heart shaking fear of Yaoyao. Hence, he could only smile in an embarrassed manner as he said, ¡°It¡¯s not as bad as it looks. He practices the Taiyi Green Wood Mark that allows him to swiftly recover from even the most serious injuries. The only catch is that he has to suffer a little during the process.¡± ¡°You call this a little suffering?¡± Questioned Yaoyao. To leave the tenacious Zhou Yuan in such a state, it was easy to imagine how terrifying the third level water and fire Qi was. Old Xuan resentfully shook his pipe, realizing that she was just being unreasonable. Hence, he intelligently shut his mouth, sullenly hugging his broom as he squatted in a corner and gnawed on his pipe. Yaoyao coldly snorted, paying no further attention to old Xuan. She too could tell that although Zhou Yuan¡¯s injuries were extremely grave, the Taiyi Green Mark was rapidly repairing his body. An incense stick of time passed as she stood there. Only then did Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes finally slowly crack open as a pained groan escaped from his lips. He lay on the ground, facing the sky as waves of powerlessness pulsed through his body. The third level had been too huge of a burden on his body, resulting in a drastic loss of vital energy. Fortunately, the Taiyi Green Mark in his body was releasing vital energy to replenish this loss. *Cough* While Zhou Yuan was thinking about silently lying there, a dry cough sounded. It was from old Xuan. Zhou Yuan powerlessly croaked, ¡°Let me rest a little longer.¡± ¡°How long do you plan on lying there?¡± A clear as spring water like voice sounded. Zhou Yuan was startled as he hastily turned his head, quickly spotting the graceful as a willow figure. He immediately sat up and said, ¡°Yaoyao?¡± An awkward smile soon appeared on his face. ¡°Why are you here?¡± There was no expression on Yaoyao¡¯s face. ¡°If I came any later, I won¡¯t even know when you will be tortured to death.¡± In the stone pavilion, old Xuan gloomily breathed out a mouthful of smoke. Countless individuals in the Cangxuan Sect would die for his guidance, but it had become so unwanted and useless when mentioned by Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan glanced at the depressed old Xuan and hurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, I can manage this training.¡± Yaoyao ignored him and said, ¡°Pack your things and follow me back.¡± The sight of Yaoyao¡¯s frosty expression caused a chill to rise inside Zhou Yuan. He obediently climbed to his feet, and nervously tidied himself the best he could. ¡°Kid, your recent training has been quite fruitful. Although you have yet to reach the silver bone stage, a breakthrough should be just around the corner. You should be able to achieve your goal with a little more effort.¡± Said old Xuan. Zhou Yuan felt somewhat regretful. He did not expect that he would still fail to reach the silver bone stage even after so much suffering. The road of external cultivation was indeed a difficult one to walk. Yaoyao paid no attention to them as she turned around and walked away, clearly still very discontent with old Xuan. Zhou Yuan waved at Zhou Yuan before quickly following. Old Xuan watched Zhou Yuan leave as he puffed out a breath of smoke and slowly said, ¡°Kid, do your best in the chief disciple selection tomorrow¡­ Saint Genesis Peak has been sealed for so many years, and it should be about time for it to see the light of day once more.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps paused as he turned his head and said, ¡°Does elder hope that I will unseal Saint Genesis Peak?¡± However, old Xuan did not reply. His old face seemed to fade and reappear within the thick smoke, making him seem quite mysterious. Zhou Yuan did not ask again either, and turned back. However, just as he was about to step into the forest, a voice echoed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry elder, the chief disciple seat of Saint Genesis Peak will definitely be mine!¡± The duo gradually faded into the distance. Old Xuan¡¯s murky eyes pierced through the smoke to watch them leave, before he lifted his head to gaze upon the misty main peak. ¡°It¡¯s been so many years¡­ it should be about time for Saint Genesis Peak to reopen, right?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 456 Cha Two figures walked along the little mountain path, one in front and the other behind. Tuntun trotted along between them, swivelling its head to cast a gloating gaze at Zhou Yuan. Evidently, even it could sense that Yaoyao was in a bad mood. Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes at it, before awkwardly scratching his head as he looked towards the graceful figure in front of him. He clearly had not expected the usually uncaring Yaoyao to become so angry this time. Yaoyao did not say anything, while Zhou Yuan did not dare to start any conversation. Hence, the two of them returned to the cave dwelling under this stuffy and gloomy atmosphere. When they were back, Yaoyao indifferently said, ¡°Go clean yourself up.¡± Zhou Yuan took a sniff of his sweaty body, and let out an embarrassed laugh, before obediently proceeding to wash up. Yaoyao sat down in the stone pavilion by the cliff. She then retrieved a jade pot and poured herself a full cup of wine. As she lifted the cup, her clear eyes gazed towards the drifting clouds beyond the cliff edge. After some time, a cleaned Zhou Yuan walked over and seated himself opposite Yaoyao. Yaoyao was still ignoring him, continuing instead to stare at the clouds in a daze. A long while later, she slowly withdrew her gaze, no emotion whatsoever on her face as she looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You¡­¡± The moment she began spoking, however, Zhou Yuan cut out and said without the slightest bit of hesitation, ¡°I was in the wrong.¡± Yaoyao was taken aback. She frowned a little and said, ¡°Wrong¡­¡± ¡°Big sis Yaoyao is right!¡± Zhou Yuan immediately interjected again, his attitude incapable of being more upright. ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never do it again!¡± Every time Yaoyao was about to speak, Zhou Yuan immediately displayed a submissive and conceding appearance, as if ready to receive any kind of scolding or punishment. Thump! After being cut off several times, the cup in Yaoyao¡¯s hand slammed into the table with a little more force than usual, creating a clear ¡®thump¡¯ sound. She stared icily at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Shut up!¡± Zhou Yuan immediately sealed his mouth. By the side, Tuntun revealed a disdainful look at Zhou Yuan. Such spinelessness was practically unwatchable! Yaoyao glared at Zhou Yuan, the rage originally boiling inside her weakening a little after the many interruptions. Frustrated, she downed the entire cup of wine in her hand. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the iciness on Yaoyao¡¯s face slightly recede, and hurriedly tried to pour Yaoyao another cup. However, Yaoyao slapped away his outreached hands. She grabbed the jade pot and poured another drink for herself. After several cups, her eyes finally lowered slightly as she slowly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are rushing things too much.¡± Zhou Yuan could only sigh softly in response as he said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, I cannot think of any reason to relax. Like you said before, senior brother Chu Qing and I are different. He is fond of doing things half-heartedly if he could, while I¡­ need to give my hundred and twenty percent at all times.¡± ¡°The threat of the Great Wu Empire is still looming over the Great Zhou Empire, and no one knows when the former will make their move, but once it happens, the Great Zhou Empire would definitely have to pay a terrible price.¡± ¡°The Great Zhou Empire is currently incapable of facing the Great Wu Empire, while I am the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s only hope.¡± Yaoyao gazed at the young man before her. Over the past few years, the originally powerless youth had slowly transformed, while the tremendous burden on his shoulders had only grown heavier. Even so, he had never showed any signs of carrying this burden in his daily life. Yaoyao¡¯s hand tightened around her cup as she softly said, ¡°I know that you are the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s only hope, but what will the Great Zhou Empire do if something happens to you?¡± She stared hard at the wine in her cup as she softly said, ¡°When that happens, where will I go?¡± There was a slight lost feeling in her voice. Her origins were so mysterious that even she herself had no clue of who she was and where she came from. In the past, her only kin had been Cang Yuan. The same Cang Yuan who had entrusted her to Zhou Yuan. After living together for the past few years, her cold and lonely heart had gradually begun to view Zhou Yuan as family. She could not even fathom what she would do if something were to happen to him. She had no feelings for the Cangxuan Sect, and had only stayed because Zhou Yuan was here too. If Zhou Yuan was no longer around, she would naturally have no reason to stay any further. When that happened, no matter how immense the world was, she would truly have nowhere to go. She neither knew her parents nor had the means to discover who they were, and even if they did exist, she could not feel anything in her heart towards them... Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart twisted in pain for a moment when he gazed upon the extremely rare sliver of powerlessness and perplexedness in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. He reached out and gently grasped her tiny hands, feeling their cold jade-like sensation, as he softly said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, I understand that you are likely involved in something beyond my imagination. After all, even existences on the level of master Cang Yuan and patriarch Cang Xuan are somehow related to you. Compared to them, the current me is as insignificant as an ant.¡± ¡°Over the years, you¡¯ve been the one who has shielded me from all the dangers I encountered.¡± ¡°But I promised master Cang Yuan I would protect you, and I do not wish to ultimately be incapable of fulfilling even this single promise¡­¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards the perfect, flawless face before him, as he smiled and said, ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, there are two reasons why I¡¯ve been training so desperately¡­ first is to protect the Great Zhou Empire, and second... is so that if you encounter danger one day, I will have the qualifications to help you fight for even that slim chance of survival.¡± ¡°Even if the price will be my own life.¡± There was an easy and carefree smile on his face, however, the eyes that looked straight at Yaoyao were filled with earnesty. Yaoyao was slightly stunned as she gazed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. At this very moment in time, her usually ice-cold eyes that viewed all things with indifference seemed to melt a little. Hence, she did not swat Zhou Yuan away when he held her hands, but instead gently grasped them back in return as she softly said, ¡°If that day really comes, I hope that you¡­ will try to stay alive.¡± Sunlight peeked through the clouds at this moment, its rays gently embracing the two individuals in the stone pavilion, illuminating the ethereal dust that danced around them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart stealthily stirred due to Yaoyao¡¯s words. He gazed upon her seemingly glowing face as his heart throbbed a little harder. He stood up, looking straight into her eyes, as he could not help but slowly inch his face nearer to hers. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was reflected in Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes as she seemed to stiffen. The two grew closer and closer, their breaths already gently brushing across the other¡¯s face. Ao! Ao! However, a split second before they could touch, the sound of barking suddenly cut through the air. Yaoyao instantly returned to her senses, as rarely seen panic flashed in her eyes. The cup in her hand was splashed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s face in reflex. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was frozen on the spot, as wine flowed down towards his chin. A blush appeared on Yaoyao¡¯s face as she glared at Zhou Yuan, before hurriedly turning around to enter the little house, tightly shutting the door behind her with a loud thud. Zhou Yuan was left behind, dazed as a statue. A long while later, he slowly wiped away the wine on his face, before turning around with a stormy expression. He immediately found Tuntun, and growled through gnashed teeth, ¡°Bastard, I¡¯m going to eat you today!¡± He ferociously pounced towards Tuntun. To think that this ingrate, that had eaten countless meals from him, would ruin things! Such an atmosphere was already near impossible to encounter. Once Yaoyao regained her usual indifference and nonchalance, Zhou Yuan would not dare make such a bold move again even if he grew another ball. And now, such a rare opportunity had been ruined by Tuntun! Man and beast began an ugly scuffle. Some time later. Zhou Yuan was lying on the ground, bloody claw marks covering every inch of his body. Tuntun rolled about in a pleased manner nearby as it released a series of very human-like mocking snorts. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan had ultimately been defeated in this short scuffle. Zhou Yuan let out a deep grief-filled sigh. To think that he would be incapable of beating even a little brute... While he was filled with grief and indignation, his eyelids gradually drooped with exhaustion, and he soon fell into a deep slumber. Tuntun blinked a few times when it saw that Zhou Yuan had directly fallen asleep there on the ground, before it tiptoed towards his head. It lifted a leg, actually planning on pissing on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. However, while its leg was being raised, a hand viciously pinched its ear and lifted it into the air. Tuntun struggled, only to freeze when it saw Yaoyao¡¯s clear as water like eyes, as a begging for forgiveness expression instantly emerged in its eyes. ¡°Take him back.¡± Yaoyao glanced towards the figure lying on the ground. Tuntun was thrown back down. It could only grow in size and pull Zhou Yuan onto its back, before obediently sending him into the little house. ¡­ The next day, Zhou Yuan discovered that he was lying on his soft bed when he awakened from his deep sleep. He gazed at the edge on his bed, as abundant vital energy spread in his body, allowing his condition to slowly recover to its peak. Gong! The clear sound of an old bell suddenly rang out across the land. A dazzling light shined in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, eager battle intent suging in their depths. The chief disciple selection was finally here. Previous Chapte Chapter 457 Chief Disciple Peak Gong! The sound of an old bell echoed in every corner of the Cangxuan Sect. The instant it sounded, it was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured into a boiling deep fryer, instantly breaking the lingering peace from the night before as an explosion of excitement permeated the air. Countless glowing figures could be seen flying out in the sky, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind as they swarmed towards the various peaks. An intense and eager battle intent filled the Cangxuan Sect. ¡­ Zhou Yuan walked out of his little house and arrived at the entrance of the cave dwelling, where he saw a pretty figure gracefully standing. With an aura as ungraspable as the mist, it was naturally Yaoyao. Yaoyao currently had her head slightly raised as she gazed upon the bustling atmosphere of excitement that had descended upon the sect. After accumulating for two months, everyone¡¯s battle intent appeared to have simultaneously erupted at this very moment. Today was clearly going to be an exceptionally marvellous day for the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°Rested well?¡± She turned around, her body seemingly glowing as the morning rays shined onto her, a sight that one would find very difficult to shift away from. However, her beautiful face had regained its previous indifference, making it impossible to read the feelings in the depths of her heart. Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile, regret filling his heart, before he sent a vicious glare at the nearby Tuntun. This little bastard! I¡¯ll remember this grudge! ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Yaoyao immediately saw the look in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, and shot an angry glare at him. Zhou Yuan coughed dryly twice. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready¡­ you¡¯ve suffered quite a bit for the sake of today. Let everyone see the fruits of your efforts.¡± Said Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan exhaled a long and deep breath. These two past two months of training had not been easy indeed, and today was the time to test the results of his hard work. Burning battle intent rose in his eyes, without even the slightest trace of fear to be seen. No matter what opponent he faced today, the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak would definitely be his! WIth a stamp, Genesis Qi rose from under his foot, swiftly carrying Yaoyao, Tuntun and himself into the air as they fly towards Saint Genesis Peak. By the time the trio rushed there, they found the disciples from their faction already gathered. At the very front, Shen Taiyuan stood with a solemn expression on his face, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and the rest standing closely behind. Zhou Yuan landed in front of them and respectfully cupped his fist together in greeting towards Shen Taiyuan. Shen Taiyuan acknowledged Zhou Yuan with a brief nod, before his gaze swept across the crowd. ¡°Since everyone is here, let¡¯s get going.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi surged out, sweeping up everyone like a cloud. After roughly half an incense stick of time, they landed on a giant stone stage. A giant peak towered in front of the enormous strong stage. From how the mountain was already covered in mist at its midway point, one could imagine just how titanic it was. Shen Taiyuan pointed at the giant mountain before them and said in a solemn voice, ¡°It is called the chief disciple peak and is also the battlefield of the chief disciple selection. There are a total of seven such chief disciple peaks in the Cangxuan Sect, and this one belongs to our Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°This is where the chief disciple selection of Saint Genesis Peak will unfold.¡± There was a look of thought on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he gazed upon the mountain. If this was the case, it would mean that the seven chief disciple selections were held separately, and the other six chief disciple peaks were likely already the focus of tens of thousands of watching eyes. Swish! At this moment, the sound of rushing wind was heard from the sky. A Genesis Qi cloud descended and landed on a nearby stone stage, revealing numerous figures. At their head was elder Lu Song, while Lu Yan stood elegantly behind him. Lu Hong¡¯s faction had also arrived.. Not long after they appeared, the sound of rushing wind was heard again as Lu Hong¡¯s faction made their grand entrance, far surpassing the other two factions in both numbers and presence. Lu Hong stood at the front of his numerous disciples with his hands behind his back. His indifferent gaze swept across the other two groups, only pausing briefly on Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan, the three more renowned disciples. As for Zhou Yuan, all he received was a quick glance out of the corner of the former¡¯s eyes that was almost immediately withdrawn in an uncaring manner. It was obvious that Lu Hong did not view Zhou Yuan as a threat. Behind him, the six disciples led by Yuan Hong gave off an imposing presence. This was a very strong line-up. The other two factions seemed to grow a little restless after Lu Hong¡¯s faction appeared. Most of the disciples wore extremely grave expressions, clearly under quite a bit of pressure. As the hottest contenders, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan¡¯s gazes were all gathered on the expressionless Yuan Hong, wariness and fear flashing across their eyes. They were unafraid of the other participants from Lu Hong¡¯s faction. Only Yuan Hong gave them a dangerous sensation. Besides the members of these three factions, quite a number of disciples from the other peaks had also rushed to this place. They landed in the vicinity of the chief disciple peak, whispers quickly beginning to spread as they gazed upon the three groups. ¡°It seems that there won¡¯t be any suspense in this chief disciples selection¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, Lu Hong¡¯s side is too powerful, the other two groups really appear quite weak in contrast¡­¡± ¡°Looks like the chief disciple position will end up with elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction.¡± ¡°......¡± These voices were also transmitted into the ears of the many disciples from Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s factions, causing them to worry even more. As long as one was not blind, the overwhelming might of Lu Hong¡¯s faction was clear as day. In comparison, smiles were revealed on the faces of Lu Hong¡¯s disciples when they heard these whispers, causing them to grow even more proud and arrogant. The gazes they occasionally sent towards the other two factions were filled with contempt. At the sight of this situation, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song exchanged a look, and ultimately faintly nodded at each other. Shen Taiyuan withdrew his gaze, looking towards Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Zhou Yuan as a voice wrapped in Genesis Qi was transmitted into their ears, ¡°Lu Hong¡¯s side has an absolute advantage in this chief disciple selection, it will be very difficult for a single faction to take them on alone.¡± Zhou Tai was taken aback. He soon asked, ¡°What is teacher Shen trying to say?¡± Shen Taiyuan indifferently replied, ¡°Elder Lu Song and I have discussed this matter. After entering the chief disciple peak, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan, the two of you will join forces with Lu Yan to snipe Yuan Hong. You must defeat him first.¡± Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan looked at each other, clearly not expecting that they would join hands with the other faction. After all, they were in a manner of speaking also competitors. Even so, they ultimately nodded, because none of them had any confidence in facing Yuan Hong alone. The best possible scenario was indeed working together to defeat and disqualify the strongest Yuan Hong at the start. ¡°If the three of us are joining forces to deal with Yuan Hong, what about the other participants from Lu Hong¡¯s side?¡± Inquired Zhang Yan. Shen Taiyuan looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you and the two other disciples from elder Lu Song¡¯s side will obstruct Lu Hong¡¯s five other disciples. Due to your disadvantage in numbers, you guys will definitely be under substantial pressure. As such, there is no need for your group to face the other party with your full power, but instead focus on delaying them as long as you can. If the situation turns dire, you may admit defeat and withdraw from the selection.¡± ¡°You guys only need to endure until the other group manages to defeat Yuan Hong, and it will be considered a success.¡± Shen Taiyuan clearly felt that the main force this time was still Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan. Hence, he did not have high hopes for Zhou Yuan, and only wished that he would be able to delay for time.¡± In Shen Taiyuan¡¯s eyes, allowing Zhou Yuan to participate was mostly to give him some experience in preparation for the chief disciple selection next year. Zhou Yuan was silent, but did not raise any objections. Instead, he only asked, ¡°What happens if senior brother Zhou Tai and the rest succeed in defeating Yuan Hong?¡± ¡°Once Lu Hong¡¯s side is dealt with, who ultimately takes the chief disciple position will depend on one¡¯s capability.¡± Declared Shen Taiyuan. Zhou Yuan nodded, no further questions. It was good as long as he was not forbidden from vieing for the chief disciple seat. ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± ... ¡°If Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and I join hands, it will not be too difficult for us to deal with Yuan Hong.¡± On the other side, Lu Yan had found out about the plan from elder Lu Song. ¡°However¡­¡± Her eyes swept towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure as she frowned. ¡°Are you certain that Zhou Yuan and the other two from our side will be able to delay the five participants on Lu Hong¡¯s side long enough?¡± She shook her head, evidently a little unsatisfied with the plan as she continued, ¡°I feel that it will not work out¡­ this is a little unbecoming of elder Shen. He could have chosen any other time to give his disciple the chance to gain some experience. Can¡¯t believe he permitted that disciple of his to participate when the stakes are so high.¡± Lu Song smiled helplessly and said, ¡°It¡¯s useless to say anything at this juncture. As long as you, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan succeed in defeating Yuan Hong as fast as possible, the situation will fall under our control.¡± Lu Yan mumbled to herself, ¡°I hope that he will not become a burden at the most critical point¡± ¡°Otherwise, I will not let him off.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 458 The Ten Chosens While the seven chief disciple peaks began to boil with excitement, vast Genesis Qi churned high up in the sky above the Cangxuan Sect. Countless disciples raised their heads, and saw the gathering Genesis Qi transform into six giant glowing Genesis Qi lotuses. Six figures were seated upon the lotuses, spreading their overwhelming and immeasurable presences. They seemed to exude limitless power, causing respect to instinctively rise in everyone¡¯s hearts. They were naturally sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters. When these six hegemons of the sect appeared, every disciple and elder in the Cangxuan Sect bowed their bodies as their voices echoed in every corner. ¡°We respectfully greet sect master and the peak masters!¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters would naturally not be missing from the grandest and most important yearly event of the Cangxuan Sect. At the center of the group, sect master Qing Yang gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. His expression was gentle, and yet also like a bottomless pool or an immeasurable peak, giving off a sense of stability that ordinary people could never possess, as if he would not be alarm even when the heavens began to crumble. ¡°I hope that the disciples will give their all in this year¡¯s chief disciple selection. Show us your ability, and become a model for the numerous disciples of our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s gentle yet grand voice rang out in everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°Yes!¡± The many disciples responded in unison. Not long after the six hegemons revealed themselves, another ten mini glowing lotuses began to form some distance to their front, as ten figures swept across the air and seated themselves on the lotuses. When the ten figures were revealed, cheering swiftly arose from the countless disciples as they looked over with fervent gazes. Because these ten figures were the ten great Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect! The ten Chosens were usually busy with their training or on missions, making it nearly impossible to see all ten of them gathered in one place. Only during a grand occasion like the chief disciple selection, would they all show up together. In contrast to the untouchable, almighty and revered six hegemons, the numerous disciples undoubtedly felt much closer to the ten Chosens, many even treating the group as targets of worship in their hearts. This was why the appearance of the ten Chosens resulted in such a scene. ¡°All ten Chosens present together¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was also quite amazed by this. After all, it had been nearly an entire year since he came to the Cangxuan Sect, but he had to even see half of the Chosens before this. He stared at the ten glowing lotuses. At the center was the most eye-catching shiny bald head. Sunlight reflected off its glossy surface, making it dazzle brightly. It was the leader of the Chosens, Chu Qing. As he looked at Chu Qing, Zhou Yuan swept a glance at Lu Yan from Lu Song¡¯s faction. Sure enough, he found a look of adoration on the latter¡¯s face as she dazedly stared at Chu Qing, little stars even glittering in her eyes. The usually arrogant manner she displayed was now nowhere to be seen. On the left and right of Chu Qing were Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, followed by the rest of the Chosens. Every figure seemed to command the attention of the crowd. After all, the fact that they could become Chosens was more than enough evidence of their talent. They were the cream of the crop even among the numerous elites of the Cangxuan Sect. Chu Qing yawned atop his lotus, before turning his head to see Kong Sheng icily staring at him. The former immediately rubbed his shiny, bald head, displaying a dazzling smile as he said, ¡°Ah, junior brother Kong Sheng, it¡¯s been so long since we last met.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes stabbed at Chu Qing like swords, as he coldly responded, ¡°Chu Qing, I sent you eighteen challenge letters. Why have you not responded at all?¡± A shocked look appeared on Chu Qing¡¯s face. ¡°Eighteen challenge letters? Aiyyaa, why haven¡¯t I seen a single one¡­ I¡¯m sure of it, someone must have secretly thrown them away. I¡¯ll go back and find out exactly who has the gall to do such a thing.¡± Kong Sheng icily chuckled. Fine, continue your acting. With a wave of his sleeve, a challenge letter appeared in his hand, before being tossed towards Chu Qing. ¡°Regardless of whether you¡¯ve seen them previously, I believe you won¡¯t be able to avoid this one, right?¡± The challenge letter whizzed through the air, heading straight for Chu Qing. However, Chu Qing did not even move or cast a glance to the side, allowing the challenge letter to brush past his face, before floating away into the distance. Kong Sheng, ¡°......¡± Li Qingchan, ¡°......¡± The corners of the other Chosens¡¯ lips pulled outwards. Veins could not help but pop out on Kong Sheng¡¯s forehead, evidently not expecting that Chu Qing would be so thick skinned as to directly ignore the challenge letter right in his face. Just how cheeky could this person get? Chu Qing looked towards Li Qingchan with a smile. ¡°Junior sister Qingchan, let¡¯s change places.¡± Li Qingchan responded with an annoyed glance, completely ignoring his request. Upon seeing that there would not be any response from her, Chu Qing helplessly shook his head and turned back to the now black faced Kong Sheng with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be so rash junior brother Kong Sheng. Sending out such a challenge letter with no warning will only hurt the relationship we have as fellow disciples.¡± ¡°If you really want to compete, we can do it in any way.¡± ¡°What way?¡± Kong Sheng was expressionless. ¡°Wuu¡­¡± Chu Qing blinked several times, before a bright smile emerged on his face. ¡°We can bet on the chief disciple selection¡­ hmm, let¡¯s guess who the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak will be!¡± ¡°The loser will have to pay a hundred thousand Genesis jade!¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°And also accept a challenge letter!¡± Chu Qing felt rather helpless and could only nod in agreement. Only then did Kong Sheng let out an icy chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s there to guess, the chief disciple seat will definitely end up with Yuan Hong.¡± Lu Hong¡¯s faction was from Sword Cometh Peak, and Kong Sheng naturally had a clear understanding of Yuan Hong¡¯s strength. There was no one from the other two factions who could put up a fight against him. Chu Qing merely grinned and said, ¡°I hold a different opinion.¡± Kong Sheng laughed mockingly. ¡°Oh? Are you supporting Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan or Lu Yan?¡± Chu Qing pondered a little, before he said, ¡°I feel that the chief disciple position might land in the hands of Zhou Yuan.¡± These words not only elicited another chuckle from Kong Sheng, but also caused the other Chosens to look over. They had heard of this Zhou Yuan before, but no matter how amazing his achievements were over the past year, he was ultimately a new disciple. When compared to Yuan Hong, the gap between them was quite huge. So how could he possibly obtain the chief disciple seat of Saint Genesis Peak? In fact, even Li Qingchan, who was more well acquainted with Zhou Yuan, frowned slightly, feeling that it was going to be quite impossible. Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Yang Xuan, none of the participants in the chief disciple selection would be weaker than Yang Xuan. Let alone someone like Yuan Hong... ¡°I did not expect you to think so highly of him.¡± Remarked Kong Sheng. Chu Qing sighed and said, ¡°As the who can make that monster Zhou Xiaoyao submit, Zhou Yuan is definitely no simple individual¡­¡± The corners of everyone¡¯s mouths twitched. So this was the reason? This was why he felt Zhou Yuan would obtain the chief disciple seat? Upon seeing the strange looks on the faces of the other Chosens, Chu Qing immediately began explaining, ¡°You guys have never tasted Zhou Xiaoyao¡¯s methods. She¡¯s definitely a heartless witch who can sell you away without even blinking. If Ye Ge did not keep insisting that she was a Cangxuan Sect disciple, I would have suspected that she was sent from the Sacred Palace to cause trouble!¡± His voice was filled with resentment, clearly recalling the Heaven mission previously, where he had been forced by Zhou Xiaoyao to use his full power in battle. There had been no choice but to do so, just look at how Ye Ge had nearly been killed... Over the years, this was the first time that Chu Qing had been forced into such a situation by someone else. Kong Sheng let out an icy chuckle and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care what reason you have, but since you¡¯ve chosen Zhou Yuan, let us get ready to watch how things will unfurl. I hope that you will obediently accept my challenge letter after you lose!¡± After speaking, he withdrew his gaze and turned towards the distant Saint Genesis Peak. Disdain flitted across his eyes as his gaze swept across a certain young figure. Was Zhou Yuan thinking of taking the chief disciple seat from Yuan Hong? How delusional! Previous Chapte Chapter 459 Start of the Chief Disciple Selection After the ten Chosens appeared, numerous elders began to arrive in the sky above. The scale of this gathering was very impressive, showing just how important the chief disciple selection was to the Cangxuan Sect. As time passed, the sun rose high into the sky. Sect master Qing Yang glanced towards the sky and nodded, before gently waving his sleeve. Dong! A loud ¡®dong¡¯ echoed across the land. The atmosphere inside the Cangxuan Sect reached its peak at this moment. Everyone knew that the bell marked the beginning of the chief disciple selection. ¡°Let the chief disciple selection begin. Disciples, I hope that you will fully display the fruits of your labor over the past year!¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s powerful voice echoed by everyone¡¯s ear. It was quickly followed by a storm of cheering. Go for it, senior brother Zheng Shi!¡± ¡°Senior sister Su Yun, you¡¯ll definitely succeed!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Countless disciples cheered for the participants they were supporting, creating quite an astonishing din. The situation was the same on Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s side. However, practically everyone from Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction was cheering for either Zhou Tai or Zhang Yan. These two were the main force after all. ¡°Go little Yuan bro, I bet two hundred thousand Genesis jade on you taking the chief disciple seat!¡± Someone suddenly yelled. The crowd looked over, only to discover that it was Shen Wanjin. The declaration of his generous bet made quite a number of people jump in shock, as they could not help but say, ¡°Are you crazy? You¡¯ve actually bet two hundred thousand Genesis jade? You could have used that kind of money to treat us at the Hundred Fragrances House instead!¡± Two hundred thousand Genesis jade was a fortune to even most purple sash disciples. Shen Wanjin had only been able to accumulate it because Zhou Yuan had extorted it from Wu Hai previously. No one had expected that Shen Wanjin would wager all of it on Zhou Yuan. In their eyes, this was undoubtedly the most foolish action anyone could take. You¡¯ll at least get some nice splashes if you threw them all into the river, throwing them onto Zhou Yuan, on the other hand, won¡¯t even net you a ripple! Shen Wanjin did not mind the gazes that were looking at him as if he were a fool. In any case, Zhou Yuan was the one who had gotten him these Genesis jade, so it didn¡¯t matter even if he lost them all. His thought process was very simple. As Zhou Yuan¡¯s most loyal fan, how could he possibly not give his support at such a time?! Zhou Yuan was also rather alarmed by the huge wager, but was soon unable to hold back a chuckle as he shook his head. He did not say anything, only waving at Shen Wanjin. Shen Taiyuan looked over and said to Zhou Yuan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan, ¡°Get ready.¡± The trio nodded with serious expressions. Swish! In the next instant, the trio dashed into the sky together, stepping on Genesis Qi as they descended towards the chief disciple peak. At the same time, several figures also rose from Lu Hong and Lu Song¡¯s factions amidst thunderous cheers. A total of twelve figures flew past in the sky, swiftly approaching the chief disciple peak. When they were a certain distance from the chief disciple peak, Zhou Yuan felt a pressure spread from it. Under this pressure, the flow of Genesis Qi turned somewhat slower. In addition, it seemed that the closer they got to the summit, the greater the pressure. However, Zhou Yuan did not panic, because Shen Taiyuan had already talked about this previously. Genesis Runes had been carved into the chief disciples peak that made the surrounding Genesis Qi heavier. When one was within range of the runes, one would feel as if there was a heavy mountain on one¡¯s back, and the closer one was to the summit, the greater the pressure one would feel. In such an environment, one¡¯s Genesis Qi would be consumed at a much faster rate in battle. This was a test of sorts. Those without sufficient strength would not have the qualifications to even ascend the summit. Mists swirled around the giant mountain. Stone platform after platform had been chiselled into the mountain, like giant stone steps that reached upwards all the way to the summit currently concealed by mist. At a certain distance from the mountain, the onlookers saw the twelve figures suddenly begin to sink rapidly. Genesis Qi quickly rose from their bodies to stabilize them. After steadying themselves, their figures descended towards the stone platforms, using them as steps to ascend the mountain. Among the twelve figures, Yuan Hong was unsurprisingly in the lead. Right behind him, was Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan, while Zhou Yuan and the rest were further behind. Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan gradually approached each other as they exchanged a look, before locking onto Yuan Hong¡¯s figure at the very front and nodding faintly. Swish! Their speed rose sharply, as they attacked together a split second later. Three torrents of Genesis Qi surged out, blasting towards Yuan Hong¡¯s figure. *Uproar*! Their actions immediately caused quite a stir outside the chief disciple peak. Almost no one had expected the two factions to join hands against Yuan Hong. Yuan Hong naturally noticed the berserk Genesis Qi rushing towards him from behind. However, there was no panic as a giant thousand feet long torrent of Genesis Qi whizzed out and, coiled around him like a giant python. Boom! The three blasts of Genesis Qi arrived, shockwaves violently unfurling as Genesis Qi collided. Further behind, the expressions of the other five participants from Lu Hong¡¯s faction changed slightly, as they sped up in order to provide support. However, Zhou Yuan and the other two disciples from Lu Song¡¯s faction now stood before them, obstructing their path. Wu Hai shot a chilling glance at Zhou Yuan, before shouting, ¡°Will you have trouble senior brother Yuan Hong?¡± Yuan Hong swept a glance behind him, and waved his hand as he nonchalantly replied, ¡°I¡¯ll play with them for a bit, you guys only need to finish off the three of them.¡± He then looked towards the three figures that were rapidly surrounding him as a mocking smile rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°You guys plan to join forces? Smart move, but do you really believe that your combined might is enough?¡± ¡°Follow me if you have the guts!¡± With an icy laugh, his figure suddenly rose into the air and dashed towards the misty halfway point of the mountain. He was evidently planning on pulling the battleground to a higher location. Upon seeing this, Zhou Tai turned towards the Zhou Yuan trio and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, we¡¯ll be troubling the three of you to delay the rest. We¡¯ll come back to help you guys after finishing off Yuan Hong.¡± As his voice faded, the three of them had already soared into the sky, as they hurriedly gave chase. For this chief disciple selection, they needed to first gather their strongest power to deal with the biggest threat, Yuan Hong. Otherwise, neither of their two factions would have any chance of victory. The four figures flew forward, swiftly disappearing into the mist. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change as he watched them leave, before turning his head to look at the two disciples from Lu Song¡¯s faction consisting of one guy and a girl. The guy was called Han Yan. He had a large muscular frame, and looked like a straightforward person. The girl was called Han Yu, and was quite a pretty dainty little thing. The two of them were brother and sister. Han Yan returned Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze with an honest smile, while Han Yu frowned a little. She and Lu Yan were very close, and they could be considered best friends. Hence, she had naturally been influenced by Lu Yan, and also felt that Zhou Yuan would be a burden. ¡°Brother Zhou Yuan, let¡¯s do our best to delay them¡­¡± Said Han Yan. Three against five, an absolute disadvantage in numbers. Once things started, the other side would surely gain the upper hand. Han Yu swept a glance at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Since we¡¯ve chosen to stay behind, we¡¯ve already resolved ourselves to fight to the bitter end, and have no intentions of retreating unscathed. It will be a success as long as we can delay them and win a little more time for senior sister Lu Yan and the rest.¡± The two of them were evidently planning to go down fighting. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I can.¡± Said Zhou Yuan with a slight smile. Han Yu was clearly not very satisfied by Zhou Yuan¡¯s lack of resolution, but ultimately did not say anything. She did not expect much from him in the first place after all. Genesis Qi rose from Han Yan and Han Yu, their expression turning grave and wary as they stared at the five figures nearby. Meanwhile, the five disciples from Lu Hong¡¯s faction looked back with ridicule. Wu Hai¡¯s mocking gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan as he grinned and said, ¡°So that¡¯s what you guys are planning. Delay us while concentrating your forces to deal with senior brother Yuan Hong?¡± ¡°I have to say¡­¡± ¡°That your plan is truly delusional.¡± The rest of them burst out into laughter. From the looks of it, they were not the slightest bit worried about Yuan Hong. Wu Hai¡¯s chilling gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan as he said to the other four, ¡°Leave this one to me, I intend to wipe away my previous humiliation.¡± From start to end, he still believed that he had only been defeated by a single punch because he had been caught off guard. If they were to duel again, it would not be so easy for Zhou Yuan to win. The other four also understood that Wu Hai was intent on washing away his previous defeat, and naturally had no objections. ¡°Go!¡± Upon seeing this, Han Yan and Han Yu made their move, flying away towards another location. ¡°Be careful brother Zhou Yuan!¡± The other four participants from Lu Hong¡¯s faction merely laughed, before swiftly giving chase, as if they were cats toying with a mouse. In the wake of their departure, only Zhou Yuan and Wu Hai were left facing each other on the stone platform. Wu Hai stared at Zhou Yuan, as a sinister smile rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you know how I will torment you this time?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 460 One Strike A sea of people surrounded the seven chief disciples peaks, their boiling hubbub of voices dashing into the sky and scattering the clouds. All of the participants had already entered the battlefield. Berserk Genesis Qi soon began to erupt, as intensive battles broke out. Compared to the other six chief disciple peaks, Saint Genesis Peak clearly had the least participants. After all, they only had three factions, while the other peaks had at least several dozen... Although they had the least participants, the attention on the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple selection ranked number one or two among the other selections. A lot was on the line after all, and even the six hegemons would occasionally cast their attention over. Due to the wager between Kong Sheng and Chu Qing, the former would also often cast his gaze over. When he saw that Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s factions had joined hands, he merely released an icy chuckle. ¡°These two factions at least have some brains.¡± Remarked Kong Sheng in an uncaring manner. With Lu Hong¡¯s faction at an overwhelming advantage, if the other two were to fight among themselves, the only thing that awaited them would be a crushing defeat. Since they had now joined forces, they would at least be able to put up a little resistance. However, only a little... He was not worried even if the two factions were working together. Though the numbers on both sides were now equal, unfortunately for them¡­ the gap in quality still existed. His gaze shifted, homing in on a certain stone platform where two figures were facing each other. Although Kong Sheng had previously heard of Wu Hai being caught off guard, and defeated by Zhou Yuan with a single punch, it was most likely due to carelessness. Zhou Yuan would certainly not have such an easy time winning this time. As long as Wu Hai managed to delay Zhou Yuan, the other four should soon finish off the Han siblings. When that happened, the situation would become completely stable. As for Yuan Hong... Kong Sheng softly chuckled. If they believed that numbers could deal with Yuan Hong, Kong Sheng could only say that they were too naive. In any case, regardless of how he looked at it, the other two factions did not have even a sliver of hope. The chief disciple seat would most certainly land in the hands of Lu Hong¡¯s faction. ¡­ Under the countless watching gazes, atop the misty stone platform, Zhou Yuan gazed at the sinisterly smiling Wu Hai. The former¡¯s expression was impassive, his five fingers slowly clenched into a fist as he smiled and said, ¡°It seems that you didn¡¯t suffer enough after the previous punch I gave you.¡± Wu Hai¡¯s expression darkened. A month ago, he had been caught off guard and defeated by a single punch from Zhou Yuan, causing him to lose a tremendous amount of face. If Lu Hong had not been worried that changing their line-up would affect their morale, he would have replaced Wu Hai right away. This made Wu Hai hate Zhou Yuan even more. Hence, he intended to wash away all that humiliation. ¡°I¡¯m sure that you will be singing another tune when you¡¯re kneeling before me later.¡± Wu Hai did not want to waste any more time. Vigorous Genesis Qi swept out from his body like a storm, violently churning around his body as an alarming pressure swept outwards. Under this pressure, crack began to grow on the ground under his feet. As Genesis Qi surged, Wu Hai made a grabbing motion, and a dark red broad appeared in his hand. When it appeared, the surrounding Genesis Qi began to converge towards it. Wu Hai¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations began to climb. It was a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. After suffering at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands previously, Wu Hai obviously no longer dared to show any negligence. He immediately brought out the quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon Lu Hong had given him, allowing his battle power to reach its peak. Wu Hai grew more and more confident as he felt the surging Genesis Qi in his body, while the gaze he directed towards Zhou Yuan became icier and icier. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you managed to take advantage of my carelessness to defeat me in a single punch last time. That¡¯s why I¡¯ll let you have a taste of what it felt like this time!¡± Wu Hai¡¯s body slowly rose into the air as the scarlet light on his dark red broadsword gradually grew deeper. Terrifying power pulsed from the edge of the sword as it frantically absorbed the surrounding Genesis Qi. An alarming Genesis Qi ripple began to unfurl from his body. It was as if a whirlpool had formed around him, a spectacular and astonishing sight indeed. This scene naturally fell into the eyes of the many watching gazes, causing gasps of surprise to sound. Anyone could tell that this was going to be Wu Hai¡¯s strongest attack, and he was obviously planning to return an eye for eye. Zhou Yuan had defeated him with a single punch, so he was going to finish off Zhou Yuan in a single move. ¡°Low grade Heaven Genesis technique, Light Slash!¡± A thunderous roar boomed as the surrounding Genesis Qi poured into the scarlet red broadsword, causing resplendent and powerful sword light to rapidly gather on its surface. This strike was powerful enough to split mountains. Ferocity filled Wu Hai¡¯s eyes as he swung the broadsword in his hands. Bzz! An over eight hundred feet long arc of sword light suddenly appeared. It hacked downwards with alarming power, furiously chopping towards Zhou Yuan below. *Uproar*! Countless disciples broke into an uproar outside the chief disciple peak as their expressions rapidly changed. No one had expected Wu Hai to play his strongest cards at the beginning¡­ He had not only brought out a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon, but also used a Heaven Genesis technique. Even an opponent of the same cultivation level would not dare to clash directly against such an attack. Worry rose on the faces of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples when they saw this, even Shen Taiyuan¡¯s old face tensing with anxiety. Wu Hai was here with vengeance, and had no intentions of trying to feel out his opponent. On Lu Hong¡¯s side, Lu Hong gave a faint nod of approval. At least Wu Hai wasn¡¯t stupid. Since Zhou Yuan practiced an external cultivation technique, there was no need to waste time. Send out a ruthless blow at the start to cripple him. ¡°This Light Slash technique is quite a famous Heaven Genesis technique in Sword Cometh Peak, and boasts astonishing power. With the power of the Scarlet Spirit Sword added into the mix, Zhou Yuan will not be able to put up any resistance.¡± Remarked Lu Hong in a nonchalant manner. The other disciples nodded one after another. Looks like Zhou Yuan would be the first to be eliminated. Bzz! The giant arc of sword light swiftly descended as the stone platform began to crumble. Zhou Yuan raised his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the falling sword light. Wu Hai had indeed grown smarter... With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared and transformed into its martial form. The surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly surged over, pouring into the brush as his Genesis Qi aura swiftly began to rise. Not even a single ripple could be seen on his face as his hair danced wildly under the falling arc of sword light. The corners of his mouth moved slightly as a soft voice was spat out, ¡°Genesis Breaker.¡± The lotus shaped snow-white brush hairs at the tip of the brush gradually took on a night-black luster, appearing rather mysterious. ¡°Little Mythic Saint Body, jade skin!¡± The skin all over his body began to emit a jade glow that rapidly swirl on the surface of his body. The giant arc of sword light rapidly grew in his eyes, the sharp sword aura piercing thousands of holes on the shattered stone ground. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush. In the next instant, a shout abruptly rang out from his throat, ¡°Million Whale Rune!¡± The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand was forcefully swung, its night-black brush tip swinging straight at the giant arc of sword light. The silhouette of a giant whale seemed to appear around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as the cry of a whale echoed. Under the countless watching gazes, sword light and black brush tip crashed into each other. Boom! An enormous shockwave swept outwards, causing destruction in the surroundings. Sword light pulsed, as the mist rippled violently. Dust rose from the stone platform, as more and more cracks appeared. The entire stone platform had been split open. One could easily imagine how much destructive power had been let loose in the clash. Numerous disciples could not help but swallow at the sight of this scene. The strike from Wu Hai¡¯s sword was as fierce as could be, and yet, Zhou Yuan had not tried to avoid it, but instead taken it head-on. This was basically courting death! A mocking smile appeared from the corners of Lu Hong¡¯s lips. Looks like the first eliminee had finally appeared. Numerous gazes looked towards the rising dust in pity as the stone platform began to fall apart. Wu Hai stood in the air, arrogantly looking down from above as a sneer emerged on his face. The dust on the stone platform gradually dissipated. Next, the view of the platform finally became clear again. A figure holding a black brush silently stood on the broken remains of the platform. Jade light flowed on the surface of his body, as golden Genesis Qi swirled around him. *Uproar*! Upon seeing the completely unharmed figure, a torrential uproar rose outside the chief disciple peak. The faces of numerous disciples were filled with disbelief. Several of the more observant onlookers even realized that Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet had not even moved from the spot. In other words, he had not only received Wu Hai¡¯s strongest attack, but had even done so with extreme ease. The mockery on Lu Hong¡¯s lips turned rigid. In the sky, the expression on Wu Hai¡¯s face also solidified little by little. ¡°How is this possible¡­¡± On the stone platform, Zhou Yuan slightly relaxed his grip on the brush, neither panic nor alarm on his face as he lifted his head to gaze at Wu Hai with a slight frown. ¡°Was that your strongest attack?¡± He shook his head, his tone completely indifferent. ¡°Time for you to leave then¡­ stop wasting any more of my time.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 461 One Punch *Uproar*! To no one¡¯s surprise, a torrential uproar exploded outside the chief disciple peak the moment an unscathed Zhou Yuan appeared in the sights of the numerous watching gazes. Countless disciples were stupefied by the outcome that had clearly exceeded their expectations. Who could have thought that Wu Hai¡¯s full power would not only fail to defeat Zhou Yuan, but from the looks of it, not even pose any threat to the latter. Countless people mumbled, ¡°How can this be¡­¡± After a brief shock, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples finally returned to their senses and quickly erupted into thunderous cheers, numerous gazes looking towards Zhou Yuan in amazement. Just a second earlier, they had been preparing themselves to see Zhou Yuan become the first participant to be eliminated. Who could have expected such a twist towards the very end. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s tensed face slowly began to relax, gratification flooding his eyes as he gazed upon the unmoving figure on the shattered stone platform. In contrast to the celebratory mood on Shen Taiyuan¡¯s side, Lu Hong¡¯s faction had fallen chockingly silent. Many disciples looked at each other, a little unable to believe the sight before their eyes. Lu Hong¡¯s stern and frosty face turned extremely dark, iciness blossoming in his eyes when he looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. High up in the sky, Chu Qing immediately clapped when he saw this and said with a grin, ¡°Zhou Yuan has indeed concealed his abilities very deeply.¡± Kong Sheng frowned in silence for a moment, before he nonchalantly said, ¡°It¡¯s still a little early to make such an evaluation.¡± Chu Qing merely smiled, not commenting any further. Even higher up from them, six figures were seated on gigantic glowing lotuses, pulsing with power that made the surrounding area tremble faintly. Their gazes seemed to flow with images as they viewed fight after fight. Likewise, the situation on Zhou Yuan¡¯s side was also seen by them. ¡°Oh?¡± The first to make a noise was the peak master Gu of Hongya Peak. The bulging muscles on his well-built metal tower like body seemed to stir as if breathing, every breath they took accompanied by a muffled rumble from his body. If he was not purposely suppressing the sound at all times, even the surrounding space would begin to crumble under its might. This was one of the phenomenons that occured when one¡¯s physical body was cultivated to extremely terrifying levels. Hongya Peak specialized in external cultivation. As such, peak master Gu had the strongest physical body in the Cangxuan Sect. Light swirled within his eyes as he stared at the flowing jade light on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and remarked in surprise, ¡°This is¡­ the mythic jade skin?!¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­ the mythic jade skin will only appear from the Mythic Saint Body.¡± ¡°But why is it so similar¡­¡± Peak master Gu¡¯s surprised voice was naturally heard by the other five. Sect master Qing Yang also watched in amazement. The Mythic Saint Body was the one of the seven Cangxuan Sect arts that was unique to Hongya Peak. A purple sash disciple from Saint Genesis Peak such as Zhou Yuan should not have come into contact with it. Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun indifferently said, ¡°We¡¯ll find out once we call him over and question him.¡± Sect master Qing Yang shook his head. ¡°There is no need to distract him while the selection is still ongoing. Although his body has achieved the jade skin, it is not the true mythic jade skin¡­ if my guess is not wrong, he is practicing an external cultivation technique that was developed from the Mythic Saint Body.¡± Peak master Gu spoke up in a bewilderment, ¡°An external cultivation technique developed from the Mythic Saint Body? Such a technique does not exist even in Hongya Peak, how can he possibly have one?¡± To develop a Genesis technique from the Mythic Saint Body was obviously not something an ordinary disciple could achieve. Sect master Qing Yang chuckled and said, ¡°Of course Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t have done it¡­ the only one in the sect who has contact with the seven Cangxuan arts, and is even able to develop techniques from them is old Xuan, who currently resides deep in Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°Old Xuan¡­¡± Only then did peak master Gu understand. Everything made sense if it was him. Peak master Ling Jun frowned slightly. ¡°This is a little inappropriate of venerable old Xuan.¡± Peak master Liu Lianyi icily chuckled and said, ¡°You¡¯re worried that Zhou Yuan will become an unpredictable factor, which may affect your plans for Saint Genesis Peak, right?¡± Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s expression did not change, long accustomed to how peak master Liu Lianyi¡¯s always pitted herself against him on a daily basis. He looked towards Lightning Prison Peak master Lei Jun and said, ¡°Peak master Lei Jun oversees the rules and punishment in the sect. Do you feel that old Xuan¡¯s actions are out of line?¡± Peak master Lei Jun was dressed in his usual black robes, his stern face causing respect to rise in anyone who looked towards him. He answered in an indifferent voice, ¡°It is indeed a little out of line, but that blasted old man is as stubborn as a rock. If you feel that he has acted inappropriately, go ahead and tell him. My rules are likely unable to govern him.¡± Peak master Ling Jun could only helplessly shake his head. Old Xuan and peak master Lei Jun were the most senior members of the Cangxuan Sect. If even the latter had no way to deal with old Xuan, anyone else would only be wasting their saliva.¡± Sect master Qing Yang chuckled as he gently said, ¡°It is Zhou Yuan¡¯s luck to have obtained old Xuan¡¯s guidance. There is no need for us to interfere in this matter.¡± This basically meant the matter was settled, and there was no longer any need for the other peak masters to give their input. Peak master Gu stared at Zhou Yuan with interest as he commented, ¡°He should not have practiced any external cultivation techniques the last time I saw him. I never imagined he would achieve the jade skin stage so quickly¡­ it seems that he has a lot of potential in external cultivation. If he were in my Hongya Peak, there will likely be another Shang Chunqiu in a few years.¡± He had evidently grown fond of Zhou Yuan¡¯s potential. As for Shang Chunqiu, he was a disciple of Hongya Peak, and was ranked four among the ten great Chosens. Spirit Rune Peak master Bai Mei¡¯s lips curled downwards as she said, ¡°What¡¯s the point in training your arms and legs. The kid¡¯s talent in Genesis Runes is pretty good too, and he will obviously have a brighter future if he comes to Spirit Rune Peak.¡± Most importantly, if Zhou Yuan came to Spirit Rune Peak, Zhou Xiaoyao would surely follow. ¡°What do you know!¡± Peak master Gu¡¯s eyes bulged from their sockets as his muscles stirred agitatedly, causing thunder to boom in the surroundings. Old man Bai Mei¡¯s white brows drifted upwards. Just as he was about to retort, sect master Qing Yang raised his voice and said, ¡°Don¡¯t make a scene.¡± As such, the two could only snort before jerking their gazes away. ¡­ A sinister looking crack spread across the stone platform, practically splitting it into two. Jade light surged on the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, making him appear even more mystically handsome than usual. With the Heavenly Yuan Brush in hand, he calmly raised his head and looked towards the shocked Wu Hai in the air. The other party¡¯s previous attack had indeed been formidable, but unfortunately for the former, that Genesis Qi attack was incapable of doing any harm to Zhou Yuan when he activated the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Genesis Breaker. Wu Hai finally returned to his senses and immediately roared out in anger, ¡°Impossible! How did you do it!¡± However, Zhou Yuan ignored the questions as he shook his head and said, ¡°It seems that you don¡¯t have any intentions of leaving by yourself.¡± Wu Hai¡¯s expression darkened as he laughed loudly in anger. ¡°Don¡¯t be too pleased Zhou Yuan. No matter how tough your tortoise shell is, I only need to delay you and wait for my teammates to finish off the other two before coming back to support me. When that happens, let¡¯s see if you¡¯ll be able to withstand the attacks from all five of us!¡± After experiencing the cruel reality, he had no choice but to accept the facts. However, Wu Hai ultimately did not lose his rationality. Since he had no way to deal with Zhou Yuan, he would have to change tactics and delay the latter instead. In any case, they still had the absolute advantage. It was impossible for a single Zhou Yuan to change anything. Zhou Yuan did not say anything in response. Instead, his legs slowly slid outwards, while his body leaning forward like a cheetah that was about to pounce at its prey. It was an offensive stance. He was obviously about to make his move. Wu Hai¡¯s expression immediately turned serious, his hands tightening around the scarlet broadsword as Genesis Qi surged around his body. He did not dare to show any negligence. He no longer held any thoughts of washing away his previous shame with Zhou Yuan¡¯s defeat. As long as he managed to delay Zhou Yuan, there would naturally be an opportunity for revenge in the future. Thump! The ground under Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet suddenly collapsed. Jade lick flickered on his body as a terrifying power burst out like flood, flowing to his limbs and skeleton. It felt as if an angry dragon was roaring in his body. Swish! In the next instant, vigorous Genesis Qi also exploded in his body as his figure shot forth, leaving numerous after images behind as the ground rapidly shattered under his feet. He was indescribably quick, like a flash of light zipping through the air. In a single breath, he appeared within a hundred feet radius of Wu Hai. ¡°Heavenly Sword Wings!¡± Wu Hai¡¯s pupils tightened as Genesis Qi rushed out from his body, forming a pair of giant sword Qi wings on his back. The glowing sword Qi wings spread outwards, before wrapping around him like a shield. This was the strongest defensive technique he knew. He had failed to use it in their previous encounter due to being caught off guard, since he was prepared today, there was naturally no way he would allow a repeat of the last time. ¡°Humph, I¡¯d like to see if you are able to break my defense!¡± Wu Hai sneered. He was a hundred percent confident in himself this time. Swish! Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared in front of enormous glowing sword Qi wings like a bolt of lightning, before clenching his fist and throwing a punch. Jade light appeared on his fist, as if it were made from jade. ¡°Omni Python Qi, Heavenly Serpent Scales!¡± While he punched, a deep voice rang out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Ch ch! Scales emerged on his skin, covering his entire fist. The power of the punch began to rise once again, reaching completely new heights. This was the perfect combination of Zhou Yuan¡¯s little Mythic Saint Body and Omni Python Qi. Boom! Though his expression remained impassive, a sharp light surged in his eyes. A fist which contained extreme power blasted through air, ultimately smashing into the sword wings under the watching eyes of the crowd. THUD! An alarmingly loud noise echoed at the instant of impact. Storm like ripples unfurled, causing destruction all around. The stone platform below was unable to bear such power, swiftly disintegrating to dust. Countless gazes converged towards the place where fist met wing. Next, everyone¡¯s eyes violently shrank. Crack! Behind the fist, cracks had begun appearing on the sword wings at an astonishing pace, instantly covering the entire wings. Behind them, horror began to flood Wu Hai¡¯s face. Boom! A berserk without equal fist wind swept forth as the sword wings finally shattered, transforming into countless specks of light. The terrifying fist wind seemed to pierced through space itself, as a punch landed on the horrified Wu Hai¡¯s body. AHHH! A miserable shriek rang out. Wu Hai¡¯s body was forcefully blown out of the chief disciple peak, before crashing into another mountain, his entire body embedded into the rock. Boulders tumbled down as the mountain started to crumble. It was completely silent outside the chief disciple peak, numerous gazes watching this scene as if in a daze... Wu Hai¡­ had once again been sent flying by a single punch... Previous Chapte Chapter 462 First Victory Giant rocks continued to roll down from a certain mountain, where a figure was embedded deep into the side of a cliff. As the rocks fell, the figure was slowly buried... The entire place turned silent at this moment. Gaze after gaze blankly stared at this scene, unable to return to their senses for quite some time. Who could have imagined¡­ that even after such ample preparation, Wu Hai would still end up being sent flying by a single punch from Zhou Yuan... He may have been able to say he was caught off guard previously, but there was no longer any excuse for what happened this time. Wu Hai had clearly brought out his full defense, but it was still unable to block Zhou Yuan¡¯s unmatched punch. The power of this punch was something that many eighth layer disciples would not dare to underestimate. The silence lasted for a long time, before ultimately being broken by thunderous, earth-shaking cheers. With the exception of Lu Hong¡¯s disciples, the disciples from every other peak generously cheered their hearts out. Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory was just too damned breathtakingly beautiful. One must know that Zhou Yuan¡¯s odds had been lowest before the start of the chief disciple selection, with practically no one supporting him. In fact, several people even felt that he would be the first to be eliminated. However, the reality before their eyes caused everyone who had looked down on him to tightly shut their mouths at this moment. Fear and respect rose in the hearts of the crowd as they gazed upon the youthful figure standing amidst the rubble that was once a stone platform, While cheers filled the sky, Lu Hong¡¯s faction was deathly silent. Ugly expressions could be seen on the faces of numerous disciples. It was obvious that none of them had expected the first eliminee to come from their faction. At the very front, Lu Hong¡¯s face was akin to ominous black clouds. His eyebrows trembled, a sign that he was filled with rage inside. ¡°Useless trash!¡± In the end, Lu Hong could only curse through gnashed teeth, pouring all of his anger onto Wu Hai. This idiot had basically made him lose all face. Lu Hong icily looked towards Shen Taiyuan, finding that the latter was beaming brightly, unable to contain his joy. Upon detecting Lu Hong¡¯s gaze, Shen Taiyuan turned his head and responded with a carefree grin. Lu Hong let out an icy snort, before taking in a deep breath to suppress the anger in his heart. Although Wu Hai¡¯s defeat had been unexpected, the overall advantage was still with their side. Without mentioning Yuan Hong¡¯s side for the time being, the other four disciples alone were pretty much overwhelming the two participants from Lu Song¡¯s faction, and victory was only a matter of time. Once they were free to deal with Zhou Yuan, it will be a tall task for him to escape the fate of being eliminated regardless of how he struggled. Lu Hong cast a dark gaze at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, brimming with stern iciness. ¡°I¡¯ll let you celebrate for the moment¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll understand sooner or later that against my faction, you are merely akin to a mantis trying to stop a cart.¡± ¡°When the comes, you will naturally realize the meaning of despair!¡± ... High up in the sky, the scene of Zhou Yuan blasting away Wu Hai naturally landed in the eyes of the ten Chosens, immediately causing gasps of surprise to be heard. ¡°He¡­ seems to have grown stronger again.¡± Li Qingchan stared at Zhou Yuan in astonishment. As her gaze swept across Zhou Yuan¡¯s glowing body, she muttered, ¡°An external cultivation technique?¡± Nearby, the Hongya Peak¡¯s Shang Chunqiu was also staring intently at Zhou Yuan in amazement. As the Chosen of the Hongya Peak, he was naturally also a practitioner of the true Mythic Saint Body. Hence, the jade glow from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body felt a little familiar to him, while also puzzling him somewhat. Zhou Yuan was a disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, and it was impossible for him to have the qualifications to practice the Mythic Saint Body. So what was this external cultivation technique he had learnt? Seated at the very end, Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression was not looking too good. He clearly favored Lu Hong¡¯s faction, and also had a small grudge with Zhou Yuan due to the Heaven mission. Of course he did not wish for Zhou Yuan to fall under the limelight. ¡°Amazing¡­¡± Chu Qing sighed in admiration. ¡°Defeating even an eighth layer with the cultivation of the fourth layer. Junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations are even stronger than when I was at the fourth layer.¡± People like Chu Qing and the other Chosens were naturally able to fight opponents above their cultivation level. However, even they had not been as ferocious as Zhou Yuan when they were at the fourth layer. ¡°Junior brother Kong Sheng, it seems that my odds of winning the wager have increased.¡± Chu Qing grinned cheekily. Kong Sheng remained expressionless as he nonchalantly said, ¡°It is a little early for you to celebrate, a mere Zhou Yuan cannot affect the overall situation.¡± Although he had been somewhat surprised by how Zhou Yuan had overwhelmed Wu Hai, that was as far as it went, because Lu Hong¡¯s side still held the absolute advantage. Chu Qing rubbed his chin as he grinned, ¡°Then shall we add on to the wager!¡± Kong Sheng flatly said, ¡°Not interested. My only goal is to make you accept my challenge. Once I defeat you, there shall no longer be any reason for us to interact in the future.¡± Chu Qing sighed as he sadly said, ¡°Throwing me away after using me, you¡¯re too heartless. That¡¯s why I don¡¯t like playing with you, Ye Ge treats me so much better.¡± Li Qingchan and the other Chosens cringed slightly. Ye Ge shot an angry gaze over and said, ¡°Do you want to die Chu Qing, don¡¯t drag me into this.¡± Chu Qing revealed a dazzling smile and waved at Ye Ge. The veins on Kong Sheng¡¯s head twitched erratically, before he took in a deep breath and cast Chu Qing out of his mind, shifting his attention instead to the intense ongoing battles in the seven chief disciple peaks. ... On the crumbled remains of the stone stage, Zhou Yuan looked in the direction Wu Hai had flown away in. He lightly exhaled as the jade light on his body slowly withdrew. He could feel countless gazes on him, but did not feel pleased with himself at all, because he clearly understood that this was only the beginning. Lu Hong¡¯s faction was still at an overwhelming advantage. Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself, ¡°I wonder how senior brother Zhou Tai and the rest are doing.¡± Theirs was the most important battle. If even the three of them joining forces failed to defeat Yuan Hong, the latter would really be a little too shockingly powerful. However, he did not need to think about such things for the time being. Regardless of the situation over there, he had to make use of this opportunity to eliminate the four other participants from Lu Hong¡¯s faction. If they were allowed to join up with Yuan Hong, his chances of obtaining the chief disciple position would become abysmally small. ¡°Four left¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he lifted his head to peer into the distant mists. He could sense some Genesis Qi undulations far away, which likely originated from Han Yan, Han Yu and the rest. ¡°Since the other side has superior numbers, I should first make some preparations.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. Soon after, his toes pushed off the ground as his figure soared into the sky like a great peng, and swiftly disappeared into the mist. To him, only now did the chief disciple selection truly begin. Previous Chapte Chapter 463 Three Lef Boom! Streams of berserk Genesis Qi collided on a misty stone stage. At the instant of impact, one of the Genesis Qi streams was barbarically torn apart, while the figure behind was swept away by the remnant force. The figure was sent flying while vomiting blood, leaving a long mark on the ground as he slid across the stone stage. He was clearly in an exceptionally sorry state. ¡°Heh heh, Han Yan, is that all you have?¡± A participant from Lu Hong¡¯s faction sneered as he sent out a bunch. Genesis Qi surged and roared, shredding through the air with a shrill noise as it viciously blasted towards the figure. Han Yan rolled to his feet as he hastily crossed his arms in front of him, while Genesis Qi poured out to protect his body. Thump! The blast struck his arms, causing his body to jerk violently, as his entire body was sent sliding backwards once again. His arms looked somewhat twisted, a sign that he had clearly sustained heavy injuries. Urgh Yet another mouthful of blood hurled out from his mouth. Han Yan¡¯s face was covered in blood, but he merely wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth without a word, a fierce glint still shining in his eyes as he glared at the two figures to his front. They were the two participants from Lu Hong¡¯s faction. Up against two opponents, it was obvious that he had soon fallen into a disadvantage. The two disciples from Lu Hong¡¯s faction stared at Han Yan like cats toying with a mouse. It was impossible for someone like him to contend against the two of them alone. While Han Yan was wiping away the blood on his face, another figure landed behind him, and stumbled to his side. The petite little figure naturally belonged to Han Yu. However, she was currently not in a much better state than Han Yan. The other two disciples from Lu Hong¡¯s faction grinned from ear to ear as they moved to surround the two siblings, ensuring that they would not be able to escape. Han Yan gazed at Han Yu and asked with a bitter smile, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Han Yu gritted her teeth and shook her head. ¡°Looks like the two of alone won¡¯t be able to stop the four of them.¡± Han Yan sighed. Both of them had done their best, but the outcome was evidently not as good as expected. ¡°Let¡¯s persevere a little longer. Zhou Yuan is dueling with Wu Hai, and I heard that he previously defeated the latter before. If he attains victory again this time, he will be able to come to our aid. When that happens, a three versus four scenario will be much easier than now.¡± Han Yu shook her head when she heard this, her lips curling as she said, ¡°You¡¯re placing your hopes on him? Zhou Yuan only managed to defeat Wu Hai previously because the latter was careless, and would definitely not give Zhou Yuan the same chance in a match like this. So stop deluding yourself that we¡¯ll eventually receive support.¡± Han Yan was a little speechless, a pained look visible on his face. In the end, he took in a deep breath and said, ¡°I¡¯ll force open a gap for you, while you will run as fast as you can. Don¡¯t try and take them on directly, and delay them as long as you can.¡± Han Yu bit her lips, her eyes filled with unwillingness. She knew that Han Yan would likely immediately come under focus fire when he did so. When that happened, he would not only suffer more, but also be eliminated. ¡°You¡¯re faster than me, and more suited to delaying them. It¡¯s decided then.¡± Han Yan waved his hand, his tone firm. Han Yu gritted her teeth even harder as she reluctantly nodded. Boom! Vigorous Genesis Qi zoomed out from the top of Han Yan¡¯s head, reaching nearly a thousand feet. It quickly split into four torrents that transformed into glowing Genesis Qi seals and whizzed towards the four figures. This was basically an all or nothing attack. He had squeezed out every drop of power he had left, making it an especially ferocious sight. Hence, even Lu Hong¡¯s four disciples were a little taken aback. Genesis Qi rose around them, accompanied by sharp whistles as they met the attack head on. Rumble! While the Genesis Qi collided, Han Yan sternly shouted, ¡°Go!¡± Han Yu did not dare to waste the opportunity Han Yan had given everything to create. Genesis Qi surged as her figure transformed into a blur that swiftly shot forth. Bzzbzz! The four torrents of Genesis Qi only lasted for a few dozen breaths, before Han Yan¡¯s Genesis Qi shattered. Follow up attacks rapidly arrived, blasting onto his body. The stone stage crumbled, burying Han Yan¡¯s figure in the rubble. He violently spat out mouthfuls of blood, evidently gravely injured and very close to being eliminated. Han Yu¡¯s eyes turned red when she saw this from the corner of her eye. However, she did not dare to pause, Genesis Qi throttling even harder in her body as she raised her speed to the limits. However, just as she was about to dash into the mist, Genesis Qi rippled in front of her and a figure appeared like a phantom, blocking her path. An ice-cold mocking laughter was transmitted into her ears, ¡°You¡¯re pretty quick, but unfortunately not as quick as me!¡± The figure was revealed to be one of the four participants from Lu Hong¡¯s faction. He smiled coldly as he stared at Han Yu, while his figure rapidly closed in like a phantom. A hand reached out like an eagle¡¯s claw, sinister sword aura flowing upon it as it grabbed Han Yu¡¯s throat. Han Yu¡¯s body turned rigid, as she gritted her teeth and viciously glared at the person before her. However, powerlessness and disappointment also appeared in her eyes. ¡°Still not going to admit defeat? Although I won¡¯t destroy a flower like you, if you really force my hand, it won¡¯t end well for you either.¡± The disciple said with a wide grin. In the distance, the other three disciples also laughed mockingly when they saw this. They turned towards the heavily injured Han Yin in the rubble and said, ¡°Hoping to stall the four of us with just the two of you? Aren¡¯t you guys looking down on us too much?¡± Han Yan¡¯s body was drenched in blood as he powerlessly lay on the ground. He could only let out a bitter laugh when he saw the now captured Han Yu. They had already done their best. He hoped that senior sister Lu Yan and the rest had managed to defeat Yuan Hong by now... Outside the chief disciple peak, numerous disciples burst out in to noise when they saw that Han Yan and Han Yu had been captured. Lu Song¡¯s disciples had ugly looks on their faces, while elder Lu Song was frowning. Though he had long anticipated this result, Lu Hong¡¯s disciples were going a little overboard. In contrast, Lu Hong¡¯s faction were loudly cheering, the awkward and stifling atmosphere from before due to Wu Hai¡¯s defeat had been swept away completely. They knew that once these four senior brothers were free, Zhou Yuan will no longer be able to make any splashes. All of the face their faction lost previously would definitely be taken back from Zhou Yuan later on. Lu Hong¡¯s stern and frosty expression eased slightly at this moment. His gaze turned towards the other two factions as he let out an icy chuckle. ... ¡°Concede junior sister Han Yu.¡± The disciple from Lu Hong¡¯s faction smiled as he stared at the unresigned Han Yu, before he playfully said, ¡°Junior sister Han Yu may commit my name to memory. I am Chen Gong, and I welcome junior sister to come seek guidance from me any time if you¡¯re unwilling to accept this defeat.¡± ¡°However, there¡¯s no time for such things now¡­¡± Genesis Qi frantically gathered on his other hand. In the end, he threw a punch, clearly intending on first seriously injuring Han Yu to cripple her battle power. As Han Yu gazed at the incoming attack, she closed her eyes in despair. Boom! However, just as Chen Gong¡¯s blow was about to hit his target, his brows suddenly furrowed slightly. He seemed to have heard the faint sound of rushing wind. The sound was extremely faint, but a split second later, it suddenly exploded like thunder above him. The mist above was abruptly torn open. An ethereal figure swiftly descended, vigorous Genesis Qi erupting as jade light flowed on its body. The figure pulsed with terrifying power, ramming into Chen Gong¡¯s body before he could come back to his senses like a swift and deadly thunderbolt. Swish! Everyone could only watch as Chen Gong¡¯s figure fell from the sky like a cannonball. He was ultimately stomped into the stone stage, causing dust to rise as the entire stage slowly began to crack open. This scene instantly gave rise to thunderous cries of alarm. On the stone stage, the expressions of the other three disciples from Lu Hong¡¯s faction changed rapidly. Genesis Qi drummed through the air, blowing away the dust. Next, they saw Chen Gong¡¯s body lying amidst the rubble in a very sorry state indeed. A figure was stepping on Chen Gong¡¯s body. Gaze after gaze looked over, only to be startled. The three disciples from Lu Hong¡¯s faction cried out in unison, ¡°Zhou Yuan?!¡± In the air, Han Yu was still a little dazed. All she had seen previously was a blur from the corner of her eye, before Chen Gong was sent hurtling downwards... She slowly lowered her head, and saw the youthful figure stepping on Chen Gong¡¯s body below. Her mouth hung slightly ajar as she mumbled to herself in disbelief, ¡°...Zhou Yuan?¡± She never imagined that Zhou Yuan would be the one to appear at the final juncture to save her. ¡°Zhou Yuan, get off him!¡± The three disciples angrily shouted, the rising Genesis Qi around them locking onto Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan paid no heed to them. He merely lowered his head to gaze at Chen Gong. The latter¡¯s entire face was a bloody mess, but he still managed to viciously stare at the former and roar, ¡°You dare to attack me from behind! You¡¯re dead meat!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s chuckled, before he raised his leg with an indifferent look in his eyes. ¡°You should also remember my name¡­ if there¡¯s time in the future, feel free to come to me for some guidance.¡± Next, Genesis Qi swirled around his foot as he ruthlessly stomped at Chen Gong¡¯s face. Thud! The ground below shattered as Chen Gong was directly knocked unconsciously. The faces of the three disciples nearby turned ashen. Zhou Yuan patted his hands together as he lifted his head and grinned at them. ¡°Three left...¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 464 Gradually Turning the Tables Outside the chief disciple peak, countless individuals were dumbstruck as they stared at the young figure standing on Chen Gong¡¯s body, unable to stop themselves from swallowing repeatedly. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to suddenly appear at this juncture. In that split second earlier, his falling figure had been akin to an almighty god descending onto the mortal realm. Phew. At the sight of this scene, Shen Taiyuan silently breathed a sigh of relief. If Han Yu had also been eliminated, Zhou Yuan would have to face four opponents by himself, which was undoubtedly a very disadvantageous scenario. Zhou Yuan¡¯s sneak attack had been both extremely decisive and swift as thunder. He had struck at the most timing, leaving Chen Gong almost no time to respond. As a result, the attack had been overwhelmingly successful, resulting in the latter being knocked unconscious and eliminated. There was naturally no one who would fault Zhou Yuan for his sneak attack in a battle like this. The other party had the numbers advantage after all, and choosing to take them on directly would only be foolish. ¡°Him again!¡± Lu Hong¡¯s expression darkened. The two disciples from Lu Song¡¯s faction had been moments away from being eliminated, but Zhou Yuan just had to barge in and make a mess. Lu Hong needed no reminder about how vile this felt. He did not know why, but Lu Hong kept feeling that when the situation looked to be headed towards certain victory, Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance would somehow tilt things a little off course. ¡°Tch, how can it be? Does he think he can reverse the situation with his abilities? Who the hell does he think he is?!¡± However, such thoughts were immediately thrown out by Lu Hong as he snorted disdainfully. It was clearly impossible for him to admit that Zhou Yuan possessed such capabilities. In the face of the absolute advantage they had, Zhou Yuan was merely akin to a mantis trying to push a cart! ¡°Humph, I¡¯ll let you be happy for now. When my faction becomes the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak, I will naturally make all of you suffer.¡± With a stormy look on his face, Lu Hong began to think of how he would repay these debts in the future. Once they became the master faction, his status would be the highest in Saint Genesis Peak. When that happened, it would be an easy matter for him to cut and shrink the cultivation resources of the other two factions. He was already itching to find out what Zhou Yuan could do without the support of sufficient cultivation resources. Humph. So what if you¡¯re a genius, I¡¯ll make you understand that if you chose the wrong team, even a genius will end up as a dusty pearl that will never see the light of day! ... On the stone stage. The three disciples from Lu Hong¡¯s faction stared at Zhou Yuan with ugly expressions. Soon after, they took in a deep breath as a serious look gradually emerged in their eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden appearance had indeed been out of their expectations. The first to speak was a disciple called Chu Yang, whose strength was second only to Yuan Hong in Lu Hong¡¯s faction. He darkly stared at Zhou Yuan as he demanded in a low voice, ¡°Where¡¯s Wu Hai?¡± Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at the unconscious Chen Gong, before lifting his head and replying in an offhand manner, ¡°Eliminated.¡± The pupils of the Chu Yang trio shrank slightly. Wu Hai was not weaker than them, and yet he had fallen so quickly by Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands? They knew full well that after being defeated by Zhou Yuan previously, Wu Hai would definitely not underestimate his opponent this time. In other words, Zhou Yuan had beaten Wu Hai in a direct clash. If so, they could not afford to underestimate him either. A petite figure landed beside Zhou Yuan, as Han Yu cast a complicated glance at him. She had likewise not expected that the one to save her would be the same person she had zero expectations since the beginning. Zhou Yuan did a quick sweep of her and asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Han Yu nodded. ¡°I can still fight.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, before casting a glance at the unconscious Han Yan. Due to the heavy injuries he had sustained, he was basically out of the fight. Han Yu hesitated for a moment, before she asked, ¡°What do we do next?¡± Zhou Yuan had dealt Wu Hai and crushed Chen Gong in the blink of an eye, saving her in the process. Han Yu obviously no longer dared to show the same neglect towards him. ¡°What else can we do¡­ we¡¯ll fight.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Although Han Yan had been eliminated, the odds were slowly turning in their favor. After all, there were only three participants left on the other side. ¡°What big words!¡± Chu Yang could not help but let out an icy laugh upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. ¡°Though I do not know how you defeated Wu Hai, we will not make the same mistake.¡± ¡°Junior brother Zhu Qing, you deal with Han Yu, while junior brother Liu Xiang and I will work together to finish off Zhou Yuan!¡± Said Chu Yang in a low voice. The truth was that he had already felt their advantage being slowly nibbled away, all because they had underestimated Zhou Yuan. If they had left two more people behind with Wu Hai previously, Zhou Yuan would have likely been eliminated long ago. Hence, he no longer had any intentions of taking on Zhou Yuan alone. What they needed to do now was to concentrate their forces, and expel this uncertainty factor called Zhou Yuan from the chief disciple peak. The other two nodded, as they carefully watched Zhou Yuan and Han Yu. Worry rose in Han Yu¡¯s eyes as she softly said, ¡°The two of them have trained together for many years, and are extremely compatible in both Genesis Qi and Genesis techniques. Their teamwork will likely be flawless, making them very challenging to deal with. Will you be okay?¡± Though Zhou Yuan had defeated Wu Hai, neither Chu Yang nor Liu Xiang was weather than the former. Most importantly, they were especially good at joint attacks, and their combined might would surely be greater than the sum of their parts. Zhou Yuan merely smiled when he heard this, before he said to Han Yu, ¡°You should be careful. If you¡¯re no match for your opponent, just try to stall for time.¡± As his voice faded, his figure had already dashed away. Chu Yang and Liu Xiang let out an icy chuckle when they saw this. Their figures also shot forward a split second later, chasing Zhou Yuan. Han Yu watched the three figures disappear into the mist as the expression in her eyes grew increasingly complicated. By drawing away the strongest two, he had undoubtedly eased the pressure on her. ¡°Zhou Yuan, please persevere a little longer. When I¡¯m done here, I¡¯ll go help you straight away!¡± A solemn look filled her eyes. As she stared at the remaining disciple, Genesis Qi began to rise around her body. ... ¡°Wow, he¡¯s quite the bold one. To think that he would dare to face the two of them alone.¡± High up in the sky, Chu Qing could not help but chuckle in surprise when he saw the scene of Zhou Yuan drawing away the two disciples. ¡°He¡¯s merely a reckless fool.¡± Remarked Kong Sheng in an indifferent manner. He had heard of Chu Yang and Liu Xiang before. They seemed to have an extremely good relationship ever since joining the sect. Hence, their teamwork had always been exceptional when paired together. With the two of them joining hands against Zhou Yuan, there would naturally no longer be any variables. Chu Qing lazily said with a smile, ¡°Junior brother Kong Sheng, haven¡¯t you realized that the five disciples from Lu Hong¡¯s side are gradually losing their initial advantage?¡± Kong Sheng was silent. How could he not have realized that what was originally an absolute advantage of five disciples was now reduced due to two being eliminated. In contrast, only one participant from the other two factions had been eliminated. All of this was because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s existence... If Zhou Yuan really managed to deal with the Chu Yang duo, Lu Hong¡¯s entire team, with the exception of Yuan Hong, would essentially have been singlehandedly wiped out by Zhou Yuan... Just what kind of achievement would this be? Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Moments later, he slowly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, against the combined might of Chu Yang and Liu Xiang, he will definitely be hard pressed this time!¡± As long as Chu Yang and Liu Xiang did not underestimate their opponent, it will not be easy for Zhou Yuan to take on the two of them by himself! Chu Qing stared at the misty chief disciple peak as he placed a knuckle beneath his chin and chuckled. ¡°We shall wait and see.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 465 Reversal Mist swirled around a giant mountain. Ch! The mist was suddenly torn apart as a glowing figure shot out. Two glowing figures were right on his heels, surging Genesis Qi pulsing outwards to scatter the nearby mist. The figure at the front was naturally Zhou Yuan. While the two chasing him were Chu Yang and Liu Xiang from Lu Hong¡¯s faction. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± Zhou Yuan cast a quick glance behind him as he suddenly tightened his grip. The Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s snow-white hairs instantly took on a deep black luster, making it appear exceptionally mysterious. Swish! The brush shot forth as the surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly converged towards it, transforming into a thousand feet long tail of light. In the end, the brush pulsed with extreme sharpness as it thrust towards Chu Yang like a bolt of lightning. Chu Yang¡¯s eyes widened slightly as his hands formed a seal, causing a pillar of Genesis Qi light to dash out from the top of his head. The silhouette of a sword cried out from within the pillar, before moving to meet the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Clang! The sound of metal on metal rang out, the sound wave blasting apart the nearby cliff walls. The sword silhouette was a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. For the sake of this chief disciple selection, Lu Hong¡¯s preparations had been perfect, even giving each of the participants a treasure like a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. However, it was after all only a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon, and there was still some disparity between it and the low grade Heaven tier Heavenly Yuan Brush. As a result, the sword was knocked away after the clash. In addition, when the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s deep black tip swept past, it tore apart the Genesis Qi around the sword. After pushing aside the sword, the brush once again began to draw in the surrounding Genesis Qi as if it had a mind of its own, before darting towards Chu Yang like lightning. However, when it was dozen feet from Chu Yang, another sword shot over and collided with the brush. It was Liu Xiang this time, also using a quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapon. The brief obstruction allowed the other sword to recover and return to the fray. As the weapons clashed, earth-shaking Genesis Qi explosions occurred. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan beckoned with his hand, causing the Heavenly Yuan Brush to return. As it landed in his hand, he frowned slightly while gazing at Chu Yang and Lui Xiang, who were only ten steps away. Their teamwork was indeed very solid. Moreover, they were extremely cautious, and refused to split up. Both attacking and defending were done with great coordination, and even while defending, their sharp eyes would constantly search for an opening. Once found, they would commit to a joint attack without any hesitation. This was quite a problem for Zhou Yuan. His gaze flickered in thought. Soon after, his speed suddenly increased as he dashed into the mist. Behind him, Chu Yang and Liu Xiang let out an icy chuckle, before quickly giving chase. They had also realized that Zhou Yuan seemed to be quite powerless in the face of their formidable teamwork. As long as they continued to maintain their vigilance while finding an opening, there would eventually come a chance for them to defeat this foe. Hence, the three figures ended up shuttling through the mist at lightning quick speeds, fighting then pausing, then fighting again. Even so, anyone could tell that Zhou Yuan seemed to be quite powerless in the face of the formidable duo¡¯s teamwork, unable to achieve the same overwhelming effect he had previously. ¡°Looks like Zhou Yuan has finally kicked an iron plate¡­¡± ¡°The Chu Yang duo are really smart. If this continues, it will only be a matter of time before Zhou Yuan breaks. Once he shows an opening, the Chu Yang duo will surely strike like thunder.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal, Zhou Yuan is at most equal to either of them in strength. As long as he¡¯s not given the chance to take them by surprise, how can he possibly achieve anything in a one versus two scenario?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Numerous disciples whispered outside the chief disciple peak, feeling that it was such a pity for Zhou Yuan. Looks like this was where the furthest the dark horse Zhou Yuan could go. When elder Lu Hong, who was closely watching at all times, saw this, a cold smile appeared on his face as he said, ¡°Brat, this is the end of the road for you.¡± ¡­ Swish! Swish! Three figures zipped past in the mist at lightning quick speeds, one a little to the front, while the other two were right on his heels. Chu Yang¡¯s gaze was locked on to Zhou Yuan as a voice wrapped in Genesis Qi was transmitted into his ears, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you currently resemble a stray dog that has lost its home.¡± However, the figure in front did not appear to be the least bit affected by such taunting, instead fully focused on dashing forward. The mockery that hung from the corners of Chu Yang¡¯s lips grew even greater. He turned his head to the side to exchange a look with Liu Xiang, as both of them increased their speed. They intended to be right on Zhou Yuan¡¯s tail till the end. Swoosh! Their figures charged into the mist once again. At that very instant, however, they suddenly felt a strange disturbance from the surrounding Genesis Qi. Mist began to swirl around them as the scenery rapidly changed. In the process, the two of them lost sight of each other¡¯s figures. ¡°A Genesis Rune Boundary?!¡± Chu Yang¡¯s expression immediately changed. This was clearly a Genesis Rune Boundary! His expression turned somewhat ugly. That crafty Zhou Yuan! He had made it seem as if he was fleeing, but it turns out that he had in prepared a trap and was merely luring them into it! Rumble! Extremely berserk Genesis Qi rapidly began to converge as lightning and fire surged out from nowhere, looming towards him from all directions. Chu Yang¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed as a thousand foot pillar of Genesis Qi soared into the sky. The pillar blocked the lightning and fire as a sword shadow dashed forward and viciously slashed at the space in front of him. Ch! It was as if space itself had been torn open, revealing a crack that Chu Yang¡¯s figure swiftly flew towards. Once he was out, the surrounding Genesis Qi returned to normal as the familiar mist appeared once more. Chu Yang breathed a sigh of relief. Looks like he had managed to break out of the Genesis Rune Boundary. The trap Zhou Yuan had set turned out to be rather frail. ¡°Liu Xiang?¡± However, he suddenly realized that something was amiss a split second later and violently turned his head around. The mist was churning wildly behind him, thunder rumbling and fire cackling madly, while he could just make out a silhouette trapped deep within. It clearly was Liu Xiang. It turns out that the boundary¡¯s power was focused on Liu Xiang, hence why Chu Yang had managed to escape so easily. ¡°You¡¯re finally alone.¡± A calm voice echoed from in front of him. Chu Yang raised his head with a dark expression, only to find Zhou Yuan standing in the air, his emotionless eyes glued to the former. He had set-up this Genesis Rune Boundary after defeating Wu Hai earlier with the intention of utilizing it to limit the numbers advantage the other side possessed. Chu Yang glanced at the Genesis Rune Boundary behind him as he sneered and said, ¡°Do you really believe your boundary will hold Liu Xiang for long?¡± He clearly understood Liu Xiang¡¯s strength, and although the boundary was no pushover, Liu Xiang should soon be able to free himself. Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Though it will not last for too long¡­ it is enough to deal with you.¡± Bzz! His figure shot forward the instant the final word was said. Jade light surfaced on his body, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand buzzing as its snow-white hairs rapidly turned pitch-black. ¡°Million Whale Rune!¡± ¡°Heavenly Serpent Scales!¡± The silhouette of a giant whale appeared above the brush as scales quickly grew on Zhou Yuan¡¯s glowing skin. Dreadful energies surged. Zhou Yuan was holding nothing back in this attack. As the brush was swung downwards, the mountain below split apart. Chu Yang¡¯s expression turned exceedingly grave at this moment, clearly sensing the terrifying power in Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack. He did not dare to waste any time. A sword slowly rose as he grasped it in his hand. The blade of the sword was as thin as a cicada''s wing, gleaming icily under the light in an eerie manner. ¡°Low grade Heaven Genesis technique, Heavenly River of Swords!¡± Genesis Qi whizzed out as the surface of the sword seemed to swirl, turning it into a torrential river of sword Qi. The river ferociously charged into the sky, smashing mercilessly into the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Chu Yang was clearly using his full power too. Clang! Two frightening attacks collided, causing a wave of destruction to unfurl. The nearby mountain tops were instantly destroyed, rocks blasting in every direction. Bang! The river of sword Qi was smashed to pieces by the brush, the sword letting out a miserable wail as it was sent flying. Urgh! Chu Yang was also caught in the aftershocks, his face turning pale as he vomited a mouthful of blood. His figure was tumbled through the air, while a horrified look filled his eyes. When Zhou Yuan displayed his true power, Chu Yang finally understood how terrifying the former was. It was no wonder that Wu Hai had been defeated. Swish! However, while Chu Yang¡¯s figure was still hurtling through the air, Zhou Yuan appeared in front of him like a phantom. The latter¡¯s cheeks abruptly ballooned, as a low voice quickly followed. ¡°Heavenly Sun Flame!¡± Azure flames shot out, spouting towards Chu Yang along with a dreadful heat. Chu Yang¡¯s expression rapidly changed when he felt the intense heat from the azure flames. He had no time to bother with the injuries he had just sustained as he hurriedly began circulating his Genesis Qi. Chilling sword aura poured out and clashed with the azure flames. Ch ch! As the two forces clashed, the space around seemed to distort. Flames suddenly emerged on the mountain below them, melting even the solid rock. ¡°Blasted!¡± Chu Qing¡¯s complexion was an ugly shade of ash gray. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attacks were both relentless and ferocious, forcing the former into such a miserable position after a brief exchange. ¡°I can¡¯t face him directly, but stall for time instead. Liu Xiang will soon break free from the Genesis Rune Boundary. I need to hang on till he¡¯s done so we can join forces and reverse this situation!¡± With such thoughts in mind, Chu Yang took in a deep breath as the Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling began to shake one after another. Vigorous Genesis Qi streamed out, swiftly leaving his body to defend against the encroaching azure flames. However, while the chilling sword Qi was doing it best to push back against the azure flames, an arm suddenly reached out from behind the flames. Scales gleamed on the arm as it grabbed at him. Sword Qi ripped through the air, but only managed to tear off a few of the scales. Jade light quickly appeared beneath the scales, blocking the sword Qi. The five fingers at the end of the arm clenched tightly as it punched through the Genesis Qi, accompanied by a sonic boom as it rapidly enlarged in Chu Yang¡¯s pupils. Layer after layer of Genesis Qi defenses were shattered one after another. Thump! Chu Yang was basically unable to do anything else as the fist filled with frightening power slammed into his chest. Urgh! Chu Yang wildly vomited a mouthful of blood, his complexion deathly pale and his eyes seemingly frozen in place as he stared straight ahead. The azure flames slowly retreated, revealing the slim figure standing within. ¡°See, didn¡¯t I say that there¡¯s enough time.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head, displaying a dazzling smile as he looked at Chu Yang. Chu Yang¡¯s face was filled with agony, and his heart filled with regret. Zhou Yuan was far too cunning and crafty. They should have sent the majority of their forces after him from the beginning to expel him from the selection as quickly as possible. Unfortunately¡­ the overwhelming advantage they had was already lost. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­ don¡¯t be too happy. So what if you manage to beat us? You¡¯ll never be able to get past senior brother Yuan Hong!¡± ¡°None of you will never be his match!¡± Chu Yang held Zhou Yuan¡¯s wrist in a death grip, as a mocking smile flowed out from the corners of his mouth. In the end, his eyelids slowly fell, falling unconscious due to his heavy injuries. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes remained indifferent as he grabbed Chu Yang and lifted him up. ¡°It is too early for you to say whether or not I¡¯ll get past him.¡± ¡­ Boom! On the stone stage, the Genesis Rune Boundary suddenly exploded. A figure flew out from within, revealing himself to be Liu Xiang. He charged out of the boundary, accompanied by a stern roar, ¡°Zhou Yuan, did you really think a mere boundary can stop me?¡± He raised his head and looked to the front, only for his pupils to abruptly shrink. A figure was seated on the edge of a cliff, his legs hanging off the edge, while a black brush leaned against his shoulder, its snow-white brush hairs dangling from its tip like white chains. At the end of the brush hairs was a pitiful looking bounded figure. It was impossible to ascertain if he was dead or alive at a single glance. Chu Yang! The young figure seated on the cliff slightly lowered his head, calm indifference in his eyes as he gazed at Liu Xiang, who had just managed to break out from the boundary. The figure slowly stood up, casually flinging the bounded Chu Yang to the side as he looked down upon Liu Xiang from above. ¡°Finally out?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re out, get ready to accompany your senior brother.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 466 Who is Finished? The battle with Liu Xiang was surprisingly quick. Fear had rapidly taken root in him when he realized that Chu Yang had been defeated in such a short span of time. As such, it did not take long for Zhou Yuan to utterly crush the former. In the end, Chu Yang was eliminated due to serious injuries. Zhou Yuan was seated on the crumbled remains of a mountain top, the Heavenly Yuan Brush sticking out from the ground in front of him. Its snow-white brush hairs flowed from the tip of the brush, hanging over the cliff like white chains. At the ends of the chains were two unconscious heavily injured figures. Chu Yang and Liu Xiang. In contrast to the aggressive manner in which they had chased down Zhou Yuan earlier, the two were now clearly experiencing what it was truly like to be stray dogs that had lost their homes. Zhou Yuan was in no hurry to leave after dealing with the Chu Yang duo. He had just been through three intensive battles in quick succession, and they had been highly taxing on his Genesis Qi. If not for his variant blood-red Qi Dwelling that boasted abundant Genesis Qi and recovery abilities beyond the norm, these three battles would have sucked him dry. Huu. The sound of breathing emerged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose, gradually growing louder and louder as the faint roar of a dragon echoed in accompaniment. The Dragon Breathing technique! The surrounding Genesis Qi transformed into surging white mist, before being further condensed into white threads that were swallowed into his body one after another. The threads were quickly refined in his body, and then cast into his Qi Dwelling. As he felt the slowly replenishing Genesis Qi in his body, Zhou Yuan lifted his head to gaze at the top of the misty chief disciple peak. With the exception of Yuan Hong, Lu Hong¡¯s entire team had basically been wiped out. However, there was one thing Chu Yang had been right about. At the end of the day, they were merely the side dishes. The true trump card of Lu Hong¡¯s faction was still the immeasurable Yuan Hong. ¡°I wonder how senior brother Zhou Tai and the rest are doing¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. However, he soon pushed away such thoughts. He needed to first recover to his peak condition, and then finish off the final participant besides Yuan Hong. As for Yuan Hong, if he was really so formidable, they would eventually meet in the end. ¡­ While Zhou Yuan was recovering his Genesis Qi, he was unaware of how his elimination of the Chu Yang and Liu Xiang duo was already causing giant waves outside the chief disciple peak. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to have secretly prepared a Genesis Rune Boundary in advance, lure the duo in, split them up, and then defeat them individually. Such strength and tactics had finally forced everyone to begin viewing him as a serious contender. Outside the chief disciple peak. A seemingly endless uproar was still sweeping back and forth. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples had excited looks on their faces as they continuously whispered to each other, admiration rising in their eyes when they looked towards the recovering figure in the chief disciple peak. Zhou Yuan had defeated four of the participants from Lu Hong¡¯s faction in a row¡­ an achievement that was simply breathtaking. In the very beginning, there had been no lack of individuals among them who were critical of Zhou Yuan¡¯s participation. After all, Zhou Yuan did feel somewhat lacking in experience and maturity in comparison to several of the more seasoned purple ash disciples. But by this point, such skepticism and doubts had already completely faded away. Yaoyao was elegantly seated on a rock by the cliffside with Tuntun lying on her lap. Her bright eyes would occasionally look towards a certain figure in the chief disciple peak, as her red lips curled just an eensy little bit. It had already been a year since Zhou Yuan first arrived at the Cangxuan Sect. Over this year, he had clearly grown at an astonishing rate. The young man who had walked out from the Great Zhou Empire back then had finally begun to find the light that belonged solely to himself, and allowed it to blossom, becoming a dazzling sight that drew everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡­ In contrast to the atmosphere of excitement hanging over Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s disciples, Lu Hong¡¯s disciples had fallen into a stifling silence. Disciple after disciple wore ugly expressions, while also stuck in deep disbelief. Who amongst them had ever taken Zhou Yuan seriously over the greater part of the year? And yet, it was this very person who had single handedly forced their team into such an awkward and embarrassing position. Black, ominous storm clouds hung over Lu Hong¡¯s elderly face, making it easy for anyone to see just how furious he was. The surrounding disciples stealthily made themselves scarce, praying hard that he would not take any notice of them. Lu Hong took in two deep breaths, suppressing the boiling rage in his heart and trying his best to make sure he did not appear overly affected. By now, even he had no choice but to admit that the newcomer he had always looked down on, had somehow unknowingly grown to this level... If they waited another year, Lu Hong would really be worried about the chief disciple position. Fortunately, the heavens were ultimately standing on his side, allowing the chief disciple selection to begin this year instead¡­ ¡­ The numerous disciples, Shen Taiyuan, Lu Hong, and the other elders were not the only ones who were closely following the situation here. In fact, even sect master Qing Yang and the other five hegemons at the highest spot in the sky had already discovered the current situation. Sect master Qing Yang sighed and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is truly a good sapling. He has a high chance to become a Chosen in the future.¡± Every Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect was the culmination of a tremendous amount of effort and grooming, and could be said to be the future backbones of the sect. As such, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s assessment was high praise indeed. The other hegemons faintly nodded in agreement. Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi cast a sideway glance at peak master Ling Jun as she said, ¡°Looks like someone is going to become a little nervous.¡± Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s handsome face was impassive. He swept a glance at the distant chief disciple peak and calmly said, ¡°He is indeed rather talented. Unfortunately, this year¡¯s chief disciple seat will not be his.¡± Peak master Ling Jun did not even care that Wu Hai and the other three had been defeated by Zhou Yuan, because he understood that none of these individuals were even contenders for the chief disciple position. They were merely tagging along to make the line-up appear more impressive. The true trump card still lay with Yuan Hong. ¡­ Half an incense stick of time later. Zhou Yuan stood up as his hand closed around the Heavenly Yuan Brush. His figure rose into the sky, the brush hairs tightly wrapped around the two unconscious figures. On another misty stone platform some distance away. An intense battle was still ongoing here. Two figures clashed ferociously, as powerful Genesis Qi swept outwards, leaving mark after mark on the stone stage. Bang! The two figures retreated after yet another clash. Han Yu wiped away the blood at the corner of her mouth as she gritted her teeth and stared at her opponent, a young man called Zhu Qing. The two of them were roughly equal in strength. As such, no one had managed to gain the upper hand even though they had been fighting for quite some time. Zhu Qing grinned as he gazed at Han Yu and mockingly said, ¡°You seem to be rather desperate to defeat me. Why? Are you planning on going to help that guy?¡± He could clearly sense the urgentness and anxiety in Han Yu¡¯s attacks. It was this same anxiety that had instead allowed him to find several openings. If not for her speed, Han Yu would have lost long ago. Han Yu¡¯s expression sunk a little. ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s already been so long. I feel that he has most likely already been dealt with.¡± Taunted Zhu Qing. ¡°How much despair do you think you¡¯ll feel when Chu Yang and Liu Xiang return?¡± Han Yu bit hard into her lips as iciness rose in her eyes. She did not bother responding as Genesis Qi surged out with intent of continuing her offensive. She needed to defeat Zhu Qing as quickly as possible, and then proceed to support Zhou Yuan. Otherwise, they would soon be utterly defeated. However, she suddenly heard the sound of rushing wind just as her figure was about to move. Zhu Qing also raised his head, peering towards the distant mist as a wide grin grew on his face. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re finished.¡± Han Yu lifted her face, turning somewhat pale as she looked towards the rippling mist. The mist was soon torn apart as a figure slowly descended. Next, the mocking look on Zhu Qing¡¯s face solidified bit by bit. In contrast, Han Yu¡¯s mouth slowly opened wider and wider. ¡°Zhou¡­ Zhou Yuan?!¡± The one who had appeared was naturally Zhou Yuan. He smiled at Han Yu, before shifting his gaze towards Zhu Qing as he gave the Heavenly Yuan Brush a gentle swing. Two bodies tumbled towards the latter, ending up lying at his feet. ¡°Who did you say¡­ was finished?¡± Zhu Qing was dumbstruck as he stared at the two figures before him. A chill quickly rose from the bottom of his feet, surging straight towards his scalp. Intense fear and dread rapidly surged out from the depths of his eyes. Previous Chapte Chapter 467 The Tiger in the Path When Chu Yang and Liu Xiang¡¯s unconscious bodies came to a stop at Zhu Qing¡¯s feet, his entire body began to tremble faintly, the fear in his eyes no longer concealable. He looked towards Zhou Yuan with some difficulty, his face filled with terror and disbelief. He would never have imagined even in his wildest dreams that the combined might of Chu Yang and Liu Xiang would ultimately end in them being beaten by Zhou Yuan... Just how strong was he? Zhu Qing was not the only one who was shocked. Han Yu¡¯s pretty face was likewise overwhelmed by astonishment. She had clearly not expected that Zhou Yuan would defeat the Chu Yang duo and safely return. Just how strong did one need to be in order to subdue the two of them alone? Han Yu swallowed with some difficulty. At the very beginning, she had been quite hard stuck on the notion that Zhou Yuan would be a burden. Hence, the current reality made her a little panicky. If Zhou Yuan had not swooped in to save them from this crisis, the ones lying unconscious on the ground would likely be herself and Han Yan instead. Zhu Qing felt an ice-cold sensation spread throughout his entire body. If Liu Xiang could be said to have some will to battle earlier, Zhu Qing had completely lost all of his will to fight, because from the looks of it, all four of the other participants from his team had been defeated at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands... Hence, Zhu Qing¡¯s figure suddenly shot backwards in retreat a split second later, surprisingly not even having the courage to fight, selecting to retreat instead. ¡°He is too strong, I cannot try to face him. Quick! Gotta go to senior brother Yuan Hong!¡± Fear suged in Zhu Qing¡¯s eyes as he pushed his speed to the limits in hope of escaping from this area. The moment his figure moved, however, the nearby Zhou Yuan had already etherealized, transforming into a wisp of smoke as he vanished from the spot. Boom! A berserk Genesis Qi ripple quickly followed, spreading behind Zhu Qing as terrifying fist winds ruthlessly blasted towards him. Jade light flickered as scales gleaming with eerie light appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm. Surging Genesis Qi shook the air like a peal of thunder. Zhu Qing also sensed the vicious attack. Without a moment to waste, Genesis Qi frantically whizzed out from his body, forming layer after layer of Genesis Qi defenses around him. Boom! However, the glowing fist instantly shattered every Genesis Qi defense, its reflection rapidly glowing in Zhu Qing¡¯s pupils, before eventually slamming into his body. Urgh! It was as if a ferocious beast had rammed into Zhu Qing. Terrifying, earth-shaking power flooded out, causing him to violently vomit a mouthful of blood as his figure was sent arcing through the air. Zhu Qing¡¯s eyes were frozen with horror as they stared straight ahead, where Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was slowly appearing. That seemingly thin looking body seemed to take the form of a vicious ancient beast in Zhu Qing¡¯s eyes. The explosive power earlier had been enough to destroy mountains. Only now did he understand why Wu Hai had been crushed by a single punch from Zhou Yuan... When Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi and physical power was layered on top of each other, destructive power would surge with every wave of his fist. Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he watched Zhu Qing being blown away. No emotion could be seen in the former¡¯s eyes as his figure dashed forward once more, glaring sparks appearing as the snow-white brush tip swept across the ground. The snow-white hairs slowly turned a deep mysterious black. Bzz! The brush tip darted forward, tearing through the air as it transformed into a shadow that thrust towards Zhu Qing. The shadow rapidly grew in Zhu Qing¡¯s pupils, causing the final bit of courage he had left to crumble as he anxiously shouted with a deathly pale face, ¡°I admit defeat!¡± Bzz! The sharp brush tip stopped half an inch before Zhu Qing, the residual force cutting several shallow wounds on his face. Zhou Yuan indifferently looked towards the dazed Zhu Qing, and slowly withdrew the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The latter was clearly no longer a concern to him. Perhaps because of this nonchalant attitude, a wave of shame and anger surged through Zhu Qing. He immediately gritted his teeth and said in an icy voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be too happy. You¡¯ll soon have a taste of everything I have experienced now!¡± ¡°Senior brother Yuan Hong will make you understand the meaning of fear!¡± Zhou Yuan merely chuckled when he heard this. ¡°I do plan on seeking his guidance.¡± After speaking, he paid no further attention to Zhu Qing, and cast his gaze towards Han Yu instead. Han Yu had yet to recover from the shock of seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s overwhelming attack. She had pulled all the stops earlier, only to be stuck in a deadlock with Zhu Qing. In comparison, Zhou Yuan had crushed Zhu Qing in a flash. The gap between them was clear as day. Zhou Yuan gazed at the absent-minded Han Yu and said, ¡°I¡¯m heading to the peak.¡± Han Yu finally returned to her senses. Her brows soon furrowed deeply as she worriedly said, ¡°I wonder how senior sister Lu Yan and the rest are doing.¡± Although they had obtained a great victory here, she knew that decisive battle was still the one occurring at the peak. If even the combined might of Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan failed to defeat Yuan Hong, Han Yu was truly unable to imagine who could possibly be capable of stopping him. Even Zhou Yuan¡­ should not be up to the task, right? ¡°We¡¯ll know once we have a look.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, before his figure soared into the sky once again, dashing past layers of mist as he headed directly to the peak. Han Yu hesitated for a moment, before swiftly following. Since they were already at this point, she felt that she should go and take a look. The two figures flew past stone platform after platform, gradually ascending the peak under the countless watching gazes. As they climbed, broken stone platforms began to enter their sights. It was clear that an extremely intense battle had erupted here. Han Yu¡¯s face grew increasingly nervous when she saw this. Such destructive power was far beyond them. Furthermore, the most alarming observation was that she was still unable to sense any Genesis Qi ripples as they steadily approached the peak. Did this mean that the battle was already over? Had senior sister Lu Yan¡¯s side won?¡± Han Yu¡¯s pretty face fluctuated indeterminately. Swish! The two figures ultimately pierced through the mist, landing on the mountain top of the chief disciple peak. Thick mist covered their surroundings, greatly hindering their senses. Zhou Yuan gazed to the front, no fear visible on his face as he walked forward. There was a vast, giant plaza on the peak that was completely silent as Zhou Yuan slowly walked within it. After some time, his footsteps suddenly came to a halt as he gazed straight ahead. With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis QI surged out to sweep away the thick mist. As the mist was swept away, the surroundings finally became clearer. Next, Zhou Yuan and Han Yu saw a towering stone throne at the center of the plaza. It was the chief disciple seat. At this current moment, a figure was reclining on the throne. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows slowly began to furrow as he gazed upon the figure, while Han Yu¡¯s face had turned deathly white. Because the figure belonged to Yuan Hong from Lu Hong¡¯s faction! ¡°Yuan Hong, where are senior sister Lu Yan and the others?¡± Han Yu¡¯s voice was trembling. On the stone throne, Yuan Hong lightly tapped the back of the throne, as he slowly raised a pair eyes that were filled with savagery and ferocity, making him look like a terrible violent beast. He seemed to be a little surprised when he saw the Zhou Yuan duo, but soon began to laugh, revealing his eerily white teeth as if he were a wild beast. Next, he raised a finger and pointed behind him. If one looked over, one would see that the ground had fissured, and a good chunk of the mountain top had collapsed. Three bloody figures lay amidst the rubble, releasing weak breathing sounds. Han Yu hands were tightly clenched over her mouth. Yuan Hong slowly cracked his neck. He did not appear to be very interested in the two individuals before him as he waved his hand at them as if trying to chase away flies. ¡°Though I am rather surprised that you two were able to come here¡­¡± ¡°It will be best for the both of you to admit defeat and withdraw.¡± Yuan Hong leaned against the back of the throne, indifference on his face as he slowly closed his eyes. Han Yu trembled as fear rose in her eyes. She looked towards Zhou Yuan, only to find that the latter seemed to be smiling. Zhou Yuan slowly walked forward with firm and steady steps, showing no fear at all. He gave a small twist to the Heavenly Yuan Brush, causing a buzzing noise to emerge as he slowly raised it and pointed towards Yuan Hong. ¡°Senior brother Yuan Hong, won¡¯t you come down and play with me?¡± ¡°I too want to have a seat on that throne.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 467 Tiger Obstructing the Path When Chu Yang and Liu Xiang¡¯s unconscious bodies came to a stop at Zhu Qing¡¯s feet, his entire body began to tremble faintly, the fear in his eyes no longer concealable. He looked towards Zhou Yuan with some difficulty, his face filled with terror and disbelief. He would never have imagined even in his wildest dreams that the combined might of Chu Yang and Liu Xiang would ultimately end in them being beaten by Zhou Yuan... Just how strong was he? Zhu Qing was not the only one who was shocked. Han Yu¡¯s pretty face was likewise overwhelmed by astonishment. She had clearly not expected that Zhou Yuan would defeat the Chu Yang duo and safely return. Just how strong did one need to be in order to subdue the two of them alone? Han Yu swallowed with some difficulty. At the very beginning, she had been quite hard stuck on the notion that Zhou Yuan would be a burden. Hence, the current reality made her a little panicky. If Zhou Yuan had not swooped in to save them from this crisis, the ones lying unconscious on the ground would likely be herself and Han Yan instead. Zhu Qing felt an ice-cold sensation spread throughout his entire body. If Liu Xiang could be said to have some will to battle earlier, Zhu Qing had completely lost all of his will to fight, because from the looks of it, all four of the other participants from his team had been defeated at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands... Hence, Zhu Qing¡¯s figure suddenly shot backwards in retreat a split second later, surprisingly not even having the courage to fight, selecting to retreat instead. ¡°He is too strong, I cannot try to face him. Quick! Gotta go to senior brother Yuan Hong!¡± Fear suged in Zhu Qing¡¯s eyes as he pushed his speed to the limits in hope of escaping from this area. The moment his figure moved, however, the nearby Zhou Yuan had already etherealized, transforming into a wisp of smoke as he vanished from the spot. Boom! A berserk Genesis Qi ripple quickly followed, spreading behind Zhu Qing as terrifying fist winds ruthlessly blasted towards him. Jade light flickered as scales gleaming with eerie light appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm. Surging Genesis Qi shook the air like a peal of thunder. Zhu Qing also sensed the vicious attack. Without a moment to waste, Genesis Qi frantically whizzed out from his body, forming layer after layer of Genesis Qi defenses around him. Boom! However, the glowing fist instantly shattered every Genesis Qi defense, its reflection rapidly glowing in Zhu Qing¡¯s pupils, before eventually slamming into his body. Urgh! It was as if a ferocious beast had rammed into Zhu Qing. Terrifying, earth-shaking power flooded out, causing him to violently vomit a mouthful of blood as his figure was sent arcing through the air. Zhu Qing¡¯s eyes were frozen with horror as they stared straight ahead, where Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was slowly appearing. That seemingly thin looking body seemed to take the form of a vicious ancient beast in Zhu Qing¡¯s eyes. The explosive power earlier had been enough to destroy mountains. Only now did he understand why Wu Hai had been crushed by a single punch from Zhou Yuan... When Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi and physical power was layered on top of each other, destructive power would surge with every wave of his fist. Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he watched Zhu Qing being blown away. No emotion could be seen in the former¡¯s eyes as his figure dashed forward once more, glaring sparks appearing as the snow-white brush tip swept across the ground. The snow-white hairs slowly turned a deep mysterious black. Bzz! The brush tip darted forward, tearing through the air as it transformed into a shadow that thrust towards Zhu Qing. The shadow rapidly grew in Zhu Qing¡¯s pupils, causing the final bit of courage he had left to crumble as he anxiously shouted with a deathly pale face, ¡°I admit defeat!¡± Bzz! The sharp brush tip stopped half an inch before Zhu Qing, the residual force cutting several shallow wounds on his face. Zhou Yuan indifferently looked towards the dazed Zhu Qing, and slowly withdrew the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The latter was clearly no longer a concern to him. Perhaps because of this nonchalant attitude, a wave of shame and anger surged through Zhu Qing. He immediately gritted his teeth and said in an icy voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be too happy. You¡¯ll soon have a taste of everything I have experienced now!¡± ¡°Senior brother Yuan Hong will make you understand the meaning of fear!¡± Zhou Yuan merely chuckled when he heard this. ¡°I do plan on seeking his guidance.¡± After speaking, he paid no further attention to Zhu Qing, and cast his gaze towards Han Yu instead. Han Yu had yet to recover from the shock of seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s overwhelming attack. She had pulled all the stops earlier, only to be stuck in a deadlock with Zhu Qing. In comparison, Zhou Yuan had crushed Zhu Qing in a flash. The gap between them was clear as day. Zhou Yuan gazed at the absent-minded Han Yu and said, ¡°I¡¯m heading to the peak.¡± Han Yu finally returned to her senses. Her brows soon furrowed deeply as she worriedly said, ¡°I wonder how senior sister Lu Yan and the rest are doing.¡± Although they had obtained a great victory here, she knew that decisive battle was still the one occurring at the peak. If even the combined might of Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan failed to defeat Yuan Hong, Han Yu was truly unable to imagine who could possibly be capable of stopping him. Even Zhou Yuan¡­ should not be up to the task, right? ¡°We¡¯ll know once we have a look.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, before his figure soared into the sky once again, dashing past layers of mist as he headed directly to the peak. Han Yu hesitated for a moment, before swiftly following. Since they were already at this point, she felt that she should go and take a look. The two figures flew past stone platform after platform, gradually ascending the peak under the countless watching gazes. As they climbed, broken stone platforms began to enter their sights. It was clear that an extremely intense battle had erupted here. Han Yu¡¯s face grew increasingly nervous when she saw this. Such destructive power was far beyond them. Furthermore, the most alarming observation was that she was still unable to sense any Genesis Qi ripples as they steadily approached the peak. Did this mean that the battle was already over? Had senior sister Lu Yan¡¯s side won?¡± Han Yu¡¯s pretty face fluctuated indeterminately. Swish! The two figures ultimately pierced through the mist, landing on the mountain top of the chief disciple peak. Thick mist covered their surroundings, greatly hindering their senses. Zhou Yuan gazed to the front, no fear visible on his face as he walked forward. There was a vast, giant plaza on the peak that was completely silent as Zhou Yuan slowly walked within it. After some time, his footsteps suddenly came to a halt as he gazed straight ahead. With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis QI surged out to sweep away the thick mist. As the mist was swept away, the surroundings finally became clearer. Next, Zhou Yuan and Han Yu saw a towering stone throne at the center of the plaza. It was the chief disciple seat. At this current moment, a figure was reclining on the throne. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows slowly began to furrow as he gazed upon the figure, while Han Yu¡¯s face had turned deathly white. Because the figure belonged to Yuan Hong from Lu Hong¡¯s faction! ¡°Yuan Hong, where are senior sister Lu Yan and the others?¡± Han Yu¡¯s voice was trembling. On the stone throne, Yuan Hong lightly tapped the back of the throne, as he slowly raised a pair eyes that were filled with savagery and ferocity, making him look like a terrible violent beast. He seemed to be a little surprised when he saw the Zhou Yuan duo, but soon began to laugh, revealing his eerily white teeth as if he were a wild beast. Next, he raised a finger and pointed behind him. If one looked over, one would see that the ground had fissured, and a good chunk of the mountain top had collapsed. Three bloody figures lay amidst the rubble, releasing weak breathing sounds. Han Yu hands were tightly clenched over her mouth. Yuan Hong slowly cracked his neck. He did not appear to be very interested in the two individuals before him as he waved his hand at them as if trying to chase away flies. ¡°Though I am rather surprised that you two were able to come here¡­¡± ¡°It will be best for the both of you to admit defeat and withdraw.¡± Yuan Hong leaned against the back of the throne, indifference on his face as he slowly closed his eyes. Han Yu trembled as fear rose in her eyes. She looked towards Zhou Yuan, only to find that the latter seemed to be smiling. Zhou Yuan slowly walked forward with firm and steady steps, showing no fear at all. He gave a small twist to the Heavenly Yuan Brush, causing a buzzing noise to emerge as he slowly raised it and pointed towards Yuan Hong. ¡°Senior brother Yuan Hong, won¡¯t you come down and play with me?¡± ¡°I too want to have a seat on that throne.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 468 The Final Yuan Hong Outside of Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s chief disciple peak. Countless gazes were currently gathered on the misty mountain top. Even sect master Qing Yang and the others high up in the sky had cast their attention towards Saint Genesis Peak. Sect master Qing Yang looked at the well-built figure seated on the stone throne as he sighed and said, ¡°Yuan Hong is quite a capable disciple. With his strength, he will likely be a formidable contender for the chief disciple seat even in Sword Cometh Peak.¡± While Zhou Yuan had successively defeated Chu Yang and the gang, an even more intense battle had erupted on the top of the mountain. This fight was naturally observed by sect master Qing Yang and the others. The battle had been extremely intense. Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan were after all elites amongst the numerous purple sash disciples. Unfortunately, they had ultimately ended up being defeated by Yuan Hong. Because Yuan Hong¡¯s strength had surpassed their expectations. The Zhou Tai trio had reached the mid eighth layer level, while Yuan Hong was at the peak of the eighth layer, with only a single step separating him from the ninth layer. This obviously far surpassed the Zhou Tai trio. Therefore, they had lost in the end. Peak master Ling Jun indifferently watched this scene as he said, ¡°Yuan Hong had already displayed his impressive talent back in Sword Cometh Peak. It is not strange for him to have such battle accomplishments.¡± Peak master Lian Yi snorted as she interjected, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you even lowered yourself to personally give him quite a few pointers.¡± She was obviously trying to ridicule peak master Ling Jun for even personally stepping in to ensure Lu Hong¡¯s faction would win the chief disciple seat of Saint Genesis Peak. Peak master Ling Jun calmly said, ¡°He used to be a disciple of my Sword Cometh Peak. When I saw his outstanding talent and willpower, I naturally could not stop myself from trying to help him.¡± He glanced at peak master Lianyi and chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so anxious peak master Lianyi, isn¡¯t the outcome yet to be decided. That disciple called Zhou Yuan has just ascended the peak. Who knows, he may be able to accomplish what Zhou Tai and the other two failed to do earlier.¡± However, a joking tone accompanied the words from his mouth. Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Chu Yang and the other four, it was nothing when compared to Yuan Hong¡¯s victory over the Zhou Tai trio. Because any one of the trio would be able to accomplish exactly what Zhou Yuan had done. And yet, their combined might had ultimately lost to Yuan Hong. One could easily imagine just how much stronger he was than everyone else... Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s words were in truth a display of his absolute faith in Lu Hong¡¯s victory. How could peak master Lianyi not understand the true meaning behind his words. Anger appeared on her beautiful face, but receded just as quick as she let out an icy snort, unable to refute peak master Ling Jun. From what they had seen, though Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance had been remarkable, Yuan Hong¡¯s was just so much more frightening. ¡­ ¡°To think that Zhou Yuan managed to reach the peak. He¡¯s quite the capable one.¡± At the area where the ten Chosens were seated, Kong Sheng looked towards the distant mountain peak as he smiled. Although he was praising Zhou Yuan, there was a look of amusement in his eyes. ¡°I hope that Yuan Hong will not leave too much psychological damage, he¡¯s a good sapling after all¡­¡± Kong Sheng looked towards Chu Qing with a faint smile. Chu Qing rolled his eyes at the former, before helplessly rubbing his bald head, finally showing that he was a little worried. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five successive victories may have been pretty good, but Yuan Hong¡¯s achievement was even more astonishing. He had single handedly taken on the Zhou Tai trio, and walked away as the winner. Even in the other six peaks, such strength was absolutely top class. By the side, Li Qingchan¡¯s brows were slightly knitted together, worry clouding her pretty face. What awaited Zhou Yuan was nothing like the opponents he had faced earlier. If he failed to overcome Yuan Hong, all his previous battle achievements would be worthless. She was considerably close to Zhou Yuan, and naturally did not wish for the latter to receive such a huge blow. However, in the face of the giant obstacle that was Yuan Hong, she was unable to muster much confidence towards Zhou Yuan. At this point in time, she could only hope that Zhou Yuan would not be too affected if he were defeated. ¡­ Outside the chief disciple peak, Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song¡¯s factions were feeling a little depressed. The source behind this atmosphere was naturally the defeat of Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan. No one had expected Yuan Hong to be so powerful. As such, none of them could feel any anticipation when they saw Zhou Yuan defeat the five other participants and ascend the mountain top. Instead, they could not help but sigh softly in disappointment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance had already been very spectacular. Unfortunately, the final test that awaited him was far too difficult. The faces of the two elders, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song, were stretched taunt. When Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan were defeated earlier, despair had begun creeping up in their hearts. Although there was still Zhou Yuan, the situation was already at the worst possible scenario. Nearby, Lu Hong¡¯s originally ugly expression had gradually returned to normal. He cast a sideways glance in Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s direction, as the mocking smile on his face grew even wider. What¡¯s the use of being so happy earlier? So what if Zhou Yuan had defeated five opponents? Before this final checkpoint, all of earlier efforts were nothing but laughable. ¡­ On the peak that was currently the center of attention. When Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was transmitted into Yuan Hong¡¯s ears, his shut eyes finally began to open. He glanced at the former in an amused manner, before he half heartedly asked, ¡°Play?¡± ¡°Are you sure you can afford to play with me?¡± His fingers lightly tapped against the back of the throne. The sound echoed across the plaza, making one feel a tremendous amount of pressure. ¡°While I¡¯m still feeling too lazy to move, take this chance to admit defeat and withdraw. Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me later if you end up being scarred for life.¡± Behind them, Han Yu had already subconsciously taken a step back, the terror in her eyes plain for all to see. Zhou Yuan helplessly sighed when he heard this and said, ¡°You¡­ talk too much crap.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to fight, shift that butt of yours away.¡± The corners of Han Yu¡¯s mouth twitched. Yuan Hong¡¯s fingers fell for the last time as the amused expression on his face receded. The savage aura in his eyes began to converge little by little, before he slowly stood up. Boom! A terrifying presence exploded, engulfing the entire place. It was as if a monstrous prehistoric tiger had opened its drowsy eyes, and bared its chillingly sinister fangs. When Zhou Yuan saw this, he finally smiled and said, ¡°Now this is right, there was no need to pretend that you were a generous and kind senior brother, right?¡± Yuan Hong extended a finger and pointed at Zhou Yuan as he revealed a threateningly sinister set of eerily white teeth. ¡°You foolish and ignorant thing, if I do not break both your legs and make you crawl down the mountain today, my name shall be reversed in the future!¡± Boom! Waves of berserk Genesis Qi erupted from his body like a volcano. Under this pressure, the surrounding ground began to crack inch by inch. Previous Chapte Chapter 469 Waves of Genesis Qi violently swept out from Yuan Hong¡¯s body like a storm, stirring the mist on the entire mountain peak as a dreadful pressure spread. Under this Genesis Qi pressure, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression gradually turned solemn. From the pressure alone, he could tell that Yuan Hong was nothing like the likes of Wu Hai and the rest from before. Behind them, Han Yu had already withdrawn long ago, fear covering her entire face. All her courage had already been scattered, not that she was prepared to fight Yuan Hong either. Hence, it was clearly impossible to expect any help from her. The pressure surged in all directions in a spectacular manner. However, it failed to even crack Zhou Yuan¡¯s courage, and instead caused burning battle intent to rise in his eyes. His hands slowly tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush, a buzzing noise emerging as it swayed slightly. He had suffered untold hardships, and trained tirelessly for a year to finally reach this place. All he needed now was one final step to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak. Hence, Zhou Yuan was not going to back down regardless of who was standing in his way. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan¡­ be careful¡­¡± While battle intent was surging in his heart, an extremely faint voice was suddenly transmitted towards him. He was a little stunned as he shifted his gaze, finding the three bloody figures struggling up from the rubble nearby. The one who had spoken was Zhou Tai. Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan had been gravely injured, making them disqualified according to the rules. The awakened trio stared at Zhou Yuan with complicated expressions, especially Zhang Yan and Lu Yan. They had been the ones who thought the least of Zhou Yuan, and thus never imagined that he would manage to appear here. They understood that the fact that he had made here meant that the other five participants from Lu Hong¡¯s team had already been eliminated. They had a very clear grasp of Han Yu and Han Yan¡¯s strength. Hence, the only one who could have accomplished such a feat was undoubtedly the biggest variable, Zhou Yuan. Zhang Yan leaned against a rock as he looked at Zhou Yuan. In the end, he powerlessly said, ¡°You¡¯re already very amazing to have made it here. That¡¯s why you shouldn¡¯t force yourself.¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance had been surprising, in Zhang Yan¡¯s opinion, challenging Yuan Hong would still be asking for trouble. Zhou Yuan chuckled. He knew that Zhang Yan did not have any ill intent, but instead hoped to prevent a potentially crippling setback. As such, Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°I should give it a try first, right? What if that million and one chance happens?¡± Upon hearing this, Lu Yan nearly laughed out in mockery like she always had before. However, the intense pain from her injuries made her bite into her lip as she sullenly hissed, ¡°Are you dreaming?¡± It was not that she was looking down on Zhou Yuan, but since even the three of them working together had lost to Yuan Hong, she was truly unable to believe that Zhou Yuan had the qualifications to fight the latter. The only outcome that awaited him would surely be a one-sided crushing defeat. What¡¯s more, it may even leave a shadow in his heart that may impede his cultivation progress in the future. Zhou Yuan shook his head, not bothering to continue the conversation. He withdrew his gaze, and concentrated on Yuan Hong again. Yuan Hong indifferently said, ¡°It seems that they failed to dispel your death wish.¡± Bzz! However, the only response he received was a buzzing noise from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. A sharp light rose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, along with a jade glow from his body. His figure rapidly etherealized, transforming into a wisp of smoke that disappeared from the spot. He had chosen to take the initiative! Yuan Hong merely watched with an expressionless face. With a grasp of his hand, torrential Genesis Qi unfurled, transforming into a thousand foot wide giant Genesis Qi hand that mercilessly swatted downwards. Boom! An enormous shadow loomed as the entire peak shuddered under the giant Genesis Qi hand. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± A deep voice rang out. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared with a flash and gazed at the giant Genesis Qi hand falling from the sky. The hairs of the Heavenly Yuan Brush turned pitch-black as the Genesis Qi in his body churned wildly. Jade light gleamed across his skin as scales emerged. Swish! The Heavenly Yuan Brush streaked upwards like a shooting star, clashing directly against the enormous hand. Boom! A berserk shockwave of destruction immediately unfurled at the instant of impact. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes hardened as the pitch-black brush tip released a unique power that neutralized the Genesis Qi from the giant hand. In the short span of a few breaths, the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s ptich-black tip had penetrated deep into the hand. However, the neutralization effect did not last for long. It felt as if the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush encountered solid metal, stopped in its tracks by the robust and berserk Genesis Qi. Genesis Breaker had failed to destroy the giant Genesis Qi hand. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression sunk slightly. Although Genesis Beaker possessed the unique power of neutralizing Genesis Qi, it had its limitations. That limitation depended on his strength and cultivation. The Genesis Qi attacks of Wu Hai and the rest had been easily neutralized by Zhou Yuan earlier, but when faced with Yuan Hong, its effectiveness had been diminished because his Genesis Qi was stronger and more concentrated. ¡°Your Heaven Genesis Weapon is rather strange. Can¡¯t believe it can neutralize so much of my Genesis Qi.¡± Yuan Hong stood with his hands behind his back, somewhat surprised by this scene. He had sensed the black brush break through numerous layers of Genesis Qi in the giant hand, a feat that the Zhou Tai trio from before had barely managed to achieve. From how Zhou Yuan had managed to accomplish this alone, one could observe just how peculiar the black brush was. ¡°Unfortunately, the gap between us is far too great!¡± Yuan Hong let out an icy chuckle as his hands suddenly came together. Rumble! Rays of light exploded from the giant Genesis Qi hand as a frightening power poured out and slammed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Thump! Countless gazes could only watch as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was sent flying, his feet ripping open two long and deep scars on the ground. The scales on his body had shattered and cracked, while the flowing jade light had also dimmed slightly. Receiving a direct blow from Yuan Hong had clearly injured Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned extremely grave. He was clearly on the losing end after the very first clash. Yuan Hong was a tough foe indeed. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you even practice an external cultivation technique? Good, allow me to shatter your turtle shell inch by inch today. Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ll still dare to act so arrogantly in the future!¡± Yuan Hong clawed at the air with his hands as robust Genesis Qi whizzed forth. The Genesis Qi lifted up an entire cliff, before viciously smashing it towards Zhou Yuan below. Even the air was blasted away at this moment. ¡°Million Whale Rune!¡± Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush with both hands as he swung with all his might. Genesis Qi surged around the brush as the silhouette of a giant whale appeared. Boom! Heavenly Yuan Brush and cliff collided. The tip of the cliff was immediately torn apart, causing boulders to rain down upon the plaza. Swish! A torrent of Genesis Qi pierced through the rain of boulders like thunder, heading straight for Zhou Yuan. ¡°Mystical Python¡¯s Great Golden Bell!¡± Genesis Qi poured out of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, emitting a dazzling golden light as a giant python seemed to coil around him and transform into a golden bell. Clang! The torrent of Genesis Qi struck the golden bell, causing a loud clang to echo. Cracks rapidly began to spread on the bell, before it ultimately exploded with a bang. Even Zhou Yuan¡¯s strongest defensive technique had been incapable of enduring for long in under the assault of Yuan Hong¡¯s overwhelming Genesis Qi attack. Shatter! The golden bell burst apart as Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was sent flying as if struck by a heavy blow. He crashed into a rock wall, causing boulders to tumble down and bury half his body. More and more scales had shattered, while the jade glow on his skin turned even dimmer. Blood appeared from the corner of his mouth. The countless onlookers could not help but sigh at this sight. Though Zhou Yuan was strong, Yuan Hong was clearly even stronger. The disparity between these two was still far too large. ¡°Is that fool still not going to give up?¡± Lu Yan¡¯s brows were tightly knitted together as she gritted her teeth. From what they had seen, it was impossible for Zhou Yuan to win. Bang! The rubble was blown away by Genesis Qi as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure flew out. He wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth as he gazed at Yuan Hong and grinned. ¡°Is this all you have? It¡¯s far from sufficient.¡± Yuan Hong¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he indifferently looked towards the still so lively Zhou Yuan. ¡°Looks like you haven¡¯t suffered enough.¡± His hands abruptly clapped together as vigorous Genesis Qi soared out from the top of his head. Like billowing smoke, it descended towards Zhou Yuan from above. Bang! Bang! The ground on the mountain top continuously cracked open. However, Zhou Yuan showed no indication of avoiding the violent attack, and instead rose to meet it head-on. Bang! Every blast tossed Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure about like a doll. The flood of Genesis Qi possessed enough power to destroy a mountain... As such, everyone watched as Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was thrown around like a sandbag on the mountain top, the miserable sight making several people involuntarily close their eyes. They were truly unable to understand who Zhou Yuan would insist on being so stubborn when he was clearly not his opponent¡¯s match, choosing to fight in such a desperate manner... ¡°Is he¡­ crazy?¡± Lu Yan was flabbergasted. Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions were basically courting death. Cries of bewilderment filled the surroundings of the chief disciple peak. The seemingly unstoppable Zhou Yuan from before appeared to have finally encountered a foe who was even tougher than himself. However, no one had realized that as Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was blasted away again and again, and the jade glow on his skin grew dimmer and dimmer, a faint, almost undetectable glimmer of silver light was flashing in the deep within his flesh and blood. Previous Chapte Chapter 470 Are You Done? Boom! A torrent of berserk Genesis Qi whizzed out, rising up like a giant dragon, before ramming into a frail looking figure with terrifying power under the many shocked watching gazes. The figure was immediately sent hurtling through the air, before crashing into a rock wall. Cracks grew across the entire wall, with the figure now deeply embedded within. Boulders began to crumble and fall, completely burying his body. It was a scene so pitiful and miserable, that it was unbearable to watch. Outside the chief disciple peak, the countless onlookers sighed in pity when they saw this scene. It was a essentially one-sided fight. Zhou Yuan was being dominated by Yuan Hong, showing that the two were obviously on completely different levels. ¡°Why is he still not admitting defeat?¡± ¡°He¡¯s really very tenacious¡­ unfortunately, such tenacity will do nothing for him here.¡± ¡°To have come this far is already an amazing achievement. It won¡¯t be shameful if he loses to Yuan Hong.¡± A disciple sighed deeply, a sliver of respect in his tone. After all, even the trio of Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan had been beaten. Even if Zhou Yuan were defeated, it would not hurt his reputation. Over at the area Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction was occupying, numerous disciples were silent as they watched Zhou Yuan being blasted away by Yuan Hong time and time again, tenaciously gritting his teeth each time, and stubbornly charging forward once more. Soon, they began to grow angry as they turned their gazes towards Yuan Hong. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± No one knew who had suddenly shouted. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± More and more of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples began to roar, the sounds ultimately gathering together to boom across the land like thunder. This was the method they chose to cheer and encourage Zhou Yuan. As their roars grew louder and louder, Lu Song¡¯s disciples looked at each other, before also beginning to shake their arms and yell. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± More and more voices began to gather, alarming everyone. Even the disciples from the other peaks cast their gazes over, complicated expressions rising in their eyes when they saw the tenaciously fighting figure. A sight like this would always touch the hearts of the people. The disciple called Zhou Yuan was teaching them the meaning of being unafraid. Yaoyao sat on a boulder, listened to the booming voices echoing around her, as her clear eyes focused on the chief disciple peak far away. Roar! Tuntun released an angry roar from her lap, as its tiny body began to show signs of growing. Ferocity swirled in its eyes as it stared at Yuan Hong¡¯s figure. Although it often fought with Zhou Yuan and looked down on him, it was likely that no one could truly comprehend the inborn pride in its heart. The nobleness flowing in its blood gave it the right to ignore ordinary humans. Hence, taking the time to play with Zhou Yuan showed that Tuntun had already accepted the latter. In its heart, only Cang Yuan, Yaoyao, and now Zhou Yuan were the only ones that it had accepted. Hence, Tuntun felt that though it may bully Zhou Yuan, others were absolutely forbidden from doing so, because such an act would be a challenge to its dignity. Yaoyao gently caressed Tuntun¡¯s head, calming the somewhat out of control rage in its body. The expression on her gorgeous face was completely unchanged, but when her gaze swept across Yuan Hong¡¯s figure, a faint icy light flashed past in her eyes. ¡­ Lu Hong¡¯s disciples were rather taken aback by the sudden thunderous cheering. They tried to cheer on Yuan Hong too, but their voices were immediately drowned out by the din. Lu Hong merely watched with indifferent eyes as he laughed, completely unfazed by it. These were merely the cries of despair that belonged to the weak. But even if all of you broke your throats cheering, Zhou Yuan will still be incapable of turning the tables! He must pay the price for his earlier arrogance! As Lu Hong gazed upon the pitiful figure on the mountain top, a pleased smile slowly crept up from the corners of his mouth. ¡­ On the messy mountain top. Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan¡¯s expressions turned somewhat ugly as they watched the bitter scene. Zhou Tai''s jaw was tightly clenched, his eyes practically spitting fire as he glared at Yuan Hong. If not for his elimination, he would have dragged his heavily injured body over to duke it out with the latter. Zhang Yan¡¯s expression was likewise rather ugly. He clearly could see that Yuan Hong was merely toying with Zhou Yuan. As a disciples from their faction, being toyed in this manner was naturally akin to stepping on their faces. Lu Yan was also watching the with a complicated expression. Zhou Yuan tenacity had touched even her heart, while also making it feel extremely unbearable to watch. She softly mumbled, ¡°Please don¡¯t get up anymore¡­ and admit defeat.¡± As long as he admitted defeat, Yuan Hong would no longer be able to intentionally humiliate him in this manner. In addition, admitting defeat at his juncture would not sully his reputation, because his performance was already extremely perfect. At this current moment, the thunderous voices from outside the chief disciple peak faintly echoed on the mountain top. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± As if hearing these voices, the rubble began to move as a figure slowly crawled to his feet once more, while fresh blood dripped from the surrounding rocks. Lu Yan tightly gritted her teeth as she looked away, unable to continue watching. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan¡­ please, ad¡­ admit defeat!¡± Zhou Tai eyes had already turned red. Zhang Yan was also tightly clenching his jaw. Although he had always found Zhou Yuan to be an eyesore, the latter¡¯s tenacity had begun to stir even his heart a little. Yuan Hong stood in the air with his arms across his chest. His indifferent gaze looked towards the moving rocks, before he tilted his head slightly, as if listening to the noise faintly echoing from outside the chief disciple peak. Yuan Hong seemed to chuckle as he said, ¡°It seems that you¡¯re quite popular.¡± He shook his head and said, ¡°However, I feel that you do not deserve this as the loser.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had my fun. If you still refuse to admit defeat, I can only break one of your legs and see whether you¡¯ll still be able to stand¡­¡± Alarming Genesis Qi frantically converged towards the tip of Yuan Hong¡¯s figure as a loud rumbling noise began to shake the ground. Bzzbzz! As the Genesis Qi gathered, an enormous Genesis Qi sword slowly appeared in front of Yuan Hong. The moment the sword appeared, a torrential flood of sword Qi of matchless sharpness ferociously unfurled, tearing open deep gorges on the surrounding ground. Anyone could see that this sword would be able to cleave even a giant mountain into two. If it landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, the latter would surely be unable to bear its power. Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan¡¯s expressions changed drastically. ¡°Stop!¡± All three of them yelled out in unison. However, a trace of mockery merely rose from the corners of Yuan Hong¡¯s lips as he ignored them and flicked his finger. Bzz! Everyone could only watch as a flash of sword light sliced across the land. Such speed was as fast as lightning. Many people could only see the ground being torn open rapidly torn open, as the countless boulders scattered near the wall split apart, revealing interiors that were smooth as mirrors. A flash of sword light headed directly for the figure that was still struggling to its feet. It arrived in an instant. ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Yuan Hong nonchalantly declared. Sword light swept past, splitting countless boulders as it charged into the wall. Sword Qi swept outwards, devastating the surroundings. A smooth, glossy cut seemed to instantly appear on the wall, before he began to fall apart. A cloud of dust rose in the air. Countless individuals could not help but close their eyes, unable to watch on. Yuan Hong shook his head, and proceeded to turn around to declare the end of the chief disciple selection. Boom! However, just as he was about to turn, Genesis Qi suddenly exploded from the mountain of rubble, blowing countless rocks away. Countless gazes immediately looked over in astonishment. Yuan Hong was a little stunned as he muttered in surprise, ¡°You still have some strength left?¡± He lifted his head to look towards the shattered remains of the wall. The pile of rocks had already been blown away, revealing a standing figure. Amidst the dust, it could be seen that the figure¡¯s hands were outstretched, tightly grabbing something in front of it. A glow appeared, revealing the ¡®something¡¯ to be a giant Genesis Qi sword! Yuan Hong¡¯s pupils violently shrank at this moment. The sword was obviously the attack he had sent out earlier. But why¡­ was it being firmly grabbed by Zhou Yuan with his bare hands? Why had it not chopped off his arms? ¡°How can this be?!¡± Confusion flashed in Yuan Hong¡¯s eyes. A clamour rose from the area like a wave. *Spit* Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body was drenched in blood, his lacerated flesh a gruesome sight to behold. He spat out a mouthful of spit mixed with blood, before slowly lifting his head. Silver light seemed to slowly swirl in the depths of his pupils, making him look extremely mysterious. ¡°Are you¡­¡± As he panted, a voice was slowly spat out from between his bloody teeth. ¡°done attacking?¡± When the final word sounded, Crack! He clenched harder as the space around his hands seemed to slightly distort. Next, countless gazes stared in shock as the enormous Genesis Qi sword shattered with a loud bang in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands! At the same time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s chilling voice rang out. ¡°If you¡¯re done¡­¡± ¡°It should be my turn, right?!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 471 Silver Bone Stage! Bang! The enormous Genesis Qi sword shattered due to the sudden force exerted by Zhou Yuan. Sword Qi violently swept outwards, slicing deep cuts in the ground around him. Zhou Yuan stood amidst the destruction, still as a statue. His body was still covered in blood, making him look extremely pitiful, but as his back gradually straightened at this moment, an exceedingly terrifying undulation seemed to slowly pulse from his body. A faint silver glow emerged from the depths of his flesh and blood. There appeared to be something different about the current Zhou Yuan... The scene of him crushing the giant sword naturally landed in the eyes of the countless onlookers outside the chief disciple peak. A torrential uproar immediately exploded, innumerable disciples dumbstruck, their eyes overflowing with disbelief. They could not understand how Zhou Yuan, who was basically being steamrolled moments earlier, had suddenly released such power. Based on their senses, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had not grown stronger. So where had this power come from? Only the six imposing figures high up in the sky released low gasps of surprise. Hongya Peak master Gu was the first to speak in a voice filled with amazement. ¡°This power¡­ comes from the body. This kid¡­ has achieved the silver bone stage?¡± The second stage of the Hongya Peak¡¯s Mythic Saint Body was known as the silver bone stage, which the external cultivation technique practiced by Zhou Yuan clearly originated from. Of course, it naturally could not be compared to the true divine silver bone, but its power was still clear for all to see. ¡°Tch tch, to think that this kid has managed to achieve the silver bone stage in such a short amount of time. He¡¯s basically a genius of external cultivation!¡± Peak master Gu was full of praise, his eyes filled with approval as he looked towards the bloody figure on the mountain top. He clearly understood how difficult the path of external cultivation was. What¡¯s more, the technique practiced by Zhou Yuan originated from the Mythic Saint Body, making it even harder to master than ordinary external cultivation techniques. In the Hongya Peak, only Shang Chunqiu alone had been able to reach the divine silver bone stage. Sect master Qing Yan also slowly nodded and said, ¡°He had not reached the silver bone stage earlier. If I¡¯m not wrong, he had intentionally chosen to endure Yuan Hong¡¯s ferocious attacks with his body to temper it, forcing him to his limits to achieve a breakthrough.¡± He then exclaimed with a sigh of admiration, ¡°Such decisiveness and boldness is truly praiseworthy.¡± The other peak masters, with the exception of peak master Ling Jun, faintly nodded in agreement. A disciple that could display such traits was indeed very amazing. Peak master Lianyi glanced at the now frowning and less certain peak master Ling Jun, as she softly chuckled and said, ¡°It seems that the situation has begun to change?¡± Peak master Ling Jun took in a deep breath, his youthful and handsome face maintaining its calm as he replied, ¡°It¡¯s a little too early to say such things. A breakthrough of such nature is extremely taxing on one¡¯s vital energy. I¡¯m afraid that Zhou Yuan does not have much strength left.¡± However, anyone could tell that he no longer completely neglected Zhou Yuan like he had in the beginning. It was likely that the chief disciple selection of Saint Genesis Peak had only truly begun at this moment. ¡­ On the peak that was currently the focus of nearly the entire Cangxuan Sect. Yuan Hong gazed at the bloody figure before him with a somewhat dark expression. The astonishing power displayed by Zhou Yuan was likewise out of his expectations. The feeling of things slipping out of his control caused fury to surge in his heart. At the same time, he was also quite puzzled. Zhou Yuan appeared incapable of putting up any resistance at all just moments earlier, so how was he suddenly able to block that attack? What exactly had he done? Nearby, Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan were also watching with uncertainty, confusion and surprise. Zhou Yuan wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. Silver light flowed in the depths of his eyes as he lifted his head and looked towards Yuan Hong, while he stretched and twisted his body a little, releasing cracking noises. Dark green light glowed faintly as a warm energy spread, swiftly replenishing the depleted vital energy in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. ¡°You seem to be very surprised?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned, revealing a set of sinisterly white teeth. Yuan Hong¡¯s expression darkened even further as he icily smiled. ¡°It¡¯s just some kind of trick!¡± ¡°I am very interested to find out whether this confidence you have is just a pretense!¡± His foot slammed into the ground as torrential Genesis Qi rose around him, transforming into ten giant swords. Every sword gave off an alarming sharp sword Qi. Bzz! Ten swords soared into the sky, lining up one after another as their tips faced downwards. It was an impressive sight indeed. Yuan Hong had evidently been angered for real, and no longer planned on playing around. Swish! Ten swords rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils. He lifted his head, and took in a deep breath as silver light emerged from the bones in his body. If one were to take away all of his flesh and skin at this moment, one would discover that Zhou Yuan¡¯s skeleton appeared to be made from silver, a very peculiar sight indeed. Silver bones shook faintly as a frightening power surged. Zhou Yuan tightly clenched his five fingers into a fist and punched. Silver light blossomed in his flesh. Boom! A sonic boom accompanied his punch as cracks rapidly grew on the ground below his feet, as if a giant invisible hand was tearing it apart. Silver light spread, causing Zhou Yuan¡¯s outstretched arm to appear as if it was made of silver. Little Mythic Saint Body, Silver Bone Stage! Bang! Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s silver punch smashed into the descending swords, causing a shockwave to violently unfurl. The shockwave spread, wreaking havoc around them. Crack! A faint crack sound was heard from where fist and sword met. Every could only watch in shock as cracks began to appear on the sword before it ultimately shattered with a bang. After shattering the first sword, the silver light continued along its path, slightly distorting even the air itself as the second and third swords were destroyed in succession! By the time the silver light was done, all ten swords had crumbled to pieces. Torrential cries of shock rang out once more. Yuan Hong¡¯s expression had turned extremely ugly. Even if the previous time could be said to be a fluke, the power Zhou Yuan had displayed this time made it clear that he was already capable of facing Yuan Hong directly. In addition, it also proved that Zhou Yuan was not trying to put up an act. ¡°The power is from his body!¡± At this moment, Yuan Hong finally understood where the sudden explosion of power had come from. It originated from that external cultivation technique! Yuan Hong¡¯s face turned so dark and ominous, it was as if rain would start falling from it at any moment. He knew that Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had not been so powerful half an incense stick ago! And yet, after a vicious beating from him, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body appeared to have been reforged. It was obvious. A breakthrough had happened right under his nose. Zhou Yuan had made use of Yuan Hong¡¯s power to temper his body in hopes of breaking through his limits. Yuan Hong on the other hand had been totally in the dark as he helped Zhou Yuan complete this process... In the face of a situation he had personally created, even Yuan Hong could not help but feel his heart churn with regret. If he had known earlier, how could he possibly have intentionally humiliated his opponent? He should have used his strongest attack to utterly crush Zhou Yuan, giving him no chance to turn recover! In a manner of speaking, Zhou Yuan¡¯s transformation had been Yuan Hong¡¯s handiwork. Rumble! While regret was churning in Yuan Hong¡¯s heart, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body lowered slightly into a crouching position, like a cheetah that was about to pounce at this prey. Inside his body, his bones flickered with silver light as a terrifying power gathered. In the end, the gathering power erupted with magnificent force. Swoosh! The ground under his feet crumbled as his figure instantly disappeared. So fast that countless disciples were unable to see anything with their naked eyes. Even Yuan Hong merely saw a shadow flash pass at a speed that made his pupils shrink. There was no hesitation whatsoever as Yuan Hong immediately shot backwards. The current Zhou Yuan made him feel a dangerous sensation. As such, he no longer dared to look down on the latter like before. Boom! However, mere moments after he began to retreat, the air exploded behind him as a blurry figure appeared. Thump! Resplendent silver light exploded. Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush, his gaze cold and sharp as a blade as he swung his arms, causing the brush to sweep towards his opponent with dreadful power. The ground under them was ripped open, revealing a deep, dark crack. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± ¡°Million Whale Rune!¡± The black brush descended, the terrifying power within causing Yuan Hong¡¯s expression to change drastically. All the Genesis Qi in his body immediately burst out with reservation. ¡°Low grade Heaven Genesis technique, Sword Shield!¡± Genesis Qi gathered in the wake of his roar, taking the shape of a giant Genesis Qi sword shield in front of him. The shield pulsed with chilling sword Qi, possessing both a strong defence and reflective properties. Thud! However, when the falling black brush landed on the shield, a shattering sound seemed to emerge from space itself. Next, everyone saw cracks swiftly grow on the sword shield, before it exploded with a loud bang! A flash of black descended the moment the shield was shattered, slamming hard into Yuan Hong¡¯s waist. Thud! A muffled thud was heard as Yuan Hong vomited a mouthful of blood. His figure was sent hurtling through the air, bouncing several times off the ground as he left a deep thousand foot long trail along the way... Both the mountain top and outside it was very quiet at this moment. Countless gazes blankly stared at this scene... This was the first time Yuan Hong had fallen into a disadvantageous position ever since the start of the chief disciple selection. It was clear that the situation had finally begun to change at this very moment. Previous Chapte Chapter 472 Everyone Shocked The mountain top was a mess. A deep, dark crack ran through the middle of the plaza, nearly splitting it into two. At the end of the crack, Yuan Hong¡¯s figure lay amidst a pile of rubble. It was deathly silent outside the chief disciple peak. Every gaze could only blankly stare at this scene in shock. Yuan Hong had been so calm and unruffled since the start of the chief disciple selection, and had not been the least disadvantaged even against the trio of Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan. In comparison with Zhou Yuan, Yuan Hong had truly seemed invincible. Hence, when the numerous disciples were shocked to the core at the sight of the seemingly unstoppable Yuan Hong being blown away by a punch from Zhou Yuan. One must know that Zhou Yuan was being completely overwhelmed by Yuan Hong a short period ago. But it was this very short period of time in which Zhou Yuan seemed to have undergone a complete metamorphosis. Who could have anticipated that Zhou Yuan would be able to release such terrifying power? At Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction, without even mentioning the ordinary disciples, even Shen Taiyuan himself could not help but be slack jawed, as he stared at this scene in a daze. Shen Taiyuan had honestly lost all hope when Zhou Tai and the other two had been defeated earlier. After all, although Zhou Yuan was doing pretty well, there was still a substantial gap between him and Yuan Hong. Hence, Shen Taiyuan had already been prepared for defeat. He never would have imagined that the situation would suddenly take such an unexpected twist. A surprise like this had truly caught him a little off guard. But as the surprise began to pass, Shen Taiyuan could only look towards the glowing silver figure on the mountain top with unequaled gratification, as a rejoicing mood infected his heart. He was rejoicing his choice of standing his ground against the majority back then to select Zhou Yuan and give him the greatest support possible. In the very distant future, this choice of his would perhaps become the most successful decision he had made over the years. While Shen Taiyuan was sighing deeply with emotion, the nearby elder Lu Song was breathing a soft sigh of relief. Though he had already chosen to back down in this chief disciple selection, he still felt his heart stir a little when he saw Zhou Yuan blowing away Yuan Hong. After all, he too had felt a small desire to recruit Zhou Yuan as his disciple back then, but had ultimately chosen not to fight with Shen Taiyuan such as to maintain a friendly relationship. He was now beginning to feel a little regret at that decision back then. If Zhou Yuan truly succeeded in obtaining the chief disciple seat, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction would gain the possibility of becoming the master faction of Saint Genesis Peak. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s status would also rise, surpassing Lu Song¡¯s. ¡°That old fogey¡­¡± He sighed as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan with envy. ¡°His foresight is really something.¡± Even further away from them, the celebratory atmosphere over Lu Hong¡¯s faction had once again turned to silence, the faces of numerous disciples overwhelmed with shock. This was the first time they had seen Yuan Hong in such a position for so many years. And the one who had created this scene was merely a newly promoted fourth layer purple sash disciple. The disciples sneaked quick glances at Lu Hong, only to discover a stormy and somewhat twisted expression on the latter¡¯s old face. He quietly grinded his teeth as he stared at the figure atop the mountain with both alarm and seething rage. Zhou Yuan had never really entered his eyes. In fact, Lu Hong had not been too worried even when the former defeated Wu Hai and the other four, because there was still Yuan Hong. In Lu Hong¡¯s opinion, when Zhou Yuan encountered Yuan Hong, he would naturally understand the tremendous gap between them. When that happened, Yuan Hong would naturally take back all the face they had lost. But Lu Hong never expected the situation to take such a turn... The sudden explosion of power from Zhou Yuan had stunned everyone, including Lu Hong. He took in a deep breath, the sure-win attitude he had from before already beginning to crack a little. Fortunately, the worst scenario had yet to occur. It would not be so easy for Zhou Yuan to take the chief disciple seat from Yuan Hong. ¡°Show me just how capable you are!¡± Lu Hong gnashed his teeth, an ominous light flashing in his eyes as he stared at the figure on the peak. ¡­ On the peak, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan¡¯s mouths were hanging wide up, the astonishment on their faces not fading even after so long. The sudden turn of events had truly shocked them to their core. Who could have imagined that Zhou Yuan would send Yuan Hong flying with a punch... One must know that even the trio''s combined efforts earlier had failed to even put a single dent on Yuan Hong. And yet, Zhou Yuan had achieved what they had failed to. So what did this mean? It meant that Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had surpassed their combined might. The trio had dull, sluggish looks on their faces, especially Lu Yan and Zhang Yan. The two of them had nitpicked on Zhou Yuan the most, and even genuinely felt that he would be a burden in this chief disciple selection. Never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined that the very person they had looked down on, would actually possess strength that surpassed even the trio¡¯s combined might. This made their expressions turn extremely complicated. Zhou Yuan brandished the Heavenly Yuan Brush, its sharp tip pointed towards the ground at an angle as Genesis Qi pulsed from it. His tranquil gaze looked towards the glaring deep crack, pausing on the pile of rubble at the very end. Though his earlier attack had been rather swift and fierce, and had made Yuan Hong suffer somewhat, the former could sense that the latter had not sustained any fatal injuries. This opponent was also unexpectedly difficult for Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan also felt that he had nothing to fear. After all, he had succeeded in pulling through the most dire juncture earlier. What¡¯s more, the situation was already beginning to turn. The newly acquired silver bone stage, plus his Genesis Qi and the Heavenly Yuan Brush made it such that Zhou Yuan¡¯s true battle power was no weaker than Yuan Hong¡¯s peak eighth layer strength. ¡°You¡¯ve already lost your final chance by choosing not to crush me earlier.¡± Iciness surfaced in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. In the next instant, his foot powerfully pushed off the ground, sending his figure shooting forward and appearing above the pile of rubble. ¡°Are you only able to hide like a mouse now?¡± Zhou Yuan let out an icy laugh as he swung the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Dreadful power poured down, instantly turning the countless rocks below to power. A pitch-black brush fell with unmatched force, causing the surrounding ground to crumble as it darted towards the depths of the crack. Swish! As the brush descended with terrifying power, a ray of scarlet light suddenly soared out from the pitch-black darkness, and ultimately collided with the brush. Clang! A loud and clear sound of metal striking metal echoed. A frightening shockwave of Genesis Qi unfurled, devastating the surroundings. It was as if the giant plaza had been relentlessly plowed, as cracks continuously appeared on the mountain top. Some distance away, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan were caught in the aftershocks, causing their figures to be swept away as blood spurted from their mouths. However, they ignored their injuries and focused instead on the clash. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was flung backwards, his feet drawing two long marks on the ground. He stared to the front, where Yuan Hong¡¯s figure emerged once again from the scattering dust. His clothes were in tatters and hair a mess, making him cut quite the sorry figure. However, his eyes were currently akin to wild beast¡¯s, filled with savageness and ferocity. Vigorous Genesis Qi rose around him, causing a tremendous pressure to spread. The most eye-catching thing, however, was the object he was tightly gripping with both hands, a scarlet-red edgeless broadsword that seemed to tower in front of him. Intense heat spread from the sword, that was seemingly capable of melting the ground. Yuan Hong¡¯s hands rested on the pommel of the sword as the surrounding Genesis Qi frantically converged towards him, causing his aura to rise. Countless gazes looked towards the broadsword in Yuan Hong¡¯s hands, as their pupils shrank slightly . ¡°Low grade Heaven Genesis Weapon, Heaven Flame Sword!¡± Several cries of surprise rang out across the area. High up in the sky, peak master Lianyi let out an icy chuckle when she saw this, turning towards peak master Ling Jun as she said, ¡°From what I know, that Heaven Flame Sword should belong to Sword Cometh Peak, right?¡± Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s eyelids lowered slightly as he nonchalantly replied, ¡°Due to the spectacular ability displayed by Yuan Hong in Sword Cometh Peak, I bestowed this sword to him before he left for Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Peak master Lianyi coldly snorted, her tone filled with mockery. Outside the chief disciple peak, Lu Hong breathed a sigh of relief, before gritting his teeth once more. ¡°Blasted brat¡­ since you¡¯ve forced Yuan Hong to bring out even the Heaven Flame Sword, you should prepare yourself to pay a very painful price!¡± From what he could see, bringing out the Heaven Flame Sword meant that Yuan Hong was finally going to use his true power. Previous Chapte Chapter 473 Desperation Clang! A loud and clear ¡®clang¡¯ echoed across the mountain top. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands drew a line of dazzling sparks on the ground as he gradually steadied his body. His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared to the front, where a somewhat ragged looking Yuan Hong stood holding a scarlet-red broadsword. Wave after wave of Genesis Qi pulsed powerfully from Yuan Hong¡¯s body, causing a grave look to streak across Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Low grade Heaven Genesis Weapon¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was naturally able to sense the Genesis Qi in Yuan Hong¡¯s body steadily rising when he held the sword. It was obviously a real Heaven Genesis Weapon, and nothing like the quasi-Heaven Genesis Weapons used by Wu Hai and the rest before. A Heaven Genesis Weapon could absorb Genesis Qi from the surroundings to augment the user¡¯s strength. As such, Yuan Hong¡¯s battle power had grown even higher after taking out the Heaven Genesis Weapon. This was something Zhou Yuan had clearly experienced in their most recent exchange of blows. In other words, the Yuan Hong was now using his true power. Under the countless watching gazes, Yuan Hong wielded Heaven Flame as he stared at Zhou Yuan with the feral eyes of a tiger. Wave after wave of Genesis Qi continuously pulsed from the former¡¯s body, rippling space around him. ¡°I truly never expected that there would actually be a day where I would be forced so far by a fourth layer disciple.¡± Yuan Hong revealed a set of eerily white teeth, his voice filled with iciness. There was a sliver of anger in the depths of his eyes. Being pushed so far by Zhou Yuan had clearly made him feel humiliated. Yuan Hong had never once viewed Zhou Yuan as a threat. Even though the latter had achieved several impressive battle accomplishments, Yuan Hong had always looked at him like a senior looking at a newcomer. However, he would never have imagined that this newcomer he often overlooked or neglected, would actually force him into such a miserable state in the chief disciple selection. This was clearly something that Yuan Hong could not accept. Hence, he needed to display true power that would let Zhou Yuan understand the gap between them. The feral look in Yuan Hong¡¯s eyes grew more and more ferocious. In the next instant, berserk Genesis Qi exploded from his body, as his figure suddenly appeared high in the sky. Genesis Qi surged out, pouring into the Heaven Flame Sword in his hand. Everyone could see its originally scarlet-red blade grow brighter and brighter. A terrifying head spread from within, causing even the space around it to distort a little. ¡°Flame Light!¡± Yuan Hong¡¯s roar was akin to thunder. His hands formed a seal as the Heaven Flame Sword transformed into a flash of scarlet light as it shot forth. Scarlet-red waves of fire churned around it, as if it was falling from the sky while dragging along a sea of fire, quick as rushing thunder as it viciously chopped downwards at Zhou Yuan below. Swoosh! Patches of forest on the chief disciple peak began to burn, and even the boulders started to melt. The expressions of countless disciples changed at the sight of this attack. After being augmented by the power of a Heaven Genesis Weapon, Yuan Hong had obviously become even more frightening. No one knew if Zhou Yuan would be able to withstand such a terrifying attack... Zhou Yuan stood on the ground, the stone floor beneath his feet slowly turning scarlet-red. He lifted his head as the sea of fire rapidly grew in his eyes. Huu. He took a deep breath. Though his expression was grave, not the slightest trace of fear could be seen. Yuan Hong had brought out even his hidden Heaven Genesis Weapon, and clearly no longer dared to hold anything back. Since this was the case, the subsequent struggle would be a test of their true skills. However, no matter what, Zhou Yuan was absolutely not going to yield the chief disciple position to Yuan Hong today! Boom! A cold glint flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he slammed his foot into boiling hot scarlet-red ground, causing it to crumble. His figure turned into a wisp of smoke as it rose into the air. His hands tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as Genesis Qi star after star in his Qi Dwelling began to light up. Genesis Qi endlessly surged out, flooding his four limbs and skeleton. ¡°Jade skin stage!¡± His skin began to give off a jade glow. ¡°Silver bone stage!¡± Silver light emerged from his bones. Zhou Yuan pushed the little Mythic Saint Body to its limits at this very moment. Physical power and Genesis Qi gathered, allowing every swing of his fist and feet to be accompanied by an explosion of terrifying power. Rumble! The Heavenly Yuan Brush dashed towards the sky, bringing with it Zhou Yuan¡¯s strongest power as it collided with the scarlet light and sea of flames. Clang! The two Genesis Weapons smashed into each other, causing a loud ¡®clang¡¯ to sound. A ripple that could be seen with the naked eye swept outwards, as faint cracks appeared in the surrounding space. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was forced back, but he managed to stabilize his body with a jerk of the brush. The scarlet light also forced back, the sea of fire scattered as the light transformed back into a sword and orbited around Yuan Hong. Neither side had gained the upper hand in the ferocious clash. Zhou Yuan and Yuan Hong¡¯s gazes met in the air, iciness flickering in their eyes. In the next instant, the Heaven Flame Sword roared forth once more, scarlet light sweeping across the land as it transformed into countless sword shadows that began to attack Zhou Yuan. In response to Yuan Hong¡¯s aggressive offensive, Zhou Yuan howled at the sky, brandishing the brush as he shot forward to meet the attacks head-on. Thud! Thud! Thud! Genesis Qi clashed in the sky above the mountain top like thunder, sending out wave after wave of destruction. Yuan Hong controlled the Heaven Flame Sword with his Genesis Qi, sending it cutting through the air along with waves of fire. Scarlet-red sword shadows transformed into frightening attack after attack, like the relentless rage of a fire god. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan wielded the Heavenly Yuan Brush with raw physical force and Genesis Qi like a titan, every swing shaking even space itself. In the sky, every clash between the two would cause destructive shockwaves to unfurl, making the giant mountain below tremble. Both parties poured out of their power, anger seemingly growing with each strike. Outside the chief disciple peak, countless gazes watched the intense clash with shock. No one had expected Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s selection to reach such intense levels. In a certain manner of speaking, the intensity here was already not the least bit inferior to the other six peaks. Gaze after gaze stared unblinkingly at the sky above the chief disciple peak, neither Shen Taiyuan nor Lu Hong¡¯s factions daring to breathe too loudly. On the mountain top, Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan had huddled together to avoid the aftershocks of the battle happening above them. When they looked up to watch the dancing black brush wielded by a young figure in the sky, their expressions turned extremely complicated. All of the doubts and skepticism from before had already faded away. Rumble! Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan and Yuan Hong fought over a hundred rounds in the sky at lightning speed. They gave their all in every single exchange, not holding anything back. Boom! After yet another ferocious clash, the Heaven Flame Sword rose into the air and revolved around Yuan Hong, its scarlet light appearing somewhat dim. Zhou Yuan steadied his body, blood dripping from his hands as he gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Cold sweat had appeared on the foreheads of both individuals, and breathing had turned rather ragged. The intensity of the previous clashes was clearly exceedingly taxing on both of them. From this, one could see how fierce and desperate the exchanges had been. Zhou Yuan wiped away the blood on his hands as his brows knitted together. Yuan Hong was indeed an incomparably difficult opponent. The former had not expected to be incapable of defeating the latter even with the silver bone stage of the little Mythic Saint Body. While such thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, he was unaware that flames of rage in Yuan Hong¡¯s heart were burning even hotter. In fact, fire was nearly spewing from his eyes as he glared at Zhou Yuan. He had brought out even the Heaven Flame Sword to claim back the face he had lost. However, he was still unable to crush Zhou Yuan in a convincing manner that would teach him the gap between them. This was very hard for Yuan Hong to swallow. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± Yuan Hong¡¯s expression darkened. Meanwhile, high up in the sky above the Cangxuan Sect. While he watched the slugfest, peak master Ling Jun¡¯s eyes turned as deep as the night as a strange light flickered in his eyes. A long finger reached out from his sleeves as he gently trapped in the air. In that same moment. Yuan Hong suddenly sensed the Heaven Flame Sword emit a peculiar buzzing noise, as what seemed to be a strange glowing rune appeared on its body. Yuan Hong¡¯s pupils shrank slightly when he saw this. He cast an unnoticeable glance towards the sky above as a sliver of hesitation flitted across his eyes. However, the hesitation ultimately faded, replaced by resolve. His hands came together as he made a strange hand gesture. Buzz! The Heaven Flame Sword began to vibrate as it moved to hover above his head. It then began to sink little by little, making it appear as if it was inserting itself into Yuan Hong¡¯s head from a distance. Zhou Yuan frowned when he saw this scene, as a faint sense of unease rose within them. However, before he could do anything, the Heaven Flame Sword had already completely submerged into Yuan Hong¡¯s head in a bizarre manner. Yuan Hong stared at Zhou Yuan, and said with cold indifference, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ll admit that you¡¯re very capable to have pushed me so far, but unfortunately for you, you never had a chance in this chief disciple selection!¡± His eyes slowly closed at this moment. A deep, indescribable berserk sensation seemed to quietly echo, causing the surrounding Genesis Qi to instantly turn hot as if placed in a furnace. ¡°Sword! Feeding! Technique!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 474 Sword Feeding Technique Buzz! The entire area seemed to turn hot the instant the scarlet-red broadsword fully submerged into Yuan Hong¡¯s head. At the same time, the deep cry of a sword echoed across the land. The sword cry felt eternal and unending, seemingly transforming into omni present sword Qi that filled the area within a several thousand feet radius of Yuan Hong. Ch ch! Yuan Hong stood in the air as countless scars were cut open on the ground below his feet, revealing insides that were smooth as mirrors. The pressure from Yuan Hong¡¯s body steadily grew more and more powerful. These changes were naturally immediately detected by Zhou Yuan. His expression instantly changed, because Yuan Hong¡¯s Genesis Qi now felt extremely scorching and deadly. It was completely different from before. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Confusion flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. On the mountain peak, Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately in confusion, evidently also sensing the changes in Yuan Hong. Outside the chief disciple peak, countless gazes also watched in confusion. Elder Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, their eyes rapidly flickering in thought as they stared at Yuan Hong¡¯s figure. A long while later, they seemed to recall something as their pupils shrank a little. ¡°It¡¯s the Sword Feeding Technique?¡± Their expressions turned ugly. The Sword Feeding Technique was a rather unorthodox Genesis technique of Sword Cometh Peak. It fed one¡¯s flesh and blood to the sword, allowing one to temporarily achieve a pseudo state of ¡®sword and man as one¡¯. In this state, the wielder¡¯s strength would be augmented, while also being bestowed the powers of the sword... However, this Genesis technique was extremely damaging to the wielder, and would leave serious repercussions. In fact, even the sword would be tainted by a demonic aura that would make it difficult to control in the future. It was precisely because of this high price that very few disciples would attempt learning it. Moreover, even if they did, they would not resort to it unless it was a life or death situation. No one had expected Yuan Hong to activate at this juncture... Numerous disciples broke out into whispers, many criticizing Yuan Hong. The latter¡¯s methods were clearly quite unscrupulous. High up in the sky, sect master Qing Yang frowned slightly when he saw this scene. ¡°Humph, it¡¯s only a match between disciples of the same sect, and yet he even used such a technique that would even harm himself. What a vicious disciple.¡± Peak master Lianyi swept a cold glance at peak master Ling Jun. The other peak masters also shook their heads as if they had something to say about the matter. Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he said, ¡°Yuan Hong¡¯s thirst for victory is indeed a little too strong. After this is over, he shall be reprimanded for such actions. However, the rules do state that one must do one¡¯s best, and has never restricted or forbidden such techniques.¡± Sect master Qing Yang fell into thought for a brief moment, and could ultimately only shake his head in a helpless manner. Though this action of Yuan Hong was quite unsightly, it did not break any rules. Hence, it was not appropriate for him as sect master to be overly critical. He looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure on the mountain top with some pity. The fact that Zhou Yuan, a newly promoted disciple, had been able to push Yuan Hong to this point was already more than proof of his ability. This had perhaps been a little too difficult to swallow for the latter, forcing him to use such a sacrilegious technique. Given Yuan Hong¡¯s current state, things would likely become quite dangerous for Zhou Yuan. ¡­ Buzz buzz! The humming of a sword continuously echoed across the area. Yuan Hong¡¯s originally muscular body began to shrivel at a speed that could be seen by the naked eye. Scarlet light surfaced in his pupils, making him look quite the terrifying sight. Zhou Yuan could sense an increasingly dangerous aura from Yuan Hong¡¯s body, causing him to tightly grip the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he focused all his attention on the latter. ¡°I truly never imagined¡­ that the first time I use the Sword Feeding Technique would be because of you.¡± Scarlet light surged within Yuan Hong¡¯s pupils, his voice turning eerie and raspy as he stared at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan did not respond, merely continuing to watch his opponent with cold eyes, while his body tensed up in high alert. ¡°I¡¯ll make you understand the meaning of fear!¡± The corners of Yuan Hong¡¯s mouth were lifted, creating a sinister smile. Swish! His foot powerfully slammed into the ground, the hum of a sword seemingly echoing as his body strangely disappeared from the spot. ¡°So quick!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank a little. Yuan Hong was undoubtedly much faster than before. Buzz! Just as Zhou Yuan began to retreat, the sound of a humming sword was suddenly heard above him. He abruptly lifted his head, to find Yuan Hong¡¯s gangly figure appear, staring at him with a chillingly eerie gaze as a bony hand ferociously chopped downwards. Swoosh! As the knife-hand fell, scarlet light spouted out, transforming into a glowing thousand foot long sword. Intense heat and power pulsed from it, as if it were an legendary evil sword that had just been pulled from a volcano. Sword light rushed past, leaving scars in the fabric space itself. Every motion and every attack was even fiercer and more powerful than when he had been wielding the Heaven Flame Sword earlier. Scarlet light rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils. He did not dare to waste any time as the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush swiftly turned pitch-black. SIlver light flickered in his body as he drew upon every ounce of his power and swung with all his might. Clang! The glowing scarlet sword hacked onto the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, causing a loud clang to explode. A scarlet-red shockwave unfurled, causing a violent gale to sweep across the area. Everyone watched as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was sent hurtling away from the scarlet light. He landed hard on the ground, his feet rapidly crushing the floor below him as his sleeves were ripped apart by an invisible force. After sliding a hundred feet, Zhou Yuan finally managed to stabilize his body as his expression turned extremely grave. Blood dripped from his hands, while the web between his thumb and index figure had been torn. ¡°What a terrifying attack.¡± Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth. Yuan Hong¡¯s strength was far too alarming in this state. In contrast to how they had been almost equal earlier, Zhou Yuan was now clearly being overwhelmed again. The chief disciple selection was much more difficult than expected. The many trump cards he had prepared were being forced out one after another. In the sky, Yuan Hong¡¯s savage scarlet pupils turned towards and locked onto Zhou Yuan. In the next instant, his body plunged from the sky, clearly intent on properly finishing off the latter in this state. Boom! Sonic booms were heard as his figure rocketed through the air. Swoosh! Swoosh! At the same time, a flurry of chops were thrown by Yuan Hong, creating giant scarlet sword after sword that seemed to fill the entire sky as they rained down, a sight that made the scalps of the countless watching disciples turn numb. In the face of Yuan Hong¡¯s crazy offensive, Zhou Yuan also felt his scalp grow numb. However, there was already nowhere to escape. He could only tightly grip the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he low roar left his throat. ¡°Jade skin!¡± ¡°Silver bone!¡± ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± ¡°Million Whale!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Frightening power erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body without any reservation. In the face of Yuan Hong¡¯s attacks, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to squeeze out every bit of power he possessed. This was going to be a clash of their strongest power! Previous Chapte Chapter 475 Breakthrough! Boom! Boom! Under countless horrified gazes, the attacks from both parties collided on the chief disciple peak, as an enormous explosion of energy swept outwards. The top of the mountain had finally began to crumble at this moment. Boulders continuously tumbled down as stone platform after platform collapsed. The entire mountain began to fall apart layer by layer. It was a clash that could be said to be earth-shattering. The destruction caused the scalps of countless disciples to turn numb. A giant cloud of dust rose from the wreckage, covering the sky. Every gaze was glued to the collapsed mountain top. The frightening attacks from before should finally mark the end of the chief disciple selection, right? Under these watching gazes, the dust cloud gradually dissipated. Next, numerous disciples saw a thin figure floating in the air. It was Yuan Hong! Berserk and powerful scarlet-red Genesis Qi continuously pulsed from his body as he stood in the air, while blood dripped from his hands. The gazes shifted downwards, only to find that the mountain top had completely crumbled. Amidst the rubble was a deep, bottomless black hole that appeared to pierce straight through the giant mountain... It was clear that Zhou Yuan had been blasted deep into the chief disciple peak by Yuan Hong¡¯s frightening bombardment. This scene made the Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples turn deathly pale. They were truly unable to imagine just how terrifying Yuan Hong¡¯s attacks had been. But they knew that even Zhou Yuan had not been able to withstand that relentless and crazed explosion of power. In contrast, Lu Hong¡¯s disciples breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy weight had been lifted from their shoulders. There were really too many twists and turns in this battle. Lu Hong faintly trembled as he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his tense body finally allowing itself to slowly relax, as a cold smile appeared from the corners of his lips. Although it had been quite a rollercoaster, the ones who were able to laugh in the end was his faction! Lu Hong mumbled with a slightly clenched jaw, ¡°He shouldn¡¯t be able to make any more comebacks, right?¡± The countless onlookers sighed in pity when they saw this scene. Zhou Yuan had only needed one more step to create a miracle. What a pity that he had failed at the final moment. It truly was quite regretful. Yuan Hong stood in the air, his chilling gaze staring at the ruins of the mountain top. His senses told him that the Genesis Qi undulations deep in the mountain had indeed become very weak. His opponent had evidently been gravely injured, making him the ultimate victor in this battle! ¡­ In the dark newly created depths inside the mountain. Zhou Yuan''s blood-drenched body was buried in the rubble. If he had not attained the silver bone stage, he would have been knocked out due to heavy injuries. Even so, he could feel pain radiate from all over his body. Yuan Hong¡¯s earlier attacks had been rather unbearable despite achieving the silver bone stage. ¡°How troublesome¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hoarse voice echoed in the darkness. His gaze penetrated the cracks amidst the rocks, catching a faint glimpse of the scarlet-red silhouette in the sky. Though there was a tired look in his eyes, it was dwarfed by a burning unyielding flame. Even in such a terrible situation, it was impossible for him to give up! He had suffered untold hardships to come this far, how could he allow himself to fall at the final step?! Zhou Yuan¡¯s burning eyes slowly closed at this moment, as the faint breathing of a dragon echoed from his nose. The dragon breathing grew louder and louder, as if a giant dragon was breathing. While he breathed, the surrounding Genesis Qi began surging over, transforming into white mist that was sucked into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Dragon Breathing! The breathing grew more and more hurried as it became louder and louder. In the end, the entire interior of the mountain was filled by boundless Genesis Qi that frantically poured into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand slowly began to clench tightly once more. Robust Genesis Qi flowed into his body, before being swiftly refined and cast into his Qi Dwelling. The Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling swiftly began to grow. In the darkness, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slowly opened as a seemingly inexhaustible bright light shined in his eyes. He had been stuck on the fourth layer Alpha-Origin for a long time, and had already faintly sensed the signs of a cultivation breakthrough while training on the water and fire tempering dragon stage. However, those signs had been extremely weak. Hence, Zhou Yuan chose to suppress them instead of forcibly attempting a breakthrough. But he was also preparing for it at all times, and after the bitter, desperate battle earlier, the indications of a breakthrough were finally slowly becoming clearer... A natural feeling akin to the creation of a canal where water flowed. Three months of slowly building his foundations bit by bit, and an intense battle to solidify it... The feeling of a breakthrough finally reached its peak at this very moment. The final trump card Zhou Yuan had prepared for the chief disciple selection was quietly being flipped open at this moment¡­ ¡­ In the sky above the chief disciple peak. Yuan Hong raised his head and looked towards the sky, clearly waiting for the final verdict to come. He was already the last man standing, and the position of Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple should soon fall upon his shoulders. However, after waiting for some time, he realized that there appeared to be no movement from the six grand figures in the sky. This was likewise detected by numerous disciples, causing them to burst out into confused noises. According to the rules, shouldn¡¯t it be time to announce that Yuan Hong had obtained the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak? After all, he already had no opponents left. Roar! While Yuan Hong and the numerous disciples were confused, a weak, barely audible dragon roar suddenly echoed. Yuan Hong was slightly stunned, before he abruptly threw his gaze towards the depths of the mountain, where he had sensed a powerful Genesis Qi undulation begin to gather at an alarming speed. ¡°How can this be?! He still has strength to fight?¡± Yuan Hong¡¯s pupils shrank as disbelief and shock flooded his face. It should have already been concluded, how could the situation change once more?! Rumble! Everyone watched as an enormous thousand foot light pillar of golden Genesis Qi suddenly erupt from the depths of the mountain. One would faintly see a giant python hissing in the Genesis Qi pillar, as a powerful aura engulfed the area. Countless gazes were dumbstruck as they stared at the violently churning Genesis Qi. This was not an unfamiliar sight to them, the same thing would happen to them during a Genesis Qi breakthrough. In other words... Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation had ascended to the next level! Previous Chapte Chapter 476 Fifth Layer! A golden Genesis Qi light pillar charged straight into the sky, emitting dazzling golden light and a powerful Genesis Qi pressure. Countless onlookers watched in shock as gaze after gaze stared hard at the depths of the collapsed mountain top. They were truly unable to believe that Zhou Yuan would suddenly have a cultivation breakthrough after experiencing such a desperate battle. It was impossible for such a breakthrough to occur out of the blue. After all, one would faintly be able to sense an imminent cultivation breakthrough. Hence, all of this had likely been within Zhou Yuan¡¯s expectations. From the very beginning, he may have been using the desperate fight to temper himself, and allow a miraculous cultivation breakthrough to perfectly appear. Everyone knew that it was easiest to find that breakthrough opportunity in a battle of such high intensity and concentration. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­ is so meticulous in his strategy!¡± Several disciples could not help but sigh in amazement. An ordinary person would likely do everything possible to reach for a breakthrough the moment the signs appeared. As for whether it would be perfect, that was definitely not a priority. After all, no one would know when such a chance would appear again. Only those who had absolute confidence in themselves would dare to calm their hearts, and silently polish themselves further as they waited for the most perfect timing. Which was precisely what was happening now. The Genesis Qi light pillar was robust and pure. In addition, it gave off a powerful Genesis Qi pressure that was comparable to the eighth layer. From this, one could easily see how crazily solid his foundations were. Complicated expressions rose in the eyes of countless disciples. It had finally dawned upon them why Zhou Yuan was clearly ascending to the fifth layer, but his Genesis Qi foundations were no weaker than the eighth layer. Because the latter¡¯s training was extremely harsh and stringent. Even a widely sought after cultivation breakthrough was not rushed, instead waiting for the most perfect timing to seek it. Such discipline and confidence far exceeded the norm. In the sky above the peak, Yuan Hong¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately as he watched this scene. He never imagined that he would become a mere grindstone for Zhou Yuan. This opponent of his had likely planned everything in advance, making use of the battle to induce a perfect cultivation breakthrough. The more desperate the earlier fight, the more benefits Zhou Yuan would receive. However, the fact that he dared to use a battle of this level as a training tool only showed his remarkable gutsiness. Huu. Yuan Hong took in a deep breath with a dark look in his eyes. The expelled breath had a fierce burning aura as sword Qi began to surge between his fingers. He had finally completely thrown away the composure from before. Zhou Yuan had surpassed his limits time and time again, and this time, it was very likely that he would catch up to Yuan Hong. The golden Genesis Qi grew increasingly dazzling and vigorous. Everyone could see a figure slowly rising within the glowing Genesis Qi pillar, before eventually coming to a stop in the sky. It was Zhou Yuan! All traces of blood had already been shaken off from his body. Although his clothes were still quite tattered, the injuries on his body were now fully healed. Jade light glowed from his skin as faint silver light shimmered in the depths of his bones. Golden light gathered in his pupils, as if they were golden pupils, while an intimidating pressure spread. At the sight of the current Zhou Yuan, Yuan Hong¡¯s pupils shrank slightly, evidently feeling an extremely dangerous aura for the very first time. Every gaze in the area converged onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His eyes were lightly shut, feeling the surging Genesis Qi in his body as a smile rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°Four thousand Genesis Qi stars.¡± After reaching the fifth layer, the number of stars in his Q Dwelling had grown to over four thousand. One must know that he had about a thousand two hundred stars in his Qi Dwelling when he rose to the fourth layer, which had slowly increased to two thousand at the peak of the fourth layer. This cultivation breakthrough had doubled that number. If this number was made public, many people would be astonished. After all, even some eighth layer disciples may not even have four thousand Genesis Qi stars. Hence, if one were to talk solely about Genesis Qi foundations, the current Zhou Yuan was already no weaker than Yuan Hong. Zhou Yuan gazed at Yuan Hong with faint indifference. The danger levels of the extremely high threat opponent from before had already begun to plummet in his eyes. ¡°Since I managed to achieve my cultivation breakthrough, it should be time for us to end this fight, right?¡± Said Zhou Yuan with a slight smile. Yuan Hong¡¯s eyes turned frosty as he retorted, ¡°What boastful words! Do you truly believe ascending to the fifth layer will change anything?!¡± Fury surged in Yuan Hong¡¯s heart. These words were just far too disrespectful. It was as if all the times he had been down in the earlier fight was merely him patiently enduring for his cultivation breakthrough. Zhou Yuan did not continue the exchange of words. His hands came together as he rapidly made a series of hand seals. Genesis Qi churned in his body, as a pressure spread, causing even the fabric of space to tremble faintly. The air around him abruptly heated up at this moment. Yuan Hong¡¯s expression darkened. He did not dare to be negligent as a similarly powerful and sharp burning aura spread. The Heaven Flame Sword that had been fused into his body had bestowed his Genesis Qi with fire properties. He was currently the Heaven Flame Sword, while the Heaven Flame Sword also him! Whoosh! The surrounding Genesis Qi swiftly gathered towards Zhou Yuan as his cheeks abruptly ballooned. A split second later, azure flames ferociously spouted from his mouth like a sea of fire. The azure sea of fire swept towards Yuan Hong like lightning, causing the surrounding temperatures to rise rapidly. ¡°Heavenly Sun Flame?¡± Yuan Hong was a little taken aback by this sight, but was evidently prepared for it as he sneered and said, ¡°You intend to defeat me with just this?¡± Zhou Yuan acted as if he had not heard anything. As the last bit of flame was blown out from his mouth, he suddenly spat out a very faint dark golden light. The light fused into the azure sea of flames, instantly dyeing in a dark golden hue. A dark golden sea of flames charged past like a raging bull, the terrifying heat rapidly climbing higher and higher. The forest on the mountain below began to burn, while the ground started to melt. ¡°Heavenly Sun God Record, third level, dark golden Heavenly Sun Flame!¡± Yuan Hong¡¯s expression finally changed at this moment as fear rose in his eyes. ¡°He has achieved the advance stage of the Heavenly Sun God Record!¡± Shock flooded Yuan Hong¡¯s heart. The Heaven Sun God Record was a low grade Heaven Genesis technique which comprised three stages. No one would have expected Zhou Yuan to reach the advance stage in a single year. One must know that even Yuan Hong himself had not managed to reach the advance stage in any of his Heaven Genesis techniques. As the dreadful heat rapidly approached, Yuan Hong did not dare to waste any more time. He clapped his hands together as the cry of a sword loudly erupted from his body. Scarlet light unfurled, transforming into a sky full of scarlet swords behind him. It was basically another sea, but one made of swords. Swoosh! Swish! In the next instant, countless scarlet-red swords shot forth and clashed with the dark golden Heavenly Sun Flames. Ch! Ch! However, the swords were instantly evaporated upon contact with the sea of flames, though they did manage to halt the advancing flames with sheer numbers alone. But as more and more of the swords were evaporated, several burns began to appear on Yuan Hong¡¯s body. These swords were part of the Heaven Flame Sword¡¯s power, and burning them would also cause harm to Yuan Hong¡¯s body. However, there was nothing else he could do at this time. An ominous glint surfaced in Yuan Hong¡¯s eyes as his cheeks abruptly ballooned, before his mouth suddenly opened a split second later. ¡°Sword Flame Torrent!¡± A scarlet torrent spouted forth from his mouth, the sharp aura pulsing from it evidence that it was actually composed entirely of sword Qi. Sword Qi swept forth, colliding with the dark golden sea of flames. With the sharpness of the sword Qi, the sea of flames was finally split apart. The scarlet-red in Yuan Hong¡¯s pupils began to wane, a sign that this move had greatly exhausted him. Before Yuan Hong could breathe a sigh of relief, however, he suddenly sensed space rippling above him. He abruptly jerked his head upwards, and discovered a figure appearing with a flash. Zhou Yuan looked down at his opponent from above with a gaze with cold indifference. He suddenly pounced a split second later, an overwhelming torrential presence surging from him like a tiger that was about to deal the killing blow to its prey. ¡°Jade skin!¡± His figure descended like a bolt of lightning as a jade glow blossomed from his skin. ¡°Silver bone!¡± ¡°Magical Serpent Scales!¡± ¡°Fifth layer!¡± Dazzling rays exploded from the four thousand Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling as torrential Genesis Qi flooded out. ¡°Myriad Transformations!¡± Snow-white hairs tunnelled out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and twisted around his arm, creating a snow-white gauntlet over his fist. These were brush hairs from the Heavenly Yuan Brush! ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± The snow-white gauntlet instantly turned a deep, mysterious pitch-black. At this current point in time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s aura had reached an indescribably terrifying level. With Yuan Hong¡¯s figure reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils, a twisted, sinister grin appeared from the corners of his lips ¡°Million Whale Rune!¡± In this very moment, the strongest blow he had prepared was finally unleashed with bold, unstoppable momentum. The fabric of space around him rippled violently as the remains of the chief disciple peak below began to collapse once more. This punch was far too great, possessing overwhelming power that could reshape the very land itself! In the face of such a punch, even Yuan Hong¡¯s expression changed drastically as terror flooded his eyes. However, he was also a person of extraordinary calibre, and was thus not completely paralyzed. ARHHHH! He roared as ferocity swelled in his eyes. He knew that only defeat awaited him if he allowed himself to yield even half a step. ¡°Heaven Flame Sword!¡± With a furious roar, his fingers clenched tightly into a fist that was sent blasting forth. Scarlet light frantically surged as the silhouette of a sword superimposed itself on his arm, the sword¡¯s power and his own fully erupting at this moment. At this point in time, he could only pour all of his power into this final clash! Rumble! Under attention of countless shocked gazes, the mightiest, full-power attacks of the two individuals clashed in the sky above the chief disciple peak with unequaled ferocity. It was akin to a meteor collision. A flurry of emotions colored the faces of countless disciples as they watched. Previous Chapte Chapter 477 Aspiring for Firs Boom! Two powerful attacks, each at the pinnacle of their respective user¡¯s strength, flew towards each other in the sky above the chief disciple peak, while countless gazes watched in shock. Everyone could feel that the two individuals had already squeezed out every drop of their power, making these attacks their strongest possible strikes. Outside the chief disciple peak, both Shen Taiyuan and Lu Hong were unable to turn their gazes away, even forgetting to breathe for the moment. They knew that both Zhou Yuan and Yuan Hong were basically at their limits by this point in the fight, and the final outcome was soon to appear. Lu Hong¡¯s expression was the uglier of the two, because he never imagined that the very same person he had originally believed they need not pay any attention to, would be the one to force Yuan Hong so far. What¡¯s more, even bringing out a trump card like the Sword Feeding Technique had actually failed to achieve a crushing victory. ¡°God damnit!¡± A curse was spat out from the cracks between Yuan Hong¡¯s teeth, his eyes filled with regret and frustration. If he had known what a problem that brat would be, they would have immediately changed their strategy to concentrate all their power into dealing with Zhou Yuan. However, it was already too late for regrets, and even Lu Hong could only nervously wait for the eventual result. ¡­ Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s black brush hair covered fist plowed through the sky, blasting away the surrounding air as it ruthlessly collided with Yuan Hong¡¯s scarlet-red sword superimposed fist. Clang! At the instant of impact, the entire world seemed to freeze for a moment. Next, a several thousand feet large Genesis Qi storm exploded from the point of collision, madly sweeping outwards. Even the numerous disciples outside the chief disciple peak could clearly feel the berserk energies within a storm of this scale. Cracks spread across the entire peak as the mountain top crumbled once more. At the epicenter, Yuan Hong¡¯s scarlet-red eyes were locked onto Zhou Yuan, who was mere inches away, as he roared through gritted teeth, ¡°A new disciple dares to stop me from becoming the chief disciple? Delusional!¡± Genesis Qi frantically gushed out from his body as he roared, rippling the space around him. The scarlet-red silhouette of a sword superimposed on his arm grew clearer and clearer, making it appear as if his arm was the Heaven Flame Sword itself, as increasingly deadly and hot undulations pulsed from it. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calmly indifferent in response to roaring from Yuan Hong¡¯s twisted face. The former¡¯s fist clenched even harder, the pitch-black hairs wrapped around it like a gauntlet gleaming with a deep, bottomless luster. ¡°Get! Out! Of! My! Way!¡± A bellow rang out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s throat, his fist slightly pulling back, before brazenly punching forward a split second later. Clang! The first that seemed to be covered by a black gauntlet smashed into Yuan Hong¡¯s fist like metal striking metal, as an enormous shockwave unfurled once more. Yuan Hong¡¯s pupils violently shrank at this moment. He had felt an indescribable boundless power rush towards him. As the power poured out, faint red cracks began to appear on his sword-like arm. Crack! His entire arm seemed to shatter at this instant. Next, countless gazes watched in astonishment as Yuan Hong¡¯s figure hurtled down from the sky like a cannonball. Wind rapidly rushed past his ears as a look of fear and shock appeared on Yuan Hong¡¯s face. It was as if he never expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch to have reached such a frighteningly powerful level! The Heaven Flame Sword in his body seemed to emit a mournful cry. Boom! His body landed on the mountain top, followed by several loud booming sounds, as the already crumbling mountain top fully collapsed. Yuan Hong¡¯s body pierced into the mountain, ultimately stopping deep in its bowels. The body of the mountain began to cave in as the entire peak started to crumble. The sight of such destructive power caused the numerous watching disciples to suck in a cold breath of air. The entire place was completely silent. Countless gazes shifted away from the collapsed chief disciple peak in shock, to find Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure standing in the air as the brush hairs on his fist swiftly receded. Blood flowed down his hand, dripping from his fingertips. The earlier punch had been unequaled in ferocity. As a result, the resultant force had also been extremely frightening. If not for his progress in external cultivation, Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm would have been torn to pieces. He looked downwards with a frosty gaze at the still collapsing chief disciple peak. His gaze followed the tumbling rubble, and found Yuan Hong¡¯s figure lying amidst numerous boulders in the bowels of the mountain. His entire body was drenched in blood, his somewhat crooked arm clearly broken in quite a number of places. A look of terror was still present on Yuan Hong¡¯s face as he struggled to lift his head. His gaze penetrated the falling boulders to find the figure high up in the sky. He emitted a struggling hiss from his throat as he reached out to grab at the figure with some difficulty. His eyes were filled with an intense unresigned look. He never imagined that he would actually lose to Zhou Yuan... A new disciple he had never even registered as a threat¡­ had managed to defeat him?! The almighty Yuan Hong?! The gazes of two individuals met amidst the falling boulders. ¡°I... I refuse to accept this!! How can you possibly have defeated me?!¡± A hoarse howl of rage was accompanied by a gush blood. His body glowed with scarlet light. In the end, a sword shot out, wailing as it stabbed into the ground beside him. It was the Heaven Flame Sword. The Heaven Genesis Weapon had already turned extremely dim, a sign that it had also sustained serious damage. After the Heaven Flame Sword left his body, the light in Yuan Hong¡¯s eyes began to waver. He stared at the cold eyes of the young figure in the sky, as his outstretched hand slowly began to fall... No matter how unresigned he was, Yuan Hong understood that in this chief disciple selection... He had lost. ¡­ Boulders continued to tumble down, covering the giant pit. Urgh. In the air, Zhou Yuan spat out a mouthful of blood and saliva as the Genesis Qi around him gradually weakened. The intense battle had been an extremely difficult one for him. If he failed to ascend to the fifth layer at the end, he would have no choice but to bring out Silver Shadow. Currently, by borrowing Yuan Hong¡¯s power, Zhou Yuan had not only mastered the silver bone stage, but also stepped into the fifth layer, a very satisfactory and perfect end indeed. Zhou Yuan wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth and raised his head to glance at a certain spot in the distance, where Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan were gathered, staring at him with gazes that were a mix between shock and horror. It was as if they had seen a ghost. Due to their close proximity, they had witnessed how Zhou Yuan had made a comeback from a near hopeless situation, and ultimately crushed Yuan Hong under his heel. The resultant shock was so intense that it was impossible to increase it any further. Lu Yan swallowed again and again, a complicated expression on her pretty face. How could she have ever imagined that the new disciple she always looked down on would end up defeating Yuan Hong, doing something that even the combined efforts of the three top tier purple sash disciples had failed to achieve. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan¡­ this is¡­ too fierce, right?¡± Mumbled Zhou Tai. Zhang Yan was silent, but the shock in his eyes was unconcealable. In fact, there was even a trace of respect in his gaze when he looked at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan smiled at them, before turning to the side towards the still dazedly standing Han Yu. The only person left who had yet to be eliminated was her. ¡°Senior sister Han Yu, shall we have a little bout?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Once he eliminated Han Yu, he would be the only remaining participant, and the chief disciple position would naturally become his. Han Yu was first stunned by these words, before she anxiously backed away as if having seen some kind of terrifying creature. In the end, she fainted. Basically scared out of consciousness. Zhou Yuan was stunned by this sight for a moment, before he awkwardly scratched his head, split between whether to laugh or to cry. It seems that watching him beat Yuan Hong earlier had terrified her too much, making Han Yu unable to bear the physiological stress of facing Zhou Yuan now. However, being unconscious meant that she was now disqualified. He was the only remaining participant in the entire chief disciple peak. At this thought, even Zhou Yuan felt his heart begin to rise in his chest. He lifted his head, looking towards the sky as he cupped his fists together. ¡°The Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple selection is over, will sect master please bestow the title onto me.¡± His clear and powerful voice sounded in the silent surroundings. Previous Chapte Chapter 478 It’s Over When Zhou Yuan¡¯s clear voice echoed across the land, the silence over the place was finally broken as dazed gaze after gaze slowly returned to their senses... The onlookers looked towards the still slowly collapsing chief disciple peak, where Zhou Yuan was standing in the air. Although he tattered clothes made him cut quite a sorry figure, the faint presence that spread from him made several disciples freeze for a second. Only at this very moment did they finally realize that what many had viewed to be a mere new disciple, had already grown to such an astonishing level in a short year... So much so, that even a veteran disciple like Yuan Hong had been beaten! At this moment, the crowd finally understood that they could no longer view Zhou Yuan with the same lenses they had before¡­ anyone who dared to adopt a high and mighty attitude due to seniority or experience, would only be seeking his or her own humiliation. Outside the chief disciple peak, the three Saint Genesis Peak factions also returned to their senses. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples were in disbelief. They looked at each other, and timidly asked, ¡°We¡­ won?¡± The pressure brought by Lu Hong¡¯s faction had been far too overwhelming. Hence, even at such a time, they found the impossibly beautiful outcome before them rather hard to accept. The usual stern and strict look on Shen Taiyuan¡¯s old face was currently disappearing little by little, as intense, unconcealable emotions surged out in his eyes. He forcefully nodded as he said in a trembling voice, ¡°Yes, Zhou Yuan has won! We¡¯ve won the chief disciple selection!¡± With regards to such an outcome, even someone like Shen Taiyuan could no longer remain calm. When the Zhou Tai trio had failed to defeat Yuan Hong earlier, Shen Taiyuan had already begun to despair inside. Yuan Hong had just been too overwhelming and unstoppable. Although Zhou Yuan had repeatedly surprised them, Shen Taiyuan felt that he was still too new, and his chances against an experienced disciple like Yuan Hong were anything but optimistic. Never would he have imagined that Zhou Yuan, whom no one had supported, would ultimately be the one to do it... In the end, he had even gone against all odds to obtain victory against Yuan Hong! Gratifications filled Shen Taiyuan¡¯s eyes as he gazed upon the youthful figure. He was very happy that he had insisted on taking Zhou Yuan in back then, and even repeatedly supported him against the majority opinion. Now, Zhou Yuan had reciprocated in the best way imaginable. In the wake of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s words, the nearby disciples finally returned to their senses. Zhou Yuan had really defeated Yuan Hong, and obtained the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak! As such, literal earth-shaking cheers erupted a split second later. ¡°Little Yuan bro is invincible!¡± An excited to the max shriek was heard. The crowd jumped at this voice, quickly looking over, only to find that Shen Wanjin¡¯s round face had flushed red with excitement, as if he was about to pass out from happiness. ¡°I¡­ I put two hundred thousand Genesis jade on him!¡± Shen Taiyuan trembled with emotion. These words caused the group to fall silent once more, before their eyes began to turn red, and their breathing ragged as they stared at Shen Wanjin. Only now did they recall that he had bet two hundred thousand Genesis jade on Zhou Yuan taking home the chief disciple seat! Just how much was he going to get back in return?! They had previously teased Shen Wanjin for basically ¡®throwing away¡¯ his wealth, but who could have expected such an outcome? After calculating the betting odds, how much Genesis jade did he win? Such a fortune would stun even purple sash disciples. Numerous disciples suddenly felt their hearts ache as they stared at the flushed Shen Wanjin. Was this little fatty going to become one of the richest disciples in the Cangxuan Sect? What kind of luck was this! While the many disciples on this side were cheering, somewhere nearby, elder Lu Song was the first to begin clapping, as he sent Shen Taiyuan a congratulatory smile. His disciples also returned to their senses as they erupted into thunderous cheers. After all, compared to Yuan Hong becoming the chief disciple, they undoubtedly favored Zhou Yuan much much more. The cheering of these two factions converged together, booming across the area like thunder. Amidst their cheering, Lu Hong¡¯s faction was covered in a stifling atmosphere as if someone had died. Numerous disciples, including Wei Youxuan and the others who had once dueled with Zhou Yuan, had deathly white complexions as they watched this scene. They never imagined that the seemingly invincible Yuan Hong would fall at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands! This was a devastating blow to their morale. Amidst the heavy silence was an ashen faced Lu Hong. His body trembled as his legs turned to jelly, causing him to fall, butt first, into the chair behind him. ¡°How can this be¡­¡± Mumbled Lu Hong. ¡°How could he have defeated Yuan Hong?!¡± Lu Hong¡¯s gnarly hands tightly gripped the arm rests of the chair, the tremendous force crushing them to splinters. This outcome had clearly far exceeded his expectations. Yuan Hong was his greatest disciple that he had poured all his heart into nurturing, and had even received tutelage from peak master Ling Jun. There should have been no one who was capable of matching him in Saint Genesis Peak. He was also the source of Lu Hong¡¯s confidence in obtaining the chief disciple position. However, the scene current before his eyes caused all of this confidence to fall apart at this moment. His mind was a mess, because he dearly understood the heavy responsibility they carried by coming to Saint Genesis Peak. It was a gamble between peak master Ling Jun and the other peak masters. If they failed, Sword Cometh Peak would suffer a tremendous loss, a loss that even an elder like him could not possibly shoulder. He had followed peak master Ling Jun for many years, and clearly understood the ambitions in the latter¡¯s heart. It was to make Sword Cometh Peak the most powerful peak in the Cangxuan Sect. However, all of that plotting had now ended in failure. Lu Hong did not even dare to look up at this moment. He could already imagine how much rage there was in peak master Ling Jun¡¯s heart... With a glazed look in his eyes, Lu Hong gazed at the figure floating above the chief disciple peak, as endless regret suddenly began to flood his heart. If he had known this would happen, he would have done all his best to recruit Zhou Yuan back then. However, Zhou Yuan had been of practically zero concern to him back then. He did not feel that there was anything noteworthy about this new disciple¡­ in addition, because of Lu Xuanyin, he had even beared a little animosity towards Zhou Yuan. If he had just recruited Zhou Yuan and then thrown him to the side, today¡¯s events would at the very least not have occured! However¡­ as he recalled this memory, Lu Hong finally understood the meaning of regret. ¡°It¡¯s over¡­¡± He mumbled as his body turned ice-cold. Previous Chapte Chapter 479 Chief Disciple Sea Shocked noises continued to reverberate outside the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple peak, before swiftly spreading at an alarming pace, quickly spreading to the other six chief disciple peaks. All of the disciples who received the news were without exception, stunned and shaken to the core. A rapidly growing uproar washed over the Cangxuan Sect. Everyone had clearly been astonished by this outcome. It was after all common knowledge that Saint Genesis Peak had fallen into hard times, and could not match the other six peaks. Moreover, Lu Hong¡¯s faction was originally from the rapidly rising Sword Cometh Peak, and had even established a place for themselves there back then. Many people believed that the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak would most certainly end up with Lu Hong¡¯s faction, mostly because of their unshakable confidence in Yuan Hong. Even back in Sword Cometh Peak, Yuan Hong would have been a strong contender for the chief disciple position. After being transferred to Saint Genesis Peak, obtaining the chief disciple seat should have been a mere formality. Hence, the news had thoroughly stunned everyone who heard it. ¡°My god, Yuan Hong really lost?!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Zhou Yuan the one who recently joined the sect last year?¡± ¡°Who else in Saint Genesis Peak is called Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°Is he really so amazing? To think that even Yuan Hong was not his match.¡± ¡°Looks like everyone has underestimated him¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Countless disciples could not stop sighing. Although Zhou Yuan had a growing reputation in the Cangxuan Sect, the public opinion was that he was still a new disciple, and needed more training before he could begin challenging a veteran disciple like Yuan Hong. No one had expected that Zhou Yuan would defeat Yuan Hong at such a time, and seize Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s chief disciple position. While sighing, numerous disciples committed Zhou Yuan¡¯s name to memory. They also subconsciously felt a little respect for him, and no longer viewed him as a new disciple. After all, once he became the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan¡¯s status would be vastly different from before. Outside Cangxuan Peak¡¯s chief disciple peak. Gu Hongyi was likewise stunned when she heard the news, but a happy smile soon blossomed on her beautiful face, as she cast her gaze towards the far away Saint Genesis Peak. The truth was that she had not been optimistic about Zhou Yuan¡¯s chances either, and thus could not bring herself to go over and watch. She was worried that she would see Zhou Yuan¡¯s faction being crushed, and never imagined that he would instead end up tiumphanting over all the odds. Gu Hongyi laughed softly, displaying an enchanting smile. Though it was somewhat regretful that she had not been there to personally witness it, Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory was still the best news of all. ¡°Hongyi, that guy called Zhou Yuan is quite capable. To think that he managed to defeat even Yuan Hong.¡± Around Gu Hongyi, several senior and junior sisters from the Cangxuan Peak also released surprised noises. They knew that Gu Hongyi was quite close to Zhou Yuan. Gu Hongyi earnestly said, ¡°He wasn¡¯t ordinary from the start, anyone who underestimates him will surely pay the price.¡± Gu Hongyi was obviously very popular in the Cangxuan Peak. As such, there were always quite a number male disciples crowding around her like stars to the moon, who all adored her greatly. Therefore, their lips curled in jealousy when they saw how highly she thought of Zhou Yuan. Some of the more senior disciples even wanted to step forward to compare themselves with him, but ultimately chose to shut their mouths. They realized that when Zhou Yuan obtained the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak, his status was no longer that of a new disciple. If they talked carelessly, it would instead make them appear like overly arrogant braggarts. Hence, they could only look at each other in the end, and shake their heads in frustration. ¡­ ¡°What?! Zhou Yuan beat senior brother Yuan Hong?!¡± When the news reached Sword Cometh Peak, it caused the biggest reactions of all. Numerous disciples were dumbstruck, clearly unable to accept this reality. Lu Xuanyin in particular, stared at the disciple who had told them the news with round eyes, and an ashen face, as a dispirited look filled her eyes. ¡°How can this be?!¡± Her voice was somewhat panicked. She knew full well that it was precisely because of herself that Lu Hong had been so critical of Zhou Yuan at the start. If not for her, Lu Hong would surely have seriously considered recruiting Zhou Yuan. She had even been quite pleased with herself back then, and felt good that Lu Hong was avenging her. After today, however, that pleased feeling had turned to panic. Because she clearly understood why Lu Hong¡¯s faction had gone to Saint Genesis Peak. It was on peak master Ling Jun¡¯s instructions. Lu Hong¡¯s failure today would surely draw peak master Ling Jun¡¯s wrath. When that happened, Lu Hong would not be the only one to receive punishment. Lu Xuanyin knew that she would also be implicated. The thought of such an outcome caused Li Xuanyin¡¯s face to turn deathly pale. She never imagined that the country bumpkin she looked down on back then would come to possess such power and status in the Cangxuan Sect after a short year. ¡­ High in the sky where the ten Chosens were seated. Chu Qing¡¯s bald head gleamed brightly as he gazed at the collapsing mountain peak in the distance. Surprise flitted across his handsome face as he slowly said, ¡°This junior brother Zhou Yuan of ours is no simple individual¡­¡± These words were no longer teasing in nature due to Yaoyao, but genuinely complimenting Zhou Yuan himself. It had only been a year since he joined the Cangxuan Sect, but he had already become the chief disciple of one of the peaks. Though it was in the pitiful Saint Genesis Peak, it was still enough to show how extraordinary Zhou Yuan was. Li Qingchan also looked at his figure with a complicated expression in her eyes. She had realized that no matter how highly she viewed him, she always seemed to end up underestimating him a little. This meant that she was still wrong about Zhou Yuan. Li Qingchan turned towards another direction where a beautiful figure was elegantly seated. The latter seemed to sense the former¡¯s gaze, and slightly tilted her head over in response, before raising a cup with a soft chuckle. It was obviously Yaoyao. Li Qingchan¡¯s lips curled slightly, easily picturing Yaoyao asking her whether she was wrong again. ¡°He is quite the monster¡­¡± Muttered Li Qingchan as she glanced towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s far away figure. The fact that Zhou Yuan could draw such words from a Chosen such as herself showed how highly she regarded him. Beside Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng was completely silent, but anyone could see the thick layer of frost covering his face. Nearby, Zhao Zhu had already begun cursing. Who else could he be cursing but Yuan Hong for being useless. At the sight of Kong Sheng¡¯s appearance, the other Chosens could only chuckle inside, not daring to provoke him at such a time. Only Chu Qing sighed, before he looked over and said, ¡°Junior brother Kong Sheng, it looks like I was a step ahead of you again. When will you be passing me the Genesis jade?¡± Veins popped out on Kong Sheng¡¯s forehead. Chu Qing rubbed his bald head as he displayed a dazzling smile, ¡°No hurry, no hurry. Junior brother Kong Sheng can always write me an IOU first if you can¡¯t pay up for the moment.¡± A chilling voice shot out from the gaps between Kong Sheng¡¯s teeth. ¡°Scram!¡± ¡­ Even higher up in the sky. Six majestic figures were seated in the sky. However, even these six figures were likewise a little out of it as they gazed upon the collapsing mountain top. One could easily imagine how unexpected this was if it could affect even individuals like them. Cough! Sect master Qing Yang was the first to recover. He coughed softly, before looking towards peak master Ling Jun. The latter was no longer able to maintain his usual faint smile, and his face was currently a little ugly. On the other hand, peak master Lianyi was grinning from ear to ear as she said, ¡°This year''s chief disciple selection has been quite a rollercoaster. Hehe, peak master Ling Jun, we¡¯ll be gladly receiving the resources of your Sword Cometh Peak.¡± Though the other peak masters did not say anything, the corners of their lips were clearly twitching a little. Back then, peak master Ling Jun had gone against the majority opinion, and transferred Lu Hong¡¯s faction to Saint Genesis Peak. He had also promised them that if Lu Hong¡¯s faction failed to obtain the chief disciple seat, Sword Cometh Peak would give a fifth of their cultivation resources as compensation to the other peaks. That was a tremendous amount of cultivation resources. Even to people like them, losing such an amount would be very painful. Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s expression akin to a frozen lake, his tightly clenched hands betraying the boiling anger inside. Sect master Qing Yang waved his hand, stopping peak master Lianyi¡¯s gloating provocations. He fell silent for a brief moment, before ultimately deciding to speak, ¡°The chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak has ended up with elder Shen Taiyuan¡¯s group, while Lu Hong¡¯s faction has failed. ¡°In accordance with the meeting we had before, peak master Ling Jun promised to give up a fifth of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s cultivation resources next year. I hope that peak master Ling Jun will be understanding in this matter.¡± Although he pitied peak master Ling Jun a little, sect master Qing Yang naturally needed to be impartial. Hence, he had to be slightly heartless this time even if it was akin to cutting off peak master Ling Jun¡¯s flesh. After all, it was a promise peak master Ling Jun personally made to all the other peak masters. If he failed to adhere to it, the other peak masters would certainly not let this matter rest. Peak master Ling Jun took in a deep breath. He did not say anything, and merely slowly nodded his head. Sect master Qing Yang did not say anything else on this matter. His gaze shifted towards the collapsing mountain top as he waved his sleeve, causing the collapsing to stop. A mysterious power seemed to descend from the sky. Countless disciples could only watch in astonishment as the giant mountain began to repair itself at this moment. Boulders rose into the air as greenery grew once more. In a short span of a few dozen seconds, the crumbling mountain peak had returned to its original state. Exactly the same as before as it continued to tower over the land. One could only gasp in amazement at this sight. To destroy a mountain was an easy task that one could accomplish at the Alpha-Origin stage, but to return a destroyed mountain to its original state was a feat that required a completely different level of power. This was basically akin to shaping the land. A boulder carrying the heavily injured Yuan Hong slowly rose into the sky and gently landed on the mountain top. Zhou Yuan was similarly shocked by what he had just seen, as respect rose in his eyes. The power to shape and change the land itself had surpassed the boundaries of his imagination. Sect master Qing Yang looked down from high up in the sky with a kind gaze. A stone throne slowly rose behind Zhou Yuan, the two words ¡®chief disciple¡¯ inscribed upon it. Zhou Yuan heart churned with emotion as he stared at the throne. He bowed towards the far away sect master Qing Yang, before seating himself on the throne amidst countless envious gazes. The moment he was seated, a ray of light arose from the throne and soared into the sky, standing on the mountain like a glowing pillar that supported the heavens, allowing the entire Cangxuan Sect to clearly view it. At the same time, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s grand voice echoed across the land. ¡°Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s chief disciple selection has concluded.¡± ¡°And their chief disciple is Zhou Yuan!¡± Innumerable disciples looked towards the young figure seated upon the stone throne, respect flowing out in their eyes, as they bowed towards him. Countless voices rang out in an orderly fashion. ¡°Congratulations chief disciple Zhou Yuan!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 480 The Seven Great Chief Disciples Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s grand voice continued to echo within the sect. Seated on the stone throne, Zhou Yuan could not help but feel overwhelmed inside when he heard the countless disciples congratulating him. His hands clenched tightly, clearly unable to contain his emotions. His main reason for joining the Cangxuan Sect was to grow stronger, and reach the level where he could match king Wu. Becoming the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak had been his first target... Once he became the chief disciple, he would be able to openly enter the sealed main peak to find the second Saint Rune left behind by patriarch Cang Xuan. A Saint Rune was a fragment of the divine artifact, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and possessed unimaginable power. It was basically a miraculous blessing to anyone who could come to own it. To obtain it, Zhou Yuan had not wasted even a single second resting over the past year, taking on risk after risk, and challenge after challenge. All of his efforts were finally being repaid at this very moment. He was clearly growing closer and closer to his goal. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, suppressing the churning emotions in his heart, before he raised his gaze and looked towards a certain boulder far away, where a certain graceful figure was seated. Yaoyao was currently holding Tuntun as she lifted her gorgeous face, causing their gazes to meet for an instant. Next, Yaoyao¡¯s red lips raised slightly, forming a faint, yet elegant angle. She gently lifted the wine pot in her hand, and made a toasting gesture, as if she were both praising and affirming the year of hard work he had put in. Because she clearly understood just how much effort Zhou Yuan had invested over the past year. The current glory was something he had every right to possess. Zhou Yuan smiled in response, before withdrawing his eyes. His gaze shifted towards the other six chief disciple peaks, where the battles had yet to end. Unlike Saint Genesis Peak that only had three factions, the other peaks had at least several dozen. Hence, their chief disciple selections naturally would not be decided as quickly. As such, Zhou Yuan needed to wait for the other six peaks to be done before the chief disciple selection would be officially over. Only then would they be bestowed the reward for becoming the chief disciple, the only technique that the chief disciples of each peak had the right to learn¡­ the seven Cangxuan arts! For Saint Genesis Peak, it was the Omega Saint Spirit Art! A high grade Heaven Genesis technique! At this thought, even the usually composed Zhou Yuan felt his breathing grow heavier as his eyes turned a little red. It would be the highest level of Genesis technique he had ever come into contact with till now. Even the little Mythic Saint Body he had learnt was merely an offshoot of the Mythic Saint Body, one of the seven Cangxuan arts. It was difficult to imagine how powerful a true high grade Heaven Genesis technique would be. Zhou Yuan ultimately quelled his roaming imagination. He changed to a cross-legged position on the stone throne, and closed his eyes as he began recovering his Genesis Qi. The earlier battle had after all been extremely exhausting. Time swiftly flowed while Zhou Yuan recovered. Outside the other six peaks, earth-shaking cheers would explode from time to time, a clear indication of the increasingly intense battles. This continued till the sun was setting in the sky. Dusky red light shined from the sky, draping a rose-red cloak over the land. Dong! Dong! When the sound of a bell echoed across the mountains, torrential cheering erupted in the Cangxuan Sect. The battles on the other six peaks had finally come to a conclusion. At the same time, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s booming voice descended from the sky once more. ¡°Cangxuan Peak¡¯s chief disciple selection is over, their chief disciple, Tang Muxin.¡± ¡°Snow Lotus Peak, chief disciple, Su Yao.¡± ¡°Hongya Peak¡¯s chief disciple, Chen Ze.¡± ¡°Spirit Rune Peak¡¯s chief disciple, Jin Zhang.¡± ¡°Lightning Prison Peak¡¯s chief disciple, Xie Yan.¡± ¡°Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s chief disciple, Bai Liche.¡± When each chief disciple was announced, deafening cheers would erupt from the disciples of each respective peak. All of them chanted their chief disciple¡¯s name, an incredible sight that far surpassed Saint Genesis Peak in magnitude. After all, every other peak had an absolute advantage in numbers. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and looked towards the mountain tops of the other six chief disciple peaks in the distance. A figure was currently seated in each of the chief disciple thrones at the top of each mountain. These six individuals were obviously the six chief disciples of their respective peaks. Among these six individuals, some were old chief disciples, while others had knocked down obstruction after obstruction, fighting all the way to the top where they ultimately defeated the old chief disciple. Regardless of whether they were old or new chief disciples, every one of these six individuals were true elites that had distinguished themselves from countless Cangxuan Sect disciples. Their status was second only to the ten great Chosens! A mountain-toppling wave of noise converged, growing louder and louder until even the mountains began to tremble. These noises were clearly congratulating the seven newly promoted chief disciples, who were currently the center of attention. ¡°Will the seven chief disciples come forward.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s gentle yet grand voice echoed above the other six peaks. Six figures shot forth in unison, landing on a giant mountain at the center of the seven peaks under the countless watching gazes. This giant mountain was the location where the chief disciples received their rewards each year. The tip of Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot pushed off the ground as golden Genesis Qi formed a cloud below him. It carried him into the air, and ultimately arrived on the top of the giant mountain. When he landed, six gazes immediately looked over with interest and curiosity. There was of course also some skepticism within them. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s only been a year since you¡¯ve joined the sect, and yet you¡¯ve already become a chief disciple. Such a rapid rise is unprecedented in our Cangxuan Sect.¡± A male disciple chuckled as he sighed in admiration. The man was called Jin Zhang, and was the chief disciple of Spirit Rune Peak. He had previously dueled with Yaoyao a while back during the boundary trial of Spirit Rune Hall. However, he appeared to be quite a magnanimous person, and held no prejudice towards Zhou Yuan despite losing to Yaoyao. In a manner of speaking, he had been subdued by Yaoyao¡¯s might. Zhou Yuan could feel Jin Zhang¡¯s goodwill, and quickly replied with a humble smile. ¡°Jin Zhang, you¡¯re exaggerating things. Don¡¯t you know how much easier it is to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak?¡± However, a faint laughter was heard at this moment, laughter that was tinged with mockery. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, his gaze tracing the voice to its source, only to find a young man in blue robes wearing an indifferent expression on his face, while standing with his hands behind his back. The markings of Sword Cometh Peak could be seen on his sleeves. This person was evidently the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak, Bai Liche. Bai Liche¡¯s indifferent gaze swept towards Zhou Yuan, eyes filled with skepticism and frostiness. However, his attitude towards the latter was quite normal, because Zhou Yuan had defeated Yuan Hong, and humiliated Sword Cometh Peak. There was no one in the entire Cangxuan Sect that did not know Lu Hong¡¯s faction had transferred to Saint Genesis Peak on peak master Ling Jun¡¯s instructions. After the failure of Lu Hong¡¯s faction today, peak master Ling Jun would definitely be infuriated. Hence, as a member of Sword Cometh Peak, this chief disciple naturally greatly disliked Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged in the face of the mocking and hostility. After all, he knew that Sword Cometh Peak would surely have an extremely unfavorable opinion of him the moment he defeated Yuan Hong. ¡°Hehe, Bai Liche, your words are quite biased. Though Saint Genesis Peak is currently not in the best of states, Lu Hong¡¯s faction used to be quite high ranking in Sword Cometh Peak, while Yuan Hong would have been a strong contender for the chief disciple position in Sword Cometh Peak. If even he ended up losing to Zhou Yuan, his abilities can¡¯t be too far off from the real deal.¡± Soft tinkling laughter sounded from the side. Zhou Yuan looked over, and found a pretty young lady grinning at them. From the patterns on her sleeves, she should be chief disciple of the Cangxuan Peak, Tang Muxin. Zhou Yuan was a little surprised that she had spoken up for him. As if sensing his surprise, Tang Muxin smiled and said, ¡°Junior sister Hongyi has been enthusiastically spreading your name in the Cangxuan Peak. From what I can see, you¡¯re indeed a little different from the rest.¡± Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding. Tang Muxin had spoken up for him because of Gu Hongyi. Bai Liche frowned when he saw that both Jin Zhang and Tang Muxin would speak up for the newly promoted chief disciple, Zhou Yuan. In the end, he coldly snorted with a slight wave of his sleeves. The other chief disciples did not join in, merely looking at Zhou Yuan with interest, before withdrawing their gazes. On the mountain top, seven figures silently stood with their hands by their sides. They soon felt a vast presence descend from the sky, as glowing lotuses slowly landed on the mountain top. Zhou Yuan and the other six raised their heads, and found six imposing figures seated on the glowing lotuses, their gazes as deep as the sea. Six immeasurable existences that were basically akin to gods. Previous Chapte Chapter 481 Omega Saint Spirit Ar Several glowing lotuses landed on the giant mountain. The vast, imposing auras spreading from the six figures seated atop them caused the seven chief disciples to grow increasingly respectful. As young practitioners that had recently stepped onto the ¡®main road¡¯ of cultivation, the six individuals before them, who were already at the grandmaster level, were the goals they would strive towards in the future. ¡°We respectfully greet sect master and the peak masters.¡± The seven respectfully bowed. Sect master Qing Yang smiled as he gazed upon these seven individuals, and nodded in approval. With a wave of his sleeve, seven rainbow clouds slowly rose from under their feet and lifted them into the air. Zhou Yuan curiously observed the cloud he stood on. It seemed to be made purely from Genesis Qi, while a strange power churned within it. ¡°I created these seven rainbow clouds in my free time. They can fly people around with amazing speed that can catch up to the moon and stars. Besides this, they will also be able to protect you from a fatal blow once.¡± Sect master Qing Yang chuckled and said, ¡°Hehe, let them be a little gift for the seven of you, and a reward for your hard work during the past year.¡± Zhou Yuan and the other six were overjoyed, happiness appearing in their eyes as they looked down at the rainbow clouds below their feet. Not only would they be able to travel faster in the future, but more importantly, it could block a fatal blow for them once, which was basically akin to having a protective treasure. Though it may only be a small gift to sect master Qing Yang, to them, it was an important treasure that could save their lives. ¡°Thank you sect master!¡± The seven bowed once more in thanks. They never expected to receive such a big present so quickly. Sect master Qing Yang laughed, before he said, ¡°Some of you were previous chief disciples, while others are newly promoted. The reward I¡¯m about to give next will not be relevant to the former chief disciples, so your respective peak masters will give you another reward later on.¡± ¡°For the newly promoted chief disciples¡­¡± He paused, a slight smile appearing on his face when he saw their fervent gazes, before he said, ¡°You will be given what you desire the most.¡± What was it they most desired? The seven Cangxuan arts of course! ¡°Will the newly promoted chief disciples kindly step forward.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan immediately urged his rainbow cloud forward. Beside him, the Snow Lotus Peak chief disciple, Su Yao, and the Hongya Peak chief disciple, Chen Ze, also drifted forward. They were likewise newly promoted chief disciples. It was not easy to replace a chief disciple in the Cangxuan Sect, because a newly promoted chief disciple would receive one of the seven Cangxuan arts. Once this technique was learnt, it would become very challenging for someone else to take the chief disciple¡¯s place. Fortunately, the seven Cangxuan arts were very difficult to learn, and many chief disciples would fail to reach the elementary level even after a year of practice. Hence, the usual strategy was to challenge the current chief disciple before he or she managed to learn the technique. Otherwise, one would most likely have to wait for the old chief disciple to finish their three year term and retire from the position. This was also precisely why Su Yao and Chen Ze had succeeded. Their former chief disciples had failed to learn the Cangxuan art within their one year tenure, allowing Su Yao and Chen Ze to catch up... Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi and Hongya Peak master Gu looked towards Su Yao and Chen Zu, before making a grabbing motion as two ancient jade books appeared in their hands. The jade books slowly floated into the air, hovering in front of the Su Yao duo as a mysterious light pulsed from them. Su Yao and Chen Ze¡¯s eyes were overflowing with emotion as they respectfully reached out with trembling hands to receive the books. Each of these books contained one of the seven famous Cangxuan arts. Sect master Qing Yang looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Due to Saint Genesis Peak not having a peak master, I¡¯ve been the one who has been keeping the Omega Saint Spirit Art, which I shall confer to you today.¡± A simple jade book appeared in his hand, before drifting towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan respectfully received it. A cool sensation entered his hands, but his heart was boiling hot with excitement. This was a high grade Genesis technique, the highest level of Genesis technique he had ever come into contact with. ¡°Thank you sect master.¡± Sect master Qing Yang nodded, before he cautioned, ¡°All of you will have to work hard in practicing the seven Cangxuan arts. If you fail to master it after a year, and your position is taken by another disciple, do be warned that these manuals will be taken back.¡± Everyone earnestly nodded in acknowledgement. It should have been over after awarding them the seven Cangxuan arts. However, sect master Qing Yang fell silent for a moment, before he looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, as the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, you will have to enter the sealed main peak and attempt to unseal it.¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly jerked to attention. It was finally here. However, before he could respond, a calm voice suddenly sounded, ¡°Sect master, all of the past Saint Genesis Peak chief disciples have failed to unseal the main peak, and his chances will likely not be high either. Saint Genesis Peak is the patriarch''s most beloved place, and should not be left to rot like this. I propose we allow all seven chief disciples to enter Saint Genesis Peak in hopes that their numbers will finally allow us to succeed in unsealing the peak.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. He lifted his head, and found that it was peak master Ling Jun who had spoken. Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s handsome face was calm, his eyes looking only at sect master Qing Yang, not giving even a single glance to Zhou Yuan. Sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters were a little taken aback, evidently not expecting peak master Ling Jun to make such a suggestion. Peak master Lianyi glanced at peak master Ling Jun and said, ¡°You seem to be very concerned about Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Peak master Ling Jun nonchalantly responded, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak is where the patriarch spent most of his time back then, while also the only place that has been preserved after his death. There are certain clues we need to uncover within it.¡± ¡°Including¡­ the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!¡± The last three words caused the mountain top to fall silent. An indescribable pressure seemed to engulf the place, causing one¡¯s heart to beat harder. Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s expression also turned solemn. ¡°The Cangxuan Saint Stamp is too important. If it is once again held by our Cangxuan Sect, we will no longer need to fear the Sacred Palace, and will even be able to make them pay for what they did back then.¡± Peak master Ling Jun slowly said, ¡°If such a divine artifact were to fall into the hands of the Sacred Palace, their palace master will become the new Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, and wield the almighty power of this land¡­ when that happens, billions of its inhabitants will become slaves of the Sacred race.¡± ¡°This is we need to reopen the main peak of Saint Genesis Peak as soon as possible, and ascertain whether the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is somewhere inside.¡± In the face of peak master Ling Jun¡¯s words, even peak master Lianyi had nothing to say. Peak master Lei Jun said in a deep and raspy voice, ¡°His words are reasonable.¡± Sect master Qing Yang fell silent as he looked towards the other peak masters. None of them raised any objections, because this matter was indeed far too important. The Cangxuan Saint Stamp was the ultimate treasure of Cangxuan Heaven! However, Zhou Yuan began panicking inside as if his heart was on fire. He was certain that the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was not in Saint Genesis Peak. There was only the Cangxuan Saint Rune hiding somewhere inside! But he obviously could not reveal this information. If all seven chief disciples were really allowed to enter, even if he managed to find the Saint Rune, it would surely cause some sort of disturbance that would most likely be discovered by the others. What could he do when that happened? If the Cangxuan Sect was truly united, he would be fine with taking a step back, and giving it up for the greater good. But patriarch Cang Xuan had warned him to be extra cautious in the Cangxuan Sect, and not allow the Saint Rune to be discovered by anyone else. However, the six hegemons were currently discussing the topic, and a mere chief disciple like himself obviously did not have the qualifications to participate. Moreover, if he showed too much anxiety, it would only draw suspicion to himself. While Zhou Yuan was worrying inside, and trying to come up with a plan, an elderly voice suddenly sounded on the mountain top, forcibly inserting himself into the discussion between the six hegemons. ¡°The rules of Saint Genesis Peak were personally set by master back then. If you insist on trying to circumvent them, the only path you can take is over my dead body.¡± This sudden voice alarmed everyone as they quickly lifted their heads. Next, they saw an old man dressed in simple clothes holding a broom in his hand, who had somehow appeared on the mountain top at some unknown time. A pair of turbid eyes icily stared at sect master Qing Yang and the rest. It was the caretaker of Saint Genesis Peak, the venerable old Xuan! Previous Chapte Chapter 482 Old Xuan Appears Everyone was stunned by old Xuan¡¯s appearance on the mountain top. No one had expected the one who would always only be found in the deep mountains of Saint Genesis Peak to appear here today. ¡°Hehe, it is very rare for old Xuan to appear.¡± Sect master Qing Yang chuckled as he cupped his fists together towards old Xuan. Although old Xuan was an old servant of patriarch Cang Xuan, even direct disciples like them had not spent as much time at their teacher¡¯s side as him. Hence, even sect master Qing Yang viewed old Xuan as a venerable elder. With the exception of peak master Lei Jun, the others also cupped their fists together in greeting. Old Xuan waved his hand and said, ¡°No need for all these pleasantries. With regards the matter of the seven chief disciples entering Saint Genesis Peak, I will never agree to it.¡± Sect master Qing Yang smiled helplessly, clearly not surprised by old Xuan¡¯s response. The latter was after all famously stubborn and inflexible. The rules of Saint Genesis Peak were set down by patriarch Cang Xuan long ago, and old Xuan treated all of teacher¡¯s rules as divine decrees. Peak master Ling Jun calmly said, ¡°Old Xuan, isn¡¯t it better for us to reopen Saint Genesis Peak as soon as possible? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re unaware of how many times the chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak have failed over the years.¡± Old Xuan stamped the ground several times with his broom and said, ¡°I only know that the rules set by the master cannot be broken.¡± Sect master Qing Yang sighed and said, ¡°How can disciples such as us possibly dare to break the rules set by teacher. However, there are certain worrying undercurrents in Cangxuan Heaven at this time, and though our Cangxuan Sect is still one of the six hegemon sects, the Sacred Palace is always closely watching us, while the even more dangerous Sacred race is also secretly helping them. To prevent the Sacred race from interfering in the matters of our Cangxuan Heaven, we need to gain control of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± A frosty look appeared on peak master Lianyi¡¯s beautiful face as she said, ¡°And if the Cangxuan Saint Stamp comes into our possession again, we will be able make the Sacred Palace pay for what they did to teacher back then!¡± ¡°Although it was the Sacred race that ultimately did the deed, if not for those Sacred Palace dogs, how could the Sacred race have even meddled with Cangxuan Heaven!¡± Hatred surfaced in the eyes of the other peak masters. Old Xuan fell silent. Lightning Prison Peak master Lei Jun said in a low voice, ¡°Old Xuan, to avenge Cang Xuan, we need to find clues to the whereabouts of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. If we allow it fall into the hands of Sacred Palace, Cangxuan Heaven will likely soon be invaded by the Sacred race.¡± In the Cangxuan Sect, only peak master Lei Jun was as senior as old Xuan. One of them was an old servant of patriarch Cang Xuan, while the other was an old friend that knew him from the very beginning. Peak master Ling Jun faintly nodded and said, ¡°I hope old Xuan will be able to give us your support.¡± Old Xuan fell silent. A long while later, he raised his head and glanced towards Zhou Yuan, as he slowly said, ¡°Give the disciples of Saint Genesis Peak one more chance. If they fail to unseal the main peak again this year, I will allow disciples from all seven peaks to try together next year.¡± Peak master Ling Jun frowned a little. ¡°Why must you delay this for another year?¡± His gaze nonchalantly swept across Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°Although Saint Genesis Peak produced a pretty good chief disciple this year, it will not be easy for someone of his strength to reopen the main peak. Old Xuan should know better than anyone how many times they have failed in the past.¡± Old Xuan replied with an expressionless face, ¡°This is my final concession. If you disagree, I will not permit any disciple from the other peaks to enter the main peak of Saint Genesis Peak.¡± The seal on the main peak had been placed by patriarch Cang Xuan, and old Xuan was the only one who had some understanding of it. Even sect master Qing Yang would be hard pressed to break the seal unless he used brute force to destroy the entire Saint Genesis Peak. Sect master Qing Yang fell into thought for a moment. In the end, he waved his hand to stop the peak master Ling Jun, who still wanted to try and persuade old Xuan, and said, ¡°Since that is old Xuan¡¯s decision, we naturally have no objections.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll give Saint Genesis Peak one more chance this year. If they fail again, the disciples from all seven peaks shall enter next year and give it a try.¡± The other peak masters nodded upon hearing this. ¡°Agreed.¡± Peak master Ling Jun had nothing else to say. His indifferent gaze swept across Zhou Yuan, before shooting towards old Xuan. ¡°Old Xuan, what you¡¯re doing is useless. Saint Genesis Peak has fallen too much, and needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.¡± ¡°The remaining two factions are hopeless and are only able to barely hang on. They are only wasting time and opportunity, so you should stop trying to give them consideration.¡± Sending the disciples from all seven peaks in Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s main peak would undoubtedly be akin to declaring the Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s disciples were useless, and unable to even reopen their peak. This would naturally cause the two factions from Saint Genesis Peak to lose all face. Old Xuan icily snorted. ¡°It was a disciple from these same two ¡®useless¡¯ factions that crushed your Sword Cometh Peak disciples.¡± Peak master Ling Jun frowned. Sect master Qing Yang waved his hand to stop them as he said, ¡°Since we¡¯ve already decided, there shall be no further discussions.¡± He raised his head and looked towards the countless Cangxuan Sect disciples around them, as his powerful voice boomed across the land. ¡°The chief disciple selection is officially over!¡± Countless disciples released slightly discontented cheers as if they were still hungry for more action. The chief disciple selections had been far more amazing then they had expected. Sect master Qing Yang looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Since old Xuan has insisted, you shall represent Saint Genesis Peak for the final attempt at unsealing the main peak three days later.¡± ¡°I pray for your success. Reopening Saint Genesis Peak will allow our Cangxuan Sect to return to its full capacity of seven peaks.¡± Zhou Yuan breathed a deep sigh of relief inside, as his heart filled with gratitude towards old Xuan. If not for his interference, the six hegemons would have very likely decided to send all seven chief disciples into the main peak. If that happened, it would undoubtedly become much more difficult for him to search for the second Saint Rune. He could not ensure there would not be any spies among the chief disciples. ¡°Disciple will surely do his best.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. It was not only for the second Saint Rune. Zhou Yuan would do everything in his power to preserve the face of their faction. Otherwise, if they ended up borrowing the help of the disciples from the other peaks, none of them would be able to ever raise their heads again in the Cangxuan Sect. Sect master Qing Yang nodded. After a brief conversation with old Xuan, he transformed into a streak of light as he soared into the sky. The other peak masters also left one after another. After a short span of time, the mountain peak had become rather empty. Under the setting sun, countless streaks of light flew in all directions, as the disciples from the various peaks returned to their abodes. Although it was over, the atmosphere of excitement would clearly linger for some time, putting the entire Cangxuan Sect in a rather festive mood. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, looked towards old Xuan and cupped his fists together. ¡°You are mostly to thank for helping preserve the face of our Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Old Xuan waved his hand and said, ¡°I can only delay it for a while. Saint Genesis Peak has been sealed for far too long after all¡­¡± His murky eyes stared at Zhou Yuan as he slowly said, ¡°In three days, whether or not Saint Genesis Peak will reopen will depend on you.¡± ¡°If you fail, it will be as Ling Jun said earlier, Saint Genesis Peak will have to be destroyed and then rebuilt from scratch¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 483 A Great Feas Although the chief disciple selection was over, the resultant waves continued to wash over the Cangxuan Sect, bathing it in an excited afterglow. The most surprising part of the chief disciple selection was undoubtedly the super dark horse from Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan. At the start of the chief disciple selection, not a single person would have imagined that a new disciple, that had joined a year ago, would rack up such astonishing battle accomplishments during the selection in such a bold and fierce manner. From an ordinary disciple to a chief disciple in a year. This was a speed that undoubtedly broke all of the sect¡¯s past records. Through this battle, Zhou Yuan truly became a famous and influential figure in the Cangxuan Sect. ¡­ The end of the great fight left Shen Taiyuan¡¯s disciples in wild ecstasy. The entire affair had been a huge boost of reputation for their faction, and it had been a very very long time since they had been under the limelight like this. As such, the ¡®overnight millionaire¡¯ Shen Wanjin had boldly booked the entire inner mountain Hundred Fragrances House with a wave of his hand, and invited all his fellow disciples to take part in the celebration. Shen Wanjin had also carefully made sure to invite Lu Song¡¯s disciples. After all, their two factions had in a manner of speaking been on the same team during the chief disciple selection. Although the initial goal of the alliance had ended up in failure, it had undoubtedly brought the two factions closer together. With regards to Shen Wanjin¡¯s invitation, Lu Song¡¯s disciples were initially somewhat hesitant. In the end, elder Lu Song had to speak up so they would accept it. Elder Lu Song was evidently displaying goodwill towards the now rising faction of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s. Hence, the grand feast grew even grander with the addition of Lu Hong¡¯s disciples. ¡­ Hundred Fragrances House. The disciples from the two factions were gathered together, creating an endless dim amidst the lively atmosphere. Seated at the large table at the very center, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was akin to a moon surrounded by the stars. Yaoyao sat beside him with Tuntun on her lap as it voraciously devoured all delicious food on the table. Many disciples were already used to Tuntun¡¯s endless appetite. Hence, everyone merrily ate and drank without disturbing it, because whoever dared to even reach a hand its direction would be met by a ferocious, fangs-barred Tuntun, though that ¡®menacing¡¯ appearance in its mini form instead made it even cuter. As the star of the event, Zhou Yuan was naturally the busiest of all. However, he also understood how excited the disciples were, and did not reject anyone wanting to engage him, making the atmosphere even livelier. On the other hand, Yaoyao basically ignored everyone, seemingly existing in a space of her own as she leisurely drank from her little wine cup. No one dared to disturb her either. There was after all not a single soul in Saint Genesis Peak that did not know her special status. Although she was not a Chosen, she was no weaker than any of them. If she had taken part in the chief disciple selection, no one would doubt that she would win it all. After quite an amount of alcohol had been consumed. Lu Yan suddenly stood up, her pretty face somewhat flushed due to excessive drinking. She stared straight at Zhou Yuan and said with a tipsy slur, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you used to be quite an eyesore to me, but I now realize that it was I, Lu Yan, who was blind. We mostly have you to thank for preserving the final dignity of our Saint Genesis Peak, so please accept this toast as an apology from me!¡± The moment she was finished, the large bowl in her hand was downed in a single gulp. Some of the alcohol spilled over, flowing down her neck and wetting her clothes a little. However, her boldness and openness drew a series of cheers. Zhou Yuan felt a little awkward. In the end, he could only let out a bitter chuckle as he lifted a bowl of alcohol and poured its contents down his throat. Lu Yan had always been quite critical of him, constantly stating that he did not have the qualifications for this and that. There were indeed times when he was a little annoyed by her, and he had ultimately chosen to keep a respectful distance. Despite this, there was honestly not much of a grudge between them. Zhou Yuan looked towards the other disciples and solemnly said, ¡°All of us are disciples of Saint Genesis Peak, and although we compete at times, we are more often united. I hope that Saint Genesis Peak will be able to regain its former glory in the future.¡± The disciples from the two factions paused their laughter and merrymaking, as everyone lifted their cups into the air before downing it in a single go. The gazes that looked towards Zhou Yuan were a little more respectful than before. Zhou Yuan was now the chief disciples of their Saint Genesis Peak, and his status was vastly different from before. ¡°Hehe, what boastful words, you truly are foolish and ignorant.¡± An icy chuckle was suddenly heard at this moment. Anger appeared on the disciples¡¯ faces as they rose to their feet and demanded, ¡°Who?!¡± Rumble! However, they were answered by a powerful Genesis Qi pressure. The pressure swept over them like the sea, causing their expressions to change drastically as they were forced back into their seats. The sound of footsteps was heard from the stairs as a group slowly walked down. The one at the very front was the Chosen from Sword Cometh Peak, Zhao Zhu, while several Sword Cometh Peak disciples followed behind him, staring at the crowd in an unfriendly manner. The expressions of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples could not help but change upon seeing Zhao Zhu as they hurriedly swallowed the curses brewing in their mouths. As one of the ten great Chosens, Zhao Zhu¡¯s status and strength was clearly far beyond ordinary disciples like themselves. Zhou Yuan frowned a little when he saw Zhao Zhu and said, ¡°I recall that we¡¯ve reserved Hundred Fragrances House for tonight?¡± The corners of Zhao Zhu¡¯s mouth curled into a smirk, while a Sword Cometh Peak disciple behind sneered, before he mockingly said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, do you not know that the top floor of Hundred Fragrances House is exclusively reserved by Chosens? You may be able to book everything below, but do you think you can book even the top floor?¡± Another Sword Cometh Peak disciples sniggered and said, ¡°It¡¯s been many years since Saint Genesis Peak has a Chosen after all, it¡¯s only natural that they are unaware of such matters.¡± The rest of the disciples roared with laughter. Ugly expressions appeared on the disciples from the two factions below, but no one dared to retort due to Zhao Zhu¡¯s presence, causing the atmosphere to turn rather stifling. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids lowered slightly as he said, ¡°Senior brother Zhao Zhu, I¡¯ve heard that due to elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction failing to obtain the chief disciple position, Sword Cometh Peak will lose quite a large amount of cultivation resources, is this true?¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression immediately turned rigid, as he shot a frosty glare at Zhou Yuan. He was naturally aware of this matter, which the entire Sword Cometh Peak viewed as a great humiliation. The main reason why he had appeared here was also to release some of his frustrations. Zhao Zhu icily said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, your balls seem to be extraordinarily large. You are aware of this matter and yet you still dare to try and stick your hand in?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned and replied, ¡°We¡¯re also from Saint Genesis Peak, so doesn¡¯t it also involve us? If you have any complaints, you can go ahead and petition to sect master to strip us of our right to a share.¡± ¡°Sharp-tongued brat!¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s eyes turned ice-cold. His eyes swept about the place, but not a single disciple dared to meet his gaze. In the end, he waved his sleeve and mocked with a sneer, ¡°A few puppies and kittens like yourselves dare to talk about returning Saint Genesis Peak to its former glory? This is the joke of the century!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe a mere chief disciple even warrants such a celebration. I feel that your Saint Genesis Peak should first think about how to get yourselves a Chosen. After so many years, Chosens are basically extinct in your Saint Genesis Peak!¡± His harsh words caused the expressions of the many disciples to turn steely-green with anger. Lu Yan slammed her palms onto the table, on the verge of erupting, but was quickly held back by another disciple beside her. Zhao Zhu laughed mockingly when he heard this, before heading towards the exit. He was itching to see whether anyone still had the mood to celebrate after such a debacle. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed upon the former¡¯s back. Just as he was about to speak, a clear as a mountain spring, but cold, yet beautiful voice sounded from the side. ¡°Is a Chosen¡­ really that amazing?¡± Every gaze in the Hundred Fragrances House converged towards this spot as Zhao Zhu¡¯s footsteps came to a slow halt. He turned his head, his gaze ultimately pausing on the graceful and beautiful figure beside Zhou Yuan. Previous Chapte Chapter 484 Subduing Zhao Zhu Inside Hundred Fragrances House. Numerous gazes were cast towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s side at Yaoyao, who had currently had a nonchalant expression on her face. She did not look at Zhao Zhu, merely continuing to stare at the ripples inside the cup in her hand. Zhao Zhu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Yaoyao. He had naturally heard of the latter¡¯s unique reputation in the Cangxuan Sect. This otherworldly beauty was known as the Chosen outside the ten great Chosens... However, he had never fought her before, and was naturally somewhat doubtful of such rumors. In his opinion, Yaoyao¡¯s fame had most likely originated from her gorgeous looks. After all, anyone would sing praises and flatter someone who was so pretty. ¡°Oh? Does junior sister feel that the Chosens of our Cangxuan Sect are nothing amazing?¡± Said Zhao Zhu in an offhand manner. However, his words were quite vicious, implying that Yaoyao was criticizing all of the Chosens. Yaoyao raised her bright eyes and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about the others, but you I definitely look down on.¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression darkened. Being openly looked down on by a girl in front of so many people was really pushing his buttons. Inside the building, the other disciples looked at each other, not daring to say anything. After all, the only one here who would dare to say such things to Zhao Zhu was Yaoyao. ¡°What shameless boasting. Do you really believe you¡¯re actually someone noteworthy just because a few people have flattered you?!¡± Zhao Zhu stared at Yaoyao with eyes as cold as the edge of a blade, while sharp and robust Genesis Qi slowly swirled around him. At the sight of this, the expression of the many disciples from the two factions changed, fear rising in their eyes. They could not gather up much courage in the face of a Chosen. Shen Wanjin hurriedly walked over with a large smile as he said, ¡°Please senior brother Zhao Zhu, there¡¯s no need to get so worked up. A great Chosen like you should not lower yourself to squabble with ordinary disciples like us. How about I apologize with a drink?¡± He offered his cup in a humble and lowly posture. However, Zhao Zhu merely shot him an icy glare. With a wave of his sleeve, a stream of Genesis Qi swept out and sent Shen Wanjin flying into a table and breaking it. Zhao Zhu frostily said, ¡°Who do you think you are? You think the likes of you has the qualifications to drink with me?¡± ¡°Zhao Zhu!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened in anger as the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his hands. Zhao Zhu playfully said when he saw this, ¡°Oh? Does the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak plan to challenge me?¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°I¡¯m quite interested to find out how formidable the Chosens of the sect are. It just so happens that senior brother Zhao Zhu is ranked last among them, and maybe I¡¯ll have a chance at pulling you down.¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s eyes were ice-cold. ¡°Go ahead and try.¡± Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the brush. Just as he was about to move, a fair hand reached out from the side. He turned his head, and saw Yaoyao sending an indifferent glance at him. ¡°You¡¯ve already showed off enough today, are you still planning on snatching away this moment too?¡± Zhou Yuan froze for an instant, before he helplessly rolled his eyes. He knew that his chances against Zhao Zhu were quite abysmal, but it would not be too shameful as long as he was not defeated too quickly. However, it appeared that Yaoyao had no intentions of letting him fight. ¡°Oh? Are you guys swapping?¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s lips curled in mockery when he saw Yaoyao stop Zhou Yuan. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯m ready to play no matter what games the two of you have in mind.¡± However, Yaoyao shook her head and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have the qualifications to duel me, and I''m not interested in toying with you either.¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression abruptly darkened. His gaze swept about the building as he disdainfully said, ¡°Is there anyone else here besides you who dares to stand before me?¡± The disciples from the two factions visibly shrank back. Even Lu Yan, Zhao Tai and Zhang Yan did not dare to challenge Zhao Zhu though they were pretty enraged. The latter was a Chosen after all, someone who was much stronger than the likes of Yuan Hong. Yaoyao paid no attention to Zhao Zhu. She merely extended her hand, as her slender fingers pounced at the still ravenously eating Tuntun, whose little body was nearly fully concealed by the giant plate, and picked it up. ¡°If you can beat it, you might have the qualifications to fight someone else.¡± Scraps of meat were visible around Tuntun¡¯s mouth while it was held up by the scruff of its neck. There was a look of innocence in its black eyes as it struggled slightly for a moment, its short stubby legs kicking in the air, clearly unhappy that Yaoyao had disturbed its meal. The numerous surrounding disciples were stupefied, clearly not expecting that Yaoyao was going to send Tuntun to deal with Zhao Zhu. Zhao Zhu was also stunned, but his face soon turned an angry green. ¡°You dare to mock me!¡± From what he could see, Yaoyao was undoubtedly shaming him by sending a little beast to fight him. However, Yaoyao remained oblivious to the former. She raised Tuntun to eye-level as she said, ¡°If you can¡¯t settle him, you will no longer need to eat.¡± After finishing, she threw the dumbfounded Tuntun at Zhao Zhu Rage violently brewed in Zhao Zhu¡¯s eyes as he laughed loudly in anger. ¡°Fine, since you don¡¯t understand what¡¯s good for you, I¡¯ll chop this little bastard into mincemeat.¡± He made a grabbing motion, and robust Genesis Qi converged towards him, transforming into a several foot long sword that pulsed with dreadful sword Qi. With a swoosh, it mercilessly hacked towards the still flying Tuntun. Ch! The piercing sound of rushing wind rang out. Tuntun finally returned to its senses at this moment. However, it paid no heed to Zhao Zhu¡¯s attack, its tiny body cowering as it recalled the words Yaoyao had just said. To think she would use a threat on the terrifying level of forbidding it to eat... Roar! Thus, an angry roar immediately sounded from Tuntun¡¯s throat as its tiny little body instantly began to expand. An indescribably terrifying and ferocious aura erupted, engulfing the entire building. The expressions of the surrounding disciples instantly changed. One could only watch as a mysterious giant creature appeared from the dark golden light, while a giant scaly paw ruthlessly swatted at the sword. Hss! The giant paw instantly tore the sword apart as if it were frail paper. Roar! A thunderous roar shook the entire Hundred Fragrances House. After smashing apart the sword, the giant beast charged towards Zhao Zhu under his horrified gaze. It appeared in front of him in a flash, and let loose another booming roar. Black light swirled around a giant paw as it mercilessly swung down from above. Zhao Zhu¡¯s pupils violently shrank as an indescribable feeling of danger rose in his heart. The Genesis Qi in his body spewed out without reservation at this moment, as his five fingers straightened into a knife-hand. Genesis Qi converged towards his fingertips, creating an extremely sharp blade. His hand chopped out like an axe, using offense as defense. If struck by this chopping attack, even someone like Yuan Hong would be heavily injured. Clang! Amidst the shocked and frightened gazes of the numerous onlookers, a beast paw and knife-hand powerfully collided, causing a destructive shockwave to sweep outwards. Rumble! The interior of the entire Hundred Fragrances House was immediately turned into a mess. The crowd quickly looked over, as their pupils violently shrank. They had caught sight of Zhao Zhu¡¯s figure being flung away like a rag doll. He was sent flying outside of the building, before landing on the ground. His landing shattered the ground around him. Blood appeared on his hand, dripping from his fingertips. There was a grim look on Zhao Zhu¡¯s face as he watched the blood falling from his hand while completely still, as if startled by this outcome. He had clearly not expected to be hurt by a mere beast... It was completely silent both inside and outside of the Hundred Fragrances House. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples felt a chill rush through their bodies at the sight of this scene, disbelief flooding their eyes. A Chosen from their Sword Cometh Peak had been injured by a little creature that only knew how to eat?! The disciples from both Saint Genesis Peak factions were also stunned. To think Tuntun, who did not nothing but eat and eat, would actually be such a terrifying existence? After sending Zhao Zhu flying with a swipe, Tuntun rapidly shrank as it turned around and darted back to the table. It lay flat on the table, ignoring everyone else, as it continued to eat. Yaoyao lifted her bright eyes that seemed to be akin to frozen lake as she stared at the grim-faced Zhao Zhu and leisurely said, ¡°What¡¯s so amazing about a Chosen like you if you can¡¯t even beat Tuntun? Do you still have anything to say?¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression rapidly changed, feeling so sullen inside that he nearly puked blood. He had originally planned on intimidating the Saint Genesis Peak disciples and lowering their morale. Who could have imagined that he would instead suffer at the hands of a bastardly beast. The strange gazes that were directed at him caused the anger inside to burn even hotter. There was no way he could stay here any longer. He sent a chilling glare towards Zhou Yuan, before turning around to leave with a swish of his sleeves. However, his figure seemed a little sorry. Upon seeing Zhao Zhu leave in defeat, the Sword Cometh Peak disciples hurriedly followed with ugly expressions. In the wake of their departure, the disciples in the Hundred Fragrances House burst into cheers, as they looked towards Yaoyao with even more respect than before. Likewise, there was much more amazement in their eyes when they looked towards the Tuntun on the table, who was still desperately gorging itself. Zhou Yuan exchanged a look with Yaoyao, and could not help but chuckle. Zhao Zhu was quite unlucky. He had originally intended on intimidating and scaring them with his strength, only to end up viciously slapping himself in the face. However, it was Tuntun who had beaten him earlier, why the hell did he send Zhou Yuan such a venomous glare when he left... Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head. Looks like Zhao Zhu was going to hold another grudge against him. Previous Chapte Chapter 485 Sacred Palace’s Wu Huang The northern area of the Shengzhou Continent was a vast land of unmatched beauty, and was flooded with natural energies. People often said that the sixty percent of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s blessing was monopolized by the Shengzhou Continent. If so, the flourishing northern area was most likely blessed with thirty percent of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s blessings. This beautiful land and thirty percent of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s blessings supported an overlord sect¡­ the famous Sacred Palace. For many years, the Scared Palace had merely been an unremarkable sect in the vast Shengzhou Continent. During that era, the Cangxuan Sect had still been an untouchable existence in Cangxuan Heaven. No one could precisely pinpoint when exactly, but the Sacred Palace had begun growing at an astonishing pace. In a short span of a hundred years, it had risen to become one the strongest sects in Cangxuan Heaven. It was also during this period that the master of Cangxuan Heaven, patriarch Cang Xuan, was attacked and killed by several mysterious experts, putting the entire Cangxuan Heaven in a state of shock. As a result, the once number sect in Cangxuan Heaven began to fall into decline, no longer able to retain its title as number one. The Sacred Palace was the entity that took its place, aspiring to be the strongest hegemon sect in Cangxuan Heaven. The Sacred Palace occupied the northern land of Shengzhou Continent, enjoying thirty percent of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s blessings as they reigned superior over everyone else. Till today, the Sacred Palace was akin to a giant rising sun in the Shengzhou Continent, with power that could sweep away anyone on this land. With regards to the increasingly powerful Sacred Palace, even the five other hegemon level sects felt a certain amount of wariness. ... Extreme north of the Shengzhou Continent. It was ice and frost all year round, a land blanketed in pure-white snow. Amidst the snow, an enormous and seemingly endless boundary rose from the ground, creating a vibrant paradise of lush mountains and clear streams. Magnificent mountains towered, white cranes dancing in the air, while waterfalls fell like silver rivers. It was a scene from the land of immortals. Countless giant white palaces and halls were built amidst the mountains in a neat and orderly manner, giving off a feeling of tight security. This was the location of the current strongest sect in Cangxuan Heaven. The Sacred Palace. Deep within the Sacred Palace stood a grand palace atop a giant peak. At this current point in time, there was a seemingly bottomless pool of blood inside the palace. Opposite the pool were mats on which several figures sat, immeasurable presences pulsing from their bodies. At the very center was a man with long silver hair that draped over his shoulders. The man had a warm smile, while his pupils were the same silver as his hair, making him appear rather mysterious and unfathomable. This silver-haired man was the master of the Sacred Palace, known to many as palace master Sheng Yuan, and one of the most famous hegemons in Cangxuan Heaven. Several figures were seated beside him. From their presences, they were clearly the upper echelons of the Sacred Palace, each an individual of extraordinary status. Plop All of their gazes were focused on the blood pool at this very moment. Bubbles rose from the pool as a whirlpool swiftly began to form. In the end, the naked body of a man slowly rose from within. Faint blood-colored runes were visible on his body. The runes seemed to wiggle within his flesh, a rather bizarre sight. If one took a closer look, one would discover that these blood runes resembled sinisterly twisted faces. Strange and frightening. As one¡¯s gaze slowly shifted upwards, a handsome chiselled face appeared. This was not an unfamiliar face. If Zhou Yuan was present, he would instantly recognize this individual, because it was his greatest enemy from back then, Wu Huang! However, Wu Huang¡¯s body had been slain by Zhou Yuan in the Saint Remains Domain, and only his Spirit had managed to escape. But it now appeared that Wu Huang possessed a physical body again. Wu Huang¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly opened at this moment. Blood-colored light faintly flashed within them before slowly fading away. He stood up in the blood pool, kneeled down before palace master Sheng Yuan, and respectfully said, ¡°Many thanks to palace master for reconstructing my body!¡± The silver-haired and silver-pupiled palace master Sheng Yuan smiled slightly as he gazed upon Wu Huang. His eyes scanned the numerous strange blood runes on the latter¡¯s body as he nodded and said, ¡°Not bad, this Blood Asura Body is extremely compatible with you.¡± Wu Huang tightly clenched his hands, feeling the astonishing power surging within his body as he said, ¡°I can feel that this body¡¯s power is even greater than my previous one.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan smiled and said, ¡°Naturally. We invested a lot of resources to make this body for you.¡± Wu Huang licked his lips, savagery surfacing in his eyes as he lowered his head to look at his hands and mumbled, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I bet you you never have imagined this. So what if you destroyed my physical body? I¡¯ve become even stronger now!¡± ¡°The next time we meet, I will definitely make you have a thorough taste of what it¡¯s like to have your body destroyed!¡± Endless hatred flowed on his face. Palace master Sheng Yuan chuckled and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is doing rather well for himself in the Cangxuan Sect. I¡¯ve heard that he has already become a purple sash disciple.¡± ¡°But now that you have the Blood Asura Body, you¡¯ll be able to unleash its power once your Spirit and the body has perfectly fused. When that time comes, killing Zhou Yuan and avenging yourself will be no problem at all.¡± Wu Huang respectfully cupped his fists together. ¡°Many thanks for helping me!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan smiled and nodded, before he waved his hand, signalling for Wu Huang to leave. Wu Huang respectfully withdrew from the room, causing it to fall silent once more. A white-haired elder beside palace master Sheng Yuan slowly said, ¡°Is it worth it for palace master to have spent so much effort to help Wu Huang craft the Blood Asura Body?¡± ¡°Although Wu Huang is quite talented, there are disciples in our Sacred Palace who can easily match him. Pouring so much resources into him will make the other disciples complain.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan softly chuckled. ¡°Complaints are for the powerless. If there¡¯s anyone like that in the Sacred Palace, expel him or her from the sect.¡± His eyes turned as deep as the night as he watched Wu Huang¡¯s departing figure. ¡°He holds the sacred dragon blessing after all.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we already investigate this matter? The sacred dragon Blessing in his body belongs to Zhou Yuan, while Wu Huang is merely a fake dragon.¡± Said one of the other upper echelons. Palace master Sheng Yuan smiled and said, ¡°What is a fake dragon? As long as he kills and devours Zhou Yuan, he will naturally become a real dragon.¡± ¡°As for Zhou Yuan, though he bears the sacred dragon blessing, he does not seem to possess the sacred dragon¡¯s destiny. Otherwise, his blessing would not have been stolen the moment he was born.¡± ¡°But he is admittedly quite a tenacious one. To think that he managed to fight his way out from such despair, and even snatched back half of Wu Huang¡¯s sacred dragon blessing. Truth be told, he is quite capable.¡± An elder puzzledly asked, ¡°What use is this sacred dragon blessing to our Sacred Palace?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, light flickering within his silver pupils as he slowly said, ¡°The sacred dragon blessing will aid us in finding the Cangxuan Saint Stamp hidden away by patriarch Cang Xuan.¡± The figures in the hall were stunned. ¡°The Cangxuan Saint Stamp is a divine artifact that was born from Cangxuan Heaven that can resonate with the land, while the sacred dragon blessing was also born from this land, and those who possess it are naturally considered the prided geniuses of this world.¡± ¡°We only need to wait till Wu Huang matures, slays Zhou Yuan and devours the half his blessing. When that time comes, I will be able seize the opportunity to break patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s concealment, and locate the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± ¡°As for these real and fake dragons, they will no longer be of any importance to me¡­¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s silver pupils gazed upon the blood pool. The color of blood was reflected in his eyes as a fanatical smile slowly emerged from the corners of his lips. ¡°When that happens¡­¡± ¡°I will become the supreme heaven master of Cangxuan Heaven¡­¡± ¡°And the Sacred race¡­ will rule over Cangxuan Heaven once more.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 486 Nine Divine Dwelling The festivities of Saint Genesis Peak lasted for three whole days. However, Zhou Yuan waved the white flag on the second day, and hid away in his cave dwelling. He had experienced several desperate battles one after another, and was tired both in body and mind, so he really no longer had the energy for another bout of wild celebrations. Moreover, his attempt at unsealing the main peak would begin three days later, a matter which not only affected the future of the entire Saint Genesis Peak, but also the second Saint Rune he deeply yearned for. Hence, he locked himself away on the second day to adjust his condition, in order to ensure he was at peak performance three days later. ¡­ The peaceful and cooling cave dwelling was lush with greenery. Zhou Yuan had just completed his daily training, and had changed into a set of comfortable, loose-fitting robes. He sat in a stone pavilion, leisurely sipping on fragrant tea, as he admired the view before him. It was the view of a flower garden, where hundreds of beautiful flowers vied for attention. At this current time, a slim and graceful girl with her hair pulled back into a bun, was wandering about in the garden as she tended to the many plants with a look of concentration. Light sprinkled down from above, shining on her perfect face. The light made her skin glow, making it impossible for anyone to turn away. This scene was even more enchanting than a hundred beautiful flowers. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s admiring gaze, Yaoyao completed her inspection, before stretching her back, revealing her soul-stirring curves. She leisurely walked out of the flower garden, and sat down in the stone pavilion. Upon realizing that Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze was still fixed on her, her eyes turned a little frosty. Zhou Yuan immediately let out an awkward laugh as he withdrew his gaze, and hurriedly poured Yaoyao a cup of tea. Yaoyao ignored him, and instead retrieved a letter from her sleeve and placed it on the table. ¡°Shen Taiyuan sent someone to deliver this while you were training earlier. It seems to concern the Cangmang Continent.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression trembled faintly when he heard this. He had previously been informed that although the Cangxuan Sect could not directly interfere, they would help him observe the situation in the Cangmang Continent. He speedily tore open the letter, before carefully reading it. Moments later, Zhou Yuan breathed a small sigh of relief as he looked towards Yaoyao and said, ¡°Over the past year, the Great Wu Empire has begun slowing their other campaigns, and are clearly turning attention towards the Great Zhou Empire.¡± ¡°It seems that king Wu has finally begun to take note of the Great Zhou Empire he had once forgotten.¡± Yaoyao said, ¡°You nearly killed Wu Huang, of course he no longer dares to neglect the Great Zhou Empire.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and said, ¡°However, the Great Wu Empire is still being cautious. They¡¯ve offended quite a number of top tier empires during their earlier campaigns, and do not dare to take action against the Great Zhou Empire till they are absolutely certain.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s only a matter of time.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a long, drawn-out sigh as his expression turned focused. ¡°There¡¯s isn¡¯t much time left¡­¡± Yaoyao slowly said with a tone of warning in her voice, ¡°But you cannot rush things. Your progress is already very swift, and if you attempt to speed things up, your hardfought foundations will end up being destroyed by you instead.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. There was naturally no way he would be so short-sighted. His fingers gently tapped the surface of the table and suddenly asked, ¡°How strong are the Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect?¡± Yaoyao shot a glance at. ¡°Oh? Turning your sights to the Chosens so soon after becoming a chief disciple?¡± ¡°They¡¯re the next step.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Though a chief disciple was strong, a Chosen was the true ultimate goal. Yaoyao propped up her chin with a hand, making herself appear lazy as she said, ¡°You¡¯d better not think about Chosens for the time being. Even the tenth ranked Zhao Zhu is far beyond your capabilities.¡± ¡°So powerful?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan in a skeptical voice. His Genesis Qi cultivation was currently at the fifth layer, but his foundations were extremely strong, making him no weaker than ordinary eighth layer disciples. When the power of his physical body was added into the mix, Zhou Yuan felt that he might be able to match even a ninth layer disciple. Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°The gap between the eighth and ninth layers is the biggest in the Alpha-Origin stage.¡± ¡°How many stars do you currently have in your Qi Dwelling?¡± ¡°Four thousand.¡± Replied Zhou Yuan. ¡°To have reached such a number at the fifth layer, your Genesis Qi foundations are indeed extraordinary.¡± ¡°But do you know how many stars ordinary ninth layer disciples have?¡± She looked towards Zhou Yuan as she extended a single slender finger. ¡°Ten thousand.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook a little, somewhat shocked. Ordinary eighth layer disciples should only have about four thousand Genesis Qi stars, but a ninth layer actually reached the realm of ten thousand? This did seem to be a rather large gap. ¡°Although Zhao Zhu is ranked last among the Chosens, the fact that he was able to become one is more than evidence of his outstanding talent. As such, his foundations will be stronger than ordinary disciples, which means that he will also have more Genesis Qi stars.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s clear eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°That¡¯s why your current chances against him are very slim.¡± Zhou Yuan let out an awkward laugh. Only now did he truly understand why Yaoyao had stopped him from fighting Zhao Zhu the day before. It turned out to be because of the gap between them. Yaoyao unhurriedly said, ¡°Do not underestimate the Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect¡­ the higher ranking few are much more powerful than you imagine. Do you really believe that they¡¯re unable to step in to the Divine Dwelling stage after so many years of training?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback. ¡°From what I can see, Chu Qing and the rest can choose to enter secluded cultivation and advance to the Divine Dwelling stage any time they wish to. They are merely unwilling.¡± ¡°But why?¡± Zhou Yuan was quite confused. ¡°Because they are proud individuals that refuse to have an ordinary breakthrough.¡± Yaoyao laughed softly, before she continued, ¡°Elder Shen Taiyuan should be the one telling you this after you reach the ninth layer, but I can inform you about it in advance.¡± ¡°The Divine Dwelling stage is the evolution of the Qi Dwelling. The Divine Dwelling can contain more Genesis Qi, for instance, if your current Qi Dwelling is akin to a river, the Divine Dwelling will be the sea¡­¡± ¡°Do you recall the different grades of Qi Dwelling back when you opened yours? The Divine Dwelling is naturally the same¡­¡± ¡°The Divine Dwelling stage is also known as the Nine Heavens Divine Dwelling stage, but is usually simplified to Nine Divine Dwelling¡­ because when the Qi Dwelling evolves, different changes would occur according to one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations.¡± ¡°When an ordinary person experiences a breakthrough, three heavens at most would form in the Divine Dwelling, which is called a Three Divine Dwelling.¡± ¡°The stronger one¡¯s foundations, the more heavens would form during a breakthrough, with nine as the maximum!¡± ¡°Chu Qing and the rest have refused to advance, because they are continuously strengthening their foundations in hopes of evolving a higher grade Divine Dwelling.¡± ¡°Their goal is likely above the Six Divine Dwelling, the high class Divine Dwelling.¡± ¡°For this target, they have patiently accumulated Genesis Qi for many years.¡± ¡°Hence, the most important thing to do at the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage is to accumulate more Genesis Qi and strengthen one¡¯s foundations. However, when one reaches that level, one¡¯s foundations would already be extremely sturdy and compact, making further strengthening it as difficult as ascending the heavens. Thus, one would also require a substantial amount of luck.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression slowly turned solemn. It seemed that he had severely underestimated the Chosens. It turns out that the reason why they had been unable to advance for many years, was not because they lacked the ability, but because they were purposely suppressing a breakthrough... After so many years of accumulation, how solid would their foundations be now? ¡°Is a Nine Divine Dwelling very difficult to achieve?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan in a hesitant manner. Yaoyao took a small sip of her tea, before she unhurriedly said, ¡°In the history of the Cangxuan Sect, no more than three individuals have succeeded in attaining the Nine Divine Dwelling, while patriarch Cang Xuan was the first amongst them. So what do you think? Is it difficult?¡± Zhou Yuan gasped a little. Only now did he truly feel the difficulty of the Nine Divine Dwelling. Even in such an old sect, only three out of the innumerable geniuses had been able to attain a Nine Divine Dwelling? Exactly how crazy of a foundation did one require at the Alpha-Origin stage to achieve a Nine Divine Dwelling? Looks like he still had a ways to go in the Alpha-Origin stage! However, what he needed to do now was to first calm his heart, and prepare to unseal the main peak. As Yaoyao gazed upon the now silently thinking Zhou Yuan, the corners of her mouth raised slightly. How could she not tell that he had become a little relaxed after winning the chief disciple seat. Hence, it was time to give him a knock on the head to make him understand the gap between himself and the Chosens. Only then would he sincerely train with a clear mind. Previous Chapte Chapter 487 Challenging the Main Peak While the entire Cangxuan Sect was still soaking in the afterglow of the chief disciple selection, the three day deadline quietly arrived. On this day, Saint Genesis Peak became lively once again. Because today, Zhou Yuan would be taking on his first task as chief disciple. It was the most important mission of ascending the main peak of Saint Genesis Peak, breaking the seal and reopening its main gates. Reopening Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s main gates was a goal everyone shared for many years. Generation after generation of disciples and elders had strived towards it, only to end up failing each time. Only by reopening the main gates and unsealing the main peak would Saint Genesis Peak truly become the seventh peak of the Cangxuan Sect. They would then be able to boldly recruit talented disciples and flourish, instead of declining year after year like now. Moreover, if Saint Genesis Peak was to fail again this year, sect master will allow the chief disciples of the other six peaks to participate in attempting to unseal the main peak next year. If one¡¯s own disciples failed to reopen the main peak and had to instead rely on the other peaks, even after being reopened, it would not be a happy occasion for the two factions of Saint Genesis Peak. Hence, they were placing all of their expectations onto Zhou Yuan, hoping that the young miracle worker would once again surprise everyone... ... Deep in Saint Genesis Peak. The dilapidated plaza of the majestic misty main peak welcomed its most busy day of the year. Practically every disciple of Saint Genesis Peak was gathered here today. The disciples from the three factions were split into two groups on the plaza. Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s disciples were clearly much closer due to the wild celebrations over the past few days, even making light chat, before they cast equally hostile gazes opposite them, where Lu Hong¡¯s disciples stood with frosty gazes. The atmosphere over here was clearly quite gloomy. Their failure in the chief disciple selection had clearly placed them under a tremendous amount of stress. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples had also grown very critical of them, firmly believing that it was their uselessness that resulted in the Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s huge losses. The disciples from the other peaks, on the other hand, viewed them with mockery. After all, Lu Hong¡¯s faction had been so full of confidence when they initially transferred to Saint Genesis Peak, and were absolutely certain that the chief disciple position was already in the bag. But who could have imagined that they would fail in the end? If one were to look back now, the initial confidence of Lu Hong¡¯s faction would now seem like a joke. Lu Hong¡¯s expression was rather stormy as his gaze swept across the place, before coming to a pause on a young figure akin to a moon surrounded by the stars, as a look of hatred flashed in his eyes. ¡°Humph, I¡¯ll let you guys be happy for now!¡± ¡°Do you really believe the main peak will be so easy? Zhou Yuan, you may enjoy the cheering now, but the sounds of disappointment will only be even more painful when you fail!¡± ... At the very front of the two factions, elder Lu Song smiled as he gazed at Zhou Yuan and said with a sigh, ¡°Zhou Yuan, whether or not our Saint Genesis Peak is reopened will depend on you.¡± ¡°You old fellow, you¡¯d better not crush him with your expectations.¡± Shen Taiyuan glared at elder Lu Song, before saying to Zhou Yuan, ¡°Do your best, and don¡¯t burden yourself with such responsibilities. Although this matter is very important, it should not be shouldered by you alone. There have after all been so many talented disciples who have failed before this, so there¡¯s nothing anyone can say even if you don¡¯t succeed.¡± Zhou Yuan felt a warm feeling in his heart when he heard these words. Shen Taiyuan may normally appear as a strict and inflexible old man, but there was nothing to criticize about him. Even at such a juncture, he was doing his best to ease Zhou Yuan, and make him feel less pressured. When the hopes of an entire peak was placed on a single person, the pressure felt would surely be as heavy as a mountain. ¡°Don¡¯t worry teacher Shen, I will naturally give my all.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. Even if he were to disregard how important this matter was to Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan had prepared and planned a very long time for this, and would not easily allow himself to fail. Shen Taiyuan reached out and gently patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulders, eyes filled with happiness. This disciple had brought him many pleasant surprises since joining a year ago, while also allowing him to proudly show his face more and more in the sect. .. Countless figures were standing on Genesis Qi clouds in the sky above the plaza. If one took a closer look, one would discover that they were the disciples from the other peaks. In the past, not many of these disciples would come to watch, because Saint Genesis Peak declined far too much in the Cangxuan Sect, and the disciples from the other peaks would often even forget the existence of this seventh peak. However, the current Saint Genesis Peak was clearly somewhat different than before. Due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in the chief disciples selection, the other disciples no longer dared to underestimate Saint Genesis Peak, which only had three factions. Hence, the number of disciples who came to watch today was much more impressive than usual. After all, the current Zhou Yuan was quite an famous figure in the Cangxuan Sect, and everything he did naturally drew the attention of others. Clang! As more and more disciples arrived, a gong reverberated across the land. Next, all the disciples saw six glowing lotuses descend from the sky as a vast aura spread, rippling the surrounding space. It was sect master Qing Yang and the other five peak masters. These six hegemons would appear here every year when the chief disciple challenged the main peak. After all, Saint Genesis Peak had been the place where patriarch Cang Xuan would often lock himself away in secluded cultivation. ¡°I wonder whether Saint Genesis Peak will be reopened this year.¡± Sect master Qing Yang gazed at the giant misty mountain as he sighed softly. The other five fell silent as they stared at the giant peak before them. They could still remember that when patriarch Cang Xuan established the Cangxuan Sect long ago, there had only been a single peak, which was this very peak that still stood before their eyes. All of them had once cultivated here. However, due to the passage of time, their teacher, who once taught and led them by example, was now dead, and many many changes had happened in the world around them. Sect master Qing Yang gently tidied his sleeves as he withdrew his emotions, making them no longer visible. His deep gaze was cast towards the dilapidated plaza below as he said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you may begin if you¡¯re ready.¡± Every gaze converged towards the young figure at this moment. Under the numerous watching eyes, Zhou Yuan cupped his fists towards sect master Qing Yang and the rest, before slowly walking forward. Before the large ancient hall stood old Xuan in his simple clothes, holding his bamboo broom. A faint glimmer flashed in his murky eyes as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Are you confident?¡± Asked old Xuan in his raspy voice. Zhou Yuan chuckled, before he replied with a calm expression, ¡°There is no such thing as absolute confidence, but I will not be afraid nor retreat in the face of any difficulty.¡± Old Xuan nodded. He gaze Zhou Yuan one last deep look, before suddenly swinging the broom his hand.. Whoo whoo! Wind suddenly rose, and countless gazes watched as a crack was gently torn open in the mist that clothes the main peak all year round. Inside the crack, one would just barely be able to make out an old mountain path. However, space also seemed to twist and distort inside. Old Xuan slowly said, ¡°Go, follow this path¡­¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the ancient mountain path within the mist, as he took in a deep breath and tightly clenched his fists. In the end, all hesitation dissipated from his eyes, replaced by the firm light of determination. He had come to the Cangxuan Sect and endured tough training for a year. Wasn¡¯t all of it for this very moment... Therefore, he would not shrink back no matter what kind of challenges awaited him on this path. Amidst the innumerable gazes all around, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure slowly walked forward and stepped into the mist. As his foot landed on the old mountain path, the mist surged towards him, blocking everyone¡¯s vision. Previous Chapte Chapter 488 The Mountain Trial ¡°The mountain trial.¡± As they watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure disappear into the mist, high up in the sky, sect master Qing Yang sighed and said, ¡°The mountain trial is treacherous and unpredictable, while filled with countless dangers. No one knows what kind of test he will encounter¡­¡± ¡°Back when teacher was still in control of the Cangxuan Sect, any disciple that managed to pass the mountain trial would be able to ascend the peak, and receive guidance from him. However, there were rarely any disciples who succeeded even in our golden age.¡± ¡°I wonder how Zhou Yuan will fare.¡± By the side, old man Bai Mei stroked his long eyebrows as he said, ¡°Due to its location within the seal placed by teacher, even we cannot know what is happening inside. It seems that we can only wait for the Xuan bell to ring.¡± ¡°The Xuan bell can sound nine times, and six bells signifies that the participant has passed.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan had placed an ancient bell in the main peak. It would ring when the mountain challenger was done, and give an assessment of the participant. The best evaluation was naturally nine bells. However, one would have considered to pass as long as one reached six bells. Even so, generation after generation of chief disciples had failed to reach the sixth bell. The best had been five bells, which had been a very regrettable result. The Snow Lotus Peak master Lianyi said with a wide smile, ¡°The little guy seems to be quite lively, and he may be able to reach six bells.¡± She cast a glance at the peak master Ling Jun as she spoke, who had been keeping silent from the start. The latter had clearly not been feeling good over the past few days, because a fifth Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s cultivation resources had already begun to be handed over. This was a tremendous loss to Sword Cometh Peak. Peak master Ling Jun indifferently said, ¡°Six rings of the Xuan bell. Not many have achieved it even in our era.¡± His meaning was clear. He did not believe Zhou Yuan would be able to achieve it. ¡°Weren¡¯t you singing the same tune before the chief disciple selection?¡± Asked peak master Lianyi as her lips curled. Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s eyes turned slightly frosty as he coldly snorted. ¡°We shall wait and see.¡± ... Zhou Yuan felt the world around begin to change the instant he stepped into the mist. A split second later, he found himself standing below an old mountain path. On the two sides of the path was a dense, impenetrable fog. The long stone path reached upwards like a stone dragon, ultimately disappearing into the mist. When he stood alone at the bottom of the path, Zhou Yuan appeared very very small indeed. ¡°Is this the mountain trial?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself as he gazed upon the path. ¡°The mountain trial is filled with unpredictable danger. Be cautious.¡± While Zhou Yuan was observing the old mountain path, an emotionless, robotic voice suddenly echoed. Zhou Yuan blinked a few times. This voice seemed to be a little familiar. After pondering for a while, he suddenly jerked in surprise. Wasn¡¯t this old Xuan¡¯s voice? However, it didn¡¯t sound as elderly as usual. Was old Xuan the one who had left this voice when the mountain trial was constructed? Zhou Yuan secretly chuckled inside, casting away these thoughts as he prepared to take a step forward. ¡°Remember what you said earlier.¡± However, just as he was about to lift his foot, a soft murmur seemed to enter his ears. Zhou Yuan was a little stunned. This was old Xuan¡¯s voice... He blinked, but did not say anything. Old Xuan had likely transmitted it in secret. However, what did he mean? Zhou Yuan pondered over this for a brief moment, before setting it aside for the time being. He gathered his calm as he gaze swept around, but did not discover anything out of the ordinary. The mountain path before him seemed to be nothing but ordinary. But Zhou Yuan knew that this was impossible. Otherwise, the many previous chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak would not have ultimately failed to reopen it. He muttered to himself for a while. In the end, he lifted his foot and stepped forward, fully vigilant. A foot landed on the stone steps, but nothing happened. After a brief hesitation, Zhou Yuan continued to advance. However, there was only silence around him after several dozen steps, no activity at all. ¡°Is the mountain trial broken?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan in bewilderment. However, the instant his voice rang out, Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank. At this very moment he had indeed felt that something was wrong. But the wrongness was not from the outside, but instead from inside his body. He could feel a Genesis Qi star in his Qi Dwelling dim somewhat, as if some Genesis Qi had stealthily disappeared. It was not being consumed or depleted, but as if some unknown entity had devoured it, causing it to be lost forever... ¡°What is going on?!¡± Shock thundered through Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, his expression fluctuating rapidly as he stared at the extremely quiet old stone path before him. The latter now made him feel a heart-palpitating strangeness. He raised his head and gazed at the path that snaked into the mist. ¡°Could it be¡­ am I supposed to reach the end before my Genesis Qi disappears?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. Soon after, he took in a deep breath. Hesitating here was pointless. He needed to first find out what kind of test this mountain trial was giving him. After making his decision, Zhou Yuan cast away his hesitation and boldly stepped forward, advancing step after step on the long stone path. With each step he crossed, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel shining star after star in his Qi Dwelling dim one after another, before ultimately disappearing into nothingness. Disappear, not deplete. The Genesis Qi that spread from his body weakened little by little. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was rigid as still water, tightly clenching his hands, while feeling a mix of negative emotions inside. No one would be able to calm, while helplessly feeling the Genesis Qi in one¡¯s body strangely disappear. After all, every drop had been the fruits of his effort. As his Genesis Qi disappeared bit by bit, Zhou Yuan¡¯s pace grew faster and faster. Nearly an incense stick of time later. A sliver of paleness had already appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. More than half of the four thousand stars in his Qi Dwelling had already disappeared... In such a bizarre situation, anyone with lesser mental fortitude would have already lost himself to panic and fear. Huu. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath of air. The mountain trial¡¯s reputation was well-deserved indeed. It was a fearfully strange test. ¡°Another hundred stars¡­¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, an unreadable look in his eyes as he stared at the winding path that reached into the mist. In the face of such a situation, even he felt his heart begin to tremble at this moment. He was not certain if he would be able to reach the end before all his Genesis Qi disappeared. Moreover, his greatest worry was that¡­ even if he did manage to walk to the end, would it be over? In the face of this incomparably bizarre mountain trial, unease began to surge out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Previous Chapte Chapter 489 Strength of Hear The winding stone dragon like mountain path stood alone in this misty land. Thick fog swirled around it, impossible to see through, making everything appear strange and mysterious. At this current time, a lone figure was slowly climbing the long mountain path. This figure naturally belonged to Zhou Yuan. His face was currently deathly pale, nearly devoid of blood. The Genesis Qi around him had become extremely feeble, because the originally four thousand brightly shining Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling was now reduced to the final three hundred... All his years of hard work to cultivate his Genesis Qi had now strangely disappeared. If one was unable to differentiate between reality and illusion at this moment, such a situation would be extremely terrifying. Anyone else with a less steady heart and mind would have collapsed long ago, unable to advance. However, Zhou Yuan did not stop. He tightly gritted his teeth, his unwavering gaze fixed to the front. He had already come so far, wouldn¡¯t he have suffered for nothing if he were to shrink back now? ¡°Will three hundred Genesis Qi stars last me till the end?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips were tightly pursed. No matter what, something should change when the last bit of Genesis Qi was gone. With such thoughts in mind, Zhou Yuan stepped forward once more. Step after step passed by under his feet. Star after star in his Qi Dwelling began to disappear in quick succession... Half an incense stick of time later, the final three hundred stars were nearly all gone. Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot paused on a stone step, his expression fluctuating indeterminately. The very last star in his Qi Dwelling had begun to slowly dim at this moment, before completely fading away. All of his Genesis Qi was gone at this very moment. In this moment, an endless feeling of powerlessness surged in his body, powerlessness that Zhou Yuan had not felt for a very long time... Back when he had been incapable of opening his eighth meridian channels, this had been the same feeling that filled his body. Power he had worked hard for many years to obtain had faded into oblivion at this very moment. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes, and took in a deep breath, before opening them as he turned around to gaze at the long path behind him. He was silent for a moment, as a certain notion flowed through him. If he were to return along the path, all his Genesis Qi would return to him. However, it would also mean that he would fail the mountain trial. Perhaps... He should continue forward... Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the path, still unable to find any traces of where it ended. He no longer had any Genesis Qi, which also caused the power in his physical body to begin weakening. If he continued, he would undoubtedly have to bear an increasingly growing burden. Would his Genesis Qi eventually return? It was a question he was incapable of answering. So what choice would he make? Zhou Yuan stood there in silence for a long time, as the hesitation in his eyes slowly faded away. ¡°Does it matter whether this is real or fake? I had not given up even when I was unable to open my eighth meridian channels. Even if I do lose my Genesis Qi, I can always cultivate it back!¡± ¡°At the very least, I still possess the ability to cultivate.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I manage to wait for the light even when I was so lost back then? What is all this in comparison?¡± A resolute look emerged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Next, he lifted his now heavy foot once again without the slightest shred of hesitation, and firmly placed it on the next step. Even without Genesis Qi, there was no way he would give up! What was needed on the road of cultivation was the courage to boldly press forward. If one was constantly afraid of even the slightest of things, it would be a tall order to succeed on this path. One¡¯s heart needed to be firm and unwavering, before one could achieve success. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure slowly began to climb the mountain path. Although every step was difficult and heavy, each one grew increasingly clear, no longer containing any of the hesitation or fear from before. In their place, was an unshakable determination. His foot was raised time and time again, even though each movement felt as heavy as a mountain. While Zhou Yuan struggled step by step, he did not see the dazzling rays of light that suddenly shot out from the ancient stone path behind him. Step after step began to fade away, transforming into strands of light that rose into the sky. Golden light danced in the air behind him, before dashing towards the slowly climbing figure, and pouring into his body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body jolted violently. He finally sensed something and jerked his head around, and saw the golden light dancing in the air like birds darting through the woods as it rushed into his body. The Genesis Qi stars that had originally disappeared from his Qi Dwelling began to appear one after another, emitting a radiant glow. Vigorous Genesis Qi filled his body once more. The feeling of power had finally returned! Zhou Yuan¡¯s face glowed brightly, a relieved smile appearing as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He had finally understood. The mountain trial had been testing his heart. An ordinary person would have definitely felt panic and fear upon losing all their head earned Genesis Qi, something that even Zhou Yuan was no exception to. However, what would one do in such a situation? Would one give up on advancing, and become cautious and conservative, or would one continue pressing forward with courage? Genesis Qi was not the most important factor to become truly powerful, but a persevering and unwavering heart. Because when one possessed the latter, the former would naturally always come back. Though the loss of his Genesis Qi had been brief, it was a form of training that had been deeply etched into his heart. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes as the long stone path behind him slowly disappeared. Golden light gracefully danced in the air as it streamed into his body, only gradually coming to a stop after some time. When all of the golden light had entered his body, Zhou Yuan turned his senses inwards for a moment, as his eyes abruptly opened, revealing pleasant surprise. At this very moment, the number of dazzling Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling had soared to five thousand! In addition, every star shined brightly and stably, no sign that they had been hastily formed. His Genesis Qi cultivation had grown a thousand stars in such a short period! This was basically equivalent to months of training for Zhou Yuan! It was evidently a reward for passing the test. The smile that hung from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth widened substantially. The suffering and fear he had experienced earlier had not been in vain. The mist around him began to ripple as the robotic voice that belonged to old Xuan echoed once again. ¡°First of the three trials, pass.¡± When this voice sounded, Zhou Yuan saw the long stone path below his feet start to fade away as the world around him gradually changed. He did not panic as he stood there, waiting for the change to complete. Zhou Yuan raised his head, and observed the warping world around him. So this was only the first trial. It was definitely extremely strange and dangerous, and it was no surprise that so many chief disciples had failed. However, if the first trial was already so difficult, what should he do about the next two? While in this focused and alert state, the shifting scenery around him finally stopped moving. Yet another immense change had occurred to the world around him. Previous Chapte Chapter 490 The Tyrannical Divine Grindstone When focus returned to Zhou Yuan, a tremendous change had occurred to his surroundings. The misty mountain path had disappeared, and in its place was an endless yellow desert. He was currently standing on a dune, while heat rippled around him, making even the surrounding Genesis Qi appear rather vexed. A golden sun burned high in the sky, strand after strand of its golden rays pouring onto the ground. ¡°Is this the second trial?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan as he gazed at the yellow desert. ¡°I wonder what the test is this time.¡± While Zhou Yuan was thinking out loud, the golden rays of sunlight from the sky landed on his body. However, no change could be felt in his physical body or Genesis Qi. ¡°Not the body or Genesis Qi..¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly before he could finish his sentence. He had felt a burning pain from the Spirit between his brows, as if it had been placed onto a burning stove. ¡°The trial is targeting the Spirit¡­¡± Zhou Yuan quickly sat down, and formed a seal with his hands. Genesis Qi surged out, creating a protective layer around his body in an attempt to defend against the golden sunlight. However, it was clearly ineffective. The golden sunlight completely ignored his Genesis Qi defenses, easily penetrating his body to shine its rays on his Spirit. Zhou Yuan dispersed the Genesis Qi, and began to focus on his Spirit, urging it to rise from between his brows and float in the air above. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had already stepped into the mid Corporeal stage, and looked no different from him, though it gave off a misty feeling as if it had no solid form. His Spirit sat down in the air, fully concentrated as it released Spirit power to protect itself. Golden sunlight continuously poured down, seemingly growing increasingly hot as time flowed by, while the burning pain felt by Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit slowly intensified. This continued until even the surface of his Spirit began to ripple. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was extremely grave. This was a very dangerous situation. If his Spirit were to reach its limit, it could possibly be destroyed, leaving his physical body an empty husk. While he would also disappear from this world. Due to the previous trial, Zhou Yuan knew that these trials were filled with danger, and the slightest slip may result in irreparable damage. ¡°The golden sun in the sky appears to be slowly shrinking¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was carefully observing the changes around him, while he endured the burning pain, and he had just discovered that the golden sun was gradually shrinking. ¡°Is this a test of whether I will be able to last until the golden sun shrinks and eventually disappears?¡± Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a brief moment. In the end, he took in a deep breath. Since that was the case, he just had to stubbornly endure till it was over. Invisible halos pulsed around Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. These halos were made from his Spirit power, and continuously dissolving as they clashed with the golden sunlight... However, just as he resolved himself to persevere through the pain, he suddenly felt a violent shudder from his Spirit. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Zhou Yuan was immediately alarmed. Had his Spirit reached its limit so soon? How could it be? It was at the mid Corporeal stage! Zhou Yuan hurriedly concentrated, and quickly sensed a mysterious light flickering between the brows of his Spirit, as a boundless noise began to emerge. A noise akin to grinding stone. A brand appeared between his Spirit¡¯s brows, shaped exactly like a divine grindstone. ¡°It¡¯s the divine grindstone brand master Cang Yuan left me¡­¡± It was the existence of this brand that enabled Zhou Yuan to practice the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. But Zhou Yuan had not activated it, so why had it suddenly appeared? Bzz! Bzz! The divine grindstone brand began to vibrate as a circle of light erupted. The circle swept outwards, blowing up the sand as the surroundings rapidly began to change. The desert disappeared, replaced by an endless starry sky. However, the giant golden run was still suspended high up in the sky, emitting its golden rays. Rumble! Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit stood within the starry sky, as a loud noise echoed from the darkness behind it. Next, an endless shadow loomed over the entire space, as an abyssal primal chaos divine grindstone slowly emerged along with a boundless pressure. However, the grindstone was not heading towards Zhou Yuan, but the giant golden sun. It was as if a giant dragon had discovered a feral wild beast that had entered into its territory, and was proceeding to exterminate the trespasser. Zhou Yuan was a little speechless as he awkwardly scratched his head. The golden sun seemed to have angered the divine grindstone brand? The primal chaos divine grindstone slowly rotated across the starry sky, as its infinite mass descended upon the golden sun. The golden sun seemed to sense that it was being challenged, causing its spreading golden rays to abruptly spike in intensity, turning into a cloak of golden flames around it that began burning the approaching grindstone. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit could feel a dangerous sensation from the golden flames. However, the primal chaos divine grindstone was not the least bit impressed. It continued its slow but unstoppable crushing motion, allowing the golden flames to burn as they pleased. The immovable giant grindstone turned, extinguishing every last wisp of golden fire. Zhou Yuan¡¯s jaw hung from his mouth. The divine grindstone brand was really something¡­ and to think that even the golden sun of this trial was unable to stop it. Come on¡­ the latter was something left behind by patriarch Cang Xuan back then... The grindstone slowly rolled across the sky, arriving in front of the giant golden sun. As the divine grindstone turned, the two bizarre entities ferociously collided. Boom! A shockwave violently rippled through the fabric of space, causing the entire sky to appear as if it were about to shatter. The light of the golden sun grew dimmer and dimmer, clearly unable to withstand the crushing force from the divine grindstone. In the end, both entities seem to shudder for a moment, before the grindstone pushed through and the golden sun shattered to pieces... The starry sky and divine grindstone began to fade, as a desert reappeared around Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan dazedly stared at the sky, where the shattered remains of the golden sun drifted, no longer able to emit its scorching golden rays... He scratched his head, a little out of it as he mumbled to himself, ¡°Is this¡­ considered a pass?¡± This trial should have been a test of Spirit tenacity, but even Zhou Yuan himself would not have imagined that the divine grindstone brand in his Spirit would be so easily irritable and tyrannical. It seemed to have been drawn out by the presence of the golden sun, and smashed it to pieces in an annoyed manner. With the golden sun now gone, would he be able to proceed with the test? Zhou Yuan stared at the empty sky, feeling rather lost for a time. Previous Chapte Chapter 491 Golden Light Stream Zhou Yuan stood on a dune in an endless desert, a blank look on his face as he gazed upon the peaceful land around him, while feeling rather lost inside. The golden sun in the sky had already been smashed to bits by the divine grindstone, taking away the burning pain his Spirit had felt. Everything now felt extremely serene. Zhou Yuan scratched his head. Compared to the difficulty of the previous trial, this trial felt as if it had ended even before it began... Bzz bzz! While Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly, a strange noise suddenly sounded from the sky. He raised his head to look, and found a stream of golden light descending from above as it swiftly approached him. The stream of golden light flowed like water, arriving in front of Zhou Yuan. ¡°What is this?¡± Zhou Yuan stared in wonder at the golden stream. His Spirit had begun to tremble violently the moment it had appeared, releasing a feeling of extreme desire. As if it could not wait to devour the former. Zhou Yuan had a certain feeling that if he absorbed the golden light, his Spirit cultivation, which had remained stuck for half a year, would begin to progress once more, and soar straight to the advanced Corporeal stage! ¡°Is this golden light the remnants of the shattered golden sun from earlier?¡± Zhou Yuan licked his lips. He quickly retrieved a jade bottle, and began collecting the strange liquid-like golden light. Since he could not determine its origin for the time being, it would be best for him to bring it back for Yaoyao to inspect. Moreover, it was neither the appropriate time nor place for him to attempt a Spirit cultivation breakthrough. Golden light flowed into the transparent jade bottle, glittering dazzlingly as if it were gold. Zhou Yuan carefully kept the bottle with a happy look in his eyes. He had not expected to receive such a surprising gift... Not long after keeping the golden light, the great desert began to tremble faintly. ¡°Second mountain trial, pass.¡± A grand yet emotionless voice echoed across the place. Upon hearing this voice, Zhou Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He had genuinely been afraid that he would fail the test due to breaking the golden sun. If that happened, he won¡¯t even have a place to cry. The desert started to distort as the voice continued to echo. After experiencing this phenomenon once, Zhou Yuan was quite calm as he silently stood and waited for the change to complete. The final trial should be coming up next. He should succeed once he passes it, right? The sand retreated as the scenery before Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes transformed. He appeared to now be standing in a majestic ancient hall. He did a quick 180, before his gaze paused in front of him, where three giant stone pillars towered. The pillars were mottled with the scars of time, and gave off an ancient aura. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze slowly moved upwards along the stone pillars, his eyes suddenly widening when he reached their peaks. Three figures were seated atop these pillars. Their eyes were tightly shut, their bodies completely still as if they were statues. They gave off no presence, as if they were inanimate puppets. Words had been carved into the upper regions of the pillars. ¡°Heavenly Sun¡­ Divine Dwelling¡­ Alpha-Origin?¡± Muttered Zhou Yuan. Did these words represent the strength of these three figures? The one on the left was a Heavenly Sun stage practitioner, the middle the Divine Dwelling stage, while the right one an Alpha-Origin. ¡°The third trial. Spin the needle in front of the three stone pillars to select your opponent.¡± ¡°You have two chances to spin, and are allowed to choose a new opponent.¡± A robotic voice echoed in the hall. ¡°So that¡¯s the test.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned a little ugly. He had not expected the third trial to be so frightening. Out of the three choices, only the Alpha-Origin would give him a chance at victory. As for the other two, even without taking into account the Heavenly Sun stage, the Divine Dwelling stage would already be certain death for Zhou Yuan. He was currently at the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage, and though his true battle power did not lose to an eighth layer disciple, there was still a tremendous disparity when compared to the Divine Dwelling stage. Fortunately, there were two tries, which gave him a higher probability of selecting an Alpha-Origin stage opponent. Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. He truly did not know what to do if he ended up with a Heavenly Sun or Divine Dwelling opponent. He shook his head and made a quick prayer, before walking forward to the center of the three stone pillars, where a stone needle was found. Zhou Yuan gripped the stone needle as he took in a deep breath to suppress the anxiety in his heart. In the end, he fiercely gritted his teeth and gave the needle a powerful push. Bzz bzz! The needle began to spin, rapidly turning between the three stone pillars. As time passed, the needle gradually started to slow down. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze was glued to the end of the needle. In the end, it slowly came to a halt. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was quite ugly as he slowly lifted his head. A numbing sensation seemed to explode across his scalp as his hands and feet turned ice-cold. The needle was pointing at the Heavenly Sun pillar! He had been unlucky enough to select the strongest one. ¡°God damnit!¡± Zhou Yuan clenched his jaw as a curse escaped from the cracks between his teeth. The power of the Heavenly Sun stage could squish him with a single swat. There was no way in hell that he would pass. Zhou Yuan gloomily raised his head and gazed at the figure atop the Heavenly Sun stage pillar. Although the latter was akin to a statue, merely looking at it made him feel a tremendous amount of pressure. ¡°I can¡¯t possibly beat that¡­¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°Fortunately, I still have another chance¡­¡± Zhou Yuan slowly lifted his hand and grasped the stone needle once more with the intention of pushing it to reselect his opponent. He gripped the rough stone, but just as he was about to push, he suddenly remembered old Xuan¡¯s words when he first entered the mountain trial. ¡°Remember what you said earlier.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand paused. Old Xuan would obviously not tell him something unimportant. ¡°What I said earlier¡­¡± Zhou Yuan fell silent. He had begun to recall his earlier words. ¡°Are you confident?¡± ¡°There is no such thing as absolute confidence, but I will neither be afraid nor retreat in the face of any difficulty Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately as he mumbled, ¡°Be unafraid?¡± He admitted that fear had risen in his heart when the needle pointed towards the Heavenly Sun pillar earlier, because he had felt that it was an unwinnable opponent. Hence, his very first response was to spin the needle again. But if he were to spin it again and go for the retry, it would also mean that he had been afraid and retreated in the face of the Heavenly Sun stage. Was retrying really the correct choice? Would this test really give him a second chance? Or¡­ was the so-called ¡®second chance¡¯ merely a trap? There was only silence in the ancient hall. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand lay on the stone needle, but was ultimately unable to make himself push it. After a long silence, he finally raised his head and let out a drawn-out sigh, before releasing his grip little by little. He took two steps back, looking at the pressuring figure atop the stone pillar as he muttered, ¡°If I die, I die¡­ Heavenly Sun stage, do you think I¡¯m afraid of you¡­¡± He abruptly raised his finger, and pointed at the figure as a thunderous shout boomed in the hall. ¡°Heavenly Sun stage!¡± ¡°I shall be you!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 492 Heavenly Sun Zhou Yuan¡¯s shout echoed in the ancient hall. It was as this very moment that the presence less figure atop the Heavenly Sun pillar faintly trembled. The eyes that had been shut for only god knew how long slowly opened at this moment. Boom! The entire hall began to shudder the instant they opened, as a dreadful Genesis Qi pressure engulfed the place. Under this pressure, even space itself began to warp and distort. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed drastically as he stumbled several dozen steps back. He forcibly steadied his body, an incomparably ugly expression on his face as he looked towards the figure. The pressure from the latter¡¯s body felt as heavy as a mountain. ¡°Is this the terror of the Heavenly Sun stage?¡± Zhou Yuan tightly gritted his teeth as a horrified noise escaped from the crevices between them. In the Cangxuan Sect, elder Shen Taiyuan and the rest were experts at this level, but they usually restrained their presences, giving Zhou Yuan no chance to gauge their might. But with the figure now beginning to release the full presence of the Heavenly Sun stage, Zhou Yuan finally realized how tiny and weak he was before it. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s extremely grim gaze, the figure slowly stood up on the stone pillar. Eyes completely devoid of emotion were cast towards Zhou Yuan, and a cold, empty voice rang out, ¡°Are you the one who wants to challenge me?¡± A drop of cold sweat appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead as he replied with a forced smile, ¡°Not really.¡± If it was not because he had been forced, there was no way he would challenge a Heavenly Sun stage expert unless he was tired of living! However, the figure obviously paid no heed to Zhou Yuan¡¯s answer, because the choice was already fixed once he was activated. His empty, soulless eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan as his clothes began to flap loudly without any wind. His foot slammed into the ground, causing the entire hall to shake. Rumble! The terrifying Genesis Qi pressure grew greater and greater, like a ten thousand ton tsunami that could shatter a mountain, as pulse after pulse hammered against Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Crack! The stone tiles under Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet cracked and shattered, the pressure nearly forcing him to his knees, as eerie creaking noises emanated from his bones. His expression was a mix of fear and terror, as the Genesis Qi in his body frantically surged out in an attempt to defend against the pressure. He never imagined that a Heavenly Sun stage expert would not even need to do anything else. Just the pressure alone had nearly extinguished all the fight he had in him. Even taking a single step forward at this moment was going to be unbelievably difficult, let alone exchanging blows with the Heavenly Sun stage expert under this tremendous pressure. This trial was basically hopeless! ¡°Back down.¡± The figure on the stone pillar looked down from above, its soulless eyes watching Zhou Yuan bitterly struggle. These words made Zhou Yuan bite down even harder, his fists clenching tightly, as slivers of red slowly appeared in his eyes. He had experienced so many hardships and tribulations ever since arriving at the Cangxuan Sect. He had also invested so much blood, sweat and tears in order to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, and earn the opportunity to enter the sealed main peak. Was everything really going to end here? He refused to accept it! He lifted his head with great difficulty, and stared at the figure looking down at him from above. His breathing turned deeper and rougher as red colored the whites of his eyes. The Heavenly Sun stage was indeed very terrifying, but even it could not make him willingly give up. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how powerful you are. You may be able to defeat me with a casual flick of your hand, but to make me willingly give up is¡­ IM! POS! SI! BLE!¡± As the final syllable was roared, Zhou Yuan pushed against the frightening pressure and took a step forward, causing wounds to tear open on his skin. However, he paid no heed to them, merely continued to stare at the figure atop the pillar. Another step, and another step. The floor beneath his feet cracked and shattered as more and more wounds appeared on his body, eventually covering nearly every inch of his skin. However, Zhou Yuan did not stop, but instead continued his advance towards the stone pillar. The figure atop the pillar watched him struggle with apathetic eyes, as if looking at an ant, but did not make any move to stop the former. ¡°Are you not going to attack? Because you feel I¡¯m not worthy?¡± ¡°Do you really believe this Genesis Qi pressure can scare me off?¡± Zhou Yuan forced out step after step, his blood-drenched body ultimately arriving below the stone pillar. He looked at the figure that was still staring at him with indifference, as a sinister smile appeared from the corners of his mouth. Though the pressure was terrifying, Zhou Yuan had a certain stubborn pride. If he were to lose his courage even before the other party attacked, he would be shaming all the years of effort he had put in. ¡°Since you¡¯re so arrogant¡­ let me have a taste of just how powerful the Heavenly Sun stage is!¡± His roar resounded in the hall as Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet suddenly arched a little. In the next instant, all the power in his body erupted without any reservation, crushing the floor below him as his figure charged into the air against the dreadful pressure, heading straight for the figure looking down at him from above. He was akin to a mad wolf, desperate to give his opponent a few bites even if he died. Courage and ruthlessness were things that Zhou Yuan had never lacked. Swoosh! He figure soared into the air, ultimately arriving at the top of the pillar. The eyes of the Heavenly Sun figure faintly rippled at this moment, as a seemingly cruel arc rose from the corners of his lips. The figure slowly raised a hand and aimed it at Zhou Yuan. An extremely terrifying attack condensed at the center of its palm. This scene basically spelled despair. However, only surging red and ferocity could be seen in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He did not care about the Heavenly Sun figure¡¯s attack, and only wanted to make the latter know that he would lose with dignity even if he failed. ARGGHHH! Zhou Yuan roared as he unleashed a ferocious punch. Genesis Qi surged out, accompanied by a sonic boom as it ruthlessly smashed into the outstretched hand of the Heavenly Sun figure. Even though he knew he would receive a frightening counter attack in the next instant. However, there were times that he must not back down. At the very least, he would have forced the Heavenly Sun figure into action, instead of being forced to kneel and losing all of his courage from that Genesis Qi pressure alone. In the face of despair, the thought of conceding never once crossed Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. Instead, he only thought of throwing everything he had to tear open a path amidst the crushing despair. In this way, even if he failed, he would at least have no regrets. Thud! Fist and palm met at this moment. The entire world seemed to fall silent. However, while Zhou Yuan was waiting for the terrifying counter attack, he saw the Heavenly Sun figure tremble faintly for a moment, before slowly disintegrating like a shadow under his fist... The frightening counter he had expected did not appear. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist landed on empty air as his body fell onto the top of the stone pillar. His face was filled with confusion as he turned around to look at the still fading figure behind him. The cruel smile on the Heavenly Sun figure had disappeared, replaced by what appeared to be a look of gratification. ¡°You¡¯ve passed.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 493 Third Trial Passed Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure stood atop the stone pillar, his face half dazed and half lingering ferocity, as he gazed at the slowly disintegrating Heavenly Sun figure behind him, unable to return to his senses for quite some time. The Genesis Qi pressure from the figure had been so terrifying that Zhou Yuan had nearly been overwhelmed, but why had it been broken in a single blow like the reflection of the moon in the water? ¡°Passed?¡± Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at the bloody wounds on his body. The earlier scene had not been an illusion of any kind, and that dreadful pressure had been the real deal. Zhou Yuan looked again at the disappearing figure with tightly furrowed brows. It was a long time later, before the faint glow of understanding rose within him. ¡°This trial was perhaps not a test of whether I could defeat the Heavenly Sun figure, but if I had the courage to attack even when faced with an expert at that level...¡± In the face of that frightening pressure, an ordinary person would be overwhelmed by fear, and would only try to desperately hang on or give up. For them to voluntarily initiate an attack, an astronomical amount of courage was required. One would also need a spirit that refused to bow down even in such a despairing circumstance, and the tenacity to do all one could to find a sliver of survival. If Zhou Yuan had decided to respin the needle earlier, he would have likely failed even if it landed on the Alpha-Origin figure. Of course, if Zhou Yuan had lost his courage, and chosen to back down in the face of the Heavenly Sun figure, it would be a failure as well. The road of the strong was paved with difficulties and countless desperate situations. If one lacked the courage and ruthlessness to push oneself to the limits, won¡¯t it be very difficult to break free from encirclements and ascend to greater heights? Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he calmed his churning emotions. Only now did he fully comprehend the meaning behind old Xuan¡¯s earlier words. One could not be afraid in this trial. If fear had existed while making a decision or when facing the Heavenly Sun figure, it would have been impossible for him to pass. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had ultimately succeeded. Rumble! While Zhou Yuan was tightly clenching his fist, a muffled rumble suddenly sounded behind him in the hall. He raised his head, and saw the tightly shut bronze doors slowly begin to open. ¡°Third trial, pass!¡± At the same time, a familiar robotic voice echoed. The Genesis Qi in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body vibrated, shaking off the blood on his body. With a push off his toes, he gently landed on the ground and arrived in front of the bronze doors. As he looked at the doors, he knew that behind them was the true entrance into the main peak. After a year of tough training, the day had finally come where he would reap the fruits of his labours. At such a time, even Zhou Yuan could not help but feel emotions well up in his eyes. He cast away all hesitation as he walked forward and stepped inside. ¡°Second Saint Rune, here I come!¡± Dong! The instant his foot crossed the threshold, the sound of a loud ancient bell rang out, echoing across the mountains. ¡­ Some time earlier while Zhou Yuan was still bitterly struggling in the third stage. Numerous gazes in the Cangxuan Sect were focused on the main peak. However, due to the seal, even sect master Qing Yang and the five peak master were unable to discern what was happening inside. Everyone could only wait patiently for the final outcome. This wait was undoubtedly quite boring, causing numerous disciples to chat out of boredom. ¡°Is he really up to the task? It¡¯s already been so long. All the previous chief disciples never took this long, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why all of them failed.¡± ¡°Heh, as if taking a longer time equates to success.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the three trials of Saint Genesis Peak were personally set by the patriarch back then. Any disciple with great aspirations could challenge it, and receive the patriarch¡¯s personal guidance if they passed. One must know that this is the same guidance only sect master and the other peak masters would enjoy back then!¡± ¡°Yeah, in the golden age of our Cangxuan Sect, innumerable geniuses have attempted the trial, but only tiny number of them managed to pass.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trial that even the numerous geniuses of that era failed to pass, how difficult do you think it will be for Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°In my opinion, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s main gates will still remain tightly shut.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Countless whispers continuously spread across the mountains. On the dilapidated old plaza, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s disciples wore grave expressions on their faces. They were naturally itching to retort after hearing the many whispers, but the words were ultimately unable to leave their mouths. Because they clearly understood how difficult this trial was. If not, Saint Genesis Peak would not have declined more and more with each passing year. Zhou Yuan was indeed a very outstanding disciple, but even they did not believe that he would succeed. The only thing they could do now was silently wait for the results. In contrast to their anxious waiting, Lu Hong¡¯s disciples watched with the cold eyes of a bystander, while Lu Hong wore a sneer on his face. Zhou Yuan had been the cause of their current predicament, and Lu Hong naturally hated the former. However, he did not dare to take any action due to the laws of the sect. But if he could watch Zhou Yuan fail this trial, it would definitely release some of the negative feelings in his heart. Aren¡¯t you supposed to be very awesome? You even managed to take the chief disciple position, but at the end of the day, won¡¯t it all end in failure? Next year, the various chief disciples from the other peaks would be allowed to participate. When that happened, what face would Saint Genesis Peak have left? High up in the sky. Sect master Qing Yang and the five peak masters were seated on their glowing lotuses, their deep gazes focused on the majestic misty main peak. They could naturally hear the spreading whispers, but did not take any steps to curb them. After all, they likewise clearly understood the difficulty of passing three trials. Peak master Ling Jun suddenly remarked, ¡°He seems to be taking a little too long.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Retorted peak master Lianyi in a nonchalant manner. Sect master Qing Yang raised his hand to cut them off before it escalated any further, when his expression suddenly concentrated as if trying to hear something. Moments later, he abruptly said, ¡°The Xuan bell is ringing!¡± The eyes of peak master Ling Jun, Lianyi and the others widened slightly. After a few dozen breaths of silence, the resonant ¡®dong¡¯ of an old bell slowly spread from the misty main peak, and echoed across the land. All the noises stopped at this moment. Countless gazes were abruptly raised, staring at the main peak as they attentively listened for the bell. They knew that the bell signified the end of the trials. Only when the Xuan bell rang seven times did it mean that the challenger had successfully passed all three trials. Over the years, innumerable disciples had been stopped before the seventh ring. Elder Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s aged faces were filled with nervousness. Amidst the silence, only the sound of a bell could be heard. Dong! Dong! Dong! ¡­¡­ A bell rang continuously, quickly reaching six rings. Countless individuals held their breaths, not daring to breathe too loudly. There was a slight pause after the sixth ring. The sneer that hung from Lu Hong¡¯s mouth abruptly widened as he breathed a deep sigh of relief inside. However, just as he was about to exhale a physical sigh from his mouth, another loud ¡®dong¡¯ unhurriedly echoed from the main peak... The seventh ring! *Uproar*! The entire place seemed to explode at this very moment. Previous Chapte Chapter 494 The Xuan Bell Rings Dong! When the seventh ring echoed across the land, the entire Cangxuan Sect first froze for an instant, before a torrential wave of noise and activity exploded. Countless disciples were stupefied as they stared at the mist-shrouded main peak. The seventh ring! Seven whole rings of the bell! Didn¡¯t this mean that Zhou Yuan had passed all three trials?! The very mission so many Saint Genesis Peak disciples had failed in the past, had now been successfully accomplished by Zhou Yuan?! Just how much of a monster was this guy?! On the dilapidated plaza, Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s disciples were stunned for a very long time. When they finally returned to their senses, they immediately exploded into deafening cheers. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s entire body trembled with emotion, as tears flowed along the wrinkles on his face. Ever since the patriarch died long ago, Saint Genesis Peak had gradually declined year after year, unable to even reopen their main gates. Although they were currently still the seventh peak in name, if not for the patriarch, their status as the seventh peak would have been revoked long ago. For a long-time member of Saint Genesis Peak, this was absolutely unacceptable. Hence, Shen Taiyuan had continuously worked towards unsealing the peak, but each failure that followed caused his aspirations to grow weaker and weaker, so much so that he had even begun to despair a little. The hope he reached for was just far too small. It was too difficult to reopen Saint Genesis Peak. When he heard that the champion of the peak selection had chosen Saint Genesis Peak, Shen Taiyuan was in truth only thinking about giving it another try. He had faced a tremendous amount of pressure later on due to the numerous cultivation resources and special treatment he gave Zhou Yuan, but he stubbornly put down his foot on the matter. Shen Taiyuan was currently overjoyed that he was a stubborn person.. If not for his stubbornness, his final hope may have left forever. By the side, elder Lu Song¡¯s eyes were also a little red as he stared at Shen Taiyuan and sighed emotionally. ¡°Old chap, I have no choice but to bow down to your foresight this time.¡± He was rather envious of the former. Back then, he did have a chance to recruit Zhou Yuan. However, the many years of failure had left him quite dejected, plus he didn¡¯t want to compete too harshly with Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction, and thus ultimately decided to give in. If he had chosen to fight a little harder back then, the glory of reopening Saint Genesis Peak may perhaps now belong to his faction instead. Shen Taiyuan laughed, no longer able to maintain his usual stern expression. Even his eyebrows had spread apart, clearly unable to conceal the joy in his heart. Compared to the euphoria of the two factions, Lu Hong¡¯s side was deathly quiet. Every disciple had a look of disbelief on their faces, while elder Lu Hong staggered unsteadily, nearly falling onto the ground. ¡°How can this be? How can this be!¡± Mumbled Lu Hong, his old face deathly white. The psychological blow he received from this result was not small at all. This had basically sealed his fate, the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak essentially meant that their Sword Cometh Peak no longer had any chance. He could already picture how enraged peak master Ling Jun would be by this. ¡°How could he possibly have done it!¡± Lu Hong trembled as he blurted out. Endless regret suddenly rose in his heart. If he had known this would happen, why would never have made things difficult for Zhou Yuan just to help Lu Xuanyin and the rest take revenge. If he had just earnestly tried to recruit Zhou Yuan, none of this would have happened. Due to that single misstep back then, he was now headed into the bottomless abyss. High up in the sky. Sect master Qing Yang and the five peak masters dazedly stared at the main peak. ¡°Zhou Yuan really managed to do it?¡± Said peak master Lianyi in surprise, her mouth hanging slightly ajar. Though she had said that she was cheering for Zhou Yuan earlier, it was only so that she could pit herself against peak master Ling Jun. In her heart, she did not believe that Zhou Yuan would achieve seven rings of the Xuan bell, because she clearly understood just how difficult it was. The other peak masters also had surprised looks on their faces. Only peak master Ling Jun¡¯s was as rigid as still water as he released a smothered snort. The other peak masters chuckled when they saw this, knowing that all of peak master Ling Jun¡¯s plans had now gone up in smoke due to the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak. Moreover, Sword Cometh Peak had lost so much cultivation resources for nothing, basically making them the biggest losers of this affair. At this moment, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s eyes suddenly focused as he said, ¡°It¡¯s not over yet!¡± The other peak masters were stunned, their pupils shrinking a little as they could not help but blurt out, ¡°It can¡¯t be, right?¡± Not over after the seventh ring? Wouldn¡¯t that mean that he had reached the eighth ring?! Eight rings of the Xuan bell was extremely rare even in the golden age of the Cangxuan Sect! Dong! The instant their words rang out, the eighth ring loudly sounded from the main peak, instantly cutting all cheering and chatter. The mouths of countless disciples hung wide open like ducks who had been pinched by the neck. The eighth ring? Their minds were a little blank, because in the history of the Cangxuan Sect, eighth rings were only spoken of in legend... The eighth ring echoed across the silent land. The numerous disciples did not know what to say at this moment. In the sky, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s eyes shined brightly. Moments later, he slowly said, ¡°There¡¯s one more ring.¡± The expressions of the other peak masters changed. Dong! In the next instant, the ninth ring suddenly sounded. All the disciples turned numb at this moment. They were truly unable to fathom exactly what Zhou Yuan had done. How had he reached this level?! Was this something someone could even achieve?! Shen Taiyuan had basically blanked out, not knowing what to say as he stared at the main peak. This outcome had far exceeded the realm of his imagination. In his eyes, reaching the seventh ring was already an exceedingly amazing achievement. So what about the ninth ring? With regards to such an extreme result, even he could not comment for a time. By the side, Lu Song was likewise confused and in disbelief as he looked towards Shen Taiyuan. In the end, he could only swallow repeatedly. After a long time, the two of them arrived at an awkward conclusion. ¡°Is the Xuan bell broken?¡± ¡°Nine rings of the Xuan bell¡­¡± Sect master Qing Yang took in a deep breath, before he said, ¡°How many years has it been since someone has achieved this¡­¡± The other peak masters were silent. Since the founding of the Cangxuan Sect, only a handful of individuals have managed to achieve nine rings. How had Zhou Yuan done it? ¡°It seems that a dragon has been born in our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Sect master Qing Yang stared hard at the majestic main peak. Soon after, he chuckled as he vertically placed a hand in front of him and softly said, ¡°Thank you patriarch for protecting our Cangxuan Sect.¡± While the entire Cangxuan Sect was immersed in their shock, on the hall at the foot of the mountain, old Xuan raised his head to look at the misty main peak. He sat on the stone steps, hugging his bamboo broom as a faint smile appeared on his old, old face. This little one was truly surprising. ¡°Master¡­ our Saint Genesis Peak has opened again.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 495 The Green Jade Statue of the Patriarch ¡°Nine rings¡­¡± When Zhou Yuan stepped out from the large bronze doors, he heard the sound of a melodious old bell echoing within the mountain. His mouth hung slightly ajar as shock appeared in his eyes. Even the person himself had not expected that his results would reach the nine bell level. ¡°Is it because the divine grindstone smashed apart the golden sun? That¡¯s why the evaluation is so good¡­¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head. He did not feel overly proud, because he only needed seven rings to achieve his goal. Of course, the additional two rings would naturally not be rejected by him. It was after all still a form of acknowledgement of his performance. Now that he knew the outcome, he breathed a deep sigh of relief as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The bell represented that he had successfully passed the three trials. As Zhou Yuan suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, he raised his head and saw a mountain path that snaked upwards, with streams flowing to its left and right. There was no mist here, and Zhou Yuan was clearly already quite deep in the main peak. By following this path, he should be able to reach his destination. Zhou Yuan wet his lips as he cast away his hesitation and walked forward, slowly following the mountain path. After a few dozen minutes, his footsteps began to slow. The path had ended some distance to the front, where an ancient large hall silently towered within the mist. The hall looked quite simple, and was covered in the mottled scars of time. This hall was the main hall of Saint Genesis Peak! Zhou Yuan stood in front of the hall, as he looked upon it with burning eyes. The second Saint Rune he deeply yearned for should be hidden somewhere inside. After a quick scan of the surroundings, he was just about to step forward, only for his foot to come to an abrupt stop. His gaze darted towards the front in amazement, where faint cracks could be seen in the air. An indescribable feeling of danger spread from it. ¡°There¡¯s still such a terrifying seal outside the main hall?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was grave. The dangerous aura from this seal was even more frightening than the ones outside the mountain. He had no doubt that a brief contact with the undulations from the seal was all it would take to completely obliterate himself from existence. In fact, even a Heavenly Sun stage expert would likely share the same fate. This seal was obviously the last defense of the main hall. An awkward look appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. It had not been an easy task for him to pass the three trials, and he had thought everything would be smooth sailing from then onwards. Why had a seal suddenly appeared? Was he going to have to call for sect master and the rest? But if they came, they would likely discover the existence of the Saint Rune... Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment. A thought suddenly struck him all of a sudden as he smacked his head and said, ¡°I almost forgot about it.¡± With a pat of the spatial bag at his waist, a glow rose from his palm. It was a white jade token, the signet patriarch Cang Xuan had left him in the Saint Remains Domain. Patriarch Cang Xuan had mentioned that this signet could undo the seal. ¡°I¡¯ll just have to give it a try¡­¡± Although he did not know if it would work, there was nothing else Zhou Yuan could think of. He raised his hand as the white jade token slowly rose into the air. It moved towards the seal outside the hall and slowly made contact. Zhou Yuan nervously watched while on full alert. He was ready to dash off the moment he felt something was wrong. Warm, gently rays were reached out from the white jade token. As the light spread, the seal swiftly dissolved like snow that had met magma. In a short few minutes, the seal around the main hall had completely faded away. The distorted space gradually returned to normal. ¡°So simple¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned, as he involuntarily wet his lips. He was thankful that the patriarch had left him this signet. Otherwise, given his current strength, even breaking his head open would have been nowhere near enough to even give this seal a tiny shake. He extended his hand as the white jade token fell back into it. He looked towards the front again. There were no more obstructions outside the main hall. Hence, he quickly walked forward and pushed open the heavy doors that had been tightly shut for who knew how many years. Creak The doors slowly wobbled open as an ancient aura assaulted his senses. The interior was very spacious and surprisingly still lit by burning altar lamps. The stone floor seemed to gleam like a mirror, not a single speck of dust to be seen. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze paused at the center of the hall, where a green jade statue stood. It depicted a handsome and mysterious young man whose looks were not unfamiliar to Zhou Yuan. It was the one and only patriarch Cang Xuan he had met in the Saint Remains Domain. The jade statue of the patriarch was very lifelike, its eyes appearing deep and kindly as a mysterious aura spread from them. The statue also possessed an indescribable dignified presence. As the once number one expert in Cangxuan Heaven, even a mere jade statue of him clearly possessed a certain aura. ¡°Patriarch, we meet again¡­¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan as he gazed at the statue and sighed. If he had not met the fragment of patriarch Cangxuan¡¯s Spirit in the Saint Remains Domain, he may not have come to the Cangxuan Sect. However, when he looked back now, he felt very grateful for the patriarch¡¯s guidance... He bowed to the jade status, before raising his head to ask, ¡°I¡¯m here patriarch. Where¡¯s the second Saint Rune?¡± There was no response from the statue, its warm and deep gaze merely continuing to stare at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan chuckled awkwardly. ¡°So I have to find it myself?¡± After speaking, he rose and began to wander about the hall. However, he failed to discover anything. In the end, he arrived back at the statue, where he found a jade seal. The jade seal gave off a simple glow, and felt extremely heavy when Zhou Yuan picked it up. On the seal were two words, Saint Genesis. ¡°Could this be the peak master seal of Saint Genesis Peak?¡± Zhou Yuan pondered to himself. It was because this seal had been missing from Saint Genesis Peak that they had been unable to produce a peak master for so many years. Though the peak master seal was important, Zhou Yuan did not have much interest in it, and soon put it back down. He searched and searched, but failed to find any trace of the second Saint Rune. This caused Zhou Yuan to grow rather anxious. Everything he had done so far was for the sake of the second Saint Rune, but now that he was here, it was nowhere to be found. ¡°Patriarch, you can¡¯t have tricked me, right?¡± Soon after, he sat down on the mat in front of the jade statue with a miserable face as he stared at it. Man and statue stared at each other. For an instant, Zhou Yuan seemed to see the jade statue¡¯s pupils flicker for a moment. Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback. Soon after, a certain notion struck him. He steadied his breathing as the Decoder Saint Rune slowly began rotating in the depths of his pupils with a shout in his heart. ¡°Decoder Saint Rune!¡± The Saint Rune spun as changes began to occur to the jade statue. It gradually turned transparent as Zhou Yuan slowly inspected it. In the end, his eyes paused on the statue¡¯s outstretched hand. A mysterious ancient glowing rune could be seen deep within the jade, silently sitting there as it gave off a boundless aura. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart began to beat like a drum the moment he saw it, as an excited look flooded his face. The second Saint Rune was here after all! Previous Chapte Chapter 496 Earth Saint Rune The mysterious glowing rune pulsed with a mighty heart-palpitating power as it silently lay in deep within the jade hand. Its familiar aura made Zhou Yuan absolutely certain that this was the second Saint Rune he had been painstakingly searching for... Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest rapidly heaved, only gradually returning to normal after some time. However, the burning fire in his eyes blazed strongly, as impossible to be extinguished. It was after all hard to reign in his emotions when the goal he had strived so long for was finally right before his eyes. He slowly walked forward, arriving in front of the jade statue as he reached out a trembling hand to gently touch the statue¡¯s hand. A cooling sensation spread from his palm. Light suddenly blossomed from the green jade hand as the Saint Rune slowly began to squirm. Zhou Yuan circulated his Genesis Qi, very carefully sending strands of Qi to grab the Saint Rune. Bzz! However, the mysterious Saint Rune seemed to be aware of his intentions and suddenly shook, scattering the Genesis Qi. With a swish, it left the green jade hand and zipped through the air. Zhou Yuan was horrified by this sight. If he were to let it escape, he would not even have a place to cry. Rumblw! Vigorous Genesis Qi instantly exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body without any reservation, transforming into halo after halo that reached towards the fleeing Saint Rune. Bzz bzz! However, the mysterious rune vibrated, and easily scattered the Genesis Qi. This Saint Rune evidently possessed some kind of mysterious power. If it had offensive capabilities, Zhou Yuan would have likely been in a tremendous amount of danger. After scattering the Genesis Qi, the mysterious Saint Rune flew towards the entrance of the hall. Beads of sweat dripped down the anxious Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. He had not expected the second Saint Rune to be so difficult to subdue. The patriarch had not told him anything about this back then! Bzz! However, while Zhou Yuan was fretting inside as if he were on fire, the Decoder Saint Rune began to revolve in the depths of his pupils. A mysterious light stream shot out, shining on the escaping Saint Rune. Under the light, the untamable Saint Rune immediately froze, before slowly flying back and began circling around Zhou Yuan as if sensing something familiar. Zhou Yuan did not dare to even move as he anxiously watched the Saint Rune, afraid that it would suddenly fly away again. He sort of knew that this Saint Rune also possessed some kind of mysterious power, and would not be so easily obtained. Even with the Decoder Saint Rune, he had only succeeded with the help of the divine greenstone brand. Hence, he required the aid of another divine object to subdue this Saint Rune. From what he could see, the divine grindstone brand was not going to be of much use against this Saint Rune. Fortunately, the Decoder Saint Rune had promptly taken action... Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s anxious gaze, the mysterious Saint Rune leisurely circled him twice, before gradually descending due to the familiar power from the Decoder Saint Rune. Zhou Yuan extended a hand as the Saint Rune landed in his palm. It began to melt like water the moment it touched his hand, soaking into his palm and fusing with his flesh. Next, a mysterious, cryptic looking ancient Saint Rune appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Zhou Yuan quickly clenched his hand, afraid that it would run away again, while a wide grin emerged on his face. As the Saint Rune fused into his palm, information began to flow into his head. ¡°Earth Saint Rune, second rune of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Gives one power over the earth to absorb earth Genesis Qi to augment the body.¡± ¡°So this Saint Rune is called the Earth Saint Rune.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. Soon after, he asked in a puzzled voice, ¡°Earth Genesis Qi? Augment the body?¡± He awkwardly scratched his head. From the looks of it, this Earth Saint Rune belonged to the battle category. However, there was currently no time to give it a spin. He closed his fist, causing the Earth Saint Rune within it to slowly fade away. It concealed itself in his flesh, making it nearly impossible to detect. The second Saint Rune was finally his. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, a huge weight finally lifted off his mind. His first major goal had at long last been achieved. Bzz! While Zhou Yuan was elated over obtaining the second Saint Rune, the rays of light suddenly beamed from the jade statue¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan was startled, hastily taking two steps back. The light converged before him, ultimately taking the shape of two ancient glowing words. ¡°This is?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned as he read them, ¡°Mythic Utopia?¡± ¡°What is a Mythic Utopia?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. Soon after, his eyes suddenly widened, ¡°Could it be¡­ a clue leading to the third Saint Rune?¡± Back then, patriarch Cang Xuan had told him that he would receive a clue that led to the third Saint Rune when he obtained the second Saint Rune. From the looks of it, the third Saint Rune was probably somewhere in this Mythic Utopia. However, the term was very unfamiliar to Zhou Yuan. Looks like he¡¯ll have to start doing some research. The four Saint Runes were split off parts of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, the number divine object of Cangxuan Heaven. If there was a chance to gather them, Zhou Yuan would naturally take it. The ancient glowing words slowly faded away as the jade statue returned to normal, no longer displaying any strange activity. A look of thought emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, before he solemnly bowed towards the green jade statue and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry patriarch, I will do my best to gather the four Saint Runes.¡± As long as the Saint Runes were in his possession, it would be impossible for the master of Sacred Palace to become the master of Cangxuan Heaven even if he did obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. His roots were in Cangxuan Heaven after all, and he would naturally not want Sacred Palace to grow so powerful. If they did, it would become extremely dangerous for him, who had the Saint Runes in his possession. After he was done, Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew from the hall and stood outside. Rumble! Meanwhile, green light rose from the jade statue in the hall and soared into the sky. The green light spread, slowly melting the seal over the main peak wherever it passed. The mist that surrounded the peak also began to recede like the tide. The long sealed main peak was finally going to see the light of day again. Dong! Dong! Dong! The resonant dong of an old bell rang continuously in the main peak, echoing in the surroundings as if in celebration. Outside the main peak, high above in the sky. Emotions surged across sect master Qing Yang¡¯s face as he watched the mist retreat from the main peak, before he stood up and bowed towards it. ¡°Congratulations on reopening, Saint Genesis Peak!¡± Saint Genesis Peak where patriarch Cang Xuan often secluded himself. His bow was in truth a bow towards the patriarch. The five peak masters also stood up and earnestly bowed with solemn expressions. ¡°Congratulations on reopening, Saint Genesis Peak!¡± Their grand voices echoed across the land, causing the countless individuals within the Cangxuan Sect to look towards Saint Genesis Peak in shock. From this day onwards, the seven peaks of the Cangxuan Sect shall reemerge in the world. Previous Chapte Chapter 497 Genesis Reservoir Ceremony As the sound of a bell loudly echoed in the Cangxuan Sect, countless disciples raised their heads and cast astonished gazes towards Saint Genesis Peak. Because they knew how huge this was to the sect... Saint Genesis Peak was established by the patriarch long ago, and possessed a tremendous amount of cultivation resources. However, due to the seal, these resources had been unable to see the light of day. Now that Saint Genesis Peak was reopened, it would perhaps not be long before they would grow strong once more, causing the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s overall strength to rise. Despite the significance of this event, numerous disciples were even more shocked and bewildered by the one who was at the root of it¡­ Zhou Yuan. Although his performance in the chief disciple selection had been spectacular, most disciples had been optimistic about his attempt at challenging the mountain trials and reopening the main peak. Only because the difficulty was far too great. Hence, why the many disciples were so shocked and in disbelief when the final result was revealed. No one had imagined that a disciple, who had joined the sect a year ago, would accomplish such an amazing feat. After all, an achievement on the level of establishing a peak was something shared by only the few peak masters in the Cangxuan Sect. Although Zhou Yuan had only reopened Saint Genesis Peak, the shock value of the deed was still rather high. Zhou Yuan had done what so many chief disciples of Saint Genesis Peak had failed to in the past. This was enough to show how outstanding he was. After this matter, his status in the Cangxuan would likely surpass the other chief disciples, and maybe even catch up to the ten great Chosens. ... Snow Lotus Peak. Li Qingchan gracefully stood on a certain mountain peak, her beautiful face directed towards the soaring jade light from Saint Genesis Peak with a look of amazement appeared on her face. ¡°He really did it.¡± Mumbled Li Qingchan, as a complicated look arose in her eyes. She was someone who had witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s rapid progress over the past year. He was just like a sea sponge, frantically absorbing the sea water around it to enrich itself. No matter the difficult or risk, nothing had been able to stop him. Such tenacity made even Li Qingchan¡¯s heart tremble a little. She had previously been unable to understand why someone as amazing as Yaoyao would willingly stay at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. In Li Qingchan¡¯s opinion, someone as outstanding as Yaoyao should live in a completely different world than Zhou Yuan. No matter how she looked at it, Zhou Yuan did not deserve to stand at Yaoyao¡¯s side. As such, she always felt a pitying feeling like a flower was growing in dung when she viewed the two of them. However, Zhou Yuan had repeatedly surprised and amazed her over the past year, slowly changing her initial opinion. Perhaps, what Yaoyao saw was the potential hidden within him. ... Sword Cometh Peak Three figures were seated facing each other in a stone pavilion. Kong Sheng frowned slightly as he looked in Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s direction and slowly said, ¡°He does have some ability.¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression was quite ugly. He had previously stated that it was impossible for Zhou Yuan to reopen Saint Genesis Peak, and he never imagined that the latter would actually succeed. Beside the two of them was the newly promoted chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak, Bai Liche. He was currently frowning as he looked towards Saint Genesis Peak. As the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak, Bai Liche felt Zhou Yuan to be his lesser. In his opinion, a chief disciple, who fought his way to victory from those little kittens and puppies from Saint Genesis Peak, had no right to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. Even Yuan Hong, whose strength was at least acceptable, was an opponent that Bai Liche was confident of suppressing. After all, he had always managed to do so in the past when the former was still part of Sword Cometh Peak. Hence, he was not at all concerned about Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s chief disciple, Zhou Yuan. However, the huge fuss Zhou Yuan had suddenly caused would cause his reputation to begin overwhelming the other chief disciples, including himself, the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak. This made Bai Lichu feel quite uncomfortable. Bai Liche looked towards Zhao Zhu and said, ¡°Senior brother Zhao Zhu need not brood over such matters, Zhou Yuan was just lucky that¡¯s all.¡± Zhao Zhu replied with a dark expression, ¡°He has caused such a great loss to our Sword Cometh Peak, that even peak master secretly erupted in anger a few times. He¡¯s truly a pain in the neck and I feel that it is time to teach him a lesson.¡± He looked towards Kong Sheng and asked, ¡°What do you think, senior brother Kong Sheng?¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, considering for a moment, before he said, ¡°Teaching our junior brothers some humbleness is indeed what we senior brothers should be doing.¡± His fingers gently tapped the table as he said, ¡°This year¡¯s Genesis reservoir ceremony should be about to begin, right?¡± Zhao Zhu and Bai Liche¡¯s eyes brightened when they heard this. The Genesis reservoir ceremony was naturally related to the Genesis reservoir. Normally speaking, only purple sash disciples were allowed into the Genesis reservoir every two months, while ordinary disciples could only watch with envy from the outside, or stay in the outer area to absorb some of the pure Genesis Qi that leaked out. However, there was an exception. At the start of every year, the sect would open the Genesis reservoir to everyone without restriction. Any disciple could enter to try their luck, as a sort of reward for the year of hard work they had spent in their cultivation. This was the so-called Genesis reservoir ceremony. However, there were also certain rules in place. Dragon Genesis Essence was not obtained individually but by the entire peak. When the Genesis reservoir ceremony was over, the total amount of Dragon Genesis Essene obtained by the various peaks would be evaluated by the sect, and then the disciples of each peak would be awarded the appropriate level of Genesis Marrow Baptism. The scale would be tremendous with disciples from all seven peaks entering the Genesis reservoir, which would also naturally lead to conflicts between them. The upper echelons of the sect did not forbid such conflicts as long as they were positive and competitive in nature. It was after all also a form of training for the disciples. Kong Sheng looked towards Zhao Zhu and Bai Liche, before shifting his gaze towards the far away Saint Genesis Peak as he smiled, ¡°What portion of their final haul does Saint Genesis Peak pay to our Sword Cometh Peak as tribute last year?¡± ¡°Twenty percent. We gave face to Lu Hong¡¯s faction, and only collected a twenty percent protection fee last year.¡± Zhao Zhu also smiled. Every Genesis reservoir ceremony, the sect would stimulate the Origin Dragon vein, which would in turn greatly boost the dragon Qi in the reservoir. As a result, the number of aquatic beasts would soar in both numbers and strength, creating quite a challenge for the various peaks. Fortunately, each peak was overseen by their respective Chosen, allowing them to deal with giant swarms of aquatic beasts. The only exception was Saint Genesis Peak. Saint Genesis Peak was not only the weakest but also the least in number. In previous years, their participation was essentially a joke, and a small mistake was it would take for them to be besieged on all sides by aquatic beasts and losing their qualifications. Saint Genesis Peak grew smarter later on, and seeked aid from the other peaks. In exchange, they would give up a portion of their Dragon Genesis Essence as tribute. To be blunt, it was basically a protection fee. This matter was one of the running jokes in the sect. It just so happened that Saint Genesis Peak usually seeked aid from Sword Cometh Peak. ¡°Twenty percent huh¡­¡± The corners of Kong Sheng¡¯s mouth curled slightly as he said in an offhand manner, ¡°Tell them that we want fifty percent this year.¡± Bai Liche began to laugh. ¡°Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s morale is at an all time high, and they even have a chief disciple now. I¡¯m afraid they won¡¯t agree to these terms.¡± Kong Sheng softly chuckled as a strange expression emerged in his eyes. ¡°If so, they will have to depend on that mighty chief disciple of theirs¡­¡± ¡°The waters of the reservoir are quite deep. I¡¯m afraid that the chief disciple they have great expectations of will not be up to the task¡­¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 498 Search for the Stamp The sound of a bell echoed across the mountains. High up in the sky, sect master Qing Yang and the five peak masters exchanged a look, before descending towards the ground, landing just outside the large ancient hall atop the main peak. Zhou Yuan was already waiting here. He hurriedly bowed and cupped his fists together upon seeing sect master and the rest. ¡°Greetings sect master and the five peak masters.¡± Sect master Qing Yang kindly looked at Zhou Yuan as he nodded and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are the main reason for Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s reopening. In fact, we should be thanking you.¡± Zhou Yuan hastily said, ¡°As a disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, it is my duty to aid in its reopening.¡± Sect master Qing Yang chuckled, before he looked towards the green jade statue in the hall with a solemn expression and quickly walked forward, the five peak masters hurriedly following behind. Six figures stood before the green jade statue of the patriarch and respectfully bowed. ¡°It¡¯s been so many years since we¡¯ve seen this statue.¡± Sect master Qing Yang sighed. Peak master Ling Jun stared at the statue. Moments later, he said in a soft voice, ¡°Shall we go ahead and search?¡± The others nodded with serious expressions. Sect master Qing Yang took in a deep breath, before he bowed to the jade statue again and said, ¡°Teacher, sorry for the disturbance.¡± The moment his words faded, the figures of the five peak masters disappeared from the spot, before appearing at various locations in the giant main peak. Zhou Yuan immediately felt several terrifying presences spread their senses, searching the main peak inch by inch. Sect master Qing Yang remained standing in front of the statue, his eyes lightly shut, clothes fluttering as his senses also spread out. Everything around him was clearly projected in his heart. In the face of these six searching hegemons, it was near impossible for anything in the main peak to escape their detection Zhou Yuan trembled a little in fear as he watched. If his guess was correct, sect master Qing Yang and the rest should be searching for the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. It was after all the number one divine artifact of Cangxuan Heaven, and had been lost long ago when patriarch Cangxuan died. If the Cangxuan Sect managed to get ahold of it once more, their strength would undoubtedly so, and maybe even become the number one sect in Cangxuan Heaven again. Saint Genesis Peak was the place where the patriarch often secluded himself while he was alive, plus it had also been personally sealed by him. This undoubtedly made sect master Qing Yang and the others feel that the Saint Stamp was somewhere within Saint Genesis Peak. However, Zhou Yuan knew that it was not here. The patriarch had most likely sealed this peak in order to protect the second Saint Rune. Since the Saint Rune was now in his hands, there was nothing else to be found in Saint Genesis Peak. Of course, there was naturally no way he would dare to reveal this information. Hence, he could only watch as the six hegemons thoroughly searched the main peak. The searching lasted for an entire half of an incense stick of time, before the space in the large hall faintly rippled as five figures appeared that quickly shook their heads with grave expressions. Sect master Qing Yang sighed softly when he saw this and said, ¡°It appears that we were too naive.¡± Lightning Prison Peak master Lei Jun¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed as he said in a low voice, ¡°Why would Cang Xuan seal this place if there was nothing here? This is not normal.¡± ¡°Maybe teacher does not wish for the peace here to be disturbed?¡± Suggested Bai Mei as he stroked his long white brows. Peak master Ling Jun shook his head. His seemingly bottomless and sharp gaze swept across the hall, before suddenly pausing on Zhou Yuan as his eyes grew even sharper. ¡°You were the first to enter. Did you not discover anything?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Without a change in expression, he shook his head and answered, ¡°Disciple does not know what peak master Ling Jun is saying.¡± Peak master Ling Jun indifferently said, ¡°You¡¯re clearly only at the fifth layer Alpha-Origin stage, but your Genesis Qi foundations are exceptionally robust. I wonder what¡¯s the reason behind this?¡± Zhou Yuan calmly replied, ¡°Disciple had some fortunate and blessed encounters over the years. However, this does not seem to be peak master Ling Jun¡¯s business? Is peak master Ling Jun making things difficult for me because I foiled Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s plans during the chief disciple selection?¡± Peak master Ling Jun looked deeply at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sharp-tongued. This is a matter of utmost importance, and I feel you should be handed to Lightning Prison Peak for a proper inspection.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. He was not worried about being inspected, because it was definitely impossible for sect master Qing Yang and the others to know about the Saint Runes. Even if the runes were found, he would say that he had chanced upon them by luck. However, being inspected for no reason was an uncomfortable feeling. ¡°Ling Jun, it seems to me that you¡¯ve become overly infatuated with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!¡± However, an old, icy laughter suddenly rang out at this moment. Old Xuan¡¯s figure leisurely appeared from the mountain path, his eyes frosty as he stared at peak master Ling Jun. ¡°Zhou Yuan just did a great service to our Saint Genesis Peak, never mind if he¡¯s not rewarded, you actually want to send him to Lightning Prison Peak for an inspection? Come, tell me your rationale behind this?!¡± ¡°If word of this spread, which disciple in our Cangxuan Sect will dare to do anything for the sect?¡± Peak master Ling Jun said, ¡°The Cangxuan Saint Stamp is too important, a single disciple having to suffer a little should be understandable.¡± Old Xuan laughed mockingly. ¡°All of you should clearly know what kind of treasure the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is. Do you think none of you would be able to sense an ultimate treasure like it if it were in his possession? Is there even any need to go to Lightning Prison Peak?¡± Peak master Ling Jun was unable to respond. The almighty undulations from an ultimate divine artifact like the Cangxuan Saint Stamp could not be completely hidden even by individuals like them. A mere fifth layer Alpha-Origin disciple would obviously be even more incapable of doing so. Peak master Ling Jun glanced at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°There are always exceptions.¡± Old Xuan icily snorted as he looked towards sect master Qing Yang. ¡°Does sect master intend for Zhou Yuan to be sent to Lightning Prison Peak?¡± Sect master Qing Yang chuckled as he shook his head and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan has done a great service for Saint Genesis Peak, there is absolutely no reason for him to be inspected.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Peak master Ling Jun cut in. Sect master Qing Yang waved his hand and sighed. ¡°Peak master Ling Jun, I understand that the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is very important, but teacher clearly did not leave it in Saint Genesis Peak. There is no need to be overly suspicious for no good reason.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is a disciple of our Cangxuan Sect that had made several contributions. We cannot treat him in such a manner.¡± Peak master Ling Jun could no longer say anything, and withdrew his gaze from Zhou Yuan. ¡°We¡¯ve wasted our time again.¡± Lightning Prison Peak master Lei Jun stared at the jade statue as he slowly said, ¡°If the Cangxuan Saint Stamp isn¡¯t here, where exactly is it? If it lands in the hands of Sacred Palace, Cangxuan Heaven¡­¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the rest fell silent. If the Cangxuan Saint Stamp landed in the hands of the Sacred Palace master, the latter would very likely become the new heaven master of Cangxuan Heaven. When that happened, he would be able to wield the power of Cangxuan Heaven. In addition, there will no longer be any hope of avenging the patriarch. In the end, sect master Qing Yang waved his hand, pulling himself together as he said, ¡°Do not be overly worried. Teacher must have made certain preparations before he died. It will not be so easy for the Sacred Palace to find the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± Everyone nodded, they could only console themselves in this manner. Zhou Yuan pondered by the side. He wondered if he would be able to sense the location of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp when all four Saint Runes were gathered. He had a feeling that this was what the patriarch intended when he cut off these four Saint Runes from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. While he was submerged in thought, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s gaze shifted over as he chuckled and said, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s reopening is a cause for celebration for the Cangxuan Sect, we should not brood over such matters.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, you¡¯ll have to work hard in the upcoming Genesis reservoir ceremony. How much blessings the disciples of Saint Genesis Peak will end up obtaining will mostly depend on you¡­¡± ¡°Genesis reservoir ceremony?¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback, but still respectfully nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°Disciple will do his best.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 499 Master Faction A major event like the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak naturally caused huge ripples in the Cangxuan Sect, because the seven peaks were now not just in name. It was also vital to Saint Genesis Peak. They would now be able to select some of the more talented disciples when the new batch entered, unlike before, when they could only hope for leftovers after the other six peaks were done, a situation that had caused them to grow weaker and weaker. With the influx of more and more fresh blood, Saint Genesis Peak would strengthen little by little. In addition, the peak master seal had been retrieved. Since Zhou Yuan was the main person responsible for the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak, it was no surprise that the peak master seal was left in elder Shen Taiyuan¡¯s hands by sect master Qing Yang. This meant that elder Shen Taiyuan was now the substitute peak master of Saint Genesis Peak. As to why he was only a substitute, it was because the minimum requirement to become a peak master was to first step into the Nascent Source stage. The Nascent Source stage was basically the highest level in Cangxuan Heaven. Experts at this level could establish a first class sect, and if put outside the Shengzhou Continent, they would even be able to lord over several continents, becoming famous overlords. Elder Shen Taiyuan was currently at the Heavenly Sun stage, and was still some ways from the Nascent Source stage. Hence, it was not possible for him to become a true peak master even though the peak master seal was already in his possession. Even so, elder Shen Taiyuan¡¯s status had rapidly soared, making all the other elders crazily envious. After all, the cultivation resources he enjoyed as a substitute peak master would far surpass the other elders, giving him a better chance of stepping into the Nascent Source stage. Moreover, since elder Shen Taiyuan was the substitute peak master, the master faction position would naturally fall upon the faction Zhou Yuan and the rest belonged to. Henceforth, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s faction would become the master faction and have the highest status in Saint Genesis Peak. The other factions would view them as the head, and follow their commands. Most importantly, the master faction would have a greater share of Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s cultivation resources, which would undoubtedly put them in a more advantageous position. It was plain for all to see, Shen Taiyuan and his faction were the biggest winners in the sect. The many elders in the sect were very envious of Shen Taiyuan. In the past, he had been considered one of the less well off among the elders. After all, the other elders felt that stubbornly clinging on in Saint Genesis Peak was a fruitless endeavor, and anyone else would have requested to be transferred elsewhere long ago. However, Shen Taiyuan was extremely stubborn, clinging obstinately to Saint Genesis Peak and refusing to leave. However, the numerous elders could not help but sigh at how lucky Shen Taiyuan was now. To think that he would meet a miraculous disciple like Zhou Yuan, who would pull them out of the pitiful situation they were in. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s status had basically changed overnight, becoming one of the mightest figures in the sect. In fact, he may even become the seventh peak master in the future. All because he had decided to stake it all on Zhou Yuan back then. The current Shen Taiyuan was clearly very proud of this decision. ¡­ Several days after the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan.¡± On a certain day, Zhou Yuan had just finished his training and was returning to his abode, where he found several figures standing outside. The one leading them appeared to be one of the stewards of Saint Genesis Peak, who quickly smiled and cupped his fists together upon seeing Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan hurriedly returned the gesture, his gaze sweeping over the group as he puzzledly asked, ¡°Is something the matter?¡± The steward smiled and said, ¡°Hehe, I was sent by elder Shen. As the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, this purple cave dwelling has become a little too shabby for you. After tidying up the main peak, numerous previously unavailable cultivation dwellings have been discovered, and elder Shen has specially reserved the best chief disciple cave dwelling for you.¡± These past few days had been quite chaotic for Saint Genesis Peak. Shen Taiyuan had dispatched all the manpower he could muster to thoroughly inspect the long undisturbed main peak. After doing up an inventory, his first agenda was naturally to reserve the best cave dwelling for Zhou Yuan, which was undoubtedly much better than any purple cave dwelling. The steward had brought along such a big group, because they intended to help Zhou Yuan move. ¡°I informed Zhou Xiaoyao about this matter earlier, but she said to wait for your return before making a decision.¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback, before he thoughtfully looked at the cave dwelling. It had been a year since he began living here, and Yaoyao was essentially the one who had been taking care of it all along, even the tiniest little detail inside the fruits of her daily efforts. If they were to move, things would undoubtedly be a little different. Yaoyao was usually rather nonchalant by nature, but once she set her heart on something, it meant that she was going to pour some of her feelings into it. And there were obviously not many people or things Yaoyao would invest her feelings into. In addition, Zhou Yuan did not know whether Yaoyao would still pour her feelings into the new place if they were to move. Zhou Yuan did not wish to see the Yaoyao from before, who was completely indifferent to everything. Moreover, it was quite a fuzzy feeling to occasionally see Yaoyao attentively tending to her garden. Zhou Yuan was silent for a while, before he slowly said, ¡°Teacher uncle, let¡¯s not rush into this matter for the time being.¡± Though the chief disciple cave dwelling was tempting, allowing Yaoyao to be just that tiny bit happier was better in his opinion. After all, he could always work harder to make up for the former. The steward was a little surprised, but seemed to understand somewhat as he observed Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression. The former immediately smiled as he said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan is a really considerate person.¡± ¡°Since that is the case, I shall talk no further about this topic. We¡¯ll reserve the chief disciple cave dwelling for you to move in any time you wish.¡± The steward chuckled, before he left with the group. Zhou Yuan watched them leave, before turning around to enter the bright and peaceful cave. He found a beautiful figure standing under a spirit peach tree beside the small stream, slowly absorbing every tiny detail in the cave. The spirit peach tree had been personally transplanted here by Yaoyao. It had initially been rather bleak and lifeless, but after a year of nursing by Yaoyao, vitality had begun to flow in it once more. He slowly walked over. Yaoyao turned her head and looked at him, her clear eyes unreadable as her red lips parted slightly. ¡°When do we start moving?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to move, I¡¯ve already rejected him. This place is pretty sweet, so let¡¯s continue staying here a little longer.¡± Yaoyao was taken aback, her eyes unknowing growing a little brighter. She gently bit her lip as she stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Why aren¡¯t we moving? That cave dwelling should be better for your cultivation.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards the nearby garden, where a hundred beautiful flowers spiritedly swayed as they vied for attention, and slowly said, ¡°Because you like it here.¡± Yaoyao was stunned once again. A long while later, she curiously looked Zhou Yuan up and down. A sweet fragrance followed as she inched a little closer and seemingly smiled, ¡°Not bad, where did you learn this?¡± Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes. However, he could tell that Yaoyao had become more spirited than earlier. Zhou Yuan said in an unhurriedly manner, ¡°If you really want to move, I can always let him know.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Oh? Can you repeat that one more time?¡± Zhou Yuan felt a chill rush towards him, causing his head to subconsciously shrink back. Yaoyao softly snorted, carrying Tuntun as she turned around. After a few steps, she turned her head slightly, revealing her soul-stirringly beautiful side-face, as a rarely seen smile appeared. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I really like this place¡­ thank you.¡± Her soft voice stealthily brushed past his ear. A smile appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he looked at the figure, whose steps were clearly a little more spirited than before. What was losing some cultivation resources compared to making this little missy happy. He clearly knew what was more important between the two. Previous Chapte Chapter 500 Peak Meeting The next day. While Zhou Yuan was training in the cave, a disciple came to the entrance and reported, ¡°Chief disciple, teacher Shen has sent me to inform you that there will be a peak meeting today, which you should be attending as the chief disciple.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded under the disciple¡¯s respectful gaze, before a thoughtful look rose on his face. A peak meeting was essentially an official meeting within the peak that only the peak master was authorized to call for. There had not been a peak meeting in Saint Genesis Peak for many years, mainly because they had neither a peak master nor the peak master seal. With the retrieval of the peak master seal and Shen Taiyuan becoming the substitute peak master, this was the first time in many years that a peak meeting was going to be held. However, there were currently a million things to do in Saint Genesis Peak, and everyone was extremely busy. Even Shen Taiyuan himself barely had any time to rest over the past few days, so why had he suddenly called for a peak meeting? Only important matters were discussed in a peak meeting after all. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a certain thought striking him as his lips curled a little. ¡°Interesting, has teacher Shen finally decided to take action.¡± ¡­ Saint Genesis Peak. The main peak. In a simple and sturdy meeting hall. Shen Taiyuan was seated in the chief¡¯s chair, while a smiling elder Lu Song and a gloomy looking elder Lu Hong were seated below on his left and right. Below these two elders were some of the more outstanding disciples of Saint Genesis Peak such as Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan, Lu Yan, Yuan Hong, and others... Zhou Yuan¡¯s position was a little lower down from the two elders, but higher than the numerous disciples, clearly displaying his identity and status as the chief disciple. The atmosphere in the hall was currently quite solemn. Elder Lu Hong expressionlessly glanced up at Shen Taiyuan. The corners of his eyes twitched slightly as envy and resentment swirled in the depths of his eyes. That position should have been his. ¡°Everyone is very busy due to the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak. May I be so bold as to enquire why elder Shen has called for a peak meeting at such a time? If there¡¯s nothing urgent, I still have many pressing matters to attend to.¡± Said Lu Hong. He purposely said elder Shen with a little more emphasis, since Shen Taiyuan was only a substitute peak master, and not the real deal. An abundant amount of very noteworthy cultivation resources had been rediscovered due to the unsealing of the main peak, and Lu Hong intended to do everything in his power to grab as much of it as possible. He would then slowly accumulate more and more to strengthen his faction, allowing him to one day take over the master faction position. Regardless of everything, he had the support of Sword Cometh Peak. Although they had failed in the chief disciple selection, and he had received an angry scolding from peak master Ling Jun, the latter understood that pointing fingers and blaming would only be a waste of breath, but as long as Lu Hong¡¯s faction stayed in Saint Genesis Peak, a chance would eventually arise. Shen Taiyuan swept a calm gaze at him and slowly said, ¡°There is indeed a rather important matter on the agenda. In fact, it actually concerns you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Lu Hong raised an eyebrow. Shen Taiyuan continued, ¡°The main reason why elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction transferred to Saint Genesis Peak back then was to help reopen the main peak. Since Zhou Yuan has managed to achieve this instead, it appears that there¡¯s no longer any reason for elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction to remain here. Hence, I hope that elder Lu Hong will transfer your faction back to Sword Cometh Peak today.¡± These words caused the entire hall to fall silent. Lu Hong¡¯s expression abruptly turned stern as he icily said, ¡°Shen Taiyuan, what did you say? You want to chase us out of Saint Genesis Peak?!¡± Shen Taiyuan smiled faintly and replied, ¡°Not chasing, but requesting¡­¡± ¡°Shen Taiyuan, you seem to be very brave. My faction transferred to Saint Genesis Peak on peak master Ling Jun¡¯s instructions. Have you informed him of your intentions?¡± Lu Hong sneered. Saint Genesis Peak had been reopened, and the seal main peak was seeing the light of day once more. There was an abundance of cultivation resources within the main peak that would make anyone drool, making this the perfect chance to snatch up as big of a share as possible. Hence, there was no way that Lu Hong would willingly withdraw from Saint Genesis Peak. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression remained impassive as he said, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak has reopened, while the peak master seal has also been found. Peak master Ling Jun should not have any relation to the internal affairs of the peak, so why do I need to report to him?¡± Lu Hong froze. If it was before, a mere elder like Shen Taiyuan would have no right to touch the former¡¯s faction. However, with the peak master seal currently in his hands, he was considered equal in status to peak master Ling Jun, and naturally had the authority to request the withdrawal of Lu Hong¡¯s faction from Saint Genesis Peak, especially since they had not been a part of Saint Genesis Peak in the first place. Lu Hong gnashed his teeth as he retorted, ¡°I will never agree to this. If you insist on forcing your way, I will report this matter to the sect master! Don¡¯t think for a moment that being the substitute peak master will allow you to do as you please!¡± Shen Taiyuan merely retrieved a golden letter from his sleeve and said, ¡°No need to trouble yourself, I¡¯ve already reported this matter to the sect master, and he has agreed to transfer your faction back to Sword Cometh Peak.¡± He lifted his hand as the letter was sent drifting towards Lu Hong. Lu Hong caught it, opened it and swiftly scanned it twice as his expression turned deathly pale. He raised his head, glaring at Shen Taiyuan as he shouted, ¡°Shen Taiyuan, you¡¯re too vicious!¡± Shen Taiyuan remained expressionless. Lu Hong took in a deep breath, before he icily said, ¡°Shen Taiyuan, Saint Genesis Peak only has three factions at the moment. If we are transferred out, the only ones left will be the two of you. With the Genesis reservoir ceremony just around the corner, are you going to let Saint Genesis Peak lose all face in the ceremony?¡± His frosty gaze shifted towards Zhou Yuan as he mocked, ¡°Do you really think you can depend on this chief disciple to lead your two factions in the Genesis reservoir ceremony?¡± ¡°From what I can see, they won¡¯t last even a single day in the ceremony without us!¡± Rage rose in the eyes of Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the other disciples from the two factions, clearly hearing the contempt in Lu Hong¡¯s words. Zhou Yuan also lifted his eyes and cast a glance at Lu Hong, but did not say anything. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry about such matters.¡± Shen Taiyuan waved his hand and calmly said, ¡°I¡¯ve already given you sect master¡¯s letter, and this matter is already set in stone. I hope that your faction will move out of Saint Genesis Peak in three days and return to Sword Cometh Peak.¡± Lu Hong¡¯s eyeballs nearly popped from their sockets as fire spewed from his eyes. If they were chased out of Saint Genesis Peak, they would no longer have any chance left. Moreover, being sent away with their tails between their legs would likely make them a laughing stock when they returned to Sword Cometh Peak. After all, they failed far too terrible in this mission. Lu Hong nearly fainted from the anger in his heart. He never imagined that he would fall to such a dire position in a single year! ¡°It¡¯s all because of that blasted brat!¡± Lu Hong gritted his teeth, a sinister look in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan. However, he did not dare to do anything in the end. He could only take in two deep breaths, before looking towards Shen Taiyuan as he icily said, ¡°Shen Taiyuan, you will regret this. Saint Genesis Peak will definitely lose all face in the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Let¡¯s see how you will explain things as the substitute peak master then!¡± He could not bear to stay a moment longer, and immediately rose and left with a wave of his sleeves. His disciples silently followed in a dejected and crestfallen manner. After their departure, the hall was silent for a while as the disciples from the two factions looked at each other, before suddenly bursting into enthusiastic cheers that shook even the hall itself. Lu Hong¡¯s factions had been nothing but hostile towards the other two factions, like fire and water. Now that they were finally chased out, Saint Genesis Peak could be peaceful again. *Cough*! On the chief seat, Shen Taiyuan coughed to suppress the cheering. His stern gaze swept across the crowd, causing their necks to shrink back. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s gaze eventually paused on Zhou Yuan, becoming a little kinder as he slowly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, as the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, you have the duty of leading the disciples during the Genesis reservoir ceremony to obtain some blessings.¡± ¡°I know that Lu Hong¡¯s faction will only be a problem if they were to participate under Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s banners, so I¡¯ve helped you deal with them today.¡± ¡°Whether or not our Saint Genesis Peak disciples will obtain any results in the Genesis reservoir ceremony will likely depend on you.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression shivered a little. He was fully aware that allowing Lu Hong¡¯s faction to stay behind would only make it more difficult for him to control the overall situation. However, as the chief disciple, he could not really say anything about this. He never expected that Shen Taiyuan would help him resolve this potential problem. What¡¯s more, Shen Taiyuan would also offend peak master Ling Jun, putting the former under a tremendous amount of pressure. In the hall, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan, Lu Yan and the other disciples looked towards Zhou Yuan, as they bowed and cupped their fists together. ¡°We¡¯ll be depending on chief disciple for the Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± After the chief disciple selection, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation had clearly reached the apex in Saint Genesis Peak. With the exception of Lu Hong¡¯s faction, all the other disciples viewed him as their leader and would willingly listen to his commands. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned solemn as he cupped his fists together towards the crowd, and took in a deep breath. ¡°I will do my best.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 501 Discussion The events of the peak meeting swiftly spread to the entire Saint Genesis Peak, causing the disciples from the two original factions to cheer upon hearing it. They had after all suffered a great deal of grievances at the hands of Lu Hong¡¯s faction, unable to strike back before Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance due to the latter¡¯s overwhelming might. Moreover, Lu Hong¡¯s faction had also never bothered hiding their disdain for the other two factions. This naturally created an irreconcilable grudge between the two parties. The current situation was a drastic change from before. Zhou Yuan had seemingly appeared from the sky and brought about a complete reversal. Lu Hong¡¯s faction no longer dared to act as haughtily as before, especially since even the chief disciple position had landed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. In addition, elder Shen Taiyuan was currently in possession of the peak master seal, making him the substitute peak master. As such, this faction¡¯s status had also instantly risen. Shen Taiyuan had even made the bold and daring move of using the authority of the substitute peak master to request Lu Hong¡¯s faction¡¯s return to Sword Cometh Peak. This was naturally a very welcomed development to the other two factions, because Saint Genesis Peak would finally be of one mind and heart with the removal of this poisonous barb. Although Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s strength would fall substantially due to losing Lu Hong¡¯s faction. The disciples from the remaining two factions felt more confident than before. After all, didn¡¯t they have a chief disciple that had created several amazing miracles? Who could dare say for certain that the Saint Genesis Peak with only two factions would not be able to create a sensation once more in the Genesis reservoir ceremony? ¡­ Saint Genesis Peak, in a certain stone pavilion. Zhou Yuan was seated within it, while Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan sat opposite him. ¡°Who could have expected that the chief disciple position of Saint Genesis Peak would land on junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s head.¡± Zhou Tai gazed at Zhou Yuan and sighed. However, his words were mainly in admiration. After all, the chief disciple position had been won by Zhou Yuan through his own strength, and no one had any doubts about it. He chuckled and looked towards Zhang Yan as he teased, ¡°Junior brother Zhang Yan was the least optimistic about junior brother Zhou Yuan before.¡± Zhang Yan immediately felt rather awkward as he let out a dry laugh. However, he responded in a straightforward manner, quickly lifting his tea cup as he said, ¡°I was indeed blind previously, and did not realize junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s abilities. I will use this tea in place of wine to apologize.¡± He put the cup to his lips and downed it in a single fluid gulp. He had previously felt ill will towards Zhou Yuan due to how Shen Taiyuan was giving so much attention and emphasis to the latter. Zhang Yan had felt that Zhou Yuan did not deserve to be regarded so highly, hence resulting in his previous attitude. However, the eventual outcome made him understand the gap of judgement ability between himself and Shen Taiyuan. In addition, he was not someone who refused to accept reality, thus why he had cleanly apologized. Zhou Yuan chuckled upon seeing this and returned the gesture by downing his own cup of tea. By the side, Lu Yan bit her lips when she saw this, feeling somewhat ashamed and embarrassed. Her beautiful eyes seemed to flow as she looked at Zhou Yuan, no longer overly fierce and critical like before. ¡°Saint Genesis Peak has recently reopened, and we¡¯ll have to work together to make Saint Genesis Peak stronger. There¡¯s no need to worry over such small matters.¡± Said Zhou Yuan with a carefree smile. ¡°I¡¯ve invited the three of you here with the intention of discussing the upcoming Genesis reservoir ceremony. I¡¯ve only been around for a year after all, and have yet to experience it, so I¡¯ll be needing you guys to help me understand its various intricacies.¡± Zhou Yuan went ahead with the main topic. With the mention of the Genesis reservoir ceremony, the trio¡¯s expressions turned serious. Zhou Tai slowly said, ¡°Though it had felt great when teacher Shen requested Lu Hong¡¯s faction to leave Saint Genesis Peak¡­ without them, our strength has dropped drastically.¡± ¡°I believe chief disciple Zhou Yuan already has a rough understanding of the ceremony?¡± Asked Lu Yan as she looked towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Every year, the sect will stimulate the Origin Dragon vein during the ceremony to increase the influx of Origin Dragon Qi into the reservoir. This will result in more and stronger aquatic beasts, which also makes it the most dangerous period in the Genesis reservoir.¡± ¡°This is a huge threat to the disciples from the various peaks, and a small mistake may even result in being surrounded by the aquatic beasts and be team wiped.¡± Lu Yan slowly said, ¡°If a team is wiped out too early, the amount of Genesis essence collected will definitely be extremely small, and the eventual evaluation will naturally not be good. You should understand that entering the Genesis reservoir may not be a big deal for people like us, but for the disciples below purple sash, they only have this single chance over the entire year.¡± ¡°If we mess up, it will be a huge loss for them.¡± ¡°Hence, you need to pay extra attention to such matters this time. As the new chief disciple, let¡¯s disregard what the other peaks will say, but if we do poorly in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, the Saint Genesis Peak disciples below purple sash will be very disappointed.¡± Zhang Yan nodded in agreement as he sighed and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, this responsibility is very heavy.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a solemn expression. He understood that many Saint Genesis Peak disciples had placed their hopes onto the upcoming ceremony. ¡°Of course, doing well will also be tremendously beneficial. Due to the rapid increase in quantity and quality of the aquatic beasts during the ceremony, a nine dragon baptism may even appear¡­¡± ¡°Do you know why the Chosens will be present at every Genesis reservoir ceremony? They¡¯re hoping for these very conditions, because a nine dragon baptism can only appear during the Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± Lu Yan hurriedly added on, afraid that she had dampened Zhou Yuan enthusiasm. However, it was extremely difficult to attain a nine dragon baptism, and even Chu Qing had never enjoyed one over the years. ¡°Nine dragon baptism huh?¡± Zhou Yuan was tempted. He had already tasted an eight dragon baptism, making it and any baptism below less effective for himself. Hence, the nine dragon baptism had definitely roused his interest. It could strengthen his Genesis Qi foundations. However, he quickly put away such thoughts. Although he had yet to experience the difficulty level of the Genesis reservoir ceremony, there was no way that it would be easy. Moreover, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s current state was indeed very pitiful, especially when compared to the other peaks that had several dozen factions, vastly superior numbers, chief disciples and even Chosens. On the other hand, all they had were a meagre two factions and a few hundred disciples in total. Their chief disciple had only recently taken his position, and was still very fresh, while a Chosen was nowhere to be seen. Zhou Yuan was silent for a while, before he asked, ¡°How has our performance been over the previous years?¡± The trio exchanged a look, clearly feeling rather embarrassed as they answered, ¡°Usually a low grade evaluation. Everyone will get a two dragon baptism, while our best is only a three dragon baptism.¡± The final appraisal at the end of the ceremony was divided into three ranks, low grade, mid grade and high grade. Saint Genesis Peak usually ended up with a low grade two dragon baptism, which was at least better than nothing. ¡°That¡¯s only with Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s help, although they charged twenty percent of our Genesis essence as a protection fee.¡± Zhou Tai laughed bitterly. ¡°However, I¡¯m afraid Sword Cometh Peak won¡¯t be lending us any aid this year.¡± Zhou Yuan had won the chief disciple position, causing a huge loss for Sword Cometh Peak. It would already be very forgiving if Sword Cometh Peak did not hit them while they were down during the ceremony, let alone hoping that they would lend a helping hand. Lu Yan glanced at Zhou Yuan as she grinned cheekily. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you are on pretty good terms with senior sister Li Qingchan of Snow Lotus Peak. How about you go over and suggest our Saint Genesis Peak gives them a protection fee this time? Since you¡¯re also quite handsome, maybe we¡¯ll even get away with ten percent.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips twitched. Wasn¡¯t this some kind of pretty boy seduction tactic? That would be too pathetic! ¡°Hehe, though there aren¡¯t many people in Saint Genesis Peak, you guys seem to be quite busy¡­¡± While they were conversing, a faint laughter was suddenly heard. Zhou Yuan and the rest lifted their heads, to find a figure slowly walking over. In a few flickers and steps, he appeared inside the pavilion. Zhou Tai and the rest were startled by the appearance of this individual, and could not help but blurt out, ¡°Bai Liche?!¡± The visitor was the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak. He paid no heed to Zhou Tai and the rest, merely sweeping them a faint gaze of disdain with unfriendly arrogance in his eyes. He sat down at the stone table, and poured himself a cup of tea. His attitude of showing no regard for the others made a sliver of anger flash in the eyes of the Zhou Tai trio. Lu Yan icily snorted. ¡°This is Saint Genesis Peak, what¡¯s a Sword Cometh Peak chief disciple like you doing here?¡± Bai Liche lifted his cup, continuing to ignore them as he took a sip. Only then did he cast an indifferent gaze at the expressionless and silent Zhou Yuan, and displayed a faint but arrogant smile. ¡°I¡¯m here of course to point out a way for you guys to preserve your dignity.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 502 Conditions The originally harmonious atmosphere in the stone pavilion had become somewhat cold due to Bai Lichu¡¯s sudden arrival, the Zhou Tai trio staring at the former with hostility. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he glanced at Baili che and calmly asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Bai Lichu put down his tea cup, looking at Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°Sword Cometh Peak can still protect you guys, but there¡¯s a condition.¡± His attitude was haughty, while a mocking smile hung from the corners of his lips, as if he was giving charity to the poor. This made anger flash on the faces of Zhou Tai and the rest. ¡°Tell me more.¡± Zhou Yuan appeared to be somewhat interested. Although Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s protection was not within his considerations, he was interested to hear what the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak had to suggest. Baili che nonchalantly said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that elder Shen has exercised his authority as substitute peak master to force elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction back to Sword Cometh Peak. Heheh, elder Shen seems to be quite impatient. Does he really believe he¡¯s already the peak master of Saint Genesis Peak?¡± There was a sliver of mockery in his voice. However, he did not wait for a reply. He waved his hand and stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°The first condition is for junior brother Zhou Yuan to have a little chat with elder Shen and get him to withdraw his previous command. After all, even if elder Lu Hong¡¯s faction has not made any contributions, they have at least worked hard in Saint Genesis Peak for the past year. Isn¡¯t it a little too cruel to burn this bridge so fast after Saint Genesis Peak has reopened?¡± Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan laughed in anger when they heard this. ¡°What a nice way to put it. Lu Hong¡¯s faction has caused only chaos in Saint Genesis Peak while they were here. Do you really believe they deserve such high praise?¡± Baili che swept an indifferent glance at them. ¡°Who else can be blamed but yourselves for lacking strength? If you guys could be relied on, how could Lu Hong¡¯s faction have even transferred in the first place?¡± ¡°You!¡± The Zhou Tai trio rose to their feet in anger. Zhou Yuan stuck out his hand to stop them. Displaying anger in front of Baili che would only make them appear petty. Hence, he smiled faintly and said, ¡°The command was personally given by teacher Shen, how can it possibly be taken back so easily.¡± ¡°It may be impossible for others, but the same cannot be said for you.¡± Baili che smiled playfully as he continued, ¡°You¡¯re basically the biggest benefactor of Saint Genesis Peak at the moment. If not for you, elder Shen would likely not be in control of Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Zhou Yuan did not respond but instead asked, ¡°You mentioned the first condition, so there¡¯s a second one?¡± ¡°The second is much simpler¡­¡± Baili che¡¯s slender fingers tapped the table as he said, ¡°If you guys encounter any danger in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, my Sword Cometh Peak will move to aid you, but when it¡¯s over, you¡¯ll have to hand over fifty percent of your Genesis essence.¡± Zhang Yan¡¯s expression darkened as he angrily shouted, ¡°Fifty percent?! You might as well be robbing us!¡± Zhou Tai and Lu Yan glared at Bai Lichu. Fifty percent would essential mean that Saint Genesis Peak would be working for Sword Cometh Peak! Sword Cometh Peak was being way too overbearing! Baili che leaned against the back of his seat in a relaxed manner. He paid no attention to the other three, merly smiling superficially as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve incurred the wrath of nearly everyone in my Sword Cometh Peak. If you do not agree to these conditions, even I cannot guarantee that I¡¯ll be able to reign in some of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. It won¡¯t be good if they decide to cause trouble for you guys during the ceremony.¡± Flames of anger surged in the eyes of the Zhou Tai trio. Baili che was basically threatening them. ¡°There have always been conflicts during that ceremony, so no one will be able to raise any complaints. At times, adapting to the situation is the most logical choice.¡± Baili che softly chuckled. ¡°Since junior brother Zhou Yuan is a smart individual, I believe you should know what¡¯s the right choice to make, right?¡± The Zhou Tai trio looked towards Zhou Yuan. He was after all the current chief disciple, and his decision would represent the numerous disciples of Saint Genesis Peak. Zhou Yuan rubbed his warm tea cup, as a faint smile appeared on his face. He looked at the seemingly relaxed, yet arrogant looking Baili che, as he extended a finger and gently moved it from side to side. ¡°The first condition, I refuse.¡± ¡°As for the second, we won¡¯t be handing over even ten percent.¡± His response was direct. The Zhou Tai trio breathed a faint sigh of relief. If Zhou Yuan had agreed, Saint Genesis Peak would become a laughing stock. Baili che continued to lean against the back of the chair, his playful expression unchanged. He was obviously not surprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s answer, as he dramatically sighed and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan is truly akin to a newborn calf that is unafraid of a tiger. Such courage is indeed rather admirable.¡± He stood up and smiled. ¡°Does this mean the discussion is over?¡± Zhou Yuan raised his cup and pointed towards the outside. ¡°Please, if there¡¯s no need to in the future, senior brother Baili Che should minimise visits to Saint Genesis Peak. Our humble abode is far too shabby for a great god like you.¡± Baili Che¡¯s eyes narrowed. His body leaned slightly forward, invading Zhou Yuan¡¯s personal space as he looked down at the latter from above and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, although you¡¯ve become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, do you really believe you have the qualifications to speak to me in such a manner?¡± Boom! The instant his final word rang out, a sharp and powerful wave of Genesis Qi violently erupted from his body, its strength causing the Zhou Tai trio to stagger backwards. Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes also began to flap violently, however, jade light instantly rose from his skin, as silver light flashed within his body. His figure was akin to a mountain, towering majestically in the violent storm. Crack! The table between them was unable to withstand the Genesis Qi pressure as countless cracks rapidly appeared. ¡°Baili Che, this is Saint Genesis Peak, so don¡¯t push your luck!¡± Yelled Zhou Tai, his complexion an angry green. Baili che softly chuckled as the terrifying Genesis Qi undulations receded. He had no intentions of picking a fight, and merely wanted to intimidate Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan had remained untouched in the face of his Genesis Qi pressure, an observation that slightly surprised Baili Che. To have defeated Yuan Hong, this fellow did have some ability. Zhou Yuan rubbed his palms together as he lifted his head and said, ¡°Does senior brother Baili want to play a little?¡± Baili Che looked deeply at Zhou Yuan. ¡°No need to be so anxious, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have our chance. When the time comes, senior brother will let you know that there are rankings even amongst chief disciples.¡± After finishing, he turned around and left the stone pavilion. Zhou Yuan gazed upon the former¡¯s back as he slowly said, ¡°Senior brother Baili, go back and tell them that Sword Cometh Peak should not be too bossy, and Saint Genesis Peak will not be depending on anyone in the upcoming Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± ¡°However, if Sword Cometh Peak is too overbearing, don¡¯t forget that even a rabbit will bite when cornered. Who knows, Sword Cometh Peak may end up worse off than before.¡± Baili Che¡¯s footsteps paused, tilting his head backwards as a mocking angle rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°Since you know you¡¯re a rabbit, wait obediently to be slaughtered. Trying to jump around and struggle will only annoy others¡­¡± ¡°Besides, do you really believe that the likes of you has the qualifications to make my Sword Cometh Peak suffer?¡± With a soft chuckle, he disdainfully shook his head as he rose into the sky on his Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous gleam flickering within them as he watched the former leave. Rather than coming here to discuss conditions, it had been more akin to declaring war. Baili Che was clearly telling them that Sword Cometh Peak was in a bad mood, and was going to release their wrath on Saint Genesis Peak during the Genesis reservoir ceremony. ¡°Sword Cometh Peak¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s finger tapped the table, causing it to shatter and turn into dust as his gaze turned cold and deadly like a blade. ¡°If you want to play¡­¡± ¡°Do you genuinely think that I will be afraid?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 503 Appeal for Aid The cooling night enveloped the land like a layer of gauze. When Yaoyao returned to the cave dwelling from Spirit Rune Peak, she saw a sumptuous meal laid on the stone table in the cave. With a glance, she discovered that they were all light dishes, which just so happened to be the ones she liked. By the tableside, Zhou Yuan was smiling as he looked at her and politely said, ¡°You¡¯re back at last big sis Yaoyao. Quick, come and have a seat.¡± Yaoyao cast a puzzled glance at him as she elegantly seated herself. ¡°Suddenly fawning me for no reason, what do you want?¡± An awkward expression was immediately revealed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Come on, you make me sound so pragmatic.¡± However, Yaoyao ignored him. She picked up a pair of chopsticks and casually sampled a dash. Her red lips gleamed a little, making her even more enchanting as a lazy voice sounded from her mouth, ¡°So you¡¯re really not going to ask for any favors?¡± Zhou Yuan coughed softly and said, ¡°Is big sis Yaoyao interested in the Genesis reservoir ceremony?¡± Baili Che had come today to declare that Sword Cometh Peak was going to vent their frustrations on Saint Genesis Peak, and someone like Zhou Yuan was naturally not going to easily yield, or let them have their way. Since both sides had burned the bridge between them, Sword Cometh Peak was definitely going to do something during the Genesis reservoir ceremony that would make life difficult for Saint Genesis Peak. As the new chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, if Zhou Yuan failed to guarantee some benefits for the disciples in the ceremony, many of them would undoubtedly become very disappointed, and may even begin to have doubts about their new chief disciple. Zhou Yuan naturally did not feel much attachment to the position of chief disciple, but this did not mean that he would allow Sword Cometh Peak to have their way. Although Zhou Yuan was very unyielding, he had to face reality. Saint Genesis Peak was indeed too weak. A mere two factions was not even a tenth other peaks. Moreover, Saint Genesis Peak only had a single chief disciple to represent them, and no Chosen at all. As such, their top tier power was extremely frail. Hence, if Zhou Yuan did not wish for Saint Genesis Peak to perform too badly in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, he needed to bolster the forces on his side. After mulling over it, he came to the conclusion that there was no power that was more dependable than Yaoyao. Although the base of their power was still too weak, as long as he could pull Yaoyao into the ceremony, he would no longer have to fear the other party¡¯s Chosens, which would be a huge worry off his mind. ¡°So this is what it¡¯s about.¡± Yaoyao seemed to smile as she glanced at Zhou Yuan. The truth was that she had already heard wind of this in Spirit Rune Peak today. Everyone could clearly feel the resentment oozing from Sword Cometh Peak at this time, and yet Shen Taiyuan still chose to chase Lu Hong¡¯s faction out of Saint Genesis Peak. This was undoubtedly akin to pouring oil into the fire. The Genesis reservoir ceremony was essentially a competition between the various peaks. Thus, Sword Cometh Peak was sure to make good use of the opportunity to teach Saint Genesis Peak a painful lesson, and release some of the bitter feelings bottled up inside. Even if peak master Ling Jun heard of this matter, though he would not openly show his support, he would definitely not chide them for it, which was basically a form of silent approval. It was obvious that peak master Ling Jun was also angry due to the recent events. Since the other peak masters had eaten up a portion of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s resources, they would naturally close one eye towards this matter. Hence, it would be very difficult for the allyless Saint Genesis Peak to escape being taught a lesson by Sword Cometh Peak. Zhou Yuan nodded as he looked towards Yaoyao with expectant eyes. Yaoyao merely continued slowly chewing her food. Soon after, a slight smile emerged on her face as she said, ¡°I¡¯m not very interested in the Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± Given her character, it was clear that she would prefer holing herself up in the Spirit Rune Hall or the cave dwelling to study Genesis Runes. As for the Genesis reservoir ceremony where the various peaks would be competing, it would certainly be a very chaotic and troublesome affair. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned rigid as a miserable look appeared. If Yaoyao did not wish to participate, it would really be quite a headache for him. Yaoyao did not even look at Zhou Yuan as she continued to eat tiny mouthful after mouthful. A long while later, she finally put down her chopsticks in satisfaction and stood up, the corners of her lips curled a little, when she finally looked at the distressed Zhou Yuan. ¡°Although I¡¯ve no interest in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, on account that you didn¡¯t choose to move to a new cave dwelling previously, I will reluctantly make a trip down to the reservoir.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s head immediately snapped up in happiness. ¡°Really?¡± Yaoyao teased, ¡°What choice do I have? If I don¡¯t go, you¡¯ll likely become all mopey after being bullied by those two Chosens from Sword Cometh Peak.¡± Zhou Yuans¡¯ face turned black. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m afraid of them?¡± At such a time, he could not admit defeat even if he had to put up an act. But his rationality told him that there was indeed a gap between his current self and the Chosens. Yaoyao did not expose Zhou Yuan¡¯s tough act. She slowly walked to the stream under the peach tree and sat down on the simple swing hanging from one of its branches. As she gently swayed back and forth, she said, ¡°Even if I participate, I¡¯ll only be able to deal with those two Chosens from Sword Cometh Peak. This will not be enough to make up for the weak base of Saint Genesis Peak, so the final outcome will still depend on your abilities.¡± ¡°At the very least¡­ the chief disciple from Sword Cometh Peak will be a formidable adversary for you. To have fought his way through the many geniuses of Sword Cometh Peak and won the chief disciple position, Baili Che is no simple individual.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a serious expression. Though he held no fondness towards Baili Che¡¯s arrogant attitude, he had to admit that the latter possessed the qualifications to back it up. Although Yuan Hong used to be ranked quite high in Sword Cometh Peak, there was undoubtedly still a gap between him and Baili Che. Therefore, in Baili Che¡¯s view, a chief disciple like Zhou Yuan, who had won his position by defeating Yuan Hong, was not a huge threat. ¡°It¡¯s a pity the Genesis reservoir is a body of water, or I will have been itching to try out the Earth Saint Rune.¡± Said Zhou Yuan in a regretful manner. He had already given the Earth Saint Rune a spin over the past few days. It could absorb the Genesis Qi within the earth to augment his physical abilities, a domineering, forceful and straightforward power. However, the rune had its limits. It could only bring out its full capabilities with the right terrain. In the Genesis reservoir which contained only a few small islands, the Earth Saint Rune¡¯s power would be greatly diminished. The extent of the Saint Rune¡¯s powers were immeasurable, and limited only by their user. If Zhou Yuan grew stronger in the future, he may be able to overcome the problem of terrain, but at this current point in time, he was clearly far from being able to do so. Without this powerful card, Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle power was undoubtedly much weaker. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ll have to think of some way to raise your strength during these next two months. Though Baili Che seems arrogant, he is no fool, and will definitely be well prepared for the Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± Cautioned Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan nodded. After some consideration, his mind sent out a thought, and a transparent jade bottle appeared in his hand. A golden glow shined from the bottle, as light seemed to flow within it. It was the remnants of the golden sun that had been smashed to pieces by the divine grindstone brand during the trial. Zhou Yuan did not recognize the contents in the bottle, and thus did not dare to absorb it. This was the perfect opportunity for him to let Yaoyao have a look. Yaoyao received the bottle as surprise flashed across her face. She pondered for a brief moment, before she said, ¡°This should be the rumored Spirit Refining Saliva, a strange but rare item that is a great supplement for the Spirit.¡± ¡°On the outside, a single drop can create a giant commotion. How did you manage to get so much of it¡­¡± Joy faintly flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Will it allow my Spirit to reach the advanced Corporeal stage?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± A small smile rose on Yaoyao¡¯s face. ¡°However, it¡¯s extremely tyrannical in nature and needs to first be modulated before consumption. I will handle the process for you.¡± ¡°If I succeed, you will only require one third of it to achieve a breakthrough.¡± ¡°As for the rest¡­¡± She placed the bottle into the sleeve and looked towards Zhou Yuan as she slowly said, ¡°I¡¯ll take it as a respectful gift for me.¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly grinned. However, there were no feelings of unwillingness. He was satisfied as long as he could reach the advanced Corporeal stage, and he knew that someone like Yaoyao would not seize it for no reason, so it likely had use to her.¡± Phew. Zhou Yuan let out a tiny sigh. Once he reached the advanced Corporeal stage, what would he have to fear from Baili Che? Of course, this did not mean that he could relax. During the next two months, he planned to begin taking a dive into the recently obtained Omega Saint Spirit Art... If he could master this technique, Baili Che would not be able to create even a tiny splash. Previous Chapte Chapter 504 Saint Spirit Seed Rumble! Two violent torrents of fire and water Genesis Qi spurted out, ultimately meeting on an old stone platform, where they powerfully slammed onto the figure seated there. Searing heat and freezing cold assaulted the figure, as steam rose from their contact. The figure was as still as a mountain as he endured the intense pain. A jade glow rose from the surface of his body as silver light blossomed deep within his bones. Fire and water Genesis Qi continued to interweave, only gradually slowing down and dissipating a long while later. The steam dispersed, revealing the seated figure. It was obviously Zhou Yuan. He was currently shirtless, defined lines and curves as if they had been carved with a knife visible on his lean upper body. Although no menacingly bulging and eye-catching muscles could be seen, an extremely explosive power brewed within that slim and lean body. His little Mythic Saint Body was at the silver bone stage, while his body mastery at the initial level. This was clearly much stronger than before. He stood up and clenched his fist , feeling the roaring power inside his body as he sighed in comfort. It was indeed a wondrous feeling to have one¡¯s body filled with boundless life force. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that there¡¯s still no sign of the third level golden blood stage.¡± Zhou Yuan had not allowed himself to relax in his training over this period. Unfortunately, not even the tiniest indication of the third level golden blood stage was to be found. Zhou Yuan shook his head. Without circulating any Genesis Qi, his foot pushed off the ground, catapulting his body into the air, before landing on the edge of the cliff. The ground below him cracked a little when he touched the ground. He lifted his head to look at the stone pavilion, where old Xuan was napping. As if sensing Zhou Yuan¡¯s presence, old Xuan began to stir as he drowsily raised his head and glanced at Zhou Yuan, who had just finished his daily body tempering. Old Xuan lazily said, ¡°Stop feeling regretful. Although you¡¯re practicing the little Mythic Saint Body instead of the true Mythic Saint Body, stepping into the golden blood stage is not as easy as you think.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled sheepishly and nodded, before walking over to seat himself in the pavilion as he said with a grin, ¡°Old Xuan, there¡¯s something I hope you can help me with.¡± Old Xuan shook his wide sleeves, before he slowly spat out, ¡°What?¡± Zhou Yuan made a grabbing motion as an old jade book appeared in his hand. It was the Cangxuan art sect master had bestowed upon him when he became the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, the Omega Saint Spirit Art. He had looked through the book over the past few days, and realized the difficulty was exceedingly high. Zhou Yuan had originally planned on consulting Yaoyao, but she had told him that old Xuan was more suitable, probably even the most suitable in the entire sect, which Zhou Yuan was very much in agreement after he thought about it. As the creator of the simplified seven Cangxuan arts, there was no doubt about old Xuan¡¯s understanding of these techniques. Old Xuan¡¯s eyelids raised as he cast a glance at the jade book in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t this be part of Shen Taiyuan¡¯s responsibilities?¡± ¡°Old Xuan¡­ I¡¯ve bled for Saint Genesis Peak and done great services for it!¡± Said Zhou Yuan with deep conviction. ¡°I¡¯m not an instructor! Can¡¯t you give this old man a little peace?!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve bled for Saint Genesis Peak and done great services!¡± ¡°You!¡± Old Xuan huffed at his beard in exasperation, as he repeatedly jabbed his finger at Zhou Yuan. A long while later, he finally conceded and sulkily said, ¡°I¡¯m really unlucky to have encountered a brat like you!¡± Although he said so, a slight smile flitted across old Xuan¡¯s murky eyes. He was after all extremely fond of Zhou Yuan. In fact, even sect master Qing Yang could not make the stubborn old man willingly give guidance to a disciple, and there was absolutely no way old Xuan would have relented due to a little mischievousness from Zhou Yuan. ¡°Have you studied the Omega Saint Spirit Art?¡± Asked old Xuan. Zhou Yuan nodded, a serious expression appearing on his face as he said, ¡°The most important part of the Omega Saint Spirit Art seems to be the creation of a ¡®Saint Spirit Seed¡¯ in the body?¡± Old Xuan smiled and said, ¡°Ninety nine types of Genesis Beast Spirits are required to create a Saint Spirit Seed. From the ninety nine, nine will become the base, while the rest are supplementary. Once the ingredients are gathered, you need to follow the processing method recorded in the manual to fuse the ninety nine Genesis Beast Spirits, creating a unique amalgamation called the Saint Spirit Seed.¡± ¡°Once the seed is formed, one only needs to visualize it for the seed to grow and take on a shape that will become a tremendous aid in battle.¡± ¡°The difficulty of the technique lies in the refining and fusion of Genesis Beast Spirits. These Spirits are vastly different, and will clash violently upon contact to devour each other. Forcibly fusing them will only result in mutual destruction.¡± ¡°Only with the most precise control will one be able to complete the entire process, a very challenging feat indeed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s rather similar to the Nine Dragons Canon.¡± Zhou Yuan pondered to himself. However, the Nine Dragons Canon dealt with essence blood, while the Saint Spirit Art involved Genesis Beast Spirits which were clearly going to be far more difficult to deal with. Old Xuan softly chuckled. With a jerk of his sleeve, two Beast Spirit crystals shot towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Give it a try.¡± Zhou Yuan caught the two crystals and nodded. His palms faced each other as the crystals shattered, causing two translucent beast silhouettes to rise from within with tiny roars. Genesis Qi surged out, enveloping the two Spirits as he slowly brought them together. When they touched, a powerful backlash erupted, as if two vastly different elements were being forced to fuse. In the end, there was a loud bang as the two Beast Spirits turned into smoke and quickly dissipated. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was rather ugly. After personally trying it did he realize how difficult it was to fuse Beast Spirits. Old Xuan unhurriedly said, ¡°Those two were only grade two Genesis Beast Spirits. You should know that to successfully cultivate a Saint Spirit Seed, the ninety supplementary Beast Spirits will be grade 4 at the lowest, while the nine main ones need to be at least grade 5.¡± ¡°Moreover, if you use the lowest quality ingredients, the seed created will naturally be of a lower grade.¡± ¡°There are different grades of Saint Spirit Seeds?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan in surprise. ¡°There are two grades of seeds, low and high. The minimal level ingredients I mentioned earlier should result in a low grade seed. As for the high grade seed, the nine base Beast Spirits need to be at grade 6.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned even more ugly. Grade 6 Genesis Beasts were existances that could contend against Heavenly Sun stage human practitioners. Genesis Beasts that had reached that level were extremely intelligent, and even an injured Beast Spirit would not be easy to deal with, let alone fusing them together... ¡°What¡¯s the difference between the low and high grades?¡± Inquired Zhou Yuan. ¡°The form a high grade Saint Spirit Seed takes will of course be stronger than a low grade one. Moreover, the former would also possess more transformations, which you will naturally learn about in the future.¡± Old Xuan glanced at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Given your strength, I feel a low grade seed is quite suitable.¡± Zhou Yuan did not comment. Soon after, he realized another huge problem. If he were to continue in this manner, he would need a tremendous amount of Beast Spirits to cultivate a low grade Saint Spirit Seed. A high grade Spirit would even require grade 6 Beast Spirits! In the Genesis Beast world, Genesis Beasts that had reached grade 6 were no longer ordinary beasts, but known as Heaven Genesis Beasts. A Beast Spirit Crystal from a Heaven Genesis Beast was not only rare but also extremely pricey, a cost he was likely unable to afford. Think about it, someone at the Heavenly Sun stage could already become an elder in the Cangxuan Sect. A Genesis Beast with such strength was definitely no push over at all. ¡°The ingredients will be very difficult to gather if I aim to cultivate a high grade seed.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed deeply. ¡°Heh, how ambitious¡­¡± Old Xuan lit his pipe and took a puff. Soon after, he nonchalantly said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry about the ingredients. You¡¯ve done a great service for Saint Genesis Peak, and have yet to be properly rewarded. If you have the resolution, Saint Genesis Peak can provide some of the resources required for cultivating the Saint Spirit Seed.¡± ¡°Of course, this will offset your contributions, so don¡¯t come whining to me about how you¡¯ve bled for Saint Genesis Peak again.¡± Zhou Yuan was first overjoyed, before rubbing his nose in embarrassment. However, his spirits had been reinvigorated substantially. With old Xuan¡¯s promise, he would no longer have to fret about the resources needed for the Saint Spirit Seed. Next, he could begin to attempt cultivating the seed. As for whether it would ultimately end up as low or high grade, he would adapt according to the situation. If high grade was impossible, Zhou Yuan would have no choice but to settle for something less... Previous Chapte Chapter 505 Name Lis Half a month after the end of the chief disciple selections, the commotion caused by the reopening of Saint Genesis Peak gradually began to die down. However, there was always something exciting happening in an enormous sect like the Cangxuan Sect that would draw the attention of numerous disciples. For instance, the slowly approaching Genesis reservoir ceremony. This ceremony was rather unique in the sect, because it was not a competition between individuals, but a contest of sorts between the various peaks. In other words, a match between the seven peaks. The upper echelons of the sect had obviously designed the ceremony in this manner to stir up more competition between the various peaks, making them pressure and push each other, promoting growth for everyone. It was also precisely because it affected all the disciples from the seven peaks that made this ceremony the largest scale event in the Cangxuan Sect. In addition, it was an event that numerous disciples looked forward to the most. After all, regardless of whether it was the purple sash or chief disciple selection from before, the ones who ended up benefiting were really only a small handful of outstanding disciples, while the majority could only watch with envious gazes. The Genesis reservoir ceremony, however, was different. Every disciple from the seven peaks needed to play their part and contribute towards the final result of their respective peak. This undoubtedly created a strong sense of participation in the many disciples. As such, if one were to ask the bulk of the disciples what they looked forward to most in the Cangxuan Sect, the most popular answer would be the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Thus, the disciples from the various peaks intensified their training, while trying to scout out information about the other peaks. After all, every other peak would be a competitor in the ceremony. While such information was rapidly being spread in the sect, the most attention drawing was undoubtedly Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s unconcealed hostility that was directed straight at the recently reopened Saint Genesis Peak. With regards to this, the disciples from the other peaks were not the least bit surprised. Everyone knew that Sword Cometh Peak had lost a tremendous amount of cultivation resources due to the failure of Lu Hong¡¯s faction during the chief disciple selection. In addition, Lu Hong¡¯s faction was even chased back to Sword Cometh Peak by the new substitute peak master Shen Taiyuan, making Sword Cometh Peak lose even more face. Due to these various reasons, it was no surprise that Sword Cometh Peak was filled with resentment. Sword Cometh Peak had not bothered to hide such feelings either, and were clearly intent on teaching Saint Genesis Peak a lesson during the Genesis reservoir ceremony to vent some of their frustration. As a result, the disciples from the various peaks expressed pity towards Saint Genesis Peak. However, that was the limit of their concern. Everyone was going to be rivals in the ceremony after all, and Sword Cometh Peak duking it out with Saint Genesis Peak was honestly a good thing for the other peaks. Although the majority did feel that Saint Genesis Peak did not pose even the tiniest threat to Sword Cometh Peak. Even with the recent addition of a chief disciple like Zhou Yuan, Saint Genesis Peak was still far too lacking when compared to Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s formidable lineup. As for sect master Qing Yang and the rest, they were quite helpless even though they were aware of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s resentment. They had secretly urged peak master Ling Jun to take action, but the latter washed his hands clean of the affair, saying that these were the opinions of his disciples, and as peak master, it would be best for him to respect their will. This was obviously just an excuse, but even sect master Qing Yang could not do much about it. Sword Cometh Peak had indeed sustained a giant loss recently, and it was only natural for resentment to build up. As the ones who had benefited, sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters were pretty powerless if peak master Ling Jun refused to listen. Amidst the busy atmosphere, the list of participating disciples for the ceremony was decided and ultimately made public. As the name list for each peak was revealed, it was to no one¡¯s surprise that Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s was revealed to be the most pitiful. The participants from an entire peak did not even exceed five hundred, a number that was not even a tenth of the other peaks... The only thing that slightly surprised everyone was the name Zhou Xiaoyao on Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s list... This observation drew the interest of quite a number of people. After all, Yaoyao¡¯s existence was very unique in the Cangxuan Sect. She was the only individual that was not a Chosen, but possessed strength equal to one. Her addition into Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s lineup would indeed bolster their power substantially. ... ¡°I¡¯ve been wondering why Zhou Yuan seemed so confident previously, is it because he managed to get her help?¡± Inside a certain courtyard located in Sword Cometh Peak, Baili Che looked at the name list in his hand as he smiled. However, his smile contained a slight trace of mockery. Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu were seated opposite him. The two of them also looked over the name list as their brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao is quite a troublesome individual.¡± Kong Sheng said, ¡°She foiled my plans in the Genesis reservoir last year, and is indeed pretty powerful. Though her Genesis Qi is weak, her mastery of Genesis Runes is better than even Ye Ge.¡± Zhao Zhu slowly said, ¡°If she is also participating, we¡¯ll also have to be cautious of the little creature that follows her.¡± He was naturally referring to Tuntun. In the brief exchange he had with Tuntun previously, Zhao Zhu had realized that this seemingly cute looking little creature, that only knew how to eat, in actuality possessed a terrifying strength. The disdain in Baili Che¡¯s smile receded as he said, ¡°If so, Saint Genesis Peak now has two additional Chosens.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s handsome face remained unchanged as he said, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s foundations are still too frail. With just a mere few hundred disciples, what can Zhou Xiaoyao possibly change?¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is a little too naive.¡± He looked towards Zhao Zhu as he continued, ¡°If that mysterious little creature were to participate, will junior brother Zhao Zhu be able to stop it?¡± Zhao Zhu nodded with a sneer. ¡°It¡¯s only a beast, and I was only caught off guard previously. If it dares to come at me again, I¡¯ll pluck out all of its hair!¡± A small smile rose on Kong Sheng¡¯s lips. ¡°In that case, I will handle Zhou Xiaoyao.¡± ¡°She previously ruined things for me in the Genesis reservoir, a debt which I clearly remember and intend to make her return.¡± ¡°Is senior brother Kong Sheng confident? Even I can¡¯t seem to measure that Zhou Xiaoyao.¡± Muttered Zhao Zhu. Kong Sheng softly chuckled. ¡°Relax, all she has are Genesis Runes, and I will naturally make my own preparations.¡± Zhao Zhu was relieved by these words. Kong Sheng¡¯s gaze then shifted towards Baili Che. ¡°As long as we manage to hold off Zhou Xiaoyao and that creature, the rest will be free pickings. I¡¯ll be handing over the task of venting our Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s resentment to you.¡± Baili Che grinned as he nodded. He knew that Kong Sheng was referring to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry senior brother, I will let our beloved junior brother know how lacking he is as a chief disciple, and make sure he remembers not to show his face again in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m interested to see whether the disciples of Saint Genesis Peak will still support him after they watch him being utterly crushed so soon after becoming a chief disciple.¡± ¡°When that time comes, he will perhaps even become the most pitiful chief disciple in the history of our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 506 Conditions The Cangxuan Sect was wrapped in a busy and excited atmosphere. However, Zhou Yuan paid no heed to any of this, hiding himself deep in the mountains as he poured all of his heart and soul into practicing the Omega Saint Spirit Art. The Omega Saint Spirit Art was a high grade Heaven Genesis technique, which was also the highest level of technique he had ever come into contact with over the years. He was naturally filled with expectation towards it, and was dying to witness its powers first hand. ... Deep in the old mountains. Zhou Yuan was seated atop a giant boulder overlooking a deep gorge. His expression was solemn as he concentrated every fibre of being on the glowing ball of Genesis Qi between his palms. Within the ball was a mysterious light that seemed similar to primal chaos, making it impossible to clearly see inside. The primal chaos like ball of light was the Saint Spirit Seed Zhou Yuan was attempting to create. Ten Genesis Beast Spirits had already been refined and fused into this seed. Zhou Yuan had discovered that the difficulty would increase with every Beast Spirit he successfully fused in. As the number of fused Beast Spirits increased, the incomplete Saint Spirit Seed grew more and more complex. All it would take was a slight mistake for the seed to collapse and fall apart. If that happened, all of his hard work would go up in smoke. Zhou Yuan gazed at the slowly stabilizing Saint Spirit Seed between his palms. With a wave of his hand, another Beast Spirit crystal flew out from a copper chest beside him. The copper chest was currently filled to the brim with Beast Spirit crystals. Over the last ten days, Zhou Yuan used up many many Beast Spirit crystals. If not for Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s support, he would run out of resources long ago. This made Zhou Yuan sigh somewhat. Cultivation resources were indeed far too important on the path of cultivation. However, he was also quite horrified at his progress after using up so many Beast Spirit crystals. So far, he had managed to fuse ten Beast Spirits into the seed, and was still very far off from ninety, let alone the final nine core Beast Spirits... Zhou Yuan looked at the floating crystal in front of him as he lamented. He had only managed to achieve such progress due to his Spirit cultivation that was far more advanced than any ordinary person. Otherwise, it would basically be impossible to achieve a fusion of ten Beast Spirits within ten days. After lamenting a little, Zhou Yuan directed the Beast Spirit crystal to slowly descend towards the primal chaos like Saint Spirit Seed, before they ultimately touched. Bzz Bzz! Chaotic undulations immediately erupted, causing Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression to tense. His Spirit senses rapidly circled around the seed, neutralizing and resolving the clashing undulations. However, there were far too many clashing undulations, causing him to be a little flustered for a time. ¡°The Beast Spirit fusion process is far too complicated. It¡¯s still crazily difficult though the wills of the Beast Spirits have already been wiped clean.¡± A grave look flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he did all he could to stabilize the seed. While he was fully focused on eliminating the chaotic undulations from the seed, a thought suddenly struck him. ¡°I wonder if¡­ the Decoder Saint Rune will work¡­¡± The Decoder Saint Rune was one of the four Saint Runes. It was not offense oriented, but more analytical in nature, and was especially effective against Genesis techniques. Previously, Zhou Yuan had just barely managed to control the situation with his Spirit senses, but as the number of fused Beast Spirits slowly increased, things were becoming more and more difficult. If Zhou Yuan had enough time to slowly work on the seed, he was confident that he would be able to complete it in a year. However, with the Genesis reservoir ceremony fast approaching, he needed to raise his strength as quickly as possible. While such thoughts flitted across his mind, Zhou Yuan cast away his hesitation. With a thought, a mysterious glowing rune began to flow out from the depths of his pupils. The Decoder Saint Rune! The world before him immediately began to change. Zhou Yuan stared at the primal chaos like ball of light between his palms, as the previously unviewable places became impossibly clear in his eyes. Most importantly, he found the source of the seemingly endless chaotic undulations inside the bundle of light, the resistance from two different Beast Spirits fusing. It was due to this disharmony that made the fusion process become very problematic. As long as he precisely eliminated and suppressed the sources of disharmony and chaos, the fusion process would become smooth. ¡°It works!¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. Since he could now see the sources of disharmony, things would undoubtedly become much simpler. While Zhou Yuan was elated, his control over the seed weakened a little, allowing one of the chaotic undulations to spread, causing a chain reaction that began a series of explosions. Bang! The ball of light between Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands exploded, turning into smoke that quickly faded away. The Saint Spirit Seed embryo was gone just like that. Zhou Yuan was stunned, but did not feel any regret. Instead, a smile emerged on his face. His guess had not been wrong, the Decoder Saint Rune had once again displayed its near magical abilities. Next, he only needed to use the Decoder Saint Rune¡¯s miraculous powers to cultivate the Saint Spirit Seed, which would drastically improve his chances of success. However, it was also good to note that the Decoder Saint Rune would only allow him to discover the sources of resistance and disharmony in advance, and he would still have to rely on his own abilities to suppress them before they spread. Regardless, Zhou Yuan was now confident in cultivating the Saint Spirit Seed with the aid of the Decoder Saint Rune. Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the sky, before he nodded in satisfaction and rose to his feet. With a wave of his sleeve, he kept the copper chest filled with Beast Spirit crystals as his figure soared into the sky. He left the mountains, heading straight back to his cave dwelling. Several dozen minutes later, the cave dwelling appeared in his sights as his figure slowly descended. However, he was a little startled when he landed, due to the three figures outside the cave dwelling. One of them was naturally Yaoyao, while the other two surprisingly belonged to Li Qingchan and Ye Ge. Zhou Yuan walked to Yaoyao¡¯s side, and curiously asked as he looked towards his two guests, ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan.¡± Ye Ge smiled at him, a polite and gentle expression on his handsome face. Zhou Yuan had a rather favorable opinion of this individual, because he could not sense any of the usual arrogance of the Chosens from Ye Ge. Compared to the likes of Zhao Zhu and Kong Sheng, Ye Ge was undoubtedly much better company. The only gripe Zhou Yuan had was that Ye Ge seemed to have his sights on Yaoyao, and hoped to take her away from Zhou Yuan. Li Qingchan¡¯s gorgeous face was frosty as usual, like a goddess of an icy mountain. She glanced at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak seems to be in quite a pinch for the upcoming Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled but did not comment. Upon seeing his carefree appearance, Li Qingchan¡¯s brows furrowed slightly as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t think for a second that your Saint Genesis Peak will be able match Sword Cometh Peak just because you managed to get Yaoyao on board.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°What else can we do? Since they plan to vent their anger on us during the ceremony, we can¡¯t possibly idly sit by and wait for death, right?¡± Li Qingchan exchanged a look with Ye Ge. ¡°Our Snow Lotus Peak and Spirit Rune Peak may be able to help.¡± Zhou Yuan was quite surprised. Although the two of them were Chosens, the Genesis reservoir ceremony affected all of the disciples from their respective peaks. If they chose to help Saint Genesis Peak, it would undoubtedly pit them against Sword Cometh Peak, which did not seem to be worth it from the standpoints of their two peaks. Though he was on good terms with Li Qingchan, it had clearly yet to reach the level where she would go against the majority to help Saint Genesis Peak. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s surprise, Li Qingchan calmly said, ¡°There¡¯s a condition of course.¡± ¡°What condition? Do we have to pay a protection fee again?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly. ¡°How much Genesis essence can you guys possibly collect¡­¡± Li Qingchan rolled her eyes at him before turning towards Yaoyao. ¡°The condition for our aid is for Yaoyao to join either one of our peaks after the Genesis reservoir ceremony. As for which peak, our two peak masters will discuss it when the time comes.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. It turns out that Snow Lotus Peak and Spirit Rune Peak were after Yaoyao. In fact, it appeared that this was the will of the two peak masters. Li Qingchan stared at Yaoyao and slowly said, ¡°I¡¯m personally more than happy to help, but as a Chosen of Snow Lotus Peak, I have to prioritise the interests of my fellow peak disciples, and thus cannot selfishly choose to help on my own accord.¡± There was no doubt that she greatly admired Yaoyao, and very much hoped that she would come to Snow Lotus Peak. Their peak master would surely regard Yaoyao very highly, which would, in Li Qingchan¡¯s opinion, be countless times better than her current treatment here in Saint Genesis Peak. ¡°If junior sister Yaoyao needs me, I¡¯m ready to risk facing punishment from my peak master to help out.¡± Ye Ge softly chuckled as he calmly looked towards Yaoyao. Li Qingchan immediately glared at him. Zhou Yuan frowned and said, ¡°Yaoyao is not a bargaining chip, and she can go anywhere she wishes. Likewise, if she does not wish for it, I¡¯ve zero interest regardless of how good a deal you offer.¡± Li Qingchan looked at him in surprise, before she teased, ¡°If you perform too badly in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, your position as the chief disciple may draw criticism.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a carefree laugh. ¡°A mere chief disciple position can¡¯t compare to even a single hair of Yaoyao¡¯s.¡± Li Qingchan was immediately sickened by his cheesiness. ¡°Enough!¡± Yaoyao also shot Zhou Yuan a look, but a faint smile seemed to have appeared on her lips. Li Qingchan looked towards Yaoyao. The former still wanted to know what the latter thought. Under her gaze, Yaoyao gently shook her head, her eyes looking towards the cave dwelling as she spoke with a rarely seen tenderness, ¡°I like this place a lot, and don¡¯t want to go anywhere else.¡± As for how highly the peak masters regarded her, it could not match even a single blade of grass in the cave dwelling. Li Qingchan helplessly sighed upon hearing this, before she worriedly said, ¡°Although you¡¯re helping out, Saint Genesis Peak cannot beat Sword Cometh Peak because your foundations are just far too weak.¡± Yaoyao pulled back a strange of her black hair as her clear eyes turned a little cold. ¡°I originally did not have much interest in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, but I keep hearing people say that Sword Cometh Peak is impossible to overcome, I¡¯m not a little more interested¡­¡± ¡°Fine, let¡¯s see how Sword Cometh Peak intends to vent their anger on Saint Genesis Peak then.¡± The beautiful girl¡¯s clear voice sounded outside the cave dwelling, but instead of the usual listlessness in her tone, there was a rarely seen firmness that startled both Li Qingchan and Ye Ge, who had never seen this side of Yaoyao before. Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth hung slightly ajar as he looked at her glowing face from the side, somewhat split between wanting to laugh or to cry. Yaoyao had previously agreed to participate on his behalf, but now, it seems that she had grown serious about it... A serious Yaoyao was a sight that even Zhou Yuan rarely saw. However, Zhou Yuan could not help but raise his thumbs at this queen-like demeanor from Yaoyao as he wildly cheered in his heart. ¡°Big sis Yaoyao, you¡¯ve really got swag!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 507 Countermeasure Ever since Li Qingchan and Ye Ge¡¯s visit, Zhou Yuan found that Yaoyao had changed somewhat. The biggest change was that she was spending even more time in the Spirit Rune Hall, and would even return carrying numerous ancient Genesis Rune texts each time for more in depth research. Zhou Yuan asked if she needed help, but Yaoyao would offhandedly send him away with a wave of her hand. In response, he could only shrug helplessly. Yaoyao¡¯s seriousness was a good thing after all. She was usually overly uncaring and uninterested in everything, and would only show a little emotion when interacting with Zhou Yuan. It seemed that she had been slightly angered by Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s overbearing manner, an emotion which undoubtedly made her more full of life. Hence, Zhou Yuan allowed her to do as she pleased, not disturbing her anymore as he continued to pour his attention into the formation of the Saint Spirit Seed. Over the subsequent month, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao busied themselves with their respective projects, one immersing himself in his training, while the other deeply engaged in research. ¡­ The matter regarding Snow Lotus Peak and Spirit Rune Peak¡¯s offer was ultimately unable to be concealed, causing quite some debate when it spread. Numerous disciples felt that it was rather regretful, because in their opinion, obtaining help from these two peaks would enable Saint Genesis Peak to achieve better results in the upcoming Genesis reservoir ceremony. Moreover, they would also no longer have to worry about the threat of Sword Cometh Peak. However, Snow Lotus Peak and Spirit Rune Peak¡¯s offer was aimed at Yaoyao, and other disciples naturally had no say. In addition, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were essentially viewed as the bosses who called the shots in Saint Genesis Peak, and the other disciples would not intervene in the duo¡¯s decisions. In any case, all everyone else had to do was follow the two bosses¡¯ lead. Even so, as the date of the Genesis reservoir gradually approached, a nervous atmosphere began to brew in Saint Genesis Peak. They were after all facing a titan like Sword Cometh peak, which honestly made them appear tiny in comparison. ¡­ Deep in the mountains. Zhou Yuan was seated on a boulder overlooking a gorge. A glowing ball of Genesis Qi hovered between his palms, it¡¯s interior akin to a mass of primal chaos. It was a Saint Spirit Seed. However, this seed appeared to be exceptionally robust and condensed, because it was the amalgamation of seventy seven Beast Spirits... A Saint Rune swirled in the depths of Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils, clearly viewing the countless chaotic undulations inside the Saint Spirit Seed as he swiftly searched for their sources to suppress and stabilize them. With the magical powers of the Decoder Saint Rune, it had undoubtedly become much easier to cultivate the Saint Spirit Seed. Of course, this was only with respect to before. As the number of fused Beast Spirits slowly grew, Zhou Yuan began to feel some pressure even with the Decoder Saint Rune. At this current point time, it would basically take all of his concentration and energy to fuse another Beast Spirit into the seed, and not a single mistake could be made. In addition, the process would take a good half of the day. Bzz bzz! The embryonic Saint Spirit Seed buzzed faintly, before ultimately settling down, as the glow from the seed grew a little brighter. ¡°A successful seventy eighth fusion.¡± Joy surfaced in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He was nearly there after an entire month of effort, and hitting ninety was just around the corner. Once he fused ninety Beast Spirits, the first step would be complete, and the high grade Heaven Genesis technique would begin to display some of its amazing power. ¡°At this rate, I should be able complete the first step in another ten days!¡± Zhou Yuan excitedly thought to himself. ¡°It seems that you¡¯re quite capable, kid.¡± While Zhou Yuan was celebrating inside, an elderly voice was heard. He quickly found old Xuan standing nearby, staring at the embryonic seed in front of Zhou Yuan in surprise. He had not visited over the past few days, only to be shocked by Zhou Yuan¡¯s progress today. One must know that chief disciples, who had practiced this technique in the past, used at least half a year or more to reach Zhou Yuan¡¯s current stage of progress. On the other hand, he had achieved the same in a single month. Just how talented was this kid? Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not explain. He had after all borrowed the miraculous powers of the Decoder Saint Rune. Without it, it would be near impossible for him to progress so far in a single month. ¡°Old Xuan, I¡¯ll be returning first.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, he kept the chest of Beast Spirit crystals, before bidding his goodbyes to old Xuan and rising into the air on his Genesis Qi. Old Xuan chuckled as he watched Zhou Yuan leave. From the looks of it, the latter would likely become the fastest person in the history of the Cangxuan Sect to master the Omega Saint Spirit Art. It was a day that old Xuan quite looked forward to. ¡­ When Zhou Yuan returned to his cave dwelling, he immediately caught sight of the graceful figure attentively flipping through an old text inside the stone pavilion beside the peach tree. Zhou Yuan smiled. He had no intentions of disturbing her, and proceeded to stealthily slip away. However, Yaoyao lifted her head at this moment and beckoned to him. Zhou Yuan was a little stunned, before he walked over and seated himself beside her. As he breathed in her faint enchanting fragrance, he smiled and said, ¡°What are you researching? Do you have a plan for the ceremony?¡± Yaoyao responded, ¡°The only advantages Sword Cometh Peak has over Saint Genesis Peak are their stronger foundations and a greater number of disciples. Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu alone are nothing to be afraid of.¡± Zhou Yuan rubbed his nose as he observed a moment of silence for Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu. They may be Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect, but they seemed to be not even worth mentioning in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s advantage lies in their enormous number of disciples. If Saint Genesis Peak faces them, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu would not even need to move a finger, for us to be utterly defeated. As such, the situation will not change even if I manage to hold off Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a serious expression. This was a problem he had been constantly mulling over recently. Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s foundations were just far too weak. A single charge from Sword Cometh Peak was all it would take to steamroll over the ordinary disciples. If that happened, it would no matter regardless of how he or Yaoyao resisted. If all the other disciples were wiped out, leaving the two of them alone, their situation would be akin to trying to put out a giant fire with a cup of water. Yaoyao gently stroked the cover of the old book in her hand as she said, ¡°Since that is the case, we will just have to even the playing field.¡± ¡°Even the playing field?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s advantage lay in their near ten thousand disciples of which there were no lack of elites. There was absolutely no way Yaoyao and him could ¡®even the playing field¡¯ by themselves, right? With so many opponents, even if they stood there and allowed themselves to be hit without any resistance, it would take insanely long to knock all of them out! Yaoyao swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, her red lips curling slightly as if reading his mind. ¡°Stupid, you only know how to use brute force.¡± She fished out one of the books from the pile and slowly flipped it open, causing an enormous ancient Genesis Rune boundary to appear before Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve studied the terrain of the Genesis reservoir, and searched the entire library of the Spirit Rune Hall for a boundary that is most suitable to use in the reservoir. If we successfully set this up, we¡¯ll be able to take out nearly all of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s ten thousand strong army¡­¡± ¡°Once we achieve that, Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s advantage will naturally disappear.¡± As Yaoyao spoke in a nonchalant yet domineering manner, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze paused on a certain spot of the boundary diagram, where three ancient words jumped at him, causing his pupils to shrink slightly. ¡°Heaven Disorientating Boundary!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 508 Heaven Disorienting Boundary ¡°Heaven Disorienting Boundary¡­¡± Zhou Yuan looked at the boundary diagram in the old book with a serious expression. A single cursory glance already made him feel that it was super complex, and it was definitely no low grade boundary. Yaoyao faintly nodded as she said, ¡°It¡¯s a large-scale boundary that can create a giant illusion, and it will be difficult for anyone who falls in to escape.¡± Zhou Yuan could not stop himself from asking, ¡°It can trap ten thousand people?¡± One must know the ten thousand disciples they were facing were no ordinary individuals. Every single one of them had the strength of the Alpha-Origin stage, individuals who would be elites if placed anywhere else. Just think about how crazy it would be to trap these ten thousand disciples. Could the Heaven Disorienting Boundary really achieve such a feat? Zhou Yuan was somewhat skeptical. Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°It may be a little difficult anywhere else, but with the unique environment of the Genesis reservoir, we can make use of the right conditions to greatly amplify the powers of the Heaven Disorienting Boundary.¡± ¡°Temporarily trapping ten thousand people is not impossible.¡± ¡°Temporarily?¡± Zhou Yuan immediately caught onto a certain word. Yaoyao nodded again. ¡°The numbers on the other side are too great, we cannot trap all of them for long.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. ¡°Then there¡¯s not much point if we¡¯re only able to trap them. Once they escape, Saint Genesis Peak will still be incapable of matching them.¡± Yaoyao gently tapped her fingers as she said, ¡°That¡¯s why we need to eliminate them while they¡¯re in the boundary.¡± ¡°Can we really wipe them out with our meagre numbers?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. Yaoyao offhandedly said, ¡°The small amount of manpower we have is naturally insufficient. However, we can make use of external forces.¡± ¡°External forces? What external forces? I doubt the other peaks will help out.¡± Asked Zhou Yuan in a puzzled manner. Yaoyao rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Aren¡¯t the aquatic beasts in the reservoir the best external force?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten how alluring the sacred dragon Qi in your body is to those aquatic beasts?¡± Zhou Yuan naturally could not forget. He had been nearly swarmed to the death the first time he entered the Genesis reservoir last year. If not for Tuntun¡¯s support, he would not have even dared to enter the waters again. A look of thought was revealed on his face. Alarm soon appeared in his eyes as he stared at Yaoyao and said, ¡°You want me to lure the aquatic beasts, and borrow their power to quickly defeat most of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips raised slightly as she said, ¡°Correct. You will lure the aquatic beasts into the Heaven Disorienting Boundary, and both parties will naturally begin to fight. When that happens, we will not only be able to exhaust Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s power but also use them to hunt aquatic beasts for us, killing two birds with one stone.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned round, clearly not expecting Yaoyao¡¯s plan to be so cunning. They would not only trap the other party, but even force them to help Saint Genesis Peak kill aquatic beasts, while the latter could just sit and wait like a fisherman waiting to reel in the net. ¡°That¡¯s quite ruthless.¡± Muttered Zhou Yuan. Soon after, he grinned and said, ¡°But I like it!¡± Sword Cometh Peak was being far too domineering. Did they really believe Saint Genesis Peak was an easy target? If this plan succeeded, it would surely stifle the former¡¯s overweening attitude. Moreover, since Saint Genesis Peak had recently reopened, it was an opportune time for them to pull off a great victory, so the other peaks would no longer look down on them in the future. At the sight of the excited Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°However, there are some issues with this plan.¡± ¡°What issues?¡± Zhou Yuan immediately asked. He had originally been worrying over how they would be able to face Sword Cometh Peak in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, and Yaoyao¡¯s plan had undoubtedly made him see some hope. Yaoyao placed a hand on her chin as she explained, ¡°This Heaven Disorienting Boundary is extremely difficult to set-up. I¡¯ll be hard-pressed to do it alone, so I¡¯ll require some help.¡± ¡°What about me? Will I be able to help?¡± Zhou Yuan shamelessly recommended himself. ¡°Only someone whose Spirit has reached the advanced Corporeal stage will be of use.¡± Yaoyao glanced at him as she softly chuckled. ¡°Ye Ge seems to be a pretty good choice.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned rigid as he immediately dismissed the notion in a righteous manner, ¡°He¡¯s not even from Saint Genesis Peak, plus Spirit Rune Peak has been coveting you too much. What if they try to make use of this chance to force you to join Spirit Rune Peak? Nope, nope, I feel that this is a no go.¡± Everyone could clearly see how Ye Ge fancied Yaoyao, and there was absolutely no way in hell that Zhou Yuan would give him any opportunities. A teasing angle rose from the corners of Yaoyao¡¯s red lips as she shot a meaningful glance at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan forced out a smile in response. Soon after, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will work harder to reach the advanced Corporeal stage before the ceremony!¡± Yaoyao pondered a little, before she unhurriedly said, ¡°You¡¯ll have to work hard then, if you fail, I¡¯ll have no choice but to ask Ye Ge for help.¡± Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and forcefully nodded. Yaoyao could not help but laugh at Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance. She did not tease him any further as she stretched her back and said, ¡°I¡¯m close to done with the Spirit Refining Saliva. When the modulation is done, you can give it a try. It should be very beneficial to your Spirit cultivation.¡± Zhou Yuan was elated by this news. With the Spirit Refining Saliva, his chances of a Spirit cultivation breakthrough would naturally rise. ¡°Besides this, there¡¯s still one more problem¡­¡± Yaoyao¡¯s tone changed again as her bright eyes stared at the boundary diagram. ¡°Due to the overwhelming number of people we plan to trap, the boundary¡¯s power will become quite scattered. It may be able to trap the ordinary disciples, but some of the more elite disciples of Sword Cometh Peak will likely be able to escape.¡± ¡°If the elite disciples can free themselves, won¡¯t that mean that the two Chosens Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu, plus the chief disciple Baili Che will be able to leave the boundary?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. Yaoyao nodded. ¡°They will be the biggest problem. Once they escape, they will surely attempt to destroy the boundary, and we allow that to happen, all of our hard work will be lost.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. If so, an intense battle would be unavoidable. However, he was not afraid as battle hunger rose in his heart. ¡°You need not worry about Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu. Tuntun and I will ensure that neither of them will be able to move.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes looked straight at Zhou Yuan as she slowly said, ¡°But you¡¯ll have to deal with Baili Che.¡± ¡°If you fail and allow him to escape, the destruction of the boundary will cause a butterfly effect that will lead to the failure of the entire operation. Once the Sword Cometh Peak disciples are freed, the small number of disciples on our side will quickly be drowned by them.¡± ¡°So, can you stop Baili Che?¡± An arrogant face flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind as he softly chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if Baili Che manages to get past me, I¡¯ll resign from my position as chief disciple.¡± Yaoyao nodded. Since Zhou Yuan had said so, she was naturally going to place her trust in him. She slowly folded the diagram as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll need to make other preparations for the Heaven Disorientating Boundary, and will do my best to get ready over the next month.¡± ¡°And then¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll just have to wait for the Genesis reservoir ceremony to begin¡­ when the time comes, we¡¯ll give Saint Genesis Peak a nice big present.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips curled upwards as a sliver of icy cruelness spread. Zhou Yuan shivered a little at the sight of her smile, but soon began to gloat. Sword Cometh Peak was really unlucky to have angered Yaoyao... He was now somewhat looking forward to the Genesis reservoir ceremony. On that day, the entire Cangxuan Sect would likely be shocked by Saint Genesis Peak once more. Previous Chapte Chapter 509 Initial Stage Seed Time stealthily flowed in the Cangxuan Sect, as another half a month quietly passed. Deep in the mountains. Atop a boulder, Zhou Yuan looked at the ball of light between his palms with a serious expression. Within the ball was a primal chaos like mass from which mysterious undulations continuously spread. After a month and a half, the Saint Spirit Seed was gradually approaching the initial stage. ¡°Eighty nine Beat Spirits have already been fused into it¡­¡± Zhou Yuan licked his lips, his eyes burning with excitement. He had been pouring all of his energy into the cultivation of the Saint Spirit Seed for quite some time, and the results were indeed pretty good. Now, he only needed to successfully fuse the final Beast Spirit for the seed to reach the initial stage, allowing it to merge into his body, and begin to display a little of the Omega Saint Spirit Art¡¯s power. Zhou Yuan very carefully cradled the ball of light as he beckoned with his other hand, causing a Beast Spirit crystal to zip over. It was shattered with a single pinch as a roaring Beast Spirit rose from within. Zhou Yuan swiftly destroyed the Beast Spirit¡¯s conscience. With a deep breath, a resolute look flashed in his eyes as he cast away all hesitation, and fluidly pushed the Beast Spirit into the Saint Spirit Seed. Bzz bzz! Berserk and chaotic undulations exploded the moment they touched. The originally stable Saint Spirit Seed immediately began to swell, a sign that it was on the verge of exploding. A Saint Rune rotated in the depths of Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils as his Spirit senses reached into the seed in a practiced manner. He did everything he could to suppress and balance the many sources of disharmony. With so many Beast Spirits already fused into it, the interior of the seed was extremely complex. Even after spending a month and a half accustoming himself with the process, Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead was still dripping with cold sweat at this moment. However, he did not dare to relax even a little. He had invested more than a month of hard work on this seed, and a tiny mistake was all that it would take for all his previous effort to turn into bubbles. Zhou Yuan had experienced this several times prior, and it was certainly very depressing. The cliff side was silent, and only the sound of the wind could be heard. Zhou Yuan had already blocked off all disturbances from the outside world, his eyes focused only on the primal chaos like ball of light. In his eyes, countless chaotic undulations continuously emerged like ripples, and immediately tried to spread. Zhou Yuan was basically akin to a firefighter, quickly darting all over to put out these ¡®fires¡¯ by suppressing the chaotic undulations before they could completely unfurl. This high speed firefighting pushed Zhou Yuan¡¯s concentration to its limits, making it no less stressful and intense than a fight with a top tier practitioner. In fact, Zhou Yuan began to feel exhaustion creep up on him little by little. However, he knew that he could not allow himself to relax even a tiny bit, and thus ruthlessly pushed away the tiredness he felt. As time flowed, the ball of light between Zhou Yuan¡¯s palms grew brighter and brighter, as something seemed to slowly grow inside the primal chaos like mass. Nearby, old Xuan leaned against a tree trunk as he puffed smoke from his mouth. His murky eyes watched Zhou Yuan as the amazement on his elderly face grew greater and greater. ¡°This kid¡­¡± Time flowed and an incense stick of time swiftly passed. Zhou Yuan was dripping with cold sweat that wet even his clothes. Veins wiggled on his forehead, creating a somewhat sinister sight, while his breathing had grown rougher and more ragged. He was evidently about to reach his limits. ¡°Stop spreading!¡± A low growl suddenly erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s throat as both his hands abruptly swung downwards, heavily slapping onto the primal chaos like ball of light. Thump! With a muffled thump, the ball of light seemed to crack under Zhou Yuan¡¯s palms as berserk undulations exploded, jerking his body backwards and sending him flying. He hurriedly stabilized himself as he stared at the center of the berserk undulations. A ray of light slowly rose from within, spreading outwards as it began to form an indistinct glowing figure. The figure silently stood in the air as a mysterious aura pulsed from it. ¡°Kid, hurry up and use your blood to begin refining it!¡± While Zhou Yuan was in a daze, old Xuan¡¯s shout was transmitted into his ears. Zhou Yuan immediately dashed forward when he heard this, biting the tip of his tongue as he spat out a mouthful of essence blood wrapped in Genesis Qi. The blood zipped forward, splattering onto the glowing figure, and rapidly began to sink into it. As the fruits of his labour, the Saint Spirit Seed was naturally extremely familiar to Zhou Yuan. Hence, the integration process was swift and smooth. When essence blood finished its work, Zhou Yuan felt a peculiar link between himself and the glowing figure. Swish! But before he could even begin to savor the feeling, the glowing figure shot over with a swish, transforming into a small flash of light as it charged into his body and entered his Qi Dwelling. Zhou Yuan hastily looked inwards, and found a blurry glowing figure seated amidst the flowing golden Genesis Qi in his Qi Dwelling. Strands of Genesis Qi surged towards it and was breathed in like air, causing the blurry figure to grow a little brighter with each breath. Zhou Yuan could feel an enormous power from the blurry glowing figure. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened with joy and surprise as he mumbled, ¡°Is this¡­ the initial form of the Saint Spirit Seed?¡± ¡°I never imagined that you would complete the first form of the seed so soon¡­¡± Old Xuan''s voice rang out as he stared in Zhou Yuan in amazement. ¡°Once you fuse in the nine core Beast Spirits, the Saint Spirit Seed will reach its complete state and develop accordingly.¡± Zhou Yuan wet his lips. Given how the ninety auxiliary Beast Spirits had already forced him to his limits, how crazily difficult would fusing the nine core Beast Spirits be? The mere thought of it already made Zhou Yuan shiver inside. He let out a deep sigh. With regards to the final nine core ingredients, he would have to take it a step at a time, and not rush things. Old Xuan nodded as he advised Zhou Yuan not to be too anxious, ¡°Your progress is already the fastest I¡¯ve ever seen among the disciples, and there¡¯s no need to rush things for now. Moreover, the Omega Saint Spirit Art can already begin to display some of its power in this state.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, someone is waiting for you at the base of the mountain.¡± Old Xuan waved his hand. Zhou Yuan nodded in acknowledgement, before cupping his fists together in respect. Genesis Qi rose under his feet, carrying him down the mountain, and he soon saw Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan waiting at the foot of the mountain. Zhou Yuan landed and asked as he looked at the trio, ¡°What is it?¡± The trio exchanged a look, before Lu Yan¡¯s lips parted slightly as she said, ¡°Baili Che sent someone earlier to tell us this is Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s final chance. If you are feeling regretful about your decision, you have to personally go down to Sword Cometh Peak to settle the matter.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t, Sword Cometh Peak will no longer show any courtesy.¡± Zhou Tai said in a low voice, ¡°That Baili Che is too much.¡± If Zhou Yuan made a trip to Sword Cometh Peak, there would surely be much humiliation awaiting him. Zhou Yuan chuckled as he said with a calm expression, ¡°Send a disciple to Sword Cometh Peak to tell Baili Che¡­¡± ¡°Tell him what?¡± Zhou Yuan was already walking away as he voice echoed behind him. ¡°Tell him that this is the final chance I¡¯m giving Sword Cometh Peak. If Baili Che doesn¡¯t come to Saint Genesis Peak to apologize, I will not show any courtesy in the Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± As Zhou Yuan left, Lu Yan, Zhou Tai and Zhang Yan looked at each other, clearly stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s domineering attitude. Lu Yan could not help but ask, ¡°Is he serious?¡± ¡°If this spreads, won¡¯t Sword Cometh Peak blow their tops?¡± Zhou Tai shrugged and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan is currently the chief disciple, and we only need to follow his instructions. Moreover, I personally feel that it will be very relieving, haha!¡± Lu Yan let out a bitter and helpless laugh, before she sighed. She wondered whether Saint Genesis Peak would be able to withstand Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s rage when the Genesis reservoir ceremony began... Because in her opinion, the current Zhou Yuan seemed as if he was smashing an already broken jar... Previous Chapte Chapter 510 Scheme Sword Cometh Peak. Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che were seated in a stone pavilion. The first two were concentrating on their chess game, while Baili Che was looking at a disciple who had come to relay news in amusement. Baili Che smirked as he looked at the disciple and said, ¡°Did Zhou Yuan really dare to say that? He wants me to go to Saint Genesis Peak and apologize, or he¡¯ll no longer show any courtesy to us in the Genesis reservoir ceremony?¡± The disciple nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what the disciple from Saint Genesis Peak said earlier, it should not be false.¡± Baili Che laughed as he waved for the disciple to withdraw, before turning towards the two individuals playing chess. ¡°This junior brother of ours is really¡­¡± He pondered for a long time, before he smiled helplessly and said, ¡°An ignorant fool.¡± He was truly unable to imagine where Zhou Yuan found the courage to say a thing. Did he feel coming to Sword Cometh Peak to admit his mistake was not punishment enough? Once the Genesis reservoir ceremony began, Saint Genesis Peak would instantly be burned to ashes by Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s rage. In the stone pavilion, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu were clearly unconcerned, evidently taking it as nonsense. Their complete disregard was akin to the disdain of the strong towards a trash talking weakling. Baili Che sat down as he smiled faintly and said, ¡°I plan on telling all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples about Zhou Yuan¡¯s words.¡± Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu¡¯s game ended at this moment. Only then did they unhurriedly lift their heads and nod. ¡°Go ahead.¡± They naturally understood Baili Che¡¯s intentions. Sword Cometh Peak was already filled with resentment towards Saint Genesis Peak and Zhou Yuan¡¯s words would undoubtedly be akin to pouring oil into the fire. In such a situation, no matter how badly Saint Genesis Peak was beaten up later on, bystanders would only say that they were asking for it. Weaklings should obediently lower their heads and apologize, struggling and jumping around so much was only asking for death. Baili Che chuckled. He was naturally going to add some spice to Zhou Yuan¡¯s original words. That way, even if Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s two Chosens and chief disciple tried to step in to ask everyone to show a little more mercy, the other disciples would not agree. When that happened, Saint Genesis Peak would truly have no way out. He raised his head, and looked in the direction of Saint Genesis Peak, as a mocking smile emerged from the corners of his mouth. The true goal of Baili Che¡¯s earlier message was to anger Zhou Yuan. He never imagined that the latter would be so cooperative, and even retort with such a perfect message. All he had to do now was to use Zhou Yuan¡¯s words to unify Sword Cometh Peak, and turn their targets towards Zhou Yuan and Saint Genesis Peak. Once the momentum began to build, let alone the two Chosens and chief disciple, even the many elders would be powerless to stop Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s rampaging rage. There was already no longer any chance of changing the trajectory of the hammer that was swinging down towards Saint Genesis Peak. Baili Che softly chuckled. As the recently promoted chief disciple, he naturally needed to solidify his position and grow his reputation. So how would he accomplish this? As long as he managed to viciously stomp on Zhou Yuan and Saint Genesis Peak, his standing would naturally rise drastically. In fact, he may even obtain peak master Ling Jun¡¯s favor, giving him a better chance of becoming a Chosen in the future. As such, the upcoming Genesis reservoir ceremony was going to be the best opportunity to show his worth. If Saint Genesis Peak had conceded at such a time, he would instead be quite disappointed. ¡°Zhou Yuan ah Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re still too inexperienced¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to deliver the message to Baili Che. I¡¯m certain he will add some flavor to it, before spreading it to the entire Sword Cometh Peak to make them even more angry at us.¡± In the peaceful and cooling cave dwelling, light shined down from the roof of the cave as Zhou Yuan looked at Yaoyao and excitedly said, ¡°With emotions running high, Sword Cometh Peak will most absolutely make it their chief mission to trample over Saint Genesis Peak in the ceremony. Otherwise, even their two Chosens, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu, will be incapable of appeasing the rage of the disciples.¡± ¡°Only with them so impatiently itching to crush us, will we be able to smoothly draw them in, and then¡­¡± He extended a hand and abruptly clenched it. ¡°Catch them all!¡± A smule hung from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. How could he not have guessed Baili Che¡¯s intentions. However, what the latter did not know was that Zhou Yuan was completely unafraid of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s retaliation. Instead, he was already scheming how he would trap this giant creature known as Sword Cometh Peak in the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Yaoyao had made numerous preparations for the Heaven Disorientating Boundary, and their goal was to catch the entire Sword Cometh Peak in their net. Hence, they needed to ensure every single disciple would take the bait. Otherwise, if the boundary only managed to net a portion of the disciples, the rest would remain a giant problem. Thus, they needed to infuriate the Sword Cometh Peak disciples even more to make sure all of them would be present for the main dish. Only then would they be able to trap them all. Yaoyao nodded faintly as she said in praise, ¡°You¡¯re really adept at drawing their hatred.¡± Since it was so rare for her to be serious about something, she naturally planned to make everything as perfect as possible. If even a few of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were not present, it would feel a little disappointing even if they succeeded in the end. Yaoyao playfully stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°However¡­ with you acting so arrogant, aren¡¯t you afraid the Sword Cometh Peak disciples will attempt something underhanded in the future?¡± Zhou Yuan lightly flicked one of the overhanging flowers as he replied, ¡°When our plan succeeds, I believe they will become somewhat fearful of us, and not dare to try underhanded tactics.¡± Sword Cometh Peak currently looked down on Saint Genesis Peak, because they felt the latter was weak. When the Genesis reservoir ceremony was over, they would likely no longer dare to have such thoughts. ¡°Of course¡­ everything still hinges upon big sis Yaoyao¡¯s Heaven Disorientating Boundary. If it fails, we¡¯ll really become a laughing stock.¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll have no choice but to hide away in Saint Genesis Peak, not daring to take even a single step out.¡± Zhou Yuan looked to his side at the girl so beautiful that even the nearby peach blossoms seemed to lose their color, as earnestly said, ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯ll all be depending on you this time.¡± Yaoyao lazily said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry about my side. You, on the other hand¡­ since you¡¯ve made progress in the Saint Spirit Seed, you¡¯d better spend the following two weeks working on your Spirit cultivation. If you fail to breakthrough, you¡¯ll have to go beg for Ye Ge¡¯s help.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. How could he ever beg for Ye Ge¡¯s aid! That would be utterly humiliating! Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and firmly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely reach the advanced Corporeal stage before the ceremony!¡± Yaoyao''s lips raised a little as she tossed him a jade bottle. Zhou Yuan hastily caught it, and found that it was filled with fluttering golden crystal dust. Every grain gave off an extremely mysterious undulation that made the Spirit between his brows stir violently with desire. ¡°This is?¡± The modulated Spirit Refining Saliva¡­ so you¡¯d better not say I didn¡¯t help you.¡± Yaoyao swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, before gracefully turning around as her clear spring-water like voice sounded. ¡°You¡¯d better start on your Spirit cultivation and study the boundary diagram.¡± ¡°It¡¯s rare for me to take something seriously for once, so if you end up causing problems for my boundary, just wait and see how I¡¯ll deal with you!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 511 Response The message Zhou Yuan sent to Baili Che quickly spread to the entire Sword Cometh Peak. To no one¡¯s surprise, the numerous disciples were instantly enraged. Sword Cometh Peak had been akin to a rising sun for the past few years, plus the Genesis Qi they cultivated was mostly direct and aggressive in nature, causing their characters to lean towards being a little more forceful and unyielding. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples had always felt superior to Saint Genesis Peak, and they were honestly not the only ones. The other peaks also had similar attitudes, because Saint Genesis Peak was after all just too pathetic, with only two meagre factions. Even when Zhou Yuan achieved several impressive battle accomplishments previously, most of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples had not taken him seriously, until he defeated Yuan Hong in the chief disciple selection, and took the chief disciple seat. No one had expected a year old new disciple to reach such heights¡­ a reality that the proud Sword Cometh Peak disciples found rather difficult to swallow. After all, Lu Hong¡¯s faction originated from their Sword Cometh Peak. In addition, peak master Ling Jun had lost his bet, causing Sword Cometh Peak to lose a tremendous amount of cultivation resources. The disciples naturally did not dare to blame their peak master, and thus directed all of their resentment towards Saint Genesis Peak and Zhou Yuan. In fact, many disciples had declared that they would teach Saint Genesis Peak a lesson during the Genesis reservoir ceremony to release their resentment. In their view, teaching Saint Genesis Peak a lesson was the most logical and basic common sense, and if the latter were tactful, they would obediently receive their punishment to let the matter pass. To Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s surprise, however, Saint Genesis Peak showed no indication of bowing their heads. What¡¯s more, the latter had refused to compromise even after chief disciple Baili Che personally made a trip down to talk things out. This made the Sword Cometh Peak disciples grow increasingly annoyed. Although Saint Genesis Peak had recently reopened, their foundations were still far too frail, and yet they dared to challenge Sword Cometh Peak? Shouldn¡¯t this come at least a hundred years later after some time to grow and rebuild? As such, some of the more radical disciples had already decided that they would humiliate Saint Genesis Peak during the ceremony, letting the latter know that even after reopening their main peak, they were still nothing in Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s eyes! However, even before the ceremony could begin, Zhou Yuan had sent such a provocative message to Baili Che... As a result, every disciple in the entire Sword Cometh Peak erupted in anger. They were truly unable to believe that Zhou Yuan would actually dare to provoke their Sword Cometh Peak. Did he really think that defeating a mere Yuan Hong would allow him to look down on them? Rage boiled in Sword Cometh Peak, every disciple angrily cursing, as the gazes that looked towards Saint Genesis Peak turned exceptionally fierce. They were now most definitely going to teach Saint Genesis Peak a very painful lesson during the Genesis reservoir ceremony. With regards to this situation, even sect master Qing Yang could only helplessly shake his head. It looks like the only option was to let Sword Cometh Peak let out all of their anger during the ceremony. But when that happened, Saint Genesis Peak would in for a very rough time indeed. ¡­ The news naturally spread to the entire Cangxuan Sect, stupefying the disciples from the other peaks. They had likewise not expected the new chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak to be so¡­ arrogant. ¡°This is¡­ a little too arrogant of Zhou Yuan. I can¡¯t believe he actually dared to provoke Sword Cometh Peak at this juncture.¡± ¡°Agreed. Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s strength is something that the current Saint Genesis Peak cannot possibly match. Sending out such a provocation at this time will only make them suffer more during the ceremony.¡± ¡°With Sword Cometh Peak so angry, I don¡¯t think anyone will be able to stop them anymore.¡± ¡°Chief disciples Zhou Yuan is really unlucky to encounter Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s rage so soon after taking his position¡­ in this situation, it¡¯ll be a miracle if they achieve good results in the Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± ¡°How pitiful. I wonder how bruised and battered Saint Genesis Peak will be after the ceremony.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Similar conversations continued to be held amongst the other peaks, everyone clearly pitying Saint Genesis Peak. At the same time, they were unable to understand why Zhou Yuan had sent such an arrogant and provocative message. Such actions were truly irrational. They were incapable of comprehending Zhou Yuan¡¯s thoughts. In the end, everyone merely took it as him being too young and immature, causing him to crack under Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s tremendous pressure. ¡­ Li Qingchan had likewise heard the news and was also quite puzzled by it. Given her understanding of Zhou Yuan, the latter was not a hot-headed individual who spoke irresponsibly. However, she was also unable to understable why Zhou Yuan had provoked Sword Cometh Peak in this manner. Had Yaoyao¡¯s participation really made him so confident? But no matter how strong Yaoyao was, what could she possibly accomplish against ten thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples? ¡°What exactly is he thinking?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he afraid of being thoroughly humiliated during the ceremony after provoking Sword Cometh Peak?¡± ¡­ The Cangxuan Peak. ¡°Junior sister Hongyi, your friend is quite the character.¡± Numerous disciples in the Cangxuan Peak were aware that Gu Hongyi and Zhou Yuan were from the same batch of disciples that had joined the inner mountains together, and were on pretty good terms. Hence, several people came to joke about the matter when they heard about it. Gu Hongyi was after all someone who had an extremely strong background in the Cangxuan Sect, while also a great beauty. Although she was a little too fiery tempered, it did not stop her from becoming a popular figure in the Cangxuan Peak. Gu Hongyi constantly praised Zhou Yuan, causing several of the male disciples, who fancied her, to grow jealous. However, none of them had been able to say anything due to his remarkable performance so far. As such, it was nearly impossible to avoid them poking fun at Zhou Yuan the moment they heard the news, in an attempt to weaken his position in Gu Hongyi¡¯s heart. Gu Hongyi blocked all of these jokes in a calm and indifferent manner, but when no one was looking, she would gaze towards Saint Genesis Peak with worry in her beautiful eyes. She too did not understand why Zhou Yuan would stir up Sword Cometh Peak. Did he not realize how difficult things would become for him? ¡­ While the many disciples in the Cangxuan Sect were gossiping over this topic, deep in his cave dwelling, Zhou Yuan began his final stretch of training for the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Zhou Yuan was seated on a stone bed deep in the peaceful cave. His Spirit slowly rose from between his brows, its corporeal figure hovering above his head in a cross-legged position. With a gentle shake of a bottle, golden crystal dust drifted out, grain after grain shining dazzlingly under the sunlight as they landed on the Spirit above Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan Spirit faintly rippled when each golden crystal dust entered it, as it began to grow even more condensed and corporeal. Specks of light danced in the depths of the cave. Time quietly flowed, as the date of the Genesis reservoir ceremony grew closer and closer... Previous Chapte Chapter 512 Hearing about the Mythic Utopia Dong! Dong! The sound of an old bell melodiously echoed across the land, causing an astonishing wave of excitement and noise to explode in the Cangxuan Sect. The rising clamor made the ancient cultivation holy land become akin to a marketplace. Because today was the date of the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Saint Genesis Peak. Zhou Tai and several disciples were anxiously waiting outside a certain cave dwelling, while Yaoyao stood in front of them, carrying Tuntun with a calm, ordinary expression. Zhou Tai could not help but look towards Yaoyao in a fluster, ¡°Junior sister Xiaoyao, is junior brother Zhou Yuan not ready yet? We really have to head to the Genesis reservoir soon. If he doesn¡¯t hurry up, we might not be able to make it in time!¡± Yaoyao shook her head and replied, ¡°He¡¯s in closed cultivation, and will naturally come out when it''s over. None of you are allowed to disturb him.¡± Zhou Tai and gang could only grimace in response. None of them dared to show any attitude towards Yaoyao, because they knew that rather than chief disciple Zhou Yuan, she was the true bedrock of Saint Genesis Peak. Dong! Dong! The resonant sound of a bell continued to echo, while Zhou Tai and the others worriedly paced back and forth. None of them dared to even imagine what a laughing stock they will be if Zhou Yuan failed to make it. If that were to happen, Sword Cometh Peak would surely believe he was using this as an excuse to hide from them. Both Saint Genesis Peak and its chief disciple would then have to wear the hat of ¡®gutless cowards¡¯. And would also be far too great of a blow to their reputation. While more and more cold sweat emerged on their foreheads, a familiar voice finally sounded from the cave, causing Zhou Tai and the rest to breathe a deep sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders. ¡°Hehe, sorry for making senior brothers wait.¡± Zhou Tai and gang hurriedly raised their heads, and saw Zhou Yuan slowly walking out of the cave. He currently wore a faint smile on his confident face. His eyes in particular seemed especially bright like stars, causing one to feel a slight piercing pain if one looked directly at them. Zhou Tai could feel that there was something different about Zhou Yuan, but the former could not explain it in words. However, they had no time to think about such things at this juncture. Zhou Tai hurriedly said, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry up and get moving. Our Saint Genesis Peak disciples are all waiting for you.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded as he exchanged a look with Yaoyao. The latter¡¯s eyes paused on the spot between his brows for a moment as she said, ¡°Not bad, you didn¡¯t disappoint.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not say anything. With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi rose, swiftly carrying the group into the sky. The Genesis Qi cloud zipped past in the sky. After several dozen minutes, it landed in front of one of the halls in Saint Genesis Peak, where the disciples of the two factions were already gathered. These disciples had clearly grown rather anxious while waiting. They immediately breathed huge sighs of relief upon seeing Zhou Yuan as they quickly cupped their fists together. ¡°Greetings chief disciple!¡± Zhou Yuan returned the gesture, before looking towards Shen Taiyuan. ¡°I almost couldn¡¯t make it in time. I hope that teacher Shen will not blame me too much.¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression was calm, with no sign of any anxiety. He merely smiled as he waved his hand and said, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s get going.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi surged out, sweeping up the numerous disciples as they soared into the sky. ¡­ Outside the Genesis reservoir. A sprawling black mass of people completely filled all the nearby mountain peaks, while an endless hubbub filled the area. The disciples were clearly separated by their various peaks. At this current time, their gazes were all looking towards Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s direction, because all the other six peaks were already present, with only Saint Genesis Peak still missing. As time flowed, whispers quietly began to spread. ¡°What¡¯s Saint Genesis Peak doing? Look at the time, can¡¯t believe they¡¯re still not here.¡± ¡°Have they been frightened silly by Sword Cometh Peak? Are they going to give up on this Genesis reservoir ceremony?¡± ¡°Eh¡­ that may be possible. But if so, what face will they have left? I¡¯ve never seen a peak that doesn¡¯t even dare to participate in the Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± ¡°Hehe, in any case, they¡¯ll only be slaughtered by Sword Cometh Peak inside¡­¡± ¡°It seems that chief disciple Zhou Yuan has not instilled much confidence in the Saint Genesis Peak disciples.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Similar conversations continued to spread. Many disciples were already roaring with laughter over at Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s side with arrogant expressions. Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s fearful stance had clearly made the former feel a strong sense of satisfaction. Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che stood at the very front of the many disciples. They exchanged a look, while an indescribable smile hung from the corners of their lips. Was Saint Genesis Peak really so afraid that they were not coming? ¡°It seems that I¡¯ve overestimated Zhou Yuan.¡± Remarked Baili Che in a nonchalant manner, his tone filled with mockery. He obviously did not wish for Saint Genesis Peak to be a no show, because how would he have a chance to show his worth if that were to happen? Hence, he was instead a little angry that Saint Genesis Peak was still not here. Zhou Yuan did not have much ability, but he was very good at pissing others off! Swoosh! However, while Baili Che was feeling very annoyed inside, the sound of rushing wind was heard. Next, countless disciples saw a Genesis Qi cloud descend from the sky as several hundred Saint Genesis Peak disciples landed on a nearby mountain. When they appeared, the piercing gazes of many Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately shot over. Shen Taiyuan lifted his head and looked at the sky, where six figures were giving off imposing auras, as he said, ¡°Reporting to sect master, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s disciples are here.¡± In the sky, sect master Qing Yang looked down as he faintly nodded, before his powerful voice rang boomed across the area. ¡°The Genesis reservoir comes from the Origin Dragon Vein under our sect, which has played no small part in the sect being able to stand till this day. I hope that all of you will bear gratefulness in your hearts while you¡¯re inside today.¡± Countless disciples nodded with solemn expressions, before they cupped their fists together and bowed towards the mountains. Sect master Qing Yang nodded. ¡°I believe all of you are already aware about the rules of the ceremony. It will be a competition of sorts between the various peaks, and the ones who ultimately obtain the most Genesis essence will naturally receive a better appraisal.¡± He paused for a moment, before he continued, ¡°Besides this¡­ I¡¯ve sensed that the Mythic Utopia in the Shengzhou Continent will resurface once again. It is a land of great blessing and fortune born from Cangxuan Heaven, that the countless sects and factions greatly covet. Hence why a storm will sweep over Cangxuan Heaven every time it appears.¡± ¡°As such, after discussing with the five peak masters, the spots to enter the Mythic Utopia shall be awarded according to the performance of the various peaks during the Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± *Uproar*! These words caused the entire place to explode. Let alone the ordinary disciples, even the Chosens of the various peaks were no longer able to remain composed. The Mythic Utopia! The land of blessing they had waited so long for! There was finally news about its opening! In front of the many Saint Genesis Peak disciples, Zhou Yuan was also stunned as he involuntarily licked his lips. He never imagined that he would hear information about the Mythic Utopia again at this time and place. From the clues revealed by the second Saint Rune... The third Saint Rune seemed to be somewhere inside that Mythic Utopia! Previous Chapte Chapter 513 Genesis Reservoir Opens Once More The atmosphere outside the Genesis reservoir rapidly heated up with excitement due to sect master Qing Yang¡¯s announcement, as unconcealable desire surged out in the eyes of the countless disciples. While there were countless opportunities in Cangxuan Heaven, for most practitioners at the Alpha-Origin stage, nothing could shake the Mythic Utopia¡¯s number one spot. Why was this so? Everyone knew that the Alpha-Origin stage consisted of building one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations. The stronger these foundations, the higher the grade of the Divine Dwelling after a cultivation breakthrough. Anyone with ambition would undoubtedly do everything possible to strengthen their foundations during the Alpha-Origin stage, because it would create a solid base for their subsequent journey along the path of cultivation. The better the Divine Dwelling, the higher one¡¯s limits will be in the future. However, when many Alpha-Origin stage practitioners arrived at the ninth layer, they would realize how increasingly difficult it became to strengthen one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations. Creating even one more star in their Qi Dwellings would take a tremendous amount of time and effort. By this time, it would feel as if one had reached one¡¯s limits, and the only way to progress a step forward would be through some kind of special encounter. However, special encounters or blessings that could strengthen one¡¯s foundations were very rare, and would draw countless desperate competitors the moment it appeared. In Cangxuan Heaven, the Mythic Utopia was the best place to find such such things. It was said that someone had once obtained a great blessing in the Mythic Utopia. Without it, he would have only been able to form a four heavens Divine Dwelling, but through it, he ascended the heavens in a single step, ultimately developing an astonishing eight heavens Divine Dwelling! This matter caused quite a commotion in Cangxuan Heaven back then. After all, even in the entire Cangxuan Heaven, an individual with an eight heaven Divine Dwelling would only appear once every few decades. Due to this event, the Mythic Utopia became extremely popular, causing countless Alpha-Origin stage practitioners to go crazy. Every time it resurfaced, a storm of blood would follow as countless experts fought tooth and nail over a spot to enter. Later on, the hegemon level sects interfered, and forcibly created an allocation system of sorts, allowing the Mythic Utopia to have some semblance of rules. However, though the Mythic Utopia was said to contain the greatest of blessings, there was no fixed period when it would resurface. At times, one would have to wait several or even dozens of years, causing many Genesis Masters, who failed to wait it out, to be filled with endless regret. This was why the numerous disciples of the Cangxuan Sect were so excited when they heard sect master Qing Yang mention the Mythic Utopia was going to resurface. Though even a top tier faction like the Cangxuan Sect was only given limited entry spots, there was at least a chance now, right? The Chosens and chief disciples of the various peaks in particular, were the most expectant towards the Mythic Utopia. Nearly all of them were currently at the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage, and thus urgently needed such an opportunity to strengthen their foundations, creating a stronger bedrock for their cultivation breakthrough in the near future. As such, gaze after gaze burned so hot that even ice would melt under them. Even the indolent Chu Qing was scratching his shiny bald head with a complicated expression on his handsome face, split between anticipation and helplessly as he muttered, ¡°The Mythic Utopia is finally about to resurface? But it¡¯s going to be so troublesome to fight for blessings there!¡± ¡°What should I do? I¡¯m kind of looking forward to it too.¡± ¡°*Sigh*...¡± Once the Mythic Utopia opened, the countless prided geniuses at the Alpha-Origin stage in Cangxuan Heaven would likely swarm to it in droves. The level of competitiveness would give even someone like Chu Qing a headache. Because what he hated the most was trouble. While the atmosphere was boiling with excitement, Zhou Yuan exchanged a look with Yaoyao. He had naturally told Yaoyao about the clues revealed by the second Saint Rune. Hence, the latter was also aware that the third Saint Rune was very likely somewhere in the Mythic Utopia. It had previously presented quite a problem to them, since the Mythic Utopia¡¯s reemergence did not follow any kind of schedule. What would they do if it failed to appear for several years? But who could have expected that the problem would suddenly be solved. ¡°What a coincidence¡­¡± Zhou Yuan muttered apprehensively inside. He could not help but harbor a certain suspicion. Was the Mythic Utopia¡¯s emergence this time somehow related to him finding the second Saint Rune? Patriarch Cang Xuan had been the master of Cangxuan Heaven after all, and possessed remarkable abilities. In fact, he may even have control over a land of great blessing like the Mythic Utopia. Of course, this was only Zhou Yuan¡¯s conjecture. There was after all no way to find out for sure since patriarch Cang Xuan was already dead. ¡°So the spots to enter the Mythic Utopia will be allocated according to the results of the Genesis reservoir ceremony, huh?¡± Zhou Yuan wet his lips. Looks like sect master wanted the disciples of the various peaks to really go at it this time. Everyone knew just how important the Mythic Utopia was. With more spots, more disciples from the peak would have a chance to participate, and ultimately enjoy the benefits. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept to the side, seeing the burning desire in the eyes of Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan, Lu Yan and several of the other stronger disciples. They stirred restlessly, clearly very enticed by sect master¡¯s words. Zhou Yuan looked towards the other peaks, and found that elders were already flying forward to pull aside the Chosens and secretly whisper them something. The elders were most likely telling the Chosens to do their best, and achieve best results possible in the Genesis reservoir ceremony. ¡°*Sigh*...¡± While the other peaks were stirring restlessly, elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song exchanged a look and sighed softly. In their view, the Mythic Utopia had come at a very unfortunate time, because Saint Genesis Peak was currently at its weakest. How could they possibly achieve good results in the ceremony? In fact, not being eliminated half way through would already be pretty good. The sighs from the two elders splashed over the surrounding disciples like a bucket of cold water, causing them to return to their senses. The excitement on their faces slowly receded when they began to realize the current predicament of Saint Genesis Peak, as they hung their heads in disappointment. If the spots were allocated according to the results of the Genesis reservoir ceremony, Saint Genesis Peak was going to be in a very miserable situation. Zhou Yuan could likewise feel the change in atmosphere, but he did not say anything. Everything would have to wait till after they entered the Genesis reservoir. To prevent the plan from being leaked, he had not even informed Zhou Tai and the rest. Amidst the depressing atmosphere, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt several mocking gazes shoot towards them. He lifted his head slightly, and saw Baili Che and other Sword Cometh Peak disciples looking over with pity. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan look over, Baili Che smiled slightly , before he opened his mouth as a voice was noiselessly transmitted. ¡°Are you regretting things now?¡± ¡°Unfortunately¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s already too late.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he cast a glance at the former, before withdrawing his gaze. At this moment, upon seeing that the numerous disciples had already digested the shocking news, sect master Qing Yang waved his sleeve. With a loud ¡®dong¡¯, his powerful voice echoed across the area. ¡°Genesis reservoir, open!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 514 Run! When sect master Qing Yang¡¯s powerful voice boomed across the area, the entire place seemed to violently shudder as the mists enveloping the Genesis reservoir swiftly began to recede at a speed that could be seen with the naked eye. An endless sea appeared within the disciples¡¯ sights. The purple sash disciples were still able to remain calm. After all, they had several chances to enter every year. In contrast, the non purple sash disciples trembled with emotion, their heads raised in expectation. In the past, they could only watch enviously from the outside because they did not have the qualifications to enter. High up in the sky, sect master Qing Yang watched the Genesis reservoir appear, as his hands suddenly formed a seal. A vast, mighty force immediately descended from the sky, and enveloped the land. Roar! The earth shuddered as if an earth dragon was rampaging within, causing even the entire mountain range to tremble violently. It was as if an ancient dragon roar was reverberating from deep down in the earth. The numerous disciples did not know what was happening, but they could sense the terrifying undulations beneath their feet. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly. Due to the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in his body, plus the Ancestral Dragon Scripture he practiced, he found the strange undulations rather familiar. They contained dragon Qi, and if he was not wrong, it likely originated from the Source Dragon Vein beneath the Cangxuan Sect. He raised his head and gazed at the Genesis reservoir, as he felt a vast power surge into it. Rumble! The sea began to churn madly, waves ten thousand feet high rising to blot out the sun. In a short few breaths, the previously calm reservoir had gone berserk, a scene that made even the expressions of the purple sash disciples change a little. The reservoir had undoubtedly become much more dangerous than usual. Ao! Ao! As giant waves surged, everyone saw countless aquatic beasts wailing within the water. More and more aquatic beasts were born as Source Dragon Qi surged in, while their bodies grew larger and larger. Dangerous presences stealthily rose in the endless Genesis reservoir. Countless disciples quietly swallowed. The Genesis reservoir was clearly at its most dangerous, but of course, within the danger lay opportunity. These aquatic beasts contained Genesis essence that could be used for a Genesis baptism to strengthen their cultivation foundations. The influx of Source Dragon Qi caused tremendous changes within the Genesis reservoir. At this moment, sect master Qing Yang finally nodded his head in satisfaction, before waving his sleeve. Torrential Genesis Qi surged out, wrapping around the disciples of the seven peaks, and sending them all towards the many islands in the outer regions of the Genesis reservoir with a whoosh. As the disciples were sent into the reservoir, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s powerful voice boomed. ¡°The Genesis reservoir ceremony shall begin!¡± ¡°Disciples, do your best.¡± On the many islands, the eyes of the disciples from the various peaks slowly began to burn with excitement. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately cast hostile gazes towards a nearby island, where the Saint Genesis Peak disciples were currently gathered. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, what should we do?¡± The Saint Genesis Peak disciples felt their scalps turn numb under the gazes of ten thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples, as their legs turned wobbly. The other party¡¯s advantage was far too great, and they would likely be instantly wiped out the moment they were surrounded. ¡°What do we do?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled upon hearing this, before he said, ¡°We¡¯re running of course!¡± ¡°All of you better run as if your lives are on the line! Anyone who gets caught has only bad luck to blame!¡± He exchanged a look with Yaoyao the moment the words left his lips, before taking the lead as he dashed into the air. He immediately pushed his speed to the limit, and flew towards the deeper areas of the Genesis reservoir. Behind them, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan exchanged a glance, before letting out a bitter laugh. With a surge of Genesis Qi, the hurriedly followed. The other disciples grumbled, but did not dare to say anything outright, leaving them no choice but to begin their desperate escape. Hence, while the disciples from the other peaks were still analysing the situation, the few hundred Saint Genesis Peak disciples had already begun their frantic fleeing, disappearing from everyone¡¯s sights in the blink of an eye. Their actions stunned the disciples from the other peaks. Especially the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. A number of them who were preparing to cut off Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s escape routes were dumbstruck as they stared at the rapidly disappearing figures. After being dazed for a brief moment, the Sword Cometh Peak disciples suddenly burst out into laughter. Some of the disciples even clutched their stomachs, unable to stop themselves from laughing despite the pain. Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s actions were really very pathetic. Before they could even begin to move, the other side had already scrambled away like frightened birds, led by their one and only chief disciple Zhou Yuan. The disciples from the other peaks could not help but shake their heads. Was Saint Genesis Peak here to make a fool of themselves? Especially Zhou Yuan. Given his amazing battle accomplishments, no one had expected him to opt to flee in the face of Sword Cometh Peak... Li Qingchan frowned slightly, gently gritting her teeth as she watched. ¡°He even acted so tough previously. Does he really think this will be enough for them to escape from Sword Cometh Peak?¡± This was obviously impossible. When Sword Cometh Peak also entered the deeper parts of the reservoir and reorganized themselves, they would surely begin to encircle Saint Genesis Peak. Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s actions were only delaying the inevitable. Moreover, who cares if Zhou Yuan brought shame to himself, why did he have to implicate Yaoyao as well! On Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s side, Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che were also surprised for a moment by Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s actions, but soon sarcastically said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is quite a decisive individual.¡± In truth, shamelessly fleeing with the other disciples was actually a sensible choice. The only catch was that it was very humiliating. The Kong Sheng trio looked towards the direction Zhou Yuan and the rest had fled in, as a toying look akin to a cat playing with a mouse rose in their eyes. They were not worried about where Saint Genesis Peak would escape to, because the latter¡¯s actions were merely the final struggle before death. Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu looked towards Baili Che and nodded to him. The latter immediately understood, and turned his head to speak to the Sword Cometh Peak disciples, ¡°Ignore them for now. We¡¯ll first rush towards the deeper areas of the Genesis reservoir, and set up a base of operations to observe the movements of the aquatic beasts and hunt for Genesis essence.¡± ¡°Senior brother Baili, are we really going to ignore them?¡± Asked a disciple that was itching to teach Saint Genesis Peak a lesson. ¡°What¡¯s the rush¡­¡± Baili Che softly chuckled. ¡°They can¡¯t escape. We¡¯ll let them work for us for the time being, though they won¡¯t be able to collect much Genesis essence.¡± The other disciples nodded upon hearing this. Baili Che raised his head and peered into the distance, as a playful smile hung from the corners of his lips. ¡°Go on Zhou Yuan, run. Let me see how long you¡¯ll be able to keep running¡­¡± ... Far away, Zhou Yuan was leading the dejected Saint Genesis Peak disciples as they fled. He seemed to sense a gaze from behind, and tilted his head slightly, as a smile rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°Sword Cometh Peak¡­¡± ¡°Laugh while you can, because you¡¯ll soon be crying.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 515 Preparations Sunlight shimmered across the crystal clear water, as the enormous silhouettes of aquatic beasts streaked past below the surface, causing giant waves to rise in their wake. Several hundred figures zipped through the air, their gazes constantly scanning the area. These figures naturally belonged to the Saint Genesis Peak disciples, with Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao leading them from the front. After entering the Genesis reservoir, the group had immediately headed for the deeper areas, not taking even a single break in between. While they advanced, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were constantly on the lookout for a suitable location, where they would begin constructing the enormous Heaven Disorientating Boundary. The other disciples were unaware of the duo¡¯s plans, and could thus only gloomily follow in confusion. After searching for two hours, the duo finally decided on an island which was quite suited to their needs. With a wave of his hand, Zhou Yuan landed, and was quickly followed by several hundred figures. Zhou Yuan was rather satisfied as he scanned the surroundings, before turning towards Zhou Tai and the rest as he said, ¡°This shall be our base of operations for the time being.¡± Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan looked at each other with bitter smiles, before they asked, ¡°Chief disciple, do we have some kind of plan?¡± Saint Genesis Peak was indeed far too weak, their total strength of a few hundred disciples not even worth mentioning when compared to the other peaks. They had also offended Sword Cometh Peak, and would not be able to hide for long once the latter decided to start searching for them. When it finally began, escape would be impossible, and all of the Genesis essence they painstakingly collected would be taken away. Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s morale was clearly at a very low point at this time. Zhou Yuan chuckled when he heard this, and said, ¡°If you guys believe me, don¡¯t probe any further. I naturally have a plan to deal with Sword Cometh Peak.¡± The several hundred disciples silently struggled for a time after hearing this. Although Zhou Yuan would always deliver a surprising outcome, this was not a situation he could change alone. After all, Sword Cometh Peak was a behemoth in their eyes. While the crowd was struggling, a voice suddenly rang out, ¡°Since the chief disciple has said so, of course we will put our faith in him. Otherwise, what other route can we take?¡± These words immediately drew several nods of approval. It was true, they were already at a giant disadvantage, so what if it got worse? Since Zhou Yuan had said so, they were naturally willing to believe he was telling the truth. Hence, the silence was broken as numerous disciples indicated their trust out loud. Zhou Yuan smiled a little upon seeing the now appeased disciples, as his gaze quickly swept across the crowd without anyone noticing. The voice from earlier had been very familiar. Who else could it be but Shen Wanjin? However, these were exactly the words needed to guide the struggling disciples. Yaoyao and him needed to begin setting up the Heaven Disorientating Boundary, and could not spare much effort to lead the group. If their hearts were not consoled, everyone would have lost the will to fight before Sword Cometh Peak even came. Without the Saint Genesis Peak disciples, they would likely be unable to catch all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples in the net even if they succeeded in setting up the boundary. Zhou Yuan looked towards the Zhou Tai trio and said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Tai, you three will lead the disciples to hunt aquatic beasts ,while Yaoyao and I make some preparations.¡± The Zhou Tai trio were quite puzzled by this. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were the strongest after all, and should be the ones to lead the aquatic beast hunt. So why were they given this task instead? However, they still nodded and accepted it. Zhou Yuan also saw their confusion, but did not explain. No one could guarantee that none of the few hundred Saint Genesis Peak disciples had been bribed by Sword Cometh Peak. If the plan was leaked, the boundary would basically become useless. Without the boundary, they would really be powerless against the ten thousand disciple strong Sword Cometh Peak. ¡°You can bring Tuntun along. With it around, you guys will be able to handle even the thousand feet long aquatic beasts.¡± Yaoyao threw out Tuntun as she spoke. Zhou Tai and the rest breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. They were aware of Tuntun¡¯s strength, as they had witnessed it hurt even the likes of Zhao Zhu. With such frightening battle power tagging along, both the hunting effectiveness and safety level would increase. After making the arrangements, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao moved, quickly disappearing into the island. As these two key figures departed, the numerous disciples began to stir restlessly. Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan exchanged a look, before smiling bitterly as they shook their heads. They did not know what Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were going to do, but in their eyes, nothing the duo did would make much of a difference against Sword Cometh Peak. As the top purple sash disciples, they were more aware of how formidable Sword Cometht Peak was. However, there was nothing else that could be done in this situation. They could only believe that Zhou Yuan did have a plan. If not, Saint Genesis Peak was really going to be thoroughly humiliated this time. Zhou Tai¡¯s gaze swept across the disciples as he said in a solemn voice, ¡°We¡¯ll rest for a while first. When we recover, we¡¯ll form teams of ten to hunt aquatic beasts. If any of you encounter any problems, immediately sound off to the others.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The disciples acknowledged, though their voices sounded a little weak. They were clearly still a little affected by Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s departure. ... While the Saint Genesis Peak disciples prepared to hunt aquatic beasts, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were standing on a mountain deep inside the island. ¡°It seems that they don¡¯t have much faith in us.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled helplessly. How could not see the skepticism and nervousness in the many Saint Genesis Peak disciples¡¯ eyes. If not for his past accomplishments, their morale would have crumbled due to doubt long ago. ¡°It¡¯s useless to lament here.¡± Yaoyao swept a glance at him as she said, ¡°A few hundred against ten thousand. Isn¡¯t it a little too foolish for them to have faith with just a few words from you?¡± ¡°If you want their faith, wait till the plan succeeds.¡± With a wave of her hand, several jade scrolls flew towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°These are the sections of the boundary you¡¯re responsible for. Leave the rest to me, while you provide assistance when required.¡± ¡°Are we starting now?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan as he caught the jade scrolls. Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°Yes, but not here.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback as he involuntarily blurted out in surprise, ¡°Not here?¡± ¡°We need six days to set up the boundary, and no mistake can be made in between. Although Sword Cometh Peak may not have time to search for us, we cannot take that risk.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips parted slightly as she said, ¡°The Saint Genesis Peak disciples here can divert Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s attention, while we set up the boundary somewhere else. I¡¯ll select another location.¡± Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment, before he slowly nodded. Yaoyao¡¯s plan was indeed less risky. After all, they did need some time to make the preparations to give a warm welcome to Sword Cometh Peak. ¡°Let¡¯s go then, we don¡¯t have any time to lose.¡± Zhou Yuan took a deep breath as a piercing look rose in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m already itching to give Sword Cometh Peak this big present.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 516 Sword Cometh Peak Surrounds the Island Although the Genesis reservoir was huge, the waters became busy with noise and excitement after the disciples from all seven peaks entered. Unlike the pitifully hiding Saint Genesis Peak, the other six peaks were very familiar with the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Hence, they directly headed for the deeper areas after a quick check of their bearings, and ultimately found six giant islands to use as bases of operations. Next, they began to spread out in all directions to hunt aquatic beasts and obtain Genesis essence. When viewed from above, one would realize that there was basically not a single calm spot within a ten thousand mile radius of all six bases, nearly every mile filled with intense hunting and fighting. In this stage of the ceremony, the various peaks were concentrating their efforts into collecting Genesis essence. Although small conflicts would occasionally arise, most disciples would hold back somewhat. Afterall, none of the six peaks were easy pickings like Saint Genesis Peak. In a situation where both parties were of similar strength, even the powerful Sword Cometh Peak exercised some restraint. The only reason why they acted so overbearingly towards Saint Genesis Peak, was because the latter neither had the qualifications nor strength to enjoy such courtesy. As such, while the six peaks kept each other in check, several days quietly passed. Although Sword Cometh Peak maintained some civility towards the other peaks, they had not forgotten Saint Genesis Peak. While hunting aquatic beasts, they kept an eye out for any signs of Saint Genesis Peak. With so many disciples, it was no surprise that a Sword Cometh Peak came to report to Baili Che on the fourth day. ¡°Oh, we¡¯ve found traces of Saint Genesis Peak?¡± A playful smile rose from the corners of Baili Che¡¯s mouth when he heard the report. Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu were each leading a team of disciples to search for thousand feet aquatic beasts, leaving him stationed on the island that worked as their base of operations. ¡°Did you find Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao?¡± Asked Baili Che in an offhand manner. The disciples was clearly still a little shaken as he answered, ¡°We didn¡¯t see them, but we saw that mysterious and powerful little creature. It managed to rush over while we were robbing a group of Saint Genesis Peak disciples. If not for our quick reactions, we would have been robbed by it instead.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Baili Che raised his eyebrows. He was likewise quite fearful of the mysterious little creature, as it had after all managed to injure even the likes of Zhao Zhu previously. ¡°Chief disciple, shall we go and encircle them?¡± Asked the disciple. Baili Che fell into thought for a brief moment, before he shook his head and said, ¡°There¡¯s no rush. All six peaks are currently investing all of their energy into hunting aquatic beasts, so there¡¯s no need to waste any time on Saint Genesis Peak for the time being.¡± He paused as his eyes narrowed slightly, before he continued, ¡°But where are Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao? This is rather strange.¡± Baili Che pondered for a while, before he slowly said, ¡°Although we can¡¯t all go after Saint Genesis Peak for the moment, we cannot completely ignore them. I will send about a thousand disciples to surround them, and prevent them from scattering so we won¡¯t have to waste time later on.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to fear from other Saint Genesis Peak disciples, and only that little creature will be quite a problem. You guys will split up and disrupt the Saint Genesis Peak disciples as much as possible, but retreat immediately when you see the little creature.¡± ¡°The constant disruptions will slowly chip away at their morale, and when the time comes, we may not even need to do anything. The majority will turn on Zhou Yuan in anger due to his uselessness, causing him to lose all face.¡± ¡°Find a chance to capture a few Saint Genesis Peak disciples and interrogate them to find out whether Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao are up to something.¡± ¡°Also, make sure to properly scout out that island and immediately report if you guys find anything!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The disciple respectfully acknowledged before withdrawing. Baili Che raised his head, looked in the direction the disciple had reported to him about, and smiled, a smile that had the same playful sensation as a predator toying with its prey. In his eyes, Saint Genesis Peak was indeed a little rabbit he would hunt for sport. ¡°Zhou Yuan, let¡¯s see where you can run this time.¡± ... On the small island that was currently the base of operations for the Saint Genesis Peak disciples. Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan were gathered by the seaside, worry visible on their faces. Half a day ago, a disciple had come to report that they had encountered Sword Cometh Peak disciples. This meant that their location would soon be revealed to Sword Cometh Peak. This matter had also caused Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s morale to drop. Moreover, chief disciple Zhou Yuan was nowhere to be found, causing everyone to grow rather anxious. ¡°Sword Cometh Peak has already found us.¡± Said Zhou Tai in a heavy voice. ¡°They will surely begin to move.¡± Lu Yan could not help but look towards the depths of the island. ¡°Is Zhou Yuan still not ready?¡± Zhou Tai smiled bitterly as he shook his head, indicating that he did not know. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao had not revealed themselves ever since the duo brought them here a few days ago. Lu Yan resentfully said, ¡°He¡¯s the chief disciple, and the backbone of Saint Genesis Peak. With him not even showing his face, who knows how low our morale has dropped recently. Moreover, Sword Cometh Peak is already on our scent, causing many disciples to become very disheartened.¡± Zhou Tai tried to defend Zhou Yuan. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan must have his reason for doing this.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± Lu Yan sighed. This was the only way they could console themselves, though she was truly unable to imagine how Zhou Yuan came up with would possibly be of use against Sword Cometh peak. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Tai!¡± While the trio were conversing, a disciple suddenly hurried over from far away as he said in a panicked voice, ¡°Many Sword Cometh Peak disciples have come and have locked down the entire area!¡± The Zhou Tai trio were greatly alarmed as they hastily rose into the air. Sure enough, they saw numerous glowing figures surfacing at the end of their sights, forming an encirclement around them that covered a hundred mile area. From the spreading sharp Genesis Qi, they were definitely Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Just as the trio had expected, Sword Cometh Peak had immediately taken action after finding them. Zhou Tai¡¯s gaze swept from left to right as he slowly said, ¡°There should be about a thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples, they have not come in full force.¡± ¡°They¡¯re clearly planning on trapping us first. Once they¡¯re done collecting their Genesis essence, they will most certainly come for us.¡± Lu Yan¡¯s face had turned quite ugly. ¡°We can¡¯t even leave now.¡± The trio fell silent. At this current time, team after team of Saint Genesis Peak disciples were fleeing towards the island with anxious faces, chased by laughing Sword Cometh Peak disciples. They were clearly toying with the former. Ao! While the numerous disciples were panicking, a deep beast roar suddenly sounded. Everyone looked over, and saw alarming Genesis Qi undulations explode from Tuntun, who had been lazily lying on the ground. A pair of ferocious eyes locked onto the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples nearly fell into the water in fear, but ultimately managed to steady their bodies, before turning to flee, clearly well aware of Tuntun¡¯s frightening strength. Though the Sword Cometh Peak disciples had been scared away by Tuntun, the many Saint Genesis Peak disciples were still dejectedly hung their heads as they sat on the ground. It was clear that none of them could see any hope with Sword Cometh Peak so fixated on them. In addition, both Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were nowhere to be found, causing Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s morale to hit rock bottom. The Zhou Tai trio watched this scene with heavy hearts, before turning towards the depths of the island with worry in their eyes. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, do you really have a plan¡­¡± Chapter 517 Declaration of War Numerous Sword Cometh Peak disciples stood in the air some distance from the island where the Saint Genesis Peak disciples were stationed, watching the latter like tigers eyeing their prey. A tall young man stood in front of them with his hands behind his back. He had a sharp gaze, while powerful Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from his body. This person was called Zhong Yun, and was no ordinary disciple. He had been one of the strongest contenders for the previous chief disciple selection, but had ultimately lost to Baili Che, losing him the chance of becoming chief disciple. Although he lost to Baili Che, Zhong Yun was a proud individual that refused to accept the results. In addition, he had some conflicts with Baili Che, and had thus been sent here by the latter to be excluded from the main mission. Zhong Yun gazed at the island from far away with a gloomy expression as he snorted and said, ¡°Humph, sending me here for a mere Saint Genesis Peak. Baili Che is too much!¡± The surrounding disciples laughed awkwardly, not daring to openly agree. Zhong Yun may dare to curse Baili Che but the same could not be said for them. ¡°Senior brother Zhong Yun, we¡¯ve already surrounded them for two days, but there seems to be no activity from Saint Genesis Peak¡­¡± A disciple hurriedly tried to change the topic. Disdain and mockery were revealed on Zhong Yun¡¯s face as he said, ¡°What can the few hundred of them do? Do they really believe they¡¯ll be able to overturn the heavens because they have a chief disciple?¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan merely managed to beat Yuan Hong. If he was in our Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s selection instead, he won¡¯t even make it to the top five.¡± ¡°If not for Zhou Xiaoyao and that mysterious little creature, I would have charged in and eliminated all of them from the Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± Like Baili Che, Zhong Yun clearly did not think much of the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple, Zhou Yuan. Though they had both participated in their respective chief disciple selection, the difficulty of Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s was clearly not on the same level as Sword Cometh Peak. The disciples around him voiced their agreement one after another. Soon after, someone remarked with some hesitation, ¡°But regardless of how we toyed with the Saint Genesis Peak disciples over the past two days, Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao still refused to show themselves. This is quite odd.¡± Zhong Yun¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He had clearly also made the same observation. He peered at the depths of the island and muttered, ¡°Zhou Yuan doesn¡¯t have much ability, and is nothing to be feared, but Zhou Xiaoyao is someone that even our two Chosens do not dare to underestimate¡­ holing themselves inside and refusing to leave¡­ they¡¯re likely up to something.¡± His eyes flickered brightly in thought. After a long time, he said in a low voice, ¡°Wu Qingteng, you¡¯ll lead eight hundred disciples and feign an attack from the right to draw the attention of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples and that mysterious little creature. I¡¯ll use the diversion to lead two hundred elite disciples into the island to ascertain what Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao are up to inside!¡± The other Sword Cometh Peak disciples were clearly bored out of their minds from being stationed here long ago. They immediately jerked to attention upon hearing that Zhong Yun planned to attack the island, and acknowledged in unison. ¡°Understood!¡± Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s attack began after one incense stick of time. The disturbance immediately caused a flurry of activity amongst the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples. In the end, Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan led the disciples to meet the incoming attack, causing a chaotic battle to break out on the surface of the sea. Tuntun lazily joined the battlefield, but the Sword Cometh Peak disciples merely fled one after another wherever it passed. While the chaos ensued, the two hundred elite disciples led by Zhong Yun stealthily slipped into the island, and swiftly began their search. They finished searching the entire island after a few dozen minutes. To Zhong Yun¡¯s surprise, they had failed to find any traces of Zhou Yuan or Zhou Xiaoyao, neither were there any signs of the duo appearing in the battle outside. ¡°The two of them aren¡¯t here!¡± Zhong Yun¡¯s face was filled with astonishment, as a mocking smoke began to appear from the corners of his lips. ¡°Could the two of them have left the Saint Genesis Peak disciples behind to hunt for Genesis essence on their own?¡± ¡°That¡¯s pretty smart of them. Since they knew that the Saint Genesis Peak disciples are basically a lost hope, why not hunt for more Genesis essence by themselves.¡± Swish! Swish! Zhong Yun lifted his head and looked in a certain direction, where Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan were hastily rushing back with a group of disciples, evidently realizing that the former had infiltrated the island. An evil look flashed across Zhong Yun¡¯s eyes when he saw this, before he loudly shouted, ¡°Idiots from Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao have already abandoned you useless fools long ago. It¡¯s laughable that all of you are still stupidly guarding this place!¡± The Zhou Tai trio and the other disciples froze as they stared at the island in shock, clearly unaware that the island they had so painstakingly guarded had been empty all along. The other disciples looked at each other as defeated looks rose on their faces. The already low morale began to crumble at this moment. Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao were their hopes for the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Not knowing where the two of them were now was clearly quite a huge blow to everyone. The Zhou Tai trio fell silent as they gazed at the defeated Saint Genesis Peak disciples with complicated expressions. Upon seeing this, Zhong Yun could not help but laugh to himself in a pleased manner. ¡°I advise you guys to voluntarily withdraw from the ceremony to prevent yourselves from being humiliated even further.¡± ¡°In addition, that chief disciple of yours seems to be really undependable.¡± Zhong Yun laughed. The other Sword Cometh Peak disciples around him also began to laugh, their gazes filled with ridicule as they looked towards the Saint Genesis Peak crowd. The Saint Genesis Peak disciples were unable to speak as they numbly accepted the other party¡¯s mocking. Lu Yan¡¯s pretty face turned ashen as she shouted, ¡°Shut up!¡± Zhong Yun disdainfully said, ¡°I¡¯ll give all of you one day. If you don¡¯t voluntarily withdraw from the ceremony, don¡¯t blame us for not showing any courtesy.¡± He beckoned with his hand, indicating for the Sword Cometh Peak disciples to leave. However, just as he was about to turn around, a calm voice suddenly sounded in everyone¡¯s ears, ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, where else do you plan on going?¡± Zhong Yun¡¯s figure turned rigid as he jerked his head to the side, where a young figure had appeared at some unknown time atop a cliff and was staring at him with an expressionless face. Surprised noises erupted from Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the other Saint Genesis Peak disciples. ¡°Chief disciples!¡± The figure belonged to Zhou Yuan, who had been missing for the past few days! Zhong Yun also stared at Zhou Yuan in confusion. ¡°Where did you pop out from?¡± They had clearly searched the entire island earlier, but had not discovered any signs of Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan did not reply, merely continuing to coldly stare at Zhong Yun. The former raised his foot, and his figure suddenly appeared in front of the latter like a phantom as a punch was thrown. ¡°Fool!¡± Zhong Yun¡¯s expression immediately turned frosty upon seeing that Zhou Yuan actually dared to attack, as a sinister smile was revealed, ¡°Do you really believe that the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak is worth anything in my eyes?!¡± ¡°Since you want to be humiliated, allow me to show you the gap between your Saint Genesis Peak and my Sword Cometh Peak!¡± Rumble! Alarmingly powerful Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body. Though he said so, Zhong Yun did not show any mercy. His hands came together, before abruptly pulling away as a dark blue sword took shape between his palms, pulsing with an aura of endless sharpness. ¡°Blue Moon Shadow Sword!¡± With a stern shout, the blue sword zipped forth, transforming into a blur of blue as it shot towards Zhou Yuan at a speed that was nearly impossible to detect with the naked eye. As sword light flashed past, even space itself was split apart. This was essentially a killing move. Blue sword light rapidly expanded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils. However, he remained expressionless as jade light emerged from his skin, while silver light blossomed in his bones. Genesis Qi rushed through his meridian channels. Rumble! Five fingers tightly clenched into a fist as a punch was thrown. Snow-white brush hairs flew out from his sleeves and wrapped around his fist like a gauntlet that was rapidly dyed black... Genesis Breaker! Fist and sword light collided. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Zhong Yun¡¯s sinister voice sounded. Crack! However, his pupils abruptly shrank the moment the words left his mouth as horror rapidly flooded them. Because he had just seen his blue sword light being shattered by the punch! ¡°How can this be?!¡± A terrified voice escaped from his mouth. He was unable to believe that his full power attack would be shattered by Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch. The hairs on Zhong Yun¡¯s body stood on ends as unease crept up within him. Zhou Yuan did not seem to be as weak as he had imagined. Swish! His figure rapidly darted backwards in an attempt to avoid the attack. The moment his body moved, however, he saw a fist hurtling through the air, the five fingers opening to grab his throat like an eagle¡¯s claw. Zhou Yuan slowly lifted his head, expressionless as he looked at the raised Zhong Yun and offhandedly said, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be very strong, so why are you so boastful?¡± The Saint Genesis Peak disciples burst into cheers upon seeing Zhou Yuan display his amazing abilities and capture Zhong Yun in a single move. They finally felt a little better after being depressed for so many days. The ashen-faced Zhong Yun struggled as he sternly croaked, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better believe me when I saw Sword Cometh Peak will declare war on you guys if you touch me!¡± The Sword Cometh Peak disciples behind him also yelled, ¡°Release senior brother Zhong Yun or our Sword Cometh Peak will crush you guys!¡± The cheering from the Saint Genesis Peak disciples immediately stopped, evidently feeling the pressure from Sword Cometh Peak. Ridicule flowed out in Zhong Yun¡¯s eyes when he saw this. He viciously glared at Zhou Yuan and shouted, ¡°Release me!¡± With Sword Cometh Peak behind him, he absolutely did not believe that Zhou Yuan dared to try anything. *Slap*! However, the words had barely left his mouth when a palm viciously swung towards him, and slapped him in the face, causing blood to drip from the corner of his mouth. Zhou Yuan withdrew his hand, casually swinging it, as he frowned and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so noisy.¡± Zhong Yun was stunned. His face twisted a split second later as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and howled, ¡°You dare to hit me?!¡± Thud! The reply he received was a punch that could split a mountain. A sonic boom was heard as a fist slammed into Zhong Yun¡¯s chest and sent him flying. He smashed into several cliffs, before being buried by the falling boulders. The entire island and the area around it was completely silent. Everyone stared in disbelief at this scene, especially the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined that Zhou Yuan would be so bold as to pummel Zhong Yun without the slightest shred of hesitation... The Saint Genesis Peak disciples swallowed repeatedly, likewise awed by Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions. While they were in awe, a boiling sensation began to flow inside of them. Zhou Yuan had already used his actions to show that he would not yield in the face of Sword Cometh Peak. Zhou Yuan tilted his head slightly, looking towards Zhou Tai and the rest of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples as he said, ¡°Are you guys afraid?¡± The numerous disciples looked at each other. In the end, someone gritted his teeth and said, ¡°We¡¯re not afraid of Sword Cometh Peak as long as we have you, chief disciple!¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled, before pointing towards the remaining Sword Cometh Peak disciples. ¡°In that case, make sure none of them leave this place.¡± ¡°From now on¡­¡± ¡°Saint Genesis Peak shall declare war on Sword Cometh Peak.¡± As Zhou Yuan¡¯s final word faded, all of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples felt the blood in their bodies begin to boil. Chapter 518 Sword Cometh Peak’s Rage As Zhou Yuan¡¯s declaration of war sounded, fear rose on the faces of the nearby Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Although they currently had the absolute advantage in numbers, Zhou Yuan¡¯s presence made them palpitate in terror. Especially after seeing Zhong Yun being blasted away by a single punch from Zhou Yuan. ¡°Quick! Retreat!¡± ¡°Go back and report this to the two Chosens and the chief disciple!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Nearly a thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples hurriedly fled. ¡°Stop them!¡± Shouted Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan in unison. The several hundred Genesis Peak disciples released angry roars, as if spitting out all of the sullenness from earlier. Though they felt Saint Genesis Peak declaring war on Sword Cometh Peak was akin to smashing a rock with an egg, they were unafraid. As long as chief disciple Zhou Yuan did not back down, they would naturally follow his lead. Several hundred disciples dashed in all directions, pouncing at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. The sky was a chaotic mess for a time. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned towards the nearby Tuntun, glaring at it as he said, ¡°Are you still not going to help, if you keep skiving, I¡¯ll starve you for a few days!¡± Although he had left Tuntun behind, he had clearly underestimated the little fellow. Without him and Yaoyao around, Zhou Tai and the rest were completely incapable of making it move. Even when it did take action, it would do so in the laziest of manners. If not, the likes of Zhong Yun and the rest would not have dared to come so near. Only after being threatened by Zhou Yuan, did Tuntun finally release a roar. It shot Zhou Yuan an dissatisfied look, before transforming into a flash of scarlet light as it shot into the midst of the thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples. When it passed by, the leaderless disciples were rapidly defeated one after another. As such, nearly ninety percent of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were captured in time it took to burn half an incense stick, only a few of the quicker and luckier ones able to escape. Zhou Yuan only gave orders, and did not participate in the action, because he knew that Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s morale was currently very low and a battle like this was exactly what they needed to recover. On the island, numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples were keeping watch over the captured Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Although the former had sustained some injuries, all of them were clearly rather excited, a complete contrast from the depressing mood they were in earlier. Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan sighed deeply when they saw this. A chief disciples was indeed the pillar of support for the many disciples. When Zhou Yuan was absent, it had been impossible for them to cheer up the disciples no matter how hard they tried. And now, the morale began to rise once more the moment he appeared. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, how shall we deal with them?¡± Asked Zhou Tai. Zhou Yuan cast a glance at the prisoners and said, ¡°Take away their Genesis essence and then break their seals to eliminate them.¡± Every disciple would be branded with a seal when they entered the Genesis reservoir. The seal would protect them once from a fatal attack, but also send them out of the reservoir once activated. Zhou Tai was a little alarmed by this, because it would be akin to completely falling out with Sword Cometh Peak. Zhou Yuan knew what the former was thinking and calmly said, ¡°Sword Cometh Peak has already left us no choice. Since this is the case, we¡¯ll openly do battle with them.¡± Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan and Lu Yan looked at each other as they gritted their teeth and nodded. Sword Cometh Peak had indeed made things clear, and would not relent so easily. Since the other party wasn¡¯t going to show any mercy, they did not need to be polite either. Hence, the Zhou Tai trio turned around and forcefully nodded at the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples. In the next instant, blast after blast of Genesis Qi exploded. The angry curses from the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were completely useless as they were swept up one after another by rays of light and thrown out of the reservoir. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the area, before he looked at the excited Saint Genesis Peak disciples and slowly said, ¡°We¡¯ve caused quite a huge loss to Sword Cometh Peak, so they¡¯ll most likely send all their forces to surround and wipe us out next.¡± The numerous disciples fell silent, but their burning gazes remained fixed on Zhou Yuan. ¡°Are you guys afraid?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. The disciples looked at each other as they broke into grins and said, ¡°We¡¯re basically akin to a broken jar anyways, and have nothing to lose. Worst comes to worst, we¡¯ll give up on this Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± They had already figured things out. Rather than repeated giving in at every corner, and ending up with barely anything, why not happily duke it out instead. At least it¡¯ll tell that other peaks that though Saint Genesis Peak was weak, they were not easy targets! A sliver of gratification flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he nodded. ¡°Since you¡¯re afraid, let¡¯s have a real brawl with Sword Cometh Peak this time¡­¡± ¡­ On the giant island that was currently Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s base of operations. Baili Che¡¯s face filled with shock when he saw the hundred miserably escaping Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Soon after, fire began spouting from his eyes as he angrily demanded, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where¡¯s Zhong Yun?!¡± A disciple wailed, ¡°Chief disciple, it¡¯s Zhou Yuan. Senior brother Zhong Yun was injured by him, while the other senior brothers were eliminated from the ceremony!¡± Baili Che¡¯s complexion turned ashen as he suddenly punched at the boulder beside him, instantly shattering it. Losing several hundred disciples all of a sudden was a very substantial loss! ¡°What the hell was Zhong Yun doing?! I only asked him to watch Saint Genesis Peak, so why did he go so close?!¡± Baili Che was furious. ¡°Although Saint Genesis Peak is weak, they still have Zhou Xiaoyao, Zhou Yuan and that mysterious little creature. Why did Zhong Yun dare to approach with a mere thousand disciples?¡± The disciple answered, ¡°Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao did not show themselves for several days. Senior brother Zhong Yun suspected there was something amiss and thus took the risk to investigate. In hindsight, this was likely all part of Zhou Yuan¡¯s scheme!¡± Baili Che¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°How vicious of him!¡° The fact that Zhou Yuan had shown no hesitation in order the elimination of their Sword Cometh Peak disciples showed that things were already beyond reconcilable. Numerous Sword Cometh Peak disciples were rushing over at this moment, anger clearly stirring within them due to hearing the news. ¡°How dare he!¡± ¡°Saint Genesis Peak is way too arrogant, to think that they even dare to eliminate our Sword Cometh Peak disciples!¡± ¡°We need to teach them a proper lesson!¡± ¡°Right, we can no longer tolerate their actions!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The Sword Cometh Peak disciples were filled with rage. Due to Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s rise in power over the past few years, many disciples had developed dominant characters, and were naturally unable to accept that even Saint Genesis Peak dared to commit such an act against them. The disciples that had escaped gritted their teeth and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan also left a message for us. He said that Saint Genesis Peak has declared war on our Sword Cometh Peak!¡± *Uproar*! These words made all of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples burst out into angry laughter. A mere Saint Genesis Peak with their few hundred disciples actually dared to declare war? This was the joke of the century! Baili Che was also laughing. Soon after, he chillingly said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan really does not know what¡¯s good for him.¡± ¡°I originally wanted to give them a little more time, but from the looks of it, since they¡¯re spitting at our kind gesture, don¡¯t blame us for not leaving them any dignity!¡± He took in a deep breath as a piercing look rose in his eyes. ¡°Send out the signal to notify the two Chosens and the other teams out hunting Genesis essence.¡± ¡°Since Saint Genesis Peak dares to declare war on us¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll kick them out of the reservoir!¡± Towards the end, Baili Che¡¯s voice was already shaking with murder. Chapter 519 Sword Cometh Peak’s Army Barely any time had passed since Baili Che sent out the signal, before teams of Sword Cometh Peak disciples began to endlessly stream in from all directions. News that nearly a thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples had been eliminated by Saint Genesis Peak soon spread, causing the entire island to be filled with angry presences for a time. No one had expected the very same Saint Genesis Peak that they had collected a protection fee from last year, to actually dare to declare war on them. Just how arrogant was this? Did Zhou Yuan really believe defeating Yuan Hong and obtaining the chief disciple position would put them on the same level as Sword Cometh Peak? All of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were calling for Saint Genesis Peak to pay a painful price for their chief disciple¡¯s arrogance. Under this atmosphere, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu also returned with their teams. Atop a certain mountain on the giant island. Zhao Zhu rested his arm on the pummel of the sword hanging from his waist, while wearing a mocking smile on his face. Beside him, an expressionless Kong Sheng was gazing at the numerous angry Sword Cometh Peak disciples. ¡°This junior brother Zhou Yuan of ours¡­ I don¡¯t know about his ability, but his balls are likely the largest in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Said Zhao Zhu with a smile, though his tone was filled with ridicule. Kong Sheng calmly said, ¡°Losing nearly a thousand disciples all at once will lower our Genesis essence collecting substantially.¡± He paused for a moment, before he said with a pause between each word, ¡°Zhou Yuan really does not understand the rules.¡± In his view, Zhou Yuan should never have eliminated the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. The former could have instead used them as hostages to secure certain conditions. Although all of it would ultimately be taken back with interest. ¡°He¡¯s truly an ignorant fool.¡± Zhao Zhu stabbed the tip of his sword into the ground as he smiled. His smile gave off an aura of extreme danger. ¡°Now that they¡¯ve declared war on our Sword Cometh Peak¡­ what should we do?¡± Kong Sheng turned his head to look at Baili Che and said, ¡°Gather the disciples and consolidate our forces. Since they dare to declare war on us, we¡¯ll show them just how laughable they are.¡± ¡°I will make Zhou Yuan the biggest joke in this Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± His voice remained calm till the end, but everyone could feel the chillingly icy aura flowing within it. It made Zhao Zhu and Baili Che jump a little in fear. They knew that Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s number one Chosen had finally been angered by the foolish Zhou Yuan. ¡­ The gathering Sword Cometh Peak disciples naturally caused quite a disturbance that was quickly sensed by the other peaks. They reacted immediately by sending out disciples to scout for information. Every single one of the other five peaks were shocked when they heard the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak had declared war on Sword Cometh Peak. ¡°Is Zhou Yuan crazy?¡± ¡°What chance do those few hundred disciples possibly have against Sword Cometh Peak?¡± ¡°Even though there¡¯s Zhou Xiaoyao, what can a single person possibly do to change the situation?¡± ¡°Looks like Saint Genesis Peak intends on throwing it all away¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The disciples from the various peaks shook their heads and sighed. After all, no one had expected the new chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak to be so unyielding. However, no matter how unyielding he was, he should have first looked at the difference in strength between them. Since both sides were obviously not on the same level, Zhou Yuan was essentially asking for trouble. On Snow Lotus Peak¡¯s island, Li Qingchan¡¯s eyebrows knitted together when she heard the news as she muttered, ¡°What is Zhou Yuan doing?¡± Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s overall strength was far lower than Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s. If they were to clash directly, it would most certainly be akin to smashing a rock with an egg. Even Yaoyao and Tuntun would only be able to hold off Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu, while the rest of the Sword Cometh Peak would instantly crush Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s disciples... She could not wrap her head around why Zhou Yuan would declare war like this. Wasn¡¯t it better to drag for time while Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s attention was somewhere else¡­ Sword Cometh Peak was now so angry that they had even thrown aside gathering Genesis essence, and were clearly intent on finishing off Saint Genesis Peak first. Things were obviously going to become very dangerous for Saint Genesis Peak in the face of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s entire army. Li Qingchan was not the only Chosen who was paying attention to this matter, as the Chosens from the other peaks had also cast their gazes over. Of course, they were more interested in Zhou Xiaoyao. She was after all the most mysterious existence in the Cangxuan Sect. When the two peaks clashed, Kong Sheng would definitely exchange blows with her, allowing them an opportunity to gauge her abilities. As such, while the Sword Cometh Peak army was heading out, the other peaks also sent out some disciples to observe... The imminent clash of the two peaks quickly became the focal point of the Genesis reservoir ceremony. ¡­ On Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s island. Zhou Yuan was seated on a boulder by the sea, while Yaoyao stood behind him carrying Tuntun. A scout hurriedly flew over as his voice rang out, ¡°Chief disciple, the Sword Cometh Peak disciples have already assembled and can come at us at any time!¡± The other disciples began to stir restlessly upon hearing this, but slowly calmed down when they saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm expression. Zhou Yuan nodded, acknowledging the message, before he turned towards the other disciples and said, ¡°Although we are not as strong as Sword Cometh Peak, we¡¯ll at least show the other peaks that our bones are very hard.¡± ¡°If they want to bite us, they¡¯ll have to pay the price.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice was tinged with a wolf-like viciousness. The other disciples nodded as fierce looks appeared in their eyes. Since there was no way out, they no longer had any reason to be intimidated by Sword Cometh Peak. In any case, this was already the worst possible situation. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, go ahead and instruct us how we should fight. Although we¡¯ll soon be eliminated, we¡¯ll at least drag some of them along with us.¡± Zhou Tai gritted his teeth. He was ready to go down fighting. Zhang Yan, Lu Yan and the rest nodded in agreement, revealing their ferocity as they rubbed their palms together. Zhou Yuan merely chuckled when he saw this. He knew that with the exception of himself and Yaoyao, even Zhou Tai and the others did not feel that they had any chance of winning. ¡°Let¡¯s reorganize first. When Sword Cometh Peak appears, follow my commands.¡± He raised his head and gazed at the horizon, where dark clouds seemed to be gathering. A storm was brewing. Time quietly flowed. As the atmosphere on the island grew increasingly tense, all of the disciples calibrated their conditions to ensure that they would be in peak state when the fighting began. At a certain moment The surrounding Genesis Qi stealthily began to boil. Seated on a rock, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and calmly said, ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± Every disciple¡¯s expression changed slightly as they raised their heads and peered into the distance. Countless glowing figures began to appear at the edge of the sea, seemingly covering the sky as they flew towards the island. This astonishing scene was accompanied by a terrifying pressure. The sea began to churn as towering waves rose. Sword Cometh Peak was here. Chapter 520 Sword Cometh Peak Besieges the Island On the Saint Genesis Peak island. Countless glowing figures swarmed towards the island from the east, practically blotting out the sky with their vast numbers. The Genesis Qi undulations that pulsed from each figure caused the sea below to churn violently. Nearly ten thousand figures ultimately came to a stop some distance from the island, as countless piercing gazes shot towards the island, creating an alarming pressure. On the island, the few hundred Saint Genesis Peak disciples nervously gazed at the great army. The other side¡¯s numbers were far too great, making it feel as if there was no end to them at a glance. Cold sweat emerged on everyone¡¯s palms. When had the declining Saint Genesis Peak ever seen such a line-up? Fortunately for them, Zhou Yuan was standing on a boulder in front of everyone, his calm face seemingly possessing a unique power that gradually calmed the hearts of the flustered disciples. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked towards the crazy number of Sword Cometh Peak disciples. He could also see a few figures even further away, who were most likely disciples from the other peaks that had come to observe. While Zhou Yuan swept his gaze across the place, three figures flew out from the giant army of disciples and stopped some distance in front of them. It was Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che. Kong Sheng cast his indifferent gaze over, pausing on Zhou Yuan for a moment, before looking towards Yaoyao, who was a little further behind. It was obvious that he felt Zhou Yuan was not worthy of his attention. If not for Yaoyao¡¯s existence, Saint Genesis Peak would be nothing in his eyes. Kong Sheng shot a glance at Baili Che, indicating that the former should step forward. Zhou Yuan was merely a chief disciples, and did not have the qualifications to speak to him. Baili Che immediately understood and slowly stepped forward. His piercing gaze looked towards the guarded Saint Genesis Peak disciples as a thunderous voice boomed, ¡°I¡¯ll ask one last time. Do you Saint Genesis Peak disciples really intend on declaring war on my Sword Cometh Peak?¡± Bzz! The Genesis Qi in all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples abruptly began to circulate at this moment. Countless pillars of aggressive Genesis Qi dashed into the sky, tearing apart the clouds. An intimidating pressure engulfed the island, causing the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples to feel difficulty breathing as their expressions turned exceptionally grave. They finally had a taste of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s strength. As such, the island turned stiflingly silent. The corners of Baili Che¡¯s mouth raised a little as he nonchalantly said, ¡°Sword Cometh Peak does not take advantage of others, nor wishes to bully weaklings. But since someone has done something foolish, this person will naturally have to pay the price.¡± ¡°I feel that this price should be borne by the one who instigated this matter on his own, and not other Saint Genesis Peak disciples.¡± He softly chuckled, before he continued, ¡°If you guys feel the same, you only need to take two steps back. We will not only let you off, but even give you guys some Genesis essence to complete Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± ¡°Of course¡­ we¡¯ll require those few ringer leaders to give Sword Cometh Peak an explanation.¡± The disciples from the other peaks could not help but grin when they heard Baili Che¡¯s words. What an underhanded tactic. In this situation, if the Saint Genesis Peak disciples gave in the the pressure and stepped back, wouldn¡¯t that mean that they were handing over their chief disciple Zhou Yuan? This would undoubtedly make Zhou Yuan a huge laughing stock. How big of a failure would a chief disciple be if he was unable to win over his fellow disciples and end up being sold off by them instead? No one would be thick skinned enough to continue being chief disciples if this happened to them. Baili Che¡¯s voice also landed in the ears of the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples, causing them to look at each other. However, none of them took even a single step back. Somewhere at front, Zhou Tai laughed icily and said, ¡°Baili Che, stop trying these petty tricks. We¡¯ll gladly face whatever you¡¯re going to throw at us!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Do you think we¡¯re afraid of you guys!¡± ¡°Worst comes to worst, we¡¯ll just give up on this Genesis reservoir ceremony!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The other disciples shouted one after another. Baili Che was truly vicious. To think that he would attempt such a tactic to divide them. Baili Che raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised as he glanced at Zhou Yuan. The former had not expected the latter to already possess such popularity in Saint Genesis Peak. Baili Che shook his head and said, ¡°Since you refuse our generous offer, don¡¯t blame us later on.¡± With a wave of his hand, two thousand disciples began to spread out in a fan formation, before advancing towards the island. They did not stupidly charge forward because of Yaoyao. The latter was after all a master of Genesis Runes, and could have easily set up several traps on the island. Blindly charging in would only result in unnecessary losses. The disciples from the other peaks sighed when they saw this. Baili Che was no simpleton. He showed no impatience, and instead chose to push forward at a safe and steady pace. With such a huge advantage on Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s side, Saint Genesis Peak was basically helpless. The Saint Genesis Peak disciples began to panic somewhat as they watched the two thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples slowly approach, before gaze after gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan. They were not the only ones. Even the disciples from the other peaks were now closely observing Zhou Yuan, hoping to find out how the new chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak was going to deal with Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s encirclement. In fact, even sect master Qing Yang, the five peak masters and the elders of the various peaks had cast their attention towards this location. In the sky east of the island, two thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples slowly approached. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he watched this scene. He then turned towards the Saint Genesis Peak disciples and slowly said, ¡°Do you guys trust me?¡± The disciples looked at each other, before nodding. ¡°Good.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and said, ¡°Everyone prepare to withdraw in the southwest direction. We¡¯re leaving this place.¡± The disciples that were already prepared for their last stand were stunned as they stared at Zhou Yuan in shock. Running away? What use was running at this juncture? It would only make them a bigger joke in the eyes of the other peaks. Lu Yan gently gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Are we still going to flee? We can¡¯t escape them.¡± If not for Zhou Yuan¡¯s past accomplishments, she would have begun to feel that he was a little too cowardly. Zhou Yuan looked at them and said in a low voice, ¡°If you guys trust me, follow my orders. If the outcome of the ceremony is unsatisfactory, I will give up my position as chief disciple.¡± The disciples fell silent. In the end, their figures began to rise into the air. ¡°Yaoyao, you lead them while I cover our backs.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Yaoyao. The latter faintly nodded as she rose into the air with Tuntun, taking the lead as she flew in the southwest direction. Zhou Tai, Lu Yan, Zhang Yan and the rest immediately followed. *Uproar*! Their movements were immediately seen by the countless watching gazes, causing an uproar to sweep across the area. No one had expected this. Saint Genesis Peak was running again at this juncture? Did they think they would be able to escape? Sword Cometh Peak had only allowed them to flee previously because the former wanted to concentrate on collecting Genesis essence. But this time, Sword Cometh Peak was clearly focused on finishing off Saint Genesis Peak. Running away was completely useless in this situation. The disciples from the other peaks secretly shook their heads, clearly quite disappointed by this turn of events. They had thought Zhou Yuan¡¯s calmness stemmed from some kind of trump card. Who could have expected that he would choose to retreat in the end? Baili Che was also stunned by the sight of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples abandoning the island and fleeing. He quickly looked towards Kong Sheng, and saw the latter seem to breath a small sigh of relief. Kong Sheng calmly said, ¡°I had originally thought they may have set up some kind of trap on the island. But it appears that I was worrying for nothing.¡± Although he did not fear any traps set by the other party, it would inevitably lead to losses on their side. Since the other side was abandoning the island, there was most likely no problem with it. In that case, there was no longer any need for him to be wary. Baili Che grinned. An eerily chilling look filled his eyes as he waved his hand and shouted in a thunderous voice. ¡°Hear my command Sword Cometh Peak disciples! Chase them at full force. Eliminate every single one of them from the ceremony!¡± Rumble! Countless Sword Cometh Peak disciples yelled as they surged forward. On the island, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned frosty as he watched the Sword Cometh Peak disciples shoot over at full speed. He did not utter a single word as Genesis Qi rose from under his feet, launching him into the air to catch up to the retreating Saint Genesis Peak disciples. ¡°Come Sword Cometh Peak¡­¡± ¡°I hope this giant present will not disappoint you guys¡­¡± Chapter 521 Boundary Open Rumble! Several hundred glowing figures zipped across the sky above the endless waters, accompanied by muffled rumbling as the surging Genesis Qi rippled the fabric of space, the resultant discharge leaving long trails on the sea below. These figures were naturally the Saint Genesis Peak disciples. They were currently advancing at full speed, while occasionally casting worried gazes behind them with apprehensive looks on their faces. Boom! Far behind them, the clouds were ripped apart as a swarm of glowing figures appeared, practically blotting out the sky. Sharp and powerful Genesis Qi violently split apart the waters, making them churn for a long time before returning to calmness. These were the pursuing troops of Sword Cometh Peak. They closely followed the Saint Genesis Peak group, slowly but surely catching up inch by inch. From the looks of it, they were obviously not going to stop until every single Saint Genesis Peak disciple was eliminated from the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che were located at the front of the giant army, sneering expressions in their eyes as they watched the fleeing Saint Genesis Peak disciples. In their eyes, this was a silly game of a cat toying with a mouse. All the accumulated resentment of Sword Cometh Peak would only be gone once they had their fill of fun. ¡°Keep following them. I want to make them unable to catch even a single moment of respite.¡± ¡°Also, make sure to be on alert the moment they near any of the islands.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s calm voice was transmitted into every disciple¡¯s ears. He was clearly maintaining his vigilance due to Yaoyao¡¯s existence. The latter was after a master of Genesis Runes, and they could not omit the possibility of her leaving Genesis Rune traps on the islands. To have become a Chosen of Sword Cometh Peak, Kong Sheng was clearly no ordinary individual. As such, the two groups sped across the air above the Genesis reservoir. Even further behind, the scouts from the various peaks could not help but sigh in pity as they watched the miserably fleeing Saint Genesis Peak, feeling that Sword Cometh Peak was indeed a little too much. Time swiftly flowed as the chase continued. After an incense stick of time, the Saint Genesis Peak disciples began to falter, their speeds slowing as stragglers appeared. Behind them, the Sword Cometh Peak disciples burst out into laughter, as amusement filled their eyes. They knew that when Saint Genesis Peak finally reached their limits, this farce of a chase would finally be over. When that happened, they would be able to do whatever they wanted to Saint Genesis Peak. As Zhou Tai looked at the many slowing disciples, he suddenly said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you and junior sister Xiaoyao should go ahead. As long as you two are around, Sword Cometh Peak will never be at ease!¡± He knew that they would be chased to exhaustion by Sword Cometh Peak if this continued. ¡°That¡¯s right, you two leave first. We¡¯ll stay behind and duke it out with them!¡± Lu Yan also gritted her teeth. Rather than fleeing in this pathetic and sullen manner, she preferred to use her Genesis Qi in one last stand. ¡°We¡¯ll fight them till the last man!" The other disciples also cried out, clearly at the limits of their patience. Zhou Yuan''s figure gradually slowed down. He glanced at the group and waved his hand, causing them to slowly come to a stop in the air. When they stopped, the Sword Cometh Peak army behind them immediately rushed forward, before spreading out like a pair of wings to create a giant encirclement around the Saint Genesis Peak disciples. There was no longer any escape. Baili Che sent a playful gaze at the ugly looking Saint Genesis peak disciples and unhurriedly said, "Oh? Not running anymore?" "My earlier offer is still valid. If you hang over Zhou Yuan, Sword Cometh Peak will let the rest of you off." Baili Che unhurriedly said, his intent extremely disgusting and evil. ¡°Pui!¡± However, his words were met by spitting noises from the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples. Sword Cometh Peak had already forced them into such a miserable situation. They would only be fools if they were to believe the other party''s words. Moreover, losing out on the Genesis reservoir ceremony was nothing compared to handing over Zhou Yuan. If they handed him over, it would leave an irredeemable black mark on both Zhou Yuan and Saint Genesis Peak. ¡°How regretful.¡± Baili Che softly chuckled, before turning towards Zhou Yuan with a faint smile. ¡°Ordinary disciples may not understand the big picture, but chief disciples Zhou Yuan should, right? Why don¡¯t you voluntarily admit your mistake. It may create a way out for some of your disciples.¡± Zhou Yuan replied in a firm, unwavering voice, ¡°Baili Che, it may not be good to celebrate too early.¡± Baili Che did not respond to this remark. The iciness in his smile intensified as he sighed and said, ¡°You really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you.¡± ¡°Since you can¡¯t appreciate my kindness, don¡¯t blame anyone else for what happens next.¡± As the final word left his lips, Genesis Qi began to surge in the bodies of all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. A single command was all that separated them from moving. Far away, the scouts from the various peaks sighed as they watched. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as his gaze scanned the slowly shrinking encirclement. He then turned his head, meeting Yaoyao¡¯s gaze as both of them nodded. Next, they slowly closed their eyes, as their Spirits began to stir between their brows. In the distance, Kong Sheng¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank when he saw this as a sense of unease rose within him. He immediately shouted in a commanding voice, ¡°Everyone attack, and kick them out of the ceremony!¡± Rumble! Countless Sword Cometh Peak disciples immediately charged forward, torrents of Genesis Qi whipping through the air to blast at the Saint Genesis Peak disciples. ¡°To the last man!¡± The eyes of all the Saint Genesis Peak disciples turned red. Anyone would be filled with anger and frustration after being pushed into such a corner. Even if they were not Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s match, they would at least try and drag a few people along when they were eliminated. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan!¡± Zhou Tai and the rest looked towards Zhou Yuan, waiting for his order to strike. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly opened at this moment. He gazed at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples surging towards them, before looking towards the angry and nervous Saint Genesis Peak disciples. ¡°I said earlier that as long as you guys placed your faith in me, it will not be so easy for Sword Cometh Peak to kick us out¡­¡± ¡°Next, we¡¯ll present this giant gift to Sword Cometh Peak.¡± As the final word left his mouth, his hands suddenly formed a seal as Spirit power exploded from between his brows. Behind him, an extremely powerful burst of Spirit power also erupted from Yaoyao. Invisible ripples unfurled, enveloping the surrounding area. Rumble! Countless disciples watched in astonishment as countless strings of light suddenly shot out from the sky and sea. These light threads swiftly connected, forming numerous mysterious Genesis Runes. A screen of light spread at an alarming speed, completely enveloping the entire area. ¡°Not good! It¡¯s a boundary!¡± Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che¡¯s expressions changed. What horrified them the most were the spreading undulations that made even their hearts shiver. ¡°We¡¯ve fallen into their trap!¡± The same thought flashed in the trio¡¯s minds. They never imagined that Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao would be able to set up a boundary even without an island. How much skill did it take to achieve such a feat? However, before they could react, Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°Heaven Disorientating Boundary, open!¡± As his voice echoed, countless gazes watched in shock as mist rapidly rose from the surface of the sea. It felt as if they had now been isolated from the rest of the world as the scenery around them changed. While the world changed around them, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes met Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che¡¯s, as an icy smile rose from the corners of the former¡¯s lips. The grand feast they had prepared for Sword Cometh Peak was finally about to begin. Chapter 522 Heaven Disorientating Boundary Displays its Power Gurgle! An enormous boundary enveloped the land. The world spun inside, seemingly transforming into the primal chaos before creation, while everyone lost all sense of time and space. AHH! AHH! Countless shrieks could be heard as the Sword Cometh Peak disciples fell like birds with broken wings from the sky, plunging one after another into the sea below. They struggled in the water, unable to rise back into the air no matter how hard they tried, always falling back into the sea as if some mysterious power was binding them to it. In fact, even Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che¡¯s figures were sinking. However, they fell at a much slower speed due to their strong Genesis Qi foundations. Even so, it was only a matter of time before they too were submerged into the misty waters. This scene was unbelievably strange. The scouts from the various peaks were stupefied as they watched, clearly shocked by the sudden turn of events. It was quite a sight to behold. Nearly ten thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples had been trapped! The surface of the sea seemed to boil at this moment. ¡°It¡¯s the boundary!¡± ¡°What a powerful Genesis Rune boundary! It must have been insane to set it up!¡± ¡°So this is Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao. They weren¡¯t escaping but baiting Sword Cometh Peak. They must have set up this boundary in advance, and were only waiting for Sword Cometh Peak to fall into its grasp!¡± ¡°What boundary is this? I can¡¯t believe that it can trap so many Sword Cometh Peak disciples! Even Ye Ge of Spirit Rune Peak can¡¯t set up such a boundary!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The scouts gasped in shock at this moment, They had originally been fully convinced that Saint Genesis Peak was going to be crushed by Sword Cometh a split second later, but who could have imagined such a turn of events in the blink of an eye! They were not the only ones. Even Zhou Tai, and the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples, who were readying themselves for one final stand, had their mouths wide open as they stared at the scene before them. ¡°How¡­ how did this happen?¡± Zhou Tai swallowed several times as he looked towards Zhou Yuan in disbelief. Zhou Yuan grinned and answered, ¡°This is what we were preparing.¡± Lu Yan also blankly stared at Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°So you guys were missing from the island previously, because you came here to set up a boundary?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°If we constructed the boundary on the island, the other side would have been very wary. Only by placing it on the vast sea would manage to catch all of them.¡± He grinned at the dumbstruck group, before continuing, ¡°I didn¡¯t divulge any information due to the importance of this matter. I hope everyone does not blame me too much.¡± Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the rest numbly shook their heads. The sight before their eyes had already turned their brains to mush, and they had completely no idea of what they should do now. They had already resolved themselves to fight till the end against Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s overwhelming might. Who could have expected that the situation would suddenly change so drastically. While the earth-shaking change was occurring in this region of the sea, outside the Genesis reservoir, sect master Qing Yan, the five peak masters and the many elders also saw what had happened. ¡°Is that the Heaven Disorientating Boundary?¡± Spirit Rune Peak master Bai Mei was the first to cry out in surprise, his voice clearly a little shaky. This boundary was no stranger to him, because it was part of Spirit Rune Hall¡¯s collection. However, it was extremely complex and difficult to set up. In the entire Spirit Rune Peak, even Ye Ge would be hard pressed to successfully construct it. Peak master Bai Mei never expected that it would be set up by Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. ¡°What genius. They¡¯ve borrowed the power of the Genesis reservoir by linking up the boundary and the sea. This greatly expanded the scale of the boundary, making it capable of trapping ten thousand people.¡± He praised out loud. Strange expressions were revealed on the other peak masters¡¯ faces, before they cast a sideway glance at the expressionless peak master Ling Jun. The entire Cangxuan Sect knew that Sword Cometh Peak was filled with resentment towards Saint Genesis Peak, and were most certainly going to use the latter to release all of these negative feelings during the Genesis reservoir ceremony. With regards to this situation, sect master Qing Yang had tried to mediate, in hopes that Sword Cometh Peak would not bully Saint Genesis Peak too much, but peak master Ling Jun given the excuse that these were the intentions of the disciples, it would not be appropriate for him to interfere. But all the other peak masters knew that peak master Ling Jun was likewise a little sore over this matter, and hoped to punish Saint Genesis Peak. As such, the other peak masters had been pitying Saint Genesis Peak somewhat. They knew that even with Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, it was basically impossible for Saint Genesis Peak to put up a fight against Sword Cometh Peak. Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s foundations were just far too weak after all. How could a mere few hundred disciples possibly match the ten thousand strong Sword Cometh Peak? However, who could have foreseen that Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao would sneak out while the rest of the disciples were hiding away on their island, and set up a boundary of this scale without anyone noticing. A boundary which had currently trapped all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. With regards to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s tactics, even sect master Qing Yang and the rest were a little impressed. These two little ones had extraordinary ambition and daringness. ¡°It is indeed a wonderful boundary, but they may have bitten off more than they can chew.¡± Peak master Ling Jun calmly said, ¡°They¡¯ve sacrificed power in order to trap all of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. The ordinary disciples may be powerless, but some of the elite disciples will soon find an opportunity to break free from the boundary. When that happens, they only need to exert a little force from the outside to destroy the boundary.¡± Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s discernment abilities were clearly top tier, instantly finding the boundary¡¯s weakness at a single glance. ¡°With so little time, how many Sword Cometh Peak disciples can those few hundred Saint Genesis Peak disciples possibly eliminate?¡± ¡°Therefore, this boundary will only delay the inevitable, and is no cause for concern.¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the rest did not refute. They had likewise made the same observation. The boundary might work on the ordinary disciples, but would not be very effective against the elite disciples. If Zhou Yuan and the others did not have any follow-up plans, the situation would most likely develop as peak master Ling Jun had said. This amazing boundary was merely delaying the inevitable. In the sky distorted by the boundary, Zhou Yuan looked towards the stunned Zhou Tai and gang, as he smiled and said, ¡°The boundary can only trap the ordinary disciples. Kong Sheng and the rest will soon break free.¡± Zhou Tai and the rest jerked back to their senses as they mumbled, ¡°Although the Sword Cometh Peak disciples have been trapped, the few of us will at most be able to eliminate only a thousand of them within a short period of time.¡± They were feeling rather ashamed. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao had created such a good chance for them, but they were incapable of achieving decisive advantage due to their lack of power. Zhou Yuan merely smiled when he heard this. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you guys to worry. Leave it to me.¡± Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the rest cast doubtful glances at Zhou Yuan. They had sensed that the boundary only had trapping capabilities, and lacked any form of powerful offensive abilities. Even if Zhou Yuan were to personally take action, how many people could he possibly eliminate by himself? Zhou Yuan did not explain. He merely exchanged a look with Yaoyao, as the latter nodded and said, ¡°Go, I will stabilize the boundary.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. With a deep breath, his figure abruptly descended, plunging into the Genesis reservoir with a splash. He raised his head and saw that the area within a several thousand mile radius had been divided into little individual pockets by the boundary. In every pocket, a struggling figure could be seen. Iciness surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The main act was finally going to begin! Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 523 Can’t Escape Countless Sword Cometh Peak disciples were struggling on the surface of the boiling sea. However, after the initial panic was over, more and more people began to calm down. They seated themselves in a cross-legged position, and began to probe for any vulnerabilities. In fact, Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu, Baili Che and several of the stronger disciples had already begun to attack the boundary, causing the space around them to ripple. From the looks of it, they should be able to force their way out. High up in the sky, the scouts from the various peaks slowly came back to their senses when they saw this. They had likewise realized that though the boundary was enormous, it lacked offensive capabilities... ¡°It¡¯s likely some kind of trapping boundary.¡± ¡°Though it¡¯s humongous, it¡¯s power is scattered because there are too many Sword Cometh Peak disciples. At this rate, Kong Sheng and the others will soon break free.¡± ¡°What a pity. Saint Genesis Peak has far too little people on their side. Even if all them attacked, they won¡¯t be able to eliminate enough Sword Cometh Peak disciples.¡± ¡°But Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao are not to be underestimated.¡± ¡°......¡± The scouts from the various peaks whispered amongst themselves. After the initial shock, they realized that though all of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were trapped in the boundary, Saint Genesis Peak did not appear to have any means of turning this opportunity into an decisive advantage. From the looks of the current situation, once Kong Sheng and the rest broke free, and gathered up with some of the other elite disciples, they would be completely capable of defending themselves against anything Saint Genesis Peak threw at them. When that happened, Sword Cometh Peak would only need to keep delaying for time, and Saint Genesis Peak would most certainly end up being fully eliminated. However, there was one thing that puzzled the many scouts. The Saint Genesis Peak disciples were still standing there in the air, with seemingly no intention of using this chance to eliminate a few Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Could Saint Genesis Peak have invested so much effort and time to set up this boundary, lure the Sword Cometh Peak disciples over, and trap them, just to watch them struggle for a while? Time swiftly flowed under the puzzled gazes of the scouts. Thump! Thump! Several loud thumps were heard from the boundary at this moment. Everyone watched as several glowing figures dashed into the sky, revealing themselves to be Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che. The trio¡¯s faces were rather stormy at this moment, even the usually composed Kong Sheng. It was clear that he had been very angered by Sword Cometh Peak disciples being trapped. He had already been extremely cautious, but who could have expected that Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao would set up a boundary of such scale on the surface of the sea. The Saint Genesis Peak disciples¡¯ expressions changed when they saw the Kong Sheng trio break free, as they warily stared at the trio. Kong Sheng took in a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his heart. He cast a glance at the trapped Sword Cometh Peak disciples below, before casting his gaze towards Yaoyao, ¡°I truly never imagined that you would be so capable. To think that you were even able to construct a boundary of this scale.¡± His discerning abilities were not weak, and knew just how difficult it was to set up a boundary like this. Among all the Cangxuan Sect disciples, even Ye Ge could not achieve this feat. Yaoyao cast an indifferent glance at him, not replying as she continued to hold Tuntun in her arms. ¡°Sword Cometh Peak was indeed careless this time, but your boundary seems to be only capable of trapping, and incapable of hurting anyone¡­¡± Kong Sheng calmly said, ¡°More and more Sword Cometh Peak disciples will soon break free, returning the situation to its original state.¡± He spat out a breath of air, before he continued, ¡°Admit defeat now, or it won¡¯t be a pretty sight when the angry Sword Cometh Peak disciples escape.¡± His expression was indifferent, but anyone could feel the fiery anger in his words. The pressure it brought caused several Saint Genesis Peak disciples to shiver. Kong Sheng was clearly quite intimidating in the Cangxuan Sect. However, Yaoyao merely stroked Tuntun¡¯s fur, completely ignoring Kong Sheng¡¯s little speech. ¡°Where does someone who was recently trapped in a cage find the face to ask us to admit defeat?¡± Laughter was suddenly heard at this moment. Numerous gazes turned to see a glowing figure rise from the sea and land at Yaoyao¡¯s side. It was Zhou Yuan, who descended into the sea earlier. Baili Che glanced at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you should appreciate our kindness.¡± ¡°Or you may go ahead and see how many of our Sword Cometh Peak disciples you guys will be able to eliminate in this span of time.¡± A sneer rose from the corners of Baili Che¡¯s mouth. Zhou Yuan swept a glance at him and grinned, ¡°I feel¡­ that everyone who fails to escape the boundary in five minutes will be eliminated.¡± His words immediately drew laughter from Baili Che, even Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu shooting an icy glance at the former. ¡°Delusional.¡± Zhao Zhu sneered. Zhou Yuan chuckled, not bothering to explain. He looked towards the other disciples and commanded, ¡°Prepare yourselves. Keep a firm eye on any of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples that escape, and make sure they don¡¯t destroy the boundary.¡± Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the rest nodded, though there were confused looks in their eyes. They clearly did not understand where Zhou Yuan¡¯s confidence came from. Kong Sheng and the rest did not move. They merely continued to watch Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan, ready to stop them from attacking the escaping elite disciples. As such, the two sides fell into a deadlock of sorts for a time. Time flowed as more and more of the elite Sword Cometh Peak disciples began to break free. They stood behind Kong Sheng and the rest, faces brimming with anger as they glared at the Saint Genesis Peak side. There were about a hundred of these elite disciples. Although their numbers could not match Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s side, they were far superior in quality. As such, both parties were currently evenly matched. The scouts from the other peaks were very puzzled by this situation. As more and more Sword Cometh Peak disciples escaped the boundary, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s advantage would grow smaller and smaller... A mocking smile rose from the corners of Baili Che¡¯s lips as he gazed at the growing number of disciples behind him. Soon after, he unhurriedly said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, we¡¯re fast approaching the five minute mark¡­¡± ¡°More and more of my Sword Cometh Peak disciples are escaping.¡± The other Saint Genesis Peak disciples looked towards Zhou Yuan in worry. Zhou Yuan merely smiled, declining to reply. The smile on Baili Che¡¯s face grew even wider. Just as he was about to speak again, Kong Sheng¡¯s expression abruptly changed as he jerked his head around and peered into the distance, where the surface of the sea was beginning to churn violently. Howl after howl rang out from the sea. Countless titanic silhouettes began to appear under the surface. Aquatic beasts! Countless aquatic beasts! Kong Sheng¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank as his expression turned extremely ugly. ¡°The aquatic beasts are swarming towards this place!¡± A hiss escaped from the cracks between his teeth. The mockery on Baili Che¡¯s face froze. He could only watch helplessly as the howling aquatic beasts surged towards them from all directions, and charged into the giant boundary. A split second later, the miserable and panicked shrieks of countless Sword Cometh Peak disciples rang out. Beams of light shot into the sky, throwing figure after figure out of the reservoir. In less than a minute, over a thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples had been eliminated. At his current point in time, both the scouts from the various peaks and the Saint Genesis Peak disciples were dumbstruck as they dazedly watched this scene... Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che were ashen faced as they stared at the churning surface of the sea. No one had expected so many aquatic beasts to appear at this juncture... Zhou Yuan also observed the spectacular sight below, before he softly chuckled and clapped, as his unhurried voice rang out. ¡°Don¡¯t worry chief disciples Baili Che, not a single Sword Cometh Peak disciple will be able to escape anymore.¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 524 General Against General Roar! On the sea that stretched as far as the eye could see. Countless howling aquatic beasts were swarming over from all directions, causing giant waves to rise as they charged into the Heaven Disorientating Boundary, and clashed with the numerous trapped disciples inside. This sudden turn of events made all of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples fall into a state of panic. Several disciples even shattered their protection brands at first contact, removing themselves from the ceremony. This turn of events shocked all the watching parties. No one had expected so many aquatic beasts to suddenly appear... After these aquatic beasts entered the Heaven Disorientating boundary, the boundary was originally lacking in offensive capabilities suddenly gained astonishing destructive power... This caused the Sword Cometh Peak disciples to suffer terrible losses in a short span of time. ¡°How can this be¡­¡± In the air, Baili Chen watched this scene with an ashen expression, while more and more Sword Cometh Peaks transformed into beams of light that shot into the sky, a sign that they had been eliminated. Veins emerged in Baili Che¡¯s eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan and icily demanded, ¡°How did you lure so many aquatic beasts here?!¡± They had previously believed the boundary to lack any form of offensive capabilities. Who could have expected that so many aquatic beasts would appear in the blink of an eye? This was definitely no coincidence! Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier confidence made them certain that he had something to do with this. But Baili Che could not understand how Zhou Yuan could draw over so many aquatic beasts... He was not the only one. Even the Saint Genesis Peak group¡¯s faces were filled with disbelief, as they looked to Zhou Yuan in amazement. ¡°It¡¯s already useless to ask such questions now.¡± By the side, Kong Sheng¡¯s eerily chilling voice slowly rang out. The number one Chosen of Sword Cometh Peak was staring at Zhou Yuan with a gaze as sharp as the edge of a blade. ¡°I truly have underestimated you guys too much¡­¡± ¡°I never imagined that the two of you would force Sword Cometh Peak into such a miserable situation!¡± The current situation was clearly the result of Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s actions. The other Saint Genesis Peak disciples were merely akin to audience members watching the show, and were nothing to be feared. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained composed as he said, ¡°You guys were the ones who forced our hand.¡± If Sword Cometh Peak had not kept pushing them at every step, Zhou Yuan would naturally have no reason to invest so much thought into dealing with the former. After all, it would be better to use this energy to collect more Genesis essence, right? Kong Sheng did not comment. ¡°From the looks of it, it will be impossible to make you guys voluntarily release the boundary, right?¡± Zhou Yuan softly said, ¡°Senior brother Kong Sheng, I believe such words need not be said either, right?¡± Since they were already at this stage, there was naturally no reason to give in. He did not believe Sword Cometh Peak would also take a step back if he did. Kong Sheng nodded as he slowly said, ¡°Since that is the case¡­ we¡¯ll have to resort to our last option.¡± No emotion whatsoever could be seen on his handsome face as he took a step forward. In that instant, formidable and berserk Genesis Qi abruptly rose from his head like a column of smoke. Rumble! Genesis Qi surged outwards, devastating the surroundings like a storm. A heart palpitating pressure slowly spread. The pressure caused the expressions of the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples to change drastically, as they involuntarily took several steps back, fear flashing across their faces. The top three Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect were indeed existences that were both respected and feared. ¡°We¡¯ll finish off you guys, and the boundary will naturally be broken.¡± Genesis Qi flickered as if it were solid in Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes, while sword Qi surged. Anyone who met his gaze would feel a piercing pain in their eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned a little more solemn. Kong Sheng¡¯s strength was indeed extraordinary. The Genesis Qi pressure alone was already making him feel a stabbing pain all over his body. The Chosen that was said to be second only to Chu Qing did live up to his reputation. By this stage, Kong Sheng also knew that it was time for them to fight. Only by defeating Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, would they be able to destroy the boundary and save the remaining Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Though Sword Cometh Peak would have already lost face regardless of the outcome, as a Chosen, he had to do what he could to salvage the situation. ¡°Oh? Finish us off? Are you so sure that you have that ability?¡± While Zhou Yuan was doing his best to resist the Genesis Qi pressure from Kong Sheng, a clear as a mountain spring like voice sounded from behind the former. Yaoyao gracefully stepped forward, the spot between her brows flickering as powerful Spirit energy pulsed. It had neither form nor substance, but it still swept forward like a breeze, and slowly matched Kong Sheng¡¯s Genesis Qi pressure. With a grasp of her hand, a green jade Genesis Rune brush appeared, while her bright eyes frostily stared at Kong Sheng. Kong Sheng likewise stared at Yaoyao, as his expression turned a little graver. He was clearly also quite wary of the latter. ¡°Junior sister Xiaoyao¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve honestly wanted to personally sample your Genesis Rune prowess since long ago.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s gaze was sharp as he gripped the sword at this waist. ¡°Don¡¯t forget about me!¡± Zhao Zhu icily snorted as he also walked forward. Although the Genesis Qi pressure from him was not as strong as Kong Sheng¡¯s it was also very powerful. Roar! A deafening beast roar abruptly sounded when Zhao Zhu moved forward. Tuntun¡¯s cute and tiny body suddenly began to grow, and a mysterious giant beast covered in golden scales soon appeared in the sky with a flash of light. A ferocious aura unfurled, drawing numerous alarmed gazes. Tuntun shook its head as its dark gold eyes locked onto Zhao Zhu. Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression darkened a little when he saw this, as he let out another icy snort. He had been caught off guard last time and injured by Tuntun, making him very inclined to teach this little bastard a lesson this time. ¡°Looks like it ultimately became general against general.¡± Baili Che stared at Zhou Yuan, and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is the scenario you wanted, right?¡± When taking everything into account, Sword Cometh Peak had the absolute advantage. Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly invested so much into this boundary for the sake of evening the playing field. Currently, both sides appeared to be at an equilibrium. Which was clearly Zhou Yuan¡¯s ultimate goal. ¡°You should be my opponent, right?¡± Baili Che¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he closely examined Zhou Yuan. With an icy laugh, the former said, ¡°But I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve miscalculated¡­¡± ¡°Do you really believe that you¡¯re my match?!¡± Vigorous Genesis Qi exploded as he took a step forward. Though it did not reach the level of Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu, it was clearly a whole level stronger than Yuan Hong. Baili Che was on the verge of breaking into the ninth layer! The strongest three disciples of Sword Cometh Peak had finally begun to reveal their eerie fangs. Behind them, the elite Sword Cometh Peak disciples that managed to break free from the boundary felt their morale rise. Piercing gazes looked towards the Saint Genesis Peak group as pillar after pillar of Genesis Qi dashed into the sky. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression gradually turned grave as he gazed at the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared. ¡°I¡¯ll leave the others from Sword Cometh Peak to you guys.¡± He looked towards Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the rest. They nodded in acknowledgement. They knew that it had not been easy for Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao to reduce the gap to this state. If they failed to fulfil their task, there would truly be no hope left. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned towards Baili Che. In the next instant, golden Genesis Qi soared out from the top of his head like a pillar of light, as a giant python seemed to hiss within it. His clothes flapped wildly as the tip of the brush was slowly raised and pointed at Baili Che. ¡°Chief disciple Baili, won¡¯t we know whether I¡¯m your match once we fight?¡± Chapter 525 Battle Between the Two Peaks In the sky above the Genesis reservoir. Five humans and a beast stood in the air facing each other, as the space between them seemed to solidify with tension. In the distance, the scouts from the various peaks shivered in anticipation as they watched. Who could have imagined that the very same Sword Cometh Peak, which should have been able to steamroll over Saint Genesis Peak, would ultimately be forced into a situation where their two Chosens and chief disciple had to personally enter the fray. ¡°Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao are no pushovers.¡± Said someone as he sighed. Several disciples nodded in agreement. In an ordinary circumstance, there was absolutely no way that Saint Genesis Peak should be capable of even exchanging blows with Sword Cometh Peak, even with Zhou Yuan, Zhou Xiaoyao and the ferocious and mysterious little beast. How could their meagre forces possibly eliminate nearly a ten thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples, right? If they were to fight, the ten thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples would already be enough to trap the duo and the beast¡­ unless the latter went on an unrestrained killing spree. But this was a battle between disciples of the same sect, and not a life or death situation. As such, there were numerous unsaid restrictions. At this current point in time, Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s advantage in the numbers department was no longer present. Hence, they had to rely on their Chosens and chief disciple to turn things around. ¡°Both sides are now rather balanced in power¡­¡± ¡°Kong Sheng or Zhou Xiaoyao are formidable individuals. One is the ranked two Chosen, while the other seems to have immeasurable strength. No one can say for certain who would come up on top if they were to fight.¡± ¡°That mysterious little creature is not simple either. I¡¯ve heard that it managed to injure Zhao Zhu recently, and the latter would definitely not dare to underestimate it this time.¡± ¡°At the end of the day, it¡¯s Zhou Yuan and Baili Che¡¯s fight that will be the biggest variable.¡± ¡°Baili Che is not Yuan Hong¡­ although Zhou Yuan is also a chief disciples, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s chief disciple selection is clearly not on the same level as the other peaks.¡± ¡°If Baili Che defeats Zhou Yuan, he would be able to break open the boundary and save the remaining Sword Cometh Peak disciples. When that happens, control of the situation will return to Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°This is interesting, quickly report news of this back to the peaks!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Hushed conversations continued to spread between the scouts of the various peaks. In the end, figure after figure began to leave, clearly intent on relaying back what had happened here to their respective peaks. They knew that the Chosens of their peaks would definitely be stunned by these events. Who could have imagined that the ferocious and menacing Sword Cometh Peak army would be pushed so far by a mere few hundred disciples of Saint Genesis Peak. ¡­ While the general versus general face off was happening in the sky, the hundred elite Sword Cometh Peak disciples that had managed to break free cast vengeful gazes at the Saint Genesis Peak group. They were currently filled with anger, and since they did not have the qualifications to interfere in the fight between Zhou Yuan and the rest, they could only turn their sights towards the other Saint Genesis Peak disciples. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples had always looked down with disdain upon the Saint Genesis Peak disciples. As such, though the former was clearly at the numbers disadvantage, they did not believe the latter had any right to face them. ¡°Get lost!¡± The Sword Cometh Peak disciples charged forward, pouncing towards the boundary in an attempt to destroy it from the outside and free the trapped disciples. Zhou Tai¡¯s expression turned frosty as he gazed upon the ferociously approaching Sword Cometh Peak disciples, and solemnly said, ¡°Everyone, junior brother Zhou Yuan and junior sister Xiaoyao have gone to great lengths to ¡°Though junior brother Zhou Yuan is our chief disciple, he is not obligated to make everything smooth sailing for us. On the road of cultivation, we still have to rely and fight for ourselves.¡± ¡°If we fail to protect the boundary and allow the Sword Cometh Peak disciples to get in, none should have any right at all to enjoy the perks of this Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± ¡°So what do you guys think we should do now!¡± His breathing grew heavier as the gazed at the crowd with fierce eyes akin to a tiger¡¯s. The Saint Genesis Peak disciples¡¯ eyes gradually turned red at this moment as they gritted their teeth and roared, ¡°We¡¯ll stop them!¡± Zhou Tai grinned, revealing a set of sinisterly white teeth. There was nothing more to be said, as he turned his scarlet eyes towards the incoming Sword Cometh Peak disciples with a nasty smile, ¡°Sword Cometh Peak¡­ you guys have been eyesore to me since long ago. Let¡¯s have a good brawl this time!¡± Rumble! Burst after burst of vigorous Genesis Qi dashed into the sky. The Saint Genesis Peak disciples howled as their Genesis Qi blasted them forward to collide against the elite disciples of Sword Cometh Peak. The sky immediately became a chaotic mess. ¡­ While the disciples of the two peaks clashed, higher up in the sky, an expressionless Kong Sheng glanced at Zhou Yuan, before turning towards Baili Che. ¡°Quickly finish him off and break the boundary so we can save more disciples.¡± His tone was nonchalant, clearly feeling that Zhou Yuan was the weakest point amongst the trio. Baili Che softly chuckled when he heard this. His gaze swept across Zhou Yuan, contempt rising from the corners of his mouth to form a superficial smile as he said, ¡°Relax senior brother, I will let this ignorant fool know exactly how much he¡¯s actually worth.¡± Falling into Zhou Yuan¡¯s trap and losing so many Sword Cometh Peak disciples was already a huge disgrace for Sword Cometh Peak. Baili Che was currently filled with anger and frustration, the very same anger and frustration that most certainly needed to be unleashed onto Zhou Yuan. Kong Sheng nodded with indifference, before warily turning towards Yaoyao. He did not say anything as his figure moved forward, soaring into the sky to separate into their respective battlefields. Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes tracked his figure, before turning towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°It should be no problem for you, right?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve long wanted to experience the power of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s chief disciple. I hope that he won''t just be all talk.¡± He paused for a moment, before he said, ¡°You should try to be a little more careful. Kong Sheng will not be an easy opponent.¡± As second ranked Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, Kong Sheng was obviously not to be underestimated. ¡°Is the second rank Chosen really so formidable?¡± Asked Yaoyao as she seemed to pout a little. Her graceful figure moved, riding the wind as she followed Kong Sheng. Zhou Yuan raised his thumb towards her leaving figure and said, ¡°Truly a hero amongst women.¡± A despising gaze looked over from the side. Tuntun was obviously in contempt of such bootlicking. Zhou Yuan shot a glare at it and shouted, ¡°What are you looking at, hurry up and go finish off your opponent!¡± Tuntun merely extended a paw, and made a gesture. ¡°What? You want a share of the Genesis essence?¡± Zhou Yuan laughed as he jabbed a finger at Tuntun and said, ¡°You little bastard, why didn¡¯t you dare to say anything earlier while Yaoyao was here?¡± Genesis Qi surged from under Tuntun¡¯s four legs, turning into a cloud that it quickly lay down on as it wagged its tail at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes at its ¡®going on strike¡¯ posture, before sending a kick at Tuntun as he said, ¡°Hurry up and go, you can have anything if you win, but if you lose, you¡¯ll only have the wind to eat.¡± Only then did Tuntun shake its head and rise to its feet, ferocity pulsing from its dark golden eyes as they locked onto Zhao Zhu, before taking the lead to head to find another battlefield. Zhao Zhu snorted as he swept an icy glance at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Junior brother Baili, teach this sharp-tongued brat a lesson for me.¡± After finishing, he swiftly darted forth, following Tuntun away. With three humans and one beast gone, only Zhou Yuan and Baili Che remained facing each other in the sky. A chillingly eerie look filled Baili Che¡¯s eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan and unhurriedly said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, looks like it¡¯s just you and I now¡­¡± His smile was clearly skin-deep. ¡°So what do you think? How should I crush you in order to best release all of this pent up anger?¡± While he spoke, increasingly powerful Genesis Qi surged out from his body like a storm, the space around him shivering a little at the immense pressure. Chapter 526 Heaven Frost Sealing Technique Rumble! Silver Genesis Qi erupted from Baili Che¡¯s body, as an extremely cold and sharp aura spread. It was Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Mystic Frost Genesis Qi. Sword Qi akin to frost that pierced straight into the bone. If it invaded one¡¯s body, a shredding chill would explode, making it very troublesome to deal with. The temperature around them rapidly plummeted at this moment. Zhou Yuan remained standing in the air, golden Omni Serpent Qi charging out from the top of his head, creating a canopy of gold above him. The faint silhouette of a golden serpent coiled within as it hissed at the sky, giving off a tyrannical presence. Countless gazes gathered towards this spot, firmly fixed on the two figures. Saint Genesis Peak had been in a constant decline over the years, and even if they managed to produce a chief disciple, he or she would honestly be a cut lower than the chief disciples of the other peaks. As such, the previous Saint Genesis Peak chief disciples would often display a submissive demeanor towards the other chief disciples. This was why Baili Che was so dissatisfied with Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude. In the former¡¯s opinion, the latter should be acting like his predecessors, and show humbleness and tactfulness before the rest of them. Unfortunately¡­ Zhou Yuan did not seem to be of the same opinion. Hence, Baili Che felt Zhou Yuan to be someone incapable of understanding the big picture. Since that was the case, he would have to use the cruel reality to tell the new chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak what his actual position was in the Cangxuan Sect. A sneer hung from Baili Che¡¯s lips, iciness flashing across his eyes as his hands suddenly slapped together! Rumble! Silver frost like Genesis Qi flooded forth like an avalanche charging down the mountain. Piercing cold filled the area as frost rapidly formed in the air. This Genesis Qi was indeed substantially stronger than Yuan Hong from back then! Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not ripple as golden Genesis Qi also whizzed forth, transforming into flood that ruthlessly smashed into the incoming silver frost Genesis Qi like a roaring golden serpent. There were currently over five thousand Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling, and he was also much stronger than when he had defeated Yuan Hong. Hence, he did not show much fear in the face of Baili Che¡¯s Genesis Qi attack. Ch! Torrents of silver and gold ran through the sky, viciously slamming into each other a split second later. The two forces rapidly ate away at each other until their mutual destruction. ¡°He¡¯s grown stronger since he fought Yuan Hong.¡± While the Genesis Qi clashed, Baili Che frowned a little as he felt the strength of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi, the iciness in his eyes grew even colder. ¡°Frost explosion!¡± He suddenly yelled as his hands formed a seal. Boom! The flood Genesis Qi abruptly exploded the instant his voice rang out, as a circle of silver light swept outwards an alarming speed. Ch! Silver light pulsed with incomparable sharpness as it cut the torrent of gold into two, and darted towards Zhou Yuan at lightning speed. Baili Che was clearly very proficient in his usage of Genesis Qi. The halo of silver rapidly expanded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils. His eyes narrowed slightly as his hand made a grabbing motion. The Heavenly Yuan Brush instantly appeared as its snow-white hairs swiftly turned pitch-black. Swish! The black brush in his hand swung over his head, seemingly tearing open a crack in space as a black blur flashed past. Chla! The black brush descended as black light met silver light. The sharp silver halo was split into two, its fate ironically the same as the golden Genesis Qi it had sliced apart earlier... The two halves of the silver halo continued to fly past Zhou Yuan, before bursting into specks of light. After cutting the silver halo, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure rapidly etherealized as he shot forward like a shadow. He appeared above Baili Che as the lightning quick Heavenly Yuan Brush turned into numerous deadly brush shadows that thrust towards Baili Che¡¯s fatal spots from all directions. In the Genesis Breaker state, every brush shadow became a deadly attack. Moreover, the Heavenly Yuan Brush was currently a true-blue Heaven Genesis Weapon. Baili Che¡¯s expression darkened slightly when he saw Zhou Yuan attack. Although he often mentioned his disdain for Zhou Yuan, the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak was clearly no overconfident fool. He had thoroughly researched every aspect of Zhou Yuan, and naturally knew that the Heavenly Yuan Brush seemed to possess the strange property of being able to restrain Genesis Qi. In the face of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Yuan Brush, any Genesis Qi attacks would most certainly be much less effective. Bzz! The night-black brush shadows thrust towards their targets with deadly force. However, an earth-shaking sword cry suddenly rang out when they were a few feet from Baili Che. Sword light flashed as cold Qi froze the air. Sword shadows swept out like a storm, clashing against each brush shadow with impeccable accuracy. Clear ¡®clangs¡¯ echoed endlessly as more than a hundred exchanges occurred in a few dozen breaths. Every clash caused an alarming wave of Genesis Qi to sweep outwards, rippling the surrounding space. Clang! Clang! Clang! Amidst countless amazed gazes, a sky full of brush and sword shadows collided. In the end, both sword and brush shadows dispersed at the same time, as two figures shot backwards... Zhou Yuan steadied his body, the Heavenly Yuan Brush pointed downwards at an angle. Genesis Qi swirled around his body like a liquid gold, as he focused towards his front. Baili Che stood there with a sneer on his face, and a sword in his hand. The blade of the sword was covered in scales, which clashed horribly in color, a rather peculiar sight indeed. The sword shivered, continuously absorbed the surrounding Genesis Qi as its edge shined with a heart palpitating gleam. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Nine Scales Sword?!¡± Several cries of surprise were heard in the distance, evidently recognizing the scaly sword. ¡°Nine Scales Sword¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. This sword had quite a reputation in Sword Cometh Peak, and was also a low grade Heaven Genesis Weapon, though it was on the higher end of the low grade spectrum. With such a formidable weapon in his possession, it was no wonder that Baili Che did not fear Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Yuan brush. ¡°If you think you can rely on a Heaven Genesis Weapon to show off, you¡¯re grossly underestimating the resources of Sword Cometh Peak.¡± Said Baili Che as the Nine Scales Sword released a buzzing cry. Zhou Yuan calmly replied, ¡°You say that you¡¯re going to teach me a lesson, but from what I can see that won¡¯t be enough¡­ besides, I should remind you that every second you waste on me will cost Sword Cometh peak more and more losses.¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re urgently rushing to your defeat, I¡¯ll be happy to accomodate.¡± A chilling smile rose from the corners of Baili Che¡¯s mouth as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Did you think I was warming up with you earlier?¡± He suddenly jerked the Nine Scales Sword as a ripple spread from it. As the ripple spread, silver threads of light began to glimmer around them. No one knew when they had been placed, but they had already encompassed the surrounding area. At closer inspection, the densely packed silver threads seemed to resemble a silver ball, while Zhou Yuan and Baili Che were currently standing within it. A heart palpitating aura pulsed from the glowing silver ball. Baili Che stared at Zhou Yuan in mockery as he said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, do you recognize this technique?¡± ¡°This is a unique Genesis technique of Sword Cometh Peak, the Heaven Frost Sealing technique¡­¡± ¡°Once this technique lands on the body, the Genesis Qi within would be frozen and sealed. Plus, it¡¯s extremely difficult to neutralize.¡± Baili Che grinned widely. ¡°After your Genesis Qi is sealed, what will you use to fight me?¡± His figure abruptly withdrew as a crack opened in the tightly packed silver strings, allowing him to pass through, before swiftly closing... A sneer emerged on Baili Che¡¯s face as he gazed at the now trapped Zhou Yuan and extended a finger. Bzz! In the next instant, the glowing silver ball rapidly began to shrink! Heaven Frost Sealing technique, activate! The chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak had finally revealed his sinister fangs. Countless nervous gazes looked over at this moment. Chapter 527 Genesis Breaker Blood Ar t In the sky above the churning sea, there was another location that likewise drew many gazes, because the two individuals there were very famous in the Cangxuan Sect. Nothing needed to be said about Kong Sheng¡¯s reputation. He was the number two Chosen,second only to Chu Qing. As for Yaoyao, although she had only showed her hand a few times over the past year, the strength she displayed could only be rated as immeasurable. Everyone was certain that if she wanted to, she would definitely have a spot among the Chosens. With these two titans facing each other today, numerous people were looking forward to finding out who would emerge the eventual victor. Kong Sheng stood on his Genesis Qi high up in the sky, his slim figure drawing innumerable admiring gazes from the female disciples. Opposite him, Yaoyao appeared to be standing on the wind, her graceful figure akin to a slender willow. Her gorgeous face in particular was so flawless that it would make anyone smitten. It was as if the essence of beauty had been concentrated into a single person, causing everyone to sigh in amazement and envy. The only regret was her pair of clear, yet empty looking eyes that were filled with indifference towards all things. It was as if nothing in this world would ever draw even a spark of interest in her. In the face of such an amazing beauty, even Kong Sheng felt his heart ripple a little. However, he was a man of formidable mental fortitude, and quickly calmed his wavering heart as his expression slowly turned serious. Robust and powerful Genesis Qi slowly pulsed around his body, as a peerless pressure swept towards Yaoyao in mountain pushing and sea splitting manner. However, Yaoyao¡¯s face did not even twitch in the face of this Genesis Qi pressure. No one knew why, but all Genesis Qi pressure seemed incapable of affecting her. She gently grasped a Genesis Rune Brush that seemed to be made from jasper and raised it. With a slight turn of her wrist, complicated strokes instantly formed at its tip. ¡°Come lightning.¡± A Genesis Rune took shape and rapidly expanded. The surrounding Genesis Qi immediately rushed over, fusing with the rune as they transformed into churning black clouds. Lightning flashed within the clouds as thunder rumbled. Rumble! Thick thunderbolts suddenly ripped apart the black clouds, filled with berserk energy as they mercilessly blasted towards Kong Sheng. The power within the thunderbolt was extremely violent in nature, and even an ordinary ninth layer would not dare to directly face it. The brush in Yaoyao¡¯s hand did not stop as the thunderbolts charged forward, nimbly dancing in the air as complex rune after rune left its tip. Whoo whoo! A gale rose and fused with Genesis Qi to become giant wind blades, accompanied by piercing whistles as they hurtled through the sky. Yaoyao revealed her alarming Genesis Rune prowess the moment she acted, easily creating powerful Genesis Runes with simple gestures without any pause in between. The confidence and ease in the movements showed that failure wasn¡¯t even a possibility to her. Kong Sheng raised his head, gazing at the rapidly growing thunderbolts and wind blades, as his expression turned a little graver. Yaoyao¡¯s speed was a little shocking even to someone like himself. Though the latter did not have much Genesis Qi in her body, her Spirit power was extremely abundant. Each drawn Genesis Rune would rapidly absorb the surrounding Genesis Qi, and was not the slightest bit weaker than attacks from a real Genesis Master. In the face of such a powerful opponent, Kong Sheng did not plan on holding anything back. With a deep breath, he made a grabbing motion and a simple-looking sword appeared in his hand, its blade adorned with faint blood-red patterns. Boom! As the thunderbolts and wind blades arrived, Kong Sheng suddenly made his move. Numerous glowing swords appeared in an instant, brightly shining as they rose together like a sun, becoming the most dazzling thing in the area. Sword light swept forth with heart palpitating power, slicing apart the thunderbolts and wind blades with unstoppable momentum. Like a hot knife through butter. The aftershocks shot into the sea below, carving bottomless scars on its surface. It was a long while later before they were slowly filled back by the sea water. A sky full of thunderbolts and wind blades had been completely diced by a single sword attack. Countless gazes were filled with indescribably shock. As the disciple that managed to become the number two Chosen, Kong Sheng¡¯s strength was indeed unrivalled. Yaoyao stood in the air, her bright eyes watching events play out, before her gaze slowly turned towards the sword in Kong Sheng¡¯s hand. To be more precise, she was looking at the strange blood-red patterns on its blade. These blood-red patterns had played no small part in the ease in which Kong Sheng had sliced apart the thunderbolts and wind blades from earlier. ¡°This is¡­¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips opened slightly as she slowly said, ¡°The Rune Breaker Blood Art?¡± There were a few Genesis techniques which specialized in dealing with Genesis Runes, which were usually known as Rune Breaker Blood Arts. However, a lot of effort needed to be invested in order to learn such techniques, and there were also numerous restrictions such as being only useful against a few Genesis Runes. Hence, there were not many people who practiced them. The blood-red patterns on Kong Sheng¡¯s sword were clearly some kind of Rune Breaker Blood Art. Kong Sheng brandished his sword with a calm expression, not denying Yaoyao¡¯s words. ¡°Junior sister Xiaoyao is very knowledgeable. I¡¯ve spent a long time preparing in order to ensure victory today. I hope that junior sister Xiaoyao will not feel that this is an unfair advantage.¡± He had always been wary of the mysterious Yaoyao. As such, he had invested a substantial amount of time and energy to learn a Rune Breaker Blood Art and guarantee today¡¯s victory. With this technique, he would be able to calmly face Yaoyao¡¯s onslaught of Genesis Rune attacks, giving him the upper hand. Yaoyao¡¯s gaze withdrew from the blood patterns as she nonchalantly said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯re a little too naive if you believe a mere Rune Breaker Blood Art will guarantee your victory.¡± A Rune Breaker Blood Art would indeed give one an advantage against Genesis Runes, but it was a decisive advantage. However, forcing someone like Kong Sheng to make such preparation was clear evidence of how intimidating Yaoyao was. Kong Sheng merely chuckled in response. His gaze swept towards a certain battlefield in the distance as he said, ¡°We¡¯ll know whether or not I¡¯m naive once we fight. Zhou Yuan on the other hand is likely suffering at junior brother Baili¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°In these three battles, my Sword Cometh Peak will perhaps soon take the first win.¡± Yaoyao tilted her head slightly and looked in the same direction, where Baili Chue was currently drifting backwards as a giant glowing ball trapped Zhou Yuan. It was clear that a trump card had begun to activate. It was Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Heaven Frost Sealing technique. ¡°That¡¯s my Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Heaven Frost Sealing technique, which junior brother Baili is quite adept at. Zhou Yuan was too careless, and has now unknowingly fallen into Baili Che¡¯s trap.¡± Kong Sheng slowly said, ¡°The outcome of the battle is already obvious.¡± His tone was calm, but his words were aimed at disrupting Yaoyao¡¯s state of mind. Contrary to his expectations, Yaoyao only took a single glance before withdrawing her gaze. ¡°You should pay more attention to your own situation instead.¡± Just as Kong Sheng was about to retort, his eyes suddenly widened as he lifted his head to find that the color of the sky around them had begun to change, while numerous complicated runes drifted in the surroundings Genesis Qi frantically surged towards them, slowly forming a giant boundary. A boundary that was filled with berserk energies. ¡°What frightening mastery.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s expression slowly turned grave as the wariness in his eyes grew. To think that Yaoyao had managed to construct such an astonishing boundary without his notice. Her Genesis Rune proficiency was god-like indeed. His hand tightly grasped around the handle of his sword as Genesis Qi rushed out, causing his clothes to flap around him. He knew that a tough battle was unavoidable. Fortunately, Baili Che should soon be able to finish things on his end, defeating that loathsome Zhou Yuan and obtaining an advantage for their side. Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 528 Spirit Breaks Sealing Technique Bzz! Under the attention of countless gazes, the glowing silver ball shrank at an alarming speed with Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure located at the center. In the distance, the scouts from the various peaks cried out in alarm. They were aware of the Heaven Frost Sealing technique¡¯s ability to suppress Genesis Qi. Once touched by it, it would swiftly invade the body and seal all of the Genesis Qi inside. Even if Zhou Yuan tried to resist, his Genesis Qi would be substantially weakened, which would undoubtedly cause him to fall into a disadvantage against Baili Che. The scouts could not help but sigh deeply at this situation. As the one who managed to become the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak, Baili Che was indeed very capable. This Heaven Frost Sealing technique would give almost any opponent a headache. And now, Zhou Yuan was going to become one of them... Bzz bzz! Inside the silver ball, robust Genesi Qi erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Golden light surged forth, slamming into the rapidly shrinking ball. However, cold Qi would rush forward when the two forces met, forcing back the golden Genesis Qi. Once the Heaven Frost Sealing technique succeeded, it would restrain the target¡¯s Genesis Qi. There was no way to forcefully resist unless one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations far surpassed the user¡¯s. Baili Che was currently half a foot into the ninth layer, and his Genesis Qi foundations were even stronger than Yuan Hong¡¯s. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had increased during the mountain trial, it was quite impossible for him to have reached Baili Che¡¯s level. Hence, Zhou Yuan seemed to have fallen into a very dangerous situation. Baili Che crossed his arms as he stood in the air. He looked at the trapped Zhou Yuan and smiled superficially, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ve told you before that though you¡¯re quite talented, you¡¯re ultimately still too immature.¡± If his opponent had been a little more careful, Baili Che would not have so smoothly trapped Zhou Yuan in the Heaven Frost Sealing technique. Though it was a formidable technique, the user had to first trap his target inside before it could begin to show its power. Inside the glowing ball, Zhou Yuan raised his head, his gaze penetrating the ball to lock onto Baili Che as he smiled, ¡°It appears that chief disciples Baili Che believes he has already won?¡± ¡°Are you still going to be stubborn at this juncture.¡± Baili Che shook his head, ignoring Zhou Yuan as he formed a seal with one hand. Bzz! The silver ball instantly began to shrink even faster, reaching a size of several feet in the span of a short few breaths, with Zhou Yuan¡¯s body almost within reach. A brief touch was all it would take for the technique to take root in his flesh and seal away Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi. ¡°Time for it to end.¡± Baili Che let loose an icy chuckle as his hands slammed into each other. The silver ball contracted once more, soon about to touch Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Countless nervous gazes looked towards the battlefield. Yee! Under their gazes, the silver ball quickly neared Zhou Yuan. However, when the cold Qi emitting light threads were half a foot from his body, the ball suddenly stopped in its tracks. The sneer on Baili Che¡¯s lips turned a little rigid as his brows tightly knitted together. He had sensed an unknown force inside the glowing ball that was preventing his Heaven Frost Sealing technique from taking even half a step further. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t using any Genesis Qi to resist. Moreover, this technique is able to restrain Genesis Qi, and it¡¯s impossible for him to put up any resistance given his Genesis Qi foundations!¡± Confusion churned in Baili Che¡¯s mind. He stared at the interior of the glowing ball, where Zhou Yuan stood with his hands hanging by his side, a calm, unruffled expression on his face. However, invisible and powerful undulations seemed to slowly gather between his brows. Zhou Yuan raised his head, looking at the bewildered Baili Che, as he slowly said, ¡°Your technique may be able to restrain Genesis Qi, but did you think that Genesis Qi is all I have?¡± Boom! As his voice rang out, the surging Spirit power between his brows rushed forth like a flood. It was invisible and intangible, but mysterious undulations churned within it. The glowing ball which had originally shrunk to the size of a few feet began to swell at an alarming speed. In the end, it enlarged to a size of several hundred feet as a cracking noise sounded, no longer able to bear the heavy load. Bang! The silver ball was forcefully blown apart from the inside by the surging Spirit energy, transforming into a sky full of glittering silver. The scouts from the various peaks in the distance cried out in surprise. No one had expected Baili Che¡¯s Heaven Frost Sealing technique would be broken by Zhou Yuan in his brutish manner! Baili Che¡¯s expression darkened substantially. He had thoroughly prepared for every possible scenario he could imagine, but he had not anticipated that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit would become so powerful. Zhou Yuan seldom revealed his Spirit cultivation in the Cangxuan Sect, causing many to forget that he was a dual cultivator of Genesis Qi and Spirit. Zhou Yuan stood with one hand behind his back as Spirit power whizzed out from between his brows. Boom! A loud sound suddenly erupted from the sea below, as the water rushed into the air. It was as if some invisible force was circling around the water as it transformed into a ten thousand feet wide ball that slowly came to hover beside Zhou Yuan. Light gleamed off the water ball as a mysterious and invisible undulation pulsed. It was Spirit power. With a wave of his sleeve, the water ball infused with Spirit power shot forward with a piercing screech, viciously smashing towards Baili Che. Humph! Baili Che¡¯s eyes darkened as light pulsed from the Nine Scales Sword in his hand. With a swing, sword light rushed out, growing to a hundred feet as it sliced through the water ball. Chla! Sword light swept past, cutting the ball into two. Bang! However, the two halves of the ball suddenly exploded, becoming countless drops of water that shot towards Baili Che like a torrential storm. Silver Genesis Qi rose from Baili Che¡¯s body, protecting him from the onslaught. Plop! Plop! Although the silver Genesis Qi managed to block the majority of the water droplets, a few still managed to strike Baili Che¡¯s body, causing his face to twist hideously at the moment of impact. These water droplets did not have much destructive power, but contained Spirit energy that directly penetrated his flesh and struck his Spirit. As such, a piercing pain from between his brow would accompany each strike, nearly causing Baili Che to faint. Fortunately, he was quick to react and swiftly retreated, while the Nine Scales Sword transformed into layer after layer of sword light that bounced back all of the water droplets, no longer daring to let any of them touch him... ¡°Your Spirit has reached the advanced Corporeal stage?!¡± Baili Che steadied his body as he stared darkly at Zhou Yuan. From the intensity of the Spirit corrosion from earlier, he had already realized that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had reached the advanced Corporeal stage. Zhou Yuan looked at Baili Che and said, ¡°It seems that chief disciple Baili Che has miscalculated.¡± A fierce expression rose in Baili Che¡¯s eyes as he icily said, ¡°It¡¯s too early to say such words! So what if you¡¯re at the advanced Corporeal stage, you¡¯re still biting off more than you can chew! I will just have to crush you with Genesis Qi!¡± He had always been disdainful of dual cultivators of both Genesis Qi and Spirit. Swoosh! Light surged along the blade of the Nine Scales Sword as the Genesis Qi in his body erupted without any reservation. In the next instant, his figure disappeared from the spot and appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. Bzz bzz! Sword light whizzed out as countless sword shadows appeared in the sky, aimed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s fatal spots. After the failure of the Heaven Frost Sealing technique, Baili Che had clearly changed his approach, intending to clash directly with Zhou Yuan. An icy light also surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as the white tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush turned pitch-black. Golden Genesis Qi roared out, as he pushed his Genesis Qi to its limits. Jade light blossomed on his skin, while silver flashed in the bones deep within his flesh. Clang! Clang! Two figures exchanged blows at lightning speed in the sky, going over a thousand rounds in a few short minutes, alarming undulations sweeping outwards with every collision of sword and brush. The intensity of a fight like this was extreme. Numerous onlookers secretly wet their lips as they watched. Anyone could see that there was absolutely no sign of Zhou Yuan losing out in the direct clash against Baili Che. Many had originally believed that Zhou Yuan could not possibly be Baili Che¡¯s match. However, from the scene before their eyes, it was obvious that Zhou Yuan had grown even stronger over the past two months. Baili Che¡¯s expression grew darker and darker with each exchanged blow. He could clearly feel that he was not gaining the upper hand at all. The most troublesome thing, however, were the Spirit attacks Zhou Yuan sneaked in when they clashed. The slightest slip was all it would take for them to touch Baili Che¡¯s body and attack his Spirit, creating a huge headache for the latter. Only now did he realize that the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple he had looked down on all along, was actually not as weak as he had imagined. Clang! Berserk Genesis Qi devastated the surroundings after yet another clash, the space around them rippling a little as two figures shot backwards. Baili Che stabilized his body with a wave of his sleeve. He expressionlessly stared at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°No wonder you were so arrogant, you do have some ability.¡± Zhou Yuan grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush, as its brush hairs turned soft and gently fluttered in the wind. ¡°Chief disciple Baili Che¡¯s strength does not seem to match up to your previous arrogance.¡± A faint smile rose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips. Baili Che¡¯s face twitched a little, as he fell silent for a moment. A disdainful smile soon flowed out from the corners of his lips as he shook his head and said, ¡°Why am I wasting breath on you¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s about time to show you what a true chief disciple is.¡± ¡°... I hope that your legs won¡¯t turn to jelly from fear!¡± Baili Che took in a deep breath, iciness flashing in his eyes, as he stared in contempt at Zhou Yuan. At the same time, an extremely dangerous aura slowly spread from his body. ¡°You shall tremble in fear before the most powerful technique of Sword Cometh Peak!¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 529 Devil Sweeping Sword Orb Clang! Two glowing figures swifty flashed past in the sky. In the end, a sword swept forth and collided with a claw covered in dark golden scales. Sparks immediately splattered as a berserk shockwave unfurled, rippling the surrounding space. The sharp claws of the paw were unimaginably tough, blowing away the sword, and causing the sword wielding figure to shoot back in retreat, revealing itself to be Zhao Zhu. His expression was rather ugly at this current time. A mysterious giant dark golden creature stood in the air before him, the very personification of majesty. Dark gold gleamed along its entire body, as Tuntun¡¯s golden eyes glanced disdainfully at Zhao Zhu, obviously feeling the latter was unworthy of its attention. Zhao Zhu was naturally able to feel the contempt in Tuntun¡¯s eyes, causing rage to boil inside of him. To think that he was being despised by a mere beast! However, though he was angered inside, Zhao Zhu could not help but feel rather troubled. After the previous exchange, he had finally understood how formidable Tuntun was. The latter¡¯s dark golden scales were extremely tough, protecting it like a layer of armor. Even his sword Qi was incapable of cutting through such a sturdy defense. What was most problematic, however, was Tuntun¡¯s devouring power that could directly devour Zhao Zhu¡¯s sword aura. As such, he had been unable to make any leeway even when giving his all. Huu. Zhao Zhu exhaled deeply as he slowly composed himself. He knew that he could not be anxious at this moment, but instead rely on his Genesis techniques to slowly duke it out with Tuntun. Bzz! While Zhao Zhu was collecting himself and preparing to slow down the pace of his attacks, he suddenly felt a burst of astonishing sword Qi that felt as if it could pierce even the land and sky. Zhao Zhu was a little alarmed as he turned his head, his gaze locking onto a certain battlefield in the distance. It was the fight between Zhou Yuan and Baili Che. ¡°Junior brother Baili actually intends to use that move¡­¡± There was surprise in Zhao Zhu¡¯s eyes. He never imagined that Baili Che would have to use his full power against a mere Zhou Yuan. Fortunately, the earlier Baili Che used this trump card to defeat Zhou Yuan, the quicker the situation would fall into their control. Zhao Zhu only needed to hinder Tuntun, while Baili Che finished off Zhou Yuan, and proceeded to destroy the boundary from the outside, saving the Sword Cometh Peak disciples trapped within. Zhao Zhu¡¯s gaze swept across the figure in front of Baili Che as iciness flashed in his eyes. When Baili Che brought out that move, the battle there should soon be decided. ¡­ Ying! Zhou Yuan felt a strong feeling of danger as the surging sword Qi burst out of Baili Che¡¯s body. The former¡¯s figure quickly retreated, leaving the range of the sword Qi as he grave stared at the latter from afar. Alarmingly powerful sword Qi was currently pulsing from Baili Che¡¯s body, tearing open numerous cracks in the surrounding space. It was obvious that Baili Che was preparing a deadly killing blow. Veins bulged on Baili Che¡¯s face, creating quite a sinister sight. Sword Qi rose from his head like a viscous fluid, before condensing into a silver thumb-sized sword orb... The silver sword orb was somewhat illusory and distorted, as if it would fall apart at any time. Despite this, a loud and resonant sword cry echoed across the area when the sword orb was formed. Torrential sword Qi filled the sky, creating an alarmingly intimidating sight. Far away, the scouts from the various peaks watched this scene in astonishment. Some of them were familiar with this technique, causing their voices to tremble. ¡°This is¡­ Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Cangxuan Art¡­¡± ¡°The Devil Sweeping Sword Orb?!¡± ¡°My god, how did Baili Che learn it so quickly?!¡± ¡­ Outside the Genesis reservoir, sect master Qing Yang, the five peak masters and the numerous elders also saw this, causing their eyes to widen a little. ¡°Humph, this Devil Sweeping Sword Orb is very unstable. It was obviously forcibly created instead of being properly nourished by the wielder. In fact, it seems as if someone has forcibly been given guidance on it.¡± While focusing on the silver sword orb, peak master Lianyi suddenly let out an icy chuckle, before shooting a glance at peak master Ling Jun. Peak master Ling Jun was expressionless as he said, ¡°Baili Che is quite talented. Although it has only been a few months since he was given the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique, he managed to gain some comprehension of its wonders. It¡¯s not strange for him to have just barely managed to create one. Peak master Lianyi should not make false accusations.¡± Peak master Lianyi disdainfully retorted, ¡°You know best whether or not my words are true.¡± It was no surprise that the two of them were at each other¡¯s throats again, to which sect master Qing Yang and the rest could only shake their heads in helplessness. At another location, elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song had bitter looks on their faces. They had been pleasantly surprised for a while when Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao managed to trap all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples, because it had evened the playing field for their side. But who would have expected that Baili Che had managed to learn one of the seven Cangxuan Arts, the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb! Although it was only at the initial stage and was extremely unstable, it was still a high grade Heaven Genesis technique, and its power could only be described as terrifying. Even those with the power of the ninth layer Alpha-Origin would not dare to face such a skill head on. Lu Song looked at Shen Taiyuan and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s already pretty good of them to have achieved this.¡± Shen Taiyuan was silent for a moment, before he said, ¡°I do not blame them, but myself for not being useful enough. If not for me, those two kids would not have to shoulder such heavy pressure.¡± Although he was currently the substitute peak master of Saint Genesis Peak, he could not become a true peak master, and stand shoulder to shoulder with the other peak masters due to his lack of strength. In the Cangxuan Sect, only those that have stepped into the Nascent Source stage were qualified to become peak masters. In fact, peak master Ling Jun and the rest were top tier experts amongst the Nascent Source stage, and had even begun to create their own law domains. Although their law domains were incomplete, it still made them incomparable to ordinary Nascent Source stage practitioners. On the other hand, Shen Taiyuan was merely at the Heavenly Sun stage, and still some distance aways from the Nascent Source stage. How could he possibly compare to the likes of peak master Ling Jun and the rest? If Shen Taiyuan was also at the Nascent Source stage, peak master Ling Jun would not dare to take things too far. Lu Song also fell silent, and could only let out a soft sigh in the end. In this world, one needed sufficient strength to have the right to speak even within the sect. ¡°We can only hope that Zhou Yuan will be able to endure a little longer. At the very least, we¡¯ll make Sword Cometh Peak suffer a little more losses even if we lose!¡± ¡­ Bzz bzz! Under the countless astonished gazes, the silver sword orb slowly descended from Baili Che¡¯s head and floated in front of him. The sword orb gently vibrated, giving off terrifying sword Qi that tore apart the fabric of space. Baili Che¡¯s complexion was rather pale, but there was an extremely excited look in his eyes. His gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan as a sinister smile rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, this is the first time I¡¯ve managed to activate this technique. It is your honor to be defeated by it.¡± Baili Che clearly no longer planned on wasting time, and had thus brought out his strongest trump card. A grave look filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, evidently realizing the origins of Baili Che¡¯s trump card. Power on this scale¡­ what else could it be but one of the seven Cangxuan Arts?! He was quite amazed that Baili Che had managed to learn this technique in such a short span of time. Baili Che took Zhou Yuan¡¯s silence as terror, causing him to laugh gleefully. His expression soon turned ferocious as he extended a finger and lightly pointed at the sword orb. Baili Che¡¯s ice-cold voice accompanied his gesture. ¡°Are you scared now? Unfortunately for you, it¡¯s already too late!¡± ¡°Devil Sweeping Sword Orb¡­ go!¡± An earth-shaking sword cry echoed at this very moment, as devastating sword Qi filled the area. Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 530 You have your Sword Orb, I have my Saint Spirit! Wooong! Destructive sword Qi filled the area as the silver sword orb whizzed forth, ultimately gathering around it. In a brief span of a few breaths, the sword Qi surrounding the sword orb had grown to a diameter of several thousand feet. Sword light swept across the horizon like a divine sword falling from the heavens, ripping even the fabric of space itself when it passed by. Giant cracks began to appear in the sea below. Any unfortunate aquatic beasts that fell into them were instantly torn to pieces by the sword Qi. Such power caused the scalps of countless disciples to turn numb. A several thousand feet wide flood of sword Qi rushed straight towards Zhou Yuan. The expressions of the fighting Sword Cometh Peak and Saint Genesis Peak disciples immediately changed when they saw this, the former filling with delight, while the latter turning deathly pale. ¡°It¡¯s the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique!¡± Horrified looks filled the eyes of Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan. They never imagined that Baili Che had actually managed to learn Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Cangxuan Art. One must know that it had only been a few months since he became chief disciple, so how had he managed to learn it so quickly? How talented did one have to be to achieve such a crazy feat? As one of the seven Cangxuan Arts, the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb was a true-blue high grade Heaven Genesis technique. A technique of that level was something that even purple sash disciples could only dream about. Everyone clearly understood the terrifying might a technique of that level would possess. Baili Che may have yet to reach the ninth layer Alpha-Origin at this point in time, but with the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb, even a slightly weaker ninth layer would be slain by him in a single strike. If a slightly weaker ninth layer would meet such an end, what more could be said about Zhou Yuan? In that instant, all the hearts of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples rose in their chests. If Zhou Yuan was eliminated by Baili Che in a single blow, their plan would fail immediately. Compared to the panicking Saint Genesis Peak disciples, the morale of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples was greatly boosted. The latter¡¯s attacks became fiercer all of a sudden, managing to repeatedly push back the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples despite the number disadvantage. The tides seemed to be falling in Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s favor all of a sudden. Amidst countless terrified gazes, Zhou Yuan gravely stared at the rapidly approaching flood of silver sword aura. At the very center, the silver thumb-sized sword orb seemed to continuously breath peerless sword Qi. In the face of such concentrated and powerful sword Qi, even his elementary external cultivation body could feel a stabbing pain. This feeling made Zhou Yuan understand that even with the jade skin and silver bone of his little Mythic Saint Body, he would still be cut open if the attack were to land on his body. A high grade Heaven Genesis technique was indeed worthy of its title. Zhou Yuan licked his lips. However, there was surprisingly no trace of fear in his eyes, but instead a bubbling excitement. With his outstanding Spirit senses, he had also discovered that though Baili Che had indeed managed to create a sword orb, it was obviously extremely unstable. As if it had not been created through one¡¯s own hard work. Zhou Yuan breathed in deeply as his eyes slowly closed. All the whistling sword Qi in the area was completely blocked out by him as the world around him fell silent. In his Qi Dwelling. The Saint Spirit seed released a faint buzzing noise, before suddenly shooting forth with a swoosh. Bzz! Meanwhile, the several feet wide torrent of sword Qi arrived. It appeared in the sky above Zhou Yuan, before powerfully chopping downwards with power that could level mountains. ¡°Get eliminated!¡± Baili Che¡¯s roar boomed like thunder. Elation rose from the corners of his lips as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure with a chillingly sinister look in his eyes. He was going to utterly destroy all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier arrogance with this blow. Let¡¯s see if this fellow still dared to be out of line in the future! Don¡¯t bother acting tough again without sufficient strength! Boom! The giant flood of swords ruthlessly hacked towards Zhou Yuan. Countless gazes were firmly glued to this location. If not for the protection brand on every disciple, anyone would believe that Zhou Yuan would be a dead man in a split second. As the deadly sword Qi loomed over Zhou Yuan, his tightly shut eyes abruptly opened as a dazzling gleam surged within them. His clothes flapped loudly around him as he raised his head, and looked at the torrent of sword Qi, before an icy smile rose from the corners of his lips. Boom! The several thousand feet wide torrent finally swung down upon its target. An indescribable storm of destruction unfurled, causing the surrounding area to distort, while making it impossible for anyone to get a clear view. The sea below churned violently as countless waves rose one after another, creating a frightening sight. The power of the blow made the scalps of countless watching disciples turn numb. Was this the strength of Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s chief disciple? Such strength would indeed stir fear in anyone¡¯s heart. ¡°Zhou Yuan has likely been blown straight out of the Genesis reservoir.¡± A disciple sighed deeply. ¡°Even the full power defense of some ninth layers will be unable to withstand a direct hit, let alone him.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is already pretty amazing to have forced out this move from Baili Che, but it¡¯s a pity he made that fatal misstep¡­¡± ¡°......¡± Numerous disciples sighed in pity. Baili Che coldly snorted, his expression somewhat stormy, because he never expected that he would be forced to use the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb to defeat a mere Zhou Yuan. ¡°But you should also be honored.¡± With an icy chuckle, he raised his head as the distorting space gradually returned to normal. But the smile on his face slowly turned rigid a split second later. *Gasp*! At the same time, shocked noises rang out across the area like a flood, while countless gazes blankly stared at the recovering space, where the enormous torrent of sword Qi had frozen midway through its chopping motion. What shocked everyone, however, was that Zhou Yuan was still standing below it, instead of being kicked out from the reservoir like everyone had expected. A mysterious hundred foot tall glowing silhouette had appeared above him. The glowing figure enveloped his entire body, with its arms crossed above it in a defensive posture. The tip of the sword Qi flood was currently stuck at the arms of the mysterious glowing silhouette, unable to advance even a single inch! The Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique had been blocked! Countless disciples were stupefied by this scene. The originally high morale and fiercely fighting Sword Cometh Peak disciples also stopped attacking with stunned expressions. Zhou Tai, Lu Yan, Zhang Yan and the rest were likewise dazedly staring at the completely uninjured figure standing in the air. Let alone them, even sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters, outside the Genesis reservoir, cried out in surprise as amazement colored their faces. They looked at each other, and could not help but mutter, ¡°That glowing silhouette¡­¡± ¡°Is the Omega Saint Spirit Art!¡± Sect master Qing Yang could not stop his expression from changing. ¡°This little one has learnt the Omega Saint Spirit Art?!¡± In another location far away, elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song¡¯s mouths slowly grew bigger and bigger, while disbelief and shock filled their eyes. Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 531 Shattering the Sword Orb In the sky above the seemingly endless sea, countless gazes dazedly stared at the giant torrent of sword light that had frozen in the air. Under the terrifying sword light, a hundred foot tall mysterious glowing silhouette hovered. It¡¯s appearance was very blurry, while a mysterious power pulsed from it. Zhou Yuan stood inside the glowing figure with a calm expression, completely unharmed. The entire world seemed to freeze for an instant. Next, torrential cries of surprise rose one after another like waves. ¡°What is the heck is that?!¡± ¡°What is that Genesis technique, to think that it managed to block the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique!¡± ¡°How is this possible?!¡± ¡°......¡± The disciples from the various peaks had clearly lost their composure, because this scene was just far too astonishing. They could not comprehend how Zhou Yuan had managed to withstand a terrifying killing blow from Baili Che that could slay even an ordinary ninth layer practitioner... That had been the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique! One of the seven Cangxuan Arts, and also the highest grade Genesis Qi technique of Sword Cometh Peak! When this technique was used, everything should have been swept away without resistance such that it would be worthy of its reputation. However, it had been blocked by a mysterious glowing silhoutte. The Sword Cometh Peak and Saint Genesis Peak disciples stared with their mouths wide open, as the expressions of both parties changed once more. The former¡¯s joy turned to alarm and horror, while the latter turned from terror to blankness. They too could not understand why Zhou Yuan could come out completely unscathed after receiving the attack head-on. Only Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and Zhang Yan seemed to recall something as they suddenly looked at each other. Disbelief overflowed in their eyes, before they finally managed to blurt out after some difficulty, ¡°That glowing figure¡­ could it be¡­¡± ¡°The Omega Saint Spirit Art?!¡± In the sky, deep guttural noises jumped out from the cracks between Baili Che¡¯s teeth, his face twisted hideously, while his nearly entirely red eyes stared at the mysterious glowing silhouette around Zhou Yuan. As the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak, his insight was naturally far better than any ordinary disciple. Hence, he had immediately recognized the glowing figure the moment it appeared. There was absolutely no doubt that only the same high grade Heaven tier Omega Saint Spirit Art could block his Devil Sweeping Sword Orb. ¡°That blasted Zhou Yuan! How did he learn the Omega Saint Spirit Art in such a short span of time!¡± Baili Che gnashed his teeth, eyes filled with shock and anger. ¡°He must have had some kind of external help!¡± Baili Che¡¯s expression was very stormy. In truth, he had not naturally learnt the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb, but borrowed external help in order to forcibly create it. Due to it not being the fruits of purely his own efforts, it was less concentrated and unstable. In Baili Che¡¯s view, if even he could not properly learn the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique in two months, it would definitely be impossible for Zhou Yuan to learn the Omega Saint Spirit Art. As such, Zhou Yuan must have made use of some kind of external help. ¡°I¡¯ve underestimated you!¡± Baili Che let out an icy laugh as he stared at Zhou Yuan. He had gradually calmed down after the initial anger. Although Zhou Yuan had managed to learn the Omega Saint Spirit Art, it was most likely only barely able to block his Devil Sweeping Sword Orb. What Baili Che needed to do now was to stabilize the situation, and start searching for an opportunity. At this current juncture, Baili Che no longer dared to underestimate Zhou Yuan, and had begun to view the latter as an opponent on the same level as himself. High up in the sky, Zhou Yuan cast a glance at Baili Che from far away, as a meaningful smile rose from the corners of his lips as if reading the latter¡¯s thoughts. He raised his head and focused on the tremendous sword light. At the deepest area of the light, he could just barely make out the vibrating silver sword orb, that continued to take in and give out frightening sword Qi. ¡°Devil Sweeping Sword Orb huh¡­ what a formidable offensive Genesis technique.¡± ¡°However, it¡¯s a pity that you¡¯ve disgraced it.¡± Zhou Yuan''s indifferent voice sounded, transmitting into Baili Che¡¯s ears. Baili Che immediately laughed in anger upon hearing this as he icily said, ¡°What bold words!¡± Zhou Yuan merely chuckled softly in response, paying no attention to Baili Che. With a thought, dazzling light began to emerge from the Saint Spirit around him. A mysterious and boundless power spread from the Saint Spirit¡¯s body. Although it was still exceptionally indistinct, it was growing increasingly mysterious and immeasurable. The Saint Spirit lifted its hand, as light suddenly surged along it. The glowing hand began to extend as it shot towards the sword light like lightning. Pchla! Glowing hand and sword light collided as a mysterious power pulsed. The sword light swiftly began to dissolve, the original width of several thousand feet forcibly ripped apart by the Saint Spirit¡¯s hand. Baili Che¡¯s expression changed drastically, obviously not expecting the Saint Spirit figure to be so tyrannical. With a thought, the Sweeping Devil Sword Orb began to tremble, as endless sword Qi spewed out, and rushed towards the glowing hand in an attempt to destroy it. Bzz bzz! However, the rushing sword Qi was unable to achieve much. Circles of light continuously appeared around the glowing hand, blocking the torrential sword Qi, while continuing to make a beeline towards the silver sword orb at the center. ¡°You dare!¡± Baili Che shouted in anger upon finally realizing Zhou Yuan¡¯s goal. However, the glowing palm continued to dissolve the sword Qi with ease, causing the former to grow a little panicked. After briefly thinking about it, he could only grit his teeth, and urge the sword orb backwards to return into his body. Bzz! However, the instant the sword orb began to retreat, the Saint Spirit around Zhou Yuan suddenly disappeared from the spot. Swoosh! It appeared again in the retreat path of the silver sword orb, as its other hand reached out. The hand rapidly grew as it swung downwards like a mountain and grabbed the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb. ¡°Release it!¡± Roared Baili Che in alarm as he hurriedly sent a thought to the orb, causing an eruption of torrential sword Qi in an attempt to rip apart the Saint Spirit. However, boundless power surged out from the Saint Spirit¡¯s body, and rushed towards the hand, annihilating the torrential sword Qi. In the distance, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure moved and appeared on the Saint Spirit¡¯s shoulder, and calmly looked towards the ashen-faced Baili Che. ¡°Release the sword orb!¡± Shouted Baili Che in anger. A mocking smile rose from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth as he stomped his foot. Golden Genesis Qi soared out from the top of his head, and flowed into the Saint Spirit¡¯s blurry body. At the same time, his voice rang out, ¡°The powerful Sweeping Devil Sword Orb technique has become so unstable and inferior in your hands. It is not wrong to say that you¡¯ve truly shamed this technique!¡± Upon obtaining the support of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi, the Saint Spirit¡¯s two glowing hands rapidly began to grow. In the end, it released a hiss as its palm viciously slammed together. Boom! Terrifying power swept outwards, devastating the surroundings as the nearby space violently rippled. Crack! Countless gazes watched in horror at the spot where the Saint Spirit¡¯s palms had slammed together. The silver sword orb trembled unsteadily as tiny cracks began to appear, before ultimately shattering to pieces... He had actually shattered Baili Che¡¯s sword orb! Chapter 532 Victory and Defea t Crack! Countless watching disciples could not help but gasp when the silver sword orb shattered, as disbelief and undescribable shock filling their faces. Who could have imagined that Zhou Yuan would be so ferocious. To think that he had actually smashed Baili Che¡¯s Devil Sweeping Sword Orb! Just how much power did it take to achieve such a feat?! ¡°How did this happen¡­¡± The elite Sword Cometh Peak disciples were in a daze. This was the first time they had seen the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb being crushed by someone. Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the rest swallowed in unison, respect flowing in their eyes as they gazed at the young figure in the sky. At this current moment, Zhou Yuan really looked overwhelming. Countless gazes shifted towards Baili Che. The latter¡¯s face had become death pale when the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb was shattered. Urgh! In the end, he vomited a mouthful of blood, while the Genesis Qi in his body descended into chaos, evidently sustaining substantial injuries. The Devil Sweeping Sword Orb had been linked to him, and he was naturally affected by its destruction. Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth, his eyeballs nearly popping from their sockets as he glared daggers at Zhou Yuan, and howled in rage, ¡°Zhou Yuan! You dare to shatter my sword orb!¡± Although he had relied on external help in order to cultivate the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb, it was ultimately still a success. He only needed to invest more effort and time into the orb in the future to slowly stabilize it. However, now that it had been smashed to pieces by Zhou Yuan, all of the hard work from before had basically evaporated into nothing. How could this not enrage Baili Che? In the sky, Zhou Yuan looked down at Baili Che from above with indifferent eyes. The outcome of this match had already been decided the moment the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb was shattered. Although both of them managed to learn two of the seven Cangxuan Arts, Baili Che¡¯s unstable sword orb did not possess the qualifications to challenge Zhou Yuan¡¯s Omega Saint Spirit Art. After all, the Saint Spirit seed was the culmination of Zhou Yuan¡¯s own efforts, and though it was still at the initial stage, it was not something Baili Che¡¯s unstable Devil Sweeping Sword Orb could match. ¡°Chief disciple Baili, will you withdraw on your own accord or do I need to take action?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Baili Che¡¯s expression changed slightly as his gaze swept towards the two other battlefields in the distance. However, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu were currently locked in their intense battles, and clearly had no way of sending support his way. In his current condition, it was obviously impossible for him to fight Zhou Yuan. Various expressions rapidly flickered in his eyes. In the next instant, he suddenly retreated at full speed, planning to avoid Zhou Yuan for the moment, before finding an opportunity to get his revenge. *Uproar* An uproar erupted from the scouts of the various peaks, as complicated expressions rose on their faces. In the very beginning, no one had expected the battle between Zhou Yuan and Baili Che ultimately ending in the latter becoming the first to run away. Zhou Yuan shook his head at the sight of Baili Che¡¯s rapidly retreating figure. An icy light flashed in the former¡¯s eyes as he said, ¡°Still not giving up huh?¡± With a stomp, his figure transformed into a blur as he shot forth. The glowing Saint Spirit also looked down at this moment and enveloped Zhou Yuan¡¯s body once more. In the blink of an eye, it appeared above Baili Che like a phantom. Zhou Yuan was expressionless as a hand viciously swung downwards. Immense power was gathered within this strike, which was also amplified by the Saint Spirit. A muffled boom sounded from the air under the hand as the surrounding space rippled violently. ¡°ARHH!¡± Baili Che roared as all the Genesis Qi in his body exploded without hesitation in a desperate attempt to resist. Boom! However, the power of Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack was clearly far beyond anything Baili Che could match in his current condition, easily crushing all the silver Genesis Qi as it descended. Thud! Zhou Yuan''s palm slammed into Baili Che¡¯s chest with unequaled ferocity. Urgh! Blood sprayed from Baili Che¡¯s mouth, before his figure was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the surface of the sea below. Boom! The sea within a ten thousand feet radius crumbled inwards, creating a giant hole with Baili Che¡¯s body lying at the very center. ¡°How¡­ c...an¡­ this be¡­¡± His eyes were wide open, and his clothes in tatters, as he struggled to grab at Zhou Yuan in the sky. However, the hand ultimately crumpled powerlessly to the ground. Even till now, he still could not believe that he had actually lost to Zhou Yuan. The very same person he had always looked down on since the beginning was far stronger than he had ever imagined. As numerous scenes of the exchanges between the two of them flashed past in his mind, Baili Che finally realized how laughable and comical his previous arrogance and disdain had been. The sunken-in phenomenon on the surface of the sea persisted for quite some time, before slowly being filled by the surrounding water. A ray of light rose into the sky, sweeping up Baili Che¡¯s figure and throwing him out of the Genesis reservoir. The entire area was deathly silent. The scouts from the various peaks watched this scene with grave expressions, before they looked towards the youthful figure standing in the sky. At this very moment, the battle between the two chief disciples of Sword Cometh Peak and Saint Genesis Peak had undoubtedly been decided. However, the outcome had exceeded everyone¡¯s expectations¡­ no one had expected that one to remain standing till the very end would be Zhou Yuan. Respect flitted across the eyes of the many scouts. In the past, they had felt that Zhou Yuan¡¯s provocations towards Baili Che had been nothing but foolish and arrogant. However, the final outcome now made them understand. Zhou Yuan was not the ignorant fool, but them. Of course, it could also be said that this new chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak was truly a little immeasurable... No matter what, after this battle between the two chief disciples, there would no longer be anyone who felt that Zhou Yuan was any less a chief disciple than the rest from the other peaks... ¡­ Outside the Genesis reservoir. With the exception of peak master Ling Jun, the eyes of sect master Qing Yang and the peak masters widened a little when Baili Che was swept out of the reservoir. Sect master Qing Yang sighed and said, ¡°The younger generation will surpass us in time.¡± ¡°The foundations of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Omega Saint Spirit Art are clearly much more solid than Baili Che¡¯s Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique. Looks like he has worked hard.¡± Praised peak master Lianyi as she swept a glance at peak master Ling Jun. In the face of such a situation, even someone like peak master Ling Jun could not stop his expression from turning somewhat sour as he said in a low voice, ¡°In the entire Cangxuan Sect, old Xuan has the greatest understanding of the seven Cangxuan arts. Zhou Yuan¡¯s success in reaching the initial stage is impossible without old Xuan¡¯s guidance, how else could someone like him have managed to learn it?¡± Sect master Qing Yang waved his hand and said, ¡°Obtaining old Xuan¡¯s guidance is also the little one¡¯s ability.¡± Peak master Ling Jun had nothing to say in response, however, his face remained rather ugly from start to end. ¡°The battle between Sword Cometh Peak and Saint Genesis Peak has come to a conclusion. However, such a thing should not happen again. I understand Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s resentment due to their previous losses, but I advise them to stop before going too far.¡± Sect master Qing Yang looked towards peak master Ling Jun. Though his expression was gentle as usual, there was a warning tone in his words. It had been inappropriate for sect master Qing Yang to forcibly suppress the brewing anger in Sword Cometh Peak previously. As such, he had used his silence to permit their actions in the Genesis reservoir, hoping that the disciples would be able to release their anger and be done with it. But who could have imagined that Sword Cometh Peak would ultimately not only fail to release their frustration, but instead be forced into such a desperate situation by a mere few hundred Saint Genesis Peak disciples. And now, even the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak had been defeated. Thus, it was not that Sword Cometh Peak was not given a chance, but they who were unable to grasp it. As the master of a sect, sect master Qing Yang naturally could not allow Sword Cometh Peak to keep oppressing Saint Genesis Peak on purpose, because that would obviously be too unfair. Though peak master Ling Jun was still a little frustrated, he had no choice but to nod in acknowledgement. Nearby, elder Shen Taiyuan and elder Lu Song were still stuck in their shock due to Baili Che¡¯s defeat by Zhou Yuann¡¯s hands. It was a long time later, before they slowly returned to their senses. ¡°Old fogey, you¡¯ve really picked up a treasure¡­¡± Lu Song sighed in envy. Who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would learn the Omega Saint Spirit Art in a short span of two months. This trump card of his has been concealed far too well. Shen Taiyuan stroked his beard, trying to keep his composure, but he ultimately could not stop himself from grinning widely. He knew that when Zhou Yuan defeated Baili Che, Saint Genesis Peak had already become the victor in the Genesis reservoir ceremony. This battle would let the other peaks know that they could no longer look down on Saint Genesis Peak. In the future, Saint Genesis Peak would obtain even more cultivation resources, and gradually grow to ultimately become the true seventh peak of the Cangxuan Sect. Shen Taiyuan gazed at the young figure inside the reservoir as happiness flowed out in his eyes. He knew that it was not he, the substitute peak master, who had contributed most to Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s slow rise over the past year, but the young one known as Zhou Yuan. At this very moment, Shen Taiyuan once again felt extremely glad, that he had no second thoughts while going against the public opinion to recruit, and give the young man from the peak selection ceremony the greatest support he could. Everything he had invested back then had clearly been reciprocated beyond his wildest imaginations. The young man that few had favored, had slowly become one of the most well known figures in this generation of disciples. In fact¡­ Shen Taiyuan had the faint premonition that due to this young man, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s name would once again be heard throughout Cangxuan Heaven in the future... Like it had been back then, when patriarch Cang Xuan was overseeing Saint Genesis Peak. Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 533 Sword Cometh Peak at a Dead End Crash! A torrential rainstorm poured on this area of the sky. If one took a closer look, one would discover that every raindrop was composed of a Genesis Rune, and contained terrifying power. When they fell in such an overwhelming amount, even a mountain range would be flattened by their might. Bzz bzz! Amidst the torrential rain, Kong Sheng¡¯s expression was a little grave as the sword in his hand danced, transforming into countless swords that enveloped his entire body. Every slash would cut countless raindrops apart, making it impossible of any of them to approach him. These raindrops were not only made from Genesis Runes, but also contained Spirit power. Any drop that landed the body would result in assault on the Spirit. As such, even Kong Sheng did not dare to let any touch him. However, even though he was currently in the Genesis Rune boundary Yaoyao had constructed, he was unafraid due to the Rune Breaker Blood Art on his sword, allowing him to easily dispel any Genesis Rune that came his way. As he defended against the torrential rain, Kong Sheng suddenly raised his head, looked towards a certain spot and said, ¡°Though your boundary is formidable, it does not pose much of a threat to me.¡± The space rippled as Yaoyao¡¯s slender figure was revealed. Her clear, indifferent eyes looked down as her red lips parted slightly. ¡°A mere Rune Breaker Blood Art fills you with so much confidence?¡± ¡°You should take a look at your sword.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s gaze immediately turned towards his sword, as his pupils shrank a little. The blood patterns on the blade had become fainter. ¡°The raindrop Genesis Runes?!¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s heart shook. His expression turned a little uglier as he stared at Yaoyao and said, ¡°So your boundary was not aimed at me, but my Rune Breaker Blood Art!¡± Yaoyao nonchalantly said, ¡°Although the Rune Breaker Blood Art is able to counter some Genesis Runes, it is in turn also countered by certain Genesis Runes. That¡¯s why I told you that you are a little too naive if you believe the technique will allow you to look down on Genesis Runes.¡± Kong Sheng frowned. He never expected that from the very beginning, Yaoyao was not targeting him but his Rune Breaker Blood Art... Once his Rune Breaker Blood Art was neutralized, his advantage would also fade away. ¡°It appears that I have to fight you with my own strength.¡± Kong Sheng sighed softly as his eyes gradually turned fierce, while alarming Genesis Qi undulations slowly rose from his body. He had originally planned on using the Rune Breaker Blood Art to defeat Yaoyao as quickly as possible. However, it was now clear that his plan had been unrealistic. Yaoyao was far more problematic than he had imagined. ¡°I can only hope that Baili Che will be able to swiftly defeat Zhou Yuan, and free the Sword Cometh Peak disciples from the boundary.¡± Yaoyao seemed to read Kong Sheng¡¯s thoughts, her lips rising slightly as she said, ¡°If you¡¯re still hoping to count on Baili Che, I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯ll be disappointed.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes narrowed as he icily said, ¡°What do you mean?¡± He was currently in Yaoyao¡¯s boundary, and was unable to sense the situation outside. With a light tap of her Genesis Rune brush, the surrounding space began to ripple, revealing the outside world. Kong Sheng¡¯s gaze immediately looked towards the battlefield of Zhou Yuan and Baili Che, as his pupils abruptly shrank. He could only see Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, and Baili Che¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations had already disappeared from the Genesis reservoir. ¡°How can this be?!¡± At this juncture, even someone like Kong Sheng could not stop his expression from changing as he blurted out, ¡°How could Baili Che have lost to Zhou Yuan?!¡± Kong Sheng thoroughly understood Baili Che¡¯s strength, while Zhou Yuan was merely the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak. There should have been a substantial gap between the two individuals. However, Yaoyao could not be bothered to answer Kong Sheng¡¯s question, merely staring at him in amusement. Kong Sheng also realized that his question was rather laughable, since the truth was already laid clear before his eyes. His expression fluctuated indeterminately for a time, but in the end, he could only grit his teeth and say in a low voice, ¡°That useless trash!¡± Now that Baili Che had lost to Zhou Yuan, the already unfavorable situation would only become much much worse. While frustration surged in Kong Sheng¡¯s heart, the far away Zhou Yuan felt the attention on him, and immediately lifted his head to look in Yaoyo and Kong Sheng¡¯s direction. His gaze met Kong Sheng¡¯s for a moment, before he chuckled. In the next instant, his figure suddenly shot towards the fighting Saint Genesis Peak and elite Sword Cometh Peal disciples. After beating Baili Che, Zhou Yuan was obviously now free to clean up the escaped elite disciples. With his addition into the battle, Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s side immediately descended into chaos as the panic rose on the faces of the numerous disciples. Several figures quickly shot out from the group, the powerful Genesis Qi surging around their bodies not the least bit weaker than Yuan Hong¡¯s. They had dispatched the top disciples that were second only to Baili Che in an attempt to stop Zhou Yuan. Boom! Boom! However, their attempts were clearly useless. Zhou Yuan was far from comparable to his past self during the chief disciple selection. If he were to fight Yuan Hong again now, the latter would barely be able to put up a fight. The same outcome awaited these top disciples from Sword Cometh Peak. It did not take long for disciple after disciple to be gravely injured by Zhou Yuan, and kicked out of the reservoir. In the face of this scene, the scouts from the various peaks could only shake their heads inside. The situation had already fallen completely in Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s favor. With Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu both unable to leave their battlefields, there was no one on Sword Cometh Peak side who could stop Zhou Yuan. As time passed, all the Sword Cometh Peak disciples, with the exception of Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu, would be eliminated from the ceremony. This was also something Kong Sheng naturally understood. Hence, his expression had turned extremely ugly. He had not expected the situation to develop in such a manner. Sword Cometh Peak was overwhelmingly superior to Saint Genesis Peak, and dealing with the latter should have been an easy task. Who could have imagined that they would not only fail to achieve crushing victory, but instead be forced into such dire states by Saint Genesis Peak. Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes looked over as she unhurriedly said, ¡°Sword Cometh Peak can still maintain some dignity if you guys choose to withdraw from the Genesis reservoir.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes turned ice-cold as he frostily retorted, ¡°In your dreams!¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll have to kick you guys out one by one.¡± With a small jerk of her wrist, her Genesis Rune brush descended as countless Genesis Runes instantly formed. Lightning and fire weaved together, pulsing with unequaled violence. Rumble! Lightning and fire Genesis Runes twisted together like giant pythons as they swarmed towards Kong Sheng. Torrential Genesis Qi exploded from Kong Sheng¡¯s body, clearly no longer holding anything back as anger fueled him. Boom! A tremendous battle broke out between the two, the scale clearly much greater than the earlier fight between Zhou Yuan and Baili Che. However, no matter how ferociously Kong Sheng attacked, he was unable to escape the mercilessly onslaught of the innumerable Genesis Runes, leaving him no choice but to meet each one head-on with his full power. As time flowed, Kong Sheng¡¯s attacks grew more and more anxious, because he could see more and more Sword Cometh Peak disciples being eliminated after Zhou Yuan entered the battlefield. In the Heaven Disorientating Boundary below, even more Sword Cometh Peak disciples were locked in fierce battle with the aquatic beasts, as they were eliminated one after another. This was a huge loss for Sword Comth Peak. As the scouts from the various peaks watched, they understood that the outcome of the battle was already apparent. If the situation continued, Sword Cometh Peak would ultimately be left with their two Chosens, while all the other disciples would be eliminated¡­ it would be a very wretched conclusion indeed. ¡°Saint Genesis Peak is truly ruthless.¡± The scouts looked at each other, seeing the fear and wariness in each other¡¯s eyes. Looks like they could no longer view Saint Genesis Peak in the same manner they had before. ¡°Sword Cometh Peak has kicked a metal board this time, and has lost all face¡­¡± The scouts from the various peaks sighed. Saint Genesis Peak did have chief disciples before, but none of them had managed to change anything. Who could have imagined that Saint Genesis Peak would suddenly undergo a complete transformation after Zhou Yuan became chief disciple. Time slowly flowed. There were only a few dozen elite Sword Cometh Peak disciples remaining, surrounded by several hundred Saint Genesis Peak disciples. The former had no way out, and there was no longer any hints of the playful amusement when they had chased Saint Genesis Peak earlier. Zhou Yuan calmly gazed at the terrified Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Without any hesitation, he waved his hand and said, ¡°Eliminate all of them.¡± After eliminating all the other Sword Cometh Peak disciples, they could concentrate on dealing with Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu. Rumble! However, just as the Saint Genesis Peak side was preparing to attack, thunder suddenly boomed. Zhou Yuan raised his head, frowning a little as he peered into the distance, where thunder clouds gathered as numerous lightning bolts flashed. After the lightning, boundless Genesis Qi began to sweep towards them from other directions, as powerful figures appeared in the sky one after another. Zhou Yuan could see some familiar faces amongst them. Lu Yan cried out in surprise from beside him, ¡°The Chosens from the other five peaks!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. While their earth-shaking battle was taking place, the Chosens from the other five peaks had finally arrived... Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 534 Ten Thousand Fee t Rushing wind sounds continuously rang out in the sky, as countless glowing figures arrived. They ultimately came to a stop in the vicinity, creating a very impressive sight. The disciples from the other five peaks had rushed over at this moment. Several figures stood at the very front, powerful Genesis Qi undulations pulsing from their bodies, while drawing numerous respectful gazes. Zhou Yuan could see some familiar faces amongst them. Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Ye Ge... They were obviously the Chosens of the other five peaks. The Saint Genesis Peak disciples, that were about to charge at the remaining Sword Cometh Peak disciples, could not help but stop upon seeing this, as they stared at the distant sky in alarm. They had clearly been alarmed by the arrival of the other five peaks. They did not understand why the disciples and Chosens from the other five peaks would suddenly arrive here. High up in the sky, the Chosens immediately cast their gazes towards the battlefield the moment they appeared. However, shock filled their faces when they saw the pitiful state Sword Cometh Peak was in. Ye Ge could not help but blurt out in a stunned voice, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where are the Sword Cometh Peak disciples? Is this all of them?¡± ¡°What else could it be, they¡¯ve obviously been eliminated. How ruthless.¡± Answered Chu Qing with a solemn expression as he caressed his shiny bald head. ¡°Eliminated by those few Saint Genesis Peak disciples?¡± The corners of Ye Ge¡¯s lips twitched slightly. ¡°With that vicious woman around, do you think Saint Genesis Peak is an easy target?? Chu Qing secretly glanced towards Yaoyao¡¯s direction as he pouted, before he gloatingly said, ¡°Kong Sheng seems to have been trapped by her too.¡± Ye Ge rolled his eyes at the former. ¡°Stop saying that she¡¯s vicious. Sword Cometh Peak only have themselves to blame.¡± Chu Qing responded by rolling his eyes in an even more exaggerated manner. ¡°You¡¯ve basically forgotten your past pain now that your wounds have healed. That little demoness did not even blink when she sold us away previously. If not for my heroic efforts, do you think that you would have made it back alive?¡± Ye Ge smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re always slacking off, of course she couldn¡¯t put up with you.¡± Chu Qing sincerely said with all of his heart, ¡°You call that slacking off?! I was clearly trying to be friendly. When we¡¯re outside the sect, harmoniously sharing treasures is so much better than tiring fighting.¡± Li Qingchan moved over and icily glared at the two of them as she scolded, ¡°Can the two of you shut up, get back on topic!¡± After finishing, she shifted her gaze downwards as amazement flitted across her eyes. She was naturally aware of Sword Cometh Peak going all out to eliminate Saint Genesis Peak. However, no one had expected Sword Cometh Peak, who supposedly had an absolute advantage, to suffer such serious losses. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were truly formidable. Although Li Qingchan was quite sure that the giant boundary was Yaoyao¡¯s handiwork, Zhou Yuan definitely made some contributions. Though it was still a little hard to believe that the two of them working together had actually caused such mayhem for Sword Cometh Peak. At this current juncture, Zhou Yuan puzzledly gazed at the Chosens from below. He rose into the air to approach them, cupping his fists together as he asked, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, why are you guys here?¡± His gaze swept across the other figures as a grave expression appeared in his eyes. In addition to Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and Ye Ge, basically all the other Chosens were also present. This was not a line-up that could be ignored. Li Qingchan looked towards Zhou Yuan and softly said, ¡°We¡¯ve come to discuss something¡­¡± She paused for a moment, turning towards Yaoyao¡¯s battlefield as she continued, ¡°Can we first get Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu over?¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s words were also transmitted to Kong Sheng and Yaoyao¡¯s ears. Yaoyao was a little taken aback, similarly surprised by the arrival of the eight Chosens. However, she did not immediately agree, but first cast her gaze towards Zhou Yuan to seek his opinion. Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment, before he nodded. Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu would take a long time to deal with. They only needed to guard the boundary and prevent the Kong Sheng duo from damaging it. Yaoyao gently flicked her wrist, causing the sky full of lightning and fire Genesis Runes to dissipate. With a wave of her hand, the far away Tuntun also rushed over. Swoosh! With the temporary truce, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu also gathered together. However, their expressions were currently rather ugly. Zhao Zhu icily said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, release my Sword Cometh Peak disciples!¡± However, Zhou Yuan merely swept a nonchalant glance at him, before ignoring him. Zhou Zhu could not help but grow extremely angry at such treatment. Ye Ge spoke up at this moment, ¡°Please don¡¯t get too worked up junior brother Zhao Zhu. I hope that the two peaks will put your disagreements on hold for the time being.¡± ¡°On hold? They¡¯ve eliminated several thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples, and Zhou Yuan even eliminated Baili Che. You¡¯re telling me to put this on hold?¡± Zhao Zhu laughed in anger. His words immediately caused the Chosens to glance at Zhou Yuan in amazement. In their opinion, though Zhou Yuan was the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, he should be the weakest amongst the chief disciples of the seven peaks. They had not expected him to be capable of eliminating Baili Che. ¡°The man can subdue the little witch is special indeed.¡± Only Chu Qing was not surprised, his expression screaming that he had predicted this all along. However, his words immediately drew Yaoyao¡¯s gaze, as a clear as a mountain spring like voice icily sounded, ¡°Who are you calling little demoness?¡± Chu Qing¡¯s expression turned a little rigid as he hurriedly said, ¡°I misspoke, I meant little fairy.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s was chillingly frosty as he said, ¡°What are you guys doing here? Either Sword Cometh Peak or Saint Genesis Peak will be leaving the Genesis reservoir ceremony today.¡± Yaoyao offhandedly remarked, ¡°That will surely be Sword Cometh Peak.¡± ¡°Try us!¡± Zhao Zhu bristled in anger. Roar! Tuntun released a deep roar as its eyes locked onto Zhao Zhu. A terrifyingly dreadful aura rose from its body, causing Zhao Zhu¡¯s pupils to shiver as he quickly took a defensive stance. Li Qingchan felt an oncoming migraine upon seeing that the two parties were about to lunge at each other once again. ¡°We rushed here to stop both sides from taking things too far.¡± ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, what is going on?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan with a frown. ¡°While you guys were fighting, we discovered a giant disturbance in the Genesis reservoir. If our guess is not wrong, a big one has likely appeared in this ceremony.¡± The one who spoke was a tall young man. His hair was scattered over his shoulders, making him look rather wild. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze paused on the former¡¯s skin, which seemed to be infused with a jade-like luster. It was surprisingly even purer than his jade skin, and was an indication that the young man¡¯s body was extremely tough and packed with power. His jade skin originated from the little Mythic Saint Body. In the Cangxuan sect, the only ones who could practice an even stronger Genesis technique than himself, was the Hongya Peak with their true Mythic Saint Body. The person before him was obviously the ranked four Chosen, Shang Chunqiu. ¡°Big one?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment, but quickly realised that it should be referring to an aquatic beast. Li Qingchan slowly said, ¡°If we¡¯re not wrong, the big one that appeared this time has likely reached a length of¡­¡± ¡°About ten thousand feet¡­¡± ¡°A ten thousand feet aquatic beast?!¡± Zhou Yuan was not the only one to react this time, even Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu involuntarily gasped. Normally speaking, a thousand foot aquatic beast could achieve an eight dragons baptism, and required a Chosen to slay it. Hence, one could see how powerful such an aquatic beast was. And now, a ten thousand foot level aquatic beast had appeared. How terrifying would such a titan be? ¡°A ten thousand foot aquatic beast has only appeared once a hundred years ago, and the outcome was all the disciples from the seven peaks being eliminated¡­¡± Li Qingchan stared at Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu. ¡°That¡¯s why we rushed here in hopes that you guys will be able to put aside your differences for the time being, such that all seven peaks can work together against that aquatic beast.¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 535 Cooperation of the Seven Peaks It was silent high up in the sky, everyone evidently stunned by news of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. That was a ten thousand foot aquatic beast, which wielded terrifying power. Any Chosen who encountered it alone would have no choice but to flee, because it was basically impossible for any of them to face it in battle. Li Qingchan looked at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, as she slowly said, ¡°Moreover, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast has some intelligence, and is able to command other aquatic beasts. Once it appears, it will surely begin to encircle and annihilate our seven peaks, which was how the disciples of the seven peaks were eliminated a hundred years ago.¡± ¡°No one expected this situation to appear again this year¡­¡± ¡°Hence, for the sake of avoiding the same fate, we¡¯ve come to the conclusion that all seven peaks need to work together, and most importantly, all of the Chosens must unite our strength to defeat the ten thousand foot aquatic beast.¡± ¡°This is why we¡¯re here.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned, feeling an incoming headache. He was clearly caught unprepared by the sudden appearance of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. Though Zhou Yuan had never seen one before, it was definitely very dangerous. He had after all personally experienced the pressure of a thousand foot aquatic beast, and if a thousand foot aquatic beast was already such a threat, what more a ten thousand foot one... If this matter was not handled well, they would likely be unable to wait for the end of the Genesis reservoir ceremony. All of the disciples would be completely eliminated by that ten thousand foot aquatic beast. If that were to happen, this ceremony would truly become a joke. Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes faintly flickered in thought for a moment, before he said, ¡°We can help, but there are some conditions. Immediately release all of the trapped Sword Cometh Peak disciples, while Saint Genesis Peak must not only return the Genesis essence they took away, but also give additional compensation.¡± Zhou Yuan immediately laughed when he heard this. ¡°Let¡¯s cut the bullshit senior brother Kogn Sheng, and continue fighting instead.¡± What kind of joke was that. Saint Genesis Peak clearly had the upper hand at the moment, and yet Kong Sheng actually had the face to state such conditions. Zhao Zhu frostily said, ¡°We¡¯re all Chosens here, what right does a mere chief disciple like yourself have to speak!¡± Zhou Yuan remained composed, not bothering to retort this time as he waved his hand and said, ¡°Tuntun, go beat him.¡± Roar! In front of outsiders, Tuntun would act quite respectful towards Zhou Yuan. It let loose a thunderous roar as its enormous body pounced forward. Black light flickered on its sharp claws as they tore through the air and viciously slashed at Zhao Zhu. Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression immediately changed as he quickly formed a seal with his hands. Genesis Qi surged forth, transforming into a peerless sword that shot forth to meet Tuntun¡¯s claws. Clang! A berserk shockwave swept outwards, accompanied by a loud ¡®clang¡¯. The sword shattered under Tuntun¡¯s claws as Zhao Zhu¡¯s figure hurriedly retreated, leaving Tuntun¡¯s range as he stormily glared at Zhou Yuan. Kong Sheng also icily shouted at this moment, ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± The Genesis Rune brush in Yaoyao¡¯s hand shook as Genesis Runes swiftly formed, and orbited around her body, ready to attack Kong Sheng at any time. A fight was about to break out between them again all of a sudden. ¡°Stop!¡± The other Chosens cried out to stop them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained impassive as he said, ¡°Senior brothers and sisters, aren¡¯t you guys hoping to gather the power of ten Chosens to deal with that ten thousand foot aquatic beast? No problem, Yaoyao and Tuntun are fully capable of replacing the two of them.¡± Li Qingchan helplessly replied, ¡°Two more Chosens will naturally improve our chances.¡± Zhou Yuan calmly said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to trouble my senior brothers and sisters to advise senior brother Kong Sheng to have a good look at the current situation. I hope that the silly conditions from earlier will not be said again, because the only ones they are shaming are themselves.¡± ¡°We can release the remaining Sword Cometh Peak disciples, but that will be all. The Genesis essence was rightfully earned by our Saint Genesis Peak disciples, and that is something I will not back down on. As for compensation¡­ Sword Cometh Peak tried to oppress us with their superior numbers, so I can only say that they have only themselves to blame.¡± Rage flared in Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes as he glared daggers at Zhou Yuan, but the latter did not shrink back, meeting the former¡¯s gaze with equally intense iciness. Li Qingchan was silent for a moment, before she looked towards Kong Sheng and said, ¡°Senior brother Kong Sheng, the Genesis reservoir ceremony is not over yet. The lost Genesis essence can be hunted back, and our five peaks can give you guys a little compensation. Of course, that¡¯s on the condition that you guys will give your full support in dealing with the ten thousand foot aquatic beast.¡± Ye Ge also smiled slightly as he said, ¡°Senior brother Kogn Sheng, this is already a show of good will from us. Moreover, this matter concerns all of the disciples, and if we are somehow all eliminated due to Sword Cometh peak, I¡¯m afraid that all of the peaks¡¯ resentment will be directed towards you guys. It will be no good to incur the wrath of the majority.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s expression turned a little ugly. ¡°Junior brother Ye Ge, are you threatening me?¡± Ye Ge shook his head and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sure senior brother Kong Sheng understands the consequences.¡± Kong Sheng fell silent, his heart filled with sullenness. He never imagined that the plan to annihilate Saint Genesis Peak would ultimately end in Sword Cometh Peak falling into such a miserable position instead. He knew that Ye Ge was not wrong. If all seven peaks were wiped out due to Sword Cometh Peak, anyone could easily imagine how unwelcomed the Sword Cometh Peak disciples would be in the future. Various thoughts churned in Kong Sheng¡¯s mind. In the end, he took in a deep breath and suppressed the sullen feelings in his heart, while a voice escaped from the cracks between his teeth, ¡°Release them!¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled softly and nodded at Yaoyao. With a gentle flick of her brush, numerous Genesis Runes descended and landed on the Heaven Disorientating Boundary. The boundary immediately began to shake, before slowly dissipating. As it disappeared, the trapped disciples within it quickly rose into the sky. However, not even a thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples were left. At the sight of such heavy losses, Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu¡¯s faces could not help but twitch for a moment. The other Chosens also secretly wet their lips, as they involuntarily cast another glance at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. These two were truly ruthless. They had eliminated several thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples... Regardless, it seemed that they had finally managed to settle this issue for the time being. Li Qingchan breathed a small sigh of relief as she said, ¡°Though a ten thousand foot aquatic beast is formidable, we may be able to deal with it as long as we join forces.¡± ¡°Of course¡­¡± She paused for a moment, and suddenly looked towards Chu Qing. ¡°I also hope that senior brother Chu Qing will give his hundred percent.¡± Chu Qing was taken aback by these words, before his handsome yet eyebrow-less face turned solemn as he righteously said, ¡°Junior sister Qingchan, I have to formally state that I¡¯ve never slacked off before, and have given my all in every fight. If you slander me again, I will lodge a complaint against you with Lightning Prison Peak¡¯s junior brother Lu Jingshen." However, the other Chosens merely smiled faintly in response to his impassioned rebuttal, their eyes clearly saying that ¡®we¡¯ll be fools to believe you¡¯. Only an elegant, exceptionally fair-skinned girl in blue bit her lips and said in a small voice, ¡°I believe senior brother Chu Qing.¡± She was the other Chosen of Cangxuan Peak, and was called Su Xiu. Chu Qing gratefully looked towards Su Xiu and said, ¡°Junior sister Su Xiu is an excellent judge of character, as expected of a member of our Cangxuan Peak.¡± Su Xiu¡¯s fair little face blushed slightly as she bashfully lowered her head, not daring to look at Chu Qing. Li Qingchan cast a helpless glance at the former. How could she not see Su Xiu¡¯s feelings towards Chu Qing. In the end, Li Qingchan could only shake her head, before turning towards the crowd. ¡°Since it¡¯s been decided, the various peaks shall gather their disciples, and we¡¯ll meet again at another location to discuss our strategies on how to deal with that ten thousand foot aquatic beast.¡± ¡°We need to work together on this task. If not, we will soon share the fate of that generation of disciples from a hundred years ago.¡± ¡°If everyone does not intend to become teaching material for the subsequent batches of disciples, we¡¯d better do our best.¡± The Chosens could not help but shiver when they imagined this scene, before forcefully nodding their heads. That ten thousand foot aquatic beast must die! Chapter 536 Training On an enormous island located in the central region of the Genesis reservoir. This island was currently the most busy place in the entire reservoir. All the disciples from the seven peaks were gathered here, evidently planning on working together against the imminent crisis. Amongst the seven gathered peaks, only the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were a little unhappy. The disciples from the other peaks would look at them in a weird manner, and they would often catch others pointing and whispering when they passed by, making them feel extremely sullen. However, there was nothing they could say in response. After all, even they themselves had not expected that nearly ten thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples, two Chosens and a chief disciple would ultimately lose in such a pitiful manner to Saint Genesis Peak. This was truly humiliating for them. In contrast to Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s sullenness, the Saint Genesis Peak disciples found that their status seemed to have risen substantially. In the past, they had basically been transparent in the eyes of the other disciples, and no one would pay them any attention. In fact, when receiving missions in the sect, the other disciples would even find excuses to run away when they heard a team mate was from Saint Genesis Peak, an occurrence that rather infuriated the Saint Genesis Peak disciples. In comparison, the attitudes of the other disciples were much better now, which made the Saint Genesis Peak disciples both happy and grateful. Of course, their gratefulness was not directed towards the other peak disciples, but to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. All the Saint Genesis Peak disciples understood that if it were not for the duo, Saint Genesis Peak would only be able to challenge Sword Cometh Peak in their dreams. As such, the Saint Genesis Peak disciples were currently really glad that Zhou Yuan had become their chief disciple. ¡­ On the tallest peak at the center of the island. A temporary pavilion had been built in this location, where Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, the other Chosens and the chief disciples of the various peaks were currently gathered. This was basically a gathering of the finest disciples from all seven peaks. Inside the pavilion, Genesis Qi took the shape of a light screen that turned into a map. Li Qingchan¡¯s pretty face was slightly solemn as she pointed towards a certain spot in the northwest sector of the map and said, ¡°The ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s undulations originated from this location. Our scouts tell us that countless aquatic beasts have gathered there, making it very difficult to approach.¡± ¡°The undulations have been growing stronger and stronger, and if our guess is correct, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast is still in the process of forming. At this rate, it would take at most two days for it to fully form.¡± ¡°When that happens it will immediately sense us as foreign presences in the reservoir and proceed to exterminate us.¡± Everyone had a grave expression, likely feeling the pressure from the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. Zhou Yuan suddenly asked, ¡°Can we kill it before it fully forms?¡± ¡°Immature and arrogant.¡± Zhao Zhu glanced at Zhou Yuan and sneered. Although their battle was over, Zhao Zhu clearly held a grudge due to Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s crushing defeat. As such, there was naturally no way he would let a chance to mock Zhou Yuan go. Zhou Yuan mercilessly retorted, ¡°An already defeated opponent.¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression immediately turned green with anger. Zhou Yuan merely ignored him and looked towards Li Qingchan. The latter shook her head and explained, ¡°First, there¡¯s already not enough time. In addition, it''s hiding in the extreme depths of the reservoir, while it is very exhausting for us to move in the reservoir, making it impossible to linger for long in its depths. Hence, we can¡¯t enter the depths to kill it.¡± ¡°Moreover, there are countless aquatic beasts protecting it, with no lack of thousand foot aquatic beasts amongst them.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned a little. The pressure in the reservoir was not an issue for him, and he could roam inside for long periods of time at little cost. However, he could not deal with the tight security. ¡°Given the current circumstances, we¡¯ll have to wait for the ten thousand foot aquatic beast to form, and begin its assault on us. We¡¯ll then concentrate our forces and engage it in battle.¡± ¡°Although a ten thousand foot aquatic beast will be formidable, it is not impossible for us to fight it if we work together.¡± Shang Chunqiu grinned, battle lust brewing in his eyes. There was no sign of any fear due to terror of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. The other Chosens nodded. Those who could become Chosens were naturally talented and prideful individuals that would not be frightened by a ten thousand foot aquatic beast. ¡°I have another question.¡± Kong Sheng suddenly spoke up. ¡°If the ten thousand foot aquatic beast is ultimately slain by us, how we will be splitting the Genesis essence.¡± These words immediately caused the crowd to fall silent, as burning desire flashed across their eyes. The Genesis essence from a thousand foot aquatic beast could give them an eight dragons baptism, but the highest level nine dragons baptism had never once appeared even till now. As such, many had made the hypothesis that higher quality Genesis essence was required. The Genesis essence from a ten thousand foot aquatic beast would certainly fulfill this requirement. In other words, the ones who obtained the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence would probably attain the highest level nine dragons baptism! The current generation of Chosens were all at the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage, and were thus doing everything they could to strengthen their Genesis Qi foundations in preparation for breaking into the Divine Dwelling stage. However, at their level, the creation of every additional Genesis Qi star in their Qi Dwelling took a tremendous amount of effort. A nine dragons baptism would undoubtedly result in substantial growth in their Genesis Qi foundations, a temptation that even the Chosens could not resist. Besides the threat of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, the giant rewards also played a huge part in enabling the seven peaks to form an alliance in such a smooth manner. The silence lasted for quite some time, before finally being broken by Li Qingchan. ¡°Whoever contributes the most will get to enjoy fifty percent of its Genesis essence, while the other fifty will be shared amongst the participants of the battle. The others pondered a little, before nodding in agreement. This was a great motivation for everyone to do their best. After all, they had also calculated that at least fifty percent of a ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence was required to obtain a nine dragons blessing... ¡°Since we¡¯re all in agreement, we¡¯ll follow this plan.¡± ¡­ While the disciples of the seven peaks prepared and waited, sect master Qing Yang and the rest of the sect¡¯s upper echelons were closely watching outside the Genesis reservoir. ¡°Hehe, that lass Qingchan from Snow Lotus Peak does have the bearings of a great general.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s sharp gaze could see everything, and had naturally seen Li Qingchan¡¯s capabilities in guiding the alliance. As such, he could not help but shower her with praise. Peak master Lianyi smiled and said, ¡°Qingchan may have overstepped her boundaries, such responsibilities are rightfully Chu Qing¡¯s.¡± Sect master Qing Yang shook his head in helplessness. ¡°Don¡¯t count on that lazy fellow to take on such tasks.¡± ¡°Since sect master is well aware of Chu Qing¡¯s laziness, you shouldn¡¯t caused such a commotion.¡± Peak master Bai Mei chuckled. He was naturally referring to the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, because sect master was the one who had control over the amount of Source Dragon Qi that poured into the reservoir. All he needed was to let in a little more to fulfill the conditions for the birth of a ten thousand foot aquatic beast. Sect master Qing Yang sighed softly, before he said, ¡°The Mythic Utopia is about to resurface. When that happens, all the genius youngsters in the entire Cangxuan Heaven will gather, and a storm of blood will soon follow. I¡¯ve made this ten thousand aquatic beast with the intention of training them.¡± ¡°We can give them protection brands in the sect, but once they enter the Mythic Utopia, they will only be able to rely on themselves, and a little carelessness is all it would take for them to lose their lives.¡± ¡°After all, the interior of the Mythic Utopia is a truly dangerous place. They will not only have to face numerous ferocious Genesis Beasts, but also guard against the schemes of the other geniuses. Has there ever been a time where the prided geniuses of our sect have not ended up being buried in the Mythic Utopia?¡± ¡°If they can¡¯t even pass this little test, it would be better if they did not go to the Mythic Utopia.¡± Everyone else fell silent upon hearing sect master Qing Yang¡¯s words. In the end, they nodded, understanding his painstaking efforts. They cast their gazes towards the Genesis reservoir, and looked at the gathered disciples on the island. ¡°I hope these little ones will also realize sect master¡¯s intentions, and not disappoint¡­¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 537 Aquatic Beasts Attack the Island News of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast had not been made public by the Chosens previously, fearing that it would cause alarm and panic. Only when all seven peaks were gathered on the island, was the information finally allowed to spread. As the news spread, things unfurled like the Chosens had predicted. A giant commotion instantly erupted on the island, as countless disciples began to panic like victims of a disaster. ¡°My god, did I mishear? A ten thousand foot aquatic beast?!¡± ¡°Why is this happening. The previous time a ten thousand foot aquatic beast was a hundred years ago. I¡¯ve heard that all seven peaks were ultimately wiped out that year!¡± ¡°We¡¯re finished. A ten thousand aquatic beast is not something we can hope to resist!¡± ¡°Is all our hard work going to end up being wasted due to the ten thousand foot aquatic beast?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t panic, the seven peaks were only eliminated a hundred years ago, because each peak was kicked out by one by one. But it¡¯s different this time. The Chosens discovered the creature in advance, and gathered all of us here. As long as we work together, what can a ten thousand foot aquatic beast possibly do to us?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, if we¡¯re united, I refuse to believe that a ten thousand foot aquatic beast will take us all on!¡± ¡°If it dares to appear, the Chosens the seven peaks will surely subdue it!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Similar conversations were held in every corner of the island. Fortunately, the Chosens and chief disciples were secretly guiding the conversations, preventing the morale of the disciples from crumbling. Instead, the fear of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast slowly began to unite the disciples of the various peaks. They knew that if they did not join hands, no one would receive any benefits this time! Of course, the main reason was still the presence of the Chosens, who were the greatest source of confidence in the hearts of the many disciples. After all, the Chosens represented the strongest power amongst this generation of disciples. Two days passed in a blink of an eye amidst this pressuring atmosphere. When the third day arrived, nearly every disciple could clearly feel the Genesis Qi of the entire Genesis reservoir suddenly turn berserk at a certain moment. Woo woo! Sharp wails sounded across the island. The ten Chosens and the chief disciples were currently standing on the tallest peak, their gazes peering towards the edge of the sea, where the waters seemed to be boiling. They could faintly hear the roars of countless aquatic beasts. Li Qingchan gravely watched this scene as she said, ¡°There are countless aquatic beasts swarming towards us. They appear to be under the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s command.¡± ¡°Tell the disciples to retreat into the boundary and take up their defensive positions. Kill any aquatic beast that manages to enter.¡± As her voice faded, disciples immediately rushed off to spread her instructions. The disciples from all seven peaks quickly began to withdraw into the many boundaries in a nervous and orderly manner. These boundaries had been constructed by the Spirit Rune Peak disciples led by Yaoyao and Ye Ge over the past two days. Li Qingchan watched the various disciples retreat into the boundaries, before she turned towards Zhou Yuan and the rest of the chief disciples. ¡°If any thousand foot aquatic beast appears, you guys will lead groups of elite purple sash disciples to kill them.¡± A thousand foot aquatic beast was extremely powerful, and was not existence that a chief disciple could face alone. Hence, they needed to work together with others. ¡°As for us¡­¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s gaze shifted towards Chu Qing, Kong Sheng and the rest of the Chosens as she took in a deep breath. ¡°If the ten thousand foot aquatic beast appears, we¡¯ll meet it with our full power.¡± She paused for a moment, before she continued in an earnest voice, ¡°We¡¯re the last hope of the seven peaks. If we fail to defeat the beast, this Genesis reservoir ceremony shall end with all of us returning empty handed.¡± ¡°As Chosens, we get to enjoy the best cultivation resources, status and respect. And now, it¡¯s time for us to play our part.¡± Her beautiful face appeared cold and stern, but also gave off a certain heart-stirring charm. The expressions of the other Chosens turned a little more solemn as they faintly nodded in silence. They understood that all the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect were currently watching them. Rumble! Rumble! Not long after Li Qingchan gave the order, the waters around the island began to churn violently as enormous aquatic beasts of all shapes rose from the water with deafening roars. So many that there was seemingly no end to them. Around the island, fear rose on the faces of the disciples when they saw this. It felt as if all of the aquatic beasts in the entire reservoir were currently gathered here, a rather terrifying line-up indeed. Countless aquatic beasts broke out from the surface of the water, not stopping for even a split second as they charged towards the boundaries all over the island. Berserk Genesis Qi erupted, the beasts clearly intent on drowning the island. Rumble! When the aquatic beasts charged into the boundaries, the disciples hesitated briefly, before a bombardment of Genesis Qi was unleashed. All kinds of Genesis techniques rained down, filling the sky as they blasted the aquatic beasts. The entire island began to shake at this moment, as sounds of destruction filled the air. This scene was magnificent in its own manner. Countless aquatic beasts were instantly blown to bits, however, some of the disciples were caught off guard and struck by aquatic beasts, causing them to turn into beams of light that shot into the sky, signifying their elimination from the ceremony. The surroundings of the island seemed to have turned into meat grinder, with both the aquatic beasts and seven peaks suffering losses. It was both intense and desperate. However, no matter how hard the disciples resisted, an endless torrent of aquatic beasts continued to fearlessly charge at them from all directions, howling as they attempted to flatten the island and expel the intruders. As time passed, even more enormous aquatic beasts began to appear in the area, reaching a thousand feet in length. These aquatic beasts gave off a powerful pressure, and the other aquatic beasts would quickly give way when they passed by. The disciples in the boundaries also discovered these thousand foot aquatic beasts, causing them to fall into a state panic. They could deal with ordinary aquatic beasts, but were clearly lacking in power against the thousand foot aquatic beasts. ¡°Chief disciples! Lead your teams to hunt the thousand foot aquatic beasts!¡± On the highest point of the island, Li Qingchan immediately commanded when she saw this. Solemn looks emerged on the chief disciples to the side as they nodded. Zhao Zhu suddenly looked over and sneered, ¡°Things would be a little more stable if our Sword Cometh Peak chief disciple was around, unfortunately, a certain someone was too ruthless. Someone should be held accountable if we suffer more losses because of this.¡± The Cangxuan Peak chief disciple, Tang Muxin, the Spirit Rune Peak disciple, Jin Zhang and the other chief disciples cast a glance at Zhou Yuan when they heard this, obviously aware that Zhao Zhu was blaming Zhou Yuan for eliminating Baili Che. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm as he said, ¡°The fact that I¡¯ve eliminated Baili Che naturally means that I¡¯m stronger than him. As such, having me here instead of him will naturally be much better.¡± He did not hold anything back, directly stating that Baili Che had been eliminated due to his incompetence. ¡°You¡­¡± The retort caused anger to flare in Zhao Zhu, but he knew that this was not the time to teach Zhou Yuan a lesson. Hence, he could only let out an icy snort. ¡°Your tongue may be sharp, but let¡¯s see how your actual performance holds up!¡± Zhou Yuan laughed in a carefree manner, paying no attention to Zhao Zhu. The former shot forth with other chief disciples, while roughly a hundred figures closely followed behind them, the purple sash elites of the various peaks. These six squads of top tier disciples led by the chief disciples would be in charge of hunting every thousand foot aquatic beast that appeared. Swoosh! The six squads flew out of the island and split up, heading straight for the thousand foot aquatic beasts that had already appeared. After a few dozen breaths, intense fights began to break out on the surface of the water one after another. A thousand foot aquatic beast wielded tremendous strength, that none of the chief disciples would be able to match alone. But with the addition of their elite purple sash squads, the overall battle power of each group was no longer inferior to any thousand foot aquatic beast. Thus, the thousand foot aquatic beasts were gradually pushed back after the appearance of these squads. Fierce battles continued to break out in the vicinity of the island like wildfire. However, though the disciples had managed to halt the assault of the aquatic beasts for the time being, none of them dared to relax. They knew that the most terrifying force of the attack had yet to appear... On the tallest peak, Genesis Qi surged around the Chosens, ready to take action at any time. This situation lasted for half an incense stick of time. Yaoyao suddenly raised her head and looked towards the west. After two breaths, Chu Qing scratched his head as he too cast his gaze towards the west. The other Chosens also turned their gazes one after another. ¡°It¡¯s coming!¡± Giant waves suddenly rose in the western region of the sea. A faint but titanic silhouette appeared inside the wave, riding the wave as it rapidly approached the island. Countless terrified gazes looked over at this moment. A crystal clear ten thousand foot long figure appeared in everyone¡¯s sights, accompanied by a dreadfully terrifying pressure. The figure¡¯s long legs were akin to pillars that prop up the heavens, while six arms hung menacingly from its body. An indescribable aura of savagery spread from him, as its roar shook the mountains. As they gazed upon the giant, even the Chosens¡¯ expressions turned grave. After a hundred years, a ten thousand foot aquatic beast had finally made an appearance in the Genesis reservoir ceremony again... Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 538 Chosens Battle the Ten Thousand Foot Aquatic Beas t All the Genesis Qi in the vicinity seemed to begin boiling, as the giant creature arrived on the waves. Indescribable savagery unfurled from its body like a storm, stirring the wind and water. Countless gazes looked towards the ten thousand foot aquatic beast in shock. Compared to this behemoth, even the thousand foot aquatic beasts from before that had already felt unreachable to the numerous disciples, appeared unworthy of attention... Roar! The titan¡¯s body was as clear as crystal, and as large as a mountain. Six enormous arms grew from its body, making it a six-armed creature that walked on two legs, a sight that definitely reached the apex of ferocity. ¡°So this is a ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡­¡± While Zhou Yuan was leading one of the elite squads to surround a thousand foot aquatic beast, he found a moment to raise his head, and gaze upon the giant. He subconsciously gasped, as his expression turned exceedingly grave. It was clear that he had also felt the overwhelming strength of the beast. Even someone like Zhou Yuan was already so affected, let alone the other disciples. Every one of them had paled substantially, and their courage had been scattered for a time, causing them to be repeatedly pushed back by the endless swarm of aquatic beasts. In contrast, the aquatic beasts seemed to have been powered up by the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s appearance, growing increasingly crazed as they charged forward. The situation turned extremely chaotic and messy. On the highest point on the island, Li Qingchan and the other Chosens also discovered these changes, causing their eyes to widen a little. Li Qingchan took in a deep breath and said, ¡°Everyone, prepare to move.¡± The others nodded with solemn expressions. Their mission was the most important. If they failed to vanquish the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, the only thing that awaited the seven peaks would be defeat. Swish! Eleven figures transformed into streams of light as they rose into the sky, with Yaoyao carrying Tuntun in her arms. They spread out in a fan formation, and appeared in front of the giant creature. Boom! Genesis Qi exploded from Li Qingchan and the rest without any hesitation, rising into the sky and straight into the clouds like columns of smoke. It was a magnificent scene. When the ten great Chosens acted, their Genesis Qi foundations that far exceeded the chief disciples were revealed. Powerful Genesis Qi pressures spread across the area, blocking the savage aura from the ten thousand foot aquatic beast for a time. Roar! The giant creature roared as it gazed upon the figures blocking its path, before its six arms suddenly slammed into the sea. Boom! The surface was ripped apart, as countless water pillars shot out like giant spears, filling the sky as they accelerated towards the dozen figures in the air. Every water pillar contained berserk energies. Boundless Genesis Qi swept out from the bodies of the Chosens, turning into torrents that smashed into the incoming water pillars. Loud booms sounded as a torrential rain fell, making it impossible to see clearly. Genesis Qi took the shape of a cloud above the Chosens, sending down rays of light to shield them. Their cold gazes locked onto the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, as vigorous Genesis Qi churned in their bodies like a flood. Yaoyao and Ye Ge¡¯s Genesis Rune Brushes swiftly danced across the air, as complex Genesis Runes were formed one after another. The runes transformed into a river of light that whizzed forth and landed on the bodies of the other Chosens. Genesis Runes flowed on the bodies of the Chosens as if alive, continuously absorbing the surrounding Genesis Qi. These were high grade support runes that could amplify the target¡¯s Genesis Qi attacks and defense, while also helping absorb the surrounding Genesis Qi to replenish one¡¯s reserves. With the Genesis Runes on their bodies, Li Qingchan, Chu Qing and the rest of the Chosens suddenly shot forward. In the next instant, a ferocious assault, that made the expressions of countless disciples change, flew towards the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. Every attack was pumped full of alarming power. Roar! Faced with the Chosens attacks, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast slammed its six fists into its chest, releasing a loud thud as an invisible blast of air swept outwards. A split second later, it waved its six giant fists as extremely berserk Genesis Qi condensed towards them, before charging forward to meet the Chosens head-on, showing no fear at their numbers. Boom! Rumble! It was truly an earth-shaking clash. The water around them continuously collapsed inwards, as giant waves rose due to the aftershocks of the battle, and frantically swept outwards. Some unlucky disciples and aquatic beasts were even washed away. Zhou Yuan watched from far away. He could clearly see how chief disciples like himself were indeed far outclassed by the Chosens. Although many chief disciples nearly had the strength of the ninth layer, once they reached the ninth layer, it would be all about one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations. Zhou Yuan currently had approximately five thousand Genesis Qi stars in his body, while the likes of Baili Che would at most have six thousand. In comparison, Zhou Yuan estimated that even the rank ten Zhao Zhu likely had over ten thousand stars worth of Genesis Qi foundations. These were the foundations of the Chosens. In the face of such ferocious individuals, even Zhou Yuan had no choice but to admit that he would have no chance even against the rank ten Zhao Zhu, unless he decided to borrow Silver Shadow¡¯s power. Because the gap in their Genesis Qi foundations was just far too great. ¡°I still have some ways to go¡­¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath. Looks like he could not relax despite becoming a chief disciple. These Chosens must have undergone countless hardships in order to gain such foundations. He would need to work extra hard if he intended to catch up. ¡°If I obtain a nine dragons baptism¡­ my Genesis Qi foundations should improve drastically.¡± Zhou Yuan licked his lips as desire flashed in his eyes. However, he could only daydream about it for the time being, because a nine dragon baptism was something that even the Chosens greatly yearned for. It would not be easy to collect enough Genesis essence to achieve a nine dragons baptism. Boom! Boom! While such thoughts were swirling in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, the fighting in the distance grew increasingly fierce. The ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s battle power was truly terrifying. There were no signs of it losing even against the combined might of the numerous Chosens. Bang! The titan¡¯s six arms danced around it, as a giant ball of Genesis Qi suddenly appeared between two of its palms. The ball was flung, hurtling through the air as it mercilessly blasted towards Li Qingchan. However, just as the ball was about to hit its target, a figure appeared in front of her, revealing itself to be Shang Chunqiu. His arms were crossed in front of him as he let loose a thunderous roar. A dazzling jade glow blossomed, forming peculiar patterns on his skin, while beautiful silver light surged in his body. This was obviously the true Mythic Saint Body! The strongest body in the Cangxuan Sect! Thump! The ball of Genesis Qi slammed into Shang Chunqiu as a storm unfurled. The sea below was ripped apart, while his figure was sent bouncing across the surface of the water, creating giant pits with each bounce. His clothes were in tatters when he finally came to a stop, but he had thankfully not sustained any serious injuries. Such toughness caused the countless watching disciples to gasp in amazement. In the meantime, the other Chosens took the opportunity to send out a fierce onslaught of attacks. The attacks rained down upon the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s enormous body, causing ripples to spread on the surface of its body. The defenses of this behemoth were likewise extremely astonishing. Roar! A peerless roar rang out as dark golden light tore through the air. Tuntun¡¯s mighty figure appeared behind the aquatic beast, arcs of black light flickering and jumping between its claws, giving off an extremely dangerous sensation. Chla! Tuntun¡¯s claws slashed downwards, the strange black light leaving gashes in the fabric of space. A giant crack was torn open on the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s body, the flickering black light continuously eroding the Genesis Qi within the beast. Awoo! Tuntun¡¯s strike could only be rated as ferocious. The ten thousand foot aquatic beast let loose a piercing howl, as it swung its six arms, sending Tuntun catapulting away with a punch. ¡°Attack the spot Tuntun tore open!¡± Shouted Yaoyao. Li Qingchan and the rest moved without any hesitation, Genesis Qi surging out in quick succession and swiftly condensing into attacks. A split second later, ten torrents of Genesis Qi streaked across the horizon like shooting stars, leaving giant waves in their wake as they bombarded the spot Tuntun had ripped open. Boom! The dreadful power of their attacks made even the ten thousand foot aquatic beast wail in pain, as its enormous body stumbled a little. The numerous disciples immediately burst into cheers when they saw this. The Chosens had clearly managed to do substantial damage to the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. Amidst their cheers, however, Li Qingchan and gang continued to stare at the titan with grave expressions. If it was so easily defeated, the batch of disciples from a hundred years ago would not have ended up being completely wiped out... Roar! The ten thousand foot aquatic beast roared, as its six giant arms suddenly reached into the water. Water immediately rose, forming a dome around its body. At the same time, everyone felt the Genesis Qi in the Genesis reservoir begin to frantically converge towards it. Li Qingchan and the others tried to attack, only to be stopped by the water dome. Li Qingchan gravely said, ¡°It appears as if the creature is about to get serious¡­¡± Chu Qing rubbed his shiny bald head out of habit as he said, ¡°I once read an ancient text in the sect which had some mention of a ten thousand foot aquatic beast. It is said that such a creature has many amazing abilities, the most troublesome of which is known as the Dragon Saliva True Water. This ¡®water¡¯ is created from Source Dragon Qi, and is not only indestructible, but can also connect the beast to the Genesis reservoir, giving it an inexhaustible supply of Genesis Qi, making it even more of a problem.¡± ¡°What does the Dragon Saliva True Water look like?¡± Asked someone. Chu Qing offhandedly said, ¡°It has a dark yellow luster, but it also takes luck for a ten thousand foot aquatic beast to gain this ability. Don¡¯t worry, we may not be so unlucky!¡± As his voice faded, he sensed that the surroundings had turned much quieter. He raised his head in confusion, and saw Li Qingchan and the rest staring to the front with rather ugly expressions. As he followed their gazes, the smile on his face turned rigid. On the surface of the sea, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast was howling at the sky. The original crystal like sheen on its enormous body had slowly begun to turn dark yellow. Dark yellow flowed on the surface of its body like dragon saliva, as the roar of a dragon faintly echoed. Genesis Qi endlessly surged over from all directions, as the wound torn open by them earlier began to recover at a speed which could be seen by the naked eye. An even more alarming undulation spread from its body. In the sky, the silent Chosens looked towards Chu Qing one by one with icy gazes. This jinx! Chu Qing shivered under the crowd¡¯s angry gazes, as he awkwardly mumbled, ¡°You guys can¡¯t be blaming me, right?¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 539 Dragon Saliva True Water Roar! The ten thousand foot aquatic beast howled at the sky from the violently raging sea. The Genesis Qi undulations that exploded from its body brutally pushed away the surrounding water, creating an empty space. Dark yellow liquid flowed on its enormous body, covering every inch of its surface like a layer of water. A deep, muffled dragon roar faintly echoed, causing the behemoth¡¯s ferocious aura to rise steadily as the air around it rippled. The Chosens expressions turned rather ugly when they saw this, evidently discovering that the ten thousand foot aquatic beast had grown much more formidable than before. However, they could not back down at this stage no matter how powerful it became. As such, the group exchanged a quick glance, before shooting forward at the same time. Rumble! Rumble! Wave after wave of alarmingly powerful Genesis Qi swept out from the Chosens¡¯ bodies, as formidable Genesis techniques condensed at their hands. In the end, their attacks bombarded the ten thousand foot aquatic beast like meteors streaking across the sky. However, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast did not even bother to dodge. It did not budge from the spot, allowing the attacks to land on its body. Bzz bzz! When the powerful bombardment landed on its body, the dark yellow film of water merely rippled, as it completely neutralized their attacks. The ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s titanic body remained as steady as a boulder. Li Qingchan and gang¡¯s expressions turned even uglier, clearly not expecting the Dragon Saliva True Water to be so impenetrable. Roar! The ten thousand foot aquatic beast howled as it swung its six arms, causing torrential Genesis Qi swept outwards, lifting up a tremendous amount of water that molded itself into a giant water pillar. The pillar thundered through the air, shaking the surrounding space as it ruthlessly swung towards the Chosens in the sky. It¡¯s speed was as quick as rushing thunder. The Chosens hurriedly scattered to avoid it. Only Zhao Zhu was a step too slow, and ended up being struck by the giant water pillar. Thump! His figure tumbled through the air, and skidded across the surface of the sea, leaving a ten thousand foot long mark across it. His face paled a little as he vomited a mouthful of blood, clearly injured by the attack. Boom! The ten thousand foot aquatic beast did not intend to give him any time to recover, immediately heading straight for the injured Zhao Zhu in an attempt to remove him. However, the surface of the sea suddenly exploded the moment the titan took a step forward. A giant water dragon emerged with a roar, brandishing its watery fangs and claws as it curled around the aquatic beast¡¯s body to immobilize it. Numerous Genesis Runes flowed within the water dragon, a sign that it was a construct of Genesis Runes. In the sky, Yaoyao grasped her brush as she coldly said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys going to attack?¡± The other Chosens immediately took action, surging Genesis Qi dashing into the sky, transforming once more into an endless wave of attacks that mercilessly rained down upon the aquatic beast. Boom! Boom! The surface of the sea was blasted apart, creating an enormous empty space that no water could enter for the time being. The countless disciples far away shivered at this scene. An onslaught by the Chosens was indeed indescribably ferocious. Boom boom! The onslaught lasted for a dozen minutes, before slowly calming to halt. Even a mountain range would be flattened by this bombardment. The remnant Genesis Qi slowly dissipated, as countless gazes looked over. They found that the ten thousand foot aquatic beast seemed to have shrunk somewhat, but Dragon Saliva True Water still slowly flowed on the surface of its body, solidly defending it like an impenetrable armor. Although the creature had sustained some damage, it was much less than what the Chosens had expected. Roar! The ten thousand foot aquatic beast roared in anger, as light emerged from the Dragon Saliva True Water on its body. Genesis Qi began rushing over from the reservoir, and rapidly poured into the titan¡¯s body. In a short span of a few breaths, the slightly shrunken body of the beast began to recover at a speed that could be seen by the naked eye. Li Qingchan clenched her jaw and said, ¡°This won¡¯t do, that Dragon Saliva True Water is way too troublesome!¡± Even such a ferocious barrage from them had failed to defeat the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, and once it managed to withstand the assault, the aquatic beast would immediately make use of the Dragon Saliva True Water to absorb the power in the Genesis reservoir to recover. In other words, as long as it had the Dragon Saliva True Water, this ten thousand foot aquatic beast was basically unbeatable in the Genesis reservoir. In contrast, no matter how strong their Genesis Qi foundations were, their Genesis Qi would eventually be exhausted. The situation would only worsen for them if this continued. ¡°It is pointless to continue this battle if we are unable to break that Dragon Saliva True Water.¡± Remarked Kong Sheng with an expressionless face. Shang Chunqiu responded in a deep voice, ¡°But we can¡¯t give up even if we can¡¯t break it!¡± Kong Sheng frostily said, ¡°Then how should we fight? With it drawing power from the reservoir, the only thing that awaits us will be defeat.¡± Shang Chunqiu frowned deeply, clearly unable to see a solution. The Chosens fell silent as they looked at each other. The ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Dragon Saliva True Water had truly rendered them helpless. While they were silent, the disciples from the seven peaks also sensed the situation, and began to stir restlessly. They had after all witnessed how the joint efforts of the Chosens had failed to deal any fatal damage to the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. If even the Chosens were unable to deal with the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, it was likely that everyone would return empty handed from this Genesis reservoir ceremony, which would undoubtedly be a substantial blow to the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. Zhou Yuan also frowned slightly as he realized their predicament, as a sliver of worry flitted across his eyes. Truth be told, he could see that though the ten thousand foot aquatic beast was powerful, the combined might of the Chosens, Yaoyao and Tuntun was indeed capable of putting up a fight. However, no one could have predicted that the dark yellow water would be so formidable. It not only boasted astonishing defenses, but could even absorb power from the Genesis reservoir. It was the existence of this thing that had placed the Chosens in their current plight. Zhou Yuan sighed softly. The battle over there was beyond his current capabilities, and he would mostly likely become a burden if he were to get involved. The only thing he could do now was to pray that the Chosens could defeat the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. Otherwise, all of them would be sent out empty handed. High up in the sky. In the face of the fruitless discussion, Li Qingchan gritted her teeth and said, ¡°We have to push on even if it¡¯s hopeless. Let¡¯s see if we can smash apart its shell before our Genesis Qi is depleted!¡± The others frowned when they heard this. This was the most crude and direct method, but they honestly did not have much confidence in outlasting the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. At the end of the day, there were currently in the Genesis reservoir, where the aquatic beasts had an unimaginable homeground advantage. ¡°They may be a way to neutralize this Dragon Saliva True Water.¡± A clear voice suddenly sounded. Everyone was taken aback, before their gazes turned towards Yaoyao. Li Qingchan happily asked, ¡°You know how?¡± Puzzled looks filled the eyes of the other Chosens. Yaoyao unhurriedly said, ¡°All things naturally have their counter. Though this Dragon Saliva True Water is unreasonably overbearing, there is a way to counter it.¡± ¡°Eh? Can you do it?¡± Asked Shang Chunqiu in amazement. Yaoyao shook her head and replied, ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions turned a little rigid as Kong Sheng frostily said, ¡°Then what are you trying to say?¡± The corners of Yaoyao¡¯s lips curled slightly, seemingly smiling as she said, ¡°Though I can¡¯t, there is naturally someone who can.¡± The group looked at each other in bewilderment. Only Zhao Zhu suddenly let out an icy chuckle, as he mockingly said, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me that the one who can do it is Zhou Yuan?¡± Yaoyao glanced at him, and gave a little nod. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re not a lost cause.¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 540 Zhou Yuan Enters the Fray Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful, tinkling voice sounded, stunning the surrounding Chosens, before they began to frown a little. This was a pretty high level battle, and though Zhou Yuan was a chief disciple that had even defeated Baili Che earlier, he was still quite weak when compared to any of the Chosens here. On paper, Zhou Yuan had no right to be involved in such a fight. ¡°Humph, you think too highly of a mere chief disciple!¡± Zhao Zhu laughed in anger. If not fearing Yaoyao and the always watching Tuntun, he would have already lashed out when Yaoyao called him a fool earlier. Kong Sheng also said, ¡°Junior sister Yaoyao, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast has not even been dealt with, there¡¯s no need to so anxiously turn your thoughts to the Genesis essence yet, right?¡± His words were insidious, implying that Yaoyao was trying to let Zhou Yuan have a share of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence. Such actions would definitely draw disapproval from the other Chosens. However, Li Qingchan and Ye Ge, who were more familiar with Yaoyao, did not share this view. As for Lu Jingshen and the other Chosens who never had much contact with Yaoyao before, though they did not say anything, their brows began to knit together. ¡°Since that is the case, just take it as I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful face was filled with indifference, clearly no intention continuing the topic as she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go Tuntun.¡± She was actually intending to leave. Yaoyao¡¯s character leaned more towards indifference, and with the exception of Zhou Yuan and Tuntun, she did not care much for anyone else in the Cangxuan Sect. Hence, she would feel nothing even if she allowed the seven peaks to be wiped out. The other Chosens were taken aback by her actions, clearly not expecting Yaoyao to be so decisive. To think that she would just leave in such a situation. Li Qingchan hurriedly moved forward to pull Yaoyao back. She was well aware of the latter¡¯s character and knew that Yaoyao was certainly capable of just leaving them like this. Li Qingchan looked towards the Kong Sheng duo and said in a calm manner, ¡°Senior brother Kong Sheng, junior brother Zhao Zhu, Yaoyao naturally has her rationale for saying such things. With us currently in this predicament, do the two of you have any other ideas?¡± Ye Ge also chipped in with a smile, ¡°We¡¯ll know whether it works once we try. Junior brother Zhou Yuan has repeatedly created miracles ever since entering the Cangxuan Sect, and though it is indeed a little outrageous for him to try, what if another miracle happens?¡± The other Chosens also returned to their senses at this moment. Yaoyao and Tuntun were basically part of their main force, and if the two were to leave, the rest of them would have to shoulder even more pressure against the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. They immediately spoke out one after another to indicate their agreement. Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu¡¯s expressions looked rather ugly for a time, but they had no choice but to sullenly keep their mouths shut. They had likewise not expected Yaoyao to be capable of leaving so cleanly. Li Qingchan looked towards Yaoyao and asked, ¡°Yaoyao, since you say Zhou Yuan can do it, could you call him over to try?¡± Yaoyao gave a faint nod, and sent her Spirit power to reach out to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was rather stunned when he received the Spirit message while still in battle. After briefly hesitating, he informed his squad members, before rising into the air and flying towards the Chosens in the distance under countless puzzled gazes. As Zhou Yuan approached, the Chosens cast somewhat curious gazes over. Those who had only heard but not met him like Lu Jingshen and Yang Zixiao, thoroughly sized him up, as if hoping to find out what kind of abilities he had that allowed him to participate in a battle of this level. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together towards the Chosens, before turning towards Yaoyao. Li Qingchan pointed at the ten thousand foot aquatic beast in the distance, and cut straight to the heart of the matter. ¡°The ten thousand foot aquatic beast has developed an ability called the Dragon Saliva True Water. It boasts an extremely sturdy defense, and is even able to connect to the Genesis reservoir, and provide an endless stream of Genesis Qi to the beast. Our combined might has been incapable of dealing with it, but Yaoyao says you may have a way?¡± She hesitantly glanced at Zhou Yuan towards the end. The gazes of the other Chosens also converged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan was a little stunned, as he looked at Yaoyao, before calmly and confidently saying, ¡°So that dark yellow layer is called the Dragon Saliva True Water, huh?¡± The Chosens were somewhat surprised by his confident appearance. Was Zhou Yuan really capable of breaking it? ¡°It¡¯s not impossible, but I have to first discuss something with Yaoyao.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, before pulling Yaoyao aside. With a wave of his hand, Genesis Qi enveloped the both of them, preventing any noise from exiting. Under the barrier of Genesis Qi, the confidence on Zhou Yuan''s face immediately crumbled as he smiled bitterly and said, ¡°What the heck are you up to? If even so many Chosens can¡¯t break that Dragon Saliva True Water, what do you expect me to do?¡± Yaoyao watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression change with amusement, before she said, ¡°Weren¡¯t you being very confident earlier?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips twitched as he said, ¡°I can¡¯t show any weakness when their faces were so full of doubt, right? Especially Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu, they were practically dying to catch any chinks in my armor.¡± Since things had already reached this point, why not feign confidence instead of showing how lost he was and being laughed at. Moreover, since Yaoyao had called him over, she would certainly have a plan even if he was still in the dark about it. Sure enough, Yaoyao cast her gaze towards the ten thousand foot aquatic beast and said, ¡°The Dragon Saliva True Water is indeed very problematic. However, that¡¯s only for the others. You, on the other hand, will not find it much of a problem at all.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan in bewilderment. He had previously seen how even the combined might of the Chosens had failed to break through the Dragon Saliva True Water. ¡°The Dragon Saliva True Water is made from the Dragon Qi that originated from the Source Dragon Vein. It is this very same Dragon Qi that gave it such amazing abilities.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips parted slightly as she slowly explained, ¡°There are many kinds of Dragon Qi in this world, but all of them have a common origin. Others may have no choice but to use brute force to break through, but you are different because of the sacred dragon blessing contained within your body.¡± ¡°The sacred dragon blessing¡­¡± Zhou Yuan finally understood. So that was the reason. ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°Although the ten thousand foot aquatic beast has gained some sentience, it is not a true living creature and thus has limited intelligence. You only need to find an opportunity to send a sliver of sacred dragon Qi into the Dragon Saliva True Water, which would cause some variation to emerge and make it lose its abilities for a time. The rest of us shall make use of that chance to give the creature a fatal blow.¡± Yaoyao smiled slightly. Zhou Yuan breathed a heavy sigh of relief when he heard this. Thankfully, it did not sound too difficult. ¡°Okay then, we¡¯ll follow your plan.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. If they did not finish off the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, all of them would have to return empty handed, which was obviously not in line with Zhou Yuan¡¯s expectations. Hence, he would naturally not shirk away from doing his part. Yaoyao unhurriedly said, ¡°Of course you¡¯ll do it, but you have to secure enough benefits first.¡± After finishing, she stepped out of the Genesis Qi barrier with Zhou Yuan following behind. ¡°Done discussing? Can you do it or not?¡± Zhao Zhu frostily looked over, his eyes filled with skepticism. ¡°Let Zhou Yuan handle the Dragon Saliva True Water.¡± Declared Yaoyao. Although the other Chosens were still somewhat bewildered, they clearly breathed a sigh of relief. Since Yaoyao was so confident, the odds should be quite good, right? ¡°However¡­¡± Yaoyao suddenly paused. She looked towards the group of Chosens and slowly said, ¡°If Zhou Yuan does manage to neutralize the Dragon Saliva True Water, it will be a huge contribution. If we ultimately succeed in slaying the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, he should get thirty percent of the Genesis essence.¡± ¡°Thirty percent?!¡± The Chosens were slightly alarmed by these words. One must know that with Yaoyao and Tuntun added in, the Genesis essence would already be split into twelve portions, and each person would receive less than ten percent. And yet, Zhou Yuan wanted thirty percent?! Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression turned green with anger as he shouted, ¡°You¡¯re dreaming, what right has a mere chief disciple to take thirty percent? Isn¡¯t he afraid of dying to excessiveness?!¡± ¡°I will not agree!¡± Chapter 541 Neutralizing the Dragon Saliva True Water ¡°I will not agree!¡± Zhao Zhu shouted sternly, clearly unhappy to the max with this proposal. In his view, they were already doing Zhou Yuan a huge favor by allowing him to help out, and yet this little kid dared to ask for thirty percent of the Genesis essence? Absolutely delusional! ¡°Junior sister Yaoyao does not seem to take the matter of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence seriously.¡± Kong Sheng also spoke up in an indifferent voice, his tone clearly indicating his disapproval. Although the other Chosens did not speak, they clearly felt that thirty was too much. ¡°We previously agreed that it should be divided based on contribution. Could it be that all of you believe neutralizing the Dragon Saliva True Water is not worth anything?¡± Yaoyao looked towards the group with nonchalance, as she continued, ¡°If so, any one of you can go ahead and deal with this problem. I have no objections if whoever succeeds requests for thirty percent.¡± Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu froze. Things would not have dragged to this stage if they were able to deal with the Dragon Saliva True Water. But giving thirty percent to Zhou Yuan was really quite unacceptable. After all, how many years would it take for another ten thousand foot aquatic beast to appear? The crowd fell silent. Li Qingchan pondered for a moment, before she said, ¡°Thirty is indeed a little too much, but if Zhou Yuan truly does neutralize the Dragon Saliva True Water, he would have indeed made the greatest contribution. I feel twenty percent is more fair.¡± ¡°What do the rest of you think?¡± She looked to the left and right. Chu Qing smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine either way, as long as we finish off the creature as soon as possible.¡± Upon seeing this, the other Chosens ultimately nodded in agreement. Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu¡¯s faces were clearly still unhappy, but naturally could not object since everyone else had already agreed. They had no choice but to go along for the time being. After all, they were still somewhat skeptical about whether Zhou Yuan could neutralize the Dragon Saliva True Water. Yaoyao pondered a little, but did not raise any objections either. Zhou Yuan¡¯s twenty percent plus her and Tuntun¡¯s shares should be just barely enough to reach a nine dragons baptism. By the side, Tuntun was still wagging its tail as it daydreamed about the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence, not knowing that its share had already been taken away before reaching its mouth. Yaoyao glanced at the already fully recovered aquatic beast as she said, ¡°Let¡¯s get ready. We¡¯ll distract the beast while you keep a lookout for an opportunity.¡± Roar! The recovered ten thousand foot aquatic beast roared as its six fists beat its chest in a provocative manner, as berserk undulations unfurled from its body. The Chosens quickly responded. Torrential Genesis Qi surged out as they shot forward, and engaged the beast in battle once more. Only Zhou Yuan remained standing there in the sky, secretly wetting his lips as he watched the crazy fight unfurl. Compared to this, his duel with Baili Che was really lackluster. These Chosens were definitely the most outstanding individuals that had been painstakingly nurtured by the sect. While Zhou Yuan stood there, countless disciples cast confused gazes at him from behind. They had already realized that Zhou Yuan appeared to be joining the battle between the Chosens and the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, but this discovery only made them even more bewildered. Although Zhou Yuan had displayed astonishing strength when he defeated Baili Che, he was still far from reaching the level of the Chosens. Hence, they could not understand what use Zhou Yuan would be in a battle of that level... This was especially the case for the Sword Cometh Peak disciples, who mumbled amongst themselves, ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao seems to have forcibly pulled Zhou Yuan in, is she hoping to get him a tiny share of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence?¡± This guess immediately caused several disciples to frown. If that was the case, it would really be a little too shameless. The ten thousand foot aquatic beast had not even been dealt with, but they had already begun to think about getting a share of the spoils? However, there were even more disciples that said, ¡°There must be some reason why Zhou Yuan has joined them, or the other Chosens would not have agreed.¡± However, regardless of their views, all of them knew that they would naturally find out if they continued to watch... Plop! Under the attention of countless gazes, Zhou Yuan observed the battle for a while, before suddenly darting downwards, and diving into the Genesis reservoir. ¡°Ethereal Form!¡± His body swiftly etherealized as he submerged himself into the water. It was as if he had fused with the sea, his presence now perfectly concealed. Boom! Boom! The dazzling battle continued above the surface. The ten thousand aquatic beast swung its six arms with unequalled ferocity, as berserk Genesis Qi continuously blasted at the surrounding Chosens. The Chosens did not hold back either, deadly and alarming Genesis Qi attacks mercilessly bombarding its enormous body. However, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Dragon Saliva True Water was just too formidable. It only appeared to be a thin layer, but its defenses were basically impenetrable. The Chosens were unable to break through no matter how fiercely they attacked. With the Dragon Saliva True Water, the beast grew fiercer and fiercer even though it fought the Chosens alone. The battle was so intense that it caused the scalps of the countless watching disciples to turn numb. Amidst the fighting, Zhao Zhu furiously shouted, ¡°Can Zhou Yuan do it or not?!¡± It had already been so long, and yet Zhou Yuan was still nowhere to be seen, while there was also no sign of the Dragon Saliva True Water being neutralized. Kong Sheng also spoke up, ¡°Junior sister Xiaoyao, if Zhou Yuan doesn¡¯t have the ability, we should retreat first to consider other strategies instead of wasting everyone¡¯s time. This aquatic beast has an endless source of Genesis Qi, and though our Genesis Qi foundations are strong, we¡¯re not the ones who will win a battle of attrition.¡± Li Qingchan and the other Chosens also looked towards Yaoyao, wanting to say something but unable to find the words. Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face remained indifferent as usual. She ignored everyone as the Genesis Rune Brush in her hand danced in the air, creating numerous complicated runes that absorbed surrounding Genesis Qi, and turned into attacks that blasted towards the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. Li Qingchan gritted her teeth and commanded, ¡°Don¡¯t stop. Continue to keep it occupied.¡± The other Chosens could only continue their onslaught, though the expectation they had of Zhou Yuan slowly weakened inside. While the battle on the surface continued, Zhou Yuan¡¯s ethereal figure approached the ten thousand foot aquatic beast in the waters below. The titan¡¯s giant legs towered in the water like two mountains, making Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appear as tiny as an ant. However, it was also due to this reason that the creature did not sense his approach. As Zhou Yuan neared the beast, he reached out towards the Dragon Saliva True Water that covered the body of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. In the next instant, a lump of blood-red appeared at the center of his palm. It was obviously the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. The Dragon¡¯s Resent Poison wiggled a little, as strand after strand of blood-gold Qi was quietly released under Zhou Yuan¡¯s urging. The Qi was extremely mystical, accompanied by the faint roar of a dragon when it appeared, while the surrounding Genesis Qi began to stir due to its presence. The blood-gold Qi moved towards the Dragon Saliva True Water. There was no resistance at all as the Qi entered. Zhou Yuan was overjoyed by this sight. Yaoyao¡¯s prediction was spot on. Rumble! The intense battle continued in the sky above. Due to the injuries Zhao Zhu had sustained previously, he was repeatedly pressured by the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, making his situation more miserable than the others. After narrowly dodging another ball of destructive Genesis Qi from the beast, he finally lost his composure, as he shouted in anger, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better scram if you don¡¯t have the ability. Stop wasting our team!¡± Yaoyao expressionlessly lifted her sharp, snow-white chin. Roar! Tuntun immediately roared, abandoning the ten thousand foot aquatic beast without any hesitation as it turned around, and charged towards Zhao Zhu, its sharp claws flickering with black light. Clang! However, a sharp blast of sword light arrived, stopping Tuntun¡¯s sharp claws. Kong Sheng glared at Yaoyao as he shouted, ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Yaoyao had no intention of answering. With a jerk of her brush, numerous Genesis Runes rapidly took shape, turning into a fire and lightning that filled the sky. The fire and lightning gathered into the form of a giant python that locked onto Kong Sheng like a tiger eyeing its prey. For a time, chaos ensued in the sky, as the other Chosens felt their heads ache. The ten thousand foot aquatic beast had not even been dealt with, and they had already begun infighting. Li Qingchan also felt a wave of tiredness in her heart. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly paused as she looked below in disbelief. ¡°The Dragon Saliva True Water¡­ has been broken?¡± Her spreading voice immediately caused the chaotic sky to fall silent as the Chosens immediately looked over in astonishment. The dark yellow layer on the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s body suddenly began to tremble chaotically, before dissolving and flowing down the creature¡¯s enormous body. In a short span of a few breaths, the migraine inducing Dragon Saliva True Water had been completely cleaned away. In the sky, Zhao Zhu¡¯s angry face turned rigid little by little when he saw this. A sliver of shock also flitted across Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes. The Dragon Saliva True Water had actually been neutralized by Zhou Yuan?! Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 542 Collecting the Dragon Saliva True Water Plop plop plop! On the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s enormous body, the dark yellow Dragon Saliva True Water continuously melted and flowed downwards, revealing its original crystal-clear skin. In the sky, all the Chosens paused at this moment as they gazed at this scene in shock. The Dragon Saliva True Water had really been neutralized! ¡°Zhou Yuan actually did it?¡± The Chosens stared hard at the water, clearly unable to imagine how Zhou Yuan had managed to achieve this feat. They had after all personally experienced the invincibility of the Dragon Saliva True Water. However, the thing that even the likes of them had been powerless again, had been so easily neutralized by Zhou Yuan? Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately, as his face flushed with heat. He had previously doubted Zhou Yuan, only for reality to slap him in the cheek a few moments later. Zhao Zhu could not help but mumble, ¡°How is this possible¡­¡± By his side, Kong Sheng inhaled deeply and slowly said, ¡°It seems that he has some kind of method that specializes in dealing with the Dragon Saliva True Water.¡± This was the only answer he could come up with that explained how Zhou Yuan had so easily neutralized the Dragon Savila True Water, because it was absolutely impossible for the latter to have brute forced it given his strength. Zhao Zhu pursed his lips. It was already not important how Zhou Yuan had done it. What pained the former was that they had to give twenty percent of the Genesis essence to Zhou Yuan if they managed to slay the creature. Even his and Kong Sheng¡¯s shares added together wouldn¡¯t reach such an amount. This made Zhao Zhu quite indignant. While these thoughts and feelings were churning inside Zhao Zhu, the countless disciples from the seven peaks burst out into cheers upon seeing the changes that were happening to the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. Although they were not part of the battle, they could sense how helpless the Chosens were with regards to the layer of dark yellow that covered the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. With the water layer suddenly being broken, anyone could tell that it was likely the handiwork of Zhou Yuan, who had recently joined the battle. This made numerous disciples even more bewildered. After all, Zhou Yuan had done what all the Chosens together could not... ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan is indeed very capable.¡± ¡°No wonder even Baili Che lost to him, he¡¯s pretty darn amazing.¡± ¡°We really have to thank him for neutralizing that dark yellow layer. The Chosens should now be able to deal with the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, which would be a joyous occasion for all of us.¡± ¡°Looks like all of us owe chief disciple Zhou Yuan a debt of gratitude.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The disciples of the various peaks sighed in admiration, practically worshipping Zhou Yuan for a time. After all, dealing with the ten thousand foot aquatic beast would benefit all the disciples. In the face of such praise for Zhou Yuan, the Sword Cometh Peak disciples no longer dared to mock him. They could only silently swallow the words into their stomach, because they knew that they would only incur the wrath of the crowd if they tried to slander Zhou Yuan again. In the sky, the Chosens returned to their senses. Li Qingchan glanced at the sea in amazement, before she said in a commanding voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan has accomplished his mission, it¡¯s now time for us to do our part. The other Chosens nodded in acknowledgement, even Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu¡¯s icy gazes locking onto the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. Since Zhou Yuan had neutralized the Dragon Saliva True Water, the disciples would truly be disappointed if they failed to slay the beast. It was after all hard to justify if the Chosens performed worse than a chief disciple. Boom! In the next instant, powerful Genesis Qi erupted once again from the Chosens bodies, sweeping across the area like a storm. Roar! The ten thousand foot aquatic beast released an angry roar, as its giant foot slammed into the sea, seemingly wanting to crush the ant that had neutralized its Dragon Saliva True Water. However, before it could turn its focus towards the sea, the boundless of the attacks of the Chosens had already arrived, pouring onto its giant body. Bang! Bang! Berserk Genesis Qi explosions continuously blossomed on the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s body like fireworks, every attack compact with deadly energies. After losing the protection of the Dragon Saliva True Water, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast could no longer be as ferocious as before. Every explosion of Genesis Qi elicited a furious roar from it, as ripples rapidly spread across its crystal-like body. Its six arms danced, weaving the surrounding Genesis Qi in an attempt to defend against the attacks. However, it was of little use. The Chosens had been under heavy pressure earlier, and were currently full of pent up frustration. Now that the Dragon Saliva True Water was gone, they were fully intent on dishing out their most ferocious onslaught. It had to be said that those who could become Chosens in the Cangxuan Sect were no ordinary individuals. When they seriously worked together, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast slowly but surely fell into a disadvantageous position. Rumble! Boom! High tier Genesis techniques were let loose from the hands of the Chosens one after another, with no lack of mid grade Heaven tier Genesis techniques amongst them. When used by the Chosens, the power of these techniques were clearly much greater than Zhou Yuan or Baili Che due to the difference in Genesis Qi foundations. The stronger one¡¯s foundations, the more powerful one¡¯s techniques would become. Without the Dragon Saliva True Water to counter them, the true might of the Chosens was finally revealed. The battle on the surface of the sea was sky-shaking, the entire sea turning into a churning mess due to their power. There was no stopping both sides at this juncture. While they engaged in fierce battle, Zhou Yuan had perfectly concealed himself in the sea with the Ethereal Form technique, leisurely nodding as his gaze pierced through the water to observe the crazy fight above. ¡°Not bad, it¡¯s pretty intense.¡± He gave his evaluation with a smile. It had been surprisingly easy to collect this twenty percent share, but what could he do about it. It was not like anyone else could deal with the Dragon Saliva True Water. Hence, he only needed to continue hiding here, as he watched the Chosens give their all in battle. ¡°Oh?¡± While Zhou Yuan was getting quite absorbed into the fight, his gaze suddenly shifted. He had seen tiny specks of dark yellow light flickering in the water around him. With a thought, Spirit power spread and gathered up a few of the dark yellow specks. A drop of dark yellow liquid silently floated inside an invisible cage made from Spirit power, as a faint roar of a dragon echoed. ¡°This is¡­¡± Zhou Yuan fell silent as he stared at the dark yellow liquid. A long while later, a dazzling light suddenly shot out from his eyes. This familiar looking dark yellow liquid was the Dragon Saliva True Water he had neutralized earlier! It had evidently fallen into the water after melting off the aquatic beast, but had yet to dissipate. Zhou Yuan could not stop himself from licking his lips. In the next instant, his body had already dashed forward like a bolt of thunder, as Spirit power swiftly spread outwards. Speck after speck of dark yellow light began to gather from all directions, ultimately converging above Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. In a short span of a few minutes, Zhou Yuan had collected all the nearby dark yellow specks. He excitedly looked at his palm, where a head-sized dark yellow liquid ball currently hovered. Wondrous undulations spread from the ball, as the silhouette of a dragon seemed to swim within it. Although this Dragon Saliva True Water was not as concentrated as it had been earlier on the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, it was already more than enough for Zhou Yuan. After all, his body was not as humongous as the former. ¡°What a treasure¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes burned with desire. The fact that even Chosens had been unable to break through it earlier was more than enough proof of its amazing defensive capabilities. Although the Dragon Saliva True Water in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand could not compare to the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, if used properly, it would surely become an extremely formidable protective treasure, that could achieve miraculous results if used at an opportune moment. Zhou Yuan retrieved a bottle and poured the Dragon Saliva True Water in with his Spirit power, before keeping it. He clapped his hands in satisfaction, clearly not expecting to obtain such a haul while hiding in the sea... ¡°Looks like good people are rewarded after all.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed deeply. If the Chosens knew that Zhou Yuan was happily collecting Dragon Saliva True Water under the surface while they were risking their lives above, they would probably go on strike. Half an incense stick of time had already passed by the time Zhou Yuan was done collecting the Dragon Saliva True Water. He raised his head to look, and found that the earth-shaking battle was slowly coming to a conclusion. Chapter 543 Destroying the Ten Thousand Foot Aquatic Beas t The sea in the area was riddled in scars due to the earth-shaking battle, and some of the nearby islands had even been flattened. High up in the sky, the Chosens panted as they gazed at the surface of the sea below, where the ten thousand foot aquatic beast lay. A good chunk of its body had been blasted away, while only two of its six giant arms remained. The Genesis Qi undulations pulsing from its body was also growing increasingly weak. Evidently, after an intense fight, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast had ultimately lost the battle. Although it was still angrily roaring, the outcome was already set in stone. The Chosens breathed a deep sigh of relief when they saw this. Even without the Dragon Savila True Water, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast had been exceedingly tenacious. So many of them had bombarded it for nearly half a day to achieve this result, and it was also mostly because the beast¡¯s intelligence was relatively low. Otherwise, if it used more desperate tactics, their side would have likely suffered some losses. Fortunately, it was finally about to be over. Bang! While everyone was sighing in relief, the battered body of the still roaring ten thousand foot aquatic beast, that appeared as if it were about to charge forward again at any moment, suddenly exploded, as a wave of berserk Genesis Qi swept outwards. The surface of the sea was ripped apart, and even the Chosens were affected, their bodies sent tumbling backwards one after another. A several hundred foot long glowing figure shot out from the remains of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s body, and quickly submerged into the water as it fled towards the depths of the reservoir like a bolt of lightning. Li Qingchan¡¯s expression changed as she hurriedly shouted, ¡°Shit! It¡¯s trying to escape!¡± The expressions of the other Chosens also changed. They never imagined that upon realizing it could not beat them, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast would actually abandon its body in hopes of escaping into the depths of the reservoir. If it was allowed to escape in the depths of the reservoir, even the Chosens would not be able to catch it. And if that were to happen, it would not just be the beast¡¯s Genesis essence, even their bitter efforts for the past half a day would be completely wasted. ¡°Blasted! What a cunning creature!¡± The numerous Chosens cursed angrily. The aftershocks of the explosion were still spreading, making it impossible for them to stop the aquatic beast for the moment. Hence, they could only watch helplessly as the glowing figure swiftly sped towards the depths of the Genesis reservoir, while anxiousness and frustration attacked their hearts. If it managed to escape, who knew when they would encounter another ten thousand foot aquatic beast again! Li Qingchan let out a soft sigh. This truly was an unfortunate turn of events. They had tried their best to cover all the possibilities, but they had not anticipated the ten thousand foot aquatic beast to flee like a cicada shedding its shell. It seems that they were not fated to obtain the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence. ¡°Eh?¡± Just as Li Qingchan was ready to give up, however, her eyes suddenly focused towards a certain spot. She had caught a glimpse of an ethereal figure suddenly shooting forward in the water, chasing the glowing figure like a shadow. She cried out in surprise, ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± The hearts of the other Chosens shook a little as they also cast their gazes over, and saw the silhouette closely following the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. They had forgotten that Zhou Yuan had been hiding in the reservoir all along! However, even though the aquatic beast had been seriously injured, it was still an entity that could not be underestimated. Could he really stop the creature by himself? As such, the two figures grew smaller and smaller amidst their worried and doubtful gazes. Deep in the Genesis reservoir. Zhou Yuan¡¯s slightly ethereal figure suddenly sped up, passing the ten thousand foot aquatic beast glowing figure in the twinkle of an eye, and stopping in front of it to block its path. ¡°Hey bastard, if you escape, what do I do about my Genesis essence?¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at the glowing figure before him. Though the ten thousand foot aquatic beast was no longer as intimidating as it had been at the very beginning, it still gave off at terrifying pressure. However, there was no fear on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, that was instead filled with eagerness. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared as its sharp tip pointed towards the glowing figure. Roar! The beast released an angry roar at the sight of the ant that was obstructing its path. It could feel that Zhou Yuan was no threat at all, and far from comparable to the Chosens from before. Hence, there was no hesitation whatsoever, as its remaining giant arms swung downwards like mountains. Bang! Berserk Genesis Qi rapidly converged at its fist, blasting the surrounding water away with a loud bang, as an empty space was created. Its power was terrifying indeed. The giant fist arrived, accompanied by a violent gale. Zhou Yuan released a howl, neither dodging nor avoiding as a mysterious glowing figure rose from behind him, giving off powerful undulations. It was obviously the Omega Saint Spirit Art. He intended to face the ten thousand foot aquatic beast head-on. In the sky, Li Qingchan and the rest¡¯s expressions immediately changed when they saw this. ¡°Fool!¡± Li Qingchan could not help but blurt out. Although the beast had already been gravely injured by them, and was thoroughly exhausted, it still possessed frightening battle power. Even Chosens like themselves would have to be extra cautious if they were to face the creature alone. As such, Zhou Yuan would be far too foolish if he believed he could face it in a direct clash with his initial stage Omega Saint Spirit Art! Far away, the countless watching disciples from the seven peaks immediately gasped in shock. However, Zhou Yuan ignored everyone''s gazes and reactions, his eyes fixed on the incoming giant fist. In the next instant, the Saint Spirit behind him ferociously pounced forward and merged with the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Boom! Destructive power rumbled within the giant fist. However, everyone was even more shocked, because Zhou Yuan was allowing the punch to land on his body. At the same time, the Saint Spirit and Heavenly Yuan Brush transformed into a streak of light as they shot forward, heading straight for the glowing figure of the aquatic beast. It was clearly an all-out desperation tactic! Boom! When the giant fist slammed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, the Heavenly Yuan Brush surrounded by the Saint Spirit flashed past, piercing through the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s head. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was sent flying backwards, before smashing into the depths of the Genesis reservoir, shattering small mountain after mountain rising from the sea floor. Awoo! A miserable wail exploded from the glowing figure of the aquatic beast. Already on its last legs, the beast was ultimately unable to withstand the final blow, as the light on its body shattered to pieces. As fragments of light fell, everyone saw a foot sized glowing crystal silently floating amidst the water. It was the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence! Countless searing gazes stared at the glowing gem-like object, before turning towards the depths of the reservoir with complicated expressions. No one had expected that Zhou Yuan would be willing to pay such a price to stop the beast. In this moment, the numerous disciples felt rather touched by Zhou Yuan¡¯s noble sacrifice. Up in the sky, the Chosens were also staring at this scene in astonishment. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan is truly a good person.¡± Chu Qing rubbed his head and sighed. Sheng Chunqiu nodded in agreement and said, ¡°Although junior brother Zhou Yuan has been eliminated, we should set aside the Genesis essence that should belong to him.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s red lips moved as she let out a bitter laugh. It was fortunate that there were protection brands, and Zhou Yuan would at most be kicked out from the reservoir. Without it, he would surely have to pay a serious, and maybe even fatal price for his recklessness. ¡°Let¡¯s go and collect the Genesis essence.¡± Said Li Qingchan. The other Chosens nodded. However, just as they were about to move to collect the greatest prize, they suddenly sensed something as their gazes quickly turned towards the depths of the reservoir. A bundle of light suddenly emerged from the depths. Next, they could only dazedly watch, as a dirt-covered figure slowly rose from the depths of the Genesis reservoir. It moved to grab the Genesis essence, before breaking out of the water, and standing on the surface of the sea. ¡°Zhou Yuan?!¡± Although he was not in the best of conditions, a dazzling smile hung from the figure¡¯s face. As they stared at him, the jaws of the Chosens and the other disciples slowly fell open. He had survived the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s final blow before its death?! How was this possible?! Chapter 544 Splitting the Genesis Essence On the land where the sky and sea were of one color, countless gazes stared in shock at the youthful figure standing on the water. Although the latter appeared rather dirty, the Genesis Qi undulations from his body made it clear that he had not sustained any serious injuries. This was what everyone could not understand. After all, they had previously witnessed Zhou Yuan eat the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s final blow before its death. Although the beast had already been on its last dregs of energy, that final attack was still exceedingly terrifying. Even the Chosens would have to practice extreme caution if they were to face the creature alone. Hence, when they saw an unharmed Zhou Yuan appear, let alone the ordinary disciples, even Li Qingchan and the rest of the Chosens in the sky could not help but widen their eyes in disbelief. Zhao Zhu could not help but blurt out, ¡°How is this possible?!¡± It was not that he wanted to see Zhou Yuan being eliminated, because he would still get his share of Genesis essence even if he was eliminated. Zhao Zhu was just unable to believe that Zhou Yuan could withstand the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s final blow before its death. Wouldn¡¯t this mean that all of them had severely underestimated his capabilities? The other Chosens looked at each other, but no one was able to come up with an explanation. After the initial surprise, Chu Qing returned to his senses and remarked with a grin, ¡°It seems that junior brother Zhou Yuan is still quite unfathomable.¡± Li Qingchan gave a faint nod of agreement as she said, ¡°We also have to thank him for stopping the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. If not, our efforts today would have been wasted.¡± The other Chosens, even Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu, had no choice but to admit that without Zhou Yuan¡¯s timely appearance, they would indeed have to return empty handed. In other words, they owed him some thanks. Yaoyao earnestly said, ¡°No need for such useless words. Zhou Yuan has made another giant contribution by stopping the ten thousand foot aquatic beast. Hence, I feel that he should get ten percent more of the Genesis essence.¡± In her view, the previous twenty percent promised to Zhou Yuan only included the price of neutralizing the Dragon Saliva True Water. Since Zhou Yuan had made another contribution, he should naturally receive a bigger share. After all, the more ten thousand foot aquatic beast Genesis essence, the better the chances of obtaining a nine dragons baptism. As such, Yaoyao would naturally fight for a bigger share if there was rational justification. The lips of the Chosens could not help but twitch for a moment, as they gazed at Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful and flawless face. A beauty like her should be pure and clean like a goddess, but she was instead so genuine and earnest just for the sake of helping Zhou Yuan fight for ten percent more of the Genesis essence. However, when faced with the earnest expression on Yaoyao¡¯s gorgeous face, none of them could utter a single word. ¡°Why? Am I wrong?¡± Yaoyao frowned a little at the sight of their silence. She felt that her words had been reasonable. Since they had previously agreed on rewarding according to one¡¯s contributions, Zhou Yuan had every right to request for a bigger share. ¡°I have no objections.¡± Chu Qing hurriedly raised both his hands when he saw Yaoyao cast her gaze at him. He was honestly exceptionally pleased about the current situation, because finishing off the ten thousand foot aquatic beast had been much easier than anticipated, which was clearly due to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan had saved Chu Qing alot of trouble. Otherwise, he may perhaps be forced into a scenario where he would have to put his life on the line towards the end, which was something that Chu Qing would do everything he could to avoid. As for the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence, though it was a huge blessing indeed, given Chu Qing¡¯s foundations, it would only be akin to putting a few more flowers on an already complete brocade. In other words, it would not be a qualitative upgrade for him. Li Qingchan thought about it for a moment, before she truthfully said, ¡°According to our previous agreement, Zhou Yuan¡¯s contributions are indeed worth thirty percent.¡± The other Chosens nodded in acknowledgement, with the exception of the somewhat discontent Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu. Even they had no choice but to admit that the two times Zhou Yuan had acted were extremely crucial. He had stopped the ten thousand foot aquatic beast from escaping in the end, and even put his life on the line. Although they did not know how he had managed to withstand a strike of such power, they could not deny that Zhou Yuan had borne a tremendous amount of risk. On the surface of the sea, Zhou Yuan held the foot-long dazzling gem like Genesis essence in one hand, while the other was hidden in his sleeve. Dark yellow liquid dropped from his fingertips, landing in a bottle wrapped by Spirit energy. It was naturally the Dragon Saliva True Water. Zhou Yuan had used the Dragon Saliva True Water to block the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s final attack. The defensive abilities of the True Water had pleasantly surprised Zhou Yuan. The aquatic beast¡¯s final attack was not the least bit inferior to a full power strike from a Chosen, but the Dragon Saliva True Water had still managed to block it. With such an exceptionally defensive treasure, Zhou Yuan would have a chance of escaping unscathed even against a Chosen level opponent. However, there was one unfortunate downside. Zhou Yuan had discovered that the Dragon Saliva True Water was a consumable item. Once he left the Genesis reservoir, and lost contact with the Source Dragon Qi, every usage would decrease the amount left... As he sighed inside, Zhou Yuan rose into the air and arrived in front of the Chosens. Li Qingchan could not help but ask as she repeatedly looked Zhou Yuan up and down, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, but did not explain. He handed the Genesis essence to Li Qingchan and said, ¡°Thankfully, I did not disappoint you guys. The Genesis essence failed to escape in the end.¡± The dazzling gem-like Genesis essence drew the attention of the Chosens, as desire began to fill their eyes. After all, even they were seeing a ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence for the first time. Li Qingchan carefully observed the Genesis essence that floated in front of her as she sighed. Soon after, her finger sliced through the air as Genesis Qi whipped out like a thread. Chch! The foot-wide Genesis essence was split into pieces, the cut edges smooth as a mirror. Due to its extreme concentration, the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence was basically a solid that was filled with wondrous undulations. ¡°This is yours.¡± Li Qingchan tossed the biggest chunk to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan hastily caught it. He looked at his share, and hesitated for a moment, before he said, ¡°There seems to be some extra?¡± Li Qingchan glanced at Yaoyao and said, ¡°Someone fought for another ten percent on your behalf.¡± Zhou Yuan felt rather moved as he also looked towards Yaoyao. He knew best about Yaoyao¡¯s indifference, and it was indeed very extraordinary for her to voluntarily speak up about something. Yaoyao also received her portion of the Genesis essence. It was much smaller than Zhou Yuan¡¯s, but that was normal, because everyone else¡¯s share was similarly less than his. Another piece of Genesis essence flew towards Tuntun. It happily wagged its tail, practically drooling as it pounced forward to swallow its reward in a single gulp. However, a slender, fair hand suddenly reached out at this moment and caught the piece. Roar! Tuntun immediately released an angry roar as it turned its head. However, when it saw the owner of the hand, it quickly let out a terrified and pitiful wail. Yaoyao gently stroked its head, as a very rarely seen faint beautiful smile was revealed. ¡°Can you let Zhou Yuan use the Genesis essence this time?¡± Tuntun shook its head like a rattle-drum. Of course not! ¡°Oh?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s faint smile receded as her clear eyes looked towards Tuntun. Tuntun immediately shivered in response, before it dejectedly ran to the side while whimpering. Li Qingchan and the other Chosens could not help but look at Tuntun in pity. It had previously been on the frontlines with Shang Chunqiu against the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, and had received quite a number of blows. But in the end, the hardfought Genesis essence had been snatched away before it could even reach Tuntun¡¯s mouth! Chu Qing sighed at Ye Ge as he indignantly said, ¡°Do you see that, that devil girl is heartless! That little fellow is so adorable and great at fighting, but look at how it¡¯s treated!¡± He cast a gaze filled with desire and envy at Tuntun as he said, ¡°I wonder what kind of Genesis Beast it is. *Sigh*, if only it was mine, I could use it whenever I have to fight in the future.¡± Ye Ge rolled his eyes. Yaoyao passed the two portions of Genesis essence in her hand to Zhou Yuan. At the sight of the dejected Tuntun, Zhou Yuan felt a little reluctant to accept. ¡°Maybe you should return the Genesis essence to it.¡± Yaoyao calmly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so indecisive. The Mythic Utopia is about to open, and given your current abilities, if you don¡¯t use this chance to grow stronger, how will you be able to vie with the other geniuses? Do you think the Mythic Utopia will be like the small squabbles here in the Cangxuan Sect? Even Chosens may die inside, let alone someone like you.¡± ¡°If you feel that it''s unfair to Tuntun, you should raise your strength. There will definitely be even better things than the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence in the Mythic Utopia, which you can use to repay Tuntun.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh, deciding not to argue. He received the Genesis essence and earnestly said, ¡°I will find something good for Tuntun in the Mythic Utopia!¡± Only then did Yaoyao give a small nod of approval. After splitting the Genesis essence from the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, the endless waves of aquatic beasts that were attacking the island also began to retreat in the wake of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s death. Countless aquatic beasts hissed as they withdrew, scattering in all directions along with the waves. On the island, the disciples of the seven peaks finally breathed a heavy sigh of relief as they watched the retreating aquatic beast tide. They were already near their limits, and would only have been able to hold on a little longer. As their taut nerves began to relax, countless gazes looked towards the group of Chosens in the sky, before thunderous cheers erupted. The Genesis reservoir crisis that had occurred before a hundred years ago, had been successfully overcome by the joint efforts of the seven peaks. As cheers filled the sky, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s boom voice echoed across the land. ¡°Congratulations disciples¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve passed the Genesis reservoir ceremony!¡± Chapter 545 Genesis Essence Light Pillar As sect master Qing Yang¡¯s voice boomed across the area, light began to spread from the disciples inside the Genesis reservoir, wrapping around their bodies, before soaring into the sky. Outside the Genesis reservoir. Countless glowing figures descended, as the disciples from seven peaks were sent out of the reservoir. They landed on the many mountains in the vicinity, as the land soon began to be filled with excited noises. Some of the disciples collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, but their faces were stilled with content smiles. The difficulty of this year¡¯s Genesis reservoir ceremony had been unimaginably high. Fortunately, the seven peaks had ultimately managed to persevere by working together. After going through such difficulties, what awaited them was a fruitful conclusion. This was the moment the disciples looked forward to the most. Meanwhile, at the tallest point in the area. Sect master Qing Yang and the peak masters gazed upon the countless disciples that covered the land, naturally seeing the latter¡¯s expectant eyes. Sect master Qing Yang softly chuckled, before he said, ¡°Although the young ones made use of a little trick towards the end, they¡¯ve not disappointed us.¡± His gaze swept across one of the mountaintops, where a youthful figure was currently surrounded like stars gathering around the moon. It was obviously Zhou Yuan. Given sect master Qing Yang¡¯s strength, everything that had happened in the Genesis reservoir naturally entered his eyes, including Zhou Yuan neutralizing the Dragon Saliva True Water, and collecting some of it to defend against the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s final attack. He had originally planned on using the ten thousand foot aquatic beast to force the Chosens into a corner, and make them struggle with their lives on the line. However, due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance, the Chosens were clearly saved from being pushed to their limits. Even so, sect master Qing Yang was still quite satisfied with their overall performance. At the very least, he knew that the seven peaks were able to put aside their differences, and work together in the face of danger. The other peak masters also nodded in approval, only peak master Ling Jun remaining expressionless. He had been far too disappointed in Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s performance this time, causing some of the Sword Cometh Peak elders to try their best to become invisible. They could already see how the entire Sword Cometh Peak was going to suffer under peak master Ling Jun¡¯s rage after the Genesis reservoir ceremony was over. ¡°Since the ceremony has concluded, it¡¯s time for evaluation and rewards.¡± As sect master Qing Yang¡¯s kind voice spread, the boiling atmosphere froze for an instant, before countless gazes began to burn with excitement. They had all been waiting for this very moment. ¡°Disciples of the seven peaks, get ready to be ranked according to your Genesis essence collected.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s finger gently pointed at the air. Bzz! Glowing balls of various sizes suddenly rose from the bodies of the disciples. The glowing balls rapidly converged, forming a giant light pillar that swiftly grew taller and taller. In the area where the disciples of the seven peaks were gathered, seven light pillars rapidly rose into the sky. Boundless pure energy was contained within the light pillars that clearly originated from Genesis essence. ¡°The higher the Genesis essence pillar, the better your rankings.¡± The eyes of countless disciples were currently glued to the pillars in the sky. Under their gazes, the seven light pillars continued to extend, reaching a thousand feet in the blink of an eye. However, when this happened, everyone realized one of the pillars had stopped growing, immediately becoming the last amongst the seven peaks. It was Sword Cometh peak! Innumerable gazes looked over, only to find the Sword Cometh Peak disciples dejectedly hanging their heads. Amidst them, Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu, and the eliminated Baili Che¡¯s expressions fluctuated indeterminately. All of their hard-earned Genesis essence had ended up being snatched away by Saint Genesis Peak after falling to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s trap. Although they had desperately hunted more later on, how many aquatic beasts could a mere hundred elite disciples possibly hunt? As such, the amount of Genesis essence they managed to scrounge up in the end was to no surprise the least amongst the seven peaks. In the thousand foot light pillar, one could faintly see four dragon silhouettes. This meant that the Sword Cometh Peak disciples would at best get to enjoy a four dragons baptism this time. It was a very bad result for Sword Cometh Peak. After all, the worst result they had gotten in previous years was a five dragons baptism. Of course, this result was only with regards to the ordinary disciples. The Chosens and chief disciple would receive a better reward based on their personal evaluation. From the looks of things, however, Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and Baili Che would at best reach a seven dragons baptism this time, which honestly held very little allure for them. The disciples from the other peaks sighed, before turning towards the remaining six pillars. It was better to be more concerned about their own situation. Sword Cometh Peak only had themselves to blame for such an outcome, and were not deserving of pity. Under the attention of countless gazes, the remaining six pillars continued to grow, quickly leaving Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s pillar behind. After a few breaths, Spirit Rune Peak¡¯s pillar was the first to reach its limit. However, Hongya Peak, Lightning Prison Peak and Snow Lotus Peak also began to slow soon after, and did not surpass the former by much. The gap between them was rather insignificant. These four peaks reached about four thousand feet, the silhouettes of six dragons coiling within their pillars. This meant that the disciples from these four peaks would get to enjoy a six dragons baptism. The disciples from these four peaks nodded in content, before looking in amazement towards the final two pillars. One of two unsurprisingly belonged to Cangxuan Peak. After all, Cangxuan Peak¡¯s overall strength was known to be the highest in the Cangxuan Sect. What surprised them was the other rising pillar that belonged to Saint Genesis Peak... One must know that only a few hundred disciples from Saint Genesis Peak had participated this time, which was basically an insignificant number when compared to the other peaks. However, everyone also knew that Saint Genesis Peak had taken Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Genesis essence. Hence, their achievement was in a sense built upon Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s body... The Sword Cometh Peak disciples expression filled with frustration as they watched the steadily climbing pillars. The Saint Genesis Peak disciples were the only one who were cheering like crazy, while burning excitement overflowed from their eyes. It had been many many years since they had enjoyed such treatment, as they would always end up last at the end of past Genesis reservoir ceremonies. At times, they would even be bursting with gratitude if they could somehow reach a four dragons baptism. Vieing with Cangxuan Peak for number one was something they did not even dare to imagine in the past. The numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples could not help but look towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. In this moment, the eyes of both Shen Taiyuan and Lu Song¡¯s disciples began to fill with respect. They knew that this result was basically all thanks to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s efforts, while the rest of them had merely been the supporting cast. The Saint Genesis Peak disciples felt very glad indeed. After so many years of silence, they had finally welcomed such a strong and powerful chief disciple. Countless gazes watched the two rapidly rising light pillars. The champion of this year¡¯s ceremony would be decided between the two. Under their attention, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s pillar finally began to slow after several dozen breaths, before being exceeded by Cangxuan Peak¡¯s pillar. Sighs of pity erupted in the area. People would often look forward to an exciting reversal after all. However, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s foundations were still too weak, and even after stepping on Sword Cometh Peak, there was still some distance between them and Cangxuan Peak. The numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples felt a little regretful, but their faces were still filled with smiles. Second place was already far beyond their expectations after all. Zhou Yuan chuckled as he watched, before he made a grabbing motion. A dazzling gem-like brilliance erupted as the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence appeared in his hand. Bzz! The ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence immediately transformed into a shining beacon of light as it soared into the sky, and merged into the pillar that had stopped growing. In the next instant, the Genesis essence pillar rapidly grew, surpassing Cangxuan Peak¡¯s pillar in the blink of an eye. After a few dozen breaths, the two light pillars slowly came to a stop. Saint Genesis Peak had surpassed Cangxuan Peak by a hundred feet. Seven dragon silhouettes were coiling within it! The Saint Genesis Peak disciples stared at this scene with their mouths hanging wide open, clearly unable to believe their eyes. The world around them was somewhat silent, as the disciples from the other peaks blankly stared at Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s rising pillar. Who could have imagined that the champion of this year¡¯s Genesis reservoir ceremony would be the very same Saint Genesis Peak that always had to be protected by others?! Gazes filled with complicated expressions and respect look towards Zhou Yuan, who stood like a crane amongst chickens amidst the other disciples. To have single handedly pulled the last place Saint Genesis Peak all the way here¡­ this new chief disciple had undoubtedly vanquished any doubt others had of him. From this very moment, no one in the Cangxuan Sect would dare to underestimate the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak... Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 546 Nine Dragons Baptism An enormous glowing pillar rose above the numerous Saint Genesis Peak disciples, bathing the area within a hundred mile radius in its dazzling brilliance. The disciples of the seven peaks gazed at the pillar in surprise. After all, Saint Genesis Peak claiming the champion spot was far more shocking than Cangxuan Peak. Of course, Cangxuan Peak had clearly been in the lead earlier, and was only surpassed when Zhou Yuan took out the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence. The quality of a ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence was far too high, adding nearly a whole fifty percent increase to Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s pillar. However, making such comparisons was in truth rather meaningless, because more than ninety percent of Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s Genesis essence had been obtained through Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s efforts. If not for the duo, Saint Genesis Peak would have likely been wiped out by Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s rage the moment they entered the Genesis reservoir, let alone thinking about becoming the champion of the Genesis reservoir ceremony. While the innumerable disciples were sighing in amazement due to Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s astonishing results, on the highest mountain, sect master Qing Yang and the others faintly nodded at this scene. ¡°It is honestly not easy for Saint Genesis Peak to achieve such results. Elder Shen has done a wonderful job.¡± Sect master Qing Yang looked towards the nearby elder Shen Taiyuan and smiled. Shen Taiyuan, who was still a little overwhelmed with emotions, hurriedly bowed as he said in an embarrassed manner, ¡°I have not done much, it is mostly Zhou Yuan¡¯s efforts.¡± His words were true. Though Shen Taiyuan had done his best to provide Zhou Yuan cultivation resources since the beginning, it had been his own efforts that had brought him so far. In fact, Zhou Yuan rarely came to seek guidance from Shen Taiyuan with regards to Genesis techniques and cultivation matters. Even if Shen Taiyuan wanted to fulfill his teaching obligations, there was hardly any chance for him to do so. Sect master Qing Yang nodded, and said in a pleased manner, ¡°I had originally believed that joining Saint Genesis Peak would be a waste of his talent, and never expected that it would work out so well.¡± Shen Taiyuan nodded in understanding. Zhou Yuan had been the champion of the peak selection ceremony back then, and was highly valued by all the other six peaks. Who could have expected him to ultimately decide on Saint Genesis Peak instead. ¡°In another month, it will be time for the new batch of disciples to join the inner mountains after passing the peak selection ceremony. With Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s impressive achievements, we¡¯ll surely be able to draw many new disciples.¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s heart beated excitedly. Now that Saint Genesis Peak had been reopened, this was precisely the kind of reputation they needed to spread their name, and lure more new disciples to join them. Through this process of getting new blood, Saint Genesis Peak would slowly grow stronger. One could say that obtaining first place in the Genesis reservoir ceremony was very timely indeed. Sect master Qing Yang looked towards the many disciples as his voice boomed once more, ¡°The rankings are out. Sword Cometh Peak will enjoy a four dragons baptism, and their Chosens and chief disciples will enjoy a six dragons baptism.¡± ¡°Spirit Rune Peak, Snow Lotus Peak, Hongya Peak and Lightning Prison Peak¡­ will enjoy a six dragons baptism, while their Chosens and chief disciples will enjoy an eight dragons baptism.¡± ¡°Cangxuan Peak is rank two, and their disciple shall enjoy a seven dragon baptism, while the Chosens and chief disciple will enjoy an eight dragons baptism.¡± As sect master Qing Yang¡¯s voice spread, all the disciples, with the exception of Sword Cometh Peak, exploded into thunderous cheers. A six dragon baptism was a rather unreachable high for most of them, and even some of the top tier purple sash disciples needed some luck in order to enjoy it occasionally. As for a seven dragons baptism, even the chief disciples may not be able to achieve it, and it was usually a separating line between them and the Chosens. Amongst the ten great Chosens of the sect, only a handful had attained an eight dragons baptism before. Hence, the Chosens were quite content with receiving an eight dragons baptism. They knew that it was probably because they had obtained a portion of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast¡¯s Genesis essence. ¡°First place, Saint Genesis Peak. The disciples will enjoy a seven dragon baptism¡­¡± Saint Genesis Peak had only slightly surpassed Cangxuan Peak, and thus received the exact same reward as the Cangxuan Peak disciples. However, not a single one of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples was disappointed by this, and instead bursted into ecstatic cheers. Even the top tier purple sash disciples like Zhou Tai and Lu Yan were unable to conceal the intense emotions on their faces. Because they had never enjoyed a seven dragons baptism till today. ¡°Almighty chief disciple!¡± ¡°Almighty Xiaoyao!¡± All the Saint Genesis Peak disciples cheered, creating an exceptionally excited atmosphere. They clearly understood who was to thank for the seven dragons baptism. The disciples from the other peaks looked over in envy. After all, a seven dragon baptism was also a rather unattainable blessing for them. Sect master Qing Yang smiled gently, his gaze pausing on Zhou Yuan as his boomed, ¡°Zhou Yuan, your contributions as Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s chief disciple has not gone unnoticed. What¡¯s more, you¡¯ve also contributed greatly to the slaying of the ten thousand foot aquatic beast, and obtained the greatest portion of Genesis essence. In accordance to our evaluation, you shall enjoy¡­¡± ¡°A nine dragons baptism!¡± As the final four words echoed, the entire place exploded into a torrential uproar. Countless burning gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, filled with extreme desire. In fact, envy even flashed across the eyes of several Chosens. This was a nine dragons baptism! It was the highest possible level of baptism. Let alone this generation of Chosens, even the countless batches of Chosens over the past hundred years had never attained such an extraordinary feat. No one could have expected that the first person to reach a nine dragon baptism in a hundred years would not be a Chosen, but a chief disciple... Moreover, it was even the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak! Under everyone¡¯s gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart rippled slightly. Although he had already anticipated this result, it was still hard to remain composed when it was announced by sect master Qing Yang. He had previously enjoyed an eight dragons baptism back when he recently joined Saint Genesis Peak, and thus clearly understood how amazing it was. The nine dragons baptism would undoubtedly allow him to take a giant step in his cultivation. In the past year he had spent in the Cangxuan Sect, he had constantly been growing stronger and improving himself. The distance between himself and the Great Wu Empire¡¯s king Wu was also slowly shrinking. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as he lifted his head, and peered into the distance. He knew that his father was doing his best for his country, and was doggedly withstanding the tremendous pressure from the Great Wu Empire, while trying to help buy time for Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Wait for me father, when I return to the Great Zhou Empire, I will fulfill my promise, and take back everything king Wu has taken from us!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands slowly clenched,as a determined look rose in his eyes. On the highest mountain, sect master Qing Yang waved his sleeve, as boundless power descended. All the disciples vanished in an instant, and appeared again atop the giant baptism stage above the Genesis reservoir. The baptism stage was akin to a pyramid, the higher up one was the better baptism one would receive. Zhou Yuan was seated at the very top, seeing countless figures when he looked down. Rumble! The surrounding Genesis Qi began to churn violently at this moment. An endless aura of wonder fell from the sky, and covered the land like haze, as a dragon roar faintly echoed from within... Zhou Yuan raised his head to look at the sky, where the silhouette of a dragon was diving downwards along with a pure and boundless energy. He slowly closed his eyes, and began to enjoy the first nine dragons baptism in a hundred years... Chapter 547 Another Year, Another Peak Selection Ceremony Several tens of thousands of disciples undergoing a Genesis essence baptism became quite a grand sight in the Cangxuan Sect. Moreover, it lasted for quite some time, because the Genesis reservoir ceremony was a really large scale event, and naturally would not be completed so quickly. As such, several days had passed before even the last place Sword Cometh Peak disciples¡¯ four dragons baptism was over. After which, the disciples of the other peaks ended their baptism one after another, though ten days had already passed by then. Next, were the chief disciples and Chosens, whose Genesis essence baptisms took nearly a month to finish. However, it was still not over, because there was one final figure whose baptism was not done on the Genesis essence baptism stage. This figure naturally belonged to Zhou Yuan, who was enjoying a nine dragons baptism. The amount of pure Genesis Qi needed for a nine dragons baptism was tremendous, which was why Zhou Yuan was taking such a long time. While Zhou Yuan was still seated on the baptism stage, the disciples from the other peaks had already slowly dispersed. Sect master Qing Yang and the peak masters had also left long ago, leaving a single elder to keep an eye on Zhou Yuan¡¯s baptism. As time quietly flowed, peace and calm returned to the Cangxuan Sect, though whenever disciples mentioned the Genesis reservoir ceremony, they could not help but cast their gazes towards the reservoir, where the faint silhouette of a figure could be seen within the dazzling golden light. When that happened, envy and respect would appear in their eyes as they remarked, ¡°Isn¡¯t chief disciple Zhou Yuan¡¯s baptism lasting far too long?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a nine dragons baptism that hasn¡¯t appeared in the past hundred years, of course it¡¯ll be long.¡± ¡°I wonder how strong chief disciple Zhou Yuan will become after the baptism.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the other chief disciples have improved greatly after the baptism, and have stepped into the ninth layer Alpha-Origin¡­ of course, their current foundations are not on the same level as the Chosens.¡± ¡°Hehe, Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s chief disciple Baili Che has become quite spirited after his cultivation breakthrough. There¡¯s been some rumors spreading over the past few days of him declaring that he¡¯ll definitely beat Zhou Yuan if they were to fight again.¡± ¡°Ch, I doubt anyone will believe such words. Since Zhou Yuan could defeat Baili Che once, he¡¯ll definitely be able to do so a second time.¡± ¡°......¡± While numerous disciples gossipped, Zhou Yuan¡¯s nine dragons baptism slowly approached the two month mark. After so long, the many disciples gradually grew accustomed to the emerging light from the baptism stage everyday. However, although Zhou Yuan was still immersed in his baptism, the enormous organization known as the Cangxuan Sect did not stop working. Two months after the Genesis reservoir ceremony was concluded, the Cangxuan Sect welcomed a new batch of disciples from the peak selection ceremony. ... On a certain day. A particular large plaza was currently covered in an atmosphere of excitement. Countless young figures stood at the center of the plaza, looking rather immature and inexperienced. At this current moment, they were looking to the front with excited and nervous expressions. Seven stone stages stood in front of them, representing the seven peaks of the Cangxuan Sect. The chief disciples from the various peaks proudly stood atop these stages, drawing respectful gazes from below. This was especially the case for the new disciples that had recently passed the peak selection ceremony, who were tilting their heads upwards as they looked at the figures upon the stage that were akin to a moon surrounded by the stars, figures akin to the tallest mountains. These were the chief disciples of each peak! A goal that all of them would strive towards in the future! While the youthful new disciples were looking forward to joining the inner mountains, Zhou Tai and Lu Yan were heading the Saint Genesis Peak stone stage. ¡°How unfortunate, sect master and the other peak masters are only going to observe from above this year, and have instead sent out the chief disciples to do the recruitment. But junior brother Zhou Yuan is still in his baptism, so how can our Saint Genesis Peak send out our chief disciple!¡± Zhou Tai could not help but pour out his grievances as he gazed upon the sprawling mass of new disciples on the plaza. Lu Yan let out a bitter laugh in response. Zhou Yuan was obviously unable to make it today, while it was even more impossible for them to invite Yaoyao out. As a result, there was no choice but for the both of them to come down. However, the stages of the other six peaks were being overseen by their chief disciples, which undoubtedly made Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s side appear a little pathetic. At this moment, a steward of the sect stepped forward and announced in a loud and powerful voice, ¡°Sect master has decreed that for the sake of fairness, all the new disciples that have passed the peak selection ceremony will be allowed their own peaks from now onwards.¡± As his words faded, joy emerged in the eyes of the countless disciples on the plaza. ¡°The new disciples have it really good nowadays. Can¡¯t believe they¡¯re even giving the freedom of selecting their own peaks. In the past, sect master and the peak masters would randomly split and allocate us.¡± Muttered Zhou Tai. Lu Yan said, ¡°There were basically only six peaks in the past after all, and the leftovers that none of the other peaks wanted would be thrown to our Saint Genesis Peak. But since we¡¯ve reopened, they naturally can¡¯t continue such a practice, and instead give our Saint Genesis Peak a fair chance to compete for new blood.¡± However, there was some worry between her brows as she continued, ¡°But the line-ups from the other six peaks are quite shocking. Though the Chosens aren¡¯t here, all of the other peaks are being overseen by their chief disciples, making them appear rather impressive. In contrast, we¡¯re practically invisible, which would likely affect the decisions of these new disciples.¡± At the end of the day, they just didn¡¯t have enough to show! Zhou Tai could only laugh bitterly in response. What else could they do? It had been nearly two months since the chief disciple Zhou Yuan had started his baptism, but it was still not over... While they were conversing, the thousands of new disciples of the plaza began to discuss with each other. ¡°Sect master oversees Cangxuan Peak, and the leader of the ten great Chosens is also from there. Our prospects should be really good if we join it.¡± ¡°Cangxuan Peak is amazing, but it¡¯s also full of talented disciples. The fight for cultivation resources will likely be extremely competitive.¡± ¡°I¡¯m very interested in Snow Lotus Peak, I heard that the number one beauty of our sect, senior sister Li Qingchan is from there.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about entering Snow Lotus Peak, you should take a good look at your own face first.¡± ¡°Sword Cometh Peak is not a bad choice either, it¡¯s been on the rise for the past few years.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Saint Genesis Peak? Rumor says that it was the place patriarch Cangxuan used to seclude himself away in.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that it recently reopened, and doesn¡¯t even have a peak master¡­ I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll have any future there.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right, I recall hearing that Saint Genesis Peak recently took first place in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, and their chief disciple is really amazing.¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so? Then why is their chief disciple not present?¡± ¡°... that I do not know.¡± ¡°......¡± After some discussion, the numerous disciples began swarming towards the stone stages, causing some chaos on the plaza. However, Zhou Tai and Lu Yan¡¯s expression did not look too good. The other six stone stages were filled with people, and extremely popular, while only their Saint Genesis Peak stage had a few meagre figures. Moreover, the disciples that occasionally came over did not look very talented either. The two exchanged a look, seeing the depressed looks in each other¡¯s eyes. It was only made worse because the Sword Cometh peak stage was nearby. The Sword Cometh Peak disciples would look over in amusement, as if they were seeing some kind of joke. So what if Sword Cometh Peak had been beaten in the Genesis reservoir ceremony by some fluke? Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s foundations were still far too weak, and could not possibly match up to Sword Cometh Peak in an event like this. At the center of the stage, Baili Che stood like a moon surrounded by stars. His aura was clearly much stronger than two months ago, and had evidently advanced to the ninth layer Alpha-Origin during the baptism, causing his strength to soar. ¡°Hehe, chief disciple Baili Che, it appears that Saint Genesis Peak won¡¯t be able to recruit many new disciples today. They¡¯re honestly quite unlucky that their chief disciple is unable to be present for such an event. How can they match up to our Sword Cometh Peak?¡± A disciple smiled and said from beside Baili Che, clearly hoping to suck up. However, Baili Che¡¯s face immediately turned frosty when he heard this. ¡°Are you saying that Zhou Yuan will be able to change things if he were here?¡± The disciple had failed in his flattery, causing him to feel rather embarrassed. Baili Che¡¯s expression darkened, clearly still angry due to his loss to Zhou Yuan in the Genesis reservoir ceremony. He took in a deep breath and icily said, ¡°I¡¯m no longer the same person as before. If Zhou Yuan dares to fight me again, I will gladly pay him back for before!¡± The disciple hurriedly said, ¡°Of course, senior brother Baili has already stepped into the ninth layer Alpha-Origin, and his high hopes to become a Chosen in the future. Zhou Yuan was merely lucky previously.¡± Baili Che ignored the former. His gaze turned towards the long queue of new disciples, before looking towards the pathetic showing on Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s side, as the anger in his heart abated a little. Humph. Zhou Yuan, do you really think you¡¯ll be able to change anything just because you managed to steal the spotlight in the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Saint Genesis Peak is still far from being able to compare to Sword Cometh Peak! Chapter 548 Mu Xiaoman A bustling and noisy atmosphere covered the giant plaza. The new disciples were currently gathered in front of the seven stone stages. However, compared to the other six peaks, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s side was undoubtedly much less popular. At the end of the day, their foundations were just much weaker than the other six peaks. What¡¯s more, their chief disciple was not even present, and the two purple sash disciples, Zhou Tai and Lu Yan, were clearly unable to match up with the impressive line-ups from the other peaks. Hence, it was within expectation for them to be less well received. Zhou Tai and Lu Yan felt exceptionally dispirited. If this continued, all the talented new disciples would soon be recruited away by the other six peaks. When the other six peaks fulfilled their quotas, the leftovers would likely be those unwanted and unremarkable disciples again. The duo¡¯s gazes swept across the crowd, suddenly finding a few dozen figures still observing from the center of the plaza. Zhou Tai and Lu Yan focused on the spot right in front of the small group. Of course, they were not the only two who had their attention on this location. The other six peaks were carefully making sure to keep an eye on the figure at the head of this group. She was a young lady in blue, with bright eyes and pearly white teeth that made her look very elegant. Her black hair was tied into a ponytail, and her eyebrows were long and thin, giving her a capable and sharp look. This girl was called Mu Xiaoman, and was rumored to be from one of the great clans in the Shengzhou Continent. She was exceedingly talented, and was also the champion of the latest peak selection ceremony. Mu Xiaoman was straightforward, ambitious and competitive. Thus, she had quite some influence over the newest batch of new disciples. The new disciples gathered around her had all ranked pretty highly in the peak selection ceremony. From the looks of it, Mu Xiaoman was their leader, and they intended to first see what decision she would make. After all, the current peak selection ceremony allowed everyone the freedom of choice, unlike the past where only the champion was given the right to choose, while everyone else would be forcibly allocated. ¡°Senior sister Xiaoman, are you still hesitating? Which of the six peaks do you like? All of us will follow you wherever you go!¡± Asked a smiling young man from beside Mu Xiaoman, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at the latter. Mu Xiaoman¡¯s eyes began to swim for a moment when she heard this, before casting a glance towards the lonely looking Saint Genesis Peak stage. ¡°Saint Genesis Peak?¡± The other disciples were taken aback. ¡°Senior sister Xiaoman, you can¡¯t be interested in Saint Genesis Peak, right? I heard that they don¡¯t even have a peak master¡­¡± Mu Xiaoman swept a glance at them as she softly snorted. ¡°What do you guys know? Saint Genesis Peak has only recently reopened, and although they have no peak master, their cultivation resources are very plentiful, making this the best time for us to join. As long as you¡¯re talented, you¡¯ll be able to climb rapidly amongst their ranks. In comparison, the other six peaks are already very well established, and a little bloated with talent.¡± ¡°Moreover¡­ do you guys know how long the current senior brother chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak took to ascend to his position?¡± The other new disciples looked at each other. They were merely outer mountain disciples previously, and had not come into contact with any information from the inner mountains, and were thus naturally unaware. Mu Xiaoman pursed her lips as she extended a single slender finger. ¡°A little over a year. That senior brother of ours was the champion of the previous peak selection ceremony.¡± ¡°If memory serves me right, he should be called Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Shock filled the eyes of the other disciples. ¡°Becoming the chief disciple in a year?¡± Such rapid promotion of status was indeed quite terrifying. Inner mountain disciples would usually start at black sash, then white sash and finally purple sash, before gaining the qualifications to vie for the chief disciple position. Many disciples would often find it difficult to be promoted each year. ¡°Becoming the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak seems to be a little too easy?¡± Someone remarked, evidently feeling that it had likely been no challenge. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that chief disciple Zhou Yuan led Saint Genesis Peak to claim first place in the recent Genesis reservoir ceremony. Moreover, he even defeated the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak. From this, we can see that his ability is the real deal.¡± Said Mu Xiaoman. A pretty young lady said from the side, ¡°If he¡¯s so capable, why has he not shown himself? We¡¯ve spent most of our time in the outer mountains after all, and only occasionally hear some rumors about the inner mountains.¡± Mu Xiaoman hesitated somewhat when she heard this, because she too knew that her information was limited, and naturally did not understand why the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak was not present in an event like this. She mumbled to herself, ¡°Could there have been some mistake in the information I received?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find out once we ask!¡± Mu Xiaoman¡¯s pupils spun in thought, before casting aside her hesitation, and heading straight towards the Saint Genesis Peak stage. As the champion of the peak selection ceremony, Mu Xiaoman¡¯s every action was being observed at all times. Hence, the members of the other peaks were a little stunned when they saw her move towards Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s stage. Even Zhou Tai and Lu Yan were quite surprised as they watched Mu Xiaoman briskly walk towards them. They clearly understood what a desirable hot steam bun this young lady currently was. After all, the previous champion of the peak selection ceremony had been Zhou Yuan, whose achievements were plain for all to see. Hence, everyone could not help but hold certain expectations for this year¡¯s number one. ¡°May I ask about something senior brother and sister¡­¡± Mu Xiaoman arrived in front of the stage and respectfully cupped her fists in greeting towards Zhou Tai and Lu Yan. The former did not beat about the bush and asked straightaway, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Saint Genesis Peak was first place in the recent Genesis reservoir ceremony?¡± Zhou Tai and Lu Yan exchanged a glance, feeling a little happy inside as they quickly nodded and said without a change in expression, ¡°That¡¯s right, we were indeed the champions of the recent Genesis reservoir ceremony.¡± Mu Xiaoman¡¯s large eyes blinked as she continued, ¡°Is it true that chief disciple Zhou Yuan of Saint Genesis Peak defeated chief disciple Baili of Sword Cometh Peak during the ceremony?¡± Zhou Tai could not help but feel somewhat pleased as he answered, ¡°That¡¯s something that everyone knows.¡± Boom! However, the moment these words left his mouth, a berserk Genesis Qi undulations suddenly exploded from a nearby stage, sweeping with unstoppable momentum and power towards Zhou Tai and Lu Yan. Zhou Tai and Lu Yan hurriedly looked over, and saw Baili Che¡¯s stormy expression. Baili Che frostily stared at the Zhou Tai duo and slowly said, ¡°Two purple sash disciples dare to insult me?¡± Zhou Tai resisted the enormous pressure as he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°What are you trying to do chief disciple Baili? So many people saw what happened back then, do you think that you can deny it?¡± Lu Yan also snarled, ¡°You did lose to Zhou Yuan, did we say anything wrong?¡± The chief disciples from the other peaks frowned a little when they saw this. Baili Che was indeed behaving very narrow-mindedly. It was public knowledge that he had been defeated by Zhou Yuan, and yet he was lashing out against two purple sash disciples. This was very unbecoming for a chief disciple. Baili Che icily said, ¡°I was merely careless previously. If Zhou Yuan appears before me now, let¡¯s see if he¡¯ll dare to do anything?!¡± Rumble! Powerful Genesis Qi swept out from his body like a storm, displaying the true power of the ninth layer, and was substantially stronger than his half-foot ninth layer from before. Baili Che had clearly been brooding more about his previous loss after advancing to the ninth layer. Zhou Tai and Lu Yan¡¯s complexions turned ashen as they continued to resist the Genesis pressure, but they could only grit their teeth and endure. Baili Che was after all much stronger than before, and was not someone that both of them could match. The atmosphere became rather chaotic. Although many disciples felt disapproval at Baili Che¡¯s actions, they also inwardly shook their heads at how easily Saint Genesis Peak had been bullied. Some of the disciples, who had previously been a little interested in the newly reopened Saint Genesis Peak, also began to waver. Nearby, the steward was just about to berate them to put a halt to this affair. Boom! However, a loud rumble suddenly rang out at this moment, as a giant golden pillar of light in the distance soared into the sky, clearly visible from even a hundred miles away. A clear whistling sound spread like rumbling thunder. Next, everyone watched as golden light streaked across the sky, ultimately falling from the heavens like a shooting star, and landing on the Saint Genesis Peak stone stage. As the golden light faded, a slim, young figure walked out. On the first step he took, the Genesis Qi pressure from Baili Che was instantly pulverised. His shining pupils looked towards Baili Che like a falcon, as a voice echoed across the plaza like thunder amidst the calmness. ¡°Why is the great Sword Cometh Peak chief disciple bullying purple sash disciples? How about I accompany you if you wish to play?¡± Chapter 549 Genesis Qi Materializing into Stars A golden figure descended from the sky, Genesis Qi rising around him as he stepped forward, instantly pulverising the Genesis Qi pressure from Baili Che¡¯s body. Every gaze in the plaza looked towards the figure that had fallen from the heavens like a god in astonishment. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan?!¡± When they saw his face, gasps of surprise immediately rang out one after another. No one could have expected that after nearly two months in the nine dragons baptism, Zhou Yuan would finally complete it at this moment, and descend from the sky. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan!¡± Zhou Tai and Lu Yan were stunned for a moment, before bursting into joy. Below the stage, the young lady known as Mu Xiaoman widened her eyes in curiosity, as she gazed upon the youth who was giving off an astonishing presence. On Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s side, the numerous disciples froze for a moment upon seeing Zhou Yuan appear, before beginning to panic. They could not help but feel the urge to step back, fear clearly beaten into them after the events of the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Baili Che¡¯s expressions turned even darker at the sight of this. He turned towards Zhou Yuan and sneered, ¡°What bold words. You only found an opening previously due to my worry for the trapped to Sword Cometh Peak disciples.¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance was rather surprising, Baili Che was not alarmed but elated. He was currently at the peak of his strength after recently advancing to the ninth layer Alpha-Origin, making his self-confidence higher than it ever was. Baili Che believed that if Zhou Yuan dared to fight again, only a crushing defeat would await him that would wipe away all of Baili Che¡¯s previous shame! Rumble! As he spoke, surging Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body once again, rising into the air like a column of smoke. It filled the surroundings, accompanied by an extremely powerful Genesis Qi pressure. Cracks even began to appear on the stage below his feet. Baili Che disdainfully stared at Zhou Yuan. After stepping into the ninth layer, the Genesis Qi in his body had rapidly multiplied, the number of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling reaching over nine thousand! He was at a completely different level from two months ago! Silver snow like Genesis Qi rose into the sky, turning the air ice-cold. Baili Che¡¯s gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan as he icily said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you dare to fight me again?!¡± The numerous disciples in the vicinity were unable to withstand such Genesis pressure and quickly backed away one after another, fearful respect in their eyes as they looked towards Baili Che¡¯s figure. Even Zhou Tai and Lu Yan¡¯s expressions changed slightly, as their eyes filled with fearful weariness. No wonder Baili Che was so arrogant, he had indeed grown much stronger since the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he felt the surging Genesis Qi undulations, likewise somewhat amazed by Baili Che¡¯s growth. Although the latter was quite a loathsome person, one could not help but admit that he was pretty outstanding. However, though Baili Che had grown over the past two months, Zhou Yuan had not let himself stagnate either. Otherwise, it would be too disrespectful towards the nine dragons baptism. ¡°So this is the source of your confidence¡­¡± Zhou Yuan seemed to smile as he fearlessly faced Baili Che¡¯s astonishing Genesis Qi. He calmly took a step forward, welcoming the earth-shaking Genesis Qi pressure that flooded towards him. Bzz! Golden Genesis Qi suddenly erupted at this moment, dashing through the clouds like a giant pillar of light, as an extremely powerful ripple unfurled. Golden Genesis Qi filled the area, seemingly transforming into a sky of stars! An extremely alarming Genesis Qi pressure overwhelmed the surroundings. Under this pressure, everyone saw the silver snow Genesis Qi from Baili Che slowly being pushed back! Baili Che¡¯s Genesis Qi was being forcibly suppressed! At this moment, not only did the expressions of the numerous disciples change, even the pupils of the chief disciples shrank a little, as they stared in shock at the dazzling starry sky that had appeared above Zhou Yuan. Golden stars shined within it, a scene of magnificent beauty and power. The chief disciples of the various peaks involuntarily cried out in alarm, ¡°This¡­ this is Genesis Qi materializing into stars?¡± When one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations grew to a certain point, if the Genesis Qi one released was not restrained, a strange phenomenon would occur. This phenomenon was known as Genesis Qi materializing into stars! It was estimated such a situation would only occur when the number of Genesis Qi stars in one¡¯s Qi Dwelling exceeded ten thousand. ¡°Genesis Qi materializes into stars¡­ that¡¯s a sign that one¡¯s Genesis Qi stars has broken the ten thousand mark¡­¡± The Cangxuan Peak chief disciple Tang Muxin¡¯s mouth hung slightly ajar as dazedly stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Who could have imagined that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations would soar to such an alarming extent in a short two months. Such Genesis Qi foundations was already top three amongst the chief disciples. The chief disciples of the various peaks were silent, as they looked towards Zhou Yuan with complicated expressions in their eyes. One must know that though his battle power had been pretty overwhelming previously, his Genesis Qi foundations were still rather lacking in comparison to the rest of them. Who could have anticipated that their only advantage over him would vanish after the nine dragons baptism. ¡°This guy! How much did he grow in the nine dragons baptism?!¡± The same questions flashed in all the chief disciples¡¯ hearts. The giant plaza was wrapped in silence, every disciple staring at the rising Genesis Qi from Zhou Yuan¡¯s in complete shock. The silver snow like Genesis Qi continuously shrank back like a wolf that had encountered a tiger, losing all of its earlier impressiveness. Baili Che also stared blankly at this scene, as a chill rose from the depths of his heart. The Genesis Qi stars were dazzlingly painful to view. That confidence that had arisen from his Genesis Qi foundations instantly crumbled at this moment. In the Genesis reservoir ceremony, his Genesis Qi foundations had been greater than Zhou Yuan¡¯s, but he had still lost in the end... Now, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations had surpassed his own. With his only advantage gone, how was his going to compete with Zhou Yuan? Zhou Yuan calmly stared at Baili Che. He had indeed obtained unbelievable growth due to the nine dragons baptism. The number of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling leaping directly from five thousand to ten thousand... Even ordinary ninth layer practitioners would not be able to much such foundations. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation had skipped past the sixth layer, directly ascending to the seventh layer! He had clearly grown much much stronger after two months of baptism. When they previously fought, Baili Che had some advantage in the aspect of Genesis Qi foundations, but if they were to fight again now, Zhou Yuan would let the former have taste of how it felt t be suppressed in the area of Genesis Qi! Amidst the countless astonished gazes, Zhou Yuan stared at Baili Che in indifference and said, ¡°Although you¡¯ve grown stronger over these past tow months, unfortunately for you, my growth has been even greater than your own!¡± ¡°Now then¡­¡± He stared piercingly at Baili Qi, his eyes filled with a heart-palpitating pressure. ¡°Do you still want another duel with me?!¡± Chapter 550 Recruiting New Disciples As Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out across the plaza, countless gazes immediately converged towards Baili Che. Baili Che¡¯s expression fluctuated rapidly under their watching eyes. The anger in his heart urged him to go for it, though his rationality told him that it would not be a wise decision to fight Zhou Yuan now. That¡¯s right. He had indeed grown stronger over the past two months, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s progress had clearly been even more terrifying! Previously, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations had been his weak point when facing veteran disciples like Baili Che, but things were obviously different now. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations had genuinely surpassed Baili Che¡¯s. Therefore, Zhou Yuan¡¯s current battle power had likely reached a pretty astonishing level. No matter how much Baili Che refused to face reality, he had no choice but to admit that the once Baili Che¡¯s expression changed rapidly, his lips quivering in Zhou Yuan¡¯s tsunami like Genesis Qi pressure, unable to utter a single word, as his face turned purple with rage. In the end, a single sentence escaped from between the crevices of Baili Che¡¯s teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy Zhou Yuan! When my Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique has been properly mastered, I will naturally come to seek guidance from you!¡± These words made his answer clear. The previously overbearing and bossy to the extreme chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak had chosen to back down! Countless disciples sucked in breath of cold air, their hearts surging as they gazed at the young figure. The chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak had used his presence to force back the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak, making the latter no longer dare to act arrogantly. Moreover, the most shocking thing was that Zhou Yuan had only joined the inner mountains a little over a year ago. In such a short span of time, he had grown by leaps and bounds, and overcome numerous trials. Now, even the chief disciple of Sword Cometh Peak did not dare to be too domineering in front of him. How much swag was this! Feverish looks rose in the eyes of the countless new disciples when they saw this, while Mu Xiaoman¡¯s eyes were practically glowing. Only someone like this was worthy to be her goal that she would work hard to surpass. Behind Zhou Yuan, Zhou Tai and Lu Yan also felt a rush of emotions. A feeling of pride rose within them as they looked at Baili Che, who did not dare to challenge Zhou Yuan due to his overwhelming presence. In the past, Saint Genesis Peak had been insignificant in Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s eyes, and Baili Che had always looked down on Saint Genesis Peak. However, such a situation would never occur again after today. ¡°All of you stop!¡± The steward finally rushed over at this moment, his shout scattering the hostile atmosphere. Zhou Yuan swept a nonchalant glance at Baili Che, before withdrawing his Genesis Qi. After such a huge boost in power, the former no longer viewed the latter as a threat. Zhou Yuan shifted his gaze, turning towards the numerous new disciples on the plaza as he could not help but reminiscence for a moment. Last year, he had been one of the new disciples standing here. Even the him from back then would not have imagined that he would become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak a year later, and a rather famous figure in the Cangxuan Sect. He sighed, before he chuckled and withdrew his emotions. He looked at the numerous excited eyes of the new disciples and said in a clear voice, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak has reopened not too long ago. Although our numbers cannot compete with the other peaks, as long as you have talent and are willing to work hard, Saint Genesis Peak will give you support and cultivation resources. We will not let any pearl collect dust in a corner.¡± ¡°Hence, if any of you guys have ambition and aspiration, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s gates will always welcome you.¡± Zhou Yuan clearly understood the importance of new blood to Saint Genesis Peak. It had recently reopened, and these new disciples were exactly what it needed to slowly grow stronger and regain its former glory. As the chief disciple, he had a duty to help recruit disciples for Saint Genesis Peak. On the plaza, the numerous new disciples felt their hearts tingle in excitement. Of course, it was mainly because of how Zhou Yuan had intimidated Baili Che through sheer presence alone earlier. From what they could see, though Zhou Yuan¡¯s own talent did play a part in his amazing achievements over the past year, it also spoke volumes about how one would not be neglected in Saint Genesis Peak as long as one was capable. In addition, they also understood that Saint Genesis Peak was in its growth period, and an equally talented disciple would probably receive more cultivation resources in Saint Genesis Peak than if placed in any of the other six peaks. Various thoughts swam in the heads of the disciples. Although they were somewhat tempted, no one responded for a time. After all, it was ultimately only a conjuncture, and investing themselves into Saint Genesis Peak was undoubtedly still riskier than the other six peaks. Everyone hesitated, causing the atmosphere to turn a little rigid. At the sight of this, the ugliness on Baili Che¡¯s face receded a little, as he sneered and swept a glance at Zhou Yuan. So what if the winds are blowing in your favor now? It will not be easy for a single chief disciple to change the image of Saint Genesis Peak. Zhou Yuan likewise felt a little awkward. He never expected that his dashing entrance, and impressive intimidation of Baili Che would fail to make the masses respond to him. It seems that Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s reputation was pretty terrible. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, if I join Saint Genesis Peak, will I be able to become the chief disciple in a year?¡± A clear voice rang out all of a sudden, causing Zhou Yuan to be taken aback. He looked over to find a young lady in blue standing in front of the stage, her large eyes shining as she looked at him. ¡°Eh, you¡¯re really ambitious.¡± He was overjoyed when he heard this question. Looks like the new batch was even crazier than the previous. He had never even thought about becoming the chief disciple after passing the peak selection ceremony last year. Lu Yan moved over to quietly whisper into his ear at this moment. ¡°Oh? The champion of the peak selection ceremony?¡± Surprise appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, before properly observed the girl called Mu Xiaoman. Becoming the champion was more than testament of her talent. No wonder she was so ambitious, it turns out that she did have the potential. Zhou Yuan chuckled. He could feel the other six chief disciples looking at the girl in blue, evidently after her talent. As such, his eyes spun in thought for a moment, before he unhurriedly said, ¡°Becoming the chief disciple in a year is not that easy.¡± ¡°Since senior brother Zhou Yuan could do it, why can¡¯t I?¡± Mu Xiaoman earnestly asked, her bright eyes filled with an unwillingness to back down. She was even more competitive than some of the guys. Lu Yan hurriedly shot Zhou Yuan a look, clearly hoping that the latter would trick the girl into Saint Genesis Peak. After all, Mu Xiaoman was currently the most sought after disciple by all the peaks. However, Zhou Yuan ignored the former, and nonchalantly said, ¡°Because if you enter Saint Genesis Peak in hopes of becoming the chief disciple, you¡¯ll have to take it from me next year, and I don¡¯t think that you¡¯ll be able to do so.¡± Lu Yan covered her face with her hands. Can¡¯t you try to sweet talk this little lady instead, why do you have to say such things. Mu Xiaoman britled as she glared at Zhou Yuan. However, she soon laughed and said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, I know that you¡¯re trying to get me riled up.¡± She cocked her head to the side, her bright eyes staring at Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°But I¡¯m not going to fall for it, because if you can do it, I refuse to believe that I can¡¯t!¡± ¡°I¡¯m joining Saint Genesis Peak!¡± Her voice was clear and firm. Zhou Yuan stared at her in interest. The girl¡¯s stubbornness and unbending character was indeed quite respectable. ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to work hard¡­ by the time you¡¯re able to challenge me, I may have already been promoted to a Chosen.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. If he could motivate her, he did not mind becoming her target and goal to surpass. Mu Xiaoman made a funny face. ¡°Chief disciple, you¡¯d better not brag too much!¡± As Mu Xiaoman made her decision, the disciples on the plaza began to stir restlessly. They soon surged over like a wave, as they yelled. ¡°I¡¯m also joining Saint Genesis Peak!¡± ¡°I¡¯m following senior sister Xiaoman!¡± ¡°......¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but softly chuckle at this scene. This was where Saint Genesis Peak would begin to grow. The future Saint Genesis Peak was something he looked forward to seeing. Chapter 551 Harshness of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture ¡°You¡¯ve made quite some progress due to the nine dragons baptism.¡± In the purple Genesis cave dwelling, Yaoyao carefully looked Zhou Yuan up and down, as surprise appeared on her gorgeous face. It appeared that the latter¡¯s progress had somewhat surpassed her expectations. ¡°Come on, it is a nine dragons baptism after all¡­¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. However, it was clear that he was extremely satisfied with his Genesis Qi improvements. He had initially felt it would be pretty good if he managed to reach the sixth layer, but who could have expected that the nine dragons baptism would leapfrog him straight into the initial seventh layer. In the future, he would be able to send his Spirit into the seventh level of the Alpha-Origin Heaven, and absorb even more Alpha-Origin Qi to strengthen his Qi Dwelling. Zhou Yuan sat down by the table and offhandedly said, ¡°The truth was that the baptism had already finished a month earlier, but I was worried that the rapid progress would destabilize my foundations, and this did not leave immediately. Instead, I continued to cultivate for the following month, only leaving once my foundations were completely stable.¡± ¡°It appears that you do have a little smarts.¡± Yaoyao faintly nodded in approval, as she praised Zhou Yuan for his prudence. His growth this time had been too rapid, the number of stars in his Qi Dwelling basically doubling. If he had not spent time and effort to properly control this power, it would undoubtedly cause Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi to become unconcentrated, and affect his foundations. Her bright eyes swept a glance at Zhou Yuan. When she saw his pleased expression, she nonchalantly said, ¡°Although you¡¯ve improved substantially, you¡¯re still not number one amongst the chief disciples of the seven peaks.¡± Amongst the current seven chief disciples, Cangxuan Peak¡¯s Tang Muxin and Lightning Prison Peak¡¯s Xia Yan were not newly promoted chief disciples, but veterans that had dominated their positions for a long time. As such, they were naturally stronger than the other chief disciples. After the most recent Genesis essence baptism, both of them had likewise grown even stronger, and their Genesis Qi foundations had likely also surpassed ten thousand stars, making them no weaker than Zhou Yuan. Upon hearing this Zhou Yuan stubbornly said, ¡°We won¡¯t know that for sure till we fight.¡± If it was two months ago, Zhou Yuan would indeed have felt very pressured if he were to face Tang Muxin or Xie Yan. But since they were now at similar levels, Zhou Yuan was quite confident that he would have a fighting chance. However, he had no quarrel with either of them, and they likewise did not find him an eyesore like Baili Che had. Hence, there was no conflict between them, nor reason for them to fight. Yaoyao continued, ¡°Even if you¡¯re ranked one amongst the chief disciples, your chances will not be good even against the last ranked Chosen Zhao Zhu. After all, everyone else has not been slacking off while you were improving.¡± ¡°The Mythic Utopia will be a gathering of the countless geniuses in the entire Cangxuan Heaven, and there will be no lack of Chosen level individuals amidst them. Your strength will most likely appear lackluster amongst them.¡± After repeated blows from Yaoyao, the pleased look on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face finally dissipated, as he rolled his eyes and sullenly said, ¡°Alright, alright, I understand. I won¡¯t become complacent.¡± How could he not realize that Yaoyao was afraid of him growing overly confident, and had intentionally poured cold water over him to wake him up. ¡°However, the Mythic Utopia¡­ is indeed going to be an unprecedentedly major event, and it likely won¡¯t be easy to obtain blessings inside.¡± Zhou Yuan rubbed his chin and sighed. Yaoyao suddenly rose to her feet, and sat down beside Zhou Yuan. Her bright eyes stared hard at him, as her voice turned extremely serious, ¡°No matter how hard it is, you have to do your best!¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°Because of the third Saint Rune?¡± Yaoyao was silent for a moment, before she shook her head and said, ¡°Although the third Saint Rune is important, it is not the most important reason¡­¡± This only confused Zhou Yuan even more. He was interested in the Mythic Utopia purely because of the third Saint Rune that existed within it, but Yaoyao was saying that even the Saint Rune was not the most important thing inside? ¡°The Mythic Utopia is one of the greatest places of blessing and opportunity in Cangxuan Heaven. At the very minimum, you must secure a blessing that will allow you to reach the seven heavens Divine Dwelling when you advance to the Divine Dwelling stage in the future!¡± Yaoyao''s normally indifferent face had turned exceptionally solemn and serious at this moment. When one reaches the Divine Dwelling stage, one¡¯s Qi Dwelling will transform into a Divine Dwelling. The highest rank Divine Dwelling was to establish nine heavens, and was known as the nine heavens Divine Dwelling. As for a seven heaven Divine Dwelling, it required one to establish at least seven heavens! ¡°Seven heavens Divine Dwelling?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little alarmed. This was no simple feat. Even for the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s current batch of ten great Chosens, Zhou Yuan estimated that not a single one of them was close to reaching a seven heavens Divine Dwelling. Majority of practitioners who reached the Divine Dwelling stage would end up with a three heavens Divine Dwelling or lower, while only a few outstanding ones would achieve a four or even five heavens Divine Dwelling. Those that could reach six heavens Divine Dwelling were already considered rarely seen top tier geniuses in hegemon level sects. Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°Right, the Divine Dwelling you establish in the future must at least reach the seven heavens level!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned solemn. Minimally a seven heavens Divine Dwelling? This was a very stringent requirement indeed. ¡°Why?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan in a serious manner. He knew that there was surely a reason behind this requirement. Yaoyao fell silent. A long time later, her lips finally cracked open as she said, ¡°Because a seven heavens Divine Dwelling is the minimum requirement to reach the third level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. If you can¡¯t even establish a seven heavens Divine Dwelling, the Ancestral Dragon Scripture will be stuck at the second level now matter how hard you work.¡± There were three levels to the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. The grade 5 Omni Python Qi. The grade 7 World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi. And the grade 9 Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi. There actually also a fourth level that surpassed grade 9, but it was a thing of legend. Zhou Yuan was currently between the first and second levels. He had originally started with the grade 5 Omni Python Qi, but it had evolved after he took back half of Wu Huang¡¯s sacred dragon Qi, and reached grade 6. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned extremely grave at this moment, He had not expected the Ancestral Dragon Scripture to be so stringent. Yaoyao softly said, ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Scripture is no ordinary Qi cultivation method. When you decided on it back then, I had already warned you that it will be a very difficult path to tread. Moreover, you are only permitted to advance, and cannot retreat.¡± She looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s tense face as her eyes lowered slightly. ¡°However, you¡¯ll still be pretty decent even if you¡¯re stuck at the second level. The grade 7 World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi does not lose out in power to ordinary grade 8 Genesis Qi.¡± ¡°No!¡± A firm and decisive voice rang out. Yaoyao raised her face, and found Zhou Yuan''s determined face staring at her, as he shook his head and said, ¡°If my goal is merely a grade 7 Genesis Qi, why would I have chosen it back then?¡± Ambition filled his eyes, together with an unwavering will. Yaoyao¡¯s heart shook as she gazed at this eyes and mumbled, ¡°Why do you do this to yourself?¡± To chase the limits of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture required an unimaginable amount of effort, and may even put one¡¯s life at risk. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment, as he stared at Yaoyao¡¯s bright and clean face. A long while later, he softly said, ¡°Because I had a feeling that if I did not make that choice, I would not even have the qualifications to stand at your side in the future.¡± The tip of Yaoyao¡¯s heart shivered. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned complicated. The girl before him had always been at his side for many years. She had been there when he walked out from the tiny Great Zhou Empire, she had been at his side every step of the way since he was an immature kid who could not even find his eight meridian channels. In fact, she was still accompanying him even till today. Master Cang Yuan had clearly tasked her to him, and yet, Zhou Yuan understood just who had been protecting who for the past few years. Even after so many years together, Zhou Yuan still felt an untouchable mysteriousness from Yaoyao. From the occasional tidbits of information he managed to garner from master Cang Yuan and patriarch Cang Xuan, Yaoyao was obviously no ordinary person. The implications behind her were far too great. He was still very weak now, but he hoped that when he became strong in the future, he would be able to protect Yaoyao like she had protected him for the past few years. As one of his strongest trump cards, how could he easily give up on the Ancestral Dragon Scripture? As Yaoyao dazedly stared at the young yet determined face, the indifference in her eyes quietly retreating, while ripples began to emerge in her heart. Specks of dust seemed to dance under the falling light at this moment. Zhou Yuan gazed at the gorgeous face that seemed to have suddenly come alive with emotion, and smiled a little, before he slowly said in a soft but determined voice, ¡°It¡¯s just a seven heavens Divine Dwelling right¡­¡± ¡°I will definitely achieve it!¡± Chapter 552 Utopia Opens On a tall cliff within Saint Genesis Peak. Shen Taiyuan stood with his hands behind his back as he gazed upon the cultivation arenas amidst the mountains below, where numerous boys and girls were causing quite a din. The current Saint Genesis Peak was slowly becoming filled with life. ¡°Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s mostly thanks to your timely appearance in the new disciple recruitment. Or else, Saint Genesis Peak would not have managed to recruit so many good seedlings.¡± Shen Taiyuan turned his head to the side to look at Zhou Yuan and smiled. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak. Recruiting disciples and strengthening Saint Genesis Peak is part of my responsibilities.¡± He paused for a brief moment, before he asked, ¡°Teacher Shen, do you know when the Mythic Utopia will open?¡± After the conversation with Yaoyao yesterday, Zhou Yuan had become truly concerned about the Mythic Utopia. Like Yaoyao had said, he needed to at the very minimum establish a seven heavens Divine Dwelling when he advanced to the Divine Dwelling stage. If not, his Ancestral Dragon Scripture would be stuck at the second level in the future. The Ancestral Dragon was a first class Qi cultivation method. Since Zhou Yuan was blessed enough to obtain it, there was naturally no way he would allow it to be stuck at grade 7. However, he also understood that a seven heavens Divine Dwelling was not easy to establish, and required unimaginable Genesis Qi foundations. Among the current ten Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan estimated that not a single one of them would dare to proclaim with confidence that they would be able to establish a seven heavens Divine Dwelling when they ascended to the Divine Dwelling stage. If even the likes of them were unable to achieve it for the time being, it would be even more impossible for someone like Zhou Yuan. There was still a tremendous gap he had to cross to reach that level of Genesis Qi foundation, a gap that was essentially impossible to overcome with ordinary training. It was precisely this reason that the ten great Chosens would often leave the sect to search for opportunities outside. Only by repeating this process would one be able to continuously strengthen one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations. The soon to open Mythic Utopia was one of the biggest opportunities in Cangxuan Heaven. It was likely that the many prided geniuses from the various factions in Cangxuan Heaven were already eagerly waiting for the Mythic Utopia to resurface. From what Zhou Yuan knew, even someone as mischievous and lazy as Chu Qing, was being forced to train and adjust his condition by sect master Qing Yang in preparation for the Mythic Utopia. Upon hearing this, Shen Taiyuan replied in a soft voice, ¡°The prided geniuses from the various factions of Shengzhou Continent are already stirring restlessly. According to my estimates, the Mythic Utopia is already very near.¡± ¡°As for the exact timing, I do not know either.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He could only calm himself down for the time being. ¡°On the topic of the Mythic Utopia, you led Saint Genesis Peak to first place in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, and as a result obtained the most quotas for us. However, I ultimately kept only ten of the quotas, and gifted the rest to the other six peaks.¡± Shen Taiyuan sighed deeply, before he continued, ¡°I do want to give more opportunities to the disciples, but the Mythic Utopia is filled with untold perils, and even the Chosens¡¯ lives will be at risk. You should also know about the current situation in Saint Genesis Peak, and without sufficient strength, one will only be a liability inside.¡± ¡°Rather than sending our disciples to a certain death, won¡¯t it be better to give away some of the quotas and let the other peaks owe us a favor.¡± Zhou Yuan was not unhappy with this decision, but instead deeply in approval. This was quite cunning of Shen Taiyuan, and it was great that he had not lost his composure after obtaining so many quotas. After all, the current Saint Genesis Peak could not dispatch so many qualified disciples to the Mythic Utopia, and would only suffer tremendous losses if they forced their way. This would instead incur resentment from the other peaks, as it would be a blatant waste of quotas. ¡°Teacher Shen has made a wise decision.¡± Remarked Zhou Yuan. Shen Taiyuan nodded with a smile. Given his position, there was actually no need for him to share such information with Zhou Yuan. However, Shen Taiyuan regarded Zhou Yuan very highly, and did not view him as an ordinary disciple. Dong! Dong! While the two were conversing, the sound of an old bell suddenly rang out across the land, unhurriedly echoing within the mountains. Shen Taiyuan was slightly surprised by the sound, before he said, ¡°Eh? This bell... sect master wants us to head towards the official discussion hall. Something big has likely happened.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll come along with me.¡± He looked towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan naturally had no objections. Shen Taiyuan waved his sleeve as Genesis Qi surged out from below his feet. It swiftly brought them into the air and flew straight towards the official discussion hall in Cangxuan Peak. When they landed in front of the hall, they found that the other peak masters had also rushed over, accompanied by the Chosens of the various peaks. Upon meeting them, Zhou Yuan discovered that the other peak masters were looking at Shen Taiyuan with faint smiles, while the Chosens behind them nodded towards Zhou Yuan in a friendly manner. Zhou Yuan realized that this was likely the result of Shen Taiyuan gifting away the quotas. The crowd entered the hall, and sat according to their positions, while Zhou Yuan and the other Chosens stood behind their respective peak masters. Sect master Qing Yang gazed at everyone present from above. His expression became a little more focused as he said, ¡°News just arrived earlier. There has been a disturbance in the Genesis Qi within the south sea of the Shengzhou Continent. If my guess is correct, the Mythic Utopia will open in the south sea.¡± The Mythic Utopia was an independent domain, and did not have a fixed location. As such, no one would be able to detect it before any signs appeared. These words immediately caused the Chosens faces to flush with excitement. The Mythic Utopia was indeed about to resurface! If one were to wonder who was most expectant towards the Mythic Utopia, it would most definitely be the Chosens. They had both talent and ambition, and would never be satisfied with a low quality Divine Dwelling. Hence, they needed fortunate encounters to strengthen their Genesis Qi foundations. The Mythic Utopia was the biggest opportunity for those at their current level. Though there was previously some initial news about the Mythic Utopia, all of them could only breathe a sigh of relief after hearing proper confirmation. Behind Shen Taiyuan, Zhou Yuan also breathed a deep sigh of relief. Without the Mythic Utopia, he would have to leave the sect, and search for opportunities to increase his foundations outside, because it was basically impossible to establish a seven heavens Divine Dwelling with ordinary training, even in a hegemon level sect like the Cangxuan Sect. However, blindlessly searching in that manner would surely use a large amount of time and effort, making it far less effective than the Mythic Utopia. Of course, the competitiveness inside the latter would definitely be nothing like he had ever experienced before. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, the Mythic Utopia will fully open within five days.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s gaze swept towards everyone below. ¡°Peak masters should quickly decide on their participating disciples, because they will begin heading towards the south sea in two days.¡± The various peak masters nodded in acknowledgement. Zhou Yuan hesitated slightly when he heard this. Sect master Qing Yang was very observant, immediately catching it as he looked over with a faint smile. ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you have something you want to ask about?¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together and answered, ¡°Disciple does not have much of an understanding of the Mythic Utopia. I hope to inquire about what kind of special things there are inside that are able to satisfy our needs to grow stronger.¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 553 Divine Establishing Treasure In the discussion hall. Sect master Qing Yang was not surprised when he heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s question. The latter was after all not someone from the Shengzhou Continent, and naturally knew very little about the Mythic Utopia. ¡°The Mythic Utopia is an independent domain that contains a land within it, and is extremely ancient. There are numerous wonders and mystical places inside that bestow all kinds of blessings. Amongst them, there is something known as the Mythic Genesis essence.¡± ¡°Mythic Genesis essence?¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. ¡°Mythic Genesis essence is unique to the Mythic Utopia, and is an exceptionally magical item that can be used to create a Divine Establishing Treasure.¡± At the words Divine Establishing Treasure, Zhou Yuan felt the eyes of the Chosens in the hall heat up in desire. A puzzled Zhou Yuan continued to ask, ¡°What is a Divine Establishing Treasure?¡± Sect master Qing Yang chuckled softly, before he patiently explained, ¡°If Mythic Genesis essence is absorbed into the body, it will accumulate and slowly condense, before ultimately taking a certain form known as the Divine Establishing Treasure.¡± ¡°When one advances to the Divine Dwelling stage, the Divine Establishing Treasure will fuse into the Qi Dwelling as it evolves into a Divine Dwelling¡­ and greatly aid in the establishment of heavens.¡± Sect master Qing Yang extended a hand. Light flashed on it, before Zhou Yuan saw a flower bud appear within. The flower bud was extremely lifelike, and flowed with vibrant colors. An incomparably pure aura spread from it, as a strange fragrance circulated. A five-color aurora hung above the bud. As Zhou Yuan gazed at this object, his Qi Dwelling released a slight tingling that seemed to faintly resemble the desire when a starving man saw food. ¡°This is a five-color Divine Establishing Treasure that was obtained by a disciple of the sect the last time the Mythic Utopia was open. An unfortunate accident occured during his training, causing him to lose his life before reaching the Divine Dwelling stage, leaving this object behind.¡± ¡°As long as one assimilates this object when advancing to the Divine Dwelling stage, even if one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations are only enough to establish a three heavens Divine Dwelling, the five-color Divine Establishing Treasure will help one achieve a five heavens Divine Dwelling.¡± Explained Sect master Qing Yang. A trace of shock arose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Was this Divine Establishing Treasure really so miraculous? To think that one only needed to assimilate it to reach the five heaven Divine Dwelling numerous disciples desired. ¡°In the Mythic Utopia, the Divine Establishing Treasures come in nine levels that are categorized according to color, and the highest level is the legendary nine-color Divine Establishing Treasure.¡± ¡°In theory, a nine-color Divine Establishing Treasure should be able to help one establish the highest grade nine heavens Divine Dwelling. Unfortunately, no one has ever heard of a nine-color Divine Establishing Treasure appearing for tens and thousands of years.¡± Hss! Zhou Yuan gasped as his heart churned violently, clearly viciously shocked by the nine-color Divine Establishing Treasure. He never imagined that such a magical object would exist. ¡°Simply put, your most important mission in the Mythic Utopia is to gather Mythic Genesis essence, and create your own Divine Establishing Treasure.¡± Said sect master Qing Yang with a smile. ¡°However, there is one point you should take note of. Divine Establishing Treasures can be forcibly taken away, and if that happens, all your previous efforts will be wasted.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s expression turned grave as he continued, ¡°Hence why there is always killing in every corner of the Mythic Utopia. With the exception of your fellow disciples, anyone could be eyeing your Divine Establishing Treasure, and some may even resort to unscrupulous tactics to take it away.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face shivered. To think that the Divine Establishing Treasure could be forcibly taken away. This alone was enough to create an extremely cruel atmosphere in the Mythic Utopia. Think about it. Rather than painstakingly collecting Mythic Genesis essence, wouldn¡¯t it be much more effective to snatch away already formed Divine Establishing Treasures? Countless geniuses from the various factions of Cangxuan Heaven would soon gather in the Mythic Utopia. When all of them were gathered and aiming to create a higher level Divine Establishing Treasure, the Mythic Utopia would undoubtedly become a bloody meat grinder. Only the true prided geniuses would be able to wade through the sea of blood, and climb the mountain of corpses with their resplendent multi-color Divine Establishing Treasures, return to the Shengzhou Continent, and complete it all by successfully ascending to the Divine Dwelling stage. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned grave. He had little understanding about the Mythic Utopia previously, but at this current moment, he could already smell the storm of blood that would soon occur. This was no longer the training and practice duels within the sect, but a true battle of wits and deception on which one¡¯s life was at stake. The danger and cruelness lurking within the Mythic Utopia had far surpassed Zhou Yuan¡¯s imagination. However¡­ the Divine Establishing Treasure really was very alluring. Zhou Yuan stared at the five-color flower bud in sect master Qing Yang¡¯s hand, as desire rose in his eyes. He was naturally not aiming for a five heavens Divine Dwelling, but he could create a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure in the Mythic Utopia, a seven heaven Divine Dwelling would be a done deal. The Mythic Utopia was indeed an amazing opportunity. To think that one would be able to obtain a miraculous treasure like the Divine Establishing Treasure. Sect master Qing Yang kept the five-color flower bud, and looked towards Zhou Yuan and the other Chosens. In the end, his gaze paused on Chu Qing as he slowly said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that all sixteen Chosens from the ten halls of Sacred Palace will be present.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you guys are not strangers to the three leaders of Sacred Palace, Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi.¡± The expression of Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and the other Chosens changed slightly upon hearing these three names. Even the lazy aura Chu Qing usually gave off receded, replaced by a rarely seen seriousness. However, these names were very unfamiliar to Zhou Yuan. At the sight of his lost appearance, Ye Ge said in a low voice, ¡°Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi are the most outstanding Sacred Palace disciples of this generation, and are ranked highly on Shengzhou Continent¡¯s Chosen rankings.¡± ¡°Jiang Taishen is the most frightening of the trio, and is ranked one on the Chosen rankings¡­ Chu Qing fought him before, but ultimately lost by small margin, leaving him at number two. Of the current younger generation in the Shengzhou Continent, everyone acknowledges that Jiang Taishen is the strongest.¡± ¡°As for Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi, they are no pushovers either, and are ranked third and fifth respectively.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook a little. Among the ten great Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect, even Yaoyao had judged that though Chu Qing appeared lazy, his strength was rather unfathomable. It was hard to imagine that the Sacred Palace¡¯s Jiang Taishen would be even more formidable. Just how terrifying was this individual? There was also the highly ranked Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi¡­to think that Sacred Palace was occupying three out of the top five spots on Shengzhou Continent¡¯s Chosens ranking. Such strength was indeed alarming. Zhou Yuan glanced at the Chosens, sensing the pressure they were beginning to feel. Cangxuan Sect was the former number one sect in Cangxuan Heaven, a position that had now been replaced by Sacred Palace. As new and old interweaved, there would surely be countless battles that reeked of blood. If both parties were to meet in the Mythic Utopia, neither would show any mercy if given the chance. A war was basically unavoidable. Sect master Qing Yang slowly said, ¡°When the Mythic Utopia opens, the countless factions of Cangxuan Heaven will turn their attention towards it. I hope that all of you will not shame the name of our Cangxuan Sect.¡± The current Sacred Palace was like a rising sun in Cangxuan Heaven, while the Cangxuan Sect was gradually falling behind. Although the Mythic Utopia was merely a struggle between the younger generation, on a certain level, it also represented the tug of war between the various factions. Everything that transpired in the Mythic Utopia would be magnified and transmitted to all of Cangxuan Heaven, and become yardstick used by the hegemon level sects to measure the prestige of their sects. The Chosens expressions became solemn. ¡°We will do our best to live up to sect master¡¯s expectations!¡± Zhou Yuan also cupped his fists together. He knew that a fight between the Cangxuan Sect and Sacred Palace was unavoidable in the Mythic Utopia. The Mythic Utopia was really becoming more and more dangerous. Chapter 554 Task The northern area of the Shengzhou Continent, Sacred Palace. Majestic white buildings adorned the mountain ranges like snowflakes, while a feeling of high security enveloped the area. Mist swirled around a cliff where a figure was seated. A large robe was draped over his body, revealing only his silver hair and silver pupils that made him appear mysterious and unfathomable. It was palace master Sheng Yuan. He was currently holding a bamboo pole that stretched over the edge of the cliff, while a white thread hung from it. Below the cliff was a great violently churning river. The river had a dusky hue, and a baleful aura rose from it. One would just barely be able to make out enormous black shadows streaking past below the surface. However, when these menacing black shadows zipped past below, they seemed to sense a terrifying all-powerful aura from above, causing them to shiver and not dare to make even a squeak. Swoosh! The sound of rushing wind suddenly rang out as three figures descended from the sky. They landed behind palace master Sheng Yuan and respectfully said, ¡°Greetings palace master.¡± The trio consisted of two males and a female. The leader was a handsome young man, his white hair tied up behind him. Two strands hung from the side of his head, stringing through two blood-red beads that gave off a faint blood-red glow. He wore a cheerful smile, making him look extremely friendly, approachable and kind when paired with his slightly long and narrow eyes. However, regardless of whether it was in the Sacred Palace or the Shengzhou Continent, the mention of his name would make the expressions of countless prided geniuses change. Sacred Palace, Jiang Taishen. The rank one Chosen on the Shengzhou Continent¡¯s Chosen rankings. This number one position had not been kindly bestowed to him by someone, but something that he had personally earned over the years by wading through seas of blood and stepping over mountains of corpses... Beside Jiang Taishen was a slender young lady in black. Her features were delicate and extremely pretty, giving her an enchantingly alluring aura especially when paired with those bright red lips. A pair of fair and slender long legs grew from under her black skirt in a domineering fashion. Her skin was snow-white, so white that it made her look a little sickly and weak. Her pupils were exceptionally unique, containing a blood-red tint within them. She gave off a gentle and soft aura as she quietly stood there, yet also strangely alluring at the same time. However, not a single disciple in Sacred Palace dared to hit on her, because she was called Zhan Taiqing, and was an existence second only to Jiang Taishen in Sacred Palace. She also occupied the third spot on the Shengzhou Continent¡¯s Chosens ranking, and most of the opponents she fought would end up as dried husks. The final member of the trio was a tall young man. He had a head full of bright golden hair, and revealed a set of sinisterly white teeth when he smiled. His pupils were also golden like his hair, but did not contain a single shred of emotion, making anyone who saw them shudder inside. Jin Chanzi, fifth on the Chosens ranking. The three of them were the most outstanding individuals among the current younger generation of the Sacred Palace. Each one was already a well known figure in the Shengzhou Continent. Palace mater Sheng Yuan continued to hold his bamboo pole, as he turned his head and looked at the trio with a faint smile. ¡°In a few days, the Mythic Utopia should resurface in the south sea. The participating disciples of the Sacred Palace have already been decided, and you three will be leading them.¡± Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi respectfully nodded in acknowledgement. Though they were talented geniuses, they also understood that the one before them was a true overlord existence that could mostly do as he pleased in Cangxuan Heaven. There was still an unimaginable gap between them and him. ¡°Every time the Mythic Utopia resurfaces, the prestige and reputation of the various factions will be affected. I hope that even more people will know of Sacred Palace¡¯s might in the future.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan smiled faintly as he said, ¡°After all, there are still many who feel that Sacred Palace is not the number one sect in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Jiang Taishen¡¯s long eyes narrowed, elongating them even more as he smiled and said, ¡°Does palace master feel that the more Chosens from other sects die the better?¡± ¡°Do as you see fit.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan did not seem overly concerned. In his eyes, all of these so-called Chosens did not have the qualifications to earn his attention. He paused for a moment, before his silver pupils rose slightly. ¡°Those Chosens are of little importance, however, there is a task I need the three of you to accomplish.¡± ¡°Please instruct us palace master.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect called Zhou Yuan, who should be participating in the upcoming Mythic Utopia. You three will find a way to capture him and bring him back here.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan continued to watch the raging river below, the bamboo rod in his hand swaying gently as if fishing. This time, Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi could not help but be taken aback, even individuals like them a little shocked. The trio exchanged a look, seeing the slight dismay in each other¡¯s faces. Given palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s status, even the Chosens of the various sects would not be able to enter his eyes. In fact, even the three of them were merely passable seedlings in his view. Hence, they were unable to comprehend what was so special about this chief disciple from the Cangxuan Sect that he would catch palace master¡¯s attention. Palace master Sheng Yuan concentrated on the raging river, as he slowly said in a neutral voice, ¡°Will you three be able to do it?¡± Jiang Taishen nodded. ¡°Does palace master want him dead or alive?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan lazily replied, ¡°Alive will be best, but if you¡¯re forced to, a corpse is also okay.¡± Shen Taiyuan nodded again as he committed this mission to memory. Although he was surprised that palace master would personally mention this individual, Zhou Yuan, he was merely a chief disciple that should be easily dealt with. Palace master Sheng Yuan gave a few other instructions, before waving his hand for the trio to withdraw. After the Jiang Taishen trio departed, another figure appeared behind palace master Sheng Yuan. A black robe was draped over this figure, but when he lifted his head, a familiar face was revealed. It was Wu Huang. Palace master Sheng Yuan did not turn around, merely smiling as he said, ¡°Wu Huang, though you currently have the Blood Asura Body, you are too important to the Sacred Palace, and I really cannot risk letting you go out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I will help you deal with that foe of yours. Of course, the most important thing is to extract the sacred dragon blessing from his body and infuse it back into yours.¡± Wu Huang lowered his head. Although it was somewhat unfortunate that he could not personally take revenge on Zhou Yuan for destroying his body, he did not dare object in the face of palace master Sheng Yuan, and thus respectfully acknowledged. Palace master Sheng Yuan did not care about what Wu Huang thought. The pole in his hand suddenly shook slightly. Boom! The raging river below was abruptly torn open as a thin white string was hoisted upwards. A ten thousand feet large blakc shadow was forcefully dragged out from the water, frantically struggling as a torrential baleful aura devastated the surroundings. ¡°Hehe, how can a prey I¡¯ve captured possibly run?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan softly chuckled. The white fish line swiftly bounded the enormous shadow, before gently tugging. Roar! With a miserable shriek, the ten thousand foot shadow burst into pieces. All of the chunks of flesh and blood rapidly began to melt, ultimately transforming into a stream of blood-red Qi. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s mouth opened slightly, and swallowed the blood-red Qi stream in a single gulp. He glanced at Wu Huang, who was still behind him, before smiling faintly as he turned towards the sky. Once that portion of sacred dragon blessing was retrieved, he would be able to use it to scope the land. When that happened, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp patriarch Cang Xuan had painstakingly hidden for several hundred years would finally be found. ¡°Cang Xuan¡­¡± ¡°You still make me uncomfortable even in death. When I become the new heaven master, I will naturally exterminate that distasteful Cangxuan Sect of yours¡­¡± ¡°When that happens, all your disciples and grand disciples will be able to accompany you in the afterlife. You can take it as a final gift from myself to you.¡± Chapter 555 Setting Off Before the main entrance of the Cangxuan Sect. Jade-like stone stairs spread upwards as if piercing into the mists. A giant stone pillar towered at the end of the steps with the two words Cangxuan Sect deeply engraved into it, while a faint but terrifying power spread. The pillar was clearly a frightening Genesis treasure that would suppress any living creature that showed hostility towards the Cangxuan Sect. At this current moment, there were numerous figures gathered on the plaza in front of the main entrance, distinctly divided into their own groups. These figures gave off extraordinary auras, powerful Genesis Qi surging around them. At closer inspection, one would discover that the heads of each group were the Chosens and chief disciples of the seven peaks. All of the Cangxuan Sect disciples were present nearby, their crazy numbers nearly hiding the sky. Countless gazes looked towards the figures in front of the main entrance in respect and envy. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were also part of the entrance group, while Zhou Tai, Lu Yan, Zhang Yan and five other Saint Genesis Peak disciples stood a little behind the duo. The latters¡¯ faces were currently filled with excitement and flushed with emotion. Because they would soon leave for the Mythic Utopia as representatives of the Cangxuan Sect. This was the first time they were entitled to such an amazing opportunity ever since becoming disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. Of course, they also know full well that they had Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao to thank for this chance. If not for Zhou Yuan leading Saint Genesis Peak to first place in the Genesis reservoir ceremony, Saint Genesis Peak would have likely ended up with at most two or three spots, which in turn would have dashed any hopes of them going to the Mythic Utopia. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was surprisingly calm, though some anticipation still flowed out in the depths of his eyes. He was clearly also rather curious about the famous Mythic Utopia. Most importantly of course, within the Mythic Utopia lay the chance for him to establish a seven heavens Divine Dwelling when he ascended to the Divine Dwelling stage... Since Yaoyao had already seriously warned him about it, Zhou Yuan would naturally make it his chief mission. The disciples on plaza distinctly stood in their different groups. Compared to then ten members from Saint Genesis Peak, the teams from the other six peaks were clearly much more impressive, making Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s line-up appear a little shameful in comparison. However, no mocking gazes were cast towards them, the disciples from the other peaks looking at them with friendliness instead. Even the Sword Cometh Peak disciples were trying to avoid looking over, no trace of the provocative gazes they always had before. Because many of the spots for the Mythic Utopia had been given to the other six peaks by Saint Genesis Peak, a debt that none of the other six peaks would reject. There was a tall raised platform at the very front of the numerous disciples, where sect master Qing Yang and the peak masters stood with their hands behind their backs. ¡°The Mythic Utopia will soon resurface in the south sea. You guys are the most outstanding individuals of this generation in our Cangxuan Sect. Hence, do your best to protect yourselves after entering the Mythic Utopia, but also do not bring shame to the name of our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s gaze swept across the crowd as his grand voice rang out in every disciple¡¯s ear. Zhou Yuan and the others respectfully acknowledged. ¡°Many prided geniuses that the countless factions of Cangxuan Heaven have poured all their effort into nurturing will be gathered in the Mythic Utopia. Do not be arrogant because you come from the Cangxuan Sect, and always practice prudence and caution.¡± ¡°For this trip, Chu Qing shall be your captain, while Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan will take on the roles of vice-captain. Everyone else shall follow these three.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s gaze looked towards the three figures at the head of the numerous disciples. Upon hearing this, a bitter look immediately appeared on Chu Qing¡¯s handsome face as he could not help but blurt out, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan is the best at such matters, I wish to let her take my position instead.¡± Sect master Qing Yang sent a vicious, flesh cutting glare at him, the former¡¯s stern gaze immediately causing Chu Qing to sullenly shut his mouth. However, sect master Qing Yang both loved and hated this disciple of his. There was nothing to say about the brat¡¯s talent, but his character was too cheeky and lazy, making it very difficult for anyone to picture him as the leader of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s ten great Chosens. Li Qingchan and Kong Sheng did not act out like Chu Qing. Both of them stepped forward and respectfully said, ¡°Disciple accepts.¡± Chu Qing had no choice but to grudgingly step forward to accept as well. ¡°Peak master Lianyi shall accompany you guys on this trip to the south sea, and will be stationed there until all of you are out.¡± Said sect master Qing Yang. By his side, the beautiful and rather sexy peak master Lianyi softly chuckled in her palace garb like attire. Her gorgeous face was not the least bit inferior to Li Qingchan, while also exuding a mature charm. Zhou Yuan was quite surprised by this information, clearly not expecting that the Cangxuan Sect would send a peak master along. From this, it was clear just how important the Mythic Utopia was to the sect. Yaoyao explained in an unhurried manner, ¡°There will surely be intense struggles inside the Mythic Utopia, and though the painstakingly natured geniuses may enter, it is not certain if they will be able to leave. When the time comes, some of the other factions may be unable to control themselves, and be driven towards taking desperate actions. To guard against such a situation, we will naturally need the presence of a genuine heavyweight as a form of deterrence and to help wrap things up.¡± ¡°Though ordinary elders are Heavenly Sun stage experts, they will likely be insufficient in a stage like this where the countless factions of Cangxuan Heaven will be gathered. Only the few peak Nascent Source stage experts, or even those that have managed to establish a pseudo law domain will be qualified for such a position.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, before taking a look at Yaoyao. He both envied and admired her for knowing the abilities of an expert like peak master Lianyi. After all, the only thing he could sense was an immeasurable feeling from peak master Lianyi, let alone anything else. ¡°It¡¯s about time. Peak master Lianyi, you should also prepare to get moving.¡± After giving all his instructions, sect master Qing Yang looked towards peak master Lianyi. Peak master Lianyi nodded faintly. With a wave of her hand, a wave of light swept forth, and rapidly expanded, turning into a ship that hovered in the sky. Color seemed to flutter on the surface of the ship, making it appear extremely beautiful. Ancient patterns also adorned its body, as it seemed to breathe in the surrounding Genesis Qi. It was evidently a Genesis treasure that functioned as transport. ¡°Get on little ones.¡± Peak master Lianyi smiled, endless grace pulsing from every movement she made. However, the numerous disciples did not dare to let their eyes linger on her, as they rose into the sky on their Genesis Qi and boarded the boat one after another. Zhou Yuan, Zhou Tai and the rest of the Saint Genesis Peak disciples looked towards Shen Taiyuan. The latter smiled warmly at them and said, ¡°Go, but be careful. Although an opportunity like this is rare, your lives are still the most important thing.¡± Zhou Yuan and the rest smiled as they cupped their fists together. In the end, they also rose on their Genesis Qi and landed on the boat. In a short few minutes, all of the disciples in front of the main entrance had boarded the ship. ¡°Senior brother sect master, I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Peak master Lianyi notified sect master Qing Yang, before she too appeared atop the ship. Behind them, the innumerable disciples of the Cangxuan Sect cheered at this sight, ¡°Senior brothers and sisters, we will be waiting here for your triumphant return! Show everyone the might of our Cangxuan Sect!¡± The young disciples waved their hands excitedly. Some disciples also waved back from the boat. Peak master Lianyi smiled slightly, before she flicked her slender finger. Bzz! A light screen rose above the ship. In the next instant a torrent of Genesis Qi gushed out, the ship transforming into an after image, as it instantly streaked across the sky, and swiftly flew away. In a short span of a few breaths, it disappeared from everyone¡¯s sights. As he watched the departing ship, sect master Qing Yang sighed softly, before he said, ¡°We always lose some disciples whenever the Mythic Utopia resurfaces, I hope that the little ones will return safe and sound this time.¡± By the side, peak master Ling Jun was silent for a moment, before he said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid the Sacred Palace will not let them return so easily.¡± Icy light flashed across sect master Qing Yang¡¯s bottomless eyes as the temperature around them lowered. ¡°Let them try. The disciples of our Cangxuan Sect are not weaker than anyone else. If they view they intend to view our Cangxuan Sect disciples as prey, the Sacred Palace should be prepared to suffer serious losses!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see exactly who will be devouring who in the end!¡± Chapter 556 Gathering Clouds Shengzhou Continent, the south sea. It was a vast, endless sea, which was dotted by innumerable islands. Some of these islands were enormous, spanning an area that did not lose to some empires. The sea was also filled with countless deep sea Genesis Beasts that wielded terrifying power. Even Divine Dwelling stage practitioners would not dare to venture too deeply. The south sea was also home to an extremely hostile environment. Numerous natural disasters would often occur, and anyone who was caught in one would most likely meet their demise. This hostile environment led to the north sea becoming a danger zone of the Shengzhou Continent. Normally speaking, only desperate fugitives who had offended powerful sects would be forced to escape here if they had no other option. However, the north sea had recently become the focus of the entire Shengzhou Continent, and even all of Cangxuan Heaven. The reason behind this was naturally the resurfacing Mythic Utopia. The Mythic Utopia was a place of great opportunity that was unique to Cangxuan Heaven. For countless years, no one knew how many prided geniuses from the Shengzhou Continent had benefited from it. One could say that most of the current leaders and masters of the various factions in the Shengzhou Continent, had once entered the Mythic Utopia in their youth, and obtained great blessings from within. In fact, it could even be said that they would not have come so far without the Mythic Utopia. As such, the Mythic Utopia had grown increasingly famous as years passed, becoming the greatest desire of innumerable prided geniuses. However, the appearance of the Mythic Utopia was always rather random, and no one could predict when it would resurface again. Hence, some luck was required for a practitioner to encounter it. After all, once a practitioner advanced to the Divine Dwelling stage, he or she would forever lose their chance to enter. Therefore, the current generation of geniuses were clearly quite fortunate. ¡­ At a certain location in the south sea. Wind blew, while clouds gathered as if a storm was approaching. The Genesis Qi in the area seemed to be in a constant state of boiling, while giant waves rose from the sea below. In the sky above the sea, countless glowing figures were swarming over from all directions, before ultimately coming to a stop and hovering in the air. The various factions that had heard of the Mythic Utopia¡¯s appearance had clearly dispatched their prided geniuses here in hopes of obtaining the chance of leaping through the dragon¡¯s gate inside. For factions other than the six overlord sects, it was very rare for their genius disciples to achieve six heaven Divine Dwellings, and anything above was basically never heard of. As such, the return of the Mythic Utopia gave them a lot of hope. As long as one was able to grasp enough opportunities within, and collect sufficient Mythic Genesis essence, one would be able to create a Divine Establishing Treasure that may even reach the seven-color level if they were lucky. In other words, a seven heaven Divine Dwelling practitioner. Any disciple that could achieve this would surely become an extremely important seedling to the sect, and subsequently receive only the best grooming. It could be said that such an individual had ascended the heavens in a single step. Hence, the countless factions of Cangxuan Heaven would always move when the Mythic Utopia resurfaced. The many groups that had arrived stared towards the front with heated gazes, where the fabric of space was distorting. A spatial crack seemed to blink in and out of existence as exceedingly pure Genesis Qi leaked from within. This spatial crack was most certainly the path into the Mythic Utopia. With many factions gathered, it made the place appear akin to a tightly secured location. Some of the more powerful factions occupied spots nearer to the front, while the weaker factions had no choice but to be pushed further away. However, the spots at the very front were already taken. Genesis Qi light spread, seemingly forming a boundary of sorts that disallowed entry from the other factions. Such an act could only be described as tyrannical. Despite this, the many factions in the area did not dare to show the slightest bit of dissatisfaction, because the four great factions at the very front were members of the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s six overlord sects. The Sword Seeker Sect, the Heavenly Ghost Sect, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. These were true titans that could easily sweep through the other factions of Cangxuan Heaven. The Sword Seeker Sect members were gathered on a giant sword floating in the sky. Peerlessly sharp and deadly sword Qi faintly pulsed from the sword, causing the space around them to continuously be torn apart. The Heavenly Ghost Sect gave off an eerie sensation. A flood of black mist surged around them, blotting out the sun, while piercing hisses continuously sounded from within. The hisses also made the Genesis Qi in one¡¯s body become a little erratic. The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace group was the most attention grabbing. A brightly colored flower boat was suspended in the air, with all kinds of dainty birds flying around it. However, although their members were all beautiful young ladies, no one dared to underestimate them in the slightest. The fact that the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace could become one of the six overlord sects was already more than enough evidence of their capabilities. On the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall¡¯s side was an enormous ship that was being pulled by eight green serpents. Astonishing Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from the body of each serpent, clearly showing that they were no ordinary beasts. Each of these four overlord sects had powerful presences that were far greater than any of the other factions. Swoosh! The sound of rushing wind was suddenly heard at this moment. Countless gazes could only watch as the surrounding Genesis Qi rippled, before a giant ship broke through space itself and appeared at the center of the place. The ship eventually came to a halt right before the distorting space. Meanwhile, four mighty gazes looked over from the Sword Seeker Sect, Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, Heavenly Ghost Sect and North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. Peak master Lianyi¡¯s figure appeared on the bow of the ship. She looked towards the locations of the other four overlord sects and said with a smile, ¡°Everyone has arrived rather early.¡± The figures of the numerous Cangxuan Sect disciples were revealed behind her, as they curiously gazed at their surroundings. ¡°There¡¯s still half a day before the Mythic Utopia opens. Peak master Lianyi has arrived at quite an appropriate time.¡± A figure appeared from the direction of the Sword Seeker Sect and smiled. The figure was dressed in a simple hemp garment, and had a head of silver hair. His face was exceptionally handsome, with skin that looked as soft and fair as a baby¡¯s. There was a smiling expression in his eyes as he looked towards peak master Lianyi. Peak master Lianyi was slightly taken aback by the sight of him, before she quickly responded, ¡°Valley master Yin Xiao.¡± The Sword Seeker Sect had six valleys, and their valley masters were akin to the peak masters of the Cangxuan Sect. The smiling valley master Yin Xiao clearly wanted to chat, but peak master Lianyi immediately turned away, causing him to let out a bitter laugh, before softly sighing in melonchanic manner. Behind him, the Sword Seeker Sect disciples stared at this scene in astonishment. One must know that valley master Yin Xiao was famously indifferent to those of the opposite sex in their sect. Yet, why was he being so friendly towards the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s peak master Lianyi? There must be an old story behind this. Although they were curious, it was clear that none of them dared to ask valley master Yin Xiao about it. At this moment, the representatives from the Heavenly Ghost Sect, Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall also appeared, and called out their greetings to peak master Lianyi. Peak master Lianyi naturally responded in turn. Amidst the crowd, Zhou Yuan looked towards the four other overlord sects as he mumbled, ¡°I wonder if Qingyu, Luluo, Li Chunjun and the others are also here.¡± The group of them had split up after arriving at the Shengzhou Continent. With the exception of Zuoqiu Qingyu, Zhou Yuan had yet to meet the others, and naturally wondered if they were present in a gathering of the many sects like this. His eyes scanned the four sects, but was unable to find anyone familiar due to the great distance between them. In the end, he could only withdraw his gaze. If they were indeed here, they would likely meet soon inside. After peak master Lianyi and the others greeted each other, their gazes turned back towards the increasingly distorted space. It would evidently not be long before the Mythic Utopia fully reappeared in this land. Time swiftly passed under countless expectant gazes. Peak master Lianyi lifted her head to look at the sky, as she muttered, ¡°Look at the time, can¡¯t believe Sacred Palace still isn¡¯t here yet. Are they really going so pompous that they will appear only at the very last moment?¡± Hints of mockery could be heard in her voice. The other factions did not comment, clearly knowing the grudge between the Cangxuan Sect and Sacred Palace. Boom! A loud boom suddenly sounded the moment these words left peak master Lianyi¡¯s lips. Next, everyone watched the space to their front begin to crumble as a giant hand slowly reached out. The hand carried a white mountain, on which numerous figures could be seen. Under the attention of countless gazes, a figure in black at the top of the mountain opened his eyes. His eyes were akin to a bottomless abyss, and seemed to contain a terrifying earth-shattering power as they looked towards peak master Lianyi. Rumble! The space around the Cangxuan Sect ship instantly began to crumble, as a destructive force surged over from all directions with unstoppable momentum as if wanting to crush the boat. The expression of the numerous disciples atop the boat rapidly changed, clearly not expecting such an important figure from the Sacred Palace to attack without any warning. At the same time, an indifferent voice sounded from the figure seated atop the mountain. ¡°Hehe, peak master Lianyi is still so impatient after so many years. However, the current Cangxuan Sect is no longer the same sect it once was in the past, so shouldn¡¯t you learn to restrain yourself a little? Never mind, allow me to teach you some proper manners today.¡± Chapter 557 Qin Ling Boom! An indescribably terrifying power swept towards them from all directions, as space rapidly crumbled around them. The boat at the center of the destruction began to shudder, as if it was about to shatter to pieces. The expressions of the numerous Cangxuan Sect disciples within changed drastically. They were as tiny as ants before this destructive power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression also turned grave, as he quickly shot a glance at peak master Lianyi¡¯s figure. Although the latter¡¯s beautiful face was currently ice-cold, there was not a single hint of panic, an observation that made him breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°I was wondering who it was, so it¡¯s the fourth hall master of Sacred Palace, Qin Ling. Though we¡¯ve not met for many years, your ability to shamelessly boost has not deproved at all.¡± Iciness flashed in peak master Lianyi¡¯s eyes as her foot lightly stomped on the floor. Bzz It was as if an invisible ripple spread outwards from peak master Lianyi. As it pulsed, the terrifying energies that were sweeping towards the boat were calmed in an instant, even the crumbling space immediately recovering. With a grasp of her hand, the surrounding Genesis Qi gushed towards her and transformed into a giant, seemingly endless phoenix. The phoenix roared at the sky, as torrential power hurtled towards the white mountain where the fourth hall master of Sacred Palace was still seated. Peak master Lianyi immediately displayed her astonishing talent in manipulating Genesis Qi, the surrounding Genesis Qi easily forged at will in her hand. It was practically at the pinnacle of perfection. Atop the white mountain peak, the fourth hall master¡¯s abyss like eyes glimmered. With a wave of his sleeve, vast Genesis Qi swept forth, transforming into a giant hand that smashed into the approaching phoenix. Boom! The two forces collided as an indescribably berserk shockwave unfurled. The entire place seemed to tremble, as a giant gaping abyss opened up in the sea below, causing the surrounding sea water to rapidly gush in. The expressions of the experts from the various factions in the area changed one after another as they hurriedly backed away. Boundless streams of Genesis Qi whizzed forth to block the frightening shockwaves. The exchange between peak master Lianyi and the fourth hall master was akin to armageddon itself. Peak master Lianyi waved her hand, neutralizing the incoming shockwave. Boundless Genesis Qi began to gather towards her once more, seemingly taking the form of a lotus. An extremely terrifying aura leaked from it. She was evidently going to go at it for real. However, if these two individuals were allowed to fight for real, the aftershocks of their battle would likely destroy the entrance to the Mythic Utopia. Hence, the representatives from the other four overlord sects spoke up to stop them. ¡°The Mythic Utopia is about to open, please put aside your differences for the time being!¡± Upon seeing the four overlord sect representatives that had stepped forward, peak master Lianyi icily snorted, as the glowing lotus in her had gradually dissipated. She naturally also understood that this was not the place and time. ¡°Hall master Qin Ling, if you¡¯re interested, we can find a place to have a proper duel after the Mythic Utopia opens.¡± Although peak master Lianyi was a woman, she had an exceptionally fiery temper. ¡°How can I fear peak master Lianyi¡¯s invitation?¡± On the white mountain peak, the seated figure slowly rose to his feet. He had the appearance of a middle-aged man, his abyss like eyes rousing both fear and respect in anyone who saw them. When he stood up, a mighty pressure slowly spread, the churning waves in the sea below to timidly turn calm, not daring to make even a tiny splash. This was the fourth hall master of the Sacred Palace, Qin Ling. Sparks flew as peak master Lianyi and hall master Qin Ling¡¯s gazes clashed, while the surrounding space began to distort a little. ¡°So this is a hall master of the Sacred Palace.¡± On the boat, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze was grave as he looked at that heart-palpitating figure. Even a tiny sliver of the aura from the latter¡¯s body made him feel mountain-crushing pressure. It was said that there were ten halls in the Sacred Palace, and Qin Ling was one of the ten hall masters. From how peak master Lainyi and Qin Ling had immediately clashed the moment they met, it was quite clear that the relation between the Cangxuan Sect and Sacred Palace was very hostile. However, no one found this strange at all. It was after all the Sacred Palace¡¯s scheming back then that had eventually led to patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s demise, while also substantially weakening the Cangxuan Sect. Given peak master Lianyi¡¯s temper, if sect master Qing Yang had not held her back, she would have risked everything and attacked the Sacred Palace long ago. The other factions breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that the two big shots had come to a temporary truce. If the duo were to disregard everything and fight here, the non overlord factions would end up suffering the most. With the arrival of the Sacred Palace, the six overlord sects of Cangxuan Heaven were now in full attendance. Such a line-up was extremely grand indeed. Bzz bzz! It was not long before the entrance of the Mythic Utopia started to grow increasingly distorted. More and more pure Genesis Qi spouted out, causing the air in the vicinity to turn clearer and fresher. After another incense stick of time, everyone saw the distorted space slowly begin to tear itself open, ultimately forming a hundred foot long spatial crack. When the spatial crack appeared, the six representatives of the overlord sects suddenly moved. Vast Genesis Qi transformed into six giant hands that towards the crack and began to forcibly widen it. As the crack grew larger and larger, the six giant Genesis Qi hands began to melt and fused with the spatial crack, until it slowly became completely stable. Only then was the entrance to the Mythic Utopia truly open. Peak master Lianyi looked towards the numerous disciples behind her and said, ¡°The Mythic Utopia is open, prepare to enter.¡± ¡°Remember that it will be nothing like the competitions and trainings of the sect inside. Your lives have never been threatened in the sect, but here, your elders and seniors will no longer be able to protect you, and the only ones you can rely on will be yourselves.¡± ¡°No one will show any mercy for the sake of obtaining Mythic Genesis essence.¡± ¡°However, you guys are also the finest Cangxuan Sect disciples of this generation, so do not perform too poorly and sully our reputation.¡± The disciples did not dare to tarry, and quickly acknowledged in a respectful manner. ¡°Chu Qing, Qingchan and Kong Sheng. You three are the leaders, so make sure you stay cautious at all times.¡± Peak master Lianyi looked towards the trio. ¡°One last thing, be careful of those from the Sacred Palace.¡± The Chu Qing trio nodded. After giving them her final instructions, peak master Lianyi did not waste any more time. With a gentle wave of her sleeve, Genesis Qi turned into an arc of light under the disciples¡¯ feet, before carrying them into the stabilized spatial entrance. At the same time, the other five overlord sect representatives also acted, sending the disciples of their sect into the Mythic Utopia. Swoosh! Swish! Meanwhile, the various factions eagerly waiting factions behind also began to move. Genesis Qi rippled across the place, as countless streams of Genesis Qi were sent into the spatial tear. It was an extremely magnificent scene. Hall master Qin Ling stood atop the white peak with his hands behind his back. He suddenly turned towards peak master Lianyi, and said with a superficial smile, ¡°Peak master Lianyi, the Sacred Palace has always ended up the ultimate winners in the past few re-emergences of the Mythic Utopia. Your Cangxuan Sect, on the other hand, has always ended up as the losers, and suffered serious losses. I wonder how many of the disciples your Cangxuan Sect has so painstakingly nurtured will be able to leave alive this time.¡± Peak master Lianyi¡¯s eyes turned ice-cold as she frostily said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so certain, aren¡¯t you afraid of being humiliated because you can¡¯t take back your words?¡± Hall master Qin Ling softly chuckled, but did not answer. Faint hints of mockery and disdain appeared from beneath his eyes, as he turned towards the entrance of the Mythic Utopia and nonchalantly said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only afraid that peak master Lianyi will be rather disappointed in the end.¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 558 Assignments Inside the spatial passage. A Genesis Qi cloud whizzed past. Atop the cloud were numerous excited and nervous Cangxuan Sect disciples, clearly all looking forward to the Mythic Utopia that was about to appear before their eyes. Li Qingchan turned around, her bright eyes looking at the many disciples as her red lips parted slightly, ¡°Everyone, the Mythic Utopia will be filled with danger. Although there¡¯s also opportunity within, you won¡¯t be able to bring it out if you¡¯re dead so I hope that everyone will exercise plenty of caution.¡± With a wave of her hand, flashes of light shot out of her sleeve one after another and landed in front of the many disciples. Zhou Yuan caught the object, and found that it was a jade strip. ¡°An incomplete map of the Mythic Utopia has been recorded in these jade strips, information that was gathered by disciples who previously entered the Mythic Utopia. The spots indicated by glowing dots indicate locations where Mythic Genesis essence can usually be found. If we head to these locations, we will likely be able to collect some Mythic Genesis essence.¡± Excitement rose on the faces of the disciples when they heard this, as they grasped the jade strips and sent their senses in. Zhou Yuan likewise curiously grasped the jade strip and lightly shut his eyes. Information began flowing into his head, taking the form of a map. The map was quite crude, and several glowing dots could be seen on it. Zhou Yuan took a closer look and discovered that these dots had different colors. Some were a mix of two colors, while others were three... ¡°What do these different colors represent?¡± Asked Zhou Yuan. Li Qingchan explained, ¡°A two-color dot means that a disciple managed to gather two-color Mythic Genesis essence, while three colors represents three-color Genesis Mythic essence. Of course, take it with a pinch of salt, because the information was from the previous appearance of the Mythic Utopia, and things may have changed since then.¡± ¡°The higher the number of colors, the more valuable the Mythic Genesis essence. For example,three-color Mythic Genesis essence can be used to create a three-color Divine Establishing Treasure, while you¡¯ll need much more two-color essence to achieve the same result.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in understanding. ¡°Next, the various chief disciples shall form their own teams, and head to these marked areas to gather all the Mythic Genesis essence there.¡± ¡°Please remember that numerous Cangxuan Sect disciples paid a huge price in order to obtain this information. Although these locations have been marked with the symbol of the Cangxuan Sect, the Mythic Genesis essence is far too tempting, and the other factions may also discover these locations. In the face of greed, these people might not care that we¡¯re from the Cangxuan Sect.¡± ¡°After all, even if you die here, no one will know who did it.¡± At this point, Li Qingchan¡¯s pretty face had turned rather hard and cold. The numerous disciples shivered faintly, before they nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°What about you guys?¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly asked. Li Qingchan had only mentioned the chief disciples, and had said nothing about the Chosens. ¡°Us Chosens will be heading towards the deeper regions of the Mythic Utopia to scout and pave the way for you guys. Once you¡¯re done with the locations on the map, you guys will head east and slowly group up.¡± Explained Li Qingchan. Zhou Yuan nodded with a thoughtful look. The Chosens were likely heading straight into the depths of the Mythic Utopia, because they did not want to vie with the other disciples for Mythic Genesis essence here. They were after all much stronger, and had the qualifications to fight for higher quality Mythic Genesis essence in the deeper areas. It was easy to imagine how the quality of the Mythic Genesis essence would increase the deeper on ventured. Of course, it must be said that one would also have to face greater challenges. Part of the reason why the Chosens were leaving first was to help pave the way for the rest of the disciples, while another part was naturally to obtain higher quality Mythic Genesis essence. Li Qingchan looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°This district is far bigger than you can imagine, and there is a substantial amount of Mythic Genesis essence here. It would be a huge haul if you guys manage to collect them all. Of course, you guys should also not underestimate the competition here.¡± She was under the impression that the Mythic Genesis essence here was unable to enter Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, and thus tried to elaborate. Zhou Yuan merely smiled and nodded. In truth, he was not trying to bite off more than he could chew and immediately head towards the deeper areas. After all, the Mythic Utopia was still far too unfamiliar, and he personally felt that it would be best to take it slow. Li Qingchan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw this. She then turned towards Yaoyao and said, ¡°However, I hope that Yaoyao and Tuntun will follow us Chosens for the time being.¡± Those who had the guts to head into the deeper areas at this time were obviously not going to be simple individuals. Hence, even Li Qingchan and the other Chosens did not dare to let their guards down. Since Yaoyao and Tuntun were as strong as the Chosens, it would undoubtedly be a huge boost to their power if these two could come along to scout the deeper areas. Yaoyao¡¯s brows wrinkled slightly when she heard this, as she glanced at Zhou Yuan. The Mythic Utopia was filled with danger and she was clearly worried about leaving him. At the sight of Yaoyao¡¯s reaction, Li Qingchan unhappily rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°He¡¯s not a little kid, and doesn¡¯t need you to babysit him all the time.¡± The other disciples grinned as they glanced over with peculiar looks in their eyes. However, the majority were rather envious. After all, who would not wish for such a gorgeous beauty to be constantly thinking about you? Moreover, she was even such a powerhouse! Behind Li Qingchan, Chu Qing steathily pulled Ye Ge over and said, ¡°What a miracle, the little devil girl actually knows how to show concern for someone?¡± However, Ye Ge was clearly in a depressed mood as he watched with a complicated expression, while completely ignoring the former. Zhou Yuan ignored everyone¡¯s gazes, as he smiled and nodded at Yaoyao. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± With his current strength, he would not suffer much as long as he did not encounter any Chosens level individuals. Moreover, these Chosen level individuals were likely all headed towards the deeper regions, and he should not have any chance to meet them for the moment. In addition, he also understood that the Mythic Utopia was going to be a training experience for them. If Yaoyao was constantly following at his side, he would likely be incapable of fully immersing himself in this experience. Having someone protecting you at all times would surely make you subconsciously relax a little. To grow stronger, one needed to repeatedly breakthrough one¡¯s limits. Even the tiniest bit of relaxation inside would surely prevent one from reaching one¡¯s limits. The intelligent Yaoyao naturally understood Zhou Yuan¡¯s intentions. After a brief silence, she faintly nodded in acknowledgement. To be honest, she did admire Zhou Yuan¡¯s aspiration to grow stronger. She too did not wish for his blade to dull due to her protection. Yaoyao instructed, ¡°Make sure to be extra careful.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. Li Qingchan breathed a deep sigh of relief. Although Zhou Yuan was top three among the current chief disciples, there was still some gap between him and the Chosens. As such, it would honestly be a waste of Yaoyao¡¯s astonishing battle power if she were to follow him instead. While they were talking, the spatial passage around them started to fade away, allowing them to make out the faint silhouette of a distorted landscape. ¡°Get ready.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s expression turned serious. Zhou Yuan and the other chief disciple stood up, followed by numerous disciples from the various peaks. ¡°My fellow disciples, please be careful¡­¡± Li Qingchan fell silent for a moment as she looked at everyone, before she said, ¡°I hope that not a single one of you will be missing when we meet up again.¡± Everyone also fell silent. In a place like this, no one would dare to guarantee that no accidents would occur even in a team lead by Chosens. ¡°Take care.¡± The numerous disciples cupped their fists together. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s gaze met for a moment, before he cast aside all hesitation as Genesis Qi flooded out from his body. He took a step forward, and his body began to rapidly plummet downwards, passing right through the walls of the spatial passage upon contact. His eyes were tightly shut. Here I come Mythic Utopia. Chapter 559 Team Swoosh! Countless streaks of light suddenly appeared out of nowhere on a misty land, shooting across the sky like comets, before landing on vast earth... Boom! A glowing figure fell from the sky, crashing into the top of a hall. The entire hill immediately collapsed, creating quite a din as boulders tumbled down. A sharp gaze shot out from the dust, quickly scanning the surroundings. ¡°Is this the Mythic Utopia?¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head, as he observed his surroundings with caution. The color of mist entered his eyes. He realized that everything here seemed exceptionally big, the ancient trees towering like giant pillars, while the forests appeared old and majestic. One felt exceptionally small in comparison, causing a feeling of respect for the land to involuntarily rise from within. An ancient and primal aura filled the place. ¡°The Genesis Qi here is so pure and concentrated¡­¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath. The surrounding Genesis Qi immediately turned into a wisp of white Qi that was sucked into his nose. The Qi was refined, before being sent into his Qi Dwelling. Zhou Yuan was instantly surprised to discover that after refining this breath of Genesis Qi from the Mythic Utopia, the Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling seemed to grow a tiny bit brighter. Zhou Yuan gasped, believing it might have been a mistake as he quickly shut his eyes to take a closer inspection. A long while later, he opened his eyes again, the shock within them growing even greater than before. ¡°To think that the Genesis Qi here has the effect of refining one¡¯s Genesis Qi stars.¡± Muttered Zhou Yuan in surprise. Although the refining effect was weak, prolonged periods of peaceful cultivation in the Mythic Utopia would likely allow one to raise the quality of one¡¯s Genesis Qi. ¡°It really is a treasure wonderland¡­¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but utter some praise. His gaze did another sweep of the surroundings again, before he made a grabbing motion, as a tiny lantern appeared in his hand. His Genesis Qi poured in, causing the lantern to swiftly rise into the sky. The tiny lantern rapidly grew as it rose into the air, while giving off intense rays of light, allowing it to be clearly seen from far away even during the day. This was one of the communication tools used among the Cangxuan Sect disciples, and could be detected within a radius of several hundred miles. While the lantern rose, Zhou Yuan seated himself amidst the scattered rocks, closed his eyes and waited. Meanwhile, he began to absorb the surrounding Genesis Qi to refine the Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling. After half an incense stick of time. The sound of rushing wind continuously rang out, as figure after figure zipped across the sky, ultimately landing near Zhou Yuan¡¯s location. ¡°Greetings chief disciple Zhou Yuan!¡± When they saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, they immediately cupped their fists without any hesitation. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes swept over, as he gave a faint nod, before he paused on a familiar figure in red. The latter beamed as she looked back. ¡°Hongyi?¡± Zhou Yuan was quite surprised. The figure in red was Gu Hongyi. Zhou Yuan had not expected that she would also end up in the same area as himself. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, I pulled some strings to get in here so I¡¯ll be counting on you to take extra care of me.¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s lovely smile drew numerous stealthy glances from the nearby male disciples. Gu Hongyi was rather famous in the Cangxuan Sect. She was pretty and had a strong background in the sect, causing countless male disciples to show interest towards her. There were a few other little senior sisters from the Cangxuan Peak beside Gu Hongyi, who were each beauties in their own right. Their appearance immediately caused the surrounding male disciples to become quite excited. Zhou Yuan chuckled as he gazed at the smiling Gu Hongyi. The two of them had always been on friendly terms in the outer mountains, and he was naturally elated to meet again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s alot of heroes here waiting to save a damsel in distress.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. To be honest, Gu Hongyi was indeed slightly weaker than the others, but it was as she said, though she was a little lacking in strength, her ties were powerful enough. As such, she naturally managed to secure a spot to participate in the Mythic Utopia. This was something that everyone knew, but when they saw how Gu Hongyi openly admitted it, none of them felt any resentment towards her, her frankness instead eliciting a chuckle from them inside. Zhou Yuan calmed everyone, before he said, ¡°We¡¯ll wait a little longer to see if any other disciples landed in this area.¡± The group of disciples nodded in acknowledgement, before seating themselves down nearby. Gu Hongyi also sat down with her fellow sister disciples, her lips pursing a little as she looked towards Zhou Yuan. Compared to a year earlier, Zhou Yuan had clearly become even more reliable. After becoming a chief disciple, his presence also invoked more confidence than before. His growth over the past year had undoubtedly surpassed everyone¡¯s expectations. ¡°Hee hee, is love beginning to stir in your heart?¡± A little senior sister playfully poked Gu Hongyi¡¯s slender waist. ¡°Hongyi, you¡¯re our Cangxuan Peak¡¯s steaming bun, and who knows how many guys have their eyes on you. If you¡¯re stolen away by another peak, those guys will become so miserable.¡± Another female disciple teased with a cheeky grin. Gu Hongyi blushed a little as she said, ¡°What nonsense are you guys spouting!¡± Another cool-headed female disciple earnestly said, ¡°But Hongyi, chief disciple Zhou Yuan is really not bad. Though it¡¯s been less than two years since he joined the sect, there is already no one who dared to doubt his talent and capability. Although there¡¯s many outstanding individuals in our sect, they are indeed somewhat lacking when compared to chief disciple Zhou Yuan. She was clearly trying to incite something. Gu Hongyi rolled her eyes at these girls who clearly only wished for chaos. ¡°Stop trying to steer me around. If you little hussies have fallen for him, go head and chase him for yourselves.¡± These words drew another round of giggles from the group. By this time, a whole incense stick had passed. In the end, about ten disciples hurriedly rushed over from all directions. What surprised Zhou Yuan was that Zhou Tai and Lu Yan just so happened to be amongst them. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan!¡± The two were also elated and surprised upon seeing Zhou Yuan, evidently expecting themselves to be separated. He was after all the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, and it would obviously be more comfortable for them to follow him. Zhou Yuan grinned at the two of them, before looking towards the other disciples as he slowly said, ¡°Senior sister Li Qingchan has already explained earlier that the teams will be led by the chief disciples. Since you guys have met up with me, I¡¯ll be leading this team. Anyone who has any objections should raise them now.¡± There were over seventy disciples here, consisting of members from all seven peaks, including Sword Cometh Peak. Zhou Yuan was already used to Saint Genesis Peak being nit-picked by the other peaks, thus, he naturally had to first establish himself in order to properly lead the team. However, he was slightly surprised, because not a single disciple raised any objections. Even the Sword Cometh Peak disciples had remained silent. The disciples cupped their fists together and respectfully said, ¡°We¡¯ll follow chief disciple Zhou Yuan.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little amazed by this response. He had after all gotten used to petty criticism from the other peaks, even towards a chief disciple like himself. However, he had forgotten somewhat that the current Saint Genesis Peak was no longer the same entity it had been in the past, and he was not an untried new chief disciple either, as he had already proven his abilities in the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Everyone knew that Zhou Yuan was top three among the seven great chief disciples, and possessed strength that more than qualified him to lead them. Hence, rather than objecting, they were instead quite happy that they had the fortune of meeting him here. Since the process went smoothly, there was no need for Zhou Yuan to do anything else. Zhou Yuan stood up and cast his gaze towards the southwest direction. ¡°Since everyone is here, follow my lead as we head in that direction. There¡¯s a three-color Mythic Genesis essence deposit there, which shall be our first target. If anyone tries to stop us¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll let them experience the might of our Cangxuan Sect.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± He took the lead as his figure shot forth. Swoosh! Swish! Behind him, several dozen disciples from the seven peaks closely followed. Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 560 Mythic Copper Worm Tree Swish! Swish! Several dozen glowing figures zipped past in the air above the land filled with a primal aura. They did not take any breaks, heading straight towards the southwest direction. At the very front of the group, Zhou Yuan was leading the pack. His gaze constantly scanned the surroundings to check that they were on the right path. As they flew, he could also sense several gazes look towards them from hidden places, gazes that were not very friendly at all. No one knew just how many factions had flooded into the Mythic Utopia, but it was certain that all of them were doing everything they could to collect Mythic Genesis essence. As such, conflicts were naturally inevitable. In this place, even the name of the six overlord sects was not going to be enough, and the most useful thing was still the size of one¡¯s fist. If a Chosen from the six sects was somehow separated from the group while not in optimal condition, he or she would likely draw numerous wolf-like gazes. These wolves would pounce without any hesitation to rip their prey apart once any opening or chance was found. Fortunately, everyone had only just entered the Mythic Utopia, and were still very empty-handed. Hence, though people were spying on Zhou Yuan and this team along the way, no one was foolish or daring enough to come forward and stop them. After half a day, Zhou Yuan and his team finally approached the flashing three-color dot on the map... Swoosh! Several dozen figures landed atop an enormous ancient tree as they looked towards their front, where a mountain had appeared within their sights. It was not a very majestic or tall mountain, and Zhou Yuan and the rest could make out a faint glowing rune on one of the cliff walls. The glowing rune was the seal of their Cangxuan Sect. ¡°This should be the place.¡± The seal made it certain that they were not in the wrong location. Joy appeared on the faces of the other disciples. ¡°But it seems to be a little too quiet¡­¡± Muttered Gu Hongyi in a puzzled manner. On the way herer, they had encountered several Genesis Beasts that were native to the Mythic Utopia. These Genesis Beasts were ginormous, and it looked unwise to provoke them. Hence, the group had avoided any encounters. However, would a place where three-color Mythic Genesis essence was hidden be so quiet? Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. ¡°We¡¯ll split into parties of ten and scout the area first. Send out the signal if anything unexpected happens.¡± The disciples who could obtain spots to enter the Mythic Utopia were elites of the Cangxuan Sect. Thus, they quickly began to split up after hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s instructions, before swiftly shooting forward and landing on the mountain. Zhou Yuan said to Gu Hongyi, Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and a few others nearby, ¡°You guys will follow me.¡± His figure dashed forward, leading the group into the mountain. They weaved through the mountain forests, swiftly heading towards the peak. The entire group maintained their vigilance, Genesis Qi swirling around their bodies, ready to do battle at any moment. However, Zhou Yuan and the rest were rather surprised, because they had encountered zero obstructions all the way to the peak. It appeared that there were no Genesis Beasts in this mountain. On the mountaintop, the other teams arrived one after another, shaking their heads to indicate that they had discovered nothing out of the ordinary along the way. Zhou Yuan frowned a little. Were there really no Genesis Beasts here? By the side, Zhou Tai hesitated for a moment, before he said, ¡°I don¡¯t sense any strange undulations here, and there seems to be no Mythic Genesis essence.¡± The other disciples were somewhat disappointed. Looks like their luck was no good. Although there was once three-color Mythic Genesis essence here, it appeared that none had been born this time. Zhou Yuan did not say anything, and instead raised his head to observe the surrounding mountain peak. Rocks were scattered all over, making the place appear rather desolate. Only a single ancient tree towered amidst the rocks, but it appeared to be in a withered state. Countless branches and leaves weakly lay on the ground, as if completely drained of energy. He could not sense any strange undulations, and the place seemed to be covered in an aura of lifelessness. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he suddenly began a slow walk towards the withered tree. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared and rapidly enlarged. The tip of the brush dragged along the ground, leaving a trail of sparks. The other disciples were somewhat bewildered by Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions, as they cast puzzled gazes towards the withered old tree. Was there a problem with this tree? But no matter how hard they tried, they could not sense anything from the withered tree. Zhou Yuan ignored them, continuing to stare at the tree as he slowly approached. Genesis Qi rose around his body, a sign that he was intending to attack for real. He grew closer with each step, and was soon a dozen feet from the withered ancient tree. However, just as he was about to take another step, the weakly lying branches on the ground suddenly shot forth, gleaming with a night-like glow as they tore through the air and viciously thrust towards Zhou Yuan. Such an attack would really catch one unprepared. The surrounding disciples cried out in surprise. To think that there was indeed a problem with the withered old tree. Clang! Clang! Snow-white hairs zipped forward, clashing with the countless branches like metal striking metal. Sparks flew in all directions as the berserk undulations blew away the scattered rocks on the ground. Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps stopped, wielding the Heavenly Yuan Brush as its hairs reached forward to defend against the deadly onslaught of the numerous branches. He stared in indifference at the withered old tree and said, ¡°You concealed yourself very well, but it¡¯s a shame that you weren¡¯t smart enough. All I did was try to scare you a little, and you already revealed yourself.¡± The withered old tree¡¯s concealment abilities were indeed top class, and even Zhou Yuan had not been able to sense anything. However, this was also the reason why he had begun to suspect that something was amiss. An ordinary tree would give off very weak traces of Genesis Qi even in a withered state. And yet, this old tree before them did not give off even a hint of Genesis Qi. It would have been surprising instead if there was nothing amiss. Hss! The old tree released a piercing hiss. The withered look on its branches rapidly faded, replaced by a copper like sheen that flickered icily under the sunlight. Swish! In the next instant, sharp tree branches filled the sky, like a million swords as they charged towards Zhou Yuan with unmatched ferocity. ¡°Go, help chief disciple Zhou Yuan!¡± The other disciples immediately yelled when they saw this, as they unleashed a power barrage of Genesis Qi attacks that clashed with the innumerable branches. Boom! Berserk Genesis Qi undualtions swept outwards, disintegrating the many scattered rocks on the ground. With the fierceness of their attacks and their advantage in numbers, it was not surprising that the disciples took the upper hand, and forced back the copper branches. However, the old copper tree clearly possessed extremely unique abilities. The branches that had been blasted apart quickly regrew, while Genesis Qi surged out to block the attacks of the Cangxuan Sect disciples. Zhou Yuan watched this scene in astonishment. One must know that these disciples were the elites of the Cangxuan Sect, and were genius level individuals even if placed somewhere else. And yet, their combined might did not seem to be of much use against the old copper tree? However, he could also see that the old copper tree¡¯s regenerative abilities were amazing. It managed to swiftly recover no matter how much damage it sustained, while also having an endless supply of Genesis Qi. Without the other disciples to take some of the pressure off him, Zhou Yuan would have likely been beaten black and blue in a one on one fight. Gu Hongyi suddenly appeared beside Zhou Yuan and said in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is likely a Mythic Copper Worm Tree.¡± ¡°Mythic Copper Worm Tree?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s a very peculiar Genesis Beast. The tree on the outside is merely a shell, while its true face is the Mythic Copper Worm hidden within. If the worm is not killed, the copper tree will be akin to an immortal and can keep fighting indefinitely.¡± ¡°However, the Mythic Copper Worm is extremely skilled at hiding itself, and has basically fused with the tree, making it impossible to find.¡± Worry appeared on Gu Hongyi¡¯s pretty face. If they failed to find the Mythic Copper Worm, even a Chosen would not be able to kill this creature. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. He had not expected to encounter such a troublesome opponent in their first battle. Gu Hongyi hesitated for a moment, before she said. ¡°My advice is to retreat to prevent needlessly exhausting our energy here. There¡¯s after all many factions in the area, and if we deplete too much of our energy, others may take advantage.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°But there¡¯s at least an eighty percent chance that there will be three-color Mythic Genesis essence here.¡± Gu Hongyi gently bit into her red lips. The appearance of the Mythic Copper Worm Tree was indeed a sign that this was no ordinary location. Hence, it was highly likely that there was indeed three-color Genesis essence here. ¡°But the Mythic Copper Worm Tree is too difficult to deal with¡­¡± She smiled bitterly. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers rhythmically tapping the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he muttered, ¡°Good at hiding itself huh¡­¡± After a dozen breaths, his fingers suddenly paused as a smile appeared from the corners of his mouth. His eyes closed for a moment, before opening again a split second later. ¡°Decoder Saint Rune!¡± The world before him instantly began to change. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze locked onto the old tree, as it began to transform. Next, he saw a green foot long worm appear, lazily lounging about at a certain spot on the tree. It was absorbing Genesis Qi from the earth through the tree branches, and then pouring it into the tree that was still fighting against the numerous disciples. However, it suddenly jerked at this moment, as it lifted its eyes to look in Zhou Yuan in shock and fear, evidently sensing that its body had been detected. A feeling of dread enveloped it as it quickly shuttled downwards, intending to flee into the ground. Swoosh! Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure abruptly etherealized as he dashed forward. Countless copper branches stabbed towards him, but were unable to touch even the corner of his clothes. Under the astonished gazes of the numerous disciples, he appeared directly in front of the tree trunk. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± The Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s white hairs rapidly took on a pitch-black luster, gleaming with peerless unstoppable sharpness. Bzz! All everyone saw was a flash of black that thrust towards a certain spot on the copper tree. Ch! Black light easily pierced the tough copper bark, before suddenly sweeping to the side. The entire trunk seemed to have been cut into half. However, the tree trunk did not regrow anymore, because a miserable shriek rang out when the brush tip swung to the side. All the disciples saw a green foot long worm being lifted by the brush, violently struggling before its life force slowly faded. Rumble! In the wake of the green worm¡¯s death, the old tree crumbled with a loud rumble. Bzz bzz! When the ancient tree fell, strands of light suddenly rose from its remains. Three colors could be seen in the light as it swirled mysteriously. It was as if it was born from the earth, and gave off a mystical sensation. Everyone¡¯s gazes were glued to the light. In the next instant, ecstasy began to flood their faces. All of them knew exactly what it was¡­ it was the very thing they yearned for the most in the Mythic Utopia... Mythic Genesis essence! And it was even tri-colored! Chapter 561 Gathering Tri-colored light rose from the remains of the Mythic Copper Worm Tree, making the air seem a little more colorful, while a strange fragrance filled the area. Gu Hongyi, Zhou Tai and the other disciples stared at the tri-colored light with happiness in their eyes, while stirring restlessly as if unable to control themselves. Fortunately, they did not allow their rationality to be washed away, and instead turned their gazes towards Zhou Yuan. He was currently their leader, and they would await his instructions. In addition, if not for Zhou Yuan¡¯s lightning quick attack earlier that had slayed the worm hidden inside the copper tree, it would have been really difficult for them to destroy it. Zhou Yuan watched the tri-color light continuously flow out from the broken trunk, as amazement flitted across his eyes. His Qi Dwelling had started to tremble in desire the moment the light appeared. From this, one could see just how attractive the Mythic Genesis essence was to the Qi Dwelling. ¡°Everyone split into seven groups to collect the Mythic Genesis essence, while one group stands guard. The guard shift will rotate amongst all the groups.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at the many disciples and said, ¡°The Mythic Genesis essence will surely cause quite a disturbance, and may draw prying gazes.¡± The other disciples'' expressions shivered when they heard this. There were indeed several factions in the area, and if the Mythic Genesis essence was discovered by them, the Cangxuan Sect disciples would have to face some trouble. The Mythic Genesis essence was just far too valuable in the Mythic Utopia, and everyone would definitely compete for it. After a brief discussion, about ten figures flew out from the big group and landed on various spots in the vicinity, before vigilantly watching the surroundings for any signs of activity. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan nodded and said, ¡°Go ahead and start collecting, as for how much each of you will collect, that will depend on your own abilities.¡± The moment his words rang out, all of the remaining disciples began to split up, each finding a spot for themselves, before Genesis Qi began rising from their heads to gather the tri-color flowing light. Zhou Yuan sat down near the broken trunk, where there was obviously the highest concentration of Mythic Genesis essence. He did not bother trying to act modest. As the leader, he was the strongest individual here and had the right to enjoy the best treatment. Golden Genesis Qi rose from the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, forming a glowing ball that began to spin. A suction force emerged from a hole on the top portion of the ball, absorbing strand after strand of tri-color light. The tri-color light was not pure Mythic Genesis essence, and had to be constantly compressed and refined while being collected to become true Mythic Genesis essence. This was the only way to create a Divine Establishing Treasure. Though it was a tedious and slow process, Zhou Yuan did not show any impatience. He calmly gathered the tri-color light for an incense stick of time, before beckoning with his hand. The golden light ball slowly descended as the bottom split open, revealing a resplendent tri-color glow. The other disciples looked over in envy. They were only half way, while Zhou Yuan had already succeeded. One could see that there was indeed quite a gap in power between the two parties. The refined tri-color light was somewhat viscous as it quietly swirled on Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. It gave off a cooling sensation akin to jade, and Zhou Yuan could feel a mysterious power within it. His Qi Dwelling shuddered as the ten thousand Genesis Qi stars inside twinkled brightly. ¡°So this the true Mythic Genesis essence¡­¡± Zhou Yuan concentrated on the viscous tri-color light in his hand as a sliver of desire flitted across his eyes. Next, he opened his mouth and swallowed it in a single gulp. The viscous tri-color light flowed into his body, heading straight into the Qi Dwelling, before slowly swirling about within it. A tri-color glow spread, dying the Genesis Qi stars as they quietly grew brighter as if being refined. However, this little bit of Mythic Genesis essence was clearly far from enough to create a Divine Establishing Treasure. Zhou Yuan had already anticipated this, and was thus not disappointed by this result. With a wave of his hand, the golden Genesis Qi ball rose once more, hovering above the broken tree trunk as it continued to absorb the tri-color light that spurted out, and slowly refining it into Mythic Genesis essence... From how it continued to spurt out, the Mythic Genesis essence here should be enough to last them several days. All they needed to do now was to calmly collect. Zhou Yuan peered into the distance as he mumbled to himself, ¡°I hope that we¡¯ll be able to peacefully harvest the Mythic Genesis essence over the next few days.¡± However, he also understood that it was most likely wishful thinking. After all, the disturbance created by the spouting Mythic Essence was not small, and there was even a strange fragrance spreading. It was basically impossible for them to hide it. There were several factions roaming about in the area, and they would most definitely move if they found Zhou Yuan and his team. Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s lowered eyes. He had occupied this location, and if any blood fool wanted to snatch the Mythic Genesis essence away, they would have to first ask his Heavenly Yuan Brush if it agreed. ¡­ Nothing much happened on the first day, allowing Zhou Yuan and the rest to harvest the essence in peace for a day. However, this peace was broken on the second day. It was exactly as Zhou Yuan had predicted. Figures began to appear one after another in the vicinity of the mountain. They were the various factions that had been drawn to this place by the disturbance and the peculiar fragrance. The figures hid away in groups of two and three, greed flashing in their eyes as they stared at the tri-color light spouting from the mountain top. They could naturally tell that this was three-color Mythic Genesis essence! A grade of essence that was extremely rare in the initial exploratory stage of the Mythic Utopia! The best they had found during the entire first day was two-color Mythic Genesis essence, so it was a little hard to believe there was so much three-color Mythic Genesis essence in this place. One could easily imagine how huge of a deposit it was. With greed urging them on, several restless individuals attempted to slip into the mountain. Fortunately, the guards on duty immediately discovered these individuals and swiftly chased them off. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s directions, a disciple¡¯s thunderous shout rumbled in warning, ¡°This excavation site was discovered by our Cangxuan Sect. If anyone dares to trespass, don¡¯t blame us for showing no mercy!¡± Hearing the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s name managed to intimidate some individuals. Moreover, they could also see that there were many Cangxuan Sect disciples on the mountain, a force that was indeed rather powerful. With so few members, there was no way that the former would be able to even bargain for a slice of the pie. However, they did not give up just like that, and instead began to spread the news. As such, more and more factions began to appear in the surroundings over the brief span of half a day. The gradually gathering factions began to put some pressure on Gu Hongyi, Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the rest of the disciples. They could likewise tell that the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s name was not enough to suppress the greed of these people. Fortunately, although more and more people were gathering in the vicinity of the mountain, all of them clearly belonged to smaller factions. No party would submit to another, making them akin to scattered sand, refusing to cooperate. However, a change finally occurred on the third day. A team of over thirty people arrived. This team gave off a powerful presence, and was clearly very different from the others. They were from the Little Thunder Gate, a first class faction of the Shengzhou Continent. Although there was still a gap between them and the Cangxuan Sect, they were quite renowned in the Shengzhou Continent. When the members of the Little Thunder Gate appeared, the scattered groups in the vicinity of the mountain were quickly recruited. As a result, the gathered force at the foot of the mountain finally became a real threat to the Cangxuan Sect disciples. Chapter 562 Lei Qinghai Amidst the mountain forest. There were currently numerous figures within the forest, the powerful Genesis Qi undulations pulsing from their bodies showing that they were no weaklings. They would occasionally lift their heads to look at the nearby mountain top, where concentrated tri-color light could be seen At the sight of the tri-color light, greed appeared in the eyes of these individuals. However, they would reluctantly withdraw their gazes and turn towards the center of the forest, where dozens of figures could be seen surrounding one particular figure like stars around the moon. It was a smiling young man in silver robes that gave off an extraordinary presence, while thunder faintly rumbled from his body. Hushed voices conversed amidst the mountain forest, ¡°That¡¯s Lie Qinghai, one of the three thunder generals of the Little Thunder Gate. He¡¯s extremely strong, and I¡¯ve heard he recently advanced to the ninth layer Alpha-Origin stage, making him no weaker than any of the chief disciples from the six overlord sects. With him here, we¡¯ll definitely be able to vie with the Cangxuan Sect.¡± The other figures silently nodded. The three thunder generals of the Little Thunder Gate were the most outstanding trio amongst their numerous disciples, and only those who had overcome repeated challenges would be able to take this title. As one of the thunder generals, Lei Qinghai was certainly a very capable individual. ¡°Everyone¡­¡± The young man in a silver robe looked over at this moment, a faint rumble accompanying his voice as it rang out beside everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°We¡¯ve already investigated the Cangxuan Sect disciples on the mountain, and discovered that the one leading them is the chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Saint Genesis Peak?¡± Shock appeared in the eyes of several individuals. ¡°Isn¡¯t Saint Genesis Peak the weakest peak in the Cangxuan Sect? I can¡¯t believe they managed to produce a chief disciple.¡± It was clear that the people here had some knowledge about the current situation in the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°Zhou Yuan is likely a newly promoted chief disciple, and though we currently do not know how strong he is, as someone who managed to become a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, he should be pretty capable.¡± ¡°Hehe, no matter how capable the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak is, how can he possibly compare to brother Lei? Given brother Lei¡¯s strength, he will likely be one of the stronger ones even when placed amidst the seven chief disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. That Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple, on the other hand, should be the weakest of the bunch.¡± The others agreed one after another. After hearing that the chief disciple leading the group on the mountain top was from the weakest Saint Genesis Peak, everyone clearly breathed a sigh of relief. They had been afraid of encountering the more famous chief disciples, such as the one from the Cangxuan Peak or Sword Cometh Peak, because that would be very troublesome indeed. Lei Qinghai chuckled as he waved his hand. Two silver balls could be seen slowly spinning in his hand, as they flickered with lightning. ¡°Although Saint Genesis Peak is the weakest, we should not underestimate them too much.¡± Though he said so, a sliver of disagreement flashed across his eyes. He was more familiar than most with regards to the chief disciples and Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect, but he had never heard of a chief disciple called Zhou Yuan. The latter was obviously a newcomer, and Lei Qinghai felt that he had nothing to fear from such an individual. ¡°Since everyone has placed their face in the Little Thunder Gate, I shall represent everyone to go meet chief disciple Zhou Yuan later. If he agrees to take a step back and allow us to harvest Mythic Genesis essence on the mountain, we will naturally not be too overbearing.¡± Said Lei Qinghai with a smile. ¡°What if chief disciple Zhou Yuan does not agree?¡± Asked someone in a rather fierce tone. Lei Qinghai softly chuckled. ¡°That chief disciple will be far too naive if he believes the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s name will be able to scare everyone away. If that happens, we¡¯ll have no choice but to properly school him.¡± As he spoke, an alarming Genesis Qi pressure slowly spread from his body, causing the hearts of the many individuals present to shiver. This thunder general of the Little Thunder Gate was indeed a very powerful practitioner. Of course, they knew that Lei Qinghai was flexing his muscles to them. For a time, the crowd voiced their approval, showing that they would regard Lei Qinghai as their leader. Li Qinghai smiled in a relaxed manner when he saw this. ¡°You guys will wait here for my signal. If words don¡¯t work, we¡¯ll have no choice but to use force. I hope that the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak will not be foolish.¡± After finishing, his figure soared into the sky like a thunderbolt, appearing in front of the mountain as he cupped his fists together and said in a loud voice, ¡°Lei Qinghai of the Little Thunder Gate requests to meet chief disciple Zhou Yuan.¡± His voice was akin to thunder as it rumbled across the area. On the mountain top, Zhou Yuan was in the midst of harvesting Mythic Genesis essence. His lightly shut eyes opened, and looked towards the figure that glowed with lightning in the sky. ¡°The Little Thunder Gate huh?¡± He had naturally heard of this rather famous sect of the Shengzhou Continent. Gu Hongyi said from the said, ¡°Many factions have gathered at the foot of the mountain, and Lei Qinghai has already managed to unite them, making them a substantial threat.¡± ¡°Looks like our visitors aren¡¯t friendly.¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. Soon after, his voice rang out, ¡°Let him come and see what he wants.¡± The Cangxuan Sect disciples that were blocking the way withdrew when they heard this. Lightning flashed in the sky, as a figure appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. The former¡¯s arrogant manner showed that he was unafraid even under the tiger-like gazes of the many Cangxuan Sect disciples. ¡°Is this distinguished one the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak?¡± Lei Qinghan¡¯s gaze immediately locked onto Zhou Yuan, but soon began to frown. From what the former could sense, Zhou Yuan appeared to only be at the seventh layer. Was the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak really so weak? Zhou Yuan paid no attention to Lei Qinghai¡¯s gaze and said, ¡°How can we help you?¡± Lei Qinghai withdrew his gaze, and looked towards the broken trunk that was spouting tri-color light behind Zhou Yuan, as greed flashed across his eyes. There was indeed a tremendous amount of three-color Mythic Genesis essence here! ¡°What do you think you¡¯re lookin?¡± Berated Gu Hongyi. Lei Qinghai withdrew his gaze again, looking back at Zhou Yuan as he unhurriedly said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan is quite lucky. To think that you manage to find such a nice place that contains three-color Mythic Genesis essence.¡± Zhou Yuan responded with a chuckle. Lei Qinghai also chuckled, before he said in a sincere manner, ¡°However, your current situation does not look too good, chief disciple Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Many factions have gathered at the foot of the mountain and are all eyeing this location. Though the Cangxuan Sect is strong, you only have a single team here. What¡¯s more, you guys are led by a chief disciple from Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°Such strength is likely not enough to scare off those greedy guys.¡± ¡°And if a fight breaks out, your side will likely not have much of an advantage.¡± Said Lei Qinghai with a smile. Upon hearing how the former seemed to brush off Zhou Yuan, the ends of Gu Hongyi¡¯s brows arched slightly upwards as she sneered, ¡°Why don¡¯t you guys try us and see?¡± Zhou Yuan merely continued to stare at Lei Qinghai and said, ¡°What are brother Lei¡¯s intentions? Why does it appear to me that you¡¯re on the same side as them?¡± Lei Qinghai smiled as he waved his hand. ¡°They¡¯re merely a bunch of small fries that hope to rely on their numbers. How can they possibly compare to the many amazing disciples of the Cangxuan Sect?¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan with an appearance of absolute sincerity and said, ¡°However, the disturbance here is quite large and will keep drawing people over. As time passes, the situation will become more and more troublesome.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to propose a solution. The Little Thunder Gate hopes to join forces with brother Zhou Yuan to exterminate those greedy fellows below, and when news of this spreads, there will naturally no longer be anyone who dares to challenge us.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Lei Qinghai in interest. What a vicious person, to think that he intended to join forces to exterminate the others. ¡°What does brother Lei wish for in return?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. Lei Qinghai pointed at the spouting Mythic Genesis essence behind Zhou Yuan as he grinned widely. ¡°I won¡¯t ask for a lion¡¯s share. Fifty percent, we¡¯ll split it fifty fifty.¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyes turned a little frosty. ¡°Fifty percent, you call that not asking for a lion¡¯s share?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Lei Qinghai. Lei Qinghai met the former¡¯s gaze with an aggressive and challenging one of his own and said, ¡°Besides this, there¡¯s one other thing I want. I¡¯ve heard that you Cangxuan Sect disciples have a map that contains information regarding previously discovered Mythic Genesis essence locations. If brother Zhou Yuan can share it, the Little Thunder Gate will become your friend, you can go ahead and find us for any matter in the Mythic Utopia.¡± Gu Hongyi was so angry that her face turned red. This fellow really knew how to ask! ¡°What if I don¡¯t agree.¡± Said Zhou Yuan in an indifferent manner. He could already tell that Lei Qinghai had taken him to be a pushover. Lei Qinghai sighed, the two silver lightning beads in his hand slowly spinning as he said in a slow and deliberately drawn out manner, ¡°If brother Zhou refuses to cooperate, I will have no choice but to let the fellows below know. If a battle breaks out, I¡¯m afraid that you guys will end up paying a very steep price.¡± He stared at Zhou Yuan in an oppressive manner, leaning forward slightly as he said, ¡°Brother Zhou, I would not have done this if it were the Cangxuan Peak or any other chief disciple, but there are times when you have to accept your fate when the other party is stronger.¡± He waved his hand as he continued, ¡°I will wait for half an incense stick of time, and brother Zhou can inform me once you¡¯ve made your decision. Of course, I hope that you will not take too long, because the fellows below seem to be growing rather impatient.¡± After finishing, he stood up and turned around to leave. Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh as he looked at the former¡¯s figure and said, ¡°No need to wait¡­ I already have an answer.¡± Zhou Yuan earnestly said, ¡°Friend from the Little Thunder Gate, if you don¡¯t wish to be buried in the Mythic Utopia, I advise you to forget about the Mythic Genesis essence here, and run as far as you can¡­ this is my final advice I have for you.¡± Lei Qinghai¡¯s footsteps paused, tilting his head backwards to glance at Zhou Yuan as a mocking smile rose from the corners of his mouth. However, before he could say anything, Zhou Yuan had already begun to speak again, ¡°Don¡¯t go entering enemy territory alone in the future¡­ I have no interest in playing such childish games with you.¡± He reached out his hand and signalled at the numerous already waiting Cangxuan Sect disciples. ¡°Get rid of him.¡± Chapter 563 Swatted to Death in a Single Palm ¡°Get rid of him!¡± When Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice sounded, sinister looks instantly appeared in the eyes of the many surrounding disciples. It had already been a while since they began finding Lei Qinghai to be an eyesore due to his attitude. Your Little Thunder Gate is merely a first class sect, and yet dare to act like you¡¯re something in front of our Cangxuan Sect? Do you really think we¡¯re pushovers? Rumble! Berserk Genesis Qi erupted from their bodies, suring forth a split second later. Blasts of Genesis Qi tore through the air, and swiftly bombarded Lei Qinghai¡¯s figure. Boom! A terrifying shockwave of Genesis Qi unfurled, ripping up the surrounding ground. Gaze after gaze looked towards the middle of the destruction. Though Lei Qinghai was powerful, there was no way he would be able to withstand the combined attacks of so many individuals, right? The dust gradually scattered, as the expression in the numerous gazes that had converged towards the spot suddenly changed. Lei Qinghai¡¯s figure was nowhere to be found. All they could see was a silver ball that flickered with lightning as it hovered above the torn ground. The metal ball was covered in cracks, and soon dimmed as it fell, before turning into dust. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained composed from start to end. His brows arched slightly, as he lifted his head and looked at the sky. ¡°No wonder you dared to come alone. It turns out that you¡¯re pretty capable.¡± Gu Hongyi, Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the others followed his gaze, and saw silver light flicker in the air, as Lei Qinghai¡¯s figure appeared. However, his expression was rather dark at this moment. Lei Qinghai remarked in a chilling voice, ¡°Hehe, what a Cangxuan Sect. To think that one of the six overlord sects doesn¡¯t even care about face?¡± He never imagined that Zhou Yuan would order the disciples to target fire him. Did this guy not realise he was a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect? Zhou Yuan swept a glance at the former as he shook his head, not bothering to even reply. Since Lei Qinghai dared to set his sights on them, there was no need to give any of the so-called ¡®face¡¯. Zhou Yuan was not an inflexible person. If it were possible to eliminate Lei Qinghai in the most simplest fashion, the former would naturally not bother coming up with other tactics. It was either you or me in the Mythic Utopia after all. However, it was a little regretful that they had failed to finish off Lei Qinghai. But it did not matter much anyways, he was merely a fellow that had recently stepped into the ninth layer after all... At the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s uncaring appearance, Lei Qinghai¡¯s face turned somewhat green with anger. Something kept telling him that Zhou Yuan did not really view him as a serious threat. ¡°Although I do not know how you managed to become the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, how dare you act so pleased in front of me with the mere strength of the seventh layer? Do you really believe that your status as chief disciple will have much use in the Mythic Utopia?!¡± Lei Qinghai clenched his jaw, his tone eerily chilling. He was completely under the impression that Zhou Yuan¡¯s confidence stemmed from his status as a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°I originally hoped to give face to the Cangxuan Sect and come to an agreement with you. But it seems that all you want to do is spit in my face!¡± ¡°Since that is the case, don¡¯t blame me for not giving face to the Cangxuan Sect!¡± Thunder rumbled the instant his words rang out, as powerful silver Genesis Qi rose from the top of his head, turning into silver clouds that flashed with the glow of lightning. The already impatiently waiting factions at the foot of the mountain immediately saw the rising silver Genesis Qi. This was the signal they had agreed on earlier. The negotiations between Lei Qinghai and Zhou Yuan appeared to have failed. ¡°Humph, it appears that the Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple believes he can rely on the reputation of the Cangxuan Sect in the Mythic Utopia.¡± Someone sneered as an ominous light rose in his eyes. ¡°What a naive kid. The only thing useful in the Mythic Utopia is one¡¯s fists. No matter what background he has, he will only be torn to shreds if he does not possess sufficient power!¡± There was an unspoken rule of survival of the fittest in the Mythic Utopia. If a great sect like the Cangxuan Sect were to fall inside, it would only mean that this generation of disciples were no good. When word of this spread, it would only draw mockery from the other factions, and damage the former¡¯s reputation. After all, the six overlord sects were superior in both quantity and quality. If they were to lose to other factions even with such advantages, they would have no one to blame but themselves. Swoosh! Swish! The various factions rose into the sky on their Genesis Qi and spread out, surrounding the mountain top. It was a pretty intimidating sight. Only the prided geniuses nurtured by the various factions could enter the Mythic Utopia after all, and though there may be a gap between them and the elites of the Cangxuan Sect, it would not be too big. With the numbers advantage added in, the other factions no longer had anything to fear, allowing them to stare unbridledly at the solemnly waiting Cangxuan Sect disciples. Grave expressions appeared on the faces of the numerous disciples on the peak as they gazed at the figures surrounding them. The other party¡¯s numbers had clearly surpassed their expectations. ¡°We¡¯ve unknowingly attracted so many huh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan frowned a little. It seemed that the disturbance caused by the Mythic Genesis essence had not been small. However, go ahead and come at us! Zhou Yuan had already realized that it was impossible for them to peacefully harvest Mythic Genesis essence in the Mythic Utopia, unless one displayed power overwhelming enough to deter anyone with ill intentions. Since that was the case, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to build a reputation for his team. Lei Qinghai and his gang would be the stepping stones used to achieve this. In the sky, Lei Qinghai gazed at the tightly surrounded figures on the peak as a sneer emerged on his face. Soon after, he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ll give you one final chance. Allow us to ascend the mountain and harvest the Mythic Genesis essence. Plus, you have to hand over seventy percent of the Mythic Genesis essence you collected earlier!¡± On the mountain peak, anger flashed on the faces of all the Cangxuan Sect disciples. ¡°This guy is too much!¡± Snarled Gu Hongyi through gnashed teeth. ¡°He really thinks I¡¯m a seventh layer Alpha-Origin.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Lei Qinghai was obviously being so overbearing because he believed Zhou Yuan to only have the strength of the seventh heaven. He shook his head and rose to his feet. With a grasp, the Heavenly Yuan brush appeared in his hand. The black brush rapidly grew, its sharp tip pointed towards the ground at an angle. Zhou Yuan raised his head and stared at the greedy looks of the numerous figures surrounding them. In the end, his gaze paused on Lei Qinghai as he indifferently said, ¡°I¡¯ll also give you one last chance. Leave now if you know what¡¯s good for you. Although the Cangxuan Sect does not take advantage of our status to bully others, if you insist on being a fool, don¡¯t blame us for showing no mercy.¡± Mocking laughter immediately rang out in the sky, as someone said, ¡°Kid, if it was the chief disciple of the Cangxuan Peak or Lightning Prison Peak saying such things, their words would at least have some weight. But a mere seventh layer like you should just stop making a fool of yourself!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, unangered by the ridicule from the other party. He merely nodded faintly with indifference in his eyes. Swish! His figure suddenly began to etherealize at this moment as he took a step forward. The expression of the one that had mocked him immediately changed, because Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had appeared in front of the former like a phantom. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± The individual bellowed, neither afraid nor alarmed. Instead, robust Genesis Qi whizzed out around him, revealing that he was also a seventh layer expert. He sent out a punch accompanied by surging Genesis Qi and an alarming pressure. However, Zhou Yuan did not even bat an eyelid, as a jade glow emerged from his skin and silver light flickered in the depths of his body. He raised a hand and gently swung it as if chasing away a fly. Thump! As Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand met the punch, both sides froze slightly for a brief moment. In the next instant, a piercing sonic boom sounded as the air exploded. Everyone watched in shock as the seventh layer expert let loose a blood curdling shriek, while his entire arm exploded into a bloody mist. In the end, his body plummeted from the sky like a bird whose wings had been broken, and crashed into the forest... The entire place fell silent at this moment. Astonishment and fear rose in the many gazes as they stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. They never imagined that Zhou Yuan would be able to easily swat away a seventh layer expert without even circulating any Genesis Qi?! Their hearts shivered at the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifferent expression, while a faint sense of unease rose within them. What should have been merely a seventh layer Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple was clearly not as simple as they had thought... Chapter 564 Thunder King Seal In the sky, the army surrounding the mountain top was actually divided into many smaller groups from the various factions. Fear and shock was currently visible on their faces as they stared at the figure standing in the air nearby. The lightning quick strike from the latter earlier had indeed been very intimidating. No one had expected that a seventh layer expert would be crushed by Zhou Yuan in a flash. At this juncture, only a fool would still treat Zhou Yuan as an ordinary seventh layer. ¡°Humph, so you¡¯re actually a tiger pretending to be a pig. No wonder you were so arrogant!¡± Lei Qinghai¡¯s gloomy voice sounded at this moment, as he stared in anger at Zhou Yuan. He had erred in his judgement earlier, and taken Zhou Yuan as an ordinary seventh layer, which in turn led to Lei Qinghai¡¯s overbearing attitude. However, it was now evident that Zhou Yuan had been intentionally hiding his strength. Even with this revelation, Lei Qinghai did not panic, as he was still confident in his strength. Although he had recently stepped into the ninth layer, he strongly believed that his Genesis Qi foundations would not lose to some of the Cangxuan Sect chief disciples. The Little Thunder Gate was after all a first class faction in Cangxuan Heaven, and were not weak at all. Though the Cangxuan Sect disciples here were elites, the ones of Lei Qinghai¡¯s side were no pushovers. Moreover, they had the superior numbers. As such, no one could say for sure who would emerge the victor if a battle were to break out. Most importantly, his name reputation would explode like a cannon if he somehow managed to win. After all, defeating a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect would make him very famous in the Shengzhou Continent. Of course, he could also end up becoming a stepping stone for Zhou Yuan instead. The desire in Lei Qinghai¡¯s eyes burned increasingly bright as he imagined such a scene. Powerful Genesis Qi rose from his body as he stared at Zhou Yuan, giving off an endless pressure as they towered like enormous thousand foot tall lightning pillars. His display of power caused the somewhat nervous factions on his side to breathe a small sigh of relief. ¡°Everyone, I shall deal with Zhou Yuan, while you guys concentrate on attacking the mountain. I can say with certainty that the three-color Mythic Genesis essence deposit there will not disappoint us.¡± Said Lei Qinghai in a low voice, his words filled with temptation. He knew that the disciples of the Little Thunder Gate alone would not be a match for the Cangxuan Sect team here. Only by coercing the other factions along would they be able to pose a threat towards the latter. Greed instantly flowed out in the eyes of the over hundred figures in the sky. They were no strangers to violence or fighting, and would often kill for the sake of even a small gain. In the Shengzhou Continent, they would perhaps practice a little more prudence when they encountered Cangxuan Sect disciples, but this was the Mythic Utopia, a place where everyone was prepared to risk their lives. If the Cangxuan Sect failed to defend their Mythic Utopia essence, it would only mean that they were undeserving, and the Cangxuan Sect could not say anything even if all their disciples were wiped out here. Hence, after briefly hesitating, the various factions cast their ominous gazes at the Cangxuan Sect disciples. In the Mythic Utopia, some could even betray their fellow disciples for the sake of obtaining Mythic Genesis essence, let alone a few Cangxuan Sect disciples. Since their side did not appear to be weaker than the Cangxuan Sect team, worst comes to worst, they would scatter and run after obtaining the Mythic Genesis essence. They believed that the Cangxuan Sect Chosens would not be able to do anything even if they found out. ¡°All disciples prepare to meet the enemy, no need to show any mercy!¡± On the mountain top, Gu Hongyi took over the commander position. Although she was a little weaker than everyone else, her words did have some sway over the group. Hence, iciness flashed in the eyes of the few dozen disciples from the various peaks, as powerful Genesis Qi slowly rose around them. ¡°Attack! Since they intend to obstruct us, there¡¯s no need to show any mercy either!¡± In the next instant, the two sides shot forward at the same time. Berserk Genesis Qi dashed into the sky, as over a hundred figures clashed in battle, the aftershocks causing the surrounding Genesis Qi to fall into a frenzy. Zhou Yuan glanced at the battlefield. Although the Cangxuan Sect disciples were outnumbered, each individual was clearly superior in strength, allowing them to not fall into a disadvantageous position. Boom! A torrent of berserk Genesis Qi that was charged with lightning suddenly blasted at Zhou Yuan with unmatched ferocity. Zhou Yuna¡¯s figure took half a step back, causing the lightning torrent to brush past his body, as the deafening sound of thunder nearly burst his ear drums. His expression remained calm, while his gaze turned to find Lei Qinghai slowly walking over in the air as lightning Genesis Qi cackled around him, creating a very oppressive presence. An icy look was revealed on Lei Qinghai¡¯s face as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I gave you a choice, but you refused my kind intentions, and instead caused the situation to devolve into its current state.¡± ¡°Now, it¡¯s already too late for regrets!¡± Lei Qinghai¡¯s hands suddenly clapped together, as flickering lightning Genesis Qi roared out of his body. With a stomp in the air, the Genesis Qi rapidly converged behind him, transforming into a sky full of silver lightning spikes. Dazzling lightning arced across the spikes in a mesmerising manner. ¡°Since you like to hide so much, go ahead and show me how much ability you¡¯ve concealed. I hope that you will not disappoint me!¡± ¡°Lightning Spike!¡± Lei Qinghai waved his sleeve. In the next instant, all the silver lightning spikes shot forth, accompanied by the rumble of thunder and countless flashes of lightning. In the blink of an eye, every spike had already bombarded Zhou Yuan¡¯s location. Boom! Boom! Berserk lightning devastated the surroundings, causing even the fabric of space to ripple violently. An icy smile appeared on Lei Qinghai¡¯s face. ¡°Arrogant fool, to think that you actually dared to¡­¡± Before he could finish, however, a streak of light shot out from the dazzling lightning, and appeared in front of him as if teleporting A fist that glowed with jade light and was infused with berserk power swiftly punched towards Lei Qinghai¡¯s chest like a thunderbolt. The reflection of the fist rapidly grew in Lei Qinghai¡¯s pupils, causing them to shrink slightly. He could not detect much Genesis Qi undulations from Zhou Yuan¡¯s deadly punch. In other words, it was purely physical power. ¡°Can¡¯t believe his physical body is so strong.¡± Lei Qinghai was rather alarmed. He did not have a powerful physical body, and naturally did not dare to receive the attack directly. His hands immediately thrust forward as Genesis Qi surged out, transforming into a foot long lightning mirror that gave off a lightning glow. ¡°Lightning Mirror!¡± Clang! Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist slammed into the mirror, causing it to ripple violently. Only calmness could be seen in his rippleless eyes, as countless punches poured out like a storm. Clang! Clang! In a few breaths, the lightning mirror shattered under the onslaught, as countless lightning fragments shot outwards. As glowing lightning fragments danced in the air, a slender hand reached forward, leaving a trail of after images behind it as it mercilessly grabbed at Lei Qinghai¡¯s neck. Li Qinghai¡¯s expression changed slightly as he swiftly made a seal with his hands. ¡°Illusion Lightning Art!¡± A lightning glow surged on his body as it began to fade away. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand swiped past, but caught only air. He raised his gaze to find a figure clad in a lightning glow shooting away like a ghost, its speed akin to rushing lightning. A faint sliver of surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Lei Qinghai was a rather detestable person, but he was very resourceful indeed. No wonder he had dared to take them on. However, it was not so easy to escape from Zhou Yuan. ¡°Ethereal Form!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure rapidly turned ethereal as he shot forward, closely following Lei Qinghai like a shadow, while countless punches and kicks mercilessly rained down upon the latter. Two blurry glowing figures flickered about in the sky, leaving loud booms in their wake. The duo exchanged several hundred blows in a short few minutes. However, Lei Qinghai was growing more and more alarmed as the fight went out. He had realized that Zhou Yuan¡¯s attacks were mainly physical in nature, while using Genesis Qi as support. The onslaught was extremely fierce and violent, causing Lei Qinghai to gradually be suppressed. The flames of frustration rose in his heart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attacks were akin to a torrential storm that left one no time to even catch a breath. However, it was impossible for him to truly defeat Lei Qinghai in this manner. The only purpose it served was to make the latter¡¯s situation very miserable. ¡°Get lost!¡± Lei Qinghai gnashed his teeth as berserk Genesis Qi swept out from his body without reservation. Zhou Yuan¡¯s onslaught was stopped for a brief moment, allowing Lei Qinghai to create some distance between them. He darkly stared at Zhou Yuan as his hands formed a seal and abruptly slammed together. Berserk Genesis Qi frantically gathered between his palms, as dark clouds appeared above him, faintly stirring the surrounding Genesis Qi. It appeared that Lei Qinghai could not take it any longer, and was going to use his trump card. ¡°Does your confidence stem from the power of your body? If so, your Genesis Qi cultivation is indeed only at the seventh layer!¡± Lei Qinghai laughed in a sinister manner. Zhou Yuan had barely used any Genesis Qi in their fight earlier. As such, Lei Qinghai was certain that Genesis Qi was the former¡¯s weak point. ¡°Unfortunately for you, no matter how strong your body is, one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations are still the most important!¡± Lei Qinghai let out an icy laugh. He currently had eight thousand Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling, which was also the source of his confidence. On the other hand, he estimated that the seventh layer Zhou Yuan would possess at most five or six thousand Genesis Qi stars. Rumble! Black clouds churned above him as lightning bolts descended, striking the spot between Lei Qinghai¡¯s palms. Lightning light madly surged, as a silver lightning seal slowly rose from within. A heart-palpitating undulation pulsed from the seal. Lei Qinghai howled at the heavens, drawing numerous gazes from the fight below. Their expression immediately changed at the sight of the silver lightning seal, evidently sensing the terrifying power contained within it. Such power had indeed begun to match the various chief disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°Haha, Zhou Yuan, watch as I blast your prided body to ashes!¡± ¡°Have a taste of the secret art unique to my Little Thunder Gate!¡± ¡°Thunder! King! Seal!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 565 Steamrolled Rumble! Thunder shook the land, as the lightning seal between Lei Qinghai¡¯s palms suddenly shot forth like a roaring lightning dragon. Lightning flashed across the sky, as the seal charged towards Zhou Yuan with terrifying destructive force. In the distance, worry flitted across the eyes of Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the others. The strength displayed by Lei Qinghai was even greater than Baili Che during the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Although they knew that Zhou Yuan had grown much stronger after the nine dragons baptism, there had been no chance for him to fight for real recently. As such, they were quite unclear about his true battle power. If Zhou Yuan ended up being suppressed in this fight with Lei Qinghai, it would be a substantial blow to the former¡¯s reputation. He was after all a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, while Lei Qinghai was merely from the Little Thunder Gate. Rumble! Under the numerous watching gazes, the roaring lightning seal arrived, leaving a glowing trail of lightning light behind it as it mercilessly began to crush downwards upon Zhou Yuan¡¯s location. In the next instant, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was drowned in a resplendent lightning glow. Lei Qinghai proudly stood in the air, an eerie chillingness in his eyes as he stared at the dazzling scene. ¡°Arrogant fellow, to think that you actually dared to directly take on my Thunder King Seal!¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re so insistent on courting death, don¡¯t blame me for not showing any mercy.¡± This Thunder King Seal of his was a Genesis technique unique to the Little Thunder Gate, and was incomparably domineering in nature. Even he did not know how many people had fallen to it in battle. Currently, it appeared as if Zhou Yuan would soon become the latest addition to his illustrious battle accomplishments. Under the many watching gazes, lightning glowed resplendently for quite some time, before fading away little by little. Next, the scenery within began to be revealed. Lei Qinghai immediately looked over. No matter how strong Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was, he would surely be gravely injured after being struck by the former¡¯s Thunder King Seal, and a seriously injured Zhou Yuan was obviously not going to be Lei Qinghai¡¯s match. While such thoughts swirled in Lei Qinghai¡¯s head, his eyes slowly widened when he saw the slim young figure that was silently standing amidst the receding light. There did not appear to be any injuries on his body. The smile on Lei Qinghai¡¯s lips slowly turned rigid. A flickering Thunder King Seal hovered above Zhou Yuan, while golden Genesis Qi filled the area behind him, seemingly forming a thousand foot wide starry sky in which golden stars twinkled. Powerful Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from the starry sky, pushing back against the descending Thunder King Seal, and making it impossible for it to fall any further. *Uproar*! The various watching factions immediately burst into an uproar, as they stared in shock at the starry sky. ¡°That is¡­ that is the Genesis Qi starry sky phenomenon?!¡± They ultimately cried out in shock. They knew this phenomenon only appeared when the Genesis Qi stars in one¡¯s Qi Dwelling reached the crazy number of ten thousand. Only prided geniuses with very strong foundations would be able to achieve ten thousand Genesis Qi stars when ascending to the ninth layer. Take Lei Qinghai for instance. Although he had stepped into the ninth layer, his Genesis Qi foundations were merely at the level of nine thousand Genesis Qi stars. Hence, they could not comprehend how the Genesis Qi foundations of the clearly seventh layer Genesis Qi cultivation Zhou Yuan could reach such a terrifying level. He was basically a monster! Compared to the others, Lei Qinghai was undoubtedly the most shocked at this moment, giant waves churning wildly in his heart, as he blankly stared at the Genesis Qi starry sky. In fact, he had even previously concluded that Zhou Yuan had barely used Genesis Qi because it was his weak point. How could Lei Qinghai have possibly imagined that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations had actually passed the ten thousand mark... Zhou Yuan should have been relying on his strong physical body! Who could have expected that his Genesis Qi foundations were in truth even more terrifying than his physical prowess! ¡°How can this be?! His body cultivation is already so formidable, how can his Genesis Qi foundations be so superb as well?!¡± Roared Lei Qinghai inside. He was considered a genius in the Little Thunder Gate, but the gap between himself and Zhou Yuan was just too cruel. However, Zhou Yuan obviously would not care even if he knew what Lei Qinghai was bellowing about inside. The former slowly rotated and cracked his neck. After the earlier testing, he could feel that his physical power seemed to have risen substantially. Otherwise, he would not have been able to rely merely on physical force and very minute amounts of Genesis Qi to evenly match Lei Qinghai in battle. However, Zhou Yuan also understood that though his physical abilities were strong, it would take a very long time for him to defeat Lei Qinghai in this manner, time which Zhou Yuan clearly did not intend to waste on the latter. Zhou Yuan extended his hands, his skin flickering with jade light, while silver light flashed and surged in his bones. In a flash, his figure appeared in front of the thunder seal like a phantom. His hands abruptly swatted downwards, golden Genesis Qi surging forth to trap the thunder seal. The Genesis Qi and physical power in his body exploded at full force, as his hands slowly closed around the seal. Crack. The space between his hands began to warp and distort, as faint spatial cracks appeared. Lightning frantically blasted out from the thunder seal, but it was completely unable to escape. It could only release hair-raising cracking noises as the hands gradually closed around it. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands finally closed around the seal, causing it to shatter and transform into silver specks of light. Shockwaves spread from the epicenter, but were forcefully contained by Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. As such, Lei Qinghai¡¯s strongest Genesis technique was forcibly destroyed by Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands... Zhou Yuan offhandedly dusted off his hands, before turning his gaze towards the new deathly pale Lei Qinghai with a wide grin, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to see how much I was hiding earlier? Are you satisfied now?¡± Lei Qinghai¡¯s lips quivered for a moment, but was unable to utter even a single word. Dread slowly crept out in his heart as he gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifferent eyes The ease in which Zhou Yuan had destroyed Lei Qinghai¡¯s most powerful technique was more than enough to tell him the difference between them. At this very moment, Lei Qinghai¡¯s courage had already completely dissipated. As such, he had zero intention of replying, and instead immediately turned tail and ran amidst the terrified gazes of the various factions, his figure rapidly fleeing like an illusory bolt of lightning. Lei Qinghai had finally realized that the Cangxuan Sect chief disciple had merely been toying with him earlier. When the latter became serious, Lei QInghai had no choice but to admit that he was far from the latter¡¯s match. If the battle continued, it would very likely end in his death. Lei Qinghai¡¯s escape caused the various factions to fall into chaos, especially the members of the Little Thunder Gate, who immediately began running, not daring to linger even a single second longer. The attacking factions were instantly defeated, suffering heavy losses to the chasing Cangxuan Sect disciples. ¡°How decisive.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled softly as he watched the lightning glow streak across the sky. However, there was a rather chilling expression in his eyes. ¡°Thinking of running after starting this?¡± ¡°I can only say that you¡¯re too naive.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, a flash of black light abruptly shot out and rapidly grew as it shot through the air, revealing itself to be the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The brush seemed to pierce through space itself, like a shooting star across the night sky. Bzz! Zhou Yuan¡¯s formidable Genesis Qi had been infused into the brush, bestowing it with deadly power. AHH! The already far away Lei Qinghai tried to defend, but all he could do was release a miserable shriek when the Heavenly Yuan Brush finally arrived... Zhou Yuan stood in the air with a calm expression as he beckoned with his hand. The Heavenly Yuan Brush swiftly returned, towing a bounded bloody figure behind it. In the end, the brush hung the figure in front of Zhou Yuan. Lei Qinghai¡¯s bloody face was deathly pale. ¡°Brother Zhou, I failed to recognize your greatness earlier, but there should be no need to exterminate us to the last man, right? Though our Little Thunder Gate cannot compare to your Cangxuan Sect, isn¡¯t it better to have one less enemy in this place?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°You didn¡¯t care about the Cangxuan Sect when you attacked earlier, so why should your Little Thunder Gate matter to us now?¡± His eyes were ice-cold as Genesis Qi gathered in his hand, before thrusting it forward, intending to deal the finishing blow. As deadly force rushed towards him, Lei Qinghai was so terrified that he shrieked in a piercing voice, ¡°Stop! Don''t kill me, I will trade information about a six color treasure location for my life!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm stopped inches before Lai Qinghai¡¯s body, the residual force blowing away the blood on the latter¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes rippled for a moment, as he stared at Lei Qinghai and slowly asked, ¡°A six color treasure location?¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 566 Six Color Treasure Location The Heavenly Yuan Brush hovered in the sky, its white hairs hanging downwards to bind Lei Qinghai¡¯s limbs. Some of the hairs even penetrated into his flesh, preventing him from circulating any of his Genesis Qi. Lei Qinghai was basically akin to a pig waiting to be slaughtered at this current moment. Hence, Lei Qinghai hurriedly nodded his head the moment he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s murder infused fist stop, ignoring the pain that was arcing through his face as he said, ¡°It¡¯s really a six color treasure location!¡± A trace of surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. This so-called treasure location was a unique spot within the Mythic Utopia in which a tremendous amount of extremely pure Mythic Genesis essence could be found. Due to certain special reasons, the Mythic Genesis essence would automatically gather together, and ultimately culminate into a naturally formed Divine Establishing Treasure! If one managed to obtain it, one would save a huge amount of time and effort in harvesting Mythic Genesis essence. Although there was a big Mythic Genesis essence deposit in the mountain top Zhou Yuan had currently occupied, after splitting it with so many other individuals, the bigger share he got was still not enough to create a three-color level Divine Establishing Treasure. As its name implied, the six color treasure location mentioned by Lei Qinghai could possibly contain a six-color level Divine Establishing Treasure! An item that was basically even rarer and more precious than six-color Mythic Genesis essence! Anyone who obtained it would be able to establish a six heavens Divine Dwelling when advancing to the Divine Dwelling stage. From this, one could see just how valuable it was. One must know that even in their Cangxuan Sect, only the ten great Chosens had any chance of establishing a six heavens Divine Dwelling. Thus, even Chosen level individuals would be tempted in the face of such a treasure. Though their ambitions may not be limited to the six heavens Divine Dwelling, obtaining a six-color Divine Establishing Treasure would still be very beneficial for them. After a brief moment of shock, Zhou Yuan was still a little unable to believe this news. He stared hard at Lei Qinghai and asked once more, ¡°You¡¯re saying that there¡¯s a six color treasure location in this region? Where did you get this information?¡± A six color treasure location should only appear in the deeper regions of the Mythic Utopia, but they were currently in the outer regions, so how could one possibly appear? Lei Qinghai gritted his teeth and said, ¡°You have to promise you¡¯ll release me first!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He stared at Lei Qinghai for a few more seconds, before he said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you go if you¡¯re telling the truth.¡± Lei Qinghai quickly said, ¡°One of my senior brothers entered the wrong area during the previous return of the Mythic Utopia. However, there was an extremely powerful repulsive force that only someone with a four-color Divine Establishing Treasure would be able to resist.¡± ¡°The location has been marked in this jade strip, you also have your own map so you can cross check that it¡¯s real!¡± He immediately tossed over a jade strip, afraid that Zhou Yuan would kill him due to impatience. Zhou Yuan made a grabbing motion, sucking the jade strip into his hand. However, he did not immediately check it, but first very carefully scanned it with his Spirit power. After seeing that there was nothing abnormal, he placed the jade against his forehead. The jade vibrated as information flowed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. It was indeed a map, which he found was not much different from their own after a quick cursory glance. However, there were only a few scattered light dots on the map that were merely two colored. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s attention soon turned towards the northwestern portion of the map, where an extremely bright dot could be seen. There were six colors within the dot, and it was stronger than all the other dots. This was evidently the six color treasure location mentioned by Lei Qinghai. As Zhou Yuan gazed at the glowing dot, even someone like himself could not help but feel his heart beat faster at this moment. His main goal for entering the Mythic Utopia was to obtain a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure to enable him to at the very minimum establish a seven heavens Divine Dwelling when he advanced to the Divine Dwelling stage. If he could obtain that six-color Divine Establishing Treasure, he would be halfway to his goal, which would undoubtedly save him alot of time and effort. In fact, he may even have hopes for an eight heavens Divine Dwelling! Though such thoughts churned in his head, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained completely unchanged. He opened his eyes and kept the jade strip, before shooting a glance at Lei Qinghai. ¡°I hope that your information is true.¡± He was already certain inside that the six color treasure location was most likely real. Lei Qinghai forced a smile. ¡°I definitely would not dare to lie to you. Can you let me go now?¡± Zhou Yuan seemed to smile. ¡°Let you go, huh?¡± Lei Qinghai¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you going to go back on your word? I said that I would exchange this information for my life!¡± ¡°Relax, I will let you go.¡± Zhou Yuan swept a glance at Lei Qinghai, before suddenly grabbing and throwing him towards the ancient forests in the distance. The moment Lei Qinghai left his hand, Zhou Yuan sent a thought to the Heavenly Yuan Brush, causing numerous snow-white hairs to shoot out and burrow into Lei Qinghai¡¯s body. As Lei Qinghai fell from the sky, he attempted to circulate his Genesis Qi, only for his expression to abruptly change. To his horror, the Genesis Qi in his body seemed to have been sealed by something, making it impossible for him to utilise even a single drop. ARHH! A shriek rang out from his mouth as his body streaked across the sky, and crashed into the ancient forest. Zhou Yuan dusted off his hands in the sky, as his cold eyes looked towards the ancient forest. ¡°The Genesis Qi in your body will be sealed for three days, if you manage to survive inside for three days, it will naturally be your own good luck.¡± However, there were numerous ferocious Genesis Beasts inside the ancient forests that even Zhou Yuan¡¯s team had avoided while rushing here. If Lei Qinghai did manage to survive inside without the usage of Genesis Qi, it would indeed mean that he was not fated to die. Zhou Yuan did not kill Lei Qinghai, because it was rather pointless. Since the latter knew about the six color treasure location, the other disciples from the Little Thunder Gate that managed to escape were surely aware about it as well. What¡¯s more, Zhou Yuan knew that the appearance of a six color treasure location would surely cause an enormous disturbance, making it impossible to hide. Since he now knew about it ahead of time, he could make some preparations to give himself an advantage. It was not easy to gain a little advance notice about such things, and asking for too much would only be unrealistic. Zhou Yuan cast one final glance at the forest, before rising into the air on his Genesis Qi and landing on the mountain top. Upon seeing his return, Gu Hongyi, Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the others rushed over. ¡°Where¡¯s that fellow? You let him go?¡± Gu Hongyi pursed her lips as she looked behind Zhou Yuan. It appeared that she rather disliked Lei Qinghai. Zhou Yuan chuckled, and briefly elaborated on Lei Qinghai¡¯s current circumstances. Gu Hongyi and the others looked at each other, as they involuntarily shivered. They truly could not imagine how a person whose Genesis Qi had been sealed would be able to survive in that forest. Moreover, Lei Qinghai would definitely be terrified while inside. Merely imagining such a scene was enough to appease their anger at him. ¡°He only has himself to blame. I still can¡¯t believe he actually dared to bully us!¡± Gu Hongyi icily snorted, showing no pity at all to Lei Qinghai¡¯s predicament. Zhou Yuan smiled and asked, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t have suffered any losses, right? ¡°Yup, everyone is basically okay. Only a few disciples sustained some minor injuries.¡± Gu Hongyi gave a faint nod. Soon after, she looked towards Zhou Yuan as an enchanting smile emerged on her pretty face. ¡°You¡¯ve made quite a name for yourself with this battle. It should not be long before you become famous in this district. When that happens, there will be less people who would be as foolish as Lei Qinghai.¡± The surrounding disciples looked towards Zhou Yuan with respect and admiration. The strength he displayed had greatly increased their sense of security. Regardless of the conflicts between the various peaks, having a powerful leader was undoubtedly the best in a dangerous place like the Mythic Utopia. Zhou Yuan did not care much about fame. If anyone tried anything stupid, he did not mind turning them into the second Lei Qinghai. ¡°Let¡¯s prepare to continue harvesting the Mythic Genesis essence, and aim to finish up in two days, before we head to our next target¡­¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head and peered into the distance, as the fire of desire surged in his eyes. Looks like he would have to collect as much Mythic Genesis essence as he could. Once he formed a four-color Divine Establishing Treasure, he would immediately rush towards the six color treasure location... Chapter 567 Urgent Assistance Token The Mythic Genesis essence deposit in the mountain was fully depleted by Zhou Yuan and his team after two days. Although many groups were still drawn over by the commotion over this period, no one attempted to challenge Zhou Yuan¡¯s team like Lei Qinghai and gang had done previously. Evidently, news of the battle from two days ago had already spread, allowing all of the various factions in the area to understand that the seemingly weak chief disciple of Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Saint Genesis Peak was in truth a ferocious individual that surpassed everyone¡¯s imagination. Hence, after rationally weighing the situation, the various factions withdrew their greedy gazes, turning their sights towards other targets instead. As a result, the harvesting process went very smooth over these two days. After the collection of Mythic Genesis essence was done, Zhou Yuan found himself with a surprising haul. The Mythic Genesis essence he had gathered had condensed into a Divine Establishing Treasure. ¡°Eh, chief disciple Zhou Yuan has condensed a Divine Establishing Treasure?¡± On the mountain top, the other disciples noisily swarmed over upon hearing the news, as they cast their curious gazes towards the figure at the very center. Zhou Yuan extended his hand at this moment. Light gathered on his palm, slowly coalescing into a round and smooth baby fist sized orb. Three different colored halos rotated above the orb, creating an exceptionally mystical sight. ¡°Is this a Divine Establishing Treasure?¡± The disciples stared at the glowing three-color orb in excitement. They could feel the Qi Dwelling in their bodies trembling with extreme desire. Zhou Yuan chuckled in surprise as he stared at the orb in his hand. He had originally believed the Mythic Genesis essence here would not have been enough to support him till he managed to condense a Divine Establishing Treasure. Who could have expected that he would end up succeeding? It must have been because he had grown more proficient in the latter stages, allowing him to increase his effectiveness in harvesting Mythic Genesis essence. Moreover, as someone whose Spirit was at the advanced Corporeal stage, he undoubtedly had an advantage over the others. However, Zhou Yuan was only a little amazed by this result, and not overly happy. A three-color Divine Establishing Treasure was after all something he should be excited over. His goal was to reach a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure after all! Even so, this was still better than nothing. What¡¯s more, any other Divine Establishing Treasures he found could be fused with this one, creating an even higher level Divine Establishing Treasure. Zhou Yuan grasped his hand, causing the three-color orb to disappear, and return to his Qi Dwelling. He rose to his feet and looked towards the other disciples. ¡°Let¡¯s go, the Mythic Genesis essence here has already been completely extracted. We¡¯ll head to our next location.¡± Golden Genesis Qi had already begun rising from under his feet. After briefly confirming the location, he began flying towards another location on the map that should contain Mythic Genesis essence. Since he now had a three-color Divine Establishing Treasure, he should be trying to raise it to the four-color level as soon as possible. According to the information from Lei Qinghai, one needed a four-color Divine Establishing Treasure in order to withstand the repulsive force in the deeper area of the six color treasure location. Without one, no one would be able to approach. The numerous disciples excited followed, clearly already itching to condense their own Divine Establishing Treasures. ¡­ Over the subsequent ten days, Zhou Yuan and his team searched four locations in succession. However, two of the locations were found to be duds, with no sign of any Mythic Genesis essence. As for the remaining two, one contained two-color Mythic Genesis essence, while the other contained three-color. However, the amount of Mythic Genesis essence found was less compared to the first location. It appeared that Mythic Genesis essence was indeed quite rare in the Mythic Utopia. Hence, Zhou Yuan¡¯s three-color Divine Establishing Treasure ultimately did not upgrade to the four-color level over this period¡­ there was after all a big gap between three and four-color, a gap could not be filled even by the fusion of two three-color Divine Establishing Treasures. However, Zhou Yuan was not worried. The Mythic Utopia was extremely vast, and the current district they were currently in was merely the tip of the iceberg. Even so, he was still far from fully exploring the entire area. There was still much to explore in this district, and there would surely be some undiscovered places that contained Mythic Genesis essence. Over these ten days, Zhou Yuan and his group encountered several other teams that had ill intentions, making battles unavoidable. However, Zhou Yuan and his team were ultimately the ones to prevail. Since all the Chosens were currently heading to the deeper regions, there were not many individuals in the outer regions that Zhou Yuan would be wary of. After several repeated victories, the team led by Zhou Yuan became the little overlord of this district that no one dared to challenge. Of course, the main reason why they had so easily dominated the district was because none of the teams from the other five hegemon level sects had appeared here. The outer regions of the Mythic Utopia were far too vast, as such, the chief disciples of the various sects were likely scattered across several districts. However, they would eventually meet as they pushed towards the inner regions. When that happened, numerous fights and battles were naturally unavoidable. ¡­ Boom! A few dozen figures sent out blasts of Genesis Qi at a certain clif wall. The wall immediately exploded, causing boulders to tumble downwards. Light appeared from some of these boulders, and a figure soon dashed forward to shatter these glowing boulders, causing a fist sized rock to fly out from within. The rock looked like a gem, and gave off a halo of light. The group collected all of these gems, before sending them to Zhou Yuan, who was vigilantly scanning the area for any signs of activity from a high point. Gu Hongyi wiped her face and said, ¡°This is the last batch.¡± They were currently at the final target that had been marked out on their map. The three-color Mythic Genesis essence here had been found in the form of those gem like rocks from earlier. After three days of excavating, they had finally managed to completely clean out this location. Zhou Yuan nodded and said, ¡°Go and distribute them.¡± Gu Hongyi gave a faint nod in response, and began instructing the others to distribute the gems to the disciples that had been hard at work for the past half a day. Of course, the biggest share was left for Zhou Yuan, because it was his right as the leader of their team. Zhou Yuan did not bother to be polite. Genesis Qi surged out from between his palms, and sucked up all the gemstones on the ground. The Genesis Qi crushed the gems, turning them to dust, as strands of three-color Qi rose from within, flowing into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body through his palms and ultimately landing in his Qi Dwelling. The glowing three-color orb in his Qi Dwelling absorbed all of the three-color Qi. After absorbing one round of three-color Mythic Genesis essence, the colors of the Divine Establishing Treasure clearly grew even deeper. However, the fourth color Zhou Yuan was looking forward to still did not emerge. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and regretfully shook his head. From what he could tell, the current three-color Divine Establishing Treasure was a tiny bit away from advancing to the four-color level. However, it would come soon. But there was one problem. They had already searched all of the marked Mythic Genesis essence locations in this district, so if they wanted to continue, they would have to head to other districts. Swoosh! While Zhou Yuan was planning on instructing the team to prepare to set off again, the sound of rushing was suddenly heard, before he saw a figure rush over from far away and land in front of him. It was Lu Yan, who should have been standing guard in another location. However, her pretty face was currently filled with worry. ¡°What is it? Have another group of idiots come?¡± Zhou Yuan immediately asked upon seeing this. Lu Yan hurriedly shook her head, and extended her hand, as a blood-red token rose into the air. ¡°The chief disciple urgent assistance token?!¡± The expression of the surrounding disciples changed at the sight of this blood-red token, and even Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank as his expression turned grave. This token was the urgent assistance token of their Cangxuan Sect that only the chief disciples could use. When activated, it would immediately find the nearest Cangxuan Sect disciple. However, it was a very precious item that would not be used unless absolutely needed. Zhou Yuan did not dare to tarry, he immediately grabbed the token and poured Genesis Qi into it. The token flickered, as an urgent voice sounded, ¡°I¡¯m the chief disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, Jin Zhang. My team was ambushed by disciples of the Sacred Palace, so we retreated and are using a Genesis Rune boundary to defend ourselves. The other side has two extremely powerful chief disciples!¡± ¡°Thirty members of my team¡­ have already been killed by them.¡± The last few words were clearly filled with deep anger. *Uproar*! The eyes of Gu Hongyi, Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the others instantly turned red when they heard this, while their faces turned green with rage. This was their first time hearing about the deaths of their fellow disciples! ¡°Whoever receives this distress call please assess your abilities first and act accordingly. If you guys are not strong enough, immediately find and join up with other teams. We can still hang on a little longer¡­¡± The last few words were much softer, as the light on the token slowly dimmed. Zhou Yuan reached out and grabbed the token as he lifted his head, his expression unchanged as he looked towards the other disciples. All of them were clearly seething with rage. Only now did they finally realize the cruelness inside the Mythic Utopia. ¡°Zhou Yuan, what do we do?¡± Gu Hong¡¯s bright eyes stared directly at Zhou Yuan. Although she was filled with anger, she still managed to retain some rationality. Jin Zhang had said in his message that the two chief disciples on the other side were extremely powerful. If they rashly went into this, they may end up making things worse instead. The gazes of the other disciples also converged towards Zhou Yuan, especially the dozen or so disciples from Spirit Rune Peak. They knew that Zhou Yuan had the right to refuse this cry for help because he also needed to be responsible for the members here. The place was silent, and even the air seemed to solidify. Zhou Yuan looked at the token in his hand with a calm and expression as he mumbled, ¡°The token came from the west¡­¡± With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi whizzed out and turned into a map. His gaze slowly moved, before coming to a stop as he pursed his lips. The token came from the same direction as the six color treasure location obtained from Lei Qinghai... ¡°Why does Sacred Palace have two chief disciples there¡­ do they also know about the six color treasure location?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered in thought. He waved his hand, causing the Genesis Qi map to dissipate, before raising his head to look at the numerous disciples that were looking at him with anxious expressions. At this current moment, even Gu Hongyi¡¯s hands were tightly clenched as she stared at Zhou Yuan and waited for his decision. Although she would understand if Zhou Yuan chose not to go to their aid, it would still be quite hard to accept. Zhou Yuan glanced at them and chuckled. Genesis Qi rose from under his feet, and lifted him into the air. ¡°What are you guys still standing around for¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, how can we not help our fellow disciples when they¡¯re in trouble?¡± Although there were often conflicts between the various peaks in the sect, once outside, all peaks ultimately belonged to the Cangxuan Sect. Zhou Yuan had a very favorable opinion of the sect, and it was a place where he had grown substantially. In his eyes, it had already become his second home after the Great Zhou Empire. All of the Cangxuan Sect disciples that had entered the Mythic Utopia would share both glory and hardships. If Jin Zhang was allowed to be killed by Sacred Palace, it would also be a huge blow to the reputation of the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°Sacred Palace chief disciples huh¡­¡± ¡°I do want to find out what¡¯s so amazing about them.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice faintly echoed as he flew away on his Genesis Qi. The disciples on the mountain finally returned to their senses at this moment. None of them had expected Zhou Yuan to be so decisive. One must know that the Spirit Rune Peak had even set a Genesis Rune Boundary to try and stop Yaoyao last year. The Spirit Rune Peak disciples felt somewhat ashamed, but as they looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back, respect unknowingly arose in their eyes. ¡°This fellow¡­¡± Gu Hongyi pursed her lips and smiled faintly, her eyes gleaming as she looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. ¡°He¡¯s pretty handsome when he tries to act cool.¡± However, worry soon emerged on her pretty face. These were chief disciples of the Sacred Palace after all... Chapter 568 Besieged It should be rare to see any traces of humans in the endless mountain range. However, a certain valley amongst the mountains was currently filled with people, making it appear exceptionally busy. On a mountain outside the valley, two figures stood atop a pine tree with their hands behind their backs. Powerful Genesis Qi surged around them, as an overwhelming pressure pulsed from their bodies. Both individuals wore white robes, their sleeves decorated with the emblem of a majestic floating palace, the mark of the Sacred Palace. The one on the left was called Wang Yuan, while the one on the right was known as Ning Mo. There were ten halls in the Sacred Palace. These two were chief disciples of their respective halls, and commanded rather high status in the sect. ¡°These Cangxuan Sect disciples don¡¯t seem to be good at anything but hiding in their shells like a tortoise.¡± The young man called Wang Yuan was tall and well-built. He carried a black metal club on his back that was covered in faint Genesis Runes. At this current moment, he was looking at the valley before them with indifference. A giant Genesis Rune boundary rose above the valley, completely enveloping it. This Genesis Rune boundary was clearly not ordinary, and possessed astonishing defensive power that even they could not break through for the time being. Ning Mo chuckled from the side. His long black hair was freely scattered behind him as he lazily said, ¡°Jin Zhang is the chief disciple of Spirit Rune Peak, and is very adept in the art of Genesis Runes. The tortoise shell boundary he set up is indeed a little troublesome to deal with.¡± ¡°However, his actions are futile. This Genesis Rune boundary will not last forever, and as long as we are stationed here, they will be akin to birds with broken wings. It is impossible for them to escape.¡± He lightly waved his hand as he spoke, causings several figures to fly over from the mountains around the valley. All of them were disciples of the Sacred Palace who were currently surrounding the valley. Ning Mo raised his head and looked towards a certain direction, where numerous groups were arriving one after another. The groups made sure to stop and watch from a distance away, not daring to interfere in the battle. The Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect were after all behemoths of Cangxuan Heaven. A fight between such titans was something the other factions did not dare have any part in. Of course, they were still very curious to find out who would win when these two colossuses collided. Would it be the former overlord, the Cangxuan Sect, or the new overlord, the Sacred Palace? However, from the current state of the situation, the Cangxuan Sect had clearly fallen into a disadvantageous position. Under the numerous watching gazes in the distance, Ning Mo slowly rose into the air, hovering just outside the valley as he toyingly looked towards the interior of the Genesis Rune boundary and said, ¡°Why must you be so stubborn Jin Zhang. If you obediently hand over all the Mythic Genesis essence in your hands, we will let you guys leave safely.¡± ¡°Stop dreaming Ning Mo. If you want our Mythic Genesis essence, you¡¯ll have to try breaking through my boundary first!¡± A deep voice sounded from inside the valley, belonging to the chief disciple of the Spirit Rune Peak, Jin Zhang. Ning Mo mockingly shook his head upon hearing this. ¡°As the saying goes, one will not cry until one sees the coffin. Since that is your choice, we will have no option but to take it from the corpses of your Cangxuan Sect disciples.¡± ¡°Ning Mo! You¡¯ve already killed several dozen of my fellow disciples. This is a debt that I, Jin Zhang, will not forget!¡± Jin Zhang''s voice was filled with endless rage. ¡°The strong prey on the weak. Since you guys are not good enough, isn¡¯t it very logical to be killed by us?¡± Ning Mo laughed. He did not speak any further with Jin Zhang, and instead returned to his spot on the mountain top. Ning Mo seated himself once more as his cold eyes stared at the Genesis Rune boundary around the valley. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you guys will last.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, nearly a hundred Sacred Palace disciples on the surrounding mountains attacked. Powerful blasts of Genesis Qi whistled through the air, and bombarded the Genesis Rune boundary, causing numerous ripples to appear. Numerous gazes looked over from far away. They secretly shook their heads at the sight of the trapped Cangxuan Sect disciples in the valley, as whispers and conversation soon began to spread. ¡°Looks like misfortune is going to befall this Cangxuan Sect team soon.¡± ¡°Yeah, who could have expected that there would be two Sacred Palace chief disciples in this area. Wang Yuan and Ning Mo are both amongst the upper ranks of the ten chief disciples of the Sacred Palace, and are not to be trifled with.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that many Cangxuan Sect disciples have already died at the hands of these two chief disciples earlier.¡± ¡°Tch tch, there really is a death grudge between these two overlord sects. They are basically going straight for each other¡¯s throats the moment they meet¡­¡± ¡°Hehe, how can there be a peaceful meeting between the old and new overlords? It¡¯s all about strength at the end of the day. If the Cangxuan Sect team is wiped out here, it would be quite a substantial blow to their reputation.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Though the various factions were commenting on this matter, all of them had the attitudes of a watching bystander. This situation was actually good for them, because when these two overlord sects clashed, the other factions would be able to take advantage of the chaos to steal a little benefit for themselves. As such, time swiftly flowed under the besiegement of the Sacred Palace and the indifferent eyes of the other watching factions. Two days later. The sound of bombardment continued to echo across the mountain range, while the Genesis Qi boundary around the valley violently rippled. The boundary currently looked much thinner than before. From the looks of it, the boundary was clearly about to reach its limits. Ning Mo laughed as he watched this scene. ¡°Jin Zhang, this is your final chance. If you still refuse to be cooperative, don¡¯t blame us for starting a massacre once the boundary is broken.¡± The only response from the valley was silence. Ning Mo¡¯s slender fingers gently tapped his sleeves as he nonchalantly said, ¡°Do you think I do not know why you¡¯re trying to buy time? Aren¡¯t you just waiting for your fellow disciples to come to your aid?¡± ¡°With the exception of the Cangxuan Peak¡¯s Tan Muxin and the Lightning Prison Peak¡¯s Xie Yan, all the other chief disciples of this generation in your Cangxuan Sect are honestly weaker than usual. According to our information, Tang Muxi nand Xia Yan are currently locked in battle with the other chief disciples of our Sacred Palace in other districts, making it impossible for them to rush here.¡± ¡°Hence, even if someone does come, it will merely be the other chief disciples. However, they will only be sending themselves straight to our doorstep.¡± His eyes were filled with ridicule, and had clearly already seen through Jin Zhang¡¯s intentions. However, instead of panicking, he was more than happy to continue waiting here, because they were also using Jin Zhang¡¯s group as bait. If they could lure another Cangxuan Sect team over and wipe them out, the former would surely obtain a good amount of Mythic Genesis essence. Jin Zhang was seated on a boulder inside the valley. His expression was currently fluctuating indeterminately, evidently not expecting Ning Mo and gang to be so greedy, and actually use them as bait. There were several dozen Cangxuan Sect disciples around Jin Zhang, but they were currently in low spirits, while some were even injured. A disciple asked in a low voice from the side, ¡°What do we do chief disciple Jin Zhang? The Genesis Rune boundary won¡¯t be able to hold out for long.¡± Jin Zhang gazed at the disciples that were anxious looking at him, before he took in a deep breath and slowly said, ¡°When the boundary is broken later, I still stay behind to stop them, while you guys immediately scatter and find the other chief disciples.¡± The expressions of the disciples changed upon hearing this, clearly realizing that Jin Zhang intended to sacrifice himself. ¡°There is no need for further discussion. As a chief disciple, it is my duty to protect you guys. It was my carelessness that allowed them to ambush us, causing us to lose many of our fellow brothers and sisters.¡± Jin Zhang¡¯s stern voice interjected before any of the disciples could speak. The crowd was silent, but their eyes were filled with sorrow. Crack! A cracking sound was suddenly heard from the boundary at this moment, causing the expressions of the Cangxuan Sect disciples to change. They abruptly lifted their heads, only to see cracks appearing on the boundary. Boom! In the end, the cracks rapidly extended as the giant boundary finally reached its limit and exploded with a boom. The individuals inside the valley were immediately exposed under the numerous tiger like gazes. In the air, Ning Mo chuckled as he watched this scene, before he said with a sigh, ¡°What a pity, it seems that your tortoise shell is no longer able to protect you guys. Jin Zhang, your Cangxuan Sect is really growing worse and worse with each generation.¡± Powerful Genesis Qi began to surge from his body, accompanied by a tremendous pressure. He was obviously getting ready to attack. Inside the valley, Jin Zhang took in a deep breath, as Spirit power begant gather between his brows. A Genesis Rune Brush appeared in his hand as he shouted, ¡°Prepare to scatter!¡± ¡°Hehe, do you really dare to fight me in that condition? Well don¡¯t blame me for showing no mercy then.¡± A mocking smile rose from the corners of Ning Mo¡¯s mouth. A chilling expression rose in his eyes, as he began to take a step forward, no longer wasting any time talking. Swish! However, the piercing sound of rushing wind was suddenly heard at this moment. A flash of black seemed to pierce through space itself, directly shooting towards Ning Mo in a crafty and ruthless manner. Ning Mo¡¯s pupils shrank slightly as he immediately pulled back his foot. Swish! The flash of black brushed past this body, the piercing sound of whistling wind making one shiver inside. ¡°Who?! A dark look flashed across Ning Mo¡¯s face as he raised his head and looked towards the west. The numerous gazes in the area also looked over in shock, clearly not expecting someone to daringly stroke the tiger¡¯s whiskers at this juncture. Under the many watching eyes, a somewhat ethereal figure slowly appeared on a lonely peak near the valley. He extended a hand and made a grabbing motion, causing the flash of black to shoot back and return to his hand. It was a mottled black brush, its snow-white hairs shaped like the tip of the spear as it pointed towards the ground. In the valley, Jin Zhang and the other disciples also cast their gazes over, only for their eyes to rapidly fill with astonishment. None of them had expected that the one to come would be him... Ning Mo¡¯s stared chillingly at the figure in the distance and said, ¡°Where did this fool come from, are you so intent on rushing to your death?¡± On the lonely peak, the figure first cast a glance at Jin Zhang and the rest inside the valley, before he turned towards Ning Mo and grinned, revealing a full set of white teeth. The words that left his mouth, however, caused the entire mountain range to fall silent. ¡°That bastard over there from Sacred Palace¡­ do you really think there¡¯s no one in my Cangxuan Sect who can teach you a lesson?¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 569 Ning Mo Amidst the many cliffs and mountains. Many gazes were gathered on a certain figure that hovered above one of the mountains, their eyes filled with intense astonishment. All of them were clearly shocked by the words the figure had uttered. How could this person dare to be so disrespectful towards a chief disciple of the Sacred Palace¡­ this was way too ballsy! In the valley, after being momentarily stunned, Jin Zhang and the rest could not help but blurt out, ¡°Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan?!¡± They clearly had not expected that Zhou Yuan would be the first to rush to their aid. ¡°Chief disciple?¡± When Ning Mo heard their cries of surprise, his dark gaze immediately turned towards the young figure wielding a mottled black brush. ¡°Your Cangxuan Sect is really growing more and more useless. I can¡¯t believe that even a seventh layer Alpha-Origin is able to become a chief disciple.¡± Disdain rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Someone with such strength can¡¯t even qualify to become a chief disciple in any of the first class factions of the Shengzhou Continent.¡± Ning Mo stared at Zhou Yuan, chilling murder oozing from the former¡¯s voice as he flatly said, ¡°Kid, I may show a little mercy if you kneel down on and admit your mistake. You¡¯ll only receive the small punishment of having your tongue cut off.¡± In the distance, the various watching factions began to whisper amongst themselves. ¡°That kid is also a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect?¡± ¡°How can a Cangxuan Sect chief disciple be so weak?¡± ¡°But Jin Zhang clearly called him chief disciple¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, but it doesn¡¯t matter. Although the kid¡¯s courage is commendable, that was way too stupid of him. To think that he dared to be so rude to Ning Mo. He¡¯ll surely pay a terrible price today.¡± ¡°¡­¡± In their eyes, the merely seventh layer Zhou Yuan was basically courting death in this situation. Zhou Yuan seemed to chuckle under the many watching eyes. He ignored Ning Mo, and instead looked towards Jin Zhang and the others in the valley. ¡°Are you guys okay?¡± Jin Zhang shook his head. ¡°Zhou Yuan, did you come alone?¡± ¡°The others will soon arrive. I went ahead of them.¡± Answered Zhou Yuan. He was worried that Jin Zhang¡¯s side would not be able to endure long enough, and had thus increased his speed. From the looks of it, he had appeared just in time. Jin Zhang nodded in acknowledgement and waved his brush. Spirit power surged between his brows as he rose into the air with the intent of helping Zhou Yuan. Rumble! However, his figure had barely begun to move when a violent force suddenly whizzed down from the sky, causing the land to crack. Genesis Runes swiftly flowed from Jin Zhang¡¯s brush, transforming into circles of light. Thud thud! The light circles quickly shattered, but the brief respite allowed Jin Zhang¡¯s figure to drift backwards. He raised his head and gazed at the sky with a grave expression, where a tall and muscular figure was standing in the air. The figure wielded a black club, his expression indifferent as he looked down from above. It was the other chief disciple from the Sacred Palace, Wang Yuan. ¡°Obediently stay inside the valley.¡± Wang Yuan flatly said, before he tilted his head slightly and looked towards Ning Mo. ¡°One minute.¡± A savage smile appeared from the corners of Ning Mo¡¯s mouth. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I will break his limbs and make him kneel here forever for everyone to see.¡± His words were brimming with killing intent. Zhou Yuan had clearly angered this Sacred Palace chief disciple. Rumble! Ning Mo¡¯s robes abruptly began to flap as vigorous Genesis Qi swept out from his body like a storm, accompanied by a suffocating pressure. The Genesis Qi that pulsed from his body was scarlet-red, and gave off extremely high heat. From a distance, it looked as if a giant pillar of fire was rising into the sky. Rumble! Scarlet-red rose in Ning Mo¡¯s eyes. He clenched both hands as scarlet-red Genesis Qi whips appeared within them. The whips tore across the sky like giant pythons as they ruthlessly lashed at Zhou Yuan. Chla! Even the air began to burn at this moment. These two strikes were deadly and domineering. As the whips swiftly descended, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure rapidly turned ethereal. The scarlet-red Genesis Qi whips landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, only to pass right through a split second later. It had been an after image. Boom! The whips slammed into the ground, causing the entire peak to explode. Cracks rapidly grew on the mountain as boulders tumbled down. Ning Mo icily chuckled as he jerked his hands. The whips instantly changed direction, swinging towards a boulder nearby. Bang! The boulder was blown to pieces as an ethereal figure shot backwards. Bang! Bang! However, no matter how the figure retreated, the Genesis Qi whips would quickly follow like a shadow. For a time, the mountains in the vicinity were destroyed one after another, peak after peak crumbling with each powerful blow. From what the onlookers could see, Zhou Yuan had no way of counter attacking, and could only keep trying to avoid the attacks. However, they had to admit that his agility was indeed quite remarkable to have managed to dodge for so long. But when they saw the toying look on Ning Mo¡¯s face, they realized that the latter was just playing around. Wang Yuan impatiently shouted, ¡°Stop playing Ning Mo, you¡¯re wasting time!¡± ¡°Haha, alright.¡± Replied Ning Mo as an eerie smile appeared on his face. With foot rose and slammed downwards, causing the air beneath it to explode. His figure instantly disappeared. Bzz! In the next instant, he appeared again on a nearby mountain top under the numerous watching gazes of the crowd. ¡°I¡¯ve caught you little mouse!¡± Ning Mo¡¯s sharp eyes stared to the front, where an ethereal figure had begun to appear. His palms pushed together in front of his chest as scarlet-red Genesis Qi rapidly converged between them like a giant red sun. The sun pulsed violently with extreme heat, as it shot towards the ethereal figure at a speed so quick that it was impossible to avoid. The mountain trembled as it began to crumble in the face of this Genesis Qi attack. ¡°Kneel before me little mouse!¡± Howled Ning Mo, as the giant scarlet-red Genesis Qi sun smashed unto Zhou Yuan¡¯s body under numerous horrified gazes. Boom! Boom! A storm of scarlet-red Genesis Qi unfurled. The watching factions shook their heads inside at this scene. To think that the kid called Zhou Yuan had directly eaten Ning Mo¡¯s domineering attack. There was no way he would survive! In the valley, the expressions of Jin Zhang and the others changed slightly. Though they had witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength before in the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Ning Mo was clearly on a different level than the Baili Che from back then. Wasn¡¯t it too careless of Zhou Yuan to have directly taken that attack? Scarlet-red Genesis Qi rose into the air, making Ning Mo¡¯s face appear even more sinister under its glow, as he chillingly laughed and said, ¡°Kid, I hope you¡¯ll be able to open your eyes a little wider in your next life when you try to play hero!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± However, a nonchalant voice replied him from the berserking scarlet-red Genesis Qi. Ning Mo¡¯s eyes abruptly tightened. Before he could respond, a hand bathed in jade light reached out from the scarlet-red Genesis Qi, silver light flashing deep within it. The hand clenched into a fist as golden Genesis Qi rushed out. In the end, it viciously punched towards Ning Mo¡¯s head. The air exploded around it, creating a sonic boom. Ning Mo¡¯s expression could not help but change as the deadly force pounced towards him. In the split second between life and death, his figure hastily twisted. That power was not something a seventh layer practitioner could possibly possess! Boom! The punch packed with astonishing power brushed past his head and smashed into his shoulder. Crack! The hair-raising sound of bone cracking rang out. Boom! The dreadful power instantly caused Ning Mo¡¯s body to crumple, his legs no longer able to support him as his knees slammed into ground, creating numerous cracks on the solid stone. Urgh! A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed from his mouth. The devastating scarlet-red storm of Genesis Qi slowly dissipated at this moment. Numerous gazes looked over, as their eyes slowly widened... Instead of being completely disintegrated, Zhou Yuan silently stood there with Ning Mo kneeling before him... The originally noisy mountain range had instantly fallen deathly silent. In fact, even the wind seemed to have quietly hidden away at this moment. Amidst the numerous horrified and shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan lowered his expressionless face as he looked at the kneeling figure before him and slowly said, ¡°Is this how you wanted me to kneel?¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 570 Blood for Blood Amidst the mountain range. Numerous gazes stared in shock and horror at a certain mountain top in the distance, where the originally unstoppable Ning Mo was kneeling on the ground... ¡°How¡­ how did this happen?!¡± Their mouths hung wide open, their brains practically turned to mush, while a ringing noise continuously echoed in their heads. The scene before their eyes had truly surpassed their imagination. That seventh layer chief disciple from the Cangxuan Sect should have been powerless to fight back against Ning Mo. And yet, the very same Ning Mo that had held the absolute upper hand mere moments ago, had now been forced to the ground by a single punch from Zhou Yuan... At this moment, even the most stupid person knew that the seemingly seventh layer Cangxuan Sect chief disciple was in actuality a tiger disguising itself as a pig. In the valley, Jin Zhang and the rest of the Cangxuan Sect disciples breathed a faint sigh of relief, clearly not as shocked and lost as the outsiders. This was after all not the first time they had witnessed Zhou Yuan terrifying battle power. Under the numerous shocked gazes, Ning Mo finally realized what had happened after being stunned for a few breaths, as bloody veins immediately crawled out in his eyes. Sheeong! Berserk without equal scarlet-red Genesis Qi frantically exploded from his body, creating a scarlet-red barrier on his shoulder that began to push back against Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist. His foot slammed into the ground, smashing it as his figure appeared in the air above. Ning Mo¡¯s face at this moment was stormily terrifying. His bloody eyes stared at Zhou Yuan as he wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth, while a voice filled with nearly solid killing intent escaped from the cracks between his teeth. ¡°Good, good¡­ I did not expect that I would one day be played the fool of by someone else!¡± ¡°Is this the extent of your abilities? Acting weak to lull me into a false sense of security and then using that opportunity to gravely injure me?¡± Ning Mo touched his shoulder. His right shoulder was currently fractured due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier punch. ¡°Ning Mo, let me take over if you can¡¯t manage. Don¡¯t bring shame to our Sacred Palace!¡± nearby, Wang Yuan¡¯s indifferent eyes hard turned ice-cold as they locked onto Zhou Yuan like a hawk. ¡°This kid is not as simple as he appears.¡± ¡°No need!¡± Ning Mo gnashed his teeth, before he took in a deep breath to suppress the violent murder in his heart. ¡°I was careless earlier, but don¡¯t worry, I will soon skin him to wash away that humiliation!¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch has been alarmingly powerful, Ning Mo had not felt any strong Genesis Qi from it. If not for the former¡¯s carelessness, it would have been entirely possible for him to block the attack. Rumble! Ning Mo stood in the air, scarlet-red Genesis Qi frantically surging around him as the temperature of the entire forest gradually began to rise. Scarlet-red Genesis Qi rose into the sky, transforming into a fiery-red starry sky behind him. In the distance, the various factions gasped in alarm when they saw this phenomenon. Genesis Qi starry sky! Only someone whose Genesis Qi stars had passed ten thousand would be able to produce such a phenomenon. It was clear that this Sacred Palace chief disciple was no longer going to hold back, and had brought out all of his most powerful Genesis Qi to wash away the earlier humiliation. Ning Mo looked down at Zhou Yuan from above with scarlet-red eyes. The former was akin to a god of fire at this moment, as a heart palpitating pressure pulsed from his body. He did not waste any time talking this time, his hands abruptly coming together to form a seal. Cackle! Scarlet-red Genesi Qi roared out, filling the sky and land. The Genesis Qi churned and raged as it transformed into a several thousand feet wide giant fire hand. A sinister face seemed to emerge on the hand, as a piercing hiss escaped its lips. A berserk aura destruction pulsed from the blazing hand. The various factions amidst the mountain forest gazed at the giant flaming hand in the sky with grave expression, as fear and dread flooded their eyes. ¡°That is¡­ the Flame Devil Annihilation Hand! It¡¯s said to be the strongest Genesis technique of the Sacred Palace¡¯s Sacred Flame Hall!¡± ¡°Looks like Ning Mo has decided to end it after suffering earlier!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Wang Yuan gave a faint nod of approval as he watched this scene. Ning Mo was thankfully not stupid enough to continue playing with Zhou Yuan, and had directly unleashed his most powerful Genesis technique. In the face of this attack, even Wang Yuan would not dare to receive it head on. Even if Zhou Yuan had concealed his strength, this attack was enough to decide the victor. Rumble! As the giant flaming hand took shape, Ning Mo¡¯s icy gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan and slapped his hands together. In the next instant, the flaming hand descended, seemingly piercing through space itself as it mercilessly swung downwards onto the latter. The ancient trees that covered the mountain began to burn at this moment, turning the place into a sea of flames. Zhou Yuan stood on the mountain top, a trace of surprise flitting across his eyes as he gazed upon the rapidly growing flaming hand. Ning Mo¡¯s strength was quite overwhelming indeed. Not only had his Genesis Qi also broken the ten thousand mark, he had even practiced such a powerful Genesis technique. However, the ghastly face on the flaming hand was very faint, a sign that Ning Mo was only at the initial stage. ¡°This Sacred Palace chief disciple is pretty strong¡­¡± However, there was no fear in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. In fact, there was no sign that he was even going to dodge the attack, as he calmly looked at the incoming giant flaming hand. In the next instant, his foot suddenly smashed into the ground. Swoosh! The ground cracked as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure dashed into the sky amidst numerous shocked gazes, heading straight towards the giant flaming hand. Instead of retreating, he had chosen to meet it head-on! Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was as tiny as an ant in the face of the giant flaming hand, making it feel as if he was an ant trying to shake a large tree. ¡°You fool!¡± A twisted sinister expression abruptly appeared on Ning Mo¡¯s face when he saw this. Even equally strong chief disciples of the Sacred Palace would not dare to directly take on this trump card of his. Every gaze in the area converged towards this very spot. The groups in the distance could not help but shake their heads, as if they would soon see Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure being burnt to ashes by the giant flaming devil hand... Bzz! Under the many watching gazes, golden Genesis Qi suddenly exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body when he was mere seconds away from colliding with the flaming hand. Golden light converged behind him, transforming into a golden starry sky. *Gasp*! When the golden starry sky appeared behind him, a series of shocked gasps rang out across the area, as gaze after gaze filled with astonishment. Ning Mo¡¯s pupils also shrank slightly at this moment as his expression turned a little grave. He had already did his best not to underestimate Zhou Yuan, but the former never expected that the latter¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation had also reached this level. It was not the slightest bit inferior to his own. ¡°So this is your true power¡­¡± ¡°However, if you believe that this will allow you to take on my Flame Devil Annihilation Hand directly, I can only say that you¡¯re too naive!¡± An eerily chilling expression was revealed on Ning Mo¡¯s face. He had absolute confidence in his trump card. Golden Genesis Qi swirled around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like a coiling giant python. His hands rapidly formed a series of seals as a deep voice rang out from his mouth, ¡°Omega Saint Spirit Art!¡± A mysterious light figure swiftly coalesced, and immediately swooped down to envelope Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Only then did both forces finally collide. Boom! An indescribably loud noise resounded across the sky, quickly followed by a berserk without equal storm of Genesis Qi. The storm unfurled with unstoppable momentum, blasting away the nearby mountain peaks. This clash made the scalps of the countless onlookers turn numb. Everyone¡¯s gazes were tightly glued to the epicenter of the collision, where the berserk Genesis Qi had distorted even space itself. It was a long while later before the space gradually began to recover... Ning Mo was also staring unblinkingly at the recovering space. ¡°What a fool, he should have been completely incinerated to ash, right?¡± Said Ning Mo through gritted teeth. However, when the words left his mouth, he suddenly heard countless gasps from the surrounding mountains. Ning Mo¡¯s pupils abruptly tightened. He had just seen a figure enveloped by golden Genesis Qi silently floating in the sky. Who else could it be but Zhou Yuan?! He had forcefully withstood the giant flaming devil hand! ¡°How can this be?!¡± Ning Mo¡¯s face slowly turned rigid. However, a chill suddenly rose from his feet a split second later, causing a deep sense of dread to flood his heart. Because the golden figure in the sky had turned his indifferent gaze downwards. Ning Mo¡¯s body felt ice-cold. He immediately shot backwards without the slightest hesitation, as a shrill voice rang out from his mouth, ¡°Wang Yuan!¡± Swoosh! The golden figure disappeared from the sky the moment Ning Mo began to move, and appeared directly in front of the latter. The two individuals were face to face, so close that they could even hear each other¡¯s breathing. Ning Mo heard a soft voice slowly spread from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth, ¡°You guys¡­ killed the disciples of my Cangxuan Sect, right?¡± ¡°Since that is the case, a debt of blood must be paid in blood.¡± Ning Mo was greatly horrified. Scarlet-red Genesis Qi frantically surged out to form a crystal-like layer on his body. Rumble! Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist rumbled forward, as snow-white brush hairs streamed out of his body and wrapped around his fist. A jade like glow gleamed across his skin as silver light blossomed from the bones in his body. This punch contained the apex of his power. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± The snow-white hairs around Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist rapidly turned black as the night. Killing intent was revealed as the fist flew. ¡°Noo!¡± The fear of death surged in Ning Mo¡¯s heart as he shrieked. Boom! However, Zhou Yuan completely ignored the former. Space seemed to crack around the fist, as it whizzed through the air, and mercilessly slammed into Ning Mo¡¯s body amidst the many horrified watching gazes. Thud! In the next instant, Ning Mo¡¯s body turned into a flash of scarlet-red as he was sent flying, blasting apart peak after peak along the way. In the end, it was as if a sinister looking scar had been carved into the forest... Boom! Ning Mo''s figure ultimately crashed into a giant mountain, causing boulders to tumble down and bury his body. The entire place turned deathly silent at this moment. Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 571 Overwhelming An enormous crack cut through the mountain forests, the mountains along the way smashed to pieces, while gaze after gaze dazedly stared at this scene. The atmosphere was deathly silent. While Ning Mo being forced to his knees previously by a punch from Zhou Yuan could have been explained by the latter managing to catch the former off guard by concealing his true strength, the current scene had really begun to somewhat distort their common sense. Ning Mo¡¯s killing blow had essentially been his most powerful attack. In the face of such an attack, even a practitioner on the same level would not have dared to take it head-on. However, who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would not only take zero evasive maneuvers, but select instead to forcefully blast apart Ning Mo¡¯s strongest blow in the most barbaric of manners. The gazes looked towards the final peak that had collapsed in the distance, where Ning Mo¡¯s figure was buried in the rubble. Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier punch had been powerful enough to slay an initial ninth layer Alpha-Origin expert. After a long period of silence, the gazes that turned back towards Zhou Yuan were now filled with extreme fear and wariness. Only now did they fully understand why the clearly seventh layer Alpha-Origin Zhou Yuan had managed to become a chief disciple in the Cangxuan Sect. In the valley, Jin Zhang and the numerous Cangxuan Sect disciples were also staring at this scene in astonishment. Although they knew that Zhou Yuan was strong, they had not expected him to crush a Sacred Palace chief disciple with such ease... One must know that Ning Mo¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation had likewise exceeded the ten thousand mark. Such talent would surely place him amongst the upper ranks of the seven Cangxuan Sect chief disciples. ¡°I never imagined that his strength would grow to an astonishing level after the nine dragons baptism.¡± There was a rather complicated expression in Jin Zhang¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan was far stronger than he had been during the Genesis reservoir ceremony. Respect rose in the eyes of the other disciples. On the other hand, the expressions of the Sacred Palace disciples turned somewhat ugly for a time, clearly unable to believe that Ning Mo would suffer such a miserable loss to a Cangxuan Sect chief disciple. Chief disciple Wang Yuan in particular was stunned for quite some time, before finally returning to his senses, as his face rapidly turned extremely stormy. Zhou Yuan ignored everyone¡¯s gazes, as his indifferent eyes looked towards the final collapsed peak in the distance. Ning Mo¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations had grown extremely weak, but should still have a single breath left within him. Hence, Zhou Yuan started to walk forward, clearly intent on taking the former¡¯s life while he was down. Rumble! However, just as he lifted his foot off the ground, a ferocious and piercing whistle was suddenly heard. A flash of black arrived along with alarming Genesis Qi, smashing straight towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Before the flash of black landed, the ground below his feet had already begun to crumble. Zhou Yuan¡¯s foot paused as his eyes narrowed slightly. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared and swept upwards. Clang! The sound of metal striking metal loudly rang out as sparks flew in all directions. A berserk ripple unfurled, snapping the surrounding ancient trees at their waists. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure jerked a little as he raised his head. The object that had crashed into the Heavenly Yuan Brush was a black metal club on which ancient Genesis Runes had been inscribed. At the other end of the black metal club was the Sacred Palace chief disciple, Wang Yuan. The duo¡¯s gazes clashed into the air, killing intent surging within their eyes. Wang Yuan shouted with an eerily chilling look in his eyes, ¡°You¡¯ve got big balls kid, to think that you actually dared to try and kill him!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier counter attack had been far too swift. As such, even Wang Yuan had been unable to rush to Ning Mo¡¯s aid in time, resulting in the latter being gravely injured by Zhou Yuan. A mocking smile rose from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Since you Sacred Palace guys dared to kill my Cangxuan Sect disciples, why do I need to show any mercy to your chief disciple?¡± Wang Yuan chillingly retorted, ¡°What bold words, who the hell do you think you are?!¡± His hands tightly grasped around the black metal bat as black Genesis Qi flowed along his arms. With a furious roar, the metal bat smashed downwards once more, with power so great that it would easily pulverise an entire mountain. However, Zhou Yuan was unafraid, the Heavenly Yuan Brush turning into a black blur as it rose to meet the bat. Black brush and bat clashed violently time and time again, exchanging over a hundred blows in a mere span of a few breaths. The duo¡¯s surroundings were quickly demolished by their brutal blows. Clang! After one final clash, Zhou Yuan and Wang Yuan¡¯s figures shot backwards. The hearts of the Sacred Palace disciples sunk when they saw this. They had originally been hoping that Wang Yuan would be able to convincingly defeat that chief disciple from the Cangxuan Sect, and redeem some face for the Sacred Palace. However, they never imagined that even Wang Yuan would not be able to gain much of an advantage against Zhou Yuan. One must know that Wang Yuan was ranked fourth amongst the ten chief disciples of the Sacred Palace, and was much stronger than the fifth ranked Ning Mo. The metal bat in Wang Yuan¡¯s hand forcefully slid across the ground, leaving a deep scar in its wake, as he gravely stared at Zhou Yuan. The former had already gotten a rough grasp of the latter¡¯s strength after that rapid series of exchanges earlier. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesi Qi cultivation was not the least bit inferior to his own. ¡°My Qi Dwelling has twelve thousand Genesis Qi stars. This kid is clearly only at the seventh layer, so why are his foundations so strong?!¡± Wang Yuan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately. From what he knew, it was extremely rare even for the Chosens of the Sacred Palace to have such strong foundations at the seventh layer. While Wang Yuan was attacking Zhou Yuan, Jin Zhang had flown out from the valley, and now stood in the air. The Genesis Rune Brush in his hand flickered, numerous Genesis Rune emerging as his gaze locked onto Wang Yuan. With two chief disciples currently targeting him, Wang Yuan¡¯s brows began to knit together. He knew that the current situation no longer favored them. Hence, he decisively waved his hand. Although the numerous surrounding Sacred Palace disciples were rather unwilling, they had no choice but to begin withdrawing. Several disciples landed on the collapsed peak and dug out Ning Mo from the rubble. The latter had lost consciousness long ago, his entire body drenched in blood, while a huge chunk of his chest was visible caved in. His breathing was extremely feeble. From the looks of it, it was very uncertain whether or not he¡¯ll survive. Wang Yuan¡¯s expression darkened even more at the sight of Ning Mo¡¯s condition. He darkly glared at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°You¡¯re in big trouble.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. ¡°If Ning Mo dies because of you, Sacred Palace will make you pay a painful price!¡± Each word was said with a clear pause in between. ¡°Are you the one whose going to punish me?¡± Zhou Yuan raised the Heavenly Yuan Brush and pointed it at Wang Yuan. Wang Yuan icily chuckled and said, ¡°You are indeed quite powerful. However, don¡¯t be too happy yet. This area has been occupied by the Sacred Palace, and unfortunately for you guys, the chief disciple of the Sacred Blood Hall is also present.¡± ¡°Chief disciple of the Sacred Blood Hall, Fan Yao?¡± Zhou Yuan did not react to this name, but Jin Zhang¡¯s expression abruptly changed. He soon hurriedly transmitted to Zhou Yuan, ¡°Fan Yao is ranked three amongst the ten chief disciples of the Sacred Palace, and is much stronger than Ning Mo and Wang Yuan! He is an extremely troublesome foe!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes rippled for a moment as his brows furrowed slightly, not because of this new Fan Yao, but because he was a little surprised to hear that three chief disciples from the Sacred Palace would actually be gathered in this district. ¡°Are these guys also after the six color treasure location?¡± A thought flashed past in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. When Wang Yuan saw Jin Zhang¡¯s expression change, he icily said, ¡°I advise you guys to hurry up and leave this area while you still can. When Fan Yao comes, you guys should be prepared to be buried here forever.¡± After finishing, he cast one final icy glance at Zhou Yuan, before waving his hand and withdrawing. ¡°Go!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better start running like a dog that has lost its home. If we meet again, I will surely make you understand the fate of offending the Sacred Palace!¡± Wang Yuan retreated with the numerous Sacred Palace disciples. It was a very wise move on his part, since he knew that they no longer had any advantage in the current situation. Zhou Yuan did not try to stop them. The Sacred Palace group was not weak, and both sides would most definitely suffer considerable losses if they were to fight. The various factions were still watching some distance away, and would surely pounce once they discovered any weakness. Despite Wang Yuan leaving such threats behind, everyone could see that they were retreating in a rather miserable and dejected manner. The numerous Cangxuan Sect disciples in the valley began to cheer. Far away, the various factions clicked their tongues in admiration. The Cangxuan Sect had clearly been in a very dire spot earlier. Who could have expected that the appearance of that Saint Genesis Peak chief disciple would bring about such a reversal. Although he looked rather young, he gave off an awe-inspiring aura that made the various experts sigh deeply. ¡°Can¡¯t believe that the fallen Saint Genesis Peak of the Cangxuan Sect would produce such an amazing individual¡­¡± Chapter 572 Helpers As the Sacred Palace team left, the various factions far away shook their heads in disappointment. They had originally been hoping for a fight to break out between the two overlord sects, because it would give them an opportunity to slip into the chaos and take advantage. The Mythic Genesis essence on both sides was surely very plentiful after all. Unfortunately for them, both parties had remained rational. As such, since there were no longer any opportunities here, the various factions could only begin leaving one after another. In the short span of a few minutes, the originally noisy mountain range had once again become silent. After all the factions had left, the sounds of rushing wind was suddenly heard from behind. Jin Zhang and the others turned around, to find several dozen figures descending from the sky. It was Gu Hongyi, Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the rest, but all they saw when they arrived was the mess left behind after the battle. ¡°Chief disciple Jin Zhang, are you guys alright?¡± The first thing they did was look towards Jin Zhang and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples. Gu Hongyi¡¯s gaze swept across the area, as she somewhat puzzledly asked, ¡°Zhou Yuan, where are the Sacred Palace disciples?¡± Jin Zhang could not help but chuckle. ¡°You guys are late. The Sacred Palace team has already been chased off by Zhou Yuan. One of the chief disciples on their side has been gravely injured, and it is uncertain if he will survive.¡± Gu Hongyi and the others looked towards each other. It was already over? ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan was too powerful.¡± Behind Jin Zhang, the saved Cangxuan Sect disciples looked towards Zhou Yuan, their eyes and voices filled with respect. The scene of Zhou Yuan swiftly crushing Ning Mo earlier had left a very deep impression on them. In fact, there was even some envy in their eyes when they looked towards Gu Hongyi and the others. After all, with such a powerful leader, the rate of collecting Mythic Genesis essence would undoubtedly rise tremendously. With regards to these gazes, the Cangxuan Sect disciples from Zhou Yuan¡¯s team felt quite honored. Jin Zhang also cast his gaze towards Zhou Yuan and cupped his fists together, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s mostly thanks to you this time.¡± If not for Zhou Yuan¡¯s timely arrival, it would certainly have been a disaster. Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s only right that we should help each other out.¡± Inside the Mythic Utopia, the entire Cangxuan Sect was basically one entity, and the disciples were no longer divided by their peaks. If their strength were to fall, it would only become even more difficult when they eventually faced the Sacred Palace. Hence, it was very unlikely for Zhou Yuan to sit by and watch as a team led by a chief disciple was wiped out by the Sacred Palace. A complicated expression rose in Jin Zhang¡¯s eyes. He had after all been one of the key figures in the boundary back then when the Spirit Rune Peak had tried to test Yaoyao, and definitely caused some trouble for the duo. Hence, he was in truth quite touched that Zhou Yuan had immediately rushed over after receiving the urgent call of aid. However, Jin Zhang soon composed himself and swept a quick glance at his team members. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, let¡¯s withdraw from this area first. The Sacred Palace has already made this district a temporary base of sorts.¡± His expression was rather grave. If Wang Yuan¡¯s previous words had been true, there would be three Sacred Palace chief disciples in this district alone, a very powerful line-up indeed. Though he was also quite puzzled as to why three Sacred Palace chief disciples would be gathered in one place. Regardless, the forces Sacred Palace had in this area were far too powerful, and it would be very disadvantageous for the Cangxuan Sect group to continue staying here. What they should do now was to shift their target to another district, and search for Mythic Genesis essence there instead. However, Jin Zhang was soon surprised, because Zhou Yuan had shaken his head in response. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I have no intention of withdrawing from this district.¡± He had rushed here with his team not only to save Jin Zhang and the others, but more importantly, because the six color treasure location was somewhere here. After searching and harvesting Mythic Genesis essence for some time, Zhou Yuan clearly understood how difficult it was to condense a six-color Divine Establishing Treasure. As such, he knew how amazing it would be to obtain one, and since he had information about it, there was no reason to give up. Jin Zhang was clearly a little stunned by this answer, and hurriedly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be rash Zhou Yuan. You also heard earlier that the Sacred Blood Hall chief disciple, Fan Yao, is somewhere in this area. If we don¡¯t hurry up and withdraw, they will likely make us pay a terrible price when they return.¡± ¡°Fan Yan is very strong!¡± Jin Zhang said in a low voice, ¡°If we were to rank all of the chief disciples from the various factions of the Shengzhou Continent, Fan Yao would definitely be amongst the top ten.¡± ¡°Fan Yao huh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes rippled for a moment as he fell silent, before he said, ¡°There¡¯s a treasure location in this district, and if I¡¯m not wrong, it is the very reason why so many Sacred Palace chief disciples have rushed here.¡± ¡°A treasure location?¡± Jin Zhang was taken aback. Only now did he understand why Zhou Yuan insisted on staying here. After all, a treasure location was akin to a giant opportunity in the Mythic Utopia. However, even if there was a treasure location here, many Sacred Palace experts were already gathered here, and there was even the powerful Fan Yao overseeing them. It would not be easy to vie for the treasure with such formidable foes around. ¡°Chief disciple Jin Zhang, why not bring the others and withdraw while I try to scout the situation.¡± Suggested Zhou Yuan. He could clearly tell that Jin Zhang was extremely wary of Fan Yao, and thus did not plan on forcing the former to come along. Although Zhou Yuan prefered to have their company, there were after all three chief disciples from the Sacred Palace here, a formidable line-up that surpassed his expectations even with Ning Mo basically crippled by him. It would undoubtedly be much better and safer if Jin Zhang could come along. Jin Zhang was silent for a while, before he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°You ran all the way here to save us, so how can we possibly leave you behind in response. *Sigh*, since you have your eyes on the treasure locations, we¡¯ll come along and lend you our strength.¡± If he allowed Zhou Yuan to go without them, he would surely be in a more vulnerable position against the Sacred Palace side. In Jin Zhang¡¯s view, that would be rather ungrateful of him. Zhou Yuan was a little stunned, evidently somewhat surprised by Jin Zhang¡¯s answer. Jin Zhang slowly said, ¡°Ning Mo was gravely injured by you, and even if they manage to save him, he¡¯ll likely be incapable of fighting. As such, the Sacred Palace side will be left with two chief disciples, Fan Yao and Wang Yuan, making our forces quite equal overall.¡± Since he could not persuade Zhou Yuan out of this, Jin Zhang would have to follow along. Jin Zhang looked towards the other disciples behind him and asked, ¡°What about you guys?¡± The disciples looked at each other, before ultimately gritting their teeth. ¡°If chief disciple Zhou Yuan is confident, we will naturally be unafraid of taking this risk. Moreover, they¡¯ve already killed so many of our fellow disciples, so how can we let this matter drop so easily?!¡± In the end, no one was afraid of the Sacred Palace. After all, they had their pride as Cangxuan Sect disciples. Jin Zhang was quite gratified by their response. He looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°If chief disciple Zhou Yuan does not find us to be a burden, we will follow you and help you seize that treasure location.¡± ¡°After all, I would be lying if I were to say we aren¡¯t interested as well.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. This was the good thing about being part of a sect. Although there were many conflicts within the sect, they were at the very least able to work together against outsiders in times of need. ¡°Since that is the case, let¡¯s work together once more.¡± He extended a hand towards Jin Zhang. Jin Zhang also chuckled and likewise reached out to grasp Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. ¡°I hope that we¡¯ll be able to regain face after fleeing in defeat earlier¡­¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 573 Fan Yao In a certain bamboo house. A figure was lying on the bed in a lifeless manner, his face deathly pale, and breathing extremely weak. A significant portion of his chest was caved in, a clear sign that he had been gravely injured. It was the chief disciple of the Sacred Palace, Ning Mo. ¡°Two chief disciples sent to chase one Jin Zhang, and you managed to return in such a miserable fashion?¡± Laughter rang out beside the bed. Although it was certainly laughter, the chilling and sinister aura that emanated from it caused Wang Yuan¡¯s face to tremble faintly for a moment. He lifted his head and looked towards the left, where a thin young man was standing. The man¡¯s skin was exceedingly pale, while a smile currently hung from the corners of his mouth. His most peculiar feature, however, were his slightly scarlet pupils. His long fingers clasped together as he looked at Wang Yuan and Ning Mo with a smile. This person was the chief disciple of Sacred Palace¡¯s Sacred Blood Hall, Fan Yao! Wang Yuan said, ¡°A chief disciple from the Cangxuan Sect came to Jin Zhang¡¯s aid. Ning Mo was gravely injured by this individual.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Fan Yao smiled faintly. ¡°Was it Tang Muxin from the Cangxuan Peak?¡± Wang Yuan¡¯s expression turned a little rigid. After what felt like a long silence, he said, ¡°It was the newly promoted chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak. He¡¯s called Zhou Yuan.¡± When he said this, he could feel Fan Yao¡¯s gaze paused on his body, before a somewhat amused voice sounded, ¡°Saint Genesis Peak? You¡¯re talking about the most pathetic Saint Genesis Peak in the Cangxuan Sect?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak has always been last amongst the seven peaks, and yet he actually managed to defeat Ning Mo? Hehe, are you guys too lousy, or is our information too outdated?¡± Wang Yuan¡¯s expression turned somewhat ugly due to the mockery in Fan Yao¡¯s tone. With a snort, he said, ¡°His Genesis Qi stars have also surpassed ten thousand, and is no simple individual.¡± However, he soon composed himself and asked, ¡°What do we do about Ning Mo?¡± Fan Yao cast an indifferent glance at the figure on the bed. ¡°Given the current conditions, it¡¯s impossible for him to make a full recovery here. In addition, even if we try to patch him up, he won¡¯t have much battle power, and will be even less useful than an ordinary disciple.¡± Wang Yuan frowned. If this was the case, Ning Mo was basically a burden. Fan Yao¡¯s slightly scarlet pupils swept across the figure lying on the bed, as blood-light flashed in his eyes. Soon after, he took a step forward, bent down and softly said, ¡°Ning Mo, since you no longer have any power, it¡¯s time for you to make one final contribution to our Sacred palace¡­¡± The deathly pale Ning Mo abruptly opened his eyes, and stared at Fan Yao as he said in a hoarse voice, ¡°What do you plan on doing?!¡± Fan Yao chuckled softly, his smile appearing even icier than usual as his hand slowly moved to Ning Mo¡¯s abdomen. ¡°Hand the four-color Divine Establishing Treasure you¡¯ve so painstakingly created over to me for safekeeping.¡± His hand suddenly grasped as blood light surged from his palm. Four-color light emerged from Ning Mo¡¯s body, as a bundle of light slowly rose from within. Ning Mo¡¯s body shook violently, as his expression turned extremely twisted and sinister. He reached out and grabbed Fan Yao¡¯s neck, but because he was unable to use any Genesis Qi, the latter merely ignored his actions. Fan Yao smiled as he gazed upon the four-color ball of light that was rising from Ning Mo¡¯s body. In the end, he grabbed it. It felt solid in his hand, and four different colored lights swirled around it. It was the four-color Divine Establishing Treasure that Ning Mo had worked very hard to condense. After having the Divine Establishing Treasure in his body forcibly removed, Ning Mo¡¯s body twisted in pain. His eyes were filled with resentment as he gave a death glare to Fan Yao, but in the end, his body fell limp as his lifeforce faded. The already seriously injured Ning Mo had been tormented to death by Fan Yao. ¡°Fan Yao, you!¡± Wang Yuan was also quite shocked. He never imagined that Fan Yao would be so vicious, and actually take advantage of Ning Mo¡¯s grave injuries to seize his Divine Establishing Treasure. Fan Yao cast a glance at Wang Yuan, before sending his hand slicing downwards at the Divine Establishing Treasure. The four-color Divine Establishing Treasure was cut into two pieces, and Fan Yao nudged the forty percent share towards Wang Yuan. Fan Yao nonchalantly said, ¡°He made our Sacred Palace lose face due to his incompetence, and should naturally be punished. Moreover, he will merely be a burden if he were to follow us in that state, or do you feel that we have any surplus resources to constantly take care of him?¡± Wang Yuan gazed at the four-color light that floated in front of him. The concentrated Mythic Genesis essence contained within it made him feel a rush of excitement inside. ¡°You should be more than aware about our goal. It¡¯s the six color treasure location I managed to pry out from the mouth of chief disciple from the Little Thunder Gate. If we cooperate, no one in this district will be able to stand against us.¡± ¡°With one less Ning Mo, we will now have a bigger share.¡± Fan Yao¡¯s tone was completely emotionless. The expression in Wang Yuan¡¯s eyes fluctuated indeterminately. ¡°What¡¯s more the main culprit was that chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak. I promise you that if he dares to linger in this district, I will extract all of his blood to avenge Ning Mo.¡± Fan Yao stared at Wang Yuan, as he lifted the ball of concentrated four-color light, and placed it in front of the latter. An emotionless gleam swirled in the former¡¯s scarlet pupils as he asked, ¡°Wang Yuan, you won¡¯t become hostile towards me for a dead person, right?¡± Wang Yuan lifted his head and looked at Fan Yao. In the end, he wordlessly received the four-color light ball, a trace of greed flitting across his eyes as he kept it without any hesitation. ¡°Smart choice.¡± Fan Yao grinned. Wang Yuan icily snorted. He looked at Ning Mo¡¯s cold lifeless corpse and said, ¡°I will tell the other disciples that Ning Mo¡¯s death was caused by Zhou Yuan. We tried our best to save him, but were unsuccessful.¡± Fan Yao nodded in approval. ¡°Keep his body. I still have use for such strong flesh¡­¡± He smiled as he turned around and left the bamboo house. Numerous Sacred Palace disciples were waiting outside the bamboo house. Fan Yao grasped the jade strip in his hand as a map floated in front of him. His pupils stared at a certain spot, as a greedy smile emerged on his face. The six color treasure location. A six-color Divine Establishing Treasure was something that even the Chosens of Sacred Palace would drool over. He never imagined that it would appear in the outer regions of the Mythic Utopia... This was a blessing that belonged to him. While Fan Yao¡¯s heart was churning in anticipation, a glowing figure suddenly flew over and landed in front of him. ¡°Chief disciple Fan Yao, we¡¯ve received news that a team from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace has also entered this district.¡± ¡°Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace?¡± Fan Yao frowned a little. His ten fingers interlaced as he muttered, ¡°Do they also know about the six color treasure location?¡± ¡°There¡¯s more¡­¡± The disciple before him paused for a moment, before continuing, ¡°It seems that the group from the Cangxuan Sect have not left the area, and are instead heading towards the east.¡± Fan Yao was immediately taken aback, his gaze quickly turning back to the six color treasure location on the map, before an amused smile rose from the corners of his mouth. The sinister iciness in his eyes caused the surrounding temperature to plummet. ¡°The tongues of those bastards from the Little Thunder Gate are even looser than waistbands. It seems as if the whole world knows about this secret¡­¡± ¡°What a group of fools.¡± He smiled. ¡°But this is good as well, I¡¯ll get to help my good brother Ning Mo take revenge as a memorial service of sorts towards him¡­¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 574 Encountering Hundred Flowers ¡°Is this the six color treasure location you spoke of?¡± On a certain mountain peak, Gu Hongyi cupped her hands over her eyes as she gazed at the continuous ancient mountain range to her front. Mist enveloped the mountain range, faint but gorgeous colors glowing from within. Numerous hisses and roars constantly rang out from the mountain range, accompanied by violent eruptions of Genesis Qi. Gu Hongyi¡¯s bright eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan in inquiry. After saving Jin Zhang and his team, they had been led east by Zhou Yuan and ultimately ended up here. According to Zhou Yuan, this was the six color treasure location. ¡°This place is very dangerous indeed.¡± By the side, Jin Zhang wore a slightly grave expression as he observed the misty mountain range. Due to his proficiency in Genesis Runes, his Spirit was pretty strong, giving him superior senses. Hence, he could faintly detect several dangerous Genesis Qi undulations from the mountain range. ¡°How can a place that is home to a six color treasure location be ordinary.¡± Zhou Yuan was not surprised by this observation. He stared at the mist as he frowned and said, ¡°However, this mist is rather strange, To think that it can obstruct one¡¯s Spirit senses¡­¡± This was indeed a troublesome matter. With one¡¯s senses obstructed, recklessly entering would turn one into blind person inside. This would be extremely unfavorable for them. Jin Zhang also concentrated on the gorgeously glowing mist. A long while later, he suddenly said, ¡°It seems as if the mist is thinning.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod of agreement, evidently having also made the same observation. He said, ¡°We¡¯ll continue observing a while, before making further plans.¡± He did not opt to recklessly charge in. After all, he was currently not alone. Since he had brought two teams here, he naturally needed to be responsible for their safety. Moreover, the ancient mountain range gave even Zhou Yuan a somewhat dangerous feeling. Gu Hongyi nodded in acknowledgement, before proceeding to pass on the instructions to the rest. With two Cangxuan Sect teams currently gathered together, their total numbers swelled past a hundred. Hence, the mountaintop became rather busy for a time as they scattered and spread out. Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang were stationed on the highest point, as they carefully observed the minute changes of the mist. This lasted for an entire day. After a day of observation, Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang were finally able to ascertain that colored mist was indeed becoming sparser. As it thinned, one¡¯s Spirit senses would gradually become effective again. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°Looks like we only need to wait for a few more days for the best timing to enter.¡± Jin Zhang nodded, however, he hesitated slightly for a moment, before he said, ¡°But if we wait, the other factions will soon become aware of our presence¡­¡± ¡°We can¡¯t hide it anyways.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little more open-minded. He stared at the dark depths of the mountain forest and said, ¡°Moreover, if others enter, it will take some pressure off us.¡± There were several dangerous auras inside the ancient mountain range, and Zhou Yuan honestly did not mind drawing others over to split their attention. Upon hearing this, Jin Zhang nodded with a smile. While the duo were conversing, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed as he turned and stared at a certain spot in the sky. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming, and there¡¯s quite a number of them!¡± Jin Zhang¡¯s expression also changed, the Spirit between his brows shuddering as in invisible ripple spread. The Cangxuan Sect disciples in the vicinity hurriedly gathered together upon receiving the Spirit message, and solemnly prepared themselves. Gu Hongyi, Zhou Tai and Lu Yan hastily arrived at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side and asked, ¡°Is it the Sacred Palace group?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned frosty as he said, ¡°Very possible. Judging by the scale of the group and the two extremely powerful Genesis Qi undulations amongst them, they are certainly from no ordinary faction. I¡¯m afraid that only Sacred Palace can possess such a line-up in this area.¡± The hearts of Gu Hongyi and the others shivered, and did not ask any further. If a Sacred Palace team appeared here, a terrible battle would most certainly occur. Over a hundred Cangxuan Sect figures stared at a certain spot in the distance, Genesis Qi surging around them in preparation to act at any moment. Under their warily watching gazes, a certain spot in space began to ripple as a huge swathe of Genesis Qi clouds descended from the sky with numerous figures atop them. However, they also sensed the gathered Genesis Qi undulations nearby when they approached, and a shout immediately rang out, ¡°Who?!¡± The voice was clear and melodious, as if it had come from a skylark. Zhou Yuan and the others were stunned for a moment, before waving his hand to stop the numerous ready disciples. The Genesis Qi clouds began to dissipate at this moment, revealing a hundred figures on a mountain top in the distance. When these figures appeared, the eyes of the numerous Cangxuan Sect disciples widened. Every single member of the group was a ravishing beauty. The Cangxuan Sect side was mostly made up of male disciples. As such, suddenly seeing so many pretty girls appear before them after a depressing two weeks in this dangerous land naturally made them cry out in surprise. ¡°It¡¯s the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.¡± Jin Zhang was somewhat stunned as he gazed at these figures. The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace was the most unique in the Shengzhou Continent, and would also cause quite a commotion wherever they went. But if anyone underestimated them because they were women, he would likely pay an extremely painful price. The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace had not relied on good looks to become one of the six overlord sects. ¡°It appears that the six color treasure location is no amazing secret.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace group must have also obtained information about the six color treasure location. Meanwhile, numerous gazes were also cast over from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side. At the very front of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace group, a tall beautiful figure coldly looked over and icily snorted, ¡°I was wondering who it was, and it turns out to be the Cangxuan Sect¡­ were you guys planning on attacking us earlier?¡± This pretty individual was tall and thin, but also had a very exquisite figure. There were faint traces of pride on her oval face. ¡°It was a misunderstanding.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hands. The young lady before him was very beautiful, but his face remained calm due to his lack of interest in her. He was not overly friendly either due to her appearance. The lady was likewise able to feel Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude, causing her to frown a little as she unhappily said, ¡°I¡¯m a chief disciple of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, Zhao Ru. Are there no chief disciples from your Cangxuan Sect present? What is the meaning of sending a seventh layer disciple to talk to me.¡± Her tone indicated that she was rather unhappy, clearly feeling that the Cangxuan Sect was scorning her too much by sending a seventh layer disciple to speak with her. Upon seeing that the lady was making things difficult for Zhou Yuan, Gu Hongyi¡¯s eyebrows nearly turned vertical in anger, as Jin Zhang hurriedly spoke up from the side, ¡°So it¡¯s junior sister Zhao Ru. Hehe, I¡¯m chief disciple Jin Zhang of the Spirit Rune Peak. This person is called Zhou Yuan and is no ordinary disciple either, he¡¯s the chief disciple of our Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Zhao Ru was taken aback after hearing this, but instead of acknowledging her mistake, she said, ¡°The weakest Saint Genesis Peak? It¡¯s very odd of your Cangxuan Sect to allow a seventh layer practitioner to become a chief disciple. Is a chief disciple really so worthless in your eyes?¡± These words caused even Jin Zhang to frown. But before he could reply, a girl in blue suddenly pulled Zhao Ru to the side. It was another beauty with a goose egg shaped face, and gave off a gentle demeanor. She shot Zhou Yuan an apologetic smile and said, ¡°I¡¯m also a chief disciple of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, Tang Xiaoyan. I hope that the senior brothers of the Cangxuan Sect will be a little more forgiving if junior sister Zhao Ru has offended you earlier.¡± Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang exchanged a look, before cupping their fists together, expressing that it was fine. However, they no longer had any intentions of conversing any further due to Zhao Ru¡¯s attitude earlier, causing the atmosphere to turn somewhat awkward for a time. Just as Zhou Yuan was planning to hand the situation over to Jin Zhang, a fair and pretty little face suddenly popped out from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side. Her long green hair made her appear full of liveliness, her large jet-black eyes staring straight in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction, as surprise and happiness burst out from within them. ¡°Zhou Yuan! Zhou Yuan! Is that you?!¡± An ice-blue bird hopped onto her little head and chirped excitedly. Zhou Yuan was momentarily stunned, before he quickly looked over. When he saw that familiar little face, a joyful expression also appeared in his eyes. ¡°Luluo?!¡± Chapter 575 Gathering of Three Factions ¡°Luluo?!¡± The surprise and happiness in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were unconcealable as he gazed at the pretty and charming young lady that had popped out from amongst the numerous Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace female disciples. That dainty little figure belonged to the very same Luluo that had arrived in the Shengzhou Continent with him back then. After arriving at the Shengzhou Continent, their small group of friends had split up. So far, he had only encountered Zuoqiu Qingyu once, and had not expected to meet Luluo here. ¡°Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s really you!¡± Luluo covered her small mouth in surprise. She had not dared to believe it after hearing his name earlier. After all, it had only been slightly over a year since they last met, so how could Zhou Yuan become a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect? Her pretty face was filled with joy. At the very front, the gentle looking goose egg shaped face lady cast a somewhat surprised glance at Zhou Yuan, before turning towards Luluo and asking, ¡°Do you know him Luluo?¡± Luluo excitedly said, ¡°Yup yup, senior sister Xiaoyan, he¡¯s one of my good friends that came with me to the Shengzhou Continent. I even told you about him before, he was the most amazing individual in our batch!¡± The surrounding Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples cast curious gazes at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Although Luluo was one of the less experienced members in the sect, her status was quite high, because she and Zuoqiu Qingyu had been taken by the palace master as personal direct disciples not long after they joined. Though she was currently still lacking in strength, she would surely become one of the Chosens in the future. They clearly understand Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s cultivation talent, and were often amazed that the both of them came from a relatively unknown continent. The most surprising thing, however, was that these two young ladies were not the top amongst the younger generation in that continent. It was this young man called Zhou Yuan before them who stood at the peak. Luluo stuck her tiny fists on her tiny waist and proudly declared, ¡°See, it¡¯s been less than two years since he joined the Cangxuan Sect and he¡¯s already a chief disciple!¡± The little ice-blue bird on her head chirped in agreement as its tiny head nodded. However, Zhao Ru suddenly spoke up in an indifferent voice at this moment, ¡°Don¡¯t make such a fuss over a mere seventh layer chief disciple.¡± ¡°Such strength isn¡¯t even enough to let one become a chief disciple in some of the first class sects, let alone the likes of the Cangxuan Sect? As such, I feel that there must be something fishy about him.¡± She was not trying to targeting Zhou Yuan this time, but Luluo. In the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, Zhao Ru held an extreme amount of dislike for Zuoqiu Qingu and Luluo. Of course, she disliked Zuoqiu Qingyu the most. The latter was so young, and yet so beautiful that she would even be able to tempt other girls. What¡¯s more, Zuoqiu Qingyu once had a few small conflicts with Zhao Ru in the sect, making the latter loathe the former even more. Although Luluo had it a little better, due to her constantly being together with Zuoqiu Qingyu and having an extremely good relationship, Zhao Ru naturally began to hate Luluo as well. At the sight of Luluo¡¯s current appearance, Zhao Ru could not help but laugh in mockery. Luluo¡¯s smalls face turned somewhat red due to this, as she glared at Zhao Ru and said, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting, what¡¯s so fishy about Zhou Yuan becoming a chief disciple?¡± Zhao Ru stared right back and retorted, ¡°Have you ever seen a seventh layer chief disciple in any of the six overlord sects?¡± Luluo was unable to speak for a moment, but quickly regained her wits and was just about to lash back. Although Zhao Ru was a chief disciple, as a personal disciple of the palace master, Luluo did not fear the latter at all. By the side, senior sister Xiaoyao hurriedly stopped the two bickering girls. Bzz! While she was putting a stop to their quarrel, her expression suddenly changed as she lifted her head and looked in a certain direction. ¡°Careful, a big group of Genesis Qi undulations is approaching, and they are extremely strong!¡± The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples immediately began to prepare themselves. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang also sensed the new group and immediately warned the other disciples. With parties now in a guarded stance, a certain spot in the distance rippled, as numerous figures appeared in the sky. In the end, they landed on another mountain top, creating a triangular face off with the other two groups. The new arrivals were very menacing, with two very attention grabbing figures at the head of the group. When Zhou Yuan saw the two figures, his eyes began to narrow a little. He slowly said, ¡°It¡¯s the Sacred Palace!¡± He had identified one of the figures to be Wang Yuan from before! While he stared at Wang Yuan, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt an extremely cold and gloomy gaze lock onto him like a viper. His gaze shifted slightly, to pause on the figure beside Wang Yuan. It was a smiling young man, though the sight of his scarlet pupils made one shiver inside. Zhou Yuan could feel a dangerous sensation from the former¡¯s body. By the side, Jin Zhang¡¯s expression changed slightly as he said in a low voice, ¡°Be careful Zhou Yuan, that¡¯s Fan Yao!¡± Zhou Yuan gave a light nod in acknowledgement. ¡°Hehe, I never imagined it would be so busy here.¡± At this moment, the scarlet pupil Fan Yao swept his gaze across the area as he said with a wide grin, ¡°It seems that everyone is here for the six color treasure location?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s senior brother Fan Yao from the Sacred Palace.¡± On the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side, an expression of pleasant surprise flitted across Zhao Ru¡¯s eyes when she saw Fan Yao. She was acquainted with the latter, and had even cooperated with him on a mission. ¡°Junior sister Zhao Ru.¡± Fan Yao also smiled as he cupped his fists together, before looking towards the young lady called Xiaoyan. ¡°Junior sister Tang Xiaoyan.¡± A sliver of wariness flashed in the depths of Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s bright eyes when she saw Fan Yao. She had evidently heard of this chief disciple who was ranked third in the Sacred Palace, but since the latter was being so courteous, she quickly responded with a slight smile. ¡°A six color treasure location is rather rare, I hope senior brother Fan Yao won¡¯t be so stingy as to monopolize it?¡± Said Tang Xiaoyan in a gentle voice. Fan Yao chuckled. ¡°What is junior sister Tang saying, it is naturally your own luck that led you here. Whoever the treasure ends up with will depend on one¡¯s abilities.¡± ¡°Moreover, I am quite acquainted with junior sister Zhao Ru, and won¡¯t be unreasonable.¡± He made himself appear very generous and open-minded, creating a good impression in the minds of several of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples. A smile also appeared on Zhao Ru¡¯s pretty face when she heard this, clearly feeling that Fan Yao¡¯s words were giving her face. After smilingly greeting Tang Xiaoyan and Zhao Ru, Fan Yao¡¯s gaze suddenly turned towards the Cangxuan Sect disciples as his expression gradually turned chillingly icy. ¡°I have no objections to the presence of the junior sisters from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. However¡­ these irksome Cangxuan Sect trash¡­¡± His eyelids lowered, as blood-red Genesis Qi slowly rose from his body, while a chilling killing intent pulsed from his indifferent voice. ¡°I¡¯ll give you guys half an incense stick of time. Scram as far as you can¡­¡± ¡°If not¡­¡± ¡°All of you shall be buried here.¡± Chapter 576 Treacherous Fan Yao¡¯s murder filled voice echoed across the area, the sinister chillingness within seemingly causing the surrounding temperature to fall... Tang Xiaoyan and the rest were rather taken aback. Fan Yao had been extremely friendly and polite when he was conversing with them earlier, but now appeared somewhat terrifying in the face of the Cangxuan Sect disciples. Although they knew that there was a lot of friction between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect, they had not expected Fan Yao to immediately tear apart all pretense of civility without the slightest hesitation. Under the numerous gazes of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze clashed with Fan Yao¡¯s somewhat scarlet pupils. The former¡¯s expression remained calm, not the least bit affected by Fan Yao¡¯s concealed killing intent. Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°What bold words, but I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re not that capable.¡± Zhou Yuan did not back down, but instead pressed forward in an even more unyielding manner. His response caused the many Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples to gasp in surprise. Fan Yao was obviously not someone you wanted to offend, but with such a defiant response, was the Cangxuan Sect really planning on going to war with the Sacred Palace group here? ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± A trace of worry flitted across Luluo¡¯s large eyes. ¡°Humph, this guy really overestimates his abilities.¡± Zhao Ru icily snorted and said, ¡°The one leading the Sacred Palace side is Fan Yao, someone whose strength is highly ranked even amongst the ten chief disciples of the Sacred Palace. Choosing to face such a person head-on is foolhardy at best.¡± In her eyes, Zhou Yuan was merely putting on a tough act, and was willing to go as far as offending Fan Yao in order to save face. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s sharp tongue would only end up bringing an extremely unfavorable outcome. Tang Xiaoyao fell silent. Although Zhao Ru¡¯s words were tough to swallow, they were indeed quite logical. It was not wrong for one to give in when the other party was stronger. Stubbornly insisting on saving face would instead implicate all the other Cangxuan Sect disciples as well. From the current situation, the Sacred Palace side was clearly stronger than the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°Senior sister Xiaoyan.¡± Luluo pulled at the corner of Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s clothes with an anxious look on her face, hoping that the latter would be able to help neutralize this situation. She had heard of Fan Yao''s reputation, and knew that he would be part of the top ten even when placed amongst all the chief disciples in the Shengzhou Continent. In one on one combat, even their senior sister Tang Xiaoyan would not be able to gain much of an advantage over the former. Tang Xiaoyan hesitated somewhat in response to Luluo¡¯s pleading gaze. After all, if she were to interfere, it would undoubtedly offend the Sacred Palace side, an unwise decision to make as the leader of this group. ¡°Xiaoyao, the grudge between them has nothing to do with our Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace!¡± Zhao Ru¡¯s expression darkened a little when she saw this. ¡°We have no reason to interfere.¡± She was on considerably good terms with Fan Yao, and naturally did not want to take the risk of offending him to help a Cangxuan Sect disciple she did not even have a favorable opinion of. ¡°Moreover, this matter was caused by Zhou Yuan¡¯s recklessness. It will do him good to be taught a lesson.¡± Some of the disciples who were closer to Zhao Ru also nodded in agreement, indicating that they had no wish to be involved in the grudge between the two sides for no reason. Tang Xiaoyan could only cast an apologetic gaze to the anxious Luluo. Zhao Ru was not wrong after all, they had no reason to help the Cangxuan Sect. While they were discussing things on this side, Fan Yao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Zhou Yuan, before a chiling arc soon rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you killed our junior brother Ning Mo and yet you still dare to act so arrogantly. Do you really think that we Sacred Palace people are pushovers?¡± The hostile gazes of the surrounding Sacred Palace disciples locked onto Zhou Yuan, their eyes filled with hatred. These words immediately caused a small commotion on the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side. This time, even the two chief disciples, Tang Xiaoyan and Zhao Ru, looked towards Zhou Yuan in astonishment. Zhou Yuan had actually slayed a chief disciple of the Sacred Palace?! Zhao Ru could not help but mutter, ¡°How is this possible? He¡¯s only at the seventh layer, how did he manage to kill a chief disciple of the Sacred Palace?!¡± Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s amazed gaze swept across the composed Zhou Yuan, as her red lips parted slightly. ¡°It seems that this chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect is not as simple as we had imagined.¡± ¡°I told you, Zhou Yuan is really amazing!¡± Exclaimed Luluo in a rather pleased manner. Zhao Ru swept a glance at the former and sneered, ¡°He¡¯s amazing at infuriating Fan Yao. Let¡¯s see how he¡¯ll be able to settle this after killing a chief disciple of the Sacred Palace!¡± Upon hearing this, Luluo¡¯s willow leaf like eyebrows involuntarily knitted together. ¡°Ning Mo is dead?¡± Zhou Yuan was also rather surprised by this information. Although Ning Mo had been gravely injured by him previously, it should not have been enough to kill the latter... However, it was meaningless to dwell on such matters, Ning Mo deserved to die after all. Zhou Yuan uncaringly said, ¡°He killed several dozen disciples of my Cangxuan Sect. It¡¯s only fitting that he dies.¡± His ten fingers clenched into fists, golden Genesis Qi slowly rising from his body as he stared at Fan Yao and smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s cut the crap, if you want to fight, the Cangxuan Sect will gladly accompany you.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± He paused for a moment, as he suddenly cast a glance at the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side. ¡°If you intend to eat us, you¡¯d better pace yourself carefully, or you might instead end up being devoured by a third party.¡± In the distance, Tang Xiaoyan and Zhao Ru were taken aback by these words. Zhao Ru¡¯s eyebrows immediately turned vertical. ¡°What a crafty guy, to think that he actually dares to use us!¡± Tang Xiaoyao¡¯s eyes flickered in thought as she shot a meaningful glance at Zhou Yuan, but did not say anything. Fan Yao laughed loudly, before he mockingly said, ¡°Haha, kid, I¡¯m acquainted with the two junior sisters of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Such tricks are useless.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°In that case, take it as me overthinking things. Come on then, let¡¯s do this.¡± The smile on Fan Yao¡¯s face receded little by little as he stared at Zhou Yuan, while the expression in his eyes darkened somewhat. He was a very skeptical person, and it was impossible for him to trust the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Under the temptation of the six color treasure location, he may not even trust his fellow disciples, let alone outsiders? Given the strength of this Cangxuan Sect group, the Sacred Palace would certainly suffer substantial losses if they fought. With them weakened, the situation would become extremely unfavorable towards them if the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace group were to suddenly have other plans. By the side, Wang Yuan also hesitated for a moment, before he said to Fan Yao in a low voice, ¡°The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace is no flower vase.¡± He was also trying to warn Fan Yao. Although the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace were just a bunch of girls, as a faction that could become one of the six overlord sects, anyone who views them as useless flower vases would likely end up paying a painful price. Fan Yao remained expressionless, while a dark and stormy look churned in his eyes. Zhou Yuan was quite an insidious individual. A single sentence from him had now placed Fan Yao in a rather difficult position. Fan Yao¡¯s gaze flickered in thought. Moments later, he suddenly took in a deep breath as all the storminess on his face faded away. After two soft snorts, he pointed at Zhou Yuan, and nodded as he smiled. ¡°You are very cunning¡­¡± Fan Yao looked deeply at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°However, this is indeed not the place to deal with you. But believe me, if you do not choose to scram from now, don¡¯t blame me for whatever happens later on.¡± Zhou Yuan nonchalantly said, ¡°We¡¯ll wait and see.¡± Fan Yao sighed. ¡°It truly is a pity.¡± After speaking, he turned around, seemingly intending to end the conversation. At the sight of this, the tensed Jin Zhang and the rest quietly breathed a sigh of relief. However, blood-red light suddenly rose in Fan Yao¡¯s pupils the moment he turned around. A split second later, the ground under Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet was suddenly torn open. A flash of blood-red light shot out with a piercing whistle, heading straight for Zhou Yuan¡¯s throat. It was an extremely unexpected and treacherous attack. Even Jin Zhang and the rest were unable to react, and could only watch the flash of blood-red pierce towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s throat in horror. Fan Yao had clearly acted as if he was willing to let things go for the moment, while preparing such a vicious move in secret. This was practically the apex of deceitfulness. On the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side, numerous female disciples cried out in alarm, while Luluo¡¯s pupils widened in horror. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± Her piercing cry rang out. Chapter 577 Probing Swish! A flash of blood-red light burst out from the ground with a piercing whistle, blood-red Genesis Qi frantically swirling around it. With extremely terrifying destructive power, it shot straight towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s throat amidst the numerous horrified gazes. The blood-red attack had come far too unexpectedly. Hence, even Jin Zhang and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples could only watch as it whizzed passed, completely powerless to stop it. Fan Yao was still turning around, however, an extremely sinister angle rose from the corners of his lips. He had originally planned on destroying the Cangxuan Sect group here, but he had no choice but to change his plans upon seeing the arrival of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace group. He clearly understood that the Cangxuan Sect side was not an easy target, and though he was confident in defeating them, his Sacred Palace side would undoubtedly have to pay a substantial price to do so. When that happened, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace would become the ultimate victors. Fan Yao knew full well that these seemingly delicate looking young ladies were not weak at all... Hence, he changed his plans at the last moment, and instead began to prepare an attack in secret with the intention of catching Zhou Yuan off guard to kill or at the very least seriously injure him. It may seem as if he had been wasting time talking to Zhou Yuan earlier, but it was all carefully calculated to further Fan Yao¡¯s true motive. ¡°Blood Shadow Art¡­¡± A soft murmur sounded from Fan Yao¡¯s mouth. If one were to look at this feet, one would discover that a flash of blood-red was stealthily pouring into the earth under his feet. At the other end of it, was the sinister flash of blood-red that had broken out from the ground... It was a Genesis technique Fan Yao was extremely adept in, and was well-known for its bizarre and unsuspecting nature. No one knew how many had unknowingly died to its fangs in the past. Bzz! The reflection of the sharp blood-red light rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils, it¡¯s speed slightly alarming to even someone like himself. However, in contrast to the shock and horror experienced by the others, though there was some surprise on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, not a single trace of panic could be seen. Because an ancient Saint Rune was swirling in the depths of his pupils. The Decoder Saint Rune! Though Fan Yao¡¯s attack was extremely unconventional, nothing could hide from the Decoder Saint Rune. As the sharp blood-red light arrived, Zhou Yaun¡¯s five fingers reached out, jade light flowing on his skin, while silver light flashed within. Thump! Amidst the numerous horrified gazes, the nearly undetectably quick flash of blood-red was caught by Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Golden Genesis Qi erupted from his palm as he squeezed tightly. Ch! With a faint noise, the blood-red light was crushed. A speck of blood-red rose into the sky, making Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm face appear rather mysterious under its blood-red glow. *Gasp*! A series of gasps rang out around him. The sinister smile that hung from the corners of Fan Yao¡¯s mouth turned rigid at this moment, clearly sensing that his Blood Shadow Art had been broken. ¡°How can this be?!¡± His eyelids jumped as he abruptly turned around, and darkly stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Zhou Yuan was currently opening his hand, as the blood-light within it gradually dissipated. His gaze met Fan Yao¡¯s, as he smiled faintly and said, ¡°I did not expect the great third ranked chief disciple of the Sacred Palace to be so unimpressive.¡± The corners of Fan Yao¡¯s mouth twitched, as rage surged in his eyes. Even so, he was mainly alarmed by this turn of events. His technique had caught many unawares in the past. In fact, foes of similar strength to himself had been caught off guard by it. Today was the first time the technique had been so easily neutralized. The one who managed to nearly crippled Ning Mo was indeed rather capable. The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples gazed at this scene in amazement, especially Luluo, who had been so frightened that her face had turned white as sheet earlier. Fan Yao¡¯s attack had after all been way too sneaky and deadly. ¡°Luluo, I¡¯m beginning to believe that he is the most outstanding person in your generation.¡± Tang Xiaoyan looked towards Luluo and softly chuckled. There was a sliver of graveness in the depths of her eyes. If Fan Yao had used that technique against her, she would have most likely been unable to react. However, Zhou Yuan had dealt with it as if he had already seen through Fan Yao¡¯s intentions. Such keen senses and perceptive ability was very terrifying indeed. Luluo slapped her chest, relieving her earlier anxiety as she nodded with a wide grin. ¡°Of course! I wasn¡¯t joking when I said it!¡± By the side, Zhao Ru indifferently said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to exaggerate so much, he merely managed to deal with a single probing attack from Fan Yao. If you believe this proves that Zhou Yuan had the qualifications to fight Fan Yao, I can only say that you¡¯re underestimating the third ranked chief disciple of the Sacred Palace.¡± This time, Tang Xiaoyan gave a small nod of agreement. ¡°Junior sister Zhao Ru is right. Fan Yao is no ordinary individual, and he will only view Zhou Yuan more seriously after this failure.¡± Luluo mumbled to herself, ¡°I believe in Zhou Yuan!¡± Although she said so, there was some worry in her large, limpid eyes. She looked towards Tang Xiaoyan and softly said, ¡°Senior sister Xiaoyan, Fan Yao is so powerful and unscrupulous, I feel that allowing the Cangxuan Sect to stay and maintain a balance of power between our three groups will be beneficial to us.¡± Tang Xiaoyan shot Luluo a surprised look as she smiled, ¡°Lass, I¡¯m surprised that you¡¯re able to see the situation so clearly.¡± ¡°However, your ultimate goal is for us to help the Cangxuan Sect, right?¡± Luluo mumbled, ¡°Compared to Fao Yao, I definitely feel that Zhou Yuan is more trustworthy!¡± By the side, Zhao Ru crossed her arms before her chest and said, ¡°I object. We should remain neutral. It¡¯s Sacred Palace business if they want to deal with the Cangxuan Sect, while it would be more beneficial for us to sit back and watch them fight.¡± She swept a glance at Luluo. ¡°Luluo, there¡¯s no way to know a person¡¯s heart. Zhou Yuan may have been your good friend in the past, but who knows whether he has changed since then? Do not let your personal feelings implicate all of us.¡± If they had to choose, she would rather side with Fan Yao . Fan Yao was stronger after all, and they would be able to easily crush the Cangxuan Sect side together. When that happened, there would be one less party to share the spoils with. However, she could tell that Tang Xiaoyan was rather on guard against Fan Yao, and knew that the latter would not agree even if she suggested it. As such, she settled for the next best thing, requesting their Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace to remain neutral. Luluo¡¯s face turned a little red after being scolded by Zhao Ru. While they were conversing, Fan Yao¡¯s stormy expression gradually returned to normal. Iciness filled his eyes as he said, ¡°That was merely a probe of your abilities. If you can¡¯t even manage against that, you don¡¯t deserve to stand here and speak to me.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. ¡°So are you happy with the results of your probing?¡± Fan Yao¡¯s scarlet pupils stared at Zhou Yuan. Moments later, he slowly nodded and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are quite talented, but unfortunately, your Cangxuan Sect will soon lose a talented disciple.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°They may not be certain, what if another Sacred Palace chief disciple dies instead?¡± The duo¡¯s gazes clashed, killing intent spilling onto the surroundings. From the looks of it, if not because this was not an appropriate place and time, both of them would have begun fighting for real. While the two were bristling with killing intent, Tang Xiaoyan suddenly stepped forward, and looked towards them as she said in a gentle voice, ¡°This is neither the time or place to fight. If possible, why not we discuss things first? After all, the six color treasure location does not appear to be a kindly place.¡± The moment she said this, the killing intent from Fan Yao and Zhou Yuan¡¯s body immediately dissipated at the same time. ¡°Agreed.¡± The two individuals simultaneously nodded in agreement. Their well-coordinated response caused Tang Xiaoyan to chuckle. Although both Zhou Yuan and Fan Yao could not wait to kill the other, it was obvious that neither of them wanted to do it here. At the end of the day, they were both worried that the Hundred Fairy Flowers Palace would ultimately become the fisherman that catches them both. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 578 Discussion Under Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s mediation, the hostile atmosphere between Zhou Yuan and Fan Yao was slightly alleviated. Next, the three parties brought several disciples from their respective groups and gathered on one of the mountain tops. ¡°Everyone, I believe destiny has led us to meet each other here.¡± Tang Xiaoyan looked towards the leaders of their respective groups, Fan Yao and Zhou Yuan, with a kindly smile, before she turned towards the misty ancient mountain forests and said, ¡°Although the six treasure location is an amazing opportunity, it is also filled with untold dangers that I believe the both of you should already be aware of.¡± Zhou Yuan and Fan Yao faintly nodded in acknowledgement. Without mentioning anything else, the colored mist alone was already very bizarre. It could obstruct even one¡¯s Spirit senses, making it very problematic to deal with. ¡°Though the mist here is troublesome, fortunately for us, it¡¯s gradually receding.¡± Tang Xiaoyan said, ¡°At this rate, we will be able to enter after three days.¡± She seemed to suddenly think of something, and asked, ¡°May I enquire where you guys got your information from?¡± Zhou Yuan nonchalantly said, ¡°A chief disciple from the Little Thunder Gate wanted to snatch our Mythic Genesis essence, but ended up being captured by me. He used his life in exchange for this information.¡± Fan Yao expressionlessly said, ¡°We encountered a team from the Little Thunder Gate, and stopped them for questioning since they looked like they were in a hurry. In the end, they decided to tell us the information.¡± He paused for a moment, as he revealed a set of sinisterly white teeth to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Of course¡­ I made sure all of them accompanied each other into death.¡± The process was obviously not as simple as Fan Yao had said. Tang Xiaoyan pursed her red lips as she smiled slightly and said, ¡°What a coincidence¡­ it was also a disciple from the Little Thunder Gate that was doggedly trying to chase one of our junior sisters. In the end, he accidentally let the information slip.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched faintly as he turned his head to exchange a look with Jin Zhang, both of them feeling rather speechless, while also beginning to feel some pity towards the Little Thunder Gate. These fellows were really too pitiful... ¡°That Little Thunder Gate disciple had quite a high status in the Little Thunder Gate. As such, the information we received is a little more detailed than you two.¡± ¡°There is a lake deep within this mountain forest, which is known as the six color lake. Its water is made from pure Mythic Genesis essence that would surely be enough to condensed a six-color Divine Establishing Treasure when harvested.¡± ¡°However, I believe that all of you are already aware of the powerful repelling force from the lake. Without a four-color Divine Establishing Treasure, it will be impossible to approach.¡± Tang Xiaoyan looked towards both parties as she smiled and said, ¡°I wonder if both of you have already fulfilled this requirement?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded when he heard this. While rushing here, the three-color Divine Establishing Treasure in his Qi Dwelling had already ranked up, reaching the four-color level. Fan Yao also nodded in an offhand manner. A four-color Divine Establishing Treasure was not difficult to achieve for people like them. ¡°Now for the most difficult problem. There¡¯s an extremely powerful guardian beast in the lake, and in a one on one fight, I believe that even senior brother Fan Yao may not be its match.¡± Said Tang Xiaoyan. Fan Yao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°What Genesis Beast is this guardian beast? How strong is it?¡± Tang Xiaoyan shook her head and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know the details. This is the extent of the information I received from the Little Thunder Gate.¡± ¡°Given the current situation, we need to first finish off that guardian beast before we¡¯ll be able to harvest from the six color lake¡­ hence, I propose that our three groups work together to reach the lake and kill the guardian beast before splitting the spoils.¡± Fan Yao unhurriedly asked, ¡°How shall we split the six color lake?¡± ¡°What does senior brother Fan Yao suggest?¡± Asked Fan Xiaoyan. Fan Yao swept an indifferent glance at Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°I propose your sect and mine receive forty percent, while the Cangxuan Sect gets twenty percent.¡± Zhou Yuan did not say anything, while Jin Zhang was clearly angered as he laughed icily and said, ¡°Are you trying to chase away beggars?¡± Behind Tang Xiaoyan, Zhao Ru¡¯s eyes brightened and was just about to say something, only to be stopped by Tang Xiaoyan as she smiled and said, ¡°The senior brothers from the Cangxuan Sect will also contributing their efforts, I feel this allocation may be a little inappropriate.¡± How could she not tell that Fan Yao was trying to win them over to bully the Cangxuan Sect. Although forty percent was rather tempting, Tang Xiaoyan did not lose her rationality over it. Because she did not really trust Fan Yao. Tang Xiaoyan looked towards Zhou Yuan. The latter smiled faintly and said, ¡°I propose both your side and mine get a forty five percent share, while the Sacred Palace gets ten percent.¡± ¡°Are you seeking death?!¡± Fan Yao¡¯s expression darkened as he icily glared at Zhou Yuan. Blood-red Genesis Qi began to rise and hiss around his body, as a choking pressure spread. Tang Xiaoyan helplessly sighed at this scene. She knew that it would be impossible to do the allocation in advance. Tang Xiaoyan decided to take a step back and said, ¡°Since all of us have differing opinions, let¡¯s set aside this matter for the moment and first concentrate on killing the guardian beast, is that okay with everyone?¡± This time, both Fan Yao and Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. They too understood that they would have to first deal with the most troublesome guardian beast before obtaining the six color lake. ¡°We¡¯ll prepare to move once the mist has receded enough.¡± With the three parties now in agreement, Fan Yao cast an icy glance at Zhou Yuan, before leaving with his entourage. Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together towards Tang Xiaoyan, and smiled at Luluo before also turning to leave. Upon seeing the two parties leave, Tang Xiaoyan secretly shook her head inside. Zhao Ru said in a low voice, ¡°Xiaoyan, Fan Yao¡¯s proposal is pretty good. Forty percent will be quite a good haul.¡± When Luluo heard this, she immediately interjected, ¡°But Zhou Yuan said he would give us forty five percent!¡± Zhao Ru cast a sideways glance at the former and said, ¡°Do you think he has the qualifications to make such a promise? Do you really believe him?¡± ¡°Why not?!¡± Luluo refused to back down. Tang Xiaoyan waved her head, putting a stop to their bickering. Luluo looked towards her and unhappily said, ¡°Senior sister Xiaoyan, Fan Yao clearly has no intentions of negotiating. He appears to be very ambitious, and I personally feel that forty percent will not satisfy him.¡± Tang Xiaoyan laughed and said, ¡°Then do you think that Zhou Yuan has any intentions of negotiating?¡± She swept a glance in the direction Zhou Yuan had left in and slowly said, ¡°Your friend¡¯s ambitions aren¡¯t small either¡­¡± In the earlier talks, Fan Yao was indeed not very sincere, and was clearly not going to be satisfied with forty percent. However, Zhou Yuan had likewise displayed a similar attitude. This made Tang Xiaoyan rather curious. Fan Yao dared to because he was very strong, but was Zhou Yuan also so confident in his strength? ¡°Forget it, we¡¯ll cooperate to slay the most troublesome guardian beast first¡­¡± ¡°As for the allocation of the six color lake¡­ I believe that it will be very hard to please everyone¡­¡± ... Over the next few days, the three parties waited in the area. While they waited, the mist gradually grew increasingly sparse. Contrary to expectations, however, the thinner the mist became, the more dazzling the multi-color light it gave off. As a result, other factions began to be drawn over one after another, only to be rather alarmed by the sight of the three waiting factions here. However, they soon realized to their excitement that there must be some kind of treasure. If not, why would teams from the Sacred Palace, Cangxuan Sect and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace be gathered in this location? Hence, news of this stealthily spread as more and more attention was drawn to this place, while the various factions quietly appeared one after another. Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao and Tang Xiaoyan were not surprised by the appearance of the other factions, and did not try to chase them away. These factions would become cannon fodder that would draw away some of the attention of the Genesis Beasts inside the ancient mountain forest. Over the three days, more and more groups quietly arrived outside the ancient mountain forest. When the sky began to brighten on the fourth day. Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the others abruptly opened their eyes and looked towards the forest, where the mist was gradually becoming fainter and fainter... Their Spirit senses were finally regaining some function. The trio¡¯s gazes met for a moment. In the next instant, the members of their three parties rose amidst a whistle. Swoosh! Swish! Next, the three groups shot forth at the same time, like a flock of birds flying across the sky, and soon disappeared into the ancient mountain forest under the many secretly watching gazes. Rumble! The waiting factions were soon unable to restrain their impatience, and began to swarm out as they charged into the mountain forest. In an instant, the peace that long reigned over ancient mountain forest was finally broken. The struggle for the six color treasure location had finally begun. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 579 Six Color Lake Swish! Swish! Several hundred figures charged into the misty mountain forest. Although the members from the three sects were currently gathered in one big group, they still maintained a certain distance between them, evidently still unable to fully trust each other. ¡°Go!¡± With a low shout, the several hundred member strong group increased their speed, swiftly flying towards the depths of the forest on their Genesis Qi. When they entered, the faint mist around them still somewhat obstructed their vision. However, their Spirit senses were able to scout a certain distance ahead. Zhou Yuan was positioned at the very front of the group, the Spirit between his brows vibrating as invisible Spirit power spread to scan the surroundings. ¡°I sense some disturbances in the surrounding Genesis Qi. The Genesis Beast hidden inside the forest have likely been alerted to our presences. Be careful everyone.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was transmitted into the ears of every Cangxuan Sect disciple with the help of Genesis Qi. The disciples'' expressions shivered when they heard this as Genesis Qi began rising around their bodies. All sorts of Genesis weapons also appeared in their hands, as they vigilantly advanced. Rumble! Zhou Yuan¡¯s words were soon verified. The land began to tremble faintly as countless hisses and howls echoed from the depths of the forest. Roar! Countless blood-red eyes appeared in the dark depths of the forest. In the next instant, innumerable ferocious Genesis Beasts emerged with thunderous roars, and charged towards the disciples from the three sects. ¡°Attack!¡± The disciples from the three sects did not hesitate. Countless Genesis Qi attacks unfurled, ruthlessly smashing into the incoming beast tide. Berserk Genesis Qi shockwaves swept outwards, tearing apart the surrounding land. The stench of blood instantly filled the area. Faint shrieks rang out from various directions. The other groups that had entered the mountain forest after them had likely encountered similar Genesis Beast attacks. The disciples of the three sects were elites, and their attacks were naturally exceptionally fierce and deadly. The charging Genesis Beasts were blasted to pieces before they could even reach the hundred feet radius mark around the group. As the Genesis Beasts were being bombarded to death, strands of Qi infused with different colors rose from their bodies. It was shockingly Mythic Genesis essence. The Genesis Beast that lived here seemed to have absorbed some Mythic Genesis essence into their bodies. ¡°Send twenty disciples to collect the Mythic Genesis essence.¡± Instructed Zhou Yuan. Although this Mythic Genesis essence was beneath his attention, it was very alluring to the other disciples. At his words, several disciples immediately split off from the group, and quickly collected the Mythic Genesis essence drifting from the corpses as the main group continued to advance. In this methodological manner, the disciples of the three sects continuously cut through the surging beast tide, as they steadily approached the depths of the forest. But as they ventured deeper, stronger and stronger Genesis Beasts appeared. As time passed, even the disciples from the three sects began to feel some pressure. Some of the Genesis Beasts managed to break through the attacks of the disciples, charging at the group to engage in battle with the disciples at the very front. As both sides clashed, the disciples from the three sects gradually began to sustain some injuries. At the sight of this, Zhou Yuan prepared to take to the frontlines as well, but was almost immediately stopped by Gu Hongyi. Gu Hongyi said in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your Genesis Qi here, the real battle will be later on, and you need to keep yourself at peak condition. Look at the other two groups, their chief disciples clearly have no intentions of acting now.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept towards the other two teams. Sure enough, both Fan Yao and Tang Xiaoyan were commanding the other disciples from the center of the group, and had no intentions of participating in the battles. It was exactly as Gu Hongyi had said. They were doing all they could to preserve as much Genesis Qi as possible for the sake of contesting for the final reward. ¡°Since I can¡¯t use Genesis Qi, I¡¯ll aid everyone with Genesis Runes.¡± Zhou Yuan fell into thought for a brief moment as he composed himself. Although he could not use Genesis Qi, it did not mean that he would not be able to help out. Gu Hongyi worriedly said, ¡°Expending your Spirit is not good either.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be a problem, my battle tactics mostly lean towards the usage of Genesis Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. He was different from Jin Zhang after all. Although the latter was also proficient in Genesis Runes, his Genesis Qi cultivation was rather ordinary. As such, Jin Zhang would not dare to casually use his Spirit, while Zhou Yuan did not share such concerns. These Cangxuan Sect disciples were courageously fighting at his instructions, and were even willing to put their lives on the line. Though they may feel that there was nothing wrong with this, Zhou Yuan wished to put his heart at ease. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared. The brush tip danced across the air as rune after rune quickly began to take shape. Swish! Swish! The Genesis Runes flew forward and landed on the bravely fighting Cangxuan Sect disciples at the very front. Upon contact, the runes rapidly began to extend, amplifying their defensive abilities like a glowing armor. A layer of mysterious light also surged onto their Genesis weapons, giving an extra edge to their attacks. Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions greatly boosted the morale of the Cangxuan Sect disciples. With the support of these Genesis Runes, they would sustain less damage. The Cangxuan Sect disciples cast grateful gazes towards Zhou Yuan, before turning back to the tear through the Genesis beast tide, increasing their pace as they pushed towards the central region of the ancient mountain forest. The other two teams naturally sensed the sudden increase in vigour of the Cangxuan Sect disciples. Their gazes swept towards the latter, immediately seeing the Genesis Runes on the Cangxuan Sect disciples, before turning towards Zhou Yuan, who was positioned at the center of the group. Envy flowed out in the eyes of the Sacred Palace and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples. Having someone support them with Genesis Runes at such a time would undoubtedly boost their fighting power. Unfortunately, although there were some individuals who were also proficient in Genesis Runes on their side, they were far from being as skillful as Zhou Yuan. In addition, they also understood that their chief disciples were currently preserving their strength, and would not easily use any Genesis Qi. Though Zhou Yuan was using Genesis Runes, it would still somewhat tire his Spirit. ¡°Humph, trying to put up an act!¡± A sneer flitted across Fan Yao¡¯s eyes when he saw this. ¡°Are you trying to buy the hearts of the people even at such a time? Unfortunately, you will realize how laughable your actions are when you lose later on.¡± On the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side, Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s eyes flickered faintly as she said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is quite clever.¡± Zhao Ru frowned slightly. ¡°He can¡¯t even recognize what¡¯s important. Every bit of energy he uses now is less energy available when we vie for the six color lake later on. If he fails later on, everyone will only blame him even more.¡± Tang Xiaoyan said, ¡°What if he doesn¡¯t mind using up some power here because he has absolute confidence in himself?¡± Zhao Ru was stunned, but soon burst out into laughter as disdain flitted across her eyes. ¡°You think way too highly of him.¡± ¡­¡­ The sound of battle filled every corner of the sprawling mountain forest, an endless stream of Genesis Beasts pouring out to stop the invaders. Several powerful Genesis Beasts also began to appear, but fortunately for the three sects, the factions continued to enter from behind, drawing away the attention of the Genesis Beasts. The disciples of the three sects took this opportunity to push forward even harder. After another incense stick of fighting, Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao and Tang Xiaoyan suddenly lifted their heads at the same time. Their gazes looked towards a certain spot in excitement, where six color light was flowing in the depths of the forest, as the surrounding Genesis Qi suddenly became lighter and purer. Gurgle. The faint sound of travelling water was heard, washing away the tiredness from the fighting disciples. The three teams increased their pace, and cut through the forest. A split second larger, the view before their eyes abruptly widened, as they found themselves standing on the high ground. To their front was a giant hole that seemed to have been smashed open by a meteor. The giant hole formed an enormous lake that gave off a six-color glow. Sunlight reflected off its waters, giving off a gorgeous and mysterious gleam. Everyone¡¯s eyes filled with burning desire as they stared at the six color lake. In fact, they even felt as if the surrounding temperature was beginning to rise. The six color treasure location was now right before their eyes! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 580 Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python The disciples from the three sects held their breaths in silence, as they looked down from above at the seemingly endless six color lake with unconcealable excitement and desire in their eyes. A six color treasure location was an extremely rare encounter for ordinary disciples like themselves. Normally speaking, a treasure location like this would only appear in the deeper areas of the Mythic Utopia, where only the numerous Chosens and chief disciples would dare to show their faces, while those with mediocre strength such as themselves naturally did not possess the qualifications. As such, this was a very lucky encounter. Although the biggest spoils would surely end up with their leaders, having a small share of some soup was already more than satisfactory for the other disciples. Of course¡­ though they had now found the six color lake, there was still another struggle to determine how big of a share they would receive... At this moment, the disciples of the three sects cast their expectant gazes towards the front, where the chief disciples of the three sects were stepping forward. The disciples of the three sects had painstakingly cut open a path through the beast tide to reach this place, all for the sake of preserving the strength of their chief disciples. They knew that the next battlefield belonged to these chief disciples. It would be a fight to decide the rights to the six color lake. Under the numerous expectant gazes, Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang stared at the six color lake before them. They could feel an invisible repulsive force spread from within it. However, the four-color Divine Establishing Treasures in their Qi Dwellings began to release undulations at this moment that slowly resisted the repulsive force. ¡°There¡¯s an extremely powerful Genesis Qi ripple hidden in the depths of the lake.¡± Jin Zhang looked towards Zhou Yuan with a grave expression. ¡°If my guess is correct, it should belong to the guardian beast of this treasure location.¡± ¡°The only thing yet to ascertain is its level and strength¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll know soon.¡± Zhou Yuan finished Jin Zhang¡¯s words as he looked towards the other two directions. Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the other two also looked back. In the next moment, the three parties moved at the same time. Genesis Qi ferociously roared out, like giant sky pillars that mercilessly bombarded the six color lake. Boom! The surface of the lake exploded, creating giant waves. Hss! A sharp hiss suddenly sounded from the depths of the water at this moment. Next, everyone watched as an enormous shadow began to surface from the depths of the lake. It ultimately broke through the surface, and appeared before everyone¡¯s sights. The group gasped as they laid eyes on the enormous Genesis Beast, while alarm and fear appeared on their faces. A giant black python had risen from the lake, its body a gloomy black, while its triangular eyes flickered with cruelty. The most shocking thing, however, were the two illusory black python figures beside the black python. These two python figures would occasionally fuse into the black python¡¯s body, making it look akin to a three-headed python when it reared its enormous head. An extremely savage and chilling Genesis Qi ripple swept out from its body like a storm, the mighty pressure causing the faces of the many disciples to pale. Fan Yao stared at the strange black python with an ugly expression as he said with a clear pause between each word, ¡°Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python!¡± It was a rarely seen Genesis Beast that would originally start out as a Spirit Ghost Python. If an unborn Spirit Ghost Python gains awareness while still in its mother¡¯s body, it would break out of its shell, devour and assimilate its siblings. When such a creature is eventually born, there would be two ghost python silhouettes or shadows accompanying it at all times, shadows that would grow along with the main body and gradually gain powers of their own. Once it encountered danger, the two Spirit Ghost Python shadows would fuse with the main body, and greatly enhance its strength. The Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python before them possessed extremely astonishing battle power, and even the Chosens from their three sects would be somewhat hard-pressed if they were here. Although there were six chief disciples on their side, they would likely have to pay an exceedingly terrible price to slay this creature. In fact, it would be optimistic to estimate that only half of their forces would be killed by the snake. In the air, Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the other three chief disciples were silent for several breaths, before suddenly shooting backwards at the same moment, withdrawing from the range of the six color lake. In the lake, the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Snake¡¯s cruel pupils closely followed them, but did not give chase. Instead, it slowly began to submerge into the water, clearly having no intentions of leaving the six color lake. The disciples from the three sects felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over their heads when they saw this. Their previous excitement had completely faded away, clearly intimidated and shaken by the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python. In the face of such a terrible monster, even the chief disciples of the three sects did not dare to say they would be able to beat it. The atmosphere turned rather cold and silent for a time. Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the other chief disciples gathered together in the air. ¡°I did not expect it to be a Three-headed Spirit Ghost Snake¡­¡± Tang Xiaoyan gently bit into her red lips, her kindly face turning rather ugly at this moment. ¡°What do we do?¡± Zhao Ru could not help but ask. The six color treasure location was just within reach, but they were being obstructed by the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Snake. This situation was rather hard to accept. The others were silent. If they were to engage the beast in battle, they would be able to put up a fight, but it would certainly result in casualties. It was obvious that no one would willingly become a casualty... The silence lasted for a few more moments, before Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°The Three-headed Spirit Ghost Snake¡¯s battle power will rise drastically once it fuses, rendering even a Chosen powerless against it. To deal with it, we¡¯ll have to first split its bodies.¡± Fan Yao laughed mockingly, before he said, ¡°The ghost snake shadows are always with the Spirit Ghost Snake. I¡¯ve never heard of them separating before.¡± Zhao Ru icily snorted, evidently feeling that Zhou Yuan was spouting nonsense. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm, ignoring their responses as he continued to stare at the six color lake. ¡°Just because you guys are ill-informed, don¡¯t assume that everyone else is the same.¡± Fan Yao and Zhao Ru¡¯s expressions darkened at Zhou Yuan¡¯s retort. In contrast, Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s eyes brightened a little as she stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Does this mean that chief disciple Zhou Yuan has a solution?¡± Zhao Ru was taken aback, her eyes filled with skepticism. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment, before he said, ¡°I know of a disorientating boundary that we may try.¡± He was naturally referring to the Heaven Disorientating Boundary Yaoyao had taught him that had trapped nearly all of the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. Although he was not as proficient as Yaoyao, he should be able to manage trapping the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python for some time. Moreover, the Heaven Disorientating Boundary was able to interfere with the senses of anyone or thing that was trapped within it. As such, even with the unique link between the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python and its shadows, the separated bodies would be incapable of swiftly finding each other. Tang Xiaoyan was overjoyed when she heard this. Fan Yao and Zhao Ru, on the other hand, were rather skeptical. However, since no one else had any ideas at this moment, they could only say, ¡°Since you have plan, we¡¯ll let you try it out.¡± Zhou Yuan cast a sideways glance at them, as he nonchalantly said, ¡°I could, but I feel that there¡¯s a need to first decide on the allocation of the six color lake.¡± Fan Yao icily stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± ¡°The Cangxuan Sect will take forty percent, while you two will take thirty.¡± Said Zhou Yuan. Fan Yao was the first to react with a sneer, ¡°Humph, the likes of you thinks that you deserve forty percent?¡± In his view, the Sacred Palace was the strongest of the trio, and it was only logical that they received the lion¡¯s share. It was already very generous of him to give the Cangxuan Sect twenty percent, and yet Zhou Yuan actually dared to ask for forty percent now? A portion which was even higher than the Sacred Palace¡¯s share?! Tang Xiaoyan did not say anything. Thirty percent was within an acceptable range to her. On the other hand, Zhao Ru seemed to have something to say, but was quickly stopped by the former. ¡°If we can¡¯t come to an agreement, I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. Fan Yao¡¯s eyes turned chillingly cold. If it was before encountering the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python, he would naturally be more than happy for Zhou Yuan to leave. However, given how troublesome a problem this Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python was, they was really nothing they could do without Zhou Yuan¡¯s method to split up the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python. Fan Yao chillingly said, ¡°Kid, you dare to bargain with me?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not ripple as he replied, ¡°I¡¯ll give you one minute to consider.¡± Fan Yao stared daggers at Zhou Yuan. A long while later, he suddenly laughed and said, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s only forty percent, I agree¡­¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled upon seeing this, before he turned towards Jin Zhang and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go and set-up the boundary.¡± Jin Zhang nodded, and the duo proceeded to very cautiously descend towards the edge of the lake under the numerous watching gazes. Fan Yao remained behind, coldly staring at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure as his eyes seemed to flicker in thought. ¡°Are you really giving him forty percent?¡± Asked Wang Yuan in a low voice, evidently somewhat unable to accept it. Fan Yao¡¯s eyelids lowered slightly as he indifferently said, ¡°That will depend on whether he¡¯ll be alive to enjoy it. We¡¯ll bear with him for the moment, and squeeze out every ounce of usefulness he has.¡± In the distance, Jin Zhang also asked in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, the deal you made is quite disadvantageous to us. Do you really believe that Fan Yao will make good on his promise?¡± In his view, a verbal promise was pretty much a joke. Zhou Yuan retrieved the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he displayed a dazzling smile towards Jin Zhang and said, ¡°Chief disciple Jin Zhang, there must always be a justification for something. If Fan Yao does hold up on his end of the deal, how could I bring myself to have designs on his share?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jin Zhang was taken aback. Genesis Runes began to take shape under Zhou Yuan¡¯s brush as he cast a glance towards a certain spot from the corner of his eye and sighed, ¡°To be honest¡­ I¡¯m not satisfied with forty percent, but since I¡¯ve an old friend on the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side, it would be rather rude of me to target their share¡­¡± Jin Zhang¡¯s eyes widened as he gasped in realization. Zhou Yuan had been eyeing the Sacred Palace¡¯s share from the very beginning... Such boldness and ambition was really something else! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 581 Locking up the Python Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang began their work by the edge of the six color lake. Countless Genesis Runes appeared from their brushes, and swiftly fused into the air and water. Yaoyao¡¯s Heaven Disorientating Boundary was extremely complex, and although Zhou Yuan was already quite familiar with it, he could not achieve the same level of mastery as her. Fortunately, he did not need to trap nearly ten thousand Sword Cometh Peak disciples this time, but temporarily separate the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python and its ghost python shadows. Even so, it took more than half a day to set-up the boundary... In the distance, the disciples of the three sects were closely watching. Fan Yao stood in the air with his arms across his chest, icy light swirling in the depths of his eyes as he stared at the two working figures. In contrast, Tang Xiaoyan was watching with keen interest. ¡°I honestly never imagined that this chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect would even be so adept in the art of Genesis Runes.¡± Although she was not proficient in this area, she could still feel that Zhou Yuan¡¯s boundary was pretty amazing. ¡°Who knows whether it will even work.¡± Zhao Ru was still filled with doubt. ¡°We can only pray that it will. Otherwise, we would have made a wasted trip.¡± Said Tang Xiaoyan. If they failed to split up the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python and its shadows, all three parties would have no choice but to give up. Zhao Ru was silent. Even she could not help but admit that they currently needed to rely on Zhou Yuan. When the sun gradually began to set and cast its final rays onto the six color lake, Zhou Yuan finally breathed a heavy sigh of relief, before rising into the air with Jin Zhang. ¡°The preparations are done.¡± ¡°Will your boundary work? I hope that it won¡¯t end up failing, and result in us being trapped instead.¡± Fan Yao sized-up the boundary as he sneered. ¡°Maybe you should go in and give it a test run?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. Fan Yao icily snorted. He was naturally not stupid enough to really go in and test it, because he could indeed feel that there was something different about the lake. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Tang Xiaoyan, no intention of wasting anymore saliva on Fan Yao. Tang Xiaoyan gave a small nod in response. Soon after the six chief disciples flew forward once more, and slowly entered the enormous six color lake. Vigorous Genesis Qi converged towards their palms, before being hurled into the lake. Boom! The water churned, and a giant shadow soon rose from the surface once more. The Spirit Ghost Python vertical line like pupils locked onto the six individuals with boundless rage surging within them. It was obviously pissed by their repeated disturbances. Hss! The Spirit Ghost Python hissed at the sky, as a cold ash black torrent of Genesis Qi shot out from its giant mouth, and threatened to engulf the six figures. The six of them did not dare to tarry, and quickly moved to avoid the blast. Meanwhile, more Genesis Qi attacks were prepared and sent blasting towards the snake from all directions, mercilessly bombarding its enormous body. Bang! Bang! Genesis Qi exploded on the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s body, smashing several of its night black scales. Although the attacks did not do much damage, they succeeded in angering the snake even more. The Spirit Ghost Python body shot forth, ash black Genesis Qi propelling it into the air. Its tail tore through the air with a ¡®ch¡¯ sound, like an ash black thunderbolt as it swept towards the six tiny figures. The two python shadows beside the main body also began to spew out torrents of Genesis Qi like dragons breathing fire. The sight of these terrifying attacks made the scalps of the watching disciples turn numb. They would likely be sent flying at this moment if they had been part of the battle. The six figures in the air did not dare to get hit either. The chief disciples pushed their speeds to the limit as they hurriedly weaved and ducked, slowly backing towards the area where the boundary was. Boom! Boom! An earth-shaking battle erupted on the six color lake, causing giant waves to rise and crash in every direction. Even the entire ancient mountain forest seemed to tremble at this moment. Though Zhou Yuan and the other five continued to avoid the attacks as they retreated, they still looked to be in a rather tough spot. They did not dare to use their full power before splitting the two python shadows from the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s main body. If the Spirit Ghost Python felt that it was being pressured, it would surely fuse and make the situation become even more impossible. Fortunately, the six retreating figures finally neared the boundary location. However, the Spirit Ghost Python suddenly began to slow down at this moment, as if it had sensed something. ¡°Not good, the beast is too perceptive!¡± Fan Yao immediately frowned when he saw this. Sheeong! A blast of golden Genesis Qi suddenly whizzed out from behind Fan Yao, and viciously smashed into one of the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s glowing lantern like eyes. The powerful blow elicited a piercing hiss from the Spirit Ghost Python, its angry and savage eyes immediately looking towards Fan Yao. Fan Yao¡¯s heart¡¯s shivered in alarm under the creature¡¯s gaze. His head jerked around, only to find an ethereal figure swiftly disappearing behind him, causing him to curse in anger, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you dare to set me up!¡± Swoosh! The words had barely left his lips, when a dreadful force descended from the sky. The Spirit Ghost Python was fully convinced that Fan Yao had attacked it, and had immediately unleashed a crazy barrage of attacks at the latter. Fan Yao¡¯s miserable figure hurriedly retreated, constantly ducking and avoiding. But as the Spirit Ghost Python gave chase, it finally entered the range of the boundary. ¡°Zhou Yuan, why are you still not activating the boundary!¡± Howled Fan Yao. He was currently being focused by the Spirit Ghost Python, and most of its attacks were aimed straight at him. In fact, there were already a few instances where he had nearly been hit. Zhou Yuan smiled playfully when he saw this, but did not allow the situation to drag any further. He clearly understood that it was most important to first slay the Spirit Ghost Python. His hands formed a seal, and his Spirit began to vibrate, sending out waves of Spirit power. As the Spirit power spread, countless Genesis Runes began to emerge and glow from the air and water. Innumerable strings of light shot out and swiftly linked up, as an enormous boundary slowly appeared amidst the countless stunned gazes. As the Genesis Rune boundary appeared, the space within began to distort as if being torn and separated. The Spirit Ghost Python also stopped at this moment, as bewilderment surfaced in its vertical pupils. It was as if it had been transported to a different location, while the two python shadows that had always accompanied it had been separated from it a split second earlier. Hss! The Spirit Ghost Python felt a sense of unease rise within it as it hissed. Its giant tail viciously lashed at the surrounding space with terrifying power, violently shaking the wall of light created from numerous interweaving Genesis Runes. The space before it rippled, as six figures slowly appeared. Besides Zhou Yuan, the others stared in shock at this scene. The boundary appeared to be working... Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s eyes gleamed as she looked towards Zhou Yuan with a sweet smile, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Rune mastery has truly reached the peak of perfection.¡± Zhao Ru¡¯s mouth was tightly, no longer making any snarky remarks. The first time, there was some amazement in her eyes when she looked towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan chuckled and looked towards Fan Yao. ¡°Chief disciple Fan Yao, my forty percent share is quite worth it after all, right?¡± The corners of Fan Yao¡¯s mouth twitched for a moment, before he forced himself to smile. Zhou Yuan did not say anything else to Fan Yao, as his gaze turned towards the rampaging Spirit Ghost Python in the boundary. ¡°Prepare to go all out. This boundary will not be able to trap it for long, and if we fail to finish it off in half an incense stick of time, get ready to retreat¡­¡± No one argued this time, all five individuals nodding in acknowledgement. Boom! In the next instant, six powerful Genesis Qi undulations erupted in the boundary. Six figures appeared around the Spirit Ghost Python... Their hostile gazes stared at the Spirit Ghost Python. It was finally time to return all the built up frustration from being chased earlier. Without the threat of the two python shadows, the six individuals were no longer afraid of the Spirit Ghost Python main body. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 582 Treasure Tree Rumble! Berserk Genesis Qi unfurled like a storm within the boundary, frantically wreaking havoc in the surroundings. Some of the undulations leaked out, causing giant torrential waves to rise on the surface of the six color lake. One could just barely make out the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s enormous body inside the Genesis Qi storm. Six glowing figures flickered about around it, as fierce Genesis Qi attacks were sent blasting towards its weak points one after another. It had already been quite some time since the battle had begun. When Zhou Yuan and the others unleashed their full battle power, the Spirit Ghost Python slowly began to descend into an unfavorable position. Dusky black blood dripped from its body, while more than half of its scales had already been shattered. The Spirit Ghost Python was slightly stronger than Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao and the rest, and it was very likely that not a single one of the six would have been able to pressure it in a one on one battle. Unfortunately for the beast, it was gradually being suppressed by the joint efforts of the six chief disciples. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heaven Disorientating Boundary in particular had been lethally effective. After separating the main body from its two python shadows, the fate of the Spirit Ghost Python was already basically decided. Boom! A blast of night black Genesis Qi spewed forth, accompanied by a terrible stench and corrosive poison. Zhou Yuan thrust his hand forward, as an ancient, cryptic Genesis Rune emerged on his palm. ¡°Divine Gold Crystal Wall Rune!¡± The Genessi Rune rapidly grew as it absorbed the surrounding Genesis Qi. In a short few breaths, it had already transformed into a giant thousand foot wide golden crystal wall. This defensive Genesis Rune had been learnt after Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit advanced to the advanced Corporeal stage, and possessed astonishing defensive power that was enough to block a full powered attack from a ninth layer expert. Csh csh! The Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s Genesis Qi breath poured onto the crystal wall, causing an eruption of sizzling noises. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure abruptly etherealized, and appeared in front of the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s titanic body like a phantom. His hands tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush, as pitch-black climbed up on its snow-white tip. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± The shadow of a brush swept past with a low shout. Black blood immediately spouted out from a sinister wound that had been gorged open on the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s body. Hss! The Spirit Ghost Python madly threshed about as it released a piercing hiss. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly the instant the hiss rang out. He could sense the two python shadows trapped in the boundary begin to swiftly approach this location at this moment. The Spirit Ghost Python was calling its python shadows. Zhou Yuan sternly shouted, ¡°The python shadows are being summoned by it, and I can¡¯t stop them. Quickly, kill it!¡± The expressions of Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the rest changed with these words. If the python shadows managed to reach this place and fuse with the Spirit Ghost Python, its power would rise to match a Chosen. When that happened, it would be them instead who would be suppressed. As such, they unanimously strengthened their attacks, sending out wave after wave of Genesis techniques to bombard the Spirit Ghost Python. The Spirit Ghost Python could naturally guess their intentions, and immediately curled up its giant body as light began to flow on its black scales, making it appear as if it were a black metal mountain. Its defensive powers had been greatly boosted. It was obviously planning on buying time. It only needed to wait for the two python shadows to rush over, before it would reverse this situation. Tang Xiaoyna, Fan Yao and the rest gritted their teeth, not uttering a single word as they continued to unleash a frantic barrage of attacks. In the distance, the disciples of the three sects did not even dare to breathe too loudly. They knew that their strategy would have basically failed once the two python shadows returned to the main body. When that happened, let alone thinking about dividing the six color lake, even escaping unscathed from the rage of the Spirit Ghost Python would be a problem. Boom! Boom! Torrents of Genesis Qi rained down upon the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s enormous body. Black blood continuously flowed from the python, but though it appeared to have sustained serious injuries, it was still very much alive, causing the hearts of Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the rest to sink. The tenacity of the Spirit Ghost Python had far surpassed their expectations. Bzzbzz! At this moment, they suddenly sensed the space behind them begin to distort. In the next instant, two hissing night black python shadows emerged, which immediately darted towards the curled up Spirit Ghost Python. Jin Zhang hurriedly yelled, ¡°Stop them!¡± The rest attacked, but the two python shadows turned transparent when the deadly Genesis Qi attacks flew past, Genesis Qi passing through instead of doing anything¡­ as if they were ghosts. It was impossible to stop them. In that brief moment, the two python shadows had already neared the Spirit Ghost Python. The creature raised its head at this moment, extreme savageness infused in its eyes, as it locked onto Fan Yao and the others. Under its emotionless gaze, the hearts of the chief disciples trembled a little. Wang Yuan clenched his jaw and unwillingly said, ¡°We¡¯re finished!¡± Fan Yao was expressionless as his eyes rapidly flickered in thought. He was already prepared to retreat, because he knew that the situation would change once the Spirit Ghost Python managed to fuse. Only danger awaited them if they continued to stay here. He was obviously not the only one with such thoughts. The attacks of the others began to slow at this moment, evidently intending to conserve energy for their escape. Under numerous anxious gazes, the two python shadows zipped even nearer to the Spirit Ghost Python, now mere seconds away from rushing into its body. ¡°Go!¡± Fan Yao had already cried out, as he began to back away without the slightest shred of hesitation. Wang Yuan immediately followed. Tang Xiaoyan lightly gritted her teeth. Although she was unwilling, she could only turn towards Zhao Ru. ¡°Withdraw!¡± Zhao Ru angrily stomped her foot in the air, but had no choice but to comply. Jin Zhang frowned deeply as he urgently said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, we should also retreat!¡± However, Zhou Yuan did not follow the former, but instead stared at the wounded and bloodied body of the Spirit Ghost Python. He could feel its venomous gaze look back at him with a playful cruelness. It was clearly also aware that the situation would soon turn in its favor. When that happened, it would destroy every single one of these loathsome flies. Zhou Yuan looked straight at its vertical pupils, and slowly said, ¡°Did you really believe that you¡¯ll be able to turn things around?¡± He extended a head towards the curled up Spirit Ghost Python, a sharp light flitting across his eyes as he suddenly shouted, ¡°Erode!¡± Bzz! When his shout rang out, countless glows suddenly rushed out in the enormous body of the Spirit Ghost Python. Within these glows were countless thin hairs. They belonged to the Heavenly Yuan Brush, and had been steadily sent into the python¡¯s flesh each time its body had been torn open earlier. Hss! An intense pain instantly exploded in the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s body as it hissed in pain. It was as if a billion ants were biting away inside its body, frantically gnawing towards its heart. The Spirit Ghost Python released a piercing hiss, while the reflection of the two python shadows rapidly grew in its eyes¡­ once it fused with the shadows, it would be able to suppress the hairs that had invaded its body. ¡°Explode!¡± However, a low voice was spat at from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth at this moment. Boom! A muffled boom echoed within the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s body. The enormous body instantly turned rigid, as the savageness within its vertical pupils swiftly faded. The life force in its body had been completely exterminated at this moment. The two python shadows finally rushed into the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s body, but quickly flew back out split seconds later and dazedly floated outside. Rumble! The Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s body slowly fell from the air, creating torrential waves as it plunged into the six color lake. Zhou Yuan stood in the air, giant waves rising beneath his feet, as he calmly gazed at the corpse of the giant snake. The Heavenly Yuan Brush was pointed downwards at an angle, the hairs on its tip still flickering faintly. The originally retreating figures of Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the others came to an abrupt halt as they turned towards the figure above the giant waves with a trace of astonishment. They had clearly not expected Zhou Yuan to take away the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s life at the final moment, causing its attempt at fusion to end up in failure... ¡°He¡­¡± Zhao Ru¡¯s expression rapidly fluctuated, a sliver of fear flitting across her eyes as she stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Tang Xiaoyan also pursed her red lips, as her eyes flickered in thought. Fan Yao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a dark look flashing in his eyes as he looked at the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. The latter¡¯s Heaven Genesis Weapon was quite bizarre indeed. *Uproar*! In the distance, the Cangxuan Sect disciples exploded into excited cheers when they saw Zhou Yuan kill the Spirit Ghost Python at the very last moment. A commotion also swept across the disciples from the other two sects, clearly stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s last minute kill. Zhou Yuan spat out a long drawn out breath, before lifting his head to look at Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the rest, as he playfully said, ¡°Wasn¡¯t everyone leaving?¡± Tang Xiaoyan displayed a rather embarrassed look as she chuckled softly. Fan Yao icily snorted. He had no way to retort against Zhou Yuan¡¯s mockery. Rumble! However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to say something, his expression suddenly changed as he turned to focus on the center of the six color lake. Tang Xiaoyan, Fan Yao and the rest also sensed something and immediately cast their gazes over. Gurgle! The lake water began to churn, as a giant whirlpool was formed, while a gorgeously dazzling ancient tree slowly rose from within. ¡°This is¡­?¡± When the magnificent ancient tree appeared within everyone¡¯s sights, gasps rang out one after another. Gaze after gaze was practically glued to the ancient tree that seemed to grow out from the lake, unable to shift away. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 583 Fan Yao’s Viciousness A giant whirlpool began to form at the center of the six color lake, as a gorgeously dazzling ancient tree slowly rose from within. Its roots seemed to float in the water, absorbing the Genesis Qi inside to grow. Traces of black Genesis Qi was slowly receding from the surface of the tree, likely belonging to the Spirit Ghost Python from earlier. The Spirit Ghost Python had dragged the tree into the lake to hide it, but after the snake was killed, the Genesis Qi binding the tree dissipated, allowing it to once again resurface. Of course, these were just minor and unimportant details. Every gaze was currently focused on the ancient tree¡¯s branches, where many different colored fruits hung. These fruits looked as if they had been crafted from precious gems, and sparkled in a crystalline manner. Amongst them, some gave off three or four colored glows, creating an exceptionally mystical sight. Every gaze in the vicinity was glued to these fruits, while countless individuals secretly swallowed, unable to conceal the desire on their faces. They had discovered that these fruits were naturally formed Divine Establishing Treasures. Zhou Yuan, Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the other chief disciples were likewise stunned by the sight of this tree. Its existence had clearly exceeded their expectations, especially the very coveted fruit like Divine Establishing Treasures that hung from its branches. The fruits that gave off four color light were obviously four-color Divine Establishing Treasures. The most astonishing thing, however, were the four fist-sized fruits at the top of the tree. Five different colors flowed on the surface of these four fruits. Five-color Divine Establishing Treasures! In the face of these Divine Establishing Treasures, burning desire surged out even in the eyes of Zhou Yuan and the other chief disciples. However, they did also feel a little regretful that there were no six color fruits on the tree. In other words, there was no six-color Divine Establishing Treasure to be found in the six color lake. Was it because too many Divine Establishing Treasures had formed, leaving insufficient power to create a one at the six-color level? These feelings of regrets only lasted for a few seconds in the hearts of Zhou Yuan and the others, before quickly being pushed aside. The five-color Divine Establishing Treasure and the Mythic Genesis essence in the lake should be enough to push their Divine Establishing Treasures infinitely close to the six-color stage. Swoosh! While Zhou Yuan and the rest were staring at the fruits on the tree in longing, several rushing wind sounds were heard. Numerous figures soon arrived from all directions, landing in the vicinity of the six color lake. Some of the other factions had finally managed to rush over. They were immediately drawn to the ancient tree at the center of the lake the moment they arrived, their breathing growing heavier as greed filled their eyes. Some amongst them could not help but dash forward, but were soon sent flying by the repulsive force when they neared the lake. The disciples from the three sects began to spread out at this moment, as they turned their attention towards the newcomers. The pressure they created intimidated the various factions, making them think twice before acting. Not a single faction in Cangxuan Heaven has ever dared to challenge three of the overlord sects together after all. Zhou Yuan and the other chief disciples merely swept an indifferent glance at the factions that rushed over, before paying no further attention to them. Instead, they began to warily watch each other. Their temporary alliance from earlier had already vanished long ago. Zhou Yuan was the first to break the silence, as he slowly said, ¡°According to what we agreed on previously, my Cangxuan Sect should take forty percent. I believe the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the Sacred Palace have already acknowledged this earlier, right?¡± Tang Xiaoyan hesitated slightly. Just as she was about to speak, Fan Yao softly chuckled and said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, I believe you may have misunderstood a little. Even if the previous agreement is still in effect, it will not include the tree.¡± Anyone could see that this tree was the true treasure of the six color lake, and the Mythic Utopia essence in the lake had now become secondary. Hence, there was absolutely no way that Fan Yao would allow Zhou Yuan a forty percent share of the tree. ¡°You guys are going back on your word?¡± Growled Jin Zhang. Although he had expected this, such shamelessness from Fan Yao still elicited a surge of rage within him. Fan Yao cast a glance at the former, his eyes clearly filled with contempt. Zhou Yuan indifferently stared at Fan Yao without speaking. The atmosphere immediately became somewhat stifling for a time, as hidden under currents flowed between them. A long while later, Zhou Yuan finally said, ¡°How does chief disciple Fan Yao suggest we split it then?¡± Fan Yao softly chuckled and said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, since we¡¯ve already allowed you to take advantage of us in dividing up the six color lake, I feel that you should give in a little for the tree. How about this¡­ my Sacred Palace will take fifty percent of the tree, while the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and Cangxuan Sect will discuss how you guys will split the remaining fifty.¡± He paused for a moment, before he smiled and said, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m a little more inclined towards the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, and the Cangxuan Sect should show some grace, right? I suggest the ladies get thirty percent.¡± ¡°Why not suggest that the Sacred Palace distributes your fifty percent instead?¡± Jin Zhang smiled angrily. Fan Yao unhurriedly answered, ¡°Isn¡¯t that quite pointless. We¡¯ve already conceded for the six color lake, you can¡¯t expect us to also give in for the tree, right?¡± He revealed his eerily white teeth as he smiled. ¡°Or do you guys think my Scared Palace is an easy target?¡± Zhou Yuan held back the angry Jin Zhang as he smiled and said, ¡°Can I take it that we¡¯re unable to come to an agreement?¡± Fan Yao sighed when he heard this and looked towards Tang Xiaoyan. ¡°Junior sister Xiaoyan, it appears that the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s appetite is a little big.¡± Tang Xiaoyan smiled faintly, but did not say anything. She could already detect the changes in the atmosphere. Fan Yao seemed to be trying to put them on the same side. However, she did not answer him directly, because she honestly did not trust him. Fan Yao¡¯s gaze flickered upon seeing her avoidance of the topic. His hands lowered by his side as a voice wrapped in Genesis Qi was stealthily transmitted to Tang Xiaoyan and Zhao Ru. ¡°Junior sister Xiaoyan, If you guys cooperate with us, we¡¯ll split both the lake and tree fifty-fifty.¡± He had directly thrown out his offer, not bothering to hide anything. Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s pupils widened a little, as she sent a covert glance in Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang¡¯s direction. In contrast, Zhao Ru licked her lips, clearly somewhat tempted as she shot Tang Xiaoyan a look. However, Tang Xiaoyan lightly shook her head. ¡°Chief disciple Fan Yao, all three of us worked together to secure this location, I think it will be better to properly discuss things¡­¡± Fan Yao¡¯s eyes narrowed a little. He seemed to ponder for a moment, before his somewhat regretful voice was transmitted again, ¡°Since junior sister Xiaoyan thinks so highly of them, I will try and negotiate again. However, you guys will have to make some sacrifices.¡± Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, while a sliver of anxiousness and unwillingness flitted across Zhao Ru¡¯s eyes. ¡°What are you guys doing?!¡± Jin Zhang suddenly shouted at this moment, a guarded look in his eyes as he stared at Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the other two. The former had evidently already realized they were communicating in secret. Fan Yao chuckled softly as he moved closer to Tang Xiaoyan and Zhao Ru. ¡°What do you think?¡± Jin Zhang¡¯s suspicious gaze swept across Tang Xiaoyan, already suspecting that they may have come to a certain agreement to deal with the Cangxuan Sect. Tang Xiaoyan also realized this and attempted to explain. Boom! The instant she opened her mouth, however, Genesis Qi suddenly erupted from Fan Yao¡¯s body as a sinisterly chilling light surged in his eyes. His five fingers clenched tightly as a punch was thrown, while the Genesis Qi in his body rushed out without reservation and gathered on his fist. His punch was as quick as galloping thunder. The punch viciously flew towards the back of the nearest Zhao Ru. Zhao Ru turned her head in shock when she felt the approaching force, only for disbelief and horror to flood her eyes at the sight of Fan Yao¡¯s sinisterly twisted face. She never imagined that Fan Yao would attack her! Thud! Fan Yao¡¯s sneak attack had been too decisive, giving Zhao Ru no time to react. The terrifying punch landed on her body, as a torrent of Genesis Qi exploded on her back. Urgh! A mouthful of fresh blood was vomited from Zhao Ru¡¯s mouth, as her body twisted in agony. In the end, she fell from the sky and crashed into the six color lake below. Giant waves rose from the surface of the lake. Time seemed to stop at this moment. Even Zhou Yuan was visibly shocked. He had likewise not expected that Fan Yao would suddenly attack the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace... This guy¡¯s viciousness and boldness was truly alarming. Tang Xiaoyan returned to her senses at this moment as her pretty face turned ashen. Her kindly demeanor instantly vanished, replaced by an ice mountain like coldness as she stared daggers at Fan Yao. Fan Yao was expressionless as he gently rubbed his fist. He met Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s chilling gaze head-on and grinned. ¡°Tang Xiaoyan, since your Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace has spit on the respect I¡¯ve given, and refuses to cooperate with us¡­¡± His frosty gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°You shall accompany them to hell.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 584 Chaos All it had taken was a split second for the sudden display of violence by Fan Yao to seriously injure Zhao Ru and send her plummeting into the water. Outside the six color lake, with the exception of the Sacred Palace disciples, the Cangxuan Sect, Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the other factions were thoroughly shocked by this scene. All of them had clearly not expected Fan Yao, who had just moments ago been trying to pull the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace over to his side, to suddenly stab them in the back... The shock only lasted for a moment, before rage began to burn in the eyes of the many Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples. Their chilling gazes turned towards the Sacred Palace disciples in unison. ¡°Despicable Sacred Palace!¡± ¡°Kill them to avenge senior sister Zhao Ru!¡± The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples were clearly enraged by Fan Yao¡¯s actions. They immediately swarmed out, sending a bombardment of Genesis Qi towards the Sacred Palace group. The Sacred Palace disciples did not panic, as they swiftly got into position to defend against the attacks. ¡°What do we do?¡± Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the others were still a little dumbstruck as they watched. They had previously been guarding against the Sacred Palace and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace teaming up against them, only for the two groups to suddenly begin fighting. Gu Hongyi thought for a bit, before she said, ¡°We¡¯ll help the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace to deal with the Sacred Palace.¡± Since the equilibrium had already been broken by Fan Yao, they were naturally more than happy to side with the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. This would at the very least put them in an advantageous spot. Zhou Tai, Lu Yan and the others immediately nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°Senior and junior sisters of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, we¡¯re coming to aid you!¡± The Cangxuan Sect disciples dashed forward, boxing in the Sacred Palace disciples from another direction. Gu Hongyi had retained some level headedness, and thus did not direct the Cangxuan Sect disciples too close to the Hundred Flower Fairy Palace side. This would prevent them from being surrounded if the latter suddenly turned on them instead. Although the chance of that happening was slim, it did not hurt to guard against every possibility. Gu Hongyi had already experienced how humans were the greatest danger in the Mythic Utopia. The tamed conflicts in the sect were basically as pure and innocent as white lilies when compared to this place. The flames of battle spread outside the six color lake as the three groups fought. The other teams in the area quickly backed away upon seeing this, afraid they would be drawn into the conflict. However, when the Sacred Palace side saw the Cangxuan Sect join the fight, one of the leaders suddenly looked towards the teams behind them and roared, ¡°Anyone who stands with our Sacred Palace will get the Divine Establishing Treasures on the tree after this matter is resolved!¡± This individual was rather quick-witted, and knew that they would surely be at a disadvantage with the Hundred Flowers Fairy Place and Cangxuan Sect joining hands. Hence, he attempted to lure the other factions into the battle. Although they would not play a decisive role, it would at least alleviate some of the pressure from the Sacred Palace. His words immediately caused some of the teams to stir. The treasure tree in the lake was far too alluring after all. However, due to what they had seen earlier from the Sacred Palace, some of the teams were still quite hesitant to take up his offer. ¡°I promise it in the name of our palace master!¡± The Sacred Palace leader fanned the flames even harder. The other teams were finally no longer able to hold back this time. They quickly charged forward and began to enter the battlefield. With the addition of these other factions, the area around the lake grew even more chaotic. Although it was mayhem around the lake, the majority would cast their gazes towards the lake from time to time. They clearly understood that the true deciding factor was the battle between the chief disciples. The side that emerged the victor would greatly swing the momentum outside. ... In contrast to the chaos outside, the atmosphere in the lake was eerily chilling and still. Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s chest heaved gently, the fury and frostiness interweaving in her eyes turning her beautiful goose egg shaped face rather dark and stormy. She was sweet and gentle by nature, and this was the first time since they met that Zhou Yuan had seen her so angry. ¡°Good, I¡¯ve finally had a taste of the Sacred Palace methods today!¡± Tang Xiaoyan clenched her jaw as she sent Fan Yao a death stare. Fan Yao remained expressionless as he indifferently said, ¡°I repeatedly reached out to offer an alliance, but you just had to be so tactless. Since that was your choice, you shouldn¡¯t blame me for what happened.¡± At the very beginning, he had indeed wanted to ally with the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace to finish off the Cangxuan Sect first. However, he had not expected Tang Xiaoyan to be so guarded against him, and if things dragged on in this manner, the three groups would end up sharing the spoils equally. This was obviously not something he could accept. Hence, since the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace was being so uncooperative, he could only find a chance to break the equilibrium... However, there was one thing Fan Yao felt rather regretful about. He had originally intended to launch a sneak attack on Tang Xiaoyan. Zhao Ru was just a brainless woman with a big chest, and they had nothing to fear from her. As long as he could finish off Tang Xiaoyan, he was confident in stopping Zhao Ru from taking any action. But Fan Yao had not anticipated that Tang Xiaoyan would be so cautious, and maintain a certain distance from him from start to end. This made it impossible for him to act, and ultimately left him no choice but to attack Zhao Ru, who was completely oblivious to his true intentions. What could he do, when a woman was so gullibly trusting, he just had to do it... The outcome was surprisingly good. Even if Zhao Ru had not been finished off, she was likely cripled, and was no longer of any threat towards them. Now that it was two against three, Fan Yao had nothing to fear. While such thoughts were swirling in his head, Tang Xiaoyan laughed icily and mockingly said, ¡°Cooperate with you? Given your greedy nature, you¡¯ll probably turn on us the moment the Cangxuan Sect is out of the picture, right?¡± Fan Yao did not comment, but smiled and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it rather meaningless to say such things now?¡± Tang Xiaoyan icily stared at Fan Yao with eyes full of hatred. Soon after, the frostiness on her face receded as she turned towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang, I believe we should work together in this situation, right?¡± Zhou Yuan returned to his senses at this moment and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I hoped for.¡± It was naturally good to have one more chief disciple on their side. Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s figure moved backwards a little, and stood together with Zhou Yuan and Jin Zhang. Zhou Yuan looked at Fan Yao and smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯re quite the ruthless one, but doesn¡¯t it seem as if you don¡¯t have much of an advantage in this two versus three situation?¡± Fan Yao¡¯s sinister gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Has a single woman given you so much confidence?¡± A mocking angle rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Ah well, I guess it¡¯s time to make you pitiful fellows give up¡­¡± His hand patted the spatial bag at his waist, as a flash of red shot out. It appeared beside him, revealing itself to be a standing blood-red coffin. The coffin was covered in ancient patterns that looked both strange and eerie. Fan Yao gently patted the coffin, causing its cover to jerk and slowly slide away. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed when the cover fell, while Jin Zhang¡¯s expression changed drastically. A deathly pale corpse silently stood inside the coffin, with numerous blood-red patterns decorating its lifeless body. However, a strange and dangerous sensation spread from its body. Of course, the thing that had made Jin Zhang¡¯s expression change was that the corpse belonged to Ning Mo, whom Zhou Yuan had gravely injured previously! Fan Yao softly chuckled. ¡°The secret technique of the Sacred Blood Hall, Blood Corpse Art¡­¡± ¡°Please give me your guidance.¡± Previous Chapter Next Chapte Chapter 585 Battling Fan Yao The blood-red coffin sat erect in the air with Ning Mo¡¯s corpse standing within it. A sinisterly strange aura spread, causing the faces of Tang Xiaoyan and Jin Zhang to change. Creak! A bizarre noise sounded from Ning Mo¡¯s corpse at this moment, before it began to move. With slow and rigid steps, it slowly walked out of the blood coffin. His eyes were ash-white and contained no trace of life. However, an extremely chilling and hair-raising undulation spread from inside his body. Tang Xiaoyan gritted her teeth and icily said, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯ve turned your fellow disciple¡¯s corpse into a blood corpse?!¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, as a look of disgust flitted across his eyes. Fan Yao was truly unscrupulous. Ning Mo was a fellow disciple of the latter after all, and yet Fan Yao had turned his corpse into this abomination. Fan Yao ignored their judging gazes, and instead reached out a hand to gently caress Ning Mo¡¯s ash-colored corpse with a slight look of ecstasy in his eyes. The requirements to create a blood corpse were extremely stringent. Moreover, there was only a brief window to work with after the target¡¯s death to ensure that it would retain some of its strength when it was alive. He had been quite obsessed with this technique in the past, but never had an appropriate target to use it on until Ning Mo, who had ultimately become Fan Yao¡¯s best experimental material. After refining, the blood corpse would not be any weaker than Ning Mo when before his death, and if properly nurtured in the future, it may even surpass the former self when alive. Of course, the amount of resources needed to nurture the blood corpse was so enormous that even Fan Yao would have difficulty bearing it. ¡°I¡¯m sure junior brother Ning Mo will be very happy to know that he will still be useful to the Sacred Palace after his death.¡± Fan Yao raised his head and grinned at Zhou Yuan and Tang Xiaoyan. ¡°Moreover, I believe that the Sacred Palace elders will not have any objections to this matter. After all, the dignity of the Sacred Palace is far more important than anything else, and it¡¯s definitely worthwhile for me to use Ning Mo¡¯s corpse to regain some of our dignity.¡± Fan Yao¡¯s scarlet pupils paused on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, as the smile on his lips grew even more sinister. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, given the current situation, do you still feel that you guys have any chance of victory?¡± Fan Yao folded his hands into his sleeves, completely calm and composed. After eliminating one of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace chief disciples, the situation had once again fallen back into his control. He did not believe that the other side had any chance in a three versus three scenario. Tang Xiaoyan and Jin Zhang¡¯s faces turned rather ugly at this moment, clearly also realizing that the odds were no longer in their favor. Although the numbers on both sides were even, Fan Yao was not an ordinary chief disciple. His strength was ranked top ten even amongst the many chief disciples of Cangxuan Heaven. As such, Fan Yao only needed to beat his opponent to begin the domino effect that would lead to their crushing defeat. Upon seeing Tang Xiaoyan and Jin Zhang¡¯s expressions, Fan Yao laughed and said, ¡°Do you regret your decision now, Tang Xiaoyan? Did you really believe that these trash from the Cangxuan Sect would be of any use?¡± Before Tang Xiaoyan could reply, Zhou Yuan had already walked past her. He cracked his neck in a bored manner and said, ¡°Why so much rubbish¡­ won¡¯t we know the answer once we fight?¡± ¡°Ning Mo basically said the same thing as you previously, and what happened to him in the end?¡± Tang Xiaoyan was slightly taken aback as he gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. She did not know why, but the unease in her heart slowly began to fade when she saw his confident expression. Maybe he was that capable? Zhou Yuan tilted his head to the side and said, ¡°Chief disciple Jin Zhang and Tang Xiaoyan, I¡¯ll hand Wang Yuan and the blood corpse over to you guys. Leave Fan Yao to me.¡± Jin Zhang and Tang Xiaoyan nodded in acknowledgement. ¡°Be careful.¡± Warned Tang Xioayan, before the two began to move towards the left and right, moving to their own battlefields. With a wave of Fan Yao¡¯s hand, Wang Yuan and the blood corpse followed Tang Xiaoyan and Jin Zhang. The former folded his arms across his chest with what seemed to be a smile as he stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°I¡¯m honestly very curious to know why you¡¯re so confident in taking me on alone.¡± Zhou Yuan did not answer. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared and swiftly began to grow. Its snow-white tip gleamed icily as it swept across the air. His presence slowly began to grow at this moment. ¡°A Heaven Genesis Weapon huh¡­¡± In the earlier battle, Fan Yao had already seen the strangeness of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Yuan Brush. The former raised his eyebrows slightly, as blood light surfaced in his hand. A split second later, a ghastly white bone claw staff appeared. The ghastly claws on the tip of the staff seemed to stretch forward, a cold and sinister aura flowing along its sharp blades. It was also a Heaven Genesis Weapon. When it appeared, the air around Fan Yao turned chillingly cold, as ghastly wails began to echo. Although Fan Yao had repeatedly talked about how he looked down on Zhou Yuan, there was no sign of him going easy on the latter. Fan Yao was clearly being prudent to prevent any mistakes from happening. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan hands jerked lightly as golden Genesis Qi erupted from his head. One could faintly see a golden python coiling within it, as it reflected behind him to form a golden starry sky. ¡°The Genesis Qi starry sky phenomenon?¡± Fan Yao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°To have such a level at the seventh layer, you are really quite something.¡± ¡°However, if you believe that will allow you to act as you please before me, I¡¯m afraid that you¡¯ve made a grave mistake!¡± He suddenly slammed the claw staff downwards as blood-red Genesis Qi soared out from the top of his head. Blood-colored light flowed behind him, also transforming into a starry sky. What¡¯s more, his Genesis Qi starry sky was clearly substantially stronger than Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Fan Yao¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations was at the very least around the thirteen thousand level, and was clearly much stronger than Zhou Yuan¡¯s ten thousand level. Outside the lake, numerous gazes were closely watching the face off between Zhou Yuan and Fan Yao. The onlookers could not help but gasp when they saw both chief disciples display the Genesis Qi starry sky phenomenon. However, it appeared that Fan Yao had the upper hand. Zhou Yuan and Fan Yao¡¯s gazes clashed above the lake, as concentrated killing intent spilled from their eyes. It was obvious that both individuals were dying to kill the other. Rumble! In the next instant, a dazzling glow erupted from the starry skies behind them. A storm of Genesis Qi violently unfurled as both figures disappeared from the spot. Mere breaths later, the two figures collided in the sky. Countless gazes converged towards this location, focusing on the two figures that were clashing like heavenly lightning and earthly fire... They knew that the fight between these two would decide who would have the final laugh¡­ and regardless of who won, this battle would definitely spread throughout the Mythic Utopia. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 586 Hard Figh Clang! In the sky above the six color lake, vigorous golden Genesis Qi accompanied the Heavenly Yuan Brush as it sweeped downwards, and ferociously collided with the white bone claw staff. A clear ¡®clang¡¯ sounded, as a ripple that could be seen with the naked eye swept outwards, slightly distorting the surrounding space. Zhou Yuan and Fan Yao¡¯s gazes were locked together, chilling killing intent sugging within them. In the next instant, both parties made their move. Brush and staff shadows filled the sky, pouring out like torrential rain. A series of explosions immediately rumbled in the sky, the two individuals exchanging several hundred blows in the mere span of a few dozen breaths. Neither side tried anything fancy, both purely relying on their Genesis Qi foundations. Fan Yao was clearly extremely confident in his Genesis Qi foundations and believed that it was all he needed to crush Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan was unafraid. Although the number of Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling was less than Fan Yao, a battle between Genesis Qi was not solely based on Genesis Qi star number... Though his Omni Serpent Qi was only a grade 6 Genesis Qi. Its quality could match some grade 7 Genesis Qi. Fan Yao¡¯s blood-red Genesis Qi was also at grade 6, but there was still a substantial gap between it and Zhou Yuan¡¯s Omni Serpent Qi. Therefore, Fan Yao may have more Genesis Qi stars, but Zhou Yuan was superior in quality. Thud! Thud! Thud! The two fighters exchanged several hundred blows in the sky, the intensity of the battle causing several onlookers to swallow. However, they could tell that neither individual was able to take the upper hand. This was rather surprising to them. After all, from the standpoint of Genesis Qi foundations, Fan Yao was clearly at an advantage, but reality showed that this not actually the case. Clang! The Heavenly Yuan Brush and white bone staff fiercely clashed in the sky, causing ripples to sweep outwards, before the two figures shot backwards. Zhou Yuan steadied his body as he stared at Fan Yao. The latter was very powerful indeed. Zhou Yuan had managed to suppress Ning Mo previously with his Genesis Qi alone, but was currently equally matched against Fan Yao. However, Fan Yao¡¯s expression was clearly much darker than Zhou Yuan, likely not expecting his advantage in Genesis Qi to achieve nothing against Zhou Yuan. ¡°His Genesis Qi is clearly at the grade 6 level, why is it able to suppress my Blood Demon Genesis Qi?¡± Fan Yao was rather frustrated. The grade 6 Genesis Qi he cultivated was something that was only available to the chief disciples even in the Sacred Palace. He should have been able to suppress Zhou Yuan even if he also cultivated grade 6 Genesis Qi. Although Fan Yao was frustrated and unable to comprehend this situation, he was after all a seasoned fighter, and quickly withdrew these feelings. He swept an icy glance at Zhou Yuan, as his hands suddenly formed a seal. Bzz! Blood-red Genesis Qi poured out from his body, causing a bloody stench to fill the area. Since he could not gain the upper hand with Genesis Qi alone, he would have to bring out Genesis techniques to obtain victory. As the chief disciple of the Sacred Blood Hall, Fan Yao had already spent many years training in the Sacred Palace, and did not believe he would be incapable of dealing with a new chief disciple that had been in the Cangxuan Sect for a few years at most. ¡°Poison Blood Dragon technique!¡± Blood-red Genesis Qi violently churned around Fan Yao as it swiftly condensed into an enormous blood dragon. Poison Qi surged around the blood dragon¡¯s body, giving it an imposing presence. The Poison Blood Dragon technique was a low grade Heaven Genesis technique that boasted formidable power. He had practiced it for many years, and was very close to mastering it. With a loud shout from Fan Yao, poison Qi rapidly swirled around the roaring blood dragon as it flew towards Zhou Yuan, creating an extremely intimidating and alarming sight. Zhou Yuan stood in the air, his expression unchanged as he watched the roaring blood dragon approach. His hands swiftly formed a seal, as the Genesis Qi in his body frantically began to gather. His mouth began to balloon at this moment. ¡°Heavenly Sun God Record, Heavenly Sun Flame!¡± In the next instant, his mouth abruptly opened as dark golden flames burst out like the fiery breath of a dragon, and clashed with the poison blood dragon. These dark golden Heavenly Sun Flames were a sign that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Sun God Record had reached the stage of perfection. The surrounding temperature rose rapidly at this moment, completely sweeping away the bloody stench. Chch! Dark golden flames and blood dragon collided. The poison around the blood dragon¡¯s body was completely burned away by the rising flames, while the dragon¡¯s body rapidly began to shrink at a rate that could be seen by the naked eye. After a few dozen breaths, the blood dragon had been incinerated away into nothingness. The dark golden flames, on the other hand, still retained some of their power, and continued on their path towards the stormy looking Fan Yao. Fan Yao waved his sleeve, causing blood-red Genesis Qi to form a screen of light in front of him that blocked the remnant dark golden flames. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth begin to balloon again. ¡°Heavenly Sun Flame!¡± Another breath of dark golden flames spewed out, mercilessly chopping down towards Fan Yao from above like an axe. Fan Yao did not dare to tarry and hurriedly urged out his Genesis Qi. Another poison blood dragon took shape and hastily rose to meet the flames. Boom! Boom! Dark golden flames and blood dragon clashed continuously, the spreading aftershocks violently devastating the surroundings. Genesis Qi shockwaves wreaked havoc as the dark expression on Fan Yao¡¯s face rapidly receded. However, he quickly sensed a strange disturbance behind him, and quickly turned to look, only to find an invisible force lifting the lake water, turning it into a giant hand that ruthlessly swatted towards him. The giant hand had come noiselessly, without even the tiniest hint of any Genesis Qi undulations. ¡°Spirit power?!¡± Fan Yao¡¯s expression sunk. Zhou Yuan had evidently begun his onslaught in an attempt to take the initiative. Fan Yao stomped his foot as blood-red Genesis Qi soared into the sky, turning into another giant blood-red hand that mercilessly smashed into the lake water hand. *Crash*! The two hands simultaneously shattered, lake water turning into a torrential rainstorm that began pouring back into the lake. Zhou Yuan stood amidst the rain. Droplets that fell within a foot of his body were automatically bounced away, as if being stopped by an invisible force. The Spirit between his brows shook violently. He reached out a hand and aimed it at Fan Yao, as the Spirit power of the advanced Corporeal stage erupted without any reservation. ¡°Spirit Jolt!¡± Bzz! An invisible blast of Spirit suddenly shot forth, far more sudden and swift than a Genesis Qi attack. As such, the blast of invisible Spirit power had already struck Fan Yao before he could even react. Bzz! The Spirit attack did not give off any astonishing presence, but Fan Yao¡¯s expression instantly changed. Although he did not sustain any physical injuries, his face abruptly twisted in pain. An intense pain pulsed from between his brows, making him feel as if he was being torn apart. It was the damage caused by the Spirit Jolt. A strong wave of dizziness exploded in his head, nearly bursting it from the inside. Fortunately, Fan Yao was no ordinary individual, and immediately bit the tip of his tongue, spitting out essence blood that quickly tunnelled into his forehead, creating a blood-red mark. Only then did the intense Spirit pain slowly begin to fade. Thump! However, he had only just stopped the intense pain when he heard the sound of rushing wind to his front. His heart immediately shivered as he cursed ¡®oh no¡¯ in his heart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was dashing over like a phantom, five fingers tightly gripping into a fist, jade light flickering from his skin, while silver blossomed in his bones. Boom! His expression was chillingly cold as a punch containing enormous power descended, taking full advantage of Fan Yao¡¯s lapse in concentration, as it mercilessly struck at the latter¡¯s fatal spots. In his rush, Fan Yao could only use his blood-red Genesis Qi to create a defensive screen of light in front of him. Crack! However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch instantly shattered Fan Yao¡¯s defense, and slammed into his chest. He immediately vomited a mouthful of blood, as his figure miserably plummeted downwards, drawing deep scars on the surface of the six color lake below. The battle over here was constantly under watch by numerous individuals. As such, countless gasps of surprise immediately sounded when they saw this development. Gaze after gaze was filled with shock as they dazedly stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the sky, clearly not expecting Fan Yao would be the first to be injured... In the other two chief disciple battles, Tang Xiaoyan and Jin Zhang also noticed the situation. Although Jin Zhang was also somewhat surprised, he was still able to accept this outcome due to his repeated exposure to Zhou Yuan¡¯s miracles in the past. In contrast, Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s mouth hung wide open, while her beautiful eyes were overflowing with astonishment. This scene had clearly been a substantial blow to her. In the air, Zhou Yuan looked down from above at the figure on the lake. He did not relax although he had gained the upper hand earlier, because he could sense a heart-palpitating Genesis Qi undulation brewing within Fan Yao¡¯s body. Blood-red Qi slowly rose from Fan Yao¡¯s body as he slowly lifted his head inch by inch. His originally scarlet pupils had turned completely blood-red at this moment. Blood had even begun flowing from the corners of his eyes, making him extremely terrifying. An indescribably violent killing intent pulsed from his body. After being injured by Zhou Yuan, the third ranked chief disciple of the Sacred Palace had now been fully angered. Blood-red Qi gathered on Fan Yao¡¯s body, ultimately forming a giant thousand foot tall blood-red shadow that was akin to a blood demon. When it appeared, Zhou Yuan felt the blood in his body stir chaotically. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned grave. In the distance, Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s expression changed when she saw the bewitching yet bizarre blood shadow as she hurriedly shouted, ¡°Be careful Zhou Yuan, that¡¯s the strongest Genesis technique of the Sacred Blood Hall¡­¡± Before her words could fade, Zhou Yuan heard a chillingly eerie voice slowly ring out from Fan Yao¡¯s mouth. ¡°Great! Blood! Demon! Skill!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 587 Saint Spirit VS Blood Demon Whoo whoo! On the surface of the six color lake, an enormous blood shadow enveloped Fan Yao¡¯s body. The blood shadow had no face, only a pair of floating eyes that were exceptionally long and strangely chilling. Below the eyes was a sinister black crack that looked akin to its mouth. When opened, the surrounding Genesis Qi was immediately sucked in. A terrifying Genesis Qi pressure slowly spread from the blood shadow. As they gazed at the bizarre blood shadow, intense fear rose even in the many individuals outside the lake, evidently sensing the dreadful power of Fan Yao¡¯s Genesis technique. The third ranked chief disciple of the Sacred Palace had finally been angered by Zhou Yuan, and had now brought out his true mettle. In fact, even the faces of the two chief disciples, Jin Zhang and Tang Xiaoyan, had turned exceedingly grave. In the face of such power, whether or not they would be able to even escape unscathed would be a problem. Under countless fearful gazes, Fan Yao¡¯s blood-red pupils locked onto Zhou Yuan. The former wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth, as a chilling to the extreme voice growled from between his teeth. ¡°Zhou Yuan, when you land in my hands later, I will slowly drain every drop of blood from your body! I will let you enjoy the meaning of true terror before you die!¡± Rumble! An ear-piercing shriek exploded from the enormous blood demon shadow. Its giant blood-red hand suddenly reached out, transforming into a flash of blood-red as it ruthlessly swatted towards Zhou Yuan. The fabric of space warped violently as the hand thrust forward, while the air exploded under its power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure rapidly etherealized as he swiftly shot backwards, just barely avoiding the blood hand with his full speed. Rumble! However, his figure had barely escaped from the range of the blood hand attack, when blood Qi suddenly filled the area. The blood Qi was viscous and sticky, seemingly forming a swamp made from blood. Amidst the blood swamp, Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed immediately fell. ¡°Die!¡± With a furious roar from Fan Yao, a shadow descended from the sky. The sound of rushing wind was heard from below Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet, as he found two giant blood hands clapping towards him from above and below, completely cutting off any path of escape. Countless gasps sounded outside the six color lake. In the distance, Tang Xiaoyan and Jin Zhang¡¯s hearts also rose in their chests. Thump! Under the many watching gazes, the blood hands slammed into each other. Blood Qi churned wildly, rippling the space around them. Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s heart could not help but shiver at this scene. Even if Zhou Yuan was able to withstand the attack, he would surely be heavily injured. On the lake below, a sinister smile rose from the corners of Fan Yao¡¯s mouth. ¡°You annoying fly¡­ let¡¯s see if you¡¯ve been swatted to death!¡± Bzz! However, a mysterious glow suddenly began to emerge from between the two giant blood hands in the sky at this moment. The light grew stronger and stronger, as the two blood hands were slowly forced apart. The smile on Fan Yao¡¯s face turned rigid. Boom! In the end, the blood demon¡¯s hands were pushed away with a jerk. Numerous gazes looked over, and found Zhou Yuan standing in the sky, with a mysterious giant glowing figure enveloping his body. A surge of terrifying Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from the mysterious glowing figure, not the least bit weaker than Fan Yao¡¯s blood demon shadow. ¡°This is¡­¡± Tang Xiaoyan and Fan Yao¡¯s pupils tightened slightly at this moment. ¡°The Omega Saint Spirit Art of Saint Genesis Peak?!¡± The two shouted at the same time, though Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s tone was pleasant surprise, while Fan Yao¡¯s was a little gloomy. They were evidently well aware of this top tier Genesis technique that belonged to the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°I never expected him to have learnt this technique!¡± Tang Xiaoyan breathed a heavy sigh of relief, an exceptional splendour rising in her eyes when she looked towards Zhou Yuan. The Omega Saint Spirit Art was one of the strongest Genesis techniques of the Cangxuan Sect. No wonder there had been barely any panic when he saw Fan Yao bring out the Great Blood Demon skill earlier. Zhou Yuan looked down from the sky to meet Fan Yao¡¯s gaze, killing intent swirling in both individual¡¯s eyes. Boom! Neither party said a single word, as one suddenly swooped down from the air, while the other dashed into the sky. The blood demon roared, the avatar of violence and ferocity. The saint spirit howled, filled with immeasurable and mysterious power. Rumble! Giant waves seem to rise in the sky, as the two titans unleashed a terrifying barrage of attacks, the residual energies violently stirring the six color lake below. Even Tang Xiaoyan, Jin Zhang, Wang Yuan and the blood corpse had no choice but to back away such that they would not be caught up in the aftershocks. The intensity of Zhou Yuan and Fan Yao¡¯s fight had already surpassed everyone else. Boom! The blood demon shadow collided against the saint spirit, while Fan Yao and Zhou Yuan continuously poured Genesis Qi into their techniques from the inside... Fan Yao¡¯s blood-red pupils stared at Zhou Yuan as he roared, ¡°Watch how my blood demon tears your saint spirit to shreds!¡± However, Zhou Yuan responded with a mocking smile. The Spirit between his brows began to flicker as invisible Spirit power swept forth once again, viciously lashing towards Fan Yao. ¡°Spirit Jolt!¡± After advancing to the advanced Corporeal stage, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit attacks had grown stranger and more unpredictable. Against someone whose Spirit cultivation was weak enough, all it would take was a single thought from Zhou Yuan to destroy his or her Spirit. It could even be said to be assassinating without leaving any traces. However, though Fan Yao¡¯s Spirit was not as strong as his opponent¡¯s, it was not overly weak either, and was thus able to endure the attacks. But every time Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit Jolt swept forth, an intense tearing pain would begin ripping apart Fan Yao¡¯s head. Whenever this happened, the giant blood demon around Fan Yao¡¯s body would be viciously beaten back by the saint spirit. After several repetitions, Fan Yao¡¯s figure had become somewhat ragged, while he was on the verge of exploding due to anger. ¡°Zhou Yuan! You despicable person. Are you only capable of using your Spirit to disturb me!¡± Bellowed Fan Yao. However, Zhou Yuan merely chuckled in response to the former¡¯s frustration. His Spirit was his advantage, and was he naturally not foolish enough to abandon it. It was after all something he had worked hard to cultivate. Thump! Thump! As such, he responded by directing the saint spirit to unleash a vicious attack that forcefully ripped apart Fan Yao¡¯s blood demon shadow¡¯s hand. Fan Yao¡¯s expression turned ashen, while his eyes turned eerily stormy. He knew that it was only a matter of time before the blood demon shadow was torn to shreds if this continued... ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s so difficult to deal with¡­¡± Fan Yao took in a deep breath, as a savage and cruel glint flickered in his eyes. ¡°It seems that I¡¯ll have to use my final trump card¡­¡± He swept a sinisterly chilling glance at Zhou Yuan, before suddenly retreating, heading directly for the battlefield between Jin Zhang and the blood corpse. Jin Zhang hurriedly backed away when he saw this. However, Fan Yao paid no attention to the former. His figure moved and appeared beside the blood corpse, before pouncing towards it, as a set of eerily white teeth bit into the corpse¡¯s neck. *Suck*! The blood corpse struggled as its body began to wither. All the blood within it flowed out at this moment, and was completely sucked up by Fan Yao. Fan Yao¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations suddenly began to climb in a crazy manner! Strange blood runes spread on his body, making him look akin to a blood devil. The hairs of the numerous onlookers began to stand when they saw this, as a chill rose from the bottom of their feet. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 588 Unscrupulous Countless gazes watched in alarm and fright as Fan Yao grabbed the blood corpse that had been made from Ning Mo, and frantically sucked out all of its blood. Genesis Qi undulations erupted from the former¡¯s body, and began to climb at an astonishing speed. The crazy rate of increase caused the expression of the nearby Tang Xiaoyan to change drastically. ¡°You¡¯re insane Fan Yao! I can¡¯t believe that you would even resort to such measures!¡± Shouted Tang Xiaoyan through gritted teeth. Fan Yao¡¯s actions were hard to accept no matter where you were. The blood corpse had been made from Ning Hai after all, and they were once fellow disciples of the same sect. And yet, Fan Yao was now sucking his fellow brother¡¯s blood! A somewhat complicated expression rose in the eyes of the other Sacred Palace chief disciple, Wang Yuan, when he saw this. Fan Yao was using an extremely vicious secret art of the Sacred Blood Hall, in which he consumed fresh blood to temporarily raise his strength. However, this technique was far too malicious, and would leave detrimental after effects. As such, even the Sacred Blood Hall disciples would seldom practice it... Let alone use it on a fellow disciple... However, he also understood that Fan Yao was left with no other option at this moment, because Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had surpassed everyone¡¯s expectations... If the Sacred Palace lost to the Cangxuan Sect here, they would be unable to explain themselves when they met their Chosens later on, especially because the Chosen from the Sacred Blood Hall was that Zhan Taiqing! As a Sacred Palace disciple, all of them clearly understood the second ranked Chosen¡¯s character. Do not let her seductively beautiful appearance fool you, because she was in truth extremely vicious, cruel and heartless. In fact, even the other Chosens were deeply wary of her. This was precisely the reason why things would not end up well for Fan Yao if she were to find out that he had been defeated by Zhou Yuan. Hence, Fan Yao needed to do everything he could to kill Zhou Yuan and solidify the reputation of the Sacred Blood Hall. In the sky, the blood corpse rapidly withered at a speed that could be seen by the naked eye, ultimately turning into dust that drifted away with the wind. Fan Yao¡¯s hair was messily scattered behind him, while his pupils glowed with a blood-red light. The blood runes on his body wiggled like worms, while bloody blisters began to swell from under his skin, before exploding, causing a splatter of blood and a horrible stench to spread. The current Fan Yao looked like a monster. However, the Genesis Qi undulations that pulsed from his body had reached rather alarming levels. In fact, even the space around him seemed to distort a little. He slowly raised his head, as his glowing pupils locked onto Zhou Yuan. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as a chilling voice that could freeze even the air itself sounded. ¡°I never imagined that I would be pushed so far by you¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned grave at this moment. Fan Yao in this state made the former feel a strong sensation of danger. ¡°Zhou Yuan, let¡¯s join forces!¡± Shouted Tang Xiaoyan. The blood corpse had now been consumed by Fan Yao, and she was now free to aid Zhou Yuan. Rumble! However, the Genesis Qi in Fan Yao¡¯s body erupted a split second after her voice rang out, as he disappeared from the spot. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank as he shouted, ¡°Careful!¡± A foreboding feeling also rose in Tang Xiaoyan as she hurriedly retreated. Swoosh! Just as she was about to back away, Fan Yao¡¯s body appeared above her like a phantom, his pupils glowing scarlet-red, as a sinister smile rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°Tang Xiaoyan, since you want to die, I shall grant fulfil your wish!¡± His hand swatted downwards as mountain-toppling blood-red Genesis Qi swept out from his palm with horrifying momentum. As his hand descended, a giant palm print appeared on the surface of the six color lake below. Genesis Qi also rose from Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s body as she poured out her full power into creating multiple layers of defenses. Bang! However, these defenses were as frail as paper under Fan Yao¡¯s palm, and were easily torn apart in a short few breaths. Berserk Genesis Qi rushed forth, violently blasting into Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s outstretched arms. Crack! Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s pretty face paled as she vomited a mouthful of blood. Her figure miserably tumbled through the air, her slender arms somewhat twisted in an unnatural manner. ¡°Senior sister!¡± Outside the six color lake, the disciples of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace turned pale at the sight of this scene. An anxious expression flooded Luluo¡¯s eyes. She was pretty close to Tang Xiaoyan, and was naturally worried about the latter¡¯s safety. Swoosh! Fan Yao did not relent after his successful blow, but instead shot forth once more an attempt to finish off Tang Xiaoyan in the quickest manner possible. His current speed was extremely quick, enabling him to catch up to Tang Xiaoyan in a flash as terrifying Genesis Qi converged in his palm once more. A feeling of despair rose in Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s heart when she saw this. However, she did not give up, but instead gritted her teeth as a decisive look emerged in her eyes. She was prepared to fight till death. However, a figure appeared behind her just as she was about to act. An arm reached out and hooked around her waist, before quickly retreating like a shadow, directly evading Fan Yao¡¯s chasing strike. Tang Xiaoyan was initially stunned from being grabbed at the waist. Just as Genesis Qi was about to surge out, the arm around her waist loosened and released her. Her head jerked around, and found Zhou Yuan standing beside her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Zhou Yuan looked at her. Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s pale face flushed a little as she shook her head and softly replied, ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t clash with him directly, he¡¯s very powerful now.¡± Fan Yao stood in the air nearby, slightly cocking his head as he looked at the two chief disciples and playfully said, ¡°Still in the mood to act the hero and save the damsel in distress even at this juncture?¡± His voice was filled with ridicule. However, he soon waved his hand and lazily said, ¡°Never mind, since you¡¯re already so into the act, allow me to give you two a fitting scenario¡­ how about a pair of lovebirds fleeing for their lives?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm as he said, ¡°It¡¯s never good to celebrate too early¡­ I believe your current empowered state will not last for long, right?¡± Fan Yao lifted his palm as dreadful blood-red Genesis Qi converged towards it into a swirling mass, as he nonchalantly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s plenty of time to finish you guys off, and even massacre the other disciples from your teams.¡± Fan Yao¡¯s gaze shifted towards Tang Xiaoyan, ¡°Tang Xiaoyan, do you regret collaborating with the useless Cangxuan Sect now?¡± Tang Xiaoyan icily chuckled. ¡°Who dares to cooperate with someone who would even devour his fellow disciple?¡± Fan Yao shrugged in an uncaring manner. ¡°The victor is always right.¡± ¡°However, you¡¯ve reminded me that I¡¯ll need to exterminate all the disciples from your teams after finishing you guys off such as to safeguard my reputation. Everyone shall be buried together in this beautiful six color lake.¡± The muder laced in his words made terror rise within anyone who heard them. In the face of such a brutal Fan Yao, even Tang Xiaoyan paled substantially. In contrast, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged like the water in an ancient well, as he slowly said, ¡°You appear to believe that you¡¯ve already won?¡± ¡°What else can possibly happen?¡± A wide smile was plastered across Fan Yao¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan said to Tang Xiaoyan, ¡°Leave him to me. There¡¯s no need for you to interfere.¡± She hesitated somewhat, but ultimately nodded. Though she was extremely doubtful of Zhou Yuan¡¯s words... Fan Yao crossed his arms as he toyingly stared at Zhou Yuan, seemingly very interested in where the latter found such confidence. Swish! With Fan Yao watching, Zhou Yuan turned into a blur as he moved, zipping away from the six color lake amidst countless stunned gazes. *Uproar*! Numerous gasps stealthily rang out. It seemed as if Zhou Yuan was¡­ running? Fan Yao was also taken aback for a moment, before he began to burst into laughter. He looked at the similarly stunned Tang Xiaoyan and chuckled, ¡°Is he planning on abandoning you guys to run?¡± Tang Xiaoyan did not answer, her heart sinking as she watched the swiftly leaving figure. Fan Yao sighed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already said that I will make you two fleeing lovebirds, how can I allow him to survive alone?¡± Swish! His figure disappeared once again, as a blur streaked past in the sky, swiftly chasing after Zhou Yuan. Fan Yao was extremely quick, and the gap between the two rapidly shrank at a rate that could be seen by the naked eye. Anyone could see that it was impossible for Zhou Yuan to escape. Jin Zhang¡¯s figure appeared beside Tang Xiaoyan. The latter looked at him in a hesitant manner, before she asked, ¡°He¡­ what is he doing?¡± She was evidently still somewhat unable to believe that Zhou Yuan was really abandoning them to escape by himself. Jin Zhang was silent for a moment, before he answered, ¡°He¡¯s not that kind of person.¡± Tang Xiaoyan faintly nodded in agreement as confusion surfaced in her eyes. She too felt that Zhou Yuan was not such a person, so what exactly was he up to now? Every gaze both in and outside of the six color lake was currently focused on the two fleeing and chasing figures... Swish! Under their gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure turned around several dozen breaths later, and landed in the middle of the ancient mountain forest. His figure descended from the sky, landing on the solid ground. Fan Yao¡¯s figure soon appeared in front of Zhou Yuan and began looking around as a flash of understanding struck him. ¡°So you were finding a good grave for yourself.¡± ¡°This place is pretty good.¡± Zhou Yuan ignored the former, and took in a deep breath, before squatting down as he gently placed both palms flat on the earth. At the sight of these actions, Fan Yao frowned as a faint sense of unease rose within him. ¡°Forget it, there¡¯s no point in continuing to play with you any longer. I guess I¡¯ll kill you now.¡± He began to walk forward as he spoke. Zhou Yuan lowered his head and stared at the back of his hands. A Saint Rune that gave off a mysterious aura was slowly emerging from the flesh of his palms. Rumble! The land began to tremble faintly at this moment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed, as a voice sounded in his heart. ¡°Allow me to witness your power¡­¡± ¡°Earth Saint Rune!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 589 Earth Saint Rune Reveals its Power Bzz! Bzz! As Fan Yao stepped forward with murder in his eyes, he suddenly felt the ground tremble faintly. He initially brushed it off as his imagination, but the shaking soon began to grow more and more violent... The land shuddered, ripples spreading upon it as if it were the surface of a lake. Zhou Yuan was located at the very epicenter of these ripples. Fan Yao could feel that something seemed to be surging over from all directions under the ground, giving off an invisible pressure. Even in his current state, the pressure made Fan Yao feel a trace of fear. It was if he were an ant standing before a towering mountain... Fan Yao stared at Zhou Yuan in alarm and uncertainty, somewhat unable to believe that the latter was the origin of this power. What kind of Genesis technique was this?! ¡°What trickery are you up to?!¡± Fan Yao¡¯s expression had turned dark and frosty as he quickened his pace, turning to a flash of blood-red as he shot towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Did you believe these tactics will be able to scare me off? Naive fool!¡± ¡°Watch me smash your tactics to pulp with a punch!¡± Rumble! Blood-red Genesis Qi soared into the sky, seemingly dying half the sky in a blood-red hue. Violent Genesis Qi undulations unfurled from Fan Yao¡¯s body, forcefully snapping the towering trees in the vicinity. ¡°Great Blood Demon skill!¡± Blood-colored light began to converge from all over the sky as he roared, forming a giant blood demon shadow. This blood demon shadow had grown even more terrifying than when Fan Yao had used it earlier! The entire area was filled with the stench of blood. A frightening Genesis Qi pressure spread, causing the ground the crumble. Thump! Fan Yao¡¯s figure rose into the sky with a sinisterly twisted face. He paused in the air for a few moments, before suddenly diving down and fusing with the enormous blood demon shadow, causing his aura to reach a dreadfully fear-inducing level. ¡°Die!¡± He roared as he threw a punch. Human fist and the giant blood demon hand moved together, blood-red Genesis Qi converging towards them as they streaked across the sky like a blood-colored shooting star, accompanied by destructive energies as they ruthlessly blasted towards Zhou Yuan below. The ground below had already begun to crumble before the punch had even landed, the surrounding forest continuously collapsing as if swallowed into the earth. The current Fan Yao was akin to a blood devil that was wreaking havoc on the human world. However, although Fan Yao was currently alarmingly imposing, Zhou Yuan remained with his hands gently pressed onto the ground, not even lifting his head to look, although the wind pressure from the sky caused his clothes to madly flap about his body. ¡°You¡¯re dead no matter what kind of trick you have this time!¡± As the final word rang out, Fan Yao had already begun hurtling downwards like a meteor, while his fist blasted through the air. Zhou Yuan finally slowly raised his head at this moment. His pupils had taken on an ageless yellow hue, giving off a heavy and ancient glow, while filled with unfathomable mysteriousness. The alarming sight of Fan Yao fused with the blood demon shadow as he descended from the sky were reflected in these ageless yellow pupils, before Zhou Yuan''s palms suddenly pushed into the ground. Rumble! In that instant, the land within a hundred miles began to shake violently. Anyone who could sense the Genesis Qi undulations beneath the ground would see endless Genesis Qi rushing over from every direction. Zhou Yuan raised one of his hands, as ageless yellow Genesis Qi gathered towards his palm, seemingly forming a vortex of sorts. He intended to meet Fan Yao¡¯s terrifying attack head-on. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re courting death!¡± Fan Yao laughed in anger. A split second later, blood light fell from the sky with overwhelming destructive might, and mercilessly crashed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Boom! A ripple that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled, snapping countless towering trees within a ten thousand feet radius. The ground around Zhou Yuan collapsed, forming a giant pit. Fan Yao laughed sinisterly, as if he had already seen the fate of Zhou Yuan being destroyed into nothingness by his power. ¡°I shall see how you¡¯ll survive this time!¡± However, his loud laughter came to an abrupt halt when the dust below gradually began to scatter. Fan Yao looked down with a frozen expression, staring at Zhou Yuan, who was still in the same kneeling position inside the pit, one hand in contact with the ground, while the other was outstretched towards the sky. Ageless yellow Genesis Qi swirled in the form of a mysterious vortex on his outstretched palm. Fan Yao¡¯s frightening attack from earlier had utterly failed to shatter the seemingly weak looking ageless yellow vortex. Not even the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes had been damaged. His youthful face was as calm as a deep abyss, while his eyes indifferent looked at Fan Yao. ¡°How¡­ is this possible¡­¡± Fan Yao stared at this scene in a daze, unable to believe that his full power blow had been unable to harm even a single hair on Zhou Yuan. ¡°It can¡¯t be¡­¡± ¡°Is this an illusion¡­¡± However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers slowly tightened into a fist, his bottomless eyes staring at Fan Yao as he said, ¡°It should be my turn to attack next, right?¡± Swoosh! Fan Yao¡¯s figure rapidly retreated the instant these words sounded, pushing his speed to the max with the intent of fleeing from his place, as fear surfaced in the eyes. The earlier scene had clearly caused an intense feeling of dread to rise within him. He was very decisive, ignoring everyone else and first prioritizing his escape. His gut told him that if he did not leave now, this place would likely become his grave... Zhou Yuan watched the fleeing Fan Yao with indifference, paying no attention to the latter as his hand remained fixed to the ground. Boundless ageless yellow Genesis Qi was currently pouring into his body like a flood. The Earth Saint Rune! It could draw in the Genesis Qi contained within the earth. Such power was pure and heavy, power that could only form in the depths of the earth. A thin layer of crystal gradually began to appear on Zhou Yuan¡¯s right arm. The crystal layer gave off an ageless yellow sheen, while faint ancient grooves seemed to grow along it. These grooves gave off a natural feeling, as if they were born from nature itself. He could feel an explosive power gathering in his right arm. The power was so strong that it caused several bloody cracks to split open on his right arm, a sign that his body was unable to bear its might. Huu! Zhou Yuan exhaled deeply, as a cold and cruel light flickered in his eyes. His five fingers clenched tightly as he looked towards the hurriedly fleeing Fan Yao, before suddenly throwing his right fist a split second later. Boom! A thunderous sound boomed across the land, as an enormous glowing pillar of ageless yellow Genesis Qi abruptly shot out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist. Ageless yellow Genesis Qi churned like a tsunami, seemingly turning into a giant rampaging dragon as it flew through the air, and appeared behind Fan Yao in a single breath. The terrifying undulations spreading behind him caused Fan Yao¡¯s soul to nearly jump out of his body. With a mad howl, the giant blood demon shadow around him glowed brightly as he channelled all of his power into a torrent that ruthlessly blasted towards the ageless yellow Genesis Qi. Bang! The two forces collided a split second later. Next, the thing that Fan Yao dreaded the most happened. The blood demon shadow that contained all of his power was unable to endure for even a few breaths in the face of the ageless yellow flood, and exploded with one final wail. ¡°I admit defeat! I admit defeat! Please spare my life!¡± Shrieked Fan Yao, his face filled with terror. ¡°If you kill me, the Chosen of my Sacred Blood Hall, Zhan Taiqing, will not let you off!¡± Boom! However, Zhou Yuan was indifferent. As the blood demon shadow shattered, the ageless yellow flood pierced through and swallowed Fan Yao... Rumble! The flood rushed past the land. A large ten thousand foot long crack was torn open in the ancient forest below, the many mountains along the way flattened by the passing flood... The entire place was completely silent, with only Fan Yao¡¯s final shriek faintly echoing across the land. Previous Chapte Chapter 590 Not Even Bones Remain Only Fan Yao¡¯s terror filled cry lingered in the ancient mountain forest. Zhou Yuan indifferently looked at the enormous crack before him from the giant pit. Moments later, the ageless yellow receded from his eyes, along with the crystal layer on his arm. Urgh! As the power faded from his body, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed slightly. Bloody wounds abruptly began to appear on his body, a sign that his flesh was being ripped apart. Especially his arm, where an indescribable pain was surging from. His skin seemed to unravel thread by thread, as blood poured out, running along his arm and flowing down his fingertips. Zhou Yuan grimaced in pain. He knew that the power that had flooded into him earlier had been too great, and his body had been incapable of bearing the burden, leading to these injuries. Fortunately, he practiced the little Mythic Saint Body, and had initiated himself in the external cultivation. Otherwise, his body would likely have not been able to hold out before he could release the power. While intense pain continued to explode in his body, ancient dark green patterns suddenly began to emerge on his skin. Abundant life force spread from the runes and poured into his flesh. The tearing of his flesh soon began to stop, the intense pain also slowly fading as the dark green light spread. Zhou Yuan could feel himself regaining control of his body. ¡°The Taiyi Green Wood Mark!¡± Zhou Yuan cried out in a pleasantly surprised voice. These dark green runes were from the Taiyi Green Wood Mark he practiced. The Taiyi Green Wood Mark could absorb external life energy and use it to repair the body. It was currently the most suitable method to heal his physical injuries. In a short span of a few dozen breaths, the terrifying wounds on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had fully recovered. With a small jolt from the Genesis Qi in his body, the blood was also shaken off. He now looked entirely unharmed, completely unlike someone who had just experienced a bitter battle. Zhou Yuan breathed a deep sigh of relief. Although the Taiyi Green Wood Mark did not have any offensive capabilities, its abundant life energy and recovery power was in Zhou Yuan¡¯s opinion not the least bit inferior to the seven Cangxuan arts. Take what had just happened for example. Although he had managed to slay Fan Yao, the current situation was still rather chaotic. It would be very problematic if he were made immobile due to the backlash from over straining his body. ¡°The Earth Saint Rune is indeed very terrifying¡­¡± Zhou Yuan lowered his head and looked at his palm in amazement, where the Earth Saint Rune was slowly submerging back into his flesh.. In that split second earlier, it had been very clear just how astonishing the ageless yellow Genesis Qi that had flooded his body had been. It was the Genesis Qi of the earth. This was an extremely unique Genesis Qi that was hidden within the land. Its heaviness was without equal, and ordinary individuals were incapable of moving it, but through the Earth Saint Rune, one could mobilize the Earth Genesis Qi as long as one was in contact with the land. However, it was also due to the heaviness of this Genesis Qi that created such a huge burden on the body. In addition, Zhou Yuan could feel that this was not the limits of the Earth Saint Rune. Its true capabilities had been vastly reduced due to his current cultivation. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimates, if the day came where his cultivation reached a certain point, he may even be able to draw upon the Earth Genesis Qi from an entire continent. Such power would truly be akin to ammergadon, power that went beyond one¡¯s wildest imagination. ¡°As expected of the Saint Runes¡­¡± Zhou Yuan sighed inside. The Decoder Saint Rune he obtained previously was more supportive in nature, and although it also possessed amazing magical abilities, it did not provide a clear boost to his battle power. Due to this, Zhou Yuan had felt the four Saint Runes to be a little unable to live up to their namesakes. Until today, when he finally witnessed the might of the Earth Saint Rune... ¡°I guess it¡¯s a blessing of sorts to have the privilege of dying to the Earth Saint Rune.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at the crack before him as he softly chuckled. To be frank, he had merely been hoping to test out the Earth Saint Rune, though it was a little akin to using a broad sword to kill a chicken. Swish! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body slowly rose from the giant pit, as the sound of rushing wind continuously rang out behind him, an indication that the various factions were finally arriving at this location. When they reached their destination, what greeted them was a destroyed mountain forest. A hideous and terrifying crack had been ripped open in the endless sea of trees. It was hard to imagine what kind of crazy battle had occurred here... Figure after figure stood on the many remaining trees, dumbstruck by the scene before their eyes, while not daring to advance any further. How had such destruction happened in the short period they had taken to arrive? ¡°What¡¯s the current battle situation?¡± ¡°No idea, I don¡¯t see any signs of Fan Yao¡­¡± ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± ¡°......¡± The various factions whispered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with bewilderment. All they could see was Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, while Fan Yao was nowhere to be found. Swish! Tang Xiaoyan and Jin Zhang also rushed over at this moment with a group of disciples, while Wang Yuan arrived with the Sacred Palace disciples from another direction. All of them clearly knew the importance of Zhou Yuan and Fan Yao¡¯s fight. A decisive change would occur regardless of who lost. As such, they needed to know who the victor was as soon as they could. However, from the expressions of both parties, it was clear that Tang Xiaoyan and Jin Zhang were the more worried side. They had after all personally witnessed Zhou Yuan fleeing earlier, and Fan Yao in that state had also been far too terrifying. But they were somewhat puzzled when they arrived, because they were also only able to find Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, while no trace of Fan Yao could be seen. In fact, not even a slight Genesis Qi undulation could be sensed. They looked at each other with dazed faces. ¡°Where¡¯s Fan Yao?¡± Asked Tang Xiaoyan in a low voice. Jin Zhang shook his head in response. As the two chief disciples looked at each other, a certain possibility rose in their minds, but was quickly cast out by their rationality. At this moment, Wang Yuan was finally done searching the surroundings as he proceeded to shout, ¡°Zhou Yuan! Where¡¯s chief disciple Fan Yao?¡± Zhou Yuan swept a glance at the former, and nonchalantly said, ¡°Dead.¡± Wang Yuan was taken aback, but soon retorted in a mocking voice, ¡°Have you been beaten silly?!¡± The others also roared with laughter. They had all seen Zhou Yuan miserably feeling earlier, and yet he dared to say such a boastful thing now. The faces of the Cangxuan Sect disciples turned a little red with embarrassment, feeling that Zhou Yuan¡¯s bragging was indeed a little unrealistic. Zhou Yuan merely chuckled at their reactions. He did not bother explaining but instead waved his sleeve, causing a stream of golden Genesis Qi to sweep out towards the levelled mountain forest in the distance. After several dozen breaths, his Genesis Qi returned along with a white bone claw staff, which Zhou Yuan caught in his hand. It was the low grade Heaven Genesis Weapon that belonged to Fan Yao! After toying with it for a moment, he lifted his head and pointed towards the still laughing Wang Yuan. ¡°I guess I can call this a memorial item?¡± His soft chuckle spread, while the roaring laughter from before began to fade little by little. Wang Yuan stared at the white bone staff in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand, as the ridicule on his face slowly turned rigid. Tang Xiaoyan and Jin Zhang were stupefied, their eyes nearly popping from their sockets. The various factions felt as if they had been struck by lightning, standing there rooted to the spot, and looking as if they had seen a ghost. Time seemed to freeze at this very moment. Previous Chapte Chapter 591 Shocking Everyone Amidst the mountain forest, countless gazes dazedly stared at the white bone staff in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. The psychological blow they received from reality blanking their minds. Wang Yuan¡¯s expression was rigid, while the corners of his mouth twitched erratically. It was a long while later, before he finally somewhat returned to his senses, as he gritted his teeth and laughed in anger. ¡°Zhou Yuan! Do you take us as idiots!¡± ¡°How long did it take for us to rush here?! Are you trying to tell me that you finished off Fan Yao within this brief period of time?!¡± The other factions could not help but nod in agreement. It had barely taken them any time to rush here from the six color lake. In such a small time frame, Zhou Yuan had not only managed to defend himself against Fan Yao in that terrifying state, and even managed to finish off the latter? Had some Chosen from the Cangxuan Sect interfered?! ¡°Fan Yao! Come out! Where the hell are you?!¡± Wang Xuan flew into the sky, as a voice wrapped in Genesis Qi rang out like thunder, and echoed across the area. Zhou Yuan stood in the air, his expression indifferent as he watched. Wang Yuan continued to roar as his expression grew uglier and uglier, while a chilling sensation slowly began to fill his heart. If Fan Yao was really around, it would be impossible for there to be no response. His gaze turned towards the white bone staff in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand once more, as his scalp gradually turned numb. After regaining his rationality, he had begun to analyze whether Zhou Yuan had been telling the truth. His rationality told him that Fan Yao had most likely been slain here. Moreover¡­ it had been with such overwhelming force that not even a corpse or bone remained. Only the white bone staff had managed to survive. Could Zhou Yuan really have done this?! How could this be?! If he did possess such strength, why had he chosen to flee from Fan Yao earlier?! Not even the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes seemed to have been touched, making him look completely unharmed, and not the least bit like someone who had just experienced a terrible fight... How the hell had Fan Yao disappeared? While various emotions churned in Wang Yuan¡¯s heart, fear slowly began to rise in his gaze that had paused on Zhou Yuan. The latter had become somewhat unfathomable in his eyes. He started to subconsciously back away one step at a time. The various factions present were finally able to ascertain one thing at the sight of Wang Yuan¡¯s actions. Fan Yao had most likely been killed... The various factions swallowed one after another, fear and respect emerging in their gazes as they turned towards Zhou Yuan. Although they did not know how he had done it, the process was no longer important at this juncture, but¡­ the outcome. In the sky, after realizing Fan Yao¡¯s fate, Wang Yuan immediately turned around and fled without the slightest shred of hesitation. ¡°Sacred Place disciples, withdraw!¡± A roar accompanied his fleeing figure. When the conclusion between Fan Yao and Zhou Yuan appeared, Wang Yuan knew that they had lost completely. Fan Yao¡¯s death made it no longer possible for them to vie with the Cangxuan Sect and the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace for the six color lake and the treasure tree. Hence, he decisively gave the order to retreat. The Sacred Palace disciples immediately scattered upon hearing this. There was no longer any hint of their earlier arrogance in the hasty manner in which they ran. Jin Zhang and Tang Xiaoyan wanted to give chase, but ultimately held themselves back. The most important matter at hand was the six color lake and the treasure tree, and if they chose to chase the Sacred Palace, the other factions would undoubtedly take advantage. As such, they could only send off the pathetically fleeing Sacred Palace team with their eyes. The other factions could not help but sadly sigh at this scene. The Sacred Palace¡¯s reputation had been growing like the rising sun over the years, leading to them becoming more and more domineering. Of course, it was also because they had the strength to back up such domineering behaviour. It was very rare to see a scene like today, where members of the Sacred Palace were fleeing like dogs... Numerous gazes turned towards the youth figure in the air with reverence. They knew that the Sacred Palace¡¯s crushing defeat today was all due to the existence of this individual. Though they still could not comprehend how a mere seventh layer Cangxuan Sect chief disciple could possess such terrifying strength... Regardless, they knew that Zhou Yuan¡¯s name would surely spread to the entire Mythic Utopia after today¡¯s events. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm, paying no heed to these gazes. He grasped the white bone staff as his body moved, appearing in front of Jin Zhang and Tang Xiaoyan. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, has Fan Yao¡­ really died?¡± Tang Xiaoyan could not help but ask when she saw Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan grinned and nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t manage to properly control my power. As such, not even a corpse was left.¡± Upon hearing Zhou Yuan personally admit it, Tang Xiaoyan could not help but lightly grit her teeth. She stared straight at him, clearly greatly affected by this admission inside. It was a long while later before she finally exhaled and said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan¡­ is truly unfathomable.¡± At this moment, a big group of Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples approached from behind. Luluo was at the very front, her large eyes opening even wider as she stared at Zhou Yuan and exclaimed out in amazement, ¡°Zhou Yuan, when did you become so amazing!¡± Fan Yao had been so powerful that even senior sister Xiaoyan would have likely not been his match, and Luluo never imagined that such a formidable individual would fall by Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. Although she had always felt Zhou Yuan to be very strong, she did not expect him to be so overwhelming. Zhou Yuan grinned at her. His gaze swept across the surroundings as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s head to the six color lake first.¡± Since the biggest competitor had retreated, the most important agenda was to harvest the spoils. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s lead the teams from the two sects flew back to the six color lake. The other factions made way one after another, not daring to obstruct the former. Those that had secretly aided the Sacred Palace side earlier tactfully slipped away, afraid that the two overlord sects would cause trouble for them. The large group rushed back to the lake. By this time, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples had fished Zhao Ru out of the water. The latter was gravely injured, but finally managed to awaken after some quick first aid. An embarrassed look appeared on Zhao Ru¡¯s pale face when she saw Zhou Yuan. She lowered her gaze in shame, not daring to meet his eyes. A disciple had already informed her about what had happened earlier. If not for Zhou Yuan¡¯s efforts, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace would have certainly paid an extremely terrible price... As she limped over with someone¡¯s help, Zhao Ru summoned her courage and said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, I was a fool earlier¡­¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand, indicating that he did not mind. However, his attitude remained a little cold towards Zhao Ru. He clearly had quite a bad impression of her. Zhao Ru also understood that her previous actions had been rather loathsome. Thus, she embarrassedly withdrew to the side to tend to her injuries. Zhou Yuan had already become the focal point of the group. He looked towards the treasure tree at the center of the lake, before turning towards Tang Xiaoyan with a smile. ¡°Since our greatest foe has already been beaten off, it¡¯s time for us to split the spoils¡­¡± Both the Cangxuan Sect and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples stirred excitedly at his words. Wasn¡¯t the very moment all of them had fought so hard for... They were not the only ones, an expectant look also flowed out in the eyes of the chief disciple like Jin Zhang and Tang Xiaoyan. Previous Chapte Chapter 592 Reward On the surface of the six color lake. Zhou Yuan, Jin Zhang, Tang Xiaoyan and the others were currently gathered around the treasure tree. Desire surged in their gazes as they stared at the prettily glowing gem like fruits hanging from its branches, or perhaps it might be more apt to call them Divine Establishing Treasures. Jin Zhang carefully counted, before he announced, ¡°There¡¯s four five-color Divine Establishing Treasures, seven four-color Divine Establishing Treasures, and thirty eight three-color Divine Establishing Treasures.¡± These words made even Zhou Yuan suck in a breath of cool air, clearly quite astonished by such numbers. One must know that up till now, all the hard work of their two teams had only amounted to Jin Zhang and himself managing to condense four-color Divine Establishing Treasures. As for the other disciples, only a handful had achieved three-color, while the majority were stuck at two-color. From this, one could see what a large amount of Mythic Genesis essence was required to condense a Divine Establishing Treasure. Therefore, it was easy to imagine how shocked Zhou Yuan and the rest were by the nearly fifty Divine Establishing Treasures on the tree. ¡°As expected of a six color treasure location.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. He finally understood that the fastest and most effective way to obtain higher ranked Divine Establishing Treasures in the Mythic Utopia was to search for these treasure locations. If they were to purely rely on harvesting Mythic Genesis essence, their progress would be far too slow... ¡°It seems that I¡¯ll have to pay more attention to such treasure locations in order to condense a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan in his heart. Jin Zhang looked towards Zhou Yuan at this moment and asked, ¡°How shall we split them?¡± Tang Xiaoyan also withdrew her eyes from the tree, turned towards Zhou Yuan and smiled faintly. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, your contributions were the greatest this time, so you should decide how the allocation will go.¡± She was quite a quick-witted individual indeed, showing that she had no intention of trying anything funny but was instead ready to comply with Zhou Yuan¡¯s wishes. One could not help but admit that Tang Xiaoyan was far more clever than Zhao Ru, and could make anyone she met very comfortable around her. Even Zhou Yuan had a pretty good impression of the former. However, he did not try to act graciously and refuse her proposition. He was after all the leader of two Cangxuan Sect teams at the moment, and numerous disciples had already risked their lives for him. As such, he was obligated to fight for their interests. He stared at the treasure tree in silence for a brief moment, before he said, ¡°We¡¯ll take three of the five-color Divine Establishing Treasures, while the final one shall go to chief disciple Tang Xiaoyan. How does that sound?¡± Although the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace had two chief disciples, Zhao Ru had not contributed anything in this battle. Hence, Zhou Yuan felt that she did not deserve a five-color Divine Establishing Treasure. Tang Xiaoyan gritted her teeth a little, and was silent for a while, before ultimately giving a small nod of agreement. She also knew how terrible of an impression Zhao Ru had made on Zhou Yuan. More importantly, Zhao Ru had not only done nothing in the earlier fight, but had even made the situation even worse by her carelessness. Hence, she could understand why Zhou Yuan was not giving the other five-color Divine Establishing Treasure to them. Zhou Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief inside. Things would have really become rather problematic if Tang Xiaoyan had rejected his proposal. After all, he would rather fight with Fan Yao than be caught up in the plots and scheming of the ladies from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. ¡°For the seven four-color Divine Establishing Treasures, the Cangxuan Sect shall take four, while the other three go to the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.¡± ¡°There are thirty eight three-color Divine Establishing Treasures, we will take twenty three, while the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace will get fifteen.¡± ¡°And finally, the Mythic Genesis essence in this six color lake. The Cangxuan Sect will take sixty percent, while the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace shall take forty percent.¡± Zhou Yuan gave his proposition in one single breath. Tang Xiaoyan carefully tabulated everything for a moment, before a faint smile rose from the corners of her red lips. Her eyebrows bent like cescents as she said in a sweet voice, ¡°Then I¡¯ll first thank chief disciple Zhou Yuan on behalf of our senior and junior sisters of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace.¡± She was a smart person, and quickly realized that Zhou Yuan was giving a good amount of the spoils to their Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace after some quick calculations. Overall, he had given them nearly forty percent of the total. This was already an extremely high share. If it were Fan Yao instead, he would likely give them twenty or maybe only ten percent... Zhou Yuan smiled, before he exchanged a look with Jin Zhang and they both sighed in unison. Tang Xiaoyan was a formidable individual, though she appeared gentle and uncompetitive, she knew how to obtain the greatest benefits for her group. If they were negotiating with Zhao Ru instead, Zhou Yuan would have at most conceded thirty percent. In contrast, he was unable to bring himself to be overly unreasonable in the face of Tang Xiaoyan. This was undoubtedly one of her strengths. However, giving in a little was not terrible either as it could be seen as an expression of goodwill towards the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. In the long run, it may not be a loss to them either. ¡°Since we agree, let¡¯s proceed to pluck them.¡± Said Zhou Yuan. Tang Xiaoyan nodded as she voluntarily stepped forward. As Genesis Qi flowed out, the Divine Establishing Treasures on the tree were plucked one after the other, before being placed in front of Zhou Yuan by her Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan took two five-color Divine Establishing Treasures from the pile, and passed them to Jin Zhang and Tang Xiaoyan. The two did not conceal their happiness as they eagerly received it. ¡°A five-color Divine Establishing Treasure¡­¡± Jin Zhang was overjoyed. With this item, he would be able to establish a five heavens Divine Dwelling when he advanced to the Divine Dwelling stage. This was already very rare for someone like himself. One could say that his goal for entering the Mythic Utopia was basically already achieved. ¡°It seems we¡¯ll always have meat to eat if we follow chief disciple Zhou Yuan. I believe that as long as you don¡¯t encounter any Chosens, there will be no chief disciple who will be able to compete with chief disciple Zhou Yuan.¡± Tang Xiaoyan smilingly said, flattering Zhou Yuan a little. Of course, there was actually some truth to her words. Although Fan Yao was only ranked third in the Sacred Palace, according to Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s estimates, the final form he displayed would likely be able to put up a fight against the first and second chief disciples of the Sacred Palace. However, even in that state, Fan Yao had still been so thoroughly destroyed by Zhou Yuan that not even a corpse remained¡­ from this, one could roughly guess how much power Zhou Yuan was hiding. Hence, as long as he did not encounter a Chosen, he was likely strong enough to do as he pleased in the outer regions of the Mythic Utopia. Zhou Yuan chuckled as he took the two remaining five-color Divine Establishing Treasures and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be accepting these two.¡± Jin Zhang had no objections towards this. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s contributions in the earlier battle, no one would have any complaints about him taking two five-color Divine Establishing Treasures. ¡°Divide the rest of the Divine Establishing Treasures amongst the disciples who have made the most contributions.¡± Zhou Yuan handed the remaining Divine Establishing Treasures to Jin Zhang and Tang Xiaoyan. The two nodded and received them. After they were done, they discovered that the treasure tree at the center of the lake was beginning to wither. In the end, it rapidly melted back into the water and disappeared. The loss of the Divine Establishing Treasures had evidently resulted in the tree losing its life force, rendering it incapable of absorbing any more Genesis Qi to grow. As the tree vanished, Zhou Yuan and the others felt the repulsive force from the lake slowly began to disperse. As a result, the other disciples could now enter. ¡°The Mythic Genesis essence in the lake shall be allocated according to what we agreed on, and the disciples from the two sects can enter to harvest it together¡­¡± Said Zhou Yuan. Tang Xiaoyan suddenly interjected in a low voice, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, there are still several factions in the area.¡± Zhou Yuan peered into the distance. As the repulsive force faded, some of the factions had begun to stir restlessly. Although they knew that teams from two overlord sects were present, the temptation of the lake was still far too great. ¡°Shall we chase them off?¡± Asked Jin Zhang. Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment, before he shook his head and said, ¡°That¡¯s too tiresome. Split off one small corner of the lake for these factions to divide amongst themselves. They can fight over it however they want, but whoever disturbs us shall have their rights revoked. I believe that they will be very happy to maintain order for us.¡± Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s eyes brightened a little. Zhou Yuan¡¯s idea would save them a lot of trouble. Although they did not fear the other factions, even flies would become annoying if too many were gathered. Zhou Yuan¡¯s idea of throwing out a small cookie to resolve these annoyances would even be able to collect goodwill from the other factions. Most importantly, it would save them a lot of energy. As such, the two chief disciples departed to instruct the other disciples. Zhou Yuan stood on the surface of the lake, staring at the spot where the tree had melted, as his gaze faintly flickered in thought. Jin Zhang and Tang Xiaoyan may perhaps believe that the tree was gone after plucking the Divine Establishing Treasures, but the spinning Decoder Saint Rune in the depths of Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils allowed him to sense something else. ¡°Could there be another mystery in this six color lake?¡± After pondering a little, his figure suddenly moved, diving into the six color lake with a splash. Regardless of what it was, he would first investigate it. Previous Chapte Chapter 593 Bottom of the Lake In the depths of the six color lake. A golden glow zipped past in the water, as Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze scanned the surroundings. Gorgeous colors filled the lake, making one feel a little dazzled. However, there was not much life to be found inside, making it appear rather desolate. It was as if the Spirit Ghost Python had been the only thing living here previously. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit vibrated between his brows as his Spirit senses continuously reached out to probe the depths of the lake. He wanted to find out whether there were other secrets hidden within the lake. However, Zhou Yuan had not discovered anything strange so far. In fact, if the Decoder Saint Rune had not sensed a few faint undulations when the treasure tree disappeared, Zhou Yuan would have been completely oblivious. ¡°Are even Spirit senses unable to find anything?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze faintly flickered in thought. If that was the case, he would have to borrow the power of the Decoder Saint Rune. ¡°Decoder Saint Rune!¡± With a low shout in his heart, an ancient Saint Rune began to spin in the depths of his pupils, as the world before him began to change. The magnificent colors receded, as everything turned ethereal. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure swiftly darted past in the water, as his eyes continuously scanned the area. This continued until a certain moment, his figure coming to a sudden stop as his gaze locked onto a certain spot at the bottom of the lake. With the Decoder Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan could finally ¡®see¡¯ traces of faint undulations spreading from this spot. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook. There was indeed some secret in the lake! However, it had been perfectly concealed. If not for the Decoder Saint Rune, he would have likely found nothing even after turning the place upside down. This made him somewhat curious. What exactly was hidden at the bottom of the six color lake? His figure landed on the lake bed as he waved his sleeve, sending out a stream of Genesis Qi. The soil began to be swept away, but he did not discover anything strange beneath it, causing him to be somewhat stunned. Could the Decoder Saint Rune have made a mistake? He frowned as he continued to stare at the spot. After a long time, his gaze suddenly flashed, the space there seemed to have faintly rippled for a moment. A look of bewilderment flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Could there be a small spatial domain at the bottom of the lake? If so, things would become quite troublesome. A small spatial domain such as this would not be easy to break into¡­ Moreover, the disturbance created would be rather large, and others would sure sense it. Zhou Yuan did not wish for this secret to be revealed. There were after all far too many eyes on this place¡­ of course, he mainly did not wish to share this with the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, because he had already made several concessions for them previously. While various thoughts churned in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, he suddenly lifted his head and saw several glowing figures dive into the water. They were Jin Zhang, Tang Xiaoyan and the others. Tang Xiaoyan approached and asked as she cast a glance at the soil Zhou Yuan was lifting with his Genesis Qi, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, did you sense something out of the ordinary?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head without a change in expression, not worried that Tang Xiaoyan would find out. After all, even he had to rely on the Decoder Saint Rune. Sure enough, Tang Xiaoyan¡¯s eyes carefully observed the area, before turning back towards Zhou Yuan as she regretfully said, ¡°We¡¯ve also searched this area earlier, but did not find anything unusual.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Finding the treasure tree has already made this a pretty fruitful trip.¡± Tang Xiaoyan nodded in a slightly embarrassed manner. She was indeed a little too greedy. ¡°Let¡¯s go and harvest the Mythic Genesis essence in the lake.¡± Said Zhou Yuan as he headed towards the surface without any hesitation. It seems that the secret at the bottom of the lake would have to wait till he parted ways with the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. The group returned to the surface, where the disciples from the two sects had already entered the lake, and were beginning to happily harvest the Mythic Genesis essence from the allocated areas. The quality of the Mythic Genesis essence was extremely high, far surpassing anything they had encountered previously. As such, it would surely be very effective in condensing and nurturing their Divine Establishing Treasures. Although there had been quite a number of Divine Establishing Treasures on the tree, only a minority had received them. Therefore, the majority still had to work hard in harvesting Mythic Genesis essence. Of course, Zhou Yuan made sure to give more care to the disciples that had not received any Divine Establishing Treasures, allocating a bigger share of the Mythic Genesis essence. Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance drew many respectful and grateful gazes from the disciples of the two sects, especially from the female disciples of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Their gazes would boldly sweep across Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, before gathering together to giggle. It was obvious that they were extremely interested in Zhou Yuan, who had taken the spotlight in the earlier battle. ¡°I think all it would take is a wink for quite a number of those girls to run away with you.¡± A voice sounded from the side. Gu Hongyi was walking across the water with a cheeky smile and her arms across her chest. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched for a moment. Gu Hongyi¡¯s lips lifted slightly as she playfully teased, ¡°However, I believe that you wouldn¡¯t dare¡­ if Yaoyao hears of it, you will not be able to explain yourself.¡± Zhou Yuan glared at her and said, ¡°What do you mean by I won¡¯t be able to explain myself? You make it seem as if I¡¯m afraid of her!¡± ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan¡­¡± A sweet and tender voice suddenly sounded behind Zhou Yuan. He turned his head, and saw a lovely young lady standing there, dressed in the garb of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. The girl¡¯s facial features were very pretty, and her skin was fair as snow, making her a rare little beauty in the making. Her large and bright eyes were currently looking at him as she shyly said, ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, could I trouble you to guide me in harvesting the Mythic Genesis essence for a while?¡± The heart of any man would go soft at this young lady¡¯s appearance. However, Zhou Yuan shook his head without any hesitation and unflinchingly said, ¡°I need to recuperate after the tough battle earlier. If junior sister requires it, I can recommend another disciple from the Cangxuan Sect.¡± The young lady¡¯s face turned a little rigid. She quickly shook her head as she said in a somewhat crestfallen manner, ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble the other senior brothers.¡± After speaking, she quickly ran off. Zhou Yuan turned back around, only to find Gu Hongyi¡¯s skeptical smile. He immediately coldly snorted and said, ¡°I really need to recuperate!¡± ¡°Hehe, I believe you.¡± Gu Hongyi chuckled, before unhurriedly turning around to leave. However, there was some pity in her gaze as she cast one final look at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan hatefully grinded his teeth, but ultimately had no choice but to frustratedly sit down on the surface of the water. ¡°What do you mean scared of Yaoyao?! We¡¯re merely respecting each other! What do you know!¡± With a snort, he cast Gu Hongyi out of his mind. A dazzling gem-like fruit soon appeared in his hand, giving off a five-colored glow. It was the five-color Divine Establishing Treasure he had received. As he held it in his hand, he looked around. The six color lake was currently filled with numerous figures, making it appear extremely busy. It was impossible to attempt breaking into the small spatial domain at this juncture. Nevermind, I shall first absorb this five-color Divine Establishing Treasure. After the Mythic Genesis essence harvesting was completed, peace would naturally return. Only then would he have his chance... Zhou Yuan discarded other unnecessary thoughts as he slowly closed his eyes. Strands of five-colored Qi began to flow out from the five-color Divine Establishing Treasure, flowing towards his palm and pouring into his body... Previous Chapte Chapter 594 Secretly Returning The clamor on the six color lake lasted for six days. Over these six days, the Cangxuan Sect and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples harvested the Mythic Genesis essence in the lake without rest, as if not knowing the meaning of tiredness. Under such monumental efforts, the color of the lake slowly began to fade on the sixth day, as the water ultimately transformed back to a normal clear look, making it no different from ordinary water. ... Beside the six color lake. The disciples from the two sects stood by the lakeside, regretful looks on their faces as they gazed at the now clear lake waters. They were clearly still somewhat unfulfilled, desiring to stay and harvest Mythic Genesis essence here forever. Unfortunately, this was merely wishful thinking... ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan.¡± Tang Xiaoyan led a group of female disciples over, and cast her gaze towards Zhou Yuan with a slight smile. ¡°Now that we¡¯re done harvesting the six color lake, we shall be departing towards the deeper areas of the Mythic Utopia to unite with our Chosens.¡± ¡°It was mostly thanks to chief disciple Zhou Yuan this time, and this is a debt that our Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace will remember.¡± She bowed towards Zhou Yuan. If not for him, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace would have suffered substantial losses in the struggle for the six color lake. Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°Since we choose to work together, I will naturally give my all.¡± Tang Xiaoyan pursed her lips as she smiled faintly and said, ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, although you are currently a chief disciple, I have an unexplainable feeling that you may not be suppressed by the Chosens in the deeper areas of the Mythic Utopia.¡± Although many may not believe such words, Tang Xiaoyan intuition told her that the young man before her eyes was not as simple as he appeared. ¡°It¡¯s nice that someone thinks so highly of me.¡± Zhou Yuan embarrassedly scratched his head, as he responded with a warm smile. The two leaders exchanged a few more pleasantries, before Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned towards Luluo. The young lady displayed a wide grin, before she waved her small hand and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, let¡¯s meet again in the deeper regions of the Mythic Utopia.¡± However, Zhou Yuan seemed to catch a sly look in her large watery eyes. But he quickly cast it aside, as he smiled and nodded. ¡°Then we shall part ways here.¡± Tang Xiaoyan nodded. With a shout, Genesis Qi rose from under her feet and propelled her into the sky. Numerous Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples followed behind her, accompanied by lovely laughter. As they departed, some of the female disciples cast grudging gazes at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan acted as if he did not see these gazes as he sent the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace away with his eyes. He then stretched as if a heavy burden had been released from his shoulders, and smiled towards Jin Zhang, Gu Hongyi and the rest. ¡°We should prepare to get moving too.¡± Their next step was also to head towards the deeper regions of the Mythic Utopia to reunite with their Chosens. Jin Zhang nodded, before proceeding to pass the instructions to the other disciples. Zhou Yuan stood on a hill as he extended his hand. Colorful light immediately gathered towards his palm, transforming into a round gem-like orb. A deep five-color halo slowly flowed around the orb. Mysterious undulations spread from within it. ¡°I did not expect that I would fail to reach the six-color level even after absorbing two five-color Divine Establishing Treasures.¡± There was a regretful look in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Over the past six days, he had not only absorbed the two five-color Divine Establishing Treasures but even harvested a substantial amount of Mythic Genesis essence from the six color lake. However, he had ultimately failed to evolve his Divine Establishing Treasure to the six-color level. Evidently, the amount of Mythic Genesis essence required for a six-color Divine Establishing Treasure was very tremendous. With a flip of his hand, Zhou Yuan returned the five-color orb into his Qi Dwelling. His eyes flickered faintly as he looked towards the now clear waters of the six color lake. He had not forgotten that there seemed to be a secret at the bottom of the lake. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for the other disciples to leave, before I secretly return to have a better look.¡± Mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself inside. He did not plan to share this secret with the others. After all, he felt that he had already done a very perfect job in leading the team, and those that followed him were more than satisfied. Now, it was time to focus on himself. Of course, there was also much uncertainty surrounding the spatial domain at the bottom of the lake, and he felt that there was no need for everyone to get involved. While such thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, Go Hongyi arrived to report that they were ready. With one last deep look at the clear waters, he turned around to leave. The Cangxuan Sect disciples soon began to rise on their Genesis Qi, leaving this location. After the departure of the Cangxuan Sect and Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, the lingering factions immediately swarmed towards the lake, in hopes of finding a little leftovers for themselves. However, after rummaging through the six color lake for nearly an entire day, they could only shake their heads in disappointment. In the end, they too began to leave one after another. After a day had passed, the lake that had once been the focus of the entire region turned peaceful and desolate once more. ... Two days later, as night enveloped the land. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared in the destroyed mountain forest. His ethereal figure had concealed its Genesis Qi undulations, as he darted across the forest like a shadow. He soon reached the region of the six color lake, stopping on elevated ground as he looked down from above. The current six color lake had clearly sustained some damage, most likely the handiwork of the factions that had hoped to find some leftover spoils after Zhou Yuan and the Cangxuan Sect disciples had left. However, this did not cause Zhou Yuan to panic. The small spatial domain at the bottom of the lake had been hidden far too well, and even he had nearly missed it, let alone other people. A day earlier, he had settled Jin Zhang and the rest somewhere, and found an excuse to leave for the time being, before rushing back to the lake at full speed. ¡°Time to do it.¡± He mumbled to himself as he prepared to descend. However, his pupils suddenly shrank the instant his body moved, as his gaze shot towards the dense forest in the distance, where a black silhouette stealthily flew over and landed beside the lake. ¡°Someone else is here at such a late time?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. Just as Zhou Yuan was going to knock the silhouette unconscious, he saw it kneel down as a faint glow emerged from its hand. Genesis Qi poured into the water, causing small ripples to form. ¡°What is he doing?¡± The strange actions of the silhouette caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes to narrow slightly. Could this person also know of the secret at the bottom of the lake? Zhou Yuan did not move, choosing to observe instead. The silhouette stood up under his carefully watching eyes. At this moment Zhou Yuan suddenly saw the water begin to ripple, as a several dozen feet large shadow flitted past below the surface, before ultimately breaking out of the water. With the faint moon light, Zhou Yuan finally identified the black shadow, as shock flashed in his eyes. It was the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python that he, Fan Yao, Tang Xiaoyan and the others had cooperated to kill. The python had clearly been slain by him back then, and its lifeless body had rapidly decayed after landing in the water. How had it suddenly appeared again?! Moreover, why was the silhouette able to control it?! Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned grave, a sliver of fear emerging in his eyes as he looked at the silhouette. Hss! While Zhou Yuan was staring at the silhouette, the Three-headed Spirit Ghost Python suddenly raised its head, emitting a piercing hiss as its eyes locked onto his location. The Spirit Ghost Python had discovered Zhou Yuan! ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± The silhouette also realized that someone else was around, as a clearly modified voice sounded from under its black robes. ¡°Get rid of him little Ling!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 595 Luluo’s Ability Hss! Beside the six color lake. The three-headed Spirit Ghost Python hissed as its ice-cold snake eyes locked on the black shadow on the mountain top. It suddenly shot forth a split second later, as a jet of black Genesis Qi blasted out from its mouth. On the mountain top, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned a little grave. He had previously experienced the three-headed Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s strength after all. His figure etherealized as it rapidly retreated like a phantom, avoiding the torrent of Genesis Qi. Rumble! The mountain top was shattered by the black Genesis Qi breath attack. The Spirit Ghost Python hissed again, hatred seemingly surging in the eyes that were tightly glued to Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. It appeared to have recognized him as the ring leader that had gravely injured it previously. ¡°So it is you.¡± Zhou Yuan also sensed this as he frowned. This Spirit Ghost Python really was the same one they had fought against previously. However, the python seemed to be much weaker than before, and its body had shrunk substantially. If Zhou Yuan¡¯s guess was correct, although it had somehow managed to escape with its life, its strength had been affected as a result. But this did not decrease Zhou Yuan¡¯s wariness, because there were still two python shadows present at the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s side. Once they fused with the main body, its strength would surely increase. ¡°Hss!¡± A piercing hiss sounded, as the python charged forward once more. Zhou Yuan continued to back away, towering ancient trees falling one after another as python and human danced in the forest. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were ice-cold as the Earth Saint Rune began to emerge on his palm, evidently planning on finding an opportunity to completely destroy the Spirit Ghost Python. However, when the silhouette in the distance saw that the battle seemed to be in a stalemate, a glowing blue figure suddenly shot out from its wide black robe, and rapidly transformed into a blue ice bird. At the ice bird¡¯s appearance, the surrounding temperature swiftly fell. ¡°Little Frost, go help finish him off!¡± A voice sounded from under the black robe. ¡°Eee!¡± The ice bird cried out and shot forward with a jerk of its wings, intending to join the fight. However, a look of confusion appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes when the ice bird appeared. His immediately looked towards the black robed silhouette beside the lake and blurted out, ¡°You, you¡¯re Luluo?!¡± Wasn¡¯t this the little bird that always followed at Luluo¡¯s side? The black robed figure seemed to turn rigid for a moment, before she finally recognized Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice. A doubtful voice immediately sounded from under the black robe, ¡°Zhou¡­ Zhou Yuan?¡± The voice had returned to its lovely and sweet-sounding tone. She pulled back the black robe as she spoke, revealing her long green hair, and her adorable little face. Who else could it be but Luluo? Her small face was currently filled with shock as she stared at the black silhouette in the distance. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared on a boulder, moonlight spilling onto his body as he stared at Luluo with an odd look on his face. He clearly had not expected the suspicious person to be her. ¡°Hss!¡± The Spirit Ghost Python hissed, ready to unleash another attack. Luluo hurriedly shouted when she saw this, ¡°Little Ling, return!¡± The Spirit Ghost Python instantly stopped, seemingly somewhat unwilling to follow her order as it roared at Zhou Yuan. In the end, it transformed into a black blur that rapidly shrunk and shot back into Luluo¡¯s sleeve. The giant ice blue bird also began to shrink, taking on its familiar little bird appearance as it landed on Luluo¡¯s shoulder. After keeping the two beasts, Luluo blinked her large eyes as she looked at Zhou Yuan and mumbled, ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­ you¡­ why are you here?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure moved and appeared beside her, his gaze carefully observing her as he said, ¡°I¡¯m the one who wants to ask why you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Plus, what¡¯s the deal with that Spirit Ghost Python?¡± He looked towards Luluo¡¯s sleeve. How had this little lass subdued the Spirit Ghost Python without any of them noticing? Luluo¡¯s eyes swirled in thought for a moment, before she grinned and said, ¡°Although you guys defeated it earlier, it was smart enough to know that it would not win, and thus cast aside its body and secretly hid itself.¡± ¡°But I managed to secretly find it, don¡¯t you remember my ability?¡± A thoughtful look rose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Beast heart communicator.¡± In the Cangmang Continent, Zhou Yuan had found out that Luluo possessed the ability to communicate the thoughts and feelings of Genesis Beasts. This was a beast heart communicator. Luluo nodded. ¡°That¡¯s how I found it, and then little Ling obediently decided to follow me.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat speechless at how easy she had described it to be. They had previously invested a tremendous amount of thought and effort in order to deal with the Spirit Ghost Python, while Luluo had subdued it so easily. Though the Spirit Ghost Python had weakened substantially, it was still more than a match for any ordinary chief disciple. In fact, the fusion with its python shadows together with Luluo¡¯s beast heart communication would enable them to put up a fight even against a Chosen. Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. It was likely that even Tang Xiaoyan was unaware that the strongest amongst their team was not herself, but this seemingly harmless green-haired girl. Zhou Yuan slowly asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t your Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace team leave? Why did you come back?¡± Luluo avoided his gaze for a moment, before quickly recalling something as she puffed up her chest and asked, ¡°Why did you return?¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Luluo in surprise. ¡°It seems that you also know of the secret at the lake bottom?¡± Luluo¡¯s eyes immediately widened as she stared at Zhou Yuan in astonishment. ¡°You¡­ you¡­ how did you know?!¡± Zhou Yuan made a little ¡®tch¡¯ sound, before he could not help but sigh. Looks like his guess was correct. He had originally believed himself to be the only person aware of the secret at the bottom of the lake, but it appeared that he had underestimated the others far too much. However, the problem now was whether Luluo had come alone or was she representing the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palce? Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned towards the forest behind them and asked, ¡°Where are the other Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace disciples?¡± Luluo mumbled, ¡°This is a secret I found on my own, why should I tell them about it?¡± Zhou Yuan breathed a small sigh of relief when he heard this. Thankfully the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace did not know, or things would become far more complicated. However, he also recalled that though the girl before him appeared naive and innocent, only suffering awaited anyone who believed her to be a clueless little girl. Luluo stuck her small hands onto her tiny waist, seemingly seething a little as she stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me why you know about the secret.¡± Zhou Yuan shot her sulky glance as he finally answered, ¡°I detected it while I was investigating the lake.¡± ¡°You on the other hand, how did you find out?¡± Zhou Yuan had a stomach full of questions. He had relied on the Decoder Saint Rune to find the secret at the bottom of the lake, so how had Luluo discovered it? Given her cultivation, it was impossible for her senses to be so keen. Luluo raised her clean little face as she said in a pleased manner, ¡°Little Ling told me about it.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding. The Spirit Ghost Python had been the guardian of this place, and it was not impossible for it to be aware of the secret at the bottom of the lake. Zhou Yuan sighed as he looked at Luluo with a complicated expression. Luluo hurriedly hugged her shoulders when she saw this and timidly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you won¡¯t kill me to silence me, right?¡± Zhou Yuan glared at her as his appearance suddenly turned sinister. However, Luluo was not frightened, but instead burst into laughter. Zhou Yuan could only drop the act upon seeing this, before he sulkily said, ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s fate that you also manage to discover the secret. We¡¯ll work together and split the treasures fifty-fifty, okay ? If it was anyone else, he would have resorted to other measures, but Luluo was a companion he trusted, and he did not mind giving in this time. A smile immediately appeared on Luluo¡¯s face. She skipped forward and hugged Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm, as her smiling voice sounded by the lakeside, ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s the best!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 596 Spatial Domain at the Bottom of the Lake At the bottom of the six color lake. Zhou Yuan arrived at the location where he had first discovered the mysterious spatial undulations. Luluo followed behind him, her large eyes curiously scanning the surroundings. Although the Spirit Ghost Python had told her about it, she had never been here in person before. ¡°There are unusual spatial undulations in the area. If my guess is correct, there should be a small spatial domain here.¡± Zhou Yuan pointed towards a certain spot on the lake bed. Luluo followed his finger, but did not find anything out of the ordinary, leaving her innocently blinking her large eyes. However, Zhou Yuan did not expect much from her. He approached the spot and tried to feel the spatial domain for a moment, as he frowned and said, ¡°I don¡¯t really have a method for entering, and will likely have to brute force a path open.¡± He clenched his hand as he spoke, and the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared, before rapidly expanding. Powerful golden Genesis Qi rose from within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and gradually enveloped the brush. The brush vibrated as it released a cry, causing giant waves to rise on the surface of the lake. A sharp look appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. In the next moment, surging Genesis Qi accompanied the brush as it thrust forward. A jade glow emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin, while silver blossomed in his bones, signs that he was bringing out all of his power. Boom! Water exploded as a black blur flashed past. The brush ultimately landed on the spot where the spatial undulations originated, pausing for a brief moment, before raw power flooded out. Rumble! Giant waves churned as a muffled rumble exploded at the bottom of the lake. However, a shockwave erupted from the spot a split second later, the powerful force slamming into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and sending him hurtling through the water. Moments later, a somewhat dirty Zhou Yuan returned, the blood in his body churning as he remarked, ¡°The spatial domain is too solid.¡± He had fortunately anticipated such an outcome and made appropriate precautions, or he would have been injured by the earlier shockwave. A bitter look rose on Luluo¡¯s face as she asked, ¡°Then what can we do?¡± The secret was right in front of their eyes, but they were unable to enter. This was truly quite frustrating. At this moment, the small black snake crawled out from Luluo¡¯s sleeve and wrapped around her arm. Its body rose as it hissed at Zhou Yuan. ¡°What is it saying?¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Luluo. Luluo somewhat embarrassedly said, ¡°It¡¯s saying that you¡¯re an idiot for using brute force.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched as it sent a vicious glare at the Spirit Ghost Python. There seemed to be a mocking look in its snake-like eyes, evidently planning on using this fact to release some of the frustration from earlier. ¡°Then do you have any method of getting in?¡± Zhou Yuan cast a glance at the Spirit Ghost Python. He knew that a Genesis Beast at its level was able to think for itself and understood human speech. However, the Spirit Ghost Python was clearly ignoring Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan gave Luluo a look, causing the latter to reach out a small hand to stroke the Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s head as she said, ¡°Little Ling, you have to tell me if you know.¡± The Spirit Ghost Python¡¯s tongue darted in and out of its mouth, before hissing again a brief moment later. Luluo¡¯s large eyes immediately brightened. ¡°It says that this small spatial domain is very stable, and impossible to break open through forceful means. However, it has the ability to slip in, and when it does, there will be a brief moment of instability that you can make use of to tear open a crack at the weakest point.¡± Zhou Yuan fell silent as he began to contemplate. This method could work, but the difficulty lay in finding the weakest point in the spatial domain. It would basically be impossible for an ordinary person, but it should not be too much of an issue for someone like himself, because the Decoder Saint Rune was perfect for this very situation. ¡°We¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Zhou Yuan did not intend to waste anymore time. Although almost no one would come to the six color lake at this time, if some busybody accidentally discovered them, things would surely become very troublesome once word of it spread. ¡°Go little Ling.¡± Instructed Luluo. The Spirit Ghost Python acknowledged, before darting forth, transforming into a shadow as it headed straight for the source of the spatial undulations. Its body seemed to begin melting, the spatial undulations gradually intensifying as it slowly entered little by little. The stable spatial domain began to ripple somewhat as the Spirit Ghost Python entered. Upon seeing this, Luluo hurriedly urged, ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± Zhou Yuan did not respond, though a Saint Rune began swirling in the depths of his pupils. The spatial undulations grew clear, as if they were ripples on the surface of water. Some changes were occuring in the originally stable spatial domain at this moment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze was akin to a hawk¡¯s, as he tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush. With a jerk of his hand, several golden brush shadows shot forth, hitting the center of the few ripples at practically the same time. His actions were not forceful, but instead rather effortless in nature. When the brush shadows landed, however, Luluo was surprised and happy to see the space in front of them begin to ripple violently. A black crack slowly began to spread, ultimately forming a foot long spatial crack. ¡°You¡¯re really amazing Zhou Yuan!¡± Luluo could not help but praise out loud. She was a discerning person, and could naturally see how stunning Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier actions were. Zhou Yuan chuckled, before he looked towards the squirming spatial crack with a sliver of desire and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go and have a look. I wonder what treasures are there inside.¡± Luluo forcefully nodded in agreement, as her eyes glowed. Zhou Yuan took the lead and stepped into the spatial crack. However, he remained vigilant, the Genesis Qi in his body surging as golden light blossomed from his body, ready to respond at any moment. When he stepped into the crack, the scenery before his eyes began to change, the sound of water fading as his foot touched solid ground. The world around him had changed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the area. It was not a large space, and there wasn¡¯t much to look at inside. Hence, his eyes soon focused on a certain spot to the front. A foot wide golden pool lay there, while a jade tree rose from within it. The tree gave off a clean glow, and had no leaves or branches. Zhou Yuan and Luluo¡¯s gazes immediately focused on the top of the tree. Two extremely life-like jade baby-like fruits were hanging there. As they gazed at the fruits, Zhou Yuan and Luluo¡¯s mouths could not help but slowly widen... They could clearly see a six color halo around the jade baby-like fruits. The two sucked in a deep breath of cool air, before they turned to look at each other, finding the shock and mad joy in each other¡¯s eyes. These were two six-color Divine Establishing Treasures! This was likely the true reward of this treasure location. The six color lake on the outside had merely appeared due to the Qi that leaked out from this spatial domain¡­ and Zhou Yuan was glad that he had not missed it in the end. The blessing had ultimately been firmly grasped in his hand Previous Chapte Chapter 597 Secret Treasure at the Bottom of the Lake Two jade baby-like fruits quietly hung from the top of the ancient jade tree. A six-color halo swirled around them, making them both a mysterious and attention-grabbing sight. Below, Zhou Yuan and Luluo were stunned by the sight of the two fruits, and could not make even a sound for a long time. ¡°Phew¡­¡± However, Zhou Yuan eventually returned to his senses and exhaled deeply, before he said, ¡°I¡¯ve been saying that although there are quite a few treasures in the six color lake, they don¡¯t seem to match up to its namesake. It turns out that the real treasure is here.¡± Luluo forcefully nodded her head, her large watery eyes filled with desire. Though she had received a rather substantial share from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, it had just barely allowed her to condense a four-color Divine Establishing Treasure. This was obviously still a long way from Luluo¡¯s aim. However, there was no way for her to request for more. The leaders of their team was Tang Xiaoyan and Zhao Ru after all, and though Luluo was a personal disciple of the palace master, her current strength and experience was still insufficient to justify her taking the lion¡¯s share. This was also the biggest motivation for Luluo to leave the team and search for opportunities alone. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned towards Luluo as he grinned. ¡°One each?¡± Luluo happily nodded. If it were anyone else, she would have already begun to scheme against the other person the moment she saw the six-color Divine Establishing Treasure. Anyone would understand the value of a six-color Divine Establishing Treasure after all, and no one would complain about having too many... Even after obtaining one, a second one would be required to climb to an even higher level! Despite this, Luluo clearly had a lot of trust in Zhou Yuan, as they were after all companions that had fought back to back before. Moreover, as a beast heart communicator, Luluo possessed an amazing talent for reading the hearts of other individuals. Zhou Yuan chuckled upon seeing this. With a wave of his sleeve, a stream of golden Genesis Qi shot out. The Genesis Qi headed straight for the top of the tree, and plucked the two glowing jade baby-like fruits. The process was exceedingly smooth, and there was basically zero obstruction. The Spirit Ghost Python should have been the guardian beast, but did not give them any problems since it was currently subdued by Luluo. Genesis Qi descended as Zhou Yuan extended his hand to catch the two gem-like fruits. Zhou Yuan clearly felt the pure energy surging within the fruits the moment they touched his hand, causing the five-color Divine Establishing Treasure in his Qi Dwelling to begin shaking violently with unmatched desire. Zhou Yuan calmed the desire in his heart as he passed one of the fruits to Luluo. Luluo anxiously reached out to accept it, as she jumped a little in excitement. She forcefully rubbed the fruit against her face, a satisfied look glowing on her adorable face. She finally returned to her senses a few moments later and said in the sweetest of voices, ¡°Thanks Zhou Yuan!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and waved his hand, indicating that it was nothing. He kept the six-color Divine Establishing Treasure, and began slowly walking towards the golden pool, where the jade tree was growing from. The water in the pool appeared rather viscous, and the Spirit Ghost Python was currently soaking within, as its body trembled continuously. However, Zhou Yuan could sense that its injuries seemed to be recovering at a rather rapid rate. The golden pool evidently possessed some magical properties. ¡°What is it?¡± Luluo also walked forward, gazing at the golden pool, before squatting down and gingerly reaching out a slender finger to touch the water. Szz! However, her finger swiftly withdrew a split second later, as a pained look filled her face. Her fingertip had turned a raw red. She cried out in pain, ¡°Oww!¡± A look of contemplation rose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, before he also extended a finger and slowly reached into the golden pool. He immediately felt an intense pain surge from his finger the moment he entered, as if he had stuck his finger into magma. However, Zhou Yuan did not immediately pull back, because the pain was still within a bearable limit. He maintained this posture for several minutes, before joy suddenly surged out in his pupils. He had discovered that although it was very painful, the golden pool water had an unimaginable tempering effect on his body. ¡°It¡¯s even stronger than the fire and water dragon tempering stage back in Saint Genesis Peak!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled with elation. His little Mythic Saint Body had been stuck at the second silver bone stage till now, ultimately unable to ascend to the third golden blood stage. The cultivation of the physical body was extremely tough, and without some kind of miraculous resource, the only option was to slowly strengthen the body little by little. Although Zhou Yuan had no objections towards steady growth, he would naturally welcome a method that would help him progress without hurting his foundations. The water and fire dragon tempering stage for example, and the golden pool before him. After personally the earlier testing, Zhou Yuan believed that his little Mythic Saint Body would very likely reach the long awaited golden blood stage with the power of the golden pool. When that happened, he would be able to suppress all the other chief disciples in Cangxuan Heaven with pure physical power alone! Luluo anxiously asked after seeing that Zhou Yuan had stuck his hand into the frightening golden pool for some time, ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you alright?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned and shook his head, not hiding anything as he explained, ¡°This golden water is a great treasure, and has an almost magical effect on external cultivation. Since we¡¯re here, we should not give up on the chance to collect it.¡± Luluo shook her head upon hearing this. ¡°Take it if you want. I have no interest in external cultivation.¡± External cultivation was always accompanied by tremendous pain, and every ascension of the body would be accompanied by an unbearable pain. Luluo only wanted to be together with her cute Genesis Beasts, and had no intention of torturing herself. Zhou Yuan laughed dryly, before retrieving ten giant wooden vats from his spatial bag with a wave of his sleeve. Each vat stood taller than a regular person. His Spirit began to vibrate as Spirit power spread to move the golden water into the wooden vats. Hss hss! However, the Spirit Ghost Python suddenly released a series of angry hisses at this moment, its snake eyes staring at Zhou Yuan as its body bristled threateningly. Luluo hurriedly walked forward when she saw this, and began to converse with the Spirit Ghost Python. Moments later, she turned her head and embarrassedly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, can you give some of the water to little Ling? It usually depends on this water for its daily cultivation.¡± Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding. No wonder the Spirit Ghost Python was so powerful, and had even managed to escape after being gravely injured. So it had been using the water here to temper its physical body. ¡°No problem. You have a share of everything here anyways.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Even half of the golden water should be enough to push his little Mythic Saint Body to the golden blood stage. Luluo looked towards the ten big vats, and extended three fingers, before withdrawing one as she said, ¡°Then¡­ then give us two vats.¡± ¡°You guys can have three.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled before turning towards the Spirit Ghost Python. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be stepping aside?¡± The Spirit Ghost Python hissed twice, some reluctance in its eyes as he gazed longingly at the golden water. ¡°Come back little Ling. You¡¯re leaving with me anyways, so there is no point in leaving it here.¡± Urged Luluo. Only after hearing this did the Spirit Ghost Python turn into a shadow that darted back into Luluo¡¯s sleeve. With no one left obstructing him, Zhou Yuan immediately proceeded to send out his Spirit power once more. The water was lifted by invisible Spirit power and poured into the wooden vats. When all ten giant vats were full, the golden pool was nearly drained, revealing the roots of the jade tree. A satisfied look arose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he looked at the ten full vats of golden water. Soon after, he kept seven of them, while handing the remaining three to Luluo. ¡°We should have cleaned out all the treasures here, right?¡± Zhou Yuan stretched his back. By the side, Luluo¡¯s pupils looked towards the bottom of the pool as she suddenly pulled Zhou Yuan¡¯s sleeve and said, ¡°What is that?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He followed her gaze and found the roots of the tree curling together, forming a circular bundle. At this current moment, a mysterious glow seemed to spill out from the cracks of the bundled roots. Previous Chapte Chapter 598 Rushing Towards the Deeper Regions White jade like roots curled together in the shape of a ball while a mysterious light spilled out from the cracks between them. Zhou Yuan gazed in amazement at the roots of the jade tree before Spirit power began streaming out from between his brows. The Spirit power quickly cut off the root ball from the tree and brought it to him. Zhou Yuan manipulated the Spirit power with his five slender fingers, pulling apart root after root as he began to slowly unwrap the root ball. Zhou Yuan and Luluo cast over their curious and cautious gazes. ¡°This is¡­¡± With the root ball now cracked open, they found a palm-sized object. It had a very bizarre appearance, seemingly resembling a crude tablet missing half its body. The material was also very unusual and was neither metal nor wood. Overall, it seemed quite ordinary. However, Zhou Yuan and Luluo knew that the item was not as simple as it seemed because it had been hidden in a far too extraordinary place. More importantly, after they had removed the tablet-like object, the jade tree had gradually begun to dim and wither as if its life source had been removed. Luluo could not help but ask, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan grasped the broken tablet-like object. It felt extremely heavy in his hand, but his eyes were filled with bewilderment because he did not feel any special power from it. It was obviously not a Divine Establishing Treasure. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Zhou Yuan handed it to Luluo. Eyes filled with curiosity, Luluo also held it and began to play around with it. In the end, she passed it back to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Although we do not know what function it has, it should not be an ordinary item. You should hold on to it first. Who knows, you may somehow discover its use in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat hesitant. Although they knew basically nothing about the tablet, there was no way it was an ordinary item. Luluo''s act of so casually handing it over to him made him feel as if he was taking advantage of her. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much. Although it may perhaps be an extraordinary item, I did get Little Ling.¡± Luluo patted her sleeve as she grinned. For Luluo, obtaining a special variant three-headed Spirit Ghost Python was her biggest reward. ¡°I¡¯ll take advantage of you this time, then.¡± Zhou Yuan was not overly stubborn in this aspect, and he soon let out a carefree chuckle. If there was a chance in the future, he would make it up to her. Luluo nodded, clearly not minding it at all. Zhou Yuan carefully kept the mysterious tablet-like object before looking towards the gradually dimming and withering jade tree. ¡°There should be nothing more now. Let¡¯s leave this place.¡± Luluo naturally nodded in a satisfied manner. She had not only obtained a six-color Divine Establishing Treasure but also a three-headed Spirit Ghost Python. This was an almost unimaginable boost to her power. The two did not linger any further, and they quickly returned to the bottom of the six-color lake through the spatial crack. The crack slowly began to recover after they walked out, ultimately fading away. It was at this moment that Zhou Yuan seemingly felt the spatial domain silently disappear into the void. He gently caressed the spatial bag at his hip. He had a certain feeling that the most important item in the small spatial domain had not been the two six-color fruits, but that mysterious broken tablet-like object. There was, however, currently no way for him to ascertain this. Plop. Two figures broke out from the surface of the water and landed on a vantage point nearby. Night still held the sleeping land in her silent embrace. Luluo stretched her back in satisfaction before extending a small hand towards Zhou Yuan. Smiling, she said, ¡°It was a good collaboration.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as he shook her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s part ways here. I need to catch up to my Cangxuan Sect team, and I believe you have to do the same, right?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Luluo stuck out her tongue. ¡°I found an excuse to slip away, so I¡¯ll have to rush back as soon as possible.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Take care on your journey back.¡± Luluo waved at him and said, ¡°We¡¯ll meet again in the deeper regions!¡± As her voice rang out, Little Frost released a sharp cry as it transformed into its giant ice-blue form. With a single leap, she nimbly landed on the giant bird¡¯s back. Eeee! Little Frost¡¯s cry echoed as it shot into the air with a jerk of its wings. A streak of blue zipped across the horizon and disappeared in the blink of an eye. Zhou Yuan watched Luluo leave. He was not the least bit worried about her safety, especially since she now had the three-headed Spirit Ghost Python at her side. Given her current strength, even a chief disciple would find it very difficult to take advantage of her. ¡°I can finally head towards the deeper regions without worry.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed deeply before he cast his gaze into the distance. The deeper regions of the Mythic Utopia was where the various Chosen would vie with each other. It was also the true core and most marvelous zone in the Mythic Utopia. It was unimaginable for a six-color treasure location to appear in the outer regions. In contrast, though it would be rare, it was very likely that several had already been uncovered in the deeper regions. ¡°I wonder how Yaoyao and Tuntun are doing¡­," he mumbled to himself before chuckling. Given Yaoyao¡¯s strength, she would effortlessly thrive even in a place where Chosen were as numerous as the clouds. Zhou Yuan cast away such thoughts as golden Genesis Qi appeared beneath his feet and lifted him into the air. He soon turned into a flash of gold and swiftly zipped away into the distance. ¡­¡­ A day later. Zhou Yuan finally caught up to the team that had intentionally slowed their pace. Upon seeing him return unharmed, Jin Zhang, Gu Hongyi and the rest breathed a small sigh of relief. Although they were curious about why Zhou Yuan had left the group, they wisely chose to not probe him for information. Everyone had their secrets, and prying too deeply would only make them appear unreasonable. As such, the team returned to their usual travelling speed. They naturally encountered several factions as they travelled. However, each faction backed away as if they had encountered a ferocious tiger or wolf upon seeing that Zhou Yuan was leading this Cangxuan Sect team. Zhou Yuan¡¯s accomplishment of killing Fan Yao from the Sacred Palace had evidently spread, resulting in the other teams becoming aware of him, an extremely formidable chief disciple from the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Saint Genesis Peak. Armed with this intimidating reputation, Zhou Yuan and the team¡¯s progress was exceedingly smooth, and nearly no one dared to challenge them. With how peaceful things were, Zhou Yuan began to devote time towards cultivating the little Mythic Saint Body. Every evening, numerous disciples were treated to the sight of him retrieving and jumping into a giant wooden vat. Suppressed grunts and hisses of pain would then begin to play, sounds that made the scalps of several individuals turn numb. Inside these wooden vats was the golden water Zhou Yuan had found in the spatial domain on the lake bed. As the group gradually approached the Mythic Utopia''s deeper regions, they began to encounter increasingly stronger teams. Hence, Zhou Yuan did not dare to relax, and used every second he could to raise his strength. He needed to push his little Mythic Saint Body to the golden blood stage before they reached the deeper regions! Previous Chapte Chapter 599 Golden Blood Stage The fiery-red sun rose from the horizon, its scorching rays tearing apart the night sky and shining upon every corner of the land. On a certain mountain peak, Zhou Yuan was seated within a giant wooden vat. The vat was filled with viscous golden liquid, which was currently boiling like oil. Despite this, Zhou Yuan remained calm and composed; only the occasional tremble of his flesh betrayed the pain he was enduring. Over the past eight days of travelling, he had tirelessly borrowed the golden water to temper his body each night. Though the pain was tremendous, Zhou Yuan had gradually grown numb to it, and he could now clearly feel the enormous transformation that was occurring in his body. The golden water was extremely beneficial to external cultivation. Warm sunlight sprinkled from the sky, landing on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His tightly shut eyes slowly cracked open. Every fibre in his body overflowed with rich vital energy as an explosive power secretly condensed within him. His body had finally reached the tipping point. Huu. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath before he suddenly clapped his hands together. All the pores in his body seemed to open. Strands of golden Qi were rapidly extracted from the water before his body frantically sucked them in. The golden Qi madly surged about in his body as it slowly fused into his flesh and blood. *Drip* Everything else fell silent, allowing Zhou Yuan to hear the blood flowing in his body. The noise ultimately converged into one as something unique slowly began to form. It was a drop of golden blood. It circulated through his body, completing an entire round before coming to a stop in his heart. Zhou Yuan looked inward with his Spirit sense. Countless tiny veins reached out from the golden drop of blood and branched into his flesh and blood. The veins gushed with a surging power, saturating his body. Rumble! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body trembled faintly as raw power exploded. The wooden vat immediately burst apart, spilling out now-clear water. He stretched out his arms and lowered his head, a curve slowly rising from the corners of his mouth. He could clearly feel that the power in his body had grown several times greater! The formation of the golden drop of blood meant that the little Mythic Saint Body had truly reached the third level golden blood stage. The tough training he had endured over this period had finally borne fruit. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with excitement as he mumbled to himself, ¡°It¡¯s said that at the apex of external cultivation, one¡¯s body will reach the Saint level. When that happens, the blood that flows within the body will turn golden, and every drop could transform into a small world of its own, bestowing unlimited power onto the cultivator.¡± It was a level beyond his imagination. Just this single drop of golden blood alone had already taken him tremendous effort and luck. Who could imagine how difficult it would be to turn all the blood in his body golden? If Zhou Yuan were to fight Fan Yao again, he was more than confident in matching the latter through pure physical might alone, and if Genesis Qi were added into the mix, Fan Yao would not be able to last more than a dozen rounds even with his Great Blood Demon skill activated. The golden blood stage. In the current generation of Cangxuan Sect disciples, it was likely that even Shang Chunqiu of Hongya Peak had yet to reach this realm. Of course, it must be noted that Zhou Yuan was practicing the little Mythic Saint Body while Shang Chunqiu, as the Chosen of Hongya Peak, practiced the true Mythic Saint Body. Hence, even if Shang Chunqiu was still at the silver bone stage, the power of his body would not be inferior to that of Zhou Yuan¡¯s golden blood stage. ¡°If there¡¯s a chance, I wouldn¡¯t mind getting my hands on the true Mythic Saint Body¡­,¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. Although the little Mythic Saint Body was an amazing technique, it was ultimately only a mid-grade Heaven Genesis technique, whereas the Mythic Saint Body was a genuine high-grade Heaven Genesis technique. Swish! While he was sighing, the sound of rushing wind was heard nearby. A pretty figure had flown onto the mountain peak, revealing itself to be Gu Hongyi. She landed and cast a seemingly interested glance at the currently bare torsoed Zhou Yuan, teasing, ¡°You¡¯ve got a pretty nice body.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was currently very lean and slender. Although he had no attention-grabbing, bulging muscles, anyone could sense the power contained within his body. Zhou Yuan retrieved a set of clothes from his spatial bag and quickly put them on before rolling his eyes at Gu Hongyi. ¡°What is it?¡± Gu Hongyi¡¯s expression turned a little more serious. ¡°We made contact with a messenger sent by the Chosens, and we have been notified about their current location. From our current position on the map, we should be able to reach the deeper regions in half a day and meet up with the Chosens.¡± A look of joy flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he smiled and said, ¡°Good, let everyone know that we will begin preparations to leave immediately.¡± Although there was already a six-color Divine Establishing Treasure in his Qi Dwelling, Zhou Yuan would not be satisfied with just this much. Only by reaching the deeper regions of the Mythic Utopia would he be able to find more opportunities to once more rank up his Divine Establishing Treasure. After all, his goal was to achieve a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure at the very minimum! ¡­¡­ With the messenger leading the way, Zhou Yuan and the others finally reached their destination after travelling non-stop for half a day. A majestic but gloomy mountain range greeted them. Mountains rose into the clouds like countless towering giants, giving off a feeling of immeasurableness. Amidst the endless mountain range, violent thunderstorms and torrential rain would descend from time to time. At times, Genesis Qi would even take on the form of destructive gales. Once caught in it, even someone with the strength of a chief disciple would be torn to shreds. Compared to this place, the mountain forest around the six-color treasure location was akin to a little mud nest. ¡°Chief disciple Zhou Yuan, we will be stopping at a checkpoint outside the mountain range. The Great Mythic Mountain Range is a dangerous location even in the deeper regions, and we need to wait for the Chosens to come out and bring us through.¡± The Chosens¡¯ messenger said to Zhou Yuan and the rest, ¡°There are currently many factions gathered at this waiting point, with all kinds of characters amongst them. Everyone should be a little more careful.¡± Zhou Yuan and the rest nodded in acknowledgement. The messenger began to speed up once more. After half an incense stick of time, a town appeared in front of them. It was mostly made from wood and had clearly been constructed recently. However, there were countless figures inside. It was obvious that many factions had gathered here. When Zhou Yuan and the rest landed in the town, they suddenly sensed a commotion, and countless figures began to flock towards a certain direction. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. A nearby disciple immediately stopped someone to enquire about the matter. The one who had been stopped was clearly a little annoyed, but when he saw the Cangxuan Sect badge on Zhou Yuan and the rest, a strange look appeared on his face. He said, ¡°So it¡¯s the Cangxuan Sect...do you guys really not know? ¡°There¡¯s a chief disciple called Zhou Yuan from your sect who has killed two chief disciples from the Sacred Palace, which is a really impressive feat. ¡°In response, eight chief disciples of the Sacred Palace have surrounded five chief disciples from your Cangxuan Sect¡­and the chief disciple of the Hongya Peak has even had an arm taken from him. ¡°Heh heh, the Sacred Palace is trying to force the Cangxuan Sect into handing over chief disciple Zhou Yuan. If they refuse, I wonder how many chief disciples from the Cangxuan Sect will be able to escape alive today? ¡°You guys should hurry up and run after angering the Sacred Palace. Why are you still wasting time here asking me questions?¡± A mocking look emerged in the person¡¯s eyes. The Cangxuan Sect disciple angrily shouted, ¡°You!¡± Zhou Yuan patted his shoulder, indicating for him to fall back. He then smiled at the individual and said, ¡°Could I trouble you to lead us there?¡± The person shot a glance at Zhou Yuan and sneered, ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m the chief disciple who has killed two of the Sacred Palace''s chief disciples, Zhou Yuan¡­and I¡¯m beginning to feel that you talk too much.¡± Although he was smiling, his eyes were filled with cold indifference. The look of ridicule on the person¡¯s face slowly turned rigid. Previous Chapte Chapter 600 Watched by All Parties West of the city. A huge manor stood tall and proud. Although newly built, it was grand and imposing. Only highly ranked factions within Cangxuan Heaven were permitted to enter this place. Here was where Cangxuan Heaven''s young elites had gathered, and at this moment, they all had their eyes fixed on the manor''s courtyard. Undercurrents were surging; two great forces were standing opposite each other. Cangxuan Sect. Sacred Palace. Five figures stood at the front of Cangxuan Sect''s side. They were namely Cangxuan Sect''s five chief disciples, and behind them were many of their fellow elite disciples, whose faces were filled with anger as they stared at the people opposite them. The eight figures across from them stood with their hands clasped behind their back, all exuding a fierce and violent imposing aura. The numerous Sacred Palace disciples behind the eight also gazed at the Cangxuan Sect with ridicule. The atmosphere between the two sides was so tense and hostile that the slightest of disagreement could very likely cause an extremely violent fight to break out. Of course, the other forces would be glad to see such a battle. They knew that only when the two tigers fought would they, the wolves, have an opportunity to act. In a place like the Mythic Utopia, even a great sect would be surrounded by a pack of wolves the moment it revealed a single opening. Not far from the courtyard, a towering pavilion stood tall and upright. At its top, several gazes observed everything happening in the courtyard. ¡°Haha, the scale of this isn¡¯t small at all. If a fight really did break out, it would be magnificent. The Cangxuan Sect is going to suffer,¡± a bone-chilling voice rang out from inside the pavilion. The person who had spoken was a man wearing a black robe embroidered with a fierce ghost face pattern. His face was thin as if he were a skeleton. He was Liu Fu, a chief disciple from one of the six greatest sects of Cangxuan Heaven, the Heavenly Ghost Sect. From his words and tone alone, he seemed to bear ill intent towards the Cangxuan Sect. He had previously fought against Cangxuan Sect chief disciple Tang Muxin and was ultimately defeated. Therefore, he was more than glad to witness the Cangxuan Sect being taught a lesson. Behind him were numerous disciples from the Heavenly Ghost Sect and among them was a familiar face. Unexpectedly, it was Zhen Xu. After the Saint Remains Domain, he had joined the Heavenly Ghost Sect. He was still extremely pale and still had the same soft and handsome face as before, but the Genesis Qi rippling around his body was colder and stranger than before. His line of sight was also on the courtyard below. He swept his gaze across the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s side, but was unable to find the familiar figure he was looking for. He then withdrew his gaze and turned to face the other side of the pavilion. Not only were the chief disciples of his Heavenly Ghost Sect present; those from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, the Sword Seeker Sect and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall were also in attendance. Surprising him slightly, he saw some familiar faces amongst the crowd. On the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace¡¯s side was Zuoqiu Qingyu. She was clothed in a black dress, as beautiful and alluring as she had been. On the Sword Seeker Sect¡¯s side, there was a young man whose eyes were wrapped with a black cloth. He stood there, carrying a blunt sword on his back. Although he was silent, the sharp sword Qi radiating from his body was terrifying. He was Li Chunjun the Blind Sword. And on the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall¡¯s side was a young man with bare arms who was wielding a red-and-gold staff. He was Ning Zhan. The six people who had come to the Shengzhou continent together and joined the six great sects were all present except for Zhou Yuan and Luluo. They simply nodded when they met each other¡¯s gazes, but they did not exchange greetings. ¡°Even if the Cangxuan Sect is going to suffer, the Sacred Palace most likely won''t fare much better,¡± a woman''s voice sounded. She was one of the chief disciples from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. From her voice one could tell she bore malice towards the Sacred Palace. Her group had also received a letter from Tang Xiaoyan notifying them that the Sacred Palace had attacked their Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Liu Fu curled his lips and said, ¡°I heard that a Cangxuan Sect chief disciple named Zhou Yuan had killed two chief disciples from the Sacred Palace? How true is this rumour? I have never even heard of the name Zhou Yuan before.¡± On the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace¡¯s side, Zuoqiu Qingyu raised her long, beautiful brows. She slowly lifted her head to say, ¡°The gentleman of the Heavenly Ghost Sect is wrong. The disciples of our Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace witnessed Zhou Yuan kill the Sacred Palace''s third ranked chief disciple.¡± Although she wasn¡¯t a chief disciple, as a personal disciple of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace''s sect master, her status was not considered low within the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Thus, she did not fear Liu Fu in the slightest. Liu Fu gave a slight smile. ¡°Is that so? Seems like he has some strength, but he stirred up some trouble and made others suffer because of him. It seems that Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t that impressive. He must have used some underhanded method or shameful tactic to win. It was nothing but a lucky victory.¡± He swept his eyes over the courtyard not far away and remarked, ¡°With eight chief disciples from the Sacred Palace gathered, they seem to be unwilling to let the matter go. Perhaps Zhou Yuan already knows, and that¡¯s why he does not dare to show himself today. ¡°I really pity the other chief disciples from the Cangxuan Sect, especially Chen Ze of the Hongya Peak, whose arm was ripped off.¡± The disciples of the other sects also nodded slightly in agreement. They were not familiar with Zhou Yuan; however, from their perspective, it was indeed wrong that Zhou Yuan¡¯s fellow disciples had to suffer because of the trouble he had caused. The most important thing was that Zhou Yuan, who had started everything, had still not shown up. It was inevitable for others to think that he was afraid of the power of the eight chief disciples from the Sacred Palace. ¡°Zhou Yuan is the number one person of our generation in the Cangmang continent. He is not the kind of person Liu Fu says he is. According to my understanding, if he knows about this, he will definitely come,¡± a voice suddenly sounded. Many gazes shifted to the young man with a black cloth wrapped around his eyes on the Sword Seeker Sect¡¯s side. Having been refuted three or four times, Liu Fu acted a bit irritated. Face dark, he stared at the chief disciple from the Sword Seeker Sect and asked, ¡°When did the disciples of the Sword Seeker Sect become so unruly?¡± The chief disciple chuckled, ¡°Junior brother Li is not a chief disciple, but he is the first non-Chosen of our Sword Seeker Sect in a hundred years that has been allowed to practice the sword in the sword prison, so chief disciple Liu Fu shouldn¡¯t think of him as an ordinary disciple.¡± Liu Fu''s expression abruptly changed. He naturally knew that only the Chosen could enter the Sword Seeker Sect''s sword prison. It was a place filled with fierce and sharp sword Qi¡ªso sharp that it reached the bone. It was unbearable for chief disciples, but the blind man in front of him could practice in such a place? ¡°The Cangmang continent is a remote and desolate place, but there are still some talents.¡± Liu Fu''s eyes were icy cold. When he glanced at Zhen Xu''s expressionless face, hatred filled his heart. It was because Zhen Xu was also from the Cangmang continent and was now thought of highly in the Heavenly Ghost Sect. Hearing the sarcasm in his voice, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Ning Zhan both looked at him coldly. But Liu Fu didn''t care; he just snorted and shifted his attention to the courtyard. ¡°Hmph, I really want to see if the remarkable person you talked about dares to show himself today. ¡°Moreover...¡± The corner of his lips curved in a ruminative smile. He thought, even if that Zhou Yuan dares to show up, there is no way he can escape unscathed. So this, for Zhou Yuan, is a hopeless situation. Previous Chapte Chapter 601 Huo Tian, Zhao Jing On the vast courtyard, two sets of people stood opposite each other. The atmosphere was tense and hostile. Tang Muxin stood at the forefront of the crowd, her face icy cold, her eyes fixed on the opposite side. In front of the numerous disciples from the Sacred Palace, there were two figures standing with their hands clasped behind their backs. The one of the left was clothed in white. He had a long and slender body and radiated an aura of elegance. His lips were thin, and when he smiled, he exuded sharpness. He was the leader of the ten chief disciples from the Sacred Palace¡ªthe Heavenly Sacred Hall chief disciple Huo Tian. And beside Huo Tian, there was a tall and burly man. He was clad in black and had a stern look on his face. His eyes flickered with a fierce glint, making him look like a terrifying ape. He was ranked second among the ten Sacred Palace chief disciples and was the chief disciple of the Underground Sacred Hall. His name was Zhao Jing. It was him who had torn off the arm of chief disciple Chen Ze of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Hongya Peak. At this moment, there was still blood dripping down from his fingers. ¡°Tang Muxin, your Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Zhou Yuan has killed two chief disciples from my Sacred Palace. If you don''t hand him over today, my Sacred Palace will not leave it at that,¡± Huo Tian warned. ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m surprised you still have the face to say that. The fact that the chief disciples of your Sacred Palace were killed by Zhou Yuan means that they were not good enough.¡± Tang Muxin''s beautiful eyes were biting cold with a hint of anger. ¡°If you really want to fight, my Cangxuan Sect will accompany you. The Sacred Palace is considered to be a well-respected sect, yet you launched a sneak attack. It really is despicable.¡± It had still been peaceful when the two waves of people had met earlier, but Zhao Jing of the Sacred Palace had suddenly acted, and Chen Ze of the Hongya Peak had to defend in a hurry, causing his arm to be torn off. Zhao Jing grinned, revealing his white teeth. ¡°It is said that the Hongya Peak focuses on physical training and that it is famous among the Cangxuan Heaven. However, after today I have realised that it is nothing special. Compared with our Sacred Palace, it is much inferior.¡± Beside Tang Muxin, Hongy Peak chief disciple Chen Ze was deathly pale, and his right arm was in a twisted position. But when he heard Zhao Jing insult his Hongya Peak, his eyes suddenly turned red, and he snapped, ¡°Do you dare to compete against me again?!¡± Zhao Jing crossed his arms and shot him a sideways glance. ¡°If you want to die, then I can certainly fulfill your request.¡± Chen Ze was so infuriated that he tried to charge forward, but Tang Muxin stopped him. ¡°Don¡¯t be impulsive,¡± Tang Muxin reminded. Huo Tian tucked one hand behind his back and said calmly, ¡°If the two chief disciples from our Sacred Palace were really defeated in Zhou Yuan''s hands, then we will naturally have nothing to say. ¡°But according to the news we received, Zhou Yuan used a lot of despicable tricks and had secretly attacked by taking advantage of a temporary cooperation. Fan Yao was not on guard, so that boy¡¯s sneak attack had succeeded. ¡°Zhao Jing was only doing what that boy had done to us. ¡°But, what makes you think that a new disciple who has just joined the Cangxuan Sect for less than two years is capable of defeating the third chief disciple of my Sacred Palace?!¡± There were countless eyes watching, so when they heard Huo Tian, they were sure to begin whispering to one another. If Zhou Yuan had really launched a sneak attack during an alliance, then that was indeed despicable. Tang Muxin¡¯s and Su Yao¡¯s faces darkened. Huo Tian was really vicious to want to inscribe such an evil reputation onto Zhou Yuan. If this evil reputation was found to be true, then who would dare to cooperate with Zhou Yuan in the future? ¡°Zhou Yuan is outstanding in my Cangxuan Sect. He does not need to use such methods to kill a chief disciple from your Sacred Palace.¡± Tang Muxin sneered. Huo Tian chuckled. ¡°If so, then tell the boy to come out and show us in person.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan hasn¡¯t arrived yet. If you really want to see, you will have a chance in the future.¡± Huo Tian shook his head, sighing, ¡°It seems that this person not only uses unscrupulous tricks, but he is also a coward.¡± He turned to Chen Ze and said, ¡°Chief disciple Chen Ze, I think you should direct the hatred for your broken arm on that Zhou Yuan instead.¡± Huo Tian was intending to drive a wedge between them, but Chen Ze simply looked at Zhao Jing with an icy cold stare, ignoring his words. ¡°It seems that you really don''t want to hand over that boy.¡± Huo Tian sighed, but his eyes turned sinister. ¡°Now that the matter has come to this point, someone has to give me an explanation for the death of two Sacred Palace chief disciples.¡± ¡°If you don''t want to get other disciples involved, then both sides can send someone out to settle things here today.¡± Huo Tian nodded at Zhao Jing, who slowly strode forward, grinning. ¡°Which chief disciple of your Cangxuan Sect dares to come forward to try?¡± Tang Mu''s pretty face turned cold, and she was about to step forward. ¡°Haha, chief disciple Tang Muxin, you and I are both chief disciples of our two sects. If you want to take action, then I have no choice but to accompany you. The only thing is that we have exchanged moves before, and you seem inferior.¡± Huo Tian grinned. Among the five chief disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, Tang Muxin was the strongest. No one else was a match for Zhao Jing. Moreover, the Sacred Palace''s purpose this time was to step on the Cangxuan Sect fiercely in front of the other forces; otherwise, there would be no way for them to explain themselves when the Chosen come. Tang Muxin''s icy face grew colder and colder. She knew that Huo Tian had come prepared. ¡°I''ll do it.¡± The eyes of the Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s chief disciple Baile Che were biting cold. The other party had already trampled on their door. If they did not fight back, the Cangxuan Sect would no doubt lose face. Although there were grudges between Baile Che and Zhou Yuan, they both represented the Cangxuan Sect and were thus bound together for good or ill. Any hatred and grudge could be dealt with later when they return to the sect. Chief disciple Xie Yan of the Thunder Prison Peak said suddenly, ¡°That Zhao Jing is second only to Huo Tian among the ten chief disciples of the Sacred Palace. His strength mustn¡¯t be underestimated. I have a slightly stronger source of Genesis Qi than you, second only to senior sister Tang Muxin. Let me deal with that Huo Tian.¡± ¡°Are you confident?¡± Snow Lotus Peak¡¯s Su Yao asked. Xie Yan was silent for a moment before he answered, shaking his head, ¡°That Zhao Jing is very dangerous. He is ranked second amongst the chief disciples of the Sacred Palace.¡± The others also knitted their brows in a frown. The situation at the moment was clearly that the Sacred Palace wanted to force the chief disciples to fight. Otherwise, they would directly go to war. At that time, the damage would definitely soar. But the trouble now was that Zhao Jing was too tyrannical. Even Xie Yan didn''t have much confidence in winning, and if Xie Yan were to lose the battle, it would be detrimental to the Cangxuan Sect''s reputation. This was the explanation that the Sacred Palace wanted. It was easy to deduce that in this duel, the opponents would attack without regard for the lives of others. It would be an extremely dangerous battle. ¡°Then let me try.¡± Xie Yan waved his hand, slowly stepping forward. Zhao Jing narrowed his eyes at Xie Yan. He mocked, ¡°It turns out that Xie Yan, the chief disciple of the Thunder Prison Peak, is going to play with me?¡± Xie Yan didn''t say anything, but there was a thunderous Genesis Qi rising slowly within his body. Zhao Jing¡¯s lips twisted in a ruthless smile as his fingers folded in a fist. A terrifying imposing manner emitted from his body. Between heaven and earth, countless gazes were cast onto this scene. The Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace evidently chose this method to resolve some of the grievances and grudges between them. However, from the looks of it, chief disciple Xie Yan of the Cangxuan Sect seemed to be at a disadvantage. Under countless watchful gazes, Xie Yan stepped forward, Genesis Qi rumbling out. However, just as his Genesis Qi was about to explode, there was a sudden gust of wind howling in the sky. A beam of black light fell from the sky, landing heavily on the courtyard. When the smoke and dust dissipated, only an ancient black brush that was inserted into the ground could be seen. On top of the black brush stood a slender figure, and a calm voice resounded through the manor. ¡°Since this is happening because of me, I have to ask senior brother Xie Yan to let me play. There is no need for my senior brother to personally deal with such a stupid thing.¡± At this moment, throughout the manor, countless gazes gathered on the slender figure standing on the black brush. Then, countless exclamations of shock burst forth. Previous Chapte Chapter 602 Appear In the courtyard, an ancient mottled black brush was inserted into the ground, and a young figure was standing atop its tip. That figure was tall and slender, with a face like the deep sea, unmoving and calm, but his appearance directly ignited the people in the manor. All forces broke out into clamour. ¡°Is that the Zhou Yuan who had killed two of the Sacred Palace''s chief disciples?!¡± ¡°From what I hear, he should be!¡± ¡°The main perpetrator finally showed up!¡± ¡°Interesting, he could have just appeared. But to think he dared to provoke Zhao Jing of the Sacred Palace?¡± ¡°There is going to be a good show to watch today!¡± Countless voices rang from various corners and directions within the manor. Immediately, they were followed by numerous figures tearing through the sky and landing all around the courtyard. They had originally planned to observe the confrontation between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace in secret. But now that Zhou Yuan had appeared, they knew that today¡¯s situation would become increasingly exciting. Naturally, they wanted to get closer to watch the show. In any case, Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance had stirred up the crowd within the manor. And on the top floor of the pavilion near the courtyard. Zhou Yuan''s appearance similarly shocked the people from the four great sects, and an uproar was spreading out in all directions like a tide. ¡°I have already said earlier that if Zhou Yuan was here, he would show up.¡± As Zuoqiu Qingyu smiled faintly, her alluring eyes swept over chief disciple Liu Fu of the Heavenly Ghost Sect. On the Sword Seeker Sect¡¯s side, the Blind Sword also sprang up and came to the window. Although he couldn¡¯t see, his perception was greater and more sensitive than that of ordinary people. He peered out the window in the direction of the courtyard. He could clearly feel the familiar Genesis Qi fluctuating. ¡°Zhou Yuan.¡± A flicker of emotion passed across Li Chunjun¡¯s always-expressionless face. ¡°You have become very strong.¡± Ning Zhan of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall also came over, punching his fists together while his eyes fixed on the figure below. ¡°I would like to fight that guy again.¡± His eyes were filled with a blazing battle intent. Zhen Xu didn¡¯t move, but the intimidating coldness that always flickered in his eyes seemed to have dampened quietly. The Heavenly Ghost Sect had incredibly strict rules, but at the same time, there were many that schemed and fought against each other within the sect. The slightest carelessness could result in one being ruthlessly trampled upon. In less than two years, Zhen Xu had fought many people. His actions were known to be cruel and vicious. This was also the reason why Zhen Xu had become increasingly somber over the past two years. It was just that when he saw that figure, the biting coldness in his eyes faded slightly. Compared to the icy cold Heavenly Ghost Sect, his encounter with Zhou Yuan in the Saint Remains Domain had left a very different feeling in his gloomy cold heart. At the very least, he could feel a kind of trust from Zhou Yuan. This was unlike the Heavenly Ghost Sect where everyone had a different face. The Heavenly Ghost Sect chief disciple Liu Fu peered down at the figure in the courtyard, then immediately glanced at Zuoqiu Qingyu and said, ¡°He is indeed courageous, but he''s too young and crazy. Since he has appeared in such a situation, the Sacred Palace will definitely not let him go free.¡± The other chief disciples present also nodded slightly. Zhou Yuan had killed two chief disciples from the Sacred Palace, which meant the Sacred Palace would definitely not show him any mercy since he had now appeared. The female chief disciple of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace also scrunched her brows together in a frown. She looked at Zuoqiu Qingyu and sighed, ¡°He really shouldn¡¯t have come. The Sacred Palace will not let him leave.¡± ¡°You don''t know him well enough. Since he has shown up, it means he''s not afraid of the Sacred Palace,¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu said calmly. The female chief disciple shook her head. ¡°Since he could kill Fan Yao, he is indeed strong, but Zhao Jing is much stronger than Fan Yao!¡± The ten chief disciple positions were achieved through many fights. Since Zhao Jing could suppress Fan Yao for so many years, his strength was naturally self-evident. Perhaps the Sacred Palace was eagerly waiting for Zhou Yuan to appear. They wanted Zhao Jing to ruthlessly defeat Zhou Yuan to restore the face that the Sacred Palace had lost. Zuoqiu Qingyu did not say much, but her peach blossom eyes were focused on the slender figure below. He had never let her down before. Although she knew Zhao Jing had to be very strong, she still had confidence in Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan?!¡± Tang Muxin and the others on the square were also shocked by Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance. It was evident that his appearance was unexpected. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you have come, but why don¡¯t you let chief disciple Xie Yan try first?¡± Tang Muxin said. Although she knew that Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t weak, Xie Yan was much more stable. Zhou Yuan first gave a cupped fist salute and then turned to Xie Yan, saying, ¡°Senior brother Xie Yan isn¡¯t weak, but I don¡¯t think he will have much of an advantage against the enemies.¡± Xie Yan was taken aback, but he did not refute; he also felt the same. ¡°Zhou Yuan, stop putting on an act!¡± Baili Che couldn¡¯t help sneering, ¡°Stop trying to show off at a time like this. If you lose, all of us will lose face!¡± Zhou Yuan simply smiled. He turned to Tang Muxin and said, ¡°Senior sister Tang, since this matter started because of me, I should be the one to end it.¡± Tang Muxin¡¯s eyes met his. His eyes were serious, and they revealed no sign that he was trying to show off, so she nodded firmly and said, ¡°If you have the confidence, then we will leave it to you.¡± ¡°Senior sister Tang.¡± Baili Che frowned. Tang Muxin waved her hand dismissively to stop Baili Che from saying anything more. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan gave a cupped fist salute to Tang Muxin. Xie Yan slowly stepped back. So, under countless gazes, Zhou Yuan''s figure slowly landed on the ground. Grasping the mottled black brush, he gently shook his hand, causing the ground to crack and move. The black brush swept in one direction, and the snowy white hair on its tip gradually gathered, forming a flower-like tip that was incomparably sharp and glowing. Zhou Yuan pointed the tip of the brush towards the ground, and he lifted his head to face the mass of Sacred Palace disciples opposite him. His eyes fell on Huo Tian and Zhao Jing. The two were staring back at him with deep, and perhaps ferocious, gazes. Their gazes, however, did not intimidate him. He instead gave a faint smile and calmly brought the tip of the brush up to point straight at them. ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Yuan of the Cangxuan Sect.¡± ¡°Which of the chief disciples from the Sacred Palace are going to face me?¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 603 Thirty Percent Power Countless eyes were fixed on the square, and when Zhou Yuan slowly lifted the brush''s sharp tip and pointed to Huo Tian and Zhao Jing from afar, the atmosphere instantly grew cold and tense. Huo Tian narrowed his eyes at Zhou Yuan then immediately smiled. ¡°You¡¯re that Zhou Yuan who had used unscrupulous tricks to kill Fan Yao?¡± In the face of Huo Tian¡¯s vicious slander, Zhou Yuan had no intention of explaining anything. At a time like this, what he needed to do was not to explain but to defeat the Sacred Palace chief disciples once again in front of everybody. At that time, Huo Tian''s vicious slander would naturally become a joke. So, he just looked at the two calmly and again slowly repeated, ¡°Which one of you wants to face me? Or are you both coming together?¡± Hua----- The manor burst into an uproar, and looks of astonishment crossed many faces. Although they were unaware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability, his arrogance was typical of the arrogance of youth. Huo Tian chuckled but did not respond again. He continued to stare at Zhou Yuan with his increasingly icy cold eyes. Soon, he nodded to Zhao Jing, saying indifferently, ¡°The youngsters do not know the immensity of the sky. We should teach him a little lesson, and remember to crush his chin, hands and feet. ¡°Since he damaged the reputation of my Sacred Palace, he naturally has to pay the price.¡± Zhao Jing¡¯s lips curved in an evil grin as he slowly strode forward, his every step causing the ground beneath his feet to crack and tremble. The surface of his skin glowed with a bright radiance, and it was obvious that he had cultivated his physical body. He stood sloppily in front of Zhou Yuan, a fierce glint flickering in his eyes, and slowly folded in his fingers to make a fist. ¡°Boy, if you had hidden like a mouse, I could have spared your life. Unfortunately, it¡¯s too late to regret it now.¡± Buzz! As his voice faded, his body gradually expanded, and black light covered his skin. As each muscle vibrated, a tremendous strength burst forth, producing a loud boom in the air. Many gazes turned solemn when they sensed an oppressive force slowly being released that enveloped the whole courtyard. Zhao Jing was from the Underground Sacred Hall of the Sacred Palace, which, like the Hongya Peak of the Cangxuan Sect, mainly focused on cultivating the physical body. His physical body was extremely strong, able to move mountains and crush cities. At this moment, Zhao Jing was like a ferocious ape. And standing in front of him, Zhou Yuan gave off an ordinary and mediocre feeling, as if Zhao Jing could destroy Zhou Yuan with one punch. Countless gazes were gathered in the courtyard, fixed on the two figures standing opposite each other. Even the sound of the wind seemed to have stopped. Boom! The silence only lasted a few seconds. A violent imposing force erupted from Zhao Jing¡¯s body. His face twisted into a fierce expression while he set his foot forward, causing the ground below to crack. His figure burst out like a bullet, his speed so quick he created loud booming sound waves as he passed. With his hand tightly clenched, he slammed his fist out with so much force that even the air trembled slightly. Looking at the figure shooting out, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body grew fainter and blurred before he drifted back. He flicked his sleeve and sent a torrent of Genesis Qi roaring out. Bang! Zhao Jing¡¯s fist struck, directly exploding the torrent of Genesis Qi. A grin spread across his face as he looked at Zhou Yuan, who had chosen to dodge in the end. With the stamp of his foot, his speed instantly rose dramatically. He left behind a trace of his shadow as he reappeared behind Zhou Yuan amidst gasps of astonishment. ¡°Die!¡± He grinned evilly as his fist blasted out, directly aiming for Zhou Yuan''s head. Zhou Yuan darted a glance behind him and, clenching his hand into a fist, threw out a punch. As he punched out, his skin flashed with a jade colour, and a silvery light bloomed within his bones. Boom! The two fists met head on, causing a violent force to erupt and the ground to rumble and crack. The destructive power of the collision was too terrifying. All eyes on the courtyard were filled with astonishment because they saw that the two figures were not moving! For Zhao Jing, they were not surprised. After all, he was incredibly strong, and his physical body had been cultivated to an extremely fierce and tough state. But what surprised them was that Zhou Yuan had successfully withstood Zhao Jing¡¯s attack. ¡°Interesting, it turns out that you''ve also cultivated your physical body.¡± Zhao Jing studied the jade light blooming across Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and he was slightly surprised. But soon the fierce look in his eyes grew even more intense. ¡°Good, I tore off an arm of your Hongya Peak chief disciple. I would like to see how long you can persevere?!¡± Boom! When his voice died away, the black light flowing around his body grew darker. The next moment, his two fists blasted out like a rainstorm, transforming into countless fists. Each one contained an extremely terrifying power. Boom! The fists rumbled and roared, leaving deep marks across the ground. Such an offensive made all the experts feel their hair standing on end. Numerous fist shadows rapidly enlarged in front of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, but he stayed calm and composed. The jade light surrounding his body intensified, and the silvery light from within his bones shot out, twisting and twining with the jade light. He thrust out his palm, which similarly transformed into countless palm shadows. However, it was not as violent and frantic as Zhao Jing¡¯s fists, and it instead radiated an understated calm. Boom! Boom! As they drew closer, the fists and palms collided and sent out shock wave upon shock wave, causing the air to shake violently. Countless eyes were fixed on the duel between the two. From the momentum, it appeared that Zhao Jing occupied the absolute upper hand. His offensive was like a torrential rain or a massive wave. And Zhou Yuan was a little boat in the middle of a stormy sea, in danger of capsizing any moment. But what surprised everybody was that Zhou Yuan was able to resolve each danger at every critical moment. From what they had observed, however, they were able to feel that Zhou Yuan was indeed pretty strong. Since he could withstand Zhao Jing for such a long period of time, it was perhaps possible for him to have killed Fan Yao. Boom! It was another fierce collision. Zhou Yuan and Zhao Jing were both sent reeling back. Huo Tian¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Zhao Jing, stop playing around!¡± What he needed was for Zhao Jing to completely crush Zhou Yuan, not weigh how much strength Zhou Yuan actually had. Zhao Jing twisted his neck and grinned. ¡°That boy''s physical body is not bad. It is rare to meet someone who can withstand my attacks.¡± But he also knew that now wasn¡¯t the time to test Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength. He cast a fierce glance at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Boy, just now I did not even use 60% of my strength.¡± Zhou Yuan laughed, ¡°I was just thinking why it was so soft like a woman''s fist.¡± A wave of killing intent flashed across Zhao Jing¡¯s eyes as he clasped his hands together. The next moment, a current of black air crept out from his flesh and blood, and his skin began to take on a black, iron-like color. His palms became large, and his black nails grew piercingly sharp. His already tall body expanded again, growing to the size of a ten metre giant. ¡°Roar!¡± He lifted his head and roared skywards, banging his fists against his chest and making clattering noises that resembled metal striking metal. A terrifying fiendish aura spread out from within his body. At the back, Tang Muxin and the others all had a change of expression. Chief disciple Chen Ze of the Hongya Peak wore a solemn expression. ¡°This is the Ape Demon technique of the Sacred Palace! It''s incredibly powerful! That Zhao Jing is going all out.¡± Tang Muxin and others revealed a trace of worry in their eyes upon hearing this. Zhou Yuan looked at the ape-like Zhao Jing, but there was not the slightest nervousness on his face. Zhao Jing was indeed strong, and if he hadn¡¯t made a breakthrough to the golden blood stage, it might have taken some effort to defeat him. But unfortunately there was no if. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath, closed his eyes slightly, and muttered, ¡°But do you know that I only used 30% of my power?¡± The drop of golden blood in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart started to vibrate slightly. Countless golden veins branched through his body, fusing with his flesh and blood. The moment Zhou Yuan''s eyes sprang open, there was golden light glowing within them. ¡°Next, I will let you see the true physical power of the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 604 Guardian Asura Roar! On the chaotic courtyard, Zhao Jing lifted his head skyward and roared. Black light wrapped around his body, making him appear as if he was made of an indestructible, black metal. The present Zhao Jing was an ape monster. That fiendish and ruthless aura he exuded was enough to send one¡¯s heart pounding with fear. At this moment, even Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others had a look of nervousness in their eyes. The present Zhao Jing was far too terrifying. Chief disciple Liu Fu of the Heavenly Ghost Sect immediately shot a glance at Zuoqiu Qingyu and sneered: ¡°Zhao Yuan is decently strong to be able to force Zhao Jing to use the Ape Demon technique. Unfortunately for him, the price he needs to pay for forcing Zhao Jing''s hand is his life.¡± The other chief disciples present were all watching the scene with solemn faces. They knew clearly that they wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand such attacks if they were instead the ones standing in front of Zhao Jing. The chief disciple ranked second in the Sacred Palace indeed lived up to his reputation. Boom! Under the serious looks of countless people, Zhao Jing locked his vicious eyes on Zhou Yuan. This time, he no longer uttered a word. The corner of his mouth curved upwards, revealing an increasingly sinister smile. ¡°Boom!¡± Zhao Jing crouched down slightly and suddenly stomped his feet against the ground, forming a gigantic crack beneath him as he soared upward. His figure, like the ancient ape demon that pounced on the dragon, shrouded Zhou Yuan with his shadow. ¡°Ape demon¡¯s arm!¡± A long hiss rang out, and a black light wrapped around Zhao Jing''s right arm. His arm was even growing strands of black hair, and it had, in that instant, turned into a thick ape''s arm. Boom! A fist blasted out, tearing a huge chasm through the courtyard. The punch''s shadow directly enveloped Zhou Yuan. The level of ferocity had reached a point where it could not be any fiercer. In the face of such a terrifying punch, Tang Muxin''s and the others¡¯ countenances changed dramatically. Genesis Qi surged from their bodies; they were preparing to lend aid. While those countless eyes were wide with shock and horror because of Zhao Jing¡¯s destructive punch, Zhou Yuan, who was shrouded in its shadow, maintained a calm and composed demeanour. The golden light in his eyes was part hidden, part visible. There was a faint golden light that slowly covered his skin. It was as if this light was forming an ancient golden pattern on the surface of his body. The drop of golden blood in his heart was vibrating violently. ¡°Boy, get down on your knees!¡± Zhao Jing roared. His punch, filled with destructive power, came speeding over like a stormy torrent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was devoid of expression. He clenched his hand slowly while a golden light pattern covered his arm. As the light spread and gradually covered the surface of his fist, an indescribable force roared within his body like an enraged dragon. It was a kind of strength he had never felt before. The power brought about by the golden blood stage was far beyond Zhou Yuan''s imagination. Boom! Under countless shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan thrust out his fist. He met Zhao Jing¡¯s destructive punch head on. ¡°He¡¯s looking to die!¡± Countless people shook their heads upon witnessing this scene. Zhou Yuan''s fist seemed rather unremarkable in comparison to Zhao Jing¡¯s ape-like fist. They did not understand why Zhou Yuan would be so stupid as to choose to fight head on. But it was too late to say anything. The most likely outcome was that Zhou Yuan would be crushed into mincemeat. Bang! The moment the two collided, a huge shock wave erupted and frantically expanded. It sent all the slabs in the courtyard whirling into the air. The ground, layer by layer, was constantly lifted and removed. The disciples of the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace repeatedly retreated. If the chief disciples of all sides had not acted together at the same time, the impact of the collision could have destroyed the entire manor. As the shock wave gradually faded, all eyes fixed on the middle of the courtyard. The smoke and dust gradually dissipated. All eyes fell on the two figures. The two maintained the same position as before. Their fists were touching each other, and their bodies seemed to have not moved an inch. ¡°Who won?¡± Countless eyes were staring at them. Eyebrows were drawn together in puzzlement because it seemed impossible to determine the battle''s outcome based on the scene in front of them. Hou Tian was also staring at the courtyard. He frowned slightly, similarly unclear about the situation. ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± the other chief disciples beside him asked. Huo Tian said indifferently, ¡°Zhao Jing should have won. His punch was so powerful that even I would have needed to use a lot of effort to withstand such a strike. That Zhou Yuan is asking for death by meeting that punch head on.¡± The other Sacred Palace chief disciples nodded. They were equally aware of Zhao Jing¡¯s strength. None of them could have withstood that punch. That Zhou Yuan had to have undoubtedly died. Tang Muxin and the others were also nervously watching the scene. ¡°That fool, why would he go head on against Zhao Jing!¡± Baili Che couldn''t help but scold him through gritted teeth. If Zhou Yuan was killed, the Cangxuan Sect would be the one to lose face. The other chief disciples didn''t speak, but there was worry in their eyes. On the pavilion, everyone was holding their breath. Even Zuoqiu Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but clench her hands tightly. Her beautiful eyes were transfixed on the scene below, not daring to look away. The atmosphere throughout the manor also seemed to have solidified along with the stillness of the two figures in the courtyard. Such stillness lasted dozens of breaths. In the center of the square, Zhou Yuan''s eyelids moved slightly as he looked at the tall, ape-like figure before him. He slowly took a deep breath in through the nose. His body was the first to move. He slowly withdrew his fist, but he did not take another glance at Zhao Jing. Instead, he brushed past Zhao Jing and headed straight towards Tang Muxin and the others. On the other hand, Zhao Jing was still motionless. Everybody stared at Zhou Yuan in astonishment. ¡°Zhao Jing, what are you doing?¡± Hou Tian thundered. No one was certain as to what had happened. ¡°Boy, what have you done to him?¡± Huo Tian''s gloomy eyes turned to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan halted his footsteps and spoke in a gentle voice: ¡°It seems that the Sacred Palace''s physical body technique is not as strong as I thought. So what reason do you have to laugh at my Cangxuan Sect? ¡°As for him?¡± Zhou Yuan tilted his head slightly, his expression cold and detached. He stretched out two fingers. The next moment, a loud snap echoed across the courtyard. Bang! It was at that moment when he snapped his fingers that everyone was shocked to find that Zhao Jing¡¯s thick, ape-like right arm had actually shattered into pieces! Blood was jetting everywhere! His entire arm had exploded! Zhao Jing slowly began to collapse, his body falling backwards. Hua! The atmosphere of the whole manor was boiling, and countless gazes contained intense disbelief and horror. All eyes then gathered on the young figure whose back was facing Zhao Jing. Their eyes were all full of astonishment. Who would have thought that Zhou Yuan, who seemed to have been at a disadvantage during that terrifying thunderous impact, could counter-attack with one punch and cause Zhao Jing¡¯s ape-like arm to explode to pieces! What kind of terrifying force was that? Within the manor, fear gradually filled the eyes focusing on Zhou Yuan. None of them would have thought that the newly appointed chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak, who was a nobody amongst the seven chief disciples of Cangxuan Sect, was a guardian asura! Previous Chapte Chapter 605 The Chosen Appear! Boom! When Zhao Jing¡¯s strong body collapsed to the ground, a deep noise echoed. The whole courtyard seemed to tremble. Of course, something else was trembling with it: the hearts of the countless onlookers. All eyes were filled with intense astonishment as they looked at Zhao Jing whose right arm had exploded with blood. It was unknown whether he was still alive. On the pavilion. The Heavenly Ghost Sect¡¯s chief disciple Liu Fu, who was originally holding a tea cup with both hands and leisurely waiting for the Cangxuan Sect to be humiliated, was frozen with terror. The shock and fear in his eyes burst forth, unable to be concealed. Kacha. The cup in his hand cracked and shattered under his grip. He swallowed a mouthful of saliva and, with great difficulty, muttered, ¡°How could this be...¡± But nobody in the pavilion was in the mood to laugh at him; they all bore the same expressions of shock. When Zhao Jing''s right arm exploded in a fountain of blood after Zhou Yuan brushed by him, it had created a scene that was truly too unexpected. No one would have thought that Zhao Jing, who had been occupying the upper hand all the while, would be completely defeated by Zhou Yuan in that very moment. Zhao Jing was not a nobody but the chief disciple ranked second in Sacred Palace! Among all the chief disciples of the Cangxuan Heaven, he could be said to be ranked in the top five! Every chief disciple cast a complex gaze at the young figure from the Cangxuan Sect. Compared to the other chief disciples, Zhou Yuan, the chief disciple of the Saint Genesis Peak, seemed to rank last amongst the seven chief disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. This was true whether it was in reputation or seniority. This was also the reason that the chief disciples of the other sects did not attach much importance to him. Even if they had previously heard about Zhou Yuan''s accomplishment, they still regarded him with skepticism. But at this moment, when the cruel reality was placed in front of them, they had to put away that irreverent state of mind, which was then replaced with graveness and fear. The youngest chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect had proved everything with his own strength. The female chief disciple of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace breathed a long sigh of relief before she turned to Zuoqiu Qingyu and said, ¡°Qingyu, your friend really is too fearsome.¡± He was indeed too fearsome. In the most direct and straightforward manner possible, he caused Zhao Jing¡¯s arm to explode. Zuoqiu Qingyu blinked her alluring peach blossom eyes. The impact she felt at this moment was no less than that of the others. Although she had confidence in Zhou Yuan, she only thought he would be evenly matched with Zhao Jing. But as evident from that one scene, Zhou Yuan had nearly killed Zhao Jing. ¡°That guy became much stronger compared to the last time we saw each other!¡± she muttered in her mind. Her beautiful eyes then shifted to chief disciple Liu Fu of the Heavenly Ghost Sect. ¡°Well, I believe no one doubts Zhou Yuan now, right?¡± Liu Fu silently bowed his head and cleaned up the water stains the shattered cup had covered his body with. He looked a little embarrassed, and he did not dare answer Zuoqiu Qingyu. He too was shocked by Zhou Yuan''s fierceness and didn''t want to bring trouble to himself. Right now, it was better to talk less. Zuoqiu Qingyu felt great when she saw Liu Fu''s expression, and she no longer paid any attention to him. Her beautiful eyes shifted to the courtyard and onto the slender figure that had captured the attention of countless people. At the window, Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan were also staring fixedly below with extremely grave expressions. ¡°Such a strong punch," Ning Zhan said then slowly added, ¡°His physical body has been cultivated to an extremely high level. Even Zhao Jing cannot match up to him.¡± Their North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall also had physical cultivation techniques. But even amongst the numerous chief disciples of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, there wasn¡¯t anyone who could reach Zhou Yuan''s level. Perhaps, only within the Chosen could someone who could reach such a level be found. Although Li Chunjun was blind, he had still felt the collision between two astonishing forces. The stronger one should have belonged to Zhou Yuan. ¡°That punch...¡± Li Chunjun estimated his strength in his mind then slowly said, ¡°He is walking ahead of us again.¡± Ning Zhang scratched his head, saying helplessly, ¡°He really is abnormal. I thought I could avenge my previous humiliation. But from the looks of it, I can¡¯t defeat him even if we fought again.¡± Li Chunjun¡¯s lips trembled into a smile as he gently caressed the heavy sword on his back. ¡°It¡¯s good to have a goal in front of you. He will give me motivation to chase after him. ¡°Do you know...I think of him whenever I can''t hold on anymore while training in the sword prison?¡± Ning Zhang was silent for a moment. He responded, ¡°Although you¡¯ve become blind, you still shouldn¡¯t lower your standards like that, right?¡± Che! A sharp sword qi shot out from Li Chunjun¡¯s finger. Shaped like a crescent moon, it aimed directly for Ning Zhang. Ning Zhang chuckled mischievously. Genesis Qi surged in the palm of his hand, forming a yellow dragon head that swallowed the sword qi in one mouthful. The Genesis Qi shook violently before gradually calming down. ¡°I was just kidding.¡± ... On the courtyard. Tang Muxin, Baili Che and the others similarly stared at Zhao Jing who had slowly collapsed to the ground. It was only after a good while that their looks of disbelief darted over to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, your strength has grown once again!¡± Tang Muxin drew a deep breath and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Moments ago, they were still puzzled by Zhou Yuan''s choice to confront Zhao Jing. But at this moment, their confusion had completely dissolved...the extremely fierce and violent Zhao Jing in their eyes was nothing but a paper tiger in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. The other chief disciples also wore somewhat complicated expressions, particularly so for Baili Che. He had scolded and called Zhou Yuan an idiot moments ago, but now he knew that Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t stupid. Instead, he was the one with poor vision. The present Zhou Yuan was much stronger compared to the last time they had met. So even if Baili Che was unwilling to admit it, he also knew that Zhou Yuan had already surpassed him¡­ Zhou Yuan looked at Tang Muxin and the others with a smile. He said with a cupped fist salute, ¡°Luckily I didn¡¯t lose, otherwise our Cangxuan Sect would have lost face.¡± ¡°We made an error of judgment yet again,¡± the chief disciple of the Thunder Prison Peak, Xie Yan, said slowly. ¡°Since this matter started because of me, I naturally should be the one to put an end to it. I didn¡¯t mean to steal senior brother Xie Yan¡¯s limelight.¡± Zhou Yuan laughed. Xie Yan, who was always serious in speech and manner, shook his head as the corners of his lips moved ever so slightly. ¡°Be careful, that Huo Tian might go crazy,¡± Tang Muxin suddenly reminded them. Zhou Yuan turned and looked in the direction of the Sacred Palace not too far away. Their chief disciples had also gradually recovered from the shock of Zhao Jing¡¯s collapse. Hou Tian¡¯s face had become terrifyingly gloomy. He slowly raised his head, and his cold eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan. His chilling voice rang throughout the manor. ¡°Good, really good. You really are the chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Saint Genesis Peak! ¡°I really made an error of judgment. So you are the one who hid the deepest... ¡°Since your Cangxuan Sect is so powerful, then let my Sacred Palace learn from you today!¡± As soon as his voice sounded, all the Sacred Palace chief disciples as well as their sect''s normal disciples erupted with Genesis Qi. Their sinister eyes were locked on to the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s side. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was so calm that there wasn''t even the slightest disturbance on his face. ¡°If you want to fight, then my Cangxuan Sect will keep you company till the end.¡± He held out his palm and waved it gently. Boom! At the same time, in the area behind the disciples of the Sacred Palace, there were streaks of Genesis Qi shooting skywards one after another. Hundreds of figures swept past. The person in the lead was namely Jin Zhang. The seven chief disciples of the Cangxuan Sect also gathered together. The team that appeared behind them made the Sacred Palace slightly restless. Huo Tian¡¯s face also grew increasingly unsightly, and he stared at Zhou Yuan. They had originally occupied an absolute advantage, but now it all changed. The situation was growing increasingly embarrassing for them. The strength of both sides was in a well-balanced state. But once a battle broke out, there would inevitably be disastrous losses. If that were to happen, only a third party would benefit. Under the countless watchful gazes of everyone in the manor, although the two sides were facing each other, no one was willing to really provoke a dispute. All of a sudden, the atmosphere in the manor turned awkward. But it did not last long. Boom! A loud noise resounded through the air, attracting everyone''s attention. In the distant mountains, countless gusts of violent Genesis Qi dipper wind were tearing several cracks and gaps from which numerous powerful and imposing shadows burst forth. The crowd in the manor was stirred up the moment the shadows appeared. ¡°The Chosen from the various sects are coming out!¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 606 Jin Chanzi Beyond the majestic and unimaginable mountain ranges, there were violent Genesis Qi winds. They formed a layer of wind that protected the mountains. Even the chief disciples of the various sects could not break it apart. Only the combined force of the Chosen from various sects could tear open a passageway. Swoosh! Swoosh! At this moment, the many extraordinary shadows that broke out from the layer of wind were the Chosen who were exploring the mountain ranges. The reason they had come out was evidently to welcome the various sect disciples. The whole city stirred as countless blazing eyes watched the shadows skim across the skies. Within the manor, the disciples from each sect were just as excited; they all knew that the majestic ancient mountain range in front of them was one of Mythic Utopia''s true core areas. As long as they could enter, the harvests they could obtain would certainly be incomparable. The welcoming from the Chosen was a necessary condition for them to enter. The appearance of each sects'' Chosen also quelled the confrontation between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace. The disciples of both sides still stared fiercely at one another, but the Genesis Qi surging from their bodies had slightly curbed. Zhou Yuan also lifted his head to look at the shadows flying out from the wind layer. A slight smile curved up on his lips. I wonder if Yaoyao will come...we haven¡¯t seen each other for over a month. I miss her a little. And of course, there is also Tuntun. Under countless hopeful gazes, a shadow, at the fastest speed possible and with an astonishing imposing aura, directly appeared above the manor. The figure slowly landed. As eyes gathered on that shadow, several people had an abrupt change of expression. Fear was surfacing in their eyes. The person who had appeared was dressed in a white robe and was tall and slender. He was like a deity descending upon the world, especially so with his golden hair glistening under the sun. Most frightening, his eyes were also glowing with a golden color and were vertically slit. His stare was enough to send a chill down one¡¯s spine. Zhou Yuan''s eyes were similarly fixed on him, his face turning solemn. Evidently, he was able to perceive a dangerous aura emitting from him. He turned to Tang Muxin and the others only to see a look of fear cross their faces. ¡°Who is he?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Tang Muxin took a deep breath and answered, ¡°Jin Chanxi of the Sacred Palace, ranked fifth on the Chosen List of Cangxuan Heaven, and ranked in the top three amongst the Sacred Palace¡¯s Chosen. His strength is extremely terrifying.¡± Zhou Yuan focused his eyes on Jin Chanxi, evidently not expecting Jin Chanxi to be so powerful. He could feel that when Jin Chanzi had appeared, the boiling atmosphere in the manor had become much colder. The countless gazes coming from all directions flickered with fear. The fact that Jin Chanzi¡¯s appearance could deter all forces showed that he had a well-earned reputation for being fierce. Huo Tian and the others also saw Jin Chanzi arrive, but their expressions were that of excitement mingled with some unease. They knew that the performance of the Sacred Palace chief disciples wasn¡¯t particularly good this time. Especially now, Zhao Jing was still lying on the courtyard. And they all knew that Jin Chanzi always stopped at nothing to do what he wanted. He most likely would be enraged if he knew that they had performed so badly. As their excited and anxious eyes regarded the happenings around them, the beam of light in the sky also recognised the people from the Sacred Palace and landed in front of them. His golden eyes scanned the crowd and eventually fell on the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect who were not too far away, including Zhao Jing who was collapsed on the courtyard. ¡°What happened?¡± Jin Chanzi asked indifferently. The Sacred Palace''s chief disciples were all as silent as winter cicadas. Hou Tian summoned up the courage to step forward and report everything. After he finished speaking, he lifted his head to take a glance at Jin Chanzi, who still remained expressionless. Jin Chanzi just looked at him as he slowly said, ¡°You mean, two chief disciples from my Sacred Palace were killed by the same chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect... ¡°And Zhao Jing was also wounded by that same person?¡± Huo Tian nodded with difficulty. Jin Chanzi stared at him awhile then suddenly smiled. ¡°You chief disciples are really so capable. My Sacred Palace has suppressed the Cangxuan Sect for many years, but you intend to completely ruin the face of my Sacred Palace?¡± Huo Tian and other chief disciples did not dare to retort. Jin Chanzi shook his head, saying indifferently, ¡°Ning Mo and Fan Yao are both so incompetent. It¡¯s also good that they are dead, lest they waste my Sacred Palace¡¯s training resources. I¡¯m a little surprised with Zhao Jing, but since he¡¯s also a loser he will be punished according to the rules of the sect when he returns to the Sacred Palace. ¡°At that time, you will also suffer for your actions.¡± He swept his eyes over Huo Tian and the others. They did not dare to argue. ¡°Bring that fool back. Don''t embarrass the Sacred Palace here,¡± Huo Tian hurriedly commanded his disciples. Jin Chanzi studied Zhao Jing''s broken arm and asked curiously, ¡°Which Cangxuan Sect chief disciple has this ability?¡± Huo Tian hesitated for a moment before he answered, ¡°He is said to be the new chief disciple of the Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan. I haven¡¯t heard of his name before.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± Jin Chanzi¡¯s pupils seemed to flicker slightly as the corners of his lips slowly lifted into a strange arc. He muttered, ¡°This is really interesting.¡± Huo Tian did not understand the meaning of his words, but he did not question further. Jin Chanzi strode forward two steps. His golden eyes shifted onto the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s side. Smiling, he asked, ¡°Which one of you is Zhou Yuan?¡± Zhou Yuan took a look at Jin Chanzi then strode forward. Jin Chanzi looked at Zhou Yuan with great interest, studying him closely. A moment later, a trace of disappointment emerged in his eyes. This was the target of their mission? The one the sect master of their Sacred Palace had warned them about? He seemed pretty ordinary. Just what about him had caught the sect master''s attention? ¡°You¡¯re the one who had killed two Sacred Palace chief disciples and had broken Zhao Jing''s arm?¡± Jin Chanzi asked with an unconcerned attitude. Tang Muxin spoke out: ¡°If you don¡¯t feel comfortable, wait for the Chosen from my Cangxuan Sect to come. As a Chosen, you do not have to involve yourself in the affairs of chief disciples, right?¡± Her eyes met Jin Chanzi¡¯s with cautiousness. She had reminded him that, given his identity as a Chosen, if he chose to become involved in the fights between chief disciples, it would somewhat lower his status according to the unspoken rules. Jin Chanzi simply smiled. He ignored Tang Muxin and just stared at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was also looking directly at him. He had no intention to evade his gaze, and there was not the slightest of fear in his eyes, unlike in the others''. ¡°The way the Sacred Palace acts is too domineering. Since your distinguished self is one of the Chosen, you should exercise a little more restraint.¡± Everybody¡¯s heart jumped to their throat. Zhou Yuan was too bold to dare say such words in front of Jin Chanzi. Jin Chanzi was taken aback before bursting out in laughter. Tang Muxin and the others raised their guard. Jin Chanzi smiled. ¡°Rest assured, I am also a Chosen of the Sacred Palace. How can I lower myself to deal with a nobody? Wouldn¡¯t I be laughed at?¡± It was only then that Tang Muxin¡¯s body relaxed a little. She seemed to ignore the ridicule and mockery present in Jin Chanzi¡¯s words. After all, given Jin Chanzi''s status and power, who would dare to do anything against him? Jin Chanzi ran his eyes across Tang Muxin and the others, the corners of his lips lifting up into a strange curve. ¡°But, then again, what is face? Would I, Jin Chanzi, care about such things?¡± A chilling laughter slowly rang out. Then, under countless frightened gazes, Jin Chanzi abruptly flung his sleeve. All of a sudden, a torrent of incredibly berserk jade-green Genesis Qi came roaring out. Boom! The torrent of Genesis Qi split the courtyard in two where it passed. Zhou Yuan could not dodge in time, so then, in a thunderous manner under countless horrified gazes, it fiercely struck him. Bang! It blasted Zhou Yuan''s figure thousands of metres away as if he had suffered a heavy blow. His body tore down countless walls, stone pavilions and everything else in the way. Boom! His body eventually slammed into a building, which then collapsed and buried him. The whole manor went deathly still. Countless people stared at the smiling Jin Chanzi in frozen disbelief, not expecting that this Chosen, who was ranked third in the Sacred Palace, would have such an unpredictable temper. He did not even take into consideration his identity when he had unexpectedly attacked Zhou Yuan. His move should have killed that chief disciple from the Cangxuan Sect, right? Previous Chapte Chapter 604 Want Him Dead Huge cracks tore the manor apart. Right now, the tense atmosphere in the manor had long been transformed into a deathly silence. All the chief disciples stared in shocked horror, holding their breaths in fear. Who would have thought Jin Chanzi would attack all of a sudden... Generally, according to the rules of the various clans, Chosen would only act against other Chosen. Rarely would a Chosen attack a chief disciple because that would be an unfair battle and a dishonorable victory even if they won. But right now, not only had Jin Chanzi attacked, he had done so without warning... With such a thunderous attack, any one of the chief disciples here would most likely be killed in seconds. On a nearby pavilion. Zuoqiu Qingyu sprang up, her charming face deathly pale. By the window, Li Chunjun''s and Ning Zhang¡¯s faces also grew overcast. On the Heavenly Ghost Sect¡¯s side, Zhen Xu¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but he couldn¡¯t help but clench his fists inside his sleeves. This sudden scene had shocked everyone present. Even the chief disciples of the other four sects that were present also had faces of shock and fear. Jin Chanzi had not held back at all with his attack. If it had been them, they would have had no chance of surviving. To think the Chosen ranked third in the Sacred Palace would perform such an unscrupulous move and ignore the rules entirely. In the square, Tang Muxin and others were also dumbfounded. It was only after several seconds that they finally recovered from the shock and witnessed the huge crack next to them. They trembled all over. It was from both anger and fear. If that blow had been directed at them, they would not have survived. ¡°Jin Chanzi...you, how dare you!¡± Tang Muxin¡¯s jade-like finger pointed at Jin Chanzi. Her voice was trembling, and her eyes were red. ¡°You broke the rules, the Chosen from my Cangxuan Sect will not let you get away with this!¡± Jin Chanzi gave an indifferent smile. ¡°The damage has already been done. If your Cangxuan Sect wants to come, then my Sacred Palace will welcome you. ¡°Also, I do not believe that the Chosen from your Cangxuan Sect will want to fight my Sacred Palace just because of a chief disciple.¡± Jin Chanzi threw a glance at the collapsed building in the distance. His master had said that he did not care whether Zhou Yuan was dead or alive. In that case, it should suffice if he just brought back Zhou Yuan''s body. ¡°Zhou Yuan is not the same as the others! Even if the other Chosen take the situation into consideration and don''t do anything, someone will never let you go!¡± Tang Muxin said through gritted teeth. She was naturally referring to Yaoyao. Tang Muxin did not know how the other Chosen would react, but there was one thing that she was clear about, and that was that once Yaoyao found out about this, she would not care at all about the overall situation. She would undoubtedly make Jin Chanzi die! And there was also Tuntun! Jin Chanzi simply smiled without saying anything. Evidently, he did not attach any importance to Tang Muxin¡¯s words. Tang Muxin drew a deep breath and hurriedly turned to the rubble that had buried Zhou Yuan. She had to ensure that Zhou Yuan was still alive. Otherwise, if Yaoyao were to find out, she would no doubt flip the world upside down. At this time, the other chief disciples also reacted and followed after her figure. Jin Chanzi smiled at this scene and had no intention of stopping them. He was very confident in his previous attack because he had not held back. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, it was impossible for him to have survived. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± Tang Muxin and the others came to the rubble. Activating their Genesis Qi, they lifted boulder after boulder. And just when Tang Muxin and the others were anxiously preparing for the rescue, a voice suddenly rang out, ¡°Stop calling...¡± They froze, staring at the rubble in front of them in disbelief. Was there a problem with their ears? ¡°It seems to be Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice?¡± Jin Zhang said hesitantly. They exchanged glances of disbelief. They were well aware of how powerful Jin Chanzi¡¯s attack was and that his attack had struck Zhou Yuan directly. Even if his physical body was stronger than that of others, it was still impossible for him to have withstood such a strike. Bang! While they stood bewildered, a boulder shut up from the rubble, and a figure covered in dust and dirt slowly stood up. Tang Muxin and the others stared dumbstruck at the figure, their minds going blank. They could see very clearly that, although the figure looked a little dusty, he was basically unscathed. Zhou Yuan was completely unharmed after Jin Chanzi¡¯s attack? Not only they were stunned. Cries of surprise rang out one after another in the originally silent manor, and all eyes focused on the figure standing on top of the rubble. ¡°How is that possible!?¡± In the pavilion, the chief disciples of the four sects also couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise. From Jin Chanzi¡¯s attitude, it was obvious that he hadn''t held back. So why was that figure still alive? Phew. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s heart finally relaxed a little, and she sat back down. Clutching her chest with her little hand, she clenched her teeth and said, ¡°This guy really did scare me.¡± But soon, she also cast a surprised gaze on the figure in the distance. She was similarly puzzled as to why Zhou Yuan was still alive. Under countless astonished gazes, Zhou Yuan gently dusted his body. He lifted his head and looked at Jin Chanzi in the distance with a smile. ¡°Bastard with vertical pupils, your Sacred Palace only taught you to do this?¡± In the distance, Huo Tian and the others were just as shocked to see that Zhou Yuan had survived. Jin Chanzi was evidently taken aback, and the smile soon faded from his lips as he fixed his golden eyes on Zhou Yuan. He said indifferently, ¡°You¡¯re still alive. Your life is really tough.¡± Zhou Yuan twisted his neck, his expression indifferent. However, there was anger accumulating in his eyes. He glanced down at his palm where drops of yellow liquid were slowly dripping onto the ground and vanishing without a trace. That was the Dragon Saliva True Water that he had obtained from the Genesis reservoir ceremony. It was an object with a strong defensive ability powerful enough to withstand a full-force attack from a Chosen. In truth, Zhou Yuan also had not expected that Jin Chanzi would attack all of a sudden. It was in that critical moment that he had activated the Dragon Saliva True Water. Thanks to this, he had managed to successfully escape the calamity. If it were not for the Dragon Saliva True Water, even if he had survived, he would most likely have been severely wounded. In the distance, Jin Chanzi¡¯s golden eyes could be seen blinking gently as he remarked, ¡°But you are indeed interesting. No wonder you caught the attention of the above. ¡°Although I don''t know why you could have escaped unscathed, I believe it''s not your own ability. If I¡¯m not mistaken, you have a protective treasure on you. Am I right? ¡°That kind of thing should have a limit, shouldn''t it? ¡°So even if it could save you once, can it save you twice, or even ten times?¡± Jin Chanzi smiled as a stream of astonishing jade-green Genesis Qi slowly rose from his body. An oppressive Genesis Qi pressure swept across the manor, causing a look of fear to cross the faces of all the chief disciples present. Jin Chanzi¡¯s voice was filled with boundless killing intent. It was evident that the failure of his previous attack had infuriated him, so now he intended to really attack. Zhou Yuan naturally felt the dangerous aura emitting from Jin Chanzi as well as the bone-piercing coldness flashing through Jin Chanzi''s eyes. But he was not afraid. Jin Chanzi was indeed strong, but it wouldn¡¯t be easy to kill Zhou Yuan if he was on guard. ¡°You¡¯re not going to run away?¡± Jin Chanzi couldn¡¯t help smiling when he saw that Zhou Yuan was still standing where he was. ¡°In that case, go die.¡± He strode forward and was about to strike. The moment he stepped out, however, his body was suddenly frozen to the spot. He sensed an extremely dangerous wave of energy, one that made his skin immediately tighten. He slowly lifted his head, looking toward a nearby stone pagoda. It was as if he was watching a great enemy descend. There, a remarkably stunning maiden dressed in a cyan robe stood against the wind. Her graceful body and beautiful face were dazzling, but her clear eyes were fixed on Jin Chanzi, devoid of emotion. Her red lips slightly opened, and an icy, bone-chilling voice slowly came out. ¡°You, you want him to die?¡± There was a subtle, almost imperceptible anger in her voice... Previous Chapte Chapter 608 Yaoyao Appears ¡°You...want him dead?¡± When the icy, bone-chilling voice came out from the red lips of the remarkably beautiful maiden standing on the peak of the stone pagoda, the temperature of the whole manor seemed to suddenly plummet. That chilling intent was enough to make countless people tremble. They turned to look at the beautiful figure with their eyes wide open with terror. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°From the pattern on her sleeves, she should be someone from the Cangxuan Sect, but I have never heard anybody dare to speak to Jin Chanzi like that. She must be a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, but I haven''t heard that there was such a person among the seven great Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect. Moreover, among them, only Li Qingchan is a woman, and she is also remarkably beautiful. But that¡¯s not her.¡± A murmur of voices discussed the identity of the woman, but many people were filled with puzzlement. After all, Yaoyao had not entered the Chosen List of the Cangxuan Sect, so many people were unfamiliar with her. ¡°Yaoyao!¡± Although other people were unfamiliar with her, Zuoqiu Qingyu wasn''t, and she leapt to her feet on the pavilion. Her beautiful eyes stared at the elegant and beautiful woman on the peak of the pagoda. One of the chief disciples of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace couldn''t help but ask, ¡°Qingyu, who is she?¡± The shock the cyan-robed maiden brought with her appearance was not small. Although not everyone could detect an incredibly strong fluctuation of Genesis Qi from her, the dangerous aura her body emitted wasn''t considered weak when compared to Jin Chanzi''s. ¡°Her name is Yaoyao, and she¡¯s also from the Cangmang Continent. She has a very good relationship with Zhou Yuan,¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu replied. ¡°She¡¯s also from the Cangmang Continent?¡± The chief disciple of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace was taken aback. ¡°What about her strength?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu explained, ¡°Yaoyao is incredibly mysterious, and I don''t know her true strength, but she is the strongest among us. Even Zhou Yuan is not as strong as her. ¡°That Jin Chanzi has run out of luck now.¡± Chief disciple Liu Fu of the Heavenly Ghost Sect interjected, ¡°Are you joking? Jin Chanzi is ranked in the top five of the Chosen List, and there are only a few Chosen who can defeat him.¡± Zuoqiy Qingyu,however, simply gave him a sidelong glance and did not care about his opinion at all. ¡°I''d like to see what she could do to make Jin Chanzi¡¯s luck run out.¡± ¡°Yaoyao?¡± When Zhou Yuan saw her familiar figure, he was also taken aback for a moment, but then his face lit up in a wide smile, and he hurriedly waved to her enthusiastically. But Yaoyao just swept a glance over him and withdrew her gaze, upsetting Zhou Yuan a bit. He knew that Yaoyao had witnessed the scene of Jin Chanzi sneakily attacking him and that she was now displeased with him for being too careless. Ignoring Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao shifted her cold eyes onto Jin Chanzi. Jin Chanzi also focused his attention on Yaoyao. He recognised her because he had previously fought against the Chosen from the Cangxuan Sect and knew that Yaoyao was new to the sect. It was just that Yaoyao rarely fought; however, the mysterious little beast that followed her was extremely fierce, and his fighting strength was not inferior in any respect to that of a Chosen. ¡°So it¡¯s a Chosen from the Cangxuan Sect. You came so quickly, but since you have arrived, it seems that I won¡¯t have a chance to teach that boy a lesson. The matter ends here today.¡± Jin Chanzi smiled. With that, he strode over to the Sacred Palace¡¯s side. His body, however, had only just moved when a sudden gush of invisible Spirit power whizzed towards him. Cyan Genesis Qi came whistling out of Jin Chanzi¡¯s body, forming a halo around his body to forcibly suppress the invisible Spirit power. His body trembled ever so slightly. ¡°Who says the matter is over today?¡± Yaoyao shot him a piercingly cold glare. Jin Chanzi also stared back at Yaoyao with his golden eyes, sneering, ¡°Oh? Don¡¯t tell me you still want to fight me? The various sect Chosen are all trying to conquer the Great Mythic Mountain Range. We are at peace with one another, do you want to break this harmony? You want to make all parties fight again and miss this great opportunity?¡± Yaoyao frowned. ¡°That opportunity, what does it have to do with me? And what does it have to do with me if you don¡¯t get it?¡± Jin Chanzi stared at her blankly. He was known to have an unpredictable temper and to do whatever he wanted. However, he did not expect the shockingly beautiful maiden in front of him to act with so little restraint that even the greatest opportunity in Mythic Utopia seemed to weigh nothing in her eyes. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Jin Chanzi uttered coldly. ¡°I said, since you want him dead, then you will die first.¡± Yaoyao dropped her gaze, but a gush of Spirit power erupted from between her beautiful brows. Boom! The entire manner shook violently, and countless people gazed with fear at the ground quaking and splitting apart. Countless boulders rose into the air, as if wrapped together by a gigantic hand, and formed a tremendous, round sphere. Its shadow shrouded half the manor. Swoosh! It hurled downward, its surface covered with Spirit power. Even the air boomed with the sounds of explosion. Jin Chanzi¡¯s pupils shrank, and he acted right away. He clapped his hands together, sending out cyan Genesis Qi. It directly transformed into a huge palm as it soared into the air. ¡°Hand of million poison!¡± Around the Genesis Qi palm, poisonous qi rose with a pungent odour. Boom! The two forces fiercely collided, causing the entire manor to shake violently as if the sky was collapsing. The shock waves struck the manor and instantly flattened everything. Countless figures were miserably blasted away, landing everywhere. They gazed in horror at the centre of the collision. There, the beautiful cyan-clothed maiden was still standing on the peak of the pagoda, and in the distance, Jin Chanzi¡¯s body was reeling backwards from the impact, his face slightly gloomy. In the corner of his eye, there was even a trace of blood. ¡°Such strong Spirit power!¡±Jin Chanzi said gloomily. Although he had shattered the giant sphere, the Spirit power it contained had still relentlessly bombarded him to the point his mind throbbed in pain. If he hadn¡¯t neutralised the impact with Genesis Qi quickly enough, even his spirit would have been wiped out by his opponent¡¯s Spirit power. This scene drew gasps of astonishment from the crowd around the manor. No one had thought that Jin Chanzi would be the one at a disadvantage. The cyan-clothed maiden was that terrifying. Zuoqiu Qingyu couldn¡¯t help but click her tongue in amazement. She then took a glance at Liu Fu of the Heavenly Ghost Sect and smiled. ¡°What do you think?¡± Liu Fu¡¯s face was utterly pale as he stared at Yaoyao in shocked horror. He gave Zuoqiu Qingyu an embarrassed smile, and he dared not utter another word. Even Jin Chanzi couldn¡¯t deal with her, so a grasshopper like him shouldn¡¯t think about leaping about, or he would be easily crushed to death. Given his understanding of the Chosen of the Heavenly Ghost Sect, they absolutely would not avenge him. In the flattened manor, Jin Chanzi stared at Yaoyao and said in a cold voice, ¡°Have you played enough yet?¡± ¡°Play?¡± Yaoyao said lightly, ¡°Do you think I''m playing with you? ¡°I just said that since you want him to die, then you have to die here today!¡± When her voice fell, boundless Spirit power accumulated between her eyebrows until, finally, it formed an almost invisible flame. The flame gently floated down and landed in her beautiful hand. That invisible flame seemed extremely thin and weak, but when Jin Chanzi laid eyes on it, his expression abruptly changed and his vertical pupils shrank to the size of a needle tip. ¡°Spirit Flame?¡± His voice rang out with horror. Previous Chapte Chapter 609 Spirit Flame A wisp of invisible flame was burning in Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful hand. It gave forth no earth shattering power, but when it appeared, even Jin Chanzi had a sudden change of expression, and his eyes flickered with fear. It was because the invisible flame was the flame of spirit¡ªthe Spirit Flame. It was a mysterious flame formed from Spirit power. Generally speaking, if one wanted to refine a Spirit Flame, one¡¯s spirit must have at least reached the third level of the Transformation Stage! The Spirit Transformation Stage exceeded the acme of perfection and could rival the Divine Dwelling Stage. Although the Spirit Flame in Yaoyao¡¯s hand was just a wisp and was perhaps not considered a true Spirit Flame, its power was still extremely terrifying. The Spirit Flame would not wound the bodies of those it struck, but if it touched the spirit, it would incinerate it, leaving an empty shell of a body. Moreover, the Spirit Flame was formless and colourless. And, adding to its mysteriousness and strangeness, it was impossible to detect its existence unless one used all of one''s strength to perceive it. In the face of an opponent possessing a Spirit Flame, no one would dare to underestimate the Spirit Flame. They would instead concentrate all their attention on their opponent because, with the slightest of carelessness, the Spirit Flame could quietly invade their body and directly incinerate their spirit. Therefore, the birth of the Spirit Flame could be said to be a great weapon for those cultivating the spirit. It was because of this that Jin Chanzi was incredibly shocked and terrified when he detected a Spirit Flame in Yaoyao¡¯s hand. After all, it showed that Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit state was infinitely close to the Transformation Stage. Based on Spirit level alone, nobody among the younger generation of their Sacred Palace had been able to achieve this stage. Hu. Jin Chanzi took a deep breath and finally believed that Yaoyao really wanted him to die here. And all this was for a chief disciple? ¡°Mad woman!¡± Jin Chanzi couldn''t help but scold in his heart. Buzz! Yaoyao, however, paid no attention to his thoughts. When the wisp of Spirit Flame took shape in her palm, her slender finger flicked forward, and the invisible Spirit Flame suddenly sped out. The speed was too fast to describe, and adding on its formless and colourless appearance, it was almost impossible to detect its trajectory. But Jin Chanzi¡¯s pupils rapidly shrank as he swiftly retreated without the slightest hesitation. He flung his sleeves, and a gush of Genesis Qi swept out to form a defensive barrier in front of his body. Pu! Pu! But when that wisp Spirit Flame swept across it, a tiny hole suddenly appeared. The light barrier still existed, but the wisp of Spirit Flame had pierced right through, aiming for Jin Chanzi. Once the Spirit Flame struck out, it would never stop unless it exhausted the Spirit power within it. The Spirit Flame swiftly chased after Jin Chanzi''s rapidly retreating figure. When countless gazes witnessed this scene, their expressions flashed with shock and horror, and when their gazes shifted to the maiden on the peak of the pagoda, a look of fear inevitably came over their faces. No one had thought that the cyan-clothed maiden could make the Sacred Palace Chosen who was ranked fifth on the Chosen List repeatedly retreat. Such power was enough to make one speechless. Above the flattened manor, Jin Chanzi was constantly retreating, but he soon found that the Spirit Flame was getting faster and faster and that it was impossible for him to evade. Jin Chanzi¡¯s brows furrowed, and a fierce look came into his golden eyes. He knew he couldn¡¯t continue to dodge, and since that was the case, he could only forcibly withstand the Spirit Flame. If he were to take on the Spirit Flame with his physical body, the inside of his body would become a battlefield, and layer upon layer of Genesis Qi would try to obstruct and annihilate the Spirit Flame. Although he would still suffer and it might even damage his spirit, facing it with his body was still better than having to dodge constantly. Having made up his mind, Jin Chanzi immediately halted, his golden slit eyes staring at the invisible flame that was violently speeding over. He clenched his teeth and activated the Genesis Qi in his body, ready to forcibly withstand the attack. Swoosh! The invisible flame swept over and was no more than one metre away from Jin Chanzi. Just as the wisp of flame was about to pounce onto Jin Chanzi¡¯s body, however, a slender palm suddenly stretched out of thin air and caught the wisp. And as soon as the Spirit Flame made contact, it directly penetrated the skin with a flash. Jin Chanzi was slightly startled. He looked up to see a figure standing beside him. It was a handsome man with a head of white hair. He had two wisps of hair hanging down over his cheeks, and they were each strung through a blood-red bead. Both beads were glowing with a faint luster. Hua! The moment the white-haired man appeared, clamour immediately broke out in the manor, and all eyes stared at him with respectful awe. This image they were all too familiar with. The number one on the Chosens List, Jiang Taishen! Nobody had expected a person like him to show up! And under the countless respectful gazes, Jiang Taishen narrowed his eyes, his handsome face slightly twitching. The color of his two blood-red beads grew increasingly vibrant. Evidently, he had drawn the Spirit Flame into his body, and a fierce battle had broken out inside him. It was a few minutes later when he let out a long sigh, and his eyes sprang open. Looking at Yaoyao on the peak of the pagoda, he said, ¡°What a powerful Spirit Flame, it indeed deserves its reputation.¡± He had actually neutralised the Spirit Flame in his body! Yaoyao looked indifferently at Jiang Taishen with her beautiful eyes, and her expression didn¡¯t change much because of his sudden appearance. Jiang Taishen smiled. ¡°Friend of the Cangxuan Sect, let¡¯s leave today¡¯s matter at this. What do you say?¡± Yaoyao answered indifferently, ¡°When he attacked before, he didn''t seem to think about stopping.¡± Jiang Taishen smiled. ¡°If this friend still wants to fight, then I will try your Spirit Flame in his place.¡± Staring at Yaoyao, his white hair gently fluttered in the breeze, and a terrifying force slowly spread forth from his body. Suddenly, a somewhat relaxed and lazy voice sounded out: ¡°Jiang Taishen, although I am lazy, I won¡¯t let you bully the people of my Cangxuan Sect.¡± A figure appeared in front of Yaoyao, his bald and smooth head gleaming in the light. When numerous gazes fell on his figure, exclamations broke out around the manor. It was Chu Qing of the Cangxuan Sect, ranked second on the Chosen List! Swoosh! The sounds of piercing wind echoed out repeatedly as numerous imposing shadows landed all around the manor one after another. The Chosen of each sect had arrived. They all stared at the centre of the manor at the most dazzling of people. After all, even amongst the many Chosens, those few people were top existences. Under countless fearful and respectful gazes, Chu Qing rubbed his head. He looked at Jiang Taishen opposite him and grinned, revealing his fine white teeth and a very bright smile. ¡°Jiang Taishen, if you want to fight, I''ll accompany you.¡± Previous Chapte Chapter 610 Defused In the town, countless gazes were cast towards the destroyed ruins of the manor. A different atmosphere took over the place when Jiang Taishen and Chu Qing appeared. To think that the first and second rankers on the Chosen List were facing off. Nothing more needed to be said about Jiang Taishen¡¯s reputation in the Shengzhou Continent, which was built by the peerless battle accomplishments he had personally racked up. Although Chu Qing had fewer battle accomplishments, he was still also a very well-known figure. Practically everyone in the Shengzhou Continent knew that the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen was famously lazy¡­his first reaction to any trouble that came knocking at this door was to hastily run away instead of resolving it. Of course, though he was infamous for being lazy, no one doubted Chu Qing¡¯s strength. He and Jiang Taishen had fought before, and although Jiang Taishen had ultimately emerged the victor, Chu Qing had managed to escape unscathed. In other words, Jiang Taishen had failed to put Chu Qing at his mercy. From this, one could see just how strong Chu Qing was. Countless people were naturally looking forward to seeing what would happen when the two most outstanding members amongst the younger generation of Cangxuan Heaven clashed. Amidst the ruins of the manor. Jiang Taishen¡¯s long and narrow eyes turned into a line as he smiled slightly and gazed at Chu Qing, giving off a seemingly friendly feeling. ¡°Chu Qing, it¡¯s truly rare to see you voluntarily pick a fight.¡± Chu Qing stroked his handsome face as he covertly cast a glance at Yaoyao. He had no choice but to take action because she would definitely not give him peace if he instead chose to not act. Moreover, though he was indeed very lazy, as the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen, he could not possibly sit still and watch Jiang Taishen attempt to deal with Yaoyao. ¡°Jiang Taishen, follow me if you want to fight.¡± Chu Qing sighed. Jiang Taishen smiled and said, ¡°I honestly do want to fight you again, but now is not the time¡­Chu Qing, the Chosen of the various sects are currently trying to open up a path into the deeper areas of the Great Mythic Mountain Range, and the situation will only turn chaotic if we were to fight. If that were to happen, it will become more difficult to attain the greatest blessing hidden in the deepest area of the Great Mythic Mountain Range. ¡°As such, I suggest that both of us take a step back today and forge a temporary truce. How does that sound to you? ¡°After all, if you do want to fight, I believe the Sacred Palace will more than satisfy all of you when the time is right," said Jiang Taishen in a meaningful manner. Chu Qing beamed and said, ¡°The best outcome is for you guys to admit defeat." Jiang Taishen shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not admitting defeat, but suggesting we both take a step back on this matter.¡± Chu Qing nonchalantly said, ¡°Same thing.¡± The corners of Jiang Taishen¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Chu Qing was becoming increasingly proficient at his annoying provocations. Chu Qing turned his head, looking towards Yaoyao as he revealed a kindly smile. ¡°Junior sister Xiaoyao, see? They¡¯ve already admitted defeat, let¡¯s forgive them this once.¡± Yaoyao swept an indifferent glance at him. ¡°And if I say no?¡± Chu Qing thumped his chest and declared, ¡°If you say no, we¡¯ll fight!¡± ¡°Then fight,¡± said Yaoyao. Chu Qing¡¯s expression froze for a moment before a bitter look rose on his face. All the factions had come to a temporary agreement to first overcome the Great Mythic Mountain Range, and had thus called a truce between the many Chosen. Anyone who broke it would likely draw the wrath of the majority. While Chu Qing was at his wits end, Zhou Yuan appeared beside Yaoyao. Gazing at her, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s drop this matter for now.¡± Yaoyao flatly said, ¡°Give me a reason.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked towards the golden haired Jin Chanzi as a chilling light flashed in his eyes. Jin Chanzi also sensed his gaze, and he returned it with a look of nonchalance. The corners of his mouth rose, and he made no effort to conceal the disdain in his eyes. He clearly did not take Zhou Yuan seriously at all. Zhou Yuan slowly answered, ¡°Because I will deal with him.¡± He did not hide his words, allowing Jiang Taishen and Jin Chanzi to hear them as well. Jiang Taishen continued to smile faintly, while Jin Chanzi could not help but softly chuckle. A playful smile hung from the corners of his lips as he shook his head and muttered to himself, ¡°What an ignorant fool.¡± Everyone else who heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words inwardly shook their heads, clearly taking it as Zhou Yuan trying to act tough in an attempt to regain some face. None of them could take his words seriously. In contrast, there was only seriousness in Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes as she stared straight at Zhou Yuan. The frost on her face slowly receded. She gave a faint nod and said, ¡°You do have some backbone.¡± She naturally understood that Zhou Yuan would only be able to grow if she let him personally deal with his enemies. When she had arrived earlier, however, she had just so happened to catch sight of Jin Chanzi launching a sneak attack against Zhou Yuan, causing her heart to surge with killing intent and rage. As such, she had attacked Jin Chanzi without the slightest shred of hesitation. Yaoyao glanced at Jin Chanzi before withdrawing her gaze. She softly said, ¡°Then you shall be the one to take his life.¡± Upon seeing Yaoyao finally back down, Chu Qing breathed a heavy sigh of relief before giving a thumbs-up to Zhou Yuan. He was likely the only one in the Cangxuan Sect who could at least restrain Yaoyao slightly. Chu Qing was unafraid of the Sacred Palace, but it was indeed not the time for them to clash. ¡°Jiang Taishen, go ahead and leave.¡± Chu Qing turned back and looked towards Jiang Taishen and the rest. For a brief moment Chu Qing was silent. He then lowered his gaze slightly and said, ¡°However, there¡¯s something I should caution you about first. Although the Sacred Palace is strong, don¡¯t underestimate the Cangxuan Sect too much.¡± Jiang Taishen softly chuckled and said, ¡°The Cangxuan Sect was after all the former overlord of Cangxuan Heaven. How could the Sacred Palace possibly dare to underestimate you guys.¡± However, he placed a little extra emphasis on ¡®former¡¯. Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes then turned towards Zhou Yuan as he said with interest, ¡°So you are Zhou Yuan. You¡¯re quite interesting¡­however, if this is all you are, what right do you have to hold our sect master¡¯s attention?¡± Only he and Jin Chanzi could hear his final few words. Zhou Yuan frowned a little under Jiang Taishen¡¯s gaze. He could feel that Jiang Taishen seemed to be looking at him as if sizing-up prey. Jiang Taishen quickly withdrew his gaze, however, and cast a glance at the nearby Sacred Palace chief disciples and normal disciples. He said nothing as he turned around and left the town. He had no intention of going over to ask them about their losses. Since they were not strong enough, they were better off dead so as to not waste the Sacred Palace''s cultivation resources. Jin Chanzi followed. As he left, his golden vertical pupils paused on Zhou Yuan for a moment as he offhandedly said, ¡°You were lucky this time. But you¡¯ll likely not have the same luck if we meet again.¡± Zhou Yuan met his gaze and slowly said, ¡°The next time we meet, it may be time for someone else to replace your fifth rank spot on the Chosen List. Jin Chanzi could not help but laugh. He glanced at Zhou Yuan once more with disdain, Genesis Qi rising from beneath his feet. As he left, an icy chuckle echoed in his wake. ¡°Delusional ramblings from a fool. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting to watch you humiliate yourself.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 611 Blessing of the Great Mythic Mountain Range As the Sacred Palace side left, the tense atmosphere over the destroyed villa slowly began to relax. The various factions breathed a sigh of relief. Although they had missed out on a battle between Chu Qing and Jiang Taishen, they understood that the most important matter at hand for the various sects was the greatest blessing hidden in the depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range. If the strongest factions, the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect, were to fight, it would undoubtedly affect the overall situation. Hence, both sides backing down in the end was the best outcome. When Chu Qing, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan landed, Tang Muxin and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples swiftly ran forward to meet them. ¡°Are you alright junior brother Zhou Yuan?¡± Tang Muxin¡¯s voice was filled with concern as she looked towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan smiled and waved his hand. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan has really boosted our morale this time.¡± Tang Muxin was grinning widely. The other chief disciples nodded in agreement; even Baili Che, who was usually at loggerheads with Zhou Yuan, fell silent. The strength Zhou Yuan had displayed had indeed far surpassed their own. Regardless of whether it was the devastating blow unleashed upon Zhao Jing or how he had later walked away practically unscathed from Jin Chanzi¡¯s sneak attack, Zhou Yuan''s feats showed that he was already ahead of them. If they were to duel again now, Baili Che knew that he was far from Zhou Yuan¡¯s match. Chu Qing yawned and said, ¡°As someone who became the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak in less than two years, junior brother Zhou Yuan is naturally not as simple as you guys think. ¡°Only you guys who aren¡¯t discerning enough dare to provoke him.¡± At Chu Qing¡¯s words, Tang Muxin and the other chief disciples involuntarily looked towards Baili Che. His face was an ugly mix of green and white. It was after all the Sword Cometh Peak that had been the most opposed to Zhou Yuan. Amidst the awkward atmosphere, Zhou Yuan coughed softly then smiled and said, ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing flatters me too much. How can anyone know my true worth better than myself?¡± Chu Qing chuckled. He said, ¡°Are you really planning on butting heads with Jin Chanzi?¡± He could tell that Zhou Yuan had not been putting up a tough act earlier and that he was serious about taking down Jin Chanzi. Moreover, given Zhou Yuan¡¯s character, there was no way he would willingly let the matter go for no good reason. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he nodded faintly and said, ¡°I could feel that he really wanted to kill me. Since that is the case, I can¡¯t possibly sit still and wait for death, right? If there is a chance, I will naturally clash with him for real.¡± Although he had never met Jin Chanzi before, Zhou Yuan had felt an inconcealable killing intent from Jin Chanze''s earlier attack. He knew that although Jin Chanzi had failed this time, he would surely wait for his next chance. Since that was the case, Zhou Yuan could only respond in turn. The expressions of Tang Muxin and the others changed slightly; they had clearly not expected Zhou Yuan to have such courage that he would even set his sights on Jin Chanzi. One must know that he was the fifth ranker on the Chosen List! Jin Chanzi was someone who could match even the likes of Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan from their Cangxuan Sect. Chu Qing could not help but stroke his clean bald head as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t be rash, Jin Chanzi is no easy foe. If you truly want to finish him off, we¡¯ll find an opportunity to encircle and kill him with a few of the other Chosen from our sect.¡± These words immediately drew everyone''s attention. Tang Muxin muttered, ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing, you usually give off such a lazy aura. I never imagined that you would be so devious.¡± Chu Qing chuckled and said, ¡°Although I am a little lazy, it doesn¡¯t mean that I¡¯m an idiot. In addition, I¡¯m sure that if given the chance, Jiang Taishen will also kill the Chosen of our Cangxuan Sect without any hesitation.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh. Though senior brother Chu Qing seemed lethargic and whiny most of the time, he could see more clearly than everyone else. This was not odd, however. Only a fool would underestimate the person who had managed to become the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen. ¡°That will naturally be best if the chance presents itself. If not, I will think of another way.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. He was not overly stubborn. If he could borrow another¡¯s power to reach his goal, there was naturally no need to rashly put his life at risk. Like Chu Qing had said, Jin Chanzi was indeed exceptionally powerful. Although Zhou Yuan currently had many trump cards in his arsenal, it would be rather dangerous for him to attempt killing Jin Chanzi. If he could find some opportunity to ascend to the eighth layer, his chances would become much better. While they were talking, Yaoyao suddenly lifted her head and looked towards a certain direction where the groups from the other factions were gathering. She saw several familiar figures amongst them. Yaoyao pulled Zhou Yuan, causing him to cast his gaze over as well. Happiness soon appeared on his face when he found a few particular figures. ¡°Qingyu, Li Chunjun, Ning Zhan, Zhen Xu¡­¡± The companions that had come to the Shengzhou Continent together had finally met again. In the distance, Zuoqiu Qingyu presented Zhou Yuan an enchanting smile as she pointed to the disciples gathered behind her. She then pointed at the mysterious mountain range far away. Yaoyao¡¯s red lips parted slightly as she said, ¡°She says there¡¯s no need to meet for now. There will likely be a chance for us to gather after entering the Great Mythic Mountain Range.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled at them and nodded. With her message delivered, Zuoqiu Qingyu placed her hands behind her back as she skipped back to the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace''s side. Li Chunjun, with his eyes wrapped in a black cloth, stared at Zhou Yuan for a short moment before patting the giant sword on his back. Ning Zhan punched his fists together, his face filled with battle lust. Zhen Xu coughed softly twice, casting one final glance at Zhou Yuan before silently turning around to leave. As Zhou Yuan watched them leave, he softly said, ¡°It seems they¡¯ve had varying experiences in their respective sects.¡± Yaoyao said, ¡°Every sect has its own rules, and things will naturally be different. Humans will always adapt to their environment.¡± Zhou Yuan exhaled and said, ¡°I hope that regardless of what happens, they will still be the same companions that had walked out of the Cangmang Continent with us.¡± He soon shook his head as he cast out the complicated feelings in his heart. At this moment, Chu Qing said, ¡°We should also get ready.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, and he could not help but ask, ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing, is the Great Mythic Mountain Range our final destination?¡± Chu Qing chuckled before replying, ¡°The Great Mythic Mountain Range is already one of the deepest areas in the Mythic Utopia. If I¡¯m not wrong, it should be our final destination.¡± ¡°What¡¯s hidden in the Great Mythic Mountain Range? A treasure location? We previously encountered a six-color treasure location.¡± ¡°A six-color treasure location, huh? You guys are pretty lucky to have found one in the outer regions.¡± Chu Qing laughed as he made a six sign with his hand. ¡°However, a total of sixteen six-color treasure locations have already appeared in the Great Mythic Mountain Range.¡± *Gasp*! Tang Muxin and the others immediately gasped beside them. Even Zhou Yuan was somewhat stupefied. It had been extremely lucky of them to have stumbled upon a six-color treasure location, but sixteen had already appeared in the Great Mythic Mountain Range?! What the heck was this! Chu Qing patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulders and said in a mysterious voice, ¡°No need to be surprised. If our guess is correct, these six-color treasure locations are merely the appetisers. A great blessing surpassing our imagination should be hidden somewhere deep in the Great Mythic Mountain Range¡­ ¡°In fact, this blessing will very likely surpass the greatest rewards from all the previous openings of the Mythic Utopia¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 612 Plan Outside the Great Mythic Mountain Range. Woo woo! Violent Genesis Qi gales wreaked havoc in the area, creating a giant, thick layer of wind that enveloped the mountain range. Compared to the outside, it was basically like living in two different worlds. Zhou Yuan and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples were currently gathered on one of the mountain tops. Their faces revealed fear and alarm as they gazed upon the destructive Genesis Qi gales before them. They felt exceptionally tiny in the face of nature¡¯s power. Chu Qing¡¯s gaze swept across the group as he said, ¡°I will tear open a passage in the Genesis Qi gales later, so make sure to follow closely behind me. I¡¯ll be protecting the group from the front, while junior sister Xiaoyao will cover the rear.¡± In the face of the Genesis Qi gales, even Chu Qing wore a slightly grave expression. Even someone as strong as him could only tear open a small passageway, and it would definitely be a disaster if he was swept into it. The sight of his expression naturally told the others about how dangerous it was, causing them to immediately nod a little more forcefully than usual. Only those at the Chosen level were able to open a passageway into the Great Mythic Mountain Range. Anyone else, including the chief disciples of the various sects, did not dare to take even a single step in. Chu Qing wasted no time upon seeing the others'' acknowledgement. With a stomp of his foot, powerful Genesis Qi soared out from the top of his head and charged towards the thick gale barrier. It slowly tore open a small spot, creating a passageway several feet wide. ¡°Go!¡± Chu Qing took the lead, neither rushed nor slow, as he entered the passageway. Genesis Qi enveloped them like a barrier, protecting the numerous disciples as they advanced. Yaoyao was the last to enter, the Spirit between her brows vibrating as Spirit power spread out to stabilize the barrier. Creak creak! As the disciples followed, the surrounding gales violently slammed into the barrier, creating a piercing noise. Ripples rapidly spread through the barrier as it shook unsteadily, a sight that greatly alarmed the many disciples. Zhou Yuan was accompanying Yaoyao at the very back of the group. He looked at the girl beside him. She seemed to have become even more indifferent in the time they had been apart. Zhou Yuan had usually been Yaoyao¡¯s only conversation partner in the Cangxuan Sect. While they were apart, it was very likely that she had shown zero interest in interacting with Chu Qing and the others. She must have been quite lonely over this period, right? After all, it would honestly be rather difficult for her to accept someone else given her aloof nature. This made Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart hurt a little. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s indifferent eyes looked over. Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°Are you still angry?¡± Yaoyao shot him an annoyed look, and then her gorgeous face seemingly blossomed with life as she said, ¡°Why should I be angry about your carelessness?¡± When she was before Zhou Yuan, a change would occur to her usual indifferent self. It was hard for her, however, to continue being angry when she saw Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratching his head. Hence, she changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯ve been doing pretty well in the Mythic Utopia.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s passable.¡± Yaoyao glanced at him and gave a faint nod of agreement. ¡°Yeah, Tuntun has already defeated four Chosen in the Great Mythic Mountain Range, causing all the Chosen of the various sects to become very wary of it. You¡¯ll have to work harder in order to catch up.¡± The smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face immediately turned rigid. By the side, Yaoyao¡¯s red lips curled slightly. Come on, go ahead and wag your tail some more. Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head. He then said, ¡°Speaking of Jin Chanzi, the murderous aura he aimed at me was very thick. If I¡¯m not wrong, it is likely the will of the Sacred Palace''s upper echelons.¡± Yaoyao was taken aback. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she locked gazes with Zhou Yuan. They said at the same time, ¡°Because of¡­Wu Huang?¡± Zhou Yuan had killed Wu Huang''s physical body in the Saint Remains Domain of the Cangmang Continent, whereas his Spirit had managed to escape and be saved by the Sacred Palace. Given the Sacred Palace¡¯s resources, it should not be a difficult task to construct a new body for Wu Huang. ¡°I did not expect the Sacred Palace to go so far for him.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. It was definitely not good news if the Sacred Palace was intending to interfere in the grudge between him and Wu Huang. After all, both the Great Wu Empire and the Great Zhou Empire were insignificant existences in the Sacred Palace¡¯s eyes. Yaoyao pondered for a while before she softly said, ¡°The Sacred Palace will not openly interfere. Otherwise, they would not have left things to the Chosen. ¡°The Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect keep each other in check, and though the Sacred Palace is currently stronger, I believe they do not wish to engage in an all-out war with the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. With a deep breath, he said, ¡°It¡¯s been nearly two years since I have come to the Cangxuan Sect, and I¡¯m thinking of finding a chance to return after we return from the Mythic Utopia.¡± His father was squaring off against the Great Wu Empire with all of the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s power to buy time for him, and it was likely that this time limit was fast approaching. Father, Mother and the Great Zhou Empire were all waiting for his return. Yaoyao fell silent then suddenly said, ¡°However, it¡¯s still impossible for you to match a Divine Dwelling stage expert¡­if you wish to return to finally resolve your grudge after this Mythic Utopia saga"¡ªshe lifted her pretty face and looked towards the deeper regions¡ª"then you''ll need to grasp the greatest blessing at this place''s deepest depths" ¡°What exactly is hidden there?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao slowly said, ¡°I don¡¯t know yet. There¡¯s a naturally formed super boundary in the Great Mythic Mountain Range that the many sects are currently advancing into in order to destroy the boundary core. However, from how even six-color treasure locations are situated on its fringe, what lies deep inside should be extraordinary.¡± Waves of curiosity rose within Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Sure enough, the true blessings lay in the depths of the Mythic Utopia, making the outer regions appear rather barren in comparison. However, for the sake of returning to the Great Zhou Empire after this was over, he had to try his luck and do everything possible to obtain the greatest blessing in the deepest depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range. Zhou Yuan pursed his lips as his fingers clenched tightly. Wait for me, Father, Mother... It will not be long now. When I return, I will take back everything that King Wu had stolen away from us! While various emotions churned in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, gasps of shock and cries of surprise suddenly sounded from the numerous Cangxuan Sect disciples in front of them. Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked to the front. The devastating gales had begun to recede, and after several breaths, they exited the gales and landed on a mountain peak. The world around them seemed to become clear at this moment. Endless rows of majestic mountains stood before them, giving off mysterious and grand auras as they rose into the clouds. No one could know how ancient they were. Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as desire and excitement appeared in his eyes. They had finally arrived at the deepest region of the Mythic Utopia. However, Zhou Yuan also understood that the true struggle would begin now. In comparison, the fights they had previously experienced were merely appetisers. To successfully initiate his return plan, Zhou Yuan would give his all no matter how formidable the opponents he encountered. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 613 Mythic Token On a lush green peak deep in the Great Mythic Mountain Range. When the numerous disciples of the Cangxuan Sect arrived, the originally peaceful mountain turned into a buzzing hub of activity. Several glowing figures appeared on the mountain top, revealing themselves to be the rest of the Chosen currently led by Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan. The many disciples quickly greeted them. Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes swept across the group as she gave a faint nod of approval. ¡°Not bad. It¡¯s a little surprising that you guys managed to reach this place without suffering many losses.¡± She clearly understood how difficult it was for the chief disciples to lead their teams here. At times, it was not impossible for even an entire team to be wiped out. All seven chief disciples were present, and although they had suffered some losses, it was already an almost perfect result. ¡°Compared to the Sacred Palace, our losses are nearly negligible.¡± Chu Qing gestured towards Li Qingchan and the others as he said, ¡°Two of the Sacred Palace chief disciples were killed by Zhou Yuan, and I even got to see him smash the arm of the second strongest chief disciple into pulp when I went to receive the group earlier.¡± Upon hearing this, Li Qingchan and the rest of the Chosen cast astonished gazes at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Jin Chanzi, however, was as shameless as usual and had actually tried to catch Zhou Yuan off guard with a sneaky attack. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had managed to walk out unscathed by using one of his trump cards.¡± The expressions of Li Qingchan and the others changed upon hearing his words. They clearly understood Jin Chanzi¡¯s strength, and he was someone that even Chosen like them were rather wary of. Despite this, Zhou Yuan had succeeded in surviving Jin Chanzi¡¯s sneak attack? ¡°He can withstand a blow from Jin Chanzi?¡± a voice filled with doubt rang out. Zhou Yuan raised his head and found that it was the Sword Cometh Peak Chosen, Zhao Zhu, who had spoken. There was a skeptical look plastered across Zhao Zhu''s face, and his eyes were filled with scrutiny as he looked at Zhou Yuan. Zhao Zhu had always looked down on Zhou Yuan, as he himself was after all a high and mighty Chosen. Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle accomplishments might be impressive to the other disciples, but they were honestly not even noteworthy in his eyes. If not for the restrictions due to his status as a Chosen, he would have easily crushed Zhou Yuan. The two of them were not on the same level after all. However, things were now different if Zhou Yuan had indeed managed to withstand a blow from Jin Chanzi. Zhao Zhu had fought Jin Chanzi some time ago, but he had ultimately been defeated. As such, Zhao Zhu clearly understood Jin Chanzi¡¯s strength. Even he was not his match, so how could a mere Zhou Yuan have possibly survived a single strike from Jin Chanzi? Although the other Chosen did not speak up, their eyes were clearly filled with doubt. ¡°With so many personal witnesses present, I won¡¯t be able to lie about it even if I wanted to.¡± Chu Qing smiled in a carefree manner. The other disciples nodded their heads in agreement. Li Qingchan and the rest of the Chosen were truly shocked. Zhao Zhu opened his mouth several times, but was unable to utter a single word. ¡°Roar!¡± An earth-shaking roar suddenly thundered. Everyone soon saw a streak of light fly towards them and transform into a little beast as it descended from the sky. The little creature immediately released a delightful noise when it saw Zhou Yuan, jumping straight into his head and messing up his hair. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face immediately turned black as he pulled it off. It was naturally Tuntun, whom he had not seen for a long time. ¡°Go away.¡± Zhou Yuan threw it away with distaste. However, Tuntun pounced right back at him, its claws leaving several scratch marks on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Fortunately, his flesh was now rather tough, and the bloody scratch marks swiftly recovered. Somewhat complicated expressions rose in the eyes of Li Qingchan and the other Chosen at the sight of Tuntun play fighting Zhou Yuan. The Chosen from the various sects had fought several times already, and Tuntun had defeated quite a number of Chosen from the other sects. In fact, it now had quite the reputation. Even Zhao Zhu no longer dared to provoke Tuntun, and thus he immediately chose to shut his mouth the moment it appeared. There was very little chance of him mocking or casting doubt on Zhou Yuan anymore. Li Qingchan coughed softly and said, ¡°Since all the disciples are here, go and settle down first while we discuss our subsequent plans. ¡°The seven chief disciples shall also take part.¡± ¡­ The Chosen and the chief disciples of the Cangxuan Sect were gathered in a bamboo house atop the mountain peak. This was essentially a gathering of the elites. ¡°You guys have just entered the Great Mythic Mountain Range and are likely unclear about the current situation here.¡± Li Qingchan looked towards Zhou Yuan and the other chief disciples. ¡°The Great Mythic Mountain Range is one of the core regions in the depths of the Mythic Utopia. No one has managed to explore this place in the past, and we are very lucky to have the opportunity to do so. ¡°What we can ascertain for now is that there¡¯s a gargantuan blessing hidden in the depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range. Though we are currently unable to confirm how great the blessing is, we estimate that there may be the possibility of an eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure.¡± Shock appeared on the faces of all the chief disciples. An eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure¡­wouldn¡¯t obtaining one be equivalent to establishing an eight heavens Divine Dwelling when one advanced to the Divine Dwelling stage? An eight heavens Divine Dwelling! Even monsters like Jiang Taishen and Chu Qing would work hard towards such a goal. One could easily imagine how shocking such information was to the many chief disciples. ¡°Despite knowing about the blessing in the depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range, we are currently facing a certain problem. ¡°The Great Mythic Mountain Range is an exceptionally mystical place, and the overly concentrated Genesis Qi has resulted in the formation of an enormous natural Genesis Rune boundary. A boundary of this scale is impossible to breach with the power of a single sect. Hence, the many sects have been forced into an alliance to attack the boundary.¡± Zhou Yuan asked curiously, ¡°How will we be attacking?¡± Li Qingchan glanced at him and said, ¡°There are numerous nodes in this super boundary which we have been eliminating. Through this process, we will eventually destroy the boundary, allowing the greatest blessing to emerge. ¡°These nodes have another name, treasure locations.¡± Genesis Qi surged out with a wave of Li Qingchan¡¯s hand, creating a giant map in front of the group on which numerous glowing dots could be seen. Tang Muxin gulped repeatedly before she managed to shakily utter, ¡°All of these dots are treasure locations?¡± Li Qingchan nodded. Zhou Yuan and the other chief disciples looked at each other. It had taken them nearly everything to discover a single treasure location in the outer regions, and now, there were hundreds¡ªmaybe even over a thousand¡ªof such treasure locations. From this, one could see that the Great Mythic Mountain Range was the true core of the Mythic Utopia. ¡°Over this period, the various sects have already invaded roughly a dozen six-color treasure locations and even more lower tier ones.¡± Tang Muxin and the other chief disciples turned numb as they stared dumbfounded at the glowing dots. ¡°Of course, fights are naturally unavoidable in the higher tier treasure locations. After all, everyone knows that the higher tier treasure locations will contain better Divine Establishing Treasures and higher quality Mythic Genesis essence.¡± Li Qingchan slowly said, ¡°However, as more and more of the nodes are attacked, we¡¯ve gradually begun to discover a certain item that may currently be even more important than the Divine Establishing Treasures.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± asked Tang Muxin. ¡°When the greatest blessing emerges from the Great Mythic Mountain Range, it is likely that not everyone will be able to enter. One would need some sort of proof, or a key of sorts, to enter. ¡°We¡¯ve been calling these items mythic tokens, and there¡¯s a chance of finding them in some of the higher tier treasure locations. All of the sects are currently racking their brains in order to obtain more of these tokens. ¡°We¡¯ve hypothesized that without these items, one would be stuck outside even when the greatest blessing appears. ¡°However, the tokens are rather rare and may not appear even in the six-color treasure locations. After working hard for so long, we¡¯ve only managed to gather a handful.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s tone was rather regretful. ¡°Mythic token?¡± Tang Muxin and the others frowned, clearly unfamiliar with such an object. In contrast, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart could not help but shake as he retrieved the seemingly broken mysterious object he had found in the six-color treasure location from his spatial bag. ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, I managed to come across this item previously¡­¡± As Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out, Li Qingchan, Chu Qing and the others immediately looked over. When they saw the mysterious object in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand, astonishment flooded their faces. He came to a sudden realization as he probed, ¡°Is this the mythic token you¡¯ve been talking about?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 614 Seven-Color In the room, every gaze converged on the mysterious, seemingly incomplete object in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Astonishment appeared even on the faces of Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the other Chosen. The object in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand was indeed the proof Li Qingchan had spoken of! In other words, it was a mythic token! ¡°You¡­how do you have a mythic token?¡± Zhao Zhu could not help but blurt out, his tone filled with disbelief. After struggling so much in the Great Mythic Mountain Range, they had only managed to secure two mythic tokens. From this, one could see just how rare they were. As someone who had just arrived from the outer regions, how was Zhou Yuan possibly in the possession of such an item? ¡°I also managed to chance upon a six-color treasure location in the outer regions and found this item within it.¡± Zhou Yuan shrugged. Li Qingchan¡¯s red lips opened slightly as she said, ¡°Even a six-color treasure location may not produce a mythic token. Your luck is a little too much. ¡°Let me take a look.¡± Zhou Yuan did not hesitate as he directly passed it to Li Qingchan. Li Qingchan carefully inspected it for a while before she nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s indeed a mythic token. However, it''s incomplete, but it may fully form after some time.¡± ¡°There¡¯s such a thing as an incomplete token?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Li Qingchan nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve speculated that these mythic tokens originated from the greatest blessing in the depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range. They¡¯re akin to seeds that have been scattered across the Mythic Utopia, gradually absorbing the surrounding Genesis Qi to grow into their complete state. ¡°This is also the reason why these tokens and the greatest blessing seem to call to each other. As such, only those possessing tokens will be able to enter the place of the greatest blessing.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding. ¡°Then are the incomplete tokens of no use?¡± Li Qingchan smiled faintly and said, ¡°An incomplete token like yours is actually more common. Even in the Great Mythic Mountain Range, the majority of the tokens found in six-color treasure locations are incomplete. Due to their common origin, however, several incomplete pieces will naturally be able to fuse and form a complete mythic token.¡± A thoughtful look rose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he asked, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll need to find several of these incomplete tokens in order to gain the qualifications to come into contact with the greatest blessing?¡± ¡°Humph.¡± His words immediately elicited a snort from Zhao Zhu. ¡°You¡¯re being too optimistic. Even if you do manage to gather a complete mythic token, I¡¯m afraid that you will not gain the qualifications for the greatest blessing.¡± ¡°Why is that so?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was calm. Zhao Zhu indifferently said, ¡°Because your contributions are not sufficient. According to the rules, only the greatest contributors have the right to the greatest blessing, not just anyone who somehow chances upon a complete token.¡± ¡°What kind of contributions are we talking about?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Li Qingchan was the one to reply this time. ¡°These contributions are calculated based on the number of treasure locations secured. The six-color treasure location you previously led your team to win is a considerable contribution, but according to the rules, you¡¯ll need to acquire at least five six-color treasure locations to gain the right to access the greatest blessing. ¡°These rules were set to prevent anyone from reaping what they have not sown. After all, although the other disciples basically lack the qualifications for the greatest blessing, their contributions cannot be overlooked, and it is our duty as Chosen and chief disciples to compensate them. ¡°Of course, anyone who chances upon a mythic token but lacks sufficient contributions will be allowed to exchange it for a Divine Establishing Treasure.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change as he nodded. He did not raise any objections because there were indeed justifications for such rules. Of course, he did not bother to consider exchanging his token for a Divine Establishing Treasure because he had his own ambitions. Li Qingchan could guess Zhou Yuan¡¯s thoughts from how he did not say anything else and thus passed the incomplete mythic token back to him. ¡°We¡¯ll move on to the main point next.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes turned serious as she looked towards the crowd and slowly said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that we¡¯ve encountered some trouble.¡± Chu Qing was taken aback. He quickly asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s gaze turned towards him as she softly said, ¡°When Yaoyao and you went to receive the other disciples, we managed to open up a path into one of the nodes. It led to a seven-color treasure location¡­¡± ¡°Seven-color treasure location?¡± Chu Qing¡¯s expression changed a little. One must know that even with all the sects searching, only three seven-color treasure locations had been discovered so far. He never imagined that they would be so lucky. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t this be good news?¡± asked Chu Qing. ¡°Unearthing a seven-color treasure location is definitely good news. But its location is very problematic. It lies within a controversial area between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace.¡± Li Qingchan slowly said, ¡°In other words, the Sacred Palace will surely interfere.¡± Chu Qing scratched his gleaming bald head as he groaned, ¡°This is going to be troublesome.¡± ¡°This is our blessing, how can you call it troublesome?¡± said Kong Sheng with an expressionless face. He was the most infuriated by Chu Qing¡¯s lazy attitude. Ye Ge chuckled and said, ¡°Hehe, though a seven-color treasure location is extremely rare, it is also far too attention-drawing. What¡¯s more, it just so happens to be in a controversial area. The Sacred Palace won¡¯t be the only ones who will find some excuse to contest for it; even the other four overlord sects will be secretly watching.¡± ¡°Do you mean for us to surrender this seven-color treasure location?¡± said Kong Sheng. Ye Ge waved his hands from side to side and said, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I only want to remind everyone that we¡¯ll need to work as one in order to secure it.¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s expression relaxed slightly as he said, ¡°I suggest we pour all our efforts into defending. The majority will engage the main forces of the enemy while a single Chosen shall be dispatched to guard the seven-color treasure location. The chief disciples will lead the rest of the disciples in to search for any Divine Establishing Treasures and mythic tokens. ¡°Once we obtain the Divine Establishing Treasures and mythic tokens, the Sacred Palace will have no choice but to retreat, or they will only be wasting their time.¡± Li Qingchan nodded. ¡°I agree.¡± The other Chosen also nodded one after another. It was after all not easy to find a seven-color treasure location, and since one was right before their eyes, it would be impossible for them to give up on it. They were not the only ones thinking so. Even Zhou Yuan secretly nodded in agreement. Chu Qing sighed in a somewhat depressed manner. It seemed that a direct clash with the Sacred Palace was unavoidable this time. ¡°Then who shall be dispatched to defend the location?¡± Li Qingchan looked towards the other Chosen. Everyone else would directly engage the Sacred Palace Chosen in battle while the guardian focused on defending the treasure location. The guardian would be the final line of defence against any Chosen from the other side who managed to somehow slip past. Otherwise, if a Sacred Palace Chosen were to somehow get past the main force, the chief disciples and the other disciples would not be able to put up any resistance. Kong Sheng was silent for a moment before he said, ¡°Let Zhao Zhu go. The rest of us will pin down the Sacred Palace Chosen and give the others time to search for the Divine Establishing Treasures and mythic tokens.¡± No one objected to his proposal. Zhao Zhu also nodded and said, ¡°I will eliminate any intruder.¡± After their discussion, the Chosen decided on this course of action. By the side, Zhou Yuan blinked and suddenly said, ¡°Will the guardian need any backup? The backup will be able to assist in case Chosen Zhao Zhu needs some support.¡± Kong Sheng expressionlessly said, ¡°We lack the manpower to send additional Chosen to guard the place.¡± Zhou Yuan displayed a dazzling smile at this moment as he pointed to himself and said, ¡°Although there are no extra Chosen, I feel that I am just barely qualified to assist.¡± Zhao Zhu immediately sneered. ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is a matter between Chosen. What right does a chief disciple like yourself have to foolishly try to participate? Is it because you somehow managed to withstand a single blow from Jin Chanzi? ¡°Don¡¯t think that we¡¯re blind to your intentions. Aren¡¯t you hoping to earn some contributions for yourself?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled but did not deny it. It was precisely as Zhao Zhu had said. There was absolutely no way he was going to give up on the greatest blessing. Li Qingchan fell silent for a brief moment before she said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is no small matter. If Chosen from the other side somehow manage to slip in and defeat Zhao Zhu, it would mean that our plan has failed. When that happens, we¡¯ll have no option but to abandon the seven-color treasure location to prevent any more casualties. ¡°Hence, whether or not there is back up for the guardian will likely change nothing.¡± Her words implied that if it really did reach that point, even if Zhou Yuan was the backup, it would be better for him to surrender. Forcibly trying to resist would only be akin to a mantis attempting to block a cart. At the end of the day, Li Qingchan believed that although Zhou Yuan had grown much stronger, there was still a huge gap between him and the Chosen. Upon hearing her words, Zhou Yuan smiled somewhat helplessly and said, ¡°Can¡¯t I try at least?¡± Zhao Zhu coldly said, ¡°One should take things one step at a time. A battle between Chosen is not something you can interfere in. If you wish to become the backup guardian, then at least two Chosen should give you their approval. Do you feel that anyone here will permit your unreasonable request?¡± His gaze swept across the area, but his expression immediately turned rigid soon after. Yaoyao had slowly raised her hand as her indifferent voice sounded, ¡°I permit it.¡± Next, Tuntun, who was still lying on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, cast a glance at Zhao Zhu and raised its paw. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 615 Guarding the Treasure Location In the room, Zhao Zhu had no choice but to force the words back down his throat at the sight of Yaoyao raising her hand and Tuntun raising its paw, his expression an ugly mix of green and white. Although Yaoyao and Tuntun were strictly speaking not Chosen, even Zhao Zhu did not dare to say it out loud. Ever since they had entered the Mythic Utopia, the strength the two had displayed had tremendously aided the Cangxuan Sect in establishing its place in the Great Mythic Mountain Range. Though they were not Chosen, they possessed the same influence as the other Chosen. ¡°Since Yaoyao and Tuntun have shown their support, we¡¯ll let Zhou Yuan be the backup guardian,¡± Li Qingchan interjected to mediate. Zhao Zhu coldly snorted. Although he did not object, his expression clearly indicated that he looked down on Zhou Yuan. In Zhao Zhu¡¯s view, Zhou Yuan was merely greedy for some free contribution points, and being a backup guardian was precisely what he needed to gain far more contribution than the other chief disciples. However, the act of shamelessly insisting on taking on an important position without sufficient strength was just ugly in Zhao Zhu¡¯s eyes. The other Chosen did not speak up. However, there was some hesitation in their gazes when they looked at Zhou Yuan. Although Zhao Zhu had been overly blunt, from a certain point of view, a chief disciple like Zhou Yuan forcing his way into matters between Chosen was indeed akin to humiliating oneself. Kong Sheng indifferently said, ¡°Since you insist on being backup, I hope that you¡¯ll be of some use when the time comes.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, not bothering to defend himself. He nodded and said, ¡°If things go sour for Chosen Zhao Zhu, I will do my best to salvage the situation.¡± Zhao Zhu let out a mocking laugh, taking Zhou Yuan''s words as mere talk. After all, if he did fail in his task, the outcome would not be something a chief disciple like Zhou Yuan would be able to turn around. ¡°Since we¡¯re done with the discussions, everyone shall proceed to make their preparations. We will be heading to the seven-color treasure location shortly. ¡°It will create quite a commotion once it appears, and the Sacred Palace will most certainly find out and interfere in an attempt to snatch away the spoils. ¡°The other sects will also become aware, and though they may not openly contest for it, they will surely observe in secret. If any opportunities present themselves, it will not be strange for them to act. ¡°As such, we will need everyone to work together in order to secure this seven-color treasure location.¡± With a serious expression, Li Qingchan looked at the group with her bright eyes. The others solemnly nodded, not only because a seven-color treasure location was rare but more importantly, because the dignity of the Cangxuan Sect was at stake. If they could not even defend a seven-color treasure location they had found, how would the other sects view them? Hence, this time they were not merely guarding a seven-color treasure location but also the reputation of their Cangxuan Sect. ¡­ The crowd scattered, and Yaoyao left with Zhou Yuan. ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve grown rather bold and have even begun to stick your hand into the fights between Chosen.¡± Yaoyao carried Tuntun as she glanced to the side at Zhou Yuan, a tiny hint of teasing in the smile hanging at the corners of her red lips. In the past, Yaoyao was usually the one to answer the call if there was a Chosen-level battle, while Zhou Yuan did all he could to avoid it. This was because Zhou Yuan had not been strong enough to achieve anything in a battle of that level. Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°Tuntun and you have already made a reputation for yourselves. It will be rather shameful for me to continue playing around with the chief disciples.¡± This was merely a joke of course. He would not have forced himself onto their stage for such a pathetic reason. Besides needing contribution, the main reason why he had recommended himself was because he wanted to begin exposing himself to the battles on the next level. Given his current strength, he did not feel that any of the other chief disciples would pose much of a threat to him. He needed stronger opponents to push himself even further. Yaoyao looked in the direction where the other Chosen had scattered as she said, ¡°But it appears no one believes in you.¡± How could she not tell that the other Chosen had only agreed on account of her and Tuntun? All of them were clearly convinced that Zhou Yuan was merely trying to get some free contribution. Zhou Yuan stretched his back, not minding at all as he said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if they don¡¯t believe in me. Talk is cheap, and everything will depend on the final outcome.¡± He peered into the distance, eyes filled with burning battle intent. The battles between Chosen should be much more exciting... ¡­ The Cangxuan Sect soon began to move, the entire force leaving the mountain under the lead of Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the rest of the Chosen. The other disciples were pretty excited when they heard that their target was a seven-color treasure location. For people like them, a seven-color treasure location was something they could only dream about, and even getting a tiny share of the spoils would be tremendously beneficial. The group rushed towards their destination at full speed. After an incense stick of time, Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the other Chosen gradually began to slow down. Zhou Yuan cast his gaze towards the front and was greeted by the sight of an enormous mountain valley covered in lush, dense forest. Several mountains were encircling it, and highly concentrated Genesis Qi was spouting out from the valley''s depths, accompanied by gorgeous colors. ¡°Such concentrated Mythic Genesis essence.¡± Astonishment flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Even from so far away, he could already feel the Mythic Genesis essence pervading the air in the valley, the quality of which far surpassing the six-color lake from before. As the group approached, several dozen figures flew out from the valley. These were the disciples that had been left behind to guard the place. The disciples reported, ¡°Chosen, after our preliminary scouting, we¡¯ve discovered that the seven-color treasure location is under the valley. There are also many Armored Lizards inside. In the deepest parts there might even be a Genesis Qi guardian beast that is as powerful as a Chosen.¡± Chu Qing and Li Qingchan were not surprised by their findings. Such treasure locations always had their guardian beasts, which were extremely powerful creatures possessing strength comparable to the Chosen. ¡°It seems that we¡¯ll have to split off a portion of our forces.¡± Li Qingchan wore a grave expression. Due to this, the group tasked with engaging the Sacred Palace would be under more pressure. Li Qingchan looked towards Tuntun, who was lying in Yaoyao¡¯s arms, as she said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that we¡¯ll need Tuntun¡¯s cooperation again this time.¡± During the time they had spent together, Li Qingchan and the others had discovered that Tuntun seemed to have some sort of special restraining effect on other Genesis Beasts. As such, Tuntun was the most suitable member to deal with these guardian beasts. Yaoyao gave a faint nod as she gently patted Tuntun, causing it to rise into the air on its Genesis Qi. Li Qingchan instructed, ¡°Tang Muxin, Su Yao and the other four chief disciples will lead the rest of the disciples and follow Tuntun into the six-color treasure location. Clear out the Armored Lizards and the guardian beast before searching for the Divine Establishing Treasures and mythic tokens within.¡± Tang Muxin and the others immediately acknowledged her instructions before leading the giant group of disciples into the giant valley like a swarm of locusts. ¡°The remaining Chosen, get into your defensive positions.¡± Li Qingchan turned towards the rest of the Chosen. Chu Qing, Kong Sheng, Shang Chunqiu and the others nodded before scattering. They positioned themselves on the mountains around the valley, forming a defensive line with the valley at its center. Li Qingchan stared straight at Zhao Zhu as she solemnly said, ¡°Zhao Zhu, you will be stationed at the valley''s entrance. There are many individuals from the Sacred Palace, and there may inevitably be some amongst them who will be able to slip past our defensive line through some special means. When that happens, you¡¯ll have to stop them and prevent anyone from entering the seven-color treasure location.¡± Zhao Zhu solemnly nodded. Finally, Li Qingchan turned towards the seemingly idle Zhou Yuan as she gently bit her lip. His insistence on becoming the backup guardian was honestly quite unnecessary... ¡°Zhou Yuan, find somewhere to hide yourself nearby. Be prepared to act if anything unexpected happens.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. He knew that Li Qingchan felt him to be a little unnecessary, but he was not offended or unhappy. It would after all be best if Zhao Zhu was able to handle anyone who managed to breach the defensive line because it would mean that the situation would be within their control. After giving her instructions, Li Qingchan moved and landed on one of the peaks. Zhao Zhu turned his head and cast a mocking glance at Zhou Yuan. He did not exchange any words with him and sat himself on a boulder near the valley''s entrance. Zhou Yuan likewise paid no heed to Zhao Zhu. His figure landed in the shadow cast by one of the cliff walls, and he seated himself to wait. When everyone was done, the entire place seemed to fall silent. This silence, however, did not last for long. Sensing something, Zhou Yuan soon lifted his head and looked towards the west. Streaks of light were shooting over through the air, ultimately coming to a stop in the sky outside the mountain valley. ¡°Hehe, friends of the Cangxuan Sect¡­¡± At the head of these numerous glowing figures was the Sacred Palace¡¯s Jiang Taishen. He wore a faint smile as he gazed at the Cangxuan Sect Chosen. He said in a gentle voice, ¡°You guys have overstepped your boundaries...this place is part of the Sacred Palace¡¯s search area. I hope that everyone will abide by the rules the sects have agreed upon. Quickly withdraw from here and hand over the treasure location.¡± His voice sounded exceedingly friendly, but when it rang out, the surrounding atmosphere slowly became hostile. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at the grand line-up from the Sacred Palace before peering into the distance. With his Spirit sense, he could sense the other sects stealthily arriving and casting their gazes over. Although there had been some conflicts between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect after entering the Great Mythic Mountain Range, both sides had always held back somewhat and had not yet engaged in a real fight. However, under the temptation of the seven-color treasure location, their previous restraint had turned extremely weak. All the sects understood that neither the Sacred Palace nor the Cangxuan Sect would be able to hold back this time... Whoever emerged superior in a real clash was something that the other sects were rather looking forward to seeing. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 616 War In the sky outside the valley, Genesis Qi took the form of clouds on which numerous figures stood. Powerful Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from their bodies alongside alarming auras. Jiang Taishen stood smiling at the very front of the Sacred Palace group with his hands behind his back. To his left was the golden-haired Jin Chanzi, whose eyes were filled with their usual disdain and aggressiveness. To the right was a fair-skinned girl in a black skirt. She had an extremely alluring appearance with very delicate features. She silently stood there as the breeze ruffled the corners of her clothes, making her appear both lovely yet somewhat pitiful. Those who were familiar with her, however, knew that hidden under that seemingly frail appearance was the face of an asura. She was Sacred Palace¡¯s Zhan Taiqing, the third ranker on the Shengzhou Continent¡¯s Chosen List, second only to Chu Qing and Jiang Taishen. After finding out about the seven-color treasure location, all of the top-tier fighting forces from the Sacred Palace had poured out from their nest. Atop the many mountain peaks, the expressions of Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others turned somewhat grave at the sight of this line-up. ¡°Jiang Taishen, my Cangxuan Sect has been working hard to clean up this place even before we began allotting different areas to the various factions. Isn¡¯t it a little unsightly for you guys to so impatiently rush over here to pluck the fruits of our labors the moment we made a little progress?¡± Chu Qing¡¯s bald head gleamed brightly under the sunlight as he stared at Jiang Taishen and chuckled. Jiang Taishen replied, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t put it that way. My Sacred Palace was merely unable to find the time to clean this place up.¡± His long eyes narrowed as he smiled. ¡°Chu Qing, there¡¯s no need for you to try and buy time through talking. All I need is one word, is your Cangxuan Sect going to withdraw?¡± His tone was nonchalant but did not hide the iciness and overbearance that flowed out. Chu Qing revealed a lazy smile as he took a step forward and answered, ¡°If the Sacred Palace wishes to give us some guidance, my Cangxuan Sect will gladly receive it.¡± Rumble! Extremely alarming azure Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body like a storm. Unable to withstand the Genesis Qi pressure, cracks began to grow on the mountain below his feet. Chu Qing¡¯s clothes loudly flapped around him without the presence of wind. Powerful Genesis Qi condensed behind him, transforming into a starry sky. Although Chu Qing was usually exceptionally lazy, he understood that a fight was unavoidable. Since that was the case, they would fight. He clearly understood his responsibilities as the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen, though he was indeed lazy by nature. Near the entrance to the valley, Zhou Yuan also lifted his head and gazed at Chu Qing¡¯s figure. Amazement appeared in his eyes upon seeing the Genesis Qi starry sky behind Chu Qing. The scale of Chu Qing¡¯s Genesis Qi starry sky was several times greater than his own. ¡°The number of Genesis Qi stars in senior brother Chu Qing¡¯s Qi Dwelling has likely surpassed sixty or seventy thousand¡­¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but inwardly sigh in amazement. As the one who had managed to become the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen, Chu Qing did possess extraordinary strength. Even without a Divine Establishing Treasure, such Genesis Qi foundations would let him easily establish a six heavens Divine Dwelling when he ascended to the Divine Dwelling stage. When Chu Qing displayed his stance, Genesis Qi also erupted from the other Cangxuan Sect Chosen without any hesitation. Pillar after pillar of astonishing Genesis Qi rose into the sky, creating a magnificent sight. Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at the rising Genesis Qi. He said, ¡°Chu Qing, your choice is truly disappointing. ¡°Since you insist on being uncooperative, don¡¯t blame the Sacred Palace for what happens next.¡± As the final word rang out, Jiang Taishen¡¯s white hair suddenly began to dance around him. White Genesis Qi exploded from his body as wave after wave of alarming Genesis Qi pressure spread out. Behind him, Zhan Taiqing gently licked her lips with her pink tongue as excitement flitted across her scarlet-red irises. In the next instant, blood-red Genesis Qi also erupted. Jin Chanzi sneered as dark green Genesis Qi gathered on the surface of his body. Genesis Qi dripped from his fingertips like liquid, instantly melting the trees that it touched below. The other Sacred Palace Chosen also unleashed their Genesis Qi. The top-tier disciples from both overlord sects displayed their ferocious sides at this moment. The atmosphere was at its tipping point with hostility. While the two sects faced each other, numerous gazes were closely watching them from far away. These gazes belonged to the sects that had rushed over after hearing the news, with the four overlord sects, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, Sword Seeker Sect, Heavenly Ghost Sect and North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall amongst them. ¡°It appears that the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect are really going to war this time.¡± Numerous lovely girls were gathered on the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side, making them an extremely attention-grabbing group. The one leading them was a tall and slender young woman. She had very beautiful facial features and a headful of whitish-gold hair. She wore the usual palace garb, although it did nothing to hide her unreasonable figure. Her curves were so alluring and enchanting that she was basically akin to a temptress, drawing numerous individuals to sneak a glance. She was the leader of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace Chosen and was known as Gong Wan, an individual that was also extremely famous in the Shengzhou Continent. She was currently staring at the two opposing groups with interest. The other Hundred Flower Fairy Palace Chosen were gathered behind her, while Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo could also be found amongst the group. The two young ladies looked towards the Cangxuan Sect side and eventually found Yaoyao¡¯s figure. ¡°Yaoyao is truly amazing¡­¡± Luluo¡¯s tone was filled with envy. Upon hearing this, Gong Wan suddenly approached and placed an arm around Luluo''s tiny waist. Grinning, she said, ¡°Little Luluo, she¡¯s called Yaoyao?¡± Luluo nodded. ¡°She¡¯s one of the companions that came to the Shengzhou Continent with us.¡± Gong Wan¡¯s large and enchanting eyes suddenly flickered for a moment. She gently bit into her red lips as she focused on the beautiful figure in the distance. ¡°Is that so? I still have to thank her for helping me when I was caught off guard by that green-skinned ghost from the Heavenly Ghost Sect some time ago.¡± Gong Wan smiled at Luluo and said, ¡°Little Luluo, won¡¯t you find a time to introduce us?¡± Her limpid eyes gleamed as she blushed with slight embarrassment. Luluo was taken aback, not really understanding the situation. However, her intuition told her that Gong Wan seemed to be talking about something dirty. From the side, Zuoqiu Qingyu pulled Luluo behind her as she stared at Gong Wan in a guarded manner as if looking at a love rival. ¡°Senior sister Gong Wan, you should forget about Yaoyao because she will not be interested in you.¡± The look in Gong Wan¡¯s eyes was more than familiar to Zuoqiu Qingyu! They were kindred spirits! Gong Wan pouted a little as she said, ¡°Why?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu resentfully said, ¡°Because she has someone she likes.¡± It was Gong Wan¡¯s turn to be taken aback. ¡°Is it a Chosen from the Cangxuan Sect? Chu Qing or maybe Kong Sheng?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu hoisted her fair, sharp chin at the entrance to the valley and said, ¡°Over there, he¡¯s called Zhou Yuan and is a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect¡­¡± Gong Wan looked over and saw the young figure hidden in the shadow of the cliff. She immediately stuck out her lower lip and said in a somewhat disappointed manner, ¡°There¡¯s nothing special about him. So weak¡­while she¡¯s outstanding. Her standards shouldn¡¯t be so terrible, right?¡± Luluo¡¯s small head reached out from behind Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s back in an attempt to defend him. ¡°Zhou Yuan is not weak!¡± Gong Wan lazily said, ¡°A chief disciple does not have any business in a situation like this.¡± She then waved her hand and said, ¡°Forget it, no need to care about him. Once I become acquainted with Yaoyao, I¡¯ll teach him the meaning of retreating to avoid defeat.¡± Her enchanting smile was overflowing with confidence. With regards to this, Zuoqiu Qingyu could only roll her eyes. ¡°They¡¯re about to fight¡­,¡± a Chosen warned them, causing them to immediately cast their gazes over. Rumble! After a few dozen breaths in that almost stifling atmosphere, everything suddenly exploded all at once. Glowing figure after figure shot forth and clashed in the air. Berserk Genesis Qi immediately swept outwards, devastating the surroundings. The Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect had finally begun their war. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 617 Jiang Taishen’s Methods Boom! Waves of Genesis Qi violently unfurled, creating a storm of destruction. Yaoyao and Ye Ge¡¯s Spirit power erupted the moment both sides moved, wielding Genesis Rune Brushes as countless Genesis Runes shot forth. These Genesis Runes sprang forth like threads of light, heading directly towards Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and the other Chosen. Pillars of Genesis Qi light immediately rose from their mountaintops. A curtain of light swiftly began to extend from the light pillars, ultimately connecting all of the peaks where the Chosen were stationed. A boundary seemed to form, enveloping the valley in the middle. The Sacred Palace had sixteen Chosen, while the Cangxuan Sect only had eleven including Yaoyao. Tuntun should also have been counted, but it was unable to be at the frontlines at this moment, as it was tasked with leading the disciples and eliminating the guardian beast of the seven-color treasure location. Quantity wise, the Cangxuan Sect was at a disadvantage. Fortunately, their current goal was to protect the treasure location and not to fight to the death. Now that Yaoyao and Ye Ge had swiftly set up a Genesis Rune boundary. The other side was forced to attack the nodes where the Chosen were stationed. This boundary had a linking effect. If the Sacred Palace attempted to concentrate their forces to attack one spot, the others would be able to send Genesis Qi through the boundary as support. In the sky, Jiang Taishen could not help but frown. He would honestly rather see the Cangxuan Sect charge over with their full force for a direct frontal clash of raw might against might. However, their current defensive position clearly signalled that they were stalling for time to allow the others to clean out the seven-color treasure location. When it was done, they would naturally be able to withdraw unscathed. ¡°Zhou Xiaoyao is truly troublesome,¡± muttered Jiang Taishen in a low voice as he stared at Yaoyao¡¯s lovely figure in the distance. This amazing boundary was obviously under her control, whereas Ye Ge was merely there for support. Over this period of time, there had been no lack of clashes between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. As such, the Sacred Palace had long become aware of Yaoyao¡¯s existence amongst the current batch of Cangxuan Sect Chosen. Although her Genesis Qi cultivation was extremely weak, her Spirit was exceptionally powerful. In Jiang Taishen¡¯s opinion, the degree of trouble Yaoyao brought them was likely no less than Chu Qing. Jiang Taishen¡¯s gaze flickered in thought. Even though their opponents were turtling up, there was no way that the Sacred Palace would back off. ¡°No matter how hard your shell, the Sacred Palace will shatter it today!¡± Jiang Taishen¡¯s white hair danced around him as he coldly said, ¡°Attack the nodes with your full power!¡± He knew that it was useless to focus on one point, leaving an all-round attack as their only option. Fortunately, the Chosen on their side had the advantage in numbers. It should not be impossible for them to forcefully blast apart the boundary through their superior firepower. Once the boundary was broken, it would become very difficult for the Cangxuan Sect to stop them from forcing their way into the seven-color treasure location. Swish! The Sacred Palace Chosen shot forth and swiftly spread out as Jiang Taishen''s voice rang out. Powerful torrents of Genesis Qi blasted forth, streaking across the sky like shooting stars as they bombarded the curtain of light that made up the boundary. Boom! Boom! The ground shook as ripples spread throughout the giant boundary. At this moment, however, Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and the other Chosen took action. They pressed their hands onto the light screen as surging Genesis Qi poured out of their bodies without reservation. The boundary immediately grew brighter. As such, one side attacked crazily while the other stubbornly defended, causing the surrounding Genesis Qi to boil in a frenzied manner. The members of the various factions were watching from far away. ¡°I thought they were going to duke it out¡­,¡± said a Chosen of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. The young lady called Gong Wan softly chuckled and said, ¡°Without Yaoyao, the Cangxuan Sect would likely have no choice but to directly engage the Sacred Palace in combat. However, this boundary saves them a tremendous amount of effort. ¡°The Sacred Palace won¡¯t be able to do anything if they fail to break through the boundary, and they can only watch helplessly as the Cangxuan Sect cleans up all the spoils in the seven-color treasure location. ¡°Yaoyao truly is a treasure.¡± Gong Wan¡¯s eyes glowed as she stared at the gorgeous figure before she turned towards Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo to grumble, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring such an amazing seedling into our Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo could only roll their eyes in response to her complaining. ¡°No wonder the Cangxuan Sect is unafraid of the Sacred Palace. It turns out they were prepared,¡± another Chosen said. ¡°From the current situation, the Cangxuan Sect seems to have a better chance of coming up on top.¡± The Sacred Palace had no way of stopping Cangxuan Sect if they failed to break the boundary. Gong Wan robbed her chin with a thoughtful look on her face as she muttered, ¡°That may not be certain¡­¡± She lifted her head and focused on Jiang Taishen¡¯s figure. She said slowly, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate Jiang Taishen. No one can predict what will happen until the end.¡± The other Chosen from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace nodded in agreement. In the Shengzhou Continent, every Chosen felt some kind of pressure upon hearing the three words Jiang Taishen. Countless gazes from all around looked towards the violently clashing Genesis Qi, but even more were directed at the white-haired figure in the sky. Jiang Taishen stood in the air, his eyes indifferent as he gazed upon the rippling boundary which remained stable under the onslaught of the Sacred Palace Chosen. His gaze penetrated the boundary to meet Chu Qing¡¯s. ¡°Chu Qing, do you really believe that your shell has rendered me powerless?¡± Chu Qing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as his body slowly began to tense. Jiang Taishen softly chuckled. The two blood-red beads that hung at the sides of his face slowly dropped from the hair binding them. They then suddenly turned into a flash of red and shot forth. Bzzbzz! The blood-red beads spun rapidly, blood-red light spreading as they ground against the boundary. The boundary soon melted, forming two tiny holes. The two blood-red beads immediately shot through. Swoosh! After penetrating the boundary, the glowing blood-red beads swiftly descended to the ground, landing at the valley entrance where Zhao Zhu was stationed. Chu Qing shouted, ¡°Careful Zhao Zhu!¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression abruptly changed, Genesis Qi erupting from his body as he quickly backed away. The two blood-red beads, however, were too quick; in a flash they had sealed off Zhao Zhu¡¯s escape from the front and back. The beads began to spin once more as they gradually expanded. Under countless shocked gazes, two figures slowly walked out from the glowing beads, cornering Zhao Zhu between them. Gasps of shock and surprise rang out across the area. They had realized that the two figures belonged to Chosen from the Sacred Palace! Jiang Taishen had forcefully pierced through the boundary and had sent in two Sacred Palace Chosen! In the distance, Luluo''s and Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s expressions turned grave. They knew that the situation was now extremely unfavorable for the Cangxuan Sect. In the sky, Jiang Taishen gently cracked his neck, eyes still watching Chu Qing as a slight smile emerged on his lips. ¡°Although this boundary of yours has saved you guys a lot of trouble, it has also bounded your hands and legs¡­ ¡°Sorry, Chu Qing. It appears that my Sacred Palace is still going to win this time.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 618 Sacred Palace’s Sudden Entry Amidst the mountain forests. Countless gazes were somewhat shocked as they stared at the two figures that had suddenly appeared in the valley. No one had anticipated that Jiang Taishen would possess the means to send two Sacred Palace Chosen through the boundary and into the valley. ¡°That¡¯s Chi Lei and Chai Ying. Chai Ying is known as the youngest Chosen in the Sacred Palace.¡± On the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side, Gong Wan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she gazed at the two figures that had appeared in the valley. She slowly said, ¡°Told you not to underestimate Jiang Taishen. As the one who has stably retained his first ranker spot on the Chosen List for so many years, Jiang Taishen naturally has no lack of tricks up his sleeve. ¡°Although the boundary has indeed saved the Cangxuan Sect a lot of trouble, it has now become their shackle. Chu Qing and the others cannot free themselves to deal with the intruders, and Zhao Zhu alone will not be their match. ¡°If these two are allowed to enter the seven-color treasure location, the Cangxuan Sect disciples will likely suffer heavy losses. When that happens, they will have no choice but to yield to the Sacred Palace and hand over the seven-color treasure location.¡± By the side, worry appeared on Zuoqiu Qingyu''s and Luluo¡¯s faces. Due to Zhou Yuan, they were naturally not very fond of the Sacred Palace and thus did not wish to see the Cangxuan Sect suffer. The members of the other sects also shifted their gazes over to the valley entrance. They secretly sighed inside. Who could have expected Jiang Taishen to be so resourceful? The situation really did not bode well for the Cangxuan Sect now. ... Meanwhile, the expressions of Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and the other Chosen changed. Their brows were tightly furrowed as they looked towards the two figures that had appeared at the entrance to the valley. Jiang Taishen''s move had evidently caught them off-guard. ¡°Should we disperse the boundary and deal with the two of them as quickly as possible?¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s low voice was transmitted to the other Chosen. Li Qingchan immediately rejected the suggestion. ¡°Dispersing the boundary will only lead to chaos, which the Sacred Palace will still be able to take advantage of to enter the seven-color treasure location.¡± ¡°Then what can we do? How can Zhao Zhu handle two Chosen alone?¡± said Kong Sheng with an expressionless face. ¡°Why so anxious¡­¡± Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes looked over, her expression remaining composed as she said, ¡°Although two Chosen have managed to get past the boundary, Zhao Zhu is not the only person at the valley entrance.¡± The other Chosen were slightly taken aback. They soon began to recall that there was a backup guardian... Kong Sheng could not help but icily chuckle. ¡°Could you be referring to Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t joke around. Although Zhou Yuan has performed well in the Mythic Utopia so far, that is merely with regards to things on the level of the chief disciples. What we¡¯re facing now is a struggle between Chosen, which I believe he still does not have the qualifications to partake in. ¡°Even if he tries to interfere, he will only be humiliating himself.¡± The other Chosen were silent. Though Kong Sheng¡¯s words were not pleasant to hear, they were indeed the truth. Zhou Yuan might be top class amongst the chief disciples, but he would still be lacking if placed amongst the Chosen. Chu Qing was silent for a moment before he said, ¡°Since Zhou Yuan has already been appointed as a guardian, we should at least give him a chance. If we realize that he is no match for his opponents, we¡¯ll have no choice but to take a step back and let the Sacred Palace have a bite of this seven-color treasure location.¡± Kong Sheng was still somewhat unwilling, but he ultimately did not speak up again. Since things had already reached this stage, he knew that they had no choice but to compromise in order to minimize their losses. But it was still too unreasonable to rely on Zhou Yuan. At the entrance to the valley. Two figures surrounded Zhao Zhu from the front and back, completely sealing off his escape routes. Zhao Zhu was currently wearing a grave expression as robust Genesis Qi rose from his body. It was clear he felt tremendously threatened with two Sacred Palace Chosen pincering him from both sides. ¡°Hehe Zhao Zhu, you should let us pass. Otherwise, something bad might happen today.¡± To Zhao Zhu¡¯s front was a rather tanned young man. Genesis Qi was swirling in his palm as he stared at Zhao Zhu and seemingly smiled. He was known as Chi Lei and was a Chosen of the Sacred Palace. The figure behind Zhao Zhu stretched his back in a lazy manner as he nonchalantly said, ¡°Chi Lei, keep him company while I enter the seven-color treasure location.¡± He looked quite youthful and was also rather handsome. Despite his young looks, the powerful Genesis Qi that pulsed from his body was more than testament of his strength. He was called Chai Ying, and he was quite famous in the Sacred Palace. He was currently the youngest Chosen in the Sacred Palace, and he had tremendous potential. Even Jiang Taishen had remarked that given more time, Chai Ying would definitely be able to enter the upper ranks of the Sacred Palace Chosen. By the time he finished speaking, Chai Ying had already begun to turn around. ¡°Stop!¡± Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression turned frosty as he waved his sleeve and sent out a blast of sharp Genesis Qi sword light hurtling towards Chai Ying. Foot pausing, Chai Ying whirled his palms, catching the Genesis Qi sword light before exerting a force to shatter the Genesis Qi between his palms. ¡°Zhao Zhu¡­¡± He raised his head, eyes narrowing slightly as he looked towards Zhao Zhu. ¡°It seems that you really want to die. ¡°Since that is so...we¡¯ll get rid of you first.¡± His clothes slowly began to flap around him as a wave of powerful Genesis Qi swept outwards. ¡°Chi Lei, let¡¯s attack together.¡± Chi Lei nodded with a smile. Not even the slightest trace of warmth could be seen in his eyes as he stared at Zhao Zhu as powerful Genesis Qi slowly began to rise around him. Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression turned extremely grave. He did not back down, however, because he knew that he was the final guardian. If these two Chosen were allowed into the seven-color treasure location, the Cangxuan Sect disciples within would surely suffer heavy losses. ¡°If you want to pass, you¡¯ll have to first ask the sword in my hand.¡± A sword appeared in Zhao Zhu¡¯s hand. Icy light flowed along its edge as its tip gleamed sharply. Although he knew that it was basically impossible for him to match the two of them by himself, he really did not have much choice at this moment. Chai Ying and Chi Lei grinned as they stared at Zhao Zhu, the killing intent in their eyes slowly intensifying. ¡°Zhao Zhu, looks like you¡¯ll be the first Cangxuan Sect Chosen to die in the Mythic Utopia.¡± Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from Chai Ying''s and Lei Chi¡¯s bodies as powerful attacks began to brew and ready themselves to be unleashed. Laughter, however, suddenly rang out from nowhere a split second before they were about to attack, causing their surging Genesis Qi to halt for a brief moment. ¡°Come on¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve been standing here for nearly half a day. Is it really good for you guys to completely ignore me?¡± Chai Ying''s and Chi Lei¡¯s eyes narrowed as they slowly tilted their heads to look at the youthful figure standing in the shadow of a cliff. The truth was that they had already discovered him the moment they had appeared, but they had immediately brushed him off as inconsequential. A seventh layer Alpha-Origin stage practitioner. A single palm would be enough to swat him to death. What surprised them, however, was that instead of properly hiding by the side, this unremarkable little mouse actually dared to speak up and interrupt them. Chai Ying licked his lips. He sighed as he looked at the figure in the shadow before saying to Zhao Zhu in a pitying tone, ¡°Do all your Cangxuan Sect disciples really want to die so much?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 619 Chu Lei, Chai Ying Countless gazes stared in shock at the youthful figure slowly walking out from the shadow. When everyone finally saw who it was, their expressions immediately turned exceptionally splendid. ¡°Who is he? A secret weapon of the Cangxuan Sect?¡± ¡°Tch, what secret weapon. He¡¯s called Zhou Yuan, he''s the chief disciple of Saint Genesis Peak.¡± ¡°A chief disciple¡­dares to reveal himself on a stage like this? Is he resenting the fact that his death isn¡¯t coming swiftly enough?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard he¡¯s pretty strong and that he has performed remarkably in the Mythic Utopia so far.¡± ¡°That¡¯s only with regards to his previous opponents¡­in the face of two Sacred Palace Chosen, recklessly trying to interfere with his strength is basically courting death¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Whispers broke out amongst the various factions as strange looks appeared on their faces. They evidently felt it rather amusing for a chief disciple to suddenly interfere at this juncture. ¡°Hey, that friend of yours seems to be a little too brave for his own good.¡± Gong Wan placed a hand horizontally across her brows as she peered at a certain figure before sticking out her lower lip at Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo. The other Chosen from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace faintly nodded in agreement. They had heard of Zhou Yuan before, but from the looks of it, he seemed to be rather unclear about his place. A chief disciple recklessly interfering in such a situation would only lead to self-humiliation and would bring shame to the Cangxuan Sect for no good reason. Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo looked at each other, seeing worry appear in the other¡¯s eyes. They had witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength before; he was practically invincible amongst the chief disciples. However, only Chosen level individuals should act in such a situation. Though Zhou Yuan was very strong, it should not be so easy to make up for the gap between him and the Chosen, right? ¡°Zhou Yuan...Zhou Yuan should be trying to buy time.¡± Luluo pondered for a moment before she attempted to explain, ¡°It is impossible for Zhao Zhu to stop the two opposing Chosen, but he may somehow manage to defeat one of them while the other is busy with Zhou Yuan.¡± Gong Wan perked up her chin with a hand as she smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s not a bad plan, but you left out one fatal flaw. Chi Lei is ranked twelfth amongst the sixteen Sacred Palace Chosen, while Zhao Zhu is last amongst the ten Cangxuan Sect Chosen¡­ ¡°Even if Zhou Yuan somehow manages to survive for a while, it will ultimately end in a hopeless double defeat for the Cangxuan Sect.¡± The worry in Luluo¡¯s large eyes grew even greater, and she was unable to find a way to refute this point. ¡°The Cangxuan Sect has already fallen into a disadvantageous position. We¡¯ll have to see what Chu Qing chooses to do next¡­¡± Gong Wan¡¯s tone was somewhat regretful. The only feasible compromise was to give up on eating the whole pie and allow the Sacred Palace a slice. However, given the latter¡¯s domineeringness, they would likely ask for even more. If that happened, the Cangxuan Sect would only lose more face. After all, the Sacred Palace had also uncovered a seven-color treasure location some time ago, but ultimately, not a single inch was yielded to the other sects. Given the similarity of the situations, it would become clear which was the greater faction. ¡­ At the entrance to the valley. Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression also changed slightly at the sight of Zhou Yuan walking out. He quickly berated, ¡°Get lost, this is not a matter you can meddle in!¡± Although Zhou Yuan was nothing but an eyesore to him, it would be terrible for the Cangxuan Sect if Zhou Yuan were to be killed by Chai Ying here. The sight of this elicited a soft chuckle from Chai Ying. He said, ¡°Since the hero has already decided to step forward, how can I possibly let him run away? ¡°Chi Lei, I¡¯ll be handing Zhao Zhu to you.¡± Chai Ying waved his hand before turning towards Zhou Yuan with a faint smile. Genesis Qi rose from within his body, growing increasingly violent. Faint killing intent began to spread. Zhao Zhu¡¯s expression darkened. Before he could even move, however, a blast of vigorous Genessi Qi shot towards him accompanied by a series of sonic booms. Zhao Zhu did not dare to tarry. Sharp sword qi whizzed forth with a wave of his sleeve, blocking the incoming Genesis Qi attack. His dark gaze stared at the front where Chi Lei was grinning back at him. Chi Lei said, ¡°Zhao Zhu, you¡¯d better obediently stay here, or the one who suffers today will be you.¡± Zhao Zhu took a deep breath before he icily said, ¡°Go ahead and try to stop me!¡± His body had already shot forth the instant his voice rang out, sword light whizzing out from him to assault Chi Lei. Zhao Zhu could not afford to worry about Zhou Yuan given the current circumstances, and he could only hope that the latter would have enough luck to survive a few blows. What Zhao Zhu needed to do now was concentrate one hundred percent in his battle with Chi Lei and see if he could somehow triumph over him, which would in turn allow him a chance to salvage the situation. ¡°Haha, I¡¯ve long wanted to experience the sword Genesis Qi of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Sword Cometh Peak.¡± Lei Chi laughed heartily as Genesis Qi rumbled above his palm. In the next instant, he also shot forward along with torrential Genesis Qi and clashed directly with Zhao Zhu. Rumble! A fierce battle erupted between the two individuals. While blasts of Genesis Qi were destroying the area behind him, Chai Ying leisurely walked towards Zhou Yuan with a playful smile hanging from the corners of his lips, a giant pressure growing with each step he took. A suffocating feeling began to spread. If it were any other ordinary chief disciple, there would be no need for him to even attack. This pressure alone would be enough to force them to their knees. Chai Ying evidently planned on destroying Zhou Yuan in the most humiliating way possible while the many factions were watching. Zhou Yuan did not move from the spot and was naturally able to feel the powerful pressure rushing towards him from all directions. Under the pressure, even the air around him seemed to solidify. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He glanced at the approaching Chai Ying and soon realized the latter¡¯s intentions. This guy was obviously planning on forcing him to the breaking point and onto his knees with Genesis Qi pressure. Chai Ying¡¯s Genesis Qi was indeed very strong and robust. Any other chief disciple would have most likely succumbed to its power. Unfortunately... This did not include Zhou Yuan. His face remained calm as golden Genesis Qi slowly began to rise from his body like golden flames, and the flesh and blood within began to tremble. The pressure he felt slowly began to recede. Though his Genesis Qi foundations were indeed weaker than Chai Ying¡¯s, Zhou Yuan also had the power of his physical body. When these two powers united, it was impossible for Chai Ying to force him to his knees with Genesis Qi pressure alone. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body remained as straight as a spear. Chai Ying¡¯s footsteps stopped at this moment as he stared at Zhou Yuan in surprise, clearly not expecting such a lack of reaction to his Genesis Qi pressure. ¡°Hehe, this is becoming rather interesting. No wonder you dare to act the hero.¡± Chai Ying softly chuckled. ¡°I originally only planned on making you kneel, but it appears as if I¡¯ll have to personally take action. Hmm, do you think you¡¯ll still be able to stand after I break both your legs?¡± Towards the end, his eyes abruptly turned chillingly sinister. Rumble! Alarming black-golden Genesis Qi suddenly burst out from the top of his head, creating a presence that shook the heavens as a starry sky began to spread behind him. A torrential imposing aura pulsed from Chai Ying. He crossed his arms as he stared at Zhou Yuan with disdain. And he grinned, revealing a set of eerily white teeth. ¡°My number of Genesis Qi stars has reached thirty-eight thousand, so tell me, how do you wish to die?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 620 Chief Disciple Against Chosen Golden black Genesis Qi erupted from Chai Ying¡¯s body like a storm. It was filled with a violent and ferocious aura, giving off an incredibly oppressive feeling. ¡°Thirty-eight thousand Genesis Qi stars...¡± Zhou Yuan''s face turned serious. The Genesis Qi foundation of other chief disciples, even if they had stepped into the ninth gate of heaven, was at most around 10,000. However, Chai Ying¡¯s Genesis Qi stars were more than twice that of the other chief disciples. It was indeed true that the foundation of a Chosen mustn¡¯t be underestimated. ¡°You¡¯re afraid now? But too bad, it¡¯s too late for you now.¡± Chai Ying fixed a cold piercing glare on Zhou Yuan. He evidently interpreted the changes on Zhou Yuan''s face as fear. His feet slammed downward suddenly, and countless strands of golden black Genesis Qi came roaring out. ¡°Golden dipper qi!¡± Swoosh! Swoosh! Countless strands of golden black Genesis Qi seemed to have transformed into a thousand arrows, and they directly tore through the void and enveloped Zhou Yuan. Chai Ying was from the Sacred Golden Hall of the Sacred Palace. The Genesis Qi the hall cultivated was so tough and fierce that it was known to be similar to gold, or metal, and that it could easily penetrate mountains. Watching the countless strands of golden black dipper qi hurtling over like arrows, Zhou Yuan focused his attention. His body rapidly transformed, and then, like a wisp of smoke, he shot away in retreat. ¡°You think you can escape?¡± Chai Ying sneered, flicked his sleeve and sent the golden black dipper qi after him. As Zhou Yuan was rapidly retreating, there was a flicker of Spirit Light between his eyebrows. The Spirit power of the advanced level of the Corporeal Stage was being fully activated to its peak. Bang! At his feet, the ground suddenly cracked, and walls of earth surfaced. They were wrapped in invisible Spirit power, being lifted into the air. It was evident Zhou Yuan was manipulating them with his Spirit power. Bang! Golden black dipper qi whizzed past, and each and every earthen wall was directly penetrated in a destructive manner. But a wave of the golden black dipper qi was consumed as a result. Zhou Yuan came to a stop. Gazing at the golden black dipper qi acting like maggots feeding on a corpse, he clasped his hands together, and his cheeks bulged. A dark golden flame then erupted from his mouth like a dragon''s breath. ¡°Heavenly Sun Flame!¡± As the dark golden flame swept through the void, even the air distorted slightly, showing its extremely high temperature. The flame and the golden black dipper qi collided without any sound of impact. The vast golden black dipper qi was quietly melted in the flame... When the flames subsided, the sky also cleared. With his feet on Genesis Qi, Chai Ying stood in the air with a look of surprise flashing through his eyes as he watched the scene. It was evident that he hadn''t expected his opponent to completely incinerate his golden black dipper qi. Given his attacks and strength, as long as he acted, there was almost nobody below a Chosen who could withstand his attack. ¡°I didn''t think you''d also cultivate spirit.¡± Chai Ying sneered. Previously he had sensed that Zhou Yuan first exhausted his golden black dipper qi with Spirit power before using the dark gold flame to incinerate it. ¡°However, that''s just a little trick. Do you really think it''s going to work?¡± As Chai Ying''s hands suddenly folded his hand to form a seal, golden black Genesis Qi roared out, directly forming a gigantic golden black palm in the sky. The giant palm was filled with so much ferocious qi that even a mountain would easily be crushed by it. ¡°The Great Golden Black Palm!¡± It was evident that Chai Ying did not have the slightest intention of playing with Zhou Yuan. He did not hold back at all, and he planned to kill Zhou Yuan at the fastest speed possible. Moreover, after he had previously met Zhou Yuan, he had fully investigated Zhou Yuan¡¯s background. Although Zhou Yuan possessed an extremely outstanding foundation of Genesis Qi during the seventh gate of heaven, Chai Ying unfortunately attached no importance to that tens of thousands strands or so of Genesis Qi. Bang! The golden black palm whizzed down, causing the sound of explosions. Before it even landed, the ground below had already begun to collapse and crack. Countless people were all watching the scene with their eyes wide in shock. They evidently also sensed Chai Ying''s killing intent. This also sparked sympathy for Zhou Yuan. If such a fierce and powerful palm were to fall, then even a mountain would be flattened, let alone Zhou Yuan. ¡°That Chai Ying really doesn¡¯t intend to hold back at all.¡± Gong Wan of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace sighed. In the face of a chief disciple, he applied his genesis technique right away. That Chai Ying really is ruthless. She turned to Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo and said, ¡°Your friend is most likely going to suffer.¡± The two women exchanged a glance with one another without saying anything, but the deep worry in their eyes couldn¡¯t be concealed. After all, even if it was so far away, they could clearly feel how terrifying Chai Ying¡¯s attack was. ¡°Hopefully Zhou Yuan will have the means to fight.¡± They sighed inwardly and could only be hopeful. Outside the valley, Chu Qing and Li Qingchan were also intently watching. Kong Sheng¡¯s eyes were somewhat gloomy as he asked, ¡°He did not even hide, does he intend to forcibly withstand it? ¡°Stupidity. If he continues to badger Chai Ying and rely on speed alone, he can perhaps drag on for a little longer. To forcibly withstand that attack, he will no doubt die.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s cold and beautiful eyes darted over, and her red lips opened slightly to say, ¡°If you¡¯re ignorant, talk less.¡± Kong Sheng froze for a moment and then was about to speak. However, noticing the look in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes, he knew that if he were to continue to mock Zhou Yuan, she would definitely snap. In the end, he had no choice but to just sneer coldly. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you''re going to protect him!¡± Bang! The giant golden black palm descended from the sky, making Zhou Yuan''s figure below appear incredibly small and insignificant. Zhou Yuan looked up, his expression solemn. This is the power of a Chosen? It does indeed far exceed that of a chief disciple. ¡°The genesis technique activated by thirty-eight thousand Genesis Qi stars is indeed tyrannical.¡± Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, but there was not a flicker of fear in his eyes. Instead, a fiery eagerness was beginning to emerge. On the first day that Zhou Yuan entered the Cangxuan Sect, he was already told of the incredible strength of a Chosen, which was the level that the younger generation of the Cangxuan Heaven strived to achieve. At that time, Zhou Yuan had also thought about when he would have the strength to fight against a Chosen. A year ago, he perhaps couldn¡¯t give an accurate answer, but the present Zhou Yuan knew that...now he was prepared. Golden Omni Serpent Qi was slowly rising from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and vaguely, a giant python could be seen hissing within his body. Inside his Qi Dwelling, ten thousand Genesis Qi stars bloomed like dazzling lights. ¡°Jade skin, silver bones...¡± His mouth was slightly open and a low voice sounded. As his voice rang, his skin bloomed with a glowing jade light, and the bones of his body began to shine with silver. ¡°Golden blood...¡± In his heart, his golden drop of blood trembled. A ray of golden blood spread out, emitting a golden glow on Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin, making him appear slightly mysterious. He was currently just standing on the ground and had not yet activated any power. Despite this, the boulder beneath his feet was unable to withstand the force seeping out from his body and began to crack. This was the first time Zhou Yuan had completely activated the power of his physical body to its peak without any reservation ever since he had stepped into the Golden Blood Stage. His Genesis Qi foundation was indeed not as good as Chai Ying¡¯s, but he still had the strength of the physical body! The power of the spirit! Under countless watchful gazes, Zhou Yuan looked up at the golden black palm that was pressing down. The next moment, he released a long deafening roar and shot up skywards! He chose to take the initiative to attack. Dazzling golden light erupted from his body. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± He clenched his hands tightly and saw the snowy white hair of the Heavenly Yuan Brush spread outwards. It directly wrapped around his fist and gradually turned from a snowy white to a dark black color. ¡°Million Whale!¡± With his eyes blazing, Zhao Yuan punched out, and vaguely, there was the cry of a whale ringing throughout the skies. The air under the fist gradually distorted. Bang! Under countless astonished gazes Zhou Yuan slammed his fist out, directly meeting the golden black palm descending from the sky head on... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 621 Concei Boom! Under countless shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan, carrying a majestic momentum, shot up into the sky. His fist roared out and heavily collided with the golden black palm. During the moment of collision, it was as though the whole world had fallen silent. Then, an earth-shaking rumble resounded throughout the universe. Like a storm, terrifyingly powerful shock waves wreaked havoc and expelled the air as if a real vacuum space was formed. They also shattered the towering mountain peaks in the surroundings with their impact, making countless people speechless with their destructive power. Swoosh! In the sky, Zhou Yuan, who had collided with that giant golden black palm, froze for a number of seconds before his body abruptly fell down. He rapidly rotated in mid-air and finally landed with both hands tightly clutching the ground. He immediately left two deep marks. Smoke and dust filled the air, covering his body. Countless eyes shot over in his direction. ¡°That kid is not dead from being slammed to the ground, right?¡± ¡°It''s not necessarily impossible. He recklessly faced the attack head-on, does he think he¡¯s a Chosen?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Amidst whispers, the layer of smoke and dust gradually faded, and Zhou Yuan''s figure re-emerged. It was just that he still had his palms deeply inserted into the ground. His sleeves were torn apart, and his skin was glowing with a faintly discernible golden patterned light. He looked particularly mysterious. The surface of his body was covered with some marks of blood, but those wounds were recovering at an alarming rate. In addition to this, the Genesis Qi surging around his body was still as strong as before, and the life force within his body was also just as vigorous. The crowd''s imagined situation of him being killed by the palm had not happened. Hua! There was gasping and a low commotion within the crowd. Evidently they had not expected Zhou Yuan to suffer such minor injuries in a battle against Chai Ying. Zhou Yuan ignored their gazes and simply lifted his head, staring sharply at the giant golden black palm suspended in the air. Under everybody¡¯s watchful eyes, countless cracks appeared in the hovering giant palm. It then exploded into countless specks of black and gold light. The golden black palm had unexpectedly shattered! As specks of black and gold fluttered about in the sky, Chai Ying¡¯s face gradually darkened, his eyes blazing with killing intent. ¡°I really underestimated you!¡± Chai Ying said in a sinister tone of voice. He did not expect Zhou Yuan to be able to survive his head-on attack. Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation was far inferior to his. Logically speaking, it should have been impossible for him to receive his attack. After all, the gap between them was too great. But what Chai Ying did not expect was that Zhou Yuan''s physical body was so powerful that it had actually reached an astonishing level. By itself, whether it was Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi cultivation base, physical body or spirit level, Chai Ying would not have regarded them as important. However, when put together, the combined strength was something that even Chai Ying was incredibly surprised by. According to Chai Ying''s calculation, if Zhou Yuan were to combine all these strengths together, then he would even have the qualifications to go head to head with a Chosen. At the very least, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t be completely suppressed. This guy, a chief disciple who dared to fight against a Chosen, was indeed somewhat capable. At this very moment, all eyes were wide with shock, staring at the specks of black and gold light in the sky. It was evident that they had not expected Zhou Yuan to withstand Chai Ying¡¯s killing move. In the distance, the face of Gong Wan of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace lit up with astonishment as she surveyed the scene from above. ¡°This boy is quite able.¡± Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation was indeed very outstanding for someone of the seventh layer of the Alpha-Origin stage. But Gong Wan knew that this still couldn¡¯t be compared to Chai Ying. Therefore, she did not understand where Zhou Yuan had obtained the courage to fight Chai Ying. It was right now that she came to realise that Zhou Yuan was using other forces to make up for his insufficient Genesis Qi foundation. She naturally could tell that the reason that Zhou Yuan was able to receive an attack from Chai Ying was because he had activated his Genesis Qi, physical body and spirit¡ªthese three different forces¡ªall at the same time. He really was no match for Chai Ying with only one of these forces, but when they were fused together, it wasn¡¯t so easy for Chai Ying to crush him. The other Chosen of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace were also dumbfounded by the sight. It was the first time that they had seen someone of the Alpha-Origin stage who cultivated Genesis Qi, physical body and spirit. This person has so much spare time and energy to cultivate all three at once? Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo secretly breathed an inward sigh of relief. Zhou Yuan was indeed the Zhou Yuan they knew; he always had confidence in whatever he did and would not be reckless. However, he really was unpredictable. They were already surprised by the fact that he had defeated Zhao Jing. Despite this, he had not yet revealed all his strength. In less than two years, the youngster who had come with them to the Shengzhou Continent had unknowingly reached an astonishing level. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t be too happy too early. Even though he could compete with Chai Jing with the help of three different forces, it is extremely energy-intensive to manipulate three forces at the same time. On the other hand, Chai Ying only needs to control his Genesis Qi. If this situation is to continue, Zhou Yuan is bound to be defeated.¡± Seeing the expression on their faces, Gong Wan slowly spoke out, dampening their excitement right away. ¡°At the moment what he¡¯s doing can only be considered as buying time... ¡°As to how long he will last, this will depend on his ability.¡± ¡­ When Chu Qing and Li Qingchan saw this scene, their tense faces finally eased a little. ¡°It''s the golden blood stage. I didn''t expect his physical body to be refined to this level already.¡± Hongya Peak¡¯s Shang Chunqiu studied the golden pattern on the surface of Zhou Yuan''s body, saying with puzzlement, ¡°That is similar to our Hongya Peak¡¯s Mythic Saint Body, but how could Zhou Yuan know about it?¡± Evidently, he was unaware that what Zhou Yuan practiced was a simplified version of the Mythic Saint Body technique, the little Mythic Saint Body Art. Kong Sheng was similarly taken aback. He evidently did not expect to see this result, but this also made his expression relax a little. Although Zhou Yuan did not get along particularly well with his Sword Cometh Peak, no matter what, they both represented the Cangxuan Sect. Naturally he hoped that Zhou Yuan could have the upper hand. ¡°At this point, he is indeed qualified to buy time from Chai Ying¡­,¡± Kong Sheng remarked. ¡°As long as he doesn''t do something stupid and continue to forcibly persevere, he should be able to drag on a little longer...¡± But just when his voice faded, everyone saw that Zhou Yuan was suddenly squatting down slowly. His palms pressed against the ground, and he raised his head, his eagle-like eyes locking onto Chai Ying. There was a fiery battle intent blazing in his eyes. ¡°Chosen of the Sacred Palace, are you going to try and take one of my attacks next?¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s face darkened. That fool. It was enough to buy time, but you had to provoke Chai Ying. You really treat the strength of a Chosen as nothing! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 622 Limi When Zhou Yuan''s body crouched down and his palms pressed against the ground, his voice resounded out. His stance made it clear that he intended to take the initiative to attack. This caused a lot of uproar amongst the crowd, as nobody expected a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect to be so fierce and powerful...but, at this time, was such a bold choice a good decision? ¡°Does this kid have to be so valorous?¡± Gong Wan of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace also cried out in astonishment immediately, and couldn¡¯t help but shake her head. ¡°This is too conceited...every time they exchange strikes, the three forces will be used. Once one force weakens, it will have an avalanche effect on the other two forces.¡± Gong Wan wrinkled her brows slightly, a hint of disappointment flashing past her eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous performance had made her look at him differently. Why would he try to get the upper hand, doesn¡¯t he have any self-awareness? The most rational approach at this moment would be to take the roundabout route and continue to buy time, rather than take such a reckless choice and consume so much strength to fight against Chai Ying head on. ¡°He is too young. He perhaps feels embarrassed to be suppressed by Chai Ying in front of so many people, so he wants to win back some of the momentum.¡± The other female Chosen of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace also shook their heads. Hearing these words from the numerous Chosen nearby, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo looked at each other in dismay. Soon after, Qingyu bit her red lips and said aloud, ¡°Zhou Yuan is not a reckless person. Since he is doing it, he must have a plan.¡± ¡°What''s the plan?¡± Gong Wan smiled. ¡°Does he really want to fight Chai Ying head on?¡± Although Zhou Yuan had gained the qualification to face Chai Ying by relying on the fusion of three different forces, if Zhou Yuan wanted to defeat Chai Yu, then even those three forces still wouldn¡¯t be enough. Gong Wan saw this more clearly than anyone else. ¡­ In the sky, Chai Ying also fixed a cold and indifferent stare at Zhou Yuan. The corners of his mouth curved upwards in a mocking smile, and he crossed his arms. Zhou Yuan¡¯s behaviour and actions were precisely what he wanted. ¡°You really don''t know the immensity of the sky. You really think I would be afraid of your three reluctantly combined forces? ¡°Well, then I¡¯ll let you know how stupid your thoughts are.¡± Below, Zhou Yuan still had both palms on the ground. His face was unusually calm, and he paid no attention to the countless puzzled and mocking gazes. He certainly was not conceited because he knew that if he chose to fight, then even Chai Ying would not be able to do anything to him. But what no one knew was that Zhou Yuan''s purpose was not to badger Chai Ying. He wanted a grinding stone to test the limits of his strength, and Chai Ying was a near-perfect test object. Perhaps in the eyes of others, even if Zhou Yuan were to unite the three forces, what he could do at most was badger Chai Ying and that it would be impossible for him to defeat him. But Zhou Yuan knew that they did not understand the power he possessed. Pressing his palms against the ground, Zhou Yuan''s eyes gradually closed, and a mysterious light emerged in the palm of his hand. The Earth Saint Rune slowly surfaced, coming in contact with the ground. Boom! The earth was as if it was quaking. Buzz! Huge ripples suddenly broke out with Zhou Yuan as its source. The hundred miles of ground around him began to tremble. In the earth, surging earth Genesis Qi came roaring over and frantically entered Zhou Yuan¡¯s body through his palms. As a result, the surface of his body began to gain a mysterious yellow color, and his eyes were also gradually turning a pale yellow, looking ancient and profound. The oppressive Genesis Qi being emitted by his body was rising at an astonishing speed. Hua! This sudden scene caused the expressions of countless people to abruptly change. All eyes, wide with shocked disbelief, were fixed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. It was evident that they did not understand why his power would suddenly surge. In the sky, Chai Ying''s pupils also shrank as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure with a darkened face. He began to feel danger from the oppressive Genesis Qi exuded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. ¡°What trick is this guy using? How could his Genesis Qi become stronger all of a sudden!¡± Chai Ying''s expression was changing constantly, and in the end his eyes narrowed and his gaze hardened. ¡°No matter what, I must kill him first!¡± Chai Ying¡¯s hands suddenly folded together, and golden black Genesis Qi roared out. Then, unexpectedly in the air, it solidified into a long golden black spear that was over thousands of feet long. An eerie cold light was flashing all over the spear. Buzz! Chai Ying flicked his sleeve, which sent the golden black spear piercing through air, hissing and booming, before it turned into a stream of black light that shot in the direction of Zhou Yuan. Although he was uncertain what Zhou Yuan was doing, Chai Ying knew that he had to interrupt him. Swoosh! Just as the spear was ten feet away from Zhou Yuan, a stream of yellow Genesis Qi suddenly gushed out from his body, turning into a light barrier that enveloped him. Bang! The spear heavily struck the Genesis Qi barrier. Ripples rapidly erupted out, and after several seconds, the golden black spear exploded into specks of light in the sky. Chai Ying focused his eyes and immediately let out a cold snort. Genesis Qi came gushing out endlessly from his body, forming numerous golden black spears above him. Swoosh! Hundreds of spears rained down, his offensive making countless people¡¯s scalps go numb. Each spear was powerful enough to kill any one chief disciple present, but there were hundreds shooting out together now. Even a Chosen of the same level would most likely not escape unscathed. Hundreds of golden black spears bombarded the yellow light barrier, sending rippling waves out constantly. The light barrier quickly grew weaker and thinner. It was evident that it could not withstand Chai Ying¡¯s frantic attack for long. But just as countless people were worried about the trembling and crumbling light barrier, Zhou Yuan, as before, had his eyes slightly closed, palms touching the ground. He was using all his strength to activate the Earth Saint Rune. He wanted to test its current limits. He had used it to kill Fan Yao the last time, but that had only required him to activate it a little to absorb the Genesis Qi of the earth to kill Fan Yao. At that time, Zhou Yuan had absorbed the Genesis Qi of the earth within one hundred miles. Now, the range had reached two hundred miles. Within the earth, the thick and mysterious Genesis Qi was whizzing over from all directions like an earth dragon and was entering his body. Zhou Yuan''s flesh and blood trembled violently. Luckily, his physical body had been strengthened once again when he had reached the golden blood stage. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to bear the earth''s berserk power. But two hundred miles didn¡¯t seem to be the limit. As Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath, the range of the Earth Saint Rune rapidly spread out. Two hundred and thirty miles...two hundred and fifty miles... More and more of the earth''s surging Genesis Qi frantically penetrated his body. Boom! And outside, countless golden black spears tore across the sky, weakening the Genesis Qi light barrier again and again. Many people broke out in a cold sweat for Zhou Yuan. In the sky, Chai Ying¡¯s face could be seen darkening as he stared fixedly at the figure below. A golden black spear slowly condensed above his head, but there were wisps of crimson blood on the spear, and it was radiating an indescribable aura. ¡°Golden destruction spear!¡± Chai Ying took a deep breath, his eyes cold, and flung his sleeve violently. Boom! The air exploded, and the golden bloodstained spear pierced through the void, flickered and crashed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s light barrier. Bang! The yellow barrier finally shattered. Countless people shook their heads. That Zhou Yuan was going to die. Swoosh! The bloodstained spear did not weaken in the slightest when it had caused the light barrier to explode. Instead, it fiercely aimed for Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. However, just as the golden bloodstained spear was about to pierce right through his body, a slender palm suddenly slammed down. The air seemed to distort. Buzz! The sharp tip of the bloodstained spear froze just inches before Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows, and a gust of fierce wind lifted Zhou Yuan''s hair. Under countless frightened and shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan slowly raised his head. His yellow eyes gazed indifferently at Chai Ying in the sky. He abruptly thrust his palm out, shattering the bloodstained spear to pieces and turning it into countless specks of light. The specks of light rose in front of Zhou Yuan as he stared at the dark-faced Chai Ying. He suddenly gave a smile. ¡°A Chosen of the Sacred Palace only has such abilities? ¡°If this is really the full extent of your strength, then today, I''m going to... ¡°Kill a Chosen!¡± Boom! When his voice fell, a surge of aura imposing enough to make countless people shake erupted from within his body. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 623 Blue Serpent Destroys Golden Pill The surging Genesis Qi, like the eruption of a volcano, burst forth from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body in a steady stream. At his feet cracks spread across the ground. The fluctuation of Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was terrifyingly powerful! It was because he activated the Earth Saint rune and absorbed the Genesis Qi within nearly three hundred miles! That was three times as much as when he had killed Fan Yao! The Genesis Qi of the earth whizzed around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and this kind of erosion caused his skin to crack constantly. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan''s physical body had grown stronger, so as soon as a bloody crack appeared, it swiftly healed. Zhou Yuan''s robe billowed outwards, his hair fluttering in the air. His pale yellow eyes locked onto Chai Ying in the sky, killing intent flashing through. In the sky, a look of surprise came over Chai Ying¡¯s face as he stared at Zhou Yuan because he felt a real threat. ¡°That guy, why did his Genesis Qi increase so sharply? I have never heard of such a strange skill in the Cangxuan Sect before!¡± Chai Ying¡¯s face grew dark, but his heart was filled with puzzlement. But he quickly quelled his emotions. The most important thing now was not the trick that Zhou Yuan used but how to suppress it. ¡°You want to kill me? You are indeed arrogant!¡± Chai Ying sneered out loud. Although Zhou Yuan exuded an astonishing imposing aura, it was not that easy to make Chai Ying afraid! He knew that if he were to lose to Zhou Yuan, others would say that a Chosen of the Sacred Palace couldn¡¯t even defeat a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. It would be a great blow to the Sacred Palace¡¯s reputation. So no matter what, he had to kill Zhou Yuan here today! Chai Ying slowly lifted his palm, and black-gold Genesis Qi gushed forth from his body like a torrent, blotting out the sky in a similarly majestic manner. As a young Chosen of the Sacred Palace, Chai Ying¡¯s strength was naturally extraordinary. ¡°I want to see who¡¯s going to kill who!¡± Chai Ying''s voice was thick with killing intent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was devoid of expression when he looked at Chai Ying. Without uttering a single word, he suddenly clasped his palms together, making a sharp and clear sound. In his body, terrifying Genesis Qi was bubbling. His cheeks bulged, causing a vague yellow luster filled with a dangerous aura to seep out. The air around him gradually began to distort, which was evidently caused by the incomparably violent force in his body. Countless people cast horrified glances in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction knowing that he was about to launch a terrifying attack. Chai Ying¡¯s pupils shrank. ¡°Earth Saint Rune, Blue Serpent power!¡± A muffled noise sounded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. His mouth suddenly opened, and a tremendous torrent of bluish-yellow flooded out. In that torrent was unexpectedly a huge bluish-yellow serpent. The giant serpent roared skywards, causing the earth to quake and the sky to tremble. The giant serpent seemed familiar. It was an extraordinary image that appeared only when Zhou Yuan activated the Omni Serpent Qi. It was clear that Zhou Yuan had fused the Omni Serpent Qi and the Genesis Qi of the earth together! In this way, the power of both rose dramatically. The bluish-yellow serpent roared out, pouncing straight towards Chai Ying with a lightning speed and a ferocious imposing aura. Watching the serpent speed over, Chai Ying¡¯s face also abruptly changed. He already knew that Zhou Yuan''s counter-attack would certainly be ferocious, but he had not expected it to exceed his expectations. But Chai Ying also knew that he couldn¡¯t back down now. He had to directly tear down all Zhou Yuan¡¯s offensives. Only in this way could he maintain his face amongst the others. ¡°You think I, a Chosen, would be afraid of a little chief disciple?¡± Chai Ying¡¯s eyes flashed coldly. He knew that he could no longer hold back. He drew a deep breath and slightly opened his mouth. Rays of black and gold light slowly rose into the air, and a golden black pill the size of a baby¡¯s fist emerged from his mouth. The golden black pill was covered with a mysterious pattern. It seemed small, but when it appeared, the air began to faintly twist. All forces and parties exclaimed in shock upon seeing this occur. ¡°That''s...that''s the strongest art of the Golden Sacred Hall, the Golden Black Pill!¡± On the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace¡¯s side, Gong Wan was staring blankly in disbelief. ¡°Chai Ying actually summoned out the Golden Black Pill. It seems he is pushed to his limits.¡± The Sacred Palace¡¯s Golden Sacred Hall had a secret technique called the Golden Black Pill. It involved gathering and refining Genesis Qi into different types of pills¡ªand constantly compressing such Genesis Qi into the pill. The power of the golden black pill could crush mountains and rivers. However, the golden black pill was the source of strength for the disciples of the Golden Sacred Hall. In general, it wouldn¡¯t be summoned unless it was the most critical moment for fear of it being damaged and affecting the foundation of the Golden Sacred Hall. ¡°To be able to push a Chosen of the Golden Sacred Hall to this point, that Zhou Yuan is quite impressive.¡± Gong Wan turned to Zuoqiu Qingyu. ¡°But trouble has also come. Since Chai Ying summoned out the golden black pill, it means he will fight to the end... ¡°That Zhou Yuan, can he really suppress the power of the golden black pill?¡± At this moment, even Gong Wan was skeptical. Buzz! The golden black pill floated in front of Chai Ying, whose eyes were filled with a sinister killing intent. His robe billowed outwards, and the golden black pill emitted a black halo before it whizzed away. Boom! When the golden black pill shot out, the air began to sizzle and crackle. The air was beginning to become somewhat distorted, and the Genesis Qi inside the golden black pill was like a meteor streaking across the sky. This power was enough to destroy heaven and earth. Evidently, the killing intent in Chai Ying¡¯s heart had soared to its peak. He no longer had any intention of displaying any showy moves, and he instead directly summoned out the golden black pill in order to completely wipe out Zhou Yuan. So, under countless gazes, the giant serpent roared skywards, while the golden black pill descended like a meteor. The momentum they carried was extremely fierce. Ultimately, the two collided... It was like an eruption of lightning and thunder. Rumble! Indescribable shock waves blasted out from the air, and where they passed, mountains crumbled and forests were destroyed... That devastating impact lasted a number of minutes before it finally gradually dissipated. The giant bluish-yellow serpent had faded, and only a golden black pill was left quietly suspended in the air. ¡°Hu.¡± Upon seeing this scene, the disciples of the Sacred Palace breathed a sigh of relief. From the signs, the golden black pill had broken Zhou Yuan¡¯s offensive. In the sky, a sinister look instantly emerged on Chai Ying¡¯s fierce-looking face. ¡°Boy, what else do you have?¡± He stared at Zhou Yuan, lifting his palm, and was about to withdraw the golden black pill. But in the moment he raised his hand, there was a subtle cracking noise. Although it was subtle, Chai Ying¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank. His face stiffened, and his eyes stared in horror at the golden black pill suspended in the sky. Fine cracks were slowly spreading out from the center of the golden black pill... It was at this moment that countless people also became aware of what was happening. Their mouths gaped open, their eyes widened and a look of shocked disbelief frantically appeared in their eyes. The whole world fell deathly silent. The golden black pill shattered! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 624 New Chosen of the Cangxuan Sec Under the scrutiny of countless shocked gazes, fine cracks slowly emerged across the golden black pill. When they covered the entirety of the pill, the golden black pill was unable to endure it any longer and finally...exploded. A deafening sound resounded through the skies. Sparks of black light burst out like fireworks, followed by an endlessly raging storm of Genesis Qi. The whole world fell utterly silent. Everyone was dumbstruck as they gazed and stared at the specks of black light filling the sky. No one thought that Chai Ying''s golden black pill would actually shatter! Evidently, during his fierce confrontation with Zhou Yuan, his golden black pill paid an unimaginable price despite withstanding Zhou Yuan''s attack. Outside the valley. Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and the other Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect were similarly watching the scene with shocked expressions on their faces. The result was not one that had crossed anybody¡¯s mind before. ¡°This...¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s beautiful eyes flashed with amazement. Gazing at Zhou Yuan''s figure, an extraordinarily complex look appeared on her stunning face. At the beginning, she had always felt uncomfortable towards the relationship between Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan because Yaoyao was too outstanding. Compared to Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan undoubtedly appeared dull and ordinary even if his accomplishments were pretty good. Therefore, Li Qingchan had always been very puzzled about what Yaoyao saw in Zhou Yuan. But it was only today that she truly understood that the potential this youngster had was far beyond her imagination. Li Qingchan turned towards Yaoyao''s direction. Yaoyao still exhibited no expression on her face, but her red lips were curved in a shallow smile. Her clear and bright eyes were fixedly staring at the slender and tall figure. Even if the whole world did not believe in Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao always had confidence in him. Chu Qing stared at Zhou Yuan''s figure, sighing, ¡°Our junior brother is really not simple after all. After this battle, there is most likely going to be another Chosen in our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Zhou Yuan had used strength to prove himself. No one could utter any word of doubt at this moment. Even Kong Sheng fell silent, as his eyes were similarly wide with shock. Compared to Chu Qing and the others, the people of Sacred Palace in the sky outside the valley looked much worse. Even the calm smile that was always on Jiang Taishen¡¯s face had faded. His eyes were flickering with a cold light as he stared at the young figure in the distance. ¡°Useless,¡± Zhan Taiqing said indifferently, her long and shapely brows scrunched together. Jiang Taishen remarked indifferently, ¡°It seems that this person does have a few mysterious tricks up his sleeve. It¡¯s no wonder he had caught the palace master''s attention.¡± Jin Chanzi fixed a piercing stare at Zhou Yuan''s figure, saying, ¡°But no matter how he jumps, he will soon become a prisoner of my Sacred Palace.¡± Now that the palace master had personally given an order, they had to capture Zhou Yuan and bring him back to the Sacred Palace no matter what. Jiang Taishen and Zhan Taiqing nodded. Although Zhou Yuan''s previous performance was extremely remarkable, it would be too much to say that this made them fearful of him given their status. In a distant place of the valley. While all parties were in a stunned state, Gong Wan of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace was also silent. This scene was also beyond her expectation. The other female Chosen also gazed at each other, eyes filled with shock and astonishment. ¡°How could he break Chai Ying¡¯s golden black pill?!¡± a female Chosen couldn''t help but ask aloud. Although Chai Ying was ranked last among the Chosen from the Sacred Palace, his strength still shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. To break his golden black pill, Zhou Yuan had to have possessed incredible strength surpassing even the limit that the golden black pill could bear. And this was something that not many Chosen of the Hundred Flowers Fair Palace could achieve. But Zhou Yuan was just a chief disciple from the Cangxuan Sect! Shocked, they shifted their gazes over to Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo and finally sighed, ¡°They are from such a small continent. How are there so many talents?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo were also known to be outstanding within the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Although they couldn¡¯t match up to Zhou Yuan, they would certainly be able to ascend to the position of Chosen in time. They discovered that the young boys and girls from Cangmang continent were all very impressive and prodigious. Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo exchanged a glance with each other. Evidently, this result was also not what they had imagined. In their view, it was already remarkable that Zhou Yuan could withstand Chai Ying¡¯s attacks. It never once crossed their minds that Zhou Yuan could destroy Chai Ying¡¯s golden black pill. ¡°This guy...,¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu said, propping her chin in the palm of her hand, ¡°he really is becoming more and more abnormal.¡± Luluo nodded repeatedly in agreement. ..... Under countless gazes of astonishment, Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the black light that filled the sky and drew a deep breath. Yellow qi was slowly rising on the surface of his body. His body seemed to be bubbling. This was because the great earth Genesis Qi was too fierce, resulting in his body being riddled with thousands of holes. But fortunately his physical body had reached the golden blood stage. At the same time, the Taiyi Green Wood Mark was exuding a vigorous life force to repair the wounds covering his body. ¡°The earth Genesis Qi absorbed by the Earth Saint Rune is too tyrannical and has strict requirements.¡± After these two uses, Zhou Yuan gained a deeper understanding about the sacred rune. The Genesis Qi of the earth, after compressing and refining, was so indescribably majestic that it simply was unbearable for an ordinary physical body. Moreover, to draw earth Genesis Qi from a three hundred miles radius was presently the limit that Zhou Yuan could bear. If he drew anymore in, his physical body would burst apart. While enduring the sharp pain in his body, Zhou Yuan cast a glance over at Chai Ying¡¯s figure in the sky. Chai Ying''s eyes were staring blankly at the black specks of light in the sky, his body trembling. A jet of blood suddenly spewed from his mouth. The Genesis Qi surging over his body was also weakening at an astonishing rate. ¡°It''s impossible...it''s impossible...¡± A hoarse voice repeatedly sounded from his mouth as blood continuously flowed out. Evidently, he simply could not accept the result. He could not imagine that he would be defeated by a mere chief disciple! The golden black pill that he had cultivated and refined for years had been shattered, and half of his cultivation base was also destroyed. ¡°The Chosen of Sacred Palace...¡± Below, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were like knives as he stared intently at Chai Ying. He slowly warned, ¡°It seems that you can¡¯t live past today.¡± When Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice faded, the blood and qi inside Chai Ying¡¯s body couldn¡¯t be suppressed any longer, and it all spurted out from his mouth. He felt everything darken in front of him, and under countless shocked gazes, his body plunged to the ground... The outcome of a battle between a Chosen of the Sacred Palace and a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect...surprised everyone. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 625 Sacred Palace Retreats Dong! The figure of Chai Ying fell from the sky, landing heavily on the ground. Having his golden black pill shattered, Chai Ying evidently suffered unimaginable injuries. Now that the Genesis Qi inside his body had greatly weakened, he no longer had any more fighting power remaining. Countless eyes had silently watched the figure plunge to the ground, and the whole world had fallen deathly silent. All lines of sight then gathered on the calm figure still standing tall. This time, a flickering fear could be seen in their eyes. Even the Chosen of the various sects quelled the arrogance they had held within themselves. The Chosens of various sects had also heard about Zhou Yuan''s accomplishments before, but they had attached no importance to them. In their views, it was nothing but a battle between chief disciples and had no significance to them. Just as a lion or tiger wouldn¡¯t care about the killing between wolves. But at this very moment, they had no choice but to suppress their arrogance because they understood that the young wolf in their eyes also had the power to fight lions and tigers. Zhou Yuan, a chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, was already comparable to a Chosen! It was the first time they had encountered a chief disciple who could defeat a Chosen! At this moment, the Chosen of the various sects began to truly pay attention to Zhou Yuan. They knew that if they did not do so, then perhaps the next time they met, what happened to Chai Ying could also happen to them. While Chai Ying plunged to the ground, the atmosphere on another battlefield at the valley¡¯s mouth had also become a little awkward. It was the battle between Zhao Zhu and Chi Lei. At this time, both Zhao Zhu or Chi Lei were standing stiffly while looking in Zhou Yuan''s direction. Their eyes were wide with shock and disbelief. Evidently, neither man could accept such an outcome. Previously, when Zhou Yuan had recommended himself and had wanted to become a substitute defender, Zhao Zhu was the one who was most against it. In his view, Zhou Yuan purely wanted to take advantage of this chance to earn credit. How could Zhou Yuan, a chief disciple, be qualified to participate in a battle between Chosen? So when Chai Ying rushed over to Zhou Yuan, Zhao Zhu already decided that the outcome of that battle would not end well, but there was nothing he could do. After all, he also couldn¡¯t free himself from his present battle. However, he did not expect that while he was using all his strength to deal with Chi Lei, there would be a victory on the other side of the battlefield. Moreover...the result was one that he had dared not imagine. ¡°How could he defeat Chai Ying?¡± The same words fell at almost the same time from Zhao Zhu¡¯s and Chi Lei¡¯s mouths. However, Zhao Zhu¡¯s face was crossed with shock and disbelief, while Chi Lei¡¯s flickered with fear. The current situation was immediately out of his control. He originally thought that Chai Ying would quickly get rid of Zhou Yuan and then join forces with him to deal with Zhao Zhu. At that time, the initiative of the situation would fall into the hands of his Sacred Palace, and the Cangxuan Sect would have no choice but to bow their heads. But now there was a change in the situation. Not only did Chai Ying fail to get rid of Zhou Yuan, but he was defeated¡ªtheir plan was destroyed completely. Cold sweat beaded Chi Lei''s forehead. He no longer dared to actively attack Zhao Zhu. Instead, he began to retreat, his eyes darting vigilantly between Zhou Yuan and Zhao Zhu. In the distance, Zhou Yuan gradually calmed the boiling blood and qi inside his body and spat out a lump of blood. His body was still throbbing with pain; if he was an ordinary person, he most likely would have already lost the strength to fight. Fortunately Zhou Yuan had cultivated the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, so there was a strong life force flowing all around his body, quickly repairing his injuries. He lifted his head, locking his eyes on Chi Lei in the distance. In a flash, Zhou Yuan reappeared next to Zhao Zhu. ¡°Chosen Zhao Zhu, you still haven¡¯t settled it yet?¡± Zhou Yuan asked with a faint smile. Zhao Zhu¡¯s face turned pasty, and he gave a cold sneer. If it were the past, he certainly would have snapped, but he understood that the present Zhou Yuan was no longer the same chief disciple from before. The moment Zhou Yuan defeated Chai Ying, he was qualified to be a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect. So based on status and identity, Zhou Yuan was in no way inferior to him. He no longer had any right to look down on Zhou Yuan, whether it was in strength or identity. Seeing that Zhou Yuan had arrived, Chi Lei¡¯s face turned even more solemn. Genesis Qi surged frantically around his body, and he was on full alert. But Zhou Yuan simply glanced at him and did not directly attack. Instead, he turned towards the direction of Chu Qing and the others because the situation was now extremely clear. If the Sacred Palace didn¡¯t want to leave both Chai Ying and Chi Lei to be buried here, then they should admit defeat. Chu Qing gently nodded when Zhou Yuan cast a glance over, and he immediately turned to Jiang Taishen outside the boundary, sighing. ¡°Jiang Taishen, what a shame. It seems that the two Chosen you have sent out have failed to complete your task.¡± Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes drooped for an instant before he replied with an indifferent look on his face. ¡°Chu Qing, aren¡¯t you being too complacent?¡± Chu Qing smiled and said lazily, ¡°You can make your own choice on what to do next. If you still want to continue playing, then my Cangxuan Sect will accompany you.¡± Given the present situation, the initiative had now fallen into the hands of the Cangxuan Sect. If the Sacred Palace wanted to continue to fight, they would have to fight to the death. But various sects were gathered here, watching in the dark. The Sacred Palace most likely did not have the courage to fight to the bitter end. This was also the reason why Jiang Taishen had sent Chai Ying and Chi Lei in, hoping to break them from the inside and thereby weaken the Cangxuan Sect. Unfortunately his plan had utterly failed. If the Sacred Palace still intended to continue to drag on the battle, then the Sacred Palace would inevitably lose Chi Lei and Chai Ying, two of their Chosen. In truth, Jiang Taishen was not particularly concerned with their lives. However, even if they died, it would not make the Sacred Palace''s situation any better. Jiang Taishen slightly closed his eyes, which slowly opened a moment later as a smile resurfaced on his face. ¡°Chu Qing, this time our Sacred Palace admits defeat. The location of the seven-color treasure has no fate with my Sacred Palace.¡± He was a decisive person. Knowing that it would be useless even if he were to drag this on, he might as well choose to give up. The other Chosen of the Sacred Palace, although reluctant, dared not disobey Jiang Taishen¡¯s order. They had no choice but to gradually withdraw their Genesis Qi. They similarly understood that their Sacred Palace was already at a disadvantage. Seeing this, Chu Qing chuckled out loud. ¡°In that case, retreat. After this matter is finished, my Cangxuan Sect will release your two Chosen.¡± Jiang Taishen remained calm and composed and did not say much. Instead his eyes suddenly darted towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the valley, and they narrowed. ¡°Zhou Yuan, am I right? My Sacred Palace will remember today¡¯s matter.¡± His voice fell, and he directly turned away, treading across the Genesis Qi in the air without even taking a glance at the severely wounded Chi Lei and Chai Ying. He was not worried that the Cangxuan Sect would kill them because, just as he did not want to fight to death with the Cangxuan Sect, they were also afraid of truly angering them. Zhan Taiqing turned around and tried to catch up. Jin Chanzi¡¯s golden eyes continued to stare at Zhou Yuan from afar with undisguised coldness. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I hope you can come out of the Mythic Utopia alive.¡± He smiled, his voice thick with killing intent. Then he also turned away. In just over ten seconds, all the people of the Sacred Palace had completely retreated. Following the retreat of the Sacred Palace, the various forces and sects hidden in the mountains also began to have some regret. They understood that if even the Sacred Palace had to return in low spirits, nobody else could touch the seven-color treasure location. As a result, the other forces also began to retreat. However, before leaving, those eyes once again darted over to the young and slender figure in the valley. They knew that after today, Zhou Yuan''s name would be known throughout the various sects. Zhou Yuan, the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s new Chosen. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 626 Solely Occupying the Seven-Color Treasure Location As the people of various sects swiftly retreated, the tense atmosphere in the area faded, and the surging undercurrents disappeared. Chu Qing and Li Qingchan breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the people of Sacred Palace retreat. Although they had held the initiative, it would still be troublesome if they were to fight to the death with the Sacred Palace. But fortunately, given Jiang Taishen¡¯s rationality, it was unlikely for him to do something like that. ¡°Continue to defend the boundary,¡± Chu Qing said, looking over in Yaoyao¡¯s direction. Although the Sacred Palace had retreated, they still couldn¡¯t completely relax their vigilance. If someone were to sneak in, it would be extremely troublesome. Yaoyao clasped the Genesis Rune Brush, and a flicker of spirit light condensed at its tip. With a gentle shake, there was suddenly a number of Genesis Runes emerging, fusing with the boundary ahead. The boundary rippled, and the dazzling light grew a little duller. The boundary was temporarily in a defensive state, and the consumption of Genesis Qi was lessened, but it could still be immediately awakened if needed. Chu Qing and the other Chosen, upon seeing this scene, instantly left the boundary nodes and came to the valley mouth in a flash. With a dark face, Chi Lei of the Sacred Palace watched the numerous Cangxuan Sect Chosen arrive. He couldn¡¯t help but panic a little, and he even retreated repeatedly. Chu Qing smiled at him and said, ¡°Zhao Zhu, go and seal his Genesis Qi.¡± Zhao Zhu headed towards Chi Lei when he heard the order. The expression in Chi Lei¡¯s eyes changed constantly, but under the watchful eyes of the countless Cangxuan Sect Chosen, he dared not fight back. He had no choice but to let Zhao Zhu temporarily seal his Genesis Qi. ¡°If you work with us, we will release you once we have finished harvesting the seven-color treasure location. But if you try any tricks, don¡¯t blame us for being ruthless,¡± Chu Qing warned. Although Chi Lei had become a hostage, Chu Qing also understood that they couldn¡¯t do much to him because that would completely infuriate the Sacred Palace. Chi Lei¡¯s face was dark, but he did not utter a word. He also understood that if he were to try something, it would be the same as asking for trouble. After all, no matter how many tricks he had up his sleeve, there was no way he could block so many Cangxuan Sect Chosen. Chi Lei turned away. He went far away and picked up Chai Ying, who was still unconscious. With frustration, he kicked Chai Ying to the side. After dealing with Chi Lei, Chu Qing and Li Qingchan turned to Zhou Yuan with a look of surprise in their eyes. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve been hiding yourself deeply.¡± Chu Qing chuckled. Any ordinary Chosen would be afraid of the power that Zhou Yuan had used to crush Chai Ying¡¯s golden black pill. ¡°What did you use just now? How could you make your own Genesis Qi grow that strong? It doesn¡¯t seem to be a Genesis technique from our Cangxuan Sect?¡± Kong Sheng asked, staring at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan frowned, giving Kong Sheng a calm stare, and paid no more attention to him. But Li Qingchan moved her red lips and answered, ¡°Senior brother Kong Sheng, every person has their own opportunities. Our Cangxuan Sect also has no rule that disciples must only cultivate the sect¡¯s techniques.¡± The other Chosen also nodded. Kong Sheng flushed red with embarrassment. It was because he was very curious about the reason why Zhou Yuan could make his Genesis Qi skyrocket that he couldn¡¯t help but ask. Evidently he went too far with the question. Feeling that the atmosphere was a little awkward, Chu Qing hurriedly smiled and remarked, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you can be considered famous after this.¡± Zhou Yuan had defeated Chai Ying in front of so many people. This was an amazing accomplishment. After today, there would be another person on the list of people of the Cangxuan Sect to be cautious about. Facing Chu Qing''s teasing, Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°If senior brother Chu Qing and the others hadn¡¯t obstructed the people of the Sacred Palace outside, how would I have had the opportunity to show off?¡± ¡°There is no need to be modest. Your contribution this time isn¡¯t small. If you hadn¡¯t stood up then, it would have been difficult for us...¡± Chu Qing waved his hand repeatedly. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t come forward, then given Zhao Zhu¡¯s strength, it was certainly impossible for him to counter two Chosen of the Sacred Palace, and he would have been defeated. And once Zhao Zhu was defeated, the situation for the Cangxuan Sect would be greatly weakened. At that time, Chu Qing also would have chosen to give in and allowed the Sacred Palace to take a huge bite of the seven-color treasure location, which they had discovered first. In truth this loss was not unacceptable, but the Cangxuan Sect''s face... ¡°Thanks to junior brother Zhou Yuan, our Cangxuan Sect can swallow the seven-color treasure location ourselves.¡± Chu Qing grinned and patted Zhou Yuan''s shoulder. He then immediately stared into the depths of the valley with blazing eyes. ¡°Come on, since the strong enemy has retreated, we can enter this seven-color treasure location and see what opportunity there is...¡± When this statement came out, the other Chosen¡¯s eyes also lit up with excitement. The seven-color treasure location was abundant in treasure, but they originally thought that they could only make a rough sweep of the location because of the Sacred Palace¡¯s interference. Unexpectedly, the Sacred Palace retreated and gave them enough time to completely hollow out the seven-color treasure location. So, the group of people left two Chosen to guard the outside while the rest, headed by Chu Qing, quickly plundered the resources in the valley. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were at the back of the group. She softly glanced at him, a subtle smile curving on her lips, and said in her clear voice, ¡°You stole the limelight again.¡± She took a look at Zhou Yuan''s palm. The others did not know what means Zhou Yuan had used in the battle, but she was very clear that it was the Genesis Rune that Zhou Yuan had obtained from the main peak of the Saint Genesis Peak, the Earth Saint Rune. Zhou Yuan let out a sigh, ¡°There is still a gap in my Genesis Qi foundation compared to that of a Chosen.¡± He now had around ten thousand Genesis Qi stars condensed in his Qi Dwelling, but compared to Chai Ying, the gap was still huge. Moreover, he knew that Chai Ying was ranked last among the Sacred Palace Chosen. It was hard to imagine how strong the Genesis Qi foundation of a Chosen like Jin Chanzi would be. Yaoyao gave a faint smile, ¡°You are only in the seventh level, if you make a breakthrough, your Genesis Qi will naturally rise rapidly.¡± She shifted her beautifully clear eyes to the entrance ahead that led into the seven-color treasure location, then continued, ¡°The seven-color treasure location is quite extraordinary, if you were to obtain an opportunity inside, then perhaps it will help you break through.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, his eyes blazing. It was precisely because of the golden pool water in the six-color treasure location that he could break through to the golden blood stage. The six-color treasure location also wasn¡¯t ordinary at all; therefore, Zhou Yuan was very curious about what kind of opportunity would be inside this seven-color treasure location. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 627 Swallow in One Mouthful The seven-color treasure land, located underground, was a huge maze-like cave. Chu Qing led Zhou Yuan and the others to enter the cave, and they saw multiple armoured lizard corpses strewn across the ground. It was evident that when Tuntun had led the many disciples of the Cangxuan Sect inside, they had gone through a brutal fight. Although the number of armoured lizards wasn¡¯t small, with Tuntun as the leader, they obviously couldn¡¯t create any obstacles for the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. The numerous Chosen moved rapidly along the way, and in just over half an hour, they reached the deepest parts of the cave. They knew this because there was an outbreak of extremely violent Genesis Qi. There was clearly a fierce battle happening. Zhou Yuan and the others shifted their gazes to the commotion. In the huge cave, there were two tremendous figures in a fierce battle, and one was naturally Tuntun who had transformed into combat form. At this moment, its four hoofs were treading on Genesis Qi. It looked majestic, its body constantly exuding a mysterious and imposing aura. The huge monster in battle with Tuntun was a golden dragon lizard with dragon claws, and it was abnormally violent. As it clawed, it ripped marks in the air. Judging from the fluctuations of the Genesis Qi emitting from the dragon lizard¡¯s body, its strength was clearly in no way weaker than that of any Chosen of the various sects. While Tuntun was battling the dragon lizard, the other disciples of the Cangxuan Sect were clearing away a vast number of armoured lizards. The air inside the whole huge cave was saturated with the stench of blood. ¡°Let¡¯s help clean up those armoured lizards first.¡± Chu Qing did not interfere in the battle between Tuntun and the dragon lizard, but he intended to first clean up the rest of the scene. Zhou Yuan and the others nodded before they darted over and landed in front of the armoured lizards that were endlessly coming forth. The strength of the majority of these armoured lizards was around the first level of the Alpha-Origin stage. Based on their numbers, they could match up to the numerous disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, but when the Chosen joined the battle, the situation instantly turned into a one-sided massacre. Every time a Chosen made a move, multiple armoured lizards were killed within seconds. In only a few minutes, the armoured lizards began to retreat from fear. It was at this time that Tang Muxin, Jin Zhang and the other chief disciples could catch their breaths, but when they saw that Chu Qing, Zhou Yuan and the others had come, they cried out in surprise, ¡°You don¡¯t need to take care of the outside?¡± Although they were in the middle of the treasure location, they could still imagine that there were undercurrents surging outside. They knew they couldn¡¯t let their guards down. But now that even Chu Qing and the others had darted in, what was the situation? Had they lost control, so all the Chosen retreated into the treasure location to speed up the pace of their plundering? ¡°Zhou Yuan had defeated the Sacred Palace¡¯s Chai Ying, and the Sacred Palace retreated. This seven-color treasure location now belongs to our Cangxuan Sect,¡± Li Qingchan explained with a smile. Tang Muxin, Jin Zhang and Baili Che were all dumbstruck. The other disciples were also blankly staring at them. ¡°Zhou Yuan defeated Chai Ying? How is that possible?!¡± Baili Che was the first to exclaim out loud. He was aware that Chai Ying was the youngest Chosen of the Sacred Palace and was said to have a boundless future. How could he be defeated by Zhou Yuan? But very soon, he quickly calmed down because his rationality told him that the Chosen would not joke around about such a matter. Knowing this, his gaze turned complex when it fell on Zhou Yuan. Half a year ago, he still somewhat looked down on Zhou Yuan and had even scoffed at Zhou Yuan''s identity as a chief disciple. But he had most likely never thought that Zhou Yuan would exceed him just half a year later. Some time ago when Zhou Yuan broke the arm of the Sacred Palace¡¯s Zhao Jing, Baili Chi already felt that Zhou Yuan had overtaken him. He had thought that this should be Zhou Yuan¡¯s limit, but today, cruel reality showed itself once again. While Baili Chi was still trying his best to climb towards the position of Chosen, Zhou Yuan had already defeated a Chosen. Kong Sheng made a loud cough, breaking the shocked silence, and asked, ¡°How is the situation here?¡± Tang Muxin withdrew her beautiful eyes from Zhou Yuan and said in an excited voice, ¡°We explored along the way and found that this seven-color treasure location is incredibly vast. We have found five caves that can be called six-color treasure locations. From them we discovered five broken mythic tokens and nine six-color Divine Establishing Treasures. Of course, there were several other Divine Establishing Treasures of different levels. ¡°And because of time, we could only do a rough search.¡± Tang Muxin waved her beautiful hand and a light flashed before her. Everyone saw five flashing mythic tokens. But they were in the same condition as the one in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand, in a badly damaged state. In addition to the five broken tokens, there were prism-shaped gems the size of baby fists that were fluctuating with incredibly pure Genesis Qi. They were evidently all six-color Divine Establishing Treasures! Even Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but gasp in astonishment at the harvest, and the other Chosen all had blazing looks in their eyes. The seven-color treasure location was indeed worthy of its reputation. Looking at the treasures in front of him, Chu Qing pondered for a moment before he said, ¡°Zhou Yuan made the greatest contribution in this seven-color treasure location. I suggest he gets a share of two of these five mythic tokens.¡± The other Chosen were silent for a moment, and then the majority nodded gently. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t helped out when Jiang Taishen unexpectedly sent Chai Ying and Chi Lei into the boundary, the current situation would most likely be very different. Based on contribution, Zhou Yuan¡¯s was indeed the most obvious. Even Kong Sheng couldn¡¯t say anything to this decision. When Chu Qing saw that there was no objection, he flicked his fingers, and two mythic tokens shot towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°With these two combined with what you have originally, you should be able to refine them into a complete mythic token.¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly received them. Clasping the two broken mythic tokens, a tide of excitement surged in his heart. With these items, when the final opportunity emerged, he would have the qualifications to come into contact with the mountain range¡¯s greatest blessing. ¡°As for the other treasures, let¡¯s wait until we''ve finished exploring the seven-color treasure location before we divide them.¡± Chu Qing flung his sleeve and put away all the treasures. Others also nodded, knowing that this was not the time to divide the treasures. ¡°The thing guarded by the dragon lizard is the most important treasure in this seven-color treasure location.¡± Li Qingchan cast her beautiful eyes to the depths of the cave where there was a crevice in the mountain wall. It was exuding incredibly pure energy. Others also looked at it with blazing eyes, but that direction was the place where Tuntun was battling the dragon lizard. Evidently, the dragon lizard was the last guardian beast. Roar! Under everybody¡¯s gazes, the battle between Tuntun and the dragon lizard intensified. Both sides used their incredibly tough physical bodies to fight, causing the mountains to rock and the ground to quake. While Zhou Yuan and others were watching intently, Yaoyao¡¯s voice suddenly rang out, ¡°Tuntun, stop playing around.¡± In the battlefield, Tuntun, who was happily fighting the dragon lizard, suddenly released a majestic roar when it heard Yaoyao¡¯s voice. The next moment, a beam of black light gushed from its tremendous mouth. The black light whizzed out, wrapping around the golden dragon lizard¡¯s body. While that black light was twisting, everyone could see that it was engraving a mysterious mark onto the dragon lizard¡¯s body. Roar! When the mark took shape, Tuntun lifted its head skywards and let out a deafening roar. The black light fully wrapped around the fiercely struggling dragon lizard, and then it ultimately returned to Tuntun, bringing the wrapped dragon lizard with it. Tuntun swallowed the gigantic dragon lizard into its stomach in one mouthful. After swallowing the dragon lizard, Tuntun¡¯s huge body also rapidly shrank and finally resumed its usual mini-form. But at this time its belly was bulging. It stretched out its claws and gently patted its stomach. Its flesh suddenly rippled like waves, and Tuntun let out a loud, satisfied belch. Inside the cave, it was utterly quiet. Even the numerous Chosen felt a chill surge in their hearts. It was clear that watching Tuntun swallow the dragon lizard, whose strength was comparable to that of a Chosen, had a great impact on them. Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and the others exchanged glances with one another, noticing the flicker of shock in each other¡¯s eyes. What Genesis Beast is that Tuntun? How could it be this terrifying... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 628 Flame Lotus In the depths of the cave. All eyes of the Cangxuan Sect disciples were wide with shock as they stared at Tuntun patting its bulging belly with a satisfied look on its face. It was evident that the shock of Tuntun swallowing a dragon lizard wasn¡¯t small at all. Tuntun, however, paid no attention to their gazes. Rubbing its belly, it leapt up and landed on Zhou Yuan''s head, and no matter how he shook his head, Tuntun was still lying steadily on it. Seeing this, Zhou Yuan could only helplessly purse his lips and ignore Tuntun. Chu Qing¡¯s eyes lit up as he looked at Tuntun. ¡°Tuntun can fight, and it is so cute. Junior brother Zhou Yuan, if you give Tuntun to me I will give you the position of Chosen in exchange!¡± Li Qingchan and others couldn¡¯t help but roll their eyes. Tuntun, who was lying on top of Zhou Yuan''s head, also cast a sidelong glance at Chu Qing and sneered. Zhou Yuan also didn¡¯t know whether to cry or laugh. He did not care for the position of Chosen. Moreover, the position of Chosen couldn¡¯t be given away as one wished and required the agreement of the sect master! Moreover, if Sect Master Qingyang knew that Chu Qing had traded this position away, he would most likely release a torrent of abuse. ¡°Don''t act stupid here!¡± Li Qingchan said snappily. This Chu Qing was really enough to give her a headache sometimes. Chu Qing gave an embarrassed chuckle when he saw that everybody was staring at him. ¡°I¡¯m joking...let''s hurry to the last cave.¡± While speaking, he quickened his pace and headed straight for the last cave. Seeing this, the rest of the people also hastened over. A moment later, the crowd gathered outside it. Chu Qing bravely took the lead and broke in. The last cave was extremely spacious and vast, but after investigating and reaching its deepest parts, they found that it was completely empty. There wasn¡¯t a single strange object inside, but the Genesis Qi was much more abundant than the outside. ¡°Where''s the seven-color treasure location?¡± Everybody looked at each other in puzzlement. This was the place that the dragon lizard had guarded, and it was bound to be the most important place in the seven-color treasure location, but why was there nothing? Chu Qing also rubbed his shiny head, a confused look crossing his face. Kong Sheng and the other Chosen were almost unable to bear it any longer. They had worked incredibly hard to defend the seven-color treasure location. They found it difficult to accept this result. ¡°After we came here, nobody else had entered, and Tuntun fought the dragon lizard as soon as we came inside.¡± Tang Muxin knitted her brows. ¡°Should we search more carefully?¡± someone suggested. During the chaos, Yaoyao left and went to the innermost mountain wall, stretched out her beautiful hand and closed her eyes. Seeing this, Li Qingchan also turned her head to study the mountain wall but immediately scrunched her brows because she couldn¡¯t sense anything strange. After a moment, Yaoyao withdrew her palm and said slowly, ¡°Break this wall.¡± Everybody exchanged puzzled glances with one another, and finally Shang Chunqiu came forward, grinning. ¡°Leave this kind of rough work to me.¡± He came to stand in front of the mountain wall. He clenched his hands, and his body suddenly swelled up. His skin glowed with a jade light, and an indistinct silver light appeared within his blood and flesh. A very terrifying force was surging in his body. At the very back of the group, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he studied Shang Chunqiu¡¯s body. His flesh and blood were silver, which suggested he was at the silver bone stage, but the silver color was much purer than Zhou Yuan¡¯s. This was a true Mythic Saint Body. Boom! Shang Chunqiu thrust his fist out like an enraged dragon roaring into the air. His fist fiercely slammed into the solid mountain wall. Kacha! The mountain wall directly cracked, and countless fractures branched from where his fist had hit. In just a few seconds, they covered the entire mountain wall. Rumble! In the end the mountain wall collapsed. Chu Qing flicked his sleeve, sending out Genesis Qi to sweep the crumbled boulders away. All eyes were fixed on the mountain wall. Behind was an expanse of red gushing over towards them. The temperature inside the cave rocketed, and even the air approached sizzling. A look of horror came to everybody¡¯s eyes because behind the mountain wall was a magma lake. Violent and scorching Genesis Qi gushed towards them endlessly, and even the air seemed to be burning. ¡°There is indeed something hidden here!¡± Li Qingchan exclaimed. ¡°The wall here is strange, and it isn¡¯t made up of ordinary rocks. It can block the detection of Genesis Qi,¡± Chu Qing said with a smile as he picked up and for a moment studied a piece of rock that had tumbled off the wall. ¡°It¡¯s thanks to Yaoyao.¡± Li Qingchan smiled. Even Chu Qing¡¯s perception ability might not be able to match Yaoyao¡¯s. At least, Chu Qing couldn¡¯t sense the strangeness behind the mountain wall. The crowd nodded, and they then carefully stepped through, stopping at the edge of the magma lake. And when they came here, sweeping their eyes around, they immediately saw that in the center of the magma lake was a fiery red lotus floating on the lake¡¯s surface. ¡°The treasure is there,¡± Chu Qing said with a smile as he rubbed his palms together. The others¡¯ eyes were also blazing. They were evidently also aware of the magnificent Genesis Qi inside the fiery red lotus flower. Under everyone¡¯s fiery gaze, the red lotus flower bloomed slowly, revealing a flame light in its centre. Surrounding it was a seven-color halo. Everybody was emotionally moved when they laid eyes on the seven-color flame light. ¡°Seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure!¡± Looking at the seven-color flame light, even Chosen would be unable to control their excitement, let alone ordinary disciples. Once one obtained a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure, one could at the very least open a seven-color divine palace once one stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage. There were only a few people among the Chosen who would have absolute certainty in opening a seven-color divine palace. While all eyes were intently staring at the seven-color flame light, the flame lotus once again bloomed with a dazzling light. More than a dozen lotus seeds were near the lotus¡¯ heart, and they were swallowing the light and constantly absorbing pure and powerful Genesis Qi from the magma. The flame lotus seeds were emitting the purest Genesis Qi, causing the numerous Chosen¡¯s hearts to pound rapidly. Their lips were dry, and their mouths were parched. These lotus seeds were clearly also extremely rare treasures! Under numerous blazing gazes, Chu Qing made a move. Transforming his Genesis Qi into a huge hand, he directly harvested the flame lotus from the magma lake. The flame lotus floated over, hovering in front of the crowd. Gazing at the lotus flower born from the spiritual qi of the heaven and the earth, Chu Qing smacked his lips, ¡°Everyone, we should next split the treasures, which I believe everyone is looking forward to doing¡­¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 629 Deb Blooming with seven-color light, the flame lotus floated in front of the crowd. The pure surging Genesis Qi radiating from within the lotus made everybody present unable to hide their greed anymore. ¡°Ahem, I will leave the important responsibility of dividing the treasure to junior sister Qingchan.¡± Chu Qing made a cough and turned to Li Qingchan with a wide smile. Li Qingchan shot an irritated glance at him. Evidently, he found it troublesome and was worried that he wouldn¡¯t be able to distribute them well. However, she understood Chu Qing''s character far too well and knew that there was no point in wasting time to persuade him. With the flick of her slender, beautiful fingers, the flame lotus flower, as well as the seven-color flame lotus seeds, was slowly raised into the air. ¡°These seven-color flame lotus seeds are greatly beneficial for cultivation and can enhance one¡¯s Genesis Qi. All the Chosen here made a contribution and should each get one,¡± Li Qingchan said. Li Qingchan flung her robe, and thirteen seven-color lotus seeds flew out. In addition to the ten great Chosen, Yaoyao, Tuntun and Zhou Yuan also each received one. The other Chosen¡¯s faces lit up with joy as they tightly clasped their seven-color lotus seeds and fondled them affectionately. Yaoyao simply glanced at it before indifferently storing it away. Tuntun opened its mouth wide and immediately swallowed the seven-color lotus seed into its stomach. Zhou Yuan curiously caught the flame lotus. Sensing the surging Genesis Qi contained within, emotions flickered across his face. If he could refine it, there would certainly be great improvements to his Genesis Qi foundation. But unfortunately the share was too little. If it was a little more, perhaps he could have used it to make a breakthrough into the eighth layer Alpha-Origin stage and greatly strengthen his Genesis Qi foundation. ¡°The rest of the lotus seeds will be distributed according to one¡¯s contribution in defending the seven-color treasure location.¡± Li Qingchang paused for a moment before she continued, ¡°Yaoyao blocked the interference of the Sacred Palace and should receive another one.¡± ¡°Tuntun led disciples to clear the seven-color treasure location and also killed the guardian beast, so should also receive another one.¡± She finally cast her beautiful eyes over to Zhou Yuan, opened her red lips and said, ¡°I don¡¯t need to speak about Zhou Yuan. If he hadn¡¯t beaten Chai Ying, the situation now probably wouldn¡¯t be as good, so he should also get another one. If there is an objection or suggestion please raise your hand.¡± Chu Qing was the first to raise his hand, saying lazily, ¡°I have no problem.¡± Ye Ge also smiled, raising his hand. Shang Chunqiu and the other Chosen were silent for a moment, and then nodded in agreement. After all, what Li Qingchan said was completely true and was indeed fair. Kong Sheng wanted to express his opinion, but after seeing the others nod, he had no choice but to agree. Upon seeing this, Li Qingchan flicked her finger, sending another three seven-color flame lotus seeds skimming through the air to Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and Tuntun. Zhou Yuan was overjoyed to receive the flame lotus. This distribution was really too advantageous for him. ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, it¡¯s rare to see such a beautiful and fair person like you,¡± Zhou Yuan remarked with flatter. Li Qingchan teasingly smiled. ¡°Oh? Then compared to Yaoyao?¡± Yaoyao, who was fiddling with the seven-color lotus seeds, suddenly lifted her stunning face, which was beautiful enough to make a person¡¯s heart race. She stared curiously at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead suddenly beaded with cold sweat. He had only spurted that out from excitement and hadn¡¯t expected Li Qingchan to twist his words and push him in the deep end. Women really are terrifying. Seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s situation, the other Chosen watched on with a gloating look on their faces. A charming smile spread across Li Qingchan¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m just joking.¡± Zhou Yuan forced a smile and hastily hid to one side as he held his seven-color lotus seeds. He was worried that Li Qingchan would give him another deadly question. ¡°As for the remaining seven-color flame lotus seeds, I will set them aside for now and observe everyone¡¯s contribution after this. I suggest we save one to grant to the chief disciple who contributes the most.¡± Li Qingchan smiled, looking at Zhou Yuan, and added, ¡°Of course, Zhou Yuan is not on this list.¡± Zhou Yuan was not surprised. He had already gathered a lot of attention from receiving two seven-color flame lotus seeds. If he were given another one, it would most likely raise a lot of dissatisfaction. The other Chosen nodded, lighting up Tang Muxin¡¯s face with joy. ¡°Next is the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure.¡± Li Qingchan darted her eyes over to the seven-color flame light, hesitation flickering across her face. This thing is too precious, it really is difficult to divide. The other Chosen were also staring at the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure with undisguised yearning. Li Qingchan pondered for a moment before she added, ¡°This thing isn¡¯t easy to divide, but if a Chosen is interested in it, I suggest that we use twelve six-color Divine Establishing Treasures to exchange for it.¡± Kong Sheng, Shang Chunqiu and others looked at each other in dismay. Twelve six-color Divine Establishing Treasures? This requirement was not easy. Even in this seven-color treasure location, they had only managed to obtain nine six-color Divine Establishing Treasures. But they also knew what Li Qingchan meant. Since this object wasn¡¯t easy to distribute among them, it might be better to let people directly exchange for it so that the six-color Divine Establishing Treasures could be divided equally with other Chosen. There was only a small profit if twelve six-color Divine Establishing Treasures were used to exchange for a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure. All the chosen went into deep thought. After all, it wasn¡¯t a particularly easy thing to obtain twelve six-color Divine Establishing Treasures; it would no doubt consume a lot of time and energy. ¡°You do not need to hand over the twelve six-color Divine Establishing Treasures right away. The time limit will be before we leave the Mythic Utopia. If one is unable to complete it before then, you can choose to return the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure or use other things of similar value in exchange for it,¡± Li Qingchan added when she saw the hesitation in everybody¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan licked his lips. Although he was salivating at the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure, he would also shrink back if he needed to use twelve six-color Divine Establishing Treasures to exchange for it. Moreover it was like carrying a huge debt...and all the other Chosen were his creditors. The thought of the Chosen urging Zhou Yuan to quickly hand over six-color Divine Establishing Treasures whenever they saw him made him tremble a little. So, after thinking about it, he kept silent. Who wants it, can have it. There must be another chance to get a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure later. However, while Zhou Yuan kept silent, suddenly a clear and pleasant voice sounded, ¡°Zhou Yuan wants that seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure.¡± Zhou Yuan froze, twisting his head around to see Yaoyao smiling. ¡°Wait, I don''t want it!¡± Zhou Yuan shouted in a hurry. Li Qingchan clapped her hands and exclaimed with a smile. ¡°Well, then this seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure belongs to Zhou Yuan. Congratulations.¡± She waved her beautiful hand and sent the seven-color flame light drifting over to Zhou Yuan. The other Chosen also applauded, smiling insincerely at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, we hope you can hand over twelve six-color Divine Establishing Treasures in time. Otherwise, we''ll keep reminding you.¡± Looking at the seven-color flame light hovering in front of him, the corners of his mouth suddenly twitched crazily. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 630 Worse On the green peak. Zhou Yuan was sitting cross-legged on a huge boulder, staring anxiously at the seven-color flame light floating in front of him. This was the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure that they had obtained from the seven-color treasure location. ¡°Twelve six-colors Divine Establishing Treasures...¡± Zhou Yuan let out a long sigh. Although he finally got his hands on a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure, which he had always hoped for, he also inexplicably had to shoulder a massive debt. To get twelve six-color Divine Establishing Treasures was not that simple even in the vast Great Mythic Mountain Range. After all, six-color Divine Establishing Treasures could only be found in six-color treasure locations, but every time a six-color treasure location appeared, there would inevitably be a lot of competition. This would consume a lot of his time and energy. ¡°You have completed your goal of entering this Mythic Utopia, are you still not satisfied?¡± While Zhou Yuan was gazing helplessly into space, a playful voice sounded from behind. Zhou Yuan turned his head to see Yaoyao coming over slowly holding Tuntun. He suddenly sulkily rolled his eyes. If Yaoyao hadn¡¯t said anything, he had no intention of taking the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure. Yaoyao came to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side and said, ¡°It¡¯s is a little troublesome to get twelve six-color Divine Establishing Treasures, but there¡¯s only motivation when there¡¯s pressure.¡± Although she was speaking in a very serious tone of voice, Zhou Yuan clearly saw a trace of a smile in the depths of her eyes. Zhou Yuan curled his lips, but did not say much. He knew that Yaoyao did it for his own good. After all, his initial goal of entering the Mythic Utopia was indeed to obtain a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure. At least, he had achieved this. It was just that...to pay back the debt of twelve six-color Divine Establishing Treasures would take him some time. ¡°Here.¡± Yaoyao stretched out her beautiful hand. It radiated a bright luster, and then three balls of dazzling light emerged, all exuding powerful surging Genesis Qi. It was three six-color Divine Establishing Treasures. ¡°That''s what Tuntun and I got during this period of time. If you add these to the one you have, that''s four already.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up, but there weren¡¯t any dramatic feelings. After all, the relationship between Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan did not need such things. If Yaoyao needed a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure, he would also give it to her without the slightest hesitation. Yaoyao stood tall, her waist slender as a willow, her beautiful eyes peering at the depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range. She said slowly, ¡°The super boundary in the Great Mythic Mountain Range is being destroyed in various areas, and if my prediction is right, the great opportunity hidden till last will emerge soon.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. He was naturally extremely curious and looked forward to this great opportunity. ¡°The third Saint Rune is also said to be in this Mythic Utopia, but I didn¡¯t see any clues along the way. I don¡¯t know where it is, or how we can find it,¡± Zhou Yuan said. When he had obtained the Earth Saint Rune, it seemed that from the clues the third Saint Rune should exist in this Mythic Utopia. And after learning about the power of the Earth Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan thoroughly understood that the four Saint Runes, which were stripped off from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, were incredibly powerful. But he currently only had superficial knowledge regarding the uses of both the Decoder Saint Rune and Earth Saint Rune. But even so, these two Saint Runes had become Zhou Yuan''s ace up his sleeve. Therefore, Zhou Yuan was also incomparably full of anticipation towards the third Saint Rune. The Mythic Utopia rarely opened. If he couldn¡¯t get it this time, then it was unknown when his next chance would be. ¡°When the last big opportunity emerges, there most likely will be a real battle.¡± Yaoyao sat gracefully on the side, leaning gently against a green pine. She said this while resting her chin on her beautiful hand. She swept a glance over Zhou Yuan. ¡°With your present strength, you had to use all your effort to defeat the Chosen ranked last in the Sacred Palace. If you were to encounter the top Chosen of other sects, then your chances of winning wouldn¡¯t be high.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°So for the rest of the time here, I''m going to try to make a breakthrough.¡± He lifted his palms, and two seven-color flame lotus seeds emerged, emitting extremely pure Genesis Qi as they filled the air with an unusual aroma. They were the flame lotus seeds he had obtained in the seven-color treasure location. Yaoyao cast her beautiful eyes over and said faintly, ¡°Flame lotus seeds are good for one¡¯s cultivation, but with just these two alone, you most likely won''t be able to make a successful breakthrough.¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly scratched his head. He also knew that two flame lotus seeds weren¡¯t enough, but he had to give it a try. While Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t know what to do, Yaoyao once again stretched out her little hand before him. Eight crystal-clear lotus seeds were suspended above her hand, radiating a seven-color luster. ¡°This...¡± Zhou Yuan looked surprised at Yaoyao. ¡°It''s the two that I got before. You also know that I won¡¯t have much use for these objects. The other two were Tuntun¡¯s,¡± Yaoyao said with a faint smile. Tuntun, who was in Yaoyao¡¯s arms, let out a grunt. ¡°Tuntun¡¯s too?¡± Zhou Yuan felt somewhat embarrassed. Tuntun clearly had great interest in the seven-color lotus seeds, and the only reason it handed it out was most likely because of its fear of Yaoyao. ¡°Tuntun is just greedy. It would have limited effect on it.¡± Yaoyao lifted Tuntun up, blinking her beautiful eyes, and asked in a gentle tone, ¡°Tuntun, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Tuntun could feel its hair standing on end after seeing Yaoyao smile and look at it like that. It covered its eyes with its claws and made a slight noise of agreement. ¡°What about the other four?¡± Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly. ¡°Of course, I exchanged it from Li Qingchan. I did so in your name.¡± Yaoyao smiled. Zhou Yuan was taken aback. A bad feeling suddenly came to his heart. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Four six-color Divine Establishing Treasures can be exchanged for one seven-color lotus seed...I gave you four. That means that when you pay back the debt, you need to repay sixteen plus the previous twelve. So that¡¯s a total of twenty eight six-color Divine Establishing Treasures, or two seven-color Divine Establishing Treasures,¡± Yaoyao seriously explained. Zhou Yuan stared at her blankly. He felt everything before him darken. He had yet to start repaying his debt, but it had already doubled. Watching Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turn pale, Yaoyao said sincerely, ¡°Sharpening the axe will not interfere with the cutting of firewood. You need to improve your strength to be eligible to compete.¡± Zhou Yuan felt his mouth and tongue go dry and then pitifully glanced at Tuntun. In their minds, Yaoyao was the real little devil king. Her words had enormous weight, and she did whatever she said. They both had no qualifications to oppose her. Having accepted his situation, Zhou Yuan uttered with a melancholic voice, ¡°Fine. When the debt is too much, one will stop worrying about it.¡± No matter what, he was going to deal with it once he made a breakthrough to the eighth layer. Yaoyao nodded as though saying ¡®that¡¯s a good boy¡¯. ¡°Right, your Omega Saint Spirit Art isn¡¯t really completed, is it?¡± Yaoyao suddenly asked. Zhou Yuan nodded. His Omega Saint Spirit Art could only be considered as semi-finished and not truly mastered. There were still nine principal beast spirits that hadn¡¯t been integrated. But how could it be easy to integrate the nine principal beast spirits? The nine principal beast spirits were extremely violent. Even the slightest of carelessness could destroy the Saint Spirit Seed that he had initially cultivated, so Zhou Yuan had always been afraid to act recklessly. Yaoyao nodded, and then, with a clench of her hand, a jade bottle flashed out. The jade bottle was half-filled with blood flashing with a golden color, and there seemed to vaguely be an invisible oppressive force spreading out. ¡°Next time you integrate them, refine this object to use the power of a saint beast to deter the principal beast spirits. It will go a lot better,¡± Yaoyao said. Zhou Yuan curiously received the jade bottle. He studied the very unusual blood and asked thoughtfully, ¡°This blood, why does it look a little familiar?¡± After a few seconds, he turned to Tuntun, who was weakly lying at Yaoyao¡¯s long legs. The beast looked like it had nothing left to live for. Yaoyao responded indifferently, ¡°This is Tuntun¡¯s blood. I was afraid it couldn¡¯t withstand it if I were to take too much at once, so I did it over a period of two months, taking a little every day, and finally got this much.¡± Zhou Yuan was speechless. He then turned to Tuntun and sighed. Brother, so it was you. With the seven-color lotus seeds as well as Tuntun¡¯s blood, it seemed that he would need to cultivate in seclusion. He needed to make his final preparations for the great opportunity that would soon appear¡­ Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 631 Trap Just as Zhou Yuan began his secluded cultivation, the tremendous natural boundary in the depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range, along with numerous nodes, was being destroyed by different sects. More and more treasure locations also appeared, including even seven-color treasure locations. Each and every sect was aware of the present situation: the tremendous boundary would not be able to last much longer. The great opportunity hidden in the depths was about to emerge. And because of the constant emergence of treasure locations, the people of the Cangxuan Sect also became very busy. They constantly sent people out to seize the treasure locations. After all, no matter how many treasure locations there were, it wouldn¡¯t be more than the number of sects currently in the Great Mythic Mountain Range. In a situation like this where there was not enough to go around, if they did not send people out to defend, it would inevitably cause greed to arise. In front of the bamboo house at the peak of the mountain. Yaoyao was slowly walking over, her body delicate and slender, her skin white as snow. Her stunningly beautiful face made many male disciples of the Cangxuan Sect cast furtive glances her way, but because of her aloof demeanor, no one dared to talk to her. ¡°Yaoyao?¡± Li Qingchan came out of the bamboo house and was surprised to see Yaoyao. ¡°You completed the mission?¡± In the past few days, Yaoyao had been actively taking on tasks of defending treasure locations. That kind of initiative was completely different from her usual attitude. Yaoyao nodded. She had a very good opinion of Li Qingchan, so a shallow smile came to her indifferent and beautiful face. ¡°Are there more six-color treasure locations?¡± Yaoyao asked. Li Qingchan said with surprise, ¡°You¡¯ve only just returned, don''t you plan to rest for a bit?¡± Yaoyao shook her head. Li Qingchan glanced in the direction of the back of the mountain, pursed her little red lips and asked, ¡°Is that boy worth you working so hard?¡± How could she not know that the reason Yaoyao acted differently from her usual self and actively asked to defend treasure locations was to help Zhou Yuan repay his huge debt? But Zhou Yuan took the treasures and went into seclusion to cultivate, leaving Yaoyao to help him pay his debts! Thinking of this, Li Qingchan simply felt indignant for Yaoyao. She was such an outstanding talent, so what sort of charm did Zhou Yuan have that would make Yaoyao, who never cared about other things, look favourably at him? ¡°This is to prevent him from saying that I dug a trap for him.¡± Thinking of Zhou Yuan¡¯s face when he heard about the tremendous debt, Yaoyao couldn¡¯t help curving her red lips into a smile. Li Qingchan helplessly shook her head. ¡°Recently, although a number of treasure locations have appeared, other Chosen have also taken action, and there aren¡¯t many left.¡± Li Qingchan took out a jade scroll and instilled Genesis Qi into it. It radiated a dazzling light, forming a map. Li Qingchan studied it for a good while before she pointed to a spot of light. ¡°This is a six-color treasure location that only recently appeared, but it¡¯s not within the range of our Cangxuan Sect. It is relatively close to the Heavenly Ghost Sect, but there are also some treasure locations that have appeared near them. For now, nobody will be paying attention to this area. ¡°So if you arrive quickly and get rid of the guardian beast inside, you should be able to obtain the Divine Establishing Treasure and retreat safely.¡± Yaoyao peered at the map, memorized the direction and position, then nodded. ¡°Then here it is. I¡¯ll go now.¡± She nodded to Li Qingchan, before she turned around and disappeared. Watching her beautiful shadow rapidly departing, Li Qingchan returned her gaze to the back of the mountain again. She couldn¡¯t help but mutter to herself, ¡°That boy Zhou Yuan, how is he so lucky?¡± Then she quickly turned back onto the map in front of her, staring at the spot of light. Her brows were scrunched together, and she mumbled to herself in puzzlement. ¡°Why wasn¡¯t there any news about this treasure location before?¡± A barren mountain range. Yaoyao¡¯s figure descended from the sky, landing on the tip of a green pine tree. Her eyes were fixed on a barren mountain, which was where the six-color treasure location was. This area was not within the range of any sect or force because it was a barren area, so nobody had expected a six-color treasure location to show up here. Yaoyao observed the area for a while before she drifted out and directly landed on the barren mountain. Her figure marched straight into the mountains. Before she walked a few steps, however, she knitted her long, shapely brow because the ground was quaking and a gush of bizarre energy was being emitted from the mountain. Amidst the strange fluctuation of energy, Yaoyao came to discover that even her Spirit seemed to be suppressed. Yaoyao lifted her pretty face only to see a light barrier appearing across the sky, shrouding the barren mountain. On the ground, there was dark green qi rising into the air. It was highly toxic. Yaoyao gazed without expression at the sight. This six-color treasure location was a trap. Her beautiful eyes flickered. She knew that this trap was most likely connected to the Sacred Palace. It seemed that someone had been secretly watching her recent whereabouts. Could this be part of the revenge that the Sacred Palace planned for losing control of the seven-color treasure location? And for this goal, they had chosen her? Outside the barren mountains. On a hilltop, two figures flashed out. One was clad in a silver robe and the other in a black robe. Both were emitting incredibly strong surging Genesis Qi. On their robes was the pattern of the Sacred Palace. They were two Chosen of the Sacred Palace. The one in a silver robe was Lei Jun, and the black robed man was called Tie Mo. The two were both ranked higher than Chai Ying among the Sacred Palace Chosen. At this very moment, the two men were peering at the barren mountains, remarking coldly, ¡°I did not think it would be as our senior brother predicted: that the Cangxuan Sect would send someone here.¡± ¡°Most likely, the people of the Cangxuan Sect never thought there was anything unusual about this six-color treasure location. Within this mountain, there are Spirit suppression rocks everywhere, which can suppress one¡¯s Spirit. That Zhou Xiaoyao has incredibly weak Genesis Qi and only relies on the strength of the Spirit. Now that she has stepped into this location, she most likely won¡¯t last long in the toxic qi.¡± ¡°The toxic qi inside was set up by senior brother Jin Chanzi, who was born with toxic blood. Even Chosen can¡¯t purify the poison once infected. That Zhou Xiaoyao will no doubt die.¡± ¡°The Cangxuan Sect will realise it very soon, right? If they send Chosen here, with just the two of us, we can''t last for long.¡± The Chosen called Tie Mo frowned. ¡°Our senior brother and the others naturally won¡¯t let the other Cangxuan Sect Chosen intervene.¡± Lei Jun smiled. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Tie Mo nodded. Gazing at the barren mountains, a sinister smile twisted on his lips. ¡°It is a pity that such a beauty is going to fall like that.¡± ¡°Haha, do they really think our Sacred Palace is easy to bully? The Cangxuan Sect damaged the face of our Sacred Palace, and if we do not get payback, other people would really think that our Sacred Palace¡¯s title of the strongest sect is a lie!¡± ¡°She can only be considered as having bad luck to meet a mountain that suppresses the Spirit.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see how the Cangxuan Sect is going to deal with this.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 632 Revenge of Sacred Palace As the sun set, its afterglow shone across the earth. Li Qingchan resided at the headquarters of the Cangxuan Sect in order to manage everyone. She was standing on the peak of the mountain, her long eyebrows slightly knitted as she peered into the distance. She muttered in a puzzled voice, ¡°Why isn¡¯t Yaoyao back yet?¡± Given Yaoyao¡¯s strength, it shouldn¡¯t be that difficult for her to explore and fight over a six-color treasure location. Based on her speed in the past, she should have returned in half a day¡¯s time. ¡°Could she be delayed by something?¡± Li Qingchan said to herself, but she did not think that anything would happen to Yaoyao. After all, although Yaoyao had weak Genesis Qi, her Spirit was incredibly powerful, stronger than that of any Chosen. In the face of Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit power, even Jiang Taishen, Chu Qing and other people of their level would have quite a headache when facing her. So even if Yaoyao did encounter a situation, she would have still escaped unscathed. This was the reason why Li Qingchan was not too concerned and that she turned her attention to other matters. Li! But at this moment a loud and clear cry suddenly resounded from far away. Li Qingchan raised her beautiful head to see a giant ice-blue bird speeding over from the distance until it finally hovered over the peak of the mountain. Swoosh! The giant ice-blue giant dived down, causing some of the Cangxuan Sect disciples on the mountain to cry out in alarm. Multiple disciples then immediately soared into the sky in an attempt to block it. Li Qingchan reached out to stop them. She narrowed her eyes in a piercing stare as her brow knitted. She saw a pretty green-haired girl on the back of the giant ice-blue bird. At this moment, the girl¡¯s delicate and adorable face was filled with worry. ¡°It¡¯s a disciple from the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace?¡± Li Qingchan noticed the pattern on the green-haired girl''s robe. ¡°I am a Luluo of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, a good friend of Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan. Who is in charge here? I have something important to tell!¡± Luluo urgently explained. Numerous gazes focused onto Li Qingchan. Li Qingchan also stepped forward, saying, ¡°I am Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Li Qingchan. What is the problem?¡± Luluo darted down from the sky and landed right in front of Li Qingchan. ¡°Quickly go save Yaoyao! Something happened to her!¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s beautiful eyes went blank for a moment before she exclaimed, ¡°How can this be?¡± Given Yaoyao¡¯s strength, even if an unexpected situation arose, nobody could stop her from leaving. ¡°The six-color treasure location that Yaoyao went to is a trap set by the Sacred Palace! It¡¯s a mountain that can suppress the Spirit. Yaoyao¡¯s strength is greatly suppressed there!¡± Luluo explained urgently. She then said, ¡°The news secretly came from our friend in the Heavenly Ghost Sect. We also have friends going there now, but the Sacred Palace had sent out two Chosen to guard the mountain. There is nothing we can do!¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s beautiful face abruptly changed. Losing her voice, she said, ¡°A spirit subduing mountain?!¡± The next moment, she clenched her silver teeth and remarked coldly, ¡°The Sacred Palace is so vicious!¡± She immediately turned to the other disciples and ordered, ¡°Pass on the message to other Chosen and inform them to immediately rush to where Yaoyao is trapped!¡± At this moment, Chu Qing, Kong Sheng and Tuntun were all fighting over treasure locations outside. The disciples of the Cangxuan Sect dared not delay any further and hurriedly took out some communication copper mirrors. They instilled Genesis Qi into them and quickly passed on the message. But very soon they received a reply that made their expressions change abruptly. ¡°Senior sister Li, all the Chosen have replied that they have suddenly been attacked by Sacred Palace disciples and cannot free themselves at the moment! ¡°In addition, we found that there is a change in movement on the Heavenly Ghost Sect¡¯s side, as if they intend to turn towards the range of our Cangxuan Sect!¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes narrowed. The Heavenly Ghost Sect had cooperated with the Sacred Palace in this attack. From the signs, it seemed that the two sides had joined forces. Did they plan to attack the Cangxuan Sect? The Sacred Palace suffered a loss not long ago, so she did not expect them to launch such a quick and fierce retaliation. That Jiang Taishen was indeed not someone that could be easily dealt with. ¡°Senior sister Li, when I came here, senior sister Gong Wan of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace said that our Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace will handle the Heavenly Ghost Sect, so you do not need to care about them,¡± Luluo said suddenly. Li Qingchan¡¯s expression eased a little. ¡°Please give my thanks to Gong Wan.¡± The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace¡¯s help did not particularly surprise her because the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect were not on good terms. Moreover, some time ago, the Heavenly Ghost Sect had even ambushed Gong Wan. Since the Sacred Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect had joined hands to deal with the Cangxuan Sect, Gong Wan of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace would certainly not stand and watch. If the Cangxuan Sect was removed, it would be incredibly disadvantageous to the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. ¡°What about Yaoyao? Where''s Zhou Yuan?¡± Luluo asked. ¡°Zhou Yuan is still cultivating in seclusion, and even if he is around, he can¡¯t go. There are two Chosen standing guard there, he wouldn¡¯t be of any help even if he did go,¡± Li Qingchan said. ¡°Then what¡ª¡± Luluo was so anxious that she stamped her feet. From the news they had received, the Spirit Subduing Mountain was extremely dangerous, and there was toxic qi everywhere. Yaoyao could be in danger. They all knew that Yaoyao had incredibly weak Genesis Qi, and with her Spirit suppressed, how could she withstand the toxic qi? Li Qingchan¡¯s beautiful eyes flashed. ¡°I''ll go!¡± She originally needed to stand guard at the headquarters, but the situation was critical, and she was the only one who could go. Luluo also breathed a sigh of relief when she heard this. Li Qingchan possessed outstanding strength, and if she were to go, then even two Chosen from the Sacred Palace wouldn¡¯t be able to stop her. Li Qingchan made a swift and decisive reaction and immediately ordered multiple disciples to strictly guard the headquarters. She then soared skywards, stepping on Genesis Qi, and raced in the direction of where Yaoyao was trapped. Swoosh! However, just as Li Qingchan darted out, blood red Genesis Qi roared out from a mountaintop. Like a river of blood, it ruthlessly struck Li Qingchan with an intense fiendish aura. The sudden attack caused Li Qingchan¡¯s beautiful face to change abruptly. She could feel the person¡¯s incredible strength, and she did not dare to be careless. With a flick of her fingers, there were suddenly countless gusts of incomparably strong Genesis Qi wind roaring out, clashing with the blood red torrent of Genesis Qi. Dong! Dong! Dong! The violent Genesis Qi raged in the sky, and after a few moments, the qi waned and stopped. Li Qingchan stood tall, looking at a mountain in the distance with an icy stare, only to see that there was a woman in a black dress on an ancient tree. She was sitting and leaning back, smiling at Li Qingchan. ¡°Li Qingchan, what is the hurry?¡± She smiled, peering at Li Qingchan with her scarlet eyes. Li Qingchan looked back at her, her beautiful eyes filled with a chilling coldness. ¡°Zhan Taiqing!¡± That black-dressed woman was the Sacred Palace¡¯s Zhan Taiqing! ¡°It looks like your Sacred Palace has been plotting against my Cangxuan Sect for a while!¡± Li Qingchan said coldly. The reason Zhan Taiqing appeared here in advance proved that she was ready to stop her. Zhan Taiqing stretched and yawned, revealing her beautiful curves. Resting her pretty hand on her cheek, she smiled and said, ¡°Your Cangxuan Sect made my Sacred Palace suffer, do you really think that my Sacred Palace is going to swallow humiliation and do nothing? ¡°Today, not a single person of your Cangxuan Sect can go... ¡°And that Zhou Xiaoyao, I''m going to make you all watch her...die.¡± When the last word was uttered, Zhan Taiqing''s eyes became icy-cold and cruel. Li Qingchang clenched her teeth, staring coldly at Zhan Taiqing, while astonishing Genesis Qi began to rise from her delicate body. There was no point in saying anything more. No matter what, she had to break through Zhan Taiqing''s obstruction! But she also knew it would be extremely difficult. After all, Zhan Taiqing was ranked higher than her on the Shengzhou Continent¡¯s Chosen List. But no matter how difficult it was, Li Qingchan still had to try. Zhan Taiqing¡¯s red lips tilted into a smile. ¡°Li Qingchang, you are going to fight me? Haha, have you forgotten that I have defeated you before?¡± Boom! Just as Zhan Taiqing''s voice fell, a beam of golden Genesis Qi shot up from the mountain behind the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s headquarters, and in that light pillar was a roaring, giant golden dragon. A golden light burst out from the pillar and streaked across the horizon, and a low-pitched voice thick with killing intent rang out, ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, you deal with her. I will go find Yaoyao.¡± Li Qingchan stared at the golden shadow that burst forth, shocked for a moment. ¡°Zhou Yuan? Don''t go! There are two Chosen guarding the location¡ª¡± But before her voice had fallen, the beam of golden light had already disappeared into the edge of the sky. Li Qingchan couldn¡¯t help but stamp her feet in frustration. ¡°Absolute nonsense!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 633 Friends Outside the Spirit Subduing Mountain. In a hidden mountain forest, there were several figures gathered. Their eyes were solemn and blazing as they stared at the Spirit Subduing Mountain in the distance. At this time, there was dark green toxic qi rising and spreading around the Spirit Subduing Mountain. Even from a distance away, the aura could still be felt. ¡°It''s been half a day, could something have happened to Yaoyao?!¡± In the center of the several shadows was a beautiful figure whose face was crossed with worry. It was Zuoqiu Qingyu. Beside her were Blind Sword Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan, whose brows were also knitted in a tight frown. ¡°Is Luluo not back yet?¡± Ning Zhan asked. Zuoqiu Qingyu shook her head. The reason they had gathered here was because they had received a message from within the Heavenly Ghost Sect. They knew that the source of the information should be Zhen Xu. Recently the Heavenly Ghost Sect and the Sacred Palace were acting very close. Since Yaoyao was trapped in an area close to the Heavenly Ghost Sect, it most likely involved the Heavenly Ghost Sect. Therefore, Zhen Xu did not appear, but he still secretly passed the information to Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun and the others. Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others both understood Zhen Xu¡¯s reason for acting this way. Given his status in the Heavenly Ghost Sect, there weren¡¯t many things he could change. Moreover, given the circumstances, he still took a risk to pass them a message, which, given his cold and detached personality, was already a sign that he valued his friendship with Zhou Yuan. ¡°Wait another half an hour.¡± After a period of silence, Li Chunjun said, ¡°If nobody from the Cangxuan Sect comes to the rescue, then we will prepare to break into the mountain.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu exclaimed in shock, ¡°Are you crazy? There are two Sacred Palace Chosen standing guard!¡± ¡°So what?¡± Li Chunjun stroked the heavy black sword on his back, grinning. ¡°I have cultivated a sword qi in the Sword Seeker Sect for a period of time and want to try it against a Chosen.¡± ¡°The Accumulation Sword technique of your Sword Seeker Sect mustn¡¯t be used recklessly! Otherwise all your efforts will go to waste!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu reminded him in a serious voice. Li Chunjun smiled and did not answer, but his curved lips were a sign of his unwavering determination. Ning Zhan sighed, slowly pulling up his sleeve to reveal a sinister-looking black serpent pattern on his arm. It exuded a terrifying and ferocious qi. ¡°Since Blind Sword is trying so hard, I must also do the same,¡± Ning Zhan said. ¡°My master has sealed the soul of a black serpent spirit into my arm and asked me to gradually control its vicious nature so that I will be able to use it one day. But it seems I might need to unseal it earlier than I imagined.¡± If it was unsealed early, however, even he might not be able to withstand its power. Furthermore, even if he could, once the black serpent spirit was released, it would inevitably flee and he would not be able to recapture it since he lacked the strength to do so. This time there were no sect elders nearby to aid him. When he returned to the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, it would no doubt be difficult to explain his actions. Li Chunjun darted his eyes that were wrapped in black cloth over to Ning Zhan and asked with a smile, ¡°No regrets?¡± Ning Zhan shrugged and grinned. ¡°Who would I be afraid of?¡± Seeing this, Zuoqiu Qingyu let out a sigh. How could she not know that both Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan had trump cards? Even so, their odds of beating a Chosen weren¡¯t high. They were also evidently aware of this, yet they were still choosing to take action. This warmed Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s heart a bit. The friends from the Cangmang Continent did not become cold and detached with one another as a result of separating into different sects. ¡°While you are distracting them, I''ll sneak into the Spirit Subduing Mountain to see if I can get Yaoyao out,¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu said. Li Chunjun nodded, turned to Ning Zhan and asked, ¡°Ready?¡± Clasping the scarlet-and-gold stick on his back, Ning Zhan¡¯s eyes blazed with intense battle intent. ¡°Let''s do it!¡± he said. They all knew that once they acted they couldn¡¯t turn back. But at this very moment, they had no other choice to do otherwise. All three drew a deep breath, and the next moment, activated their Genesis Qi. Swoosh! But instantly, an ear-piercing sonic boom suddenly resounded throughout the heavens and the earth. Zuoqiu Qingyu and the other two raised their heads in puzzlement and saw that in the distance a beam of golden flowing light was speeding over. The beam then hovered above the Spirit Subduing Mountain. ¡°The people of Cangxuan Sect have arrived?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu exclaimed. ¡°Only one person came? I wonder which Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect was sent here. The Sacred Palace has two Chosen guarding the mountain,¡± Li Chunjun said. Under their gazes, the golden stream of Genesis Qi light dispersed from the sky, revealing a slender figure standing in the air. And when their eyes fell on the face of that figure, all were filled with shock. Losing their voice, they exclaimed, ¡°Zhou Yuan?!¡± Because the young figure standing tall in the air was Zhou Yuan, who came at the fastest speed possible! ¡°Is he alone?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s expression changed. ¡°This guy is too impulsive. Although he has previously defeated a Chosen from the Sacred Palace, the two Chosen guarding the mountain are both ranked higher than that Chai Ying! And there¡¯s two of them!¡± They did not expect that only Zhou Yuan would come. Li Chunjun''s eyebrows were also slightly scrunched together, but he quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s good he came, he can ease a lot of our pressure. I can join forces with Ning Zhan to temporarily obstruct the other Chosen.¡± Zhou Yuan cast a glance in the direction of Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun and the others. A smile came over his face, and at the same time, his voice was transmitted over using Genesis Qi. ¡°You are the disciples of other sects. You don''t have to help, it may bring you trouble.¡± Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan were after all people of the Sword Seeker Sect and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. These two great sects had always maintained neutrality and would not be willing to get involved in the matters between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace. And if Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan were to intervene, their action would inevitably lead to disapproval. ¡°Leave it to me now, and thank you,¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s soft voice passed into the ears of Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others. The fact that they had appeared here already made him incredibly touched. Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan exchanged a glance and asked in bewilderment, ¡°Is he planning to take on two Chosen by himself?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu answered with hesitation, ¡°It seems so.¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯t lost his mind because of anger, has he?¡± Ning Zhan scratched his head. Zuoqiu Qingyu was taken aback for a moment, but she knew that it was not impossible. Although Zhou Yuan was usually calm and composed, the Sacred Palace had set a trap for Yaoyao, which was undoubtedly considered as touching Zhou Yuan''s reverse scale. ¡°Let¡¯s watch the situation. If Zhou Yuan can¡¯t defeat the enemies, we will help,¡± Li Chunjun said. The other two also nodded gently. High in the sky, after urging the three people not to act, Zhou Yuan directed his gaze to the peak of the Spirit Subduing Mountain, his eyes gradually growing cold. It was there that two figures were standing with hands clasped behind their backs, staring at him mockingly. ¡°I was wondering who the Cangxuan Sect would send out, but it turns out to be an ignorant boy.¡± Tie Mo of the Sacred Palace gave a sinister laugh. Lei Jun also revealed a faint smile. ¡°It seems that Cai Ying¡¯s defeat has made you arrogant. You do know that both of us are ranked higher than Chai Ying, right?¡± Both spoke indifferently, and they evidently saw Zhou Yuan as an easy opponent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was devoid of expression. He studied the Spirit Subduing Mountain filled with toxic qi for a moment, and with the clench of his fist, the Heaven Yuan Brush appeared in his hand and rapidly expanded. As boundless killing intent surged, Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice slowly rang out: ¡°I''m not interested in knowing your rank. All I know is that from today onward, your Sacred Palace will have two unoccupied Chosen positions.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 634 One Against Two Outside the mountain where the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s main base was located. Zhan Taiqing lifted her scarlet-red eyes to gaze in the direction Zhou Yuan had left. An amused smile rose from the corners of her little red lips before she grinned at Li Qingchan and said, ¡°This chief disciple of your Cangxuan Sect truly has swag.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s pretty face tensed up as an anxious look flashed past in the depths of her eyes. In her view, Zhou Yuan was being far too reckless. One must know that the Sacred Palace had stationed two Chosen outside the Spirit Subduing Mountain. However, she also understood that it was useless to worry at this juncture. She immediately took in a deep breath before she icily said, ¡°Zhou Yuan must have some confidence since he has dared to go. You¡¯d best not celebrate too early.¡± At present, she could only place her hopes on Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength. ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhan Taiqing chuckled softly before raising her hand. A copper mirror appeared, and Genesis Qi swiftly poured into it, causing rays of light to shoot out and create an image in the air. Within the mirror, one could see Zhou Yuan standing in the air while Lei Jun and Tie Mo stood opposite him. Zhan Taiqing smiled faintly as she said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve so much faith in him, let¡¯s enjoy the show...of course, I¡¯ll gladly accompany you if you wish to fight, but you and I both know that it will only be a waste of Genesis Qi.¡± Li Qingchan stared at the image in the sky. She knew that Zhan Taiqing had intentionally created this for the watching Cangxuan Sect disciples behind them. She wanted them to helplessly watch Zhou Yuan being defeated, and in turn shake the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s morale. However, even if Li Qingchan knew this, there was no way for her to stop it. Fortunately, she had already sent news of this to the others. If Chu Qing, Tuntun and the rest managed to free themselves, they would rush here to lend their aid as soon as possible. She looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, her hands slowly clenching into fists. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve got to hang on a little while longer.¡± ... When Zhou Yuan¡¯s murder-filled voice rang out across the mountain range, Lei Jun and Tie Mo were first stunned before they suddenly burst into laughter. Not even in their wildest dreams would they have imagined that Zhou Yuan would not only refuse to run away but that he would instead utter such foolish things in front of them. Did he really believe that defeating Chai Ying would allow him to look down on all the Sacred Palace Chosen? Both of them were stronger than Chai Ying. As such, there was little reason for Zhou Yuan to have any advantage over them just because he had been able to defeat a weaker Chosen. More importantly, they currently had two people on their side! With two Chosen stationed here, how dare Zhou Yuan say such brazen words to them?! The two continued to roar with laughter for quite some time. When they finally stopped, they exchanged a look as sinister smiles slowly rose from the corners of their mouths. ¡°Ignorant fool, the two of us will love to see what right you have to act so arrogantly before us.¡± Bzz! As their voices sounded, vigorous Genesis Qi unfurled from their bodies, creating cracks in the ground below their feet. The violent Genesis Qi pressure began to overwhelm the surroundings. Genesis Qi interweaved behind them, turning into a Genesis Qi starry sky. In the mountain forest far away, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s, Li Chunjun¡¯s and Ning Zhan¡¯s expressions turned extremely grave. From the scale of those Genesis Qi starry skies, the number of Genesis Qi stars in Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s bodies had most likely reached forty-five thousand. They were indeed stronger than Chai Ying. Rumble! Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s eyes turned exceedingly cold. Their figures shot forward at the same time, clearly not opting to take on Zhou Yuan one on one. They were evidently planning on working together to crush Zhou Yuan as quickly as possible. After suffering due to Chai Ying, the Sacred Palace had clearly learnt from their mistake and were no longer going to underestimate this chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s figures flashed past the horizon, swiftly rushing towards Zhou Yuan from the left and right like lightning as surging Genesis Qi rumbled in their wake. Zhou Yuan stood in the air, expressionless as he gazed upon the two incoming figures from his left and right. Killing intent filled his eyes as golden Genesis Qi poured out of his body. There was no sign of him backing down. From the looks of it, he was intent on taking them both head on. This scene also came into the eyes of Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others below, causing their expressions to change slightly. The current situation was extremely unfavorable for Zhou Yuan, and he should be rationally trying to avoid for the moment while finding an opportunity to counter-attack. So what the hell was this posture of getting ready to directly take on their combined attacks?! ¡°He! When did he become a brainless barbarian!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu could not help but stamp her foot in anger as a worried look filled her pretty face. Although she had witnessed Zhou Yuan defeat Chai Ying previously, it had clearly taken Zhou Yuan everything he had. What was more, the combined might of the two Sacred Palace Chosen that Zhou Yuan now faced clearly far surpassed anything Chai Ying could muster. Under their gazes, Lei Jun and Tie Mo roared as they both punched with all their might. Genesis Qi surged forth, blasting away all the air in front of them. Each punch possessed the power to shatter a mountain. As they swung forward together, the air around Zhou Yuan seemed to compress to the very limit. Two streaks of light rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils. However, he remained unmoved from the spot, his face expressionless. Only his eyes gleamed with a chilling, icy light that made anyone who saw them shiver involuntarily. ¡°Die you arrogant fool!¡± Lei Jun and Tia Mo were clearly enraged by Zhou Yuan¡¯s nonchalance, causing fresh murder to surge in their hearts. In the next instant, their figures appeared on his left and right like phantoms. Genesis Qi reached outwards, sealing off all paths of escape. At the same time, two punches containing all of their power ruthlessly thrust towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan finally began to move at this moment, both hands thrusting with great force towards the two deadly punches. He was going to receive them head on! A sinister smile rose from the corners of Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s mouths. Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions were practically suicide. They firmly believed that their punches would soon shatter all the bones in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Rumble! Under Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s and the others¡¯ changing expressions, the full power punches from the two Sacred Palace Chosen slammed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s thrusting palms. A storm of berserk, unrivaled Genesis Qi unfurled as dazzling light drowned the bodies of the three combatants. Half of the mountain below them caved inwards due to the aftershocks. Even Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others¡¯ location was affected, the towering ancient trees around them uprooted one after another. The trio hurriedly circulated their Genesis Qi to firmly root themselves to the ground, preventing them from being blown away. However, they had no attention to spare for such things at this juncture. Their eyes tightly glued to the epicenter of the Genesis Qi explosion in the sky. The resplendent Genesis Qi light slowly began to fade as the scene in the sky became clear once more. Thick shock appeared on the trio¡¯s faces. ¡°How can this be¡­¡± In the sky, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had not budged a single inch from his spot, Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s fists tightly grasped in his hands. He had directly caught both their full-powered blows, but not even his clothes had been ruffled. Looks of disbelief flooded Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s originally sinister faces. In that earlier split second, it had felt as if their power had rushed into a black hole instead of destroying Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like they had expected. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face remained akin to a deep rippleless well. Golden light blossomed in his eyes as golden Genesis Qi began to gush out without reservation, converging into a golden starry sky behind him. Stars twinkled in this starry sky. Thirty-nine thousand! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 635 Ferocious Migh High up in the sky. Zhou Yuan stood in the air, his left and right hands stretched out on both sides while Lei Jun and Tie Mo were still stuck in their punching postures. Their fists were seemingly glued to Zhou Yuan¡¯s palms. If not for the roaring berserk Genesis Qi around the trio that was rippling even space itself, a passerby would have mistaken them as good friends shaking hands. Below, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun and Ningzhan watched this scene in astonishment, especially shocked by the twinkling golden stars behind him. The number of stars had reached thirty-nine thousand! ¡°He...he had a cultivation breakthrough!¡± mumbled Zuoqiu Qingyu. She clearly remembered that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation had been far weaker than this in his fight against Chai Ying. Back then, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi stars totalled to slightly over a ten thousand at most, but that number had now grown by over three times! The only conclusion was that his strength had surpassed its limits over the past few days. Zhou Yuan should currently be at the eighth layer Alpha-Origin stage; however, his eighth layer Genesis Qi foundations were scalp-numbingly unreasonable. Thirty-nine thousand Genesis Qi stars was an amount that even some of the Chosen from the various sects did not reach. ¡°No wonder he dared to come alone.¡± Ning Zhan sighed and said, ¡°He truly is a monster.¡± He rubbed the black serpent tattoo on his arm as he continued, ¡°I won¡¯t be able to beat him even if I unseal this black serpent out of desperation.¡± Li Chunjun nodded in agreement as his raspy voice sounded, ¡°The mouthful of sword qi I have is also unable to deal with him currently...he is indeed much further ahead of us. Looks like my cultivation is still insufficient. I¡¯ll need to intensify my training after returning to the sect.¡± His tone was filled with conviction, clearly displaying that these words were not just for show. However, the expressions of any of the Sword Seeker Sect disciples would likely change if they were here to hear these words, because everyone in their Sword Seeker Sect knew how crazy Li Chunjun¡¯s training was. It had already gone far beyond the bearable limits of an ordinary person, and yet he could still say that it was not enough. While they spoke, the look in Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s eyes also changed upon seeing the golden Genesis Qi starry sky behind Zhou Yuan. ¡°How did his Genesis Qi cultivation grow so much in a short few days?!¡± shocked voices rang out in both of their hearts. Both of them had seen the duel between Zhou Yuan and Chai Ying. Back then, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation had only been at the ten thousand stars level, and it had taken him the combined might of his Genesis Qi, physical prowess and Spirit to face Chai Ying head on. However, the Genesis Qi currently rising from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was clearly no weaker than their own! The duo¡¯s expressions sank. Neither had pulled their punches earlier, and they had clearly felt their destructive Genesis Qi charge into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like a raging dragon. Ordinarily speaking, even a large mountain would have been pulverized by their attacks. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had merely jolted a little before returning to normal, most likely because he had forcefully neutralized the power within their punches. How strong did one have to be to neutralize their full-power blows inside one¡¯s body? At the very least, neither Lei Jun nor Tie Mo would easily let the Genesis Qi from an opponent of the same level enter their bodies; it was far too risky and dangerous. But Zhou Yuan had just done this very thing, and he had even successfully neutralized the invading Genesis Qi. At this moment, a strong feeling of danger rose in Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s hearts. What they had believed all along to be a mere wolf had now turned into a terrifying creature that could devour lions! Retreat! Various thoughts rapidly whirled in their heads. Genesis Qi erupted a split second later as both individuals attempted to withdraw. The instant they began to move, however, Zhou Yuan let out a single chilling chuckle. His Genesis Qi was not the only one to thank¡ªhis strong physical body and Spirit finesse had also played a big part in neutralizing the two Genesis Qi attacks that had invaded his body. Since these two had voluntarily sent himself to his doorstep, there was no way he would let them leave. His hands suddenly clenched as a suction force appeared, tightly gripping the duo¡¯s fists. In the next instant, golden Genesis Qi exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as a golden giant glowing python emerged in the air. Zhou Yuan abruptly began to spin, seemingly turning into a golden spinning top as countless after-images were created. Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s expressions changed drastically as they were violently pulled along for the ride. Swoosh! Swoosh! The terrifying spinning force made the space around them warp a little. Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms jerked a split second later, sending Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s bodies hurtling through the air. Their figures streaked across the sky, ultimately crashing into two large mountains on Zhou Yuan¡¯s left and right. Boom! Two mountains immediately crumbled, causing countless boulders to tumble into the growing rubble. The two were deeply embedded into the rock, their clothes in tatters as fresh blood sprayed from their bodies, making them look extremely miserable. Because Zhou Yuan had so violently flung their bodies, their Genesis Qi rippled chaotically within them, making it impossible for them to extract themselves for a time. In the sky, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eerily chilling gaze looked towards the two figures. Was his assault over? Impossible. Bzz! With a flick of his finger, the buzzing Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared, and he immediately poured surging golden Genesis Qi into it. The brush turned into a flash of gold as it shot towards Tie Mo like rushing thunder. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± The snow-white tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush swiftly turned pitch-black, and sharpness seemed to gleam from its tip as killing intent steamed from its body. Tie Mo¡¯s expression changed drastically. He ignored the chaotically rippling Genesis Qi in his body and roared. Genesis Qi rapidly poured out in an attempt to block the incoming Heavenly Yuan Brush. Chla! However, the many layers of Genesis Qi defenses were akin to tofu in the face of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, easily piercing through one by one. Golden light rapidly grew in Tie Mo¡¯s eyes as dread began to flood his face. His hastily crafted defenses were completely incapable of stopping Zhou Yuan¡¯s swift attack. ¡°No!¡± a piercing shriek sounded. Ch! The Heavenly Yuan Brush did not stop. Golden light swept past, piercing through Tie Mo¡¯s body without a pause and into the mountain behind him. The Heavenly Yuan Brush shot out from the other side and thrust itself into the ground, creating a giant crater. A bloody hole had appeared on Tie Mo¡¯s chest. Golden Genesis Qi could be seen wreaking havoc within, and it swiftly destroyed the life in his body. Blood spewed from his mouth as he reached out a hand towards his chest. In the end, there was nothing he could do but feel his lifeforce swiftly fade away. His face was filled with terror, terror that belonged to the fear of death. Tie Mo struggled to look up at the sky where Zhou Yuan looked down with an emotionless face. Endless regret rose in Tie Mo¡¯s heart. He should not have accepted this mission back then. Darkness began to flood Tie Mo¡¯s vision as his head slowly fell and hung lifelessly from his body. His lifeforce had been fully extinguished. In the distance, the mouths of Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others opened bigger and bigger at the sight of this scene. They were unable to conceal the alarm and horror in their eyes. None of them had expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s counter-attack to be so ruthlessly clean. All it had taken was a single blow for the Sacred Palace¡¯s Tie Mo to lose his life! It was an unimaginably clean kill. In the sky, Zhou Yuan gazed at the dead Tie Mo with cold eyes before turning towards the other mountain where Lei Jun was also staring at Tie Mo in shock and horror. Lei Jun¡¯s scalp immediately turned numb when he felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s chilling gaze turn towards him. In the next instant, Lei Jun¡¯s figure abruptly soared into the air, turning into a glowing figure as he fled for his life. Zhou Yuan was currently far too ferocious, and he had even scared away a Sacred Palace Chosen! Zhou Yuan¡¯s eerie gaze looked towards Lei Jun fleeing. His face was emotionless as a voice filled with chilling murder rang out across the area, ¡°Thinking of leaving? I said earlier that two Sacred Palace Chosen positions shall be vacated today! ¡°Since you guys came together, you should also leave together!¡± His boundless killing intent had not waned in the slightest even after slaying Tie Mo! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 636 Nine Underworlds Lightning Ar Swish! Lei Jun¡¯s figure hurriedly retreated in the sky, leaving numerous after-images behind as he pushed his speed to the limit. His face was currently filled with terror. He had evidently been scared witless by the scene of Zhou Yuan killing Tie Mo. Even though Lei Jun understood that Zhou Yuan had made use of the moment of weakness created when Tie Mo¡¯s Genesis Qi was shaken up and rippling wildly, it was still enough to prove that they had underestimated Zhou Yuan. They had previously believed that Zhou Yuan had only been able to defeat Chai Ying through the fusion of his Genesis Qi, physical power and Spirit. After that brief exchange earlier, however, they now understood that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations were no weaker than their own. His only shortfall was now gone. If it were one on one, even Lei Jun felt that he had no chance. Hence, he had decisively chosen to retreat. Rumble! However, a thunderous noise suddenly rumbled behind him. Sonic booms were heard in quick succession, accompanied by berserk Genesis Qi undulations. Lei Jun cast a quick glance back from the corner of his eye, only for his expression to change. Zhou Yuan was propelling towards him on golden Genesis Qi. From his murderous and blood-thirsty appearance, there was obviously no way he was going to let Lei Jun escape. ¡°Where are you going?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice dripped with killing intent. With a jerk of his sleeve, golden Genesis Qi swirled around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as it shot forth, its pitch-black tip peerlessly sharp and unstoppable. Lei Jun¡¯s expression shivered at the sight of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. He had personally witnessed the brush easily piercing through Tie Mo¡¯s Genesis Qi defenses earlier. This weapon appeared to be lethally effective against Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heaven Genesis Weapon was definitely no ordinary artifact. Hence, Lei Jun did not dare to be careless. With a stern shout, lightning light suddenly burst out from the top of his head, turning into a lightning sword. The lightning sword immediately began to draw in the surrounding Genesis Qi as lightning cackled around it. It was also a low-grade Heaven Genesis Weapon. Rumble! The lightning sword shot forth and collided with the Heavenly Yuan Brush. With each clash deafening noises erupted. Though the lightning sword was being suppressed by the brush from start to end, it ultimately succeeded in stopping the Heavenly Yuan Brush. However, Lei Jun¡¯s fleeing figure also came to a stop, his expression changing indeterminately as he looked towards the front. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had appeared in front of Lei Jun, golden light glittering around him as he expressionlessly stared at Lei Jun. Lei Jun gritted his teeth and yelled, ¡°Zhou Yuan! Don¡¯t go overboard! You¡¯ve already killed a Chosen of my Sacred Palace, and if you push things too far, my Sacred Palace will not let you off!¡± Boom! Zhou Yuan, however, had no intention of conversing. Genesis Qi exploded from his body as his figure shot forth. A palm thrust forward as a torrent of boundless golden Genesis Qi rushed towards Lei Jun with mountain-toppling power. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan attack without saying a single word, Lei Jun released a battle cry. Flashing lightning-like Genesis Qi roared and smashed against the torrent of golden Genesis Qi. Boom boom boom! There appeared to be no end to the rumbling explosions. However, Lei Jun¡¯s pupils soon shrank a little. He had seen his flickering lightning-like Genesis Qi continuously crumbling under the surging might of Zhou Yuan¡¯s golden Genesis Qi. Boom! The golden Genesis Qi finally arrived, heavily slamming into Lei Jun¡¯s body. His figure was sent hurtling through the air, and blood appeared from the corner of his mouth. ¡°How can this be?!¡± Lei Jun could not help but roar in surprise. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations had grown tremendously and reached the level of thirty-nine thousand, one must know that Lei Jun¡¯s own Genesis Qi foundations were at the forty-five thousand level! As such, Lei Jun was somewhat unable to comprehend how he had been crushed in a clash of Genesis Qi. One had to know that Zhou Yuan was currently utilizing only his Genesis Qi and had yet to even tap into his physical power. How the hell was Lei Jun going to stop him if he were to use both?! Swoosh! These thoughts had barely surfaced in Lei Jun¡¯s head when a shadow appeared in front of him like a phantom. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers clenched into a fist, a jade glow emerging from his body as silver light blossomed in his bones. Boom! His expression was coldly indifferent as he punched. Golden Genesis Qi spouted out, accompanied by an explosion of raw physical power. Even space itself seemed to distort a little under the punch, clearly showing how terrifying it was. Lei Jun¡¯s expression changed drastically as all the Genesis Qi in his body poured out without reservation, creating bolt after bolt of lightning that blasted towards the punch. Bang! Bang! Bang! However, every single lightning bolt shattered as the punch slammed through the air. Some of the resultant force struck Lei Jun¡¯s body, blasting him away and causing him to spit out multiple mouthfuls of blood. Rumble! Two glowing figures tangoed in the sky. But everyone could clearly see that Lei Jun was being one-sidedly pummelled. The sight of him vomiting mouthful after mouthful of blood was pitiful to the extreme. After all, Zhou Yuan was currently vastly different from a few days prior. The mouths of Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others could not help but repeatedly open and close. It was a long while later before they finally sucked in a long breath of cool air and said, ¡°He¡¯s way too barbaric!¡± Was he intending to punch Lei Jun to death? Boom! Bruised and bloodied in the sky, Lei Jun suddenly roared as he quickly created some distance between them. His hands swiftly formed a seal, and he shouted, ¡°Nine Underworlds Lightning Art!¡± Rumble! The surrounding Genesis Qi abruptly began to boil as dark clouds rapidly gathered in the sky. A black thunderbolt a hundred feet wide ripped through the clouds and headed straight for Zhou Yuan. That black thunderbolt was filled with the power of destruction. ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is the strongest technique of my Lightning Sacred Hall. Die!¡± roared Lei Jun. He had endured everything previously to prepare his strongest technique! Zhou Yuan lifted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed at the black thunderbolt, feeling the power contained within it. His figure immediately moved, leaving numerous after-images behind as he hurriedly retreated. However, the black thunderbolt seemed to have a mind of its own and closely followed him like an inseparable shadow. ¡°Haha, Zhou Yuan. You can¡¯t escape.¡± Lei Jun laughed heartily. He was currently filled with elation. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure stopped, gazing at the rapidly approaching black thunderbolt with a calm face as he said, ¡°Since I can¡¯t run, I¡¯ll take it head on.¡± His hands slowly spread outwards as he closed his eyes. ¡°Stop trying to put up an act,¡± said Lei Jun through gnashed teeth. Rumble! The black thunderbolt seemed to roar like a giant python, ultimately bombarding Zhou Yuan¡¯s body with unequaled ferocity under Lei Jun¡¯s sinister gaze. A loud noise immediately rang out across the area, distorting even space itself as lightning devastated the surroundings. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s, Li Chunjun¡¯s and Ning Zhan¡¯s expressions changed slightly. Lei Jun¡¯s counter-attack was likewise scalp-numbing. Was Zhou Yuan really able to survive such a frontal clash with that devastating attack? A lightning glow filled the area, Lei Jun¡¯s sinister laughter the only sound to be heard. The gazes of Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others were tightly glued to the slowly dissipating lightning light. As the lightning light faded, a figure was revealed standing in the air with an expressionless face. Lei Jun¡¯s sinister laughter came to an abrupt stop. The expression on his face slowly turned rigid as he stared in despair to his front. Zhou Yuan was standing in the air while a mysterious glowing silhouette enveloped his body. Glowing wings reached out from the silhouette¡¯s back as they slowly unfurled. An indescribable undulation pulsed from the mysterious glowing silhouette. Zhou Yuan was completely unharmed inside it. ¡°How is this possible¡­,¡± mumbled Lei Jun. Zhou Yuan¡¯s slightly shut eyes slowly opened. He stared at the deathly pale Lei Jun and said in an indifferent voice, ¡°Is the strongest technique of your Lightning Sacred Palace used for fishing?¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 637 Death in a Single Punch Zhou Yuan stood in the sky while a mysterious glowing silhouette covered his body. Two glowing wings grew out from the silhouette¡¯s back and slowly flapped. Each flap of the wings caused a small whirlwind to arise. A powerful and mysterious undulation slowly pulsed. ¡°How is this possible¡­¡± Lei Jun dazedly stared at this scene, clearly unable to understand how his strongest blow had failed to do any damage to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan expressionlessly stared at Lei Jun as the glowing wings gently flapped behind him. The mysterious silhouette was naturally the Omega Saint Spirit Art. But it was now in its complete form. By borrowing the pressure from Tuntun¡¯s blood, Zhou Yuan had finally succeeded in fusing the final nine core beast spirits into the Saint Spirit Seed a few days ago. In other words, his Omega Saint Spirit Art had finally been completed. The surrounding Genesis Qi endlessly gushed towards him as it was quickly swallowed by the Saint Spirit silhouette and fed back into Zhou Yuan, allowing him to swiftly recover his Genesis Qi. In its complete state, the Omega Saint Spirit Art was undoubtedly much stronger than before. Swish! Lei Jun could already sense the strong smell of death from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Hence, he immediately shot backwards in retreat the moment he came back to his senses, clearly intending to flee. There was no longer any fight within him. Zhou Yuan gazed at the pathetic figure of the fleeing Lei Jun with indifference. His five fingers slowly clenched into a fist, the chilling killing intent in his eyes seemingly freezing the surrounding air. Plotting against Yaoyao and trapping her in a dangerous situation had fully touched Zhou Yuan¡¯s reverse scale. As such, the murderous intent he felt towards the Chosen of the Sacred Palace had reached its peak at this very moment. These two must die here! Not a single one shall escape! Bzz! The Saint Spirit silhouette¡¯s wings suddenly shook as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure disappeared from the spot. Such speed had already gone beyond the realms of one¡¯s imagination. A few breaths had barely passed after Zhou Yuan disappeared when Lei Jun, utterly terrified, saw the space above him begin to distort as a figure began emerging. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was ice-cold as he threw out a tightly clenched fist. Dazzling light emerged from all thirty-nine thousand Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling. Golden Genesis Qi rushed through his body like golden liquid, flowing through his channels and ultimately flooding out from his fist. At the same time, the drop of golden blood in his heart emitted a resplendent glow, and countless golden threads reached out, connecting flesh and blood as boundless power poured out. This punch was the cumulation of thirty-nine thousand Genesis Qi stars and his golden blood stage power! Moreover, the Saint Spirit silhouette was also amplifying it. Faint cracks began to emerge in the surroundings before the punch landed, a phenomenon caused by a great power rippling the fabric of space. Boundless force rushed out like a tsunami as horror flooded Lei Jun¡¯s face. He had clearly sensed the might of Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch. Lei Jun shrieked in terror, ¡°Mercy! I was only following orders!¡± The punch was death itself, causing Lei Jun to lose all semblance of dignity. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained ice-cold. Gales roared as the punch finally arrived and slammed into the layers of defensive Genesis Qi around Lei Jun¡¯s body, rippling the surrounding space. Boom! Numerous Genesis Qi defenses disintegrated in a matter of seconds. Dong! Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist of annihilation struck Lei Jun¡¯s body as destructive power instantly burst out like an erupting volcano. The surrounding space rippled violently, accompanied by a blood-curdling shriek. Thud! Lei Jun¡¯s body was instantly pulverized, turning into a bloody mist. Zhou Yuan¡¯s full-power punch had reached an unexpectedly terrifying extreme! On a hill below, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others stared in a daze at the drifting bloody mist in the sky, unable to speak for a long time. The scene¡¯s impact was just far too great. They never imagined that Zhou Yuan would pulverize a Chosen into a bloody mist... Come on, that was a Chosen of the Sacred Palace! It was hard to imagine how big of a commotion it would cause once news of it spread. In the sky, Zhou Yuan stared at the drifting bloody mist with an ice-cold expression. He soon blew away the mist with a wave of his sleeve and grabbed the glittering six-color object within. It was a six-color Divine Establishing Treasure. Although Lei Jun had been blasted into nothingness, the Divine Establishing Treasure in his Qi Dwelling had survived. Zhou Yuan kept the Divine Establishing Treasure before casting his gaze towards a certain crumbling mountain in the distance where Tie Mo¡¯s corpse was slowly turning cold. Zhou Yuan extended a hand, and a suction force suddenly emerged. Another dazzling six-color object rose from Tie Mo¡¯s corpse and landed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Lei Jun¡¯s and Tie Mo¡¯s six-color Divine Establishing Treasures contained extremely pure Genesis Qi undulations. It seemed as if several Divine Establishing Treasures had already been fused into them, putting them on track to becoming a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure. It was obvious that Lei Jun and Tie Mo had spared no effort for their Divine Establishing Treasures. Unfortunately for them, however, everything had only ended up benefiting Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan kept this six-color Divine Establishing Treasure as well before his gaze suddenly looked towards a certain hill. A stream of Genesis Qi was sent out with a wave of his sleeve, sweeping up the faintly glowing object there. The glowing object flew towards him and landed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. It was a copper mirror. ¡°An image capturing copper mirror?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s ice-cold eyes glanced at the Sacred Palace mark on the mirror, and he immediately concluded that it had been set up by Lei Jun and Tie Mo. This copper mirror had likely transmitted everything that had happened here. As such, Zhou Yuan raised the copper mirror and placed it in front of his face. Murder gushed in his eyes as he icily said, ¡°Have you seen enough? There are now two vacant spots amongst the Sacred Palace Chosen.¡± He let his voice echo for a brief moment before he crushed the mirror with his hand. ¡­ The image outside the Cangxuan Sect headquarters dissipated. Seated on a branch, Zhan Taiqing¡¯s originally smiling face turned rather stormy. Her scarlet irises were filled with a sinister chillingness. She had clearly not expected things to turn out like this...to think that two Sacred Palace Chosens had actually been slain by Zhou Yuan... This was an outcome that she was somewhat unable to accept. In contrast to Zhan Taiqing¡¯s stormy expression, Li Qingchan¡¯s mouth hung agape. It was a long while later before she slowly returned to her senses as shock began to fill her eyes. How could she have anticipated an outcome that even Zhan Taiqing had not expected? One must know that it had taken Zhou Yuan everything to defeat Chai Ying a few days ago. But now he had killed two Chosen who were stronger than Chai Ying in succession. Just how much had he grown? This battle accomplishment alone would put Zhou Yuan amongst the top four of the ten Cangxuan Sect Chosen! A complicated expression rose in Li Qingchan¡¯s eyes. No one had expected that Zhou Yuan was unknowingly approaching their level... Li Qingchan took in a deep breath, suppressing the churning emotions in her heart, before looking towards Zhan Taiqing. She said in a pleased manner, ¡°Zhan Taiqing, you guys have really crushed your own feet with a rock this time.¡± The deaths of two Chosen were definitely a substantial blow to the Sacred Palace. But the Sacred Palace only had themselves to thank for such an outcome. If they had not tried to set up Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan¡¯s killing intent would not have been so intense. The smile on Zhan Taiqing¡¯s face had faded long ago. She stared at the spot where the image had faded with piercingly icy eyes before withdrawing her gaze. She said in a cold voice, ¡°Not bad. To think that he¡¯s managed to repeatedly inconvenience my Sacred Palace¡­ ¡°Li Qingchan, tell him to be a little more careful. If he lands in my hands, I will drain all the blood from his body and make him suffer till he begs for death¡­¡± Li Qingchan smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s okay for me to hear these words, but I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be so lucky if they land in Yaoyao¡¯s ears.¡± ¡°Oh? You mean that Zhou Xiaoyao?¡± Zhan Taiqing raised her brows and sneered, ¡°Is anyone in your Cangxuan Sect worthy of my attention besides Chu Qing? If Zhou Xiaoyao manages to survive, feel free to let her seek me out. You can watch how I¡¯ll dismantle her.¡± Li Qingchan slowly said, ¡°I believe that you¡¯ll regret it.¡± Zhan Taiqing¡¯s red lips curled in disdain, and her figure disappeared in a flash of red light, leaving a message behind: ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 638 Extremely Daring In the sky, Zhou Yuan¡¯s surging Genesis Qi receded as he crushed the copper mirror. He then turned and nodded towards the hill where Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others were. However, this was clearly not the time for catching up. Hence, he quickly shifted his gaze towards the Spirit Subduing Mountain. It was filled with poison mist, and a look of worry flitted across his eyes. He did not dare to tarry a moment longer, his figure transforming into a streak of light flying towards the mountain. He needed to find Yaoyao as soon as possible! When he landed, he immediately felt a tremendous suppression force envelop the Spirit between his brows. It was clearly due to the Spirit Subduing Rocks within the mountain. This caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart to sink because it meant that this place did have a suppressive effect on the Spirit. However, although his Spirit was suppressed, the Genesis Qi in his body remained vigorous and lively. His figure swiftly flew past, hovering just above the mountain as Genesis Qi pulsed around him to block the dark green poison. Chch! The poison clashed with his Genesis Qi, creating a sizzling noise. Its overbearingness caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes to shiver a little. ¡°Yaoyao!¡± Wrapped in Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan¡¯s shout thundered within the mountain. But there was no response. This made the worry in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart intensify and grow stronger. If something happened to Yaoyao...the mere thought caused bloody veins to climb up into his eyes. If anything happened, exterminating every single Sacred Palace disciple would not be able to wipe away even a fraction of the pain and regret he would feel. His figure frantically darted about in the Spirit Subduing Mountain. After several minutes, he finally reached the empty deeper area where only the dark green poison fog could be found. The color in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes faded, his footsteps heavy as he stumbled forward. In the end, he powerlessly fell to his knees, his five fingers clawing the ground as an indescribable feeling frantically battered his heart. It felt as if his heart was being torn open from the inside. ¡°Yaoyao...Yaoyao¡­¡± He mumbled, the Genesis Qi in his body on the verge of going crazy. ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± While Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were growing increasingly red, a clear, puzzled voice suddenly sounded in the empty and spacious mountain. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body turned rigid, and he slowly turned around to find a familiar figure burrowing out from the ground nearby. She patted off the dirt on her body as her clear, vacant eyes looked straight at Zhou Yuan. Who else could it be but Yaoyao? ¡°Yaoyao?! You?¡± Zhou Yuan blankly stared at her. Why had Yaoyao appeared from the ground? A faint smile rose on Yaoyao¡¯s gorgeous face as she looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You can¡¯t have thought that this Spirit Subduing Mountain would really be able to subdue me, right? I was originally going to finish off those two fellows, but I had suddenly detected a hidden seven-color treasure location in this place and thus ended up neglecting them.¡± She lifted her hand, revealing a ball of seven-color light as her red lips curled slightly. ¡°See? I¡¯ve obtained another seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure. That silly debt of yours is nearly repaid now.¡± She smiled, seemingly a little pleased with her work. Swish! A figure suddenly dashed over, slightly alarming Yaoyao. She immediately raised her hand as Spirit power gathered between her brows. But she paused and halted her Spirit power when she felt the familiar presence. Zhou Yuan''s body crashed into her, and he reached up, tightly hugging her slender figure. His arms were akin to an iron hoop as he forcefully hugged her. The scent filling her senses caused momentary panic to appear on her usually indifferent face. She tried to push him away, but she forgot that without Spirit power, her feeble strength was of no use against Zhou Yuan. ¡°Yaoyao...it¡¯s great that you¡¯re fine.¡± Zhou Yuan greedily breathed in the womanly fragrance of the beauty in his embrace as he continuously repeated these few words. He was unable to imagine how great of a blow it would be if something had happened to Yaoyao. She stopped struggling against Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest, and she gently bit her lips. This was the first time she had heard such a panicked and desperate tone from him. He had never sounded so filled with panic and despair even when he had been incapable of finding his eight meridian channels back then, but she could clearly feel the fear that was currently within him. Such feelings evidently originated from her. This caused ripples to appear in Yaoyao¡¯s usually indifferent heart. It was a soft and gentle feeling that touched the deepest part of her soul and caused her fair-as-jade face to blush a little. In that very moment, even time itself had its breath taken away. Yaoyao¡¯s hand reached past Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms and gently patted his back, a never before heard tenderness in her voice. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m fine.¡± The sound of her voice finally allowed the panic in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart to slowly fade away. He breathed a heavy sigh of relief as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders before suddenly feeling the warm and wonderful curves in his arms, causing him to hug a little tighter. ¡°Yaoyao¡¯s figure is really great,¡± the thought flashed in his head. This was strictly speaking the first time he had held her in his embrace. Zhou Yuan lowered his head slightly and found Yaoyao¡¯s slender, fair neck and her cute little earlobe. Consequently, he lowered his head even farther and gently bit that exquisite little earlobe. Zhou Yuan felt the body in his arms suddenly turn rigid. He was abruptly shocked back to his senses with a violent quiver, and he hurriedly released Yaoyao. Her face had turned beet-red, but her eyes were staring at him with endless frost containing a sliver of embarrassment and anger. Zhou Yuan hastily braced himself and said, ¡°Yaoyao, you have to believe me, I didn¡¯t know what I was doing.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s eyes lowered slightly as she indistinctly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you truly are...extremely daring!¡± She clenched her hand as a whip made from condensed Spirit power appeared. Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp instantly turned numb. ¡°Yaoyao, please let me explain!¡± Pa! The Spirit whip suddenly lashed out, rippling the air as it viciously swung towards Zhou Yuan. AHH! Zhou Yuan howled miserably when the whip struck his body, and he hugged his head and fled. Pa! Pa! AHHH! AHH! Outside the Spirit Subduing Mountain, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion. Was there another Sacred Palace Chosen in the Spirit Subduing Mountain? To think that such miserable shrieks could be beaten out of Zhou Yuan! Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 639 Blessing Appears The Zuoqiu Qingyu trio were shocked to see how dispirited Zhou Yuan looked when he and Yaoyao walked out from the Spirit Subduing Mountain. It was a completely different appearance than the unstoppable ferocity he had displayed earlier. ¡°Were you poisoned by the poison gas inside?¡± asked Ning Zhan in surprise. Zhou Yuan sneaked a glance at Yaoyao and saw her calm-as-a-lake expression. He immediately gave an awkward laugh and said, ¡°Nope, taking on the two of them earlier probably took much more out of me than I had expected.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others did not doubt his answer. After all, killing two Sacred Palace Chosen would indeed be very exhausting. ¡°Yaoyao, I¡¯m glad that you¡¯re alright.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu walked forward and grabbed Yaoyao¡¯s hands with a look of relief on her face. Yaoyao also grasped Zuoqiu Qingyu''s hands as a seemingly gentle smile appeared on her gorgeous face. She knew that Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others had come all the way here for her, and she was a little touched by their gesture. After all, she clearly understood that the trio had taken a substantial risk to do so. ¡°Though the main mastermind is the Sacred Palace, the Heavenly Ghost Sect should likely have had a part in this as well, given their extremely close proximity. What¡¯s more, the information that Yaoyao had been trapped was secretly transmitted to us from the Heavenly Ghost Sect side,¡± Li Chunjun said. His eyes, which were wrapped in a black cloth, were looking towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°You should have already guessed who gave us this information.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The informant was most likely Zhen Xu. Due to the Heavenly Ghost Sect¡¯s participation, it was impossible for him to openly reveal himself. His current position in the sect was after all not very high, and he therefore did not have a say in such matters. Hence, giving them this information as a Heavenly Ghost Sect disciple was already his limit. As such, Zhou Yuan was also grateful to Zhen Xu. These companions that had left the Cangmang Continent together with him had not disappointed Zhou Yuan. ¡°The Sacred Palace only managed to find an opportunity to set up Yaoyao because of me,¡± said Zhou Yuan. He knew that Yaoyao had only appeared here because she was helping him search for Divine Establishing Treasures to repay his debt. It made him feel somewhat ashamed. ¡°You¡¯d better pay more attention in the future. I won¡¯t let you off if something happens to Yaoyao,¡± threatened Zuoqiu Qingyu as she waved her little fist at him. Zhou Yuan forced a smile and nodded. Roar! While they were conversing, an earth-shaking roar suddenly sounded from far away, and then a ray of light streaked through the sky. It ultimately transformed into a mysterious and ferocious beast and arrived in the air above them in an aggressive and menacing manner. The terrible creature was covered in golden scale armor, and Genesis Qi was surging under its feet. A mysterious black light flowed in its mouth. It was Tuntun. Tuntun¡¯s eyes were filled with violent murder, but it soon discovered Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao and the others on the hill, and happiness erupted from its eyes. Swoosh! Its giant body rapidly shrank as it descended. It landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, barking at Yaoyao as its paws messily threaded all over his head. Yaoyao could sense the worry in Tuntun¡¯s bark. Moreover, there were obvious signs that it had gone through a tough battle. Tuntun had evidently clashed with the Sacred Palace Chosen after hearing about Yaoyao¡¯s predicament and had ultimately managed to rush here after giving its opponents the slip. She smiled faintly as she reached out and plucked Tuntun off Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. She gently stroked its soft golden fur and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything is okay now.¡± Another four rays of light descended from the sky shortly after Tuntun¡¯s arrival and landed on the hill. Kong Sheng was leading the group of four, and Zhao Zhu¡¯s figure could be seen amongst them. ¡°Where are the Sacred Palace Chosen?¡± questioned Kong Sheng as he frowned and looked towards Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. Although there were some disagreements between the Sword Cometh Peak and Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, it was only limited to while they were inside the sect. Kong Sheng understood what was important in the Mythic Utopia, and so he had thus rushed over as soon as he could upon receiving Li Qingchan¡¯s message. ¡°There should be two Chosen here, Lei Jun and Tie Mo. Neither is weak, and both are ranked in the middle amongst the Sacred Palace Chosen.¡± Zhao Zhu shot a glance at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°You are too reckless. I can¡¯t believe you dared to come here alone without any support from the other Chosen. How would you explain yourself if things went wrong?¡± Zhou Yuan curled his lips. Although he was a little grateful to them for rushing here, the way Zhao Zhu talked was quite dislikable at times. ¡°Zhou Yuan has killed both Lei Jun and Tie Mo,¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu spoke up from the side. Her words immediately stunned Zhao Zhu and the rest, but the group soon burst into laughter. They said, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting. That¡¯s two Chosen, won¡¯t they be able to run even if they weren¡¯t his match?¡± Let alone the numbers advantage, killing a single Chosen was far more difficult than defeating one! Even Kong Shen frowned, clearly feeling that Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s words were too unrealistic. Even amongst the ten great Cangxuan Sect Chosen, the only ones who could kill Tie Mo and Lei Jun were the few individuals in the upper ranks. Zuoqiu Qingyu shrugged, though such actions only made her appear extremely seductive. She pointed towards a collapsed cliff wall in the distance and said, ¡°His body is still stuck there.¡± Kong Sheng, Zhao Zhu and the rest immediately followed her finger. They could not help but gasp upon seeing the corpse still embedded in the cliff. Even Kong Sheng¡¯s face violently twitched for a moment. ¡°Zhou Yuan had smashed Lei Jun to pulp, and now not even his body remains,¡± Ning Zhan chipped in. Kong Sheng¡¯s group went silent, only returning to their senses after quite some time. For the very first time, there was a trace of graveness in his eyes when he looked towards Zhou Yuan. If Zhou Yuan had really done as they had said, it would mean that he was quickly catching up to the top-tier Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect. Zhao Zhu was stupefied for a very long time as a complicated expression arose on his face. He had used his Chosen status to bully Zhou Yuan in the past, but after today, he understood that his actions were practically a joke. He would at best be able to match the likes of Lei Jun and Tie Mo, but Zhou Yuan had killed both of them. In other words, Zhou Yuan had already surpassed him. Kong Sheng looked deeply at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°It¡¯s good that nothing went wrong.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve troubled everyone.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. Although they had not helped in the end, he accepted their gesture of rushing here to lend their support. ¡°Let¡¯s prepare to leave. This location is too close to the Heavenly Ghost Sect, and we should not linger for too long since they appear to be working with the Sacred Palace,¡± said Kong Sheng. The others nodded in agreement. Rumble! Just as they were about to leave, however, the surrounding Genesis Qi suddenly seemed to begin boiling. Giant torrential waves erupted from the depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range, forming an enormous Genesis Qi wave in the sky. The wave spread at a speed that could be seen by the naked eye, creating thunderous dins as it clashed against the air. This sudden turn of events caused everyone¡¯s expressions to change. This Genesis Qi wave made even the hearts of individuals like them beat faster. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± asked Zhao Zhu in alarm. Yaoyao stared at the depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range as amazement emerged on her face. She slowly said, ¡°The super boundary in the Great Mythic Mountain Range has broken, and the greatest blessing hidden within its depths...is finally about to emerge.¡± Her words made even Kong Sheng¡¯s pupils shrink. Unconcealable excitement exploded in the eyes of Zhao Zhu and the others. Wasn¡¯t all their hard work till now for the sake of the greatest blessing? Was the long-awaited greatest blessing finally about to appear?! Zhou Yuan licked his lips. He raised his head and stared at the depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range. He took in a deep breath. He knew that the appearance of the greatest blessing marked the start of the most exciting segment to this Mythic Utopia saga... Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 640 Mysterious Jade Disc The many sects soon detected the Genesis Qi wave originating from the depths of the Great Mythic Mountain Range. After realizing its origins, a frenzied atmosphere soon enveloped the entire Great Mythic Mountain Range. The many factions stared at the depths of the mountain range with burning gazes. They knew that the greatest blessing should be the final destination in the Mythic Utopia. If they could obtain a slice of the greatest blessing, they would surely be able to ascend to the heavens in a single step. ... The Cangxuan Sect headquarters. Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and the numerous Chosen were currently gathered. However, their gazes were glued to Zhou Yuan because they had just found out that he had slain two Sacred Palace Chosen. In the face of such shocking news, even individuals like them were rather overwhelmed, and grave looks filled their eyes as they stared at him. As for the other disciples like Gu Hongyi and the rest, their eyes were practically glowing, and they were clearly extremely excited. They stared at Zhou Yuan with gazes filled with admiration and respect. After all, there had been a lot of friction between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace ever since they had entered the Mythic Utopia, and their side had been the one on the losing end most of the time, causing the numerous disciples to harbour some inner resentment. In this very moment, Zhou Yuan''s astonishing battle accomplishment wiped away all of their built up resentment. All of them felt a little proud at this moment. But they still found it somewhat hard to believe that Zhou Yuan was the one to achieve such an astonishing feat. One must know that Zhou Yuan was strictly speaking still a chief disciple from the Saint Genesis Peak. ¡°Cough¡­¡± Chu Qing coughed softly, drawing everyone¡¯s gazes as he smiled and said, ¡°It is fortunate for the Cangxuan Sect that junior brother Zhou Yuan has grown so tremendously after his secluded cultivation. ¡°However, we should not underestimate the Sacred Palace. Now that the final greatest blessing is about to appear, they will surely go all out and will no longer hold anything back.¡± The crowd nodded with serious expressions. Although they loathed the Sacred Palace, they had no choice but to admit that the latter were currently akin to rising suns and were growing ever more powerful. Underestimating such a rising powerhouse would only be akin to courting death. ¡°We should also prepare to move towards the deepest area of the mountain range and see for ourselves exactly what this greatest blessing is!¡± Chu Qing raised his eyes and peered towards the depths of the mountain range. Even someone as lazy as him was a little curious about the greatest blessing. The eyes of the others gradually began to burn with excitement. The Cangxuan Sect disciples quickly made their preparations before rising into the air. With Chu Qing, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan in the lead, the huge group swiftly flew towards the depths of the mountain range. At the same time, wave after wave of figures swarmed out from various locations in the Great Mythic Mountain Range and rushed towards the depths of the mountain range. The entire Great Mythic Mountain Range turned into an extremely bustling place. The Cangxuan Sect encountered several factions while rushing towards the mountain range¡¯s depths. At the sight of this big group from the Cangxuan Sect, these factions chose to make way, and their numerous curious gazes scanned the Cangxuan Sect disciples before ultimately pausing on Zhou Yuan. ¡°I heard Zhou Yuan killed two Sacred Palace Chosen!¡± ¡°Eh? That¡¯s impossible, right?¡± ¡°Heh, the Sacred Palace tried to set a trap for Zhou Xiaoyao. Due to his close relationship with her, Zhou Yuan went on a killing spree, and neither Tie Mo nor Lei Jun, the two Sacred Palace Chosen trapping her, were able to escape.¡± ¡°Gasp, that¡¯s way too fierce. He killed both of them even in a one-versus-two fight?!¡± ¡°I never expected that besides Chu Qing, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, the Cangxuan Sect would have such a ferocious individual!¡± ¡°......¡± Similar whispers spread amongst the other factions. Even the Chosen from the various sects looked at Zhou Yuan with wary eyes. Evidently, Zhou Yuan had become famous after this battle. However, Zhou Yuan ignored their gazes because in his view, killing two mid-ranked Chosen from the Sacred Palace was not remarkable at all. If he could, he hoped to kill Jin Chanzi instead. The poison mist in the Spirit Subduing Mountain was said to have originated from Jin Chanzi¡¯s hands, which was a grudge Zhou Yuan intended to repay. In addition, before entering the Great Mythic Mountain Range, Jin Chanzi had tried to catch him off-guard with a sneaky attack. If not for the Dragon Saliva True Water, Jin Chanzi¡¯s plan might have succeeded. Hence, this was another grudge Zhou Yuan was going to resolve. Zhou Yuan was someone who made certain to remember the debts he owed. Since Jin Chanzi had repeatedly made moves against him, Zhou Yuan was fully resolved to kill him! While various emotions churned in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, he suddenly heard countless gasps of shock around him. The surrounding Cangxuan Sect disciples also cried out in surprise. This made his heart jump. He knew that the finale was finally here. He raised his head and saw a majestic ancient mountain silently standing at the deepest part of the mountain range. The Genesis Qi wave that had caused this entire commotion had originated from this very mountain. Zhou Yuan concentrated on the mountain peak. Although mist covered it, the haze was unable to block his penetrating gaze. The very top of this ancient mountain was giving off a dazzling glow. The ancient mountain looked somewhat similar to a giant stone tablet, and seven giant peaks could be seen atop it. Each peak was higher than the previous, giving off majestic and grand auras. Jade light blossomed from the top of each peak where ancient jade discs silently stood. Torrential jade light flowed off these discs, creating a mysterious sight. At closer inspection, one would be able to make out glowing spots in the jade discs as if something was growing within them. Halos of multi-colored light surrounded these glowing spots, the most colorful among them reaching eight different colors. The Chosen from the various sects immediately gasped at the sight of these eight-colored lights. Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and the others were similarly dumbstruck. It was a long while later before they looked at each other in a somewhat dazed manner and said, ¡°What are inside these jade discs?¡± Chu Qing rubbed his shiny bald head as he sighed in amazement. ¡°Haven¡¯t you guys guessed by now¡­?¡± By the side, Zhou Yuan involuntarily licked his lips. His eyes were also glued to the mysterious jade discs, unable to shift his gaze away because he too understood what the eight-colored lights represented... Within these mysterious jade discs were eight-colored Divine Establishing Treasures that should have only existed in legends! The greatest blessing of the Great Mythic Mountain Range had not let down their expectations! The only thing left to find out was how terrible a bloodbath it would take to reach these jade discs. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 641 Third Saint Rune A majestic ancient mountain stood tall in the deepest part of the Great Mythic Mountain Range. Seven peaks stood at its top, and the dazzling and mysterious jade discs atop them drew every gaze in the area. The various factions that had arrived breathed heavily as they stared at the seven jade discs, clearly realizing that there were several Divine Establishing Treasures within. In fact, the last three jade discs even had eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures! This was tremendously shocking to the disciples of the various sects. After all, an eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure should only exist in legend for people like them. In the entire Cangxuan Heaven, someone who could establish an eight heavens Divine Dwelling would only appear once every hundred years. And there was now more than one eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure before them. One could already easily imagine how insane this greatest blessing was. Swish! Swish! The sound of rushing wind continuously rang out across the area as wave after wave of people arrived. The Sacred Palace, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the members from the other three overlord sects also appeared. They landed on the many smaller mountains nearest to the biggest ancient mountain. When they arrived, their burning gazes focused on the seven jade discs like everyone else''s. Even the smile of the usually smiling Jiang Taishen began to recede little by little, the burning desire in his eyes so hot that it seemed to be on the verge of setting the jade discs alight. Jin Chanji¡¯s vertical golden pupils stared at the jade disc as he slowly said, ¡°I never imagined that eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures would actually exist! Looks like this won¡¯t be a wasted trip.¡± Zhan Taiqing licked her rosy lips with her pink tongue and said, ¡°These seven jade discs are clearly of different grades, and it seems that the one farthest away is the most grand amongst them. If my guess is correct, that final jade disc is the king of the others.¡± Jiang Taishan gave a faint nod of agreement. The seven peaks were clearly of different grades, and the jade disc on the tallest and farthest peak had the most concentrated ancient aura. In fact, it made one feel that the disc had come into existence when the Mythic Utopia was born. Although all seven peaks were amazing treasures, the jade disc on the tallest peak was clearly the best amongst them. One could already imagine how the treasures inside that king jade disc would surely surpass the other six. Jiang Taishen¡¯s slender fingers clasped together as he stared at the ancient jade disc on the tallest peak. Moments later, his gaze suddenly shifted to the Cangxuan Sect, and he indifferently said, ¡°Zhou Yuan has repeatedly surpassed our expectations. I¡¯m beginning to understand why our sect master personally gave us that order back then. He will certainly become a threat to our Sacred Palace in the future.¡± Losing two Chosen all of a sudden was a substantial blow to the Sacred Palace¡¯s morale. Jin Chanzi¡¯s expression remained indifferent, his vertical golden pupils filled with endless frost as they locked onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. He had been the one to orchestrate the trap for Yaoyao, and he had originally believed it to be infallible. Who could have expected that Zhou Yuan¡¯s arrival would not only shatter their plans but also cause them to lose two Chosen. Jin Chanzi calmly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If there¡¯s a chance, I will personally take action. ¡°I will make him understand how foolish it is to offend the Sacred Palace¡­¡± ... ¡°After our earlier scouting, we¡¯ve found that only those with a mythic token will be able to enter these jade disc mountains,¡± said Li Qingchan on the Cangxuan Sect side. They had done some scouting earlier and had realized that there was a strong force field around the jade disc mountains. Only those with mythic tokens could withstand it. Chu Qing nodded and said, ¡°All of our Chosen are currently in possession of complete mythic tokens. It seems that ordinary disciples will not be able to participate in this final fight.¡± This meant that the final competition for the greatest blessing would be a battlefield between the Chosen of the various sects. ¡°The most important question now is which of the seven jade discs should we vie for?¡± Kong Sheng slowly stated the most important topic that was on everyone¡¯s minds. Although all seven jade discs were extraordinary, there were clearly different grades, especially the jade discs on the three tallest mountains that gave off eight-color lights. In other words, it was likely only those three jade discs contained eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures. With all six of the overlord sects present, as the saying went, there were too many monks and too little porridge. A great battle was naturally unavoidable. Li Qingchan softly said, ¡°The ancient jade disc on the tallest mountain should be the king of these blessings. This is something I believe everyone can see.¡± The other Chosen nodded. Li Qingchan slowly said, ¡°However, the Sacred Palace is definitely determined to win it. If we want to contest, we¡¯ll have to fight Jiang Taishen and the others.¡± The eyes of the other Chosen narrowed a little. Although they had previously exchanged blows with the Sacred Palace, all of them knew that the latter had yet to show their full strength. Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi were ranked first, third and fifth on the Shengzhou Continent Chosen List, each a ferocious individual in their own right. The trio had yet to display their full power because the blessings that had appeared previously were incapable of moving their hearts. With the appearance of potential eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures, even Jiang Taishan would no longer hold back. As such, the full might of the Sacred Palace¡¯s top-tier fighting force would soon be revealed. In the face of such power, the Cangxuan Sect Chosen understood that they would not have any advantage despite Zhou Yuan killing two of their Chosen. Hence, if they too chose the best jade disc, an all-out war would break out between both sides. Fighting the Sacred Palace was obviously going to be far more challenging than competing with the other four overlord sects, and no one could predict what the final outcome would be. As such, this was a problem they now faced... While the Chosen were silent, Zhou Yuan raised his head and peered at the highest ancient jade disc. He suddenly gasped, his hands trembling slightly as he blinked several times. Being sharp, Yaoyao immediately sensed this while standing beside him, and she asked in a low voice, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan rubbed his eyes. The ancient Saint Rune had unknowingly begun spinning in the depths of his pupils, and the ancient Earth Saint Rune could be faintly seen when he lifted his hand. He looked towards Yaoyao as his mouth moved, sending words wrapped with Genesis Qi into her ears, ¡°The third Saint Rune¡­¡± Although his expression remained composed, crazy waves were currently rising in his heart. The only explanation for the sudden stirring of the two Saint Runes in his body was that they had sensed the existence of the third Saint Rune. Zhou Yuan concentrated on the highest jade disc. As he did so, the two Saint Runes in his body trembled even more violently. The answer was clear. The third Saint Rune was inside that final jade disc! Yaoyao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she stroked Tuntun¡¯s soft fur. So the third Saint Rune had appeared as expected. Meanwhile, a dozen figures slowly rose into the sky from the Sacred Palace''s side. Jiang Taishen stood in the air with a slight smile on his face, his clothes fluttering about him, his white hair gently dancing in the wind. However, it was this very relaxed posture that caused countless wary, fearful and respectful gazes to look over. The first ranker on the Shengzhou Continent Chosen List did have his reputation after all. With his hands behind his back, Jiang Taishen lifted his head and looked towards the tallest peak as he slowly said, ¡°I¡¯m the Sacred Palace¡¯s Jiang Taishen. I hope that the sects here will do me a small favor and not compete with the Sacred Palace for the seventh jade disc.¡± His tone was very ordinary, but a heart-palpitating overbearingness slowly pulsed from his words. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 642 The Great Battle Begins Jiang Taishen stood on his Genesis Qi, hovering in the air with his hands behind his back as his voice echoed across the area, drawing countless fearful yet respectful gazes. Although his words sounded extremely arrogant, everyone present understood that he was more than capable of backing them up. In the face of such an imposing Jiang Taishen, even the other great sects were unable to say anything for a time. As such, Jiang Taishen¡¯s words caused the place to fall silent. The presence of a single person had basically swept everyone else away. The number one ranker on the Chosen List was indeed deserving of his reputation. However, those present were the cream of the crop in this generation of Cangxuan Heaven geniuses, and there were no lack of hidden tigers and dragons amongst them. Hence, they soon returned to their senses, and a voice rang out, ¡°Hey, I, Lu Dameng, have relied on my reputation to travel extensively for so many years, and yet I never once dared to utter such words. Who the hell do you think you are?¡± These piercing words immediately caused sniggers to erupt, disrupting the pressure Jiang Taishen had created as the gazes of the Chosen from the other factions began to twinkle in thought. Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes turned chillingly cold. Powerful Genesis Qi surged around his body as his piercing gaze swept forth like a hawk¡¯s. His Genesis Qi also reached out, trying to locate the one who had spoken. However, his expression soon darkened slightly because the speaker seemed to be rather adept at concealing his aura, making it impossible for even Jiang Taishen to find him. As such, Jiang Taishen could not help but inwardly boil in anger. It seemed he had underestimated the numerous talented geniuses of Cangxuan Heaven. Their combat power might be weaker than his own, but they clearly had other skills that were impossible to guard against. He had purposely spoken up earlier in an attempt to choke everyone through pressure, hoping the Sacred Palace¡¯s reputation and his own fame as the number one ranker on the Chosen List would leave a mark in the other Chosen¡¯s hearts. But someone had secretly spoken up at the critical juncture, wasting his efforts. From the crowd¡¯s slowly calming hearts, Jiang Taishen knew that his plan had failed. On the Cangxuan Sect side, Chu Qing rubbed his shiny bald head as he looked at the other Chosen and sighed, ¡°Are you guys really willing to give up on the king jade disc?¡± Kong Sheng hugged his mottled sword as he indifferently declared, ¡°Yielding before fighting will only bring shame to my sword.¡± Li Qingchan took in a deep breath and said, ¡°The Cangxuan Sect cannot retreat without fighting, even if it is against the Sacred Palace and Jiang Taishen.¡± Sharp looks rose in the eyes of the other Chosen. They had previously been a little overwhelmed by Jiang Taishen¡¯s pressure, causing them to be somewhat ashamed upon returning to their senses. If they lacked even the courage to vie with Jiang Taishen here, how would they make the Cangxuan Sect the strongest in Cangxuan Heaven again? Zhou Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the other Chosen¡¯s expressions. It would have been extremely troublesome if the Cangxuan Sect chose not to compete with the Sacred Palace, since he found out the third Saint Rune was hidden in the final jade disc. Chu Qing¡¯s gaze swept across the group before he sighed at the sky and said, ¡°You guys are great at talking, but wouldn¡¯t I be the one who has to deal with that bastard Jiang Taishen in the end?¡± The Cangxuan Sect Chosen smiled, and Li Qingchan softly chuckled. She said, ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing, I¡¯m sure our sect master will be overjoyed if you manage to win Jiang Taishen¡¯s ranking on the Chosen List.¡± Chu Qing bitterly scratched his head. ¡°How can it be so easy?¡± Though he said so, he still took a step forward. His lazy aura seemed to fade away as he looked straight at Jiang Taishen and sighed. ¡°Jiang Taishen, if your Sacred Palace wishes to monopolize the king jade disc, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to first ask my Cangxuan Sect whether or not we agree.¡± Swish! When Chu Qing spoke, every gaze in the area shifted towards him as low whispers began to spread. ¡°The Cangxuan Sect has stepped forward as expected!¡± ¡°Chu Qing is also an extraordinary individual. With Chu Qing stepping up, Jiang Taishen has met a real opponent.¡± ¡°Amongst the numerous Chosen in the Shengzhou Continent, the only one who can match Jiang Taishen is Chu Qing.¡± ¡°It seems that these two are destined to face each other.¡± ¡°......¡± Jiang Taishen looked towards Chu Qing with an indifferent expression and slowly said, ¡°Chu Qing, are you planning on making things difficult today?¡± Chu Qing grinned as he replied, ¡°It¡¯s not like your Sacred Palace¡¯s name is written on these treasures. Why shouldn¡¯t my Cangxuan Sect compete?¡± Jiang Taishen stared expressionless at Chu Qing with a penetrating gaze. However, Chu Qing¡¯s expression did not change under Jiang Taishen¡¯s gaze, and he instead met it with a smile. As their gazes clashed, faint killing intent began to arise, causing the surrounding temperature to drop. The sight of this caused the hearts of the many Chosen to shiver. Although the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace had clashed several times after coming to the Mythic Utopia, neither Jiang Taishen nor Chu Qing had shown their true power yet. They seemed to be constantly holding themselves back, but that was no longer possible now... The ranked one and two super cultivators were finally going to collide. Jiang Taishen slowly withdrew his gaze as his eyes lowered slightly. ¡°Chu Qing, since you insist on standing in our way, don¡¯t blame me if this place becomes the grave of all your Cangxuan Sect Chosen.¡± These words caused a chill to arise in the hearts of the many Chosen present. Jiang Taishen''s killing intent towards the Cangxuan Sect had clearly reached its peak. Chu Qing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as iciness flowed out onto his usually frivolous looking face. Chu Qing slowly said, ¡°I do want to find out whether you are that capable.¡± Jiang Taishen nodded before his hawk-like gaze turned towards another direction. ¡°Is there anyone else who wishes to exchange pointers with my Sacred Palace?¡± No one answered this time. Since the Cangxuan Sect had already declared their position, the others were free to watch which of these two titans would have the last laugh. After all, the other groups could always decide their next course of action after these two giants clashed. Jiang Taishen did not say anything else. His figure descended as he wore an indifferent expression, and he began to make his preparations. Meanwhile, the other four overlord sects also made their decisions. Since it appeared that only the final three jade discs were likely to contain eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures, they were naturally going to compete. The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect selected the second-to-last jade disc, both sides more than happy to clash again due to the many grudges between them. The Sword Seeker Sect and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall usually took a more neutral stance, but for the sake of the third jade disc that potentially held eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures, they would compete to see who was better. Since the six overlord sects had temporarily decided on the final three jade discs, the other four became the focus of the numerous factions. The atmosphere turned explosive for a time as killing intent quietly filled the air. An incense stick of time later. The Sacred Palace team was the first to rise into the air, Jiang Taishen leading the way as they shot towards the last jade disc. Chu Qing took in a deep breath, his lazy aura abruptly changing as battle intent surged from his eyes for the first time. ¡°Follow me Cangxuan Sect Chosen! Let¡¯s show the Sacred Palace what we¡¯re made of!¡± Swoosh! He led the way as his figure soared into the air. Behind him, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan immediately followed. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao exchanged a look before they also followed. Behind them, Gu Hongyi and the numerous Cangxuan Sect disciples loudly shouted, ¡°We¡¯ll wait here for the Chosen to return victorious!¡± They knew that the most intense, fierce and dangerous fight in the Mythic Utopia was finally about to begin. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 643 Tactics The team of Cangxuan Sect Chosen rose into the air with Chu Qing at their helm. Under the countless watching gazes, the group flew straight towards the majestic ancient mountain. Their goal was the final, tallest peak. The mysterious jade disc dazzled brilliantly at the top of the peak, drawing countless greedy gazes. As they approached, Chu Qing, Zhou Yuan and the others felt a boundless Genesis Qi fill the area around them. Under such conditions, a special force seemed to envelope their flying figures, causing them to gradually descend. ¡°It seems that we can¡¯t fly in this jade disc mountain.¡± Chu Qing¡¯s eyes rippled as he waved his hand. His figure rapidly descended, landing near the midpoint of the seventh peak. The group touched down atop a tree as a sea of giant towering trees greeted them. Chu Qing stood at the very front, a rarely seen solemn expression on his usually carefree face. He did not continue to lead them forward, but instead cast his gaze towards the front. On the road towards the peak, figure after figure with extraordinary auras were either seated or standing as they completely sealed off the path. The three figures at the very front were Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi. Countless gazes converged on this spot from outside the mountain. Everyone knew that this would be the most exciting face-off that even the other four overlord sects would not be able to match. Jiang Taishen and the rest were already fully intent on claiming the final jade disc for the Sacred Palace, but the Cangxuan Sect Chosen led by Chu Qing would never agree. Hence, a battle was inevitable regardless of which side wanted to obtain the king jade disc. With no more outsiders present to interfere, this was the best battlefield they could hope for. Jiang Taishen¡¯s white hair fluttered in the wind as he coldly said, ¡°Chu Qing, it¡¯s still not too late for regrets. I will permit you guys to withdraw and vie for the other jade discs.¡± Chu Qing chuckled and replied, ¡°Jiang Taishen, isn¡¯t it a little too indecisive of you to say such words now? This is not the Jiang Taishen I know.¡± Genesis Qi flowed between Jiang Taishen¡¯s slender fingers, his eyelids lowering slightly as he said, ¡°I merely do not want to waste time. But never mind, since you guys are so insistent on rushing to your deaths, it will do no good for me to try and stop you. After all, this place is indeed a pretty good grave.¡± He slowly lifted his hand and gave a small wave. ¡°Give them their present.¡± At his voice, sinister smiles were immediately revealed on the faces of the numerous Sacred Palace Chosen. With a grabbing motion, ancient mottled scrolls appeared in their hands. Rip! They tore the scrolls, causing wild Genesis Qi to explode from within as thunder rumbled across the area. Countless strings of light shot out from the scrolls and interweaved in the air, forming what appeared to be a glowing ancient painting. It soon covered the sky. A heart-palpitating undulation pulsed from it, changing the sky¡¯s color. Uproar! The countless gazing watchers immediately detected the commotion, and an uproar erupted. ¡°What is that?! What frightening Genesis Qi undulations!¡± ¡°Is it some kind of Genesis artifact?!¡± ¡°One should not offend the Sacred Palace after all...to think they were hiding something like this!¡± ¡°......¡± On the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace side, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo exchanged a look, seeing the worry in each other¡¯s eyes. They had evidently felt the power of this glowing picture. On the seventh peak, Chu Qing raised his head, his pupils shrinking a little as he gazed at the ancient glowing picture. He slowly said, ¡°This is¡­the Life Executioner Painting?!¡± Kong Sheng¡¯s and Li Qingchan¡¯s expressions shifted at his words. ¡°Life Executioner Painting? How can it be!¡± Rumor speaks of a Saint-level Genesis artifact within the Sacred Palace known as the Life Executioner Painting. Its immeasurable power was said to be capable of causing mass destruction, and it was even said that the Sacred Palace sect master had used it to fight patriarch Cang Xuan in the past. An ultimate treasure like this would usually be kept in the sect as a final trump card. How could it possibly appear in the hands of a few Chosen? Moreover, it was impossible for practitioners at their power level to activate it. ¡°You have a pretty keen eye. This is indeed the Life Executioner Painting, though it is merely an imitation crafted by sect master, and it can only be used once.¡± Jiang Taishen softly chuckled. Despite this, the hearts of Li Qingchan and the others sank. The Life Executioner Painting was a true-blue Saint-grade Genesis artifact, and even the imitation product in the hands of Jiang Taishen and the rest was not to be underestimated. ¡°However, I believe it should not be too difficult to exterminate all of you.¡± He raised his hand. ¡°Do it.¡± Rumble! A thunderous noise abruptly exploded from the ancient glowing painting in the sky. Genesis Qi rapidly moved towards it, and then the ancient glowing painting absorbed it. Chch! Moments later, the glowing painting slowly tore open, seemingly forming a sinister giant mouth as countless head-sized balls of light poured out. These light balls were basically super compressed Genesis Qi, and each one gave off an extremely dangerous aura. Rumble! In the next instant, countless Genesis Qi light balls began to rain down, their dazzling radiance blotting out even the sky itself. Each light ball was not inferior to a Chosen¡¯s full-powered attack, and even someone like Chu Qing would be hard-pressed to defend. Outside the mountain, countless gazes watched this scene in horror. They had evidently not expected the Sacred Palace to bring out such a deadly trump card so quickly... Even if the Cangxuan Sect Chosen managed to survive, they would surely sustain heavy casualties. It was indeed unwise to recklessly challenge the Sacred Palace. Below, the expressions of Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and the others changed drastically; they had likely sensed the terror of the bombardment. Just as they were about to act, however, Chu Qing¡¯s figure suddenly rose into the air. He gazed at the falling balls of destruction as he said, ¡°Jiang Taishen, you underestimate the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s foundations far too much if you believe this will be able to finish off all our Chosen.¡± His hands clapped together before slowly pulling apart. Rays of Genesis Qi converged between his palms as a tiny exquisite azure umbrella appeared. Ancient runes had been carved into its surface, and the umbrella immediately began to breathe in Genesis Qi the moment it appeared. Swish! The tiny azure umbrella shot forth as it rapidly expanded to a size of a thousand feet and hovered above the numerous Cangxuan Sect Chosen. Boom boom! Countless destructive light orbs fell, bombarding the azure umbrella. Bouncing away the destructive orbs, the umbrella¡¯s surface immediately began to ripple. Innumerable orbs collided in the sky, and berserk undulations devastated the surroundings. Li Qingchan and the rest stared at the giant azure umbrella in shock. They involuntarily cried out, ¡°Is that¡­the sect master¡¯s Heavenly Luo Umbrella?¡± Their sect master had a treasure known as the Heavenly Luo Umbrella. Although it was not a Saint-grade Genesis artifact, it was at the upper heaven grade tier, and it was also a rarely seen treasure. They never imagined that it would appear in Chu Qing¡¯s hands. Sect master Qing Yang must have secretly entrusted it to Chu Qing in order to counter the Sacred Palace when the right moment came. Atop a giant tree, Jiang Taishen frowned a little as he gazed at the giant azure umbrella. Chu Qing had come prepared after all, and it looked like the Life Executioner Painting was not going to wipe them out so easily. ¡°Hehe, how interesting. Sect master Qing Yang handed the Heavenly Luo Umbrella to Chu Qing in order to guard against the Sacred Palace.¡± Jin Chanzi chuckled. Zhan Taiqing¡¯s red lips cracked open slightly as she said, ¡°With the protection of the Heavenly Luo Umbrella, our Life Executioner Painting will likely be unable to exterminate them.¡± Jiang Taishen laughed and said, ¡°It doesn''t matter. I wasn¡¯t counting on finishing them off so easily in the first place. The ultimate goal of the Life Executioner Painting is not to kill but to trap them here.¡± His hands suddenly formed a seal. Swish! The giant glowing painting in the sky suddenly shuddered and spouted out a torrential fog. The fog emitted piercing noises that disrupted one¡¯s Spirit, making it impossible to orientate oneself. ¡°This fog can disrupt the Spirit. Anyone who¡¯s inside will be trapped as if they were in an inescapable prison.¡± Jiang Taishen tidied his sleeves as he cast an indifferent glance at the trapped Cangxuan Sect Chosen. ¡°The remaining Sacred Palace Chosen will continue to operate the Life Exterminating Painting to subdue them.¡± His gaze shifted towards Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi. ¡°The three of us shall make use of this opportunity to ascend to the peak and retrieve the jade disc before returning to play with them.¡± As his voice echoed, the tip of his foot pushed off the ground, and his figure dashed forward. Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi nodded. As they looked at the fog, mocking smiles rose from the corners of their mouths. The Cangxuan Sect Chosen were truly delusional to think that they would be able to vie with the Sacred Palace. The duo wondered how ugly the expressions of Chu Qing and the others would be when they returned with the jade disc. With such thoughts in mind, the duo laughed before they also dashed forth, followed Jiang Taishen, and swiftly travelled towards the peak. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 644 Time has passed Layers of fog gushed over from all directions, emitting an ear-piercing whistle as they blotted out the sun and sky. The fog directly trapped the Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect. Trapped inside, all the Chosen found that everything was chaotic and that it was difficult to distinguish directions. There were also terrifying balls of light constantly whizzing around in the boundless fog, each filled with killing intent. Chu Qing wrinkled his brows slightly, then quickly performed a hand seal with both hands. The Heavenly Luo Umbrella fiercely vibrated to withstand the Genesis Qi light balls. ¡°Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi are heading straight for the top of the mountain,¡± Yaoyao said all of a sudden. Li Qingchan''s, Kong Sheng''s and the others¡¯ expressions changed when they heard Yaoyao. If they were to let Jiang Taishen take the jade disc before them, it would become incredibly difficult to take it back from the Sacred Palace''s hands. Even if they forced things too far and were able to take it back, in desperation Jiang Taishen would destroy the jade disc rather than let them have it. This would restrict their actions. ¡°Let''s try to get out of the Spirit Confusion Fog first!¡± Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and other Chosen darted forward the next moment, directly charging into the thick fog. But very soon, they returned with troubled looks on their faces. ¡°The fog can confuse the Spirit. Once one steps in, one will lose their sense of direction, and it will be hard to continue to move forward,¡± Li Qingchan explained. ¡°To break out, one must either possess incredibly strong Genesis Qi to withstand this fog or have Spirit power strong enough to resist the interference of the Spirit Confusion Fog.¡± Kong Sheng frowned. He and Li Qingchan could attempt to break through, but that would consume a huge amount of their energy. This meant that even if they managed to break out, how could they fight against Jiang Taishen and the others? Chu Qing slowly said, ¡°I can break out of the Spirit Confusion Fog, but I will need at least two people to assist me. Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing, and Jin Chanzi are not easy to deal with. The only thing I can do is stall Jiang Taishen.¡± The rest of the Chosen kept silent. It went without saying that only Chu Qing could go against Jiang Taishen, but Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi weren¡¯t weak either. Even Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan might not have any advantage against them. Moreover, Li Qingchan and Kong Sheng both said that although their Genesis Qi was considered strong, their Spirit was somewhat weak. They would most likely exhaust themselves trying to break out of the Spirit Confusion Fog. In that state they would most likely be no match for Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi. From this it could be said that their situation was extremely disadvantaged. The atmosphere turned gloomy all of a sudden. ¡°Zhou Yuan and I are able to break through the Spirit Confusion Fog,¡± a clear voice broke the silence. Everybody shifted their gazes over to Yaoyao. Li Qingchan¡¯s beautiful eyes lit up. They had almost forgotten about Yaoyao, whose Spirit was incredibly strong. The Spirit Confusion Fog could stop them, but it had no effect on Yaoyao. More importantly, Yaoyao was extremely strong, which meant that if she could break out of the fog, she wouldn¡¯t fear Zhan Taiqing of the Sacred Palace. But...although Yaoyao was able to break out, Zhou Yuan was still a bit of a problem. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡ªcan he fight against Jin Chanzi?¡± Kong Sheng spoke out suddenly, expressing his doubt. Although Zhou Yuan had previously killed two Sacred Palace Chosen and had an impressive battle record, Jin Chanzi was not an ordinary Chosen. He was ranked fifth on the Chosen List of the Shenzhou Continent. Even Kong Sheng did not have much confidence in defeating him. The other Chosen were also a little hesitant. The people who went out would have to face the three strongest people of the Sacred Palace. If Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t strong enough, it would instead put him in great danger. He had previously killed two Chosen of the Sacred Palace, so if the opponent had the chance, they wouldn¡¯t show him any mercy. Chu Qing pondered for a moment, then turned to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, what do you think? You don''t have to force yourself. If it¡¯s not possible, we can take a step back and give up the king jade disc.¡± Zhou Yuan calmly answered, ¡°I would like to go.¡± Within the king jade disc was the third Saint Rune, something he could never give up. Moreover, although Jin Chanzi was admittedly powerful, Zhou Yuan was not the same guy who had once suffered his sneak attack. He also wanted payback for what had happened before. Chu Qing took a deep look at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Well, since junior brother Zhou Yuan has such courage, then us three will break out of the Spirit Confusion Fog and intercept Jiang Taishen.¡± He then turned to Li Qingchan and Kong Sheng, saying, ¡°I will leave the Heavenly Yuan Umbrella to your control. This treasure requires a great amount of Genesis Qi to activate, so you two can join forces to operate it.¡± ¡°When the three of us have broken through and are facing off against Jiang Taishen and the other two, you have to do your best to stall the other Sacred Palace Chosen so as to not let them interfere.¡± Li Qingchan and Kong Sheng nodded. After leaving instructions, Chu Qing did not dare to delay any further and immediately said to Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan, ¡°Let¡¯s move!¡± Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan exchanged a glance, nodding gently. Swoosh! Chu Qing stood on his tiptoes, and suddenly Genesis Qi burst forth from his body. He transformed into a stream of light, piercing into the boundless Spirit Confusion Fog. Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Yaoyao¡¯s Spirits flickered. They immediately followed. Watching the three people disappear into the fog, Li Qingchan and the other Chosen revealed looks of awe. They knew that the last battle of the Mythic Utopia was on the shoulders of Chu Qing, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan but that their opponents were also outstanding leaders in the Sacred Palace. Thus even they were not certain who would win in the end. The winner of the battle between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace in the Mythic Utopia would depend on this great battle. ... Outside Jade Disc Mountain. Countless eyes were fixed on the fog shrouding the last peak. ¡°The Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect are trapped...¡± ¡°Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing, and Jin Chanzi are heading straight to the top for the jade disc!¡± ¡°It seems that they intend to take the jade disc first. Haha, no wonder they are part of the Sacred Palace. They are indeed fierce. If the jade disc falls into their hands, the Cangxuan Sect will no longer be able to compete.¡± ¡°It seems that the Sacred Palace is more skilful in this competition.¡± ¡°......¡± Everybody began discussing in whispers. They evidently thought the Sacred Palace had an advantage in the final battle between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo, Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan all let out a sigh. Swoosh! But just as numerous gazes were filling with regret, someone suddenly let out a loud exclaim. He saw that within the thick fog, there were three streams of light shooting out. ¡°Someone of the Cangxuan Sect is breaking out!¡± ¡°Who is it?!¡± ¡°The one in front seems to be Chu Qing...followed by Zhou Xiaoyao and Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°Chu Qing¡¯s appearance is not a surprise, but why are the other two here and not Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan?¡± many people exclaimed. Yaoyao had always kept a low profile, and Zhou Yuan had just made a name for himself, so in many people¡¯s eyes, the strongest three should be Chu Qing, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan. The Sacred Palace Chosen naturally also saw the three people breaking through. But they had no intention of blocking them. Instead, a flicker of derision came into their eyes. So what if they broke through? The real difficulty was not breaking through: Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi, who were also heading for the summit, were the most powerful pillars of the Sacred Palace. ¡°Hmph, go ahead. When you meet the Sacred Palace¡¯s strongest three, you will understand that Cangxuan Heaven belongs to our Sacred Palace! ¡°And your Cangxuan Sect¡¯s time has passed!¡± Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 645 Chu Qings Combat Form Swoosh! Near the seventh peak, under countless astonished gazes, Chu Qing, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao shot forward. They swiftly followed and chased after Jiang Taishen and the others as they headed up the giant peak. Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes flickered ever so slightly as he swept a glance behind him. ¡°They really caught up.¡± Zhan Taiqing''s scarlet eyes glanced back, a charming smile curling on her lips. She said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao to be the two following Chu Qing. Really interesting. I thought it would be Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan.¡± ¡°Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan have relatively weak Spirit, and if they were to break out of the Spirit Confusion Fog, their Genesis Qi would be exhausted. Their strength can¡¯t be compared to you two. If their Genesis Qi was exhausted, they would basically have no chance of winning.¡± Jiang Taishen smiled. This was what he had originally predicted, and as long as Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan dared to break through the fog and come after them, he could tell Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi to kill them. But he seemed to have made a miscalculation. Yet it didn¡¯t matter. They were all people who would die; the names Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan had merely changed to Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao. Jiang Taishen gently waved his hand, saying, ¡°Since they are determined to seek death, let¡¯s fulfill their wishes today.¡± His voice faded, and his body came to a stop. He turned around, looking indifferently at Chu Qing and the other two chasing after them. Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi also halted as they playfully stared at the people behind them, their eyes flickering with ridicule. Seeing that Jiang Taishen and the other two had stopped, Chu Qing also gave a wave of his hand. He was the first to stop. ¡°Jiang Taishen, you¡¯re too impatient.¡± Jiang Taishen smiled. ¡°Chu Qing, you''re the one impatiently seeking death.¡± When his voice sounded out, everyone felt an astonishing surge of fluctuating Genesis Qi. Jiang Taishen¡¯s body began to rise, and the ground seemed to quake. Ash-grey Genesis Qi slowly rose from Jiang Taishen¡¯s head like a huge halo, blotting out the sun and sky. An oppressive Genesis Qi had shrouded the heavens and the earth. Countless eyes fixed on his figure. The powerful person ranked first on the Chosen List was finally going to display his terrifying strength? Jiang Taishen''s expression remained indifferent as he stretched out a slender finger, pointing to Chu Qing from afar. Then, the corners of his mouth curved in a chilling arc, and he waved his finger. Boom! From his fingertips a waterfall of ash-grey Genesis Qi roared out. It tore huge marks through the air wherever it passed. It could be seen that the Genesis Qi that Jiang Taishen cultivated was incredibly tyrannical. It would have been impossible for ordinary Chosen to withstand Jiang Taishen¡¯s attack. They would most likely be killed within seconds, their bodies turned into nothingness from the corrosive qi. Zhou Yuan gazed at the waterfall of roaring grey Genesis Qi, but his eyes suddenly shrank the moment the ash-grey Genesis Qi made an abrupt turn. It wasn¡¯t charging towards Chu Qing. It was aiming for him! Jiang Taishen had immediately attacked him without warning! The speed was extremely fast, almost reaching Zhou Yuan in just a breath of time. But Zhou Yuan remained calm and composed. He did not panic in the slightest. Shua! Just as the gush of ash-grey Genesis Qi was inches away from Zhou Yuan, a ghost-like figure appeared in front of him. The figure¡¯s hands clenched and slammed forward. Boom! The fist light collided with the ash-grey Genesis Qi, causing a storm-like Genesis Qi shock wave to rage out. The figure standing in front of Zhou Yuan did not move an inch, his head so smooth that it reflected light. It was Chu Qing. Chu Qing lifted his head, his eyes narrowing as he met Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Jiang Tashen, I find it a little strange that you always possess intense killing intent for Zhou Yuan?¡± Previously, Jin Chanzi had tried to attack and kill Zhou Yuan. Even now, Jiang Taishen had directed his attack at Zhou Yuan. Although Zhou Yuan had killed some Chosen from the Sacred Palace and had attracted a lot of hatred, Jiang Taishen''s and Jin Chanzi¡¯s actions still seemed a little too excessive. Smiling, Jiang Taishen flicked his finger. ¡°Because I feel that in the future Zhou Yuan will be a threat to my Sacred Palace. Since this is the case, I naturally need to eliminate him early.¡± Chu Qing smiled. ¡°Then I have to thank you for thinking so highly of him?¡± His smile gradually faded, and he nonchalantly warned, ¡°But since I am here today, don¡¯t even think about touching him.¡± Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes drooped. ¡°Is that right? Then I would like to see whether the Ancient Barren Qi that you cultivate can protect him.¡± ¡°I''d also like to see how much progress you have made with your Sacred Underworld Bone Qi.¡± Chu Qing said indifferently. ¡°I don''t think I¡¯ll disappoint you.¡± Jiang Taishen was smiling, but there was not the slightest smile in his eyes. His hands slowly spread out, his robe billowed around him, and his white hair fluttered although no wind stirred the air. His ash-grey Genesis Qi was like a storm, frantically raging from his body. Boom! The whole world seemed to tremble. The ash-grey Genesis Qi coiled everywhere, bringing a bizarre coldness. Even air itself was directly corroded into nothingness when the air came into contact with the qi. Surging with Genesis Qi, Jiang Taishen glanced at the two people behind him. ¡°Zhan Taiqing, Jin Chanzi, you two should continue forward and seize the jade disc first.¡± Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi nodded and swiftly darted away. ¡°Leave Jiang Taishen to me, and you two can deal with the other two. Is there a problem?¡± Chu Qing turned to Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. Yaoyao remained calm, and there wasn¡¯t the slightest ripple of emotion on her face. Zhou Yuan¡¯s narrowed eyes locked onto Jin Chanzi¡¯s figure, and he nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan roared and raced after Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi with Yaoyao. Jiang Taishen shot a glance at them, but made no attempt to block them because he had confidence in both Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi. Even though Yaoyao was slightly mysterious, Jiang Taishen attached no importance to Zhou Yuan even if he had previously killed two Chosen. Because at their level, it wasn¡¯t difficult to do so. Watching the two people disappear into the distance, Jiang Taishen crossed his arms and smiled at Chu Qing. ¡°Are you not worried about them? They are looking for death.¡± ¡°Jiang Taishen, it''s good to have confidence, but don''t let it become arrogance.¡± ¡°Is that right?¡± Jiang Taishen swung his robe gently. The surging ash-grey Genesis Qi gathered behind him, emitted rays of light, and gradually formed a bright Genesis Qi star formation in which countless ash-grey stars twinkled. An astonishing oppressive force slowly spread out. In this universe, countless eyes were intensely fixed on the Genesis Qi starry formation behind Jiang Taishen. From a cursory count, the number of stars reached an astonishing one hundred thousand! One hundred thousand Genesis Qi stars¡ªwhat an incredible Genesis Qi foundation?! Beyond the mountains, the disciples of various sects were all dumbstruck. This was the strength of the strongest person on the Chosen List? A total of one hundred thousand Genesis Qi stars. It was enough to simply suppress the entire younger generation of Cangxuan Heaven! Chu Qing lifted his head, studying the one hundred thousand Genesis Qi stars. His eyes slightly narrowed, displaying a trace of seriousness. His tired-looking eyes had become fierce and sharp. ¡°Hu...¡± He took a deep breath, and his hands slowly clasped together, sending dark yellow Genesis Qi bursting forth from his body. The dark yellow Genesis Qi filled the sky and occupied half the sky. Rays of Genesis Qi light illuminated the air, similarly forming a Genesis Qi starry sky phenomenon in which dark yellow Genesis Qi stars were twinkling brightly. Ninety-five thousand! Chu Qing''s Genesis Qi stars were surprisingly extremely close to one hundred thousand, and they were not much weaker than that of Jiang Taishen. Zhou Yuan had previously speculated that Chu Qing''s Genesis Qi foundation should be around sixty or seventy thousand. He now realised he had underestimated the foundation of the chief Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect. Moreover, following the unrestrained eruption of Genesis Qi from Chu Qing''s body, everyone was astonished to see strands of black hair growing out from his bald head. The hair continued to grow until finally, it cascaded down his back like a waterfall. From a distance his hair resembled a black cape. However, his long strands of hair were not soft, and they were flashing with chilling, cold light. Each strand of hair was incomparably sharp like a knife. Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and the other Chosen also cast glances over in his direction from afar. When they saw Chu Qing like this, their eyes lit up in surprise. ¡°It''s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen him in this form...¡± Because Chu Qing cultivated the Ancient Barren Qi, it resulted in his hair falling off. But once he fully activated his Genesis Qi, he would transform into this state, which Li Qingchan and others called Chu Qing''s battle form. It was just that the number of times Chu Qing was forced into this form over the years could be counted on one hand. Evidently, in the face of Jiang Taishen, Chu Qing no longer held back. Countless people cast their blazing eyes in their direction. This battle was a contest between the first and second Chosen on the Shengzhou Continent''s Chosen List. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 646 Two Women Under countless shocked gazes, Chu Qing was standing on the tip of a towering ancient tree. His long needle-like hair flowing down his back was gently swaying and flashing with a cold luster. Chu Qing¡¯s imposing manner had changed drastically. His lazy and carefree attitude was completely gone, and his eyes had turned incomparably sharp. ¡°Chu Qing, it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen this form of yours,¡± Jiang Taisheng remarked. Chu Qing grinned. ¡°Jiang Taishen, you were lucky to win the last time, but this time you won¡¯t be so lucky.¡± ¡°Is that right?¡± Jiang Taishen did not pay the slightest of heed. But he also understood that amongst the younger generation of Cangxuan Heaven, only Chu Qing could pose a threat to him. Although Chu Qing had slightly fewer Genesis Qi stars, at this level, that amount of difference did not mean anything. Even he would not slack off in today''s battle. Jiang Taishen took a deep breath. His palms rotated towards each other, and ash-grey Genesis Qi suddenly surged toward him. His palms then trembled abruptly, and the majestic ash-grey Genesis Qi transformed into countless ash-grey particles of Genesis Qi, emitting a chilling cold luster. ¡°Underworld powder!¡± Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes flashed coldly. With the flick of his sleeve, countless particles whizzed out and shrouded Chu Qing. The Genesis Qi light particles emitted a very strong corrosive force. Once they touched flesh, they could directly and continuously corrode the flesh and blood. Watching the numerous particles of light rushing toward him, Chu Qing slightly raised his brow. His cape-like black hair then lifted up, and like a storm, countless thin strands of black hair shot out. Chi! In the sky, countless strands of hair collided with the particles of light, producing splutters. Boom! But these two attacks were only probes. The two¡¯s eyes turned incomparably sharp and fierce, and with the stamp of their feet, they directly shattered the ancient trees below them. Their bodies turned into streams of light and, finally, fiercely collided in the air under countless shocked gazes. Boom! An incomparably berserk Genesis Qi shock wave immediately wreaked havoc. ... Rapidly speeding forward, Zhou Yuan felt the terrifying impact from behind. Jiang Taishen¡¯s and Chu Qing''s Genesis Qi foundations both exceeded his expectations. ¡°Is this the strength of the first and second Chosen on the Chosen List?¡± Zhou Yuan''s face grew solemn. Even he had to admit at this time that it would be difficult for him to win against Jiang Taishen. But he had the confidence that once he broke through to the ninth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage, he would not need to fear Jiang Taishen. Zhou Yuan quickly calmed his emotions because he understood that his opponent was not him. In front of them two shadows came into view. ¡°Jiang Taishen and Chu Qing are battling now.¡± Zhan Taiqing¡¯s beautiful scarlet eyes flashed, and she glanced at the two figures closely following them. ¡°Two mice are following us. If we don¡¯t get rid of them, it will become difficult for us to obtain the jade disc peacefully.¡± Jin Chanzi faintly smiled. ¡°Then let¡¯s get rid of them.¡± He looked at Zhan Taiqing and asked, ¡°Who are you going to choose?¡± Zhan Taiqing licked her red lips, smiling. ¡°I heard Li Qingchan say that Zhou Xiaoyao has some ability? I¡¯d like to see if I will trample her, or if she will trample me? Hehe.¡± Jin Chanzi pursed his lips. ¡°You left Zhou Yuan for me, that¡¯s so boring.¡± ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re ranked lower, so of course you get the leftovers.¡± Jin Chanzi helplessly sighed, but a ruthless look came to his face when he shifted his gaze onto Zhou Yuan. ¡°Since there isn¡¯t a choice, then it¡¯s him. Fine, when I capture him I will first sever his hands and feet.¡± He spoke very casually, evidently treating Zhou Yuan like a prey held in his fingertips. ¡°Keep him alive for me to play with. I told Li Qingchan that I wanted to extract all of the boy''s blood.¡± Zhan Taiqing laughed. Jin Chanzi nodded. Seeing this, Zhan Taiqing¡¯s beautiful body halted abruptly, and she landed on a huge boulder. Her little red mouth opened slightly, and a stream of blood light jetted out. Pff! The blood light was wrapped in intense blood qi. Within the blood light, a needle around an inch in size formed. That blood needle was wrapped in blood poison. Once it penetrated the body, it would contaminate one¡¯s blood, making one¡¯s life worse than death. The blood needle shot in Yaoyao¡¯s direction. Yaoyao naturally sensed the blood needle speeding over, yet there was not the slightest ripple on her beautiful face. Between her bright and pure eyebrows, there was a brightly flickering Spirit light. Invisible Spirit power then burst forth, transforming into a Spirit needle. Dong! The two long needles collided in the air, producing a crisp sound, and the surging Genesis Qi exploded. ¡°Junior sister of the Cangxuan Sect, can you come down to play?¡± Zhan Taiqing said with a smile. Yaoyao shot a glance at her and then said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°Leave this woman for me to deal with.¡± Somehow, Zhou Yuan seemed to hear a chilling coldness in her voice. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°I''ll go after Jin Chanzi.¡± They had already assigned each other''s opponents. Yaoyao nodded while Spirit power enveloped her delicate body, and she slowly landed onto the boulder where Zhan Taiqing stood. Zhou Yuan sped up to catch up to Jin Chanzi. Zhan Taiqing peered down at Yaoyao, blinking repeatedly. ¡°Such a beautiful person. You¡¯re so beautiful that I somewhat don¡¯t have the heart to raise my hand.¡± Zhan Taiqing was extremely confident in her appearance. She did not feel inferior in the slightest in front of Li Qingchan, but in the face of Yaoyao, she felt that she was being somewhat suppressed. However, this only strengthened Zhan Taiqing¡¯s desire to destroy her. She wanted to see if Yaoyao could still maintain such a perfectly beautiful little face when she extracted all her blood. ¡°So you are Zhan Taiqing.¡± Zhan Taiqing smiled. ¡°How can I help?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s lips opened slightly, ¡°I heard from Li Qingchan that you wanted to draw out Zhou Yuan¡¯s blood to play with?¡± Zhan Taiqing was taken aback for a moment. She then smiled. ¡°Oh? So that kid is your little sweetheart?¡± She licked her red lips while her scarlet eyes flickered coldly. ¡°If that boy falls into my hands, I really don''t mind extracting his blood to play with.¡± She tilted her head, smiling sweetly. ¡°Are you angry? Hehe, don''t worry, because he and you will share the same ending...¡± Yaoyao looked at Zhan Taiqing with her clear and pure eyes, and nodded gently. ¡°I''m not interested in extracting blood, but I think...it might be quite fun to pull your spirit out.¡± Her beautiful hand lifted, and Spirit light gathered between her beautiful eyebrows. Then, under Zhan Taiqing¡¯s slightly changing expression, an invisible wisp of Spirit Flame slowly descended and landed in Yaoyao¡¯s hand. Buzz! She flicked her finger. Swoosh! The invisible Spirit Flame burst out. The area was instantly saturated with an extremely strong killing intent. Previous ChapterNext Chapte Chapter 647 The third round On the towering seventh peak, countless gazes converged on the two battlefields. Although battles had also broken out on the other six peaks, the seventh peak still attracted the most attention. In addition to the first and second fights between Jiang Taishen and Chu Qing, the battle between Yaoyao and Zhan Taiqing had become a highlight. Both women were remarkably beautiful and graceful, so their battle naturally caught a lot of attention. However, for other sects, it was obvious that Zhan Taiqing was far better than Yaoyao in terms of reputation. After all, Zhan Taiqing was still ranked third on the Chosen List after Jiang Taishen and Chu Qing. So in the beginning, some people who were attracted by Yaoyao¡¯s appearance felt some sympathy for her. But this sympathy gradually disappeared as the battle between the two women progressed. This was because they found that although Yaoyao¡¯s Genesis Qi was weak, her Spirit was outrageously strong. She was not at a disadvantage even against a strong opponent like Zhan Taiqing, and she even seemed to be handling the battle with ease. It was only at this time that they understood the Cangxuan Sect had such a powerful person. ¡°Jiang Taishen, Chu Qing, Zhou Xiaoyao and Zhan Taiqing have all made a move. Only Jin Chanzi and Zhou Yuan are left.¡± ¡°It looks like the Cangxuan Sect plans to have Zhou Yuan go against Jin Chanzi.¡± ¡°I think this decision is the worst one that the Cangxuan Sect has made out of the three. Although Zhou Yuan performed pretty well before and can be ranked as a Chosen, he is unfortunately going up against Jin Chanzi.¡± ¡°Yes, Jin Chanzi is ranked fifth on the Chosen List. If the Cangxuan Sect had sent out Kong Sheng instead, then perhaps there would be a proper fight. But they had sent out Zhou Yuan! That¡¯s just digging themselves a hole.¡± ¡°If Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t able to cope, it will adversely affect the other battles, and the Cangxuan Sect could be utterly defeated by the Sacred Palace.¡± ¡°......¡± In whispers, the audience exchanged their thoughts on the three battles. The first two battles looked positive for the Cangxuan Sect; at the very least they were not at a disadvantage. Only Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle was filled with uncertainty. It was evident that no one was optimistic about Zhou Yuan. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s, Luluo¡¯s and the others¡¯ faces were crossed with worry as they watched the two figures on the last towering mountain peak continue to move forward. Although they believed in Zhou Yuan, they were aware of Jin Chanzi¡¯s strength. Jin Chanzi was ranked lower than Jiang Taishen and Zhan Taiqing, but he was one of the three greatest Chosen among the younger generation of the Sacred Palace. In front of Jin Chanzi, the other Sacred Palace Chosen could only submit to him. If anyone truly thought that Jin Chanzi was easy to deal with, they were being too naive. On the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s side, some disciples looked at the seventh mountain peak and asked, ¡°Can senior brother Zhou Yuan beat Jin Chanzi?¡± Gu Hongyi did not know how to answer. She glanced over to Tang Muxin, Jin Zhang and the other chief disciples beside her. They were all looking at each other in dismay, and she finally just shook her head with a bitter smile. Even ordinary Chosen were high-level existences to them, so they simply couldn¡¯t imagine the strength of a top Chosen like Jin Chanzi. ¡°Since Zhou Yuan volunteered, he must have confidence in winning. Even if he is no match for Jin Chanzi, as long as he can stall him, perhaps senior brother Chu Qing or Yaoyao can win their battle and come help him.¡± Tang Muxin could only comfort everyone like so. But the other disciples were not fools. Of course they could hear the tone of uncertainty in Tang Muxin¡¯s voice. They immediately sighed inwardly and raised their heads, peering at the towering peak with worried looks. ¡°Jin Chanzi has reached the summit.¡± Tang Muxin¡¯s beautiful face changed slightly. All the others also froze. They drew a deep breath, knowing that when Jin Chanzi reached the peak, he would try to eliminate Zhou Yuan first. The third round of battle was finally about to begin. ... Shua! Tapping his toes on the tip of a tree, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body shot straight up like an eagle, piercing through the mist and clouds. Finally, he found his field of vision clearing up. There was a vast expanse of space above the peak. Clouds and mist lingered over the mountain, like a wonderland. Zhou Yuan landed on a huge boulder, and his eyes immediately shifted towards the farthest point right away. He saw a huge jade standing quietly, flickering with a mysterious and ancient luster. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were blazing when he laid eyes on the jade disc. He could feel that the third Saint Rune was within it! After a few breaths, Zhou Yuan forced his gaze away and back onto the rear of a figure not too far away. At this moment, Jin Chanzi was also studying the jade disc. His hands were clasped behind his back. ¡°I didn''t think you''d really dare to follow me,¡± Jin Chanzi remarked without turning his head. Zhou Yuan gently cocked his head. ¡°I have a number of things to settle with you. If I let you flee back to the Sacred Palace, it will be quite troublesome for me.¡± Jin Chanzi slowly turned around, coldly fixing his golden vertically slit eyes on Zhou Yuan. The corners of his mouth twisted in a cruel smile. ¡°It seems that defeating two Chosen from my Sacred Palace has given you a lot of confidence. Back then, outside the Great Mythic Mountain range, you had lacked even the courage to speak to me.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°At that time I really wasn¡¯t certain that I could kill you, but I should have that confidence now.¡± Jin Chanzi shook his head. He evidently treated Zhou Yuan¡¯s words as the words of a crazy man. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time talking. Zhou Yuan, if you break your arms right now, I can spare your life for killing two of our Chosen. There are orders to bring you back to the Sacred Palace. Though it doesn¡¯t matter whether you are dead or alive. But if you do as I say, I can spare your life.¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed, and then he burst into laughter. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you are using this childish method of trying to provoke me. Also, I''m not going to let you leave here alive.¡± A murderous glint flickered in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. He was aware that it was Jin Chanzi¡¯s idea to plot a trap for Yaoyao. Moreover, the toxic qi around Soul Subduing Mountain had belonged to Jin Chanzi. Towards Jin Chanzi, he already had a strong killing intent that couldn¡¯t be erased. Jin Chanzi must die today! Jin Chanzi narrowed his eyes, and his lips pulled back to reveal his white teeth. Boom! Jin Chanzi stamped his feet, and green Genesis Qi directly erupted from his body. The glow of the Genesis Qi illuminated the sky, forming a Genesis Qi starry sky phenomenon. And between the formation, there were 83,000 Genesis Qi stars flashing brightly. The strong and violent oppressive force of Genesis Qi came sweeping down from the peak, and along with it was Jin Chanzi¡¯s words that were filled with murderous spirit. ¡°I''d like to see how much of your pitiful self-confidence will remain after I trample your face.¡± Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 648 Fierce Battle Buzz! Raging violent Genesis Qi, with a nauseating smell, gushed from Jin Chanzi¡¯s body. The 83,000 Genesis Qi stars flashed with dazzling light, causing a reaction amongst the countless people present. Seeing the spectacular Genesis Qi phenomenon, Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath. Golden Genesis Qi burst forth from his body, which similarly formed a Genesis Qi starry phenomenon. It was just that his 39,000 Genesis Qi stars were extremely embarrassing compared to Jin Chanzi¡¯s. Beyond the mountains, there were even roars of laughter, especially from the side of the Sacred Palace disciples. Their laughter was unrestrained because, solely based on their Genesis Qi foundation, Zhou Yuan had no chance of winning. The disciples of the Cangxuan Sect glowered at them, but they were all somewhat nervous. They knew the gap between Zhou Yuan and Jin Chanzi was too great. Zhou Yuan seemed to not notice the roars of laughter beyond the mountain, and he just locked his eyes onto Jin Chanzi. The earth-shaking Genesis Qi that was surging everywhere told him that today¡¯s battle would be the fiercest battle he would have since coming to the Shengzhou Continent. Jin Chanzi crossed his arms, dark green Genesis Qi surging behind him. He stared at Zhou Yuan with his golden slit eyes, and a sneer curved on his lips. ¡°Zhou Yuan, your foundation is only 39,000 Genesis Qi stars? If that''s the case¡±¡ªhis eyes suddenly turned fierce¡ª¡°then I¡¯m afraid you really can¡¯t go anywhere today!¡± Boom! When Jin Chanzi¡¯s voice faded, he slammed his foot. The surging dark green Genesis Qi behind him roared out, transforming into a giant claw emitting a bloody stench. It fiercely slashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath as he watched the dark green claw whizzing over. Golden Genesis Qi was also roaring out at this time. There was a shadow of a giant serpent with claws vaguely visible within the golden light. In the face of Jin Chanzi¡¯s Genesis Qi attack, he did not evade. He wanted to see how strong his opponent¡¯s 83,000 Genesis Qi foundation was! After all, Zhou Yuan had never fought against an opponent at Jin Chanzi¡¯s level. The Genesis Qi foundations of the two Sacred Palace Chosen he had killed before most likely couldn¡¯t compare to Jin Chanzi¡¯s even if added up together. Moreover, Genesis Qi foundations were not easy things to compare. A person who possessed 80,000 Genesis Qi stars could easily crush two opponents who each had 40,000 Genesis Qi stars. Watching Zhou Yuan¡¯s golden Genesis Qi gush over, the corners of Jin Chanzi¡¯s lips tilted in a contemptuous arc. He then gave a flick of the robe. Boom! The giant dark green Genesis Qi claw fiercely collided with the golden serpent shadow, sending violent Genesis Qi rippling out. The golden shadow only lasted a few breaths of time before it shattered to pieces. On the other hand, the giant Genesis Qi claw was weakened only slightly, and it was still as incomparably ferocious as before. It immediately aimed another strike at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan swiftly transformed, turning into remnants of shadow, and rapidly retreated to evade the giant claw attack. Boom! Multiple cracks were blasted into the earth, and smoke billowed up. Like a cat playing with a mouse, Jin Chanzi watched the scene indifferently and then cast his eyes over to the figure reappearing in the distance. His first attack had almost crushed Zhou Yuan. It was naive of Zhou Yuan to try to compete with him when his Genesis Qi foundation was only 39,000 stars. ¡°Are you going to fight me like a mouse, hiding here and there?¡± Jin Chanzi grinned, folding his hands together in a hand seal. His eyes suddenly grew sinister. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can hide?¡± Gu! His throat emitted a bizarre sound, and his mouth bulged all of a sudden. Dark green Genesis Qi frantically gathered within it. The qi compressed, and Jin Chanzi spewed it out. ¡°Heavenly Toxic Toad Ripple!¡± Sharp hissing sound waves rapidly rang out. The flowing dark green light became sticky like a poisonous fluid, and it directly roared toward Zhou Yuan with incredible speed. That speed was simply too fast for him to avoid. It also corroded the ground and left behind a nauseating stench wherever it passed. Each of Jin Chanzi¡¯s attacks was fiercer than the one before. He evidently intended to use his powerful Genesis Qi foundation to completely destroy Zhou Yuan¡¯s self-confidence. Zhou Yuan watched the ripple of dark green light gush over with a solemn look on his face. He had already activated the Ethereal Form to its peak, and he frantically retreated. But Jin Chanzi¡¯s attacks were like sound waves, so fast they were impossible to evade. As the dark green light ripple rapidly grew larger before him, Zhou Yuan''s hands also rapidly folded in a hand seal with lightning speed, and he swiftly operated his Genesis Qi. His mouth also suddenly bulged, spraying out a dark golden flame. ¡°Heavenly Sun Flame!¡± Dark gold flames came speeding out, turning the temperature increasingly hot. Even the surface of the ground was melted instantly. That mouthful of dark gold flame directly collided with the roaring dark green sound wave. Boom! The two collided, producing a piercing sharp noise. But the dark gold flame, after lasting for tens of breaths of time, was then extinguished and swallowed by the dark green light. Having swallowed the dark gold flame, the dark green light ripple continued to shoot towards Zhou Yuan, who was constantly retreating. The battle between the two had turned intense from the very start. ¡°Boom!¡± While rapidly retreating, the space between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows began to glow. The ground then quaked, and huge stone walls suddenly lifted into the air to shield Zhou Yuan. On the stonewalls was Spirit light. Evidently, Zhou Yuan had even activated his Spirit power. Boom! The dark green ripple was still gushing over in the face of the heavy stonewalls, destroying everything in the way. In just a few seconds, it pierced all the stone walls. But the dark green light ripple had also reduced to half, and it had evidently consumed the majority of its power. Despite this, what remained was still enough to kill most Chosen. Swoosh! The dark green light ripple pierced through the last stonewall. Its speed skyrocketed and finally caught up to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was no longer able to retreat. Looking at the rapidly enlarging stream of dark green light, he inwardly took a deep breath and clenched his fists tight. Golden blood was violently vibrating in his heart, and countless rays of golden light were spreading out from his body, fusing with his flesh and blood. His bodily strength erupted. The surface of Zhou Yuan''s body glowed a golden color, and a vague golden pattern marked his skin. ¡°Little Mythic Saint Body Art, Golden Blood Stage!¡± The strength of his physical body was activated to its peak without restraint. Roar! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body emitted a roaring sound. He did not retreat anymore. Instead, he took a huge stride forward. His fists clenched, and a punch blasted out blazing with golden light. Boom! The punch collided with the dark green light ripple. Rumble! A deafening boom reverberated out from the mountain, and the shock waves wreaked havoc everywhere. Countless eyes were fixed unblinkingly on this scene. At the source of the collision were two berserk forces constantly bombarding each other. Around dozens of seconds later, the dark green light ripple finally dissipated. Bang! But at the same time the dark green ripple dissipated, Zhou Yuan''s body shook violently. He was propelled hundreds of feet away and was slammed into a mountain wall. The mountain wall collapsed, and the boulders tumbled down, burying him. Countless people stared dumbstruck. In order to counter Jin Chanzi¡¯s fierce attack, Zhou Yuan had used three different powers: Genesis Qi, Spirit, and bodily strength. But even so, he still failed at the last moment. Making up for 83,000 Genesis Qi stars was not as simple as he had imagined. On the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s side, everyone¡¯s expressions grew solemn. Zhou Yuan had encountered the most difficult and troublesome fierce battle ever since he entered the Cangxuan Sect. Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 649 Disadvantage Boom! Violent dark yellow Genesis Qi collided with the ash-grey Genesis Qi, causing shock waves to rage out, and the impact directly tore apart the surrounding dense forests. At the source of the collision were Chu Qing and Jiang Taishen. At this very moment, both men¡¯s imposing auras were incomparably fierce and terrifying. During the attack, Genesis Qi filled with destructive power surged and filled the air. Their battle, based on aura and power, was much more impressive than Zhou Yuan''s. ¡°Sacred Underworld Palm!¡± Jiang Taishen soared into the air and slammed his palm down. The ash-grey Genesis Qi directly transformed into a giant palm filled with chilling cold air and struck at Chu Qing. Before the palm even landed, the ground was beginning to crumble. Chu Qing lifted his head, his eyes piercing. Looking at Jiang Taishen¡¯s fierce attack, he stamped his feet, and his long needle-like hair swept out like pointed awls. ¡°Barren Thorns!¡± Buzz! Dark yellow Genesis Qi filled each strand of black hair, which looked like black awls from afar. The strands of hair shot straight up, tore through the air, and collided with the giant palm that was slamming down. Boom! Berserk Genesis Qi erupted once again. Both figures shook. They reeled back from the force and quickly steadied their bodies. Jiang Taishen¡¯s white hair had long loosened over his shoulders. They had already fought hundreds of rounds, but they still failed to settle who was the winner. It was obvious that Chu Qing''s strength mustn¡¯t be underestimated. ¡°Chu Qing, your Ancient Barren Qi has improved a lot,¡± Jiang Taishen said indifferently. ¡°Your Sacred Underworld Bone Qi also isn¡¯t bad.¡± Chu Qing smiled, but there was not a hint of a smile in his eyes. Jiang Taishen lifted his head to look at the highest point of the huge mountain, and he remarked indifferently, ¡°But unfortunately, your Zhou Yuan is no match for Jin Chanzi. It won¡¯t be long before Jin Chanzi kills him.¡± He seemed to be speaking casually, but his thoughts were vicious. He was attempting to use Zhou Yuan¡¯s situation to affect Chu Qing and lead him to make a mistake. Chu Qing looked up at the top of the mountain and quickly retracted his gaze. His handsome face was as calm as a lake as he responded, ¡°Ever since junior brother Zhou Yuan came to Cangxuan Sect, when has he not faced an opponent stronger than him? Jiang Taishen, you don''t understand him.¡± ¡°Is that right?¡± Jiang Taishen smiled. He did not care. Perhaps in his view Zhou Yuan had no qualification to make him want to understand him. ¡°I hope you can still utter such words when he''s beaten to death.¡± ....... In comparison to the earth-shaking movements on Chu Qing and Jiang Taishen''s side, the mountainside that Yaoyao and Zhan Taiqing were on seemed to be a little quieter. But within that quiet, there was still strong murderous intent surging. As Yaoyao stood on a boulder, the area between her brows glowed with an incredibly strong Spirit light. Zhan Taiqing stood on a tree trunk, and at this moment her pretty face seemed to be twisted. She had been struck by Spirit Flame. If the Genesis Qi inside her body hadn¡¯t frantically obstructed and gotten rid of it, her Spirit would have suffered severe damage and experienced severe burning pain. That kind of burning pain came directly from the Spirit, and it would be unbearable for ordinary people. ¡°That woman deserves to die!¡± Zhan Taiqing tightly clenched her teeth, and her scarlet eyes were filled with viciousness as they locked onto Yaoyao. Blood-red Genesis Qi roared and raged around her body. Yaoyao had incredibly weak Genesis Qi, but her Spirit power was frighteningly strong. The one thing that Zhan Taiqing found unbelievable was that she was able to refine wisps of Spirit Flames. After all, Spirit Flames could only be produced when one stepped into the Transformation stage. Although Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit Flame was not quite complete, for someone who had not set foot into the Divine Dwelling stage, she was still a great threat. ¡°Your little sweetheart is most likely going to be killed soon!¡± Zhan Taiqing smiled coldly. Her intention was exactly the same as Jiang Taishen¡¯s. But Yaoyao did not even glance at her. She knew that it would be a difficult battle for Zhou Yuan to face Jin Chanzi, but nobody here had more confidence in Zhou Yuan than her. She understood Zhou Yuan too well. So, it was still unknown who would have the final laugh on the mountain¡¯s summit. ¡°I think you should be more concerned about when you will be killed?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s eyes drooped slightly, a flicker of cold light gathering in her pupils. She raised her beautiful hand and lifted countless boulders with her Spirit power. Shua! The boulders, under the manipulation of her Spirit power, were hurled in the direction of Zhan Taiqing with incredible speed and power. Moreover, there seemed to be an invisible flame quietly passing by among the boulders. ...... On the peak that was watched by countless gazes. Jin Chanzi crossed his arms, indifferently looked at the crumbling mountain wall, and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s pretty impressive that you have such accomplishments in your physical strength and Spirit, but unfortunately it¡¯s of no use.¡± From Jin Chanzi¡¯s perspective, it was pretty funny and ridiculous that Zhou Yuan cultivated three kinds of powers. If he had the time and energy, it would have been better for him to focus on specialising in one power, just like Zhou Xiaoyao¡¯s Spirit power, which gave many people a headache. ¡°Boy, don''t hide and embarrass yourself. The battle has started, you can¡¯t retreat now.¡± Jin Chanzi laughed in mockery. He had managed to suppress Zhou Yuan with his previous attacks, but he couldn¡¯t kill him completely because of his physical strength. Of course, that was just the previous exchange. If Zhou Yuan continued to fight, it was unknown whether he would survive. As Jin Chanzi thought of this, a killing intent flashed in his eyes. But as his voice faded, the area of the collapsed mountain wall was still as quiet as before. This made Jin Chanzi sneer, ¡°Coward, are you frightened by me?¡± Boom! When his voice fell, dark green Genesis Qi came roaring out. It transformed into a waterfall and aimed for the collapsed mountain wall. The fallen boulders were shattered. Dong! And as the boulders exploded, a fist light fiercely shot out and collided with the Genesis Qi waterfall. The impact shattered numerous nearby boulders. That figure slightly quivered and immediately shattered the Genesis Qi waterfall. Jin Chanzi narrowed his eyes when he saw Zhou Yuan standing in the rubble. There was a mysterious light enveloping Zhou Yuan, and behind the cloak of light were two outstretched wings of light. The Genesis Qi around him was constantly being drawn into the mysterious wings and channeled into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. ¡°Oh? If I''m not mistaken, that should be one of the seven great techniques of the Cangxuan Sect, the Omega Saint Spirit Art, am I right? Haha, you indeed have some ability since you are able to cultivate this art. ¡°What? You think that Genesis technique can make up for the huge gap between you and me?¡± Jin Chanzi shook his head, peering pitifully at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You are still so naive.¡± Zhou Yuan wiped away the trace of blood on the corner of his mouth. He stared expressionlessly at Jin Chanzi and said, ¡°Jin Chanzi, don¡¯t be so happy too soon.¡± He crouched down, stretched out his hand, and gently touched the ground with his palm. A mysterious Saint Rune slowly emerged in the palm of his hand, and all of a sudden the earth began to tremble. Earth Saint Rune! The real battle had just begun! Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 650 Turned around Buzz! When Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm came into contact with the ground, the entire towering peak trembled all of a sudden. In the depths of the ground, majestic Genesis Qi surged like underground snakes and then whizzed over from all sides, frantically rushing like a tide into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body through his palm. A yellow glow bloomed from the surface of Zhou Yuan''s body. The frantically surging Genesis Qi in his body was constantly roaring. The Earth Genesis Qi was incredibly majestic, and it was unbearable to an ordinary body. Fortunately Zhou Yuan had made some accomplishments in his physical body. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t dare to draw that kind of Genesis Qi into his body. Even so, his flesh and blood were still impacted when the Earth Genesis Qi penetrated his body, and multiple blood marks were left on the surface of his body. Fortunately the Taiyi Green Wood Mark inside Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was continuously producing life force to repair his torn flesh. Otherwise, before he even made a move, his body would have been riddled with thousands of holes. A yellow glow condensed on the surface of Zhou Yua¡¯s skin. It vaguely seemed to be forming some kind of mysterious light pattern. The oppressive Genesis Qi emitting from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was rising into the air with astonishing speed, and the boulder underfoot was unable to withstand the power any longer. Cracks spread throughout it. Hu. Feeling the rushing power that resembled an enraged dragon in his body, Zhou Yuan exhaled a long breath. This power was what gave him the actual confidence in fighting Jin Chanzi. The exchange of moves before was just to test what level Jin Chanzi¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had reached. Not far from Zhou Yuan, Jin Chanzi had a playful expression on his face, but he immediately froze when he noticed the oppressive Genesis Qi being emitted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. At this moment, there was a great surge in Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi that made him feel a level of danger. It should be said that this feeling of danger was something that Jin Chanzi had not felt when Zhou Yuan had used all three different powers at the same time. It was evident that the present Zhou Yuan had used some kind of unknown method to trigger his Genesis Qi to increase dramatically. ¡°That boy is still hiding more secrets?¡± Jin Chanzi¡¯s expression turned chillingly cold. His eyes flashed, the killing intent within them growing more intense. He stomped his foot, sending dark green Genesis Qi shooting into the sky like a volcanic eruption, The qi transformed into countless rays of toxic dark green light aiming directly for Zhou Yuan. As the toxic light swept through the void, even the air was corroded and became toxic. Evidently, as Jin Chanzi faced the present Zhou Yuan, his playful attitude of a cat playing with a mouse began to change. The previous Zhou Yuan was no threat to him, but now the mouse seemed to have changed. So Jin Chanzi intended to thoroughly eliminate Zhou Yuan before he completely lost control of the situation. Countless rays of dark green toxic light whistled down like wildfire. Zhou Yuan looked up, thousands of dark green lights reflecting in his eyes, and he said nonchalantly, ¡°You are too impatient.¡± He also sensed that Jin Chanzi¡¯s attack was filled with more intense murderous spirit and was hastier than before. Jin Chanzi let out a loud sneer, but he did not utter a word. Zhou Yuan remained calm and composed. Jin Chanzi¡¯s attack was very fierce. If it was before, he really would have found it difficult to withstand. Perhaps his Genesis Qi foundation was still not as good as Jin Chanzi¡¯s, but the gap between them was no longer impossible to make up for. He spread his hands out, and the golden Genesis Qi leapt into the air, transforming into a golden cloak of light that wrapped his body. Swoosh! Countless rays of toxic qi fell, bombarding the golden light barrier. That earth-shaking momentum was terrifying, and it even tore thousands of holes into the surrounding ground. However, what filled the countless eyes beyond the mountain with shocked disbelief was that even if the golden barrier was being repeatedly bombarded and was constantly rippling, it was still standing and protecting Zhou Yuan. It wasn¡¯t until the last dark green light fell that the golden barrier wobbled and quietly shattered. And standing inside, Zhou Yuan did not move an inch. He remained calm and composed. Hua! There were loud gasps of astonishment from the audience beyond the mountain. All faces were covered with shock and astonishment. This was the first time Zhou Yuan had escaped unscathed from one of Jin Chanzi¡¯s attacks since the battle started. ¡°How did he become so powerful all of a sudden?¡± ¡°He had to completely activate his Genesis Qi before in order to withstand one attack from Jin Chanzi, but how could he do that with just a foundation of 39,000 Genesis Qi stars?¡± ¡°That kid is indeed strange!¡± ¡°No wonder he dared to go up against Jin Chanzi. It turns out that he has a trump card up his sleeve...¡± ¡°..........¡± On the peak all eyes were watching, Jin Chanzi stared at Zhou Yuan with a dark face, infuriated that Zhou Yuan could withstand his attack. It was no doubt a slap to his face. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to his gloomy expression, and he exhaled a long breath. With eyes like that of an eagle staring at Jin Chanzi, he slowly asked, ¡°You¡¯ve been the one attacking, so it should be me next, right?¡± Boom! When Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice fell, his eyes turned chillingly cold. Behind him, the shadow of the Saint Spirit spread out its wings. Shua! His figure disappeared like a flash of light. Jin Chanzi¡¯s pupils shrank. Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed was extremely astonishing. He stood on his tiptoes and shot skywards. But just as he appeared in midair, a shadow appeared in front of his body like a ghost. His fist clenched, and a punch came roaring towards him. Boom! When the punch slammed out, there was an astonishing gust of wind, and even the air was vibrating slightly. A shrill boom resounded as the fist exploded. Jin Chanzi¡¯s expression slightly changed when he felt that fist¡¯s power. But he immediately let out a cold snort and swiftly thrust his palm out. He was going to display his Genesis Qi foundation without restraint. Bang! The fist and palm collided, and even the air trembled incessantly. Zhou Yuan and Jin Chanzi were both shaking. But Zhou Yuan pounced out the next moment, countless fists roaring and rumbling in Jin Chanzi¡¯s direction. Jin Chanzi¡¯s face was dark, but he did not move an inch and faced the attack head on. Boom! The two figures frantically crisscrossed in midair. Every collision produced a gust of wind and caused the air to quake. In just a few minutes, the two men had almost fought hundreds of exchanges. The lightning-fast bombardment dazzled the countless people watching. Each attack was fatal and filled with murderous intent. Boom! The two figures collided once again in the sky, both looking a little disheveled and sinister. Frantic Genesis Qi swept out, blotting the sky. Both figures quivered, and then they shot backwards. Zhou Yuan reeled back one hundred feet before he landed, digging up dozens of deep pits. On the other hand Jin Chanzi was propelled 130 feet away, and when he landed, he continually drew back several hundred steps. Jin Chanzi¡¯s face turned ashen by the time they steadied their bodies. Beyond the mountain, there were countless gasps of astonishment. Each gaze, filled with shock and disbelief, hovered around Zhou Yuan''s body. This was the first time that Zhou Yuan had the upper hand in a head-on attack during his battle against Jin Chanzi! The situation seemed to be gradually tilting to the side nobody believed in. Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 651 The Great Demon Toad Technique It was a complete mess on the towering peak. Countless gazes of shock and disbelief were fixed on the two figures on the peak, particularly on Zhou Yuan. Nobody thought that Zhou Yuan would gain the upper hand. What did that signify? Zhou Yuan had gradually closed the gap between them, or perhaps he had even exceeded it. This was simply difficult to imagine. After all, the gap between 39,000 Genesis Qi stars and 83,000 Genesis Qi stars was too great, but Zhou Yuan was able to bridge this gap. This could be said to be a miracle. On the Sacred Palace¡¯s side, the disciples who were previously wearing contemptuous expression seemed to have stiffened. They were unable to believe the scene that they had just witnessed. In their view, Zhou Yuan was the weakest of the three people sent out from the Cangxuan Sect. The difference between him and Jin Chanzi was too great. They were certain that Jin Chanzi would destroy Zhou Yuan and make the entire Cangxuan Sect collapse. The previous rounds were as they had expected: Jin Chanzi occupied the upper hand. But who would have thought that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi would surge dramatically like an exploding seed. Not only did it make up for the gap between them but it also let him gain the upper hand! This scene was clearly a tremendous shock to the Sacred Palace disciples. In contrast to the deathly silence on the Sacred Palace¡¯s side, there was an immediate deafening cheer on the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s side. Tang Muxin, Gu Hongyi and others were all stirred up. Although they did not understand why Zhou Yuan would explode to such a non-human level, in any case, the present situation was a good thing for their Cangxuan Sect. As long as Zhou Yuan was standing, it would still be unknown who would win the battle on the seventh peak! Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo and Li Chujun all exchanged glances with one another, muttering, ¡°That guy is too abnormal.¡± At the bottom of the seventh peak. Under the protection of the Heavenly Luo Umbrella, Kong Shen, Li Qingchan, Ye Ge and the other Chosen also had the time to pay attention to the battle above. They were also moved when they saw that Zhou Yuan had occupied the upper hand in his battle against Jin Chanzi and had reversed the situation. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength has unexpectedly reached that level,¡± Li Qingchan remarked. The present Zhou Yuan, based on strength, was not in the slightest inferior to her or Kong Sheng. The change of expression on Zhu Zhao¡¯s face was also quite dramatic. He found it somewhat unbelievable that the junior brother who he had never attached any importance to had completely transformed in less than two years. And to think he had even surpassed him. ¡°That Jin Chanzi is a little too arrogant,¡± Ye Ge remarked. Kong Sheng also nodded. ¡°Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi is surging, and he is using the Omega Saint Spirit Art, but Jin Chanzi tried to suppress Zhou Yuan with Genesis Qi alone. Now he is suffering the consequences of his own actions. But after this loss, Jin Chanzi will not dare make any more mistakes. Jin Chanzi will not hold back anymore in the next exchange.¡± Li Qingchan also nodded and took a deep breath, her beautiful eyes staring at the slender and tall figure on the peak. ¡°Hopefully, he can withstand it.¡± On the peak, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was surging with Genesis Qi, and there was a mysterious light shield on the surface of his body. He calmly looked at the ashen-faced Jin Chanzi in front of him. There was not a glimmer of joy on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face after he had gained the upper hand, because it was within his expectations. After the Earth Saint Rune absorbed the majestic underground Genesis Qi into his body, although there might still be a gap between his Genesis Qi foundation and Jin Chanzi¡¯s 83,000 Genesis Qi stars, the gap was very small. Moreover, his body was strengthened by the shadow of the Saint Spirit. This was a complete form of the Saint Spirit, one of the strongest Genesis techniques of the Saint Genesis Peak. And Jin Chanzi, who arrogantly wanted to rely purely on Genesis Qi to fight Zhou Yuan, was naturally at a disadvantage. ¡°I didn''t expect that I, Jin Chanzi, would be met with an unexpected failure.¡± Ashen faced, Jin Chanzi gradually recovered. His golden slit eyes stared at Zhou Yuan with endless coldness. ¡°It seems that the saying is right, the rabbit will bite when it is anxious.¡± An intense killing intent flashed in Jin Chanzi¡¯s eyes as he uttered in a sinister voice, ¡°But unfortunately, although it only hurts a bit when the rabbit bites, the rabbit will still have to die.¡± Dark green qi flowed out of Jin Chanzi¡¯s nose. As his palms slowly folded together, a terrifyingly dangerous energy seeped out from his body. ¡°Since you¡¯ve revealed your trump card, I should also let you see mine.¡± Dark green liquid seeped out from under Jin Chanzi¡¯s skin and gradually oozed out. Chi! The sticky liquid suddenly produced a corrosive sound as it appeared on the surface of the skin. One was able to see Jin Chanzi¡¯s flesh. It was evidently strange and terrifying. Zhou Yuan froze for a moment. Jin Chanzi widened his mouth and shot out a beam of dark green light, aiming for Zhou Yuan. The green toxic light was unexpectedly a poison cane that could swallow the Genesis Qi of heaven and earth. It was a low-grade Heaven Genesis weapon. The poisonous cane came roaring over with incredibly fierce momentum. With the flick of his sleeve, a beam of black light burst forth from Zhou Yuan¡¯s sleeve, surged in the wind, and directly transformed into a mottled black brush that met the cane head on. Dong! The two frantically collided in mid-air as though both possessed a spiritual nature. With each collision, waves of frantic Genesis Qi erupted. It was in no way inferior to the previous collision between Zhou Yuan and Jin Chanzi. While the two Heavenly Genesis qi weapons were in a tangle, Zhou Yuan''s eyes quickly shifted over to Jin Chanzi. His pupils rapidly shrank as he looked over and saw that Jin Chanzi¡¯s appearance was extremely terrifying. His body was badly mangled and covered in a dark green toxic fluid. Warts were bubbling up, and his body gradually grew larger and larger. In the end he crouched down, back bulging. A storm of Genesis Qi raged out from inside his body. Croak As his body emitted strange noises, ripples of green light burst from him. The nearby ground was instantly corroded and came to resemble a toxic pond. Jin Chanzi intently fixed his golden slit eyes on Zhou Yuan. His expression was ruthless, his face more sinister than before. At that moment, Jin Chanzi resembled an ancient poisonous toad, incomparably savage and fierce. Countless eyes were filled with horror seeing Jin Chanzi¡¯s appearance. Some Chosen even gasped out loud, their voice trembling. ¡°That is¡ª¡± ¡°The Great Demon Toad Technique.¡± Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 652 Ups and Downs Gu! A shrill, ear-piercing noise rang throughout the peak, setting off a storm every time it sounded. Dark green light waves swept passed, and whatever it touched withered instantly. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned grave as he looked at the murderous ancient-toad-like Jin Chanzi. He could feel the surging Genesis Qi inside Jin Chanzi¡¯s body. Strong Genesis Qi pressure came assaulting him as if Mount Tai was crashing down. It made people¡¯s bodies feel much heavier. At this time, although Jin Chanzi was terrifyingly ugly, his strength rocketed. This was Jin Chanzi¡¯s trump card. Jin Chanzi¡¯s golden slit eyes flashed with endless ferocity, and he stared intently at Zhou Yuan. When he entered the Sacred Palace, the sect master had used a secret technique to extract the blood of a Heavenly Demon Toad and instill it into his body. The Heavenly Demon Toad was a grade-six Genesis Beast, and thus experts of the Heavenly Sun Stage with its blood were naturally incomparably tyrannical. The number of disciples who had received the blood at the time was in the hundreds, but only he had survived in the end. However, the blood of the Heavenly Demon Toad still retained its consciousness. Given Jin Chanzi¡¯s present strength, it was impossible for him to completely eliminate it. This meant that the toad¡¯s blood would frantically corrode his body, so Jin Chanzi wouldn¡¯t activate if it wasn¡¯t his last resort. But right now, he was forced to do so. He knew that if he lost here, he would be punished when he returned to the Sacred Palace. He also couldn¡¯t accept the outcome of such a loss to one of the chief disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d be forced to this step by a little chief disciple.¡± Jin Chanzi¡¯s ferocious eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan, and even his voice had become extremely shrill. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you have really changed my opinion of you. So, in order to express my approval, when I beat you, I will eat all your limbs!¡± Jin Chanzi¡¯s terrifying face was contorted with a ruthless look. Under the corrosion of the toad¡¯s blood, his nature was turned as savage as the Heavenly Demon Toad. Boom! His voice had just fallen when his hands and feet abruptly slammed the ground, causing the ground to collapse. His figure transformed into a shadow and pounced over to Zhou Yuan with lightning speed. That speed was so quick that it sent a chill down one¡¯s spine. In just one breath of time, Jin Chanzi reappeared in front of Zhou Yuan, revealing a sinister smile. As he thrust his palm out, roaring dark green toxic qi charged towards Zhou Yuan like a mountain avalanche. If that palm struck one¡¯s body, even if it were Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan or the others, they would most likely sustain severe injuries. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils also shrank slightly. He realised that Jin Chanzi¡¯s strength was much stronger than before. He knew he couldn¡¯t make the slightest mistake. The surging Genesis Qi in his body roared out without restraint. He clenched his fist, and a punch blasted out. Yellow Genesis Qi, like an enraged dragon, shook the void and directly collided with Jin Chanzi¡¯s toxic palm. He had no other choice. Given Jin Chanzi¡¯s present speed, there was no way that Zhou Yuan could effectively and successfully evade. Although the Ethereal Form wasn¡¯t slow, the grade was a bit too low. Boom! In a flash, the fist and palm collided once again. Violent shock waves broke out, lifting up layers of ground. The destructive power was simply too astonishing. Bang! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body trembled violently before he was sent flying. His palms and feet left long marks across the ground. On the surface of his body was the shadow of a Saint Spirit, which was similarly trembling. But before Zhou Yuan could stabilise his body, a bloody stench struck his face, and Jin Chanzi was seen pouncing over once again. His continuous attacks along with surging toxic qi bombarded Zhou Yuan repeatedly. ¡°Little trash, weren¡¯t you very arrogant before? I¡¯m going to beat you to death today!¡± Jin Chanzi¡¯s face was wicked, and his eyes flickered with ferocious light. He roared with laughter as he frantically slammed his fist out. After the toad¡¯s blood was activated, it was clear that his rationality was gradually eroded by the Heavenly Demon Toad¡¯s ferocious nature. Bang! Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was icy cold. His Genesis Qi had weakened, and his fists and feet had turned into countless remnants of shadows to strike Jin Chanzi. From an outsider¡¯s point of view, the two were akin to two rapidly clashing orbs of light. Each collision produced violent shock waves, and their speed was so fast that they could only see countless dancing images. But even outside the battlefield, everybody could clearly sense that ordinary Chosen wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand even the shadowy remnants of these figures. And it was then that the situation changed once again. Zhou Yuan was bombarded by Jin Chanzi constantly to the point that he had to retreat repeatedly. Adding to this, Jin Chanzi did not hold back. His attacks became more and more ferocious. As he had said, he intended to beat Zhou Yuan to death here. ¡°Zhou Yuan...looks like he can¡¯t hold on anymore.¡± On the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s side, there was an abrupt change of expression on Tang Muxin, Gu Hongyi and the other people¡¯s faces. They could all tell that when Jin Chanzi activated the Great Demon Toad Technique, his Genesis Qi had skyrocketed and that he was once again suppressing Zhou Yuan. Countless people secretly sighed. This battle was full of ups and downs. It was indeed interesting. But even so, everybody was aware of the danger in the battle. The slightest carelessness could result in one being killed on the spot. Dong! Two shadows shot backwards and retreated on the peak. Zhou Yuan undoubtedly retreated a farther distance. His face was solemn, and there were dark green fist markings on the surface of his body where Jin Chanzi had struck him. Although Jin Chanzi¡¯s appearance was terrifying, his situation was undoubtedly much better than Zhou Yuan¡¯s. His toad blood had corroded his flesh and blood, making him unable to feel pain, so he wasn¡¯t afraid of being wounded by Zhou Yuan at all. Jin Chanzi stared viciously at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Do you really think my fists are that easy to withstand?¡± Zhou Yuan bowed his head only to see that dark green toxic qi had been left on the areas Jin Chanzi had struck. The qi was penetrating into his body through his pores. ¡°Once it enters the body, my toad demon poison is unbearable to people of the same level. Zhou Yuan, you are dead!¡± Jin Chanzi folded his hands in a hand seal and roared in a sinister voice, ¡°Poison erupt!¡± The moment he detonated the toxic qi, Zhou Yuan would be severely wounded. Boom! Dark green toxic light bloomed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. But he simply scrunched his brows in a frown and paid no attention to it, because when the toxic qi erupted in his body, the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in the palm of his hand had also begun to vibrate. Roar! There seemed to be a low dragon roar being emitted from his body. The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison released a terrifying suction power that completely swallowed the strange poison in his body in one mouthful. The dark green light on the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body also grew dimmer and dimmer until it eventually faded. Jin Chanzi¡¯s expression instantly stiffened. He was well aware how overbearing his toad poison was, and he knew that anybody under the Divine Dwelling Stage, even Jiang Taishen, would not dare to let the toad poison break out without restraint in their bodies. But how was Zhou Yuan unscathed? Pu. Zhou Yuan shot a cold glance at Jin Chanzi and spat out a mouthful of dark green blood, which immediately corroded the ground. ¡°How could you use something so mediocre.¡± Jin Chanzi¡¯s eyelids twitched, the ferocious light in his eyes growing more intense. Fixing a piercing stare at Zhou Yuan, he sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the next meal will fill you up to the point of bursting!¡± He closed his hands together and suddenly performed a hand seal. ¡°Buzz!¡± Beams of dark green toxic light suddenly burst forth from the ground and rushed upward. Then, as though melting away, it formed a dark green toxic liquid. The toxic liquid spread out, circled around, and took shape. A strong bloody smell permeated the air. From afar, it looked like a huge venom swamp had suddenly appeared with Zhou Yuan situated at its heart. Countless people revealed looks of shocked horror. ¡°Keke, the Great Toad Poison Burial!¡± Jin Chanzi did not give Zhou Yuan any chance to react. With a sinister smile twisting his face, he clapped his hands together. The huge toxic swamp then roared downward, frantically shrank, then rumbled towards Zhou Yuan with a terrifying, unblockable force. This was the killing move that Jin Chanzi had long prepared! In his view, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t survive the toxic swamp! Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 653 Silver Shadow Reappears Hua! Under countless people¡¯s shocked gazes, the toxic swamp on the peak frantically shrank. The terrifying force directly caused space to crack. It could be seen that Jin Chanzi¡¯s killing move was terrifying. At the foot of that mountain, the expressions of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen drastically changed. Even they would no doubt die if caught in the burial of the toxic swamp. ¡°Let¡¯s get out and save him!¡± Li Qingchan roared, clenching her teeth. She sensed something bad. If Zhou Yuan really were struck, it would bode ill for him rather than well. Her body abruptly transformed into a stream of light. Boom! But she had only just moved when countless balls of light frantically whizzed over from the Spirit Confusion Fog. The light balls appeared to contain majestic Genesis Qi. Bang! The light balls of Genesis Qi rumbled over and blasted Li Qingchan back. ¡°Hmph, stay here and watch the boy get killed!¡± The cold laughter of the Sacred Palace Chosen could be heard from outside the Spirit Confusion Fog. Li Qingchan¡¯s face turned ashen. Her beautiful hands clenched tight, but in the end she stood still. She knew it was useless even if she were to go over there. ¡°Zhou Yuan...¡± She clamped her red lips together and stared intently at the top of the peak. Kong Sheng, Ye Ge and the others also quieted down. They were also aware of the danger that Zhou Yuan was in, but what could they do? Zhou Yuan could only rely on himself at this moment. The fight for a great opportunity always hovered between life and death. ... On the peak, Jin Chanzi¡¯s eyes flashed with a fierce light as he gazed at the monstrous toxic swamp. He let out a deafening roar. ¡°Burial Killing!¡± Boom! The toxic swamp frantically shrank and eventually exploded. Rumble! On the peak it looked as if there was a green mushroom cloud rising. A bloody smell permeated the air, and even beyond the mountains, some unlucky people who directly inhaled the air saw their bodies immediately start rotting away. Countless people felt a chill run down their spine when they saw this scene, and they hastily operated Genesis Qi to seal the air. Having isolated themselves from the toxic qi, countless people shifted their gazes back onto the peak. But their expression drastically changed once again upon seeing the terrifying aftermath. An attack like that presumably could only be countered by someone like Jiang Taishen or Chu Qing. And Zhou Yuan, who was situated in the center of the attack, most likely wouldn¡¯t survive. All the disciples on the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s side quieted down. The atmosphere also grew heavy and solemn. Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo looked at one another, their eyes filled with shock and fear. Even if they had confidence in Zhou Yuan, they were not certain that he could survive an attack of that level. On the peak, Jin Chanzi peered in the direction of where the dark green toxic qi was spreading out, inhaled sharply, and then sneered sinisterly, ¡°Little trash, let¡¯s see how you are going to block this attack. If you forcibly take on my burial killing move, only your corpse will remain.¡± While muttering to himself, the toxic qi dispersed completely. Jin Chanzi¡¯s and countless other eyes immediately shifted to where Zhou Yuan was standing previously, only to see that the ground had been corroded, leaving a tremendous pit. But in that huge hole was unexpectedly a stone pillar standing alone. Jin Chanzi¡¯s pupils shrank. He saw that on the top of the stone pillar was a slender figure standing quietly. The figure, clad in a silver streamlined armour that fully covered his body, appeared incredibly mysterious, and the armour was engraved with many ancient patterns. The surface of the silver armour was contaminated with green toxic liquid, but as the silvery light surged, the toxic liquid was gradually dissolved. Hua! Earth-shaking exclamations could be heard beyond the mountain. Countless faces were filled with shock. Nobody thought that Zhou Yuan could withstand the poison burial technique! Moreover, what was the silver armour? Was it a defense Genesis weapon? But why did it give off a very strange feeling? Jin Chanzi¡¯s face grew darker and darker, and his eyes were filled with fury. He did not expect his killing move to fail to kill Zhou Yuan. This guy, was he really invincible? Jin Chanzi intently stared at the figure clad in silver armour. Ever since the appearance of the silver armour, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi seemed to have stopped fluctuating, and even Jin Chanzi could no longer detect it. It made Jin Chanzi feel a little uneasy, and the mysterious silver armour made him feel danger. ¡°Is this your last trump card? A turtle shell?¡± Jin Chanzi remarked in a sinister voice. But Zhou Yuan, who was covered in silver armour, simply snapped open his eyes and paid no attention to Jin Chanzi. He lowered his head and studied the silver armour. The silver armour was naturally the Silver Shadow, the last trump card he kept hidden. This wasn¡¯t armour but a different kind of war puppet. Adding to this, it possessed the ability to grow. When Zhou Yuan just got the Silver Shadow, it only possessed strength at the initial level of the Alpha-Origin stage. But now, after two years of refinement, Zhou Yuan could feel that the power of the Silver Shadow was comparable to the ninth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage. This was Zhou Yuan¡¯s last trump card. Even if he encountered many difficulties and problems in the Cangxuan Sect, he still tried to avoid using the Silver Shadow so as to not expose it. But given the present situation, he had no other choice. Jin Chanzi was incredibly strong. Zhou Yuan estimated that amongst the ten great Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, only Chu Qing would have the confidence to beat him. Kong Sheng¡¯s and Li Qingchan¡¯s strengths were most likely worse than his. Facing an opponent of this level, if Zhou Yuan was still thinking of keeping his final trump card a secret, then he really was asking for death. Hu. He drew a deep breath, his eyes gradually growing fiercer, and then fixed a piercing stare at Jin Chanzi. An intense killing intent erupted all of a sudden. Now that the last trump card was revealed, the battle should also end soon. Shua! He took a step forward, and his body reappeared in midair and burst forth with a storm of incomparably majestic Genesis Qi. In his heart, golden blood was vibrating incessantly. Countless wisps of golden blood attached to the flesh and released a berserk power. The Silver Shadow outside his body was also blooming with a silvery light. Monstrous Genesis Qi swept out, engulfing the sky, and an oppressive force shrouded the area. The shadow of the Saint Spirit also re-emerged, its light wings stretching out behind Zhou Yuan. At this moment, Zhou Yuan had almost activated all his power. The air he was standing in was also rapidly quaking, emitting numerous air ripples. All around, countless shocked gazes converged in his direction. Even Chu Qing and Jiang Taishen froze for a moment. And Jin Chanzi looked even more unsightly than before. He stared fixedly at the figure in midair. Facing the present Zhou Yuan, even he had a trace of fear flickering in the depths of his eyes. ¡°Jin Chanzi, this fight is over!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s cold voice reverberated across the sky. Boom! His figure swooped down, and a deafening boom rang out. The air distorted. Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 654 Killed Rumble! Terrifying forces surged as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure swooped down as if he carried a destructive power. The forces distorted the air, and his aura reached a level higher than ever before. His Genesis Qi, physical strength, Earth Saint Rune, Omega Saint Spirit Art, Silver Shadow...all kinds of power were strengthening his body at the same time! As he faced Zhou Yuan in this state, Jin Chanzi¡¯s countenance abruptly changed. A look of shocked horror appeared in his eyes. He couldn¡¯t believe that Zhou Yuan could release such terrifying power. The majestic power descending from the sky suppressed him to such an extent that he could hardly budge an inch. His bones were creaking as if Mount Tai was crushing him. ¡°Roar!¡± But Jin Chanzi was not an ordinary person. He knew that if he failed to withstand Zhou Yuan¡¯s full-strength attack, he would inevitably be killed on the spot. But if he successfully countered, Zhou Yuan¡¯s life would be in his hands. This was a clash of life and death. Jin Chanzi let out a deafening roar. More than 80,000 Genesis Qi stars in his Qi Dwelling erupted with dazzling rays of light, as if all the Genesis Qi contained inside him were released without restraint. He evidently knew that he must fight with his life at this moment! He had always looked down on Zhou Yuan, and now that Zhou Yuan was pushing him to such a state and forcing him to fight with everything he had, anger and killing intent filled Jin Chanzi¡¯s heart. He couldn¡¯t wait to take Zhou Yuan¡¯s last attack and brutally kill the bastard! ¡°You, a little chief disciple dares to act like this in front of me. You really do not know the immensity of the heavens and the earth!¡± He lifted his head, eyes viciously fixed on the majestic shadow diving down fast. ¡°Gu!¡± A shrill, ear-piercing voice once again sounded from Jin Chanzi¡¯s body. The next moment, everybody could see that frantic and eerie dark green Genesis Qi was frantically accumulating around Jin Chanzi¡¯s body. Vaguely, the Genesis Qi seemed to have formed a golden toad the size of a hill. That toad was ugly and fierce, its body completely covered with poisonous pus. A torrent of fiendish aura was emitted from it. Even the countless people beyond the mountain could distinctly feel it. ¡°That¡¯s...the Heavenly Demon Toad?!¡± Someone familiar with Genesis Beasts was able to recognise it at a glance. ¡°It¡¯s comparable to a Genesis Beast at the Heavenly Sun Stage!¡± ¡°It is said that the blood in Jin Chanzi¡¯s body has long been replaced with the blood of the Heavenly Demon Toad. He has completely invoked the power of the blood and has thus triggered the shadow of the Heavenly Demon Toad. ¡°Although this is only a shadow triggered by the blood of the Heavenly Demon Toad, it still possesses its abilities.¡± Many people were inwardly dumbstruck. The Heavenly Demon Toad was after all a grade-six Genesis Beast with strength comparable to the Heavenly Sun stage. And what kind of expert was of the Heavenly Sun stage? In the Shengzhou Continent, he could establish his own sect or faction, and even within the six great sects he would be an elder-level expert. That wasn¡¯t a level that a disciple of the Alpha-Origin stage could reach. It was evident that Jin Chanzi was fighting with his life. Countless people nervously looked at the top of the seventh peak. They all understood that after such a long battle, the winner would be decided at this moment. Even Chu Qing and Jiang Taishen temporarily paused their battle. They shifted their gazes over to the top of the peak because they all knew that the outcome of the battle on the peak was extremely important to what would happen next. Chu Qing¡¯s expression was solemn, his long black hair fluttering behind him. He swept a glance over Jiang Taishen, whose calm face had turned icy cold. Evidently, it was beyond his expectation that Jin Chanzi was forced to such a step. ¡°Jiang Taishen, I¡¯ve told you to not look down on Zhou Yuan.¡± Chu Qing grinned. Jiang Taishen remained expressionless and simply swept a glance over at Chu Qing. ¡°Zhou Yuan is asking for death. To think he forced Jin Chanzi to use the power of the Heavenly Demon Toad.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case.¡± Chu Qing smiled, lifted his head and continued to watch the top of the peak. ..... ¡°Gu!¡± Outside of Jin Chanzi¡¯s body, the shadow of the Heavenly Demon Toad had taken shape. It immediately released a deafening sound that caused the qi around to tremble. The shadow of the Heavenly Demon Toad was incredibly powerful, and it completely shrouded Jin Chanzi. It was clear that Jin Chanzi intended to forcibly take Zhou Yuan¡¯s final attack. ¡°Little trash, after I take your attack, I¡¯m going to make you beg for mercy!¡± Jin Chanzi¡¯s face contorted into a sinister grin. He glowered at the shadow that was diving down fast. Zhou Yuan, swooping down with majestic force, was naturally aware of Jin Chanzi¡¯s plan. With the silver armour covering his body, nobody could see what kind of expression he had at that moment. But his eyes were flickering with a chilling coldness. ¡°You think...you still have a chance?¡± A low voice rang in his heart. The next moment, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned piercing cold. The speed of his figure skyrocketed and enlarged, and finally, under countless nervous gazes, he whizzed down and collided with the Heavenly Demon Toad shadow. Rumble! During the moment of the collision, indescribably violent shock waves of Genesis Qi raged out, and layers of incomparably solid ground were constantly being lifted up from the giant peak. Pieces of the forest were destroyed one after another, turning into trampled flat ground. The whole peak seemed to have been flattened. The terrifying storm of Genesis Qi wreaked havoc for dozens of seconds before it gradually calmed. Almost all eyes between the heavens and the earth were cast towards the source of the collision. They knew that the outcome of the battle between Zhou Yuan and Jin Chanzi would be determined at this moment. Whoever won would affect the battle between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. While countless people waited with bated breath, the smoke and dust around the peak gradually dissipated. What came into view first was the chaotic scene of desolation; half the peak had almost collapsed. There was not a single complete and intact rock remaining. The impact had crumbled all to powder... At the center of the chaos, two figures stood with their backs facing each other. Countless people held their breath. Who won in the end? In that long silence and deathly stillness, the figure clothed in silver armour on the top of the peak slightly quivered. The next moment the silver armour began to melt into a liquid state and retracted back into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Pff. A jet of blood spewed out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. His body squirmed a little, but he did not fall down in the end. Even if he had the protection of the silver armour, it still couldn¡¯t neutralise the collision¡¯s impact. He wiped the bloodstain on the corner of his mouth. At this moment, in a place not far from him was the mysterious jade disc. He gazed at the jade disc and a moment later said indifferently, ¡°Jin Chanzi, our feud ends here.¡± Jin Chanzi slightly opened his mouth. A dazed look was in his golden eyes, but even more than that, there was disbelief. With difficulty he uttered in a hoarse voice, ¡°How, how is this possible?¡± ¡°Nothing is impossible.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Jin Chanzi clenched his teeth, ¡°My Sacred Palace will one day destroy your Cangxuan Sect. At that time, Cangxuan Heaven will belong to my Sacred Palace!¡± ¡°But whether or not that day will come, you, Jin Chanzi, won¡¯t be able to see it,¡± Zhou Yuan remarked indifferently. He waved his robe gently, and a gust of wind blasted toward Jin Chanzi. Kacha! As the wind whizzed past, tiny blood marks were left on Jin Chanzi¡¯s body. The blood marks soon spread all over his body and, following a loud rumble, finally burst open. Blood splattered in all directions. It was deathly silent around the mountain. Countless people were in a state of shocked disbelief. Jin Chanzi¡¯s body had exploded. Evidently he was unable to withstand Zhou Yuan¡¯s fatal attack. The Sacred Palace¡¯s Jin Chanzi, the powerful person ranked fifth on the Chosen List, had fallen like that? Countless people fell into a trance, unable to accept the result. But soon, their gazes turned to the young figure still standing on the peak. Their expressions grew complex because they knew that once this matter was known, it would certainly shake Cangxuan Heaven. The name of Zhou Yuan would be known to everyone. His accomplishment was simply too astonishing. Chief disciple Zhou Yuan of the Cangxuan Sect had killed Chosen Jin Chanzi of the Sacred Palace on the Mythic Utopia¡¯s seventh peak. Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 655 Reversal It was completely silent throughout the heavens and the earth. Only the wind was whistling. Countless people were still in a shocked state, unable to recover for a long, long time. After all, this result wasn¡¯t one that anybody had ever imagined. Of the three people sent out from the Cangxuan Sect, everyone thought that Zhou Yuan was the weakest. Therefore, if there was a problem, it most likely would be from Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. After all, Jin Chanzi was one of the three great Chosen from the Sacred Palace. His strength was terrifyingly powerful, while Zhou Yuan was just at the eighth level of the Alpha-Origin stage. The gap between the two was too great. But who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would be the first to obtain a victory amongst the three. In the direction of the Sacred Palace, all disciples were ashen faced and filled with shock and disbelief. And compared with that side, the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s side was silent for a long while before deafening cheers broke out. Many disciples¡¯ faces were flushed with excitement. Over the years, the grudges that had developed between the Sacred Palace and the Cagxuan Sect were not small, but the Sacred Palace dominated every time and the Cangxuan Sect was left feeling oppressed. Who would have thought that their Cangxuan Sect would be able to reverse the situation in the Mythic Utopia and hold their heads high once again? ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan is really too impressive.¡± Tang Muxin¡¯s beautiful face flushed red, and she was unable to hide her excitement. ¡°After this battle, junior brother Zhou Yuan will be able to become a new Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect. His ranking will most likely be just after senior brother Chu Qing.¡± The other chief disciples all looked at each other with shock. Baili Che¡¯s face stiffened, but then he finally relaxed. Zhou Yuan was becoming more and more powerful. He could simply crush the entire Cangxuan Sect apart from Chu Qing. Even Kong Sheng wouldn¡¯t be able to suppress him. As a result, it was unlikely that their Sword Cometh Peak would be able to get back at him. In the distance, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo, Li Chunjun, Ning Zhan and other people were also silently gazing at the seventh peak, taking in the results of the battle. In the face of Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying accomplishment, even they, who were very close with Zhou Yuan, were greatly shocked. They were all already incredibly talented. Despite having only been in the Shengzhou Continent for less than two years, they had already stood out amongst the numerous disciples and had gradually become elites of their sect. But when this kind of progress was compared to Zhou Yuan¡¯s, there was still a great distance between them. In less than two years, Zhou Yuan already possessed the power to kill a Chosen. Moreover, that was not an ordinary Chosen but a Chosen ranked fifth on the Chosen List of the Shengzhou Continent! Almost 60% of the Chosen List of the Shengzhou Continent was occupied by young geniuses from Cangxuan Heaven. Did Zhou Yuan¡¯s achievement signify that he had reached the top amongst his peers? Thinking of this, they were somewhat envious. The youngster who grew up with them in the little Cangmang Continent had, in just less than two years of time, made a name for himself. ..... While countless people outside the mountain were stunned by the result of the battle on the seventh peak, Jiang Taishen¡¯s face also gradually grew icy cold on the mountainside. ¡°Jiang Taishen, I said before, if you look down on Zhou Yuan, you will suffer.¡± Chu Qing withdrew his gaze from the peak. He suppressed his astonishment and then smiled at Jiang Taishen. Jiang Taishen¡¯s face was devoid of expression, and only his body shook slightly Chu Qing narrowed his eyes. His figure appeared in midair like a ghost, and his long hair like needles came roaring out, aiming for some place in the air. Buzz! A figure flashed out from where the air was vibrating. It was Jiang Taishen. ¡°Jiang Taishen, your opponent is me.¡± Chu Qing smiled. Evidently Jiang Taishen was unable to relax after seeing the battle¡¯s result: that Zhou Yuan had killed Jin Chanzi. There was a dangerous aura accumulating in Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Chu Qing, do not back me into a corner. You won¡¯t fare well from doing that!¡± His white hair fluttered in the air, making him look somewhat sinister at this moment. Chu Qing gave a faint smile and did not utter a word. He obviously couldn¡¯t let Jiang Taishen rush over there to stop Zhou Yuan. Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes were filled with intense killing intent. Raging Genesis Qi erupted from his body. Gradually, there seemed to be a huge white shadow forming behind his body. A terrifying pressure shrouded the area. Chu Qing¡¯s pupils shrank. Jiang Taishen¡¯s killing intent was incredibly strong. Since that was the case... Chu Qing drew a deep breath and spread his hands out, palms facing up. In his body, there were little specks of dark yellow light rising. Those light specks gathered in his palm, gradually forming a miniature dark yellow shuttle shadow of around an inch tall. The shuttle shadow, though slightly illusory, exuded an extremely dangerous aura. When the shuttle shadow appeared, Chu Qing¡¯s face grew a little pale. ¡°Spirit Severing Golden Shuttle?¡± Jiang Taishen¡¯s expression also changed slightly looking at the illusory shadow. This was Chu Qing¡¯s strongest killing move. This shuttle shadow required Chu Qing¡¯s constant injection of Genesis Qi, essence and blood. And once created, it could tear the mountains. If it wasn¡¯t his last resort, Chu Qing wouldn¡¯t dare to sacrifice it because this shuttle shadow was not recoverable. That meant the long time he spent cultivating it would be wasted. This object could only be used once! But even Jiang Taishen was extremely afraid of its power. ¡°Chu Qing, are you really willing to part with it!¡± Jiang Taishen growled in a low voice. Chu Qing smiled. ¡°I have cultivated it for so long, it has to be put to use at some point. Otherwise what am I keeping it for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid your golden shuttle can¡¯t kill me!¡± Jiang Taishen said coldly. Chu Qing¡¯s golden shuttle was indeed very strong, but it alone couldn¡¯t kill him. Chu Qing smiled. ¡°Perhaps it really can¡¯t kill you, but if you want to block it, you will also have to pay a price. My Cangxuan Sect has already occupied the upper hand on the seventh peak. If I wound you here, I¡¯m afraid the Sacred Palace won¡¯t even have the qualification to compete for the other two peaks.¡± The other two peaks he spoke of were of course what the other four major sects were competing for. Only the jade discs on these two other peaks could give birth to eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures. And if the Sacred Palace was defeated here, they would have to retreat to the other two peaks to compete with the other four major sects. But if Jiang Taishen was wounded along with Chu Qing, the other four sects may not be afraid of the Sacred Palace. Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes flashed. He also thought of this, so he also did not dare act recklessly in his battle with Chu Qing. But then a thought flashed to his mind. Shifting his gaze onto another battlefield on the seventh peak, he coldly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so happy too soon. When Zhan Taiqing wins, the upper hand will naturally return to my Sacred Palace¡¯s side.¡± He had almost forgotten that although Jin Chanzi was useless, they still at least had Zhan Taiqing! Zhan Taiqing was much stronger than Jin Chanzi! Chu Qing also lifted his head to look at somewhere on the mountainside with an elusive smile on his face. ¡°You¡¯re going to place all hopes on Zhan Taiqing¡¯s side now?¡± He looked at a remarkably beautiful shadow somewhere. The corner of his mouth curved in a strange arc. He was perhaps a little worried about Zhou Yuan at the beginning, but he was never once worried about Yaoyao. Even Chu Qing was a little fearful of the mysterious Yaoyao. Since Jiang Taishen thought that Zhan Taiqing could eliminate Yaoyao, then the final result would only make him more disappointed. Chu Qing exhaled a long breath. The situation of the battle on the seventh peak had begun to become clear. And he understood that all this was not because of his existence, but because they had a chief disciple with extraordinary talent. Gazing at the young figure on the peak, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. Based on that boy¡¯s progress, it most likely wouldn¡¯t be long until Chu Qing had to hand over his position as the first Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect to him... Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 656 Yaoyao’s Power Boom! Ferocious and frantic blood-red Genesis Qi roared out like an enraged dragon, colliding with the torrent of Spirit power ahead of it. The wind raged, tearing thousands of holes into the surroundings. Zhan Taiqing¡¯s figure flashed away. There was a chilling expression on her beautiful face. Even after fighting against Yaoyao for half a day, she still couldn¡¯t dominate the battle. Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit power was simply too frightening. ¡°Useless thing!¡± Zhan Taiqing fixed her beautiful scarlet eyes on the peak. She clenched her teeth and couldn¡¯t help but curse out loud. Evidently, she was also aware that Jin Chanzi had lost his life. She found this somewhat hard to believe. Although Jin Chanzi was a little weaker than her, it would still be difficult for her to kill him. But to think he was killed by a little chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect? How did that guy accomplish this? Swoosh! While she was distracted, ten Spirit needles suddenly emerged around her. They shot right at her. Boom! Blood-red Genesis Qi gushed out from Zhan Taiqing¡¯s body to withstand the Spirit needles. She lifted her head to see that the beautiful figure of Yaoyao, who had a slightly dark look on her beautiful face, was close by. Zhan Taiqing knew that the death of Jin Chanzi was extremely bad for the Sacred Palace. Jiang Taishen most likely wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat Chu Qing for a good while. Therefore, if she did not end her battle soon, Zhou Yuan would be the first to take the jade disc! If that happened, the Sacred Palace would undoubtedly lose to the Cangxuan Sect in Mythic Utopia. If they were to return to the Sacred Palace with such an outcome, even Chosen like them would most likely be punished. Zhan Taiqing¡¯s eyes flashed with a faint ominous glint. She had no choice but to step forward. Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit was incredibly strong, but her Genesis Qi and bodily strength were her weakness. As long as Zhan Taiqing was able to get close enough to launch an attack, Yaoyao would be easily defeated. But... Zhan Taiqing¡¯s beautiful eyes flashed. She could feel that there were many invisible Spirit walls standing around her, blocking her. At the same time, they were also protecting Yaoyao so that Zhan Taiqing couldn¡¯t come anywhere near her. The Spirit barriers were incredibly strong, so strong that even she found it difficult to destroy. However, it was only an unusual technique. At this point Zhan Taiqing couldn¡¯t hold back anything. A chilling light came to her eyes, and she immediately let out a low roar, ¡°Blood Burning Secret Art!¡± Monstrous blood-red flames were fiercely raging out from Zhan Taiqing¡¯s body. Her blood seemed to be burning, and her Genesis Qi was surging violently. An astonishing oppressive force broke out from her body. Zhan Taiqing¡¯s Genesis Qi had merged with her blood, which began to burn because of the secret technique. Power would explode with the greatest force as a result of this. But there was also a repercussion to this secret method. In order to replenish the blood used in this technique, it was unknown just how much blood needed to be extracted from others¡¯ bodies. The ground around Zhan Taiqing was constantly collapsing. She shot a cold glance at Yaoyao in the distance. ¡°Little bitch, watch me tear you apart!¡± Shua! The moment her voice fell, her figure turned into a beam of blood light and shot out. A flood of blood-red Genesis Qi rushed past, shattering the layers of Spirit barriers in an instant. Yaoyao remained expressionless when she saw this, and quickly retreated. ¡°You want to run away?¡± Zhan Taiqing sneered. Her speed soared, and in just a few seconds, she had torn down all the Spirit barriers and was quickly closing in on Yaoyao. ¡°The Great Blood Demon Technique!¡± Following a whistling sound, Zhan Taiqing¡¯s snowy white skin gradually glowed with red light. Her blood red fingernails elongated and ripped through the air. Evidently, Zhan Taiqing had released all her combat powers. In the face of such an attack, even Jiang Taishen would have trouble coping. Shua! Zhan Taiqing¡¯s figure instantly neared Yaoyao, her blood-red nails transforming into remnants of shadow. They directly tore apart Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit defense. The two women were almost within reach of each other. Zhan Taiqing¡¯s red lips tilted in a cruel arc. ¡°Without Genesis Qi, you can only solely rely on Spirit. What can you do? Watch me rip apart your pretty face!¡± Her blood-like fingernails were like pointed awls. They tore through space and aimed for Yaoyao¡¯s cheeks with lightning speed. At such a distance, although there were Spirit barriers rapidly emerging in front of Yaoyao, Zhan Taiqing was destroying everything in the way. Outside the mountains, countless people exclaimed out loud upon seeing this. Chi! Zhan Taiqing was ruthless. Before the whistling noises had faded, her blood red fingernails had already pierced Yaoyao¡¯s cheeks with violent power. Zhan Taiqing¡¯s lips curved upwards. You are definitely going to die this time! However, just as the corners of her lips curved upwards, her pupils shrank, as she saw that there was no blood flowing from Yaoyao¡¯s cheeks. Yaoyao¡¯s figure fluctuated slightly before gradually turning into nothingness. ¡°Spirit doppelganger?!¡± Zhan Taiqing¡¯s heart was crazily vibrating, eyes filled with disbelief. The figure in front of her was a Spirit doppelganger? How strong was Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit? How could she produce a Spirit doppelganger?! Zhan Taiqing rapidly retreated without hesitation. However, as she rapidly retreated, the air rippled, and Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful figure emerged right in front of her. Her long slender finger stretched out like a shadow. It was as though her fingers penetrated through space and reached Zhan Taiqing¡¯s glabella with lightning speed. Zhan Taiqing frantically retreated, but she still couldn¡¯t avoid the slender finger. A look of horror was finally emerging in her eyes. Buzz! The slim finger, without the slightest spark or wisp of smoke, landed between Zhan Taiqing¡¯s brows. It was at that moment that a terrifying Spirit attack erupted. Ah! Zhan Taiqing let out a miserable screech. She was blasted away, blood flowing out her eyes, nose and ears. There were no physical injuries, but her face was crossed with panic. Yaoyao¡¯s attack had directly struck her Spirit. A large mouthful of blood spurted from Zhan Taiqing¡¯s mouth, and there appeared to be a crack right between her eyebrows¡ªa sign that her Spirit was about to be destroyed. Once the Spirit was broken, Zhan Taiqing would become a living dead person. The sharp pain coming from her glabella made Zhan Taiqing¡¯s beautiful face contort with horror. She frantically operated her Genesis Qi to rush to the center of her eyebrows and neutralise the Spirit attack. At the same time, she did not dare to stay any longer. She darted away and escaped in the direction of where the many disciples of the Sacred Palace were. If she were to stay any longer, there was a real risk that her Spirit would be destroyed. However, the fact that she was going to flee showed that she had failed in the fight against Yaoyao. Jin Chanzi was already killed by Zhou Yuan, and now Zhan Taiqing was defeated in the hands of Yaoyao, with her Spirit severely damaged. This meant that the result of the battle between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect on the seventh peak was obvious. On the peak. When Zhou Yuan sensed Zhan Taiqing¡¯s defeat, he also quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He was prepared to immediately rush to the rescue if there were any changes on Yaoyao¡¯s side. But evidently, he had still underestimated Yaoyao¡¯s strength. Although Zhan Taiqing was remarkable, Yaoyao¡¯s strength was even more remarkable. Zhou Yuan glanced at the foot of the mountain where Chu Qing and Jiang Taishen were still facing each other. Following the defeat of Jin Chanzi and Zhan Taiqing, the Sacred Palace had lost its momentum. Even Jiang Taishen most likely couldn¡¯t reverse the situation alone. So Zhou Yuan shook his head and no longer paid attention to the other battles. Instead, under countless blazing gazes, he headed straight towards the mysterious jade disc that was lying quietly. It was time for him to collect the fruits of victory. He was anxious to see how many treasures were in the jade disc! Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 657 Harves Countless eyes were fixed on Zhou Yuan who was heading for the jade disc. Their gazes were filled and blazing with envy. They knew that after experiencing the previous bitter battle, Zhou Yuan would be the first to achieve the fruits of victory on the seventh peak. At the foot of the mountain, Jiang Taishen¡¯s face darkened when he saw that Zhan Taiqing was also defeated. Watching Zhou Yuan get closer and closer to the Jade disc, he almost couldn¡¯t suppress his Genesis Qi from gushing out. But every time, Chu Qing¡¯s eyes would become extremely aggressive and fierce, and the golden shuttle shadow that emerged on the palm of his hand would rapidly vibrate. It was obvious that if Jiang Taishen did anything, Chu Qing would make sure that he was wounded with all the strength Chu Qing had, even if Chu Qing had to suffer along with him. On the Sacred Palace¡¯s side, Jin Chanzi was already killed and Zhan Taiqing was severely wounded. If Jiang Taishen were to fight until both sides suffered, then not only would the Sacred Palace fail to compete with the Cangxuan Sect on the seventh peak, there would be danger in competing for the other two jade discs that held eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures. After all, even if the other four major sects were slightly less powerful, they still weren¡¯t easy to deal with. Therefore, Jiang Taishen¡¯s expression changed several times before he finally suppressed his emotions. He stared intently at Zhou Yuan figure, as if wanting to tear him up into shreds. He likely had never thought that their Sacred Palace would lose to the Cangxuan Sect, who they had always suppressed in the Mythic Utopia. And all this was because of Zhou Yuan. If Jiang Taishen had known that this would be the result, he wouldn¡¯t have held back the first time he had met Zhou Yuan, and he would have directly killed him. Unfortunately, at that time he had not attached any importance to Zhou Yuan, nor did he view him as a threat. In his view, how could a little chief disciple who wouldn¡¯t even be qualified to participate in the battle among Chosen be a threat to him? But from the looks of it, even with Jiang Taishen¡¯s temperament, his heart was gushing with monstrous regret. He really should have listened to Jin Chanzi and killed that guy right away! ..... Zhou Yuan simply ignored the countless gazes that were all filled with different emotions. Chu Qing had to face Jiang Taishen, and Yaoyao had little interest in matters like these, so Zhou Yuan was the one who came to pick the peaches first. His footsteps came to a stop in front of the mysterious jade disc, his eyes filled with astonishment. The jade was about dozens of feet wide, which could be considered magnificent. There was a mysterious luster flowing around the jade. Even with Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit detection, he found it difficult to inspect it with his Spirit power. ¡°How can I obtain this?¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head. He pondered for a moment and then suddenly and cautiously extended out his hand, gently stroking the jade disc. When his fingers came into contact with the jade, the surface suddenly rippled, and his fingers went right through. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath upon seeing this and took a huge step forward. Buzz! When his body came into contact with the jade disc, he suddenly entered the jade and disappeared under countless surprised gazes. As Zhou Yuan stepped through the jade disc, a bright light bloomed. His eyes narrowed slightly and then slowly opened wide. It was as if he was situated in the starry sky. There were specks of light fluttering, exuding gorgeous arrays of colors. It was remarkably beautiful. Gazing at the groups of light, Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand and grasped tightly. His eyes rapidly shrank after he took a look. The reason for this was because he saw that in that group of light, there was an object emitting dazzling light. It was a Divine Establishing Treasure! Although it was just a four-color Divine Establishing Treasure... Zhou Yuan looked up, admiring the dancing lights. The number here was simply in the hundreds, perhaps even in the thousands. He was slightly shocked, but he recovered very soon. After all, the four-color Divine Establishing Treasures did not have much attraction to him. Thus, he continued forward. The lights fluttered, sometimes hitting him and sometimes bouncing away. And as he gradually walked deeper, he found that the Divine Establishing Treasures within the lights were more and more gorgeous. There were five colors, six colors... Zhou Yuan quickened his pace. In particular when he saw a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure, his breathing grew hurried, and his eyes blazed. He held out his hands. What landed on his palms were two spheres of light containing two seven-color Divine Establishing Treasures. Everyone in the Mythic Utopia, even Jiang Taishen, Chu Qing and the others, most likely had obtained Divine Establishing Treasures at the seven-color level or below. The people of other sects might have gotten even less. And right now, as he looked around, there were close to dozens of seven-color Divine Establishing Treasures. ¡°No wonder it¡¯s the great opportunity.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. If he were to take all the Divine Establishing Treasures found away with him, then the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect would certainly be able to establish more heavens when they step into the Divine Dwelling stage. It would be greatly beneficial for their future cultivation training. Amongst them, there could even be experts of the Heavenly Sun stage, Nascent Source stage, or the Law Domain stage appearing. An expert of the Nascent Source stage would be a pillar even within a top sect like the Cangxuan Sect, and they would have the qualification to become the master of a peak. As for experts of the Law Domain stage, they could establish their own sect. And... The seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure here didn¡¯t seem to be the limit. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, looking ahead with blazing eyes. He waved his robe, and the light spheres blocking the path were pushed away as much as possible. The last scene came into Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Three large light spheres around several meters were floating around, blooming with rays of light. The number of colors had reached eight different colors! Zhou Yuan stared intently at the three tremendous light spheres. His breathing had become extremely rapid, and his heart pounded fast, like a low rumble of thunder. Eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures! Zhou Yuan felt his mouth and tongue go dry. Those were the mysterious treasures rumoured to exist here. He really did not expect to see them¡ªand to find all three! With these objects, he could easily establish eight heavens when he broke through into the Divine Dwelling stage. This advantage would allow him to leave behind other geniuses of his generation and even surpass them. The establishment of eight heavens, even in the vast Cangxuan Heaven, was rarely seen in one hundred years. And now there were three, which meant that among the younger generation of the Cangxuan Sect, there would be three geniuses who could open up eight heavens. This was a matter that would shake the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan stared at the three eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures. It was only after a good while that he gradually calmed his emotions. He finally shifted his eyes off the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures and scanned the surroundings. He found that he had reached the end and that there were no other objects around. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows gradually knitted into a frown. Although the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure was a mysterious treasure for cultivation, it was not the most important thing for him at this moment. His purpose was the third Saint Rune that had been stripped from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp! ¡°I detected the third Saint Rune before. It should be in this jade, but why aren¡¯t there any traces of it now?¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. It seemed that the third Saint Rune couldn¡¯t easily be found by anybody who came here. But if even he couldn¡¯t find it, then other people also wouldn¡¯t be able to find it, unless it was the old ancestor of Cangxuan himself! His eyes flickered, and he sat down cross-legged. In the depths of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, there was a mysterious Saint Rune rippling. It emerged from his eyes and transformed into an ancient Saint Rune that hovered around his body. And in the palm of his hand, the Earth Saint Rune also drilled out from within his flesh. The two Saint Runes swirled around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, vibrating faintly, and vaguely there seemed to be mysterious ripples spreading out from the air. Zhou Yuan stared at them intently. If even the two Saint Runes were unable to detect the third Saint Rune, then there really was nothing he could do! Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 658 Heavenly Punishmen Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed while the two ancient Saint Runes, exuding mysterious energy, spiraled around him. Ripples of energy grew and continued to spread out. It was utterly silent all around. The silence continued for a good while, and there were still no movements at all near him. But Zhou Yuan still maintained a calm state of mind because he knew that since the old ancestor of Cangxuan had guided him here, he wouldn¡¯t have hidden the third Saint Rune in a place where even Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t detect it. Half an hour of time quietly passed by. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly snapped open. The two ancient Saint Runes that were circling around him seemed to be emitting an imperceptible low whistling noise. And it was at this time that a whistling of the same frequency was being released from another place. Zhou Yuan saw that the surrounding air began to tremble. In front of him, there were ripples blooming out from the space. An ancient stone platform slowly rose. On the stone platform was a crystal-like ball of light standing quietly. The ball of light was constantly flashing, radiating a mysterious light. The two ancient Saint Runes emitted a low hum at this moment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart pounded rapidly as he quickly stepped forward to take a closer look. He was overjoyed to see that inside the crystal ball, there was a slowly flowing stream of liquid. The liquid seemed to contain life. It was occasionally bubbling and sometimes coagulating. It faintly transformed into a complicated light rune that emitted an ancient and desolate aura. Zhou Yuan gazed at the mysterious light rune inside the crystal ball. His voice trembled as he murmured, ¡°The third Saint Rune.¡± From the movements of the two Saint Runes, he was certain that the light rune inside the crystal ball was the third Saint Rune from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. What he had dreamt of finding had finally appeared before him. Even with Zhou Yuan¡¯s self-control, he was still unable to conceal his excitement. Buzz! During his excitement, countless rays of light suddenly surged from the stone platform. The rays of light rushed into the crystal ball like the tide, and then the crystal ball started vibrating. Immediately after, a little light sphere slowly arose from it. Zhou Yuan was taken aback when he saw the little light sphere because he found that inside was actually a four-color Divine Establishing Treasure! His pupils shrank. Were all the Divine Establishing Treasures in the jade disc produced by the Saint Rune?! This Saint Rune could create Divine Establishing Treasures?! Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was hammering like the stormy sea. Divine Establishing Treasures were specialties of the Mythic Utopia. Although he did not know whether other similar treasured caves would have similar mysterious objects, at the very least, it seemed to be unique in Cangxuan Heaven. According to what people said, this was because the Mythic Utopia possessed a special regulatory force. It meant that the Genesis Qi here could accumulate over time and turn into mysterious objects, such as Divine Establishing Treasures. But from what he could observe, the third Saint Rune seemed to be able to speed up the rate of birth of Divine Establishing Treasures. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but marvel at such an ability. ¡°It absorbs the Genesis Qi of the outside world through this stone platform, right?¡± Zhou Yuan studied the glittering stone platform. He sighed and then, without the slightest hesitation, came closer and reached out his hand to carefully touch the crystal ball. Just as his hand approached the stone platform, a faint light barrier rose and shrouded the crystal ball. The light barrier appeared weak and thin, but it exuded an extremely terrifying energy. If that energy were to disperse even slightly, it could instantly turn Zhou Yuan into ashes. Zhou Yuan stared cautiously at the light barrier. After studying it carefully, his eyes slightly narrowed. He could feel two familiar fluctuations of energy around the light barrier. It was the Decoder Saint Rune and the Earth Saint Rune! A faint smile curved up on his lips. This seemed to have been set up by the Cangxuan Sect in the past, by borrowing the powers of the two Saint Runes. This meant that anybody who came here wanting to obtain the third Saint Rune must possess the Decoder Saint Rune and the Earth Saint Rune. Evidently, the old ancestor of Cangxuan was worried that a hole would appear in his formation as time passed and that people would inadvertently break in to obtain the Saint Rune. ¡°The Old Ancestor is really cautious.¡± Zhou Yuan whispered, but he also knew that the Saint Runes were extremely important. If they were to fall into the hands of the Sacred Palace, then the palace master of the Sacred Palace would be able to detect the location of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and gain control of it. Once the palace master of the Sacred Palace obtained the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, he would become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. He would then control Cangxuan Heaven. As a great enemy of the Sacred Palace, the Cangxuan Sect would be the first ones they would destroy. ¡°The palace master of the Sacred Palace covets the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. If he obtains the Saint Stamp, he will definitely sense the location of the Saint Runes.¡± Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression grew solemn. Being watched by an existence of that level would make it hard for him to survive. But fortunately, even the palace master of the Sacred Palace did not know that the ancestor of Cangxuan had already stripped off the four Saint Runes on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Calming his emotions, Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand. The Decoder Saint Rune as well as the Earth Saint Rune was suddenly rotating beneath his palm, coming into contact with the light barrier. Buzz! As the two Saint Runes rotated, the light barrier rippled, and it was then easily torn away. The two Saint Runes, like a key, effortlessly opened the light barrier containing extremely terrifying energy. The light barrier cracked, and the crystal ball slowly began to suspend in the air. The crystal ball began to melt at a speed visible to the naked eye, and after a few breaths, the mysterious liquid-like object contained within emerged in front of Zhou Yuan. Mysterious, ancient and desolate. The Decoder Saint Rune and the Earth Saint Rune fluttered out and hovered around the third Saint Rune, as if they were producing cheerful cries. They were naturally one, and they were thus incomparably familiar with each other. The three light runes twisted around each other, and then the Decoder Saint Rune and the Earth Saint Rune took the lead to rush back. One rushed into the space between Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows, and the other continued to rush into his palm. The third Saint Rune hesitated a little, but then it finally slowly followed the two familiar waves of energy and penetrated Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Buzz! The moment the third Saint Rune drilled into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, muffled explosive noises suddenly sounded in his mind, and a massive amount of information gushed out. And from such information, Zhou Yuan learnt the name of the third Saint Rune. It¡¯s name was Heavenly Punishment. Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 659 Overbearing ¡°Heavenly Punishment...¡± Zhou Yuan murmured the name of the third Saint Rune and smacked his lips. This name was really too overbearing. He found that the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune, after entering his body, was flowing directly along his meridians. It finally arrived at his Qi Dwelling at a leisurely pace. It was evident that the Saint Rune had a strong spiritual nature and would independently seek a place to live. However, while Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t pay too much attention to it, his countenance abruptly changed. As the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune entered his Qi Dwelling, the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure that occupied his Qi Dwelling erupted with waves of energy. Shocked, Zhou Yuan hurriedly observed it more closely. He found that the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure that originally occupied the center of the Qi Dwelling hurriedly moved aside for the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. The Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune occupied the central position without any trace of politeness. He looked at the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure, but the next moment he saw a beam of light erupt out from the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune and rapidly twist around the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure. Lastly, as though opening a huge mouth, it swallowed the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure in one mouthful! Zhou Yuan was struck dumb by this scene. The moment he recovered from the shock, he scolded out loud, ¡°Don¡¯t eat my things without my permission!¡± He had put in a lot of effort to get his hands on the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure. Although he already held an eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure, how would he dislike having too many Divine Establishing Treasures! ¡°Spit it back out!¡± Zhou Yuan sent out his thoughts. The Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune possessed a spiritual nature, and so it must have understood his command. However, the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune was just rippling like a liquid body. It showed no intention of spitting out the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure as Zhou Yuan had ordered it to. Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. It seemed that the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure was gone and would never come back. Zhou Yuan wailed inwardly. He took a step back, and the surrounding environment began vibrating. He returned to the starry sky where there were many groups of light dancing, and then headed straight towards the three light spheres containing eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures. Although the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure was swallowed, there were fortunately three other eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures. ¡°Given my contribution, I should take an eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure, right?¡± Zhou Yuan stared intently at the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures. Although numerous disciples of the Cangxuan Sect had contributed, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t modest and thought his contribution was worth at least an eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll take my share first,¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled and then no longer hesitated. He stretched out his hand and tightly grasped an eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure. Feeling the pure and majestic Genesis Qi within, his eyes blazed brighter and brighter. With one thought he shattered the light sphere and directly absorbed the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure into his body. This time, Zhou Yuan fully wrapped the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure in Genesis Qi before he carefully sent it into the Qi Dwelling. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare eat it again!¡± Zhou Yuan warned. To be safe, he even sent the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure to a place a little farther away from the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. However, just as he was about to set the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure down, he was shocked to see the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune flash over. In panic, Zhou Yuan hurriedly tried to send the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure out of the Qi Dwelling. But it was already too late. The Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune seemed to have some kind of unimaginable oppressive force over Divine Establishing Treasures. With a thought, the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure actively flew out and was swallowed by the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. Zhou Yuan stared at the scene, dumbstruck. Even the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasure was eaten? What was going on? Zhou Yuan felt his head cracking from a headache. What was the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune doing? Without the Divine Establishing Treasures, it would be troublesome when he tried to make a breakthrough! ¡°Why did this happen?¡± Zhou Yuan muttered. The Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune seemed to dislike Divine Establishing Treasures appearing in his Qi Dwelling? Its behaviour was a bit similar to a beast king defending his territory¡ªit would not let any other beast enter. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment. He then took another six-color Divine Establishing Treasure and threw into his Qi Dwelling. It was as expected. Just as the six-color Divine Establishing Treasure entered the Qi Dwelling, it flew over to the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune on its own initiative and was swallowed. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched repeatedly. This meant that he couldn¡¯t possess any more Divine Establishing Treasures? Then what did he risk his life for in the Mythic Utopia? ¡°You¡¯re too overbearing!¡± Zhou Yuan felt his head hurting, exhausted. Buzz! It was then that the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune slightly vibrated, and it seemed to be sending out a fuzzy message. ¡°With you, I don¡¯t need any Divine Establishing Treasures?¡± Zhou Yuan received that message. The Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune was a mysterious treasure. Although it did not have a consciousness, it was full of spirituality and seemed to understand what Zhou Yuan, its master, was thinking. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart fluttered. Could the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune replace the role of Divine Establishing Treasures? If this was the case then what level of Divine Establishing Treasure was the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune? But this time, the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune did not move and did not seem to want to respond. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but purse his lips when he saw this. The Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune appeared to be more prideful than both the Decoder Saint Rune and the Earth Saint Rune. But after saying this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s worry dissipated, and instead, it was replaced by curiosity and anticipation. He was anxious to know what sort of effect the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune would have when he made a breakthrough to the Divine Dwelling stage? Although the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune did not reveal any special effects similar to Divine Establishing Treasures, everybody knew that it was extraordinary. With its help, what level of heavens would he be able to establish? ¡°Could it be the legendary nine heavens Divine Dwelling?¡± Zhou Yuan muttered. Just moments before, he wouldn¡¯t have the courage to hope for a nine heavens Divine Dwelling. After all, he had never heard of a nine-color Divine Establishing Treasure before. But the mysteriousness of the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune gave him a trace of hope. Moreover, he vaguely could feel that the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune had absorbed the incredibly majestic and pure Genesis Qi of the heavens and the earth due to being stored in the Mythic Utopia for such a long period of time. He did not have time to absorb and refine the Genesis Qi now, but after this matter, if he could take it for his own use, his strength would undoubtedly grow. Having suppressed his excitement, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows were again scrunched together in a frown, because he realised that he still hadn¡¯t received any information about the fourth Saint Rune when he had obtained the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. How could he find the fourth Saint Rune without any clues? After a long period of deep thought, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to shake his head and give up for now. He then waved his robe, and the numerous Divine Establishing Treasures suddenly whizzed over like a tide. They were stored into the spatial bag at his waist. ¡°The treasures of the jade disc are all in the bag. This trip is indeed worthwhile.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and turned around. As the air rippled, his body gradually dissipated, and he stepped out of the jade disc. Previous ChapterNext ChapterPlease go to to read the latest chapters for free Chapter 660 Complete The moment Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was seen stepping out from the jade disc, the jade disc released a dazzling light and gradually melted under countless stunned gazes. In less than ten breaths, the jade disc vanished without a trace. Such a change immediately drew exclamations of surprise from countless people. Zhou Yuan also stared at the scene with a somewhat shocked expression. He thought that it must be because he had taken away the Divine Establishing Treasures inside, so the jade disc no longer had any meaning of existence. He turned his head and looked ahead. He found that Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Yaoyao and the other Chosen had arrived at the location of the jade disc. The battle with the Sacred Palace had already completely ended? ¡°Jiang Taishen has already led the Chosen of Sacred Palace away from the seventh peak.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s red lips opened a little while her beautiful eyes, glistening with amazement, were constantly studying Zhou Yuan. ¡°Sacred Palace gave up?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little surprised. Li Qingchan smiled. ¡°You had killed Jin Chanzi, and Yaoyao had severely wounded Zhan Taiqing. If Jiang Taishen continued to fight, their Sacred Palace would have suffered more injuries than us.¡± The other Chosen also all had strange expressions on their faces. Even if they had accepted the result, they still couldn¡¯t help feeling a little shocked when they saw Zhou Yuan again. Jin Chanzi was ranked fifth on the Chosen List, which was higher than both Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan. The fact that Zhou Yuan could kill him suggested that his strength exceeded that of Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan. The numerous Chosen exchanged glances with one another. It seemed that after this, the ranking of Chosen in the Cangxuan Sect would be changed. ¡°The jade disc is gone?¡± Kong Sheng looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything has already been taken out.¡± Zhou Yuan turned to Chu Qing. ¡°I found three eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures and dozens of seven-color Divine Establishing Treasures. There are even more of Divine Establishing Treasures of other grades.¡± He had no intention of hiding anything. This statement made the many Chosen present gasp in astonishment. Even Chu Qing rubbed his head in surprise. It should be said that they had worked for months, but not every Chosen had a seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure. But now, Zhou Yuan told them that there were dozens of seven-color Divine Establishing Treasure in the jade disc?! Just what did this mean? This meant that among the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, there would be at least dozens of people who could establish seven heavens! Not to mention that...there were three eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures. It had been many years since anybody in the Cangxuan Sect could establish an eight heavens Divine Dwelling in the Diving Dwelling stage! ¡°I have taken one of the three eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures,¡± Zhou Yuan said calmly. Everybody was taken aback, and even Kong Sheng and Zhao Zhu, who did not get along with Zhou Yuan, didn¡¯t say anything. Everybody was well aware who contributed the most in the fight on the seventh peak. If Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao hadn¡¯t defeated their respective opponents, then even if Chu Qing fought with his life he could only wound Jiang Taishen. If Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were replaced with Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan would have most likely lost in the hands of Zhan Taiqing and Jin Chanzi. If that were the case, then perhaps it would have been the Cangxuan Sect who would have withdrawn from the seventh peak. So if Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t qualified to take one of the eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures, then no one would be qualified. Chu Qing grinned, revealing his white teeth. ¡°That is something you have exchanged for with your life, no one can say anything.¡± ¡°Thank you, senior brother.¡± Zhou Yuan laughed. ¡°There are many people around, so I won¡¯t take them out for now. Once the matter in the Mythic Utopia is over, I will bring them out.¡± Chu Qing and the others also nodded. All sects and factions of Cangxuan Heaven had gathered in the Mythic Utopia. If they were to know that so many high-grade Divine Establishing Treasures had appeared, it would no doubt attract jealousy, and the situation could change once again. ¡°Our Cangxuan Sect has achieved our purpose in the Mythic Utopia. We can return once the results of the fight are out.¡± Chu Qing said, ¡°The only regret I have is that I couldn¡¯t test my golden shuttle against Jiang Taishen.¡± Li Qingchan shot him a glance. ¡°Your golden shuttle hasn¡¯t truly formed. You would waste all your previous efforts if you had brought it out. Also, it is impossible to kill Jiang Taishen with it.¡± Nobody could doubt Jiang Taishen¡¯s strength since he could sit firmly in first place of the Chosen List. Chu Qing was indeed very strong, but if both sides were wounded in the end, Chu Qing¡¯s injury would be more severe than Jiang Taishen¡¯s. Hearing this, Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the other giant peaks. ¡°Which peak did the Sacred Palace choose?¡± The remaining two jade discs containing eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures were eyed by the other four major sects. Thus, if the Sacred Palace wanted to snatch them they would have to fight against the other major sects. ¡°It¡¯s the peak that the Sword Seeker Sect and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall are competing for,¡± Ye Ge answered. Zhou Yuan looked over and indeed saw that the giant peak in the distance was extremely chaotic. With the addition of the Sacred Palace, three sects were gathered together in a fierce battle. ¡°The Sword Seeker Sect¡¯s Zong Ming is ranked fourth on the Chosen List, and Tang Xiao of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall is ranked seventh. Both are not easy to deal with. But even if they joined hands, they most likely wouldn¡¯t be able to stop Jiang Taishen,¡± Chu Qing said nonchalantly. ¡°If they choose to risk their lives to fight, then even if the Sacred Palace wins they will have to pay a great price,¡± Li Qingchan said. Chu Qing shook his head. ¡°They will not fight to that point because then they may not have the qualification to compete for the other jade discs.¡± Just as Jiang Taishen did not choose to fight with them, Jiang Taishen also wanted a route of retreat, which was to compete for other jade discs after their failure. It was the same for the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall and the Sword Seeker Sect. If they were to suffer too much damage, they wouldn¡¯t have a chance to compete against other top sects. Zhou Yuan also gently nodded and said after a moment of hesitation, ¡°Should we give them some trouble?¡± The grudges between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect weren¡¯t at all small. If they could make the Sacred Palace uncomfortable, they would feel comfortable. The other Chosen were tempted, but it was Chu Qing who shook his head and said, ¡°Although the Sacred Palace lost two great battle assets, Jiang Taishen still isn¡¯t easy to deal with. If he goes berserk, then someone among us Chosen could follow the footsteps of Jin Chanzi.¡± The numerous Chosen felt a chill run down their spine. Chu Qing laughed, ¡°The loss that our Cangxuan Sect suffered this time is the smallest ever in the Mythic Utopia. Since I am the captain, the harvest is the second most important thing. My greatest wish is to be able to bring you all safe and sound back to the sect.¡± The others nodded gently. ¡°But...¡± Chu Qing suddenly changed his tone of voice. ¡°Although it won¡¯t be good to provoke the Sacred Palace, we can change the target... ¡°The Heavenly Ghost Sect and the Sacred Palace are quite close. When the Sacred Palace plotted against Yaoyao, they were also playing dirty tricks in the dark. We didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with them before, but they are currently battling the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. We can help the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace as revenge for them previously bullying our Cangxuan Sect, what do you think?¡± The other Chosen nodded in agreement. During the battle against the Sacred Palace, it was Chu Qing, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan who had done most of the work. They also needed a target to vent. Zhou Yuan exchanged a glance with Yaoyao, who then turned to Chu Qing and remarked, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to exhibit behaviour befitting that of the first Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Chu Qing¡¯s smile stiffened. Was he that bad usually? Zhou Yuan also smiled and then shifted his gaze onto the place where the Heavenly Ghost Sect and the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace were battling. His eyes turned chilling cold. Since the situation was like this, the Heavenly Ghost Sect could be considered a small addition to the trip to Mythic Utopia. Chapter 661 End The competition for the other six jade discs continued for around half a day until it gradually came to an end under countless unwilling gazes. The second jade disc that was home to eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures had expectedly fallen into the hands of Sacred Palace. Although the Sacred Palace had previously competed with the Cangxuan Sect, which led to Zhan Taiqing being badly wounded and the death of Jin Chanzi, the Sacred Palace was still terrifying because of the existence of Jiang Taishen. He vented his rage and frustration. The ferocity of the first-ranked person on the Chosen List was displayed fully without restraint. Even if Zong Ming of the Sword Seeker Sect and Tang Xiao of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall joined forces to fight the Sacred Palace, they ultimately were still defeated in the hands of Jiang Taishen. And the defeated Sword Seeker Sect and North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall had no choice but to give up and turn their focus onto other jade discs. The forces that competed for the jade discs were all top sects and factions of Cangxuan Heaven, but in the face of two powerful people, they had to helplessly hand over the jade disc after a long and bitter battle. As for the other jade disc that held Divine Establishing Treasures, it fell into the hands of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Of course, this was because of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s contribution. The strengths of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the Heavenly Ghost Sect were evenly matched. It was a bloody battle; many Chosen had fallen, and there were many tragically wounded on both sides. But when the Cangxuan Sect joined in, the balance between the two sides was suddenly broken. The Heavenly Ghost Sect was utterly defeated in the face of the joint forces of the Cangxuan Sect and the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. The head of the Heavenly Ghost Sect Chosen was called Zhao You, and he was ranked sixth on the Chosen List of the Shengzhou Continent. He was enraged by the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s interference, but at the same time he also understood why the Cangxuan Sect would join hands with the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. It was to retaliate against the Heavenly Ghost Sect for previously cooperating with the Sacred Palace. Therefore, Zhao You had no choice but to silently swallow the humiliation. But in his heart he was inevitably cursing the Sacred Palace and Jiang Taishen. The reason he chose to help Sacred Palace was because he felt the Sacred Palace was stronger and that he could borrow the power of the Sacred Palace to help him. But who would have thought that the Sacred Palace would lose to the Cangxuan Sect? The Sacred Palace couldn¡¯t even protect themselves, so how could they support the Heavenly Ghost Sect? In the end, six of the seven jade discs had fallen into the hands of the six major sects. The remaining one was left to the other forces. The battle on that jade peak was a bloodbath. The Chosen of various sects fought with everything they had; in the end it was unknown just how many people had died on that peak. But this was the cruelty of the Mythic Utopia. In order to compete for the great opportunity, lives were worthless, even those of Chosen. Watching the battle on the peak of the mountain, the other six major sects, including the Cangxuan Sect, did not intervene because they knew that the other sects were in a killing frenzy. If they were to intervene, it would only lead to attacks from all sides. The gains did not make up for the losses. Finally the killings came to an end, and the result was revealed. The final winner that remained standing was a top sect called the Violet Sun Palace. Although their strength couldn¡¯t be compared to the six major sects, it was still a well-known sect in Cangxuan Heaven. When the Violet Sun Palace became the final winner and obtained the last jade disc, it signified the battle in the Mythic Utopia had finally come to an end. The stench of blood was permeating the air, and it had become a lot quieter than before. The various forces were like wolves after a vicious fight, filled with fatigue and crouched down licking their wounds. Standing on the peak of the mountain, Zhou Yuan gazed at the broken mountains with an incredibly calm expression. The way of cultivation had always been riddled with innumerable battles, and one often hovered between life and death. All these years of cultivation had made his mind incredibly steady, and he wouldn¡¯t waver so easily. ¡°When I return to the sect to refine and absorb the purest Genesis Qi contained in the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune, I will be able to step into the ninth layer and reach the peak of the Alpha-Origin stage.¡± Zhou Yuan exhaled a long breath. It had been nearly two years since he had come to the Cangxuan Sect. When he had first arrived, he had just stepped into the Alpha-Origin stage. But now, he was about to reach the peak of the Alpha-Origin stage and would hopefully reach the Divine Dwelling stage very soon. When he left the Cangmang Continent and came to the Shengzhou Continent, what he sought was to possess the power to counter King Wu as quickly as possible. During this period, he did not know how many battles he had experienced, but he persisted no matter the difficulties he faced. Now, he wasn¡¯t far from his goal. When he possessed the strength to fight King Wu, he would return to the Great Zhou and settle all grudges. ¡°King Wu. You broke my father¡¯s arm, destroyed my mother¡¯s life, occupied the territory of my Great Zhou, killed my people, and took my Sacred Dragon Destiny.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed into the distance, scene after scene flashing through his mind. The root of all this was that King Wu had usurped the Great Zhou. From his very first memories, the Great Zhou had always been under the oppression of the Great Wu. It lingered on with its last breath of life. His father, who once had great ambition, was suppressed by reality, and the brilliance in the eyes was gradually erased. Zhou Yuan knew that his father had lost the confidence to contend for supremacy with King Wu. Zhou Yuan also knew that his father must be extremely sad in the depths of his heart. In the face of a powerful enemy he could only endure silently and put all his hope on his only son. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids slightly drooped, eyes flashing coldly. Father, don¡¯t worry. The debt that you couldn¡¯t collect, I will personally help you with it. I will collect everything without fail! King Wu, just you wait! This day won¡¯t be too far away! Buzz! The air above the peak suddenly vibrated like waves. The area of disturbance widened, and even space was gradually distorted. ¡°We¡¯ve contacted my peak master. She has located us and is currently tearing the space to form a passageway to bring us out.¡± Li Qingchan turned to the other disciples and said, ¡°All disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, be ready to move!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everybody responded in unison. Their eyes lit up with excitement. Their Cangxuan Sect had made a great harvest in their trip to the Mythic Utopia. More importantly, they had suppressed the Sacred Palace, which was simply exhilarating. Zhou Yuan looked around and saw that the other major sects were also communicating with the elders of their sect in the outside world. The space around them was similarly rippling. The trip of Mythic Utopia had come to an end. Buzz! The space¡¯s rippling intensified until space suddenly tore apart, as if a fissure was forming. Majestic and boundless Genesis Qi was running through it, which stabilised the space and formed a passageway. ¡°Disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, come out quickly.¡± There was an indistinct voice coming from the space channel. It was peak master Lianyi! ¡°Go!¡± Li Qingchang roared and was the first to step out with Chu Qing. They disappeared in the blink of an eye, followed by many Cangxuan Sect disciples. As Zhou Yuan came to the space passageway, he turned to take a last look at the vast world, a faint smile curving up on his lips. He knew that when others knew what had happened here, it would most likely set off a great shock in the Shengzhou Continent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s name would also spread throughout the various sects and the continent. He wondered if his father and mother in Great Zhou would also receive this news. Chapter 662 Shocking results Above the turbulent sea, there were numerous figures emitting powerful Genesis Qi, causing the space to appear distorted. The waves of the outside world were raging, but the surface of the sea that they were on was as calm as a pool of stagnant water. Peak master Lianyi was sitting quietly and gracefully on an ark. As she stared at the air in front of her, there was a trace of nervousness in the depths of her eyes. She knew that after months of fighting, the trip to the Mythic Utopia had come to an end. The disciples of each sect would begin to come out one after another. What she did not know was how was the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s harvest? And what about the casualties? Peak master Lianyi was well aware that every time the Mythic Utopia opened, some Cangxuan Sect Chosen would be killed. The worst time was when almost half of the ten Great Chosen were killed. At that time, many chief disciples of the various peaks were also wounded and killed. And the Sacred Palace had been the culprit. This time, the overall strength of the disciples of the Sacred Palace was stronger than their Cangxuan Sect, like always. Given the grudges between the two sects, it was inevitable that a fight would break out between them. Therefore, peak master Lianyi did not know what kind of price the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect would have to pay this time. ¡°Damn Sacred Palace!¡± Peak master Lianyi clenched her teeth. The Sacred Palace really was hateful. ¡°Haha, peak master Lianyi, do you think I¡¯m deaf? Is there a need for you to insult us like that?¡± A faint laugh sounded from the sky. Peak master Lianyi looked over to see that in the distance, there was a mountain formed from Genesis Qi standing tall. On the peak of the mountain sat a figure exuding terrifying pressure. It was the fourth hall master of the Sacred Palace, Qin Ling. ¡°So what if I¡¯m scolding you?¡± Peak master Lianyi snorted coldly. Qin Ling gave a faint smile. ¡°Peak master Lianyi is good at arguing, but when you see the mutilated soldiers of the Cangxuan Sect come out, I wonder if you will erupt in rage?¡± ¡°Maybe there aren¡¯t many people left in your Sacred Palace,¡± peak master Lianyi remarked coldly. The corner of Qin Ling¡¯s mouth curved upwards. ¡°Do you believe what you just said?¡± Peak master Lianyi did not respond because she also knew that she only said that out of anger. The disciples of the Sacred Palace were incredibly powerful, and adding to this, they were led by Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing, and Jin Chanzi, three great Chosen. Although the Cangxuan Sect wasn¡¯t weak, they couldn¡¯t compare with the Sacred Palace. All these years, every time the Mythic Utopia ended, one of the highlights for each of the Sacred Palace hall masters was to admire the ugly expressions on the faces of the people from the Cangxuan Sect. The other high-level experts of various sects also shook their heads and then looked sympathetically at peak master Lianyi. The Cangxuan Sect hadn¡¯t been able to overturn their losses for many years; it seemed that this time there wouldn¡¯t be an exception. Even the thought was enough to make one cry. The first sect of the Cangxuan Heaven was suppressed by the Sacred Palace to the point they couldn¡¯t turn over. Buzz! While these thoughts were bubbling in the minds of various high-level experts, the chaotic space began to twist, and a passageway was torn open. All high-level experts watched with bated breaths. The disciples were the elites their sects carefully cultivated. Thus, it would be a great loss to their sect if anything were to occur to them. Under the nervous gazes of all parties, space passageways were constantly appearing until, finally, countless shadows shot out. The entire sea surface was bubbling. Peak master Lianyi stared closely at a space passageway not far away. She was able to sense the fluctuations of Genesis Qi of some of her disciples. Shua! Under her watchful gaze, the space passageway suddenly shook, and then beams of light swept out. ¡°Chu Qing, Qingchan, Kong Sheng, Ye Ge, Zhou Yuan.¡± As soon as the light beams shot out of the space passageway, peak master Lianyi was able to identify them right away. She quickly swept a glance over them, and a joyful look lit up her beautiful face. She found that the ten great Chosen and the chief disciples were all present, and they did not appear to have suffered much injuries. ¡°How is that possible?¡± The result stunned her because all these years there was never a time that a Chosen or chief disciple wasn¡¯t killed in the Mythic Utopia. This moment, even peak master Lianyi was beginning to question if she made a mistake. She again carefully scanned around and was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. ¡°Haha, were your disciples hiding in the periphery, not daring to go deep into the Mythic Utopia?¡± Hall master Qin Ling laughed out loud when he also realised what had happened. He was also very clear that every time the Mythic Utopia opened, there would be deaths of Chosen, even for their Sacred Palace. But everybody from the Cangxuan Sect was alive? Did they think the Mythic Utopia was a place for them to play around?! The only possibility was that the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect simply did not go deep into the Mythic Utopia and simply stayed in its periphery! Peak master Lianyi knitted her brows together. At this moment, the high-level experts of other sects were also looking over. If things really were as Qin Ling had said, then the Cangxuan Sect would become a huge joke. Numerous Cangxuan Sect disciples also noticed this scene, and their expressions turned a little strange. Li Qingchan took the lead. Looking at peak master Lianyi, she gave a cupped fist salute and reported, ¡°Peak master, in this trip to the Mythic Utopia, our Cangxuan Sect obtained three eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures and ten seven-color Divine Establishing Treasures as well as numerous Divine Establishing Treasures of other levels.¡± As these words were said, the noisy crowd fell silent. All faces were filled with shocked disbelief. Three eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures? In the past, there were times that not even one appeared in the Mythic Utopia. But the Cangxuan Sect had obtained three?! At this moment, who would dare to say that the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect only walked around the periphery?! Qin Ling¡¯s expression also changed. ¡°That¡¯s funny, do you think eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures are just goods on the roadside? You said you obtained three?¡± Peak master Lianyi¡¯s beautiful eyes also flickered with doubt. She would have believed it if Li Qingchan had said they obtained three seven-color Divine Establishing Treasures, but three eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures? Wasn¡¯t that too unbelievable? Li Qingchan maintained her calm and continued, ¡°As for enemies, our Cangxuan Sect killed Lei Jun of the Sacred Palace, as well as Tie Mo and Jin Chanzi, and also severely wounded Zhan Taiqing.¡± If her previous words were considered a thunderbolt, then what Li Qingchan said now was like a volcanic eruption. It was so earthshaking that all the high-level experts couldn¡¯t suppress their shock. Lei Jun and Tie Mo were well known among the Chosen of the Sacred Palace. But what they were most shocked about was Jin Chanzi and Zhan Taiqing, who were both ranked in the top three Chosen of the Sacred Palace! But now one was dead and the other was wounded?! ¡°Nonsense!¡± Qin Ling sprang up and glowered at Li Qingchan. ¡°Little girl, what you say is ridiculous. The number of Chosen in my Sacred Palace is more than your Cangxuan Sect, and they are all stronger than you. All of the Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect are alive, yet you dare say that even Jin Chanzi of my Sacred Palace has been killed? And Zhan Taiqing is badly wounded? ¡°What are you saying? How could you kill them? With your mouth?¡± He turned to peak master Lianyi and sneered coldly, ¡°How do the Cangxuan Sect teach their disciples? How could they tell such lies?¡± ¡°What does it have to do with you?¡± Peak master Lianyi looked beautiful and graceful but had a fiery temper. Then she frowned slightly, looked at Li Qingchan and asked hesitantly, ¡°Qingchan, what you said just now, is it true?¡± Li Qingchan turned to Zhou Yuan, who gave a smile. He patted the bag at his waist, and the next moment, spheres of light rose into the air, surrounding him fully. Among them were two spheres that emitted eight colors of brilliance. Everyone fell utterly silent, and even Qin Ling¡¯s eyes were crazily flickering. ¡°So many eight-color Divine Establishing Treasures appeared in the Mythic Utopia this time? Hmph, when Jiang Taishen and the others come out, their lies will be exposed.¡± Qin Ling clenched his teeth, but deep down he was feeling somewhat uneasy. Buzz! It was at this moment that another space passageway tore open. Qin Ling suddenly shook as he sensed the fluctuation of Genesis Qi from the disciples of the Sacred Palace. The high-level experts of other sects also curiously looked over. Whether or not what Li Qingchan said was true would become clear when the disciples of the Sacred Palace come out. Shua! Under the gazes of many people, streams of light shot out from the space passageway. In less than ten seconds, the disciples of the Sacred Palace all showed up. Qin Ling scanned them right away. His face gradually turned gloomy because he found that the disciples of the Sacred Palace seemed extremely depressed and their morale was particularly low. And most importantly, he couldn¡¯t see Jin Chanzi, Lei Jun and Tie Mo among the Sacred Palace disciples. The other high-level experts, also aware of the situation, looked at one another and were able to see the unconcealable shock present in each other¡¯s eyes. What Li Qingchan had said was true! Chapter 663 Angry Qin Ling Above the sea surface. The high-level experts of all sects were shocked to see the absence of Jin Chanzi and other Sacred Palace disciples among those coming out from the space passageway. What Li Qingchan had said was evidently true. The Cangxuan Sect had reversed the situation of losing to the Sacred Palace in the Mythic Utopia for many years! How had they managed to achieve this? Many high-level experts were filled with puzzlement because it was clear that the Sacred Palace occupied an absolute advantage from the overall strength of both sides. Moreover, in the top five of the Chosen List of the Shengzhou Continent, the Sacred Palace occupied three spaces, with Jiang Taishen firmly seated in the top spot! And on the contrary, the Cangxuan Sect only had Chu Qing. There was a gap between the two sides whether it was in terms of strength or the number of people. How could Sacred Palace pay such a disastrous price? Qin Ling¡¯s face darkened. He turned to Jiang Taishen. Undisguised anger was in his voice as he asked, ¡°Jiang Taishen, what happened? Was Jin Chanzi really killed by people of the Cangxuan Sect?¡± Jiang Taishen nodded silently. Qin Ling hissed through clenched teeth, ¡°Killed by Chu Qing?¡± In his view, the only one who could threaten Jin Chanzi should be Chu Qing. Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan were both weaker than Jin Chanzi, so he eliminated them right away. As for the others, he didn¡¯t even need to consider them. Jiang Taishen pursed his lips and then shook his head. ¡°Chief Disciple Zhou Yuan of the Cangxuan Sect had killed him. He had also killed Lei Jun and Tie Mo.¡± His words caused uproar, and the high-level experts of various sects who were secretly paying attention also couldn¡¯t help discussing in whispers. ¡°Jin Chanzi is a Chosen, but he was killed by a chief disciple from the Cangxuan Sect? That¡¯s too laughable!¡± Numerous people went pale. If Jin Chanzi had lost to Kong Shen, Li Qingchan or other Chosen, then they wouldn¡¯t have had such a huge reaction. It was really hard to understand how he could have lost to a Cangxuan Sect chief disciple. ¡°Who is Zhou Yuan? Why is he so powerful?¡± Some people were constantly scanning the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect on the other side. Peak master Lianyi¡¯s beautiful face was similarly crossed with astonishment and disbelief. It was evident that this answer was also unexpected for her. ¡°Zhou Yuan killed Jin Chanzi?¡± Peak master Lianyi¡¯s beautiful eyes flashed. In her eyes Zhou Yuan was an outstanding talent among the younger generation of disciples, but compared to the numerous Chosen, he was still a little lacking. He might replace Chu Qing¡¯s status perhaps in a year or two, but not now. However, the result completely destroyed her reasoning. ¡°The eighth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage...his Genesis Qi foundation is also extremely strong.¡± Peak master Lianyi sighed. Even she was surprised by the young man¡¯s rate of growth. At the same time, when Qin Ling heard Jiang Taishen¡¯s answer, his face darkened significantly. There seemed to be flames shooting out from his eyes. A group of Chosen had died in the hands of a chief disciple from the Cangxuan Sect. If this matter were to spread, the Sacred Palace would completely lose their face. ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± But immediately, Qin Ling knitted his brows. The name was very familiar. Yes, he had heard it from his palace master. It seemed that the palace master had given Jiang Taishen an order to capture Zhou Yuan in the Mythic Utopia. But Jiang Taishen had evidently failed to complete this task. Qin Ling originally wasn¡¯t too concerned about this matter. After all, for people at his level, a little chief disciple from the Cangxuan Sect was simply like an ant. But right now, the name left a deep impression on him. He fixed a cold stare at Jiang Taishen and the others. ¡°Useless things! I will deal with you once we return to the palace!¡± He no longer paid any attention to them, but he shifted his piercing cold gaze onto peak master Lianyi, ¡°Your Cangxuan Sect is impressive to dare kill three Chosen from my Sacred Palace! ¡°If the Cangxuan Sect doesn¡¯t give me an explanation today, my Sacred Palace won¡¯t leave this matter just like this!¡± When this statement was uttered, there was a terrifying Genesis Qi that erupted out from his body. As if the space was unable to bear the pressure any longer, the air began to crack. In the face of such an oppressive force, Chu Qing¡¯s, Li Qingchan¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed abruptly. They were unable to move a single step under that kind of pressure. It was as though Qin Ling could suppress them with one thought. The gap between the two sides was evident. Zhou Yuan similarly felt the tremendous pressure, which made him gasp for air. However, he still leaned to one side with difficulty and tried to shield Yaoyao from the pressure. ¡°Qin Ling, you dare!¡± Fortunately, just as Qin Ling¡¯s Genesis Qi shrouded them, peak master Lianyi was immediately aware of it and took action. Boom! Monstrous Genesis Qi whizzed out. With the grasp of her hand, terrifying Genesis Qi frantically gathered and compressed in her hand. After a number of breaths, a crystal clear petal came fluttering out. The petal, covered with naturally formed patterns, was extremely beautiful but also extremely dangerous. Zhou Yuan and the others, who were nearby, were able to clearly feel the terror of the Genesis Qi gathered in the petal. The slightest wisp could turn them into nothingness. An expert of the Nascent Source stage was indeed too powerful! Ding! Peak master Lianyi flicked her finger, sending the piece of crystal petal shooting out in the form of a stream of light. Buzz! Where the petal passed by, there were signs that space itself was collapsing. Countless space debris crumbled and wrapped around the petal. One petal was enough to destroy the mountains within a hundred mile radius! The flowing petal light rapidly grew before Qin Ling. He snorted coldly and stamped his foot. The mountain-like Genesis Qi underfoot flew out and collided with the crystal petal. Boom! Although the two were entirely different from each other, when they collided, there was an indescribable storm of Genesis Qi sweeping out and tearing endless deep ditches into the sea below. The surrounding space was also showing signs of shattering. In the sea, it was not known how many unlucky Genesis beasts were killed by this impact. Compared with a battle between experts of the Nascent Source stage, the battle between Zhou Yuan and the others were considered child¡¯s play. If they hadn¡¯t taken into consideration the people around them, the entire sea area would have been turned upside down long ago. As the shock waves dissipated, Qin Ling and peak master Lianyi¡¯s eyes collided. ¡°Qin Ling, you really think my Cangxuan Sect is easy to bully?¡± peak master Lianyi said coldly. Qin Ling¡¯s face was devoid of expression when he answered, ¡°Peak master Lianyi, your Cangxuan Sect is not the same as in the past. If you don¡¯t hand over that boy today, don¡¯t think of leaving here!¡± The Sacred Palace had already lost face today. So Qin Ling did not care since they had to bring Zhou Yuan back! ¡°Peak master Lianyi, I advise you to think about it carefully. Don¡¯t tell me you want to tear the faces of two sects because of a little chief disciple! There¡¯s no benefit to your Cangxuan Sect!¡± Qin Ling spoke in a threatening tone of voice. Before Zhou Yuan could say anything, a slightly cold but delicate hand suddenly stretched forward from behind and grasped his hand tight. He turned to see Yaoyao calmly looking at him. She whispered in a voice that only they could hear, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, no one can take you away.¡± Zhou Yuan did not say anything. He took a deep breath and clenched his hands tight. I really am still too weak. If I am strong enough, I could slap Qin Ling to death. What could the Sacred Palace dare to say then? Peak master Lianyi¡¯s beautiful eyes were coldly staring at Qin Ling. She did not say anything else, but between her scrunched brows, there seemed to be a light rune emerging. Buzz! At the same time, everybody was shocked to see that there seemed to be an invisible domain slowly spreading out from within peak master Lianyi¡¯s body. Where the domain swept past, everything, including life, fell into the control of the domain master. ¡°Law Domain?!¡± Some high-level experts cried out in astonishment. Peak master Lianyi¡¯s long hair fluttered in the breeze, and her beautiful eyes locked onto Qin Ling with endless icy coldness. She spoke in a determined voice, ¡°If you want to take someone from me... Chapter 664 Pseudo Law Domain Buzz! An invisible field domain, with peak master Lianyi as the center, swept out, and where it passed, all the high-levels experts of the various sects were struck dumb. Ordinary disciples might not know the strength of this attack, but how would they not know?! Because what peak master Lianyi used was the Law Domain that only experts who had stepped into the Law Domain stage could control! The Law Domain master was the ruler and god of wherever the Law Domain shrouded. Anybody that fell into the Law Domain would have their Genesis Qi greatly suppressed, and they wouldn¡¯t be able to display more than half of their strength. Moreover, the Genesis Qi of the universe would be cut off, and the majority of Genesis Qi activated would be directly annihilated like flames lighted undersea. Even the power of Genesis techniques forcibly used would be greatly reduced. It wasn¡¯t particularly difficult for Law Domain experts to kill experts of the Nascent Source stage. All experts were aware of this common theory: the Law Domain could only be countered by another Law Domain. But Law Domain experts were extremely rare even among the six great sects. Sect master Qing Yang was the only person within the Cangxuan Sect identified as a Law Domain expert. Could it be that peak master Lianyi had also stepped into the Law Domain stage?! Qin Ling¡¯s eyes also abruptly shrank the moment he saw the Law Domain envelop the area. However, when the Law Domain rushed over, although he felt his body sinking, the situation of being suppressed by the Law Domain and being unable to activate his Genesis Qi did not appear even though he had expected it. It immediately became clear to him. With the flick of his sleeve, endless light flowed around the surface of his body, making him appear crystal clear and untainted by a speck of dust. Boundless majestic Genesis Qi whizzed out, swirling around the many disciples of the Sacred Palace, and then as his hand shook, they all shot up and quickly escaped the Law Domain. ¡°Hmph, peak master Lianyi, who do you think you can scare with your pseudo Law Domain!¡± Previously he really thought that peak master Lianyi had stepped into the Law Domain stage. If that was the case, then it would indeed be dangerous. However, her Law Domain did not have the true power of a Law Domain. This made him a little annoyed, knowing that he was tricked by Peak Master Lianyi. The high-level experts of other sects also snapped out of their shock, wiping the cold sweat on their foreheads. If peak master Lianyi had really stepped into the Law Domain stage, then that meant the strength of the Cangxuan Sect would also soar. Zhou Yuan and the other disciples of the Cangxuan Sect were also shocked. Situated within the Law Domain, they naturally were able to feel a boundless repressive force. Even the Genesis Qi in their body had stopped operating. If peak master Lianyi had malicious intent towards them, only a thought was needed for her to make their Genesis Qi instantly riot and explode. ¡°This is the Law Domain?¡± Zhou Yuan smacked his lips, his eyes filled with shocked horror. The power of control was already beyond his imagination because peak master Lianyi seemed to be in control of everything within the Law Domain, including the life and death of any intruder. ¡°Peak master Lianyi is not considered a true Law Domain expert. At most, she can suppress people below the Heavenly Sun stage. As for Nascent Source stage experts, they can easily break free,¡± Li Qingchan quietly analysed. ¡°But even so, the pseudo Law Domain is still incredibly powerful. Peak master Lianyi is situated inside, and so her strength will be greatly increased. Although Nascent Source stage experts are able to break free from the pseudo Law Domain, they won¡¯t dare to fight against our peak master. Otherwise, they could be killed.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded slightly. It was no wonder that Qin Ling fled swiftly when he saw the Law Domain open. It turned out that he would also be suppressed. Under countless reverent gazes, peak master Lianyi lifted her head and sarcastically remarked, ¡°You¡¯re not going to capture my disciple anymore? Why are you running?¡± Qin Ling¡¯s face slightly twitched as he coldly sneered, ¡°Peak master Lianyi, don¡¯t think I would be afraid of your Law Domain! If we really fought, your Law Domain most likely won¡¯t last long!¡± ¡°Then why don¡¯t you come down and try?¡± Peak Master Lianyi coldly smiled. Qin Ling¡¯s eyes flashed. He shouldn¡¯t be afraid of peak master Lianyi, but he did not expect her to open up a pseudo Law Domain. If they really were to fight, he would be at a disadvantage. ¡°Peak master Lianyi, is your Cangxuan Sect really going to become an enemy of my Sacred Palace because of a little chief disciple?¡± Qin Ling narrowed his eyes. ¡°Did my Cangxuan Sect not have a bad relationship with the Sacred Palace before? Qin Ling, don¡¯t waste time anymore. In my eyes, any chief disciple of my Cangxuan Sect is more important than the palace master of your Sacred Palace. ¡°If you represent the Sacred Palace to fight with my Cangxuan Sect, then I will accept it on behalf of the Cangxuan Sect. As long as one person of my Cangxuan Sect remains, they will fight to the end with the Sacred Palace!¡± A strong fierce light that made one¡¯s heart pound with fear emerged in peak master Lianyi¡¯s beautiful eyes. The high-level experts of other sects were also startled by her ruthlessness and decisiveness. This woman was simply mad to have started a fight at a slight disagreement. And now she wanted to fight to the end. The corners of Qin Ling¡¯s eyes twitched. He couldn¡¯t represent the Sacred Palace to fight to the death with the Cangxuan Sect, because that would be a scenario the other sects would wish to see. The Sacred Palace wasn¡¯t ready for this just yet. The reason he exploded earlier was because the Sacred Palace¡¯s loss was too great. He simply wanted to use that to frighten peak master Lianyi and regain the Sacred Palace¡¯s face. But he hadn¡¯t expected that peak master Lianyi would be many times fiercer than any man despite being a woman. He was fierce, but not as fierce as peak master Lianyi. So at this moment, he was forced into a difficult choice. ¡°Hall master Qin Ling, it is very normal to have deaths and injuries in the Mythic Utopia. Each family also has their own rules, and there they speak based on their ability. Life and death are predestined. Your Sacred Palace has lost some disciples, but you want to oppress people because of that? You are too petty.¡± While the two sides were deadlocked, a faint laugh suddenly sounded. Many people turned to see that it was valley master Yin Xia of the Sword Seeker Sect. Qin Ling threw a glance at valley master Yin Xia, frowning. It was troublesome enough to deal with peak master Lianyi, but to think that valley master Yin Xia also interfered. It should be said that the Sword Seeker Sect had always remained neutral. But now that things had come to this, Qin Ling knew that it was useless to say anything else. ¡°Hmph, peak master Lianyi, my Sacred Palace will not forget this matter!¡± Qin Ling¡¯s eyes flashed, and he finally flung his sleeve with a loud grunt. Majestic Genesis Qi suddenly engulfed the many Sacred Palace disciples, and they all left. But before his departure, he left behind some fierce words. Peak master Lianyi coldly watched Qin Ling leave, and she withdrew the Law Domain before she turned to valley master Yin Xia and very quickly retracted her gaze. She shifted her gaze onto Zhou Yuan, saying, ¡°Little boy, you have a look of fear on your face. Do you look down on my Cangxuan Sect?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little embarrassed. It was just an instinctive reaction. After all, if one was to consider the bigger picture, a little chief disciple couldn¡¯t compensate the losses that would be created in a conflict between the two great sects. Peak master Lianyi snorted, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, since you entered the Mythic Utopia, you represent our Cangxuan Sect. You fought with your life for our Cangxuan Sect. If the Cangxuan Sect can¡¯t protect you, then wouldn¡¯t that disappoint all the disciples? ¡°Let alone that Qin Ling, even if their palace master was here, I would also sever him if he dares to touch you! ¡°At worst, the Cangxuan Sect will go to war with the Sacred Palace. Even if my Cangxuan Sect is destroyed, I will make sure the Sacred Palace is buried with us!¡± Seeing the usually elegant and beautiful peak master Lianyi say this, Zhou Yuan scratched his head and did not know what to say. Deep inside, he felt a warmth flowing around his heart. Having been training in the Cangxuan Sect for two years, he was also attached to the sect. Thus, peak master Lianyi¡¯s action made him feel a sense of identity. ¡°Now that the Mythic Utopia is over, everybody, come back to the sect with me first.¡± Peak master Lianyi scanned the high-level experts of the other sects. The harvest that the Cangxuan Sect made this time was not small at all, and if she weren¡¯t around, those high-level experts would have most likely done something to the young disciples at the sight of such valuable objects. The disciples nodded and then boarded the huge ark in the air. It was only after all the disciples went up that peak master Lianyi nodded to valley master Yin Xia without saying anything. Then, with a flash, she reappeared on the ark. Zhou Yuan cast his eyes over to several directions, where Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo, Li Chunjun, Zhen Xu and Ning Zhan were. It was as if he was saying farewell with his gaze. ¡°After returning to the sect, given my contribution, I should be able to get a share of the seven-color Divine Establishing Treasures. When I do, I will give one to each of them.¡± Zhou Yuan thought to himself. When Yaoyao was ambushed in the Mythic Utopia, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo, Li Chunjun and the others knew that they couldn¡¯t win against the Chosen of the Sacred Palace, but they still tried to help. Zhou Yuan would forever remember this kindness. Hu. He exhaled a long breath. Feeling the gradual start of the ark, he gazed into the distance. Chapter 665 Punishmen As the experience in the Mythic Utopia came to an end, news of the final result had also spread throughout almost all of the Shengzhou Continent in just a few days of time. After all, the participants included almost all the outstanding talents of the younger generation of Cangxuan Heaven. Being able to stand out in a competition of this level was enough to illustrate one¡¯s talent. In time, people who stood out might become one of the renowned top experts of Cangxuan Heaven. It was just that the results surprised everybody. After all, the Sacred Palace was at the peak of its power, and all these years, they had always been called the leader of the numerous sects of Cangxuan Heaven, whether it was based on the sect¡¯s strength or the talent of their younger generation. In the past, it was the Sacred Palace that had repeatedly taken the top spot and had the most dazzling performance in the Mythic Utopia. But this time, the result was different. The Cangxuan Sect, which the Sacred Palace had always suppressed, had turned the tides, defeated the Sacred Palace, and won the greatest opportunity in the Mythic Utopia. This result, no doubt, drew countless exclamations. And the details about what happened in the Mythic Utopia also gradually spread out. Thus, many forces learnt that the decisive factor in the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s comeback was not a Chosen but a chief disciple called Zhou Yuan! And the three Chosen of the Sacred Palace who lost their lives, including Jin Chanzi, were killed by this chief disciple. Such an accomplishment was so dazzling that it made countless people flabbergasted. Evidently, no one thought the person who would stand out from the Mythic Utopia would be neither Jiang Taishen, who was ranked first on the Chosen List, nor Chu Qing, who was ranked second on the list, but an unknown little chief disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. However, everyone also knew that after such a performance, Zhou Yuan would no longer be a chief disciple after he returned to the Cangxuan Sect. The Cangxuan Sect was indeed worthy of being called Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s first sect. Although it had deteriorated, its foundation still mustn¡¯t be underestimated. At the Sacred Palace. Inside the hall, the atmosphere was cold and depressing. Clad in a white robe, palace master Sheng Yuan sat at the top. His silver eyes, without the slightest rippling of emotion, peered down at the many Sacred Palace disciples kneeling in silence. In front of these disciples were Jiang Taishen and Zhan Taiqing. All of them were disciples who had participated in the Mythic Utopia. ¡°You all have let me down,¡± palace master Sheng Yuan said after a long period of silence. Many disciples were quivering, and Jiang Taishen and Zhan Taiqing also hung their heads low. ¡°My Sacred Palace didn¡¯t lose to the Cangxuan Sect back then, and we had suppressed the Cangxuan Sect for many years, but you lost to them in the Mythic Utopia!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan continued, ¡°Is it because the Sacred Palace allowed you to live too comfortably?¡± No one dared to answer. Palace master Sheng Yuan waved his hand. ¡°All the disciples who participated in the Mythic Utopia will receive the punishment of one hundred sacred whips.¡± The Sacred Palace disciples inside the hall instantly turned deathly pale. The so-called sacred whip was one of the Sacred Palace¡¯s punishments, which lashed the spirit. Every strike of the whip was extremely painful. If lashed a hundred times, anybody with a slightly weaker spirit would most likely have their spirit destroyed. The punishment was very harsh. ¡°Jiang Taishen, Zhan Taiqing, as the leader of the disciples you should be held responsible. Both of you will receive five hundred lashes,¡± palace master Sheng Yuan said indifferently, his silver eyes peering down at the two figures in the front. ¡°Do you have any objections?¡± Jiang Taishen and Zhan Taiqing each drew a deep breath and nodded without arguing back. They knew that they wouldn¡¯t be able to escape punishment after the defeat. Moreover, if they were to show the slightest resistance, there could be a more devastating punishment waiting for them. Although palace master Sheng Yuan was seemingly calm, he presumably was furious inside. Expressionless, palace master Sheng Yuan stared at them in silence for a moment, then he said, ¡°Jiang Taishen, after the punishment, rest for a month. A month later, there will be someone to challenge you. If you lose, hand over the position of first Chosen.¡± Jiang Taishen was taken aback for a moment. Among the disciples of the Sacred Palace, nobody could defeat him, not even Zhan Taiqing. Could it be that palace master Sheng Yuan intended to make one of the elders or guardians challenge me? That doesn¡¯t make any sense, does it? While Jiang Taishen was filled with puzzlement, a figure suddenly entered the hall. The figure was tall and very slender. Clad in a black robe, there was bloody qi exuding from him as he strode over. And before he even got close, everybody could smell a sea of blood and a mountain of dead bodies, the smell being emitted from his body. Their hearts pounded with fear. Jiang Taishen¡¯s eyes slightly shrank when he saw the figure because he sensed a dangerous fluctuation of energy. Many of the disciples of the Sacred Palace suspiciously studied the young man in the black robe. He felt incredibly strange to them. ¡°He is Wu Huang, a disciple whom I have accepted,¡± palace master Sheng Yuan stated indifferently when he noticed the bewilderment on their faces. Many disciples felt their heart quiver when they heard this. He was a disciple personally accepted by their palace master. It had been many years since something like that has happened. Even Jiang Taishen didn¡¯t have such an honour. ¡°Wu Huang pays respect to all senior brothers and sisters.¡± Under the numerous gazes, the young black-robed man bowed respectfully, appearing humble and polite. Palace master Sheng Yuan looked at Jiang Taishen and asked, ¡°One month later, Wu Huang will challenge you. Will you accept it?¡± Jiang Taishen withdrew his gaze from Wu Huang¡¯s body. ¡°How can I disobey the palace master¡¯s order. In one month, I will take Wu Huang¡¯s challenge.¡± As the first Chosen of the Shengzhou Continent, he was naturally prideful. Among the young generation of the Cangxuan Heaven, even Chu Qing was no match for him. How would he attach any importance to other people? Not even to Zhou Yuan, who had made them lose badly. If it was a single match, Jiang Taishen had the confidence to kill him. Palace master Sheng Yuan nodded. ¡°All retreat to collect your punishment.¡± The many disciples retreated one after another, their faces deathly pale and their eyes flickering with fear. The great hall emptied very quickly. ¡°Jiang Taishen¡¯s defeat indicates that his strength is still lacking. If a stronger Sacred Palace disciple appears and defeats him, it would suppress the rumours in the outside world that the Cangxuan Sect has a vast foundation,¡± palace master Sheng Yuan explained indifferently. Immediately, he looked at Wu Huang below and said, ¡°In a month¡¯s time, if you can defeat Jiang Taishen, then your Great Wu can attack the Zhou.¡± Wu Huang¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up. He drew a deep breath and said with a cupped fist salute, ¡°Disciple understands!¡± He had been waiting for this day for too long! ¡°Do your best. I hope you won¡¯t let me down.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s figure gradually faded and disappeared without a trace. Wu Huang bowed respectfully in the direction palace master Sheng Yuan had disappeared, and then he gazed into the distance, contempt flashing across his eyes. Zhou Yuan, do you think you¡¯re very impressive after the Mythic Utopia? That¡¯s only because you just picked the weakest, Jin Chanzi. If you had faced Jiang Taishen, you would most likely be dead. I have been silent in the Sacred Palace for a long time, and now it is time to let the world know the name Wu Huang. And from the strong enemies that you don¡¯t dare to face, I will start with Jiang Taishen. When you hear the news, perhaps the position of the first Chosen of the Shengzhou Continent will already belong to me, Wu Huang. At that time, how wonderful will your expression be? Chapter 666 Return to the sec Unlike Jiang Taishen and the disciples of the Sacred Palace who had to receive punishment, Zhou Yuan, Chu Qing and the others were greeted with a great cheerful, celebratory atmosphere when they returned to the Cangxuan Sect. Even sect master Qing Yang had brought several peak masters to greet the disciples returning from the battle. Although this fight was only amongst the young generations of the major sects and couldn¡¯t really change anything, the Cangxuan Sect, which had been constantly suppressed by the Sacred Palace, very much needed a victory to improve morale. The Zhou Yuan and the other¡¯s victory had undoubtedly set a goal and example. Even if the Sacred Palace was strong, they weren¡¯t invincible. If less experienced disciples wanted to catch up to them, they naturally had to put in greater efforts and not slack off. Standing before the mountain gate, countless disciples were filled with respect as they watched the numerous people return. In particular, when their eyes fell on Zhou Yuan, who was in front of the many disciples, the reverence in their eyes grew more intense. In the past, although Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in the sect was also astonishing, this happened within the sect. Moreover, compared with Chu Qing, Kong Sheng and the other Chosen, there were still some gaps between them. But nobody thought that he would progress so fast. After the experience in the Mythic Utopia, Zhou Yuan would no doubt be ranked on the Chosen List, and his ranking would most likely be second only to Chu Qing. After all, even Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan were not confident that they could defeat Jin Chanzi. Not only had Zhou Yuan done so, he had also managed to kill him. His strength had already far exceeded that of ordinary Chosen. If Zhou Yuan was said to have a very high reputation in the Saint Genesis Peak before entering the Mythic Utopia, then after this, Zhou Yuan could be said to be qualified as a leader of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s young generation. On a mountain peak, many disciples of the Saint Genesis Peak were gathered. They watched the many figures swoop down from the boat, and among those figures they could see Chu Qing and Zhou Yuan at the very front. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan has greatly increased the face of our Saint Genesis Peak.¡± The disciples of the Saint Genesis Peak were filled with joy. ¡°Who would dare say that our Saint Genesis peak is useless after this?¡± a disciple said proudly. The disciples of other peaks were also present. If this was in the past, they would no doubt burst out laughing, but they did not utter a word at this moment, which was a sign of silent agreement. Indeed, from now on the Saint Genesis Peak would not be the same as before. ¡°Junior sister Mu, senior brother Zhou Yuan is getting more and more powerful. You said before that you would catch up to him. It seems that it won¡¯t be that easy.¡± A disciple smiled at her. There was laughter all around. It was clear that the young girl had some popularity within the Saint Genesis Peak. The girl was called Mu Xiaoman, a new female disciple who had joined Saint Genesis Peak right before Zhou Yuan had entered the Mythic Utopia. During these months, she had become the most famous person in the Saint Genesis peak apart from Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. The young girl was beautiful and full of vitality. She wanted to be the best at everything but was always cheerful and bright. Therefore, in just a few months of time she had stood out as an outstanding talent, very much like Zhou Yuan back then. Listening to the crowd¡¯s laughter, the girl tilted her head slightly and said in a serious voice, ¡°It¡¯s only with this goal in the Saint Genesis Peak that I have the motivation to do my best. Senior brother Zhou Yuan is so strong. It makes me feel that I made the right choice in joining the Saint Genesis Peak.¡± Her clear eyes seemed to be always filled with battle intent, as if she was a little lion. Shen Taiyuan stood with hands clasped behind his back in the front of many disciples. When he heard the voice behind him, a joyful smile spread across his wrinkled face. It seemed the old ancestor had really blessed him. Their Saint Genesis Peak was originally deteriorating, but who would have thought that a glimmer of hope would appear? The Saint Genesis Peak of today was gradually beginning to rise after a number of elders had joined. Moreover, the Saint Genesis Peak had new talents including Zhou Yuan and Mu Xiaoman. It seemed that their Saint Genesis Peak wouldn¡¯t fall behind in the future. And all this started since Zhou Yuan had joined the Saint Genesis Peak. Shen Taiyuan sighed, looking at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the distance. Zhou Yuan had contributed greatly to the Saint Genesis Peak, whereas he was just basking in Zhou Yuan¡¯s light. But Shen Taiyuan couldn¡¯t help feeling a little smug; it was he who had pulled Zhou Yuan over to his side back then. How many elders were envious of him now? ...... After the grand welcome ceremony, Zhou Yuan and the other returning disciples met with sect master Qing Yang and the other peak masters. After all these matters finished, the sun had already set. Zhou Yuan was exhausted when he walked out of the great hall. He had handed over all the Divine Establishing Treasures he had obtained from the jade disc. After all, the reason he could get the jade disc was because of the joint effort of all the Chosen. Therefore, he couldn¡¯t keep all the treasure to himself. The Divine Establishing Treasures that he had handed over would be distributed by the sect master after he fully understood the situation. Therefore, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t worried about not getting his share. Of course, he kept the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune a secret. This matter was related to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and he couldn¡¯t reveal anything. Walking out the hall, he suddenly paused for a moment when he saw that on a cloud-covered cliff edge, Yaoyao was carrying Tuntun. As the sun descended below the horizon, a layer of rose-colored clouds shrouded her body, making her look like a fairy. Numerous male disciples also couldn¡¯t help but cast furtive glances at her. However, Yaoyao had an equally well-known reputation as Zhou Yuan in the Cangxuan Sect, so no one dared to bother her. ¡°Haven¡¯t you gone back yet?¡± Zhou Yuan came forward and asked with a smile. Yaoyao had no interest in celebrations, so she had not participated in any part of the whole process. Zhou Yuan thought she had gone back to the cave dwelling alone. Yaoyao noticed the exhaustion on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, and her eyes became a little softer. ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you so we can go there together.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at her flawless face. Her soft voice had seemed to have invoked an indescribable feeling in his heart. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go home together.¡± The fatigue on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face dissipated instantly, and he revealed a bright smile. ¡°Go home...¡± Yaoyao was taken aback for a moment, but then her red lips curved in a shallow arc. Unknowingly, she also missed the little cave dwelling that she had lived in for two years. Of course, she knew in her mind that the reason she missed the place wasn¡¯t because of the cave dwelling, but because in that cave lived another person. What she cared about was not the cave dwelling, but the person. Yaoyao rubbed Tuntun, who was sleeping in her arms, and nodded. Her smile was much more beautiful than the sunset. Chapter 667 Second Chosen On the third day after Zhou Yuan returned to the Cangxuan Sect, the sect master issued a notification that, from then on, chief disciple Zhou Yuan of the Saint Genesis Peak would ascend to the position of Chosen and would be ranked second on the Chosen List. When the news came out, it was no surprise that the entire Cangxuan Sect was in uproar. Numerous disciples were amazed that Zhou Yuan could directly ascend to the second position on the Chosen List, which was something that rarely happened in the Cangxuan Sect. But thinking of Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous remarkable accomplishments, many disciples also understood the reason. The fact that Zhou Yuan could kill someone as strong as Jin Chanzi had already illustrated his strength. Even Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan were both weaker than Jin Chanzi. He was indeed worthy of such a position given his strength. Therefore, even the Sword Cometh Peak, which previously did not have a good relationship with Zhou Yuan, couldn¡¯t oppose such a decision. Kong Sheng also kept silent and chose to go into secluded cultivation. Evidently, he felt great pressure in the face of Zhou Yuan¡¯s rapid progress. In the past, he had only seen Chu Qing as his opponent. But after witnessing the battle between Chu Qing and Jiang Taishen in the Mythic Utopia, he knew the reason why Chu Qing had repeatedly refused to accept his challenge in the past. Chu Qing knew that the gap between them was far too great, and Chu Qing deliberately did not want to fight against him. Thinking about it, Kong Sheng realized that he had been underestimating Chu Qing¡¯s speed of progress. All those challenges he had made indicated that he was unaware of his own strength. And now, not only was Chu Qing getting further and further away from him, even Zhou Yuan, a new rising star, had surpassed him. This made him realize that if he did not train hard, it would be difficult for him to protect his position as the third Chosen. At the cave dwelling. Looking at the letter scroll, Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help feeling emotional. Two years ago, when he entered the Cangxuan Sect and saw the Chosen board, he had set a goal in his heart, and he was constantly chasing after that goal. At that time, the position of Chosen seemed unattainable. Two years later, however, not only did he become a Chosen, he also became ranked second on the list. Such progress told Zhou Yuan that his effort wasn¡¯t wasted. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I would become a Chosen.¡± He gave a smile but wasn¡¯t excessively smug. He casually put away the scroll. The position of Chosen could only be considered as encouragement and praise. The most important thing was his strength. His real goal wasn¡¯t to be promoted to the position of Chosen; a Chosen alone couldn¡¯t destroy the Great Wu and couldn¡¯t kill King Wu. ¡°Hu.¡± Genesis Qi stars were flashing brightly in the qi dwelling. In the central position, the liquid-like Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune was slowly flowing, seemingly extremely mysterious. There was an ancient aura rising from the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. After the Genesis Qi stars in the qi dwelling came into contact with it, the stars appeared to have been refined and were much brighter than before. The Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune had been stored in the Mythic Utopia for many years, constantly absorbing the Genesis Qi of the universe. Although much had been used to create Divine Establishing Treasures, the amount that remained was still tremendous. The incomparably pure Genesis Qi of the universe made Zhou Yuan salivate. With this thought, the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune suddenly shook in his Qi Dwelling, and billowing mists rushed out of it. The mist was formed from the Genesis Qi of the universe. The Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune was constantly spewing strong Genesis Qi, and soon, the mist became moist, as if liquid was blooming. This was a sign of extremely pure Genesis Qi of the world. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was burning, and invisible spirit power was being activated. All of a sudden, surging mist filled the Qi Dwelling, and as each wisp of mist rose, it accumulated at a speed visible to the naked eye. Where the mist gradually dissipated, it was replaced by a bright Genesis Qi star! Multiple Genesis Qi stars had formed in such a short period of time. The speed of cultivation was so remarkable that even someone like Zhou Yuan, who had incredible self-control couldn¡¯t control his heart from leaping frantically. Moreover, he felt that the Genesis Qi stars that had formed were incomparably pure and of superior grade. It was clear that the degree of pureness of the universe Genesis Qi contained in the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune had far exceeded Zhou Yuan¡¯s expectation. ¡°I really don¡¯t know what level my Genesis Qi foundation would reach if I were to completely absorb and refine the Genesis Qi contained in the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. ¡°Jiang Taishen¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation has reached around 100,000 stars. I should be able to surpass him when I reach the ninth layer, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind, making him feel as if his mind was boiling. Although Zhou Yuan managed to kill Jin Chanzi in the Mythic Utopia, his Genesis Qi foundation was still at a disadvantage. But if he could make a breakthrough, he believed that he could really catch up to Jiang Taishen, Chu Qing and the others. Soon, Zhou Yuan shook away the distractions from his mind and began to focus. He methodically absorbed and refined the strong Genesis Qi that was continuously being released from the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. Zhou Yuan was quietly sitting in the depths of the cave dwelling. The surrounding universe Genesis Qi also did not fluctuate in the slightest, which made him look as if he was sleeping soundly, not training. However, only he knew that the Genesis Qi during his training wasn¡¯t from the outside, but from the Heavenly Punishment Saint rune in his body. He appeared to be peaceful, but the Qi Dwelling was in the midst of an earth-shaking change. Genesis Qi stars were constantly condensing and forming one after another in the billowing mist. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was also frantically growing stronger at an astonishing speed. Time quietly passed while Zhou Yuan was training. Anyone could feel the atmosphere inside the Cangxuan Sect seemed to have changed after the incidents in Mythic Utopia. They had achieved a huge victory and should have had a good rest, but all the Chosen chose to go into secluded cultivation. Evidently, in the face of Zhou Yuan¡ªa less experienced disciple¡ªthe older Chosen, such as Kong Sheng, felt great pressure. How would they dare to slack off? The other disciples also followed suit. Immediately, the cultivation spirit of the sect turned extremely intense. While the Cangxuan Sect was peaceful and harmonious, it was very different on the distant Cangmang Continent. In the palace of the Great Wu Empire there was an urgent order spreading throughout the whole empire, sending the empire, which had remained silent for a long, long time, into a turbulent state. The Great Wu Empire, like a fierce tiger watching its prey, turned to the eastern direction. Chapter 668 The Great Zhou The Great Zhou Empire, the great hall of the palace. In the great hall, Zhou Qing sat on the throne. Numerous strategic experts and powerful generals were below. At this moment, a tense atmosphere filled the entire hall. The source of tension was due to a previous urgent report. According to the report of scouts, there had been great movements within the Great Wu Empire, and many troops from various regions had gathered around the Great Zhou¡¯s border. The army was exuding battle intent. In these two years, the Great Wu Empire had abandoned its previous expansion in other areas and were instead focusing on the Great Zhou¡¯s border, creating constant conflicts. This made everyone aware that the Great Wu Empire intended to attack the Great Zhou Empire. And after two years of preparation, it seemed the Great Wu Empire was about to take action. Inside the great hall, everybody, including Zhou Qing, wore solemn expressions on their faces. Although the Great Zhou¡¯s strength had improved in recent years, compared to the Great Wu Empire, they were undoubtedly still at a disadvantage. And most importantly, King Wu was an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage. On the battlefield, the effect that an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage could achieve was undoubtedly decisive. Zhou Qing¡¯s strength had been restored, but he was still only at the eighth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage. Thus there was still a huge gap between him and King Wu. Zhou Qing¡¯s heart was heavy, but he did not show it in the slightest. He peered down at the high-ranking military officers. Standing in front was Wei Canglan, whose strength had also risen to the seventh layer of the Alpha-Origin stage over the past two years. ¡°General, since the Great Wu intends to invade, our Great Zhou must defend,¡± Zhou Qing said in a low voice. Wei Canglan gave a cupped fist salute. There was a solemn expression on his face. ¡°This subordinate will immediately rush to the border and is ready to fight at any time.¡± It was just that his eyes were flickering with worry. After all, the Great Wu was too strong. Even if the Great Zhou¡¯s strength had increased dramatically over these years, they still might not be able to defeat them. He turned around and exchanged a glance with the slender and tall girl behind him. She was Wei Qingqing. She was also aware of the trace of worry in Wei Canglan¡¯s eyes, but she could only sigh gently. ¡°Your Majesty, the Great Wu is too powerful, we won¡¯t have any advantage if we fight them head on,¡± a voice suddenly sounded. Wei Canglan turned around. The speaker was a black-robed man, the Black Venom King. After all, the Black Venom King was also very clear about the power of the Great Wu. Just King Wu alone, an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage, was difficult to defeat and could easily influence the war situation. Zhou Qing indifferently darted a glance at him, saying, ¡°Then, you mean you want my Great Zhou to surrender?¡± The Black Venom King gave an embarrassed smile. How would he not know about the hatred between Zhou Qing and King Wu? He knew it was impossible for them to compromise, so he could only sigh bitterly. Although the Black Venom King did not utter a word again, his unconfident performance also affected many people, causing the great hall to become more depressed. Zhou Qing felt a sense of powerlessness rising in his heart when he saw this scene. He had tried to increase the strength of the Great Zhou as much as possible over the past years. Some puppets dug out from the Black Abyss had also become trump cards for the Great Zhou to fight against the Great Wu. But could these stop King Wu, who was at the Divine Dwelling stage? ¡°Report!¡± In this depressing atmosphere, another urgent report came. A soldier quickly darted into the great hall, knelt on one knee and reported, ¡°Your Majesty, the Eagle pavilion received intelligence from the Shengzhou Continent.¡± ¡°The Shengzhou Continent?¡± Zhou Qing was taken aback. He naturally knew about the Shengzhou Continent, which was entirely different from a remote place like the Cangmang Continent. It was also at the center of the Cangxuan Heaven. However, the Shengzhou Continent and the Cangmang Continent were extremely far from each other. Zhou Qing did not pay attention to the happenings in the Shengzhou Continent until Zhou Yuan left the Great Zhou and joined the Cangxuan Sect. After that, he had spent considerable money on the intelligent department to collect information about the Shengzhou Continent. Thinking of this, Zhou Qing¡¯s heart suddenly beat faster. ¡°Is there news about Yuan¡¯er?¡± There was a sudden rush of excitement in his heart. It had been two years since Zhou Yuan had gone to the Cangxuan Sect, and during this period of time he hadn¡¯t received any information about him. I wonder how my child is? It was said that the number of talents in the Cangxuan Sect was as many as the number of clouds. Is Yuan¡¯er okay there? ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, we have just received a message about His Highness!¡± the soldier quickly reported. All the people in the great hall were suddenly filled with surprise. Wei Canglan and Wei Qingqing first looked at the soldier before exchanging a glance with each other. They both looked a little surprised. They had heard that Zhou Yuan had gone to train in the Cangxuan Sect, but there had been little news about him in the past two years. They had not expected to finally hear back from him. Wei Canglan thought, His Highness Zhou Yuan is a talent, but the Cangxuan Sect is a major sect where numerous geniuses of various continents gather. I wonder how His Highness is doing? Is he still as remarkable as he was back in the Cangmang Continent? But immediately after, he slightly shook his head. The Cangmang Continent was too small. Even if Zhou Yuan could stand out there, it did not represent that he could remain as outstanding in a major sect such as the Cangxuan Sect. The Black Venom King had a complicated look on his face when he heard the words ¡®His Highness¡¯. If it weren¡¯t for Zhou Yuan, he most likely would still be living freely in the black abyss. ¡°There hasn¡¯t been news about that guy for the last two years. He most likely can¡¯t cope in the Cangxuan Sect, isn¡¯t that right?¡± The Black Venom King still held a grudge against Zhou Yuan for controlling his spirit, but he rarely dared to show this to anyone. The soldier spoke in a quick and excited voice, ¡°Your Majesty, it is said there is a Mythic Utopia in the Shengzhou Continent, where numerous geniuses of the entire Cangmang Heaven, including the Cangxuan Sect, the Sacred Palace and the other major sects, would participate. ¡°At this Mythic Utopia, His Highness Zhou Yuan killed three Chosen of the Sacred Palace and shocked the entire Shengzhou Continent! ¡°After returning to the sect, His Highness was promoted and is now ranked second among the Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect!¡± The entire hall fell quiet as these words rang out in the hall. Even Zhou Qing couldn¡¯t remain calm, and his mouth gaped open. Although the Cangmang Continent was an extremely remote place, he also had heard that the most elite outstanding disciples in the powerful sects of the Shengzhou Continent were called Chosen. The strength of each Chosen was at least the ninth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage! And the Genesis Qi foundation of Chosen wasn¡¯t something that people of the Alpha-Origin stage like them could understand. But it was reported that Zhou Yuan had killed three Chosen of the ninth layer of the Alpha-Origin Stage and that he was ranked second among the Cangxuan Sect Chosen?! With a look of astonishment, Wei Canglang looked at Wei Qingqing, whose beautiful eyes were wide with disbelief. His Highness had become a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect? Does that mean his strength is now comparable to the ninth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage?! Wasn¡¯t Zhou Yuan only at the Heaven Gate stage when he had left the Great Zhou Empire? The Black Venom King was also struck dumb. It was a moment later before he couldn¡¯t help swallowing mouthfuls of saliva. Many courtiers inside the great hall were also dumbstruck for moments before they finally snapped out of the shock and came forward to offer their congratulations. ¡°Haha!¡± Zhou Qing sprang up, bursting into laughter. Moments ago, he was dispirited because of the Great Wu, but now his face had lit up with joy. He exclaimed, ¡°The Sacred Dragon of my Zhou family indeed isn¡¯t inferior to any genius! ¡°General, go carry out the order. Even if my Great Zhou risks everything, we will fight the Great Wu till the end!¡± Wei Canglan gave another cupped fist salute before he left with Wei Qingqing. But their steps had become much more steady, and evidently the morale had been greatly boosted. They all understood what Zhou Qing meant. They were to use the power of the Great Zhou to stall the Great Wu as long as possible. Because Zhou Yuan still needed time. Zhou Yuan should be very close to conquering the Divine Dwelling stage. As long as they could buy some time for him, it would still be possible that the Great Zhou could defeat the Great Wu! Previously they couldn¡¯t see the slightest hope, but the news of Zhou Yuan gave them a ray of light: they could defeat the Great Wu. Looking at Wei Canglan¡¯s departing figure, Zhou Qing breathed a long sigh and then gazed into the distance with his hands clenched. Yuan¡¯er, don¡¯t worry, and continue to train at the Cangxuan Sect. Father will do everything I can to buy you more time! Father will be waiting for you, waiting for the day you make a breakthrough in your cultivation! Chapter 669 Change in the First Position The heated discussion brought by the Mythic Utopia gradually and eventually calmed in the Shengzhou Continent. After all, the Shengzhou Continent was the focus point of the entire Cangxuan Heaven, which was where countless wonderful things were happening everyday. Therefore discussions about battles such as those in the Mythic Utopia wouldn¡¯t be continued for too long. However, just as the heated debate about the Mythic Utopia had only just died down, another news came out and set off a huge wave in the Shengzhou Continent. Jiang Taishen, who was ranked first on the Chosen List, had lost to Sacred Palace disciple Wu Huang and was replaced! The moment the news came out, it sent the entire Shengzhou Continent shaking and attracted the attention of all forces. Jiang Taisheng was incredibly powerful, and many geniuses of the Cangxuan Heaven were fearful of him and saw him as a strong enemy. However, all these years, only Chu Qing posed a threat to him. The rest of the Chosen were still quite a distance away from him. And although the Sacred Palace lost in the recent Mythic Utopia, Jiang Taishen¡¯s strength was still obvious. If Chu Qing hadn¡¯t obstructed him, it wouldn¡¯t have been so easy for the Cangxuan Sect to dominate the Mythic Utopia. Therefore, even if the Sacred Palace had lost to the Cangxuan Sect, Jiang Taishen¡¯s position as the first Chosen of the Chosen List was still as stable as Mount Tai. But suddenly there was news that Jiang Taishen was defeated? Who was Wu Huang? How could he be so strong? To think he could defeat Jiang Taishen! Numerous questions arose in the minds of countless people, but soon the Sacred Palace voluntarily gave an explanation. Wu Huang, a disciple personally accepted by the Sacred Palace¡¯s palace master, came from the Cangmang Continent and had been training in the Sacred Palace for many years. He was at the peak of the ninth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage. The Sacred Palace had even reflected the battle between Wu Huang and Jiang Taishen onto memory rocks to let it spread out, showing that the battle was fair and square. It was then that everybody¡¯s doubts were dispelled. ¡°The Sacred Palace is indeed worthy of being called the strongest sect in the Cangxuan Heaven. It is difficult to touch their foundation.¡± ¡°Jiang Taishen has been sitting on the first position of the Chosen List for many years, and many geniuses of various sects were unable to shake him. Nobody thought that someone in the Sacred Palace could defeat him.¡± ¡°Jiang Taishen is already very strong, which means the person called Wu Huang who had defeated him must be more powerful?¡± ¡°Sigh, the Sacred Palace is so strong that it is difficult for the Cangxuan Sect to catch up.¡± ¡°......¡± Many voices rang from various sects and factions within the Shengzhou Continent. In the face of Wu Huang of the Sacred Palace, many geniuses lost their luster and did not even have the courage to covet the first position on the Chosen List. The tyrannical behavior of the Sacred Palace was undoubtedly a great demonstration of its strength and status. ..... The news of the replacement of the first Chosen spread to the Cangxuan Sect right away, and many disciples fell silent upon hearing the news. Jiang Taishen was a tremendous mountain pressing on the heads of all Cangxuan Sect disciples. But the person the Cangxuan Sect disciples most wanted to surpass wasn¡¯t defeated in the hands of the Cangxuan Sect, but lost to a disciple of the Sacred Palace... They couldn¡¯t even beat Jiang Taishen, and now there was a stronger person than Jiang Taishen? Could they really catch up to him? The disciples of the Cangxuan Sect all fell silent. They felt extremely unwilling, which eventually turned to disappointment. The disciples of the Sacred Palace really were too strong. If Wu Huang had also participated in the Mythic Utopia, then could the Cangxuan Sect still have achieved victory? At this moment, the confidence the many disciples had gained from the Mythic Utopia was shaken. While the disciples were all silent, sect master Qing Yang summoned numerous peak masters and the Chosen of the various peaks, except for Zhou Yuan who was still in secluded cultivation. ¡°The reason the Sacred Palace picked this time to let Wu Huang defeat Jiang Taishen seems to be to eliminate the negative impact brought about by their defeat in the Mythic Utopia,¡± sect master Qing Yang said indifferently in the meeting hall. ¡°This matter would no doubt affect the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect.¡± The peak master of the Sword Cometh Peak frowned. ¡°The Sacred Palace really is hateful!¡± Peak master Lianyi¡¯s beautiful brows were also scrunched together. ¡°The battle happened in their sect, who knows whether anybody interfered?¡± ¡°I have seen the memory rock. Wu Huang is indeed extraordinary and should be stronger than Jiang Taishen,¡± peak master Lei Jun of the Heavenly Lightning Peak said aloud. Below, Chu Qing, Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and the other Chosen all wore solemn expressions. They were all well aware of Jiang Taishen¡¯s strength, thus were shocked to hear that he was defeated in the hands of Wu Huang. If even Jiang Taishen was defeated, then just how strong was Wu Huang? ¡°Where is Wu Huang from? I¡¯ve never heard of him before,¡± Li Qingchan asked with a frown. Sect master Qing Yang answered, ¡°He is also from the Cangmang Continent and should be acquainted with Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Also from the Cangmang Continent?¡± Li Qingchan and the others exchanged glances with one another. In the past two years, why have there been so many powerful people from a little continent? But they were even more surprised that Wu Huang was acquainted with Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang had fought a battle of life and death in the Cangmang Continent¡¯s Saint Remains Domain. In the end Zhou Yuan destroyed Wu Huang¡¯s physical body, and his spirit was taken away by the Sacred Palace. From the looks of it, the Sacred Palace¡¯s palace master must have reconstructed his physical body,¡± sect master Qing Yang explained. A look of surprise crossed the faces of Li Qingchan and the others. They evidently didn¡¯t expect there to be such a story between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang. It wasn¡¯t easy to reconstruct Wu Huang¡¯s physical body, so why would the palace master of the Sacred Palace help Wu Huang? Could it have really been because he could see Wu Huang¡¯s talent and potential? Sect master Qing Yang shook his head. For people of his level, they had all seen and experienced too much. The so-called genius would only be successful for a period of time. Nobody knew just what step they would reach. Through some kind of intuitive power, sect master Qing Yang felt that the Sacred Palace¡¯s palace master was scheming something. Sect master Qing Yang temporarily stopped his speculation, knowing that it was useless. Moreover, in addition to the news of the first person on the Chosen List being changed, he also had another piece of news. The Great Wu Empire of the Cangmang Continent was intending to go to war with the Great Zhou Empire. Given his status, he didn¡¯t care about the conflict between two little empires on the Cangmang Continent. But the situation was slightly different this time since the present first Chosen on the Chosen List, Wu Huang, was from the Great Wu Empire. And Zhou Yuan was from the Great Zhou Empire. Wu Huang had won the first place on the Chosen list the moment he became known to the world, and this was followed by the Great Wu declaring war on the Great Zhou. It seemed that there was perhaps the shadow of the Sacred Palace¡¯s palace master in this act. He wanted to retaliate for losing face in the Mythic Utopia? Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°Send a message to Zhou Yuan, tell him to stop training for now and that there is something to discuss.¡± A disciple took the order and hurried away. But immediately, sect master Qing Yang gave a wave of his hand and blocked his path. Looking in the direction of the distant Saint Genesis Peak, his face lit up with surprise and a wide smile. ¡°It looks like there¡¯s no longer such a need.¡± Boom! As his voice faded, Li Qingchan and the others in the hall also suddenly sensed violent and powerful Genesis Qi breaking out from the distant Saint Genesis Peak with a loud rumble. The bright pillar of Genesis Qi pierced straight through the clouds, boundless and majestic. And in the pillar of Genesis Qi, there was a slender young figure rushing skywards, his roar reverberating across the universe like thunder. Li Qingchan and the others were immediately moved upon seeing the scene. It was Zhou Yuan. Chapter 670 Strength Skyrocke Boom! A huge pillar of Genesis Qi shot up from Saint Genesis Peak. The majestic Genesis Qi attracted the gaze of countless astonished disciples in the Cangxuan Sect. When the disciples gazed at the tall and slender figure within the light pillar and then heard the long thunder-like roar, all faces were filled with excitement. ¡°It¡¯s senior brother Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°He made a breakthrough again?¡± ¡°Such strong Genesis Qi. Is this the ninth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage? How strong is senior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation now? ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan managed to kill Chosen when he was only at the eighth layer. Now that he has stepped into the ninth layer, his strength must have soared once again. I wonder how he is compared to Wu Huang of the Sacred Palace?¡± ¡°Wu Huang even defeated Jiang Taishen. He won¡¯t be easy to deal with.¡± ¡°.....¡± Countless whispers spread out within the Cangxuan Sect. After Zhou Yuan¡¯s breakthrough, there was most likely going to be another addition to the top disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. However, the majority of the disciples still held a somewhat pessimistic attitude when they compared Zhou Yuan to Wu Huang. Evidently, the fact that Wu Huang defeated Jiang Taishen and ascended to the top of the Chosen List had a huge impact on their confidence. Under countless astounded gazes, the beam of Genesis Qi hovered in the sky for a good while before it gradually dissipated and revealed Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. With a flash, he directly sped into the meeting hall. At this moment, sect master Qing Yang and every peak master were standing outside the hall, as well as Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others. They all intently stared at Zhou Yuan. And when Zhou Yuan landed, Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and the other Chosen¡¯s eyes shrank rapidly. Genesis Qi uncontrollably gushed out from their bodies to protect them. This was the natural reaction of the Genesis Qi inside their bodies upon sensing danger. They, who were clear about what the situation represented, couldn¡¯t help staring suspiciously at Zhou Yuan. Their expressions changed indefinitely. Even Chu Qing focused his eyes as Zhou Yuan approached, and a solemn expression came onto his indifferent face. The Zhou Yuan at this moment felt extremely dangerous, and the degree of danger was unexpectedly stronger than when they had met Jiang Taishen! Chu Qing found it somewhat unbelievable. It should be said that he didn¡¯t have this feeling when Zhou Yuan was at the eighth layer. But why would there be such a terrifying increase in strength after the breakthrough? While Chu Qing and other Chosen were bewildered, sect master Qing Yang and the other several peak masters had a flicker of surprise in their eyes upon seeing Zhou Yuan. Although Chu Qing and the others might be able to somewhat sense that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had become extremely strong, they were able to clearly perceive just how strong he had become. ¡°Right now, your cultivation level must have reached the peak of the ninth layer,¡± sect master Qing Yang remarked indifferently. Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others were all taken aback. They also thought that Zhou Yuan had just stepped into the ninth layer, but they didn¡¯t expect him to have reached the peak. His cultivation level¡¯s rate of increase was simply too astonishing. Zhou Yuan frankly nodded. His progress was beyond imagination because of the help of the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune Genesis Qi. He was only one step away from refining his Qi Dwelling, establishing heavens and truly stepping into the Divine Dwelling stage! ¡°How many Genesis Qi stars do you possess?¡± Li Qingchan couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°180,000.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. What! This answer drew numerous gasps of astonishment. Even Chu Qing couldn¡¯t control the corners of his eyes from twitching. His strength had also improved after he returned to the sect. But at present his foundation was only 110,000 Genesis Qi stars. And this was through his many years of hard work! But Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi stars had directly soared from 30,000 to 180,000 in a short period of one month. How terrifying was this speed of increase? Zhou Yuan also understood that it would have most likely taken him at least another year of training for him to achieve this if it weren¡¯t for the pure Genesis Qi stored in the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. ¡°180,000 Genesis Qi stars are indeed no small matter. It was said that my master had 250,000 Genesis Qi stars when he broke through to the Divine Dwelling stage,¡± sect master Qing Yang stated. The other peak masters also stared puzzledly at Zhou Yuan. The master who sect master Qing Yang spoke of was naturally old ancestor Cangxuan! However, what level of existence was old ancestor Cangxuan? He was a top expert who had suppressed the entire Cangxuan Heaven. The former Heaven Master of the Cangxuan Heaven was ranked as a top expert of the universe. Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability could be seen from the fact that he was able to get close to the level their master had when breaking through to the Divine Dwelling stage. However, at this stage, the strength and weakness of one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation couldn¡¯t represent one¡¯s future achievements. There was no shortage of opportunity in the world. Although one may possess a vast Genesis Qi foundation at the Alpha-Origin stage, they might not progress far in the end. But in any case, it at least showed that Zhou Yuan was somewhat unusual. Back when old ancestor Cangxuan broke through to the Divine Dwelling stage, his Genesis Qi foundation had reached 250,000! Zhou Yuan exclaimed in astonishment in his heart upon hearing the sect master¡¯s words. ¡°Zhou Yuan, now that you¡¯ve come out of secluded cultivation, it¡¯s time to inform you of the big things that have happened.¡± Sect masterQing Yang smiled and turned to Li Qingchan, who then told Zhou Yuan about the appearance of Wu Huang. ¡°What? Wu Huang appeared? He also defeated Jiang Taishen and took the first place on the Chosen List?!¡± Zhou Yuan had destroyed Wu Huang¡¯s physical body, and Wu Huang¡¯s spirit had escaped. He hadn¡¯t heard any news about him for years, so he didn¡¯t expect him to have done something so astonishing. The entire Cangxuan Heaven knew his name. ¡°The Sacred Palace''s palace master had probably instructed Wu Huang to appear, and the purpose of Wu Huang''s appearance was to eliminate the impact of the loss they had suffered in the Mythic Utopia. ¡°And it had also been a great blow to the confidence of my Cangxuan Sect disciples.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Jiang Taishen had suppressed the young generation of Cangxuan Sect disciples for many years, but before they could defeat Jiang Taishen, an even stronger disciple of the Sacred Palace had emerged. What would the other disciples think? Would they feel that the Sacred Palace was indeed stronger than the Cangxuan Sect? Would they be able to catch up to the Sacred Palace no matter how hard they tried? These kinds of negative thoughts would dispirit the disciples. In the long term, an even worse situation where their prodigies would not make progress could happen, and it would shake the foundation of the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°Besides this, there¡¯s one more thing.¡± Sect master Qing Yang looked at Zhou Yuan with a frown. ¡°This matter is related to you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°The Great Wu Empire has declared war on the Great Zhou Empire.¡± Zhou Yuan froze for a moment, and then his eyes instantly turned chillingly cold. Violent Genesis Qi erupted from his body like a volcano. The solid stone floor, which was made of special materials, cracked inch after inch. Chapter 671 Chosen competition battle! Berserk and violent Genesis Qi erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. It could be seen that his heart was churning like the sea at that moment. However, the eruption of Genesis Qi did not last long. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes gradually calmed, and his Genesis Qi faded. After all, he had been expecting this day. ¡°Two years. King Wu is finally going to make a move?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were piercing cold. This, for him, wasn¡¯t considered a bad thing. He had originally thought that this moment would come much earlier. And in these two years, Zhou Yuan, from a youngster of the Heaven Gate stage, had become a top expert among the young generation of the Shengzhou Continent. It seemed that he should return to the Great Zhou. The Great Wu was strong, and King Wu was an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage. Nobody in the Great Zhou was a match for him. In a conflict between empires, an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage was enough to play a decisive role. Hu. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath, lifting his head to look at sect master Qing Yang. ¡°Are you planning to go back?¡± sect master Qing Yang asked. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Sect Master, I came to the Cangxuan Sect in order to train and get revenge for my Great Zhou. I must return this time.¡± Sect master Qing Yang slightly nodded. ¡°This is important to your empire, so I won¡¯t stop you. ¡°But you also mustn¡¯t be impatient. The Great Wu is invading the Great Zhou. This appears to be a dispute between two empires, but you are a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect and Wu Huang is a disciple of the Sacred Palace. ¡°The Great Wu chose to take action at this time, which was very likely instructed by the Sacred Palace.¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly knitted his brows in a frown. ¡°I don¡¯t have much entanglement with the palace master of the Sacred Palace. Given his identity, would he care about the conflicts between two little empires?¡± The Sacred Palace¡¯s palace master was one of the most powerful existences of the Cangxuan Sect, and in his eyes both the Great Zhou and the Great Wu were as inferior as ants. The Great Wu could suppress the Great Zhou for so many years by relying on King Wu, who was at the Divine Dwelling stage. But what was the Divine Dwelling stage to the Sacred Palace? A Divine Dwelling stage expert couldn¡¯t even become an elder. Usually the Sacred Palace¡¯s palace master would find it a waste of time to care about such trivial matters. Sect master Qing Yang took a deep look. ¡°If you¡¯re just an ordinary disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, then perhaps this matter is indeed only a trivial matter, but you are now a famous disciple of my Cangxuan Sect. Moreover, you made the Sacred Palace suffer in the Mythic Utopia, so if the Sacred Palace wants to retaliate, it is very possible that they would do something. If this was the case, then the dispute between the Great Wu and the Great Zhou had become a game between two major sects, the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. This really was a tricky issue. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about this matter. The majority of the sects have their own rules, and any hatred and grievances that disciples have should be resolved by the disciples themselves and the sect can¡¯t intervene,¡± sect master Qing Yang explained. ¡°If the Sacred Palace breaks the rules, then the Cangxuan Sect won¡¯t stand by and watch.¡± The reason that Zhou Yuan had killed so many Chosen in the Mythic Utopia was for the Cangxuan Sect. This had made the Sacred Palace lose face, so if the Cangxuan Sect didn¡¯t support Zhou Yuan, it would be too heartless. Zhou Yuan was incredibly moved to hear this, because it was only with the unwavering support of the Cangxuan Sect would he be able to fight against the Sacred Palace. If not, he would be nothing more than an ant trying to shake a tree. If the Cangxuan Sect chose to fight against the Sacred Palace, the movement would be incredibly huge. Zhou Yuan would have been really nervous if sect master Qing Yang didn¡¯t say anything. After all, starting a fight against the Sacred Palace for a little disciple would not be beneficial after considering the costs and benefits. ¡°Thank you, Sect Master.¡± Zhou Yuan bowed deeply. Sect master Qing Yang smiled and said in a gentle tone, ¡°Little guy, don¡¯t think too much. You just need to remember you are a disciple that risked his life for my Cangxuan Sect. We will never stand and watch you suffer. ¡°The Sacred Palace is strong, but my Cangxuan Sect isn¡¯t weak. If the Sacred Palace¡¯s palace master dares to break the rules, then my Cangxuan Sect will fight with everything we have to pull the Sacred Palace down from its horse. We¡¯ll see who will be the winner in the end.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s voice was gentle and calm, his manner refined and scholarly. However, there was a chill that was hidden in his calm statement, like this chill was hidden beneath a thundercloud. Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and the other Chosen stared at sect master Qing Yang in surprise. It was evidently the first time they saw the gentle and always smiling sect master like this. A smile also spread across peak master Lianyi¡¯s beautiful face. ¡°Senior brother, I haven¡¯t seen you like this in many years. Back then you had the worst temper out of us all, but after you became sect master, you¡¯re just like an old man.¡± ¡°Our senior brother is the master of a sect, and has many things to worry about. He naturally isn¡¯t the same as before,¡± peak master Ling Jun said. ¡°What do you know?¡± Peak master Lianyi snorted, shooting a cold glance at his face. Peak master Ling Jun could only helplessly shake his head. He had long gotten used to the way peak master Lianyi treated him over the years. ¡°You only need to focus on the conflict between your Great Zhou and the Great Wu. You don¡¯t need to worry about other matters. I will get in touch with the Sacred Palace¡¯s palace master to see what he really wants. If he really wants to fight against my Cangxuan Sect, we will accompany him,¡± sect master Qing Yang reassured Zhou Yuan. ¡°But if the Sacred Palace doesn¡¯t intend to break the rules, King Wu would probably still be a huge problem for you.¡± If the Sacred Palace did not break any rules, the Cangxuan Sect naturally couldn¡¯t intervene and Zhou Yuan would have no choice but to face King Wu alone. Although an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage was considered nothing in sect master Qing Yang¡¯s eyes, for youngsters like Zhou Yuan, the Divine Dwelling stage was a real enemy. Once one stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage, one could truly be said to have reached the next level on the path of cultivation. Even the worst person of the Divine Dwelling stage would have over half a million Genesis Qi stars, which far exceeded Zhou Yuan¡¯s current foundation of 180,000 Genesis Qi stars. And with this huge gap, any moves were useless. Zhou Yuan gently nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sect Master. Wu Huang is my enemy, and I will deal with him.¡± Sect master Qing Yang no longer questioned further, and he said, ¡°When do you plan to leave?¡± ¡°A war between empires goes on for a long time. Although the Great Wu has only started to dispatch troops, there is still some time before the most critical time. And during this period of time, I want to do something.¡± ¡°What do you want to do?¡± sect master Qing Yang asked curiously. Zhou Yuan glanced at Chu Qing, Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and the others apologetically. ¡°I am pressed for time. In order to enhance my battle strength, I have no other choice but to offend you, senior brothers and sisters.¡± Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others were all taken aback. Zhou Yuan took a step back, his voice loud and clear like a clap of thunder. It rumbled through the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s Zhou Yuan wants to initiate a competition battle against the Chosen of the six peaks. I hope the senior brothers and sisters will agree!¡± This statement shocked countless disciples within the Cangxuan Sect. A Chosen challenge! Chapter 672 The Highest Honor Zhou Yuan¡¯s clear voice echoed in every corner of the Cangxuan Sect, causing the countless disciples to look towards the origin of the voice in shock. The only sound in the sect was Zhou Yuan¡¯s echoing voice while everything else was completely silent. This silence lasted for a long time before a torrential uproar washed it away. It was as if the entire Cangxuan Sect had been overturned. ¡°My god, what did I just hear?!¡± ¡°Chosen Zhou Yuan wants to invoke the Chosen challenge! And it¡¯s even against all six peaks!¡± ¡°This takes tremendous charisma and courage!¡± ¡°Even senior brother Chu Qing didn¡¯t manage to triumph over all six peaks in one fell swoop in the past!¡± ¡°Let alone senior brother Chu Qing, I don¡¯t think a single disciple in the Cangxuan Sect has ever achieved such a feat!¡± ¡°Yeah, the Chosen challenge is far too difficult. The Chosen of each peak will receive support from the Genesis Qi of their home peak, causing their strength to soar. As fellow Chosen, how could it possibly be easy to defeat another Chosen?¡± ¡°But if Chosen Zhou Yuan succeeds, it will be a grand occasion for our Cangxuan Sect. It will definitely be a rare eye-opening experience.¡± ¡°......¡± A frenzied atmosphere enveloped the entire sect as countless disciples discussed excitedly. After all, such a grand event was very rare. Before the main discussion hall, the expressions of Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and the others turned solemn. The Chosen challenge was a very serious event in the Cangxuan Sect. According to the rules, the Chosen of the various peaks were not allowed to reject any challengers. The crowd of Chosen exchanged a look as they nodded and said, ¡°Since Chosen Zhou Yuan has such courage, there is naturally no reason for us to decline. All of the peaks will welcome you with our full power.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together again. He was already at the peak of the ninth layer of the Alpha-Origin stage, and would soon depart for the Great Zhou empire. He needed to experience tough battles in order to push his battle power to the limit. Besides the Omega Saint Spirit Art, the rank of his other Genesis techniques were rather low. Take the Ethereal Form for example, it was a technique he had learnt in the outer mountains, and its effect was no longer as stunning as it had been back then. This was mainly because he was encountering more and more powerful foes. The Genesis techniques of his enemies had likewise grown in rank, making lower ranking techniques like the Ethereal Form appear weaker in comparison. Hence, Zhou Yuan needed higher ranking Genesis techniques. After Zhou Yuan stepped into the peak ninth layer, amongst all the Cangxuan Sect Chosen, even Chu Qing was no longer his match in a one-on-one fight. But he now had the qualifications. By the side, sect master Qing Yang made no move to stop this and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, the Chosen challenge will not be easy, because your opponents will have the homeground advantage and it will amplify their power.¡± ¡°Your disciple understands and will do his best,¡± replied Zhou Yuan. Sect master Qing Yang looked towards Chu Qing and the others. ¡°Return to your respective peaks to prepare. Zhou Yuan will go to your peaks to take you guys on one by one tomorrow.¡± Chu Qing and the rest acknowledged his orders, complicated expressions in their eyes as they cast one final glance at Zhou Yuan before leaving. Zhou Yuan bowed towards sect master Qing Yang before also leaving. He would return to Saint Genesis Peak to make his own preparations. At the sight of their leaving figures, sect master Qing Yang sighed and smiled. ¡°My Cangxuan Sect disciples are not weaker than the Sacred Palace¡¯s.¡± Peak master Lianyi said, ¡°Are we really going to let Zhou Yuan challenge all six peaks?¡± Sect master Qing Yang nodded. ¡°Wu Huang¡¯s appearance has caused a rapid rise in the Sacred Palace¡¯s reputation. If Zhou Yuan succeeds in taking the techniques of the other six peaks, it will be the first time such a thing has happened in our Cangxuan Sect. News of this will also grow our reputation and let our disciples regain their confidence. ¡°The Sacred Palace may have Wu Huang, but my Cangxuan Sect has Zhou Yuan¡­ ¡°It will definitely be a monumental occasion if he succeeds. However, I do hold some doubts on whether he will be able to defeat all six peaks in succession,¡± said peak master Ling Jun. He was not trying to make things difficult for Zhou Yuan, but merely stating his truthful opinion. Although Zhou Yuan had grown tremendously, the other Chosen, especially the upper ranks like Chu Qing, Kong Sheng and Li Qingchan, would not be easy opponents when boosted by their peaks. It was precisely this reason that had stopped Chu Qing in his tracks back then. ¡°Whether or not he succeeds will be clear to everyone tomorrow.¡± Sect master Qing Yang chuckled as he gazed at the Cangxuan Sect, which now had an air of excitement. He said, ¡°Truth be told, even I am a little excited. I¡¯ve yet to see such a grand event ever since becoming sect master.¡± The other peak masters faintly nodded in agreement. Challenging all six peaks in succession and gathering all seven Cangxuan arts was something that none of them had ever witnessed. For the hundreds and thousands of years, many geniuses had arisen from their respective peaks. Even so, not a single person had managed to achieve such a feat. From this, one could see how difficult the Chosen challenge was. With regards to how Zhou Yuan would perform tomorrow, even existences like them felt somewhat curious for a time. ... When Zhou Yuan returned to Saint Genesis Peak, he found that the disciples were practically crazy with excitement. Countless people flocked to the entrance of his cave dwelling, the deafening noise nearly causing a cave-in. It lasted till Yaoyao could no longer take it and threw out Tuntun. With a roar, the excited disciples immediately scattered. However, even though they had scattered, the entire Saint Genesis Peak was still covered in a frenzied atmosphere. After all, the implications behind this matter were far too important to Saint Genesis Peak. Saint Genesis Peak had been in the decline for so many years. Who could have expected things to suddenly turn around; not only were their gates reopened but they had even produced a true Chosen. If Zhou Yuan won the Chosen challenge tomorrow, from then on, every disciple of Saint Genesis Peak would feel a little prouder when they walked within the sect. It would be the greatest glory unique only to their Saint Genesis Peak. No one would be able to sleep in Saint Genesis Peak tonight. Of course, Saint Genesis Peak was not the only one; the disciples of the other six peaks were likewise both nervous and excited. A grand event like this was truly rare, after all. If Zhou Yuan succeeded and won the six arts from their peaks, it would undoubtedly be a hit to their pride. Various emotions churned within the numerous disciples, making it impossible for anyone to calmly cultivate. The restless night quietly passed in this manner. When dawn arrived the next day, the countless disciples of the Cangxuan Sect opened their red eyes and peered towards the distant Saint Genesis Peak. Deep within a certain cave dwelling in Saint Genesis Peak, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes. He smiled as he looked towards Yaoyao, who was standing in front of him, but did not say anything. He rose to his feet before walking forward. Strong confidence poured out of him as his clothes flapped around him. Today, this generation of Cangxuan Sect disciples would watch him ascend the peak. Two years ago when he first entered Saint Genesis Peak, he heard of the Chosen challenge from Shen Taiyuan. Back then, he had treated it as a story because the Chosen within this story were existences he could only look up to in admiration. Chapter 673 First Choice It was the winter month, and snowflakes were drifting across the land. However, the atmosphere within the Cangxuan Sect was boiling like a cauldron, melting even the snowflakes that filled the sky. Countless Cangxuan Sect disciples stood everywhere, figures present as far as the eye could see. With such a grand event happening today, every disciple had put aside their training in order to personally watch this event. Countless excited gazes were cast towards the heart of the Cangxuan Sect. Sect master Qing Yang, the peak masters and the many elders of the sect were gathered in the air, their gazes observing the entire sect. Under these countless watching gazes, a Genesis Qi cloud rose from Saint Genesis Peak. Two slim figures stood atop the cloud, a male and a female, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan was quite handsome, but when put next to the otherworldly beauty beside him, any points he had in looks and presence instantly plummeted. If he was not the main star today, countless gazes would have only looked towards Yaoyao, regardless of whether the gazes belonged to a guy or a girl. Yaoyao currently had Tuntun in her arms, and she was gently stroking its soft fur. She naturally saw the innumerable figures that filled her vision. This was the first time she had seen such a grand line-up in her two years at the Cangxuan Sect. Under the crowd¡¯s attention, the Genesis Qi cloud came to a stop in the sky. Zhou Yuan surveyed the area before him where six giant peaks towered over the land. As he took a closer look, six astonishing pillars of Genesis Qi light suddenly dashed into the sky from the top of each peak. Bzz! The Genesis Qi pillars reached straight into the clouds, stirring the wind and clouds. Six powerful Genesis Qi undulations spread, accompanied by a Genesis Qi pressure that caused the expressions of the numerous disciples to change. The disciples could see six figures silently seated within each light pillar. These were the six Chosen that were ready to meet Zhou Yuan in battle. Cangxuan Peak, Chu Qing. Sword Cometh Peak, Kong Sheng. Snow Lotus Peak, Li Qingchan. Hongya Peak, Shang Chunqiu. Lightning Prison Peak, Lu Jingshen. Spirit Rune Peak, Ye Ge. The strength of these six Chosen had soared to extremely powerful levels with the Genesis Qi boosts from their respective peaks. Zhou Yuan concentrated on the six figures seated within the glowing pillars. His eyes narrowed slightly as he said, ¡°The homeground advantage is really quite substantial. No wonder even senior brother Chu Qing failed to complete the Chosen challenge.¡± Every gaze was glued to Zhou Yuan. They wanted to see who his first choice would be. Yaoyao looked at him, seemingly cocking her head in thought as she replied, ¡°If you achieve a total victory, I¡¯ll accompany you for a few cups tonight.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened as he could not help but say, ¡°Will there be other services?¡± Yaoyao was taken aback before frost began to gather in her clear-as-a-lake eyes. Her tone turned icy as she said, ¡°It seems that your breakthrough has also made you more daring.¡± In her arms, Tuntun also looked at him as if he were a dead man. It felt that if this fellow continued in this manner, Zhou Yuan would not die at someone else¡¯s hands because Yaoyao would soon beat him to death. Upon sensing the piercing iciness, Zhou Yuan shivered as his instincts shouted at him to leave. He instantly leaped down from the sky, somersaulting in the air as he fell like a shooting star towards one of the giant peaks below. Low gasps sounded from the numerous disciples when they saw the peak he had chosen. ¡°His first battle is the Hongya Peak!¡± This was surprising to the majority. After all, Ye Ge¡¯s side clearly appeared to be the easiest amongst the six, while the Hongya Peak¡¯s Chosen, Shang Chunqiu, was ranked fourth amongst the ten Chosen, which made him a much more difficult opponent in comparison. On the tallest peak in Hongya Peak, Shang Chunqiu, with a grave expression, watched the figure descend from the sky and ultimately land standing up in front of him. Light flowed on Shang Chunqiu¡¯s skin, and blood was rushing within his body, churning with tremendous power. With the Genesis Qi boost from Hongya Peak, he was more powerful than he had ever been. Despite this, Shang Chunqiu¡¯s eyes were filled with wariness because Zhou Yuan¡¯s seemingly thin body seemed to contain the might of a terrible primordial beast. Shang Chunqiu slowly said, ¡°I did not expect junior brother Zhou Yuan to select my Hongya Peak.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned at Shang Chunqiu. If asked which of the other six Cangxuan arts interested him the most, there would only be one answer: the Mythic Saint Body! The little Mythic Saint Body he practiced was a simplified version that originated from the Mythic Saint Body. Hence, it could be said that he and Shang Chunqiu shared the same roots in external cultivation. Of course, it must be noted that the latter practiced the true Mythic Saint Body, which held far more wonders than his own little Mythic Saint Body. If Zhou Yuan managed to obtain the Mythic Saint Body, it would be a smooth transition from the little to the real deal because he had already accumulated plenty of comprehension and experience. As for the other five arts, even if he obtained them, Zhou Yuan would have to invest a substantial amount of time and energy into studying them. In contrast, the Mythic Saint Body would be the quickest way to raise his battle power. This was the reason he had selected the Hongya Peak first. ¡°Please guide me, senior brother Shang,¡± said Zhou Yuan. Shang Chunqiu¡¯s expression was solemn. He wasted no time talking. The sound of surging blood instantly rang out from his body, and the solid rock under his feet cracked open. Jade light flowed on his skin, making it seem pure and clear like a crystal. Under his skin, silver light blossomed from his bones, a faint hint of starlight surfacing within the silver. The true Mythic Saint Body also had three stages; however, their names were different from the little Mythic Saint Body¡¯s jade skin, silver bone and golden blood. Instead, they were known as mythic-jade skin, star-silver bone and molten-gold blood... From these names alone, one could see that the Mythic Saint Body practiced by Shang Chunqiu was more refined and profound than Zhou Yuan¡¯s little Mythic Saint Body. Of course, not only the names were different. Their power was too. Qi ripples that could be seen with the naked eyes exploded from Shang Chunqiu¡¯s body like a tide. His current appearance was quite sinister, with power crazily churning within his body. Although the power was already extremely overbearing, Shang Chunqiu knew that this was not enough! Roar! A beast-like roar suddenly erupted from his mouth. His body grew a size bigger as the rock beneath his feet crumbled to dust. The countless gazing onlookers watched as the silver light deep within Shang Chunqiu¡¯s body brightened to its limit and a ray of golden light emerged. The golden light was laced with red, as if it were gold melting in fire! Joy filled the faces of the Hongya Peak disciples when they saw this, and they involuntarily cried out, ¡°Senior brother Shang¡¯s Mythic Saint Body has reached the molten-gold blood stage!¡± With the Genesis Qi boost from Hongya Peak, Shang Chunqiu had finally stepped out from the realm he had long stagnated at and had stepped into the third stage of the Mythic Saint Body, the molten-gold blood stage! Rumble! Shang Chunqiu was currently akin to a giant that had bathed in golden blood. Molten gold flickered in his pupils as he locked his gaze on Zhou Yuan. A split second later, his foot slammed the ground, shattering it once more. His figure turned into a flash of light, as he shot forth with torrential momentum. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, receive this punch of mine!¡± Shang Chunqiu¡¯s roar was akin to thunder as he swung his fist like a war god. The air before him was blasted away, and deep crevices were torn open in the ground below. It was a punch that could split a mountain. Zhou Yuan remained where he stood as the reflection of the glowing figure rapidly grew in his eyes. The raw, overwhelming force causing his hair to dance around him. But he did not try to evade. He took in a deep breath, his face completely calm and composed as a hundred and eighty thousand Genesis Qi stars surged within his Qi Dwelling. In the end, an unprecedented amount of boundless Genesis Qi began to circulate in his body. The raw power within his body made even Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart tremble. Was this the power of a hundred and eighty thousand Genesis Qi stars? Rumble! Gazing at the rapidly approaching Shang Chunqiu, he clenched his fingers and punched. Two fists brazenly collided amidst countless shocked gazes. It was akin to an explosion of heavenly thunder and earthly fire. Boom boom! A shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled. The surrounding ground rapidly crumbled as enormous cracks instantly grew. Every gaze was tightly glued to the two clashing figures. Their bodies seemed to freeze in time for a split second. Everyone turned pale as they watched the ferocious Shang Chunqiu¡¯s body violently jerk. He vomited a mouthful of blood as the pores of his arms ruptured and spurted blood out like fountains. Boom! His body was flung backwards, his feet digging two long tracks in the ground. In the end, he was sent flying off the peak and crashing into a mountain some distance away. Boulders tumbled downwards, his body deeply embedded into the rock. All the Cangxuan Sect disciples were dumbstruck as they stared at this scene in a daze. Hss. Gasps rang out in rapid succession. No one had expected that a single move was all it would take for Zhou Yuan to steamroll over the seemingly unstoppable Shang Chunqiu. Countless gazes stared in shock at the peak where the youthful figure was still in his punching pose. Various expressions rapidly flitted across their eyes before reverence began flooding out. Chapter 674 Like a Hot Knife Slicing through Butter Boulders continued to tumble down from the mountain as countless gazes stared in shock at the figure deeply embedded in the rock. Such a one-sided result had truly caught everyone by surprise. The Chosen on the other five peaks narrowed their eyes slightly as wariness began flooding out. Shang Chunqiu¡¯s earlier attack had already been extremely overbearing, and his condition had been near perfect. Despite this, he had failed to even shake Zhou Yuan a little. They could tell that Zhou Yuan had not used any Genesis technique, but had relied purely on his Genesis Qi to crush Shang Chunqiu. A hundred and eighty thousand Genesis Qi stars was simply terrifyingly powerful. Amidst the shock, the Saint Genesis Peak disciples suddenly burst into thunderous cheers. They had almost fanatical looks in their eyes as they looked towards the figure still in a punching posture on the mountain top. It could be said that Zhou Yuan had just steamrolled over a Chosen of the same generation. Under the innumerable watching gazes, Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath and slowly withdrew his fist. The surging Genesis Qi in his body gradually calmed down. He gazed at the rubble in the distance as he sighed inside. In the past, he had always been the one to be suppressed in the Genesis Qi department, but he had at long last gotten a taste of doing the same to his opponent. With a hundred and eighty thousand Genesis Qi stars, it was very hard to find a match amongst those under the Divine Dwelling stage. In the distance, Shang Chunqiu stumbled out from the rubble. His body was a bloody mess and his clothes were in tatters, making him look exceptionally miserable. He wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth and cast a quick glance at his battered body before letting out a bitter laugh. His gaze shifted towards Zhou Yuan, and he said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations are truly unrivalled. I whole-heartedly accept this loss.¡± ¡°Thanks for letting me win.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. Shang Chunqiu shook his head and waved his sleeve. A stream of light shot out. Zhou Yuan reached out and caught the stream of light, his gaze lighting up with desire as he looked towards it. It was a scroll made from old jade in which the true Mythic Saint Body was recorded. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan seems to be also practicing an external cultivation method. Although I do not know where you found it, it should have the same roots as the Mythic Saint Body. With the Mythic Saint Body, your external cultivation will ascend to the next level,¡± said Shang Chunqiu. Zhou Yuan kept the jade scroll before he bowed towards Shang Chunqiu again. While the numerous disciples were sighing, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had already shot away from the peak. Gaze after gaze converged towards him as he landed towards Spirit Rune Peak. ... Atop Spirit Rune Peak, the seated Ye Ge sighed in a melonchanic manner upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s arrival. Even Shang Chunqiu, who was ranked higher, had been defeated with a single punch, so how was he going to defend against Zhou Yuan? ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, although I know I don¡¯t have much of a chance at winning, as a Chosen of Spirit Rune Peak, I will not allow you to take away our Spirit Rune Peak art without any resistance,¡± declared Ye Ge. Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. ¡°Please go ahead, senior brother Ye Ge.¡± Ye Ge¡¯s expression turned a little graver as his hands clapped together in front of him. The Spirit between his brows began to ripple as Spirit power swiftly condensed towards his palm, creating a lantern. However, the lantern appeared ethereal and was clearly made from Spirit power. ¡°This is the art of my Spirit Rune Peak, Spirit Lantern technique. ¡°Once the lantern is formed, it can be used to store and nourish Spirit fire. Although I¡¯ve yet to reach the Divine Dwelling stage, by borrowing the wonders of this Spirit lantern, I can just barely manage to use it.¡± Ye Ge pointed at the air. A strand of fire immediately appeared within the Spirit lantern. It slowly grew, becoming a tiny ball. It was a wisp of Spirit fire! A sliver of surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Besides Yaoyao, this was the second person he had seen that was capable of condensing Spirit fire before stepping into the Divine Dwelling stage. He naturally understood the might of Spirit fire. Zhan Taiqing of the Sacred Palace had suffered substantially at the hands of Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit fire. ¡°If junior brother Zhou Yuan can withstand my Spirit fire, I will gladly offer up the Spirit Lantern technique.¡± The lantern shuddered as Ye Ge¡¯s voice rang out. The wisp of Spirit fire within it abruptly shot forth, piercing space itself as it headed straight for Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered faintly as he gazed at the rapidly approaching Spirit fire. He did not move or bring out his Genesis Qi, allowing the wisp of Spirit fire to shoot into his body. Gasps sounded one after another. If the Spirit fire entered one¡¯s body, it would be able to directly burn one¡¯s Spirit. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was overwhelming, he would still take some damage after such a direct hit, right? Amidst the countless confused gazes, Zhou Yuan could feel the invading Spirit flame burn his Spirit. Soon after, he softly chuckled as a thought was sent out. In his mind, an endless and eternal grindstone loomed in a space of primal chaos. The divine grindstone rolled within, turning everything to nothingness wherever it passed. Under the crushing might of the divine grindstone, the wisp of Spirit fire was instantly obliterated. Zhou Yuan¡¯s lightly shut eyes opened, revealing a pair of eyes that were still shining with liveliness. Opposite him, Ye Ge¡¯s expression involuntarily changed; he likely sensed the demise of his Spirit flame. This was quite inconceivable to him. Only a few dozen breaths had passed, but Zhou Yuan had already neutralized the Spirit fire that had invaded his body? Ye Ge¡¯s mouth repeatedly opened and closed. In the end, he could only smile bitterly as he sighed and said, ¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡± True to his word, he threw the Spirit Lantern Art jade scroll to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan caught it and cupped his fists together. He likewise did not waste any time and directly turned around to fly towards the Lightning Prison Peak. ... Lu Jing, the Lightning Prison Peak Chosen, stared at Zhou Yuan and said in a booming voice, ¡°The Cangxuan art belonging to my Lightning Prison Peak is called the Lightning Prison Art. Like its namesake, it creates a lightning prison that is near inescapable. Anyone trapped within will ultimately be blasted to ashes by ten thousand thunderbolts.¡± Rumble! As his voice thundered, surging Genesis Qi erupted from his body with a violent peal of thunder. Zhou Yuan looked over and found that thunderclouds had already surrounded him. Within them, thunderbolts filled with alarming destructive power were zipping like giant pythons. Boom boom! The thunderclouds billowed and immediately unleashed an endless bombardment of lightning. Ten thousand bolts fell, and they exploded with dazzling light as they drowned out Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The attack caused the expressions of the onlookers to change. They were not worried about Zhou Yuan¡¯s safety, but were instead wondering whether this barrage would be able to halt Zhou Yuan¡¯s unstoppable momentum. Ten thousand lightning bolts roared on the mountain top. The phenomenon lasted for an entire half an incense stick of time before a pale look emerged on Lu Jing¡¯s face, a sign that his Genesis Qi was nearly depleted. As such, the blinding lightning light gradually receded. A charred black peak appeared within everyone¡¯s sights, dotted with uncountable craters. However, the crowd ignored everything else as their gazes focused on the spot where Zhou Yuan had been. A figure silently stood there, powerful Genesis swirling around his body to form layers of defense. These layers had blocked every single thunderbolt. What was more, a jade glow seemed to be slowly blossoming from his skin, so even if any thunderbolt had managed to slip through, his sturdy body would have warmly received it. With his Genesis Qi and tough body, Zhou Yuan barely sustained any damage after being bombarded in the lightning prison for half an incense stick of time. The entire place was silent. Nothing needed to be said about the outcome. Lu Jing had a calm expression, clearly anticipating this result. Hence, he sent a jade scroll shooting towards Zhou Yuan with a flick. Zhou Yuan reached out to catch it as the Genesis Qi around him withdrew into his body. The smell of charred earth entered his nose before he released a long deep breath. Three down, three more to go. Zhou Yuan turned around and disappeared, appearing again in Snow Lotus Peak. ... Li Qingchan was seated on a boulder atop the peak, her slim figure as amazing as usual. There was currently a complicated expression on her usually frosty face as she gazed at the figure that had arrived. She still remembered when she had first met him; he had bafflingly appeared in her personal hot spring. If not for Yaoyao, she would have most certainly taught him a painful lesson. Back then, she had felt rather indignant at Yaoyao¡¯s concern for Zhou Yuan. In her eyes, someone as amazing as Yaoyao should absolutely have a special place amongst the younger generation of Cangxuan Heaven. In fact, even the Sacred Palace¡¯s Zhan Taiqing could not compare. Hence, she felt that Zhou Yuan was exactly like a toad shamelessly sticking to a swan. He was that offending murky green amidst the breathtaking snow white. In the past, she had been unable to understand what Yaoyao saw in Zhou Yuan. As the saying went: a dragon does not stay with a snake, and a phoenix does not share a nest with a sparrow. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were the most unfitting of duos. However, over the past two years, Li Qingchan had personally witnessed how the young man, who completely did not match up to Yaoyao, had advanced step by step, ultimately catching up to the Chosen amidst her occasionally surprised gaze. In fact, he had now begun to surpass them. At this current moment, Li Qingchan had no choice but to admit that her judgement was far worse than Yaoyao¡¯s. Under Li Qingchan¡¯s complicated gaze, Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps stopped as he awkwardly smiled at her. In her eyes, it somewhat resembled the awkward smile the young man had displayed two years again when he suddenly popped out from the water under her shocked gaze. But the loathsome smile from back then now appeared calm and humble. Chapter 675 Celestial Shadow and Sword Orb Atop a certain peak in Snow Lotus Peak. Li Qingchan focused on the youthful figure in front of her. Her eyes lowered slightly as she softly said, ¡°The art of my Snow Lotus Peak is named the Celestial Shadow Art. It is a first-class concealment technique that specializes in assasination. If the strike fails, one may flee a thousand miles in the blink of an eye, making it impossible for anyone to give chase.¡± There was some surprise in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, evidently not expecting Li Qingchan to be most skillful in assasination. He had never seen her use such a Genesis technique before. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, if you manage to find me, it shall be your victory.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s red lips opened slightly. In the next instant, her figure rippled faintly as it disappeared into thin air like a ghost. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. To his surprise, he had been unable to sense how she had vanished in that split second. The peak was dotted by various cliffs, giant pines that seemingly stretched towards the sky and rocks that protruded from the ground. Shadow after shadow was painted onto the earth in complete silence. But this silence seemed to hide a killing intent. Zhou Yuan frowned a little. He could only sense his own Genesis Qi undulations on the peak. If he had not known this was a special situation, he would have likely believed that Li Qingchan had already quietly left the area, leaving him here alone. Vigorous Genesis Qi whizzed and spread out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, feeling for even the minutest of movements. However, Zhou Yuan was still unable to find any traces of Li Qingchan. He fell into a thoughtful silence before Spirit power began to reach out from between his brows to comb the area inch by inch. A long time later, Zhou Yuan realized that even his Spirit sense was unable to detect Li Qingchan¡¯s presence, a realization that shook his heart. Was the Celestial Shadow Art really so formidable? ¡°The seven Cangxuan arts are indeed extraordinary.¡± Zhou Yuan inwardly sighed before he slowly shut his eyes. They opened again a split second later, an ancient Saint Rune now quietly revolving in their depths. The Decoder Saint Rune! When the Decoder Saint Rune appeared, the world around Zhou Yuan immediately began to change. Even the tiniest stir of Genesis Qi was now clearly visible to the naked eye. His eyes pierced all obstructions. ¡°Since it is called the Celestial Shadow Art, it should naturally use shadows as its medium.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s sharp gaze looked towards the shaded spots on the peak. Nothing, not even shadows, could hide from his sight. However, there was still no result after searching through every shadow on the peak. This time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression finally changed a little. He soon shook his head inside. He did not believe the Decoder Saint Rune was unable to find her. Otherwise, the Celestial Shadow Art would not be a mere high-grade Heaven Genesis technique... ¡°But I¡¯ve already carefully searched every shadow on the peak¡­¡± At this thought, Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank before he slowly lowered his head to look at the shadow below his feet. The ancient Saint Rune revolved in his pupils as he discovered something strange in his shadow. ¡°She¡¯s hiding in my shadow!¡± Waves rose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. However, he did not delay any further. With a sudden stomp of his foot, powerful Genesis Qi viciously rippled towards his shadow, and he reached out and grabbed at a certain spot in his shadow. His hand seemed to reach into space itself. When pulled back out again, a fair, snow-white wrist appeared from thin air. A pretty figure quickly emerged in front of Zhou Yuan. The figure naturally belonged to Li Qingchan. Her face was currently filled with astonishment. She was so shocked that she was completely ignoring the fact that Zhou Yuan was tightly grabbing her wrist. A pair of bright eyes stared at Zhou Yuan in bewilderment, clearly not expecting him to so swiftly unravel her Celestial Shadow Art. Li Qingchan could not help but ask, ¡°How did you do it?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled apologetically. ¡°I hope you forgive me for my offense, senior sister Qingchan.¡± He released her hand. Only then did Li Qingchan see the slight bruise Zhou Yuan had left on her wrist. She gently bit her lips and deeply looked at Zhou Yuan before fishing out a jade scroll. ¡°You¡¯ve won,¡± she said. Zhou Yuan received the scroll and fiddled with it for a while. He had become very interested in the Celestial Shadow Art. Its concealment ability was many times greater than the Ethereal Form technique, and it would become an extremely effective means of protecting himself if he managed to learn it. When encountering a formidable opponent he could not defeat, he would be able to use the Celestial Shadow Art to hide or escape. Moreover, it would take a considerable amount of effort for a foe to find him. After all, even he had been forced to use the Decoder Saint Rune to discover Li Qingchan¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°Thanks for giving me the win.¡± Grinning, Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. He did not linger a second longer, and he flew towards Sword Cometh Peak under Li Qingchan¡¯s complicated gaze. Countless Cangxuan Sect disciples could not help but wet their lips when they saw Zhou Yuan descend towards Sword Cometh Peak. In less than two hours, Zhou Yuan had defeated four peaks in succession and collected four of their arts. Zhou Yuan now had five arts in his hands, putting him on equal footing as Chu Qing. If he attained one more victory, he would become the first person in a hundred years to gather six arts. ¡°We¡¯ll have to see what Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s senior brother Kong Sheng has in store for us next.¡± ... Atop a peak in Sword Cometh Peak. Kong Sheng stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm as he extended a hand where a round azure sword orb quietly hovered. The sword orb¡¯s luster felt full and complete, as if it were crafted from jade. ¡°I believe junior brother Zhou Yuan has already seen Baili Che display the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb Art during the Genesis reservoir ceremony. However, his sword orb had barely formed back then, making it difficult for him to bring out much of its power. ¡°If junior brother Zhou Yuan manages to receive a sword strike from me today, I will happily offer the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb Art to you.¡± Sword orb in hand, Kong Sheng¡¯s gaze was as sharp as a blade, and he was giving off an alarming aura. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Please.¡± Bzz! Kong Sheng waved his sleeve, and the sword orb slowly rose into the air. Boundless sword qi began streaming out and condensing around the orb into a three-foot-long glowing azure sword. As the azure sword took shape, the space around it rippled faintly as sword qi tore open cracks. Countless gashes had already been sliced open on the surrounding ground. Kong Sheng concentrated on the glowing azure sword and flicked his finger. Bzz! The cry of a sword echoed across the land. A flash of blue swept past in an instant, seemingly piercing through space itself as it headed straight towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he waved his sleeve. A stream of golden Genesis Qi roared out like a golden serpent, accompanied by a ferocious aura, and it collided with the azure sword. Bang bang! The two forces clashed. However, the azure sword vibrated and cut through the stream of Genesis Qi with a soft slicing sound. Cheers exploded from the Sword Cometh Peak disciples. This was the first time since the start of the Chosen challenge that Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack had been stopped. Zhou Yuan eyes faintly flickered as he gazed at the azure sword that had cut through his Genesis Qi. However, he did not choose to avoid it, but instead slowly reached out with five fingers. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his Qi Dwelling shuddered as snow-white hairs emerged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. They rapidly weaved together, creating a snow-white gauntlet that fully covered his fist. Swish! Sword light swiftly approached, tearing apart the nearby ground. Genesis Breaker! A shout rang out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. The snow-white gauntlet instantly turned pitch black. All the Genesis Qi in his body flooded out at this moment, flaring out around his body. With a piercing look in his eyes, Zhou Yuan reached out and grabbed the azure sword amidst countless shocked and horrified gazes. Bang! Berserk sword qi exploded, instantly shredding the surrounding boulders to dust. Countless gazes stared at the dust-filled air. When the dust finally dissipated, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared. He seemed to have taken several steps back, while the azure sword was nowhere to be seen. A Sword Cometh Peak disciple cried out in alarm, ¡°Where¡¯s the sword orb?¡± On the mountaintop, Zhou Yuan spat out a breath of air and looked towards Kong Sheng. The pitch-black gauntlet slowly unravelled, revealing the azure sword orb silently lying in Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. As the black hairs swiftly disappeared, several cuts were revealed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. However, these cuts soon began to mend due to his body¡¯s strong vitality. Uproar! Countless disciples were dumbstruck, especially the Sword Cometh Peak disciples whose faces were overflowing with shock. Zhou Yuan had actually managed to grab Kong Sheng¡¯s sword orb. At the front of the many Sword Cometh Peak disciples, Zhao Zhu and chief disciple Baili Che looked at each other, seeing the agony in each other¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s feat of breaking through the sword light and grabbing the sword orb was already more than enough evidence of how terrifyingly powerful he was. The very same new chief disciple they had once felt unworthy of his position had now surpassed all of them. But this time they were fully convinced. On the mountain top, Zhou Yuan released the sword orb, allowing it to fly back to Kong Sheng before Kong Sheng swallowed it back into his abdomen. His expression was somewhat complicated as he silently looked at Zhou Yuan. In the end, he did not say anything and threw over a jade scroll. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve won. ¡°Go then. As long as you defeat your final opponent, Chu Qing, you will create a legend. Ever since the Cangxuan Sect was established, there has yet to be a disciple who has succeeded in gathering all seven arts through the Chosen challenge¡­¡± Zhou Yuan received the jade scroll and nodded. He raised his head under the countless watching gazes and looked towards the final peak in the distance. A figure was seated atop the peak, looking right back at him. Their gazes clashed as seriousness filled their eyes. Every disciple in the Cangxuan Sect watched on with bated breaths... One was the former strongest disciple in the Cangxuan Sect... The other was the current strongest disciple in the Cangxuan Sect... Chapter 676 Congratulating the Leader of the Chosen Under the attention of countless excited gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure slowly landed on the Cangxuan Peak, his gaze fixed on the figure to his front from start to end. Chu Qing was seated on a pine tree, his bald head gleaming under the sunlight, making it extremely attention grabbing. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s arrival, he sighed as he caressed his head and said, ¡°How troublesome, this battle is going to be even more tiring than a fight with Jiang Taishen.¡± He had originally believed he would get to rest for some time after the duel with Jiang Taishen in the Mythic Utopia. Who could have expected another tough battle to find him so soon? Upon hearing his ramblings, Zhou Yuan chuckled and said in an apologetic manner, ¡°Sorry for disturbing senior brother Chu Qing.¡± Chu Qing waved his hand and helplessly said, ¡°You¡¯re facing even greater troubles, so I can understand.¡± He knew that Zhou Yuan had initiated the Chosen challenge because he urgently needed to grow stronger. After all, although sect master Qing Yang and the rest were supporting Zhou Yuan, he still needed to follow the rules in order to obtain the seven Cangxuan arts. Once he obtained all seven, he would leave the Cangxuan Sect and head straight for the Cangmang Continent, where he would have to face Wu Huang, who defeated Jiang Taishen...and the Divine Dwelling stage King Wu. The battles that awaited him were going to be the biggest challenges he would ever face. In fact, Zhou Yuan may even fail to return. This was not strange, because though Zhou Yuan was admittedly very powerful, Wu Huang was definitely no push-over. Moreover, there was also King Wu, a Divine Dwelling stage expert. There was a difference of an entire greater realm of cultivation. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hundred and eighty thousand Genesis Qi stars may have made him near invincible within the Alpha-Origin stage, but it was still not enough to take on those in the Divine Dwelling stage. The thought of such challenges made even Chu Qing secretly wet his lips. If he were in Zhou Yuan¡¯s place, he would have scratched his head open in frustration long ago. Chu Qing stared at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°But though I can empathize with your predicament, as a Chosen of Cangxuan Peak, I cannot allow you to easily pass this stage. Otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to explain myself to the many Cangxuan Peak disciples.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, indicating he understood. ¡°Please, senior brother Chu Qing.¡± Countless gazes converged onto Chu Qing¡¯s body. Chu Qing rubbed his shiny bald head as he sighed once more. His expression turned solemn as he stood up from the pine. Under everyone¡¯s gazes, long black hair began growing from his bald head. A peerless Genesis Qi undulation erupted from Chu Qing¡¯s body. In the face of Zhou Yuan¡¯s current strength, even Chu Qing did not dare to show any negligence. He knew that if he held back anything, he would instantly fall into a disadvantageous position the moment Zhou Yuan¡¯s assault began, making it very difficult for him to recover. Genesis Qi raged around Chu Qing¡¯s body like a storm as he extended his hand. Golden light began to condense towards his palm, ultimately forming a golden shuttle. The golden shuttle seemed to flicker in and out of existence as it gently rippled and exuded an extremely terrifying aura. ¡°The Spirit Severing Golden Shuttle¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank at the sight of the shuttle. Back in the Mythic Utopia, Chu Qing had used this very same golden shuttle to stop Jiang Taishen in his tracks, making it impossible for him to move. Since Chu Qing currently had a Genesis Qi boost from the Cangxuan Peak, the golden shuttle was undoubtedly much more concentrated and condensed, making it even stronger than when it had been used against Jiang Taishen. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, the Spirit Severing Golden Shuttle was obtained in one of my training excursions years ago and is not the art of my Cangxuan Peak¡­ ¡°The art of my Cangxuan Peak is called the Azure Sky Art.¡± Chu Qing made a seal with one hand as his voice rang out. Zhou Yuan felt a strange ripple spread around them as a mysterious Genesis Qi began to condense in front of Chu Qing, ultimately forming a deep azure liquid. ¡°This art creates a substance called the Azure Sky Essence from the surrounding Genesis Qi. Any Genesis Weapon, artifact or technique can be fused with it to amplify its power.¡± With a thought, the drop of mysterious deep azure liquid slowly fell onto the golden shuttle. The golden shuttle began to shudder violently as ancient azure runes quietly emerged on its surface, spiralling towards the tip. The golden shuttle gained an azure-gold hue as a faint but clear sound rang out. The light that gleamed off its edge seemed to cut even the fabric of space itself. Countless gazes gravely stared at the azure-gold shuttle in Chu Qing¡¯s hand. Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and the rest of the Chosen had a blaring feeling that if the shuttle were to target them, they would likely face certain death. Chu Qing slowly raised his hand, staring at the azure-gold shuttle as he said, ¡°Without the boost from the Cangxuan Peak, my Spirit Severing Golden Shuttle would likely be unable to withstand this drop of Azure Sky Essence.¡± He lifted his gaze and looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°If junior brother Zhou Yuan manages to withstand it, this match shall be your victory.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the slowly vibrating golden shuttle with a rather grave expression. This was Chu Qing¡¯s strongest attack, an attack that was going to be far more powerful than the one Chu Qing had used against Jiang Taishen. Even Zhou Yuan, with his current strength, did not dare to be careless. His ten fingers uncurled as golden Genesis Qi rushed out of his body like a tsunami. Golden light shined from his body, so resplendent that it eclipsed even the sun in the sky. Chu Qing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He took in a deep breath as a serious look suddenly rose in his eyes. Bzz! A piercing noise suddenly rang out across the area. When the golden shuttle shot forth, a flash of light seemed to pierce through space itself. It was so quick that numerous disciples were unable to detect anything with their naked eyes. Only the more powerful practitioners were able to catch the trajectory of the shuttle. Such speed was basically impossible to avoid! Would Zhou Yuan be able to withstand this attack?! Swish! Under the countless watching gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure swiftly jumped back as his cheeks ballooned. A split second later, dark gold flames poured out like a dragon¡¯s breath. ¡°Heavenly Sun Flame!¡± With Zhou Yuan¡¯s current Genesis Qi foundations, the Heavenly Sun Flames grew into a majestic sea of fire, creating an astonishingly intimidating sight. Ch! However, the azure-gold light instantly ripped through the vast sea of flames with unstoppable momentum. Zhou Yuan made a grabbing motion and the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared. Snow-white hairs immediately burst forth, transforming into innumerable white threads that filled the sky as they weaved towards the azure-gold light. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± With a low shout, white instantly turned to pitch-black, and it gleamed with peerless sharpness. Clang clang clang! Countless sparks erupted in the air. Strand after strand of pitch-black hair seemed to turn into a sea of pythons as they attempted to stop the azure-gold light through sheer numbers. Bang! However, the deadlock between the two forces only lasted for a few breaths before the azure-gold light pierced through the black python sea and headed straight for Zhou Yuan. The exchange between both parties was akin to a nerve-racking but thrilling roller coaster ride. Both individuals were clearly pouring all of their strength into this lightning quick clash. ¡°Omega Saint Spirit Art!¡± At the sight of the swiftly approaching shuttle Zhou Yuan sent out a thought. Genesis Qi whizzed out as a mysterious glowing silhouette emerged around his body. A pair of wings unfurled to their full length before folding in front of him, creating a shield of wings. Ding! The azure-gold light mercilessly smashed into the wing shield, causing the surrounding space to ripple violently. The two sides seemed to freeze in time for a few breaths, then the wings suddenly shattered a split second later. Countless disciples cried out in alarm. This was the first time today that Zhou Yuan was forced back and his numerous techniques were unable to achieve any effect. This also excited the Cangxuan Peak disciples. Would Zhou Yuan¡¯s Chosen challenge journey come to a stop at their Cangxuan Peak? In contrast, the disciples on the Saint Genesis Peak side were so nervous that they did not even dare to breathe too loudly, their gazes unable to turn away from the dual on the mountain. Under these countless watching gazes, the azure light broke through Zhou Yuan¡¯s numerous obstructions and finally appeared right in front of him. Bzz! Without losing any momentum the azure light shot straight towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. At this distance, there was already no way for Zhou Yuan to escape. A solemn look flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, and he stomped his foot on the ground. His figure came to an abrupt stop as a glow emerged from his body. The power of his physical body had fully erupted. Meanwhile, ripples appeared on the ground under his feet as heavy earth Genesis Qi roared towards him and poured into his body. All one hundred and eighty thousand Genesis Qi stars twinkled brightly, combining with his raw physical might and the earth Genesis Qi gathered by the Earth Saint Rune. Bloody wounds began to split open on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His eyes were solemn as he stared at the rapidly approaching azure-gold light. When it was a single foot from his brows, his hands suddenly slapped together in front of him like two mountains colliding. All of his power had gathered between his palms. Bang! A deep muffled sound rang out. Boom! A giant Genesis Qi shockwave violently unfurled like a tsunami with Zhou Yuan at its epicenter. The surrounding boulders were turned to dust as the shockwave completely levelled everything in the vicinity, leaving not even a single tiny protrusion in sight... However, no one paid any attention to this, their gazes fixed only on Zhou Yuan¡¯s location. As the shockwave dispersed, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure slowly appeared once more. Everyone¡¯s pupils violently shrank. Zhou Yuan was still standing there with his hands pushing together in front of him, an azure-gold light visible between his palms, only half a finger from his head. However, this half a finger distance was akin to an uncrossable chasm. The shuttle furiously spun, leaving a small bloody dot between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows that slowly dripped down his face... The entire place was completely silent. Amidst the silence, Zhou Yuan slowly relaxed his hands, leaving the shuttle hovering in the air. It soon began to evaporate, and it completely faded away a few breaths later. Zhou Yuan used a finger to wipe away the blood on his forehead as he looked towards Chu Qing with a solemn expression. ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing¡¯s Spirit Severing Golden Shuttle is truly invincible.¡± To have injured him despite his hundred and eighty thousand Genesis Qi stars, Chu Qing¡¯s strength was indeed very astonishing. Chu Qing blankly stared at the fading shuttle. He was silent for a long time before he finally exhaled a long drawn out breath in a somewhat gratified and relieved manner, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ve been with the Cangxuan Sect for ten years and have been the leader of the Chosen for many years. I never imagined that I would finally pass on this position today¡­ ¡°But this is good because it means the Cangxuan Sect is overflowing with talent, and each generation is stronger than the previous.¡± Chu Qing¡¯s long black hair began to recede, returning his bald head. He looked straight at Zhou Yuan as a dazzling smile appeared on his handsome face. ¡°Congratulations, junior brother Zhou Yuan. From now onwards, you are the new leader of the Chosen. ¡°I also congratulate you for achieving a magnificent feat that no one has ever attained since the Cangxuan Sect was founded: gathering all seven Cangxuan arts¡­¡± He took in a deep breath and cupped his fists together as his clear voice rang out, ¡°Cangxuan Peak congratulates the leader of the Chosen.¡± Uproar! A frenzied atmosphere abruptly descended. Countless Cangxuan Sect disciples were flushed with excitement as unstoppable emotions churned within them. They were witnessing the birth of a legend! The voices of Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan, Shang Chunqiu and the other Chosen rang out across the land. ¡°Sword Cometh Peak congratulates the leader of the Chosen!¡± ¡°Snow Lotus Peak congratulates the leader of the Chosen!¡± ¡°......¡± Innumerable disciples began to join in one after another. Congratulatory voices boomed in the Cangxuan Sect like thunder, shaking the many peaks. Chapter 677 Agreemen The Chosen challenge was over. However, the entire Cangxuan Sect was still in shock. It was, after all, an unprecedented feat that was not the least bit inferior to the birth of a legend. In the future, this would most likely become the legend every generation of disciples would hear about the moment they joined the Cangxuan Sect. Zhou Yuan¡¯s name would forever be passed down in history. ... The official discussion hall. Sect master Qing Yang sat on the highest seat with the peak masters spread out on his left and right. The Chosen were just below them, complicated expressions currently coloring their gazes as they looked at the youthful figure to their front who had created such a storm in the Cangxuan Sect. Sect master Qing Yang looked over and chuckled warmly as he said, ¡°Today is a joyous occasion for the Cangxuan Sect. Well done, Zhou Yuan.¡± There was no way to hide the admiration and praise in his eyes. Zhou Yuan was somewhat awed by such praise. The main reason why he had caused such a commotion today was due to his selfish wish of obtaining the other six Cangxuan arts. ¡°The seven Cangxuan arts were split from the Saint Genesis technique my teacher had created. Although the saying goes that when all seven arts are gathered, the Saint Genesis technique will appear, this does not mean that you¡¯ll be able to immediately transform the seven arts into a complete Saint Genesis technique. ¡°Only when you master all seven arts will you have a chance to begin learning the Saint Genesis technique, and when you finally gain full comprehension, the seven arts will transform into the Saint Genesis technique.¡± Sect master Qing Yang smiled. Zhou Yuan did not find this strange at all. It would be too easy if all it took was gathering the seven arts to create the Saint Genesis teachique. Moreover, even if he obtained a Genesis technique at that level, he would not be able to use it given his current cultivation. Instead, it would be far better to begin learning the seven arts. He believed that the day would eventually come when he fully mastered all of them. Sect master Qing Yan nodded in approval at Zhou Yuan¡¯s patient appearance. ¡°The Cangxuan Sect will help spread today¡¯s matter. It can be considered a counter-attack of sorts against the Sacred Palace.¡± Previously, the Sacred Palace had set up an amazing show of Wu Huang defeating Jiang Taishen to claim first place on the Chosen List, stunning the many factions. It was also aimed at stifling the momentum the Cangxuan Sect had gained in the Mythic Utopia. News of this matter had been a substantial blow to the Cangxuan Sect disciples. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had perfectly succeeded in the Chosen challenge, a feat which had most likely wiped away all negative feelings brought about by Wu Huang. ¡°On another note, I¡¯ve already communicated with palace master Sheng Yuan through our Spirits.¡± These words immediately caused every gaze in the hall to shift towards sect master Qing Yang, while Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned serious. These two were considered the most powerful existences in Cangxuan Heaven, and every move they made would create enormous ripples. ¡°With regards to the war between the Great Wu and Great Zhou Empires, he has indicated that the Sacred Palace intends to interfere.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank as his fists involuntarily clenched. The Sacred Palace¡¯s interference was the worst possible news he could receive. Sect master Qing Yang indifferently said, ¡°But I¡¯ve also let him know that if the Sacred Palace interferes, the Cangxuan Sect will not idly stand by. In the end the sects may even come to blows.¡± His tone was calm, but even the eyes of the other peak masters turned grave at this moment. Every single one of them clearly understood that if these two titans were to move for real, it would be an earth-shattering affair that would likely affect the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Peak master Lianyi¡¯s eyes grew as deep as a silent pool as she said, ¡°What does Sheng Yuan want? If he wants a fight, the Cangxuan Sect has already restrained ourselves for many years, and it¡¯s about time for some grudges to be properly settled.¡± Sect master Qing Yang waved his hand and said, ¡°Although he finds the Cangxuan Sect to be a thorn in his eyes, he also understands that a clash would only leave both parties gravely injured, allowing others to take advantage. ¡°However, he insists that Zhou Yuan has humiliated the Sacred Palace and has to be punished for it. Hence, he made an agreement with me: in the war between the Great Zhou and Great Wu Empires, the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect cannot send any Divine Dwelling stage and above experts.¡± The other peak masters were taken aback. ¡°Cannot send any Divine Dwelling stage and above experts? What are his intentions?¡± Sect master Qing Yang slowly explained, ¡°In order words, the Sacred Palace will not allow Zhou Yuan to return to the Cangmang Continent. As long as he leaves the sect, he will be endlessly attacked by the Sacred Palace disciples.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes instantly turned frosty. If he did not return, the Great Zhou Empire would definitely not be the Great Wu Empire¡¯s match. Although he was basically invincible within the Alpha-Origin stage, the outcome of being attacked by endless waves of Sacred Palace disciples would not be pretty. At the end of the day, the Sacred Palace intended to aid Wu Huang. Was it because of what he had done in the Mythic Utopia? Below, Chu Qing rubbed his shiny bald head as he said with a smile, ¡°Since sect master has said that the Divine Dwelling stage and above are forbidden from interfering, we should be within the permissible range, right?¡± Sect master Qing Yang softly chuckled and did not deny it. Chu Qing instantly understood. He looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°When junior brother Zhou Yuan leaves, the disciples of our Cangxuan Sect will follow and protect you along the way to the Cangmang Continent.¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. He did not say anything, but solemnly cupped his fists together towards Chu Qing and the rest. He knew that when the disciples from both sects clashed, a bloody storm that would shock the entire Shengzhou Continent would surely follow. Peak master Lianyi icily said, ¡°Sheng Yuan clearly wants to vent his anger on Zhou Yuan and not bring things to an irreversible stage. He¡¯s truly petty for a sect master.¡± The other peak masters did not say anything. Although they did not fear a fight to the death, the consequences were indeed far too dire. It would naturally be best to avoid such a situation. ¡°Zhou Yuan, when do you plan on leaving?¡± asked sect master Qing Yang. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment before he answered, ¡°I will first use the next few days to master the Mythic Saint Body before departing.¡± Sect master Qing Yang nodded. ¡°Since you practice the little Mythic Saint Body, you should be able to quickly master the Mythic Saint Body and become even stronger.¡± He too understood that Zhou Yuan would have to soon face a tough battle. Every bit of strength he gained now would increase his chances. ¡°Everyone should go and prepare. Today is a joyous occasion for our Cangxuan Sect, so let the disciples let loose a little.¡± Sect master Qing Yang waved his hand. The peak masters bid their farewells, while Zhou Yuan, Chu Qing and the others withdrew from the official discussion hall. When everyone left, sect master Qing Yang lifted his head. His eyes turned as deep as the night. Chapter 678 Three Jars of Taoyao Wine Night enveloped the Cangxuan Sect. However, the atmosphere remained extremely lively, especially in Saint Genesis Peak, where a rare festive mood had taken over the place. The reason behind this was naturally the legend Zhou Yuan had created that day. Everyone clearly understood how much glory he had brought to Saint Genesis Peak with the Chosen challenge. It would be an exaggeration to say that this feat would be the pride of every future generation of Saint Genesis Peak disciples. In the past, Saint Genesis Peak had basically been an invisible existence in the sect. However, no one dared to ignore them later on, especially now that Zhou Yuan had replaced Chu Qing as the new leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen. Regardless of how it was put, Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s rise was undoubtedly tightly tied to Zhou Yuan¡¯s contributions. Numerous disciples understood this. As such, Zhou Yuan¡¯s status and prestige in Saint Genesis Peak had reached an unprecedented high. In fact, one could even say that the substitute peak master Shen Taiyuan was unable to compare... ... In a certain cave dwelling. A little creek snaked past a stone pavilion in the cave. Yaoyao was holding an elaborate jade gourd, gently tilting it as crystal-clear wine flowed out from its mouth and into the three porcelain bowls on the table. She put down the gourd and lifted one of the bowls. Her bright eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan as a faint smile emerged on her lips. ¡°I promised to share a cup if you obtained a complete victory in the Chosen challenge... ¡°Congratulations.¡± Zhou Yuan also lifted one of the bowls, feeling slightly dazed for a moment. No one knew better than himself how much he had hard work he had put in over these past two years. The young man from the Shengzhou Continent from back then had finally achieved a little success today. With various emotions swirling in his heart, Zhou Yuan gazed at the heart-stirringly beautiful face before him and softly said, ¡°Yaoyao, thank you for being at my side all these years. ¡°Although master Cang Yuan tasked me to take care of your back then, I know that you¡¯ve been the one who¡¯s been taking care of me for the past few years.¡± His tone was somewhat self-mocking. Without Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan did not know if he would have come so far today. Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes focused on Zhou Yuan as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t undervalue yourself. If you believe relying on someone else can make you the leader of the Chosen, you underestimate the Cangxuan Sect far too much.¡± She paused for a moment as she gently bit her red lips. There were some things that she did not say. If not for Zhou Yuan¡¯s company, she was unable to imagine how cold and colorless her world would be. Even her feelings towards the Cangxuan Sect were not as strong as the feelings she had for the cave dwelling she and Zhou Yuan had spent the past two years living in. Only when Zhou Yuan was by her side did her cold indifference seem to unknowingly thaw a little. This made her feel as if she was a living and breathing human, not an ice-cold rock or...a god that was so high above the mortal realm that they would not even blink at its destruction. Hence, she felt that she should be the one thanking him instead. Zhou Yuan grinned at Yaoyao before he said in a mysterious manner, ¡°I have a gift for you.¡± Yaoyao was taken aback. There was a puzzled look in her crystal-clear eyes as she looked at him. Zhou Yuan gently patted the spatial bag at his waist, causing three jars of wine to appear on the table. ¡°Alcohol?¡± Yaoyao looked over as her red lips stuck out slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve become very picky about alcohol. I hope that you didn¡¯t get an ordinary brew.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his eyebrows as he chuckled and said, ¡°Open it and take a look.¡± Yaoyao swatted off the clay seal on the jar and took a sniff with her perky nose. A rich and mellow fragrance immediately assaulted her senses, causing her eyes to brighten slightly. She savored the alcohol before an extremely rarely seen look of joy appeared on her face. ¡°This, this is...the Taoyao Wine?! You¡¯ve managed to make it?!¡± Yaoyao had found a long-lost wine recipe some time back, and she was so fond of it that she had even given it a name. However, the brewing process was exceedingly difficult, and the ingredients required were very challenging to find. She had never imagined that Zhou Yuan would manage to produce it! Yaoyao showed no hesitation as she poured away the wine in her bowl before carefully filling it with Taoyao Wine. The wine had a faint ruby hue and was as clear as crystal. She took a small sip, enjoying the wonderful sensation from the tip of her tongue, her eyes turning to little crescents. A long time later, however, she suddenly opened her eyes as she said somewhat puzzled, ¡°There¡¯s a slight unique flavor in this Taoyao Wine¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned, his expression turning a little unnatural. He had evidently not expected Yaoyao to sample it in such a detailed manner. Yaoyao took another small sip, causing her pupils to shrink a little. She stared at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°There¡¯s a very faint trace of blood in this Taoyao Wine.¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head before he helplessly said, ¡°Your tongue is far too formidable.¡± As Yaoyao¡¯s gaze gradually turned stern, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to obediently explain, ¡°It¡¯s because of the Spirit Blood Peach, the main ingredient of this Taoyao Wine. It is an extremely rare plant that had nearly gone extinct, but with some luck, I managed to find a single seed which I then planted in the rear mountain for half a year.¡± ¡°How did you do it?¡± asked Yaoyao, getting right to the heart of the matter. Zhou Yuan awkwardly answered, ¡°The Spirit Blood Peach¡¯s growing conditions are quite unique. It needs to be watered with human blood to grow, so I fed it a little blood every few days.¡± He could see Yaoyao¡¯s expression growing uglier and uglier, and hurriedly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, although it sounds disgusting, the Spirit Blood Peaches that grow from it have only absorbed the essence within the blood, and they are actually quite a pretty sight.¡± He knew that Yaoyao was a clean-freak, and he took it as her being disgusted with how it had been grown. However, Yaoyao merely stood there, staring at Zhou Yuan as she muttered under her breath, ¡°Idiot.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhou Yuan did not hear her clearly. Yaoyao¡¯s hands clenched tightly as she suddenly raised her bright eyes. A sliver of anger flashed within them as she berated, ¡°I said, ¡®Are you an idiot?¡¯ For mere wine, you fed it blood for more than half a year?!¡± Zhou Yuan had been training hard for the past year, and he would be exhausted every time he returned. Even then, he had still used his blood to water the tree! She did not know why, but she felt as if a hand was lightly gripping her heart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained rather awkward. In the end, he took in a deep breath and said, ¡°It¡¯s rare to see you become fond of something...I want to see that face more.¡± His voice seemed to pierce through her body like an invisible force and heavily slam the deepest part of her heart. From it spread indescribable feelings. These feelings confused her, making her feel at a loss. Her eyes turned red as she bit into her lips and turned her head away. However, there was now no trace of her usual indifference but the vibrance aura of a young lady. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart rippled at this sight. Smiling, he quietly reached out and grasped Yaoyao¡¯s somewhat icy hands. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry.¡± Yaoyao struggled a little, but did not break free, allowing him to do as he pleased. Her feelings receded slightly as she raised her head and put on a tough face. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to do such foolish things in the future. How can I possibly drink such wine?¡± Moonlight sprinkled onto her body, making a faint glow seemingly flow across her rosy, tender lips. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart beat even faster as something seemed to explode in his head. He could not stop himself from taking a step forward and abruptly lowering his head, placing his lips on hers under her widened eyes. Her lips felt like petals, cooling and soft. Spirit light immediately began to flicker between Yaoyao¡¯s brows, her very first instinct screaming to send Zhou Yuan flying. When her gaze swept across the Taoyao Wine on the table, however, her heart could not help but tremble. After flashing alarmingly for a few moments, the Spirit light slowly weakened. Her eyes gradually turned somewhat glossy. The truth was that Zhou Yuan was already waiting for the beating to come the moment he kissed her. But when he sensed the weakening Spirit power, blood began to rush in his body. His gaze swept away at this moment, coincidentally finding Tuntun on the table. The latter was leaning against a jar, hugging a bowl in its tiny arms as its eyes seemed to look at him in disdain, as if it had seen through Zhou Yuan¡¯s cheap tricks. However, Zhou Yuan could not be bothered with it at this juncture. The tiny bit of rationality he had regained was instantly shattered by Yaoyao¡¯s decision to compromise. He reached out and tightly wrapped his arms around her womanly slim waist as if trying to fuse her into his embrace. In the stone pavilion, a young man and lady seemed to forget everything else around them. A long while later, Yaoyao blushed and gasped for breath against Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest as she softly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I also have a gift for you.¡± Chapter 679 Yaoyao’s Gif ¡°What gift?¡± In the cave dwelling, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart rate jumped up again as he gazed at Yaoyao in his arms, his mouth somewhat dry. Yaoyao escaped from his embrace, a faint blush still visible on her pretty face as she pointed at him and said, ¡°Take off your clothes first.¡± ¡°Here?¡± Zhou Yuan was stupefied. Yaoyao glanced at him. ¡°Where else?¡± Zhou Yuan hesitated as he looked towards Tuntun happily drinking on the table. Embarrassed, he said, ¡°Tuntun is still here, how about we get it to sleep outside the cave tonight?¡± Tuntun: ¡°???¡± Yaoyao¡¯s expression turned calm as a dark green jade-like Genesis Rune Brush appeared in her hand. ¡°I¡¯m saying that I¡¯m going to help you inscribe the Great Dragon Subduing Rune. ¡°Take off your clothes, so I can draw it.¡± The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had resurged a year ago, and Yaoyao had barely managed to suppress it with the help of Tuntun¡¯s blood. But to truly subdue it and prevent further backlash, Yaoyao had flipped through numerous ancient books and found a certain method known as the Great Dragon Subduing Rune. However, the ingredients required were extremely rare. As such, it had taken Yaoyao a considerable amount of time and effort over the past year to finally procure all of them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression had turned rather blank. The corners of his lips twitched for a few moments before he said in a hoarse voice, ¡°The gift you were referring to is this Great Dragon Subduing Rune?¡± Although the Great Dragon Subduing Rune could temporarily resolve one of his biggest problems, the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, why did Zhou Yuan find that he was unable to be happy about it? The Genesis Rune Brush twirled between Yaoyao¡¯s slender fingers. She seemed to grin as she focused on Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Oh? What kind of present did you think it was?¡± Zhou Yuan could sense an extremely dangerous aura coming from Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful smile. His survival instinct immediately blared. He smiled in a fawning manner and said, ¡°Nothing, I absolutely can¡¯t wait to receive the Great Dragon Subduing Rune!¡± ¡°Strip.¡± Yaoyao did not waste any time as she gently nodded her sharp chin like a proud queen. Zhou Yuan swiftly removed his clothes, revealing his lean body. On the table, Tuntun continued to drink the wine as it pointed at Zhou Yuan with a paw and laughed mockingly. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face burned with embarrassment as he sent a vicious glare at Tuntun. Tuntun responded with a disdainful look before patting its round, slightly bloated stomach. Its eyes swept across the area before reaching towards the three jars of Taoyao Wine, evidently intending to have a taste of the alcohol made from the idiot Zhou Yuan¡¯s blood. Tuntun¡¯s paw immediately froze, and Tuntun released a wail of complaint. Yaoyao softly snorted and threw Tuntun the jade gourd hanging from her waist. Her meaning was clear; any other alcohol was drinkable, but no one could touch the three jars of Taoyao Wine. Paying no further attention to Tuntun, she made a grabbing motion, and a crystal bottle appeared. Viscous black liquid flowed within the bottle, giving off an alarming undulation. Countless black threads of light seemed to swirl within the black liquid, creating quite a bizarre sight, and numerous faint hisses seemed to echo from it. Evidently, Yaoyao had already modulated the Dragon Subduing Rune ingredients. ¡°There will be some pain, try to endure it,¡± cautioned Yaoyao as the Genesis Rune Brush in her hand dipped into the black liquid. With a light flick, the tip of the brush darted flew across Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Sss! Black strokes meandered over Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, leaving rising black smoke in their wake, and burn marks began to appear on Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin. Intense pain accompanied the swimming black strokes, causing Zhou Yuan to grimace in pain as he silently endured. Sss! Yaoyao¡¯s wrist gently jerked as stroke after stroke took shape. A strange black pattern slowly emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Countless black threads of light extended in all directions like wiggling black chains. Zhou Yuan could feel a strange power slowly arising. Bzz! However, as the Great Dragon Subduing Rune gradually took form, violent blood-red light suddenly surged from the center of Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. He watched in horror as the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison seemed to awaken. Countless blood-red threads rushed out and frantically invaded his body. ARHHH! A piercing shriek erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison had begun to counter-attack! Yaoyao¡¯s pupils shrank a little as she quickly said, ¡°The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison has sensed danger. Hold it back Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s trying to destroy the incomplete Dragon Subduing Rune!¡± Zhou Yuan immediately gritted his teeth, fighting against the intense bone-eroding pain as Genesis Qi roared out of his Qi Dwelling to stop the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. Szzszz! Blood-red and golden light interweaved on Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm as a fierce battle erupted in his flesh. However, although Zhou Yuan had grown much stronger, the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison had also rapidly strengthened after absorbing the majority of the sacred dragon blessing from Wu Huang, and it had merely remained dormant all this time. As such, even Zhou Yuan had not realized its power. But now, it had erupted upon sensing danger. Its overwhelming power rapidly destroyed Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi. Countless blood-red threads whizzed past under his skin, moving towards the incomplete Dragon Subduing Rune as they tore apart the golden Genesis Qi. ¡°I can¡¯t stop it!¡± howled Zhou Yuan, his eyes entirely red. Yaoyao was fully focused as she continued to work on the Dragon Subduing Rune. She cast a quick glance at the countless blood-red threads that were rapidly charging through Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi defenses. Her eyes flickered in thought for a moment before she suddenly gritted her teeth. Spirit power suddenly pricked one of her fingertips, causing strands of mysterious purplish-gold light to stealthily flow downwards along the brush and into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. On the table, Tuntun, happily drinking, seemed to sense something, and it suddenly stood up. Its golden eyes looked in Yaoyao¡¯s direction, and Tuntun released several anxious barks. It seemed to have realized something. Yaoyao glanced at it and gently shook her head. Tuntun had no choice but to sit back down, but there was a worried look in its eyes. ¡°The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison has broken through!¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly shouted, clearly too busy to notice Tuntun¡¯s actions. All his Genesis Qi defenses had crumbled, shattered to pieces by the charging Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. However, purplish-gold light suddenly blossomed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body just as the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison pounced towards the incomplete Dragon Subduing Rune. Ch! As the purplish-gold light swept past, the previously unstoppable blood-red threads melted away like snow meeting lava. In that moment, Zhou Yuan seemed to hear the furious and alarmed roar of a tyrannical dragon. Yaoyao remained calm as her hand nimbly moved until, finally, she completed the final stroke of the Dragon Subduing Rune, perfectly joining it together. Bzz! Black rays of light blossomed on the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Crash! Countless black threads of light shook as the sound of a chain faintly echoed. The blood-red threads immediately shrank back as if sensing an enormous danger. Yaoyao stared at the rapidly retreating Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison as her eyes turned extremely frosty. With a gentle thrust of her brush, she fully activated the Dragon Subduing Rune. ¡°You¡¯ve caused mischief for so many years...it¡¯s about time for you to be subdued.¡± In the wake of Yaoyao¡¯s voice, countless black threads of light swarmed towards the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. Chapter 680 Burying the Wine Bzz! Countless black threads of light swarmed past in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, arriving at the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison¡¯s location in the blink of an eye. Next, the black threads charged towards the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. Chch! Innumerable blood-red threads exploded from the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in an attempt to destroy the black threads. However, the black threads were endless. They continuously charged through the blood-red threads like black chains and dashed into the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison¡¯s core. Hss! The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison trembled violently. Black thread after thread began to wrap around the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison, slowly forming what appeared to be a black prison made from ancient runes, completely sealing the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison within it. Chch! The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison violently struggled, but prison made by the Dragon Subduing Rune was akin to magma to the red threads, causing them to shrink back upon touching it. The wonders of the Dragon Subduing Rune were finally being revealed. The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison struggled for a long time. In the end, it realized the futility of its efforts and slowly began to curl into itself inside the prison. When the poison stopped, Zhou Yuan finally felt the activity in his body begin to die down. Drenched in sweat, he looked towards his palm with a sickly pale face where an ancient black rune had appeared. The rune was composed of multiple black circles, and within the center most circle was a blood-red dot. If one listened closely, one would be able to hear the faint angry roar of a mad dragon. ¡°Did it work?¡± mumbled Zhou Yuan. In the past, Zhou Yuan had always felt as if there was an arrow aimed at his back when he looked at the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. It was a ticking time bomb inside his body that could explode at any moment. But now, he no longer had such a feeling when he looked at it. The Great Dragon Subduing Rune appeared to have worked. The Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison had been sealed away and suppressed. ¡°Yup, you no longer need to worry about the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison erupting and attacking you.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s voice sounded from behind. Zhou Yuan was alarmed when he heard her, because it sounded quite weak. He immediately turned around and saw a rarely seen paleness on Yaoyao¡¯s gorgeous face. Zhou Yuan hurriedly rose to his feet and reached out to support Yaoyao¡¯s thin arms as he somewhat tenderly said, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Yaoyao shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be alright after some rest.¡± He had tried to probe for it earlier,but the mysterious purplish-gold substance seemed to have vanished without trace, as if it were hiding in the deepest recesses of his body. The mysterious substance gave Zhou Yuan an indescribable feeling. Ancient, mysterious, and powerful. Yaoyao¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment as she replied, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking things.¡± Zhou Yuan was helpless at her denial. He knew that Yaoyao had far too many secrets, things that his current self was still unable to understand. Regardless, eliminating the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison problem was a cause for celebration. Since Yaoyao refused to talk about it, he would not press her any further. Yaoyao sat down beside the table and retrieved a jar of Taoyao Wine. She swept a glance at Zhou Yuan as her lips curled slightly. ¡°We¡¯ll use this to celebrate you no longer having to suffer the pain of any relapses from the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you till the end. When tomorrow arrived, he planned to make use of every waking moment to practice the Mythic Saint Body such as to raise his strength as quickly as possible. But tonight, he would allow himself to let go for a while. Shhh Crystal-clear ruby-red wine poured out from the jar, filling a bowl to the brim. By the side, Tuntun¡¯s eyes shined as it carefully pushed its bowl over. Without Yaoyao¡¯s approval, it did not dare to touch the Taoyao Wine. Yaoayo glanced at it, causing Tuntun to immediately reveal a fawning smile. In the end, Yaoyao did not object, and helped it fill its bowl. In the cave, a young man, a young woman and a little beast clinked their bowls together before draining everything in a single gulp. Yaoyao¡¯s red lips glittered as her eyes gently closed, enjoying the wonderful sensation. A long while later, she finally opened her eyes again as she giggled. ¡°It¡¯s a truly unique flavor.¡± The flavor seemed to flow into the deepest part of one¡¯s heart, sour and bitter with a lingering aftertaste. She knew that there would only be one batch of this flavor in this world, because it would not taste the same in the future. Even if Zhou Yuan made another batch exactly as he had done before, the flavor would be slightly different. Because the Spirit Blood Peach needed to be nourished by blood, and the future Zhou Yuan¡¯s blood would be filled with even more power as he grew stronger, causing the many variations in the final product. As such, these three jars of Taoyao Wine would never appear ever again. Of course, to Yaoyao, it was more about how there was once a guy who had foolishly used his own blood to nourish the ingredients for half a year to make her a batch of wine... It was these very same idiotic actions that had caused tiny ripples to appear in Yaoyao¡¯s usually calm-as-a-deep-pool-like heart. As bowls continued to be clinked, the fragrance of wine filled the cave. Later on, both Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan grew rather flushed as faint traces of drunkenness emerged in their eyes. They had purposely chosen not to expel the alcohol in their bodies using Genesis Qi or Spirit power. Yaoyao grabbed the jar and tilted it repeatedly but nothing came out. A jar of Taoyao Wine had unknowingly been finished. Yaoyao hugged the jar as she pouted, a sight that was adorable to the extreme. Such an appearance would usually never appear. ¡°Is there any more?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Yaoyao shook her head before she suddenly kept a jar into her spatial bag. ¡°I¡¯ll slowly savor this jar.¡± She pondered for a moment before grabbing the last jar. She turned around and stumbled towards the little brook in the cave where pink flower petals blossomed on the peach tree, a backdrop that made her appear even more lovely than usual. Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head and followed, completely clueless about what she was doing. Yaoyao arrived under the tree and Spirit power poured out from between her brows. A deep hole was dug before she placed the final jar of Taoyao Wine inside. ¡°What are you doing?¡± asked Zhou Yuan in a puzzled manner. Yaoyao stared at the mound of dirt as a slightly dazed look appeared in her eyes. She stumbled as a hand hastily reached out from behind, catching her slim waist. Yaoyao¡¯s eyes narrowed as she turned around and wrapped her arms around Zhou Yuan¡¯s waist. With a blushing face, she gently rubbed her face against Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulders as a barely audible dreamy voice sounded, ¡°Let¡¯s hide this jar here¡­ ¡°Its taste is very unique, so unique that I will never forget it... ¡°Zhou Yuan...if a day comes¡­ ¡°When I forget everything, even you and Tuntun...you¡¯ll have to bring me back here... Chapter 681 Mythic Saint Body Complete After a night of heavy drinking and cutting loose, Zhou Yuan threw his entire being into practicing the Mythic Saint Body the next day. Although he had obtained all seven Cangxuan arts, the Mythic Saint Body was obviously going to be the quickest one he could master. As for the others, he currently sorely lacked the time to comprehend and practice them. After all, the Great Wu Empire was already gathering its army to wage war on the Great Zhou Empire, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s father was likely trying to buy as much time as possible in anticipation of his return. Hence, Zhou Yuan needed to make full use of every second he had, and did not have any time to waste. Saint Genesis Peak, the rear mountains. Zhou Yuan¡¯s half naked body sat on the fire and water dragon tempering platform as he looked towards the old hunched figure on the cliff and said, ¡°Old Xuan, I¡¯ll have to trouble you again.¡± Old Xuan leaned on his bamboo broom as he unhurriedly asked, ¡°Do you really want to raise it to the fourth level?¡± The water and fire dragon tempering platform had eighteen levels, each level several times more intense than the previous. While Zhou Yuan was practicing the little Mythic Saint Body in the past, merely the first and second levels had already tortured him till he wished he was dead. Despite all this, the little kid wanted to attempt the fourth level. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were determined as he solemnly nodded his head. The Mythic Saint Body training was much more difficult, and would not be easy to master even with his little Mythic Saint Body foundations. In the process, he likewise needed to train very hard. Although the pain would be great, it should be within bearable limits. Old Xuan was silent for a moment before his elderly face turned serious. ¡°You¡¯d better prepare yourself. Don¡¯t die on the fire and water dragon tempering platform because your Great Zhou Empire will be finished if you do so.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± Old Xuan did not waste any more time and gently swept the broom in his hand. Bzz! The ground began to shake a split second later as the great river below the cliff began to churn violently, causing giant waves to rise. The scales on the two stone dragons coiled around the left and right cliffs began to light up one by one. In the end, two torrents of berserk to the limit fire and water Genesis Qi spouted out. Half the world turned scorching hot, while the other half turned chillingly cold. Rumble! Fire and water burst forth, ultimately meeting at the spot where Zhou Yuan was seated, instantly drowning his figure. Old Xuan watched the figure that bitterly persisted within the raging fire and water as his gnarly hands slightly tightened around the bamboo broom, ready to sweep in to save Zhou Yuan at any moment. This kid would not be allowed to die here. Meanwhile, he also sighed inside. Even he had not expected the little one before him to become the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen in a short two years. Most importantly, he had also become the first disciple in the sect¡¯s history to gather all seven arts through the Chosen challenge... ¡°If master was still around, he would likely be happy that such a talented genius has been produced in our sect¡­¡± mumbled old Xuan. Meanwhile, on another peak in the distance. Yaoyao was seated on the edge of a cliff, her long, slender legs hanging off the edge. The fair legs seemed to sparkle like crystals under the sunlight. She gently swung them back and forth while she peered towards the painfully howling Zhou Yuan far away. Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun, pursing her lips slightly as she softly said, ¡°This battle belongs to him. We cannot interfere.¡± Although seeing Zhou Yuan suffer in this manner was a little unbearable, Yaoyao understood that the eventual fight with Wu Huang and the Great Wu Empire was part of Zhou Yuan¡¯s destiny. As such, the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s decision to not directly help Zhou Yuan deal with King Wu was in truth better for Zhou Yuan. Both Wu Huang and King Wu were obstacles Zhou Yuan needed to overcome on his cultivation journey, obstacles that he needed to overcome by himself. Only then would he truly be able to escape the shadow the Great Wu Empire had once cast on him. Only by directly smashing through all these obstacles would he finally be able to properly align his thoughts, and shift his gaze away from King Wu to an even further goal. Yaoyao would willingly help Zhou Yuan sweep away all of these obstructions, but she did not want her help to make him lose his drive instead. Hence, there were many occasions over the past two years where she had chosen to silently stand behind him and watch him over numerous trials and challenges, even if the price was a body riddled in wounds. The path of cultivation was difficult after all. For Zhou Yuan to travel even further and even reach the end, he needed to face such obstacles by himself. Especially this time... It was very likely that even Zhou Yuan himself did not want her and Tuntun to interfere. In her arms, Tuntun also cast a glance at the figure within the raging fire and water as it shook its tail and barked. ¡°Are you saying he will win¡­¡± Yaoyao pulled back a stray strand of black hair that had fallen by her cheek as a faint smile rose from the corners of her lips. ¡°There¡¯s no doubt that it will be so.¡± ... The training in the rear mountains did not stop after an entire day. Zhou Yuan¡¯s howls of pains echoed in the mountains from dawn till dusk. His tenacity made even old Xuan¡¯s expression change slightly, making him understand a little why Zhou Yuan had been able to achieve what so many disciples had failed to in the Cangxuan Sect. However, although Zhou Yuan suffered the greatest of pains under the torturous tempering of the fire and water, it was not for nothing. His body grew stronger as each day passed. The little Mythic Body¡¯s jade skin and silver bone gradually began to evolve into the mythic-jade skin and star-silver bone. The transformation process took about half a month. On a certain day. Old Xuan¡¯s eyelids suddenly jerked atop the cliff as he cast his gaze towards the meeting point of the fire and water torrents, where the seated figure seemed to be slowly rising to his feet. No Genesis Qi spread from his body, but raw physical might poured out as his flesh moved, slowly pushing apart the churning fire and water. Roar! A bare-torsed figure suddenly roared at the sky. The roar boomed like thunder, instantly destroying the two torrents of fire and water. Rumble! His foot slammed into the ground, flinging his figure into the air. He landed with a loud thud on the cliffside, pulverizing the rock under his feet. Old Xuan looked over, and found jade light flowing across Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body. The jade glow was even more clear and crystal-like compared to before, while a beast-like power flooded out of his body like a tsunami. A gratified look appeared on old Xuan¡¯s elderly face. ¡°Congratulations Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve truly mastered the Mythic Saint Body.¡± After over twenty days of tough training, Zhou Yuan had finally evolved his little Mythic Saint Body into the Mythic Saint Body! Light surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he felt the surging raw might in his body. He felt that his body had now become the strongest amongst this generation of Cangxuan Sect disciples. It had surpassed even Shang Chunqiu. Phew. Stream of white qi puffed out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose before he bowed towards old Xuan. ¡°When will you be leaving?¡± asked old Xuan. Now that Zhou Yuan¡¯s physical body was complete, he would likely be unable to wait any longer. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with spirited battle intent as he said in a low voice, ¡°Tomorrow.¡± Old Xuan hugged his bamboo broom as he softly chuckled. ¡°Come back alive. After so many years, you¡¯re the first disciple to have gathered all seven Cangxuan arts. The road you will walk in the future should be much much longer, and a mere Great Wu Empire should not be your final destination.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head and peered into the distant sky. Sunlight reflected off his pupils, making it seem as if a scarlet-red flame was burning within them. King Wu, there are some things that do not belong to the Great Wu Empire... So, are you ready? Chapter 682 The Path Home The next day, outside the main hall of the Cangxuan Sect. Sect Master Qing Yang was standing together with several peak masters. Their eyes were fixed ahead, where a slender young figure was releasing a sharp and powerful energy. Once the Mythic Saint Body was completed, even if Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t activate his Genesis Qi, his body was still exuding an indescribable ferocious aura, like a beast. Today was the day that Zhou Yuan would leave the Cangxuan Sect and head to the Cangmang Continent. So at this moment he was like a world-class sword. He would soon be unsheathed and show off his ability. ¡°Zhou Yuan, according to the information we received, the disciples of the Sacred Palace had already came out of their nests in full strength a few days ago. They are lying in ambush on the path of returning to the Cangmang Continent, with the intention of intercepting you.¡± Sect Master Qingyang reminded, ¡°Your journey back will be filled with danger.¡± Faced with the attack from the disciple of an entire sect, even if Zhou Yuan was considered invincible in the Alpha Origin stage, it would still be difficult for him to match their strength. But fortunately, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t alone. Behind him, Chu Qing, Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and other Chosens were standing tall, and further behind him were the disciples of various peaks of the Cangxuan Sect, standing closely and solemnly together. ¡°Zhou Yuan, just focus on moving forward on your journey. The disciples of the Cangxuan Sect will help you withstand the interception of the Sacred Palace.¡± Chu Qing grinned, his shiny head unusually eye-catching. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, the disciples of the Saint Genesis Peak will do their best to protect you!¡± In front of the disciples of the Saint Genesis Peak stood a girl called Mu Xiaoman. Holding a spear in one hand, she stared at Zhou Yuan with her huge bright eyes. Zhou Yuan turned his head to look at the countless Cangxuan disciples, who, at this moment, were all looking at him with blazing eyes. This scene brought a current of warmth flowing to his heart. How would he not know that there would be many casualties amongst the disciples in the fight against the disciples of the Sacred Palace? But these disciples did not have any complaints at all. ¡°Zhou Yuan, this isn¡¯t just your fight, but a fight between my Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace. As disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, we will naturally fight with all our strength.¡± Li Qingchan said, her red lips moving slightly. Zhou Yuan nodded, but did not say anything pretentious. He just pressed his lips and solemnly bowed to the many disciples. ¡°Zhou Yuan, go ahead.¡± Sect Master Qing Yang urged. The other four major sects, as well as forces of the Shengzhou Continent, most likely had already focused their attention on them. Although there weren¡¯t any high-level experts intervening in the battle between the two sects, the fight between disciples could be even more brutal and tragic. ¡°I hope senior brother returns victoriously!¡± Countless disciples shouted simultaneously. Their voices echoed across the world like thunder. Boom! Majestic Genesis Qi gushed from Zhou Yuan''s body, and his figure, at the same time, shot skywards. It transformed into a beam of light that pierced through the clouds and away from the Cangxaun Sect. ¡°Go!¡± Chu Qing, Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and other Chosens also immediately made a move, following closely after Zhou Yuan. Swoosh! And behind them, countless Cangxuan disciples also sped out with Genesis Qi. The mighty and imposing appearance clearly displayed the power of one of the strongest sects. Sect Master Qing Yang stood with hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the distant countless shadows as they left, ¡°My Cangxuan Sect hasn¡¯t had a battle of this scale in many years.¡± ¡°The Sacred Palace has acted overbearing for many years, and now it''s time for them to see the power of my Cangxuan Sect!¡± As he finished, his gaze gradually turned fierce. The countless disciples of the Cagnxuan Sect guarded Zhou Yuan as he left the sect. This sort of movely was naturally earth shaking. It attracted the attention of countless forces of the Shengzhou Continent. The people of various forces secretly smacked their lips. From their stance, the Cangxuan Sect evidently intended to fight the Sacred Palace to the end. The new and old overlords of Cangxuan Heaven were to face each other once again after many years. Even if the battle was only between disciples, the shock caused by such a battle was still unimaginable. The other four major sects restrained their disciples to prevent them from getting involved in the battle between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. Even the four major sects were like that, meaning other forces were even more unlikely to participate. Where Zhou Yuan passed by, other people immediately retreated. Everyone knew that Zhou Yuan¡¯s path to the Cangmang Continent would be dyed red with blood. A tragic battle that was watched by many forces across the Shengzhou Continent was about to begin. Zhou Yuan and the army of Cangxuan Sect disciples headed straight three hundred miles away from the Cangxuan Sect. Within three hundred miles, it was calm and peaceful, and without the slightest of disturbance. The reason for this was that no matter how bold the disciples of the Sacred Palace was, nobody would dare run to the door of the Cangxuan Sect to cause trouble in fear of angering any one of the Peak Masters. However, once they left the three hundred miles limit, the world was filled with an intense murderous spirit. In the high altitude, Zhou Yuan hovered in the air as he indifferently studied the mountains ahead. In between the mountains, it was unknown how many hidden figures he saw, Moreover, it was impossible to conceal the waves of Genesis Qi. And Zhou Yuan could also clearly feel that the countless gazes filled with killing intent were quietly locked onto his body. ¡°You don''t have to care about those hidden ghosts.¡± Li Qingchan ran her icy cold eyes across, stretched out her beautiful hand and gave it a gentle wave. ¡°Kill.¡± A voice filled with killing intent echoed. Buzz! Behind them, the eyes of countless disciples of the Cangxuan Sect were immediately blazing with killing intent. Battle cries rang out like thunder and countless shadows whizzed out, racing into the mountains. In an instant, numerous bombardments of Genesis Qi could be heard The entire mountain seemed to be rumbling at this moment. ¡°Continue ahead, the path won¡¯t be peaceful, but you don¡¯t need to do anything. Your opponent is Wu Huang of the Sacred Palace. I believe he is also waiting for you.¡± Chu Qing said. Zhou Yuan took a deep look at the mountain ranges, did not say anything, and continued to move forward quickly. He knew that this was just the beginning. His journey home was destined to be a sea of blood. But neither the Sacred Palace nor Wu Huang could stop him. ¡°Wu Huang, two years ago, you stopped me, and I destroyed your body.¡± ¡°Two years later, you once again attempt to stop me from returning home. I¡¯m going to destroy your spirit!¡± Chapter 683 Friends gather The distance from the Cangxuan Sect to the Cangmang Continent was extremely long, requiring one to pass through dozens of long-distance transfer point in large-scale cities. One needed to follow this path and cross great distances to reach the Cangmang Continent. So to return home, Zhou Yuan must pass the cities where those transfer points were located. And those places were already occupied by disciples of the Sacred Palace. To go to those transfer points, he must fight his way through. If Zhou Yuan was alone, even if he was much more powerful than before, he was only at the Alpha Origin Stage. If he were caught in the sea of disciples of the Sacred Palace, he also had no chance of winning. But the good thing was that he wasn¡¯t alone. The disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, headed by Zhou Yuan, mightily whizzed across, tearing down the defense line of the Sacred Palace. There was killing everywhere. Even if there were killings along the way, Zhou Yuan did not stop once. Instead he led many disciples through the numerous transfer points and constantly moved forward. It was a bloodbath wherever he passed. Countless forces of the Shengzhou Continent had focused their attention on that side. They felt their scalp going numb when they saw the disciples in a killing frenzy. Through this battle, the grudges between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect would most likely deepen even more. Some of the tyrant-like families and forces of the big cities hid in the city and did not dare to interfere. Although those killed were only the disciples of the two Sects, and the experts of the tyrant-like families perhaps did not attach any importance to the strength of the Alpha Origin stage, they all still understood what the battle represented. The Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect were in a killing frenzy. If they were to ignorantly interfere, causing the death of disciples of any one side, it would directly anger the two sects. They feared they would be turned to ashes as a result of this. While the disciples of the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect were fighting, in a valley----- Several figures flashed out. The two people in front, one was petite and cute and the other beautiful. It was Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu. Beside the two women were Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan. ¡°Zhou Yuan are leading the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect to fight against the disciples of the Sacred Palace, and are charging through the obstacles.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu gave a sweet smile at Li Chunjun and Ning Zhan, ¡°But the Sword Seeker Sect and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall have always remained neutral, you two also want to participate in this fight?¡± Ning Zhan also grinned, ¡°I believe you guys have also received the Seven-Colour Divine Establishing Treasure that Zhou Yuan sent over? He is so loyal and righteous, how can I stand by and watch when he¡¯s in a battle?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu smiled, ¡°So you guys indeed have a conscience.¡± ¡°Didn''t Zhen Xu come?¡± Luluo darted her eyes about, looking around. Ning Zhan shrugged, ¡°The relationship between the Cangxuan Sect and the Heavenly Ghost Sect isn¡¯t good. It¡¯s understandable that he didn¡¯t come. If he¡¯s discovered, it would be difficult for him to escape punishment.¡± Luluo pursed her lips when she heard this. ¡°It''s not just you guys who received a Seven-Colour Divine Establishing Treasure.¡± A slightly gloomy voice sounded from behind, and a black shadow flashed across and landed beside the group. Luluo twisted around in surprise. The person who had come was pale as a ghost with cold, gloomy eyes. Who else could it be besides Zhen Xu? ¡°Hey, I¡¯m surprised you could come.¡± Ning Zhan said with a grin. Zhen Xu hid his hands in his sleeve and had the same cold expression. He did not pay attention to Ning Zhan but just looked at Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo, saying, ¡°The Distant Saint City is one hundred miles away. If Zhou Yuan wants to return to the Cangmang Continent, the Distant Sacred city is the last stop.¡± ¡°I''ve been secretly investigating. It¡¯s likely that the strongest among the disciples of the Sacred Palace are there waiting, acting as the last hurdle to block Zhou Yuan¡¯s path.¡± ¡°Jiang Taishen and the others are there?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu asked. Zhen Xu nodded. ¡°What about Wu Huang?¡± Li Chunjun pondered for a moment before he asked. A complicated expression crossed everybody¡¯s face when this name came out. Back then Zhou Yuan destroyed Wu Huang''s body in the Saint Remains Domains, but who would have thought that, a few years later, Wu Huang would reappear and be ranked first on the Chosens list of the Shengzhou Continent. He had even surpassed them all by a lot. ¡°No trace of Wu Huang has been found.¡± Zhen Xu stated. Li Chunjun nodded, ¡°What are we going to do next?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu gave a smile, patting her spatial bag. She then tossed a few sets of clothes to Li Chunjun and the others, ¡°This is the uniform of the Cangxuan Sect, change into them, and once Zhou Yuan and the others arrive we will sneak onto the battlefield and secretly kill some of the Sacred Palace disciples.¡° ¡°Although we can¡¯t change anything with our strength, as Li Chunjun had said, whether we do anything is one thing, and not doing anything is another.¡± Li Chunjun and the others took the clothes and nodded. Ning Zhan patted the clothes in his hand. ¡°In fact, the disciples of the two sects, including the Chosens of both sides, are just the sidelines. What really could affect the overall situation is the battle between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang.¡± The others slowly nodded. This point was most likely known to everyone. Regardless of the large-scale killings between the disciples of the two sects, the outcome of this match was based on the fight between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang. It was unknown how many experts in the Cangxuan Heaven were waiting for the outcome of this battle. ¡°Can Zhou Yuan defeat Wu Huang?¡± Luluo asked in a concerned voice. They had never fought Wu Huang before, but they knew how strong Jiang Taishen was. From the fact that Jiang Taishen was defeated in the hands of Wu Huang, they could imagine how strong Wu Huang was. ¡°I heard that Zhou Yuan defeated the Chosens of the six peaks of the Cangxuan Sect, including Chu Qing. His strength has reached a terrifying level, so even if he were to face Wu Huang, he won¡¯t necessarily lose.¡± Li Chunjun stated. A complex expression came onto his face as he spoke. He remembered that back when they were all in the Cangmang Continent, his strength was equal with Wu Huang, but now both Wu Huang and Zhou Yuan had surpassed him. Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others exchanged glances with one another, and let out a sigh. ¡°The battle between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang in the Saint Remains Domain back then can be regarded as the focus of the Cangmang Continent.¡± ¡°And now, when they collide again, the entire Shengzhou Continent and even Cangxuan Heaven will be watching.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others lifted their heads and gazed into the distance, where darks clouds were rolling in and vaguely a bloody smell seemed to have saturated the air. They knew that the battle between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang would most likely become the most important battle of the young generation of the Cangxuan Heaven in the past hundreds of years. It was just that, in this ultimate battle, who would have the last laugh? Chapter 684 Goodbye Wu Huang Distant Saint City. The huge city that used to be bustling in the past was extremely depressed today, like it was shrouded by dark clouds and the whole city appeared extremely quiet. It was just that, in the dark, there were countless eyes fixed on the towering walls of the city. There sat numerous quiet figures. Each one clad in a white robe, emitting powerful Genesis Qi from their bodies. The disciples of the Sacred Palace. The battle between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect had long been known throughout the Shengzhou Continent. The disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, led by Zhou Yuan, came out of the sect mightily, and destroyed all the interceptions of the Sacred Palace along the way. Like a gust of wind, they swept away the clouds, and headed straight for Distant Saint City. The transfer point here could pass through the Cangmang Continent at the fastest speed, so everyone knew that this must be the place where the disciples of the two sects would fight. The most elite disciples of the Sacred Palace were already sitting there, waiting for the arrival of the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. And according to the news that they had received, the Cangxuan sect disciples, led by Zhou Yuan, had destroyed all the obstacles along the way. They most likely would soon arrive at Distant Saint City, and at that time, both sides will meet and have the most intense confrontation. Many people were looking forward to the battle, since it was rare to see a battle between the Sacred Palace and Cangxuan Sect these two major sects.... As a famous city of the Shengzhou Continent, Distant Saint City was naturally dominated by a powerful overlord. But he was willing to give up his home as long as the two sides did not demolish the city. It seemed the overlord was still giving face to the two major sects. Inside Distant Saint City, countless eyes were fixed on the center of the city wall, where a figure was sitting quietly, white-hair fluttering in the air. It was Jiang Taishen of the Sacred Palace. As someone who had occupied the top position of the Chosens List for many years, Jiang Taishen''s popularity in the Shengzhou Continent was clearly above that of ordinary people. And under countless watchful gazes, Jiang Taishen¡¯s face was devoid of expression and his eyes drooped. Next to him was Zhan Taiqing peering into the distance. ¡°We have cultivated martial arts for many years, I didn¡¯t expect us to guard the door for a less advanced disciple.¡± It was obvious that she felt resentment towards Wu Huang who rose all of a sudden. Jiang Taishen just responded indifferently, ¡°The Sacred Palace only respects strength. Since he is stronger than us, we can only stand behind him.¡± Jiang Taishen frowned a little, looking at Zhan Taiqing, and said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s fine that you said it here, but don¡¯t mention it ever again.¡± Zhan Taiqing clenched her teeth. It was only a moment later that she gradually calmed herself. ¡°I heard that Zhou Yuan of the Cangxuan Sect had defeated Chu Qing, and also became the first in the history of the Cangxuan Sect to seize the seven arts with the Chosen Competition battle.¡± Jiang Taishen said in a quiet voice, ¡°He is indeed extraordinary. It is no wonder that Palace Master personally issued an order. That person will no doubt be a problem to the Sacred Palace once he grows up.¡± " ¡°Who would have thought that I fought with Chu Qing for many years, but in the end, was surpassed by two juniors.¡± Zhan Taiqing fell silent. She also didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan, who she looked down on in the Mythic Utopia, to be this strong. ¡°Wu Huang and Zhou Yuan, I wonder who will win in the end?¡± Jiang Taishen also pondered for a moment, and then shook his head, ¡°They have both reached the pinnacle of the Alpha Origin stage and I have never seen such strong Genesis Qi foundation before. It really is hard to say who will win.¡± ¡°But no matter who wins, their fight will be the pinnacle of the countless battles of the Alpha Origin stage in the Cangxuan Heaven in the last hundred years. " Zhan Taiqing did not speak and just coldly sneered. She wanted like to know that if Wu Huang lost, would the Palace Master still value him so much? While these thoughts were flashing across her mind, Jiang Taishen suddenly lifted his head. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡± Zhan Taiqing froze for a moment when she heard this before she shifted her scarlet eyes up. At the same time, the many elite disciples of the Sacred Palace on the walls also lifted their heads. Then they saw that, in the distance, was a stream of light racing toward the Distant Saint City at an astonishing speed. The momentum was fierce, aggressive and filled with murderous spirit. And within Distant Saint City, countless eyes were blazing as they peered into the distance. The silence in the city was broken. They knew that when the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect arrived was also when the battle between the two major sects would begin. Under the gaze of countless people, numerous streams of light tore through the sky and finally stopped at a distance from Distant Saint City. In front of the many streams of light was a young man treading on a Genesis Qi cloud. His body was tall and slender, and his face fierce. He stood there, emitting astonishing Genesis Qi from his body. And behind him, Chu Qing, Kong Shen, Li Qingchan and other Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect closely followed. Their eyes, all filled with intense killing intent, darted to Jiang Taishen and others on the city walls. ¡°You''ve come a little earlier than I expected.¡± Jiang Taishen met their gaze. He first glanced at Chu Qing, and then his eyes locked on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His expression grew solemn, as he perceived a very strong dangerous aura coming from his body. ¡°Without Chosens leading the groups, your obstacles along the way had little effect.¡± Chu Qing grinned. ¡°The obstacles were just to consume some of your Genesis Qi and energy.¡± Jiang Taishen said indifferently. ¡°To get through this place, you have to ask us first.¡± Many of the elite disciples of the Sacred Palace erupted into a long, loud rumbling roar and Genesis Qi surged out. Watching this scene, Chu Qing¡¯s eyes gradually grew fiercer, ¡°Disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, get ready!¡± Behind him, Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and other elite disciples also erupted with Genesis Qi. ¡°Kill!¡± Zhan Taiqing''s scarlet eyes flickered with killing intent. Whoosh! Beams of light shot out from the walls, like locusts, pouncing over to the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. And as they punched forward, the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, without waiting for the order, burst into roars of anger. As their Genesis Qi surged, they turned into countless beams of light to meet the enemies head-on. Boom! Outside Distant Saint City, a chaotic battle instantly broke out. Both sides knew that there was nothing else to say. The battle must continue. ¡°Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, we will stop Jiang Taishen and the other Chosens. You can continue to head into the city.¡± Chu Qing said in a nonchalant voice, strands of hair began to grow from his head. ¡°Thank you everybody.¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed. Chu Qing grinned, ¡°no need to be polite, you¡¯re representing our Cangxuan Sect...¡± His smile gradually faded and his tone of voice turned serious. ¡°Be careful, you should know that you¡¯re the most important person in this battle.¡± He soared into the sky with a flash and no longer said anything else. ¡°Jiang Taishen, do you dare to fight me!¡± Chu Qing roared. ¡°Chu Qing, even if I¡¯m not ranked first on the Chosens list anymore, I¡¯m not afraid of you!¡± Jiang Tiashen sneered. ¡°The Chosens of the Sacred Palace, listen to my order, stop the Cangxuan Sect!¡± As he soared skywards, his roaring voice resounded. The next moment, the Chosens led by Zhan Taiqing also directly sped towards Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and other Cangxuan Sect Chosens. Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and the others naturally met them head on. Rumble! Outside Distant Saint City, the battle was even more chaotic. Hovering in the sky, Zhou Yuan scanned across the large scale battle before him. His eyes darted suddenly, only to see several figures quietly appearing in the distance and secretly killing the elite disciples of the Sacred Palace. He was very familiar with the fluctuation of Genesis Qi around the several figures. ¡°Qingyu, Luluo, Li Chunjun.....you¡¯re here, too?¡± A smile lit up on Zhou Yuan''s face. And seemingly aware of this, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others also shifted their gazes towards him. The little demon girl smiled and Luluo blinked her huge eyes and made a cheering gesture at him. Zhou Yuan nodded slightly at them, and then his gaze wandered across the chaotic battlefield and fell on Distant Saint City. The next moment, he flashed away and headed straight into Distant Saint City under countless gazes. ¡°The disciples of the Cangxuan Sect wish senior brother Zhou Yuan return victorious!¡± ¡°.......¡± Many disciples of the Cangxuan Sect watched as Zhou Yuan shot out like a flash of lightning, and at the next moment, deafening roars resounded across the universe, causing Distant Saint City to tremble. Amidst loud roars and cheers, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure did not stop and simply responded with a gentle wave of his hand. He then rushed into Distant Saint City under countless gazes. Whoosh! After entering the city, Zhou Yuan did not pause once. He transformed into a beam of light and headed straight for the transfer point in the centre of the city. A few minutes later. Zhou Yuan reappeared in the centre of the city, where the huge transfer point glowing brightly, but his footsteps stopped abruptly in front of a stone pillar. There was a figure in a gold robe, standing with his back facing him. He simply stood there while Genesis Qi that was enough to make one tremble slowly emitted from his body, causing the space to tremble. Seemingly sensing the arrival of Zhou Yuan, the golden robed figure slowly turned around, revealing a familiar face that was no different from two years ago. ¡°Wu Huang....¡± Zhou Yuan stared at him, his eyes slightly narrowed, and his voice indifferent. ¡°Zhou Yuan......¡± Wu Huang stood with one hand behind his back. His eyes cold and distant, but in the depths of his eyes hid a sea of blood. ¡°Zhou Yuan, stop there. Two years ago, you destroyed my body. Two years later...I¡¯m going to make you watch your Great Zhou be completely destroyed by my Great Wu.¡± ¡°So what if you won against me last time?¡± ¡°Now that I stand here again, that means, I, Wu Huang, am the true sacred dragon!¡± There wasn¡¯t the slightest ripple of emotion in Zhou Yuan''s eyes as he looked Wu Huang in the eye, but a boundless murderous spirit gradually rose from his body as he spoke in a bone-chilling voice. Chapter 685 The Battle of Old Enemies The centre of the Distant Saint City. When the two figures were facing each other, countless people from all over the city darted their eyes over. Even in the sky, the air was trembling slightly. It was unknown how much powerful experts used their perception to break through the air from distant places in order to take in the battle as much as possible. The battle between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang could be said to have become the focus of the Shengzhou Continent. The two were the top experts of the young generation of the Cangxuan Heaven. Wu Huang had defeated Jiang Taishen, and was ranked first on the Chosens List. Zhou Yuan also wasn¡¯t someone easy to deal with. He had completed the feat that nobody in the Cangxuan Sect had ever managed to do. He initiated the Chosen Competition Battle, and gathered all seven arts of the sect. His achievement was equally dazzling. The two strongest young people of the Cangxuan Heaven were about to face each other. Who would have the last laugh in the end? Countless people were curious about this result. Of course, if it were purely in terms of the strength of the two people, it wouldn¡¯t possibly attract the attention of so many powerful forces, but everyone knew that this battle not only represented the two youngsters, but also the two great sects behind them. Everyone knew that even Sect Master Qing Yang and the Palace Master of the Sacred Palace were paying attention to this battle. ¡°Thieves?¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan, so many years have passed, but why are you still so naive?¡± Standing on the stone pillar, Wu Huang had a playful expression on his face as he studied Zhou Yuan. ¡°Back then the Qi of the Sacred Dragon had split into three, one part is with me, one in Wu Yao and the last in the Great Wu.¡± ¡°If you want to live as the Lord of the Sacred Dragon, wait until the day you assemble the Qi of the Sacred Dragon. Otherwise, as I had said in the past, you are just a container for the Sacred Dragon Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes drooped, ¡°I naturally will get back what belongs to me, just as two years ago I took back half of the Sacred Dragon Qi from you.¡± Wu Huang narrowed his eyes, and the surrounding temperature plummeted. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, what I lost last time, I''ll get it back this time.¡± ¡°I''m afraid that not only won¡¯t you get it back, but you will also lose your life here. Wu Huang, last time I carelessly allowed you to escape with your spirit, but this time, you won¡¯t be as lucky.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled coldly. ¡°Nonsense!¡± The eyes of Wu Huang became sinister. ¡°I would like to see what qualifications you have to say this?¡± Boom! When his voice faded, the blood-red Genesis Qi, like a torrent, erupted from his body. A rich stench of blood flooded the world, and sent the air shaking. Hiss! He already revealed an extremely astonishing Genesis Qi foundation with his first attack. The level was most likely not any weaker than Zhou Yuan''s 180,000 Genesis Qi stars! Zhou Yuan studied the blood python roaring over and he could sense the strength of the Genesis Qi contained in it. He slightly narrowed his eyes and sneered, ¡°It seems that the Palace Master of the Sacred Palace is really good to you.¡± Wu Huang¡¯s original body was destroyed, and his cultivation in the past two years should have been slow, but his attack was surprisingly strong. It could be imagined that the Palace Master had spent a lot effort on him in the past two years. ¡°Your strength is just donated by someone else. While I, in the two years you were hiding in the Sacred Palace, relied on myself to reach this level!¡± Buzz! Golden Genesis Qi rushed into the sky from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. As the Genesis Qi was roaring it gradually transformed into a giant golden python with sharp claws and emitted a terrifying imposing manner. Rumble! The golden giant python shot out, directly meeting the blood python head on. Waves of violent Genesis Qi raged and instantly destroyed the surrounding buildings. The shock waves wreaked havoc, but Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang did not budge an inch, even the corners of their clothes weren¡¯t lifted in the slightest. Wu Huang¡¯s face was devoid of expression as he said indifferently, ¡°I only know that the winner is the king, who would care how I succeeded? After I kill you, I will destroy your Great Zhou so the people there can keep you company.¡± They were both evidently trying to mess up each other''s mood with words, thereby infuriating each other and waiting for an opportunity to find a flaw. Zhou Yuan shook his head with a smile on his face. There wasn¡¯t the slightest warmth in that smile. Given his years of training, Wu Huang''s words did not provoke him, but only intensified his killing intent. Dong! He suddenly stamped his feet. Golden Genesis Qi soared into the sky, and the next moment, the golden light gathered together and turned into thousands of golden torrents that whizzed down, like meteorites, bombarding the place where Wu Huang stood. Within each golden torrent was incredibly strong Genesis Qi. In the face of such an offensive, ordinary Chosens most likely couldn¡¯t cope and would be destroyed instantly. Countless people in Distant Saint City were all moved upon seeing this scene. There were very few people of the Alpha Origin stage who could display such a powerful offensive. Looking at the flood of mighty golden genesis qi overhead, the corners of Wu Huang¡¯s lips curved in a cold smile. ¡°Your attack would most likely be invincible against the useless Chosens of the Cangxuan Sect, but in front of me, it has no effect.¡± His lifted both palms and the blood-red Genesis Qi surged. Spheres of blood-red light formed densely around his body, and within those sphere there was equally violent Genesis Qi. Swoosh! Wu Huang flung his sleeve and the blood-red balls whizzed out, colliding with the golden torrents. Boom! At the same time of a loud noise resounding across the sky, like fireworks, a storm of Genesis Qi was constantly raging. The Genesis Qi of both sides continued to clash, and was then annihilated. This was purely a competition of who had a stronger Genesis Qi foundation! Inside and outside Distant Saint City, many people of the Alpha Origin Stage felt their scalp going numb. If it were them, they most likely would have exhausted their Genesis Qi long ago, but Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang both showed no signs of their strength weakening. Are these two men really that strong? Boom! A beam of golden Genesis Qi was intercepted by a blood red ball one foot away from Wu Huang. Violent Genesis Qi collided and rays of dazzling light exploded in front of Wu Huang. Wu Huang narrowed his eyes, but at the next moment----- Whoosh! Within the bright light, a ghost-like figure sped out and directly appeared in front. It was Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fists were clenched, and his body was glowing like translucent jade. Then, a ray of silver light flashed across his bones. A berserk beast-like power rushed through his blood and flesh. Mythic Saint Body, mythic-jade skin, star-silver bone! Boom! Zhou Yuan expressionlessly slammed his fist out, causing the air to tremble. That punch was seemingly simple, but the terrifying power caused the air to shake, and was far more powerful than the flood of Genesis Qi before. The previous Genesis Qi attack was only to distract Wu Huang. As the fist roared out, a deafening sonic boom echoed throughout. The astonishing fist light rapidly enlarged before Wu Huang''s eyes. At that distance, it was too late to even activate his Genesis Qi. However, at this moment, Wu Huang did not reveal a trace of panic in his eyes, and instead, the corners of his mouth curved in a sneer. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I have long heard that you made some progress with your bodily strength, how could I not increase my guard against you?¡± ¡°But do you really think I am the same Wu Huang as before?¡± Hiss! The moment his voice faded, his skin turned blood red at an astonishing speed, wisps of blood red mist rose from his pores, and a gush of violent aura erupted from his body. A sinister smile came to his face. He clenched his fist, and under countless gazes, his punch met with Zhou Yuan¡¯s fierce fist light. ¡°Boom!¡± Violent shock waves swept out, and at the same time, the shrill cry of Wu Huang could be heard. ¡°Thanks to you my body was destroyed, and now I will let you try the strength of my new body!¡± Chapter 686 With Your Life? Clang! When Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang collided with each other, there was a loud clang of metal striking one another, and forces that were visible to the naked eye rippled out. The huge stone pillar underfoot broke off inch by inch, and eventually shattered into powder. That solid ground was also lifted up layer by layer and swept out like waves. And the two figures also quivered very slightly, and then shot back and left long marks across the ground with their feet before they could steady their body Zhou Yuan¡¯s face stiffened slightly as he stared at Wu Huang in the distance, whose body was blood red all over, as though his skin had been removed. Moreover, blood-coloured qi had wrapped around Wu Huang¡¯s body, giving off a fiendish aura. During the previous collision, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel that Wu Huang''s bodily strength was unexpectedly powerful. The power of the mythic-jade skin and star-silver bone that he had activated was completely engulfed by Wu Huang¡¯s blood red body. ¡°The Body of Blood Asura.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed, thinking it must be the masterpiece of palace master Sheng Yuan. Zhou Yuan could sense that Wu Huang did not specialise in the practice of bodily strength like him, but his Blood Asura Body was in no way inferior to his Mythic Saint Body Art. It was no surprise that Wu Huang could beat Jiang Taishen, who was listed first on the Chosen List. His strength was indeed extremely terrifying. When the fight between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang began, the chaotic battle outside Distant Saint City had unknowingly weakened. Numerous figures hovered in the sky, intently watching the center of the city. Both Chu Qing and Jiang Taishen knew very well that, in today''s battle, the disciples of the two sects were just the side characters, including them. And the real protagonists were the two people in the centre of the city. So when the two collided, their battle was no longer important. Both sides unanimously slowed down their offensive and fixed their eyes on the city. ¡°It seems that Zhou Yuan has already cultivated a true Mythic Saint Body.¡± Jiang Taishen turned to Chu Qing not far away and smiled, ¡°But Wu Huang has the Body of Blood Asura, which is in no way inferior to Zhou Yuan¡¯s.¡± Chu Qing narrowed his eyes and laughed, ¡°junior brother Zhou Yuan just doesn¡¯t have the Mythic Saint Body.¡± Jiang Taishen remained indifferent as he peered down at Wu Huang''s body, silent for a while, and shook his head. ¡°It''s no use, you don''t know how strong the Blood Asura Body is.¡± ¡°Your Cangxuan Sect is bound to lose this time.¡± ¡°That Wu Huang is so strong now.¡± Li Chunjun¡¯s eyes that were wrapped in black cloth shifted in the direction of Wu Huang. Although he was unable to see, he had an extremely strong perception ability. To him, Wu Huang was like a blood asura creeping out from the ninth underworld. The bloodthirsty aura he emitted was enough to make one¡¯s scalp tingle. ¡°Can Zhou Yuan win?¡± Luluo asked worriedly. No one answered. Even Zuoqiu Qingyu bit her lips. The two men could be said to be the strongest two of the Alpha Origin stage in the Shengzhou Continent. Nobody could predict who would win. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you can''t live past today, give up now.¡± Wu Huang¡¯s eyes were filled with blood as he grinned at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was devoid of expression. He clenched his hand and the Heavenly Yuan Brush emerged with a flash of light. The tip of the brush made of snow-white hairs pointed diagonally to the ground. Buzz! Golden Genesis Qi frantically swirled around the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and finally gradually turned into a mysterious light that enveloped Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and then stretched out its wings. Genesis Qi of the universe was gushing out and engulfed by the mysterious light. Omega Saint Spirit Art! Zhou Yuan''s imposing aura was dramatically strengthened! Evidently, after the previous test, Zhou Yuan had understood that Wu Huang was indeed no longer the same as before. If he wanted to win today he must fight with all his strength. Bang! Genesis Qi rushed forth while Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly turned icy cold. As his body turned into a shadow and shot out, the solid ground instantly collapsed. His speed was incredibly fast, and coupled with the wings of the Omega Saint Spirit, his strength had doubled. While countless people just felt everything blurred in front of them, Zhou Yuan reappeared next to Wu Huang. Boom! The snowy white brush was thrusted down. Wu Huang stared at the tip with a chilling smile on his face. He clenched his hand and a blood red crystal spear formed in his hand. Around the body of the spear, there was blood qi swirling around, as though it had been soaked in a pool of blood for many years. Clang! The blood crystal spear turned into a beam of blood light to meet the tip of the snowy white brush. Where the collision was, the space shook and ripples of shock waves rapidly spread out. The Heavenly Yuan Brush and blood crystal spear both quivered, but the next moment, the brush and blood spear both trembled violently, transforming into thousands of shadows. Clang! The brush and spear collided over thousands of times in less than ten seconds, and every time they clashed, it sent the air trembling. The figures of Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang also flashed continuously, and the spacious streets where they passed were instantly destroyed. Countless gazes stared unblinkingly at the city. Everybody could feel the ruthlessness of the battle between the two, and every attack was directed at a vital area. Although they both possessed incredible bodily strength, once either of them were struck by Zhou Yuan''s Heavenly Yuan Brush or Wu Huang''s blood crystal spear, which were both mighty Genesis Weapons, they would still suffer severe injuries. Boom! Violent Genesis Qi wreaked havoc across the city. The blood crystal spear in Wu Huang''s hand blocked a sharp brush shadow that was whizzing over. There were seemingly sticky blood qi all over his body like a snake coiling around him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I told you that you can''t get past me!¡± ¡°Haha, I won¡¯t kill you, but I will stop you so that you can¡¯t go save the Great Zhou. I want you to watch your Great Zhou be destroyed by my Great Wu Empire!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s figure flew out, his eyes were blood red, and his smile sinister. Zhou Yuan was also blasted away by the force. His eyes flashed with strong killing intent. He suddenly bent over and clutched onto the ground. An ancient talisman emerged from the palm that touched the ground. Earth Saint Rune! Invisible ripples broke out with Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as the centre. The ground quaked violently and cracked. Majestic and boundless Genesis Qi were frantically rushing into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Given that Zhou Yuan had cultivated the Mythic Saint Body Art, his bodily strength had grown stronger once again and the Genesis Qi that his body could withstand had also dramatically increased. Boom! With the stamp of his feet, Zhou Yuan caused the ground within thousands of feet to collapse, and his figure once again sped towards Wu Huang. ¡°Still won¡¯t give up?¡± Wu Huang sneered. Boom! Zhou Yuan did not answer, but tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush, and forcefully swung down. ¡°Million whale!¡± Following his deep voice, the Genesis Qi within his body and the Earth Genesis Qi came roaring out. The two gathered and directly caused the space to vibrate. Roar! As the brush swung down, an ancient and resounding whale cry could be heard echoing across the universe, and dozens of ancient whale shadows appeared around the brush! Every ancient whale shadow contained astonishing power. This was the first time that Zhou Yuan was able to increase the number of ancient whale shadows to this level ever since he activated the Million Whale Rune! The power of this brush could destroy even a mountain. Wu Huang was also aware of the terrifying power that broke out under Zhou Yuan¡¯s brush. His pupil shrank, but the Heavenly Yuan Brush was already rapidly aiming towards him along with numerous ancient whale shadows. He could only let out a loud roar. Blood red qi rose and the blood crystal spear erupted in a blaze of blood-red light. Boom! Under countless gazes, the Heavenly Yuan Brush struck the blood crystal spear heavily. Destructive power broke out from the brush, and blood mist directly shot out from the pores on Wu Huang¡¯s arms. The blood crystal spear also emitted a tragic cry. Rumble! In the face of Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying attacks, Wu Huang could only withstand for a few moments before his body shot out like a cannonball, destroying several buildings along the way. Boom! A road of rubble and waste continued to appear. In the end, Wu Huang¡¯s figure was deeply buried amongst the rubble. Distant Saint City instantly fell silent at this moment. Countless people were dumbstruck at the sight. Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang seemed to be evenly matched moments ago. Who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would explode with such terrifying power and forcibly suppressed Wu Huang. Under the countless astonished gazes, Zhou Yuan clasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush tight with both hands. There was blood flowing down his hands, which was caused by impact of the terrifying power before. But he did not seem to care. He lifted his head, peering at the ruins and deep marks left in front of him with a chilling look in his eyes. ¡°You want to stop me---¡± Chapter 687 The Soul of Blood Asura A deep crevice was torn through the middle of the city, and houses along the way collapsed and turned to rubble. At this moment, countless gazes filled with shocked disbelief were fixed on where Wu Huang was buried. The power that Zhou Yuan suddenly broke out with had struck everyone dumb. ¡°The power of Zhou Yuan¡¯s brush just now----even Chu Qing or Jiang Taishen, would have been severely wounded, right?¡± ¡°It''s hard to imagine that the strength of the Alpha Origin stage could be so powerful.¡± ¡°Those two people have reached the pinnacle of the Alpha Origin Stage. I haven¡¯t seen such strong Alpha Origin Stage experts in the Cangxuan Heaven in many years.¡± ¡°Wu Huang must have been severely wounded, right?¡± ¡° ¡°If it were an ordinary person, that attack would have ended the fight, but since Wu Huang could defeat Jiang Taishen then I don¡¯t think he would be dealt with that easily?¡± ¡°----¡± Whispers ran through the crowd in the city. Zhou Yuan tightly clasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush, his eyes fixed on the ruins in the distance. His previous attack should have been able to injure Wu Huang, but it would be somewhat lacking if the battle ended just like that. Boom! The ruins in the distance suddenly exploded, and blood-red Genesis Qi like a torrent surged out, shattering countless boulders instantly. All eyes were focused on that place. A body shrouded in blood light slowly rose from a deep pit. It was Wu Huang. His arms were riddled with scars, which had resulted from forcibly withstanding Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous attack. At that moment, there was still blood constantly flowing out from the wounds. Wu Huang seemed to not care about the injuries on his arms. His blood-soaked eyes were filled with killing intent as they fixed on Zhou Yuan. ¡°You have repeatedly surprised me.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Wu Huang, eyebrows slightly scrunched together in a frown, because the Genesis Qi flowing around Wu Huang¡¯s body was becoming more and more violent. The injuries on his body didn¡¯t seem to have any effect on his condition. Wu Huang stood in the air, clasping the blood crystal spear. The tip of the spear shook and blood-red Genesis Qi burst forth from his body. Che£¡ He whizzed down like a beam of blood light, and ferocious aura surged out from the blood crystal spear in his hand as it thrust towards Zhou Yuan. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands glowed a golden light as it shot out to meet the spear. Clang! A loud metallic clank rang, and waves of qi surged out. Zhou Yuan''s expression also abruptly changed, because he felt that Wu Huang''s attack was much more ferocious than before, and even the power of his Genesis Qi had soared. ¡°What''s going on?¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly frightened. As though he sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s puzzlement, Wu Huang¡¯s lips curved in a cold smile, but his attacks did not diminish. The blood crystal spear transformed into shadows of spears that filled the sky, like a torrential rain, and tightly surrounded Zhou Yuan. Clang! Everybody was dazzled by the lightning-fast attacks from the two men. Wu Huang¡¯s offensive was incomparably ruthless. He seemed to have completely abandoned defending, and allowed Zhou Yuan¡¯s brush b toreak through his defense and slash wounds all across his body. Wounds also began to appear on Zhou Yuan''s body. The two men seemed to be fighting with everything. But as the frenzied exchange of attacks continued, some people began to felt something wrong. They found that as the number of scars on Wu Huang¡¯s body increased, the blood red Genesis Qi around him grew more and more violent. Indistinctly, there seemed to be an ear-splitting hissing noise that was being emitting. On the other hand Zhou Yuan gradually began to retreat. Clang! It was another violent confrontation. The sharp tip tore through the air and directly pierced Wu Huang''s shoulder. Blood came gushing out, but Wu Huang seemed to not care. The tip of the spear trembled, and similarly ripped through Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. They both reeled back at the same time. Wu Huang steadied his body, examining the hole on his shoulder. He smeared his hand with blood and licked it. The fierceness in his eyes grew more intense and at the same time a shrill voice sounded from his mouth. ¡°Haha, Zhou Yuan, is that all you have?¡± ¡°Haven''t you noticed? With the blood asura body, the more heavily wounded I am, the stronger the Genesis Qi in my body!¡± ¡°So, how are you going to fight me?¡± Countless exclamations rang out from inside and outside Distant Saint City. It was no wonder that Wu Huang grew more and more fierce as the battle continued, and he even did not care about being injured! This can be seen from the fact that the two were evenly matched at first, but then Zhou Yuan was gradually suppressed. In the sky outside the city, Chu Qing, Kong Sheng, Li Qingchan and others¡¯ faces grew grave. They didn¡¯t expect Wu Huang¡¯s blood asura body to possess such an abnormal ability. Both sides were wounded, but Wu Huang grew stronger and stronger with more injuries! Under these circumstances, Wu Huang was fully in control. But the situation was somewhat disadvantageous for Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. As expected, this guy was indeed stronger the more he fought. My speculation was correct. The body of the blood asura was indeed tricky. Zhou Yuan looked down at his body, where there were multiple scars left by his previous injuries. But he did not care. With one thought, blurry ancient patterns came to the surface of his skin, and majestic life force seeped out from his body. The scars across his body began to heal at a rate visible to the naked eye. Taiyi Green Wood Mark! Wu Huang¡¯s cold smile instantly faded from his face. The speed at which Zhou Yuan¡¯s injury was healing was indeed unique. It seemed that he did not waste these two years of time, and was as difficult and troublesome as before. But even if this was the case, so what? ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ll let you see how strong the blood asura body is!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s eyes became increasingly red. Staring at Zhou Yuan, the corners of his mouth twisted in a cruel smile. He folded his hands together, and the blood crystal spear slowly rose and finally thrust towards his abdomen amidst countless exclamations of shock. Chi! The blood-crystal spear pierced Wu Huang''s abdomen, and blood came gushing out. Even the intestines seemed to be visible. But Wu Huang seemed to be unaware of the severe pain. His handsome face twisted in a chilling expression as he rapidly performed a hand seal with lightning speed. The blood all over his body began to flow across the surface of his body. It finally fused with the Genesis Qi and formed dense blood mist, slowly rising up from his body. ¡°Blood Asura soul!¡± A hoarse roar emitted from Wu Huang''s mouth. Roar! The wisps of blood rapidly accumulated, and finally, under countless astonished gazes, turned into a tremendous blood shadow. The blood shadow had no features, but there seemed to be a curved horn on its skull. It appeared to be hissing while monstrous fiendish blood aura, like a volcano, swept across the sky and earth. A blood stench saturated the air. The appearance was as though a blood asura was crawling out the ninth underworld to swallow the world. Under countless horrified gazes, Wu Huang''s blood-red eyes shifted to Zhou Yuan, and his hoarse voice sounded with indescribable intent to kill. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you destroyed my body back then!¡± Chapter 688 Compare Trump Cards The blood asura light that shrouded Wu Huang¡¯s emitting a hissing and roaring noise, and a strong bloody scent had filled the world. From the countless horrified gazes, it was clear that the power of the Genesis Qi that burst forth from Wu Huang¡¯s body was so strong that it makes their heart pound with fear. ¡°Wu Huang is really fierce. If we were to measure his Genesis Qi in terms of Genesis Qi stars then it¡¯s most likely over 250,000, right?¡± ¡°Is the strength of 250,000 Genesis Qi stars still considered the Alpha Origin stage? If he was any stronger, he can compete against experts of the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a monster.¡± Outside the city, Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and other people''s faces had become somewhat strange. Looking at the soul of the blood asura around Wu Huang¡¯s body, even if they were a distance away, they could still feel a strong oppressive feeling. ¡°Wu Huang is that strong?¡± Li Qingchan knitted her brows in a frown. Previously, Zhou Yuan¡¯s 180,000 Genesis Qi stars, in her view, were already able to destroy all experts of the Alpha Origin stage. She did not expect Wu Huang to possess even more terrifying strength! Chu Qing also wore a solemn expression. ¡°This is the strength of the blood asura body, which you guys simply can¡¯t imagine.¡± Jiang Taishen stated indifferently. The expression in his eyes was somewhat complex. That day, when Wu Huang summoned the soul of blood asura during their battle, he already knew that he did not have the slightest chance of winning. The distance between the two was too great. Chu Qing glanced at him without saying a word. The fact that the arrogant Jiang Taishen said something like that was enough to show Wu Huang¡¯s strength. It seemed that it would be really difficult for Zhou Yuan to win the battle. Boom! While countless people were dumbstruck by the appearance of the soul of blood asura, Wu Huang did not say anything more but fixed a cold stare at Zhou Yuan. He stepped forwards, and his figure vanished instantly. And when his figure disappeared, Genesis Qi erupted from Zhou Yuan''s body as he rapidly retreated. Swoosh! However, Wu Huang¡¯s speed was frighteningly fast. He reappeared in front of Zhou Yuan like a shadow with a sneer on his face and thrust out his blood crystal spear. On the blood crystal spear, the sticky blood qi had condensed into liquid, dripping constantly. As the spear whizzed out, the sound of an explosion caused by the spear, shook the air. The golden Genesis Qi in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was surging out without any reservation, and the Heavenly Yuan brush in his hand erupted in a blaze of golden light and met the spear head on. Clang! The spear and brush collided once again. Zhou Yuan''s body violently trembled, and was directly blasted out by the tremendous force. He stabbed the Heavenly Yuan brush into the ground, tearing long marks across the ground to stabilise himself. With this attack, Wu Huang had revealed the terror of the blood asura soul, and had almost completely suppressed Zhou Yuan. ¡°Haha, Zhou Yuan, is that all you have?¡± ¡°If you''re just able to do that, then what are you returning to the Great Zhou for? To die?¡± Wu Huang roared with laughter. His attacks did not diminish, but endlessly struck Zhou Yuan like bolts of thunder. Clang! Facing Wu Huang storm-like offensive, Zhou Yuan constantly retreated. If it weren¡¯t for the Heavenly Yuan brush providing an impenetrable defense, Wu Huang¡¯s blood crystal spear most likely would have pierced through. Watching this scene, countless people secretly shook their heads. Wu Huang had undoubtedly gained the upper hand. If Zhou Yuan had no other trump card, then the outcome of the battle would soon be decided. Swoosh! Wu Huang¡¯s figure was like a ghost, skimming across the sky. The blood crystal spear suddenly vibrated, forming a blood red crescent moon on the tip of the spear. ¡°Blood Moon!¡± Buzz! As the blood moon shot out, even the air itself was torn apart. Wu Huang¡¯s attacks were more and more ferocious, and clearly intended to utterly defeat Zhou Yuan. Watching the blood moon rapidly enlarging before him, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes also turned fierce. He suddenly released the Heavenly Yuan brush and clenched his fist. Swoosh! The blood moon came in the blink of an eye. Just as the blood moon was about to strike, Zhou Yuan, under countless exclamations of shock, slammed out his fist. Countless people were dumbstruck by this sight. Zhou Yuan was only able to withstand Wu Huang''s violent offensive because of the strength of the Heavenly Yuan brush. But he had let go of the brush and intended to fight with his fist! He wanted to die?! Boom! Before the exclamations of shock had faded, Zhou Yuan''s fist and the blood moon had already collided. Rumble! Violent Genesis Qi raged out. However, what made countless people¡¯s eye shrink was that the scene of Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm being cut off did not appear. Instead the blood moon was directly blasted apart by the punch. And this time, Zhou Yuan''s figure only quivered ever so slightly. In mid-air, Wu Huang¡¯s pupils shrank a little. The blood light gradually dissipated, revealing Zhou Yuan''s figure. All eyes were gathered on his fist as it was there where silver liquid was gushing out from his body. The silver liquid first wrapped around his fist, and finally spread all over Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. In just a few seconds, the silver liquid had turned into a streamlined silver armour. Wu Huang looked coldly at the familiar silver armour, which was the key point in his defeat against Zhou Yuan two years ago. On the ground, shrouded in silver armour, Zhou Yuan was kneeling on one knee and gently touching the ground with the palm of his hand. Earth Saint Rune! The ground quaked again, and in the depths of the ground were dense and majestic Genesis Qi of the earth whizzing out like a torrent, pouring into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Boom! The infusion this time was much more majestic than before! There were strict requirements that his body needed to meet during the infusion of Earth Genesis Qi. When Zhou Yuan summoned the silver shadow, which merged with his body, it had undoubtedly enhanced the ability of his body to withstand. If previously Zhou Yuan had held back slightly when he operated the Earth Saint Rune, this this he operated the Earth Saint Rune to its limit this time. Rumble! Rumbling thunder noises were constantly being emitted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and a mysterious faint yellow light was faintly visible around his body, and finally formed ancient yellow light patterns on the silver armour. It was also at this moment that countless people inside and outside Distant Saint City were shocked to find that the Genesis Qi being emitted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was rising at a terrifying speed. That degree had overtaken Wu Huang once again! The ground, unable to bear any longer, began to crack constantly. In the sky, Wu Huang''s face was icy cold and the corners of his eyes were slightly twitching. Under countless gazes of shock, Zhou Yuan, clad in silver armour, slowly lifted his head and fixed his piercing eyes on Wu Huang in the air. He clenched his hand and the Heavenly Yuan Brush fell into his hand. The sharp tip of the brush slowly tilted up, and finally pointed to Wu Huang in mid air. ¡°Bring out all your trump cards.¡± Chapter 689 Asura Sacred Dragon Transformation vs Dragon’s Resentment Transformation Inside Distant Saint City, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was surging like a storm. Waves after waves swept out from his body and attracted countless shocked gazes. Anyone could clearly feel that Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had skyrocketed to a terrifying level. And compared with Wu Huang, he most likely was stronger. People couldn''t help but sigh at this sight. This battle between a dragon and tiger was really marvelous. They were both of the Alpha Origin stage but the battle was comparable to a competition between Divine Dwelling experts. Wu Huang and Zhou Yuan were really worthy of being called the strongest amongst the young generation of the Shengzhou Continent. Today''s battle was bound to spread throughout the Shengzhou Continent for quite some time. Countless gazes, at this time, began to shift onto Wu Huang who was in mid air. His face had darkened. He evidently seemed to have detected a strong dangerous aura from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. However, Wu Huang''s changing expression slowly returned to normal after a while. He was too familiar with Zhou Yuan¡¯s silver armour. It was the mysterious silver armour that Zhou Yuan relied on to destroy his body back then. So he had always been a little vigilant of Zhou Yuan''s trump card. Hu. Wu Huang took a deep breath, staring at Zhou Yuan''s eyes, where blood light was flowing around. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you were able to destroy my body with that thing back then. Do you think you can do the same now?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, ¡°Try it and you¡¯ll know?¡± Wu Huang gave him a cold glare and did not utter another word. He then abruptly folded his hands together. Buzz! A mysterious current of golden qi began to rise slowly from Wu Huang''s body. The stream of qi circled around him and vaguely there seemed to be the majestic and imposing cry of a dragon sounding quietly. The stream of golden qi grew stronger and stronger, and finally turned into a golden dragon, wrapping around Wu Huang''s body. An indescribable force was being released. Zhou Yuan stared expressionless at the stream of golden qi, but the chilling look in his eyes grew more and more intense, because that was the familiar Sacred Dragon qi! ¡°Zhou Yuan, is it familiar?¡± Wu Huang taunted. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slightly drooped as he responded indifferently, ¡°The Sacred Dragon Transformation? Wu Huang, have you forgotten? Back then, I destroyed your body after you activated this technique?¡± Wu Huang¡¯s mouth curved in a strange arc and his hands folded together in a hand seal. Roar! A dragon¡¯s cry resounded as the gigantic dragon suddenly soared skywards, and then, amidst countless exclamations of shock, struck into the blood asura soul that shrouded the outside of Wu Huang¡¯s body. Boom! Zhou Yuan''s pupils shrank a little. Wu Huang was able to integrate the Sacred Dragon transformation and the blood asura soul?! ¡°Zhou Yuan, thanks to you for destroying my body, it is no longer called the Sacred Dragon Transformation.¡± ¡°I named it the Asura Sacred Dragon Transformation!¡± Wu Huang''s chilling voice died away only to see the blood red and golden current of qi fused together, forming a mysterious scarlet red liquid that fell on Wu Huang''s body. Chi! During the moment of contact, there seemed be mist rising. As though the liquid possessed its own life, it constantly slithered as it wrapped around Wu Huang''s body. It was also then that Wu Huang''s body underwent a tremendous change. His body expanded to dozens of feet tall and scarlet red thorns that were dripping with blood punctured through his skin from the inside of his body. At this moment, Wu Huang simply resembled a dragon-like asura monster. Roar! Wu Huang roared skywards, causing the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth to explode. An extremely violent wave of Genesis Qi surged out from his body, destroying all obstacles in the way. Countless people were frozen in terror, looking at Wu Huang, who had become more and more terrifying after every eruption. They couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Wu Huang¡¯s limit was? Did he really want to surpass the experts of the Divine Dwelling Stage while he was still at the Alpha Origin stage? Wu Huang hovered in the air, and behind him, there was a pair of red light wings that stretched out. He peered down at Zhou Yuan, and a shrill voice sounded, ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is the last meal that I prepared for you. What do you think? Are you satisfied?¡± As he spoke, it was as if the air in front of him were constantly exploding, making rumbling and crackling noises. ¡°If you have other trump cards, it¡¯s best to display them now. If not, haha, then Distant Saint City will most likely be your burial place!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s voice resounded across the city. Outside the city, Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and others all had serious looks on their faces. ¡°The silver armour should be Zhou Yuan¡¯s last trump card. He is no match for Wu Huang in that state.¡± Li Qingchan remarked in a quiet voice. They now had a good understanding of Zhou Yuan''s methods. Zhou Yuan had already taken out all the trump cards he had in the previous rounds against Wu Huang. ¡£ The mysterious silver armour was a trump card that Zhou Yuan had kept hidden for a long time, but now, in the face of Wu Huang, even the silver armour wasn¡¯t enough. Chu Qing rubbed his head, and said decisively, ¡°Look for an opportunity to rescue Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°That Wu Huang---¡± Li Qingchan hissed. ¡°I''ll stop him.¡± Chu Qing said nonchalantly, but there was a determined look in his eyes. Li Qingchan clenched her teeth. She knew that Chu Qing was no match for Wu Huang. Even if he were to obstruct him for a moment, he might have to pay such a price with his life. ¡°Zhou Yuan is stronger than me, and has more potential than me. The Cangxuan Sect needs him.¡± Chu Qing darted a glance at her. Li Qingchan remained silent for a good while, and finally nodded with difficultly. She knew that Zhou Yuan was no match for Wu Huang if he had used all his trump cards. Countless gazes were fixed on Zhou Yuan. Right now, it was as though the two sides were gambling cards. Wu Huang had flipped over the last card, and if Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t play the same card, then the outcome of the game would soon be decided. Under the gaze of countless people, Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at Wu Huang who was like a dragon asura. His transformation had indeed surprised him. It seemed that Wu Huang had made a lot of preparation all these years in order to deal with him. Facing Wu Huang¡¯s last trump card, if it were before, he most likely would have felt helpless, but unfortunately---- Zhou Yuan slowly stretched out his hand. In the palm of his hand was a black speck, which upon a closer look, were multiple black halos, like a prison. And deep in the prison, there was the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison being suppressed. In the past, Zhou Yuan simply couldn¡¯t mobilise the power of the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. But now that the poison was suppressed by the Great Dragon Subduing Rune, Zhou Yuan was finally able to use its power as well the Sacred Dragon Qi that it had once swallowed. This Sacred Dragon Qi was naturally the qi that was retrieved from Wu Huang back then. Zhou Yuan slowly clenched his fingers into a fist. The black halo in the centre of the palm started to rotate and a dragon cry filled with resentment poison sounded out. A powerful current of blood red qi flowed out from the centre of Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm, and then wrapped around his body. Zhou Yuan''s body also slowly rose into the sky. The blood red glow condensed behind him, and finally gradually seemed to be forming a tremendous blood-red dragon. The gigantic dragon roared skywards, its eyes filled with terrifying resentment. Zhou Yuan''s eyes also gradually turned red, but there wasn¡¯t the slightest violence in them. Instead, they were unexpectedly calm as he looked at Wu Huang. ¡°Sacred Dragon Transformation? Thanks to you, I now also have it, but I prefer to call it------¡± Chapter 690 Body as bai The gigantic blood-red dragon coiled around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and a monstrous resentment qi filled the air. It directly caused the temperature around to plummet to a degree low enough to chill one¡¯s bones.. Countless people stared at the giant blood red dragon around Zhou Yuan in shocked disbelief. The boundless resentment qi was enough to make their scalp go numb, but they were similarly able to feel the majestic power contained within the blood red dragon. That kind of power seemed to be exactly the same as what Wu Huang showed before. In the sky, Wu Huang¡¯s pupils shrank rapidly when he saw the gigantic blood red dragon around Zhou Yuan. ¡°You have actually subdued the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison?¡± He was aware that the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in Zhou Yuan''s body was his father''s doing. The poison was said to be incomparably overbearing. King Wu had originally intended to completely destroy Zhou Yuan with that, but unexpectedly not only did Zhou Yuan survived, he even began to subdue it and borrow its power! Zhou Yuan raised his eyes and spoke indifferently, ¡°Speaking of that, I should thank your father. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to control the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison.¡± Since a young age, Zhou Yuan had suffered from the torture of the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison. During that period it was unknown how many times he had wandered to and fro the gates of hell. But fortunately, with the help of Yaoyao, he was finally able to completely subdue and control it. It was the first time that Zhou Yuan was finally able to use the power of the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison of his own volition. Zhou Yuan gazed at the blood-red dragon, and the next moment, his hands suddenly folded in a hand seal. Roar! The gigantic blood red dragon let out a deafening roar before diving down and directly collided with Zhou Yuan¡¯s silver armour. During the moment of impact, the blood red dragon seemed to have turned into liquid and quickly integrated with the silver armour. Immediately afterwards, a blood dragon light emerged on the surface of the silver armour. Boom! Waves of incredibly violent Genesis Qi broke out from Zhou Yuan''s body, causing the space to shake with a loud ear-piercing noise. The power of the Genesis Qi continued to climb. Countless people were speechless as they regarded Zhou Yuan erupting with power. Was the battle between the two simply a competition of who could explode more times with new powers?! But the power that exploded from the two also set off stormy waves in many people¡¯s hearts, because they were all well aware that the two men''s performance was far beyond what an Alpha Origin stage expert could achieve. Amidst countless gasps of amazement, all eyes were locked on the two figures in the sky. At this moment, anybody could feel that, as both sides turned over their trump cards one after another, the earthshaking battle was about to come an end. Wu Huang stood tall in the void. At this moment the appearance of his body resembled that of a dragon asura, exuding tyrannical qi. His biting cold eyes were locked on Zhou Yuan, who felt extremely threatening to him after his eruption of power. The battle between the two had come to the most critical point. Wu Huang clenched his fist and the blood crystal spear emerged in his hand. ¡°I would like to see whether your Dragon¡¯s Resentment Transformation or my Asura Sacred Dragon Transformation is stronger!¡± He tightened his grip around the blood crystal spear. Genesis Qi crazily came surging out and penetrated the blood crystal spear. The blood crystal spear shot out tens of thousands of rays of light. Buzz! The body of the spear shook, and the terrifying waves of energy that were gradually released distorted the nearby space around it. When Wu Huang swung the blood crystal spear, there seemed to be a sea of blood surging. His eyes, filled with intense murderous spirit, were intently fixed on Zhou Yuan. The next moment, he suddenly stepped forward and darted in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction like a stream of flowing light. Killing intent filled the air. Behind him, the blood light was monstrous, like a sea of blood crashing down. Where it passed, the space shook violently. Watching the sea of blood roaring over, Zhou Yuan''s eyes also turned fierce. Wu Huang seemed to have used all his strength in that attack. This was a move that intended to absolutely kill him. He drew a deep breath, his fists clenched. The Heavenly Yuan Brush began to glow more and more brightly as majestic Genesis Qi gathered around it. The snowy white tip also gradually took on a blood red colour. The blood dragon light rune that occupied the surface of the silver armour was creeping out, covering the mottled body of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Zhou Yuan lifted his palm and the Heavenly Yuan Brush also slowly rose. The tip of the brush vibrated, causing the space to tremble. At this moment, all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s power was gathered on the Heavenly Yuan brush. His eyes were suddenly as sharp as knives. Swoosh! His figure also shot out, transforming into a stream of light that skimmed across the sky. From his stance, it seemed that he wasn¡¯t going to hold back at all. Countless people were moved by the scene. Boom! The two streams of light containing destructive power collided. Clang! The collision between the spear and brush caused a storm of Genesis Qi to wreak havoc everywhere, even tearing the clouds in the high altitude. And the buildings below were torn down and reduced to rubble, followed by streets collapsing. The destructive power of the collision was too astonishing. Swoosh! At this moment, a beam of light shot skywards from the city. He clasped his hands together and suddenly there were torrents of Genesis Qi gathering together to form a light barrier to block the shock waves. It was an expert of Distant Saint City stopping the city from being destroyed. But no one paid attention to this. All eyes were intently fixed on where the collision was in the sky. There, the tip of the spear and the tip of the brush were facing each other, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Wu Huang¡¯s body were spurting out blood mist. But their faces were unusually cold, showing no intention of retreat. Clang! Wu Huang¡¯s eyes were gloomy as he stared at Zhou Yuan. He flicked his wrist and the tip of the spear quivered rapidly, moving away from the Heaven Yuan Brush and directly thrusted towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned biting cold when he saw this. He did not hesitate in the slightest, nor showed any intention to defend. The sharp brush tip similarly vibrated and aimed for Wu Huang¡¯s chest. Both their moves were ruthless, and targeted the vital areas. The way the two fought with their lives made everyone¡¯s hair stand on its end. Chi! So, after a breath of time, the tip of the spear and the tip of the brush almost at the same time pierced both their chest and jets of blood mist spurted out. The world fell silent. The mist of blood drifted past the eyes of the two men. ¡°You have lost again this time.¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at the hole in his chest, his tone of voice indifferent. Although Wu Huang''s long spear had stabbed through his body, most of the power had been absorbed by the ¡®Silver Shadow¡¯. On the other hand, as Zhou Yuan''s Heavenly Yuan Brush broke through Wu Huang¡¯s body, countless strands of the hairs of the brush were instantly released to destroy the inside of Wu Huang¡¯s body. Wu Huang looked at himself only to see countless rays of light wreaking havoc beneath his flesh and constantly cracks were spreading all over his body. Zhou Yuan possessed the powerful silver shadow and a tough body. Wu Huang seemed to be at a disadvantage. However, after a glance, Wu Huang¡¯s lips curved in a strange arc. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m afraid you are the one who lost.¡± ¡°Even if the body of the asura body is destroyed, it can be reborn as long as a drop of asura blood remains.¡± The strange arc of his lips became more and more obvious, and then his hands suddenly folded in a hand seal. Invisible spirit began to accumulate in the space between his eyebrows, and inside was a drop of bright red blood. The spirit wrapped around the blood, rising into the sky. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I''ll use the blood asura body to see you off.¡± ¡°Asura burial!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s shrill laughter rang across the universe, and when his voice fell, countless people were shocked to see countless jets of blood spraying out from Wu Huang¡¯s body. His body had self-exploded! Outside Distant Saint City, Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and others¡¯ expression changed abruptly and immediately raced into the city. Boom! But before they could rush into the city, a blood-red mushroom cloud gushed out a destructive torrent of Genesis Qi, which struck even the light barrier set up by experts of the Distant Saint city, causing it to tremble violently. Countless people looked at the blood red mushroom cloud, and then at Wu Huang who was howling with laughter. The battle between the two strongest people of the Alpha Origin stage had finally, following Wu Huang using his body as bait, came to an end. Caught in that kind of torrent, nobody of the Alpha Origin stage would survive. Zhou Yuan would most likely die. However, just as countless people were sighing and Wu Huang laughing crazily, there seemed to be a low and almost undetectable voice coming from the blood red mushroom cloud. ¡°Heavenly Punishment.¡± When the low voice faded, the raging blood red mushroom cloud seemed to have solidified. A mysterious energy rippled, and then, everyone was astonished to see the torrent erupted from the blood red mushroom dispersing quietly. Everything returned to calmness. In the sky, Wu Huang, who was laughing hysterically, peered down in disbelief. Chapter 691 Obliterate Between heaven and the earth, countless people stared in shocked disbelief at the sky, where the blood-red mushroom cloud had faded. Zhou Yuan, holding the Heavenly Yuan Brush, had appeared in their fields of vision. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t appear to have many injuries, and it seemed that the terrifying explosion caused by Wu Huang¡¯s tactic of using his body as bait did not cause any harm to him. But how was that possible?! The power of Wu Huang¡¯s self explosion had even forced experts of the Divine Dwelling stage to make a move. Under that kind of attack, any experts of the Alpha Origin stage would be reduced to ashes in an instant. But why did Zhou Yuan withstand this attack and remain unscathed? Exclamations of astonishment sounded from the city, and the scene moved even experts of the Divine Dwelling stage. In the distance, Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and others who were frantically speeding into the city also stopped, gazing at Zhou Yuan in disbelief. They also didn¡¯t understand how Zhou Yuan withstood the attack. In a tall tower in Distant Saint City, a young man was staring into the sky. He was the City Lord of Distant Saint City and also an expert who possessed the strength of the Heavenly Sun stage. He also was staring at Zhou Yuan''s figure with amazement. ¡°I seemed to have felt a strange wave of energy before.¡± The city lord muttered. That energy was extremely mysterious and obscure, and seemed to be a similar to the strength of the Law Domain, but he knew that this was impossible. Not only was Zhou Yuan just of the Alpha Origin stage, even he, an expert of the Heavenly Sun stage, couldn¡¯t touch upon the mysterious power of the Law Domain. In the end the city lord of Distant Saint city could only conclude that Zhou Yuan possessed some kind of divine Genesis treasure that allowed him to withstand the destructive self-explosion of Wu Huang¡¯s body. ¡°Zhou Yuan is quite interesting.¡± The city lord smiled. The outcome of the battle had finally been determined. Wu Huang self destructing was equal to cutting all his paths of retreat, and Zhou Yuan withstood the explosion. The Wu Huang right now, was nothing but a spirit who would be kneaded by Zhou Yuan as he pleased. Under countless gazes of shock, Wu Huang¡¯s spirit in the high altitude was also staring at Zhou Yuan in disbelief. He roared out, ¡°Impossible!¡± ¡°How could you have survived my self-explosion?!¡± Wu Huang¡¯s spirit violently fluctuated, with signs it was going to explode. The impact of that scene on him was evident. He had paid a heavy price for the explosion of his body, but the result wasn¡¯t as good as he predicted. How could he accept this? In mid air, Zhou Yuan swept a cold glance over Wu Huang''s spirit, strong killing intent flickering in his eyes. The only thing that survived was remnants of his spirit and his fighting power had plummeted. Given his state, it was impossible for him to win against Zhou Yuan. A chill emitted from Wu Huang¡¯s heart that made even his spirit tremble violently At this moment, everybody inside and outside Distant Saint City had snapped out of the shock. Immediately, countless eyes with different expressions shifted to the sky, because they all knew that the situation was very clear. The outcome of the battle between the two strongest Alpha Origin stage experts had been determined. In the sky, Zhou Yuan stared expressionlessly at Wu Huang¡¯s spirit. He slowly lifted the Heavenly Yuan Brush and asked indifferently, ¡°Wu Huang, what else do you want to say?¡± Wu Huang''s face twisted, but he did not speak. Instead he directly turned and headed towards the disciples of the Sacred Palace outside the city. He had already lost his body and was no match for Zhou Yuan. Therefore, he knew he had failed once again. If he were to continue to stay here, Zhou Yuan would undoubtedly destroy even his spirit. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes had already locked on him. Therefore, the moment his spirit moved, the space between Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows also glowed with spirit light. Swoosh! A suction power broke out, fixated on Wu Huang''s spirit. With one step, Zhou Yuan had reappeared before Wu Huang¡¯s spirit. ¡°Wu Huang, a thief will always be a thief. Return what belongs to me!¡± Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand and grabbed at Wu Huang¡¯s spirit. Wu Huang¡¯s spirit emitted a shrill cry, ¡°Palace Master, save me!¡± Boom! When his voice faded, the void in the sky suddenly was vibrating, and an indescribable force seemed to have penetrated the space from a place far away. The instant the force appeared, Zhou Yuan felt his body had frozen. He was even unable to operate the Genesis Qi within his body. A look of horror came to his eyes. Only the Palace Master of the Sacred Palace was able to do something like that! ¡°Haha, Sheng Yuan, are you going to intervene in the battle between youngsters? Do you really want the Sacred Palace to lose face?¡± However, while Zhou Yuan was stunned by the power, another majestic force broke through the void and descended to intercept the previous force. Boom! The heaven and earth violently trembled, and even the Genesis Qi of the universe was emitting a deafening roar. The whole world seemed to be about to collapse. Countless people¡¯s expression changed abruptly. The movements were far greater than that during the battle between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang. They could feel that the power emitted could truly destroy heaven and earth. The slightest explosion could wipe out the entire Distant Saint City in an instant. Everyone knew the source of those two forces. Palace Master Sheng Yuan of the Sacred Palace! Sect Master Qing Yang of the Cangxuan Sect! These two were the strongest existences in Cangxuan Heaven! While the two forces were in conflict in the void, Zhou Yuan¡¯s frozen body had recovered, a fierce look flashing in his eyes. The next moment, he thrusted his palm in the direction of Wu Huang¡¯s spirit. Wu Huang¡¯s spirit shrieked, but couldn¡¯t escape. The look of despair rising in his eyes eventually turned into spite, ¡°Zhou Yuan, so what if you kill me? Your Great Zhou is doomed to be destroyed by my Great Wu!¡± ¡°So what if you rush back there? The Cangxuan Sect can''t help you. Do you think you can win against my father, who has reached the Divine Dwelling stage?¡± ¡°Haha, I''ll waiting for you down there, and also your Great Zhou Empire!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face remained expressionless. He mercilessly aimed a palm strike at Wu Huang''s spirit, and frantic Genesis Qi instantly tore apart Wu Huang¡¯s spirit. Ahh! Wu Huang''s tragic cry of despair reverberated throughout the world. In Distant Saint City, countless people¡¯s scalp went numb. It was evident that they were shocked by Zhou Yuan¡¯s ruthlessness. He had directly shattered Wu Huang¡¯s spirit, which was clearly intended to completely obliterate Wu Huang. In the void, the furious voice of Palace Master Sheng Yuan rang out, ¡°What a cruel method!¡± Boundless mighty force turned into a pillar of light, penetrating the void. As it descended, even the space below was wiped out. However, before the light pillar had fallen, the void cracked apart, forming a space abyss that engulfed the light pillar into another space. It was obviously Sect Master Qing Yang¡¯s doing. Boom! Earth-shaking noises rang out, and the whole sky seemed to have been shattered. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the terrifying vibrations in the void. His eyes were just fixed on the place where Wu Huang¡¯s spirit was destroyed. At this time, there were mysterious streams of qi gathering together, producing low pitched cries of a dragon. The Qi of the Sacred Dragon! This was the other half of the Sacred Dragon Qi in Wu Huang''s body. Back then, Zhou Yuan destroyed Wu Huang¡¯s body in the Saint Remains Domain. This was to retrieve his Sacred Dragon Qi, but in the end Wu Huang''s spirit took away half. But this time Wu Huang no longer had that kind of luck. With one thought, the mysterious Sacred Dragon Qi came speeding over to Zhou Yuan and penetrated his body. He had finally retrieved one third of the Sacred Dragon Qi that was taken away from him. And Wu Huang, who he had regarded as his greatest opponent since a young age, was completely obliterated by him. ¡°The enmity between me and you finally comes to an end.¡± Gazing at where Wu Huang¡¯s spirit was destroyed, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was incredibly calm. Chapter 692 Return It was chaos in the centre of Distant Saint City. At this moment countless complicated gazes were on Zhou Yuan, who was standing in mid air When Wu Huang¡¯s spirit was destroyed, the outcome of the battle between the two most powerful experts of the Alpha Origin stage was also determined. Zhou Yuan could now be called the true first Chosen of the Shengzhou continent. Outside the city, the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect broke into thunderous cheers. The gazes that was directed towards Zhou Yuan also became increasingly bright. The battle today had tremendously increased the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s face. And compared with the wild cheers on the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s side, the disciples of the Sacred Palace were utterly silent. Even Jiang Taishen and Zhan Taiqing looked extremely unnatural. As they peered at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, there was an intense look of fear emerging in their eyes. Even right now, they still found it hard to believe the scene that had happened. It should be said that Zhou Yuan did not dare to fight them directly in the Mythic Utopia, so he chose to go against Jin Chanzi who was slightly weaker. And even if Zhou Yuan killed Jin Chanzi in the end, Jiang Taishen and Zhan Taiqing simply saw him as someone who they could face directly. It still wasn¡¯t enough to make them feel afraid. Who would have thought that, in less than two months, Zhou Yuan could become that strong? Jiang Taishen had battled Wu Huang before, so he was knew about his strength. But even so, Wu Huang, after playing all his trump cards, was still killed by Zhou Yuan. In the end, even his spirit also failed to escape. What did that mean? It meant that if they were to face Zhou Yuan, they would have died much faster. The man who they did not attach importance to in the Mythic Utopia had now far surpassed them. Jiang Taishen and Zhan Taiqing exchanged a glance, noticing the bitter feelings in each other''s eyes. Since the Cangxuan Sect had such a strong person like Zhou Yuan, it could be imagined that their Sacred Palace would be suppressed by them in the future. ¡°It''s retribution.¡± Jiang Taishen sighed. Before Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang had appeared, he was the strongest amongst the young generation of the Cangxuan Heaven, and had suppressed the Cangxuan Sect for many years to the point that the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect couldn¡¯t even lift their heads up. From this moment on, the Sacred Palace had lost their prestige. In the future it would be Zhou Yuan suppressing the young generation of the Sacred Palace. On the other side of the city wall, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo, Li Chunjun and others were still staring dumbfounded at the scene. It was only after a good while that they snapped out of their shock. Fortunately, it was Zhou Yuan who won in the end. ¡°He got stronger again.¡± Ning Zhan sighed. Zhou Yuan was many times stronger than he was back then in the Mythic Utopia. It was really unknown just how this person cultivated that he could become this strong, The others nodded in agreement. ¡°But, although we have defeated Wu Huang, is Zhou Yuan really going back to the Cangmang Continent?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu raised her brows, ¡°According to the information I received, the Cangxuan Sect and Sacred Palace have the rule that anybody at the Divine Dwelling stage and above can¡¯t intervene.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is now standing at the peak of the Alpha Origin stage, and hasn¡¯t stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage. The present him is most likely no match for King Wu.¡± The others also went silent. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength was astonishing, there was a tremendous gap between the Alpha Origin stage and the Divine Dwelling stage. Even the worst Divine Dwelling stage would possess no less than 500,000 Genesis Qi stars. Such a powerful Genesis Qi foundation was enough to destroy any method Zhou Yuan had. ¡°He has to go back, the Great Wu specially chose this time to attack the Great Zhou. The Great Zhou most likely can¡¯t withstand such an onsalught. If he doesn¡¯t go back then the Great Zhou will be destroyed.¡± Li Chunjun explained. Luluo pursed her lips, ¡°I sent a letter back to the Thousand Beast Empire to ask Father to help, but he said that the conflict between the Great Zhou and Great Wu isn¡¯t that simple. It is now a contest between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace, and others simply don¡¯t dare to intervene.¡± The others exchanged glances with one another, sighing deeply. Only Zhou Yuan could solve this, and so he must go back. Above the city, Zhou Yuan¡¯s slightly closed eyes were gradually opening. The Taiyi Green Wood Mark emitted a life force that rapidly healed his injuries. Feeling the gradual fusion of the two Sacred Dragon Qi, his eyes flashed. A moment later, Zhou Yuan lifted his head. The two mighty forces in the void continued to collide for a while, causing the heaven and earth to tremble, but both Palace Master Sheng Yuan and Sect Master Qing Yang evidently did not intend to truly fight. In the end, they both retreated. ¡°Your Cangxuan Sect cultivated a good disciple, but unfortunately that disciple won¡¯t last long. Soon, he will follow Wu Huang¡¯s path.¡± The voice of Palace Master Sheng Yuan echoed throughout heaven and earth. ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate that a good seedling, which rarely appears in Cangxuan Sect, won¡¯t last for much longer.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± The laughter of Palace Master Sheng Yuan gradually faded away, and the mighty power that hovered in the air also escaped into the void. The people who knew the reason shifted their gazes onto Zhou Yuan, some of them filled with regret. The seedling was indeed very good, and if he could continue to cultivate in the Cangxuan Sect, then the Cangxuan sect may perhaps gain a top expert of the Heavenly Sun stage or even the Nascent Source stage. But if he were to go to the Cangmang Continent to fight against an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage, then it did not bode well for him. Zhou Yuan seemed to not notice those gazes. His expression was calm, without the slightest ripple of emotion. ¡°If you can bear it, you don¡¯t have to go back. The Cangxuan Sect can find a way to protect your father and mother.¡± A voice drilled into Zhou Yuan''s ear, which Zhou Yuan could distinguish it to be Sect Master Qing Yang¡¯s. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment. Sect Master Qing Yang only said he would protect his father and mother, and not the Great Zhou. In doing so, the Great Zhou would become a sacrifice. Hu. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, but his expression gradually became determined. ¡°Thank you Sect Master, but this is a responsibility that I can¡¯t escape from. If I retreat today, the drive in my heart will also disappear. This will be fatal to my future cultivation.¡± ¡°At that time, I¡¯ll just be the same as everybody else.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not content with being mediocre. This is a battle of beliefs. Only when I face the edge of the blade can I take a huge step forward on the future path.¡± Zhou Yuan whispered to himself. Over the years, he had faced a lot of difficulties, but he gritted his teeth and persevered every time. This was precisely because of the belief that supported him. But if he chose to give in, then, some time in the future, he most likely would lose the confidence to persist. Sect Master Qing Yang naturally heard his quiet voice. Half a second later a voice sounded again, ¡°Since you have made up your mind, then go.¡± In his voice, there was relief. Compared to Zhou Yuan''s talent, Sect Master Qing Yang valued his mentality even more. Zhou Yuan nodded, solemnly bowed to the void then turned around to face Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and many other disciples of the Cangxuan Sect, and bowed once again. ¡°Zhou Yuan wants to thank all the senior and junior brothers and sisters who protected me along the way!¡± Chu Qing had a complicated expression on his face. Li Qingchang¡¯s beautiful eyes fell on the youngster in the distance, and said quietly, ¡°Zhou Yuan, when you return, the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect will drink till we are drunk to celebrate.¡± The next moment, a deafening sound rang out from Distant Saint City. ¡°The disciples of the Cangxuan Sect wishes that senior brother will return victorious!¡± The noise shook the city, but also attracted countless complex gazes. Zhou Yuan felt a warmth in his heart as he looked at them. He then smiled and with a wave of his hand, turned around without hesitation. He vanished in a flash and reappeared in the tremendous transfer point in the centre of the city. Buzz! There was a bright pillar of light that swallowed Zhou Yuan''s figure. When the figure of Zhou Yuan disappeared, the roar of the disciples of the Cangxuan Sect continued to ring over Distant Saint City. Chapter 693 Great Wu attacks Great Zhou The Sacred Palace. Before the mist-shrouded cliffs, a white robed figure was sat quietly on a blue-green boulder, exuding an indescribable oppressive pressure. It was as if this piece of the world was being suppressed by him. The white robed figure slowly opened his eyes, revealing his silver pupils that were indifferent and ruthless, like a divine being. It was Palace Master Sheng Yuan of the Sacred Palace. ¡°Trash, I wasted so much resources to refine a blood asura body for you but you lost.¡± Palace Master Sheng Yuan spoke in an indifferent voice. ¡°The words that Zhou Yuan said are right, a thief will always be a thief and can never become a great weapon.¡± Palace Master Sheng Yuan shook his head, but there wasn¡¯t the slightest fury like he had previously shown in the sky above Sacred City. Instead a flicker of unpredictable light flashed across his silver eyes. ¡°But a loss is a loss, I never had hopes for him anyway.¡± Palace Master Sheng Yuan didn¡¯t care in the slightest about Wu Huang¡¯s spirit being destroyed. After all, he was just a little chess piece to him. Even if he had failed it had no impact on his plan. Palace Master Sheng Yuan flung his robe and an ancient mottled crystal ball appeared right in front of him. The crystal ball was cloudy and seemed unfathomable, like it held mysteries known only to heaven. ¡°The Sacred Dragon Qi in Wu Huang''s body has been obtained by Zhou Yuan...¡± Palace Master Sheng Yuan gazed at the chaos inside the crystal ball, his fingers gently flicked, and the chaos trembled. ¡°Still not enough...¡± Palace Master Sheng Yuan smiled slightly. He immediately lifted his head, and his silver eyes seemed to pierce through space and focused on another place. ¡°But it should be soon...¡± ..... Cangxuan Sect. Sect Master Qing Yang stood with hands clasped behind his back, deeply gazing at the void. Behind him, the beautiful face of Peak Master Lianyi was filled with joy. ¡°Zhou Yuan really did well. He even defeated Wu Huang. Sheng Yuan¡¯s face must be very ugly right now, don¡¯t you think so too?¡± ¡°That might not be the case.¡± Sect Master Qing Yang indifferently said, ¡°Although Sheng Yuan appeared very angry, but somehow, I feel that he has other intentions.¡± His brows furrowed again and his gaze drifted off in thought. Since he couldn¡¯t figure out the answer, he only slightly shook his head and continued, ¡°Although Zhou Yuan has won against Wu Huang, he is determined to rush back to the Great Zhou to battle King Wu. This battle will be very dangerous for him.¡± The smile faded from Peak Master Lianyi¡¯s face, sighing, ¡°That little guy is very stubborn, if he just takes a step back, it wouldn¡¯t be so dangerous.¡±¡± ¡°If he knew how to retreat, he most likely wouldn¡¯t be where he is today.¡± Sect Master Qing Yang remarked. ¡°Although it is dangerous, it¡¯s not necessarily a path to death. King Wu is an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage, but Zhou Yuan has reached the peak of the Alpha Origin Stage, plus he has recaptured the Sacred Dragon Qi in Wu Huang¡¯s body. If he can perfectly cultivate it, strengthen his body, then its possible that he may take a huge step forward once again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what the little guy is planning? But it won¡¯t be easy to break through to the Divine Dwelling stage. Chu Qing and others have been preparing for quite some time, but has yet toe even begin to break through.¡± Peak Master Lianyi exclaimed. Sect Master Qing Yang laughed, ¡°In normal circumstances, there is indeed a need for a long preparation time. But the present situation has formed a strong pressure. Under such enormous pressure, outstandingly talented people can trigger their great potential.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan used the situation as the pressure to trigger his suppressed potential in order to achieve the goal of breakthrough.¡± ¡°This mentality and determination he has are indeed extraordinary.¡± Sect Master Qing Yang¡¯s voice was full of admiration. According to the way of the Genesis Qi, without the desire to succeed in adversity, one definitely would not go far. Peak Master Lianyi also flushed with admiration. If Zhou Yuan really were able to complete a breakthrough under this pressure and truly step into the Divine Dwelling stage, then the immediate dangerous situation would also be reversed by him in an instant. ¡°Hopefully this little guy will succeed...¡± Sect Master Qing Yang gently nodded, and then raised his head, looking in the direction of the Sacred Palace with narrowed eyes. Sheng Yuan, the reason you have done so much, is it really just to get back some face? Or is there another purpose? If so, then, what is your purpose? ..... When Zhou Yuan left Distant Saint City and returned to the Cangmang Continent, the great battle between Wu Huang and him had already spread throughout the entire Shengzhou Continent at an astonishing speed. All the forces were greatly amazed after knowing the result. Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in that battle could be said to be stunning. A genius like him, if given more time, would undoubtedly become a top pillar in the Cangxuan Sect in the future, but it was regrettable that Zhou Yuan might not have a future. Obviously, they were also aware of Zhou Yuan''s intention in rushing back to the Cangmang Continent. In truth, King Wu, a Divine Dwelling stage expert, was considered nothing to all the forces on the Shengzhou Continent. But to Zhou Yuan of the Alpha Origin stage, the Divine Dwelling stage was still something somewhat unattainable, even if he could be called invincible in the Alpha Origin stage. But that was the Alpha Origin stage. In the cultivation of Genesis Qi, the Alpha Origin stage can be regarded as a high level. But it was only when one stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage that they would truly be able to appreciate the mysteries of Genesis Qi. The gap between the two was too tremendous. Even for Zhou Yuan, who was invincible in the Alpha Origin Stage, wouldn¡¯t find it simple to counter an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage. Therefore, everyone found it extremely unwise of Zhou Yuan to rush to the Cangmang Continent to fight against Divine Dwelling stage expert King Wu. But they also understood that the conflict between the Great Zhou and the Great Wu also represented a contest between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. Therefore, no one could give any help, and everything depended on Zhou Yuan. As to how Zhou Yuan was going to solve the grave situation, all sects and factions of the Shengzhou Continent were very curious. Therefore, when Zhou Yuan was on his way to the Cangmang Continent, all the various sects and factions of the Shengzhou Continent, including the six major sects, all spectated from afar. In the vast Cangxuan Heaven, the Cangmang Continent was only a little remote place, but this small place had suddenly gathered the attention of countless experts and sects of the Cangxuan Heaven. While many eyes were fixed on that place, on the Cangmang Continent---- On the border between the Great Zhou and the Great Wu, beacon fires were lit and the war had started a prairie fire. The Great Wu army charged into the territory of the Great Zhou with irresistible force, destroying the city walls and plundered the land. That scene was the same as back then. It was just that back then, King Wu was after the Zhou family¡¯s Sacred Dragon. Chapter 694 Broken Dragon City Half a month ago, the Great Wu army gathered at the border had invaded the Great Zhou under the orders of King Wu. The military power of the Great Wu Empire was incredibly fierce. Although the Great Zhou was well prepared, the army was soon crushed because of the huge difference in strength between them. And Zhou Qing, after determining the strength of both sides, did not recklessly squander the power of the Great Zhou, but chose to avoid the military of the Great Wu and gathered the strength of the whole Empire on Broken Dragon City. Broken Dragon City was the last barrier of the Great Zhou. Evidently, Zhou Qing intended to concentrate all the strength, and with the help of the terrain of Broken Dragon City, fight the last battle with the Great Wu. Outside Broken Dragon City was a large river called the Broken Dragon River, where dragons were said to have been killed many years ago. And now, the vast Broken Dragon River was ruined by the fire of war, and battle cries rang everywhere. On the walls of Broken Dragon City. Zhou Qing, dressed in armour, solemnly looked at the vast river opposite, only to see the army had gathered with no end in sight, like dark clouds shrouding the sky. In that dark-cloud-like army were countless flags fluttering with the word ¡®Wu¡¯. ¡°The army of the Great Wu has almost all gathered, and most likely will soon launch their attack.¡± Behind Zhou Qing, Wei Canglang stated in a serious voice. At Wei Canglang¡¯s side stood Wei Qingqing. She was dressed in battle armour but it still outlined her curves and long legs. It was just that her pretty face was full of tension and nervousness. There were still a lot many generals of the Great Zhou around, but everyone was unable to relax in the slightest under the pressure of the overwhelming oppression. After all, in this half a month, they had witnessed the strength of the Great Wu military. Although the Great Zhou had been concealing its strengths and biding its time all these years, the difference in strength compared to the Great Wu still wasn¡¯t small. Zhou Qing nodded and scanned around as he said in a low voice to the many generals, ¡°At a time like this, the Great Zhou is incredibly lucky to have you fighting for the Great Zhou.¡± A general grinned, ¡°Your Majesty, we will not cowardly cling to our lives. Otherwise would we have followed Your Majesty back then in the past?¡± ¡°King Wu is nothing but a thief, but it wants us to subjugate under him?¡± ¡°Would the Wu family be enjoying their days if it weren¡¯t for the Great Zhou?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry Your Majesty, we will fight the Great Wu till the end¡± ¡°------¡± Looking at the numerous passionate faces, Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes misted over. Here where many brothers who had been with him since King Wu usurped the Zhou. ¡°We are all willing to live and die with the Great Zhou!¡± ¡° Zhou Qing tilted his head, wiping his eyes, and immediately took a deep breath to suppress the surging emotions in his heart: ¡°General, how much strength does our Great Zhou have left?¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s face quickly turned gloomy, ¡°There are twenty-eight people with the strength of the Alpha Origin stage. The other twelve have been killed by the Great Wu.¡± The Great Zhou had recruited the forty experts of the Alpha Origin with all its strength over these years. Although the majority was below the third layer of the Alpha Origin stage, they still cost an extremely high price. ¡°But we still have eighty-eight battle puppets of the Alpha Origin stage, and over one thousand of the Heaven Gate stage, which is our strongest strength, and also the force that the Great Wu fears the most.¡± The remains of battle puppets that Zhou Yuan found back then in the black abyss had been excavated by the Great Zhou with all its might all these years to form a powerful army of battle puppet. The Great Wu had tried to attack the Broken Dragon City before, but was defeated by the army of battle puppets. ¡°Unfortunately, King Wu is too cautious. If he thought he could come alone because he possessed the strength of the Divine Dwelling stage, we could self-explode the battle puppets to wound him.¡± Zhou Qing sighed. The unearthed Alpha Origin stage battle puppets possessed the power of self-explosion, and once a chain reaction was formed it could pose a threat to even an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage. They originally planned to set a trap for King Wu, but he was far too cautious. Even an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage wouldn¡¯t attack recklessly. And now that the secrets of the battle puppets had been revealed, King Wu would undoubtedly be prepared. ¡°This time, King Wu will most likely act.¡± Wei Canglan uttered in a grave voice. After thoroughly testing the strength of the Great Zhou, King Wu would certainly make a move. After all, the participation of a Divine Dwelling expert would have a huge impact on the morale of both sides. The generals and soldiers¡¯ faces were clouded when they heard this and clearly felt great pressure. The pressure brought by an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage in a war between Empires was far too tremendous. One person was enough to destroy the city. Zhou Qing closed his eyes and took a deep breath, ¡°If King Wu appears, I will stop him.¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s expression changed slightly, ¡°Your Majesty, there¡¯s no need. If the situation really comes to the worst, you must leave! When there¡¯s life, there¡¯s hope!¡± Hearing this, Zhou Qing smiled and waved his hands, ¡°I have already escaped once back then.¡± ¡°I don''t want to run away a second time.¡± A resolute look rose in his eyes. It was clear that he intended to fight to the end. Wei Canglang could feel Zhou Qing''s determination, and finally did not try to persuade him anymore. ¡°I am willing to fight Your Majesty to the end!¡± ¡°We are willing to fight with Your Majesty to the end!¡± The other generals roared one after another. Zhou Qing smiled, nodded gently, and told them to prepare. When the generals dispersed, he turned his head to look at the black-clad army opposite the Broken Dragon River. His fists clenched. Hearing subtle footsteps coming from behind, Zhou Qing twisted his head back, ¡°Queen, why did you come?¡± The person who came was Zhou Yuan''s mother, Qin Yu. At this moment there was a smile on her pretty face as she spoke in a gentle voice, ¡°This place is where the Great Zhou will battle against the Great Wu. If the Great Zhou lost, what would the difference be whether I¡¯m in the palace or here?¡± Zhou Qing looked at her, then said in a low voice: ¡°My queen, I am useless.¡± Qin Yu smiled, ¡°Are you going to defend the Great Zhou here with your life?¡± Zhou Qing was silent for a while before he said, ¡°You want to stop me?¡± Qin Yu shook her head, ¡°I just want to tell Your Majesty that I will always be with you, whether we live or die.¡± Zhou Qing stared at her in astonishment. ¡°Your Majesty, I didn¡¯t stop you, so you also shouldn¡¯t stop me, right?¡± Zhou Qing knew that he couldn¡¯t persuade her. He gave a bitter smile and pulled her into his arms, gently saying, ¡°Then us husband and wife will defend the Great Zhou here at Broken Dragon City with our lives.¡± Qin Yu gently nodded. Leaning on the arms of Zhou Qing, she looked at the endless army on the other side of the Broken Dragon River and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s good that Yuan¡¯er isn¡¯t here.¡± ¡°It''s a shame that I can''t watch him marry and have children.¡± ¡°Yaoyao is indeed a very good girl, but I don¡¯t know whether our silly son will be so lucky.¡± ¡°There¡¯s also Youwei. That girl likes Yuan¡¯er so much, it¡¯s heart-wrenching to see. Say, who will the future Yuan¡¯er bring to visit us in our graves?¡± Listening to Qin Yu whispering in his arms, Zhou Qing raised his head, tears welling in his eyes. Dong! On the opposite side of Broken Dragon River, the war drums were beating. The huge army, like a giant monster, erupted with monstrous killing intent. Chapter 695 King Wu! Dong! On the Broken Dragon River, the beating of war drums echoed throughout heaven and the earth, setting off waves on the vast river. The great army of the Great Wu also began to move. The giant ship raised its sails, and, like a giant beast, cut through the waves. Murderous spirit pervaded the world. And the movements of the Great Wu were immediately detected by the Great Zhou in the Broken Dragon City. The rapid beating of war drums also sounded on the city walls, and countless soldiers tightened their grip on their bows and spears. Gushes of Genesis Qi, both strong and weak, like flames, bloomed above the city walls. In the main building of the city walls, Zhou Qing also looked solemnly at the movements of the Great Wu in the distance. It was clear that the Great Wu was about to launch the final attack. ¡°Prepare for battle!¡± He raised his palm, and his voice echoed across the city walls. Wei Canglan tightly clasped a long spear. Genesis Qi surging out all over his body as he roared: ¡°Fight to the end!¡± ¡°Fight to the end!¡± Countless soldiers roared. On that side, Black Venom King¡¯s face had become utterly pale. Watching the Great Wu army get into battle formation in the distance, he felt his scalp going numb. He murmured, ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all that kid Zhou Yuan¡¯s fault, I¡¯m going to get killed because of him.¡± Wei Canglang shot a glance at him, but was lazy to pay any attention to him. Next to him, Wei Qingqing bit her red lips and whispered, ¡°Father, do we have a chance of victory?¡± Wei Canglang deeply looked at her and said, ¡°If my Great Zhou is defeated in the end, I will find an opportunity for you to flee. Remember, your little brother is at home, so you have to live to protect him!¡± Wei Qingqing¡¯s heart sank. For Wei Canglan to say this, he obviously felt that Great Zhou had no chance of winning. Her eyes reddened as she reassured, ¡°Father, we may not lose. Wasn¡¯t there news that His Highness Zhou Yuan will come back? He is now a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect!¡± Black Venom King interjected, ¡°What''s the use of him coming back? So what if there¡¯s another person of the Alpha Origin Stage? Is he coming here to be killed?¡± His words were filled with resentment. Wei Canglan glared at him, and then said to Wei Qingqing, ¡°Silly girl, if His Highness don¡¯t return, given his talent, he will be able to slaughter King Wu and avenge the Great Zhou in the future.¡± Wei Qingqing bit her red lips, feeling a little despair. At that time, even if King Wu was killed, it would be difficult to rebuild the Great Zhou. Dong! The sound of war drums continued to reverberate. And as Great Wu¡¯s endless army gradually approached, numerous figure rose into the sky, emitting powerful Genesis Qi. They were all Alpha Origin experts of the Great Wu Empire At that moment, the Great Wu experts all had their arms crossed, playfully looking at an important city in the distance. From that look, it was obvious that they did not attach any importance to the Great Zhou. In Broken Dragon City, the Alpha Origin stage experts of the Great Zhou also erupted with numerous streams of powerful Genesis Qi in response, but their faces were particularly grave. It was evident that they felt the oppression brought about by the Great Wu. A ship began to slow down, stopped, and then everyone saw a golden giant battleship, coming slowly from behind. Where it passed, other battleships immediately gave way. All eyes were gathered on the golden battleship. Immediately after, they saw that on a throne on the golden ship sat a figure with his eyes closed. That figure, clad in a golden Emperor¡¯s robe, wore an indifferent expression. As the Emperor¡¯s robe fluttered in the wind, a majestic aura filled the air When this figure appeared, the sound of the war drums gradually subsided, and even the turbulent waves also quietly calm down under that pressure. The world fell quiet. Countless gazes were fixed on that figure. On the city walls, Zhou Qing''s hands were firmly clenched, veins throbbing. The biting cold killing intent in his eyes seemed to be piercing through the throne. That figure was too unforgettable for him. When Great Zhou was at its peak and respected by the entire continent, it was precisely because of the rebel in front of him that caused the collapse of the Great Zhou. In the end, they were trapped in such a remote corner. Moreover, the thief not only took the Great Zhou¡¯s Empire, but even plotted to seize Zhou Yuan''s Sacred Dragon Qi, causing him to suffer constantly. Adding to this, Qin Yu, in order to protect her child, repeated transferred blood to him, which led to her life span reduced drastically. The person in front of them could be said to the biggest culprit in the destruction of their family and Empire! ¡°Wu Xuan!¡± Zhou Qing stared intently at the figure, his bone-chilling voice came through his clenched teeth. The figure on the throne was the King of Great Wu, King Wu Xuan! Under countless gazes, King Wu slowly opened his slightly closed eyes. It was also at that moment that an astonishing Genesis Qi pressure directly erupted from his body. The golden ship below his feet made creaking noises. And behind him, the countless soldiers of the Great Wu were knelt down respectfully, as if they couldn¡¯t withstand that kind of Emperor power. ¡°Zhou Qing, it''s been a long time.¡± King Wu lifted his head, eyes fixed on Zhou Qing from a distance, and his faint laughter resounded like thunder. ¡°A thief of the Empire!¡± Zhou Qing''s eyes were filled with intense hatred. King Wu chuckled, ¡°An incompetent man like you wants to occupy the throne? Zhou Qing, the reason the Great Zhou is in its current state is because of your incompetence.¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes were red with rage. ¡°Wu Xuan, you made the ancestral oath that the Great Wu wouldn¡¯t step foot into the Great Zhou within one hundred years. Do you want to violate the ancestral oath? Do you want the world to laugh at you?¡± Wei Canglan roared out. King Wu narrowed his eyes. ¡°If your Great Zhou had acted honestly like a small country, I would have ignored you pitiful creatures, but you, Zhou Qing, you still have other thoughts, so I have no choice but to eliminate the roots.¡± ¡°The Ancestral Oath¡ª¡± His lips twisted in a sneer, ¡°Do you really think I have limits? In fact, my most regretful thing is that back then, after gaining the Qi of the Sacred Dragon, I was too excited and forgot about you all. If I had gotten rid of you all then, how would there be such trouble today?¡± Wei Canglan hissed through clenched teeth, ¡°You violated the ancestral oath, there will be retribution!¡± King Wu waved his hand dismissively, ¡°The anger of the weak is especially ridiculous.¡± He looked condescendingly at Zhou Qing and said, ¡°Zhou Qing, don¡¯t talk nonsense. You should know the purpose of my Great Wu¡¯s attack.¡± ¡°If you take your life in front of the two armies, then my Great Wu can peacefully take over the Great Zhou.¡± His narrowed eyes were filled with overwhelming killing intent. Chapter 696 Halo of the Divine Dwelling When the biting cold voice of King Wu, which was filled with strong killing intent, rang across Broken Dragon River, the Great Zhou Army on the city walls all had a change of expression at the same time. Their eyes blazed with anger. King Wu really treated the Great Zhou as nothing! If Zhou Qing took his life in front of the two armies that was simply a great humiliation that the Great Zhou simply couldn¡¯t wash away! ¡°Wu Xuan, you really think our Great Zhou will do what you want?!¡± Wei Canglan thundered, his face flushed with rage. The other generals and soldiers roared with rage. However, King Wu paid no attention to them. Instead his icy cold eyes were locked on Zhou Qing. Zhou Qing slammed his spear into the ground: ¡°My Great Zhou would rather die in battle than surrender!¡± King Wu couldn¡¯t help but smile and said in a pitiful voice, ¡°as always, you fail to appreciate kindness.¡± ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, your Great Zhou will be destroyed...¡± King Wu stretched out his hands, and the next moment, incomparably Genesis Qi surged up like a storm from his body. The Genesis Qi was as red as fire, as though it was going to incinerate the sky. The temperature between heaven and earth instantly rose. King Wu''s body slowly ascended, standing at the highest point of the battlefield. His tremendous Genesis Qi could be seen accumulating behind him and finally gradually formed a halo. The halo bloomed out a luster of five different colors that suspended behind King Wu, making him appear incomparably mysterious. At the same time, an intense pressure spread out, shrouding the entire battlefield. Under that pressure, even the Alpha Origin stage experts on the Great Zhou¡¯s side had a drastic change of expression. Clenching their teeth, they muttered, ¡°Divine Dwelling......halo!¡± They were no strangers to the halo that appeared behind King Wu, because it was also the most obvious sign of the Divine Dwelling stage that they sought. Once one stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage, Genesis Qi would appear outwards and form a light halo. This was called the Divine Dwelling halo. The Divine Dwelling halo wasn''t for appearance. Once this object was formed, it could make one more sensitive to the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth, and during training, the divine dwelling halo also had the ability to gather, absorb, and refine the Genesis Qi of the world. The speed of cultivation was far superior to that of the Alpha Origin stage. It could be said that the possession of the halo of the Divine Dwelling was equal to having a great helper during cultivation training. During a battle, the Divine Dwelling halo would also constantly absorb the Genesis Qi between heaven and the earth for its master. It could be said that the greatest goal for countless people to pursue the Divine Dwelling stage was because of the Divine Dwelling halo. And the Divine Dwelling Halo, like the Qi Dwelling, also had different grading, which depended on the number of Divine Dwelling formed when the Divine Dwelling was opened... For example, King Wu¡¯s Divine Dwelling halo was blooming with five colors. This indicated that when he stepped into Divine Dwelling stage, he opened up five Divine Dwellings. Of course, the Divine Dwelling halo with more colors represented a higher quality. This meant the halo was stronger. A five-color divine dwelling, in the major sects of the Shengzhou Continent, could be regarded as an elite. On the Cangmang Continent, it was simply an invincible existence. Therefore, while King Wu was standing proud in the void, revealing the Divine Dwelling halo, many experts of the Great Zhou had turned utterly pale. Their morale was also greatly impacted. Zhou Qing knew that King Wu intended to target the morale of the troops. He roared immediately, sending Genesis Qi bursting forth from his body. In these years, Zhou Qing had been trying to improve his strength and was now at the eighth layer of the Alpha Origin stage, and could be considered a top expert of the Great Zhou. Therefore, he knew that he couldn¡¯t let King Wu affect the morale of the troops. Buzz! Zhou Qing roared. The spear in his hand abruptly shot into the sky, wrapped in majestic Genesis qi. He used all his strength in that attack. However, in the face of Zhou Qing''s move, King Wu only gave a cold glance in response and did not budge an inch. When the spear light had whizzed over, the five-color Divine Dwelling had suddenly spread out to protect King Wu. It rapidly rotated like a light barrier. Clang! The spear heavily struck the Divine Dwelling halo, producing crisp, loud noises that caused the space to vibrate. Then, countless people were astonished to see the spear shattered to pieces. It was unable to shake the Divine Dwelling halo in the slightest, let alone wound King Wu. King Wu''s mouth twisted in a sneer, as he stretched out his fingers and flicked gently. Swoosh! The fragment of spear struck by him was instantly shot back, producing sharp explosive noises, and aimed for Zhou Qing on the city walls. Seeing this, Zhou Qing thrust his fist while Genesis Qi frantically surged out from his body. Boom! His fist slammed into the fragment, producing an explosion of frantic Genesis Qi. But he underestimated the strength of the Divine Dwelling stage. The piece of debris that was wrapped in King Wu¡¯s powerful Genesis Qi directly tore through the fist light and skimmed his fist. Zhou Qing reeled back dozen steps from the force. A blood mark appeared across his fist and blood trickled down his fingers. It was only a slight touch but Zhou Qing was injured. And this was only a casual strike from King Wu. The gap between the Alpha Origin stage and the Divine Dwelling stage could be clearly seen. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± Wei Canglan and others hurried forward. Deafening cheers broke out on the Great Wu¡¯s side. ¡°King Wu is invincible!¡± ¡°......¡± On the walls of the Great Zhou it was utterly silent. The power of the Divine Dwelling stage could make one feel despair. Zhou Qing wiped the blood from his fist and waved to Wei Canglan and the others. His face was tense, but his eyes flashed a hint of sadness. He didn''t think that he would still be completely suppressed when he faced King Wu again many years later. Beside him, Qin Yu¡¯s eyes welled with tears, but she gritted her teeth and fought back the tears. She knew that she shouldn¡¯t disturb Zhou Qing. In the high altitude, King Wu looked down condescendingly, and his indifferent voice rang out, ¡°Zhou Qing, do you see the gap between us? You''re far inferior to me in everything, why fight?¡± ¡°I''ll give you one last chance, take your life before the two armies otherwise I will wash the Great Zhou with blood today!¡± Zhou Qing clenched his teeth, swung his spear once again and thundered, ¡°My Great Zhou will never surrender!¡± On the city walls, Wei Canglan and other generals¡¯ eyes reddened as they roared out ¡°Never surrender!¡± Countless soldiers of the Great Zhou waved their weapons and roared, ¡°Never surrender!¡± ¡°Never surrender!¡± The voices shook the clouds. King Wu mockingly shook his head, ¡°a bunch of idiots, since you want to stop me with your utterly insignificant strength, I will utterly destroy the Great Zhou today!¡± ¡°Everyone listen to order!¡± ¡°Attack!¡± ¡°Destroy the Zhou!¡± Boom! The violent beating of war drums once again resounded throughout the world. The Great Wu Army roared out loud, and battleships cut through the waves one after another and sped off towards Broken Dragon City. Murderous spirit filled the air. And in the Broken Dragon City, the Great Zhou army was also red with rage. Countless gushes of Genesis Qi surged up, ready for the final battle. Even though they all knew that the Great Zhou had no chance of winning the battle. After all, the Great Wu and King Wu were too powerful. In the city gate tower, Zhou Qing tensely watched the Great Wu army charge over. He turned his head to look at the tearful Qin Yu and grasped her hand. ¡°Yu, it¡¯s my fault for being useless....¡± Qin Yu shook her head with tears in her eyes, ¡°Yuan¡¯er has grown up, I have no other regrets.¡± Zhou Qing also nodded contently, ¡°Yes, Yuan¡¯er has grown up. We have nothing else to worry about. Today we will take our last journey along with the Great Zhou.¡± He looked at the army that was rushing across the great river in the distance, a resolute look emerged in his eyes. Countless battle ships, wrapped in murderous spirit, whizzed through the waves, racing to Broken Dragon City. However, just as the countless warships were getting closer and closer to Broken Dragon City, there suddenly seemed to be strange noises ringing between heaven and earth. Boom. It was as if a huge wave was crashing down. The numerous Alpha Origin experts on the Great Wu¡¯s side also stood bewildered in the air as they sensed this strangeness. On the Broken Dragon City wall, Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan and others were also taken aback. In the high altitude, King Wu similarly sensed the strange movements. He immediately scrunched his brows and then suddenly shifted his gaze onto the distant river surface. At that moment, the gazes of everybody of the two armies were also fixed on that direction. Immediately after, a commotion broke out. Because on the distant river surface there was unknowingly a monstrous wave rolling across, cutting through the vast Broken Dragon River and headed straight to the battlefield like a torrent. ¡°What''s going on?!¡± ¡°What is that?¡± Many puzzled voices sounded from the Great Wu army. The expressions on the Alpha Origin experts¡¯ faces also changed. ¡°There seemed to be someone in front of the giant wave?¡± At this moment, many people clearly saw that, in front of the huge wave was a figure treading on the river. His speed seemed to be slow, but with every step he took, he reappeared hundreds of meters away. Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing and others somehow felt that the figure on the river seemed a little familiar.... But Zhou Qing and Qin Yu were frozen in shock. Even if the figure was a great distance away, how could they not recognise him? Qin Yu''s delicate body trembled and her eyes glistened as she mumbled, ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Zhou Qing said in a trembling voice, ¡°It seems like it¡¯s....Yuan¡¯er?¡± Trembling, Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing and other people also exclaimed, ¡°His Highness Zhou Yuan?¡± Boom! Under the countless shocked gazes of the two armies, the monstrous wave came rumbling over, and a young figure marched forward on the wave with a mottled black brush on his back. The young man carried a brush on his back and came stepping on the river. While the waves were roaring, a calm voice, like a clap of thunder, resounded across the universe. ¡°You piece of Wu dog....¡± ¡°You want to destroy my Great Zhou...¡± Chapter 697 Who isn’t? Boom! When the voice of the youngster with the black mottled brush on his back resounded like thunder, the gigantic wave behind him had already roared out like a dragon, running through the battlefield of the two armies. The huge wave roared through the Broken Dragon City. Some of the Great Wu ships were directly whirled up and smashed into pieces. It immediately created a great disturbance. The generals and soldiers in Broken Dragon City were still staring at the distant figure in shock. ¡°That''s His Highness Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°His Highness really is back!¡± Many generals and soldiers could clearly feel that the Genesis Qi surging out from the distant young figure was much stronger than all of them. Black Venom King¡¯s mouth was also gaped open. That figure was evidently more mature than back then. But what was the most terrifying was that, even at such a distance, he could feel the feeling of oppression brought about by him. This guy, just how many times stronger than before did this guy get. A flash of excitement emerged in Wei Canglan''s eyes. Wei Qingqing was also staring dumbfoundedly at the figure. ¡°Yuan¡¯er....¡± Qin Yu was similarly filled with joy to see the figure that she had been thinking about day and night, but that immediately turned to worry, ¡°That silly child, why did he come back!¡± Zhou Qing was also gazing at the figure. Although his face did not show it, his clenched fists revealed the surge of emotions in his heart. ¡°He really has grown up....¡± He muttered. While the Great Zhou¡¯s side was shaken by Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance, there were also changes on the Great Wu¡¯s side. Some Alpha Origin stage experts¡¯ faces also become solemn. They evidently also felt the oppression brought about by Zhou Yuan. ¡°That¡¯s the Prince of the Great Zhou?¡± ¡°I didn''t think he''d appear at this time...¡± ¡°Well, do you think he can change anything on his own? Our king is at the Divine Dwelling stage. That boy is seeking death.¡± ¡°Yes, nobody can save the Great Zhou today!¡± ¡°.....¡± Generals in the Great Wu¡¯s direction whispered to one another, and ultimately didn''t attach much importance to Zhou Yuan. After all, King Wu was invincible in their hearts. However, no matter what, Zhou Yuan''s appearance had attracted all the attention of the two armies. In the high altitude, clad in a dragon robe, King Wu indifferently studied the distant figure. ¡°You are Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°I didn''t think you''d really come back...where''s Wu Huang? How could he bring you back?¡± King Wu already knew that Zhou Yuan was blocked by many obstacles on his road home, and Wu Huang was the biggest obstacle among them. It was also him who usurped the prosperous Great Zhou, cut off his father''s arm, and also led to his mother''s life span being significantly reduced.... There were many things that were caused by that person alone. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was devoid of expression when he clenched his hand and a jade appeared in his grip. He crushed it directly and suddenly there were rays of light bursting out to form a light image in midair. In the light screen were two shadows crisscrossing in the air. It was the battle between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang. As the light images swept past, it finally froze on the scene of Wu Huang¡¯s spirit being shattered by Zhou Yuan.... The light screen had dissipated, but the gasps of shock from two armies did not stop. ¡°His Highness Wu....Wu Huang...was killed by him?¡± A horrified voice rang out from the Great Wu¡¯s direction, and immediately set off stormy waves. Wu Huang was the heir to the Great Wu so his status was extraordinary, but Zhou Yuan had destroyed his spirit! ¡°How is that possible? King Wu has said that His Highness Wu Huang joined the Sacred Palace and is ranked first on the Chosen List of the Shengzhou Continent because of his outstanding talent. Nobody of the young generation is a match for him!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan managed to kill His Highness Wu Huang?!¡± Boom! Amidst the countless gasps of astonishment, King Wu¡¯s face became twisted as he watched the light screen dissipated. A storm of frightening Genesis Qi suddenly burst forth from his body. ¡°You killed my son!¡± King Wu''s eyes were like a malicious ghost, staring intently at Zhou Yuan, and a bitter resentful voice roared out from the gaps between his teeth. However, facing the storm of Genesis Qi erupted from King Wu''s body, there wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, ¡°All the enmity started because of you.¡± None of this would have happened had King Wu not taken the Qi of the Sacred Dragon. King Wu continued to stare intently at Zhou Yuan with blood red eyes. It was only after a good while that he suddenly took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his rage. It was just that the biting coldness in his eyes was enough to make people shudder all over. King Wu slowly closed his eyes, saying, ¡°What I now regret the most is that after taking the Qi of the Sacred Dragon, I did not kill you right away.¡± ¡°But since it has already happened....¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that you are back. If you had hid in the Cangxuan Sect then there really is nothing I could do to you, but since you have come back, you can go on the journey with your father and mother. The most important thing for a family is to be together...¡± ¡°And after I kill your family, I will massacre the entire Great Zhou as an offering for my son...¡± King Wu''s voice faintly sounded across the Broken Dragon River. Although there weren¡¯t much waves, the countless people on the city walls still turned pale, because they could feel the ruthless killing intent in King Wu''s voice. If that killing intent was poured out, it most likely could massacre the entire Great Zhou. Evidently, Wu Huang''s death had a huge impact on King Wu. Zhou Yuan stood on the surface of the river, and wasn¡¯t in the slightest angered by King Wu¡¯s ruthless threats, ¡°You may indeed have been able to destroy my Great Zhou, but from now on...it will be impossible.¡± King Wu roared with laughter at the skies. His thunderous laugh caused his berserk Genesis Qi to set off waves rolling on the Broken Dragon River. ¡°Haha, because of you?!¡± ¡°If you are smart enough, then you should hide on the side and watch me massacre the Great Zhou. Wait until the day you step foot into the Divine dwelling stage to say those words to me again!¡± King Wu''s eyes, like a poisonous snake, locked on Zhou Yuan. A look of ridicule came onto his face, because from his observation, although Zhou Yuan possessed incredibly strong Genesis Qi, he hadn¡¯t stepped foot into the Divine Dwelling stage. On the Broken Dragon City walls, many worried eyes were also looking at the distant figure of Zhou Yuan. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t broke through to the Divine Dwelling stage, it was true that his return wouldn¡¯t have much significance. Qin Yu''s hands were tightly clenched, and her face scrunched up in worry. ¡°But unfortunately, since you''ve come, don¡¯t think of leaving now.¡± ¡°I want you to be buried today as an accompaniment to Wu Huang!¡± King Wu roared skywards. The next moment, scarlet red Genesis Qi spewed out from his palm strike, forming a giant red palm of thousands of feet in the sky. Boom! The giant palm slammed down, tearing apart the surface of the Broken Dragon River below. The attack from a Divine Dwelling expert clearly revealed a Genesis Qi foundation that far surpassed the Alpha Origin Stage. The scarlet red palm slammed down from the sky, striking where Zhou Yuan stood. On the city walls, the generals and soldiers all gasped in shocked. King Wu¡¯s attack was without any mercy, and clearly showed his strong murderous intent towards Zhou Yuan. Rumble! The giant red palm, under countless shocked gazes, perfectly struck Zhou Yuan. Genesis Qi raged out and tore a giant pit, where the depths of the Broken Dragon River could be seen...... The Genesis Qi wreaked havoc for a few moments before it gradually dissipated. Zhou Qing, Qin Yu and others fixed their eyes on the river with their heart in their mouths. Countless people on both sides of the armies were staring there unblinkingly. There, the water vapour gradually dissipated, and then, everyone''s pupils rapidly shrank, when they saw a figure hovering in the air. King Wu¡¯s expression also abruptly changed. Countless people were astonished to see Zhou Yuan hovering in the air with the huge mottled black brush on his back. And behind him was a mysterious halo quietly suspended, swallowing the Genesis Qi of heaven and earth. That figure strode out slowly, and at the same time, an incredibly calm voice leisurely echoed across the two armies. ¡°The Divine Dwelling stage?¡± Chapter 698 Chaos Halo On the Broken Dragon River, countless shocked gazes were fixed on the young figure hovering in the sky. Of course, even more gazes were on the suspended light halo behind him. The fluctuation of energy exuded from the light halo didn¡¯t feel unfamiliar, because it was a sign that could only be possessed once stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage. The halo of the Divine Dwelling! That meant.....Zhou Yuan had already stepped foot into the Divine Dwelling stage?! There was a moment of stillness on the battlefield. Then, the next moment, deafening cheers broke out on the city walls of Broken Dragon City, and countless soldiers and generals¡¯ faces were ablaze with excitement. This was because the effect that a Divine Dwelling expert could bring on a battlefield was too terrifying. The most important reason why the Great Wu could completely suppress the Great Zhou was also because of the existence of King Wu, a Divine Dwelling expert... The Divine Dwelling stage could be said to be invincible there. Just as the Great Zhou had almost lost all hopes, the Divine Dwelling halo that Zhou Yuan showed made them see a ray of hope.... ¡°Your Highness, your Highness has brokethrough to the Divine Dwelling!¡± Wei Canglan couldn¡¯t help exclaiming. Wei Qingqing also gaped at the distant figure in silence with her red lips wide open. She stared dumbly at his figure, her heart also extremely shaken. ¡°Divine Dwelling Stage....¡± Black Venom King was similarly dumbstruck. He obviously didn¡¯t expect the youngster who had once subdued him to be able to achieve that step in just a few years of time. On the city walls, the other generals¡¯ faces were also lit up with joy. The look of despair they had previously had instantly vanished as though never existed. ¡°Your Majesty is so blessed!¡± They one after another congratulated Zhou Qing, who was still in a state of shocked disbelief. With his mouth wide opened, Zhou Qing turned to Qin Yu, who was staring at him. Finally Qin Yu let out a gentle sigh, ¡°I didn¡¯t think Yuan¡¯er would reach this stage so soon. He must haven¡¯t relaxed at all in these years...¡± She felt her heart aching when she said this. Zhou Yuan was talented, but to achieve this step, he must had been through many hardships. ¡°Heaven doesn¡¯t want our Great Zhou to be destroyed.¡± Zhou Qing drew a deep breath, his tensed body relaxed, and his heart was also relieved of the heavy pressure he had before. Zhou Yuan had showed the strength of the Divine Dwelling stage, which immediately made up for the greatest flaw of the Great Zhou. They had the power to fight the Great Wu once again. However, Zhou Qing was somewhat puzzled studying the Divine Dwelling halo behind Zhou Yuan. ..... And while cheers broke out from the Great Zhou¡¯s side, there was a somewhat cold atmosphere on the Great Wu¡¯s side. Countless soldiers, had a change of expression on their faces, and the Alpha Origin experts¡¯ expression also grew solemn. Because they knew very well what the Divine Dwelling stage represented to the current battlefield. It was just that nobody thought that Zhou Yuan could step into the Divine Dwelling stage at such a young age. His talent was indeed unbelievable. In the sky, King Wu¡¯s eyes were similarly fixed on the Divine Dwelling halo behind Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His face twitched slightly and a stormy sea was currently brewing in his heart. ¡°How could that boy of the Zhou family step into the Divine Dwelling stage?¡± ¡°According to the information I have received he should he be at the peak of the Alpha Origin stage...¡± King Wu''s face was dark. The fact that Zhou Yuan broke through to the Divine Dwelling stage could cause some changes to the situation. ¡°And why isn¡¯t that boy¡¯s Divine Dwelling halo showing any brilliance? How many Divine Dwellings did he open?¡± ..... Zhou Yuan was also looking at the Divine Dwelling halo behind him with a strange face. In truth, when he retrieved part of the Sacred Dragon Qi from Wu Huang, the Genesis Qi in his body was already soaring at an astonishing rate. He had been adjusting to the changes on his journey back from the Shengzhou Continent.... Before the completion of the breakthrough, Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation had already reached the terrifying level of 300,000 Genesis Qi stars. This was even stronger when compared to the Cangxuan old ancestor¡¯s foundation when he broke through to the Divine Dwelling stage back then. Therefore, when the Genesis Qi foundation reached 300,000, Zhou Yuan''s Qi Dwelling also naturally began to evolve into a Divine Dwelling. The most important time in the Divine Dwelling stage was the opening of Divine Dwelling, which would determine the rank and potential of the Divine Dwelling. That time was also the important time for the Divine Establishing Treasure to display its divine ability. But the problem that Zhou Yuan had was that Divine Establishing Treasures couldn¡¯t enter his Qi Dwelling, because once inside, it would be swallowed by the ¡®Heaven Punishment Saint Rune¡¯ that had occupied his Qi Dwelling... However, this problem didn¡¯t trouble Zhou Yuan for too long. When the Divine Dwelling began to open, the ¡®Heaven Punishment Saint Rune¡¯ also made Zhou Yuan understand why it didn¡¯t allow other Divine Establishing Treasures to appear.... Because having it was already enough. Zhou Yuan let out a deep breath, and sank into the Qi Dwelling with one thought. No, it should be called the Divine Dwelling now. The inside of the Divine Dwelling was grey, misty, mysterious, and vast like the beginning of the world, and within the Divine Dwelling, there was nine layers born... That¡¯s correct. With the help of the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan opened up nine Divine Dwellings, which were rarely seen in the world¡­ ¡°Nine Divine Dwellings....¡± Even though Zhou Yuan had already repeatedly confirmed whether it was true or not, he still found it difficult to calm his mind. He felt a surge of emotions when he sensed the mysterious nine Divine Dwellings. But in truth, Zhou Yuan also expected that result. After all, the fact that the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune could swallow Eight-Colour Divine Establishing Treasures suggested that the Saint Rune had unbelievable abilities. According to Zhou Yuan''s speculation, even genuine Nine-Colour Divine Establishing Treasures couldn¡¯t be compared to the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. Because.... Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, a complicated look crossed his face as he looked at the Divine Dwelling Halo that had floated from behind him to the front. Generally speaking, if nine Divine Dwellings were opened, then the brilliance emitted should be nine different colours. But Zhou Yuan''s divine halo wasn¡¯t nine coloured, instead...was a mysterious colour that resembled chaos. When Zhou Yuan broke through to the Divine Dwelling and opened up nine Divine Dwellings, he watched the number of colour of the halo increase one by one, until it finally reached nine dazzling colours. But before he could feel excited by this change, the nine colours changed once again. The colour faded, and eventually turned into a chaotic colour that almost couldn¡¯t be revealed. At that time, he was even able to sense the mysterious fluctuations of energy from the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. It was obvious that the colour change of the halo of the Divine Dwelling was related to the Saint Rune again. His Divine Dwelling seemed to have transformed once again. ¡°When I opened up the Qi Dwelling, it was turned a blood red colour by the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Posion...¡± ¡°Now when I opened the Divine Dwelling, it was changed to a chaotic colour by the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune...¡± Zhou Yuan looked at the chaos halo in front of him, and sighed in a melancholy way. Why did my nine-colour halo change? If the flashy colours were still there, it most likely would have turned King Wu¡¯s facial expression many times more ugly than it was now. ¡°Sigh, chaotic colour....although isn¡¯t very pretty, but it can fight, right?¡± Zhou Yuan could only try to comfort himself like so. Then he lifted his head and shifted his eyes onto King Wu¡¯s dark face with a faint smile. Then, his eyes gradually turned biting cold. ¡°King Wu....¡± Chapter 699 Against King Wu King Wu stood tall in the sky, studying Zhou Yuan¡¯s cold expression. He drew a deep breath, and immediately suppressed the surging emotions, ¡°Arrogant boy, even if you have stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage, you only have a glimpse of the stage, while I have been there for many years.¡± Numerous generals and soldiers on the Great Wu¡¯s side nodded. That was indeed correct. Even if Zhou Yuan had stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage, he would only be at the beginning stage and King Wu should still have the upper hand. Zhou Yuan sneered, ¡°You have stepped foot into the Divine Dwelling for many years, but is still at the initial level. You¡¯re not that impressive.¡± The corners of King Wu¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, ¡°Nonsense!¡± Boom! This word faded and he no longer said anything else. He stamped his feet and crimson red Genesis Qi erupted from his body, turning the entire sky red. Ferocious Genesis Qi pressure spread out, like red clouds. If that majestic strength were measured in terms of Genesis Qi stars then it most likely would have reached at least one million! As powerful Genesis Qi shrouded the entire battlefield, many Alpha Origin experts revealed a look of awe. Their Genesis Qi stars most likely were only over ten thousands, which was hundred times less than that of King Wu. This was the absolute strength of the Divine Dwelling stage! It wasn¡¯t something that an expert of the Alpha Origin stage could compete with. Of course, based on the Genesis Qi foundation, King Wu was certainly at the initial stage of the Divine Dwelling, though he most likely had reached the peak of the initial stage.... On the walls of Broken Dragon city, Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan and others¡¯ faces also had turned solemn. A foundation of millions of Genesis Qi stars was simply too terrifying to them. ¡°Your Highness has only just entered the Divine Dwelling stage, and his foundation is probably not as deep as that of King Wu.¡± Wei Canglan remarked in a concerned voice. Zhou Qing nodded, ¡°If Yuan¡¯er isn¡¯t strong enough then activate the battle puppets to help.¡± Now that they also had a Divine Dwelling expert on their side, the advantage that the Great Wu had was greatly weakened. Although they may not beat the Great Wu, they hoped to at least drag the situation to a stalemate. Wei Canglan and others accepted the order with a nod. Zhou Yuan was the Great Zhou¡¯s last hope. So long as they could protect him, there would be hope for the Great Zhou. When everybody present was being suppressed by King Wu''s Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan lifted his head. The crimson red sky reflected in his pupils, but there wasn¡¯t much amazement in his eyes, instead he just laughed, ¡°A foundation of millions is indeed terrifying.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late to regret your actions now!¡± King Wu sneered. He only had killing intent towards Zhou Yuan. The fact that Zhou Yuan had stepped foot into the Divine Dwelling stage at such a young age was enough to show his terrifying talent, and if he was given some more time, the Great Wu most likely would be destroyed in his hand. So King Wu had made up his mind to get rid of the trouble once and for all! Boom! As the murderous spirit surged, King Wu¡¯s hands rapidly folded in hand seals. His Divine Dwelling halo drifted in front of him, and suddenly rotated. Buzz! Overwhelming Genesis Qi whizzed out, drilling directly into the halo of the Divine Dwelling. Rumble! In the next instant, a pillar of crimson red light spurted out from the Divine Dwelling halo, like a red dragon, causing the space to vibrate, and aimed directly for Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. That torrent of Genesis Qi wasn¡¯t only vast, but also extremely condensed. Evidently, once stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage, one¡¯s control of Genesis Qi would be much stronger than when at the Alpha Origin stage. As the red torrent gushed down, Zhou Yuan let out a long roar. His hands folded together, and erupted out dazzling golden Genesis Qi that met the red torrent head on. Rumble! Violent Genesis Qi shock waves raged out. That red torrent was blasted to pieces, but Zhou Yuan''s figure remained standing in the air, not budging an inch. The golden Genesis Qi that was emitted from his body had shrouded half the sky. The pressure of that attack was in no way inferior to King Wu¡¯s! He stretched lazily and smiled at King Wu, ¡°that million Genesis Qi foundation doesn''t seem so great afterall?¡± Countless gasps of astonishment broke out from the battlefield. Whether it was on the Great Wu or Great Zhou¡¯s side, everybody was dumbstruck. In the sky, King Wu''s pupils also rapidly shrank. He hissed through gritted teeth, ¡°How is it possible? You have just broke through to the Divine Dwelling stage, why is your foundation so strong?!¡± The foundation shown by the Genesis Qi that erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was over one million, and was in no way not inferior to his! King Wu found it hard to believe. It should be said that back when he had just reached the Divine Dwelling stage, he only possessed a foundation of 580,000 Genesis Qi stars, which couldn¡¯t be compared to Zhou Yuan¡¯s! On the city walls, Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan and others were staring at one another in disbelief. ¡°How could your Highness''s foundation be so strong?¡± Wei Canglan asked puzzledly. ¡°The only explanation is that the Divine Dwellings that Yuan¡¯er opened up is extraordinary.¡± Zhou Qing answered after a thought. ¡°Just like when King Wu opened up five Divine Dwellings. His Highness had just broke through, but his foundation is already as strong as King Wu¡¯s...... Did His Highness open up seven Divine Dwellings, or even eight?¡± Wei Canglan swallowed a mouthful of saliva. For people of their level, they would already be pleased beyond expectations to achieve four divine dwellings when breaking through to the Divine Dwellings stage. Seven or eight divine dwellings were simply unattainable to them. They wouldn¡¯t even dare to think about Nine Divine Dwellings..... Other high-ranking generals of the Great Zhou also gasped with amazement. On the other side, Wei Qingqing was similarly gazing at the young figure in the sky with a complicated look in her eyes. She still remembered when Zhou Yuan was just a little youngster of the Great Zhou residence, and his Qi Dwelling hadn¡¯t been formed yet. Who would have thought that after a few years that young man had already reached this level? Black Venom King wiped away a bead of cold sweat on his forehead. He immediately turned to Zhou Qing, cleared his throat and spoke in a sincere voice, ¡°With a talented genius like Your Highness, Your Majesty simply don¡¯t need to do anything. Your Majesty really is blessed.¡± Zhou Qing looked at him with a faint smile that was not quite a smile, ¡°You don¡¯t think my Great Zhou is going to be destroyed?¡± Ever since the Great Wu had invaded the Great Zhou, Black Venom King had been extremely negative and even thought he would die. Black Venom King flushed with embarrassment, ¡°I was shortsighted, how can I compare with Your Majesty?¡± How could he have known that Zhou Yuan was able to break through to the Divine Dwelling stage and return to the Great Zhou? From the current situation, his highness was too terrifying, like he was not human. He had just broken through the Divine Dwelling stage, but already he was not in the any least inferior to the Wu King who had broken through for so many years. His martial talent was absolutely rare. So he hastened to make his stance clear to avoid Zhou Yuan getting back at him if the Great Wu really was defeated. After all, given Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, he could simply kill an expert of the Alpha origin stage to death with a wave of his palm. Moreover, now that Zhou Yuan had returned, his existence didn¡¯t matter to the Great Zhou at all. While both the Great Zhou and Great Wu were struck dumb by the Genesis Qi that broke out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, Zhou Yuan fixed a piercing stare on King Wu and smiled, ¡°it is impolite not to reciprocate. Why don¡¯t you try some moves of mine?¡± Boom! When his voice faded, bright golden Genesis Qi had already broken forth from his body. His figure transformed into a beam of golden light, and the Heavenly Yuan brush flashed to his hand. Buzz! The sharp brush tip vibrated rapidly, causing the space to tremble. In an instant, there were countless brush shadows ruthlessly shrouding King Wu. Upon seeing this, King Wu¡¯s expression also changed, a long golden sword forming in his hands. Crimson red Genesis Qi whizzed out to meet the brush head on. Clang! The sword and brush came into contact and exploded with an earth-shaking noise. Two figures collided like lightning in the sky. The violent shock waves brought up monstrous waves on the river below. However, no matter how many attacks King Wu launched out, he wasn¡¯t able to gain the slightest upper hand, because his foundation of millions of Genesis Qi stars had no effect in front of Zhou Yuan. As the battle continued, Zhou Yuan''s lips curved in a cold smile, and his body began to glow. Mythic Saint Body! Bodily strength broke out! Shadows of brush whizzed down and the space trembled. Clang! The brush and sword shadows forcibly collided once again, but this time, King Wu¡¯s face took on a drastic change, because the power coming over had suddenly surged, like a giant mountain was crushing down. Under that majestic force, the golden sword in King Wu¡¯s hand trembled violently, and his figure was directly blasted out, blood trickling down his fingers. Hua! And when King Wu was blasted away, exclamations of shock also broke out from the battlefield. This was followed by deafening cheers on the Great Zhou¡¯s side. While on the Great Wu¡¯s side, everybody was deathly pale. Who would have thought that the invincible King Wu in their hearts would be defeated by a youngster of the Great Zhou. Zhou Yuan stood tall in the air, swung the Heavenly Yuan brush in his hand to point at King Wu and said nonchalantly, ¡°Although you are at the Divine Dwelling stage, it¡¯s easier to deal with you than Wu Huang.¡± When he fought against Wu Huang, he had to bring out all his trump cards. But now that he had stepped foot into the Divine Dwelling stage, even in the face of King Wu, who was at the peak of the initial stage, he did not have to yield. Evidently, King Wu simply possessed a higher cultivation level than Wu Huang, but In terms of trump cards, King Wu couldn¡¯t be compared to Wu Huang. This was the difference in environment. Even if King Wu was renowned in the Cangmang Continent, and he was a king of an empire, compared with the Sacred Palace and Cangxuan Sect, he really wasn¡¯t worth mentioning. King Wu¡¯s face was ashen. He evidently never thought that one day he would be look down on by the young man he could pinch to death in the past. ¡°That kid of the Zhou family is too arrogant.¡± King Wu''s sinister voice rang in the sky, and the veins on his forehead bulged. ¡°You really think I came completely unprepared?¡± A scarlet light flashed in King Wu''s eyes. He suddenly clasped his hands together, and the next moment, powerful Genesis Qi suddenly gushed forth from his body. This Genesis qi began erupting at a shocking speed. While the Genesis Qi skyrocketed, everyone was shocked to see that, behind King Wu, was another halo slowly formed around the first divine dwelling halo. Two halos, one surrounded the other. Zhou Qing and other people''s facial expressions changed again. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Two Divine Dwelling halos...¡± Chapter 700 The Middle of the Divine Dwelling Stage King Wu hovered in the air above the Broken Dragon River, his face gloomy, and behind him were two divine dwelling halos slowly rotating, swallowing the Genesis Qi of the universe. An incredibly strong pressure emitted from his body and swept across the world. There were three levels in the Divine Dwelling stage, the initial, middle and advance, and as one progressed to the next level, one would gain another halo. Therefore, when King Wu¡¯s second halo appeared, it represented that he had already set foot onto the middle level of the Divine Dwelling stage. Evidently, King Wu had concealed a part of his power from the beginning. And when King Wu revealed his concealed strength, numerous generals and soldiers on the Great Wu¡¯s side immediately lit up with joy and cheered excitedly, ¡°King Wu is invincible!¡± They were all frightened when King Wu had lost the upper hand. After all, it would be a fatal blow to the morale of the Great Wu once King Wu lost to Zhou Yuan. At that time, let alone destroy the Great Zhou, the Great Zhou might even fight back. At that time, the army would collapse like an avalanche. It would be too heard to regain morale then. However, King Wu was indeed King Wu. He was unfathomable; he had already stepped into the middle level of the Divine Dwelling stage without anybody knowing. And compared with the wild cheers on the Great Wu¡¯s side, on the city walls of Broken Dragon City, Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan and other people''s faces had turned solemn. King Wu¡¯s move was beyond all their expectations. ¡°This thief is as cunning as ever!¡± Wei Canglan gritted his teeth. Zhou Qing scrunched his brows. Back then, King Wu had also concealed his strength to launch a fatal blow at the Great Zhou. ¡°Be ready to provide reinforcement.¡± Zhou Qing ordered. A combat of this level meant that ordinary attacks had no effect, but fortunately the Great Zhou had battle puppets on their side, which should have an impact on Divine Dwelling experts through its self-explosion ability. Wei Canglan nodded, but still looked very serious. ..... King Wu paid no attention to the response from the two armies. His fierce eyes were simply locked on Zhou Yuan, knowing that Zhou Yuan was the biggest obstacle in the destruction of the Great Zhou. If he could get rid of Zhou Yuan then the Great Zhou would undoubtedly be destroyed! ¡°I have always held back a trick or two. I didn¡¯t think all my tricks would be forced out by you.¡± ¡°But now that you have forced them all out, you''re going have to pay the price.¡± King Wu spoke in a chilling cold voice and his eyes flashed with killing intent. King Wu¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had directly soared by half a million after breakthrough to the middle of the Divine Dwelling stage! The increase was simply unthinkable for people of the Alpha Origin stage, but for the Divine Dwelling stage, it wasn¡¯t anything special. Boom! Red Genesis Qi roared. The next moment, directly under the control of King Wu, it thundered out like a raging scarlet python, skimming across the sky, and bombarded Zhou Yuan with incomparable strength. Genesis Qi swept over the area, causing the space to incessantly tremble. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. Golden Genesis Qi surged, and the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand was turned into a beam of gold light. It rapidly sped out and collided with the scarlet python-like Genesis Qi. Boom! Violent Genesis Qi raged. Zhou Yuan''s body shook violently, and was unexpectedly blasted hundred of feet across the void before he could steady his body. Evidently, in the face of King Wu, who had reached the middle level of the Divine Dwelling Stage, Zhou Yuan seemed to be at a disadvantage. Suddenly a loud cheer broke out from the Great Wu¡¯s side. On the other hand, the Great Zhou¡¯s side had turned gloomy once again. ¡°Boy of the Zhou family, so what if you have broke through to the Divine Dwelling stage?!¡± The long golden sword in King Wu¡¯s hand quivered, while his eyes were fixed coldly on Zhou Yuan. ¡°Hmph, return the Zhou family¡¯s Sacred Dragon? I am going to kill you in front of Zhou Qing today, and make him lose all hope!¡± King Wu''s hands folded together. Buzz! Behind him, the two halos also suddenly rotated, spraying out surging scarlet red Genesis Qi that gathered around King Wu. Vaguely, there seemed to be a gigantic scarlet-red light seal being formed. And on top of the light seal, there seemed to be a red dragon silhouette, releasing an earth shaking power as it roared. ¡°Oh? Heaven Genesis Technique?¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised to see King Wu display a Heaven Genesis Technique. It should be said that Heaven Genesis Techniques were extremely rare in the Cangmang Continent, so he didn¡¯t expect King Wu to know any. He speculated that King Wu¡¯s technique most likely had reached the mid grade of Heaven Genesis Technique. The technique should also be King Wu¡¯s last trump card. ¡°Scarlet Dragon Seal!¡± King Wu roared out as the Scarlet Dragon Seal took shape. The next moment, it suddenly smashed through the void. A huge shadow descended from the sky and directly enveloped Zhou Yuan. Although King Wu only used a mid grade Heaven Genesis Technique, under the activation of his 1.5 million Genesis Qi foundation of the middle level of the Divine Dwelling stage, the power was incredibly astonishing. As the light seal descended, the vast river also seemed to be split into two. That power made experts on both sides reveal a look of fear on their faces. Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the Scarlet Dragon Seal pressing down. His expression also turned solemn. An expert of the middle level of the Divine Dwelling stage indeed mustn¡¯t be underestimated. Boom! The Scarlet Dragon Seal whizzed down, and under countless shocked gazes, directly struck Zhou Yuan. Bang! His body fell and plunged into the Broken Dragon River, with the Scarlet Dragon Seal immediately following after him. Tremendous waves were lifted up in the river. The scarlet dragon that occupied the light seal let out a deafening roar, and that violent force turned the Broken Dragon River upside down. All eyes were nervously fixed on the area where the Scarlet Dragon Seal was currently pressing down on. Zhou Qing¡¯s fists were clenched tight, and Qin Yu had pounced over to the edge of the wall, anxiously murmuring, ¡°Yuan¡¯er, Yuan¡¯er...¡± In the sky, a fierce look flashed in King Wu¡¯s eyes as he thundered, ¡°Once suppressed by my Scarlet Dragon Seal, you will be refined!¡± Roar! On the scarlet dragon light seal, the red dragon silhouette turned abruptly, slamming towards the bottom of the light seal. It evidently intended to forcibly refine the person that was suppressed below. ¡°King Wu is invincible!¡± In the direction of the Great Wu, many Alpha Origin stage experts erupted in wild cheers. The army also burst into thunderous cheers. On the Broken Dragon City walls, Zhou Qing clenched his teeth and roared, ¡°Get eady to activate the battle puppets to self-explode!¡± Everybody¡¯s expression turned solemn, nodding vigorously. However, just when Zhou Qing intended to activate the battle puppets, from the depths of the Broken Dragon River, there were faint noises coming out from the deep silt suppressed by the Scarlet Dragon Seal. ¡°Mythic Saint Body.¡± ¡°Omega Saint Spirit Art.¡± ¡° ¡°Silver Shadow.¡± ¡°Earth Saint Rune.¡± ¡°...¡± Hearing the faint voice coming from the bottom of the Broken Dragon River, King Wu''s pupils shrank, and then he said coldly, ¡°Stop pretending, refine him!¡± The scarlet dragon silhouette roared down, and drilled into the bottom of the river. Boom! However, as the scarlet dragon silhouette rushed down, a palm covered in silver armour suddenly stretched out from under the scarlet dragon light seal and grasped the scarlet dragon silhouette, squeezing tight. Bang! The scarlet dragon light seal emitted a tragic wail and was directly crushed the next moment! King Wu¡¯s face changed dramatically upon seeing this. The wild cheering on the Great Wu''s side also halted abruptly. On the city walls, a look of astonishment had crossed Zhou Qing¡¯s face. Countless eyes were fixed on the depths of Broken Dragon River, where the scarlet dragon light seal was violently jittering, and then, the light seal seemed to be slowly rising. King Wu clenched his teeth and forcefully activated the scarlet dragon light seal to press down once again, but it continued to rise slowly. In a short period of ten seconds, the scarlet dragon light seal had rose out of the water surface. At this moment, everybody saw that under the scarlet dragon light seal was a figure clad in silver armour, and exuding terrifying energy all over. His hand was stretched out and forcefully pushed the scarlet dragon light seal back. ¡°Was that your last trump card?¡± The silver armoured figure held the scarlet dragon light seal in his hand, and shifted his indifferent gaze onto King Wu. King Wu''s face was dark, and in the depths of his eyes, there was a hint of fear flashing. The silver armoured figure clenched his hand, and slammed his fist into the scarlet dragon light seal. It immediately quivered, before exploded into countless rays of red light. In the misty red light, Zhou Yuan, clad in silver armour, stepped across the surface of the river. Behind him were two slowly fluttering light wings that brought up gigantic waves. At that moment, he was exuding terrifying Genesis Qi all over his body. Zhou Yuan''s eyes, without the slightest ripple of emotions, locked on King Wu, and an indifferent voice reverberated throughout the heavens and earth. ¡°If this is your last trump card then....¡± ¡°King Wu....¡± Chapter 701 Kill King Wu Clad in silver armour, Zhou Yuan stepped across the water. The outside of the silver armour was glowing in a mysterious light, and behind him was a pair of stretched out wings. If one carefully examined, one would be able to discover that the silver armour was fluctuating with a green yellow colour. Earthshaking Genesis Qi was emitted from his body, stirring up tremendous waves. Countless gazes from both sides, filled with shock and disbelief, focused on his body. This was because Zhou Yuan¡¯s imposing aura was too tremendous. Even King Wu, who had just stepped into the middle level of the Divine Dwelling stage, seemed to have been suppressed by him... ¡°Your Highness is really...invincible.¡± On the city walls, Wei Canglan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim when he looked at the figure in silver armour. He still remembered that day when Zhou Yuan turned the tide when King Qi rebelled. At that time, he was like he was now, dressed in silver armour. However, back then, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t as strong as he was now. The other generals also nodded repeatedly with awe in their eyes. The strength that Zhou Yuan showed was indeed too terrifying. Hearing their praises, Zhou Qing couldn''t help but laugh, his eyes filled with pride. ¡°King Wu thought that Yuan¡¯er wouldn¡¯t be able to rise after he took away his Sacred Dragon Qi. But my Zhou family¡¯s Sacred Dragon won¡¯t be destroyed so easily by him!¡± Zhou Qing was in high spirits. .... While Zhou Qing was beaming with happiness, King Wu¡¯s face was incredibly gloomy when he stared intently on the silver armoured figure below and the corners of his mouth twitching involuntarily. He could feel that Zhou Yuan had used several Genesis Techniques at the same time. If his predictions were correct, they were all Heaven Genesis Techniques that were a higher grade than the Scarlet Dragon Seal that he performed! Otherwise, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t have possessed such powers. But this made King Wu felt somewhat indignant. His scarlet dragon seal was something he only obtained after he exhausted all his strength, but even so, it was only a mid-grade Heaven Genesis Technique. Was any one of the Genesis Techniques that Zhou Yuan used weaker than his? Therefore, even if Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi was slightly less than his, through those powerful Genesis Techniques, he was still able to force him into a difficult situation. Looking at the silver figure below, there was finally a trace of uneasiness rising in King Wu''s heart. Boom! But when emotions were tumbling within King Wu, Zhou Yuan fiercely flapped his light wings behind him. Huge waves rolled up, but his figure had disappeared from where he was like a ghost. King Wu''s face changed abruptly, retreating rapidly. Buzz! King Wu swung the golden sword in his hand to block the attack with all his strength. Îä Clang! Metallic clang echoed, sparks sputtered, and King Wu¡¯s expression changed rapidly, because he felt an incomparably fierce power gushing over like a mountainous torrent. The hand that gripped around the sword hilt instantly cracked, blood rapidly trickled down, and his body was blasted away. Zhou Yuan had activated the Mythic Saint Body, Omega Saint Spirit Art, and Earth Saint rune...Under that tremendous power, each strike was over 1.5 million Genesis Qi foundation! So even if King Wu had stepped foot into the middle level of the Divine Dwelling Stage, Zhou Yuan was still able to suppress him. Clang! Zhou Yuan fought without holding back. His power soared unreservedly, and the overwhelming brush shadow whizzed out. King Wu frantically tried to withstand. He roared repeatedly, but all attempts were useless. His figure constantly retreated, while blood trickled down the body of his sword. The troops of the Great Wu all watched anxiously. Some Alpha Origin stage generals also felt a feeling of uneasiness shrouding their hearts. No one thought that King Wu, who had stepped into the middle level of the Divine Dwelling stage, would lose to the Prince of the Great Zhou! Clang! The brush and spear collided in the sky once again. ¡°Million whale!¡± As Zhou Yuan roared, there were multiple ancient whale images emerging outside the Heaven Yuan Brush, and as the black brush was swung down, the space also began to crack. Clang! Sparks sputtered in all direction. King Wu¡¯s face was deathly pale as a jet of blood sprayed out his mouth. He stumbled and collapsed, rolling thousands of feet across the raging river. Zhou Yuan stood tall in the air. Under the silver armour, his eyes were coldly staring at King Wu, and an indifferent voice sounded, ¡°Dog Wu, when you took my Sacred Dragon Qi, have you thought about today?¡± King Wu''s face was covered with blood, looking incomparably terrifying, as he roared, ¡°What I regret the most is that I failed to take your life when I took your Sacred Dragon Qi!¡± He was indeed filled with regret. When he took the Qi of the Sacred Dragon, he was full of arrogance and thought that everything was sorted. But who would have thought that, more than a decade later, the baby, who was almost crippled by him, hadn¡¯t died, but had grown to be extremely strong. What the Wu family had plotted for years was completely destroyed! Zhou Yuan indifferently remarked, ¡°A thief will always be a thief.¡± Swoosh! His figure transformed into a stream of light and shot out. King Wu''s Genesis Qi erupted as his figure rapidly retreated. Chi! The void shook and the brush shadow thrust forward, aiming directly at King Wu with inescapable speed. Ah! King Wu let out a miserable shriek, blood sputtered, and an arm was hurled into the sky. ¡°This is the arm you owe my father!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were piercing sharp like a knife. As he stepped forward, the brush shadow, like a dragon, directly pierced King Wu¡¯s chest. ¡°This is for causing my mother¡¯s lifespan to reduce!¡± King Wu screamed, and retreated frantically. The sharp brush shadow enveloped him, and directly tore King Wu¡¯s body into two with lightning speed. Blood streaked across Zhou Yuan. ¡°This is for the torture of the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison that I had to suffer....¡± King Wu¡¯s body looked incredibly tragic. With blood red eyes, he clutched tight onto the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he sneered, ¡°boy, your family was useless back then. They deserved to be turned into stray dogs by me!¡± ¡°So what if so? In fact, if it weren''t for the hardships you caused me, I wouldn¡¯t be who I am today.¡± Zhou Yuan remarked indifferently. Without those suffering, and if everything had gone smoothly, Zhou Yuan perhaps would only be sitting in the Cangmang Continent and staring at the sky, just like King Wu. King Wu¡¯s face twisted with rage, ¡°Boy, what makes you think you can kill me, I am going to make you be buried along with with me!¡± His body suddenly erupted into thousands of rays of light. His body had self-destructed! Boom! Incomparably terrifying Genesis Qi broke out. It tore the vast Broken Dragon River apart, and formed a huge pit that made it even difficult for the river to flow. Bang! Zhou Yuan''s figure blasted away, landing hard on the river surface. Puchi. A mouthful of blood spurted from his mouth, and cracks began to appear across his silver armour. The silver armour suddenly dissipated as he wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth. His eyes were still coldly fixed on where King Wu had self-destructed. ¡°If you really had self-destructed, then I might have respected you a little, but unfortunately you only used it to escape!¡± From the area that his eyes were fixed on was an invisible spirit shooting out with two halos surrounding it. It was trying to break away at indescribable speed. It was the spirit of King Wu. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I will get back at you for this!¡± ¡°I will return to massacre your Great Zhou!¡± The roar of King Wu echoed throughout the world. ¡°Great Wu, retreat!¡± When King Wu''s scream resounded, the endless formation of the Great Wu army on the Broken Dragon River also completely crumbled. At this point, everyone knew that the battle in which the Great Wu exhausted all its strength to attack the Great Zhou had ended. Chapter 702 Great Zhou’s Counterattack Atop the walls of Broken Dragon City, Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan and the rest stared with dazed expressions and hanging mouths at the Great Wu Empire army that had been crushed in the blink of an eye. No one had expected the aggressive and menacing army that had threatened to destroy the Great Zhou Empire to fall apart so easily. The area atop the city walls fell into a temporary silence. Countless people rubbed their eyes in disbelief, feeling as if they were in a dream. Was they seeing a final impossible delusion before their deaths? Some of the warriors could not help but give themselves a slap, causing slapping noises to sound one after another, which were quickly followed by painful yelps. ¡°Ouch! Wait, so this is real?¡± ¡°Hey! Can¡¯t you hit yourself? Why the hell did you hit me!¡± ¡°Eh¡­¡± ¡°The Great Wu Empire army has collapsed?¡± ¡°That seems to be the case¡­¡± ¡°......¡± The city walls turned somewhat chaotic. Everyone finally returned to their senses as wild joy flooded their faces. Deafening cheers exploded a split second later, shaking even the sturdy city walls. Everyone had been prepared to die for their country just moments ago, not because they no longer wished to live, but because the situation had been hopeless and there was no other path left for them to take. Who could have imagined hope to descend from the sky amidst their despair? ¡°His highness is invincible!¡± ¡°His highness is invincible!¡± ¡°......¡± Cheers that could over turn even the sea itself boomed across the land. The Great Zhou Empire army gazed at the youthful figure atop the river with incomparable excitement. The reverence and worship in their eyes so concentrated that it was nearly about to overflow. Having Zhou Yuan descend like a god from the heavens and single handedly save them from what should have been sure death likely made them revere him even more than Zhou Qing. The eyes of Wei Canglan and the other commanders turned red with emotion as they sighed deeply, ¡°His highness truly is the sacred dragon.¡± Their hearts were filled with shock. No one had expected the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage King Wu to be forced to flee after having his physical body destroyed by Zhou Yuan. Zhou Qing¡¯s face was likewise flushed red with emotion, no longer any trace of his usual steady expression. He slammed his hands onto the city walls as he mumbled, ¡°Great! Great! ¡°Wu Xuan, you wanted to ruin the Sacred Dragon of my Zhou clan. How do you like the taste of the consequences?! ¡°The Sacred Dragon of my clan will not succumb so easily!¡± ¡°Father, mother.¡± When he landed, his gaze immediately looked towards Zhou Qing and Qin Yu as he smiled. Qin Yu was the first to rush over, her eyes red as she carefully looked Zhou Yuan up and down. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, are you hurt anywhere?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as he hugged his mother. ¡°Relax mother, I¡¯m fine.¡± Zhou Qing also strided forward, his eyes filled with emotion as he looked at Zhou Yuan. In the end, he forcefully patted the latter¡¯s shoulder as he said, ¡°You¡¯ve finally grown up.¡± Zhou Yuan had merely been a very young Heaven Gate stage practitioner when he left his home years ago. After returning again, he was now a Divine Dwelling stage expert. While it did make Zhou Qing feel a little sad, he was also extremely proud and happy. ¡°The Great Zhou Empire really has to thank you this time.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head and smiled, ¡°I¡¯m the prince of the Great Zhou Empire, and it''s my duty to protect it. ¡°Besides¡­¡± He fell silent for a moment as a set of gleaming white teeth were revealed. ¡°Father, after so many years...I can¡¯t keep ignoring my responsibilities.¡± When he left his home years ago, Zhou Yuan had told Zhou Qing that he would pay back all of the humiliation they had received back then. At that point in time, perhaps even Zhou Qing had merely taken these words as the boasting of a kid. However, this very same kid had actually done it. King Wu, who had once brought endless endless pain, suffering and humiliation for Zhou Yuan, Zhou Qing, Qin Yu and the Great Zhou Empire...the very same King Wu that had always seemed invincible, almighty and peerless in their eyes...had been defeated by Zhou Yuan in front of everyone. All the past grudges and humiliation felt as if it had been fully repaid at that moment. Zhou Qing¡¯s red eyes finally turned somewhat moist as he nodded, ¡°Although I¡¯ve been suppressed in nearly every aspect by King Wu over the years, there¡¯s one thing that I have over him; my son is stronger than his! ¡°I did not know how to answer earlier when King Wu asked me on what basis did I dare to compete with him, but now that I think about it...it''s because I have a great son!¡± At this point, Zhou Qing could not help but laugh. Zhou Yuan also chuckled as he shook his head. ¡°Father, with King Wu defeated and their army falling apart, the Great Zhou Empire can¡¯t let this opportunity slip past.¡± After conversing a little more with Zhou Qing, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze turned towards the direction of the defeated Great Wu Empire. Zhou Qing¡¯s pupils shrunk a little. ¡°What do you wish to do?¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°Although King Wu¡¯s physical body was destroyed, he has likely made preparations for such a situation, and it will not be difficult for him to recover. In the near future, he will become a big threat to the Great Zhou Empire again.¡± In addition, he could not stay in the Great Zhou Empire forever. The world here was far too tiny, and would not be beneficial to his cultivation. Hence, he needed to eliminate the problem at its root. ¡°The sacred dragon blessing taken from me back then was divided into three parts by King Wu. I¡¯ve already taken back Wu Huang¡¯s portion, but there¡¯s still one more with the Great Wu Empire. Only by destroying Great Wu will I be able to take back the blessing.¡± Zhou Yuan looked straight at Zhou Qing as his voice turned cold, ¡°Hence, the Great Wu Empire needs to be destroyed for the Great Zhou Empire to regain its former glory!¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes immediately flooded with intense emotions. It was a day he looked forward to at every waking moment. Zhou Qing took in a deep breath and said, ¡°King Wu¡¯s defeat is a fatal blow to the morale of the Great Wu Empire army. This is the best chance for us to counter attack.¡± He seemed to regain the dignity of the Great Wu Empire¡¯s king at this moment. He looked towards Wei Canglan and the other commanders and solemnly said, ¡°Great general, the Great Zhou Empire will pour all of our forces into counter attacking. The things that we once lost shall be taken back by us this time!¡± Wei Canglan¡¯s face flushed red with excitement as he cupped his trembling fists together, ¡°I¡¯ve received your command!¡± As Wei Canglan left to carry out his orders, the interior of Broken Dragon City soon began a beehive of activity. An enormous army was swiftly assembled before the gates were flung open, revealing countless battle carriages filled with high spirited troops. Zhou Yuan stood atop the city walls and nodded as he observed the grand sight. ¡°Father, this is still not the time to relax¡­ Zhou Yuan turned towards Zhou Qing and said, ¡°I will go after King Wu and make it impossible for him to reorganize his army. As for the rest, I¡¯ll leave it to you guys.¡± He could kill King Wu, but it was not very possible for him to siege a thousand cities alone. That would be far too exhausting for a single individual. Zhou Qing nodded and said in a concerned voice, ¡°Be careful, even a cornered rabbit will bite back.¡± By the side, unwillingness was visible in Qin Yu¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan nodded as he smiled at Qin Yu, ¡°Don¡¯t worry mother, even King Wu at his full power was not my match, let alone now that he¡¯s already lost his physical body.¡± As his voice rang out, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had already soared into the sky, transforming into a flash of light as he sped away. ¡°Father, I will be waiting for you guys at the capital of the Great Wu Empire. We¡¯ll celebrate again when we meet once more!¡± Chapter 703 Astonishing Everyone The entire Great Wu Empire was shocked when their army returned in defeat. Everyone was unable to believe what had happened, because it was a result that had exceeded their expectations. The Great Wu Empire was a top-class empire even in the entire Cangmang Continent. When had King Wu ever lost on his many expeditions? What¡¯s more, their opponent this time was the weak Great Zhou Empire. Logic pointed to an easy, overwhelming victory. Who could have expected the Great Wu Empire to be defeated so quickly instead? Moreover, even King Wu had been gravely injured! As such, the entire Great Wu Empire began to stir restlessly. Especially those who had been important ministers in the Great Zhou Empire back then. They currently held high positions in the Great Wu Empire, but now grew extremely worried. Many years ago, they had rebelled together with King Wu and seized the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s lands. They had originally believed that there was nothing to fear from the Great Zhou Empire, so who could have anticipated the latter to suddenly appear as if it was about to make a comeback. If the Great Zhou Empire defeated the Great Wu Empire and took back everything they had lost, these individuals who were once ministers of the Great Zhou Empire would surely be put to trial. As such, news of the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s counter attack made the entire Great Wu Empire descend into chaos. If King Wu stepped forward at such a time, he would still be able to suppress the unrest. However, he was missing, not even a hint of his shadow to be found. As a dragon without its head, the morale of the Great Wu Empire began to crumble. Hence, the Great Zhou army easily steamrolled over the Great Wu Empire¡¯s defenses. Smoke and the fires of battle burned from the lands of Great Zhou to the territory of the Great Wu Empire. ... The Great Wu Empire¡¯s defeat swiftly spread to the entire Cangmang Continent, shocking the many empires and factions. They were even more astonished and confused after finding out what had happened on the battlefield. King Wu had actually been defeated by the young prince of the Great Zhou Empire... King Wu was definitely a top-tier expert in the Cangmang Continent. In fact, he was most likely the strongest after the revelations of his intermediate Divine Dwelling stage cultivation. Who could have expected that an intermediate Divine Dwelling stage expert would be beaten by Zhou Yuan, who had recently stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage. For a time, numerous first-class empires began to review their opinion of the once fallen Great Zhou Empire. They understood that once this war was over, the once famous Great Zhou Empire would perhaps rise up once more... ... Shengzhou Continent, the Cangxuan Sect. Clang! Clang! News of Zhou Yuan victory over King Wu spread to the entire sect at this moment, causing ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan is way too amazing!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe he actually defeated the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage King Wu!¡± ¡°He¡¯s basically invincible!¡± ¡°Such battle accomplishments are simply terrifying. Let¡¯s see which Sacred Palace disciple will dare to show off in front our Cangxuan Sect in the future.¡± ¡°......¡± All the Cangxuan Sect disciples felt very proud. After all, such battle achievements were indeed very rare. On a certain peak. Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng, Ye Ge and the others watched the excited disciples before looking at each other, seeing the amazement in everyone¡¯s eyes. Li Qingchan softly said, ¡°I did not expect that he would be the first to reach the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Ye Ge rubbed his chin as he said, ¡°Beating King Wu at the initial Divine Dwelling stage; I feel Zhou Yuan has established an eight heavens Divine Dwelling at the very least¡­¡± The others did not speak, but their expressions had turned solemn. An eight heavens Divine Dwelling was very very uncommon. Chu Qing sighed with a worried expression and said, ¡°How troublesome...his cultivation is advancing like crazy, putting us under a tremendous amount of pressure. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it great in the past, we could leisurely cultivate and enjoy our lives in peace.¡± Chu Qing displayed a pained and grieving appearance as he continued, ¡°The culture in our Cangxuan Sect has been spoiled by this brat!¡± Li Qingchan cast a sideways glance at him and said, ¡°I heard sect master say that he wants you to immediately seclude yourself for cultivation. If you do not advance to the Divine Dwelling stage and establish an eight heavens Divine Dwelling, he will chase you out and send you to become an instructor in the outer mountains.¡± Chu Qing sighed again as he mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s because of that brat Zhou Yuan!¡± Li Qingchan responded in an annoyed voice, ¡°I feel that this is much better. We should work hard to progress on the road of cultivation. Instead, what the heck is with your laziness? ¡°Zhou Yuan entered the sect later than us, but has now reached the Divine Dwelling stage. What face will we have left if we don¡¯t advance too?¡± The other Chosen nodded, deeply in agreement. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll need to work hard, let¡¯s all begin secluded cultivation today!¡± The Chosen exchanged a look before moving, flying towards their respective peaks. In the blink of an eye, only Chu Qing was left on the peak, making him appear rather lonely. ¡°Hai, you bastard, you¡¯ve ruined the training atmosphere in my Cangxuan Sect!¡± Chu Qing let out another depressed sigh. In the end, he could only return to the Cangxuan Peak in a dispirited manner. The official discussion hall. Sect master Qing Yang had a slight smile on his face, while the peak masters wore looks of surprise. They were likewise immediately notified of the outcome between the Great Zhou and Great Wu Empires. ¡°Zhou Yuan is truly a heaven blessed genius.¡± The peak masters could not help but sigh upon hearing the news. ¡°It seems that a dragon has been born in our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Sect master Qing Yang beamed a little. ¡°I wonder what kind of expression that old bastard Sheng Yuan is showing now?¡± Peak master Lianyi icily chuckled. Torrential, unconcealable hatred overflowed from her eyes at the mention of his name. The war between the Great Zhou and Great Wu Empires was also a small skirmish between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace. And it seemed that their Cangxuan Sect had achieved a complete victory. News of this would surely be a substantial blow to the Sacred Palace reputation when it spread. A thoughtful look arose on sect master Qing Yang¡¯s face. ¡°I feel that Sheng Yuan is plotting something else.¡± His eyes turned as deep as the night. Sect master Qing Yang had a faint feeling that though Sheng Yuan appeared to be secretly directing the situation, he had not interfered much. The eyes of the other peak masters widened a little. They were clearly extremely wary of sect master Sheng Yuan. ¡°What exactly is he planning?¡± Sect master Qing Yang shook his head and slowly said, ¡°I don¡¯t have any ideas for the time being. However, I believe that if he really is planning something, his plot will definitely be revealed soon since the war between Great Wu and Great Zhou is about to be over. ¡°We will watch him closely at all times during these final moments!¡± ... The Sacred Palace. On the edge of a misty cliff. Sect master Sheng Yuan fiddled with the murky primal-chaos-like crystal ball before him. ¡°Wu Huang and King Wu...are truly a family of trash.¡± He shook his head. Soon after, he softly chuckled and said, ¡°Never mind, they¡¯re merely pieces on the board. Who cares what they are as long as they¡¯ve fulfilled their roles¡­¡± His eyes stared at the murky crystal ball as he mumbled, ¡°The clash between sacred dragon blessings should soon begin¡­¡± Chapter 704 Red Clothes Swish! Above a certain county in the now chaotic Great Wu Empire. The sound of rushing wind rang out as a ray of light flashed past in an extremely anxious manner. The ray of light was a Spirit. It was surrounded by two halos that continuously absorbed the surrounding Genesis Qi. This Spirit naturally belonged to King Wu. He was currently fleeing like mad, fear flooding his face as his gaze constantly darted behind him. He could sense Zhou Yuan chasing him at full speed. ¡°That damned spawn of the Zhou clan!¡± King Wu¡¯s heart was filled with rage. He had swept through the Cangmang Continent like an unstoppable flood for so many years and built an impressive reputation for himself. When had he ever fled in such a pathetic manner? ¡°I should have killed that babe on the altar back then!¡± King Wu had already repeated similar words countless times, making it clear just how much he hated Zhou Yuan at this juncture. He was naturally aware of the chaos in the Great Wu Empire while he fled, but he did not dare to stop and give any commands. Due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s dogged persistence, he would surely catch up to King Wu the moment he stopped. Moreover, the other forces in the Great Wu Empire was incapable of stopping the Divine Dwelling stage Zhou Yuan. Hence, even while knowing that the Great Wu Empire urgently required his presence, King Wu had no choice but to continue running for his life. After all, the Great Wu Empire would also be finished if he was slain by Zhou Yuan. ¡°It seems that I¡¯ll have to lure him to the capital. I have made some preparations there that may be able to stop him.¡± King Wu¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. He had a secret treasure in the capital that could recover his physical body. When that happened, he only needed to borrow the homeground advantage to beat back Zhou Yuan. While such thoughts swirled in his head, King Wu cast away any hesitation. The Divine Dwelling stage halos emitted a radiant glow as his speed abruptly soared, turning him into a streak of light that soon disappeared into the horizon. About half an incense stick after King Wu vanished, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared in the sky. His eyes narrowed as he gazed in the direction of King Wu¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations. ¡°The capital of the Great Wu Empire huh¡­ ¡°It appears that you¡¯ve yet to give up¡­ ¡°Well I¡¯m interested to find out how you¡¯ll be able to make a comeback!¡± Chilling killing intent flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. This was the best opportunity to kill King Wu. To prevent any future problems, there was absolutely no way he would let King Wu off. Swoosh! Golden Genesis Qi exploded as Zhou Yuan transformed into a streak of gold that rocketed in the direction of the Great Wu capital city. ... King Wu¡¯s Spirit stood in the sky above the capital. The city had already become a chaotic mess, evidently due to the news of The Great Wu Empire¡¯s defeat. King Wu¡¯s expression was somewhat sorrowful as he recalled how grand of a sight it had been when he led the army out of this very city. Who could have expected that he would ultimately return alone like a dog that had been chased from its home. ¡°Cursed spawn of the Zhou clan, I will make you pay!¡± King Wu¡¯s voice was filled with resentment. After taking a deep breath, he decided to tarry no further. His Spirit had already grown quite sparse over the past few days, and without any Spirit nourishing items of a physical body, his Spirit would likely disappear from this world. ¡°I have a treasure called the Treasure Lotus Paste in the royal treasury that can reconstruct one¡¯s body. This is the best time to use it.¡± King Wu¡¯s Spirit moved, flying straight towards the royal palace as he rushed towards the treasury. The treasury was a restricted area, and should have been tightly guarded. However, King Wu was puzzled to find that there were no guards to be seen, an observation that infuriated him. Could the guards have rebelled? Most importantly, the treasury had best be untouched! In his anxiousness, King Wu swiftly arrived outside the treasury. He breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that the doors were still intact and in perfectly good condition. The treasury was protected by a secret mechanism that outsiders could not open. King Wu did not have the time to wonder why the guards had vanished. He used a secret method to open the treasury and immediately dashed in. The interior sparkled dazzlingly, but King Wu did not even glance at any of the treasures as he rushed directly towards the deepest area. Moments later, his Spirit arrived atop a stone platform, only to be horrified to discover that it was empty. The Treasure Lotus Paste had disappeared! ¡°God dammit! Where¡¯s my Treasure Lotus Paste?!¡± Wu Huang roared in anger as his Spirit rippled violently, his anger clearly reaching its peak. Someone had stolen the Treasure Lotus Paste. This was clearly intentional! ¡°But I left a mark on the Treasure Lotus Paste. It won¡¯t be so easy to steal it from me!¡± However, King Wu gradually regained his cool with a deep breath. He was dying to see who was so daring as to steal from his treasury! King Wu immediately activated a secret art as his closed his eyes to sense the paste¡¯s location. A long while later, he suddenly opened them again as a puzzled look flitted across his eyes. He had found the Treasure Lotus Paste, but he was confused because it was still within the palace, and had not left... ¡°Humph, no matter who you are, I will not forgive you for stealing from my treasury!¡± King Wu icily snorted. His Spirit moved, drifting out of the treasury and heading straight for the location of the paste at an astonishing speed. He flew past in the palace, gradually heading deeper and deeper. In the end, he discovered that the paste was in the cemetery at the very back of the palace! King Wu grew increasingly confused. His Spirit drifted over and gradually came to a stop. The Treasure Lotus Paste was here. He looked to his front where a grand tomb stood. At the sight of the tomb, King Wu¡¯s Spirit began to violently tremble once more. It was the queen¡¯s tomb! Splash. Before a gravestone in the tomb was a figure in red. She held a bottle of alcohol in one hand as she gently sprinkled its contents on the ground, causing a fragrance to fill the air. After pouring all the alcohol out, she stared at the tombstone as an indifferent voice sounded, ¡°Father, this should be the second time you¡¯ve come here after mother was buried, right?¡± She slowly turned around, revealing an extremely beautiful face. It was a lovely young lady in red with skin as white as snow. Her looks were outstanding, and merely standing there was all it took to make the desolate and lonely tomb become rather dazzling. However, her eyes were akin to a deep rippleless pool. She was clearly a girl, but an indescribable aura of reserved domineeringness spread from her body, making King Wu appear dim and dull in comparison, as if she was the true empress of the heavens. King Wu was stunned for several moments, before he involuntarily cried out, ¡°Wu Yao?!! Why are you here? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in Hunyuan Heaven?!¡± However, wild joy quickly flooded his face. ¡°Great, you¡¯ve come back at the right time! Quickly go and kill that devil spawn of the Zhou clan so our Great Wu Empire will no longer have any worries in the future!¡± However, the girl in red did not move as if she had not heard him. Her rippleless eyes contained an almost emotionless indifference as they stared at the excited King Wu. King Wu slowly realized that something was wrong. He glared at her and chided, ¡°What the hell are you doing?!¡± Wu Yao¡¯s eyes lowered slightly. She reached out and gently caressed the mottled gravestone with a fair hand as a sliver of deep sadness appeared in the depths of her eyes. Chapter 705 Wu Yao part A Many years ago, King Wu rebelled against the Great Zhou Empire and caused its downfall. The king of Great Zhou, Zhou Qing, suffered defeat after defeat, and was ultimately forced into the desolate and remote northern region. As such, the Great Zhou Empire that had once awed the Cangmang Continent was shattered to pieces. In its place, King Wu established the Great Wu Empire that soon became a top-tier empire in the continent. King Wu also schemed to seize the sacred dragon blessing from the crown prince of the Great Zhou Empire, and infused it into his twin son and daughter whose births had been delayed to the same day as the Great Zhou crown prince. As a result, the Great Wu Empire gained the protection and blessings of the phoenix and dragon. The Great Wu Empire flourished over the years like a rising sun over the Cangmang Continent. Numerous empires came to give their blessings because the Great Wu Empire¡¯s position was already solidified. ¡­¡­ The Great Wu Empire Palace, the rear park. On an empty clearing, several strong looking guards had surrounded a little boy in bright yellow clothes. The young boy stood with his hands behind his back, the arrogance in his eyes seemingly originating from deep within his bones, as if he was a born king. The surrounding guards carefully watched him. Moments later, they suddenly charged forward with a swish, leaving faint after-images behind as fists and feet viciously struck towards the young boy. A smile rose from the corners of the young boy¡¯s mouth, a smile that contained a hint of ferocity. Rumble! Instead of taking evasive manoeuvres, the young boy dashed forward, charging straight into the attacks as faint Genesis Qi swirled around his tiny fists. Though small, they were packed full of power. Thump! Thump! The body of a guard would jerk back every time his fist landed, their chests seemingly caving inwards as a mouthful of bloody mist sprayed from their mouths. The young boy was vicious and cruel. All of the guards were sent flying as his figure weaved through them, their bloodied bodies groaning in pain as they curled up on the ground. Such an outcome was pretty surprising. ¡°Haha, great job. As expected of the dragon of my Wu clan!¡± When the fight was over, loud laughter boomed from the nearby stone steps as the other guards and palace servants hurriedly knelt. A smiling, tall and well-built middle-aged man had appeared. He had a determined and unyielding look, while a stern and dignified aura overflowed from between his brows. A certain pressure spread from his body, making everyone tremble involuntarily. It was obviously King Wu of the Great Wu Empire. The young boy who had been called the dragon of the Wu clan was naturally the Great Wu Empire¡¯s crown prince--- Wu Huang. Wu Huang nodded with a wide smile on his face, his eyes filled with satisfaction when he looked towards Wu Huang. With a dragon like this, there was no worry of the Great Wu Empire declining. While he smiled, his gaze shifted towards another direction as his brows involuntarily furrowed together. A young girl wearing a pretty little dress was seated amidst the flowers as she carefully tended to an injured little bird on her lap. Although the girl was very young, the outline of an extraordinary beauty was already beginning to emerge on her small face. Her fair skin was akin to white jade, faintly glowing under the sunlight. The young girl was called Wu Yao and was the little princess of the Great Wu Empire. King Wu frowned deeply as he gazed at Wu Yao. He originally had high hopes for her like Wu Huang. After all, the sacred dragon blessing from the crown prince of the Great Zhou Empire, Zhou Yuan, had been devoured by both Wu Huang and Wu Yao. Wu Huang¡¯s portion of the sacred dragon blessing had fully awakened over the past few years and was subsequently made into his own. He had begun cultivating two years ago, and had been improving at a rapid pace, and was now at the seven channel stage. In contrast, Wu Yao had achieved nothing. She showed no difference due to devouring the sacred dragon blessing. In fact, her cultivation progress was rather slow, making her no different than an ordinary person. Evidently, she had not awakened the sacred dragon blessing in her body. This made the originally hopeful King Wu feel extremely disappointed. ¡°Could Wu Yao¡¯s body be unsuited to the sacred dragon blessing?¡± King Wu¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. He was silent for a moment before he slowly said, ¡°Wu Huang and Wu Yao will be eight tomorrow¡­ ¡°Go prepare a cultivation baptism tomorrow. I hope that Wu Huang will be able to awaken the sacred dragon blessing in her body this time and begin to cultivate. If not, the sacred dragon blessing will be far too wasted on her.¡± King Wu¡¯s face was expressionless, and even a little cold as he nonchalantly said, ¡°If she truly is unsuitable, start thinking of a way to extract the sacred dragon blessing from her body and give it to Wu Huang. ¡°Only then will Wu Huang be able to fully bring out the power of the sacred dragon blessing and protect the Great Wu Empire, allowing us to flourish for a thousand generations.¡± The elder in black was alarmed by these words and said in a low voice, ¡°Your majesty, if the sacred dragon blessing in the little princess¡¯ body is taken away, it will greatly damage her core, and even make it impossible for her to cultivate.¡± King Wu was silent for a few brief moments before he cast an indifferent glance at the former. ¡°Even if she¡¯s unable to cultivate, she¡¯s still a princess of the Great Wu Empire and I will not mistreat her. As a daughter of the royal family, she has to be outstanding from a young age, and should naturally do her part for the Great Wu Empire. The elder in black was silent. He sighed inside as he looked towards the young amidst the flowers. There was no one in the entire Great Wu Empire who did not know the kindness of their princess. Unfortunately, something like kindness was the least needed thing in the royal family. I hope that the little princess will manage to awaken the sacred dragon blessing in her body tomorrow. While they were conversing, Wu Yao¡¯s tiny hands carefully lifted the injured little bird as a pure smile was revealed on her tiny face. ¡°Hey, that bird is about to die anyways, what¡¯s the point of saving it? It¡¯s better to let me roast it to eat!¡± However, a voice suddenly sounded at this moment as a hand reached over and grabbed at the little bird in Wu Yao¡¯s hands. Wu Yao panicked as she hurriedly hugged the bird in her arms to protect it. Thud! The hand struck Wu Yao¡¯s arm with substantial force, throwing her onto the ground. A look of pain emerged on her tiny face as a bruise appeared on her arm. ¡°Wu Huang, you!¡± She glared at the young boy in front of her. It was Wu Huang. Wu Huang grinned as he reached out again in an attempt to snatch away the bird. ¡°It¡¯s only a bird, quick, hand it over.¡± His tone suddenly turned somewhat angry. ¡°How can such a thing deserve your concern and protection?¡± He stared at the panicking little bird in Wu Yao¡¯s arms as he grew increasingly angry inside. In fact, killing intent at the innocent bird even began to appear in his eyes. It was just an unimportant little beast; how could it possibly deserve her concern? She had never shown such care even towards him, right? An indescribable feeling of jealousy rose in his heart. Wu Yao desperately guarded the bird from Wu Huang¡¯s violent grabbing. However, how could she possibly be as strong as him? She was so angry that tears began to gather at the corners of her eyes. ¡°Wu Huang!¡± Fortunately, the stern shout of a woman rang out at this moment. A woman in palace attire quickly walked over while surrounded by a group of lady servants. She body appeared frail, while her face was extremely pail and weak. A servant supported her as she glared at Wu Huang and said, ¡°Do not bully Wu Yao!¡± Wu Huang could only snort as he withdrew his hand and cupped them together. ¡°Mother.¡± Wu Yao hurriedly climbed to her feet and hid behind the woman as she indignantly said, ¡°Mother.¡± This woman was the queen of the Great Wu Empire, and also Wu Yao and Wu Huang¡¯s mother. The queen tenderly rubbed Wu Yao¡¯s little head before looking towards Wu Huang as she said in a stormy voice, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to bully Wu Yao? Quickly apologize to her.¡± Wu Huang immediately raised his head and said in an unconvinced voice, ¡°She¡¯s the one whose too weak.¡± ¡°You!¡± Anger flourished in the queen¡¯s eyes. ¡°Hehe, come on come on, the kids were just playing. You shouldn¡¯t take it so seriously.¡± Laughter sounded from behind them. King Wu walked over and smiled at the queen. ¡°Instead, you should be paying more attention to yourself. We can¡¯t have you walking around too much when you¡¯re unwell. You should be resting.¡± The queen helplessly smiled upon seeing how overprotective King Wu was over Wu Huang. She violently coughed a few times as a feeling of weakness spread inside her body. This was the repercussion of forcibly delaying her pregnancy for three years. King Wu patted Wu Huang¡¯s shoulders before turning towards Wu Yao, who was hiding behind the queen, as his smile suddenly receded. ¡°Wu Yao, tomorrow will be your eighth cultivation baptism. You must awaken the sacred dragon blessing in your body this time, and absolutely cannot fail anymore. Do you understand?¡± His voice was cold and stern, causing Wu Yao to briefly shiver for a moment. After speaking, he did not linger any further as he pulled Wu Huang and walked away, not giving even a second glance to Wu Yao. Cough! The queen violently coughed again as she watched King Wu¡¯s leaving figure, causing the servants to hurriedly support her. ¡°Are you alright mother?¡± Wu Yao tugged at the queen¡¯s clothes, her tiny face filled with worry. The queen displayed a loving smile as she squatted down and caressed her daughter¡¯s tiny face. With a small sigh, she said, ¡°Yao¡¯er, you must succeed in tomorrow¡¯s cultivation baptism, otherwise, what will we do in the future?¡± As his wife, she understood King Wu far too well. He was someone who viewed utility above all else, and would do anything for the Great Wu Empire. Years ago, he had racked his brains in order to seize the sacred dragon blessing that belonged to the crown prince of the Great Zhou Empire and infused a part of it into Wu Yao¡¯s and Wu Huang¡¯s bodies. However, Wu Yao currently showed zero signs of awakening the blessing, and King Wu would obviously not idly sit by and watch her waste it. Wu Yao hugged the queen¡¯s arm as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry mother, I¡¯ll hide from Wu Huang whenever I see him. Moreover, I still have mother.¡± The queen let out a bitter laugh. Her eyes turned a little red as she gazed at the pure and kind Wu Yao. Yao¡¯er, I¡¯m afraid mother does not have much time left to watch you grow up. The queen looked at Wu Yao and said, ¡°Yao¡¯er, promise mother that you will awaken as soon as you can...in this world, only power that belongs to yourself will stop others from bullying you. Mother hopes that you will be able to properly protect yourself.¡± Wu Yao did not dare to act spoiled any longer under the queen¡¯s serious eyes. She nodded her tiny head as she said in half-understanding, ¡°Mother, I understand!¡± Only then did the queen smile a little as she happily stroked Wu Yao¡¯s head. She raised her head and looked in the direction King Wu had left as her brows tightly furrowed together. King Wu¡¯s earlier words made her feel a little uneasy. I hope...that I¡¯m wrong. The next day. In a hall deep within the Great Wu royal palace. There were two pools inside the hall. The liquid within was currently in a boiling state and gave off a dark red glow as a fragrance spread from it. It was a concoction of numerous precious Genesis resources. King Wu stood with his hands behind his back by the side of the pools, while Wu Huang and Wu Yao stood in front him in a simple piece of garment. However, they looked towards the boiling pools with vastly different gazes. Wu Huang¡¯s was filled with desire and impatience. While Wu Yao¡¯s appeared somewhat afraid. ¡°Wu Huang, Wu Yao, prepare to get in.¡± said King Wu in a low voice. ¡°We¡¯ve invested many precious Genesis resources into these two pools, making them the most appropriate medium for a cultivation baptism.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Wu Huang excitedly responded before jumping into the pool without the slightest shred of hesitation. The boiling water made him grimace for a moment before he seated himself and began to absorb the pure Genesis Qi within. On the other hand, Wu Yao seemed to hesitate somewhat as her large eyes pleadingly looked behind King Wu towards the queen. The queen appeared rather distressed, but could only sigh inwardly in the face of the expressionless King Wu as she shook her head at Wu Yao. Upon seeing this, Wu Yao had no choice but to bite her lip as water gathered in her large eyes. She tightly gritted her teeth and began walking into the boiling pool. Her tiny face immediately began to burn as her white-as-jade skin turned red. However, she ultimately endured the pain and sat down in the pool. The hall fell silent. King Wu¡¯s somewhat anxious gaze continuously shifted between Wu Huang and Wu Yao. Boom! The silence lasted for about an incense stick of time before a muffled explosion suddenly sounded from Wu Huang¡¯s pool. The water churned violently as Genesis Qi undulations pulsed from his body. He seemed to grow a little taller and bigger at this moment. ¡°Eight channels!¡± King Wu was overjoyed by this scene as he raised his head and laughed towards the sky. ¡°Great, great. As expected of the dragon of my Wu clan. He has opened eight meridian channels in a short two years!¡± This progress was rather outstanding. King Wu¡¯s face was filled with happiness. However, his smile turned rigid when his gaze shifted towards Wu Yao¡¯s pool. She was still seated within it, but no gave off no Genesis Qi undulations. It was as if Wu Yao was incapable of absorbing the abundant pure Genesis Qi in the pool. As time passed, the boiling water in the pool gradually calmed down as the pure Genesis Qi within it dissipated. The ice-cold water made Wu Yao tremble uncontrollably. Wu Yao¡¯s teeth chattered as she said in a trembling voice, ¡°Fa...father, may, may I go out?¡± The queen hurriedly looked towards King Wu. King Wu¡¯s face was akin to ominous black clouds, his eyes growing increasingly disappointed as he gazed at Wu Yao. In the end, he did not say anything as he turned around and walked away with a swish of his sleeves. Wu Yao had evidently failed again this time. The shivering, drenched little girl watched King Wu¡¯s leaving figure from the pool. The disappointment and uncaringness in the latter¡¯s eyes caused her already ice-cold body to grow even colder. ¡°Yao¡¯er, come out quickly!¡± Only the queen was left behind as she tenderly called out with a thick towel in hand. Wu Yao stood up from the water in low spirits, allowing the queen to dry her body as she said in a tiny voice, ¡°Mother, father seems to be very disappointed in me¡­¡± The queen¡¯s hand froze for a moment as she forced a smile and said, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it Yao¡¯er, your father is merely anxious. He¡¯s not disappointed in you.¡± Wu Yao slowly nodded, but her expression remained rather downcast. Outside the hall. King Wu walked out with a stormy face as an elder in black quickly followed beside him. King Wu was silent for a long time before he slowly said, ¡°Begin the preparations. We will take away the sacred dragon blessing in Wu Yao¡¯s body tonight and give it to Wu Huang. ¡°Since she is incapable of awakening the sacred dragon blessing, there is no longer any need to continue wasting it.¡± The black robed elder¡¯s body shivered slightly. He did not speak in the end as he slowly nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± Chapter 706 Wu Yao part B Rumble! Thunderclouds gathered above Great Wu¡¯s capital as thunder rumbled within. The atmosphere felt extremely oppressive. King Wu slowly walked along a corridor in the royal palace with Wu Huang blindly following at his side. Wu Huang looked around as he puzzledly asked, ¡°Father, where are we going?¡± King Wu¡¯s gaze did not turn to the side. He was silent for some time before he slowly said, ¡°Wu Huang, as someone with the sacred dragon blessing, you are a born king. In the future, you will surely soar across the nine heavens and be worshipped by millions.¡± Wu Huang smiled as he continued, ¡°Father, I am not surprised to know this.¡± His tone was filled with haughtiness and confidence. Countless people had looked up to him ever since he became sensible. No matter what he did, the results he achieved would draw gasps of amazement from everyone. These admiring gazes had told him long ago that he was extraordinary. Wu Huang chuckled before he continued, ¡°However, you only have half of the sacred dragon blessing, while the other half is with Wu Yao. I plan to shift the other half of the sacred dragon blessing in her body to you.¡± Wu Huang was taken aback, a rare trace of hesitation arising within him as he said, ¡°Father, you want to take away Wu Yao¡¯s sacred dragon blessing? Will that hurt her?¡± Although Wu Huang was young, his maturity far exceeded his peers. King Wu calmly said, ¡°There may be a little side effect but it will not threaten her life.¡± Wu Huang¡¯s eyes seemed to struggle. King Wu looked straight at Wu Huang and slowly said, ¡°Wu Huang, will you be able to accept it if Wu Yao marries in the future?¡± Wu Huang suddenly raised his head and forcefully shook it as he said, ¡°How can anyone else in this world be worthy of Wu Yao?!¡± Wu Yao was his twin, and in the proud Wu Huang¡¯s eyes their bloodline was the purest. Perhaps because they both possessed the sacred dragon blessing, Wu Huang sincerely felt close to Wu Yao. This intimacy had slowly degenerated over the years, transforming into the desire to control her. As a result, Wu Huang would grow extremely angry when he saw Wu Yao show concern towards unimportant things. In his eyes, nothing else was worthy of Wu Yao¡¯s attention besides himself. As for allowing Wu Yao to marry, it was completely unacceptable to Wu Huang. A faint smile hung from the corners of King Wu¡¯s mouth as he said, ¡°If Wu Yao doesn¡¯t have the sacred dragon blessing, she may be incapable of cultivating. In the future, she will have no choice but to stay in the palace, while you can keep protecting her. When that happens, she will listen to everything you say.¡± Wu Huang lowered his head as he fell silent. In the end, he gave a slight nod. King Wu smiled as he stroked Wu Huang¡¯s head. Black clouds spread in the sky as thunder boomed through the air. King Wu brought Wu Huang along the corridor, ultimately coming to a stop somewhere deep in the palace where an altar stood. A stone bed could be seen at the very top of the altar where an unconscious young girl lay. It was Wu Yao. Countless strange Genesis Rune flickered below the stone bed. ¡°Go lie down.¡± King Wu pointed at another stone bed beside Wu Yao¡¯s. Wu Huang nodded and walked up the altar. He looked at the peacefully sleeping Wu Yao for several moments before lying down as he reached out and grasped her icy hand. He softly said, ¡°Wu Yao, only we should be together in this world¡­¡± King Wu slowly raised his hands as the surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly surged towards him. The strange runes on the altar soon began to flicker. The runes squirmed as if they were alive, slowly climbing up to cover Wu Yao¡¯s and Wu Huang¡¯s bodies. The runes began drilling into Wu Yao¡¯s body, causing a look of pain to appear on her tiny face even in her unconscious state. Threads of blood seemed to wiggle in her body, flowing into Wu Huang¡¯s body through their touching hands. The faint roar of a dragon seemed to echo across the place. King Wu continued to control the altar with a serious expression, not daring to allow himself to be distracted. Feverish excitement surged in his eyes. As long as today was a success, Wu Huang would enjoy the blessing alone, and his future prospects would become limitless. When that happened, the Great Wu Empire would never fall. ¡°Your majesty, what are you doing?!¡± While King Wu was concentrating on controlling the altar, a piercing voice suddenly rang out behind him. King Wu frowned as his gaze swept backwards, only to find the pale-faced queen quickly walking over. King Wu withdrew his gaze after a single glance and said in an indifferent voice, ¡°Your majesty, this has nothing to do with you. Go back to rest.¡± The queen stared at the two figures on the altar as she cried out, ¡°You, you¡¯re actually going to lay a hand on Wu Yao? Your majesty, are you really so heartless?!¡± King Wu indifferently replied, ¡°I¡¯m merely removing the sacred dragon blessing from her body. In the worst case scenario, she will be unable to cultivate in the future, but her life will not be in danger.¡± The queen laughed in a mournful manner. ¡°Is everyone merely tools in your eyes?¡± ¡°You did everything back then to delay my children¡¯s birth for three years for the sake of your plans. Do you really understand how seriously it has affected me? Do you know how much longer I have left to live? ¡°Even so, I do not blame you. I would willingly give my life to bear Wu and Yao Wu Huang. ¡°But why, why must you be so cruel to Yao¡¯er?!¡± The queen suddenly pounced at King Wu, her face filled with tears. ¡°Let Yao¡¯er off! Please I beg you!¡± She grabbed King Wu¡¯s arm. King Wu was currently fully focused on controlling the altar, and was unable to concentrate due to the disturbance. He immediately shouted in anger, ¡°Get lost!¡± Rumble! A surge of Genesis Qi exploded from his body. The queen did not cultivate, and her body was very frail. How could she possibly withstand a wave of Genesis Qi from the king? She was immediately sent flying, crashing head first into a stone pillar as blood began to overflow. ¡°Your majesty?¡± King Wu was alarmed by this and wanted to go over to help her up. However, it was currently a critical moment, and he had no choice but to stamp his foot in frustration as he heartlessly shifted away his gaze. The queen slowly slid down the stone pillar, blood pouring down her face and slowly obscuring her vision, She weakly reached out and grabbed at the altar, as if wanting to pull that tiny body down. However, her hand ultimately fell to the ground. Darkness descended, filling her vision. Yao¡¯er...mother is truly sorry that she failed to protect you. Perhaps she should not have agreed to King Wu¡¯s request back then. If she had not delayed the birth of her twin children for three years, perhaps none of this would have happened. This could be retribution... Rumble! Thunder boomed across the area. Giant thunderbolts snaked through the sky like giant pythons, creating an incomparably sinister sight. On the altar, Wu Yao¡¯s tightly shut eyes suddenly opened at this moment. She immediately rose from the stone bed, seemingly sensing something as she looked down from the altar. In a pool of her own blood beside the stone pillar, the queen¡¯s body was slowly turning cold. King Wu was startled by this scene, not expecting Wu Yao to awaken at this moment. ¡°Mo...mother?¡± Wu Yao¡¯s voice trembled as she climbed down from the stone bed. ¡°Wu Yao?¡± Wu Huang also crawled to his feet as he forcefully grabbed Wu Yao¡¯s tiny hand in an attempt to stop her. Boom! However, an extremely powerful wave of Genesis Qi suddenly exploded from Wu Yao¡¯s body as she threw a punch at him. Urgh! The punch sent Wu Huang flying as he vomited a mouthful of blood. He stared in shock at Wu Yao, whose long hair slowly moved around her without any wind. The power in that punch had far exceeded his own. Moreover, the Genesis Qi that pulsed from her body was even more powerful than his own! ¡°Scram.¡± muttered Wu Yao before she shakily walked down from the altar towards the pool of blood. King Wu dazedly stared at Wu Yao. Moments later, wild joy surged out in his eyes. ¡°All nine merdian channels opened! ¡°Wu Yao, you¡¯ve finally awakened the sacred dragon blessing!¡± Wu Yao did not even notice King Wu¡¯s overjoyed gaze. She arrived beside the queen¡¯s corpse and slowly knelt down as she forcibly hugged the queen¡¯s body. Rumble! Lightning cut through the night. Torrential rain began to pour from the sky as a curtain of rain enveloped the land. Wu Yao¡¯s tiny body trembled as she hugged the queen¡¯s corpse. In the end, she could not help but raise her head, tears dyeing her pale face as a heart-wrenching cry rang out within the rain. ¡°Mother! ¡°Mother please wake up! ¡°I¡¯m Yao¡¯er, will you please wake up?! ¡°Yao¡¯er promises that she will forever listen to you in the future! While the bawling Wu Yao¡¯s heart was being ripped apart, she did not notice the fire rising behind her and the flaming phoenix slowly emerging within. ¡­¡­ The Great Wu Empire mourned their queen¡¯s death. Wu Yao silently knelt before a giant tomb, dressed in a white dress of mourning. Her little face had been numbed of all emotion long ago as she robotically threw paper money into the fire. She was completely indifferent even when the fire burned her hands from time to time. Numerous servant ladies were kneeling behind her. No one knew how long they knelt for when a trace of vigor finally appeared in Wu Yao¡¯s glazed eyes. Her face extremely cold and distant, the pure smile from the past already forever washed away by the torrential rain that day. The surrounding servants trembled at Wu Yao¡¯s frosty aura. They could feel that the little princess was now different from before... Wu Yao slowly raised her head and looked towards the palace. Although it was the queen¡¯s funeral, she knew that the palace was in a state of celebration. They were celebrating her awakening of the sacred dragon blessing, because from this day, the Great Wu Empire would flourish to even greater heights. How mocking. Wu Yao¡¯s mouth twitched for a moment, the paper money still burning her hand as she lifted it to eye-level. Fire seemed to burn in a pair of long and narrow phoenix eyes. This hateful palace, this loathsome city and its people, and the most abominable sacred dragon blessing... You¡¯re right mother. In this world, only power can stop others from hurting you... In that case, I will become the strongest person in this world. Mother, I know that you never liked this palace...and perhaps, you may also never been fond of this Great Wu Empire... Since that is the case... I will burn all of them as an offering to you if the chance presents itself in the future... Wu Yao¡¯s eyes slowly began to close. When they opened again, the once pure eyes that were once filled with kindness were slowly covered by cold, heartless ice. From this very day--- I will be a new Wu Yao! Chapter 707 Meeting of the Dragon and Phoenix ¡°Father, do you still remember how mother died?¡± The girl in red¡¯s cold and lonely voice rang out in the cemetery, seemingly accompanied by a chill that made the entire place grow even colder. King Wu was first stunned by these words. His face rippled slightly before he forced a smile and said, ¡°Wu Yao, it¡¯s been so many years already. Why are you bringing this up? ¡°You should understand that it was an accident. It was not my intention.¡± A sliver of cloudiness seemed to flit across his eyes. Wu Yao was expressionless. Not even a single ripple could be seen in her eyes as she said, ¡°All those years ago, did father plan on removing the sacred dragon blessing from my body and handing it over to Wu Huang?¡± King Wu¡¯s expression turned even more unnatural. Wu Yao had seemed incapable of awakening the sacred dragon blessing back then, which was extremely wasteful in his view. Instead of allowing her to waste it, it was naturally better to extract it from her. ¡°Even if your sacred dragon blessing was extracted, it will not have threatened your life. You would at most have been incapable of cultivating.¡± explained King Wu. Wu Yao calmly said, ¡°And then I¡¯ll be forever locked in the palace, allowing Wu Huang to control me, right?¡± A trace of deep disgust flashed in her eyes. ¡°Those disgusting thoughts of his were likely encouraged by father, right?¡± King Wu¡¯s expression turned rigid. How could he now know of Wu Huang¡¯s abnormal desire to own Wu Yao. However, it was indeed true that he had not put a stop to them because he felt that it would instead become a source of motivation for Wu Huang. While feeling awkward, King Wu could not help but be somewhat angered. Wu Yao had never dared to say such words to him in the past. Perhaps, she had hidden these thoughts in the deepest recesses of her heart, and had now brought all of them out to rebuke him. ¡°Wu Yao, I¡¯m still your father. Do you feel that your wings have hardened after staying in Hunyuan Heaven for a few years?¡± King Wu¡¯s voice was tinged with anger. Wu Yao uncaringly said, ¡°I honestly did not wish to return because this place is really hateful. But I made a promise before mother¡¯s grave and it¡¯s finally time for me to fulfil it.¡± The expression in King Wu¡¯s eyes fluctuated indeterminately. ¡°What do you plan on doing?¡± Wu Yao slowly raised her hand, revealing black lightning leaping on her palm. In the next instant, countless bolts of black lightning erupted. Boom boom! Black lightning shot out and rained down upon the royal palace and city. The ground trembled violently as flames began to dash into the sky. ¡°Wu Yao! You dare!¡± roared King Wu. This unfilial child actually dared to burn the royal palace and capital city! King Wu was so angry that his Spirit rippled violently. Soon after, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Did you take the Treasure Lotus Paste? Give it to me!¡± With a grasp of her hand, a jade bottle appeared. Dark red paste slowly squirmed inside. She stared at the bottle as any icy smile rose from the corners of her rosy lips. Boom! Black lightning exploded, instantly obliterating both the bottle and its contents. King Wu was dazed. Moments later, his eyes nearly popped from their sockets as he howled, ¡°Wu Yao! You wretched girl!¡± He had gone mad with anger. His Spirit dashed forward as a palm viciously struck at Wu Yao. Murderous feelings surged due to his rage, clearly not intending to show any mercy. However, Wu Yao merely sent out a light flick in response. A bolt of black lightning shot out and smashed into King Wu¡¯s Spirit. Boom! Thunder boomed as a blood-curdling scream exploded from King Wu. A good chunk of his Spirit instantly cracked and fractured as he miserably withdrew. ¡°Father, are you planning to kill me again?¡± said Wu Yao. King Wu¡¯s Spirit violently trembled as it turned more and more incorporeal, a sign that it was about to dissipate. His face twisted as he sternly shouted, ¡°Wu Yao! You unfilial spawn! Are you intending to kill your father?!¡± He never imagined that Wu Yao had returned not to help but kill him! In the past, Wu Yao had never displayed even the tiniest hint of hatred towards him in the Great Zhou Empire. When he thought about it now, King Wu could not help but shiver inside. Wu Yao had clearly buried these feelings deep within herself, because she did not have the qualifications to challenge him back then. But now that she had grown strong, there was already no longer any need for pretense. As he gazed upon the young lady in red standing in front of the tomb, King Wu felt a chill rush through him. Perhaps, Wu Yao had deeply etched this hatred in her heart on the day the queen had died. ¡°Wu Yao, Yao¡¯er, it was father¡¯s mistake back then. But when has father ever treated you badly over the years?¡± The expression in King Wu¡¯s eyes rapidly fluctuated. In the end, he lowered his posture in fear. He had to first pacify Wu Yao for the moment. As long as he managed to preserve his life, there will be a chance for payback in the future. However, despite his lowered posture, Wu Yao merely responded in a soft voice, ¡°Father, can you go and keep mother company? She¡¯s been very lonely for so many years.¡± King Wu angrily roared, ¡°Wu Yao, you¡¯ve really gone mad!¡± Wu Yao dazedly stared at him as a sliver of sorrow flitted past in the depth of her eyes. ¡°Father, is there even a single sane person left in the Wu clan? Everything has happened because of you.¡± She lifted her hand as block lightning flickered between her fingertips. King Wu was terrified. His Spirit frantically backed away in hopes of escaping. Ch! However, black lightning swifty shot forth from Wu Yao¡¯s hand, piercing through the air like lightning chains and tightly binding King Wu¡¯s Spirit. King Wu crazily struggled but was unable to break free. Swish! It was at this moment that the sound of rushing wind was heard above the capital. A glowing figure descended from the sky and landed in the cemetery at the back of the palace. It was Zhou Yuan, who had been chasing King Wu all along. When he landed in the cemetery, the first thing he saw was the sight of King Wu being bound by black lightning. He was stunned for a brief moment before he quickly raised his gaze and saw the girl in red standing in front of a grave. The girl also lifted her eyes at this moment, causing their gazes to meet as their pupils shrank slightly. Lightning seemed to strike them both in that moment, causing their hearts to beat faster in unison. It felt as if a tiger and lion had met in the mountain forest. Zhou Yuan stared at the beautiful girl in red with a grave expression as he slowly opened his mouth, ¡°Wu Yao.¡± Although they had never met, Zhou Yuan realized her identity at that very moment. ¡°Zhou Yuan.¡± Wu Yao¡¯s long eyes narrowed a little. The silence lasted for several breaths. Zhou Yuan frowned a little at this scene, somewhat unable to understand what was happening. Why did it seem as if Wu Yao was attacking King Wu? ¡°Hahaha!¡± King Wu suddenly burst into laughter at this moment, laughter that was filled with sorrowful despair. ¡°The phoenix must not meet the dragon. If they do, it will be Wu¡¯s death. Haha, this prophecy is not wrong at all. ¡°I originally believed the dragon and phoenix referred to Wu Huang and Wu Yao, but from what I can see now, it actually refers to the two of you. Haha!¡± Wu Yao¡¯s gaze returned to King Wu. her eyes slowly closed as she softly said, ¡°Father, please go and accompany mother.¡± As her words faded, she suddenly clenched her hand. The black lightning chains around King Wu abruptly tightened. Black lightning frantically eroded King Wu¡¯s Spirit. In his despair, King Wu released a bitter laugh. ¡°Haha, I never expected this. I truly never imagined that I, Wu Xuan, would ultimately be killed by my own child. Haha, Wu Yao ah Wu Yao, I¡¯ve truly underestimated you! ¡°I¡¯ve schemed and plotted for so many years, only for the two of you to have the last laugh¡­ ¡°Haha, how interesting. Wu Yao, do you know the final part of our Wu clan prophecy? ¡°Dragon and phoenix clash, and only the devourer will live! ¡°Haha, the fight between the two of you is fated, and will be the most splendid sight. Unfortunately, one of you will ultimately be devoured. Haha, no matter who it is, it will surely be an excellent show to watch. I will wait for both of you below!¡± His voice was filled with bitter resentment. Boom! Black lightning exploded as King Wu¡¯s Spirit disintegrated with a loud band. Chapter 708 Nine Heavens Divine Dwelling The lingering sound of thunder echoed in the cemetery. King Wu¡¯s bitter voice accompanied it, refusing to fade away like a ghost. Zhou Yuan wore a calm look as he watched, although his eyes grew increasingly grave when he looked towards Wu Yao. Though he did not know what had happened between Wu Yao and King Wu, her decisiveness in killing the latter was more than enough to prove her ruthlessness. Wu Yao dazedly stared at the spot where King Wu¡¯s Spirit had disappeared for some time before her long phoenix eyes slowly closed. A long while later, her eyes opened again. There was nothing left within them except for a chilling, icy sharpness. Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Wu Yao¡¯s gazes met once more. No words were spoken between them as killing intent secretly flowed. King Wu¡¯s final roar was clearly aimed at pitting the two of them in a fight to the death. However, it was unnecessary because the moment Zhou Yuan laid eyes on Wu Yao, he already knew that she was the most troublesome enemy in the Wu clan... Although he did not know what had drawn Wu Yao to kill her father, it was impossible for this matter to mediate things between them. The two of them were fated to be on opposing sides. Moreover, from Wu Yao¡¯s eyes, Zhou Yuan could feel that she was the same as himself; possessing an unshakable determination to grow stronger. Such individuals would surely go very far on the road of cultivation. Zhou Yuan¡¯s goal was to take back the sacred dragon blessing, but would Wu Yao voluntarily hand it over? That was definitely impossible. In fact, Wu Yao was likely thinking of taking away the portion of sacred dragon blessing currently dwelling within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body to her own sacred dragon blessing whole. It would be extremely beneficial on her path to reach the pinnacle in the future. Rumble! While their gazes clashed, the ground suddenly began to shake as the faint roar of a dragon seemed to echo. Zhou Yuan raised his head and saw strands of mystical energy rushing over from all directions, ultimately converging at the spot where King Wu¡¯s Spirit had disappeared. Roar! The qi swirled together as the faint silhouette of a dragon emerged. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. These undulations were far too familiar to him. It was the sacred dragon qi! In the wake of King Wu¡¯s death, the Great Wu Empire had crumbled along with its blessing. As such, the final portion of the sacred dragon qi had gathered at the location where King Wu had died. Rumble! Resplendent golden light exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as he abruptly dashed forward, clearly intending to snatch the sacred dragon qi. Though he was fast, Wu Yao was even quicker. Bzz! Black lightning surged, forming a net that enveloped the sacred dragon blessing before shooting back towards Wu Yao¡¯s outstretched hand. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure stopped as his chilling gaze stared at Wu Yao. ¡°Was killing your father and to seize the sacred dragon qi your plan? Every member of your Wu clan is even crazier than the previous.¡± Iciness flitted across Wu Yao¡¯s eyes. She gazed at the sacred dragon qi in her hand as her lips parted slightly, ¡°In this world, I¡¯m likely the one who hates this thing the most.¡± Zhou Yuan raised an eyebrow. ¡°In that case, return it to its owner.¡± Wu Yao shot a glance at him as she spat out a single word. ¡°Childish. ¡°Zhou Yuan, hand over the sacred dragon qi in your body and let all of the grudges end today. You¡¯ve killed Wu Huang and even destroyed the Great Wu Empire, but I can let these matters go. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in avenging them. In fact, I can promise to not even step into this Cangxuan Heaven in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan merely chuckled in response. ¡°What a grand ambition. ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s exactly what I want to tell you too. Hand over those two portions of the sacred dragon qi to me and you may leave this place. All of the grudges between us shall be written off.¡± Their gazes clashed as the air seemed to turn a little colder. Black lightning began to emerge on Wu Yao¡¯s body. She lifted her fair chain as her eyes narrowed. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you should understand that you and I will not rest till the other is dead if the sacred dragon qi is not made whole.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at her and grinned, revealing a set of eerily white teeth. ¡°Since that is the case...we¡¯ll fight to the death.¡± Rumble! A sharp and serious look abruptly arose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as a primal chaos halo emerged behind him. Alarming Genesis Qi spouted out, transforming into a giant golden hand of light that viciously swatted at Wu Yao. He knew this was not an issue that could be solved with words. Both of them were decisive, ruthless individuals that would not easily give in. Since that was the case, a fight was unavoidable. The giant golden hand swung downwards. Wu Yao lifted her beautiful face, but not even a single twitch could be seen while her body did not move from the spot. Boom! The golden hand landed, causing a berserk shockwave to devastate the surroundings. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as he looked towards the epicenter of the shockwave. Wu Yao had unexpectedly taken his attack head-on. The Genesis Qi shockwave slowly dispersed. Zhou Yuan immediately looked over, only for his pupils to shrink a split second later. Wu Yao stood in the air, her red clothes wrapped around her slim and proud figure. Her hair danced around her, making her look even more soul-stirringly beautiful. Her willow leaf like brows raised slightly, giving off a formidable and domineering presence that did not lose to any man. What shook Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart the most, however, were the three halos that had appeared behind her. What¡¯s more, each halo gave off dazzling nine-color light! ¡°Advanced Divine Dwelling stage! ¡°Nine heavens Divine Dwelling!¡± Fear flooded Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Only an advanced Divine Dwelling stage expert was capable of creating three Divine Dwelling halos. Moreover, Wu Yao¡¯s three halos flickered with nine different colored lights, a dazzling sight that would only appear on those that had established the highest tier nine heavens Divine Dwelling! Wu Yao was indeed the most troublesome person in the Wu clan and also his strongest foe! Wu Yao stared at Zhou Yuan as a voice filled with ice rang out, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you may perhaps have reached the pinnacle of the younger generation in Cangxuan Heaven, but there¡¯s always a taller mountain and a higher sky. In the Tianyuan World, even if we exclude the five heavens occupied by the sacred race, Cangxuan Heaven is last amongst the other four heavens. ¡°On the other hand, Hunyuan Heaven is the greatest amongst the four. It is a true land of cultivation where there are numerous unrivalled geniuses that far surpass your imagination. ¡°That¡¯s why, if you believe your strength will allow you to take the sacred dragon qi from me, I can only say that you¡¯re overestimating yourself.¡± Boom! As her voice faded, Wu Yao reached out and pointed in the air. A giant bolt of black lightning immediately shot out from her fingertip. It zigzagged through the air like a lightning dragon, roaring towards Zhou Yuan with overwhelming destructive might. Lightning arrived in the blink of an eye. Zhou Yuan could feel the destructive energy within and did not dare to waste any time as jade light blossomed on his body. Mythic Saint Body! His five fingers clenched into a fist as he threw a punch, blasting away the surrounding air. At the same time, a glowing silhouette appeared around him. It was the Omega Saint Spirit Art. Boom! Zhou Yuan¡¯s full power was gathered into this punch, and was accompanied by surging Genesis Qi as it collided with the black lightning. Boom! A loud explosion rang out. The ground was torn asunder. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body violently jerked back, still standing as he was pushed across the ground. Fresh blood dripped from his charred black fist. Zhou Yuan was clearly at a complete disadvantage after a single exchange. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned exceedingly grave. The advanced Divine Dwelling stage Wu Yao was several times stronger than King Wu. If not for his advancements in external cultivation, the black lightning attack would have destroyed his arm and seriously injured him. Wu Yao watched this scene as she said, ¡°To think that you managed to receive an attack from me with the strength of the initial Divine Dwelling stage. You are indeed somewhat capable. However, it¡¯s a pity that you are currently not my match.¡± Her face soon turned akin to the cold of winter as a freezing aura spread. She did not waste any more time speaking as she raised her head. Black lightning began to spiral around her like lightning dragons, giving off extremely alarming Genesis Qi undulations. ¡°Black Dragon Mystic Lightning!¡± Roar! The howl of a dragon echoed as black thunderbolt after thunderbolt roared out. The attack seemed to fill the entire sky, as if it wanted to destroy the entire city. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression sank a little as the sight of the terrifying attack. He struggled inside for a few breaths before letting out a helpless sigh. He knew that he currently had no chance against Wu Yao. Wu Yao was a true-blue advanced Divine Dwelling stage expert that had even established a nine heavens Divine Dwelling! No matter how one looked at it, it was a fight he would most likely lose. Zhou Yuan was a decisive person. After judging the gap in power between them, his figure rapidly retreated without the slightest shred of hesitation. ¡°Trying to leave?¡± Wu Yao¡¯s eyes turned a little colder. Boom! Black thunderbolts snaked through the air as if they were alive, appearing around Zhou Yuan in the twinkle of an eye. The thunderbolts blocked all of his retreat routes as they roared towards him. ¡°What a ruthless woman.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned deeply. The feeling of danger Wu Yaogave him was more than a hundred times greater than King Wu. With a deep breath, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his hand as the Genesis Qi in his body began to churn. He knew that he would have to risk his life in battle in order to escape Wu Yao today. Boom! The roaring black lightning arrived. However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to use all his might to tear through them and search for a way out, the pouncing black lightning stopped as if hitting an invisible wall. Boom boom! Black lightning exploded, but the frightening shockwaves were unable to reach Zhou Yuan¡¯s body because an invisible shield had appeared around him. ¡°Spirit power?!¡¯ Zhou Yuan was startled but soon recognized the familiar presence from the invisible Spirit power. ¡°Who is it?1¡± Wu Yao icily shouted as her piercing eyes narrowed. Zhou Yuan and Wu Yao turned towards the same spot in the distance where a gorgeous figure was standing on a giant tree. She held a little creature in her arms, and her pretty eyes were as clear as a lake. The corners of her skirt fluttered without any wind, while her hair danced around her, giving her the presence of an untouchable goddess. Zhou Yuan joyfully cried out in surprise, ¡°Yaoyao!¡± Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes looked over. Her lips stuck out a little at the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s pitiful appearance as she unhurriedly said, ¡°Suffered enough?¡± Zhou Yuan felt somewhat helpless. He had indeed been too careless this time. He had not expected Wu Yao to be at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. What¡¯s more, she had even established a nine heavens Divine Dwelling! ¡°Who are you?¡± Wu Yao¡¯s gaze locked onto Yaoyao as a somewhat grave look appeared on her face for the very first time. She had evidently sensed a dangerous aura from the latter. This somewhat surprised Wu Yao. How could there be such a formidable individual from the same generation in Cangxuan Heaven? Yaoyao¡¯s eyes also shifted towards Wu Yao. Her eyes slowly regained their usual icy indifference as she said, ¡°Who I am is not important. The important thing is that you cannot hurt him.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Yaoyao gave off a pressuring aura, but Wu Yao was likewise no ordinary individual. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she replied, ¡°What if¡­I say no?¡± The gazes of the two girls clashed, causing even the wind to freeze in place in that moment. Both were world-shaking beauties. If Yaoyao¡¯s aura was indifferent and aloof like an untouchable goddess, Wu Yao would be a formidable and domineering empress that ruled everything under the heavens, calling rain and wind with a flip of her hand. The most dazzling spotlights in this world seemed to gather on these two individuals. Chapter 709 Yaoyao and Wu Yao When Yaoyao and Wu Yao faced each other, the desolate and lonely cemetery seemed to turn rather radiant. Of course, the change was also accompanied by a boundless churning pressure. ¡°Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit cultivation seems to have advanced again?¡± Zhou Yuan felt a little depressed at this discovery. No matter how fast he progressed over the years, he was forever unable to match Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan would most certainly find it hard to believe if it happened to anyone else, but it became rather understandable when it was Yaoyao. Because some people were indeed different from the rest. From the looks of it, overtaking Yaoyao and subduing her was still very very far away. Wu Yao¡¯s red lips pursed slightly as her piercing gaze stared at Yaoyao. Although there were no Genesis Qi undulations around the latter, the powerful Spirit undulations amazed even the likes of Wu Yao. Someone like this would surely be a dazzling star even in Hunyuan Heaven. How could she possibly appear in Cangxuan Heaven? Moreover, what relationship did she have with Zhou Yuan? Wu Yao¡¯s eyes faintly flickered in thought, but soon returned to tranquilness. Since Yaoyao had appeared to stop her, a fight was naturally unavoidable. Talking any further was unnecessary. Rumble! Black lightning blossomed between her slender fingers. In the next instant, flashing black lightning shot forth like spears, pulsing with alarming destructive power as they roared towards Yaoyao. Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes watched the black lightning tear through the air as she threw Tuntun to the side. Her fine black hair began to flutter without the presence of any wind as boundless Spirit power surged out from between her brows. Rumble! The leaping black lightning exploded when it was still several feet from Yaoyao, as if obstructed by some kind of invisible power. It was naturally Yaoyao¡¯s Spirit power. However, a red figure dashed through the exploding lighting. Thunder rumbled as Wu Yao¡¯s tiny clenched fist punched towards Yaoyao¡¯s chest. The tiny fist appeared soft and brittle, but the black lightning flickering around it contained an extremely alarming power. Yaoyao¡¯s face remained calm as she extended a hand. A Genesis Rune took shape with a light snap of her fingers and rapidly began to absorb the surrounding Genesis Qi. In the blink of an eye, it turned into a thick shield of ice made from Genesis Qi. Dong! Wu Yao¡¯s fist slammed into the ice shield, causing the surrounding space to ripple as cracks rapidly grew on the shield. Crack! More and more cracks appeared before the ice shield finally shattered. The instant the ice shield shattered, however, Wu Yao felt a dangerous aura. The space in front of her rippled as an invisible fire emerged. Spirit Fire! Swoosh! Spirit Flames pounced towards Wu Yao. She did not dare to waste a single second as she abruptly slammed her hands together. The three Divine Dwelling halos behind her immediately shifted in front of her, blocking the Spirit Fire like a shield. Creak! The flames burned the Divine Dwelling halos, causing ear-piercing sounds to be emitted. Upon seeing that her Spirit Fire had been stopped, Yaoyao suddenly made a grabbing motion. The Spirit Flames began to distort as they slowly condensed into an invisible Spirit Flame whip. Pchla! With a violent jerk, the Spirit Flame whip turned into countless after-images that seemingly covered the sky as they mercilessly snapped towards Wu Yao. ¡°To think that her control of Spirit Fire has reached such a level.¡± Amazement flitted across Wu Yao¡¯s eyes. Three Divine Dwelling halos began to rapidly revolve around her, creating a screen of light that enveloped her entire body. Bzz! Bzz! Countless whips landed on the light screen, causing innumerable ripples to appear upon it. Wu Yao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as the sight of the violently rippling light screen around her. With an icy snort, black lightning cackled between her palms and slowly began to grow into a round club. The lightning club pulsed erratically, capable of growing bigger or smaller, longer or shorter. It was an exceptionally mysterious weapon. The black lightning around Wu Yao instantly grew berserk the moment the club appeared. She dissipated her Divine Dwelling halos as the club in her hand turned into numerous after-images and began clashing against the Spirit Flame whip. Bang! Bang! Loud sounds filled the sky. Neither girl showed any mercy, their clash ferocious to the extreme. In a short few minutes, over a hundred blows had already been exchanged. Below, Zhou Yuan could not help but smack his lips at the intense battle. Wu Yao was truly no ordinary person. To think that she was capable of accompanying Yaoyao to this extent. Moreover, Wu Yao¡¯s attacks were wide, bold and forceful. The black lightning club she wielded was likely the weapon she was most adept at, every wave shaking even space itself. Her character was undoubtedly revealed through her style; strong and domineering. ¡°It seems that I have indeed become somewhat complacent after stepping into the Divine Dwelling stage and defeating King Wu¡­ ¡°Although I may be considered the pinnacle among the younger generation in Cangxuan Heaven, who can imagine how vast Tianyuan World is. Arrogance and complacency will only lead to one¡¯s own destruction.¡± Zhou Yuan inhaled deeply. He had been easily sweeping through all obstructions recently, causing his mental state to become a little unsteady and resulting in him suffering at Wu Yao¡¯s hands. This was also a lesson to him. After restraining his feelings, Zhou Yuan looked towards the fight in the sky. It seemed that neither girl was able to gain the upper hand, and it would not be easy to decide the victor. However, while Zhou Yuan was fully focused on the fight above, all the hairs on his body suddenly stood up as an indescribable feeling of danger gushed out from the bottom of his heart. In that moment, Zhou Yuan unhesitatingly activated the Mythic Saint Body. In addition, a set of silver armor covered his body along with the silver light. Bzz! The instant Zhou Yuan completed these actions, the area behind him suddenly rippled faintly as a hand emerged. Lightning arced around the hand as it swatted towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s back like rushing thunder. The primal chaos Divine Dwelling halo immediately sensed danger and appeared behind Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Bang! The palm hit the Divine Dwelling halo, causing it to shudder violently before it shattered, unable to withstand the power. The palm continued to move, finally hitting Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. The bizarre attack that struck him from behind caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils to violently shrink. In that instant between life and death, a ferocious look flashed in his eyes. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared. Bzz! The brush jerked as it unhesitatingly thrust behind him. The snow-white hairs at its tip turned pitch-black, giving off an exceedingly sharp glint. Pch! The brush tip seemed to scratch something. Boom! However, the lightning on his back also exploded at this moment. His figure violently jerked. Cracks appeared on the silver armor, while his body was sent flying by the tremendous force before crashing into several giant boulders. Rumble! The boulders instantly were instantly turned to dust. Urgh. A mouthful of blood was vomited from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. A ruthless look flashed in his eyes as he abruptly lifted his head and looked towards the spot he had originally been standing at. Space faintly ripped as a figure was slowly revealed. The figure slowly became clear. It was an unfamiliar young man in black. His figure was tall and slim, his face fair like jade, while lightning light emerged around his body. The young man¡¯s eyes were currently colored by amazement as he looked at Zhou Yuan and smiled faintly, ¡°What a sharp little mouse. To think that you managed to avoid my palm strike¡­¡± He soon lowered his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he stared at his sleeve. His sleeve had been torn open, while a scratch had been left on his arm. The young man¡¯s smile turned ice-cold as he looked at the small wound. He had attacked in secret, originally believing it would be a simple task to kill an initial Divine Dwelling brat. He never expected that his target would not only sense and avoid his attack, but even leave a small wound on him in that split second moment. This made him feel both unhappy and angry. The sudden unforeseen events below were immediately detected by the two young ladies in the sky. Yaoyao¡¯s eyes turned extremely icy as a heart-palpitating aura spread from her body. Chapter 710 Zhao Yunxiao The battle between Yaoyao and Wu Yao came to a stop due to the sneak attack the young man in black had launched on Zhou Yuan as Yaoyao¡¯s eyes turned exceptionally icy. It was a look that had not appeared even in the fight against Wu Yao. Evidently, she had truly been angered at this moment. Wu Yao naturally sensed the changes in Yaoyao¡¯s expression. However, she was also unhappy about the young man in black¡¯s actions deep inside. She was a strong-minded person by nature, and although she hell-bent on obtaining the sacred dragon qi in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, she did not wish to borrow help from another, but seeked to win it with her own abilities. Below, the young man in black that had been called Zhao Yunxiao by Wu Yao was naturally able to hear the anger in Wu Yao¡¯s voice, causing him to smile in a somewhat helpless manner. He had originally not intended to take action. After all, he felt that the initial Divine Dwelling stage Zhou Yuan was naturally incapable of escaping from Wu Yao¡¯s hands. But who could have expected Yaoyao¡¯s sudden appearance. Moreover, she was alarmingly powerful and not the least bit inferior to Wu Yao. As a result, he had planned to take action in secret; he would gravely injure Zhou Yuan and help Wu Yao obtain the sacred dragon qi to win her favor. Who could have expected Wu Yao to show no appreciation for his thoughtfulness. Zhao Yunxiao smiled at Wu Yao before he raised his hands in the air and said, ¡°Aiyah aiyah, don¡¯t be angry. Alright, I won¡¯t interfere. I¡¯ll leave this brat to you, that should be okay, right?¡± However, he was only looking towards Wu Yao in a seemingly apologetic manner. His gaze did not even glance at Zhou Yuan, who had nearly been killed by his palm strike earlier. Pchla! As his voice rang out, however, Yaoyao suddenly jerked her hand with an ice-cold face. She did not utter a single word as the long whip made from Spirit Flames tore through the air and mercilessly lashed at Zhao Yunxiao. Zhan Yunxiao¡¯s pupils shrank at the sight of the rapidly approaching whip. Against her, he did not dare to be as negligent as he had been with Zhou Yuan. Her mighty Spirit power was definitely something he needed to be wary of. Hence, Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s foot immediately stomped on the ground as surging Genesis Qi whizzed out of his body. Light gathered behind him, forming three Divine Dwelling halos. The halos gave off an eight-color light. Zhao Yunxiao was likewise at the advanced Divine Dwelling Stage, and had established an eight heavens Divine Dwelling! Although it was somewhat inferior to Wu Yao¡¯s, establishing an eight heavens Divine Dwelling was already the mark of a top-tier genius. Bzz! The Spirit Flame whip attacks grew increasingly deadly, causing the halos to tremble as if on the verge of collapsing. Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s expression changed slightly. He had not underestimated Yaoyao in the slightest, but never expected that he would still misjudge her Spirit mastery. Such capabilities would rank her amongst the top even in the Divine Dwelling stage of Hunyuan Heaven. Boom! While confusion filled Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s heart, the Divine Dwelling halos around him reached their limit and exploded with a loud boom. A lightning glow emerged on his body as he disappeared from the spot. He reappeared in the sky far away, a grave expression filling his handsome and fair face. It had only taken a brief contact for his protective halos to be breached. From this, one could see just how powerful Yaoyao¡¯s attacks were. ¡°Miss, there is no need to be so overbearing.¡± Amazement flashed in Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s eyes as he looked towards Yaoyao. Wu Yao was considered the most outstanding amongst the many young ladies he had encountered before. Hence why she constantly occupied the mind of someone like himself who had exceedingly high standards, and he had even happily followed her to Cangxuan Heaven. He had originally believed that there was no girl in this world who could surpass Wu yao, but Yaoyao was clearly not the least bit inferior to Wu Yao in every aspect. Zhao Yunxiao cast a glance at Zhou Yuan below, as a sliver of envy rose from the depths of his heart. To think that this rat-like brat would have some relation with these two exceptional girls. He must have been some kind of saint in his previous life. Zhou Yuan stood up and quickly scanned the somewhat shattered silver armor on his body as a chilling iciness flashed past in the depths of his eyes. If not for his vigilance, he would have likely been gravely injured or even killed earlier. Yaoyao¡¯s figure landed beside Zhou Yuan, her clear eyes staring at a certain spot as she said, ¡°Careful, there¡¯s still someone else here and he or she is very powerful!¡± Zhou Yuan was immediately alarmed by these words. As Yaoyao¡¯s voice rang out, an elderly voice sounded from nowhere, ¡°Hehe, what a sharp little girl.¡± Zhou Yuan saw a black robed elder slowly emerge from nowhere. Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body tensed up at the sight of the black robed elder as his expression turned graver. The aura from the black robed elder was not something the likes of them could contend against. The black robed elder glanced at Zhou Yuan and waved his hands. ¡°No need to be nervous little ones, this old man will not interfere.¡± He raised his head and stared at the sky as he smiled and continued, ¡°Moreover, it will become rather messy if I do. Your Cangxuan Sect will likely not take this lying down.¡± He had evidently sensed several extremely powerful existences watching this place. The black robed elder turned his head, casting his gaze towards Wu Yao as he said, ¡°Little lass, I¡¯m afraid that today¡¯s matter can no longer continue. I hope that you will quit while you¡¯re still ahead.¡± Wu Yao gave a faint nod as her body slowly descended. Her eyes first looked towards Yaoyao for a moment before turning towards Zhou Yuan. She stared at him for quite some time before her red lips opened slightly, ¡°The struggle for the sacred dragon blessing will not end until it is made whole, even if it has to end in either of our deaths. ¡°Zhou Yuan, it may perhaps be as the prophecy says. Between you and I, only the devourer will live. ¡°I will not deny that the sacred dragon blessing originated from you. However, the path of cultivation is essentially akin to a war in which I will not show even the slightest shred of mercy. ¡°Although the sacred dragon blessing is my most hated thing, it has indeed benefitted me over the years. Hence, regardless of everything that has happened, I do owe you a debt.¡± She took in a deep breath before she continued, ¡°If there is a chance in future, I will naturally pay back this debt if it does not infringe upon the fight for the sacred dragon blessing.¡± Zhou Yuan felt rather surprised inside as he gazed upon Wu Yao¡¯s beautiful face. When he encountered Wu Huang and King Wu in the past, neither would acknowledge that the sacred dragon blessing originated from him. In fact, Wu Huang had repeatedly called him a false dragon that was merely a container. Only Wu Yao genuinely understood the truth and did not make up an excuse to hide it. Although she was a girl, she was far more open-minded than Wu Huang and King Wu. Even though he had such thoughts, Zhou Yuan was not going to back down. He knew that this girl was far from anything Wu Huang could ever amount to, and was a million times more dangerous than King Wu. ¡°I will eventually take back what belongs to me. These things are not yours.¡± Zhou Yuan remained firm, refusing to display even a hint of concession. The black lightning around Wu Yao slowly withdrew as the sun shined on her fair face, making it glow. ¡°If there comes a day when you are truly able to take the sacred dragon blessing from me, it will naturally be proof of your ability. If that day does come, I will not utter a single word of unfairness even if it results in my death.¡± Wu Yao stared at Zhou Yuan as she continued, ¡°Of course, I hope that you will be the one to personally take back the sacred dragon blessing and not borrow the hand of someone else.¡± At this point, she cast a glance at Yaoyao. Yaoyao indifferently said, ¡°If you weren¡¯t being protected by someone else, you would not have been able to leave today.¡± She shot a glance at the black robed elder. Wu Yao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as if she were a phoenix whose dignity had been challenged. Her voice turned icier as she said, ¡°Although your Spirit is strong, I do not fear you in a real fight.¡± The gazes of the two young ladies clashed, hostility bristling between them for a time. The black robed elder helplessly chuckled. Although Wu Yao was usually quite unyielding by nature, not just any ordinary person could provoke anger from her. However, Yaoyao was akin to a barrel of gunpowder for Wu Yao. The two young ladies did not come to blows again in the end because they both knew that it would be pointless. Zhou Yuan softly chuckled as he gazed at Wu Yao and said, ¡°When Wu Huang¡¯s name shocked the Cangmang Continent, I was not even able to cultivate. If I was unafraid back then, what do I have to fear since we¡¯re both at the Divine Dwelling stage. ¡°So you should be more careful instead. I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t have the same advantage the next time we meet.¡± ¡°Arrogant rat.¡± Wu Yao did say anything, but Zhao Yunxiao smilingly said with disdain in his eyes, ¡°Do you really believe that your pitiful accomplishments in Cangxuan Heaven gives you the right to brag? ¡°You should know that Cangxuan Heaven is not even worth mentioning when compared to Hunyuan Heaven. ¡°Hence, you should clearly understand that there is a gap between the true geniuses of our two worlds...and you should never mix them up.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhao Yunxiao as he calmly said, ¡°If there is a chance in the future, I will return the strike you gave me earlier.¡± Zhao Yunxiao lightly clapped as he smilingly said, ¡°I¡¯ll be more than happy to accept it.¡± However, his expression clearly indicated that he merely treated Zhou Yuan¡¯s words as a joke. Wu Yao looked deeply at Zhou Yuan. She was much better informed of what the latter had gone through and was honestly very amazed by how he had risen from what should have been the pits of despair. From a feeble young man who could not even unblock his eight meridian channels, he had killed Wu Huang and even destroyed the Great Wu Empire...the person who once bore the sacred dragon blessing was indeed no ordinary individual. However, Wu Yao was likewise a proud person who did not believe she would lose to anyone, even the young man who was once the sacred dragon of the Zhou clan. Thus, she nodded to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± She withdrew her gaze and turned towards the lonely grave as she softly said, ¡°Elder Yan, please allow me to pay my final respects to mother.¡± The black robed elder gave a faint nod. Wu Yao slowly walked towards the gravestone. She stared at the words on the stone as if once again seeing the kind mother that had always protected her. She knelt before the grave and bowed deeply. ¡°Mother, the Great Wu Empire is gone. Everything that happened in the past has already been settled today. ¡°From this point onwards, Yao¡¯er will be all alone in this world and will no longer have anything that can tie her down. ¡°This is goodbye. I hope that mother will take good care of yourself below.¡± Wu Yao kowtowed, closing her eyes as her long eyelashes trembled faintly. In the end, a crystal-clear teardrop rolled down her cheek and fell to the ground, shattering into a million pieces. She knew that she would likely never return. Her past had now dissipated like smoke. Wu Yao¡¯s remained in that position for a long time. In the end, she restrained the feelings in her heart and slowly rose to her feet. When Wu Yao turned around again, Zhou Yuan could feel that she seemed to have become much calmer. Rather than calmness, it seemed more akin to some kind of cold indifference. It seemed that she was finally able to let things go with that final kowtow. The past had been sealed deep within her heart, fated to be frozen there forever. Likewise, the once kind heart had slowly been covered by layer after layer of thick and solid ice with not even the tiniest of chinks. Let that once pure and kind little princess of the Great Zhou Empire die... Chapter 711 Sheng Yuan’s Scheme Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao stood on the damaged remains of a mostly burnt wall as they looked towards the lonely cemetery. Wu Yao and Zhao Yunxiao had already left with the black robed elder. The place turned peaceful and quiet again. ¡°I never imagined that the most troublesome person in the Wu clan would not be Wu Huang or King Wu...but the princess of the Great Wu Empire.¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath as graveness emerged in his eyes. He had initially viewed Wu Huang as his enemy and had subsequently turned his sights to King Wu as he grew stronger. As for Wu Yao, who had also received a portion of the sacred dragon blessing, he had essentially neglected her existence. Only now did Zhou Yuan realize that the one he had overlooked was actually the most terrifying of them all. She did not have a twisted mind like Wu Huang or King Wu but an unshakable confidence in herself. As long as they were granted the chance, such people would surely soar in the skies and shake the nine heavens. Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes focused on a certain spot in the distance. A long while later, she slowly said, ¡°Wu Yao may become your greatest enemy in the future.¡± Although Yaoyao was rather apathetic by nature she was still an extremely proud person. Of all the individuals Zhou Yuan had encountered over the years, he had never heard her give such an appraisal. From this, one could see how highly she regarded Wu Yao. Zhou Yuan nodded. If not for Yaoyao¡¯s timely arrival, given his initial Divine Dwelling stage strength, he would have very likely been killed by Wu Yao. She trained in Hunyuan Heaven where the cultivation conditions were far better than the Cangxuan Sect. Hence, even with his primal chaos Divine Dwelling, Wu Yao¡¯s nine heavens Divine Dwelling was not much inferior. If they fought for real, her superior advanced Divine Dwelling stage cultivation would give her a very high chance of victory. ¡°Things have been too smooth sailing recently.¡± Zhou Yuan self reflected. He did not deny that he had become somewhat arrogant after becoming the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen, killing Wu Huang, stepping into the Divine Dwelling stage, and defeating the higher cultivation King Wu. Wu Yao and Zhang Yun Xiao¡¯s appearance had given him a good knock to the head, allowing him to understand that there was always a taller mountain. He may perhaps have reached the pinnacle amongst the Cangxuan Heaven younger generation, but Cangxuan Heaven did not represent the boundless Tianyuan World. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and said, ¡°It seems that I still can¡¯t relax on my training.¡± It was exactly as King Wu had said. In the struggle between dragon and phoenix, only the devourer will live...as long as the sacred dragon blessing remained incomplete, a fight to the death between Wu Yao and him was unavoidable. Today¡¯s battle had been stopped by Yaoyao, but what about the next one? It was impossible to forever avoid the struggle for the sacred dragon blessing. ¡°And that Zhao Yunxiao¡­¡± Iciness flashed past in the depths of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s sneaky attack had greatly damaged silver shadow and nearly taken Zhou Yuan¡¯s life. This was a debt he would firmly remember. Yaoyao looked at him and smiled a little. ¡°However, do not undervalue yourself either. Wu Yao¡¯s lead over you is mostly due to the difference in environment. Hunyuan Heaven is indeed a true cultivation paradise that is far more vast and boundless than Canguan Heaven. ¡°When you returned to the Cangmang Continent after seeing the Shengzhou Continent and the Cangxuan Sect, you will naturally feel that the former has become rather small. It is the same for Wu Yao. As someone who has went to Hunyuan Heaven, she views Cangxuan Heaven the same way you view the Cangmang Continent.¡± Zhou Yuan stared into empty space as he muttered, ¡°Is Hunyuan Heaven really so powerful?¡± Yaoyao faintly nodded as she said, ¡°Tianyuan World is separated into nine heavens. The sacred race monopolized four heavens, while the remaining five are home to the rest of the numerous races and Hunyuan Heaven is the strongest of the five heavens. ¡°In addition, Hunyuan Heaven has always been at the front lines in the long struggle with the sacred race. One can even say that without Hunyuan Heaven, the entire Tianyuan World would have long been conquered by the sacred race. All living creatures would be reduced to nothing but slaves, allowing the sacred race to toy with their lives.¡± ¡°The sacred race¡­¡± Zhou Yuan secretly wet his lips. He was no longer the ignorant young boy from back then and had already begun to learn of the overwhelming might of the mysterious sacred race through several old texts in the Cangxuan Sect. Moreover, there were hints that the current strongest faction in Cangxuan Heaven, the Sacred Palace, was secretly being supported by the sacred race. A mere Sacred Palace that was supported by the sacred race was already showing signs of becoming the ruler of Cangxuan Heaven. One could imagine how terrifying the entire sacred race was. And as the headquarters of the resistance against the sacred race, one could see just how powerful Hunyuan Heaven was. Yaoyao did not elaborate any further and changed the topic. ¡°Although it wasn¡¯t a full victory this time, you¡¯ve finally managed to fulfill one of your goals.¡± A smile emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face and he breathed a deep sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. King Wu was dead and without its leader, the headless Great Wu Empire would naturally follow suit. Of course, it would have been a perfect ending if he managed to take back the two portions of sacred dragon blessing from the Great Wu Empire and Wu Yao. However, eradicating the Great Wu Empire had at long last freed him from his constant worrying. While the fight with Wu Yao would only come in the future. ¡°Congratulations.¡± Yaoyao looked straight at Zhou Yuan. When they first met, the latter had been a frail boy who desperately wished to unblock his meridian channels to cultivate. Who could have imagined that the youth who was once incapable of finding his meridian channels would reach such heights after a few years. Zhou Yuan dazedly gazed at the Great Zhou capital for a long time before he softly chuckled. He naturally knew that he had a heavy burden the bear the moment the grudge between him and the Great Wu Empire was created. At that time, King Wu had been an invincible existence in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, and the mere thought of King Wu would put him under a tremendous amount of pressure. Despite this, the youth refused to back down nor show any fear and made a grand promise that seemed impossible to fulfill¡­ Back then, even his father had merely taken it as wild talk from an immature child. However... Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slowly closed. ¡°Father, I¡¯ve fulfilled my promise¡­¡± ... Shengzhou Continent. The Sacred Palace. The primal chaos like crystal slowly rose before palace master Sheng Yuan as his unfathomable gaze tightly stared at it. The primal chaos within the crystal ball seemed to ripple at this moment. His gaze seemed to pierce through space itself as the scenes from the faraway Cangmang Continent entered his eyes. ¡°Heh, the sacred dragon blessing is truly special¡­¡± Although the sacred dragon blessing had not fully gathered in a single body, it had ultimately converged in one location. One could say that the so-called fate had stirred a little the moment Wu Yao and Zhou Yuan met. Others may have failed to detect this, but the waiting palace master Sheng Yuan had tightly grasped this moment. Blood flowed from palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s silver pupils. Even someone as mighty as him needed to pay a price in order to pry into fate¡¯s secrets. More and more blood flowed out from his pupils, making him look extremely sinister. The primal chaos within the crystal ball violently rippled. At a certain moment, it felt as if the river of time slowed for a single breath as an ancient scene flashed past within the primal chaos. Silver light blossomed from palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s pupils as he spat out a mouthful of blood. Blood swirled in front of him, seemingly turning into a scene from the far past. Numerous powerful sects seemed to exist within it. However, devastating lightning descended from the sky, completely destroying all life upon the land. Palace master Sheng Yuan could no longer hold back as he raised his head and laughed at the heavens while burning desire flooded his eyes. ¡°Hahaha, Cangxuan Saint Stamp! ¡°I¡¯ve finally found you!¡± Rumble! The surrounding Genesis Qi began to churn before frantically spreading outwards, rippling through the entire Cangxuan Heaven. At this moment, looks of bewilderment appeared on the faces of countless powerful existences in Cangxuan Heaven. Because they had faintly sensed something when palace master Sheng Yuan peeked into fate itself. Thump! In the Cangxuan Sect. While discussing some matters with the peak masters, sect master Qing Ying¡¯s usually kindly face abruptly turned ashen at this moment as a terrifying wave of Genessi Qi exploded from his body. In the hall, peak master Lianyi, peak master Ling Jun and the others looked over in alarm. Sect master Qing Yang tightly clenched his fists, biting down hard as he icily said, ¡°I finally know what Sheng Yuan intends to do¡­ ¡°He schemes to find the Cangxuan Saint Stamp hidden by teacher!¡± These words immediately caused looks of horror to emerge on the faces of the other peak masters before almost solid killing intent flooded their eyes. Chapter 712 Hidden in the Land Bombarded by Lightning The Great Wu Empire¡¯s fate was sealed the moment King Wu died. Zhou Yuan spread news of King Wu¡¯s death which shook the entire Great Wu Empire, causing the morale of many of the still stubbornly resisting troops in the city to crumble. As such, the Great Zhou army swiftly invaded the Great Wu Empire in a span of several days, changing the flags that flew on every city when they passed. On the fifth day, the elite troops led by Zhou Qing finally arrived outside Great Wu¡¯s capital city. Outside the city. Zhou Qing dazedly stared at the opened gates of the grand city for a long time, an extremely complicated expression on his face. Behind him, Wei Canglan and numerous of the old generals were so overwhelmed by emotion that their eyes had turned red. This was where their string of defeats had started back then till they were ultimately chased to the far north by King Wu. At that time, they had fled like dogs that had lost their homes. Although they had supported Zhou Qing all along, they were honestly not very hopeful about reinstating the Great Zhou Empire because the disparity in strength between the Great Wu and Great Zhou Empire was just far too great. As such, their hearts were full of disbelief when they appeared outside the Great Wu capital once more. Their counterattack had been so smooth that it felt as if they were dreaming. ¡°I¡¯ve returned¡­¡± As he gazed upon the extremely familiar city, even Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes could not help but turn red as tears began to flow. He too had once believed that he would never return to this city. At this moment, thunderous cheers exploded from the army behind them. The noise shook even the city itself, causing countless solemnly respectful gazes to look over. They knew that the king who had been chased away by King Wu over a dozen years ago had returned once more... Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared on the city wall and drifted towards Zhou Qing amidst the countless fanatical and reverant gazes from the army. ¡°Father, King Wu is dead. From now onwards, the Great Wu Empire will no longer exist in the Cangmang Continent.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhou Qing and smiled. Zhou Qing stared at his son. A long while later, he took in a deep breath before he suddenly jumped off his horse. His left hand slammed into his chest, a solemn expression on his face as he shouted in a booming voice, ¡°Army, salute!¡± Rumble! Behind him, countless Great Zhou soldiers heavily slammed their fists into their chests as deafening cheers erupted. Wei Canglan, Wei Qingqing and the numerous officers also respectfully saluted. All of them clearly understood the meaning behind Zhou Qing¡¯s actions. Zhou Yuan had essentially singlehandedly saved the Great Zhou Empire from its destruction. When King Wu arrived at their city, everyone, including Zhou Qing, had fallen into the pits of despair. At that time, the only road they could see was to fight to their deaths. No one had expected their prince to arrive in their darkest hour and become the final ray of hope for the countless citizens of the Great Zhou Empire. No one could have imagined the surging emotions that would overwhelm their hearts when they saw Zhou Yuan appear on the raging river. Zhou Yuan was stunned by the saluting army. Soon after, he helplessly said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to do this father, it is my duty to protect our citizens as the prince of Great Zhou.¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes were filled with happiness and pride as he looked straight at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°As the saviour of our citizens, you deserve this salute. ¡°With your current standing amongst the people, you could even become the king of Great Zhou.¡± Zhou Yuan forced a laugh. Zhou Qing sighed and said, ¡°I know that your standards have become higher and your ambition has grown far greater than a mere king of a tiny Great Zhou Empire.¡± He understood that the Great Zhou Empire was far too small and the Cangmang Continent was far too tiny. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s current talent and strength, it was impossible for him to stay in Great Zhou and become its king. ¡°Father is still in his prime and should have no thoughts about abdicating the throne.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Staying in the Great Zhou Empire was not the path he seeked. After resolving the problem of the Great Wu Empire, he no longer had any worries. Besides the occasional visit home in the future, most of his time would likely be spent in the Cangxuan Sect. Because only in a bigger place would he be able to continuously grow stronger. Zhou Qing nodded. He was naturally supportive of his son¡¯s aspirations. Zhou Qing patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulders before turning towards the magnificent capital city. He took a deep breath and said, ¡°Let¡¯s enter the city. From today onwards, the entire Cangmang Continent will know that the Great Zhou Empire...has returned.¡± ... As Zhou Qing entered the Great Wu capital, the Great Wu Empire finally faded from the world. Over the next few days, Zhou Qing swiftly sent out several orders to begin cleaning up the final remnants of the Great Wu Empire. Although they tried to resist, it was futile because the Great Wu Empire had already lost. The empires that bordered the Great Wu Empire were extremely silent. Normally speaking, when an empire was destroyed, the bordering empires would begin to stir restlessly due to the temptation of expanding their borders through this golden opportunity. However, the neighbouring empires were strangely obedient this time. Evidently, it was because they understood that the Great Zhou Empire had a prince that could defeat a mid Divine Dwelling stage expert... Even King Wu had been defeated at his hands. Such strength was already invincible in the Cangmang Continent. What¡¯s more, this prince of the Great Zhou Empire was also the leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen... With such a titan backing him, there was no longer anyone who dared to offend the current Great Zhou Empire. Zhou Yuan did not leave immediately because he understood that the Great Zhou Empire still needed his presence. Only after the empire gained its footing would he rush back to the Cangxuan Sect. Zhou Qing received Qin Yu at the Great Wu capital and Zhou Yuan, who had left home for many years, naturally spent most of his time accompanying her. ... While Zhou Yuan was enjoying some temporary peace, he was unaware of the great waves that were washing through the many peak factions in Cangxuan Heaven. Numerous powerful existances that usually cultivated in seclusion entered the world once more. Palace master Sheng Yuan''s attempt to pry into the secrets of heaven had naturally been detected by these powerful existences. Sheng Yuan was scheming to obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp! This was undoubtedly a huge shock to the many great sects. Patriarch Cangxuan had controlled the Cangxuan Saint Stamp back when he was the master of Cangxuan Heaven. After his death, the stamp had gone missing and was unable to be found no matter how everyone tried. It had evidently been hidden by patriarch Cang Xuan through special means. Currently, palace master Sheng Yuan had managed to shake the secrets of heaven and sensed the location of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. This undoubtedly declared his ambition; he intended to obtain the stamp and use it to elevate himself to the next level: to become the new master of Cangxuan Heaven. Such ambition was akin to a sudden clap of thunder for the other overlord sects. After all, they knew that once palace master Sheng Yuan became the new heaven master, the Sacred Palace would become the true ruler of Cangxuan Heaven. The other sects would have no choice but to submit. And this was obviously something the other overlord sects would not be happy to see. Hence, some of the more perceptive individuals could faintly sense a tense atmosphere slowly beginning to cover Cangxuan Heaven... However, this tense atmosphere did not last for long before a certain piece of news exploded in Cangxuan Heaven. Chapter 713 Divine Dwelling Medicine The capital of Great Wu. More than half of the Great Wu palace had been burned down by Wu Yao. The remaining buildings were temporarily used by the Great Zhou Empire. This was also where Qin Yu, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao resided. In a quiet courtyard. Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged in a rock garden. His eyes were tightly closed and a chaos halo slowly rotated behind him, continuously absorbing the surrounding Genesis Qi. His training continued for a good while before he opened his eyes and the halo behind him gradually faded. ¡°I¡¯ve become more sensitive to Genesis Qi after entering the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. With the Divine Dwelling halo, the absorption rate of Genesis Qi had soared and the efficiency of his training was at least ten times greater than what it was during the Alpha-Origin stage. After a few days of practice, however, Zhou Yuan began to feel the difficulty of cultivation in the Divine Dwelling stage. Once one stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage, progress was tied to one¡¯s own Divine Dwelling. A newly formed Divine Dwelling was imperfect and needed to be polished constantly by Genesis Qi to gradually perfect it. Zhou Yuan''s current Qi Dwelling was a nine heavens Divine Dwelling which was akin to establishing nine separate domains. The nine heavens were not connected to each other and there seemed to be some kind of mysterious barrier between them. Only by connecting these nine heavens would they gradually fuse together, which would also prepare him for advancing to the next cultivation stage, the Heavenly Sun stage. When he opened a path to a new heaven, the Genesis Qi of the two heavens would integrate, causing his Genesis Qi to skyrocket. However, what troubled experts of the Divine Dwelling stage the most was to completely polish each heaven and ultimately merge all of them. ¡°It¡¯s too difficult.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a long sigh. He hadn¡¯t been slacking off his cultivation practice, but the barrier between the first and second heavens was still as solid as a boulder and had not even budged an inch. ¡°The Divine Dwelling stage requires a huge amount of cultivation resources to support it. It¡¯s useless to only rely on your own training.¡± While Zhou Yuan felt a headache coming on, he heard a clear and sweet-sounding voice. Zhou Yuan turned his head to see Yaoyao standing at the bottom of the rock garden holding Tuntun. ¡°In the Divine Dwelling stage, there is a resource that is essential and indispensable. ¡°You must have done some homework too, and you should know what it is, right?¡± Yaoyao smiled. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, and then spurted out the words, ¡°Divine Dwelling Medicine.¡± These medicines had no effect on cultivation stages other than the Divine Dwelling stage, but were extremely precious to experts of the Divine Dwelling stage. However, Divine Dwelling Medicines were extremely valuable. If one wanted to consume a large amount to polish their Divine Dwellings, it would be a huge burden for them. Therefore, many Divine Dwelling experts would rather abandon their freedom to join clans or sects in exchange for Divine Dwelling Medicine for cultivation training. They could also exchange for Divine Dwelling Medicine in the Cangxuan Sect, but the price wasn¡¯t low at all. Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reached the Divine Dwelling stage when he left the Cangxuan Sect. But given his contributions, even if he were to exchange for some Divine Dwelling Medicines, he would likely obtain at most a dozen of low grade Divine Dwelling Medicines. Yaoyao stretched out her hand and gently patted the spatial bag hanging from her waist. There was a sudden glow as dozens of jade boxes flew out and floated in front of Zhou Yuan. The jade boxes automatically opened, revealing rows of bizarre flowers and fruits that gave off a dazzling brilliance. Although strangely shaped, every single one emitted incredibly pure and powerful Genesis Qi. ¡°Divine Dwelling Medicines?¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed. ¡°These were found in the Great Wu treasury. Your father knew that it would be useful for your cultivation so asked me to bring them to you.¡± Yaoyao tilted her head and continued, ¡°Unfortunately, they are all just low grade Divine Dwelling Medicines. The others must have been used by King Wu to break through to the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face still lit up with joy. ¡°This is already very good. With these, my progress should improve a lot.¡± He flung his robe and contently stored away the Divine Dwelling Medicines into his spatial bag. Watching Zhou Yuan put away the medicines, Yaoyao blinked her eyes and said, ¡°Since you have fully retrieved the sacred dragon blessing from Wu Huang''s body. You should prepare to advance to the second level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. ¡°Once you reach the second level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, your Omni Python Qi will evolve into the grade seven World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes blazed in anticipation as he stared intently at Yaoyao. He had been hoping to master the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi for years. It was only when he regained the sacred dragon blessing from Wu Huang that he finally had the qualifications to begin mastering it. The Omni Python Qi that Zhou Yuan cultivated was originally a grade five Genesis Qi but subsequently evolved into the grade six Omni Serpent Qi after he regained a part of the sacred dragon blessing from Wu Huang. However, due to the amazingness of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, even the grade six Omni Serpent Qi wasn¡¯t the least bit inferior to some grade seven Genesis Qi. But as Zhou Yuan encountered more powerful enemies, the Omni Python Qi could no longer suppress their Genesis Qi. As such, advancing it to the grade seven World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi would allow Zhou Yuan''s combat strength to soar. After all, the grade six Omni Serpent Qi was already comparable to grade seven Genesis Qi. Wouldn¡¯t that mean that the grade seven World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi would not lose out to grade eight Genesis Qi? Zhou Yuan believed that grade eight Genesis Qi would be a top treasure to the major sects of Cangxuan Heaven and would never be given away to outsiders. However, transforming his Omni Serpent Qi into the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi was not a simple process. It was very complicated and he needed to rely on Yaoyao for guidance. Yaoyao smiled, ¡°The evolution of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture isn¡¯t difficult, you only require some materials to aid you.¡± However, Zhou Yuan could not help but feel uneasy when he heard this. Sure enough, a jade scroll shot towards Zhou Yuan with a flick of Yaoyao¡¯s finger. Zhou Yuan caught it. His Spirit senses swept out as hundreds of strange materials flowed into his mind. He had seen a few of them in the Glittering Jewels Pavilion before, none of which were cheap. But there were even more that he had never heard or seen of. This was many times more complicated than the first level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture! ¡°Once you have collected all these materials, follow the method in the jade scroll to refine them before fusing the product with your Genesis Qi. It will then naturally evolve into the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face darkened a little. ¡°It will take a lot of time to gather all of these.¡± It seemed that the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi was going to take some time. Yaoyao rolled her eyes and patted her spatial bag again. Countless rays of lights flew out, each containing an object within. ¡°I have prepared most of them over the last few years in the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°But there''s still a few missing which you''ll have to procure yourself.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned at the sight of the materials hovering in front of him as a warm feeling flowed in his heart. It turns out that Yaoyao had been helping him prepare without his knowing. He waved his sleeve and stored away the materials. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Yaoyao suddenly said, ¡°There seem to be many unfamiliar experts in the Cangmang Continent recently. From the information that your father has received, they are likely from the Shengzhou Continent.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned, ¡°Why would they come to the Cangmang Continent?¡± In the eyes of people of the Shengzhou Continent, the Cangmang Continent was a remote and desolate place that wasn¡¯t even worth visiting. Yaoyao shook her head, ¡°This, I don¡¯t know. The other empires of the Cangmang Continent were also disturbed by those foreign forces, but due to their strength and background, nobody dares to speak against them.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The overall strength of the Shengzhou Continent was far greater than the Cangmang Continent, where even a Divine Dwelling expert could be called an almighty existence. In the Shengzhou Continent, a Divine Dwelling expert would only be considered an elite in the faction. Therefore, the empires of the Cangmang Continent would not dare to offend these outsiders. ¡°Never mind, I can¡¯t control what they do in other places, but they better not come to the Great Zhou Empire...¡± Zhou Yuan waved his arm. As the leader Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t a person without background. Wu! However, just as his voice fell, the shrill wail of a siren suddenly rang out in the middle of the city. The entire capital city fell into turmoil. Countless horrified gazes looked into the distance, only to see multiple silhouettes streaking across the sky. Those silhouettes exuded powerful waves of Genesis Qi, and there was a halo floating behind each of them. A thunderous voice boomed before the figures arrived, ¡°Who is the lord of your empire? We¡¯ve come all the way here so hurry hand over the Divine Dwelling Medicines in your treasury to ensure your safety.¡± It was an incredibly arrogant voice. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face darkened when he heard this. Chapter 714 Outsiders When the silhouettes appeared above the capital city, a powerful Genesis Qi pressure shrouded the area, causing the entire city to tremble. Countless people looked at the figures in horror, their scalps turning numb when they saw the Divine dwelling halos behind them. A Divine Dwelling expert was an almighty existence in the Cangmang Continent and there were currently over twenty of them present. The combined power could easily destroy a country. ¡°Why did so many Divine Dwelling experts appear?!¡± ¡°Could they have come to avenge the Great Wu Empire?¡± ¡°If that''s the case, the Great Zhou Empire will be in grave danger!¡± ¡°......¡± Numerous shocked whispers spread. The Great Wu Empire had recently been taken over by the Great Zhou Empire, and the citizens¡¯ hearts were still a little uncertain. There were still some loyal Great Wu supporters who did not dare to openly rebel against the Great Zhou Empire directly. With the arrival of these Divine Dwelling experts, the Great Wu loyalists would happily entertain the delusion that they were here to avenge the Great Wu Empire. After all, didn¡¯t the royal prince Wu Huang have a rather high status in the Sacred Palace? In front of the palace. Zhou Qing led a group of generals out of the palace. Their expressions could not help but change when they saw the numerous figures hovering in the air. The oppressive pressure given off by a large group of Divine Dwelling experts was clearly quite terrifying. ¡°Why have these Divine Dwelling experts come here?¡± Wei Canglan turned to Zhou Qing with a frightened face. The other generals¡¯ faces were also crossed with worry. They knew that the Great Zhou Empire was not capable of withstanding the might of a dozen Divine Dwelling experts. ¡°I''ve heard that a lot of unfamiliar experts have arrived in the Cangmang Continent recently.¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s face grew solemn. ¡°But they are most likely not here for the Great Wu Empire. A mere Great Wu Empire does not have such influence.¡± However, it still never a good thing for a pack of wolves to come to the grassland where a flock of sheep lived. The Great Zhou Empire had recently taken over the Great Wu Empire, and the citizens¡¯ hearts were still undecided. If some outsider Divine Dwelling experts were allowed to trample over the Great Zhou Empire, it would be even more difficult to win the hearts of the people in the future. With these thoughts racing through his mind, Zhou Qing stepped forward and cupped his fists together. ¡°I am the king of Great Zhou, Zhou Qing. The Great Zhou Empire is honored to have so many experts grace us with your presence. If you don¡¯t mind, please step aside and allow us to do our duty as the host.¡± Zhou Qing explained, ¡°You may not know but the Great Zhou Empire has finished a war. We may have some ordinary medicines but we really don¡¯t have any Divine Dwelling Medicines.¡± The tall, thin man named Gu Zong did not respond as he narrowed his eyes while the corners of his mouth curved upwards in a cold smile. He thrust his palm, sending out a torrent of raging Genesis Qi that instantly destroyed the palace behind Zhou Qing. The other Divine Dwelling experts roared with laughter. There were also many previously Great Wu officials present in addition to the Great Zhou generals. Their eyes flickered in thought when they witnessed this scene. The palace was not the only thing that had been destroyed by that strike, but also the presence the Great Zhou Empire had recently built up in the former Great Wu Empire. Having smashed the palace, Gu Zong nonchalantly said, ¡°Think again before you answer. We passed by another empire on our way here but the king there was incapable of understanding what was good for him. In the end the empire was left without their king.¡± Zhou Qing''s face darkened. The other party had clearly destroyed the palace to humiliate him and spoke in an obviously threatening tone of voice. Wei Canglan and the others were equally enraged, but dared not say a word for fear of sparking the Divine Dwelling experts¡¯ killing intent. After all, the gap between them was far too great. Zhou Qing¡¯s expression rapidly fluctuated. In the end, he drew a deep breath. There were still a handful of Divine Dwelling Medicines in the Great Zhou Empire that they could use to send away this pack of wolves. However, just when Zhou Qing opened his mouth to speak, a chuckle suddenly rang out. ¡°I was wondering what kind of thugs had come. It turns out to be members of the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion.¡± Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan and others turned around in surprise and found Zhou Yuan standing atop another building ¡°Yuan¡¯er...¡± A worried frown crossed Zhou Qing¡¯s face, clearly not wanting Zhou Yuan to appear. After all, he wasn¡¯t aware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s status in the Cangxuan Sect, and there were many Divine Dwelling stage practitioners on the other side. It would not be good if they were angered. In the sky, Gu Zong and the others were taken aback for a moment before their gazes locked onto Zhou Yuan one by one. They never expected that someone from a pathetic little empire would dare to speak out against them. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re also a Divine Dwelling practitioner?¡± Gu Zong studied Zhou Yuan in surprise before he smiled, ¡°Boy, you¡¯re quite talented to have reached the Divine Dwelling stage at your age. Don¡¯t make a mistake because of a few Divine Dwelling Medicines.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, ¡°In the Shengzhou Continent, the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion is not as arrogant as you guys.¡± Gu Zong¡¯s expression froze. He stared at Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± Only now did he realize that the young man before him was not a local Divine Dwelling expert. There were a handful of Divine Dwelling experts in the empires they had passed along the way, but in the face of their line-up and the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion behind them, those Divine Dwelling experts all trembled and dared not speak. Zhou Yuan swept a glance over them, stating calmly, ¡°The leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen, Zhou Yuan.¡± The mocking expressions on the Divine Dwelling experts froze at this statement before they exclaimed, ¡°The leader of the Cangxuan Sect Chosen, Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°Could it be that same Zhou Yuan who caused a commotion previously?¡± The Divine Dwelling experts looked at each other in dismay. They didn¡¯t expect the leader Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect to appear in a tiny little empire. Gu Zong was also taken by surprise. He had heard of Zhou Yuan before. The battle between the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace had made Zhou Yuan become the focus of attention of all the Shengzhou Continent factions. But this was about all that Gu Zong knew. He didn¡¯t know about the specific origin of Zhou Yuan. High up in the sky, the originally arrogant and overbearing Divine Dwelling experts suddenly restrained themselves. They would naturally be unafraid if Zhou Yuan was an ordinary Divine Dwelling expert, but he had another identity; the leader Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect. Behind him stood the Cangxuan Sect, one of the overlord sects which the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion could not compare to at all. Zhou Qing heaved a sigh of relief at this scene. He was surprised to find out that Zhou Yuan had a reputation in the Shengzhou Continent and could even deter so many experts of the Divine Dwelling stage. While the atmosphere turned tense, Gu Zong¡¯s eyes flashed as he let out a small sigh. Who would have expected that they would encounter such a thorny obstacle in this tiny and insignificant continent. However, although Gu Zong was somewhat wary of Zhou Yuan''s identity, he didn¡¯t fear him too much because the Heavenly Cloud Pavilion¡¯s stance leaned more towards the Sacred Palace. Moreover, he was an experienced Divine Dwelling stage expert, who had reached the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, while Zhou Yuan had recently reached the Divine Dwelling stage and was naturally someone he should not be afraid of. As such, he put on a fake smile and said, ¡°So you¡¯re a distinguished disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, it¡¯s just a misunderstanding. We will take our leave.¡± However, a cruel thought flashed in his mind; he would have to go on a killing frenzy at the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s border before he left to vent his frustration. Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan and others heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing that the pack of wolves was about to leave. Chapter 715 Compensation High up in the sky. Gu Zong, who was about to leave with his group, suddenly twisted around because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s. He darkly looked at Zhou Yuan and forced a smile, ¡°Chosen Zhou Yuan, it was just a misunderstanding, there is no need to take things too far right?¡± At the same time, his eyes flashed in anger. That Zhou Yuan really doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for him. I have already taken a step back, but he still has the same aggressive and overbearing attitude. Do you really think that a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect would scare him? There wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The Great Zhou Empire had just conquered the Great Wu Empire, which meant that it was critical to establish authority at that time. The group of people had shattered the great hall as soon they arrived, which was the same as trampling on the authority that the Great Zhou Empire had developed. Other people would inevitably have some strange thoughts when they see this, which wasn¡¯t beneficial to the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s rule. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t stay with the Great Zhou Empire forever, so he wanted to help Zhou Qing to stabilise his rule. Moreover, recently there were many outsiders coming to the Cangmang Continent. Gu Zong and the others were just a small number of them. Those people did not care about the Empires in the Cangmang Continent and caused great chaos everywhere. Therefore, in order to avoid trouble, Zhou Yuan felt the need to do something in order to keep the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s territory safe. For example, killing the chickens to warn the monkeys. And Gu Zong and the others were the best chickens. ¡°Hand over fifty low grade Divine Dwelling Medicines, and I can forget about the matter.¡± Zhou Yuan said indifferently. Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan and others felt their scalp going numb when they heard this. Zhou Yuan wanted them to compensate them with fifty low grade Divine Dwelling Medicines for a palace hall? It should be said that there weren¡¯t even that many in the Great Wu Empire¡¯s treasury! At the high-altitude, Gu Zong¡¯s and the others¡¯ faces turned dark when they heard this. ¡°You really have a huge appetite. Chosen Zhou Yuan, I advise you to not be unrealistic.¡± ¡°So you mean you won¡¯t compensate us?¡± Zhou Yuan asked indifferently. Gu Zong crossed his arms. ¡°I won¡¯t give you compensation, what can you do?¡± Zhou Yuan had just reached the initial level of the Divine Dwelling stage and was alone, while the other side had twenty Divine Dwelling experts. Gu Zong really couldn¡¯t understand where Zhou Yuan got the courage to extort him in that situation. ¡°This boy is talented, but he has become stupid from training too much!¡± The other Divine Dwelling experts behind Gu Zong also sneered coldly. Roar! His voice had just fallen when the deafening roar of a beast resounded all over the world, while a ferocious aura rose into the sky. Immediately after, everyone saw a beam of golden light shooting up from the rear of the palace. Within that golden light was a majestic and mysterious monster. Black light lingered around his huge mouth, and the golden scales around his body glistened in the sun. Tuntun roared skyward like a rumble of thunder. When Tuntun activated the combat form, his body had more than doubled in size, resembling a little mountain. As he swallowed and spewed out black light, the Genesis Qi of the universe was also endlessly absorbed into his mouth. Shortly after Yaoyao¡¯s mysterious breakthrough, Tuntun also had unexpectedly reached the Divine Dwelling stage... He originally came from a mysterious and powerful bloodline, and so with his growth, his strength also became more and more terrifying. Tuntun¡¯s appearance caused a drastic change of expression on the faces of Gu Zong and the others. They all stared at Tuntun with a horrified expression, feeling the waves of tremendous pressure being exuded from his body. ¡°What kind of Genesis Beast is that? Why is it giving off such a terrifying pressure?!¡± Gu Zong''s face changed constantly. He was at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, but even so, he still felt a feeling of being oppressed. The mysterious monster in front of them was clearly not an ordinary Genesis beast. Roar! While he stood bewildered, Tuntun had already roared out and transformed into a beam of golden light that sped towards Gu Zong. His sharp claws that were wrapped in black light tore through the void, aiming for Gu Zong. The terrifying howling wind also made Gu Zong aware that he must focus all his attention. His Genesis Qi fiercely erupted as two Divine Dwelling halos appeared behind him. His fist, wrapped in berserk Genesis Qi, slammed towards the sharp claws. Boom! Violent Genesis Qi raged out. Tuntun¡¯s body did not budge an inch, but Gu Zong was severely struck and violently shot backwards. His fist was covered with blood marks, and his hand was almost ripped apart. Gu Zong had been severely injured in one strike. His face changed dramatically in an instant, and the other Divine Dwelling experts also turned pale. ¡°Retreat!¡± ¡° Gu Zong unhesitatingly roared and turned around to flee. It was only then that he understood why Zhou Yuan dared to be so impolite to them. It turned out that he had such a terrifying and mysterious Genesis beast. The others dared not stay any longer when they saw the situation and fled. However, their body had only just moved when an invisible force descended from the sky, like a mountain, and directly suppressed their body to the point that they froze. Even Gu Zong was unable to move. They looked up in horror to see a beautiful maiden in a blue dress, standing barefoot in the sky and staring at them indifferently. And her body was emitting extremely frightening waves of spirit power. Gu Zong felt a chill running down his back. The mysterious Genesis beast was already very difficult to deal with. He didn¡¯t expect another powerful girl who possessed such terrifying spirit power to appear... Swoosh! Tuntun came roaring over, his claws streaked across the sky with earthshaking fiendish aura. Gu Zong¡¯s face was deathly pale as he cried in a shrill voice, ¡°Chosen Zhou Yuan! We are willing to compensate you with Divine Dwelling Medicines!¡± Chi! The claws halted at a distance from Gu Zong, but a gust of powerful wind still blew over, tearing multiple wounds across Gu Zong¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan responded leisurely, ¡°If you compensate now, then you have to give one hundred Divine Dwelling Medicines.¡± Gu Zong almost spat out a mouthful of blood when he heard that. One hundred low grade Divine Dwelling Medicines were also extremely valuable to them. They only obtained sixty after extorting so many Empires, how could they compensate them with so many? However, looking at Tuntun widening his mouth, he dared not object. He clenched his teeth and grumbled, ¡°Fine!¡± His voice faded, and so did the tremendous spirit power. Then they were forced to the ground in an extremely sorry state. Zhou Qing, Wei Canglan and others were all struck dumb. They exchanged glances with one another, swallowing mouthfuls of saliva. It was evident that they didn¡¯t think Zhou Yuan was so ferocious and could suppress twenty Divine Dwelling experts at once. The officials of the Great Wu Empire, whose eyes were flashing before, also froze with fear and dared not give birth to other thoughts. They now understood that, with Zhou Yuan, the Great Zhou Empire would be much more stable than the Great Wu Empire. Under the watchful gaze of Yaoyao and Tuntun, Gu Zong and the others brought out and handed over a total of one hundred Divine Dwelling Medicines. Gu Zong was filled with regret. He only broke the main hall to show his power, but who would have thought that this instead became an excuse for Zhou Yuan to launch an attack. Zhou Yuan flicked his sleeve, and took out twenty Divine Dwelling Medicines. He threw it up into the air and shared it with Tuntun, who swallowed it contently into his stomach. He stored the rest away, peered at Gu Zong and the others, and warned, ¡°If you had accepted the offer earlier, it would have been half less than it is now.¡± Gu Zong and others forced a smile and nodded, but cursed in their hearts. It was only a palace hall that was broken but they had to compensate them with one hundred Divine Dwelling Medicines. Given the price of Divine Dwelling Medicines, they could have bought one hundred cities with that amount. ¡°Chosen Zhou Yuan, can we leave now?¡± Gu Zong didn''t want to stay here a minute longer. Zhou Yuan smiled, ¡°Not yet, there is a thing I want to ask.¡± ¡°I have been in the Cangmang Continent recently, and don¡¯t know what happened outside. Why are there suddenly so many foreign experts coming to the Cangmang Continent?¡± Gu Zong didn¡¯t try to hide anything since it wasn¡¯t any secret. ¡°Actually, it''s not only the Cangmang Continent, the other continents are also being explored by other people.¡± ¡°What''s going on?¡± Zhou Yuan couldn''t help exclaiming. ¡°It is said that Palace Master Sheng Yuan of the Sacred Palace pried into the secrets known only to heaven and found clues of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.....This matter has spread, and all forces are frantically searching for it now.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed dramatically when he heard this, and his eyes filled with shock. ¡°The Cangxuan Saint Stamp?!¡± His eyes flickered rapidly. He didn¡¯t expect such a big thing to happen after he departed from the Shengzhou Continent. Moreover, he knew very well that the three Saint Runes within him were from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. If the Cangxuan Saint Stamp were to fall into the hands of Palace Master Sheng Yuan, then that would also mean he would be able to detect the existence of the Saint Runes. When that happened, Sheng Yuan would definitely come for him. Moreover, not just Sheng Yuan... As the saying goes, the possession of a jade ring would get someone into trouble. Chapter 716 A familiar place ¡°Land struck by lightning...¡± Watching Gu Zong and the others leave, an unexpectedly solemn expression came onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He repeatedly muttered the clue about the Cangxuan Saint Stamp that Gu Zong mentioned. ¡°This really is troublesome...¡± He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. He possessed three Saint Runes, so if the Cangxuan Saint Stamp were to fall into the hands of other people, they would be able to detect the presence of the Saint Runes in his body. No matter who obtained the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, their first thought must be to restore the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Therefore, the Saint Runes that he had would definitely be taken back. Given his present strength, how could he counter existences of that level? A sweet fragrance wafted over as Yaoyao landed next to Zhou Yuan, ¡°Cangxuan Heaven most likely is going to undergo great change.¡± The shock that the appearance of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would cause was unimaginable. Whether it was the Sacred Palace, the Cangxuan Sect or other major sects, everybody would undoubtedly fight with all their strength. The war that could break out would be far greater than the battle between the disciples of the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. It could truly destroy the world. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath. He had just resolved the problem of the Great Wu Empire and thought that he could relax a little, but unexpectedly another huge event was going to happen. Of course, if he wasn¡¯t carrying three Saint Runes, he wouldn¡¯t pay too much attention on the matters regarding the Cangxuan Saint Stamp because it wasn¡¯t something that a person of his level could get involved in. Unfortunately there was no ¡®if¡¯. ¡°What to do?¡± Zhou Yuan felt a headache coming on. ¡°In any case, we have to pay attention to any clues about the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. If possible, we should find it first and get our hands on it. I would rather the Cangxuan Sect have that object than let if fall into the hands of the Sacred Palace.¡± Yaoyao moved her red lips and explained. Once Palace Master Sheng Yuan obtained the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, he would become the Heaven Master of the Cangxuan Heaven, and nobody in this land would be able to stop him. When it happened, Palace Master Sheng Yuan would surely come after Zhou Yuan, who was currently in possession of three of the Saint Runes. Coupled with some previous grudges, Palace Master Sheng Yuan was even more likely to use the chance to kill Zhou Yuan, and even the Great Zhou Empire could be affected. And if the Cangxuan Saint Stamp were to fall into the hands of the Cangxuan Sect, then Zhou Yuan at least had a way of retreat. He pondered for a moment, then leapt up and landed in front of Zhou Qing. Wei Canglan, Black Venom King and others immediately bowed respectfully to Zhou Yuan with awe in their eyes. The shock that Zhou Yuan gave them when he forced so many Divine Dwelling experts to retreat was too great. It should be said that the power of so many Divine Dwelling experts were enough to destroy the country, but they still lost against Zhou Yuan and had no choice but to retreat. It was clear what sort of terrifying power that Zhou Yuan controlled. Zhou Yuan was now the most powerful being that the Great Zhou Empire relied on. As long as Zhou Yuan existed, the Great Zhou Empire would continue to exist. Zhou Qing gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s young face, and couldn¡¯t help feeling emotional. The young man who left home had unknowingly become strong enough to support him. It made him both gratified and proud. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, those people wouldn¡¯t destroy everywhere as retaliation right?¡± Zhou Qing glanced in the direction they left and asked in a worried voice. The Great Zhou Empire had just taken control of the Great Wu Empire, and the situation was still unstable, so if those Divine Dwelling experts were to start chaos it would cause great unrest. ¡®They don''t have the guts.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Although he had wounded Gu Zong and the others, they should also have the self-awareness that if they retaliated indiscriminately, then it wouldn¡¯t be something that could be settled with Divine Dwelling Medicines anymore. Seeing the calm expression on Zhou Yuan''s face, Zhou Qing also relaxed. ¡°Father, there is something that I would like to ask you for help with.¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Qing was somewhat surprised, ¡°It¡¯s rare that you need to ask me for help, hurry tell me what is troubling you.¡± ¡°I would like to ask Father to help me investigate and find all the places in the Cangmang Continent where lightning has struck.¡± ¡°Where lightning has struck?¡± Zhou Qing scrunched his brows in a frown, ¡°There must be a lot, after all it isn¡¯t common, but it also isn¡¯t rare.¡± ¡°Is there somewhere that is especially special?¡± Zhou Qing said in a deep voice: ¡°I''ll have someone investigate.¡± Black Venom King suddenly interrupted with an ingratiating smile, ¡°Your Highness, if it¡¯s places where lightning has struck, I know a place that should be considered very special.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°I don''t know if Your Highness remembers the place we met?¡± The Black Venom King smiled. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, ¡°You mean.....Blackwater?!¡± When he left the capital of the Great Zhou Empire, the first place he went to train in was the bordering Blackwater Yaoyao also landed with Tuntun in her arms, a look of surprise crossing her beautiful face as she whispered, ¡°Do you remember the Battle Puppet Sect?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, how could he not remember? His Silver Shadow was found there. ¡°Do you remember the residual shadows we saw in the underground palace of the Battle Puppet Sect?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart pounded as that memory resurfaced in his mind. ¡°The prided geniuses of our Sacred race have died here. I declare this place a sinful land that shall receive holy punishment. All life within an eighty thousand mile radius shall be destroyed.¡± In the residual shadow of the underground palace, a voice of ruthlessness brought a thunderbolt punishment that destroyed all the sects that existed in Blackwater in the ancient times. It was also there where he first knew about the existence of the Sacred Race. Over the years, he also learnt from the ancient books of the Cangxuan Sect that in ancient times, the majority of the Cangxuan Heaven was under the control of the Sacred race. But later, following numerous conflicts, patriarch Cang Xuan stood out and finally won the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, becoming the Heaven Master. So the Sacred race had to withdraw from the Cangxuan Heaven. And the thunderbolt of destruction punishment in Blackwater should have happened before the patriarch Cang Xuan obtained the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. So, the sinful land really could be considered the land where lightning struck. Yaoyao¡¯s bright and clear eyes shifted to Zhou Yuan. ¡°That is indeed a very mysterious place.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. It was indeed very mysterious. That was the place where the Sacred race ruled, and normally speaking, many of the experts were afraid to remember and interact with such a place. It was a blindspot of many people. Then, when patriarch Cang Xuan died, would he have deliberately hid the Cangxuan Saint Seal in the so-called sinful land? With this thought, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart began to race, because he felt that there really was that possibility! Zhou Yuan''s eyes met Yaoyao¡¯s, noticing the astonishment in each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°It seems we have check out the Blackwater again...¡± This made Zhou Yuan feel rather emotional. Blackwater had been his first destination after leaving the Great Zhou Empire. He just didn¡¯t expect that, after many years, he was going to return to the familiar place. Chapter 717 Exploring Blackwater The Great Zhou Empire¡¯s Border, Blackwater. Atop a mountain, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao peered down at a land that was still engulfed in chaos even after so many years. The chaos had never stopped even after the Black Venom King had been subdued by him. Evildoers from many countries hid in Blackwater because they were hunted everywhere else. This was a place where evil was sheltered and wrongdoing was accepted, a place that constantly reeked of blood. However, although there were many factions hiding in Blackwater, none had dared to infringe upon the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s borders for the past few years. After all, they had learned a lesson from seeing the Black Venom King subdued. With the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s recent triumph over the Great Wu Empire, the factions of Blackwater were now even more afraid of creating trouble. ¡°This energy is very terrifying.¡± Zhou Yuan was wearing a grave expression. To think that these energy fluctuations would still linger after so many years. If his speculation was correct, it most likely was left by the ancient thunderbolt punishment. When he first came to Blackwater, he hadn¡¯t even reached the Qi Nourishing stage, and was thus unable to detect this energy. But now that he had reached the Divine Dwelling stage he could naturally vividly feel the terrifying remnant power. ¡°Blackwater is said to be extremely vast and stretches all the way from the northern part of the Cangmang Continent to the edge of the continent. Only the most outer regions of Blackwater are inhabited while the central area is dominated by the residual thunderbolt punishment. It is a place that ordinary people do not dare to even approach.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed towards the depths of Blackwater and said, ¡°This time, we¡¯ll have to venture into the deepest region.¡± Carrying Tuntun, Yaoyao looked ahead and felt a surge of nostalgia, ¡°Silver Shadow was also obtained there.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, ¡°Unfortunately, Silver Shadow¡¯s hasn¡¯t been able to keep up with my cultivation.¡± After reaching the Divine Dwelling stage, Silver Shadow was unable to provide a substantial increase in power like before. ¡°That''s because Silver Shadow can only reach the level of the Alpha Origin stage.¡± Yaoyao stroked Tuntun¡¯s soft fur as her red lips curved in a smile. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t underestimate Silver Shadow. It is one of the greatest creations of the ancient Battle Puppet Sect. I¡¯ve also mentioned before that it has the ability to grow.¡± ¡°But you''ve studied it for so many years and still haven''t discovered how to enable its growth properties.¡± muttered Zhou Yuan. A rare flush spread across Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful and fair face. Clenching her teeth, she glowered at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You, you really think I can do everything?¡± Seeing Yaoyao''s rare irritation turned into anger, Zhou Yuan dazedly stared at her. She was too beautiful right now. It was quite some time later before he snapped out of it and remarked, ¡°So beautiful.¡± He knew that only he was blessed enough to see Yaoyao in such a state. Yaoyao shot a glance at him, combing her fine black hair as she snappily said, ¡°Are you going to go or not?¡± ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as golden Genesis Qi swept out with a wave of his robe. It rolled Yaoyao and him up, before turning into a beam of golden light that sped towards the depths of Blackwater. Two humans and a beast passed through the outer regions of Blackwater in two hours. And as they ventured deeper and deeper, it grew harder and harder to find any signs of life. The entire land was desolate and lifeless. The thunderbolt punishment appeared to have destroyed the vitality of the land. There was no presence of any life even after so many years. As the day came to an end, Zhou Yuan and the others were unable to find any living things. In addition, they could feel an extremely violent atmosphere of destruction the deeper in they travelled, an atmosphere that was many times stronger than the outer regions. Moreover, it seemed to possess the power to infect one¡¯s heart, making one gradually go crazy. Fortunately, both Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao weren¡¯t weak and were able to protect themselves with Genesis Qi, preventing the atmosphere from affecting them. However, as the night fell, the violent rumbling of thunder began to boom from the sky of Blackwater. Not a single thundercloud could be seen in the clear sky, but the rumbling continued endlessly, as though it originated from ancient times. And when that maniacal thunder sounded, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned solemn. The effect of the atmosphere had rapidly strengthened in the night. After which, Zhou Yuan did not dare to venture further ahead at night. He found a mountain cave for them to rest in and sealed the cave entrance before setting up a protective Genesis Runes. Only by doing this were they able to withstand the invasive atmosphere. Having experienced the night thunder, Zhou Yuan grew more and more afraid of Blackwater. After spending the night in the cave, Zhou Yuan and gang set off once again. They carefully explored the deeper regions of Blackwater. .... Three days later. Atop a barren mountain in the depths of Blackwater. Zhou Yuan gazed at the endless dead land before him in frustration. They had made no progress at all. The depths of Blackwater was a dead land, and there was nothing that stood out. ¡°It really isn¡¯t easy to find clues about the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly at Yaoyao. Yaoyao scrunched her brows and pondered for a moment as she gazed at the dead land, ¡°There really is nothing special in Blackwater, except for this deathly silence... ¡°The only thing that''s out of the ordinary is....¡± She turned to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°It might be the sound of thunder at night.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows furrowed again and his gaze drifted off in thought. That night thunder was filled with madness that could invade one¡¯s mind and turn one crazy. They had spent their nights hiding in the mountains to shield themselves from the night thunder. Blackwater was incredibly terrifying at night, but if they wanted to discover its secret, did they have to search for it during the darkness? Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed in thought. A moment later, he cast away his hesitation as he gritted his teeth, ¡°I won¡¯t hide tonight. Let¡¯s see if we can notice anything from the night thunder.¡± Yaoyao nodded. They had no choice but to try this. Zhou Yuan sat down and gazed at the sunset. The night wasn¡¯t far. Time quickly passed. When the sun finally and the sky darkened again, Zhou Yuan heard the mysterious deranged rumbling of thunder once again. Boom! Thunder reverberated throughout land like a roaring crazed beast of destruction. The golden Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan''s body violently shuddered. It was not particularly effective at blocking out the thunder¡¯s effects. Zhou Yuan could already feel a hint of craziness slowly emerging in his heart. His eyes filled with redness and his breathing became labored as a destructive impulse arose within him. ¡°The night thunder can penetrate the Genesis Qi and affect the Spirit. It needs to be countered with Spirit power.¡± A clear voice sounded beside him. It was naturally Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing the irritable feelings as he closed his eyes. Spirit light began to flicker between his brows. ¡°Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s consciousness immediately fell into the familiar domain of primal chaos. The Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone slowly descended, accompanied by an ancient power to contend against the night thunder. The two forces were stuck in a deadlock. Only after a long while did the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone grow stronger and stronger and slowly overwhelmed the thunder. The irritable feeling in his heart gradually faded. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes shot open, restored to its clear and bright appearance as he gazed into darkness. The night thunder continued to ring faintly, but upon a closer listen it wasn¡¯t as distant as before. ¡°Do you hear anything?¡± Yaoyao asked. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment, then his eyes took on a strange look as he exclaimed, ¡°The thunder, I seemed to have found its source!¡± Now that he had dampened the effects of the thunder, he was finally able to distinguish its source! ¡°Go!¡± He roared as he dashed towards the source of the thunder. The two streaked across the darkness. But the thunder seemed to flutter without leaving traces, making it extremely difficult for Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao to track it down. They were barely able to keep up with their strong Spirit sense... But even with Yaoyao sharing the burden, Zhou Yuan began to feel the space between his brows throb with pain. It was a sign that his Spirit was exhausted. Fortunately, their tracking finally came to an end after two hours. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao landed on a huge strangely shaped boulder and surveyed the area. It was complete darkness, and even the ground was black like a black ocean. Zhou Yuan stared at the ground in front of him. With a wave of his sleeve, a beam of golden Genesis Qi whizzed out and struck the ground. Boom! Genesis Qi fell as the earth quaked violently. The ground began to crumble as a pillar of dazzling light emerged from its depths. Thunder seemed to resound throughout the entire world. Zhou Yuan was dumbfounded as he watched the ground continue to collapse, creating a gigantic pit. Countless lightning flashed in the deep pit, which appeared to be a bottomless pool of lightning¡­. Thunder roared, and even the slightest noise made Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp turn numb as he felt the destructive energies. ¡°It is the power left by that thunderbolt punishment back then. They have gathered here and are most likely the reason why there is still no life in Blackwater even after so many years. ¡°They are destroying the vitality of the land and will eventually kill it off forever.¡± Yaoyao slowly uttered as she stared at the pit of lightning. Zhou Yuan did not respond. His body suddenly shuddered as his face contorted in pain. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan blinked. The Saint Rune in the depths of his pupils spun crazily as though attempting to burn his eyes. He extended his hand and saw the Earth Saint Rune force its way out of his flesh, causing blood to flow. In his Divine Dwelling, the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune was emitting violent cries. Shock emerged like a tide on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He looked at Yaoyao, his hoarse voice trembling, ¡°The Saint Runes are reacting...¡± Yaoyao sucked in a deep breath. Chapter 718 Two-feet Law Domain Rumble! Lightning flashed in the huge underground thunderbolt pool as if a rampaging lightning dragon was madly producing thunder and lightning inside. Zhou Yuan dazedly stared at the thunderbolt pool as the flashing lightning within continuously reflected in his eyes. It was obvious that he still hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock. They had merely been hoping to try their luck by exploring Blackwater. Unexpectedly, they had somehow hit the exact right spot... The reaction from the three Saint Runes in his body was enough to prove that this place must be connected to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Hu. Zhou Yuan exhaled a long breath, trying hard to suppress the churning waves in his heart. If their findings became known, the entire Cangxuan Heaven would instantly descend into chaos. When that happened, the tiny Cangmang Continent would become the focus of the entire Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°What do we do now?¡± Zhou Yuan turned to Yaoyao, feeling a headache. Yaoyao was calm and composed as always. ¡°What else can be done? Of course we have to go in and find it. Palace master Sheng Yuan has already pried into the mystery only known to the heavens and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp has been exposed. It is only a matter of time before it¡¯s found. ¡°All we¡¯ve done is found it a little earlier than the rest. If we don¡¯t take advantage of this chance, it could fall into the hands of palace master Sheng Yuan.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Indeed, even if they hadn¡¯t found this place, the other mighty beings would have discovered it soon. But how do we find the stamp? Enter the thunderbolt pool? Zhou Yuan felt his scalp turn numb as he gazed at the bottomless thunderbolt pool. That was the power left by the thunderbolt punishment. Although it was only residual power, it gave off a terrifying aura of destruction. Zhou Yuan believed that not only experts of the Divine Dwelling stage, but even experts of the Heavenly Sun stage or the Nascent Source stage would be destroyed by the thunderbolt pool. ¡°This thunderbolt pool contains the power of destruction. It is extraordinary.¡± Yaoyao silently gazed at the thunderbolt pool for some time before she remarked, ¡°I am afraid that only people with Law Domains can pass through this pool. The inside and outside of a Law Domain are akin to two different worlds that can separate the corrosion of lightning.¡± Zhou Yuan felt that he had lost all hope when he heard this. In the entire Cangxuan Sect, only sect master Qing Yang was a true Law Domain expert. But Yaoyao explained, ¡°If it''s the power of the Law Domain, it¡¯s not completely impossible for you....you have the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune in your body, and if I''m not mistaken, it should possess a power similar to the Law Domain.¡± But he didn''t know that this mysterious force was the power of the Law Domain. ¡°Of course, the Law Domain power of the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune can¡¯t be compared to a true Law Domain, but it should still have the ability to form its own world.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s red lips moved slightly as she elaborated. Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment. With a thought, he activated the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. Buzz! As the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune quivered, a faint light emerged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, forming a small egg-shell-like light screen around him. The little light screen exuded mysterious waves of energy. When it appeared, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt a mysterious sensation, as if he was no longer within Cangxuan Heaven. It was as if the inside of this Law Domain shell was a completely separate world. ¡°It is indeed the power of the Law Domain...¡± Yaoyao exclaimed, ¡°The Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune truly is a mysterious object from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. I never imagined that a mere Divine Dwelling expert would be able to possess the power of the Law Domain.¡± Zhou Yuan studied the little Law Domain light shield, mumbling, ¡°But it¡¯s too small.¡± The reason why the Law Domain was strong was because when the Law Domain spread over a place, the master of the Law Domain would become the master of the area. Even the Genesis Qi there would be under their control. The Law Domain of a true Law Domain expert could stretch tens of thousands of miles. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s Law Domain shell only extended a few feet. He couldn¡¯t even take a step forward, what could he control? Yaoyao could not help back her smile as she said, ¡°Although the effect isn¡¯t great, it can indeed open up a little world of its own.¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head. The two feet Law Domain that the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune created was incredibly powerful, but this self-contained ability that separated one from the outside world was most likely best suited for escaping or avoiding detection from top experts. The main effect of the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune should be to transform the Divine Dwelling. For example, the Divine Dwelling of Zhou Yuan had become an unprecedented chaotic Divine Dwelling... ¡°Can this thing really help us pass through?¡± Zhou Yuan was filled with doubt. After all, the bottomless thunderbolt pool was indeed really terrifying. ¡°Try and you will find out...¡± The space between Yaoyao¡¯s brows began to glow. A split second later, Spirit power drew out a bolt from the thunderbolt pool and sent it straight towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body stiffened when he saw this. The lightning might appear to be weak but was enough to severely injure him if it landed on his body. Fortunately, the thunderbolt seemed unable to perceive his existence when it neared. It simply circled around two times before scattering. Zhou Yuan''s face lit up with joy. ¡°It really can isolate me from the thunderbolts!¡± Yaoyao gave a satisfied nod. ¡°With the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune, you¡¯ll be able to conceal yourself even from experts of the Law Domain stage.¡± Experts of the Law Domain were very sensitive to the world around them, and only existences of the same level could block off opponents with their own Law Domains. It was an excellent means to protect oneself. After trying the effect of the two feet Law Domain again, Zhou Yuan said with confidence, ¡°I¡¯ll go down to try it out first.¡± The thunderbolt pool was too dangerous. He didn¡¯t want to bring Yaoyao with him in case an accident happened. But Yaoyao shook her head, ¡°Take me with you, otherwise I¡¯ll be worried.¡± Although the two-feet Law Domain of the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune was effective, she was still worried that something unexpected would occur. If she was with Zhou Yuan, she would be able to protect him. However, if such a situation really occurred, there was a possibility of an extremely bad outcome. Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment but did not say anything. He nodded and smiled at Yaoyao as he stretched out his arms. The two-feet Law Domain was too small. If he wanted to bring Yaoyao with him, the two would have to stand really close to each other. Seeing his actions, Yaoyao bit her red lips as she glared at him, but in the end she still helplessly leaned forward. A sweet fragrance brushed Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, making him feel uncontrollably happy. His arms reached out to hug Yaoyao''s slender waist. When he touched her clothes, his hands pressed down a little, feeling the tiny waist that made his heart beat faster. ¡°Ahem....¡± Feeling her warmth and soft skin, Zhou Yuan cleared his throat and said, ¡°Lean closer, the Law Domain is too small.¡± Yaoyao reached out and pinched Zhou Yuan¡¯s waist before she said in an expressionless voice, ¡°Don¡¯t push your luck.¡± Zhou Yuan grimace. He then glanced at Tuntun in Yaoyao¡¯s arms and suggested, ¡°This guy takes up too much space, why don¡¯t we leave him up here to wait for us.¡± Tuntun¡¯s claws sprang out like lightning when it heard this and wildly scratched at Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. A few seconds later, Zhou Yuan powerlessly said with a now bloodied face, ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± Tuntun chuckled mockingly, and then sprang up to lie on Zhou Yuan''s head. With Yaoyao in his arms and Tuntun on his head, Zhou Yuan looked at the raging bottomless thunderbolt pool and drew a deep breath as a resolute look emerged in his eyes. Chapter 719 Before the Saint Stamp Boom! Zhou Yuan could hear the roars of the thunder of destruction as he leapt into the lightning pool and immediately sensed something whizz towards him. Zhou Yuan tensed up as dazzling light blossomed from the two-feet Law Domain. It seemed to form a domain of its own, separating Zhou Yuan from the rest of the world. Hu! Under his nervous gaze, the thunder of destruction did not pounce directly at him, and instead circled around the area where he was as if it had completely lost track of him. In the end, the flickering lightning also scattered. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and glanced down at Yaoyao who was in his arms. Her beautiful face was as calm as a quiet valley lake, which made Zhou Yuan feel a little embarrassed. But he soon set aside these needless thoughts and began to increase his speed. The thunderbolt pool was filled with flashing lightning, as though countless lightning dragons were wreaking havoc. The terrifying claps of thunder caused the earth to quake. Zhou Yuan very carefully avoided the raging lightning. Although he managed to slip past the lightning because of his two-feet Law Domain, he knew that it wasn¡¯t an absolute defense. Given his current strength, even the two-feet Law Domain would be unable to protect him if struck by any of the lightning. Hence, he was extremely cautious as he continued to dive deeper. Yaoyao also did not say anything to distract him. Her slender arms gently wrapped around Zhou Yuan¡¯s waist as she stared at the raging flashes of lightning in a trance. For some reason, she felt more and more uneasy as they grew closer to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. In her view, an artifact like the Cangxuan Saint Stamp wasn¡¯t something that Zhou Yuan should come into contact with right now because the implications were far too great. However, they had no choice but to search for it given the current situation. It was as though the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was a gigantic monster that had broken into their peaceful life and was tearing it to pieces... Yaoyao¡¯s arms tightened around Zhou Yuan¡¯s waist as she rested her cheeks on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and murmured, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I have been very happy for the past few years...¡± ¡°What?¡± asked Zhou Yuan in a distracted manner. He could not clearly hear Yaoyao¡¯s soft voice amidst the constantly booming thunder. Yaoyao did not repeat her words. She gently leaned against Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder with a faint smile curving her lips. Zhou Yuan did not ask again when he saw this. He tightly held onto her waist and sped up once again. Over time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face also grew more and more solemn. The thunder of destruction here was too terrifying. Even if he wasn¡¯t hit, shockwaves from the lightning pulsed through the charged air, causing his two-feet Law Domain to tremble violently. He was still far too weak. A single thunderbolt here was already more than enough to destroy him. The two-feet Law Domain built by his current strength clearly couldn¡¯t fully withstand the power of the thunder of destruction. ¡°This is not good. If this continues, I won¡¯t be able to maintain the two-feet Law Domain for long,¡± said Zhou Yuan in a low voice. Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful brows were also scrunched together. ¡°There is most likely no end to the thunderbolt pool.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yuan was stunned. ¡°No end?¡± ¡°Because the thunderbolts of destruction are too powerful and can distort space to form an endless passage. If my speculation is correct, patriarch Cangxuan has likely used a special method to hide the Cangxuan Saint Stamp somewhere within this passage. ¡°We have to find that hiding spot to get out, otherwise, we¡¯ll have to turn back.¡± muttered Yaoyao. ¡°But there''s a great force of destruction here. It won¡¯t be easy to find the hiding spot.¡± Zhou Yuan tensed up, eyes flashing as he said, ¡°But it isn¡¯t impossible.¡± He closed his eyes before they suddenly shot open again after a few seconds. The Decoder Saint Rune quivered in the depths of his eyes. Since the hiding spot was created by patriarch Cangxuan, the Saint Runeshe left behind should be able to sense something. The Decoder Saint Rune could see through any concealment, making this the perfect place to use it. Zhou Yuan slowed down and began scanning his surroundings. As the Decoder Saint Rune continued to operate, blood started running down the corners of his eyes. But he ignored this entirely, because he knew that it would be a disaster once the two-feet Law Domain reached its limit. Ten minutes soon passed, and the shuddering of the two-feet Law Domain grew worse and worse. Yaoyao¡¯s red lips were pressed together in anxiety, a grave look on her pretty face. ¡°Damn thing, come out!¡± roared Zhou Yuan. His pupils abruptly shrank a split second later. He had finally found a strange energy fluctuation within the passage. ¡°I found it!¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes lit up with joy. Without any hesitation, he suddenly accelerated and sped towards a certain spot in the passage. Behind him, countless thunderbolts of destruction finally detected his presence and frantically roared over. The waves of destruction from behind almost made Zhou Yuan¡¯s soul flee his body, but he didn''t dare to stop. He gritted his teeth and continued to charge towards a certain spot in the passage. Bzz! The space around him rippled, instantly swallowing Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Boom! The thunderbolts of destruction also landed only to quickly dissipate into thin air. ..... Urgh! As Zhou Yuan entered, his two-feet Law Domain rapidly collapsed as he vomited a mouthful of blood. His face was deathly pale. The smell of death had been very strong a few moments ago. ¡°That was way too dangerous.¡± He smiled bitterly. In his arms, Yaoyao gently patted his back. She stood up, her gaze sweeping around the place as she slowly said, ¡°But we¡¯ve come to the right place.¡± Zhou Yuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and raised his head, only for the expression on his face to freeze. Endless steps spread upwards in front of them, surrounded by the dark void. A stone platform floated at the end of the steps. On the stone platform, rays of light protected a stone stamp. The stone stamp was square shaped and was akin to a symbol of heaven and earth. An indescribable ancient and primal energy slowly exuded from it. Scenes of mountains and rivers constantly flickered around the stone stamp. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t describe the feeling the stone seal gave him. The oldest and most valuable artifact of this land that could make anyone go crazy had appeared before him. Zhou Yuan studied it from a distance. He could feel the three Saint Runes in his body buzzing and vibrating as though cheering. Because they originated from this object. Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips felt dry and his mouth parched. He couldn¡¯t believe that he had arrived before the most holy artifact of this land which symbolized authority itself¡­.. ¡°Cang...Xuan...Saint...Stamp.... Chapter 720 Turmoil Zhou Yuan blankly stared at the ancient stone stamp at the end of the stone steps. It was a long time later before the churning sea in his heart had gradually calmed down. ¡°I truly never expected that I would one day see the most valuable object in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but let out a deep sigh. But not even a hint of desire was present within his eyes in the face of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. He knew that it wasn¡¯t something he could possess. He could handle a few Saint Runes, but if even the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was in his possession, it would inevitably lead to him drawing the attention of many powerful figures. Given his cultivation was only at the Divine Dwelling stage, it would be impossible for him to bear something so heavy. Despite this, he couldn¡¯t let it fall into the hands of the Sacred Palace because that would only be disastrous to him. Yaoyao stared at the ancient stone stamp in silence. ¡°See if you can take it away.¡± She turned to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath, nodded, and stepped onto the stone steps. However, he then turned to look at Yaoyao and asked puzzledly, ¡°Shall we do it together?¡± Yaoyao hesitated a little, and then took a step towards the stone steps. Buzz! The moment she lifted her foot, however, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp at the end of the stone steps suddenly quivered. A boundless force gushed and began violently shaking the domain around them. The stone steps swayed violently. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed. He couldn¡¯t understand why the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would act up all of a sudden. But Yaoyao¡¯s eyes flashed in understanding. She slowly stepped back as she continued to watch the ancient Cangxuan Saint Stamp. It seemed to be resisting her approach as if it was wary or fearful of her. ¡°Go on your own.¡± urged Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan nodded, turned around and sped up, heading straight towards the end of the steps, where the Cangxuan Saint Stamp lay. Half an incense stick of time later, he finally arrived at the top. The Cangxuan Saint Stamp was almost within reach. Zhou Yuan looked at the floating ancient stone stamp. It was a very simple looking piece, but he clearly understood what it represented. It was the most supreme and sacred artifact of Cangxuan Heaven. With it, one would gain control over all of Cangxuan Heaven and become its master! Of course, one must possess the appropriate strength to wield it. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s speculation, one would need to reach the Law Domain stage at least to be capable of properly controlling the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Zhou Yuan slowly stretched out a trembling hand as his fingertip came into contact with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Boom! Some of the rays fell on Zhou Yuan''s body. To his shock, an arc of light directly pierced through the barrier between the first and second heavens of his Divine Dwelling, linking the two. Majestic ripples of Genesis Qi pulsed outwards and then rose. Zhou Yuan stood there in shock. Merely being illuminated by the divine light of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp had helped him perfectly complete the first heaven of his Divine Dwelling. According to his speculation, he needed to consume hundreds of low grade Divine Dwelling Medicines at least to achieve the same effect. Moreover, this wasn¡¯t the only change. As the divine light streaked through his body, his blood churned and his flesh seemed to undergo an unimaginable refinement, causing it to explode with astonishing vitality. In addition, drops of golden blood were continuously being produced in his heart. Previously, only three drops of reddish gold blood had formed in his heart when he mastered the Mythic Saint Body, but now, over a dozen drops had been created in an instant! His spirit also vibrated between his brows, becoming more and more condensed under the divine light¡­.. He had clearly received huge benefits. This was perhaps a gift from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp for the first person who found it... However, in his shocked state, Zhou Yuan did not notice that the Genesis Qi around them began to stir turbulently when the Cangxuan Saint Stamp vibrated. Not only that, endless Genesis Qi began streaming out in Blackwater. The originally dead land began to show signs of life. Plants sprouted from the ground as water flowed out from thin air and quickly converged into a great river. .... The Shengzhou Continent. The Sacred Palace Sitting cross-legged before an, palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s closed eyes suddenly shot open as uncontrollable joy bubbled within them. He immediately sprang up and burst out laughing. ¡°The Cangxuan Saint Stamp has finally appeared! ¡°Ten Hall Masters of Sacred Palace, come with me!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s voice boomed across the area. In the next moment, his figure broke into the space itself and vanished. Swoosh! At the same time, ten powerful figures whizzed out and disappeared from this place. ... The Cangxuan Sect. Sect master Qing Yang gazed at the sky with a solemn expression. He was naturally aware of the strange disturbance earlier and had already identified its origin. What else could cause the Genesis Qi of Cangxuan Heaven to move so turbulently other than a sacred object like the Cangxuan Saint Stamp? ¡°Cangxuan Heaven is going to become chaotic...¡± Swoosh! Several figures appeared behind him. It was the six peak masters. ¡°That turbulent movement earlier...¡± Peak master Lianyi was the first to ask, her beautiful face filled with anxiety. ¡°The Cangxuan Saint Stamp has appeared. Let¡¯s move. The Sacred Palace must have also sensed it¡¯s appearance.¡± explained sect master Qing Yang in a solemn voice. Everybody¡¯s expression grew grave. Space vibrated and their figures disappeared from the top of the peak. .... The Sword Seeker Sect... The North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace... The Heavenly Ghost Sect.... Similar silhouettes that gave off terrifying and imposing auras shot out from the other four major sects of the Shengzhou Continent. They directly broke into space and disappeared without a trace. It wasn¡¯t just the major sects, all the top experts within Cangxuan Heaven all had felt the strange disturbance. As such, figures continuously rushed into the sky from the many continents of Cangxuan Heaven. The appearance of so many experts naturally greatly shocked the countless creatures of Cangxuan Heaven, causing them to shiver uncontrollably. They had a feeling that the subsequent events would iinevitably lead to chaos. When was the last time such a thing happened to Cangxuan Heaven? Chapter 721 Gathered Outside Blackwater. The flurry of activity originating from deep within Blackwater naturally spread outwards. Countless people stared dumbfounded at the vegetation that was growing from the once lifeless land. Several saplings were even maturing into towering trees at an alarming speed. A huge forest soon appeared in the once desolate and dead world. Rivers divided the vast land like white silk. Everything was now full of life. The countless residents of Blackwater were in a trance like state as though they were dreaming. However, as the Genesis Qi grew stronger and stronger, they finally snapped out of their shock because they had felt the Genesis Qi that had stagnated for years in their bodies begin to rise. Everyone went crazy as a result. In the past, the Genesis Qi of Blackwater was thin and weak because the land was dead. It made the place an extremely unpopular location that nobody would live in if they had the choice. But now, that very same land of despair was blooming into what could only be described as a blessed land. The changes to Blackwater left countless people bewildered. They couldn¡¯t understand what was going on. However, while they were celebrating because of the changes, the air above Blackwater violently shook. What followed was space being torn apart as multiple silhouettes that gave off imposing auras emerged. When these suffocating figures appeared, every individual in Blackwater felt as if their soul had frozen, making it impossible to move. One could easily imagine how these figures would only need a single thought to wipe out all everyone in Blackwater. Fortunately, they were as small and insignificant as ants in the eyes of those powerful figures. Without even taking a glance at them, the figures directly headed towards the depths of Blackwater. The world felt as if it was trembling as more and more figures appeared. The residents of Blackwater dropped to their knees, trembling, not daring to even lift their heads. After a long time, the terrifying and imposing auras finally faded. It was only then that they dared to peer into the distance before staring at each other in dismay. They did not know what was going on in the depths of Blackwater because no one had ever ventured so deeply and wondered what could have drawn out so many terrifying experts... ..... Deep in Blackwater. Above the thunderbolt pool. Space shuddered as it was torn open by a frightening force before a dozen silhouettes stepped out from the tear. The person leading them was palace master Sheng Yuan of the Sacred Palace. ¡°Haha, how interesting. This place was once destroyed by the sacred race. Who could have thought that Cang Xuan would hide the Cangxuan Saint Stamp here. ¡°Unfortunately, your trickery has ended up useless. ¡°It¡¯s time for the Cangxuan Saint Stamp to gain a new master!¡± However, as soon as his voice fell, the nearby space was torn open once more. Terrifying Genesis Qi pressure enveloped the area as a cold voice sounded, ¡°Sheng Yuan, I''m afraid you are not worthy of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan smiled, ¡°It seems the Cangxuan Sect has arrived.¡± Sect master Qing Yang stood tall in the air with peak master Lianyi and the others behind him. Monstrous Genesis Qi swept outwards, so concentrated that it formed endless cloud layers that covered the sky as if ready to destroy the world. ¡°Haha, it seems to be very lively here.¡± At this moment, space was torn apart again as a somewhat crooked old figure slowly walked out. When he appeared, the cry of a sword seemed to echo across the place. It was an old man in simple clothing. He looked old and was slightly hunched, but merely standing there made him appear akin to an ancient divine sword that was powerful enough to slay the gods. The old man was followed by a group of figures that exuded similarly monstrous auras. Valley master Yin Xiao, whom Zhou Yuan had met before, was also standing among them. It was the Sword Seeker Sect. ¡°Heaven sword sovereign....¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s attention turned towards the elderly figure. The heaven sword sovereign was the sect master of the Sword Seeker Sect and was also from the same generation as patriarch Cangxuan. His status and experience was unparalleled but was often in secluded cultivation. Nobody had expected him to show up when the Cangxuan Saint Stamp appeared. Shortly after the appearance of Sword Seeker Sect, space began to tremble violently as waves of terrifying figures continued to emerge. ¡°I never expected to see the day when the Cangxuan Saint Stamp reappears.¡± A giant stepped out from the shuddering space. The giant¡¯s body seemed to be inscribed with ancient patterns. When he appeared, even space itself began to crumble around him as though it was unable to bear his weight. It was a sign of one¡¯s external cultivation reaching an indescribable level which could be said to be truly indestructible. His voice was louder than thunder, causing the earth to crack. The giant seemed to notice the crumbling sky and land around him. His huge body quickly began to shrink, turning into a topless middle-aged man after a few seconds. He had a simple and honest face, like that of a farmer, and his body was adorned with ancient patterns. Venerable lord Gu Jing of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall. And after the appearance of venerable lord Gu Jing, a rare fragrance filled the air. A gigantic lotus slowly appeared and bloomed. Inside the lotus was a beautiful barefooted woman in a colorful dress. Her beauty and elegance were unparalleled. Palace master of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, Shan Qingzi. An endless eerie black mist gushed out near the giant lotus. Black mist rolled across the air as a shrill voice rang out, ¡°Hehe, we haven¡¯t seen each other in so many years, but palace master Shan is still as beautiful as before. You truly deserve your title as the number one beauty of Cangxuan Heaven.¡± A black robed figure slowly rose from the black fog revealing a pale fatty. He casually caught a Spirit from the black fog, stuffed into his mouth and swallowed. His eyes flickered with an eerie green light as they scanned the palace master of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. It was the sect master of the Heavenly Ghost Sect, Devil Luo. All six major sects of Cangxuan Heaven had appeared! Moreover, numerous silhouettes arrived one after another some distance away. All of them exuded powerful auras and were likely top experts or lords of their own domains. However, they could only watch from the sidelines for the time being. It could be said that more than ninety percent of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s top experts had appeared in the depths of Blackwater... Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes swept over the numerous gathered experts with a smile as he unhurriedly said, ¡°Cangxuan Heaven has not been so lively since the battle between the Sacred Palace and Cang Xuan back then. ¡°Since everyone has come here, I¡¯m guessing that all of you have also sensed the energy fluctuations of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp... ¡°Haha, since we¡¯re all accounted for, let¡¯s first let the Saint Stamp show itself!¡± As his voice fell, his hand reached out towards the thunderbolt pool below and abruptly clenched. Boom! The thunderbolt pool suddenly quaked violently before ripping apart. A split second later, the concealed space somewhere within the pool was also slowly torn open. All eyes immediately looked over. In the next moment, the atmosphere seemed to solidify. Everyone¡¯s faces, even palace master Sheng Yuan, froze. Because they had seen a young figure in the mysterious space that contained the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. He raised his head in confusion, meeting their gazes. Chapter 722 Lianyi In the mysterious domain. Zhou Yuan, whose hand was still on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, lifted his head to see the space above him being torn open. Through the crack, he saw many legendary figures above the thunderbolt pool... These powerful figures exuded monstrous waves of energy that were enough to send the world quaking. Zhou Yuan suddenly felt his scalp turn numb. In that moment, their eyes were all gathered on him and it was clear that they were all bewildered to see him. No one knew how much effort the influential figures of the various sects had exhausted for years to find the Cangxuan Saint Stamp hidden by patriarch Cang Xuan in order to become the new master of Cangxuan Heaven. With the Cangxuan Saint Stamp now revealed to the world. The top experts had raced to its location right away, hoping to be the first to set eyes on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Who would have expected that someone else would arrive a step earlier. ¡°Haha, I was wondering who could have grasped such a great opportunity. It turns out to be a member of the Cangxuan Sect?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan smiled as he stared at Zhou Yuan. Given his status, he shouldn¡¯t recognize a mere Cangxuan Sect disciple, but the battle between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang had garnered the attention of the entire Shengzhou Continent. As such, he naturally remembered Zhou Yuan''s face. ¡°It seems that your Cangxuan Sect is truly blessed by the heavens.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan remarked ruminatively. The eyes of the others flashed in thought. They were honestly quite happy with the current situation in Cangxuan Heaven. After all, no one would like a heaven master above them, but of course, it would be acceptable if they could become the heaven master. Sect master Qing Yang, peak master Lianyi and the others were somewhat surprised to see Zhou Yuan. They clearly had not expected him to appear here. Old man Bai Mei couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°This kid is quite lucky.¡± Even palace master Sheng Yuan had failed to find the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and yet had it been discovered by Zhou Yuan, a Divine Dwelling expert. This was really unbelievable. Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s brows knitted together into a frown, ¡°Unfortunately, too much good luck is not necessarily a good thing.¡± In this situation, Zhou Yuan was akin to a little mouse among a group of lions and tigers. Even the slightest change would likely result in him dying. ¡°Zhou Yuan is a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. We¡¯ll protect him if there¡¯s any danger.¡± stated sect master Qing Yang. A single attack from any of the powerhouses present would instantly kill Zhou Yuan. Fortunately, he had the backing of the Cangxuan Sect, which meant no one here would indiscriminately kill him. Thankfully for them, the experts present didn¡¯t seem too affected by the fact that Zhou Yuan was the first to touch the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. They were evidently not worried that he would take away the Cangxuan Saint Stamp in front of them. Because Zhou Yuan was too weak. Not just anyone could take away a supreme sacred object like the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Therefore, after a brief period of astonishment, the powerhouses present retracted their gazes from Zhou Yuan. The ones who could decide the eventual owner of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was not a little Divine Dwelling stage disciple, but the top existences of Cangxuan Heaven... So what if Zhou Yuan was the first to arrive and touch the Cangxuan Saint Stamp? Palace master Sheng Yuan also didn¡¯t waste time on an insignificant disciple. His eyes swept across the place as he smiled, ¡°Everyone, we all know that our Cangxuan Heaven is ranked last among the nine heavens of Tianyuan World. At the end of the day, it is because the Cangxuan Saint Stamp had been kept hidden for so many years and we do not have a heaven master. ¡°Now that the Cangxuan Saint Stamp has finally appeared, perhaps it is heaven¡¯s will for our Cangxuan Heaven gain a new heaven master.¡± His voice rang out but was met with silence. Nobody answered. All eyes flickered in thought while the atmosphere seemed to solidify. It was a long while later before sect master Qing Yang indifferently said, ¡°Are you trying to say that you should be the new heaven master?¡± Palace jmaster Sheng Yuan¡¯s silver eyes flashed with a mysterious and heartless expression. The corners of his lips curved in a smile as he replied, ¡°Patriarch Cang Xuan suppressed the entire Cangxuan Heaven back then and was extremely powerful, but was killed by my Sacred Palace in the end. In fact, it is my Sacred Palace¡¯s greatest achievement.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s eyes instantly turned cold. ¡°A dog of the sacred race dares to seek the position of heaven master? You think the people of Cangxuan Heaven would follow in your steps to become a dog of the sacred race?!¡± An ice-cold voice filled with hatred sounded from behind sect master Qing Yang. The beautiful eyes of peak master Lianyi were practically boring holes in palace master Sheng Yuan, eyes that were filled with indescribable hatred. Her words were merciless and extremely vicious. Sheng Yuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Although my Sacred Palace has borrowed the power of the sacred race, we aren¡¯t their dogs.¡± He looked at peak master Lianyi as the corners of his mouth curved into a mocking smile, ¡°The words of a loser are the most ridiculous. It seems that patriarch Cang Xuan didn¡¯t teach you well.¡± Boom! Peak master Lianyi¡¯s eyes reddened as monstrous Genesis Qi erupted from her body. A Law Domain spread out with her as the centre, while Genesis Qi frantically gathered and transformed into countless stars. Among the stars, the power of the Law Domain shined as bright as diamonds. Boom! The Law Domain stars whizzed forth, heading straight for palace master Sheng Yuan with the destructive force. No words could describe such power and it was enough to destroy the surrounding land. ¡°You are only at the Nascent Source stage. Although you have touched the Law Domain stage and established a small Law Domain, where did you find the courage to show this to everybody?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s silver eyes flickered with mockery as he watched the Genesis Qi stars falling from the sky. He reached out and gently clenched his hand. The world seemed to freeze in that moment. The falling stars changed direction and roared towards peak master Lianyi with even more frightening force than before. Sect master Qing Yang coldly snorted. With the wave of his robe, the space was instantly torn open, creating a spatial fissure that swallowed all the stars. He turned to peak master Lianyi and reminded her, ¡°Don''t be rash.¡± Peak master Lianyi¡¯s crimson eyes gushed with killing intent as she glared daggers at Sheng Yuan. The other experts did not attempt to get involved, because they knew that this was a matter between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. A ruminative smile curved the lips of palace master Sheng Yuan when he saw the look on peak master Lianyi¡¯s face, ¡°It seems that peak master Lianyi really hates me.¡± Peak master Lianyi hissed, ¡°You killed my master, and I will not rest until you are buried!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan chuckled. ¡°Peak master Lianyi, patriarch Cang Xuan was an expert of the Saint stage who possessed the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. In the Cangxuan Heaven, it won¡¯t be easy to defeat him even if he was ambushed and surrounded by the sacred race.¡± Everyone frowned, wondering why palace master Sheng Yuan was suddenly bringing up this matter. ¡°To truly kill him, one will have to make him lose control of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, so that he temporarily loses the position of heaven master. In that instant, you¡¯ll be able to find an opportunity to slay him.¡± Peak master Lianyi¡¯s face slowly paled. ¡°Peak master Lianyi, do you remember what you did in the past?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan cocked his head and stared at peak master Lianyi. All eyes shifted towards peak master Lianyi, including sect master Qing Yang¡¯s. Their expressions were filled with confusion. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s cold laughter continued to ring out like a rumbling thunder, leaving countless people dumbstruck. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t tampered with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, do you really think that patriarch Cang Xuan would be surrounded by the sacred race and killed? ¡°So why do you hate me...the greatest culprit behind patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death is you...Liu Lianyi!¡± In the mysterious domain, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes also went wide as he stared at peak master Lianyi in shock and disbelief. Chapter 723 Mole Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s voice continued to reverberate across the place. The experts of the various factions were stupefied by what he said. Nobody expected palace master Sheng Yuan to reveal such an earthshaking secret. The reason patriarch Cangxuan perished was because Liu Lianyi had tampered with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp?! Sect master Qing Yang, old man Bai Mei and others stared at Liu Lianyi in disbelief. Among the patriarch¡¯s disciples, Liu Lianyi was everyone¡¯s most beloved youngest junior sister, and patriarch Cang Xuan particularly doted on her. Liu Lianyi was equally fond of patriarch Cangxuan. When patriarch Cangxuan died, she would have most likely stormed into the Sacred Palace and fought to her death if sect master Qing Yang and the others hadn¡¯t stopped her. So when they heard what palace master Sheng Yuan said, their first reaction was disbelief. But when they noticed the deathly pale expression on peak master Lianyi¡¯s face, their heart began to sink uncontrollably. Peak master Lianyi¡¯s face was deathly pale, and her graceful body was trembling violently. After a long while, she muttered, ¡°What are you talking about! I didn''t tamper with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!¡± Sect master Qing Yang looked straight at peak master Lianyi and questioned, ¡°Junior sister, what did you do?!¡± Sect master Qing Yang had already begun to grow suspicious when patriarch Cang Xuan perished because he understood the latter¡¯s strength very well. Moreover, with the power of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, it was impossible for him to die in Cangxuan Heaven even if he was ganged up on by experts of the sacred race. There must be a reason for this. But he never would have imagined that this matter might have something to do with peak master Lianyi. Peak master Lianyi smiled miserably, ¡°I¡¯ve never thought of harming master, I just...I only engraved a Clear Mind Divine Rune on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. It won¡¯t hurt him, but will weaken the influence of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp on Master.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s expression abruptly changed. Suppressing his anger, he yelled, ¡°Absolute stupidity, why did you do that?¡± Peak master Lianyi clenched her hands as she said in a trembling voice, ¡°I found out from an ancient book that those who wield the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and other similar supreme sacred objects will abandon all seven emotions and sever the six desires, I, I...¡± Sect master Qing Yang, old man Bai Mei, the Hongya Peak master and others all fell silent as they looked at peak master Lianyi with complicated expressions. Liu Lianyi was their little junior sister and they essentially watched her grow up. Due to the years they spent together, they were naturally aware of the knot in her heart. Liu Lianyi also understood the meaning behind patriarch Cangxuan¡¯s actions but she naturally did not wish to give up. She had read about the influence of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp from ancient texts, and felt that the reason patriarch Cangxuan treated her coldly was because of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. This led her to engrave the ¡®Clear Mind Divine Rune¡¯ on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, hoping to shield master Cang Yuan from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s influence. Sect master Qing Yang brows knitted together. ¡°But the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is always with Master, how did you get close to it?¡± Liu Lianyi clenched her teeth, ¡°I stole it when master was in secluded cultivation.¡± Old man Bai Mei shook his head as he said, ¡°Nonsense, even if Master went into secluded cultivation, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would still be under the protection of a boundary. Even us disciples can¡¯t get near this boundary, except...¡± He stopped abruptly, and everybody, including sect master Qing Yang, slowly turned their gazes towards peak master Ling Jun, who had been silent all this time. Back then, only Ling Jun, who was their master¡¯s personal servant, could enter and exit the boundary. Sect master Qing Yang took a deep breath and slowly asked, ¡°Ling Jun, did you do it?¡± Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s handsome face stiffened. He did not deny and directly admitted, ¡°This matter was caused by me, I am willing to accept punishment.¡± ¡°You took the Cangxuan Saint Stamp out of the boundary because little junior sister told you to?¡± The Hongya Peak master coldly snorted. Peak master Ling Jun didn¡¯t respond and instead shut his eyes. When he was very young, he had wandered about hopelessly and almost starved to death. It was then that a little girl in a colorful dress had crouched down and carried him up the mountains and begged their master to accept him as a servant. The master was reluctant, and told him to head down the mountain after he filled his stomach. He didn¡¯t want to leave, not because he wanted to achieve great things, but because the little girl in colorful dress was the only feeling of warmth that he had felt in his heart in years. As such, he knelt at the bottom of the mountain for an entire month. Although the little girl secretly gave him some food, he nearly starved to death. In the end, the patriarch accepted him as a personal servant. It was the happiest day in his life, because it meant that from then on, he would be able to see the girl in a colorful dress... The little girl of the past was of course the peak master Lianyi of the present. So, when Liu Lianyi asked him to help remove the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, he didn''t hesitate at all....even if he already understood her feelings at that time. But he didn¡¯t want to see her disappointed face. He had not exposed this secret all these years, but Liu Lianyi seemed to have realised something following patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death. She began to become more and more extreme, and even seemed to grow somewhat angry at him. Perhaps, she was angry at his stupidity for not stopping her back then. As a result, she had always been incredibly cold towards him for many many years. But Ling Jun''s heart only ached even more, because he knew how much regret Liu Lianyi was suffering. He knew that she would even willingly sacrifice her life to kill palace master Sheng Yuan.... She had lost the will to live. Looking at the quiet peak master Ling Jun and Liu Lianyi, sect master Qing Yang could only scold through clenched teeth, ¡°Both of you are truly foolish!¡± These two fools even had the courage to tamper with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp! They had also become the spark that caused the death of patriarch Cangxuan. Old man Bai Mei suddenly said, ¡°But although the Clear Mind Divine Rune is an extremely ancient Genesis Rune, it shouldn''t have much of an impact on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± Sect master Qing Yang narrowed his eyes as he turned in the direction of palace master Sheng Yuan. Palace master Sheng Yuan grinned, ¡°That¡¯s right, although it¡¯s almost exactly the same, it wasn¡¯t the Clear Mind Divine Rune...¡± Liu Lianyi was taken aback. In the next moment, her red eyes shot towards palace master Sheng Yuan, her trembling voice filled with endless killing intent. ¡°As I thought, everything was part of your plot?¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s eyes also grew increasingly fierce, ¡°To trick my little junior sister to search the Hidden Scriptures House of the Cangxuan Sect, and to lead her to discover the Clear Mind Divine Rune... ¡°They knew that only little junior sister could ask Ling Jun to find an opportunity to take the Cangxuan Saint Stamp... ¡°It seems that you know my Cangxuan Sect too well....or....¡± He paused for a moment before he continued, ¡°There is a mole in my Cangxuan Sect?¡± When his low voice was still sounding out, and no one had recovered from the shock, a wrinkled hand quietly skimmed through the air. Destructive power brewed around the palm of the hand. It drifted towards old man Bai Mei¡¯s back. However, just as the wrinkled palm was about to strike, a hand appeared out of nowhere and grabbed its wrist. Space rippled as a hunched old figure appeared beside old man Bai Mei. It was old Xuan! His cloudy eyes stared straight ahead, his wrinkled face overflowing with killing intent. In the end, he let out a long sigh. ¡°It was indeed you... Chapter 724 Jiang Lei Jun Above Blackwater. The experts of the various sects watched this scene in astonishment. Who would have thought that before the many sects could even begin competing for the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, the Cangxuan Sect would already put on such a thrilling show.... The dramatic ups and downs of the story made even the many experts present tense up in anticipation. However, several individuals cast their gazes towards the currently smiling palace master Shen Yuan. It appeared that the fall of patriarch Cang Xuan had been a seamless plot orchestrated by the Sacred Palace. In the mysterious domain, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was likewise stretched taunt. The drastic turn of events had also impacted him greatly. Moments ago, he had nearly believed that the death of patriarch Cang Xuan was connected to peak master Lianyi, but now, it seemed that both peak master Lianyi and Ling Jun were merely being used. The person who was pulling the strings in secret was unexpectedly peak master Lei Jun! Zhou Yuan swallowed a mouthful of saliva. Peak master Lei Jun occupied a peak master position within the Cangxuan sect, but had the weakest presence among the peak masters. In fact, Zhou Yuan barely had any contact with him since joining the Cangxuan Sect. From what Zhou Yuan could remember of him, peak master Lei Jun was the never smiling head of punishment in the sect whom many disciples both respected and feared him. Peak master Lei Jun had always maintained neutrality in the many affairs of the sect. In essence, he was a high ranking senior member of the sect. Sect master Qing Yang would even seek him out for advice at times. Who could have thought that this very same individual who seemed to barely have any presence at all would be the culprit that had pushed patriarch Cang Xuan to his death! Zhou Yuan was not the only one in disbelief, even peak master Lianyi and others all stared at peak master Lei Jun in anger and confusion. Sect master Qing Yang glared at peak master Lei Jun, whose earlier attempt to attack old man Bai Mei had been thwarted by Old Xuan and asked, ¡°Wasn¡¯t the Hidden Scriptures House managed by teacher uncle Lei Jun back then? ¡°Only you who was in charge of the Hidden Scriptures House could guide little junior sister to see what you wanted her to see...even without her realising. ¡°You, why did you do such a thing? ¡°Has master ever treated you badly?!¡± Peak master Lei Jun¡¯s face remained devoid of expression under their furious gazes. He glanced at old Xuan and gave a faint smile. ¡°Cangxuan was very nice to me. ¡°But, I wasn¡¯t happy....¡± ¡°He saw me as an elder brother and respected me. In turn, I protected him and occasionally gave him cultivation resources. ¡°But then, everything began to change. He gradually grew and finally bloomed, revealing his dazzling brilliance as he became a top expert of the world. At that time, I was far behind him, and could only look at his back from a distance. ¡°Nobody remembered me anymore, and would even laugh and mock me. ¡®A person like you was qualified to be his big brother? ¡°Later on, he founded the Cangxuan Sect, and the huge gap between us grew even wider. But he invited me to the Cangxuan Sect and thus I became peak master Lei Jun... ¡°But within the Cangxuan Sect, no one could compare to his dazzling brilliance. The entire world would always look at him with respect, the same way he once looked at me before. But now, I had become the him of the past. ¡°Everyone said that I wouldn''t have become a peak master of the Cangxuan Sect if not for his kindness. ¡°I also tried really hard to prove myself, but....he was too dazzling. ¡°I lost hope, because I knew that I would never catch up to him. I began to think that he was the blazing sun while I was a star that could not be seen under his brightness. I wanted the world to know me, and perhaps that would only happen when the sun fell...¡± Everyone looked at Lei Jun with complicated gazes. They too remembered when that person had subdued the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Everyone from that generation could only shrink back under his almighty light. They finally accepted it, but the person who once shined his light on Cang Xuan couldn''t accept the huge contrast between them. Perhaps, the better Cangxuan treated him, the more shame he felt in the depths of his heart. And it had gradually turned into an unhealthy obsession. Lei Jun was evidently an extremely prejudiced person. He had merely hid it too well. Old Xuan¡¯s wrinkled hand tightly clutched Lei Jun¡¯s wrist like an eagle¡¯s claw as he hissed in his gravelly voice, ¡°This is your reason? How much help did master give you when you came to the Cangxuan Sect? How much guidance have you received from him?¡± ¡°If it wasn''t for master, would you be where you are now?¡± Lei Jun smiled, ¡°See, even you think that I am nothing without Cang Xuan.¡± He sighed, ¡°That was not what I wanted, so when Sheng Yuan secretly contacted me, I promised to cooperate with him because I felt that it was also time for the blazing sun to set. ¡°I would prove to the world that I can be even more dazzling without him.¡± ¡°You betrayed your sect and spit at your benefactor in the face. Do you really think that you¡¯re very dazzling right now?¡± Old Xuan thundered. A gush of terrifying Genesis Qi erupted from his body as he launched his palm, causing space to shatter. Lei Jun swept an indifference glance at old Xuan¡¯s terrifying palm strike. In the next moment, a huge Law Domain emerged from his body. Old Xuan''s palm struck the Law Domain, causing it to shake violently but his attack ultimately failed to break the Law Domain. ¡°You''ve reached the Law Domain stage?!¡± Old Xuan¡¯s eyes were grave as he stared at Lei Jun. Old man Bai Mei, the Hongya Peak master and others¡¯ expressions changed drastically. Within the Cangxuan Sect, only sect master Qing Yang had truly stepped into the Law Domain stage, while the rest of them were at the peak of the Nascent Source stage. Although they had begun to touch the power of the Law Domain, they still hadn¡¯t fully taken that important step. Who would have thought that Lei Jun would be the first among them to enter the Law Domain stage without anyone knowing. This secret was hidden far too deeply. Lei Jun faintly smiled, ¡°I stepped into the Law Domain stage when Cang Xuan died, which proved that I was right. Without Cang Xuan, the world wouldn¡¯t know me as peak master Lei Jun, but....Jiang Leijun.¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s eyes had turned bitingly cold. ¡°It¡¯s pointless to say any more.¡± His body was shrouded in the power of the Law Domain. The Cangxuan Sect had become a laughing stock, but no matter what, Lei Jun had betrayed the Cangxuan Sect and must be punished. However, just as sect master Qing Yang intended to take action, a wave of terrifying oppressive pressure suddenly enveloped him. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s silver eyes locked onto sect master Qing Yang with a smile plastered across his face. He obviously wouldn¡¯t sit back and watch sect master Qing Yang and the others deal with Lei Jun. After all, the Cangxuan Sect would be kept busy enough with their own affairs as long as Lei Jun existed. ¡°Qing Yang, this is a matter of the Cangxuan Sect, why cause a scene here? Also, there are more important things right now.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s silver eyes turned towards the Cangxuan Saint Stamp with an unfathomable expression as his voice reverberated across the area. Chapter 725 Saint Fire When Sheng Yuan¡¯s voice rang out again, the atmosphere in this part of the world turned a little strange. Everybody¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. The Sacred Palace was currently the most powerful sect in Cangxuan Heaven, with the Cangxuan Sect slightly behind them. There was a very deep enmity between the two factions and they were bound to clash whenever they met.. As such, the other experts were able to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. No one had expected Sheng Yuan to suddenly toss out such a huge secret that instantly caused the Cangxuan Sect to fall apart. The Cangxuan Sect had lost a peak master while gaining a powerful enemy of the Law Domain stage. They could be said to be in deep trouble now... On the other hand, the Sacred Palace¡¯s imposing might was now unparalleled. Within the mysterious domain, Zhou Yuan was also aware of the situation, causing worry to color his eyes. The Cangxuan Sect was his backer. As such, the situation would become extremely unfavorable to him if the Cangxuan Sect couldn¡¯t compete with the Sacred Palace. In the current situation, a tiny Divine Dwelling expert like himself naturally did not have qualifications to participate and could only watch anxiously by the sidelines. Above the thunderbolt pool, the silence lasted for a good while. Cough. The Heavenly Sword Sovereign of the Sword Seeker Sect suddenly cleared his throat and said in an unhurried manner, ¡°The Cangxuan Saint Stamp is good, but the structure of Cangxuan Heaven is currently stable, and if forced, I am worried it could set off a storm of blood. This would only weaken Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s overall strength.¡± In the dark fog that filled the sky, Devil Luo of the Heavenly Ghost Sect patted his bulging belly as he remarked with a smile, ¡°But the Cangxuan Saint Stamp has appeared, we can¡¯t just ignore it, right?¡± A smile spread across the honest face of hall master Gu Jing of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, ¡°So you want to be the high and mighty heaven master of Cangxuan Heaven?¡± ¡°The Heavenly Ghost Sect most likely doesn¡¯t have that sort of ability.¡± remarked palace master Shan Qingzi of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace in an indifferent voice. Palace master Sheng Yuan chuckled at the inputs from the other representatives of the major sects. ¡°I have a suggestion. Our six sects can form an alliance and take turns to safe keep the Cangxuan Saint Stamp to avoid any conflicts.¡± The others pondered this suggestion seriously. Sect master Qing Yang icily smiled, ¡°Since it¡¯s an alliance, there will be the more important and the less important, and also first and second. With regards to your proposal, don¡¯t tell me you want to be the lord of the alliance and be the first to safe keep the Cangxuan Saint Stamp?¡± He didn''t deny that he had such thoughts. Sect master Qing Yang glanced at the others, ¡°I am worried that your ambition will not stop at the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, but to even annex the other major sects and truly rule over this land.¡± The eyes of the Heavenly Sword Sovereign, Shan Qingzi, and other powerful experts flashed. Although they remained silent and did not say anything, they were clearly more vigilant than before. If palace master Sheng Yuan was the first to take charge of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, he would most likely try to obtain control over it. Once successful, his strength would skyrocket, enabling him to push past the Law Domain and step into the Saint stage. When that happened, nobody in the entire Cangxuan Heaven would be his match. The chances of him handing over the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would then become very very slim... Palace master Sheng Yuan naturally sensed the vigilance in their eyes. He smiled and said, ¡°It seems that none of you are interested in my proposal?¡± Everybody was silent. Palace master Sheng Yuan couldn¡¯t help but sigh deeply when he saw this. ¡°I originally thought that this matter can be resolved peacefully. Who would have imagined that it would come to this¡­¡± Boom! Before his voice could fade, a silver Law Domain spread from his body, transforming into a barrier around him. A wave of terrifying Law Domain power erupted. He stepped forward with an indifferent look on his face and instantly reappeared behind sect master Qing Yang like a ghost. Palace master Sheng Yuan folded his fingers towards his palm where silver light rapidly gathered. This was the true power of the Law Domain. The vast power of the Law Domain and Genesis Qi fused to form a unique power that only experts of the Law Domain could wield. Law Domain Genesis Qi! That power was the fundamentals of the Law Domain! The space around palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s palm suddenly shattered, evidently unable to bear the tremendous power. If his strength was measured in terms of Genesis Qi stars, it would most likely reach hundreds of millions. Rumble! That palm of destruction pierced through the air and headed straight for sect master Qing Yang. Sheng Yuan clearly intended to swiftly crush the latter to deter the other top experts. ¡°You dare!¡± Old Xuan was the first to realize palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s intentions. He immediately let out an enraged roar as a Law Domain light screen burst forth from his body. However, Lei Jun¡¯s figure immediately appeared in front of him. The former¡¯s fist smashed through the air, the power of the Law Domain surging out along with rumbling thunder to stop old Xuan. After the earlier revelation, Lei Jun knew that he would no longer be accepted in the Cangxuan Sect. Therefore, his stance now naturally leaned towards the Sacred Palace. He knew that he would only be able to retreat unscathed when the Sacred Palace side won. ¡°Lei Jun, you traitor!¡± Old Xuan fumed as he launched a ruthless attack. Lei Jun remained expressionless as he operated the Law Domain to block Old Xuan¡¯s onslaught. The other top experts moved back when they saw the fight erupt between these two parties. They evidently intended to continue sitting on the mountain and watch the tigers fight. Given the current situation, although the internal balance of the Cangxuan Sect was destroyed, the Sacred Palace would still have to pay a heavy price to completely destroy them. When that happened, the Sacred Palace would be weakened, making it difficult for them to maintain a strong position. ¡°Sheng Yuan, if you want to kill me to display your power, you have overestimated yourself!¡± thundered sect master Qing Yang thundered as a greenish-blue Law Domain light barrier shrouded his body. He and Sheng Yuan were both practitioners of the Law Domain stage. As such, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for Sheng Yuan to get rid of him so easily. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s mouth curved in a strange manner when he heard this. ¡°Is that so?¡± A wisp of golden smoke suddenly rose from the top of palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s head. After a brief moment, a tiny noise sounded from the smoke as a golden flame swiftly formed above his head. The entire world seemed to freeze when the golden flame emerged. As golden fire burned, space around it crumbled constantly like a burning oil painting. An indescribable surge of energy was born. The golden flame seemed capable of incinerating everything, and nothing could block its path. The golden flame was immediately reflected in the eyes of sect master Qing Yang as well as the top experts from the other sects as looks of indescribable disbelief crossed their faces. ¡°That¡¯s, that''s the flame of the Saint?!¡± A moment later, numerous cries of shock rang out. ¡°Sheng Yuan has reached the Saint stage?!¡± Cultivators above the Law Domain were called Saints, and the Saint stage was the highest cultivation realm in this world! However, ever since the birth of Cangxuan Heaven, patriarch Cang Xuan had been the only true Saint stage practitioner. But now, it appeared that palace master Sheng Yuan had also ascended to this godly realm?! Amidst countless shocked gasps, palace master Sheng Yuan extended two fingers. The golden flame pierced through space and appeared directly at his fingertips. He then pointed to the blue-green Law Domain barrier that enveloped sect master Qing Yang¡¯s body. Chi! As the golden flame swayed, the Law Domain that should have been indestructible in the eyes of ordinary people was instantly incinerated like a piece of paper. ¡°Qing Yang, time to join your master.....¡± A sinister smile formed on palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s lips. The golden flame on his fingertips directly pierced through the Law Domain and stabbed towards sect master Qing Yang. If the golden flame landed, even Law Domain experts would be burned to nothingness. Chapter 726 Igniting the Nascent Source Chi! Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s blazing fingers thrust straight towards sect master Qing Yang. As the golden flame rose, everything was burned into nothingness. Even the Law Domain around sect master Qing Yang was destroyed in an instant. The Law Domain could only be countered with another a Law Domain. However, Law Domains had little effect on experts of the Saint stage, because Saints possessed the Saint fire, which could incinerate everything in the world. Even the Law Domain was frail as paper before it. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s attack surprised everyone. No one could have imagined that palace master Sheng Yuan was capable of summoning Saint fire... Due to the decisiveness of the attack, sect master Qing Yang knew that there was no way he could evade despite his shock and terror. He could only watch helplessly as the golden blazing fingers rapidly approached as if his fate had already been determined and it was impossible to break free. Once struck, even someone as strong as sect master Qing Yang was bound to die. ¡°Sect master!¡± Old man Bai Mei, the Honya Peak master and others¡¯ expressions changed drastically as they cried out in shock. From what they knew, palace master Sheng Yuan should have been only a little stronger than sect master Qing Yang at best. Hence, it would not be easy for him to defeat sect master Qing Yang. Who would have thought that Sheng Yuan had actually concealed his strength! They knew that sect master Qing Yang was in critical danger, but it was near impossible for them to help given their strength. After all, they weren¡¯t even true experts of the Law Domain stage. At the outer area, the top experts from the other sects also had a grave look on their faces. ¡°Hehe, the Cangxuan Sect is in big trouble.¡± Heavenly Ghost Sect¡¯s Devil Luo chuckled, eyes glinting with greed. The Cangxuan Sect was one of the six major sects. If sect master Qing Yang perished, the Cangxuan Sect would definitely drop from its rank. When that happened, countless people would sense an opportunity due to the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s deep and solid foundation. The eyes of the other top experts from the major sects flashed. They did not wish to see sect master Qing Yang die, because that would change the structure of Cangxuan Heaven. After all, without the Cangxuan Sect to keep it in check, the Sacred Palace would undoubtedly grow stronger and stronger. However, palace master Sheng Yuan was too terrifying. The Saint fire had already intimidated them to the point that they couldn¡¯t move easily. As such, nobody dared to help. Thus, countless people could only watch sect master Qing Yang fall into danger. Swoosh! However, it was at this moment that a silhouette suddenly dashed forward from behind old man Bai Mei and the others. Old man Bai Mei, the Hongya Peak master and others¡¯ expressions changed drastically. ¡°Lianyi!¡± Anxiety filled peak master Ling Jun¡¯s handsome face. However, Liu Lianyi ignored their cries. Her beautiful eyes burned with hatred, burning holes into Sheng Yuan¡¯s figure. In Liu Lianyi¡¯s Divine Dwelling, the Nascent Source began to shake as majestic Genesis Qi poured out without reservation. Sheng Yuan also sensed Liu Lianyi speeding over, but there his eyes did not even ripple. ¡°You haven¡¯t even set foot in the Law Domain stage, do you want to die?¡± Terrifying Law Domain Genesis Qi gathered on his other palm, the dazzling silver light cracking the surrounding space. However, Liu Lianyi showed no signs of backing down in the face of Sheng Yuan¡¯s terrifying might. Her eyes were resolute and calm as her hands rapidly folded into hand seals. Buzz! Within her Divine Dwelling, the Nascent Source began to burn. Rumble! Incomparably powerful Genesis Qi frantically gushed out. An earth shaking presence erupted from Liu Lianyi¡¯s body, causing the world around her to change color. Everybody¡¯s pupils shrank upon seeing this as they cried out, ¡°She¡¯s burning the Nascent Source!? She¡¯s crazy!¡± Once the Nascent Source was fully burnt, Liu Lianyi would inevitably die. ¡°Little junior sister!¡± Old man Bai Mei¡¯s face was grim. They finally understood Liu Lianyi¡¯s plan. She intended to ignite her Nascent Source to help sect master Qing Yang. Peak master¡¯s Ling Jun¡¯s eyes nearly popped from their sockets as he frantically raced towards Liu Lianyi with a roar, ¡°NO!¡± Liu Lianyi turned her head and revealed a bleak smile when she saw peak master Ling Jun rapidly speeding over. ¡°Ling Jun, I¡¯m sorry for being angry at you all these years. ¡°I am a sinner, the sinner who killed master. So let me pay for this sin now!¡± In the next moment, boundless rays of light erupted from her body. Boundless Genesis Qi seemed to condense into a crystal layer around her delicate body. Finally, the destructive power aimed at palace master Sheng Yuan. ¡°Die!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face darkened. He couldn¡¯t disregard a suicidal attack from a Nascent Source expert. He withdrew his Saint fire fingers and turned them towards Liu Lianyi who was burning her Nascent Source. Boom! The two forces collided in a flash as earthshaking shockwaves swept outwards. The whole world seemed to have collapsed at that moment. Blackwater split apart, huge crevices spreading in all directions like dragons. Countless cracks began to emerge in the surrounding space like broken glass. The experts on all sides rapidly withdrew in order to avoid the aftershocks. Sect master Qing Yang also retreated, his face ashen as he stared at the source of the shockwaves. His hands clenched tight as his eyes filled with grief and anger, ¡°You¡¯ve always created so much trouble since you were young!¡± The devastation lasted for a long time before gradually coming to a stop. Countless gazes immediately darted over only to see the stormy-faced palace master Sheng Yuan standing in the air. His sleeves had been ripped apart and blood dripped from his fingertips. The golden flame above his head had also grown a little fainter and weaker. But Liu Lianyi¡¯s figure had disappeared from the world along with her presence... The entire place was utterly silent. No one could have imagined that a top Nascent Source expert would die at this juncture.... AAHHH! Peak master Ling Jun mournfully roared at the sky. In the next moment, his eyes reddened as the Nascent Source in his body began to ignite. Bang! But sect master Qing Yang quickly appeared in front of him and slapped him on the chest, pushing him backwards, ¡°Ling Jun, calm down!¡± Peak master Ling Jun crumpled to his knees and bellowed in sorro like a wounded beast. Old man Bai Mei, the Hongya Peak master and others also tightly clenched their fists, eyes filled with painful grief. They knew that Liu Lianyi¡¯s heart was full of self-blame and remorse. She had long made up her mind to take her life, because that was the only way she would be able to gain some peace and relief. It could be said that the Cangxuan Sect had suffered tragic losses today. In the mysterious domain, Zhou Yuan was equally aghast by the battle in the outside world. He never expected that peak master Lianyi would choose to burn her Nascent Source in an attempt to take palace master Sheng Yuan down with her. Although she was a woman, she was very strong and unyielding. He also was very upset by her death. After all, the beautiful and elegant peak master of the Snow Lotus Peak had been immensely popular in the Cangxuan Sect. He wondered what Li Qingchan and others would feel when they learned about this... In addition, the Cangxuant Sect had now lost two peak masters in a row, causing their position in the battle for the Cangxuan Saint Stamp to take a sharp turn.... The entire Cangxuan Sect was now at risk of being destroyed. If Zhou Yuan lost the Cangxuan Sect, things would become extremely dire. Not only him, even the Great Zhou Empire might be toppled in a heartbeat... Zhou Yuan clenched his fists. Danger was rushing over from every direction like an unstoppable tide, making him feel as if he was suffocating¡­. Chapter 727 Sheng Yuan’s Choice The still slightly rippling world was very silent. The top experts from the many sects were still in shock from seeing Liu Lianyi ignite her Nascent Source. After all, a Nascent Source stage expert was already considered a super elite even among the major sects. Over the years, there had rarely been any cases of Nascent Source stage experts dieing. However, they had witnessed one perish today.. Palace master Sheng Yuan stood in the air with a stormy expression. Although he had killed Liu Lianyi, he still wasn¡¯t happy with this result, because his initial target had been Qing Yang. Once Qing Yang was dead, the Cangxuan Sect would fall apart by itself while the other major sects would also be deterred. But Qing Yang was still alive, and it was very unlikely for Sheng Yuan to find another great opportunity like earlier. Qing Yang would definitely be more vigilant after learning of his true strength. Moreover, he...wasn¡¯t a true Saint. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. With his hands clasped behind his back his indifferent gaze swept across the place, ¡°I wonder what everyone thinks about my previous proposal now?¡± Everybody¡¯s eyes flickered but they did not say anything. Sect master Qing Yang chillingly stared at palace master Sheng Yuan and suddenly said, ¡°Sheng Yuan, you haven¡¯t truly reached the Saint stage!¡± The other top experts were first taken aback before they looked at palace master Sheng Yuan in suspicion. Palace master Sheng Yuan narrowed his eyes. With a grasp , a golden Saint flame emerged once more in the palm of his hand. ¡°Oh? Do you want to try it again?¡± Sect master Qing Yang frostily replied, ¡°If you were a real Saint expert why would you waste your time talking to us? You would have already snatched away the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. ¡°Moreover, though your golden flame has the aura of a Saint flame, it is unstable and there is still a huge gap between your Saint flame and master¡¯s!¡± Many eyes darted towards the golden flame on Sheng Yuan¡¯s palm. Sure enough, they realized that blocking Liu Lianyi¡¯s suicidal attack, the golden flame had grown fainter and more transparent. The oppressive power it once emitted had also weakened. These observations made the top experts even more suspicious. What sect master Qing Yang had said did ring true. If Sheng Yuan had really stepped foot into the Saint stage, there would be no need for such proposals or any alliance. With a Saint level expert, the Sacred Palace could easily dominate the entire Cangxuan Heaven, and all of them would be forced to bow down to him. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face remained devoid of expression. Killing intent flashed in his eyes as he stared at sect master Qing Yang with. He should have killed this guy first after all... ¡°Although I don¡¯t know how you managed to produce this Saint flame, you are merely a false Saint at best! ¡°Sheng Yuan, your Saint flame is fake. You are nothing but a fox trying to assume the majesty of the tiger!¡± Qing Yang had also been stunned by the sight of palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s Saint flame earlier. His heart had turned akin to a churning sea, making it impossible for him to calm down. But after Liu Lianyi gave her life to stop that fatal blow for him, he finally managed to regain his composure. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s silver eyes stared at sect master Qing Yang. Not even the slightest ripple of emotion was visible on his face as he remarked, ¡°As expected of the individual that even patriarch Cang Xuan thought highly of. You are indeed quite capable.¡± His words seemed to confirm Qing Yang''s speculation. ¡°But even a false Saint is ultimately still a Saint that can easily kill you.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s robe billowed around him although no wind stirred the air, his silver eyes flashing with killing intent. The whole world shook under his murderous intent. This was a display of Sheng Yuan¡¯s confidence. He wasn¡¯t a true Saint expert, but had ultimately taken that first step before Qing Yang and it was enough to determine that he could kill Qing Yang. Old man Bai Mei, the Hongya Peak master and others¡¯ expressions also changed. They quickly tried to suppress their feelings of sorrow as they moved to stand behind sect master Qing Yang. Sect master Qing Yang narrowed his eyes. The current situation was indeed extremely unfavorable for the Cangxuan Sect. Peak master Lei Jun had betrayed them and now old Xuan had his hands tied keeping a close eye on him. As a result, the combat power of the Cangxuan Sect had sharply declined. Sect master Qing Yang ran his eyes across the top experts of the other sects. ¡°Sheng Yuan has touched upon the false Saint before us and I will be no match for him alone. If this continues, the Cangxuan Sect would indeed be in trouble. ¡°But once my Cangxuan Sect is destroyed, does everybody think that the Sacred Palace will willingly share the same status as the other major sects once the balance is destroyed?¡± The Heavenly Sword Sovereign, venerable lord Gu Jing and palace master Shan Qingzi nodded. How could they not understand such reasoning? If they sat and watched the Cangxuan Sect be destroyed, who else in the entire Cangxuan Heaven would have the courage to face the Sacred Palace? Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression darkened as he looked at the Heavenly Sword Sovereign and the others. ¡°This is a matter between my Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect, I hope outsiders won¡¯t interfere or they¡¯ll become an enemy of my Sacred Palace.¡± As he spoke, the golden flame in the palm of his hand leaped about, shattering the surrounding space and filling the air with a strong threatening aura. When his voice faded, however, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign could be heard laughing, ¡°It seems that you really haven¡¯t stepped into the Saint stage, otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t be so afraid of us...¡± The chilling expression in Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes intensified. That cunning old fox. ¡°If you truly have reached the Saint stage, we wouldn¡¯t have the power to withstand you and would have no choice but to yield. But since you¡¯re only at the false Saint stage, we do not need to be afraid if we join forces.¡± The Heavenly Sword Sovereign sighed, ¡°Sheng Yuan, I know you are ambitious, but the structure of Cangxuan Heaven is currently very stable. Don¡¯t start problems now because of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Venerable Lord Gu Jing indifferently said, ¡°If you want to kill sect master Qing Yang, my North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall will be the first to disagree.¡± Palace master Shan Qingzi also nodded, ¡°The Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace won¡¯t agree either.¡± Sheng Yuan¡¯s face darkened even more. The killing intent in his eyes seemed to make the surrounding temperature plummet. Although he had touched the false Saint stage and it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to kill Qing Yang, he wasn¡¯t confident of winning if the Heavenly Sword Sovereign, Venerable Lord Gu Jing and Shan Qingzi all stood on Qing Yang¡¯s side. In the mysterious domain, Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief as he observed this development. Sect master Qing Yang was indeed capable. He knew how to get the other major sects involved when he realized that the Cangxuan Sect was no match against the Sacred Palace. With the major sects joining forces, they would be able to compete with the Sacred Palace. Just as Zhou Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief, a wisp of black smoke quietly slithered behind Shan Qingzi. It ultimately turned into a sinister black smoke face that stealthily loomed towards her from behind. However, just as the black smoke face was about to touch her body, a fair hand appeared out of thin air, pinching the face and then crushing it. AIHH! As the ghost faced dissipated, a shrill cry rang out. Shan Qingzi¡¯s beautiful face was ice-cold as she asked indifferently, ¡°Sect master Luo, why embarrass yourself with such pathetic tactics?¡± Not far from her, sect master Luo who chuckled in his black fog cloud, ¡°The current Cangxuan Heaven is akin to dead water and there is no need to hold onto it so tightly. I agree with Sheng Yuan that we should have change...¡± The experts in the outer areas felt their hearts pound. The situation was clear. The Heavenly Ghost Sect had quietly shifted to the Sacred Palace¡¯s side. On the other side was the Cangxuan Sect, the Sword Seeker Sect, the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall and the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, four of the six major sects. When these two forces collided, it would be an earth shaking affair that would topple the entire Cangxuan Heaven. With a solemn expression on his face, venerable lord Gu Jing said, ¡°I hope palace master Sheng Yuan won¡¯t start a massacre. As for the Cangxuan Saint Seal, let it be sealed away until someone in Cangxuan Heaven achieves the Saint stage. Then, they can take it for themself.¡± Countless eyes shifted over towards palace master Sheng Yuan. His decision would determine the future of Cangxuan Heaven. Under their gazes, palace master Sheng Yuan closed his eyes. A long while later, his lips curved into a cold smile. He had plotted for many years for this day. Sect master Qing Yang and the others were overestimating themselves if they believed they could make him back down. His eyes shot open as a chilling aura flooded out. ¡°Since you''re all so stubborn... ¡°There will be no need for any of you to exist any further in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± As his voice faded, the murderous aura grew stronger and stronger, causing the expressions on the many experts¡¯ faces to change drastically. Sheng Yuan had made his choice. Since the Cangxuan Sect and the others dared to block him, he would just smash all of them to pieces. ¡°Hall masters of the Heavenly Sacred Hall and the Sacred Blood Hall, go get the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. ¡°That boy is an eyesore and is now useless. Get rid of him as revenge for Wu Huang. ¡°As for the rest, leave them to sect master Luo and I...¡± Two silhouettes darted out from the Sacred Palace¡¯s side. Terrifying and imposing auras pulsed from their figures as they raced towards the depths of the thunderbolt pool. In the mysterious domain, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression drastically changed when he saw this scene. Chapter 728 Earthshaking Battle Swoosh! When the hall masters of the Heavenly Sacred Hall and Sacred Blood Hall raced towards the thunderbolt pool, palace master Sheng Yuan also took action. The golden flame in the palm of his hand shot into the sky. The golden Saint flame burned through air as it rose. It then split and transformed into three golden dragons, each roaring in the directions of sect master Qing Yang, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign and Venerable Lord Gu Jing respectively. Even space itself seemed to melt as the golden dragons flew past. Sect master Qing Yang and the others dared not let their guard down. Their Law Domains emerged as vast Genesis Qi surged out, ultimately colliding with the golden dragons. Boom! The collision could only be described as earth shattering. While palace master Sheng Yuan was single handedly facing off against three Law Domain experts, sect master Mo Luo¡¯s eyes locked onto palace master Shan Qingzi of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace as a lustful look arose on his plump face. ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ll play with you palace master Shan Qingzi!¡± However, although he was drooling, his eyes were still cold and ruthless. A black Law Domain shrouded him as Law Domain Genesis Qi soared into the air. It transformed into a sinister ghost face that blotted out the sky before whizzing towards Shan Qingzi with incredible speed. There was a deep feud between the Heavenly Ghost Sect and the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Shan Qingzi coldly snorted when she saw this. A colorful Law Domain rapidly enveloped her body as she rose to fearlessly meet the attack. Boom! The battle between two Law Domain experts shook the surrounding space. Old Xuan was still carefully watching Lei Jun. The latter observed the earth-shaking battle break out as he displayed a slight smile, ¡°It¡¯s been many years since such a terrifying battle happened in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± He turned to old Xuan as he continued, ¡°Can''t you see? Cangxuan Heaven is going to change. You are also a Law Domain expert that should lord over a territory. Why be that old servant who takes care of that mountain?¡± Old Xuan remained expressionless as he responded, ¡°Not everyone is as ungrateful as you, I couldn¡¯t cultivate back then and it was master who personally cleansed my essence and channels. Otherwise, I would have already faded into the dirt. I have no interest in becoming the lord of any territory. All I desire is to repay master. ¡°Lei Jun, the only thing I want to do now is send you to apologise to master!¡± Boom! A Law Domain emerged as his voice faded. His hunched figure gave off the presence of a towering mountain, emitting an imposing aura that could subdue the land. The next moment, he strode forward. Rumble! The place had been divided into several battlefields. In the distance, the top experts of the various sects watched these scenes unfold with fearful faces. It was a war between the six major sects! Anybody who hadn¡¯t stepped foot into the Law Domain stage had no qualifications to get involved. While the Law Domain experts clashed, the Nascent Source stage experts of the six great sects also shot forth, causing the place to become more and more chaotic. Meanwhile, the two hall masters of the Sacred Palace were heading straight into the depths of the thunderbolt pool. Their destination was the mysterious domain that contained the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but feel his scalp go numb at the sight of two Nascent Source stage experts charging towards him. He only possessed strength of the Divine Dwelling stage; it was impossible for him to survive even a single attack from a Nascent Source stage expert. He was still too weak! The hall master of the Blood Sacred Hall frosty gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan. ¡°Were you the one who killed the disciples of the Blood Sacred Hall in the Mythic Utopia?¡± Boom! He waved his sleeve without giving Zhou Yuan a chance to reply. In the next moment, blood-red Genesis Qi spewed out, turning into a giant blood-red python. Every scale on the giant python¡¯s body was akin to a separate entity, each exuding a terrifying and evil power. Although Divine Dwelling experts could also manipulate Genesis Qi into various forms and shapes, once one reached the Nascent Source stage, it was no longer Genesis Qi attempting to mimic something but a true fundamental transformation. The Genesis Qi they wielded would gain a nature of its own, making it far more formidable and ferocious. Zhou Yuan stood aghast in the face of the rapidly approaching giant red python. He was simply too terrified to resist in the face of such power. After all, the gap between them was far too great. Buzz! However, while Zhou Yuan was suffocating under the pressure, a clear sword cry suddenly rang out. A beam of sword light pierced the void, slicing the giant blood-red python into two. Cold and sharp sword qi shredded the giant python to pieces. A figure appeared in the space between him and the two Sacred Palace hall masters. ¡°Peak master Ling Jun?¡± Zhou Yuan was surprised to see him. Ling Jun tightly clasped his sword, his long hair fluttering in the wind and his handsome face akin to million-year-old ice. ¡°Ling Jun, are you going to sacrifice yourself for love?¡± The hall master of Blood Sacred hall sneered. Ling Jun paid no attention to him as he turned his head towards Zhou Yuan, ¡°Find an opportunity to take the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and run. You shouldn¡¯t stay here any longer.¡± Zhou Yuan grumbled inwardly. How could he take away the Cangxuan Saint Stamp? He had tried it earlier, but the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was inconceivably heavy. Even all of his strength had failed to budge it. However, peak master Ling Jun had no time to say anything more. After all, the two hall masters before him weren¡¯t any weaker than himself. He would not worry in a one on one battle, but it was difficult for him to take on both of them together. ¡°Hmph, you think you can stop us alone? Ling Jun, you overestimate yourself!¡± The hall master of the Blood Sacred Hall¡¯s eyes reddened. Monstrous waves seemed to rise behind him accompanied by a strong stench of blood. His robe flapped around him as a raging sea of blood burst through the void with boundless corrosive qi, heading straight for peak master Ling Jun. Peak master Ling Jun slowly tightened his grip around his sword. In the next moment, hundreds and millions of swords rays charged out, merging into a dazzling sword river to meet the sea of blood. Boom! The two forces collided, setting off monstrous waves in the thunderbolt pool. The hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall¡¯s face was devoid of expression. He paid no attention to peak master Ling Jung and continued to dive downwards. Seeing this, peak master Ling Jun swung his sword in an attempt to block the hall master of the Heavenly Sacred hall. Bang! But a blood-red monster appeared out of thin air, swallowing the sword light in a single gulp. ¡°Ling Jun, your opponent is me. Don''t try to stop him or you might really join Liu Lianyi soon.¡± The hall master of the Blood Sacred Hall emerged from the sea of blood. Peak master Ling Jun¡¯s eyes turned bitingly-cold as a clear crystal-like sword orb slowly rose from his head. It was in that instant that a resounding sword cry seemed to echo throughout the world. A wary look crossed the Blood Sacred Hall master¡¯s face as a gigantic blood-red sabre rose from the raging blood sea and landed in his hand. Peak master Ling Jun glanced out of the corner of his eyes, only to see that the hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall had already disappeared. He let out a long sigh. He was indeed incapable of stopping both of them. Moreover, the hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall was the strongest hall master of the Sacred Palace. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I pray that luck will favor you.¡± Although Zhou Yuan had made the Sword Cometh Peak lose face many times in the Cangxuan Sect, Ling Jun was after all a peak master. He wouldn¡¯t hold grudges against a mere disciple, but at this moment he really couldn¡¯t split himself into two to protect the latter. ... In the mysterious domain. Zhou Yuan looked to his front. Space rippled as a figure slowly appeared. It was the hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall. His gaze immediately landed on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. A glint of desire burned in his eyes before quickly hiding itself. Without even glancing at Zhou Yuan, he clasped his hands behind his back with his eyes still fixed on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. A moment later, a chilling voice rang out in the mysterious domain. ¡°Boy, self destruct your Spirit. If you wait for me to act, I guarantee that you will wish you had taken the easy way out .¡± Zhou Yuan gestured at Yaoyao, who was at the bottom of the stone stairs. ¡°Go!¡± This situation was far too dangerous. He didn¡¯t know what use would resisting be in the face of a Nascent Source stage expert. He understood that this was the end of the road. Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t afraid of death, but he hoped to buy time for Yaoyao to flee. The hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall was still focused on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp as he nonchalantly asked again, ¡°Still not self destructing?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. Immediately after, he drew a deep breath as a resolute look flashed to his eyes. In the next moment, he suddenly shot forth. A crazed look gradually emerged on his face. Chapter 729 Hall Master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall Boom! Genesis Qi surged around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as a Divine Dwelling halo appeared behind him. At that moment, he looked like a maniac whose eyes were filled with viciousness. As the Heavenly Yuan Brush flashed into his hand, the snowy-white brush tip instantly turned a pitch-black. Om! The Heavenly Yuan Brush transformed to multiple shadows as boundless Genesis Qi burst out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwelling without reservation, bathing his body in a blaze of light. Zhou Yuan had currently squeezed out every drop of strength he possessed. However, the hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall did not even turn around. His lips curved into a mocking smile as he shook his head, ¡°Who would have thought that even a desperate ant would bite?¡± He extended his fingers and lightly pushed it towards the approaching brush. Clang! The sharp tip of the brush, that Zhou Yuan had focused all of his power into, smashed into the Heavenly Sacred Hall master¡¯s finger. At the moment of impact, it seemed as if the brush had struck a piece of million year cold steel. All of Zhou Yuan¡¯s power seemed to disappear into a bottomless black hole. Om! The Heavenly Sacred Hall Master flicked his finger, striking the tip of the brush. The brush tip unravelled, turning into countless brush hairs as an indescribable force swept towards Zhou Yuan like a mountainous wave. Zhou Yuan''s hand instantly ruptured, causing blood to spurt out. The Heavenly Yuan Brush also left the grip of his hand. Sensing danger, the Divine Dwelling halo flashed in front of Zhou Yuan but was only able to endure for a few seconds before shattering under the terrifying force. Urgh! A mouthful of blood was vomited from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. He was blasted away like a cannonball, violently tumbling down many stone steps before he finally managed to steady himself. Blood flowed down Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body, his flesh torn open and skin ripped in many places. If not for his extraordinarily strong body, he would most likely have been torn apart by the overwhelming force. Even so, he was in an extremely sorry state. It had merely been the briefest of contacts, but Zhou Yuan had already been utterly defeated. The tremendous difference in strength between them was clear as day. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hair was disheveled. Blood trickled down from the corner of his mouth as a bitter smile curved his lips. Was this the power of the Nascent Source stage? As expected, it''s far stronger than the Divine Dwelling stage. He extended his finger again as frightening Genesis Qi gathered at its tip, causing the surrounding space to crack. Roar! However, an enraged roar suddenly thundered just as Heavenly Sacred Hall master was about to attack again and a giant golden silhouette appeared in the air above a split second later. It was Tuntun in its combat form. With a deafening roar, it swung its claws several times, causing space to quake violently. The Heavenly Sacred Hall master narrowed his eyes as his other hand penetrated through space and grabbed at Tuntun¡¯s throat. Tuntun retaliated with its claws, leaving small scratches on his hand. ¡°Huh?¡± The hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall gasped. He could sense that Tuntun was only at the Divine Dwelling stage but was able to leave a small scratch on his body. Although the scratch was insignificant, the fact that it could wound him was more than enough evidence of its extraordinary power. ¡°This will be a good gatekeeper.¡± The hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall smiled and shook his hand, sending Tuntun hurtling into the distance. Om! Space shuddered the moment he tossed Tuntun. A beam of golden light silently shot over, aimed directly at the space between the hall master¡¯s brows. He immediately detected the beam of golden light and narrowed his eyes. A look of bewilderment flickering in the depths of his eyes, because he could sense a mysterious energy fluctuation around the golden light. For some reason, that fluctuation made even his heart palpitate. Swoosh! The beam of golden light shot over. The hall master pinched the beam of light with two fingers and watched the golden light tremble between his fingertips. Upon closer inspection, he found that it resembled a drop of blood. His face was devoid of expression as Genesis Qi gushed out from fingers, disintegrating the light beam into nothingness. His hand moved to feel the space between his brows where there was a small hole had formed. ¡°Interesting.¡± The hall master¡¯s eyes darkened. He turned to the bottom of the stone steps where he saw a beautiful and slender girl coldly staring at him. ¡°There clearly weren''t any Genesis Qi fluctuations, but it was quite dangerous...¡± His eyes had turned bitingly cold. The maiden before him was clearly not very powerful, but having cultivated for so many years, his intuition made him feel a trace of unknown fear in the depths of his heart. ¡°How strange.... ¡°But never mind....since you are the most dangerous one here, let''s get rid of you first.¡± He shook his head. With a snap of his fingers, majestic Genesis Qi gathered into a blade of Genesis Qi that shook and cracked the surrounding space. Om! The Genesis Qi blade vibrated as it disappeared from the spot, reappearing right in front of Yaoyao. The reflection of the light blade rapidly enlarged in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes as she clenched her teeth. It was the first time she had encountered such a powerful enemy. Given her current state, it would be really hard to cope with such an attack. Do...I really have to take that final step? Hesitation flickered in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. However, just when the light blade was about to hit her, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her like a towering mountain. It was Zhou Yuan! Chi! While Yaoyao stood stunned, the light blade pierced Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The blade plunged through his chest, causing blood to spurt everywhere. The spray of blood stained her beautiful cheeks while she dazedly stood there. Her lips trembled as she looked at Zhou Yuan, who was facing her while using his back to shield her from the light blade. Zhou Yuan peered down at the light blade that punctured his chest, before he wiped the blood at the corner of his lips. He displayed a bitter smile as he gazed at the maiden before him, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry to drag you into this dangerous situation. ¡°I¡¯ve always known that you are stronger than me... ¡°But I promised master Cang Yuan that if the day comes where I cannot stop others from hurting you, then at very least....I¡¯ll make sure they¡¯ll have to step over my dead body first.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s eyes seemed to redden a little. Zhou Yuan endured the sharp pain from his chest as he continued in a hoarse voice, ¡°You must think I¡¯m too unsightly. I know¡­that I''m too weak.¡± Yaoyao shook her head. Roar! Behind them, Tuntun let out an enraged roar, but Heavenly Sacred Hall master clapped his hands together, creating a gigantic Genesis Qi hand that swatted downwards to suppress Tuntun. He peered down at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao as he chuckled, ¡°What a touching scene. ¡°Well, I shall be kind today and let both of you die together.¡± He waved his robe and countless Genesis Qi light blades formed in front of him. Om! The blades pierced the void and headed straight for the two figures below. Sensing the power of destruction behind him, Zhou Yuan gave a wry smile as he stretched out his trembling arms to shield Yaoyao. This was the only thing he could do. Yaoyao caressed Zhou Yuan¡¯s blood-stained face with her ice-cold hands as a glistening tear drop rolled down her cheeks from her eyelash. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are a hero in my heart...¡± She stood on her tiptoes and gently kissed him on the lips under his widening eyes. The cold as jade sensation made Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart quiver. ¡°Zhou Yuan....thank you for these past few years.¡± A faint noise sounded at this moment. Zhou Yuan was horrified as he watched the mysterious light rune between Yaoyao¡¯s brows gradually begin to crack. Chapter 730 Seal Broken Om! Countless Genesis Qi light blades whizzed through the air, tearing even fabric of space itself. The power contained in each light blade was more than sufficient to a Divine Dwelling expert like Zhou Yuan a thousand times over... The Heavenly Sacred Hall master watched with a smile on his face. The boy and girl before him were going to be pierced by tens of thousands of blades. They would be turned to a bloody mush and even their bones won¡¯t survive this onslaught. ¡°Since you two are so reluctant to part from each other, I¡¯ll let your flesh and blood mix together in death.¡± Under his smiling gaze, the terrifying Genesis Qi blades instantly surrounded the two figures, but it was also at this moment that a wave of energy suddenly pulsed outwards. Time and space seemed to fall still as it passed. The Genesis Qi light blades were also frozen in place like insects in amber, unable to move a single inch. The smile on the Heavenly Sacred Hall master¡¯s face turned a little rigid. Because the Genesis Qi blades light had completely left his control. He could no longer move them no matter how hard he tried. A puzzled look flashed in his eyes. While the Heavenly Sacred Hall master was in a slightly frightened and confused state, the Genesis Qi blades slowly shattered into countless specks of light that rose into the air and merged back into the world. Zhou Yuan had also sensed that the crisis had been averted, but he could not care at this point in time as he closely stared at the remarkably beautiful face in front of him. The mysterious seal between Yaoyao¡¯s brows was slowly crumbling. Zhou Yuan could clearly feel an indescribable power gradually emerging from her body, a power that was majestic, noble, and ancient. The Genesis Qi of the world buzzed and vibrated, excitedly swirling around Yaoyao as though worshipping her. Yaoyao¡¯s originally clear and ethereally beautiful eyes had become deep like the starry sky. In addition, Zhou Yuan could see strands of gold emerging on her head. Gold spread like ink, turning all of her hair into golden strands that beautifully fluttered in the wind. The noble aura grew more and more intense, as if her existence had transcended the world itself. It was at this moment that their tightly glued lips slowly separated. When he looked at Yaoyao again, Zhou Yuan felt small and insignificant, like a mortal looking up at an almighty deity. He couldn¡¯t help but be awed at the sight of her. A tingling feeling rose in his heart. ¡°Yaoyao....¡± Eyes that were deep as the starry sky were fixed onto Zhou Yuan. In their depths, the once familiar gaze gradually faded as she softly called out, ¡°Zhou....Yuan..¡± Her elegant body slowly rose upwards. She stood in the air, barefooted as her long golden hair danced around her. Above the stone steps, the Heavenly Sacred Hall master scrunched his brows into a frown At the sight of Yaoyao¡¯s transformation. For some reason, a feeling of unease was rising in his heart. But a ruthless look soon flashed to his eyes. Boom! Mighty and powerful Genesis Qi erupted from his body, causing the surrounding space to quake violently. Under the terrifying torrent of Genesis Qi, even an expert of the Heavenly Sun stage would be rendered immobile. However, cold indifference streaked across Yaoyao¡¯s starry-sky-like eyes. She strode forward as space rippled and appeared directly in front of the Heavenly Sacred Hall master like a phantom. ¡°Heavenly Emperor Spirit Suppressing Seal!¡± The Heavenly Sacred Hall master¡¯s pupils shrank. In the next moment, boundless Genesis Qi gushed up from his head and turned into a spirit seal that contained infinite power. When the spirit seal emerged, the surrounding space began to crumble, unable to bear its weight. Boom! The spirit seal directly pressed downwards onto Yaoyao. However, Yaoyao gently clenched her hand and punched at the huge spirit seal. Dong! The two collided with a crisp sound. The hall master was horrified as he watched his full power spirit seal shatter, turning into specks of light that filled the sky. To think that the power of Yaoyao¡¯s casual little punch was so terrifying?! The Heavenly Sacred Hall master felt as if his scalp was exploding. As he dazedly stared at the mysterious golden haired girl, a feeling of fear crawled out from the depths of his heart. ¡°You, who are you?¡± He trembled as he uttered these words. Swoosh! His voice faded and his figure suddenly turned illusory. Space rippled and he unexpectedly disappeared from the spot. He was running away! Yaoyao¡¯s punch had scared him witless. However, not even the slightest ripple of emotion was visible on Yaoyao¡¯s remarkably beautiful face. She made a grasping motion in the air and space seemed tear. The little hand stretched out and grabbed a figure. It was the hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall. The hall master¡¯s face was deathly pale and grim. He was so frightened at this moment that his soul had almost scattered. He never imagined that someone who should have been as insignificant as an ant in his eyes would possess such terrifying strength. Moreover, he had clearly torn space to flee, so how had she pulled him back? What kind of strength did she possess?! Yaoyao starry-sky-like eyes stared at him as she whispered in a disjointed manner, ¡°Before...you...you wanted to kill us?¡± His teeth were chattering and he no longer exuded the mighty aura from before. ¡°Why, why...do you have to force me?¡± A shred of anger was rising in Yaoyao¡¯s voice. ¡°I...¡± The hall master wept without tears. He truly regretted his actions. If he had known that this girl was such a terrifying being, how would he have dared to force her? He could sense a terrifying power deeply slumbering within her body. It was his previous actions that had forced that power to awaken. And now it was time for him to eat the bitter fruit of his actions. However, he also wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. He gradually composed his mind and understood that he was in a desperate situation. A fierce look flashed to his eyes and he clenched his teeth. Boom! His body immediately self-destructed. An indescribable shockwave of terror erupted, sweeping towards Yaoyao as space shattered and collapsed. However, the force of that terrifying self-explosion immediately turned gentle and docile when it touched Yaoyao¡¯s body, transforming into a gentle breeze that lifted her long golden hair. Yaoyao¡¯s face was devoid of expression as she clenched her hand. In the next moment, a ball of light emerged in her palm. Within that ball was the struggling silhouette of a person. That face was identical to that of the hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall. It was the Nascent Source of the hall master! As long as the Nascent Source escaped, he would quickly be able to repair his body. Evidently, he had deliberately self-destructed his body earlier to flee. But he had clearly underestimated Yaoyao¡¯s power. An expression of terror was visible on the hall master¡¯s Nascent Source as he shrieked, ¡°You, you¡¯re not human!¡± Even the explosion of his body was unable to touch Yaoyao in the slightest. Such power had far exceeded his imagination. ¡°Have mercy! ¡°Please spare me! I was wrong! I shouldn''t have tried to kill you! ¡°If you kill me, palace master won¡¯t let you off!¡± With his Nascent Source in Yaoyao¡¯s hand, the hall master was now truly afraid. He no longer acted high and mighty like before and desperately begged for mercy. Because he knew that he was really finished if his Nascent Source were destroyed. However, Yaoyao¡¯s eyes remained devoid of emotion in the face of his pleas. Her beautiful fair hand gently closed. Space twisted. Bang! In the next moment, his Nascent Source was crushed. Specks of light exploded as a shrill and a tragic cry filled the air. The destruction of the hall master¡¯s Nascent Source naturally attracted the attention of multiple experts. Even palace master Sheng Yuan and sect master Qing Yang cast their eyes towards the mysterious domain. They were astonished to see Yaoyao standing in the air amidst countless specks of light as her long golden hair fluttered around her. Chapter 731 Yaoyao’s Power Outside of the mysterious domain. All the earth shaking battles halted at the same time as everyone cast their gazes towards the mysterious domain. Each and every one was filled with shock and disbelief. No one had expected such a turn of events... The Heavenly Sacred Hall master, known to be the strongest of the ten hall masters of the Sacred Palace, just had his Nascent Source destroyed... Everyone was stunned by this scene. They felt as if it was a dream and were unable to believe their eyes. ¡°Sect master Qing Yang, isn¡¯t she a disciple of your Cangxuan Sect? How did she...¡± The Heavenly Sword Sovereign and venerable lord Gu Jing could not help but ask as they turned to sect master Qing Yang with shocked expressions. Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s face twitched a little. He was likewise perplexed by the scene before them. With a bitter smile, he said, ¡°She is indeed a disciple of the our Cangxuan Sect...¡± Sect master Qing Yang had already realized Yaoyao was no ordinary person the first time he saw her. He knew that she was concealing a mysterious power and wanted to investigate further but ultimately gave up. He felt that Yaoyao was still a part of the Cangxuan Sect as long as she didn¡¯t do anything that would harm the sect. This was also the main reason why sect master Qing Yang had permitted her to not choose any of the peaks. However, it was only today that sect master Qing Yang finally understood that he had grossly underestimated Yaoyao. The power from Yaoyao¡¯s body had most likely exceeded the Law Domain stage. ¡°Your Cangxuan Sect has extraordinary foundations.¡± The Heavenly Sword Sovereign and venerable lord Gu Jing sighed, seemingly under the impression that Yaoyao was a trump card that sect master Qing Yang and the others had kept hidden. With such a powerful expert on their side, the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s situation would become much better. After all, following the previous exchanges, they found that even if palace master Sheng Yuan was only at the false Saint stage, his strength had already exceeded even their combined might. Sect master Qing Yang could only give an awkward smile as he grumbled inside. He felt that Yaoyao¡¯s state wasn¡¯t right and did not know whether she would help them. After all, Yaoyao had never truly acknowledged anyone in the Cangxuan Sect, and if it weren¡¯t for Zhou Yuan, she would have most likely left long ago. But in any case, the eruption of Yaoyao¡¯s power had boosted the morale on their side. On the other hand, the Sacred Palace and Heavenly Ghost Sect now seemed hesitant. Even palace master Sheng Yuan was staring at the mysterious girl in the mysterious domain with a strange expression. The power emitted by her body had indeed made him feel somewhat fearful. Let alone the Cangxaun Sect, it was impossible for an expert of this level to exist even in the entire Cangxuan Heaven! But something that was impossible had appeared right before their eyes. For a period of time, even palace master Sheng Yuan dared not act recklessly. Thus, the earth shaking battle in the outside world came to an awkward halt. In the mysterious domain. The bare-footed Yaoyao stood in the air. Her dazzling golden hair flowed down her back to her waist and her ethereal, beautiful eyes were as deep and ancient as the starry sky. However, she also exuded a cold and detached feeling. At the bottom of the stone steps, Zhou Yuan wiped away the blood from the corner of his mouth. The huge scar on his chest was rapidly healing through the life energy emitted by the Taiyi Green Wood Mark in his body. He stared at Yaoyao as he lowered his voice and tried to show a calm smile, ¡°Yaoyao, it''s all right now, can you-----change back first?¡± Although Yaoyao was incredibly powerful now,she made Zhou Yuan feel very uneasy. Moreover, when master Cang Yuan left, he had repeatedly reminded him to not let Yaoyao break the seal. The serious look on master Cang Yuan¡¯s face back then told him that it was an extremely serious manner. Hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice, Yaoyao¡¯s eyes seemed to flicker as though struggling, but that soon gradually dissipated. As she gently shook her head, a faint voice could be heard, ¡°Zhou, Zhou Yuan... I''ll help you eliminate these troubles.¡± She looked deeply at Zhou Yuan and then suddenly twisted around, transforming into a ray of golden light that pierced through the mysterious domain and headed for the outside world. ¡°Yaoyao! Don¡¯t!¡± shouted Zhou Yuan in a worried voice. But how could he stop Yaoyao? He staggered a few steps forward before collapsing onto his knees due to the pain from his chest. ¡°Damnit!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned crimson-red as he repeatedly punched the ground to vent his anger and frustration. He knew that if it wasn¡¯t to protect him, Yaoyao wouldn¡¯t have broken the seal. He shouldn¡¯t have come here. He didn¡¯t know what was going to happen now that she had broken the seal, but it definitely wouldn¡¯t be anything good! Wu! A small beast came to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side and patted him with its paw. It was Tuntun. It made a whining sound as if trying to comfort Zhou Yuan. But when it turned in the direction of where Yaoyao left, a worried look flickered in its eyes. Zhou Yuan looked at Tuntun, clenching his teeth so hard that his mouth began to bleed again. ¡°I blame myself for being too weak.¡± If he were strong enough, why would he need Yaoyao to save him at that critical moment? Zhou Yuan hated himself for being so weak. The tiny bit of pride he felt after reaching the Divine Dwelling stage was now completely torn apart by the cruel reality. Yaoyao had taken care of him all these years, but he had failed to protect her, and even caused her to break the seal! If he were to meet master Cang Yuan again, what explanation could he possibly give?! Zhou Yuan never longed for tremendous strength like he did now. .... Yaoayao¡¯s figure slowly rose from the mysterious domain and streaked through the thunderbolt pool. In the thunderbolt pool, the hall master of the Blood Sacred Hall and peak master Ling Jun were just backing away from yet another clash. Their eyes, wide with shock, converged onto Yaoyao. Peak master Ling Jung had seen Yaoyao many times before, but he never imagined that this remarkably beautiful girl would be hiding such terrifying power. Yaoyao swept a glance at peak master Ling Jung before turning towards the hall master of the Blood Sacred Hall, as if pondering if he was trouble. Before she could finish her analysis, however, the hall master fled without saying a word. The hall master of the Heavenly Sacred Hall didn¡¯t even have the chance to escape from Yaoyao, how could he have the courage to fight her? Yaoyao did not give chase, evidently not seeing him as a threat. Her figure continued to rise, her long golden hair appearing unusually dazzling. Countless eyes gathered on her body with graveness and shock. Everyone knew that the current circumstances were bound to change dramatically once again because of Yaoyao¡¯s choice. With a solemn look on his face, palace master Sheng Yuan said to Yaoyao, ¡°Girl, my Sacred Palace doesn¡¯t have a hostile relationship with you...if you came here because of Zhou Yuan, I give you my word that we can put all those previous matters behind us.¡± All the top experts whispered to one another when they heard this. Palace master Sheng Yuan had always acted overbearing. As such, none of them expected to see him adopt such a submissive posture. It was obvious how much threat Yaoyao was to him. Yaoyao stood in the air while her long golden hair fluttered in the breeze, radiating a graceful aura. Her starry-sky-like eyes were fixed on palace master Sheng Yuan and an ethereal voice sounded a moment later. ¡°Only when palace master Sheng Yuan dies.... Chapter 732 Terrifying Genesis Rune Mastery Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face gradually turned ice-cold as Yaoyao¡¯s voice rang out across the area while Sect master Qing Yang, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign and the others breathed a sigh of relief. The faces of the other top experts twitched. The Sacred Palace had been occupying the upper hand earlier, who could have expected the situation to change once again following the mysterious girl¡¯s appearance. Although they didn¡¯t know where she came from or understand why she possessed such terrifying power, it didn¡¯t stop them from realising that palace master Sheng Yuan had encountered a formidable enemy. Palace master Sheng Yuan coldly remarked, ¡°It seems that you are bent on going against my Sacred Palace.¡± Although he was somewhat fearful of Yaoyao, it was impossible for him to yield. However, Yaoyao didn¡¯t waste any time responding to his threats. With the flick of her sleeve, a mighty stream of flowing light whizzed out like a starry river. Each speck of light in the starry river was formed from a Genesis Rune. The number of Genesis Runes that had been gathered together was enough to make numerous people speechless. Boom! In the next instant, the surrounding space collapsed as the Genesis Rune river whizzed forth, roaring towards palace master Sheng Yuan with mighty power. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyelids trembled at this scene. It was the first time he had seen someone able to utilize Genesis Runes in such a way. Feeling the power contained in the Genesis Rune starry river, palace master Sheng Yuan did not dare to be negligent. He drew a deep breath and a torrent of Genesis Qi spewed from his mouth a split second later. The torrent of Genesis Qi surged out, growing to a size of over ten thousand feet in a few seconds as it filled the sky. A tremendous shadow hung over the earth. If that destructive force were to fall, the entire Blackwater would be destroyed in an instant. The torrent of Genesis Qi that palace master Sheng Yuan spewed out contained countless diamond-like stones. This was caused by extremely condensed Genesis Qi. Even experts of the Law Domain stage would be destroyed if they fell into the torrent. Boom! Under countless astonished gazes, the Genesis Rune starry river pierced through the air and directly collided with the torrent of Genesis Qi. At the moment of impact, even the sky seemed to collapse. Unimaginable shockwaves raged as the other experts swiftly withdrew. Even sect master Qing Yang and other Law Domain experts did not dare to linger too close to the epicenter of the collision. Two mighty forces annihilated one another and ultimately dissipated. But now, his advantage felt nonexistent in the face of Yaoyao. ¡°Why must you force me?¡± palace master Sheng Yuan suppressed his anger to ask. ¡°You really think I am afraid of you?!¡± Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful face grew increasingly indifferent. She folded her fair hands together, and in the next moment, innumerable specks of golden light emerged from her body and gathered above her. The specks of golden light spread out, forming an enormous ancient Genesis Rune. The Genesis Rune blotted out the sky, giving off a boundless and endless aura. An extremely terrifying power pulsed from it When the gigantic Genesis Rune formed, Yaoyao folded her hands into another hand seal. Countless onlookers watched in astonishment as the Genesis Rune began to squirm and change. Roar! Eventually, the Genesis Rune condensed into a mysterious monster that lifted its head and roared at the heavens. The monster was incomparably huge and was covered in gold scales that flashed continuously. Every scale was engraved with ancient Genesis Runes. It was a monster created from Genesis Runes! Moreover, its appearance was very familiar. It was Tuntun¡¯s combat form. However, the ¡®Tuntun¡¯ that Yaoyao had created from Genesis Runes was many times more powerful than the present Tuntun. Countless people were struckdumb at the sight of such her Genesis Rune mastery. Old man Bai Mei murmured admiringly, ¡°What level of mastery is needed to create such dazzling Genesis Runes.¡± Roar! Genesis Rune Tuntun roared, the sound waves wrecking havoc like a storm, distorting the air as it passed. Ch! In the next moment, the Genesis Rune Tuntun teleported, appearing in front of palace master Sheng Yuan. Its giant claws swung with destructive force. As the claw ripped through the air, space collapsed, creating giant spatial vortexes. Anything that entered these vortexes would be instantly obliterated from existence. A grave expression filled palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face as a silver Law Domain light barrier enveloped his body. Boom! Sharp claws slammed into the Law Domain, causing it to violently tremble. Ripples rapidly blossomed on it before exploding with even greater force. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s body was blasted away as if struck by a heavy blow. He stumbled backwards, shattering the space below his feet with each step. Roar! Seeing the attack was successful, Genesis Rune Tuntun¡¯s tremendous body transformed into countless shadows with a roar. A torrential onslaught bombarded palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s Law Domain barrier. Bang! Bang! Bang! Thunderous noises rang endlessly. Countless people stared in horror at patches of space crumbled one after another. They could clearly feel the frightening power of each terrifying blow. Moreover, what made their scalps turn numb was that under the frenzied attack of the Genesis Rune beast, palace master Sheng Yuan was being rapidly beaten back like a sandbag. The light barrier around his body violently trembled. It must be noted that even the joint efforts of sect master Qing Yang and the others had been incapable of forcing palace master Sheng Yuan into such a miserable position. Roar! Dazzling golden light burst out from the sharp claws of the Genesis Rune monster, condensing into a stream of golden liquid that flowed between its claws. Only top experts would notice that the golden liquid was made up of numerous Genesis Runes. Ch! The Genesis Rune monster continued to roar as its claws slashed the silver Law Domain barrier. Screech! A sharp ear piercing noise sounded. Countless onlookers watched in astonishment as the Genesis Rune monster''s claws punctured the light barrier and pierced palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s body. Bang! Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s body instantly shattered. However, space rippled some distance away as a figure slowly walked out. It was palace master Sheng Yuan with a rather stormy expression. It was not so easy to eliminate a false Saint expert. However, anyone could tell that palace master Sheng Yuan had been at a disadvantage during the previous exchange. Yaoyao had displayed her terrifying power through a gigantic beast formed from Genesis Runes. The world fell silent, but everyone could feel an oppressive atmosphere as though a storm was about to descend. Palace master Sheng Yuan stared at Yaoyao. Without saying a word, he slowly opened his mouth and a ray of black and white light emerged from within. The ray of black and white light fell into his hands. It was a mottled ancient scroll. When that object appeared, the world gradually darkened. The expressions of sect master Qing Yang and others¡¯ changed as they murmured to themselves. ¡°That¡¯s---¡± Chapter 733 Life Executioner Painting A mottled black and white scroll appeared in palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s hand. Its appearance made the entire world change color and even the Genesis Qi of the land began to bubble volatilely. Fear flashed in the eyes of the experts who recognised the object in palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s hand. Because they knew that it was a famous treasure of the Sacred Palace. The Life Executioner Painting! The Life Executioner Painting had played a huge role in patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death. This alone was already enough to attest what a powerful weapon it was. It was the greatest treasure of the Sacred Palace and palace master Sheng Yuan would not bring it out unless absolutely necessary. From this, it was clear how much he feared Yaoyao. Roar! The Genesis Rune Tuntun unleashed a deafening roar. Its huge body blasted space apart as it pounced towards palace master Sheng Yuan like a bolt of thunder. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression remained fierce, not moving a single inch from the spot. He slowly unfolded the Life Executioner Painting, revealing an incredibly mysterious black and white light. Om! The Life Executioner Painting shook, sending a beam of black and white shooting into the sky. Black and white light intertwined like yin and yang, exuding unfathomable power. Swoosh! The black and white light beam directly struck Genesis Rune Tuntun. As the black and white light spread, the Genesis Runes on the giant beast rapidly melted away. The Genesis Rune Tuntun completely melted away in mere seconds. Gasps of astonishment rang out across the area. They had previously witnessed the power of the Genesis Rune beast that had overwhelmed even palace master Sheng Yuan earlier. They never expected it to be so one-sidedly destroyed the moment palace master Sheng Yuan summoned the Life Executioner Painting. The power of a Saint treasure was clear for all to see. Worried looks emerged in the eyes of sect master Qing Yang and others. ¡°I admit that you have amazing mastery over Genesis Runes.¡± remarked palace master Sheng Yuan as he clasped the ancient Life Executioner Painting while coldly staring at Yaoyao. ¡°But even Cangxuan lost back then, what can you do?¡± The Life Executioner Painting in palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s hand suddenly shot out and rapidly grew to a height of tens of thousands of feet. As the numerous experts cast their eyes over, they felt the Nascent Source within their bodies cry out tragically as if about to dissipate. They swiftly retracted their gazes and circulated their Genesis Qi to withstand the strange power. ¡°Life Executioner Painting, Yin and Yang boundary!¡± Yaoyao scanned her surroundings, taking in the changes. Black and white filled her field of vision. It was as though she was in another world. In the outside world. The eyes of countless onlookers were fixed on the huge black-and-white scroll in the sky, they had discovered an extra figure in the painting. It was Yaoyao! She was trapped in the Life Executioner Painting. The expressions of sect master Qing Yang and the others¡¯ abruptly changed. Any living being that fell into clutches of the Life Executioner Painting would soon be eliminated by Yin and Yang qi. ¡°Hurry and help her!¡± Sect master Qing Yang swiftly arrived at a decision. If palace master Sheng Yuan managed to eliminate Yaoyao, it would be greatly disadvantageous to them. The Heavenly Sword Sovereign and venerable lord Gu Jing nodded in agreement. A split second later, the three launched a joint attack. However, palace master Sheng Yuan simply smiled coldly in response. He formed a seal with one hand and three beams of light erupted from the Life Executioner Painting in the sky and shot towards the three attackers. The three black and white beams fluttered in the air and didn¡¯t seem particularly strong, but they made sect master Qing Yang and the others shrink back. They knew how terrifying the yin and yang power of the Life Executioner Painting was. Even if they had reached the Law Domain stage all it would take was a tiny trace of it to destroy them. Sect master Qing Yang drew a deep breath and a pillar of light bloomed from his head. Within the dazzling light was a mottled stone stamp. It shined with a mysterious brilliance that seemed to be capable of moulding the mountains and rivers. The treasure of the Cangxuan Sect, the Little Cangxuan Stamp! This was the Saint treasure that patriarch Cang Xuan had created based on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and was considered an imitation of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. The Heavenly Sword Sovereign opened his mouth and spat out a sword made of unknown material. The sword had no handle but instead nine knots hanging from one side. When it appeared, the space before it was instantly shredded by piercingly sharp sword qi. The sacred treasure of the Sword Seeker Sect, the Nine Spirit Sword. An object flew out from venerable lord Gu Jing¡¯s body. It was a little golden whale that had been engraved with ancient writing. The whale seemed to be capable of swallowing all things of heaven and earth. The sacred treasure of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, the Heavenly Whale Charm. The three sect masters had summoned the Saint treasures of their sects, inciting the world around them to shake violently. The experts of the other sects watched with burning desire in their eyes. The reason why the six great sects could remain standing for thousands of years in Cangxuan Heaven was due to their deep foundations. The Saint treasures were a part of this foundation. Boom! The three Saint treasures flew out and collided with the three beams of black and white light, causing the sky to crumble as the earth trembled. Palace master Sheng Yuan merely swept a glance at the trio, clearly not overly concerned by their interjection. Even though they also wielded Saint treasures, they were still a considerable distance from him in terms of power level. After all, he was a false Saint expert. The trickiest opponent at this juncture was the mysterious girl named Yaoyao. Palace master Sheng Yuan could sense an extremely strong and dangerous aura from her body. Moreover, for some unknown reason, he felt that Yaoyao was likely even more dangerous than patriarch Cang Xuan from the past. ¡°Where did she come from?!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan still found it unbelievable. For an existence like her, let alone in Cangxuan Heaven, she could not possibly be unknown even in the entire Tianyuan World. She should not be unheard of. ¡°Never mind. No matter where you¡¯re from, whoever stops me from obtaining the Cangxuan Saint Stamp today will be killed today!¡± Palace Master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with chilling intent. Once he captured the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, he would be able to truly step foot into the Saint stage. When that happened, he would become the heaven master, a top tier existence even in the entire Tianyuan world! Therefore, this woman must be killed today! Killing intent rapidly rose in his heart. He no longer wavered and folded his hands together into a hand seal. Om! The giant Life Executioner Painting in the sky emitted a thunderous cry. Countless people watched in astonishment as black and white gradually merged together and transformed into a titanic black and white dragon. The dragon exuded an indescribable pressure. One eye was white while the other was black. Roar! The black and white dragon released a deafening roar. It¡¯s eyes locked on Yaoyao who was trapped in the sea of black and white light. In the next moment, black and white dragon breath akin to the fusion of yin and yang completely enveloped Yaoyao. The destructive power of the breath seemed capable of melting the entire world. ¡°Cang Xuan was also wounded by my yin and yang dragon breath back then. ¡°Therefore, you will also perish!¡± Chapter 734 The Heart of Sain Roar! The boundless black and white dragon breath descended at an incredible speed. If caught in it, even experts of the Law Domain would be wiped out in an instant and turned to nothingness unless they had the protection of a Saint treasure. Under the giant black and white dragon breath, Yaoyao¡¯s slender and petite body appeared extremely thin and frail, as if the ethereally beautiful maiden would vanish a split second later. Everyone couldn''t help but shake their heads. Under countless watching gazes, Yaoyao lifted her head, revealing her fair and graceful neck as she watched the mighty torrent of black and white dragon head towards her. She held out her hand as a mysterious golden liquid gushed out from her palm. The liquid condensed into the shape of a golden mottled brush, engraved with the most ancient markings of the world, as though it had existed as long as heaven and earth. She clasped the golden mottled brush and shook her wrist as the nib of the brush descended. A ray of golden light appeared out of thin air. The ray bended and twisted, giving off a mystical rhythm that seemed to connect heaven and earth. Rays of golden light continued to appear one after another. Threads of gold linked together in front of Yaoyao, ultimately fusing into an extremely ancient rune. The rune had never been seen before but when everyone laid eyes on it, a word emerged in their hearts. ¡°Suppress!¡± Countless experts studied the ancient rune from afar. The eyes of some of the more Genesis Rune proficient members of the crowd lit upm, because they knew how mystical this ancient Genesis Rune was. Only those who had a very strong connection with the world could draw such a Genesis Rune. Moreover, they had a peculiar feeling that this ancient Genesis Rune seemed to be somewhat different from other Genesis Runes. Old man Bai Mei¡¯s brows quivered as he stared intently at the ancient Genesis Rune. ¡°This is no mere Genesis Rune. There are some traces of a Genesis technique within it. ¡°She has perfectly combined Genesis Rune and Genesis technique! ¡°Every stroke isn¡¯t simply drawing a Genesis Rune but also was creating a Genesis technique. When the two come together, their power becomes unfathomable.¡± His face lit up as though he could now die without regrets. He had never heard of such mastery. Even a disciple of patriarch Cang Xuan like himself believed that his master Cangxuan couldn¡¯t compare to Yaoyao in terms of Genesis Rune mastery. Rumble! Under the countless astonished gazes, Yaoyao thrust her brush forward. The giant golden Genesis Rune was sent shooting into the sky in the form of a beam of golden light and directly collided with the mighty black and white dragon breath. Boom! As the golden light passed, the mighty black and white dragon breath froze for a moment before disintegrating. Countless gasps of astonishment rang out. No one had expected palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s Life Executioner Painting to fail. Palace master Sheng Yuan was likewise trembling in shock and disbelief as the fear in his eyes grew. But at the same time, his killing intent also intensified. He wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep peacefully if this woman wasn¡¯t killed today. Om! However, while killing intent erupted in palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s heart, the Life Executioner Painting began to shudder. Sheng Yuan anxiously looked over to see Yaoyao waving the Genesis Rune brush as mysterious golden light continuously appeared. The golden light pierced in numerous directions like golden pillars. And as the golden pillars grew in numbers, the Life Executioner Painting began trembling more and more violently, while the black and white yin and yang qi gradually weakened. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face darkened as horror filled his eyes. He had realized that Yaoyao was destroying the Life Executioner Painting. Every ray of golden light was directed towards the core of the Life Executioner Painting, slowly splintering the painting apart as they slowly vibrated. It should be said that every Saint treasure was a near perfect entity and possessed unimaginable power. Palace master Sheng Yuan could understand if someone tried to overwhelm a Saint treasure with raw power, which was what patriarch Cang Xuan had done back then. But he had never seen something like what Yaoyao was doing. This mysterious girl named Yaoyao---where did she come from?! This scene likewise shocked sect master Qing Yang, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign and other experts. They could naturally discern Yaoyao¡¯s intention. ¡°Such a method is simply divine.¡± They exchanged glances with one another as bitter smiles crossed their faces. But once they composed themselves, they were overjoyed by this development. If Yaoyao managed to crack the Life Executioner Painting, it would inevitably suffer fundamental damage and would require a lot of effort to repair it. In turn, this would undoubtedly weaken palace master Sheng Yuan. Palace master Sheng Yuan similarly was aware of this fact. As a result, his eyes were filled with immense hatred as though he wanted to swallow Yaoyao. Faced with this situation, even someone like him almost lost control. But in the end he drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his emotions. He absolutely couldn¡¯t let Yaoyao escape. Otherwise, it would be even more difficult to imprison her. If that were to happen and sect master Qing Yang and the others joined the battle, his advantage would truly be completely gone. Palace master Sheng Yuan looked at the fiercely vibrating Life Executioner Painting in silence for a few moments before a resolute look gradually emerged in his eyes. He slowly stretched out his arms as the space around his palms began to distort. A faint golden glow emerged as even the sound of the wind seemed to fall silent. Badum! Badum! A peculiar beat began thudding throughout heaven and the earth. Countless eyes shifted towards palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s palms, only to see that a golden heart had appeared. The heart faintly beated, triggering a storm of Genesis Qi. ¡°What is that? A golden heart?!¡± exclaimed the onlookers. Studying the golden heart from afar, sect master Qing Yang felt a familiar aura. A moment later, his eyes reddened as a furious voice rang out, ¡°Sheng Yuan, you thief!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan shot an indifferent glance at the former as the corners of his mouth curved in a mocking smile, ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve recognized it. Yes, it is indeed Cang Xuan¡¯s Saint heart!¡± Countless experts stood dumbstruck. Palace master Sheng Yuan stared at the golden heart in his palms. Countless runes swam on its golden surface, also reaching deep within it to isolate all life force. When patriarch Cang Xuan was killed by the sacred race many years ago, they took and refined his Saint heart as a reward for palace master Sheng Yuan. It was a unique treasure and also the reason why palace master Sheng Yuan could step into the false Saint stage. Moreover, once he ingested and refined the heart of Saint, he would truly step into the Saint stage! Of course, this breakthrough would only be temporary. Palace master Sheng Yuan would not resort to this unless absolutely necessary. ¡°As long as I can get my hands on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, I will be able to truly step into the Saint stage. The heart of Saint will be of little use to me then.¡± Sheng Yuan took a deep breath. He wasn¡¯t an ordinary person and naturally knew what choice to make. If he failed to get his hands on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp today, his many years of plotting would be wasted and he most likely would not come across such a great opportunity again. Therefore, he cast away all hesitation. He gritted teeth, clapped his palms together, and shattered the golden heart to pieces Chapter 735 The Fourth Saint Rune The golden heart transformed into a stream of light and was swallowed into palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s body. His eyes closed as the world around him went still. All the wind and flowing Genesis Qi seemed to stop at this moment. It was as though time and space had frozen. Countless shocked gazes shifted towards palace master Sheng Yuan. At this moment, they felt an indescribable imposing aura gradually emerge from his body. The entire world seemed to tremble under his aura. A golden wisp rapidly began to grow above palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s head, ultimately turning into a burning golden flame. The flame slowly flowed, seemingly taking the shape of a golden lotus. ¡°Saint Flame Lotus.¡± The top experts on all sides were astonished by this sight as their teeth began to chatter. It was known that only true Saint experts could turn their Saint flame into the form of a perfect lotus. The golden flame lotus finally took shape, blooming beautifully. Endless golden light seemed to flow out from the golden lotus and wrapped around palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s body. It then melded into his body and began to strengthen him, slowly perfecting every fibre within. After devouring the Saint heart, palace master Sheng Yuan had properly ascended into the Saint stage! His eyes sprang open, reflecting the burning flame of the golden lotus. His aura felt majestic and vast, as though he was immortal and indestructible. Sect master Qing Yang and the others couldn¡¯t help but turn pale upon seeing this scene. Because they could also feel a terrifyingly dangerous sensation from palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s body. With an indifferent expression, palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s lips moved as his voice echoed throughout heaven and earth. ¡°Genesis restriction. When his voice spread, everyone was aghast to feel the Genesis Qi in the area silently vanish without a trace. Even the Genesis Qi within their bodies was mysteriously dissipating at an alarming rate. Dong! Dong! Multiple figures plummeted from the sky like birds with broken wings. All Genesis Qi had been forbidden in this part of the world. Here, even experts of the Law Domain would find it hard to survive. This was the power of the Saint stage. Once the word was said, it would be strictly enforced. A single command was all that was required to make the entire place devoid of Genesis Qi. The top experts fell one after another, leaving only sect master Qing Yang, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign, and venerable lord Gu Jing standing in the air. This was because each of them possessed a Saint treasure that could block the power of a Saint expert. ¡°Let''s see what you¡¯ll be able to do this time.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan lifted his hand and the fiercely shaking Life Executioner Painting gradually calmed down. Boundless black and white qi emerged from within the painting, some of it even overflowing to the outside world. Black and white qi converged into a huge vortex within the Life Executioner Painting, directly swallowing the pillars of golden light that had been drawn into existence by Yaoyao. Golden light began to fade as black and white qi continued to pour in from all directions. Boom! A black and white lightning bolt shot out from the churning black and white qi and sped towards Yaoyao¡¯s direction like a raging dragon. That power of the black and white lightning was extremely terrifying and was stained with flames, the flames of a Saint! In his temporary entry into the Saint stage, palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s strength had now reached a very frightening level. Yaoyao¡¯s wrist rapidly moved, manipulating the countless Genesis Runes around her to form a golden light barrier. However, the light barrier trembled and shrank whenever the black and white lightning struck. No matter how Yaoyao swung the Genesis Rune brush, the black and white lightning drew closer and closer. Anyone could tell that the situation had begun to change after palace master Sheng Yuan devoured the Saint heart. Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s heart sank. If Yaoyao were subdued, there would be no one left to stop palace master Sheng Yuan. ¡°You don¡¯t know what''s good for you. After I subdue you, the entire Cangxuan Sect will accompany you, including that boy.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan''s voice was filled with indifference as he watched the black and white lightning bolts raging in the Life Executioner Painting. He was evidently a little annoyed that he had been pushed so far by Yaoyao. Inside the Life Executioner Painting. Yaoyao stopped swinging the Genesis Rune Brush and slowly lifted her head. Her eyes penetrated the Life Executioner Painting to look the palace master in the eye as a heart-palpitating cold killing intent stirred in their depths. She seemed to be asking Sheng Yuan with her eyes; did he really want to die? Palace master Sheng Yuan naturally understood the meaning behind her gaze, but he merely smiled and shook his head in response. ¡°Impudence.¡± He obviously viewed this as a powerless threat. After all, he had already stepped into the Saint stage. How was Yaoyao possibly going to fight against him now? Yaoyao¡¯s ethereally beautiful eyes suddenly turned towards the mysterious space where Zhou Yuan was. She gazed at him for a good while, before she slowly closed her eyes as if she had decided something. The already crumbling seal between her brows began to crack even more. The cracks around the seal started to widen. Rumble! Numerous dark golden specks of light rose from her body and melded into the golden light barrier. No matter how the black and white lightning bombarded the barrier, it no longer showed any signs of weakening. Moreover, the golden barrier gradually began to expand as if pushing back the black and white lightning. Even palace master Sheng Yuan was stunned by this sight and almost cursed out loud. What the hell!? He had already devoured the Saint heart and obtained the power of Saint, but the previously suppressed Yaoyao was now able to push back in the blink of an eye?! Where did her power come from?! Is there any rationality or fairness in this world? A stormy look covered palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face. In the next moment, he twisted around and darted towards the mysterious domain. He had decided to snatch the Cangxuan Saint Stamp while Yaoyao was still imprisoned! Boom! However, sect master Qing Yang, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign and venerable lord Gu Jing immediately activated their Saint treasures, wrapping their bodies with destructive energies as they ferociously rushed over. Palace master Sheng Yuan knitted his brows in a frown. He wasn¡¯t afraid of the trio but was forced to slow down due to the Saint treasures they wielded. With a flick of his sleeve, the Saint flame turned into three golden fire dragons that incinerated the void as they rose to confront the Law Domain trio. Boom! Space was shattered by the ensuing battle, but anybody could see that sect master Qing Yang and the others were barely able to hold on with the power of the Saint treasures. In the mysterious domain, Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body tensed up when he saw the unfolding situation in the outside world. His eyes were filled with worry as he looked at Yaoyao. He could likewise sense that Yaoyao¡¯s power was rising, but the more it rose, the more uneasy he felt. Because he knew that it meant that Yaoyao¡¯s seal was rapidly weakening. What would happen once Yaoyao¡¯s seal was completely broken? ¡°Damnit!¡± Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth. Moreover, palace master Sheng Yuan was zooming straight towards him to take away the Cangxuan saint Stamp. How could Zhou Yuan do anything against such an almighty existence? While Zhou Yuan''s heart was burning with worry, an old voice urgently broke through. ¡°Zhou Yuan, that old thief intends to take the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Hurry and activate the Saint Stamp before him! ¡°Master has left some preparations!¡± Zhou Yuan cried out in confusion when he heard this, ¡°Old Xuan?¡± The voice belonged to old Xuan. ¡°How do I activate it?¡± He asked in a hurry. ¡°With the power of the Saint Runes.¡± Zhou Yuan was surprised. Old Xuan already knew that he was carrying the Saint Runes! But he had no time to ask any more at this critical juncture. He sprung up and rushed to the end of the stone steps, coming to a stop before the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. With a deep breath, the Decoder Saint Rune in his eyes, the Earth Saint Rune in the palm of his hand, and the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune in the depths of his Divine Dwelling slowly began to emerge. The three Saint Runes quickly appeared and were instantly drawn to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp as they hovered around it. Buzz! Mighty ripples erupted from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp as it began to vibrate. A mysterious power seemed to break free from within it. In the outside world. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes turned piercingly cold when he looked towards the mysterious domain. ¡°The boy has Saint Runes in his body? Cang Xuan is this your doing?¡± He sped forward, smashing through sect master Qing Yang as he rocketed towards the mysterious domain. Zhou Yuan anxiously looked at the Cangxuan Saint Stamp as he felt palace master Sheng Yuan come closer and closer. ¡°Shit, I am still one short of the four Saint Runes! There is no way I can fully activate the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!¡± Zhou Yuan had only obtained three of the four Saint Runes that patriarch Cang Xuan had stripped away from the Saint Stamp, and the final rune was still missing. Outside the thunderbolt pool, old Xuan couldn¡¯t help but smile when he saw the anxious look on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Calm down. ¡°Little one, did you really think I always favored you over others in the Cangxuan Sect because of your talent?¡± He slowly removed his upper garment, revealing an ancient glowing rune on his back that flashed with a mysterious luster. Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth gaped open. The fluctuations of that glowing rune was far too familiar to him. It was the fourth Saint Rune that Zhou Yuan had been painstakingly searching for! So it had been engraved on old Xuan¡¯s back all along! No wonder there weren''t any clues about the whereabouts of the fourth Saint Rune! Chapter 736 Meeting the Patriarch again Buzz! When the fourth Saint Rune arrived, all four Saint Runes simultaneously entered the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. The Saint Stamp slightly trembled, before boundless waves of light suddenly burst out. Light waves devastated the surroundings. Following the explosion of light waves, all the experts were surprised to find that their Genesis Qi that had been restricted by palace master Sheng Yuan had been restored. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s Genesis restriction had evidently been broken. While the vast light waves continued to rage, Zhou Yuan closed his eyes due to the blinding light. It was a long while later before he slowly opened them again. He could not help but be stunned when he could see again. Because he found that the scenery around him had changed. He was currently situated in what seemed like an ancient starry sky, while the fierce fighting outside had disappeared. ¡°This is----¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes flickered with uncertainty. ¡°It''s a small space inside the Saint Stamp.¡± A chuckle was heard. Zhou Yuan abruptly turned around to see a light lotus floating in the air. Above the lotus, sat a mysterious figure. That figure was clad in a long robe with his hair draped over his shoulders. His face was fair and youthful like a young man and his deep eyes were currently looking straight at Zhou Yuan with a smiling expression. Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth fell open as he stared at the mysterious figure. ¡°Patriarch Cang Xuan!?¡± The figure before him was patriarch Cang Xuan whom he once encountered in the Saint Remains Domain. ¡°Patriarch, you''re not dead?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face lit up with joy. If patriarch Cang Xuan was alive, there would be someone to deal with Sheng Yuan! Patriarch Cang Xuan yawned as he explained with a smile, ¡°Of course I¡¯m dead, but Saint experts won¡¯t be destroyed so easily. When I died, a fragment of my Spirit was hidden in the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± ¡°Palace master Sheng Yuan is about to snatch the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and sect master Qing Yang and the others can¡¯t stop him!¡± said Zhou Yuan in an anxious manner. Patriarch Cang Xuan sighed, ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath and asked, ¡°So how do we deal with him? If palace master Sheng Yuan gets hold of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, I am worried that the Cangxuan Sect will no longer be safe.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan said, ¡°I actually had a secret plan. I originally intended to wait until the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fell into the hands of Sheng Yuan. When he begins to refine the Saint Stamp, I would strike and severely wound him.¡± But he then shook his head, ¡°But looking at the current situation, it''s already too late. Your little girlfriend has already begun to break the seal.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan avoided the question and said, ¡°Now isn¡¯t the time for her to release the seal.¡± Immediately after, he gazed at Zhou Yuan in a strange manner. Zhou Yuan felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze, ¡°Why is elder looking at me like that?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled. ¡°I just think that you¡¯re very impressive to have made her develop feelings towards you.¡± Although Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao had already been together the last time they met, patriarch Cang Xuan could feel that the relationship between them was more akin to friendship. But this time, they were obviously no longer mere friends. Why else would Yaoyao break the seal in order to protect Zhou Yuan? How could she be emotional? Zhou Yuan blushed with embarrassment, not knowing how to answer. ¡°We love each other.¡± He finally said. Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled, ¡°I can only say that you have very good luck and met at the right time.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. He wanted to ask more but held himself back when he thought of Yaoyao¡¯s current predicament. ¡°Patriarch, I have completed the task you gave me. The culprit behind your death is peak master Lei Jun.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s expression turned complicated. ¡°I am aware of the events that transpired after you arrived here. I just didn''t expect my old friend to hold so much resentment towards me. ¡°In my younger days, Lei Jun really was someone I looked up to. He protected me from bullies and was like a big brother to me. ¡°Later on, when I had climbed to the pinnacle of the world, I found that he was still in that small little town. The genius from back then was now a nameless nobody, so I took him with me to establish the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°Looking back, he most likely felt that I wasn¡¯t doing it to help him. Perhaps taking him along might have seemed like some kind of humiliation?¡± Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment before he responded, ¡°The little brother in his eyes had become an existence that he could only look up to. Once the mind loses its balance, it is easy to become an extremist.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan gave a bitter smile. He still couldn''t easily read the minds of others after becoming an almighty Saint expert. Of course, Lei Jun had also hidden it far too well. ¡°Never mind, let¡¯s not talk about him.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan waved his hand and said, ¡°Our priority is to deal with Sheng Yuan.¡± ¡°How?¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly asked. ¡°He has already stepped into the Saint stage!¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled, ¡°How can that be considered a Saint expert? He merely relied on an external, and can''t be called a true Saint. ¡°If it wasn''t for the sacred race, he wouldn¡¯t even have the guts to attack me. ¡°I originally planned to save my final bit of power to attack while his guard is down, but given the current circumstances, that plan is no longer necessary. In that case, let¡¯s fight head on.¡± Seeing patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s calm attitude, Zhou Yuan also relaxed a little. ¡°I¡¯ll have to borrow your body for a while. Although it may hurt a little afterwards, young people should experience some pain, isn¡¯t that right?¡± patriarch Cang Xuan stretched his body. Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Without waiting for a response, patriarch Cang Xuan turned into countless specks of light that shot towards him and enveloped his body. A mighty aura slowly arose from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Ch! Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s figure appeared in the mysterious domain. His eyes immediately locked onto the Cangxuan Saint Stamp that was still erupting with light waves as greed flickered in his eyes. He then cast a dark gaze towards Zhou Yuan, who was standing motionless next to the Saint Stamp. ¡°What an eyesore.¡± His tone was filled with nonchalance. With a flick of his finger, a wisp of golden Saint flame swept out. Space crumbled as the flame flew past. If Zhou Yuan was hit, both his body and Spirit would be incinerated into nothingness. The Saint flame drifted downwards, seemingly slow, but directly piercing through space itself. It was impossible to evade the Saint flame. No matter what corner of the earth Zhou Yuan hid in, the Saint flame would follow his Spirit until he was turned to nothingness. In the outside world, sect master Qing Yang was extremely alarmed by this scene but he knew that it was too late to save Zhou Yuan. After all, Zhou Yuan was as insignificant and small as an ant in Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes. Old man Bai Mei, the Hongya Peak master and others sighed in sorrow as they stamped their feet in frustration. The other experts shook their heads in sympathy. Under countless gazes, the Saint flame was already mere inches from Zhou Yuan''s head. But at that moment, his body seemed to stiffen before he slowly raised his head. The Saint flame was reflected in his eyes. He looked at the Saint flame, smiled, then opened his mouth and blew gently. Ch! The Saint flame that could incinerate experts of the Law Domain was instantly extinguished like a candle. The entire world fell silent. Chapter 737 Change Countless experts in the outside world stood dumbstruck at the sight of the Saint flame being blown out by Zhou Yuan. Some even rubbed their eyes repeatedly, thinking they were hallucinating. That was a Saint flame! Even sect master Qing Yang and the other top experts would be turned into nothingness upon contact. But it had been blown out by a boy of the Divine Dwelling stage? That was simply impossible. Sect master Qing Yang, old man Bai Mei and others dazedly looked at each other. They likewise couldn¡¯t understand what had happened. Palace master Sheng Yuan was also stunned. At this moment, he even doubted whether his own Saint flame had been real. While the whole world fell silent, Zhou Yuan lifted his head and grinned at Sheng Yuan. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the person who always hid in the back and schemed like a mouse would begin to touch the Saint stage.¡± Hearing these words, palace master Sheng Yuan was taken aback before his pupils rapidly shrank. A look of horror emerged on his usually calm and composed face. ¡°Patriarch Cang Xuan?!¡± His voice had become shrill. One could easily imagine his emotions rapidly fluctuating inside. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes were wide with shock as he stared at Zhou Yuan. Although the young man still had the appearance of Zhou Yuan, he could feel a frightening presence gradually emerging from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. It was a presence he was all too familiar with. Back then, that presence had been practically godlike and had suppressed the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Even Sheng Yuan had only dared to plot in the dark, and did his best to not show any ambition on the outside. His shrill voice instantly made all top experts¡¯ scalps go numb. Every gaze shot over in shock disbelief. Everyone¡¯s eyes filled with awe and respect. Even the expressions of veteran experts like the Heavenly Sword Sovereign changed abruptly. All the top experts present had once lived in the shadow of the former heaven master of the Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°Master?¡± sect master Qing Yang and others were equally shocked. Peak master Lei Jun¡¯s body trembled uncontrollably as his always indifferent expression rapidly changed. Under countless awe-struck gazes, patriarch Cang Xuan looked at palace master Sheng Yuan, ¡°Long time no see Sheng Yuan.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan was aghast. He instinctively flinched and drew back, reappearing far away in a flash. ¡°Sheng Yuan, why are you running? He¡¯s just a Spirit fragment who manifested with the help of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and you are a Saint expert!¡± a furious roar rang out. ¡°Lei Jun, you!¡± sect master Qing Yang and the others glared at the person who had spoken. Lei Jun¡¯s roar fell into everybody¡¯s ears and managed to jerk Sheng Yuan back to his senses. His face immediately flushed red with embarrassment. He had feared patriarch Cang Xuan too much in the past and had lost his composure the moment he saw patriarch Cang Xuan appear. The corners of palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. The various sects had witnessed the previous scene and were most likely laughing at him now. The high and mighty palace master Sheng Yuan was at the Saint stage, but didn¡¯t even have the courage to face patriarch Cang Xuan? And his first reaction was to flee? Palace master Sheng Yuan drew a deep breath. He was no ordinary individual after all. He suppressed his embarrassment and turned back to patriarch Cang Xuan with a forced smile and a dark gaze. ¡°So a fragment of your Spirit hid in the Cangxuan Saint Stamp when you died. ¡°But you¡¯re merely a Spirit fragment right now. At best, you¡¯re some left over power that lived to this day with the help of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± After calming down, palace master Sheng Yuan studied the present ¡®Zhou Yuan¡¯. After discovering the strangeness of ¡®patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯, his tensed body relaxed a little. Under countless awed gazes, patriarch Cang Xuan slowly rose and took a step forward in the empty void, arriving above Blackwater. ¡°Your insight has improved a little. However, this residual force should be enough to prevent you from taking the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± ¡®Zhou Yuan¡¯ chuckled before turning to sect master Qing Yang with a sigh, ¡°Qing Yang, I didn¡¯t expect that you and I would see each other again.¡± The eyes of sect master Qing Yang, old man Bai Mei, peak master Ling Jun and others reddened. They darted forward emotionally and bowed respectfully to ¡®Zhou Yuan¡¯. Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled, ¡°I¡¯m only temporarily borrowing Zhou Yuan''s body, you don¡¯t need to bow to him.¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the others almost couldn¡¯t control their tears. Who else would still care about such formalities at such a time. Their master really had not changed all these years. ¡°Master.¡± old Xuan also arrived, emotions overflowing as he looked at patriarch Cang Xuan. Seeing these familiar faces, patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eyes filled with warmth. Immediately after, he shifted his gaze towards peak master Lei Jun. Peak master Lei Jun stared right back with an expressionless face. Patriarch Cang Xuan slowly said, ¡°Lei Jun, you really surprised me.¡± ¡°Did you not keep me at your side for me to adore you?¡± replied Lei Jun in an indifferent voice. Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled, ¡°You might think so, but when I died, I even suspected Qing Yang and the rest but never you.¡± Lei Jun was silent for a moment before uttering, ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying this now?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan waved his hand. ¡°I did not say any of this in hopes that you would turn back onto the right path. The knot in your heart should have been to defeat me and it''s honestly quite impressive to have such ambition.¡± ¡°Patriarch, he used Lianyi causing her to self-destruct her own Spirit. We can¡¯t let him off!¡± Deep hatred poured out in the eyes of peak master Ling Jun. Patriarch Cang Xuan responded, ¡°My goal today is Sheng Yuan. As for Lei Jun, when you guys need not give any consideration to my relationship with him if you find an opportunity in the future.¡± At these words, sect master Qing Yang and the others understood that he was telling them to settle things later on. ¡°As for Lianyi--¡± He let out a long sigh as a complicated look appeared in his eyes. Patriarch Cang Xuan waved his sleeve, causing the Cangxuan Saint Stamp in the mysterious domain to tremble before a beam of light shot out and landed in front of him. The light gathered into a crystal bead which seemed to contain a faint silhouette that was in deep slumber. ¡°This is--¡± peak master Ling Jun stared at the silhouette inside the bead before he said in a trembling voice, ¡°This is Lianyi¡¯s spirit?¡± ¡°I can still use some of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s power, and because she destroyed herself here, I was able to protect her Spirit in the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. ¡°Ling Jun, keep her with you and always keep her warm and safe. There will come a day where she will be resurrected.¡± Peak master Ling Jung carefully received the crystal bead. His body trembled violently as tears flowed down his cheeks. It was hard to imagine how much grief and despair he felt when peak master Lianyi self-destructed. Patriarch Cang Xuan had given him a glimmer of hope. ¡°Thank you, patriarch.¡± Ling Jun¡¯s voice was hoarse. Patriarch Cang Xuan shook his head before his gaze shifted towards the Life Executioner Painting in the sky. In the painting, Yaoyao had likewise sensed the patriarch¡¯s presence. She hesitated as the cracking of the seal between her brows finally began to stop. She knew that Zhou Yuan should no longer be in danger since patriarch Cang Xuan had appeared. Space rippled around Yaoyao as she took a step forward, finally leaving the Life Executioner Painting and reappearing above Blackwater. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression abruptly changed abruptly as the vigilance in his eyes increased. He wasn¡¯t afraid of facing either Yaoyao or patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s Spirit fragment alone, but if the two were to join forces, it would not bode well for him. However, while palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s mind was racing with such thoughts, Yaoyao¡¯s expression began to change. She lifted her head and stared at the endless heavens. At the same time, patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s face gradually grew more and more solemn. He could faintly feel an indescribable force trying to break through the boundary walls of Cangxuan Heaven. That power-- Patriarch Cang Xuan narrowed his eyes. It was the sacred race. He cast a deep and complicated glance at Yaoyao. Chapter 738 Beaten Back ¡®Zhou Yuan¡¯ stood in the air, gazing at the endless heavens with a solemn expression. ¡°What''s wrong patriarch?¡± Zhou Yuan''s voice rang out in his mind. Zhou Yuan had evidently felt the fluctuation in his emotions. Patriarch Cang Xuan was silent for some time before he replied, ¡°An extremely terrifying force is attempting to push its way through the boundary walls of Cangxuan Heaven. If my speculation is correct, it should be the experts of the sacred race.¡± ¡°Sacred race?¡± Zhou Yuan worriedly blurted out, ¡°They¡¯ve come for Yaoyao?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan said in a low voice, ¡°Once her seal is broken, the sacred race will be able to detect her power. ¡°She mustn¡¯t fall into the hands of the sacred race, otherwise, the uncountable living beings of Tianyuan World will lose all hope.¡± ¡°Who exactly is Yaoyao?¡± Zhou Yuan had no idea that Yaoyao would have such a huge impact. But patriarch Cang Xuan didn¡¯t answer this time. In a flash, he appeared next to Yaoyao. Yaoyao¡¯s long golden hair fluttered in the wind, a detached indifference in her clear and bright eyes. Only when her eyes fell on Zhou Yuan did that cold indifference fade a little. ¡°Your power is too great. Possessing his body will make him suffer.¡± Yaoyao frowned. Patriarch Cang Xuan snappily said, ¡°At a time like this, so what if he suffers a little? ¡°But you--¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan gazed at Yaoyao. He could see faint golden cracks continuously appearing on her fair skin. ¡°You are too reckless. You can¡¯t bear such tremendous power right now. ¡°You still haven''t truly awakened yet. ¡°No one knows what kind of consequences you will face for this¡­¡± Golden strands of hair fluttered in front of Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. She lifted her hand and tucked her hair behind her ears but didn¡¯t answer him. Instead, she slightly raised her head and gazed at the sky. Sheng Yuan was also hovering in the air. A puzzled look flashed in his eyes when he saw no movement from Yaoyao and patriarch Cang Xuan but his heart soon trembled as he turned towards the heavens. He had felt it as well. ¡°Why are they trying to break the boundary wall again?¡± asked palace master Sheng Yuan in confusion. Outside Cangxuan Heaven stood the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array which made it impossible for the experts of the sacred race to enter. The reason why the sacred race had managed to slip into Cangxuan Heaven back then to attack patriarch Cang Xuan was because palace master Sheng Yuan had secretly aided them. But he had not informed the sacred race this time. Even the sacred race would have to pay a huge price in order to penetrate the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed in thought. After a few seconds, his line of sight shifted to Yaoyao. He had a vague feeling that she was the sacred race¡¯s target. Palace master Sheng Yuan couldn¡¯t help chuckle, ¡°Cang Xuan, it seems that the heavens really want you to die. Even luck is on my side.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan turned to remind Yaoyao, ¡°This person is trouble. I will first strike him down from the Saint stage but you mustn¡¯t do anything.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan suddenly shot away when he heard this. He clearly planned to avoid any fighting until the forces of the sacred race arrived. ¡°Cang Xuan, although I am no match for both of you together, it doesn¡¯t mean you can stop me from escaping.¡± palace master Sheng Yuan sneered. Patriarch Cang Xuan calmly watched palace master Sheng Yuan flee as he asked, ¡°Sheng Yuan, did you properly absorb my Saint heart?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan narrowed his eyes, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I just want to tell you that it isn¡¯t safe to rely on other people¡¯s things to achieve the Saint stage.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan folded his hands together. ¡°Heart of Saint, scatter!¡± As his voice rang out, palace master Sheng Yuan was horrified to see countless specks of golden light uncontrollably float out from his body. Each speck of golden light contained a boundless power. It was the heart of Saint that he had absorbed earlier! Palace master Sheng Yuan tried to stop the golden light specks from escaping, but his efforts were all in vain. He quickly realized that these specks of golden light had a will of their own. A will that came from patriarch Cang Xuan. Numerous golden specks of light rose from palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s body before dissipating. The majestic power contained in them made the nearby Genesis Qi turn incredibly concentrated. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face darkened. The golden Saint flame lotus above his head swayed and finally shattered, turning back into a tiny wisp. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s cultivation instantly reverted back to the false Saint stage. An uproar swept across the experts of the many sects in the area. Nobody had thought that patriarch Cang Xuan could beat palace master Sheng Yuan back to his original cultivation state. However, what puzzled everyone even more was that patriarch Cang Xuan did not follow up with any attacks. Palace master Sheng Yuan stared darkly at patriarch Cang Xuan. He had not escaped in fear after falling back to the false Saint stage because he could sense that patriarch Cang Xuan was trying to save as much power as possible. ¡°What are you worried about?¡± palace Master Sheng Yuan sneered. He shot a glance at Yaoyao as his lips curved into an unfathomable smile, ¡°Are you worried about drawing the sacred race here if you use too much power?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s face was indifferent but his eyes turned as cold as a knife. Palace master Sheng Yuan was right. Although the sacred race had detected Yaoyao¡¯s presence, it wasn¡¯t easy to break through the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. Therefore, patriarch Cang Xuan didn¡¯t want to use his power in hopes that the sacred race would not discover this battlefield. After all, Cangxuan Heaven was extremely vast and it was difficult for even the top experts of the sacred race to fully probe the area with the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array covering it. Even now, he couldn''t use all his power to deal with palace master Sheng Yuan, because he was merely a Spirit fragment and needed to conserve as much strength as possible to cope with what would happen next. After all, he couldn¡¯t let Yaoyao fully break the seal. Palace master Sheng Yuan grinned, ¡°Cang Xuan, I only wanted to use the sacred race and have not truly sided with them. If you give me the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, I will not intervene in the subsequent events.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s lips curved in a mocking smile, ¡°Sheng Yuan, your knees have already bent once, so don¡¯t try to act tough in front of me. You do not deserve to hold the Cangxuan Saint Stamp.¡± Sheng Yuan lowered his gaze. ¡°It seems that you won¡¯t agree?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Cangxuan, you forced me to do this---¡± He stretched out his palm, revealing a vertical golden eye. In the next moment, he clenched his hand and crushed the eye. When the golden eye shattered, a wave of energy unperceivable to ordinary people shot into the sky. Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eyes widened in shock and anger upon seeing. He didn¡¯t think that palace master Sheng Yuan would still be in possession of a golden sacred eye that could notify the sacred race! ¡°Sheng Yuan, you deserve to die!¡± The enraged patriarch Cang Xuan no longer cared about conserving his strength as a majestic power pulsed outwards. However, just as he was about to attack, his heart pounded and he looked up with a stormy face. Chapter 739 Cang Xuan Fights The sky was torn open as a cold vertical-pupil golden eye peered down through the crack. The top experts of the many sects seemed to sense something as they lifted their heads, only to be frozen with terror. Even those who possessed tremendous strength such as sect master Qing Yang displayed a frightened expression. ¡°The sacred race?!¡± The voices of numerous experts trembled, unable to conceal the fear on their faces. The experts present were all top existences in Cangxuan Heaven and were thus naturally aware about the existence of the sacred race. They understood how terrifying the sacred race was. Even in his heyday, patriarch Cang Xuan ultimately perished at the hands of the sacred race. Only when the countless living beings and races of all nine heavens of the entire Tianyuan World united would they be able to stand against the sacred race. No one had expected the battle within Cangxuan Heaven to eventually lead to the appearance of the sacred race. Patriarch Cang Xuan wore a very solemn expression on his face, no longer able to pay any attention to palace master Sheng Yuan. He stood beside Yaoyao as he stared at the golden eye that had appeared in the sky. Even from so far away, he could still feel the terrifying power contained within the golden eye. The golden vertical-pupil eye was a symbol of the sacred race, and he estimated it had gathered the power of at least three Saint experts. Otherwise it would have been impossible for it to tear a crack in the ¡®Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array¡¯. ¡°But it seems that they can only send their power through, their bodies still can¡¯t descend into Cangxuan Heaven.¡± patriarch Cang Xuan quietly analyzed. The sacred race had only been able to descend into the Cangxuan Heaven to hunt him down back then because palace master Sheng Yuan had done everything he could to receive and lead them in. In the absence of these many conditions, even the most powerful sacred race experts could not descend with their real bodies. But even if it was just transmitting their power, the combined might of three sacred race experts was still very astonishing. Boom! The huge golden eye peered down at the land from the endless void above. In the next moment, a bolt of white lightning pierced through the endless void with infinite power and appeared directly above Blackwater. The bolt was pointing directly at Yaoyao! The appearance of the white lightning led the whole world to quake. Space continuously cracked, turning into countless space debris. Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s face was very grave as he folded his hands together, sending out a torrent of mighty Genesis Qi. It rapidly transformed into nine gigantic glowing bronze discs. Each disk was tens of thousands of feet tall and able to blot out the sky. Patriarch Cang Xuan roared as he began to rotate the nine gigantic bronze discs. Genesis Qi was rapidly swallowed into the nine discs before nine beams of azure light suddenly blasted out. Buzz! Beams of azure light flashed past, instantly melting all matter wherever they passed. Boom! Under countless shocked gazes, the azure light collided with the white lightning, exploding into a blaze of dazzling light that concealed even the sun. The force from the collision could be felt by more than half of the living beings within Cangxuan Heaven. Obstructed by the azure light, the white lightning failed to strike its target. The golden eye seemed to bristle in anger. In the next moment, countless bolts of white lightning began to converge. Rumble! White lightning thundered, giving off destructive energy. After a few seconds, a colossal white lightning beast emerged from the lightning. It was a nine-headed beast and lightning flashed across the entire sky, threatening to shatter the world as it roared. Roar! The white lightning beast immediately descended. If it landed, let alone Blackwater, even the entire Cangmang Continent would be destroyed. ¡°Nine-headed white lightning beast.¡± A grave expression emerged on patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s face. Even in his heyday, he would not dare to let his guard down in the face of such power. With a deep breath, shifted his gaze towards the mysterious domain and slightly bowed his body. ¡°I¡¯ll have to borrow your power.¡± In the mysterious domain, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp vibrated and vanished without a trace. When it reappeared again, it was already in front of patriarch Cang Xuan. Patriarch Cang Xuan reached out and grasped the Saint Stamp. In that instant, his imposing aura became very different as an indescribable force gushing out from his body. It felt as if patriarch Cang Xuan had become the absolute ruler of this domain. The vast and endless Genesis Qi within Cangxuan Heaven was his to use as he pleased. Looking at patriarch Cang Xuan, palace master Sheng Yuan revealed a look of jealousy. This was the heaven master, who ruled over heaven and earth! Wisps of mysterious azure mist rose from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. As the mist rapidly rose, the Genesis Qi in the area frantically flowed over to integrate with the mist. The azure mist grew bigger and bigger, covering the entire sky. When the mist finally dissipated, a dark azure dragon had appeared in everyone''s sight. That dragon was gigantic, each scale was about one foot wide and engraved with the most ancient pattern. As it released a thunderous roar, countless experts felt an intense chill surge out from the depths of their soul. Roar! The azure dragon lifted its head and roared at the sky. In the next moment, the dragon swung its tail, shattering a patch of space. In the blink of an eye, it was already high up in the sky, clashing directly with the nine-headed white lightning beast that was descending upon Cangxuan Heaven. Boom! The collision of two world-devastating beasts was as akin to two asteroids smashing together in space. The storm of energy produced wreaked havoc across the world. Above Blackwater, many experts stared in horror at the epicenter of the collision. Even from such a distance away, the shockwaves were still able to make their hearts pound in fear. A battle of such scale would truly destroy the continent. However, the repeated resistance from patriarch Cang Xuan naturally angered the experts of the sacred race outside the boundary wall. White lightning continuously pierced through the boundary wall, arriving with berserk energies. Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s face was stormy as he frantically wielded the Cangxaun Saint Stamp to withstand the onslaught. For a while, the two parties were in a deadlock. However, what made patriarch Cang Xuan breathe a sigh of relief was that the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array outside Cangxuan Heaven was incredibly powerful. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for him to defend against the powerful experts on the other side given his current state. However, while patriarch Cang Xuan concentrating on the experts of the sacred race, no one noticed palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes begin to glow with a strange white light. The swaying golden flame above his head was slowly turning into a golden lotus. His cultivation had once again risen to the Saint stage! The corners of his mouth curved into a strange smile. While the Saint flame lotus was taking shape above palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s head, patriarch Cang Xuan faintly sensed something as his pupils rapidly shrank. ¡°Sacred qi of the sacred race? ¡°Not good, the sacred race is sneaking their power into Cangxuan Heaven to strengthen Sheng Yuan!¡± The sacred race had appeared to be focused on fighting him, but was actually trying to distract him while carrying out their secret scheme. ¡°Haha, Cang Xuan, I told you that luck isn¡¯t on your side today!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan burst into laughter. In the next moment, his figure disappeared. He appeared directly in front of Yaoyao with a palm poised to strike her. Chapter 740 Receive Boom! The surrounding space crumbled and the entire world seemed to dim when palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s palm swung at Yaoyao. It was as if a towering mountain was crushing down onto her as the golden Saint flame blazed, burning everything into nothingness. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s transformation had been extremely strange, and had moved far too swiftly. Even if patriarch Cang Xuan reacted right away, it would still be too late for him to counter. Furthermore, he was currently preoccupied by the sacred race experts outside the boundary wall. Therefore, he could only helplessly watch Sheng Yuan launch a full power attack at Yaoyao. Yaoyao hovered in the air, her long golden hair fluttering behind her. The mighty palm of palace paster Sheng Yuan rapidly enlarged in her eyes, but she simply scrunched her brows together in a frown. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s sudden attack was equally unexpected to her. This man really was extremely annoying. The coldest of qis bubbled in the depths of Yaoyao¡¯s bright and clear eyes. She ignored palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s palm strike, and instead folded her fingers into the centre of her palm and threw a punch at palace master Sheng Yuan. ¡°Return to the source!¡± An ancient sound was emitted from her red lips. Thud! Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s palm landed on Yaoyao¡¯s shoulder, but at the same time, her fist also struck him in the chest. The space between the two directly collapsed. Both were blasted away by the heavy strikes. Yaoyao¡¯s bare feet gently touched the air as she steadied her body, while cracks spread across her fair skin. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s body was also thrown back, but he immediately stabilized himself with a puzzled look on his face. He had poured all of his strength into that palm strike. Why did it feel as if all his power had disappeared into a bottomless black hole. Her body appeared weak and frail, but there seemed to be a terrifying power that even he couldn¡¯t fathom hiding within. While such thoughts ran through palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s mind, his pupils suddenly shrank. He peered down at his chest where he found a small fist imprint. A mysterious force was invading his body through the fist imprint. As the force spread, palace master Sheng Yuan realized his flesh and blood was disintegrating. In a short few seconds, a bloody hole had already appeared in his chest. Moreover, palace master Sheng Yuan was even more shocked to find out that the Genesis Qi in his body was somehow breaking away from his control when it came into contact with that power. It was as if his Genesis Qi had returned to the most basic ownerless Genesis Qi of the universe. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression darkened. His fingers immediately cut across his chest, removing all the nearby flesh and blood to form an even bigger bloody hole, while further exposing his glistening organs. He tossed the flesh and blood away, which rapidly turned to nothingness, unravelling back into the most common Genesis Qi of the land. The experts on all sides stared aghast at this scene. No one had expected palace master Sheng Yuan to be wounded even after using what could be said to be his greatest chance to attack Yaoyao. On the other hand, sect master Qing Yang and the others were equally shocked and overjoyed. Unlike them, however, a worried look arose in patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eyes, who had been closely from afar. He had seen the faint cracks across Yaoyao¡¯s skin. Yaoyao¡¯s body was unable to bear the repeated usage of the power hidden within it. Yaoyao¡¯s situation was incredibly special. It had been a miracle for her to receive this body and it would certainly be disastrous for her if it was destroyed. The more power she used, the more uneasy that patriarch Cang Xuan felt. The most troublesome thing, however, was that Yaoyao had used that power in front of the experts from the sacred race. Rumble! Patriarch Cang Xuan lifted his head and saw the gigantic golden eye beyond the boundary wall fiercely flickering. Although it was across a great distance, he could still feel the rippling emotions of the sacred race experts. ¡°Receive.¡± A faint and unclear voice sounded from far away. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed when he heard the voice. Immediately after, a fierce look flashed to his eyes. Today''s events would determine whether he could obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and dominate Cangxuan Heaven. Therefore, no matter what means he used, he must get rid of patriarch Cang Xuan and Yaoyao. But it was currently too difficult for experts of the sacred race to cross the boundary wall. Sheng Yuan knew that although they couldn¡¯t descend with their real bodies, they could send their tremendous power through by paying a great price. All they needed was something to receive it. ¡°It will still benefit me in the end.¡± A sinister smile spread across palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face. With one final glance at Yaoyao, he folded one of his hands in a seal and more than half of his body exploded under countless horrified gazes. Boom! The smell of blood filled the air. Om! A pillar of light shooting skywards from the bloody mist, piercing through countless clouds to reach the boundary wall. The huge golden vertical-pupil eye in the boundary wall crack flickered a little before finally coming to a decision. All of a sudden, a speck of golden light descended and touched the pillar of light. Upon a closer inspection, one would find that there was a blood-soaked eyeball within the golden light! The eyeball touched the pillar of light and directly integrated with it. The light pillar retracted at lightning speed, disappearing back into the bloody mist. All this happened within a few seconds, and only patriarch Cang Xuan and Yaoyao were able to clearly see everything. However, they were unable to stop these events from transpiring. Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s face was ashen as he frostily remarked, ¡°Sheng Yuan, you really are such a good slave. You even destroyed half your body to receive and lead the power of the sacred race in!¡± The bloody mist that filled the air swayed slightly as a figure walked out under countless watching gazes. Hss! Numerous experts gasped out loud when they saw the figure. The figure was covered in blood and half of its body was mangled, but that appearance clearly belonged to palace master Sheng Yuan! Even though Sheng Yuan¡¯s body was in a terrible state, his presence had become extremely tyrannical, and had even begun to surpass patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s. Suspended above his head and left shoulder were two Saint flame lotus flowers. Sect master Qing Yang and many experts were all shocked to see two Saint flame lotus flowers, unable to believe their eyes. Because they all knew that there were three realms to the Saint stage, and every realm was marked by one lotus. The formation of three lotus flowers signified the pinnacle of the Saint stage. In patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s heyday, he had been a Saint expert of the two lotus realm. Chapter 741 Destroying the Stamp Dread flashed in the eyes of the many experts when palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s broken body appeared within their sights. Of course, it was not the sinister sight of his body that brought them fear, but the two burning golden Saint fire lotus flowers above his head and shoulder... Double lotus stage! This was patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s cultivation level when he had dominated the entire Cangxuan Heaven! No one had expected palace master Sheng Yuan to also reach this cultivation level. Although it was due to external power, no one could deny how terrifying he was at this moment. As palace master Sheng Yuan stepped into the double lotus Saint stage, the countless white lightning bolts outside the world boundary slowly dissipated, and the giant golden eye dimmed somewhat. The ultimate experts of the sacred race had likewise paid a steep price in order to transmit this power and were no longer able to send any attacks through the world boundary. Patriarch Cang Xuan was finally free, but an extremely grave look filled his eyes. Although palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s double lotus stage was indistinct, no matter how faint it was, it was ultimately still a double lotus... ¡°Hehe, is this the legendary double lotus Saint?¡± There was a drunken look of infatuation on palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s mutilated face. His eyes narrowed in pleasure as he felt the vast power within his body. This was the level of power he had yearned for in his dreams. Patriarch Cang Xuan sneered and said, ¡°You relied on the sacred race¡¯s power to temporarily raise yourself to the double lotus stage. Aren¡¯t you afraid of not having the life to enjoy it?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan laughed in a carefree manner. How could he not know of the grave consequences that followed? After this battle, he would be seriously injured, and it would take a tremendous amount of time and effort to recover. But so what? As long as he managed to finish off patriarch Cang Xuan and Yaoyao and then obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, he would become the ruler of this world. When that happened, he would not only recover from all of his injuries but also truly step into the Saint stage. ¡°Cang Xuan, are you afraid?¡± Boundless Genesis Qi soared into the sky above palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s head. The silver Genesis Qi blotted out the sun as concentrated golden light dazzled within it. Golden flames seemed to rise from the golden light. This Genesis Qi gave off a suffocating pressure. It was Saint Genesis Qi. A Law Domain expert could fuse Genesis Qi with the power of the Law Domain, creating Law Domain Genesis Qi. Once a Law Domain practitioner stepped into the Saint stage and created Saint fire, Saint fire and Genesis Qi could be fused to become Saint Genesis Qi. In the face of such power, anyone below the Saint stage would be akin to a mantis trying to stop a cart. Palace master Sheng Yuan howled as boundless Saint Genesis Qi churned. In the blink of an eye, the qi turned into a hundred giant glowing balls in the sky. Every ball was a condensation of raw destructive power. In an instant, it was as if over a hundred suns had appeared in the sky. ¡°Cang Xuan, you suppressed me with your cultivation level back then. Isn¡¯t it my turn to do so now?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan was full of spirit. With a wave of his sleeve, the hundred sun-like balls descended, falling straight towards patriarch Cang Xuan and Yaoyao. The sight of these Saint Genesis Qi balls caused the expressions of sect master Qing Yang and the other Law Domain experts to turn ugly. They could feel that if this attack was headed their way, they would not be able to survive a single ball. From this one could see just how powerful palace master Sheng Yuan had become. Patriarch Cang Xuan frowned as he gazed upon the attack. If it was the him from the past, palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s weak double lotus stage would barely be able to threaten him. Unfortunately, he was currently just a mere Spirit fragment. Patriarch Cang Xuan sighed as he rapidly formed a series of seals with his hands. ¡°Great Mountain River Array!¡± Torrential dark azure Saint Genesis Qi surged forth, transforming into numerous ancient mountains and rivers. Every mountain and river was made from boundless Saint Genesis Qi and wielded more than enough power to easily subdue numerous Law Domain experts. Rumble! Scorching suns descended from the sky amidst countless shaken gazes, and they collided with the endless mountains and rivers. The entire world seemed to fall silent at the moment of impact, and then an indescribable storm of Genesis Qi quickly followed... Space itself shattered and crumbled above Blackwater. Some of the aftershocks reached the ground, causing the land to disintegrate. The other experts rapidly withdrew, not daring to be caught in the destruction. However, their gazes remained tightly glued to the battle in the sky. They knew that the fight was already nearing its end and that both parties had nearly played all of their cards. The one who had the final laugh would become the victor. Rumble! Both parties clashed time and time again, but as time passed, some of the sharper experts began to sense patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s aura slowly starting to weaken. ¡°Teacher is ultimately a Spirit fragment, and it is impossible for him to have an endless supply of power. If this continues, I¡¯m afraid that he will not be a match for Sheng Yuan!¡± said the master of Hongya Peak in a gloomy voice as a powerless look filled his face. Even experts like them would be instantly destroyed if they tried to interfere in a battle of this level. Sect master Qing Yang could only let out a soft sigh. At this juncture, even he could not interfere. Palace master Sheng Yuan continued to send out overwhelming attacks one after another, each fueled by Saint Genesis Qi. He could naturally sense the changes in patriarch Cang Xuan, causing an icy smile to rise from the corners of his lips. Swoosh! However, while he was trying to defeat Cang Xuan as quickly as possible, the space in front of him suddenly shattered as a figure shot out. The tip of a brush danced as countless ancient Genesis Runes formed, transforming into a glowing, ten-thousand-foot-large claw that viciously slashed at him. It was Yaoyao. ¡°Humph!¡± Sheng Yuan icily snorted. Blood spurted from his broken body as Saint Genesis Qi swept out, transforming into a giant bloody hand that collided with the glowing claw. Dong! The surrounding space rippled violently. Sheng Yuan¡¯s figure took several rapid steps backwards, and Yaoyao¡¯s body was flung away. Blood appeared on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m currently a double lotus Saint, and yet you still dare to face me directly?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s icy laughter rang out. He had finally obtained the absolute upper hand in that earlier clash. ¡°Nevermind, that old ghost Cang Xuan is already akin to a flickering flame in the wind and can¡¯t even defend himself. I guess I¡¯ll capture you first!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s fingers grabbed at the space in front of him. Boundless Saint Genesis Qi swept forth. Beams of light interweaved, creating an inescapable net that loomed towards Yaoyao. Saint Genesis Qi sealed the area around them, making it impossibly difficult to leave via spatial means. Far away, patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eyes changed slightly. He wanted to lend a hand but was thoroughly suppressed by Sheng Yuan¡¯s endless onslaught, making it impossible for him to do anything else but defend. Moreover, a feeling of weakness had begun to emerge in his body. He softly sighed, feeling somewhat sad. He was after all no longer the same unstoppable patriarch Cang Xuan from the past. Even someone who relied on external power to become a double lotus could force him into such a predicament. ¡°Patriarch?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out in his head. He could feel that patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s consciousness was growing fainter. Upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice, patriarch Cang Xuan let out a bitter laugh. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m afraid I will only be able to help till this point¡­¡± Zhou Yuan fell silent. Today had truly been a rollercoaster. No one had expected the odds to keep tipping in Sheng Yuan¡¯s favor. Was it really as he had said? Was fate and luck truly with him? What was more, Yaoyao¡¯s current situation had become very dangerous, making him extremely anxious. ¡°Zhou Yuan, my Spirit fragment is about to dissipate, and control of your body will soon return to you...once my Spirit fragment is gone, some remnant power will be left behind that should be able to give you some protection. You should find an opportunity to escape with Yaoyao.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s voice was growing fainter and fainter. ¡°Hehe, this goodbye will be the last because my bag of tricks has been used up¡­¡± Zhou Yuan felt extremely unbearable inside. He knew that if it were not for Yaoyao¡¯s unforeseen circumstances, palace master Sheng Yuan would have fallen into patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s trap even if he had ultimately obtained the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. However, for the sake of protecting Yaoyao, patriarch Cang Xuan had no choice but to reveal his hidden Spirit fragment in advance. And now, after the battle with the ultimate sacred race experts, patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s Spirit fragment had used up nearly all of its power. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I hope...that things will go well for you two¡­¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s voice finally faded. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body turned rigid, and the expression in his eyes slowly changed. The ancient and all-knowingness faded, replaced by spirited youthfulness. ¡°Thank you patriarch,¡± he softly mumbled. ¡°Hahahaha¡­¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan, clearly aware of this change, began to laugh the moment patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s Spirit fragment vanished. ¡°Cang Xuan, ah, Cang Xuan, you failed to beat me in the end. The Cangxuan Saint Stamp will ultimately land in my hands!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan did not even look at Zhou Yuan this time. After losing patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s Spirit fragment, Zhou Yuan was less than an ant. All of his attention shifted towards Yaoyao. Once he captured her, it would be a perfect ending to today¡¯s matter. ¡°I am the final victor!¡± As palace master Sheng Yuan laughed, torrential killing intent surged outside the net that was closing in around Yaoyao. Once she was caught, he would begin to bare his fangs. In the sky, Zhou Yuan watched with a sunken expression. His gaze rapidly flickered as a crazed look surged out in his eyes. With a grasp of his hand, he used patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s remnant power to suck over the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. He finally raised his gaze and looked towards the ant-like existence that was Zhou Yuan. He indifferently said, ¡°Kid, if you voluntarily hand over the stamp now, I will give you a less painful death.¡± ¡°You want the Saint Stamp?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned scarlet red as he let out a chilling laugh. ¡°Then I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± He suddenly swung his hand, sending all of patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s remaining power into the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Bzz! Amidst countless shocked and horrified gazes, crack after crack emerged on the stamp. In the end, it exploded with a loud bang. Countless fragments shot outwards. Chapter 742 Self Destruc Everyone was shocked when the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was shattered. The faces of sect master Qing Yang, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign and the other hegemons turned sluggish, clearly not expecting that someone would voluntarily destroy the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. That was the most holy item that represented Cangxuan Heaven! Wouldn¡¯t anyone who obtained it do everything to make it their own? Palace master Sheng Yuan was likewise dazed by this scene. Even someone who had experienced countless storms like him was unable to return to his senses for some time. Fortunately, his dazed state did not last for long. His face rapidly distorted bit by bit. ¡°Brat, I will dismember your body into ten thousand pieces today!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s furious roar shook the world around him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face remained unchanged. With a small jerk of his hand, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp turned into countless fragments swiftly shooting away. These fragments directly pierced through space itself, vanishing from the spot in a flash. They flew away in every direction. Wherever the fragments passed, the eyes of the many experts turned red. In the end, these experts were unable to resist the temptation, and they crazily dashed forward to stop the shards. However, the Saint Stamp shards were filled with a life of their own and could fuse with the fabric of space itself, making it very difficult to stop them. Hence, although many experts tried, only a small handful managed to stop a few of the fragments. Cries of surprise quickly followed. The experts who managed to obtain a fragment immediately felt a faint resonance with the world around them. They had become more sensitive towards Genesis Qi. What was more, some of the experts that had been stuck at a certain cultivation level for many years were even more shocked to discover that their long unmoving cultivation seemed to tremble a little at this moment. Upon realizing the benefits of the Saint Stamp shards, everyone¡¯s breathing grew heavier, especially when this information spread. All the experts felt their blood begin to boil, no longer caring about the consequences as they quickly scattered and began to frantically stop the Saint Stamp shards. The entire place immediately fell into chaos. ¡°All of you scram!¡± However, while the various experts were trying to stop the fragments, palace master Sheng Yuan suddenly roared. With a swipe of his hand, Saint Genesis Qi swept forth and pulverized a dozen experts into pulp. ¡°Who dares to go after the Saint Stamp shards?!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s icy gaze swept across the area. The many experts seemed to freeze under his gaze, not daring to even move an inch. Palace master Sheng Yuan stomped his foot. Torrential Saint Genesis Qi surged out, transforming into a giant vortex. A terrifying suction force exploded, sucking over several shards. ¡°All Sacred Palace members hear my command, do everything you can to stop the Saint Stamp fragments!¡± commanded palace master Sheng Yuan. The Sacred Palace experts quickly moved one after another. However, the other five overlord sects, including the Heavenly Ghost Sect that had joined forces with the Sacred Palace, stopped fighting at this moment and instead turned their sights towards the Saint Stamp fragments. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as a chilling light flashed within them. However, he did not make any attempts to stop them this time because it would indeed be impossible for the Sacred Palace alone to stop all of these scattering fragments. He would let the other five overlord sects toil for the moment. It would undoubtedly be more convenient for him to rob them of their hard work later on. As time passed, the Sacred Stamp shards swiftly disappeared. Some of them landed in the hands of the various factions present, but even more had vanished from the area. Even palace master Sheng Yuan had been unable to stop them. After all, even if they were fragments, they were fragments of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and could perfectly fuse with the surrounding world. Palace master Sheng Yuan looked at the hundred or so fragments floating above his hand with an expressionless face. When the Saint Stamp was shattered earlier, it had been split into at least ten thousand pieces. What he had now was less than one percent. He kept the fragments with a wave of his sleeve. His murderous gaze then locked onto Zhou Yuan as he indifferently said, ¡°Ant-like trash, you¡¯re pretty good at bringing me trouble. ¡°However, do you think that the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is so easy to destroy? ¡°Let alone the likes of you, even patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s full power cannot destroy it. All you¡¯re doing now is scattering it. Even if the Saint Stamp fragments can fuse with the world, they will still stand out and ultimately be discovered. ¡°As long as I collect all of these shards, they will naturally merge into the Saint Stamp once more!¡± Zhou Yuan merely chuckled in response. ¡°At the very least, you can¡¯t obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp now.¡± He was not wrong. If palace master Sheng Yuan did manage to gather all of the shards, he would naturally be able to recreate the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. But no matter how fast he was, it would take at least several years to find the fragments that had scattered to every corner of Cangxuan Heaven, right? Moreover, some of the fragments had landed in the hands of the other overlord sects and numerous factions. All of them understood the benefits of these fragments, so who would willingly hand them over? As such, the Sacred Palace would have no choice but to take the fragments through force. This would pit all of the other factions against them. Moreover, even if palace master Sheng Yuan used forceful means, it would still take him longer to gather all the fragments. These matters would undoubtedly give even palace master Sheng Yuan a headache. Sure enough, palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes grew increasingly frosty as he stared at Zhou Yuan. The killing intent within them had grown even greater than when he was facing patriarch Cang Xuan. He had defeated patriarch Cang Xuan and triumphed over all the other overlord sects. But when he was finally about to succeed, he never imagined that a mere Divine Dwelling ant would shatter the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and ruin his plans! Even if all it did was delay the inevitable, palace master Sheng Yuan was still extremely angered. ¡°I will make you beg for death today!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes were akin to a malicious spirit¡¯s. With a wave of his sleeve, a torrent of Saint Genesis Qi whizzed out, turning into a giant palm as it viciously grabbed at Zhou Yuan. He had already decided that he would extract Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit and use Saint fire to burn him day and night, making him wail in pain for a hundred years! Zhou Yuan gazed at the giant Genesis Qi hand that was sweeping towards him with torrential pressure. He could feel that the surrounding space had already been sealed, making it impossible for him to avoid it. Boom! However, a beautiful figure appeared in front of him just as the giant hand was about to land. Resplendent golden hair danced around her as she met the attack head on. Boom! The space around them crumbled as the giant hand was destroyed. The figure was also thrown backwards, the trace of blood on her lips growing increasingly obvious. ¡°Yaoyao!¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly moved forward to support Yaoyao. Her fair skin was currently covered in faint cracks, a sight that made one shiver inside. ¡°Hehe, how touching. I will let you two die together like a pair of mandarin ducks!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s icy laughter rang out. His hands straightened, and their palms faced each other as if he were holding the sun and moon between them. Boundless Saint Genesis Qi rapidly converged. A golden bead formed between his palms. An extreme amount of Saint Genesis Qi had been compressed into this golden bead, causing the nearby space to fracture and crumble when it formed. Palace master Sheng Yuan released the bead, allowing it to slowly rise into the air before gently drifting towards Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. The bead did not seem to move quickly, but it had already locked onto their Spirits, making it impossible to avoid. Wherever the golden bead passed, the surrounding space continuously crumbled. Sect master Qing Yang gritted his teeth when he saw the danger they were in and activated the little Cangxuan Saint Stamp, sending it flying towards palace master Sheng Yuan. However, palace master Sheng Yuan did not even glance in its direction, and he sent it flying back with a wave of his hand. His eyelids raised as he nonchalantly said, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with you later.¡± The destructive power within the golden bead made Yaoyao¡¯s pretty face turn grave. She gently gritted her teeth and prepared to move forward. However, Zhou Yuan reached out and grabbed her wrist. Yaoyao turned her head and saw a sliver of madness on Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm face. ¡°Yaoyao, I¡¯ll stop him. You leave!¡± There was a resolute look in his eyes. His power was of course unable to match Sheng Yuan. Hence, his only option was to detonate patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s remaining power to stop him. He believed that Yaoyao would be able to escape without him burdening her. Yaoyao gritted her teeth and shook her head. ¡°Go!¡± roared Zhou Yuan before he said in a soft voice, ¡°If you can, please bring my father and mother along.¡± As his voice rang out, his figure had already shot forward. Yaoyao watched him dash forward. His figure was thin, but in her heart, it was akin to a mountain... He knew that his strength was not enough to change anything, but he had never backed down in the slightest. Perhaps, it was because of the promise he had made to Grandpa Black back then: if anyone wanted to hurt her, they would at the very least have to step over his corpse to do so... Yaoyao¡¯s eyes slowly lowered as she released a single soft laugh. Light rapidly flickered between her brows as the seal continued to fracture, and the cracks on her body grew clearer and clearer. Amidst countless complicated gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure flew through the air, heading straight for the approaching golden bead. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath. He cast aside all hesitation and detonated patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s remaining power! Shaking his head, palace master Sheng Yuan watched the scene with mockery. A mantis trying to stop a cart. Dazzling light erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and his flesh began to disintegrate. Sorrow emerged in the eyes of sect master Qing Yang and the others. However, an instant before the power in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body could fully detonate, the space in front of him was suddenly torn open, and a figure walked out. A finger seemed to pierce through space and landed between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows. The explosive force inside his body was instantly calmed. At the same time, the figure reached out its other hand and caught the golden bead. With a casual clench, the bead was crushed, turning into a sky full of glowing dots. The sudden dissipation of power within his body stunned Zhou Yuan as he blankly looked towards his front. A black-robed figure stood in the air. His gaze shifted upwards, finding a somewhat helpless expression on an aged face. This face seems to be rather familiar. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment before his pupils abruptly shrank. The black-robed elder looked towards Yaoyao at this moment with a bitter smile and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s alright now lass. Don¡¯t make a mess any more¡­¡± Chapter 737 Shattering the Golden Lotuses A black-robed elder stood in the sky. He did not give off any presence or even the tiniest Genesis Qi undulations, making him appear akin to an ordinary old man who had never cultivated before. However, countless horrified and shocked gazes were currently concentrated on his figure because everyone had personally witnessed this mysterious black-robed elder casually crush the golden bead that palace master Sheng Yuan had poured all his power into. ¡°Who is that?!¡± ¡°Such power is likely no weaker than patriarch Cang Xuan at his prime¡­¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve never heard of such a person in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± ¡°......¡± The eyes of the various experts were filled with confusion as whispers spread amongst them. Even sect master Qing Yang, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign, the Venerable Lord Gu Jing and the other sect masters were taken by surprise, clearly unable to recognize the black-robed elder. However, it appeared that he knew Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, given how he had come to their aid. This observation astonished the sect masters even more. Though they could not say anything about Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan was merely a tiny Divine Dwelling stage practitioner who had barely reached the Alpha-Origin stage when he first came to the Cangxuan Sect. Did a small fry like him actually know such an existence? Zhou Yuan was also unable to believe his eyes. Moments later, he finally managed to stutter, ¡°Mas...master Cang Yuan?!¡± Zhou Yuan had not seen Cang Yuan since they had parted many years ago, and he clearly had not expected him to appear at this most critical juncture Cang Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted towards Zhou Yuan as he chuckled and said, ¡°Not bad little one. It¡¯s only been a few years since we last met, but you¡¯ve already stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage. ¡°However, now is not the time for us to reminiscence. It seems that you guys are facing quite some trouble.¡± His gaze swept towards Sheng Yuan, who was similarly shocked by his appearance. He then lifted his head to cast a glance at the far away crack in the world boundary. The chillingly sinister look on palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face had already faded. He stared at Cang Yuan in bewilderment and said, ¡°Who are you?! Why are you interfering in the affairs of our Cangxuan Heaven!¡± He was certain that Cang Yuan was not from Cangxuan Heaven. Cang Yuan looked at Sheng Yuan with indifferent eyes as he replied, ¡°Instead of being a proper person, you just had to be a dog of the sacred race.¡± Cang Yuan found the sacred palace power that currently filled Sheng Yuan¡¯s body very loathsome. Sheng Yuan¡¯s face twitched as he laughed in anger. ¡°This distinguished one is very arrogant!¡± Cang Yuan looked towards Yaoyao. Her current state and the cracks on her skin made his eyes turn a little icier. Although Yaoyao¡¯s identity was very special, he had watched her slowly grow up. One could say that Cang Yuan already viewed Yaoyao as his own child. After being separated for so many years, even Cang Yuan could not help but feel rage boil within him when he saw her in her current state. Cang Xuan indifferently said, ¡°You relied on someone else¡¯s power to raise yourself to the double lotus stage. Let alone the fact that what you have is not the true double lotus stage, even a genuine single lotus expert would not view you as much of a threat.¡± Sheng Yuan frowned. He found himself unable to read Cang Yuan, and he was indeed quite fearful of him. Hence, he said, ¡°If this distinguished one has come for the two of them, I drop what happened previously.¡± Although he was extremely angered by Zhou Yuan¡¯s act of shattering the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, Sheng Yuan understood that killing Zhou Yuan would do nothing to remedy the problem. Since that was the case, he could always take revenge after gathering the Saint Stamp shards. When that time came, he would not only kill Zhou Yuan but also exterminate the Great Zhou Empire. He would make sure that not even a blade of grass remained! As these thoughts swirled in his head, intense killing intent flashed in the depths of palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes. However, Cang Yuan merely laughed in response, ¡°Drop what happened previously? You beat up these two kids of mine. Even if you want to let this matter rest, I insist on settling the debt with you.¡± His tone was calm but gave off a sliver domineeringness that made one involuntarily tremble inside. Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression turned frosty. ¡°Don¡¯t think you can push me just because I tried to give in!¡± However, Cang Yuan had no intentions of taking this exchange of words any further. He formed a seal with one hand, and everyone¡¯s eyes nearly popped from their sockets as they watched two life-like golden lotuses slowly emerge above his head and left shoulder. Double lotus stage! Cang Yuan was evidently the same cultivation level as patriarch Cang Xuan at his peak! Moreover, his double lotus stage was clearly nothing like Sheng Yuan¡¯s hollow double lotus stage; it was achieved through his own cultivation. ¡°Allow me to show you the true power of the double lotus.¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s hand seal changed as the two golden lotuses dashed into the sky. The sky instantly turned dusky as if the world had been spun around, and the Genesis Qi in the entire Cangxuan Heaven began to churn violently. The many experts realized to their horror that they were losing their connection to the surrounding world when the lotus began to revolve and the Genesis Qi in their bodies began to vanish. Bzz! Two golden lotuses swirled in the air, and they turned into two streaks of light as they shot towards Sheng Yuan. Primal chaos seemed to emerge as the golden lotuses passed by. At Cang Yuan¡¯s level, the golden lotuses were not just mere decorations. The raw power contained within them was equivalent to genuine Saint treasures! Moreover, these were life-bound Saint treasures! Such power was capable of rewriting the world itself! The two golden lotuses descended as if two worlds were crashing downwards. As such, Sheng Yuan¡¯s pupils could not help but shrink. Only when facing the true double lotus stage did he realize the disparity between them. He had previously defeated Cang Xuan because the latter was a mere Spirit fragment. If Cang Xuan was at his peak, they would have been on completely different levels. However, Cang Yuan had already attacked and had even used his life-bound double lotuses in anger. Such power was truly capable of destroying an entire star. Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression rapidly fluctuated, but a ruthless and determined look ultimately flashed in his eyes. His opponent was admittedly very powerful, but he was currently also a double lotus stage expert. He did not believe that the other party could disregard him so completely! Bzz! With a thought, the golden lotuses above Sheng Yuan¡¯s head and shoulder also soared into the sky. The golden lotuses spun, rippling the world around them. Rumble! Under countless overwhelmed gazes, four golden lotuses hurtled through the air and collided with a loud boom. Boom! An indescribable shockwave devastated the surroundings. The shockwave spread to nearly half of Cangxuan Heaven, giving rise to Genesis Qi storms in numerous continents. In the sky above Black Water. Every gaze was glued to the four golden lotuses in the void. Space had already crumbled long ago, and giant spatial cracks were emerging one after another, bringing forth chaotic spatial storms. Cang Yuan expressionlessly watched the four clashing golden lotuses. Disdain rose from the corners of his mouth before he suddenly flipped his palm. Dong! A billion rays of primal chaos light exploded from two of the lotuses. Light and dark shook as the heavens trembled, and palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s two golden lotuses were shattered. Shock flooded the faces of the many experts. No one had expected the previously unstoppable Sheng Yuan, who seemed to have already become the final victor, to have his two golden lotuses smashed to pieces by a mysterious black-robed elder. Several gazes turned towards the equally horrified palace master Sheng Yuan. The powerful aura he gave off had rapidly begun to deplete like a punctured balloon. Chapter 744 Sheng Yuan Flees When the two golden lotuses were smashed to pieces, palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s complexion instantly turned deathly pale, and he violently vomited a mouthful of blood. The powerful aura that surged around him rapidly began to decline. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s double lotus stage had been forcibly constructed by the power from the ultimate experts of the sacred race. As such, it was not the true double lotus stage. Shattering the two lotuses was akin to scattering the sacred race¡¯s power. As a result, palace master Sheng Yuan was beaten back to his original state. He had fallen back to the false Saint stage. The many experts in the vicinity could naturally sense palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s drop in power, an observation which violently shook their hearts. No one had expected the previously invincible and victorious Sheng Yuan to so swiftly undergo such a reversal. The expressions of the Sacred Palace experts changed drastically as terror filled their eyes. In contrast, sect master Qing Yang, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign and the other hegemons could not help but be happily surprised. This sudden reversal was akin to a giant gift from the heavens. After all, they knew full well that all of their trump cards had already been used up at this juncture. If not for the mysterious black-robed elder¡¯s appearance, Sheng Yuan would have definitely become the ultimate winner. ¡°How can this be...how can this be!¡± roared palace master Sheng Yuan in an unresigned manner. Both parties had been at the double lotus stage, and he could not believe that the disparity between them was actually so great. Of course, he was also very terrified inside. Only now did he finally realize that even after borrowing the sacred race¡¯s power, he was still unable to compare to a true double lotus stage expert. After all, he was still a mere false Saint! In the sky, Cang Yuan frostily stared at palace master Sheng Yuan. With a thought, two golden lotuses pierced through the air, heading straight for Sheng Yuan with the intention to kill. Rumble! However, Sheng Yuan had already sensed Cang Yuan¡¯s killing intent. Before the two lotuses could properly lock onto him, his body self-destructed amidst countless shocked gazes. Destructive energies swept outwards, blowing away the two golden lotuses. ¡°Fine, I admit defeat today! ¡°But don¡¯t be too happy because the sacred race will not let you off! ¡°And Zhou Yuan, when I recover and obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, I will definitely massacre every single person you know in Cangxuan Heaven!¡± As Sheng Yuan¡¯s body exploded, a voice laced with murder sounded across the area. Sheng Yuan¡¯s aura soon disappeared. As for the mysterious black-robed elder, Sheng Yuan did not believe he dared to linger in Cangxuan Heaven for too long. Sheng Yuan thought so because he had felt the ultimate sacred race experts outside the world boundary begin the stir restlessly the moment Cang Yuan appeared. The black-robed elder was clearly an enemy of the sacred race. Now that his location had been revealed, if Cang Yuan overstayed, the sacred race would surely do everything they could to descend and hunt him like how they had killed patriarch Cang Xuan back then. Once the black-robed elder was gone, who would be able to stop Sheng Yuan once he recovered from his injuries? Moreover, he would naturally have a chance for revenge when he obtained the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and used it to ascend to the Saint stage in the future. Hence, Sheng Yuan did not hesitate to self-destruct his body and decisively flee upon his defeat. Sheng Yuan¡¯s escape caused a great commotion in the area. The many experts from the various factions secretly wet their lips. No one had expected such an outcome to today¡¯s crazy fight. With palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s escape, the sacred palace experts unhesitatingly withdrew, not daring to linger any longer. Lei Jun expressionlessly looked at sect master Qing Yang and the others before turning into a flash of lightning as he disappeared. The Hongya Peak master icily snorted. He was just about to stop the former only to be stopped by sect master Qing Yang. Sect master Qing Yang calmly said, ¡°No need to rush things. There will be a time for us to settle things in the future.¡± Lei Jun had betrayed the Cangxuan Sect, and he was even the biggest culprit behind patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death. Although patriarch Cang Xuan had not personally resolved this problem, they would handle this matter on his behalf as his disciples. In the wake of palace master Sheng Yuan and the Sacred Palace¡¯s departure, the originally tense atmosphere slowly began to relax. Many gazes respectfully looked towards Cang Yuan in the sky. His strength had astonished everyone. As the many experts looked at him, they seemed to see the unstoppable patriarch Cang Xuan from back then... However, Cang Yuan was extremely unfamiliar to the peak practitioners of Cangxuan Heaven. Hence, even sect master Qing Yang, the Heaven Sword Sovereign and the others did not dare to carelessly approach such an unknown individual. High up in the sky, Cang Yuan icily snorted as he gazed in the direction palace master Sheng Yuan had disappeared, but he did not give chase. Instead, he turned around and arrived at Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao¡¯s side. Zhou Yuan worriedly said, ¡°Master Cang Yuan, Sheng Yuan has escaped? If we leave him alive, he will become a threat in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan had clearly heard every word Sheng Yuan had left behind when he fled. Cang Yuan said, ¡°To kill a Saint, even a false one, is not so simple. Furthermore...the sacred race has already discovered my location, and I cannot stay here for long. ¡°As for Sheng Yuan, he had to bear the sacred race¡¯s power, had his body destroyed and had his cultivation level repeatedly beaten down. These are all extremely serious injuries that will ensure he will be incapable of causing any trouble for some time.¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly nodded. He did desire to borrow Cang Yuan¡¯s power to completely eliminate Sheng Yuan, but he had evidently oversimplified things. Although Sheng Yuan was gravely injured, he was ultimately still a latent threat. After all, he was the only Saint stage practitioner in Cangxuan Heaven, even if he was merely a false Saint... Zhou Yuan was not really worried about himself, but he was concerned about Zhou Qing, Qin Yu and the Great Zhou Empire. The grudge between him and the Sacred Palace could be compared to a sea of blood. Once the other side had a chance, they would surely take revenge. While the two were conversing, the boundless aura from Yaoyao¡¯s body gradually withdrew as her dazzling golden hair turned pitch-black again... The heart-palpitating indifference in her eyes also slowly faded. Zhou Yuan was overjoyed by this return to her former state. Although Yaoyao had been powerful, seeing her in that state had given rise to a faint feeling of unease within him. Only now did he breathe a heavy sigh of relief. Yaoyao looked at him and seemed to smile as she took a step forward. Her body suddenly jerked violently. Her fair face flushed red, and she vomited a bloody mist that seemed to glow with starlight. Her slender body slowly began to fall forward, ultimately landing in Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms. The smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned rigid bit by bit as the bloody mist sprayed onto his face. His heart seemed to fall into a bottomless abyss. Chapter 745 Yaoyao Sealed Away Zhou Yuan hugged Yaoyao¡¯s body, feeling the coldness that spread from it. His complexion instantly turned deathly white, and his voice began to quiver as panic filled his eyes. ¡°Master Cang Yuan!¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s figure had already flashed over before his voice could fade. Yaoyao¡¯s body slowly floated into the air, her fair skin filled with cracks. These cracks covered her entire body, making Yaoyao appear akin to a fractured porcelain doll. It was a sight that would make anyone ache deeply inside. With a grave expression, Cang Yuan sighed and said, ¡°It still ended up like this.¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly asked, ¡°What happened to her?¡± Cang Yuan frowned as he explained, ¡°She undid the seal, releasing a tremendous amount of power that her body was unable to bear. Her body is now on the verge of shattering, and the power within her has sealed her conscience away, putting her into a deep sleep in order to preserve her life. ¡°This is a big problem. ¡°If it were anyone else, there would naturally be numerous ways to reconstruct the body if it¡¯s destroyed, but if Yaoyao loses this body, she would have no chance to reconstruct it. ¡°Moreover, Yaoyao¡¯s injuries are far too grave. Even putting herself into a deep sleep can only delay the inevitable destruction of her body. Once the body reaches its limit, it will still shatter to pieces.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression involuntarily changed. He never imagined that the problem would be so serious for Yaoyao. Swish! A streak of light shot over and landed on Yaoyao¡¯s body. It was Tuntun. It could likewise sense Yaoyao¡¯s condition, and it released a mournful bark in response. Soon after, he looked towards Zhou Yuan and suddenly spat out a jade scroll. Zhou Yuan took the scroll and scanned it with his Spirit. He discovered that it contained several methods to evolve Silver Shadow, causing him to be stunned. This was likely left behind by Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the jade scroll as feelings of self-blame surged in his heart. Yaoyao had done far too much for him, while he had ultimately failed to protect her. In fact, she had even been forced to undo the seal for him in the end. He knew that with Yaoyao¡¯s strength, it would have been extremely easy to escape if she was no match for their enemies. But because of his existence, Yaoyao had zero intentions of fleeing alone. At this moment, Zhou Yuan truly hated how weak he was. If not for his lack of strength, there would have been no reason for Yaoyao to act! He had been so proud of his cultivation over the years and had even felt somewhat pleased after ultimately defeating Wu Huang and King Wu. In a single day, he now realized how laughable he had been. Before the truly strong, he was nothing but an ant that anyone could trample. Cang Yuan looked at Zhou Yuan. The latter was very dazed and lost. Although this was only the second time Cang Yuan had met Zhou Yuan, he understood this young man¡¯s character. Even being incapable of finding his eight meridian channels so many years ago had not put him into such a state. From this, one could see how huge of a blow Yaoyao¡¯s injuries were to him. However, even Cang Yuan found Yaoyao¡¯s situation extremely problematic. There were many methods to repair the body in this world, but most of them were ineffective on Yaoyao. She was too extraordinary and naturally could not be assessed through ordinary methods. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will naturally do everything I can to help Yaoyao recover.¡± Cang Yuan fell silent for a moment before he waved his sleeve. A crystal coffin giving off an extremely cold aura appeared before him. Yaoyao¡¯s body slowly floated through the air and gently landed in the crystal coffin under Zhou Yuan¡¯s unfocused gaze. Tuntun jumped onto the crystal coffin, its sharp claws continuously scratching at its clear coffin walls. Chips of ice flew as Tuntun released an anxious and mournful sound. Cang Yuan sighed but did not try to stop it. Tuntun and Yaoyao had lived together for many years, and there was a very strong bond between them. As such, this scene was naturally very difficult for Tuntun to accept. Cang Yuan allowed Tuntun to vent its feelings for the time being as he raised his head and looked towards the far away world boundary. The crack was still present, and an icy, giant golden eye could be seen within it. The sacred race experts had evidently sensed his presence. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ll be leaving Cangxuan Heaven with Yaoyao. Otherwise, the ultimate experts of the sacred race will surely try everything they can to descend into this heaven.¡± Cang Yuan looked at Zhou Yuan in silence for a moment before he continued, ¡°It will also be extremely dangerous for you to stay here, so come with me. Besides, I¡¯ll probably need your help with Yaoyao.¡± Zhou Yuan immediately nodded without hesitation. He was not worried about his own safety, but if it was to help Yaoyao recover, he would reject any request that was made of him. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing the sorrow in his heart as he forced a smile and said, ¡°Master Cang Yuan, I¡¯ll go settle my affairs first.¡± Cang Yuan nodded. Zhou Yuan turned around and moved towards sect master Qing Yang and the others. Upon seeing his approach, complicated expressions emerged in the eyes of sect master Qing Yang, the Hongya Peak master, old man Bai Mei and peak master Ling Jun. After all, Zhou Yuan had played an extremely important role in today¡¯s earth-shaking battle. Let alone how patriarch Cang Xuan had used his body, Yaoyao and the mysterious elder in black seemed to have special relationships with Zhou Yuan. To think that Zhou Yuan was merely a Divine Dwelling stage practitioner. Normally speaking, someone with such strength had no place in a heaven-shocking battle like this that affected the entire Cangxuan Heaven. And yet, Zhou Yuan had indeed participated and had even played an unignorable role. Hence, they could no longer view him as an ordinary disciple. ¡°Zhou Yuan, if not for you, today¡¯s battle would have been a disaster for our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Sect master Qing Yang sighed deeply. ¡°Sect master thinks too highly of me.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. ¡°Sect master, I will be leaving Cangxuan Heaven for some time, I hope that the Cangxuan Sect can take care of my father and mother.¡± He had ruined Sheng Yuan¡¯s plans, creating an irreconcilable grudge between himself and the Sacred Palace. He was unafraid of them. His only worry was that the Sacred Palace would take revenge on his parents. The Great Zhou Empire was after all far too tiny in the face of the enormous entity that was the Sacred Palace. Sect master Qing Yang solemnly replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re still a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, and if not for your act of scattering the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, Sheng Yuan would have likely obtained it. You¡¯ve done the Cangxuan Sect a huge favor. ¡°After you leave, I will dispatch an expert to guard the Great Zhou Empire, and I will personally take action if a situation arises. As long as the Cangxuan Sect stands, no one will be able to hurt your parents.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression relaxed a little. Sect master Qing Yang had given him a very serious promise. With sect master Qing Yang¡¯s protection, anyone would have to think thrice before attempting to do anything to his parents. As for the Sacred Palace, even if Sheng Yuan hated Zhou Yuan to the core, he was currently gravely injured and would most likely be focused on searching for the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments when he recovered. For the next few years, a storm of blood would surely engulf Cangxuan Heaven due to these Saint Stamp shards. Even the six overlord sects would be drawn in, and no one would be able to stop it. However, it was precisely this chaos that would make it very difficult for the Sacred Palace to focus on dealing with the Cangxuan Sect. As long as the Cangxuan Sect was stable, there would naturally be no one who dared to touch his parents. He did not know when he would return this time. However, he believed that when he returned to Cangxuan Heaven, he would no longer be as weak as he was today. When that time came, he would properly settle all his grudges. Endless frost churned in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he looked towards the direction Sheng Yuan had escaped in. Sheng Yuan and the sacred race were the biggest culprits behind Yaoyao¡¯s injuries. Though he currently did not possess the qualifications to settle these debts, when he gained enough strength in the future, he would make sure to repay them in full. Zhou Yuan bowed deeply towards sect master Qing Yang. ¡°Thank you sect master! ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving my parents in your hands!¡± As his voice rang out, he looked towards Old Xuan and solemnly bowed to him. He then turned around without any hesitation and returned to Cang Yuan¡¯s side. The various experts that were still present were currently focused on them. Cang Yuan ignored these gazes as he waved his sleeve. The space before him slowly tore open, creating a dark spatial passage that could lead to anywhere. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Cang Yuan lifted the crystal coffin and stepped into the spatial passage. Zhou Yuan followed. He turned around for one final glance at Cangxuan Heaven before quickly turning back and entering the spatial passage. The spatial passage swirled as it devoured their figures. As they watched Cang Yuan leave, the many experts breathed a sigh of relief. Cang Yuan was far too powerful and was akin to a giant dragon. If he chose to stay, it would change the entire landscape of Cangxuan Heaven. Sect master Qing Yang stared at the spot where Zhou Yuan had disappeared. A long time later, he slowly said, ¡°I have a feeling that none of us will be able to look down on him when he returns to Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m very curious to find out how far he will have grown when he returns¡­¡± After speaking, he shifted his gaze to the land devastated by the earlier battle. He released a long, drawn-out breath. The astonishing battle that decided the future of Cangxuan Heaven was finally over. However, sect master Qing Yang knew that it was not over. Due to the scattered fragments of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, Cangxuan Heaven would likely welcome an unprecedented period of chaos. This was not bad news for the Cangxuan Sect and the other overlord sects. At the very least, Sheng Yuan¡¯s ambitions had been stopped for the time being. Before this, no one would have ever imagined that this great chaotic battle would start and end at the hands of a young Divine Dwelling stage practitioner. News of today¡¯s battle would most definitely spread, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s name would soon become known by everyone in Cangxuan Heaven. Chapter 746 Mid Divine Dwelling Stage The sky was a deep black without any sun or stars. Ancient trees towered like pillars supporting the sky over an abandoned and neglected land. Numerous crystal-clear fruits grew on these ancient trees, each one giving off a dazzling radiance. The light illuminated a hundred-mile radius. In this world, these unique light trees had replaced the sun and moon, filling the domain with unique vitality. On a mountain peak. Zhou Yuan was seated atop a boulder with his eyes tightly shut, evidently deeply submerged in a state of cultivation. The surrounding Genesis Qi flooded towards him, ultimately pouring into his body with each breath he took. This training lasted for an entire day. At a certain moment, the Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan suddenly turned volatile. Rays of light emerged behind him, slowly forming a Divine Dwelling halo. Not long after the first Divine Dwelling halo formed, countless specks of light converged next to it, brewing together for several dozen breaths before merging into a second Divine Dwelling halo! Two Divine Dwelling halos! This meant that Zhou Yuan had stepped into the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage! When the second formed, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly opened. His expression remained calm as he cast a glance at the halo behind him. He wasn¡¯t very surprised because it was within his expectations. It had already been a month since he had arrived in this domain with master Cang Yuan. Over this period, Zhou Yuan had immersed himself in cultivation whenever he had time because this was the only way he could temporarily suppress the grief brought by Yaoyao¡¯s unconscious state. Over the past month, his progress had been unusually quick. Previously, Zhou Yuan had only managed to perfectly polish and connect two heavens in the Divine Dwelling. Over the past two months, he had polished and linked another two heavens. With this, four heavens were fully linked, allowing him to step into the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. Such cultivation progress amazed even Zhou Yuan himself, but he quickly realized that it was mostly due to the power patriarch Cang Xuan had left behind in his body. Although the majority of patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s power had slowly dissipated as time passed, an infinitesimally small portion had been absorbed by his body. Such a tiny amount might be insignificant to an existence like patriarch Cang Xuan, but it was extremely potent for a Divine Dwelling stage practitioner like Zhou Yuan. This was why Zhou Yuan had managed to achieve such progress and step into the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage after a mere month. However, his cultivation speed should return to normal when all of the patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s power faded completely. The two Divine Dwelling halos soon dissipated. Woo! Something arrived at his side. Zhou Yuan shot a glance over, and found that it was Tuntun. Tuntun leaned closely against his thigh. Its usually energetic self of the past was gone, replaced by a forever weak and lethargic appearance, its eyes filled with melancholy. Yaoyao¡¯s unconscious state was clearly also an extremely huge blow to the human-like Tuntun. Zhou Yuan reached out and gently stroked Tuntun¡¯s soft fur as he consoled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen to Yaoyao.¡± Tuntun¡¯s hot tongue poked out of its mouth and licked Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. It could likewise feel the sadness in his heart. Man and beast sat in silence on the mountain peak. Compared to before, there was one less beautiful figure in this picture. It felt as if a corner of a perfect painting had been torn. Zhou Yuan sat there in silence for a long time. Only when the bright sunlight fruits slowly began to dim and turn into ice-cold starlight did he stand up and begin his descent to the valley below with Tuntun in his arms. A small stream flowed through the mountain valley. A house sat beside the steam, creating a rather peaceful sight. Cang Yuan was seated near a bonfire that burned in front of the house. He beckoned to Zhou Yuan when he saw him. Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together towards Cang Yuan. ¡°Master Cang Yuan.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve ascended to the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage?¡± Cang Yuan looked at him and smiled. ¡°The Divine Dwelling you established is quite interesting...I believe its top tier even amongst the nine heavens Divine Dwellings.¡± A single glance was all that was required for Cang Yuan to discern the extraordinary Divine Dwelling in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Cang Yuan fell silent for a brief moment before he asked, ¡°You¡¯re practicing...the Ancestral Dragon Scripture?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in a somewhat awkward manner. Cang Yuan had left him a grade seven Genesis Qi cultivation method years ago, but he had ultimately chosen to practice the Ancestral Dragon Scripture instead. Cang Yuan frowned. ¡°That girl...is so reckless. ¡°Didn¡¯t she tell you how hard it is to cultivate the Ancestral Dragon Scripture?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. ¡°It was my choice.¡± It was a decision he did not regret even till today, and he was instead very glad that he had made it. Cang Yuan had left him a grade seven Genesis Qi cultivation method called the Heavenly Yuan Canon, but at this current juncture, he only needed to collect the required ingredients to complete the second evolution of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, upgrading it to the grade seven World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi. This would undoubtedly be much stronger than the Heavenly Yuan Canon. In the future, the Ancestral Dragon Scripture¡¯s potential would likewise far surpass the Heavenly Yuan Canon. Cang Yuan faintly nodded and did not speak any further on the topic. He could tell that Zhou Yuan was a determined person who would not give up easily. ¡°Master Cang Yuan¡­¡± Zhou Yuan glanced towards the house. He was silent for a moment before he said, ¡°Has there been any progress on Yaoyao¡¯s matter?¡± This was the question he was most concerned about. Cang Yuan released a long drawn out breath before he nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ve flipped through many old texts over the past month and have succeeded in finding a method that should be able to repair her body.¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed, and Tuntun barked excitedly in his arms. ¡°But it will not be simple, and I will require your help,¡± said Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan decisively declared, ¡°No matter what it is, I will do anything to help Yaoyao awaken!¡± Cang Yuan cast a meaningful glance at him and said, ¡°You and Yaoyao... ¡°I only tasked you to help me take care of her back then.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned awkward. Evidently, Cang Yuan had found out that the relationship between him and Yaoyao was not that of ordinary friends but of man and woman. Cang Yuan slowly said, ¡°This matter is truly not within my expectations...I originally believed that she would never have feelings for another. It seems that...you¡¯re a pretty amazing brat, huh?¡± Cang Yuan displayed what seemed to be a smile. Zhou Yuan could only smile as well, not daring to say anything. After all, Cang Yuan was strictly speaking Yaoyao¡¯s elder, and he had only intended to place her into his care. Who could have expected their relationship to develop in such a manner. As such, Zhou Yuan did feel quite guilty. ¡°Master Cang Yuan, let¡¯s talk about that method you found¡­¡± Zhou Yuan guiltily tried to change the topic. Chapter 747 Articles of the Ancestral Dragon Zhou Yuan was taken aback by these words. He soon nodded and said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Hunyuan Heaven is the most populated and strongest land in Tianyuan World if we exclude the sacred race.¡± Yaoyao had told him that Tianyuan World consisted of nine heavens. The sacred race occupied four heavens, while the numerous other living creatures were separated into the remaining five heavens. Hunyuan Heaven was something like the core of these five heavens. It was precisely because of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s existence that the innumerable living beings of Tianyuan World were not enslaved by the sacred race. Hunyuan Heaven was considered the stronghold of the resistance against the sacred race. ¡°Do you know how powerful Hunyuan Heaven is?¡± asked Cang Yuan with a grin. Zhou Yuan immediately shook his head. He did not know much about Hunyuan Heaven, but he was aware that Su Youwei and Wu Yao had gone there. As for how strong Hunyuan Heaven was, it was not something a tiny Divine Dwelling stage practitioner like him would be privy to. Cang Yuan¡¯s gnarled hand reached towards the bonfire. He nonchalantly barbequed a stick of meat as he smiled faintly and said, ¡°Hunyuan Heaven is extremely vast, far exceeding Cangxuan Heaven. Hunyuan Heaven is more or less divided into nine domains. ¡°Every domain is overseen by a domain master. ¡°And these domain masters are all Saints.¡± These few sentences made Zhou Yuan gasp. Astonishment filled his face as he stammered, ¡°Isn¡¯t that...nine...nine Saints?!¡± Zhou Yuan did not know exactly how powerful a Saint was, but he understood that even Sheng Yuan was merely at the false Saint stage. The false Saint stage was already considered an invincible existence in Cangxuan Heaven. If not for Cang Yuan¡¯s appearance towards the end, no one would have been able to stop Sheng Yuan. But Cang Yuan was now telling him that there were nine Saints in Hunyuan Heaven! What kind of concept was this? If any one of these nine saints came to Cangxuan Heaven, it would be enough to subdue the Sacred Palace, the Cangxuan Sect and the other overlord sects. The Saint could easily sweep away any opposition and become the heaven master! No wonder Hunyuan Heaven was the frontline of the resistance against the sacred race. Such power was indeed extremely terrifying. Cang Yuan smiled and nodded as he gazed at the shock on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°The nine domain masters are the ultimate rulers of Hunyuan Heaven, governing over countless lands and subjects¡­ ¡°Amongst these nine domains is one known as the Tianyuan Region, which I myself had created.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned once more as he stared at the nonchalant-looking Cang Yuan. There was no pride or hint of showing off on the latter¡¯s face, as if Cang Yuan was merely stating the most ordinary of facts. That was the highest authority and power in Hunyuan Heaven. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimates, even patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s heaven master position may not match up to Cang Yuan¡¯s domain master status... He never imagined that his freebie-master would be one of the nine supreme sovereigns of Hunyuan Heaven... It was a long time later before Zhou Yuan finally returned to his senses. With a face colored in amazement, he asked, ¡°Does this have anything to do with getting Yaoyao to awaken?¡± Although he was shocked by Cang Yuan¡¯s identity, the most important thing to Zhou Yuan now was still Yaoyao¡¯s awakening. Cang Yuan chuckled and said, ¡°Yaoyao is different from everyone else. Hence, she needs something different to restore her body.¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly asked, ¡°Something different?¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a solemn look emerging within them. He slowly answered, ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Lantern and the Ancestral Dragon Flesh.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He repeated, ¡°Ancestral Dragon Lantern and Ancestral Dragon Flesh?¡± Cang Yuan slowly said, ¡°In the beginning, the first creature born from the primordial chaos was known as the Ancestral Dragon. The Ancestral Dragon body subsequently transformed into all living things, giving birth to the numerous lifeforms of Tianyuan World.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned a little rigid, and he asked, ¡°Is...isn¡¯t that a legend?¡± He had heard similar tales several times with all kinds of varying versions. However, he had never taken them seriously and had merely thought of them as stories. ¡°Moreover...even if it¡¯s real, the Ancestral Dragon has turned into many living things long ago. How can there be any of its flesh left in this world?¡± He could not believe that the flesh of such a mythical creature of legend would still exist in the world. Moreover, what was even more unbelievable was that Yaoyao required something as legendary as the Ancestral Dragon flesh to recover?! This was just outrageous. Cang Yuan nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s very difficult to find any Ancestral Dragon Flesh in our current time.¡± However, his words soon turned, ¡°But very difficult does not mean impossible.¡± Zhou Yuan continued to ask, ¡°What about the Ancestral Dragon Lantern?¡± ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Lantern is a top-tier Saint artifact of Hunyuan Heaven, and legend says that its light originates from the marrow of the Ancestral Dragon. The nine domains alternate in taking ownership of the lantern and will meet every hundred years to determine the next owner.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly as he said, ¡°In other words, we¡¯ll have succeeded once the Ancestral Dragon Lamp lands in the hands of the Tianyuan Region?¡± Cang Yuan nodded. Zhou Yuan puzzledly asked, ¡°Master, you¡¯re one of the nine soverigns. Borrowing it shouldn¡¯t be a problem if you go to Hunyuan Heaven, right?¡± Cang Yuan shook his head and explained, ¡°If I could go to Hunyuan Heaven, why would I have needed to escape and hide from the sacred race? After all, even the sacred race does not dare to easily step foot into Hunyuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan was full of questions. ¡°Master, aren¡¯t you one of the nine supreme sovereigns? Why can¡¯t you go to Hunyuan Heaven?¡± Cang Yuan sighed as he looked towards the house where Yaoyao¡¯s crystal coffin lay. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook. ¡°Because of Yaoyao?¡± ¡°Yaoyao¡¯s existence is far too important to the numerous living creatures of our Tianyuan World. But she is also far too special. As such, the nine supreme sovereigns have never agreed on how to handle her. ¡°I secretly brought her out and hid for many years. While hiding from the sacred race, I¡¯m also hiding from the other supreme sovereigns. ¡°If I return to Hunyuan Heaven, they will soon discover my presence. When that happens, things may not bode well for Yaoyao,¡± said Cang Yuan with a heavy expression. Zhou Yuan secretly wet his lips, clearly not expecting Cang Yuan to have such a disagreement with the other eight supreme sovereigns. The implications were not something he could understand. ¡°That¡¯s why I need you to head for Hunyuan Heaven...you can find my other two disciples there, and they will naturally aid you in obtaining the Ancestral Dragon Lantern,¡± said Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes brightened. ¡°The two senior brothers that Master had mentioned in the past?¡± ¡°Two senior brothers?¡± Cang Yuan was slightly taken aback. Soon after, he could not help but chuckle and say, ¡°Your first senior brother is indeed a senior brother. As for the other one, I guess you¡¯re not wrong¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. What does he mean by you¡¯re not wrong? ¡°However, it¡¯s been many years since I left Hunyuan Heaven, and I can¡¯t say for certain what state the Tianyuan Region is in. The Tianyuan Region is far too vast, and there are countless powerful factions and experts within it. They may have been obedient while I was around, but I cannot promise that nothing has changed since then. ¡°That¡¯s why you need to be a little more cautious when you arrive in the Tianyuan Region. ¡°On another note, with the exception of my two disciples, you cannot reveal to anyone else that you¡¯re my third disciple. If the other supreme sovereigns discover your identity, they may try to extract my current circumstances from you.¡± Cang Yuan slowly said, ¡°As for the even more elusive Ancestral Dragon Flesh, you¡¯ll need to investigate for yourself in Hunyuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly pondered Cang Yuan¡¯s words. He knew that obtaining both items mentioned would be extremely difficult tasks. The difficulty of awakening Yaoyao had clearly far surpassed his expectations. This made his heart somewhat heavy. But in the end, he took a deep breath and said, ¡°I understand. When do I leave?¡± There was no need for any further discussion because he knew that whether it was crossing a mountain of daggers or a sea of fire, he would not hesitate if it could help Yaoyao awaken. Cang Yuan was rather happy with his attitude. He raised his head and stared into space. His brows furrowed a little. ¡°The sooner the better. I feel that the sacred race is honing in on my position again.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered before a resolute look arose within them. Chapter 748 Separation Yaoyao silently lay within it. Her fair and slender hands were clasped together over her abdomen, and numerous cracks were glowing on her skin. Her face was still as breathtakingly beautiful as before. However, her usually clear yet distant eyes were now tightly shut, sealing off any signs of life. Sorrow flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he reached out and gently caressed the coffin lid. Her every scowl and smile now existed only in memory. He deeply blamed himself for what had happened to Yaoyao because if not for him, she would never have been forced into such a state. Cang Yuan had tasked him to take care of Yaoyao, but Zhou Yuan clearly understood who had been taking care of who for the past few years. Meeting her was his blessing. But what made Zhou Yuan feel unbearable inside was that meeting him was most likely not a blessing for her. Otherwise, she would not be in this state today. Zhou Yuan knew that his lack of strength was the main reason why this had happened. Zhou Yuan softly murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t worry Yaoyao. I will awaken you no matter how difficult it is!¡± He stared at Yaoyao¡¯s face for a long time. In the end, he cast away all hesitation and decisively turned around to leave. He did not know what awaited him this time. Hunyuan Heaven was far too vast and far from anything Cangxuan Heaven could hope to compare to. But he would not give up no matter what. After leaving the house, boundless Genesis Qi undulations rippled in front of him. Zhou Yuan looked over and saw a giant Genesis Qi light array slowly taking shape in the nearby mountain valley. Cang Yuan stood in the air, countless runes appearing and landing on the light array each time his finger cut through the air. It was a Genesis Rune array that enabled travel between the heavens. A teleportation array of this level was extremely difficult to construct and required an extremely frightening amount of Genesis Qi. However, neither was a huge problem for a Saint. Two incense sticks of time later. Cang Yuan¡¯s hands finally stopped moving. He gazed at the light array before him and nodded in approval before slowly descending, arriving in front of Zhou Yuan. Cang Yuan glanced at the house, then asked, ¡°Are you ready?¡± Zhou Yuan silently nodded. Cang Yuan felt a small surge of emotions as he looked at the young man before him. The sacred race had just so happened to discover his location when he had first met Zhou Yuan, leaving him no choice but to temporarily separate from Yaoyao. Back then, he would never have imagined that such feelings would ultimately develop between Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. Cang Yuan did not know whether this was good or bad. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± ¡°...if you truly want to be with her, you need to become extremely powerful. ¡°After all, I¡¯m sure you do not want to see the events of Cangxuan Heaven repeat themselves.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands slowly tightened. He knew that Cang Yuan was not trying to beat him down. Some matters were very cruel, but one ultimately needed to face them. If he was not strong enough, even if he managed to awaken Yaoyao, something similar would eventually happen again in the future. Because Yaoyao was not ordinary. ¡°I understand, master Cang Yuan.¡± Zhou Yuan faintly nodded. ¡°Your trip to Hunyuan Heaven is also a big opportunity for you...it is the strongest land of the countless living creatures of Hunyuan World. There are as many geniuses there as the clouds in the sky, and even Saints cannot unravel all its mysteries. ¡°As such, while you¡¯re trying to find the two Ancestral Dragon related items, don¡¯t forget that it is even more important for you to do everything you can to make yourself stronger. ¡°Only when you possess sufficient strength will you be able to take hold of certain things in the future. Otherwise¡­¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s expression turned solemn. ¡°I would rather you become an ordinary person and no longer interfere in these affairs. I will find another way to awaken Yaoyao, but you can no longer appear before her in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook. A sharp and resolute look immediately emerged in his eyes. He lifted his head and looked straight at Cang Yuan. He slowly said, ¡°Master Cang Yuan, you know that I will never give up.¡± Cang Yuan matched Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze. A while later, he finally said, ¡°Then show it with your actions.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He did not say anything else because everything would hinge upon what happened in the future. Woo! A shadow leaped onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder, revealing itself to be Tuntun. From Tuntun¡¯s appearance, it was clearly aware of his departure and wanted to tag along. However, Cang Yuan beckoned with his hand, grabbing Tuntun from some distance away and placing it in the cradle of his other arm. ¡°You won¡¯t be following him this time.¡± He raised his head and explained to Zhou Yuan, ¡°Tuntun is no ordinary creature either. I plan to send it to a more suitable place that will be more beneficial to it.¡± Tuntun made anxious noises. Zhou Yuan gently sighed inside. He could not foresee what dangers awaited him in the Hunyuan Heaven and having Tuntun with him may not be a good thing. He cast a reluctant glance at Tuntun as he felt a surge of frustration. Yaoyao and Tuntun had been at his side for many years, but he was now going to the unfamiliar Hunyuan Heaven alone. ¡°Tuntun, let¡¯s temporarily part ways here. When we meet again, I will have definitely left you far behind.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned at Tuntun. Tuntun immediately displayed a disdainful expression but soon became rather downcast, its tail hanging lifelessly behind it. It likewise understood that there was nothing it could do. Woowoo. It made whimpering noises at Zhou Yuan, its eyes filled with reluctance. Sadness rose within Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, but he ultimately forced himself to turn around and walk into the giant light array. ¡°I¡¯m ready, master Cang Yuan.¡± Cang Yuan faintly nodded and said, ¡°I will do all I can to lock onto the Tianyuan Region. After obtaining the Ancestral Dragon items, shatter the seal I have given you and I will soon contact you.¡± He waved his sleeve as his voice faded. Giant rays of light exploded from the array as boundless Genesis Qi gushed over, violently shaking the surrounding space. However, just as Cang Yuan was about to activate the teleportation array, the domain suddenly began to shudder as the Genesis Qi of the land showed signs of wanting to escape. Zhou Yuan abruptly raised his head in alarm. A giant crack suddenly appeared in the sky, and endless destructive lightning emerged. The lightning was white! Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils violently shrank at the sight of the white lightning. It was not an unfamiliar sight to him. It was the sacred race! Chapter 749 Teleported Space was ripped open as endless white lightning poured inside like a waterfall. The power of destruction accompanied the roaring thunder. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned extremely grave at the sight of the white lightning violently warping the surrounding space. He had not expected the sacred race to come knocking just as he was about to leave. ¡°Humph, what a pack of dogs.¡± Cang Yuan icily snorted as he raised his head and gazed at the torn space. Rumble! Countless bolts of lightning rained down from the spatial crack, hurtling towards the giant teleportation array in an attempt to destroy it. Space crumbled wherever the white lightning passed. Cang Yuan stomped his foot as boundless Saint Genesis Qi rose out from the top of his head. It turned into an enormous cloud that protected the array. Dong dong! Countless white thunderbolts bombarded the Genesis Qi cloud, causing devastating shockwaves to unfurl. Fortunately, none of them were able to pierce the cloud. Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp turned somewhat numb due to the terrifying clash of energies above him. Even a tiny bit of that destructive power would be able to wipe him off the face of the earth. Cang Yuan began to start up the teleportation array as he continued to block the falling white lightning. This was not a battle Zhou Yuan could participate in, and Cang Yuan would naturally be able to escape unscathed once he sent his disciple off. Two glowing figures slowly condensed from the endless white lightning near the spatial crack, revealing themselves to be two figures in white robes. At their appearance, even the entire domain began to show signs of falling apart. This was because the domain was unable to support the weight of these three powerhouses. Zhou Yuan gazed at the two figures. Dazzling white lightning swirled around their bodies, causing him to feel a piercing pain in his eyes, making it impossible for him to view their faces. ¡°Cang Yuan, hand her over!¡± An indifferent voice boomed from the two figures that were giving off terrifying auras. Cang Yuan raised his eyes and mocked, ¡°In your dreams.¡± Bzz! The two apex sacred race experts wasted no further time. Light gathered between their brows as an eye slowly opened. In the next instant, two beams of light shot out. The light beams left a trail of death in their wake, as if they would destroy all life. Even the surrounding Genesis Qi began to wither and fade. ¡°Sacred Light of Annihilation¡­¡± Two beams of light pierced through the air. Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He quickly closed his eyes as the area behind him suddenly turned dark. Rumble! Zhou Yuan could not help but gasp at the sight of the giant mottled grindstone. ¡°Is that...the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone?!¡± This giant mottled grindstone was all too familiar to him. He had seen it every time he practiced the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. However, he never imagined that the visualized Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone could be imprinted into the world and used for battle! This was evidently something that could be done by someone who had achieved an extremely in-depth mastery of the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. Rumble! The two light beams of annihilation landed on the giant mottled grindstone, but they were only able to make it falter for a moment before they were crushed into nothingness. The giant grindstone did not stop, continuing to smash through the air. It appeared in front of the two apex sacred race experts and descended upon them. The Genesis Qi around the two apex sacred race experts rippled violently. They clearly did not dare to tarry, and they hurriedly circulated their full power. Endless white lightning swept out and rapidly blasted the giant grindstone. Both sides fell into a temporary deadlock. Amidst the stalemate, Cang Yuan turned some of his attention back to the teleportation array. Berserk undulations began to spread, slowly tearing apart the fabric of space. Countless specks of light filled the air and covered Zhou Yuan¡¯s body little by little. Swish! It was at this moment, however, that the area above the mountain valley was suddenly ripped apart. A glowing figure shot downwards like a bolt of lightning, accelerating towards the house that contained the crystal coffin at an alarming speed. It was a third sacred race apex expert! He had evidently hidden himself earlier in order to wait for a chance to steal away the crystal coffin while Cang Yuan was busy with the other two apex experts. ¡°You dare!¡± Cang Yuan immediately realized what was happening. Anger flashed in his eyes as his hands swiftly formed a seal. Rumble! Millions and millions of Genesis Runes suddenly erupted from the seemingly ordinary house. The runes fused together, transforming into a giant crystal-like Genesis Rune hand that swatted towards the third apex expert from the sacred race. Thump! The third apex expert was sent flying. However, he charged forward again a second later, slamming into the giant Genesis Rune hand. The space around them fractured. Boom boom! After a few repeated collisions, the Genesis Rune hand began to fall apart. Cang Yuan¡¯s expression grew increasingly grave. He had to split his attention three ways and even had to face three sacred race apex experts. Even someone like him was beginning to feel the heat. Fortunately, the transportation array was finally ready. Resplendent dots of light had already turned into concentrated rays that completely covered Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. ¡°Zhou Yuan, prepare to leave!¡± His shout rang out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears. In the next instant, his hand seal changed, causing the space within the teleportation array to shatter. Countless spatial fragments swirled around, forming a spatial vortex. ¡°Go!¡± Zhou Yuan shot forth without hesitation, plunging straight into the spatial vortex. Boom! But the instant Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire figure had submerged into the spatial vortex, the cloud above was suddenly blasted open as a small bolt of white lightning fell from the sky and struck the spatial vortex. Rumble! Erratic spatial undulations exploded in the spatial vortex. It only managed to last for a few breaths more before swiftly dissipating. Cang Yuan¡¯s expression involuntarily changed. Although the white lightning bolt was insignificant to an existence like him, it had contained enough power to disrupt the spatial passage. This was quite bad for Zhou Yuan. However, Cang Yuan was powerless to do anything at this juncture. After all, he still had to deal with the three apex experts of the sacred race. Fortunately, the teleportation array had already activated, and the power of the array should serve as some protection for Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I wish you all the best.¡± Cang Xuan smiled bitterly. In the next instant, the crystal coffin had already appeared beside him. He kept it with a wave of his sleeve before turning his frosty gaze towards the three apex experts from the sacred race. The area behind him began to swirl, forming a vortex that swallowed his figure in a single gulp. The three sacred race apex experts immediately tore open space and dashed in, vanishing from the domain. They were clearly chasing after Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan, who had escaped earlier, was far beneath their attention. He was merely a Divine Dwelling stage ant. In the wake of their departure, the unique domain slowly fell silent once more. Only the giant trees with light-giving fruits silently towered over the land, as if they would continue to do so till the end of time. ... Rumble! Inside the spatial passage. Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire body was wrapped in concentrated light. His expression changed slightly as he cast back a glance at the small bolt of white lightning roaring towards him at high speed. Due to the white lightning, the originally stable spatial passage began to ripple. Fortunately, the most worrisome scenario did not appear. The white lightning exploded, releasing devastating shockwaves that distorted the insides of the spatial passage. Some of the energy smashed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, but with loud clangs, the shell of light surrounding him stopped the energy. Every collision made his body tremble violently. Wounds began to tear open on his body, causing Zhou Yuan to tightly grit his teeth. He knew that if he failed to endure and was swept away by the distorted space, it would be impossible to escape given his current cultivation. ... Time slowly flowed in the spatial passage. Zhou Yuan did not know how much time had passed, but his entire body was already riddled with bloody wounds despite the protection of the teleportation array. The strong protective light had also become much dimmer. Endless life energy flowed out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body to repair his wounds. However, there was a trace of worry in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Though there was still some life energy from the Taiyi Green Wood Mark in his body, he did not know how long it would last. Once the Taiyi Green Wood Mark¡¯s life energy was used up, he would have no choice but to endure with his body. In addition, the distorted space within the passage was growing increasingly violent as time passed. ¡°Has the spatial passage still not reached its end?¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head and looked to his front, but an exit had yet to appear, causing his heart to sink. Boom! While Zhou Yuan was worrying, a loud noise suddenly sounded from behind. His gaze swept backwards, only for his expression to change drastically. A giant torrent of distorted space had appeared and was rapidly approaching him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp turned numb as he squeezed out every last bit of Genesis Qi in his body and swiftly sped through the spatial passage. The torrent of distorted space roared like an angry dragon, rapidly closing the gap between them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression grew increasingly ugly as he felt the terrifying undulations pulsing behind him. However, his heart suddenly shook. He had finally seen a dazzling light appear in the seemingly endless spatial passage. ¡°I¡¯m finally at the exit!¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed as he swiftly shot forward. The closer he got to the spatial door, the nearer the torrent of distorted space grew. He could already hear the wailing of the berserk energies contained within it. Various thoughts rapidly flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. At this rate, he would be torn to shreds before he could reach the spatial door. ¡°Not good, I¡¯m still not fast enough!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes rapidly flickered in thought before a resolute look flashed in his eyes. He slowed down a little as he circulated his Genesis Qi. Turning into a torrent, his Genesis Qi swept out and smashed into the approaching distorted space. Boom! Blood wildly sprayed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth at the moment of impact. A frightening force swept towards him, instantly tearing apart his clothes. Even his spatial bag was torn to shreds, and sinister wounds appeared on his body. But by borrowing the power of the frightening force, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was sent flying backwards at an astonishing speed. In the end, he hurtled through the spatial door a split second before the charging torrent of distorted space could swallow him. Boom! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body violently trembled as he shot through the spatial door, but before he could take a look at his surroundings, his figure turned into a streak of light as he plummeted from the sky. Wind blasted his face as Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart turned cold. At this speed and in his current condition, he would either be killed or crippled by the fall. However, he no longer had anything left in him at this juncture and could only leave his fate to the heavens. Boom! His figure streaked past the horizon. The moment before he crashed to the ground, Zhou Yuan seemed to smash into something, and he faintly heard a miserable shriek. Thump! Something seemed to have been smashed to pulp. However, Zhou Yuan could not care about anything else at this moment. Although his fall had been slightly cushioned, the impact still violently shook his insides and made him wildly vomit blood. In the end, his eyelids slowly began to close. An instant before darkness took him, Zhou Yuan seemed to hear a somewhat panicked cry. ¡°Could he have fallen to his death?¡± Chapter 750 The Yi Clan Sisters It felt as if his entire body was being torn to pieces. He could not help but gasp several times, his face contorting in pain. But the pain made him breathe a secret sigh of relief. It looked like he was pretty lucky to have not fallen straight to his death... As he endured the pain, Zhou Yuan scanned the area with his gaze. Where is this? This should be in Hunyuan Heaven, right? While such thoughts were swirling in his head, the tent entrance was suddenly lifted. Zhou Yuan saw a small figure walk in as a pair of large eyes stared in a daze at Zhou Yuan, who was now awake. Zhou Yuan looked over and found what appeared to be a young ten-year-old girl. The little girl was very pretty like a porcelain doll and had a pair of large, bright eyes. Jingle. She was stunned for a moment before happiness appeared on her face. She ran over with the tinkle of a bell¡ªa red bell was on her wrist. The young girl said with joy, ¡°Big brother, you¡¯ve awoken?¡± Zhou Yuan blinked. Just as he was about to speak, he found that the little girl had happily turned around and ran out of the tent. Several words echoed, ¡°I¡¯ll go tell my sister!¡± Zhou Yuan could only smile bitterly at the sight of the energetic little girl. From her attitude, however, it seemed that he had not been unlucky enough to fall into a wolf¡¯s den, right? Zhou Yuan inwardly shook his head before turning his senses to the interior of his body. Regardless of where he was, it was most important to first regain his strength. The bitter smile on his face grew even more bitter as he scanned his body. If not for the Mythic Saint Body he cultivated, he would have likely been torn to pieces in the spatial passage. Although he somehow managed to survive, his body was in an extremely terrible condition. More importantly, all of the vital energy in the Taiyi Green Wood Mark had been completely used up, making it impossible for him to repair his body... Besides his body, all of the Genesis Qi in his Divine Dwelling had been fully exhausted. It was a spectacle that was too horrible for the eyes. Any ordinary person would likely be capable of killing him in this state. This gave rise to a strong feeling of unease. Looks like my top priority is to swiftly recover from my injuries and regain my strength... Unfortunately, Zhou Yuan¡¯s spatial bag had been destroyed in the spatial passage. Although he had managed to retrieve a few important articles, the medicines and items that could heal his body were not amongst them. The young lady was wearing a long pale-yellow skirt, and her long hair reached all the way to her waist. She had an excellent figure and a very pretty goose-egg-shaped face. Her facial features were somewhat similar to the little girl¡¯s, and they were likely sisters. When she appeared, her bright and clear eyes immediately looked towards Zhou Yuan. Her eyes were filled with intelligence and caution. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze paused on her body for a moment before withdrawing. The young lady before him was indeed very pretty, but after living with Yaoyao for so many years, his standards with regards to beauty had reached an alarmingly high level. Rather than her looks, Zhou Yuan was more focused on the faint Genesis Qi undulations around her body. They definitely belonged to the Divine Dwelling stage and might even be from the intermediate level. This observation somewhat amazed him. Hunyuan Heaven was truly a blessed land. If someone like her was put in Cangxuan Heaven, she would be a top-class Chosen even among the six major sects. However, the young lady¡¯s beauty and aura likewise told Zhou Yuan that she was no ordinary person and was likely of high status. The sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm eyes slightly stunned the young lady. Her exceptional beauty likely drew in many disrespectful young men, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s reaction was rather rare. However, her expression did not change as she arrived by the bed and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve awoken?¡± Her voice was clear and pleasant to the ear. Zhou Yuan nodded, struggling to sit up as he said with embarrassment, ¡°May I enquire about the current circumstances?¡± ¡°Big brother, you suddenly fell from the sky three days ago and smashed someone to death¡­,¡± chirped the little girl. Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback. His landing had smashed someone to death? No wonder it had felt as if something had cushioned his fall... The young lady with the goose-egg-shaped face reached out and gently tapped the little girl¡¯s forehead, stopping her from speaking any further. She then turned back to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°I¡¯m called Yi Qiushui, and this is my younger sister, Yi Dong¡¯er. We¡¯re from the Yi clan.¡± As she spoke, her eyes were closely observing Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained somewhat lost as he said, ¡°I¡¯m called Zhou Yuan.¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s gaze bewildered him. What the heck was this Yi clan? The sight of his lost expression made Yi Qiushui¡¯s face slightly relax. However, the caution in her eyes did not recede as she said, ¡°You¡¯re from one of the other heavens?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, not hiding anything. ¡°There were some problems during the teleportation which led to my predicament.¡± He asked in a somewhat anxious manner, ¡°This should be in Hunyuan Heaven, right?¡± Yi Qiushui smiled faintly and replied, ¡°This is indeed Hunyuan Heaven.¡± She was not surprised that Zhou Yuan was from another heaven because it was not rare to encounter similar situations. ¡°To be more precise, the Tianyuan Region of Hunyuan Heaven, and we¡¯re currently in the Xiaoxuan Province.¡± Relief washed over Zhou Yuan. Looks like the teleportation had succeeded. He had not only reached Hunyuan Heaven but even arrived in the Tianyuan Region... ¡°You guys were the ones who saved me?¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards the sisters. Yi Dong¡¯er said with a smile, ¡°Wrong, big brother, you are the one who saved me.¡± Zhou Yuan was utterly confused. A smile emerged on Yi Qiushui¡¯s face as she explained, ¡°I should be thanking you. Three days ago, Dong¡¯er encountered a low-life while playing, and he had tried to kidnap her. ¡°It was then that you fell from the sky and smashed that low-life to death. However, you were also gravely injured, and Dong¡¯er was the one who carried you back to the camp.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched as he gave a moment of silence for the low-life he had smashed. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled at Yi Dong¡¯er. If she had not carried him back to their camp, he might have already been eaten by Genesis Beasts in that unconscious and heavily injured state. Yi Dong¡¯er was somewhat embarrassed as she softly said, ¡°Big brother Zhou Yuan, you can relax and recuperate here.¡± One could tell that she was quite grateful towards Zhou Yuan. After all, she would definitely have been kidnapped if not for him. Who knows how those scoundrels would have threatened her sister if that had happened. She paused for a moment as she tightly clenched her small fists. ¡°Moreover, the guy you smashed to death deserves it. My elder sister will definitely protect you! Isn¡¯t that right, elder sister?¡± She turned her head and looked towards Yi Qiushui in an expectant manner. Yi Qiushui smiled as she rubbed Dong¡¯er¡¯s tiny head. She then gave Zhou Yuan a small nod. However, Zhou Yuan was able to sense a trace of worry deep in her eyes. His heart skipped a beat. Why did something sound wrong? Could the person he had smashed to death be some important figure of sorts? While such thoughts were swirling in his head, he heard a disturbance outside the tent before a stern voice rang out. ¡°Yi Qiushui, hand over the criminal who killed young master Qiu! Or the Qiu clan will not let this matter rest!¡± Chapter 751 Qiu Ji She swept a glance over Zhou Yuan and calmly reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about other things. Just recuperate here. ¡°It will be safer for you to leave when your wounds are healed.¡± From Yi Qiushui¡¯s words and tone of voice, Zhou Yuan could feel a hint of caution towards him. Perhaps this was because of his unknown background. ¡°When my injuries are healed, I¡¯ll leave.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded without expression. Although Yi Qiushui was wary of him, he didn¡¯t feel insulted or angered because, given his current state, it indeed wouldn¡¯t be wise of him to leave recklessly, especially under the premise that he had somehow killed an unlucky guy with an important background. He knew very well that he was in Hunyuan Heaven, not Cangxuan Heaven. He could no longer use the name of the Cangxuan Sect as a shield, and he also didn¡¯t have the unfathomable Yaoyao accompanying him. Here, he had to rely on himself for everything. When she heard his calm response, Yi Qiushui knew that Zhou Yuan understood the hidden meaning in her words. But his simple and straightforward answer still made her feel a little uncomfortable. But she didn¡¯t say much. Their situation was somewhat unusual, and Zhou Yuan was of unknown background. He had suddenly descended from the sky and saved Dong¡¯er. There were far too many coincidences. It was possible that this was all a deliberate plot to get close to them. This was the reason why she wanted to test Zhou Yuan. If he had shown any hesitation or made any excuse to stay, she would have suspected him. What made her breathe a sigh of relief was that Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t act strangely. Yi Qiushu¡¯s long slender eyelashes gently flickered as she took out a jade bottle from her spatial bag and placed it next to Zhou Yuan. ¡°There is a Genesis Accumulation Pill inside that can help restore Genesis Qi. It should be useful to you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan hesitated a little, but in the end he didn¡¯t refuse, because he really needed medicines and pills that would speed up his recovery. As long as his Genesis Qi wasn¡¯t exhausted, he could operate the Mythic Saint Body Art to repair his body. Although its speed of recovery wasn¡¯t as quick as the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, this wasn¡¯t a time to be picky. ¡°I owe you a favour,¡± he said seriously. Yi Qiushui didn¡¯t care too much about what Zhou Yuan said. She had outstanding talent and was able to reach the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage at such a young age, and she was one of the strongest among the young generation of Little Xuanzhou. And Hunyuan Heaven was the strongest among the heavens besides the sacred race¡¯s. As someone of the Hunyuan Heaven, Yi Qiushui naturally felt a little sense of superiority when she met people of other heavens. This was a common problem for the majority of the people of the Hunyuan Heaven. This was the same mentality the people of the Shengzhou continent had when they met people of other continents. Yi Qiushui said nothing more and walked out of the tent. Yi Dong¡¯er smiled at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Big brother Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t worry. Recuperate here.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled softly at her. The little girl was simple and pure. She didn¡¯t think too much like her older sister, and she truly treated him as her lifesaver. Although in Zhou Yuan¡¯s view, it was she who was his lifesaver. Zhou Yuan watched the sisters leave the tent. However, soon after, Zhou Yuan heard a commotion outside. He hesitated a little but then sat up with difficulty and lifted a small corner of the tent to peep through. He wanted to find out where he was now. Outside the tent was a camp. At that moment, a wave of people was outside surrounding the tent in which Zhou Yuan was resting. Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful eyes were even brighter under the sun. She stared at a group of people led by a gloomy middle-aged man. ¡°Qiu Ji, why are you here?¡± Yi Qiushui asked coldly. The eyes of the middle-aged man, Qiu Ji, blazed with anger. He thundered, ¡°Miss Yi, our young master died here. You haven¡¯t given us an explanation, and yet you want us to leave?¡± Yi Qiushui sneered, ¡°You think I don¡¯t know what Qiu Yang wanted to do? He just wanted to kidnap Dong¡¯er and use her to blackmail me, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Qiu Ji raged, ¡°Yi Qiushui, just because your father said he would pass the position of Prefecture Lord to you, you actually think you are the Prefecture Lord of Xiaoxuan Province! Also, even if you are, you killed the young master of my Qiu family. My Qiu family won¡¯t leave this matter at that! ¡°Come, bring that boy to me!¡± Qiu Ji thundered. All of a sudden several figures stepped forth from behind him. Powerful Genesis Qi surged out and formed a Divine Dwelling halo behind them. ¡°Who dares!¡± Yi Qiushui raised her beautiful brows. Chi! Chi! More than a dozen figures appeared behind Yi Qiushui like ghosts, fixing fierce looks on Qiu Ji and the others. Their strength was extremely extraordinary, and the majority had already reached the Divine Dwelling stage. The two sides immediately disagreed, and the atmosphere turned incredibly tense all of a sudden. Qiu Ji¡¯s face darkened. He certainly knew that Qiu Yang had racked his brain to find a chance to kidnap Yi Dong¡¯er, but no one thought that just as Qiu Yang would almost succeed, someone would descend from the sky and crush him to death. In the end, their plan was exposed, and they had completely angered Yi Qiushui. If this were spread to Xuanzhou City, the master of the Qiu family would fly into a rage when he learned of the matter. The one in trouble then would be Qiu Ji. ¡°Yi Qiushui, are you really going to tear apart the face of my Qiu family for someone who has nothing to do with you? You are currently not the Prefecture Lord of Xiaoxuan Province!¡± Qiu Ji said with a sinister expression. ¡°If you hand that person over to me, I can at least report back. It¡¯s good for both of us. Otherwise...there is still some distance to Xuanzhou City. If something were to happen on the way, don¡¯t blame anyone.¡± There was an evident threat in his words. However, Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful eyes were still icy cold, and she did not back down in the least. ¡°Take your men and get lost. When I get to Xuanzhou City, your Qiu family can come find me if they want!¡± With eyes like a viper, Qiu Ji swept a look over the tent behind her. He then gave a cold smile and turned away with his people. Following Qiu Ji¡¯s departure, the tense atmosphere faded. Inside the tent. Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze and returned to the bed. His brows slightly wrinkled. It seemed he had created enemies the moment he had arrived in Hunyuan Heaven. But who was the Prefecture Lord of Xiaoxuan Province? Chapter 752 Escor Blinding jade-colored light burst out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. A strong oppressive aura rose into the air, attracting numerous shocked and terrified gazes. The moment the Mythic Saint Body was activated, the ground began to crack, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure transformed into a stream of light and sped out, launching a direct offense on Xu Feng. ¡°You want to die!¡± Upon seeing this, Xu Feng simply sneered out loud. At that moment his body was dark, like a mysterious iron giant. He clenched his fist tight, and a vortex seemed to form around it, exploding the air. His fist ruthlessly blasted towards Zhou Yuan with a shrill noise. ¡°Xu Feng, kill that boy!¡± Qiu Ji roared, his eyes filled with killing intent. Although the Genesis Qi foundation that Zhou Yuan had shown was astonishing, the reason that Xu Feng could rampage about in Xiaoxuan Province for so many years was clearly not just because of the Qiu family¡¯s support, but because of his own strength. Moreover, Xu Feng had cultivated both Genesis Qi and bodily strength. Although he had only stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage for just over two months of time, his combat strength wasn¡¯t in the slightest weaker than veteran experts¡¯ of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. Therefore, in the eyes of many people, Zhou Yuan¡¯s initiative to attack was undoubtedly asking for humiliation. ¡°He¡¯s too reckless. Xu Feng cultivates both bodily strength and Genesis Qi, and his combat strength is tyrannical, how can he win against him!¡± Zhao Yue couldn¡¯t help but say, her brows scrunching into a frown. In her opinion, since Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation wasn¡¯t inferior to Xu Feng¡¯s, he should fight with Genesis Qi in order to fully utilise his advantage. Yi Qiushui watched the battlefield intently. ¡°Zhou Yuan has most likely also cultivated bodily strength.¡± Noticing the serious look on Yi Qiushui¡¯s face, Mu Chao felt a little uncomfortable and remarked indifferently, ¡°Even if he had practiced it, it most likely can¡¯t be compared with Xu Feng¡¯s Mysterious Iron Technique. After all, that¡¯s a real mid-grade Heaven Genesis Technique, and the reason that Xu Feng could rampage about Xiaoxuan Province for so long was also because of his bodily strength.¡± Yi Qiushui did not comment and just chuckled. She was outstandingly intelligent and naturally knew what Mu Chao was thinking and so did not say anything more. Boom! While they were talking, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure rushed past them, and then two figures could be seen colliding in the center of the campsite. Fists collided! Om! Shock waves of Genesis Qi visible to the naked eye exploded out, causing cracks to spread across the grounds of the campsite like a cobweb. There, the fists of the two figures collided together, and violent Genesis Qi constantly raged around them. The difference in size between the two wasn¡¯t little, and compared to Xu Feng¡¯s giant-like body, Zhou Yuan undoubtedly appeared extremely thin and weak... However, his thin and weak body seemed to contain an extremely astonishing power, because even after that earthshaking collision, his body didn¡¯t budge an inch like a boulder. When violent power bombarded his body like waves, jade light flashed and withstood all the force. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Xu Feng¡¯s expression changed abruptly. His attack was strengthened with both Genesis Qi and bodily strength, and the power was several times stronger than before, but Zhou Yuan was able to withstand this strike?! Boom! While Xu Feng stood aghast, Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist vibrated and then transformed into numerous fist shadows filling the sky. Like a rainstorm, his fist hurtled down at Xu Feng. Every punch was filled with tremendous power. The void in front rippled like a lake¡¯s surface. ¡°You think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying offensive brought a fierce light flashing in Xu Feng¡¯s eyes. Xu Feng was a ruthless man who had always fought with his life, but he understood that if he were to show the slightest timidity, he would completely lose the initiative. So he roared and swung up his black iron fist, which similarly transformed into countless fist shadows filling the sky, to meet Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Boom! In the center of the camp, countless fist shadows collided, and the low rumble of thunder constantly rang out. The ground where the two stood also began to crumble. The entire campsite was destroyed. The people of both sides had to pause their battle and constantly retreat for fear of the force impacting them. Roar! Countless fist shadows struck one another, like meteorite collisions, causing the sky and earth to quake. However, along with the series of onslaught, Xu Feng¡¯s complexion also grew increasingly ugly because he felt that no matter how he activated his powers, Zhou Yuan seemed like an iron wall and was indestructible. He couldn¡¯t believe that someone of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage could make him feel a sense of helplessness! Moreover, the most surprising thing was that, as the collision became more and more intense, he felt that Zhou Yuan¡¯s bodily strength was growing stronger. At the beginning, Zhou Yuan¡¯s power had felt sluggish, but over time, he grew stronger and more tyrannical, like a machine that was slowly starting up. He naturally did not know that the reason for this was because Zhou Yuan was recovering from a serious injury and wasn¡¯t in full control of his power. Zhou Yuan used him as a testing stone to adapt to his bodily strength. ¡°Your attacks are starting to weaken.¡± Amidst the collisions of countless fist shadows, Zhou Yuan chuckled. At this moment his flesh and blood were producing heat like an oven, and a majestic power was pulsing through his limbs. ¡°Is the advanced Divine Dwelling stage only this strong? ¡°There is a world of difference between you and the advanced Divine Dwelling stage expert I had met before.¡± Zhou Yuan was naturally talking about Wu Yao. Back when he fought Wu Yao, he was almost crushed. Although he had now stepped into the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, if he were to meet Wu Yao again, he would still feel that he didn¡¯t have much chance of winning. Reason being, a proud genius like Wu Yao was also able to win against experts of higher levels. Moreover, Wu Yao was also improving while he himself was. ¡°Since you want to die, I will fulfil your wish!¡± Xu Feng was enraged by Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifference and mockery. A scarlet-red color rushed to his eyes, and then his feet stomped and a huge figure soared into the sky. ¡°Iron Rhino Earthquake Technique!¡± Streams of blood poured from Xu Feng¡¯s pores, directly staining his body red, and he erupted with a gush of fiendish qi. Roar! The roar of a giant rhinoceros resounded across the sky. Faintly, it seemed to be forming a giant rhinoceros shadow, and then it crushed down with destructive force. The ground below suddenly collapsed. Yi Qiushui¡¯s, Zhao Yue¡¯s, Mu Chao¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed greatly. Xu Feng was obviously forced by Zhou Yuan to use all the strength he had. There was no doubt that he was also taking a risk. Boom! Watching violent power whizz down from the sky, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. At that moment, the roaring Genesis Qi formed the shadow of a giant rhino, wrapping around Xu Feng¡¯s body. When that power struck, the surrounding forest would be flattened. ¡°The advanced Divine Dwelling stage is not bad.¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, but there wasn¡¯t a trace of fear in his eyes. Instead, he seemed excited. He rapidly performed a hand seal with one hand at lightning speed. The mighty Genesis Qi between heaven and earth came roaring over. The Genesis Qi accumulated and rapidly formed mysterious light wings around his body. Omega Saint Spirit Art! Zhou Yuan squinted his eyes as he watched the giant rhino shadow crushing down. The next moment, he beat his wings, his body rotated like a spinning top, and his right foot lashed like a whip. Chi! White hairs rapidly emerged and covered his feet before turning into a dark color. Genesis Breaker! The giant rhino shadow came roaring over. Clang! Zhou Yuan¡¯s leg skimmed through the air, shocking everybody, and it collided with the giant rhino shadow. Boom! An indescribable storm of terror erupted. Whether it was Yi Qiushui, Qiu Ji, or the others, they were blasted away, and a look of horror crossed their faces. But as they retreated, their eyes were fixed on the place of collision. They knew that the outcome of the battle between the two would be decided after the collision. ¡°How dare you challenge Xu Feng! You really don¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth!¡± Qiu Ji thundered. Chi! However, the moment his voice faded, countless exclamations of shock and disbelief sounded around the campsite, and Qiu Ji¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. He was aghast to see that the giant rhino shadow had only lasted for a few seconds before it exploded as Zhou Yuan¡¯s leg swept past it. A look of horror and fear crossed Xu Feng¡¯s face. He hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack to be so terrifying! Bang! The dark leg shadow shattered the giant rhino shadow and directly trampled Xu Feng¡¯s body. The power of that foot was enough to crush a mountain. Puchi! A mouthful of blood spurted from Xu Feng¡¯s mouth, and his body was blasted thousands of feet across the night sky, then slammed into a mountain wall. As the mountain crumbled, boulders rolled down and directly buried him. It was unknown whether he was alive or dead. At that moment, the dust and smoke dissipated from the chaotic campsite, and only Zhou Yuan was left standing in the air. The dark hairs that covered his feet also gradually faded away... A deathly silence fell on the campsite. At that moment, no matter whether it was Yi Qiushui, Zhao Yue, Mu Chao or Qiu Ji, they all felt their scalps go numb when they saw the young figure in the center of the campsite. With just the strength of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, he had killed an expert of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage with a single kick... Chapter 753 Reques What did they hear? The boy from another heaven dared to demand Yi Qiushui to give him one hundred ancient wood essences over five hundred years old, and then he would successfully escort her to Xuanzhou City? Even they wouldn¡¯t dare to make such a guarantee, but the boy in front of them dared to say something like that? And under the numerous watchful gazes, Zhou Yuan remained incredibly calm. He was in urgent need of ancient wood essence, or rather the Yimu Qi contained in ancient wood essence, which he could refine into the Green Wood Mark. Only in this way could he restore his strength in the shortest time possible. Once his strength was completely restored, he would have the confidence to face any situation. Moreover, as long as there weren¡¯t any Heavenly Sun stage experts, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t fear any enemies once he recovered his strength. After all, he was able to kill King Wu, an expert of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, when he was still at the initial Divine Dwelling stage. And now that he had reached the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, he naturally wasn¡¯t afraid of experts in the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. Of course, it would undoubtedly be a lot of trouble if it were someone in the advanced Divine Dwelling stage with strength similar to Wu Yao. But Zhou Yuan believed that, even amongst the young generation of the Hunyuan Heaven, it would be incredibly rare to meet someone like Wu Yao. Someone like him most likely didn¡¯t exist in Xiaoxuan Province. At least the prideful youths of those so-called influential families in front of him were far inferior. Of course, there had to be experts of the Heavenly Sun stage in the Yi and Qiu families. But Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t worried that he would anger the Qiu family by interfering because once his strength was restored, he would still have the means to protect himself and escape even if he couldn¡¯t win. After witnessing the earth-shaking battle in Cangxuan Heaven, the so-called Heavenly Sun stage experts could hardly bring Zhou Yuan any sense of oppression like before. From what he learnt these days, he already knew that Qiu Ji would certainly do something, so Zhou Yuan¡¯s priority now was to restore his strength as soon as possible. And asking Yi Quishui for the essence of ancient wood was undoubtedly the fastest way to restore his strength. The silence lasted for a good while before the young man named Mu Chao burst out laughing. He said in a mocking voice to Yi Qiushui, ¡°Qiushui, I always say you are too kind to people. In this world there are many people who are never satisfied with what they have.¡± The stunned look on Yi Qiushui¡¯s pretty face faded, and her brows scrunched in a frown. She stared at Zhou Yuan. She thought he was indeed a little bit too rash this time. She indeed possessed essences of ancient wood, which were essential for refining healing elixirs, and the value of those that were over 500 years old weren¡¯t low at all. Yi Qiushui knew that Zhou Yuan had asked for ancient wood essence because of his injuries. It was just that what he said was unbelievable because...it seemed a little too arrogant. Although Yi Qiushui had previously told Mu Chao and the others that she wasn¡¯t afraid of Qiu Ji, she also understood that the Qiu family had been operating in Xiaoxuan Province for hundreds of years and the place could be said to be their territory. Even if the real clout of the Qiu family was used against her Yi family in Xuanzhou City, Qiu Ji might have other connections. This was what Yi Qiushui was afraid of and the reason why she wanted the prides of other influential families and clans, such as Mu Chao, to join her. She hoped to use their strength to deter Qiu Ji. And even she was secretly afraid and cautious about reaching Xuanzhou City, but Zhou Yuan was full of confidence. Therefore, Zhou Yuan¡¯s move seemed more like an excuse to deceive her for ancient wood essence. This made Yi Qiushui a little uncomfortable. Although Zhou Yuan had saved Dong¡¯er and she was willing to help him, she didn¡¯t want him to use such means to deceive her. Yi Qiushui was silent for a moment. Then, her red lips moved, and she said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I can give you five essences of ancient wood around one hundred years old. As for the escort, it¡¯s not necessary.¡± Zhou Yuan bitterly smiled when he heard this. That little bit of ancient wood essence would make no difference. He naturally knew that he sounded too arrogant, but at present he needed to restore his strength as soon as possible. He wasn¡¯t familiar with this place, and the only person he could ask was Yi Qiushui. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath. He wasn¡¯t going to give up like that. He tried his best to look sincerely at Yi Qiushui. ¡°Miss Qiu, I know you may not believe me, but I am not deceiving you. If I don¡¯t have the opportunity to do anything for you on the way to Xuanzhou City, I can stay until I do to repay you.¡± ¡°Haha, you just want to stay with Qiushui on purpose, am I right? Your tactic is pretty good.¡± A young woman smiled with disdain. Mu Chao narrowed his eyes. ¡°Qiushui, this person doesn¡¯t have any good intentions. I think we should kick him out of the camp. If you¡¯re too kind to do it, you can leave it to me.¡± His voice faded as he lifted his palm. Suddenly several figures appeared behind Zhou Yuan. All exuded powerful Genesis Qi. They were at the strength of the initial Divine Dwelling stage. Zhou Yuan frowned, and a chilling intent flashed through his eyes. ¡°Stop.¡± However, just when they were about to act, Yi Qiushui suddenly stopped them. She turned to Mu Chao and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to bother you, brother Mu.¡± ¡°I overstepped. I¡¯m just worried you would be deceived.¡± Mu Chao elegantly shrugged his shoulders. Yi Qiushui fixed a penetrating stare at Zhou Yuan, who neither retreated nor flinched back. He only looked at her earnestly. The atmosphere was a little tense. A worried frown crossed Yi Dong¡¯er little face, and she couldn¡¯t help but tug her sister¡¯s sleeve. Yi Qiushui finally retracted her gaze. After pondering a moment, she nodded. ¡°Fine, I will meet your request.¡± The surrounding men and women were all in shock. Mu Chao couldn¡¯t help but cry out, ¡°Qiushui!¡± Yi Qiushui did not speak again. She shook her head, showing that she had made up her mind. When Mu Chao and the others saw this, they could only helplessly shake their heads. But the gazes they sent Zhou Yuan were obviously more dissatisfied and cold than previously. In their view, Zhou Yuan was someone who accidently saved Dong¡¯er but kept making greedy demands. Zhou Yuan also didn¡¯t expect Yi Qiushui to agree, but from her eyes, he knew that she didn¡¯t truly trust him. Perhaps she only agreed because he had saved Dong¡¯er. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t say more. He nodded to Yi Qiushui before he turned around and left. Yi Qiushui watched Zhou Yuan leave with a calm look on her beautiful face. She indeed didn¡¯t have much confidence in Zhou Yuan; even she didn¡¯t dare to say they could reach Xuanzhou City as long as they didn¡¯t meet experts of the Heavenly Sun stage along the way. Zhou Yuan should be similar in age to her, so on what basis could he make such a statement? If Zhou Yuan was also from Hunyuan Heaven, Yi Qiushui would have speculated whether he was the pride of some other family. However, Zhou Yuan was from another heaven, which meant that it was not possible. In her view, there was a huge gap in strength between the people of other heavens and those of Hunyuan Heaven. Therefore... Zhou Yuan¡¯s words weren¡¯t credible. Chapter 754 Zhao Yue Zhou Yuan looked up and was stunned for a moment. The person who had come in was a woman. Her face was beautiful but aloof, and her long shapely brows were like knives, emitting a chilling and fierce intent. She was dressed in combat gear that highlighted her perfect body and long legs. Zhou Yuan had seen this cold and beautiful woman before. Her name was Zhao Yue, and she was Yi Qiushui¡¯s personal bodyguard and someone whom Yi Qiushui trusted a lot. But at this moment, Yi Qiushui¡¯s personal bodyguard revealed a look of contempt upon seeing Zhou Yuan. Before waiting for Zhou Yuan to speak, she tossed him a spatial bag and uttered coldly, ¡°The essences of ancient wood you need are all inside.¡± Zhou Yuan took the spatial bag and, without paying attention to her expression, immediately checked the bag. Only when he found that the number of ancient wood essences matched his request did he give a slight smile. ¡°Please thank Miss Yi for me,¡± Zhou Yuan said sincerely. No matter what Yi Qiushui thought of him, she had still given him the ancient wood essence at a time like this. Zhou Yuan was very grateful; this was not a small favour. ¡°No need. If you really want to thank her, leave when we reach Xuanzhou City.¡± ¡°Is this what Miss Yi wants?¡± ¡°Does it matter?¡± Yi Qiushui replied in a cold voice. Zhou Yuan smiled faintly and didn¡¯t try to argue with her. After all, he was just a liar in everyone else¡¯s eyes. More importantly, he also couldn¡¯t prove anything. ¡°I don¡¯t like to owe people. If I feel that I have repaid my debt, I will naturally take the initiative to leave,¡± Zhou Yuan said calmly. Zhao Yue coldly snorted. She spoke with a tone of threat in her voice: ¡°I hope you don¡¯t step out of line. If you push too far, as someone from another heaven, it would be difficult for you to continue to walk in Xiaoxuan Province.¡± Zhao Yue and Yi Qiushui were very close, and their relationship wasn¡¯t as simple as master and servant. This was the reason why she was furious that Zhou Yuan had used such an almost deceptive way to ask for the ancient wood essence. Her thoughts were similar to most people. Could Zhou Yuan, someone from another heaven, be more outstanding than a similar-age pride of Hunyuan Heaven? The answer was simply impossible. This was similar to how the people of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s Shengzhou Continent would never admit that the prides of other continents were better than them. However, in the face of Zhao Yue¡¯s words, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t respond. He instead closed his eyes as though telling her to leave. This made Zhao Yue feel even more annoyed with Zhou Yuan. She felt that he was outrageously bold to deceive the Yi family. After she left, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes again, revealing a look of helplessness. After what happened today, he was afraid that nobody in the camp would welcome him anymore. In fact, in addition to the essence of ancient wood, Zhou Yuan also needed a lot of other things, including Divine Dwelling medicines and some important materials for the second stage evolution of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. But if he were to ask Yi Qiushui for these materials, no matter how good her temper was, she would most likely throw him out of the camp. Zhou Yuan shook his head. Never mind. Since he wasn¡¯t familiar with these people, then perhaps he would find a chance to leave once he arrived in Xuanzhou City. But the most important thing right now was to completely solve the problem of his injury. Perhaps others might feel that what Yi Qiushui did wasn¡¯t worth it, but Zhou Yuan felt he was worth that much, because he didn¡¯t lie. As long as he regained his strength, he had the confidence that he could escort Yi Qiushui to Xuanzhou City. ¡°Luckily, I am the first Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect. My Cangxuan Sect perhaps can¡¯t be compared to the entire Tianyuan Region, but it is stronger than a Yi family, right?¡± Zhou Yuan muttered. If it were in Cangxuan Heaven, it would have been impossible to hire the first Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect as an escort. Therefore, Zhou Yuan felt a little injustice at the suspicion directed at him. The proposition clearly benefited them greatly, but why did he have to receive all those kinds of looks.... After these childish thoughts continued for some time, Zhou Yuan finally shook them away. He was now in Hunyuan Heaven, not Cangxuan Heaven. Moreover, he was no longer the first Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, but just an ordinary person in an injured state. But Zhou Yuan also didn¡¯t feel depressed because of this. When he first came to Cangxuan Sect, he was also just an ordinary disciple, but a few years later, even the influential figures in Cangxuan Heaven had firmly learnt his name, even if it was for various different reasons. Who could be certain that Zhou Yuan¡¯s name wouldn¡¯t also ring throughout Hunyun Heaven in the future? Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan smiled. He had thought too far. The most urgent task now was to restore his strength and then find a way to contact his two senior brothers. Only with the help of the power of Tianyuan Region could he have access to the Ancestral Dragon Lamp. Of course, the most important thing was to seize all opportunities to enhance his strength because he also knew that he would have to return to Cangxuan Heaven one day. Although he had broken the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and blocked the ambitious thoughts of palace master Sheng Yuan, he also understood that it was only temporary. Sheng Yuan had stepped into the false Saint stage, and now nobody in Cangxuan Heaven could suppress him. Therefore, the Sacred Palace would slowly gain the upper hand in the battle of the shattered Cangxuan Saint Stamp. And the day Sacred Palace succeeded would also be the day of the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s destruction. Once the Cangxuan Sect was destroyed, the Great Zhou, which was under its shelter, would also be destroyed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered coldly. He didn¡¯t have much time. He needed to return to Cangxuan Heaven before Sheng Yuan succeeded. And at that time, he also needed to have the strength to fight against Sheng Yuan. Hu. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and no longer hesitated. His spatial bag vibrated and a glowing sphere rose from within. The glowing sphere landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm, turning into a jade wooden heart about the size of a fist. It emitted streams of strong vitality. This was the essence of ancient wood, which also contained the Yimu Qi required for the refining of the Green Wood Mark. Zhou Yuan gradually closed his eyes. In the palm of his hand, the essence of ancient wood exuded a bright luster. Countless green spots of light burst forth and ultimately entered his body through the palm of his hand. A rich life energy bloomed in his body, and as it poured in, the throbbing pain in his flesh and blood dissipated. A glow of jade green light accumulated around the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. It was the reemergence of the Green Wood Mark that he had exhausted. For the next few days, Zhou Yuan never left his tent. He used all his time to absorb the Yimu Qi to refine the Green Wood Mark. And with the help of the 100 five-hundred-year-old ancient wood essences, in just a few days¡¯ time, numerous Green Wood Marks were formed. The fractures deep in his flesh, under the divine effect of the Green Wood Marks, finally began to heal rapidly. Chapter 755 Night Raid Yi Qiushui was riding a tall and strong horse beast. Her upper body was straight, and the clothes wrapped around her body revealed her slender waist, curved body and long legs. Her appearance and elegance were extraordinary. Although Zhou Yuan was somewhat immune to her beauty because he was used to seeing Yaoyao¡¯s ethereal beauty, in the eyes of other young masters from Xiaoxuan Province, such as Mu Chao, Yi Qiushui was undoubtedly the goddess in their hearts. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have risked offending the Qiu family to follow her. Of course, more importantly was that the strength of the Yi family wasn¡¯t weak at all. Although the Yi family couldn¡¯t be compared to the Qiu family in Xiaoxuan Province, the elders of the Yi family still occupied fairly high positions in Tianyuan Region. Therefore, if they could win Yi Qiushui¡¯s favour, it would also greatly benefit their family. ¡°One more day and we¡¯ll arrive in Xuanzhou City. If Qiu Ji still hasn¡¯t given up, then tonight is his last chance to do something,¡± Yi Qiushui stated, gazing into the distance. Hearing this, Mu Zhao and the others froze for a moment. They didn¡¯t doubt Yi Qiushui¡¯s judgment, because there was most likely nobody in Xiaoxuan Province who didn¡¯t know about Miss Yi¡¯s intelligence. When the Yi family first came to Xiaoxuan Province, it was precisely because of Miss Yi¡¯s advice and plan that the Yi family achieved a stable position. If the head of the Yi family hadn¡¯t encountered an accident, in a few years¡¯ time, the title of strongest family in Xiaoxuan Province would have most likely transferred from the Qiu family to the Yi family. ¡°With Qiu Ji¡¯s strength, it won¡¯t be easy for him to swallow us in one bite. I¡¯m just worried that they¡¯ll bring unknown reinforcements,¡± Yi Qiushui uttered. Mu Chao reassured, ¡°Almost all the forces of the Qiu family are kept in Xuanzhou City, and it¡¯s likely that they won¡¯t be easily deployed elsewhere. The clans and families in Xiaoxuan Province also shouldn¡¯t dare to interfere in the affairs between the two families. I can¡¯t think of any reason for them to help Qiu Ji.¡± Yi Qiushui bit her red lips, her unwitting action incredibly alluring. It caused the gazes on her to burn even more brightly. ¡°No matter what, we must be on full alert tonight,¡± she said. Yi Qiushui¡¯s face was very solemn. She suddenly glanced at the back of the carriage where Zhou Yuan sat. For some reason, she suddenly thought of Zhou Yuan. Perhaps, it was because Zhou Yuan was the first person she had met who dared to ask her for something so blatantly? The other men and women also laughed out loud one after another. In the past few days, Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly become their top conversation topic. Yi Qiushui smiled and retracted her gaze. She had very good self-restraint and had never laughed at Zhou Yuan, even if she doubted what he said. ¡°Miss, that guy hasn¡¯t shown his face in days, and he even asked people to bring his food over,¡± Zhao Yue whispered. She pursed her lips. ¡°I really feel like we invited an ancestor here.¡± Yi Qiushui also couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°He saved Dong¡¯er, so we really should serve him like an ancestor. It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Zhao Yue was helpless. Most likely, if it were up to her, she would have already sent that guy away. ¡°Sister Yue, please remind Zhou Yuan that something may happen tonight, and we may not be able to take care of him at that time. So if he finds that the situation isn¡¯t right, tell him to find a chance to flee,¡± Yi Qiushui said quietly. If there was a great battle tonight, it would be bound to be extremely tragic. Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength was unknown, and he was seriously injured; he really could lose his life if he wasn¡¯t careful. When Zhao Yue heard this, her look of helplessness worsened. But it was Yi Qiushui¡¯s order, so she had no choice but to turn her horse around to the carriage and pass along Yi Qiushui¡¯s words. Without waiting for Zhou Yuan¡¯s answer, she spurred her horse away. In the carriage. Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes. He felt the Divine Dwellings in his body become bright and dazzling once more, flowing with majestic and powerful Genesis Qi that turned into countless shining Genesis Qi stars. All the wounds in his body had completely recovered. He had regained all of his strength. Moreover, he could distinctly feel that after suffering these serious injuries, his Genesis Qi and bodily strength had also somewhat improved. ¡°Tonight...¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. Xuanzhou City wasn¡¯t far away, and when he arrived, he planned to look for an opportunity to understand the specific situation in Tianyuan Region. . . . . The night was cold. The faint moonlight illuminated the sleepy camp as smoke rose from the campfire. In the dark multiple shadows quietly skimmed past like ghosts and gradually surrounded the campsite from all directions. A figure made hand gestures. Chi! Suddenly the dark shadows shot out like wolves, storming the campsite. Soon after, arcs of powerful Genesis Qi light whizzed towards each tent. Boom! But when the Genesis Qi bombarded the tents, streams of icy cold light suddenly appeared one after another inside the tent. Silhouettes shot out and collided with the black shadows. Boom! The sounds of Genesis Qi colliding broke the silence. Two waves of people clashed, screams rang one after another, and a bloody smell saturated the campsite. Yi Qiushui, Zhao Yue, Mu Chao and the rest gathered together, striking back at all the black shadows rushing over. But Yi Qiushui didn¡¯t show a relaxed look because of this. Instead her eyes were fixed on the darkness not far away, only to see that Qiu Ji¡¯s figure was slowly walking out. ¡°Yi Qiushui, I told you, you can¡¯t get to Xuanzhou City.¡± Qiu Ji¡¯s faint voice and gloomy eyes in the dark seemed particularly terrifying. Yi Qiushui narrowed her eyes and calmly responded, ¡°Qiu Ji, with your strength alone, you can¡¯t stop us.¡± Qiu Ji grinned. ¡°Of course. Yi Qiushui, you are an intermediate Divine Dwelling stage expert who has opened up eight Divine Dwellings. In Xiaoxuan Province, there are indeed very few people of your level who can beat you.¡± Although Qiu Ji was also at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, he had only opened up six Divine Dwellings. In any respect, he was inferior to Yi Qiushui, but from the look on his face, he didn¡¯t seem to be too worried. Yi Qiushui brandished her sword. Her eyes drooped as she said, ¡°Then why did you come to die? ¡°Or could it be that you¡¯ve found foreign aid, so you¡¯re not afraid? But there shouldn¡¯t be any family that is willing to intervene in the fight between the Yi family and the Qiu family, right?¡± Qiu Ji laughed, ¡°Those families are best at protecting themselves. It is naturally impossible to have their full support before the outcome of the battle between our two families is decided. ¡°So I don¡¯t have high expectations of them.¡± Yi Qiushui scrunched her brows in a frown. ¡°If it¡¯s not clans or families on the surface, then it should be some hidden dark forces hiding in Xiaoxuan Province?¡± Qiu Ji chuckled. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re the eldest daughter of the Yi family. You have a sharp mind.¡± He held out his palms and gave a gentle clap. Violent Genesis Qi roared between the heavens and the earth. Yi Qiushui lifted her pretty face and was shocked to see that dozens of figures wearing dark red cloaks were standing on the branches of a huge tree not far away. They were headed by a figure who had his arms crossed, and there was a hideous scar running across his face. His body slowly released incomparably powerful Genesis Qi. The expressions of Mu Chao, Zhao Yue and the others changed greatly when they laid eyes on the figures in dark red hoods. Yi Qiushui also drew a deep breath and clenched her teeth. Her icy cold voice sounded. Chapter 756 Wind Demon Bandits A man in a dark red hood stood with both his arms hanging freely at his sides. His face was expressionless, but the scar on his face revealed a ferociousness, like a blood-sucking bat in the darkness. His body slowly emitted an oppressive aura that gradually shrouded the entire camp. A look of fear appeared on the faces of the Yi family. ¡°That¡¯s the leader of the Wind Demon Bandits, Blood Bat Xu Feng!¡± Zhao Yue gritted her teeth. Her expression changed abruptly when she saw the scarred-face man. In Xiaoxuan Province, in addition to the clans on the surface, there were also other forces, and amongst them the Wind Demon Bandits were the most famous. They appeared and disappeared like the wind, killed people like flies and used extremely cruel methods. The various clans had also tried to encircle and eliminate them, but they had always managed to escape, and over time, they had gained the fearful name of Wind Demon Bandits. Yi Qiushui also had a very solemn expression on her pretty face. ¡°The various clans are best at putting their safety before matters of principle. The dark forces, such as your Wind Demon Bandits, must also be aware of this fact. Xu Feng, this isn¡¯t something your Wind Demon Bandits should interfere with. If you leave now, my Yi family can pretend as if nothing happened.¡± On the treetops, the man named Xu Feng gazed coldly at Yi Qiushui. He said nonchalantly, ¡°Since my Wind Demon Bandits have accepted the task, there is no reason to not complete it.¡± Yi Qiushui said pensively, ¡°So the person behind the Wind Demon Bandits is the Qiu family. No wonder you were able to escape every time you were surrounded.¡± There was an obvious flicker of emotion in Xu Feng¡¯s eyes when he heard this. A moment later, he grinned. ¡°The Yi family¡¯s Qiushui indeed deserves her reputation. You are even able to guess that?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s not the case, then I really can¡¯t think of a reason why your Wind Demon Bandits would interfere in this. Given the way you have always acted in the past, you wouldn¡¯t do such a stupid thing. ¡°This is because, no matter whether this is successful or not, there¡¯s no need for your Wind Demon Bandits to exist anymore, and the Yi family won¡¯t let you go. ¡°You presumably also know this. Your Wind Demon Bandits are famous, but in the eyes of the Yi family and the Qiu family, you are still nothing.¡± Xu Feng¡¯s face twitched slightly, which made his sinister face appear even more terrifying because Yi Qiushui¡¯s every word poked his heart in the most painful place. In the eyes of the Yi and Qiu clans, the Wind Demon Bandits were indeed nothing but chess pieces. Yi Qiushui narrowed her eyes, biting her red lips unconsciously. No wonder Xu Feng is well known as an evil bandit. He really is troublesome. ¡°Xu Feng, although your Wind Demon Bandits are famous, it still won¡¯t be so easy for you to swallow us. From the strength you have shown in the past, you are only in the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Yi Qiushui tightened her grip around her sword. It immediately surged with Genesis Qi that turned into a blaze of light. And behind her, mighty Genesis Qi rolled up, gradually forming two Divine Dwelling halos. Around the halos were eight different flashes of color. This was the symbol of eight Divine Dwellings. Her body exuded a strong, imposing demeanor. In Xiaoxuan Province, there weren¡¯t many people in the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage who could make Yi Qiushui fearful. Looking at Yi Qiushui¡¯s Divine Dwelling halos, which were glowing with eight colors, everybody was envious. They all knew that the more Divine Dwellings one opened up represented not only a stronger Genesis Qi foundation but that one¡¯s combat power would also be stronger... Of course, more importantly, it foretold of one¡¯s greater potential in the future! Xu Feng studied the eight-color halo behind Yi Qiushui, but he surprisingly did not show too much fear. He just grinned, revealing his white teeth. ¡°The intermediate Divine Dwelling stage? That¡¯s just the information you know.¡± Yi Qiushui scrunched her brows together, feeling a little uneasy. At that moment, Xu Feng slowly spread his arms out, and storm-like Genesis Qi suddenly gushed out from his body. The whole world was filled with the vibrating noise of Genesis Qi. Everyone saw that the Genesis Qi gathering behind Xu Feng was gradually forming a Divine Dwelling light halo. A halo was formed, and a second one followed. But after the appearance of the second halo, the accumulation of Genesis Qi didn¡¯t stop. Soon, everyone was shocked to find that a third halo was vibrating and forming behind Xu Feng. Three Divine Dwelling halos. The advanced Divine Dwelling stage! The Divine Dwelling halos presented six colors, which meant Xu Feng had opened up six Divine Dwellings. Zhao Yue¡¯s, Mu Chao¡¯s and the other people¡¯s faces changed greatly. Their eyes widened with shock and fear. Nobody had expected Xu Feng to have actually stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage! Qiu Ji grinned, his face fierce and sinister. ¡°You probably didn¡¯t know, but two months ago, Xu Feng broke through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage...¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s face turned serious, and she commanded without the slightest hesitation, ¡°Retreat!¡± Then, before her withdrawal order faded completely, the corners of Xu Feng¡¯s mouth curved upwards in a sinister smile. His figure swooped down like a bat, his hand clenched into a fist, and he aimed a punch at Yi Qiushui. Boom! Violent Genesis Qi gathered under his fist. The dark red Genesis Qi was like a blood sun, causing space to twist and distort. Yi Qiushui tightly grasped her sword. The body of the sword shook, and a beam of sword light burst out. The sword light tore through the night sky, aiming directly for Xu Feng. Boom! The sword and fist collided. Xu Feng¡¯s fist was like iron, and there were sparks sputtering out. Violent shock waves raged out. Zhao Yue, Mu Chao and the others who were close by were all blasted back. Although they were also experts of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, they were evidently much weaker than Yi Qiushui. Clang! Yi Qiushui¡¯s hand that held the sword trembled violently, and blood trickled down her fingers, but she just clenched her teeth. The sword light whistled, transforming into countless sword shadows that aimed for Xu Feng¡¯s vitals. ¡°Haha!¡± Xu Feng burst into laughter. His tough body grew several times, and the surface of his skin glowed with a metallic black sheen. It was evident that he had cultivated bodily strength before. He withstood the sword light with his tough body, and the blades only left shallow scars. His iron fist rumbled and blasted toward Yi Qiushui. Under his huge fist, Yi Qiushui¡¯s delicate body looked particularly fragile. The two had fought dozens of rounds at lightning speed. They were just a blur in the eyes of others. Grinning, Xu Feng remarked during the battle, ¡°An eight heavens Divine Dwelling is indeed powerful. I¡¯m surprised you could withstand so long with just the strength of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Normally speaking, an advanced Divine Dwelling stage expert could suppress an intermediate Divine Dwelling stage expert with Genesis Qi alone, but from the looks of it, Yi Qiushui had actually withstood his attacks. Although this might only be temporary, it was enough to illustrate the advantages of having eight Divine Dwellings. Xu Feng howled with laughter, and his eyes became increasingly ferocious. He stamped his feet and shot out. He didn¡¯t care about the sword light that was whizzing over, and he slammed a punch toward Yi Qiushui¡¯s chest. Genesis Qi raged around his fist. Yi Qiushui had also sensed the ferocity of Xu Feng¡¯s punch, but it was already too late to evade. Her beautiful eyes flashed, and the sword light pointed directly at Xu Feng¡¯s throat. She seemed like she was desperate. However, in the face of Yi Qishui¡¯s sharp and powerful sword light, Xu Feng simply grinned. He lifted his arm, allowing the sword light to pierce his skin. The sword tip stabbed through, but his muscles then clamped it tight. ¡°Yi Qiushui, you weren¡¯t even born when I started to lick the blood left on swords. You think you can win against me?¡± Xu Feng gave a sinister smile, and then his violent punch ruthlessly aimed for Yi Qiushui¡¯s chest under numerous horrified gazes. ¡°Miss!¡± Zhao Yue cried out in a sharp voice as her face went utterly pale. The violent fist sped over. Yi Qiushui struggled to free her sword and could only helplessly watch the iron fist approach. The gust of wind created by the violent first made her clothes tightly wrap her body, revealing her charming curves. Yi Qiushui could only let out a quiet sigh. She knew she was going to lose her life here. I hope Dong¡¯er can escape, she thought in her mind. She coldly stared at the iron fist. She didn¡¯t reveal the slightest fear of death in her eyes but instead hissed, ¡°When I¡¯m dead, no matter where you flee, you will be buried with me.¡± ¡°Hey, what more can I ask for than to be able to accompany a great beauty like you.¡± Xu Feng was completely indifferent. Evidently, he was a ruthless person. But the gust from his fist was even more ferocious. If his fist struck, he would most likely punch through Yi Qiushui¡¯s entire chest. Boom! Just when Xu Feng¡¯s violent punch was only an inch away from Yi Qiushui¡¯s chest, a slender palm came out like a ghost, tightly grasping the iron fist that contained Xu Feng¡¯s full strength. Bang! A loud explosion sounded. The ground constantly cracked. Both Yi Qiushui¡¯s and Xu Feng¡¯s expressions changed. They stared in shock at the fair palm that had appeared in front of them. Yi Qiushui slowly turned around to see that a young figure had unknowingly appeared beside her. Under the dim light, she could see a young and handsome face. It wasn¡¯t unfamiliar. It was...Zhou Yuan. Facing this kind of situation, even Yi Qiushui, who had always been calm and composed, was a little confused. But Zhou Yuan turned his head around and smiled at her. Chapter 757 Zhou Yuan takes action In particular, Zhao Yue and Mu Chao reacted as though they had seen a ghost. They never would have thought that when Yi Qiushui was in critical danger, the person whom they had always thought of as a joke would save her. ¡°How is this possible?¡± Mu Chao couldn¡¯t help muttering, his face paling. Zhao Yue was equally shocked, and she found it incredibly hard to believe the scene in front of her. But she had to believe it because she clearly witnessed Zhou Yuan forcibly receive Xu Feng¡¯s fierce fist strike. That was enough to show that Zhou Yuan possessed extraordinary strength. They seemed to have made an error of judgement¡­.Was Zhou Yuan a hidden master? Compared with their disbelief, Yi Qiushui, as a person directly involved, seemed much calmer. But from her pair of flickering eyes, one could still see the shock in her heart. When she heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s mocking laughter, her fair cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ¡°My vision isn¡¯t good since I have failed to recognise a master. I hope brother Zhou Yuan forgives me.¡± Instead of being ashamed of being fooled, she frankly admitted her mistake and apologised. Zhou Yuan suddenly smiled. ¡°What master¡­? Is there a master that¡¯s shameless enough to ask for treasured items?¡± Yi Qiushui said seriously, ¡°A great man doesn¡¯t bother about trifles.¡± I¡¯ve never seen you treat me like a man before. He naturally didn¡¯t say this out loud. After all, Yi Qiushui¡¯s attitude towards him previously was already very friendly. While the two were talking, Xu Feng finally recovered from his shock. His icy cold eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan as he grunted, ¡°Who dares to interfere with my business!¡± ¡°You little trash!¡± Qiu Ji on the other hand glowered at Zhou Yuan. He evidently recognised him as the murderer who fell from the sky and killed Qiu Yang. ¡°Xu Feng, kill him. He killed the young master!¡± Qiu Ji gave an order to Xu Feng. Xu Feng¡¯s face was expressionless as he said, ¡°Since he chose to block my path, he naturally won¡¯t live past today.¡± He stared at Zhou Yuan with a ferocious look. ¡°Boy, you think you can play the role of hero in front of me? You¡¯ve found the wrong person to mess with!¡± Boom! The three Divine Dwelling halos behind him violently vibrated, and a torrent of powerful Genesis Qi roared out like an angry python, causing the void to tremble as it headed directly for Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, let¡¯s join forces!¡± Yi Qiushui suggested. His body trembled as golden Genesis Qi roared up, swiftly forming two Divine Dwelling halos behind him. But when the many people saw the halos, they were all stunned. They found that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwelling halos were grey without the slightest speck of color! Even Yi Qiushui stared at him in astonishment. It was evidently the first time she had seen someone¡¯s Divine Dwelling halos with such an appearance. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength erupted at that moment. The intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. ¡°It turns out that you are only in the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Mu Chao couldn¡¯t help but breathe out a sigh of relief. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwelling halos were incredibly strange, he was only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, which was a level similar to his. However, just as he was pondering this, the two grey Divine Dwelling halos behind Zhou Yuan vibrated and suddenly pulsed out golden Genesis Qi. Boom! The two torrents of Genesis Qi collided. Violent shock waves broke out, disintegrating the nearby tents into powder that then whirled into the sky. Some people who were close by spurted out jets of blood and were blasted away. Mu Chao and Zhao Yue also retreated dozens of steps. Only Yi Qiushui¡¯s situation was a little better; she only drew back a few steps. She stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in astonishment because she found that, unexpectedly, he still wasn¡¯t at a disadvantage even after colliding with Xu Feng¡¯s Genesis Qi. Based on his Genesis Qi foundation, he didn¡¯t seem any weaker than Xu Feng. But how was that possible? Even she, who was at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage and possessed eight Divine Dwellings, was weaker than Xu Feng in terms of Genesis Qi foundation. Zhao Yue and Mu Chao had even more disbelief. Even Xu Feng¡¯s pupils rapidly shrank. This time, when he looked at Zhou Yuan again, his eyes became solemn, and he asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± The person before him was only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, but his Genesis Qi foundation was in no way weaker than his own advanced Divine Dwelling stage. Although he had only entered the advanced stage two months ago, he was still one level higher than Zhou Yuan. According to Xu Feng¡¯s understanding, it was rare to find someone among the young generation of the entire Tianyuan Region who could achieve that kind of Genesis Qi foundation in the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. Moreover, those people had to possess an incredible background. He worried that Zhou Yuan was one of them. ¡°Xu Feng, he¡¯s from another heaven!¡± Qiu Ji hurriedly roared the moment he recovered from the shock of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation. He was clearly worried that Xu Feng would back down, causing their plan to fail. ¡°Another heaven?¡± Xu Feng¡¯s slightly frowned eyebrows slowly relaxed. This meant Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t one of those heaven prides with an important background. ¡°Many people have died in my hands over the years, but never a genius of your level...¡± Xu Feng¡¯s eyes grew fierce, vicious tendencies rising from his body. His iron fists collided, and a metallic clank rang in everybody¡¯s ears. A black luster flashed over the surface of his body. ¡°Mysterious Iron Technique!¡± In a short period of time, Xu Feng had turned into a little black giant. His body seemed to be made of black iron, and was indestructible. Mu Chao, Zhao Yue and the others couldn¡¯t help drawing back when they felt the oppressive aura being released from Xu Feng¡¯s body. It was only then that they understood that the evil bandit who had rampaged around Little Xuanzhou for so many years was indeed incredibly remarkable. ¡°Zhou Yuan, be careful! He cultivates bodily strength, and his fighting ability is very strong!¡± Yi Qiushui quickly reminded him. ¡°Boy, there¡¯s still time to run away. Otherwise, it will be too late when I blow your head off.¡± Xu Feng¡¯s voice was full of malice and killing intent. However, in the face of Xu Feng¡¯s frightening, imposing manner, Zhou Yuan simply grinned. He twisted his neck and remarked, ¡°It seems that you have wasted all your years licking blood from blades... ¡°You don¡¯t have any powers of discernment whatsoever.¡± He slowly stepped out with his left foot and performed a hand seal with one hand. His bones had become a little rusty after his period of recovery; therefore, he was really looking forward to his first battle in Hunyuan Heaven. Mythic Saint Body Art! The moment Zhou Yuan completed his seal, the blood in his body suddenly bubbled. Yi Qiushui and the others were then astonished to find that Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin was glowing with a dazzling jade light and that his body was slowly releasing an astonishing, oppressive aura. That kind of oppression made even Yi Qiushui feel her heart palpitate. Chapter 758 The Power of One Foo Blinding jade-colored light burst out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. A strong oppressive aura rose into the air, attracting numerous shocked and terrified gazes. The moment the Mythic Saint Body was activated, the ground began to crack, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure transformed into a stream of light and sped out, launching a direct offense on Xu Feng. ¡°You want to die!¡± Upon seeing this, Xu Feng simply sneered out loud. At that moment his body was dark, like a mysterious iron giant. He clenched his fist tight, and a vortex seemed to form around it, exploding the air. His fist ruthlessly blasted towards Zhou Yuan with a shrill noise. ¡°Xu Feng, kill that boy!¡± Qiu Ji roared, his eyes filled with killing intent. Although the Genesis Qi foundation that Zhou Yuan had shown was astonishing, the reason that Xu Feng could rampage about in Xiaoxuan Province for so many years was clearly not just because of the Qiu family¡¯s support, but because of his own strength. Moreover, Xu Feng had cultivated both Genesis Qi and bodily strength. Although he had only stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage for just over two months of time, his combat strength wasn¡¯t in the slightest weaker than veteran experts¡¯ of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. Therefore, in the eyes of many people, Zhou Yuan¡¯s initiative to attack was undoubtedly asking for humiliation. ¡°He¡¯s too reckless. Xu Feng cultivates both bodily strength and Genesis Qi, and his combat strength is tyrannical, how can he win against him!¡± Zhao Yue couldn¡¯t help but say, her brows scrunching into a frown. In her opinion, since Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation wasn¡¯t inferior to Xu Feng¡¯s, he should fight with Genesis Qi in order to fully utilise his advantage. Yi Qiushui watched the battlefield intently. ¡°Zhou Yuan has most likely also cultivated bodily strength.¡± Noticing the serious look on Yi Qiushui¡¯s face, Mu Chao felt a little uncomfortable and remarked indifferently, ¡°Even if he had practiced it, it most likely can¡¯t be compared with Xu Feng¡¯s Mysterious Iron Technique. After all, that¡¯s a real mid-grade Heaven Genesis Technique, and the reason that Xu Feng could rampage about Xiaoxuan Province for so long was also because of his bodily strength.¡± Yi Qiushui did not comment and just chuckled. She was outstandingly intelligent and naturally knew what Mu Chao was thinking and so did not say anything more. Boom! While they were talking, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure rushed past them, and then two figures could be seen colliding in the center of the campsite. Fists collided! Om! Shock waves of Genesis Qi visible to the naked eye exploded out, causing cracks to spread across the grounds of the campsite like a cobweb. There, the fists of the two figures collided together, and violent Genesis Qi constantly raged around them. The difference in size between the two wasn¡¯t little, and compared to Xu Feng¡¯s giant-like body, Zhou Yuan undoubtedly appeared extremely thin and weak... However, his thin and weak body seemed to contain an extremely astonishing power, because even after that earthshaking collision, his body didn¡¯t budge an inch like a boulder. When violent power bombarded his body like waves, jade light flashed and withstood all the force. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Xu Feng¡¯s expression changed abruptly. His attack was strengthened with both Genesis Qi and bodily strength, and the power was several times stronger than before, but Zhou Yuan was able to withstand this strike?! Boom! While Xu Feng stood aghast, Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist vibrated and then transformed into numerous fist shadows filling the sky. Like a rainstorm, his fist hurtled down at Xu Feng. Every punch was filled with tremendous power. The void in front rippled like a lake¡¯s surface. ¡°You think I¡¯m afraid of you?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying offensive brought a fierce light flashing in Xu Feng¡¯s eyes. Xu Feng was a ruthless man who had always fought with his life, but he understood that if he were to show the slightest timidity, he would completely lose the initiative. So he roared and swung up his black iron fist, which similarly transformed into countless fist shadows filling the sky, to meet Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Boom! In the center of the camp, countless fist shadows collided, and the low rumble of thunder constantly rang out. The ground where the two stood also began to crumble. The entire campsite was destroyed. The people of both sides had to pause their battle and constantly retreat for fear of the force impacting them. Roar! Countless fist shadows struck one another, like meteorite collisions, causing the sky and earth to quake. However, along with the series of onslaught, Xu Feng¡¯s complexion also grew increasingly ugly because he felt that no matter how he activated his powers, Zhou Yuan seemed like an iron wall and was indestructible. He couldn¡¯t believe that someone of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage could make him feel a sense of helplessness! Moreover, the most surprising thing was that, as the collision became more and more intense, he felt that Zhou Yuan¡¯s bodily strength was growing stronger. At the beginning, Zhou Yuan¡¯s power had felt sluggish, but over time, he grew stronger and more tyrannical, like a machine that was slowly starting up. He naturally did not know that the reason for this was because Zhou Yuan was recovering from a serious injury and wasn¡¯t in full control of his power. Zhou Yuan used him as a testing stone to adapt to his bodily strength. ¡°Your attacks are starting to weaken.¡± Amidst the collisions of countless fist shadows, Zhou Yuan chuckled. At this moment his flesh and blood were producing heat like an oven, and a majestic power was pulsing through his limbs. ¡°Is the advanced Divine Dwelling stage only this strong? ¡°There is a world of difference between you and the advanced Divine Dwelling stage expert I had met before.¡± Zhou Yuan was naturally talking about Wu Yao. Back when he fought Wu Yao, he was almost crushed. Although he had now stepped into the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, if he were to meet Wu Yao again, he would still feel that he didn¡¯t have much chance of winning. Reason being, a proud genius like Wu Yao was also able to win against experts of higher levels. Moreover, Wu Yao was also improving while he himself was. ¡°Since you want to die, I will fulfil your wish!¡± Xu Feng was enraged by Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifference and mockery. A scarlet-red color rushed to his eyes, and then his feet stomped and a huge figure soared into the sky. ¡°Iron Rhino Earthquake Technique!¡± Streams of blood poured from Xu Feng¡¯s pores, directly staining his body red, and he erupted with a gush of fiendish qi. Roar! The roar of a giant rhinoceros resounded across the sky. Faintly, it seemed to be forming a giant rhinoceros shadow, and then it crushed down with destructive force. The ground below suddenly collapsed. Yi Qiushui¡¯s, Zhao Yue¡¯s, Mu Chao¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed greatly. Xu Feng was obviously forced by Zhou Yuan to use all the strength he had. There was no doubt that he was also taking a risk. Boom! Watching violent power whizz down from the sky, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. At that moment, the roaring Genesis Qi formed the shadow of a giant rhino, wrapping around Xu Feng¡¯s body. When that power struck, the surrounding forest would be flattened. ¡°The advanced Divine Dwelling stage is not bad.¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, but there wasn¡¯t a trace of fear in his eyes. Instead, he seemed excited. He rapidly performed a hand seal with one hand at lightning speed. The mighty Genesis Qi between heaven and earth came roaring over. The Genesis Qi accumulated and rapidly formed mysterious light wings around his body. Omega Saint Spirit Art! Zhou Yuan squinted his eyes as he watched the giant rhino shadow crushing down. The next moment, he beat his wings, his body rotated like a spinning top, and his right foot lashed like a whip. Chi! White hairs rapidly emerged and covered his feet before turning into a dark color. Genesis Breaker! The giant rhino shadow came roaring over. Clang! Zhou Yuan¡¯s leg skimmed through the air, shocking everybody, and it collided with the giant rhino shadow. Boom! An indescribable storm of terror erupted. Whether it was Yi Qiushui, Qiu Ji, or the others, they were blasted away, and a look of horror crossed their faces. But as they retreated, their eyes were fixed on the place of collision. They knew that the outcome of the battle between the two would be decided after the collision. ¡°How dare you challenge Xu Feng! You really don¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth!¡± Qiu Ji thundered. Chi! However, the moment his voice faded, countless exclamations of shock and disbelief sounded around the campsite, and Qiu Ji¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. He was aghast to see that the giant rhino shadow had only lasted for a few seconds before it exploded as Zhou Yuan¡¯s leg swept past it. A look of horror and fear crossed Xu Feng¡¯s face. He hadn¡¯t expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack to be so terrifying! Bang! The dark leg shadow shattered the giant rhino shadow and directly trampled Xu Feng¡¯s body. The power of that foot was enough to crush a mountain. Puchi! A mouthful of blood spurted from Xu Feng¡¯s mouth, and his body was blasted thousands of feet across the night sky, then slammed into a mountain wall. As the mountain crumbled, boulders rolled down and directly buried him. It was unknown whether he was alive or dead. At that moment, the dust and smoke dissipated from the chaotic campsite, and only Zhou Yuan was left standing in the air. The dark hairs that covered his feet also gradually faded away... A deathly silence fell on the campsite. At that moment, no matter whether it was Yi Qiushui, Zhao Yue, Mu Chao or Qiu Ji, they all felt their scalps go numb when they saw the young figure in the center of the campsite. With just the strength of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, he had killed an expert of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage with a single kick... Chapter 759 Resolved Both sides stared at the collapsed mountain in the distance in disbelief and shock. They had just witnessed Zhou Yuan send Xu Feng flying with a single kick... That was an expert of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage! Although Xu Feng had only stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage two months ago, his fighting power was already incredibly tyrannical. Even Yi Qiushui, who had established an eight heavens Divine Dwelling, couldn¡¯t withstand his might. So how had Zhou Yuan, who was also at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, unleashed such terrifying power? The expression on Zhao Yue¡¯s beautiful face had frozen. It was only after a good while that some movement was seen on her neck. She seemed to be swallowing saliva. ¡°How is this possible?¡± A low voice emerged from her red lips. Although she should have been overjoyed that Xu Feng was defeated, the scene was just far too shocking. Zhao Yue had always treated Zhou Yuan as a liar, and in truth, looked down on him a little. However, her suspicions now appeared extremely laughable. Evidently, it wasn¡¯t that Zhou Yuan had lied but that she was lacking in judgement... At the thought of this, Zhao Yue, who had always been rather cold and haughty, felt quite ashamed. Compared with Zhao Yue¡¯s shame, the expressions of Mu Chao and the group of young men and women changed indeterminately. If Zhao Yue was said to be suspicious of Zhou Yuan previously, then they could be said to have never had a good opinion of this country bumpkin from another heaven. Zhou Yuan had been a joke in their eyes for the past few days. But it was obvious who was the laughingstock now. Mu Chao gave a hollow laugh, and the smile on his face was incredibly forced. But to not appear cowardly in front of Yi Qiushui, he remarked, ¡°It seems that the talented geniuses of other heavens aren¡¯t all that bad... ¡°Zhou Yuan should be one of the top younger generation experts in his heaven. ¡°But although he is pretty good in our eyes, in Hunyuan Heaven¡ªno, even among the Divine Dwelling stage experts of our Tianyuan region¡ªhe would most likely not be ranked on any list.¡± His words and tone gave off a sense of superiority. Next to him, the prided geniuses of other clans also echoed, ¡°Our Tianyuan region has 38 people on the Divine Dwelling List of Hunyuan Heaven. These are the true prided geniuses blessed by the heavens. If Zhou Yuan were to encounter any one of them, it would be difficult for him to contend.¡± Although they seemed to be discussing, they were obviously trying to convince themselves that Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength was not that great so as to alleviate their shame. Their voices suddenly came to an abrupt stop. This was because almost every person on Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling List was at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, whereas Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. He might not have a huge chance of beating these Divine Dwelling experts now, but what if he also reached the advanced stage? Considering Zhou Yuan¡¯s astonishing power, even if Mu Chao and the others were reluctant to admit it, they knew that his strength would undoubtedly skyrocket once he stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. When that happened, Zhou Yuan would likely be ranked on the Divine Dwelling List. All the individuals on the Divine Dwelling List were remarkable talents. With the exception of Yi Qiushui, it was almost impossible for the younger generation of Xiaoxuan Province to be ranked on the list. Therefore, a simple sentence from Yi Qiushui made them once again face the cruel truth. Seeing that the group had fallen silent, Yi Qiushui¡¯s red lips curved slightly. How could she not know what they were thinking? She knew that it was difficult to admit that others were better. So what if Zhou Yuan was from another heaven, had prodigies not appeared from other heavens before? While everybody was gradually waking up to the truth, the Wind Demon Bandits stared at the collapsed mountain in the distance before turning towards Zhou Yuan in terror. Qiu Ji hurriedly said upon seeing the looks in their eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, brothers of the Wind Demon Bandits. He may have defeated Xu Feng, but he must have exhausted all his strength in order to do so!¡± Ch! However, the bandits fled before his voice could fade. They darted over to the crumbled mountain, destroyed the boulders, and finally dug out a body, after which they swiftly disappeared into the night. Their movements were extremely decisive. They evidently didn¡¯t care about Qiu Ji¡¯s intentions. As bandits, they were more sensitive to danger than ordinary people. Hence, they knew that if they stayed longer they might not be able to escape. Qiu Ji watched the scene with an ashen face. The Qiu clan had secretly supported the Wind Demon Bandits for so many years, but he didn¡¯t expect it to have no effect on them. ¡°A bunch of trash!¡± Qiu Ji gritted his teeth. Immediately, he turned his head, fixing a fierce look on Zhou Yuan. A moment later, he took a deep breath and said, ¡°Friend, your strength is really not bad, but you have to understand that your strength is still considered nothing to my Qiu clan. ¡°If you leave now, my Qiu clan can forgive you for the death of the young master. ¡°And if you like, you can capture Yi Qiushui. No matter what she gave you, my Qiu clan will double the amount! ¡°With the support of my Qiu clan, you can quickly step into the advance Divine Dwelling stage. You will have a great future!¡± Zhao Yue¡¯s expression changed. Qiu Ji was really cunning to think about pulling Zhou Yuan over to his side. If Zhou Yuan turned against them, their situation would become hopeless. Zhao Yue turned to Yi Qiushui and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Miss!¡± But Yi Qiushui waved her hand dismissively, quietly staring at Zhou Yuan. She didn¡¯t try to offer a greater reward. She knew that Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t such a stupid person. As expected, Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help laughing. He shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s too late now. If I went with you to the Qiu clan, then maybe my ending will be even more miserable than Xu Feng¡¯s.¡± Zhou Yuan had experienced a lot over the years. How would he easily believe Qiu Ji¡¯s words? Qiu Ji¡¯s face trembled, eyes turning more and more vicious. He glanced at the battlefield and understood that his mission was a complete failure. He couldn¡¯t stop Yi Qiushui from returning to Xuanzhou City. ¡°Well, I admit defeat this time, but Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t look so pleased. You have angered my Qiu clan, so you are going to regret it in the future! ¡°Do you think the Yi clan, which can¡¯t even protect themselves, would protect you? ¡°What a joke! ¡°When you fall into my hands, I will make sure you repay everything you have done today!¡± Qiu Ji¡¯s tone of voice was full of malice. After he left these words, he no longer hesitated. With a wave of his hand, he led his people to quickly retreat into the darkness and fled. Zhou Yuan watched them flee with an indifferent expression, but he did not pursue them. After all, they had a large number of people on their side, and he could put himself into danger if he gave chase. The most important task tonight was to resolve the Qiu clan¡¯s besiegement. However, with the retreat of the Wind Demon Bandits and the people of the Qiu clan, this task could be considered successfully completed. The Divine Dwelling halos behind Zhou Yuan gradually faded. His body descended as he scanned the silent crowd. His eyes landed on Yi Qiushui. She was staring at him unblinkingly with her bright eyes. Zhou Yuan cracked a smile. ¡°Miss Yi, you didn¡¯t lose out in our deal, right?¡± The slender girl stood tall beside the remaining campfire. Her bright eyes and pearly white teeth made her appear even more exceedingly beautiful. She smiled softly with her little hand covering her red lips. While nodding slightly, a soft voice sounded. Chapter 760 Chi Jing In the spacious carriage, Yi Qiushui¡¯s eyes shifted to Zhou Yuan as she spoke softly, a very well-disguised relief in her voice. It was obvious that this journey placed a lot of pressure on her. Next to Yi Qiushui sat Yi Dong¡¯er, who was holding her hand. She stared unblinkingly at Zhou Yuan with her huge eyes wide with admiration. She had also learnt about the great battle that happened last night. Zhou Yuan nodded. He also felt a little uncomfortable sitting in the carriage. Even Mu Zhao had never received such treatment before. ¡°We really have to thank brother Zhou Yuan. Our Yi clan will not forget this.¡± Yi Qiushui smiled. ¡°I was just paid to take care of a problem.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head and refused to take credit. If he weren¡¯t lucky enough to meet the Yi clan sisters, his situation would have been much worse. If he were a little unlucky, it was really possible that the Genesis beasts in the wild would have swallowed him alive. ¡°Miss Yi...¡± ¡°If brother Zhou doesn¡¯t mind, you can call me Qiushui.¡± Yi Qiushui lifted a teapot with her small beautiful hand and elegantly poured Zhou Yuan a cup of fragrant tea. ¡°Of course, if brother Zhou feels that I have been unfriendly towards you before and is unhappy about it, I can apologise.¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head. He had realized that Yi Qiushui was indeed not a simple person and could send whatever he wanted to say back into his stomach with just a few words. It was no wonder Qiu Ji said that Yi Qiushui played a huge role in stabilising Xiaoxuan Province so quickly for the Yi clan. And Zhou Yuan also understood that Yi Qiushui¡¯s attitude towards him had changed drastically. The main reason was because the strength that he had shown had been recognised. However, he didn¡¯t feel that Yi Qiushui acted pragmatically. Nobody in the world would act nice for no reason, not to mention that he and Yi Qiushui had just met. But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t think too much about it. He smiled and nodded. ¡°Okay, Qiushui.¡± Yi Qiushui intended to befriend him, in the same way that Zhou Yuan also thought she was a person worth being friends with. Moreover, it would be good for him to meet a trustworthy friend. Yi Qiushui gave a faint smile. Her beautiful eyes and face looked more stunning than usual. It was obvious that she was in a very good mood because she knew that, from Zhou Yuan¡¯s tone of voice, they had become friends. She was very curious about Zhou Yuan, a person who had come from another heaven and had shown amazing talent. ¡°Qiushui...I recently arrived in Tianyuan Region and have no knowledge whatsoever of the situation here. I was hoping you could tell me in case I offend people that I shouldn¡¯t.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled calmly. Yi Qiushui wasn¡¯t surprised. After all, Zhou Yuan was from another heaven and had come to an unfamiliar place. The most important task for him was naturally to find out the distribution of forces here. ¡°Tianyuan Region was created by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. This, you probably already know...¡± Yi Qiushui revealed a reverent expression on her beautiful face when she mentioned the supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. ¡°Unfortunately, Lord Cang Yuan left Hunyuan Heaven many years ago, and there still hasn¡¯t been any news about him, even till now. There are even rumours that he has passed away...¡± Yi Qiushui sighed. His disappearance was the main reason for the turbulence all these years. ¡°Since Lord Cang Yuan has been missing for many years, who is currently in charge of Tianyuan Region?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. ¡°Under Lord Cang Yuan is the Founding Members Court, and when the supreme sovereign isn¡¯t around, the Founding Members Court will oversee Tianyuan Region. There are currently five seats in the Founding Members Court. ¡°Under the Founding Members Court are a group of elders, and then below them are the 900 prefectures of Tianyuan Region. Every prefecture has its own Prefecture Lord, and our Xiaoxuan Province is one of the prefectures.¡± ¡°Nine hundred prefectures?¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed. There were 900 prefectures similar to Xiaoxuan Province in Tianyuan Region? Isn¡¯t Tianyuan Region too vast? According to his estimate, the power of a single region could most likely compete with the entire Cangxuan Heaven. What¡¯s more, there were eight other huge and monstrous regions similar to Tianyuan Region in Hunyuan Heaven! Given its strength, no wonder it was the strongest heaven. It was not a surprise that it was able to become the main camp that fought against the sacred race. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes in deep thought, and asked again a moment later, ¡°Who are the five seats in the Founding Members Court?¡± Yi Qiushui stretched out her slender fingers and counted one by one, ¡°The Heavenly Spirit Sect, the White clan, the Profound Crystal clan and the Wood clan...these four great factions founded Tianyuan Region with supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. They all have deep backgrounds and foundations, and the bloodlines of the three clans originated from Saint experts. Although these Saints have already fallen, their bloodlines are still as extraordinary as before.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. There had been Saint experts in the White clan, the Profound Crystal clan and the Wood clan in the past? This was indeed remarkable. After all, in the entire Cangxuan Heaven, patriarch Cang Xuan was the only Saint expert that had appeared! ¡°Who is the last one?¡± ¡°The last one is Lord Chi Jing.¡± Yi Qiushui smiled. When she mentioned Lord Chi Jing, there was evidently a reverent expression on her face. ¡°Chi Jing?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little surprised because this was the only one of the five founding members with their own name. From Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression, Yi Qiushui knew what he was thinking, and she immediately chuckled. ¡°Lord Chi Jing does not need the backing of any faction because her master is supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. She is one of Lord Cang Yuan¡¯s two disciples.¡± When talking about Chi Jing, Zhou Yuan could see the yearning and respect on Yi Qiushui¡¯s stunning face. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes also flickered with a glimmer of excitement because his question had struck a key point! But then he felt something was wrong, and he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°She? Is this great disciple of Lord Cang Yuan a woman?¡± Didn¡¯t master Cang Yuan say that he only had two senior brothers?! Yi Qiushui cast an annoyed glance at Zhou Yuan. ¡°So what if she¡¯s a woman? You look down on women?¡± It should be said that all the girls of the entire Tianyuan Region worshipped Chi Jing and saw her as their goal, including her, Yi Qiushui! Zhou Yuan looked bewildered. Just what was this? Chapter 761 Divine Dwelling Lis Zhou Yuan uttered the name, somewhat bewildered. It was a woman¡¯s name. In other words she should be a senior sister, right? He shook his head in puzzlement and couldn¡¯t understand why master Cang Yuan did not tell him clearly. But this was just a trivial matter. ¡°Doesn¡¯t supreme sovereign Cang Yuan have two disciples? Why is there only one person listed in the Founding Members Court?¡± Zhou Yuan continued to ask. ¡°Yes. Lady Chi Jing is Lord Cang Yuan¡¯s second disciple. The eldest disciple is Zhuan Zhu, and the seat in the Founding Members Court should have belonged to Lord Zhuan Zhu, but he chose to isolate himself after supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disappearance. It was said that he wanted to challenge the Saint stage, but there hasn¡¯t been any news of him all these years. Therefore, according to the rules, Lady Chi Jing replaced his position,¡± Yi Qiushui explained. So my eldest senior brother is called Zhuan Zhu. Zhou Yuan nodded, breathing an inward sigh of relief. He finally sorted out the situation of his senior brother and senior sister. Not only that, from Yi Qiushui¡¯s statement, he was able to estimate the strength of his senior brother and senior sister. The fact that senior brother Zhuan Zhu could attack the Saint stage was enough to suggest he had made great success in the Law Domain stage and that he should be similar in strength to sect master Qing Yang, or perhaps even a little stronger.... There might be a gap between him and senior sister Chi Jing, but the difference certainly wouldn¡¯t be too much. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but gasp at such strength. It should be said that someone with the strength of the Law Domain stage in Cangxuan Heaven could establish a major sect equal to the top forces, such as the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace. While thoughts raced through Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, Yi Qiushui gently sighed, ¡°But supreme sovereign Cang Yuan has disappeared for many years, and it has had a huge impact on Tianyuan Region.¡± ¡°Oh? What¡¯s the impact?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. ¡°Hunyuan Heaven is roughly divided into nine regions, but there are many disputes and conflicts in these nine regions. Over the years, because of the disappearance of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, coupled with rumours of his death, the bigger regions inevitably tried to create trouble and tried to slash some flesh from Tianyuan Region. ¡°And these are just external factors. There is even more internal chaos in Tianyuan Region. ¡°The disputes and conflicts have spread to Tianyuan Heaven¡¯s 900 prefectures. After all, these 900 prefectures are the foundation of Tianyuan Heaven, and it is only when these prefectures are controlled would they have a lot of resources to use. Therefore, to occupy the position of Prefecture Lord, all these years there have been constant conflicts between the two sides. It has made Tianyuan Region increasingly chaotic.¡± Yi Qiushui smiled bitterly. ¡°I have to say that without supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, Tianyuan Region would most likely deteriorate. It may even split up and lose its position as one of the nine great regions.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face grew solemn. As his master Cang Yuan had predicted, the Tianyuan Region had inevitably changed after his disappearance. He felt a headache coming on. To obtain the Ancestral Dragon Lamp, he needed to use the strength of Tianyuan Region; otherwise, it would be impossible for him to touch that kind of sacred treasure with his power alone. Moreover, if he wanted to take advantage of Tianyuan Region¡¯s strength, the two parties must at least have a very strong relationship. If Chi Jing was in power, the cooperation shouldn¡¯t be too difficult, given the fact that they had the relationship of senior sister and junior brother and this was master Cang Yuan¡¯s order. But it was hard to predict what the Heavenly Spirit Sect, White clan and Profound Crystal clan thought. Zhou Yuan did not dare to cooperate with them. Of course, the most important thing was that the Ancestral Dragon Lantern was controlled by the nine regions in turn. If Tianyuan Region were to lose its status as one of the nine great regions because of unrest, it would also lose the right to hold the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. Without the identity of one of the great nine regions, let alone him, it was most likely that even his senior sister Chi Jing couldn¡¯t ask the other eight great regions to give her face. After all, they currently did not have their supreme sovereign with them. ¡°This really is troublesome...,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered. Of course, it was also very simple to resolve this. As long as master Cang Yuan were to show his face, all the turmoil would presumably stop. But it was impossible for master Cang Yuan to appear since the other supreme sovereigns would find him and make him hand over Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered. It seemed that no matter what he should first meet with his senior sister Chi Jing to determine each other¡¯s identity. But...this matter also wasn¡¯t so easy, because master Cang Yuan had told him to not let the outside world know about his identity as his third disciple since it would draw the attention of the other supreme sovereigns if such a fact were to be exposed. He couldn¡¯t reveal his identity to the outside world, so how could he meet Chi Jing? She was one of the high and mighty figures of Tianyuan Region. How could he, a little Divine Dwelling expert, have the qualification to meet with her...? ¡°Brother Zhou Yuan, what are your plans?¡± Yi Qiushui asked. Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly, shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t really have anything in mind.¡± ¡°Since you have helped me this time, the Qiu clan will certainly see you as a thorn in their eyes. In these few days, I don¡¯t recommend that you go out alone,¡± Yi Qiushui advised. If it was before, Yi Qiushui might not have been too persistent to keep Zhou Yuan, but he had saved them and had shown astonishing strength, so she naturally didn¡¯t want Zhou Yuan to risk his life and leave. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, but he didn¡¯t reject Yi Qiushui¡¯s good intentions. Although he had regained his strength, he also understood that the Qiu clan had experts of the Heavenly Sun stage. Since he had killed Qiu Yang and ruined the Qiu clan¡¯s plan, the Qiu clan had to hate him to the bone. Therefore, it wouldn¡¯t be a wise choice for him to leave the Yi clan. ¡°You can stay in the Yi clan¡¯s residence for now until my Yi clan calms things down first. If I can take the position of Prefecture Lord, then I can go to Tianyuan Palace to meet Lady Chi Jing. If you want to continue to stay in Tianyuan Region, I can use that opportunity to seek a position for you here,¡± Yi Qiushui offered with the best of intentions. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart leapt. ¡°You can meet...Lady Chi Jing?¡± Yi Qiushui gave a faint smile. ¡°Our Yi clan is originally under Lady Chi Jing. This isn¡¯t any secret.¡± She wasn¡¯t surprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s shock. After all, Lady Chi Jing was one of the rulers of Tianyuan Region. She possessed an extraordinary status and was considered an important high and mighty figure in Hunyuan Heaven. A feeling of joyful surprise surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. This was really unexpected. He couldn¡¯t believe he would have such a harvest through an accident. ¡°Then, I have to ask Qiushui to take care of me,¡± Zhou Yuan laughed. Yi Qiushui shook her head, saying, ¡°With your talent, as long as you reach the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, you will certainly be ranked on Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling List. At that time, even Lady Chi Jing will pay attention to you. ¡°After all, there are only a few dozen people on that list in the entire Tianyuan Region.¡± ¡°The Divine Dwelling List?¡± Zhou Yuan seemed somewhat interested in this. He wasn¡¯t interested in the list, but he wanted to know the strength of a Divine Dwelling expert in Hunyuan Heaven. Yi Qiushui nodded with a faint smile. ¡°In Hunyuan Heaven, there is a ranking list at each cultivation level, such as the Divine Dwelling List, Heavenly Sun List and the Nascent Source List. ¡°Anyone who can be ranked on the list is one of the strongest people of that cultivation level. In other words, they are the true talents with endless potential. ¡°Of course, almost all the younger generation are on the Divine Dwelling List, while on the Heavenly Sun List and the Nascent Source List are people of the older generation...¡± While speaking, a golden scroll flashed out from Yi Qiushui¡¯s hand. She handed it to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°This is the latest Divine Dwelling List.¡± Zhou Yuan curiously unfolded it, and suddenly, golden light overflowed from it, revealing three ancient golden characters. ¡°Divine Dwelling List.¡± Zhou Yuan ran his eyes down the list. A number of impressive names leapt into his eyes. ¡°First place on the Divine Dwelling List: Zhao Mushen of Wanzu Region.¡± ¡°Second place on the Divine Dwelling List: Wu Yao of Wushen Region.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze stopped on Wu Yao¡¯s name. He wasn¡¯t too surprised about her ranking. From their previous battle it was obvious that Wu Yao was indeed a heaven¡¯s pride. He shook his head and continued to read. However, when he saw the name ranked third on the list, he couldn¡¯t help but rub his eyes in disbelief. Emotion surged in his heart like a tide. This was because of the third column... Chapter 762 Arriving in Xuanzhou City Zhou Yuan stared blankly at the name ranked third on the Divine Dwelling List and fell into a trance for a good while. A few years ago, Zhou Yuan was just a youngster of the Heaven Gate stage who had just left the Great Zhou Empire. He just wanted to find a way to fight against King Wu. That was also when Su Youwei was separated from him and taken away by a mysterious old man. Since then, the two had never seen each other again. It was only later that Zhou Yuan learnt that she had gone to Hunyuan Heaven, and besides being upset, he could only wish her good luck. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the thin and weak little girl from back then would achieve such a status and position in Hunyuan Heaven...¡± Zhou Yuan sighed, his eyes filled with tears of nostalgia. The first time he saw Su Youwei, the little girl was covered in mud. She was dragging her seriously ill grandfather in the heavy rain, and knelt in front of a medicine shop, crying heartbreakingly for help. The little girl was from an insignificant background. She, like a little plant in the crevices of rocks of the desert, grew tenaciously with many hardships and eventually bloomed with a brilliance that belonged to her alone. From Su Youwei, Zhou Yuan could see a strength that even he couldn¡¯t compare to. Therefore Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised by her achievements. ¡°Youwei, congratulations...¡± Zhou Yuan smiled inwardly as if he could hear the little girl¡¯s voice calling ¡®Your Highness, Your Highness¡¯ constantly echoing in his ears. However, after so many years, the little girl was not the same anymore. In terms of status, she was far superior to the prince of a little empire. He also wondered if things would remain the same if they were to meet again. Given her present status, it was likely that no one would let her call him Your Highness anymore, right? ¡°What, have you ever heard of Zixiao Region¡¯s Su Youwei before?¡± Yi Qiushui asked in puzzlement, seeing that Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze had been fixed on Su Youwei¡¯s name for some time. Zhou Yuan slowly retracted his gaze, chuckling, ¡°How would I...? I just think that the women of Hunyuan Heaven are really powerful. There are two women ranked in the top three.¡± ¡°Wu Yao of the Wushen Region and Su Youwei of the Zixiao Region are indeed top talents of Hunyuan Heaven. Even the supreme sovereigns of the two domains attach great importance to them. Their achievements are limitless. ¡°But speaking of them, it¡¯s very interesting. Su Youwei is said to be very gentle and calm, but when she sees Wu Yao, it is as though she changes into another person. A battle always breaks out. ¡°It feels like there is deep enmity between the two. ¡°The elders of Zixiao Region stopped getting involved in the end. Perhaps, in their opinion, it was good for two outstanding talents to compete with each other.¡± Yi Qiushui covered her mouth and smiled. ¡°So now, the place wherever Wu Yao and Su Youwei appear at the same time will immediately attract countless attention. Of course, they are also considered the most stunning girls in Hunyuan Heaven, whether it is in beauty or talent. It is unknown just how many people admire them... ¡°Because of them, many remarkable talents in Hunyuan Heaven have divided themselves into the Wu Yao party and the Youwei party.¡± Even Yi Qiushui, a great beauty, was somewhat envious of them. But she also had to admit that Wu Yao and Su Youwei were indeed the two brightest pearls of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s younger generation. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help scratching his head when he heard this. Others might find Su Youwei¡¯s extreme hostility towards Wu Yao to be inexplicable, but he had a vague idea. Su Youwei had spent many years in the Great Wu, and of course knew about his feud with the Great Wu, and the existence of Wu Huang and Wu Yao... Could it be that Su Youwei was against Wu Yao because of him? However, Zhou Yuan obviously didn¡¯t dare to confirm whether this was true or not. After all, it would be quite embarrassing if it weren¡¯t. Time and environment were enough to change a lot of things. He also couldn¡¯t know whether Su Youwei was still the same as before. Back then she had also looked up to and worshipped Zhou Yuan, but her worldview had greatly expanded after coming to Hunyuan Heaven and then Zixiao Region. She might even feel somewhat ridiculous when she thought back to the past. While thoughts raced through his mind, he smiled faintly. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because they are both so outstanding.¡± Yi Qiushui nodded. That was a possibility. Once someone reached such a remarkable level, they might indeed not be very easy to get along with. Zhou Yuan continued scanning the list. He found that the rankers on the list were least at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage and had established at least an eight heavens Divine Dwellings. He couldn¡¯t help but exclaim that Hunyuan Heaven deserved to be the strongest heaven. After all, there were probably less than a handful of people in the Cangxuan Heaven who could open up eight Divine Dwellings. ¡°The rankings of the Divine Dwelling List are not absolute since most of it is just based on fame, so there is no need to really regard it as a golden rule. ¡°The people ranked in the top ten are not easy to deal with and have a lot of trump cards, but if it isn¡¯t a battle of life and death, who would know who¡¯s better than who?¡± ¡°At least in my opinion, Wu Yao and Su Youwei aren¡¯t any weaker than Zhao Mushen, who is ranked first,¡± Yi Qiushui said with a smile as she stashed away the list. Zhou Yuan nodded. Indeed, only a battle of life and death could truly distinguish who was stronger. The so-called ranking was more for simple reference. ¡°Zhou Yuan, keep fighting. When you step into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, your name will certainly be on the Divine Dwelling List.¡± Yi Qiushui made a cheering gesture at Zhou Yuan. The cute action made her look even more sweet and charming. ¡°I hope what you say will come true.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled indifferently. He didn¡¯t care much about whether or not he could make it on the so-called Divine Dwelling List. He only had two goals. One was to improve his strength, and the other was to find an opportunity to obtain the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. Of course, if there was a chance, he also had to retrieve the two Sacred Dragon Qi inside Wu Yao. ¡°Miss, we¡¯re at Xuanzhou City,¡± Zhao Yue¡¯s voice sounded from outside. Yi Qiushui alighted the carriage with Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan peered into the distance only to see that there was a tremendous city on the horizon. And as he gradually neared the city, his eyes suddenly narrowed. His skin tightened, and his eyes stared sharply at the city walls. Three figures stood with their hands clasped behind their backs. Their cold and stern eyes were like blades, locking onto them from afar. Majestic and powerful Genesis Qi was being emitted from their bodies. It was unexpectedly three experts of the Heavenly Sun stage! The clothes on them were exactly the same as Qiu Ji¡¯s! Members of the Qiu clan! It was at that time that the middle-aged man in the middle fixed a cold stare at Zhou Yuan, and a voice filled with murderous intent resounded. Chapter 763 The Qiu Clan Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful eyes also darted up to the three figures. Her stunning face froze for a moment before she said, ¡°So it¡¯s the head of the Qiu clan, Qiu Long. I with a lowly status am not worth enough for patriarch Qiu Long to come out to welcome me.¡± Among the three Heavenly Sun experts, a burly and tall middle-aged man shot an oppressive glance at Yi Qiushui. ¡°Niece Qiushui is over thinking. I came not because of you but for the bastard that killed my son!¡± His sinister eyes continued to stare at Zhou Yuan next to Yi Qiushui. ¡°Hand that person over and I will let you into the city.¡± It was evident that he had heard the whole story from Qiu Ji already and knew it was Zhou Yuan who had suddenly emerged and ruined the Qiu clan¡¯s plan. Yi Qiushui sneered, ¡°Do I need patriarch Qiu Long¡¯s permission to enter the city?¡± ¡°Niece Qiushui, the Yi and Qiu clan¡¯s relationship isn¡¯t bad. When your father wasn¡¯t around, my Qiu clan did our best to cooperate. I hope you don¡¯t let an outsider ruin the relationship between our two families,¡± Qiu Long said, expressionless. Yi Qiushui remarked coldly, ¡°Speaking of this, I have to thank your Qiu clan for the protection along the way.¡± When she uttered the word protection, the corners of her mouth were curved in a sarcastic smile. ¡°Qiu Ji and the others had no other intention and just wanted to capture the trash that killed Qiu Yang. If you had handed him over, there naturally wouldn¡¯t be any misunderstanding,¡± Qiu Long said. Before waiting for Yi Qiushui to respond, he shifted his gaze onto Zhou Yuan. ¡°Boy, kneel down and wait to be captured, then perhaps I can let you die a painless death. ¡°You killed my son. Nobody else can protect you!¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Although it¡¯s my first time here, I didn¡¯t expect to see a Heavenly Sun expert talk big. Is it because I have never seen the world, or have you never seen the world?¡± Although the experts of the Heavenly Sun stage were strong, Zhou Yuan had experienced a Saint battle. Compared to an existence like Sheng Yuan, the head of the Qui clan was just like a rich man from the countryside, and Sheng Yuan was like the emperor of a kingdom. ¡°Heavenly Sun stage may not count for much, but it can still easily squeeze a little trash like you to death.¡± A malicious glint flashed in Qiu Long¡¯s eyes. ¡°Niece Qiushui, you really don¡¯t plan to hand him over?¡± Zhou Yuan could hear the murderous intent suppressed in Qiu Long¡¯s voice. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was calm, but his body was tensed up, and he had unknowingly taken another two steps back. Although he couldn¡¯t win against a Heavenly Sun stage expert, he had confidence in escaping. Facing a Heavenly Sun expert at the Divine Dwelling stage, he believed escaping wasn¡¯t shameful, and being able to flee was actually a mark of one¡¯s capabilities. However, what made Zhou Yuan breathe a sigh of relief was that Yi Qiushui didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she coldly stared at Qiu Long with her beautiful eyes. Her intention was already self-evident. ¡°Since niece Qiushui has already been deceived, I have to take action myself!¡± Boom! While Qiu Long¡¯s icy cold voice faded, mighty Genesis Qi suddenly erupted from his body. It was at that moment when a bright and huge sun rose one hundred meters behind him. That dazzling sun was formed from the purest Genesis Qi of the universe, and when it appeared, a terrifying Genesis Qi energy blanketed the sky. Under that kind of oppressive pressure, Yi Qiushui suddenly felt her body sinking, as if a huge mountain was pressing down. Bang! Qiu Long thrust his palm out, causing the Genesis Qi of the universe to whizz over and transform into a gigantic Genesis Qi palm over thousands of feet tall. It directly slammed down in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. The gigantic palm of Genesis Qi was as bright as a crystal. It was obvious that he had compressed Genesis Qi to a very frightening level. A Heavenly Sun expert¡¯s control of Genesis Qi was indeed far superior to that of a Divine Dwelling expert. Qiu Long didn¡¯t deliberately avoid Yi Qiushui. Although he dared not directly kill her in public, he was very happy to make her suffer. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes, watching the giant palm of Genesis Qi speed over. He was about to frantically retreat when he heard Yi Qiushui softly say, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± His eyes flashed, and he stopped, but the Genesis Qi in his body was pulsing like a torrent, ready to erupt. The giant crystal-like palm, carrying infinite power, slammed down like a mountain. However, just when that giant palm was only ten feet from Zhou Yuan and Yi Qiushui, an indifferent and old voice echoed across the world, ¡°Qiu Long, you are so powerful and respected, but you came to the city gate to bully a child of our Yi clan?¡± Along with the old voice was a scarlet-red arc streaking across the world. There were flames rising from the scarlet arc, and the temperature of the whole world seemed to increase. Boom! The scarlet arc directly collided with that giant crystal-like palm. The void trembled violently, and both bloomed like fireworks before finally dissipating under the violent gusts of wind. Zhou Yuan lifted his head to see two figures standing tall in the air. In front was an old man with black and white hair. He looked energetic but cold, and beside him was a middle-aged man. Both exuded tremendously powerful Genesis Qi that was not in the slightest weaker than Qiu Long¡¯s. They were the Heavenly Sun stage elders of the Qiu clan. At the same time, numerous silhouettes appeared above the city wall. The people in Xuanzhou City were finally aware of the movement at the city gate. However, no one tried to intervene or calm things down. The atmosphere in Xuanzhou City was very strange. The position of Prefecture Lord had been left empty ever since the head of the Yi clan had died in the Thousand Beast Mountain Range. Both the Qiu and Yi families had called on all their friends, causing all kinds of open and secret fights, thereby turning the situation in Xuanzhou City extremely lively. Qiu Long wrinkled his brows when he saw the old man with black and white hair. That old guy of the Yi clan came really fast. ¡°So it¡¯s elder Qianji. ¡°I have already said that I am not targeting niece Qiushui and that I have come for the beast that killed my son. My son died tragically. Must the Yi clan intervene in my revenge?¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful eyes turned icy cold. ¡°Qiu Yang attempted to kidnap Dong¡¯er, so he brought it on himself!¡± ¡°Nonsense, niece Qiushui. Don¡¯t think that because my child is dead, you can besmirch his name like that.¡± He cast a glance at Yi Qianji in midair and said indifferently, ¡°Elder Qianji, I am also very upset that Prefecture Lord Yi died in the Thousand Beast Mountain Range. These days, my Qiu clan has done our best to stabilise Xuanzhou City, and there haven¡¯t been any troubles so far. Hasn¡¯t my Qiu clan given enough face to the Yi clan already? ¡°If your Yi clan wants to let my son die tragically because of an irrelevant person, then that means you look down on us and think your clan is superior. Even though your Yi clan has a stronger background than our Qiu clan, we will not let you trample on us like this. ¡°If the Yi clan doesn¡¯t hand over that person, my Qiu clan will have no choice but to fight your Yi clan.¡± Qiu Long¡¯s voice rang throughout the city, falling into the ears of all the forces in Xuanzhou City, and immediately sent a chill down many an expert¡¯s spine. The Yi clan and the Qiu clan had been competing for the position of Prefecture Lord of Xiaoxuan Prefecture during this period of time, but in the end they hadn¡¯t completely torn each other¡¯s faces. Many people knew that this was because the Qiu clan lacked the means and reason to compete for Prefecture Lord. But now, the death of a child of the Qiu clan was the best excuse for Qiu Long to rise in revolt unless the Yi clan hands over Qiu Yang¡¯s killer and therefore eases the situation. Standing in midair, Yi Qianji wrinkled his brows, understanding Qiu Long¡¯s intention. He was faced with a difficult choice. He knew that if they refuse to listen to Qiu Long, a battle between the Yi clan and the Qiu clan would truly break out. But his Yi clan wasn¡¯t fully prepared for this. While Yi Qianji was in deep thoughts, Yi Qiushui slowly stepped forward under countless watchful gazes. She looked directly at Qiu Long with her bright eyes, and her soft and resolute voice rang throughout the city. ¡°You really think I don¡¯t know what your Qiu clan is planning? No matter how your Qiu clan wants to fight, I will represent the Yi clan to accept it! Chapter 764 Prefecture Lord Battle No one thought that Yi Qiushui would be so decisive. On the city walls, Qiu Long squinted as he sneered out loud, ¡°Niece Qiushui is indeed courageous.¡± Then he shifted his gaze to Yi Qianji, who was in midair, ¡°Is that what your Yi clan wants?¡± Yi Qianji swept a glance over Yi Qiushui before he responded, ¡°Before our master left, he said that Qiushui will be the new Prefecture Lord of Xiaoxuan Prefecture. So what she says naturally represents my Yi clan.¡± ¡°She¡¯s the head of the Yi clan, and that¡¯s your Yi clan¡¯s business, so I naturally have nothing to say. But as to whether she is the new Prefecture Lord of Xiaoxuan Prefecture, I¡¯m afraid it can¡¯t be decided by a word the head of the Yi clan said before his death,¡± Qiu Long said with mockery. ¡°According to the rules, before the new Prefecture Lord takes up the official post, it needs to be considered and passed through Tianyuan Region¡¯s elders committee!¡± ¡°The previous Prefecture Lord has the right to appoint a temporary Prefecture Lord,¡± Yi Qianji stated. How would he not know about the Qiu clan¡¯s wild scheme? Ultimately, they were after the position of Prefecture Lord of Xiaoxuan Prefecture, but the Yi clan absolutely wouldn¡¯t give it up either. After all, the Yi clan also had to pay a considerable price in order to obtain that position. ¡°You also know that it¡¯s just a temporary Prefecture Lord.¡± Qiu Long waved his hand dismissively. ¡°My Qiu clan can oppose and initiate a Prefecture Lord battle.¡± ¡°Prefecture Lord battle?¡± When these three words spread out, it undoubtedly shocked many people across Xuanzhou City. Once the Prefecture Lord battle was initiated, it meant the Qiu and Yi families would completely tear into each other¡¯s faces. Yi Qianji narrowed his eyes. ¡°The Qiu clan really wants this?¡± Qiu Long¡¯s eyes drooped slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll repeat once again, hand over the beast that killed my son and the two families will be the same as before.¡± Yi Qianji didn¡¯t respond again. He just shifted his gaze onto Yi Qiushui. A calm and composed expression remained on Yi Qiushui¡¯s fair and bright face. Even if Qiu Long was pressing closer and closer, she had no intention of retreating. She simply nodded. ¡°If the Qiu clan insists, then the Yi clan will accept the Prefecture Lord battle.¡± The various forces and powerful people who were paying attention looked stunned. Nobody expected Yi Qiushui to not hesitate to tear the face of the Qiu clan to protect an outsider. The corners of Qiu Long¡¯s mouth curved in a smile as he remarked, ¡°Niece Qiushui is indeed remarkable.¡± ¡°Of course, the Prefecture Lord battle this time is a matter of the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Yi Qiushui was only at the Divine Dwelling stage, so if they were to send out a Heavenly Sun expert, it would be impossible for the Prefecture Lord battle to go ahead. At that time, the Yi clan would similarly send out an expert of the Heavenly Sun stage, and the situation would only turn into an uncontrollable mess. She slightly tilted his head, only to see a figure walking out from behind Qiu Long. Countless gazes gathered on the tall man with knife-like brows. He exuded a chill that made one¡¯s heart palpitate. The younger generation of the various forces, including Mu Chao, had an abrupt change of expression, and their eyes went wide with shock and fear. ¡°Qiu Ling? Isn¡¯t he training at the Heavenly Spirit Sect?¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful face instantly tensed up the moment the figure appeared. The man in front was the Qiu clan¡¯s eldest son, Qiu Ling! Qiu Ling wasn¡¯t trash like his younger brother. He was the leader of the younger generation of Xiaoxuan Prefecture, and he was later accepted as a disciple into the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Qiu Ling had rarely returned to Xiaoxuan Prefecture these years, but his fame continued to rise, not only in Xiaoxuan Prefecture but also in Tianyuan Region. Therefore, when Qiu Ling appeared, not only Mu Chao and the others felt an oppressive pressure, even Yi Qiushui felt it. Under the gazes of countless people, Qiu Ling stood tall on the city wall and peered down at Yi Qiushui. ¡°Qiushui, long time no see. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect we would become enemies when we met again.¡± He mumbled to himself. As for Zhou Yuan, he didn¡¯t even sweep a glance at him. Yi Qiushui increased her vigilance and didn¡¯t answer. Qiu Ling also didn¡¯t care. His voice was gentle, and it was unknown whether he was happy or annoyed. ¡°We have known each other for years. My younger brother has died tragically, but you let the situation become like this because of an irrelevant person. Aren¡¯t you being too willful?¡± ¡°You presumably also know the reason.¡± Yi Qiushui sneered. Qiu Ling shook his head and sighed, ¡°It¡¯s not good that the situation turned to this. It¡¯s best for you and my clan to sit down and talk...I understand, is it because the outsider is making things difficult for you? ¡°Your personality is too kind. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, leave it to me. If he¡¯s dead, it won¡¯t be difficult for you anymore.¡± Boom! The moment his voice faded, mighty Genesis Qi gushed out, and his figure disappeared elusively from the city walls like a ghost. In midair, Yi Qianji frowned and was about to stop him. But the three Heavenly Sun experts of the Qiu clan immediately locked onto him. Qiu Long faintly smiled. ¡°Does elder Qianji need to intervene in the matters between youngsters?¡± During that moment, Qiu Ling¡¯s figure reappeared in front of Yi Qiushui and Zhou Yuan. Mu Chao and the others retreated rapidly one after another to avoid facing Qiu Ling directly. There was a hint of a smile on Qiu Ling¡¯s handsome face, but his pair of eyes was cold and ferocious like a lizard in the dark. He fixed a piercing stare at Zhou Yuan. ¡°This is an affair between two families. Country bumpkin, if you know what¡¯s good for you, you should end yourself. Why are you still here? ¡°But I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t have this courage. Since it¡¯s like this, I¡¯ll send you on your way.¡± He clenched his fist, and Genesis Qi pulsed out, forming three Divine Dwelling halos behind him that displayed eight different colors. The advanced Divine Dwelling stage! He had also established an eight heavens Divine Dwellings! No wonder he was so arrogant! He punched out, sending violent Genesis Qi blasting forth that directly bombarded Zhou Yuan. His Genesis Qi contained murderous intent. The torrent of Genesis Qi rapidly expanded before Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. But just when he was about to make a move, Yi Qiushui¡¯s figure appeared in front of his body with two eight-colored Divine Dwelling halos behind her. Her beautiful hand, wrapped in Genesis Qi, thrust out and met the Genesis Qi torrent head on. Bang! Genesis Qi shock waves erupted out. The ground cracked. Yi Qiushui¡¯s body trembled as she reeled back from the force. At the same time, a palm stretched out from behind her and pressed against her back to help her withstand the force. ¡°Qiushui, it seems you don¡¯t want me to help you solve the problem. Fine, I hope he won¡¯t regret that he didn¡¯t simply die here.¡± Qiu Ling shrugged with a smile, and he slowly turned away after leaving behind these words. His action was more than a kind of deterrent; he was hoping to break the Yi clan¡¯s confidence. ¡°Hey...¡± A voice sounded from behind Qiu Ling. He halted his footsteps, tilted his head and fixed an indifferent look at Zhou Yuan, who was behind Yi Qiushui. Zhou Yuan simply responded calmly, ¡°If the Heavenly Sun experts of your Qiu clan don¡¯t interfere, I think I can kill you.¡± Qiu Ling shook his head, and his lips twisted in a contemptuous sneer. He knew that even Xu Feng had suffered a loss when he faced Zhou Yuan, but so what? If Xu Feng were to face him, he most likely won¡¯t have the courage to even make a move. Qiu Ling leapt onto the city walls, his gaze sweeping across Xuanzhou City. The head of the Qiu clan, Qiu Long, shot a glance at Yi Qiushui and then at Zhou Yuan, saying, ¡°The Prefecture Lord battle is in seven days. I hope the Yi clan will arrive as scheduled.¡± As his voice died away, he and the two other Heavenly Sun experts of the Qiu clan also darted towards Xuanzhou City. With their departure, the atmosphere at the city gate also eased. But the countless forces and people who were closely watching were all aware that the Qiu and Yi families were going to face each other for real this time. Chapter 765 External assistance Because of the death of the head of the Yi clan, white cloths hung everywhere and a sorrowful silence filled the residence. But in the guest hall, the atmosphere was a little solemn. Yi Qiushui sat in the main seat in the guest hall with Yi Qianji beside her. Below were many figures, and it was obvious that all the important people of the Yi clan were all gathered here. Zhou Yuan sat at the end seat of the table. He originally planned to rest alone, but after Yi Qiushui persistently invited him to come, he had to come over to take a look. He scanned the hall until his gaze finally fell on the lower left side of Yi Qiushui where three people sat. One was a powerful and imposing middle-aged man and beside him were a young man and a woman. The body of the young man was slender, and he had a handsome face. He seemed to have quite a presence. Next to the young man was a younger maiden dressed in a red dress. The maiden was beautiful and exuded a youthful energy. They weren¡¯t part of the Yi clan but were from the Mysterious Eagle Chamber of Commerce in Xuanzhou City. The middle-aged man, called Liu Tianying, was the leader of the Mysterious Eagle Chamber of Commerce. As one of the top forces in Xiaoxuan Prefecture, the Mysterious Eagle Chamber of Commerce wasn¡¯t in any way inferior to the Yi and Qiu families. The young man and the maiden, Liu Zhixuan and Liu Ming respectively, were Liu Tianying¡¯s eldest son and daughter. It could be seen that the Mysterious Eagle Chamber of Commerce had a very good relationship with the Yi clan. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have shown up in the Yi clan¡¯s residence at such a time. ¡°Uncle Liu, it¡¯s so late, I¡¯m sorry to trouble you to come over,¡± Yi Qiushui said softly. Liu Tianying waved his hand. ¡°I was good friends with old Yi, you don¡¯t need to be so polite with me. You also should know why I have come here today?¡± Without waiting for Yi Qiushui to respond, he furrowed his brows and continued, ¡°Niece Qiushui, now isn¡¯t the time to start a Prefecture Lord battle with the Qiu clan. You should wait awhile. As long as old grandfather Yi proposes to appoint you as Prefecture Lord to the Elder Committee of Tianyuan Region, that will be enough to confirm your position. Why give the Qiu clan this opportunity?¡± Yi Qiushui shook her head, saying, ¡°Uncle Liu, although Grandfather is an elder in Tianyuan Region, I am certain the Qiu clan will be prepared. From the news I heard, they had also spent a huge amount to bribe some important figures of the Elder Committee. So Grandfather is bound to experience obstruction if he were to do so.¡± Yi Qianji sighed, his expression turning solemn. He said, ¡°It won¡¯t be easy to win the Prefecture Lord battle. For this battle, Qiu Long had even summoned back Qiu Ling, who was training at the Heavenly Spirit Sect. It is clear that he will do everything he can to win.¡± The moment the name Qiu Ling came out, the young people in the hall all turned serious. It was clear that his name had put a lot of pressure on the younger generation of Xiaoxuan Prefecture over the years. A sweet laughter suddenly sounded from the silent group. ¡°It¡¯s just Qiu Ling. What¡¯s there to worry about? Sister Qiushui, both sides need to send out five people in the Prefecture Lord battle. Aren¡¯t there two places among the five people to be sent out that can be external assistance? ¡°Hey, what about my older brother? In the entire Xiaoxuan Prefecture, only you, my brother and Qiu Ling were able to open up eight Divine Dwellings.¡± All the people turned their heads to see the red-clothed maiden beside Liu Tianying promoting her brother with a sweet smile on her face. Liu Zhixuan, sitting next to the girl in red, helplessly shook his head. He then turned to Yi Qiushui and chuckled, ¡°Qiu Ling is indeed a strong enemy, but if Qiushui needs help, I am willing to travel through a mountain of swords and a sea of flames for you...¡± His unrestrained remark drew some snickers in the hall. A faint smile crossed Yi Qiushui¡¯s oval face, as if she couldn¡¯t hear the meaning in Liu Zhixuan¡¯s words. Liu Zhixuan, who had been staring at her all this time, was slightly disappointed when he saw her response, but his eyes were still bright and blazing. He knew how difficult it was to win the flower of the Yi clan, but he had never given up over the years. ¡°Niece Qiushui, Zhixuan has also stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. If the Yi clan needs it, he can take one of the external assistance places.¡± Liu Tianying also smiled. He was well aware of his son¡¯s feelings towards Yi Qiushui, and he was also very satisfied with Yi Qiushui, so he naturally wanted to help him. Yi Qianji nodded and said to Yi Qiushui, ¡°Zhixuan is indeed pretty strong, and he isn¡¯t in any ways weaker than Qiu Ling. With his help, you will feel much more relaxed.¡± Yi Qiushui pondered for a moment, and ultimately didn¡¯t reject Liu Zhixuan¡¯s good intentions. After all, the Yi clan really had to go all out in order to deal with the Prefecture Lord battle. ¡°Then thank you, brother Liu.¡± She turned to Liu Zhixuan and expressed her gratitude. Liu Zhixuan smiled, but he could tell that Yi Qiushui was still keeping a little distance from him from the way she addressed him. ¡°Our Yi clan has two Divine Dwelling experts who fit the criteria and are at the advanced stage as well, but unfortunately, they both only opened up six Divine Dwellings,¡± Yi Qianji stated. ¡°You are now only missing one person. Do you need help to find another person for the external assistance place?¡± Liu Tianying asked. ¡°If so, we can help contact the Mysterious Eagle Chamber of Commerce.¡± Everyone fell into deep thought. The Prefecture Lord battle this time was set at the Divine Dwelling stage, so they needed to search for powerful Divine Dwelling experts as much as possible. However, now that the relationship between the Qiu clan and the Yi clan had deteriorated to this state, the advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts in Xiaoxuan Prefecture with a little fame would most likely be too afraid to get involved. Moreover, if they weren¡¯t strong enough, they would just waste the quota. Sitting at the end seat, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t utter a word and just quietly sipped his tea, as if he had been forgotten. Although he supported Yi Qiushui in becoming the Prefecture Lord, he wouldn¡¯t volunteer himself since it would be troublesome and he wanted to avoid it if necessary. However, while Zhou Yuan was daydreaming, he felt a pair of bright eyes fix on him. So, he helplessly pursed his lips and lifted his head to meet Yi Qiushui¡¯s gaze. Yi Qiushui was looking at Zhou Yuan with a smiling expression, her eyes sparkling with a trace of hope and anticipation. However, in the face of her vivid eyes, Zhou Yuan remained expressionless and continued to sip tea, as if he couldn¡¯t understand Yi Qiushui. At that moment, everyone in the hall also noticed this and followed Yi Qiushui¡¯s gaze to see Zhou Yuan sitting at the end seat. Yi Qiushui had given a brief introduction about Zhou Yuan at the beginning, so they all knew that he had defeated the famous Xu Feng of Xiaoxuan Prefecture and seemed to be quite capable. However, the people involved in the Prefecture Lord battle needed to be the best experts of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. Even Xu Feng wouldn¡¯t be eligible to participate, let alone Zhou Yuan who was at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. Would he not be too unreliable? Moreover, what left them speechless was that Zhou Yuan continued to sit there when faced with Yi Qiushui¡¯s gaze, and he showed no intention of getting involved. Thus, some young men and women of the Yi clan secretly curled their lips. Although Zhou Yuan might be capable, he wasn¡¯t courageous enough. Was this because he feared he would anger the Qiu clan? The atmosphere turned slightly awkward. ¡°He¡¯s just at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, but he¡¯s already so arrogant.¡± A clear, crisp voice broke the awkward silence, and Liu Ming shifted her gaze to Zhou Yuan. She was slightly annoyed by Yi Qiushui¡¯s attitude towards Zhou Yuan. Yi Qiushui didn¡¯t seem excited when her brother offered to help, but why did she attach so much importance to an ordinary youngster of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage? How was he eligible to participate in the Prefecture Lord battle? In Liu Ming¡¯s eyes, Liu Zhixuan was absolutely the strongest among the younger generation of Xiaoxuan Prefecture. Even compared to Qiu Ling, he wasn¡¯t in the slightest inferior. If Zhou Yuan was compared to her brother, the difference between them would be like the gap between a firefly and the moon. Liu Zhixuan was also staring at Zhou Yuan. He had no other meaning but was just a little perplexed. Zhou Yuan ignored Liu Ming¡¯s taunts and continued to sip his tea. But Yi Qiushui suddenly smiled. She didn¡¯t appear angry because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude. She instead bit her red lip and asked, ¡°Brother Zhou Yuan, why don¡¯t you name your price?¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly put down the teacup and took out a piece of paper under many stunned gazes. There were numerous valuable materials written on it. ¡°Qiushui is so straightforward. If the Yi clan gives me these things, I¡¯ll be your external assistance,¡± he said bluntly. In the hall, the crowd fell into a long period of silence when they saw the list of materials that seemed to have been prepared long ago. Chapter 766 Taken Advantage Of Everybody was staring with a remarkable expression at the piece of paper on the table. It was obvious that they were stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s action. Nobody thought that he would be that direct. It turned out that he acted indifferent and didn¡¯t want to get involved because there weren¡¯t any benefits for him? As the saying goes, one doesn¡¯t act without some incentive. Even when facing so many gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change in the slightest. He wasn¡¯t close with the Yi clan, so if they wanted him to help, they naturally needed to pay a good price. How could there be any reason not to pay? The materials on the piece of paper were what he needed to evolve into the second stage of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Since Zhou Yuan had regained his strength, his priority right now was to evolve the Genesis Qi in his body into the grade-seven World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi. Once his Genesis Qi evolved, his strength would also skyrocket. However, the materials required for the evolution of Genesis Qi were incredibly rare. Now that Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t have the support of the Cangxuan Sect and could be said to be a loner, it was unknown how much time and effort he would need to exhaust in order to gather everything required. Therefore, since the Yi clan had something to ask of him, he needed to take advantage of the opportunity. The silence lasted for a good while. Yi Qianji, who was sitting next to Yi Qiushui, suddenly reached out to grab the piece of paper a distance away and carefully studied it. His eyelids were twitching when he finished reading; some of the materials written on it were of considerable value. But he didn¡¯t say much, and he just passed the paper around for the other members of the Yi clan to take a look. Finally the note came to Yi Qiushui¡¯s hand. ¡°Haha, little friend, your price isn¡¯t low at all.¡± Sitting below Yi Qianji was another Heavenly Sun expert of the Yi clan. He forced a smile onto his face. ¡°The total value of these materials is more than enough to invite a famous advanced Divine Dwelling stage expert.¡± Liu Ming could not help but sneer, and she angrily glared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You are only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. Why do you think you are worth this price?¡± Liu Tianying didn¡¯t stop her from speaking out because he also felt the young man in front of him was excessively arrogant. An expert of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage wasn¡¯t worth that price, even if he had defeated Xu Feng. But in the end the boy whom they looked down on made unreasonable demands and tried to take advantage of the Yi clan. If the matter of the Yi clan inviting an intermediate Divine Dwelling stage expert at such a high cost were to spread, the Yi clan would most likely become a joke and make outsiders think that the Yi clan was in a desperate situation and would try anything. The other members of the Yi clan whispered to one another while glaring at Zhou Yuan with cold unkind gazes. However, Zhou Yuan still remained indifferent. He responded with a smile. ¡°You get what you pay for.¡± Everyone was so angry that they also found it laughable. This boy really is shameless! Aren¡¯t you just at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage? Sitting at the main seat, Yi Qiushui, who hadn¡¯t said a word, tapped the tabletop with her slender fingers and made a noise that caused the hall to immediately fall silent. It was obvious that Yi Qiushui was well respected in the Yi clan. This could be seen from the fact that Yi Qianji and another Heavenly Sun expert of the Yi clan had never refuted her. Of course, this was also naturally related to the fact that her grandfather occupied an important elder position in Tianyuan Region. Yi Qiushui¡¯s clear eyes were fixed on Zhou Yuan as she remarked, ¡°Brother Zhou, your price really isn¡¯t low.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a long sigh. He certainly knew that the materials he needed were incredibly precious. If the Yi clan wasn¡¯t lacking people, then even if he were to recommend himself, they would have simply ignored him. But he had no other option. Without those materials, it would be difficult for his Ancestral Dragon Scripture to enter the second realm. He knitted his brows in a frown and hesitated whether to remove some materials. However, just as he was about to speak, Yi Qiushiu¡¯s soft voice sounded once again, ¡°But those materials...my Yi clan can still afford to pay such a price.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face lit up with surprise. The other people of the Yi clan wanted to stop her by exclaiming their disagreement, but Yi Qiushiu prevented them from speaking. She intently looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°As long as brother Zhou can ensure that my clan won¡¯t lose in the Prefecture Lord battle, I will not only reward you with these materials, but I will also add one hundred high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines as a reward.¡± When this statement came out, not only the people of the Yi clan exclaimed out loud, even Zhou Yuan was stunned. One hundred high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines! Zhou Yuan had originally stored up more than one hundred Divine Dwelling medicines, but they were all low grade and had been torn to pieces in the space turbulence. One hundred high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines were equivalent to five hundred low-grade Divine Dwelling medicines. This reward could be considered incredibly generous for a Divine Dwelling expert. With those Divine Dwelling medicines as training resources, Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation speed would undoubtedly increase. Zhou Yuan licked his lips, a wisp of flame blazing in the depths of his eyes. Yi Qiushui¡¯s offer wasn¡¯t at all small. What Zhou Yuan doubted was whether she was really that optimistic about him. While Zhou Yuan stood dumbfounded, the others were finding it difficult to understand Yi Qiushui¡¯s behaviour. Even Yi Qianji couldn¡¯t help making a loud cough, and he questioned in a gentle voice, ¡°Qiushui, Zhou Yuan is strong, but he is still at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. How can he ensure that the Yi clan doesn¡¯t lose?¡± If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Yi Qiushui was always remarkably intelligent, Yi Qianji would have suspected that this incident had too great of an impact on Yi Qiushui and had resulted in her confusion. Ensure the Yi clan doesn¡¯t lose? Among all the Divine Dwelling experts of Tianyuan Region, only the heaven prides who had made it onto the Divine Dwelling List would be able to achieve this. And those prides on the Divine Dwelling List all had extraordinary backgrounds. Even Qiu Ling, Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan couldn¡¯t compare to them. What qualification did Zhou Yuan have? ¡°Yes, sister Qiushui. Although the situation doesn¡¯t look good now, you don¡¯t have to worry, you still have my brother. With him around, you don¡¯t need to be afraid of that Qiu Ling!¡± Liu Ming nodded repeatedly. She found it incredibly difficult to understand why Yi Qiushui would think so highly of Zhou Yuan. She had never seen her treat her older brother like that. In her opinion, her brother was far superior to Zhou Yuan, whose background was unknown. However, Yi Qiushui paid no attention to what the others thought and continued to stare at Zhou Yuan. Yi Qiushui¡¯s feelings towards Zhou Yuan could be described in one word: mysterious. He was clearly just a youngster from another heaven, but for some reason, she could feel an indescribable, imposing air about him. He was very confident. Even in this unfamiliar place, even in the face of the Qiu clan¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts, Zhou Yuan had never panicked once. This showed that he had something up his sleeve. Since he was unafraid of facing a Heavenly Sun expert and was making such a demand in that situation, Yi Qiushui felt that he wasn¡¯t bluffing. Zhou Yuan met Yi Qiushui¡¯s gaze but was somewhat puzzled as to why she would dare to place such a huge bet on him. But none of this mattered to him. As long as he could get the materials, he dared to accept any bet that Yi Qiushui made. So, after a moment of pondering, he nodded directly under the contemptuous gazes of Liu Ming and the others. ¡°I promise you I will do everything in my power to ensure that your clan wins the Prefecture Lord battle. ¡°But I hope you can give me the materials in two days.¡± Yi Qiushui patted the table with her hand, and her red lips moved slightly. ¡°Deal.¡± Chapter 767 Refining the Sword Orb As the news spread, it unsurprisingly caused a lot of uproar. Obviously no one thought that the Yi clan would invite an intermediate Divine Dwelling stage expert as an external assistance member in the Prefecture Lord battle. Adding to this, Zhou Yuan could be said to be a nobody in Xiaoxuan Prefecture, and he had no impressive achievement or reputation. Therefore, the various forces were very surprised by the Yi clan¡¯s move. In the Prefecture Lord battle, each side only had five places, which could be said to be extremely precious. But the Yi clan had given one of the external assistance places away to Zhou Yuan. This was similar to breaking one of their own arms before the battle. Their action was extremely unwise. ¡°What the Yi clan has done is ridiculous.¡± ¡°The head of the Yi clan has passed away, and now Yi Qiushui is in charge. She¡¯s just a little girl, so she is no doubt inexperienced and a little naive.¡± ¡°Hey, I heard that Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance isn¡¯t bad, and it was also Yi Qiushui who brought him back. Could he be her little boyfriend? That¡¯s why she insisted on asking him her external assistance for the battle?¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised that the two Heavenly Sun elders of the Yi clan agreed to this.¡± ¡°Sigh, it seems that the Yi clan is going to suffer a big loss in the Prefecture Lord battle this time. If the Prefecture Lord position were to fall into the hands of the Qiu clan, the Yi clan¡¯s plans in Xiaoxuan Prefecture all these years would most likely crumble. They will perhaps also have to withdraw from Xiaoxuan Prefecture.¡± ¡°Yes, the Qiu clan has even summoned Qiu Ling, who was training in Heavenly Spirit Sect. It seems they are determined to win the position of Prefecture Lord.¡± ¡°.....¡± The majority of the people in Xuanzhou City wasn¡¯t optimistic about the Yi clan¡¯s outcome in the Prefecture Lord battle. And towards these criticisms in Xuanzhou City, the people of the Yi clan had no choice but to swallow the insults even though they were irritated. They could only direct their anger onto the culprit of all this, Zhou Yuan. ..... The backyard of the Yi clan¡¯s residence. In an independent courtyard set in a beautiful garden sprawled with lush vegetation, the huge trees shrouded half the courtyard, making them appear peaceful and quiet. On a stout trunk of an ancient tree, Zhou Yuan was sitting cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed. Above Zhou Yuan¡¯s knees was a mottled black brush suspended in the air, swallowing the Genesis Qi of the universe. It was the Heavenly Yuan brush. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes snapped open, revealing a trace of helplessness as he glanced at the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Ever since the awakening of the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s fifth Genesis Rune, Genesis Breaker, the sixth Genesis Rune still hadn¡¯t been completely awakened. The Heavenly Yuan Brush was now at the low-grade Genesis Weapon level, and if awakened once again, it could reach even the high-grade level. Even in the entire Hunyuan Heaven, a high-grade Genesis Weapon was certainly a divine weapon that even ordinary Heavenly Sun stage experts wouldn¡¯t necessarily possess. Of course, what Zhou Yuan paid more attention to wasn¡¯t the grade of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, but the awakened Genesis Runes. The fifth rune, Breaker Rune, had already brought so many benefits to him. If the fifth rune was already so mysteriously powerful, then what about the sixth rune? However, in the past two years, Zhou Yuan had kept the Heavenly Yuan Brush with him at all times, but the sixth rune still hadn¡¯t appeared, which showed that the Heavenly Yuan Brush had a huge appetite... ¡°It looks like it¡¯s still going to take some time.¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself. But these years of cultivation weren¡¯t completely useless. At least he could see that the sixth ancient Genesis Rune on the body of the mottled brush was beginning to glow. The awakening of the sixth Rune had to be near. These thoughts skimmed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. He ignored the Heavenly Yuan Brush for the time being and folded his palms together. Wisps of Genesis Qi began to hover between his palms. And, following repeated compression and rotation, vague traces of extremely powerful and sharp aura spread out. Chi! The sharpness gradually tore even the air around it. Like sword qi. Those sharp sword qi continued to gather and compress in Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. It was almost half a day later when he began to see a little sword qi pill around the size of a bean forming in the palm of his hand. Zhou Yuan studied the little sword orb with a pensive expression. What he was currently practicing was naturally the Sword Cometh Peak¡¯s Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique. Since he had come to Tianyuan Region, he needed to continuously enhance his strength, and the seven Cangxuan techniques that he had obtained before leaving the Cangxuan Sect were what he needed to practice. Among these techniques, the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb was purely a killing technique with frightening destructive force. Zhou Yuan had already coveted this technique back when he was at the Cangxuan Sect. Therefore, after it came into his hand, he had been trying to comprehend it whenever he had time. But it was only now that he finally saw results. ¡°But to refine the sword orb, I also need to fuse the Qi of Aged Gold with Genesis sword qi. At present my sword orb is still floating in the air and not strong enough,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. However, the Qi of Aged Gold needed to be extracted from rare divine treasures, and their value was quite high. Zhou Yuan was now alone and poor, and everything he had was destroyed in the turbulence of space. Even the materials he needed to upgrade the Ancestral Dragon Scripture were shamelessly obtained from Yi Qiushui. How would he have enough divine resources to refine the Qi of Aged Gold? Zhou Yuan fiddled with the empty spatial bag at his waist with a bitter look on his face. It¡¯s the Saint experts of the sacred race¡¯s fault for messing up the space transportation! Zhou Yuan clenched his teeth, eyes gleaming with malice. He would remember this! While Zhou Yuan was feeling distressed, two beautiful figures were approaching from outside the courtyard. It was Yi Qiushui and her personal guard, Zhao Yue. Noticing them, Zhou Yuan moved his body a little and immediately reappeared in front of them. ¡°Is brother Zhou used to living here?¡± Yi Qiushui asked with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s pretty good.¡± Zhao Yue, who was behind Yi Qiushui, slightly pursed her lips and muttered, ¡°Of course you¡¯re good, but our Yi clan has become the laughing stock of Xuanzhou City.¡± Zhou Yuan cleared his throat and remarked, ¡°What would those ignorant people know?¡± Zhao Yue rolled her eyes. The entire Yi clan was saying that they had never seen such a thick-skinned man before, and it was indeed true. Yi Qiushui curiously studied Zhou Yuan. His carefree and indifferent attitude did not seem fake at all. She patted the spatial bag at her waist, and streams of light flashed out. Several golden boxes landed on the ground. ¡°These are all the materials you need.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy. Hunyuan Heaven was indeed truly blessed by heaven. He was able to gather all the materials needed to upgrade the Ancestral Dragon Scriptures in Xiaoxuan Prefecture alone. It should be said that Yaoyao had been searching in the Cangxuan Sect for a long time but still hadn¡¯t acquired them all. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan expressed his gratitude. Yi Qiushui shook her head and joked, ¡°These materials are very rare. Some of them aren¡¯t even found in the Yi clan¡¯s treasure trove. I had to ask Uncle Lui¡¯s Mysterious Eagle Chamber of Commerce to gather all the materials. Brother Zhou, your price really isn¡¯t low at all.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, and he could only force a smile. But immediately he sighed inwardly. All the materials needed for the Ancestral Dragon Scripture were ready, but the problem now was the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique. Yi Qiushui, who was attentive and sensitive, naturally noticed the worried frown on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Brother Zhou, do you have other concerns?¡± Zhou Yuan coughed out loud. This was something you chose to ask of your own initiative. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing that I¡¯d like to ask Qiushui for help with.¡± Zhou Yuan felt rather ashamed to say this. ¡°Right now I also need some divine treasure to refine the Qi of Aged Gold.¡± Zhao Yue¡¯s eyes went wide, and she glared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t take them for free. I¡¯ll exchange half of the high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines for it!¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly added. Zhao Yue laughed. The Yi clan will only give you the one hundred high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines after you win the Prefecture Lord battle. But you already think it¡¯s yours? Yi Qiushui knitted her brows, gazing directly at Zhou Yuan, who also did not evade her eye contact. She could see a look of helplessness in his eyes but not any guilty conscience. Yi Qiushui was silent for a good while before she explained, ¡°Brother Zhou, we have already offered such a high price to ask for your help. If I were to give you other resources, I am worried about how to explain to the clan.¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head and smiled helplessly. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t take things from the clan any more, but I have my own secret stash that I can lend to brother Zhou.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Yi Qiushui in stunned silence and didn¡¯t know what to say for a good while. ¡°Miss!¡± Zhao Yue couldn¡¯t help but overstep. Yi Qiushui waved her beautiful hand. ¡°I will ask someone to bring them over later.¡± While speaking, she took a deep look at Zhou Yuan before turning and leaving with Zhao Yue, who was furious. Zhou Yuan stood where he was, gazing at Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful and elegant silhouette as she left. He muttered, ¡°What an amazing person...¡± It was clearly just a mutually beneficial transaction, but Yi Qiushui had instead made Zhou Yuan owe her a favour. Now, Zhou Yuan really had to fight with all his strength in the Prefecture Lord battle. After all, if he were to lose, all his face would be destroyed. The key point was that he couldn¡¯t say that Yi Qiushui deliberately planned this. Her way of making him constantly accumulate debt had deliberately targeted his weak spot. If Zhou Yuan was really heartless, Yi Qiushui¡¯s move would have been useless, but she clearly saw through that Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t that kind of person. The new head of the Yi clan is indeed extraordinary. Zhou Yuan sighed and then waved his sleeve and stored away all the boxes. Chapter 768 Heavenly Serpent Qi Every faction in the area was closely watching the developments. The Qiu clan could be called a local powerhouse in Xiaoxuan Prefecture, and they were the strongest candidate for the position of Prefecture Lord. However, more than ten years ago, the Yi clan had suddenly appeared and snatched away the Prefecture Lord position, something which the Qiu clan must have been pretty furious about. Although frustrated, there was nothing they could do because the Yi clan had an elder occupying an important position in Tianyuan Region. Both his status and strength were top class. Even a local powerhouse like the Qiu clan could only wait and bide their time, hoping for an opportunity. When the head of the Yi clan encountered an accident in the Thousand Beast Mountain Range, coupled with the strange death of a disciple of the Qiu clan, the Qiu clan now had the perfect excuse to create trouble. The Prefecture Lord battle could also be said to be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Qiu clan. As long as they won the Prefecture Lord battle, even the powerful elder of the Yi clan wouldn¡¯t be able to obstruct them. Xiaoxuan Prefecture would then completely fall into the hands of the Qiu clan. Therefore, the subsequent Prefecture Lord battle would determine who would be the king of Xiaoxuan Prefecture for the next few decades. Seven days quickly passed by as thousands of people eagerly awaited. When the seventh morning came, the atmosphere in Xuanzhou City became heated with excitement. Countless people flocked to the city from all directions, ultimately gathering in the center of the city. A huge mountain-like platform stood at the center of the city. This was the battlefield for the Prefecture Lord battle. The Yi clan¡¯s courtyard. Yi Qiushui stood on the steps, accompanied by two powerful experts of the Heavenly Sun stage. All the members of the Yi clan were currently gathered here as well. The slim and tall Liu Zhixuan, as well as two middle-aged men exuding majestic imposing auras, was also present in the courtyard. The three of them, together with Yi Qiushui and Zhou Yuan, were the chosen members for the Prefecture Lord battle. Among this group, there was no doubt that everybody had placed the most hope and expectation on Liu Zhixuan. He was an extremely outstanding genius in Xiaoxuan Prefecture who had stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage and established an eight heavens Divine Dwelling. In terms of strength and reputation, he was in no way inferior to Qiu Ling of the Qiu clan. But Zhou Yuan seemed to be missing. The foreheads of many Yi clan members were creased in a frown. They didn¡¯t expect that Zhou Yuan would be absent at such a time. ¡°Ahem.¡± Liu Tianying cleared his throat, turned to Yi Qiushui and said, ¡°Niece Qiushui, where is our young friend Zhou Yuan?¡± Yi Qiushui swept a glance in the direction of the rear courtyard and hesitated for a moment. She answered, ¡°It seems that he is still training, please wait a moment.¡± Liu Ming blinked her huge eyes repeatedly, muttering, ¡°Could he have sneaked away?¡± Strange expressions emerged on the young men and women of the Yi clan. Zhou Yuan had talked big previously, and it was possible that he had secretly fled since the battle was fast approaching. If that were to happen, the Yi clan would become a laughingstock. Next to Yi Qiushui, elder Yi Qianji frowned. ¡°There¡¯s still time to change our line-up. Thanks to your uncle Liu, we already have a backup advanced Divine Dwelling expert.¡± Yi Qiushui shook her head. ¡°There is still some time, let¡¯s wait a little longer.¡± Yi Qianji¡¯s frown deepened, and the other Heavenly Sun expert of the Yi clan looked as if he wanted to say something but held back when Yi Qianji sent a glare over. Yi Qiushui was currently the head of the Yi clan. If someone were to refute her in public, it would be detrimental to her authority and affect her taking over the Yi clan in the future. However, Yi Qianji also felt very helpless. Although Yi Qiushui had recently become the head of the clan, she had already forcefully pushed for Zhou Yuan to take one of the places in the Prefecture Lord battle. If Zhou Yuan were to perform badly and cause them to lose, it would be a fatal blow to her. If this matter escalated, it would be difficult for Yi Qiushui to give everyone a proper explanation even if her grandfather was such an influential figure. Sigh, she has always been extremely intelligent, but why is she so stubborn this time? Yi Qianji sighed inwardly with a worried frown. Could the rumors be true? Is Yi Qiushui fond of this Zhou Yuan? But there were countless talented geniuses who admired Yi Qiushui over the years, including Liu Zhixuan, and each one was many times more outstanding than Zhou Yuan. So what did she see in him? Boom! While Yi Qianji¡¯s thoughts were all over the place, there was suddenly an explosion of Genesis Qi from the Yi clan¡¯s rear courtyard. The crowd looked over in shock. A beam of dazzling blue light bloomed from the rear courtyard. The cry of a dragon seemed to echo as faint draconic power pulsed. The surrounding Genesis Qi began to stir frantically before gathering towards the little courtyard, as though it was heading there for worship. ¡°Huh? That Genesis Qi seemed quite powerful.¡± Yi Qianji sounded somewhat surprised. As a Heavenly Sun expert, he naturally could sense the incredible purity and tyranny of the Genesis Qi from the courtyard. However, the majestic Genesis Qi quickly faded before he could properly feel it. Bang! A shadow shot into the sky and landed in the front courtyard. It was Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan looked to be in good spirits. His eyes gave off a bright blue glow as terrifying energy seemed to flow around his body. Liu Zhixuan couldn¡¯t help but cast a puzzled glance in his direction. Those Genesis Qi fluctuations gave him a dangerous feeling. Before he could ascertain this feeling, the azure glow faded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes and the powerful aura vanished, as though the previous scene was nothing but an illusion. Zhou Yuan apologized to Yi Qiushui, ¡°Sorry I¡¯m late.¡± Yi Qiushui smiled and shook her head, studying Zhou Yuan curiously. She had also detected that heart-palpitating Genesis Qi fluctuation, and she didn¡¯t think it was an illusion. Therefore, her trust in Zhou Yuan deepened. Liu Ming raised her little fist at Zhou Yuan. ¡°I thought you already ran away. I won¡¯t forgive you if you burden my brother in the Prefecture Lord battle.¡± But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t even glance at her. Liu Ming puffed in anger and was about to teach him a lesson when Liu Zhixuan pulled her away. He smiled apologetically at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan responded with a smile, indicating that he didn¡¯t mind. ¡°I¡¯ll be troubling you guys for the Prefecture Lord Battle.¡± Yi Qiushui looked towards Zhou Yuan, Liu Zhixuan and the other two advanced Divine Dwelling experts. ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± said Yi Qianji in a deep voice. With a flick of his sleeve, powerful Genesis Qi swept out, lifting everyone into the sky. The Genesis Qi cloud passed by half of Xuanzhou City and soon landed on a huge mountain-like stone platform at the center of the city. Zhou Yuan looked around and saw a black sprawling sea of figures amidst a frenzied atmosphere. It looked as though every single person in Xuanzhou City was currently gathered. This was indeed a grand occasion. Zhou Yuan felt countless contemptuous and curious gazes observing him. It seemed that he had become rather well known in Xuanzhou City over the past few days. From the expression in their eyes, however, it seemed that his reputation wasn¡¯t too good. However, Zhou Yuan simply smiled, evidently not minding it very much. He could not help but curve his lips into a satisfied smile as he felt the majestic azure Genesis Qi in his Divine Dwelling. Chapter 769 Mo Yuan Some well-known figures from Xiaoxuan Prefecture¡¯s various sects were gathered together in the tall buildings surrounding the stone platform. Their presence alone was enough to show the influence of the Prefecture Lord battle. And when the Yi clan, led by Yi Qiushui, appeared, they immediately cast their gazes in the clan¡¯s direction. ¡°The Yi clan really did invite Liu Zhixuan as one of the external helpers.¡± ¡°Liu Zhixuan has remarkable talent and is one of the top heaven prides among the younger generation of Xiaoxuan Prefecture. He is not inferior in any way to Qiu Ling. With his help, the Yi clan will face much less pressure.¡± ¡°But Yi Qiushui seems to still be at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. Since she¡¯s a candidate for Prefecture Lord, she must enter the battlefield as well, but she¡¯s going to be at a disadvantage.¡± ¡°Yes, not to mention that they also have Zhou Yuan, who¡¯s also at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. That boy has recently achieved quite a bit of fame in Xuanzhou City. We don¡¯t know about his other skills, but his skill at rushing to the front isn¡¯t lacking.¡± ¡°Two of the Yi clan¡¯s five places were filled with intermediate Divine Dwelling stage experts. Their disadvantage is too great. On the other hand, it is said that on the Qiu clan¡¯s side, they are all advanced Divine Dwelling experts.¡± ¡°If they were to lose the Prefecture Lord battle, let¡¯s see how Yi Qiushui is going to explain their loss to the Yi clan.¡± ¡°......¡± The numerous high-level figures whispered and exchanged glances with one another, while some of the factions with a good relationship with the Yi clan shook their heads in worry. If the Yi clan lost the Prefecture Lord battle, the Qiu clan would gain power and would no doubt suppress them, as well as their supporters, in the future. They didn¡¯t understand why Yi Qiushui, who was known to be intelligent, was so reckless. She simply shouldn¡¯t have let Zhou Yuan onto the battlefield. Boom! While many thoughts moved through their mind, another Genesis Qi cloud swept across the sky, landing on the other side of the stone platform. Imposing figures emerged one after another led by the head of the Qiu clan, Qiu Long. Behind him were Qiu Ling and the others, all with smiles on their faces. The moment Qiu Long appeared, he cast his gaze onto the Yi clan opposite him. He swept a glance over Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan and then paused on Zhou Yuan, a little ruminative smile curving up at the corners of his lips. Yi Qiushui¡¯s eyes turned icy cold. That Qiu Long was really cunning. He was still pretending to be a kind-hearted person at this time, but his thoughts were particularly vicious. If her clan were to sell out Zhou Yuan under such circumstances to protect themselves, their reputation would undoubtedly be destroyed. Even if they were to win the position of Prefecture Lord, it wouldn¡¯t last long. ¡°Patriarch Qiu Long, Qiu Yang had evil intent and wanted to kidnap my little sister. His actions were simply despicable. I just don¡¯t know whether or not he was directed by someone or if it was his own idea?¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s voice was clear and crisp. Qiu Long¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Nonsense.¡± Qiu Ling, clad in all black, took a step forward with a sneer on his face. ¡°It¡¯s useless to say anything now. Let¡¯s fight.¡± Following his statement, the atmosphere changed instantly and many held their breath in concentration. Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful face was icy cold, and she didn¡¯t utter another word. Her elegant body moved slightly, Genesis Qi flashed, and she was the first to appear on the battlefield. Liu Zhixuan immediately followed after her to protect her. The Yi clan¡¯s other two advanced Divine Dwelling experts quickly followed him. However, when Zhou Yuan stepped onto the battlefield, there was a burst of laughter from all directions. Some of the young men and women of the Yi clan flushed with embarrassment and gritted their teeth when they heard the laughter. Qiu Ling¡¯s gaze also paused on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. He sneered. ¡°It seems that you are really looking for death. ¡°Never mind, now that you¡¯re on the battlefield, if you want to quit today, I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not up to you anymore.¡± A fierce and malicious look flashed to his eyes. Zhou Yuan had killed his brother so would have to pay the price today. After speaking, he didn¡¯t pay attention to Zhou Yuan¡¯s reaction; he instead shifted his gaze to Liu Zhixuan. ¡°Liu Zhixuan, why did your Liu clan come to wade in muddy water? Aren¡¯t you afraid of losing face before you can even please them?¡± Liu Zhixuan shook his head. ¡°Qiu Ling, after you joined the Heavenly Spirit Sect, your ability hasn¡¯t increased much but your arrogance has greatly.¡± Qiu Ling sighed, ¡°You have a death wish.¡± Before his voice faded, his figure appeared on the battlefield, and three figures landed next to him. The crowd broke into discussion when these three appeared. ¡°That¡¯s Qiu Ba, Qiu Leibao and Qiu Yueqiu. As we have all expected, the Qiu clan really did send them out. I heard that they have long stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. And even if they had only established six heavens Divine Dwelling, they aren¡¯t weak.¡± The various factions weren¡¯t surprised by the appearance of the three people, and they seemed to have predicted them to appear. On the other hand, although Yi Qianji, Liu Tianying and the others narrowed their eyes when they saw them, their expressions remained calm and composed. Their three opponents were within their expectations. But it was strange that the Qiu clan did not ask for external assistance. Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful eyes darted back and forth across the four people, but her brows were knitted in a frown, especially when she saw the strange smile on Qiu Ling¡¯s face. For some reason, uneasiness was surging in her heart. ¡°Is Qiushui curious about the last person chosen for my Qiu clan?¡± Qiu Ling smiled at Yi Qiushui. ¡°Haha, in order to make Qiushui feel surprised, I had put in a lot of thought.¡± Qiu Ling cupped one fist in the other and said with a smile, ¡°Senior brother, please show yourself.¡± Boom! The moment Qiu Ling¡¯s voice faded, a beam of Genesis Qi descended from the sky, landing right in front of Qiu Ling. The ground began to quake, and shock waves visible to the naked eye spread outward. People cast countless bewildered gazes in that direction. Such a powerful imposing aura. Who did the Qiu clan invite over?! The smoke and dust dissipated, revealing a thin figure standing carefree in front of Qiu Ling. Although carefree, the figure still gave off a terrifying aura of oppression. All eyes were fixed on the thin monkey-like figure, and the crowd immediately fell silent. In the next moment, a monstrous uproar broke out! ¡°He is...the heaven pride of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, Mo Yuan!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t he the super heaven pride on the Divine Dwelling List?¡± ¡°The Qiu clan actually invited him over, is there any point in continuing the battle?!¡± ¡°The Yi clan is definitely going to lose.¡± ¡°......¡± The high-level figures of various factions had all sprung to their feet, staring wide-eyed at the thin figure. No one had thought that the Qiu clan could invite the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s super heaven pride! It was no wonder the Qiu clan was so confident. It turned out that they had a trump card! And amidst the shocked commotion, Yi Qianji¡¯s, Liu Tianying¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions rapidly changed. They stared intently at the figure that had appeared. ¡°Mo Yuan? How could it be?!¡± Even Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful face turned ashen as a chill gradually gushed out from her heart. Chapter 770 The Battle Begins There were only thirty-eight individuals from Tianyuan Region who were ranked on the Divine Dwelling List of Hunyuan Heaven. Mo Yuan was ranked 36th among these 38 people. Despite being near the bottom, nobody dared to underestimate the weight of his ranking. After all, there were countless Divine Dwelling experts in Tianyuan Region, and anybody who managed stand out was definitely no ordinary person. All thirty-eight Divine Dwelling rankers in Tianyuan Region were super heaven prides nutured by the top factions in the region. In the eyes of such titans, Xiaoxuan Prefecture was probably insignificant. This was the reason why the various factions in Xuanzhou City were so shocked to see Mo Yuan appear. It should be said that even though Mo Yuan was ranked 36th amongst the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Divine Dwelling rankers, his strength was still extremely terrifying. Over the years, several dozen advanced Divine Dwelling experts had been killed by him and his battle achievements could be described as ferocious. Therefore, at this moment Mo Yuan was like a lion charging into a pack of wolves, directly destroying the ecological balance of Xiaoxuan Prefecture. Facing the fierce man whose name was known throughout Tianyuan Region, even Yi Qiushui was seen biting her red lips. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the famous Mo Yuan to lower himself to participate in the Prefecture Lord battle. This is really a blessing of my Xiaoxuan Prefecture.¡± There was just a touch of sarcasm in her voice. She looked ahead to see the thin monkey-like young figure clasping a dark iron cudgel in one hand while staring nonchalantly at her as if regarding a weak little prey. ¡°It¡¯s the fate of being in a sect.¡± Mo Yuan inserted the iron cudgel into the ground and cast an indifferent glance at Yi Qiushui. ¡°But since I have come, there¡¯s no need to waste time talking about nonsense. ¡°If you don¡¯t have the guts to fight, just give up. ¡°And if you don¡¯t want to admit defeat, let¡¯s fight. I never hold back against an enemy. If someone is unfortunate enough to die under my iron cudgel, don¡¯t blame me.¡± Despite his calm tone, he was emitting a ferocious, vicious aura. From the very beginning, his eyes had only paused on Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan. As for Zhou Yuan and the other two advanced Divine Dwelling experts, he didn¡¯t even sweep a glance at them. Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan wore solemn expressions on their faces, while a look of fear crossed the other two advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts¡¯ faces. They had heard of Mo Yuan¡¯s terrifying name long ago. The whole area was under Mo Yuan¡¯s oppressive pressure. Liu Ming also bit her red lips, her face slightly ashen. Even if she was proud of her older brother Liu Zhixuan, she also understood that in the face of Mo Yuan, a top existence of the Divine Dwelling stage, he had no chance of winning. ¡°What a bully,¡± she said in frustration. The many people around the stone platform also felt a little uncomfortable. But they also understood that the Qiu clan didn¡¯t violate any rules. Invisible oppressive aura had already shrouded the tremendous stone platform. Zhou Yuan looked at Yi Qiushui, who grew more and more quiet, and suddenly coughed, ¡°To know the outcome of this battle, we will have to fight.¡± He clearly didn¡¯t want Yi Qiushui to lose her courage and retreat, because that would mean their deal was cancelled and he wouldn¡¯t get any Divine Dwelling medicines as reward. Yi Qiushui turned to look at Zhou Yuan, who was still smiling calmly at this very moment and did not seem to feel any fear because of Mo Yuan¡¯s appearance. Zhou Yuan¡¯s calmness made Yi QIushui relax a little, but in her view, this was because Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t understand the terror of Mo Yuan¡¯s strength. ¡°This time if we lose, it won¡¯t be your fault. I will still give you the Divine Dwelling medicines, but perhaps the amount won¡¯t be as much. I hope you can understand,¡± she whispered. As she finished, she smiled helplessly. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°That won¡¯t work. It has to be the amount you said before, which means we can¡¯t lose.¡± Yi Qiushui chuckled, took a deep breath and gradually restored her usual calm and composed manner. Her beautiful eyes shifted to Mo Yuan as she slowly said, ¡°In that case, let us experience the strength of Mo Yuan, a ranker on the Divine Dwelling List.¡± Mo Yuan nodded casually. He shot a glance at Zhou Yuan. This boy of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage is very calm, but I don¡¯t know whether this is because he¡¯s ignorant or has some ability? But no matter what ability he has, he¡¯s still only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. He turned his head to say to Qiu Ling, ¡°Leave that Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan to me.¡± He had chosen to fight against two people at once. Qiu Ling nodded with a smile. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go and avenge my brother first.¡± His eyes gleamed with malice as he stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You three, get rid of the two advanced Divine Dwelling experts of the Yi clan.¡± With three against two, their side evidently had the absolute upper hand. ¡°Young master, don¡¯t worry.¡± Qiu Ba and the others received the order with a smile. Yi Qiushui¡¯s heart immediately sank when she overheard the other side¡¯s distribution of people, because her side would be at a disadvantage. She also didn¡¯t know whether she and Liu Zhixuan would be able to withstand Mo Yuan. Dong! While thoughts were running through Yi Qiushui¡¯s mind, a deafening metallic clang erupted from above the stone platform. ¡°Zhou Yuan, be careful!¡± Yi Qiushui took a deep breath and then added, ¡°If you can¡¯t win...give up.¡± When her voice faded, mighty Genesis Qi burst out from her body. She clenched her beautiful hand, and a long sword rippling with water emerged. The blade tore apart the ground as it passed. Two Divine Dwelling halos formed behind her. Liu Zhixuan also strode forth, revealing three Divine Dwelling halos behind him, and a majestic beam of Genesis Qi shot into the sky. The other two experts of the Yi clan also similarly revealed three Divine Dwelling halos. Chi! Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan darted out at the same time, shooting directly in the direction of Mo Yuan. The surge of mighty Genesis Qi immediately stirred up thunder and storm. ¡°Hopefully, you won¡¯t let me down too much.¡± Mo Yuan grinned when he saw the two people speeding over. His eyes blazed with battle intent. With the stamp of his feet, three eight-colored Divine Dwelling halos formed behind him. Majestic Genesis Qi erupted out. It was obvious that his Genesis Qi foundation was far superior to that of Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan. Three figures soared skywards and collided fiercely multiple times in midair. At the same time, the three advanced Divine Dwelling experts of the Qiu clan charged towards the two advanced Divine Dwelling experts of the Yi clan. The Prefecture Lord battle of Xiaoxuan Prefecture finally broke out. Genesis Qi collided, stirring the wind and clouds, but Qiu Ling simply fixed his gaze on Zhou Yuan. He walked over slowly and said indifferently, ¡°When I was at the city gate a few days ago, I told you to kneel down. ¡°But it¡¯s too late now. Do you really think that Yi Qiushui can protect you? You are just a little mouse, but you got involved in a battle between the two families. You really are foolish.¡± As Qiu Ling pressed closer, mighty Genesis Qi raged around him like a storm, and three Divine Dwelling halos appeared behind him. Chapter 771 Yi Qiushui’s Secre Above the platform, three figures, all pulsing with terrifying Genesis Qi, collided repeatedly. Metallic clangs rang out, and a berserk storm of Genesis Qi raged. The three figures were Mo Yuan, Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan. At this moment, almost 90% of people in the entire Xuanzhou City had focused their attention on these three people, and the other three battles were almost ignored. Everyone knew that today¡¯s focus was on Mo Yuan, and the others only served as contrast. Almost all the people present had heard of Mo Yuan¡¯s name before, but only very few people had seen him in action. Therefore, they really wanted to see how powerful the super heaven pride ranked on the Divine Dwelling List could be when fighting against two people at once. Shock waves of Genesis Qi gushed out, destroying the clouds at a high altitude, but Mo Yuan¡¯s figure stood motionless in the air like a rock, while Liu Zhixuan and Yi Qiushui were both blasted away. From the first contact, Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan were already aware that Mo Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was extremely powerful. ¡°So strong, no wonder he is ranked on the Divine Dwelling List!¡± A solemn expression crossed Liu Zhixuan¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re not bad. If you were given a few more years to strengthen your foundation, you would also have a chance to be ranked on the Divine Dwelling List,¡± Mo Yuan remarked indifferently. ¡°But right now, even if you two join forces, you¡¯re still no match for me.¡± Boom! His voice faded, and his figure suddenly shot out, appearing mysteriously above the two like a ghost. He fiercely swung down the black iron cudgel in his hands, and scarlet-red Genesis Qi engulfed everything like a sea of flames. ¡°Prairie Fire of the Scarlet Sea!¡± In the scarlet sea were endless cudgel shadows, enveloping the two people. Feeling the mighty scarlet sea descending from the sky, Liu Zhixuan¡¯s face grew increasingly solemn. ¡°Qiushui, I will try to stop him!¡± As he clenched his hand, a long silver-and-white spear flashed out, swallowing the Genesis Qi of the universe. The spear light stretched indefinitely, tearing the surrounding space apart. ¡°Heaven-tier Genesis technique, Silver Dragon Transformation!¡± Surging Genesis Qi gushed out, rising sharply as it met the wind, and vaguely a faint dragon roar could be heard. As Liu Zhixuan¡¯s spear swung across the air, a silvery light dragon of several hundred feet came roaring out and directly collided with the scarlet sea. Bang! A violent explosion spread out at high altitude. Countless cudgel shadows, containing astonishing Genesis Qi, bombarded the silver light dragon with thunderous power. In less than ten breaths, the light dragon shattered. ¡°Heaven-tier Genesis technique, Ten Thousand Stars!¡± Boom! The ten thousand stars of Genesis Qi collided with the scarlet sea, producing frantic explosive noises. The thousands of stars and the scarlet sea constantly diminished during the collision, but just as both were about to disperse completely, an illusory cudgel shadow suddenly sped out, aiming for Yi Qiushui¡¯s face with lightning speed. Yi Qiushui was slightly started, but two Divine Dwelling halos instantly appeared in front of her, withstanding the cudgel shadow. Bang! Shock waves raged, causing Yi Qiushui¡¯s delicate body to tremble until she was directly blasted away. The exchange of moves between the two sides happened at lightning speed, which was too fast for the majority of eyes to take in. Gasps of astonishment sounded all around Xuanzhou City. In numerous people¡¯s eyes, Liu Zhixuan and Yi Qiushui¡¯s offensives were already terrifyingly strong, but even so, Mo Yuan still had the upper hand. ¡°Mo Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation is too strong. I estimate that the Genesis Qi in his Divine Dwelling have reached at least six million Genesis Qi stars.¡± ¡°It¡¯s terrifying. It¡¯s already incredibly hard to achieve four million Genesis Qi stars for advanced Divine Dwelling experts.¡± ¡°......¡± There was constant whispering. On the Yi clan¡¯s side, Yi Qianji, Liu Tianying and the other Heavenly Sun experts all wore solemn expressions. The youngsters beside them, including Liu Ming, were so nervous that their hands were dripping with sweat. ¡°Mo Yuan is indeed very powerful.¡± Yi Qianji sighed. As a Heavenly Sun expert, he had incredibly sharp eyes and could tell at a glance that Mo Yuan¡¯s previous attacks were all administered casually. Even so, his attacks were already difficult for Yi Qiushui and Liu Zixuan to withstand together. Liu Tianying also nodded solemnly. Liu Zhixuan was also at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage and had similarly established an eight heavens Divine Dwelling, but compared to Mo Yuan, he was still lacking. The super heaven prides were backed by the top factions and had the best cultivation resources, so it was naturally difficult for ordinary people to compare to them. Today¡¯s Prefecture Lord battle was simply too unfavourable for the Yi clan. Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying exchanged a glance with each other, a trace of worry flickering in their eyes. They suddenly shifted their attention to another battle. It was the battle between Zhou Yuan and Qiu Ling. Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying both frowned when they saw what was happening. When the battles elsewhere were incredibly fierce, only those two stood motionless. Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying could see undisguised mockery on Qiu Ling¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan also didn¡¯t move. But from the appearance of the battlefield, it seemed that Qiu Ling was in complete control of the situation and that Zhou Yuan dared not to move an inch because he feared Qiu Ling¡¯s power. Liu Ming gritted her teeth. ¡°Zhou Yuan was talking big before, but the moment he sees Qiu Ling, he doesn¡¯t even dare to do anything. Why does sister Qiushui trust him so much?¡± The other young men and women of the Yi clan also began to criticise and express their dissatisfaction of him, one after another. ¡°Qiu Ling is trying to make Zhou Yuan watch Mo Yuan beat Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan,¡± Yi Qianji stated. ¡°He¡¯s so young but has such malicious thoughts.¡± Liu Tianying frowned. This was a method that Qiu Ling was using to attack Zhou Yuan¡¯s mental state. And when Yi Qiushui and the others lost, he could admire the look of despair on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. However, when the two Heavenly Sun experts looked at Zhou Yuan, they could keenly perceive that he didn¡¯t seem to care about Qiu Ling¡¯s actions. Instead, his gaze was constantly swept towards Mo Yuan as if analysing his strength. But what¡¯s the use of analysing his strength? He couldn¡¯t take part in that battle anyway. The two shook their heads, puzzled. They couldn¡¯t understand what Zhou Yuan was thinking, and they simply didn¡¯t want to pay any more attention to him. They instead focused on the main battlefield occuring at high altitude. They knew that that battle would decide the outcome of the Prefecture Lord battle... They could only hope that Qiushui would be able to step up. At this moment, the other factions were also intently watching the fierce fighting occurring at high altitude, but most of them were shaking their heads in secret. They could clearly tell that the Yi clan was at a disadvantage. From the look of it, the Qiu clan was going to win the Prefecture Lord battle. High in the sky. The black iron cudgel in Mo Yuan¡¯s hand pointed diagonally. Majestic Genesis Qi constantly gushed forth from his body like red flames, bringing a powerful oppressive pressure. The iron cudgel in his hand blazed with red flames as he slowly lifted it into the air and pointed to Yi Qiushui. ¡°If you continue to conceal your strength, I am afraid you two really won¡¯t last long.¡± Yi Qiushui tightly pursed her red lips and softly said, ¡°As expected of Mo Yuan. I only made the breakthrough a few days ago, but you have already noticed it.¡± She drew a deep breath, and suddenly, Genesis Qi roared across the world. Rays of light began to accumulate around the two Divine Dwelling halos behind her, gradually forming into a third Divine Dwelling halo amidst countless exclamations of astonishment. The advanced Divine Dwelling stage! Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He had already noticed that the Genesis Qi fluctuations in her body were different from before when he saw her earlier. She, as predicted, had made a breakthrough. Evidently, the Yi clan had done everything they could to win the Prefecture Lord battle. However, even if Yi Qiushui had stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage and joined factions with Liu Zhixuan, could she really defeat Mo Yuan? Zhou Yuan secretly shook his head. However, this was still good to determine Mo Yuan¡¯s true ability. Chapter 772 Heavenly Serpent Reveals its Power ¡°It turns out that Yi Qiushui has been concealing her strength!¡± ¡°I told you it¡¯s impossible for the Yi clan to not be prepared!¡± ¡°Since Yi Qiushui has stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage and has joined forces with Liu Zhixuan, they might not necessarily lose to Mo Yuan. After all, they are both geniuses who have established an eight heavens Divine Dwelling!¡± ¡°Haha, this battle is indeed exciting. It would have been boring if Mo Yuan always had the upper hand.¡± ¡°......¡± At a high altitude, Mo Yuan gripped his cudgel tightly. He didn¡¯t appear to have heard the clamour from the city, and he continued to stare at his two opponents. It was just that his gaze had turned a little brighter. ¡°Good, this is more interesting now.¡± Mo Yuan grinned, his eyes like those of a war-thirsty ape. His aura was extraordinary. If today¡¯s battle were too easy, he would have wasted his time to make a trip all the way here. Liu Zhixuan and Yi Qiushui were indeed worthy of being called prides of Xiaoxuan Prefecture. They really did have some ability. However, did they really think that Mo Yuan could be stopped by two advanced Divine Dwelling experts with such weak foundations? The people ranked on the Divine Dwelling List were the most outstanding heaven prides among the countless Divine Dwelling experts of Hunyuan Heaven. They enjoyed endless cultivation resources, and their sects placed great hope and expectations on them. If he couldn¡¯t handle two advanced Divine Dwelling experts, he wasn¡¯t worth being on the Divine Dwelling List. A cruel smile spread across Mo Yuan¡¯s face while scarlet-red Genesis Qi rose into the air like a gigantic scarlet cloud, obscuring half the sky. Dry and hot air filled the area. Countless Genesis Qi stars twinkled in the red cloud formed from Genesis Qi. Mo Yuan lifted his head and roared skywards. As he swung his iron cudgel upward, the Genesis Qi of the universe whizzed in response. The layer of scarlet Genesis Qi cloud above them cracked as if a giant mouth was forming. ¡°Bright scarlet sand!¡± With Mo Yuan¡¯s long howl, scarlet sand poured out of the giant mouth like a powerful torrent and engulfed the entire sky. Like an enraged dragon, the scarlet sand directly aimed for Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan below. ¡°Be careful Qiushui, that¡¯s Mo Yuan¡¯s famous Genesis treasure. Once you are swept into the red sand, your flesh will be incinerated!¡± Liu Zhixuan quickly reminded her when he saw the torrent of red sand speeding over in their direction. It was also a Genesis treasure. Yi Qiushui rapidly poured Genesis Qi into the jade fan before she waved it in front of her. Wu! Suddenly, a blue gust of wind formed in the sky, carrying majestic wind pressure, and collided with the torrent of red sand. Boom! A sudden explosion resounded throughout the world. However, the torrent of scarlet sand was visibly more powerful, and it gradually suppressed the violent wind during the collision. Chi! And during the confrontation between the two, Liu Zhixuan¡¯s shadow flashed out, appearing elusively behind Mo Yuan like a ghost. His eyes blazed as he thrust his palm out. Boom! As his berserk Genesis Qi roared, his qi transformed into a giant palm and slammed down at Mo Yuan with lightning speed. Chi. Mo Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered. He tightened his grip around the iron cudgel and swiftly brought it down. Where it passed, space cracked and crumbled, shattering the giant palm. Liu Zhixuan¡¯s Genesis Qi palm exploded to pieces. His figure quickly blurred as he rapidly retreated. ¡°Trying to flee?¡± A sinister laughter reverberated across the sky. Mo Yuan reappeared in midair, and a cudgel shadow containing mighty Genesis Qi slammed down at Liu Zhixuan. Liu Zhixuan¡¯s expression uncontrollably changed when he sensed the cudgel shadow¡¯s fierceness. With a thought, three Divine Dwelling halos appeared in front of him just in time. Bang. As the cudgel shadow whizzed downward, the three Divine Dwelling halos withstood it for a period of time before they also exploded to pieces. But Liu Zhixuan took advantage of this moment to retreat. Mo Yuan was going to pursue relentlessly, but then a voice sounded. Yi Qiushui broke through the scarlet sand filling the sky, and the long sword in her hand brought up a beam of blinding sword light. Mo Yuan sneered. The cudgel raged and instantly destroyed the sword light. The three were once again locked in fierce battle. Violent Genesis Qi constantly erupted, and shrill explosions could be clearly heard from even hundreds of miles away. Countless people in Xuanzhou City were intently watching the fierce exchanges among the three people. The three¡¯s movements were so powerful that many experts of the Divine Dwelling stage were left speechless. Compared with the battle occurring at high altitude, the other two battles appeared dim and dull. However, judging from the current situation, it seemed that Yi Qiushui was able to contend against Mo Yuan after revealing the strength of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage and joining forces with Liu Zhixuan. This secretly relieved the various factions in Xuanzhou City who supported the Yi clan. But Zhou Yuan, who was closely watching the battle happening in the sky, squinted his eyes and shook his head. Through his spirit perception, he knew that Mo Yuan still hadn¡¯t shown all his power. He was most likely just warming up. Qiu Ling, standing opposite Zhou Yuan, grinned. ¡°Do you think that Yi Qiushui can withstand Mo Yuan after breaking through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage?¡± He had intended to kill Zhou Yuan first, but he had changed his mind when he thought that would be letting him off too lightly. He wanted Zhou Yuan to watch Yi Qiushui and the others lose so he could admire his look of despair. Zhou Yuan shook his head and smiled. ¡°I think you should be glad they blocked Mo Yuan for a moment, or you would lose face.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Qiu Ling fixed a cold stare on him. ¡°You¡¯ll know later,¡± Zhou Yuan said indifferently, seemingly not wanting to waste time talking to him again. He continued to watch the battle occurring at high altitude. He hadn¡¯t acted yet because he wanted to use Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan to test Mo Yuan¡¯s strength. If Yi Qiushui and the others lost, he would have to take action. At that time, Qiu Ling would also no longer need to stand there. Of course, if Yi Qiushui could get rid of Mo Yuan, it would naturally save him from doing anything. But for now, that result seemed very unlikely. Qiu Ling¡¯s face darkened when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude. He hated Zhou Yuan¡¯s carefree and indifferent expression. He was clearly just a country bumpkin with no background or status, so why did he have to pretend to be calm and composed? Qiu Ling had only ever seen such an aura from the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s super heaven prides. While Qiu Ling was debating whether to first break Zhou Yuan¡¯s legs to teach him a lesson, there was suddenly a roar of Genesis Qi from high altitude. Qiu Ling lifted his head and grinned viciously. ¡°It seems senior brother Mo Yuan has had enough.¡± Boom! Countless gazes were filled with horror as they watched Mo Yuan¡¯s body gradually enlarge and his skin become as dark as iron. Roar! Violent Genesis Qi formed around his body in the shape of a gigantic ape shadow. The giant ape shadow clenched his hand, and a mountainous cudgel formed from the Genesis Qi of the universe flashed into his hand. An indescribably tyrannical aura emerged from the ape shadow, flooding the world. Astonished voices could be heard from Xuanzhou City: ¡°That¡¯s the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis technique, Mountainous Heavenly Ape Transformation!¡± The ferocious ape roared like thunder, and the giant cudgel shadow, like a pillar of the sky, whizzed past. Space quaked as Genesis Qi was reflected in the air, revealing countless Genesis Qi stars. At a glance, there were at least eight million Genesis Qi stars gathered as the giant cudgel swung down. Only such a Genesis Qi foundation could show the terror of the name Mo Yuan! Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan paled. They mobilised all their Genesis Qi into a mighty torrent to withstand Mo Yuan¡¯s berserk attack. Rumble! However, all defenses were totally useless under the absolute suppression of Genesis Qi. When the ferocious ape roared, the cudgel shadow descended and the thousands of layers of Genesis Qi defense collapsed instantly. Puchi! Both Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan spurted out a jet of blood. The Genesis Qi that surrounded their body had already crumbled. They plummeted from the sky and landed heavily on the stone platform, creating huge cracks. The entire city fell silent! Countless shocked gazes were fixed on the ape roaring in the sky. Nobody expected Mo Yuan to be this terrifyingly fierce. The people of the Yi clan, including Yi Qianji, Liu Tianying and Liu Ming, all turned ashen. With Yi Qiushui and Li Zhixuan¡¯s defeat, they now had nearly no chance of winning the Prefecture Lord battle. Compared with the bleak atmosphere on the Yi clan¡¯s side, cheers broke out among the Qiu clan. The head of the Qiu clan, Qiu Long, gave a deep rumbling laugh. Zhou Yuan slowly retracted his gaze from the sky and then looked at Qiu Ling, who was staring at him with a sinister expression. ¡°Didn¡¯t you ask me what I meant before?¡± Zhou Yuan folded his hands together, and in the depths of his eyes, azure and golden rays of light intertwined. A long dragon roar then resounded between heaven and earth, and azure-gold Genesis Qi rose from his head into the sky. And within that azure-gold Genesis Qi, an azure dragon seemed to be soaring into the sky. An unbelievably powerful Genesis Qi pressure spread out from his body, causing the ground to crack inch by inch. As he felt the Genesis Qi¡¯s pressure, Qiu Ling¡¯s pupils shrank suddenly because he found that his body was trembling violently. What does this mean? Did Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation actually surpass his?! ¡°How is that possible?!¡± He¡¯s just at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage! Qiu Ling roared in horror in his mind. He wanted to flee. However, Zhou Yuan ignored Qiu Ling¡¯s shocked response. He clenched his hand and thrust out a fist. The azure-gold Genesis Qi roared out, transforming into a fist completely covered with layers of azure-gold dragon scales. It was like a dragon¡¯s fist! When Zhou Yuan¡¯s Ancestral Dragon Scripture broke through to the second level, its grandeur had begun to finally show. The azure-gold fist blasted out, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s bone-chilling voice echoed through the air. ¡°Heavenly Serpent Fist!¡± Boom! The fist strike, resembling a dragon¡¯s roar, pierced through the air. All the pores over Qiu Ling¡¯s body immediately tightened. His face contorted in pain as he hissed, ¡°You were pretending!¡± Three Divine Dwelling halos appeared behind Qiu Ling like a triple iron wall. All the Genesis Qi currently within his body was injected into his three Divine Dwelling halos. He didn¡¯t believe that Zhou Yuan could break through his defense! Just when Qiu Ling¡¯s defense had formed, the azure-gold dragon fist, which contained the power of destruction, roared over without the slightest hesitation. Rumble! Violent Genesis Qi shock waves swept out at the moment of the impact. The ground constantly collapsed, cracks rapidly spreading outward. Additionally, at the moment of the collision, cracks rapidly appeared all over his three Divine Dwelling halos, horrifying him. ¡°No way! How can his Genesis Qi be this powerful?!¡± Boom! But just when this thought flashed across Qiu Ling¡¯s mind, the three Divine Dwelling halos shattered. Berserk Genesis Qi raged out. Blood sprayed from Qiu Ling¡¯s body while he was blasting away and tearing deep marks across the ground. It was only less than ten seconds from when Zhou Yuan had made a move to now, and many people were still in shock from Mo Yuan¡¯s previous attack, but Zhou Yuan and Qiu Ling¡¯s battle had already ended... When more and more people began looking over in stunned disbelief, Zhou Yuan gently cracked his neck and, as before, continued to look at Qiu Ling, who was completely covered in blood and struggling to get up, with a calm smiling expression. ¡°Now... Chapter 773 Azure Serpent Against Demonic Ape So when the countless people in Xuanzhou City heard the movement on his side, they cast a puzzled glance over only to see deep cracks spreading across the ground...and Qiu Ling lying on the ground covered in blood and struggling to get up. As a result, the exclamations of astonishment that Mo Yuan had caused came to a halt. What happened? Why was Qiu Ling lying on the ground? What did Zhou Yuan do? Countless people were asking these three questions in their minds. But fortunately, someone had witnessed the quick scene. ¡°It seems that Zhou Yuan attacked and then defeated Qiu Ling in one punch?¡± The voice trembled with strong uncertainty, and he evidently seemed to wonder whether what he saw was wrong. But the savage traces on the ground revealed everything clearly. His voice caused silence to fall once again. Numerous people stared at the young figure on the battlefield who had almost been ignored since the beginning. The people of the Yi clan, who were all low-spirited because of Yi Qiushui and Li Zhixuan¡¯s defeat, all stared at the scene in shocked disbelief. Even Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying¡¯s eyes were shaking. ¡°Zhou Yuan managed to beat Qiu Ling with one punch?¡± Liu Tianying couldn¡¯t help but ask. It should be said that even though Qiu Ling wasn¡¯t as strong as Mo Yuan, he could absolutely be regarded as a heaven pride. In time, he might even be ranked on the Divine Dwelling List. Who would have thought that he didn¡¯t even have the chance to counter Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack? How strong was Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation? More importantly, Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage! Being able to defeat an expert of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage like Qiu Ling while in the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage was rarely heard of even in the entire Hunyuan Heaven. A person like him would most likely be ranked on the Divine Dwelling List once they stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. With a little training, he could even possibly take the list¡¯s top spot. But it was also because of this that Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying, two Heavenly Sun stage experts, couldn¡¯t help feeling dumbfounded by the situation. How could they have overlooked such a powerful person? It should be said that they both thought that Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t dare to budge an inch due to fear. But now, looking back, it was clear that Zhou Yuan was too lazy to make a move. It was only now that Liu Ming and the other young men and women of the Yi clan recovered from their shock. Hearing the conversation between Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying, they flushed with embarrassment for a moment. Having witnessed the fearful power in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mighty punch that defeated Qiu Ling, no matter how arrogant she was, she couldn¡¯t find any reason to act arrogant anymore because she knew very well that Qiu Ling was similar in strength to her brother Liu Zhixuan. Since Zhou Yuan could defeat Qiu Ling with one punch, he could naturally beat her brother Liu Zhixuan. ¡°He, he concealed his strength too well.¡± Liu Ming flushed with embarrassment. Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying both nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there to be a heaven pride like him in another heaven.¡± Immediately afterwards, both were a little excited, and the previous gloomy atmosphere faded. ¡°If this is the case, the Yi clan might not necessarily lose.¡± From the power of that punch, they knew that Zhou Yuan was qualified to go against Mo Yuan. The Yi clan might not necessarily lose the Prefecture Lord Battle today! Compared to the Yi clan¡¯s relief, everybody on the Qiu clan¡¯s side didn¡¯t look so good. The head of the Qiu clan, Qiu Long, was even staring at Zhou Yuan in fury. ¡°That little trash really knows how to conceal his strength,¡± he uttered darkly. How could Qiu Long not be enraged after seeing Zhou Yuan ruin the big picture? ¡°Patriarch, don¡¯t worry. Although we have underestimated that kid¡¯s strength, Mo Yuan is still here,¡± an elder of the Qiu clan comforted. Qiu Long nodded coldly. With Mo Yuan present, although Zhou Yuan had surprised everybody with his strength, he shouldn¡¯t be able to turn the tides. ¡°Hmph, after this, be sure to make that little trash pay the price!¡± Qiu Long¡¯s voice was filled with strong killing intent, but there was also a hint of fear. Although Zhou Yuan was considered nothing at this moment, once he made a breakthrough to the Heavenly Sun stage, he could be trouble for the Qiu clan. So now that they had offended him, they had to find a way to completely eliminate any future trouble. ¡°Haha, he¡¯ll die at Mo Yuan¡¯s hands very soon.¡± The elder of the Qiu clan laughed. Qiu Long gently nodded. Mo Yuan had previously suppressed both Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan alone. The combat strength he had shown was indeed far beyond the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. Therefore, he believed that Mo Yuan should have no problem suppressing Zhou Yuan. Deep in a pit, Yi Qiushui wiped the blood from the corners of her mouth, struggling to stand up. She had evidently suffered a heavy blow and no longer had the power to fight. ¡°Zhou Yuan.¡± But at this moment she couldn¡¯t care about herself. Her beautiful eyes looked in the direction of the slender figure in the distance, her heart surging with emotions. She had also witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack. ¡°Qiushui has good eyes to have found such a helper,¡± Liu Zhixuan remarked bitterly. Even if he was arrogant and proud, when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s thunderous method, he also understood that Zhou Yuan was far superior to him. It was no wonder that Yi Qiushui had thought so highly of Zhou Yuan. Yi Qiushui pursed her lips and smiled. Everyone thought that she had good insight, but she in fact had only taken a gamble. Even she wasn¡¯t sure if Zhou Yuan was concealing his strength. But it seemed her instincts were right. Although she also didn¡¯t know whether Zhou Yuan could win against the incomparably fierce Mo Yuan, he at least still gave them a little hope. Zhou Yuan also cast his gaze over from the distance. He looked at Yi Qiushui and seemed to be smiling. Then, his body rose into the air under countless watchful gazes. He stood opposite Mo Yuan from a distance. Mo Yuan leaned his iron cudgel across his shoulders, making his body seem extremely small and thin, but at that moment there was most likely nobody who dared to underestimate the frightening power contained in his body. He glanced at the place where Qiu Ling was defeated below and then grinned curiously at Zhou Yuan, somewhat interested. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I would make an oversight, but you¡¯re the most cunning person in this Prefecture Lord battle. ¡°Hahaha, but this makes it more interesting!¡± Mo Yuan lifted his head and laughed heartily. He was overflowing with aggressive arrogance as he slowly lifted the black iron cudgel and pointed to Zhou Yuan from a distance. ¡°I haven¡¯t really started yet, but those two couldn¡¯t hold on. I wonder how long you will last?¡± At this moment, Mo Yuan was really like a ferocious demon ape, arrogant and domineering. However, opposite him Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm and indifferent. Azure-gold Genesis Qi pulsed around his body, faintly transforming into an azure serpent with earthshaking power. He clenched his hand, and a tremendous black mottled brush appeared in his hands. ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint you.¡± Chapter 774 Eight Million Teaser There was an atmosphere of excitement in the city. They originally thought that the Qiu clan would certainly take the victory in the Prefecture Lord battle, but who would have thought that there would be such a dramatic change? Zhou Yuan was thought to be an ordinary youngster, but he turned out to be an Asura who had been concealing his strength. Therefore, everybody of Xuanzhou City was now all very curious who would win in the end when Zhou Yuan and Mo Yuan faced off against each other. .... At a high altitude. Two different gushes of Genesis Qi were constantly ascending. Each occupied half of the sky. As the Genesis Qi passed by, the surrounding space trembled violently with rumbles that sounded like thunder. Sparks sputtered as Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Mo Yuan¡¯s gazes collided. ¡°Ever since I stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, I haven¡¯t seen someone of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage dare to stand in front of me.¡± Mo Yuan grinned, revealing his white teeth. ¡°I have killed many enemies in the past, but I never expected someone to intend to do the same to me?¡± Boom! The moment his voice fell, an explosion of Genesis Qi violently shook the surrounding space. His figure appeared directly above Zhou Yuan, laughing wildly, and his black iron cudgel, wrapped in mighty power, was fiercely swung downward. A cudgel shadow sped past, like stars twinkling in the sky. In a rough glance, there were at least seven million stars. Previously, when Mo Yuan had defeated Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan, although there was the power of eight million Genesis Qi stars, that was only because the attack was strengthened by a high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis technique, but now it was completely his own strength. The Genesis Qi foundation of seven million Genesis Qi stars was enough to make countless advanced Divine Dwelling experts lose their luster. ¡°If you want to use me as a stepping stone to strengthen yourself, you have to see if you¡¯re qualified first!¡± Along with Mo Yuan¡¯s wild laughter were shadows of cudgels obscuring the sky. The next moment they bombarded Zhou Yuan under countless horrified gazes, causing the surrounding space to shatter. ¡°The foundation of seven million Genesis Qi stars...no wonder he is a heaven pride of Hunyuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan squinted his eyes and smiled. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t made a breakthrough in the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, my Genesis Qi foundation really couldn¡¯t be compared to his.¡± It was also because of this that he was able to defeat Qing Ling in one punch. And if his Ancestral Dragon Scripture hadn¡¯t evolved, he knew that he would inevitably be stuck in a bitter and tragic battle against powerful figures of the Divine Dwelling stage such as Mo Yuan. But unfortunately...in this world, there was no ¡®if¡¯. Zhou Yuan gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush tightly, and the snowy white tip suddenly turned jet black. The brush¡¯s body violently shook, then met the vast shadows below head on. ¡°Million whales!¡± The chanting of ancient whales reverberated throughout the world, and numerous ancient whale images appeared out of thin air Clang! The brush shadow and cudgel shadow collided all of a sudden. A metallic clang resounded like a thunderstorm, and shock waves visible to the naked away swept across the area. The entire Xuanzhou City shook. Countless gazes filled with shocked horror looked up at the sky, only to see that the giant cudgel shadow that swung down had unexpectedly frozen in the air. Under the giant cudgel was a black mottled brush that unexpectedly withstood its attack. It seemed small, but it blocked the cudgel¡¯s attack and made it unable to advance any farther. Around the black brush hovered ancient whale images. Genesis Qi overflowed, revealing countless Genesis Qi stars. There were at least eight million! Gasps of shock suddenly rang throughout Xuanzhou City as the various factions all stared dumbfounded at the scene. A foundation of eight million Genesis Qi stars? His Genesis Qi foundation was even stronger than Mo Yuan¡¯s! This was unbelievable! And the most critical thing was that Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Divine Divine Dwelling stage! If he entered the advanced stage, wouldn¡¯t his Genesis Qi foundation reach the terrifying level of tens of millions!? Although one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation alone couldn¡¯t represent absolute strength, it was ultimately a huge advantage of its own. Everyone on the Yi clan¡¯s side, including Yi Qianji, Liu Tianying and Yi Qiushui, were still in a state of shocked disbelief. They had already overestimated Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength as much as possible, but still nobody had expected that he would possess such a powerful Genesis Qi foundation. The people on the Qiu clan¡¯s side turned pale. Patriarch Qiu Long hissed through gritted teeth, ¡°I underestimated that kid. To possess such a foundation at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, I really don¡¯t know how many fortuitous opportunities he must have had. ¡°But even though one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation is important, Mo Yuan is a direct disciple of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Once he unleashes his true power, the gap between them can no longer be compensated by a mere million Genesis Qi stars!¡± The other elders of the Qiu clan nodded repeatedly. Even if he had a powerful Genesis Qi foundation, his strength also depended on how it was used. High above in the sky, Mo Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. A solemn look came onto his arrogant face. ¡°Eight million Genesis Qi stars as foundation... ¡°Amazing, if you were at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, I would be inferior to you. ¡°But, a powerful Genesis Qi foundation alone doesn¡¯t mean much!¡± Mo Yuan knew that if strength was based on Genesis Qi foundation alone, then in the entire Hunyuan Heaven, Su Youwei of the Zixiao Region would be the strongest person because she had opened up a rare yin and yang Qi Dwelling when she was still at the Qi Nourishing stage. And once she had reached the Divine Dwelling stage, her Divine Dwellings had mutated and opened up ten Divine Dwellings, which very rarely happened in the world! Her Genesis Qi foundation was simply unrivaled. Even Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao, who were ranked higher than her on the Divine Dwelling List, couldn¡¯t be compared to her in terms of their Genesis Qi foundation. But if they were to battle against each other, Zhao Mushen¡¯s and Wu Yao¡¯s fighting powers would most likely not be weaker than hers. Mo Yuan¡¯s eyes turned sharp and piercing. He lifted his head and roared skywards as he performed a hand seal with both hands at lightning speed. Mighty Genesis Qi of the universe gathered together like a storm, eventually transforming into a waning crescent moon of around one hundred feet in the sky. The waning moon sprinkled infinite moonlight onto the ground, which turned into the purest of Genesis Qi and entered Mo Yuan¡¯s body in an endless stream. ¡°That¡¯s a high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis technique of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, the Genesis Moon technique!¡± ¡°This technique will provide a continuous stream of Genesis Qi to support its caster. With this technique, Mo Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi will be greatly strengthened!¡± The Genesis Qi within Mo Yuan¡¯s body continued to climb steadily. He folded his hands together and roared again, ¡°Mountainous Heavenly Ape Transformation!¡± Genesis Qi surged, and a tremendous and incomparably ancient ape-like shadow took shape. The level of ferociousness was far greater than that in the previous battle against Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan. Genesis Qi stormed throughout the entire place. Countless people visibly paled visibly at the sight of the change. Mo Yuan was indeed worthy of being ranked on the Divine Dwelling List. He had performed two high-grade Heavenly Genesis techniques one after another, which clearly displayed the powerful foundation of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. After all, even in Tianyuan Region, high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis techniques were considered to be top skills. Even influential families like the Yi and Qiu families only possessed one Heaven-tier Genesis technique, each. ¡°Haha, since you have made me reveal two high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis techniques at the same time, even if you lose today, it is enough to make you known throughout Tianyuan Region!¡± Having performed two high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis techniques, Mo Yuan felt destructive power flooding his body. He stood in the air, staring at Zhou Yuan sternly as his laughter shook the world. It was only then that he managed to suppress all the fear that Zhou Yuan¡¯s eight million Genesis Qi foundation had brought. Zhou Yuan looked at the arrogant Mo Yuan with a bright smile. ¡°Thank you so much for helping me become famous.¡± Mo Yuan strode across the air, his howl shaking the air. Chapter 775 A Fierce Fight Teaser In the sky, there seemed to be a demonic ape roaring. The next moment, Mo Yuan strode across the air in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction, his body protected by a tremendous ancient giant ape shadow. The black iron cudgel in his hand fused with the cudgel shadow and directly shot towards Zhou Yuan with devastating power. In Xuanzhou City, many experts of the Divine Dwelling stage revealed bitter looks when they felt their Genesis Qi foundation. Compared with an advanced Divine Dwelling expert like Mo Yuan, they were simply unsightly. Rumble! As the cudgel shadow neared, the Genesis Qi within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body dramatically surged. Eight million Genesis Qi stars were shining in the air, stunning and mysterious. He tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush. As the tip of the brush trembled, majestic Genesis Qi of azure and gold gathered at the tip before transforming into a tremendous brush shadow that collided head on with the cudgel shadow pressing down. Rumble! A storm of Genesis Qi erupted, distorting the air. The moment the brush and cudgel collided, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body quivered slightly and eventually reeled back from the impact. Every step he took caused the air to make a shrill noise. ¡°If you only have a good Genesis Qi foundation, you are most likely going to die today!¡± Mo Yuan sneered. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was indeed superior to his, but he was from the Heavenly Spirit Sect and had mastered all the top Genesis techniques. Therefore, even if his Genesis Qi foundation was slightly weaker, with the help of the power of Genesis techniques, he could still significantly multiply his strength. Boom! When his voice faded, the mighty cudgel shadow relentlessly pursued Zhou Yuan, enveloping him with terrifying pressure. He evidently intended to take advantage of the opportunity to completely defeat Zhou Yuan. Watching the tremendous cudgel shadow obscuring the sky whiz down, Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and sneered, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re the only one to have high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis techniques?¡± ¡°Omega Saint Spirit Art!¡± Zhou Yuan rapidly folded his hands into a hand seal. The next moment, a gush of majestic Genesis Qi quickly condensed into a mysterious shadow. The shadow spread out its huge wings of light, swallowing the Genesis Qi of the universe. The Genesis Qi that erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body also surged as a result. Clang! With the stamp of his feet, his figure shot into the sky, and the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand transformed into countless arcs of Genesis Qi to meet the cudgel shadows head on. Boom! Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure also stood motionless in the air and no longer wavered. When Mo Yuan saw that Zhou Yuan was steadying his attack, his pupils shrank. He peered at the mysterious shadow with light wings. The Genesis Qi emitted from it was in no way weaker than that of the giant ape shadow. Evidently, what Zhou Yuan used was also a high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis technique! ¡°What is that boy¡¯s background?¡± This question ran through Mo Yuan¡¯s mind, but he immediately snorted coldly, eyes blazing with battle intent. The next moment, he darted out and once again launched an attack. He didn¡¯t believe he couldn¡¯t deal with a Divine Dwelling stage expert! Zhou Yuan also refused to give up. The two shadows repeatedly collided like lightning above, and every time they crossed each other, it would cause a violent shock wave of Genesis Qi. In a short period of time, the two had already fought hundreds of rounds. Neither of them held back. Every attack was incredibly aggressive, making the numerous spectators tremble with fear. Everyone of the Yi clan was unblinkingly watching the battle high in the sky. Their expressions seemed extremely tense and nervous. Zhou Yuan was the Yi clan¡¯s last hope. Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying also had solemn looks on their faces. A moment later, Yi Qianji could help but remark, ¡°Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t ordinary. His strength is actually comparable to Mo Yuan¡¯s.¡± They naturally could tell that Mo Yuan had already displayed his full strength, but he still didn¡¯t hold the upper hand against Zhou Yuan. It was a wonderful battle between the serpent and the ape. ¡°Father, can he win?¡± Liu Ming asked nervously. Liu Tianying muttered, ¡°It¡¯s not certain yet. Mo Yuan is also an extraordinary person, so it won¡¯t be easy to beat him.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance was already beyond their expectations, but Mo Yuan¡¯s reputation in Tianyuan Regions wasn¡¯t weak. So even Liu Tianying, an expert of the Heavenly Sun stage, couldn¡¯t guarantee whether or not Zhou Yuan could really win. ¡°I have heard that Mo Yuan has refined the essence blood of the ¡®Sky Demonic Ape¡¯, a grade-seven Genesis beast. That essence blood has already integrated with his own, and once he fights, his power will soar. His Genesis Qi will rise steadily, and he will be as fierce as a demonic ape,¡± Yi Qianji said. ¡°It¡¯s his greatest trump card.¡± ¡°The blood essence of the Sky Demonic Ape?¡± Liu Ming exclaimed. A grade-seven Genesis beast had the strength of the Nascent Source stage! She looked up at the sky, a worried frown crossing her face. After all, once Zhou Yuan lost, the Yi clan would have to hand over the position of Prefecture Lord of Xiaoxuan Prefecture. On the Qiu clan¡¯s side, everybody was similarly staring intently at the sky. Even the head of the clan, Qiu Long, had a dark expression on his face. Evidently, he didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to push Mo Yuan to this state. ¡°Well, you can leap about, but you have underestimated Mo Yuan.¡± Qiu Long sneered. Boom! The fierce battle occurring at high altitude continued and gradually intensified. However, as the battle became deadlocked, Zhou Yuan found that Mo Yuan¡¯s attacks were becoming increasingly heavy and violent. He squinted his eyes and looked over in his direction. He vaguely saw that Mo Yuan¡¯s eyes were gradually turning red. An indescribable ferocity surged around him. ¡°Roar!¡± The next moment, an ape-like howl burst out from Mo Yuan¡¯s mouth. His eyes had become completely scarlet, and even the Genesis Qi around him was pulsing violently, causing the air to quake. ¡°Die!¡± Mo Yuan let out a sharp scream. The black cudgel flashed out of his hand, turning into a black torrent that directly shattered the surrounding space, aiming for Zhou Yuan with lightning speed. Zhou Yuan shook his arm, and the hair of the Heavenly Yuan brush shot out. It formed layer after layer, as though forming a huge net. Boom! The torrent formed from the black iron cudgel repeatedly bombarded the giant net, crushing it into a terrifying arc, and eventually pierced through to strike Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Clang! Zhou Yuan was blasted away with a loud clang. Gasps of astonishment rose all over Xuanzhou City. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± Yi Qiushui also couldn¡¯t help but cry out. Roar! Mo Yuan¡¯s eyes were scarlet red. His body moved slightly, and he appeared directly behind Zhou Yuan, a smile twisting his lips. With the clench of his hand, the black iron cudgel flashed right back into his hand. Boom! He swung the black iron cudgel down at Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. If the cudgel struck, even a mountain would be flattened. However, just as the cudgel was only inches away, a speck of light emerged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. The speck of light expanded in the wind, rapidly growing to the size of a fist. A sword cry echoed across the world. ¡°Devil Sweeping Sword Orb!¡± Zhou Yuan shook his hand, sending the sword pill out. An earthshaking sword cry suddenly erupted from the sword pill. A sharp sword aura gushed out, wrapping around the pill until it transformed into a giant sword of light. His eyes were piercing and cold as he swung the sword and ignored Mo Yuan¡¯s ferocious cudgel. ¡°Die!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see if you dare to clash directly with me!¡± Mo Yuan didn¡¯t hold back and directly struck at Zhou Yuan. The cudgel shadow rapidly enlarged before Zhou Yuan. But Zhou Yuan was expressionless; the sword light transformed from the sword pill did not pause in the slightest. The attacks of both sides were incomparably ruthless, and neither showed the intent of retreating. Amidst countless horrified voices, when the black cudgel shadow struck Zhou Yuan, the majestic sword formed from sword qi slashed out from an extremely tricky angle and pierced Mo Yuan¡¯s chest. Chapter 776 Azure Serpent Form Under the countless gazes of shock, the two figures fought at a high altitude with their lives. The cudgel wrapped in violent power ruthlessly struck Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and an incomparably fierce sword light slashed across Mo Yuan¡¯s chest at the same time. At that moment, shock waves of Genesis Qi shook the air. Bang! The two figures froze for a moment before being blasted away at the same time. Their bodies plummeted from the sky and crashed onto the huge stone platform below. The ground cracked in a cobweb pattern, and two deep holes formed in the ground, obscured by dust and smoke. The entire Xuanzhou City was quaking. Countless people swallowed saliva repeatedly, stunned by the ferocity of the two men. Some experts of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage even felt their scalps go numb at the sight. They knew that if they were there instead, they would have been killed. All eyes were unblinkingly fixed on the battlefield. Yi Qiushui clenched her fists tight, and her face tensed up nervously. She had no idea who had the upper hand in that fierce battle. The smoke and dust gradually dispersed from the battlefield, and in one of the huge pits, a figure climbed to his feet. It was Mo Yuan. However, a terrifying cut reached from his chest to his abdomen, almost cutting completely through his body diagonally. Even his organs were vaguely visible. Blood rapidly gushed out. He glanced at the sword mark across his chest. His eyelids twitched slightly, and a trace of fear flashed across the depths of his eyes. He was also a little frightened by Zhou Yuan¡¯s last counterattack. But the good thing was that he had ultimately managed to withstand it in the end. Mo Yuan peered at the other pit in the distance, grinning. ¡°Stupid, you dare to fight against me?!¡± As his voice faded, the flesh and blood in his chest squirmed about. The bleeding suddenly stopped, and the hideous wound was gradually healing. But the terrifying sword qi that was left in the wound was a bit troublesome, and it was constantly tearing his flesh and bringing him severe pain. Overall, however, Mo Yuan¡¯s injury was quickly recovering. When the people of the Yi clan as well as Yi Qiushui laid eyes on this scene, their complexion changed abruptly. ¡°Mo Yuan has refined the essence and blood of the Sky Demonic Ape. His body has been strengthened and has gained a self-healing ability. No wonder he¡¯s so powerful and fierce. He isn¡¯t afraid of getting injured at all!¡± Yi Qiushui gritted her teeth. Mo Yuan seemed to have lost all rationality, but he was still extremely cunning. What he had done before was to deliberately provoke Zhou Yuan to fight him with all his strength. ¡°Zhou Yuan suffered a big loss in the end.¡± On the other hand, everybody on the Qiu clan¡¯s side was smiling. Qiu Long breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Mo Yuan¡¯s cudgel was strengthened with majestic Genesis Qi. Even if Zhou Yuan survived, he has most likely lost half his body and no longer has the power to fight.¡± ¡°This battle, my Qiu clan has already won!¡± The other members of the Qiu clan immediately lit up and congratulated one another when they heard this. Amidst all the discussion, the dust and smoke of the other pit also dispersed, but there still wasn¡¯t any movement. ¡°Was Zhou Yuan killed?¡± someone whispered, feeling that this was somewhat a shame. There was a fierce glint in Mo Yuan¡¯s eyes. He had great confidence in his cudgel. Moreover, Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t evaded the attack, which meant that attack should have struck successfully and wounded him severely. ¡°You¡¯re pretty strong to force me to fight to this state.¡± Mo Yuan sneered coldly. But just as his voice faded, a voice sounded from the huge pit in the distance. ¡°Am I?¡± Everybody was shocked to see a figure slowly rising from the pit. It was Zhou Yuan. At this moment his upper body and robe were torn apart, revealing a slender body that contained explosive power. But most shocking, he was unscathed! Mo Yuan¡¯s previous destructive cudgel seemed to have had no impact on him. ¡°How is that possible?!¡± Even Mo Yuan¡¯s expression changed dramatically. He had already poured all his strength into his cudgel, which should have, according to his prediction, inflicted severe wounds to even an existence of the same level as him. ¡°Nothing is impossible. Your cudgel, it did hurt.¡± Zhou Yuan calmly peered down at his body, which upon a closer look, there were mysterious azure scales surfacing on his skin, and his eyes also had turned into azure, vertical eyes. Like an azure serpent. It was the appearance of those azure scales, coupled with the activation of the Mythic Saint Body that let Zhou Yuan directly withstand Mo Yuan¡¯s terrifyingly ferocious attack. ¡°But that¡¯s all.¡± Zhou Yuan closed his eyes, and it seemed as though there was an ancient dragon roaring within his body. A majestic power filled his limbs and bones. That was the power from the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi. It was only when Zhou Yuan had truly operated the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi to its peak that he came to realize its profoundness, which was far stronger than the Omni Python Qi. Mo Yuan looked at Zhou Yuan with a darkened face. For some reason, the power of the Sky Demonic Ape surging in his body seemed to have frozen, as though it was suppressed inexplicably. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes snapped open, his azure vertical eyes locked on Mo Yuan without the slightest ripple of emotion. His body moved up and down like a beast rushing to eat. The air around him exploded all of a sudden. Boom! His figure shot out like a ghost, aiming directly for Mo Yuan. The moment his figure darted, the azure scales on the surface of his skin grew, and his right arm rapidly enlarged. His fingertips extended and, in just a few breaths, transformed into an azure claw! ¡°World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi: Azure Serpent Form!¡± Roar! A long dragon roar reverberated throughout the world. The Genesis Qi of the universe was pulsing. Zhou Yuan reappeared in front of Mo Yuan as if he had teleported. He tightly clenched his claw, which was wrapped in indescribable power, and thrust it at Mo Yuan, whose complexion was changing dramatically. As the punch slammed out, the surrounding space began to crack. A terrifying power came rushing towards Mo Yuan¡¯s face. His skin tightened, and an indescribable feeling of danger surged in his heart. This made him understand that if Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch struck, he would most likely not survive! At that critical moment of life and death, Mo Yuan didn¡¯t dare to hesitate anymore. With a deafening roar, a black glow covered his body and black hair pierced from his skin like needles. He currently resembled a real demonic ape. His eyes were scarlet red and filled with violent intent. Boom. He again poured all his strength into a tremendous fist and punched out to meet the serpent claw head on. Boom! Shock waves visibly erupted from around the feet of the two men. The entire huge stone platform began to crumble. Countless lines of sight were fixed on the battlefield. They knew that it would be the last collision between the two men. The impact of the two forces only lasted around a dozen breaths of time, and then everybody witnessed Mo Yuan¡¯s arm explode to pieces, horrified. Blood sputtered out. Mo Yuan let out a miserable shriek. His body blasted away like a bullet, crashing into the city and destroying all the buildings along the way. In the massive Xuanzhou City, a deep crevice was torn open. As the rocks tumbled and whirled into the air, Mo Yuan¡¯s body was buried. Zhou Yuan stood motionless on the collapsed stone platform. A stream of azure qi rose from him like an ancient dragon. The sound of collapsing buildings was still ringing in everybody¡¯s ears, but at this moment, countless people in Xuanzhou City fell into stunned silence as they looked at the young figure. Chapter 777 Threaten However, no one in Xuanzhou City was paying any attention to the crevice as they blankly stood there in complete silence. The building at the end of the crevice had collapsed and there was no movement or sound from Mo Yuan. Everyone was finally certain that Mo Yuan had lost. Disbelief immediately surged in their hearts. They couldn¡¯t believe that a famous heaven pride Divine Dwelling List ranker like Mo Yuan would be defeated in front of their eyes. Moreover, it was a youngster at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage who had defeated him! ¡°I can¡¯t believe that Mo Yuan lost.¡± Everyone from the Yi clan camp stood in stunned silence. Even Heavenly Sun experts such as Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying were a bit dumbfounded. The young men and women continuously swallowed their saliva. They clearly understood how shocking this scene was. When this matter spread, it would certainly cause an uproar in Tianyuan Region. A look of awe and respect crept onto everybody¡¯s faces. When they recalled how they had doubted and mocked Zhou Yuan before, they felt so ashamed that they wanted to find a hole to jump into. Liu Ming¡¯s mouth hung slightly ajar but no sound emerged. Her older brother had always been the most outstanding in her eyes, but as she stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, she had no choice but to admit that even the brother she always looked up to seemed to have lost his luster. She murmured somewhat bitterly, ¡°How can there be such a freak.¡± It was only now that she realized how naive and ridiculous she had been before. ¡°Qiushui has amazing judgement.¡± Yi Qianji couldn¡¯t help but compliment her. They had all questioned Yi Qiushui¡¯s decision before, but she had refused to back down. Now, they finally understood who was right in the end. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t stepped forward, their clan would have inevitably lost the battle as well as the position of Prefecture Lord. That would have been a disastrous outcome. Yi Qiushui was similarly staring at Zhou Yuan¡¯s slim body with sparkling eyes. In truth, she had also not anticipated this result. In the beginning, she had merely felt that Zhou Yuan shouldn¡¯t be weaker than an ordinary advanced Divine Dwelling stage expert, and didn¡¯t really place all her expectations on him. But he had now shown that he wasn¡¯t ordinary at all! Yi Qiushui furtively smiled, causing her oval face to look even more beautiful and charming. In contrast to the shock and joy on that Yi clan¡¯s side, the atmosphere on the Qiu clan¡¯s side was gloomy and lifeless. Everyone¡¯s faces were ashen, and there was even murderous intent spouting uncontrollably from Qiu Long¡¯s eyes. The Qiu clan had schemed and endured for so many years to grasp the opportunity that had finally presented itself today. They had even paid a huge price to ask the Heavenly Spirit Sect for support¡ªsecuring Mo Yuan, a heaven pride ranker on the Divine Dwelling List! They were fully confident of success! Who could have imagined that a boy would appear out of nowhere and tear their perfect plan to pieces. ¡°That little bastard!¡± Qiu Long''s face contorted in anger. Besides rage, Qiu Long also felt a little fearful because of the potential Zhou Yuan had displayed. Zhou Yuan was already very difficult to deal with at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, how strong would he be once he reaches the Heavenly Sun stage? The Qiu clan had already become enemies with Zhou Yuan. If they allowed him to reach the Heavenly Sun stage, he would become a real danger to the Qiu clan in the future. Qiu Long''s expression changed dramatically as he coldly hissed, ¡°That boy can¡¯t be allowed to remain!" Killing intent rapidly spread outward. He abruptly stepped forward as his voice faded. Powerful Genesis Qi erupted, forming a huge blazing sun behind him whose rays could reach several hundred miles away. ¡°What a ruthless boy! ¡°Mo Yuan is an important disciple of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. How dare you cripple his arm. I will capture you and let the Heavenly Spirit Sect deal with you!¡± Qiu Long''s enraged voice resounded throughout Xuanzhou City, cunningly throwing out the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s name to deter everyone present. After all, given the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s status in the Tianyuan Region, nobody dared to challenge them. Boom! With a thunderous roar, Qiu Long thrust his palm as dazzling Genesis Qi whizzed out, transforming into a giant Genesis Qi hand that grabbed at Zhou Yuan. The giant hand pulsed with fiery waves of energy. This was the Heavenly Sun Qi, which was only formed in the Divine Dwelling once one stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage. The nature of this qi was similar to the sun and was powerful enough to burn mountains and boil the sea. Its power was infinite. Qiu Long¡¯s attack was clearly overflowing with intense murderous intent. He had not held back at all. Qiu Long''s sudden attack surprised everyone. Even Zhou Yuan was taken aback for a moment before his eyes turned biting cold, and his body moved like a ghost, reappearing next to Qiu Ling. Qiu Ling''s expression changed as he hurriedly retreated. But Zhou Yuan merely sneered. A hand bolted forward and clutched Qiu Ling¡¯s throat as Zhou Yuan coldly said, ¡°If you want him to die, then come!¡± The huge hand froze in the air. Qiu Long''s face twisted as he fumed, ¡°You bastard, let go of my son!¡± ¡°Qiu Long, what do you think you¡¯re doing!¡± But it was also at this moment that Yi Qianji returned to his senses. His figure moved and appeared on the battlefield. With a flick of his sleeve, a torrent of Genesis Qi roared out, blasting the Genesis Qi hand to pieces. Liu Tianying also appeared, laughing, ¡°Qiu Long, you are the head of the Qiu clan and yet you shamelessly tried to attack a young junior. Do you want the Qiu clan to lose all face?¡± Qiu Long''s face darkened. It had been his best chance to kill Zhou Yuan earlier, but who would have thought that the kid would be so vigilant and cunning? Zhou Yuan immediately took Qiu Ling hostage, forcing Qiu Long to act with restraint. The crowd in Xuanzhou City also returned to their senses and immediately expressed their displeasure with Qiu Long¡¯s action. How could they not see that Qiu Long couldn¡¯t bear the Qiu clan¡¯s failure and wanted to vent his anger on Zhou Yuan? Qiu Long¡¯s face twitched when he heard the contemptuous hissing, but he was too thick skinned, and he pretended not to hear anything as he stared at Yi Qianji and Liu Tianying. ¡°This boy is too vicious. He crippled Mo Yuan¡¯s arm and should be taught a lesson, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Yi Qianji sneered, ¡°On the battlefield, it¡¯s always a fight to the death, did you think they were just playing around?¡± Qiu Long swept a cold glare at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Yi Qianji, Mo Yuan¡¯s master is hall master Gu Yan, you should also be aware of this.¡± Yi Qianji scrunched his brows into a frown. He had obviously heard of Gu Yan before. Gu Yan was one of the nine hall masters of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, as well as an expert of the Nascent Source stage. However, this person was not only narrow-minded but also notorious for being someone that should not be trifled with. Noticing the change of expression on Yi Qianji¡¯s face, Qiu Long¡¯s tone relaxed as he calmly explained, ¡°Since Zhou Yuan has crippled one of Mo Yuan¡¯s arms, we must give an explanation. If the Yi clan doesn¡¯t want hall master Gu Yan to personally come knocking at your door, let me bring him to see hall master Gu Yan. It should only be a small punishment. ¡°Yi Qianji, think carefully and don¡¯t make a mistake! ¡°Hand him over!¡± Chapter 778 Thigh This was because he couldn¡¯t guarantee that the Yi clan would protect him under the pressure of Heavenly Spirit Sect. While numerous thoughts were running through Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, a cold voice filled with anger sounded before Yi Qianji could reply. ¡°Patriarch Qiu Long, it is you who should start reflecting before it''s too late!¡± Zhou Yuan turned around to see Yi Qiushui staring at Qiu Long in anger as she continued without any intentions of backing down, ¡°The rules of the Prefecture Lord battle were set by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. What you are doing now completely disregards his rules. ¡°Who gave you the courage to do so? Is it hall master Gu Yan?¡± Qiu Long¡¯s expression changed. He would never dare to admit to the crime of ignoring the rules decided by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. In fact, even hall master Gu Yan would not dare to do so if he was here. He didn¡¯t expect the gentle looking Yi Qiushui to be so vicious with her words. ¡°Don¡¯t put that hat onto me. I didn¡¯t ignore the rules of the Prefecture Lord battle. It¡¯s just that the boy crippled Mo Yuan¡¯s arm, and I want him to go explain to hall master Gu Yan.¡± Qiu Long''s eyes flashed with anger. Yi Qiushui coldly said, ¡°No need, you can find my grandfather if you need any explanation. ¡°If my grandfather isn¡¯t enough, I will report this matter to Lady Chi Jing for her to decide.¡± Qiu Long froze for a moment as his face paled. He didn¡¯t expect Yi Qiushui to be so unyielding and not even give face to hall master Gu Yan because of some unknown boy. No other clan head would make such a clear-cut stand. After all, it won¡¯t be a simple matter if they offended the Heavenly Spirit Sect in the Tianyuan Region, even if Yi Qiushui''s grandfather held a position in the Elder Committee¡­ The countless boos and hisses in Xuanzhou City grew louder and louder. Every gaze was filled with contempt as they looked towards Qiu Long. It was clear that Qiu Long¡¯s actions had made the Qiu clan lose a lot of face today. This could be said to be a complete loss. Qiu Long had no choice but to swallow his anger. In the end, he frostily glared at Zhou Yuan and yelled, ¡°Hurry up and let Qiu Ling go!¡± He was unwilling to let Zhou Yuan go, but he also knew that there was nothing he could do if the Yi clan insisted on protecting Zhou Yuan. Yi Qiushui looked towards Zhou Yuan and gently said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if he doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for him, my Yi clan will not let this matter rest.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at Yi Qiushui and pondered for a moment before he finally released Qiu Ling. Qiu Ling glared at Zhou Yuan with a furious expression as if wishing he could swallow him whole. Zhou Yuan ignored him and remarked with a calm smile, ¡°Patriarch Qiu Long is truly impressive. If there¡¯s a chance, I will pay a visit to the Qiu clan for pointers in the future.¡± Given the current situation, there was already no way to avoid a grudge with the Qiu clan. As such, it was impossible to improve their relationship no matter how he behaved. Of course, given Zhou Yuan''s personality, it was impossible for him to become amiable with them even if they wanted peace later on. If Zhou Yuan had a chance in the future, he would definitely get his revenge. Therefore, he didn¡¯t mind saying such words to make the Qiu clan even more uncomfortable. ¡°You have a sharp tongue, but don¡¯t celebrate too early. You have crippled one of Mo Yuan¡¯s arms, and his master will certainly not let you off,¡± warned Qiu Long. ¡°Boy, you''re still too inexperienced. You don''t know the consequences of offending the Heavenly Spirit Sect in the Tianyuan Region. ¡°I feel you won¡¯t have a chance to visit in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t need the head of the Qiu clan to worry about me.¡± But there was a sudden feeling of apprehension in his heart. It seemed he needed to hurry and cling onto the thigh of his senior sister Chi Jing. After all, he was currently alone, and it was impossible for him to face a colossal monster like the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Qiu Long icily snorted. The surrounding mocking gazes made him embarrassed to stay any longer. With the wave of his hand, a dozen figures sped to where Mo Yuan was buried, dug him out and swiftly left. Qiu Long also departed with the members of the Qiu clan. Cheers erupted in the City as countless people cast excited gazes towards Zhou Yuan. Strength would always be recognized regardless of place. Moreover, Zhou Yuan, an intermediate Divine Dwelling expert, had defeated Mo Yuan, who was a ranker on the Divine Dwelling List. One could easily imagine the commotion this matter would cause once it spread. Zhou Yuan would likely become quite famous in the Tianyuan Region... Figures began rushing forth from around the stone platform and several buildings, ultimately arriving before Yi Qianji and the others to offer their congratulations. These were the leaders of the many factions in Xiaoxuan Prefecture who had been observing on the fence earlier because the outcome between the Yi and Qiu clans wasn¡¯t clear. Since the Yi clan had now won and would take charge of Xiaoxuan Prefecture in the future, they naturally had to come forward to express their support. Although Yi Qianji wasn¡¯t happy with these people who went whichever way the wind blew, he did not show his displeasure. The surging Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan gradually faded. Yi Qiushui approached, studying his naked upper body as she teased, ¡°Your figure isn¡¯t bad.¡± Zhou Yuan forced a laugh and hurriedly put on some clothes. ¡°Zhou Yuan, thank you,¡± Yi Qiushui sincerely said as her beautiful eyes regarded Zhou Yuan. She knew that if Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t turned the tides, her Yi clan most likely would have been swept away by Mo Yuan in the Prefecture Lord battle, and they would eventually be forced to give up the position of Prefecture Lord. ¡°I merely did what I was paid to do.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°So what do you think? Although I''m expensive, the price was pretty worth it, right?¡± If the young men and women of the Yi clan were to hear such words before today¡¯s events, they would most likely have mocked and ridiculed him. But all of them were currently smiling, and even Liu Ming was pursing her lips. Their gazes were full of curiosity and admiration when they looked towards him. Yi Qiushui smiled. Soon after, she stated in a serious voice, ¡°Definitely worth it. One hundred Divine Dwelling medicines can¡¯t be compared to the Prefecture Lord position.¡± ¡°How about you consider taking care of me long-term?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. ¡°Ah?¡± Yi Qiushui was taken aback for a moment before she panicked. What did Zhou Yuan mean? Although Yi Qiushui had countless admirers over the years, it was the first time someone had talked to her in such a manner. Was this some kind of confession? ¡°As long as you provide enough Divine Dwelling medicines for my training,¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly added. He currently needed a huge amount of Divine Dwelling medicines. Even the hundred high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines he was going to receive weren¡¯t going to last for long. He could feel that a tremendous amount of cultivation resources would be required for him to ascend to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. It was easy for other people to polish their few Divine Dwellings, but his nine mutated Divine Dwellings were terrifying resource consumers. Before he could hug senior sister Chi Jing¡¯s thighs, he felt that he shouldn¡¯t let go of the long legs of Yi Qiushui. As such thoughts flitted past in his head, he couldn''t help but glance at Yi Qiushui¡¯s legs, which were in fact quite long and slender. Yi Qiushui clenched her teeth as she glared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You have defeated Mo Yuan and your value isn¡¯t the same as before. I can¡¯t afford to take care of you in the long term. ¡°Besides, I should congratulate you. From today onwards, you''re going to become quite famous in the Tianyuan Region.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a melancholic sigh. He didn¡¯t care whether or not he was famous; he would rather have more Divine Dwelling medicines. This girl had become more shrewd and was no longer easy to fool. Chapter 779 Gu Xi Of course, if it were just an ordinary Prefecture Lord battle, it wouldn¡¯t have attracted so much attention. After all, there were nine hundred prefectures in the Tianyuan Region, and Xiaoxuan Prefecture wasn¡¯t particularly special among them. But no one would have thought that the Prefecture Lord battle of Xiaoxuan Prefecture would involve Mo Yuan, a heaven pride who was ranked on the Divine Dwelling List of Hunyuan Heaven. And the key point was that...Mo Yuan lost! He lost to a strange young man at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage! In the Tianyuan Region, there were countless Divine Dwelling experts, but only thirty-eight of them could be ranked on the Divine Dwelling List. Although Mo Yuan was ranked near the bottom, no one dared to underestimate his strength. Given Mo Yuan¡¯s potential, he was certain to reach the Heavenly Sun stage in the future, and those at the Heavenly Sun stage could be considered the real pillars of the Tianyuan Region. In the future, if Mo Yuan had sufficient opportunities, he may even be able to advance to the Nascent Source stage. Cultivators of the Nascent Source stage, whether in the Tianyuan Region or the whole Hunyuan Heaven, could be considered top experts who can¡¯t be ignored. And it was precisely because Mo Yuan had quite a bit of fame in the Tianyuan Region that this matter caused such significant uproar. Thus, after countless inquiries, information about the young man who defeated Mo Yuan also disseminated. Zhou Yuan, intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, background unknown. The unfamiliar name announced the birth of a dark horse in the Divine Dwelling stage. The various factions in the Tianyuan Region weren¡¯t surprised by this, because the Tianyuan Region was far too vast. There were nine hundred prefectures, and no one knew how many heaven prides were hidden across the land. Those who had not made themselves known were not necessarily weaker than the rankers on the Divine Dwelling List. The emergence of similar dark horses, although uncommon, still happened from time to time. Most of these dark horses were full of arrogance and wanted to amaze the world with a single brilliant feat. Therefore, dark horses often emerged in important events... Of course, no matter how many hidden dark horses there were, at least the very least, Zhou Yuan¡¯s name had spread throughout the Tianyuan Region this time. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fame was achieved by stepping on Mo Yuan, which some people secretly gloated over. This wasn¡¯t directed at Zhou Yuan but at the Heavenly Spirit Sect. But there were also some who felt apprehensive. Zhou Yuan was too reckless. Although he had defeated Mo Yuan, he had angered the mighty Heavenly Spirit Sect and would likely run into many troubles in the future. ...... Xuanzhou City, the Yi clan¡¯s residence. Zhou Yuan was sitting cross-legged in a quiet, secluded courtyard with a red jewel-like Divine Dwelling medicine suspended between his palms. It continuously emitted pure and strong scarlet-red light which steadily flowed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The pure power of the Divine Dwelling medicine, after entering his body, ran through the meridians and into the Divine Dwellings to refine them. This process lasted for one hour. By the time Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, the high-grade Divine Dwelling medicine in the palm of his hand had turned to powder and scattered with the wind. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart ached when he saw this. He had to consume two high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines every day for his training, and although his cultivation progress was good, the consumption was really painful. From his calculation, the fifty high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines that he was rewarded for helping the Yi clan win the Prefecture Lord battle could at most support his training for less than a month. Of course, if someone else in the Divine Dwelling stage were to hear this, they would have already flown into a rage. For ordinary Divine Dwelling stage practitioners, one Divine Dwelling medicine was enough for several days of training, but with Zhou Yuan, it was used up in less than an hour. But Zhou Yuan also was very helpless about this. His chaos Divine Dwellings were powerful, but they were extremely difficult to refine. ¡°I have to find a steady source of Divine Dwelling medicine.¡± Zhou Yuan let out a long sigh. If he were to deplete his stockpile, his training would undoubtedly enter a period of very slow growth. More importantly, he had already tasted the sweetness of two servings of high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines a day. If he were to reduce the amount, it would be extremely uncomfortable. As they say, it is easy to go from frugality to extravagance, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. While Zhou Yuan was sighing, a Yi clan servant came to the courtyard and respectfully let him know that Yi Qiushui had invited him to the front courtyard. Zhou Yuan asked for the reason, and the maid whispered that someone from the Heavenly Spirit Sect had arrived. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shivered before he nodded. The Heavenly Spirit Sect was akin to a local tyrant in the Tianyuan Region. It would be best to have a friendly relationship with them since he didn¡¯t want to have another powerful enemy. He tidied up a bit before following the servant to the front courtyard. Along the way he ran into some Yi clan youngsters, who all greeted him with kind and respectful smiles. Compared to before, there was undoubtedly a world of difference in their attitudes. When they came to the front courtyard, Zhou Yuan walked straight in, ran his gaze across the area, and saw a thin middle-aged man sitting in the main seat. The man was clad in a red robe embroidered with flame patterns. The Heavenly Sect¡¯s Scarlet Flame Hall. Zhou Yuan remained calm. It was said that Mo Yuan¡¯s master, Gu Yan, was the hall master of the Scarlet Flame Hall. However, this person shouldn¡¯t be Gu Yan, because although Zhou Yuan could feel tyrannical Genesis Qi being exuded from his body, the man was only at the Heavenly Sun stage and wasn¡¯t strong enough to be one of the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s hall masters. Yi Qiushui and Yi Qianji were also in the front courtyard. ¡°Zhou Yuan,¡± Yi Qiushui got up and said with a smile, ¡°This is attendant Gu Xi of the Scarlet Flame Hall.¡± She leaned closer to Zhou Yuan and whispered, ¡°Over the past few days, I managed to pull some strings to invite him here. It will be good for you if you manage to reconcile.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little moved by her gesture. The Yi clan was likely not afraid of Gu Yan coming to create trouble, which meant Yi Qiushui had done this for him. After all, she knew that he was from another heaven, and was unfamiliar with the place and people here. Therefore, it wouldn¡¯t be good for him to anger the powerful Heavenly Spirit Sect. Zhou Yuan nodded in thanks, although he did not feel there was a need to do this. He lifted his head to look at Gu Xi, whose gaze was lowered and didn¡¯t even glance at him. Yi Qiushui turned her head and smiled at Gu Xi. ¡°This is Zhou Yuan¡ª¡± Gu Xi waved his hand dismissively, ¡°I know, he¡¯s quite famous these days.¡± Yi Qiushui felt a little awkward and didn¡¯t know what else to say. It was then that Gu Xi set down the cup of tea in his hand and stared directly at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Since matriarch Qiushui came to find me and I have a good relationship with the Yi clan, I¡¯ll speak to you honestly. ¡°This matter has already reached the hall master¡¯s ears. Although he¡¯s a little unhappy, he isn¡¯t narrow-minded, and he doesn¡¯t intend to lower himself to the level of a little junior. ¡°Also the hall master admires your talent and told me to pass on the message that he can accept you into the sect as a registered disciple.¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s face lit up in joy. But Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. He didn¡¯t care for being a registered disciple of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. His master was the supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. What was Gu Yan compared to him? Moreover, he could keenly feel that there wasn¡¯t much friendliness in Gu Xi¡¯s voice. ¡°However...¡± As expected, Gu Xi¡¯s tone of voice changed all of a sudden. ¡°You did damage the face of our Scarlet Flame Hall and will need to do something as a gesture of remorse. Hmm, when you were fighting Mo Yuan, the high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis techniques you used seemed pretty good. You can offer those to enrich the Scarlet Flame Hall¡¯s treasury, and we will put this matter behind us. ¡°Haha, your Genesis techniques should be from some inheritance you managed to stumble upon, isn¡¯t that right? Your luck is pretty good, but such a thing isn¡¯t that uncommon in the Tianyuan Region.¡± Chapter 780 Rejection The look of joy on Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful face had frozen. She couldn¡¯t help clenching her fists, and she evidently didn¡¯t expect Gu Xi to put forward such a condition. A deep anger rose up inside her as she said, ¡°Gu Xi, isn¡¯t this condition a little too much?¡± ¡°Youngsters should pay a price for something they have done wrong. Otherwise, they won¡¯t remember. This is for his own good.¡± Gu Xi smiled. In his opinion, this condition wasn¡¯t too much. Although Zhou Yuan was talented, he had no background, and if he were to become the hall master¡¯s registered disciple, he could be said to have reached the sky in a single bound. So what if he had to pay two high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis techniques? If Zhou Yuan was wise, he should know what choice was best for him. Looking at Zhou Yuan¡¯s expressionless face, he asked, ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Zhou Yuan replied indifferently, ¡°Apologise? I don¡¯t think I need to do that. So all the people who have defeated the disciples of your Heavenly Spirit Sect need to apologise to you all?¡± ¡°It is a beautiful thing when lions and tigers fight against each other, but if a mouse wants to brush a tiger¡¯s whiskers, isn¡¯t that just asking for humiliation?¡± Gu Xi said nonchalantly. Zhou Yuan smiled, slowly sat down to the side and said, ¡°Forget it, I am unworthy of associating with your sect.¡± Gu Xi¡¯s face darkened, and he slammed the cup down on the table. ¡°You reject the good intention of my Heavenly Spirit Sect? It¡¯s good for young people to be proud, but don¡¯t be too arrogant.¡± This time, however, Zhou Yuan was too lazy to even care. Seeing this, Gu Xi stood up from his seat and coldly snorted, ¡°You don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you. There will be a time when you will cry.¡± He then shot a glare at Yi Qiushui and spoke in a strange tone of voice, ¡°I heard you wanted to recommend this person. Haha, my Heavenly Spirit Sect will not agree to this matter.¡± With a wave of his robe, he stormed away. Following Gu Xi¡¯s departure, the atmosphere in the courtyard turned somewhat gloomy. Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful face flushed with anger as she slammed the table. ¡°He went too far!¡± She was kind enough to invite Gu Xi, but she didn¡¯t expect that he wouldn¡¯t give face to the Yi clan. ¡°Qiushui, I understand your kind intention, but I don¡¯t want to trouble you.¡± Zhou Yuan naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse to reconcile his relationship with the Heavenly Spirit Sect, but if their attitude was like that, forget it. Yi Qiushui gritted her teeth, saying, ¡°It¡¯s because of my Yi clan¡¯s affairs that you have become enemies with the Heavenly Spirit Sect. How can I not do anything? She took a deep breath. ¡°But you don¡¯t have to worry. In another two days, the teleportation array in Xuanzhou City will be able to locate the Tianyuan Utopia. At that time I will report everything that has happened and find an opportunity to recommend you to Lady Chi Jing. If she thinks highly of you, the Heavenly Spirit Sect won¡¯t dare to do anything to you.¡± ¡°Lady Chi Jing has such good vision. The number of heaven prides she has seen over the years is as many as the willow trees by a river. It won¡¯t be easy for her to think highly of someone,¡± Yi Qianji, who was on the other side, said with a worried frown. ¡°Also I¡¯m worried that the Heavenly Spirit Sect will get in the way.¡± ¡°Lady Chi Jing might not want to create an unpleasant relationship with the Heavenly Spirit Sect just because of a Divine Dwelling expert. Although their relationship wasn¡¯t pleasant at the start, now that they have reached the status they have now, they will somehow come to a compromise.¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s brows were tightly scrunched together. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. He coughed softly and said, ¡°I think I¡¯ll get on well with Lady Chi Jing. It¡¯s worth a try.¡± Yi Qiushui and Yi Qianji were both taken aback by his words. He stared at Zhou Yuan and felt that Zhou Yuan really had thick skin. What identity and status does Lady Chi Jing have? She is one of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s leaders. Even in the entire Hunyuan Heaven, she is still a top existence. She wouldn¡¯t even pay attention to Heavenly Sun stage experts like us, so why would you, who is at the Divine Dwelling stage, have such confidence? Even if your talent is pretty good and you have defeated Mo Yuan, how many super heaven prides has Lady Chi Jing seen over the years? Why would she get along with you? Yi Qiushui helplessly smiled and didn¡¯t know what else to say. Noticing the strange look on their faces, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t know what to do. Should he tell them that Chi Jing was her senior sister? Should he tell them that his master was the supreme sovereign Cang Yuan? It would scare them to death if he told them. So of course, he couldn¡¯t reveal it. Therefore, Zhou Yuan could only keep a straight face, and he resisted Yi Qiushui¡¯s and Yi Qianji¡¯s bizarre gazes with his thick skin. ¡°We¡¯ll set off in two days.¡± Yi Qiushui retracted her gaze and made up her mind. No matter what the result was, she should give it a try. Zhou Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled at Yi Qiushui. ¡°Then I must thank Qiushui first.¡± Chi Jing had an extremely high status and position in the Tianyuan Region. If he didn¡¯t have any connection, he wouldn¡¯t be qualified to meet her even if he had reached the Heavenly Sun stage, not to mention he was only at the Divine Dwelling stage. So Yi Qiushui¡¯s connection had undoubtedly saved him a great deal of trouble. Seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s relaxed face, Yi Qiushui shook her head with a bitter smile. She really didn¡¯t know where Zhou Yuan got such great self-confidence¡­ .... Two days of time passed in a blink of an eye. The center of Xuanzhou City, outside the teleportation array. A towering stone platform stood tall, intertwined with countless beams of light. Ancient Genesis runes flowed and drifted around the platform, forming a tremendous teleportation array. At this moment, Zhou Yuan and Yi Qiushui were both standing outside the array. ¡°The teleportation array connects Tianyuan Utopia and the Tianyuan Region¡¯s many prefecture cities, but because there are too many destinations, there are only two days when it rotates and connects to the Tianyuan Utopia. If you miss these two days, you will have to wait till next month,¡± Yi Qiushui explained. Zhou Yuan nodded. Although the teleportation array couldn¡¯t be compared to the cross-boundary teleportation array that master Cang Yuan had set up, it was still very spectacular. ¡°Haha, matriarch Qiushui seems to be in a hurry? Are you going to the Tianyuan Utopia?¡± While the two were talking, a cold laughter sounded behind them. They all twisted around to see Gu Xi strolling over. Behind Gu Xi was Qiu Ling, who stared intently at Zhou Yuan. Yi Qiushui knitted her beautiful brows together when she saw them appear. Gu Xi came over and said in an indifferent voice, ¡°Coincidentally, we are also heading to the Tianyuan Utopia. We can travel together.¡± The expression on Yi Qiushui¡¯s pretty face changed immediately. It most likely wouldn¡¯t be anything good for Gu Xi to travel to Tianyuan Utopia. Her heart sank when she remembered what Gu Xi had said the day before. Gu Xi shifted his gaze to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Boy, I will give you one last chance¡ª¡± ¡°Quiet.¡± Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows. Gu Xi¡¯s eyes turned biting cold, and Genesis Qi pulsed around him. Seeing this, Yi Qianji hurriedly took a step to the side and warned in a deep voice, ¡°Gu Xi, I hope you remember to conduct yourself with dignity.¡± Gu Xi snorted, and his Genesis Qi subsided. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you will last.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, Qiu Ling strode straight into the teleportation array. The majestic light flickered, and he vanished, but Zhou Yuan still felt his sinister gaze before he left. Yi Qiushui was icy cold. She drew a deep breath. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She also stepped into the teleportation array. Zhou Yuan closely followed. The surrounding light rippled, and the space began to quake violently. He licked his lips; a feeling of anticipation and curiosity filled his heart. Chapter 781 Tianyuan Utopia It was rumoured that the supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had used earth-shaking means to connect the Tianyuan Utopia to the nine hundred prefectures. As a result, the universe qi of the nine hundred prefectures were all directed to the utopia, turning the lifeless space into Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s famous blessed land. It could be said that the Tianyuan Utopia was only born because of the nine hundred prefectures. The power of the supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was indeed astonishing. While in such a blessed land, even everyday breathing was equivalent to consuming grade-four Genesis food every night. The benefits were endless... And if training there, there would be even greater benefits. The efficiency would be far better than in the outside world. Therefore, there was a housing prohibition within the Tianyuan Utopia where prices would be exorbitantly high. Demand far outstripped supply. .... The chaotic fluctuation of space lasted for an unknown period of time before it suddenly dissipated. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes snapped open, and blinding light gushed over that made him squint his eyes again. It took him a while to adapt to the environment. Only after he adapted to the light did he open his eyes and regard his surroundings. Then his eyes lit up with surprise. He was situated on a mountaintop where a huge, flashing teleportation array had been built. He saw numerous figures appearing one after another. There were silhouettes all over the sky, and it seemed very lively. There was a towering mountain standing tall, as if touching the sky. The thick clouds and mists were glowing and shimmering, floating between heaven and earth, and made the huge mountains seem small and invisible. A mighty river ran through the void like a heavenly river. As he looked into the distance, there were multiple floating islands suspended in the sky. They looked like miniature continents on which stood magnificent cities. Countless silhouettes moved to and fro, constantly shuttling between the floating islands. The materials of the floating islands were like jewels, bright and glistening under the sun. In the face of such a magnificent scene, even if Zhou Yuan had a good ability to remain calm, he also couldn¡¯t help but reveal a look of shocked disbelief. The landscape of the Cangxuan Sect was extraordinary, but it still couldn¡¯t be compared to here. Moreover, the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s Genesis Qi was so rich and dense that there were signs of fogs gathering, creating a hazy air. The Genesis Qi was extremely concentrated. ¡°So impressive,¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed. Only experts who have reached the Saint stage will be able to achieve this, isn¡¯t that right? ¡°Ordinary saints won¡¯t have this ability.¡± Yi Qianji, who was on the other side, seemed to have seen through Zhou Yuan¡¯s thoughts. His eyes were full of admiration as he explained, ¡°The supreme sovereign Cang Yuan is not only a leader of the Saint stage. He also has great mastery over Genesis Runes. In this world, it will be very difficult to find someone more proficient in Genesis Runes than him. It is also because of this that he can perform such extraordinary techniques.¡± ¡°See that giant sun?¡± Yi Qianji pointed to the sky. Zhou Yuan followed his gaze and saw an incomparably huge sun suspended above the nine heavens, emitting a dazzling brilliance. But from that blazing sun he could feel a strange fluctuation of energy. ¡°That¡¯s the core of Tianyuan Utopia, called the Sky Illuminating Eye, a two lotus Saint treasure ranked 14th among all Saint treasures. ¡°That treasure first swallows the Genesis Qi of the nine hundred prefectures before supplying the qi to the Tianyuan Utopia. It is indeed really mysterious,¡± Yi Qianji explained. ¡°Two lotus Saint treasure?¡± Zhou Yuan said puzzledly. He had heard of Saint treasures before, which should also be called Saint Genesis Treasures. Back then, sect master Qing Yang had also summoned out a Saint treasure, the Little Cangxuan Saint Stamp to fight against palace master Sheng Yuan, who was at the false Saint stage. Its power was indeed terrifying. But it seemed that Saint treasures were divided into grades in Hunyuan Heaven. ¡°The Saint stage is divided into one, two and three lotuses. Saint treasures are also ranked similarly,¡± Yi Qianji said with a smile. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment. According to his speculation, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s Little Cangxuan Saint Stamp should be a one lotus Saint treasure.... He just didn¡¯t know what level the real Cangxuan Saint Stamp was. A natural object like that should be at least three lotuses, right? Zhou Yuan speculated. ¡°Let¡¯s go find my grandpa first. If we want to meet Lady Chi Jing, we will need his help,¡± Yi Qiushui said aloud while Zhou Yuan was still speculating. Zhou Yuan nodded. He could tell that the grading system in the Tianyuan Region was more strict, at least much more strict than the Cangxuan Sect. Of course, it wasn¡¯t surprising since the scale of the Tianyuan Region was far greater than the Cangxuan Sect. Yi Qiushui led the way, and Zhou Yuan and Yi Qianji followed closely behind. Yi Qiushui was no stranger to the Tianyuan Utopia. Under her leadership, they sped past multiple tremendous floating islands, and in around one hour of time, she finally slowed down. A huge floating island appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. Compared with the previous floating islands that were filled with people, these islands appeared to be much quieter, and their defenses were much stronger. It was obvious that the people who resided here were high-level figures of the Tianyuan Region. But under Yi Qiushui¡¯s leadership, there wasn¡¯t any obstruction along the way, and they eventually landed outside a secluded manor on the east of the island. At the gate of the manor stood a black-clad old man with hands clasped behind his back. He looked at the three people who had just landed with a kind smile. ¡°Grandfather!¡± Yi Qiushui leapt over with joy when she saw the old man in black. The old man smiled and grasped Yi Qiushui¡¯s little hand. ¡°My little Qiushui is now a Prefecture Lord.¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s eyes welled up and turned red. She sobbed, ¡°Father, he...¡± A trace of sadness glimmered within the old man¡¯s eyes, which he forcibly suppressed. He gently stroked Yi Qiushui¡¯s hair to comfort her. It was after a long while that Yi Qiushui finally suppressed the sadness in her heart, and seeing that Zhou Yuan was standing quietly behind her, she quickly introduced him, ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is my grandfather.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan pays respect to elder,¡± Zhou Yuan said respectfully. On the way here, Yi Qiushui had already told him that her grandfather¡¯s name was Yi Yan and that he was the most important person from the Yi clan. He occupied a position in the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Elder Committee and was a top expert of the Nascent Source stage. He could be said to be an influential and powerful figure of the entire Tianyuan Region. Yi Yan gave a friendly nod and smile to Zhou Yuan. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so polite. It was all because of you that the Yi clan could win the Xiaoxuan Prefecture Lord position.¡± ¡°It was also because we had you to take care of things within the Tianyuan Utopia, elder brother.¡± Yi Qianji smiled. " Yi Yan shook his head. ¡°The Qiu clan has also been operating in the Tianyuan Utopia, and they have even obtained the support of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. If you hadn¡¯t won beautifully, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to push forward the proposal.¡± He turned to Zhou Yuan, saying, ¡°I have already received information about your matters. I have reported to Lady Chi Jing, and hopefully, I will be able to find a position of deputy commander in the Wind Pavilion for you.¡± Yi Qiushui lit up with surprise. ¡°Is it the Wind Pavilion of the four pavilions: Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain?¡± After she saw Yi Yan nodded, she hurriedly explained to Zhou Yuan, ¡°The Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain Pavilions were set up by the supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. They bring together all the outstanding people of the younger generation in the Tianyuan Region, and it is an honour to enter one of the four pavilions. ¡°Even the top clans, including the Heavenly Spirit Sect, the White Clan, the Profound Crystal Clan and the Wood clan, let their younger generation into the four pavilions for training. This greatly shows their importance. ¡°The four pavilions of Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain can be said to be the blood of the future of the Tianyuan Region. ¡°Each pavilion is divided into the rankings of ordinary members, captains, chief and deputy commanders, deputy pavilion masters and pavilion master. The position that Grandfather asked for you is deputy commander. You should know that the majority of the present deputy commanders of the four pavilions are ranked on the Divine Dwelling List! ¡°If you are chosen, you will have a promising future!¡± Yi Qiushui spoke excitedly without stopping, but seeing that Zhou Yuan still had the same blank, expressionless face, she said helplessly, ¡°The deputy commander can receive one hundred high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines every month.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face instantly lit up. ¡°That many?¡± He was only able to earn one hundred Divine Dwelling medicines after helping the Yi clan, but the deputy commander could receive so much every month. This salary wasn¡¯t low. Yi Qiushui said snappily, ¡°After entering the Wind Pavilion, the gift of a bright future is the most important thing. How can Divine Dwelling medicines compare to that?¡± Yi Yan smiled. ¡°The Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master position has been vacant for a while, and there are only three deputy pavilion master positions. If you can get in, the Heavenly Spirit Sect won¡¯t dare to do anything to you blatantly.¡± Zhou Yuan immediately expressed his gratitude. ¡°It¡¯s not decided yet, you don¡¯t have to thank me now.¡± Yi Yan waved his hand. Looking at Zhou Yuan, he sighed, ¡°That¡¯s all I can do. Lady Chi Jing always sticks to principles. If you aren¡¯t capable enough, there¡¯s also nothing I can do.¡± He lifted his palm, and a carriage descended from the sky, pulled by a winged white lion. The lion exuded powerful Genesis Qi and was clearly a grade-five Genesis beast. It emitted a ferocious aura. After a pause, he shook his head. Yi Qiushui also tensed up. She knew that if Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t catch the attention of Lady Chi Jing, he would miss a really good opportunity. After all, it was incredibly difficult for an ordinary cultivator with no background to enter the Wind Pavilion as a deputy commander. Although Zhou Yuan was talented, given Lady Chi Jing¡¯s identity and status, she most likely had seen too many super heaven prides already¡­ Chapter 782 Senior Sister Chi Jing A majestic and towering golden palace stood tall on the highest point of the Tianyuan Utopia. As one peered down, numerous floating islands dotted the vast Tianyuan Utopia like specks of light. The security here was very tight and boasted powerful defences. Even if Zhou Yuan was led by Yi Yan, they still were subjected to many investigations before they arrived outside the golden palace. In front of the palace, Yi Yan straightened his clothes, and his relaxed face turned more solemn. ¡°This is where Lady Chi Jing deals with affairs. ¡°Come with me.¡± He led the group into the golden palace. Inside the golden palace, the floor was paved with blue stones, and it was spacious and simple yet imposing and grand. As they entered, Zhou Yuan immediately noticed multiple eagle-like gazes shifting onto him as if trying to pierce through him. They were evidently the guards of the palace. On the stone steps at the end of the palace hall was a pile of jade official document files. A figure had her head buried in the files, as if searching for some materials. Feeling that someone had come, the figure lifted her head, and a voice rang out, ¡°Elder Yi Yan has arrived.¡± The voice was extremely clear, pleasant but not weak in the slightest. It sounded capable and experienced. ¡°Lady Chi Jing,¡± Yi Yan said respectfully. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart pounded as he lifted his head to see the figure behind the jade files. It was a slender woman casually dressed in a long robe. Her skin was fair, and her seductive collarbone could be seen at the base of her slender neck. But what was particularly noticeable was her burgundy shoulder-length hair. Her facial features were evidently the type that could withstand careful appreciation. There was a sense of majesty and fierceness in her eyes, and her red lips were slightly raised, giving people a feeling of toughness. From her body, Zhou Yuan felt a heroic spirit that was not inferior to any man¡¯s. She could be said to be valiant and formidable-looking. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were fully concentrated on her chest, which was like a flat land one could gallop straight across. He finally understood why master Cang Yuan had told him with a strange expression that he had two ¡®senior brothers¡¯. Senior sister Chi Jing was a female, but no matter whether it was in temperament or in appearance, she could be considered an extremely beautiful man. Zhou Yuan glanced at Yi Qiushui and saw that her beautiful face was full of excitement.Her eyes were glistening with respect and admiration as she stared at Chi Jing. Chi Jing, who was behind the official files, shifted her gaze onto Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°You are the Zhou Yuan who has been creating a lot of buzz these days?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Chi Jing¡¯s slender fingers gently tapped the tabletop as she spoke calmly: ¡°But there¡¯s someone who objects.¡± Yi Yan¡¯s brows suddenly wrinkled. ¡°May I ask who?¡± ¡°Me.¡± A deep voice suddenly sounded in the palace hall. Yi Yan and Zhou Yuan twisted around to see a red-robed old man approaching. Behind the old man was another person following closely behind. It was Gu Xi. ¡°Hall master Gu Yan?¡± Yi Yan furrowed his brows. The red robed elder was the hall master of the Scarlet Flame Hall of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, Gu Yan. Behind Gu Yan, Gu Xi was staring down on Zhou Yuan. Gu Yan came to the center of the great hall and gave a cupped fist salute to Chi Jing. ¡°Elder Yi Yan¡¯s recommendation doesn¡¯t seem right. That person¡¯s background is unknown, so how can he take on the Wind Pavilion¡¯s post of deputy commander?¡± ¡°The four pavilions were originally designed to attract outstanding youngsters,¡± Yi Yan explained. ¡°If palace master Gu Yan thinks like this, it might be detrimental to the development of the Four Pavilions.¡± Gu Yan ignored Yi Yan. After all, his status was higher than his. He simply turned and said to Chi Jing, ¡°Lady Chi Jing, perhaps you can hand this boy to me for an investigation first. If he passes, it won¡¯t be too late for him to enter the Wind Pavilion.¡± Yi Yan was visibly angry. If Zhou Yuan were to fall into Gu Yan¡¯s hand, it was unknown what he would suffer. Chi Jing knitted her slender brows slightly, saying, ¡°There is no need for an investigation, but Zhou Yuan is new here so some might not be happy if he immediately serves as deputy commander. He can temporarily be accepted as a member of Wind Pavilion first. If he garners enough achievements in the future, he will have an opportunity to be promoted.¡± Both sides looked relieved at the same time but also a little disappointed. Yi Yan and Yi Qiushui were glad that Zhou Yuan could finally be accepted into the Wind Pavilion, but they were disappointed that he was only an ordinary pavilion member, which was far from the position of deputy commander. On the other hand, although Gu Yan was disappointed that he couldn¡¯t deal with Zhou Yuan directly, he could accept the fact that Zhou Yuan only became an ordinary member, because it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for them to make things difficult for an ordinary member of the Wind Pavilion. Gu Xi, who was behind Gu Yan, stared at Zhou Yuan with malice, sneering coldly to himself, Don¡¯t think that we can¡¯t do anything to you after you enter the Wind Pavilion. Both Yi Yan and Gu Yan were silent for a good while, and in the end, neither of them objected, because they both knew that Chi Jing was experienced with handling affairs. She had made both of them take a step back and had also listened to the initial demands of both sides. It would be insensible for them to make another request. Let alone Yi Yan, even the hall master of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, Gu Yan, wouldn¡¯t dare to anger Chi Jing. Seeing that things were settled and that Chi Jing seemed to want to ask everyone to leave, Zhou Yuan suddenly became anxious. If he didn¡¯t make good use of this chance, he might not be able to see Chi Jing again. Immediately, he took a large step forward and spoke in a loud and clear voice: ¡°Lady Chi Jing, I think I am competent enough for the position of deputy commander.¡± Even Yi Yan¡¯s expression changed abruptly when he heard this. ¡°Disrespectful!¡± How could Zhou Yuan recommend himself on such an occasion! If he angered Lady Chi Jing, he might even lose the opportunity to join the Wind Pavilion. He worriedly looked at Chi Jing and, as expected, saw that she was frowning at the shameless Zhou Yuan. Gu Yan couldn¡¯t help bursting into laughter, ¡°This kid doesn¡¯t know the immensity of the sky. If he is allowed to join the Wind Pavilion, he will only drag down the young talents of the Tianyuan Region. ¡°I beseech Lady Chi Jing to expel him from Tianyuan Utopia!¡± Yi Yan hurriedly explained, ¡°Lady Chi Jing, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t intend to offend.¡± Seeing that Chi Jing was about to speak, Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and secretly activated the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. Chi Jing¡¯s face darkened slightly. She was indeed somewhat unhappy with Zhou Yuan¡¯s behaviour because she was already protecting him with her decisions. She initially planned to promote Zhou Yuan in the future if he performed well. At that time, nobody could say anything or oppose him, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s forced self-recommendation seemed too ill mannered. So she planned to give him a little punishment. ¡°Impudence,¡± she said in a lower-pitched voice. Yi Yan knew that Chi Jing had indeed been somewhat angered. However, just as she was about to continue, she suddenly saw a flash between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows. She then felt something that made her body suddenly stiffen. She immediately halted the words that were at the tip of her tongue, even biting her tongue in the process. Pain and shock simultaneously appeared in her heart. At this moment, even someone like Chi Jing had a blank expression on her face. She then suddenly slammed her palms against the documents. Bang! ¡°You- ¡°You-¡± Chi Jing¡¯s eyes went wide. Yi Qiushui clenched her hands tight, panic rising within her. Was Lady Chi Jing furious? Just as everybody was waiting for Chi Jing to erupt in rage, she finally calmed her emotions. Her voice sounded. ¡°You, you¡¯re not bad! I admire you! ¡°You¡¯ll be the deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion!¡± Chapter 783 Deputy Pavilion Master of the Wind Pavilion Everybody stared dumbstruck at the slender figure behind the document files as this sentence spread throughout the spacious golden palace hall. Even Gu Yan stood there with his mouth agape, wondering whether he had misheard. Wasn¡¯t Chi Jing furious earlier? What changed all of a sudden?! Behind Gu Yan, Gu Xi¡¯s mouth was trembling uncontrollably. If it weren¡¯t for the sliver of rationality left in his mind that made him aware of where he was, he would have already roared out loud. Shouldn¡¯t that ill-mannered boy be expelled from Tianyuan Utopia? How can he jump from an ordinary member to a deputy pavilion master?! How crazy of a jump was this?! While Gu Yan and Gu Xi were shocked, Yi Yan and Yi Qiushui weren¡¯t much better off. Especially Yi Yan, who immediately exclaimed, ¡°Lady Chi Jing, please don¡¯t joke around. How can Zhou Yuan become a deputy pavilion master!¡± He thought Chi Jing deliberately been ironic out of anger; otherwise, it would be difficult to explain the sudden change. Yi Qiushui likewise did not dare to offend as she mumbled in a low voice, ¡°Lady Chi Jing, it is already an honor for Zhou Yuan to become part of the Wind Pavilion.¡± Gu Yan and Gu Xi breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this. They also thought that Chi Jing was merely being ironic. However, not even a single ripple could be seen on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He lowered his gaze, giving off a deferential and respectful appearance. Chi Jing didn¡¯t pay any attention to Yi Yan or Gu Yan. Her clear and bright eyes were firmly fixed on Zhou Yuan as she scratched deep marks into the table. A moment later, the stormy waves in her heart gradually subsided as she indifferently said, ¡°I¡¯m not joking. The fact that Zhou Yuan could defeat Mo Yuan at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage is already proof of his talent. He has the qualifications to become a deputy pavilion master.¡± A look of disbelief crossed Yi Yan¡¯s and Yi Qiushiu¡¯s faces when they finally realized that Chi Jing was serious. The position of pavilion master was currently vacant and there were only two deputy pavilion masters, who were currently the highest ranked in the Wind Pavilion. If Zhou Yuan became a deputy pavilion master, wouldn¡¯t that be equivalent to reaching the sky in a single step? On the other hand, Gu Yan¡¯s face turned uncontrollably pale. ¡°Lady Chi Jing, how can an outsider who knows nothing be eligible to become one of the Wind Pavilion¡¯s deputy pavilion masters?!¡± Expressionless, Chi Jing uttered, ¡°If I say he is eligible, he is eligible.¡± Gu Yan froze, his eyes flashing with fury. He didn¡¯t know why Chi Jing would suddenly change her mind. He felt as if he was being toyed around with. ¡°If I say he does, he does.¡± Chi Jing was still cold and indifferent. Although infuriated, Gu Yan also understood Chi Jing¡¯s position and status. She had the right to appoint a deputy pavilion master to the Wind Pavilion. In the end, he could only fume, ¡°Although Lady Chi Jing is one of the five grand elders, I will definitely report this matter to my sect master!¡± He flung his sleeve and turned away. The sect master he was referring to was naturally the sect master of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, who was also one of the five grand elders in charge of the Tianyuan Region. Gu Xi quickly followed behind him, shooting a fierce glare at Zhou Yuan before leaving. Chi Jing didn¡¯t lift her eyes a single time during their departure. Once the two had left, Yi Yan and Yi Qiushui exchanged a puzzled glance with each other. They likewise couldn¡¯t understand why Chi Jing would have a sudden change of attitude towards Zhou Yuan, but it was ultimately a good thing. ¡°Zhou Yuan, hurry and thank Lady Chi Jing,¡± Yi Yan reminded. Zhou Yuan nodded and respectfully said, ¡°Thank you, esteemed one.¡± Chi Jing stared at Zhou Yuan and then said to Yi Yan and Yi Qiushui, ¡°You two go out first, I have something to say to Zhou Yuan.¡± Yi Qiushui and Yi Yan could see the confusion in each other¡¯s eyes, but they didn¡¯t dare to ignore the order and immediately exited the golden palace hall. After leaving, Yi Yan¡¯s face was still crossed with disbelief as he kept shaking his head. He was clearly still bothered by what had happened inside. ¡°Why would Lady Chi Jing give the position of deputy pavilion master to Zhou Yuan?¡± Yi Qiushui couldn¡¯t help asking. The status of the Wind Pavilion master was equivalent to an elder like Yi Yan, and the position of deputy pavilion master wasn¡¯t much lower. If Zhou Yuan was an expert of the Nascent Source stage, Yi Yan wouldn¡¯t be surprised by this treatment, but he was merely an intermediate Divine Dwelling stage practitioner! Had something like this ever happened before? Yi Yan couldn¡¯t help but murmur, ¡°Could...Lady Chi Jing have taken a liking to Zhou Yuan?¡± Yi Qiushui immediately blushed and said irritably, ¡°Grandpa, what are you talking about? What kind of status does Lady Chi Jing have? How high is her standards? How would she...I¡¯m not saying that Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t good, but this is impossible!¡± Yi Yan smiled awkwardly and then turned back to look at the golden palace. If Chi Jing heard what he had said, a bout of suffering would likely await him. Hence, he could only keep shaking his head. He eventually said, ¡°From the looks of it, perhaps Lady Chi Jing wanted to show Gu Yan who¡¯s boss. After all, the Heavenly Spirit Sect has often made Lady Chi Jing annoyed or stressed.¡± Yi Qiushui nodded. This was the only reason that could explain what had happened. But for Zhou Yuan, it was as though a pie had fallen from the sky. ... Inside the golden palace hall. After Yi Yan and the others had left, Chi Jing calmly spoke again, ¡°All secret guards, withdraw.¡± The subtle waves of Genesis Qi in the golden palace hall vanished, and Zhou Yuan could also feel that the vigilant gazes in the dark were gone. He was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. He lifted his head in astonishment because Chi Jing¡¯s figure had already mysteriously appeared in front of him like a ghost as she stared at him without blinking. At the same time, Zhou Yuan could detect an indescribable sense of oppression gradually spreading from Chi Jing¡¯s body. Chi Jing slowly asked, ¡°You, where did you learn the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method?¡± When Zhou Yuan secretly activated the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method, Chi Jing had felt a very familiar aura, because she too cultivated this techniuqe¡­ Under Chi Jing¡¯s watchful gaze, the space around Zhou Yuan had solidified, blocking off all of his escape. At this moment, even if he wanted to explode his Divine Dwelling, he most likely would be unable to do so. But Zhou Yuan remained surprisingly calm as he answered, ¡°Is there anyone else besides our master who can teach the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method?¡± Chi Jing¡¯s expression shook. Slowly, she said, ¡°Are you saying that my master gave it to you? ¡°What proof do you have?!¡± ¡°Is the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method not enough?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. ¡°Not enough.¡± Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment before stretching out his hand. Light flashed in his palm. The next moment, a black mottled brush appeared. Staring at the very familiar black brush, Chi Jing gently touched it with a trembling hand. Zhou Yuan could see that her clear and bright eyes had misted over. Eventually a single tear rolled slowly down her cheek. Chapter 784 Senior Sister She evidently recognized the unique weapon that belonged to Cang Yuan. Chi Jing quickly calmed her emotions and looked at Zhou Yuan with a hint of excitement in her eyes. ¡°Is our master all right?¡± After Cang Yuan suddenly left, no matter how much Chi Jing tried, she couldn¡¯t find any news about him. His disappearance led to rumors that Cang Yuan had died, and it brought great pressure to the entire Tianyuan Region. But now, she finally received news of Cang Yuan, so how could she not be excited? Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. ¡°Our master is fine, but he can¡¯t appear in Hunyuan Heaven. All these years, he has been fighting the sacred race.¡± ¡°Sacred race...¡± Chi Jing¡¯s eyes turned cold. Only the sacred race could force her master to not appear for so many years. However, knowing that her master was alive, the weight of a huge boulder was finally lifted off her mind, and a rare smile spread across her face. She didn¡¯t doubt whether or not Zhou Yuan was telling the truth, because she knew that both the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualization Method and the Heavenly Yuan Brush had to be given by her master on his own initiative. These were his greatest treasures. Even if she and her senior brother had their eyes on them for a long time, her master still didn¡¯t give it to them in the end. Therefore nobody in the world would be able to take the Heavenly Yuan Brush from Cang Yuan without his agreement. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d have a junior brother.¡± Chi Jing curiously studied Zhou Yuan like a little girl seeing her favorite toy. Zhou Yuan trembled from the look in her eyes. Chi Jing chuckled, ¡°I had asked our master to take in another disciple before so that I could teach them, but our master¡¯s standards were too high and I was left disappointed for a long time.¡± ¡°Lady Chi Jing¡ª¡± Zhou Yuan dryly laughed. Chi Jing¡¯s expression turned stern, and she corrected him, ¡°Call me senior sister!¡± ¡°Senior sister Chi Jing.¡± ¡°Say it again.¡± ¡°Senior sister.¡± ¡°Again.¡± ¡°Senior sister.¡± ¡°...¡± After he repeated himself many times in a row, Chi Jing finally revealed a satisfied look and said, ¡°Back then, that bastard also forced me to respectfully call him senior brother every day. It¡¯s finally payback.¡± Zhou Yuan looked confused. Then go find our senior brother for payback. What does it have to do with me? ¡°Little junior brother, since you¡¯re our master¡¯s disciple, why do you have to cover it up? If you reveal your identity, no one in the Tianyuan Region would dare to touch you. And that Gu Yan also wouldn¡¯t dare to make things difficult for you anymore,¡± Chi Jing asked. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t expose his identity in public and had instead secretly operated the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualization Method, which was only noticed by Chi Jing, who had also practiced this spirit tempering method before. Obviously, because Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t want to expose his identity, Chi Jing also didn¡¯t question him on the spot and had instead cautiously sent Yi Yan, Gu Yan and the others away before confirming his identity. ¡°You should know that when our master founded the Tianyuan Region, he made the rule that his disciples were all qualified to become founding members in charge of the Tianyuan Region. If you reveal your identity, even if you only possess the strength of the Divine Dwelling stage, you will still become the sixth person in charge of the Tianyuan Region.¡± Zhou Yuan smacked his lips when he heard this. When master Cang Yuan wasn¡¯t around, the founding members were the supreme leaders of the Tianyuan Region and could be said to rule the world. It was no wonder that their master rarely accepted disciples. With such an identity, even in the face of a Law Domain expert, they would be equal. However, he finally shook his head and explained, ¡°Our master said that I can¡¯t reveal to the outside world that I am his third disciple. Otherwise, the other supreme sovereigns of Hunyuan Heaven will try to find him through me. ¡°When he left, for some reason, he was in disagreement with Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s other supreme sovereigns, so he needed to prevent them from finding him.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything about Yaoyao because he knew this matter involved a lot of things, and he wanted to avoid it if possible. Chi Jing froze for a moment and then whispered, ¡°I understand. It¡¯s no wonder that all these years I have always felt that there is something strange with the way the other regions treated the Tianyuan Region.¡± However, Chi Jing was somewhat relieved to see the calmness Zhou Yuan showed towards such a position. After all, there weren¡¯t that many people who could withstand such a temptation. Their master¡¯s vision was as good as it always was. And if Zhou Yuan knew what she was thinking, he would have felt a little embarrassed. In his view, although the position was high and powerful, he wouldn¡¯t want it if it would bring him life-threatening danger. No position was as important as his little life! ¡°Senior sister, I came to the Tianyuan Region this time on the orders of our master. There¡¯s something I have to ask you, senior sister, for help with.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression had turned extremely solemn because this was his real purpose for coming here. ¡°Our master¡¯s mission?¡± Chi Jing nodded. If, as Zhou Yuan had said before, it was inconvenient for their master to appear himself, then it must be an extremely important matter for him to send her little junior brother. ¡°Our master said that the Ancestral Dragon Lantern is controlled by the nine regions in turn. The next time, the Tianyuan Region must control it.¡± ¡°Ancestral Dragon Lantern?¡± Chi Jing didn¡¯t expect her master¡¯s mission to be related to that object. ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Lantern is ranked second among the sacred treasures of the world. When that lantern is activated, it can give birth to the Ancestral Dragon Chaos Flame. This flame has two forms: one is the flame of life and the other is the flame of destruction. ¡°The flame of life is a sacred object for strengthening the body. Once it is accepted, the body of its master will become unrivaled, and even the legendary ancestral dragon object may be born. ¡°The flame of destruction can incinerate even Saint experts.¡± One simple sentence already showed its tyrannical power. Zhou Yuan was also astonished to hear this. The Ancestral Dragon Lantern was truly a peerless sacred object. It was no wonder that it needed to be jointly controlled by the nine regions. No one dared to possess it alone. ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Lantern is jointly managed by the nine regions, and every few years there will be a Nine Region Meeting, where the most outstanding region will be awarded the right to be in charge of the Ancestral Dragon Lantern until the next Nine Region Meeting.¡± ¡°Then the Tianyuan Region has to be the champion of the next Nine Region Meeting,¡± Zhou Yuan said. Chi Jing shook her head in distress. ¡°Do you know what the Tianyuan Region was ranked in the Nine Region Meeting last time?¡± Zhou Yuan blinked his eyes, a bad feeling surging in his heart. Chi Jing rubbed her forehead and spat out a ranking that made Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart sink. Chapter 785 Nine Regions Meeting Zhou Yuan¡¯s face stiffened. At this moment he felt that the Ancestral Dragon Lantern was very distant. Chi Jing pursed her lips. ¡°The Tianyuan Region wasn¡¯t so miserable before, but our master suddenly disappeared and rumours of his death spread. ¡°This has caused some unsteady movement in the Tianyuan Region, and the people are no longer of one mind. It has become quite troublesome because of this. Even if the news about our master isn¡¯t confirmed, the Tianyuan Region will most likely fall from the position of one of the nine regions... ¡°This is also the main reason why our senior brother went into secluded cultivation. Only when he steps into the Saint stage will it be possible to stabilise the Tianyuan Region.¡± Speaking about this, her expression turned visibly cold, and a palpable oppressive aura spread out. It was clear that the pressure she had been under over the years had been enormous. ¡°I remember our master telling me that the Nine Regions Meeting is considered a training experience for the younger generation,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered. Chi Jing nodded. ¡°The Nine Regions Meeting was at first a kind of social exchange, but the majority of the high-level figures of each region couldn¡¯t come in person since that would damage their identity and status. So, over time, it became a competition among the younger generation and can now be considered a training experience.¡± ¡°Is the younger generation of the Tianyuan Region that bad?¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°It¡¯s not that the younger generation in the Tianyuan Region isn¡¯t good, it¡¯s that they aren¡¯t of one heart.¡± Chi Jing scrunched her brows together. ¡°After our master¡¯s disappearance, there has been movement in the Heavenly Spirit Sect. They joined forces with the White Clan and the Profound Crystal Clan to form the largest sect of the Tianyuan Region. ¡°They now occupy three seats of the five grand elders, which is also the reason that the Heavenly Spirit Sect has the greatest power to influence or make decisions in the Tianyuan Region today. If our master hadn¡¯t deterred the Heaven Spirit Sect to not betray the Tianyuan Region, I suspect that they would want independence. ¡°And the most remarkable youngsters of the Tianyuan Region are all gathered in the four pavilions. Of the four pavilions, only the Wind Pavillion is under my control. ¡°But even so, they are trying to infiltrate the Wind Pavilion, trying to obtain the Wind Pavilion too. This has resulted in the position of the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master to be vacant all these years.¡± ¡°In the past there would be a chief pavilion master of the four pavilions, but ever since our master¡¯s disappearance, the Tianyuan Region has turned chaotic, and everybody competes with one another. There has never been a chief pavilion master who could really convince the people of the younger generation to band together. Given the disunited circumstances, how could they perform well in the Nine Regions Meeting?¡± Chi Jing said helplessly. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°Anyway, no matter what, we can¡¯t give up on the Nine Regions Meeting this time. If the four pavilions aren¡¯t unified, then we will bring them together!¡± Since the Ancestral Dragon Lantern was linked to stopping Yaoyao¡¯s death, Zhou Yuan absolutely wouldn¡¯t give up. Chi Jing glanced at Zhou Yuan with admiration. His fighting spirit and courage were indeed commendable. Since this was her master¡¯s task, she would naturally do her best to help. ¡°You¡¯re courageous. Then, before the Nine Regions Meeting, I think you should be competing for the position of pavilion master.¡± Chi Jing nodded, as if this was the most natural thing to do. ¡°Then what should I do?¡± Zhou Yuan uttered in an embarrassed voice. ¡°If our master was around, he could have made you the chief pavilion master of the four pavilions right away, but I don¡¯t have that authority. So you have to rely on your achievements, and I can only help you push away the waves and make the Heavenly Spirit Sect unable to say anything. ¡°I have already appointed you as the deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, so I think your next task is to become the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master first. ¡°After all, only the four pavilion masters are qualified to compete for the position of chief pavilion master.¡± ¡°Currently, besides you, there are two other deputy pavilion masters called Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling, respectively. Chen Beifeng was sent by the Heavenly Spirit Sect, and Ye Bingling is one of my people. ¡°Some time ago I was going to appoint a commander from the Wind Pavilion as deputy pavilion master, but now that you¡¯re here, it can be you.¡± ¡°Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling...how strong are they?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. ¡°Mo Yuan, who you defeated, is ranked in the 500s on the Divine Dwelling List of Hunyuan Heaven, while Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling are in the top 100. They are also extremely famous heaven prides in the Tianyuan Region. ¡°But you don¡¯t have to be worried about making it onto the Divine Dwelling List, that¡¯s a lot to do.¡± Zhou Yuan inwardly sighed. As expected, Hunyuan Heaven was indeed the most powerful heaven. Even Mo Yuan was only ranked in the 500s. This was simply frightening. ¡°So, my main competitor is Chen Beifeng, right?¡± ¡°Yes, but Ye Bingling is also arrogant and prideful. If she thinks you aren¡¯t strong enough, she won¡¯t comply with you,¡± Chi Jing said with a smile. Zhou Yuan calmly nodded. If she didn¡¯t comply, he would beat her until she does. ¡°Tomorrow, you will formally serve in the Wind Pavilion. As long as you can win the position of pavilion master and then take the position of chief pavilion master in the future, we will dominate the four pavilions. And we will have the qualification to compete with the other eight regions in the Nine Regions Meeting. ¡°Is there a problem with this?¡± She stared at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly lifted the Heavenly Yuan Brush and said, ¡°The Heavenly Yuan Brush is a weapon unique to our master, if I were to use it in Tianyuan Region, wouldn¡¯t someone notice?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about this. There are numerous people in the Tianyuan Region who respect our master, so his unique weapon is no longer new. There are now many brush-type weapons. ¡°But the nine Genesis Runes on the Heavenly Yuan brush are very special...¡± She took the Heavenly Yuan Brush and gently wiped her slender palm over the mottled brush¡¯s body. The nine ancient Genesis Runes disappeared immediately. ¡°I will conceal them. As long as the brush doesn¡¯t fall into the hands of other Law Domain experts, it is impossible to recognise it.¡± Zhou Yuan examined it and was relieved to find that the nine ancient Genesis Runes were only obscured, not erased. ¡°Thank you, senior sister.¡± She waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, it¡¯s for our master¡¯s mission.¡± ¡°By the way, do you need me to arrange accommodations for you?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°In order to prevent others from knowing our relationship, we can¡¯t act too close, so I¡¯ll stay with elder Yi Yan for now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of his beautiful granddaughter, isn¡¯t it? Yi Qiushui isn¡¯t bad, I am also very optimistic about her,¡± Chi Jing teased. She seemed to have the potential to be a gossip. Zhou Yuan shook his head helplessly, and they continued to chat for a bit before he said goodbye. Watching his rear figure as he left, Chi Jing pressed her palm against her chest. An extremely rare look of joy came to her eyes, which was completely different from her usual cold and imposing expression. ¡°My master is fine...¡± A huge weight was finally off her mind. What she had been most worried about over the years was finally settled. ¡°This little junior brother has a pretty good personality.¡± Chi Jing had a very good impression of Zhou Yuan after their first meeting, but whether or not Zhou Yuan could successfully establish himself in the Wind Pavilion and seize the position of pavilion master, she wasn¡¯t too certain. After all, numerous remarkable heaven prides of the Tianyuan Region were gathered in the Wind Pavilion. They were all arrogant and unruly, and they hardly listened. Otherwise, the position of pavilion master would not have been left vacant for so long. But she believed in Zhou Yuan because he had to have outstanding qualities if he was able to become her master¡¯s disciple. ¡°I can help you withstand other pressure, but in the Wind Pavilion, you will have to rely on your own abilities...¡± Chapter 786 Wind Pavilion ¡°Zhou Yuan, what happened? Is Lady Chi Jing really going to let you become the deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion?¡± Yi Qiushui asked hurriedly when she saw Zhou Yuan come out. Yi Yan caressed his beard and stubbornly didn¡¯t show too much eagerness, but his eyes fixed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s were enough to show how restless he was. ¡°Lady Chi Jing has already said it, so how can she take it back?¡± Zhou Yuan laughed. Yi Qiushui¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°Then you really will become a deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion?¡± She found this hard to believe. In the Tianyuan Region, the position of deputy pavilion master of Wind Pavilion was more important than the Prefecture Lord of Xiaoxuan Prefecture. And when Zhou Yuan really becomes the pavilion master, his status would be equivalent to her grandfather, who was an elder in the Elder Committee. But Yi Yan was an expert of the Nascent Source stage! It took him a lot of work and effort in the Tianyuan Region to climb to that position, but Zhou Yuan¡ªit was his first time in the Tianyuan Utopia! Even Yi Yan couldn¡¯t help pulling out two strands of hair from his beard. He uttered, ¡°Why does she value you so much?¡± Zhou Yuan revealed a bewildered expression and shook his head. Yi Yan thought for a while and said, ¡°It seems as I thought, master Chi Jing can¡¯t stand the Heavenly Spirit Sect, so she is using you to counter them. ¡°But, kid, your luck is really good. You must remember in your heart the favour Lady Chi Jing has done for you.¡± Yi Yan sighed. He had hoped to fight for the position of deputy commander in the Wind Pavilion for Zhou Yuan, but who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would instead become the deputy pavilion master! This jump was incredibly large. Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. ¡°Lady Chi Jing has asked for you to take me to Wind Pavilion tomorrow to start my post.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Yi Yan said. A slightly bitter look crossed Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful face. ¡°That means you¡¯ll become my superior.¡± ¡°Qiushui, you¡¯re also going to the Wind Pavilion?¡± Zhou Yuan asked in puzzlement. Yi Yan smiled and said, ¡°The four pavilions are the dream places of all the youngsters in the Tianyuan Region. Qiushui is no exception. But because she is the lord of Xiaoxuan Prefecture, she does not have a position in Wind Pavilion and is simply just training there. ¡°As for the affairs of Xiaoxuan Prefecture, the Yi clan will help take care of them.¡± ¡°Not only me, Liu Zhixuan will also enter the Wind Pavilion. I wonder what his reaction would be when he sees you¡¯re the deputy pavilion master of Wind Pavilion,¡± Yi Qiushui laughed. Yi Yan smiled. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you don¡¯t have a place to stay, do you? You can stay at mine for now.¡± Yi Yan¡¯s attitude towards Zhou Yuan had visibly become friendlier because he knew very well that with Zhou Yuan becoming a deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, Zhou Yuan was no longer the former lonely person without any background. Zhou Yuan could be said to be in the middle class of the Tianyuan Region. In the future, he might even rise another level and could be described as a new star. So it was understandable that Yi Yan wanted to pull Zhou Yuan to his side. ¡°Then thank you, elder Yi Yan.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and expressed his gratitude. Seeing that Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t become arrogant even after he struck up a relationship with Chi Jing, Yi Yan couldn¡¯t help but like him even more. ...... The next day. Outside the Yi clan¡¯s garden. The carriage drawn by the white lion soared into the sky, heading southwest of the Tianyuan Utopia with lightning speed. After an hour, the speed of the white lion carriage slowed down, and Zhou Yuan peered through the gap between the curtains to see a floating island appearing in the sky. The island was a bit smaller than those he had seen before, but around the island were countless raging storms. The howl of violent wind could be clearly heard even from a distance away. Above the sky, there were constantly streams of light landing onto the island surrounded by storm. ¡°The four pavilions, Wind, Forest, Fire and Mountain, each occupy an island. This is where the Wind Pavilion lies, the Wind Island,¡± Yi Yan¡¯s voice sounded from behind. Zhou Yuan was slightly surprised. The whole island belongs to the Wind Pavilion? It seems that the Tianyuan Region really attaches importance to the four pavilions. Who did not know that an inch of Tianyuan Utopia was worth an inch of gold? Yi Yan flung his sleeve, and the white lion roared, dragging the carriage down from the sky. As it passed, the storm immediately dissipated. After passing through the numerous storms, the landscape of the island became clear. The mountains extended forever into the distance like a crouching dragon, and between the mountains were towering straight trees. The giant branches of those trees were like metal, shimmering and glowing, and no matter how the violent wind howled between heaven and earth, it couldn¡¯t shake them in the slightest. And among the mountains were endless azure buildings. Yi Yan steered the white lion down onto a huge square in the center of the mountain. .... A huge crowd was gathered within the square paved with bluestones, and a boiling cauldron of voices could be heard. From a rough estimate, there were at least one thousand people. And they were all young and magnificent and exuded imposing manners. They were members of the Wind Pavilion, and their strength, without exception, was at least at the level of the Divine Dwelling stage. At this moment, the thousands of figures gathered here had each formed their own circle of people. And in the front of the thousands of people stood alone two figures. A man and a woman. The man stood tall and straight. His single-lidded eyes were narrow and cold, and his whole body exuded a sharp aura. The woman, wearing a long white dress, was graceful and exceptionally beautiful, but she had an icy air of arrogance, like an iceberg snow lotus that made people afraid to approach her. While the man and woman stood at the very front, everybody¡¯s eyes were filled with awe as they gazed at them. They dared not step forward to disturb them. This was because these two people were the present deputy pavilion masters. Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling. Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling List brought together the most outstanding youngsters in the entire world. The competition for every position on the list was incredibly fierce, and the fact that Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling were both ranked in the top 100 was enough to show their strength and talent. Therefore, even if the members of the Wind Pavilion were incomparably arrogant, they still acknowledged the strength of these two people. Not far behind the two was the most popular circle. In the center stood a golden-robed man who seemed to be in high spirits. He was like the moon surrounded by stars. ¡°Haha, I heard a little piece of news that today there will be a third deputy pavilion master in the Wind Pavilion. If my information is right, it should be commander Jin Teng.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not surprised. Commander Jin Teng has met with Lady Chi Jing before, and she highly values him. Currently in the Wind Pavilion, the strength of commander Jin Teng is second only to the two deputy pavilion masters. So if I were asked who is most qualified to be the third deputy pavilion master, I would say commander Jin Teng.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Listening to all the flattery, the man in the golden robe gave a modest smile, and he even shook his head, but in the depths of his eyes was a trace of smugness. ¡°It¡¯s not certain yet, don¡¯t joke around.¡± Jin Teng smiled. He peered through to the beautiful white-clad figure at the front of the crowd. He had long admired Ye Bingling, and if he could become a deputy pavilion master, from this view, he could finally match up to her. ¡°But I heard some rumours that the third deputy pavilion master is coming by air,¡± a voice suddenly rang out. Everyone fell silent. ¡°After all, all the young heaven prides in the Tianyuan Region are gathered in the four pavilions. How could someone else suddenly appear?¡± He shook his head, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I won¡¯t agree.¡± The members of the Wind Pavilion all nodded at the same time, echoing, ¡°Yes, we will not agree!¡± While the crowd was clamouring, Ye Bingling slightly closed her beautiful eyes, and her eyebrows knitted together because she had received news that the third deputy pavilion master was appointed by Lady Chi Jing...and it was not Jin Teng. ¡°This indeed breaks the rules of the Wind Pavilion. Lady Chi Jing always does things with principles, but how come this time...¡± She pursed her red lips. She had always had a huge amount of respect and admiration for Chi Jing, and Chi Jing was the goal that she had been working hard towards. And because of this kind of worship, Ye Bingling, whose heart was always as calm as still water, was stirred when she had learnt of this. This was because even she hadn¡¯t been selected by Chi Jing back then. ¡°Hopefully this third deputy pavilion master won¡¯t let me down, otherwise...¡± Her beautiful eyes flashed. She didn¡¯t want to let him become a small stain on Lady Chi Jing¡¯s perfect image. Chapter 787 Storm The white lion¡¯s thunderous roar resounded across the void. Three figures landed on the high platform under many gazes. Yi Yan scanned the audience, his gaze pausing on Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling. ¡°We pay respect to elder Yi Yan.¡± Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling both gave a cupped fist salute. Before they become the pavilion master, their status would be lower than Yi Yan¡¯s. Yi Yan nodded slightly at the two. Then Ye Bingling cast her beautiful eyes at the man and woman behind Yi Yan. But she only simply glanced at Zhou Yuan before she fixed her eyes on Yi Qiushui. ¡°She is the new deputy pavilion master? Although she isn¡¯t weak, she isn¡¯t strong enough to become a deputy pavilion master,¡± Ye Bingling muttered to herself as she scrunched her brows. At the same time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze also ran across the thousands of extraordinary young figures in front of him. Seeing so many young heaven prides gathered together, he couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the fact that Hunyuan Heaven was indeed blessed by heaven... ¡°Ahem...¡± Yi Yan suddenly coughed slightly and attracted all eyes to him. Then he smiled faintly and said, ¡°Presumably, everyone knows that there will be a third deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion today.¡± The smile of the man named Jin Teng grew wider. He had also quickly studied Zhou Yuan and Yi Qiushui, who were behind Yi Yan. He had only glanced at Zhou Yuan, who was at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, but had paid more attention to Yi Qiushui, who was at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. However, after a cursory glance, he knew that Yi Qiushui¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation wasn¡¯t as strong as his. He quickly threw away his previous worry because he knew that Yi Qiushui had no qualification to take on the post of deputy pavilion master. And since it wasn¡¯t her, who else but Jin Teng would be a suitable candidate? ¡°Next I¡¯d like to introduce you to...¡± Yi Yan stroked his beard and took a step sideways to let Zhou Yuan come forward. Low sounds of disturbance arose in the courtyard, and numerous eyes went wide with disbelief. ¡°This is the third deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, Zhou Yuan. He was appointed by Lady Chi Jing.¡± Yi Yan didn¡¯t deliberately keep everyone in suspense, and he finished speaking in one breath. The smile on Jin Teng¡¯s face faded, and his face stiffened. All commotion in the square halted suddenly, and only the howling wind could be heard. With difficulty, Ye Bingling shifted her gaze from Yi Qiushui to Zhou Yuan, whom she had ignored from the beginning. At this moment, she felt a sense of absurdity. Someone of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage had become a deputy pavilion master? Chen Beifeng was similarly staring at Zhou Yuan with a ruminative smile. Zhou Yuan calmly scanned the strangely silent square, and Yi Qiushui revealed a look of worry on her face because she knew very well how arrogant and proud these heaven prides in the Wind Pavilion were. It seemed that Zhou Yuan becoming deputy pavilion master would cause quite a lot of storm. The silence in the square lasted for more than ten breaths before an earthshaking noise erupted. ¡°Don¡¯t joke! How can someone of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage become one of the Wind Pavilion¡¯s deputy pavilion masters?¡± ¡°What do you think the Wind Pavilion is?! A dumpsite? This is absolutely ridiculous!¡± ¡°This is definitely not Lady Chi Jing¡¯s order! Someone has definitely passed on the wrong order!¡± ¡°Scram from the Wind Pavilion!¡± ¡°......¡± All members of the Wind Pavilion were enraged because they were proud of being part of the Wind Pavilion. They were ferocious wolves yet were going to be led by a hunting dog? Wasn¡¯t that an insult to them?! ¡°Has Lady Chi Jing gone senile?!¡± Hearing this comment, Ye Bingling immediately raised her brow and snapped, ¡°Impudence.¡± She stamped her foot, and icy cold Genesis Qi suddenly spread outward from her feet. The Genesis Qi roared, tearing apart the crowd behind her, and then, with a loud bang, turned into countless sharp icicles that surrounded a figure. The man surrounded by the icicles went pale, and he was afraid to move an inch. ¡°Whoever dares insult Lady Chi Jing again shouldn¡¯t blame me for being impolite!¡± Ye Bingling warned, her face frosty. Seeing Ye Bingling furious, many members of the Wind Pavilion also froze. ¡°Deputy pavilion master Ye, don¡¯t get angry. They just couldn¡¯t restrain their emotions. They naturally are full of respect for Lady Chi Jing. Who would dare insult her?¡± Jin Teng stepped forward and said calmly. He swept a glance over Zhou Yuan on the platform. ¡°But this matter is indeed a little strange. How can someone of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage be qualified to become a deputy pavilion master? ¡°If this matter spreads to the ears of the people of the other three pavilions, our Wind Pavilion really will become a joke. ¡°We won¡¯t be able to hold our heads high in the future.¡± Yi Yan frowned. ¡°Zhou Yuan is only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, but he has defeated Mo Yuan, who is at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, so his strength shouldn¡¯t be judged by his cultivation level.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes went wide and turned to look at Zhou Yuan, puzzled. It was obvious that everyone present knew who Mo Yuan was. After all, he was ranked on the Divine Dwelling List, and although his ranking wasn¡¯t high, he was stronger than the majority of people present. Ye Bingling was similarly a little surprised. He defeated Mo Yuan while he was still at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage? Could it be that Zhou Yuan was indeed quite capable? Jin Teng was taken aback at first; then he indifferently remarked, ¡°Defeated Mo Yuan? That¡¯s quite impressive.¡± It was just that he seemed to have spoken in a slightly sarcastic tone. ¡°Mo Yuan¡¯s strength is pretty good, but it¡¯s not a benchmark. If he can become a deputy pavilion master just because he has defeated Mo Yuan, then there wouldn¡¯t only be two deputy pavilion masters after all these years.¡± Jin Teng was also ranked on the Divine Dwelling List, and he was ranked higher than Mo Yuan. Others might be shocked that Zhou Yuan had beaten Mo Yuan, but he wouldn¡¯t be shaken by this. Yi Yan¡¯s face darkened seeing that Jin Teng was pestering endlessly. ¡°Are you trying to go against Lady Chi Jing¡¯s orders?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t dare to. Why would I say so much if it weren¡¯t for the sake of Lady Chi Jing¡¯s prestige?¡± Jin Teng explained respectfully. ¡°All youngsters in the Wind Pavilion respect and admire Lady Chi Jing. We don¡¯t want to see a mistake cause resentment in everybody¡¯s heart. In the long run, it¡¯s not beneficial to the development of the Wind Pavilion.¡± Yi Yan opened his mouth and was about to speak when Zhou Yuan strode forward. Zhou Yuan looked Jin Teng directly in the eye and smiled. ¡°What can I do to prove that I am qualified to be a deputy pavilion master? He could already tell that Jin Teng was doing everything possible to prevent him from taking the position. Jin Teng¡¯s lips curved in a contemptuous smile when he saw that Zhou Yuan had finally come forward. ¡°It¡¯s simple, the people of the Wind Pavilion only focus on strength and not background.¡± Zhou Yuan gently nodded. His expression suddenly turned cold the next moment. Boom! A powerful gush of Genesis Qi directly erupted from his body, and two muddle-colored Divine Dwelling halos appeared behind him. Buzz! He took a step forward. A pair of mysterious light wings appeared around his body. ¡°Omega Saint Spirit Art!¡± He swirled his palm, and a sword pill emerged. ¡°Devil Sweeping Sword Orb!¡± Monstrous sword qi surged to the sky, causing many members of the Wind Pavilion to turn pale. Buzz! The sword qi stretched infinitely, enveloped the sword pill and turned into a sword of light. Zhou Yuan still didn¡¯t stop. He wiped his palm over the body of the sword, and World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi diffused and formed azure scales around the sword¡¯s body! Sword Qi flooded the world. Zhou Yuan stared intently at Jin Teng like a sharp sword, and with a flick of his sleeve, that beam of sword light directly pierced the void under countless shocked gazes. It was aimed directly at Jin Teng! At the same time, a cold and indifferent voice could be heard. Chapter 788 One Sword When that incomparably sharp beam of sword light whizzed out, all members of the Wind Pavilion in the square were stunned by how decisive Zhou Yuan was. He acted without saying a word! But compared to the decisiveness of Zhou Yuan, what they were even more concerned about was that they felt a piercing chill from the sword qi that burst out. This immediately made their originally mocking gazes become more serious. Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, but his combat strength seemed particularly tyrannical. ¡°So courageous!¡± But while others were dumbstruck by his strength, Jin Teng burst into thunderous laughter. ¡°You think you can do whatever you want in the Wind Pavilion after you defeated Mo Yuan?! What a huge joke! ¡°Since you look down on my Wind Pavilion, I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson today!¡± Although Jin Teng spoke righteously, a look of wild joy flashed across the depths of his eyes. Since Zhou Yuan had actively caused trouble today, he knew that Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t have the face to continue to be the deputy pavilion master if defeated! The sharp sword light rapidly enlarged before Jin Teng. Hu. Jin Teng drew a deep breath, causing the mighty Genesis Qi within his body to erupt and directly form three Divine Dwelling halos behind him, each flashing with eight different colors. However, although Jin Teng had repeatedly looked down on Zhou Yuan, he didn¡¯t hold back in his attack at all. Om! Majestic Genesis Qi surged directly above him, transforming into a giant golden hand covered with ancient patterns, like the palm of a divine being. It emitted a tyrannical oppressive aura. ¡°That¡¯s a high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis technique, the Sky Dipper Spirit Hand...¡± ¡°It¡¯s Jin Teng¡¯s strongest attack. I didn¡¯t expect him to use it straight away. It seems like he¡¯s not going to give that guy even half a chance.¡± ¡°Heh, that kid has been talking big all this time, let¡¯s see how he deals with this!¡± Many Wind Pavilion disciples gasped in astonishment. ¡°Sky Dipper Spirit Hand!¡± As Jin Teng let out a thunderous roar, a giant dark golden hand shot downward, causing the void to tremble. A shadow reached to grab the beam of piercing sword light. Chi! The two ferociously collided. The giant hand clenched tight and caught the sword light. Genesis Qi continuously rumbled. ¡°Watch me crush your sword pill!¡± Jin Teng sneered, his hands suddenly folding together in a hand seal. Boom! The giant spirit hand squeezed tight, causing even space to distort. Even a mountain wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand that power. Om! Dong! The giant spirit hand trembled violently, and Jin Teng¡¯s pupils shrank. He saw cracks rapidly spread across the giant spirit hand. ¡°Oh no!¡± He felt a chill in his heart, and he rapidly activated Genesis Qi to stabilize the giant spirit hand. With a loud explosive noise, countless beams of piercing sharp sword light shot from the giant spirit hand and forcibly tore it apart. Om! As the sword light surged, a sword shadow pierced through like a bolt of lightning, aiming directly at Jin Teng. Jin Teng¡¯s expression changed dramatically. He didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword light Genesis technique to be so strong that not even his giant spirit hand could stop it. Jin Teng rapidly drew back, operating the three Divine Dwelling halos behind him to appear in front to form the final defense. Bang! However, the sword shadow pierced straight through. The azure scales covering the sword body emitted icy cold light that gave the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb an even more powerful outward appearance! The three Divine Dwelling halos exploded. But the sword shadow didn¡¯t stop once. As the void quaked endlessly and Jin Teng froze with shocked horror, the sword shadow pierced through his shoulder. Chi! Jin Teng was blasted away, and he crashed onto the ground, leaving long marks across the square. Blood sputtered from his shoulder, dying his robe bright red. It was only after piercing Jin Teng¡¯s shoulder that the sword shadow vanished. But that powerful bone-chilling sword qi continued to remain in the world. The whole bluestone square fell quiet. All the members of the Wind Pavilion looked moved. Zhou Yuan¡¯s move had happened in the blink of an eye, and in just a short period of around ten breaths, the outcome of the battle between Zhou Yuan and Jin Teng had been decided. And that result was unbelievable to them. Jin Teng had actually lost to Zhou Yuan of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage?! How was that possible?! It should be said that Jin Teng wasn¡¯t a nobody. He was a famous person also listed on the Divine Dwelling List. Moreover, based on strength, he was superior to Mo Yuan! But he was defeated by Zhou Yuan in one move?! In that silence, Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling also looked at the scene with strange expressions, and they were evidently also a little surprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance. Chen Beifeng narrowed his eyes and then slowly retracted his gaze. Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword light was indeed very powerful, but he could feel that it should be at Zhou Yuan¡¯s limits. He may be a threat to Jin Teng, but not him. Ye Bingling¡¯s expression eased a little as she studied Zhou Yuan. She no longer regarded him as a young master who got in through his connections. Yi Qiushui also breathed a sigh of relief. But she was also a little bit surprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword pill technique, which seemed to have become stronger since the last time she saw it when he fought Mo Yuan. Yi Yan calmly watched the scene, but in his heart he was full of admiration for Zhou Yuan. At a time like this, those unruly and arrogant heaven prides of the Wind Pavilion could only be tamed with strength. The tyrannical Genesis Qi surging around Zhou Yuan gradually subsided. He scanned the silent square and said in a nonchalant tone, ¡°Anyone else has any objections?¡± Everybody was silent. Although they were proud and arrogant, they weren¡¯t stupid. They opposed him previously because Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling Stage and they didn¡¯t believe he was capable enough to become a deputy pavilion master. But Zhou Yuan had now proven his strength... If there was another objection, perhaps even elder Yi Yan wouldn¡¯t sit back and let them criticize Lady Chi Jing¡¯s order. Jin Teng¡¯s face was ashen as he stared at his shoulder that was dripping with blood. He knew that Zhou Yuan had held back; otherwise, the beam of sword light would have pierced his head¡­ Yi Yan strode forward with a smile. ¡°Since there aren¡¯t any objections, from today onward, Zhou Yuan will be the Wind Pavilion¡¯s third deputy pavilion master. ¡°There is also more news. Lady Chi Jing has personally ordered that in two months time, the Wind Pavilion will hold the pavilion master selection to decide the Wind Pavilion¡¯s new pavilion master.¡± Chapter 789 Serving as Deputy Pavilion Master Even the eyes of Chen Beifeng, who had always seemed completely indifferent, were blazing brightly. Among the four pavilions, only the position of the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master had been vacant all these years. And in the many years that Chen Beifeng had been in the Wind Pavilion, he had always coveted that position. However, the Wind Pavilion was currently still in the control of Chi Jing, and Chen Beifeng was on the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s side. This was the reason why Chi Jing had never given him the opportunity and had instead sent Ye Bingling to suppress him. But what he was puzzled about was why Lady Chi Jing, who had always obstructed the Wind Pavilion from choosing a new pavilion master, would accede this time. ¡°Is it because of the pressure from the Heavenly Spirit Sect, the Profound Crystal Clan and the White Clan?¡± Chen Beifeng muttered to himself. No matter what the reason was, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The pavilion masters of the four pavilions had always enjoyed a status similar to the elders of the Tianyuan Region. For people of the Divine Dwelling stage, this was the best shortcut to ascend to the sky. Otherwise, if they were to follow the traditional route and become an elder, they would have to wait until they reached the Nascent Source stage. And it was unknown how many years of training that would take. Although the position was said to be a unique elder position for those at the Divine Dwelling stage, the cultivation resources they could enjoy weren¡¯t fewer than those of the elders of the Nascent Source stage. Therefore, the pavilion master selection of the four pavilions had always been extremely fierce. The current Wind Pavilion was almost ranked last among the four pavilions. If he were in one of the other three pavilions, Chen Beifeng might not have the strength to compete for the pavilion master position. But the good thing was that, in the Wind Pavilion, only Ye Bingling could pose a threat to him. So he had a great chance. As for Zhou Yuan, the newly appointed deputy pavilion master, Chen Beifeng didn¡¯t care too much. Even if he had displayed his strength in front of him, in truth, his strength could only be used to scare Jin Teng and had no effect on him. Ye Bingling¡¯s pretty eyes also flashed, and her stunning face immediately grew solemn. She came to the Wind Pavilion on the arrangement of Lady Chi Jing, and her most important task was to prevent Chen Beifeng from winning the title of pavilion master. However, Lady Chi Jing had been holding onto the position of pavilion master and was unwilling to let go. Now that it was suddenly thrown out, Ye Bingling needed to fight with all her strength this time. No matter what, she couldn¡¯t let Chi Jing down. Chen Beifeng was far stronger than both Mo Yuan and Jin Teng. ¡°Since he¡¯s in the top 100 of the Divine Dwelling List, he must be strong,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. Zhou Yuan evaluated his own strength and means at this time, and found that he wasn¡¯t confident of winning if he were to face Chen Beifeng now. This was because some of his trump cards were missing compared to when he was in the Cangxuan Heaven. For example, Silver Shadow. This battle puppet was Zhou Yuan¡¯s greatest trump card, which had helped him turn the situation around many times before. But after he had stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage, Silver Shadow almost had no effect on him anymore, unless he could make it evolve once again. Although Yaoyao had already deduced the evolution method, Zhou Yuan did not have the time to try it yet. There was also the disappearance of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. The Decoder Saint Rune, Earth Saint Rune and the Heavenly Punishment Rune, as well as the fourth Saint Rune, had all returned to the Saint Seal in order to release the remnant soul of old ancestor Cangxuan hidden in the Cangxuan Saint Rune. But when he later split the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, the four Saint Runes also disappeared in the explosion. To be precise, it wasn¡¯t a disappearance because Zhou Yuan vaguely felt that the four Saint Runes seemed to have drilled into his body the moment the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was split. But no matter what Zhou Yuan tried, he was unable to find the four Saint Runes hidden in his body. So for now, the Saint Runes that he had once relied on were also useless. And the lack of these trump cards undoubtedly had a considerable impact on Zhou Yuan¡¯s combat strength. ¡°It seems that I also need to practice in these two months. At the very least, my spirit must break through to Materialisation Stage.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s spirit was currently at the advanced Corporeal Stage and wasn¡¯t far from the Transformative stage. But if he could make a breakthrough, it would greatly help him. And if possible, he needed to evolve Silver Shadow. Since coming to the Tianyuan Region, Zhou Yuan had always been on the go and hadn¡¯t been able to find a quiet time to practice. Now that he had met senior sister Chi Jing and joined the Wind Pavilion, he should fully focus on cultivating. Others might not know, but he knew well that the pavilion master selection in two months was an opportunity that Chi Jing had made for him. Therefore, he had to win the position of pavilion master no matter what. The three people who were eligible to compete for the pavilion master position had numerous thoughts racing through their minds. The other members of the Wind Pavilion were also extremely concerned about this, but their eyes were constantly flickering between Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling. ¡°It looks like we¡¯re finally going to have a pavilion master, and if our speculation is correct, it will be either Chen Beifeng or Ye Bingling.¡± ¡°Sigh, so what if we have a pavilion master? Our Wind Pavilion has been very weak over the years. Which of the other three pavilions attach any importance to us?¡± ¡°Yes, even if the strengths of Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling were placed among the deputy pavilion masters of the four pavilions, they would only be considered average.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all because the Heavenly Spirit Sect and the others teamed up to hollow out the Wind Pavilion.¡± ¡°The present pavilion master of the Mountain Pavilion, Han Yuan, was also from our Wind Pavilion. In the end, however, he joined the Profound Crystal Clan! What a thankless wretch!¡± ¡°Sigh, people always want to rise to higher places. The supreme sovereign Cang Yuan has been missing for many years, and as a result, Lady Chi Jing¡¯s influence in the Tianyuan Region has also been impacted.¡± ¡°.....¡± Low murmurs and whispers spread out, but the faces of many members of the Wind Pavilion were a little gloomy, as if the many members were thinking of something unpleasant. On the high platform, Yi Yan frowned and coughed softly, ¡°I have informed everyone of the news, so those who are qualified to compete, please do your best. In two months time, Lady Chi Jing will come to watch the battle.¡± When his voice faded, he turned to Zhou Yuan and Yi Qiushui and said, ¡°During this time, you should stay on Wind Island." Zhou Yuan and Yi Qiushui nodded. Yi Yan¡¯s figure flashed away and reappeared on the white lion carriage. The white lion sped away with a loud roar. After Yi Yan left, Chen Beifeng indifferently glanced at Zhou Yuan without saying a word, then turned away. Many members of the Wind Pavilion also couldn¡¯t help but snicker to themselves. Generally, according to the rules, if there was a new deputy pavilion master, the other deputy pavilion masters would generally greet him. But it was obvious that Chen Beifeng wasn¡¯t very impressed with Zhou Yuan. While everyone was snickering, they suddenly saw a beautiful silhouette suddenly step toward Zhou Yuan. Chapter 790 The Division of Nine Dwellings This was perhaps the main reason Chen Beifeng had no interest in talking to Zhou Yuan. But although Chen Beifeng had ignored him, she couldn¡¯t do that. Although she didn¡¯t have a good opinion of Zhou Yuan, there also weren¡¯t any bad feelings. She didn¡¯t want to see the new deputy pavilion master being treated coldly on his first day. ¡°I¡¯m Ye Bingling, and welcome to the Wind Pavilion,¡± Ye Bingling stated indifferently. She swept her eyes over Zhou Yuan and then nodded at Yi Qiushui. Yi Qiushui also responded with a gentle smile. Zhou Yuan laughed, ¡°I have already heard of the great name of deputy pavilion master Ye from Lady Chi Jing.¡± When Ye Bingling heard his words, the coldness on her beautiful cheeks melted a little. ¡°Lady Chi Jing is so busy, does she still remember me?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded seriously. An extremely rare delighted smile spread across Ye Bingling¡¯s face and then disappeared. But there seemed to be a little more warmth within her eyes, which regarded Zhou Yuan. ¡°It¡¯s your first time in the Wind Pavilion, so you must not be familiar with this place. I¡¯ll show you around,¡± she said. ¡°That would be great, but it will trouble deputy pavilion master Ye,¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly replied. Ye Bingling shook her head. ¡°You have just taken up the post of deputy pavilion master. I will take you to the general affairs building to receive your identity token and salary first.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t say no. Ye Bingling was the first to turn around and leave, with Zhou Yuan and Yi Qiushui quickly following behind her. The other members of the Wind Pavilion were surprised to see the three walking through the square together. After all, who didn¡¯t know about Ye Bingling¡¯s cold personality?¡ªbut when she spoke with Zhou Yuan, she had even smiled. Could it be that deputy pavilion master Ye liked Zhou Yuan? This inevitably made some people who admired Ye Bingling a little indignant. Although Zhou Yuan was now a deputy pavilion master, he clearly didn¡¯t match Ye Bingling. ¡°Earning his living through his looks.¡± They couldn¡¯t help but bitterly criticise him before they dispersed. At the same time, the news of the new deputy pavilion master also spread. Zhou Yuan and Yi Qiushui, under the guidance of Ye Bingling, curiously strolled around the Wind Pavilion. Ye Bingling didn¡¯t say much, but fortunately they were accompanied by Yi Qiushui. The conversation between the two women made the atmosphere much less awkward during the stroll, and the frost on Ye Bingling¡¯s face had melted a lot. Ye Bingling seemed to have sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifference and asked, ¡°Zhou Yuan, your Divine Dwellings should be some kind of variant, isn¡¯t that right?¡± When Zhou Yuan had made a move earlier, she had noticed that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwellings were a grayish color and were different from ordinary Divine Dwellings. But Ye Bingling wasn¡¯t too stunned because although variations of Divine Dwellings were rare in Hunyuan Heaven, she had seen them before. Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. ¡°Looks like a variation of seven Divine Dwellings, is that right? ¡°This is quite impressive already. It¡¯s more powerful than most normal eight Divine Dwellings.¡± If it was the variant of five or six Divine Dwellings, it wouldn¡¯t be that special, but variants of seven Divine Dwellings were indeed pretty good. As for variants of eight Divine Dwellings and nine Divine Dwellings, Ye Bingling had never thought about them before because they were incredibly rare even in the entire Hunyuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan simply smiled and didn¡¯t explain that his were variants of nine Divine Dwellings. After all, he didn¡¯t like to expose his own foundation. ¡°Senior sister Ye has nine Divine Dwellings?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Earlier, because Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui chatted very happily, she had told them to call her senior sister to show their closeness. ¡°Chen Beifeng and I both have nine Divine Dwellings, but they can only be regarded as nine lower dwellings.¡± Ye Bingling nodded. ¡°Nine lower dwellings?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback at first. There were differences in Divine Dwellings? He had never heard of that when he was in Cangxuan Heaven. Ye Bingling glanced at him with a little surprise. ¡°The divisions of nine Divine Dwellings are ranked as upper, middle and lower grade. I was able to develop nine Divine Dwellings, but it was only a fluke, so my nine Divine Dwellings can only be considered as lower dwellings. They are not as strong as those of the middle and upper grade.¡± Zhou Yuan secretly smiled bitterly. Hunyuan Heaven was really enviable. Since even the nine Divine Dwellings were classified so meticulously, there had to be many heaven prides with nine Divine Dwellings for them to come up with such a grading system. But in Cangxuan Heaven, as long as you opened up nine Divine Dwellings, you would be considered a super heaven pride. Who cared about the upper or lower grade? Of course, the higher the Divine Dwelling graded, the greater the potential. But when it came to the future, if those with lower-grade Divine Dwellings were resilient, they might not necessarily be weaker. ¡°Nine lower dwellings are still nine Divine Dwellings, and are much stronger than my eight Divine Dwellings. Is senior sister Ye trying to laugh at me in a roundabout way?¡± Yi Qiushui smiled faintly. Ye Bingling said embarrassed, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that.¡± It could be seen that, even though Ye Bingling had a cold and distant personality, she wasn¡¯t as tactful as Yi Qiushui. However, this also made a lot of sense given how Yi Qiushui had managed the entire Yi clan. And while they were talking, a huge mirror-like lake appeared in their eyes. In the middle of the lake was a blue pavilion. Streams of people were passing by the pavilion, and it seemed particularly lively. ¡°This is Wind Island¡¯s general affairs building. It¡¯s where you get paid and pick up your assignments every month.¡± Ye Bingling led the two across the lake¡¯s stone bridge, into the building and to the counter. Behind the counter was an old man half asleep. ¡°Old Wang, this is the new deputy pavilion master. He came to collect his identity token and salary,¡± she said respectfully. The old man, known as Old Wang, rubbed his eyes. He studied Zhou Yuan closely and grinned, ¡°It is said that he was personally appointed by Lady Chi Jing?¡± He flung his robe and several items appeared on the counter. Ye Bingling took one of the golden tokens that were each engraved with a simple ¡®wind¡¯ character and ancient patterns on the sides. ¡°This is your deputy pavilion master token. There is a storm barrier outside of Wind Island. You won¡¯t need elder Yi Yan to escort you in the future. With this token, you can safely enter and exit the island.¡± She handed the token to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan hurriedly received the token, which vaguely pulsed with waves of Genesis Qi. ¡°And that¡¯s your salary for this month. Deputy pavilion masters receive a total of two hundred and fifty high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines.¡± Ye Bingling then took another small spatial bag. ¡°Two hundred and fifty high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines?!¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with joy. He didn¡¯t expect a Wind Pavilion deputy pavilion master would be treated so well and could receive so much Divine Dwelling medicines in one month. This was much more than the Yi clan¡¯s reward! Ye Bingling shook her head when she saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s delighted look. She passed over another pile of coin-like objects and remarked, ¡°Although Divine Dwelling medicines are good to have, the countless young heaven prides in the Tianyuan Region did not join the four pavilions for these Divine Dwelling medicines. ¡°It¡¯s for these.¡± She lifted her beautiful hand to reveal round coins that appeared to be made of transparent crystal. Looking at the cute little objects in her hand, even she, who was always cold and distant, revealed a slight smile. ¡°What is that?¡± Zhou Yuan was incomparably curious. What could be more attractive than Divine Dwelling medicine? Ye Bingling flicked her finger. A crystal coin made a crisp sound and then drew a bright arc in midair before reaching Zhou Yuan. Chapter 791 Four Spirits Origin Tower ¡°Origin coin?¡± Zhou Yuan fiddled with the coin in his hand but was unable to detect any Genesis Qi undulations from it. He asked puzzled, ¡°What function does it possess?¡± According to Ye Bingling¡¯s words, this was the object that drew the numerous Divine Dwelling geniuses of Tianyuan Region to the four pavilions? Ye Bingling shot a strange glance at Zhou Yuan. Was there really someone who did not know about this in Tianyuan Region? Beside Zhou Yuan, Yi Qiushui softly explained, ¡°At the center of the four pavilions is an extremely special floating island. On the island is a tower known as the Four Spirits Origin Tower, which was personally built by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan.¡± ¡°Four Spirits Origin Tower¡­,¡± mumbled Zhou Yuan. ¡°There are four districts in the Four Spirits Origin Tower, the wind district, the forest district, the fire district and the mountain district.¡± Yi Qiushui softly chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s right, the four pavilions were actually established based on these districts.¡± ¡°The Four Spirits Origin Tower is capable of aiding one¡¯s cultivation?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Such cultivation areas were not uncommon. Ye Bingling took over at this point, ¡°It¡¯s no simple cultivation area. ¡°How do I say this¡­¡± She pondered for a moment before continuing, ¡°Our ultimate goal after entering the Four Spirits Origin Tower is to obtain a Genesis Rune.¡± ¡°Genesis Rune?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned, not really understanding. ¡°An eternal Genesis Rune.¡± Ye Bingling¡¯s lattermost words caused his expression to change drastically, and he involuntarily cried out, ¡°Eternal Genesis Rune?! How is that possible?¡± Of course he knew that Genesis Runes could be inscribed on the body to strengthen one¡¯s power. But these Genesis Runes were only temporary, and they would soon fade after being activated. An eternal Genesis Rune on the other hand...although some of the extremely ancient apex-level Genesis Runes could last eternally, only the highest-tier runes in this world would be able to reach such heights! But from what Ye Bingling had said, every individual who entered the Four Spirits Origin Tower had a chance of obtaining an eternal Genesis Runes! This was completely irrational, especially to someone like Zhou Yuan, who was decently versed in the art of Genesis Runes. ¡°I don¡¯t understand how it works, but the Four Spirits Tower was created by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan after all. ¡°Take the wind district of our Wind Pavilion for example. Astral spirit gales devastate its skies all year round. Inside the astral gales, one¡¯s body and Spirit will feel as if they are being cut by a thousand knives. But if one manages to endure the torture, tiny Genesis marks from the astral gales will be left behind in one¡¯s body. Slowly accumulating these marks will eventually result in a complete wind spirit rune.¡± ¡°Is the wind spirit rune powerful?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Ye Bingling said, ¡°The wind spirit rune can increase one¡¯s speed when activated, the earth spirit rune can accelerate one¡¯s recovery abilities, the fire spirit rune bestows an explosive power to one¡¯s Genesis Qi, and the mountain spirit rune will greatly amplify one¡¯s toughness. ¡°But most importantly, these four Genesis Runes will increase one¡¯s Genesis Qi.¡± She reached out her right hand. Her hand seemed to gleam as if it were made from white jade, so pretty that one would have to fight the urge to touch it. However, Zhou Yuan displayed an appropriate attitude; his strong will to survive stopped his gaze from lingering too long. Although he did repeatedly praise the beauty of her hand inside his heart. Ye Bingling was rather satisfied by his performance. There was likely no lack of men whose ears turned red at the mere sight of her hand. These fellows likely only had dirty thoughts in their heads. Icy Genesis Qi gathered at her fingertips, and specks of azure light converged towards the back of her hand, ultimately culminating into an incomplete mysterious azure Genesis Rune. Bzz! The Genesis Rune flickered as the Genesis Qi on Ye Bingling¡¯s fingertips shot forward. In that instant, Zhou Yuan clearly sensed the stream of Genesis Qi received a certain increase. ¡°My wind spirit rune is only half complete...however, if we measure it using Genesis Qi stars, it gives me an additional million Genesis Qi stars,¡± said Ye Bingling. Although her Genesis Qi foundations were already at the ten million level, a million was still very substantial. Hss. Zhou Yuan violently gasped inside, his eyes filled with shock. An incomplete Genesis Rune could give a million Genesis Qi stars?! If it was complete, wouldn¡¯t that be equivalent to over two million?! What the hell was this? Zhou Yuan¡¯s current Genesis Qi foundations had only reached eight million Genesis Qi stars. In other words, the wind spirit rune would boost him by a fourth of his total. Only now did he finally understand why Ye Bingling had said that the many geniuses of the Tianyuan Region had not flocked to the four pavilions for Divine Dwelling medicine. With such a magical Genesis Rune, one would undoubtedly have an advantage in a fight with an opponent of the same level. The sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s shocked appearance drew out a rare smile from Ye Bingling as she said, ¡°The Four Spirits Origin Tower is unique even in the entire Hunyuan Heaven. If not for supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s extraordinary mastery of Genesis Runes, it would be very difficult to create such a magical place.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. ¡°He is indeed very amazing¡­¡± He paused for a moment before he suddenly enquired, ¡°Can someone obtain more than one ancient Genesis Rune?¡± Ye Bingling gave a little nod. ¡°Of course one can, but according to the rules, one may only proceed to the other districts after completing the spirit rune of one¡¯s own pavilion.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean that a person can collect all four runes? How much Genesis Qi would that add?!¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but ask. At two million per rune, wouldn¡¯t that be eight million with four?! However, even Ye Bingling could not help but chuckle at his words as she shook her head. ¡°Tch, brat you think too highly of yourself.¡± These words were spoken by the sleepy-eyed elder Wang behind the counter. ¡°Do you think it¡¯s easy to complete a wind spirit rune? You should ask how long Ye Bingling took for her half-complete rune.¡± Ye Bingling pursed her lips and said, ¡°One and a half years. ¡°More importantly, everyone has a time limit in the Four Spirits Origin Tower, which is three years at maximum. Once this limit has been reached, you will no longer be allowed into the Four Spirits Origin Tower. ¡°In the current four pavilions, only the other three pavilion masters have succeeded in completing a spirit rune. Our Wind Pavilion is rather weak in comparison. In this generation, only Chen Beifeng and I have reached the half-rune level.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback, somewhat unable to understand. ¡°Why is there a restriction?¡± Elder Wang leisurely explained, ¡°When you enter the tower, it will eat some of the vital energy and Spirit power in your body. Only by doing this will it be able to endlessly provide you guys Genesis marks to create the spirit runes. ¡°From our testing, permitting you guys entry for three years is the limit. Irreversible damage will be done to one¡¯s vital energy and Spirit if one exceeds this limit. ¡°There is no free lunch in this world. One will naturally have to pay to obtain something.¡± Only then did Zhou Yuan understand. So one had to offer up one¡¯s vital energy and Spirit power to the Four Spirits Origin Tower. If this was the case, it was somewhat understandable. However, there had to certainly be many details and intricacies behind the tower¡¯s workings. It would be impossible for him to fully understand master Cang Yuan¡¯s masterpiece given his current understanding of Genesis Runes. But it did seem to be quite impossible to create all four ancient Genesis Runes within three years. No wonder Ye Bingling had laughed. She had likely felt him to be overly optimistic. Even a single complete ancient Genesis Rune would bring tremendous benefits... ¡°Then¡­¡± Desire burned in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he lightly tossed the crystal-like coin in his hand. ¡°These origin coins should be required to enter the Four Spirits Origin Tower, right?¡± Ye Bingling nodded and said, ¡°After entering the tower, one has to burn origin coins to summon the forces that contain Genesis marks. The more coins you burn, the more Genesis marks you¡¯ll summon. Without any coins, no one will be able to accumulate an ancient Genesis Rune. ¡°An ordinary pavilion member will receive twenty origin coins per month. As the deputy pavilion master, you¡¯ll be able to collect eighty origin coins every month. If you want more, you¡¯ll have to trade for it with other pavilion members by completing missions.¡± Zhou Yuan released a long drawn out breath as he gazed at the glittering coin in his hand. He finally understood why this object had drawn even a smile from the cold Ye Bingling. Because it truly was such a lovely little cutie! After Ye Bingling¡¯s explanation, Zhou Yuan was now extremely interested in the Four Spirits Origin Tower. Hence, he made a small little goal for himself... Chapter 792 Fifth Heaven Next, Ye Bingling brought Zhou Yuan to his lodgings. As the deputy pavilion master, he was given a nice little multi-story house of his own. The little house was located halfway up a mountain and was surrounded by mist, giving it a relaxing atmosphere. Yi Qiushui was an ordinary Wind Pavilion member, but she received some preferential treatment because she was a girl. She was given a nice little cabin that faced the water. It was a peaceful and simple place. After settling the two of them in, Ye Bingling said her goodbyes and left. Just before she left, however, she made arrangements for them to visit the Four Spirits Origin Tower the next day. After sending off the two girls, Zhou Yuan had a simple meal before sitting on his bed to begin his daily cultivation. There were only two months till the pavilion master selection. Within these two months, Zhou Yuan needed to do everything possible to raise his strength. With a flick, two high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines appeared. He reached out and grabbed one with each hand. As a deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, he now had a steady flow of Divine Dwelling medicine and no longer needed to be thrifty like before. As Zhou Yuan entered a state of cultivation, the two Divine Dwelling medicines in his hands began to glow. Countless specks of light swarmed out and poured into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The wall between the fourth and fifth heavens in his Divine Dwelling slowly began to thin under the surging Genesis Qi. After four hours, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes again as the Divine Dwelling medicines in his hands turned to dust. ¡°The divide between the Divine Dwelling heavens is finally showing signs of breaking!¡± A sliver of excitement surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He had worked on this particular barrier for a long time and had consumed many Divine Dwelling medicines in the process. It was good to finally feel it nearing perfection. Once he broke the barrier, the fifth heaven would assimilate itself with the other four, providing a substantial boost to his Genesis Qi foundations. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and did not give up on the rare chance of a breakthrough. With a wave of his sleeve, a dozen Divine Dwelling medicines appeared and silently hovered around him. He closed his eyes again as the dozen Divine Dwelling medicines revolving around him began to glow. Countless Genesis Qi light dots spread and flowed into his body through his nose. The Genesis Qi undulations that spread from his body began to churn violently. When the final Divine Dwelling medicine disintegrated, the divider between the fourth and fifth heaven in his Divine Dwelling finally shattered. Boundless Genesis Qi surged forward like a flood in his fourth heaven and poured into the fifth. A mysterious power rose from the fifth heaven and clashed with the incoming Genesis Qi before rapidly fusing with it. The fusion resulted in the steady rise of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations. Genesis Qi boiled in a volatile manner inside the room. Azure-golden light spread from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as the roar of a serpent faintly echoed. An azure serpent seemed to coil around his body as it breathed Genesis Qi. This scene lasted for an entire incense stick of time before slowly dissipating. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes opened again, unconcealable joy bubbling from them. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he felt the Genesis Qi in his Divine Dwelling. ¡°My Genesis Qi foundations¡­should have reached eleven million.¡± Before breaking the wall to the fifth Divine Dwelling heaven, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations had been around the eight million level. After assimilating the fifth heaven, he had gained roughly three million Genesis Qi stars. If Ye Bingling found out about this, she would likely be so astonished that her mouth would hang ajar. Normally speaking, even a low-grade nine heavens Divine Dwelling owner like herself would gain a million Genesis Qi stars when she unlocked a new Divine Dwelling heaven. In contrast, Zhou Yuan had obtained triple that amount! More importantly, Zhou Yuan was still at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. When he stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, the higher-level Divine Dwelling dividers he broke would provide him with an even bigger boost in Genesis Qi. ¡°At this rate, my Genesis Qi foundations will likely reach thirty million when I unlock all nine Divine Dwelling heavens and reach the peak of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Even Zhou Yuan himself could not help but be shocked by such thoughts. A foundation of thirty million Genesis Qi stars. What kind of concept was this? Even without using any Genesis techniques, that overwhelming amount of Genesis Qi alone would be able to flatten some advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts! At this very moment, Zhou Yuan finally felt the benefits of his variant chaos Divine Dwelling. ¡°I wonder whose Genesis Qi foundations will be greater if compared to Youwei¡¯s legendary ten Divine Dwelling?¡± Zhou Yuan was quite curious to find out. However, he soon cast away these useless thoughts. ¡°Although eleven million is not weak, it is likely unable to match the likes of Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling.¡± A thoughtful look arose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Though he had yet to see Chen Beifeng or Ye Bingling in action, he could sense from the brief contact with Ye Bingling that her Genesis Qi foundations had very likely surpassed eleven million. An advanced Divine Dwelling expert with a nine heavens Divine Dwelling was not to be underestimated, even if it was a low-grade nine heavens Divine Dwelling. Although his cultivation breakthrough had shortened the gap between them, it had not allowed him to surpass them. This was still not enough insurance for the pavilion master selection in two months. ¡°I¡¯ll go have a look at the Four Spirits Origin Tower tomorrow first.¡± Anticipation arose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He had a feeling that the Four Spirits Origin Tower would not let him down. ¡­ Early in the morning the next day. When Zhou Yuan pushed open his doors, he saw three figures standing on the misty cliff ahead of him. The first two were Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui. He was a little surprised to see the third figure, who turned out to be Liu Zhixuan from before. Liu Qiushui smiled and explained upon seeing Zhou Yuan emerge, ¡°Liu Zhixuan is also a newcomer of the Wind Pavilion, so he¡¯ll be joining us today.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and smiled at Liu Zhixuan. Although he and Qiu Ling were both disciples of noble clans in the Xiaoxuan Prefecture, Zhou Yuan had a completely different impression of him compared to Qiu Ling. ¡°I never expected brother Zhou Yuan would become a deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion in the few days since we¡¯ve seen each other. If I had known, I would have tried to flatter you more while we were in Xuanzhou City.¡± Liu Zhixuan cupped his fists together with a smile on his handsome face. Zhou Yuan displayed a helpless smile in response to his teasing. Ye Bingling had not spoken since the beginning; though there was a trace of curiosity in her frosty eyes as she stared at Zhou Yuan. She could feel a faint sense of danger from him. The Genesis Qi in her body rippled a little, instinctively guarding against him. One must know that Zhou Yuan was incapable of making her Genesis Qi involuntarily take on such a stance the day before. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted, as he had sensed the minute changes in Ye Bingling. He immediately realized that it was because he had not fully suppressed his Genesis Qi due to his recent cultivation breakthrough, allowing her to detect something. As such, he quickly composed himself, and the countless dazzling stars in his Divine Dwelling slowly fell quiet. The faint aura that had been leaking out immediately disappeared. Ye Bingling¡¯s eyes flashed slightly before she cast a meaningful glance at Zhou Yuan. In the end, she did not remark about it and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll bring you guys to the Four Spirits Origin Tower.¡± She rose in the air as her voice rang out. Zhou Yuan, Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan hurriedly followed. The group of four turned into glowing silhouettes as they left Wind Island, passing through layer after layer of wind as they headed southeast. They saw countless figures along the way who were evidently heading for the same destination. After half an incense stick of time, a small floating island appeared within their sights. Countless figures swarmed over from every direction, landing on the island one after another. It was clearly a very popular location. As they approached, Zhou Yuan could eventually make out a large unique structure hovering over the floating island. The structure had four corners, each with a giant rising tower. Long stone steps stretched out from the giant towers, meeting at the center where a large circular plaza could be seen. Ye Bingling pointed at the peculiar structure as she looked towards the Zhou Yuan trio with a faint smile. Chapter 793 Plo There were many restaurant-like buildings on the edges of the plaza from which the fragrance of food and wine wafted out. Many people could be seen walking about the plaza, showing that it was a pretty popular area. The central area of the plaza was split into many spacious interconnected streets. Crowds of people flowed through each street, and numerous small stalls lined up along each side. However, the ones manning these stalls were no merchants. From their appearances and the badges on their chests, they were clearly members of the four pavilions. ¡°Come over and have a look. I have three fresh high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines, and am willing to exchange them for an origin coin!¡± ¡°Low-grade Heaven Genesis Weapon, steel devil scorpion blade. Its blade can release the poison of a steel devil scorpion, a domineering poison which can swiftly rot the flesh. Only 380 origin coins!¡± ¡°I provide exchange services for origin coins to Genesis crystals. A million Genesis crystals for one origin coin.¡± ¡°An incomplete low-grade Heaven Genesis technique, take it away for a hundred origin coins!¡± ¡°Scarlet python heart crystal. It can temper fire-type Genesis Qi and is a rare natural resource. Only 300 origin coins!¡± ¡°Mythic body pill. It¡¯s a peak quality medicine that can temper the body. Huge discount today, only 80 origin coins!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Zhou Yuan stood on one of these streets, dumbstruck as he listened to the endless shouting around him. He had not expected it to be so lively here, and most surprising was that practically everyone was using origin coins as currency. ¡°Do you know the importance of origin coins in the four pavilions now?¡± asked Ye Bingling from beside him. ¡°Origin coins may be worthless anywhere else, but here, it is a treasure that no one can stop thinking about. Only with enough origin coins will one be able to create an ancient Genesis Rune.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but inwardly sigh. He could tell that the members of the four pavilions constantly needed more origin coins and could only try to barter for it or fulfil missions to increase their supply. By controlling the distribution, the Tianyuan Region was able to control all of the Divine Dwelling stage talents. Master Cang Yuan¡¯s strategy was truly extraordinary. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. The wind district is located at the azure tower in the northern corner.¡± Ye Bingling had let them take in the sights for a while before leading the way towards one of the streets. A long stone bridge soon appeared before Zhou Yuan and the others. At the end of the bridge was a giant azure stone tower. Most of these figures belonged to members of the Wind Pavilion. They respectfully cupped their fists together upon seeing Ye Bingling, but they did not even cast a glance at Zhou Yuan as they went on their way. The deputy pavilion master who had appeared out of thin air was evidently not very popular. Ye Bingling ignored them and said to the Zhou Yuan trio, ¡°Prepare to enter. Some of your vital energy and Spirit will be sucked away by the Origin Tower when we enter, but it should not affect you guys too greatly.¡± After speaking, she led the way and stepped into the barrier. The barrier rippled as her figure vanished inside. Zhou Yuan, Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan exchanged a look and saw the eagerness in each other¡¯s eyes. With a smile, they also stepped forward and disappeared into the rippling barrier. When the group of four disappeared into the barrier, several gazes withdrew from a window of a private room in one of the restaurants on the round plaza. ¡°That kid is the new deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion?¡± A nonchalant chuckle sounded, originating from a young man in scarlet robes. A smile hung from the corners of his mouth, and there was a frivolous look in his eyes. ¡°Yes, senior brother Wang Chen. He¡¯s the one who crippled one of senior brother Mo Yuan¡¯s arms. Teacher uncle Gu Xi originally wanted to recruit him into our Heavenly Spirit Sect on account of his talent, but he was too arrogant and rejected teacher uncle Gu Xi¡¯s kind offer. ¡°Subsequently, even hall master Gu Yan stepped forward, but who could have expected him to suddenly gain Lady Chi Jing¡¯s support? Not only was he not chased out from Tianyuan Utopia, she even made him a deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion.¡± An icy snort sounded from beside the young man in scarlet robes. It originated from a familiar individual, Qiu Ling of the Qiu clan. The man he called Wang Chen was a deputy pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion and commanded very high status. He was quite well known amongst the four pavilions. Wang Chen chuckled as he shook his head. ¡°Does teacher uncle Gu Xi think our Scarlet Flame Hall is a rubbish dump? ¡°However, such an ignorant and arrogant fellow should be taught a lesson.¡± As he smiled, his gaze turned towards another figure in the room. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right deputy pavilion master Chen Beifeng?¡± That figure belonged to the deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, Chen Beifeng. Chen Beifeng continued to sip his tea with an uncaring expression as he nonchalantly replied, ¡°He¡¯s merely a new deputy pavilion master. The show he put up when he first arrived was rather laughable.¡± He glanced to the side at Jin Teng, who had been wearing a stormy expression since the beginning, and said, ¡°You were too careless. He honestly isn¡¯t that much stronger than you, and you didn¡¯t even activate your wind spirit rune¡­¡± Jin Teng¡¯s expression softened a little as he replied, ¡°If I activated the wind spirit rune, it would not have been so easy for him to defeat me.¡± Smiling, Wang Chen said, ¡°Think of a way to teach him a lesson. Since he¡¯s entered the wind district, our Fire Pavilion can¡¯t touch him.¡± He lazily stretched his body. It was obvious from his attitude that he felt that Zhou Yuan was beneath his attention. If not for teacher uncle Gu Xi, he would have zero interest in keeping an eye on Zhou Yuan. ¡°Simple.¡± Chen Beifeng looked at Jin Teng and said, ¡°I will get Lin Zheng and Wu Dao to accompany you. You three will enter the wind district and secretly search for Zhou Yuan. Dealing with him shouldn¡¯t be a problem for the three of you. ¡°He just collected eighty origin coins yesterday. It¡¯ll be pretty profitable to rob him.¡± Jin Teng was somewhat hesitant. ¡°Robbing a deputy pavilion master is a punishable offence.¡± The corners of Chen Beifeng¡¯s lips lifted as he responded, ¡°What¡¯s a little punishment? Moreover, if he really is robbed by you guys, do you think he¡¯ll have the face to tell anyone? A deputy pavilion master robbed by his subordinates, his reputation will be ruined if something like that spreads. ¡°That¡¯s why he¡¯ll be forced to suffer in silence. You reap what you sow.¡± Wang Chen and Qiu Ling could not help but laugh. ¡°What a devious plan. Haha, a mighty deputy pavilion master being robbed by his subordinates. That will be quite a fall...let¡¯s see how he¡¯ll survive as a deputy pavilion master afterwards.¡± Jin Teng gritted his teeth and nodded. Lin Zheng and Wu Dao were powerful lackeys that Chen Beifeng had nurtured and were not weaker than him. If the three of them combined forces, they would definitely be able to deal with Zhou Yuan. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll go make the arrangements.¡± Jin Teng rose and left with a fierce expression. Chen Beifeng watched him leave before smiling at Wang Chen. ¡°There¡¯ll be a good show to watch today.¡± Wang Cheng smiled and nodded. Chapter 794 Wind Distric A small wave of dizziness washed over him, but he soon returned to normal. When he recovered, he realized that the scenery before his eyes had changed. He was now standing on a giant stone stage floating a hundred feet above the ground. A giant barrier flickered behind him as figure after figure stepped out. This was evidently the wind district of the Four Spirits Origin Tower. At a glance, the land was filled with barren dark yellow mountains. From a distance, it looked as if giant fingers were reaching out from the ground, giving off a barbaric, ancient aura. As he gazed upon the wind district, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt a heart-palpitating undulation appear above him. He raised his head, only for his pupils to suddenly shrink. Dark azure storms coiled in the sky like giant dragons. He could not tell how thick they were, but they reached out in every direction, seemingly infinite and endless. A faint, indescribable aura of terror spread outward. ¡°That¡¯s the astral wind stratum.¡± Ye Bingling¡¯s voice sounded from behind Zhou Yuan. ¡°Always remember that you cannot fly at too high of an altitude in the wind district. If you somehow fall into the astral wind stratum, even if you were at the Heavenly Sun stage, you will face certain death!¡ªnot to mention you¡¯re currently only at the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shivered as he solemnly nodded. From those terrifying undulations, he had no doubts about its power. As he observed from afar, he suddenly discovered that gusts of dark azure gales would occasionally descend from the wind stratum and shoot through the air like mini tornadoes. ¡°Those are caused by people burning origin coins to summon astral spirit gales,¡± explained Ye Bingling. ¡°Let¡¯s split up first. We¡¯ll each find a deserted place to burn origin coins to cultivate. ¡°Also take note to keep a certain distance from anyone else. The astral spirit gales that are summoned will not recognize the summoner, only the position. As such, it will only create conflict if two individuals burn their origin coins too close to each other.¡± After finishing, she wasted no time and used her Genesis Qi to carry her into the air before flying away in a random direction. Zhou Yuan, Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan did not linger for long either. The trio soon flew off the giant stone stage. They maintained a low altitude as they flew. Along the way, they saw several figures, each occupying a barren mountaintop. As these figures burned origin coins, gusts of astral spirit wind descended from the sky, making the place seem rather lively overall. With Ye Bingling¡¯s reminder in mind, Zhou Yuan chose a location that was some distance from Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan. The place he had selected was a mountain valley that was covered in oddly shaped rocks. Zhou Yuan sat down on a boulder but was not in a hurry to burn his origin coins. Instead, he closed his eyes to adjust his condition. Only when all the Genesis Qi in his body was calmed did his fingers move towards his spatial bag. A crystal-like origin coin appeared between his fingers. Zhou Yuan toyed with it for a moment before slowly concentrating. Rays of light began to blossom from the origin coin. Zhou Yuan felt Spirit power and vital energy surge out from between his brows and body before flowing towards the origin coin between his fingers. Ch! A white flame emerged from the origin coin and quickly engulfed it. ¡°So I have to use vital energy and Spirit power to burn the origin coin.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed in thought. The coin burned, turning into spiralling azure smoke that rose into the air. Zhou Yuan curiously looked up. After the coin burned for a few dozen breaths, an azure tornado began to descend from the azure wind layer above. The azure tornado was about a foot wide and four feet long. From a distance, it looked akin to a flying blue python. The azure tornado pounced directly towards the location of the burning coin. Zhou Yuan hurriedly focused in anticipation. The azure tornado made from astral spirit wind arrived with a roar, directly swallowing Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Sharp astral winds began mercilessly slicing across his body. Slice slice! Bloody cuts instantly appeared on his body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face immediately contorted in pain as he gasped. It felt as if a thousand knives were cutting his body, bringing unbearable pain. This was not the worst of it. The astral winds burrowed into his body through these wounds and wreaked havoc within him. Even with his mental fortitude, Zhou Yuan tightly gritted his teeth as his body tensed in pain. The astral wind brought intense pain, but Zhou Yuan slowly endured it. He began to sense something mystical being left behind as the astral spirit winds cut his body¡­ It was extremely faint and would be very difficult to detect if not for Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit constantly scanning every part of his body. With a thought, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit senses spread throughout his body, and he soon discovered several tiny azure specks of light flowing about in his flesh. These light dots gave off a mystical rhythm. They were no stranger to Zhou Yuan, because they were the building blocks of every Genesis Rune, Genesis marks¡­ However, these Genesis marks were far more graceful, elegant and ancient than the ones Zhou Yuan could currently draw. ¡°Are these the Genesis marks of the wind spirit rune?¡± mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. The astral spirit wind tornado lasted for approximately ten minutes before fading away. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and extended his right hand. Ten azure light dots appeared on the back of his hand. These were the Genesis marks he had obtained from the astral spirit wind earlier, but this amount¡­was not even a thousandth of a complete wind spirit rune. ¡°To think that Genesis marks are so difficult to obtain¡­¡± After experiencing it for himself, Zhou Yuan finally understood why Ye Bingling only managed to achieve a half-complete wind spirit rune after more than a year. ¡°The astral spirit wind is also quite harmful to the body. An ordinary person will likely be incapable of enduring consecutive sessions.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as he glanced at the wounds on his body. This was not a problem for him. Life energy spread from the Taiyi Green Wood Mark as boundless vital energy flowed through his body. In a mere dozen breaths, the wounds on his body rapidly healed at a rate that could be seen with the naked eye. Zhou Yuan had already realized that vital energy and Spirit power were crucial in the wind district. They were required upon entry and were indispensable as fuel to burn the origin coins. Even if one had sufficient origin coins, an ordinary Divine Dwelling stage practitioner would not be able to burn coins without worry if one¡¯s Spirit and body had not reached the required standard¡­ However, Zhou Yuan could easily escape such restraints. The Taiyi Green Wood Mark could provide him endless life energy to create vital energy, while his Spirit had reached the peak of the Corporeal stage and was very close to the Transformative stage. His Spirit cultivation could be said to far surpass his peers. The three requirements of the Four Spirits Origin Tower¡ªvital energy, Spirit power and origin coins¡ªZhou Yuan had a huge advantage in two of them. With a soft chuckle, Zhou Yuan patted his spatial bag, and five gleaming origin coins appeared in his hand. Vital energy and Spirit power surged out and ignited the coins. As the five coins turned into azure smoke, Zhou Yuan felt a small tinge of pain in his heart. He had realized that at this rate, he would spend all 80 of his origin coins in less than five days. He had vital energy, he had Spirit power, but he didn¡¯t have origin coins!! The heavens are so unfair¡­ Why do you have to do this to me? Chapter 795 Strange Disturbance in the Wind Stratum The sound of howling wind spread across the land. In a valley dotted with oddly shaped rocks. A large azure tornado coiled around a boulder like a giant python. Deep gorges had been engraved into the ground by the astral winds. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was silently sitting on the boulder. Every gust of astral wind drew blood when it swept past his body, causing him to tremble for a moment. The astral spirit wind continued to rage for two entire incense sticks of time before dissipating. After the astral wind faded, a dark green glow emerged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin. Life energy surged as his wounds began to close. He opened his eyes and extended his hand. The number of swimming green dots on the back of his hand had reached a hundred. However, he had paid 20 origin coins to create these hundred dots of Genesis marks¡­ If Ye Bingling knew Zhou Yuan had squandered away 20 origin coins in less than a day, even someone like her would be unable to stop herself from cursing at him. One must know that one would usually not exceed three origin coins per day while cultivating in the wind district! Even Ye Bingling¡¯s maximum was eight origin coins. Once she surpassed this number, the vital energy and Spirit power in her body would reach their limits. Only after recuperating for a night would she be able to carry on. It was only with the Tiayi Green Wood Mark and his peak Corporeal stage Spirit that Zhou Yuan was able to achieve a feat of 20 coins in a single day. However, after burning these 20 coins, even Zhou Yuan felt the Spirit between his brows begin to dim. Zhou Yuan¡¯s finger gently massaged his throbbing head, a sign that he had used too much of his Spirit. ¡°Vital energy consumption is no issue with the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, but the amount of Spirit exhausted is quite substantial.¡± A thoughtful look arose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Although his peak Corporeal stage Spirit was stronger than most people¡¯s, it was not without its limits. As he felt the lethargy from his Spirit, Zhou Yuan chose not to continue. Instead, he closed his eyes and began to cultivate the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method to recover his Spirit. Rumble! The darkness of primal chaos filled his surroundings as an endless divine grindstone appeared from the void. It revolved with almighty power, turning everything into nothingness. Under the mottled divine grindstone, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit entered a cycle of being pulverized and reconstructed. Zhou Yuan slowly immersed himself in this training. Rumble! However, Zhou Yuan suddenly heard a strange noise from the outside world. The sound resonated with the divine grindstone in his mind, alarming him as his eyes shot open. However, the valley was completely empty, nothing out of the ordinary. The expression in his eyes fluctuated indeterminately. His gaze flickered slightly in thought before he closed his eyes and began to circulate the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method once more. However, he was more vigilant this time. The divine grindstone rolled across space with a loud rumble. The noise from the outside world seemed to emerge again from a very deep, unknown place, resonating with the divine grindstone. Zhou Yuan abruptly opened his eyes as his gaze jerked towards the endless dark azure wind stratum high up in the sky. His expression changed slightly. The sound had originated from deep within the wind stratum?! Moreover, he seemed to feel something beckoning his Spirit from deep within the wind stratum. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes rapidly flickered in thought. Soon after, his Spirit emerged from between his brows and seated itself above his head before beginning to circulate the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. With his Spirit now outside his body, Zhou Yuan immediately discovered that the resonance from the wind stratum had grown much stronger. ¡°There seems to be a change in the wind stratum?¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly discovered a faint change in the dark azure wind stratum. A tiny tornado had formed at a certain spot, seemingly creating a small passage. With astral spirit wind continuously descending from the wind stratum, almost no one noticed this change. However, Zhou Yuan was rather shocked and a little frightened by this discovery. When the tiny wind tunnel formed, he felt his Spirit begin to drift upwards towards it. It wanted to enter the wind tunnel? Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned solemn. He knew how terrifying the wind stratum was and even his body would be easily torn to shreds if he got too close, let alone his Corporeal stage Spirit. However, he had a faint feeling that he should go. ¡°The Four Spirits Origin Tower was created by master Cang Yuan, and so was the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. It is not inconceivable for these two things to resonate.¡± A thoughtful look emerged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes before ultimately being replaced by resolution. He did not believe that the Four Spirits Origin Tower created by master Cang Yuan would show any hostility towards someone who cultivated the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. ¡°Let¡¯s find out what this is all about!¡± Since he had made his decision, Zhou Yuan no longer hesitated, and closed his eyes. The Spirit above his head opened its eyes. It cast a glance at the body below it before rising into the air. Although his Spirit was concentrated, it had actual substance, and it began merging with the air. Without using Spirit power, even someone nearby would be hard pressed to discover its existence. In addition, Zhou Yuan was in a desolate area, making it even harder for him to be discovered. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit swiftly rose into the air and soon neared the dark azure wind stratum. At this close proximity, he began to grow very cautious. However, he quickly found a peculiar force streaming out from the tiny wind tunnel. The force wrapped around his Spirit, calming the nearby violently churning wind stratum. Upon realizing this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tense heart relaxed. As such, he stopped resisting the beckoning force, allowing his Spirit to rise upwards and enter the tunnel. His Spirit rapidly flew through, heading straight into the depths of the wind stratum. As the dark azure wind stratum rapidly flashed past him, the piercing howls and terrifying power within made him shiver in fear. If the protective power around him disappeared, his Spirit would be instantly destroyed. ¡°Master, please don¡¯t trick your disciple¡­¡± Zhou Yuan prayed in his heart. His Spirit quickly advanced through the wind tunnel. After a long time, he was overjoyed to find that the thick dark azure wind layer around him had finally begun to thin. Several dozen breaths later, the wind stratum completely disappeared as Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit shot out. As his Spirit hovered in the air, Zhou Yuan sensed that his surroundings had turned dark as if he was floating in the primal chaos of the beginning. His Spirit shuddered as he heard a familiar sound. He slowly lifted his head, and a look of shock slowly climbed out on his face. He was seeing an incomparably enormous mottled divine grindstone slowly revolving amidst the primal chaos. As the divine grindstone revolved, the surrounding space was turned into nothingness, returning to the chaos of the beginning¡­ Chapter 796 Transformative Stage Zhou Yuan stared at it in shock. The mottled divine grindstone was all too familiar to him. Over the years, even he had lost count of how many times it had pulverized his Spirit. Hence, he could say with utmost certainty that this mottled divine grindstone was definitely a Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone! As for whether it was the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone of legend, that would likely require some discussion¡­ Only now did he finally understand why he had felt something resonate when he activated the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. The core of the Four Spirits Origin Tower was a Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone. The shock in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes slowly receded as he suddenly realized that there were countless specks of light rising from below like stars. It was an extremely magnificent scene. ¡°These light dots¡­are the offered origin coins?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook. He had felt vital energy and Spirit power undulations from these specks of light. Countless specks of light continued to arrive and gather below the divine grindstone. The divine grindstone ground and crushed all the dots of light into extremely pure energy, then immediately sucked the resulting energy towards it. When this happened, Zhou Yuan saw four faint ancient Genesis Runes emerge from the grindstone¡¯s enormous body¡­ The four Genesis Runes were nearly transparent but gave off mystical ancient auras. They appeared to absorb the pure energy before spraying out four different types of substances that fell like rain. A flash of understanding struck Zhou Yuan. If his guess was correct, the four translucent ancient Genesis Runes on the mottled divine grindstone were the main bodies of the wind spirit rune, forest spirit rune, fire spirit rune and the mountain spirit rune! ¡°The offered vital energy and Spirit power is summoned here before having their impurities destroyed by the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone, refining it into its purest form¡­ ¡°This pure energy is offered to the main bodies of the four ancient Genesis Runes as nutrients, allowing them to create countless Genesis marks that are then scattered to the practitioners in four districts¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was filled with astonishment. This was a perfect cycle and should be the reason why the Four Spirits Origin Tower could keep operating forever. Although it seemed simple when described, even Law Domain experts were incapable of refining the vital energy and Spirit power of numerous people into its purest form. Only a Saint expert was capable of such a feat. However, a Saint expert was a supreme existence. How could anyone get such an almighty being to station here and help refine vital energy and Spirit power? This was likely the main reason why only the Tianyuan Region had a Four Spirits Origin Tower. ¡°In addition¡­¡± Zhou Yuan focused on the mottled divine grindstone. He could faintly sense that not all of the pure energy refined from the vital energy and Spirit power was used as material to create Genesis marks for the four districts. A portion was also being absorbed by the divine grindstone. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered in thought before his heart suddenly shook in realization. The divine grindstone before him was not the one of legend but an imitation created by master Cang Yuan¡­ Strictly speaking, it could be considered a Genesis artifact and was possibly a Saint level Genesis artifact. It was likely able to raise its level from absorbing the pure energy for many years¡­in fact, there may even come a day when it would evolve into the grindstone of legend. ¡°Could this be master Cang Yuan¡¯s plan?¡± Zhou Yuan was overwhelmed by this discovery. If so, the Four Spirits Origin Tower was akin to killing three birds with a single stone. It was a specialty of the Tianyuan Region which promoted its reputation, a bait to draw many talented youngsters, and lastly a way to secretly nurture a legendary item. If the day came where this divine grindstone truly evolved into the grindstone of legend, it would hold unimaginable allure for even Saint stage experts. Zhou Yuan sighed deeply. However, he did not desire the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone itself but was more interested in the four ancient Genesis Runes. Since the countless spirit runes created by the main bodies were already so amazing, what kind of wonders would the main bodies be capable of? Unfortunately, he could only feast on them with his eyes and had no way of touching them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit awkwardly scratched its head, suddenly finding itself somewhat speechless. Was his Spirit drawn here merely to show him how amazing his master was? ¡°Alright you guys are amazing. May I go now since I¡¯ve seen everything?¡± muttered Zhou Yuan as he gazed at the divine grindstone. Bzz! When Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out, the mottled divine grindstone seemed to vibrate for a brief moment. Next, Zhou Yuan watched in amazement as a stream of refined pure energy flew out from the divine grindstone and rushed towards him. ¡°Ahh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan cried out in surprise. But before he could do anything, the stream of pure energy crashed into his Spirit. Countless ripples emerged on his Spirit as it began to strengthen at an alarming speed. ¡°What the hell!¡± The tremendous change nearly made Zhou Yuan jump in fright. He hurriedly seated himself and began cultivating the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. A divine grindstone turned, pulverizing and refining the pure energy. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit began to glow a little as natural and ancient patterns slowly appeared on the surface of his Spirit. A mystical and mysterious undulation faintly pulsed. The divine grindstone continued to release streams of pure energy, seemingly intent on pouring everything into Zhou Yuan without caring whether he could withstand such an influx. Zhou Yuan was stuck between a state of happiness and pain. He was overjoyed that his Spirit was rapidly growing stronger, but in pain because too much energy was flowing in, making his Spirit feel as if it was about to burst¡­ However, as more and more energy poured into his Spirit, Zhou Yuan discovered that the strange patterns that had appeared on his Spirit were improving his senses, allowing him to better feel his surroundings. ¡°These are¡­Spirit marks?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook. Spirit marks would appear when one¡¯s Spirit reached a certain level, and they could improve one¡¯s Spirit senses, allowing one to become more aware of the world around them. They also symbolized stepping into the Transformative stage¡­ Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart swelled, and he felt very blessed for a time. He soon suppressed his churning feelings and began concentrating every fibre of his being into the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. His Spirit suddenly enlarged, then shrank, then enlarged again¡­ As the seemingly endless stream of pure energy poured into him, more and more Spirit marks appeared on his Spirit. This continued till a certain moment when the divine grindstone in his mind suddenly exploded, causing the entire world to fall silent. An indescribable feeling of wonder rippled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He slowly opened his eyes. The world before him seemed to grow exceptionally clear. In fact, he could even sense how the astral winds were moving in the thick wind layer below. He lowered his head to look at his Spirit body. Ancient patterns seemed to have been carved into his skin. The patterns gave off a faint flickering glow, allowing him to become extremely sensitive to his surroundings. As he felt the surging Spirit power within him, Zhou Yuan took a step forward. His Spirit seemed to teleport, appearing several hundred feet away. Spirit Shift! Such speed was far from anything Zhou Yuan could achieve with his physical body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled slightly before he extended his hand. Spirit power converged towards his palm, ultimately forming an invisible flame with a small pop. Spirit fire! Zhou Yuan could not stop himself from smiling. The surging excitement in his heart nearly made him howl with joy. Neither Spirit Shift nor Spirit fire was achievable by the Corporeal stage¡­in other words, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit cultivation had finally reached the Transformative stage he had always dreamt of! Chapter 797 Break Zhou Yuan¡¯s faintly glowing Spirit rapidly teleported about the area. The rush from having his speed reach new heights made Zhou Yuan feel as if he could continue forever. It was a long time later before he finally stopped; though there were still traces of excitement on his face. A Transformative stage Spirit was far stronger than one at the peak Corporeal stage. Moreover, it was also much more practical¡­ A Transformative stage Spirit could take on a thousand different forms. It could meld into the surrounding space, and if used for spying, not even Heavenly Sun stage experts would be able to easily discover one¡¯s presence. Most importantly, a Transformative stage Spirit could create Spirit fire. Spirit fire was the main mode of attack for a Transformative stage Spirit practitioner. Moreover, it could perfectly harmonize with Zhou Yuan¡¯s offensive capabilities. Spirit fire could coat anything, including Genesis techniques, boosting their power. If Zhou Yuan used the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb in the future, he would be able to not only amplify its power with the Heavenly Serpent Qi but also coat it in Spirit fire, boosting its power to even greater heights than when he had used it to defeat Jin Teng. Zhou Yuan had worked hard for a long time in order to raise his Spirit cultivation to the Transformative stage, and he had only been lacking an opportunity to break through. The pure energy from the divine grindstone had undoubtedly been the final piece of the puzzle. Zhou Yuan did his best to suppress the happiness in his heart before turning to face the divine grindstone. He bowed and gratefully said, ¡°Thank you, elder divine grindstone.¡± He knew that the divine grindstone had already gained some sort of consciousness. It was perhaps precisely this consciousness that had allowed it to perceive Zhou Yuan, who cultivated the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. It had then called out to him to give him this gift. The giant divine grindstone faintly vibrated amidst the primal chaos, as if acknowledging him. Zhou Yuan was overjoyed upon seeing this. He immediately said in an even more respectful manner, ¡°Elder divine grindstone, could you give me a little of that pure energy if my Spirit is exhausted while training in the Four Spirits Origin Tower next time?¡± The pure energy was refined from the vital energy and Spirit power of countless individuals, and it was tremendously beneficial to the Spirit. Zhou Yuan had already experienced how amazing it was earlier. With such a supplement, Zhou Yuan believed that he would no longer have to worry about exhausting his Spirit in the Four Spirits Origin Tower. Hence, Zhou Yuan deeply desired the pure energy from the divine grindstone. Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. ¡°Elder divine grindstone, you truly are a good person. Since you¡¯re generous, why not bestow me a few Genesis marks to help me complete a wind spirit rune!¡± Rumble! The divine grindstone violently shook, releasing a loud rumbling noise. Zhou Yuan felt the world begin to spin as he suddenly fell from the air, only able to hear wind howling around him. After a few dozen breaths, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit returned to its senses. To his shock, he found that he was now below the dark azure wind stratum. The land below him clearly belonged to the wind district. Zhou Yuan lifted his head to gaze at the raging dark azure wind stratum. Without the divine grindstone¡¯s protection, he could clearly feel how terrifying the wind layer was. I seem to have been kicked out by the divine grindstone? Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned somewhat resentful as he muttered, ¡°Can¡¯t even part with a few Genesis marks.¡± He sighed as regret welled up within him. It seemed the divine grindstone was quite smart and could not be tricked into giving him Genesis marks. It was likely a matter of principle¡­and the rules of the tower could not be broken. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had not really expected the divine grindstone to grant his request. What was more, his act of ascending to the Transformative stage had already far surpassed his expectations. ¡°Thank you, elder divine grindstone. I¡¯ll definitely come visit when I have time in the future!¡± Zhou Yuan bowed towards the wind layer, but there was no response. Zhou Yuan did not mind at all. With a dazzle, his Spirit swiftly shrank turning into a fist-sized ball of light as it rapidly descended towards his body. This was an advantage of the Transformative stage. The Spirit could now change size at will. In addition, he was now much faster, making his return as swift as lightning. In the short span of a hundred breaths, the mountain valley where he had left his body entered his senses. However, just as Zhou Yuan was about to head back to the valley, his eyes suddenly flashed. His gaze immediately turned towards another direction as he frowned. After his advancement to the Transformative stage, his Spirit senses had ascended to an entirely new realm. His Spirit senses could now extend to more than ten times their previous limit. As such, he could easily detect any Genesis Qi undulations within a hundred miles. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit stood in the sky as he cast his gaze where several figures were gathered. His senses reached out, seeing everything that was happening as rage surged in his eyes. Soon after, his Spirit swiftly darted towards the valley where his body was. ¡­ Thump! A surge of Genesis Qi viciously blasted Liu Zhixuan¡¯s chest, sending him flying. His body smashed into a cliff, causing him to vomit a mouthful of blood. His complexion was rather pale. ¡°Liu Zhixuan, you should know what¡¯s good for you.¡± Jin Teng stood with his hands behind his back. He icily stared at Liu Zhixuan and said, ¡°Tell us which direction Zhou Yuan went in. You are not our target.¡± Liu Zhixuan wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth. An icy smile appeared on his handsome face, but he did not say a single word. ¡°Good, what a tough fellow you are. To think that someone who has just entered the wind pavilion dares to go against me.¡± Rage surged in Jin Teng¡¯s eyes. ¡°Since you fail to appreciate my kindness, don¡¯t blame me for what happens next. Although we¡¯re not allowed to kill in the wind district, breaking an arm or a leg commonly happens. Do you really believe that deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan will be able to protect you?¡± He looked towards Lin Zheng and Wu Dao. ¡°Break his arms and legs.¡± Lin Zheng and Wu Dao revealed sinister smiles as their figures shot forward. Liu Zhixuan circulated his Genesis Qi and tried to back away. However, he was weaker than Lin Zheng and Wu Dao. As such, they caught up in a mere ten breaths. The two of them grabbed his arms from the left and right, making it impossible for him to move no matter how hard he struggled. The two of them coldly said, ¡°Are you going to tell us now?¡± Spit. Liu Zixuan spat out two mouthfuls of bloody spittle at them, refusing to give in. His actions immediately enraged Lin Zheng and Wu Dao. Alarming power exploded from their hands, and they intended to crush Liu Zhixuan¡¯s arms. Bzz! However, just as they had gathered their power, a loud sword cry suddenly rang out. Sword light pierced through the air, heading straight for the duo. The sudden attack surprised Lin Zhang and Wu Dao. They did not dare to delay in the face of such formidable sword qi and quickly sent a kick into Liu Zhixuan¡¯s chest, kicking him in the direction of the approaching sword qi. The sword qi dissipated before it could hit Liu Zhixuan, and a figure appeared behind him like a ghost. A hand firmly grabbed his shoulder, helping him stabilize his body. Liu Zhixuan¡¯s expression changed at the sight of his rescuer, and he hurriedly shouted, ¡°Quickly escape, go and find deputy pavilion master Ye!¡± His rescuer was obviously Zhou Yuan, who had rushed over as quickly as he could. However, Liu Zhixuan was rather worried. Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Jin Teng the day before, the other party had three people on their side, and they looked like they had come prepared. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm. He patted Liu Zhixuan¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Take a rest first.¡± He then walked in front of Liu Zhixuan as he frostily glared at the Jin Teng trio. ¡°You guys are looking for me?¡± Jin Teng revealed a look of joy and sarcastically said, ¡°Oh? I can¡¯t believe that deputy pavilion master Zhou still dares to appear.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the trio as he indifferently said, ¡°You dare to go against your superior?¡± Jin Teng laughed. ¡°We brothers have used up our origin coins and hope to borrow some from deputy pavilion master Zhou. ¡°How about this, hand over the origin coins you collected yesterday and we¡¯ll leave at once.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°Who gave you the courage to cause me trouble?¡± Jin Teng sneered. ¡°Who do you think you are? Why would we need courage to find you?¡± Although the change in Jin Teng¡¯s expression had been faint, Zhou Yuan immediately detected it. His eyes flickered in thought. ¡°Do you think you have the qualifications to challenge me just because you found two helpers? Looks like the lesson I gave you yesterday wasn¡¯t enough.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were coldly indifferent. ¡°Shameless boasting!¡± Jin Teng laughed in anger, while Lin Zheng and Wu Dao revealed mocking smiles. The trio slowly surrounded Zhou Yuan as powerful Genesis Qi erupted from their bodies. Liu Zhixuan¡¯s expression changed slightly. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not even ripple. He extended a hand, and a sword orb emerged above his palm. The Heavenly Serpent Qi formed a layer of tiny azure scales on the orb, and wisps of invisible flames rose from it. Chapter 798 Insta-kill Deadly sword qi roared as a wave of destruction unfurled. However, Jin Teng merely sneered as he mocked, ¡°You still want to fight? I was merely careless yesterday, and today we have three people on our side. Do you think this sword strike of yours will be of any use?¡± Rumble! Boundless Genesis Qi erupted from his body as he spoke. Azure light converged towards his hand, faintly forming an extremely incomplete Genesis Rune. Although the rune¡¯s completion rate was not high, it still provided a boost to Jin Teng¡¯s Genesis Qi. In addition, it also made him more nimble and swift. Lin Zheng and Wu Dao also brought out their Genesis Qi and incomplete wind spirit runes. All three of them had witnessed the strength Zhou Yuan had displayed the day before. Since they were already in it together, there was no reason to not work together. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes remained calm as the sword orb slowly rose from his palm. Sword qi condensed into a long sword covered in azure scales. It gleamed coldly under the light as an invisible fire silently throbbed around it. Bzz! With a flick, a flash of sword light abruptly shot forth, accompanied by a clear sword cry. The sword light pierced through the air, heading straight for Lin Zheng. ¡°Humph!¡± Lin Zheng icily snorted. Three Divine Dwelling halos instantly appeared in front of him. He knew that he only needed to endure for a single breath for Jin Teng and Wu Dao to come to his aid. The three of them would definitely be able to defeat Zhou Yuan together. Swish! The golden light was extremely swift, arriving in front of Lin Zheng in the blink of an eye. The sword ruthlessly thrust towards the three Divine Dwelling halos obstructing its way. Ch! A faint sound was heard as sword light swept past, and Lin Zheng¡¯s pupils violently shrank. To his horror, the three Divine Dwelling halos he had poured all of his power into were instantly pierced through. Expression changing drastically, Lin Zheng involuntarily cried out, ¡°How can this be?!¡± Having learnt from Jin Teng¡¯s mistake, Lin Zheng had poured all of his power into his defence, and he had even used his incomplete wind spirit rune to further strengthen his defence. How had it been instantly torn apart? Swish! The sword light naturally did not wait for him to get over his shock. He immediately felt an intense pain in his right arm, and blood spurted out. His entire arm had been severed. AHH! Lin Zheng howled in pain. Jin Teng¡¯s and Wu Dao¡¯s expressions changed drastically. They had not expected that Lin Zheng would lose an arm after a single exchange! It was obviously a whole lot stronger than it was the day before. Although Jin Teng had been defeated by a single sword strike from Zhou Yuan the day before, he could feel that it had been Zhou Yuan¡¯s strongest move. If he had used all of his strength back then, he may have been able to withstand it. Hence, they had come prepared the next day and were mentally prepared to use their strongest defences. Who could have imagined that Lin Zheng would lose an arm after a single exchange? One must know that Lin Zheng was not weaker than Jin Teng. ¡°Could he have been holding back yesterday?¡± Jin Teng was in disbelief. After all, he refused to believe that Zhou Yuan could grow so much stronger after a single night. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, clearly paying no attention to Jin Teng¡¯s shock. His strength had indeed soared over the past day. He had broken through during his cultivation session the night before, raising his Genesis Qi foundations by three million. Furthermore, his Spirit had then ascended to the long-desired Transformative stage in the wind district the next day. Hence, although there were no clear visible changes, his strength had grown tremendously. Swish! After cutting Lin Zheng¡¯s arm, the sword light flashed again, rushing straight towards Wu Dao. ¡°Arrogance!¡± Wu Dao¡¯s expression darkened as he grasped his hands. A phoenix beak blade appeared within them. With a roar, he swung the blade, unleashing a hundred-foot-long wave of blade light. The blade light sweeping past tore open deep crevices in the ground and crushed boulders to dust. The attack clearly possessed very alarming destructive power. Clang! Sword and blade light collided, creating a resounding clang. As a shock wave unfurled, the phoenix blade in Wu Dao¡¯s hands madly shook before being jerked out of his hands. His hands ruptured, spraying blood everywhere. Sword light arrived like a giant python, leaving a spray of blood and another severed arm in its wake. Wu Dao howled in misery as he grabbed the stump where his arm should have been. Jin Teng¡¯s charging figure immediately froze in its tracks. His complexion was deathly pale as he stared at Zhou Yuan in terror. He could not imagine how Zhou Yuan had defeated both Lin Zheng and Wu Dao in less than a dozen breaths... Jin Teng was not the only one, even Liu Zhixuan was dumbstruck as he stared at this scene. In Xuanzhou City, Zhou Yuan had fought hard to eventually triumph over Mo Yuan. How long had it been since then? It was hard to believe he had already grown strong enough to steamroll over an opponent at that level... ¡°Looks like you weren¡¯t sufficiently prepared.¡± Zhou Yuan stood in the air, his eyes as sharp as sword light as he stared at Jin Teng. Jin Teng¡¯s expression rapidly fluctuated, and he suddenly shot backwards a split second later. Only now did he finally understand that they seeking out Zhou Yuan was akin to lambs entering a tiger¡¯s den. If he did not flee, he would soon face the same fate as Lin Zheng and Wu Dao. ¡°It¡¯s already too late to leave.¡± Zhou Yuan had no intentions of letting the ringleader off. With a wave of his sleeve, sword light soared into the sky. Jin Teng pushed his speed to the limit, his face filled with fear. Swish! However, sword light appeared right in front of him. The light faintly trembled, transforming into countless sword shadows that shot towards Jin Teng from every direction. Three Divine Dwelling halos appeared around Jin Teng as his Genesis Qi circulated, forming countless defensive Genesis Qi layers. Thud! Thud! Swords rained down, causing countless ripples to appear in the three Divine Dwelling halos. The halos soon began to shake violently, and then exploded with a loud bang under Jin Teng¡¯s terrified eyes. His numerous Genesis Qi defenses had been shattered in an instant. ¡°Mercy, deputy pavilion master!¡± shrieked Jin Teng. There was no longer any trace of his previous bossy demeanor, his face now filled with horror. However, Zhou Yuan was unmoved. He had thought that he had already done enough the day before and had never expected Jin Teng to ask for a foot after being given an inch. To think that he even dared to find helpers and go after a high-ranking deputy wind pavilion master¡­if such a person was let off easily, Zhou Yuan would no longer have any dignity or authority in the Wind Pavilion. Swoosh! Sword light mercilessly slashed, cleanly cutting off one of Jin Teng¡¯s arms. Jin Teng screamed in pain as he rolled on the ground. The previously arrogant figures of the trio had now become gourds rolling on the ground. Zhou Yuan beckoned with his hand, and the sword light returned, transforming back into a sword orb as it landed on his palm. With a small twist, it disappeared. ¡°Brother Liu, are you alright?¡± Zhou Yuan turned his head and looked towards Liu Zhixuan. The iciness in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a gentle look. Although Liu Zhixuan was in a somewhat sorry state, he had not sustained any serious injuries. Hence, he shook his head. There was still some disbelief in his eyes as he gazed at the Jin Teng trio. It seemed he had yet to fully return to his senses. Zhou Yuan chuckled and turned back to the Jin Teng trio. ¡°Will you tell me who directed you three to do this?¡± Lin Zheng¡¯s complexion was deathly pale, but his gaze remained fierce as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so happy, Zhou Yuan. I don¡¯t believe that you dare to kill us!¡± Wu Dao also growled, ¡°Our boss is Chen Beifeng, touch us and see what happens!¡± ¡°Chen Beifeng?¡± Zhou Yun was slightly taken aback. ¡°He¡¯s the one behind this?¡± Wu Dao icily chuckled. ¡°I just can¡¯t get used to seeing a newcomer like you act so arrogantly. Why would I need deputy pavilion master Chen to tell me what to do?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze faintly flickered in thought as he ignored their words. He knew that Chen Beifeng definitely had something to do with this matter. But why was such a person making things difficult for him? Chen Beifeng shouldn¡¯t see him as much of a threat yet, right? However, since Chen Beifeng dared to do such a thing, no one could blame Zhou Yuan for not giving him face. Zhou Yuan indifferently stared at the Jin Teng trio. ¡°Killing you guys is indeed against the rules.¡± The Lin Zheng trio displayed cold smiles. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s following words made the smiles on the trio¡¯s faces turn rigid. ¡°However...you dared to try and kill a deputy pavilion master. It is only appropriate that you lose four limbs in the fight.¡± The trio cried out in fright, ¡°You, you dare!¡± Zhou Yuan ignored them. With a grasp of his hand, he sucked Wu Dao¡¯s phoenix beak blade into his hand. He circulated his Genesis Qi, and deadly blade light viciously slashed towards the trio¡¯s legs. As blade light reflected in the trio¡¯s pupils, the trio¡¯s expressions drastically changed. If they lost all four limbs, it would still be too detrimental to them even if they managed to regrow the limbs with some precious medicine, and their cultivation would slow to a crawl. They could not afford such a huge loss. ¡°What exactly do you want?!¡± shrieked Jin Teng in a trembling voice. The blade light stopped. Zhou Yuan sat down on a boulder. He leaned the phoenix beak blade against his shoulder as he unhurriedly said, ¡°I heard you three wanted to rob me?¡± A feeling of unease rose within Jin Teng¡¯s heart. ¡°Since you guys still have two legs and an arm...how about this, 30 origin coins for one limb. Yup, so each of you have to hand over 90 coins in total, and I¡¯ll leave your remaining limbs alone.¡± Chapter 799 Punishmen Upon hearing this number, the Jin Teng trio stopped howling in pain. With angry faces, they roared, ¡°You might as well rob us!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that what I¡¯m doing?¡± Zhou Yuan shrugged. He gestured at the trio¡¯s arms and legs with the phoenix beak blade and said nonchalantly, ¡°So you guys don¡¯t intend to pay? Then I¡¯ll be taking your arms and legs.¡± He made a sawing gesture with the blade. Jin Teng¡¯s complexion turned green with fright as he hastily said, ¡°Deputy pavilion master Zhou, we¡¯re only given 30 origin coins a month and don¡¯t have much savings. Where can we find so many coins?¡± ¡°Do you think this is a shop? Still trying to bargain with me? I can just take the limbs you can¡¯t afford to pay for.¡± Zhou Yuan was completely unmoved as his eyes slowly turned ice cold. ¡°Ten breaths. If you can¡¯t take out the amount within that time, don¡¯t bother.¡± Zhou Yuan lightly shut his eyes as killing intent spread from his body. The Jin Teng trio¡¯s expressions fluctuated indeterminately; they clearly didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to be so unreasonable. Ten breaths passed in the blink of an eye. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes. He did not waste any time and swung the phoenix blade in his hand downwards. Jin Teng could sense Zhou Yuan¡¯s ruthlessness and understood that the latter truly intended to cut off their arms and legs. He did not dare to waste any more time and hurriedly cried out, ¡°I¡¯ll pay!¡± He patted his spatial bag and several dozen sparkling coins immediately rose from within. Zhou Yuan waved his sleeve, sucking the glittering crystal-like origin coins into his hand. His Spirit senses swept out and withdrew without a change in expression before his icy gaze turned towards the other two. Lin Zheng¡¯s and Wu Dao¡¯s faces were filled with agony. In the end, they had no choice but to obediently hand over their origin coins, nearly bankrupting themselves in order to avoid this calamity. Zhou Yuan retrieved the coins amounting to a total of 270 as uncontrollable joy surged in his heart. He had previously worried about his lack of origin coins¡ªwho could have imagined that Santa Claus would pay him a visit all of a sudden? Two hundred seventy coins should be enough for a month of cultivation, right? With a flick, Zhou Yuan sent 50 origin coins flying towards Liu Zhixuan. The latter blankly stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Everyone present has a share.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Although he had only met Liu Zhixuan a few times before, he had a good impression of him. Moreover, he had witnessed how Liu Zhixuan would rather be beaten by Jin Teng and his gang than to reveal his location. Liu Zhixuan hurriedly shook his head. However, Zhou Yuan shoved the 50 origin coins into his hands. ¡°They had injured you. Take this as compensation,¡± said Zhou Yuan. After splitting the spoils, the two individuals grew even closer and grinned at each other. At this moment, Jin Teng very cautiously asked, ¡°Deputy pavilion master Zhou, may we leave now?¡± Zhou Yuan cast a sideways glance at them as a strange smile appeared on his face. ¡°Why should you leave?¡± Jin Teng was alarmed. ¡°We¡¯ve already given you origin coins!¡± ¡°These origin coins were merely to buy back your arms and legs. When did I say I would let you guys off?¡± Zhou Yuan icily chuckled. These bastards, how could he let them off so easily? ¡°You!¡± Anger flourished on the trio¡¯s faces. But before they could say anything else, Zhou Yuan waved his sleeve. Streams of Genesis Qi whizzed out and tied up the three individuals and blocked their mouths. Liu Zhixuan said in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ve heard that Lin Zheng and Wu Dao are Chen Beifeng¡¯s underlings. This matter¡­¡± Zhou Yuan faintly nodded as he replied, ¡°Can I trouble you to find deputy pavilion master Ye? If you manage to find her, please ask her to come to the wind tower entrance.¡± At the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance, Liu Zhixuan understood that he was not going to take things lying down. However, this would certainly offend Chen Beifeng. Chen Beifeng was currently the most favored competitor for the position of wind pavilion master and was extremely popular in the Wind Pavilion. He was far from comparable to Jin Teng and the rest. However, Liu Zhixuan ultimately did not say anything else on the topic. In the short period he had known Zhou Yuan, Liu Zhixuan knew that Zhou Yuan was not someone who would easily change his mind. ¡°Okay, you should be a little more careful.¡± Liu Zhixuan nodded before his figure rose into the air. Zhou Yuan sent Liu Zhixuan off with his eyes before coldly looking towards the still-struggling trio. With an icy laugh, he began flying towards the entrance of the wind district while towing the trio behind him. The sight of him dragging three struggling figures was exceptionally attention grabbing and naturally drew countless shocked gazes. ¡°That¡¯s¡­deputy pavilion master Zhou?¡± ¡°What¡¯s he dragging? It seems to be three people?¡± ¡°Eh, they look a little familiar¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that commanders Jin Teng, Wu Dao and Lin Zheng?!¡± ¡°My god, what happened? Why is the deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan pulling them along like kites?!¡± ¡°Commanders Wu Dao and Lin Zheng are in deputy pavilion master Chen Beifeng¡¯s camp¡­to think that deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan actually dares to touch them?¡± ¡°Quick, let¡¯s follow them. There will certainly be some entertainment later!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Zhou Yuan brazenly dragged the trio through the wind district, causing quite a stir amongst the many Wind Pavilion members. For a time, everyone put aside their training and hurriedly followed from a distance. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained composed as he shot a glance at the growing crowd. He was going to blow this matter up and let everyone know the consequences of challenging him. Zhou Yuan soon arrived at the stone platform at the wind district¡¯s entrance. Numerous Wind Pavilion members had already gathered there, but he ignored them as he grabbed the trio and stepped out of the wind district. Four Spirits Origin Tower. Outside the wind tower. Zhou Yuan saw an even bigger crowd when he stepped out. Even members from the other three pavilions had heard the news and had come over to watch. With the Jin Teng trio in his hands, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the area as he solemnly said, ¡°Jin Teng, Lin Zheng and Wu Dao have committed a grave offense against their superior in the wind district. They actually dared to attack me, but ultimately lost an arm each and were captured. They have no respect for the rules of my Wind Pavilion!¡± These words instantly drew countless gasps of shock. Gaze after gaze stared at Zhou Yuan in astonishment: firstly because the Jin Teng trio actually had the gall to openly attack a deputy pavilion master, secondly because Zhou Yuan was able to triumph over them and even take an arm from each. How strong was he?! It seemed that this new pavilion master had been holding back the day before! Traces of respect had already begun to emerge within several gazes when the gathered members looked towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan leisurely asked, ¡°Does anyone know what punishment awaits those who try to assassinate their superior in the Wind Pavilion?¡± The crowd was silent for a moment before a person said in a low voice, ¡°According to the rules of the Wind Pavilion, any commander who commits such a crime will be stripped of their position and be barred from entering the wind district for a year.¡± Zhou Yuan shouted, ¡°Since there is such a rule, I shall follow it accordingly! ¡°From now onwards, the three of them shall be stripped of their commander position!¡± All of the Wind Pavilion members gasped. To think that he would really strip away the positions of three Wind Pavilion commanders. This was no small matter. Deputy pavilion master Zhou might appear gentle, but it turned out that he was very vicious when angered. ¡°Impudence!¡± However, a thunderous roar immediately boomed when the last word left Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. ¡°Zhou Yuan, since when have you become the one who dictates what happens in the Wind Pavilion! ¡°You dare to slander my men¡ªdo you think that I, Chen Beifeng, do not exist?!¡± A glowing figure arrived from the sky, eyes blazing with rage. His ice-cold gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan as he suddenly thrust his palm. Boundless Genesis Qi surged out with unstoppable momentum, turning into a giant torrent that charged towards Zhou Yuan with petrifying might. Chapter 800 Swift as Thunder A giant torrent of Genesis Qi crashed downwards in the wake of Chen Beifeng¡¯s thunderous shout. Space trembled as the torrent swept past, rapidly filling the surroundings with an alarming pressure. The expressions on many of the surrounding onlookers changed as they hurriedly withdrew, afraid to be caught in the attack. They could clearly feel Chen Beifeng¡¯s anger. The attack he sent out was extremely powerful, and he evidently planned on teaching Zhou Yuan a painful lesson. There was after all no one in the four pavilions who did not know that Lin Zheng and Wu Dao were his underlings, and yet Zhou Yuan still dared to openly strip away their positions in front of such a large crowd. This was a very disrespectful act towards him! Zhou Yuan could likewise feel the alarming torrent that was surging towards him, causing his eyes to narrow slightly. Chen Beifeng was indeed very bossy. However, if Chen Beifeng thought this could intimidate him, Zhou Yuan could only say that Chen Beifeng had overestimated himself! Iciness surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Since Chen Beifeng had chosen to suppress him through force, there was no need for Zhou Yuan to show any courtesy. With a twirl of his palm, the sword orb appeared and shot forth. Bzz! Torrential sword qi spewed out and was immediately enveloped by scales and Spirit fire. With the support of all 11 million Genesis Qi stars in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwelling, the sword light transformed into a giant glowing azure sword. Under the crowd¡¯s watching gazes, the giant sword ferociously smashed into the incoming Genesis Qi torrent. Boom! A berserk-without-equal Genesis Qi shock wave erupted from the collision. Several onlookers were thrown backwards. The shock wave unfurled as the two forces destroyed each other. The glowing azure sword shot backwards, turning back into the sword orb as Zhou Yuan caught it. However, the powerful force jerked Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, forcing him to take several steps backwards. His gaze flashed a little. He had sensed Chen Beifeng¡¯s formidableness from their brief contact. It was no wonder that Chen Beifeng was the strongest contender for the position of wind pavilion master. Swoosh! A figure appeared in the air, revealing itself to be Chen Beifeng. The expression in his eyes fluctuated indeterminately as he stared at Zhou Yuan. In his previous rage, he had originally intended to swiftly wound Zhou Yuan and awe everyone. He never imagined that Zhou Yuan would not only neutralize his attack but also only pay a small price of taking several steps back. This was completely different from what he had expected. From what Chen Beifeng had sensed of Zhou Yuan the day before, he should not have been capable of receiving such an attack unscathed. One must know that there were only eight pavilion commanders in the entire Wind Pavilion, four of which were part of his camp. This was a result of his efforts over a long period of time, and it would be a major loss if he allowed Zhou Yuan to remove three of them all of a sudden. More importantly, it would make him lose face. ¡°Deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan, although Jin Teng¡¯s provocations yesterday may have made you very unhappy, you should not selfishly take revenge in such a manner because it will only make you appear like a joke. Let them go, and I will not pursue this matter any further,¡± said Chen Beifeng as he cast an indifferent glance at Zhou Yuan. His tone was ordinary, but there was a hint that he was used to commanding others in his voice. It was likely that no one had ever been disobedient towards him in the Wind Pavilion for many years. Zhou Yuan raised his eyelids and said, ¡°Deputy pavilion master Chen Beifeng, didn¡¯t you hear what I said earlier? These three actually dared to attack me in the wind district, going against their superior. Do you think you¡¯re the one who sets the rules in our Wind Pavilion?¡± His tone was likewise calm, but within was a stubbornness and unyieldingness akin to a rock. This caused a small commotion to break out in the surroundings, especially amongst the Wind Pavilion members, who could not help but widen their eyes. They had never seen anyone dare to speak to Chen Beifeng in this manner in the Wind Pavilion. In fact, even Ye Bingling, who was also a deputy pavilion master, would always suffer somewhat in their repeated clashes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude likewise caused Chen Beifeng¡¯s eyes to turn cold. Soon after, Chen Beifeng darkly said, ¡°Rubbish, why would the three of them attack you for no reason? Don¡¯t think that you can slander others without consequence just because you¡¯re a new deputy pavilion master!¡± ¡°I also suspect that someone else is directing them.¡± Zhou Yuan let out an icy laugh as he looked deeply at Chen Beifeng. Chen Beifeng¡¯s expression grew increasingly frosty as he icily said, ¡°You¡¯re spewing nonsense.¡± He took a step forward as boundless Genesis Qi erupted from his body, forming three nine-color halos behind him. ¡°If deputy pavilion master Zhou insists on unfairly passing judgement on the three of them, I will not idly sit by.¡± From the looks of it, he intended to forcibly snatch the trio away from Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. ¡°Humph, deputy pavilion master Chen Beifeng, how bold of you!¡± A cold and clear voice suddenly rang out. Numerous gazes looked over and saw three figures walking out from the wind tower¡¯s entrance. The one leading them was Ye Bingling, while Liu Zhixuan and Yi Qiushui followed behind. ¡°Since when do your words overrule the rules of the Wind Pavilion? Do you think you¡¯re already the wind pavilion master?¡± Ye Bingling¡¯s pleasant voice was filled with chilling iciness. Chen Beifeng¡¯s frown deepened as he said, ¡°It¡¯s merely his one-sided story!¡± Ye Bingling shot a glance at Liu Zhixuan. He walked forward and said, ¡°Everything deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan said is true¡ªthey had ganged up on me in order to find deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan, hoping to pry his location from my lips. If deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan did not rush over in time, they would have broken my arms.¡± An uproar swept through the crowd. Chen Beifeng¡¯s eyelids twitched. He never imagined that the idiot Jin Teng trio would leave a witness! ¡°Liu Zhixuan has ties to Zhou Yuan, his words cannot be believed.¡± Chen Beifeng refused to back down. He refused to admit it even if he had to turn black to white. Ye Bingling¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Hehe¡­what a lively place.¡± However, a chuckle interjected just as Ye Bingling was about to speak. A figure dressed in scarlet robes appeared beside Chen Beifeng. It was a young man wearing an easy-going smile. This person¡¯s appearance once more stirred the crowd. ¡°Deputy fire pavilion master, Wang Chen?¡± Ye Bingling was also stunned by his appearance. The young man called Wang Chen smiled as he waved. ¡°Long time no see, deputy pavilion master Ye.¡± His gaze swept towards Zhou Yuan as he said, ¡°I believe this is all a misunderstanding, and there¡¯s no need to make everyone so unhappy. After all, it will affect the reputation of your Wind Pavilion. How about I mediate for you guys. I suggest deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan to let them go and they apologise to you. Isn¡¯t this a perfect conclusion?¡± Zhou Yuan calmly stared at the deputy pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion. When he had appeared, Zhou Yuan had realized the source of the day¡¯s matter. It was likely related to the Scarlet Flame Hall of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Furthermore, the Fire Pavilion was under the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s control. It was likely that this seemingly harmless Wang Chen was secretly pulling the strings behind the day¡¯s incident. Of course, there was certainly no way that the Scarlet Flame Hall had nothing to do with it as well. These people were clearly not willing to let him off just because he had entered the Wind Pavilion. Ye Bingling¡¯s brows had nearly turned vertical, clearly not expecting Wang Chen¡¯s sudden interjection. He was a deputy pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion and was a well-known figure in the four pavilions. Chen Beifeng¡¯s expression softened a little. ¡°Since brother Wang Chen intends to mediate, I will naturally not push things any further¡ª¡± However, before he could finish, Zhou Yuan interrupted, his face expressionless. ¡°This affair should be handled in accordance with the rules. How can it make sense for an outside to interfere in our Wind Pavilion¡¯s affairs? Although I recently joined, I do have some understanding of the rules. If the pavilion master position is empty, and there is a dispute over the punishment, the deputy pavilion masters can decide it by vote. ¡°Hence, I suggest stripping the Jin Teng trio of their positions.¡± Chen Beifeng¡¯s face turned rigid. The smile on Wang Chen¡¯s face also froze for a moment, then he stared at Zhou Yuan with a smile and said, ¡°Won¡¯t deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan give me some face?¡± Zhou Yuan solemnly replied, ¡°If deputy pavilion master Wang Chen has any objections to my methods, you may go ahead and make a complaint to the five great elders.¡± Wang Chen¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he chuckled and waved a finger at Zhou Yuan. However, a chilling light and fury was surging in the depths of his eyes. He had clearly not expected a mere newly appointed deputy pavilion master to actually dare to go against him in public. Zhou Yuan ignored them as he looked towards Ye Bingling. The punishment would officially be recognized as long as she supported him. Ye Bingling likewise had not expected Zhou Yuan to be so unyielding. However, she did not hesitate at all. After all, she and Chen Beifeng had a terrible relationship, and Chen Beifing¡¯s side had no one but to blame but themselves for the day¡¯s affair. Hence, she gave a faint nod of approval as she said, ¡°I support your suggestion.¡± Chen Beifeng¡¯s expression immediately darkened. Zhou Yuan raised his head and stared at the two of them as his voice sounded, ¡°Of the three deputy pavilion masters, two are in agreement¡­ ¡°Hence, the punishment shall take effect immediately. Jin Teng, Lin Zheng and Wu Dao shall be stripped of their pavilion commander positions and will not be allowed into the wind district for a period of one year. If they commit any more offenses, they shall be kicked out of the Wind Pavilion. The expressions of the numerous Wind Pavilion members in the vicinity changed slightly. Their gazes were filled with respect when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. Only now did they realize that this new, seemingly kind-looking deputy pavilion master was not to be messed with if angered. ¡°Great, excellent!¡± These were the only words Chen Beifeng could say. With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi grabbed the deathly pale Jin Teng trio as he turned and left. Wang Chen cast a frosty glance at Zhou Yuan as he leisurely said, ¡°Deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan is quite the character. However, I believe I should give you a warning. If you don¡¯t change this character if yours, you will suffer in the four pavilions.¡± There seemed to be a deeper meaning to his words. With a final snort, he turned and rose into the air. The onlookers secretly wet their lips. The new deputy wind pavilion master was such an uncompromising person. However, he had now offended both Wang Chen of the Fire Pavilion and Chen Beifeng. Was this foolishness or part of some secret plan? Chapter 801 Commander position ¡°The Wind Pavilion¡¯s new deputy pavilion master is very bold. He even directly dismissed three commanders at once.¡± ¡°Haha, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s courageous, but reckless. That kid hasn¡¯t even established himself in the Wind Pavilion but has already angered Chen Beifeng. It is said that he even made the vice fire pavilion master Wang Chen lose face.¡± ¡°Within the Fire Pavilion, the heaven prides of the Heavenly Spirit Sect occupy the majority of the important positions. Since a deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion has offended Wang Chen, the Fire Pavilion is most likely going to give them some attitude.¡± ¡°Also, deputy pavilion master Chen Beifeng of the Wind Pavilion also has let word out that when he wins the position of pavilion master, he will issue an order to invalidate Zhou Yuan¡¯s dismissal. At that time, Jin Teng and the others will regain their positions of commander.¡± ¡°Chen Beifeng is the most favourable candidate for pavilion master. Ye Bingling may not be able to compete with him.¡± ¡°Yes, once Chen Beifeng wins the pavilion master position, Zhou Yuan will most likely have to pay for his behaviour.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± There was endless discussion these days. Zhou Yuan was originally only known within the Wind Pavilion, but after this matter, almost everyone of all four pavilions had heard about the Wind Pavilion¡¯s newly appointed deputy pavilion master. He could also be said to have risen to fame as a result of this. Of course, his reputation was praised as much as it was put down because many people knew that if Chen Beifeng won the pavilion master position in two months¡¯ time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s behaviour would most likely become a joke. In a small building in the mountains. ¡°You¡¯ve become famous in the four pavilions.¡± Ye Bingling leaned her slender and elegant body against a wooden fence, staring at Zhou Yuan with a frown. ¡°But Chen Beifeng has let out word that when he wins, he will overturn all the decisions that you have made.¡± If Zhou Yuan¡¯s dismissal order was overturned, it would undoubtedly send a signal to everyone that Zhou Yuan¡¯s orders have no effect in the Wind Pavilion, which would be fatal for a deputy pavilion master. ¡°Senior sister Ye, you¡¯re also a strong contender for pavilion master. Can you beat Chen Beifeng?¡± Yi Qiushui asked curiously. Now that Zhou Yuan had angered Chen Beifeng and Yi Qiushui was close to Zhou Yuan, she naturally didn¡¯t want to see Chen Beifeng gain the upper hand. At this time, she knew only Ye Bingling could compete against Chen Beifeng. ¡°Yes, senior sister Ye, your voice in the Wind Pavilion is in no way weaker than Chen Beifeng¡¯s,¡± Liu Zhixuan echoed. It was clear that she was at a slight disadvantage. But she still looked at Zhou Yuan and reassured, ¡°But you don¡¯t have to worry too much, I will do my best to stop him. As long as he doesn¡¯t take the position of pavilion master, he can¡¯t cause any waves.¡± Lady Chi Jing had arranged for Zhou Yuan to come to the Wind Pavilion, so in a way, he was on the same side as her, which means she would help him regardless. Zhou Yuan laughed, ¡°It won¡¯t be easy for him to ascend to the position of pavilion master, and even if senior sister Ye doesn¡¯t stop him, I also won¡¯t let him succeed.¡± Ye Bingling shook her head. She clearly thought that Zhou Yuan had said this to save face. Although Zhou Yuan had become stronger, there was still a huge gap between him and Cheng Beifeng. In the pavilion master selection, she could only rely on herself. ¡°It is said that Chen Beifeng has been roping people in recently, especially the remaining commanders of the Wind Pavilion. He wants to build a force for him to ascend to the position of pavilion master¡± Liu Zhixuan explained. Having been in the Wind Pavilion these days, he had met many people and learned a lot of information. Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows. That Chen Beifeng is really troublesome. If Zhou Yuan allowed him to rope in the people of the Wind Pavilion, it would undoubtedly improve Chen Beifeng¡¯s chances of ascending to the position of pavilion master. Moreover, commanders were the top powers of each pavilion. If they all joined his side, then even if Zhou Yuan were to become the pavilion master, nobody would listen to him, and it would constrain him in some ways in the future. Ye Bingling also scrunched her brows. She also didn¡¯t know what to do. She usually just concentrated on cultivating and simply didn¡¯t know how to win people¡¯s hearts. ¡°This actually isn¡¯t difficult.¡± Yi Qiushui smiled suddenly. ¡°To win people¡¯s hearts is nothing more than to give others benefits. It just so happens that Jin Teng and the others have been dismissed, so there are three commander positions vacant. We can use senior sister Ye and Zhou Yuan¡¯s name to promote three new commanders in Wind Pavilion. ¡°Of course, to be precise, it is in the hands of senior sister Ye and Zhou Yuan, because, according to the rules, the pavilion master needs to agree to the new commander, but now that the position is vacant, the deputy pavilion masters will need to vote to decide. ¡°We have two of the three deputy pavilion masters on our side, so no matter how Chen Beifeng votes, he can¡¯t win against us. ¡°I think the other people should know that if they want to be in the top, they have to occupy a position first, and once they take the position of commander, they should be aware that Chen Beifeng will try to find a way to restore Jin Teng and the others¡¯ positions when he becomes pavilion master. This means he will take back the commander positions. ¡°And having tasted the sweetness of the commander position, the newly appointed will most likely not give it up so easily. At that time, in order to keep their position, they will choose to become diehard supporters of senior sister Ye and Zhou Yuan.¡± Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling were both taken aback at first by what Yi Qiushui had said. After they thought about it, their eyes lit up. This plan was indeed marvelous. They could win people¡¯s hearts by using the vacant positions. This would anger Cheng Beifeng, and more importantly, he wouldn¡¯t be able to use the same method against them. Otherwise, he would disappoint Jin Teng, Lin Zheng and Wu Dao. ¡°Junior sister Yi is indeed the most intelligent person I know.¡± Ye Bingling smiled at Yi Qiushui. Zhou Yuan also gave a thumbs up. It was no wonder she could help the Yi family manage Xiaoxuan Prefecture in an orderly manner at such a young age. ¡°Let¡¯s do that, then, but we will have to trouble Qiushui and brother Liu with this matter.¡± Yi Qiushui nodded with a smile. ¡°Leave the small things to us. You two should focus on improving your strength. After all, the most important thing is to win the position of pavilion master.¡± As long as one of them becomes the pavilion master, even if people supported Chen Beifeng, they could still slowly crush them. Ye Bingling of course agreed to this plan. She turned to Zhou Yuan and reminded him, ¡°Strength is always the most important. Don¡¯t get complacent just because you have defeated Jin Teng and the others. There are numerous people more powerful than them in the four pavilions. In the following period of time, you must practice properly.¡± In her view, Zhou Yuan had acted in a manner that was too high profile. He had not only offended Chen Beifeng, but had also angered Wang Chen of the Fire Pavilion. Having reminded Zhou Yuan, she didn¡¯t wait for his reaction and left. Yi Qiushui looked at Zhou Yuan standing there speechless, then giggled out loud and left with Liu Zhixuan. Zhou Yuan helplessly shook his head, but he also knew that Ye Bingling¡¯s reminder was for his own good. Otherwise, given her cold personality, why would she say so much to him? But what she said was indeed right: strength was the most important. With his current strength, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to defeat Chen Beifeng, and more importantly, his goal wasn¡¯t just to become the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, but to become the chief pavilion master of the four pavilions. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath. He had decided to complete at least half of the wind spirit rune before the pavilion master selection. It seems I need to devote all my energy to the wind district for a period of time. Chapter 802 Commander Selection And the rest of his time was spent cultivating his own Genesis techniques to improve his combat strength. While he kept a low profile, discussions about him also gradually subsided. After all, Zhou Yuan was just a deputy wind pavilion master and wasn¡¯t particularly outstanding amongst the many deputy pavilion masters among the four pavilions. If he hadn¡¯t acted too high profile, the people of the other three pavilions most likely wouldn¡¯t have paid any attention to him. So Zhou Yuan¡¯s heat quickly cooled down. Zhou Yuan also couldn¡¯t ask for anything more than this kind of coldness. After all he also didn¡¯t want to put himself under so much scrutiny. If Jin Teng and the others hadn¡¯t deliberately tried to create trouble, he wouldn¡¯t have dealt with them. Now he could wholeheartedly concentrate on cultivating. But while Zhou Yuan was practicing in the wind district each day, the Wind Pavilion wasn¡¯t particularly peaceful. The cause was the news that Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling were about to promote three new commanders. The entire Wind Pavilion was shaken when this news was released, and many powerful members of the Wind Pavilion were ecstatic by it. It could be said that the position of commander was difficult to come by for ordinary people. If the position wasn¡¯t directly assigned by the people above, one had to possess outstanding strength and had to have made great contributions in order to be promoted the ordinary way. But Jin Teng and the others were removed from their positions, and immediately there were three vacant commander positions. At first, some people coveted this position, but those coveting it also knew that these three positions belonged to Jin Teng and the others. Once Chen Beifeng became the pavilion master, he would inevitably overturn Zhou Yuan¡¯s dismissal, and the three would regain their commander positions. Therefore, although many coveted the position, they could only stare at it helplessly, and they dared not stretch out their hands. But who would have thought that Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling, two current deputy pavilion masters, would directly throw out the three commander positions? With this, they unquestionably had a reasonable excuse to put themselves forward for these positions. Therefore, during this period of time, many of the self-proclaimed qualified competitors gathered in front of Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling¡¯s building. Zhou Yuan publicly handed the matter to Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan to be in charge, and immediately Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan had become mighty figures of the Wind Pavilion and had numerous social events every day. So Chen Beifeng furiously stormed over to Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling. The two sides argued fiercely and almost broke out in a fight, but eventually Chen Beifeng left angrily because he knew that what Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling had done was in compliance of the rules. Therefore it would be of no use even if he were to object. After Chen Beifeng angrily departed Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling, everyone knew that there was no longer any chance of reconciliation between the two sides. After returning home, Chen Beifeng let out news that he wouldn¡¯t let anyone run for commander. Otherwise, even if they were elected, he would re-select the commanders after he became the future pavilion master. As a result, this caused some commotion and discontent in the Wind Pavilion. The majority of the people who were qualified to run for commander possessed remarkable strength and talent. They had coveted the position of commander for a long period of time. But now that they had a chance, Chen Beifeng wanted to intimidate them to give up. This inevitably caused resentment. But Chen Beifeng¡¯s intimidation wasn¡¯t completely ineffective. There were some people who were afraid of Chen Beifeng, and they chose to give up. But they were of the minority and of no great importance. Therefore Yi Qiushui, after consulting Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling, decided to start the commander selection in half a month. The news was met with a lot of cheers. It had to be said that, under the machinations of Yi Qiushui, there were many members of the Wind Pavilion who gradually erased some of the prejudices they had towards Zhou Yuan, and he began to have some supporters. Therefore, Zhou Yuan had gained a firm foothold. Half a month quickly arrived under the expectant wait of many Wind Pavilion members. ¡­¡­ The Wind Pavilion. The bluestone square where Zhou Yuan had become deputy pavilion master was incredibly lively with numerous figures. Almost all members of the Wind Pavilion had gathered here once again. And on the high platform at the very front of the square were three figures sitting upright. It was Zhou Yuan, Ye Bingling and Chen Beifeng, the three deputy pavilion masters. It was just that Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling wore calm expressions, but Cheng Beifeng¡¯s face was filled with anger, and his eyes were like blazing fire, almost spurting out flames. There were numerous streams of fierce Genesis Qi on the square as figures exchanged blows with one another. The commander selection had begun. Zhou Yuan, Ye Bingling and Chen Beifeng, the three deputy pavilion masters, sat quietly watching the competition below. The three most powerful candidates would be able to obtain the three vacant commander positions. Peering at the fierce battle below, Chen Beifeng clenched his hands so tight that even his veins were bulging. He knew that he was just a decoration that day. Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling would have been able to decide the winners even if he hadn¡¯t come. After all, according to the rules, his vote couldn¡¯t win against the two. ¡°That bastard!¡± Chen Beifeng shot a sidelong glance at Zhou Yuan and couldn¡¯t help cursing in his mind. He originally didn¡¯t care much about Zhou Yuan. After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength didn¡¯t pose any challenge to him. But Chen Beifeng hadn¡¯t thought that Zhou Yuan would have been able to push him to such a state after only less than a month. Therefore, Chen Beifeng¡¯s hatred of Zhou Yuan was even stronger than his hatred of his old rival, Ye Bingling. The competition lasted for half a day before it ended. The three winners were two men and one woman. Xiao Hong, Li Fa and Lu Mingyue. These three people previously held the position of deputy commander, and they possessed incredible strength but hadn¡¯t been promoted sooner due to the limited number of commander positions. Now that there were vacant positions, the three naturally took advantage of it. Under many envious gazes, the three stepped forward and respectfully bowed to the three deputy pavilion masters. Their eyes were visibly filled with excitement. Zhou Yuan smiled at the three people. ¡°Since you three stood out, your strength speaks for yourself, and you are well qualified to be promoted to commander.¡± ¡°Thank you, deputy pavilion master Zhou!¡± The three hurriedly bowed. Ye Bingling also nodded and agreed. The three continued to show their gratitude. Then, many gazes fell on Chen Beifeng, who didn¡¯t say a word. The atmosphere turned a little awkward. A trace of anger flashed across the eyes of Xiao Hong and the other two, but they didn¡¯t dare to say anything. Zhou Yuan remarked leisurely, ¡°You are acknowledged by two of the three deputy pavilion masters, so you three will be promoted to commanders.¡± Xiao Hong and the others immediately bowed to Zhou Yuan. Their attitude was particularly respectful. They thoroughly understood that Chen Beifeng didn¡¯t like them taking the position of commander, and if it weren¡¯t for Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling, they would have had to say goodbye to the commander position. Although Chen Beifeng had great prestige in the Wind Pavilion and was expected to become the pavilion master, blocking someone¡¯s path was the same as killing one¡¯s parents. How would Xiao Hong and the others give up? And¡­although Chen Beifeng had an advantage in the pavilion master selection, it was not a certainty. What if Ye Bingling won? As Zhou Yuan took over the announcement, the atmosphere started buzzing again. Although only three people were promoted, Zhou Yuan¡¯s move had undoubtedly made a good impression on many members of the Wind Pavilion. Chen Beifeng sat up from the chair expressionlessly. Anyone could feel the fury in his heart. He cast a glance at Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling and uttered indifferently, ¡°You two should stop wasting time. Do you really think this can bring me trouble? ¡°When I become the master of the Wind Pavilion, you will understand how childish your actions are.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°From your words it seems the pavilion master position is already in your pocket.¡± Chen Beifeng looked at Zhou Yuan with a hint of ridicule and disdain. ¡°If Ye Bingling weren¡¯t here, would you be worthy of causing me trouble?¡± Ye Bingling snorted and was just about to speak, but Chen Beifeng waved dismissively. He no longer wanted to waste time saying anything more. His figure moved, gathering up an arc of Genesis Qi, and streaked across the air. ¡°There is one more month till the pavilion master selection, I hope you can still laugh then!¡± His cold voice rang from the distance. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was incredibly calm, and Chen Beifeng¡¯s ridicule hadn¡¯t made him angry in the slightest. Ye Bingling remarked, ¡°I feel that Chen Beifeng has become stronger. It seems that I also have to practice with all my strength during this period of time.¡± She didn¡¯t stay any longer and darted away. Zhou Yuan watched the beautiful figure as she left. He then glanced at the back of his hand to see a gathering faint azure light. An incomplete Genesis Rune faintly appeared. After training for more than half a month, the wind spirit rune was close to 30% complete, which was much faster than his expectation. ¡°I¡¯d like to see if you would still be so arrogant when you lose the pavilion master selection?¡± He peered in the direction of Chen Beifeng¡¯s departure with a calm expression. In truth, he currently wasn¡¯t very worried about the threat posed by Chen Beifeng because compared to Chen Beifeng, he was more troubled by origin coins. The speed of completing the wind spirit rune had exceeded his expectations, and similarly, the consumption of origin coins also exceeded his expectations. The origin coins that he had obtained from Jin Teng and the others would most likely run out before he completed half of the wind spirit rune. Adding to this, after witnessing the remarkable speed of forming the wind spirit rune, Zhou Yuan could no longer be satisfied having just half a rune. Perhaps I can try something more shocking. Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan sorrowfully sighed. He hoped that he could survive until he received his deputy pavilion master salary the next month. Otherwise, he would have to borrow from Ye Bingling¡­but that will be really embarrassing. Chapter 803 Mark Capturing Rune Chen Beifeng controlled four seats of the eight great commanders. This was also the reason for his strong foundation in the Wind Pavilion. But no one thought that, after some twists and turns, he would lose three of the four commanders. The loss was definitely disastrous. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling had put their seal on the newly appointed commanders, and coupled with Ye Bingling¡¯s original two commanders, they now controlled five of the eight great commanders, which was undoubtedly stronger than Chen Beifeng¡¯s previous forces! Therefore, after the commander selection ended, Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Ye Bingling¡¯s voice in the Wind Pavilion had become louder. But some calm people didn¡¯t get involved because they knew that the current power and voices weren¡¯t true. Once Chen Beifeng won the pavilion master selection the next month, this so-called fame and power would, like a castle on the beach, be wiped out by the sea and turn to nothing. The commander selection wasn¡¯t important. Only when one obtained the position of pavilion master could one gather real crushing power. Therefore, more and more people in the Wind Pavilion involuntarily focused their eyes on Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling; only those two had good chances of winning the pavilion master selection. As for Zhou Yuan, in truth, many people just thought of him as Ye Bingling¡¯s ally and didn¡¯t feel that he had the qualifications to compete with Chen Beifeng. In many people¡¯s eyes, without Ye Bingling¡¯s support, Zhou Yuan would have most likely been completely suppressed by Chen Beifeng. Therefore, to know who has the final say in Wind Pavilion, they would have to wait for the pavilion master selection the next month for the thrilling contest between Ye Bingling and Chen Beifeng. In an elegant room of the restaurant in the Four Spirits Origin Tower, Wang Chen, the deputy pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion, looked at Chen Beifeng and, knowing about the Wind Pavilion¡¯s commander selection, sneered, ¡°That kid is troublesome.¡± He then comforted, ¡°But you don¡¯t need to get angry. When you win the pavilion master selection a month later and become the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master, Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling will no longer be a threat to you. At that time, if you want revenge, there are many ways to make them miserable.¡± Chen Beifeng¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about the pavilion master selection. It¡¯s just that seeing Zhou Yuan jumping up and down like a monkey makes me feel sick.¡± ¡°Hmph, if he didn¡¯t have Ye Bingling¡¯s protection, I would have already found a reason to cripple him!¡± Thinking of the day Zhou Yuan had made him lose face in public, he felt an obstruction in his heart, and he gritted his teeth in hatred. Wang Chen rubbed the teacup with his palm and sneered suddenly, ¡°Actually, it isn¡¯t difficult to teach that kid a lesson. Doesn¡¯t he want to win people¡¯s hearts in the Wind Pavilion? I have a way to make him miserable.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Chen Beifeng looked at Wang Chen. Although in his view the things that Zhou Yuan had done could be sorted out after he became the pavilion master, it would indeed save him some energy if Wang Chen had the means to suppress Zhou Yuan in advance. Wang Chen smiled slightly. ¡°In fact, it¡¯s very simple.¡± He held out his palm and placed a jade bamboo slip inscribed with Genesis runes on the table. Chen Beifeng took a look and asked, puzzled, ¡°This is the Mark Capturing Rune produced by your Fire Pavilion?¡± When training in the Four Spirits Origin Tower, the burned origin coins could attract objects similar to the astral spirit wind, which contained Genesis marks. But in truth, almost less than half of the Genesis marks contained in the astral spirit wind drawn over remained in the body. The rest were scattered with the wind. This undoubtedly resulted in a reduction in the efficiency of gathering Genesis marks. But the Mark Capturing Rune produced by the Fire Pavilion could slightly make up for the loss. As long as the rune was imprinted on the body before origin coins were burned, the Mark Capturing Rune would form a mysterious net in the body that would capture Genesis marks when things like astral spirit wind passed through the body. It was estimated that a Mark Capturing Rune could last for an hour and increase the number of Genesis marks left in the body by about 20%. That 20% shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. If accumulated over a long period of time, the number of Genesis marks could reach an astonishing level. Therefore, the Mark Capturing Runes sold very well in all four pavilions. The members of the Fire Pavilion were also treated much better than the other three pavilions. After all, one Mark Capturing Rune cost half an origin coin, and they were sold in pairs. The other three pavilions had thought of ways to copy it, but the Mark Capturing Rune was extremely delicate and once disassembled, would automatically break down, making it difficult for people to know its principle. So over time, the Mark Capturing Rune became unique to the Fire Pavilion. Wang Chen fiddled with the jade bamboo slip with a smile. ¡°Our Fire Pavilion can give you the selling rights of the Mark Capturing Rune in Wind Pavilion. In the future, if the people of the Wind Pavilion want to buy the Mark Capturing Rune, they can only buy it from you. As to what conditions you should set for buyers, you must know already?¡± Chen Beifeng¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°You mean not to sell to people supporting Ye Bingling and Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°Haha, it¡¯s not that you don¡¯t sell it. After all, no one refuses to accept origin coins, but you can treat them differently. You can charge your people the original price, and double the price for their people.¡± Wang Chen grinned. ¡°Do you think that it is better to please Ye Bingling and Zhou Yuan or to have more origin coins? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s hard to decide.¡± Chen Beifeng also couldn¡¯t help laughing. ¡°So, it won¡¯t be a few days before the people¡¯s hearts garnered by Ye Bingling and Zhou Yuan fall apart! If the two try to forcibly stop them, they will instead anger them.¡± He gave a thumbs up to Wang Chen and exclaimed, ¡°Brother Wang¡¯s move is certainly going to make things difficult for them.¡± Without using force, Wang Chen¡¯s move could make Ye Bingling and Zhou Yuan extremely uncomfortable, like a caterpillar stuck in a spider web. ¡°In the face of absolute power, their little tricks have no significance. ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to do this, but that Zhou Yuan is really annoying. If I don¡¯t teach him a lesson, people would really think that I, a deputy pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion, am just a decoration.¡± Wang Chen chuckled. Chen Beifeng raised his wine cup to Wang Chen. Although the plan had yet to be implemented, he could already imagine the ugly faces of Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling and couldn¡¯t help but grin. Chapter 804 Wind Island’s Situation Zhou Yuan looked at the Wind Spirit Rune flashing an azure color on his arm. It was already 40% complete. If other people were to see this speed, they would have been ecstatic, but Zhou Yuan seemed a little troubled. This was because he had already used up more than 300 origin coins. And there were still three days before the next month¡¯s pay! In other words, for the next three days, he wouldn¡¯t be able to come to the wind district to practice again, and even if he received next month¡¯s salary, it would only be 80 origin coins. Given his consumption speed, it would most likely be used up in a few days. The lack of origin coins had become Zhou Yuan¡¯s biggest constraint. Zhou Yuan in the end could only let out a long sigh. He stood up, and his figure streaked across the air. Without any origin coins it was useless to stay any longer in the wind district. Zhou Yuan left the wind district and the Four Spirit Origin Tower and headed straight for the Wind Pavilion. Zhou Yuan returned to Wind Island but noticed that the atmosphere was somewhat strange. Many people wore an anxious expression, especially when they saw Zhou Yuan, and their expressions turned a little complicated, their gazes becoming evasive. Zhou Yuan ran his eyes over those slightly familiar people and frowned slightly. His footsteps halted suddenly when he saw a group of people not far away. The leader was Jin Teng, who seemed to be advertising something. When Jin Teng saw him, a gloating expression immediately surfaced on his face. Then he left with the group of people in a great mood. What happened? Zhou Yuan thought to himself and then quickly rushed to the small building. And when he reached the small building, he stood stunned for a moment because he saw three figures standing in front of the building. They were Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan, all with solemn expressions on their faces. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Yuan quickly darted forward. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re finally out!¡± Yi Qiushui exclaimed when she saw Zhou Yuan. ¡°Something big has happened!¡± ¡°Slowly tell me.¡± Zhou Yuan tried to calm her down. Ye Bingling came forward, her beautiful face covered with frost. She explained, ¡°Today, the Fire Pavilion announced that they will temporarily transfer the selling rights of the Mark Capturing Rune in the Wing Pavilion to Chen Beifeng. If the people of the Wind Pavilion want to make a purchase they will have to ask Chen Beifeng. But Chen Beifeng has let out word that anyone who supports you and me will have to pay double the price; otherwise, they won¡¯t sell to them!¡± Of course, he also understood that he was only a special case and that not everyone was able to bring their Spirit to the Transformative stage while in the Divine Dwelling stage. More ordinary people needed Mark Capturing Runes to improve their efficiency, so he was well aware of its importance to others. It could be said to be a necessity. The price of a Mark Capturing Rune was half an origin coin, and they were sold in pairs. The price didn¡¯t seem too high, but after long-term use, it would become a huge consumption. According to speculation, a normal person would spend about five origin coins every month to buy Mark Capturing Runes. How many people were there in the Four Pavilions? Adding it all up, it was undoubtedly a pretty terrifying number. So if the price was doubled, it would undoubtedly become a huge burden for the average person. Chen Beifeng¡¯s move was indeed ruthless and was, obviously, a fierce counterattack against Zhou Yuan¡¯s recent action. ¡°It¡¯s that Wang Chen?¡± A cold light flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Only the deputy pavilion master Wang Chen of the Fire Pavilion had the right to transfer part of the sellings rights to Chen Beifeng. Ye Bingling nodded, her brows scrunched in worry. ¡°Mark Capturing Runes are very important. This matter has just come out, but it has already caused a commotion in the Wind Pavilion. Many people are very dissatisfied, but they can¡¯t do anything. In the long term, it would no doubt affect the people¡¯s heart.¡± Although Ye Bingling now had many supporters, she was not blind. There was no way she could let everyone who supported her gain even one extra origin coin a month. However, the people who supported her now would suffer the loss of five origin coins every month. Perhaps a very small number of diehard supporters would grit their teeth and persist, but the vast majority would choose to leave because this was the human heart. If this situation were to continue, even if Ye Bingling really defeated Chen Beifeng the next month and won the pavilion master position, the situation would still be a little awkward. Zhou Yuan also understood the seriousness of the matter. He scrunched his brows and asked, ¡°Who made the Mark Capturing Rune?¡± ¡°It was the Fire Pavilion¡¯s deputy pavilion master Zhu Liang, the true number two of the Fire Pavilion, and he¡¯s second only to the Fire Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master, Lu Xiao.¡± Ye Bingling¡¯s pretty face was full of jealousy and seriousness when she said, ¡°Although his strength is only at the initial Divine Dwelling stage, his Spirit has already reached the Transformative stage. He is very skilled in Genesis Runes and all the Mark Capturing Runes produced by the Fire Pavilion are made in his hands.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat surprised. In the four pavilions, besides him, there was someone who could cultivate their Spirit to the Transformative stage? The younger generation of the Tianyuan Region was indeed impressive. ¡°Do you have any Mark Capturing Runes on you?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Liu Zhixuan immediately took out a few jade bamboo slips. Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful eyes flashed. ¡°You, do you intend to reproduce the Mark Capturing Runes?¡± Ye Bingling shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s no use. Mark Capturing Runes are the foundation of the Fire Pavilion. Once disassembled or detected, the Genesis Runes will automatically break down. It has been tried before.¡± ¡°I will first observe it to see if I can find anything. Mark Capturing Runes might not be exclusive to only the Fire Pavilion,¡± Zhou Yuan said after pondering a while. In the previous moment, when he had calculated the number of origin coins that the Fire Pavilion earned from the four pavilions each month, he couldn¡¯t help feeling tempted. He didn¡¯t expect to find such a profiteering business from the four pavilions. If he could have even a small piece of the pie, the origin coins earned would be able to fully satisfy his consumption. He was originally having a headache about how to obtain a stable source of origin coins, but the Fire Pavilion¡¯s actions had made him pay attention to the little Mark Capturing Runes that he had overlooked. Ye Bingling felt a little helpless when she saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s unwillingness to give up; she knew very well the importance of the Mark Capturing Runes to the Fire Pavilion. Over the years, the reason the Fire Pavilion had been able to attract many heaven prides to join was because of their salary. And where did the salary come from? It was all earned from the Mark Capturing Runes. So towards this important product, they had done an excellent job of keeping it secret. At this moment, she thought Zhou Yuan was doing something useless. Zhou Yuan smiled. He knew he had to give Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the others a little confidence, so he stretched out his palm, and an invisible flame rose in his hand. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Ye Bingling¡¯s beautiful eyes froze, and then she exclaimed, ¡°Spirit flame? Your Spirit has also reached the Transformative stage?!¡± Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan both stood dumbfounded. In these four pavilions, even if there was an expert of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, they wouldn¡¯t cause a stir, but it was incredibly rare to find someone with a Spirit of the Transformative stage. They didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan, who had never revealed his Spirit before, to have quietly reached this state! ¡°I also have made some accomplishments in Genesis Runes.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°So let me study it a little first. If I can figure something out, it will not only deal with Chen Beifeng¡¯s scheme but may also bring huge benefits to our Wind pavilion in the future.¡± Ye Bingling and the others looked at each other and eventually nodded. They had no other option. Yi Qiushui hesitated and then finally said through gritted teeth, ¡°Then you...should try it first. The situation in the Wind Pavilion, we will try to stabilise it as much as possible, but you should also know that we may not last for long.¡± Zhou Yuan simply smiled at them and didn¡¯t say anything more. He took the Mark Capturing Runes and turned into the small building. Watching his figure disappear inside, Ye Bingling and the others looked at one another and then let out a long sigh. In truth, even if Zhou Yuan possessed a Spirit of the Transformative stage, it still wouldn¡¯t be easy to solve the problem. After all, there had also been people from the four pavilions with Spirit of the Transformative stage before, but in the end nobody was able to unravel the mystery of the Mark Capturing Rune. Chapter 805 Derive However, as soon as the wisp of Spirit power entered, it triggered a very sensitive reaction. A subtle power erupted from the bamboo slip, and within seconds, the Genesis Rune on the scroll rapidly faded like melting snow. ¡°The self-destruct setting is so sensitive.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed, but he wasn¡¯t too surprised. After all, this was only his first attempt. If it were that simple, he would find it even more unbelievable. He crushed the jade bamboo slip and took out another Mark Capturing Rune. Zhou Yuan directly shattered the bamboo slip against his chest, and suddenly a beam of light erupted out, gradually forming a bizarre Genesis Rune on his chest. The Genesis Rune penetrated right into his flesh and blood, and streams of light spread around to form a strange network, like a cobweb at a glance. The cobweb spread all over his upper body, and each connection was very clever. Although it looked extremely fragile and didn¡¯t seem to have any defense or attack power, Zhou Yuan knew that if he was in the Four Spirits Origin Tower, there would be cobwebs stuck inside his body once this Genesis Rune penetrated his body. ¡°What a marvelous Genesis Rune.¡± Zhou Yuan marveled as he observed with his Spirit and nodded repeatedly. The Mark Capturing Rune appeared simple but was in fact very complicated because the veins were changing constantly, which was also the main reason why it was difficult to reproduce. Moreover, Zhou Yuan keenly felt that he needed to use some kind of special material as the medium to engrave the Mark Capturing Rune, but he couldn¡¯t figure out the specific materials. This was presumably the Fire Pavilion¡¯s biggest secret. If he was to reproduce the Mark Capturing Rune, he had to figure out what the materials were, and that was obviously not an easy thing to do. Moreover, the Mark Capturing Rune was so fragile it would crumble with the slightest touch. This was the reason why Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t let his Spirit penetrate it directly for observation. After an hour, Zhou Yuan retracted his Spirit and saw that the Mark Capturing Rune had gradually faded from his chest. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face took on a thoughtful expression. In truth, the principles of the Mark Capturing Rune weren¡¯t particularly complex, but some of the key areas were indeed difficult to figure out, such as the special materials contained. Therefore the difficulty in reproducing it was quite high. Adding to this, because Yaoyao, a Genesis Rune master, was always around him, his mastery in Genesis Runes had constantly deepened. Since someone of the Fire Pavilion with a Spirit of the Transformative stage could produce the Mark Capturing Rune, he believed he could also do the same. However, thinking of Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly dimmed a little. If she were around, they could have solved the Mark Capturing Rune within minutes. ¡°Yaoyao, wait for me, I¡¯m trying my best. I¡¯m working hard to get the Ancestral Dragon Lantern and the ancestral dragon blood and flesh so that you can recover,¡± Zhou Yuan whispered to himself, his hands uncontrollably clenching tight. He really missed the days when Yaoyao and Tuntun were always beside him. Compared with those times, he was indeed a little lonely by himself in Hunyuan Heaven. But Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t a person who would be immersed in the past. He took a deep breath and suppressed the emotions in his heart. Since he couldn¡¯t return to his previous life, he had to continue to work hard, rather than meaninglessly fantasising here. Zhou Yuan gradually closed his eyes, and the Spirit between his eyebrows began to flash again. He intended to try the deriving method to see if he could create a Genesis Rune with a similar effect to the Mark Capturing Rune. Zhou Yuan went into secluded cultivation and didn¡¯t appear for three days. And in these three days, the matter of the Mark Capturing Rune had caused a lot of storm. In order to calm the situation down, Ye Bingling almost had no time to train in the wind district. But even so, it wasn¡¯t of much use because origin coins were too important and the three years time limit meant that many people couldn¡¯t afford to waste any time. Some people who originally supported Ye Bingling were starting to waver. For this reason, Ye Bingling was exhausted and could only listen to the bad news that was constantly being reported. While Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the others were having a headache because of this matter, Chen Beifeng was grinning in another little building of the Wind Pavilion. Standing in front of the railing, he scanned over the members of the Wind Pavilion who had come to purchase the Mark Capturing Rune. Many of them were once Ye Bingling¡¯s supporters. It was clear that there weren¡¯t any supporters who could resist the temptation of origin coins. ¡°Brother Chen, in these three days, almost half of the people on Ye Bingling¡¯s side have left,¡± Jin Teng exclaimed joyfully. Chen Beifeng smiled. ¡°As time goes on, there will most likely only be two or three wild cats left on her side. ¡°After I defeat her at the pavilion master selection, I will like to see whether the ice beauty will surrender or not!¡± He was in high spirits, and the embarrassment he felt before because of Zhou Yuan had vanished. ¡°By the way, where¡¯s Zhou Yuan?¡± Chen Beifeng suddenly asked. Jin Teng grinned. ¡°I heard that he has been hiding in a building for several days and hasn¡¯t appeared once. He must have no face to show up. After all, this situation is now a mess. It will be better to pretend to know nothing and hide.¡± ¡°Ye Bingling is really blind to support him so much.¡± Chen Beifeng shook his head, saying disdainfully, ¡°That wretch who doesn¡¯t know the immensity of the sky has finally realised that he has kicked an iron plate? Hmph, it¡¯s too late now! ¡°Ignore him for now. When I become the pavilion master, I will find a way to remove him from the deputy pavilion master position. He had offended and angered me, Chen Beifeng. He thinks the deputy pavilion master identity can protect him?¡± ¡°Then congratulations to the new pavilion master in advance.¡± Jin Teng smiled, his eyes flashing with hatred. When that guy loses the position of deputy pavilion master, I will be sure to humiliate him properly. ¡°Continue to advertise the Mark Capturing Rune. Let¡¯s see how many more days they can hold on.¡± Chen Beifeng clapped Jin Teng on the shoulder and then turned into a building. When Zhou Yuan¡¯s attempts at deriving the Mark Capturing Rune reached the fifth day, his closed eyes finally slowly opened. Chapter 806 Divine Ligh Where the tip of the brush past, mysterious Genesis marks formed. These Genesis marks intertwined, and they linked or combined together. In the blink of an eye, thousands of changes occurred. Countless traces of Genesis marks gathered gradually, as though forming a mysterious painting in front of Zhou Yuan. At this moment he was like a painter, constantly repairing flaws to create a complete drawing. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were extremely focused. The Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand brought up blurred images as it swiftly moved but sometimes froze. It was only after a long while did he slowly drop his brush. With great difficulty, a mysterious Genesis mark was outlined. Half a day passed by very quickly. Beads of sweat constantly surfaced on Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead, and countless Genesis marks reflected in his eyes. His Spirit power was activated to its peak, continuously carrying out derivations. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Yuan brush finally stopped. He gasped heavily. He gazed at the void in front where a light rune of around half a foot was suspended in the air. The light rune was obscure and complex, and each veined pattern was formed from countless Genesis marks. It was a Genesis Rune prototype and the result of Zhou Yuan¡¯s derivations over the past few days. ¡°This Genesis Rune is just a shell, but it is a little more marvelous than the Mark Capturing Rune,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered, his voice slightly proud because he had confidence in his mastery of Genesis Runes. After all, he had gone through Yaoyao¡¯s strict supervision! ¡°But¡­¡± Zhou Yuan knit his brows into a frown. The structure of the Genesis Rune had been formed, but it still lacked a core, the most important part of the rune and the most difficult requirement to fulfill. For example, the core of the Mark Capturing Rune was a mysterious material that the Fire Pavilion was extremely secretive about. Only by using this material as the core could the Genesis Rune ultimately have an effect. Since Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t know what the core of the Fire Pavilion¡¯s Mark Capturing Rune was, he had to find a substitute, but it was also the most difficult task to accomplish. In order to figure out what wonderful object could capture Genesis marks, the Fire Pavilion had to have gone through countless trials to complete the Mark Capturing Rune. ¡°But I don¡¯t have that much time¡­¡± Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows. Given the present situation, the longer time was dragged on, the stronger Chen Beifeng would grow. Several different materials flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, but in the end they were all thrown out because they weren¡¯t suitable. Time flashed by. The night sky shrouded the earth. Zhou Yuan was still sitting on the bed with bloodshot eyes, constantly muttering to himself. In the end, he sighed with disappointment and fell powerlessly on the bed. He had derived a new structure for the Genesis Rune but had been stopped at the problem of a lack of core materials. At this time he truly felt exhausted. It was no wonder that the Mark Capturing Rune could dominate the four pavilions. It was indeed unique. ¡°If I can¡¯t figure it out, I can only wait until next month to defeat Chen Beifeng¡­¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. He didn¡¯t believe that Chen Beifeng would still dare to leap after he beat him. It was just that if he couldn¡¯t solve the problem of the Mark Capturing Rune, even if he became the pavilion master, he would still suffer some constraints. And there was a possibility that Wang Chen would directly block the sale of Mark Capturing Runes to the Wind Pavilion if Zhou Yuan became the pavilion master. At that time the members of the Wind Pavilion would no doubt be unhappy with him. Zhou Yuan felt a little suffocated when he thought of this. The feeling of having his throat choked by others was really uncomfortable. After all, he couldn¡¯t always ask senior sister Chi Jing for help, right? Zhou Yuan sat up and gritted his teeth. He closed his eyes and operated the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualization Method to restore his consumed Spirit power. He intended to continue into the night! Boom! When the divine grindstone in his mind rotated, mysterious roars echoed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit stood before the divine grindstone, peering up at the huge divine grindstone. As the divine grindstone crushed down, Zhou Yuan felt a beam of light flashing in his heart. PA! The whole bed collapsed. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were blazing with joy because he had caught the divine light! This is¡­the wind spirit rune¡¯s mother body engraved in the depths of the wind layer in the wind district! The Genesis marks contained in the astral spirit wind were all reproduced from the mother body of the wind spirit rune. The relationship between the two was like a mother and a child. There was a very mysterious connection and attraction between the two. If¡­if he could copy a trace of the aura of the wind spirit rune¡¯s mother body and use it as the core of his new Genesis Rune, once activated, it would inevitably form a great attraction to the wind spirit rune¡¯s Genesis marks! And that effect would definitely be stronger than the Mark Capturing Rune¡¯s! This was because the Mark Capturing Rune was only passively waiting for Genesis marks to come and adhere to it by luck. But with the aura of the wind spirit rune¡¯s mother body, the Genesis marks would inevitably be drawn to it like a moth to a flame! One was passive, the other active! In the world, there was no other material that could attract Genesis marks of the wind spirit rune better than the aura of the wind spirit rune¡¯s mother body! ¡°Found it!¡± Zhou Yuan did not stop trembling. ¡°This is it! This is it!¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head and laughed. The next moment he transformed into a beam of flowing light, left Wind Island and came to the wind district. He couldn¡¯t wait to test its effect. After entering the wind district, Zhou Yuan again operated the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualization Method. Not to his surprise, when the rumbling noise sounded, there was a response from the outside world. It was the mottled divine grindstone behind the wind layer. A light glowed between Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows as his Spirit shot out and transformed into an invisible ball of light. It rapidly soared into the air and came to just below the wind layer. The wind layer started to swirl, forming a small wind tunnel. ¡°Thank you, elder divine grindstone.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit slightly hesitated before it quickly entered the wind tunnel. As he passed the wind layer, the emptiness and chaotic space came into view. Within the chaos was the mottled divine grindstone that seemed to have existed since ancient times. Chapter 807 Mother Wind Rune After receiving Zhou Yuan¡¯s request, the divine grindstone didn¡¯t refuse. As long as it didn¡¯t touch on the question of principle, it generally wouldn¡¯t refuse Zhou Yuan¡¯s requests, because this was an order left by Cang Yuan when he had created it. In a sense, anyone who had practiced the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualization Method had the power to control it, but Zhou Yuan was now still too weak to do so. It was currently impossible for him. When the divine grindstone allowed Zhou Yuan¡¯s request, he immediately sat down happily. Then, his Spirit power gradually approached the mottled divine grindstone. As his Spirit power drew closer, Zhou Yuan could feel the terrifying oppressive power brought about by the divine grindstone. Even though the grindstone had deliberately reduced the pressure, it still made Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power tremble violently. It was as if his Spirit was about to fade. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan forcibly withstood its oppressive power, and his Spirit power eventually approached the wind spirit rune¡¯s mother body. With his Spirit power, he hovered around the mother body of the wind spirit rune, feeling its mysterious pulsing aura. This aura was a bit similar to the Genesis marks¡¯ of the wind spirit rune but much more vast. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power settled on top of the wind spirit rune¡¯s mother body, constantly familiarizing itself with the mother body¡¯s aura and operating marks. After almost half an hour, he finally withdrew his Spirit power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face took on a thoughtful expression. He stretched out his finger and trailed it across the air. Countless Genesis marks gushed out, gradually forming a complex and obscure Genesis Rune in the air. It was the Genesis Rune structure that he had spent a lot of time deriving. But because of the lack of a core material, the Genesis Rune remained lifeless. Zhou Yuan began to copy the aura of the wind spirit rune¡¯s mother body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit suddenly surged, and his Spirit power rapidly gathered in front of him. At the beginning, the copying consistently failed, but as he continued to fail, he became increasingly skilled at trying to copy it. After all, the body was in front of his eyes and he could correct the errors at any time. It was unknown how many failures happened before a subtle aura copied by his Spirit finally appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. ¡°Success!¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed, but he remained calm and focused. With a thought, the wisp of aura hovering in front of him drifted towards one of the Genesis Rune shells and landed in the most core area and settled itself in. Buzz! The moment it started to flow, the lifeless Genesis Rune immediately erupted in dazzling rays of light, as if it had been resurrected. Zhou Yuan operated his Spirit to slowly compress the Genesis Rune, and he eventually shrank it to the size of a fist. He quickly took out a blank jade bamboo slip and engraved the fist-sized Genesis Rune onto it. The new Genesis Rune that he had created finally formed! ¡°Finally succeeded¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face flushed with excitement. Immediately, his Spirit rolled up the jade bamboo slip, pierced through the wind layer and returned to the main body. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a test run!¡± Zhou Yuan rummaged through his spatial bag for a good while before finally finding a pitiful origin coin in a dark corner. It had to have been forgotten about. ¡°I am so poor already?¡± Zhou Yuan muttered, took it out and then quickly burned it. As the last origin coin was burned, an azure wind whizzed down from the sky. Zhou Yuan quickly shattered the jade bamboo slip to pieces. Rays of light surged, and a Genesis Rune appeared on his chest. It wasn¡¯t a net pattern like the Mark Capturing Rune, but it resembled a small vortex¡­ The astral spirit wind shrouded the area, and slashed his body like a blade. Zhou Yuan¡¯s concentrated intently. As wisps of astral wind slashed his body, he sensed the Genesis marks contained in the astral spirit wind. When they touched his flesh, the Genesis Rune vortex on his chest seemingly reacted. Then, Zhou Yuan distinctly felt that the astral spirit wind that passed his body had frozen for a moment. His eyes widened when he saw multiple tiny Genesis marks separate from the astral spirit wind and automatically plunge into the Genesis Rune vortex. Half an hour later, when the astral spirit wind dispersed, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes wide. ¡°The effect is nearly 50% higher than usual!¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed. It should be said that the Mark Capturing Rune only improved the effect by around 20%, while his Genesis Rune had an increase of 50%?! If the Genesis marks contained in each astral spirit wind was 100%, then 40% could be absorbed by the body without the use of any external objects. But with the help of the Mark Capturing Rune, this could reach 60%, and his Genesis Rune could increase the efficiency to 90%! That increase of 30% shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. Over time, it definitely wouldn¡¯t be a small amount. This effect simply surprised Zhou Yuan. ¡°Is this the difference between passive and active methods?¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but smack his lips. He had previously speculated that using the aura of the wind spirit rune¡¯s mother body as the core of the Genesis rune might have a significant effect on the Genesis marks of the wind spirit rune, but he had still underestimated the attractive force of the mother body¡¯s aura to the Genesis marks of the wind spirit rune. ¡°Fifty percent is too high, this should be because my copy of the wind spirit rune¡¯s mother body is too perfect. If I were to produce the Genesis Runes on a large scale in the future, it doesn¡¯t need to be so perfect. Otherwise, it would waste my energy and time.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered. The effect of the Mark Capturing Rune was only 20%, so he felt that he could suppress the effect of his Genesis Rune to 40% for selling. As for those with 50% effect, he could give it to some trustworthy people, such as Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui, and Liu Zhixuan¡­ Overall, this was a success. Zhou Yuan revealed a relieved expression and then sat cross-legged again. His Spirit broke out, passed through the wind layer and arrived at the divine grindstone. He needed to mass produce the runes for the following day. So, for the rest of the night, Zhou Yuan constantly copied the aura of the wind spirit runes¡¯ mother body and then created pieces of new jade bamboo slips engraved with Genesis Runes. When early morning came, more than two hundred jade bamboo slips were floating in front of him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit reached out its palm and clasped a jade bamboo slip. He peered down at the Genesis Rune engraved on it, and a satisfied smile curved his lips. ¡°I haven¡¯t named it yet¡­ Chapter 808 Shock Ye Bingling sat upright; her beautiful face looked a little haggard, and her tightly clamped lips revealed that she was in a very bad mood. And beside her, in addition to Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan, were more than a dozen of figures with a darkened face. These people were Ye Bingling¡¯s core supporters, who also occupied a high position in the Wind Pavilion. Ye Bingling rubbed her beautiful brows and ran her eyes across the crowd, asking suddenly, ¡°Where is Li Jian?¡± Some of their expressions changed. It was after a moment when someone suppressed his anger and replied, ¡°That bastard has joined Chen Beifeng¡¯s side.¡± Ye Bingling couldn¡¯t help clenching her beautiful hands. Her countenance turned cold, and in the end, she slammed the table without saying anything. Anyone could tell that Ye Bingling was inwardly furious, because Li Jian was one of Ye Bingling¡¯s only two supporters before Zhou Yuan had come to the Wind Island. She wouldn¡¯t be so furious if it was someone else who had chosen to support Chen Beifeng for the benefits of the Mark Capturing Runes. After all, they hadn¡¯t received any real benefits from her. They only supported her because of her charm, but Li Jian was different. If it weren¡¯t for her, it would have been impossible for Li Jian to become a commander. She didn¡¯t expect the person who had received great favours from her to betray her for Mark Capturing Runes. It should be said that even Xiao Hong, Li Fa and Lu Mingyue¡ªthe latest to join them¡ªdid not show signs of wavering as of yet. ¡°Ingrate!¡± someone hissed. ¡°Commander Li Jian most likely had the intention to change sides long ago, and the Mark Capturing Rune was just an excuse,¡± Yi Qiushui said softly. The others were even more furious when they heard her, and even Ye Bingling couldn¡¯t help but grit her teeth in anger. But in the end, Ye Bingling could only let out a long sigh. Given the present situation, there was simply nothing she could do. The influence of the Mark Capture Runes was indeed too great for ordinary members. Now, she could only wait for the pavilion master selection. If she won and obtained the position of pavilion master, she could directly order a stop to Chen Beifeng¡¯s actions. But...it wouldn¡¯t be that easy to beat Chen Beifeng in the pavilion master selection. ¡°Where¡¯s Zhou Yuan?¡± Ye Bingling asked. Yi Qiushui gave a bitter smile. ¡°It seems he is still in secluded cultivation. I haven¡¯t heard anything from him.¡± Hearing this, some of Ye Bingling¡¯s hardcore supporters couldn¡¯t help remarking in a dissatisfied tone, ¡°Deputy pavilion master Zhou is too unreliable. He is clearly the one who had angered Wang Chen, but he has hidden himself when something has happened...¡± Ye Bingling waved her hand and said, ¡°There¡¯s no use saying such meaningless words now. Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t hiding. He is just trying to figure out the mystery of the Mark Capturing Rune and then reproduce it.¡± The others looked at one another and in the end shook their heads with wry smiles. ¡°If the Mark Capturing Rune is so easy to recreate, how could the Fire Pavilion become so powerful?¡± And how could they end up in such a miserable state? Deputy pavilion master Zhou was too naive. Ye Bingling also sighed inwardly. In truth, she also didn¡¯t have too much expectation for Zhou Yuan. It was inevitable that she felt a little disappointed since there hadn¡¯t been any news of him in days. ¡°Never mind, let Chen Beifeng do what he wants for the time being. When the pavilion master selection comes, we will decide the winner and the loser.¡± Ye Bingling forcibly mustered her energy. Everybody nodded silently. There was nothing else they could do. Ha. But at this moment, the living room door suddenly swung open, and a figure strode in with a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t like to endure. If there is enmity, I have to get revenge right away.¡± Everybody turned around to see Zhou Yuan, who had been absent for days. Ye Bingling rolled her eyes and said snappily, ¡°What else can you do if you don¡¯t endure it? Are you going to snatch their Mark Capturing Runes?¡± Zhou Yuan sat down on a chair next to Ye Bingling and stretched his waist, a trace of tiredness in his eyes. The last few days of deriving a similar rune had evidently exhausted him. He picked up a cup of tea and gulped it down completely. But when he set the cup down, he smelled a faint fragrance at the rim of the cup. He choked and looked up to see Ye Bingling¡¯s beautiful but cold eyes staring at him. Her beautiful hand against the table was also emitting cold frost. Evidently, the cup belonged to Ye Bingling. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you have been gone for several days, and as a result you have become leisurely and carefree.¡± Ye Bingling gritted her teeth. She really wanted to teach him a lesson. Zhou Yuan gave an embarrassed smile. ¡°Don¡¯t get angry...¡± He coughed and said, ¡°Also why would I take the Mark Capturing Runes? I don¡¯t want it even if they were to give me it as a gift.¡± Ye Bingling sneered, ¡°Stop talking big!¡± The others, including Yi Qiushui and Liu Zhixuan, were also somewhat speechless when they looked at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan smiled when he saw the puzzled and helpless gazes in the room. He took out a jade bamboo slip and placed it on the table. ¡°This is the ¡®Mother Wind Rune¡¯ that I created, and it also improves the efficiency of absorbing Genesis marks. ¡°The effect is greater than the Fire Pavilion¡¯s Mark Capturing Rune. Theirs have a 20% increase, but my Mother Wind Rune should be able to reach a 40% increase.¡± PA! As soon as his voice faded, a number of teacups could be heard shattering in the room. Everyone looked dumbfounded at Zhou Yuan. Even Ye Bingling gaped at him, and a stunned expression froze on her cold face. ¡°Mother Wind Rune?!¡± ¡°40%?!¡± It was only after several seconds that a number of exclamations of disbelief rang out. Everybody was incomparably stunned. ¡°You, what are you talking about?¡± Ye Bingling stared at the jade bamboo slip on the table, finding it hard to believe what Zhou Yuan said to be true. It was already unbelievable that Zhou Yuan could create a Genesis Rune that could absorb Genesis marks, but he had told them that the Genesis Rune he had created possessed double the effect of the Fire Pavilion¡¯s Mark Capturing Rune?! If it weren¡¯t for the trust Ye Bingling had in Zhou Yuan, she really would have thought he was deliberately playing with her. ¡°Zhou Yuan, in these days of secluded cultivation, you really created a Genesis Rune that can absorb Genesis marks?¡± Yi Qiushui also couldn¡¯t help asking. She was worried that Zhou Yuan was deliberately lying to reassure them. Noticing their suspicious gazes, Zhou Yuan also felt a little helpless. He didn¡¯t say anything more but flicked his fingers, sending a jade bamboo slip engraved with a Genesis Rune floating towards each person present. ¡°Go and try it in the wind district yourself. It won¡¯t take long.¡± Ye Bingling grabbed the bamboo jade slip. She gritted her teeth and warned, ¡°If I find out that you are tricking me, Zhou Yuan, you are dead!¡± She hurriedly got up to try it for herself. Otherwise, she really couldn¡¯t believe in Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. Yi Qiushui, Liu Zhixuan and the others also took one bamboo jade slip each and darted out. So, in the blink of an eye,the room was empty. Zhou Yuan was also a little depressed when he saw this. No one believed him? Even Yi Qiushui ran away so fast! He shook his head and sat there drinking tea alone. When he finished the pot of tea, the sound of Genesis Qi streaking through the air could be heard from outside again. Then, the door of the room slammed open, and Ye Bingling rushed in with a group of people. On their faces were looks of joy and excitement. Their eyes gathered on Zhou Yuan. At this moment, there was even a sparkle of light in the proud Ye Bingling¡¯s beautiful eyes. ¡°How was it? It¡¯s better than the Mark Capturing Rune, right?¡± Zhou Yuan put down the cup and asked curiously. After all, he hadn¡¯t tried it before himself. Everyone looked at him with blazing eyes and nodded enthusiastically. Xiao Hong couldn¡¯t help but exclaim with excitement, ¡°The Mark Capturing Rune compared to Brother Yuan¡¯s Mother Wind Rune is simply rubbish!¡± With the Mother Wind Rune, the efficiency of their cultivation in the future would undoubtedly greatly improve. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°These are the Mother Wind Runes for sale, so the effect is only 40%. Later I will produce some special Mother Wind Runes for you all. Its effect can be increased by another 10%.¡± He knew that those who remained here until now were all considered hardcore supporters, so he of course didn¡¯t mind giving them some sweetness. Everyone gasped with astonishment when they heard this. The blazing look in their eyes was already close to admiration and worship. The effect could be increased to 50%? What sort of Genesis Rune was that? Ye Bingling walked up to Zhou Yuan and sat down. She still had a slightly dazed expression, but in the end she still looked at Zhou Yuan, bit her red lips and complimented, ¡°Zhou Yuan...you are too amazing.¡± Even someone as prideful as Ye Bingling had no choice but to admit defeat. Zhou Yuan smiled and immediately placed the cup in his hand heavily on the table, his countenance turning cold. Chapter 809 Counterattack There was a constant stream of people forming a long queue and a very buzzing and lively atmosphere. Chen Beifeng stood on the second floor, watching the scene below with a wide smile. He also couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the attractive power of the Mark Capturing Rune. Most likely, nine out of ten people of the Wind Pavilion were currently gathered here. ¡°Li Jian, you really know how to adapt to circumstances.¡± Chen Beifeng titled his head and looked at a man behind him with a smile. The man¡¯s complexion was pale, his nose wide, and there was a serious expression on his face. When he heard what Chen Beifeng said, he bowed respectfully and revealed a humble smile. ¡°A good bird knows which tree to choose to live on. The entire Wind Pavilion belongs to the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master, and I just came to report in advance.¡± He implied Chen Beifeng would be the future pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion. Chen Beifeng gave a hearty laugh and pointed to Li Jian. ¡°You know how to talk.¡± ¡°Deputy pavilion master Ye Bingling won¡¯t be a match for you. I have tried to advise her, but she is too stubborn.¡± Chen Beifeng smiled. ¡°No hurry, she won¡¯t shed a tear until she sees the coffin.¡± Chen Beifeng ran his eyes across the long stream of people below and said proudly, ¡°The heart of the Wind Pavilion is now in my hands. No matter what they do now, they can¡¯t win against me.¡± Li Jian also nodded in agreement. As long as Chen Beifeng held the Mark Capturing Rune, he wouldn¡¯t be at a disadvantage. He knew about the attractive power of the Mark Capturing Rune, which was also why he had decided to abandon Ye Bingling and join Chen Beifeng¡¯s side. ¡°Actually, it was the new deputy pavilion master who created trouble for you. Otherwise your relationship with deputy pavilion master Ye Bingling wouldn¡¯t have become like this,¡± Li Jian uttered, a trace of jealousy flashing across his eyes. Ever since Zhou Yuan arrived at the Wind Pavilion, Ye Bingling had trusted him to the extreme, which had made Li Jian very uncomfortable. He had even persuaded Ye Bingling to keep away from Zhou Yuan when he angered Chen Beifeng and Wang Chen, but she had refused to listen and had even tried to protect Zhou Yuan. Ye Bingling¡¯s reckless behaviour was also one of the reasons for Li Jian¡¯s betrayal. Of course, there was also a man¡¯s jealousy, which outsiders wouldn¡¯t know about. Chen Beifeng¡¯s eyes turned biting cold when Zhou Yuan was mentioned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s just a grasshopper. He won¡¯t be jumping for long.¡± Feeling the icy coldness in Chen Beifeng¡¯s words, the corners of Li Jian¡¯s mouth curved upwards. He was very happy to see the new deputy pavilion master¡¯s misfortune. Chen Beifeng wrinkled his brows and beckoned Jin Teng over. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Before Jin Teng could speak, there were already some gasps of astonishment below. ¡°I heard that deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan has created a Genesis Rune that also has an effect on the wind spirit rune¡¯s Genesis marks, and its effect is 40%!¡± ¡°Forty percent?! How is that possible? Wouldn¡¯t that be twice as much as the Mark Capturing Rune?¡± ¡°That¡¯s nonsense, isn¡¯t it? Nobody has been able to reproduce the Mark Capturing Rune in so many years, let alone recreate a Genesis Rune that has an effect superior to the Mark Capturing Rune!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but the price is said to be the same as the Mark Capturing Rune!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling took people with them to sell it by the Wind Lake. It is said that the quantity isn¡¯t much.¡± ¡°Is this for real?¡± ¡°Go, go and see first!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± As the whispering spread, more wind pavilion members who had lined up to purchase Mark Capturing Runes continued to leave in droves. Soon, the small building¡¯s popularity reduced by at least half. On the second floor, as Chen Beifeng watched more and more people leave, his face darkened, and he immediately mocked, ¡°What is that Zhou Yuan doing? He thinks he can solve the problem by tricking people to the lake?¡± He didn¡¯t believe a word those people said! You created your own Genesis Rune? And the effect is twice as much as the Mark Capturing Rune?! You can only deceive children with that lie. The Mark Capturing Rune is the main reason for the growth of the Fire Pavilion in recent years. The Fire Pavilion made a huge amount of origin coins from the other three pavilions due to the Mark Capturing Rune. There are many people among the three pavilions who are envious of them. Haven¡¯t many tried to get rid of the suppression of the Mark Capturing Rune over all these years? But did anyone succeed in the end? Not one of them! But a new deputy pavilion master, who came to the Wind Pavilion less than one month ago, had said that he created a Genesis Rune that is twice as effective as the Mark Capturing Rune? Who do you think you can deceive?! Are all the people stupid? They even believed that? However, as more and more people below left, a flame of anger began to rise in Chen Beifeng¡¯s heart. He kicked the door and left it shattered in pieces. Perhaps even he himself didn¡¯t realise that his heart was palpitating with the truth he dared not believe. ¡°Deputy pavilion master, do we need to see what trick Zhou Yuan is playing?¡± Jin Teng whispered, his eyes flashing with suspicion. Li Jian also nodded. ¡°Zhou Yuan is clearly deceiving people. It is absolutely impossible that he created a Genesis Rune better than the Mark Capturing Rune!¡± Chen Beifeng¡¯s countenance turned cold. Immediately he waved his hand and commanded, ¡°Go, let¡¯s go, if this boy is spreading false news, I will make him suffer the consequence!¡± As his voice faded, his figure had already soared to the sky with Jin Teng, Li Jian and others closely following behind. In the middle of Wind Island was a huge lake. It was like a mirror surrounded by an endless training ground. But at this moment, on a square near the lake was a crowd of people, and in the distance were silhouettes breaking through the air from time to time. All the people who came gathered around the center of the square where a small shed was built. Zhou Yuan, Ye Bingling and others were standing behind the shed, and on the stone platform in front of them was a jade bamboo slip engraved with a Genesis Rune. It was the Mother Wind Rune. Around the shed were crowds of people, but they were all suspiciously studying the jade bamboo slip, and nobody had come forward yet. Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across the crowd and spoke in a loud and clear voice. ¡°Everybody, the Genesis Rune I created is called the Mother Wind Rune. I have made it very clear before that within the wind district, it can increase the absorption effect of the wind spirit rune¡¯s Genesis marks to 40%. The price is the same as the Mark Capturing Rune.¡± The crowd broke into commotion. Everybody was shocked by what he said, but among those shocked, there were more people sceptical. After all, a 40% effect was really amazing and double that of the Mark Capturing Rune. ¡°Hmph, that¡¯s nonsense!¡± A cold snort suddenly sounded as silhouettes descended from the sky, led by Chen Beifeng. Chen Beifeng fixed a cold stare at Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling. ¡°The Mark Capturing Rune is unique in the four pavilions. Can I ask how long deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan took to create the Mother Wind Rune?¡± Zhou Yuan faintly smiled. ¡°Four or five days.¡± Chen Beifeng burst into laughter, ¡°You created a Genesis Rune superior to the Mark Capturing Rune in four or five days?! I think you have lost your mind!¡± The others looked at each other, the doubt in their eyes growing stronger. They of course knew how many Genesis masters had tried to recreate the Mark Capturing Runes over the years. But in the end they all failed, and the Mark Capturing Rune remained standing to that day. That was the reason for the Fire Pavilion¡¯s strong foundation. But Zhou Yuan had said that he created a Genesis Rune stronger than the Mark Capturing Rune in just four or five days? ¡°Everyone, deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan must have been too anxious and desperate that he had to do this. But don¡¯t worry, if someone is deceived by him, just tell me. I, Chen Beifeng, will teach him a lesson today!¡± Chen Beifeng shouted righteously. The crowd broke into cheers, making Chen Beifeng¡¯s figure appear imposing and outstanding. Zhou Yuan watched Chen Beifeng¡¯s performance with a disgusted look on his face and was too lazy to say anything. Instead he said to the crowd, ¡°Some people have taken some free Mother Wind Runes to the wind district and will be back soon.¡± He also knew how unbelievable it was to create the Mother Wind Rune in just a few days, so he didn¡¯t blame anyone for not believing him. So for the moment, it was useless to say anything else, and he should instead let the facts speak for themselves. Chen Beifeng frowned. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude made a hint of uneasiness surface in the depths of his heart. But he still gritted his teeth and turned to say to Ye Bingling, who hadn¡¯t uttered a word. ¡°Deputy pavilion master Ye, you are one of the seasoned members of our Wind Pavilion, but you¡¯re also playing along with this boy¡¯s nonsense?¡± But Ye Bingling didn¡¯t pay any attention to him and continued to stare at Li Jian beside him with frosty eyes. Li Jian felt a little uncomfortably when he met Ye Bingling¡¯s gaze. He immediately glanced at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Deputy pavilion master Ye, Zhou Yuan has lost his mind, you shouldn¡¯t follow him. Otherwise, you will also be affected.¡± Ye Bingling just glanced at him in disgust when she heard those words. Her gaze pierced Li Jian¡¯s heart like a knife. His eyes drooped, but a look of resentment shot out from his eyes. Stupid woman, your lie will be exposed later. Let¡¯s see whether or not you will have the face to participate in the pavilion master selection! Swoosh! Dozens of figures descended from the sky. Their faces were flushed, and their eyes seemed to be in a trance-like state. They were panting crazily, as if they had suffered some kind of strong shock. They were the ones who had taken the free Mother Wind Runes to test them. The others immediately frowned when they saw the expression on their faces. Could Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling really be playing tricks on them? Chen Beifeng was overjoyed to see their expressions. He looked at them with a gentle gaze and said solemnly, ¡°They tricked you? Don¡¯t worry. Don¡¯t be afraid because of their identities. I am here today. They won¡¯t dare to do anything!¡± However, the arriving people didn¡¯t pay attention to Chen Beifeng. They took a deep breath and roared with flushed faces, ¡°The Mother Wind Rune is invincible! ¡°The 40% effect isn¡¯t a lie! ¡°The Mark Capturing Rune can¡¯t be compared to it!¡± As uncontrollable roars rang out, the commotion in the square suddenly halted. Chapter 810 The Influence of the Mother Wind Rune Deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan had truly created a Genesis Rune stronger than the Mark Capturing Rune?! Seeing that the dozens of testers had returned, all eyes were blazing to the point that they almost melted Zhou Yuan. All members of the Wind Pavilion could feel their hearts pounding wildly. If this was true¡­then in the Four Pavilions, there was going to be stormy waves! The icy cold Chen Beifeng also gradually awakened; his mouth was dry as he let out a shrill laughter and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Did you invite these people here to act?¡± He was still making the final struggle. But this time nobody agreed with him because many knew that of the dozens of people who had returned, many had always kept a neutral position in the Wind Pavilion. Given their character, they wouldn¡¯t deliberately deceive the other people since the lie would be seen through very easily. Zhou Yuan also ignored him. He glanced around and said indifferently, ¡°The price of one Mother Wind Rune is half an origin coin and is sold in pairs. Because of the time limit, I have only produced two hundred. So if I were to sell it, it will be limited to two per person.¡± ¡°Due to the limited number, this time it will only be sold to some of our supporters or to neutral members. As for the people supporting deputy pavilion master Chen Beifeng, we will think about it later. ¡°In addition, we¡¯ll be able to make a lot of production later, and for some of our old friends, the price will be discounted.¡± While Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice faded, Chen Beifeng¡¯s face turned extremely ugly. Zhou Yuan was blatantly targeting them! Some of Chen Beifeng¡¯s supporters also had an abrupt change of expression. Moments ago they were still laughing at Zhou Yuan and the others, but who would have thought the situation would change in the blink of an eye? ¡°Let¡¯s get started.¡± Zhou Yuan clapped his hands. Boom! Clamour broke out, and crowds of people suddenly pounced over frantically. Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling stepped back quickly when they saw the frantic crowd, and Yi Qiushui brought people up to try to maintain order. He swept his eyes across the crowd and saw that Chen Beifeng¡¯s face had darkened frighteningly and that his eyes were fixed intently on him like a knife. But Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t afraid, and he responded with an indifferent smile. You brought everything on yourself! Two hundred Mother Wind Runes were sold out in a few minutes, and many people were left disappointed. But when Zhou Yuan promised that there would be more Mother Wind Runes the next day, the buzzing crowd gradually dispersed. Zhou Yuan was very calm because he knew that this was just an appetizer. As the news of the Mother Wind Rune spread out, it would no doubt defeat the Mark Capturing Rune and stop it from being sold in the Wind Pavilion in the future. Moreover, after gaining the experience of making Mother Wind Runes, he could even make Mother Fire Runes, Mother Forest Runes, and Mother Mountain Runes in the future¡­. At that time, there would no longer be a market for the Mark Capturing Rune in any of the four pavilions. Of course, a meal should be eaten a mouthful at a time. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t intend to release the other three Genesis Runes in one go at this time. At the very least, he had to wait until he became pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion first. As the crowd dispersed, Chen Beifeng stormed over with his people, glowering at Zhou Yuan as he remarked, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are indeed a genius.¡± It was clear that Zhou Yuan had a great mastery of Genesis Runes from the fact that he was able to toss out the Mother Wind Rune in just a few days of time. ¡°But¡­now that you have come up with the Mother Wind Rune, it is most likely going to bring you more trouble. I hope you won¡¯t regret it then,¡± Chen Beifeng said through gritted teeth before he turned away. It was just that his figure left awkwardly and in a sorry state. Zhou Yuan calmly gazed in the direction that they were leaving. He knew that the trouble that Chen Beifeng mentioned was connected to the Fire Pavilion. After all, the appearance of the Mother Wind Rune would steal the market from the Mark Capturing Rune. However, he hoped that the Fire Pavilion wouldn¡¯t do anything stupid. Otherwise if he was angered, he would bring out the other three mother runes, and the Mark Capturing Rune would really have to leave the market of the four pavilions. ¡­.. After the Mother Wind Rune was sold out within minutes, more and more people began to announce its effect, which shook the entire Wind Pavilion. Everybody was flushed with excitement as they discussed the same topic¡ªthe Mother Wind Rune! Its 40% improvement effect was undoubtedly a shock to everyone. If not confirmed through experience, some would still be unconvinced. What was a 40% effect? This would almost allow people to form the wind spirit rune in nearly half the time than before! And for the four pavilions, time was the most important thing. Because of the three-year time limit, many people in the four pavilions were racing against time. If the training time could be halved, how great of a benefit would that bring? Many people who weren¡¯t able to purchase Mother Wind Runes were filled with envy when they saw the people who had experienced the mysterious power of the Mother Wind Rune dancing in excitement. The growing excitement soon spread out of the Wind Pavilion and caused an even greater shock in the other three pavilions. Especially so in the Fire Pavilion. Many members of the Fire Pavilion looked puzzledly at each other. If the Mother Wind Rune really was as powerful as the rumours said, then nobody within the Wind Pavilion would ask for their Mark Capturing Rune anymore. This would undoubtedly have a huge impact on the Fire Pavilion. After all, the Fire Pavilion had always been treated far better than the other three pavilions because of the unique skill of the Mark Capturing Rune. But the new Mother Wind Rune had already appeared in the Wind Pavilion and was much more superior¡­ ¡­. In the next few days, as Zhou Yuan became more skilled, his daily production of the Mother Wind Rune reached an average of 1,000. However, even so, they were all rapidly sold out whenever they appeared. Its popularity was simply astonishing. And while the Mother Wind Rune was sold incredibly well in the Wind Pavilion, the sales of the Mark Capturing Rune plummeted. After all, many people would rather wait for the Mother Wind Rune the next day than to buy the Mark Capturing Rune again. When this information reached the Fire Pavilion, it undoubtedly shocked the higher-ups of the Fire Pavilion. Fire Island. The entire Fire Island was filled with a crimson red color and covered in flame stones emitting scorching heat that made the temperature around the island very high. At this moment, in a pavilion on the island, all the Fire Pavilion¡¯s commanders and deputy pavilion masters were gathered. Wang Chen was also present, but given his identity, he was only in the sixth position. The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat tense, and all eyes were on the two figures that were sitting upright. The one on the right was a young man in a white robe. His eyes were slightly red, and there was a strange fire lotus pattern between his eyebrows. He didn¡¯t have the slightest wave of Genesis Qi around him, but the oppressive pressure he exuded made everybody present look at him with awe. This was because he was the Fire Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master, Lu Xiao. He was also the person ranked highest among the young generation of the Tianyuan Region and was ranked ninth on the divine dwelling list of Hunyuan Heaven. In Lu Xiao¡¯s hand, there was a red fan gently tapping the palm of his hand. He tilted his head slightly and looked at the person beside him. It was a man in a red robe. The Genesis Qi exuded from his body wasn¡¯t particularly strong, but at the center of his brows was a divine light that revealed his powerful spirit cultivation level. Zhu Ling, the second strongest person of the Fire Pavilion and also the creator of the Mark Capturing Rune. In the quiet hall, Lu Xiao suddenly spoke. ¡°How is it?¡± Zhu Ling¡¯s slightly closed eyes slowly opened, and he placed a bamboo slip gently onto the table. His complexion didn¡¯t look too good, but in the end he slowly shook his head and said, ¡°The Mother Wind Rune has a self-destruct setting, which is extremely sensitive. I tried to study it, and it directly erased all the traces¡­but judging from the technique, this person has a good mastery of Genesis Runes.¡± ¡°The Mother Wind Rune¡­I can¡¯t recreate it.¡± There was anger and bitterness in his tone of voice. Chapter 811 Lu Xiao Wang Chen was silent for a good while before he said, ¡°Senior brother Zhu Lian, you are most proficient in Genesis Runes among the young generation of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. How can you not recreate the Genesis Rune that kid made casually?¡± ¡°From the structure of the Genesis marks of the Mother Wind Rune, that kid didn¡¯t mess around. Moreover, the grades of both the Mark Capturing Rune and the Mother Wind Rune aren¡¯t particularly high, but they are unusual. The reason I was able to create the Mark Capturing Rune back then was also because of a bit of luck,¡± Zhu Lian answered indifferently. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the fact that I had accidentally obtained the silk of a white spirit spider and incorporated it into the Mark Capturing Rune, it wouldn¡¯t have had such an effect.¡± Lu Xiao, to his right, whispered, ¡°Then what is the core of his rune? Is it also the white spirit spider¡¯s silk?¡± Zhu Lian shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s certainly not, but its Genesis marks are far stronger than the white spirit spider¡¯s silk. This is the main reason why the Mother Wind Rune is stronger than the Mark Capturing Rune. If we know what he¡¯s using as the core, it won¡¯t be hard to recreate the Mother Wind Rune.¡± ¡°The appearance of the Mother Wind Rune has cut the sales of the Mark Capturing Rune in the Wind Pavilion. In the long term, the loss of my Fire Pavilion will be extremely serious,¡± Lu Xiao said. He glanced at Wang Chen with his red eyes and asked, ¡°I heard you transferred the selling rights of the Mark Capturing Runes to Chen Beifeng, which forced Zhou Yuan to create the Mother Wind Rune?¡± Wang Chen quivered when he met Lu Xiao¡¯s gaze and quickly explained, ¡°Brother Lu Xiao, I received a message from teacher uncle Gu Xi that Zhou Yuan has angered our Heavenly Spirit Sect, and he wants me to find a chance to teach him a lesson.¡± ¡°What he should have angered was your Scarlet Flame Hall, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Lu Xiao frowned. There were nine halls in the Heavenly Spirit Sect, and Lu Xiao wasn¡¯t part of the Scarlet Flame Hall. But he also didn¡¯t say much about this. No matter what, the nine halls were all part of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, so he waved his hand and said, ¡°This matter started because of you, and it has made my Fire Pavilion suffer great losses. I have to punish you, so I will fine you two months of salary.¡± Wang Chen dared not object and just nodded bitterly. He immediately gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Then, what do we do about the Mother Wind Rune? If we really let that kid continue to sell it¡­¡± ¡°I have told you earlier to invite that Zhou Yuan over,¡± Lu Xiao said, his eyelids drooping slightly. ¡°I have sent someone to pass over the message, but the kid refused with the reason that he has to refine Mother Wind Runes and has no time,¡± Wang Chen explained. If that kid hadn¡¯t successfully created the Mother Wind Rune, then he, a deputy pavilion master, wouldn¡¯t be qualified to make all the higher-ups of the Fire Pavilion gather together to discuss him. There wasn¡¯t a ripple of expression on Lu Xiao¡¯s face, making it hard for people to see whether he was angry or happy. He lightly patted the palm of his hand with a red fan and said indifferently after a while, ¡°Since we can¡¯t invite deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan over, I¡¯ll just go to the Wind Pavilion to meet him in person.¡± ¡°Senior brother Lu Xiao, you have such an important identity, how can you lower yourself to see that kid? Give me a few more days, I¡¯ll make that boy come and see you!¡± Wang Chen persuaded in a dissatisfied tone. Lu Xiao smiled. ¡°Although a deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion doesn¡¯t have the qualification, the Mother Wind Rune does.¡± He stood up, his posture tall and straight, his aura extraordinary. In the depths of his red eyes, there was a condescending and indifferent look that came from possessing a high position. ¡°The Mother Wind Rune has made my Fire Pavilion lose origin coins each passing day. ¡°I¡¯ll go and talk to deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan first. If he gives face to me, that would of course be for the best. After all, harmony brings wealth.¡± When his laughter faded, his figure gradually blurred and disappeared from the hall. Wind District. On a bare mountain peak, Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged. But his Spirit had already left his body and was refining Mother Wind Runes behind the wind layer. In these few days he had spent the majority of his time refining Mother Wind Runes. The demand for Mother Wind Rune was extremely high during this period of time, but as time goes on, he shouldn¡¯t be so busy anymore. This refining consumed half a day of time. His Spirit finally descended and returned to his body. Descending with his Spirit was a large number of Mother Wind Runes. At a glance, there was most likely almost one thousand. With a wave of his sleeve, Zhou Yuan stored away the Mother Wind Runes. As he became more proficient, the refinement of Mother Wind Runes also became faster. ¡°More than 500 origin coins are earned each day. It¡¯s such a huge, sudden profit.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help sighing emotionally. In the past few days, the number of origin coins on him had already reached two thousand! He also shared the profit with Ye Bingling, Yi Qiuhui, Liu Zhixuan and others. And after creating the Mother Wind Rune, Zhou Yuan obviously was no longer troubled about origin coins. Now, every time he practiced, he could burn origin coins one after another! Of course, even though Zhou Yuan had spent the majority of his time refining Mother Wind Runes these days, the Wine Spirit Rune on the back of his hand had also quietly, without him noticing, reached 60% completion! According to this progress, it was very likely that he could refine a complete wind spirit rune before the pavilion master selection! If he were to complete a wind spirit rune in two months¡¯ time, that speed would most likely shock all four pavilions. A satisfied smile curved Zhou Yuan¡¯s lip. Just as he was about to get up, something caught his attention in the distance. He turned and saw that the air was rippling and a white robed figure was gradually emerging. ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± The white robe man peered at Zhou Yuan and smiled. Zhou Yuan swept a look over him, and a flicker of surprise came to his face. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you are pavilion master Lu Xiao of the Fire Pavilion?¡± Although he hadn¡¯t met Lu Xiao before, he had heard of his characteristics from Ye Bingling, which were a white robe and a flame lotus pattern at the center between his eyebrows. Of course, more importantly, Zhou Yuan could feel an extremely dangerous aura from Lu Xiao, which caused him to feel a tingling pain in his skin. Lu Xiao took one step forward and appeared directly in front of Zhou Yuan. He scanned Zhou Yuan up and down and smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there to be such a remarkable person in the Wind Pavilion.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Pavilion master Lu, did you come here for something?¡± He evidently didn¡¯t come to exchange pleasantries with him. Lu Xiao smiled when he heard this. ¡°The Mother Wind Rune that deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan created has caused heavy losses to the Fire Pavilion.¡± When he said these words, the surrounding Genesis Qi seemed to become hotter, and an oppressive pressure that made people breathless spread out. The Heavenly Serpent Qi within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was also activated. While deafening dragon roars rang inside his body, a Spirit light flashed between his brows. ¡°I apologise. But I shouldn¡¯t be blamed for having the ability to create Mother Wind Runes, right?¡± Lu Xiao waved his hand with a smile. ¡°To be able to create Mother Wind Runes is indeed because of your ability.¡± The powerful aura around his body slightly diminished. He stared at Zhou Yuan and chuckled, ¡°Actually I am here to ask you if you are interested in coming to my Fire Pavilion as a deputy pavilion master. You should know that the Fire Pavilion is now the leader of the four pavilions, and if I become the chief pavilion master of the four pavilions, the position of pavilion master will be vacant. At that time, that position may perhaps fall on your head.¡± He spoke in a casual tone and with a smile on his face. He didn¡¯t seem to worry that Zhou Yuan would decline, since anyone knew the gap between the Fire and Wind Pavilions. Additionally, he had thrown out the great temptation of becoming the Fire Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master, which ordinary people shouldn¡¯t be able to refuse. ¡°What does deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan think of this?¡± Zhou Yuan was indeed first taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected Lu Xiao to use the position of pavilion master to rope him in. But he immediately chuckled inwardly. If he were to join the Fire Pavilion, he would most likely have to hand over the refining method of the Mother Wind Rune. Lu Xiao was indeed cunning. In the end, he shook his head with a smile. Chapter 812 Crossing Swords with Lu Xiao He obviously didn¡¯t really take Zhou Yuan¡¯s answer seriously, but thought he used it as an excuse to refuse. After all, although Zhou Yuan had created the Mother Wind Rune, which could indeed prove his great mastery in Genesis Runes, it was still ridiculous if he thinks he was qualified to compete for the Chief pavilion master position because of that. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t explain too much. ¡°Deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan really doesn¡¯t want to think about the Fire Pavilion¡¯s offer?¡± Lu Xiao smiled as though he was joking. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t give face to the Fire Pavilion, you should at least give some face to me?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, but he felt a little annoyed inwardly. Lu Xiao seemed gentle, but his tone was prideful and condescending. Perhaps he had the right to be arrogant with his ability, but if he wanted Zhou Yuan to worship him because of this, then Lu Xiao had been thinking too much. ¡°Pavilion master Lu Xiao doesn¡¯t need to persuade me anymore. You should know that I was personally appointed by Lady Chi Jing to enter the Wind Pavilion as a deputy pavilion master. How could I join the Fire Pavilion?¡± Zhou Yuan calmly explained. However, when Lu Xiao heard this, he asked indifferently, ¡°So what? The current pavilion master of the Mountain Pavilion, Han Yuan, was once also a member of the Wind Pavilion and was thought highly of by Lady Chi Jing. But in the end he didn¡¯t choose that tree. If he had stayed in the Wind Pavilion, it would have been difficult for him to achieve his current achievements.¡± ¡°This kind of ungrateful action isn¡¯t worthy of mentioning,¡± Zhou Yuan remarked indifferently. Lu Xiao let out a smile. ¡°Deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan, he was just adapting to the circumstances.¡± Immediately his eyelids drooped, and his voice grew even more indifferent: ¡°Sometimes, if you go down the wrong path, even if you are the most outstanding heaven pride, you will disappear into the crowd.¡± Zhou Yuan, as though he didn¡¯t hear Lu Xiao¡¯s warning tone of voice, still shook his head calmly. Upon Zhou Yuan¡¯s repeated refusal, the smile on Lu Xiao¡¯s face faded, and his eyes narrowed. ¡°If deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t interested in my previous proposals, there is one more. I am indeed very interested in the Mother Wind Rune that you created. ¡°How about this, I¡¯ll give you 10,000 origin coins and you give me the method of refining the Mother Wind Runes. His purpose was now clearly revealed. Zhou Yuan sighed, ¡°Pavilion master Lu, I don¡¯t think your calculations are right. From selling Mother Wind Runes, I can earn hundreds of origin coins everyday. As long as this continues, in one month¡¯s time, I will have over ten thousand origin coins.¡± As for high-grade Genesis weapons, although they were rare, he already had the Heavenly Yuan Brush, which would soon advance another level. Therefore, Lu Xiao¡¯s offered conditions seemed great but were in truth lacking sincerity. ¡°One can never finish earning origin coins. Having enough origin coins for one¡¯s use is enough; it¡¯s not good being too greedy,¡± Lu Xiao said indifferently. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°Then it seems we don¡¯t agree. Sorry, please leave.¡± Lu Xiao fixed a cold stare at Zhou Yuan, but Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t afraid in the slightest. Zhou Yuan kept a calm and composed expression. What a joke. Although Lu Xiao claimed to be the strongest person of the Divine Dwelling stage amongst the young generation of the Tianyuan Region, he was only ranked ninth on the Divine Dwelling List of Hunyuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t even afraid of Wu Yao, who was ranked higher, so how could he be afraid of someone ranked ninth? He might not be able to win against him now, but he would never be afraid. The two stared at each other for a good while, and finally, Lu Xiao nodded expressionlessly. ¡°It¡¯s a pity we don¡¯t agree, but I still hope you can rationally think it through.¡± He stretched out his hand and patted Zhou Yuan on the shoulder. ¡°Young people shouldn¡¯t be too impulsive. If you change your mind, you can always come to the Fire Pavilion to find me.¡± When his voice faded, his figure rippled slightly and disappeared out of thin air. Zhou Yuan stared at the place where Lu Xiao vanished, and his eyes flashed with surprise. Lu Xiao¡¯s bodywork technique was quite mysterious. Since he was ranked ninth on the Divine Dwelling List, he indeed wasn¡¯t someone easy to deal with. ¡°I wonder how it compares to the Celestial Shadow Art?¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. The Celestial Shadow Art was naturally the bodywork Genesis technique of the Snow Lotus Peak of the Cangxuan Sect. Back then, Li Qingchan had also brought him many headaches using this technique. ¡°Bodywork techniques are indeed one of my flaws. When the pavilion master selection is over, I should also study the Celestial Shadow Art.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. Lu Xiao¡¯s bodywork Genesis technique made him remember the Celestial Shadow Art. Otherwise, if he had the chance to face Lu Xiao, he would be at a disadvantage if he only used the Ethereal Form. Having been rejected multiple times, Lu Xiao had spoken in a threatening tone of voice in the end, implying that he wouldn¡¯t leave this matter at that. But there was no way that Zhou Yuan would hand over the refining method for the Mother Wind Rune. Zhou Yuan sneered. Lu Xiao had better act wisely. Although the Mother Wind Rune had weakened the Fire Pavilion¡¯s income, it could only be considered superficial pain, not a pain that cut deeply. But if Lu Xiao really forced him to bring out the Mother Fire Runes, the Mother Forest Runes and the Mother Mountain Runes, the Fire Pavilion¡¯s business would really collapse. On a suspended stone platform at the wind district¡¯s exit. Lu Xiao¡¯s figure flashed out, and Chen Beifeng, who was waiting there, immediately greeted him with a respectful attitude. ¡°Pavilion master, what did Zhou Yuan say?¡± Chen Beifeng asked, evidently aware of Lu Xiao¡¯s purpose for coming to the wind district. Lu Xiao¡¯s handsome face was a little dark, but that faded very soon, and he answered indifferently, ¡°He refused.¡± Chen Beifeng was surprised. ¡°That boy is extremely daring!¡± he said through gritted teeth. This guy even dared to decline Lu Xiao¡¯s personal proposal. He is simply too arrogant. I have never seen anyone in the four pavilions who dared not give face to Lu Xiao. ¡°Capable people are bound to be arrogant.¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s face was expressionless, but a sarcastic smile tugged the corners of his mouth. In truth, when he said he would give the Fire Pavilion¡¯s position of pavilion master to Zhou Yuan, it was just bait. Even if Zhou Yuan were to come to the Fire Pavilion, he would at most be a deputy pavilion master. There was not much hope in him becoming the pavilion master. But to his surprise, Zhou Yuan was indifferent to the position. ¡°Then what?¡± Chen Beifeng sounded a little anxious. If Zhou Yuan was allowed to control the Mother Wind Runes, it would greatly affect his prestige in the Wind Pavilion. An icy coldness flashed across Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes as he uttered, ¡°Since he doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for him, he can¡¯t blame me for being ruthless. ¡°Chen Beifeng.¡± Chen Beifeng immediately responded. ¡°There is still more than half a month before the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master selection. This time you must win and make Zhou Yuan hand over the method of refining the Mother Wind Rune. He can¡¯t enjoy such an important object alone. ¡°If he keeps it to himself, it will inevitably arouse criticism. It¡¯s the same with the Mark Capturing Rune in the Fire Pavilion, which in fact, is used for the benefits of the members of the Fire Pavilion. ¡°When you get the refining method of the Mother Wind Rune, you can secretly leak it and then find someone to spread rumours that Zhou Yuan was dissatisfied with handing over the refining method and had deliberately leaked it. This way, he would lose his place in the Wind Pavilion.¡± Hearing Lu Xiao speak so nonchalantly, Chen Beifeng felt his robe soak in cold sweat; this method was really too cruel, and it would be almost impossible for Zhou Yuan to recover. Chen Beifeng soon nodded excitedly. He said without the slightest hesitation, ¡°Pavilion master Lu is indeed brilliant!¡± Zhou Yuan had offended Lu Xiao, which was an extremely foolish action. Lu Xiao casually waved his hand. ¡°I have already given him face, but he doesn¡¯t want it. Therefore I can only make him fall. I hope he can figure out what he should do before the pavilion master selection and come to bow his head. Then, perhaps I can save him. ¡°If he still has the same attitude¡ª¡± He shook his head and didn¡¯t say anything more. He directly stepped out of the wind district. Chapter 813 The Eve of the Great Battle After all, they were the same price but one had double the effect. The Mark Capturing Rune was simply hammered to the ground by the Mother Wind Rune without any strength to fight back. The popularity of the Mother Wind Rune also made Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation soar. Those who had experienced the efficiency of the Mother Wind Rune were particularly grateful to Zhou Yuan, because they were aware of how much time the Mother Wind Rune had saved them. In three years¡¯ time, the number of people in the Wind Pavilion who could refine a wind spirit rune would no doubt increase significantly. This was the ultimate goal for many people who came to the four pavilions. Therefore, the birth of the Mother Wind Rune didn¡¯t make their feelings towards Zhou Yuan reach the level of deep gratitude. After all, it wasn¡¯t a free gift, and they had bought it with origin coins. Still, the members of the Wind Pavilion had now finally acknowledged Zhou Yuan and no longer excluded him because he was an outsider. As a result, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation in the Wind Pavilion naturally grew everyday. Comparedared with Zhou Yuan, who was at the peak of power, Chen Beifeng was much sadder. Because of Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling, the people supporting him couldn¡¯t purchase any Mother Wind Runes. Of course, they also knew the reason: Zhou Yuan¡¯s revenge for their previous actions. Despite knowing the reason, there was nothing Chen Beifeng could do, and he had no other choice but to grit his teeth and endure. Even if he could stand it, of those who supported him, some gradually couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. After all, they had already begun to feel that, with the Mother Wind Rune, others were gradually surpassing them in completing the wind spirit rune¡­ They had only supported Chen Beifeng because he was strong and because there were benefits from following him. But now the Mother Wind Rune had appeared, Chen Beifeng had been beaten to a miserable state. If this were to continue, they would probably gradually sink to nothing in the Wind Pavilion. They evidently couldn¡¯t accept that. So, in the next few days, the Wind Pavilion members who had supported Chen Beifeng also began to go on strike. Chen Beifeng¡¯s influence in the Wind Pavilion plummeted rapidly. However, under this unfavourable circumstance, Chen Beifeng didn¡¯t carry out any counterattacks, and he strangely seemed to have relented. He rarely appeared and became much more low profile. Contrary to expectations, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t relax, and he instead became more cautious. With just a little thought, Zhou Yuan knew that the storm would break out during the approaching pavilion master selection. If Chen Beifeng became the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, Chen Beifeng would no longer be constrained by Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling and would be able to issue them both orders. At that time, if they refused to listen, he could strip them of their deputy pavilion master positions. Evidently, Chen Beifeng had put his last chance of a comeback on this. After learning Chen Beifeng¡¯s intention, Zhou Yuan began to slow down the refinement of the Mother Wind Runes and focused on training in the wind district, because his goal was also to become the pavilion master! Only by achieving this position could he achieve his greatest ambitions. With the position of chief pavilion master, he could participate in the Nine Region Meeting and get his hands on the Ancestral Dragon Lantern! And the Mother Wind Rune was just a little means for him to achieve his goals¡­ .... Half a month of time passed in the blink of an eye. Wind District. On a lonely peak, Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged. He made a grabbing motion, and a handful of origin coins flashed to his hand. As blood and qi surged, they were lit in flames. The origin coins turned into wisps of smoke and rose into the air. The wind layer above him suddenly turned violent, and a huge blue storm came roaring down like an angry dragon, aiming directly for Zhou Yuan with tremendous power. But Zhou Yuan remained surprisingly calm because he was used to seeing this strange sight during this half a month of time. After all, every time he came to practice in the wind district, he didn¡¯t feel comfortable without burning two or three hundred origin coins... Wu! Wu! The azure storm whizzed down, ruthlessly striking Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and tearing thousands of marks into his skin. On Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest a Genesis Rune vortex formed¡ªthe Mother Wind Rune. The astral wind swept over his body. Although the wind drew strands of blood, the Genesis marks contained within poured into his chest through the Genesis Rune vortex. The huge storm lasted for almost an hour before it slowly dissipated, leaving Zhou Yuan covered in blood. His injuries looked terrifying, but as he operated the Taiyi Green Wood Mark, the wounds rapidly recovered one after another. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t care about the scars left on his body, and he urgently took a look at the back of his hand to see that rays of azure light were gathered and that an azure Genesis mark was faintly discernible. Streams of light continued to gather endlessly, and the Genesis Rune became increasingly complete. When the last speck of azure light sank in, the Genesis Rune erupted in a blaze of light. At that moment, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel that his body had become lighter, as if there was a spirit around his body. Without even operating Genesis Qi, his body could hover in the air. As he felt the changes within his body, a look of unconcealable joy came bursting forth from his eyes, because on the eve of the pavilion master selection, he had completed the refinement of the wind spirit rune! And for this, it was unknown how many origin coins Zhou Yuan had consumed. After all, the closer he was to completion, the more origin coins he had needed. If he hadn¡¯t been able to do whatever he wanted with the sales of the Mother Wind Runes, then, even if he had the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone to restore his spirit, it wouldn¡¯t have been possible to form a complete wind spirit rune in just two months! However, the good thing was that heaven wouldn¡¯t disappoint the person who tried. All the efforts he had made were met with satisfactory returns. The Genesis Rune light on the back of his hand gradually dispersed. Zhou Yuan was so happy that he lifted his head and let out a loud scream. With a slight movement, he transformed into a stream of light and shot into the sky, speeding towards the exit of the wind district. After half an hour, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure landed on the exit¡¯s suspended stone platform. The members of the Wind Pavilion all bowed respectfully when they saw Zhou Yuan. The treatment was completely different from when Zhou Yuan had first come to the Wind Pavilion. Zhou Yuan responded with a smile. He looked up to see a beautiful figure exuding an icy cold aura. It was Ye Bingling. And when Ye Bingling¡¯s beautiful eyes saw Zhou Yuan, the cold frost around her melted a lot. A slight smile came to her face as she said softly, ¡°Qiushui said she got a private room in the wind restaurant to cheer for us for the pavilion master selection tomorrow.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°It¡¯s good to relax a little before the great battle.¡± The two headed towards the exit as they spoke. But before they took a few steps, Zhou Yuan heard something streaking across the air, followed by a fierce gush of Genesis Qi. The surrounding voices suddenly became much quieter. Zhou Yuan knitted his brows because the person who had come was Chen Beifeng. It was said that he had been training in the wind district like crazy these days. Chen Beifeng was expressionless, and his entirety exuded an icy coldness. When he landed on the stone platform, he also saw Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling. Their gazes met, and a shower of sparks sputtered out from the gazes. But in the end Chen Beifeng simply snorted and strode forward. As he brushed past Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling, he said indifferently, ¡°You won¡¯t be happy for too long. After tomorrow, everything you have will be taken away from you and returned to its original owner.¡± He pitifully looked at Zhou Yuan because he knew that Zhou Yuan had gone to find Lu Xiao, which meant that Lu Xiao wouldn¡¯t show the slightest mercy to him. Idiot, you must not know the consequences of angering Lu Xiao. During the last half month, Zhou Yuan probably viewed himself as a central figure, right? Haha, wait until tomorrow. Then he will discover that everything he did was to be given to me, Chen Beifeng, as a gift. At that time, will this kid still be laughing? A carefree feeling was bubbling in Chen Beifeng¡¯s heart, and the corners of his mouth were curved in a disdainful smile. He strode forward and stepped out of the light screen before disappearing without a trace. Chapter 814 The Pavilion Master Selection The Wind Pavilion was currently considered the focal point of the four pavilions, and of course the reason wasn¡¯t because of how much attention was focused upon the Wind Pavilion but simply because the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master selection was being held today, and this was a grand event for any of the four pavilions. And it was said that even Lady Chi Jing would personally attend the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master selection. The event could not be said to be standard. So when the news came out, not only were the other three pavilions gathered on the Wind Island, even people from the other floating islands in the Tianyuan Utopia flocked there. This undoubtedly made the Wind Pavilion, which was considered the weakest of the four pavilions, the focal point in the Tianyuan Utopia. Northwest of Wind Island. A huge lake covered the ground like a mirror, and a floating bluestone platform was floating at its center. Around the platform, there were countless bare stone pillars like giant fingers breaking out of the water. The pillars were suddenly filled with crowds of people, which created a lively and buzzing atmosphere. ¡°The position of pavilion master has been vacant for many years. I didn¡¯t expect a selection would finally be held today.¡± ¡°The Wind Pavilion really isn¡¯t as good as it used to be. Now there are only three deputy pavilion masters. In the other three pavilions, there are no fewer than five deputy pavilion masters.¡± ¡°Chen Beifeng will certainly win. He is the oldest deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion. He is very strong, and Ye Bingling is probably weaker than him.¡± ¡°What about Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°Hey, he¡¯s just a new deputy pavilion master with strength of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. But I hear it was Lady Chi Jing who had appointed him.¡± ¡°Nobody understands why Lady Chi Jing had done so. Could it be that she also has no hope for the Wind Pavilion?¡± ¡°It is said that Chen Beifeng is someone of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. If he were to win the pavilion master selection, wouldn¡¯t that mean Lady Chi Jing would lose the Wind Pavilion?¡± ¡°--¡± A lot of whispers could be heard as everybody studied the three figures standing in front of all the members of the Wind Pavilion. There was a hint of regret in their gazes. At this time, in addition to the people of the Wind Pavilion, the members of the other three pavilions were also present at different locations. On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Lu Xiao was standing tall at the front. His handsome face and extraordinary, imposing manner drew looks from many young beautiful women. There was no one in the Tianyuan Region who hadn¡¯t heard of his name. ¡°That¡¯s the kid who created the Mother Wind Rune?¡± Suddenly there was a voice beside him. Lu Xiao turned around to see a man in a black robe approaching him. He had ordinary features but always wore a gentle smile that made people feel close. However, Lu Xiao knew that all this was just an illusion. How would someone who could become the pavilion master of the Mountain Pavilion be easy to get along with? That¡¯s right. This man was the pavilion master of the Mountain Pavilion, Han Yuan. Han Yuan was also someone originally from the Wind Pavilion and was someone whom Lady Chi Jing thought highly of, but he had later joined the Profound Crystal clan and had become the pavilion master of the Mountain Pavilion. In the Tianyuan Region, the Heavenly Spirit Sect, Profound Crystal Clan and the White Clan were considered allies, so Lu Xiao and Han Yuan were also acquainted. So Lu Xiao slightly nodded. ¡°A boy with his own thoughts. I wanted to recruit him but didn¡¯t expect to be rejected.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t even give face to you? Is he crazy?¡± Han Yuan chuckled in surprise. ¡°No wonder Lady Chi Jing thinks highly of him,¡± Lu Xiao said nonchalantly. When Chi Jing was mentioned, Han Yuan¡¯s face turned a little unnatural, and he immediately remarked, ¡°But if he has too many of his own thoughts and has no ability to support it, it¡¯s not a good thing.¡± He knew about Lu Xiao¡¯s character too well. Since Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t given him face, he wouldn¡¯t be polite to him. ¡°He is going to regret his actions, but unfortunately, in this world there isn¡¯t any medicine for regret. You can only reap the fruits of your actions.¡± Lu Xiao smiled. Han Yuan was aware of Lu Xiao¡¯s intention when he heard this. He immediately narrowed his eyes and glanced at the three figures in front of the Wind Pavilion members. He focused his gaze on Chen Beifeng and smiled. ¡°You guys really don¡¯t plan to give face to Lady Chi Jing?¡± Of the four pavilions, only the Wind Pavilion was still in Chi Jing¡¯s hands. If Chen Beifeng were to win the title of pavilion master, Chi Jing would have no pavilions left. Although for an existence of her level the Wind Pavilion wasn¡¯t considered an important power, it did represent the fresh blood of the future, after all. If she couldn¡¯t grasp a pavilion in her hands, it would undoubtedly cause a loss in the long term. ¡°The games between the higher-ups¡­how would I, a mere Divine Dwelling expert, understand? I just need to do my own thing,¡± Lu Xiao calmly said. Han Yuan shrugged. He was also just a pawn. He had to do whatever the people above him said. On the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side. The huge crowd was clearly divided into three groups. One side supported Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling, one side supported Chen Beifeng, and the third with the largest number of people were neutral. Chen Beifeng¡¯s momentum was originally stronger than Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling, but after the appearance of the Mother Wind Rune, the momentum of the two sides had reversed. From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan seemed to now have the advantage. ¡°Senior sister Ye, you can do it!¡± Yi Qiushui made a cheering gesture at Ye Bingling. There was clearly a little look of nervousness on her beautiful oval face. This was because Yi Qiushui knew exactly what the pavilion master selection represented. If Chen Beifeng were to win, all their previous efforts would likely become nothing. The others also cheered for Ye Bingling one after another. Although Zhou Yuan had become more and more popular in the Wind Pavilion, almost everyone else, including Yi Qiushui, had put their hope of beating Chen Beifeng on Ye Bingling. After all, in their view, Zhou Yuan was still lacking maturity compared to Chen Beifend and Ye Bingling even if he had made rapid progress. Ye Bingling wore a white training robe that highlighted her slim waist and slender legs and made her appear even more beautiful than usual. She nodded and cast her beautiful eyes upon Zhou Yuan and said solemnly, ¡°I will face him first. If I am no match for him, I will do my best to wound him as much as possible to create better conditions for you.¡± Zhou Yuan said hurriedly, ¡°You just need to do your best, don¡¯t fight a desperate battle.¡± Ye Bingling shot a glance at him. ¡°I said if. In this one month of time, my strength has improved greatly with the help of your Mother Wind Rune. I might not necessarily lose to him. ¡°It¡¯s just that if I win, the position of pavilion master is mine. Don¡¯t be jealous. Of course, you can also take the position when you beat me,¡± she said casually, casting a glance at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched, and then he couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He could hear the comforting intent hidden in the depth of Ye Bingling¡¯s words. It seemed that she was afraid that their relationship would be ruined after she took the position of pavilion master. ¡°Senior sister Ye, don¡¯t worry.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and then glanced at Chen Beifeng not far away. His eyes narrowed as he muttered, ¡°But you have to be careful. Chen Beifeng has most likely become stronger, too.¡± If Chen Beifeng really intended to put an end to everything, he certainly would have come prepared. Zhou Yuan then turned to look at Lu Xiao in the direction of the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side. Since the last time they had met, Lu Xiao had made no other movements, but Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t believe that he had given up. There was no doubt that the pavilion master selection that day would be an excellent opportunity for Lu Xiao as well. While they were chatting, suddenly the Genesis Qi between the heavens and the earth was surging. The next moment, countless people were stunned to see that two streams of light had descended from the sky, and on the two most towering stone pillars in the lake, two figures had emerged. When those two figures were revealed, countless people broke into commotion; they had realised that, in addition to Lady Chi Jing, there was another mighty figure. It was the sect master of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, Xuan Kun! This pavilion master selection had unexpectedly attracted two of the most important people of the Tianyuan Region to come! Countless people gazed in awe as their greeting voices echoed across the world. ¡°Humble greetings Lady Chi Jing!¡± Chapter 815 Mu Liu When countless gasps of astonishment rang out, Zhou Yuan also looked over at the stone pillar with a surprised expression. There, he saw a figure standing with his hands clasped behind his back. It was an old man with a thin body. He was dressed in a large moon-white robe that seemed to be engraved with layers of cloud runes. Beneath the cloud runes there seemed to be the eyes of a giant beast scanning the surroundings. they looked particularly mysterious. His face was as calm as a lake, and his eyes were unfathomable like an abyss. He simply stood there, without any Genesis Qi flowing around him, but the entire world seemed to belong to him. ¡°It is indeed sect master Xuan Kun.¡± Ye Bingling whispered, ¡°He looks like an old and weak old man, but sect master Xuan Kun is well known across Hunyuan Heaven. His bodily strength is almost at the Saint level. He can split the universe with one move.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes went wide. He hadn¡¯t expected the weak and thin looking old man to possess such terrifying bodily strength. ¡°Sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s Thousand Kun Law Domain can transform into thousands of kun. Once he channels the kun into his body, such power is enough to move a continent!¡± [TN Note: A legendary giant fish that can transform into a mythological bird] Zhou Yuan felt his scalp go numb. He could move a continent? What kind of terrifying power was that? No wonder that after master Cang Yuan had disappeared, senior sister Chi Jing wasn¡¯t able to suppress the Heavenly Spirit Sect. It was because that old man possessed such explosive combat strength. He sighed inwardly as he peered at the stone pillar next to Xuan Kun where a slender and beautiful figure was standing tall. Her short burgundy hair blowing in the wind gave an indescribable heroic appearance that made countless young women in the world admire and worship her. She was naturally Chi Jing. Two of the five grand elders had come today. There was definitely great importance attached to this event. Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Chi Jing and sect master Xuan Kun nodded. Then her clear and loud voice could be heard, ¡°No need to be so polite.¡± She cast her eyes upon the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side, pausing at Zhou Yuan for a moment before she continued, ¡°Today the Wind Pavilion has opened up the pavilion master selection after many years. I hope you will all do your best and not let people down.¡± All the disciples of the Wind Pavilion were very respectful. Chi Jing flung her sleeve and gathered the Genesis Qi of the universe to form a throne behind her and sect master Xuan Kun. She beckoned and said with a faint smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect sect master Xuan Kun to pay attention to the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master selection and to even come in person.¡± Chi Jing sneered in her heart when she heard this. This old man most likely came so that he could find an excuse to deny the results of the pavilion master selection when he loses. The Heavenly Spirit Sect had always been after the Wind Pavilion. ¡°When master was here, sect master Xuan Kunwasn¡¯t as enthusiastic as now,¡± Chi Jing remarked. Sect master Xuan Kun smiled. ¡°If supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was around, he would have dominated the world, and everything would be within his control. ¡°Would I have needed to meddle in anything? Now that the supreme sovereign has left, in order to prevent the Tianyuan Region from becoming a mess, I have no choice but to meddle in other people¡¯s affairs. Otherwise, when the great supreme sovereign returns, how do I explain this to him?¡± He suddenly paused and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know if Chi Jing has received any news from the supreme sovereign recently?¡± There wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on Chi Jin¡¯s face as she answered, ¡°Master appears and disappears unpredictably. He will come back when he comes back.¡± Xuan Kun smiled and didn¡¯t say anything else. His abyss-like eyes made it difficult for people to know what he was thinking. At this moment, following the arrival of two influential figures, Chi Jing and sect master Xuan Kun, the pavilion master selection began with much anticipation. Countless eyes gathered on Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling. As for Zhou Yuan, although he was a deputy pavilion master, nobody thought the pavilion master selection would have anything to do with him. Chen Beifeng really enjoyed the attention. He turned to sneer at Zhou Yuan and Ye Bingling and suddenly stomped his feet. Boom! The stone pillar cracked around his feet, and his figure shot out, landing heavily on the bluestone platform floating in the middle of the lake. The ferocious force caused countless ripples to spread through the lake. ¡°Deputy pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, Chen Beifeng!¡± Chen Beifeng¡¯s voice was like a clap of thunder. His eyes locked on Ye Bingling like a blade as he said, ¡°Please enlighten me!¡± Ye Bingling¡¯s pretty face was icy cold as her delicate body similarly shout out and landed on the bluestone platform. ¡°Wind Pavilion¡¯s deputy pavilion master, Ye Bingling!¡± When these two appeared on the platform in the middle of the lake, the atmosphere suddenly became heated up. Countless eyes curiously studied the two, because in many people¡¯s view, the two on the platform were the most important figures in the pavilion master selection. Not far away a large number of people gathered. They all belonged to the Forest Pavilion, and in a way, the Forest Pavilion and the Wind Pavilion were close because Chi Jing and the Wood Clan were in some kind of alliance. They had allied to counter the Heavenly Spirit Sect, the Profound Crystal Clan and the White Clan together. At this moment there were several figures on the Forest Pavilion¡¯s side that were also staring at Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling. ¡°Boss, who do you think the position of pavilion master will fall to? If it fell to Chen Beifeng, wouldn¡¯t it be bad for Lady Chi Jing?¡± said a burly man with a thunderous voice. His saliva sputtered out like snowflakes dancing in the air. In front of the burly man was a clear-faced young man. The young man stood tall and straight, his robe spotlessly clean. He gave an indescribable sense of cleanliness. The young man peered down at the water stains forming on his clothes as the burly man spoke. The corners of his eyes twitched, and he forcibly resisted the urge to change his clothes on the spot. He showed a gentle smile and said, ¡°Barbarian, I can hear you speak. You don¡¯t have to be so close to me.¡± The burly man, who was called a barbarian, nodded, and as he spoke, he sputtered more drops of saliva on the young man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Oh, but if Chen Beifeng becomes the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master, won¡¯t our Forest Pavilion have to deal with three pavilions? I¡¯m worried we won¡¯t be able to stand against them.¡± The youngster trembled all over. The burly man finally noticed his sputters and immediately smiled apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, boss. I will help you wipe it.¡± He quickly stretched out his huge dark hand to brush the young man¡¯s shoulder. As the handsome youngster watched the huge dark hand stretch over, veins bulged on his forehead. In the end he couldn¡¯t stand it any longer. He lashed out with a lightning quick kick and sent the burly man flying into the lake before the dark hand could touch his shoulder. The youngster exploded in anger. ¡°You bastard, I¡¯ve told you ten thousand times to not spit on me when you talk! You want me to die of anger, and then take the pavilion master position, don¡¯t you?!¡± Many members of the Forest Pavilion tried to contain themselves but couldn¡¯t help letting out a stifled laugh, because the youngster in front of them was the present pavilion master of the Forest Pavilion, Mu Liu. Next to Mu Liu, a young maiden in a pale green dress girl giggled undisguisedly. She had beautiful facial features, a slender willow-like waist and an elegant manner. Her name was Mu Qingyan, the second strongest person in the Forest Pavilion, and the burly man, Jiang Man, was the third strongest. Everyone of the Forest Pavilion knew that their pavilion master was usually calm and carefree, even in the face of Lu Xiao of the Fire Pavilion. But his only flaw was that he was super clean and couldn¡¯t tolerate the slightest uncleanliness. Once he was angered, his so-called excellent self-cultivation would be destroyed, and he would stomp around and yell like a shrew. Mu Qingyan smiled at Mu Liu, whose face had darkened with anger. He was taking out a handkerchief to clean his clothes, and she said, ¡°Then, who do you think will win?¡± After cleaning up his clothes, Mu Liu finally restored his usual calmness. He glanced at Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling on the battlefield, and half a moment later, he frowned and shifted his gaze onto Zhou Yuan, who was in front of the members of the Wind Pavilion. He pondered for a moment before he said, ¡°I feel that guy is somewhat dangerous.¡± Mu Qingyan was taken aback for a moment before her beautiful eyes shifted onto Zhou Yuan, and asked with a ruminative smile, ¡°The Wind Pavilion¡¯s new deputy pavilion master? Isn¡¯t he only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage? Are you sure your senses aren¡¯t wrong this time?¡± She knew that Mu Liu was extremely sensitive to dangerous auras for some reason, but was he really right this time? ¡°Although that guy looks as gentle as a rabbit¡ªharmless to humans and animals¡ªhe exudes a sinister aura. He is certainly the type to act like a pig to eat a tiger. This kind of person is the most cunning and will never show his true face,¡± Mu Liu said solemnly. Then he shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s what my feelings tell me, so I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s anything wrong. ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, he will definitely act today, because¡ª¡± He looked at the two figures standing face to face on the platform in the center of the lake and let out a sigh. Chapter 816 80% Chen Beifeng looked at Ye Bingling with a sneer on his face. ¡°Ye Bingling, you have no chance of winning today.¡± He slowly folded his hands together, and a gush of mighty deep-yellow Genesis Qi rose from his body. The Genesis Qi shot into the sky like a yellow storm. As it howled, an ear-piercing noise rang out, causing everybody¡¯s spirits to quiver. Grade-seven Genesis Qi, Spirit Confusion Wind Qi. At the same time, the Genesis Qi formed three Divine Dwelling halos behind him, and they emitted a faint nine-colored light and swallowed up the Genesis Qi of the world. The moment Chen Beifeng¡¯s Genesis Qi surged, a tyrannical Genesis Qi pressure could be felt spreading out, making many people present stunned for a moment. Grade-seven Genesis Qi, the advanced Divine Dwelling, and the lower nine Divine Dwellings...if ordinary people were to have any one of them, they would have an advantage over others of the same level. But now Chen Beifeng possessed all three, allowing him to reach the peak of the Divine Dwelling stage. He was able to look down on countless Divine Dwelling experts of the world. When Chen Beifeng¡¯s Genesis Qi surged and whizzed across the sky, it formed an oppressive pressure. Ye Bingling¡¯s face turned solemn. Snowy-white Genesis Qi gushed from her body and formed layers of wave-like clouds above her head. The temperature between heaven and earth also plummeted. Grade-seven Genesis Qi, Ocean Netherworld Frosty Qi! Behind her formed three Divine Dwelling halos exuding nine-colored light. Regardless of angle, Ye Bingling didn¡¯t seem any weaker than Chen Beifeng. The gazes of the two collided, and sparks seemed to sputter out. Buzz! With a cold sneer on his face, Chen Beifeng made the first move. His fingers flicked repeatedly, and the void rippled. In the sky, thousands of yellow wind blades formed and tore through the air in Ye Bingling¡¯s direction. The Genesis Qi clouds above Ye Bingling¡¯s head pulsed, then fiercely erupted with countless snowflakes. Each snowflake, containing the coldest qi of the world, collided with one of the thousand wind blades. Bang! The two powerful Genesis Qi collided, causing a deep rumbling noise to erupt, and the air quaked constantly. The wind blades and snowflakes constantly destroyed one another. Swoosh! While the wind blades and snowflakes were colliding, Chen Beifeng¡¯s figure turned into a blurry silhouette and shot out. He grasped at the air, and mighty Genesis Qi gathered in his palm and transformed into a tremendous dark-yellow blade of wind. The wind blade was entwined with high-speed rotating wind that could tear apart the void wherever it passed. ¡°The Great Spirit Confusion Wind Blade!¡± As the wind blade slashed downward, it emitted shrill sound waves that interfered with the Spirit. Once struck by the sound waves, the Spirit would fall into a slight trance, and the blade would split its prey into two. However, as Chen Beifeng¡¯s old opponent, Ye Bingling was well aware of his methods. The Genesis Qi within her body surged to block the sound waves. Then, she stomped her foot on the ground, and a wall of ice formed from icy Genesis Qi suddenly rose in front of her. Clang! The huge wind blade slashed the ice wall, causing a loud rumble. Shock waves raged everywhere, and numerous cracks spread across the ice wall. It shattered into countless fragments. Swoosh! Ye Bingling¡¯s slender figure shot out. She stepped on some ice fragments, and an ice spear emerged in her beautiful hand. Then, she transformed into a shadow wrapped in majestic Genesis Qi, and charged towards Chen Beifeng. As the spear shadow whizzed forth, countless Genesis Qi stars glistened. They likely numbered over tens of millions. Such power was definitely frightening. ¡°Hmph.¡± Upon seeing this, Chen Beifeng coldly snorted. He tightened his grip around the wind blade and swung out thousands of blade light. As majestic Genesis Qi whizzed forward, a similar amount of countless Genesis Qi stars lit up. The spectacle was in no way inferior to Ye Bingling¡¯s. Clang! The two figures crisscrossed constantly in midair like ghosts. In just over a dozen breaths, they had already fought hundreds of rounds. The fierce battle set off waves and storms of Genesis Qi, causing countless gasps of astonishment. Zhou Yuan watched the two figures clash constantly in midair with utmost attention. From his view, Ye Bingling¡¯s and Chen Beifeng¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations were both at least 13 million Genesis Qi stars, but Chen Beifeng¡¯s seemed slightly stronger. No matter what, it was indeed more powerful than his current 11 million. However, Chen Beifeng was most likely still holding back his strength. Was this the strength of a deputy pavilion master? It definitely could not be compared to the commanders like Jin Teng. ¡°Zhou Yuan, can senior sister Ye win?¡± Yi Qiushui asked nervously. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment before he answered, ¡°From the looks of it, they are similar in strength. It will depend on how well they have refined the wind spirit rune to determine who is victorious.¡± Yi Qiushui flushed with excitement and exclaimed, ¡°In the past month, senior sister Ye,, has completed 70% of the wind spirit rune with the help of your Mother Wind Rune, and she will certainly be stronger than Chen Beifeng!¡± It should be said that in the past year or so, both Ye Bingling and Chen Beifeng had only managed to increase the wind spirit rune to 50% of completion, but now Ye Bingling had progressed by another 20% in one month. This speed no doubt surpassed Chen Beifeng¡¯s. However, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t as optimistic as her and just stared at Chen Beifeng¡¯s figure. Ye Bingling¡¯s improvement that month was indeed great, but he knew that Chen Beifeng wouldn¡¯t have come unprepared. While the two were discussing, the fierce battle on the battlefield suddenly changed. An azure light bloomed on the back of Ye Bingling¡¯s hand, and a nearly completed wind spirit rune gradually emerged. Evidently, she also understood that without the power of the wind spirit rune, she wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat Chen Beifeng that day. Following the appearance of the wind spirit rune, the Genesis Qi that broke out from Ye Bingling¡¯s body soared at an astonishing speed. In just a few seconds, her Genesis Qi foundation climbed to more than 14 million stars! And Ye Bingling¡¯s changes drew astonished exclamations from the audience. ¡°High-grade Heaven Genesis technique, Heavenly Lotus Ice Jade Palm!¡± Ye Bingling¡¯s speed had also skyrocketed. In the blink of an eye she appeared in front of Chen Beifeng as though she had teleported. She thrust her beautiful palm forward, and majestic icy Genesis Qi rapidly gathered to form a white jade palm hundreds of feet tall. In the palm of the hand was a lotus flower rune exuding mysterious power. At this moment, Ye Bingling¡¯s expression was solemn. The white jade palm aggressively slammed down toward Chen Beifeng. Ye Bingling¡¯s palm, which could be said to have been brewing for a long time, contained astonishing power. A terrifying cold air shrouded the area, and Chen Beifeng, watching Ye Bingling¡¯s full-strength attack approach, curved the corners of his lips in a strange arc. ¡°Ye Bingling, is this all your power? A 70% completed wind spirit rune isn¡¯t bad. ¡°But, do you really think I have only completed 50% of the wind spirit rune?¡± At his words Ye Bingling¡¯s expression changed uncontrollably, and a feeling of uneasiness rose in her heart, but the force of her palm strike was even fiercer. Chen Beifeng paid no attention to the icy palm that shrouded him, and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to expose it before, because once exposed, I was worried that the pavilion master selection wouldn¡¯t go ahead. But now, I don¡¯t have such worries anymore.¡± On the back of his hand, an azure light was emerging. At the same time, multiple specks of azure light flashed within the flesh and blood of the arm. These light specks rapidly gathered on the back of his hand, and an incomplete light rune began to grow brighter and brighter. The wind spirit rune was rapidly being completed. 50%, 60%,...70%! In the blink of an eye, the wind spirit rune was 70% complete, the same as Ye Bingling¡¯s. And what was even more shocking was that light specks were constantly gathering, all of which were Genesis marks of the wind spirit rune. They had originally been sealed within Chen Beifeng¡¯s body. As more and more specks of Genesis marks gathered, the wind spirit rune on the back of Chen Beifeng¡¯s hand reached 80% completion! Gasp! Between heaven and the earth, there were countless gasps of astonishment. No one thought that Chen Beifeng could conceal his strength so well! His wind spirit rune had reached 80% completion! At the same time, his Genesis Qi foundation also began to skyrocket. His Genesis Qi illuminated the void behind him, revealing countless Genesis Qi stars. At a glance, there was at least a terrifying number of 15 million! It was clear that Chen Beifeng was finally revealing his strength completely and unreservedly. Yi Qiushui, Liu Zhixuan and the others who supported Ye Bingling all paled at the 15 million Genesis Qi stars illuminated in the void. On the other hand, Chen Beifeng¡¯s supporters cheered out loud. Those who were neutral all sighed inwardly. Chapter 817 Zhou Yuan appears on stage Mighty Genesis Qi erupted from Chen Beifeng¡¯s body like a storm, creating waves in the lake. His Genesis Qi foundation of 15 million stars drew stunned gazes from the audience. No one thought that Chen Beifeng would conceal his strength so well. Besides Lu Xiao, everybody of the Fire Pavilion was equally shocked. ¡°Chen Beifeng¡¯s wind spirit rune has reached 80% completion?¡± Wang Chen was the first to cry out in disbelief. It should be said that only a handful of people of the Fire Pavilion had completed 80% of the wind spirit rune. Even Wang Chen had only just reached that level. He had looked down on Chen Beifeng in the past, but he now understood that if Chen Beifeng hadn¡¯t concealed his strength, he might not win against him in a battle. From the other two pavilions, similar clamours broke out. It was clear how shocking it was to see Chen Beifeng¡¯s true strength. On the Forest Pavilion¡¯s side, the burly man called Jiang Man climbed back up from the lake. Covering his mouth, he cried out, ¡°Chen Beifeng concealed his strength so well.¡± Mu Qingyan¡¯s face looked extremely solemn as she sighed, ¡°Ye Bingling is going to lose.¡± ¡°As I said before, in the Wind Pavilion, only the guy dressing up as a pig to eat the tiger can beat Chen Beifeng.¡± Mu Liu shrugged. Hearing this, Mu Qingyan still looked doubtfully in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. If anyone else had said this, she wouldn¡¯t have believed it at all, but Mu Liu¡¯s perception was always accurate, so she was in a state of half believing and half doubting. At the highest point of the audience, Chi Jing was staring emotionlessly at the scene. ¡°Someone of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage is actually able to seal Genesis marks obtained from daily practice in the body, and so perfectly? This is indeed very interesting.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun narrowed his eyes vacantly as though he didn¡¯t hear what Chi Jing said. ¡°It seems it¡¯s really necessary to cancel the pavilion master selection,¡± Chi Jing muttered to herself. It was only then that sect master Xuan Kung¡¯s eyes shot open, and with a smile, he responded, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing is still a little too young. If you were more serious, you would have already seen through that sealing technique. ¡°The pavilion master selection has already started, and it can¡¯t be canceled. Otherwise it would be against the rules.¡± Chi Jing swept a cold glance at the old man. ¡°It¡¯s still too early to be happy.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun simply smiled and didn¡¯t say anything more. He continued to keep his eyes half closed as though dozing off. From the situation, it was clear that Chen Beifeng had the upper hand. Omm! ¡°Dragon Demon Drill!¡± Wu! Wu! Dark-yellow wind similar to a roaring yellow dragon spewed from his mouth. It bared its teeth and brandished its claws as it spun frantically. Its sharp head was like a giant drill, tearing the void apart. The yellow wind dragon whizzed forth and collided head-on with the giant white jade palm that was pressing down. Chi! An ear-piercing noise rang out during the collision, causing even the void at the collision point to crack and shatter. But that collision only lasted for a dozen breaths before the giant white jade palm was marred with multiple cracks. Ye Bingling¡¯s beautiful face changed dramatically. Boom! Before she could instill more Genesis Qi into the palm, the wind drill erupted with terrifying power. It pierced and tore the giant white jade palm apart. Roar! There appeared to be a dragon roar coming from inside the wind drill. As the tip twisted and shattered the void, it rapidly appeared in front of Ye Bingling. Ye Bingling gritted her teeth and rapidly retreated. Upon seeing this, Chen Beifeng twisted his lips in a sneer. He swiftly changed the sealing technique, and the speed of the wind drill sharply increased. The next moment, like a violent wind dragon, the drill slammed into Ye Bingling¡¯s beautiful body, and violent Genesis Qi shot into the sky, producing shock waves visible to the naked eye. Puchi! Ye Bingling suddenly spewed out a jet of blood from the impact. The Genesis Qi around her body rapidly faded, and her beautiful body plunged from the sky. The outcome of the battle had already been decided. Around the lake, countless sympathetic cries rang out. A beam of golden Genesis Qi caught the rapidly falling Ye Bingling and then swept her back to where everyone of the Wind Pavilion was. ¡°Senior sister Ye, are you all right?¡± Yi Qiushi quickly came over to catch her and asked worriedly. Ye Bingling¡¯s beautiful face was deathly pale, and the usual icily arrogant look in her eyes had long faded. She looked to be in a trance, and she evidently hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock of being defeated by Chen Beifeng. ¡°Senior sister Ye, it¡¯s all right,¡± Yi Qiushui comforted. Ye Bingling¡¯s eyes gradually turned red. She quickly lowered her head and uttered in a hoarse voice, ¡°I have let everyone down, I¡¯m not good enough.¡± She had been preparing for this battle and working incredibly hard for a long time. She hadn¡¯t expected to see this result. It was silent all around, and the atmosphere seemed extremely gloomy. Now that Ye Bingling had lost, how could they compete with Chen Beifeng for the position of pavilion master? In the middle of the lake, Chen Beifeng hovered above the square with Genesis Qi and mockingly looked over at their side. ¡°If deputy pavilion master Ye has no strength to fight anymore, give up.¡± Ye Bingling clenched her teeth and pushed away Yi Qiushui. ¡°I haven¡¯t lost. I can still fight.¡± She was stubbornly unwilling to admit defeat. She knew the severity of the consequences if Chen Beifeng became the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master. She had only taken two steps forward when the injuries within her body caused blood to overflow the corners of her mouth. The Genesis Qi around her body became extremely weak. But it was then that a palm grasped Ye Bingling¡¯s shoulder from behind, forcing her to stop. Ye Bingling slightly struggled but found that she couldn¡¯t get rid of the hand. She turned her head around to see Zhou Yuan standing behind her with a smiling expression. ¡°Senior sister Ye, your task is to test his trump cards, and you have already done enough,¡± Zhou Yuan comforted with a smile. Ye Bingling bit her lips. ¡°Also, senior sister Ye, you are already well known. Let me appear and earn some fame, okay?¡± Ye Bingling didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. Did this guy think this place was a theatre? If he wasn¡¯t strong enough, he would only embarrass himself. How would he earn any fame? The surrounding people also looked at Zhou Yuan doubtfully. They could tell that Zhou Yuan wanted to go on the stage. Even Ye Bingling couldn¡¯t win against Chen Beifeng, so what could Zhou Yuan, who was only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, do? However, Ye Bingling¡¯s sadness faded a bit after Zhou Yuan¡¯s amusing behaviour. She stared at Zhou Yuan with her beautiful eyes, and finally, she sighed, ¡°If you can¡¯t beat him, don¡¯t force it. Even if Chen Beifeng becomes the pavilion master, he only has a few advantages at best.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile, then strode forward and passed Ye Bingling. Countless bewildered gazes shifted onto Zhou Yuan. Above the square, Chen Beifeng chuckled, ¡°Oh? Zhou Yuan, are you planning to take the stage at the time of crisis so you can put on a wonderful show of reversing the tides?¡± Immediately, his smile faded and his eyes grew icy cold. Chapter 818 Is that enough? When Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure rose into the sky and landed on the platform in the middle of the lake like a cannonball, countless people were filled with surprise. ¡°Is that the Wind Pavilion¡¯s new deputy pavilion master, Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°Is he going on the battlefield?¡± ¡°Even Ye Bingling lost, what use would he, an intermediate Divine Dwelling stage expert, be? He¡¯s just asking for humiliation.¡± ¡°It seems he¡¯s reluctant to accept the result.¡± ¡°There is an evident difference in strength, so what if he¡¯s reluctant?¡± ¡°--¡± Many whispering voices spread around the lake, but it was clear that not many people were optimistic about Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory. Although Zhou Yuan had created the Mother Wind Rune that had made him rise to fame in the four pavilions, in the pavilion master selection it was real strength that was most important. So in their view, Zhou Yuan was only coming onto the stage because he was reluctant to accept the result. But what could this reluctance change? On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Lu Xiao watched the scene with a calm expression and then said to Han Yuan next to him, ¡°He indeed couldn¡¯t stand it.¡± Han Yuan curiously smiled. ¡°That boy is brave. To think he even dared to provoke Chen Beifeng, who is in such a state.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because he knows that he has to stand up; otherwise, once Chen Beifeng becomes the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master, his days will be much more difficult,¡± Lu Xiao explained. ¡°But although he¡¯s only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, his fighting strength is quite strong. It is said that he possesses variant Divine Dwellings and his Genesis Qi foundation isn¡¯t weak at all. If he was at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, then perhaps Chen Beifeng might be no match for him.¡± ¡°Variant Divine Dwellings?¡± Han Yuan was a little surprised to hear this since it was rare to see someone with mutated Divine Dwellings. ¡°This is indeed interesting.¡± Han Yuan smiled, but his expression still seemed indifferent. Both he and Lu Xiao were considered top experts of the Divine Dwelling stage in the Tianyuan Region, and there was a huge gap between them and Chen Beifeng. Therefore, even if Zhou Yuan possessed variant Divine Dwellings, they still wouldn¡¯t attach any importance to him. But that might change after Zhou Yuan reached the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. However, what would that change? By then, they might have reached the Heavenly Sun stage. When it came to Genesis Qi cultivation, one fast step made all subsequent steps faster. After all, if it was based on talents and resources, could they lose to Zhou Yuan? ¡°Hey, that person is really going on stage?¡± Mu Qingyan, on the Forest Pavilion¡¯s side, said to Mu Liu in surprise. ¡°Don¡¯t be defeated by that Chen Beifeng in one move.¡± The burly man Jiang Man¡¯s voice sounded muffled. Mu Liu shook his head. ¡°That guy won¡¯t be that simple.¡± He glanced over at Lu Xiao and Han Yuan not far away and remarked with a half smile, ¡°Lu Xiao and Han Yuan aren¡¯t weak, but their vision isn¡¯t as good as mine. I wonder what expression they will have when they see Zhou Yuan crush Chen Beifeng.¡± Seeing his solemn expression, Mu Qingyan and Jiang Man exchanged a glance and were still in a state of half belief and half doubt. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would have the courage to come onto the battlefield.¡± Chen Beifeng¡¯s figure slowly descended from midair. His arms were crossed, and he stared playfully at Zhou Yuan. He couldn¡¯t hide the feeling of joy in his heart, however, because now he would have a good reason to get back at Zhou Yuan for what had happened previously. Zhou Yuan clenched his hand and then relaxed as he asked nonchalantly, ¡°This isn¡¯t a dragon¡¯s lair, so what courage is needed?¡± Chen Beifeng coldly snorted, ¡°I hope you will still think so later.¡± He had already made up his mind to utterly defeat Zhou Yuan in front of everyone and make him unable to lift his head high in the Wind Pavilion again! Om! Monstrous yellow Genesis Qi and an earth shaking pressure flooded the sky behind Chen Beifeng. The number of Genesis Qi stars illuminated in the sky was at least a terrifying 15 million. ¡°Come on, let me see what strength you have,¡± Chen Beifeng mocked. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged when he felt the Genesis Qi pressure filling the air. The next moment, a long roar of a dragon rang out from his body, and azure- and gold-colored Genesis Qi shot skywards like an azure serpent soaring in the air. He clenched his hand, and a sword pill formed. ¡°Devil Sweeping Sword Orb!¡± Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t hold back at all. Sharp and powerful sword qi whizzed across the void, and a beam of sword light broke out like a bolt of lightning, aiming directly for Chen Beifeng. However, facing the sword speeding down, Chen Beifeng folded his arms and lifted his feet off the ground. There wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on his face. Just when the sword light transformed from the sword pill was dozens of feet away from Chen Beifeng, a violent wind howled between the sky and the earth. A deep-yellow wind blade formed out of thin air, colliding with the sword light. Clang! A metallic clang rang out, stirring up shock waves of Genesis Qi. The sword light and wind blade were almost swept back at the same time. The wind blade rotated around Chen Beifeng and dissipated from the air. The first exchange between the two caught a lot of attention and unexpectedly caused an uproar. Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword was indeed quite fierce, but it was a pity that Chen Beifeng¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had surpassed his by a total of four million! With this gap in Genesis Qi, even if Zhou Yuan used a high-grade Heaven Genesis technique, it was still impossible for him to have any advantage. ¡°Although it is quite extraordinary to possess this strength at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, it is still impossible for him to defeat Chen Beifeng,¡± Han Yuan said. He shrugged at Lu Xiao. ¡°It seems that the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master position is finally going to fall to your Heavenly Spirit Sect.¡± Lu Xiao remained calm and composed and didn¡¯t seem surprised in the slightest. On the Forest Pavilion¡¯s side, Mu Qinyan knitted her beautiful brows. ¡°He seems a little weak?¡± ¡°Keep watching,¡± Mu Liu said calmly. On the platform in the center of the lake. ¡°A foundation of almost 11 million Genesis Qi stars¡­¡± Chen Beifeng smiled faintly, as if a little disappointed. ¡°Is this all you have? If that¡¯s the case, you¡¯re not even as good as Ye Bingling.¡± Zhou Yuan flung his sleeve, withdrawing the sword pill that was shot out. He paid no attention to Chen Beifeng¡¯s taunts. His previous attack was just to test how strong Chen Beifeng¡¯s 15 million Genesis Qi stars were. But the result did surprise him a little. His Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique had been withstood without any effort. The gap of four million Genesis Qi stars was indeed shocking. If that was the case, he needed to strengthen his Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan remained calm, and at this moment, everyone could see a faint azure light emerging on the back of his hand. ¡°Are you going to activate the wind spirit rune?¡± However, some people still shook their heads and sighed. Zhou Yuan had only been in the Wind Pavilion for two months. He had at most completed 50% of the wind spirit rune, right? An increase of that much wouldn¡¯t have much impact on the overall situation. Chen Beifeng couldn¡¯t help laughing out loud. ¡°With your wind spirit rune, how much would your Genesis Qi increase by? The azure light on the back of Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand grew brighter and brighter. There seemed to be wind roaring all over Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and the Genesis Qi of the universe was pulsing violently. Such a scene made some people¡¯s eyes turn puzzled¡ªthe situation didn¡¯t look right. When Chen Beifeng and Ye Bingling operated their wind spirit rune, there wasn¡¯t such a scene. Countless people cast their gazes to the back of Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand only to see an ancient Genesis Rune slowly emerging where the azure light was brightest and most intense. The Genesis rune appeared to be a blue-green color, and every line was extremely complete without the slightest flaw. Everybody¡¯s pupils shrank immediately, and a look of horror came onto their faces. ¡°A complete wind spirit rune?!¡± Shrill voices abruptly sounded. Around the lake, Lu Xiao¡¯s and Han Yuan¡¯s expressions changed drastically. Boom! The Genesis Qi within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body suddenly skyrocketed, and his imposing manner steadily rose. His Genesis Qi swept outward, illuminating and dotting the void with countless stars. More than 14 million! The complete form of the wind spirit rune had increased Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi by almost three million stars! The uproar around the lake came to an abrupt end. The area became deathly silent, and countless people widened their eyes in disbelief, including Chen Beifeng. The mocking smile on his face had stiffened. Amidst the silence, Zhou Yuan felt his body grow extremely light, and a satisfied smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He lifted his head to look at Chen Beifeng¡¯s stiffened face. Chapter 819 The Shock of a Complete wind spirit rune And around the lake, countless people stared dumbfounded at this scene. Even people like Lu Xiao and Han Yuan went into a trance-like state. Their gazes were almost frozen on the complete ancient Genesis rune on the back of Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand¡­. Is that¡­a complete wind spirit rune?! ¡°How is that possible?! How could he have finished refining a complete wind spirit rune in just two months?!¡± Han Yuan asked as he finally recovered from the shock. The corners of Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes were still twitching, and his originally confident face had darkened a lot. Even he didn¡¯t expect to see this move from Zhou Yuan. ¡°He is the one who created the Mother Wind Rune. From this it¡¯s already clear that his Spirit isn¡¯t weak at all. If he could solve the problem of blood and qi, then coupled with the origin coins earned from selling Mother Wind Runes, his refinement of the wind spirit rune would indeed be quicker than that of ordinary people,¡± Lu Xiao analysed after taking a deep breath. ¡°It still shouldn¡¯t be this quick!¡± Han Yuan argued. Over the years, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t the only one who had met those conditions. Lu Xiao didn¡¯t say anything more, because he knew that it would be useless. Regardless of the reason, what Zhou Yuan had done was enough to cause a stir. He had refined the wind spirit rune in two months¡¯ time! This speed was unheard of in the entire Tianyuan Region! His face grew dark. He originally thought that Zhou Yuan was a nobody whom he could knead as he wished, but now he realised there was an error in his assessment. ¡­. ¡°Completed the wind spirit rune in two months?!¡± On the Forest Pavilion¡¯s side, Mu Qingyan¡¯s mouth dropped, and shocked disbelief filled her small face. ¡°Isn¡¯t that too fast? ¡°And how did his wind spirit rune cause an increase of three million Genesis Qi stars!¡± Mu Liu was similarly stunned for a moment before he smacked his lips and exclaimed, ¡°That kid is really cunning. Although I sensed that he was hiding something, I never thought it would be a complete wind spirit rune! ¡°As for the growth of three million Genesis Qi stars, it isn¡¯t too surprising. This shows that the refined wind spirit rune is perfect, and extremely talented people have also achieved this before. ¡°But he is the first person to be able to refine a complete wind spirit rune¡ªa perfect one, no less¡ªin just two months. ¡°This guy is more cunning than I thought. We should stay away from him,¡± Mu Liu shook his head and said seriously. Mu Liu repeatedly shook his head. ¡°I still feel that nothing good will come from being close to that guy. He might even betray us.¡± However, Mu Qingyan still shot a glance at him and said, ¡°Your objection is invalid because I have the final say in the Forest Pavilion!¡± A bitter look came onto Mu Liu¡¯s handsome face as he muttered, ¡°I am the pavilion master, so you have to show me some face.¡± Mu Qingyan snorted and no longer paid any attention to him. She cast her beautiful eyes onto the battlefield. ¡­. On the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side, everyone was still in a state of shock and silence. A long while later, Ye Bingling was the first to blink her eyes. She uttered in an uncertain voice, ¡°That is a complete wind spirit rune?¡± Yi Qiushui, Liu Zhixuan and others exchanged glances with each other and then nodded with uncertainty. ¡°Although I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s real, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation has indeed soared¡­¡± Ye Bingling drew a deep breath and responded, ¡°Indeed.¡± She stared at Zhou Yuan with a complicated look in her beautiful eyes and bit her red lips. ¡°That guy¡­he turned out to be this strong, but he had been hiding behind me and watching me make a fool of myself. I can¡¯t stand him!¡± But although she said she couldn¡¯t stand him, Yi Qiushui and the others could feel that Ye Bingling¡¯s tensed body had relaxed a lot, and between her eyebrows was a relieved joy. In any case, it was countless times better for the pavilion master position to fall on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head than on Chen Beifeng¡¯s. Now, Zhou Yuan, who had revealed a complete wind spirit rune and whose Genesis Qi foundation had soared to 14 million, possessed enough strength to counter Chen Beifeng. ¡­. Everybody around the whole lake was still in a state of shock brought about by the complete wind spirit rune. That scene similarly captured the attention of the two influential figures in the highest place of the audience. Sect master Xuan Kun, who had appeared to be dozing off, snapped open his eyes and locked on to Zhou Yuan. His deep, abyss-like eyes wavered slightly, and he remarked, ¡°So it turns out that the grand elder Chi Jing is also prepared.¡± He already knew that the deputy pavilion master who joined the Wind Pavilion two months ago was someone whom Chi Jing thought highly of and had prepared for that day. It was no wonder she had allowed the pavilion master selection to proceed¡­ Leaning against the throne, she smiled faintly. ¡°Of the four pavilions, the Wind Pavilion is still in my hands. If you want it, you can just talk to me. You don¡¯t need to do ridiculous things.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t dare to; otherwise, if supreme sovereign Cang Yuan returns, he will think I¡¯m bullying grand elder Chi Jing.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and she only coldly sneered inwardly. This old bastard, he leads a life of whoring but still expects a monument for his chastity. This time if it weren¡¯t for Zhou Yuan, the Wind Pavilion would have fallen into the hands of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. But she wasn¡¯t surprised that Zhou Yuan had refined a complete wind spirit rune in two months, because she had also practiced the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method before and knew what was at the core of the Four Spirits Origin Tower¡­. And not even sect master Xuan Kun and the others were allowed to enter that place. ¡­. On the platform that all eyes were watching. Chen Beifeng finally recovered from the shock. He looked at the complete wind spirit rune on the back of Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand, and his face began to twist, and his voice turned hoarse, ¡°How could you refine a complete wind spirit rune in two months?¡± He had still been mocking Zhou Yuan earlier, but who would have imagined that in the blink of an eye, those taunts would turn into a slap to the face? Zhou Yuan¡¯s 14 million Genesis Qi foundation was no longer much weaker than his. Moreover, he could clearly feel that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was of a higher rank than his Mind Confusion Wind Qi! In other words, even if Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was slightly weaker than his, if they were to fight, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t necessarily lose. The original gap between the two sides had made people lose all hope, but Zhou Yuan had bridged the chasm in an unimaginable way. Even after hearing Chen Beifeng¡¯s hysterical voice, Zhou Yuan still ignored him. Zhou Yuan felt the surging tsunami-like Genesis Qi in his body and took a deep breath before he lifted his hand again. A sword pill emerged. Om! A sword cry rang out. Chapter 820 Counterattack and Counterattack When Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice faded, a loud sword roar resounded throughout heaven and earth, and a biting cold aura flowed along the air. Multiple tiny marks constantly appeared across the surface of the surrounding lake. These were caused by the wisps of sword qi released. At this moment, the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb that Zhou Yuan activated again was undoubtedly much more powerful than before. There wasn¡¯t a wave of emotion on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, and his eyes were as sharp as a sword. He didn¡¯t utter a word, but lifted his hand and sent the sword pill in his palm shooting out, tearing through the void. Majestic sword qi frantically gathered around the sword pill and formed a beam of sword light several hundred feet long. The sword light exuded a terrifying cold qi that abruptly changed the expressions of countless advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts. Om! The beam of sword light cut through the void and directly locked onto Chen Beifeng. Chen Beifeng wore a solemn face and rapidly folded his hands into a seal. Mighty Genesis Qi surged, forming multiple huge deep-yellow wind blades in the void before him. Swoosh! The wind blades whizzed out, colliding with the sword light. Kacha! This time, however, several yellow wind blades were immediately broken into countless specks of light where the sword light passed by. Chen Beifeng couldn¡¯t stop his complexion from changing. Before he could block Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword pill with his wind blades, even after several repeated attacks, the wind blades were all destroyed when they met the sword light. This showed how powerful Zhou Yuan was at this moment. Chen Beifeng frantically retreated as he folded his hands together and roared, ¡°High-grade Heaven Genesis technique, Dragon Demon Drill!¡± Wooo! A gust of deep-yellow wind sped out like a wind dragon baring its teeth and claws. The tip spun frantically, releasing terrifying destructive power. Evidently, in the face of Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack, Chen Beifeng no longer dared to act arrogantly, and he had no choice but to display his most skillful killing move, which was also the move that had defeated Ye Bingling. The huge sword light swung down, and the wind drill rushed up directly like a tornado. The two fiercely collided. Boom! The impact reverberated throughout the world with an earthshaking rumble, and its shock wave wreaked havoc like a storm. Boom! Waves of thousands of feet tall were lifted from the lake, but fortunately, the several experts on the stone pillars around the lake swiftly suppressed the huge waves. A huge wave blasted up into the sky, turned into a rainstorm and pelted those below. But countless people shielded their eyes from the rain and tightly fixed their lines of sight on the two figures on the battlefield. As he deflected and shot the sword pill away, Chen Beifeng himself reeled back into the void. His face grew dark because he was unexpectedly at a disadvantage in the head-to-head just now. If the Dragon Demon Drill hadn¡¯t consumed the majority of the sword pill¡¯s power, even the three Divine Dwelling halos behind him would have been shattered when the sword slashed down. Zhou Yuan¡¯s 14 million Genesis Qi foundation was even fiercer than his 15 million! ¡°Could it be that the bastard¡¯s Genesis Qi is grade eight?¡± His Spirit Confusion Wind Qi was already grade seven, but it was still repeatedly suppressed by Zhou Yuan, suggesting that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was of a higher grade than his! ¡°You can¡¯t hold on any longer?¡± Zhou Yuan said indifferently as he lifted his head and fixed a knife-like stare on Chen Beifeng. The corners of Chen Beifeng¡¯s mouth visibly twitched. He was embarrassed to be suppressed by Zhou Yuan because he had never regarded Zhou Yuan as an opponent. He previously felt that Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t have the qualification to be his opponent. Zhou Yuan remained indifferent, but there was a bright light blooming in the middle of his eyebrows. He strode forward. Bang! The stone ground constantly cracked, turning into countless fragments that whirled into the sky. ¡°Spirit Flame!¡± A formless flame formed, wrapping the fragments. The next moment, countless fragments directly tore through the air and whizzed toward Chen Beifeng. ¡°Spirit Fire?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s move drew gasps of astonishment. To be able to refine a Spirit Flame signified that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit realm had reached the Transformative stage! Chen Beifeng¡¯s pupils shrank. He had expected Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit level to be quite high, but never would he have thought that Zhou Yuan had reached the Transformative stage! The difference between the Spirit of the Transformative stage and the Spirit of the Corporeal stage was undoubtedly tremendous. The most obvious was the formation of Spirit Flame. Once the flame contaminated someone, it would directly burn the Spirit, and the pain could be said to be worse than death. So Chen Beifeng naturally didn¡¯t want the fragments contaminated with Spirit Flames to touch his body. He frantically retreated as a majestic Genesis Qi gathered to form a mighty wind blade to withstand the fragments as much as possible. Bang! The void constantly crackled. But just as Chen Beifeng was using all his strength to counter Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit Flame, he found that Zhou Yuan had vanished. ¡°This isn¡¯t good!¡± His heart trembled. ¡°Mythic Saint Body!¡± The moment Chen Beifeng cried out, a deep voice sounded directly behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zhou Yuan appear behind him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin glowed like jade, and his bones were as bright as silver. The blood in his body moved like a torrent. His body enlarged, like that of a small giant, and the stone slabs at his feet exploded. Moreover, invisible Spirit Flames rose around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His imposing manner was terrifying like a ferocious beast pouncing for food. Even the hair all over Chen Beifeng¡¯s body stood on their ends. Boom! Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were icy cold, and countless fist shadows shrouded Chen Beifeng as if they were a towering, berserk monster. Chen Beifeng frantically and unreservedly erupted with Genesis Qi, forming numerous tough defenses around him. Rumble! Shock waves of Genesis Qi continued to erupt, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s offensive directly tore Chen Beifeng¡¯s Genesis Qi defense apart. Despite his frantic defenses, fist shadows still bombarded his body. The fists were as heavy as mountains, and most terrifying, they blazed with Spirit Flames. Therefore, each time they struck Chen Beifeng¡¯s body, even if it was only a slight contact, it brought him indescribable pain. His face contorted into a grimace of pain. Puchi! Jets of blood continuously spurted from Chen Beifeng¡¯s mouth. Bang! When the last fist shadow struck Chen Beifeng, the void cracked, and his body, like a rolling gourd, blasted across the ground and tore deep marks into the platform. Dust and smoke buried his body. It was only then that many people around the square woke up from Zhou Yuan¡¯s ferocious and beast-like offensive. Immediately, clamour broke out. No one had thought that Zhou Yuan would be so powerful and would almost crush Chen Beifeng like a gourd! On the Forest Pavilion¡¯s side, Jiang Man¡¯s mouth dropped open, and he gaped in shock, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect deputy pavilion master Zhou Yuan to be so ferocious from his gentle and refined outward appearance.¡± ¡°Spirit Flames are painful. Chen Beifeng probably can¡¯t stand back up again.¡± Mu Qingyan sighed. One of the most painful things in the world to strike your body would definitely be Spirit Fire. Mu Liu stroked his chin thoughtfully and then looked at Chen Beifeng who was buried by dust. He muttered with a frown, ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with Chen Beifeng.¡± On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Han Yuan also pursed his lips and said to Lu Xiao, ¡°It seems that your calculation was wrong, Chen Beifeng can¡¯t win against Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case,¡± Lu Xiao said calmly. ¡°We¡¯re far better prepared than you think.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Han Yuan curiously looked at the battlefield with his brows raised. Zhou Yuan slowly relaxed his palms and gazed at the distant dispersing smoke with a calm expression, but a hint of puzzlement came to his eyes. When he had struck Chen Beifeng, he had felt something strange. There seemed to be something protecting Chen Beifeng. Sha. He suddenly heard a faint sound coming from the smoke and dust, and he immediately flicked his sleeve. His Genesis Qi brought up a gust of wind and swept away all the smoke and dust. The scene within was revealed. Exclamations rang out around the square. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. In the distance, Chen Beifeng was kneeling on one knee, his body dripping with blood, and was panting rapidly. His body was riddled with scars, and something was drilling out from his flesh and blood. It seemed to be blood-red sand. On the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side, Ye Bingling, Yiu Qiushui and the others all gasped. Chapter 821 Red Demonic Worm Sand And when everybody around the lake saw this scene, their expressions changed uncontrollably. Many couldn¡¯t help but exclaim out loud, ¡°Red demonic worm sand?!¡± ¡°Senior sister Ye, what is red demonic worm sand?¡± Yi Qiushui asked, her beautiful face changing slightly. Although she didn¡¯t know what it was, she could still feel that Chen Beifeng had become extremely dangerous. Ye Bingling gritted her teeth and furrowed her brows as she explained, ¡°There is a strange insect in the world called a red demonic worm. If its eggs are planted into flesh and blood, the eggs will become extremely sharp and tough, and they will fill with violent intent. It is a top killing move because the eggs are as small as sand and can swallow Genesis Qi. Therefore, the eggs are called red demonic worm sand.¡± ¡°But to obtain red demonic worm sand, one has to let the worms lay eggs in your body. The pain is unimaginable for ordinary people. Once the technique is activated, the eggs will turn berserk and will inevitably swallow the flesh and blood of their master. If one is careless, the countless eggs can swallow one¡¯s body and bones.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Chen Beifeng to be so crazy!¡± ¡°But with the red demonic worm sand around one¡¯s body, one can create a terrifying shell of defense, and one¡¯s combat strength will greatly soar. It is impossible for ordinary Genesis Qi attacks to wound such a practitioner.¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s, Liu Zhixuan¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions grew solemn. Chen Beifeng had indeed come well prepared for the pavilion master selection. Roar! Chen Beifeng let out an incomparably pained roar. While shocked exclamations had been ringing outside the battlefield, his eyes had been gradually turning red, and it was obvious that the red demonic worm sand drilling out his flesh caused him an indescribable, severe pain. The blood-red worm sand gradually gathered on the surface of his body like a layer of blood-red armour. The appearance was exceedingly vicious, enough to cause one to shiver. The blood-colored worm sand wasn¡¯t only swallowing Chen Beifeng¡¯s flesh and blood but was also constantly absorbing his Genesis Qi, allowing the blood-red armour to glow with a blood-colored light. An intense stench of blood saturated the air. Chen Beifeng¡¯s red eyes, which didn¡¯t resemble the eyes of a human being, locked onto Zhou Yuan, and saliva dripped down the corners of his mouth. ¡°Zhou Yuan, die!¡± He made a sharp growl, then slammed his feet, suddenly cracking the ground. His figure appeared in front of Zhou Yuan like a ghost, and he blasted out a punch, causing a sonic boom. Rumble! Shock waves visible to the naked eye broke out from their fists. The surrounding ground continued to crack, and monstrous waves were lifted from the lake. Both Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Chen Beifeng¡¯s bodies trembled before the two reeled back from the impact. Every step they made caused the stone floor to turn to powder. Zhou Yuan forcibly steadied his body. With his brows knitted together, he peered down at his fist. On his white jade-like fist, there was blood seeping out from the pores. ¡°An unusual worm armour,¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself. He could feel that at least half of his strength had disappeared when he came into contact with the armour. The feeling was as though it had been swallowed by something. ¡°Roar!¡± Chen Beifeng roared and immediately clenched his hand. Deep-yellow Genesis Qi frantically gathered, and his arms trembled. The next moment, countless blood-red worm sand detached from his arm to fuse with the yellow Genesis Qi. As a result, even the deep-yellow Genesis Qi turned blood red. Chen Beifeng had poured the worm sand into his Genesis Qi! Boom! A torrent of blood-red Genesis Qi tore through the void, aiming directly for Zhou Yuan. The moment Zhou Yuan lifted his palm, a sword pill flashed out and transformed into a beam of sword light extending hundreds of feet high, and it slashed in the direction of the torrent of red Genesis Qi. Chi! However, after the sword light slashed downward, the torrent of blood-red Genesis Qi split into two and continued toward Zhou Yuan. Evidently, after integrating with the worm sand, Chen Beifeng¡¯s Genesis Qi had become extremely strange. Zhou Yuan rapidly retreated to avoid coming into contact with the blood-red Genesis Qi. After all, there were countless bizarre eggs contained inside. He operated the sword light to continue to slash down, but it was to no avail. ¡°Haha, Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t do useless things anymore. There is no way you can break my blood Genesis Qi!¡± Chen Beifeng burst into wild laughter as he watched Zhou Yuan frantically evade his attacks. Zhou Yuan ignored Chen Beifeng¡¯s laughter and watched the approaching blood-red Genesis Qi with a darkened face. He could feel that his Genesis Qi didn¡¯t have much effect on the eggs because they possessed the ability to swallow Genesis Qi. Coupled with their unusually tough shell, even pure Genesis Qi had no effect on them. ¡°If you want to destroy it, you have to kill those eggs first!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered, and his retreating figure suddenly halted. The Spirit light in the space between his eyebrows suddenly flashed, and a formless Spirit Flame shot out to meet the blood-red Genesis Qi head on. Chi! But this time, when the Spirit Flame came into contact with the blood-red Genesis Qi, only a shrill sound could be heard, and countless tiny eggs fell from the Genesis Qi. Their little life force was directly wiped away. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. As expected, his guess was correct. Although the worm sand wasn¡¯t afraid of Genesis Qi, it still had a nemesis, and that was Spirit Flame! The Spirit Flame could ignore the flesh and aim directly for the spirit. Although the worm eggs had an extremely strong shell, their tiny Spirit was weak and vulnerable! ¡°What?¡± Noticing this scene, Chen Beifeng¡¯s eyes suddenly shrank. He didn¡¯t expect the Spirit Flame to have such a terrifying destructive power against his worm sand. ¡°Damn it!¡± he cursed and hurriedly tried to withdraw the blood-red Genesis Qi. After all, it was extremely difficult to cultivate these eggs, and he had suffered indescribable pain to do so. ¡°Hmph.¡± However, Zhou Yuan simply snorted upon seeing him withdraw his red demonic worm sand. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit Flame rapidly gathered and transformed into a flame serpent that then collided with the blood-red Genesis Qi. Chi! Where the Spirit Flame blazed, the blood red Genesis Qi rapidly faded back to its original deep-yellow color, the eggs inside destroyed. ¡°You dare burn my worm sand!¡± Chen Beifeng roared. ¡°I¡¯m not only going to burn the worm sand today, I¡¯m going to burn you!¡± A chilling intent surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He stamped his feet, cracking the ground, and directly flashed to where Chen Beifeng was. Knowing the weakness of the worm sand, he was no longer afraid. With the clench of his hand, a sword pill emerged in his palm. And as sword qi gathered, a tremendous sword of several feet was formed. ¡°Mythic Saint Body!¡± With every step that Zhou Yuan took, the jade light around his body grew brighter and brighter. ¡°Omega Saint Spirit Art!¡± A mysterious shadow shrouded Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. ¡°Azure Serpent Form!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glowed with an azure light, like the vertical eyes of a dragon. He wiped the blade with his palm, and azure serpent scales surfaced across its body, glistening with a light that made one shudder. At the same time, snowy-white hair spread out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s palms, wrapping the sword body. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± The snowy-white hair quickly turned a dark color, deep and mysterious. ¡°Spirit Fire!¡± The formless flame rose from the sword body. It was the best way to deal with worm sand. Mighty Genesis Qi surged behind Zhou Yuan, 14 million Genesis Qi stars flickering. At this moment, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit and qi had climbed to their peak, and a terrifying imposing air was also steadily rising around him, causing the expressions of all the Divine Dwelling experts to change abruptly. Even Lu Xiao, Han Yuan and Mu Liu, the three pavilion masters, were stunned. The Zhou Yuan at that moment was enough to make even people of their level feel a little danger. Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps halted when he was ten feet away from Chen Beifeng. At this moment his imposing air had already reached its peak. His eyes locked onto Chen Beifeng¡¯s face, which was twisted with fear, and the next second, the tremendous sword in his hand slashed out. Boom! The sword was incomparably stunning. Its brilliance covered up even the sunlight. The vast sword light swung down, lifting up thousands of waves. Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice resounded throughout the sky. Chapter 822 That Sword Again At that time the Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword defeated Jin Teng and established Zhou Yuan as a deputy pavilion master. And today, would the sword be as powerful as it was that day?! Could it help him obtain the position of pavilion master this time?! Om! The monstrous sword light was wrapped in terrifying power. As it slashed down, the entire sky seemed to be sliced into two, drawing countless horrified gazes. No one thought that the sword Zhou Yuan had prepared would be this strong! A look of fear came to Chen Beifeng¡¯s red eyes, but he also knew that this was his last chance. If he couldn¡¯t withstand Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword, he shouldn¡¯t even think about touching the position of pavilion master! If he failed, the Heavenly Spirit Sect would inevitably abandon him. He had already gained Lady Chi Jing¡¯s ill will, so at that time how could he remain around? His future could be said to be completely destroyed if he lost! So he couldn¡¯t fail! Roar! Chen Beifeng roared out, suppressing the fear in his heart, and the Genesis Qi within his body erupted out unreservedly, fusing with the worm sand. His flesh shriveled as the worm sand swallowed his blood and essence. But Chen Beifeng couldn¡¯t care about this. The worm sand and Genesis Qi frantically compressed together and formed an incredibly thick layer of blood armor around his body. His flesh dried up, but his body grew tens of feet and emitted a violent bloody aura, making him look like an asura giant that had climbed out from an abyss. ¡°You think I¡¯m Jin Teng?! ¡°Indestructible red demonic armor!¡± He lifted his head and roared, causing the void to quake violently. Om! And it was at that moment that the monstrous sword light slashed down. The blood-red giant crossed his arms, and blood-colored light bloomed. Clang! Under countless stunned gazes, the sword light struck the red giant¡¯s arm, and a clear metallic clang reverberated throughout the sky. Boom! Waves of incomparably berserk Genesis Qi swept out. The solid stone slabs on the huge platform cracked and crumbled, splitting the platform. The impact sent monstrous waves crashing endlessly towards the surroundings. The power was astonishing. But the giant waves automatically dissipated when they approached the spectators, as if neutralised by a powerful invisible force. But there were more people who didn¡¯t notice. Their eyes were intently fixed on the flooded platform in the middle of the lake. They wanted to know whether Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword was sharper or whether Chen Beifeng¡¯s demonic armor, which Chen Beifeng had brought out with all his strength, was tougher. On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Lu Xiao and Han Yuan stopped talking and stared at the battlefield. Facing this situation, Lu Xiao, who had always acted indifferent, slowly clenched his hand. This battle would decide the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion! On the Forest Pavilion¡¯s side, Mu Qingyan asked in a nervous whisper, ¡°Who will win?¡± Mu Liu stroked his chin. He couldn¡¯t answer, because Chen Beifeng¡¯s desperate struggle at the last moment had been unexpected. So it was indeed difficult to determine the outcome of the battle. The most nervous people were of course the members of the Wind Pavilion. After all, the result would have a real impact on them. But whether it was Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui or those who supported Chen Beifeng, none of them dared to take a deep breath. They just stared unblinkingly at the water screen blocking the battlefield. Crash! In the almost silent world, the water screen faded, and a huge splash of water dropped down from the sky. The battlefield was slowly revealed, gradually becoming clearer. The first thing that caught everyone¡¯s attention was the platform in disarray. It had almost split into two. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure hovered in the air, and the sword pill that had dimmed by a lot circled him before returning and entering his body. The terrifying aura he exuded gradually faded. At the end of the huge sword mark across the platform was a giant blood-red figure standing like an iron tower. His arms were crossed, and he didn¡¯t move an inch. There was a powerful aura flowing around his body as before. ¡°Chen Beifeng withstood the sword?!¡± The audience burst into exclamations of disbelief. Lu Xiao inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, while Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the others paled visibly, because they knew that Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword strike had been at the pinnacle of his power and it would be impossible for him to do deliver another strike so soon. Countless disappointed sighs could be heard. Zhou Yuan, the dark horse, was it going to end like this? But Zhou Yuan seemed to not care about the disappointed cries. He calmly peered down at Chen Beifeng, who resembled an asura, and turned around. Stepping through the air, he walked away from the platform. Seeing his behaviour, someone muttered, ¡°Is he giving up?¡± But the moment Zhou Yuan stepped off the platform, the entire platform quaked violently and collapsed into the lake. And on Chen Beifeng¡¯s blood-red demonic armor emerged tiny cracks. In just a few breaths, the armor turned to ashes, revealing Chen Beifeng¡¯s corpse-like body. The redness in his eyes receded, replaced by intense fear. A gash appeared on his body but seeped no blood.This was because the worm eggs had swallowed all his blood. Chen Beifeng peered down at the gash. He knew that the previous sword had not only destroyed his demonic worm armor but had also nearly cut him into two. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan had held back his strength in the end. ¡°I can¡¯t accept this result¡­ ¡°I¡¯ve been working hard for years. Why, why would I lose at the last step?!¡± He remembered that two months ago, when Zhou Yuan had first come to the Wind Pavilion, he had defeated Jin Teng with one sword strike. At that time Chen Beifeng had looked down on Zhou Yuan and thought he was trying to show off his powers through a clumsy way, but who would have thought that he would lose to the same sword technique two months later? Endless exhaustion and unwillingness surged in his heart. His dessicated body tottered and then finally plunged into the lake. For a moment, the lake was peaceful and quiet. Then, countless gazes instantly turned to the young figure striding across the air, and deafening cheers rang out over Wind Island. Lu Xiao¡¯s face grew overcast, and Han Yuan frowned deeply. On the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side, Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the others were crying tears of joy. They almost couldn¡¯t bear such ups and downs. Around them, those who supported Zhou Yuan were roaring with joy. The people who remained neutral also cheered immediately and confidently. Countless eyes gathered on that young figure. In those eyes were different emotions, including curiosity, anger, and joy. In any case, they couldn¡¯t deny that the pavilion master selection had been a wonderful show. At the highest place, Chi Jing and sect master Xuan Kun were watching this scene calmly. Sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s eyes paused on Zhou Yuan for a long while before he slowly closed his eyes. His face was devoid of emotion, like an abyss. Chi Jing didn¡¯t pay any attention to sect master Xuan Kun and continued to stare at Zhou Yuan with her clear eyes. A smiling expression flashed across the depths of her eyes. Little junior brother does indeed have some ability. No wonder our master chose him as a disciple. She stood up, and a clear and pleasant voice resounded across the world. She was met with loud cheers. ¡°The result of the pavilion master selection of Wind Pavilion is already out¡­ Chapter 823 Pavilion Master of Wind Pavilion When Chi Jing¡¯s clear voice resounded, the countless figures around the lake cupped their fists in salute and bowed respectfully. There were also deafening voices of congratulations. Many eyes were gathered on Zhou Yuan, curiously studying the new talent of the Tianyuan region who amazed the world with his feat. Within the Tianyuan Region, the position of the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master wasn¡¯t low and was higher than the prefecture lords¡¯. If one was promoted to pavilion master, one¡¯s status and identity would be equal to an elder of the elder committee. This situation was quite rare in the Tianyuan Region because the elders of the elder committee were almost all experts of the Nascent Source stage. If it was elsewhere, they would have become an influential leader of an area. Therefore, the pavilion masters of the four pavilions possessed a special status. They could only be chosen from an institution like the four pavilions that gathered the young heaven prides from all around the world. Zhou Yuan stood in the void without a ripple of emotion on his face and just bowed with a cupped fist salute in each direction. Then, he landed on the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side. There, Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui, Liu Zhixuan and many members of the Wind Pavilion quickly greeted him. ¡°Welcome, pavilion master!¡± Everybody bowed one after another with respectful looks on their faces, and even the neutral members immediately showed their loyalty. Evidently, they were all very clear about the Wind Pavilion¡¯s future, and Chen Beifeng had become the past. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d become my superior.¡± Ye Bingling revealed a faint smile on her icy cold and beautiful face. Two months prior, when Zhou Yuan had just come to the Wind Pavilion, Ye Bingling wouldn¡¯t have ever thought of this scene. At that time, she thought it would be very difficult for someone like Zhou Yuan, who had suddenly appeared, to gain a foothold in the Wind Pavilion. Who would have thought that he would not only establish himself, but also win the position of pavilion master! Zhou Yuan felt a little embarrassed. After all, he could be said to have blocked Ye Bingling¡¯s path and snatched her place. Although he had achieved this with his own ability, their relationship was pretty good, so it would inevitably become a little awkward. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when I become the chief pavilion master, I will give you the position of pavilion master,¡± Zhou Yuan said. Ye Bingling rolled her eyes. This guy is too ambitious. He has just become the pavilion master and is already coveting the position of chief pavilion master? You really think Lu Xiao, Han Yuan and Mu Liu, the other three pavilion masters, are made of mud? On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Lu Xiao remained silent as he gazed at the collapsed platform in the middle of the lake, but anyone could see that his face was growing dark. His plan had been ruined. Chen Beifeng¡¯s defeat had not only made his scheme fail, it also cut off their Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s best chance of getting their hands on the Wind Pavilion. Hu. However, despite the fury in his heart, Lu Xiao still didn¡¯t lose his temper. He drew a deep breath to suppress his anger and uttered, ¡°Interesting, I didn¡¯t expect to overlook something.¡± Han Yuan also knitted his brows in a frown. ¡°Since a pavilion master has appeared in the Wind Pavilion, it will undoubtedly have an impact on the structure of the four pavilions.¡± Previously, the Fire Pavilion had joined forces with the Mountain Pavilion, and the Forest Pavilion was weak by itself. As for the Wind Pavilion, it was like a tray of loose sand, unable to unite. This led to the Fire and Mountain Pavilions dominating the four pavilions and taking the greatest benefits and speaking rights. But now there was a new pavilion master in the Wind Pavilion. Once Zhou Yuan united the Wind Pavilion, the weight that the Wind Pavilion had on other pavilions would also increase as a result. And that could hurt the benefits of the other pavilions. ¡°The Wind Pavilion has been in disorder for too long and the talented people have all joined our side. It would be difficult for them to recover, even with Zhou Yuan. There is nothing to fear,¡± Lu Xiao said indifferently. ¡°And one pavilion master is probably not enough to shake the current structure of the four pavilions.¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory against Chen Beifeng was wonderful, for Lu Xiao and other people, it was just a good show. After witnessing Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, Lu Xiao would pay more attention to Zhou Yuan, but it wasn¡¯t enough to make him fear Zhou Yuan. Han Yuan nodded and laughed, ¡°Then I hope this new pavilion master knows what to do.¡± While clamour rang out all around the lake, in the highest place of the audience, sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s eyes flashed. He stood up slowly and said, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, since the Wind Pavilion has a new pavilion master, then the chief pavilion master battle should also be put on the agenda.¡± ¡°In the past, you have always put off the chief pavilion master battle on the grounds that there wasn¡¯t a pavilion master in the Wind Pavilion, but now you can¡¯t continue to do so, right? If so, the other three grand elders would most likely disgree.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun remained calm and didn¡¯t appear disappointed by the defeat of the Heavenly Spirit Sect; instead, in the blink of an eye, he set his sights higher. As long as the position of chief pavilion master was controlled by the Heavenly Spirit Sect, they could still take control of the four pavilions in the future. Chi Jing cast a sidelong glance at sect master Xuan Kun. She naturally saw through his plan. But this time she didn¡¯t disagree and instead nodded gently. ¡°Then let¡¯s set it for eight months from now.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun coveted the position of chief pavilion master, and she was the same. She had objected in the past because she knew that the position would certainly fall into the hands of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, but now it wasn¡¯t the same. Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance gave Chi Jing hope. Although there might be a difference in strength between Zhou Yuan and the other pavilion masters. She believed that if she were to give her little junior brother some time, it would be hard to say who is the stronger and weaker one. No matter what, he was a disciple chosen by her master. Seeing Chi Jing agree so easily, even someone like sect master Xuan Kun was taken aback for a moment. He immediately cast his abyss-like eyes onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the distance. Could it be that she was counting on the new pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion? However, although Zhou Yuan was quite capable, how could he be compared to Lu Xiao and Han Yuan? Suspicious thoughts came to sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s mind. He then said in an indifferent voice, ¡°Eight months is probably too long. I heard that the other regions are already making preparations for the nine regions tournament. No one is sure when the tournament will be scheduled, so it¡¯s best to complete the chief pavilion master battle within two months so that the newly appointed chief pavilion master will have time to unify the four pavilions.¡± Although he didn¡¯t know exactly what Chi Jing was planning, the cunning old fox Xuan Kun still didn¡¯t intend to let her do as she wished. Chi Jing shook her head. ¡°Two months is too soon, then four months it is.¡± She stared at sect master Xuan Kun and said with a smile, ¡°Sect master Xuan Kun is too impatient.¡± Sect Master Xuan Kun chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m not impatient, I am just worried it will be too late. I don¡¯t want our Tianyuan Region to be ranked last in the nine regions tournament because of this. This would no doubt make our supreme sovereign lose face. ¡°But since grand elder Chi Jing has said so, let¡¯s set it for four months from now.¡± He finally took a slight step back. He had managed to cut the original suggested time by a half, which could already be counted as a small victory. Finally, Chi Jing stepped forward and scanned the crowd. Her clear voice again rang in everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°The pavilion master for the Wind Pavilion has been decided, but the position of chief pavilion master of the four pavilions has been vacant for too long. So after a discussion with the other grand elders, four months later we will open the chief pavilion master battle in response to the coming nine regions tournament. ¡°And in this battle for the chief pavilion master position, the winner will be rewarded with a little saint technique.¡± These words seemed simple, but when it spread out, the originally clamourous crowd fell silent. After a few breaths, a monstrous uproar broke out as if the world was about to be overturned. Chapter 824 Chief Pavilion Master Selection All members of the four pavilions were shocked. Even Lu Xiao and Han Yuan were taken aback for a moment before a look of wild joy lit up their faces. ¡°Is it finally time to start the chief pavilion master battle?!¡± Lu Xiao could feel a river overturning in his heart. He had coveted the position of chief pavilion master for a long time, but Chi Jing had always postponed the chief pavilion master battle on the grounds that the Wind Pavilion had no pavilion master. But who would have thought that Chi Jing would unexpectedly announce the opening of the chief pavilion master battle! Compared with the position of chief pavilion master, the position of wind pavilion master was considered nothing. After becoming the chief pavilion master, he could officially control the four pavilions, rather than be in charge of only one pavilion as he did now. Moreover, the status and salary that the chief pavilion master had in the Tianyuan Region weren¡¯t something that a pavilion master could compare to. Lu Xiao stared at the two figures standing above everyone with blazing eyes. In his view, the reason Chi Jing agreed was because the sect master Xuan Kun had pressured her. After all, in the past, Chi Jing had stopped the chief pavilion master battle from going ahead with the reason that the Wind Pavilion didn¡¯t have a pavilion master. But that reason wasn¡¯t valid anymore. ¡°This time Lady Chi Jing can be said to have picked up a sesame seed but lost a watermelon.¡± Lu Xiao sneered. He was a little upset by Chen Beifeng¡¯s failure, but now he was very impressed by sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s great skill. ¡°And this time, the chief pavilion master will be rewarded with a little saint art!¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes blazed. Although a little saint art had the word little, it still reached the scope of Saint Genesis Art. Moreover, this type of Genesis technique was incredibly rare, even in the entire Hunyuan Heaven. Therefore, let alone people of the Divine Dwelling stage, even Heavenly Sun stage experts would find it difficult to contain their desire and longing in the face of a little saint art. On the Forest Pavilion¡¯s side, Mu Liu¡¯s expression grew solemn, and he sighed, ¡°The four pavilions won¡¯t be peaceful anymore for a period of time.¡± Anybody would covet the position of chief pavilion master as well as a little saint technique. Compared with such a battle, Zhou Yuan¡¯s achievement of becoming the master of the Wind Pavilion dimmed in an instant. On the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side, Ye Bingling, Ye Qiushui and the others were similarly stunned, and they were so shocked by the news that they still hadn¡¯t snapped out of it after a good while. Ye Bingling gradually awakened and then looked at Zhou Yuan with a complicated look in her beautiful eyes. ¡°You jinxed it.¡± Zhou Yuan laughed: ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± ¡°How could it be good?¡± Ye Bingling furrowed her eyebrows and explained, ¡°In the past, Lady Chi Jing has always prevented the chief pavilion master battle because she knew that the position would fall into the hands of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. But now she has suddenly agreed. This is most likely because sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s pressured her to do so.¡± Her brows furrowed in worry. If Lu Xiao really became the chief pavilion master, then, even if Zhou Yuan had become the master of Wind Pavilion, they would still ultimately be suppressed by Lu Xiao, which wouldn¡¯t be good for them. Zhou Yuan smiled. He didn¡¯t think that Chi Jing agreeing to the chief pavilion master battle was a compromise with sect master Xuan Kun, because she also knew that his goal wasn¡¯t to become the wind pavilion master. The chief pavilion master position was his ultimate goal. Perhaps that sect master Xuan Kun had intended to force her to agree, but his senior sister Chi Jing might have had other thoughts, and her thought might have been that he was equally capable of competing for the position of chief pavilion master. ¡°My senior sister Chi Jing must think highly of me.¡± With Chi Jing¡¯s trust and attention, the pressure that Zhou Yuan felt wasn¡¯t small. It seemed that he shouldn¡¯t feel proud of his victory over Chen Beifeng this time. After all, as Ye Bingling had said, there was a huge gap between Chen Beifeng and Lu Xiao and Han Yuan. At least Zhou Yuan understood that if he were to face Lu Xiao now, his probability of losing was greater than winning. It wasn¡¯t embarrassing to admit this now because Zhou Yuan¡¯s potential in the Divine Dwelling stage was far greater than Lu Xiao¡¯s. He had only polished and connected five of the nine Divine Dwellings. If he were to connect the four remaining Divine Dwellings, his Genesis qi foundation would inevitably reach an astonishing level that Lu Xiao couldn¡¯t reach. Of course, potential couldn¡¯t be turned into strength to fill the gap between them. Therefore, for the next four months, he couldn¡¯t relax at all. Otherwise if he were to fail, he would greatly disappoint his senior sister Chi Jing. Moreover, Zhou Yuan also had great interest in the little saint art. He possessed a variety of high-grade Heaven Genesis techniques, but had never touched any Saint Genesis technique before. But he knew that any Saint Genesis technique possessed unimaginable powers and, once mastered, would significantly improve his strength. He possessed the Seven Cangxuan arts, and if he cultivated the seven arts to great success, he could merge them and turn them into Saint Genesis techniques, but the difficulty of this was too great. Currently, there were only two techniques that Zhou Yuan could be said to have mastered, and they were the Mythic Saint Body and Omega Saint Spirit Art. He hadn¡¯t quite mastered the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb, let alone the other high-grade Heaven Genesis techniques that he hadn¡¯t had time to practice. One day, when he merged the seven arts, it should be a true Saint Genesis art, which would be far superior to a little Saint Genesis technique. At the highest point, Chi Jing¡¯s burgundy hair flowed lightly in the wind, and her gaze flickered toward Zhou Yuan. The two gazes met, and they both smiled as though they understood each other¡¯s mind. Chi Jing ran her eyes across the entire audience, and her voice rang out: ¡°Everyone, practice hard for the chief pavilion master battle in four months. ¡°Compared to today, it will be a major event for my Tianyuan Region.¡± ¡°We will follow Lady Chi Jing¡¯s words.¡± Countless people bowed respectfully. Chi Jing nodded. She knew it wasn¡¯t good to show Zhou Yuan too much attention in public. After all, given her identity, even if Zhou Yuan had become the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master, the gap in status between them was still huge. So, with the wave of his hand, her slender body blurred and quickly vanished. When Chi Jing left, the figure of sect master Xuan Kun also faded away, but before he disappeared, he seemed to cast a glance in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. Following the departure of the two grand elders, the pressure that shrouded the world also dissipated, and countless people secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Yi Qiushui looked at Zhou Yuan and teased, ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, you have won today. Do you plan on treating your brothers to a feast?¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at the surrounding members of the Wind Pavilion who were looking at him eagerly. He knew that Yi Qiushui was suggesting that this was the best time to win people¡¯s hearts, so he didn¡¯t refuse and nodded with a smile. ¡°Tonight at Wind Restaurant, we won¡¯t return without getting drunk.¡± Upon hearing his words, the members of the Wind Pavilion cheered, and the atmosphere turned warm and joyous. But that was when a figure came over. It was one of the deputy pavilion masters of the Fire Pavilion, Wang Chen. Ye Bingling frowned and said, ¡°Is there something wrong, deputy pavilion master Wang Chen?¡± Wang Chen remained expressionless, then gave a cupped first salute to Zhou Yuan and smiled insincerely. ¡°Congratulations to pavilion master Zhou Yuan.¡± It was clear that he was extremely unhappy. After all, he had previously looked at Zhou Yuan condescendingly, but now, Zhou Yuan¡¯s status was much higher than his own. ¡°I came here to inform pavilion master Zhou Yuan that since the Wind Pavilion now has a pavilion master, I hope that you won¡¯t be absent from the four pavilion conference in three days. After all, the pavilion master conference has always been hosted by our pavilion master, Lu Xiao,¡± Wang Chen said indifferently. There was a hint of arrogance in his tone of voice, and in Wang Chen¡¯s view, there was still a huge gap in strength between Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Four pavilions masters conference? As far as I know, this should be presided over by the chief pavilion master?¡± Lu Xiao really wasn¡¯t polite. He was clearly just the pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion but had stretched his hand so far. The corners of Wang Chen¡¯s mouth slightly tugged upward in a sneer. ¡°Is there a difference? It¡¯s going to happen sooner or later. ¡°I have delivered the message, so farewell.¡± When his voice faded, he turned and left. ¡°The Fire Pavilion is too arrogant.¡± ¡°They consider everyone else beneath them!¡± Many other members of the Wind Pavilion were all a little unhappy when they saw Wang Chen being rude to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan calmly waved his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t let a fly ruin the good mood. Let¡¯s go celebrate.¡± When the crowd cheered again, he narrowed his eyes in the direction Wang Chen left. Chapter 825 Newcomer Ceremony The other three pavilions, especially the Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion, were constantly stealing young talents from the Wind Pavilion, which was the main reason why the Wind Pavilion was growing weaker over the years. And now, there was finally a new pavilion master, and his strength was quite extraordinary. This was obviously a great thing for the Wind Pavilion. As for the groups that had originally supported Chen Beifeng, they began to quickly break up, including pavilion commander Jin Teng, who previously followed Chen Beifeng¡¯s command. At this moment they were in a very awkward situation, so they wisely stayed quiet and didn¡¯t dare to create trouble. They all understand that from then on, the Wind Pavilion would belong to Zhou Yuan. And even if Chen Beifeng recovered from his severe injuries, he would most likely also be suppressed. Perhaps he couldn¡¯t even protect his position of deputy pavilion master. If Chen Beifeng was in such a situation, what about them? Jin Teng and the rest prayed that Zhou Yuan would forget about them, so how could they dare to create trouble? The center of Wind Island, Mirror Lake. On the small island in the middle of Mirror Lake, there were two tall towers, one of which was a general affairs building for members of the Wind Pavilion to take up tasks and receive their salary. The other was the pavilion master tower, but this building had been vacant for several years, and was only now opened again after Zhou Yuan was promoted to pavilion master. The pavilion master tower had been carefully cleaned during these two days, and Zhou Yuan had moved in from his small building. In the courtyard on the roof of the building, Zhou Yuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He surveyed the area. Around the clear and glistening lake were a number of training grounds. At this moment, there were many Wind Pavilion members doing their daily routines, practicing and learning from each other. After a moment, he retracted his gaze and glanced at the outside of the pavilion master building, where there was someone lingering around. ¡°That man is called Li Jian, right? Is he looking for you?¡± Zhou Yuan turned his head and glanced at Ye Bingling who was next to him. ¡°You don¡¯t need to care about an ungrateful wolf like him. He now wants to turn his back on Chen Beifeng and come back.¡± Ye Bingling sneered coldly. Seeing this, Zhou Yuan casually said to Yi Qiushui next to him, ¡°Then find a chance to remove him from the pavilion commander position.¡± In the Wind Pavilion, his words decided everything. Even if he wanted to deal with a pavilion commander, he didn¡¯t need anyone¡¯s consent. Yi Qiushui nodded. Zhou Yuan seemed to be the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, but in truth she was the one who dealt with the numerous affairs. She originally thought that she had gone beyond her authority, so she tried to report everything to Zhou Yuan to let him make a decision. But Zhou Yuan only tried for half a day and then refused again and again because he found that, compared to these trivial matters, he would rather go find someone to fight. Back when he was a deputy pavilion master, he didn¡¯t have so many things to pay attention to, but now he realised that controlling a pavilion didn¡¯t seem to be as pleasant as he had expected. After seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s resistance to these matters, Yi Qiushui had no choice but to let him become an off-hand manager. When Xiao Hong, Lu Mingyue and the other pavilion commanders saw Zhou Yuan remove a pavilion commander at will, they couldn¡¯t help but let emotions of reverence rise in their hearts. ¡°Qiushui, you really are a treasure,¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but compliment Yi Qiushui for taking care of the many matters of the Wind Pavilion in an orderly manner. Without Yi Qiushui, it was unknown what a sorry state he would end up in. Yi Qiushui darted an angry look at him. But although the affairs of the Wind Pavilion were a bit cumbersome, it wasn¡¯t a big deal to her. She had secretly controlled Xiaoxuan Prefecture before, so she could easily handle these affairs. ¡°I can help you with these little things, but for the four pavilions conference tomorrow, you have to attend it yourself,¡± she said. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly when the four pavilion conference was mentioned. ¡°I feel that it¡¯s not anything good. ¡°Do you know what the four pavilion conference is for?¡± Ye Bingling pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I think it has something to do with the next newcomer ceremony.¡± ¡°Newcomer ceremony?¡± Zhou Yuan blinked. Seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s puzzled look, Yi Qiushui couldn¡¯t help but clutch her head and grit her teeth. ¡°Didn¡¯t I collect all the information yesterday and put it on your desk? Didn¡¯t you read it?¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly chuckled and yawned towards the sky. Yi Qiushui didn¡¯t have the energy to criticise the irresponsibility of the pavilion master anymore. She explained, ¡°Every year, new heaven prides from various areas will come to Tianyuan Utopia. They will come to the four pavilions after being reviewed. This is the newcomer ceremony. ¡°The newcomer ceremony is extremely important to the four pavilions, because it represents fresh blood, and there are also some good seedlings among them. If you can take them in, they will greatly enhance the strength of the Wind Pavilion. ¡°So the four pavilions will always compete for a share at every newcomer ceremony. ¡°But not the wind pavilion.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Previously, according to the rules, each of the four pavilions had a share of 25%, which couldn¡¯t be exceeded. However, since the Wind Pavilion didn¡¯t have a pavilion master, it naturally wasn¡¯t eligible to participate in the pavilion master conference. In the end, Lu Xiao and Han Yuan swallowed the Wind Pavilion¡¯s share of newcomers,¡± Ye Qiushui explained. Zhou Yuan frowned. ¡°How much have they swallowed?¡± ¡°Almost all,¡± Ye Bingling answered, her face a little troubled. ¡°In the annual newcomer ceremony, the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion were always the fastest to grab people. In the end, some unattractive talents were thrown to the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side. So in the past two years, our foundation has gotten worse and worse.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. Lu Xiao and Han Yuan¡¯s manners were too ugly. Zhou Yuan thought for a moment and then said calmly, ¡°I can¡¯t manage how they were in the past, but now that I am the pavilion master, they have to return everything that belongs to us. ¡°I don¡¯t take advantage of anyone, so no one can take advantage of me.¡± He had now become the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master, so this was his territory. Even if they were only Divine Dwelling stage experts, in the future, someone amongst them might occupy a high position in the Tianyun Region. He naturally had to defend his share. Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling exchanged a glance. If this was the case, the pavilion master conference the next day would be a huge event. ¡°There¡¯s one more problem.¡± Yi Qiushui bit her red lips lightly and said, ¡°Even if we get back our share, I¡¯m worried that there is still no way to win against the Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion in the newcomer ceremony. Nine out of ten of the outstanding talents will choose them. As a result, we can only get the newcomers they don¡¯t want.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Chapter 826 The Riches On the roof of the pavilion master building, Zhou Yuan looked at Ye Bingling with a ruminative expression and asked, ¡°The Fire Pavilion¡¯s salary is much better?¡± ¡°The ordinary members of our Wind Pavilion receive twenty origin coins a month, but do you know how much the Fire Pavilion gives? Forty! ¡°There they receive twenty more every month, and two hundred in a year. That¡¯s not a small number. ¡°The reason those heaven prides come to the four pavilions is for the four ancient Genesis runes of the Four Spirits Origin Tower, and the number of origin coins they have will determine their final achievements. So it¡¯s useless to talk to them with words; it is most direct to use origin coins! ¡°But the Fire Pavilion can be so generous because they have the earnings from the Mark Capturing Rune. Only those huge profits can support the Fire Pavilion¡¯s huge expenditure! ¡°But given our Wind Pavilion¡¯s foundation, if we do the same we will collapse in a few days,¡± Ye Bingling said in a solemn voice. At the end of the day, poverty affects ambition. Yi Qiushui also nodded. ¡°Every year, some resources are allocated to the four pavilions, but they are fixed. So if you want more, each pavilion has to figure out a solution themselves. ¡°And the Fire Pavilion¡¯s way is the Mark Capturing Rune.¡± Zhou Yuan tapped the railings gently with his fingers and said, ¡°The income made from selling Mark Capturing Runes is all provided to the Fire Pavilion?¡± Ye Bingling shook her head, ¡°Sixty percent of the earnings from the Mark Capturing Rune is provided to the Fire Pavilion, and of the remaining 40%, Lu Xiao and Zhu Lian each have 20%.¡± Zhou Yuan estimated that 20% was a very large number and completely sufficient for the cultivation training of someone of Lu Xiao¡¯s level. Since the Mark Capturing Runes could be sold to all four pavilions, its earnings were naturally higher than the Mother Wind Runes. According to his calculations, 10% each year was still no less than tens of thousands of origin coins, and 20% was hundreds of thousands or more. Since 60% was given to the Fire Pavilion, it was no wonder that the Fire Pavilion was so rich and arrogant. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Lu Xiao and the others to be so selfless,¡± Zhao Yuan said mockingly. ¡°I heard from Grandpa that someone of the Heavenly Spirit Sect helped them create the Mark Capturing Rune, so Lu Xiao and Zhu Lian don¡¯t dare to take all the credit,¡± Yi Qiushui whispered. Zhou Yuan nodded and said after pondering, ¡°From today on, I will only take 20% from the sales of the Mother Wind Rune, and 70% will be directly provided to the Wind Pavilion. The remaining 10% will be allocated to the deputy pavilion master, pavilion commanders and deputy pavilion commanders according to ranking.¡± Everybody responded with stunned disbelief. The reason that Lu Xiao and Zhu Lian had split the profits was because the Heavenly Spirit Sect had tasked them with strengthening the Fire Pavilion. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t have such worries, so there was no need for him to do so. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°What use is there for me to hold so many origin coins? Those things are nothing when I leave the four pavilions.¡± Yi Qiushui shook her head and said in a serious tone, ¡°That¡¯s not true. When you leave the four pavilions, you can exchange the origin coins for many good things.¡± ¡°Can they be exchanged for a little saint art?¡± Zhou Yuan said casually. But he didn¡¯t expect Yi Qiushui to nod. ¡°You can exchange for one with 800,000 origin coins.¡± Zhou Yuan was immediately frozen in disbelief. ¡°Can I really exchange for one? With 800,000 origin coins?¡± Eight hundred thousand seemed to be a terrifying number, but from the sales of the Mother Wind Runes, the amount accumulated in three years¡¯ time wasn¡¯t small at all. After all, from selling Mother Wind Runes, Zhou Yuan almost earned one thousand origin coins every day. Ye Bingling couldn¡¯t help laughing, ¡°Is your heart aching now?¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat annoyed, but he immediately sighed, ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m not a stingy person. Do I really plan to save up for three years to exchange for a little saint art? Instead, isn¡¯t it better to win the chief pavilion master position? ¡°Just follow what I said earlier.¡± In truth, Zhou Yuan already had this plan in mind when he won the position of pavilion master. After all, if he were to take all the earnings made from the sales of the Mother Wind Runes, the others couldn¡¯t blame him or say anything, but it would become an obstacle to him winning the hearts of the people of the Wind Pavilion. And in Zhou Yuan¡¯s view, it was enough to have sufficient origin coins for cultivation. If he could use the excess to completely control the Wind Pavilion¡¯s heart, it would still be worthwhile. Seeing that Zhou Yuan finally made a decision, even Ye Bingling looked at Zhou Yuan in a daze this time. That¡¯s up to one million origin coins! He was just giving it away like that? Seeing this kind of boldness, even Ye Bingling, who had always been cold and arrogant, couldn¡¯t help but admire him a little. As for Xiao Hong and the other pavilion commanders with him, they were already flushing with excitement and couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°Our pavilion master is so generous!¡± They were well aware of how much benefit Zhou Yuan had given them. At this very moment, they really had deep respect for Zhou Yuan. After all, not everybody would be willing to share these benefits to the people below them. ¡°If you make this decision, the Wind Pavilion will most likely erupt in excitement,¡± Yi Qiushui said. This was equal to everyone of the Wind Pavilion accepting Zhou Yuan¡¯s kindness. If anyone wanted to touch Zhou Yuan¡¯s pavilion master position, even the people who had remained neutral before would jump out to defend him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s move to win everyone¡¯s heart was simply perfect. Ye Bingling gave a wry smile. ¡°From the current situation, you becoming the master of the Wind Pavilion is the fortune of our pavilion.¡± If it were her, she wouldn¡¯t have had such boldness, and of course, she didn¡¯t have this kind of capital. Zhou Yuan grinned. The fact that he was a disciple of his master Cang Yuan, in a sense, meant that he was a higher-up of the Tianyuan Region. After all, according to his master¡¯s rules, his official disciples were eligible to become grand elders in charge. This meant his status should be equal to sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s! Part of the Tianyuan Region is mine! How could I be reluctant to give away origin coins? Zhou Yuan comforted himself. Then with the wave of his hand, he said, ¡°In addition, I will announce the new salary for Wind Pavilion at the newcomer ceremony. From now on, the Wind Pavilion will no longer be a garbage shelter. I want those heaven prides to push others aside to join my Wind Pavilion. ¡°But there is a price. In the future, the Wind Pavilion will establish a strict assessment, and anybody unsuccessful in the annual assessment will be eliminated. ¡°I don¡¯t want to use the origin coins to raise some useless bugs. If they don¡¯t have the ability, they should leave as soon as possible and not waste resources.¡± Yi Qiushui was a little surprised to hear Zhou Yuan¡¯s grand ambition. She hurriedly reminded, ¡°Don¡¯t mess around. Although the income from the Mother Wind Runes is good, it¡¯s only limited to the Wind Pavilion, so our financial ability still can¡¯t be compared to the Fire Pavilion¡¯s.¡± The fire pavilion could raise its salary because they had the support of the Mark Capturing Rune, which was applicable to the four pavilions. Although its effect in the Wind Pavilion wasn¡¯t as good as the Mother Wind Rune, it was still irreplaceable for the other three pavilions. She was worried that Zhou Yuan was forcibly holding on to protect his face and would inevitably be consumed by the Fire Pavilion in the end. If they came to that point, everything would be ruined. As for the strict assessment, she was very supportive of it since it would bring healthy competition to the Wind Pavilion. Zhou Yuan nodded, a mysterious smile curving the corners of his mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a plan. Chapter 827 Pavilion Master Conference The giant central disk of the four spirits origin tower. Zhou Yuan skimmed across the air with Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui and landed on the center of the disc where people were buzzing around. Then, led by Yi Qiushui, they headed towards a tall towering restaurant. Many of the people they passed by were members of the wind pavilion, and they all bowed respectfully to Zhou Yuan. The members of the other three pavilions all had strange expressions on their faces. After all, Zhou Yuan was now famous among the four pavilions. Zhou Yuan and the others came to the towering restaurant amidst all the attention. The restaurant was empty that day, and there were many members of the Fire Pavilion standing in front of the entrance to maintain order. ¡°The Fire Pavilion reserved the whole place today,¡± Yi Qiushui whispered. ¡°Those with wealth do indeed speak louder than others.¡± Ye Bingling raised her brows. It most likely cost at least one thousand origin coins to reserve the restaurant. ¡°They really think they are the master,¡± Zhou Yuan remarked. The Fire Pavilion¡¯s imposing manner was undoubtedly a signal, a signal that they were above the other three pavilions. However, given the power that the Fire Pavilion had over the years, coupled with the fact that they held the Mark Capturer Rune, they indeed had this qualification. ¡°Hey, pavilion master Zhou Yuan is an understanding man.¡± A burst of laughter sounded behind Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan turned his head to see a slender and handsome man smiling at him. Behind the man was a beautiful girl and a tall, burly man. The two smiled at each other. Although it was their first formal meeting, they could feel the hint of goodwill released by the other. This wasn¡¯t surprising. After all, it was difficult for the Forest Pavilion to deal with the Fire and Mountain Pavilions alone. Since a pavilion master had finally appeared in the Wind Pavilion, Zhou Yuan naturally could help ease some of their pressure. ¡°The pavilion master conference today most likely won¡¯t be too friendly to pavilion master Zhou Yuan,¡± Mu Liu reminded. Zhou Yuan calmly nodded. ¡°The Wind Pavilion doesn¡¯t want anything extra, but what belongs to the Wind Pavilion must be returned.¡± ¡°Then I hope pavilion master Zhou Yuan succeeds.¡± Mu Liu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and then he nodded gently and introduced Mu Qingyan and Jiang Man. Zhou Yuan also nodded with a smile and became acquainted with them. The two groups entered the restaurant together, and under the direction of a member of the Fire Pavilion, they arrived at the top floor lobby where Lu Xiao and Han Yuan were already seated. Next to Lu Xiao was Zhu Liang, the number two person of the Fire Pavilion. He was staring at Zhou Yuan with a scrutinising gaze. He never raised his head to look at Zhou Yuan and the others once; he kept his head low and casually played with a silver iron ball in his palm. Zhou Yuan glanced at the man, who should be the number three person of the Fire Pavilion, Fang Ao. Although Fang Ao was the number three person of the Fire Pavilion, in terms of strength, he was far superior to Zhu Lian. Zhu Lian only obtained the number two position because of the existence of the Mark Capturing Rune. Fang Ao was known to have a fierce personality and use ruthless methods. He had a very well-known reputation in the four pavilions, and even Wang Chen, who Zhou Yuan had met before, acted submissive in front of Fang Ao and dared not create any trouble. Lu Xiao, who was sitting on the main seat, smiled faintly when he saw Zhou Yuan and Mu Liu. ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for you two.¡± Zhou Yuan, Mu Liu and others each took their seats. Lu Xiao clapped his hands, and someone slowly closed the door. Suddenly the light in the hall dimmed a little, and the atmosphere turned solemn. ¡°Everyone must know what this four-pavilion conference is for, because in seven days is the newcomer ceremony.¡± Lu Xiao had an extraordinary manner as he scanned the audience and smiled. ¡°In previous years, because the Wind Pavilion didn¡¯t have a pavilion master, the Wind Pavilion¡¯s share was temporarily taken by the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion, but this has changed, and we have decided to increase the Wind Pavilion¡¯s share to 10%.¡± Zhou Yuan interrupted, ¡°Pavilion master Lu, if I remember correctly, the share of newcomers in the newcomer ceremony should be 25% for each of the four pavilions.¡± ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be impatient. After all, you have just become a pavilion master, and there are a lot of things you don¡¯t understand. I am worried that if the Wind Pavilion were to take on so many new people all of a sudden, it would cause chaos for the Wind Pavilion. I suggest you take it step by step. Why don¡¯t you wait until next year¡¯s newcomer ceremony? The wind pavilion can have its 25% then,¡± Lu Xiao said indifferently. ¡°We understand pavilion master Lu¡¯s kind intention, but we want 25%,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. Lu Xiao frowned. ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, I have made a decision on this matter, you should give face to me.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids drooped. ¡°Pavilion master Lu, this isn¡¯t a problem with face, but the 25% is a rule set when the four pavilions were established. You already took our share when the Wind Pavilion didn¡¯t have a pavilion master for the past few years. I don¡¯t plan to pursue this, but in the future I think it should be 25%. ¡°If pavilion master Lu disagrees, you can report the matter to the five grand elders for them to decide.¡± His voice was calm but unyielding. He knew that he shouldn¡¯t retreat; otherwise the Fire Pavilion would try to demand more in the future. The atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned tense. Lu Xiao¡¯s expression was indifferent, but in the depths of his eyes, a cold light emerged. The Fire Pavilion¡¯s deputy pavilion master Fang Ao finally lifted his long and narrow eyes, staring at Zhou Yuan coldly, ¡°The new master of the Wind Pavilion really has a temper. ¡°But what qualifications do you have to negotiate terms with the Fire Pavilion?!¡± he thundered; his eyes were violent, and the silver iron ball in his hand suddenly transformed into a silver shadow and shot out, aiming directly for Zhou Yuan. The silver shadow was wrapped in powerful Genesis Qi that made even the air tremble slightly. ¡°Impudent!¡± Seeing this, Ye Bingling suddenly roared angrily and stepped forward, stretching out her beautiful hand. Snowy white Genesis Qi gathered in her palm, turned into an icy claw and clutched the silver shadow. Bang! The two collided, their clash suddenly sputtering countless ice fragments. Ye Bingling¡¯s pretty face also changed slightly during the moment of contact. The tremendous force had unexpectedly torn the Genesis Qi in her palm, and the sharp qi around the silver ball directly pierced her palm multiple times. There were mainly specks of blood in her palm. Ye Bingling was blasted back one step. The silver shadow light ball took advantage of the opportunity to attack Zhou Yuan. As before, there wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, and when the silver ball appeared in front of him, he swiftly stretched out his hand. Azure scales surfaced around his palm, and the skin underneath glowed with a jade-colored light. Bang! Zhou Yuan grabbed the silver ball and squeezed tight. Chi! The silver ball slowly shattered in his hand. Silver iron fragments fluttered in front of him as he looked up at Fang Ao. His calm and unrelenting voice sounded. Chapter 828 Fang Ao When Zhou Yuan¡¯s cold voice echoed in the hall, a cold light emerged in Fang Ao¡¯s sinister eyes. Fang Ao curled his lips, revealing his white teeth. ¡°What arrogance. Do you not know how much weight the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion has?¡± ¡°Chen Beifeng wouldn¡¯t even be ranked in the top five of the Fire Pavilion. Do you think you¡¯re very powerful just because you have defeated him? ¡°If you don¡¯t know how much weight you have, I can help you know!¡± Boom! When Fang Ao¡¯s voice faded, a violent gush of Genesis Qi suddenly erupted from his body, shrouding the entire area. ¡°If a deputy pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion is so rude and disrespectful, I don¡¯t mind teaching him on behalf of pavilion master Lu!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were icy cold. Like before, he didn¡¯t move an inch, but mighty golden Genesis Qi pulsed around his body, quaking the void. Fang Ao¡¯s eyes flashed with anger. However, just as he was about to strike back in rage, Lu Xiao¡¯s indifferent voice rang out, ¡°Fang Ao, don¡¯t be rude.¡± Hearing Lu Xiao¡¯s voice, Fang Ao gradually calmed down his strong and mighty Genesis Qi. He glowered at Zhou Yuan for a good while before sitting back down with a cold smile. But his expression was still full of provocation. Lu Xiao turned to Zhou Yuan and explained, ¡°Fang Ao has a fiery temper, so I hope pavilion master Zhou Yuan won¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Hearing his calm and indifferent tone, Zhou Yuan coldly snorted. The two were just trying to frighten him by playing good cop and bad cop. They only wanted to give the newly appointed leader of the Wind Pavilion some intimidation. If it was someone normal who encountered them, their ploy would have succeeded. Zhou Yuan also withdrew his Genesis Qi and calmly responded, ¡°He¡¯s just a deputy pavilion master. I won¡¯t lower myself to his level.¡± Fang Ao¡¯s eyelids twitched, a glint of malice in his eyes. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to him and said, ¡°I have made it very clear, the four pavilions should each have 25% of the newcomers. This is the rule. You have already gone against the rules in the past, but I don¡¯t intend to pursue it any further. If you continue to do so, however, I have no choice but to report this matter to Lady Chi Jing.¡± With his hands cupped around his tea, Lu Xiao chuckled, ¡°Fine, it seems pavilion master Zhou Yuan has the heart to revitalise the Wind Pavilion. I admire that, so let¡¯s follow the rules. ¡°Each of the four pavilions has a share of 25% of the newcomers.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Thank you for understanding, pavilion master Lu.¡± Lu Xiao smiled ¡°It¡¯s a trivial matter, but about what I had talked to you before¡­are you going to think about it again? My offer will be higher this time.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head, his expression unchanged. The Mother Wind Rune was priceless to the Wind Pavilion, and Lu Xiao should be very clear about this. After all, the Fire Pavilion had risen by selling Mark Capturing Runes. But Lu Xiao wanted the Mother Wind Rune because he was worried that the Wind Pavilion would also have the opportunity to rise. Seeing Zhou Yuan decline the offer again, Lu Xiao took a deep look at Zhou Yuan and said indifferently, ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, the newcomer share is not actually the most important thing. Sometimes, even with the share, it¡¯s difficult to attract good seedlings.¡± There was a hint of threat and warning in his tone of voice. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Pavilion master Lu doesn¡¯t need to worry about this.¡± ¡°It seems that pavilion master Zhou Yuan is already mentally prepared, so I will wait and see.¡± There wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He no longer responded since he had achieved his purpose of going to the pavilion master conference. After negotiating the share, Lu Xiao discussed other things, but Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t interested, and he remained silent during the whole process. The meeting lasted half an hour before it ended. Zhou Yuan was the first to get up. He gave a cupped fist salute to Lu Xiao, Han Yuan and Mu Liu and left with his people. Mu Liu also got up and left with a smiling expression. Following their departure, in the hall, the smile on Lu Xiao¡¯s face faded instantly. Bang! Fang Ao¡¯s face was dark. He slammed a fist at the iron table and even dented the iron table. ¡°He¡¯s just the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion. If we were outside, I would have taken his head off already!¡± Fang Ao¡¯s eyes were full of malice. ¡°This is the Tianyuan Utopia. Everything must be done according to the rules. If you act directly on him here, he can report you and remove you from your position as deputy pavilion master. At that time it would be you who loses face,¡± Lu Xiao said indifferently. ¡°So we are just going to return the share of newcomers to them?¡± Zhu Lian frowned. ¡°I already said before, the share of newcomers isn¡¯t important. ¡°The Wind Pavilion¡¯s present foundation is full of holes. Even if they have the Mother Wind Rune, they can¡¯t change anything. You really think they can attract good seedlings? In the end, only the rubbish 25% will be thrown to their side. ¡°Later, I will send someone to spread rumors among the newcomers to let them understand the background of the Wind Pavilion. This way, it would be even more unlikely for them to recruit any good seedlings.¡± Fang Ao¡¯s expression finally relaxed a little when he heard this. ¡°But it¡¯s still very unpleasant.¡± He grunted. Zhu Lian also sneered, ¡°This kid seems to not want to hand over the method of refining the Mother Wind Rune.¡± Lu Xiao smiled. ¡°No hurry, this is his last struggle. There are four months till the pavilion master battle. When I become the chief pavilion master, I will have a way to make him obediently hand it over.¡± He peered in the direction Zhou Yuan left, and an icy cold smile curved his eyes. ¡­. Outside the restaurant. Zhou Yuan halted his footstep and turned to look at Ye Bingling, whose beautiful hand was dripping with blood. He slightly squinted his eyes, and a hint of coldness flashed across them as he asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Ye Bingling nodded. ¡°Just a small injury, don¡¯t worry.¡± Her beautiful face grew serious. ¡°Fang Ao is very strong, stronger than Chen Beifeng!¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Earlier, when he had withstood Fang Ao¡¯s move and faced his sharp Genesis Qi, it was similar to being stabbed by billions of needles, and the attack had made his palm go numb. It seemed that what Fang Ao said was true, Chen Beifeng¡¯s strength really wasn¡¯t ranked in the top five. According to his calculation, Fang Ao¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was at least 15 million Genesis Qi stars, and of course, this was without activating the fire spirit rune. The experts of the Fire Pavilion had emerged endlessly, and they were far stronger than those of the Wind Pavilion. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll get payback for you when I get the chance,¡± Zhou Yuan reassured. He was going to remember the day¡¯s conflict. Ye Bingling glanced at him and said, ¡°Don¡¯t mess around. That guy isn¡¯t easy to deal with.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. He had almost completed the polishing of his sixth Divine Dwelling. Once he succeeded, his Genesis Qi foundation would skyrocket, and at that time, if Fang Ao dared to cause trouble again, he would make him understand what it meant by asking for humiliation. Sudden laughter sounded behind them¡ªMu Liu and his group were slowly approaching¡ª¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, although you got back the share of the newcomers this time, given Lu Xiao¡¯s personality, he won¡¯t leave the matter at that. Be careful.¡± ¡°Thank you pavilion master Mu for reminding me.¡± Mu Liu curiously studied Zhou Yuan and asked, ¡°But I feel that you already have some means to deal with Lu Xiao. Is there going to be a good show at the newcomer ceremony in seven days?¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly surprised to hear his words. How did he know? He had never revealed the other three Genesis Runes, and even Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui didn¡¯t know about them. ¡°Heh, it seems I¡¯m right. Interesting.¡± Mu Liu laughed heartily when he saw the look in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He then shook his head and left with Mu Qingyan and Jiang Man. ¡°That guy¡­¡± Zhou Yuan suspiciously watched Mu Liu as he left. But in the end he shook his head. Mu Liu had guessed that he had a plan to deal with Lu Xiao, but there was no way he knew that it had to do with the three ancient Genesis Runes¡­ Zhou Yuan turned his head and glanced at the restaurant behind him. A cold smile spread across his mouth. He originally didn¡¯t intend to steal all the business of the Mark Capturing Rune, but since his opposition wasn¡¯t friendly¡­they couldn¡¯t blame him for being ruthless. Chapter 829 Flexible The wind district. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was seated behind the azure wind stratum. A black brush was flying in front of him in a very natural manner, ultimately drawing a mystical Genesis Rune. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power surged out, condensing into a warm stream of energy that flowed into the center of the Genesis Rune. Bzz! Scarlet-red light blossomed from the Genesis Rune. Zhou Yuan retrieved a small piece of jade and imprinted the Genesis Rune on it. The scarlet rays slowly receded as a jade with a fiery-red Genesis Rune imprinted on it appeared. Zhou Yuan reached out and grabbed it as a satisfied smile appeared at the corners of his lips. ¡°The Mother Fire Rune is a success.¡± That was right. This was not the Mother Wind Rune but the Mother Fire Rune. When activated in the fire district it would increase the rate of accumulating fire spirit rune Genesis marks. Its effectiveness was on par with the Mother Wind Rune. The highest quality rune would increase one¡¯s efficiency by fifty percent. Another two jade pieces landed in his hand. One gave off a dark green glow, while the other shone with faint ash-yellow light. The Mother Forest Rune and the Mother Mountain Rune. Over the past few days, Zhou Yuan had not only manufactured a large number of Mother Wind Runes but also a batch of the other three Genesis Runes. Even with such rapid production speed, no issues had cropped up. It was exactly as he had envisioned in the beginning: with the main bodies of the four ancient Genesis Runes, he could copy a tiny hint of their auras to use as the cores of these three Genesis Runes. Zhou Yuan toyed with the jade pieces as he softly chuckled. With these three Genesis Runes, there would no longer be any need for the Mark Capturing Rune in the future. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power flowed out, sweeping up all of the jade pieces as he swiftly descended. A valley in the wind district. A bundle of Spirit light descended from the sky into the body that was silently seated within the valley. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly opened. He stretched his back before stowing all the jade pieces. His figure then rose into the sky. ... Wind Island, the pavilion master¡¯s lodging. When Zhou Yuan appeared in the building, Ye Bingling and Yi Quishui swiftly appeared in front of him. ¡°You¡¯ve come out at last. Did you know that some rumors have begun spreading in the newcomer lodgings two days ago? These rumors are clearly aimed at belittling our Wind Pavilion. They¡¯re saying that our Wind Pavilion is a garbage dump! ¡°I¡¯m afraid that this new batch won¡¯t have a good impression of our Wind Pavilion!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps paused as he frowned deeply. ¡°The Fire Pavilion¡¯s methods are so lowly.¡± These rumors were clearly the handiwork of the Fire Pavilion. Yi Quishui helplessly sighed. ¡°Although such tactics are lowly, they are also very effective.¡± A cold smile emerged from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips. It seemed Lu Xiao was truly as he had expected. Fine, since you guys want to play like this, don¡¯t blame me for showing no mercy. ¡°How¡¯s the quality of the new batch?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Ye Bingling sighed and answered, ¡°Not bad. According to our investigations, there are more than thirty rankers on the Divine Dwelling List this year, though most of them barely made the cut.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yuan was rather surprised. He knew that these individuals did not have powerful backgrounds and were mostly unaffiliated cultivators. They were from the various regions of Hunyuan Heaven and had likely come to the Tianyuan Region because of the Four Spirits Origin Tower. Having such a remarkable achievement despite the conditions was more than enough proof of their talent. After joining the four pavilions, they would likely make rapid progress in their cultivation, and a few of them may even rank amongst the top hundred of the Divine Dwelling List in the future. The top hundred of the Divine Dwelling List were basically equivalent to the likes of Ye Bingling. ¡°Although the newcomer ceremony is tomorrow, the other three pavilions have already secretly made contact with these thirty or so individuals in an attempt to recruit them. We likewise tried to do the same in the past few days you were not around, but we did not achieve much results. Most of them become rather hesitant upon hearing about our Wind Pavilion.¡± Yi Qiushui somewhat angrily said, ¡°It¡¯s because of those rumors the Fire Pavilion has been spreading!¡± Some anger was also visible on Ye Bingling¡¯s face. She was evidently quite disgusted by such tactics. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained composed as he pondered for a while. He said, ¡°No need to be too anxious. As individuals who managed to achieve such heights despite not belonging to any factions, they should be quite prudent. They will not carelessly make any decisions until the very last moment. ¡°Everything will be decided at the newcomers ceremony tomorrow.¡± Yi Qiushui nodded. Soon after, she smiled bitterly and said, ¡°But, but even if we wait till tomorrow, our Wind Pavilion is still far less attractive than the Fire Pavilion.¡± When the four pavilions revealed themselves tomorrow, the newcomers would naturally realize that the Fire Pavilion was indeed the strongest of the four pavilions and had the best conditions. Ye Bingling¡¯s face also dimmed somewhat. ¡°That may not be so.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled mysteriously. Yi Qiushui was still somewhat anxious as she worriedly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you think the Mother Wind Rune will be enough to fight against the Fire Pavilion, I¡¯ll have to inform you that you¡¯re wrong. The Mother Wind Rune can only be sold in the Wind Pavilion, while the Mark Capturing Rune is highly sought after even in the other three pavilions! ¡°Our Wind Pavilion will only suffer if you use the Mother Wind Rune to compete with them!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. ¡°The Mother Wind Rune alone is indeed insufficient.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Li Qiushui and Ye Bingling raised their brows. Since he knew the Mother Wind Rune was not enough, why was Zhou Yuan still being so insistent? However, from his mysterious and confident expression, the two young ladies knew that he certainly had some kind of trump card. As such, their brows furrowed as they pressed him, ¡°What other tricks do you have up your sleeve? Tell us!¡± Zhou Yuan could only awkwardly laugh in response, not bothering to hide his preparations any further. It would all be revealed the next day, anyways. If he did not put them at ease, they would likely be unable to sleep that night. Hence, he retrieved three jade pieces and offered them to the two young ladies. ¡°What are these?¡± The girls received the jade pieces in confusion. ¡°Mother Wind Rune? Doesn¡¯t appear to be¡­¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. ¡°These are the Mother Fire Rune, the Mother Forest Rune and the Mother Mountain Rune.¡± They froze, holding the jade pieces in their hands, then jerked their heads upwards and stared at Zhou Yuan in disbelief. They already understood everything from the names. ¡°These, these...have the same effect as the Mother Wind Rune?¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s voice faintly trembled. ¡°Exactly the same.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned as he nodded. Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling were silent for a moment. In the next instant, killing intent suddenly blossomed in their eyes as they each threw a punch at Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan bafflingly took their punches as a stupefied expression appeared on his face. He did not understand why they reacted in such a manner after revealing such amazing treasure. Weren¡¯t they supposed to jump into his arms in joy? ¡°Bastard, you dare to hide such a thing. How dare you make us worry so long for nothing!¡± Ye Bingling gnashed her teeth. ¡°Humph, do you feel very happy watching us stress like scattering ants?¡± The usually gentle-mannered Yi Qiushui also glared at him. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips twitched. Were all women so terrifying? This was completely unreasonable! He needed to teach them a lesson! They completely did not respect him as the pavilion master! Zhou Yuan glared at the two girls. Ye Bingling said, ¡°Looks like we should let him handle the newcomer ceremony tomorrow alone.¡± Yi Qiushui added, ¡°He can also handle all the affairs of the Wind Pavilion by himself in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan let out an awkward cough. He lowered his gaze as he gently said, ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have hidden this from you two.¡± Forget it, men should be flexible. There was no need for him to kick up a fuss. Chapter 830 Cream of the Crop On one of the smaller floating islands in the outer perimeter. It was a rather remote location, and its concentration of Genesis Qi naturally could not compare to the four pavilions¡¯. Despite this, it was an extremely alluring location to the many residents of the Tianyuan Region, and many would pay crazy prices in order to live here. This day, the center of the island was extremely lively. Countless people flooded over from all over the island and hovered about in the outer perimeter, their eyes filled with envy as they watched the several hundred figures that had gathered in the middle. After numerous tests and selections, these were the chosen that would soon enter the four pavilions. Once they joined the four pavilions, they would cast off their previous status as unaffiliated cultivators and gain not only a powerful backer but also a place to cultivate on the four islands that had highly concentrated Genesis Qi. Their future prospects would practically be limitless. ¡°The time has come again for the four pavilions¡¯ yearly recruitment.¡± ¡°However, I¡¯m afraid this year won¡¯t be any different from the last. A majority of the good seedlings will be taken by the Fire Pavilion.¡± ¡°What can the rest do? The Fire Pavilion is the strongest of the four, and the Fire Pavilion¡¯s master, Lu Xiao, is basically the face of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s younger generation. His rallying power and influence is top tier.¡± ¡°Tch, what rallying power? Isn¡¯t it because they give the most origin coins? After all, none of these newcomers who passed the selections are ordinary. The first three on the Divine Dwelling List might be able to awe them, but as number nine, Lu Xiao does not have the qualifications.¡± ¡°......¡± Numerous whispers spread in the outer perimeter. The four pavilions newcomer recruitment was held here every year, making the place very lively over this period. Swish! Glowing figures suddenly appeared in the distant sky. They swiftly approached the island and descended towards the center. These were members of the four pavilions that had come in advance to set up. Four giant flags soon rose from stone stages at the four corners. Not long after the flags were risen, four figures that gave off extraordinary auras arrived and slowly descended. As they secretly concealed the untamable pride in their eyes, the newcomers restrained their expressions when they looked towards the four figures. They had already done their homework on the four pavilion masters and knew how powerful they were. Not even the slightest trace of disdain was visible even when they gazed at the merely intermediate Divine Dwelling stage wind pavilion master, Zhou Yuan. This was because all of them were likewise aware of how Zhou Yuan had defeated Chen Beifeng. He nodded at the two girls before casting his gaze towards the crowd that consisted of several hundred individuals. Most of the practitioners gave off a slight ferocious aura, but this was not strange for people like them. They came from various locations in Hunyuan Heaven and were mostly unaffiliated cultivators. Unaffiliated practitioners that achieved such cultivation had definitely experienced countless life-or-death battles. Some of them might perhaps be lacking in talent, but they would also be tougher and more determined than the others. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze ultimately looked towards the front of the crowd where a group between thirty and forty figures clearly distinguished themselves from the rest. From the faint but powerful Genesis Qi undulations that were spreading from their bodies, they were evidently experts that had reached the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. In addition, all of them were rankers on Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling List; although they were mostly ranked near the bottom. Every member of this group was a talented genius with great potential. If they were recruited and provided with cultivation resources from the Wind Pavilion, their rankings on the Divine Dwelling List would surely rise in the future. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze circled the group before coming to a stop on the four figures that stood at the very front. Three men and one lady. He could clearly feel that their Genesis Qi undulations were distinctively stronger than the rest. Beside Zhou Yuan, Yi Qiushui softly said, ¡°The four of them are the strongest in the new batch. Ling Feng, Feng Si, Yuan Tiegang¡ªand the girl is called Shang Xiaoling.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. If these four were in the Wind Pavilion, they would not be weaker than the commander-level members. The four pavilions recruitment ceremony is indeed quite something. No wonder even Lu Xiao regards it with extreme importance. While Zhou Yuan and the other three pavilion masters were observing the newcomers, the newcomers were likewise observing them. Several swept their gazes over Zhou Yuan, likely curious about how he had managed to become a pavilion master despite his intermediate Divine Dwelling stage cultivation. While both sides were sizing up each other, on the Fire Pavilion side, Lu Xiao slowly walked forward in a calm and confident manner as he said, ¡°Everyone, let the newcomer ceremony begin. I shall not elaborate much about the rules. Each pavilion will announce their benefits, and the newcomer can freely choose their pavilion. ¡°Newcomers can voluntarily make their choices, and no one can force them otherwise! Anyone who breaks the rules shall have their quotas reduced.¡± Towards the end, he seemed to unintentionally glance at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan merely chuckled, paying no heed to Lu Xiao¡¯s action. As Lu Xiao¡¯s voice rang out, an air of excitement suddenly washed over the crowd. The gazes of several newcomers darted towards the four pavilions, but overall, the Fire Pavilion was clearly the most popular, while the Wind Pavilion appeared somewhat lonely. However, no one made their decision yet because they were waiting for the four pavilions to announce their benefits. The mountain pavilion master, Han Yuan, was the first to step forward. With a faint smile, he said, ¡°Mountain Pavilion members will receive 30 origin coins and 60 high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines every month. But we only accept those within the top 250.¡± There were about 500 newcomers in total, and they had already been ranked through the earlier selections. The Mountain Pavilion was only recruiting from the top 250. In other words, half of the newcomers did not have the qualifications to join. Of course, if they did not manage to fulfil the quota, they would naturally relax their conditions a little. As a result, disappointment emerged in several individuals who were unable to meet the requirement. After Han Yuan was done, the Forest Pavilion master Mu Liu also stepped forward and said, ¡°Forest Pavilion members will receive 28 origin coins and 55 high-grade Divine Dwelling medicines every month. Our recruitment criteria is the top 300.¡± The Forest Pavilion¡¯s benefits were slightly worse than the Mountain Pavilion¡¯s, but their restriction was relaxed by 50 positions. Lu Xiao looked towards Zhou Yuan with a faint smile. ¡°Do you want to go first, pavilion master Zhou Yuan? If I go first, it might not be so good for your Wind Pavilion afterwards.¡± His expression contained some hints of ridicule. However, Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°Pavilion master Lu Xiao need not show such consideration towards me. I¡¯m also interested to find out how much the Fire Pavilion is going to offer.¡± He did not intend to go first because he was preparing to act accordingly after seeing what Lu Xiao had. Lu Xiao softly chuckled and said, ¡°Since that is the case, please don¡¯t blame me later for not giving you any chances.¡± His gaze turned towards the crowd. As he looked at the numerous expectant gazes, he nonchalantly announced, ¡°Previously, members of my Fire Pavilion could receive 40 origins coins every month.¡± These words immediately lit the fire of desire in many newcomers¡¯ eyes. Lu Xiao¡¯s tone suddenly changed: ¡°But that¡¯s the past. From today onwards, my Fire Pavilion has decided to increase that number by 10, so every member shall receive 50 coins per month!¡± Uproar! The entire place seemed to explode. Even the expressions of the elite group of Divine Dwelling List rankers in the front changed. Cheers erupted from the Fire Pavilion members as they proudly looked at everyone. ¡°Of course, although being a Fire Pavilion member has tremendous benefits, our conditions are also quite strict. We will only take in the top 180 this time.¡± The excited atmosphere instantly fell silent as several faces of several individuals dimmed. Only the top 180 out of 500, this prerequisite was the strictest so far. After Lu Xiao finished, he looked towards Zhou Yuan with a superficial smile. ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s your turn now.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned and slowly walked forward. However, the crowd was still submerged in the shock from Lu Xiao¡¯s words, and no one paid much attention to the wind pavilion master for a time. Moreover, they had already done their research and knew that the Wind Pavilion had the least benefits of the four. Thus, it likely held the least allure to them. Zhou Yuan took a few steps forward, ignoring the clearly preoccupied newcomers as he calmly said, ¡°I¡¯ll talk about our recruitment criteria first. This year, the Wind Pavilion only wants the cream of the crop. Hence, we¡¯ll only be recruiting the top 150.¡± His words caused the entire place to turn deathly silent. Even the three pavilion masters, Lu Xiao, Han Yuan and Mu Liu, looked over in shock. In fact, Lu Xiao and Han Yuan nearly burst out into laughter. What had they just heard? The Wind Pavilion was only recruiting the top 150? The usual dumping ground¡ªthe Wind Pavilion¡ªwanted only the cream of the crop? Strange expressions appeared on the newcomers¡¯ faces. Chapter 831 Completely New Benefits The shock value of Zhou Yuan¡¯s words had been far too great. Even the many Wind Pavilion members could only look at each other in confusion, while commanders like Xiao Hong were at a complete loss. None of them knew why Zhou Yuan would say such...self-humiliating words. One must know that in previous years, the Wind Pavilion was only able to select from the leftovers after the other three pavilions finished choosing the best seedlings¡ªthis was also why the Wind Pavilion was often known as a rubbish dump. And yet, Zhou Yuan had declared their recruitment criteria to be the top 150. Was this aimed at getting no harvest in the newcomer ceremony this year? Why would the higher-ranked newcomers give up on the generous benefits promised by the Fire Pavilion and choose the Wind Pavilion instead? Lu Xiao slowly returned to his senses and said with a soft laugh, ¡°Does pavilion master Zhou Yuan intend to give up this year?¡± His voice broke the silence, causing everyone in the area to recover from their shock. Several individuals tried their best to stifle their laughter. However, Zhou Yuan ignored Lu Xiao¡¯s teasing, continuing in a composed voice as if there had been no interruption, ¡°I have something else to add to my earlier statement. In the future, there will be a strict yearly assessment in the Wind Pavilion. The members who do not perform well will have their statuses revoked.¡± Uproar! Even the expressions of the Wind Pavilion members could not help but change as astonishment and confusion lit up their eyes. The consequence of a poor result was far too dire! Upon seeing the shift in expressions of several Wind Pavilion members, Liu Zhixuan could not help but say in a low voice, ¡°Pavilion master, isn¡¯t this too stringent?¡± He could sense anger brewing in some of the Wind Pavilion members. After all, no one would be willing to accept such a strict test out of nowhere. If this information spread to the Wind Island, it would surely cause quite a commotion. Lu Xiao and Han Yuan looked at each other, seeing the bewilderment in each other¡¯s eyes. In their view, Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions were basically destroying the Wind Pavilion. Could he have really gone mad? Mu Liu¡¯s brows also knitted together. Beside him, Mu Qingyan muttered, ¡°Didn¡¯t he want to revitalize the Wind Pavilion? But his thinking is too simple. Does he believe that threatening them with a stick will be able to tame them? If this matter escalates, even a pavilion master like him may not be able to quell it.¡± Amidst the surrounding commotion, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not even ripple as he continued, ¡°Now that I¡¯m done with the criteria, I shall elaborate on the benefits of our Wind Pavilion in the future. These simple words were akin to a tsunami, causing everyone present to be dumbstruck. The originally dissenting Wind Pavilion members stared in shock at Zhou Yuan. Our origin coin allowance was only 20 previously, isn¡¯t this more than a three times rise?! What the hell is going on? Even the expressions of Liu Zhixuan, Xiao Hong and the others froze. With the exception of Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui, everyone else was unable to speak as a buzzing noise filled their heads. All the newcomers, even the 30 plus Divine Dwelling rankers, were thoroughly shocked and filled with disbelief. Seventy coins?! Wasn¡¯t this a whole 20 more than the Fire Pavilion?! How could this be?! Lu Xiao was likewise stunned for several seconds. Soon after, his expression darkened as he icily said, ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, are you purposely trying to cause a ruckus? On what basis can your Wind Pavilion afford to give out such benefits? Do you think everyone here is an idiot? ¡°If your confidence comes from the Mother Wind Rune, I can only say that you¡¯re a joke!¡± Han Yuan also laughed mockingly, under the impression that Zhou Yuan was merely trying to create a sensation. Mu Liu¡¯s brows were tightly knitted together as the expression in his eyes fluctuated indeterminately. The newcomers stared at Zhou Yuan in bewilderment. However, from their appearances, they clearly did not believe his words were true. After all, Lu Xiao did make sense, the Wind Pavilion could not possibly afford to give out such benefits. Under the crowds¡¯ skeptical gazes, Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°The Mother Wind Rune is indeed not enough to support such an expenditure, that¡¯s why I still have something else to announce. From today onwards, our Wind Pavilion will begin selling three other types of Genesis Runes.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, three jade pieces each inscribed with a Genesis Rune flew out and floated in front of him. ¡°These three are the Mother Fire Rune, the Mother Forest Rune and the Mother Mountain Rune. ¡°They are from the same vein as the Mother Wind Rune, and I call them the four Mother Runes. Their effects are similar to the Mother Wind Rune, and they can raise the effectiveness of gathering Genesis marks by 40 percent. They¡¯re specially made for the other three districts of the Four Spirits Origin Tower.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was calm, but it felt akin to thunder as it boomed across the place. This time, Lu Xiao¡¯s and Han Yuan¡¯s expressions finally changed as horror surfaced in their eyes. An ashen-faced Lu Xiao shouted, ¡°Impossible! ¡°Zhou Yuan do you know the consequences of lying to the newcomers?!¡± The normally confident and never-flustered Lu Xiao had lost his composure because he clearly understood what Zhou Yuan¡¯s words would herald. If the Mother Wind Rune could be said to be a little painful to the Fire Pavilion, then the three new Genesis Runes would completely yank them out from the roots! The strong foundations of the Fire Pavilion was based on the sale of Mark Capturing Runes! But with the revelation of the four Mother Runes, which were essentially twice as effective as the Mark Capturing Rune, the interest in the Mark Capturing Rune would surely drop to zero! Zhou Yuan merely laughed as he waved his sleeve. Several jade pieces flew towards the three pavilions and were caught by their members. ¡°These are freebies and everyone can feel free to test their effect. You¡¯ll then know whether I am lying or not.¡± His nonchalant attitude made the hearts of Lu Xiao and Han Yuan sink. Was Zhou Yuan really not bluffing? The Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion members were at a loss after receiving the jade pieces. In contrast, the Forest Pavilion members happily grabbed the jade pieces, even Mu Liu and Mu Qingyan snatching one for themselves as they exchanged a look of excitement. They already understood how huge of a wave this would cause in the four pavilions. So this was Zhou Yuan¡¯s secret trump card! It was fatally ruthless! The entire place turned rather chaotic. However, from Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude and Lu Xiao¡¯s and Han Yuan¡¯s expressions, the numerous newcomers were able to arrive at their own conclusions. After all, lying in such a situation could easily be reported to the superiors, and Zhou Yuan would surely suffer terrible consequences. Hence, everything Zhou Yuan had said should be true. With these four Mother Runes, the Wind Pavilion would have unlimited potential in the future. In contrast, once the Fire Pavilion¡¯s Mark Capturing Rune was suppressed, could they still afford to give such benefits? Only now did they understand why Zhou Yuan had announced the strict assessments earlier. The Wind Pavilion members that were previously discontent with Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions were now panting heavily as their eyes burned with excitement and anticipation. What was a mere assessment under the temptation of 70 origin coins per month? They were willing to go for it even if they had to put their lives on the line! Moreover, they agreed that ordinary people did not deserve to enjoy such treatment! Zhou Yuan ignored Lu Xiao¡¯s ashen expression as he continued, ¡°Seventy percent of the sales from the four Mother Runes will go to the Wind Pavilion to pay for the benefits of its members. I¡¯ll keep 20% for myself, while the remaining 10% shall be rewarded to the deputy pavilion masters, commanders and deputy commanders for their contributions. ¡°If anyone feels that they are capable enough to be a commander in my Wind Pavilion, or even a deputy pavilion master, we gladly welcome you.¡± These words were clearly aimed at the thirty or so Divine Dwelling List rankers, and its effectiveness ended up surpassing his expectations. Zhou Yuan immediately saw ambition spark in their eyes. Even Shang Xiaoling and the other three were clearly tempted. Zhou Yuan nonchalantly clapped and said, ¡°Let¡¯s begin the selection, then. Any interested newcomers that meet our criteria can go ahead and sign up.¡± The place fell silent for a moment. However, it only lasted for an instant, and a split second later, everyone saw the girl called Shang Xiaoling decisively scramble towards the Wind Pavilion booth. ¡°I hope to join the Wind Pavilion!¡± her somewhat hoarse voice rang out without hesitation. Shang Xiaoling¡¯s actions were undoubtedly akin to lighting a fuse. The silence was instantly torn apart as several hundred figures frantically surged forward, flooding towards the Wind Pavilion¡¯s stone stage. ¡°I also wish to join!¡± ¡°I want to enter the Wind Pavilion!¡± ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, please accept me!¡± ¡°......¡± Chapter 832 Complete Defea The members of the other three pavilions watched this scene with stupefied expressions. They were a little unable to believe that the very same Wind Pavilion known as the ¡®dumping grounds¡¯ would be so crazily popular... Previously, this was something that only the Fire Pavilion got to enjoy. However, when they recalled the benefits Zhou Yuan had promised, even their hearts began to stir a little. The allure was far too great! Not only would a normal member get 70 origin coins, even the upper echelons like the deputy commanders, commanders and deputy pavilion masters would receive a share of from the sales of the four Mother Runes! This was definitely no small amount! Under such temptation, how could the members of the other three pavilions not be moved? A dazzling smile hung from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips as he watched the crowd surge towards him. He took a few steps back as Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling quickly moved forward to welcome and assess the newcomers. Nearby, Lu Xiao¡¯s and Han Yuan¡¯s expressions had turned exceptionally stormy. In fact, the former¡¯s usually handsome face had begun to contort a little. The truth was that although Zhou Yuan had defeated Chen Beifeng a few days before, Lu Xiao had never treated him as much of a threat. Though Lu Xiao usually wore a smile when facing Zhou Yuan, there was a hidden trace of indifference and disdain behind this mask. It was precisely this state of mind that Lu Xiao was unafraid of angering Zhou Yuan and dared to use whatever methods he wanted. He was ranked nine on Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling List, and in addition to being the number one Divine Dwelling stage expert among the Tianyuan Region¡¯s younger generation, he was also very famous even in the entire Hunyuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan, on the other hand, was merely a newly promoted wind pavilion master. Even if Zhou Yuan was aware of his tactics, what would he dare to do? What could he possibly do to the mighty Lu Xiao? He had never imagined that the counter attack by someone he looked down on would be so ruthless. The appearance of the four Mother Runes would basically checkmate the Fire Pavilion! Lu Xiao drew a deep breath, suppressing the rage deep in his heart as he watched the newcomers swarm towards the Wind Pavilion side. He knew that he could not allow it to continue or the Fire Pavilion would become a joke and the Heavenly Spirit Sect would reprimand him. ¡°Well done, I never imagined that pavilion master Zhou Yuan would have the charisma to conceal the four Mother Runes till now.¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s icy voice rang out amidst the excited atmosphere. The numerous newcomers recovered a little of their wits upon hearing his voice as their gazes began to faintly flicker in thought. They knew that the Fire Pavilion and Lu Xiao were currently the strongest amongst the four pavilions. Zhou Yuan calmly said, ¡°I honestly did not plan to reveal them, but pavilion master Lu Xiao¡¯s overbearing methods forced my hand. You really can¡¯t blame me for this.¡± Originally, he had not wanted to take things too far such that it would destroy any chance of reconciliation between them. He would at most reveal the Mother Wind Rune and Mother Forest Rune and leave half of the market to Lu Xiao. Unfortunately, Lu Xiao had seemed to completely disregard him and had repeatedly tested Zhou Yuan¡¯s limits through petty little trick after trick. In fact, Lu Xiao had even engaged in the lowly tactic of spreading rumors. Since the other party did not intend to show any mercy, there was no longer any reason for Zhou Yuan to try to be the better man. Else they would only step on his face time and time again. After all, his temper wasn¡¯t that great either. Lu Xiao let out a carefree chuckle as he said, ¡°I made a mistake this time. ¡°But I hope that pavilion master Zhou Yuan will still have such amazing moves to use in the chief pavilion master battle four months later. Otherwise¡­¡± The hearts of the numerous newcomers shivered at these words, evidently understanding the deeper meaning within Lu Xiao¡¯s words. Once Lu Xiao took the position of chief pavilion master in four months, all four of the pavilions would be under his control. Even the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master would be subordinate to Lu Xiao. When that happened, Zhou Yuan would no longer have the initiative no matter what Lu Xiao did, because the chief pavilion master always had the last word. Lu Xiao was threatening Zhou Yuan while also informing the newcomers to be more prudent in their decisions. A bucket of cold water had been poured over the originally excited atmosphere. Hesitation emerged in the eyes of many individuals. Even Ling Feng¡¯s, Feng Si¡¯s and Yuan Tiegang¡¯s eyes flashed in thought. Feng Si softly said, ¡°My friends, Shang Xiaoling¡¯s choice seems to be a little rash. We should not make any impulsive decisions but also consider the future.¡± Ling Feng shot a glance at him and said, ¡°You¡¯re saying this because the Fire Pavilion talked to you before.¡± Feng Si revealed a helpless smile. ¡°But can any of you deny that pavilion master Lu Xiao is the strongest candidate?¡± Feng Ling and Yuan Tiegang fell silent. They were not from any powerful factions and had suffered untold hardships in order to obtain the opportunity to enter the four pavilions. If Lu Xiao did become the chief pavilion master in the future, would offending him here be a wise decision? But the Wind Pavilion¡¯s benefits were extremely tempting...they were just far too attractive! Zhou Yuan calmly observed the now somewhat doused atmosphere, and he indifferently said, ¡°Pavilion master Lu Xiao, there are no absolutes. Chen Beifeng also believed previously that the position of being the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master would be his.¡± Lu Xiao shook his head as he sighed. ¡°It will cost you dearly if you compare me with Chen Beifeng.¡± Zhou Yuan could not be bothered to waste any more words on Lu Xiao. His gaze shifted towards the newcomer crowd and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, there¡¯s something I forgot to mention earlier. I have to thank pavilion master Lu Xiao for jogging my memory. ¡°The truth is that the 40% increase in effectiveness is only with regards to regular Mother Runes. I can also manufacture a higher-grade rune that will raise the effectiveness by another 10%. Hehe, but I won¡¯t be able to make a large amount, so I can¡¯t really sell them to outsiders. I can only reserve them as welfare for some of the more outstanding Wind Pavilion members and the higher- ups. ¡°Oh, that should be all¡­¡± After finishing, he sat down on a chair, and a quick-witted Wind Pavilion member immediately offered him a cup of hot tea. The place fell silent once more. Next, everyone could only watch as over twenty individuals walked out from the group of thirty or so newcomer Divine Dwelling List rankers. They slowly but determinedly headed towards the Wind Pavilion side. The other newcomers also crowded over. Although there was less passion than before, anyone could tell that their resolve was much firmer. Ling Feng and Yuan Tiegang sighed deeply before they said to Feng Si, ¡°Our apologies, we can¡¯t refuse such an offer.¡± Hence, the two of them quickly turned around and walked towards the Wind Pavilion. Feng Si¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately as he gazed at their backs. Even he felt unable to resist such a temptation. However, he ultimately sighed in disappointment because he had already promised Lu Xiao that he would join the Fire Pavilion. If he went back on his word now, Lu Xiao would definitely be angered, and Lu Xiao was someone he could not afford to offend. Despite this, he really did not want to think about the regret he now felt. After all, even if Lu Xiao became the chief pavilion master in the future, he could not possibly get rid of an entire batch of them just like that, right? More and more newcomers converged towards the Wind Pavilion side. Lu Xiao tightly clenched his fists as his body faintly trembled. The emotions in his heart nearly made him explode in rage. At this very moment, he dearly wished that he could kill Zhou Yuan right then and there. But he ultimately managed to forcibly restrain himself. He looked deeply at Zhou Yuan, the frost in his eyes so intense that it could freeze one¡¯s blood. Lu Xiao knew that he had been utterly defeated this day. But it does not matter. This is only the beginning...Zhou Yuan, after four months, you will understand how foolish your actions today were. When that happens, you will wish that you never offended me. Chapter 833 The Second Genesis Rune Even the members of the Wind Pavilion were so utterly shocked by the news that they were unable to return to their senses for a time. No one could have predicted that the Wind Pavilion, which had always been called the ¡®dumping grounds¡¯ of the newcomer ceremony, would become the biggest winner this time. Their results were so brilliant that even the Fire Pavilion dimmed in comparison... Of course, even more shocking was the Wind Pavilion¡¯s new benefits and the appearance of the four Mother Runes. The monthly salary of 70 origin coins was the highest ever since the establishment of the four pavilions! The Wind Pavilion members were crazily overjoyed. As for the other three pavilions, the Forest Pavilion members were filled with envy, while the Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion members were super jealous. Many bitterly complained and questioned what right the Wind Pavilion members had to enjoy such benefits, feeling it was basically a waste of resources. However, their jealousy was useless because all of them understood that the appearance of the four Mother Runes gave the Wind Pavilion the confidence to give out such benefits. Moreover, these resources were not bestowed from the higher- ups but earned by the Wind Pavilion itself. Although many were still quite skeptical about the effectiveness of the four Mother Runes, their suspicions completely dissipated as more and more people personally tasted their sweetness after the Wind Pavilion began to officially sell them a few days later. Hence, the four Mother Runes quickly became explosively popular. ... Wind Island. On the top floor of the pavilion master lodgings. Zhou Yuan gazed at the cultivation arenas around the lake as clear as a mirror. Although members had come here to train in the past, it was nothing compared to this moment: a sea of people currently occupied the place, making it appear extremely popular. ¡°The Wind Pavilion members have gone crazy ever since you introduced that assessment system of yours, and they have been training like mad every day.¡± Beside Zhou Yuan, Yi Qiushui was also observing the scene before her as her hand covered the faint smile on her face. ¡°Did anyone raise any objections?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. The evaluation was extremely strict, and anyone who did not make the mark would face the risk of being kicked out of the Wind Pavilion. As such, a few members had come to the pavilion master lodgings to complain two days ago. Yi Qiushui answered, ¡°Definitely, but their objections were useless.¡± Those who objected were mostly freeloaders anyways, and even without Zhou Yuan¡¯s interference, their objections would soon be shot down by even more Wind Pavilion members. Zhou Yuan gave a small nod of approval before he turned around to look at the group of figures behind him. Besides Xiao Hong, Lu Mingyue and the other commanders, there were three unfamiliar faces present. They were the new members that had joined the Wind Pavilion a few days ago. Sheng Xiaoling, Ling Feng and Yuan Tiegang. Due to their strength, Zhou Yuan gave them deputy commander positions after they joined the Wind Pavilion. Once they properly established themselves in the Wind Pavilion, he would promote them accordingly. ¡°With regards to the evaluations, if the number of members found lacking in your sections surpass a certain threshold, it will affect your performance evaluations as commanders and deputy commanders. Hence, don¡¯t be distracted, and make sure to keep a sharp eye on your teams,¡± said Zhou Yuan. Xiao Hong and the others respectfully acknowledged his command. They had shown great enthusiasm ever since learning about the 10% share they would get from the sales of the four Mother Runes. After saying his piece, Zhou Yuan waved his hand for them to leave. However, the group refused to budge as they anxiously looked towards him. ¡°You cheeky scoundrels,¡± cursed Zhou Yuan in a good-natured manner. How could he not know what was on their minds? With a flick, a dozen jade pieces shot out. Xiao Hong and the others hurriedly grabbed the jade pieces as smiles blossomed from on their faces. These were the high-grade Wind Mother Runes that were 10% more effective than the ordinary stock and could not be purchased. ¡°Thank you, pavilion master!¡± Upon receiving the high-grade Wind Mother Runes, the group immediately scattered after showing their gratitude. After they left, Ye Bingling softly said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion have banned all purchases of the four Mother Runes. The sales of the four Mother Runes are only dominating in the Wind Pavilion and Forest Pavilion.¡± Zhou Yuan was not surprised. After all, Lu Xiao would not idly watch the four Mother Runes crash the Mark Capturing Rune¡¯s market. ¡°They can¡¯t stop it.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°Though several members of the Fire Pavilion are from the Heavenly Spirit Sect, the majority is not. Lu Xiao¡¯s forceful methods will only work temporarily, and if this continues, the majority will only begin to resent him more and more. Once the resentment reaches a certain point, he will no longer be able to suppress them. ¡°What can he do when the Mother Runes are twice as effective as the Mark Capturing Rune? ¡°Forbidding one from using the Mother Runes is akin to wasting one¡¯s cultivation time. For members of the four pavilions like us, time is the most precious resource, and standing in the way of our cultivation is akin to killing our parents.¡± Yi Qiushui nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s right. Lu Xiao cannot stop it. If he still has some sense in him, he will close one eye on this matter or¡­lower the price of the Mark Capturing Rune. ¡°But even if he does that, he would not be able to shake the Mother Runes¡¯ place. ¡°If he wants to blame someone, he can only blame Zhou Yuan for creating the Mother Runes, which are far more effective than their Mark Capturing Rune.¡± Yi Qiushui pursed her lips into a smile as she looked at Zhou Yuan in admiration. Lu Xiao should have far outclassed Zhou Yuan in both strength and reputation, but the latter had somehow suppressed the former in this most recent power struggle. Lu Xiao was likely feeling extremely sullen, but there was honestly nothing he could do. Ye Bingling also nodded. However, she soon began to worry. ¡°We have the advantage for now, but I¡¯m still worried about the chief pavilion master battle in four months¡­¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s expression turned graver. This was indeed an important issue. If Lu Xiao became the chief pavilion master, it would be a huge problem for them, as he would even have the right to interfere in their Wind Pavilion affairs. For example, Lu Xiao could criticize the assessment and benefits Zhou Yuan had established to chip away at his influence. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he calmly said, ¡°We can only do our best to deny him.¡± Ye Bingling released a bitter laugh. How could it be so easy? Lu Xiao was not the likes of Chen Beifeng, and was ranked nine on Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling List. If they were not fellow members of the Tianyuan Region, he could have easily crushed the Wind Pavilion through force. However, she also understood that they could not give up no matter what. ¡°Since the current situation has stabilized, I need to start focusing all of my energy into my training.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. He had been busy manufacturing the four Mother Runes and had not had much time to train. If he did not begin now, it would be impossible for him to stop Lu Xiao in four months. Yi Qiushui said, ¡°Agreed, training is most important now. If you managed to reach the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, you may not need to fear Lu Xiao.¡± Ye Bingling also looked over and suddenly asked, ¡°Since you¡¯ve completed the wind spirit rune, you should choose a second Genesis Rune to work on. Which one do you have in mind?¡± Only after completing one of the four ancient Genesis Runes would a pavilion member be allowed into the other three districts. Zhou Yuan fell into thought. The wood spirit rune could increase one¡¯s recovery, but it was not very useful for Zhou Yuan since he had the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. The mountain spirit rune could greatly amplify his defensive capabilities, but it was definitely not a priority since he had the Mythic Saint Body and the Azure Serpent Form. Hence, only the fire spirit rune remained. The fire spirit rune would bestow a hidden explosive force to one¡¯s Genesis Qi and amplify its destructive capabilities. This was extremely suitable for Zhou Yuan. Of course, he would have to enter the Fire Pavilion¡¯s Fire District in order to begin cultivating the fire spirit rune. But Zhou Yuan was not worried. This was Tianyuan Utopia after all, and Lu Xiao would not dare to do anything no matter how deeply he loathed Zhou Yuan. Otherwise, he might not be able to keep his position as the fire pavilion master. Did he really believe that Zhou Yuan had no backer in the Tianyuan Region? Of course, Zhou Yuan knew that he should still be careful. As various thoughts swirled in his head, Zhou Yuan came to a decision and smiled at the two girls. Chapter 834 Sixth Divine Dwelling They held very complicated feelings towards the wind pavilion master. The four Mother Runes he invented had essentially put an end to the happy days of the Fire Pavilion, but these runes were truly top-tier products that far outclassed the Mark Capturing Rune. If they could use the four Mother Runes, their cultivation speed would surely double or more! Unfortunately for them, the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion were strictly regulating the four Mother Runes. In the face of Lu Xiao and Han Yuan¡¯s influence and power, the members of the two pavilions did not dare to openly purchase or use them. However, it was impossible to fully cut off the four Mother Runes. Increasing the rate of completing a Genesis Rune weighed heavily in the hearts of the members of the four pavilions. Hence, whenever there was no one around, someone would secretly retrieve a four Mother Rune of unknown origins... This was why the Fire Pavilion members both hated yet loved Zhou Yuan. As they watched him walk into the entrance of the fire district, they realized that the wind pavilion master had already chosen the fire spirit rune as his second rune... ... Thump! A fist slammed into a metal-wood table, instantly shattering it to pieces. A savage look surged onto the owner¡¯s face as he icily said, ¡°Does that brat want to die? ¡°He actually dares to come to our fire district to cultivate at such a time? Is he trying to start a fight?¡± Several figures were also present in the room. They were the higher ups of the Fire Pavilion, and Lu Xiao was sitting on the chief¡¯s seat with an expressionless face. ¡°No, we can¡¯t let this bastard continue to act so arrogantly. I will go to the fire district and teach him a lesson! ¡°Watch how I¡¯ll break both his legs!¡± Fang Ao rose to his feet with a dark and vicious look in his eyes. Lu Xiao icily said with an ice-cold face, ¡°You¡¯d better stop right there!¡± Fang Ao¡¯s foot paused as he angrily said, ¡°Boss, that bastard is stepping on our faces!¡± Lu Xiao frostily replied, ¡°He¡¯s the current wind pavilion master. No one will be able to protect you if you lay a hand on him here! Use your damn brain! Do you really believe our Heavenly Spirit Sect can do whatever we please in the Tianyuan Region?¡± Fang Ao¡¯s expression turned green with frustration as cracking noises sounded from his tightly clenched fists. In the end, he could only fall back into his seat. He knew that Lu Xiao was right. If he dared to touch Zhou Yuan in Tianyuan Utopia, he would surely pay a very painful price. Zhu Lian slowly shook his head with a somewhat ugly expression. ¡°The core of the four Mother Runes is very well hidden, and even a slight touch will cause it to dissipate. I can¡¯t do anything at all.¡± ¡°What if we ask the Genesis Rune masters from the sect?¡± asked Lu Xiao in a low voice. ¡°It won¡¯t work. That brat is very cunning, and his four Mother Runes are extremely sensitive. Even the tiniest touch will cause the rune to self-destruct. Hence, even if someone with stronger Spirit cultivation comes, it will still be very difficult to find out the core ingredient,¡± answered Zhu Lian. Even someone like Lu Xiao felt a little vexed. The top-selling four Mother Runes had caused a huge headache for him over the past few days. Additionally, the elders of the Heavenly Spirit Sect had already reprimanded him due to what had happened during the newcomer ceremony. Huu. Lu Xiao sucked in a deep breath of cool air, suppressing the frustration in his heart. After a long silence, he said, ¡°We¡¯ll lie low for the time being. But don¡¯t worry, there will be a chance for payback.¡± He raised his head and looked towards the direction of the fire district as a chilling look flashed in his eyes. He had never felt this sullen for many years. Moreover, his opponent was merely an intermediate Diviner Dwelling stage practitioner that he looked down on. Don¡¯t be too happy Zhou Yuan, our fight has just begun! ... The fire district was red like the inside of a furnace. Zhou Yuan leisurely walked on the red land as he gazed at the thick fiery-red cloud layer in the sky. To his surprise, he saw lava flowing within. That was fire spirit lava. Contained inside the lava was countless fire spirit rune Genesis marks. The lava could be summoned by burning origin coins, and while the lava burned the body, some of the fire spirit rune Genesis marks would be left behind. Zhou Yuan hopped onto a cliff and seated himself before retrieving a handful of origin coins to burn. Cackle! A big ball of magma swiftly descended from the sky and landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Intense burning pain flooded his senses, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He had already numbed himself to this level of pain in the wind district. He crushed a Mother Fire Rune between his fingers, and a Genesis Rune immediately began to form on his chest as a small vortex appeared. Several glowing red dots swiftly rushed towards the vortex on Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest from the lava covering his body. After an incense stick of time, the lava cooled, turning into pitch-black rock that soon fell from his body layer by layer. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and looked at the back of his hand. Several glowing scarlet-red dots had appeared slightly above the wind spirit rune. These were the Genesis marks of the fire spirit rune. ¡°Pretty good.¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be staying here for some time¡­¡± He stretched his back and rested for a short period before grabbing two handfuls of origin coins. He lit them on fire. Cackle! A large ball of lava plummeted from the sky like a shooting star streaking across the horizon. ... Zhou Yuan spent an entire month in the fire district. With a seemingly endless supply of origin coins, the Mother Fire Rune and his vigorous Spirit power, Zhou Yuan completed almost 70% of his fire spirit rune over this period of time! Such speed made even Zhou Yuan himself feel a little fearful. At this rate, he would complete the fire spirit rune in another month at most. Completing two runes in less than half a year was extremely rare even in the entire history of the Four Spirits Origin Tower. While training in the fire district, Zhou Yuan did not encounter any hindrances from the Fire Pavilion, which slightly surprised him. It seems that Lu Xiao was a smart person and knew that he would not be able to escape responsibility if something happened to Zhou Yuan in the fire district. Zhou Yuan was more than happy with this peaceful atmosphere and placed all his energy into completing the fire spirit rune. On a certain day. Cackle! Countless glowing scarlet-red specks flowed out from the lava that coiled around Zhou Yuan like a python and agilely darted towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest like sparrows. After a long time, the lava began to cool down, turning to black rock fragments as it fell from his body. A breath of scarlet red was huffed out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s nostrils as he slowly opened his eyes. His gaze looked towards the back of his arm as a satisfied smile flowed out on his lips. His fire spirit rune had finally reached the 70% mark! Zhou Yuan stretched his back in a satisfied manner and began to rise to his feet. However, his expression suddenly changed a split second later as ecstasy surged out from the depths of his eyes. He had felt a disturbance from the Divine Dwelling in his body. His Spirit senses reached inwards and found that the wall between the fifth and sixth Divine Dwellings had turned translucent! It was the sign that the sixth Divine Dwelling was about to be connected! Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. While concentrating on the fire spirit rune, he had not ignored the polishing of his Divine Dwellings, but he had not expected the fifth Divine Dwelling to finally achieve its complete state that day, enabling him to begin linking to the sixth Divine Dwelling! Once the sixth Divine Dwelling was connected, he would have stepped into the peak of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage! From there, a single step would be all that separated him from the advanced Divine Dwelling stage! Chapter 835 Sky Obscurer Beast Hear Bzzbzz! The Divine Dwellings shook under the repeated collisions. A faint crack appeared on the wall and rapidly extended, covering the entire wall after several dozen breaths. Due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s polishing over the past month, the Divine Dwelling wall had become extremely thin. Boom! When a torrent of Genesis Qi struck once again, the barrier that had obstructed Zhou Yuan for a long time finally crumbled. The door to the sixth Divine Dwelling was now open! A giant torrent made from over ten million Genesis Qi stars flooded into the sixth Divine Dwelling. Pure mystical energy sprinkled down in the Divine Dwelling, swiftly entering and fusing with the Genesis Qi torrent. Rumble! The Genesis Qi torrent began to grow at an alarming speed. It swept through the sixth Divine Dwelling like a tsunami as countless Genesis Qi stars were created... Boundless power surged out, spreading to his four limbs. In the outside world, Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes. Extremely powerful Genesis Qi undulations pulsed around his body, and his aura grew at an astonishing speed. As he felt the boundless Genesis Qi surging in his Divine Dwelling, happiness flashed in his eyes. He could sense that the number of Genesis Qi stars in his Divine Dwelling had risen by four million! As a result, his Genesis Qi foundations had reached the astonishing level of fifteen million Genesis Qi stars! If he activated the wind spirit rune on top of this, his Genesis Qi foundations would reach the terrifying level of eighteen million! ¡°Eighteen million¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was akin to a raging sea. With such Genesis Qi foundations, he was confident of defeating Chen Beifeng in a single move. ¡°As more and more Divine Dwellings are linked, the increase in Genesis Qi seems to grow!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed in thought. He recalled that when he connected to the fifth Divine Dwelling, his Genesis Qi foundations had only increased by three million, while the sixth Divine Dwelling had given him much more. Only three Divine Dwellings remained. If Zhou Yuan connected all three, his Genesis Qi foundations would increase by over ten million! In other words, even without borrowing any external power, after unlocking the ninth Divine Dwelling, his Genesis Qi foundations might even surpass thirty million! A Genesis Qi foundation of thirty million! But Lu Xiao had only established a high-grade nine heavens Divine Dwelling. The disparity was evidently due to the enormous advantages brought by Zhou Yuan¡¯s chaos Divine Dwelling and his World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi. Zhou Yuan released a long drawn out breath of satisfaction. While Zhou Yuan glowed with joy due to the tremendous growth of his Genesis Qi foundations, his body suddenly trembled as a flash of black shot out and floated in front of him. ¡°Heavenly Yuan Brush?!¡± Zhou Yuan was first stunned by the sight of the Heavenly Yuan Brush appearing without his permission before he suddenly saw the sixth ancient rune on the brush¡¯s mottled body give off a faint light. ¡°The sixth rune is about to awaken?!¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned for a few more seconds before he once again lost his composure due to happiness. One must know that the Heavenly Yuan Brush had been stuck at the sixth rune for a long time. No matter how much nourishment he provided, the six rune refused to show any signs of awakening. Zhou Yuan felt troubled by this for a long time and never expected to finally see some activity from the brush that day. Could a double fortune be heading my way today? Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze burned with anticipation as he stared at the brush. As the sixth rune gave off a faint light, a mysterious undulation spread. However, just as it was about to complete the final step, the Heavenly Yuan Brush suddenly shook violently before the sixth ancient rune swiftly began to dim. The Heavenly Yuan Brush slowly dropped in the air as the light withdrew back into it. It disheartened Zhou Yuan, and he mumbled, ¡°The awakening failed? ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Yuan clasped the brush with both hands with a disappointed face, his brows tightly knitted together. The Heavenly Yuan Brush was clearly about to awaken the sixth rune earlier but had failed at the final juncture. ¡°Why does it feel as if something is missing?¡± mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. The awakening of the previous five runes had never appeared so difficult. Zhou Yuan was at a loss. He held the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he smiled bitterly and said, ¡°Heavenly Yuan Brush, ah, Heavenly Yuan Brush, what do I have to do to help you awaken the sixth rune?¡± He was only mumbling to himself, but as his words rang out, the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hand began to buzz in response. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s shocked gaze, it slowly rose into the air again as its snow white brush hairs slowly cut across the air, drawing a few words. ¡°Sky...Obscurer...Beast...heart¡­¡± ¡°Sky Obscurer Beast heart?¡± Zhou Yuan stared intently at the four words before his eyes lit up. ¡°Are you saying that you need this Sky Obscurer Beast heart to awaken the sixth rune?!¡± After drawing these four words, the brush silently landed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands and did not move any more. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glowed brightly. The Heavenly Yuan Brush had been a Saint-level treasure at its peak and naturally possessed extremely high spirituality. However, it had been badly damaged, rendering it incapable of communication. But as Zhou Yuan continued to nourish it, it began to recover some of its spirituality, and it had finally managed to give him a hint this time. Without its hint, there was no way Zhou Yuan would have guessed that a Sky Obscurer Beast heart would be needed to awaken the sixth rune. ¡°Bro, you should have told me earlier!¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. If he knew this ingredient was required, he would have done all he could to search for it much earlier and would not have wasted so much time. A Sky Obscurer Beast heart should be the heart of a Sky Obscurer Beast, right? But what kind of Genesis Beast was that? And what grade was it? Zhou Yuan pondered for a while before keeping the Heavenly Yuan Brush back into his body. His figure moved, transforming into a streak of light as he shot towards the exit of the fire district. No matter what it was, it was naturally impossible for Zhou Yuan to give up now that he had a clue. Once the Heavenly Yuan Brush awakened the sixth rune, even without mentioning the magical ability it would bestow, the brush itself would evolve and become a true high-grade Heaven-tier Genesis Weapon! A weapon of such level was second only to the Saint-tier treasures with world destroying capabilities. Chapter 836 The Competent Great Manager In the pavilion master building, Yi Qiushui gazed at Zhou Yuan, who had anxiously appeared before her. She was silent for a while before she said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it before. It''s an extremely powerful Genesis Beast, and a peak-tier Sky Obscurer Beast is rated at grade seven.¡± ¡°Grade seven?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly. A grade-seven Genesis Beast was equivalent to a human Nascent Source stage expert! ¡°Of course that¡¯s only with regards to the peak existences among Sky Obscurer Beasts. Ordinary ones are grade six,¡± said Yi Qiushui. ¡°Grade six is still equivalent to the Heavenly Sun stage.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned deeply. Even with his numerous trump cards, he could only run from a Heavenly Sun stage opponent, and he was incapable of putting up any resistance. ¡°Are there any Sky Obscurer Beast hearts for sale in the Tianyuan Utopia?¡± Zhou Yuan shot his second question. ¡°Sky Obscurer Beast heart?¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Sky Obscurer Beasts are already very rare. You may have some luck if you¡¯re looking for its Beast Spirit Crystal, but something like its heart is honestly just not worth as much. Hence, very few would bother to sell it.¡± Zhou Yuan was quite disappointed. The Heavenly Yuan Brush had already made itself clear. It needed a Sky Obscurer Beast heart and not a Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s Spirit Crystal. This outcome made Zhou Yuan a little gloomy. A live Sky Obscurer Beast was rated at grade six, and he was currently incapable of defeating one, but there also seemed to be no way to purchase a Sky Obscurer Beast heart. What could he do? Zhou Yuan seated himself as he shook his head and sighed. Would he have to keep delaying the awakening of the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s sixth rune? Yi Qiushui felt a little helpless. She could only bite her red lips and wrack her brains for an idea. After a long time, Yi Qiushui¡¯s expression suddenly changed slightly as if recalling something. She summoned a Wind Pavilion guard from the door and gave him some instructions before the guard swiftly left. Upon seeing this, Zhou Yuan immediately asked in a spirited manner, ¡°Have you thought of something?¡± Yi Qiushui rolled her eyes at him as she replied, ¡°Great pavilion master, please wait for a while and let me make sure before telling you.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. It felt good to have people to order around. The two waited for a while before the guard swiftly returned with a big stack of papers. Yi Qiushui received the stack and returned to her seat to begin carefully looking through them. Sunlight shone from the window, sprinkling onto her body. Her neat long black hair reached all the way to her slender waist. Her bosom bulged significantly while her face, shaped like a goose egg and as clean as jade, gave off a certain gentleness and charm. When Zhou Yuan finished his tea, Yi Qiushui finally did a little stretch, accentuating her waist lines. A faint smile emerged on her face as she stood up, picked up one of the pieces of paper and walked over to place it beside Zhou Yuan. ¡°Found it.¡± She beamed. Zhou Yuan hurriedly received the paper as his gaze swept across it. It was a mission issued by the Tianyuan Region called ¡°Hunting the Sky Obscurer Beast¡±. He did a quick look through. It seemed that Sky Obscurer Beast tracks had been discovered in the southwest area of the Tianyuan Region, threatening the city in the area and resulting in substantial losses. ¡°A live Sky Obscurer Beast?¡± Disappointment appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He couldn¡¯t beat a living one! ¡°Can¡¯t you look at it properly?¡± Yi Quishui unhappily said. She pulled one side of the mission brief and pointed at a certain spot as she nodded. ¡°A heavily injured Sky Obscurer Beast! ¡°This Sky Obscurer Beast is said to have escaped from the Xiaomang Prefecture. It previously fought with the prefecture lord and sustained serious injuries. However, its vitality is extremely strong, allowing it to escape from the Xiaomang Prefecture and slip into the Yu Prefecture. The Yu Prefecture is one of the smaller prefectures and is ranked near the bottom among the several hundred prefectures of the Tianyuan Region. The Yu Prefecture does not have the strength to kill even a heavily injured Sky Obscurer Beast and thus reported this matter to the higher- ups. ¡°A gravely injured Sky Obscurer Beast?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression finally changed. Soon after he hesitantly asked, ¡°But even a gravely injured Sky Obscurer Beast is not an existence that the Divine Dwelling stage can face, right?¡± Yi Qiushui answered, ¡°Do you see the seal there? It¡¯s a black Divine Dwelling seal which means that this mission is within the capabilities of the Divine Dwelling stage. ¡°In the Tianyuan Region, missions are categorized into green, red and black tiers. The black seal naturally signifies that this mission is the highest tier among the Divine Dwelling category and will definitely be difficult. ¡°A mission like this would be a challenge even for several advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts.¡± She stared at Zhou Yuan as she slowly said, ¡°But if you do want to quickly obtain a Sky Obscurer Beast heart, this is likely the only way.¡± Zhou Yuan faintly nodded in response. After a brief silence, a decisive look finally emerged on his face. ¡°I¡¯ll have to give it a try no matter how difficult it is.¡± ¡°Idiot, you can¡¯t be planning to go alone, right?¡± Yi Qiushui crossed her arms across her chest, pushing her already protruding bosom even higher as she softly chuckled and said, ¡°Although you¡¯re admittedly very strong, it¡¯s not that I look down on you, but you can¡¯t take it on alone.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback for a moment before he said, ¡°You mean I should find others to help me?¡± Yi Qiushui nodded. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re no longer the lone wolf who landed in the Xiaoxuan Prefecture but the master of the Wind Pavilion! ¡°Although our Wind Pavilion is not as strong as the other pavilions, we are still capable of gathering a dozen advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts. Of course, having too many team members will only make things more troublesome, so what you need is an elite force.¡± She retrieved a sheet of paper on which several graceful words could be seen. It was evidently written by her earlier and contained a number of names. ¡°I know that you¡¯re usually busy with your cultivation and have no time for the affairs of the Wind Pavilion, so you likely don¡¯t know our members. Hence, I already selected a team for you. ¡°Including senior sister Ye, the team consists of seven members who are the strongest among the Divine Dwelling stage experts of our Wind Pavilion. Bringing them along will make your life much easier. I¡¯ve already sent someone to inform them, and they should soon arrive.¡± She turned her head to the side, her long hair hanging by her cheek as she smiled. ¡°Although it''s a private matter and infringing upon everyone¡¯s cultivation time is a little inappropriate, no one will object given your current influence in the Wind Pavilion. ¡°Of course, if our great pavilion master can reward everyone with a few high-grade Mother Wind Runes if the mission is a success, I¡¯m sure everyone will be very happy.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes nearly popped from their sockets as he gazed at the confidently smiling Yi Qiushui. Yi Qiushui blushed slightly under his gaze. She placed her hands on her face as she mumbled, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Zhou Yuan sighed and said, ¡°Qiushui, it¡¯s really my fortune to have met you when I arrived in the Tianyuan Region.¡± Zhou Yuan had finally experienced what it was like to have an excellent internal affairs manager. All he had done was notify her of his wish, and Yi Qiushui had prepared everything for him. The only thing left was for him to set off with his team. It was an unbelievable, refreshing feeling of ease. He was a little unable to imagine what he would do if the Wind Pavilion did not have Yi Qiushui. If he had to handle all the affairs of the pavilion, he would probably explode on the spot. He was already completely inseparable from Yi Qiushui. If Yaoyao had not already filled my heart, I may...cough cough. Never mind, can¡¯t have such dangerous thoughts. It may really lead to my death. Chapter 837 Scheme Zhou Yuan greeted them as they arrived. The group was led by deputy pavilion master Ye Bingling and had some familiar faces such as commanders Xiao Hong and Lu Mingyue. However, the last member somewhat surprised Zhou Yuan. It was Sheng Xiaoling, who had recently joined the Wind Pavilion. Sheng Xiaoling was more on the petite side and had rather pretty facial features. However, there was a scar that ran down from her left eyebrow, giving her a somewhat stern look. She was a person of few words, but Zhou Yuan knew that a girl like her who managed to come so far as an unaffiliated cultivator must have experienced much more dangers than a man. Upon seeing that Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze had paused on Sheng Xiaoling, Yi Qiushui hurriedly said, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate her. If it were a life or death battle, Xiao Hong and the others may not be able to triumph over Shang Xiaoling.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled at Sheng Xiaoling. He was only a little surprised by her presence and did not doubt her ability. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept over the group as he said with a smile, ¡°I believe Yi Qiushui has already explained why I¡¯ve called you guys. I plan on accepting a mission to hunt a Sky Obscurer Beast. Of course, it¡¯s a heavily injured one. ¡°However, even a gravely injured Sky Obscurer Beast is not something I can handle alone. Hence, I need your help. ¡°The mission will be dangerous, and I will not force anyone who is unwilling.¡± Ye Bingling was straightforward as usual. ¡°When do we leave?¡± Zhou Yuan choked on his words due to the unexpected response. He had wanted to say more, but Ye Bingling was already rolling her eyes at him. ¡°Don¡¯t be so long winded. Since everyone came here, none of us naturally has any objections. Moreover, it¡¯s only a heavily injured Sky Obscurer Beast.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly. Of course he knew that it was not as simple as Ye Bingling had made it out to be. A heavily injured Sky Obscurer Beast was not a foe that should be underestimated. After all, even a gravely injured Heavenly Sun stage expert was one greater realm above Divine Dwelling stage experts like them. However, Zhou Yuan was quite happy with everyone¡¯s attitude. He was currently in complete control of the Wind Pavilion, and most importantly, he had won the hearts of its members. Although he had won their hearts through the benefits he provided, Zhou Yuan would not be unreasonable about it. Benefit was the most stable chain in the world, and without a relation built on overcoming life-and-death struggles together, talking about things like camaraderie was honestly meaningless sweet-sounding words. His words caused joy to bubble in the eyes of all seven members¡ªeven Ye Bingling¡¯s eyes lit up. The usually silent Shang Xiaoling swallowed several times. She used to be a cultivator without any affiliation, and she had often risked her life for even a small quantity of cultivation resources. She never experienced such generosity before. Most importantly, a high-grade Mother Wind Rune wasn¡¯t even purchasable. Zhou Yuan was the only one who could provide them. Xiao Hong happily remarked, ¡°Heh heh, if word of our pavilion master¡¯s generosity spreads, the guys who didn¡¯t get to participate in this mission would beat the ground with their fists in regret.¡± The others nodded in agreement, each person wearing a wide smile on their face. Seeing that everyone was satisfied, Zhou Yuan also smiled and said, ¡°Since there are no objections, you guys go back and prepare first. We¡¯ll set off in three days.¡± He intended to use the three days to make some necessary preparations. ¡°Understood!¡± the seven acknowledged. Three days swiftly passed. On the third day, Zhou Yuan, Ye Bingling, Xiao Hong, Sheng Xiaoling and the others met up before leaving the Wind Island. Not long after Zhou Yuan and his team left. Fire Island, pavilion master building. An expressionless Lu Xiao was seated above everyone, while Fang Ao, Zhu Lian and the other deputy pavilion masters were seated below. Fang Ao openly asked, ¡°Boss, why did you suddenly call for us?¡± Lu Xiao softly chuckled and answered, ¡°Haven¡¯t you been unhappy with Zhou Yuan for a long time? A chance has now presented itself.¡± A ruthless look immediately flashed in Fang Ao¡¯s eyes as he happily said, ¡°What chance?¡± Lu Xiao flicked his finger, sending a mission scroll shooting forth as he said, ¡°I¡¯ve received news that Zhou Yuan has left Tianyuan Utopia with Ye Bingling and a few others. Their goal is to hunt a heavily injured Sky Obscurer Beast.¡± Their Heavenly Spirit Sect had eyes everywhere in the Tianyuan Utopia and had people watching even the mission hall. Hence, it was not difficult for them to observe Zhou Yuan¡¯s movements. Fang Ao caught the mission scroll. He took two quick glances and said in surprise, ¡°He¡¯s got balls. To think that he even dares to set his sights on a Sky Obscurer Beast. I wonder what he wants.¡± ¡°What he wants is not important. The important thing is that he¡¯s given us a very good opportunity.¡± Lu Xiao tapped the table as he indifferently said, ¡°We may not dare to touch him in the Tianyuan Utopia, but once he leaves, who can say what dangers are hidden outside? What¡¯s more, they are going after a Sky Obscurer Beast. No one can say for certain that they won¡¯t end up being killed instead.¡± Fang Ao immediately understood as a savage smile emerged on his lips. ¡°Boss means for us to kill them during their mission?¡± Lu Xiao nodded. ¡°Best to capture them alive. Zhu Lian has a way to peek into Zhou Yuan¡¯s memories and may be able to find out what core he used to make the four Mother Runes.¡± Fang Ao grinned, revealing his eerily white teeth. His eyes were filled with violence as he said, ¡°Okay then. I will break his arms and legs before giving him to Zhu Lian. ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to kill him for a long time!¡± Lu Xiao gave a faint nod. Although it was definitely not appropriate for them to do this, their Heavenly Spirit Sect was currently a rapidly rising power in the Tianyuan Region, and it should not cause much problems for them as long as they left no loose ends. A mere wind pavilion master was honestly nothing to Tianyuan Utopia. Lu Xiao originally had not intended to use such methods, but the four Mother Runes were far too fatal to their Fire Pavilion. In the long run, it would destroy the Fire Pavilion¡¯s foundations. Hence, Lu Xiao could no longer sit by and wait another four months. Since Zhou Yuan foolishly gave him such a good opportunity, he would naturally not hold back. Lu Xiao said, ¡°I originally intended to go myself, but I will draw too much attention as the Fire Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master. Thus, I need to stay here to draw everyone¡¯s attention.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for you, boss, to personally take action for a mere wind pavilion master.¡± Fan Ao clearly did not mind as he revealed an icy smile. ¡°I will use this chance to teach him that no stray dog or cat has the qualifications to jump around before our Fire Pavilion!¡± Lu Xiao cautioned, ¡°Don¡¯t be careless. The fact that he managed to beat Chen Beifeng at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage means there¡¯s something strange about him.¡± Fang Ao frowned a little but still nodded in acknowledgement. Lu Xiao felt somewhat helpless about his attitude. However, there was nothing to nitpick about Fang Ao¡¯s strength. In Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes, if he did not include himself, Han Yuan and Mu Liu, Fang Ao was likely the strongest among those of the four pavilions. Even Chen Beifeng was nothing before Fang Ao. Lu Xiao waved his hand and said, ¡°Go gather your team.¡± Fang Ao nodded and impatiently turned around to leave. A cruel light seemed to radiate from his eyes. Lu Xiao let out a soft sigh as he watched Fang Ao and Zhu Lian leave. His eyes narrowed as he peered into the distance and muttered, ¡°Zhou Yuan, ah, Zhou Yuan, since you can¡¯t appreciate my kind intentions, don¡¯t blame me for what happens next. Chapter 838 Yu Prefecture The Yu Prefecture was one of the weakest among the eight hundred prefectures of the Tianyuan Region. It was said that the prefecture lord had only reached the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, making him very insignificant in the Tianyuan Region. It was precisely because the Yu Prefecture was weak that they were incapable of dealing with the Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s destructive rampage. They could only report this matter to the higher-ups and wait for Tianyuan Utopia to send a team to exterminate the creature. It was five days later when Zhou Yuan, Ye Bingling and the rest of the team reached the Yu Prefecture. The Tianyuan Region was far too vast. Even with teleportation arrays of some of the greater prefectures, it took quite some time to reach the Yu Prefecture from Tianyuan Utopia. ... The Yu Prefecture. A torrential rain enveloped the land, accompanied by a never ending heavy pitter patter of raindrops. Zhou Yuan and his team stood on a lush, green peak. Genesis Qi surged around their bodies, evaporating any rain that fell within a half foot radius. Zhou Yuan was currently holding a map as he gazed at the endless ancient rainforest before him. It was resident to countless giant trees. ¡°How¡¯s the progress? Have you found the district where the Sky Obscurer Beast has been active?¡± asked Ye Bingling. They had first paid a visit to the prefecture lord upon arriving in the Yu Prefecture, and he had given them a map together with some recent information about the Sky Obscurer Beast. According to the information received, the Sky Obscurer Beast should be somewhere in the vast rainforest before them. However, the environment was quite terrible, and there were numerous strange Genesis Beasts hidden within. Any negligence would be easily punished, and even a Divine Dwelling stage expert might die. Hence, Zhou Yuan and the team had been very careful along the way and did not dare to search too openly. However, this also made their search much less effective. They had been searching the enormous rainforest for the past two days but had failed to find any clues so far. The Sky Obscurer Beast was evidently extremely cunning and did not dare to move about in the open due to its injuries. Zhou Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°Let¡¯s venture deeper and continue our search.¡± After speaking, he leaped forward, and his figure soon vanished into the torrential rain. Ye Bingling, Shang Xiaoling and the others immediately followed. The search continued for another two days. Just as Zhou Yuan was beginning to feel impatient, they finally found a few clues. Zhou Yuan could sense a hidden, savage aura inside the abyss. It was an aura that felt dangerous even to him. ¡°This place is likely the resting grounds of that Sky Obscurer Beast,¡± said Zhou Yuan in a soft voice. ¡°We found several suspicious areas previously but ultimately determined they were wrong.¡± Ye Bingling cautioned, ¡°We need to make sure first. If we¡¯re wrong, these Genesis Beasts will certainly hold a grudge and cause problems for us down the road.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a faint nod of agreement but soon realized the difficulty of the situation this time. No one knew what was in the abyss, and taking the risk to venture in for a scout was evidently not very wise. After all, any one of them would be in grave danger if they were faced with the Sky Obscurer Beast alone, but if they sent more members, the beast would easily detect their presence. Shang Xiaoling had been silent all along, but at this moment she suddenly said, ¡°You may leave the scouting to me.¡± The others looked towards Zhou Yuan. He hesitated for a moment before nodding in approval. Shang Xiaoling¡¯s hands rapidly formed a series of seals as Genesis Qi rippled in front of her. ¡°Divine Eye Technique!¡± The rippling Genesis Qi converged into a somewhat translucent glowing ball of Genesis Qi which contained a swivelling eye. Bzz! The eyes disappeared with a flash, but Zhou Yuan could sense an extremely faint undulation moving away from them. As it travelled further and further away, even Zhou Yuan was no longer able to sense the presence of the eye. Space faintly rippled in front of Shang Xiaoling, revealing a mirror. Images rapidly flitted past in the mirror as if it were connected to the eye. A look of surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Although Shang Xiaoling¡¯s technique had no offensive capabilities, it could scout out the enemy and give one the initiative. This would greatly boost one¡¯s ability to survive. Looks like Shang Xiaoling is indeed very capable. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attention soon turned towards the mirror and found that the eye was rapidly approaching the abyss. The eye stealthily looked down from above, finding a complicated maze-like interior. Everyone held their breaths as they watched. The eye continued to scout and slowly approached the depths of the abyss. A split second later, the pupils of Zhou Yuan and the others violently shrank. They had seen a giant black beast silently resting in what appeared to be a cave. The beast¡¯s body was covered in black scales, and there was a bluish-green curved horn on its head. The beast¡¯s shape was similar to a tiger or lion, and they could just barely make out a sinister wound on its enormous body that cut all the way to the bone. A powerful pressure spread from the creature. Even through the mirror, it made Zhou Yuan and the rest feel a substantial amount of pressure. However, joy flowed out in their eyes. The giant black beast was exactly as described on the mission brief. It was the heavily injured Sky Obscurer Beast. ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Zhou Yuan grinned as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Shang Xiaoling nodded. With a thought, the eye disappeared into thin air, and the mirror before them turned dark. Deep in the abyss, the giant black beast suddenly opened its red eyes and lifted its head in a puzzled manner. But it ultimately did not find anything and soon lay down again to rest and recover its injuries. ... Outside the abyss, the atmosphere relaxed somewhat due to finding the target. However, Shang Xiaoling softly said, ¡°Pavilion master, although the Sky Obscurer Beast is still in a gravely injured state, its injuries are lighter than described in the mission brief. I believe it managed to recover somewhat over this period.¡± The smiles on everyone¡¯s faces immediately receded, replaced by grave looks. They did not dare to forget that the Sky Obscurer Beast was a grade-six Genesis Beast that was comparable to a Heavenly Sun stage expert. If it was not injured, even all of them combined together would not be able to shake it. Since Shang Xiaoling had said that it had recovered somewhat from its injuries, the difficulty of the mission was higher. Ye Bingling¡¯s red lips parted slightly as she said, ¡°When we attack the Sky Obscurer Beast, Zhou Yuan will be the main force while the rest of us only need to support him.¡± Although Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, his battle prowess was the strongest in the team. With him as the main attacker, the others would be under much less pressure. Zhou Yuan reminded the group, ¡°Don¡¯t worry everyone, if we find that we¡¯re not its match, we can withdraw. There¡¯s no need to fight to the death. ¡°I will set up some Genesis Rune boundaries first to avoid drawing over other powerful Genesis Beasts when the battle starts.¡± As he spoke, Zhou Yuan cast a glance towards a certain spot behind him as a strange smile emerged from the corners of his lips. The others acknowledged his words with solemn expressions. They were also somewhat nervous, because they knew that the subsequent battle would surely be exceptionally intense. ... While Zhou Yuan and his team were making their preparations, several figures appeared in the rainforest some distance away. They wore long gray robes on which faint glowing runes emerged. The robes both covered their entire bodies and concealed their Genesis Qi undulations. The leader of the group raised his head slightly, revealing his face. It was Fang Ao of the Fire Pavilion. ¡°It seems they have found the Sky Obscurer Beast.¡± An interested smile rose from the corners of his mouth as he leisurely said, ¡°Let¡¯s watch them fight first and sweep in towards the end. Hehe, I wonder what kind of expression Zhou Yuan will make then?¡± The others softly chuckled as toying looks filled their eyes. Chapter 839 Trap In the rain-shrouded world, Zhu Lian was peering into the distance with narrowed eyes. He could vaguely feel that there were subtle movements of Genesis Qi. ¡°What boundary?¡± Fang Ao asked with a frown. ¡°It should be some kind of boundary that blocks the perception of the outside world. He must be worried that the battle against the Sky Obscurer Beast would attract other Genesis Beasts in the forest,¡± Zhu Lian explained. Fang Ao relaxed his brows and sneered, ¡°That boy is quite sharp witted. ¡°But unfortunately, it would never cross Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind that the thing he should be most wary of wasn¡¯t other Genesis Beasts but a group of fishermen hiding in the dark and watching carefully!¡± He looked at Zhu Lian and reminded, ¡°I¡¯ll take action with the others, and you¡¯ll provide support from behind.¡± A hint of discontent flashed in Zhu Lian¡¯s eyes. How could he not catch the trace of contempt in Fang Ao¡¯s tone of voice? Fang Ao had been competing with him for the position of number two in the Fire Pavilion for a long time. Moreover, he had always looked down on him because he only possessed the strength of the initial Divine Dwelling stage. This muscular fool should think about whether the Fire Pavilion could have developed to this level over the years if it weren¡¯t for the Mark Capturer Rune. Without it, how would it become the state it is today? Based on contribution, Fang Ao wasn¡¯t even qualified to carry shoes for him. But Zhu Lian didn¡¯t say anything in the end. He simply grunted because he understood that he wouldn¡¯t benefit much if he were to participate in a battle of that level, given his strength was only at the initial Divine Dwelling stage. Fang Ao also didn¡¯t care about Zhu Lian¡¯s attitude. As long as he successfully completed the task, it would be a great achievement, and he might even become the number two person of the Fire Pavilion. Moreover, once Lu Xiao won the chief pavilion master position in three months, the pavilion master position would be vacant and could possibly fall to him. While they were fighting and scheming against one another, in the distance the Genesis Rune boundary had taken form. It suddenly shrouded an area and distorted the area, making it difficult for people to see inside the boundary. ¡°There should be a fight soon.¡± Fang Ao smiled, his eyes gleaming in anticipation. Although the Genesis Rune boundary could block the majority of the movements inside, with careful perception, they could still detect what was going on. Therefore, they could judge how the battle was progressing from a distance. Just as Fang Ao had imagined, shortly after the Genesis Rune boundary was formed, there were already strange movements. It was a collision of powerful Genesis Qi. ¡°I really want to see how miserable they are at this moment.¡± Fang Ao stretched his back. Even if the Sky Obscurer Beast was seriously wounded, it was still a grade-six Genesis Beast. If Zhou Yuan and the others wanted to kill it, they would certainly have to pay a high price. But unfortunately, since he was a fisherman, he naturally had to make his appearance at the last moment. On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, in addition to Fang Ao and Zhu Lian, there were five other people following them. They were all elites from the Fire Pavilion with strength of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. One after another they all burst into laughter upon hearing Fang Ao¡¯s ridicule. It could be seen that the atmosphere was very casual, and they didn¡¯t really attach any importance to Zhou Yuan and the others. After all, given their strength, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for them to swallow Zhou Yuan and the others in a battle, not to mention they were currently fishermen acting in the dark. They were confident of success with this task. Fang Ao sat comfortably on a tree stump, staring into the distance with narrowed eyes like a venomous snake. He carefully sensed the waves of Genesis Qi constantly being released. Although he couldn¡¯t see the situation inside, a clear picture was being outlined in his mind. Like a dog that boy must be being chased by the Sky Obscurer Beast now, right? Fang Ao calculated the time, and almost an hour later, he suddenly stood up. ¡°It¡¯s almost time. Both sides should be exhausted now.¡± He smiled calmly like everything was under control. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Zhu Lian could only stand alone and watch them leave, his expression discontent. Under the cover of heavy rain, Fang Ao and his group of people quietly drew closer to the Genesis Rune boundary. Upon close observation, the boundary in front of them was like an invisible barrier and was indeed difficult to discover without a careful look. ¡°That kid¡¯s mastery in Genesis Runes is pretty good,¡± Fang Ao said with a cold smile. He stretched out his hand, and Genesis Qi visibly gathered in his palm. He stroked the Genesis Rune boundary in front of him. Immediately, he easily tore open the boundary. He gave a hand signal, and the several people behind him stormed through. The moment they entered, Fang Ao looked ahead and was immediately stunned for a moment. Inside wasn¡¯t the mess that he had imagined. Instead it was peaceful. In particular, they couldn¡¯t see the shadow of the Sky Obscurer Beast, and no matter how they looked around, it didn¡¯t seem like a battle had occurred. What was the movement he had perceived earlier? ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where are the people?!¡± the several people behind Fang Ao asked puzzledly. Fang Ao was silent for a good while; then his face changed drastically. ¡°This is bad, it¡¯s a trap! Go back!¡± He twisted around and slammed his palm into the Genesis Rune boundary. Om! But this time, the Genesis Rune boundary seemed to have changed, and mighty Genesis Qi burst forth to block Fang Ao¡¯s palm strike. ¡°Quick, destroy the boundary together!¡± Fang Ao commanded, his face ashen. But just as they were about to do so, a sudden burst of laughter rang out, ¡°You¡¯re leaving so soon?¡± Fang Ao twisted around only to see that the void not far away was rippling and several figures were appearing. Who else would it be besides Zhou Yuan? And behind Zhou Yuan, Ye Bingling and the others were also looking at them in shock. Fang Ao gritted his teeth, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you knew we were following you?!¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Lu Xiao¡¯s investigation into him was very secretive, and he really wouldn¡¯t have realised given his identity and influence, but he wasn¡¯t alone! He had his senior sister. Although his senior sister had placed him in the Wind Pavilion to let him develop, she was still very concerned about the safety of her little junior brother. So when Lu Xiao was finding out about his whereabouts, Chi Jing naturally informed Zhou Yuan of the matter and told him to act carefully. This led to the good show unfolding before them. ¡°Zhou Yuan, withdraw the Genesis Rune boundary!¡± Fang Ao thundered. ¡°Deputy pavilion master Fang Ao must be here to watch the show? The good show has just started, it would be a shame to leave so early.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth was curled in a strange smile. ¡°What do you want?¡± Fang Ao felt a little uneasy. PA! Zhou Yuan snapped his fingers. Boom! It was at this moment that a loud explosion of Genesis Qi sounded in the distant abyss, and then, an angry beast roared fiercely and deafeningly. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand seal changed. Clouds and mist rolled in and quickly shrouded their figures. They immediately disappeared into the boundary. Swoosh! But Fang Ao¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed drastically when they saw a huge black shadow rising up from the abyss. Its pair of scarlet eyes was directly locked on Fang Ao and the others. It was also aware of the Genesis Rune boundary shrouding the area and so felt that this was the encirclement and suppression of the Tianyuan Region and that Fang Ao and others were obviously the culprits. Fang Ao and the others felt a chill rushing up to their heads from the soles of their feet when met with the beast¡¯s crimson eyes, which were full of rage. How could they not understand that they had fallen into Zhou Yuan¡¯s trap! Chapter 840 Fishermen become henchmen Fang Ao and his party all had ashen faces. The Sky Obscurer Beast was staring directly at them with a murderous glint in its eyes. They never would have thought that their group of fishermen would become Zhou Yuan¡¯s henchmen in the end. Zhou Yuan clearly wanted them to fight the Sky Obscurer Beast first. ¡°Go, break the boundary!¡± Fang Ao roared. As long as they could break the boundary, they could retreat since their goal wasn¡¯t the Sky Obscurer Beast. That bastard Zhou Yuan was dreaming if he wanted them to become his infantry! Boom! However, the moment his voice faded, a torrent of Genesis Qi roared out of the void behind them, speeding fiercely towards the distant Sky Obscurer Beast. Roar! The Sky Obscurer Beast roared skywards, sending sound waves rolling towards the torrent of Genesis Qi. The sound waves shattered it before it neared the Genesis Beast. Although destroyed, the torrent of Genesis Qi was undoubtedly seen as a provocation. The Sky Obscurer Beast emitted a raging roar as it stared at Fang Ao and the others with its scarlet eyes. Berserk, black Genesis Qi raged like a storm around its body. It opened its huge mouth, spewing out black Genesis Qi. The qi transformed into streams of black light and wrapped around Fang Ao and the others. ¡°Stupid, we didn¡¯t hit you!¡± Fang Ao was so angry that he almost spat out blood. Although the Sky Obscurer Beast was a grade-six Genesis Beast and possessed quite a high intelligence, in the end it still couldn¡¯t compare to human beings. ¡°Quickly leave!¡± Fang Ao urged urgently. He didn¡¯t dare to underestimate the Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s power. His group of people flashed away, quickly evading the attack like flies flying disorderly in the sky. Seeing that its attack failed, the Sky Obscurer Beast became even more enraged. The sound wave of its roar tore apart the nearby towering trees as it shot toward Fang Ao and the others. Fang Ao and the others rapidly retreated. They wanted to avoid fighting the Sky Obscurer Beast because doing so would help Zhou Yuan. However, the beast saw them as the same group as Zhou Yuan and attacked without any hesitation. It wanted to mercilessly rip them apart. They wanted to find a chance to attack the boundary, but under the Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s attacks, they couldn¡¯t spare any attention. Even if they could occasionally attack the boundary¡¯s Genesis Qi, the damage would silently be restored. It was obvious the doings of Zhou Yuan and the others! How cunning! For a moment, the scene was extremely chaotic. The Sky Obscurer Beast chased after Fang Ao and the rest, berserk Genesis Qi continuing to rage. After several times, Fang Ao finally roared, ¡°Let¡¯s attack together, kill this beast first!¡± If they were to continue to evade, the Sky Obscure Beast would no doubt find a chance to strike them, so they had to kill the beast first before they could settle things with Zhou Yuan! Boom! Fang Ao¡¯s voice faded, and he was the first to act. He folded his hands together. Silver Genesis Qi erupted like a torrent of billions of silver needles, striking the Sky Obscurer Beast with an extremely sharp aura. The others also launched attacks one after another. The torrent of Genesis Qi wrapped in a powerful force repeatedly bombarded the huge body of the Sky Obscurer Beast. Rumble! The joint attacks of Fang Ao and the others blasted the Sky Obscurer Beast back again and again, and the scars that already existed on its body tore open, causing blood to gush out. Roar! However, the severe pain only made the beast fiercer than before. It frantically tore apart its opponents¡¯ bombardment of Genesis Qi. The two sides were locked in a fierce battle, destroying the vast rainforest beneath them. Behind the clouds and mist, Zhou Yuan smiled at the battle below; Ye Bingling, Xiao Hong and the others were staring blankly. ¡°Why did Fang Ao appear here?¡± Ye Bingling finally couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Of course he came for me.¡± Zhou Yuan answered with a faint smile. Ye Bingling¡¯s tone suddenly changed as though she realised something. ¡°Lu Xiao is really audacious!¡± He dared to use such an underhanded method to attack the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master? How audacious is that? Xiao Hong and the others also reddened in anger. The Wind Pavilion had seized the commercial interests of the Fire Pavilion, but this was legitimate competition. However, the Fire Pavilion¡¯s move wasn¡¯t justified. If this matter were made known, it would inevitably cause a lot of shock. ¡°But you knew they were going to deal with you?¡± Ye Bingling sounded a little surprised. They already found it strange when Zhou Yuan previously arranged the Genesis Rune boundary since it wasn¡¯t the movement concealment boundary. This boundary turned out to be a trap set by Zhou Yuan! Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°How can you be careless if you offend someone?¡± He certainly wouldn¡¯t say it was because of Chi Jing¡¯s reminder since that would undoubtedly expose their relationship and cause unnecessary trouble. Ye Bingling nodded and didn¡¯t think much about it. Her anger eased a lot when she looked at the scene below again. ¡°Fang Ao thought he could sit and watch us fight the Sky Obscurer Beast, while he himself played fisherman. In the end you pulled him into the water too...¡± The others couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Fang Ao and the others must be suffocating right now, aren¡¯t they? ¡°But this is good. The Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s injury isn¡¯t as serious as we thought. It¡¯s good that Fang Ao and the others are fighting the first wave,¡± said Xiao Hong. Zhou Yuan also nodded. He carefully watched the fierce battle below. The Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s attacks were extremely fierce, and based on the present situation, there would soon be casualties on Fang Ao¡¯s side. However, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t feel sympathetic towards them. His eyes were filled with an icy coldness and intent because he knew that Fang Ao had secretly followed them with the intent to kill. If it weren¡¯t for his senior sister Chi Jing, how could he, a pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, win against Lu Xiao, who had the support of the Heavenly Spirit Sect? And without his senior sister Chi Jing¡¯s reminder, he really might have fallen into the scheme created by Lu Xiao and Fang Ao this time. They would be exhausted from the fight against the Sky Obscurer Beast, while Fang Ao would appear on the stage with a smile. The result would not have been positive for them. Since the other side was so merciless, he naturally wasn¡¯t interested in being a good person to them. So this time, Fang Ao must die! Even if the Sky Obscurer Beast didn¡¯t kill him, Zhou Yuan would. As for the consequences of his death, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t plan to consider it. After all, Fang Ao was the one who had broken the rules. No matter how Zhou Yuan responded, he was in the right. Zhou Yuan folded his arms and looked coldly at Fang Ao, who was commanding everyone to fight against the Sky Obscurer Beast. He knew that although it was Fang Ao who had appeared before them, Fang Ao didn¡¯t have the intelligence to come up with such a plan. Therefore, the person behind them had to be Lu Xiao. Chapter 841 Spirit Devour Berserk Genesis Qi exploded outward, tearing apart the forest below. The Sky Obscurer Beast forcibly withstood the impact with its tremendous body. It immediately transformed into a stream of black light and appeared behind an advanced Divine Dwelling stage expert from the Fire Pavilion. Its sharp claws, wrapped in powerful Genesis Qi, slashed out, causing even space to quake. Chi! The Divine Dwelling stage expert let out an anguished scream before his body was ripped into two halves and his blood splattered everywhere. The Sky Obscurer Beast crushed the expert¡¯s head to pieces with its teeth, making it impossible for even his spirit to escape. He died a complete death. The Sky Obscurer Beast chewed his head, blood and brains trickling between its sharp teeth. Its scarlet eyes were transfixed on Fang Ao and the others. ¡°Beast!¡± Fang Ao trembled with anger. The four advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts he had brought with him were considered his strongest people, so if he was to lose them all, it would be incredibly heart aching. ¡°Brother Fang, we can¡¯t go on any longer. We can¡¯t last against that beast!¡± Another advanced Divine Dwelling stage expert had a forehead beaded with sweat, his eyes wide with fear. They finally knew the terrifying ability and nature of the Sky Obscurer Beast. Even in a severely wounded state it could still crush several of them at once. With an ashen face, Fang Ao roared, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you dare set up this trap for me? Even if we die here, don¡¯t think you will have an easy time! ¡°Let me tell you, my master is hall master Xi Guang, the master of the Silver Light Hall of the Heavenly Spirit Sect! ¡°If you open the boundary now and let us go, I can let you off for what happened today! Otherwise, if I die here, my master will never let you go!¡± Somewhere in the void, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. The Silver Light Hall, one of the nine palace halls of the Heavenly Spirit Sect? Ye Bingling, who was beside him, also clenched her teeth, and whispered, ¡°Fang Ao¡¯s master is indeed the Silver Light Hall¡¯s hall master, Xi Quang.¡± The expression of the others also turned solemn. As a hall master of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, Xi Guang was clearly an important figure that was far beyond their reach. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression still remained surprisingly calm. Fang Ao was the one who used ruthless methods against them. Since he was the one who brought about his own death, Zhou Yuan naturally didn¡¯t plan to let him go. Let alone the fact that his master was the Silver Light Hall¡¯s hall master, even if it were sect master Xuan Kun of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, Fang Ao would still die that day! If Zhou Yuan let him go, it would be even more troublesome. When the others saw his calm appearance, they murmured to themselves that it was no wonder that Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t afraid of Fang Ao¡ªhe had a powerful backer. Seeing that there was no response from Zhou Yuan, Fang Ao¡¯s eyes flashed with anger and a sinister glint. But before he could say anything, the Sky Obscurer Beast was already maliciously speeding across the air toward him. Fang Ao frantically drew back, thundering, ¡°You guys block it for a moment! I¡¯m going to kill it!¡± He folded his palms together, and a silver light slowly rose from the top of his head. Within the silver light, a long silver needle of several inches long was faintly visible. An indescribable sharp qi suddenly spread out, causing the surrounding void to split apart. It was obvious that Fang Ao was about to use a killing move. The Sky Obscurer Beast similarly detected danger. A fierce glint flashed in its eyes, and its speed suddenly skyrocketed. A black torrent of Genesis Qi shot out from its mouth and directly struck the face of an advanced Divine Dwelling expert. Boom! The opponent¡¯s entire head was smashed to pieces along with his spirit. The remaining two advanced Divine Dwelling experts trembled with fear. Although they had injured the Sky Obscurer Beast some, they knew they were not on the same level as their opponent, who could kill with one strike. And following the death of two companions, the pressure on the remaining two was naturally much greater than before. Fortunately, Fang Ao also knew that they had reached the limit. After a while, he yelled, ¡°Retreat!¡± They both rapidly retreated. ¡°Silver needle of sky fragments!¡± A long silver needle was completely revealed above Fang Ao¡¯s head. Vaguely, the silver needle appeared to be composed of multiple fragments. Its body was no more than a few inches long, but the sharp aura it emitted made even Zhou Yuan freeze for a moment. ¡°That¡¯s one of the secret high-grade Heaven Genesis techniques of the Silver Light Hall, the Silver Needle of Sky Fragments! The technique is extremely overbearing, sharp and unstoppable. It can even pierce through mountains,¡± Ye Bingling explained with a solemn look on her pretty face. Zhou Yuan nodded. Facing a Genesis technique of such a level, the slightest carelessness could lead to fatal injuries. Although Fang Ao was arrogant, he was indeed capable. Om! The silver needle shook the void, then instantly shot out with a speed as fast as teleporting. Even though the Sky Obscurer Beast had already retreated vigilantly, the silver needle still caught up like a bolt of lightning. The Sky Obscurer Beast roared, and a torrent of Genesis Qi gushed from its giant mouth in an attempt to destroy the silver needle. Swoosh! However, the silver needle, like a fish in the ocean, swiftly cut through and transformed into a ray of silver light. It pierced through the Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s jaw! The Sky Obscurer Beast had underestimated the power of Fang Ao¡¯s killing move. The Sky Obscurer Beast emitted an anguished roar. If It was in a completely undamaged state, It would have been able to easily endure such an onslaught. However, in its current weakened state, it found it difficult to withstand such a level of attack. As the silver needle entered the Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s body, it produced a series of faint explosions, directly causing the beast¡¯s body to burst open. ¡°Kill it!¡± Fang Ao couldn¡¯t help feeling overjoyed when he saw the Sky Obscurer Beast severely injured, and he immediately shouted to the two remaining advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts. The remaining two rushed out at his command. As long as they could inflict another serious injury, the beast could be killed. Boom! But just as the two sped out, a torrent of Genesis Qi fell from the sky, directly blasting them away. ¡°You all must be tired. I will finish it off.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s laughter resounded across the sky, and he headed straight towards the Sky Obscurer Beast, a sword orb forming in the palm of his hand. ¡°Bastard!¡± The veins on Fang Ao¡¯s forehead visibly bulged when he saw Zhou Yuan charge out. But he had activated his Genesis Qi to its extreme and couldn¡¯t launch another attack. He could only watch Zhou Yuan rush out to grab the reward of the battle. Om! The sword orb in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand transformed into a dazzling light sword, appearing above the Sky Obscurer Beast in the blink of an eye. At this moment, the beast was roaring and struggling frantically, but was unable to escape because of its serious internal injuries. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm and indifferent, without any compassion. The light sword in his hand quivered and directly pierced the Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s head. The Sky Obscurer Beast let out a final roar of anger and struggled repeatedly. Then, finally, its body stiffened. Its corpse plunged from the sky, smashing a huge pit into the forest. Zhou Yuan landed on the corpse, crouched down, and clenched his hand. The Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his hand in a flash. The tip of the brush pointed directly at the beast¡¯s heart and thrust forward. Its snowy-white brush hair rapidly extended, punctured the heart of the Sky Obscurer Beast, and absorbed all its blood in the apex of the heart. Zhou Yuan could even see thick blood flowing back down the brush hair. The Heavenly Yuan Brush made a slight vibration, as though excited. Zhou Yuan went into deep thought. The original material used to depict the sixth rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush was the blood from the apex of the heart of the Sky Obscurer Beast. But after so many years, the blood had almost been completely consumed, and to awaken the sixth rune, he had to replenish it with the blood of a Sky Obscurer Beast. ¡°Now, it should awaken right?¡± Zhou Yuan stared intently at the sixth Genesis Rune on the mottled brush. He saw that there were specks of blood gathering, and a majestic wave of energy erupted from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The sixth Genesis Rune was finally completely illuminated. At the same time, a message seemed to quietly spread into Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, and it made his eyes light up. The corners of his mouth curled upwards. He gently rubbed the sixth rune with his finger. Chapter 842 Surpass you Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as he stared at the sixth Genesis Rune on the mottled brush. He thought over the information that entered his mind, and a moment later a smile curved the corners of his mouth. The so-called Spirit Devour devours all spirits. Of course, this was only the initial ability. The sixth rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush could devour all spirits, store them in the rune, and release them in a special form. That form was called the Spirit Burial. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed, and he directly turned to the Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s corpse lying on the ground. The next moment, countless snow-white brush hairs shot out, drilling directly into the beast¡¯s head. A black beast spirit crystal around the size of a fist was slowly rising. Inside the beast spirit crystal, the beast¡¯s spirit was roaring in anger but was unable to escape from its imprisonment. The snow-white hair penetrated the spirit crystal and pierced the spirit of the Sky Obscurer Beast. Roar! The enraged roar of a beast could be faintly heard. It seemed to be aware that something terrifying was about to happen, but its resistance was futile. Soon, its spirit broke apart, and the brush¡¯s hair sucked it up. A black substance flowed back along the brush hair, then poured into the sixth rune, turning it pitch-black. ¡°It devours the spirit and then buries the spirit to form a powerful attack.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face lit up. An attack caused by the destruction of the spirit, whether for a human or Genesis Beast, was a fatal attack. Many people would rather die than have the courage to destroy their spirit. And the sixth rune devoured the spirit to form a power for the spirit to explode. Of course, this kind of power wasn¡¯t as powerful as a spirit¡¯s real self-explosion, because that process included igniting the Genesis Qi within the body, but the spirit swallowed by Spirit Devour obviously didn¡¯t possess Genesis Qi. Even so, its ability was terrifying. And the most important thing was that in Zhou Yuan¡¯s perception, the sixth rune, Spirit Devour, didn¡¯t seem to have a limit. It could continuously swallow spirits, as long as Zhou Yuan could withstand the recoil during Spirit Burial. In theory, he could use this move to kill even experts of the Heavenly Sun stage and Nascent Source stage. Of course, it was different for the Law Domain. Once situated in a Law Domain, it was as though one was inside a divine shrine, almost invincible. But even so, the power of Spirit Devour seemed to defy natural order. Boom! When Zhou Yuan was overjoyed by the power of the sixth rune, a strange noise echoed through the air. He lifted his head to see that not far away, Fang Ao and the other two advanced Divine Dwelling experts were frantically bombarding the GenesisQi boundary. As a result of their repeated bombardment, the Genesis Rune boundary shook unsteadily. But at this moment, Ye Bingling and the others who were hidden in the dark suddenly countered. Waves of Genesis Qi blasted away the two advanced Divine Dwelling experts and caused blood to spurt from their mouths. Fang Ao, however, withstood the attacks. He coldly stared at Ye Bingling and the others who had appeared. Fang Ao turned his gaze to Zhou Yuan and said coldly, ¡°Zhou Yuan, we have already killed the Sky Obscurer Beast for you. Why aren¡¯t you opening the boundary?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s body moved and reappeared in midair. ¡°Deputy pavilion master Fang Ao is indeed amazing. You only lost two people yet could still kill the Sky Obscurer Beast,¡± Zhou Yuan complimented. Hearing this, Fang Ao was so infuriated that the corners of his eyes twitched. He stared resentfully at Zhou Yuan. The humiliation he suffered was too much. But even though he was extremely angry, Fang Ao still forcibly endured it because he knew that they had already lost their opportunity. He had no choice but to wait for his next chance. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, open the boundary!¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head, saying indifferently, ¡°Deputy pavilion master Fang Ao, you must have gotten it wrong. You were the one following me with bad intentions¡ªyou wanted to take my life. You think the matter has ended?¡± Fang Ao narrowed his eyes, and they flashed with a glint with malice. He smiled. ¡°Oh, what more does pavilion master Zhou Yuan want? ¡°You want to kill me?¡± The corners of his mouth tugged just slightly upward as he indifferently added, ¡°It¡¯s not that I look down on you, but even though you have many people with you, it won¡¯t be easy to make me die here today.¡± Fang Ao¡¯s voice faded. He stepped forward, and a gush of majestic Genesis Qi suddenly rose from his body. Silver light filled the sky, illuminating countless Genesis Qi stars, and an astonishing Genesis Qi pressure immediately filled the area. Ye Bingling¡¯s, Shang Xiaoling¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed, a look of fear came to their eyes. They could sense that Fang Ao¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had reached 16 million Genesis Qi stars! It was far stronger than Chen Beifeng¡¯s! ¡°Scared?¡± Fang Ao sneered. He stretched out his hand, revealing a complete fire spirit rune on the back of his hand. The next moment, a crimson aura emerged, and Fang Ao¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation surged once again! It directly increased by 2.5 million! At this moment, Fang Ao, standing in the void, had formed a terrifying storm of Genesis Qi. A Genesis Qi foundation of 18.5 million Genesis Qi stars! Xiao Hong¡¯s and the others faces turned uncontrollably pale. They didn¡¯t expect Fang Ao to have completely refined a fire spirit rune. And under this level of Genesis Qi pressure, their bodies became heavy. They wondered whether or not they could really stop someone as fierce as Fang Ao. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you really are shameless. I wanted to let you live today, but you had to seek your own death! ¡°Do you really think I¡¯m leaving because I¡¯m afraid of you? I¡¯m just not confident of killing all of you, and it would be troublesome if one of you escaped. But since you want to die, I have to fulfill your request!¡± As he roared, the whole world seemed to quake violently. Genesis Qi rapidly whizzed across the sky. However, in the face of Fang Ao¡¯s mighty Genesis Qi, although a look of surprise flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, there wasn¡¯t a hint of fear. Instead, he smiled. ¡°A Genesis Qi foundation of 18.5 million is indeed impressive.¡± He wasn¡¯t blasted back like Ye Bingling and the others and instead strode forward. Boom! A gush of majestic Genesis Qi soared unreservedly into the sky. Fifteen million Genesis Qi stars lit up in the void. Behind him, Ye Bingling, Xiao Hong and the others all gaped. They could clearly remember that when Zhou Yuan had fought against Chen Beifeng just over a month ago, his Genesis Qi foundation was only 11 million. It was only after he had activated the wind spirit rune that his Genesis Qi foundation had soared to 15 million! But now, Zhou Yuan clearly didn¡¯t activate the wind spirit rune! Fang Ao¡¯s pupils shrank. But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t give him the opportunity to speak. He took another step forward, and on the back of the hand, an azure light glowed. The wind spirit rune had emerged. Boom The Genesis Qi stars increased by another three million! His foundation had reached 18.5 million stars, which was exactly the same as Fang Ao¡¯s! At this moment, everyone was utterly shocked, including Fang Ao. ¡°You think it¡¯s over?¡± A mocking smile twisted Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips, and a red light bloomed on the back of his hand. The fire spirit rune that had reached 70% completion was also activated. As a result, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi soared once again. Although it wasn¡¯t as frightening as a complete wind spirit rune, it still increased his Genesis Qi stars by another 1.5 million. 20 million! 20 million Genesis Qi stars flooded the world and caused turbulence in the void! Fang Ao blankly watched this scene. A chill rushed straight to the top of his head, and deep in his heart a strong feeling of fear gushed out like the tide. Zhou Yuan peered at Fang Ao expressionlessly, his calm voice echoing between heaven and earth. Chapter 843 Spirit Burial ¡°20 million Genesis Qi stars?! How is that possible!¡± Fang Ao roared out loud. The impact of this scene on him could be said to be unimaginable. After all, when Zhou Yuan had battled Chen Beifeng a month ago, he had only possessed 15 million Genesis Qi stars after exhausting all his trump cards. So how could there be such a huge improvement in one month? How does he cultivate?! Twenty million Genesis Qi stars in the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage? Who would believe it? Among the four pavilions, only the three other pavilion masters could reach the foundation level of more than 20 million Genesis Qi stars! But those three were long established heaven prides at the Divine Dwelling stage. What about Zhou Yuan? Before coming to the Tianyuan Region, there was most likely no one who had heard of him before! But now, this unknown person had begun to catch up to the highest echelons belonging to people like Lu Xiao! Fang Ao had greatly looked down on Zhou Yuan before, and even if Zhou Yuan had defeated Chen Beifeng, in his eyes, Zhou Yuan was still not qualified to be the master of a pavilion. It was only that day that he finally realised that his actions and attitude towards Zhou Yuan were undoubtedly as funny as a clown¡¯s. And towards Fang Ao¡¯s uncontrollable roar, Zhou Yuan simply paid no attention to it. Instead, he stared at him with a murderous glint in his eyes. Seeing the look in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, Fang Ao felt greatly insulted, and he roared out loud, ¡°Zhou Yuan, stop pretending! I know you¡¯re just bluffing! You really think I would be afraid of you?¡± Om! He folded his hands together, and a gush of Genesis Qi immediately condensed. A silver needle that looked as if it was formed from fragments of light rose from the top of his head. ¡°Silver needle of sky fragments!¡± Fang Ao roared and directly activated his trump card. Om! The silver needle shot up, but just when everyone thought Fang Ao was going to launch an attack on Zhou Yuan, the silver light needle suddenly appeared at Fang Ao¡¯s foot. The next moment, it sped away carrying him. Bang! The silver needle struck the boundary and, this time, tore it apart. The silver light needle escaped with Fang Ao like a bolt of lightning. Ye Bingling and the others stared dumbstruck at the scene. Fang Ao had actually fled without a fight! Zhou Yuan was a little surprised. Fang Ao was sometimes stupid, but when it came to escaping with his life, he was more decisive than anyone else. ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be so proud. I won¡¯t rest until you¡¯re dead!¡± Fang Ao¡¯s furious roar sounded from a distance. Evidently, his dignity had been greatly insulted. ¡°What do we do?¡± Ye Bingling hurriedly asked. Given Fang Ao¡¯s strength, if he really wanted to flee, there was no way they could stop him. Zhou Yuan emotionlessly watched Fang Ao swiftly whizz through the air to escape. ¡°Since they ruthlessly plotted against me, why should I have mercy on them? ¡°All of them have to die.¡± Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand, revealing a black light in the palm of his hand. His entire palm was dyed a strange black color, and beneath it seemed to be an extremely terrifying power surging. But Zhou Yuan knew that this was because he had activated the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s sixth rune, Spirit Devour. Today, let¡¯s use Fang Ao as a testing stone to try the power of the sixth rune. PA! Zhou Yuan flicked his finger. ¡°Spirit Burial,¡± he muttered in his heart. The moment his voice faded, Zhou Yuan¡¯s head suddenly shook, and a violent roar of a beast echoed in his head. Vaguely, the spirit of the Sky Obscurer Beast turned to bite him, but soon the Spirit between Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows shot out a ray of light. With the power of the Spirit of the Transformative stage, he was able to forcibly withstand the Sky Obscurer Beast¡¯s counterattack. Boom! A jet-black ray of light whizzed out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand, growing stronger and brighter. In a flash, it transformed into a black crescent moon hundreds of meters long. As the crescent moon streaked across the air, a sharp roar of a beast echoed between heaven and the earth. Swoosh! The black crescent moon was unbelievably fast, and it appeared behind Fang Ao in the blink of an eye. Sensing the wave of energy behind him, Fang Ao turned his head and was almost shocked to death. He felt a strong aura of death from the black crescent moon. He didn¡¯t dare to be careless. The silver light needle at his feet hurtled towards the black crescent moon. Clang! The two violently collided, whipping up a storm between heaven and earth. Fang Ao¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank, as he was aghast to find that the silver needle had cracked. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± He knew the strenght of his silver needle of sky fragments. How could it be so fragile in front of the black crescent moon? Before he could further analyse the situation, the black crescent moon roared towards him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you dare try to kill me?! My master won¡¯t let you go!¡± Fang Ao screamed in horror. Om! But even with his threat, the black crescent moon didn¡¯t pause once. It skimmed across his body. The black crescent moon darted away and eventually vanished into the void. But in the void, Fang Ao¡¯s escaping figure froze. His eyes were empty, and tiny black cracks were emerging on the surface of his body, soon spreading to cover him entirely. Bang! Fang Ao¡¯s body shattered into black pieces and dropped from the sky. Even his spirit was annihilated. The other two advanced Divine Dwelling experts were also impacted. They vomited blood and plunged from the sky. It was utterly silent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s dark palm gradually restored its original appearance, and the sixth rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush faded. The power of the spirit of the Sky Obscurer Beast had been completely exhausted. Zhou Yuan felt no sympathy. Instead, he gazed into the distance with a blazing look. The power of Spirit Burial was greater than he had imagined, and it was almost stronger than a full-strength attack from his Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique. The only flaw was that to use this technique, he needed to endure the counterattack of the spirit. If his Spirit wasn¡¯t strong enough, he would have been swallowed. While Zhou Yuan was analysing the pros and cons of the Spirit Burial technique, Ye Bingling, Xiao Hong and the others were still staring blankly at the void where Fang Ao had disappeared. The power of the black crescent moon had made them feel real fear. Even someone like Fang Ao was instantly killed? Even if Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was more than a million stars stronger than Fang Ao¡¯s, that still shouldn¡¯t have happened, right? How much stronger had Zhou Yuan become compared to one month ago?! Given his present strength, he could probably catch up to the other three pavilion masters soon, right? Zhou Yuan dusted his hands, and the oppressive aura his body was emitting instantly vanished. He turned around and smiled at Ye Bingling and the others. ¡°Our task is complete, so let¡¯s call it a day.¡± Ye Bingling and the others stared at one another because they realised that they didn¡¯t seem to have done much this time. They thought they would have to go through a fierce battle, but who would have thought that Fang Ao and the others would appear suddenly, sacrifice two people, and help them create an excellent opportunity to kill the Sky Obscurer Beast. No matter how they looked at this mission, there were some parts that they didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry about. But the good news was that their mission had been completed. However, Ye Bingling knew that this matter would inevitably shock the Tianyuan Utopia. She didn¡¯t know whether it was good or bad for Zhou Yuan. After all, this matter was much more serious than when he had defeated Mo Yuan in Xiaoxuan Prefecture. While Zhou Yuan and the others were about to return, Zhu Lian was trembling as he watched the scene from a huge tree in the distance. He had witnessed the black crescent moon destroy Fang Ao. ¡°Fang Ao died?¡± Zhu Lian was trembling incessantly, and his eyes were filled with horror. He hurriedly took out a Genesis Rune scroll and tore it to shreds with trembling hands. A gush of Genesis Rune light rushed out, shrouding his figure, and the next moment he vanished. Even Fang Ao had died. If he didn¡¯t flee now, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape death if Zhou Yuan caught him. The moment Zhu Lian¡¯s figure disappeared, Zhou Yuan cast his gaze toward Zhu Lian¡¯s original location. Narrowing his eyes slightly, he said, ¡°Genesis Rune teleportation? I didn¡¯t expect someone to be hiding in the dark. It was most likely Zhu Lian, wasn¡¯t it?¡± He thought for a moment but soon lost interest. If Lu Xiao knew that Fang Ao had died here, he would no doubt be enraged. After all, a right-hand man of his level wasn¡¯t easy to cultivate. Zhou Yuan smiled when he felt the presence of the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his Divine Dwelling. No matter what, he had successfully achieved his goal this time. Chapter 844 Hall Master Xi Guang Inside the pavilion master building. Lu Xiao stood with his hands clasped behind his back in front of the railings, peering at the surroundings with an indifferent gaze. After more than a month, the atmosphere in the Fire Pavilion was evidently much quieter than before. He knew that this was because the four mother runes of the Wind Pavilion were selling very well. And with the increased popularity of the four mother runes, there were more and more people opposing the ban he had issued. Earlier on, Han Yuan had come to complain to him, saying that he couldn¡¯t control the people on the Mountain Pavilion¡¯s side anymore. If the ban of the four mother runes continued, even his position as the pavilion master of the Mountain Pavilion would become unsteady. Lu Xiao comforted him a little, asked him to endure for a little longer, then persuaded Han Yuan to leave. But even though he had persuaded Han Yuan to leave, Lu Xiao understood that the four mother runes had become a sword hanging above their two pavilions¡¯ heads. It could cause them to suffer severe injuries at any moment. But if he let the four mother runes enter the Fire and Mountain Pavilions, the Mark Capturing Rune would inevitably suffer devastating damage. After all, the four mother runes were twice as effective as the Mark Capturing Rune for the same price. Anyone would know what decision to make. Although most of the high-level members in the Fire Pavilion were heaven prides of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, in truth, there were more people from various other sects and factions within the Tianyuan Region. If Lu Xiao suppressed them forcibly, they might eventually join the Wind Pavilion. ¡°That Zhou Yuan...¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s face was dark. When he had first met Zhou Yuan, he had never thought that an ordinary-looking newcomer would cause him such a huge problem. But fortunately, Zhou Yuan won¡¯t be able to cause any more trouble. Fang Ao and the others should have already succeeded, right? I wonder if Zhu Lian has obtained the core material for refining the four mother runes. If he has, then the current situation can be reversed in the blink of an eye. Of course, even if he didn¡¯t, it didn¡¯t matter. As long as Zhou Yuan was gone, the Wind Pavilion wouldn¡¯t be able to refine the four mother runes anymore, and the Fire Pavilion¡¯s Mark Capturing Rune will become the only choice on the market again. Lu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, a hint of pity in his eyes. Zhou Yuan, your skills aren¡¯t bad, but unfortunately you don¡¯t have enough foresight. I hope you will be smarter in your next life. Don¡¯t think that you can act recklessly just because you have some ability. Boom! A beam of Genesis Qi descended from the sky, its pressure making countless people tremble in fear. Lu Xiao¡¯s complexion changed slightly when he felt the pressure. Before he could speak, he saw the Genesis Qi rush towards him and appear beside him in a few breaths. The beam scattered, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in a silver robe. There was a cold and stern look on his face, and in his eyes were fragments of silver light. When the man glanced over with those eyes, Lu Xiao felt as if he was being stung by needles. At first Lu Xiao was taken aback, but then he immediately gave a cupped fist salute and greeted loudly, ¡°Disciple Lu Xiao pays respect to hall master Xi Guang.¡± The person who had appeared was the hall master of one of the nine palace halls of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, Xi Guang! The middle-aged man, known as hall master Xi Guang, glanced coldly at Lu Xiao and shouted, ¡°Where is Fang Ao and the others?¡± Lu Xiao was obviously puzzled by the question, but he still replied respectfully, ¡°Junior brother Fang Ao is out on a mission right now.¡± ¡°What mission?¡± Seeing Xi Guang¡¯s attitude and reaction, Lu Xiao felt an uneasiness gush to his heart, and his eyes flashed. He asked cautiously, ¡°Is there something that hall master Xi Guang wants to ask?¡± Xi Guang stretched out his hand and opened his palm, revealing a silver jade tablet. The jade tablet was shattered and dull. Seeing the shattered silver jade tablet, Lu Xiao felt his mind suddenly exploded. Even a calm person like him screamed out uncontrollably, ¡°How is this possible?!¡± The silver jade tablet was one of the Silver Light Hall¡¯s spirit jade tablets. The one before him naturally belonged to Fang Ao. A spirit jade tablet represented the state of its master, and if it shattered and dimmed, it indicated that its master was dead! In other words, Fang Ao had died?! No wonder Xi Guang came here so aggressively! Lu Xiao felt a sea overturning in his heart and a headache coming on. Fang Ao went to kill Zhou Yuan with many people, did they fail? But how is that possible? Zhou Yuan is only slightly stronger than Chen Beifeng and isn¡¯t a match for Fang Ao! Xi Guang looked at Lu Xiao, who had a stricken look on his face, and yelled, ¡°What happened?¡± Lu Xiao drew two steps back when he met hall master Xi Guang¡¯s biting cold gaze. He felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that hall master Xi Guang was notorious for being unreasonable and fierce in the Heavenly Spirit Sect, and Fang Ao also got his temper from him. If he flew into a rage, Lu Xiao would suffer the consequence even though Lu Xiao was a member of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. In the end, he didn¡¯t dare to hide anything from him. ¡°Fang Ao took some people with him to assassinate the master of the Wind Pavilion, Zhou Yuan. Now that an accident has happened, it must be connected to Zhou Yuan.¡± He then immediately told him about Zhou Yuan and the matter of the four mother runes. After all, this was the reason for their actions. ¡°A new pavilion master dared to kill my disciple? Who does he think he is?!¡± Palpable killing intent shot out from Xi Guang¡¯s eyes. In his view, even if Fang Ao was the one who had tried to assassinate Zhou Yuan and had failed, Zhou Yuan should have given him face and handed Fang Ao back to him to be punished. But Zhou Yuan had boldly taken action himself! He simply didn¡¯t attach any importance to him, hall master Xi Guang! As for whether Fang Ao ultimately killed Zhou Yuan or not, he didn¡¯t care. What status did his Heavenly Spirit Sect have in the Tianyuan Region? So what if Fang Ao did manage to kill the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master? At that time, Xi Guang would at most ask Fang Ao to resign from his position as deputy pavilion master, and bring him back to the Silver Light Hall to reflect on his actions. Seeing that Xi Guang was about to explode in anger, Liu Xiao hurriedly tried to calm him down: ¡°But this matter isn¡¯t certain yet. The shattering of junior brother Fang Ao¡¯s spirit jade tablet might have been an accident. Perhaps we should wait a little longer. If their mission was successful, they should be returning soon. Everything will be clear then. ¡°Hall master Xi Guang also knows of Fang Ao¡¯s strength. It is hard to imagine that he would lose to Zhou Yuan.¡± Lu Xiao did indeed have deep doubts in his heart. He really didn¡¯t want to believe that Zhou Yuan had eliminated Fang Ao. After all, his plan was foolproof, so even if Fang Ao¡¯s broken spirit jade tablet was right in front of him, he still couldn¡¯t believe it. Xi Guang pondered silently. In truth, he also didn¡¯t believe that a disciple he thought highly of would lose to a kid in the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait a while longer.¡± With an evil glint in his eyes, hall master Xi Guang said, ¡°If that boy really did it, you should remember to say that you weren¡¯t the one who had plotted to assassinate him. Say that Fang Ao and the others had gone on a mission and had a dispute with Zhou Yuan. In the end Zhou Yuan had ruthlessly killed Fang Ao and everyone else.¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes flashed. Hall master Xi Guang was trying to find a reason for their actions. They only needed to pin the blame on Zhou Yuan, and even if they were to kill Zhou Yuan, their actions would be justified. Although hall master Xi Guang had a fierce personality, he was obviously quite scheming. Lu Xiao nodded quickly and then welcomed hall master Xi Guang into the building. But Lu Xiao and hall master Xi Guang didn¡¯t wait the two or three days they had expected. That twilight, a miserable figure rushed into the pavilion master¡¯s building. ¡°Zhu Lian?!¡± Seeing the miserable figure rushing in, Lu Xiao, who was serving tea to Xi Guang, was taken aback for a moment. He hurriedly looked behind Zhu Lian and asked, ¡°Where are Fang Ao and the others?¡± Zhu Lian knelt on the ground, his face full of horror. ¡°Dead, they all died! ¡°Zhou Yuan had killed them!¡± Lu Xiao trembled, his eyes filled with disbelief. ¡°How could he kill so many of you?¡± ¡°Our speculation was wrong. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation has reached the level of 20 million, and even Fang Ao was no match for him! If I hadn¡¯t escaped in time, I would have died there, too!¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s pupils shrank abruptly. A Genesis Qi foundation of 20 million?! When Zhou Yuan battled Chen Beifeng, his foundation was only 15 million! Bang! Before he could say anything, a heart-pounding murderous intent erupted behind him. Xi Guang slammed the teacup in his hand on the table, and both the teacup and the table instantly turned to smithereens. Xi Guang¡¯s face was icy cold. He dusted his sleeves, and a cold voice rang throughout the building. ¡°Watch Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s teleportation boundary. The moment that bastard appears, immediately capture him. Chapter 845 Assassination Little Yuan Island was one of the main islands in the Tianyuan Region. It covered a large area and had an extremely high population. In the middle of the island was a huge teleportation boundary. It was glowing brightly, and every flash of light indicated that someone had entered Tianyuan Utopia. In a tall building not far from the teleportation boundary, Xi Guang was sitting expressionlessly with Lu Xiao. ¡°I have arranged people to be ready at the teleportation boundary. The moment Zhou Yuan appears, we can capture and take him away at the quickest speed possible. It¡¯s best to keep this matter quiet and not cause too great of a scene.¡± Xi Guang stared intently at the revolving teleportation boundary with his silver eyes. He added, ¡°The moment I take him away from here, I¡¯m going to kill him to avoid any further trouble. ¡°If someone wants somebody to be held accountable for this, you can push the matter to my head. Since Zhou Yuan is such a threat to the Fire Pavilion, even if I get rid of him, the sect master will agree with my actions. ¡°You just need to say that Zhou Yuan murdered his fellow colleagues, and I at most would be reprimanded by the sect master. ¡°No one within the entire Tianyuan Region will want to make things difficult for the Heavenly Spirit Sect just because of the death of the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master.¡± Lu Xiao nodded. ¡°If you, hall master Xi Guang, can get rid of that boy, it will be a great contribution to the Heavenly Spirit Sect, and the sect master will surely be happy. After all, that kid had disrupted his plan last time, and he was furious about it.¡± ¡°If you weren¡¯t so useless, would there have been a need for me to come here and do such a shameless thing?¡± Xi Guang coldly grunted. Given his status and identity, for him to lower himself to deal with the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, it would surely lead to rumours even if he succeeded. Despite that, he didn¡¯t care. After all, he had to avenge Fang Ao. Lu Xiao didn¡¯t dare to argue. He had to be respectful. After all, he was indeed the mastermind in the plot to assassinate Zhou Yuan, and Fang Ao was the one killed. If not for the fact that Xi Guang was giving face to Lu Xiao¡¯s master, Xi Guang would not let him off lightly. ¡°By the way, are you sure everyone¡¯s dead?¡± Xi Guang suddenly asked. If Fang Ao and the others were all confirmed dead, and there wasn¡¯t anyone in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands, they could fabricate the facts as they wished. No matter what, they couldn¡¯t admit that Fang Ao and the others had secretly plotted to assassinate Zhou Yuan. ¡°Also, if they are alive, Zhou Yuan will certainly bring them back. At that time we can find a chance to kill them ourselves before they open their mouths. No matter how smart Zhou Yuan might be, there is no way he would know we would be waiting for him outside the teleportation boundary.¡± Xi Guang nodded, a sinister, cold light flickering in his eyes. As Xi Guang stopped speaking, Lu Xiao also fell silent, but his eyes were fixed in the direction of the teleportation boundary. Time passed gradually, but neither of them was impatient. They waited quietly, like wolves waiting for prey. The teleportation boundary flashed brightly in front of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, and the majestic and pure Genesis Qi of the Tianyuan Region poured in from their surroundings. ¡°We¡¯re finally going back,¡± Ye Bingling¡¯s relieved voice sounded in his ears. Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. He glanced at Ye Bingling, Shang Xiaoling and the others who were beside him, then lifted his foot and stepped into the teleportation boundary. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the Wind Pavilion first.¡± Ye Bingling, Shang Xiaoling and the others nodded and followed after him. Around the teleportation boundary, people were coming and going in an endless stream. Two figures quietly blended into the stream of people and rapidly approached Zhou Yuan. Their footwork techniques were extremely mysterious, and with just a few steps they were already a few feet from Zhou Yuan. Genesis Qi pulsed in the palm of their hands, aiming for Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Their attacks were so bizarre that they didn¡¯t even cause the slightest fluctuation of Genesis Qi between heaven and earth. But when they neared him, the Spirit between Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows suddenly quivered, and in the next instant, a sharp and hoarse voice rang out. "Be careful, pavilion master!" A petite figure flashed out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, thrusting her palm towards the mysterious figures. The petite figure was Shang Xiaoling! Although she didn¡¯t have powerful Spirit perception like Zhou Yuan, she was used to drifting between life and death and possessed a beast-like intuition towards danger. Therefore, she charged out instinctively the moment Zhou Yuan detected something with his Spirit. Bang! Shang Xiaoling¡¯s complexion changed greatly during the collision. That mighty and violent Genesis Qi had directly shattered the Genesis Qi within her body. A jet of blood spurted from her mouth, and her petite figure blasted back, slamming into a stone pillar on the street. ¡°Xiaoling!¡± The sudden change made Ye Bingling and the others recover from the shock, and they immediately yelled out. ¡°Who are you? How dare you attack someone of our Wind Pavilion in the Tianyuan Utopia!¡± Ye Bingling thundered. But the two figures simply frowned slightly. They hadn¡¯t expected that the task they viewed as very easy would be thwarted by an ordinary girl. They looked at each other, didn¡¯t speak, and then shot out toward Zhou Yuan like ghosts. They needed to capture Zhou Yuan before information regarding the matter was made known! Like an icehouse, the powerful fluctuation of Genesis Qi within their bodies made Ye Bingling, Xiao Hong and the others freeze, because the group found that the two people were experts of the Heavenly Sun stage! Why would there be experts of the Heavenly Sun stage attacking them in the Tianyuan Utopia? ¡°Zhou Yuan quickly leave, they¡¯re coming for you!¡± Ye Bingling yelled anxiously. ¡°Stop them, they won¡¯t dare to kill here!¡± This sentence was directed at Xiao Hong and the others. When her voice faded, she charged out first to try to stop the opponent. Xiao Hong and the others also gritted their teeth and rushed over. ¡°Get lost!¡± The two Heavenly Sun experts seemed irritated. Terrifying Genesis Qi erupted from their bodies and blasted Ye Bingling and the others away. At this moment, a commotion also broke out around the teleportation boundary, which was obviously caused by their movements. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face darkened when he saw what was happening. A thought flashed to his mind, and he immediately understood their purpose. He slammed his feet against the ground and shot skywards like a bolt of lightning. The two Heavenly Sun experts quickly chased after him. Zhou Yuan rushed across the void, a cold light flashing in his eyes. He drew a deep breath. Then, a thunderous voice resounded throughout the world, ¡°The Heavenly Spirit Sect has rebelled! ¡°The Heavenly Spirit Sect wants to kill the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion! ¡°The Heavenly Spirit Sect is going to betray the Tianyuan Region!¡± The thunderous voice rang across the world, spreading everywhere, and everyone who heard it wore a blank look on their faces. They were evidently frightened by what was happening. The two Heavenly Sun experts were equally shocked, and they almost spurted out a mouthful of blood. How dare that bastard spread nonsense! Every sentence he said was more vicious and cruel than the last! However, no matter how enraged they were, when Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrified voice spread out, countless people looked in his direction. From the looks of it, even the Tianyuan Region¡¯s law enforcement would soon arrive. Bang! On a tall building, Xi Guang¡¯s face turned livid with rage. He slapped the railing in front of him to smithereens. ¡°Those two trash, they created such a huge commotion from just trying to kill a little boy of the Divine Dwelling stage!¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s face also darkened. ¡°Zhou Yuan is really cunning. Half the Tianyuan Utopia heard his cry!¡± ¡°Hmph, the ant is just struggling. When he dies, everything will settle!¡± ¡°Do you really think I would afraid to do anything after you make a scene? You really underestimate me, Xi Guang!¡± Xi Guang¡¯s eyes glinted with malice, and he instantly vanished. Chapter 846 Law Domain takes action Three silhouettes flashed across the sky, producing a sharp whistle of wind. Zhou Yuan had increased his speed to the extreme, but even so, he still felt the two figures rapidly nearing him. At the moment, he needed to not only get rid of the two Heavenly Sun experts but also buy time. How could he not guess that the assassination was connected to the Fire Pavilion and the Heavenly Spirit Sect? Previously, he never would have thought they would be so crazy since their actions would no doubt lead to public anger. Even the Heavenly Spirit Sect couldn¡¯t withstand something like that, right? Thoughts flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, and the next moment, his expression suddenly changed dramatically because he felt the space around him become sticky, and his speed sharply slowed. He felt like a mosquito trapped in amber. ¡°Void solidification? Nascent Source stage experts?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was stricken with horror. In order to deal with him, a Divine Dwelling stage expert, they had actually sent out experts of the Nascent Source stage? Did they have any shame? The void in front of Zhou Yuan rippled, and a silver-robed figure emerged. Terrifying pressure spread outward, pressing Zhou Yuan to the point his bones creaked as if they were about to shatter. ¡°You¡¯re just a little pavilion master, but you dare slander my Heavenly Spirit Sect. No one can protect you today!¡± The silver-robed figure¡¯s eyes were icy cold as he thrust out his palm. It appeared to be a casual palm, but it unexpectedly contained the aura of death. If his palm strike succeeded, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s spirit would be eliminated on the spot. Countless watching eyes were filled with shocked disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s Xi Guang, the hall master of the Silver Light Hall!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why is hall master Xi Guang attacking the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master?¡± ¡°Is the Heavenly Spirit Sect really going to rebel?¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°---¡± In the distance, there were many fierce silhouettes rushing over. They were the law enforcement guards of the Tianyuan Utopia. They roared in anger, ¡°Stop!¡± Although hall master Xi Guang was well known to be ill-mannered, it was against the law to attack someone in the Tianyuan Utopia! But even with the furious roars of the law enforcement guards, Xi Guang¡¯s eyes simply flashed as though he didn¡¯t hear them. He slammed his palm down even more fiercely. He had already attacked Zhou Yuan, so only when Zhou Yuan was killed would the matter be minimised. Otherwise, if Zhou Yuan survived, he could frantically bite back at him, which would be even more troublesome. The palm enveloped in the aura of death rapidly grew before Zhou Yuan, and an intense smell of death tensed up his entire body. ¡°Om!¡± Additionally, the terrifying Genesis Qi gathered in Xi Guang¡¯s palm dissipated without his control. The mighty and endless Genesis Qi in his body also seemed to have been completely sealed, and he could no longer operate them. ¡°Law Domain?!¡± A horrified look came to Xi Guang¡¯s face. At this moment, he was like trash without any Genesis Qi. And to make him, an expert of the Nascent Source stage, become like this could only be achieved by an omnipotent existence such as a Law Domain expert! A Law Domain expert of the Tianyuan Region had taken action? His palm that was previously enveloped in frightening Genesis Qi slammed towards the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, but there was only a gentle sound, and the feeling was similar to patting Zhou Yuan on the head. Feeling the palm stroking his head, Zhou Yuan was also stunned. A strength of that level couldn¡¯t even break his scalp. What¡¯s going on? Although puzzled, Zhou Yuan reflexively lifted his leg and kicked the face of Xi Guang, who seemed to be frozen in front of him. A black footprint appeared on Xi Guang¡¯s face. And he was sent flying by Zhou Yuan¡¯s kick. Xi Guang quickly steadied his body and almost erupted in anger. In front of so many people, someone of the Divine Dwelling stage had kicked the hall master of the Silver Light Hall in the face! But just as he was about to charge towards Zhou Yuan in fury, a clear voice suddenly resounded throughout the world. ¡°How can a hall master of the Heavenly Spirit Sect do whatever he wants in the Tianyuan Utopia? Are you treating the rules made by my master, the supreme sovereign, as nothing?¡± Hearing the clear and indifferent voice, Xi Guang immediately turned pale. He trembled all over and abruptly lifted his head to see a slender figure in the void. The bright burgundy hair and the heroic appearance directly revealed her identity. ¡°Pay respect to the grand elder Chi Jing!¡± On the Little Yuan Island below, countless figures bowed respectfully. ¡°Lady Chi Jing.¡± Xi Guang also hurriedly gave a cupped fist salute. He never expected a grand elder to show up so quickly, let alone why this kind of matter would attract the attention of a grand elder! Isn¡¯t it enough for law enforcement guards to come? Chi Jing stared at Xi Guang, anger flashing in the depths of her eyes. Zhou Yuan and her had both practiced the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method, so their Spirits were connected in a special way. This was the reason why she was able to detect that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was violently rippling and came right away. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t practiced the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method, Xi Guang would have gotten what he wanted. ¡°Do you, hall master Xi Guang, want to explain what you were doing? If you break the rules, even if you¡¯re a hall master of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, you will still be punished today,¡± Chi Jing uttered coldly. Xi Guang quickly wanted to speak. However, Zhou Yuan was the first to shout out, ¡°Lady Chi Jing, a few days ago, I was out on a mission and was attacked by deputy pavilion master Fang Ao and a few others. Then today, hall master Xi Guang tried to assassinate me. He sees the rules set by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan as nothing, which is equivalent to rebelling. I suspect that the Silver Light Hall intends to defame the Heavenly Spirit Sect and betray the Tianyuan Region. I hope Lady Chi Jing will understand!¡± Hearing his words, countless people gasped out loud. Xi Guang¡¯s face darkened with anger. ¡°What nonsense. Lady Chi Jing, Zhou Yuan murdered his fellow colleagues, and he killed my disciple Fang Ao. I only wanted to capture him to find out the reason!¡± ¡°You both have your own sides of the story, so I won¡¯t deal with this matter for now. But you, hall master Xi Guang, have violated the rules of the Tianyuan Utopia, and this was witnessed by everyone. You have to be punished for your crime.¡± She stretched out her slender finger, pointing to Xi Guang. Immediately, a chain of Genesis Qi formed and directly tightened around Xi Guang¡¯s body. Chained by Genesis Qi, even Xi Guang, an expert of the Nascent Source stage, couldn¡¯t put up any resistance. Zhou Yuan let out a gasp of astonishment. When Xi Guang attacked him, even his imposing manner alone had almost crushed him. But now Xi Guang was like a child in front of his senior sister Chi Jing, waiting to be punished. An expert of the Law Domain was indeed terrifying. Xi Guang was enraged that Chi Jing had directly restrained him, but he didn¡¯t dare to scold her and had no choice but to suppress his anger. ¡°Lady Chi Jing, I¡¯m not satisfied with how this matter is being dealt with. I want to see sect master Xuan Kun!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already sent someone to inform him. I also want to hear how sect master Xuan Kun would punish someone who has violated the rules set by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan in the Tianyuan Utopia.¡± The corners of Xi Guang¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. He didn¡¯t understand why Chi Jing, who was relatively gentle in the past, would have such a huge reaction this time. Did she really want to create a bad relationship with the Heavenly Spirit Sect because of a little pavilion master from the Wind Pavilion? He couldn¡¯t figure out what Chi Jing was thinking, and he dared not say anything more. He could only stay quiet. With their silence, the atmosphere turned incredibly tense, and many sensitive people had faintly noticed that the day¡¯s event would cause quite a stir. The silence lasted for a good while. The void rippled, and then a thin old man appeared under countless awed eyes. Following his appearance, the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth became increasingly heavy. Chapter 847 Distorting the Truth ¡°We pays our respects to grand elder Xuan Kun.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun gave a wave of his hand and cast his abyss-like eyes onto Xi Guang. He wrinkled his brows. ¡°Xi Guang, when did you forget the rules?¡± Hall master Xi Guang lowered his head, muttering, ¡°Sect master, I¡ª¡± ¡°My Heavenly Spirit Sect is one of the leaders of the Tianyun Region. As leaders, if we disregard the rules, how can we control the vast Tianyuan Region?¡± sect master Xuan Kun said. Zhou Yuan lowered his head with a frown. Sect master Xuan Kun was indeed not someone easy to deal with. He appeared to be reprimanding hall master Xi Guang, but he was also highlighting the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s status. This was to tell Zhou Yuan¡¯s senior sister Chi Jing that his Heavenly Spirit Sect was also in his charge of the Tianyuan Region and that she couldn¡¯t punish people of his Heavenly Spirit Sect without approval. Sect master Xuan Kun turned to Chi Jing and smiled. ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, Xi Guang was indeed too reckless, and you¡¯re right to teach him a lesson.¡± ¡°Sect master Xuan Kun, I¡¯m afraid today¡¯s matter can¡¯t be simply let off with the reason of recklessness. A high and mighty Nascent Source expert attempted to assassinate the master of a pavilion. He is guilty of a terrible crime,¡± Chi Jing responded indifferently. Zhou Yuan was nearly killed here, but sect master Xuan Kun thought Xi Guang could be let off with a simple reprimanding? Sect master Xuan Kun glanced at Zhou Yuan, who didn¡¯t say a word. ¡°I have been made aware of the reason for the incident, and the source of this incident should be that the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion killed Xi Guang¡¯s disciple, isn¡¯t that right? ¡°If you really want to talk about the rules, the crime of murdering fellow colleagues should be punished with banishment from the Tianyuan Region. ¡°Xi Guang should be punished for his recklessness, but you also mustn¡¯t let the ruthless master of the Wind Pavilion go so lightly.¡± Zhou Yuan cursed inwardly when he heard the old man slandering him, but he still respectfully responded, ¡°Sect master Xuan Kun, I didn¡¯t intend to kill Fang Ao, but he had set a trap to kill me when I was out on a mission. In the end, in order to protect myself, I had no choice but to do so.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun smiled. ¡°But this is just your side of the story.¡± Zhou Yuan calmly explained, ¡°The mission I received was to go to the Yu Prefecture to hunt down the seriously wounded Sky Obscurer Beast. This was reported to the Mission Pavilion, but why did Fang Ao and the others go to the same place? I really can¡¯t think of a reason.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little surprised. He didn¡¯t believe that Fang Ao and the others had also taken on this mission. But given the status of sect master Xuan Kun and the power of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, it wasn¡¯t difficult for them to make some changes. But in the end, although he had doubts, he couldn¡¯t publicly question sect master Xuan Kun. ¡°So perhaps this matter isn¡¯t as you describe. Maybe you had a dispute with Fang Ao because of the Sky Obscurer Beast and had killed him out of anger?¡± sect master Xuan Kun said indifferently. Evidently he intended to pin the blame of Fang Ao¡¯s death on Zhou Yuan because only when Zhou Yuan was found to be the culprit of everything could Xi Guang¡¯s anger and recklessness be justified. And even if Xi Guang was punished, it would only be a minor punishment. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan would be severely punished for his serious crime. Chi Jing knitted her brows in a frown, staring at Xuan Kun. ¡°What sect master Xuan Kun said is also just one side¡¯s statement.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun hadn¡¯t expected Chi Jing to retort. After all, for people of their level, there had to be things they could give up. Even if she abandoned the master of the Wind Pavilion, there could be other gains, but this time Chi Jing showed no sign of giving in. ¡°This isn¡¯t just the statement of one side. Not everyone on Fang Ao¡¯s side was killed this time. Zhu Lian managed to escape.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun smiled. He flicked his sleeve. The space twisted, and a figure flashed out. It was Zhu Lian. ¡°Zhu Lian, tell us what happened.¡± Zhu Lian quickly nodded. He pointed to Zhou Yuan and yelled out in rage. His words were exactly the same as what Xuan Kun said. They took the mission to hunt down the Sky Obscurer Beast in the Yu Prefecture but were ambushed by Zhou Yuan and his people. In the end Fang Ao and the others were all killed. They were obviously distorting the truth. ¡°Other people of the Wind Pavilion were also with me,¡± Zhou Yuan explained. ¡°They are also suspects. How can their words be reliable?¡± Chi Jing shook her head. ¡°If Fang Ao and his people had gone to kill Zhou Yuan, then Zhu Lian is also a suspect. His words are also unreliable.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. Sect master Xuan Kun was indeed very cunning. If Chi Jing wasn¡¯t there to support him fully, he really might have been forced to take the blame. ¡°Therefore this matter is a bit troublesome. After all, there isn¡¯t any proof,¡± sect master Xuan Kun said with a smile. Both Chi Jing and Zhou Yuan understood that the old man was deliberately messing things up so that no one could severely punish Xi Guang for what he had done. It annoyed Zhou Yuan a little. After all, Xi Guang had almost killed him. If Xi Guang was only reprimanded and let off, it would be really unfair. Zhou Yuan was not the type of person who would let things go just like that. Furthermore, the way the other side tried to distort the truth made him feel extremely uncomfortable. He was silent for a moment and then said, ¡°What if I have evidence?¡± Xuan Kun was silent for a moment and then stared at Zhou Yuan, asking, ¡°What evidence?¡± Zhou Yuan faintly smiled. ¡°In fact, not everybody in Fang Ao¡¯s group died. I captured one of the remaining members, but to be safe I didn¡¯t bring him back to the Tianyuan Region.¡± Zhu Lian¡¯s expression changed dramatically. Hall master Xi Quang also quivered inwardly and then shot an angry look at Zhu Lian. Didn¡¯t this guy say everyone was dead? Zhou Yuan turned to Zhu Lian with a smile ¡°Since we don¡¯t know who is telling the truth, I suggest that we directly search the Spirits of deputy pavilion master Zhu Lian and the person I captured. Given the powers of the grand elders, I believe you can find the information you want without injuring them too much.¡± Zhu Lian paled. Hall master Xi Guang¡¯s expression also changed. Sect master Xuan Kun was silent for a good while before he uttered, ¡°If you have evidence, why did you only say so now?¡± ¡°Because I like to be kind to people, but if forced, I have no choice but to take action. I hope you will get some unexpected information from this.¡± He looked at Chi Jing and sect master Xuan Kun. ¡°Do you want to search their Spirits? If you do, I can tell people to bring that person over.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Chi Jing said unhesitantly. Sect master Xuan Kun carefully studied the look on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face because even he was a little unsure whether Zhou Yuan¡¯s words were true or false. But if Zhou Yuan really were to hand the person over and ask Chi Jing to search his Spirit, everything would be exposed. And at that time, it would even affect Lu Xiao. Lu Xiao was the master of the Fire Pavilion and was expected to compete for the position of chief pavilion master. Xuan Kun had no intention of letting him fall here. So, should he bet whether there was anyone in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands or not? Facing sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s terrifying gaze, Zhou Yuan was surprisingly calm. He inwardly cursed, If we were to compare identity and status, then I¡¯m on an equal footing with you! You think you can scare me!? Sect master Xuan Kun was silent for a good while before he expressionlessly withdrew his gaze. An indifferent voice sounded. Chapter 848 Heaven Flame Ritual ¡°Sect master!¡± hall master Xi Guang couldn¡¯t help interrupting. However, when he met his sect master¡¯s indifferent gaze, he trembled and bowed his head in fear. Sect master Xuan Kun was undoubtedly a little disappointed with Xi Guang¡¯s performance. Of course, he wasn¡¯t disappointed that Xi Guang had tried to assassinate Zhou Yuan but that Xi Guang had failed to immediately kill Zhou Yuan and had instead attracted Chi Jing¡¯s attention, thereby making this matter more serious. If Xi Guang had succeeded, Zhou Yuan would have been dead, which would mean that even if Chi Jing reprimanded him, he could just give Xi Guang a somewhat serious punishment. Presumably, Chi Jing wouldn¡¯t want to create a big scene because of a dead person. But unfortunately Xi Guang had failed to do things cleanly. Surprised, Zhou Yuan shot a glance at sect master Xuan Kun. He hadn¡¯t expected the old man to be so decisive. He knew that Xuan Kun didn¡¯t want to make this matter a big deal so as to not involve more people. And one of those people was most likely Lu Xiao. After all, Zhou Yuan believed the assassination wasn¡¯t plotted by a brainless person like Fang Ao. But Zhou Yuan also knew that it was impossible to drag Lu Xiao into the matter since he had Xuan Kun¡¯s protection. No matter what, the reason for Fang Ao¡¯s death was now cleared up and had nothing to do with him. Having lost Fang Ao and several elites, the Fire Pavilion could be said to be severely wounded. In the end their conflict ended with the Fire Pavilion¡¯s defeat. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t suffer any losses, and with Fang Ao¡¯s help, he had successfully killed the Sky Obscurer Beast. If his group had faced the Sky Obscurer Beast alone, it would have been inevitable that one of them would be seriously wounded. Chi Jing watched this scene with an indifferent look on her face. ¡°Since Fang Ao¡¯s death has been cleared up, it is time to talk about Xi Guang. He attempted to assassinate the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master in the street. If this matter isn¡¯t dealt with, I am afraid it will be hard to convince the masses. ¡°I suggest stripping him of his status as one of the elders of the Elder Committee.¡± Xi Guang paled. If he were stripped of his status as an elder of the Elder Committee, he would no longer have any power in the Tianyuan Utopia, and he would have to return to the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Sect master Xuan Kun argued, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, I know you have always wanted to reduce the strength of my Heavenly Spirit Sect, but although what Xi Guang has done is wrong, the punishment is too severe. I can¡¯t accept it. Please change this punishment to another.¡± Zhou Yuan bowed his head and didn¡¯t interject, because he knew that his senior sister Chi Jing was taking advantage of the chance to get more benefits and he wasn¡¯t qualified to speak. Chi Jing wasn¡¯t surprised by sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s opposition because she knew she was making a huge demand. It would be best to strip away his status, but if not, she would settle for second best. ¡°Since sect master Xuan Kun is against it, I will give you face this time.¡± A smile tugged at her lips as she said, ¡°Next month is the Heaven Flame Ritual, and isn¡¯t this year¡¯s Heaven Flame Ritual presided over by your Heavenly Spirit Sect?¡± Sect master Xuan Kun wrinkled his brows and nodded. The so-called Heaven Flame Ritual was an annual event in the Tianyuan Region. But although it was called a ritual, it was actually a kind of cultivation benefit for the heaven prides below the Heavenly Sun stage. It was also used to attract talents from other regions. Many of the newcomers who entered the Four Pavilions at the Newcomer Ceremony also came because of the Heaven Flame Ritual. To host the Heaven Flame Ritual, it required 99 Heavenly Sun stage experts to instill Heavenly Sun Flame, which was unique to the Heavenly Sun stage, into the Heavenly Sun Cauldron personally refined by Supreme Sovereign Cang Yuan. The Heavenly Sun Flame was extremely mysterious and had the mysterious effects of strengthening bodily strength and burning Genesis Qi. If an expert of the Divine Dwelling stage absorbed and refined the flame, it would greatly benefit both their bodily strength and Genesis Qi. It was just that the Heavenly Sun Flame was quite valuable for Heavenly Sun stage experts. There were few Heavenly Sun experts who would be willing to exhaust their Heavenly Sun Flame to help others. Therefore, the Heaven Flame Ritual of the Tianyuan Region was a grand event that cost a lot. The five grand elders took turns annually hosting the Heaven Flame Ritual, and this year, it was the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s turn. ¡°Then I hope that this year¡¯s Heaven Flame Ritual will take a free approach. There is no need to allocate a share,¡± Chi Jing said with a smile. According to the previous rules, the party presiding over the Heaven Flame Ritual would receive 40% of the share, and the remaining 60% would be distributed among the other parties. Chi Jing obviously wanted to break this rule. Sect master Xuan Kun naturally understood Chi Jing¡¯s purpose. ¡°It seems that grand elder Chi Jing won¡¯t leave this matter without digging out a piece of flesh from our Heavenly Spirit Sect.¡± It wasn¡¯t a small matter to ask 99 Heavenly Sun stage experts to activate the Heavenly Sun Flame with all their strength. Afterwards, in order to compensate them, the Heavenly Spirit Sect would no doubt have to use up huge resources. In order to make up for these losses, generally, according to the rules, the host had a fixed 40% share of the Heavenly Sun Flame. ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing indeed attaches a lot of importance to Wind Pavilion.¡± Chi Jing smiled. ¡°They can be regarded as my people, so I have to fight for some benefits for them. I hope that in the future I can cultivate strong talents.¡± Xuan Kun said, ¡°Even if it is a free fight, the Fire Pavilion is far stronger than the Wind Pavilion, so in the end, it will just be a waste of effort.¡± ¡°How do you know if you don¡¯t try?¡± ¡°You really insist?¡± Chi Jing smiled and said nothing. Xuan Kun went silent for a moment, then nodded. ¡°Fine, grand elder Chi Jing. In this year¡¯s Heaven Flame Ritual, it will depend on one¡¯s own ability.¡± Seeing that sect master Xuan Kun had compromised, Chi Jing also smiled. Sect master Xuan Kun glanced at Zhou Yuan on the side and then said to Chi Jing with a ruminative smile, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing seems to think unusually highly of the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master.¡± In the depths of his eyes there seemed to be a little teasing, and he said in a strange tone of voice, ¡°If supreme sovereign Cang Yuan saw this, he might be very happy.¡± With that, he flung his robe and disappeared with Xi Guang. Zhou Yuan and Chi Jing looked at each other because sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s words seemed to carry an ambiguous meaning. ¡°What did he misunderstand us as?¡± Zhou Yuan gave an embarrassed smile. Veins bulging, Chi Jing gritted her teeth and hissed, ¡°Shameless old thing!¡± But sect master Xuan Kun was indeed extremely sharp to have noticed that Zhou Yuan and Chi Jing had some sort of relationship. But he never would have thought or dared to think that the two would be senior sister and junior brother, so in the end, after many speculations, he felt that Chi Jing might have fallen for Zhou Yuan. This wasn¡¯t surprising since that, given Chi Jing¡¯s status and identity, she could keep any handsome male companion she wanted. However, he couldn¡¯t understand what part of Zhou Yuan was worthy of Chi Jing¡¯s attention. He also hoped that this was the case because if Chi Jing¡¯s taste was that bad, it could be good news to the Heavenly Spirit Sect. After all, given Chi Jing¡¯s appearance, there were many existences in the Hunyuan Heaven who made sect master Xuan Kun fearful and who had feelings for her. ¡°He didn¡¯t even confirm whether I really had someone in my hands who could be used as evidence.¡± Zhou Yuan quickly changed the topic when he sensed a dangerous look in Chi Jing¡¯s eyes. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s true or not. What¡¯s important now is that he¡¯s already compromised,¡± Chi Jing said snappily. Zhou Yuan nodded thoughtfully and immediately smiled: ¡°In truth, I do have someone in my hands, but I have wounded his Spirit and he is no different from dead. Even if he searched his Spirit, he wouldn¡¯t find anything.¡± Chi Jing clicked her tongue ¡°Your guts¡­¡± ¡°But fortunately you¡¯re here. Otherwise it would have been hard to squeeze any benefit out of that old cunning thing.¡± ¡°So that Heaven Flame Ritual?¡± Zhou Yuan asked curiously. He didn¡¯t know much about the Heaven Flame Ritual other than it being a major cultivation benefit for young heaven prides in the Tianyuan Region. It happened once a year and was considered a grand event. ¡°In the past, unless it was my turn to preside over the Heaven Flame Ritual, the share that the Wind Pavilion would receive was simply very little. You also know that the Wind Pavilion is very weak.¡± Chi Jing glanced at Zhou Yuan and remarked, ¡°Although you are progressing very quickly, if you want to compete with Lu Xiao for the chief pavilion master position, you are still lacking, so the Heaven Flame Ritual is a great opportunity for you.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and didn¡¯t find Chi Jing¡¯s bluntless difficult to take. After all, it was indeed the truth, and he had never underestimated Lu Xiao. ¡°Learn more about the Heaven Flame Ritual in the next few days. Make good use of the opportunity you exchanged your life for.¡± Chi Jing smiled and then vanished with a wave of her hand. Zhou Yuan nodded. Strictly speaking, sect master Xuan Kun had only compromised to stop them from removing Xi Guang from the position of elder of the Elder Committee, and Xi Guang was being punished because he had tried to assassinate Zhou Yuan. Therefore, it was true that it was an opportunity Zhou Yuan had exchanged his life for. ¡°In that case¡­ Chapter 849 Joint Suppression Many people condemned his actions, but due to the Fire Pavilion¡¯s influence, they dared not show this openly. But the members of the Fire Pavilion would occasionally meet with the other three pavilions. In particular, the people of the Wind Pavilion and the Forest Pavilion would have contempt in their eyes, which made them feel a little aggrieved, but they couldn¡¯t argue back. After all, their actions were indeed hateful. Therefore, they could only scold Fang Ao in their hearts to vent their emotions. .... Fire Pavilion, Pavilion Master Building. Lu Xiao was sitting expressionlessly in the main seat. Below were Zhu Lian and the other deputy pavilion masters. The atmosphere was particularly gloomy, and everyone¡¯s expressions were extremely ugly because earlier an elder of the Heavenly Spirit Sect had come to severely reprimand them on the orders of sect master Xuan Kun. This time their miscalculation had made sect master Xuan Kun suffer losses in his contest against Chi Jing, and he almost even lost an elder of the elder committee. Silent for a long while, Lu Xiao finally spoke. ¡°This time I made a mistake.¡± Zhu Lian hurriedly comforted, ¡°Pavilion master, this has nothing to do with you. It¡¯s Zhou Yuan¡¯s fault. He is cunning and scheming, and nobody thought he would be concealing his strength.¡± Originally they thought that with Fang Ao¡¯s strength, even if their assassination failed, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to escape unscathed. But no one thought that Zhou Yuan would improve so much in such a short period of time that he would be able to kill Fang Ao in one move. Adding to this, even hall master Xi Guang couldn¡¯t ultimately get rid of Zhou Yuan, he had almost gotten himself into danger. If sect master Xuan Kun hadn¡¯t intervened and pushed all the crimes onto Fang Ao alone, even Zhu Lian would have been affected. ¡°His foundation has reached 20 million Genesis Qi stars, and only the three pavilion masters can suppress him now.¡± Lu Xiao took a deep breath, his face growing overcast and troubled. The speed of Zhou Yuan¡¯s progress made him feel fear. ¡°We have all underestimated him. If I¡¯m not mistaken, that guy¡¯s Divine Dwellings are most likely variations of nine Divine Dwellings.¡± ¡°Even though he now has 20 million Genesis Qi stars, it still won¡¯t be difficult to suppress him if I want to. ¡°But the premise is that we can¡¯t let him continue to make huge progress in his cultivation level before the battle for the chief pavilion master position. ¡°So, the Heaven Flame Ritual next month...¡± A biting cold flashed through Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes. ¡°We must stop the Wind Pavilion from getting any benefits from it!¡± The benefits from the Heaven Flame Ritual were supposed to be distributed according to the allocated share, and the Fire Pavilion would receive 40%. But an elder had delivered the message that the Heaven Flame Ritual would take a free fight approach and they would compete for a share. That meant the coming Heaven Flame Ritual would be unexpectedly intense. Having witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s dangerous ability, everybody in the Fire Pavilion, including Lu Xiao, dared not underestimate him anymore. They had no doubts that if they were to relax in the slightest, Zhou Yuan would definitely obtain a huge amount of benefits from the Heaven Flame Ritual. If his strength soared once again, he might very well pose as some threat to Lu Xiao during the battle to become the chief pavilion master. When the elder had come to pass on the message, he had also subtly warned them of this. ¡°Zhu Lian, in the Heaven Flame Ritual we need to use the power of the Spirit as a net to capture the Heavenly Sun Flame, and when it comes to the cultivation level of the Spirit, you are considered the strongest in our Fire Pavilion. So this time you will act as the core in the Heaven Flame Ritual,¡± Lu Xiao said to Zhu Lian. The Heavenly Sun Flame could incinerate Genesis Qi, so the method of capturing it required Spirit power. Although Lu Xiao had the strongest combat strength, he wasn¡¯t as strong as Zhu Lian when it came to Spirit cultivation level. Therefore his role in the Heaven Flame Ritual wasn¡¯t as important as Zhu Lian¡¯s. Zhu Lian immediately reassured, ¡°Pavilion master, don¡¯t worry. The overall strength of our Fire Pavilion is far better than the Wind Pavilion¡¯s. We will certainly become the biggest winner at the Heaven Flame Ritual.¡± He didn¡¯t have the courage to fight against Zhou Yuan with Genesis Qi, but if it was a contest between Spirits, he wouldn¡¯t be afraid. After all, his Spirit cultivation level could be said to be one of the best among the young generation of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. And in the Heaven Flame Ritual, the most important thing wasn¡¯t one¡¯s cultivation of Genesis Qi but of the Spirit! Lu Xiao shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re wrong, our goal this time isn¡¯t to make the Fire Pavilion the biggest winner...¡± An icy coldness flashed through his eyes. ¡°Our goal is to make the Wind Pavilion win nothing so that Zhou Yuan would have no opportunity to further grow his strength!!¡± Zhu Lian was taken aback at first, and then he said hesitantly, ¡°But even if the Fire Pavilion can suppress the Wind Pavilion with our strength, I think they will still be able to win a share of the Heavenly Sun Flame. After all, there is no way we can directly block them.¡± ¡°The Fire Pavilion alone can¡¯t, but we can join forces with others,¡± Lu Xiao said coldly. ¡°I have already notified Han Yuan. We will join forces with the Mountain Pavilion to completely block the Wind Pavilion so that the Wind Pavilion can¡¯t get any of the Heavenly Sun Flame.¡± ¡°The Mountain Pavilion?¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s eyelids drooped, and he said, ¡°To be on the safe side, I will go see Mu Liu of the Forest Pavilion today. If the Forest Pavilion is willing to join hands with us this time, I will guarantee that the Forest Pavilion gets a 30% share of the Heavenly Sun Flame.¡± ¡°30%?¡± Zhu Lian gasped. If this was the case, then the Fire Pavilion was really generous this time. In the past the Forest Pavilion had at most obtained 20% of the Heavenly Sun Flame. It seemed that Lu Xiao was really doing everything he could to deal with Zhou Yuan. ¡°We aren¡¯t that close with Mu Liu...will he agree to join forces with us?¡± a deputy pavilion master asked. Lu Xiao calmly said, ¡°They don¡¯t really need to join forces with us. It will be enough if they stick to one side and block off some of the Heavenly Sun Flames. Besides, when we¡¯re blocking the Wind Pavilion, they can just stand by and watch.¡± ¡°Mu Liu also isn¡¯t friends with Zhou Yuan, so I don¡¯t believe he would refuse such a great benefit for Zhou Yuan, right?¡± The others looked at each other. The plan was to completely isolate the Wind Pavilion. Zhu Lian¡¯s eyes blazed as he said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, we should be able to completely block the Wind Pavilion and stop them from receiving anything from the Heaven Flame Ritual.¡± It was said that Zhou Yuan had also stepped into the Transformative stage, the same stage as him. But no matter how strong a person¡¯s Spirit was, there would still be a limit! This time, he had to make Zhou Yuan taste what it meant to be powerless! And as long as the position of chief pavilion master fell into their hands, he could overturn all of his disadvantages. Lu Xiao lifted his head, peering coldly in the direction of Wind Island. Chapter 850 Spirit Seizes Flame ¡°And to activate the Heaven Flame Cauldron requires 99 Heavenly Sun experts to instill Heavenly Sun Fire into it with all their strength. The Heaven Flame Cauldron will then strengthen the Heavenly Sun Flame, making the flame extraordinarily pure and mighty. ¡°Additionally, one¡¯s body can¡¯t enter the Heaven Flame Cauldron¡ªonly the spirit can¡ªbecause the Heavenly Sun Flame inside the Heaven Flame Cauldron is too strong. If the body enters, it may be directly incinerated. Only the Spirit can avoid this. ¡°So, if you want to capture and collect the Heavenly Sun Flame in the Heaven Flame Cauldron, you will need to rely on the power of the Spirit. ¡°Although your Spirit is at the Transformative stage, your strength alone may not have much effect because it depends on everybody¡¯s strength. After all, no matter how strong your Spirit is, you can¡¯t beat hundreds of Spirits of the Corporeal stage right? ¡°So the best way to win a share of the Heavenly Sun Flame during the Heaven Flame Ritual is to use your Spirit of the Transformative stage as the core to coordinate and direct the Spirits of the other members of the Wind Pavilion. It will be as if you are the general and they are the soldiers.¡± ¡°---¡± In the pavilion master building of the Wind Pavilion, Ye Qiushui was providing important information about the Heaven Flame Ritual to Zhou Yuan. ¡°I see.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He could be said to have completely understood the mechanism of the Heaven Flame Ritual. But it was somewhat different from what he thought. At the Heaven Flame Ritual, the strength of Genesis Qi didn¡¯t matter; instead, the strength of the Spirit of everybody as a whole was the most important. ¡°But even if it depends on the power of the Spirit. Our Wind Pavilion is still considered to be last of the four pavilions. Do you know how much we won in the Heaven Flame Ritual last year?¡± Ye Bingling sighed, stood up and lifted one finger. ¡°Only 10% of the Heavenly Sun Flame. ¡°Last year the Heaven Flame Ritual was hosted by the Profound Crystal Clan. The Mountain Pavilion had a fixed 40% of the Heavenly Sun Flame, while the Fire Pavilion won 30% and the Forest Pavilion took 20%.¡± ¡°So even if the rules of this year¡¯s Heaven Flame Ritual changed to a free competition between the contestants, given our ability, in the end, we will still win around 10%.¡± ¡°This year we have Zhou Yuan as the pavilion master, and now all the people of Wind Pavilion have united together. If we all do our best, I think 20% of the Heavenly Sun Flame will be achievable.¡± ¡°Yes, we believe in the pavilion master¡¯s ability!¡± ¡°If the pavilion master is here to guide us, our Wind Pavilion will certainly win 20% of the Heavenly Sun Flame!¡± Xiao Hong and other pavilion leaders nodded one after another, looking at Zhou Yuan with awe and respect. In the past few months, the ability Zhou Yuan showed had subdued all the members of the Wind Pavilion and had made their confidence in him greatly rise. Seeing everyone¡¯s hopeful gazes, Zhou Yuan calmly said, ¡°The Fire Pavilion has suffered such a big loss, they will definitely do something at the Heaven Flame Ritual.¡± He pondered for a moment, then looked at Yi Qiushui and asked, ¡°How many people in the Wind Pavilion have Spirits at the Corporeal stage?¡± ¡°There are two hundred and thirty-two people with Spirits at the Corporeal stage, but most of them are in the initial stage.¡± Yi Qiushui thought for a moment and then added, ¡°And on the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Zhu Lian¡¯s Spirit has reached the Transformative stage, and there are more than 500 people at the Corporeal stage.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. Whether it was the Divine Dwelling experts of the Wind Pavilion or the Fire Pavilion, the majority hadn¡¯t practiced the orthodox Spirit tempering method; it was just that as their Genesis Qi cultivation level grew, their Spirit also strengthened. Generally speaking, as long as one¡¯s Genesis Qi reached the Divine Dwelling stage, their spirit would also slowly break through to the Corporeal state. There weren¡¯t many young heaven prides like him who cultivated both Genesis Qi and Spirit and made such great progress in both. For example, although Zhu Lian¡¯s Spirit was at the Transformative stage, if he were to fight against Zhou Yuan with only Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan could easily kill him with one slap. Another example was Lu Xiao. Although he possessed a stronger Genesis Qi foundation than Zhou Yuan, if they were to fight with only Spirit, then Zhou Yuan could burn Lu Xiao¡¯s Spirit into nothingness with his Spirit Flame within a few seconds. Of course, this comparison didn¡¯t make much sense. Zhu Lian would never be that stupid to compete with him using Genesis Qi alone, and Lu Xiao wouldn¡¯t be stupid enough to fight with him with only his Spirit. No one would choose to fight with their weaknesses and ignore their strengths. Ye Bingling, Xiao Hong, Shang Xiaoling and the others¡¯ expressions also became solemn. The difference in overall strength between the two sides was so great it made them feel great pressure. The Fire Pavilion¡¯s overall strength was far stronger than their Wind Pavilion¡¯s. If the Fire Pavilion really wanted to target the Wind Pavilion, there indeed could be a lot of trouble. When Zhou Yuan noticed the depressed atmosphere, he couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°We will take appropriate measures when the situation calls for it. We don¡¯t need to be too afraid. After all, no matter how bad it is, would this year be worse than previous years?¡± Hearing his unusual words of comfort, everyone couldn¡¯t help but laugh, and their expressions gradually relaxed. Indeed, the Wind Pavilion was already the worst in previous years, and no matter how miserable it will be this time, it can¡¯t be any worse than before, right? ¡°For the next few days, the pavilion leaders must coordinate well with the members. Gather in front of the pavilion master building every morning. Before the great battle, we must train with some Spirit exercises to deal with what¡¯s ahead of us,¡± Zhou Yuan commanded. Zhou Yuan had never had the experience of commanding many Spirits before in a battle, so in order to prepare himself, he had to do some training exercises to enhance his experience. The many pavilion leaders gave cupped fist salutes and then turned away. Watching them leave, Zhou Yuan¡¯s relaxed expression gradually turned serious. The free fight in the Heaven Flame Ritual was an opportunity that his senior sister Chi Jing had obtained for him, so of course he wouldn¡¯t be satisfied with not doing worse than previous years as he had previously told everyone. He even thought that 20% was too little! The battle for the chief pavilion master position was near, and the Heaven Flame Ritual was a great opportunity for him. If he grasped it well, he could even gain the strength to compete with Lu Xiao. But the overall Spirit strength of the Wind Pavilion was indeed much inferior to the Fire Pavilion¡¯s. Zhou Yuan knitted his brows in a deep frown. With such a huge difference in strength, the Wind Pavilion wouldn¡¯t be able to get much benefits, so he, the pavilion master, also wouldn¡¯t gain much. The Heaven Flame Ritual this time was very important to him. And Lu Xiao most likely had already guessed this. The Fire Pavilion had already suffered losses in the several battles before, so if Zhou Yuan were Lu Xiao, he also wouldn¡¯t underestimate him and would gather all the strength of the Fire Pavilion to completely suppress him. Zhou Yuan gradually closed his eyes and muttered to himself. Chapter 851 Spirit Training All members of the Wind Pavilion were gathered together. The endless crowds filled the area. Although the Wind Pavilion was deteriorating before Zhou Yuan came, a broken ship still had some uses. They still had an extraordinary foundation. At this moment, countless gazes were fixed on a slender and tall figure standing on the bluestone platform in front, with awe and respect. ¡°Pay respect to the pavilion master!¡± Thousands of people bowed simultaneously. It was a spectacular sight. Zhou Yuan gave a wave of his hand and sat down cross-legged. That day he needed to prepare for the coming Heaven Flame Ritual by training the Spirit of everyone in Wind Pavilion. ¡°Bring out your Spirit.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang in everyone¡¯s ears. Hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s command, everybody sat down cross-legged, and the space between their brows glowed. The next moment, thousands of Spirits rose from the top of their heads, floating above them. The scene of thousands of Spirits appearing at the same time was so incredibly spectacular that even Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but smack his tongue. He ran his eyes across the thousands of Spirits and saw that the two hundred at the front appeared extraordinarily solid, like real people. They were Spirits of the Corporeal stage! And behind them, all other Spirits felt unreal, which showed that those Spirits were only at the Illusory stage. But from the brilliance that they emitted, they should be at the advanced illusory stage. The gathering of thousands of Spirits together seemed particularly messy, and adding to this the wind that roared around Wind Island all year round caused the Spirits of the Illusory stage to sway as if they would be swept away. It was clear that the people of the Wind Pavilion were extremely confident in their bodily strength and Genesis Qi but paid very little attention to their Spirit. This was normal. Besides people like Zhou Yuan, who cultivated both Genesis Qi and Spirit, people who solely cultivated Genesis Qi rarely put their minds on their Spirit. In their opinion, if there was time, it would be better to absorb and refine more Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan stared helplessly at the chaotic scene. He flicked his sleeve, and dozens of beast spirit crystals shot out. Roar! The spirit crystal shattered, and dozens of beast spirits immediately roared out. These beast spirits were all previously grade-5 Genesis beasts. ¡°Destroy these beast spirits,¡± Zhou Yuan roared. But fortunately not everyone was useless. In the end, some people had control over their Spirit power, and numerous spirit needles gathered together to fight against the beast spirits. After half an hour, the beast spirits were finally eliminated. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face darkened. If the thousands of spirits knew how to operate their Spirit power, the beast spirits could have been easily wiped out. From this it was clear how bad the members of the Wind Pavilion¡¯s control of Spirit power was. What qualifications did they have to compete against the other three pavilions in the Heaven Flame Ritual? The chaos on the battlefield calmed down, and when the people of the Wind Pavilion saw the Zhou Yuan¡¯s darkened face, they knew that their performance was extremely poor. They didn¡¯t dare to utter a word and held their breath in fear. Ye Bingling was also a little embarrassed. In the past, it was Chen Beifeng and her who were in charge of the Wind Pavilion, but neither of them agreed with the other, which led to the Wind Pavilion becoming a mess. As for why the members had such poor control of their Spirits, it was because in the Heaven Flame Ritual of previous years, they all only thought to eat scraps. And seeing that the Wind Pavilion was so tactful, the other three pavilions didn¡¯t mind leaving some leftovers for them. Zhou Yuan sighed. He felt somewhat suffocated. He didn¡¯t have expectations for their Spirit power to be good, but he did not expect it to be so bad. If their Genesis Qi cultivation levels were passable, then their spirit level could only be described with the word bad. The number of times they had used their Spirit in battle had to have been very few. Zhou Yuan felt he would rather face the Fire Pavilion alone than to expect their unsteady Spirits to withstand the Fire Pavilion¡¯s. Shaking his head helplessly, Zhou Yuan said in a serious voice, ¡°Starting from today, we will practice for three hours a day. Two people will form a group and use their Spirit power to attack each other. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to operate your Spirit power to an extraordinary level, but you should at least be able to control your Spirit! Otherwise, it will be better if you don¡¯t show up at the Heaven Flame Ritual so as to not embarrass yourself!¡± Everybody felt embarrassed when they heard that Zhou Yuan was exasperated that they didn¡¯t meet his expectations. ¡°Each pavilion leader will manage their subordinates. After ten days, I will do the test again. If the result is the same as today, I will deduct this month¡¯s salary of origin coins!¡± Hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, everybody trembled inwardly. This punishment wasn¡¯t light at all. After all, each member of the Wind Pavilion received 70 origin coins each month, and it would be a huge loss if one month¡¯s salary was deducted. The pavilion leaders immediately commanded their people to form groups of two and to spread across the training grounds around the Mirror Lake to start training their spirit. Seeing the buzzing scene, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression eased a little. He also knew that he couldn¡¯t blame them since the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master position had been left vacant for many years and there wasn¡¯t anybody to guide them. ¡°It seems that I have overestimated their abilities a little.¡± Yi Qiushui sighed. She had previously refuted Ye Bingling, but now it seemed she would need to take back her words. Zhou Yuan also sighed inwardly. Although he had intensified the training time, one¡¯s control of one¡¯s Spirit power wasn¡¯t something that could be improved overnight. He felt that it would be too much to count on them to withstand the Fire Pavilion during the Heaven Flame Ritual. At this moment, there were some waves of Spirit power spreading from all directions of the world. Zhou Yuan flicked his fingers, and several sparks shot out to eliminate those waves. Those sparks were naturally formed from Spirit Flames. Zhou Yuan stared at the sparks that disappeared. ¡°In a fight between Spirits, the Spirit Flame has the most destructive power. ¡°If I can gather the Spirit power of everybody in the Wind Pavilion into Spirit Flames, then that would be amazing.¡± Zhou Yuan pondered for a while, before a wry smile curved his lips. He was being too unrealistic. Spirit Flames could only be derived from the Spirit of the Transformative stage, so even if there were numerous people gathered, it would be impossible to refine a wisp of Spirit Flame. He shook his head and got up. But it was at this moment that his body stiffened, as though he seemed to have thought of something. There was a strange light flickering in his eyes. This was because a Genesis technique had flashed to his mind. ¡°Spirit Lantern Art.¡± One of the Seven Cangxuan arts, the secret art of the Spirit Rune Peak! Back then at the Chosen challenge, Zhou Yuan clearly saw that Ye Ge was able to refine a Spirit Flame with his Spirit by using the technique even though he hadn¡¯t reached the Transformative stage! Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed with a hint of excitement. He took out a jade slip and drew something with his Spirit Power. Underground spirit bone, underworld sunflower tree, netherworld ox blood¡­ There were hundreds of materials, and they were all necessary for practicing the Spirit Lantern Art. ¡°Qiu Shui, can you gather these materials as quickly as possible at any cost.¡± Zhou Yuan handed the jade slip to Yi Qiushui. When Yi Qiushui saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s solemn expression, although she didn¡¯t know what he wanted to do, she took the slip and nodded seriously. Chapter 852 Mu Liu’s Visi ¡°Haha, Zhou Yuan really is being too unrealistic. He really thinks that with his Wind Pavilion¡¯s bad foundation he can compete with my Fire Pavilion at the Heaven Flame Ritual?¡± Zhu Lian, in the Fire Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master building, couldn¡¯t help bursting into laughter. The other deputy pavilion masters all wore mocking smiles. Zhou Yuan had made huge changes to the Wind Pavilion in the past few months and had even created four Mother Runes. If this were to continue, the Wind Pavilion would indeed have the possibility to continue growing stronger. But the mastery of Spirit power couldn¡¯t be changed overnight. The Wind Pavilion had always come last in the Heaven Flame Ritual in previous years! But now that Zhou Yuan suddenly wanted them to improve, how would it be that easy? ¡°Although the Wind Pavilion¡¯s mastery of Spirit power is bad, Zhou Yuan is cunning and mustn¡¯t be underestimated,¡± Lu Xiao reminded, his face calm. Zhu Lian nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Fire Pavilion has also begun to practice. I will keep an eye on them.¡± Back when they were in Yu Prefecture, he was so frightened by Zhou Yuan that he had fled in a panic. Thinking about it now, he understood that based on combat strength alone he couldn¡¯t be compared to Zhou Yuan and it would be difficult for him to get back at Zhou Yuan under normal situations, but the Heaven Flame Ritual gave him a great opportunity. In this event where Spirit power was the most important, his role was even greater than Lu Xiao¡¯s. This time, he could avenge the insult he had suffered and properly humiliate Zhou Yuan! Although Zhou Yuan was said to possess powerful abilities, the Fire Pavilion had an absolute advantage in the Heaven Flame Ritual. In a situation like that, no matter what Zhou Yuan did, Zhu Lian would suppress him. ¡°By the way, what did the Forest Pavilion say?¡± Zhu Lian asked, looking at Lu Xiao. He naturally was talking about the matter of allying with the Mountain Pavilion and the Forest Pavilion in the Heaven Flame Ritual to crush the Wind Pavilion. Lu Xiao said indifferently, ¡°I haven¡¯t heard back from him yet, but I believe that Mu Liu is a smart person and should know that my Fire Pavilion is sure to beat the Wind Pavilion this time. If he doesn¡¯t see this, then don¡¯t blame us for tidying them up as well.¡± Zhu Lian nodded. This was forcing the Forest Pavilion to stand with them. If Mu Liu was indecisive and couldn¡¯t make a decision, then after they cleaned up the Wind Pavilion, the Forest Pavilion would be their next target. For a period of time, the four pavilions had become much quieter because they were all making preparation for the upcoming Heaven Flame Ritual. In order to attract the many heaven pride cultivators of Hunyuan Heaven to Tianyuan Region, supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had set up two very attractive cultivation training benefits. The first one was obviously the Four Spirits Origin Tower, and the other was the annual Heaven Flame Ritual. The Four Spirits Origin Tower depended on one person¡¯s cultivation, while the Heaven Flame Ritual focused more on a group as a whole. This was obviously deliberately set up by the supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, perhaps to create a sense of teamwork. However, to become the bait used by the Tianyuan Region to attract heaven prides of other regions, the effect of the Heaven Flame Ritual was naturally beyond imagination. Ninety-nine Heavenly Sun stage experts were required to provide the Heavenly Sun Flame with all their strength, and the effect of the Heavenly Sun Flame, after the growth and purification in the Heavenly Sun Cauldron, would be increased to an unimaginable level. Once absorbed and refined, that Heavenly Sun Flame would not only strengthen one¡¯s bodily strength but also nourish one¡¯s Genesis Qi, making it purer and stronger. In the face of such a previous cultivation resource that only experts of the Heavenly Sun stage could possess, even someone as strong as Lu Xiao would salivate, so why wouldn¡¯t other people? Moreover, for many members of the four pavilions, the appeal of the Chief Pavilion Master Battle wasn¡¯t as great as the Heaven Flame Ritual. Although the battle for the position of chief pavilion master would determine the person with the greatest glory, there were only a handful of people who could fight for it, and 99% would only be bystanders. But the Heaven Flame Ritual was different. It was a grand ceremony that looked at one¡¯s pavilion as a whole. All of them had to participate in the competition. Therefore, although the four pavilions had calmed and quietened down for a period of time, everyone could feel that there was an undercurrent surging beneath the calmness. Ten days later. Wind Pavilion, the roof of its pavilion master building. The sky was getting darker, but members of the Wind Pavilion were still practicing their Spirit in the surrounding training grounds. After ten days of training, the majority of the members didn¡¯t look as pathetic as ten days before. However, in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, their Spirit control was still very rough, and they could at most only just barely form the Spirit into needles to attack. Of course, Zhou Yuan also knew that he couldn¡¯t judge them from just his view. After all, the number of times where these people had only used Spirit power and not Genesis Qi was terrifyingly few. ¡°They can just about do some simple defense and attack,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. If he were to command them in the centre, he would be able to form some large-scale Spirit offensive. But Zhou Yuan also knew that this alone was simply not enough to compete with the Fire Pavilion. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t really put the chance of winning on them. The key to victory this time was the Spirit Lantern Art he had prepared. Thinking of the Spirit Lantern Art, Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze from the distance and began to focus his mind on the Cangxuan art he had been studying for ten days. The Spirit Lantern Art was special,because it was a Genesis technique that utilized Spirit power, and its activation method did not rely on Genesis Qi but on one¡¯s Spirit. These ten days of studying allowed Zhou Yuan to constantly appreciate the mysteriousness of the Spirit Lantern Art, and it was this deep research that gave Zhou Yuan some confidence in the upcoming Heaven Flame Ritual. Zhou Yuan asked Yi Qiushui to prepare ten sets of materials needed to practice the Spirit Lantern Art using the profit from the sales of the four Mother Runes. In these ten days, Zhou Yuan had tried and failed three times. But Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t dispirited by this. As long as he learned from his failures, he had confidence that he could master the Spirit Lantern Art before the Heaven Flame Ritual. With this thought in mind, Zhou Yuan closed his eyes again and continued to formulate the practice method of the Spirit Lantern Art. However, he had just closed his eyes when his Spirit flashed. His eyes sprang open, and he peered at the woods outside the pavilion master building, saying, ¡°Since pavilion master Mu Liu is here, why don¡¯t you show yourself?¡± As Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice faded, the trees swayed lightly, and a figure slowly strode out from the woods and appeared on the roof with a flash. It was the pavilion master of the Forest Pavilion, Mu Liu. ¡°It¡¯s so late, why has pavilion master Mu Liu come to the Wind Pavilion?¡± Zhou Yuan sounded a little surprised. Mu Liu, as always, had an incredibly clean look, and there wasn¡¯t a speck of dust on him. Even his hair seemed to have been washed several times, and he looked outstandingly handsome. He scratched his head awkwardly and muttered, ¡°I have been thinking about it for many days and have finally come to find you.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly. Mu Liu curled his lip. ¡°Lu Xiao has allied with the Mountain Pavilion and plans to completely suppress the Wind Pavilion in the Heaven Flame Ritual. They must want to prevent you from continuing to grow stronger. Lu Xiao must be furious this time. He even came to ask the Forest Pavilion to join forces with them. ¡°He offered us 30% of the Heaven Sun Flame to unite with them and make the Wind Pavilion fail miserably this time! ¡°Zhou Yuan, if the three pavilions join forces, no matter what power you have, it¡¯s impossible to turn it around.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupil shrank a little. He didn¡¯t expect Lu Xiao would be willing to pay such a price to curb his cultivation progress. As Mu Liu had said, if the three pavilions were to join forces, any means he had would be useless, including the Spirit Lantern Art. ¡°Zhou Yuan, although I don¡¯t like Lu Xiao, I have to consider the benefits for the many members of the Forest Pavilion. He has given a great offer.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He and Mu Liu weren¡¯t considered friends, and it was already very kind for him to come warn him, but he didn¡¯t really intend to let Lu Xiao rope in the Forest Favilion. ¡°The Fire Pavilion¡¯s offer is good, but I wonder if pavilion master Liu is willing to take a gamble?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Mu Liu raised his brow. Zhou Yuan squinted, a cold light flashing within them as he said loud and clear, ¡°Our two pavilions will join forces to crush the Fire and Mountain Pavilions and will equally share the Heaven Sun Flame!¡± Mu Liu looked surprised. ¡°Even if we join forces, we can¡¯t beat the Fire and Mountain Pavilions.¡± ¡°I will deal with the Fire Pavilion. The Forest Pavilion will only need to block the Mountain Pavilion,¡± Zhou Yuan calmly said. ¡°How can the Wind Pavilion beat the Fire Pavilion?¡± Mu Liu couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°We¡¯ll have to try.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°You give me the feeling of an egg trying to crush a stone. This is too crazy. I don¡¯t think I can convince the others of the Forest Pavilion.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes drooped as he said, ¡°If the Forest Pavilion is willing to join forces with us, no matter whether we win or not in the Heaven Flame Ritual, I can provide 300 high-grade mother runes to the Forest Pavilion every month at the price of ordinary mother runes.¡± ¡°Ch,¡± Mu Liu gasped, his eyes blazing. ¡°The four mother runes said to have a 50% effect?¡± He had long heard about the four high-grade mother runes, but unfortunately they were only provided to high-level members of the Wind Pavilion, and it was impossible to purchase any! Zhou Yuan nodded. Mu Liu¡¯s expression changed uncontrollably. He froze for more than a dozen breaths, and finally, a fierce glint flashed through his eyes. That bastard Lu Xiao thinks he can make I, Mu Liu, surrender by just throwing out some bones? He has underestimated me! ¡°Since you dare propose such a crazy plan, you must have something. My intuition is always very accurate. Fine¡­ ¡°This time, I, Mu Liu, will join your crazy plan!¡± Chapter 853 Alliance On a lush, grassy land on the Wood Island, Mu Qingyan¡¯s arms were crossed across her chest as she cast a glance at Mu Liu smiling before her. Mu Liu awkwardly replied, ¡°Qingyang, please use less crude words. A beautiful young lady like you saying ¡®f*ck¡¯ is so unpleasant.¡± Mu Qingyan viciously jabbed Mu Liu¡¯s chest with a slender finger as she angrily said, ¡°Don¡¯t try and change the topic. Are you an idiot? I can¡¯t believe you were so easily fooled by that Zhou Yuan, and now you plan to join forces with him to eliminate the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion?¡± By the side, the metal-tower-like Jiang Man displayed a naive grin as he remarked, ¡°It sounds quite exciting.¡± ¡°Shut your trap.¡± Mu Qingyan shot a glare at him before turning back to Mu Liu. ¡°Our Forest Pavilion is at best equal in strength to the Mountain Pavilion. Even if my Spirit cultivation has reached the Transformative stage, the Mountain Pavilion also has a Transformative stage expert. ¡°Zhou Yuan told you their Wind Pavilion will handle the Fire Pavilion, but do you know how many practitioners they have that have reached the Corporeal stage? More than five hundred. What about the Wind Pavilion? Only two hundred. Their opponents have nearly triple their numbers. In such a situation, even a Transformative stage Spirit won¡¯t be able to do much. ¡°The Wind Pavilion¡¯s foundations are far too weak. Haven¡¯t you heard about the outcome of that Spirit training session they had previously? It was pathetic and shameful! ¡°So tell me, how will the Wind Pavilion vie with the Fire Pavilion in the Heaven Flame Ritual?¡± Mu Qingyan was seething. Mu Liu should have only gone to warn Zhou Yuan. How had it ended with him bringing back such shocking news? She felt that Mu Liu must have been conned by Zhou Yuan! Moreover, he seemed completely irredeemable! This was way too cruel of Zhou Yuan. Wasn¡¯t this akin to pushing their Forest Pavilion into the fire? What would happen if the Fire Pavilion easily dispatched the Wind Pavilion and decided to go after their Forest Pavilion next? Although the Fire Pavilion was bossy and unreasonable, they had always given a little face and did not dare to push the Forest Pavilion too far. But if the Forest Pavilion chose to help the Wind Pavilion this time, Lu Xiao would have sufficient reason on his side. Liu Mu forced a smile as he said, ¡°That may not be so. Zhou Yuan is very strange and unpredictable. For example, who could have expected him to be capable of turning the tables on Chen Beifeng previously? What¡¯s more, even Fang Ao has fallen at his hands.¡± Mu Liu chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t know whether he¡¯ll be able to topple the Fire Pavilion, but even if we do not cooperate with him, you know that I can¡¯t possibly accept Lu Xiao¡¯s proposal. Who does he think he is? Does he think I¡¯ll run after any bone he throws? What does he take me for?¡± Mu Qingyan was a little taken aback. Though Mu Liu usually put on a friendly, smiling appearance, she knew that his heart was full of pride. Even someone as strong as Lu Xiao could not make him submit. Jiang Man said in a slightly crestfallen manner, ¡°I feel that the boss is not wrong. Lu Xiao may seem to be giving us some benefits, but if we accept their proposal once, we¡¯ll no longer be able to hold our heads high and will feel shorter whenever we meet any Fire Pavilion members in the future.¡± Mu Qingyan pursed her lips as her expression slowly softened. ¡°Now that you guys mention it, that bastard Lu Xiao definitely does not have any good intentions.¡± She fell into thought for a while. In the end, she gritted her teeth and declared, ¡°Fine, since you¡¯ve already made the decision, we¡¯ll join forces with the Wind Pavilion. I hope that Zhou Yuan is not conning us purely for the sake of trying to escape from their predicament.¡± Upon seeing Mu Qingyan agree, Mu Liu breathed a sigh of relief. He might be the forest pavilion master, but Mu Qingyan was the most popular and influential individual in the Forest Pavilion. If she objected, many members would stand on her side. Most importantly, they had to rely on her leadership for the upcoming Heaven Flame Ritual, and it would truly become problematic if she were to refuse the commander role. ¡°However, Zhou Yuan is not fully conning me. At the very least, regardless of success or failure, he has promised to provide us three hundred high-grade Mother Runes every month at the price of the normal four Mother Runes.¡± Mu Liu grinned. These words made Mu Qingyan¡¯s and Jiang Man¡¯s eyes brighten. ¡°The 50% effectiveness Mother Runes?¡± They had long coveted the high-grade Mother Runes that could increase the effectiveness of gathering Genesis marks by 50%. But it was an extremely scarce product that only some of the high-ranking Wind Pavilion members could receive. The ones that occasionally found their way into the market would immediately be snapped up at very high prices. Hence, any information regarding them would always be highly sought after. Mu Qingyan and the others naturally desired these high-grade Mother Runes as well but had no way to obtain them. They never imagined that Zhou Yuan would promise to give them three hundred every month once this affair was concluded. This was an unexpected surprise. ¡°It seems that he does have some sincerity,¡± said Mu Qingyan. If we can get three hundred high-grade Mother Runes every month, we should be able to make up some of the losses if we fail in the Heaven Flame Ritual. However, Mu Qingyan still disapproved of Zhou Yuan leading the Wind Pavilion to face the entire Fire Pavilion, and she clearly did not believe he had any chance of succeeding. After all, the gap between both sides was far too great. Even with Zhou Yuan pouring all of his efforts into transforming the Wind Pavilion, he had far too little time. It had only been a few months since he had joined, whereas the Fire Pavilion¡¯s humongous advantage was the culmination of many years of efforts. How could it be easy for Zhou Yuan to catch up? She could only pray that they would not lose too badly this time, or it would be a little shameful. Bah, lose if we have to. I¡¯ll take it as us accompanying them to play! Mu Qingyan consoled herself with such thoughts. The Fire Island. Zhu Lian gazed at Lu Xiao¡¯s back and reported, ¡°Pavilion master, the Forest Pavilion sent someone to reject our proposal.¡± Lu Xiao turned his head and nonchalantly said, ¡°How disappointing.¡± Zhu Lian said in a low voice, ¡°According to our informants in the Forest Pavilion, Mu Liu has likely chosen to cooperate with Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°An alliance between two weaklings?¡± Lu Xiao shook his head. ¡°Since when did Mu Liu become so foolish? Never mind, I originally wanted to give their Forest Pavilion some benefit, but it seems that it is not fated.¡± He was not the least bit angered by the Forest Pavilion¡¯s decision, because they were not an important part of his plan. He wouldn¡¯t have contacted them, if he did not want to completely crush the Wind Pavilion this time. However, he was somewhat surprised that Mu Liu had chosen Zhou Yuan over him. ¡°Never mind, let him do what he wants. ¡°Since he has decided to stand on the opposing side, don¡¯t blame me for showing no mercy.¡± Lu Xiao turned his head again and peered into the distance. They had always given the Forest Pavilion a little face in previous Heaven Flame Rituals and had generously given them a little meat to eat. He never expected that his kindness would not be repaid. Since that was the case, he no longer planned on showing any courtesy. Lu Xiao indifferently asked, ¡°Zhu Lian, how are our preparations?¡± Zhu Lian nodded as he said in a satisfied manner, ¡°Everything is ready. Moreover, I even specially made a trip back to the Heavenly Spirit Hall as per your, the pavilion master¡¯s, request. I only feel that you regard Zhou Yuan far too highly. Our Fire Pavilion already has an enormous advantage and has even prepared such trump cards for the ritual. This is essentially using a cleaver to kill a chicken.¡± Lu Xiao placed his hands behind his back as he said, ¡°I do not want to make the same mistake as before. Even a lion should use all its power to slaughter a rabbit. ¡°This time, I will make Zhou Yuan feel true despair!¡± He would also teach the Forest Pavilion how stupid their choice was. Chapter 854 Spirit Devour Genesis Mark The four pavilions grasped every second they could to train. Under this calm, secret undercurrents flowed. Due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance, the Wind Pavilion radiated with new life over the past few months, their fame and strength growing each day. However, the better life was for the Wind Pavilion, the worse it grew for the Fire Pavilion. The Mark Capturing Rune was completely defeated by the four Mother Runes, causing their sales to plummet tremendously. In turn, the Fire Pavilion¡¯s greatest source of income was now lost, and their previously envious treatment and benefits steadily fell little by little. This drew numerous complaints from the Fire Pavilion, resulting in a substantial blow to Lu Xiao¡¯s reputation. With regards to this, Lu Xiao¡¯s response was rather cunning. He continuously sent out people to sway public opinion, directing their anger towards Zhou Yuan. This tactic achieved some success. After all, Zhou Yuan had indeed hurt the Fire Pavilion¡¯s benefits. Hence, nearly every member of the Fire Pavilion was filled with rage at Zhou Yuan. The anger boiled in their hearts, readying them to unleash a brutal counter attack on the Wind Pavilion in the subsequent Heaven Flame Ritual as a form of revenge on him. After all, although the Wind Pavilion was slowly growing in strength, the current strongest of the four pavilions was still their Fire Pavilion. The Heaven Flame Ritual was also a competition based on the overall power of each pavilion. As such, the outcome was already self-evident. This time, the Fire Pavilion would wash away their shame. It was the best chance for them to show Zhou Yuan who was the real boss of the four pavilions! Several thousand Spirits were orderly standing in the sky, creating a rather impressive sight. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit also stood in the air, powerful Spirit undulations pulsing from his body. His Spirit was nearly as corporeal as a real person. If the several thousand Spirits were fireflies, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit would be as dazzling as the moon. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit grasped a giant azure flag, waving it with vigour and enthusiasm. Bzzbzz! Several thousand Spirits released a pulse of energy as numerous foot-long Spirit needles appeared. The few thousand needles were quite similar although some were a little brighter and others a little dimmer. A chill filled the surrounding area. ¡°Attack!¡± In the next instant, several thousand Spirit needles shot forward, converging into a giant torrent. Space trembled violently as they passed, emitting an ear-piercing shriek. The Spirit of anyone who was struck would immediately shatter to pieces. The river of needles swam in the air like a giant illusory dragon. It was honestly quite a magnificent attack. However, as the saying went, nothing could stand before absolute power. In the face of this giant river of Spirit needles, even a Transformative stage Spirit like Zhou Yuan¡¯s would have to evade. It wouldn¡¯t dare to take such a force on directly. ¡°What a pity. If they had some mastery of Genesis Runes, we could use our Spirits to draw Genesis Runes, maximizing the power of everyone¡¯s Spirits. Several thousand people attacking together would force even a Heavenly Sun stage expert to flee.¡± A sliver of regret flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. But he also understood that such thinking was too ideal. The art of Genesis Runes was both broad and profound, making it extremely difficult to study and comprehend. After all, not everyone could focus on Genesis Qi cultivation while not neglecting Genesis Rune study such as him. While praising himself, Zhou Yuan seemed to have forgotten that if not for Yaoyao¡¯s strictness and constant guidance on Genesis Rune cultivation, he would probably be in a similar situation as the Wind Pavilion members. He was merely a pot calling the kettle black. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit descended from the air, merging back into his body. Beside him, Yi Qiushui joyfully remarked, ¡°The training seems to be quite effective.¡± Ye Bingling also gave a small nod of agreement as a slight smile rose from the corners of her mouth. However, Zhou Yuan shook his head as he gazed at the numerous Wind Pavilion members. ¡°This is far from enough to contend with the Fire Pavilion.¡± Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling sighed helplessly. After all, the overall strength of the Fire Pavilion completely eclipsed the weak Wind Pavilion, leaving them at an absolute disadvantage. The Wind Pavilion¡¯s goal for the upcoming Heaven Flame Ritual was not to cross swords with the Fire Pavilion but to do all they could to obtain a little Heavenly Sun Fire. Zhou Yuan stared at the air in deep thought. On the Fire Pavilion side, just the number of Corporeal stage Spirits alone was nearly six hundred, and no one knew how many advanced Illusory stage cultivators there were. Both quality and quantity far surpassed the Wind Pavilion¡¯s. In the face of such a powerful force, even Zhou Yuan did not feel confident despite achieving initial mastery in the Spirit Lantern Art. Given his understanding of Lu Xiao, the aforementioned would most likely come at Zhou Yuan with his full power this time after suffering at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands previously. Behind Lu Xiao was the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Zhou Yuan could not predict what kind of aid they would give. He needed to be on guard. However, reaching this level of coordination was already the limit of the Wind Pavilion. It was not possible to raise their Spirit mastery any further within a short period of time. But this was not the first time Zhou Yuan had such thoughts. Over the past few days, he had been wracking his brains to come up with some kind of tactic or idea. However, his efforts had been fruitless, leaving him no choice but to inwardly sigh. Even a clever housewife could do nothing without the right tools. Zhou Yuan sighed in his heart. He grasped the mottled Heavenly Yuan Brush and used its snow-white hairs to scratch his forehead. With how weak the Wind Pavilion was, he was under tremendous pressure as the wind pavilion master, feeling as if he had to do everything by himself. As the snow-white brush hairs swayed before his eyes, Zhou Yuan blew gently. The hairs danced in front of him and Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly flashed brightly. ¡°The Heavenly Yuan Brush!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes darted towards the concealed sixth rune on the brush¡¯s mottled body as an idea flashed in his mind. With a thought, a snow-white hair dropped off and was caught between his fingers. The hair was even finer than a cow¡¯s and seemed to glow as it gleamed under the light. Mystical patterns were faintly visible on its body. On this strand of hair was the sixth rune, Spirit Devour. Of course, it was not the true Spirit Devour but a sliver of Spirit Devour¡¯s power. In other words, a Genesis mark of the Spirit Devour rune. The Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s sixth rune was very effective against Spirit power and could even devour it to use for oneself. If he gave something like this to the others, wouldn¡¯t they be able to utilize Spirit Devour¡¯s power? Although it certainly could not compare to the power of the main rune, it was enough to raise the Wind Pavilion¡¯s Spirit power to the next level. ¡°Qiushui.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Yi Qiushui and said with a smile, ¡°Summon your Spirit and have a duel with senior sister Ye.¡± Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling cast over puzzled gazes. Yi Qiushui rolled her eyes at him and said, ¡°My Spirit is only at the initial Corporeal stage while senior sister Ye has already reached the intermediate stage. How can I beat her?¡± She felt that Zhou Yuan was playing around and wasting time. ¡°Just give it a try,¡± urged Zhou Yuan. Yi Qiushui could only summon her Spirit, and Zhou Yuan sent the snow-white hair flying forth with a flick. It quickly wrapped around the finger of Yi Qiushui¡¯s Spirit. Seemingly sensing something, Yi Qiushui cast a puzzled glance at him, but she clearly did not know what Zhou Yuan was up to. However, she swiftly used her Spirit to create a Spirit needle. Zhou Yuan looked over and found that the needle created by Yi Qiushui was giving off a faint, peculiar undulation. It was Spirit Devour. Ye Bingling also summoned her Spirit and created a Spirit needle. In the next instant, the two needles shot forth and collided in the air. Cling! A faint sound rang out. Ye Bingling appeared somewhat inattentive. She was substantially stronger than Yi Qiushui and was thus unable to understand Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden request. However, he was the pavilion master, and Ye Bingling intended to comply with his wishes. The Spirit needles clashed. Yi Qiushui¡¯s Spirit needle should shatter soon, right? Cling! The instant this thought flashed through Ye Bingling¡¯s mind, however, she suddenly felt some of the Spirit power in her needle disappear for no inexplicable reason, while the Spirit undulations of Yi Qiushui¡¯s needle abruptly strengthened. In a short span of a few breaths, the two Spirit needles clashed another dozen times. Ye Bingling¡¯s Spirit needle grew increasingly dim with each clash, whereas Yi Qiushui¡¯s needle grew brighter. It felt as if Yi Qiushui¡¯s needle was devouring the Spirit power of Ye Bingling¡¯s needle with each clash! Bang! In the end, the two Spirit needles viciously collided one final time. Ye Bingling¡¯s needle instantly shattered, turning into specks of light that quickly faded away. Little by little, Ye Bingling¡¯s and Yi Qiushui¡¯s expressions turned rigid as shock filled their eyes. Yi Qiushui¡¯s initial Corporeal stage Spirit needle had smashed apart Ye Bingling¡¯s intermediate stage needle? Chapter 855 Another Trump Card There was a lost and shocked look on Yi Qiushui¡¯s pretty face as she uttered these words. Her Spirit cultivation was only at the initial Corporeal stage, while Ye Bingling had reached the intermediate Corporeal stage and was far stronger than her. This was something both of them had personally tested out many times. However, her Spirit needle had smashed apart Ye Bingling¡¯s Spirit needle! Yi Qiushui would not dare to believe it if she had not personally witnessed it. As such, she could only stare at Zhou Yuan with her eyes wide open. No one knew her strength better than herself. Shattering Ye Bingling¡¯s Spirit needle had to have been due to something Zhou Yuan had done. Ye Bingling¡¯s beautiful yet aloof face was also somewhat dazed. Moments later, she suddenly returned to her senses as her burning eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan. ¡°How did you do it?!¡± Zhou Yuan lightly tapped his palm with the Heavenly Yuan Brush. He did not reply, but unconcealable joy surged out from the depths of his eyes. It had only been a strike of inspiration previously for him to see if he could use Spirit Devour¡¯s power by splitting off the brush hairs. This inspiration originated from the four ancient Genesis Runes. To complete a wind spirit rune, they had to collect Genesis marks in the Four Spirits Origin Tower. Although the resulting runes did not have the same level of power as the main rune, they still bestowed a noteworthy advantage. Spirit Devour possessed great destructive power towards the Spirit and could devour an opponent¡¯s Spirit to strengthen itself. If he could come up with some sort of method to give the Wind Pavilion members this ability, even a weakened version would tremendously boost their Spirit combat prowess. However, splitting off a Genesis mark was no simple feat and was something Zhou Yuan could not possibly achieve alone. After all, the Four Spirits Origin Tower was only able to do so because of the mottled divine grindstone hidden deep within it. Fortunately, although Zhou Yuan did not have a divine grindstone, he had the Heavenly Yuan Brush. It was once a Saint tier artifact and still possessed miraculous powers even though it had been damaged. Hence, Zhou Yuan was able to easily borrow the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s many hairs to bestow the power of the Spirit Devour rune through Genesis marks. He only needed to wrap the split hair around the target¡¯s body, and the user¡¯s Spirit attacks would gain a sliver of Spirit Devour¡¯s power. This was how Yi Qiushui had managed to shatter Ye Bingling¡¯s Spirit needle. From the test, a single strand of brush hair could activate the power of Spirit Devour five times. After five activations, the Genesis mark on the hair would dissipate. In addition, the Heavenly Yuan Brush had an endless amount of brush hairs. Although removing several thousand was not without cost, it only needed to rest for a while to fully recover, and there would not be any lasting damage. However, directly using the brush hairs would certainly draw attention. Although his senior sister Chi Jing had said that it was not strange for brush-like Genesis Weapons to appear in the Tianyuan Region, he felt that he should still practice some caution. Hence, if he wanted to use the Spirit Devour Genesis mark to boost the Wind Pavilion¡¯s Spirit battle power, he needed to think of a way to conceal it. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes grew increasingly excited as these thoughts swirled in his head. If everything worked, he would no longer fear the Fire Pavilion during the Heaven Flame Ritual. Excited, Zhou Yuan could no longer restrain himself and quickly said to Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the Spirit practice to you two. I¡¯ll be going into secluded cultivation for a few days.¡± Without waiting for either of them to reply, his figure moved and shot into the air. Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling stamped their feet in anger upon seeing that he had run without explaining anything as usual. In the end, they could only helplessly look at each other. ¡°He¡¯s truly very energetic.¡± Ye Bingling¡¯s lips curled downwards. Yi Qiushui nodded. Her eyes brightened slightly as she said, ¡°But it seems that he discovered something amazing.¡± ¡°Acting so mysterious, he didn¡¯t even tell us anything.¡± Ye Bingling let out an annoyed snort. However, joy soon surfaced in her eyes. Zhou Yuan was not someone who randomly shot about in the dark. Given his appearance, he had to have thought of something. After all, the scene of Yi Qiushui shattering her Spirit needle had been somewhat miraculous. ¡°I guess this year¡¯s Heaven Flame Ritual is going to be quite exciting.¡± Yi Qiushui softly chuckled. Ye Bingling could not help but sigh. ¡°He¡¯s indeed a very capable fellow. If I were the wind pavilion master instead, we would never have reached such heights.¡± She was a proud person. Like everyone else, she had viewed Zhou Yuan as a newbie when he had first arrived at the Wind Pavilion and had not felt there was anything special about him. She only knew that they were both subordinates of Lady Chi Jing¡¯s camp. However, the more time she spent in contact with him, the more Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability changed her impression, eventually winning her over completely. ¡°No wonder Lady Chi Jing regards him so highly. He is indeed much more capable than me.¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s eyes rippled a little as she quietly asked, ¡°Have you heard the recent rumors spreading in Tianyuan Utopia?¡± Frost instantly gathered on Ye Bingling¡¯s pretty face. She also blushed a little as she replied, ¡°Those are merely fools wagging their tongues. Lady Chi Jing is the phoenix of our Tianyuan Region, how could it be true?¡± Rumors had been circulating in Tianyuan Utopia that Lady Chi Jing regarded Zhou Yuan highly not because of his ability but because she fancied him as something like a gigolo of sorts. Yi Qiushui¡¯s expression was somewhat awkward, but she nodded in agreement. However, it was unavoidable for her to have such thoughts because she clearly understood Zhou Yuan¡¯s origins. It had been less than a year since he had arrived in the Tianyuan Region, and he essentially had no roots here. Despite this, Lady Chi Jing seemed to always regard him very highly and had not only given him the important position of deputy wind pavilion master but had even repeatedly supported him from the background. One could only admit that Lady Chi Jing treated Zhou Yuan very well. Could there really be some truth to those rumors? However, she also understood Zhou Yuan¡¯s character. He might seem friendly and gentle, but he was in truth a proud and unbowing individual. It was impossible for him to be something like a gigolo. So, could they have mutual feelings for each other? Yi Qiushui violently shook her head inside as she muttered in her heart, What nonsense am I thinking? Although Zhou Yuan is outstandingly talented, who is Lady Chi Jing? She has seen all kinds of talented heaven prides in the past, so how can someone like Zhou Yuan possibly enter her eyes? However, once this thought emerged, it firmly took root in her heart, refusing to be removed. Yi Qiushui¡¯s expression changed rapidly. Only she knew what thoughts were swirling in her head. Zhou Yuan spent the following days in secluded cultivation while Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling took over the Wind Pavilion¡¯s Spirit practice drills. Chapter 856 Prepared for Anything All of the Wind Pavilion members were gathered on the training grounds around the Wind Island¡¯s mirror lake, the black sea of people fully covering the training grounds. At this current moment, everyone was looking with feverish eyes at a certain figure on the stage. It was Zhou Yuan, who had finally emerged from his secluded cultivation. ¡°Everyone, today is the Heaven Flame Ritual, and it''s finally time for us to see the fruits of our labors over the past few months.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the crowd, his voice akin to thunder. ¡°In the past, everyone said that our Wind Pavilion was last among the pavilions and that it was the dumping grounds of the four pavilions. But I do not feel this is true. I¡¯ve seen how hard everyone has worked for the past few months. Our Wind Pavilion is not as weak as people say; we were merely limited by circumstance! ¡°I firmly believe that if our Wind Pavilion has the same benefits as the Fire Pavilion, we will not be inferior to any of the pavilions!¡± Emotions flooded the faces of countless Wind Pavilion members, and their eyes turned red at Zhou Yuan¡¯s roar. They came from various places in the Tianyuan Region and were once considered proud geniuses. However, due to the decline of the Wind Pavilion, they had suffered humiliation for the past few years. But in the few months after Zhou Yuan was promoted to the pavilion master, an earth-shaking transformation had begun to occur within the Wind Pavilion. The benefits they received were now the best of the four pavilions, and they understood that all of it originated from Zhou Yuan. Hence, every single person in the Wind Pavilion was extremely grateful and respectful towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°I made our Wind Pavilion benefits the best among the four pavilions. Although we struggled for these benefits ourselves, people still say that we do not deserve such treatment!¡± roared Zhou Yuan. ¡°During the Heaven Flame Ritual today, I want all of you to show them whether or not you deserve such treatment!¡± ¡°We will!¡± Thunderous roars immediately boomed, rippling even the mirror lake. Every member of the Wind Pavilion could no longer hold themselves back, their eyes rapidly filling with scarlet-red battle intent. They knew that their Wind Pavilion¡¯s foundations were weak and that it would be an uphill task to catch up to the Fire Pavilion within a short period of time. But it was no reason to give up. The intensity of their Spirit practice drills for the past few months had been the greatest among the four pavilions! They also wanted to prove to Zhou Yuan that the benefits he gave them were not wasted on a bunch of useless people! ¡°I know that everyone has given their all for today¡¯s battle, but our Wind Pavilion¡¯s foundations are indeed worse than the others, and there is no shame in admitting it. We only need to do our best in today¡¯s fight. ¡°On another note, I¡¯ve prepared something for everyone.¡± Zhou Yuan revealed a smile as he waved his sleeve. Innumerable jade pieces immediately flew out from his spatial bag. At a glance, it appeared that there were several thousand of them. These jade pieces shot towards every Wind Pavilion member present under Zhou Yuan¡¯s control. The crowd curiously caught the jade pieces. Mystical runes seemed to be caved into the jade, but no one could tell what function they possessed. These were the fruits of Zhou Yuan¡¯s secluded cultivation. He had sealed the Heavenly Yuan Brush hairs in each jade piece so no one would be able to find out what was inside. One only needed to break the jade piece to use the Spirit Devour Genesis mark within the brush hair. Once the Genesis mark was used, the jade piece and brush hair would disappear, making it clean and tidy. Zhou Yuan did not go into detail and only said, ¡°Wait for my command during the Heaven Flame Ritual. I will tell you guys when to break it. It will definitely have a huge impact.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s influence in the Wind Pavilion had reached its peak, and he had won over even the most proud member. Hence, although Zhou Yuan had been very vague, everyone respectfully acknowledged his words. Once this was done, Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, his eyes slowly burning with anticipation. He turned his head towards Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui and said, ¡°Lets¡¯ go!¡± Swish! His figure had already soared into the sky by the time his voice rang out. Swish! Swish! Behind him, Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the others also circulated their Genesis Qi and followed. The sight of several thousand figures flying together was rather impressive. The Great Flame Mountain was located in the northeast corner of the Tianyuan Region. A giant scarlet-red mountain towered over the land. Magma flowed like rivers on the mountain, making the surrounding land extremely hot. In the past, the Great Flame Mountain seldom had visitors besides a few individuals who cultivated fire-type Genesis Qi. However, when the yearly Heaven Flame Ritual arrived, it would become one of the most popular locations in the entire Tianyuan Region. Everyone knew of the two things that attracted the many heaven prides of the Tianyuan Region. One was the Four Spirits Origin Tower while the other was the Heaven Flame Ritual. The Heaven Flame Ritual required ninety-nine Heavenly Sun stage experts to pour out all of their Heavenly Sun Fire. Although it was not an easy condition to fulfil, it wasn''t overly difficult for some of the top-tier factions in Hunyuan Heaven. The reason why the Heaven Flame Ritual was unique to the Tianyuan Region was mainly because of the crystal cauldron known as the Heaven Flame Cauldron atop the Great Flame Mountain. Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had personally ventured deep underground to extract numerous precious resources and flame essence that was several tens of thousands of years old to craft the Heaven Flame Cauldron. The cauldron was capable of purifying and amplifying the wonders of Heavenly Sun Fire. The purification function was especially important. After all, the Heaven Sun Fire provided by the Heavenly Sun stage experts was cultivated by themselves and was mixed with their wills. Such energy would only be detrimental if absorbed by the young Divine Dwelling stage geniuses in this form. Hence, it needed to be purified before it could be absorbed. This was how the Heaven Flame Ritual became one of the two great trump cards to recruit the various young talents to the Tianyuan Region. Swish! Swish! Glowing figures continuously arrived in the vicinity of the Great Flame Mountain. Three groups were the most prominent among them, the Fire Pavilion, the Mountain Pavilion and the Forest Pavilion. Out of the three, the Fire Pavilion was the most impressive, boasting over ten thousand strong. Lu Xiao stood at the very front, his expression indifferent as an astonishing presence pulsed from his body. Others could not help but secretly praise his presence. ¡°As expected of the strongest, the Fire Pavilion. With such a strong presence, they will likely perform the most marvelously again this year.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that this year¡¯s ritual is going to be a free-for-all.¡± ¡°Some time ago, the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s hall master, Xi Guang, attacked the wind pavilion master Zhou Yuan on a public street. Lady Chi Jing made use of this chance to make sect master Xuan Kun concede a step and requested to change this year¡¯s Heaven Flame Ritual to a free-for-all.¡± ¡°Lady Chi Jing may have good intentions, but she might be a little too optimistic. A free-for-all may not be advantageous for the Wind Pavilion.¡± ¡°Yeah, from previous years¡¯ results, although the Fire Pavilion usually secures a 40% share, the Wind Pavilion would at least be guaranteed a certain minimum amount. But if it''s a free-for-all, the angry Fire Pavilion may not give face and may decide to deny the Wind Pavilion even a single morsel. The Wind Pavilion will then become a laughing stock.¡± ¡°Though the Wind Pavilion has been growing stronger, their foundations are still too weak.¡± ¡°......¡± Numerous whispers spread. The majority clearly felt that this format was not good for the Wind Pavilion. Lady Chi Jing¡¯s good intentions were likely going to be wasted. While various voices gossiped and discussed, the sound of rushing wind was suddenly heard. Countless individuals watched as a group several thousand members strong approached from the sky and landed in the four pavilions gathering area. The Wind Pavilion had arrived. Lu Xiao¡¯s slightly shut eyes slowly opened. He cast an indifferent glance at the nearby Wind Pavilion before his gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan, the expression in his eyes turning as cold as a blade. Zhou Yuan felt the gaze and immediately turned his head. Their gazes clashed for a moment, and Zhou Yuan revealed a faint smile. ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, is the Wind Pavilion ready?¡± asked Lu Xiao in a nonchalant manner. Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Pavilion master Lu Xiao will know once you come and test us later.¡± Lu Xiao did not intend to waste time exchanging words with Zhou Yuan. ¡°Talk is useless. I hope that pavilion master Zhou Yuan won¡¯t lose too badly when the time comes because you will let Lady Chi Jing¡¯s efforts down.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head and replied, ¡°I feel pavilion master Lu Xiao should think about how to explain everything to sect master Xuan Kun if the Fire Pavilion loses instead.¡± ¡°Shameless boasting.¡± Lu Xiao was expressionless. ¡°Just wait and see.¡± Zhou Yuan displayed a faint smile. Their gazes continued to clash, icy light flashing between them. The surrounding Genesis Qi suddenly rippled as two streaks of light descended from the sky. They landed on the peak of the Great Flame Mountain as lava flowed towards them, turning into two lotus seats. As the light finally faded, two figures were revealed. It was the two grand elders, Chi Jing and Xuan Kun Chi Jing¡¯s bright eyes scanned the area. Her fine black hair swayed in the air, giving her an indescribable heroic and valiant aura. Her clear voice rang out across the area. Chapter 857 Opening the Cauldron When Chi Jing¡¯s clear voice rang out across the area, countless gazes converged over the Great Flame Mountain. Lava rivers boiled as something enormous slowly emerged. It was a humongous cauldron. The cauldron looked as if it were made from colored glass. Its interior was extremely vast and mountains seemed to rise within it. It was the Heaven Flame Cauldron! When it appeared, sect master Xuan Kun nodded with a nonchalant face. Swish! Ninety-nine figures flew into the air and appeared below the cauldron where ninety-nine magma stone platforms sat. The ninety-nine figures quickly seated themselves. These figures gave off powerful Genesis Qi undulations, and faint burning suns seemed to rise behind them. These were ninety-nine Heavenly Sun stage experts. Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh inside as he watched from afar. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s foundations were indeed strong. A Heavenly Sun stage expert would probably be able to take on the position of an elder in the Cangxuan Sect. What was more, even all the Heavenly Sun stage experts in the entire Cangxuan Sect could not possibly add up to ninety-nine. In contrast, a single Heavenly Spirit Sect in the Tianyuan Region was more than capable of gathering such a number of Heavenly Sun stage experts. From this, one could easily see how terrifying the entire Tianyuan Region was. The power of a single region could easily match the entirety of Cangxuan Heaven. All of this was because Hunyuan Heaven was a very blessed and lucky land. While Zhou Yuan was sighing, the ninety-nine Heavenly Sun stage experts shouted in unison. Their shouts boomed across the area like thunder, and the Genesis Qi suns behind them grew increasingly dazzling. When the brightness reached its peak, golden flames began to burn. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes burned with desire. This was the Heavenly Sun Fire unique to Heavenly Sun stage experts! If the Divine Dwelling halos were the mark of the Divine Dwelling stage, Heavenly Sun Fire was the symbol of the Heavenly Sun stage. Once Heavenly Sun Fire was born, it would tirelessly refine one¡¯s Genesis Qi and body. In other words, once one stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage, even someone with a weak body would slowly grow stronger under the tempering of the Heavenly Sun Fire. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was quite strong due to the Mythic Saint Body, he might not be able to stand up to ordinary Heavenly Sun stage experts in terms of physical prowess. Of course, when Zhou Yuan reached the Heavenly Sun stage, his physical body¡¯s starting point would naturally be much higher than a normal Heavenly Sun stage expert¡¯s. Ancient runes squirmed on the Heaven Flame Cauldron and ultimately merged into a giant vortex that swallowed the fire and sent it into the cauldron. As the cauldron devoured the Heavenly Sun Fire, the interior of the cauldron turned golden. Countless wisps of golden fire rained down within, the golden light growing purer and purer due to the purifying effect of the Heaven Flame Cauldron. Golden fire drifted inside like golden fire lotuses floating in the air. Desire emerged in the eyes of the numerous Divine Dwelling stage experts present as they gazed at the golden fire lotuses. Chi Jing gave a faint nod as she watched atop her magma lotus seat. The appearance of the golden fire lotuses represented the beginning of the Heaven Flame Ritual. ¡°Four pavilions, prepare to send your Spirits into the Heaven Flame Cauldron,¡± her clear and commanding voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. The members of the four pavilions respectfully acknowledged her before quickly seating themselves. Bzzbzz! Spirit light flickered between their brows. In the next instant, tens of thousands of Spirits soared into the sky, creating an extremely spectacular sight. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit stood amongst the few thousand Wind Pavilion Spirits. His Spirit appeared exceptionally corporeal compared to the surrounding Spirits, and the Spirit undulations that pulsed from him were far more powerful than the others. These Spirits immediately moved towards the Heaven Flame Cauldron. The cauldron lid cracked open slightly as a suction force emerged, swallowing the several tens of thousands of Spirits nearby. Countless gazes were cast towards the interior of the Heaven Flame Cauldron as looks of curiosity and anticipation emerged on everyone¡¯s faces. They knew that the entertainment was finally about to begin. Atop the magma lotus at the highest point of the mountain, Chi Jing¡¯s bright eyes flickered slightly as she watched attentively. By the side, only indifference was visible on sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s aged face as he asked, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, who do you think will be the biggest winner this time?¡± Chi Jing was seated in a cross-legged posture, her body long and slender and her face as fair as jade. ¡°The Fire Pavilion should be the strongest, but that does not mean anything. The appearance of a dark horse, on the other hand, will be a pleasant surprise.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun smiled faintly. ¡°The dark horse¡¯s weakness is too obvious. I¡¯m afraid that it still lacks experience.¡± Chi Jing did not comment on his remark and instead cast her gaze towards the interior of the Heaven Flame Cauldron. ¡°Talk is useless, let reality speak for itself.¡± When Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was sucked into the Heaven Flame Cauldron, the scenery before his eyes dazzled for an instant before a wave of heat surged towards him. He hurriedly concentrated and found himself in a different world. Majestic peaks towered across the land. The trees on the mountains were not green but red like copper. A golden fire lotus drifted past before his eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power whizzed out and caught the lotus, bringing it towards him. The golden lotus slowly revolved in the air as strange undulations pulsed from the golden flame within. The flame was tiny but capable of swiftly burning Genesis Qi like fire burning oil. ¡°Is this Heavenly Sun Fire?¡± Zhou Yuan felt the wisp of extremely pure fire within the golden fire lotus, amazement flitting across his eyes. Although he was not a Heavenly Sun stage expert, he had encountered quite a number of them before and could naturally sense that the Heavenly Sun Fire within this golden fire lotus was far purer than the Heavenly Sun Fire produced by them. Most importantly, the golden fire lotus did not contain any thoughts or will, making it absorbable by anyone. Even though Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was currently separated from his body, he could still feel a surge of desire coming from his body. It felt as if an extremely thirsty and starving person had seen a delicious feast. ¡°This Heaven Flame Cauldron is a great treasure.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh. While Zhou Yuan was sighing, several thousand Spirits hurriedly approached him from all directions, led by Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the rest. The Wind Pavilion members¡¯ Spirits were gathering together. Zhou Yuan peered into the distance. The other three pavilions had also begun to gather. The Heaven Flame Ritual battle had formally begun. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, feeling the heat of the Heaven Flame Cauldron. His gaze swept across the area as he solemnly said, ¡°We¡¯ll first occupy one of the mountains and begin cutting down the scarlet copper trees to craft scarlet copper umbrellas and the fire-gathering stage!¡± Zhou Yuan had crammed a lot of information into his head over the past few months and was now extremely familiar with the Heaven Flame Ritual. He knew that the temperature would rise as more and more Heavenly Sun Fire entered the cauldron until it eventually became harmful to the Spirit. To avoid being burned, the participants needed to craft scarlet copper umbrellas from the scarlet copper trees in the Heaven Flame Cauldron. Only with a scarlet copper umbrella would one¡¯s Spirit be able to freely move about within the cauldron to collect Heavenly Sun Fire. The scarlet copper umbrella also had the function of absorbing and storing Heavenly Sun Fire, making collection much easier. The fire-gathering stage was even more important. Since they had entered the cauldron in Spirit form, they did not have any container to store Heavenly Sun Fire and could not possibly keep trying to herd the fire together with their Spirits. Without discussing how many fire lotuses each Spirit could manage, trying to keep ahold of the Heavenly Sun Fire would handicap them and become a burden when they wanted to fight. Hence, instead of fighting, the priority was to first craft scarlet copper umbrellas and the fire-gathering stage in the Heaven Flame Ritual. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s lead, several thousand Spirits flew towards a large mountain covered in numerous scarlet copper trees. When they landed, Zhou Yuan waved his hand, and Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui swiftly assigned roles to everyone. One group was in charge of standing guard, another started to collect the drifting golden fire lotuses, and the remainder began to chop down the scarlet copper trees. Several thousand Spirits hurried about on the scarlet-red mountain, making it strangely lively. Chapter 858 Scarlet Copper Umbrella, Fire-Gathering Stage There were already more than twenty golden fire lotuses around Zhou Yuan. However, using his Spirit to grab and draw in the lotuses was far too troublesome. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimates, he would at most be able to collect a hundred lotuses. Any more would only create a frustrating situation, and he would not have any attention to spare for anything else. Fortunately, Yi Qiushui¡¯s Spirit flew over an incense stick of time later. ¡°The scarlet copper umbrellas are ready!¡± With a wave of her hand, a flash of scarlet light shot towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit rippled, and the scarlet light came to a stop before him. He looked over and saw a scarlet-red umbrella within the light. The surface of the umbrella was as smooth as a mirror. It was clearly made from wood but looked as if it was crafted from copper. ¡°So this is the scarlet copper umbrella?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little curious. His Spirit curled around the umbrella and opened it. Faint scarlet light immediately sprinkled downwards, enveloping his Spirit. The surrounding heat swiftly dropped as if the scarlet light blocked it. Zhou Yuan twirled the umbrella at the twenty golden fire lotuses around him. The fire lotuses were immediately drawn towards the umbrella, taking the shape of small flames as they slowly flowed around the umbrella¡¯s edge, creating a dazzling and beautiful sight. A look of joy involuntarily rose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Although manually pulling the golden lotus flames had not exhausted a substantial amount of his Spirit power, it was still quite a hassle. In comparison, the scarlet copper umbrella made it much easier to collect the fire lotuses. He estimated that this scarlet copper umbrella would be able to temporarily house over a hundred golden fire lotuses at once. It was no wonder the umbrella was necessary in the Heaven Flame Ritual. It was indeed much more convenient with them around. ¡°How much longer before we can equip everyone with one?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Once everyone was equipped with a scarlet copper umbrella, they would be able to move freely in the Heaven Flame Cauldron. After all, there was a limited amount of Heavenly Sun Flames in one particular location, and they needed to constantly move about in order to collect more. Yi Qiushui answered, ¡°We¡¯ve crafted a little over three hundred so far, so it should take about half a day to equip every member. Besides this, I¡¯ve also come to report that the fire-gathering stage is in the process of being constructed.¡± This was the fire gathering stage. Zhou Yuan nodded in approval. ¡°Continue the construction. Those who have been allocated scarlet copper umbrellas can start to spread out and gather Heavenly Sun Fire.¡± ¡°What about the Fire Pavilion?¡± asked Yi Qiushui. Zhou Yuan said, ¡°Let¡¯s calmly observe for the moment. They are a powerful force, and we have no choice but to wait for them to take action first. Only then will we be able to find an opening to defeat them.¡± The Fire Pavilion was much stronger than their Wind Pavilion. They would have zero advantage if they took the initiative to attack. Yi Qiushui nodded. With nothing else to report, she turned around and leaped downwards, returning to the other Wind Pavilion members to urge them to hasten the construction of the fire-gathering stage and the scarlet copper umbrellas. Zhou Yuan raised his head and peered into the distance as his eyes narrowed slightly. It might seem calm, but a storm was brewing under the calmness. For the next half a day, no battles erupted in the Heaven Flame Cauldron. More and more scarlet copper umbrellas were completed and quickly distributed to the Wind Pavilion members. ¡°Pavilion master, the fire gathering stage is complete!¡± A sliver of joy flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes at this happy voice. His figure moved and appeared in the valley as he cast his gaze forward. A giant scarlet ball several dozen feet wide could be seen. ¡°Pour the Heavenly Sun Flames into it.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand. At his command, numerous figures quickly appeared around the scarlet ball. The scarlet copper umbrellas in their hands slowly pointed forward before being closed. Golden flames leaped from umbrella towards its sharp tip, flowing along its body and pouring into the fire-gathering stage. Crackle! As more and more flames poured in, a golden flame began to burn in the fire-gathering stage. The surrounding scarlet copper turned red, but the heat did not spread due to its insulative properties. Zhou Yuan also drifted forward and sent the few dozen Heavenly Sun Flames he had collected in his umbrella into the fire-gathering stage. As the fire within the stage grew, looks of joy were revealed on the faces of the several thousand Wind Pavilion members. The bigger the flame, the more Heavenly Sun Fire they would receive later on. ¡°Oh?¡± But it was at this moment that Zhou Yuan suddenly raised his head and looked towards a certain spot in the far away sky. With a wave of his hand, he said, ¡°Be on guard!¡± Several thousand Spirits immediately entered a state of alert as they moved into formation. About a thousand Spirits appeared in the distant sky. They were from the Fire Pavilion. At the very front of the group was a somewhat familiar figure. It was one of the deputy fire pavilion masters, Wang Chen. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit slowly rose into the air, a chilling expression in his eyes as he stared at Wang Chen and said, ¡°Does the Fire Pavilion think such a small group will be able to take on the entire Wind Pavilion?¡± Wang Chen looked at Zhou Yuan with disdain as he replied, ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan thinks too highly of us. I am merely here on our pavilion master¡¯s orders. Our pavilion master wishes to give you another chance. If your Wind Pavilion offers us a hundred thousand fire lotuses, our Fire Pavilion will leave you a little face.¡± Wang Chen¡¯s arrogant words instantly caused fury to color the Wind Pavilion members¡¯ faces. A hundred thousand fire lotuses¡­wasn¡¯t the Fire Pavilion being a little too greedy? This was equivalent to making the Wind Pavilion work for free. Zhou Yuan stared at Wang Chen, but did not display any anger. Instead, he laughed and said, ¡°Deputy pavilion master Wang Chen, how about you come forward for us to have a better discussion?¡± Wang Chen sneered, ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, I hope that you won¡¯t fail to appreciate our kindness. This is your final opportunity. Otherwise, it won¡¯t be just the few of us coming next time.¡± Of course he would not approach. How could a mere thousand of them possibly be the entire Wind Pavilion¡¯s match? This distance was the safest, they could choose to retreat or advance without pressure. Zhou Yuan shook his head, his eyes filled with contempt. Wang Chen¡¯s expression darkened substantially, but he ultimately managed to restrain his anger. He knew that Zhou Yuan was doing it on purpose. If he succumbed to his emotions and got too close, Zhou Yuan would surely finish them off to cut the Fire Pavilion¡¯s overall power. Zhou Yuan shook his head in disappointment. He could no longer be bothered with Wang Chen and instead looked towards the Wind Pavilion members. ¡°Make use of the time to collect as much Heavenly Sun Fire as possible.¡± He knew that Wang Chan¡¯s group was sent by Lu Xiao to keep an eye on them. He had originally believed Lu Xiao would be impatient to cause trouble for them, but it seemed that Lu Xiao was still able to maintain his composure. It was likely that the Fire Pavilion would not attack before equipping all their members with scarlet copper umbrellas so as to prevent even a single Wind Pavilion member from escaping. However, Zhou Yuan was unafraid. He was fully prepared and only needed to wait for the perfect opportunity to present itself. As for who would be last one standing, everyone would only find out after they fought. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s command, the Wind Pavilion left a thousand members behind to keep an eye on Wang Chen¡¯s group while the others swiftly scattered to gather Heavenly Sun Flames. Although golden fire lotuses continuously drifted down from above, several thousand individuals were quickly able to empty the surrounding area. The ball of fire in the fire-gathering stage grew increasingly big and bright. After collecting all the Heavenly Sun Fire in the nearby area, Zhou Yuan waved his hand, ignoring Wang Chen¡¯s group as he led the Wind Pavilion members to other places to collect Heavenly Sun Fire. Several hundred Spirits equipped with scarlet copper umbrellas flew past, and even the fire-gathering stage was lifted by the joint efforts of numerous Spirits. Wang Chen¡¯s expression darkened even more upon realizing that he was being ignored. In the end, he waved his hand as a strange and icy smile rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°Follow them and make sure to constantly report their location to the pavilion master. ¡°They can gather all they want for now, but in the end, the fruits of their labor will end up in our hands. Chapter 859 Eliminating Wang Chen Zhou Yuan stood in the air as he gazed at the fire-gathering stage at the group¡¯s center. The burning golden flame within had grown bigger and hotter. The total number of golden fire lotuses gathered had already gone beyond ten thousand. With regards to this collection speed, Zhou Yuan nodded in satisfaction. However, he soon directed his gaze behind him where Wang Chen, not daring to come too close, was closely following them with a group of about one thousand Spirits from the Fire Pavilion. Iciness flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He knew that Wang Chen was watching their every movement. He did not know why but he had a faint feeling that something was wrong. Zhou Yuan suddenly asked, ¡°Qiushui, how long has it been since we entered the Heaven Flame Cauldron?¡± Yi Qiushui immediately replied, ¡°It¡¯s been nearly a day.¡± Zhou Yuan lightly tapped his fingers in the air as he slowly said, ¡°By this time, even if they have many members, the Fire Pavilion should be fully equipped with scarlet copper umbrellas, right?¡± Yi Qiushui nodded. ¡°Should be.¡± ¡°Then why have we yet to see any signs of the Fire Pavilion¡¯s main force?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed in thought. Yi Qiushui was taken aback as a look of unease flitted across her eyes. Indeed, shouldn¡¯t the Fire Pavilion come to wipe them out the moment they were fully equipped? Why had there been no activity even till now besides sending a thousand members to observe them? What was Lu Xiao planning? Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. Moments later, he decisively said, ¡°No matter what Lu Xiao¡¯s plans are, we¡¯ll first devour Wang Chen¡¯s group!¡± This group kept buzzing about before his eyes¡ªit would be a shame if he did not devour them. Yi Qiushui raised her eyebrows. ¡°But Wang Chen is being very cautious and has been maintaining a certain distance from us. Once we show any signs of attacking, he will immediately withdraw before returning to follow us once we stop.¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. ¡°Then we¡¯ll cut off their retreat and give them no opportunity to run.¡± ¡°How?¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s long eyelashes blinked. Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°Have you realized that some members are missing from our group?¡± Yi Qiushui was startled by these words. She looked over, and sure enough, she discovered that several hundred Spirits had vanished from the main group. Her heart shook as she said, ¡°You intentionally spent more time than usual on the mountains along the way to hide some of our members?¡± Joy emerged in Yi Qiushui¡¯s eyes as she pursed her lips into a smile. ¡°Pavilion master is so cunning.¡± Once they cut off the escape routes of Wang Chen¡¯s group, a thousand plus members would easily be devoured by the Wind Pavilion. This would cut some of the Fire Pavilion¡¯s power. Zhou Yuan chuckled. Soon after, he waved his hand, and the several thousand advancing Spirits came to a stop. He turned around and shot towards Wang Chen¡¯s group, Spirit power whizzing out and rippling the space around him. Several thousand Spirits quickly followed, creating an alarmingly imposing sight. Wang Chen¡¯s side immediately sensed their movement. ¡°Humph, fools, do you really believe I¡¯ll send myself to your doorstep?¡± Wang Chen chuckled icily as he commanded without hesitation, ¡°Retreat!¡± Over a thousand Spirits instantly began backing away, clearly not intending to fight the Wind Pavilion. Their mission was to keep an eye on the Wind Pavilion and not engage in a fight. One party advanced while the other retreated, but a certain distance was ultimately maintained. The former found it very difficult to approach. Wang Chen could not help but laugh as he mockingly looked towards Zhou Yuan chasing them. He felt the exhilaration of a cat toying with a mouse. Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation had been rapidly rising among the four pavilions recently, and he was already no less influential than the other three pavilion masters. But so what? All Zhou Yuan can do now is eat my dust. Bzz! While he was laughing, however, Spirit power suddenly exploded in front of him. Layers of invisible barriers formed, obstructing their path. Wang Chen¡¯s laughing came to an abrupt halt as he stared in horror at the several hundred figures rising before him. ¡°How can this be? When did they arrive behind us? ¡°Quick! Blast apart the Spirit barriers!¡± he roared. Over a thousand Spirits attacked at the same time, and blasts of Spirit power bombarded the Spirit barriers. The barriers rippled violently but ultimately refused to be broken for a brief moment. It was during this brief moment that Zhou Yuan and his army of several thousand Spirits caught up. Cold sweat appeared on Wang Chen¡¯s forehead. ¡°Deputy pavilion master Wang Chen, it seems that you were still too careless.¡± Zhou Yuan displayed a slight smile. He wasted no time as he extended his hand and gave a slight wave. ¡°Destroy him!¡± Rumble! Several thousand blasts of Spirit power rushed out, blasting towards Wang Chen¡¯s group like a flood. With such an absolute advantage, there was no need for any smart tactics. They could easily steamroll Wang Chen¡¯s group with sheer power. Wang Chen¡¯s scalp turned numb as he sensed the approaching flood, and he hurriedly ordered the group to fight back. Boom! The Spirit power of both parties collided, resulting in a loud boom. Amidst the noise, the thousand Spirits on Wang Chen¡¯s side screamed miserably. Their Spirits rapidly began to fade, turning into beams of light that shot into the sky and were sent out of the Heaven Flame Cauldron through its protective mechanism. After several waves of attacks, only a few dozen Spirits remained. They looked exceptionally miserable. Wang Chen tightly gritted his teeth with a gloomy expression. ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy Zhou Yuan. You¡¯ll be crying when the Fire Pavilion¡¯s main force arrives!¡± Zhou Yuan was unfazed. He stared at Wang Chen for a long time before he suddenly said, ¡°You¡¯re not just here to tail us, right? Lu Xiao intentionally sent you guys here to make us think that the Fire Pavilion will be coming after us soon. Is this a plan to keep me here?¡± Wang Chen¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What is Lu Xiao scheming?¡± Wang Chen merely let out an icy chuckle and did not reply. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment before he slowly said, ¡°Your Fire Pavilion joined forces with the Mountain Pavilion to eliminate the Forest Pavilion? After the Forest Pavilion is dealt with, you guys will then turn your sights towards the Wind Pavilion, right?¡± Wang Chen¡¯s heart shook as astonishment surfaced in his eyes. Zhou Yuan immediately understood everything as his expression turned grave. He never imagined that Lu Xiao would be so cautious. Even against the much weaker Wind Pavilion, instead of attacking directly, Lu Xiao had chosen to join forces with the Mountain Pavilion to first finish off the Forest Pavilion. Once the Forest Pavilion was eliminated, the united forces of the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion would have the absolute advantage. Zhou Yuan would not be able to make a comeback no matter what trump cards he had. After losing in their previous bout, Lu Xiao had become so prudent. He was basically a composed old dog. He had sent Wang Chen to keep an eye on the Wind Pavilion in hopes of stalling them. After all, anyone would believe that the Fire Pavilion¡¯s main force would soon arrive with this scouting group constantly watching their movements. Who could have expected Lu Xiao to have instead given up on attacking the Wind Pavilion first so that he could direct his attention to the Forest Pavilion? Grave expressions emerged on the faces of Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others. They also understood that once the Forest Pavilion was eliminated, it would be impossible for the Wind Pavilion to resist the combined might of the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion. Upon realizing that Zhou Yuan had seen through their plan, Wang Chen let out a mocking laugh. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve underestimated pavilion master Lu Xiao. Only defeat awaits you once our Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion finishes off the Forest Pavilion!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was unmoved. Invisible Spirit fire gathered in his palm before being sent forth with a flick. The Spirit fire quickly enveloped Wang Chan and the remaining few dozen Spirits. As Spirit fire burned, the Spirits of Wang Chen and the others rapidly faded. ¡°Zhou Yuan, your Wind Pavilion will lose for sure!¡± howled Wang Chen. A split second later, his Spirit turned into a beam of fiery light as it dashed into the sky and disappeared. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was indifferent as his gaze swivelled around. Several thousand Wind Pavilion members stared at him, awaiting his command. He showed no hesitation as he waved his hand and roared, ¡°Stop the collecting of Heavenly Sun Fire. ¡°We will immediately rush to rescue the Forest Pavilion and eliminate both the Fire and Mountain Pavilions!¡± As his voice rang out, his Spirit had already shot off, several thousand Spirits closely following behind him. Chapter 860 To the Rescue Currently, an intense battle was enveloping the giant mountain. Several tens of thousands of Spirits hovered in the air, covering the entire sky. Boundless Spirit power swept outwards, rippling the surrounding space. Four Spirits stood with their hands behind their backs at the center of this giant army. At the very front stood Lu Xiao and Han Yuan, the respective pavilion masters of the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion. Zhu Lian followed at Lu Xiao¡¯s side, and standing beside Han Yan was a very thin man who had a pair of eyes that shone like a blade. This man was called Zhao Yin, and he was the Mountain Pavilion¡¯s Spirit commander for the Heaven Flame Ritual. From the powerful Spirit undulations spreading from his body, it was clearly an individual that had stepped into the Transformative stage. The four of them were currently gazing indifferently towards a certain spot in the distance. Outside the giant scarlet copper mountain was a giant barrier made from Spirit power. Layers of mist like vortexes could be seen on the surface of the barrier, and nearly ten thousand Spirits continuously poured their Spirit power into the barrier from the inside. It was the Forest Pavilion. On the Fire and Mountain Pavilions¡¯ side, Spirits continuously unleashed an endless barrage of attacks. The attacks bombarded the Spirit barrier, causing giant ripples to emerge. ¡°Mu Qingyan is quite capable. To think that she can utilize the Forest Pavilion members¡¯ Spirits to form a Thousand Spirit Cloud Eddy boundary,¡± Zhu Lian could not help but praise as he gazed at the giant Spirit barrier. ¡°Without the Fire Pavilion¡¯s help, our Mountain Pavilion will likely be delayed for a long time even if we managed to triumph over the Forest Pavilion.¡± The man called Zhao Yin faintly nodded in agreement. Lu Xiao indifferently said, ¡°How much longer until it is broken?¡± Zhu Lian did not dare to let Lu Xiao wait. He quickly estimated and replied, ¡°I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll need half a day.¡± Lu Xiao frowned. ¡°Too long. Although I¡¯ve dispatched Wang Chen to delay the Wind Pavilion, Zhou Yuan is extremely crafty and may have realized what we¡¯re up to.¡± Zhu Lian bitterly chuckled. ¡°Mu Qingyan¡¯s Thousand Spirit Cloud Eddy boundary boasts extremely strong defensive properties. If they are determined to defend, there¡¯s really nothing we can do for a time. The only option is to slowly exhaust their Spirits.¡± Lu Xiao knew that it was useless to say anything else, and he could only nod in acknowledgement. ¡°No need to be anxious, brother Lu. Zhou Yuan might not be able to guess our plan. He might still be foolishly waiting for the Fire Pavilion to attack them.¡± Lu Xiao indifferently said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is too unfathomable. The Heaven Flame Ritual was originally slated to be overseen by my Heavenly Spirit Sect, but grand elder Chi Jing had suddenly decided to interfere out of nowhere, forcing the sect master to change it into a free-for-all. If I somehow fail, it will be very difficult to explain. Hence, it is not wrong to practice a little more caution.¡± Han Yuan felt that Lu Xiao was making a mountain out of a molehill and that there was no need to invest so much thought for a mere Wind Pavilion. However, he also understood that this matter would affect sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s reputation, and Lu Xiao did not dare to be careless. ¡°After we finish off the Forest Pavilion, Zhou Yuan will have no chance regardless of what tricks he prepares!¡± Han Yuan chuckled. Lu Xiao nodded. He urged Zhu Lian and Zhao Yin, ¡°Increase the attacks and break this Spirit barrier as soon as possible so we can eliminate the Forest Pavilion.¡± Zhu Lian and Zhao Yin did not dare to tarry. The two Transformative stage Spirits personally took action, directing angry wave after angry wave of boundless Spirit power to crash into the giant Spirit barrier. As the Fire Pavilion¡¯s and Mountain Pavilion¡¯s attacks intensified, the Forest Pavilion felt even more pressured. Mu Liu stood on a peak, his handsome face filled with iciness. The Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion suddenly joining hands to besiege them had indeed caught them off guard. After all, this was the first time something like this had happened over many years of Heaven Flame Rituals. There had never been a ritual as bitter as this. Mu Liu clenched his jaw in anger before turning towards a boulder behind him where Mu Qingyan was seated. She was tightly gritting her teeth as she continuously directed the ten thousand Forest Pavilion Spirits to replenish various spots in the barrier, desperately defending against the onslaught. However, as time passed, Mu Liu began to see the Spirits of more and more Forest Pavilion members turn into a streak of fire and disappear. It was the protective mechanism of the Heaven Flame Cauldron activating once the Spirit weakened to a certain level. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before they were wiped out. ¡°Mu Liu, you bastard. We can¡¯t hold out for much longer!¡± cursed Mu Qingyan. Mu Liu awkwardly scratched his head as he displayed a bitter smile. If he had his physical body, his strong Genesis Qi foundations would allow him to charge out to engage the enemy in battle. Unfortunately, he was merely a Spirit that had only reached the Corporeal stage. Even if he did charge out, he would only be instantly exterminated. Mu Liu helplessly said, ¡°I can¡¯t do anything. Who could have expected them to be so shameless and go after our Forest Pavilion first? This makes no sense at all.¡± Mu Qingyan glared at him. ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you got scammed by Zhou Yuan to cooperate with the Wind Pavilion?¡± Mu Liu shrugged. ¡°What can we do now?¡± ¡°What else? We can only wait for the Wind Pavilion to realize something is wrong and come to our aid!¡± Mu Qingyan muttered, ¡°However, I fear that Zhou Yuan will still be stupidly waiting for the Fire Pavilion to attack them. Even in that one in a million chance he realizes something is amiss, he might not dare to bring the Wind Pavilion over since both the Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion are here.¡± Mu Liu shook his head. ¡°If Zhou Yuan was that kind of person, he would not have dared to kill Fang Ao. He may usually appear gentle, but he¡¯s actually very ruthless.¡± ¡°I hope you¡¯re right.¡± Mu Qingyan gave a slight nod. She did not continue the conversation and instead cast all her attention into directing the Forest Pavilion. She needed to personally oversee the Thousand Spirit Cloud Eddy boundary, or it would soon crumble under the enemy¡¯s barrage. However, she also knew that even a boundary like this would not last for long under such tremendous pressure. Its demise was only a matter of time. She could only pray that Zhou Yuan was a little smarter. Half a day stealthily passed while the Forest Pavilion bitterly endured. The boundary that enveloped the mountain had already become extremely faint like a thin membrane. Anyone could see that it was almost over for the Forest Pavilion. In the sky, Zhu Lian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The Spirit barrier should be finished after a few more waves of attacks and without its protection, the Forest Pavilion would have to face the crazed onslaught of the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion. ¡°Pavilion master, the Forest Pavilion is finished.¡± Zhu Lian looked towards Lu Xiao with a somewhat pleased smile. Lu Xiao nodded in acknowledgement as his expression finally relaxed a little. Once the Forest Pavilion was defeated, the Wind Pavilion would become easy pickings like fish on the chopping board. ¡°Zhou Yuan, a rabbit is still a rabbit no matter how much it jumps. Once the sleeping lion awakens, the rabbit will be finished.¡± A faint smile rose from the corners of Lu Xiao¡¯s mouth. However, Zhu Lian¡¯s and Zhao Yin¡¯s expressions suddenly changed. They turned their heads at the same time, their expressions turning ugly as they looked towards a certain direction. When Han Yuan saw them turn their heads, he asked, ¡°What¡ª¡± However, his words came to an abrupt halt before he could finish. His pupils shrank slightly as he gazed into the distance where several thousand Spirits were rapidly approaching. Lu Xiao watched with a chilling expression as the corners of his lips twitched. The iciness in his eyes could almost freeze the air. ¡°The Wind Pavilion is here.¡± Chapter 861 Showdown between the Wind and Fire Pavilions ¡°See, didn¡¯t I say that Zhou Yuan won¡¯t be deceived by Lu Xiao?¡± Mu Liu grinned. Mu Qingyang breathed a sigh of relief, but her face remained strained as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so happy. Although he has led the Wind Pavilion to aid us, the situation has only become a little better. Overall, the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion still have an overwhelming advantage.¡± Mu Liu lightly nodded in agreement. If the Fire Pavilion got into battle formation, their superior power would leave the Wind Pavilion with nothing to exploit. In fact, it was very likely that the Fire Pavilion would wipe them out. Mu Qingyan sighed. ¡°The Wind Pavilion is far weaker than the Fire Pavilion. Although I do not know what kind of tactics and trump cards Zhou Yuan has prepared, given my understanding of Lu Xiao, he will definitely be prepared.¡± She rolled her eyes at Mu Liu. ¡°I told you not to get involved in this affair. You¡¯ve now put our Forest Pavilion in danger for no reason.¡± Mu Liu displayed a bitter expression. ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying such things now? Since Zhou Yuan dared to come, I believe he will have something up his sleeves. It will not be so easy for the Lu Xiao and the Fire Pavilion to deal with him.¡± ¡°I also hope so.¡± Mu Qingyan frowned. She was not really blaming Mu Liu but venting a little for being unexpectedly besieged by the Fire and Mountain Pavilions for half a day. More importantly, she did not feel optimistic at all about the current situation. Although the Forest Pavilion had managed to endure the Fire Pavilion¡¯s and the Mountain Pavilion¡¯s combined onslaught through the Thousand Spirit Cloud Eddy boundary, they had lost over two thousand members in the process. In contrast, the Fire and Mountain Pavilions had barely sustained any losses. With such a disparity in power, what could Zhou Yuan and the Wind Pavilion possibly achieve? Mu Qingyan pursed her lips and said, ¡°If the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion try to gang up on the Wind Pavilion, I will do my best to obstruct as many of them as possible. But this is our limit. The outcome will still hinge upon Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough.¡± Mu Liu nodded with a smile. In the sky outside the mountain, Lu Xiao stared at the arriving Spirit army with a dark expression. Moments later, his expression slowly turned calm as he said, ¡°It seems that Wang Chen has been eliminated.¡± The Wind Pavilion had already rushed over and yet there was no news from Wang Chen¡¯s group. The latter had clearly been kicked out from the Heaven Flame Cauldron, and Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly seen through their ploy. ¡°He truly is an unremovable ghost.¡± Han Yuan frowned. Grinning, Han Yuan nodded. ¡°Looks like things have returned to the starting point. But it doesn¡¯t matter, the outcome will always be the same.¡± Han Yuan clearly understood how powerful the Fire Pavilion was. Even the Mountain Pavilion was not their match, let alone the last place Wind Pavilion. Lu Xiao looked towards Zhu Lian. ¡°We¡¯ll be relying on you for the battle with the Wind Pavilion.¡± Zhu Lian was the only Transformative stage Spirit of the Fire Pavilion and the only one capable of commanding their Spirits. This was something even Lu Xiao was incapable of doing. As such, Zhu Lian was much more useful than him in the Heaven Flame Ritual. An excited look emerged on Lu Xiao¡¯s face as he confidently nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry pavilion master. Our Fire Pavilion is amply prepared, and I refuse to believe that we cannot subdue the Wind Pavilion!¡± Soon after, his gaze swept across the area. Spirit power rippled as a voice was transmitted to every Fire Pavilion member, ¡°Fire Pavilion members, hear my command. We will engage the Wind Pavilion and destroy them!¡± In the next instant, Lu Xiao¡¯s and Zhu Lian¡¯s Spirits shot forward, leading the charge as over ten thousand Spirits closely followed behind them. Two giant armies met amidst the many mountains, each side occupying a mountain as they faced each other. Boundless Spirit power unfurled across the land, accompanied by howling wind and rumbling thunder. Zhou Yuan showed no hesitation, his Spirit power immediately reaching out to link up to several thousand Spirits at once, directing their Spirit power to set up numerous layers of defences. On the Wind Pavilion side, wave after wave of Spirit power whizzed forth, forming shell after shell. Zhou Yuan set up the defensive boundary in a short span of time. Zhu Lian¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. From how Zhou Yuan had so swiftly established a defensive boundary, his Spirit cultivation was definitely quite high. After all, in a Spirit clash like this, Transformative stage Spirits like them functioned as the links between the rest of the Spirits to effectively deploy Spirit power. ¡°Pretty smart, but all they can do is defend.¡± However, Zhu Lian merely released an icy chuckle in response. The fact that Zhou Yuan had chosen to defend like a turtle meant that he likewise understood that the Fire Pavilion was too powerful, and he did not dare to face them head-on. This was also the first time he had seen the always aggressive Zhou Yuan take on a defensive posture, and it felt quite great indeed. ¡°But do you really think it will be easy to form a defensive array under my eyes?¡± Zhu Lian icily snorted. If it was a contest of Genesis Qi, he would definitely not be Zhou Yuan¡¯s match, but the Heaven Flame Ritual was a clash between Spirits. Moreover, it was not a one-on-one fight but pavilion versus pavilion. With the Fire Pavilion¡¯s overwhelming advantage, he naturally did not fear Zhou Yuan. Amidst the Fire Pavilion army, Zhu Lian¡¯s Spirit suddenly rippled. Rumble! Under Zhu Lian¡¯s direction, boundless sea-like Spirit power soared into the sky, transforming into ten thousand giant waves that ruthlessly crashed downwards towards the Wind Pavilion with terrifying momentum. The giant Spirit waves descended one after another, creating an astonishingly oppressive aura. In the face of such power, even a Transformative Spirit would be instantly shattered upon contact. Rumble! The giant Spirit waves slammed into the Wind Pavilion¡¯s turtle shell boundary with unmatched ferocity. The earth trembled as mountains shivered. Shell after shell constructed from Spirit power crumbled one after another. Although the Spirit shells were rapidly being smashed to pieces, new Spirit shells were swiftly constructed to replace them. Zhu Lian frowned slightly, and he soon began to strengthen the attacks. Wave after wave of boundless Spirit power surrounded the Wind Pavilion¡¯s mountain and viciously smashed downwards. Under Zhu Lian¡¯s barbaric offensive, the turtle shell boundary trembled violently. In the end, it shattered with a loud boom, multiple shells instantly disappearing into nothingness. Zhu Lian was overjoyed and quickly proceeded to direct Spirit power into a charge towards the now exposed Wind Pavilion. But before he could move, another layer of Spirit light appeared from under the shattered boundary as another boundary formed. This time, Zhu Lian took a closer look. There was clearly another boundary under the newly formed boundary, and both of them were defensive boundaries! ¡°What the hell!¡± Zhu Lian¡¯s expression changed as he cursed. Was Zhou Yuan trying to become a tortoise? Did he plan to rely on his tortoise shells to engage in a battle of attrition with the Fire Pavilion? Lu Xiao frowned and asked, ¡°Is he trying to exhaust our Fire Pavilion¡¯s Spirit power? ¡°Have you noticed? The amount of Spirit power we consumed to destroy a layer of their defense is far more than how much Zhou Yuan used to build one.¡± Zhu Lian¡¯s face burned. Of course he knew why. It meant that Zhou Yuan was extremely proficient. He could perfectly mobilize the Wind Pavilion¡¯s Spirit power to create these solid defensive layers. In contrast, Zhu Lian required a bigger investment in order to break Zhou Yuan¡¯s defences, similar to how the attacking force would suffer more losses when attacking a city. Zhou Yuan clearly intended to shave away the Fire Pavilion¡¯s advantage through this method. However, Lu Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. If this was all Zhou Yuan had, Zhou Yuan was underestimating their Fire Pavilion far too much. ¡°Zhu Lian, no need to hold back any longer. It¡¯s about time we use our trump cards.¡± Zhu Lian nodded. A ruthless look flashed across his eyes as he gazed at the seemingly indestructible fortress. ¡°Fine then, allow me to tear their shell to pieces! ¡°Without your shell, a mere few thousand Spirits are nothing to be feared! Chapter 862 Spirit Breaker Shuttle ¡°Tchtch, Zhou Yuan¡¯s turtling tactic is quite something. Their defensive power is no weaker than your boundary.¡± Mu Liu could not help but grin as he observed the multiple defensive layers on the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side. Mu Qingyan rolled her eyes at him. Her pretty face soon turned a little graver as she said, ¡°If Zhou Yuan plans on exhausting the Fire Pavilion with his turtling tactic, I¡¯m afraid that he won¡¯t succeed.¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s tactic had indeed caused some trouble for the Fire Pavilion, it was very unlikely for him to achieve victory through it. Mu Liu nodded in agreement as he earnestly said, ¡°But I do not believe this is all Zhou Yuan has up his sleeve.¡± Mu Qingyan looked at him in astonishment. ¡°You really regard him very highly.¡± Mu Liu grinned. ¡°I¡¯m rarely wrong.¡± Mu Qingyan shrugged, not dwelling on the topic any further. In any case, the outcome would soon be clear. From Zhu Lian¡¯s posture, the Fire Pavilion was likely about to play their hidden cards. They would soon find out whether Zhou Yuan would be able to hold on. If he could not, the Forest Pavilion and the Wind Pavilion would have to return empty handed from the Heaven Flame Ritual. At the center of the great Fire Pavilion army, Zhu Lian closed his eyes as his finger reached out and cut across the air. Spirit undulations spread, weaving together in front of him to form a sharp illusory object. ¡°Spirit power, come!¡± shouted Zhu Lian as his hands clapped together. A torrent after torrent of Spirit power whizzed out and poured into the sharp object in front of him. The illusory object slowly became corporeal, revealing itself to be a giant thousand-foot-long shuttle. However, it was a shuttle of compacted Spirit power. This sight naturally landed in the eyes of the Wind Pavilion members, causing a commotion to spread. Even Ye Bingling¡¯s and Yi Qiushui¡¯s faces changed slightly, evidently sensing how terrifying the subsequent attack would be. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes also narrowed slightly. Zhu Lian¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation was nothing remarkable, but his Spirit prowess was quite something. ¡°Spirit Breaker Shuttle!¡± Zhu Lian¡¯s roar thundered across the area. In the next instant, the thousand-foot-long shuttle seemed to pierce through space itself as it mercilessly shot with great destructive force towards the protective boundaries around the Wind Pavilion members. Crack! The first Spirit boundary was immediately split open upon contact with the Spirit Breaker Shuttle, as if it were made from tofu. Bang! Bang! Numerous panicking Wind Pavilion members looked towards Zhou Yuan. Their pavilion master¡¯s expression was composed as he lifted his head to gaze at the rapidly approaching Spirit Breaker Shuttle. ¡°Circulate your Spirit power and prepare yourselves,¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifferent voice sounded in the ears of the Wind Pavilion members. His calm voice made the panic in their hearts recede slightly. They hurriedly concentrated and began circulating their Spirit power. Boom! When the final boundary was shattered, the originally thousand-foot-long Spirit Breaker Shuttle had shrunk to a size of a hundred feet. Despite this, it still gave off an oppressive pressure as its shadow loomed towards the now exposed Spirits. Zhou Yuan made a seal with one hand. Bzzbzz! Several thousand Spirit needles took shape and swiftly gathered together, transforming into a giant torrent of needles. Like a giant python, it reared its head and charged towards the Spirit Breaker Shuttle. Bang! The loud noise was accompanied by a wave of Spirit energy, and a shriek sounded, causing ripples to emerge on the numerous Spirit bodies on both sides. When a hundred Spirits on the Wind Pavilion side vanished in a flash of fiery light, the Spirit Breaker shuttle finally cracked and shattered, turning into countless specks of light. The Wind Pavilion members were still somewhat frightened as they breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that they had ultimately withstood the attack. The Fire Pavilion was truly terrifying! This time, unease flitted across the eyes of even Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui. A single serious attack from the Fire Pavilion had resulted in them losing over a hundred members. Furthermore, it was after their numerous defensive shells cancelled out 90% of the attack¡¯s power. If Zhou Yuan had not set up so many defensive layers, they would have likely lost over a thousand members. ¡°Hehe, pavilion master Zhou Yuan is truly capable. To think that you managed to defend against that attack.¡± Smiling, Zhu Lian watched on as he continued, ¡°The Spirit Breaker Shuttle is a unique secret technique of my Heavenly Spirit Hall, and I¡¯ve practiced it for a very long time in order to properly welcome you.¡± Lu Xiao also looked at Zhou Yuan with indifferent eyes. ¡°If your Wind Pavilion gives us an offering of ten thousand flame lotuses, my Fire Pavilion can forgive you this once.¡± As long as the Wind Pavilion yielded, they would no longer have any courage to challenge the Fire Pavilion. Lu Xiao¡¯s so-called mercy would instead destroy their hearts. Zhou Yuan cast a glance at Lu Xiao as he grinned, displaying a set of eerily white teeth. ¡°Stop dreaming.¡± Lu Xiao shook his head in a seemingly disappointed manner. ¡°Unappreciative.¡± He waved his hand, causing Zhu Lian to reveal a sinister smile. In the next instant, both his arms slowly extended as boundless Spirit power erupted from his body. Behind him, over ten thousand Spirits began to circulate their Spirit power. Next, Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the rest paled when they saw seven giant Spirit Breaker Shuttles slowly take shape. The entire place seemed to ripple. Terror emerged in the eyes of the many Wind Pavilion members. Earlier, a single Spirit Breaker Shuttle had pierced through all their defences. If seven struck together, wouldn¡¯t they instantly wipe them out? In the distance, Mu Liu and Mu Qingyan sighed. The Fire Pavilion appeared to have come well prepared for this Heaven Flame Ritual. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re finished,¡± said Mu Qingyan in a somewhat unresigned tone. Mu Liu scratched his head as he said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. The chief pavilion selection is coming up next month. I¡¯ll give that bastard Han Yuan a vicious beating on your behalf.¡± Mu Qingyan rolled her eyes at him. Zhou Yuan slighty narrowed his eyes as he stared at the seven giant Spirit Breaker Shuttles in the sky. It was wonder the Fire Pavilion was so arrogant; such overwhelming power was indeed enough to easily sweep away the Wind Pavilion of the past. But that was only with regards to the past Wind Pavilion. Zhou Yuan tilted his head and looked towards Ye Bingling and the other Wind Pavilion members. He smiled. ¡°Do you guys have faith in me?¡± Several thousand individuals were slightly taken aback. A split second later, every single person forcefully nodded. No one could match Zhou Yuan¡¯s current influence in the Wind Pavilion. ¡°If you believe me¡­¡± The corners of his mouth curled upwards. ¡°Then take out the jade pieces I prepared for you guys. Chapter 863 Spirit Devour Genesis Mark Displays its Power Prior to this, the jade slips had been hidden in their Spirits. Boom! Everyone crushed the jade slips fiercely in their hands. As the jade slips shattered, something seemed to wrap around and glue to their Spirits. They couldn¡¯t see what it was and could only cast puzzled glances in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. Only Yi Qiushui¡¯s beautiful eyes flashed because the wave of energy wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to her. It was this strange wave of energy that had let her win against Ye Bingling before. Recalling the results of the battle that day, Yi Qiushui¡¯s nervousness quietly faded. They might indeed win against the Fire Pavilion with the means that Zhou Yuan had prepared. However, there were more people who still looked apprehensive. After all, they didn¡¯t know whether the jade slip that Zhou Yuan had prepared for them could really help them compete with the Fire Pavilion. But facing the powerful Fire Pavilion, they had no other choice but to fight. Zhou Yuan calmly lifted his head and looked at the seven tremendous Spirit Breaker Shuttles speeding down. Without explaining much, he commanded, ¡°Everyone listen to my order: operate your Spirits!¡± Om! When his roar faded, all people operated and gathered their Spirit powers in front of them to form a number of sharp, long Spirit needles. Zhou Yuan swept them with his eyes and keenly sensed hidden ancient markings on their Spirit needles. The marks were the Spirit Devour Genesis Marks. It seemed that the jade slips he had prepared were effective. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, and his Spirit power swept out. The thousands of Spirit needles gathered together, forming a torrent above his head. From a distance the torrent looked like a python. It was spectacular, but it really paled in comparison to the seven Spirit Breaker Shuttles whizzing down. In the distance, seeing this scene, Zhu Lian curved the corners of his mouth in a contemptuous arc. Zhou Yuan thought that he could withstand a powerful attack of the Fire Pavilion with the strength of the Wind Pavilion alone? How stupid and arrogant. This time I am going to get revenge for the humiliation I suffered! Boom! The seven giant shuttles roared down in an incomparably fierce manner, and the torrent of Spirit needles met the first giant shuttle head-on. Clang! A resounding clang echoed across the world. ¡°Destroy it!¡± Zhu Lian laughed out loud. The next moment, however, his laughter came to an abrupt end, and his pupils sharply shrank. On the other hand, the Spirit light of the first giant shuttle, for some reason, had rapidly dimmed, its size being reduced by more than half. The torrent of Spirit needles struck once again and directly exploded the first Spirit Breaker Shuttle. ¡°How is that possible?!¡± Everyone gasped out loud, and their eyes went wide as though they saw a ghost. They couldn¡¯t believe the Spirit Breaker Shuttle was destroyed after the first contact! Even Lu Xiao¡¯s expression changed uncontrollably. ¡°Send out all the Spirit Breaker Shuttles!¡± Lu Xiao thundered. Gritting his teeth, Zhu Lian finally recovered from his shock. The remaining six Spirit Breaker Shuttles all rushed forward. Clang! The six Spirit Breaker Shuttles bombarded the torrent of Spirit needles, repeatedly blasting it back and endlessly quaking the void. But watching the torrent of needles retreat repeatedly, Lu Xiao¡¯s and Zhu Lian¡¯s faces grew increasingly troubled. They found that even after the collision, the scale of the torrent of Spirit needles grew more astonishing and emitted stronger energy. On the other hand, the six Spirit Breaker Shuttles on their side were gradually shrinking, their Spirit energy weakening. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Zhu Lian exclaimed in shock. This scene was really too bizarre. The torrent of Spirit needles seemed to be able to absorb Spirit power upon contact, thus growing stronger while their own Spirit Breaker Shuttles weakened. The torrent of Spirit needles spiraled in the void like an azure dragon, and the six Spirit Breaker Shuttles, which originally had an absolute advantage, were like little snakes. After a short battle, the situation between the two sides was suddenly reversed. Seeing this scene, Zhu Lian and others weren¡¯t the only ones in shock¡ªeven everyone on the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side was equally dumbstruck. They couldn¡¯t understand why the torrent of Spirit needles would grow stronger facing the opponent¡¯s absolute repression. The Spirit energy that the torrent was emitting wasn¡¯t even at a level they could reach. This meant that the phenomenon wasn¡¯t because of how strong their Spirits were, but because of Zhou Yuan! Everybody cast their eyes, blazing with emotions, onto Zhou Yuan who was hovering in midair. He made them see what was unbelievable and miraculous. In the distance, Mu Liu¡¯s and Mu Qingyan¡¯s mouths gaped open. This scene was also beyond their understanding. Under countless shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan looked up at the huge dragon-like torrent of Spirit needles. He could feel that the Spirit Devour Genesis Marks within it had all dissipated. In the previous collisions, the Spirit Devour had swallowed tremendous Spirit power from the six Spirit Breaker Shuttles. ¡°The effect is pretty good,¡± he whispered to himself with a fierce glint in his eyes. ¡°Go!¡± Zhou Yuan flicked his finger, sending the dragon-like torrent roaring out. It collided head-on with the six Spirit Breaker Shuttles. Bang! The six Spirit Breaker Shuttles shattered almost in an instant. On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, there were thousands of Spirits tottering side by side. After a while, they turned to sparks and shot into the sky amidst miserable cries. Both Lu Xiao¡¯s and Zhu Lian¡¯s faces turned livid. In this battle, the Fire Pavilion had suffered heavy losses. ¡°Damn it, how is it possible!¡± Zhu Liang couldn¡¯t help but hiss, his face contorting. Lu Xiao took a deep breath and glowered at the dragon-like torrent in the sky. ¡°I already told you, that boy is cunning and mustn¡¯t be underestimated.¡± ¡°What do we do?¡± Zhu Lian panicked a little. Lu Xiao¡¯s eyelids drooped, and his voice was icy cold: ¡°What else can we do? Use our last resort¡ªwe can¡¯t lose the Heaven Flame Ritual!¡± Zhu Lian seemed hesitant. ¡°But if you do that, there will be repercussions. We won¡¯t be able to use Spirit power for at least half a month.¡± Lu Xiao shot a cold glance at him. ¡°Do you not know our priorities?¡± Zhu Lian felt a chill run down his spine, and he didn¡¯t dare to say anything more. He operated his Spirit, and a voice spread to the minds of the many members of the Fire Pavilion. ¡°Fire Pavilion, listen to the order: activate the Spirit Burning Rune!¡± When the members of the Fire Pavilion heard his command, their hearts trembled. They naturally knew the Spirit Burning Rune was their last resort. It was just that their Spirit would be injured for the next month or so, which would mean that they couldn¡¯t enter the Four Spirits Origin Tower to practice. Some people were hesitant, but when Lu Xiao¡¯s biting cold eyes were cast in their direction, their whole bodies trembled. They immediately folded their hands, and a red Genesis rune faintly appeared in the space between their brows. The Genesis rune turned into a flame, and it blazed, directly penetrating their Spirits. Instantly their Spirits twisted, evidently suffering from severe pain. At the same time, the wave of Spirit energy emitted from their bodies surged, causing howling wind and thundering booms throughout the world. The terrifying oppressive Spirits shrouded the area that made even Spirits of the transformative stage feel trapped in a deep swamp. Whether it was Han Yuan, Mu Liu, or Mu Qingyan, all paled visibly at the sight. They had never seen such a fierce battle at the Heaven Flame Ritual. A Spirit attack of this level would have been unachievable with only Spirits of the Transformative stage. Ye Bingling¡¯s and Yi Qiushui¡¯s faces also grew solemn. Although Zhou Yuan had previously ruined the Fire Pavilion¡¯s plan, the Fire Pavilion¡¯s foundation was indeed still incredibly powerful. This attack was evidently their desperate last resort. But they weren¡¯t too afraid because they were inside the Heaven Flame Cauldron, so no matter how dangerous the battle became, it wouldn¡¯t cost them their lives. At most, they would lose. Moreover, since they had already forced the Fire Pavilion to such a state, even if they did lose, they wouldn¡¯t feel ashamed. Zhou Yuan glanced at them. He knew what they were thinking, but he didn¡¯t intend to give up. If he lost, he wouldn¡¯t have a share of the Heavenly Sun Flame, which he hoped would help him break through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. How could he let go of such a good opportunity? The Chief Pavilion Master Battle the next month was the most important. If he didn¡¯t reach the advanced Divine Dwelling stage by then, he would have no chance of defeating Lu Xiao. Therefore, he didn¡¯t want to lose in the Heaven Flame Ritual. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glinted fiercely as he peered at the dragon-like torrent of Spirit needles. He drew a deep breath, his eyes slightly drooped, and his hands slowly folded together in a hand seal. Since the Fire Pavilion wanted to fight, he would accompany them. As the hand seal that Zhou Yuan formed changed, the Spirit power in front of him also rapidly gathered. A moment later, an illusory lantern took shape. Chapter 864 Spirit Lantern Ar Berserk Spirit power whizzed above the Fire Pavilion¡¯s army, and sharp sound waves reverberated throughout the entire world. The sound waves were so ear-piercing that they could tear ordinary Spirits apart in an instant. The tens of thousands of Spirits of the Fire Pavilion, coupled with the Spirit power activated by the Spirit Burning Rune, had clearly reached a terrifying level. As Zhu Lian looked at the terrifying Spirit power, his eyes flickered with fear. Even he was a little afraid of controlling Spirit power of such a level because the slightest carelessness could lead to an adverse response. But fortunately he was situated inside the Heavenly Flame Cauldron, which would protect one¡¯s Spirit.. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have dared to control such terrifying Spirit power since it would be no different from seeking death. Bang. Zhu Lian drew a deep breath and began to guide the terrifying Spirit power to gather. Countless ear-piercing screams spread to his Spirit, making his face distort. Blood even seemed to flow from his eyes and nose. He was only in the Spirit state, so of course it wasn¡¯t real blood, but it was still a sign of intensely stimulating the Spirit. Ah! Zhu Lian lifted his head and roared skywards. He desperately tried to control and guide the terrifying Spirit power. The feeling was similar to dragging an ancient beast that could destroy everything. But fortunately Zhu Lian¡¯s Spirit cultivation wasn¡¯t weak. With his guidance, the terrifying Spirit power slowly gathered and formed a Spirit mountain in the sky. The mountain was at least ten thousand feet tall, blotting out the sun and sky and exuding destructive power. An attack of the Spirit wasn¡¯t as gorgeous and dazzling as that of Genesis Qi, but it was similarly filled with murderous intent. The slightest carelessness could lead to the Spirit dissipating. As they watched the Spirit mountain form in the sky above, everyone¡¯s expression changed uncontrollably. How would a full-strength attack of the Fire Pavilion be easy to deal with? ¡°Lu Xiao and Zhu Lian are too crazy,¡± Mu Liu remarked. How could they not tell that even the Fire Pavilion wouldn¡¯t be strong enough to display Spirit power of that level? The Fire Pavilion had to be using some sort of other method that was bound to have repercussions. Evidently, in order to win, the Fire Pavilion was doing whatever it took. Mu Qingyan also bit her red lips and gave a wry smile. She didn¡¯t know what to say. If the Wind Pavilion lost to such a crazy method, then it wouldn¡¯t be Zhou Yuan¡¯s fault. Zhou Yuan lifted his head. Looking at the Spirit mountain, he revealed a solemn expression. Even he, who was at the initial Transformative stage, felt a little frightened by Spirit power of that level. He peered down at the illusory-like lantern in front of him. It seemed to have a tiny flame inside it. Spirit Lantern Art. Zhou Yuan smiled. He no longer had hesitation. With one thought, he guided the torrent of Spirit needles hovering in the void into the lantern in front of him. Boom! Incomparably powerful Spirit power poured into the Spirit lantern, causing it to shake violently as if it were about to burst apart. The influx of Spirit power was too strong. And the Spirit lantern was only transformed by Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. The feeling was like pouring many tons of lake water into a bucket. Zhou Yuan frantically activated his Spirit power to stabilise the Spirit lantern to stop the Spirit lantern from shattering. His mind trembled violently, as if thousands of needles were piercing it, bringing him unimaginable pain. Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth, enduring the unbearable pain. Rumble! While Zhou Yuan suffered the torment, the torrent of Spirit needles completely entered the Spirit lantern. Everything fell silent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit of the Transformative stage also turned a lot more illusory, a sign of over-exhausting his Spirit. He raised his head, and with blazing eyes, he watched the tremendous Spirit mountain crashing down. He most likely wouldn¡¯t be able to surpass the power of his current Spirit Lantern Art for a long while. This time it wasn¡¯t just his powers alone but that of thousands of people of the Wind Pavilion! Boom! Cracks emerged around the Spirit lantern, then it shattered. A monstrous flame shot out, shocking everyone. It was slightly transparent, but when everyone¡¯s Spirits saw the flame, they strangely felt fear. Spirit Flame?! Countless shocked voices rang out. It wasn¡¯t that they had never seen Spirit Flame before¡­but it was the first time they had seen a Spirit Flame of such scale! The Spirit Flame roared out like a giant fire dragon! Even Zhou Yuan and Zhu Lian, who were at the initial Transformative stage, couldn¡¯t produce Spirit Flame of this level because their Spirit power was lacking! But right now it really appeared before them¡­ A cold shiver ran down Zhu Lian¡¯s spine. He mumbled, ¡°How is this possible? How can he turn other people¡¯s Spirit power into Spirit Flame?!¡± It should be said that only Transformative stage Spirits could form Spirit Flames. Otherwise, no matter how strong one¡¯s Spirit power was, it would be unachievable. For example, even if the accumulated Spirit power on the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side was tremendous, it was impossible for Zhu Lian to create a wisp of Spirit Flame. But Zhou Yuan was able to. Additionally, the Spirit Flame¡¯s level was far beyond Zhu Lian¡¯s imagination. Therefore, he was in a state of shocked disbelief. The fire dragon formed from Spirit Flame roared up and collided with the Spirit mountain crashing down. Whether it was inside or outside the Heaven Flame Cauldron, all eyes were intently watching. The fire dragon transformed into a sea of raging flames, enveloping the Spirit mountain without an earthshaking boom. Beneath the scorching heat of the Spirit Flame, the Spirit mountain began to melt at an unbelievable speed. Spirit Flame naturally had a great destructive power to the Spirit. In just a dozen breaths, the Spirit mountain melted completely. There was only the sound of blazing flames; everyone was utterly silent. Zhu Lian¡¯s expression was frozen, his smile bitter and full of terror. Even Lu Xiao clenched his hands tight, his body trembling in anger and shock. He couldn¡¯t believe that he still failed after such a well-prepared plan. Zhou Yuan was clearly just at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, how could he bring him so much trouble?! In the distance, even Mu Liu and Mu Qingyan were dumbfounded. They had never expected such a result. ¡°That guy¡­¡± Mu Liu smacked his lips with an unusually solemn expression. ¡°Why do I feel that he could really beat Lu Xiao and win the position of chief pavilion master?¡± Although the Heaven Flame Ritual focused on the power of each of the four pavilions as a whole, the unbelievable and incredible things that Zhou Yuan accomplished made people not dare to underestimate him. Mu Qingyan surprisingly didn¡¯t argue. She pursed her lips and muttered, ¡°Maybe¡­it is possible.¡± What they had seen was too shocking. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath. His eyes were still as cold as a blade as he fixed them on Lu Xiao. Their eyes clashed across the sky, and their coldness seemingly plummeted the temperature of the world. ¡°It looks like my Wind Pavilion has won this time,¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice sounded. He waved his sleeve, turning the remnant Spirit Flame into tens of thousands of sparks, shrouding everyone of the Fire Pavilion. The Spirit Flame blazed, directly turning the Spirits of the Fire Pavilion into sparks that then shot into the sky. Zhu Lian dazedly let the Spirit flame incinerate his Spirit. He turned into a spark and vanished. Lu Xiao also didn¡¯t resist, because the outcome of the battle was decided. The Fire Pavilion had been utterly defeated in the Heaven Flame Ritual. He only stared at Zhou Yuan, the Spirit Flame reflecting in his eyes. In the end, an indifferent voice rang out, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I won¡¯t let you off at the chief pavilion master battle next month.¡± In the depths of his eyes was endless anger. The Spirit Flame soared, and Lu Xiao¡¯s Spirit turned into a spark and shot into the sky like the others. The tens of thousands of Spirits of the Fire Pavilion had all dissipated. In the Heaven Flame Ritual, the final result of the battle between the Wind Pavilion and the Fire Pavilion was beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. Chapter 865 The Final Winner Countless eyes were fixed on the giant transparent glazed cauldron, intently watching the earthshaking collision happening inside. They were completely shocked by the final result.... Who would have thought that the Fire Pavilion, which had the strongest overall Spirit strength, would lose to the Wind Pavilion, the weakest, in the Heaven Flame Ritual. ¡°How did this happen?¡± ¡°The last flame that the Wind Pavilion displayed was a Spirit Flame, wasn¡¯t it? Isn¡¯t it too powerful? Ordinary Spirits of the Transformative stage can¡¯t reach this level.¡± ¡°The key question is why Zhou Yuan could turn the Spirits of the Wind Pavilion members into Spirit Flame...Spirit Flame is a sign of the Transformative stage and can¡¯t be produced no matter how strong one¡¯s Spirit power is.¡± ¡°Haha, the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion isn¡¯t simple.¡± ¡°No wonder Lady Chi Jing asked for the Heaven Flame Ritual to be changed into a free-for-all. The Wind Pavilion profited a lot this time...¡± ¡°......¡± Countless whispers spread, and in the end some people cast strange looks to the highest place outside the Great Flame Mountain. The Heaven Flame Ritual seemed to be a battle between the four pavilions, but it was actually a game between two grand elders. It was just that no one expected the Fire Pavilion, which should have had an absolute advantage, to lose in the end. Sect master Xuan Kun must be a little angry at this moment. Under countless gazes, on the lava lotus, Chi Jing and sect master Xuan Kun slowly retracted their gazes from the Heaven Flame Cauldron. A smile bloomed across Chi Jing¡¯s face as she turned her head to say to sect master Xuan Kun, ¡°It seems that I have to thank sect master Xuan Kun for this year¡¯s Heaven Flame Ritual.¡± There wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s face. ¡°It seems that grand elder Chi Jing really has found a good seedling. ¡°But what is Zhou Yuan¡¯s background exactly? The Genesis techniques he has aren¡¯t ordinary. Also, his method of transforming the Spirit power of so many people into a Spirit flame must be an extremely powerful Genesis technique. This Genesis technique can be considered one of the top in the Tianyuan Region. ¡°Since he has such a background, he shouldn¡¯t be an ordinary cultivator. I suggest grand elder Chi Jing investigate him.¡± Chi Jing said nonchalantly, ¡°My Tianyuan accepts heaven prides from everywhere and never cares about one¡¯s background. This is a rule set by my master. As long as Zhou Yuan has the ability, I will continue to employ him. As long as we treat each other with sincerity, no matter what identity he has, he will still be part of my Tianyuan Region in the future.¡± He turned his head and took a deep look at grand elder Chi Jing. ¡°The chief pavilion master battle depends on one¡¯s own strength, which is completely different from the Heaven Flame Ritual.¡± Chi Jing chuckled, ¡°I believe Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t weaker than anyone else.¡± Their eyes collided, and they no longer uttered a word, slowly withdrawing their gazes. They had become accustomed to this kind of constant strife. Over the years, no matter whether it was an important position like a position on the elder committee, there was always scheming and fighting involved. .... Inside the Heaven Flame Cauldron. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that everyone from the Fire Pavilion had disappeared. He had already used up all his trump cards, so if the Fire Pavilion managed to survive, there was nothing else he could do. After all, no matter how powerful his methods were, the overall gap between the Wind Pavilion and the Fire Pavilion was still huge. Zhou Yuan was also a little glad that he had prepared the Spirit Devour Genesis Rune as one of his trump cards. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to turn the tides with just the Spirit Lantern Art alone. After all, the Fire Pavilion had also been extremely well prepared. When Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, a deafening cheer erupted from the Wind Pavilion army below. ¡°Pavilion master is invincible!¡± ¡°Pavilion master is invincible!¡± All members of the Wind Pavilion were looking at Zhou Yuan with their faces flushed with excitement. The Fire Pavilion had suppressed the Wind Pavilion for too many years. It was unknown how many times the Wind Pavilion was unable to release their grievance. It wasn¡¯t that they didn¡¯t want to vent their grievance, but that they weren¡¯t qualified to do so. But now, under Zhou Yuan¡¯s leadership, they were able to defeat the Fire Pavilion at the Heaven Flame Ritual with true strength! Although everyone knew in their hearts that the reason they could win was because of the trump cards Zhou Yuan had prepared, so what? Zhou Yuan was now the pavilion master of their Wind Pavilion, and glory to the Wind Pavilion meant glory to all. Therefore, Zhou Yuan¡¯s status in their hearts simply soared to a level of near-fanatical worship. Zhou Yuan felt a little helpless when he saw their excited and emotional faces. He had to ignore them and turn his attention to where the Mountain Pavilion army was situated. At this moment, Han Yuan was staring at him with a frown, and there was still a trace of shocked disbelief in his eyes. It seemed that he still hadn¡¯t recovered from the shock of the Fire Pavilion being defeated. ¡°Pavilion master Han Yuan, let all the people of the Forest Pavilion out,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. Han Yuan raised both his hands. ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, the grudges between your Wind Pavilion and the Fire Pavilion have been resolved, and they had nothing to do with our Mountain Pavilion, right?¡± The Fire Pavilion had been defeated, and if the Wind and Forest Pavilions joined forces, the Mountain Pavilion¡¯s ending wouldn¡¯t be any better than the Fire Pavilion¡¯s. So the master of the Mountain Pavilion raised his hands and surrendered without hesitation. ¡°We will let the Forest Pavilion go, and everyone will mind their own business and collect Heaven Sun Flames, what do you say?¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at Han Yuan. He was a little surprised by his direct surrender. He is indeed tactful. It was no wonder that he would abandon senior sister Chi Jing and join the Mountain Pavilion. In the end, Zhou Yuan shook his head, saying in a serious tone, ¡°Pavilion master Han Yuan, this is the path you chose, so you have to pay the price of it.¡± Now that the situation was under his control, how could he let the Mountain Pavilion stay and take a share of the Heaven Sun Flames? After all, Zhou Yuan also didn¡¯t believe Han Yuan would let the Forest Pavilion go if the Fire Pavilion had won¡­ The corners of Han Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched, and his face darkened. Boom! Before he could respond, the defensive barrier atop the mountain where the Forest Pavilion was located was suddenly withdrawn. A mighty torrent of Spirits burst out, rushing towards the Mountain Pavilion like a raging dragon. ¡°Mu Qingyan!¡± Eyes filled with killing intent, Han Yuan coldly stared behind him at the girl¡¯s Spirit. She was slowly rising. Behind Mu Qingyan, many Spirits of the Forest Pavilion were staring fiercely at the Mountain Pavilion. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Didn¡¯t you want to fight? We will accompany you!¡± Mu Qingyan sneered, mobilising the tremendous Spirit power of the Forest Pavilion, preparing to launch an attack at the Mountain Pavilion. With a wave of his hand, Han Yuan signaled to Zhao Yin, who immediately controlled the Spirit power of the Mountain Pavilion to strike back. Boom! The two sides clashed, quaking the world. The entanglement didn¡¯t last long; Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t have the patience to watch them fight like this, so he directly intervened using the Wind Pavilion¡¯s Spirit power. With Mu Qingyan, he directly started attacking Han Yuan. Facing the joint attacks of both the Wind Pavilion and the Forest Pavilion, the Mountain Pavilion was utterly defeated. In less than half an hour, the Mountain Pavilion army collapsed. ¡°Zhou Yuan, Mu Liu, I hope you can still laugh at the upcoming chief pavilion master battle!¡± Han Yuan¡¯s angry voice rang out as he turned into a spark and shot into the sky. Neither Zhou Yuan nor Mu Liu paid him heed. With wide smiles, they each raised a hand and waved at his Spirit. Once both the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion were utterly defeated, deafening cheers from Wind Pavilion and Forest Pavilion resounded in the Heaven Flame Cauldron. They knew that the Wind Pavilion and the Forest Pavilion would equally divide all the Heavenly Sun Flames in the Heaven Flame Cauldron¡­ Chapter 866 Prize Mu Qingyan¡¯s pretty little face was lit up with joy. Even she didn¡¯t expect this situation to happen. After all, who could have imagined that the strongest, the Fire Pavilion, would lose to the Wind Pavilion? Mu Liu smiled somewhat smugly. ¡°So? My cooperation was not a failure, right?¡± Mu Qingyan pursed her lips, but didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Zhou Yuan is indeed surprising.¡± Eyes flashing, she whispered, ¡°The Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion have been eliminated now, so do we need to be careful?¡± According to the agreement between Zhou Yuan and Mu Liu, if they could defeat the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion, the two pavilions would evenly divide the Heavenly Sun Flames. Mu Qingyan had never thought that they could succeed, so she hadn¡¯t thought too deeply about it. But now that the fruits of victory were really in front of her, she could finally think clearly. It should be said that, in terms of fire lotuses, the number of Heavenly Sun Flames born in the Heaven Flame Ritual nearly every time was more than one million. That was a pretty scary amount. In the face of such a prize, anyone would be filled with greedy and covetous thoughts, so Mu Qingyan wasn¡¯t certain that Zhou Yuan would split the prize according to the original agreement because it would entail the loss of at least hundreds of thousands of fire lotuses formed from Heavenly Sun Flames. If so many Heavenly Sun Flames were available for their cultivation, it would certainly enhance the Wind Pavilion¡¯s strength significantly. Wealth could stir up the will of people, not to mention that the Heavenly Sun Flames had more appeal. Heavenly Sun Flames could only be refined by experts of the Heavenly Sun stage, but the quantity and quality were not as pure and great as the Heavenly Sun Flames in the Heaven Flame Cauldron. Judging from the means and power that Zhou Yuan had shown, it was clear that, under his control, the overall Spirit power of the Wind Pavilion was much stronger than that of the Forest Pavilion. Therefore Zhou Yuan had the ability to destroy the agreement. When Mu Liu heard this, he simply smiled and didn¡¯t seem to care much. ¡°If it was Lu Xiao, then I would have been secretly on guard, but with Zhou Yuan I don¡¯t feel that there¡¯s a need.¡± Mu Qingyan didn¡¯t say anything, but her beautiful eyes flickered, and she evidently still remained vigilant. Zhou Yuan came over with Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui. He looked at Mu Liu, smiled and stretched out his hand, ¡°It seems that the result of our first cooperation isn¡¯t bad.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand, saying, ¡°We will keep to what we agreed on. Without you blocking the Mountain Pavilion, there was no way I could have dealt with the Fire Pavilion.¡± Mu Liu gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s handsome face and his kind and gentle smile, which was completely different from the fierce and ruthless face Zhou Yuan wore when facing the Fire Pavilion. From his expression, Mu Liu knew that he didn¡¯t just say that to be polite. Zhou Yuan really did think so. A smile crossed Mu Liu¡¯s clean and handsome face. ¡°You¡¯ve made a friend.¡± ¡°When you agreed to work with me, we were already friends.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, but didn¡¯t say much. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time, and go collect the Heavenly Sun Flames. Here will be the dividing line, and we will each have half of the area. What do you think?¡± Mu Liu naturally had no objection. Zhou Yuan turned around and left with the people of the Wind Pavilion to collect the Heavenly Sun Flames as they retreated. ¡°Yes, I was too skeptical of his sincerity.¡± Mu Qingyan gave him an angry stare, but she was surprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s action. It was no wonder that even Mu Liu, so proud and almost reclusive, would choose to take such a huge risk to cooperate with Zhou Yuan despite only meeting him a few times. ¡°Let¡¯s start too. Although Zhou Yuan doesn¡¯t mind, I don¡¯t like to take advantage of people. So, after we have collected all the Heavenly Sun Flames, we will take out another 100,000 fire lotuses for the Wind Pavilion,¡± Mu Liu ordered. Mu Qingyan nodded. In the past, 100,000 fire lotuses would have been almost all their harvest, but this time it was different. After driving away the Fire and Mountain Pavilions, their harvest was significantly more than before, and they could easily take out 100,000 fire lotuses. Therefore, she didn¡¯t object. With a wave of her small hand, she led the members of the Forest Pavilion to collect Heavenly Sun Flames. It was very peaceful inside the Heaven Flame Cauldron. The Wind and Forest Pavilions swept across it, and wherever they passed, no matter whether it was at a mountain stream or mountain range, all flames were collected. Half a day later. The people from the two pavilions once again met in the center of the Heaven Flame Cauldron. Everyone¡¯s faces were filled with excitement because behind them were two red spheres filled with mighty golden flames, blazing and majestic. ¡°How was the harvest?¡± Mu Liu asked with a smile. ¡°700,000 Heavenly Sun Flames.¡± There was an unconcealable glint of excitement in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Given the total number of Heavenly Sun Flames collected, the amount he would receive once it was divided in the end wouldn¡¯t be small. He could even go into closed-door training for the following month and perhaps break through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage before the chief pavilion master battle. ¡°We have 650,000 on our side.¡± Mu Liu smacked his lips in amazement. In the past, the Forest Pavilion would at most receive 200,000 flames at the Heaven Flame Ritual. The harvest this time was beyond his imagination. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Mu Liu raised his chin to Mu Qingyan, who was next to him. She immediately activated her Spirit power and took out a raging fire from the Forest Pavilion¡¯s fire-gathering stage. ¡°There are 100,000 Heavenly Sun Flames inside. Don¡¯t refuse. You are the main reason for our victory in the Heaven Flame Ritual. I have always believed that whoever puts in the most effort should get the most reward. ¡°If you don¡¯t accept it, it would mean you look down on me and we won¡¯t have a chance to cooperate in the future.¡± Before Zhou Yuan could refuse, Mu Liu had pushed the words back into his mouth. He smiled helplessly and then nodded. He received the raging fire and tossed it onto the Wind Pavilion¡¯s fire-gathering stage. ¡°Happy cooperating with you.¡± He smiled at Mu Liu. Because the Heavenly Sun Flames were all collected and distributed, Zhou Yuan knew that the Heaven Flame Ritual was coming to an end. ¡°Happy cooperation.¡± Mu Liu also revealed a bright smile. It was at this moment that a majestic light poured down from above the Heaven Flame Cauldron and engulfed the Spirits of everyone of the two pavilions. Outside the Great Flame Mountain. The moment his Spirit returned to his body, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and felt an indescribable sense of fulfillment. He slowly breathed a sigh of relief. This was the first time he had left his body for so long. And evidently, even if his Spirit had reached the Transformative stage, he realised it was only when living inside a body that the Spirit could feel completely secure. It was difficult to feel at ease drifting in the outside world. Behind Zhou Yuan, Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and many other members of the Wind Pavilion also returned to their bodies. They all looked worse than Zhou Yuan. All of them lay down on their backs, their hands and feet trembling. Zhou Yuan smiled and peered ahead with a blazing look in his eyes. There, the fire-gathering stage stood quietly, and the dazzling Heavenly Sun Flames attracted countless covetous gazes. In the face of such pure and majestic Heavenly Sun Flames, the heartbeats of even ordinary Heavenly Sun stage experts would quicken. ¡°The Wind Pavilion received a total of 800,000 flames from the Heaven Flame Ritual. According to the rules, the pavilion master can take 30%, which means I can get 240,000 Heavenly Sun Flames.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes blazed. With 240,000 Heavenly Sun Flames, I can surely break through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, right? Zhou Yuan stretched his body, as though a weight lifted off his mind. He knew it was time to go into secluded cultivation for the next month. He knew in his heart that all his previous successes were just fighting for the qualification for the chief pavilion master battle. Now that he had achieved the qualification, if he lost in the end, his previous successes, like a castle on a beach, would be crushed in an instant under a huge wave. Chapter 867 Impac And Zhou Yuan¡¯s fame rose once again. Anyone who saw the Heaven Flame Ritual would know that the reason the Wind Pavilion could turn the tide and defeat the Fire Pavilion, which was the strongest pavilion, was because of Zhou Yuan. This made many people, even the higher-ups of the Tianyuan Utopia, cast their eyes onto the new star that had risen to fame in the Tianyuan Utopia within a few months. Although Zhou Yuan had made extraordinary achievements in the past, the higher-ups still didn¡¯t pay too much attention to him because he was just the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion and wasn¡¯t quite qualified¡ªunless he was the chief pavilion master of the four pavilions. But in the views of many higher-ups, the position of chief pavilion master should belong to Lu Xiao of the Fire Pavilion. Although Zhou Yuan was a dark horse, he originally didn¡¯t have the qualifications to compete for the position of chief pavilion master. This was what everyone thought. But who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would progress step by step and, under his leadership, the Wind Pavilion would gradually show signs of rejuvenation. On the same day of Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory in the Heaven Flame Ritual, many people began to pay attention to the Wind Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master. They had to admit that the dark horse now seemed to truly have the qualifications to compete with the other three pavilion masters, Lu Xiao, Han Yuan and Mu Liu, for the chief pavilion master position. His progress was quite remarkable. Therefore, many people had to consider whether Zhou Yuan would create another miracle in the chief pavilion master battle and win the title. A pavilion master couldn¡¯t be considered a high position in the Tianyuan Utopia, but the chief pavilion master was comparable to an elder of the elder committee. As long as one held the post, one would undoubtedly rise to a higher class of the Tianyuan Region, and the influential power one would possess couldn¡¯t be ignored. Of course, this thought only flashed across many people¡¯s minds because although they knew that Zhou Yuan was qualified to compete with Lu Xiao, it was only a qualification. Ever since Zhou Yuan entered the Wind Pavilion, the Wind Pavilion had repeatedly defeated the Fire Pavilion, but Lu Xiao didn¡¯t personally participate in any of the battles. Whether it was the incident of the Mark Capturing Rune, the four mother runes or the competition in the Heaven Flame Ritual, it all had nothing to do with Lu Xiao, strictly speaking. No one was sure whether Zhou Yuan could still create miracles when facing Lu Xiao. In addition, although Zhou Yuan had risen to fame and shocked everyone, he had also angered Lu Xiao. If Zhao Yuan were utterly defeated by Lu Xiao during the chief pavilion master battle, all his victories and achievements would become stepping stones for Lu Xiao and add to his dazzling prestige. Therefore, although Zhou Yuan had risen to become the most dazzling new star among the young Divine Dwelling experts of the Tianyuan Region, whether that rising trajectory would end or not would depend on the result of the chief pavilion master battle, which the entire Tianyuan Region would watch. On a high platform shrouded in clouds and mist. Sect master Xuan Kun stood with his hands clasped behind his back and an indifferent expression on his face. His eyes were as deep as an abyss, and there wasn¡¯t the slightest Genesis Qi pulsing around him, but by just standing there, he exuded terrifying pressure. Under that force, even the space around them was slightly distorted. Behind sect master Xuan Kun was a figure kneeling on one knee. It was Lu Xiao. He hung his head low, beads of cold sweat dripping down his forehead, his face very pale. Although sect master Xuan Kun didn¡¯t display any anger, Lu Xiao still felt a sense of fear. The seemingly thin and weak old man in front of him was one of the top existences in the Tianyuan Region and had the right and strength to control his life. ¡°Lu Xiao, I¡¯m a little disappointed with your achievements over the past few months,¡± sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s indifferent voice finally sounded. Lu Xiao dared not argue back and lowered his head even more. Sect master Xuan Kun turned around, his abyss-like eyes staring at Lu Xiao. ¡°Fortunately, your losses in the past few months don¡¯t have too serious consequences, but you should know how important the chief pavilion master battle is. ¡°The Heavenly Spirit Sect has been preparing for this for many years. We have done our best to cultivate you to become the strongest person of the Divine Dwelling stage in the Tianyuan Region. All this was for you to win the chief pavilion master position. ¡°If you lose, you should know the consequences.¡± Lu Xiao trembled slightly, hearing his sect master¡¯s indifferent voice. He said, ¡°Sect master, don¡¯t worry. For our previous defeats, I couldn¡¯t take part personally, which led to Zhou Yuan¡¯s victories, but this time I will personally get back at him.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun nodded. ¡°Confidence is a good thing. ¡°But it is indeed a bit strange that Zhou Yuan¡¯s background is unknown. He is clearly only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, but his Genesis Qi foundation is surprisingly powerful. If I¡¯m not mistaken, he should possess a variant nine upper Divine Dwellings.¡± A hint of jealousy flashed through Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes. ¡°So it¡¯s a variant nine upper Divine Dwelling!¡± He had previously speculated that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwelling might be a variant nine Divine Dwellings but at most nine lower Divine Dwellings. Although there was only a single word of difference, the gap between them was extremely large. Lu Xiao possessed nine upper Divine Dwellings, but he understood that a variant upper Divine Dwelling were far more powerful than ordinary upper Divine Dwelling. It was no wonder that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was so strong. But even if Zhou Yuan possessed a variant nine upper Divine Dwelling, Lu Xiao didn¡¯t reveal the slightest fear. After all, his present strength was far superior to Zhou Yuan¡¯s, and his nine upper Divine Dwellings had already been polished and connected. If Zhou Yuan wanted to achieve this step, it would take him a significant period of time. ¡°That boy won a lot of Heavenly Sun Flames in the Heaven Flame Ritual. I believe his strength will advance further before the arrival of the chief pavilion master battle. Perhaps he will step into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Lu Xiao narrowed his eyes. ¡°Even if he breaks through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, it can¡¯t make up for the gap between us.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun nodded. Logically speaking, Zhou Yuan was unlikely to be a match for Lu Xiao. Although Zhou Yuan possessed a variant nine upper Divine Dwelling, Lu Xiao wasn¡¯t someone easy to deal with. He possessed nine upper Divine Dwellings and had extraordinary talent. Otherwise it would have been impossible for him to become the strongest person among the young generation of the Tianyuan Region. ¡°If no unexpected events occur, he is indeed no match for you, but that kid is too strange, and I don¡¯t want to see something unexpected happen again.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun waved his hand dismissively to stop Lu Xiao, who was about to say something, and continued, ¡°Otherwise you can¡¯t bear the consequences.¡± Lu Xiao hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Sect master, you mean¡ª¡± Sect master Xuan Kun flicked his sleeve, and a black crystal ball appeared in front of him. The inside of the crystal ball seemed to be filled with a black, viscous, cold liquid. As the black liquid roiled, a vertical eye appeared, icy cold and ruthless. ¡°This is a bloodline of the nine-headed abyssal python. If you integrate it into your body during this period of time, you can consider it as an additional trump card.¡± Lu Xiao trembled. The nine-headed abyssal python was a grade-7 Genesis Beast comparable to a powerful expert of the Nascent Source stage. Its bloodline was naturally extremely domineering, and if he, who was only at the Divine Dwelling stage, refined it, it might affect his mental state. But Lu Xiao didn¡¯t foolishly refuse. He stared at the black crystal ball with a resolute expression in his eyes. It was indeed dangerous to refine the nine-headed abyssal python, but if he succeeded, it would be a great opportunity for him. Although he believed that he could defeat Zhou Yuan, as sect master Xuan Kun had said, it was always good to be prepared. He could evade the blame of the previous losses, but this time he absolutely couldn¡¯t fail. Lu Xiao gritted his teeth, stretched out his hands and respectfully received the black crystal ball. He stared at the icy cold and ruthless vertical eye with a glint of malice in his eyes. Zhou Yuan, this time, I will crush you so that you can¡¯t turn over again! Chapter 868 Preparing for War Chi Jing was lying on a bamboo chair with her long and slender legs resting over the railing in front of her. She held an ancient book in one hand and was thumbing through it casually. She didn¡¯t lift her eyes until Zhou Yuan came in. ¡°Senior sister.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a glance at his senior sister¡¯s particularly long legs, then averted his eyes, looking straight ahead. Chi Jing gracefully stood up. She was dressed in a relaxed training robe that, together with her flat chest, straight legs and short burgundy hair, made her look especially formidable. ¡°Junior brother¡¯s performance these past few months are very impressive.¡± Chi Jing smiled. The Wind Pavilion had won several battles against the Fire Pavilion since she had sent Zhou Yuan to the Wind Pavilion. This was enough to prove Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability. ¡°Without senior sister¡¯s support, how would I have this kind of achievement?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. This wasn¡¯t a compliment but what he truly felt. The Heavenly Spirit Sect was behind the Fire Pavilion, so if he didn¡¯t have a supporter, he would have suffered many underhanded tactics. He at least wouldn¡¯t have been able to escape when hall master Xi Guang attempted to assassinate him. Chi Jing waved her small fair hand, and then with a flick of her fingers, a ray of red light landed in front of Zhou Yuan. It was a red copper sphere. The surface was engraved with mysterious patterns, and inside were blazing golden flames. ¡°It¡¯s your share of Heavenly Sun Flames from the Heavenly Flame Ritual. There are 240,000 in total. I have sealed them for you. When you need to use them, you only need to control it with your Spirit,¡± Chi Jing explained. Zhou Yuan received it, his eyes blazing with excitement. He finally got his hands on them. These days he had eagerly been waiting for the distribution of the Heavenly Sun Flames. ¡°We¡¯ve also received news that the various regions are already starting to talk about the nine region tournament.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face suddenly turned solemn. He hadn¡¯t forgotten his mission of coming to the Tianyuan Region. ¡°Has the date been confirmed?¡± he asked hurriedly. Chi Jing shook her head. ¡°Not yet, but if nothing unexpected happens, it should be within a year.¡± ¡°Within a year.¡± Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Then it seems I have to seize the position of chief pavilion master as soon as possible and unite the four pavilions.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so confident in beating Lu Xiao?¡± The tip of Chi Jing¡¯s eyebrows was raised slightly. ¡°Because I can¡¯t fail,¡± Zhou Yuan answered calmly. Chi Jing glanced at him and said seriously, ¡°But even if you really defeat Lu Xiao, there is still a long way to go before you can obtain the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. ¡°Lu Xiao is ranked ninth on the Divine Dwelling list of the Hunyuan Heaven, but in truth, this position is somewhat due to the other regions giving face to our Tianyuan Region. Based on real strength, he will drop a few rankings.¡± Zhou Yuan was really surprised to hear this. Although he hadn¡¯t fought Lu Xiao before, he could tell his strength from the dangerous aura he emitted. If Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t take advantage of the chance to break through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, he might have no chance of beating Lu Xiao. But now Chi Jing was informing him that Lu Xiao¡¯s ranking on the Divine Dwelling list was an overstatement. From this, it was clear how terrifying the people at the top of the Divine Dwelling List were. Is the Hunyuan Heaven this terrifying? No wonder it¡¯s called the best of the heavens? ¡°Then how strong are Wu Yao and Su Youwei, who are ranked second and third respectively?¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly asked. Hearing Zhou Yuan specifically point out these two people, Chi Jing looked at him in surprise and asked curiously, ¡°Do you know them?¡± Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t deny it and frankly answered, ¡°They are both from the Cangxuan Heaven. Wu Yao is a rival of mine and Su Youwei is my friend.¡± Even Chi Jing was taken aback by his answer and couldn¡¯t help but repeat, ¡°You and Wu Yao are rivals? Su Youwei is your friend?¡± She then immediately smiled. ¡°They¡¯re now the most dazzling pearls of Hunyuan Heaven. I¡¯m surprised you have some sort of relationship with both of them. It seems that there are some stories behind this? ¡°Haha, if this information gets out, I feel that at least half of the people in the top 20 of the Divine Dwelling list will want to spar with you.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly when he saw Chi Jing¡¯s curious face. ¡°Senior sister, why would you be interested in this kind of gossip!¡± Chi Jing smiled. ¡°However, Wu Yao and Su Youwei will both become mountains blocking your path at the nine regions tournament. No matter what stories you have with them from before, you will have to be careful. ¡°They¡¯re both very strong now.¡± ¡°If Lu Xiao were to face them, he would no doubt be beaten. There would be no other outcome.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, sighing inwardly. He had briefly fought against Wu Yao and was suppressed almost the entire time back when he was at the Great Wu Empire. If Yaoyao hadn¡¯t come in time, he would have had to escape. Therefore, he had expected Wu Yao to be this strong. He sighed because Su Youwei, the little girl who used to follow behind him and repeatedly call him His Highness, had become so powerful after so many years. I don¡¯t know if she would still remember the highness of the Great Zhou Empire when we meet again? Zhou Yuan felt a little melancholic. Su Youwei was obviously no longer the little girl who had nobody to depend on. Given her current status, in her eyes, the Great Zhou Empire might be like a small puddle of mud, and the so-called His Highness might be even more like a joke. When a person becomes a dazzling pearl that attracts everybody¡¯s attention, would they think about crawling and rolling in a mud pool? It would be a bad memory, wouldn¡¯t it? Zhou Yuan shook his head, throwing away those thoughts from his mind. What Su Youwei had achieved was through her own hard work, so no matter what choice she made, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t blame her. It was just that they would go separate ways in the future. ¡°I know that the nine regions tournament isn¡¯t easy, but I also believe that as long as I am given time, I won¡¯t be weaker than anyone.¡± Zhou Yuan looked directly at Chi Jing in front of him, his eyes resolute and full of utmost confidence. Chi Jing admired Zhou Yuan¡¯s confidence very much. She nodded. ¡°You have courage. No wonder the master thinks highly of you. ¡°By the way, the materials you mentioned before are quite special. I¡¯m searching for them now for you, and they shouldn¡¯t be a big problem, but it will take some time.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The materials he had asked Chi Jing to help him find were what he needed for Silver Shadow¡¯s evolution. He had gathered some of them, but many were quite special and incredibly rare. When Chi Jing¡¯s voice faded, she waved her hand, and a jade box appeared before them. It opened by itself, revealing four different glowing beast spirit crystals. Each one emitted a ruthless roar, causing the air to vibrate violently. ¡°These are the beast spirit crystals you wanted. They are all grade 6.¡± She thoughtfully looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You have awakened the Heavenly Yuan Brush to the Spirit Devour stage?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, ¡°Senior sister is indeed intelligent.¡± The nostalgia in Chi Jing¡¯s eyes soon turned to jealousy. ¡°I begged our master for a long time, but he refused to give me the Heavenly Yuan Brush. In the end, it went to you.¡± Zhou Yuan forced a smile and dared not speak. ¡°But it¡¯s good that you¡¯re prepared. The Heavenly Spirit Sect has been plotting for the position of the chief pavilion masters for many years. Given old man Xuan Kun¡¯s personality, he will inevitably give Lu Xiao as much help as possible. Of course, you don¡¯t need to worry, because he won¡¯t dare to go too far,¡± Chi Jing cautioned. ¡°Senior sister, don¡¯t worry. I will also go into closed-door cultivation soon.¡± Zhou Yuan grasped the red copper sphere, feeling the heat emitting from it. Chapter 869 Closed-door cultivation When Zhou Yuan returned, Yi Qiushui came to find him right away and reported everything. ¡°The Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion have suddenly lifted the ban of the four mother runes and permitted the sales of the four mother runes in the two pavilions.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed when he heard this. ¡°What do you think about this?¡± Yi Qiushui hesitated for a moment before she responded, ¡°It must be because the opposition is too great, and they couldn¡¯t suppress them anymore.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the most important reason. It¡¯s because the chief pavilion master battle is next month, and the outcome of all the competitions will appear then.¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s pretty face changed slightly. ¡°You mean Lu Xiao no longer intends to use these little tricks but wants to properly defeat you in the chief pavilion master battle? And then after gaining the position of chief pavilion master, he will have the final say in everything in the entire four pavilions?¡± At that time, Lu Xiao could even ask Zhou Yuan to surrender the refining method of the four mother runes with various reasons. If Zhou Yuan refused, he could dismiss him from the position of wind pavilion master! Ye Bingling¡¯s cold, beautiful face also grew serious. Lu Xiao¡¯s retreat at this time wasn¡¯t a real retreat; it was to gather more terrifying strength for his next punch. This time it would undoubtedly be a powerful attack. ¡°He¡¯s smart,¡± Zhou Yuan remarked calmly. Lu Xiao¡¯s decision was flawless and could kill in one strike. As long as he wins the position of chief pavilion master, the previous adverse wind would all be reversible. ¡°What about Lu Xiao himself?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Yi Qiushui shook her head. ¡°It is said that ever since the Heaven Flame Ritual, Lu Xiao hasn¡¯t been seen much. If my guess is correct, he should be preparing for the chief pavilion master battle.¡± ¡°What do we do?¡± A worried look crossed Ye Bingling¡¯s beautiful face. The pressure brought by Lu Xiao wasn¡¯t small. It didn¡¯t matter that the Wind Pavilion had defeated the Fire Pavilion in recent confrontations; she knew very well that the reason for this was that Lu Xiao, the strongest trump card of the Fire Pavilion, hadn¡¯t made a move. Although Zhou Yuan was strong, if he were against Lu Xiao, even Ye Bingling wouldn¡¯t have much confidence in him. Lu Xiao¡¯s prestige in the Tianyuan Region wasn¡¯t derived from the Heaven Spirit Sect. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about. My goal of coming to the Wind Pavilion isn¡¯t just the position of pavilion master.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, revealing his ambition. There was bound to be a battle between Lu Xiao and him. ¡°I will leave the Wind Pavilion to you guys for a period of time. I¡¯m going to go into closed-door cultivation.¡± Zhou Yuan waved to the two women and then strode out. But immediately they let out deep sighs. They naturally hoped Zhou Yuan could become the chief pavilion master. However, Lu Xiao was a fierce tiger blocking his path. If Zhou Yuan failed, the power that the Wind Pavilion had gained recently would be severely suppressed. A worried look crossed the two women¡¯s faces. In a closed-off room. In the center, a bronze cauldron stood quietly with Zhou Yuan sitting cross-legged inside it. The cauldron was inscribed with many ancient patterns, which emitted a faint golden glow. A fiery heat lingered around them that caused the temperature in the cauldron to be extremely high. Even metal would be melted inside the cauldron. Zhou Yuan was extremely satisfied with his environment. This was a unique cultivation room of the Wind Pavilion, and its effects were far stronger than other rooms on Wind Island. He opened the palm of his hand, and a red copper sphere shot out. Blazing golden flames were inside the red sphere, resembling flowing golden lava. ¡°Heavenly Sun Flames.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes blazed. Immediately, without any hesitation, he operated his Spirit to open the red sphere, and countless golden flames roared out like a fire dragon, flooding the entire cauldron. The temperature in the cauldron suddenly soared to a terrifying level. The clothes on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body instantly turned into nothingness. He closed his eyes slightly and inhaled deeply only to see the golden Heavenly Sun Flames turn into a line of fire and whizz into his mouth as he breathed. When the raging Heavenly Sun Flames poured into his body, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s incomparably tough body trembled violently, and an indescribable burning pain spread throughout him as if to incinerate him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face contorted in a grimace of pain, and his eyes reddened. He gritted his teeth and didn¡¯t even groan in pain once. He guided the movement of the Heavenly Sun Flames through his body and brought them to the Divine Dwellings. There, six of the Divine Dwellings were connected, and within them were millions of Genesis Qi stars flashing brightly amidst mighty Genesis Qi surging endlessly. The moment the Heavenly Sun Flames entered the divine palace, it was like a flame rushing into a pot of oil. Wisps of Heavenly Sun Flame frantically erupted into a sea of flames and directly engulfed the tens of millions of Genesis Qi stars. The golden flames incinerated the Genesis Qi stars, producing wisps of faint mist. The bulk of the Genesis Qi stars seemed to be reducing. But from this shrinkage, Zhou Yuan could see that the rays of light bursting out from the Genesis Qi stars were getting stronger and brighter. That feeling was as though the Heavenly Sun Flames were burning away the almost imperceptible impurities contained within the Genesis Qi. ¡°Is this the effect of the Heavenly Sun Flames? Impressive.¡± Feeling the changes of his Genesis Qi stars, Zhou Yuan was filled with wonder and amazement. He was eager to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage. After all, that meant he could produce Heavenly Sun Flames as he wished to refine his Genesis Qi. Under this kind of refining, the Genesis Qi cultivated by Heavenly Sun stage experts was most likely better in terms of grade and quality than natural Genesis Qi and those cultivated by people of lower cultivation levels. Moreover, as the Heavenly Sun Flames raged in the Divine Dwellings, Zhou Yuan found that the barrier leading to the seventh Divine Dwelling began to show signs of melting. This made Zhou Yuan even more pleased because as long as the Divine Dwelling barrier was melted away, he would be able to connect the seventh Divine Dwelling and completely step into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage! As for how much his Genesis Qi foundation would grow after connecting to the seventh Divine Dwelling, Zhou Yuan had great expectations. ¡°No wonder the Heaven Flame Ritual is one of the two great benefits of the Tianyuan Region to attract heaven prides.¡± Zhou Yuan cleared his mind. He knew that this kind of refining would last for a period of time, but he wasn¡¯t in a hurry and knew he had enough time. At this time, Lu Xiao, Han Yuan and Mu Liu were also doing everything they could do to improve their strength in preparation for the upcoming chief pavilion master battle. And once Zhou Yuan opened up the seventh Divine Dwelling and reached the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, he had the confidence that he wouldn¡¯t be weaker than any one of them in any way. Thinking of the chief pavilion master battle approaching in one month, Zhou Yuan was filled with fighting spirit. For that day, he had been working incredibly hard ever since he came to the Tianyuan Region. He had gotten rid of all the obstacles along the way; therefore, he needed to pass the last hurdle. Chapter 870 Zuo Ya Here, even experts of the Heavenly Sun stage weren¡¯t considered too extraordinary. If it weren¡¯t for the special status that the four pavilions had in the Tianyuan Utopia, the topic of the Heaven Flame Ritual would have lasted less than half a month. Therefore, even Zhou Yuan, the pavilion master who stood out at the Heaven Flame Ritual, was quickly forgotten and only occasionally mentioned. But as time passed, the names of Zhou Yuan, Lu Xiao, Han Yuan and Mu Liu had unknowingly and gradually gathered interest in the Tianyuan Utopia. This was only because of the upcoming battle between the four pavilion masters. The hierarchy in Tianyuan Utopia was incredibly strict. In addition to the five high and mighty grand elders, the elders of the elder committee were most respected. And even the five grand elders would compete for a seat in the elder committee. In the absence of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, there was no one in the entire Tianyuan Region who had the final say in major decisions. Instead, those major decisions had to be voted on through the elder committee, which clearly showed the importance of the elder committee in the Tianyuan Region. But to hold an elder position in the Tianyuan Region, the first condition was to reach the Nascent Source stage, and they also had to pass through various tests. The difficulty of this could not be said to be low. But there was one exception to this¡ªthe position of chief pavilion master. This position was extremely unique because the four pavilions represented the new blood of the Tianyuan Region in the future, so the chief pavilion master was the only one not required to meet the condition of possessing strength of the Nascent Source stage. Even so, the position was equivalent to an elder of the elder committee, and the holder had the right to vote on major decisions. Therefore, once one ascended to this position, one could be said to have reached heaven in a single bound and was a well-deserved higher-up. Therefore, the four pavilions¡¯ pavilion masters, including Lu Xiao, wouldn¡¯t attract much attention in the Tianyuan Region. But if any one of them were to ascend to the position of chief pavilion master, even experts of the Heavenly Sun stage wouldn¡¯t dare be disrespectful to him, and he would even be on the same level as some Nascent Source stage experts. This was the status that the chief pavilion master of the four pavilions had. Tianyuan Utopia, at a grand manor on an island. Bored, Yi Qiushui stared down from the upper levels of a building at the young boys and girls laughing and chatting. They were emitting an aura of liveliness and youth. It was a gathering. Yi Qiushui¡¯s grandfather, Yi Yan, was one of the high and mighty elders who often had to attend many events, whereas Yi Qiushui usually spent most of her time in the Wind Pavilion. But ever since the Heaven Flame Ritual, the four pavilions had been unexpectedly peaceful and Zhou Yuan had been in closed-door cultivation for many days, so she naturally returned home to accompany Yi Yan. Of course, the most important thing was that her little sister Yi Dong¡¯er had been brought to the Tianyuan Utopia a few days ago. Worried that she would be bored, she agreed to Yi Yan to attend the day¡¯s banquet. The young boys and girls below were naturally not ordinary people. They, like her, possessed extraordinary backgrounds, but the majority were too young and hadn¡¯t reached the Divine Dwelling stage, so they weren¡¯t able to join the four pavilions. Of course, they obviously hoped to join the four pavilions very much, so Yi Qiushui¡¯s presence naturally attracted a lot of attention, and to avoid being bothered, she had to hide on the upper floor of the building. ¡°I wonder how Zhou Yuan is?¡± Yi Qiushui gazed in the direction of Wind Island, a worried frown on her beautiful face. She knew that the upcoming pavilion master battle brought a great deal of pressure to Zhou Yuan, and his closed-door cultivation was his hope of breaking through to deal with Lu Xiao. Ye Qiushui couldn¡¯t help much in a battle of that level, and she could only deal with the many matters of the Wind Pavilion for him so that he wouldn¡¯t have to worry and would be able to concentrate on his breakthrough. Yi Qiushui sighed gently in her heart, then suddenly noticed a commotion in the courtyard below. There seemed to be an argument, which she didn¡¯t care about until she heard a familiar voice. It was Dong¡¯er. Yi Qiushui¡¯s slender brows knitted together in a frown, and her delicate body moved. Genesis Qi flashed as she appeared in the middle of many people. At this moment, there were several young girls arguing. There were three on one side and one on the other. It was Yi Dong¡¯er. Yi Dong¡¯er¡¯s face was flushed with anger as she stared at the three bossy girls. ¡°Dong¡¯er, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Yi Qiushui asked as she ran her eyes across the three girls. She recognised they were all daughters from famous families in the Tianyuan Utopia. Yi Dong¡¯er pouted. ¡°They insulted big brother Zhou Yuan and said he cheated.¡± Yi Qiushui realised that the families behind the three girls belonged to the Heavenly Spirit Sect. The sister of one of them was also the vice pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion. Recently, the Wind Pavilion had repeatedly beaten the Fire Pavilion under the leadership of Zhou Yuan and had made the Fire Pavilion lose face. As people who were inextricably linked to the Heavenly Spirit Sect, they naturally didn¡¯t have any good opinions of Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan had saved Yi Dong¡¯er¡¯s life before, so she had always liked and respected him. When she heard insults directed at Zhou Yuan, she naturally had to argue back. Yi Qiushui stared coldly at the three pretty young girls. The three girls all possessed strength of the Alpha-Origin stage, but they immediately felt a pressure that weakened their domineering manner when she stared at them coldly. Yi Qiushui, however, had a gentle nature and didn¡¯t bother arguing. She stretched out her hand to hold Yi Dong¡¯er and turned to leave. But just as she turned around, a mocking laughter sounded. ¡°Yi Qiushui, the little children are just telling the truth. Is there a need to be so serious?¡± Yi Qiushui halted her footsteps and turned her head to see a slender and tall silhouette coming out of the crowd. She came to stand next to the three girls, looking at her provocatively. ¡°Zuo Ya?¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s pretty face was icy cold. Of course she knew the tall girl in front of her¡ªshe was the vice pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion. Yi Qiushui glanced at the three girls in front of Zuo Ya, knowing that Zuo Ya had most likely directed the quarrel. The confrontation between Yi Qiushui and Zuo Ya suddenly became the most eye-catching in the courtyard. Many young boys and girls gathered around, staring at the two women curiously. After all, both Yi Qiushui and Zuo Ya were high-ranking members of the four pavilions. Seeing more and more people gathering around, the corners of Zuo Ya¡¯s red lips slightly curved upwards. These young boys and girls are most likely going to step foot into the Divine Dwelling stage in perhaps a year or so. The majority have important backgrounds and extraordinary talents, so it is worth some effort to pull them into joining the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side. It was precisely because of this thought that she set up the current situation. She wanted to take advantage of the occurrence to strike at Zhou Yuan and the Wind Pavilion, so as to create a bad impression of the Wind Pavilion in the hearts of the gathered seedlings. With these thoughts in her mind, the smile on Zuo Ya¡¯s lips turned more and more ruminative. She looked Yi Qiushui directly in the eye, and her indifferent voice echoed in the courtyard. Chapter 871 Gamble Zuo Ya smiled complacently when she saw Yi Qiushui¡¯s icy cold eyes. ¡°What? Yi Qiushui, you don¡¯t think it¡¯s right? Who here doesn¡¯t know how strong senior brother Lu Xiao is? The Fire Pavilion dominated the four pavilions for many years. Why would the Wind Pavilion repeatedly win power after Zhou Yuan came? ¡°He¡¯s only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, so how would he have that ability? What a joke! I don¡¯t believe there isn¡¯t something fishy about this!¡± The surrounding young girls all wore pensive looks. The Wind Pavilion¡¯s achievements during this period of time were indeed too amazing. Moreover, they were all achieved under the leadership of an intermediate Divine Dwelling stage expert who had been a nobody. To some extent, this was indeed unbelievable. Yi Dong¡¯er flushed with anger seeing Zuo Ya smearing Zhou Yuan, and she was about to refute Zuo Ya¡¯s words. But Yi Qiushui stopped her and stared at Zuo Ya being overbearing. She said indifferently, ¡°Two grand elders were also present at the Heaven Flame Ritual. If you say Zhou Yuan cheated, are you also suggesting the two grand elders are senile?¡± Zuo Ya¡¯s expression changed abruptly. Yi Qiushui¡¯s counterattack was undoubtedly ruthless. She had directly tagged her with a label that not even the elders of her family could bear. After all, both Chi Jing and the sect master Xuan Kun were supreme beings in the Tianyuan Region. The surrounding young boys and girls nodded one after another. They didn¡¯t know how Zhou Yuan was able to do it, but if he had cheated, how could he have fooled the two grand elders? They were Law Domain experts! Zuo Ya¡¯s expression changed. She didn¡¯t dare to dwell on the topic anymore. ¡°Yi Qiushui, a sharp tongue doesn¡¯t change anything. The chief pavilion master battle is near, and at that time senior brother Lu Xiao will make Zhou Yuan understand what is a contemptible clown! ¡°When senior brother Lu Xiao becomes the chief pavilion master, we will take back all the advantages that your Wind Pavilion took!¡± When talking about Lu Xiao, Zuo Ya¡¯s eyes were filled with admiration, but at the mention of Zhou Yuan there was disdain and scorn again in her eyes. In her opinion, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t worthy of being compared to Lu Xiao, and his previous wins were all because Lu Xiao hadn¡¯t made a move. Moreover, the Heaven Flame Ritual focused on Spirit power, which wasn¡¯t Lu Xiao¡¯s strong point. Otherwise, if Lu Xiao had acted, how could Zhou Yuan have been able to take advantage of the situation and rise to fame? ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of being embarrassed by the result? Hasn¡¯t your Fire Pavilion learned enough lessons over the past few months?¡± Zuo Ya refused to concede and argued, ¡°Those previous wins are trivial. Yi Qiushui, you also know what the result of the chief pavilion master battle would be!¡± Yi Qiushui clenched her hands tight inside her sleeves and gave her a cold-eyed stare. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You don¡¯t agree?¡± Zuo Ya smiled mockingly. ¡°If you don¡¯t agree, do you dare gamble with me? Let¡¯s bet whether the chief pavilion master position will fall to senior brother Lu Xiao or to pavilion master Zhou Yuan? ¡°The stake is simple: 3000 origin coins. Do you dare to bet?¡± Many people gasped out loud. Three thousand origin coins wasn¡¯t a small amount, and even though Zuo Ya was the Fire Pavilion¡¯s vice pavilion master, it was most likely more than half of her earnings over the years. Facing the wager, Yi Qiushui simply snorted and pulled Yi Dong¡¯er away, ignoring Zuo Ya. Zuo Ya was clearly setting her up. If she lost the bet, Zuo Ya would use it as an excuse to slander the Wind Pavilion. ¡°It seems that you also know that your pavilion master has no chance of winning. Compared with senior brother Lu Xiao, Zhou Yuan is just a firefly.¡± Zuo Ya smiled, but her words were unusually sharp. ¡°Yi Qiushui, I advise you to persuade your pavilion master to admit defeat early. If he does, it won¡¯t be so embarrassing for him. I have heard that senior brother Lu Xiao is very unhappy with him and will most likely not hold back in the chief pavilion master battle.¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s footsteps halted, and her usual gentle face was covered with frost. She couldn¡¯t accept Zuo Ya publicly insulting Zhou Yuan, even if she knew that Zuo Ya was deliberately trying to provoke her. She was now the vice pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion and couldn¡¯t let Zuo Ya attack them in public. She slowly turned around, coldly staring at Zuo Ya. Zuo Ya didn¡¯t care and said mockingly, ¡°What? You¡¯re going to bet?¡± ¡°If you want to bet so much, I will join you, but your bet is really too small.¡± Zuo Ya raised her long shapely brows with a hint of anger in her eyes, which she suppressed in the end and sneered, ¡°Then what do you want?¡± ¡°Ten thousand origin coins,¡± Yi Qiushui stated loud and clear as she stared directly at Zuo Ya. ¡°Since you want to bet so much, bet more. If you don¡¯t have the guts, shut your mouth!¡± Hua! Everyone was struck dumb. Ten thousand origin coins was no small amount. Even Yi Qiushui and Zuo Ya, who both had powerful backgrounds, would suffer greatly if they lost the bet. Evidently, Yi Qiushui was enraged. Zuo Ya¡¯s face stiffened, and she didn¡¯t dare speak for a good while. If she were to lose 10,000 origin coins, would she still be able to continue to cultivate in the future? Is Yi Qiushui crazy?! Zuo Ya had only planned to provoke Yi Qiushui, but she hadn¡¯t expected her to be so crazy. ¡°What, you don¡¯t dare?¡± Yi Qiushui looked contemptuously at Zuo Ya. Zuo Ya¡¯s complexion alternated between blue and white. Looking at Yi Qiushui¡¯s contemptuous gaze, she was abnormally furious, but in the end she snorted, ¡°Since you want to give me origin coins so much, how can I refuse?¡± ¡°Ten thousand origin coins it is then!¡± Although shocked by the large number of 10,000 origin coins, Zuo Ya felt that Yi Qiushui only said it out of anger. After all, she didn¡¯t believe Zhou Yuan, who was only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, could win against Lu Xiao! Those previous victories were undoubtedly ridiculous in the face of absolute strength. ¡°Yi Qiushui, we all heard this bet. I hope you won¡¯t deny it in the future. Otherwise, I will have to find elder Yi Yan to ask for it!¡± Zuo Ya said. ¡°You have to remember it too. If you don¡¯t acknowledge the bet, I¡¯ll also ask the elders of your Zuo family.¡± Yi Qiushui pulled Yi Dong¡¯er and turned away. Zuo Ya snorted coldly before she left. As they left, the young boys and girls burst into gasps of astonishment. Their bet would soon spread throughout the Tianyuan Region. Yi Dong¡¯er had also heard of Lu Xiao¡¯s reputation, so on the way home, she asked in a concerned voice, ¡°Big sister, will brother Zhou Yuan win?¡± Deep in thought, Yi Qiushui stroked Yi Dong¡¯er¡¯s head for a moment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s confident face and gaze crossed her mind, so the corners of her red lips curved upwards into a beautiful smile, and she nodded. ¡°He will certainly win! If he loses, your sister will have to sell herself to him and work for him to earn back the bet.¡± ¡°Hehe, big sister, I think you would prefer to lose, then!¡± Chapter 872 Advanced Divine Dwelling Stage As participants in the battle, the four pavilion masters, Lu Xiao, Zhou Yuan, Han Yuan and Mu Liu, were also burning with excitement. Gambling shops were even opening up to bet on which pavilion master would win the title of chief pavilion master. They were extremely popular. Unsurprisingly, Lu Xiao was the most popular candidate. After all, no matter what, Lu Xiao was deservedly called the strongest person of the young generation in the Tianyuan Region. Even if there was something fishy regarding his ninth ranking on the Divine Dwelling List, his strength was recognised by many. In addition to Lu Xiao, Han Yuan and Mu Liu¡ªwho were always second to Lu Xiao in the Tianyuan region¡ªalso had a chance of winning the position of chief pavilion master. As for Zhou Yuan, he was in last place. Although the Wind Pavilion had soared under Zhou Yuan¡¯s leadership in the past few months and had even beaten the Fire Pavilion in the Heaven Flame Ritual, everybody knew that there were some tricks regarding the four mother runes and the Heaven Flame Ritual. The chief pavilion master battle, however, was a true competition of one¡¯s own strength. Any trickery wouldn¡¯t be effective. So, Zhou Yuan, who only possessed strength of the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage, didn¡¯t give other people much confidence. It was understandable that not many people thought highly of him. And while the entire Tianyuan Utopia was closely paying attention to the chief pavilion master battle, the gamble between Yi Qiushui and Zuo Ya also became known and sparked many discussions. After all, 10,000 origin coins wasn¡¯t a small amount. Many people secretly pitied Yi Qiushui when they heard about the gamble between the two women. It was clearly a set-up by Zuo Ya; how could Yi Qiushui be fooled? Even if she was wealthy, she shouldn¡¯t ruin her family like that right? But no matter what, the gamble had been decided and brought the excitement of the chief pavilion master battle to a new height. Thus, while being discussed by millions of people, the chief pavilion master battle was only one day away. Wind Island, a closed-off room. Inside the cauldron were blazing Heavenly Sun Flames and a terrifying heat gathering. A figure was quietly sitting cross-legged in the middle of the raging flames. His skin was sparkling and translucent like jade, and in the depths of the emitted jade light seemed to be something silvery. It was Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were tightly closed, and his breathing was like a dragon, inhaling and exhaling golden flames. The Heavenly Sun Flames in the cauldron were gradually depleting, and when the last flame was swallowed by Zhou Yuan, the cauldron dimmed. Zhou Yuan was still sitting cross-legged quietly, like a rock, with no response. This silence lasted for three hours. At one point, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body quivered, and from his body, there seemed to be a subtle cracking. The noise sounded pleasant, and when it passed through his body, it seemed that even his flow of blood became much smoother, like the sound of heaven. It was the sound of walls breaking! The seventh Divine Dwelling was finally connected! Zhou Yuan¡¯s closed eyes suddenly sprang open, and golden light burst out like a real substance. Then, a gush of Genesis qi erupted from his body like a volcano. Roar! The azure-golden Genesis Qi shrouded Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure and vaguely seemed to transform into a giant spiraling serpent. Bang! The lid of the cauldron was directly blasted up, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, like a flash of lightning, broke through the roof of the cultivation room and appeared above Wind Island. He let out a long roar, facing the gusts of astral wind around Wind Island. The azure light shadow coiled around his body, withstanding all the astral wind. The whistling of wind continued for a good while before it finally stopped. And on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was an undisguised look of joy. In this closed-door cultivation, as he had wished, he opened up the seventh Divine Dwelling and truly stepped into the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. Zhou Yuan calmed his emotions and felt the inside of the Divine Dwelling. The corners of his mouth curved in an undisguised joyful smile. Six million! Having connected the seventh Divine Dwelling, the number of Genesis Qi stars in his Divine Dwellings grew by six million! The increase was greater than any of his previous ascensions! His Genesis Qi foundation had previously reached 15 million Genesis Qi stars, but now, following the increase of six million, he had directly broken through the 20 million level, reaching the terrifying figure of 21 million! It should be said that when he had fought against Fang Ao, even if he had activated both the Wind Spirit Rune and the Fire Spirit Rune, he had only reached 20 million! But now, before any other means were used, his Genesis Qi foundation surpassed his full strength of that time. From this it was clear how much benefit this breakthrough brought Zhou Yuan! ¡°Chaos Divine Dwellings are really amazing!¡± Even Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help feeling overjoyed. He knew that the reason his Genesis Qi foundation could increase like this was primarily due to his variant Divine Dwelling. The most frightening thing was that he now had room for another two ascensions. Once he connected through to the ninth Divine Dwellings, what sort of level would his Genesis Qi foundation reach? Zhou Yuan dared to say that at that time the number of people in the Divine Dwelling stage whose Genesis Qi foundation was comparable to his in the entire Hunyuan Heaven would be no more than five. In addition, during this closed-door cultivation session, his breakthrough to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage wasn¡¯t his only harvest. Zhou Yuan slightly closed his eyes, and his beating heart sounded in his ear. As it pounded, golden light flowed around it. The light was in actuality drops of golden blood! It was the golden blood of the Mythic Saint Body! In the past, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Mythic Saint Body could at most produce a dozen drops of golden blood, but after close to one month of being refined by the Heavenly Sun Flames, not only did Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi become purer, his body became stronger and received great benefits. There were more than two hundred drops of golden blood! The golden blood, once activated, would undoubtedly allow Zhou Yuan¡¯s bodily strength to skyrocket. This harvest could be said to be a pleasant surprise that also greatly improved his combat strength. As Zhou Yuan felt the majestic Genesis Qi flowing in his body and his increasingly tyrannical bodily strength, his eyes filled with satisfaction. After a while, he peered into the distance only to see many figures hastily approaching. They were Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui with surprised looks on their faces. They had evidently been attracted by his movements and noises. Zhou Yuan looked at them, then turned his attention to the direction of the Fire Pavilion in the distance, an intense battle intent blazing in his eyes. After his breakthrough, there was nothing he feared. Even in the face of Lu Xiao, he still had the power to fight. Chapter 867 The Chief Pavilion Master Battle Begins All across the world, countless silhouettes whizzed towards the center of the Tianyuan Utopia like locusts. There, the chief pavilion master battle would be held on a battlefield. It was a huge floating island, and around the island were mountain ranges that stretched endlessly, filled with a wild and ancient atmosphere. The natural Genesis Qi on the floating island was also extremely pure. For a place like this, only those who held a high and mighty elder position in the Tianyuan Utopia were allowed to set up a residence for cultivation training. Therefore the island was usually closed off and inaccessible to ordinary people. But that day was the chief pavilion master battle, and everyone was allowed in. It was a treat for many people and made them yearn even more for the benefits of becoming an elder of Tianyuan Utopia. In the depths of the mountain range was a towering mountain standing like a giant, shrouded in mist and clouds. The mist, however, wasn¡¯t ordinary; it was formed from the excessively rich Genesis Qi on the island. Swoosh! Countless silhouettes swept across the sky from all directions, then landed on the mountain ranges around the towering mountain. The tranquility of the mountain range had long been broken. Countless noises filled the sky, and even the clouds were torn apart. It seemed that more than half of the population of Tianyuan Utopia had come to watch the chief pavilion master battle. This was no doubt a magnificent sight. The countless people cast their eyes to the foot of the towering mountain where there were four areas, each one crowded with people. Judging from the pattern and emblem on their clothes, they were the young and spirited people from the four pavilions. At the forefront of each of the four pavilions was a leading figure, each exuding an extraordinary aura. They were the four main protagonists of that day¡¯s chief pavilion master battle, the four pavilion masters! ¡°What a spectacular sight!¡± Zhou Yuan scanned the endless figures that filled the area. Even though he had seen many spectacular sights of world, he still couldn¡¯t help feeling a little stunned. The things he had experienced before, including the Heaven Flame Ritual, were far inferior to that day. ¡°This is after all a battle for the chief pavilion master position.¡± Yi Qiushui smiled. The position was extraordinary. In normal terms, it would be equivalent to a Nascent Source stage expert, and a Nascent Source expert, if placed in any one of the heavens, was undoubtedly a top-level being. Zhou Yuan nodded and joked to Yi Qiushui, ¡°I heard you made a bet with someone and placed 10,000 origin coins on me? What a rich little woman.¡± When Yi Qiushui heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s teasing, her cheeks flushed, and she immediately shot an angry glare at Zhou Yuan. ¡°If you lose, I¡¯ll just give away my entire fortune. Anyway, I have a little share in the sale of the four mother runes.¡± Ye Bingling stretched out her hand to hug Yi Qiushui¡¯s slender waist, comforting, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I also can¡¯t stand Zuo Ya and have long wanted to teach her a lesson. If you lose, I will pay half.¡± ¡°The earnings from the gamble belongs to Qiushui because she had the courage. Senior sister Ye, it¡¯s not right to just poke your nose in,¡± Zhou Yuan said leisurely. This remark suddenly made the people around him roll their eyes. Ye Bingling also said snappily, ¡°You are so full of yourself. You haven¡¯t started fighting yet, and you act like the chief pavilion master position is already in your pocket.¡± Yi Qiushui covered her mouth and chuckled, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s relaxed attitude undoubtedly made her and the others secretly relieved. After all, no matter what the final result was, it was good to see him relaxed as opposed to uneasy. The atmosphere relaxed a little, but Ye Bingling couldn¡¯t help but poke Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm and whisper, ¡°Can you really do it?¡± Zhou Yuan answered in a serious voice, ¡°All men can do it.¡± Everyone around them broke into laughter, and Ye Bingling blushed with embarrassment, her face and neck turning red. Then, icy Genesis Qi gathered into an icicle between her fingers, and she aimed it fiercely at Zhou Yuan¡¯s waist. This bastard dared to tease her. But after Zhou Yuan¡¯s teasing, the tense and almost depressive atmosphere on the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side had dissipated, and everyone started to whisper to one another. Seeing this, Zhou Yuan nodded secretly. Now that countless people were watching the four pavilions, if they looked nervous and restless, it would make people look down on them. In the distance, someone from the Fire Pavilion was also watching the Wind Pavilion. ¡°The high and mighty pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion is just a trash that likes to show off.¡± A tall woman sneered. It was Zuo Ya, who had previously made a bet with Yi Qiushui. Immediately, she looked at the figure standing tall in front of her, a deep admiration flashing across her eyes. She said in a soft voice, ¡°Senior brother Lu Xiao, I have bet everything on you. You have to win beautifully. ¡°If you run into that guy, it¡¯s best if you win by directly crushing and letting him understand his own strength.¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s expression was calm and indifferent. He peered ahead and didn¡¯t even glance once in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. ¡°Junior sister, don¡¯t worry. As the pavilion master, I have the responsibility to get back everything that our Fire Pavilion had previously lost. ¡°In truth, I don¡¯t want Zhou Yuan to be utterly crushed by me. It would be better if I could show some ability. Otherwise, the previous defeats would be even more embarrassing.¡± Zuo Ya nodded. Losing to a capable person was better than losing to a trash. That way it could act as a cloth to cover the Fire Pavilion¡¯s previous failures. Of course, the most important thing was that the Fire Pavilion had to stand until the end. Lu Xiao didn¡¯t say anything more. In truth, he could sense that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had increased once again. But so what? He had been preparing for the battle for a long, long time. And after today, I will climb to the top of the four pavilions and become a real higher-up of the Tianyuan region! Lu Xiao thought, his eyes blazing. Om! And while Lu Xiao was thinking, a strange sound began resounding between heaven and the earth, and everyone noticed a vast and infinite force appearing. Under this powerful force, even experts of the Nascent Source stage felt their Genesis Qi go somewhat out of control. In the Tianyuan Region, only Law Domain experts could make Nascent Source stage experts feel this way. Thus, countless people gazed in awe at the void as mighty and pure Genesis Qi gathered together and split into five woven mats in the sky. Clouds and mist gathered around the mats, floating in the air like immortals. On the five woven mats were five figures gradually taking shape, appearing under countless awed gazes. It was also at this time that Zhou Yuan solemnly lifted his head to look at the five figures. He didn¡¯t expect the chief pavilion master battle would attract the other three grand elders besides Chi Jing and Xuan Kun. The five supreme leaders of the Tianyuan Region had all showed up! Chapter 873 The Chief Pavilion Master Battle Begins All across the world, countless silhouettes whizzed towards the center of the Tianyuan Utopia like locusts. There, the chief pavilion master battle would be held on a battlefield. It was a huge floating island, and around the island were mountain ranges that stretched endlessly, filled with a wild and ancient atmosphere. The natural Genesis Qi on the floating island was also extremely pure. For a place like this, only those who held a high and mighty elder position in the Tianyuan Utopia were allowed to set up a residence for cultivation training. Therefore the island was usually closed off and inaccessible to ordinary people. But that day was the chief pavilion master battle, and everyone was allowed in. It was a treat for many people and made them yearn even more for the benefits of becoming an elder of Tianyuan Utopia. In the depths of the mountain range was a towering mountain standing like a giant, shrouded in mist and clouds. The mist, however, wasn¡¯t ordinary; it was formed from the excessively rich Genesis Qi on the island. Swoosh! Countless silhouettes swept across the sky from all directions, then landed on the mountain ranges around the towering mountain. The tranquility of the mountain range had long been broken. Countless noises filled the sky, and even the clouds were torn apart. It seemed that more than half of the population of Tianyuan Utopia had come to watch the chief pavilion master battle. This was no doubt a magnificent sight. The countless people cast their eyes to the foot of the towering mountain where there were four areas, each one crowded with people. Judging from the pattern and emblem on their clothes, they were the young and spirited people from the four pavilions. At the forefront of each of the four pavilions was a leading figure, each exuding an extraordinary aura. They were the four main protagonists of that day¡¯s chief pavilion master battle, the four pavilion masters! ¡°What a spectacular sight!¡± Zhou Yuan scanned the endless figures that filled the area. Even though he had seen many spectacular sights of world, he still couldn¡¯t help feeling a little stunned. The things he had experienced before, including the Heaven Flame Ritual, were far inferior to that day. ¡°This is after all a battle for the chief pavilion master position.¡± Yi Qiushui smiled. The position was extraordinary. In normal terms, it would be equivalent to a Nascent Source stage expert, and a Nascent Source expert, if placed in any one of the heavens, was undoubtedly a top-level being. Zhou Yuan nodded and joked to Yi Qiushui, ¡°I heard you made a bet with someone and placed 10,000 origin coins on me? What a rich little woman.¡± When Yi Qiushui heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s teasing, her cheeks flushed, and she immediately shot an angry glare at Zhou Yuan. ¡°If you lose, I¡¯ll just give away my entire fortune. Anyway, I have a little share in the sale of the four mother runes.¡± Ye Bingling stretched out her hand to hug Yi Qiushui¡¯s slender waist, comforting, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I also can¡¯t stand Zuo Ya and have long wanted to teach her a lesson. If you lose, I will pay half.¡± ¡°The earnings from the gamble belongs to Qiushui because she had the courage. Senior sister Ye, it¡¯s not right to just poke your nose in,¡± Zhou Yuan said leisurely. This remark suddenly made the people around him roll their eyes. Ye Bingling also said snappily, ¡°You are so full of yourself. You haven¡¯t started fighting yet, and you act like the chief pavilion master position is already in your pocket.¡± Yi Qiushui covered her mouth and chuckled, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s relaxed attitude undoubtedly made her and the others secretly relieved. After all, no matter what the final result was, it was good to see him relaxed as opposed to uneasy. The atmosphere relaxed a little, but Ye Bingling couldn¡¯t help but poke Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm and whisper, ¡°Can you really do it?¡± Zhou Yuan answered in a serious voice, ¡°All men can do it.¡± Everyone around them broke into laughter, and Ye Bingling blushed with embarrassment, her face and neck turning red. Then, icy Genesis Qi gathered into an icicle between her fingers, and she aimed it fiercely at Zhou Yuan¡¯s waist. This bastard dared to tease her. But after Zhou Yuan¡¯s teasing, the tense and almost depressive atmosphere on the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side had dissipated, and everyone started to whisper to one another. Seeing this, Zhou Yuan nodded secretly. Now that countless people were watching the four pavilions, if they looked nervous and restless, it would make people look down on them. In the distance, someone from the Fire Pavilion was also watching the Wind Pavilion. ¡°The high and mighty pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion is just a trash that likes to show off.¡± A tall woman sneered. It was Zuo Ya, who had previously made a bet with Yi Qiushui. Immediately, she looked at the figure standing tall in front of her, a deep admiration flashing across her eyes. She said in a soft voice, ¡°Senior brother Lu Xiao, I have bet everything on you. You have to win beautifully. ¡°If you run into that guy, it¡¯s best if you win by directly crushing and letting him understand his own strength.¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s expression was calm and indifferent. He peered ahead and didn¡¯t even glance once in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. ¡°Junior sister, don¡¯t worry. As the pavilion master, I have the responsibility to get back everything that our Fire Pavilion had previously lost. ¡°In truth, I don¡¯t want Zhou Yuan to be utterly crushed by me. It would be better if I could show some ability. Otherwise, the previous defeats would be even more embarrassing.¡± Zuo Ya nodded. Losing to a capable person was better than losing to a trash. That way it could act as a cloth to cover the Fire Pavilion¡¯s previous failures. Of course, the most important thing was that the Fire Pavilion had to stand until the end. Lu Xiao didn¡¯t say anything more. In truth, he could sense that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had increased once again. But so what? He had been preparing for the battle for a long, long time. And after today, I will climb to the top of the four pavilions and become a real higher-up of the Tianyuan region! Lu Xiao thought, his eyes blazing. Om! And while Lu Xiao was thinking, a strange sound began resounding between heaven and the earth, and everyone noticed a vast and infinite force appearing. Under this powerful force, even experts of the Nascent Source stage felt their Genesis Qi go somewhat out of control. In the Tianyuan Region, only Law Domain experts could make Nascent Source stage experts feel this way. Thus, countless people gazed in awe at the void as mighty and pure Genesis Qi gathered together and split into five woven mats in the sky. Clouds and mist gathered around the mats, floating in the air like immortals. On the five woven mats were five figures gradually taking shape, appearing under countless awed gazes. It was also at this time that Zhou Yuan solemnly lifted his head to look at the five figures. He didn¡¯t expect the chief pavilion master battle would attract the other three grand elders besides Chi Jing and Xuan Kun. The five supreme leaders of the Tianyuan Region had all showed up! Chapter 874 Five Grand Elders In the absence of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, these five people were the supreme leaders of the Tianyuan Region. Without mentioning their status, they still possessed powers of the Law Domain stage, which was enough to dominate any area. In normal times, it was incredibly difficult to see the five grand elders appear at the same time, so it was an eye-opener for many people. Zhou Yuan also bowed down to pay his respect, then lifted his head to look at the five imposing figures faintly exuding auras that could suppress the entire world. None of the five figures were any weaker than sect master Qing Yan of the Cangxuan Sect. In addition to Chi Jing and sect master Xuan Kun, whom he had met before, there was a beautiful woman in a green dress. Her skin was like white jade, and her eyes were as peaceful as water. She radiated a pleasant and relaxing aura around her, like an ancient forest. Adding to this, Zhou Yuan felt an indescribable life force from her body. She simply sat there quietly, but it seemed as though lush green plants were constantly growing out of thin air in the space around her and turning into faint green specks of light. ¡°She¡¯s the clan elder of the Wood Clan, clan elder Mu Ni,¡± Yi Qiushui whispered to Zhou Yuan. ¡°A very strong power of life,¡± Zhou Yuan marveled in a low voice. Zhou Yuan had practiced the Taiyi Green Wood Mark before so was particularly sensitive to the power of life. When he saw clan elder Mu Ni, he could distinctly feel the Taiyi Green Wood Mark in his body cheering, as though a hint of her life force would lead to great improvements in his cultivation. ¡°Of course, clan elder Mu Ni is very famous in the Hunyuan Heaven, and she is known as the holy jade hand who can easily cure any injuries. Even experts of the same level are very polite to her. After all, anyone can get injured,¡± Ye Bingling explained. ¡°But clan elder Mu Ni has always kept a low profile. Even in the Tianyuan Utopia, she is rarely seen, and if it wasn¡¯t the chief pavilion master battle today, I don¡¯t think she would have appeared.¡± Zhou Yuan trembled. He wondered whether clan elder Mu Ni would be able to help Yaoyao recover. But he immediately shook his head. Yaoyao¡¯s identity was extremely mysterious and most likely not ordinary. Otherwise, there wouldn¡¯t be a need for the Ancestral Dragon Lantern and ancestral dragon blood, two legendary objects, to help her recover. Since his master Cang Yuan hadn¡¯t mentioned it before, asking her would most likely be of little use. Ye Bingling whispered again, ¡°Also, I heard that clan elder Mu Ni has feelings towards supreme sovereign Cang Yuan.¡± But it was unknown whether it was unrequited. After all, he had never heard his master mention her. Zhou Yuan sighed, then cast his gaze upon the woven mat beside clan elder Mu Ni, where a slightly burly, middle-aged man sat with an indifferent expression. His eyes weren¡¯t ordinary and were transformed from a pair of crystal stones. A faint strange light radiated from his pupils, as if it could penetrate the nine ancient districts and explore the world. ¡°That''s the patriarch of the Profound Crystal Clan, Bian Chang. ¡°Members of the Profound Crystal Clan are born with crystal eyes, and as Genesis Qi accumulates, their eyes can shoot out heavenly crystal light that if it strikes, can turn people to stones. The power is abnormal and domineering,¡± Ye Bingling whispered in Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears. ¡°Given patriarch Bian Chang¡¯s strength, he only needs to sweep his gaze over and experts of the Heavenly Sun stage would turn to stone.¡± Zhou Yuan secretly smacked his lips. This was a benefit brought by bloodline. The Profound Crystal Clan was indeed blessed by heaven. He cast his gaze onto the last grand elder. It was a white-haired handsome youngster who seemed to be around the same age as him, but Zhou Yuan could feel an ancient aura being emitted from his body. He was clearly an old monster. ¡°That¡¯s the patriarch of the White Clan?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. ¡°Yes, the patriarch of the White Clan, Bai Ye.¡± ¡°The blood of the White Clan has an ability called white erosion. If it invades one¡¯s body, even the Genesis Qi will be infected with white poison, and once it exhausts the Genesis Qi, the victim will immediately perish. It is extremely vicious and domineering. ¡°There is also a rumour that patriarch Bai Ye¡¯s Law Domain is called the White Domain. Once the Law Domain spreads out, any person below the Heavenly Sun stage enveloped in the Law Domain will be turned to white fog. Even Nascent Source stage experts won¡¯t be able to endure long inside. A flicker of fear crossed Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He had heard from his senior sister Chi Jing that the Heavenly Spirit Sect, White Clan and Profound Crystal Clan had joined forces. All three were incredibly powerful. Fortunately, Chi Jing was close with the Wood Clan, and she could barely resist the others. And from the gossip he had just heard, the reason that clan elder Mu Ni would get close to Chi Jing was perhaps because of his master Cang Yuan. The situation in the Tianyuan Region was currently very complicated, and it was unknown when his senior brother would finish his closed-door cultivation. Otherwise, the Heavenly Spirit Sect and the others would still have the greater influence and power in the Tianyuan Region. While thoughts were churning in his mind, the five grand elders exchanged glances with one another in the void. In the end, they finally decided to let Chi Jing speak. She ran her clear eyes across the crowd, and the world fell silent. ¡°Today is the chief pavilion master battle between the four pavilions, and I believe you all already know the rules.¡± She turned to Lu Xiao, Zhou Yuan, Han Yuan and Mu Liu, and then pointed at the towering mountain. The clouds and mist around it gradually dispersed, revealing four long stone ladders that stretched endlessly up from the foot of the mountain and into the clouds. She looked at sect master Xuan Kun, who flicked his sleeve and brought out a token. The token was engraved with the Four Spirits Origin Tower on which there was an ancient ¡®chief¡¯ character. With a flick of her finger, the token hummed and turned into a stream of light that shot towards the peak of the towering mountain. At that moment, everyone felt a tremendous pressure bearing down from the top of the mountain as if mercury was flooding down and shrouding the whole mountain. Many experts of the Divine Dwelling stage looked terrified. Under that pressure, even the Genesis Qi in their bodies showed signs of freezing. ¡°If you want to climb to the top to compete for the token of the chief pavilion master, you must first climb the cloud ladder.¡± Chi Jing raised her hand into the air. An ancient bell reverberated throughout the world. Her indifferent voice also rang out, setting off excitement and a buzzing atmosphere. ¡°The rules have been set, pavilion masters¡­ ¡°Climb the ladder!¡± Chapter 875 Cloud Ladder Swoosh! Under countless gazes, the four figures shot out at almost the same time, directly speeding towards the white jade-like ladder. The four people had just reached the cloud ladder when they felt an extremely terrifying pressure spread towards them from all directions. The feeling was as if they were situated in the depths of the sea. There were levels upon levels of pressure. Under that kind of tremendous pressure, all four suddenly fell onto the ladder, unable to leap up. ¡°What powerful pressure!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. Under this pressure, it was as if he was carrying a mountain on his back and was unable to move forward. Adding to this, the cloud ladder was incredibly long. It was really a test of his ability to climb up. But he didn¡¯t impatiently climb the ladder, and he simply let the pressure envelop him for him to adapt first. In the void, the five imposing figures intently watched the four figures on the cloud ladders. ¡°In the past chief pavilion master battles, the cloud ladder suppression was only around 18 million Genesis Qi stars. Why has it reached 20 million this time?¡± Chi Jing asked. When the chief pavilion master token exuded the pressure, she had already noticed this, but the object was in sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s hand, so she didn¡¯t know what sect master Xuan Kun had set. Sect master Xuan Kun smiled. ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing is wrong. According to the rules, the pressure can be set between 15 million and 20 million. I only set it to 20 million, which is actually reasonable. Just consider it as a test for those little guys.¡± Chi Jing took a deep look at sect master Xuan Kun. How could she not know what that old man was thinking? He just wanted to create some difficulties for Zhou Yuan because one could only rely on their own Genesis Qi foundation on the cloud ladder. Any other objects were useless. Although the combat strength that Zhou Yuan had shown was indeed tyrannical, he was still only at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. Without any cultivation objects, in terms of foundation, he was indeed inferior to Lu Xiao and the others. But what sect master Xuan Kun said was right. There was no fixed value to the pressure, so even if he set it to 20 million, Chi Jing couldn¡¯t say anything. She didn¡¯t continue to argue, casting her gaze onto the cloud ladder. She knew that sect master Xuan Kun thought that this pressure could suppress Zhou Yuan. He really underestimated her master¡¯s eyes. At this time there were also countless people gazing at the four figures. They were spiritedly discussing things to each other. ¡°It is said that to climb this ladder one has to depend on one¡¯s own Genesis Qi foundation and one can¡¯t use other foreign objects. If your foundation isn¡¯t strong enough, it will be difficult to progress one step up the cloud ladder.¡± ¡°I think the level of Genesis Qi pressure is stronger than before.¡± ¡°It¡¯s indeed stronger. It seems that one must possess a foundation of at least 20 million stars to withstand it!¡± Hearing this number, many people gasped in astonishment. This foundation also couldn¡¯t be achieved with the help of foreign objects. It should be said that for people of the advanced Divine Dwelling stage to possess a Genesis Qi foundation of 10 million was already very amazing. Only the top heaven prides who opened up nine Divine Dwellings could achieve a Genesis Qi foundation of around that level when they reached the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Zuo Ya and Zhu Lian were standing together. Zuo Ya looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure from afar and sneered, ¡°A Genesis Qi foundation of 20 million¡ªthat guy couldn¡¯t have reached that level, right?¡± Zhu Lian responded, ¡°Even Fang Ao couldn¡¯t reach 20 million after activating the Fire Spirit Rune. Zhou Yuan is even less likely to have done so, right?¡± ¡°The combat strength he showed before is indeed strong, but he had mostly relied on foreign objects to achieve that.¡± ¡°If this guy can¡¯t pass the cloud ladder round, it will be really laughable.¡± Zuo Ya sneered. Smiling, Zhu Lian nodded. The stone ladder was originally intended to eliminate people with insufficient foundations. If Zhou Yuan only possessed the strength he did before, it would be impossible for him to reach the top of the mountain. Zuo Ya cast a glance over at Yi Qiushui on the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side, and their two gazes collided. The corners of Zuo Ya¡¯s red lips curved in an undisguised mocking smile, and she mouthed, ¡°Yi Qiushui, prepare your 10,000 origin coins!¡± However, Yi Qiushui simply glanced coldly at her and no longer paid any attention to her. Do these people think it is still the same as a month ago? ¡°Lu Xiao is starting!¡± Exclamations suddenly rang out because, after a moment of adjustment, Lu Xiao stomped his feet and rapidly rose up the ladder as though flying. Moreover, his expression was calm and relaxed. Countless people couldn¡¯t help but marvel when they saw him ascend. He was indeed worthy of being called the leader of the young generation of the Tianyuan Region. The fact that he was able to calmly advance and take the lead under this pressure showed that his Genesis Qi foundation had reached at least 20 million. After Lu Xiao moved, Han Yuan and Mu Liu also stepped up onto the ladder. They weren¡¯t as leisurely as Lu Xiao, but they were still able to rush up from time to time after a little pause. The pavilion masters of the Fire Pavilion, the Mountain Pavilion and the Forest Pavilion had begun to move up the cloud ladder leading to the top of the mountain. Zhou Yuan was the only one who hadn¡¯t moved. Was the Wind Pavilion¡¯s dark horse finally at the end of his rope? Amidst the countless hopeful, mocking and pitiful gazes, Zhou Yuan finally moved. He lifted his head and curiously studied the ladder. ¡°I can¡¯t use the wind spirit rune or any other objects?¡± Through the previous period of adaptation he already knew that if he wanted to climb to the top of the cloud ladder, he had to rely on his own Genesis Qi foundation to counter the pervasive pressure. And that Genesis Qi foundation had to be at least 20 million Genesis Qi stars! Zhou Yuan sighed emotionally. If he hadn¡¯t broken through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, he really wouldn¡¯t have been able to progress further than the cloud ladder round. But now, this round wasn¡¯t a problem for him. Thus, the Genesis Qi within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body pulsed around his body, and a mighty force burst forth. He lifted his feet and moved up the ladder step by step. His move attracted countless attention. ¡°Hah, one step at a time? Is he a turtle?¡± Zuo Ya sneered coldly and turned to look at her senior brother Lu Xiao, who was walking as if flying. How could Zhou Yuan be compared to his calm and relaxed manner? But her sneer didn¡¯t last long because everyone found that although Zhou Yuan¡¯s steps were slow, they were incredibly steady as if the terrifying pressure didn¡¯t exist. The feeling was like climbing an ordinary mountain. In an occasion like this, that kind of ordinary climbing posture was enough to make people feel that he wasn¡¯t ordinary. At the very least, Han Yuan and Mu Lie had to pause every dozens of breaths, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s climbing speed wasn¡¯t slower than theirs, yet he didn¡¯t need to stop once. From this anyone could see the difference in strength between them. On the cloud ladders, in addition to Zhou Yuan who was calm and relaxed, was Lu Xiao who had also taken the lead. An uproar broke out. From this scene it was clear that, based on Genesis Qi foundation alone, the wind pavilion master was superior to both Han Yuan and Mu Liu and could even compete with Lu Xiao! Chapter 876 Riding the Serpent Up Under such tremendous pressure, the fact that they could maintain their speed and continue to advance was already enough to show that the four candidates¡¯ Genesis Qi foundations were more than 20 million Genesis Qi stars. Otherwise it would have been difficult for them to move an inch. Of the four people, Lu Xiao¡¯s speed was the fastest as he took the lead. His clothes fluttering in the wind, he swiftly and calmly rose higher and higher. Behind him were Han Yuan and Mu Liu, who weren¡¯t as leisurely as Lu Xiao and had to pause for a moment every few dozens of breaths. Many people were looking at the last position, and that was Zhou Yuan. Although Zhou Yuan was last, no one dared underestimate him because they could see that Zhou Yuan¡¯s pace didn¡¯t slow down once. He steadily climbed one step at a time, and he was fast approaching Han Yuan and Mu Liu. What did that mean? It meant that Zhou Yuan was moving up the cloud ladder with ease but wasn¡¯t maintaining a fast speed as clearly as Lu Xiao. This discovery was a shock to many people, especially Fang Ao, Zuo Ya and the others of the Fire Pavilion. From the information they knew, although Zhou Yuan had impressive battle achievements, his Genesis Qi foundation was ranked last among all four pavilions masters. However, the scene before them made them know exactly how wrong they were. Zuo Ya¡¯s face flushed with anger because she remembered the look in Yi Qiushui¡¯s eyes. Yi Qiushui was clearly looking at her like a fool because she had long known that Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had once again soared. ¡°Hmph, what is there to be smug about? No matter how much his strength has improved, would he be stronger than senior brother Lu Xiao? ¡°There is only one chief pavilion master position. As long as the position falls to senior brother Lu Xiao, Zhou Yuan is still the loser!¡± With this thought, Zuo Ya took a deep breath and continued to watch the four ladders. One hour quickly passed by. The four figures were already more than halfway up the ladder, where the clouds and mist were fluttering. Everyone could see that as they climbed higher and higher, the pressure that was pouring down from above was becoming more viscous. If the front half was described as lake water, then the second half was like mud. It was also in this location that Zhou Yuan passed Han Yuan and Mu Liu, which immediately caused gasps and exclamations of surprise to ripple throughout the audience. The least favoured pavilion master, the wind pavilion master, had actually caught up. Now that countless people were watching, it would be really embarrassing to fall to last place. Therefore, each of the two took a deep breath. The Genesis Qi within their bodies surged frantically, three Divine Dwelling halos appeared behind them, and their climbing speed rapidly accelerated. Lu Xiao similarly sensed what was happening. His eyes narrowed when he realised that it was Zhou Yuan behind him, but he very quickly recovered. With a slight shake, three dazzling Divine Dwelling halos emerged behind him. His speed also skyrocketed. ¡°You¡¯re all using your full strength?¡± Zhou Yuan also noticed the other three¡¯s movements. He knew that the second half of the cloud ladder round would decide who was the strongest and who was the weakest. So, with a thought, his Divine Dwelling vibrated, and Genesis Qi gushed out from his body, turning into three chaotic-coloured Divine Dwelling halos behind him. He took a step and directly appeared dozens of steps ahead. All four figures were now using all their strength on the ladder, their speed soaring tremendously. In the outside world, countless people were buzzing with excitement, and cheers rang out one after another. In the void, upon seeing this scene, Mu Ni, Bai Ye and Bian Chang all fixed their eyes on the chaotic halos behind Zhou Yuan with a hint of surprise. ¡°Variant nine upper Divine Dwelling?¡± Sect master Xuan Kun smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t know where grand elder Chi Jing found such a person, but he shouldn¡¯t be a simple person given his foundation. I have reminded grand elder Chi Jing before, but she doesn¡¯t seem to care.¡± ¡°Sect master Xuan Kun, you already feel that your plan is going to fail, so you are complaining already?¡± Chi Jing responded indifferently. Sect master Xuan Kun laughed, ¡°Lu Xiao is in the lead, and his foundation is far superior to the other three¡¯s. How can you say my plan has failed?¡± Seeing the two arguing, clan elder Mu Ni interrupted in a soft voice, ¡°The cloud ladder is only to eliminate those with insufficient foundations. Victory or defeat here doesn¡¯t represent much. There is no need to argue.¡± Chi Jing and sect master Xuan Kun both quietened, but they still stared at one another. It was only after a good while that they focused their attention back onto the ladders. The four figures continued to ascend the cloud ladder, their mighty Genesis Qi constantly trembling the void. Mu Liu and Han Yuan were almost at the same location. Around Mu Liu¡¯s body, shadows of a continuous ancient forest faintly appeared, a sign that his Genesis Qi had been activated to its extreme. As for Han Yuan, jet-black Genesis Qi pulsed around his body, as if a great demon was being born. Both continued to move forward with all their strength, trying to catch up with Zhou Yuan, but they soon discovered that this kind of pursuit instead caused the distance between them to widen. Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed had soared to an astonishing level, and he was shaking them off. This scene undoubtedly pushed the atmosphere to a new climax. Zhou Yuan¡¯s ambition wasn¡¯t small. He not only surpassed Mu Liu and Han Yuan but seemed to also be planning to catch up with Lu Xiao, the strongest. If Lu Xiao was overtaken, it would really be too funny. ¡°Hmph.¡± Lu Xiao, who also noticed the situation, couldn¡¯t help but immediately snort in his heart. Zhou Yuan is indeed arrogant; not only did he overtake Mu Liu and Han Yuan, he wants to use me as his goal as well? Lu Xiao flicked his sleeves, triggering purple Genesis Qi to fill the area around him. The purple colour was extremely pure, like the purple qi formed when yin and yang converge between heaven and earth. It was a sign that he had activated his Genesis Qi to its peak. The purple qi wrapped around Lu Xiao¡¯s feet, like purple clouds, and rapidly ascended, carrying Lu Xiao. In just a few breaths, he had shaken off Zhou Yuan. This scene drew some pitiful sighs from the outside world. Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t dispirited by this sight. Instead, his eyes were filled with eagerness. He knew that the winner and loser had to be decided between him and Lu Xiao in the chief pavilion master battle. In that case, why not start early! He knew that if they were to compare Genesis Qi, Lu Xiao would indeed be stronger than him. Adding to this, judging from the purity of the purple Genesis Qi, the Genesis Qi he cultivated should be at least the peak of grade 7. Zhou Yuan¡¯s World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi was also grade 7, but based on tyrannical power, he was confident that he could compete with grade-8 Genesis Qi. This was the tyrannical ability of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Therefore, he might indeed be weaker than Lu Xiao in terms of Genesis Qi cultivation level, but the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi that he cultivated was stronger than Lu Xiao¡¯s Genesis Qi. From the comparison, the two sides were considered equal. In that case, why do you think you could get rid of me? Zhou Yuan smiled and formed a hand seal with one hand. Suddenly the cry of a serpent echoed across the world, and azure Genesis Qi covered Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Vaguely, the silhouette of an azure serpent took shape. The azure serpent spiraled around as Zhou Yuan took a step forward. At that moment, he seemed to be ascending on a serpent and catching up to Lu Xiao at an astonishing speed. In the outside world, countless people broke into an earthshaking uproar when they saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed skyrocketing as he rapidly chased after Lu Xiao. Chapter 877 Simultaneously Reaching the Summi The roar of the azure serpent could be heard from the ladder. Stepping on the azure serpent, Zhou Yuan rose as fast as lightning, quickly catching up to Lu Xiao, who was in the lead. Lu Xiao, on the other hand, was completely shrouded in purple qi, shadows flickering beneath his feet. At this moment, both sides were evidently moving at full speed as though the majestic pressure that was pouring down from above didn¡¯t exist. Such powerful Genesis Qi foundations made many people smack their lips in surprise. The battle between the two quickly changed as time passed by. Cheers repeatedly rang out, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Everyone found that while Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao were competing with all their strength, the distance between them was gradually closing! It undoubtedly set off a huge wave. No one thought that Zhou Yuan, a new pavilion master, would dare to challenge Lu Xiao, the most experienced pavilion master, on the ladder where one needed to endure purely purely with their Genesis Qi foundation. Moreover, from the looks of it, this challenge didn¡¯t seem to be just arrogance from Zhou Yuan! As a result, many people buzzed with excitement. After all, the greater the show, the better. They would rather Zhou Yuan fight to the end so at least the chief pavilion master battle would be an exceptionally good show. Lu Xiao¡¯s face darkened when he heard the cheering voices from the outside world, and there was a hint of anger in the depths of his eyes. He felt as if he were the forest¡¯s beast king being stroked by a little mouse. He never thought that someone would dare challenge him! This was something even Han Yuan and Mu Liu didn¡¯t dare to do! What angered and surprised him the most was that the distance between Zhou Yuan and him was constantly shortening. If this continued, it would be possible for Zhou Yuan to catch up. ¡°That guy¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation shouldn''t be as strong as mine, but that azure serpent qi is extremely strange.¡± Lu Xiao fumed. He felt that the azure serpent qi emitted a mysterious and domineering intent and that its power was in no way inferior to his purple qi. And evidently, Zhou Yuan relied on the tyrannical power of the azure serpent qi to make up for the differences between them and quickly catch up. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯m almost there anyway.¡± Lu Xiao drew a deep breath. In truth, one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation wasn¡¯t of much significance in a battle if the difference in foundation wasn¡¯t huge. The outcome of the battle would depend on other means and skills, and Lu Xiao naturally had great confidence in his other means. Therefore, there was no need to think too deeply about Zhou Yuan¡¯s qi. After he climbed to the summit, he would naturally have the chance to teach him a lesson. But when Zhou Yuan saw Lu Xiao making his way to the summit, he naturally understood Lu Xiao''s plan. Since he had started to catch up, how could he let Lu Xiao reach the summit of the mountain first? Although the ladder round had little to do with the chief pavilion master battle, Zhou Yuan understood that it was a process of gathering momentum. The momentum of the person who reaches the top first would soar to the peak, and their state would reach a near-perfect level, which would undoubtedly benefit them in the upcoming battle. Zhou Yuan had never underestimated Lu Xiao before because he knew that Lu Xiao was a very difficult opponent. This was the reason that he had to fight! If he didn¡¯t fight, Lu Xiao would take all opportunities and benefits. Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t stupid, and he naturally knew he couldn¡¯t give in. He took a deep breath, folded one hand in a hand seal and operated the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi without reservation. Roar! The deafening roar of an azure serpent resounded across the area, accompanied by a mysterious majesty. Azure qi began to gather around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, forming the silhouette of an azure serpent before rising into the sky like a dragon. As he stepped on the azure serpent¡¯s shadow, Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed suddenly skyrocketed! Swoosh! There seemed to be an azure light streaking across the endless ladder. In the outside world, suddenly there were countless gasps of astonishment. Such a speed was exceptionally amazing in ordinary times¡ªnot to mention, wasn¡¯t it under such mighty pressure?! At this speed, the distance between Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao was rapidly getting closer. In just a few breaths, the two were only dozens of steps away from each other. Lu Xiao¡¯s pupils also abruptly shrank. He knew that this was Zhou Yuan¡¯s last attack. He frantically activated the Genesis Qi within his body, and the purple qi around him became increasingly intense. A shadow formed at his feet and his figure sped up towards the summit. Countless gazes were fixed on the two crazy figures, and cheers rang out like a tsunami. As for Han Yuan and Mu Liu, very few people paid any attention to them. It was clear that they had both became background characters. The purple and azure qi whizzed, and the distance between the two men constantly shortened. Fifty steps, thirty steps, ten steps. And when the two were only ten steps away from each other, the mountain summit was already less than a dozen feet away. Lu Xiao even seemed to be able to hear the whistling wind, which seemed to make him increasingly annoyed. But at this moment, he had already activated his Genesis Qi to its peak and his speed had reached its limit. He peered ahead. The summit of the mountain was getting closer and closer, and within a few breaths, he would reach the mountain summit! As long as he was the first to step onto the top, Zhou Yuan¡¯s effort would all be in vain! After three seconds, Zhou Yuan''s figure was only two steps behind Lu Xiao! The cheering noises in the outside world almost froze. Everybody stared unblinkingly at the two figures and held their breath. No one thought that the competition to climb the ladder first would be so thrilling! After another second! Lu Xiao stepped out, finally reaching the last step of the ladder. At that moment, the purple qi pulsing around Lu Xiao¡¯s body dissipated, and his tensed-up body relaxed, but he found that his back was drenched in cold sweat. He immediately became annoyed. How could he be forced to such an embarrassing state?! Fortunately, he had climbed to the summit first, hadn¡¯t he? When he suddenly felt that the outside world seemed to have turned a little quiet, Lu Xiao drew a deep breath. His brows wrinkled slightly, and an uneasy feeling rose in his heart. In the void, the five grand elders were also watching this scene. Then, they retracted their gazes. Given their ability, they naturally knew the result during that split second. Sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s face was cold as water, while Chi Jing¡¯s expression was calm. The two didn¡¯t utter a word, so clan elder Mu Ni ran her eyes across the crowd, and a soft voice rang out. ¡°This round, Lu Xiao and Zhou Yuan reached the top at the same time!¡± An earthshaking uproar broke out. Countless people couldn¡¯t help but gasp in amazement. Although there wasn¡¯t any intent to attack during the ladder round, it was still an incredibly thrilling competition. Moreover, what shocked them the most was that Lu Xiao didn''t dominate the round! Instead, in the end, Zhou Yuan had snatched half of first place! For someone with Lu Xiao¡¯s fame, the outcome of a tie was more like a weak defeat. After all, before this event, everyone thought that Lu Xiao would achieve certain victory. There were countless cheers from the outside world. On the mist-shrouded mountaintop, Lu Xiao''s face was ashen because he knew very well that if he didn''t completely win, it was a failure. And he had to share the victory?! It was an insult to the proud Lu Xiao! He had to share the glory with Zhou Yuan, whom he didn¡¯t even bother to glance at once before?! What qualification did Zhou Yuan have! ¡°That Zhou Yuan!¡± Lu Xiao hissed through gritted teeth, but in the end he calmed the fury in his heart because he knew that the chief pavilion master battle had only begun! And if he wanted to wash away this failure, it was very simple. As long as he won the position of chief pavilion master, all the glory would still fall upon him again. Chapter 878 Second Round It was obviously an extremely rare sight to see two people, Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao, reach the summit simultaneously. The countless exclamations were largely directed at Zhou Yuan. After all, the outside world had clearly witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s imposing manner as he caught up to Lu Xiao. Watching the competition, even experts of the Heavenly Sun stage¡ªand those of the Nascent Source stage¡ªwere a little surprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance on the cloud ladder. After all, his opponent was the well-known Lu Xiao. Although the Wind Pavilion had previously shown signs of rising due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s leadership, in terms of fame and strength, Zhou Yuan was still inferior to Lu Xiao. Therefore, almost everyone thought the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion would lose in the chief pavilion master battle. But unexpectedly, the dark horse was still as fierce as before and refused to relent even in the face of Lu Xiao. After this, countless people thought much more highly of Zhou Yuan. Based on the performance on the cloud ladder, the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion indeed had the ability to compete against Lu Xiao for the position of chief pavilion master. On the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side, everyone was cheering with excitement. Even Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling revealed looks of surprise on their faces. Evidently, they were thrilled that Zhou Yuan had managed to catch up to Lu Xiao and reach the summit at the same time. The Wind Pavilion¡¯s depressive atmosphere had turned fiery at this moment. On the other hand, many people on the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side looked at each other in dismay and went silent for a good while. Zhu Lian and Zuo Ya also didn¡¯t look too good. It was only after a long while that Zuo Ya grumbled, ¡°This is just the beginning. When Zhou Yuan truly faces senior brother Lu Xiao on the battlefield, he will know why he shouldn¡¯t be provoked!¡± Hu. Standing atop the cloud- and mist-shrouded mountain, Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath. The mighty Genesis Qi within his body gradually subsided. During his eruption of strength, he had also activated his Genesis Qi to its peak. But in the end, he didn¡¯t overtake Lu Xiao and instead climbed to the summit at the same time as him. Zhou Yuan felt a little regretful about this result, but he wasn¡¯t disappointed. He had been able to test Lu Xiao¡¯s background and discovered that, without relying on any foreign objects, his Genesis Qi foundation was around 23 million. This was more than his foundation of 20 million, but fortunately, Zhou Yuan possessed the world subduing serpent qi and was able to regain some face by reaching the summit at the same time as Lu Xiao. Therefore, without the use of any external means, the two sides were equally matched. But at the very least, when Zhou Yuan faced Lu Xiao again, he would no longer be as afraid as he was when he had first met him a few months ago. That was his progress. And this speed of progress would make any enemy of his a little fearful. While these thoughts were churning in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, time quickly passed by, and the Genesis Qi of the universe suddenly began to pulse. The chief pavilion master token on the top of the mountain was humming, and the clouds around the summit grew thicker. Seeing this change, Zhou Yuan knew that Mu Liu and Han Yuan had also reached the top of the mountain. The first round of the chief pavilion master battle had come to an end. The fog in front of him thickened and eventually swallowed his figure, but he didn¡¯t panic. He could feel that the surrounding space was beginning to ripple, so he didn¡¯t dare to move carelessly. After waiting quietly for a while, he felt the fog subside. ¡°This is the battlefield?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. Since the venue has changed to such a place, the next round should be the highlight of the chief pavilion master battle. Chi Jing¡¯s clear voice rang out from the void. ¡°The second round of the chief pavilion master battle, the battle of the four pavilions! ¡°Because the fire pavilion master Lu Xiao and the wind pavilion master Zhou Yuan reached the summit at the same time, the two will be separated in the first round and randomly assigned another opponent.¡± On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Zuo Ya curled her lips. ¡°That boy is lucky. If he faced senior brother Lu Xiao in the first round, he would be sent out right away and the people of the Wind Pavilion wouldn¡¯t be able to act arrogant anymore.¡± As he stood on the white jade square, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. He avoided Lu Xiao in the first round? If he was randomly assigned another opponent, it should be either Mu Liu or Han Yuan, right? I hope it¡¯s not Mu Liu. After all, we are considered friends. It would be best if it was Han Yuan. This guy is always following Lu Xiao and creating trouble for the Wind Pavilion. He is like a venomous snake hiding in the dark. Also, that guy has also abused senior sister Chi Jing¡¯s trust in the past. Although it can¡¯t be considered a betrayal because he was only a little Divine Dwelling expert back then and didn¡¯t really have the qualification to be truly valued by senior sister Chi Jing. Since Chi Jing hadn¡¯t mentioned much about this matter, it was clear that she didn¡¯t attach much importance to Han Yuan. But even if Chi Jing didn¡¯t care, Zhou Yuan wanted to help his senior sister get revenge if he had the chance. While Zhou Yuan was thinking about this, on the other end of the square, the fog roiled violently, and subtle footsteps sounded as a figure slowly strode out. He was clad in a black robe with powerful black Genesis Qi rising from his body, and he emitted a chilling aura. Who else would it be besides Han Yuan? Han Yuan walked out of the fog, and seeing Zhou Yuan on the other side, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly. Zhou Yuan also revealed a wide smile. He made a furtive glance at the void above. He was indeed facing off against Han Yuan as he wished. He wondered if the arrangement was really random or if his senior sister had manipulated the result. But there was no use thinking about it. Since he was going to face Han Yuan, he should fight without any distractions. And Mu Liu presumably must have met Lu Xiao now, right? I hope he can last. Although he knew that Mu Liu wasn¡¯t weak, it was unlikely that he could beat Lu Xiao. Clang! A melodious bell suddenly rang out across the world. Chi Jing¡¯s voice directly sounded again, ¡°The second round of the chief pavilion master battle. ¡°Zhou Yuan, the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion, will face Han Yuan, the pavilion master of the Mountain Pavilion! ¡°Lu Xiao, the pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion, will face Mu Liu, the pavilion master of the Forest Pavilion!¡± The atmosphere in the outside world began buzzing again. Countless people stared and gazed intently at the two squares that formed on the towering mountain. They all understood that only the two people who emerged victorious would have the eligibility to compete for the chief pavilion master token! Chapter 879 Battle against Han Yuan But whatever the reason, since they were facing off against each other, he naturally had no reason to let him go. Han Yuan was staring back at Zhou Yuan, a somewhat complicated expression on his face. ¡°A few months ago, I thought an idle pavilion master had joined the Wind Pavilion, but I didn¡¯t expect him to be a fierce tiger instead.¡± When Zhou Yuan first came to the Wind Pavilion and took the role of pavilion master, Han Yuan obviously didn¡¯t pay much attention to him. At that time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength wasn¡¯t worthy of his admiration, but who would have thought that in a short period of half a year, Zhou Yuan would not only sit stably as the pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion but also lead the Wind Pavilion to rise in power and fame. The strength that Zhou Yuan had shown was already qualified enough to compete with Lu Xiao. ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing indeed has a good eye,¡± Han Yuan muttered. ¡°It was really unwise for pavilion master Han Yuan to join another side back then,¡± Zhou Yuan stated calmly. In his view, it was incredibly foolish of Han Yuan to leave the Wind Pavilion and join the Mountain Pavilion as its pavilion master, because to Chi Jing, a Divine Dwelling expert or pavilion master wasn¡¯t particularly important. But no matter what, it would anger a grand elder, which in the long run, would be disadvantageous to him. Unless he reached the Nascent Source stage in the future and had the power to speak in the Tianyuan Region, no one would be willing to deepen the ill feeling between them and Chi Jing for him. Han Yuan chuckled, ¡°I was just a little cultivator with no background and no training resources. I had to rely on fighting, snatching and underhanded methods to climb to the point where I am today. Do you think I can do whatever I want when caught between the Profound Crystal Clan and grand elder Chi Jing?¡± ¡°Back then Lady Chi Jing was only just appointed to grand elder, and her power was still weak. If I hadn¡¯t thought for myself, I would have perhaps been killed in a certain mission.¡± There was a hint of bitterness and weakness in his smile. No one would want to offend a grand elder. He was currently still useful, but if the Profound Crystal Clan had no use for him in the future, he would perhaps be thrown out to endure Chi Jing¡¯s anger. This was the sorrow of a nobody. But even if his actions were understandable, they were still what they were. Looking at Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes which were gradually growing sharper, Han Yuan didn¡¯t say anything else. What he said before was not to acknowledge his mistake or apologise. As someone who had worked extremely hard to get to where he was now, he was also an incredibly strong and tough person. ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan must still have a bit of resentment towards me. If that¡¯s the case, let¡¯s fight! To tell you the truth, I also have the ambition of achieving the chief pavilion master position. If I defeat you, I will finally face Lu Xiao!¡± Boom! Mighty black Genesis Qi erupted from Han Yuan¡¯s body, blotting out the sun and sky. The Genesis Qi illuminated the void, revealing countless Genesis Qi stars. From a cursory look, there were at least 20 million stars. The pressure of the mighty Genesis Qi was like giant waves of tens of thousands of feet, spreading out in all directions that made even outsiders smack their lips in amazement. The Mountain Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master was indeed not an ordinary person. But in the face of Genesis Qi of that level, Zhou Yuan¡¯s robe didn¡¯t flutter once. He simply stood there calmly. If he hadn¡¯t broke through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, he really would have had to exert all his strength to withstand an opponent like Han Yuan. However, because he had reached the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, he was now stronger than Han Yuan based purely on Genesis Qi foundation. Even though his Genesis Qi was only a few hundreds of thousands more, with the tyrannical power of the world subduing serpent qi, Zhou Yuan was confident that he could easily suppress Han Yuan if it was based on foundation alone. Of course, Han Yuan was most likely aware of this. He had already witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s present Genesis Qi foundation in the cloud ladder round, and he knew that if he didn¡¯t resort to other means he would be no match for Zhou Yuan. Therefore, Han Yuan stretched out his palms, and two ancient light runes, one yellow and one red, slowly emerged on the back of the hand. Mountain spirit rune! Fire spirit rune! The moment the two Genesis Runes appeared, Han Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi stars, which filled the sky, suddenly skyrocketed to 26 million! The outside world was stunned by the sight, and some advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts even secretly smiled bitterly. Compared with Han Yuan, even if they were of the same cultivation level, they couldn¡¯t even reach half of what he had achieved. It was no wonder he could become the mountain pavilion master, while they could only cheer and shout. Zhou Yuan squinted his eyes, but there still wasn¡¯t so much as a ripple of emotion. The Genesis Qi foundation of 26 million could perhaps deter others, but that didn¡¯t include him. Han Yuan studied Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression and smiled, ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan must have also refined two Genesis Runes? Could it be the wind spirit rune and the fire spirit rune? ¡°Therefore I know that it is ridiculous to compete with pavilion master Zhou Yuan with just two Genesis Runes.¡± Han Yuan¡¯s attitude piqued Zhou Yuan¡¯s interest. ¡°It seems that pavilion master Han Yuan has come prepared. In that case, reveal them all; otherwise a foundation of 26 million can¡¯t stop me.¡± Now that he possessed a foundation of 21 million Genesis Qi stars, with the addition of both the complete wind spirit rune and fire spirit rune, his Genesis Qi strength was at the 28 million level, and there was no need to fear Han Yuan¡¯s 26 million Genesis Qi stars. But Han Yuan should also know this, yet he was still so confident, which meant he had to have another trump card up his sleeve. Han Yuan smiled. ¡°It¡¯s not any special preparation. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t have many cultivation resources, and since I¡¯m in the Four Pavilions, where there is a precious place for cultivation like the Four Spirit Origin Tower, I naturally always spend all my time there. ¡°The reason I followed Lu Xiao and worked so hard without even complaining once was to get a share of more origin coins. ¡°I originally planned to keep my trump card for the fight against Lu Xiao, but I didn¡¯t expect pavilion master Zhou Yuan to suddenly appear. Now I have no choice but to reveal this hidden trump card that I have been hiding for such a long time.¡± As Han Yuan¡¯s laughter faded, an ancient green Genesis Rune slowly emerged between his brows. The appearance of the Genesis Rune caused Han Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi to sharply soar once again and finally reach the level of 29 million! Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank abruptly, and his eyes were fixed on the Genesis Rune in the center of Han Yuan¡¯s eyebrows. It was the forest spirit rune! Han Yuan had refined three ancient Genesis Runes without anybody knowing! ¡°Pavilion master Han Yuan has hid this really well. I think Lu Xiao also doesn¡¯t know about this right?¡± Zhou Yuan asked indifferently. Who would have thought that, among the four pavilion masters, the one who had refined the most ancient Genesis Runes wasn¡¯t the most dazzling Lu Xiao or the dark horse Zhou Yuan, but the one who was always standing behind Lu Xiao and never stood out, the pavilion master of the Mountain Pavilion, Han Yuan! This guy is too scheming! Zhou Yuan knew that if he hadn¡¯t suddenly appeared, Han Yuan¡¯s hidden trump card would have been prepared for Lu Xiao. Although Han Yuan always hung his head low in front of Lu Xiao and was willing to listen to his order, he secretly had his own plan. Although Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t know why he was able to refine three complete Genesis Runes before Lu Xiao, he knew he shouldn¡¯t underestimate him. Hu. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath, clenching both hands. The azure serpent hummed, and majestic Genesis Qi roared out, transforming into Genesis Qi stars that filled the sky. 21 million! On the back of his hand was the wind spirit rune and the fire spirit rune, both flashing at the same time. His Genesis Qi sharply soared by 7 million! His Genesis Qi had ultimately reached 28 million! Chapter 880 Han Yuan’s Secre When the monstrous Genesis Qis of Han Yuan and Zhou Yuan engulfed the world, the majestic scene made countless eyes blaze. Nobody thought that Han Yuan would be the first to refine three Genesis Runes among the four pavilion masters! The mighty Genesis Qi foundation of more than 29 million roared to the sky, its pressure quaking the towering mountain. Many people secretly smacked their lips. Among the people of the four pavilions, Han Yuan was considered to be someone who kept a low profile, but perhaps it was because his brilliance was always covered by Lu Xiao¡¯s. As a result, the pavilion master of the Mountain Pavilion was often ignored by many people. In their view, Han Yuan was a little brother subdued by Lu Xiao, but now, looking at him again, they knew that the Han Yuan, who always kept a low profile, was hugely ambitious. At the very least, even Lu Xiao wasn¡¯t able to refine a third Genesis Rune. It could be seen how much hard work Han Yuan had put into his cultivation training. Of course, this was perhaps, as he said, because he didn¡¯t have a background like Lu Xiao, so in order to enhance his strength, he could only seclude himself in the Four Spirit Origin Tower and put all hope on the four Genesis Runes... His foolish approach had now yielded significant results. At first everyone thought that the strength of the four candidates had already been decided on the cloud ladder and that Han Yuan was bound to lose when he faced Zhou Yuan. But now, it seemed that it was still too early to say... On the white jade square, the black Genesis Qi repeatedly collided with the azure Genesis Qi, producing loud noises and violently vibrating the void with each collision. Genesis Qi rose like thick black smoke from Han Yuan¡¯s body. The Genesis Qi he cultivated was called the Sky Demon Barrier Qi, which was also grade 7, and it contained a deadly poison that if it penetrated the body, all flesh and blood would be corroded. But even if Han Yuan activated three Genesis Runes and raised his Genesis Qi foundation to the level of 29 million, there was still a hint of fear in the depths of his eyes when he looked at Zhou Yuan because Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundation wasn¡¯t much weaker than his. This battle was expected to be bitter. Boom! Han Yuan¡¯s eyes were icy as he suddenly clapped his hands together, and a gush of mighty Genesis Qi was sent roaring out. It transformed into a gigantic black toxic hand filled with repulsive smell that slammed down at Zhou Yuan. Black mist curled around the huge black hand. As long as it could penetrate Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, the deadly poison was enough to inflict serious injuries! He lifted his hand and suspended a sword pill in his palm. Immediately after, a monstrous sword cry resounded across the world. Om! A ray of incomparably fierce sword light shot into the sky, meeting the huge toxic hand head-on. Chi! As the beam of sword light whizzed past, even the black toxic hand formed from pure Genesis Qi was directly pierced. The beam of sword light swung down, transforming into thousands of sword shadows. Like a rainstorm, they hurled down at Han Yuan. Han Yuan stepped back, his sleeves ballooned outward in the wind, and mighty black Genesis Qi surged out in front of him in waves, as though transforming into a deep black swamp. Pff! Countless sword shadows pierced into the black swamp, constantly moving deeper and deeper, but in the end they were all eroded by the toxic Genesis Qi and turned into nothingness ten feet away from Han Yuan¡¯s body. The first round of attacks was already incredibly ruthless. Han Yuan furrowed his brows. Even he didn¡¯t have the upper hand with his Genesis Qi foundation of 29 million in the previous round of lightning-like attacks. Instead, he was repeatedly countered by Zhou Yuan. His opponent¡¯s Genesis Qi was pure and powerful and had far exceeded his expectation. Zhou Yuan similarly sighed. He originally thought that after breaking through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, he would be able to effortlessly defeat Han Yuan and save up strength for his battle against Lu Xiao. But now, he knew he had underestimated the pavilion master of the Mountain Pavilion, who had been concealing his strength all along. But this battle, no matter what, could not be a drawn-out battle. The battle must be swiftly settled because the more it dragged on, the greater the Genesis Qi would be consumed. And there was still another fierce battle after this. Therefore, this battle had to be ended quickly! Hu. When Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed, Han Yuan also drew a deep breath with a fierce glint in his eyes because his thought was the same as Zhou Yuan. He also wanted to enter the final round; therefore, he mustn¡¯t be stuck in a drawn out battle with Zhou Yuan. If that was the case¡­ Han Yuan roared skywards, and with a little tiptoe, he sped straight up into the void, spewing out blood. With his fingers stained with blood, he rapidly formed countless hand seals in lightning speed. Black qi rolled in, like an unending black sea that shrouded his figure. Vaguely, there was a bone-chilling aura accumulating in the thick black sea. Seeing this scene, Zhou Yuan knew that Han Yuan intended to directly bring out his ultimate killing move. But he didn¡¯t plan to stop him, and he was instead very glad to see this. This was also what he wanted: for the battle to end quickly. The winner would advance, while the loser would retreat! As Zhou Yuan clenched his hand, the azure-gold Genesis Qi within his body roared in response, transforming into an azure serpent that coiled around his body. In the outside world, countless people were intently watching. The battle between Zhou Yuan and Han Yuan was fiercer than imagined! The black Genesis Qi tumbled and surged, and after dozens of breaths, suddenly froze and subsided at an astonishing speed. As the Genesis Qi was swept away, everyone could feel that in the middle of the black sea was a chilling wave of energy born. That energy was full of ruthlessness and killing intent. Evidently, Zhou Yuan and Han Yuan wanted to quickly finish the second round. But who would be able to fulfill their wish in the end¡­ Black Genesis Qi constantly rolled back, and when the last wisp finally dissipated, Han Yuan finally reappeared. At that moment, his face paled, but his eyes blazed brightly. Countless people cast their eyes behind Han Yuan to see a black figure of at least ten metres standing quietly, and the last wisp of black Genesis Qi entered the figure¡¯s nose. The black shadow was clasping a black sickle blade that was flashing a strange light. An endless aura of ruthlessness and murderous intent emanated from the strange black shadow. With a pale face, Han Yuan looked at Zhou Yuan and immediately grinned. ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan¡­ ¡°This is the big meal I prepared for you, you can call it¡­ Chapter 881 Black Sky Demon Staring intently at the black shadow behind Han Yuan and the heart-pounding murderous spirit it exuded, even Zhou Yuan felt a chill run down his spine. The sword pill floated up in front of Zhou Yuan, filling the area with a mighty sword light before it turned into an incomparably sharp sword shadow. Chi! The sword shadow shot out like a bolt of lightning, aiming directly for Han Yuan. Han Yuan stood motionless in the void until the sword shadow was no more than a foot away from his face. He slashed the black sickle through the air, striking the sword shadow. The beam of sword light shattered, and the sword pill trembled before shooting back. Swoosh! The Black Sky Demon vanished. Zhou Yuan stepped sideways when he heard a harsh whistle of wind in his ear. He then saw the silhouette of the sickle slash down close to his body and rip the void apart. Unsuccessful, the blade changed its attack once again. Wrapped in a strong murderous spirit, it moved in a tricky trajectory and swung down at Zhou Yuan¡¯s neck. Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows. The speed of the Black Sky Demon was astonishingly fast. He didn¡¯t know what it was, but watching the sickle blade slash through the air in his direction, he didn¡¯t panic in the slightest. Instead, he clenched his hand, and snowy-white hair spread out, covering his fist like a glove. Clang! A punch thrust out and collided with the sickle blade. The void rippled, and during that moment of collision, Zhou Yuan could feel a powerful killing intent emanating from the blade, wanting to rush into his body and wreak havoc. Roar! But before the tyrannical power and killing intent could spread out, the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body whizzed out, quickly eliminating them. But this exchange made Zhou Yuan understand the Black Sky Demon possessed almost all the powers of Han Yuan as well as an innate tyrannical strength and killing intent. In terms of combat strength, it had even surpassed Han Yuan himself. But after Han Yuan summoned the Black Sky Demon, his Genesis Qi was in deficit and was unable to participate in the battle. Otherwise Zhou Yuan would have been caught in a predicament of having to fight against two. Chi! The Black Sky Demon¡¯s figure moved like a ghost. The sickle blade in its hand turned into countless blade shadows and flooded towards Zhou Yuan like the tide. Clang! Within a few seconds, Zhou Yuan and the Black Sky Demon fought dozens of rounds. Every time, he would be pushed back half a step. The combat strength of the Black Sky demon was so incredibly fierce and tough that even he was at a disadvantage. It was no wonder that Han Yuan saw this as his killing move. Clang! Another collision, but this time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed, and he didn¡¯t retreat an inch. Instead he took a step forward, and his figure got strangely close to the Black Sky Demon, appearing in the small blind spot of where the sickle blade was swinging down. At the same time, with the clench of his hand, the sword pill transformed into a beam of sword light. Chi! Zhou Yuan flashed dozens of steps away, the beam of sword light piercing the chest of the Black Sky Demon. Uproar broke out in the outside world. The Black Sky Demon that Han Yuan had worked so hard to bring out was just gotten rid of like that? However, even if his move was successful, there wasn¡¯t a hint of joy on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Instead, a glint of suspicion came to his eyes because he found that the Black Sky Demon, which was pierced by his sword, was still as powerful as before. Its strength hadn¡¯t weakened in the slightest. In midair, Han Yuan faintly smiled, ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, your sword pill technique is indeed remarkable, but unfortunately it won¡¯t have much effect on my Black Sky Demon.¡± Zhou Yuan furrowed his brows and stared closely at the Black Sky Demon. A moment later his heart quivered as he discovered a wisp of Spirit hidden among the tremendous Genesis Qi pulsing around the Black Sky Demon¡¯s body. ¡°The core of the Black Sky Demon is a Spirit that controls Genesis Qi?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment. It was no wonder that his previous sword strike had little effect¡ªthe core of the Black Sky Demon was a certain Spirit or Beast Spirit, and pure Genesis Qi attacks naturally had reduced effects on spirits. Therefore, as long as the inner Spirit core remained, no matter how Zhou Yuan attacked, it would be able to quickly recover. And if this went on, Zhou Yuan would be exhausted to death. To destroy the Spirit core, he needed to attack with Spirit power, but it would be difficult to break through the outer Genesis Qi defense with Spirit power alone. This was the troublesome nature of the Black Sky Demon. Chi! But just when there were many thoughts churning in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, there was a tyrannical aura rolling in like a storm. The tremendous shadow of the Black Sky Demon¡¯s body shrouded Zhou Yuan. Wrapped in deadly intent, the black sickle blade pierced through the void and slashed down crazily at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan frantically retreated. Boom! The Black Sky Demon¡¯s sickle blade tore deep marks into the ground. Its attacks were ferocious. Roar! As the offensive became more and more frenzied, the Black Sky Demon lifted its head and roared skywards, swallowing the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth. Its body rose steadily, and its offensive grew even more terrifying. It continuously delivered slashing attacks at Zhou Yuan. As a result, Zhou Yuan appeared to be at an absolute disadvantage. In the outside world, on the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Zuo Ya couldn¡¯t help but snicker, ¡°I thought Zhou Yuan was very capable, but Han Yuan forced him to such an embarrassing state.¡± Zhu Lian shook his head. ¡° Pavilion master Han Yuan hid his strength too well. Nobody has seen his Black Sky Demon before. Let alone Zhou Yuan, even senior brother Lu Xiao would find it tricky and troublesome.¡± Zuo Ya curled her lips. ¡°If Zhou Yuan is really blocked by Han Yuan, it would be very funny.¡± On the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side, Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the rest all watched the battle on the square with solemn expressions. They couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Han Yuan¡¯s strength. As expected, none of the four pavilion masters of the four pavilions were ordinary. But although Zhou Yuan seemed to be at a disadvantage at the moment, the two women weren¡¯t too concerned because they had confidence in Zhou Yuan. They didn¡¯t believe that Han Yuan could stop Zhou Yuan here. Boom! The black sickle swung down, and a deep crack spread across the square while smoke and dust filled the area. Zhou Yuan rapidly retreated. Swoosh! But the Black Sky Demon was still faster. It appeared directly behind him, its sickle blade tearing through the void as it slashed toward Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. A fierce glint flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, and snowy-white hair emerged from his palms before rapidly turning jet black. Clang! He directly grabbed the blade with his hand, and it ground against the jet-black hair, producing a screech. ¡°Hmph!¡± Han Yuan coldly snorted when he saw Zhou Yuan catch his blade. The sickle was filled with deadly poison, which meant the longer the contact, the deeper the poisonous qi would corrode. Black mist rapidly spread along Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm, but his expression was as calm as ever. He flicked his sleeve, and a beam of dazzling sword light shot out, piercing the body of the Black Sky Demon. ¡°It¡¯s no use!¡± Han Yuan¡¯s voice was indifferent. ¡°Zhou Yuan, it looks like you¡¯re going to lose this time.¡± For this attack, Zhou Yuan had forcibly endured the corrosion of the poisonous qi. At this moment black qi was visibly flowing within his arms, and once the poisonous qi spread throughout his body, he would no longer have the strength to fight. ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice also rang out. Han Yuan furrowed his brows, but then, as though he suddenly detected something, he turned to the sword light that pierced the body of the Black Sky Demon. The sword light gradually cracked and shattered, revealing a lantern-like silhouette. Within the lantern were blazing flames. That¡¯s¡ª ¡°Spirit Flame?!¡± Han Yuan¡¯s expression changed dramatically. Zhou Yuan had hid the Spirit Flame within the sword light to deliver it to the core of the Black Sky Demon and destroy it. ¡°So cunning!¡± Han Yuan quickly folded his hands together in a hand seal, manipulating the boundless black toxic mist to leave the Black Sky Demon¡¯s body and gush towards the Spirit Flame. ¡°But I¡¯ve known for a long time that your Spirit is at the Transformative stage. But it won¡¯t be enough to destroy the core of the Black Sky Demon!¡± There was a sinister glint in Han Yuan¡¯s eyes. How could he not be prepared knowing that Spirits of the Transformative stage could refine Spirit Flame. The black toxic mist concealed inside the Black Sky Demon was enough to counter the Spirit of the initial Transformative stage! Zhou Yuan simply shook his head, seeing the black toxic mist gush over, and said aloud, ¡°Spirit Lantern Art!¡± The moment his voice faded, a raging Spirit Flame roared out like a fire python and directly collided with the endless black mist. As the Spirit Flame rose, it immediately incinerated the poisonous mist. Han Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank, and his body went ice cold. He found that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit Flame was incredibly powerful and far beyond the level of the initial Transformative stage. The Spirit Flame fire python burst forth like a bolt of lightning and coiled around the Black Sky Demon¡¯s body. As the formless flame rose, the Spirit core seemed to have vanished like smoke in thin air. Ah! The Black Sky Demon emitted a sharp scream, and the black mist around its body frantically rushed out. In just a few seconds, it turned into a puddle of black ash. Puchi! Witnessing the destruction of the Black Sky Demon, Han Yuan, who was connected to it, spurted out a jet of blood and then frantically retreated. But just as he drew back only a few steps, a sword shadow pressed against his back, forcing him to stop. Its sharp sword qi pierced a hole into his back, and blood oozed from the wound. The chill qi penetrated deep into his body. On the square, Zhou Yuan had neutralised all the poisonous qi in his arms. He flung his hands while staring calmly at Han Yuan in midair. He was satisfied with his counterattack. He had only used the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb and the Spirit Lantern Art to defeat Han Yuan¡¯s ultimate killing move. Thus, his consumption of Genesis Qi wasn¡¯t too much. In midair, Han Yuan looked a little unwilling and disappointed. He hadn¡¯t expected the ultimate move he had concealed for so long would be buried before it even met Lu Xiao. The pavilion master of the Wind Pavilion indeed wasn¡¯t simple. Han Yuan wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth, landed under countless gazes, then mumbled after some difficulty, ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan is indeed strong. I have lost.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, Zhou Yuan removed the sword shadow behind Han Yuan, and the sword pill sped towards Zhou Yuan. He opened his mouth and swallowed it, and then smiled. ¡°Thank you, pavilion master Han Yuan.¡± Chapter 882 Lu Xiao wins ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan of the Wind Pavilion is very cunning. The concealing of the Spirit Flame in the beam of sword light is a perfect counterattack for the Black Sky Demon,¡± someone couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Zhou Yuan¡¯s combat tactic. Many people nodded in agreement. Han Yuan¡¯s Black Sky Demon was indeed powerful, and if Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t have a good mastery in Spirit power, he would have had to pay a great price to destroy the Black Sky Demon. Even if Lu Xiao were there, he most likely wouldn¡¯t do any better than Zhou Yuan. ¡°Han Yuan is unlucky. If he had faced Lu Xiao instead, he would have perhaps lasted for a longer period of time although he would still lose in the end.¡± ¡°Haha, the current battle between Mu Liu and Lu Xiao is also very amazing.¡± ¡°But Mu Liu won¡¯t be able to last long, either. The final chief pavilion master battle will be between Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao.¡± ¡°----¡± On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Zuo Ya¡¯s expression changed when she heard the many voices. ¡°Nonsense, if Han Yuan faced senior brother Lu Xiao, he wouldn¡¯t even have the courage to fight!¡± Why do you think Lu Xiao wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything better than Zhou Yuan?! This is an absolute joke! Zhu Lian didn¡¯t utter a word. Although he was on the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, he didn¡¯t want to say anything that would seem stupid because he understood what the other people meant. They weren¡¯t saying that Lu Xiao was inferior to Zhou Yuan, but if he were to face the Black Sky Demon, he wouldn¡¯t do better than Zhou Yuan because his Spirit level wasn¡¯t as advanced. Everyone on the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side¡ªits atmosphere was originally tense into cheers. When Zhou Yuan was suppressed by the Black Sky Demon, they were so nervous that they didn¡¯t even dare to breathe. But now that the situation was reversed, they of course needed to vent their emotions. Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui exchanged a glance with each other and breathed a sigh of relief. Although they had confidence in Zhou Yuan, they still had to see the outcome to feel completely at ease. ¡°He has entered the finals.¡± Yi Qiushui patted her full chest. ¡°Yes, but what comes after is a true bitter battle.¡± There was a solemn look on Ye Bingling¡¯s icy cold face. Han Yuan was already considered very strong, but compared to Lu Xiao, his danger level was greatly reduced. Yi Qiushui turned to the other huge white jade square and said pitifully, ¡°Mu Liu shouldn¡¯t be able to last much longer.¡± At this moment, countless others also fixed their eyes on the white jade square, the second battleground. Boom! The huge vines formed from Genesis Qi roared like a giant python, fiercely striking somewhere within the forest. This forest of Genesis Qi was naturally summoned by Mu Liu, and the person frantically being attacked was naturally Lu Xiao, who was trapped within it. Standing on a towering tree, Mu Liu watched the frantic offensive in the middle of the forest with a solemn expression. Although he had trapped Lu Xiao in his forest world, he could feel that his attacks had little effect on him. ¡°This is troublesome,¡± Mu Liu murmured. ¡°Huh?¡± He suddenly raised his head and turned in the other direction with a look of surprise in his eyes. ¡°Han Yuan has already lost? So fast?¡± Although he knew that Zhou Yuan had revealed a stronger Genesis Qi foundation than him on the cloud ladder, the battle couldn¡¯t be won by relying on Genesis Qi alone. After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundation wasn¡¯t stronger than theirs by much. But the fact that Han Yuan had lost so quickly suggested that Zhou Yuan¡¯s attacks were incredibly powerful. Boom! While Mu Liu was exclaiming in his heart, a terrifying gush of Genesis Qi suddenly burst forth from the Genesis Qi forest below, ripping apart the giant trees in the center. Mu Liu hastily operated his Genesis Qi to repair the forest. ¡°Mu Liu, I have given enough face to the Wood Clan. Don¡¯t push your luck,¡± an indifferent voice sounded from the Genesis Qi forest. Mu Liu wrinkled his brows and didn¡¯t respond, but the Genesis Qi within his body was completely activated because he knew that Lu Xiao, who had been trapped inside for a good while, was about to explode. Om! As Lu Xiao¡¯s voice faded, a bright purple light accumulated in the center of the Genesis Qi forest. It dazzled like a purple sun rising from the forest, and it radiated a scorching heart. ¡°Heavenly Wave of Purple Cloud Inferno!¡± An enraged roar resounded like a peal of thunder, and a berserk wave of purple light wreaked havoc from the middle of the forest like a tremendous wave tens of thousands of feet tall. Bang! Wherever it passed, the wave of purple light instantly incinerated the giant trees of Genesis Qi and quickly turned them into nothingness. Within a few seconds, it wreaked havoc and decimated the whole forest of Genesis Qi, completely crumbling it. Countless people stared shocked at the center of the light wave where a figure enveloped in purple light stood. His imposing manner sent a chill down one¡¯s spine. The forest was destroyed, and Mu Liu¡¯s complexion changed. He frantically retreated. The figure shrouded in purple light coldly glanced over to him, then flashed, appearing mysteriously above Mu Liu like a ghost. The figure swiftly delivered a palm strike, violet qi roiling. ¡°Purple Wave Palm!¡± Purple qi continuously surged around the palm, strengthening it with waves upon waves of Genesis Qi. Its violent force quaked the void incessantly. Mu Liu was frantically retreating, but in the end the palm directly penetrated the void and slammed into his chest. Puchi! He spewed a mouthful of blood. Bang! His body crashed into the white jade square, causing cracks to spread like a cobweb. Lying in the huge pit, Mu Liu was deathly pale, and blood was trickling down from the corners of his mouth. He looked up at Lu Xiao¡¯s biting cold gaze, but he grinned and said hoarsely, ¡°Lu Xiao, don¡¯t be so proud. I feel that you will fail in the battle for the chief pavilion master position. ¡°You should know that my intuition is very accurate! ¡°Haha!¡± Lu Xiao looked at Mu Liu coldly, saying indifferently, ¡°Oh? By that Zhou Yuan? ¡°Because he won against Han Yuan?¡± He shook his head and ignored Mu Liu. As he turned around and strode in the direction of the mountain¡¯s summit, his indifferent voice rang out again. ¡°Then you just lie here and watch. Let¡¯s see if your intuition is more accurate, or if my powers are more respected? Chapter 883 The last round An ancient token hovered in midair. The token, engraved with the pattern of the Four Spirits Origin Tower, contained a unique imposing majesty. There were countless rocks, big and small, in all sorts of strange shapes on the mountain summit. At this moment, a figure passed through the clouds, looking up at the ancient token in midair with a calm face, but in the depths of his eyes was a hint of emotion. ¡°The chief pavilion master token¡­,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. It had been a year since he had come to the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Tianyuan Region, but now he had the qualification to compete for the chief pavilion master position with the many heaven prides of the Tianyuan Region. No, he didn¡¯t just have the qualification, because as long as he took one step further, the position of the coveted chief pavilion master would fall into his hands. In this one year of time, Zhou Yuan had never relaxed once. He had done everything he could to enhance his strength because he couldn¡¯t relax knowing that Yaoyao was still in the lonely and cold crystal glass coffin waiting for him. All these years, it was unknown how many dangers and difficulties the young man who had just left the Great Zhou Empire had encountered and how much Yaoyao had helped and protected him. Without Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan really wasn¡¯t sure who would have the last laugh in his fight against Wu Huang and King Wu¡­ Therefore, Zhou Yuan knew that he owed Yaoyao a lot over the years. But now Yaoyao was wounded and unconscious because of him. Zhou Yuan blamed himself for it, but he also knew that blaming himself wouldn¡¯t solve any problems. Therefore, he had come to the unfamiliar Hunyuan Heaven and Tianyuan Region by himself to begin a new journey... During the one year he was in the Tianyuan Region, he had broken through from the initial Divine Dwelling stage to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage and from a nobody became the Tianyuan Region¡¯s dazzling dark horse. All of it wasn¡¯t for the so-called fame. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t care for the position of chief pavilion master, but it was the first step to winning the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. Therefore, Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t give up. Fortunately, the success of this first step was imminent and just before him. ¡°Yaoyao, although this is only a small step, as long as it can awaken you, I am willing to climb a mountain of swords and plunge into a sea of flames for you,¡± Zhou Yuan whispered, a remarkably beautiful face emerging in his mind, making his spirit waver and his cold face grow gentler. ¡°I never would have thought you would be the one to compete for the chief pavilion master position with me in the end...¡± An indifferent voice suddenly sounded from behind him. Lu Xiao stepped forward, standing opposite Zhou Yuan. He looked up at the token hovering in midair. ¡°I really don¡¯t know where you get this confidence. It seems that defeating Han Yuan has given you a lot courage.¡± ¡°You will know soon after we begin exchanging blows.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Lu Xiao shook his head and didn¡¯t speak again. He only moved slightly and immediately reappeared on a huge boulder hundreds of meters tall. He peered down indifferently. ¡°Pavilion master Zhou Yuan, please.¡± .... After the cloud ladder round and the first round of the four pavilion master battle, the atmosphere in the outside world was completely buzzing with excitement, especially when Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao faced each other on the mountain summit. Countless people waited with great anticipation for the battle to begin. This battle for the position of chief pavilion master was even more exciting than they had thought. They originally thought that Lu Xiao would be the winner without any suspense, but after watching the battle between Zhou Yuan and Han Yuan, everyone knew that Zhou Yuan was qualified to pose a threat to Lu Xiao. But from their spirited discussions, it was clear that many people were still more optimistic about Lu Xiao. After all, although Zhou Yuan, the dark horse, had demonstrated astonishing strength, Lu Xiao was the strongest person in the Divine Dwelling stage in the Tianyuan Region and was also ranked ninth on the Divine Dwelling List. Therefore, in terms of fame and demonstrated strength, he was still superior to Zhou Yuan. ¡°The day has finally come!¡± On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, Zuo Ya gritted her teeth with a delighted look on her face. In the past few months, the Fire Pavilion had repeatedly failed in the battles against the Wind Pavilion, which made many higher-ups of the Fire Pavilion extremely displeased. In their view, the overall strength of the Fire Pavilion was superior to the Wind Pavilion, so how could the Wind Pavilion dare to stroke the tiger¡¯s whiskers? But the previous fight had nothing to do with overall strength, which gave the many higher-ups of the Fire Pavilion a powerless feeling. But fortunately the chief pavilion master battle was here! There, Lu Xiao could display his strength without reservation! ¡°I want to see what qualification Zhou Yuan has to compete with senior brother Lu Xiao!¡± ..... On the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side, the look of joy that everyone, including Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling, had after witnessing Zhou Yuan defeat Han Yuan turned solemn. They no longer had absolute confidence because they knew very well that Lu Xiao was more troublesome than Han Yuan! Lu Xiao was the biggest obstacle for Zhou Yuan to ascend to the chief pavilion master position. If Zhou Yuan could break through here, from then on, he would replace Lu Xiao in the Tianyuan Region and become the new face of the Divine Dwelling stage in the Tianyuan Region. But if he couldn¡¯t break through, then the benefits that the Wind Pavilion had previously gained in their fight against the Fire Pavilion would be lost completely. Adding to this, in the future, Lu Xiao could target the Wind Pavilion and wipe away all the smugness they had in the previous months. ¡°Now...we have to believe in Zhou Yuan,¡± Ye Bingling comforted. Yi Qiushui nodded and then smiled. ¡°At worst we will withdraw from the Wind Pavilion. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability, he is also qualified to become the lord of a prefecture.¡± If Lu Xiao really became the chief pavilion master, then instead of suffering under Lu Xiao, it would be better to leave to avoid being mistreated and bullied. Ye Bingling smiled bitterly. If that was the case, it would really be the worst. Outsiders would think that Zhou Yuan had no courage to stay in the Wind Pavilion after losing to Lu Xiao. Therefore, given the current situation, they had to fight with everything they had. After all, neither Zhou Yuan nor Lu Xiao could bear the name of loser. ..... Many huge piles of rocks were on the mountain summit. Two figures stood facing each other on two huge boulders. The air seemed to have frozen, and the atmosphere had turned oppressive. Lu Xiao wore an indifferent expression. Monstrous purple Genesis Qi rolled across the sky, dyeing half the sky a purple colour. The scene was like purple qi coming from the east. As the purple light illuminated the void, it revealed countless Genesis Qi stars, and from a rough estimate, there were as many as 23 million. The pressure from the Genesis Qi wreaked havoc, even quaking the huge mountain summit. Azure Genesis Qi surged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, transforming into an illusory azure serpent in the void. The serpent dragon let out a thunderous roar. Behind the azure serpent were 21 million Genesis Qi stars lighting up in the void. Two mighty waves of Genesis Qi soared into the sky at the same time. Their collision trembled the void, thunder pealing. Throughout the world, countless eyes, including those of the five grand elders in the void, were focused on the two figures. Chapter 884 Zhou Yuan VS Lu Xiao On the mountain summit, two waves of mighty Genesis Qi collided, producing thunderous rumbles. Shock waves wreaked havoc everywhere, cracking the nearby boulders. Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao each stood on top of a boulder, their eyes gradually turning sharp and cold. The wind spirit rune and the fire spirit rune emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm. With two Genesis Runes activated, the Genesis Qi that erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body skyrocketed and the number of Genesis Qi stars rose steadily, ultimately reaching a terrifying 28 million. In the face of an opponent like Lu Xiao, Zhou Yuan had no intention of testing his strength because he knew that only by using all his strength would he get the upper hand. Seeing this, Lu Xiao remained indifferent, but he similarly didn¡¯t hesitate to activate the fire spirit rune and the mountain spirit rune. All of a sudden, his Genesis Qi foundation also soared by 6 million, bringing it to a total of 29 million! Countless eyes in the outside world were filled with amazement. Both Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Lu Xiao¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations were almost at the 30 million level. The sight of such strong Genesis Qi foundations made many people at the Divine Dwelling stage reveal bitter smiles. Boom! Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao sped into the sky almost at the same time¡ªtheir mighty Genesis Qi turned into a torrent around them, then roared out. The two torrents of Genesis Qi, one azure and one purple, shook the void with power strong enough to make the scalps of ordinary Divine Dwelling stage experts go numb, and slammed the void fiercely. Boom! Shock waves of azure and purple Genesis Qi erupted out, whirling up countless boulders from below, even tearing faint cracks in the void. Both Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Lu Xiao¡¯s figures quivered slightly, and their expressions grew solemn. From that move, they could feel that their opponent¡¯s Genesis Qi was in no way inferior to their own. Om! Zhou Yuan opened his mouth, and a sword pill shot out. A beam of sword light then broke out, and sword shadows flashed and filled the sky. ¡°Devil Sweeping Sword Orb, Sword Torrent!¡± Zhou Yuan performed a hand seal with one hand, gathering thousands of sword shadows into a mighty torrent. The sword torrent tore the void to shreds wherever it passed. Its unmatched force seemed like it could destroy everything blocking its path. Watching the torrent of sword shadows roar over, Lu Xiao simply sneered coldly. His Genesis Qi surged and showed no sign of backing down. ¡°Purple Wave Palm!¡± The billowing purple Genesis Qi whizzed through the air as if transforming into a huge purple wave. From within the gigantic wave a purple hand stretched out. A slam from that hand was enough to crack the earth. Bang! The fierce attacks at the top of the mountain caused even the towering mountain to tremble. Countless people were dumbstruck by a battle of this level. It was only now that they realised that both Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao had held back their strength when they were facing Han Yuan and Mu Liu. Boom! On the mountain summit was another fierce collision. Zhou Yuan folded his hands together in a hand seal with lightning speed. ¡°Omega Saint Spirit Art!¡± A mysterious glow appeared around his body, and a pair of wings spread out behind him, swallowing the mighty Genesis Qi between heaven and earth. Having activated the Omega Saint Spirit Art, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi surged once again. With the clench of his hand, the sword pill sped into midair and a light sword of hundreds of metres stretched out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. The tip of the sword showered the world with an icy cold light. ¡°Slash!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s roar was like a rumble of thunder as he ruthlessly swung down the light sword. Boom! Before the light sword struck, deep sword marks already started appearing on the summit of the mountain. An incomparably huge mountain wall was directly slashed off, plunging into the abyss. Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword contained the power of 28 million Genesis Qi stars, as well as the power of the Omega Saint Spirit Art and the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb, two high-grade Heaven Genesis techniques. The eyes of many Divine Dwelling stage experts twitched when they saw this scene. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword, it was most likely that even ten ordinary Divine Dwelling experts would be slashed to smithereens. The mighty sword light descended from the sky, and Lu Xiao¡¯s face grew solemn. He folded his hands together, and his palms emitted a dazzling purple light, forming a purple light barrier that shrouded his body. On the surface of that barrier there seemed to be a mysterious figure quietly sitting cross-legged. ¡°Motionless purple light king barrier!¡± This was also a high-grade Heaven Genesis technique of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, and it possessed astonishing defensive might. Boom! The majestic sword light fiercely slashed the thin purple barrier. The dazzling sword light was like a rising sun. Its berserk shock waves raged out, tearing countless deep marks into the mountain summit. The sword qi crushed the huge boulders into smithereens and wreaked havoc for a dozen of seconds before gradually dissipating. Countless people hurriedly looked around. In the void, Lu Xiao stood tall and his body was still shrouded by the purple light barrier. Although there were cracks throughout the barrier, which was growing fainter, it was obvious that the barrier had withstood Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying sword strike. On the two destroyed squares on the mountainside, Han Yuan and Mu Liu revealed complex expressions. If it were them, they wouldn¡¯t be confident in withstanding that sword strike. In the outside world. Zuo Ya couldn¡¯t help but stomp her feet. ¡°Why didn¡¯t senior brother Lu Xiao attack? Instead he allowed that guy to jump about?!¡± She expected Lu Xiao to utterly crush Zhou Yuan to get back at him for all the previous incidents, but at this moment Zhou Yuan was actively delivering attacks. Zhu Lian shook his head, saying helplessly, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Zhou Yuan is very strong. Did you not see that senior brother Lu Xiao had to use all his strength in response to each of his attacks every time? In a battle of this level, one can only search for opportunities while fighting.¡± Zuo Ya glanced at him in discontent, but in the end didn¡¯t say anything because she wasn¡¯t blind, even though she was shocked by Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous astonishing attacks. She knew that she wouldn¡¯t have lasted for more than ten seconds if she were on the battlefield instead of Lu Xiao. ¡°The wind pavilion master is indeed capable.¡± ¡°That guy.¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s face grew overcast as he looked at the nearly shattered purple barrier. He was well aware of how strong his defensive Genesis technique was, and he hadn¡¯t expected its limit was withstanding Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack. From this the ferocity of Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous attack was clear. Om! Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes flickered. The right side of the void rippled, and a sword pill burst forth wrapped in sword light. Seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s series of aggressive attacks, Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes flashed coldly. With the flick of his sleeve, purple Genesis Qi swept out to withstand the sword light. Swoosh! But just when he was resisting the sword pill, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure mysteriously appeared behind him like a ghost. As Zhou Yuan lifted his hands, an illusory lantern emerged in the palm of his hand. A small flame was pulsing inside it. ¡°Spirit Lantern Art!¡± Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath and blew hard at the lantern. The next moment, raging Spirit Flames roared out like a powerful streak of fire, whizzing in Lu Xiao¡¯s direction. Spirit Flame could attack the spirit, and Lu Xiao¡¯s spirit was particularly weak in comparison to his Genesis Qi. Thus, once the Spirit Flame infected him, he would no doubt be severely wounded. It was clear that Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous attacks were all distractions, and the Spirit Lantern Art was the real killing move that Zhou Yuan had prepared for Lu Xiao. Spirit Flames rolled toward Lu Xiao. Lu Xiao froze for a brief moment, and a hint of fear flashed across his eyes, but he didn¡¯t panic. ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you really think I wouldn¡¯t be prepared for this?¡± Lu Xiao performed a hand seal in lightning speed, and his cheeks suddenly puffed up, glowing with a purple light and exuding a faint scent of sandalwood. Then, Lu Xiao spewed out a jet of purple water that collided with the spirit flame like a torrent. Suddenly the two quickly began to annihilate each other. ¡°Zhou Yuan, my purple sandalwood Spirit suppressing water is specially prepared for your Spirit Flame!¡± ¡°Did it feel good attacking earlier? Next, should I give you a taste of the good show I¡¯ve prepared for you?¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s mouth twisted in a sneer. Zhou Yuan shuddered. He felt a strange fluctuation of energy in the surroundings and immediately retreated without hesitation. ¡°Where are you going?¡± Lu Xiao burst into laughter and suddenly raised both hands into the air. The entire mountaintop shook violently, and nine huge boulders exploded as nine beams of purple light shot into the sky. It was like a gigantic cage. The deafening roar of nine ancient beasts could be heard. In the outside world, when Zuo Ya, Zhu Lian and the others saw the nine beams of purple light, they immediately exclaimed, ¡°The Genesis Sealing Formation of Nine Beasts?¡± Zuo Ya¡¯s face lit up. ¡°It turns out that senior brother Lu Xiao has secretly prepared this move!¡± ¡°Haha, once this formation is completed, that Zhou Yuan won¡¯t be able to escape!¡± Chapter 885 Two Spirit Burial Nine beams of purple light shot up from the mountain summit, intertwining with each other, as though forming a huge prison. At that moment, the universe Genesis Qi inside the huge prison rapidly escaped, and in just a few seconds, the inside of the prison became free of Genesis Qi. Countless people broke into exclamations when they saw this scene. ¡°It¡¯s the Genesis Sealing Formation of Nine Beasts!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a secret Heaven Genesis technique of the Heavenly Spirit Sect! It is said that once the formation is completed, it can block the Genesis Qi of the universe. Adding to this, the nine beasts, which are refined from countless beast spirits, possess astonishing combat powers. Once trapped in the formation, one will never replenish their Genesis Qi and will face the endless onslaught of the nine beasts. Sooner or later, one¡¯s Genesis Qi will be exhausted!¡± ¡°Lu Xiao is indeed worthy of being called the leader of the Divine Dwelling stage in the Tianyuan Region. It is no wonder that he previously let Zhou Yuan attack wildly; it¡¯s all because he was secretly preparing such a powerful killing move!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is still too young. Now that he is caught in the formation, it doesn¡¯t look good for him!¡± ¡°......¡± On the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side, the beautiful faces of Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui had changed, and their brows were scrunched in a worried frown. They naturally had heard of the Genesis Sealing Formation of Nine Beasts before, but they were unaware that Lu Xiao had cultivated this technique. It seemed that Lu Xiao was well prepared for the battle. .... On the mountain summit where all eyes were fixed. As Zhou Yuan watched the purple light prison envelop him, his expression grew solemn. Lu Xiao was indeed much more difficult to deal with than Han Yuan. It hardly took him much effort to defeat Han Yuan, but now, facing Lu Xiao, a little carelessness had led him to fall into his trap. ¡°The Genesis Sealing Formation of Nine Beasts...¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered. Roar! Suddenly deafening beast roars echoed across the sky. Zhou Yuan looked up to see nine gigantic beast figures in every direction, their eyes locked on him. Powerful Genesis Qi pulsed all around their bodies. Boom! They roared through the air, their sharp claws glinting with an icy cold light as they tore through the void and shrouded Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan pinched his hands together in a sword seal, manipulating the sword pill to split into nine sword shadows to each deal with one of the nine beasts charging over. Clang! The clash caused Genesis Qi to erupt and the void to quake. Only when nine beasts were killed simultaneously would they all completely disappear. But Genesis Qi was blocked in the prison, and the longer the battle was drawn out, the more Genesis Qi that Zhou Yuan would consume. In the long term, even for someone with his Genesis Qi foundation they wouldn¡¯t last long, not to mention that, besides the nine beasts, there was also Lu Xiao staring at him like a tiger watching its prey all this time. Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brow. If he couldn¡¯t break through the formation, the situation would be incredibly unfavourable for him. His eyes flashed, and he frantically drew back. In the void above, Lu Xiao watched the scene indifferently, and with a flick of his finger, the nine beasts charged out and directly attacked Zhou Yuan. He evidently planned to use the nine beasts to exhaust Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi first. But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t seem to want to waste his Genesis Qi on the nine beasts. Facing the pursuit of the nine beasts, he chose to retreat repeatedly. But under the control of Lu Xiao, the nine beasts continued to fiercely attack and reduce the area that Zhou Yuan could retreat to. As a result, the situation on the battlefield gradually shifted towards Lu Xiao¡¯s side, and Zhou Yuan, under the siege of the nine beasts, looked somewhat miserable. In the outside world, many members of the Fire Pavilion burst into cheers, while the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side was particularly quiet and tense. ¡°Senior brother Lu Xiao is blocking Zhou Yuan from escaping. Once Zhou Yuan no longer has a way out, it will be senior brother Lu Xiao¡¯s moment to strike and defeat Zhou Yuan.¡± Zhu Lian¡¯s eyes were blazing. Although his Genesis Qi cultivation was said to be poor, he had extraordinary vision and could see through Lu Xiao¡¯s intention in one glance. Hearing this, Zuo Ya breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is quite capable since he could trouble senior brother Lu Xiao so much. ¡°Unfortunately, he is destined to be Lu Xiao¡¯s stepping stone today.¡± .... Clang! The sword shadow whizzed, and Genesis Qi filled the area. The nine beasts sped through the void, frantically attacking Zhou Yuan and forcing him to retreat again and again. At the same time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s area of retreat within the prison got smaller and smaller... It was also at this moment that Lu Xiao, standing outside the prison, vanished. Roar! The nine beasts roared out, striking Zhou Yuan, who had no space to escape anymore. As the nine beasts sped over from all directions, their figures reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. At this very moment, Zhou Yuan could feel an intense danger. This danger didn¡¯t come from the nine beats, but from Lu Xiao, who had disappeared and was hiding in the dark like a venomous snake, waiting for a chance to launch a fatal attack. ¡°It¡¯s time...¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed, and with the clench of his hand, the sword pill emerged in his palm, and he swiftly swung out his sword. As the sword slashed down, wind sharply whistled, but nobody saw that the sixth ancient Genesis Rune on the Heavenly Yuan Brush within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was glowing brightly. ¡°Spirit Burial!¡± Om! An enormous arc of light swept out, wrapped in majestic force, ruthlessly slashing at the nine beasts rushing over. Roar! The nine beasts let out a tragic scream before they all exploded at the same time. At the same time the nine beasts were annihilated, the nine beast prison was destroyed. The Genesis Qi between heaven and earth came rolling in again. Having destroyed the nine beasts and broken the Genesis Sealing Formation of Nine Beasts, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t relax; instead, his eyes grew colder. He clenched his hand, and the beast spirit crystals of two grade-6 Genesis beasts emerged in his palm. Snowy-white hair burst forth, wrapping the crystal before swallowing the beast spirits. Within his body, the sixth Genesis Rune, Spirit Devour, of the Heavenly Yuan Brush glowed again. The brightness was far greater than any of the previous times! After all, it had absorbed the beast spirit crystals of two grade-6 Genesis beasts, which was equivalent to the spirit of two Heavenly Sun Experts! ¡°Spirit Devour!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes became bloodshot as he once again activated Spirit Devour. A crazy beast roar echoed in his mind, shaking his spirit and causing the veins on his forehead to bulge. The absorption of two grade-6 beast spirit crystals was also Zhou Yuan¡¯s limit. If there were any more, the recoil would be unbearable to even his Spirit, which was at the initial Transformative stage. Boom! ¡°Spirit Burial!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face twisted, and the sword light in his hand fiercely slashed out towards the void. ¡°Come out!¡± As the sword swung down, a majestic torrent roared out, and the intensity of the attack directly shattered the void. Countless space debris whirled in the air and were engulfed by the torrent, strengthening its power to a terrifying level. This was the most terrifying offensive that Zhou Yuan had launched since the chief pavilion master battle had started! In the void where the torrent was roaring, a figure flashed out. It was Lu Xiao. At this moment, when he saw the power of the torrent, his expression changed. He didn¡¯t know whether Zhou Yuan had been pretending to retreat previously! Lu Xiao was trying to find Zhou Yuan flaws in order to launch a fatal blow, but it seemed Zhou Yuan had deliberately shown flaws to lure him closer and launch a deadly attack! The power contained in the surging torrent made even Lu Xiao¡¯s scalp go numb. This was obviously the killing move that Zhou Yuan had kept hidden for a long time! Boom! But at this time, it was too late to regret his actions. Lu Xiao could only madly activate his Genesis Qi as he roared, ¡°Motionless purple light king barrier!¡± When the purple light barrier appeared around Lu Xiao¡¯s body, the mighty torrent was already pouring down the mountain. Rumble! The void shattered, and a series of spatial cracks appeared. Lu Xiao¡¯s body was directly blasted away, tearing a mark of thousands of meters across the mountain summit. The huge boulders shattered, and under the smoke and dust, it was unknown whether or not he survived. The monstrous uproar in the outside world suddenly stopped. Chapter 886 Lu Xiao’s Trump Card Countless people stared blankly at the scene. The originally buzzing atmosphere was quiet. It was clear how much shock that the change in the battle had brought them. Zhou Yuan was clearly forced to a desperate situation! But how did Lu Xiao end up being the one wounded?! The silence lasted for more than a dozen breaths before it was broken by a commotion. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± countless spectators asked in bewilderment. However, there were some outstanding experts present with much sharper eyesight. Although the changes happened in a flash, the experts could still distinctly feel what happened. ¡°It seemed that Lu Xiao had driven Zhou Yuan to a desperate state, but it was only an illusion. Lu Xiao wanted to force Zhou Yuan to reveal his flaws and wait for an opportunity to strike, but Zhou Yuan deliberately revealed his flaws and lured Lu Xiao to make a move. Then he had launched a deadly attack and defeated him.¡± ¡°Haha, they are both very cunning, like two little foxes,¡± a Heavenly Sun stage expert exclaimed. ¡°Yes,¡± agreed another Heavenly Sun stage expert, ¡°and the last attack that Zhou Yuan used was exceptionally strong. Even Lu Xiao¡¯s motionless purple light king barrier couldn¡¯t withstand it.¡± Understanding dawned on the spectators¡¯ faces when they heard the comments from the Heavenly Sun stage experts, and they immediately smacked their lips. It was unknown how many rounds Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao had fought. But looking at the current situation, it was clear that Zhou Yuan finally took the upper hand. Even from a distance, they could still feel the impact of Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack, and Lu Xiao was the first to bear the brunt. Even if he had activated his strongest defense, it would have still felt unpleasant. Perhaps the outcome of the battle had already been decided. ¡°What happened?¡± On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, the smile on Zuo Ya¡¯s face stiffened. She was visibly annoyed because she thought that Lu Xiao was in control of the situation and was about to win! But then the situation changed like a slap to her face. Zhu Lian also opened his mouth, but no sound came out because a battle of that level had far exceeded his foresight. Zhou Yuan¡¯s counterattack was so beautiful and fierce that even Lu Xiao was struck. What could he see? And what made his heart pound with fear was that Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous attack was so strong that even he wasn¡¯t sure how badly Lu Xiao was wounded. If it was too severe¡ªZhu Lian dared not think about it anymore. If the worst really had occurred, Zuo Ya, who was beside him, would explode with shock. Of course, Zhu Lian knew that she most likely wouldn¡¯t be the only one exploding with shock. That was Lu Xiao! In the eyes of the many people from the Wind Pavilion, although Lu Xiao, who was known as the strongest of the Divine Dwelling stage in the Tianyuan Region, had firmly suppressed them, they had to say that they also held great fear and respect for Lu Xiao. But now, Lu Xiao, whom they considered to be invincible, had suffered a huge loss to the wind pavilion master. At this moment, Zhou Yuan¡¯s position in their hearts skyrocketed again. Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui also gasped in astonishment. When they exchanged a glance, they could see the shock in each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Lu Xiao should be severely wounded by that powerful attack, right?¡± ¡°Generally speaking, that should be the case, but Lu Xiao isn¡¯t ordinary and might be able to counter the attack. ¡°However, to be able to force Lu Xiao to this state, even if Zhou Yuan lost, his name would be known throughout the Tianyuan Region. ¡°But according to that guy¡¯s personality, he most likely won¡¯t be satisfied with it.¡± When the outside world was stunned by the development of the battle on the mountain summit, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure slowly landed on an intact boulder. At this moment, the wisps of blood in his eyes were gradually fading. The veins on his forehead were also beginning to recover, but there was still a sharp pain in his mind, which made him wrinkle his brows and forehead. The Spirit Burial attack launched by two grade-6 beast spirits also had a considerable impact on him. At the center of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows, the Spirit light was glowing continuously, calming his surging Spirit. His eyes were intently fixed on the raging smoke and dust in the distance. His previous attack had firmly struck Lu Xiao¡¯s body. Although Lu Xiao had summoned a defense formation at the last moment, Zhou Yuan was certain that the attack was still unpleasant to Lu Xiao. However, there was still a bit of uncertainty about whether he could win. Hu! Zhou Yuan waved his sleeve, and a gust of Genesis Qi swept away the dust and smoke, making the mountain summit clearer. Countless people cast their eyes up to see a huge pit in which Lu Xiao lay. His body, covered in blood and mud, looked incredibly miserable. But his eyes were still wide open. He seemed to be staring at the sky in a trance, his chest heaving up and down. The pulsing Genesis Qi around his body had become a lot weaker than before. Anyone could tell that, after he suffered Zhou Yuan¡¯s fierce attack, his injuries weren¡¯t light. As though aware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, Lu Xiao spat out a mouthful of blood and said indifferently, ¡°It was a ruthless attack. It seems that you have been preparing this for a long time.¡± Zhou Yuan said, ¡°Same to you.¡± Lu Xiao had prepared a great Genesis technique formation for Zhou Yuan, and Zhou Yuan had also prepared a fierce attack for him. ¡°Can you use that attack again?¡± Lu Xiao coldly smiled. ¡°Try it, and you¡¯ll know.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. Lu Xiao was right. For this battle, he had asked his senior sister Chi Jing to help him prepare four grade-6 beast spirit crystals. He had already used three, and the remaining one could no longer be used because Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit wouldn¡¯t withstand a third Spirit recoil. Of course, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t say this out loud, as it would be good if Lu Xiao was fearful of him. After all, in war nothing is too deceitful. Lu Xiao didn¡¯t say more. The corners of his mouth twitched, but he didn¡¯t try to get up. He instead closed his eyes slowly, his expression of chilly indifference. Zhou Yuan frowned a little when he saw this. His excellent combat consciousness made him faintly aware of something. He didn¡¯t waste time saying anything more, and with a fierce glint in his eyes, he lifted his hand and a sword pill flashed out, engulfing the monstrous sword qi, and delivered a direct sword slash at Lu Xiao, who was still in the deep pit. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to fight anymore, I¡¯ll send you down the mountain now!¡± Om! Mighty sword light, amid countless exclamations, slashed through the air, aiming for Lu Xiao¡¯s head. Many members of the Fire Pavilion couldn¡¯t bear to look, and they closed their eyes. Boom! The sword swung down, and a sword mark appeared in the deep pit, extending hundreds of feet. However, Zhou Yuan froze for a moment as he coldly peered down into the deep pit only to see thick black smoke seeping out from Lu Xiao¡¯s body. Vaguely, his body was emitting a shrill explosive sound. The sword pill wrapped in sword light slashed the black fog and was unable to advance an inch further or wound Lu Xiao who was within the black fog. Chi! Lu Xiao¡¯s figure slowly floated up, monstrous black smoke gathering behind him, like tumbling black clouds. Within the black smoke, an incomparably huge black shadow with nine heads emerged. It was a strange and mysterious sight. Zhou Yuan expressionlessly looked at the nine-headed black shadow exuding terrifying pressure within the black smoke. Chapter 887 Nine-Headed Abyssal Python Countless people looked up with frightened horror-stricken eyes. As the black aura raged, Lu Xiao¡¯s body gradually grew larger and larger, becoming a jet-black giant of several meters tall in just a few breaths. Cracks constantly spread along his body, but there was no blood, and only a chilling black aura could be seen circulating around his body. Lu Xiao was like a demon of the abyss, and his presence made everybody¡¯s hearts palpitate with fear. The five grand elders in the air cast their eyes toward him. Narrowing her eyes, Chi Jing said indifferently, ¡°The nine-headed abyssal python...what a powerful move. Is the Heavenly Spirit Sect not afraid of destroying a good seedling by doing this?¡± How could she not see that Lu Xiao had fused with the blood of the nine-headed abyssal python, a grade-7 Genesis beast comparable to an expert of the Nascent Source stage? Although the integration with the blood of the nine-headed abyssal python was said to improve combat strength in a short period, it wasn¡¯t a wise move in the long term because it would make it difficult to maintain the purity of one¡¯s blood. This meant that at best Lu Xiao could progress to the Nascent Source stage and it was highly unlikely for him to reach the Law Domain stage. Sect master Xuan Kun didn¡¯t reveal a trace of anger or joy as he responded, ¡°Elder Chi Jing must be kidding. I also don¡¯t know where Lu Xiao obtained the blood of the nine-headed abyssal python. That boy is ambitious and competitive¡ªin order to win the seat of chief pavilion master, he must have gambled his future on it. ¡°After this battle, I will severely reprimand him.¡± Chi Jing simply chuckled. She naturally wouldn¡¯t believe that this matter had nothing to do with sect master Xuan Kun, but this action wasn¡¯t strictly against the rules. Even if she wanted to pursue the matter further, there was nothing she could do. After all, who made Xuan Kun so cruel as to let Lu Xiao take such a huge risk? She also had similar Genesis beast blood in her hands, but she never mentioned this to Zhou Yuan because, in her view, Zhou Yuan¡¯s future potential wouldn¡¯t be lower than hers. Therefore, it would be a waste for him to abandon his future for just a chief pavilion master position. Perhaps sect master Xuan Kun was certain that Lu Xiao¡¯s future wouldn¡¯t reach the potential of the Law Domain stage, so he was willing to let him take a gamble. After all, once one stepped into the Nascent Source stage, he could still be ranked at the top level of the world. The Law Domain couldn¡¯t be reached with just some talent. If Mu Ni were to interfere, the other two grand elders would no doubt say something, and the situation would become more troublesome. She had a gentle nature and, in truth, didn¡¯t want to see Chi Jing and Xuan Kun argue and fight all the time. As for the chief pavilion master position, although the weight it had wasn¡¯t light, it wouldn¡¯t be a huge loss if they were to give it up. Clan elder Mu Ni knew well that this competition had little significance. As long as Cang Yuan returned one day, even the Heavenly Spirit Sect, the White Clan and the Profound Crystal Clan would all need to put away their arrogance and not create any more trouble. And if something were to happen to Cang Yuan...then, they alone wouldn¡¯t be able to protect their status in the nine regions, which meant all their disputes would be meaningless. As these thoughts flashed across Chi Jing¡¯s mind, she shook her head inwardly and shifted her gaze to the mountain summit. From the looks of it, Lu Xiao seemed to have begun to occupy the dominant position in the chief pavilion master battle. After all, although the nine-headed abyssal python blood wasn¡¯t considered the blood of a top-tier Genesis beast, it was enough to dominate a battle of the Divine Dwelling stage. The little guy named Zhou Yuan was pitiful. ..... Countless horrified eyes gathered on the mountain top. Lu Xiao was hovering in the air, a monstrous black aura flowing behind him. His eyes were black and vertically split, exuding a chilling aura that sent shivers down one¡¯s spine. Looking at Lu Xiao in this form, Zhou Yuan turned unusually serious. He was evidently aware of Lu Xiao¡¯s strong and dangerous aura. Lu Xiao¡¯s dark vertical eyes stared fixedly at Zhao Yuan as a low hissing sound came from his mouth. Chi! His figure vanished instantly. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly, and he rapidly retreated. Boom! The void in front of him shattered just as he made a few steps. Lu Xiao¡¯s tall and huge demon-like figure flashed out and threw a fist toward Zhou Yuan. The punch, wrapped in black aura, blasted forward, suddenly bursting the void apart. Zhou Yuan swiftly performed a hand seal with one hand. A sword pill violently vibrated, gathered sharp and fierce sword light, and slashed downward. Rumble! The fist wrapped in black qi slammed into the sword light and almost instantaneously shattered the sword light. The sword pill was blasted away, its luster instantly dimming. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids twitched. The present Lu Xiao was more ferocious than he had imagined. Bang! Having shattered the sword light with one punch, Lu Xiao flashed out again and delivered a swift kick toward Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. Zhou Yuan crossed his arms, and Genesis Qi gushed out to form a light shield in front of his arms. Kacha! The light shield shattered upon contact, and a terrifying power surged out from his arms, blasting him away. He repeatedly kicked his feet in the air, causing the void to ripple. Zhou Yuan was sent hundreds of feet through the air before he could steady his body. He felt a sharp pain in his arms. Boom! Before Zhou Yuan could take a deep breath, Lu Xiao¡¯s figure shot out again, and a torrent-like attack shrouded Zhou Yuan. It wasn¡¯t anything fancy and was entirely dependent on Lu Xiao¡¯s terrifying power. Every strike, however, quaked the void. In just a dozen breaths, the two had fought hundreds of rounds, but everybody could tell that Lu Xiao was completely suppressing Zhou Yuan in the match. The intense battle also made countless people¡¯s eyelids twitch. Dong! Another collision rang out in the void, and then Zhou Yuan landed, crushing and fragmenting numerous boulders. Zhou Yuan stomped his feet. The ground cracked. As he steadied his body, he wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth. Black fist marks from his battle with Lu Xiao riddled his body. The marks were entwined with black aura and were like countless tiny snakes about to penetrate his flesh and bring about biting, chilling pain. ¡°Give up or die!¡± As Lu Xiao¡¯s hoarse, indifferent voice sounded in the void, black qi rose from his mouth. Zhou Yuan grinned contemptuously, and anger rose within Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes. The match had already greatly exceeded Lu Xiao¡¯s expectations, and he had never thought that the person who he wouldn¡¯t even glance at would force him to such a state. ¡°Then go die!¡± As a sonic boom rang out, Lu Xiao¡¯s figure mysteriously appeared in front of Zhou Yuan like a ghost. He clenched his hands and blasted out a punch. The mighty black qi around his fist bubbled forth and vaguely transformed into a jet-black python opening its bloody mouth. As the punch roared out, the surrounding ground collapsed, many rocks turning to powder. The black fist rapidly enlarged before Zhou Yuan. He felt the power within it, and a chilling intent flashed across his eyes. This time, he didn¡¯t retreat but took a step forward. ¡°Azure Serpent Form!¡± Azure scales of light emerged from the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. ¡°Mythic Saint Body!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin seemed to have turned to luminous jade, and inside his body, his bones were glowing with a silvery light. ¡°Explosive golden blood!¡± A low roar echoed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, and the two hundred drops of golden blood housed within broke out. The golden torrent turned into a vast power, spreading to his every limb and bone. Within the Divine Dwelling, all Genesis Qi stars erupted with a dazzling light, and Genesis Qi gushed out. He stomped his foot, causing the ground to crumble as shock waves visible to the naked eye swept out. Two figures sped across the air, and then, under countless shocked gazes, two fists containing mighty power fiercely collided like two meteors. Boom! Chapter 888 Dragon’s Resentment Appears The storm-like shock waves of Genesis Qi raged on the mountain summit, and where it passed, countless rocks and trees were turned to smithereens. Above the ground, waves of soil hundreds of meters tall gushed towards the periphery, violently trembling the entire towering mountain. A huge crack even spread across the summit. Cliffs crumbled to pieces, sending dust whirling. Countless people stared in shocked disbelief. To achieve this degree of destructive power in a battle of the Divine Dwelling stage wasn¡¯t easy. The ferocity of the match between Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao was obvious. All eyes were intently fixed on the mountain summit. Nobody dared to blink even once. Bang! Under the countless watchful gazes, two figures flashed out from the raging waves of soil. The two landed on the ground, creating two deep ditches. It was Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao! Their clothes were ripped apart, exposing their upper bodies and revealing stains of blood, particularly on their fists. Their skin was broken, and their bones were faintly visible. From the looks of it, the two sides were equally matched in the previous horrifying exchange! Chi! This result made many people gasp in astonishment. Although they didn¡¯t understand why Liu Xiao¡¯s strength had soared to such a terrifying level, they knew that he had to have paid an unknown price in exchange. In their view, since Lu Xiao had brought out such an attack, it was only right to see such an outcome. But the present situation made them understand that they had still underestimated Zhou Yuan, the dark horse. His tenacity exceeded their imagination. ¡°Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t ordinary!¡± ¡°It is said that he has only just broken through to the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. If my guess is correct, he has most likely connected only seven of his nine Divine Dwellings. If he is already this powerful, how terrifying would he be when all nine of his Divine Dwelling integrate and his potential breaks out?¡± ¡°If he connects all nine dwellings, Lu Xiao won¡¯t stand a chance.¡± ¡°His potential is simply terrifying!¡± Lu Xiao was very overbearing because he had already connected through to his ninth Divine Dwelling, which also indicated that his strength had reached its limit. If he wanted to ascend again, he would need external opportunities, and such an opportunity was rare and hard to come by. But it wasn¡¯t the same for Zhou Yuan. He had only connected through to the seventh Divine Dwelling, which meant his potential in the Divine Dwelling stage hadn¡¯t been fully squeezed out yet. Therefore, if Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao were compared to each other, many people would lean towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. Zhou Yuan would have enough strength to hold the ninth position on the Divine Dwelling List on his own. This did not rely on the other regions giving face to the Tianyuan Region and increasing his ranking. There was complete silence on the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side. Zuo Ya clenched both hands and gnashed her teeth. She was annoyed that Zhou Yuan was like an unbeatable monster. He had clearly fallen into a disadvantageous situation but was still able to ultimately reverse the tide! It should be said that Lu Xiao had almost revealed all his trump cards! But even so, he still wasn¡¯t able to crush Zhou Yuan. What did that mean? At this very moment, no matter how shortsighted Zuo Ya was, she had no choice but to face this question because it meant that the insignificant person in her eyes had already possessed the qualification to compete against Lu Xiao. Thinking of this, Zuo Ya suddenly felt a chill rising from her feet to her heart, because she had to think about what the consequences would be if Lu Xiao lost. ¡°Impossible,¡± Zuo Ya muttered and immediately shook her head. She would never believe that Zhou Yuan could beat Lu Xiao. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Although Zhou Yuan is very troublesome, he might not necessarily win in the end.¡± Hearing Zhu Lian¡¯s reassurance, Zuo Ya, like a drowning person grabbing onto the last straw, nodded firmly. ¡°Senior brother Lu Xiao will definitely win!¡± Pu. A mouthful of blood spewed out of Lu Xiao¡¯s mouth, and fury surged within his dark eyes. His previous attack had failed to crush Zhou Yuan completely, and it was a great blow to his heart. After all, he had fought to this point and had even brought out the nine-headed abyssal python. Even so, Zhou Yuan had still blocked his attack! Wouldn¡¯t that mean he would have already lost to Zhou Yuan if he didn¡¯t have the blood of the nine-headed abyssal python? Lu Xiao¡¯s originally handsome face was contorted. In the past, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t even worth a glance, and he simply held Zhou Yuan¡¯s victories in contempt. He believed that Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous victories were only possible because he hadn¡¯t taken any action and that once he did, Zhou Yuan¡¯s good luck would come to an end. That was what he had always thought. Until now. Looking at the blood-soaked figure in the distance, Lu Xiao felt a trace of regret surface in his heart. If he had known that Zhou Yuan would become so difficult to deal with, he would have gone with Fang Qi to Yu Prefecture to ambush and kill him! If that had been the case, he wouldn¡¯t be having so much trouble! Lu Xiao¡¯s face was overcast. He understood that if he had such a thought, it meant that he had truly lost and needed to crush Zhou Yuan. Lu Xiao drew a deep breath. A resolute and fierce expression came to his eyes. Pa! He quickly folded his hands together, and a black aura mingled with blood seeped from the cracks in his body. The monstrous black aura gathered behind him, and the dark shadow of the nine-headed abyssal python grew clearer. Vaguely, one could see nine pairs of cold, ferocious eyes hiding in the dark fog. Chi! The python¡¯s hissing sounded from the black fog, and then nine tremendous mouths opened wide, ruthlessly biting into Lu Xiao¡¯s giant-like body. ¡°Ah!¡± Lu Xiao let out an anguished scream, black snake-like objects moving beneath his skin, making him appear particularly tragic. However, it was at this moment that the nine-headed black shadow rapidly shrank, as if turning into black fog and completely integrating with Lu Xiao¡¯s body. The black fog outside Lu Xiao¡¯s body grew increasingly intense and even became sticky. After a few breaths, the black fog shrank back, solidifying on the surface of his body as if turning into an outer black shell. Countless people were intently staring at the tumbling black fog in shocked disbelief. They could clearly feel an extremely tyrannical aura emerging from within it as if the real nine-headed abyssal python was coming into the world. The black mist surged, and a foot wrapped in a layer of black stepped out. The black mist suddenly dissipated, revealing Lu Xiao covered in black shell-like armor. Adding to this, the skin around Lu Xiao¡¯s neck squirmed as nine python heads drilled out, each spitting and hissing, making bone-chilling squeaking noises. At this moment, Lu Xiao was like a snake demon climbing out of an abyss! Countless people paled at the sight of the nine pythons. This was because the blood of the nine-headed abyssal python had greatly merged with Lu Xiao¡¯s body. But was it Lu Xiao who had fused with the nine-headed abyssal python, or was it the nine-headed abyssal python who had fused with him? If Lu Xiao was unable to maintain a clear mind, he would become a snake demon without any rationality. Chi! Lu Xiao¡¯s tongue had also become long and thin, and his eyes were completely snake-like, filled with viciousness and killing intent. He licked his face. Bang! He stomped his feet, his figure shot straight into the sky, and the ground collapsed. The endless black mist roared out of his body, and then, like a black meteor, he shot downward. Lu Xiao clenched his fist and threw out a punch. Nine snake heads drilled out from his neck and coiled around his arms. The power of his fist almost directly shattered the void. This punch was Lu Xiao¡¯s full-strength punch! Boom! Before the wind caused by the fist could subside, the ground began to collapse. Countless people were stunned by his full-strength attack! ¡°Die!¡± A cold hiss sounded from Lu Xiao¡¯s mouth. Chi! Under the watchful eye of countless people, Lu Xiao, who resembled a snake demon, directly descended onto Zhou Yuan, who was standing motionless. The feeling was as though he was frozen to the spot from fear of Lu Xiao¡¯s counterattack. ¡°Die!¡± Lu Xiao whizzed towards him and blasted out another punch. Watching the destructive punch rapidly grow larger before his eyes, Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath and then slowly closed his eyes. All his fingers tensed up. In the palm of his hand, something that had been silent for a long time seemed to be quietly awakening. ¡°Since you want to die, I will fulfill your wish!¡± His eyes snapped open, and his pupil gradually changed to those of a dragon. An intense blood-red aura containing indescribable madness erupted from his palm like a torrent. Chapter 889 Dragon’s Resentment Destroys Python A blood-red torrent gushed out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm, instantly enveloping his body. An uncontrollable and terrifying aura filled the air, and faintly, the blood-red torrent seemed to have transformed into a blood-red dragon shadow around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The dragon shadow released a deafening dragon roar that shook the world, and as though the world was responding, Genesis Qi endlessly gathered. Countless experts stared dumbstruck at this scene. They didn¡¯t know what Zhou Yuan had used, but for some reason, the blood-red dragon shadow around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body made many experts of the Heavenly Sun stage feel a trace of danger. The feeling was as if the Mandate of Heaven was present and all evils didn¡¯t dare to approach. A flicker of light came to the eyes of the five grand elders standing in the void, and a rare look of surprise crossed their faces. ¡°Blessing protection?¡± clan leader Mu Ni exclaimed in surprise. Zhou Yuan clearly used some sort of blessing, and once this blessing was activated he could get traces of mysterious help from the universe. Blessings were mysterious and abnormal. Ordinary people may not be able to discern this, but they were top experts of the Law Domain stage. They could feel that when Zhou Yuan operated his blessing, the universe Genesis Qi that gathered around Lu Xiao grew fainter as if cut off by the world. On the other hand, a vast amount of universe Genesis Qi was accumulating on Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. This wasn¡¯t a means that could be easily cracked because it wasn¡¯t a Genesis technique but blessing protection. To be able to possess such a blessing, one must be a top heaven pride of the world. Such people were incredibly rare in the entire Hunyuan Heaven. Moreover, a blessing was divided into different grades. This kind of blessing was expressed in the form of thousands of beasts, and no blessing with a dragon-related image would be of low grade. Patriarch Bai Ye, who hadn¡¯t said a word till now, suddenly said, ¡°I heard that the top heaven pride of the Wushen Region, Wu Yao, also possesses the dragon-phoenix blessing.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun maintained an indifferent expression and didn¡¯t say a word, because the situation was already out of control. Even he didn¡¯t expect that the nine-headed abyssal python trump card he had prepared for Lu Xiao would fail to achieve the overwhelming victory he had predicted or that there would be a possibility of defeat. The thought of his years of planning becoming nothing made sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s mood very bad. Everyone unblinkingly watched the mountain summit as they held their breath. There, the blood-red aura around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body grew increasingly intense. The next moment, he lifted his head, and the mountain reverberated with the roar of a dragon. Rumble! The pillar of light rushed up to the sky, preparing to strike Lu Xiao in the sky. Lu Xiao unleashed an ear-piercing scream. The pressure gave off from the blood dragon pillar made the nine-headed abyssal python in his body tremble with fear. But at this time the arrow was already on the bowstring, and Lu Xiao knew that he couldn¡¯t turn back. Immediately, he squeezed out all the strength in his body and prepared to punch the mighty black light. He gathered his strongest power to collide with the blood dragon! ¡°It¡¯s not that easy to beat me!¡± he thundered, his face contorted. Boom! The blood-red torrent and the mighty black light collided under countless shocked gazes. Rumbles of thunder erupted and reverberated throughout the world. The sound of rolling waves seemed to be heard all over the Tianyuan Utopia. After the loud noise, shock waves blasted out from the collision between the black and blood-red rays of light. Under the impact, even the mountain summit crumbled as boulders tumbled down like torrential rain, destroying the nearby forests and mountains. However, countless people continued to stare intently at the two torrents of light bombarding each other. Anyone could see that the blood-red torrent was suppressing the black light, causing the mighty light to tremble with each roar. Chi! Inwardly, Lu Xiao raged, What are you doing, nine-headed abyssal python? What are you scared of!? Don¡¯t you want to devour me? I¡¯ll let you!! The blood of the nine-headed abyssal python within his body hissed and screamed. After all, it could only act on instinct. Now that it was no longer suppressed, its ferocity and viciousness broke out, and it immediately and madly corroded Lu Xiao¡¯s essence and blood. As a result, the shadow of the nine-headed python within the black light grew increasingly clear. Its fierceness skyrocketed! Roar! The silhouette of the blood dragon within the blood light was also aware of the nine-headed python¡¯s desperate struggle, and fury flashed through its blood-red eyes. It¡¯s just a snake! An ear-splitting dragon roar suddenly rang out, causing the void to crack. The force of the blood-light torrent sharply rose to an incredibly terrifying level. The nine-headed python, which had just displayed its immense ferocity, suddenly trembled. The absolute suppression based on bloodline made it feel instinctively fear. The silhouette of the nine-headed python turned around to flee and was about to drill deep into Lu Xiao¡¯s body. Boom! But as soon as it retreated, the blood dragon torrent pierced through it and instantly engulfed the mighty black light. The black shadow of the nine-headed python turned to nothingness before it could enter Lu Xiao¡¯s body. The might of the blood dragon torrent didn¡¯t reduce after crushing the nine-headed python, and it crashed into Lu Xiao¡¯s body under countless shocked gazes. The torrent pierced through the void, eventually rushing up into the invisible void. The movement between heaven and earth gradually calmed down, returning to silence. The monstrous blood and black light had vanished completely as if the previous scene was just an illusion. In the outside world, even the endless crowds around the mountains were silent, and the air seemed to have frozen. On the mountain summit, the Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body faded. His face was ashen as he lifted his head to look at the motionless figure in the void before he sat down on the boulder to the side. That day¡¯s battle was more difficult than he had expected. He originally didn¡¯t want to use the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Transformation because it would expose the fact that he possessed the sacred dragon blessing, and in this unfamiliar world, he needed to be cautious and keep a low profile. But in the end, he failed to do as he wished. Lu Xiao is really too troublesome. But the good news was that it was finally over. Zhou Yuan spat out a mouthful of turbid qi, and it was at this moment that the figure in the void, amidst horrified gazes, plunged from the sky. Countless cries of disbelief rang out. Bang! Lu Xiao¡¯s figure landed in the pile of rocks not far from Zhou Yuan, his body as stiff as a corpse. Zhou Yuan glanced at Lu Xiao with an indifferent expression. Although his injuries were very serious, he still had his last breath. In truth, Lu Xiao should have thanked Zhou Yuan. If it weren¡¯t for him, the blood of the nine-headed pythons in his body wouldn¡¯t have been destroyed and he would have gradually evolved into a snake demon in the future. Zhou Yuan ignored Lu Xiao and rested a brief moment before he stood up under countless complicated gazes and stretched out his palm. The chief pavilion master token suspended in the sky slowly descended, landing in the palm of his hand. He held the token tightly as if relieved from a burden. ¡°Yaoyao, the first step, I have done it.¡± Zhou Yuan clenched the token and raised his arm in the air. In the outside world, the silence continued for several breaths before a deafening cheer resounded between heaven and earth. Chapter 890 Chief Pavilion Master ¡°Congratulations, chief pavilion master!¡± ¡°......¡± Shouted congratulations and applause echoed across the sky and spread a great distance as though it could be heard throughout the entire Tianyuan Utopia. Such a battle was undoubtedly grand. Countless eyes widened with admiration as they stared at the young figure on the mountain summit. That day¡¯s chief pavilion master battle was an eye-opener, and it made them realize what kind of people were the exceptional heaven prides ranked on the Divine Dwelling List. The previous fierce match was enough to make the majority of the advanced Divine Dwelling experts feel inferior and dejected. On the mountainside, both Mu Liu and Han Yuan looked at the crumbling mountain summit with complex expressions. The battle¡¯s outcome was equally unexpected to them. Even though Mu Liu had a strong intuition, when this result appeared in front of them, he still found it hard to believe. After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s opponent was Lu Xiao, Tianyuan Region¡¯s most outstanding Divine Dwelling stage talent. He also had a remarkable reputation in the entire Hunyuan Heaven. That day, however, this proud heaven pride was defeated. And replacing him was someone who was still a nobody a few months ago. Whether it was Mu Liu or Han Yuan, when they first met Zhou Yuan, they had never thought that the young man who had suddenly appeared would surpass Lu Xiao and become the leader of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s young generation. ¡°The era of Lu Xiao is over.¡± Mu Liu sighed. Mu Liu was also quite a proud person. All these years, he had repeatedly clashed with Lu Xiao and so naturally regarded him as his greatest opponent. He was inferior to him in every confrontation, however, and was therefore clear about Lu Xiao¡¯s strength. But now, even Lu Xiao was defeated in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Furthermore, it was a defeat after Lu Xiao had done everything he could...this was enough to shut anyone¡¯s mouth. Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory was very impressive. Therefore, Mu Liu knew very well in his heart that, starting from that day, Lu Xiao¡¯s era had passed and Zhou Yuan¡¯s was beginning¡ªin the future it would be Zhou Yuan ruling the Tianyuan Region¡¯s young generation. .... At a place near the foot of the mountain where people of the four pavilions were standing. While the world was reverberating with applause and congratulations, this place had fallen into a strange silence. On the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, everyone was in a trance. Lu Xiao¡¯s defeat had brought about a shock so great that they still couldn¡¯t believe the result in front of them¡ªit was a nightmare. Their pride, their pillar, had collapsed. Countless members of the Fire Pavilion didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry. Their expressions were extremely strange. Zhu Lian had paled at the sight of Lu Xiao¡¯s defeat. He knew that the Fire Pavilion¡¯s good days had come to an end. It wasn¡¯t that he had never thought that the Fire Pavilion would fall, but that he hadn¡¯t expected everything to end in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. A few months ago, they had ridiculed the Wind Pavilion for constantly provoking the Fire Pavilion under the leadership of its new pavilion master. But at that time, they had never thought that the clown in their eyes would be the one to shatter their arrogance. Zhu Lian turned his head and glanced at a person beside him. It was the vice pavilion master of the Fire Pavilion, Wang Chen. When Zhou Yuan first came to the Wind Pavilion, Wang Chen was the first person who dealt with him. As Wang Chen sensed Zhu Lian¡¯s gaze, the corners of Wang Chen¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. He understood Zhu Lian¡¯s meaning from his expression, but what could he say? He wasn¡¯t the only one who was blind¡ªeveryone in the Fire Pavilion, including Lu Xiao, disregarded Zhou Yuan as an evenly matched opponent. And in the end, they paid a heavy price for it. Pa. A strange noise sounded from the other side. Zhu Lian tilted his head to see Zuo Ya slowly collapsing to the ground, her face deathly pale and her eyes lifeless. ¡°How is it possible?! ¡°Impossible! ¡°Impossible!¡± She kept muttering. She had never even thought about this result. She was still thinking about how she should taunt Yi Qiushui when Zhou Yuan lost, but now, all this fantasy had come to an abrupt end. Therefore, she suddenly collapsed when she recalled the price she needed to pay. Not to mention the huge bet of 10,000 origin coins she had made, her actions alone would most likely become a joke within her social circle. No one paid any attention to Zuo Ya because the morale of the Fire Pavilion had dropped to a terrifying level, and their depressed atmosphere made everyone feel extremely dejected. Compared to the oppressive silence on the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side, the quiet on the Wind Pavilion¡¯s side appeared much happier. Many members of the Wind Pavilion exchanged glances with one another; their eyes seemed to be making silent communication. ¡°Our pavilion master won?¡± ¡°That seems to be the case since Lu Xiao¡¯s Genesis Qi has disappeared.¡± ¡°Are they congratulating our pavilion master on becoming the chief pavilion master?¡± ¡°Should be?¡± ¡°Then what are we going to do?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°......¡± Everyone, including Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling, didn¡¯t know what to do because in truth they weren¡¯t prepared, so they simply remained silent in the end. However, the corners of Yi Qiushui¡¯s and Ye Bingling¡¯s lips were curved upwards slightly, revealing the joy and excitement in their hearts. The people of the Mountain Pavilion and the Forest Pavilion were slightly better in comparison. The match¡¯s outcome impacted them far less than it did the Fire Pavilion and the Wind Pavilion. Complex expressions crossed their faces, but in the end they gradually accepted the result and understood that the Wind Pavilion¡¯s future would no longer be the same. It would be unwise of them to maintain their previous arrogance. They had to change their mentality. After all, the Wind Pavilion would be the overlord of the four pavilions in the future. ..... In the void, the five figures exuding vast and mighty power were also quietly watching the scene. There wasn¡¯t a hint of joy or sorrow on sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s face. His eyes drooped, but the twitching of his eyebrows revealed his inner anger. It was just that his identity and status meant that he couldn¡¯t release his anger. The other two grand elders, Bai Ye and Bian Chang, glanced expressionlessly at sect master Xuan Kun without saying anything. After all, someone had fairly defeated Lu Xiao, and they couldn¡¯t deny the result of the battle for any reason. Therefore, sect master Xuan Kun could only blame himself for his failed plan. This was the rule. Even if they were grand elders, they had to obey the rules. Clan elder Mu Ni gazed at the young figure on the mountain summit, a flicker of surprise in her beautiful eyes. She hadn¡¯t expected Chi Jing to find such a talented young heaven pride. It seems this little girl has good eyes. All four grand elders remained silent, whereas Chi Jing smiled faintly, her burgundy hair flowing in the air. Staring at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, a look of joy and satisfaction flashed across the depths of her eyes. The next moment, her clear voice resounded throughout the world. ¡°The result of the chief pavilion master battle is out. ¡°Starting today, the chief pavilion master of the four pavilions is... Chapter 891 Four Pavilions Awed into Submission No content Chapter 892 Xuanji Region No content Chapter 893 Zhao Mushen No content Chapter 894 Wu Yao and Su Youwei No content Chapter 895 Divide No content Chapter 896 Stick and Carro Although there were numerous buildings in the circular plaza, the chief pavilion master building was the grandest of them all. It had only stayed empty because the four pavilions had not produced a chief pavilion master for a long time. Since Zhou Yuan had now taken on the post, the chief pavilion master building naturally opened its doors once more. Many pavilion members were currently gathered around the chief pavilion master building, all of them nervously gazing towards the building. That day was the first four pavilions conference since Zhou Yuan was promoted to chief pavilion master, and all of them could easily guess that the outcome would be of critical importance to the four pavilions. Their new chief pavilion master was promoted from wind pavilion master. The attitude he had towards the other three pavilions would affect the benefits and treatments they received in the future. The Fire Pavilion members were especially nervous. They knew how much trouble the Fire Pavilion had caused Zhou Yuan under Lu Xiao¡¯s leadership. If Zhou Yuan decided to make bold changes, these changes would most likely be directed at their Fire Pavilion... ... In an enormous discussion hall within the chief pavilion master building. Every single seat was occupied. The four pavilion masters were seated at the very front, followed by the deputy pavilion masters and then the commanders. One could say that all the higher echelons of the four pavilions were currently gathered. Zhou Yuan was seated in the chief¡¯s chair where he could see everyone present. His calm face gave off a certain pressure that made the atmosphere a bit suffocating. He glanced at the very front seat on the Fire Pavilion¡¯s side where Lu Xiao was currently seated. However, Lu Xiao¡¯s expression was still quite pale. He had yet to recover from the great battle a few days prior. Moreover, his aura was no longer as confident and sharp as before. His loss to Zhou Yuan in the chief pavilion master selection had been a big blow to him. Behind Lu Xiao, the deputy pavilion masters of the Fire Pavilion were silent. However, traces of hidden hostility glinted in their eyes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. They were after all members of the Heavenly Spirit Sect and Lu Xiao¡¯s staunchest supporters. Hence, they were the least accepting of Zhou Yuan¡¯s rise to chief pavilion master. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the crowd. Moments later, his calm voice rang out, ¡°Everyone, since I was fortunate enough to be promoted to chief pavilion master, I should begin making some preparations for the upcoming nine regions tournament. Our Tianyuan Region has been on the decline for many years, and if we want to obtain a good result in the nine regions tournament, we¡¯ll need to unify our power.¡± He did not bother with any pleasantries and instead dived straight into the main topic. He had not suffered untold hardships to take the chief pavilion master position in order to flaunt his authority and power; he had no interest in such things. The nine regions tournament was a regional affair and not something he could handle alone. For the Tianyuan Region to have any chance of distinguishing themselves in the nine regions tournament, he needed to first gain full control of the four pavilions¡¯ power. There was a sliver of sternness in Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze as he looked towards the Fire Pavilion members. Under his gaze, Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the other deputy pavilion masters felt their hearts shiver. Zhou Yuan did not give anyone a chance to speak. He knew what the Fire Pavilion¡¯s upper echelon was thinking and thus did not plan on showing mercy. ¡°The Fire Pavilion has eight deputy pavilion masters, seven of which are from the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Out of the twenty-five commanders, twenty-three are from the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Such a proportion is too abnormal and needs to be changed.¡± These words instantly drew a commotion from the Fire Pavilion as Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the other deputy pavilion masters displayed angry expressions. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to them as he continued, ¡°From now onwards, those I nominate shall have a chance to vie for the deputy pavilion master and commander positions¡­¡± He then spat out the list of names he had prepared, each name echoing in the discussion hall. Upon hearing the names, cold sweat emerged on several of the members present. They realized that those who Zhou Yuan nominated were outstanding members of the Fire Pavilion who had been unable to lift their heads due to Lu Xiao¡¯s suppression. These were heaven prides from various locations and were not disciples of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. They were also no weaker than any of the current deputy pavilion masters from the Heavenly Spirit Sect. If they were promoted, Lu Xiao would likely lose control of the Fire Pavilion. Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the rest had ashen expressions as they cried out, ¡°You can¡¯t do this, chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan!¡± Zhou Yuan was unmoved. ¡°Why not? Are the individuals I¡¯ve nominated not strong enough? Or do I not have this right as the chief pavilion master?¡± Zhu Lian and Zuo Ya were speechless as anger and fear came to their faces. The ones Zhou Yuan nominated were strong even when compared to the current batch of deputy pavilion masters. Hence, they could only cast pleading gazes towards Lu Xiao, who had not spoken since the beginning. Upon sensing their gazes, Lu Xiao raised his pale face and indifferently said, ¡°You¡¯re the chief pavilion master and have the authority to do anything in the four pavilions. However, things have been this way in the Fire Pavilion for a long time, and your actions will make the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples unhappy. If this matter escalates, you¡¯ll have to resolve it on your own.¡± Surprise flitted across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He could tell that Lu Xiao was not opposing him. Instead, Lu Xiao seemed to be conceding some ground. Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the others grew even more anxious. They wanted to speak out, but Lu Xiao weakly closed his eyes. Zhou Yuan indifferently said, ¡°Since I raised this matter, I will take responsibility for the consequences. ¡°The Fire Pavilion members I¡¯ve nominated may challenge any of the current deputy pavilion masters and commanders from the Fire Pavilion over the next ten days. Whoever wins will have the right to assume the loser¡¯s position.¡± He had slightly changed Yi Qiushui¡¯s original plan at the last moment because allowing the upper echelons of the Fire Pavilion to be challenged would create a bigger divide between the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples and non¨CHeavenly Spirit Sect disciples. As the chief pavilion master, he would not let the Fire Pavilion unite against him. After dealing with the Fire Pavilion, he cast his eyes towards Han Yuan. Han Yuan¡¯s heart trembled under his gaze. Sure enough, Zhou Yuan began to nominate members from the Mountain Pavilion. However, the number of nominees was fewer than those of the Fire Pavilion. Zhou Yuan considered this a small punishment for Han Yuan for being an opportunist. Even so, this was a substantial blow to both the Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion. A commotion engulfed the entire discussion hall. If not for fear of Zhou Yuan, the place would have already fallen into chaos. Zhou Yuan¡¯s bold and decisive actions could be said to be rather ruthless. However, it was also difficult to resolve the resulting commotion. As such, Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the others secretly sneered inside. If Zhou Yuan could not bring a proper end to this commotion, he would have failed his duty as the chief pavilion master! Fortunately, Zhou Yuan only took such actions towards the Fire Pavilion and Mountain Pavilion, leaving the Forest Pavilion and Wind Pavilion alone. This prevented a mutiny from occurring. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained composed as he gazed at the crowd and slowly said, ¡°Besides this matter, there is something else I have to announce. From today onwards, the price of the four mother runes will be lowered by 30%. What¡¯s more, high-grade mother runes will now be sold to the other three pavilions.¡± The noisy hall instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at each other, unable to conceal the shock in their eyes. Lowering the price of the four mother runes was excellent news for all four pavilions. It was hard to believe that Zhou Yuan would willingly yield such profits. In the face of such temptation, even some of the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples from the Fire Pavilion began to hesitate. They clung to their positions as deputy pavilion masters and commanders in order to obtain more cultivation resources. Lowering the prices of the four mother runes was akin to giving them resources from another direction. For a time, they felt as if the changes he suggested were not that unacceptable. Only Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and a few others did not waver as much. They did not care about such cultivation resources¡ªonly face and authority. But they were ultimately the minority. Hence, Zhou Yuan¡¯s second announcement stabilized the situation in the discussion hall, causing the earlier chaos to slowly recede. One could easily imagine the giant commotion the news would cause once it spread back to the four pavilions. When that happened, over 80% of the members would endorse Zhou Yuan as the new chief pavilion master. Lu Xiao, pale-faced, stood up. He glanced at Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the others panicking and said, ¡°It¡¯s already over, so stop trying to cause trouble. Otherwise, even I will be powerless if he finds an excuse to kick you guys out of the four pavilions.¡± After finishing, he headed towards the exit. Zhou Yuan¡¯s stick-and-carrot was enough to subdue the four pavilions. Chapter 897 Internal Chaos in the Fire Pavilion Except for a few unhappy Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples, the news overjoyed everyone. No one had expected that Zhou Yuan¡¯s first act as chief pavilion master would be to lower the price of the four mother runes. By doing so, he had alleviated their origin coin worries from another direction. Such actions were more convincing than any promises. As such, the news instantly divided the Fire Pavilion, which was originally the most opposed to Zhou Yuan. Several Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples tried their best to fan the dying embers, but the majority of the Fire Pavilion members met them with cold eyes. This was especially so for the contenders Zhou Yuan had nominated to challenge for the deputy pavilion master and commander positions. The contenders were not weak, but the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples had consistently suppressed them and made it hard for them to stand out because the contenders weren¡¯t part of the sect. Zhou Yuan, however, had now risen to chief pavilion master, breaking Lu Xiao¡¯s suppression and giving them a fair chance to vie with the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples. Although they knew that this was part of Zhou Yuan¡¯s ploy to divide the Fire Pavilion, they willingly bit onto this dangerous bait. After all, no one would willingly be suppressed by someone weaker. The four pavilions were a competitive environment, and one needed to fight for more cultivation resources. In the past, they had been unable to shake the positions of the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples, but it was different now. With the chief pavilion master, Zhou Yuan, opening a path for them, they naturally did not hesitate to follow. Hence, after a single day, the originally strongest pavilion fell into chaos! The members Zhou Yuan had nominated challenged the current deputy pavilion masters and commanders one after another. Furthermore, the non¨CHeavenly Spirit Sect members strongly supported these challenges. The Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples were after all still the minority in the Fire Pavilion and were far outnumbered by the rest of the members! Hence, the non¨CHeavenly Spirit Sect members had stronger momentum! In less than a day, the Fire Pavilion¡¯s upper echelon began to be replaced. Out of the seven deputy pavilion masters from the Heavenly Spirit Sect, three lost their positions! Among the twenty-three Heavenly Spirit Sect commanders, fifteen were replaced! In a single day, nearly the entire Fire Pavilion was in a celebratory mood. The cheers grew louder with the defeat of every Heavenly Spirit Sect member; so did the support for Zhou Yuan in the Fire Pavilion. ... The Fire Pavilion, the pavilion master building. Zuo Ya was both flustered and miserable. She was not the strongest among the seven deputy pavilion masters and had thus been challenged. In the end, she had lost the match and was forced to step down. This was unacceptable to her! If it was before, these bastards would never dare to eye my position! Pale-faced, Lu Xiao indifferently said, ¡°What do you want me to do? Do you believe they will stop if I ask them to?¡± Zuo Ya and Lu Xiao were stunned. They understood that Zhou Yuan was the true cause of the recent events, but he was currently the chief pavilion master and was Lu Xiao¡¯s superior. In other words, Lu Xiao could not defy him. Zuo Ya tightly gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Then we¡¯ll report this to the elders and try to escalate this matter to the sect master!¡± Lu Xiao responded, ¡°All of this is within the rights of the chief pavilion master. Even if we escalate it to the sect master, do you think he can just remove Zhou Yuan? If it were so simple, why would we have plotted for so long to have me vie for the chief pavilion master position? ¡°Escalating this will only make the sect master feel that we are useless. Nothing will be achieved.¡± ¡°Then what can we do!¡± Zuo Ya felt as if she was about to explode, turning somewhat hysterical. She was about to go mad due to the string of recent events. She had already lost all face in the Tianyuan Utopia after making that bet with Yi Qiushui, and her clan members had severely reprimanded her. Now, she had even lost her deputy pavilion master position. Who knew how much ridicule she would receive in the future? Lu Xiao calmly looked at her and said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be done. Everything will be decided according to one¡¯s strength. As a disciple of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, you guys already have an advantage over the other members. What¡¯s more, I¡¯ve been doing my best to provide more cultivation resources for you guys, but you guys still manage to lose your positions. Who else can be blamed but yourselves? ¡°I already said that you guys should adjust your attitudes. The current four pavilions are not the same as before. ¡°Zhou Yuan is no saint, but as long as you do not provoke him, he will not cause trouble for you. His goal is the nine regions tournament where he will require our strength. Hence, he will not go overboard. ¡°In the past, you guys believed that you could do anything as long as I¡¯m here, but I have to tell you now that I can no longer protect you.¡± Zuo Ya bit her lip as she stared at Lu Xiao¡¯s calm eyes. He seemed to have lost his drive and pride. She knew he was right, but she still felt disappointed. As she turned and ran out of the room, she left behind the words, ¡°You¡¯ve changed, senior brother Lu Xiao!¡± Zhu Lian sighed helplessly before he followed. As Lu Xiao watched them leave, he seemed to crumple into his chair. It was exactly as Zuo Ya had said: his loss to Zhou Yuan had shattered his drive. He should resent Zhou Yuan, but he ultimately realized that he could not bring himself to resent him too much. He knew that if Zhou Yuan had not dissipated the nine-headed python¡¯s bloodline at the very last moment, he would currently be a mindless snake demon. The thought of such a fate made him shiver inside. Strictly speaking, he should be thanking Zhou Yuan. Sigh. Lu Xiao sighed deeply. He could sense that Zhou Yuan was aiming for the nine regions tournament. His ambition was even greater than Lu Xiao had imagined. However... The nine regions tournament was not that easy. Those monstrous heaven prides would make one feel despair at times. Lu Xiao knew that he did not even have the qualifications to cross blows with those monsters. He closed his eyes as he mumbled to himself, ¡°Zhou Yuan...you have great ambition. I¡¯m interested to see what kind of results we¡¯ll achieve under your leadership in the nine regions tournament. ¡°But if you lose too terribly, don¡¯t blame me for kicking you while you¡¯re down.¡± Chapter 898 Thousand Technique Hall Zhou Yuan could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. He then smiled and received Yi Qiushui¡¯s report on the Fire Pavilion and the Mountain Pavilion. It had been a huge operation this time. He might appear ruthless, but the truth was that he was still rather worried about how it would turn out. If there was too much objection or if the matter was escalated too far, it would most certainly cause problems for him. After all, the Heavenly Spirit Sect was currently quite unhappy with him. Fortunately, the worst outcome did not occur. With his interference, Lu Xiao could no longer unify the Fire Pavilion, let alone pose any threat towards the chief pavilion master. By the side, Yi Qiushui faintly nodded. Soon after, she asked, puzzled, ¡°But there was no movement from Lu Xiao this time. Otherwise, our plan would not have gone so smoothly. Could he have been beaten scared by you?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, ¡°Lu Xiao is no cowardly weakling.¡± He already had a faint inkling. The reason why Lu Xiao neither supported nor opposed him was likely because he had ultimately dissipated the nine-headed python bloodline in Lu Xiao¡¯s body. The nine-headed python bloodline had already merged with Lu Xiao¡¯s body and would affect Lu Xiao¡¯s mind in the future. In the worst-case scenario, Lu Xiao would become a mindless snake demon. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan¡¯s dragon resentment qi was a greater existence than the nine-headed python bloodline. Hence, although Lu Xiao had been seriously injured, he had found fortune in disaster and was saved from the aftereffects of the nine-headed python bloodline. From a certain point of view, this was a huge debt. Of course, it was impossible for Lu Xiao to express his gratitude to Zhou Yuan. Hence, he chose to neither support nor oppose Zhou Yuan¡¯s plan. If not for this, it would have been much more difficult for Zhou Yuan to divide the Fire Pavilion. After all, Lu Xiao¡¯s years of influence in the Fire Pavilion would not be wiped away by a single loss. ¡°Qiushui, I¡¯ll be troubling you to keep an eye on the four pavilions.¡± Zhou Yuan rose to his feet as he displayed a fawning smile to Yi Qiushui. The first thing he did as chief pavilion master was to transfer Yi Qiushui from the Wind Pavilion to his side. After all, a chief pavilion master had far more work than a wind pavilion master. Without Yi Qiushui¡¯s aid, his head would burst from being overwhelmed. From his appearance, Yi Qiushui knew that he wanted to slack off again. Hence, she unhappily said, ¡°What are you up to now?¡± Since his reason was acceptable, Yi Qiushui could not find any fault with him. She could only snort softly and let him off this time. Zhou Yuan hurriedly fled the room. Genesis Qi surged out, and his figure soared into the sky, transforming into a streak of light that swiftly flew towards the Thousand Technique Hall. ... The Thousand Technique Hall was located in the core district of the Tianyuan Utopia. It was an important place that ordinary people were not allowed to approach. However, with the token of authority given to him by Chi Jing, Zhou Yuan successfully arrived in front of the Thousand Technique Hall although patrolling guards had stopped him twice. The only structure on the island was an enormous hall. An ancient melody seemed to echo within its walls, and no one could tell how long the hall had stood here. Zhou Yuan landed on the platform and swept a glance at his surroundings, only for his heart to shiver slightly. He had sensed several extremely terrifying Genesis Rune boundaries embedded in the land and air around him. Even a Nascent Source stage expert would be trapped if caught. ¡°These boundaries were personally set up by our master.¡± A familiar voice sounded. Zhou Yuan raised his head and saw a figure smiling at him. It was Chi Jing. When she saw Zhou Yuan begin scanning the surroundings again, she waved her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already spread out my domain. No one can listen in to our conversation.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat startled and alarmed. He was not the least bit aware that he had fallen into Chi Jing¡¯s domain. He could not help but sigh. The Law Domain was far too powerful. If Chi Jing had even the slightest ill intent, he would have vanished off the face of this land without any resistance. Smiling, Zhou Yuan cast away his thoughts. ¡°Senior sister Chi Jing.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s long legs strode forward as she smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re quite capable. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ve already begun to integrate the four pavilions.¡± She had evidently been observing the four pavilions over the past few days. Zhou Yuan was her junior after all, and she did not want to see him pulled down from his position soon after attaining it. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s methods had somewhat surprised her: threatening with a big stick in one hand while dangling a carrot from the other. He had swiftly subdued the Fire and Mountain Pavilions. Zhou Yuan smiled modestly. Chi Jing jokingly said, ¡°Although you¡¯ve defeated Lu Xiao, I did not expect you to be placed fourteenth on the Divine Dwelling List. Are you angered by such treatment?¡± Zhou Yuan casually shook his head. ¡°Rankings don¡¯t mean much, and being a lower rank has its benefits too. If I encounter a strong opponent in the future, they might underestimate me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly open-minded.¡± Chi Jing faintly nodded in acknowledgment. Soon after, she sighed softly and said, ¡°But this is not good news for our Tianyuan Region. That lass from the Xuanji Region is not tactful at all.¡± She looked towards Zhou Yuan as she continued, ¡°When you meet that lass from the Xuanji Region in the nine regions tournament, teach her a lesson on my behalf.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat speechless. He knew that Chi Jing was referring to Jiu Gong, the cultivator ranked six on the Divine Dwelling List. But you¡¯re a mighty Law Domain stage expert...why are you bickering with a Divine Dwelling stage practitioner? ¡°Has the date of the nine regions tournament been fixed?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. ¡°It¡¯s already in discussion. There should be an outcome within two months.¡± Chi Jing glanced at Zhou Yuan and chuckled. ¡°However, you should pray for a little more time. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to stand out in the tournament given your current strength. ¡°You should know Lu Xiao¡¯s previous ranking on the Divine Dwelling List. Hence, defeating him doesn¡¯t mean that you¡¯ll be able to vie with those top heaven prides.¡± She wanted to ground Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan nodded. The recent changes in the Divine Dwelling List allowed him to understand his place. However, he was unafraid. The top rankers had already linked up all nine of their Divine Dwellings and had perfectly polished them, while he had only connected seven. Once he was done with the final two, he might not be any weaker than the top rankers. ¡°Isn¡¯t that why I rushed over for my reward the moment I found the time?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. He already intended to begin studying the little Saint technique upon obtaining it, and if time permitted, he would also turn his focus towards the mountain spirit rune and forest spirit rune and focus on unblocking the final two Divine Dwellings. Once he accomplished all of this, he would be more than confident of facing any Divine Dwelling List ranker. Chi Jing nodded. ¡°Our master personally constructed the Thousand Technique Hall long ago. These Genesis Rune boundaries are his handiwork.¡± As she spoke, she turned around and began heading towards the grand and ancient hall in the distance. ¡°Follow me. All these years, clan leader Mu Li has overseen the Thousand Technique Hall, and you¡¯ll have to go through her to select a little Saint technique¡­¡± Chapter 899 Law Domain Source Behind the desk, a beautiful woman in a green dress was faintly smiling at them. No Genesis Qi was undulating from her body, but Zhou Yuan could feel an indescribable pressure as if everything was under her control. This feeling made Zhou Yuan extremely uncomfortable. Law Domain stage experts were far too frightening. Merely standing before them would result in being easily enveloped by their Law Domains. Within the Law Domain, he was a mortal, whereas they were gods. Inside their Law Domains, even self-destructing would be a near-impossible feat. The feeling that one¡¯s life was not in one¡¯s hands was truly unbearable. The beautiful woman before him was naturally clan leader Mu Ni. ¡°Grand elder Mu Ni, I brought the new chief pavilion master to receive a little Saint technique.¡± Chi Jing looked towards clan leader Mu Ni and smiled. Mu Ni nodded. ¡°The little one is surprisingly patient. Ordinary Divine Dwelling stage practitioners would have come on the day itself if they were awarded a little Saint technique, and yet he managed to endure for several days.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled awkwardly. The truth was that he had wanted to come as soon as he could, but he was unable to free himself due to the annoying problems of the four pavilions. This was why he had been delayed for several days. Mu Ni wore a kindly expression, displaying no signs of the usual arrogance of a grand elder. She looked at Zhou Yuan and smiled. ¡°Chi Jing¡¯s discernment is not bad this time.¡± Zhou Yuan could feel a sliver of friendliness in Mu Ni¡¯s voice, likely because she viewed him as Chi Jing¡¯s subordinate. However, he only responded with an honest smile. ¡°You haven¡¯t come into contact with any little Saint techniques before, right?¡± asked Mu Ni. Zhou Yuan nodded. A Genesis technique of such rank was something he had never seen before even in the Cangxuan Sect. Of course, the Cangxuan Sect definitely had some, but he had only reached the Alpha-Origin stage back then and did not have the qualifications to access such power. ¡°Do you know the difference between little Saint techniques or Saint techniques when compared to ordinary Genesis techniques?¡± Mu Ni smiled. Zhou Yuan understood that clan leader Mu Ni wanted to teach him and thus shook his head. ¡°This young one does not know.¡± ¡°The difference is actually very simple. There is only one condition to create a little Saint technique or something higher ranked. It requires at least the power of the Law Domain. ¡°Law Domain Source?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook slightly. This was the first time someone had explained the origin of Saint Genesis techniques. ¡°Yes, the Law Domain Source is the core of the Law Domain, and it is essential to every Law Domain stage expert while they are constructing their Law Domain. ¡°Only when a Genesis technique is created with the Law Domain Source at its base will it be able to reach the Saint tier.¡± Zhou Yuan was struck by a flash of understanding. No wonder only Law Domain stage experts can create Saint tier techniques. It turns out that this Law Domain Source was a necessary ingredient. ¡°A great amount of Law Domain Source will be consumed when creating a Saint Genesis technique. Hence, Law Domain stage experts will not casually create one. Moreover, even if they do, they will not impart it so easily. After all, the Law Domain Source is extremely important to any Law Domain stage expert. ¡°Also, if you obtain a little Saint Genesis technique, you¡¯ll have to comprehend its Law Domain Source to learn it. Remember this well, you need to form a Genesis technique mark in your body before the Law Domain Source is used up. Once the Genesis technique mark is created, it¡¯ll be akin to planting a seed. You only need to continuously polish the mark with your Genesis Qi to slowly bring out the power of the little Saint technique.¡± ¡°What if I fail to form a mark before the Law Domain Source depletes?¡± Mu Ni calmly said, ¡°Then you¡¯ll have failed. You only have one chance to learn the little Saint techniques in the Thousand Technique Hall. Failure will mean that your talent and luck are insufficient; though there is no one to blame for it. After all, even Law Domain experts will not easily squander away their Law Domain Source to aid in your training.¡± Zhou Yuan secretly wet his lips. It was no wonder Saint tier techniques were so strictly controlled in the Cangxuan Sect and the Tianyuan Region. It was due to the preciousness of the Law Domain Source. ¡°I¡¯ll be sending you into the little Saint technique hall, where all of our Tianyuan Region little Saint techniques are stored. You may select whichever you want, but how you do so will hinge upon your own destiny and luck.¡± After finishing, Mu Ni gently waved her sleeve. Before Zhou Yuan could ask anything more, the surrounding space began to warp as it swallowed his figure. The darkness lasted for several breaths before light abruptly chased it away. Zhou Yuan swiveled his gaze about the area and found that he was in a large hall. It was a simple looking place, and there were no decorations to be found, only pillar after pillar of ancient mottled stone. When Zhou Yuan¡¯s looked towards a pillar, countless specks of light suddenly converged towards it, culminating into a ball of light that silently hovered atop the pillar. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled as he approached one of the pillars. He looked at the glowing ball and found what appeared to be a faintly glowing red bead. Wisps of flames continuously emerged from the glowing bead, seemingly possessing a life of their own as they slowly merged into a series of ancient letters. ¡°Nine Stars Fire Refining Art.¡± Evidently, the glowing bead contained a little Saint technique known as the Nine Stars Fire Refining Art. These flames seemed tiny but gave off an extremely terrifying feeling and seemed to be a power that was far beyond his current cultivation. If Zhou Yuan was not wrong, it was very likely the so-called Law Domain Source. ¡°So this is a little Saint technique¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes burned with excitement as his heart filled with desire. Even without coming into proper contact with it, he could already feel that the power of this little Saint technique far surpassed the seven Cangxuan arts he currently possessed. Zhou Yuan licked his lips. He hesitated in front of the stone pillar for a moment before walking away. Although the Nine Stars Fire Refining Art was powerful, he did not feel anything towards it. This meant that their affinity was not high, and he might not be able to learn it even if he obtained it. Hence, he cast away his hesitation and began to slowly walk forward. There were a total of thirty-nine stone pillars in the hall, in other words, thirty-nine little Saint techniques. Chapter 900 Selecting a Little Saint Technique Zhou Yuan slowly walked from mottled stone pillar to mottled stone pillar, calm and unruffled as he carefully observed each little Saint technique atop the pillars with great interest. Although he could not view their cultivation methods, feeling the leaking wisps of terrifying auras was enough to make him respect and yearn for the mysterious Law Domain Source. While studying these little Saint techniques, Zhou Yuan set a small goal for himself: to reach the Law Domain stage! It did not seem too far off. When he exceeded the Divine Dwelling stage and stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage, he would only need to pass through the Nascent Source stage to reach the Law Domain stage! He needed to work harder! Zhou Yuan gave himself some encouragement before he began walking towards yet another mottled stone pillar. Black qi swirled inside the glowing ball atop this pillar as it revealed a small, palm-sized black mirror. The black qi on the mirror soon transformed into ancient letters. ¡°Mystic Demon Mirror Art!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glowed as he felt the technique¡¯s aura. This little Saint technique was quite amazing. It appeared to be capable of creating a copy of the opponent reflected in the mirror. The copy would also possess a portion of the original¡¯s power. However, no matter how amazing it was, it would likely only create a slight distraction in proper combat. After all, Zhou Yuan refused to believe that the Mystic Demon Mirror Art could perfectly copy the target¡¯s strength. That would be way too crazy, and it was unlikely for even a true Saint Genesis technique to achieve such a feat. Hence, he sighed and continued on his way. As Zhou Yuan walked past numerous mottled stone pillars, technique after technique entered his eyes. Each was rarely seen in the outside world. ¡°Nine Bird Fan!¡± ¡°Li Fire Heavenly Cover!¡± ¡°North Underworld Sword Scripture!¡± ¡°......¡± It took Zhou Yuan only half an incense stick of time to cover a hundred feet, his footsteps barely pausing as he browsed through each technique. The itch in his heart grew greater as he walked. He even had the impulse to take everything. Although he deeply desired several of these little Saint Genesis techniques, Zhou Yuan still did not make his choice because none of them had genuinely stirred his heart. Hence, he controlled his heart, not making any rash decisions as he continued to browse. Although his progress was slow, he ultimately arrived at the end of the hall. When Zhou Yuan arrived at the final stone pillar, his gaze finally paused. On the stone pillar before him was a glowing golden ball of light containing a piece of golden paper. ¡°Giant Spirit God Art!¡± This little Saint technique would be very useful in battle and would substantially raise his combat power if learned. Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and reached towards the golden page. His hand grew closer and closer, but something suddenly nudged his mind. He seemed to hear the faint rumble of thunder. His hand stopped, and he turned his head, puzzled. He found another mottled stone pillar. It baffled him. He clearly remembered that there were only thirty-nine pillars in the hall. When did this pillar appear? Zhou Yuan hesitated slightly before his feet began to move again, slowly approaching the new stone pillar. A lightning-like glow emerged from the glowing ball atop it. The lightning was exceptionally peculiar¡ªit was both white and black and gave off a unique aura. Lightning streaked through the glowing ball as ancient words emerged. ¡°Yin Yang Lightning Rune?¡± ... In a mostly wood-based study, Chi Jing and Mu Ni stared at the mirror before them. Inside the mirror, Zhou Yuan could be seen browsing through the little Saint techniques. ¡°This little one is quite picky.¡± Observing that Zhou Yuan had not come to a decision after nearly half a day, Mu Ni could not help but softly chuckle. Smiling, Chi Jing said, ¡°Aunt Ni, Zhou Yuan¡¯s potential is not bad. Our Tianyuan Region might even see another Law Domain in the future.¡± When no one else was around, Chi Jing addressed Mu Ni in an extremely intimate manner. Both parties were clearly very close. ¡°So optimistic about him?¡± Mu Ni laughed. Soon after she said, ¡°Rumors have been spreading in the Tianyuan Region that he¡¯s your male companion¡­¡± The corners of Chi Jing¡¯s mouth curled downwards. ¡°It must be that sect master Xuan Kun, that old fogey, is attempting to embarrass me. No need to pay any attention to such rumors. That old fellow took a huge loss recently and can only retaliate with silly tricks.¡± Mu Ni said suggestively, ¡°Is that so? I was under the impression that there was some kind of relationship between you two.¡± Chi Jing did not even bat an eyelid as she responded, ¡°What kind of relationship could we have? Does Aunt Ni really think that a Divine Dwelling stage practitioner will catch my fancy?¡± She remained focused on the mirror as she spoke. When she saw Zhou Yuan reaching towards a stone pillar, her brows raised slightly as she remarked, ¡°Giant Spirit God Art? What a violent fellow.¡± However, in the mirror, Zhou Yuan¡¯s outstretched hand suddenly stopped as he suddenly turned towards another stone pillar. ¡°Changing his mind again?¡± Chi Jing was stunned as she looked towards the pillar Zhou Yuan was walking towards. When she saw the black and white lightning, her face could not help but change. ¡°Aunt Ni, why did you put the Yin Yang Lightning Rune there?!¡± ¡°Why? Is there a problem? It¡¯s also a little Saint technique.¡± Aunt Ni smiled faintly. Chi Jing could not reply. The Yin Yang Lightning Rune was indeed a little Saint technique but it was different from other little Saint techniques. The other little Saint techniques were created by Law Domain stage experts, but this Yin Yang Lightning Rune was created by her master, supreme sovereign Cang Yuan! Furthermore, supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had not imparted it to anyone. After all, Chi Jing had already stepped into the Law Domain stage by that time and naturally did not need a little Saint technique. Hence, it was handed over to Mu Ni for safekeeping. Mu Ni had never taken out master¡¯s things before. She had always kept it hidden like a precious treasure! But why had she placed it in the hall this time?! The expression in Chi Jing¡¯s eyes rapidly fluctuated as her heart suddenly tightened. She was probing Zhou Yuan! Had she realized Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity?! By the side, Mu Ni picked up a tea leaf and gently pinched it between her fingers. She cast a glance at Chi Jing as a superficial smile emerged on her face. ¡°What is it? Why do you seem a little nervous?¡± Chi Jing dryly said, ¡°No, why would I be nervous?¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Mu Ni lazily leaned back into her chair as she propped up a cheek with her hand. Her eyes seemed to shine with interest as she stared at the mirror and unhurriedly said, ¡°It seems that the little one is quite fated with that old bastard. After all, not anyone can sense the wonders of the Yin Yang Lightning Rune¡­¡± When she said the words ¡®old bastard¡¯ the usually kindly clan leader gnashed her teeth. The corners of Chi Jing¡¯s mouth twitched a little. Chapter 901 Yin Yang Lightning Rune Zhou Yuan stared at the flickering black-and-white lightning within the glowing ball. He could sense a strong, heart-palpitating aura from it, a feeling that none of the little Saint techniques had given him earlier. This little Saint technique was clearly not ordinary. Zhou Yuan fell silent for a brief moment. He naturally was not aware that the Yin Yang Lightning Rune was created by his master, supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, but that special feeling made him make his choice without much hesitation. Huu. He took a deep breath as his eyes revealed a decisive look, and then he reached out and reached for the glowing ball. Since he was drawn to it, it meant that he and the technique were fated. There was no way he would miss this opportunity. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand reached into the ball and touched the black-and-white lightning. Boom! Thunder boomed in his head at the moment of contact, causing his mind to ripple violently. He found himself in the starry sky with a figure standing before him. The figure appeared somewhat old, but merely standing there seemed to make the entire sky tremble faintly. A terrifying pressure spread. Even though it was merely a phantasm, Zhou Yuan was barely able to endure. He stared at the old figure, and his brows suddenly knitted together. He could feel something familiar about it. He pondered over this mysterious familiar feeling for several breaths before his eyes abruptly widened. ¡°That is...master Cang Yuan?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes seemed to ripple in shock. Who else could that old figure belong to but Cang Yuan! ¡°The Yin Yang Lightning Rune was created by my master? No wonder it gave me a special feeling!¡± Zhou Yuan finally understood the mysterious attraction and could not help but wet his lips. He was overjoyed. From what clan leader Mu Ni had said, most little Saint techniques were created by Law Domain stage experts, but the Yin Yang Lightning Rune was created by the Saint stage master Cang Yuan. This point alone made it clear that the Yin Yang Lightning Rune was top tier even among little Saint techniques. In the starry sky, Cang Yuan¡¯s phantasm beckoned, causing boundless Genesis Qi to gather towards him. Genesis Qi converged towards his palm, slowly compressing into lightning. But this was merely an ordinary bolt of Genesis Qi lightning and did not have any special characteristics. Cang Yuan slowly closed his hand, and the bolt of lightning began to frantically compress again. It rapidly shrank in size, becoming as thick as a finger in a few dozen breaths. However, he continued to compress it. When the lightning was finally compressed into a strand, Zhou Yuan felt a sliver of Yang qi slowly spread, dyeing it with a dash of white. The power of this strand of Yang lightning was definitely several dozen times greater than the initial lightning bolt from before! However, this was clearly not the end. Cang Yuan¡¯s phantasm concentrated on the Yang lightning. Moments later, his finger cut through the air as countless Genesis Runes took shape. These runes fell like rain, landing around the sliver of Yang lightning. Countless runes interlinked, forming tiny boundaries around the strand of Yang lightning. They were so complex that Zhou Yuan felt dazzled watching them form. The boundaries interwove together like layers, making them appear both profound and cryptic. Zhou Yuan could faintly sense that the boundary layers outside the Yang lightning seemed to possess some kind of special power. However, he was incapable of discerning it because his Genesis Rune mastery had yet to reach that level. However, he could feel that a faint change was occurring to the strand of Yang lightning within the Genesis Rune boundaries. In the end, the countless layers of Genesis Rune boundaries were finally complete. Cang Yuan¡¯s phantasm pointed in the air, and the boundaries instantly linked up and ultimately merged with the strand of Yang lightning. Boom! It was clearly only a tiny strand of Yang lightning, but a thunderous boom exploded from it. Deep within the Yang lightning, a sliver of Yin qi was born amidst the strong Yang energy! The Yin qi grew, and a wisp of black light slowly emerged in the white lightning. The lightning was ultimately split into two halves, black and white interweaving as Yin and Yang were born. Cang Yuan¡¯s phantasm opened its palm, allowing the black-and-white lightning to rise into the air. It rapidly grew in size, reaching a length of ten thousand feet. Like a black-and-white lightning dragon, it zipped through the starry sky, shattering even space itself with a flash of black and white. Yin and Yang swirled within the lightning, endless and without end, as if they could generate limitless power. The Yin Yang lightning seemed to possess a spirit of its own! Zhou Yuan stared as if intoxicated, his pupils reflecting the black-and-white lightning. Shock endlessly drummed in his heart. The Cang Yuan phantasm¡¯s actions appeared simple, but Zhou Yuan knew just how heaven-defying they were! This was not an ordinary little Saint technique, but the fusion of Genesis technique and Genesis Rune! Although everyone knew that Genesis Runes and Genesis techniques were both about utilizing Genesis Qi, they were two completely different paths. One was built upon Genesis Qi, while the other was based on Spirit. Two completely different existences had been seamlessly fused in Cang Yuan¡¯s Genesis technique. Moreover, it had ultimately created Yin Yang lightning possessing a life of its own! This was basically equivalent to a miracle. Rumble! While Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was filled with astonishment and amazement, the roaring Yin Yang lightning dragon suddenly charged towards him. In the end, it smashed into his body. Boom! Thunder boomed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart and mind, but he did not panic and instead sat down. He knew that the Law Domain Source was contained within the Yin Yang lightning dragon, and if he failed to imprint its mark in his body, he would have failed to learn the Yin Yang Lightning Rune! Hence, Zhou Yuan focused and slowly closed his eyes. ... In the study. The corners of Mu Ni¡¯s red lips lifted slightly as she watched the still Zhou Yuan. ¡°Oh! Not bad, to think that he has begun to comprehend the source and has prepared to imprint the Genesis technique mark.¡± She tilted her head and looked to Chi Jing with a smile. ¡°Do you know that I¡¯ve given countless talented geniuses the chance to learn this Yin Yang Lightning Rune over the years? But in the end, none of them were able to touch its door. Why do you think this little one is so lucky?¡± Chi Jing helplessly said, ¡°Maybe he accidentally stumbled onto the right path.¡± Mu Ni snorted. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like an accident. It¡¯s because a certain old bastard is biased! ¡°It¡¯s obvious that only someone who cultivated his lousy Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method will be able to view the wonders of this technique, and yet he had purposely thrown it to me!¡± Chi Jing grabbed her forehead. Chapter 902 Exposed His eyes were filled with amazement and ecstasy. After ten days, he had finally imprinted the Yin Yang Lightning Rune Genesis technique mark onto his Divine Dwelling. Although the process had been difficult, it had gone smoothly. With a thought, Zhou Yuan submerged his mind into his Divine Dwelling where he found a flickering black-and-white lightning mark. The mark was complex and gave off a profound aura. Even after ten days, Zhou Yuan was still unable to fully decipher its essence. Fortunately, once the mark was formed, he only needed to continuously polish it with his Genesis Qi and Spirit to gradually bring out its power. Of course, fully bringing out a little Saint techniques power was not something a Divine Dwelling stage expert, or even a Heavenly Sun stage practitioner, could achieve. Only a Nascent Source stage or Law Domain stage expert would be able to display its true might. However, even without its full power, a little Saint technique was incomparable to a Heaven Genesis technique. Countless Genesis Qi stars twinkled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwelling. Starlight sprinkled down, landing on the black-and-white lightning mark. The mark welcomed everything, like a black hole that endlessly devoured the boundless Genesis Qi. Likewise, the Spirit between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows also infused and swiftly gushed Spirit power into the mark in his Divine Dwelling. This was unique to the Yin Yang Lightning Rune. Other little Saint techniques only required the nourishment of Genesis Qi, but the Yin Yang Lightning Rune needed both Genesis Qi and Spirit energy. Genesis Qi was its Yang, while Spirit was its Yin. This was the understanding Zhou Yuan had gained over the past ten days. In other words, one needed to fuse Genesis Qi and Spirit power to create this Genesis technique mark. Alone, neither could form the mark. This technique was basically based on the ideas behind the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. ¡°As expected of something my master created. It''s so friendly towards his disciples.¡± Zhou Yuan was deeply moved. He withdrew from his Divine Dwelling in satisfaction and respectfully bowed towards the mottled stone pillar. The surrounding space began to ripple violently, indicating that he was leaving the hall. He maintained his calm and did not panic. Space warped as the surroundings changed. A split second later, Zhou Yuan appeared once more in the study smelling of sandalwood. When he appeared, the two figures in the room cast their gazes towards him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, congratulations on obtaining an excellent little Saint technique.¡± Mu Ni displayed a wide grin. Under Mu Ni¡¯s strange gaze, Zhou Yuan hastily said, ¡°Many thanks to grand elder Mu Ni for your guidance.¡± Mu Ni smiled. ¡°What¡¯s there to thank? You should be thanking that master of yours instead.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook, but his face remained unchanged as he replied, ¡°My master? My master isn¡¯t in the Tianyuan Region.¡± ¡°Then where is he?¡± Mu Ni smiled faintly. Zhou Yuan froze for a moment before he forced a smile. ¡°Why is grand elder Mu Ni so concerned about an unknown person like my master?¡± ¡°If someone like him is unknown, who in Hunyuan Heaven can claim to be famous?¡± Mu Ni softly snorted. Zhou Yuan could only look towards Chi Jing. She displayed an awkward smile and said, ¡°Aunt Ni knows.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. He had been exposed?! Chi Jing watched Zhou Yuan inwardly crumble as she helplessly said, ¡°She wasn¡¯t certain before, but how can she not be when you obtained the Yin Yang Lightning Rune right before her eyes?¡± Zhou Yuan was depressed, realizing that the Yin Yang Lightning Rune was a bait grand elder Mu Ni had set to uncover his identity. He smiled bitterly inside as he glanced at the kindly looking lady. None of these Law Domain experts were easy to deal with after all. However, although his identity had been exposed, Zhou Yuan did not lose himself to panic. After all, though Chi Jing¡¯s expression was somewhat helpless, there was no worry in her eyes. She clearly did not feel that being found out by Mu Ni would bring trouble. ¡°Little one, can you tell us where that old bastard is now?¡± Mu Ni elegantly picked up another tea leaf as she smiled. Embarrassed, Zhou Yuan said, ¡°My master is fine but cannot return to Hunyuan Heaven due to certain reasons.¡± Mu Ni pursed her lips. Zhou Yuan could tell that her body had relaxed a little, likely due to finally ascertaining that Cang Yuan was alive. ¡°I know that he is plotting something big and that we can¡¯t interfere.¡± Mu Ni sighed softly. How could she not know that only forces beyond her understanding could make someone as powerful as Cang Yuan unable to return to Hunyuan Heaven? She did not know what level of power struggle it was, but she understood that she could not interfere until she stepped into the Saint stage. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Grand elder Mu Ni¡­¡± Mu Ni gently said, ¡°Since you¡¯re Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple, call me Aunt Ni like Chi Jing.¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at Chi Jing. Upon seeing the latter nod, he said, ¡°Aunt Ni.¡± Meanwhile, he wondered in his heart, Clan elder Mu Ni seems to have some kind of relationship with master Cang Yuan...could she be his companion? ¡°Aunt Ni, my identity needs to be kept secret, or it will bring unnecessary trouble,¡± cautioned Zhou Yuan. Aunt Ni gave a faint nod, indicating that she understood. ¡°Since Aunt Ni realized my identity, do you think sect master Xuan Kun and the others have also sensed something?¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but ask. It was no matter if Aunt Ni knew his identity, but if sect master Xuan Kun and the others found out, it would be hard for him to relax. Mu Ni softly chuckled and said, ¡°It is unlikely for them to know. The reason why I suspected it is because I¡¯ve studied the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method before and am quite familiar with it. What¡¯s more, Chi Jing¡¯s unexplainable concern about you made me want to confirm my suspicions. ¡°And the outcome...seems to have exceeded my expectations in a good way.¡± At this point, she could not help but chuckle. Zhou Yuan felt his face burn. His earlier caution and mannerisms had to have seemed very foolish. Mu Ni glanced at Zhou Yuan before retrieving a green stone pendant from her sleeve. Extremely concentrated life energy pulsed from the green stone. ¡°I can tell that you¡¯ve cultivated a Genesis technique that requires life energy. This just so happens to be my specialty. This is a special life stone I crafted, and it contains boundless life energy. You may use this in place of ancient wood essence in the future. ¡°Hmm, take it is a small meeting gift.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but swallow as he stared at the green stone pendant. The life energy Genesis technique Aunt Ni referred to should be the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. Although it did not improve his combat power, it gave him an amazing regenerative ability. Without this technique, Zhou Yuan would not dare to be so ferocious in battle. However, life energy from ancient wood essence was needed to continuously replenish the technique''s green wood mark, making it rather troublesome. With Mu Ni¡¯s life stone, he wouldn¡¯t need to worry about gathering ancient wood essence for some time. Hence, it was impossible for him to reject! Zhou Yuan respectfully received the life stone and wore it around his neck. He earnestly said, ¡°Aunt Ni, having a close companion like you is truly my master¡¯s blessing.¡± Mu Ni covered her mouth, but her brows betrayed her attempt to conceal her smile. She was evidently very pleased by Zhou Yuan¡¯s honeyed words. By the side, Chi Jing shot a glare at Zhou Yuan. This guy is way too good at flattery. Bzz! A streak of light suddenly broke through the air and burrowed into Chi Jing¡¯s head. Chi Jing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as her eyes glowed dangerously. ¡°What is it?¡± asked Mu Ni. Chi Jing frowned and said, ¡°The elder circle informed me that the Tri-Mountain Alliance is up to something. But we don¡¯t know what.¡± Mu Ni¡¯s brows creased. ¡°The Tri-Mountain Alliance has been growing increasingly bossy over the years. When Cang Yuan was around, they did not dare to even jump without his permission.¡± Chi Jing said, ¡°They can¡¯t cause any splashes. I will resolve this as quickly as I can.¡± She stood up and looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Since you¡¯ve obtained the Yin Yang Lightning Rune, use the time you have to properly study it. You can¡¯t slack off on your cultivation either. Since discussion with regards to the nine regions tournament is already underway, it won¡¯t be long before the details are decided. ¡°Your opponent in the nine regions tournament are existences that Lu Xiao can¡¯t even compare to. You cannot underestimate them.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded as his expression turned solemn. It seemed he needed to go into secluded cultivation soon. Chapter 903 Peacefully Cultivating the Four Spirit Runes Over this period, huge changes occurred in the four pavilions. Firstly, the Fire Pavilion. After Zhou Yuan¡¯s interference, nearly half of their upper echelon was replaced, a change which undoubtedly caused large ripples. The new blood was not in the same camp as Zhu Lian and the other old guards. After all, the new blood had essentially dug away at the foundations of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Hence, after some discussion, Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the other Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples chose to oppose the new guys from various angles. Although Lu Xiao barely appeared nowadays, he still belonged to the Heavenly Spirit Sect faction and thus silently acknowledged the actions of Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the others. This undoubtedly placed the non¨CHeavenly Spirit Sect side under a huge amount of pressure. After all, they naturally could not compare to the Heavenly Spirit Sect in terms of strength and resources. Any random higher-up invited over by these Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples would place a tremendous amount of pressure on the non¨CHeavenly Spirit Sect side. Fortunately, they knew that Lu Xiao was no longer the strongest in the four pavilions...and they were not without choice! The new chief pavilion master was the true backbone of the four pavilions. Hence, the Fire Pavilion¡¯s non¨CHeavenly Spirit Sect upper echelon began to cast their lot with Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was already waiting for such an outcome. He quickly made his stand clear and berated Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the others. As a result, they did not dare to act too brazenly. The majority of the ordinary Fire Pavilion members also began to join Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, increasing his influence and authority in the Fire Pavilion. Any orders he gave would now smoothly spread throughout the Fire Pavilion. Zhu Lian and Zuo Ya despaired at these changes. In the end, Zuo Ya could no longer hold back and escalated this situation to the higher-ups of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Sect master Xuan Kun did not personally step forward, but under his unspoken acknowledgement, several of the Heavenly Spirit Sect higher-ups began to exert pressure in the Tianyuan Utopia, saying that Zhou Yuan had disturbed the peace in the four pavilions and was unworthy of the chief pavilion master position! However, such actions did not bear much fruit. Not only did Chi Jing step forward to suppress them, even grand elder Mu Ni, who usually did not interfere in the affairs of Tianyuan Utopia, spoke up. The majority of the Fire Pavilion members were not Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples after all, and if all of them supported Zhou Yuan, there was not much the Heavenly Spirit Sect could find fault with. In his anger, sect master Xuan Kun fiercely berated Lu Xiao, Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the others. The words useless were all but imprinted on their heads. Zhu Lian, Zuo Ya and the rest finally gave up, and the morale of the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples in the Fire Pavilion fell drastically. The Fire Pavilion¡¯s resistance crumbled along with Zhou Yuan¡¯s greatest threat among the four pavilions. The day after the Fire Pavilion affair died down, the mountain pavilion master, Han Yuan, personally paid a visit to Zhou Yuan. His stance was clear. Zhou Yuan had crippled even the Fire Pavilion, and if he still failed to acknowledge the situation, the Mountain Pavilion¡¯s fate would be far worse. Hence, Han Yuan, as tactful as usual, swiftly chose to submit. Zhou Yuan did not take things too far. He only gave out a small punishment before allowing Han Yuan to leave. There was finally a clear direction in the four pavilions. From then onwards, Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice would be the strongest in the four pavilions! With the situation slowly stabilizing, Zhou Yuan cast away his responsibilities, leaving everything to Yi Qiushui as he entered secluded cultivation. ... Four Spirits Origin Tower, the mountain district. Zhou Yuan ultimately selected the mountain spirit rune for his third spirit rune. The mountain spirit rune could augment one¡¯s physical body, whereas the forest spirit rune could improve one¡¯s recovery, something that was less desirable to Zhou Yuan since he already had the Taiyi Green Wood Mark. In the mountain district, a yellow mist filled the sky. It was not real mist but countless specks of sand. The specks filled the land, freely whizzing about the area. The Genesis marks of the mountain spirit rune were hidden within them. The sand grains were tiny but as hard as steel. When they swept across one¡¯s body, they created countless tiny bloody holes. When the sand fused with one¡¯s blood, the Genesis marks within would slowly assimilate into the body. Zhou Yuan sat down on a barren mountaintop and slapped a high-grade Mountain Mother Rune onto his body. With a wave of his sleeve, over a thousand origins coins appeared and began to burn. Woowoo! In the next instant, a tornado of sand descended from the sky, heading straight towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s location. Zhou Yuan calmly gazed at the yellow dragon-like sand tornado and slowly closed his eyes, allowing the torrential sand storm to engulf his body. ... Zhou Yuan spent an entire month forming the mountain spirit rune. The process was not difficult. After all, he had experience from the wind spirit rune and the fire spirit rune, and he was already very familiar with gathering Genesis marks. Furthermore, he had the Mountain Mother Rune and several tens of thousands of origin coins. In his view, it was not that amazing for him to complete the mountain spirit rune in a month. Of course, that was only his opinion. One must know that the other members of the four pavilions, including Lu Xiao, would take over half a year to complete a single spirit rune. In comparison, Zhou Yuan had used only a fraction of this time. Of course, there were many reasons for this such as the Four Mother Runes, his powerful Spirit cultivation and even the care given to him by the primal chaos divine grindstone in the core of the Four Spirits Origin Tower. These many reasons allowed Zhou Yuan to achieve the impressive feat of completing the mountain spirit rune in a single month. Zhou Yuan did not publicize his completion of the mountain spirit rune, not informing even Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling. He felt that there was not much meaning in publicizing such matters. Zhou Yuan did not stop or rest after completing the mountain spirit rune. He immediately turned his attention towards the final forest spirit rune. He wanted to complete all four spirit runes. He did not know why, but he had a faint feeling that something would happen when all four spirit runes were gathered in one body. ... Time swiftly passed. After another half a month, the peaceful Tianyuan Region stirred once more. There were two reasons. One was that the date of the nine regions tournament was finally fixed. The tournament was a grand affair that every top faction in the entire Hunyuan Heaven paid attention to. With regards to scale, it was definitely one of the bigger events in Hunyuan Heaven. Chapter 904 Challenge Letter The founders of the nine regions were apex existences even in the other heavens apart from the sacred race heavens. It was their existence that allowed Hunyuan Heaven to become the hub of the resistance against the sacred race. However, competition was unavoidable as long as there were people, and the nine regions were no exception. Although the nine regions would fully support the resistance against the sacred race without objection, they were fiercely competitive on all other matters. All nine regions were overwhelmingly powerful, and each one wanted to suppress the others to become the true overlord of the nine regions. However, if entities like them warred against each other to determine who was best, the entire Hunyuan Heaven would fall into chaos, allowing the sacred race to take advantage of their disorder. Hence, an entire region could not war against another, and the nine regions also did their best to avoid such a scenario. Since the high-class battle powers could not cross swords, the fights were left to the mid- and low-tier cultivation groups. Hence, the birth of the nine regions tournament. The participants of the nine regions tournament were the most outstanding super heaven prides of the nine regions. As representatives of the nine regions, the outcome of their battles would determine the rankings of the nine regions, allowing the entire Hunyuan Heaven to know who was the mightiest of each generation from the nine regions. The winner would undoubtedly become the goal of the countless heaven prides of the next generation. The tournament was a rather important affair. Only with enough talented new blood could these powerhouses ensure that every generation had their own outstanding heaven prides to lead the rest. Besides this, it was also essential to decide who would hold the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. The Ancestral Dragon Lantern was one of the most powerful Saint treasures¡ªa three lotus Saint treasure¡ªand possessed endless power. Even peak Saint stage experts regarded it with extreme importance. Moreover, the Ancestral Dragon Lantern could not be put under the sole care of any of the nine regions. Hence, only the victor of the nine regions tournament would gain the right to hold onto it until the next tournament. Over this period, the region possessing the Ancestral Dragon Lantern would have increased their authority and influence in Hunyuan Heaven. Due to these various reasons, the nine regions tournament was one of the grandest and most important events in Hunyuan Heaven. Hence, the announcement of every nine regions tournament would draw the attention of countless people in Hunyuan Heaven. This time was naturally no exception. Amidst the discussion, the Hunyuan Heaven Divine Dwelling List became a focal point once more. Countless individuals studied the rankers on the list, trying to find any hidden dark horses among them. Though there were dark horses, the majority still turned their attention towards the top few rankers, especially the one who had reigned as number one for many years, Zhao Mushen. Many felt that the immeasurable Zhao Mushen was most likely to defeat all his foes and become the final winner in the upcoming nine regions tournament, allowing him to truly stand at the apex of this generation. ... In the Tianyuan Region, news of the nine regions tournament likewise drew heated debates. Contrary to the others, however, the atmosphere in the Tianyuan Region was somewhat negative and gloomy. After supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disappearance, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s strength and reputation had fallen substantially. In the previous nine regions tournament, the Tianyuan Region placed last and lost a tremendous amount of face. This time, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s strongest Divine Dwelling stage expert was the chief pavilion master, Zhou Yuan. But even he was only ranked fourteenth on the Divine Dwelling List. Although this wasn¡¯t a low ranking, it did not match the status of the Tianyuan Region in Hunyuan Heaven. Hence, many felt somewhat pessimistic. After all, they could not imagine how Zhou Yuan, ranked fourteenth, would be able to vie with the top-ranked super heaven prides. If the Tianyuan Region ended up last place again, it would be an unrecoverable blow to the Tianyuan Region¡¯s reputation. But what could they do? They had no one to blame but themselves for being less skilled. While countless people in the Tianyuan Region were feeling hopeless, something else suddenly happened that caused the entire Tianyuan Region to curse in anger. The source of this matter was the neighboring top-tier faction, the Tri-Mountain Alliance! The Tri-Mountain Alliance used to be three first-class factions of Hunyuan Heaven. These three factions subsequently allied together, forming the Tri-Mountain Alliance. In turn, their strength soared, leaping from the first-class level to the apex, making them a top faction second only to the nine regions. As their power grew, their ambition naturally followed. They began to covet the status of the nine regions, desiring to elevate themselves to such a level. However, the structure of the nine regions had already been fixed for countless years. How could it be easy for a new faction to join their ranks? Hence, the Tri-Mountain Alliance could only wait patiently till a chance presented itself. Their waiting finally bore fruit in the form of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disappearance. Without its leader, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s strength began to wane, while the Tri-Mountain Alliance started to stir restlessly. In recent years, the Tri-Mountain Alliance had been constantly challenging the Tianyuan Region¡¯s dignity in all areas, making their ambition known to all. In response to such provocation, the Tianyuan Region was naturally extremely angry. They had nothing but disdain towards this new faction. If supreme sovereign Cang Yuan were still around, the Tri-Mountain Alliance would not dare to look them in the eye! This situation was truly akin to a dog bullying an injured tiger! The Tianyuan Region refused to back down or compromise. Hence, the conflicts between both sides grew increasingly intense over the years, deepening the enmity between them. This time, the Tri-Mountain Alliance began stirring things after the announcement of the nine regions tournament. Their goal was obvious: they were after the qualifications to participate in the nine regions tournament because, according to the rules, only the nine regions were allowed to participate. But other factions were not without any chances. If they could defeat the Divine Dwelling stage representative of any of the nine regions, they would win the right to participate from that region. This rule was originally set to motivate the nine regions. If one¡¯s right to participate was lost, it would be a massive loss of face. However, having the right to participate snatched away had never happened before. After all, no faction would willingly offend the nine regions. Hence, even if a super genius appeared, they would rather keep their heads low than challenge the dignity of the nine regions. But this time, the Tri-Mountain Alliance had no such intention. As such, they sent a challenge letter to the Tianyuan Region not long after the tournament¡¯s announcement. Countless copies were dispersed all over the Tianyuan Region and even to the other regions. For a time, this matter became the hottest topic in the Tianyuan Region and the neighboring lands. The challenge letter was sent by the Divine Dwelling List¡¯s rank-nine expert, the super dark horse Chen Xuandong, whose reputation had soared recently in Hunyuan Heaven. The contents of the challenge letter were simple and direct and filled with confidence and aggressiveness. Chapter 905 Accep Countless people were shocked because they knew the significance behind the challenge. Previously, the Tri-Mountain Alliance had only provoked the Tianyuan Region on small issues, but this challenge letter was a borderline declaration of war. Although the battle participants were merely the most outstanding Divine Dwelling stage practitioners of both camps, it was evident that the Tri-Mountain Alliance no longer feared offending the Tianyuan Region, which was once its big brother. Since there was no chance of reconciliation, the subsequent clashes would only become increasingly intense. This drew countless gazes. After all, a top-tier faction challenging one of the nine regions was very rarely seen in Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s long history. At the same time, it also made countless people sigh deeply. The Tianyuan Region had truly fallen in recent years. Otherwise, even if the Tri-Mountain Alliance was a top-tier faction, how could they possibly dare to stroke a tiger¡¯s whiskers? The Tri-Mountain Alliance had three Law Domain stage experts, whereas the Tianyuan Region had five. There wasn¡¯t a huge gap in strength between the apex forces on both sides. In addition, the Tri-Mountain Alliance had been experiencing rapid growth over the past few years, and even though their foundations still could not match the Tianyuan Region, they were not that much weaker than the Tianyuan Region as a whole. If war were to break out between them, the Tianyuan Region would likely pay a terrible price even if they won. More importantly, once the Tianyuan Region became weaker because of it, other top-tier factions in Hunyuan Heaven might begin to have ideas of challenging them. If that happened, what would the Tianyuan Region do? Without a supreme sovereign, the Tianyuan Region had already lost its former transcendent status. Hence, many knew that the Tri-Mountain Alliance was trying to feel out the Tianyuan Region this time, hoping to find out exactly how much of the region¡¯s former might was left. ... The entire Tianyuan Region was filled with anger. The Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s challenge angered countless people. After all, as members of the Tianyuan Region, they still had the pride of being one of the nine regions. Many years ago, before the Tri-Mountain Alliance had formed, those three first-class factions were merely subjects that bowed to the Tianyuan Region! But now, the once little brother had turned on them. How could the people of the Tianyuan Region possibly endure such an outrage? For a time, countless voices were directed towards the Tianyuan Utopia, wanting the higher-ups to display a power that would put the Tri-Mountain Alliance in their place. How would the higher-ups of the Tianyuan Region respond? Accept? But Chen Xuandong was ranked nine on the Divine Dwelling List and was currently the most dazzling super dark horse, his radiance far outclassing the new chief pavilion master¡¯s. Since he dared to send a challenge letter so openly, he had to have unshakable confidence in himself. If they accepted and Zhou Yuan lost, would the Tianyuan Region really have to give up their nine regions tournament participation rights? If so, would the Tianyuan Region dare to show their face again? But what if they refused? One of the almighty nine regions refusing to acknowledge a challenge from a mere top-tier faction. What face would they have left? Hence, a few of the more discerning individuals sighed inwardly. The challenge was a huge headache for the higher-ups of the Tianyuan Region. ... Tianyuan Utopia, inside a conference hall. Five figures were seated, each one maintaining their silence. However, a terrifying pressure was brewing in the hall. These five figures were naturally the Tianyuan Region¡¯s five grand elders. The silence lasted for a long time before sect master Xuan Kun looked towards Chi Jing, pushing over the challenge letter in his hand as he indifferently asked, ¡°How shall we deal with this matter? Do we accept or refuse?¡± Chi Jing swept a glance at the challenge letter as a dangerous look surfaced on her fair face. ¡°Since they dare to challenge us, why would we not dare to receive it?¡± Sect master Xuan Kun lowered his eyelids and said, ¡°Easy to say. Chen Xuandong is very strong, and the Tri-Mountain Alliance has poured countless resources into him. His talent is also exceptional. Do you think Zhou Yuan will be his match?¡± Chi Jing let out an icy laugh. ¡°Our Tianyuan Region cannot afford to lose face!¡± ¡°We can¡¯t afford to lose the challenge either.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun slowly said, ¡°I suggest we ignore this challenge and the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s provocations. In that way, they will not be able to achieve their goal.¡± Chi Jing frostily said, ¡°Cower like a turtle? If my master returns in the future, he might shatter the Tianyuan Region in anger.¡± Clan leader Bai Ye of the White Clan smiled faintly and said, ¡°It is best if grand elder Chi Jing has any information about supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. We¡¯ll only need to release this information, and the Tri-Mountain Alliance will no longer have the guts to provoke us.¡± Chi Jing expressionlessly replied, ¡°If I knew, would some people have the balls to repeatedly bicker with me? However, I¡¯m certain that nothing has happened to my master. Once there is a chance, he will naturally appear.¡± Clan leader Bai Ye sighed softly. ¡°But I heard that the sacred race had attacked supreme sovereign Cang Yuan and that he may have already fallen.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s face turned ice-cold as she glared at clan leader Bai Ye. Clan leader Mu Ni¡¯s gentle voice sounded, ¡°If clan leader Bai Ye has such thoughts, you may leave the Tianyuan Region with your White Clan. I believe the others will not stop you.¡± The corners of Bai Ye¡¯s eyes twitched for a moment. Regardless of his thoughts, he would not dare to do anything before ascertaining supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s situation. Otherwise, what would he do if supreme sovereign Cang Yuan appeared? The fury of a Saint was not something he could endure, even if he was a Law Domain stage expert. Clan leader Bian Chang of the Profound Crystal Clan spoke up in a deep voice, ¡°Let¡¯s do away with such useless talk. The Tianyuan Region is one entity, and no one hopes that anything bad will happen to it.¡± All five grand elders fell silent. They understood that bickering would not solve the problem. Clan leader Bai Ye raised his eyelids as he said, ¡°What¡¯s chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan¡¯s situation?¡± Chi Jing indifferently said, ¡°He¡¯s in secluded cultivation.¡± Clan leader Bai Ye¡¯s white hair swayed gently as he leisurely said, ¡°As the chief pavilion master, he¡¯s the leader of the younger generation. Since this matter is directed at him, we should see his stance.¡± Chi Jing nodded. Just as she was about to speak, her expression suddenly changed as she reached out and pointed towards a certain spot. A jade talisman appeared and landed in her hand. ¡°It¡¯s from elder Yi. Zhou Yuan is already aware of this matter, he says¡­¡± Chi Jing¡¯s eyes faintly flashed as she read the information in the jade talisman. ¡°He says that the challenge can be accepted but hopes that it can be delayed a month.¡± These words caused the expressions of the other four grand elders to change a little. Sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s face was indifferent as he said, ¡°He talks big for someone so young. It is not a simple matter that can be accepted so casually. This affair affects not only himself but also the reputation of our Tianyuan Region.¡± Chi Jing replied, ¡°If sect master Xuan Kun has another plan, feel free to share it. We will naturally support it if it is feasible.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun chuckled before saying in a low voice, ¡°This old man doesn¡¯t have any plan. Since grand elder Chi Jing feels he can do it, go ahead and let him accept the challenge. If he fails, however, I hope that grand elder Chi Jing will be able to deal with the aftermath.¡± His intention was for Chi Jing to bear the consequences if Zhou Yuan was defeated. Indifference covered Chi Jing¡¯s fair face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The Tianyuan Region is the property my master left behind. Even if I lose my life, I will not let the Tianyuan Region lose face.¡± She rose to her feet with a determined expression. ¡°Reply to the Tri-Mountain Alliance. Our Tianyuan Region will accept this challenge, and the date will be set to a month later. Additionally, the Tri-Mountain Alliance is not allowed to issue such a challenge for free. Tell them that if they want to challenge us, prepare a hundred Divine Dwelling Immeasurable Fruits! ¡°And if they lose, the amount will be raised to three hundred!¡± Divine Dwelling Immeasurable Fruits were a resource produced by the Tri-Mountain Alliance. When consumed, it would unlock one of one¡¯s Divine Dwellings, so it was called a miracle medicine of the Divine Dwelling stage! It only worked on Divine Dwelling stage practitioners and was only effective once. It was considered one of the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s critical strategic resources. Three hundred was almost several years of produce. Chapter 906 Challenge Letter For the other factions, although the unyielding manner in which the Tianyuan Region accepted the challenge appeared quite impressive, some of the sharper individuals felt that it was a rash decision. After all, in a manner of speaking, their acceptance was equivalent to using one¡¯s weakness to attack an opponent¡¯s strong suit. The Tri-Mountain Alliance was clearly prepared and confident in Chen Xuandong. His ranking on the Divine Dwelling List also surpassed Zhou Yuan¡¯s. To be blunt, Lu Xiao likely did not have the qualifications to face Chen Xuandong, so even though Zhou Yuan had defeated Lu Xiao, Zhou Yuan likewise did not have the qualifications either. Once Zhou Yuan lost the battle, the Tianyuan Region would lose a massive amount of face. Placing the reputation of a region on a single Divine Dwelling stage practitioner was not very wise. Moreover, chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan had delayed the fight by a month, which made him appear lacking in confidence. Was he hoping for some breakthrough at the final moment? It was said that the chief pavilion master had only unlocked seven Divine Dwellings so far. Although his potential would turn into true strength when he unlocked the final two Divine Dwellings and no longer needed to fear Chen Xuandong, time waited for no man. Others would not foolishly wait for you to grow up before challenging you. Of course, there were naturally some voices supporting the decision. They felt that the Tianyuan Region was confident since they had dared to accept the challenge. As for which new dark horse was stronger, one would only know the answer once Chen Xuandong and Zhou Yuan clashed! However, the voices in support were the minority. After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s ranking on the Divine Dwelling List was lower than Chen Xuandong¡¯s, and the Divine Dwelling List had always been very accurate. When the Tianyuan Region¡¯s conditions for accepting the challenge entered the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s ears, the super dark horse Chen Xuandong immediately responded with two simple words. ¡°Ready anytime.¡± Simple and confident. ... The four pavilions were likewise in an uproar due to the matter. However, in the face of an external threat, everyone, even the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples, temporarily put aside their differences to stand against the common enemy. After all, everyone understood that Zhou Yuan was currently the leader of their generation of Divine Dwelling stage practitioners. If he lost to Chen Xuandong, it would be a tremendous blow to their reputation. Thus, even the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples did not wish to see Zhou Yuan defeated. The chief pavilion building. Yi Qiushui¡¯s and Ye Bingling¡¯s expressions were somewhat grave as they gazed at the crazy ruckus outside. After a long time, Ye Bingling asked in a low voice, ¡°Where¡¯s Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°He¡¯s been in secluded cultivation for the past two months.¡± Yi Qiushui sighed softly. She never imagined that Zhou Yuan would receive such a dangerous challenge so quickly after assuming the chief pavilion master position. Chen Xuandong was far more dangerous than Lu Xiao. Ye Bingling gritted her teeth and said, ¡°The Tri-Mountain Alliance is going more and more overboard.¡± A top-tier faction challenging one of the nine regions was honestly very rare in Hunyuan Heaven. Hence, the members of the Tianyuan Region felt both offended and angered. ¡°What did Zhou Yuan say? I heard he accepted the challenge on his own accord?¡± Worry tinged Ye Bingling¡¯s voice. Although the Tri-Mountain Alliance was loathsome, their ploy was indeed too cunning. After all, if both sides were to fight, the Tianyuan Region would not fear the Tri-Mountain Alliance in terms of Law Domain stage or Nascent Source stage numbers. However, the Tri-Mountain Alliance just had to jab them in their weakness: the Divine Dwelling stage. With regards to the Divine Dwelling stage, even members of the Tianyuan Region had no choice but to admit that they had not done well over the past few years. Yi Qiushui gave a slight nod. She already found out everything from her grandfather. Zhou Yuan had indeed accepted the challenge letter. Yi Qiushui slowly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is no fool. This matter is very important, and he wouldn¡¯t easily accept the challenge if he didn¡¯t have a plan.¡± Having known Zhou Yuan for so long, she knew that he was someone who could wait patiently for his chance. Since he dared to accept the challenge letter, he had to have some sort of plan. Yi Bingling let out a bitter laugh. She could only hope this was true. After all, Chen Xuandong had already named Zhou Yuan, and if he did not accept, it would be a near-fatal blow to his reputation. The other party had clearly chosen the timing very well. As for what would follow... This battle would be far more dangerous than the one with Lu Xiao. ... The Fire Pavilion. Lu Xiao, Zuo Ya, Zhu Lian and the rest were currently gathered. Naturally, they were discussing the challenge letter from Chen Xuandong. ¡°Zhou Yuan is so arrogant. Does he really believe that becoming the chief pavilion master has made him invincible under the heavens?¡± said Zuo Ya in a resentful voice. In contrast to the faith Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others had in Zhou Yuan, she did not believe that he was Chen Xuandong¡¯s match. From what she could see, it was stupid of Zhou Yuan to recklessly accept the challenge. If he was defeated, the Divine Dwelling stage younger generation of the Tianyuan Region would become a laughing stock in Hunyuan Heaven. Zhu Lian looked towards the contemplating Lu Xiao. ¡°Senior brother Lu Xiao, do you think Zhou Yuan has a chance?¡± On this matter, they were in the same boat as Zhou Yuan: his glory would be their glory, his shame would be their shame. Hence, no matter how unwilling they felt, they could only support Zhou Yuan. Lu Xiao was silent for a moment before answering, ¡°It will be very difficult. If my estimate is correct, Chen Xuandong¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations alone have likely reached almost 30 million Genesis stars.¡± This terrifying number made Zuo Ya and Zhu Lain gasp involuntarily. Nearly 30 million? What kind of notion was this? One must know that even Lu Xiao only had 23 million, but Chen Xuandong had nearly 30 million? ¡°It¡¯s not unbelievable.¡± Lu Xiao indifferently said, ¡°The top rankers on the Divine Dwelling List have been nicknamed ¡®Little Heavenly Suns¡¯. Although there is still a gap between Chen Xuandong and them, it is not impossible for his Genesis Qi foundations to have reached nearly 30 million. ¡°In my fight with Zhou Yuan, his Genesis Qi foundations had only reached 21 million. If he manages to unlock the eighth Divine Dwelling, he might be able to put up a fight against Chen Xuandong. ¡°The final two Divine Dwellings are far harder to unblock than the first seven. From what I know, Zhou Yuan has spent the past two months in the Four Spirits Origin Tower. Hence, his focus should be on the mountain spirit rune and forest spirit rune, which means that the possibility of him unblocking the eighth Divine Dwelling is quite low... ¡°To be frank...even if he completes all four spirit runes, I do not feel it will let him beat Chen Xuandong.¡± Expression grave, he looked towards Zuo Ya and Zhu Lian and slowly shook his head. Chapter 907 Attention from Various Parties Many factions sent out their scouts to camp at the border between the Tianyuan Region and the Tri-Mountain Alliance. Although it was merely a contest between two Divine Dwelling stage practitioners, everyone understood that it was the first true clash between the newly rising top-tier faction, the Tri-Mountain Alliance, and the declining veteran among the nine regions. The match¡¯s outcome would likely cause huge ripples throughout Hunyuan Heaven. Hence, countless factions in the Hunyuan Heaven cast their gazes towards the Tianyuan Region and the Tri-Mountain Alliance. ... The Xuanji Region. At a sky observatory, Jiu Gong stared at the information that had been sent into her hands. A long time later, she finally put it down and remarked, ¡°The Tri-Mountain Alliance really knows how to choose their moment.¡± A beautiful girl asked from the side, ¡°Senior sister, who do you think will win?¡± ¡°If we were to look at the rankings, it would be Chen Xuandong, of course.¡± Jiu Gong could not help but chuckle. ¡°But, after all, I had decided these rankings. If anything unexpected occurs, it would mean that my information and discernment is not up to par.¡± She paused for a moment before adding, ¡°But rankings cannot properly represent one¡¯s power. Otherwise, in any disputes, one would only need to compare rankings, and the one ranked lower would have to bow his or her head in defeat. ¡°I put Zhou Yuan at fourteenth place not because he isn¡¯t strong but because I judged him based on Lu Xiao. His rank only means that Lu Xiao is lacking, and it does not say much about Zhou Yuan.¡± Jiu Gong grasped a piece of jade with both hands, which contained all the information about Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong. She studied for a while before she softly said, ¡°But despite this, from the strength both parties have displayed, if Zhou Yuan does not have any shocking growth since his battle with Lu Xiao, he will definitely lose.¡± ¡°Senior sister thinks so highly of Chen Xuandong?¡± Jiu Gong casually threw the jade piece onto the table as she calmly said, ¡°It¡¯s not that I think highly of him. This is the judgment I¡¯ve made from the information I¡¯ve received.¡± She shook her head and sighed. ¡°If Zhou Yuan really loses, the Tianyuan Region will likely lose all face this time. What a pity. If supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was still around, who would dare to stroke the whiskers of the tiger that is the mighty Tianyuan Region?¡± She soon cast away such thoughts. The nine regions tournament would arrive in three months. This was what she should be focusing on. ... The Wushen Region. Wu Yao was seated in front of a stone table on a scenery viewing platform, her slender figure and bright red dress giving her a fierce aura. With long and narrow phoenix eyes, she stared at the jade piece in her hand as the corners of her lips curved into an unreadable smile. Opposite Wu Yao, a man smiled faintly and said, ¡°The Tri-Mountain Alliance is becoming more and more ballsy. This is basically an attempt to trample on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s face.¡± He wore a white robe and gave off an extraordinary air. He was called Lan Ting and was second in status only to Wu Yao among the Wushen Region¡¯s numerous disciples. With regards to strength, he likewise had the qualifications to contend for the top ten rankings on the Divine Dwelling List, but he was one of the hidden cards the Wushen Region had prepared for the nine regions tournament and was thus not allowed to partake in the rankings. Together, he and Wu Yao were the Wushen Region¡¯s strongest Divine Dwelling stage disciples, though one was in the open, while the other was hidden in the shadows. Lan Ting gazed at the girl in red before him. Her stern, empress-like aura roused an indescribable fascination deep in his heart. However, he hid it very well, not daring to display even a trace of it in front of her. ¡°Junior sister Wu Yao, who do you think will win?¡± asked Lan Ting with a smile. Wu Yao put down the jade piece. Her expression didn¡¯t change as she said flatly, ¡°The Tianyuan Region will win.¡± Lan Ting was stunned. Her answer exceeded his expectations. However, Wu Yao had no intention of explaining, and she merely continued to stare at the jade piece. From the information she had gathered over this period, she was certain that the Zhou Yuan from the Tianyuan Region was him! It was the same Zhou Yuan from the Great Zhou Empire of Cangxuan Heaven! Wu Yao¡¯s fingernails gently scratched the jade piece. He really came to Hunyuan Heaven! Moreover, it had only taken him a single year to become the leader of the Divine Dwelling stage experts in the Tianyuan Region. Such rapid progress...as expected of the one who once owned the sacred dragon blessing! She clearly understood how formidable he was. He had his blessing completely taken away, essentially leaving him crippled. And yet, he had ultimately crawled back up and achieved a nearly impossible reversal, triumphing over Wu Huang and even overthrowing the Great Wu Empire. He was no ordinary individual. Hence, Wu Yao did not believe that a mere Chen Xuandong would be able to stop him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, have you come to take back the sacred dragon blessing?¡± mumbled Wu Yao in her heart. However, an abnormal craziness secretly surged from the depths of her eyes. ¡°Then come! ¡°Let¡¯s see whether you¡¯ll devour me or if I will devour you!¡± ... The Zixiao Region. In a certain room filled with a faint fragrance. Su Youwei was seated on her bed with her legs folded under her. Her hand was currently tightly covering her mouth as her glistening eyes stared at the jade piece in her other hand. The jade was emitting rays of light that weaved together to form a translucent glowing figure. The figure belonged to a man. That appearance...who could it be but Zhou Yuan? ¡°Your Highness, it really is you¡­¡± Su Youwei¡¯s eyes glowed with a tender light. If any of the other Zixiao Region disciples saw her in this state, the entire land would be flipped upside down. However, Su Youwei could not care about such things. After asking around, she had finally obtained information about Zhou Yuan, the chief pavilion master from the Tianyuan Region. With a single glance, she had immediately recognized the image¡¯s familiar face. Although it had been many years since she had last seen him and he now looked more mature, the memories buried deep within Su Youwei¡¯s heart rose to the surface once more. Hence, even someone with a tough character like her could not help but feel the urge to cry. Su Youwei¡¯s slender fingers trembled as she gently touched the image that was only a few inches away. The feelings in her heart made her suddenly leap off the bed and run several steps with her bare feet. ¡°I want to go to the Tianyuan Region!¡± But just as she was about to push open the door, her hand paused and her expression sank. With the nine regions tournament so near, she could not possibly leave the Zixiao Region. However, this somber mood did not last long before being dashed by the joy of soon meeting an old friend again. Su Youwei twirled in the room, her fluttering skirt revealing a pair of dazzling, fair and slender legs. There was no rush. He had already arrived in Hunyuan Heaven after all. Hehe. The uncontrollable giggle of a young girl sounded in the room as she fell into her soft bed. The corners of her red lips curled slightly as she slowly closed her clear, limpid eyes. It was a divinely beautiful sight. ¡°Your Highness¡­ ¡°Meeting you again will be so great.¡± ... Chapter 908 Endless Crevice Unable to see an end or bottom, people called this deep crevice the Endless Crevice. It was said that Saints had fought at the Endless Crevice in ancient times, one of them tearing it open. If this was true, the crevice could be used to gauge the power of a Saint. A single finger from a Saint possessed the mighty power to shape the land. As the boundary between the Tianyuan Region and the Tri-Mountain Alliance, not many would typically come to the Endless Crevice. However, it had become a gathering place for countless factions from the Tianyuan Region and the neighboring lands over the past month. On the many mountains visible on both sides of the crevice were uncountable figures. All sorts of people were present, creating an exceedingly complex mix. From this, one could see how attention drawing the battle between Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong was. However, this was not unusual. Everyone clearly understood that the battle appeared to be a clash between two young Divine Dwelling stage practitioners but was, in truth, a kind of arm-wrestling match between a new top-tier faction and one of the veteran nine regions. Anyone with half a brain would know the impact of such an event. On the two sides of the Endless Crevice were two particularly large groups. Every member gave off powerful Genesis Qi undulations. None of the other onlookers could match these two groups in strength and scale. These two groups were naturally from the Tianyuan Region and the Tri-Mountain Alliance. Since the Endless Crevice was the decided venue of the match, both factions had naturally dispatched a party to scout the area in advance for anything suspicious and prevent the other group from preparing any underhanded tricks. The two parties were also guarding against the factions that had come to watch. Despite being separated by the large crevice, the powerful individuals on both sides were still able to see each other. Icy killing intent filled the air as their gazes clashed. If both groups were put together, a fight would have already broken out. To the people from the Tianyuan Region, the Tri-Mountain Alliance were ignorant fools for daring to challenge them. After all, the superior status of the nine regions was something every faction in Hunyuan Heaven deeply desired, especially the top-tier factions that were second only to the nine regions. Individuals from both groups stared intently at each other, while others looked towards the sky. That day was the promised date. When the sun rose to its peak, space began to distort on the Tri-Mountain Alliance side. Three powerful presences emerged, causing everyone¡¯s expression to change. Everyone looked over to see three figures standing in the air. Not even the slightest trace of Genesis Qi could be sensed from them, as if they were ordinary people. However, everyone present knew that the lack of Genesis Qi was because the trio had perfectly merged with their surroundings. To existences like them, they were the land, and the land was them. All the Genesis Qi in the area was under their control, even the Genesis Qi within the many individuals present. The three arrivals were Law Domain stage experts. When they appeared, the surrounding space was already within their Law Domains, making it impossible for anyone to escape. This was the terrifying power of the Law Domain. Respect and fear rose in the eyes of countless individuals. Wariness even filled the expressions of the many experts on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side. The trio was naturally the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s three Law Domain stage experts. They consisted of two old men and one woman. The Tri-Mountain Alliance consisted of three mountains: Origin Mountain, Moon Palace Mountain and Mystic Turtle Mountain. Each mountain had a master who jointly controlled the Tri-Mountain Alliance. The elder in the center was the very picture of an immortal. With white hair and a white beard, he was the master of Origin Mountain. The woman on the right was a gorgeous beauty at her prime and gave off a celestial aura. She was the master of Moon Palace Mountain. Lastly, the hunchback elder on the left was the master of Mystic Turtle Mountain. The three were considered top-tier super experts in Hunyuan Heaven and were famous individuals in their own right. The three mountain masters of the Tri-Mountain Alliance waved their sleeves after appearing. Space tore open behind them as a figure slowly walked out. He was dressed in a black robe and wielded a black scale spear. With a body tall and straight like a pine, he emitted a domineering aura as if he were a mighty overlord, his eyes filled with anticipation. When this black-robed man appeared, a commotion arose in the surrounding area. He was one of the main participants! Chen Xuandong of the Tri-Mountain Alliance! ¡°What an imposing presence! As expected of the ninth ranker on the Divine Dwelling List!¡± several onlookers sighed deeply. Chen Xuandong¡¯s majestic aura left a profound impression. He was indeed an outstanding genius. After the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s three mountain masters and Chen Xuandong appeared, space rippled on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side. Five figures then emerged. When these five figures appeared, the terrifying pressure from the three mountain masters was immediately pushed back, ultimately withdrawing to the other side of the deep crevice. The three mountain masters narrowed their eyes as they gazed at the five figures that had appeared in the air. The origin mountain master smiled and said, ¡°I did not expect all five grand elders of the Tianyuan Region to come. You really give face to our Tri-Mountain Alliance.¡± The ones who had just appeared on the Tianyuan Region side were naturally Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the other three grand elders. Their icy gazes immediately locked onto the origin mountain master. ¡°Is the Tri-Mountain Alliance not afraid of inviting trouble and calamity with such impudence?¡± The origin mountain master chuckled and said, ¡°It¡¯s merely a duel between two young ones; there¡¯s no need to exaggerate. I believe that even supreme sovereign Cang Yuan will not object to it if he was here. ¡°Hehe, all of us really admire supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. If the five grand elders can invite him over, the three of us will personally apologize to him.¡± Chi Jing narrowed her eyes slightly. It seemed everyone wanted to probe for news about her master. The Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s provocations might be more than they seemed. From what Zhou Yuan had told her, their master couldn¡¯t return because a great power in Hunyuan Heaven was targeting him. In Hunyuan Heaven, one could count on one hand the number of existences that her master would be wary of. Without such existences secretly supporting them, the Tri-Mountain Alliance would not have the guts to challenge the Tianyuan Region. Chi Jing¡¯s eyes flashed faintly. Soon after, she withdrew such thoughts and indifferently said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯ll be a chance in the future.¡± The origin mountain master displayed a regretful expression as he shook his head and said, ¡°In that case, our Tri-Mountain Alliance will be taking advantage of him this time.¡± His gaze shifted towards Chen Xuandong as he gave a slight nod. Under countless watching gazes, Chen Xuandong cupped his fists together towards the three mountain masters in the air before he moved and appeared in the sky above the crevice. His eyes were filled with boldness as he looked towards the Tianyuan Region side and shouted in a booming voice, ¡°Chen Xuandong of the Tri-Mountain Alliance is here. Where is Zhou Yuan?!¡± His tone was provocative and challenging. As Chen Xuandong¡¯s shout echoed, the space behind Chi Jing was slowly torn open. Under countless excited gazes, a slim youth slowly walked out. It was Zhou Yuan! At the sight of him, however, the hearts of the Tianyuan Region group sank. They realized that he was still at the seventh Divine Dwelling stage. Zhou Yuan ignored their disappointed gazes. He coolly looked towards Chen Xuandong as his calm voice also rang out. Chapter 909 How ¡°So that is the chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region, Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°From what I can see, his Genesis Qi cultivation is only at the seventh Divine Dwelling.¡± ¡°If so, wouldn¡¯t that mean that there hasn¡¯t been much change since he fought Lu Xiao two months ago?¡± ¡°Hehe, if that is the case...the Tianyuan Region will likely be thoroughly humiliated today!¡± ¡°......¡± There were all manners of people present, including numerous scouts and spies from various factions. As such, they were naturally sharper than the average individual. A single look was all that was needed for them to realize that Zhou Yuan had not made much progress in his cultivation for the last two months. This discovery immediately made them gloat over the Tianyuan Region¡¯s predicament. After all, Chen Xuandong was not someone the likes of Lu Xiao could compare to. Two months ago, it had taken Zhou Yuan almost everything to defeat Lu Xiao. If he were to face Chen Xuandong, who was even stronger, he would most likely lose in quite an ugly manner. Zhou Yuan ignored the skeptical and gloating gazes. He cupped his fists together towards Chi Jing, Mu Ni and the other grand elders before walking forward. He slowly arrived above the deep crevice. Chi Jing pointed at the air as she gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. Ripples spread from her finger, forming a giant mirror of light. The mirror shimmered as innumerable ancient Genesis Runes flowed across its surface, revealing Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong¡¯s figures. At the same time, light erupted from the many towers in the Tianyuan Region¡¯s several hundred prefectures. Strings of light weaved together in the air, forming similar mirrors that reflected the Endless Crevice. The Tianyuan Utopia was no exception. Practically every member of the four pavilions was gathered at the round plaza of the Four Spirits Origin Tower. They held their breaths as they stared at the giant mirror that appeared in the sky. It drew in countless gazes from the Tianyuan Utopia. Zuo Ya¡¯s brows were tightly knitted together, and she could not help but exclaim, ¡°What the heck? He hasn¡¯t ascended to the next minor cultivation stage? How will he be able to match Chen Xuandong in this state!¡± ¡°No one will think you¡¯re a mute if you don¡¯t talk!¡± Yi Qiushui, who was nearby, cast an icy glare at her. Zuo Ya bristled in anger, retorting, ¡°Did I say anything wrong? Although it becomes harder to unlock the later Divine Dwellings, he might have succeeded if he had poured all his effort into Genesis Qi cultivation. He didn¡¯t break through because he had spent all his time on the mountain and forest spirit runes. It wasn¡¯t a wise decision! ¡°Zhou Yuan is not just representing himself, but all the Divine Dwelling stage experts of our Tianyuan Region. If he loses, our entire generation will be too ashamed to show our faces in the future.¡± The surrounding Fire Pavilion members secretly nodded their heads as their brows furrowed in worry. Yi Qiushui indifferently said, ¡°Zhou Yuan naturally has a plan. You just can¡¯t see it because you¡¯re too shortsighted. There¡¯s no need to shake everyone¡¯s hearts. If you keep uttering nonsense, you¡¯d better return me the rest of the origin coins.¡± Zuo Ya had only managed to return half of the ten thousand origin coin debt due to her bet with Yi Qiushui. With Yi Qiushui pinching her tender spot, Zuo Ya¡¯s pretty face instantly turned ashen. However, she did not dare to say anything else. She could only stomp her foot in anger and say, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll be waiting to see what kind of plan he has!¡± The bickering between the two young ladies finally came to a stop. Although many of the four pavilion members were gathered at the plaza, the atmosphere was somewhat stifling, not lively. Yi Qiushui raised her head and stared at the giant mirror in the sky. She involuntarily clenched her hands tightly and tried to conceal the worry in the depths of her eyes. Chi Jing had taken away Zhou Yuan the moment he had left his secluded cultivation. Hence, she knew nothing about the results of his two months of training. At the very least, it did appear that Zhou Yuan was at a huge disadvantage. ¡°Zhou Yuan, do your best,¡± murmured Yi Qiushui in a soft voice. All eight hundred prefectures of the Tianyuan Region were currently watching the match. If Zhou Yuan lost, he would likely have to relinquish his chief pavilion master position, even if everyone knew that Lu Xiao would probably fare much worse. Zhou Yuan had no other choice because someone needed to bear the consequences. Of course, she also knew that if Zhou Yuan won, his fame and influence would reach their peak in the Tianyuan Region. At that time, no one would be able to shake his position. Even sect master Xuan Kun would not be able to touch him no matter how much of a thorn he was in the Heavenly Spirit Sect¡¯s side. It was undoubtedly a grand gamble. ... ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, are you really so confident in him? To think that you even activated the Thousand Eye Projection Mirror. Are you not afraid that this will backfire and end up making him a laughing stock?¡± sect master Xuan Kun gazed at the glowing mirror in the sky. Genesis Runes flowed in the mirror like numerous eyes, creating an exceptionally bizarre sight. He glanced at Chi Jing as he continued, ¡°If Zhou Yuan loses, I believe grand elder Chi Jing is fully aware of what will follow.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s face remained composed as she replied, ¡°If he wins?¡± Sect master Xuan Kun was silent for a moment before he said, ¡°If he wins, the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples in the Fire Pavilion will obediently listen to his every command.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun understood how influential Zhou Yuan would become if it reached that stage. With Chi Jing taking his side, sect master Xuan Kun would have no way to touch Zhou Yuan. Hence, sect master Xuan Kun felt that he might as well gracefully admit defeat if it happened. ¡°Then let¡¯s wait and see.¡± Chi Jing had no intention of continuing the conversation, and she cast her gaze towards the slim figure above the giant crevice. She might not trust her own judgment, but she believed in her master¡¯s eyes. ... Under countless watching gazes, strong winds blew towards Zhou Yuan, ruffling his clothes. His expression was akin to the water in an ancient well. The unshakable presence he emitted made several onlookers secretly nod in approval. Although the chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region might be lacking strength, there was nothing to be said about his courage. Gaze after gaze turned towards the Tri-Mountain Alliance, where Chen Xuandong walked forward and arrived in front of Zhou Yuan. The two individuals faced each other in the sky above the deep crevice. The tip of the spear in Chen Xuandong¡¯s hand quivered as it gleamed under the light. He stared at Zhou Yuan in interest and said, ¡°I originally believed that I¡¯d have a satisfying battle today, but chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan has made me somewhat disappointed.¡± Zhou Yuan replied, ¡°I feel bad for failing to meet your expectations.¡± Chen Xuandong shook his head and asked, ¡°Are you really planning on playing with me?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled but did not respond to such a pointless question. Chen Xuandong shrugged. Then, three Divine Dwelling halos appeared behind him, and boundless Genesis Qi dashed into the sky, shimmering in the air. The number of Genesis Qi stars had reached 30 million! Countless gasps sounded around them. A terrifying Genesis Qi pressure spread above the crevice. Chen Xuandong¡¯s expression gradually turned ice-cold as he stared at Zhou Yuan with a toying look in his eyes. Chapter 910 Battling Chen Xuandong Though several factors would decide the victor in a fight, one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was one of the major ones. Hence, everyone understood that things were dire for Zhou Yuan when Chen Xuandong displayed his foundation of 30 million Genesis Qi stars. From what Zhou Yuan had shown two months ago in the fight with Lu Xiao, his Genesis Qi foundation should be at 21 million. This was a giant gap of 9 million! It was already enough for one side to easily crush the other. Ordinary methods would not be able to make up for such a massive disparity. The expressions of countless people from the Tianyuan Region¡¯s several hundred prefectures turned grave as they watched through the mirrors. Chen Xuandong proudly stood in the air, the Genesis Qi he cultivated shining with a pitch-black luster. It was a grade-seven Genesis Qi named the Black Bicorn Corrosion Qi, and it possessed extremely terrifying corrosive power. It was also one of the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s top-tier Genesis Qis. He displayed a skin-deep smile as he stared at Zhou Yuan. Chen Xuandong was obviously very confident in his abilities. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan. It will be better for you to give the participation rights for the nine regions tournament to me. Otherwise, you may not reach the third stage of the nine regions tournament with your abilities. If that were to happen, you would only bring shame to the Tianyuan Region,¡± said Chen Xuandong. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change; he seemed not the least bit angry due to Chen Xuandong¡¯s words. He knew that the other party was trying to infuriate him in hopes of affecting his condition. Chen Xuandong might appear to be domineering, but he was evidently very cunning as well. Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice sounded, ¡°Although a Genesis Qi foundation of 30 million stars is strong, you might not be able to triumph over me today.¡± He took a step forward in the air as three chaos halos emerged behind him. Then, the roar of a dragon vibrated the air as boundless Genesis Qi swept out from his body, occupying the sky behind him like a vast and mighty cloud. Genesis Qi shone in the air, revealing 23 million Genesis Qi stars. Although Zhou Yuan had spent the majority of the past two months on the final two spirit runes, his Genesis Qi cultivation had grown as well. He now had 2 million more Genesis Qi stars, but this was roughly his limit. Any future growth would be extremely slow unless he unlocked the eighth Divine Dwelling. Chen Xuandong wore a faint smile, clearly unfazed by Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation. He shook his head and said, ¡°Since chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan does not wish to yield the spot to me, I have no choice but to take it myself.¡± He made a seal with one hand. Bzz! His torrential black qi roared as it swept forth like a dense black sea. A mighty pressure suffocated the place as the sea of black loomed over Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as a sword orb rose from his palm. The cry of a sword pierced through the air. The sword orb transformed into a thousand-foot-long wave of sword light as it ruthlessly slashed at the black sea with peerless ferocity. Sword light chopped into the black sea, instantly tearing it apart. However, endless dense black qi fueled the sea, and wave after wave crashed into the sword light, continuously grinding away at it. In a short few breaths, only a hundred feet of dim sword light was left. Zhou Yuan slapped his hands together, and a mysterious glowing silhouette emerged around his body. ¡°Omega Saint Spirit Art!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s aura soared, and he dashed forward as if running along the body of a green dragon, charging straight into the black sea. The sword orb shot back into his outreached hand, and sword light grew once more. Swish! Swish! Countless rays of sword light shot forth, forcibly tearing apart the black sea. Clang! Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly shivered as he unhesitatingly sent a ray of sword light slashing towards his right. A spear suddenly thrust out from the air, accompanied by frightening power. The sword light and the spear collided, but the sword light shattered after a few breaths. A black figure appeared like a ghost. A thousand spears seemed to turn into stars in the sky as they thrust towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s vitals with powerful killing intent. Chen Xuandong had finally moved. Zhou Yuan did not dare to delay even a single second. Sword light slashed out from his hand as a lantern appeared in the other. ¡°Spirit Lantern Art!¡± Boundless Spirit Fire howled from the lantern, pouncing straight at Chen Xuandong. Zhou Yuan had evidently prepared this killing bow in advance and was only waiting for Chen Xuandong to appear. ¡°Hehe, I already know of chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit Fire move.¡± However, Chen Xuandong did not show even the slightest hint of fear in the face of the howling Spirit Fire, evidently already prepared for the deadly technique. With a grasp of his hand, a black clay bowl appeared. The bowl seemed to be filled with some kind of black liquid. He directed the black liquid with his finger, and it flew into the air, turning into a torrent of black water. Endless cold qi rose from the black water, cold enough to freeze even one¡¯s Spirit. Chch! The Spirit Fire and the black water clashed. A sizzling noise erupted as both parties extinguished each other. Meanwhile, the black spear in Chen Xuandong¡¯s hand turned into a graceful shadow as it pierced through the air. The spear appeared right in front of Zhou Yuan and shot towards his brows; the attack¡¯s ruthlessness was enough to scatter even the Spirit. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly as boundless sword light slashed downwards. Bang! However, the sword light instantly crumbled when the two forces collided, and the sword orb was sent shooting back towards him. In that moment of peril, Zhou Yuan tightly clenched his fist as black hairs rushed out from his pores, turning into a black gauntlet around his hand. Boundless Genesis Qi surged out layer by layer as the gauntlet smashed towards the deadly spear tip. Clang! Sparks flew as the surrounding space rippled. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was sent flying as if struck by a heavy blow. The hairs covering his fist shrank back, and blood flowed down his fingers. Chen Xuandong¡¯s terrifying attack had injured him. The exchange was brief, but it clearly displayed the ferocity of both parties. Anyone could tell that although Zhou Yuan had tried his best and repeatedly gone on the offensive, Chen Xuandong had easily neutralized his attacks. In comparison, Chen Xuandong¡¯s sudden attack had immediately blown away Zhou Yuan. Chen Xuandong undoubtedly had the upper hand. This was no surprise to everyone. After all, Chen Xuandong had the absolute advantage in terms of Genesis Qi foundations. Zhou Yuan¡¯s assault was basically akin to trying to smash a rock with an egg. Countless cries of unresigned pity sounded in the Tianyuan Region¡¯s 800 prefectures. On a round plaza in the Tianyuan Utopia, the members of the four pavilions were silent, their expressions on the verge of despair. In the sky above the Endless Crevice. Chen Xuandong pointed his spear to the side and revealed a faint smile as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ve long heard of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s amazing four spirit runes. If you don¡¯t bring them out now, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t have a chance. ¡°Moreover, I¡¯m interested to see how many of the four spirit runes you¡¯ve managed to acquire.¡± Zhou Yuan massaged his fist, the wounds on his face swiftly healing as he pursed his lips. The opponent¡¯s 30 million Genesis Qi foundation was indeed very overwhelming. He had failed to gain any leeway even after using the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb technique, the Omega Saint Spirit Art and the Spirit Lantern Art. Chen Xuandong was indeed a much more troublesome foe than Lu Xiao. He was basically steamrolling Zhou Yuan due to the massive disparity between their Genesis Qi foundations. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not waver. Without further ado, two ancient runes began to glow on the backs of his hands. As the two spirit runes emerged, another ancient rune appeared between his brows. The third rune! Several gasps of surprise rang out across the area. However, when a light began to blossom from Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest in the pattern of an ancient rune, these gasps suddenly grew even louder! Four spirit runes! As the four spirit runes appeared, the Genesis Qi undulations around Zhou Yuan began to climb steadily. Chen Xuandong, who had seemed unconcerned since the beginning, suddenly became focused, not expecting Zhou Yuan to have acquired all four spirit runes! Chapter 911 Four Runes Completed All members of the four pavilions on the round platform in the Tianyuan Utopia were all struck dumb when they saw the four ancient Genesis Runes appear on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. As members of the four pavilions, they were well aware of the difficulty of refining the four Genesis Runes. Even if Zhou Yuan had the four mother runes he had created to accumulate Genesis marks more quickly, it would still require a lot of time and energy to refine a complete Genesis Rune. But Zhou Yuan had completely refined the third and fourth Genesis Runes in two months! This speed was too terrifying! It had only been a year since Zhou Yuan joined the four pavilions. Many former pavilion masters could only refine three Genesis Runes before they finished training and left the four pavilions. Refining three was already considered a success, and they never even dared to think of refining the fourth Genesis Rune! Even Lu Xiao¡¯s face was twitching at this moment. Although he knew that Zhou Yuan had solely focused on refining the two remaining Genesis Runes during his closed-door cultivation, he wasn¡¯t confident that Zhou Yuan would succeed. After all, it was hard to believe someone could completely refine one rune in one month. Zuo Ya¡¯s mouth was wide open, but no sound came forth. Lu Xiao continued to stare at the light mirror, and his serious expression didn¡¯t relax because he knew that even if Zhou Yuan had the four runes on his body, he might not be able to reverse the situation. He knew that Chen Xuandong had to also possess similar foreign objects that could enhance his strength. Zhou Yuan still didn¡¯t have much of an advantage. ..... Boom! Vast and mighty Genesis Qi erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like a monstrous wave. Everyone could feel Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi skyrocket at an astonishing rate. 25 million¡­ 29 million¡­ 30 million! When the number of Genesis Qi stars in the void surpassed 30 million, the rate of increase didn¡¯t slow but continued to climb steadily. In the end, amidst countless shocked gazes, it stopped at 36 million. 36 million Genesis Qi stars! The four Genesis Runes had directly strengthened Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation by 13 million! Zhou Yuan stood tall in the void, and the pressure from his mighty Genesis Qi caused the void to shake violently. His eyes were like knives staring coldly at Chen Xuandong, who revealed a surprised look. ¡°The four spirit runes of the Tianyuan Region are indeed remarkable.¡± The spirit runes had increased Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation by more than 13 million. They were indeed worthy of being the four pavilions¡¯ symbol. He was clearly using Chen Xuandong¡¯s previous words back at him. The corners of Chen Xuandong¡¯s eyes visibly twitched. ¡°But I want to first test the strength of your 36 million Genesis Qi stars.¡± Chen Xuandong was an incredibly proud person. He believed that his strength and techniques, as well as his ranking on the Divine Dwelling List, were superior to Zhou Yuan¡¯s, so he didn¡¯t want to be forced to show his trump cards immediately. As his voice faded, his eyes turned biting cold. He stamped his feet, sending the black spear in his hand shooting into the sky. It turned into a black torrent piercing through the void. A black qilin, enveloped in terrifying power, seemed to take shape beyond the black torrent. The black torrent moved at an astonishing speed, appearing in front of Zhou Yuan in the blink of an eye. But even as he faced such a fierce attack, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained indifferent. Standing in the void, he slowly clenched his hand, and hairs gushed out from his pores, wrapping his fist before turning black. Zhou Yuan clenched his hand tight and threw a punch at the black torrent. Clang! A loud metallic clang rang out, and the black torrent suddenly dissipated under everyone¡¯s eyes. Even a tragic cry could be heard. Then, a beam of black shot backwards, reverting back into a spear and landing beside Chen Xuandong. The light around the spear was much duller than before. The corners of Chen Xuandong¡¯s mouth twitched. Not only was all his Genesis Qi gathered in that previous attack, but the black qilin spear had also strengthened it. Despite this, Zhou Yuan had dealt with it easily. It was clear that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation of 36 million was frighteningly solid. ¡°Do you want to continue?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Chen Xuandong¡¯s eyes grew colder. ¡°Since you are in a hurry to embarrass yourself, I will fulfill your request!¡± He folded his hands together and performed countless hand seals in an instant. Endless Genesis Qi diffused from his body, rapidly transforming into three towering mountains behind him. Watching the three massive mountain shadows emerge, exclamations of surprise broke out, ¡°That¡¯s the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s Tri-Mountain Spirit Seals!¡± ¡°It is said that each Tri-Mountain Spirit Seal symbolizes the foundation of around three million Genesis Qi stars, and once all three mountains form, they can increase one¡¯s foundation by ten million!¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that this technique can only be practiced by the core disciples of the Tri-Mountain Alliance, unlike the four spirit runes, which any member of the four pavilions can refine.¡± ¡°The Tianyuan Region is part of the nine regions and was created by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. The Tri-Mountain Alliance is naturally lacking in comparison.¡± ¡°But this is all insignificant. As soon as Chen Xuandong releases his Tri-Mountain Spirit Seals, his foundation will soar to 40 million Genesis Qi stars, which will be far greater than Zhou Yuan¡¯s.¡± ¡°Yes, the gap between them is too great. Zhou Yuan is too naive to think that he could close the gap in foundation with the four spirit runes.¡± ¡°.....¡± Countless cries of disappointment could be heard throughout the Tianyuan Region¡¯s 800 prefectures. They had felt a glimmer of hope when they had seen Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation skyrocket, but they hadn¡¯t expected their hopes to be crushed in the blink of an eye. Chen Xuandong hovered in the void with 40 million Genesis Qi stars flickering behind him. He peered down at Zhou Yuan with a condescending sneer. ¡°Is it enough now? ¡°The Tri-Mountain Spirit Seals of my Tri-Mountain Alliance is in no way inferior to the four spirit runes of your Tianyuan Region!¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at the arrogant and overbearing Chen Xuandong with a grin, then shook his head, ¡°No, your Tri-Mountain Spirit Seals are in fact much worse than the four spirit runes.¡± Chen Xuandong sneered, ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Zhou Yuan calmly said, ¡°You think this is the limit of the four spirit runes?¡± Chen Xuandong¡¯s pupils shrank, and he spoke in a cold, emotionless voice. ¡°What are you being mysterious for?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head and didn¡¯t say anything more. Instead, he folded his hands together and produced a mysterious and complex seal. There was only a gap of three million Genesis Qi stars between them. It wasn¡¯t that Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t accept this Genesis Qi gap. If he really had to fight with all his strength and couldn¡¯t win in terms of Genesis Qi, he wouldn¡¯t let Chen Xuandong have too many advantages. But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t think it was necessary. Since Chen Xuandong was most proud of his tyrannical Genesis Qi foundation, Zhou Yuan intended to defeat him in his proudest field of expertise. Zhou Yuan slowly closed his eyes. The four ancient Genesis Runes on the back of his hands, the center of his brows and his heart began to beam light. The rays intertwined on Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin and gradually formed a mysterious pattern. In the air, Chi Jing suddenly smiled. She looked at Zhou Yuan and then shifted her gaze to sect master Xuan Kun and others, saying, ¡°How many people still remember the ultimate form of the four spirit runes my master once mentioned?¡± Sect master Xuan Kun and others were taken aback, and then they scrunched their brows. They all vaguely remembered, but no one had reached the ultimate form ever since the establishment of the Four Spirits Origin Tower since very few people had managed to refine all four spirit runes completely. ¡°What is the ultimate form?¡± asked sect master Xuan Kun. Chi Jing smiled. ¡°The four runes form a formation known as¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes snapped open, and a low voice sounded from his mouth. ¡°The Four Spirits Origin Diagram!¡± An ancient pattern slowly emerged on the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin. And following the ancient pattern¡¯s appearance, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi, which had stagnated, suddenly surged once again. Chapter 912 Four Spirits Origin Diagram Mighty Genesis Qi erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like a volcano. The Genesis Qi and the void vibrated, producing thunderous sounds that shook the world. Many people stared at the scene in shocked disbelief. They could clearly feel that Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundation of 36 million Genesis Qi stars was surging once again. 38 million¡­ 40 million¡­ His Genesis Qi foundation stopped at 42 million. The entire world went silent, and countless people widened their eyes in shock. 42 million! His foundation had increased by another six million stars! Countless people stared dumbstruck at Zhou Yuan hovering in the void with monstrous Genesis Qi behind him. Who wouldn¡¯t know it was incredibly difficult for people of their level to increase their Genesis Qi, and how much effort and opportunity would one need to do so? Despite this, Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundation had still increased by almost 20 million! His original Genesis Qi foundation was only at 23 million stars! This increase was simply terrifying to hear. On the round platform of the Four Spirits Origin Tower in Tianyuan Utopia, the members of the four pavilions were all paralyzed with astonishment. Even the three pavilion masters, Lu Xiao, Mu Liu and Han Yuan, wore terrified expressions as if they had seen a ghost. It was a good while later when a member of the four pavilions cried out, ¡°What is that thing?!¡± ¡°How can the four spirit runes have this form? I haven¡¯t heard of it before!¡± ¡°The four spirit runes can have a second round of increase?!¡± ¡°What is going on here?¡± ¡°......¡± Even Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling exchanged glances with one another. It was the first time they had seen or even heard that the four spirit runes could induce a second round of growth. ¡°Senior brother Lu Xiao, what is happening?¡± Zuo Ya murmured dazedly. Lu Xiao stared into the light mirror at the figure emitting monstrous Genesis Qi. His gaze was complex. ¡°It seems that our understanding of the four spirit runes is too superficial. If I¡¯m not mistaken, the second round of increase from Zhou Yuan¡¯s four spirit runes can only be achieved by gathering all four spirit runes together.¡± Everyone next to them fell silent. To gather the four spirit runes...for them, it was something that they didn¡¯t even dare to think about. Even Lu Xiao didn¡¯t have the confidence to refine all four spirit runes completely before he had to leave the four pavilions. What kind of demon was their chief pavilion master? At this moment, almost everyone, including disciples of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, couldn¡¯t help but feel awestruck. When someone surpassed you, you would feel anxious to catch up, but when you suddenly discovered it was impossible to catch up, you wouldn¡¯t be able to help but look at them in awe. Lu Xiao let out a sigh. He had improved in the previous two months, but compared to Zhou Yuan¡¯s improvement, his was simply a world of difference. If the two were to face off against each other again, Lu Xiao knew that he wouldn¡¯t even withstand three rounds. The person he had looked down on had now completely surpassed him and left him behind. .... Above the deep crevice. Zhou Yuan, whom countless people watched with shocked gazes, twisted his neck slightly. Feeling the new surging power in his body for the first time, he felt a little satisfied. ¡°I gained another six million Genesis Qi stars...¡± Zhou Yuan peered down at the ancient and mysterious pattern that had formed on the surface of his skin, and the corners of his lips curved upwards. When he completed the third Genesis rune, he already knew that there would be another wonderful change when the four runes were gathered together. It was the Four Spirits Origin Diagram. Awakening it wasn¡¯t as simple as refining the four spirit runes. Each spirit rune needed to increase one¡¯s Genesis Qi by at least 3.5 million stars. This was due to the fact that the higher the increase, the greater the compatibility was between one¡¯s Genesis Qi and the four spirit runes. Except for Zhou Yuan, nobody in the four pavilions was able to do so. Even Lu Xiao¡¯s, Mu Liu¡¯s and Han Yuan¡¯s spirit runes could at most achieve an increase of three million. Zhou Yuan could achieve this not because of just his talent and strong Spirit cultivation level but also because of the compatibility brought about by the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method. In other words, not everyone could touch upon the ultimate form. From ancient times till then, he was most likely the only person able to do so. Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at Chen Xuandong¡¯s figure in the distant void. Chen Xuandong¡¯s complexion alternated between blue and pale, and his eyes were wide with disbelief. It was evident that the increase in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had a significant impact on him. ¡°How can there be a secret technique that increases Genesis Qi to such an extent?¡± Chen Xuandong couldn¡¯t help but roar in protest when he felt the waves of mighty pressure surging in the distance. It wasn¡¯t that he had no knowledge of the four pavilions¡¯ four spirit runes, but there had never been such a strange change from the information he had gathered. A Genesis Qi foundation of 42 million! This was two million more than his! Chen Xuandong found the difference in stars hard to accept because his Genesis Qi foundation was his greatest pride. He had exhausted all his means but still found that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was stronger than his. Zhou Yuan glanced at Chen Xuandong indifferently and wasn¡¯t interested in explaining too much to him. Instead, he clenched his hand, and the Genesis Qi behind him suddenly vibrated. Chi! His figure vanished in an instant. He reappeared in front of Chen Xuandong and thrust out a punch. A torrent of mighty Genesis Qi roared out, wrapped in terrifying power, and directly aimed for Chen Xuandong. ¡°You only have two million Genesis Qi stars more than me. Do you really think you have a chance of winning?!¡± Chen Xuandong¡¯s eyes were filled with anger upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack. He was a top heaven pride who had earned a remarkable battle record over the years. He had defeated opponents with stronger Genesis Qi foundations than him in the past, since the outcome of a battle was also determined by other factors. Chen Xuandong tightened his grip on the black spear. The spear light trembled in the void and collided with the torrent of ferocious Genesis Qi. Bang! A boom resounding in the void as the two powerful Genesis Qis clashed. The clouds in the sky tore apart. Many people then saw a figure shooting out in embarrassment. It was...Chen Xuandong! Gasps of astonishment echoed throughout the crowd because it was the first time that Zhou Yuan countered Chen Xuandong. Chen Xuandong¡¯s face darkened, and his eyes glinted with malice. Another deafening boom sounded, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure sped out. A pair of mysterious wings stretched out from his body, swallowing the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth to strengthen his body further. Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin was glowing with a jade light. The feeling that Zhou Yuan gave Chen Xuandong at this moment was akin to a ferocious beast! Incomparable danger! But no matter how dangerous Zhou Yuan was, Chen Xuandong had no intention of retreating. A crimson light emerged in his eyes as he hissed, ¡°You think I¡¯ll be afraid?!¡± ¡°Tri-Mountain Divine Armour Art!¡± Chen Xuandong roared, and the three tremendous mountains appeared in the void behind him. They converged on his body and transformed into a layer of tri-colored armor. His power skyrocketed, and his every movement seemed to possess the power of three huge mountains. Armed with a black spear, he shot out and collided with Zhou Yuan. Boom! High in the air, two figures wrapped in terrifying Genesis Qi collided repeatedly. The two people were like flashes of lightning; their attacks resembled torrential storms, bombarding their opponents and causing the void to tremble violently. Some of the experts present who were also at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage felt fearful as they watched the battle between the two. If they were on the battleground, the two would have most likely killed them within ten breaths. The two representatives were indeed worthy of being called the super dark horses on the Divine Dwelling List. But anyone could tell that, in this fierce drawn-out battle, Chen Xuandong was suppressed from the beginning. After all, there was initially a gap in Genesis Qi between Chen Xuandong and Zhou Yuan, but Zhou Yuan had not only closed the gap but had even caught up with Chen Xuandong. As a result, the situation had immediately changed, and Chen Xuandong suffered from the suppression of Genesis Qi. Boom! A ray of light shot down from high above, striking the deep side of the cliff. The mountain wall cracked, and Chen Xuandong¡¯s entire body was deeply embedded in the cliff. Massive cracks stretched out like cobwebs. Chen Xuandong was desperately struggling inside the cliff wall. Blood trickled down the corners of his mouth, and his tri-colored divine armor was riddled with cracks. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure slowly descended, and he coldly peered down at Chen Xuandong and indifferently said, ¡°Do you still want to continue?¡± Chen Xuandong¡¯s eyes flashed with malice. He took a deep breath, slowly climbed up and wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth. ¡°You really think I don¡¯t have any other moves?¡± He still had a final trump card, an incomplete little Saint art he had yet to master fully. But once used, the art would certainly reverse the tide. But that little Saint art wasn¡¯t complete, and if he used it forcibly, it would adversely affect him. But at this moment, given the situation, he couldn¡¯t care anymore. ¡°Since you want to die, I will fulfill your wish!¡± Chen Xuandong folded his hands together and performed multiple hand seals consecutively. He was about to use his last trump card. However, it was at this moment that Zhou Yuan slowly lifted his palm, curled his fingers inwards, and stared indifferently at Chen Xuandong. In the depths of his eyes was a flash of black-and-white light. His fingertips similarly flashed with a black-and-white light. Boom! Thunder rumbled across the world. The immense Genesis Qi between heaven and earth displayed a frantic state before gathering towards Zhou Yuan as though forming a massive vortex. Many experts¡¯ expressions changed drastically. Even the expressions of Heavenly Sun stage experts grew solemn. They were obviously aware of the faint dangerous aura between heaven and earth. Chen Xuandong¡¯s changing seals suddenly froze. He stared wide-eyed at Zhou Yuan, his expression freezing. He had clearly felt an indescribable, terrifying force. This¡­ This is a real little Saint art! What Zhou Yuan was going to show was unexpectedly a little Saint art he had mastered! Beads of cold sweat rolled down Chen Xuandong¡¯s cheeks. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were biting cold as he stared at Chen Xuandong. It was only after a while that an indifferent voice came forth. Chapter 913 Defeated the Ninth Place Again Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s watchful gaze, Chen Xuandong, who was prepared to strike back one final time, was afraid to budge even an inch. He madly roared in his heart, ¡°Damn it! It''s a little Saint art! ¡°He has mastered a little Saint art?!¡± Chen Xuandong''s final trump card was an incomplete little Saint art. Even though it was incomplete, he still relied on it as a killing move, but now, the trump card that Zhou Yuan had prepared was a true little Saint art! How could he fight back? From the look in Zhou Yuan''s eyes, Chen Xuandong knew that if he really dared to move again, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t hesitate to unleash the destructive power at his fingertips and wipe him out. Thus, Chen Xuandong remained rational in the face of death. He slowly scattered the Genesis Qi around his body and said in a hoarse voice with difficulty, ¡°I admit defeat.¡± Even if he was unwilling to face it, he had to admit that he had lost against Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan flicked his sleeve, and a wave of Genesis Qi wrapped up Chen Xuandong¡¯s voice and spread it across the world so that everyone could hear his words. Hua! An uproar broke out, and countless people stared at the scene with utter disbelief. Who would have thought that Chen Xuandong would be defeated! The match between the two super dark horses ended with Zhou Yuan of the Tianyuan Region having the last laugh! The Tri-Mountain Alliance had mustered up the courage to provoke the Tianyuan Region and had been full of confidence, but who would have thought that this would be the result? The three Law Domain experts of the Tri-Mountain Alliance could feel the amount of power within Zhou Yuan¡¯s killing move, and his move was indeed not something Chen Xuandong could withstand. The many other parties secretly sighed. The Tianyuan Region was indeed worthy of being one of the nine regions. On the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side, many experts revealed a joyful smile one after another. As they gazed at Zhou Yuan from afar, a look of admiration and recognition came to their eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous achievements were local and not widespread, so it was naturally difficult for him to receive recognition. But it was different this time. After defeating Chen Xuandong, he could be said to have blocked the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s covetous thoughts and greatly contributed to the Tianyuan Region. The light mirror in the sky also immediately passed on the battle situation to the Tianyuan Region¡¯s 800 prefectures. Zhou Yuan''s victory could be considered as venting the anger of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s people. After all, the repeated provocations of the Tri-Mountain Alliance had filled many people of the Tianyuan Region with anger. Tianyuan Utopia. On the round platform, everybody¡¯s eyes were wide with shock. ¡°Chen Xuandong, he, he lost?¡± someone stammered and evidently still found it hard to believe. Chen Xuandong was ranked ninth on the Divine Dwelling List and was said to have truly fought his way onto and up the ranking list! ¡°The chief pavilion master is too abnormal, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°So, he could be said to have defeated two people ranked ninth on the Divine Dwelling List?¡± someone couldn''t help but remark, but then he quickly covered his mouth and glanced towards the people of the Fire Pavilion. Everyone looked at each other, but after a few breaths, there was a roar of excitement. ¡°The chief pavilion master is invincible!¡± ¡°The chief pavilion master is invincible!¡¯ ¡°----¡± Everybody¡¯s face was flushing, and there was even awe in their eyes. It was obvious that after this battle, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation in the four pavilions had truly reached its peak. In the face of his achievements, even the disciples of the Heavenly Spirit Sect widened their eyes in admiration. A complex expression crossed Lu Xiao¡¯s face when he heard the deafening cheers. He knew that if he were the chief pavilion master, Chen Xuandong would have defeated him and the four pavilions would have been disappointed. He felt somewhat glad because he knew that even he couldn¡¯t withstand such a situation. ¡°He''s a better chief pavilion master than what I would be,¡± Lu Xiao mumbled. Zuo Ya, Zhu Lian and the others all fell silent. Even Zuo Ya, who saw Zhou Yuan as an eyesore, couldn¡¯t say a word because she wasn¡¯t stupid and clearly saw that they were fortunate to have Zhou Yuan as their chief pavilion master. Otherwise, the four pavilions of the Tianyuan Region would have become a laughing stock. ¡°In the nine regions tournament, please try to cooperate with him as much as possible. With his leadership, perhaps our Tianyuan Region can achieve a good result this time,¡± Lu Xiao said after taking a deep breath. A group of Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples next to him nodded. Yi Qiushui gently patted her chest and drew a deep breath. ¡°I was almost scared to death.¡± Ye Bingling nodded. Although they were not at the battle, they could still feel the extreme danger through the light mirror. ¡°But after this battle, Zhou Yuan¡¯s position is indeed unshakable. He has won the hearts of the four pavilions,¡± Ye Bingling stated. Yi Qiushui nodded. She similarly felt that the members of the four pavilions had begun to truly worship Zhou Yuan and that the four pavilions were finally standing united because of outside provocation. At the Endless Crevice watched by countless people. When Chen Xuandong admitted defeat, the black-and-white flashes of light at Zhou Yuan''s fingertips gradually disappeared as the terrifying and dangerous aura faded. With an indifferent expression, Zhou Yuan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. After two months of training, his Yin Yang Lightning Rune had given birth to a ray of yin-and-yang lightning. If he were to bring it out now, it would be a waste. It was already the perfect result to make someone surrender without fighting. ¡°Accepted.¡± Zhou Yuan threw a glance at Chen Xuandong and didn''t pay any more attention to him. He gave a cupped fist salute and turned away. As he walked towards the Tianyuan Region, many experts cast their eyes at him. Unlike before, their eyes contained more admiration and awe than doubt. Zhou Yuan lifted his head to look at the five figures in the void and gave a cupped fist salute. ¡°Fortunately, I didn¡¯t lose my life.¡± A smile crossed Chi Jing¡¯s face, and clan elder Mu Ni nodded with a smile. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you did very well.¡± As the two expressed their opinions, sect master Xuan Kun, Bai Ye and Bian Chang also nodded in approval of Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance. After all, countless people had witnessed his battle. They couldn¡¯t deny it by simply shaking their heads. Besides, it would be incredibly petty, given their identity and status. Chi Jing raised her head and smiled at the three Law Domain experts from the Tri-Mountain Alliance. ¡°What else does the Tri-Mountain Alliance have to say? If a contest of the Divine Dwelling stage isn¡¯t enough, you can try the Heavenly Sun stage or the Nascent Source stage. If you still aren¡¯t convinced, the three of you can even personally take action. My Tianyuan Region will always accept the challenge.¡± The three Law Domain experts stiffened, and then mountain lord Gui Yuan answered, ¡°Why is grand elder Chi Jing in such a hurry? The Tri-Mountain Alliance will admit defeat this time. ¡°But grand elder Chi Jing, you must know that today¡¯s affairs are due to the changes in the Tianyuan Region. The status of the nine regions is extraordinary and can¡¯t be guarded by five Law Domain experts alone.¡± His tone was indifferent, but the meaning was clear. My Tri-Mountain Alliance may have failed this time, but the conflicts won¡¯t end here. As long as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan doesn¡¯t appear, you will be continually challenged until the day the Tianyuan Region is removed from the nine regions. Chi Jing calmly responded, ¡°Whoever wants to target my Tianyuan Region, my Tianyuan Region will accompany them.¡± ¡°Then I hope grand elder Chi Jing can withstand them. ¡°My Tri-Mountain Alliance will send over 300 Divine Dwelling Immeasurable Fruits later.¡± The other two Law Domain experts turned and left. In the distance, the mighty army of people from the Tri-Mountain Alliance reluctantly retreated. Standing in the sky, Chi Jing and Mu Ni didn¡¯t reveal a ripple of emotion on their faces as they watched them leave, but the depths of theirs were solemn. They knew that mountain lord Gui Yuan was right. As long as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan wasn¡¯t in Hunyuan Heaven, similar provocations would continue to appear in the future. They were also keenly aware of the secret, underlying plot. Someone wanted to force supreme sovereign Cang Yuan to appear. Chi Jing and Mu Ni exchanged a glance and very quickly calmed their emotions. Sect master Xuan Kun, Bai Ye and Bian Chang disappeared without saying anything, and Chi Jing and Mu Ni descended in front of Zhou Yuan and said with a smile, ¡°Congratulations. This time no one will stop you from being ranked ninth on the Divine Dwelling List.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little helpless. Who cares about such a thing? ¡°But don¡¯t be so proud. Chen Xuandong is the most harmless heaven pride compared to the ones you¡¯ll meet at the nine regions tournament,¡± Mu Ni remarked. Zhou Yuan gently nodded. He, of course, understood that his match with Chen Xuandong was only a small trial. The real event was the nine regions tournament in one month. Chapter 914 Stably in Ninth Position Chen Xuandong''s defeat was a surprise to many people. This led to many people becoming interested in the Tianyuan Region¡¯s chief pavilion master. It was unknown where the Tianyuan Region had found such a good seedling. With the leadership of this chief pavilion master, would they still rank last in the nine regions tournament? Regardless, Zhou Yuan had risen to fame across the vast and endless Hunyuan Heaven after winning the battle against Chen Xuandong. ..... Xuanji Region. When the girl named Jiu Gong received the news, she was taken aback for a good while. ¡°Hey, senior sister Jiu Gong, it looks like you''ve made a mistake this time.¡± A young female disciple chuckled. Jiu Gong didn¡¯t respond but carefully read the news she had received, which recorded the battle between Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong in detail. After reading for a moment, she raised her eyebrows slightly. ¡°A second form of the four spirit runes? Two increases in strength? A Genesis Qi foundation of 42 million?¡± She gently set down the jade bamboo slip, a hint of surprise in her clear eyes. ¡°This chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region is indeed surprising. He even developed the second form of the four spirits runes.¡± Almost all nine regions had a secret method to enhance the Genesis Qi foundation, but very few could achieve this two-stage change. Furthermore, there were very few secret methods in the entire Hunyuan Heaven that could increase one¡¯s foundation by over 20 million Genesis Qi stars. ¡°Senior sister Jiu Gong, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s chief pavilion master may be ranked ninth now, right?¡± Looking at the smile on the girl¡¯s face, Jiu Gong couldn''t help but shoot her an angry stare. ¡°I made a mistake, and you¡¯re happy?¡± The young girl covered her mouth and snickered. After all, Jiu Gong had always been incredibly careful, and it wasn¡¯t often one saw her make a mistake. Jiu Gong pursed her red lips. ¡°He defeated Chen Xuandong, so the ninth place on the Divine Dwelling List naturally belongs to him, and Chen Xuandong will be moved down a ranking.¡± She shook her head, mumbling Zhou Yuan¡¯s name in her heart. It was only after a good while that she no longer thought about it. Zhou Yuan had indeed risen to fame after defeating Chen Xuandong, but that only meant he had the qualification to compete with the other top heaven prides in the nine regions tournament. Moreover, as the reviewer of the Divine Dwelling List, Jiu Gong knew that a foundation of 42 million Genesis Qi stars was indeed astonishing for top heaven prides, but compared to those ranked in the top eight, it was still somewhat lacking. And Chen Xuandong was still some distance away from those monsters. So, if the Tianyuan Region wanted to get rid of their usual bottom ranking in the nine regions tournament, Zhou Yuan would need to become stronger. After all, the Tianyuan Region was far behind the other eight regions. How would it be so easy to catch up? .... Wushen Region. On a misty platform, Wu Yao, clad in a bright red dress, was peering into the distance, her hair blowing in the wind. In her hand was a jade bamboo slip detailing the match between Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong. ¡°Senior sister Wu Yao, you always foresee things accurately,¡± Lan Ting said with a smile. His expression was somewhat strange because Wu Yao had been in such a state ever since receiving the news. Hearing the voice, Wu Yao finally retracted her gaze and said indifferently, ¡°Zhou Yuan will most likely be our greatest enemy in the nine regions tournament.¡± Lan Ting was taken aback, and he immediately smiled, ¡°Isn¡¯t junior sister Wu Yao thinking too much? He only defeated Chen Xuandong. Even I can easily do that, not to mention you. It¡¯s too much to say he¡¯ll be our greatest enemy.¡± He didn¡¯t understand why Wu Yao would pay so much attention to Zhou Yuan of the Tianyuan Region. The Wushen Region¡¯s greatest enemy? The Wushen Region¡¯s competition was Zhao Mushen of the Wanzu Region and Su Youwei of the Zixiao Region! Furthermore, even if it was Zhao Mushen himself, just what rights did he have to compete with them? Wu Yao kept an indifferent expression on her face and was too lazy to explain. She cast her gaze to the distance again. No one knew how dangerous Zhou Yuan was better than her. In her opinion, Zhao Mushen was indeed a great enemy, but this was obvious. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan was a venomous dragon hiding in the dark. Once he revealed his fangs, he could kill with a single strike. If Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t in the Tianyuan Region and didn¡¯t occupy a high and mighty position, Wu Yao would want to find a chance to get rid of this hidden danger before he revealed his fangs. As Wu Yao thought of the danger Zhou Yuan would bring, a blazing battle intent gushed from the depths of her eyes. ¡°Zhou Yuan, no one will come to help you this time! ¡°If you¡¯re only at this level, don''t blame me for taking away the sacred dragon qi in your body.¡± ..... Zixiao Region. Many Zixiao Region disciples were gathered in a ring-shaped, arena-like building. They were all staring at the center of the building where a bead was emitting rays of light. The light intertwined to form a light screen depicting two figures in a fierce match. It was Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong. The bead was the Zixiao Region¡¯s image retaining stone, and it was showing the match between Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong. The battle gradually came to an end, ending in Zhou Yuan''s victory. Many exclamations erupted. It was clear that the result wasn¡¯t what the disciples had expected. ¡°Zhou Yuan of the Tianyuan Region is indeed quite capable...¡± ¡°It is said that his Divine Dwellings have only opened up to the seventh dwelling. Once he connects through to the ninth Divine Dwelling, how strong would his Genesis Qi foundation be?¡± ¡°He mustn¡¯t be underestimated.¡± ¡°......¡± At the forefront of the many disciples, Xue Jingtao withdrew his gaze. Compared to the others, who were gasping in astonishment, he appeared much more indifferent. ¡°Oh, senior brother Xue, what do you think of Zhou Yuan?¡± someone asked with a smile. Xue Jingtao smiled. ¡°He isn¡¯t weak, but it isn¡¯t that easy to stand out in the nine regions tournament.¡± ¡°Does senior brother Xue have the confidence to defeat him?¡± someone asked curiously. Xue Jingtao simply smiled. Although he didn¡¯t answer the question, the arrogance contained in his smile revealed his answer. As a result, all the surrounding disciples all sighed in admiration and began complimenting him. Xue Jingtao waved his hand and said in a modest voice, ¡°I am nothing compared to junior sister Youwei.¡± His gaze shifted to his right, where a graceful figure stood up and walked down the walkway toward him. It was Su Youwei. Xue Jingtao discovered a joyful smile on Su Youwei¡¯s beautiful face. His heart fluttered, and when Su Youwei was near, he said with a smile, ¡°Given junior sister Youwei¡¯s strength, this battle must be a little boring.¡± Su Youwei shook her head. ¡°Zhou Yuan of the Tianyuan Region has extraordinary potential. If he can connect all nine Divine Dwellings, only a handful of people in the nine regions tournament stand a chance against him. Even I don¡¯t have much confidence in winning. ¡°So, senior brother Xue, you shouldn¡¯t misjudge people. Otherwise, you''ll get into trouble, and I won¡¯t be able to save you.¡± She spoke gently, but her voice contained an underlying warning. After speaking, she strode away, leaving Xue Jingtao standing there stiffly. .... The match between Zhou Yuan and Chen Xuandong had created a lot of waves in the Hunyuan Heaven. Many people realized that the Tianyuan Region¡¯s foundation wasn¡¯t weak despite deteriorating over the years. However, there were more people commenting that the battle didn¡¯t reveal anything. Everything still depended on the nine regions tournament. If the Tianyuan Region still ranked last in the upcoming nine regions tournament, all this would mean nothing. After all, the Tianyuan region was one of the nine regions and needed to follow the examples of the other top forces, not lower its status to compare itself with the Tri-Mountain Alliance. The nine regions tournament was the real measuring stone! Chapter 915 Great Rivals The chief pavilion master¡¯s residence. Zhou Yuan was leisurely lying on the roof of the building and basking in the sun, but his expression wasn¡¯t relaxed because he was reading a scroll in his hand. It was the latest version of the Divine Dwelling List, and the only change from the previous one was that he had risen to ninth place. The nine regions tournament had become the most popular topic in Hunyuan Heaven. It was a true grand event that countless forces across the Hunyuan Heaven would be paying attention to. After all, it was, in a sense, a competition among the nine regions. Although it was a competition of only the Divine Dwelling stage, it was a competition of the pinnacle of the Divine Dwelling stage. Perhaps the Divine Dwelling stage wasn¡¯t worth mentioning compared to the Nascent Source stage and the Law Domain stage, but everyone was aware of its importance because it represented new blood. A stronger Divine Dwelling expert had a higher possibility of advancing further in the future. They were the most fundamental foundation of every sect and faction. Even the nine regions dared not underestimate them. To cultivate the heaven prides who were now ranked at the top of the Divine Dwelling List, the nine regions presumably invested a lot of time and energy into them. For example, Su Youwei. To collect seedlings with remarkable talents, the Zixiao Region had sent people to the Cangxuan Heaven to find them. From this, it was clear how much effort they had invested. Zhou Yuan carefully studied the eight names ranked above him. In truth, besides the name, the Divine Dwelling List didn¡¯t reveal much information. But for some reason, he vaguely felt a sense of oppression. Although he didn¡¯t want to admit it, he felt that the Tianyuan Region had indeed been separated from the other eight regions over the years. This was clearly shown on the Divine Dwelling List. As for the Heavenly Sun List and the Nascent Source List, the situation was a little better. After all, anyone ranked on those lists had been training for an extended period of time, and once they occupied a position, they would most likely keep it for decades, or even hundreds of years. The Divine Dwelling List most frequently changed, and from that, the weakness and deteriorating state of the Tianyuan Region could be clearly observed. Wanzu Region, Zhao Mushen. Wushen Region, Wu Yao. Zixiao Region, Su Youwei. Xuehai Region, Wang Xi. Shengwen Region, Li Tongshen. Xuanji Region, Jiu Gong. Yushou Region, Yuan Kun. These were the people ranked in the top eight. Every one of them had established a remarkable reputation in Hunyuan Heaven. They were the heaven prides carefully cultivated by the other eight regions. Even Chen Xuandong was incredibly lacking compared to them. They were the great enemies that Zhou Yuan would face in the nine regions tournament. After all, Zhou Yuan''s goal was to win first place. In truth, he didn¡¯t want to show off, but he had no other choice because he had to get his hands on the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. ¡°It''s so troublesome.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Even he felt pressure facing those eight people. Even if he had refined the four runes and discovered their second form, it still wasn¡¯t enough to defeat them. Especially the top three. Although he didn¡¯t know what Su Youwei felt towards him now, he would clash with Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao in the nine regions tournament. However, it wasn¡¯t that Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t have any strong points. He still hadn¡¯t unlocked his true potential in the Divine Dwelling stage. Those ranked in the top had already connected all nine Divine Dwellings, allowing them to possess tyrannical strength. But this also showed that their potential in the Divine Dwelling stage had reached its limit. To further improve their Genesis Qi foundation after opening up all nine Divine Dwellings, they would need a greater opportunity, which meant investing greater effort and energy. Without enough opportunities, their Genesis Qi foundation would only increase a little or remain the same for a long period of time! To move forward one step at the end of a hundred steps was always the most difficult! But at this juncture, as long as one could make further progress, the return would be ten times, or even a hundred times, greater once you reached the Heavenly Sun stage. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reached his full potential in the Divine Dwelling stage. Once he opened up the final two Divine Dwellings, his strength would undoubtedly skyrocket, and the gap between him and the others would be pulled infinitely close. While Zhou Yuan was studying the names on the Divine Dwelling list, the void in front of him rippled, and a formidable figure emerged. ¡°Senior sister Chi Jing.¡± Zhou Yuan stood up with a smile. ¡°You''re so relaxed. You¡¯re now a celebrity in the Tianyuan Region,¡± Chi Jing said. Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. ¡°What celebrity? If I don¡¯t perform well in the nine regions tournament and we still rank at the bottom, I will instantly fall from the clouds and be condemned by everyone.¡± The higher you climbed, the more painful it would be when you fell. Chi Jing smiled. ¡°You¡¯ve read the situation thoroughly, and you don''t seem too arrogant.¡± She glanced at the Divine Dwelling List in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand and fiddled with her short burgundy hair. She jokingly said, ¡°What? Scared of your opponents? It¡¯s not too late to regret it now.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Didn¡¯t I come to the Hunyuan Heaven for this?¡± It had been more than a year since he came to the Tianyuan Region. He hadn¡¯t rested at all during this period of time and had been constantly working hard. Tired? He must be tired. But Zhou Yuan had never thought of giving up. Whenever the thought of Yaoyao lying in that cold glass ice coffin came to his mind, the piercing pain in his heart covered up all the fatigue. In the past, it had always been Yaoyao who protected him, but now it was time for him to do something for her. Looking at Zhou Yuan''s face, Chi Jing could feel the emotions in his eyes. She witnessed all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s efforts, so she knew there was a story behind it but didn¡¯t ask about it. ¡°Since the Tri-Mountain Alliance dared to provoke the Tianyuan Region, they must have someone powerful leading them.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s beautiful jade-like face grew solemn. The smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face faded. To command a top force such as the Tri-Mountain Alliance to act as pawns, the person had to be incredibly powerful. But there were only a handful of people who had such an ability in the entire Hunyuan Heaven. ¡°Do you know who it is?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Chi Jing shook her head. ¡°It''s hard to guess. Their actions are nothing more than attempts to force our master to appear.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. If they wanted to force their master to show up, there was a high possibility that Yaoyao was involved since he knew that the biggest reason for master Cang Yuan to hide for many years was Yaoyao. Yaoyao¡¯s identity was too mysterious and involved a great deal. Even supreme existences in Hunyuan Heaven were plotting because of this. ¡°It seems that I must win first place in the nine regions tournament and get the Ancestral Dragon Lantern.¡± His identity shouldn¡¯t have been exposed yet; otherwise, those powerful beings would have done something to him already. After all, he was just a little Divine Dwelling expert. Therefore, he needed to win the nine regions tournament and the Ancestral Dragon Lantern before anybody realizes! As long as the Ancestral Dragon Lantern was in his hands, his first mission of coming to Hunyuan Heaven would be considered successful. If there was any danger, he could ask Chi Jing to send him out of Hunyuan Heaven first. Chi Jing nodded. ¡°I am just worried that since their plan failed this time, their future attacks will be even more intense.¡± ¡°It''s inevitable, so senior sister has to be prepared and be more careful in the future,¡± Zhou Yuan calmly said. In such a level of struggle, they wouldn¡¯t give up easily. The two looked at each other, their expressions solemn. They obviously felt a great deal of pressure. Even Chi Jing, an expert of the Law Domain, felt a little powerless in a game of this level, let alone Zhou Yuan, a little Divine Dwelling expert. Fortunately, they both knew that as long as Cang Yuan was still around, the other party wouldn¡¯t dare to do too much. Otherwise, they would need to pay an unbearable price. Chi Jing let out a sigh and didn¡¯t want to linger on this serious topic any longer. She suddenly asked, ¡°How much do you know about the nine regions tournament?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a match among the heaven prides of the Divine Dwelling stage in the nine regions?¡± Chi Jing rolled her eyes and said, ¡°You mustn¡¯t underestimate the nine regions tournament. It symbolizes the greatest opportunity of the Divine Dwelling stage. It can be described as a once in a lifetime opportunity for ambitious people like you. Chapter 916 Alpha Spiritium This name sounded somewhat unfamiliar to Zhou Yuan. He pondered for a moment before he responded, ¡°I heard that when all Divine Dwellings are unlocked, they will form a connection with heaven and earth and draw upon a special substance. That substance is called Spiritium. ¡°Anyone who wants to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage will need to absorb this substance¡± He looked at Chi Jing and asked, ¡°The Alpha Spiritium should be something similar, right?¡± ¡°You do know a little.¡± Chi Jing smiled. ¡°In the way of cultivation, every stage is divided into different grades. Even the Qi Nourishing stage, the opening of the sea of qi, is divided into grades. ¡°Then there is the Divine Dwelling stage, which is divided into nine levels and ranks. ¡°There are numerous difficulties on the path of cultivation, and to reach the pinnacle, one must reach the limit in every cultivation stage. ¡°The so-called Heavenly Sun stage is when the Divine Dwellings within one¡¯s body are perfectly polished, and the Genesis Qi stars are gathered in the Divine Dwellings to form a Genesis Qi sun. It is boundless and extremely fierce and is therefore called the Heavenly Sun. ¡°But to form this heavenly sun, one needs the natural substance of the universe known as the Spiritium.¡± ¡°The Heavenly Sun stage is also divided into different grades. The highest is the glass Heavenly Sun, which symbolizes purity and flawlessness, followed by the purple-gold Heavenly Sun, the silver-snow Heavenly Sun, and of course the most common crimson-red Heavenly Sun.¡± A look of surprise crossed Zhou Yuan''s face. He didn¡¯t expect there to be such a grading system in the Heavenly Sun stage. ¡°Once the crimson-red Heavenly Sun is formed, one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation, in terms of Genesis Qi stars, will reach 100 million! ¡°The silver-snow Heavenly Sun is 200 million, the purple-gold Heavenly Sun is 300 million, and the glass Heavenly Sun is 400 million!¡± Zhou Yuan was indeed a little dumbfounded. Four hundred million Genesis Qi stars? What a terrifying foundation. Even the worst of the Heavenly Sun stage had a foundation of 100 million Genesis Qi stars? A new Heavenly Sun stage expert was that much more powerful than a Divine Dwelling stage expert? Chi Jing cast a glance at Zhou Yuan and said indifferently, ¡°Why do you think Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao, top heaven prides, would stay at the pinnacle of the Divine Dwelling stage for so long? It¡¯s because they are too ambitious, and ordinary Heavenly Suns can¡¯t satisfy them. Therefore, their goal is at least the purple-gold Heavenly Sun. If it weren¡¯t for this, they would have broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage long ago.¡± ¡°If you want to refine a purple-gold Heavenly sun or glass Heavenly Sun, could it be that you would need this kind of Alpha Spiritium?¡± Chi Jing nodded. ¡°You also must have opened up nine Divine Dwellings. Otherwise, even if you have the Alpha Spiritium, it will be useless.¡± Zhou Yuan shuddered inwardly. If he couldn¡¯t open up nine Divine Dwellings in the Divine Dwelling stage, it would mean his future cultivation path would narrow and eventually be blocked. He would be unable to see the next cultivation stage unless he found some heaven-defying opportunity. To reach the pinnacle state, you must ensure that you reach the limit in every cultivation stage. Once you missed a step at any level, it would be difficult to remedy the mistake. The difficulty was too great, and the journey of cultivation was indeed too cruel. Fortunately, although Zhou Yuan had faced numerous difficulties during his cultivation training, he had never made a mistake, whether it was in the Qi Nourishing stage, Alpha-Origin stage or the Divine Dwelling stage. He felt very fortunate. All this was because Yaoyao had strict requirements for him. Otherwise, his foundation wouldn¡¯t have been so stable. Chi Jing continued, ¡°Alpha Spiritium is extremely rare. It is a substance formed from the accumulation of the essence between heaven and earth. In ordinary times, it would be difficult to find even a little in 100 years.¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed. ¡°Could there be Alpha Spiritium at the nine regions tournament?¡± Chi Jing smiled. ¡°Yes, the venue for the nine regions tournament is called the Fallen Abyss, an ancient battlefield from ancient times. Countless experts have perished there, and even dozens of Law Domain experts have lost their lives there! ¡°When Law Domain experts fall, their Law Domains crumble between heaven and earth, causing chaos to the rules of the world. As for the Law Domains that crumbled and interwove in the Fallen Abyss, they eventually formed an extremely dangerous forbidden land. But it is in such a forbidden land that a great opportunity is born¡ª Alpha Spiritium. ¡°Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and the others are most likely waiting for this day. As long as they get enough Alpha Spiritium, they can use it to refine a purple-gold or even a glass Heavenly Sun and set foot into the Heavenly Sun stage! ¡°They''re all incredibly ambitious people because their goals are most likely not just the Heavenly Sun stage. They are aiming for the Nascent Source stage or even the Law Domain!¡± ¡°If you are also ambitious, you can¡¯t miss this rare opportunity in the Hunyuan Heaven,¡± Chi Jing reminded. A glowing light surged in the depths of Zhou Yuan''s eyes. In the way of cultivation, one must seek the ultimate at every cultivation level. Only then could one get rid of their countless competitors and step foot onto the lonely wooden bridge to refine the Nascent Source and open up a Law Domain! Therefore, even without the Ancestral Dragon Lantern, he had to do his best in the nine regions tournament. Seeing the blazing battle intent rising in Zhou Yuan''s eyes, Chi Jing nodded in satisfaction. She raised her beautiful hand, and two jade boxes appeared in front of her. She pushed one of them towards Zhou Yuan and lifted the lid. It was a blue-green fruit the size of a fist, and it exuded a jade-like luster. An aroma filled the air that caused even the Genesis Qi within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body to surge. ¡°This is?¡± Zhou Yuan asked, puzzled. He could feel the desire of his Genesis Qi. ¡°Divine Dwelling Immeasurable Fruit. The Tri-Mountain Alliance had lost years of supply, but such fruits only have a one-time effect on the Divine Dwelling stage, so I only brought you one. If you use it, it can help you connect another Divine Dwelling.¡± ¡°Amazing!¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes lit up. The nine regions tournament was fast approaching, and the Divine Dwelling Immeasurable Fruit could save him a lot of time. Chi Jing smiled and opened up the other jade box, which contained a small spatial bag. ¡°The materials you asked me to find for you are all here.¡± Zhou Yuan''s face lit up, and he could no longer conceal his joy. The materials he had asked Chi Jing to search for were to evolve Silver Shadow. With these materials, his Silver Shadow that had gathered dust for a long period of time would be able to shine again. Once Silver Shadow evolved, it would undoubtedly give Zhou Yuan another trump card. He reached out to hold the spatial bag and couldn''t help laughing. ¡°Looks like I''m going to be busy for some time.¡± But he was looking forward to it. Chapter 917 Evolution of Silver Shadow The room was spacious and bright, with high ceilings inscribed with ancient and intricate Genesis Runes. At this moment, mighty Genesis Qi of the universe was bubbling up endlessly from the numerous holes in the ground and walls, causing mist to linger in the room. This was a sign of the richness of the Genesis Qi in the room. Zhou Yuan was sitting cross-legged on a gigantic jade boulder. Many precious treasures and materials were required to maintain a training room of this level every day. Therefore, only elder-level experts of Tianyuan Utopia could enjoy such a room. Before being promoted to chief pavilion master, Zhou Yuan was far from qualified. But he was qualified now. Zhou Yuan wore a very solemn expression on his face, and in front of him was a silver ball quietly suspended in the air. The surface of the silver ball was as smooth as a mirror, but upon a closer look, numerous Genesis Runes as subtle as dust were within it. Even Zhou Yuan was amazed by the subtleties of Silver Shadow. Silver Shadow was considered the pinnacle masterpiece of Blackwater¡¯s most ancient sect. It was unknown how many generations of effort were infused into the masterpiece. Unfortunately, the sect had suffered a disaster before they could thoroughly develop such a masterpiece. With a thought, Silver Shadow slowly melted in front of Zhou Yuan, becoming a bubbling pool of silver liquid. Its depths shimmered like a starry sky as though it had some sort of life force. Zhou Yuan slowly closed his eyes. His Spirit rose from the top of his head and sat cross-legged in the air. On the fingertips of the Spirit, a Spirit Flame took shape. It was at this moment that the spatial bag at Zhou Yuan¡¯s waist opened itself, and several treasures exuding strange light floated slowly into the air. Zhou Yuan''s Spirit power spread out, wrapping some treasures and dragging them into the Spirit Flame. The Spirit Flame blazed, rapidly melting the treasures. Their impurities were all purified, and they gradually became liquid. Zhou Yuan''s Spirit was fully absorbed in the process and dared not relax. The materials were all fairly rare, and it took Chi Jing a while to source them. Now that the nine regions tournament was imminent, he didn¡¯t have time to wait for the next batch of materials to arrive. His Spirit Flame continued to melt the treasures and materials, extracting a clump of thick liquid that emitted a colorful light. Zhou Yuan''s Spirit power was constantly fusing and breaking down the materials. This process alone was enough to consume three days of his time. When the fourth day came, the thick liquid fused from numerous treasures and materials started giving birth to countless dazzling crystal particles. Hu. The evolution of the Silver Shadow was more difficult than he had thought, and now that Yaoyao wasn¡¯t with him, he could only depend on himself for everything. Zhou Yuan unreservedly released his Spirit power, pouring it all into the dazzling liquid. The tens of thousands of crystal particles within the liquid slowly began to rise under his Spirit power¡¯s manipulation. In the end, the dust circled his Spirit like a planetary ring. Spirit power wrapped around the crystal dust, and subtle markings appeared and formed several mysterious Genesis Marks. Yaoyao had once mentioned that Silver Shadow wasn¡¯t complete and would only be useful in the Alpha-Origin stage. If Zhou Yuan wanted to continue to evolve it, he would need to make it internally complete. Even the present Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t able to figure out the mystery of Silver Shadow, but fortunately, Yaoyao had helped him and had given him the method of derivation. Zhou Yuan needed to inscribe the Genesis Runes that Yaoyao had derived onto the dust-like crystals one by one. This required very strict control of his Spirit. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit, which was at the initial Transformative stage, was strong enough to do so. But inscribing the runes was a slow process and would take a long time. Zhou Yuan was very calm and patient as he operated his Spirit and inscribed Genesis Marks on the dust-like crystals one by one. This process continued for half a month. Half a month later. When Zhou Yuan inscribed a complete Genesis Mark on the last grain of crystal dust, he almost collapsed from exhaustion. His Spirit, sitting cross-legged in the air, grew much dimmer than before. It was evident that the process had taken a toll on his body. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t continue but activated the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method and began to restore the consumed Spirit power. After a good while, his Spirit was glowing brightly once again. Once recovered, Zhou Yuan''s eyes blazed. He looked closely at the crystal dust surrounding his body in a ring formation and saw that each particle was completely covered in complicated Genesis Runes. ¡°Yaoyao truly does have a terrifying mastery of Genesis Runes.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but marvel. Those Genesis Runes were like countless tiny gears in a machine, and once integrated into Silver Shadow, they could fill up the incompleteness and allow Silver Shadow to undergo evolution! ¡°The Genesis Runes have all been inscribed onto the crystal particles. The next step should be the last step, which is to integrate them with Silver Shadow!¡± Zhou Yuan adjusted his state to its peak, and then, with one thought, the tens of thousands of crystal particles lit up and poured into the silver liquid. Chi! Zhou Yuan wore an unprecedented solemn expression. His Spirit power was unleashed without reservation, and even the veins on his forehead were throbbing. Furthermore, constantly rays of dazzling light were released from the Spirit sitting cross-legged in the air. Dust-like crystals floated up and down in the silver liquid. The Genesis Marks inscribed on the crystal dust exuded a bizarre power in an attempt to fuse with the silver liquid. The two were constantly coming into contact with each other, causing wisps of stunning light to shoot out from the silver liquid. The light made the training room appear incomparably strange yet beautiful. But as time went on, Zhou Yuan''s forehead began to bead with cold sweat. He found that no matter how the crystal dust and silver liquid came into contact, they couldn¡¯t truly integrate. ¡°My Spirit isn¡¯t strong enough! It is impossible to integrate the crystal dust into Silver Shadow at the initial Transformative stage!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed abruptly. He couldn¡¯t help but cry bitterly in his heart. Yaoyao, you underestimated the difficulty of Silver Shadow¡¯s evolution. After several attempts, he realized that this wasn¡¯t something that someone of the initial Transformative stage could achieve. After all, not everyone could have a near-perfect control of the Spirit like Yaoyao. Even Zhou Yuan, who had remarkable talent in Spirit cultivation, wasn¡¯t able to do so. But everything was prepared, and he was only one step away. Could it be that he had to give up now? If the crystal dust couldn¡¯t integrate with Silver Shadow in time, the dust would soon dissipate. Chapter 918 Seek Assistance Staring at the silver liquid and the crystal dust in front of him that refused to integrate together, Zhou Yuan felt a headache coming on. He didn¡¯t think that the Spirit of the initial Transformative stage wouldn¡¯t be strong enough. But it wasn¡¯t easy to further improve a Spirit of the Transformative stage. Although the Spirit of the Transformative stage was simply divided into three levels¡ªinitial, intermediate and advanced¡ªthe gap between them was similar to a chasm. A Spirit of the intermediate Transformative stage was similar to the Heavenly Sun stage, while one of the advanced Transformative stage was similar to the Nascent Source stage. It was said that when a Spirit reached the Allroaming stage, it was equivalent to the Law Domain stage! The three levels of the Transformative stage weren''t simply three small levels. The gap between them was similar to that between the Divine Dwelling, Heavenly Sun and Nascent Source stages. This was why Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reached the intermediate Transformative stage despite training his Spirit nonstop. According to his own estimation, if he wanted to step into the intermediate Transformative stage, he would still need a period of training. To suddenly break through like this was impossible. Since he couldn¡¯t depend on himself, it was time to seek assistance. Zhou Yuan took out a jade tablet and crushed it. It was to communicate with Chi Jing. In just a few breaths after he crushed the jade tablet, space rippled within the training room, and Chi Jing¡¯s long leg stepped forth. ¡°Please help, senior sister Chi Jing!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. Chi Jing cast a glance at the silver liquid flowing in front of Zhou Yuan and immediately saw the countless subtle Genesis Runes contained within it. A look of surprise came to her eyes, and she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°This is a kind of puppet? It''s so intricate. Is it a product of the Yaogui Region?¡± Yaogui Region was one of the nine regions of Hunyuan Heaven, and its technique of refining puppets was unique in the world. ¡°But the puppet doesn''t seem complete. Are you trying to perfect it?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Unfortunately, my Spirit isn¡¯t strong enough, and I can¡¯t complete the final step of integration.¡± Chi Jing frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t help you. Although my Spirit is strong enough, I¡¯m not proficient in this, and if I were to force it, I¡¯m worried I would instantly destroy your puppet.¡± Her Spirit was strong, but the inside of the silver liquid was too complex. Integrating it with the crystal dust would require someone specializing in Spirit cultivation. Although Chi Jing had practiced the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method, her main focus was still in Genesis Qi cultivation. ¡°Then what should I do?¡± Zhou Yuan looked incredibly distressed. Do I need to wait for the next opportunity? But the nine regions tournament is near, and without a trump card like Silver Shadow, my path ahead will undoubtedly be more difficult. ¡°Although I can''t do anything, there''s something that can,¡± Chi Jing said all of a sudden. Zhou Yuan lifted his head abruptly, looking at Chi Jing with his eyes blazing, and then noticed something strange. ¡°There¡¯s something that can?¡± Chi Jing cracked a smile. ¡°You''ve seen it before too.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback for a moment before asking, ¡°You mean the divine grindstone of the Four Spirits Origin Tower?¡± Chi Jing nodded with a smile. ¡°Don''t underestimate Elder Divine Grindstone. It is a sacred object. In the entire Tianyuan Region, in terms of mastery in spirit cultivation, besides our master, Elder Grindstone is ranked first. ¡°If you can get it to help, maybe your puppet can evolve perfectly.¡± With a blazing look in his eyes, Zhou Yuan flung his sleeve and immediately put away the silver liquid in front of him. Without saying anything else to Chi Jing, he turned into a stream of light and rushed out of the training room, heading straight for the Four Spirits Origin Tower. Immediately after entering the tower, he found a quiet place to release his Spirit, which he wrapped in Silver Shadow¡¯s silver liquid. His Spirit soared into the sky, passing through the numerous obstacles, and came to a familiar chaotic void. There, a gigantic divine grindstone was slowly rotating as if it had done so since ancient times. Zhou Yuan immediately sent out a request for assistance. The divine grindstone quickly responded and readily agreed. After all, it was a small matter, and Zhou Yuan was a disciple of Cang Yuan, so it would of course look after him. If not for this fact, Zhou Yuan would not have been summoned when he had initially entered into the Four Spirits Origin Tower. ¡°Thank you, elder!¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. The next moment, a vast and powerful force swept out and enveloped the silver liquid. While it was shrouded in that mighty force, Zhou Yuan could clearly see that the crystal dust inscribed with Genesis Runes was beginning to melt inside the silver liquid and fuse with it. Zhou Yuan also noticed that that the fusion was extremely perfect. There were countless points of connection, all of which were incredibly harmonious. This would undoubtedly make Silver Shadow even more perfect. Zhou Yuan marveled at the sight. This control of Spirit power was remarkable. It was no wonder that Chi Jing said that her mastery of Spirit power was inferior to Elder Grindstone. Bur the integration occurring inside the silver liquid was unexpectedly slow. It seemed that for Silver Shadow to complete its evolution, it would take a while even with the help of Elder Grindstone. But Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t worried at all, because judging from the process¡¯s smoothness, there wouldn¡¯t be any accidents if he left Silver Shadow under Elder Grindstone¡¯s care. Zhou Yuan breathed a long sigh of relief and bowed respectfully to the grindstone before returning to his real body. Sitting cross-legged on a towering mountain, Zhou Yuan calculated the time till the nine regions tournament. There was less than half a month left. Now that the problem of Silver Shadow was resolved, it was time to improve his Genesis Qi further. His eyes flashed, and with the wave of his sleeve, a jade box emerged in front of him. The jade box opened up, revealing a sapphire-like fruit that emitted a strange aroma. It was a Divine Dwelling Immeasurable Fruit. Zhou Yuan originally planned to keep the fruit for his last Divine Dwelling, but during his training, he came to understand that he had underestimated the difficulty of connecting the last two Divine Dwellings. He had already tried to polish the eighth Divine Dwelling with all his strength, but there still wasn¡¯t much improvement. It was much more difficult to connect through to the eighth Divine Dwelling than connecting all seven Divine Dwellings altogether. This situation wasn¡¯t unusual. It was the same for everyone who had opened up nine Divine Dwellings. After all, once the last two were connected, the improvement brought about was incomparable to any previous increase in strength. The higher the ranking of the Divine Dwellings, the harder it was to connect the last two. At the same time, the benefits would be much greater once successful. According to Zhou Yuan''s estimate, if he didn¡¯t use the Immeasurable Fruit, it would most likely take another two months to connect through to the eighth Divine Dwelling, but he didn¡¯t have time. The nine regions tournament was near, and there would be several powerful enemies there. Even if he had evolved Silver Shadow, it still wasn¡¯t entirely safe. Therefore, he had to at least connect the eighth Divine Dwelling and then wait for an opportunity to complete the last Divine Dwelling in the nine regions tournament. Only then would he finally step into the pinnacle of the Divine Dwelling stage! At that time, if he obtained enough Alpha Spiritium, he could break through to the Heavenly Sun stage. ¡°Without any investment, how would there be any returns? It¡¯s just a Divine Dwelling Immeasurable Fruit. I shouldn¡¯t be so stingy and treat it as a precious treasure! ¡°If the old doesn''t go, the new won¡¯t come.¡± With a resolute glint in his eyes, Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand, and the jewel-like Immeasurable Fruit landed in his palm. He immediately squeezed his hand and crushed it. Bang! The immeasurable fruit shattered. Azure mist whizzed out and enveloped Zhou Yuan¡¯s body in a cloud. I must successfully connect through to the eighth Divine Dwelling! Chapter 919 Foundation skyrocke A remote mountain somewhere in the Four Spirits Origin Tower. Boom! Mighty Genesis Qi erupted like a volcano and eventually turned to layers of Genesis Qi clouds floating up high. There seemed to be an azure serpent-dragon shuttling through the cloud layers and producing deafening roars. Terrifying pressure of Genesis Qi frantically spread out. In the distance, members of the four pavilions who were training turned in puzzlement to look in the direction it came from. They couldn¡¯t help but cry out when they felt a familiar fluctuation of Genesis Qi. ¡°Is the chief pavilion master training right now?¡± ¡°Such powerful Genesis Qi!¡± ¡°It¡¯s much stronger than before!¡± They were amazed because even from such a distance, they could distinctly feel a tremendous pressure, something Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t previously cause. ¡°It seems that the chief pavilion master has made great progress during this closed-door training!¡± they exclaimed, their eyes filled with awe. The nine regions tournament was near, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s improvement was undoubtedly good news for the Tianyuan Region. After all, there were no doubt some super fierce people in the nine domains tournament. Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Chen Xuandong, it was well known that there was still a huge gap between Chen Xuandong and the super heaven prides of the other eight regions. Under those distant marveling stares, the Genesis Qi clouds above the towering mountain peak dissipated. They revealed the figure of Zhou Yuan sitting cross-legged. His eyes opened slowly, and he spat out a mouthful of turbid qi. Chi! The turbid qi shot out thousands of feet like an arrow, creating a thunderous sound. Zhou Yuan immediately inspected the inside of his Divine Dwellings. His eyes widened with shock, and his breathing became labored. He found that within the Divine Dwellings, there were 38 million flashing Genesis Qi stars! Boundless and mighty Genesis Qi was filling the Divine Dwellings, making the inside appear incredibly bright. In other words, in this breakthrough, his foundation had increased by 15 million stars?! That was too terrifying. It should be said that the foundation brought about by seven Divine Dwellings only had 23 million stars, but now, by adding the eighth Divine Dwelling, his foundation had increased its stars by more than half! ¡°No wonder the last two Divine Dwellings are so hard to polish. Since it gives such a remarkable result, regardless of its difficulty, it is still worth it!¡± Zhou Yuan finally calmed his emotions after a good while. Given his present foundation, if he were to face off against Chen Xuandong again, he was confident of defeating him without the help of the four spirit runes.¡± Once the ninth Divine Dwelling opened up, Zhou Yuan was confident that he wouldn¡¯t be weaker than anyone else. Zhou Yuan stood up and ran his eyes across the distance. He could sense that his breakthrough had attracted a lot of attention. He pondered for a moment, then flashed away, leaving the mountain. Ten minutes later, he came to a stop, and after checking the surroundings, his Spirit rushed out and headed up high. The Spirit shuttled through the terrifying clouds and came to the chaotic void. His line of sight was immediately drawn to the silver liquid suspended in the air. The silver liquid slowly flowed in the void, as though it mysteriously possessed some kind of life force. Compared to the past, a bright light was flashing inside the silver liquid, making it appear more eye-catching. A kind of spiritual nature seemed to have been awakened in the silver liquid. ¡°It succeeded?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up with surprise. He beckoned, and the silver liquid immediately flowed over, swiftly gathering into a silver ball as smooth as a mirror in the palm of his hand. Zhou Yuan carefully examined the silver ball and faintly saw the countless ancient Genesis Runes contained inside. The Genesis Runes had joined to form an exquisitely perfect connection. It was clear that the fusion compensated for Silver Shadow¡¯s previous incompleteness. ¡°Eh?¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly cried out because he discovered that there seemed to be some sort of mysterious pattern on the surface of the silver ball. It exuded waves of energy that didn¡¯t match the silver ball¡¯s, and it was clearly not a product of Silver Shadow. He pondered seriously, and his Spirit returned to his body with the silver ball in his hand. He clenched his hand tight and whispered, ¡°Silver Shadow.¡± Gu! The silver ball directly transformed into liquid form, rapidly spreading out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. In the blink of an eye, it formed a near-perfect silver armor that covered every part of his body. From a distance, he resembled a silver god of war and exuded a cold, oppressive presence. Above the mountain summit, the silver-armored figure stood tall in the air, radiating an icy-cold, silvery light. Covered in silver armor, Zhou Yuan felt the majestic Genesis Qi between heaven and earth being swallowed, transformed, and provided to him in an unending steady stream. Zhou Yuan clenched his hand, gathering an indescribable power. The power of Silver Shadow was finally back! The evolution was successful! Zhou Yuan was ecstatic. Immediately, he found that the mysterious patterns on the silver armor faintly resembled a mottled divine grindstone. The patterns exuded ripples of energy invisible to the naked eyes and seemed to be forming an invisible force field that shrouded his entire body. ¡°What is this?¡± Zhou Yuan sounded surprised. The force field was clearly not a power that Silver Shadow possessed, which suggested it was Elder Grindstone¡¯s doing while it was helping Silver Shadow evolve. While he was in deep thoughts, the void rippled. Elder Grindstone was sending out a thought. Zhou Yuan listened carefully, and after a moment, his eyes flashed. ¡°Divine grindstone force field? It can prevent the Spirit from being corroded?¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head in puzzlement. It was a little unusual since it wasn¡¯t a defense against Genesis Qi being corroded but Spirit. Regardless, it was an unexpected joy. It was indeed the right decision to ask Elder Grindstone for help. ¡°Thank you, Elder Grindstone.¡± Zhou Yuan bowed respectfully. The void was silent, and there was no other movement. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t mind. He flicked his sleeve and put away Silver Shadow before soaring into the air and heading for the exit of the Four Spirits Origin Tower. Now that everything was ready, he only needed to wait for the nine regions tournament. Chapter 920 Curtain Lifted Everyone knew about the importance of the nine regions tournament. From a different angle, the tournament was a contest and competition between the nine regions, and its result could shake the entire Hunyuan Heaven. Therefore, these days, the nine regions tournament became the only topic discussed in Hunyuan Heaven, and the topic of who would become the final winner naturally started heated discussions. ¡°The final winner will definitely be Zhao Mushen of the Wanzu Region.¡± ¡°That''s not necessarily the case. Wu Yao of the Wushen Region and Su Youmei of the Zixiao Region aren''t any weaker than Zhao Mushen, and they mustn¡¯t be provoked.¡± ¡°I agree. Zhao Mushen can only sit stably in first place because Wu Yao and Su Youwei do not value the rank much.¡± ¡°Actually, Wang Xi of the Xuehai Region also isn¡¯t ordinary.¡± ¡°Haha, who on the top eight of the Divine Dwelling List is ordinary?¡± ¡°What about Zhou Yuan of the Tianyuan Region?¡± ¡°He''s also a top heaven pride, but unfortunately, he is still lacking. If he can connect through to the ninth Divine Dwelling, he might have a chance to compete against them. But who doesn¡¯t know that the last two Divine Dwellings are the most difficult to connect? He was born at the wrong time.¡± ¡°Yes, it''s amazing that he beat Chen Xuandong, but it still depends on who he is compared to.¡± ¡°The Tianyuan Region is probably going to rank last again in this year¡¯s nine regions tournament.¡± ¡°--¡± Similar discussions happened in every place of Hunyuan Heaven. It was clear that everybody thought highly of Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei, the famous super heaven prides. They were as bright and dazzling as the sun. And compared with them, Zhou Yuan was much dimmer and almost forgotten. When he was occasionally mentioned, everybody spoke about him in a pitiful tone of voice. Some people even had a disdainful attitude towards him. After all, the nine regions were the overlords of Hunyuan Heaven, and the strength of the other eight regions was tyrannical and unshakable. On the other hand, Tianyuan Region¡¯s position had become unstable following the disappearance of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. Therefore, there were many people who wanted to strike at the Tianyuan Region while it was down. There were presumably many forces in Hunyuan Heaven with this malicious mentality, and they hoped that the Tianyuan Region would truly deteriorate and they would have the opportunity to rise. After all, if they were to get a bite of a colossal monster like the Tianyuan Region, they would become full. It was under this kind of attention that the nine regions tournament finally came. Wanzu Region. He was Zhao Mushen, the person whom countless people of the Divine Dwelling stage in Hunyuan Heaven looked up to. He was looking forward respectfully where a man was holding a carving knife in one hand and a stalk of bamboo in the other. The knife swung down, and bamboo shavings whirled into the air. The man looked extremely young and seemed to be a similar age to Zhao Mushen. His face was pale, and his appearance was far inferior to Zhao Mushen''s, but facing him, Zhao Mushen revealed deep awe and reverence on his face. The person before him was the founder of the Wanzu Region and one of the oldest saints in Hunyuan Heaven, supreme sovereign Wan Zu. A moment later, supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s knife finally stopped. He blew at the bamboo carving, sending the bamboo shavings whirling into the air, and then he turned to Zhao Mushen. Wan Zu''s face was young, but his eyes at that moment were indescribably old. ¡°Mushen, in this nine regions tournament, if there is a chance, capture this person and bring him back in secret.¡± He tossed the bamboo sculpture in his hand to Zhao Mushen. Zhao Mushen carefully received it. The bamboo carving was a lifelike figure of a man that he recognized. ¡°Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan?¡± He was a little surprised. He had heard of Zhou Yuan''s name before, but he didn¡¯t pay much attention to him because he considered Zhou Yuan''s achievements insignificant. Therefore, no matter how fierce a noise Zhou Yuan created these days, Zhao Mushen had never regarded him as an opponent. However, Zhou Yuan''s name had even passed to supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s ears, and he even personally ordered Zhao Mushen to capture him. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu glanced at Zhao Mushen and said indifferently, ¡°That Zhou Yuan comes from another heaven, and I suspect he has something to do with old man Cang Yuan.¡± Although Zhou Yuan''s identity hadn''t been exposed in any way, supreme sovereign Wan Zu was a little suspicious of Zhou Yuan, but his suspicion wasn¡¯t enough for him to do something. But if he did do something himself, it would have too great of an impact. Therefore, he couldn''t take action personally. After all, even though Cang Yuan had disappeared, there were still people in Hunyuan Heaven who were devoted to him. Zhao Mushen''s eyes narrowed slightly. He didn''t ask much before he took the bamboo sculpture and accepted the order. ¡°Okay.¡± His tone was indifferent, as though he were crushing an ant. As the leader of the Divine Dwelling List, he had that qualification. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu nodded and didn¡¯t say anything else. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Zhou Yuan might be connected to Cang Yuan, how would Zhou Yuan have caught his attention given his strength? And for Wan Zu to personally give the order to capture him? That was impossible if not for this. Zhao Mushen bowed respectfully. ¡°Then, I will set off now.¡± It was only after supreme sovereign Wan Zu nodded again that Zhao Mushen turned and left the bamboo forest. Outside the bamboo forest were tens of thousands of figures standing orderly, all emitting tyrannical Genesis Qi. They gestured with frantic enthusiasm when they saw Zhao Mushen walking out. Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyes swept over the crowd and motioned with his hand. ¡°Go!¡± The next instant, the thousands of figures rushed up like clouds. In the bamboo forest, supreme sovereign Wan Zu peered in the direction they left. After a long moment, his voice suddenly spread throughout the bamboo forest. ¡°Cang Yuan, you always ruin things!¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s face was devoid of expression, and only a ripple of energy spread out from his body. Chi! The bamboo forest within thousands of miles was turned to nothing as though it never existed. The power that had destroyed the forest was silent but incomparably terrifying. Gazing at the empty land, supreme sovereign Wan Zu let out a sigh, and his expression gradually relaxed. With a flick of his sleeve, the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth began to gather together, turning into dewdrops that sprinkled about. Green sprouts grew from the ground at an astonishing speed. Thousands of miles of bamboo forest was restored within seconds. He was able to destroy with one hand and create with the other. The power of a supreme sovereign was remarkable. ¡°Cang Yuan, I want to see how long you can hide!¡± Wushen Region. Wu Yao¡¯s red dress was fluttering in the wind as she peered at the thousands of disciples gathered before her. They were this generation''s elites in the Wushen Region. They simply stood there, but their presence caused the Genesis Qi across the world to bubble forth. Thousands of the Wushen Region elites were gazing at the powerful and domineering Wu Yao with awe. Behind Wu Yao were two tall and imposing figures. One was Lan Ting, and the other was a handsome man whose presence wasn¡¯t in any way inferior to his. If Zhou Yuan were here, he would have identified him at a glance, because when Wu Yao returned to the Great Wu, this person had followed her and even attacked Zhou Yuan from behind. His name was Zhao Yunxiao. And at this moment, as they stared at Wu Yao''s back the depths of their eyes sparkled with admiration. Then, they exchanged a glance with each other. In their indifferent and calm expressions they revealed a competitiveness. ¡°Junior brother Yunxiao, your closed-door cultivation this time wasn¡¯t short. I wonder if your ranking on the Divine Dwelling List will remain at number 19th this time?¡± Lan Ting asked with a smile. For the nine regions tournament, the Wushen Region had concealed their strength very well. Lan Ting was incredibly strong yet wasn¡¯t ranked on the Divine Dwelling List, and Zhao Yuanxiao had remained at the 19th position. This was why Zhao Yunxiao had the nickname Zhao Nineteenth within the Wushen Region. Only people who were familiar with the situation knew that Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s 19th position was only for outsiders to see. In terms of strength, he didn¡¯t attach any importance to the people ranked above him, except for the top eight. Zhao Yunxiao calmly replied, ¡°After the nine regions tournament, senior brother, you shouldn¡¯t need to conceal your strength anymore. I wonder what your ranking will be.¡± The two men¡¯s gazes collided, and sparks sputtered out. Wu Yao paid no attention to the fight between the two. She lifted her beautiful hand and transformed into a stream of light in the blink of an eye. Boom! Following closely behind her were the many elites of the Wushen Region. Zixiao Region. On a cloud platform, Su Yuwei gazed at the impressive-looking flag in front of her. That day she was dressed in a long purple dress, and her long black hair was tied up, revealing her beautiful glowing face. She lifted her head, peering into the distance, and the corners of her lips curved in a subtle arc. That moment shocked everyone present. ¡°Your Highness, I can finally see you again.¡± Xuehai Region. Shengwen Region. Xuanji Region. There were mighty figures rising into the sky from all nine regions of the Hunyuan Heaven. And after that, countless forces also quickly followed after them. Chapter 921 Fallen City The Fallen Abyss was very well known throughout Hunyuan Heaven because it was said to be one of the forbidden places filled with extreme danger, as well as an ancient battlefield where countless experts, including Law Domain experts, had perished. The fall of many Law Domain experts and the scattering of their Law Domains had distorted space and changed the rules within the Fallen Abyss. Therefore, the Fallen Abyss was always in a sealed-off state in normal times, and it was only when the nine regions tournament came that Law Domain experts of the nine regions would join hands and tear open a channel to let their Divine Dwelling experts in to search for opportunities. An imposing city stood in a remote black plain in the Fallen Abyss'' outermost periphery. It was called the Fallen City. Although it required more than one Law Domain expert to tear open a channel and venture into the Fallen Abyss, anybody brave enough could explore the outermost periphery. With some good luck, one could even find Genesis treasures and inheritance left from the great war. This was considered a great opportunity for many cultivators. Therefore, the Fallen City was home to many treasure hunters. As the nine regions tournament had drawn closer, countless people in Hunyuan Heaven had placed their focus on the Fallen City. Many forces had flocked to the city, turning the little desolate city into a buzzing place. In a short period of time, it had become a place filled with all kinds of people. This atmosphere reached its peak when the major forces of the nine regions successively arrived in Fallen City. In the center of Fallen City was a large manor with nine tall pavilion buildings. This was the most striking symbol of the city. These nine pavilion buildings, built by the nine regions, were specially used to accommodate the many disciples during the nine regions tournament, and the other forces were not allowed to enter. This clearly highlighted the status of the nine regions in Hunyuan Heaven. The manor was known as the Nine Regions Manor. Under the leadership of Zhou Yuan, 2,000 members of the Tianyuan Region''s four pavilions arrived at Fallen City. They were all elites of the four pavilions. Four hundred of them were at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, and the other sixteen hundred were at the intermediate Divine Dwelling stage. An army of this size, of course, attracted the attention of countless people in Fallen City. Their gazes turned even more curious when they learned that they were people of the Tianyuan Region. After all, Zhou Yuan had recently risen to fame in Hunyuan Heaven. Under the watchful eyes of the countless people he saw along the way, Zhou Yuan led the large army to the huge manor in the center of the city. A butler at the manor''s gate hurriedly greeted him. ¡°Haha, this must be chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, right? I have heard a lot about you.¡± The butler spoke amiably. Zhou Yuan talked to him briefly with a gentle expression and learned that the butler was surnamed Liu and was responsible for managing the manor. Butler Liu respectfully presented him a silver medal with both hands. Zhou Yuan immediately noticed the silver medal was engraved with the character ¡®nine¡¯, which was the building number that they would be staying in. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t understand at first, but he saw Lu Xiao and Yi Qiushui both scrunch their brows in a frown. ¡°Butler Liu, is this right? In the past nine regions tournaments, our Tianyuan Region was always in building no. 6. Why did you change our location for no reason?¡± Lu Xiao asked. Zhou Yuan found it a little strange when he heard Lu Xiao''s tone of voice. Miu Liu leaned closer to him, whispering, ¡°Each of the nine regions occupy a building of the nine pavilion buildings in the Nine Regions Manor. Although there are no clear rules to say which region has which building, our Tianyuan Region has always been in building no. 6.¡± ¡°Also, building no. 9 is in the worst location with the shortest height.¡± Understanding dawned on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. They were robbed of their usual building and left with the worst location. Normally speaking, it wasn¡¯t a big deal where they lived, but they now represented the Tianyuan Region, and any difference in treatment could be easily magnified. It was unknown how many sects and factions had gathered in Fallen City. If this matter were to spread, it would inevitably attract unnecessary criticism. After all, for the nine regions, face was sometimes more important than anything else. ¡°Why is butler Liu treating our Tianyuan Region unfairly?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. Beads of sweat visibly dripped down butler Liu¡¯s chubby pale face. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, how would I dare? I¡¯m just a little butler.¡± ¡°Who will be occupying building no. 6 then?¡± Zhou Yuan fixed a stare at butler Liu for a good while and knew that he wouldn¡¯t dare to create any trouble given his identity. Butler Liu wiped his sweat and uttered submissively, ¡°It''s the Yaogui Region. They said that building no. 9 is a bit old, and they insisted on going to building no. 6. How can I stop them with my little arms and legs?¡± ¡°The Yaogui Region?¡± Lu Xiao, Mu Liu and Han Yuan all scrunched their brows in a frown. ¡°It¡¯s just a small matter to change the building. If they really like it they could have discussed it with us when we arrived. Our Tianyuan Region isn¡¯t that petty,¡± Zhou Yuan said calmly, ¡°but it¡¯s unacceptable to take it without asking. That¡¯s something the Tianyuan Region cannot accept. ¡°Butler Liu, tell Xu Ming of Yaogui Region to come explain it to us.¡± Zhou Yuan spoke calmly. As the chief pavilion master of the four pavilions of Tianyuan Region, as well as the leader of the Divine Dwelling stage, he knew that he had to say something. If the Yaogui Region wanted the building, they needed to first ask for permission. He knew that this wasn¡¯t a matter of a building but that they weren''t giving them face. A bitter look crossed butler Liu¡¯s face, but after seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, he knew that it was useless to say anything. He could only respond and quickly turn away. Zhou Yuan and more than 2,000 people were gathered at the gate of the Nine Regions Manor. Their formidable appearance naturally attracted countless people. Many people were even aware of the reason after a little inquiry. As a result, their gazes turned curious. Who would have thought there would be a dispute between the Tianyuan Region and the Yaogui Region the moment they arrived at Fallen City? The news quickly spread and attracted the attention of many sects and factions. At the entrance to the manor, Zhou Yuan kept a calm expression, whereas the 2,000 members of the Four Pavilions behind him were immediately filled with indignation after learning what happened. The Yaogui Region had gone too far. Time slowly passed, but the people of Yaogui Region still hadn¡¯t shown up. Lu Xiao, Mu Liu, Han Yuan and the others all grew increasingly annoyed. The people of the Yaogui Region knew that they were waiting for them, but they deliberately came late. And just when they became visibly angry and even a little impatient, several figures finally strode out from the manor. Next to those figures, butler Liu was sweating profusely and seemed to want to walk faster but was held back by a youngster smiling mischievously. Under the cold gazes of the 2,000 people from the Tianyuan Region, the several people finally arrived at the gate. ¡°Haha, I am Qiu Jiu. I wonder what everybody of the Tianyuan Region wants?¡± The youngster swept his glance over the crowd and said lazily, ¡°If there¡¯s something, you can talk to me.¡± There was an icy cold expression on all 2,000 people of the Tianyuan Region. Lu Xiao, Mu Liu, Yi Qiushui, and Ye Bingling¡¯s eyes even glinted angrily. The people of the Yaogui Region were really too disrespectful! Two thousand people from the Tianyuan Region had been waiting at the gate, including Zhou Yuan, the chief pavilion master and the leader of the Divine Dwelling stage experts of Tianyuan Region, but the Yaogui Region had dragged their feet for a long time. In the end, only a few nobodies from the Yaogui Region had come! This wasn¡¯t a slap to only Zhou Yuan¡¯s face but also a slap to the faces of the 2,000 people present! The other side¡¯s move clearly showed that they looked down on the Tianyuan Region! This was simply humiliation! Even if my Tianyuan Region has deteriorated over the years, we are still one of the nine regions! ¡°I have long heard that Xu Ming of the Yaogui Region is arrogant. It is indeed true,¡± Lu Xiao coldly remarked. Zhou Yuan glanced at Qiu Jiu relatively calmly and asked, ¡°Where is Xu Ming?¡± Qiu Jiu chuckled. ¡°Senior brother Xu Ming is very busy. If there is something, you can just tell me.¡± There was a glint of mockery in his eyes. Of course, they all knew what Zhou Yuan and the others wanted, but so what? The Tianyuan Region had worsened over the years, so it was only right they lived in the worst place. Zhou Yuan really doesn¡¯t know what is good for him. He thinks he¡¯s qualified to be on an equal level with senior brother Xu Ming just because he is ranked ninth on the Divine Dwelling List? Did defeating Chen Xuandong give him such great courage? It was obvious that they didn¡¯t think Zhou Yuan would dare do anything to them. After all, given the strength of the young generation of the Tianyuan Region, they didn¡¯t have the qualifications to challenge their Yaogui Region. Behind Zhou Yuan, the 2,000 members of the four pavilions almost spewed out fire from their eyes when they saw Qiu Jiu¡¯s arrogant attitude, but they didn¡¯t dare to erupt because they knew the Tianyuan Region was indeed the weakest in terms of overall strength. Countless people cast condescending gazes at Zhou Yuan, who had recently risen to fame in Hunyuan Heaven. They wanted to see what the leader of the Divine Dwelling stage experts of the Tianyuan Region planned to do. Zhou Yuan glanced at the arrogant Qiu Jiu without a hint of anger on his face. He simply nodded and gave a wave of his hand. Chapter 922 Xu Ming No one expected Zhou Yuan''s bearing to be so tough. They originally thought that Zhou Yuan would choose to calm the situation down and keep the peace, given the fact that the Tianyuan Region was the weakest of the nine regions and that the nine regions tournament was about to begin. If the Tianyuan Region were to anger the Yaogui Region, there was bound to be retaliation when they entered the Fallen Abyss. Thus Zhou Yuan¡¯s choice wasn¡¯t the wisest for the Tianyuan Region. Qiu Jiu and the others were also taken aback, and their expressions turned icy. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, do you want to start a war with my Yaogui Region?¡± Zhou Yuan simply ignored him, turned to Lu Xiao and the others, and commanded, ¡°Do it.¡± In truth, Lu Xiao and the others were taken aback by Zhou Yuan¡¯s tough stance. They at first thought Zhou Yuan was joking, but when they saw the look in his eyes, they knew he meant it. ¡°You''re the chief pavilion master.¡± Lu Xiao gave a wave of his hand. Chi! The next second, more than a dozen advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts pounced towards Qiu Jiu and the others like wolves. Boom! Genesis Qi erupted at the manor gate, and very quickly, Qiu Jiu and the others were completely surrounded. With an ashen face, Qiu Jiu roared, ¡°Zhou Yuan, did you eat a leopard¡¯s guts? The people of my Yaogui Region are going to destroy you when they come to the Fallen Abyss!¡± Expressionless, Zhou Yuan remained indifferent to his threat. In less than ten seconds, Qiu Jiu and the other three were captured and humiliated, yet they didn¡¯t reveal a hint of fear. They glowered at Zhou Yuan ferociously. ¡°Chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region, do you want to make your Tianyuan Region suffer a huge loss this time?¡± Zhou Yuan stamped his foot, and a stone wrapped in Genesis Qi shot into Qiu Jiu¡¯s mouth. Qiu Jiu immediately let out a shrill cry, and blood dripped down his mouth. ¡°Get someone to inform Xu Ming that if he doesn¡¯t appear in five minutes, everybody here will be hung naked at the city gate.¡± One of the four people captured was released, and he shot a furious look at Zhou Yuan before turning around and rushing away. Even the many people watching the conflict in the distance revealed looks of shock. Was Zhou Yuan not worried about offending the Yaogui Region and Xu Ming? Could it be that he¡¯s planning to fight the Yaogiu Region here? ¡°Well, there is going to be a good show. Given how arrogant and vengeful Xu Ming is and how Zhou Yuan treated the people of the Yaogui Region, I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t end well today for Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°Hurry, tell someone to come over!¡± ¡°---¡± No one thought that a good show would start before the nine regions tournament. Zhou Yuan stood calmly at the manor gate with 2,000 members of the four pavilions behind him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength and tough stance made them a little excited. After all, none of them wanted to swallow their pride. Since their chief pavilion master was so fierce, they should listen to his order. The incident at the gate of the Nine Regions Manor spread not only throughout Fallen City but also to the other tall buildings within the manor. Within the buildings, people cast over their gazes to the gate. In the tall building where the Wanzu Region was located. Clasping one hand behind his back, Zhao Mushen peered at the manor gate, watching the conflict. Behind him was a beautiful and charming woman in green. It was Liu Qingshu. She smiled. ¡°I heard that the chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region is very dissatisfied with the fact that the Yaogui Region occupied their pavilion building.¡± ¡°It seems that the Tianyuan Region¡¯s chief pavilion master has a very fiery temper.¡± ¡°The Tianyuan Region is the weakest in terms of strength. If they show weakness, others will take advantage of the situation to attack them, but if they stand tough, the Tianyuan Region will instill some fear in others. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s chief pavilion master has a very scheming mind,¡± Zhao Mushen explained. The corners of Liu Qingshu¡¯s little mouth twitched. ¡°But unfortunately for them, Xu Ming is not easily frightened. Zhou Yuan found the wrong target and will most likely perform badly.¡± ¡°If he can¡¯t clean up the mess, the Tianyuan Region will become a laughingstock before the nine regions tournament even begins.¡± Zhao Mushen gently nodded, staring indifferently in the direction of the manor gate where the young figure stood at the forefront of 2,000 people. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tough stance¡ªdoes he have the strength to back it up, or is it just a bluff? If it was the former, it would be a little interesting. If it was the latter, then, as Liu Qingshu said, he was going to lose face. This was because, although Zhou Yuan was fierce, Xu Ming was even fiercer. On another tall building, Wu Yao narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the manor gate. Staring at the familiar figure, she could feel the sacred dragon qi surging in his body. ¡°This Zhou Yuan is such a showoff.¡± Her phoenix eyes flashed, and her beautiful body moved, vanishing in the blink of an eye. ¡°I''d like to see how much you have grown.¡± ¡°Haha, it¡¯s going to be a good show.¡± Surrounded by many figures, Xue Jingtao peered into the distance with a grin. He was also excited to see the good show. They were already aware that Xu Ming had led people to occupy the Tianyuan Region¡¯s pavilion building, but they thought that, even if the Tianyuan Region knew about it, the Tianyuan Region would have kept quiet and swallowed their anger. After all, it wasn¡¯t good for them to anger the Yaogui Region. But who would have thought that Zhou Yuan, the chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region, wouldn¡¯t let it pass and would even capture Xu Ming¡¯s people? Given Xu Ming¡¯s personality, there was no way he would leave the matter at that. ¡°Zhou Yuan is too arrogant. Does he really think that he is qualified to be on the same level as the heaven prides ranked in the top eight just because he defeated Chen Xuandong?¡± Xue Jingtao shook his head, a mocking glint in his eyes. He suddenly swept a glance around and asked, puzzled, ¡°Where is junior sister Youwei?¡± The other disciples also shook their heads strangely. ¡°She was here just now.¡± Within the Nine Regions Manor, all people fixed their eyes on the manor gate. At the manor gate, Zhou Yuan maintained a calm expression, as if he hadn¡¯t noticed that everyone in the manor had turned their focus to him. Qiu Jiu wiped the blood from his mouth. His teeth were broken, and he couldn''t speak, but he continued to look at Zhou Yuan with a chilling stare. Swoosh! Suddenly, countless people shifted their gazes toward the Nine Regions Manor. Hundreds of figures were piercing through the air, landing on the several towering trees at the gate. A figure slowly descended before them, causing the Genesis Qi across the world to ripple. The person in front, clad in black, was a thin young man with strings of beads around his wrists and neck. His eyes were cold, and they contained an unconcealable sinister intent. He landed on a treetop, scanned the manor gate, then finally fixed his gaze on Zhou Yuan. His eyes narrowed, and an indifferent voice sounded. Chapter 923 Seeing Su Youwei Again The expressions of the members from the four pavilions abruptly changed when they heard Xu Ming¡¯s words, and their faces reddened with anger. Xu Ming was indeed as the rumors said: extremely arrogant. Zhou Yuan, the chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region, had a high and mighty status, while Qiu Jiu was just a nobody from the Yaogui Region. How could Zhou Yuan apologize to him! Xu Ming¡¯s words were an insult to the Tianyuan Region. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°You finally showed up? Then what about the matter of you taking our building?¡± Xu Ming tilted his head slightly, staring coldly at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Do you not understand what I said? I told you to let them go and apologize.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°It seems that you don¡¯t plan to resolve the problem.¡± He motioned with his hand. ¡°Strip them and hang them at the city gate.¡± The Tianyuan Region disciples immediately began to strip their clothes. Qiu Jiu and the others¡¯ expressions changed drastically as they cried for help. They would lose all their face if they were hung naked. There was a chilly glint in Xu Ming¡¯s eyes as he uttered, ¡°How dare you give no face to the Yaogui Region! Give me back my people!¡± The hundreds of figures behind him were ready to act. ¡°Disciples of the Tianyuan Region, listen to my order. Get into formation. Whoever dares come forward, kill them!¡± Zhou Yuan thundered. ¡°Yes!¡± The 2,000 disciples responded immediately. Mighty Genesis Qi erupted as they intently watched for movements among the Yaogui Region¡¯s people. With 2,000 people staring at them, even those from the Yaogui Region were a little afraid to move because they were outnumbered. They only had 100 people with them. Gasps of astonishment sounded throughout Fallen City. No one had thought that Zhou Yuan would be so fierce. Did he really intend to start a fight? Xu Ming¡¯s eyes glinted fiercely at Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions. ¡°Is it correct to say that the Tianyuan Region plans to battle the Yaogui Region before the nine regions tournament even begins? It¡¯s not that I look down on you, but you and your people are no match for my Yaogui Region!¡± Three thousand people from the Yaogui Region had come to the tournament, and overall, they were much stronger than the Tianyuan Region. There was no doubt they would dominate the battle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You don¡¯t have to be considerate of us. Both sides would just suffer in the end. My Tianyuan Region was last in the previous nine regions tournament, so our results can¡¯t be any worse than before. ¡°In other words, if we dragged your region down with us, it would be a bit of a gain from last year.¡± The Yaogui Region was indeed stronger overall, but they would suffer a great loss even if they were to win. As a result, they might not pass the next three rounds. On the contrary, their scuffle would benefit the other top forces. Within Fallen City, the eyes of the people from the other top forces lit up, and the watchers repeatedly yelled in their minds: ¡°Fight! Fight!¡± Xu Ming¡¯s eyes grew colder and colder. He evidently didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to threaten him like that! If they were alone, he would have gotten rid of Zhou Yuan that day regardless of means. But Xu Ming now carried important responsibility. He didn¡¯t know whether or not Zhou Yuan would really dare to fight all out with them at the gate, but he couldn¡¯t take the risk. Once a large-scale battle broke out, there would be inevitable losses. It would only benefit other people in the end. But if Xu Ming were to ignore Zhou Yuan¡¯s threat, wouldn¡¯t that make him appear weak? He was a top heaven pride ranked on the Divine Dwelling List of Hunyuan Heaven. He had remarkable battle achievements! But what about Zhou Yuan? He had only defeated Chen Xuandong, so how could he be compared to him? He originally thought that Zhou Yuan would humble himself when he showed up. But unexpectedly, Zhou Yuan, who was newly promoted to the ninth place on the Divine Dwelling List, acted arrogantly in front of him. Xu Ming was unable to contain his anger anymore. That arrogant thing! Xu Ming drew a deep breath, lifted his palm and stopped the Yaogui Region experts who were waiting on his signal to fight. When the bystanders saw his actions, disappointed sighs sounded throughout Fallen City. In the end, Xu Ming remained rational and didn¡¯t go crazy with Zhou Yuan. Studying Zhou Yuan carefully, the corners of Xu Ming¡¯s lips curved in a sneer. ¡°Zhou Yuan, we all carry heavy responsibilities, and there is no need to scare people with your reckless threats. ¡°What do you say? Do you accept the challenge?¡± A commotion broke out in the surroundings. Xu Ming was indeed cunning. He wanted to force Zhou Yuan to fight. Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Chen Xuandong, nobody thought he had the strength to compete with Xu Ming, a top heaven pride of the nine regions. Therefore, if a fight were to break out between the two, Zhou Yuan would suffer a huge loss. Countless eyes shifted to Zhou Yuan, waiting for his response. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged under those watchful gazes. ¡°How do you want to play?¡± The corners of Xu Ming¡¯s mouth tugged just slightly upward. He took off a string of white beads from his wrist and, with a flick of his finger, broke off five white beads. Dazzling light erupted, and the beads rose and transformed into five gigantic white jade beasts tens of meters tall. Their bodies were covered with mysterious Genesis Runes. Their claws and teeth were dangerously sharp, and they exuded a fierce and ruthless aura. Roar! The beasts unleashed an ear-splitting roar. Sound waves swept out, causing the void to vibrate. Countless eyes were filled with fear when they laid eyes on the giant white jade beasts. ¡°Those are the Yaogui Region¡¯s white jade puppets. It is said that each is as strong as a top advanced Divine Dwelling stage expert, and anyone with a foundation of less than 18 million Genesis Qi stars can¡¯t win against them!¡± someone exclaimed. Xu Ming peered down at Zhou Yuan, saying playfully, ¡°If you can beat my five white jade puppets in less than half an hour of time, you win.¡± His words immediately drew exclamations from the audience. Mu Liu scrunched his brows. ¡°The white jade puppets are very powerful, and with five together, their combat power will be even greater. Even if Chen Xuandong were here, the five white jade puppets would destroy him.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan, the puppets of the Yaogui Region are very powerful, don¡¯t fall into his trap!¡± Yi Qiushui said. As Zhou Yuan looked at the five lifelike white jade puppets, his eyes glinted fiercely. The puppets were indeed very strong. As Mu Liu had said, even Chen Xuandong wouldn¡¯t have much of an advantage when facing five. Zhou Yuan, however, had become much stronger since his battle with Chen Xuandong. Xu Ming was so proud that he didn¡¯t want to fight Zhou Yuan directly, so he wanted to embarrass him with his five puppet beasts. How arrogant! Xu Ming uttered indifferently, ¡°Well then, do you dare?¡± There wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotions in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he took one step forward. A sinister cold smile curved up on Xu Ming¡¯s lips. Does this idiot really think that the conditions I put forward are that simple? Of course, Xu Ming could feel that Zhou Yuan seemed much stronger than Chen Xuandong, and if Zhou Yuan were to fight with all his strength, the five white jade puppet beasts might not be able to stop him. Unfortunately for Zhou Yuan, his five puppet beasts were engraved with dark cobweb boundaries that could drag and trap enemies inside them. White jade puppet beasts were not known for their fighting power but for their ability to trap people! Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t weak, but it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult to trap him for half an hour. A mocking look flashed across Xu Ming''s eyes. Zhou Yuan is a stupid man, and he easily fell into my trap. He performed a hand seal with one hand, and the five white jade puppet beasts suddenly shot out. When Zhou Yuan saw them move, mighty Genesis Qi surged out from his body. Boom! But just as he was about to strike back, he felt an extremely powerful gush of Genesis Qi erupt, and his expression changed drastically. A tremendous torrent of dark purple Genesis Qi roared down from the sky, like a purple waterfall. It was so strong that even Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. Rumble! But what shocked Zhou Yuan was that the powerful torrent of Genesis Qi wasn¡¯t aiming for him. It directly bombarded the heads of the five white jade puppet beasts. In just a few seconds, the puppets were blasted apart. Fragments whirled in the sky. The sudden scene stunned everyone. Five powerful white jade puppet beasts were destroyed in seconds! Even Zhou Yuan and Xu Ming were taken aback. Then, Xu Ming¡¯s face turned ashen, and he asked, ¡°Who is it?!¡± Zhou Yuan and Xu Ming almost simultaneously cast their eyes toward a spot not far from them. Both were dumbstruck. A beautiful figure in a purple dress was floating above a towering tree! Her clothes fluttered as if she was riding the wind. She was graceful, and her face was fair and as stunning as jade. Everybody¡¯s eyes lit up when they saw such an outstanding beauty. But very quickly, countless people recognized the stunning figure and exclaimed in disbelief, ¡°That¡¯s Su Youwei of the Zixiao Region!¡± A commotion broke out within the city. It should be said that, compared to Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei''s reputation in Hunyuan Heaven was many times greater. Amidst countless stunned gazes, Su Youwei smiled and then apologetically said to Xu Ming, ¡°Oh, I''m so sorry. My Genesis Qi suddenly went out of control.¡± She didn¡¯t care about Xu Ming¡¯s response and shifted her clear eyes onto Zhou Yuan. She bit her red lips and didn¡¯t say a word. With the sunset reflected in her beautiful eyes, her eyes seemed to be glistening. Chapter 924 What relationship? Zhou Yuan also felt a little suffocated. He stared at the vaguely familiar figure. Su Youwei was undoubtedly more mature than before, and even her temperament had changed. Back then, Su Youwei, who always followed Zhou Yuan around, was bright and cute and had a girl-next-door charm. Now, she still had the same smile as before and gave off a gentle nature, but the self-confidence and radiance she exuded were enough to make many outstanding men feel ashamed of themselves. The young and inexperienced girl from before had become dazzling. Her radiance dazzled even Zhou Yuan for a moment, and his heart trembled when he saw the clear eyes with which she stared at him. He had thought about the scene of meeting Su Youwei once again. He would understand even if she chose to keep a distance from him because the change in her identity and status was too great. When a person became dazzling, they wouldn¡¯t like to think of their humble and ordinary times. Therefore, Zhou Yuan had thought that if Su Youwei really didn¡¯t want to have anything to do with her past memories, he would pretend not to know her. They could act like strangers. He wouldn¡¯t think that Su Youwei owed him anything. Back then, it was just a moment of sympathy when he had kicked the door to the hospital under the heavy rain. He really didn¡¯t do anything for her. What Su Youwei had sacrificed for the Great Zhou was already enough to repay him, and he wouldn¡¯t ask Su Youwei to do anything for him. But when he saw the emotions in Su Youwei¡¯s eyes, he couldn''t help smiling bitterly in his heart because he saw the same emotions as he had back then. There wasn¡¯t the slightest change, and with time, it had become more and more intense. This made Zhou Yuan feel even more ashamed because he had thought the worst of her, but she still thought the best of him. So, he evaded Su Youwei''s eyes and, in an unusual occurrence, lost his composure. But Su Youwei''s clear eyes were still fixed on Zhou Yuan''s body, persistent and tough, just like her character. After a moment, Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, raised his head and met her gaze. Under the setting sun, within the clamorous Fallen City, the two locked eyes, and time seemed to freeze for a moment. Countless people were also aware of the strangeness because Su Youwei, besides shooting a glance at Xu Ming at the beginning, had kept her eyes fixed on Zhou Yuan. Now, with them gazing at each other, the scene gave messages of love no matter how they looked at it. What is this? It was during this time that Xu Ming finally recovered from the shock. Scanning across the white jade fragments all over the ground, the corners of his eyes twitched, and he asked while suppressing his anger, ¡°Su Youwei, what do you mean by this? Why did you destroy my puppet beasts?!¡± Su Youwei''s long eyelashes fluttered as she retracted her gaze and turned to Xu Ming, speaking in a somewhat apologetic tone, ¡°I already told you the Genesis Qi in my body is a little out of control today.¡± Xu Min fumed inwardly, Who do you think you can trick with that!? Who would believe this reason?! Xu Ming drew a deep breath and said, ¡°Is that right? I have other puppets. Surely your Genesis Qi won''t get out of control again, will it?¡± Su Youwei smiled. ¡°I feel like my Genesis Qi will always be out of control today.¡± Xu Ming felt the veins throbbing on his forehead. ¡°Is the Zixiao Region going to intervene in the battle between my Yaogui Region and the Tianyuan Region?¡± ¡°I''m representing myself,¡± Su Youwei stated. Gasps and exclamations erupted from the crowd. Su Youwei''s words clearly indicated that she was going to help the Tianyuan Region, or maybe she wanted to help Zhou Yuan. What''s the story between these two people?! Even Yi Qiushui, Lu Xiao, Mu Liu and the others looked at Su Youwei in surprise, and then they turned to look at Zhou Yuan. They were also clueless about the situation. This was particularly so for Yi Qiushui. She knew about Zhou Yuan''s identity in Cangxuan Heaven, and Zhou Yuan had always been with her after coming to Hunyuan Heaven, so how could he have met the famous Su Youwei? And from both their expressions, their relationship didn¡¯t seem so simple! Xu Ming wore a cloudy expression. He hadn¡¯t expected Su Youwei to suddenly appear. Facing her, he was indeed a little fearful. Among the Divine Dwelling experts in the entire Hunyuan Heaven, in terms of Genesis Qi foundation, Su Youwei deserved to be called the strongest. Xu Ming knew that his chance of winning wasn¡¯t high against her. More importantly, Su Youwei represented the Zixiao Region. The Yaogui Region couldn¡¯t care less about the Tianyuan Region, but they couldn¡¯t view the Zixiao Region as nothing. Could it be I need to swallow this humiliation today? Xu Ming cast his eyes on Zhou Yuan and suddenly sneered, ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you just going to hide behind a woman?¡± Before waiting for Zhou Yuan to speak, Su Youwei said calmly, ¡°If you really want to fight, I can accompany you.¡± Countless people shifted their angry glares to Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. They hated the fact they couldn¡¯t burn him to death. They couldn¡¯t understand what he had done to make the elegant and gentle Su Youwei protect him so fiercely. This scene was too painful for them! Su Youwei was a goddess in countless people¡¯s hearts! Why would she protect him? Zhou Yuan also felt a little helpless, but in the end, he didn¡¯t deliberately show his manliness. He didn''t want to reject Su Youwei''s kindness. After all, he felt a little ashamed about how he had thought about her, so he let her do what she wanted. Xu Ming¡¯s face darkened, but in the end, he swallowed his anger because he couldn¡¯t really battle against Su Youwei here. ¡°If you don''t want to fight, can I ask the Yaogui Region to return building no. 6?¡± Zhou Yuan asked with a smile. Since others thought he was hiding behind a woman, he might as well continue to do so. Xu Ming almost exploded in rage. This guy is really shameless! He only relies on the fact that Su Youwei is here; that is why he dares to be so impudent! But Xu Ming wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. He drew in two deep breaths, then gritted his teeth, glaring at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Fine, fine. My Yaogui Region will accept defeat this time. Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be so happy yet. We will have plenty of chances in the nine regions tournament! I don¡¯t believe that you can always rely on a woman! Zhou Yuan said indifferently, ¡°I will accompany you to the end.¡± After his words, everyone knew that the day¡¯s battle was over and that a serious enmity had formed between Zhou Yuan and Xu Ming. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t care, however. He withdrew his gaze from Xu Ming, but then his whole body shuddered. He felt an extremely dangerous aura coming from someone more dangerous than Xu Ming. He abruptly turned and saw that not far away was a figure in a bright red dress standing on a tall roof. Wu Yao! Seeing the eye-catching bright red dress, Zhou Yuan instantly recognized who she was, and his eyes grew fierce. He hadn¡¯t expected that she would also come. With Wu Yao¡¯s appearance, the atmosphere tensed up even more and almost exploded. Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s two most dazzling pearls had both shown up! As Wu Yao stood on the high roof, her red skirt billowed out around her, and her phoenix eyes locked onto Zhou Yuan with a strange look. Boom! Extremely terrifying Genesis Qi suddenly erupted from Su Youwei''s body. Her clear eyes became icy cold, and purple qi pulsed around her body as she stared at Wu Yao. ¡°Wu Yao, if you have any thoughts, I want you to put them away,¡± Su Youwei warned. Wu Yao tilted her head, her eyes hovering between Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei. After a while, her red lips opened slightly. ¡°Su Youwei, it''s no wonder why you always targeted me. It''s because of him.¡± When her voice rang out, the tense atmosphere in the entire Fallen City exploded, and countless people felt a little crazy. Their eyes pierced Zhou Yuan like needles. Chapter 925 Beauty Brings Disaster Countless people stared at the manor¡¯s gate with all sorts of complex emotions. They originally thought there would be a good show between the Tianyuan Region and the Yaogui Region. But who would have thought that Su Youwei and Wu Yao would appear, one after the other, and create an uproar? These two women were incredibly popular in the Hunyuan Heaven, and it was unknown how many heaven prides admired them and did everything possible to impress them. In the past few years, however, there had never been any rumours about the two women being with other men. This only made their radiance even brighter. The two had grown more and more remarkable over the years, and ultimately, they became a true peerless pair of Divine Dwelling stage experts in Hunyuan Heaven. Even people of earlier generations and those that made it onto the Heavenly Sun List paid great attention to them. From this, it was clear how amazing the two women were in Hunyuan Heaven. They were goddess-like entities in many people''s hearts. But today¡­ At the Nine Regions Manor gate, Su Youwei didn¡¯t care about angering Xu Ming or the Yaogui Region to help Zhou Yuan. From the look on the two¡¯s faces, it was obvious that there was a story between them. And after Su Youwei, Wu Yao had also appeared. Her one sentence, ¡®no wonder you are always against me¡¯, stirred up stormy waves in countless people¡¯s hearts. Everybody in Hunyuan Heaven knew that Su Youwei had a gentle nature and was very polite when talking to others, but whenever she saw Wu Yao, they were always hostile. Many people thought it was just a rivalry between two equally outstanding women. But now it seemed that it was all because of Zhou Yuan?! Why would Su Youwei go against Wu Yao for him? Could there be something between Wu Yao and Zhou Yuan?! The curiosity in countless people¡¯s hearts was about to explode. Of course, not only the people within Fallen City were shocked, even the top heaven prides in the tall buildings within the Nine Regions Manor fell silent for a brief moment. In the tower where people of the Wanzu Region were located. Liu Qingshu couldn¡¯t stop his mouth from opening wide. She hadn¡¯t expected that day¡¯s good show to turn so exciting. ¡°Both Su Youwei and Wu Yao know Zhou Yuan? ¡°And from the looks of it, there are most likely a lot of stories between them.¡± As she spoke, she cast a sidelong glance at Zhao Mushen, whose expression was calm and indifferent. Having known him for years, she knew that he was a proud and confident person, and in the entire Hunyuan Heaven, the women whom he attached importance to were only Wu Yao and Su Youwei. This made her very envious, but she dared not show it. Now that the relationship between Wu Yao, Su Youwei and Zhou Yuan was surfacing, there was no doubt that Zhao Mushen was not as indifferent as he appeared to be. But Liu Qiushui was secretly glad to see this. Although Wu Yao and Su Youwei were both outstanding, their vision wasn¡¯t good. It was stupid of them to be involved with Zhou Yuan. In her opinion, only Zhao Mushen was the king of the Divine Dwelling stage in Hunyuan Heaven. The gap between Zhou Yuan and him was like the moon and a firefly! Su Youwei and Wu Yao were both talented and beautiful, but their vision didn¡¯t seem good. Zhao Mushen wore an indifferent expression as he peered down at the three figures at the gate that were watched by countless people. His eyelids drooped, and he uttered, ¡°Having a beauty¡¯s attention is sometimes not necessarily a good thing. ¡°For an incapable person, it would only bring about disaster. ¡°Zhou Yuan has already made many enemies before the nine regions tournament has even begun.¡± PA! The teacup in Jiu Gong¡¯s hands dropped and shattered, but she didn¡¯t seem to care. Her beautiful eyes were filled with curiosity as she watched the disturbance in the distance. ¡°What exactly is Zhou Yuan¡¯s background? He is connected to both Su Youwei and Wu Yao?!¡± Jiu Gong exclaimed. She had always thought of Wu Yao and Su Youwei as enemies because their presence meant that she had always been suppressed although she was outstanding. It was inevitable that she felt a little bitter. But because of this, she felt a little uncomfortable when she found that the two women were connected to Zhou Yuan. That feeling was as though the perfect opponents in her heart showed some flaws because of Zhou Yuan. Even if she defeated them in the future, she wouldn¡¯t feel satisfied. She knew she felt like this because she felt that Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t qualified. If Zhou Yuan were replaced with someone like Zhao Mushen or Wang Xi, then perhaps she wouldn¡¯t have that uncomfortable feeling. Jiu Gong bit her lips, took out a handkerchief to wipe the water stains on her little hand, and finally grumbled, ¡°What is Zhou Yuan¡¯s background?¡± The top floor of the Wushen Region¡¯s building. ¡°What''s going on? How would junior sister Wu Yao know Zhou Yuan?¡± Lan Ting¡¯s face reddened with anger as he watched the happenings, his voice filled with rage. Zhao Yunxuan suddenly smiled. ¡°Don''t worry. It¡¯s not what you think. Zhou Yuan and junior sister Wu Yao have some sort of relationship, but it¡¯s one between enemies.¡± Lan Ting was taken aback. ¡°You also know Zhou Yuan?¡± ¡°I met him when I went to Cangxuan Heaven with junior sister Wu Yao. I launched a palm strike at him, but he was able to luckily survive,¡± Zhao Yunxiao nonchalantly responded. ¡°Junior sister Wu Yao said that I have to leave that man for her to deal with, so I had to let him live. ¡°I didn''t expect that guy to come to Hunyuan Heaven or even become the Tianyuan Region¡¯s chief pavilion master. Haha, he is indeed a little impressive.¡± Although Zhao Yunxuan said this, his expression wasn¡¯t sincere. He was ranked 19th on the Divine Dwelling List, which was much worse than Zhou Yuan¡¯s ninth place, but the ranking showed nothing since he and Lan Ting were both two of the Wushen Region¡¯s secret powers. In terms of strength, he felt that Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t be much stronger than him. Lan Ting¡¯s expression finally relaxed. ¡°I overthought things. How would junior sister Wu Yao have a special relationship with that person?¡± ¡°But junior sister Wu Yao is a little too impulsive. Her appearance will most likely start rumors.¡± Lan Ting¡¯s eyes flashed coldly. This was directed at Zhou Yuan. Wu Yao was perfect in his heart, but Zhou Yuan was like a toad that gave her a flaw. This was absolutely unforgivable. Lan Ting turned to say to Zhao Yunxiao, saying, ¡°In the nine regions tournament, if there is a chance, it¡¯s best to get rid of him.¡± Zhao Yunxiao smiled. ¡°Then let¡¯s make a bet to see who will get rid of him first and who will stay with junior sister Wu Yao for the next year.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily useful to stay by junior sister Wu Yao¡¯s side,¡± Lan Ting said indifferently. ¡°But I accept this bet.¡± The two smiled at each other. It seemed they had decided Zhou Yuan¡¯s end. On the other hand, in the Zixiao Region¡¯s building, Xue Jingtao¡¯s face was livid when Su Youwei appeared. He stared at Zhou Yuan with dagger-like eyes. The Zixiao Region disciples remained silent as anger similarly flashed in their eyes. It was a kind of anger that appeared when the swan of their house flew into the arms of another. Xue Jingtao took a deep breath, suppressing the anger and jealousy that caused a burning pain in his heart, and his eyes turned icy cold. He turned to his junior and senior brothers. ¡°If you have a chance, get rid of that man.¡± No matter what story Su Youwei had with Zhou Yuan in the past, he couldn¡¯t tolerate the pair¡¯s close relationship. Therefore, Zhou Yuan had to die! As Zhao Mushen had said, although Zhou Yuan had received countless attention from that day¡¯s incident, it also created many enemies for him. If he wasn¡¯t strong enough, this beautiful thing might indeed become a curse. Chapter 926 Grea Of course, Wu Yao could feel countless complicated gazes staring intently at them from around Fallen City, but she paid no attention to them. She had always ignored gossip. Her eyes, like those of a phoenix, were fixed on Su Youwei. In truth, she admired her a little because she was the only woman in the entire Hunyuan Heaven that was qualified to be her enemy. ¡°You know Zhou Yuan?¡± Wu Yao asked. ¡°I am also from the Great Zhou,¡± Su Youwei answered calmly. Wu Yao was taken aback. ¡°Wu Yao, what the Wu family has done to His Highness was too much,¡± Su Youwei said lightly. ¡°The world is like that. There are only winners or losers; there is no right or wrong. The Wu family can¡¯t be blamed for what they had done. In the same way that he destroyed the Great Wu and wiped out the Wu family, I won¡¯t hate him because of it,¡± Wu Yu said indifferently. ¡°This is fate. It''s either a win or a loss, the survival of the fittest. So, no matter who survives between him and me, nobody can be blamed.¡± Su Youwei shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s the logic of a robber. I might not be qualified to say anything, but if you want to do anything to His Highness, I will be your opponent.¡± Following her statement, countless heartbreaks seemed to sound throughout Fallen City. Wu Yao was silent for a good moment. She evidently didn¡¯t expect the relationship between Su Youwei and Zhou Yuan to be so good that Su Youwei would even be willing to be her opponent for him. It should be said that even Zhao Mushen wouldn¡¯t be able to make such a decision so easily. After all, Wu Yao shouldn¡¯t be messed with. ¡°If that''s the case, I''ll have to accept it.¡± Wu Yao spoke indifferently, shifting her phoenix eyes to Zhou Yuan, who hadn¡¯t uttered a word. ¡°I really don¡¯t know where you got such good luck.¡± Back in Cangxuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan always had that mysterious and unfathomable girl beside him. Even Wu Yao feared her a little. But now that he had come to Hunyuan Heaven, he had the protection of an outstanding girl like Su Youwei, whom she admired. This made Wu Yao, who had always been indifferent to everything, a little indignant. Did this guy really have such great charms? Looking Wu Yao in the eye, Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Don''t worry. That thing you have, I''ll get it back myself.¡± ¡°Is that right? Then I''ll wait, but you have to be prepared for failure.¡± The two gazes collided, sparks sputtering. The many people watched in bewilderment. The love and hatred between the three had become increasingly incomprehensible. Wu Yao didn¡¯t plan to stay any longer. She swept a glance over Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei and vanished. Although he was contemptuous of Zhou Yuan¡¯s behavior of relying on women, he had to say that he was also very envious. Xu Ming naturally coveted outstanding women like Su Youwei and Wu Yao, but unfortunately, he knew that the possibility of this happening was very low. ¡°Hmph, let¡¯s go!¡± In the end, Xu Ming snorted and quickly left with his people. He had undoubtedly lost face after that day¡¯s incident, but it didn¡¯t matter too much. The nine regions tournament was about to begin, and he would have the opportunity to regain his face then. Su Youwei couldn¡¯t always be around to protect Zhou Yuan. When he found the opportunity, he would make everybody know how incapable Zhou Yuan was. Would Su Youwei want to protect trash like him at that time?! Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t care that Xu Ming left. He turned his head to find that Lu Xiao, Yi Qiushui and the others were staring at him strangely. Lu Xiao and the others were still in shock. It never crossed their minds that Zhou Yuan would have a relationship with both Su Youwei and Wu Yao, Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s peerless pair. So, looking at Zhou Yuan, they suddenly felt that he was somewhat unfathomable. ¡°There is nothing between us,¡± Zhou Yuan explained. Everyone silently nodded. Some members of the four pavilions were filled with admiration, which made Zhou Yuan speechless. He simply didn¡¯t know how to explain it to them. He could only order, ¡°Tidy up, and get ready to move into building no. 6.¡± Everybody responded with a smile. Zhou Yuan felt helpless. Immediately after, he saw everybody make eye signals as they glanced behind him. He also smelled a familiar fragrance coming from behind. His body stiffened, and he slowly turned around to see the beautiful Su Youwei standing behind him. She grinned at him. Her bright eyes, rippling like autumn water, mesmerized everyone. The people around them could not shift their gaze away from her. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Su Youwei stared intently at Zhou Yuan and pursed her lips. Very quickly, a bright smile bloomed on her face. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you in a long time.¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head. ¡°Youwei, long time no see.¡± Su Youwei took two steps forward and was only one step away from Zhou Yuan. From that distance, Zhou Yuan could even smell her sweet-smelling body and feel its softness. He looked at her fair face and smiled. ¡°You really are too beautiful. If you were still in the Great Zhou, you would be the most beautiful woman.¡± Su Youwei smiled. ¡°When I left the Great Zhou, Your Highness said you would come find me, but why haven¡¯t you come to Hunyuan Heaven in more than a year? Did you forget?¡± The girl in front smiled faintly and seemed to be asking casually, but Zhou Yuan felt a little interrogating intent. This made beads of sweat accumulate on his back, and he gave a hollow laugh, ¡°Of course I didn¡¯t forget! I just wanted to become better before I saw you. You are now too remarkable. How would I dare come see you without any achievements?¡± Lu Xiao, Mu Liu and the others all deeply felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s overwhelming desire to survive. ¡°Is that right? Then, why didn¡¯t you look directly at me earlier?¡± Su Youwei questioned again. ¡°Is it because you¡¯re guilty? But why would you be guilty? Did you think I wouldn¡¯t want to remember the past? That I wouldn¡¯t want to meet you? Do you think I am that kind of woman?¡± Zhou Yuan''s body stiffened. He didn''t expect Su Youwei to have gotten so smart. Just from the fact he evaded her eyes, she could analyse his inner thoughts so well. Too terrifying! The gentle and cute Su Youwei has changed! And just when Zhou Yuan was shuddering inwardly and was about to admit it, Su Youwei chuckled and her voice turned soft. She said, ¡°Your Highness, I won¡¯t blame you this time, but you can¡¯t do it again! ¡°The memories I have in Great Zhou are my best memories, and if I have a choice I would rather give up coming to Hunyuan Heaven than to give up my memories of Great Zhou.¡± Hearing the soft voice of the girl before him, Zhou Yuan felt somewhat emotional. So he nodded solemnly. ¡°I won¡¯t do it again!¡± ¡°So my guess was right!¡± Su Youwei¡¯s eyes widened, her eyes somewhat crafty. Zhou Yuan immediately froze, and his face went numb. Su Youwei, what are you playing at?! When did you become like this! ¡°Keke!¡± Su Youwei couldn''t help but giggle out loud when she saw Zhou Yuan''s expression, her face bright and radiant like the sun. She took another step forward and stood on tiptoe, whispering in Zhou Yuan¡¯s ear. ¡°Your Highness, it¡¯s great to see you again. Chapter 927 Conversation at nigh ¡°What does Zhou Yuan have to be so close with Su Youwei!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t good enough for Su Youwei!¡± ¡°Haha, don''t think too much about it. From what I see, Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei are acquainted, but their relationship isn¡¯t what you think it is. ¡°Also, Su Youwei is the true heaven pride of the Zixiao Region and is highly valued. It is said that even supreme sovereign Zi Xiao thinks very highly of her and has mentioned that she has a boundless future. Supreme Sovereign Zi Xiao even said she could take charge of the Zixiao Region in the future.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good or bad for him. Even if they are acquainted, he should have maintained a distance from Su Youwei to avoid attracting trouble.¡± ¡°Also, Wu Yao said that Su Youwei always targeted her. I wonder what the story is there?¡± ¡°Hey, given Wu Yao¡¯s personality, I don¡¯t think anybody can subdue her. I don¡¯t believe there¡¯s something between Zhou Yuan and her.¡± ¡°But in any case, Zhou Yuan is really hateful. Does he think his strength is strong enough for him to act so arrogantly? Hmph, when the nine regions tournament begins tomorrow, he¡¯s probably going to suffer.¡± ¡°If Zhou Yuan performs badly in the nine regions tournament, he will cause Su Youwei to lose face.¡± ¡°---¡± Fallen City was particularly buzzing that night. Almost all the discussions were centered around Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and Wu Yao. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fame was so great during this period that it almost surpassed Zhao Mushen¡¯s. But, being tangled up with two pearl-like women, the majority of Zhou Yuan¡¯s evaluation was negative and most likely caused by jealousy. After all, to the Divine Dwelling stage heaven prides in Hunyuan Heaven, both Su Youwei and Wu Yao were goddess-like beings. If Zhou Yuan was replaced by Zhao Mushen, their reaction would have been very different, and countless people would have felt it was a beautiful and pleasant thing. After all, heroes and beauties always complemented each other. They wouldn¡¯t feel any jealousy towards Zhao Mushen. In many people''s view, only Zhao Mushen and Wang Xi had the qualifications to match Su Youwei and Wu Yao. As for people like Zhao Yuan, even if he was outstanding, there was still a huge gap compared to figures like Wang Xi. Many knew they weren¡¯t as good as Zhao Mushen, but could they be worse than Zhou Yuan? The strength of the person ranked ninth on the Divine Dwelling List could be considered tyrannical, but how many dark horses cultivated by the super forces were hiding in Fallen City? In Hunyuan Heaven, there would always be dark horses who would amaze the world with a single brilliant feat. Therefore, in many people''s view, Zhou Yuan''s present strength and popularity were not enough to convince them. Gazing at the brightly lit city, Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°I wonder if many people in the city are scolding me.¡± During his one year in Hunyuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan had already understood how famous Wu Yao and Su Youwei were and how many times stronger they were compared to him. Su Youwei looked very apologetic. ¡°I''m sorry, Your Highness. I came too recklessly.¡± When she learnt that Zhou Yuan had arrived, she, who was always rational and sensible, could no longer hold back her excitement, joy and impulse. Zhou Yuan smiled, shaking his head. ¡°I am not afraid of such things. The nine regions tournament is full of competition, and there are opponents everywhere. So, even without you, there would still be many people wanting to squeeze me like a persimmon. ¡°There''s nothing wrong with their thoughts. I may be a country bumpkin, but if anyone thinks they can squeeze me like a persimmon, they should be careful of piercing holes into themselves.¡± His smile was kind and gentle, but his voice contained great self-confidence. The heaven prides of Hunyuan Heaven were indeed superior to Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s, but it was impossible to make Zhou Yuan fearful of them. Seeing the confident smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, Su Youwei also couldn¡¯t help smiling brightly. She nodded repeatedly. ¡°As long as Your Highness wants to, you will rise above the others in the nine regions tournament.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn''t help chuckling, ¡°Why are you nodding? You are the remarkable heaven pride ranked third on the Divine Dwelling List, which means you¡¯re also a boulder blocking my path.¡± Su Youwei smiled sweetly. ¡°No way.¡± She looked Zhou Yuan in the eye and said loud and clear, ¡°Your Highness, Youwei will never be your opponent. If there is anything you want, I can always help you. ¡°Even if I can''t help you under the name of the Zixiao Region, I can help you do anything in the name of Su Youwei.¡± Her incredibly serious gaze stunned Zhou Yuan. He smiled helplessly and reached out to stroke the silly girl¡¯s hair as once had, but he suddenly stopped halfway. Su Youwei was no longer the little girl who always relied on him in the Great Zhou Empire. In terms of strength, identity and status, she was in no way inferior to him. Perhaps, she was even superior. But when he hesitated, Su Youwei stood on her tiptoes and touched Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm with the top of her head. A faint blush came to her cheeks, but she continued to stare at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Your Highness, perhaps you thought that when you kicked the door of the medicine store in the storm, it was nothing but sympathy, but to me, you saved my life. ¡°Without you, the present Su Youwei wouldn¡¯t exist.¡± Zhou Yuan gently stroked Su Youwei¡¯s hair, which exuded a sweet smell. He gave a bitter smile. ¡°Little girl, you are too honest.¡± It was just that in the depths of his heart, a warm current was bubbling up. Su Youwei pursed her lips and suddenly asked, ¡°By the way, where¡¯s Yaoyao and Tuntun?¡± The smile on Zhou Yuan''s face went stiff. Su Youwei immediately noticed something strange and whispered, ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Yuan remained silent for a brief while, then finally said: ¡°It¡¯s a long story.¡± He told Su Youwei about what had happened to Yaoyao and him over the years after Su Youwei had left. The two had gone to the Saint Remains Domain, joined the Cangxuan Sect, and then countless things happened. Then, finally, they experienced the battle between the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. ¡°When Yaoyao was protecting me, she was severely wounded, and she is now in an unconscious state. I came to Hunyuan Heaven to look for a way to revive her. ¡°Tuntun went to an unknown place to train.¡± The cold moonlight fell on Zhou Yuan, and his face, which was always filled with self-confidence, revealed hints of loneliness and self-blame. Seeing this, Su Youwei couldn¡¯t help but clench her hands tight, and a heart-wrenching feeling arose in her heart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s experiences were wonderful, but they were also filled with difficulty. When he had to face a powerful and tremendous enemy like the Sacred Palace, he must have felt very weak and angry, right? Su Youwei whispered, ¡°Your Highness, I regret leaving Cangxuan Heaven.¡± If she had stayed in Cangxuan Heaven, she would have accompanied Zhou Yuan through everything. However, she knew she wouldn¡¯t have been much help to Zhou Yuan even if she had stayed. After all, she wasn¡¯t as mysterious and powerful as Yaoyao. Su Youwei shook her head, looked at Zhou Yuan and reassured in a soft voice, ¡°Your Highness, don¡¯t worry. We will find a way to make Yaoyao recover. ¡°I couldn¡¯t accompany you before, but if you want to return to Cangxuan Heaven one day, I will certainly come with you.¡± Standing on a tall building in the brightly lit Fallen City, even Zhou Yuan was speechless for a moment when facing the beautiful girl and her gentle voice. Su Youwei smiled and made a cheering gesture at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Your Highness, you have to do well in the nine regions tournament. I know you are very capable. Even if you¡¯re in Hunyuan Heaven, I know that you¡¯re the strongest. ¡°Make them know that the people from the Great Zhou Empire are not pushovers! ¡°I will go back now!¡± She waved her hand reluctantly, leapt down the tall building and disappeared into the distance like a rainbow. Watching her slim and beautiful figure disappear, Zhou Yuan smiled slightly. He then scanned the other eight tall buildings and the brightly lit Fallen City. He didn¡¯t know how many dark horses were hiding in Fallen City, but he felt a sense of pride. Chapter 928 Sever nine dragon When the morning light flooded down onto the earth, Fallen City, which hadn¡¯t rested that night, was buzzing again. Everybody was rolling up their sleeves and readying for battle. That day was the opening day of the nine regions tournament. The nine regions tournament was originally a competition among the nine regions, but as time passed, many top forces wanted to participate and obtain a place in the competition because the Alpha Spiritium born in the Fallen Abyss was an incredibly rare treasure for Divine Dwelling stage experts. But the nine regions originally didn¡¯t pay attention to their requests. However, as the top forces gradually became stronger, the nine regions finally made a compromise in order to maintain balance and stimulate their heaven prides. The so-called compromise was to create a good opening scene to the tournament, and it formed the so-called three trials. The first trial included people from Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s many top forces, and it was called the Sever Nine Dragon. The people from the nine regions would each attempt to pass through a path. But the other top forces would block every path. Of course, if the top forces acted alone, it would be impossible for them to compete against any one of the nine regions. So, they had to fight in a joint manner. And the nine paths were decided by drawing lots. They were divided into nine levels, with the first level being the most difficult and the ninth the easiest. But according to the rules of the past years, the first path was reserved for the winner of the previous nine regions tournament, which was the Wanzu Region. This meant the hardest path was left to them. The remaining eight regions had to draw lots to decide their path. If they couldn¡¯t overcome the trial, the force guarding the path would take away their eligibility to participate in the tournament. The guarding force would then take their place in the tournament. It wasn¡¯t considered a huge loss for any one of the nine great regions to lose the eligibility to participate in the nine regions tournament, even if there was an opportunity to obtain Alpha Spiritium. But the loss would be enough to make them lose all face. This was something that the nine regions absolutely wanted to avoid. Of course, this rarely happened. Ever since the three trials were established, there had never been a year when one of the nine regions¡¯ eligibility was taken away. But this year, many of the top forces were ready to act because their eyes were on the Tianyuan Region. In these years, because of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disappearance, the Tianyuan Region had gradually weakened, and some people keenly felt this. It seemed that a tremendous hand from the other eight regions was also trying to suppress the Tianyuan Region. Therefore, if they wanted to find a breaking point in the nine regions, the Tianyuan Region would be the easiest to deal with. The many top forces gathered in Fallen City were like wolves watching an aging male lion. The second he showed any signs of fatigue, they would pounce and tear him to shreds. The competition in this world was always cruel, and even the nine regions couldn¡¯t escape from the law that the weak were prey to the strong. ..... When the first light of dawn rose over Fallen City, the void above them began to twist violently, and the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth began to pulse. Countless people fixed their eyes on the distorting void in awe. They knew that this phenomenon was a sign that the Law Domain experts from the nine regions would soon appear. They were the leaders of the nine regions tournament. The void grew increasingly distorted, and the Genesis Qi of the universe was crazily gathering above Fallen City. It was at this moment that everybody felt a terrifying pressure descend onto the world. Under that tremendous pressure, even the grand Fallen City seemed to tremble slightly. Mighty Genesis Qi accumulated in the void as silhouettes emerged one after another. In the center were nine figures, and around them were several others, all exuding terrifying power. ¡°Paying respect to the Law Domain lords!¡± Countless people in Fallen City bowed respectfully. At the top of building no. 6, Zhou Yuan was similarly watching the terrifying figures emerging in the void, and then he unexpectedly noticed Chi Jing¡¯s figure. It seemed that the Law Domain expert from the Tianyuan Region was her this time. Zhou Yuan scanned the other eight figures. The first to catch his eye was a white-haired man with long, loose hair. He was very handsome and radiated an extraordinary imposing aura. Between his eyebrows was a vermilion mole that seemed to be glowing with a faint brilliance, and it seemed extremely mysterious. ¡°That¡¯s Lord Zhao Xiansun of the Wanzu Region, a direct disciple of supreme sovereign Wan Zu,¡± Yi Qiushui whispered. ¡°Lord Zhao Xiansun¡¯s strength is extraordinary. His ranking in the Law Domain is most likely in the top three.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. In the Hunyuan Heaven, there was the Divine Dwelling List, Heavenly Sun List and the Nascent Source List, but there wasn¡¯t a Law Domain List because anybody that had reached that level was already at the top of the world, and it wouldn¡¯t be easy to rank their strengths. But there had been some vague assessments done in the Xuanji Region, and Zhao Xiansun was one of the candidates who could enter the top three. ¡°What about Lady Chi Jing?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Yi Qiushui said with a smile, ¡°It is said that Lady Chi Jing is ranked in the top ten.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. From his previous conversation with Chi Jing, he learned that she was the youngest Law Domain expert in the Hunyuan Heaven. This already showed her talent, but at the same time, it also revealed the flaws in her foundation. Even so, she wasn¡¯t ordinary to be ranked in the top ten. ¡°I wonder who the strongest Law Domain expert in Hunyuan Heaven is,¡± Zhou Yuan said curiously. Yi Qiushui revealed a hint of pride. ¡°Do you want to have a guess?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered, but in the end, he just smiled. ¡°I can''t guess.¡± ¡°In the Hunyuan Heaven, the no. 1 position in the Law Domain stage belongs to our Lord Zhuan Zhu.¡± ¡°Zhuan Zhu...¡± Zhou Yuan smacked his lips. It was indeed him. His senior brother! Before him, master Cang Yuan had two other direct disciples. One was Chi Jing, and the other was Zhuan Zhu. It was just that Zhuan Zhu had been in closed-door cultivation for many years, and nobody knew his current situation. Zhou Yuan previously didn¡¯t have much feelings for his senior brother. But now he learned that his senior brother, whom he had never met before, was the no. 1 Law Domain stage expert in Hunyuan Heaven! Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but admire him greatly. Senior brother is too outstanding! Zhou Yuan exclaimed in his heart, and then his eyes continued to sweep across the void. He was stunned to see a somewhat familiar figure. It was a grey-robed old man with white hair and a lazy temperament. He was the old man who had taken Su Youwei away from the Great Zhou Empire! ¡°That''s Lu Xuangang of the Zixiao Region.¡± Yi Qiushui continued to speak like an encyclopedia. Zhou Yuan nodded. Indeed, a Law Domain expert of the Zixiao Region. And when Zhou Yuan looked at him, Lu Xuangang seemed to notice, and he cast a glance in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. A smile that was not a smile came to his face when he saw Zhou Yuan. He evidently recognized Zhou Yuan, but he quickly retracted his gaze, and his eyes drooped as though he was dozing off. Zhou Yuan quickly looked away and saw a golden-faced bald man. He was tall and burly. His face seemed particularly thick, and his skin was glowing with a golden hue. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes twitched when he looked down at his body. Zhou Yuan had cultivated bodily strength, so he knew that the golden glow came from the bald man¡¯s blood. In other words, the burly bald man¡¯s blood had long turned into golden blood. It was a sign that his bodily strength was extraordinary and that the man had entered sainthood. ¡°That''s Lord Jin Zhong of the Wushen Region. Among all Law Domain experts in Hunyuan Heaven, his bodily strength can be said to be one of the best.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded solemnly. To refine his bodily strength to such a level, the Wushen Region¡¯s Law Domain expert had to possess terrifying combat strength. Zhou Yuan sighed, then admiringly scanned the Law Domain experts once again. After all, it wasn¡¯t easy to see so many Law Domaine experts gathered together. He found that there were a total of 14 Law Domain experts standing in the void. Nine were from the nine regions, and the other five were from some other top forces in Hunyuan Heaven. The many Law Domain experts briefly exchanged greetings with one another, and then Zhao Xiansun, from the Wanzu Region, stepped forward with a smile and ran his eyes over them. His voice resounded in everyone''s ears. ¡°The time has come. The nine regions tournament will begin. Chapter 929 Drawing Lots The ground bulged and cracked. In just a dozen breaths, a stone platform hundreds of feet tall emerged. Countless people within Fallen City fixed their gazes on the stone platform. Their eyes were blazing with excitement. Zhao Xiansun flicked his finger, and rays of Genesis Qi light gathered above the stone platform. The Genesis Qi brought up some soil and turned it into a clay cylinder holding eight sticks. Each stick was glowing brightly, making it impossible to see their markings. ¡°The Wanzu Region won the previous nine regions tournament, and according to the rules, they will be allocated the first path.¡± Already aware of this, everybody nodded. Nobody felt that this was a bad thing for the Wanzu Region. Even if the strongest major forces blocked the top path, they wouldn¡¯t be much of a threat to the Wanzu Region. Moreover, the Wanzu Region had a powerful person like Zhao Mushen. With him in charge, the top experts would fear the Wanzu Region before the fight had even begun. ¡°It is said that there is a total of six top forces guarding the first path. But it is unfortunate that they will have to face Zhao Mushen.¡± ¡°Yes, the Wanzu Region has grown stronger over the years, and they have even begun to show signs of becoming the nine regions¡¯ leader. Even if the six top forces are extraordinary, the gap between them and the Wanzu Region is still too great.¡± ¡°Haha, I think the Wanzu Region will pass through in less than one hour.¡± ¡°--¡± Countless people in Fallen City were whispering to each other, but it was clear that no one felt the slightest danger for the Wanzu Region taking the first path. After all, the Wanzu Region possessed extraordinary strength. ¡°The leaders from the other eight regions, come on stage,¡± Zhao Xiansun said with a smile. Swoosh! As his voice faded, several figures who had been standing atop the manor¡¯s tall buildings landed on the towering stone platform one after another. And with their appearance, cheers and applause rang out from across the world. ¡°Chief pavilion master, good luck. It''s best to get the sixth path or above, so it would be easier to break through,¡± Han Yuan said to Zhou Yuan. ¡°You''re not ambitious at all. Even if we get one of the lower numbers, so what? What does the Tianyuan Region have to fear?¡± Mu Liu pursed his lips. ¡°People like Chen Xuandong might even show up.¡± Mu Liu scrunched his brows in a frown but didn¡¯t say anything else in the end. If they were to face someone like Chen Xuandong, it would be difficult even for him. Of all the people present, only Zhou Yuan and Lu Xiao could deal with someone like Chen Xuandong. After all, Lu Xiao¡¯s strength had greatly improved in the past two months. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything more, and he soared into the air with Genesis Qi and landed on the stone platform. At this moment, eight figures were standing tall on the stone platform, attracting countless gazes within Fallen City. As Zhou Yuan descended on the stone platform, he could feel the other seven people cast over their gazes, their eyes containing inexplicable emotions. In those eyes were hostility, curiosity, joy and playfulness. But there wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He exchanged a glance with Su Youwei, who immediately smiled brightly at him. Her smile was like a warm winter sun, able to ease the tension in people¡¯s hearts. Zhou Yuan nodded before shifting his gaze to Wu Yao, who was ten steps away. Dressed in a bright red dress, she looked stunning, and she radiated a fierce and domineering aura like an empress. But Wu Yao didn¡¯t even glance at Zhou Yuan. Instead, her eyes drooped slightly. Not far from Wu Yao was a tall young man with dazzling blood-red hair who caught Zhou Yuan¡¯s attention. His face was pale, and he wore a harmless smile. But when Zhou Yuan saw him, he felt a dangerous aura from him. Wang Xi of the Xuehai Region. He turned to look at Zhou Yuan and revealed a smile, but that smile sent a chill down Zhou Yuan¡¯s spine. Next to Wang Xi was a man in white who was graceful and extraordinarily beautiful. He held a folding fan in one hand and looked like a scholar. Li Tongshen of the Shengwen Region. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze hovered over him a little longer because the Shengwen Region was the region specializing in Genesis Runes. The region was somewhat similar to the Spirit Rune Peak of the Cangxuan Sect, but obviously, the Spirit Rune Peak couldn¡¯t compare to them. Li Tongshen''s spirit cultivation and mastery in Genesis Runes must be quite terrifying. Zhou Yuan suddenly felt that someone was staring at him, and he immediately twisted around to see a beautiful woman. The woman was dressed in a black robe, but even the large robe couldn¡¯t conceal her beautiful and slim figure. She was carefully studying Zhou Yuan. Jiu Gong of the Xuanji Region. Seeing Zhou Yuan turn around, Jiu Gong swept an indifferent glance over him and turned back around slowly to avoid meeting eyes. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t care about her attitude and continued to look at the other leaders. His gaze collided with Xu Ming of the Yaogiu Region, whom he had met yesterday. And Yuan Kun of the Yushou Region was a chubby and pale man. His face was greasy, and he was constantly wiping away the sweat on his face with a handkerchief. His round body was like a ball. He cast a sidelong glance at Zhou Yuan, revealing an envious expression, and then turned to look at Su Youwei and Wu Yao not far away. Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze. Although he had only swept a glance over them, he could feel the dangerous aura they were exuding. They weren¡¯t ordinary. Zhou Yuan knew that if a battle broke out, he would have trouble defeating half of them even if he fought with all his strength¡ªunless he could open up the ninth Divine Dwelling. ¡°Get ready to draw lots,¡± Zhao Xiansun''s voice sounded from above. The seven people all came forward one after another and stretched out their hands to draw a stick from the clay cylinder. The buzzing city fell utterly silent all of a sudden. Zhou Yuan stared at the stick in his hand as the intense Genesis Qi gradually dissipated and revealed a number. His pupils shrank. The character ¡®two¡¯ was clearly visible. Chapter 930 There’s Me Maybe. But drawing lots like this wasn¡¯t fair because Zhao Xiansun controlled everything. Perhaps someone with his status and identity wouldn¡¯t do such a thing, but who knew? Seeing that everybody had drawn a lot, Zhao Xiansun said with a smile, ¡°Please show the stick in your hand.¡± Everybody on the stone platform held up their stick. Su Youwei was number five, Wu Yao number three, Wang Xi number four, Li Tongshen number eight, Jiu Gong number nine, Xu Ming number six, and Yuan Kun was number seven. Zhou Yuan also held up his stick expressionlessly. The character ¡®two¡¯ suddenly caused a commotion in Fallen City. However, gloat laced the majority of the voices. Who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would actually draw the worst number for the Tianyuan Region? The second path was only slightly easier than the first path. If the Wushen, Zixiao, or Xuhai Regions took this path, perhaps it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal. But who would have thought the path would fall to the Tianyuan Region? Who didn¡¯t know that the Tianyuan Region had only brought 2,000 people to the nine regions tournament and that they were regarded as the weakest in terms of overall strength? What would the outcome be when the Tianyuan Region met the several top forces guarding the second path? Would their eligibility to participate in the nine regions tournament be taken away? Lu Xiao¡¯s, Yi Qiushui¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed dramatically when they saw the ¡®two¡¯. ¡°How could his luck be so bad?¡± Yi Qishui uttered suspiciously. Lu Xiao, Han Yuan and Mu Liu didn¡¯t utter a word. Their luck was so bad that it made them wonder if someone was secretly targeting the Tianyuan Region. After all, drawing lots might seem fair, but there were a lot of loopholes. Despite the possible problems, they didn¡¯t question the fairness because that meant questioning Zhao Xiansun, a Law Domain stage expert. The wrath of a Law Domain expert wasn¡¯t something a little Divine Dwelling stage expert could withstand. Therefore, no matter what suspicions they had, they could only swallow them in the end. The several other figures on the stone platform also looked at Zhou Yuan in surprise. Only Su Youwei raised her eyebrows and revealed a look of worry. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, it seems that your luck is terrible,¡± Xu Ming remarked with a mocking smile. ¡°At that time, your Tianyuan Region will ruin the face of the nine regions.¡± Zhou Yuan cast an indifferent glance at him. ¡°You should take care of your own matters. You don¡¯t need to worry about my Tianyuan Region.¡± ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan is really courageous. I look forward to seeing what happens.¡± Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t respond. He instead turned to look at the void above because whatever they said was useless. Only Law Domain experts were qualified to change the outcome. Countless people shifted their gazes to the void where a figure was exuding terrifying power. There, Chi Jing shot a look at Zhao Xiansun as she asked, ¡°Is the luck of my Tianyuan Region really that bad?¡± Zhao Xiansun said with a smile, ¡°It is a little bad.¡± He then tilted his head slightly. ¡°From what grand elder Chi Jing said, it seems you think I rigged the outcome?¡± ¡°Only you will know.¡± Chi Jing smiled coldly. Zhao Xiansun gave a helpless smile. ¡°If grand elder Chi Jing really thinks this way, the Law Domain experts present can vote for a redraw.¡± ¡°What does everybody else thinks?¡± He looked at the other Law Domain experts in the void. The other six Law Domain experts remained silent. They didn¡¯t support Chi Jing or Zhao Xiansun. But in addition to the six Law Domain experts from the nine regions, there were also several other Law Domain experts from the other top forces. They smiled slightly and stated, ¡°There is no problem with the draw, and there is no need to redraw.¡± Of course, they were glad to see the Tianyuan Region having bad luck because that meant they would have an opportunity. If the Tianyuan Region failed to pass through the trial, its reputation would be greatly impacted. And that impact would be greater than the previous provocation from the Tri-Mountain Alliance. Chi Jing cast a cold look at the Law Domain experts. She knew that, given the present state of the Tianyuan Region, everybody would want to push them down, the collapsing wall. All this was because the Tianyuan Region didn¡¯t have a Saint expert. If supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was around, how would the forces of Hunyuan Heaven dare provoke the Tianyuan Region? ¡°Zhao Xiansun, when my senior brother Zhuan Zhu comes out of his closed-door cultivation, I will ask him to come to greet you.¡± Zhao Xiansun''s smile froze on his face for a moment. He then said with a smile, ¡°I heard he has been in closed-door cultivation for many years, and nobody has heard anything from him. Would he have perished inside?¡± ¡°Coward, you have no chance of winning in a face-to-face confrontation, so you used such a contemptuous tactic,¡± Chi Jing said contemptuously. Zhao Xiansun''s face finally darkened. He coldly stared at Chi Jing, who didn¡¯t reveal a hint of fear. She instead sent him back a cold glare. ¡°What? You want to fight? I also want to see whether you have improved over the years after my senior brother defeated you.¡± And just when the two were about to break into a fight, the grey-robed old man from the Zixiao Region, Lu Xuangang, cleared his throat and said, ¡°You two shouldn¡¯t delay the nine regions tournament.¡± Zhao Xiansun¡¯s eyes were icy cold as he said, ¡°Chi Jing, don¡¯t think that your pestering can change anything today. The result of the draw remains the same. If you aren¡¯t satisfied with it, your Tianyuan Region doesn¡¯t have to participate!¡± When he finished speaking, he ignored Chi Jing and ran his eyes across Fallen City. His voice rang out, ¡°The draw has been decided. Everybody get ready!¡± Low voices could be heard from Fallen City. The Law Domain experts standing in the void above had decided not to redraw after much deliberation. The Tianyuan Region was indeed not as good as before! Of course, if they were still as tough as they used to be, there was nothing to worry about even if they had drawn number 2. The audience sighed as though they could see that a huge mountain was about to collapse. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face remained expressionless when he heard Zhao Xiansun¡¯s voice. He didn¡¯t care about the gloating look of other people, and he instead lifted his head to look at Chi Jing. Her cheeks were covered with frost, and it was obvious that she had had a dispute with Zhao Xiansun, but in the end, she had been unable to change the draw¡¯s outcome. Zhou Yuan nodded to Chi Jing with a smile. Don''t worry, senior sister; I will handle everything. Chapter 931 Trial starts The top forces were making preparations. Several miles outside Fallen City was an ancient mountain range with incredibly complex terrain, and behind it was Fallen Abyss. While the whole Fallen City was buzzing with excitement, Zhou Yuan descended in front of the people of the Tianyuan Region. He scanned around and saw that Lu Xiao, Mu Liu, Han Yuan and the others all scrunched their brows in a worried frown. They were clearly worried about the difficulties they would face. ¡°Information on the second path has come. This time there will be people from five different forces blocking us. There are around 4,000 people, which is slightly more than us, and among them are 900 people at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage,¡± Zhou Yuan explained. Everybody¡¯s heart sank. Their opponents were double their number and had 500 extra people at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. If they fought, they would be greatly pressured. Although the combat strength of the Tianyuan Region was a little stronger, it wasn¡¯t enough to make up for the difference in number between the two sides. Lu Xiao cast a glance at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°The most troublesome thing is that there will be some dark horses hiding, and they are likely not weaker than Chen Xuandong. ¡°I can beat one of them, but that''s my limit.¡± Mu Liu and Han Yuan pondered for a moment before they said, ¡°We each can try to stop one of them, but the chance of winning won¡¯t be high. We can stall them at most.¡± In terms of strength, they were both weaker than Lu Xiao. They knew that they could at most stall an expert with strength similar to Chen Xuandong. Everyone knew that once the super dark horses charged over, their defensive line would quickly fall, and their situation would collapse. In the end, facing the attacks of thousands of Divine Dwelling experts, they would be utterly defeated even with Zhou Yuan leading them. Feeling the gloomy atmosphere around them, Zhou Yuan went silent for a moment before saying, ¡°The dark horses of the other forces¡ªyou don¡¯t have to deal with them. ¡°Leave them all to me. You guys only have one task: stall the 4,000 people to buy some time for me so that I can kill them and get the flag!¡± Even Lu Xiao was surprised by his words. ¡°Leave them to you? Do you know that there are most likely more than three dark horses as strong as Chen Xuandong!¡± Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Chen Xuandong, his opponents this time were several Chen Xuandongs! Zhou Yuan calmly explained, ¡°It isn¡¯t beneficial for us to get caught in a large-scale fight. We can¡¯t suffer too much of a loss; otherwise, the situation will become even more unfavorable before we even step into Fallen Abyss. Mu Liu hesitated and said, ¡°How confident are you?¡± If the other side captured or defeated Zhou Yuan, the morale of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s 2,000 people would crumble, and the Tianyuan Region would completely lose face. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°If I say I¡¯m confident, would you believe me?¡± Mu Liu and the others exchanged a glance with each other, feeling a little awkward because it was true they didn¡¯t have much confidence in him. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t try to explain more but said, ¡°There is no better way, anyway, so let¡¯s go with this plan.¡± Seeing he had made up his mind, they could only nod their heads. Fallen City quietened, but everyone knew that the silence was just the calm before the storm. After an hour had passed, in the void above, Zhao Xiansun flung his sleeve, and a melodious bell rang throughout the world. ¡°It is time¡ªthe nine regions tournament starts now! Everybody get ready!¡± As his voice faded, several beams of mighty Genesis Qi swiftly shot into the sky from Fallen City, and silhouettes swept across the sky like locusts, blotting out the sun and sky for a good while. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Zhou Yuan took the lead, soaring into the sky. Lu Xiao, Mu Liu and other members of the four pavilions quickly followed. Nine waves of people skimmed through the air, each group distinctly separated from each other, heading for the ancient mountain range to the south at full speed. In awe, countless people in Fallen City stared at the figures in the distance. In the void above, Zhao Xiansun flicked his finger, causing the Genesis Qi to pulse and gather into a gigantic nine-sided mirror that revealed the movements of the nine groups. Many people fixed their gazes on the Genesis Qi mirror and whispered to one another. ¡°I wonder if one of the dragons would be severed in this year¡¯s Sever Nine Dragon?¡± ¡°Haha, do you want to say the Tianyuan Region is unlucky?¡± ¡°It¡¯s pitiful. As one of the nine regions, the region has deteriorated to this state. If this continues, it will most likely have to give away its position.¡± ¡°How can 2,000 people from the Tianyuan Region defeat the people of five top forces? They are bound to lose.¡± ¡°--¡± Many people secretly shook their heads, sighed, or gloated over the Tianyuan Region¡¯s bad luck. However, it was clear that almost everybody felt that the Tianyuan Region had fallen into a hopeless situation. Zhou Yuan and the others moved at full speed, and in around ten minutes, an endless ancient mountain range appeared in view. Cliffs lined every single mountainside and stabbed into the sky like swords piercing above the clouds. The mountain tops were so high that it was difficult for even Divine Dwelling stage experts to leap over them. At such a high height, a Genesis Qi storm was raging and causing havoc, making it impossible for the Divine Dwelling stage experts to shuttle through. When the nine waves of people came to the mountain range, they quickly separated and headed for different routes. The nine routes were separate. It was then that Zhou Yuan met Zhao Mushen, Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s king of the Divine Dwelling stage. He stood calmly in front of the thousands of people from the Wanzu Region, his robe billowing around him. He was indeed a handsome person, but he was very arrogant. It was obvious that Zhao Mushen was aware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, but he didn¡¯t glance at him. That feeling was similar to how he treated the respectful gazes of usual passersby. Next to Zhao Mushen was a pretty woman who swept a glance over Zhou Yuan and curled her lips contemptuously. Zhou Yuan ignored them and unhesitatingly waved his hand, leading the 2,000 people from the Tianyuan Region into the ancient mountain range with dangerously sharp ridges and steep peaks. Looking at their shadows, countless people felt the fierce wind howling. After this trip, the Tianyuan Region would most likely become turbulent. Chapter 932 Trap As they marched forward, the group kept particularly quiet as Zhou Yuan led them. He could feel the heavy atmosphere around the team. Everyone was aware of the serious consequences if they lost, but there was nothing they could do. Many things had happened in the Tianyuan Region in the past few years, and their overall strength had been steadily weakening. The team of 2,000 people present was already the region¡¯s elites of the Divine Dwelling stage. The impact that Cang Yuan¡¯s disappearance had on the Tianyuan Region was too great. Or perhaps the weight of a Saint expert was too great. The reason that the Tianyuan Region could stand in Hunyuan Heaven for so many years was most likely due to supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. Now that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had been missing for so many years, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that his power and prestige remained, the Tianyuan Region would most likely be worse than it was now. It was difficult to defend a territory of this level with just a few Law Domain experts. Zhou Yuan sped across the mountains and through the forest, the look in his eyes becoming increasingly resolute. No matter how difficult it was, he needed to achieve the best results in the nine regions tournament and obtain the Ancestral Dragon lantern! It was his main purpose for coming to Hunyuan Heaven! Chi! The Genesis Qi at his feet surged, and his body soared into the sky; he was the first to leap up a mountain. Then he narrowed his eyes. Chi! The thousands of figures behind him landed, all staring ahead with solemn expressions. Flags were fluttering between the mountains, and black silhouettes formed a strong line of defense in front of them. They almost completely blocked their path leading to the distance. On a sword-like mountain peak behind the defensive line, three figures stood with their arms crossed. They were staring ruminatively at Zhou Yuan and the others. Behind them was a huge red flag flapping in the wind like a ball of fire. Genesis Qi faintly flashed above the red flag, and on the flag was the seal to enter Fallen Abyss. To get the seal, however, Zhou Yuan and the others needed to pass the trial. ¡°Haha, chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, I am Lu Hai of the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect. We¡¯ve been waiting for you,¡± the scarlet-robed man roared in laughter, his voice sounding from the top of the mountain. He carried a sword on his back. He didn¡¯t conceal his Genesis Qi, and it shrouded him like a roaring sea of flame. Even from a distance, his powerful Genesis Qi foundation made Lu Xiao and the others inwardly shudder. The man wasn¡¯t any weaker than Chen Xuandong. On the contrary, if Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t suddenly emerged in the Tianyuan Region, they would have had to rely on Lu Xiao alone. From this, it was obvious what a mess the Tianyuan Region was, both inside and outside. It was no wonder that the major forces dared to step on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s face. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, you won¡¯t be able to pass through this path in the nine regions tournament. If you don¡¯t want to create a big scene, I advise you to turn back. As for your eligibility to participate in the nine regions tournament, I will help you enjoy it.¡± Lu Hai¡¯s laughter, filled with arrogance, sounded again. His words infuriated the 2,000 people from theTianyuan Region, and they all stared at Lu Hai with flames spewing from their eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He paid no attention to Lu Hai¡¯s obvious provocation. He only gave a glance at the forest around the mountains. The Genesis Qi fluctuations, which numbered in the thousands, signaled that the opponents were well prepared. ¡°Follow the plan I said earlier.¡± Zhou Yuan turned to remind Lu Xiao and the others. ¡°Do you really want to do this?¡± Lu Xiao asked again. ¡°You just have to stall the 4,000 Divine Dwelling experts. Leave the rest to me,¡± Zhou Yuan said. Lu Xiao took a deep look at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You are the chief pavilion master, and we listen to everything you say, but if we fail because of your decision, you will need to take responsibility.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. Lu Xiao didn¡¯t say anything more. With a wave of his hand, he shot out first, and the members of the Fire Pavilion closely followed behind him. Ye Bingling, Mu Liu and Han Yuan also led the members of the other three pavilions and charged straight into the strong line of defense ahead. Boom! Genesis Qi erupted everywhere. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan¡¯s line of sight was fixed on the three figures on the distant mountain peak. All of a sudden, his figure skimmed through the air, speeding directly towards them. Attacks of Genesis Qi broke out from the mountains and forest in an attempt to stop him, but he easily evaded them all. Watching Zhou Yuan approach alone, Lu Hai burst into laughter. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, you want to kill us and get the flag single-handedly? Haha, how courageous!¡± He gave a mocking laugh. ¡°It doesn''t matter. When we catch you, the Tianyuan Region will naturally collapse!¡± With a wave of his hand, Lu Hai signaled to several figures to charge out from the forest to block Zhou Yuan, but after ten breaths, Zhou Yuan directly landed on the mountain peak amidst countless shocked gazes. Lu Hai and the others narrowed their eyes, staring at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Taking such a risk...chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, you are indeed impressive.¡± ¡°Have you heard about what happened to Chen Xuandong?¡± Zhou Yuan responded indifferently. Lu Hai smiled. ¡°You have recently risen to fame. Of course we know about your powerful strength. We know that you want to defeat us three alone to reduce Tianyuan Region¡¯s loss. But have you thought about whether or not we would let you?¡± ¡°You think you can with just the three of you?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. ¡°Although I think the three of us are enough, what¡¯s the harm of inviting more people since you¡¯re so arrogant?¡± Boom! As his voice faded, two beams of incomparably fierce Genesis Qi suddenly shot into the sky from the mountain peak, stirring up a storm. Two long howls of laughter rang out as two figures emerged on a cliff behind Zhou Yuan. ¡°We didn¡¯t dare to show ourselves in case we scared you away, but it seems our worries were unnecessary.¡± ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan is courageous, but I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s from stupidity or fearlessness.¡± The two figures mockingly laughed as they blocked Zhou Yuan¡¯s escape route. Lu Xiao and the others also noticed the movements on the mountain peak, their expressions changing drastically. They didn¡¯t expect there to be two super dark horses hiding. It was clear their opponents had come well prepared! They were only waiting for Zhou Yuan to come forward! But it was already too late to help Zhou Yuan. The 4,000 Divine Dwelling experts were already charging towards them from all directions. Lu Xiao drew a deep breath, suppressing the chill inside him, and peered in the direction of the mountain peak. ¡°Zhou Yuan, the opponents have come prepared. You have to depend on yourself this time. I hope you can create a miracle!¡± He focused his attention back to his immediate surroundings, his gaze turning fierce. ¡°Kill!¡± With a thunderous roar, he led many people to meet the people coming from all directions head-on. Bursts of battle cries resounded. Chapter 933 One Punch Countless people fixed their eyes on the light mirror in the void above them. Mighty Genesis Qi was constantly erupting, and figures were locked in fierce battles. The people of the nine regions were starting to break through their allotted paths. ¡°The strength of the Wanzu Region is indeed too terrifying. They easily tore down the line of defense composed of six top forces.¡± ¡°The six forces¡¯ dark horses were also too afraid to appear in front of Zhao Mushen.¡± ¡°The gap in strength is too great, so how would they dare face the Wanzu Region?¡± ¡°There''s no suspense anywhere else¡ª¡± ¡°Wrong, there is a place where the suspense isn¡¯t little...¡± Someone roared with laughter and turned to look playfully at one side of the mirror. There, the mirror showed the people of the Tianyuan Region. Their number was fewer than the five forces they were against, but the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Divine Dwelling experts were still significantly stronger. Therefore, even if they had a disadvantage in number, it was still difficult for the people of the five top forces to break through. But¡­ Some people looked to the top of a mountain where five super dark horses surrounded Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan is really too arrogant. He even dared to take the risk alone. Does he really think his opponents wouldn¡¯t be prepared?¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. Zhou Yuan¡¯s behavior was very reckless. ¡°He''s trying to kill them and take the flag directly since his side is bound to suffer losses if they attack normally.¡± ¡°He¡¯s too naive. What is he going to do? Lu Hai and the others are all Divine Dwelling heaven prides specially cultivated, and their strengths aren¡¯t in the slightest inferior to Chen Xuandong¡¯s. Now that the five have joined forces, no matter how strong Zhou Yuan is, he will inevitably lose!¡± Countless people nodded secretly. It was unknown how many talents were hiding throughout Hunyuan Heaven, but the people ranked on the Divine Dwelling List was only a small fraction. It was only at these critical times that the dark horses would emerge and make people marvel at Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s strength. Zhou Yuan, who had been the brightest black horse, was now surrounded by several hidden dark horses. Would Zhou Yuan, the super dark horse who had attracted untold attention, continue to advance, or would he be killed in the siege? Many people were curious about the result. ..... On the mountain summit, Zhou Yuan studied the five figures shrouded in pulsing Genesis Qi and sighed. ¡°No wonder you are from Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s top forces. You have concealed yourselves very well. Do you intend to attack together or alone?¡± Lu Hai was very cunning. He understood that their advantage lay in their numbers, so how would he give it up just because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s taunts? ¡°Go! Let''s first assess chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength,¡± Lu Hai thundered. Boom! As soon as his voice faded, five torrents of majestic Genesis Qi gushed out from all directions. They pierced through the void and roared towards Zhou Yuan, completely blocking his escape routes. Lu Hai and the others launched a full-strength attack immediately, and their Genesis Qi lit up the void, forming a sky behind them full of Genesis Qi stars. There were no less than 30 million Genesis Qi stars! The joint attack of five people could be described as a terrifying earthquake of momentum. If Zhou Yuan were still at the same level as when he had fought Chen Xuandong, their attack would most likely kill him! But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t show any intention of evading their attacks, surprising Lu Hai and the rest. He instead stood there blankly. ¡°Well, since you want to die, you can¡¯t blame us!¡± Lu Hai smiled coldly. In a fight among top Divine Dwelling experts, death and injury were inevitable. Even if Zhou Yuan was the chief pavilion master of Tianyuan Region, he could only blame himself for his stupidity. Boom! Under countless gazes, the five torrents of Genesis Qi repeatedly bombarded Zhou Yuan like enraged dragons. The ground quaked, and the mountains trembled as though a huge mountain was crumbling. The movements on the mountain summit stunned everybody below it. After they learned of the situation, the top five forces burst into cheers, while the members of the four pavilions couldn¡¯t stop their expression from changing drastically. Even Lu Xiao''s heart sank. He also felt the attack from Lu Hai and the others, and he knew that the five hadn¡¯t held back. If he were to face an attack of that level, he would most likely be crushed to smithereens. ¡°Zhou Yuan was too careless!¡± Lu Xiao uttered, his expression dark. They were already under great pressure, and if Zhou Yuan was defeated in front of so many people, it would no doubt have a huge impact on their morale. Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling all felt their hearts in their throats. The Genesis Qi gradually receded from the mountain summit, and the smoke faded. What first caught their eyes was a huge crack spreading out like a cobweb. It stretched across almost the entire mountain, and there was a dark pit in its center. Seeing the crater, Lu Hai and the others¡¯ pupils suddenly shrank because a figure was silently standing in the air above it. It was Zhou Yuan! His position hadn¡¯t changed, and his body, just like a boulder, hadn¡¯t budged an inch. Even his clothes were undamaged. If it weren¡¯t for the deep pit, everyone would have thought that the attack from Lu Hai and the others was just an illusion. Zhou Yuan is unscathed! Hua! Exclamations of disbelief erupted, regardless if one was in the mountains or Fallen City. The five¡¯s joint attack didn¡¯t harm Zhou Yuan? How is that possible! Even Lu Hai¡¯s expression changed abruptly. ¡°Impossible!¡± Zhou Yuan fixed an indifferent yet piercing gaze at Lu Hai and the others. ¡°If I had met you two months ago, you would have given me a headache, but unfortunately...¡± He smiled. ¡°You seem to have already lost your best chance.¡± Boom! The moment his voice faded, a dragon¡¯s roar reverberating throughout the world. Mighty Genesis Qi erupted from his body, and azure-golden Genesis Qi lit up the void, revealing countless Genesis Qi stars. 38 million! Astonishing Genesis Qi pressure overwhelmingly filled the sky, and it instantly suppressed Lu Hai and the others¡¯ Genesis Qi. Their expressions changed drastically. According to the information they had received, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was just over 20 million when he had fought Chen Xuandong! But now, his foundation skyrocketed to 38 million?! That bastard concealed his strength so well! How cunning! Chi! While they were in a state of shock, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure suddenly vanished. Lu Hai''s pupils shrank, and he roared, ¡°Gather together! Be careful. He wants to strike us one by one!" The other four dark horses rapidly withdrew at his command, trying to gather together. But one person was still too slow. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure immediately appeared in front of him like a ghost. With an indifferent expression, he clenched his hand and blasted out a punch, sending a torrent of 38 million Genesis Qi stars roaring out like an azure-colored dragon. It tore apart the sky and aimed for the lone dark horse. ¡°You think I would be afraid of you!¡± That super dark horse was also a proud person. Genesis Qi immediately erupted from his body without reservation. He knew that as long as he could block Zhou Yuan for a moment, Lu Hai and others could take the opportunity to attack Zhou Yuan. ¡°Iron venomous dragon!¡± The super dark horse Zhou Yuan was aiming for was from a top power called the Venomous Dragon Palace. As he roared, his Genesis Qi seemingly transformed into a black venomous dragon. It wrapped around his body as though it was a part of him, turning him into a mountain of steel. It was a terrifying defense. Boom! Zhou Yuan, however, didn¡¯t pause once because of the defensive qi. He slammed out a fist and struck the steel mountain with the azure, dragon-like Genesis Qi. Clang! Countless people cried out in shock, witnessing the Venomous Dragon Palace¡¯s super dark horse wail loudly, his black venomous dragon shattering. A look of horror came onto his face. The iron venomous dragon was his strongest defense, and he hadn¡¯t expected it would fail to withstand one punch from Zhou Yuan! Boom! As the black dragon protection shattered to pieces, mighty Genesis Qi exploded above his body. The void violently shook as the super dark horse¡¯s tragic scream rang throughout the void. The force blasted him back like a cannonball, sending him tens of thousands of feet before he slammed into a huge mountain. The entire mountain collapsed and completely buried him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack had happened at lightning speed, and before Lu Hai and the others could do anything to save the dark horse, the battle was already over. Lu Hai and the others peered at the collapsing mountain in the distance, then turned to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was wearing an indifferent expression and rubbing his fists. The four felt an insuppressible chill gush out from their hearts. It had never crossed their minds that Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength would improve so greatly in two months¡¯ time! Chapter 934 Lu Hai’s counterattack Shocked disbelief filled everybody¡¯s eyes. It was clear that Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous ferocious attack had a huge impact on them. The super dark horse from the Venomous Dragon Palace possessed strength no weaker than Chen Xuandong¡¯s. Although Zhou Yuan had won the match against Chen Xuandong two months prior, it was still a bitter and drawn-out battle. But now...he killed with one punch! How could Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength rise to such an extent in just two months?! ¡°Chief pavilion master is invincible!¡± The members of the four pavilions trembled with excitement and burst into earthshaking cheers and applause. Their morale skyrocketed, and they unexpectedly suppressed their 4,000 opponents, causing their opponents to withdraw. Lu Xiao, Mu Liu, Han Yuan and the others forcibly suppressed their shock and commanded their people to attack. Zhou Yuan¡¯s current performance finally reassured them. In Fallen City, uproar and commotions were similarly breaking out. In shocked disbelief, the onlookers stared at the huge mirror in the void above them. The scene of Zhou Yuan killing the super dark horse from the Venomous Dragon Palace was deeply imprinted in their minds. ¡°Zhou Yuan of Tianyuan Region has improved so much and so fast. His Genesis Qi foundation has reached the level of 38 million!¡± ¡°A foundation of this level is already good enough to compete with the super heaven prides of the other eight regions!¡± ¡°Yes, it is said that Xu Ming¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation is only around 40 million, which isn¡¯t much higher than Zhou Yuan¡¯s!¡± ¡°No wonder Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t afraid of Xu Ming!¡± ¡°There¡¯s going to be a good show. The joint attack of the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect and the other forces seems incapable of swallowing the Tianyuan Region...¡± ¡°......¡± ...... ¡°He deserves to die!¡± Lu Hai stared at this scene gloomily. The other three super dark horses had already gathered around him, all staring at the collapsed mountain in shocked horror. ¡°The intelligence was wrong. His strength has improved too much!¡± They knew Zhou Yuan had improved in two months, but that improvement should be within a controllable range. However, they had never thought his foundation could soar to the level of 38 million. Although one¡¯s foundation would skyrocket when the last two Divine Dwellings were connected, it shouldn¡¯t be such an astonishing increase, right? Their foundations hadn¡¯t increased even half as much as Zhou Yuan¡¯s when they had connected through to the eighth Divine Dwelling! So, he shifted his gaze to Lu Hai and the others. Lu Hai and others visibly tensed up, their eyes filled with vigilance and fear, which was entirely different from their previous mocking and teasing gazes. They knew that Zhou Yuan was deliberately concealing his strength. ¡°You guys run fast.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. He originally thought he could take the opportunity to get rid of at least two people first, but he had underestimated their sensitivity to danger and only managed to get rid of one person in the end. Lu Hai drew a deep breath, suppressed the anger in his heart, and uttered in a cold voice, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan really knows how to conceal his strength.¡± ¡°I learned from you,¡± Zhou Yuan said casually. Previously, Lu Hai had concealed two super dark horses and waited for Zhou Yuan to appear before he summoned them out. Lu Hai looked indignant, but he forcibly suppressed his fury and fiercely stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, you really think you have won?¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes without saying anything. Lu Hai sneered, ¡°You think you¡¯re prepared?! The five forces here today are determined to defeat the Tianyuan Region!¡± He glanced at the other three and said, ¡°Prepare the secret weapon!¡± The three dark horses exclaimed, ¡°But the secret technique is missing one person!¡± The secret technique that they had prepared required five people, but no one thought that Zhou Yuan would kill one of them the moment they met. ¡°Four people is enough!¡± The three super dark horses all nodded firmly, a fierce glint in their eyes. The three folded their hands into hand seals at lightning speed, and mighty Genesis Qi rose from their heads. Within the Genesis Qi, there seemed to be faint fragments that seemed particularly mysterious. The three beams of Genesis Qi frantically collided in the void while the fragments inside rapidly fused, vaguely taking the shape of a pillar. Lu Hai let out a deafening roar, and a beam of Genesis Qi shot up to merge with the pillar gradually forming in the void. Chi! Lu Hai and the others bit their tongues, and blood spurted out, turning into tens of thousands of red beads. Each bead was wrapped in Genesis Qi, and they fused into the pillar. Above the pillar, the light grew bright. Zhou Yuan raised his brows as he carefully watched them. A sword pill emerged in the palm of his hand, then split into four beams of sword light, slashing through the air towards Lu Hai and the others. Om! But before the sword light touched them, the mysterious pillar in the void spewed out four rays of brilliant light and enveloped the four beams of sword light. The rays rapidly broke the sword light down into specks of light. Lu Hai lifted his head, looking mockingly at Zhou Yuan, and laughed, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t waste your efforts. In order to deal with you, I came well prepared. You will definitely lose!¡± As his voice faded, the mysterious pillar finally took shape, becoming a light tower hundreds of meters tall. The light tower was suspended in the air, releasing a four-colored light as it swallowed an untold amount of Genesis Qi. The tower seemed mysterious and unfathomable. Zhou Yuan stared at the light tower, furrowing his brows. He sensed danger, but the object was very bizarre. It appeared to be a Genesis technique, but it contained the aura of a Genesis Artifact. It seemed that, as Lu Hai had said, they had come fully prepared. But why were they so certain that their preparation was for dealing with him? It was as though they were confident that Zhou Yuan would be allocated the second route. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. All this gave him the feeling of a conspiracy, and combined with the fact that Zhao Xiansun controlled the draw, it made him suspect that the Wanzu Region was secretly targeting the Tianyuan Region. Could it be supreme sovereign Wan Zu? Zhou Yuan knitted his brows and let out a long sigh. He couldn¡¯t intervene in a battle of that level, and he could only concentrate on passing the obstacle in front of him. He knew that the four-colored light tower was Lu Hai and the others¡¯ final trump card. As long as he could withstand it, he would naturally be able to solve the crisis. The four-colored light tower grew brighter and brighter in the void, while Lu Hai and the others¡¯ faces became paler and paler, but their eyes were blazing with excitement. They believed that they could suppress Zhou Yuan with their killing move! So what if he had a foundation of 38 million Genesis Qi stars?! Lu Hai lifted his head and roared skywards. ¡°Five Spirits Universe Tower! Seal all objects and beings!¡± Swoosh! Following his roar, the light tower wrapped in four different colors suddenly vanished. When it reappeared, it was already directly above Zhou Yuan and crashing down at lightning speed. Rumble! The ground quaked. The light tower enveloped Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Lu Hai¡¯s mouth twisted in a sneer. Once Zhou Yuan is trapped in the tower, he will no doubt lose! Chapter 935 Celestial Shadow Tricks the Five Geniuses As the light tower pressed down, the ground quaked, and a relieved, undisguisable smile came onto Lu Hai¡¯s and the others¡¯ faces. ¡°That Zhou Yuan is really stupid!¡± A super dark horse sneered. ¡°He isn¡¯t stupid¡ªjust too arrogant. He never thought about the consequences of falling into the Five Spirits Universe Tower. There are five seals in the tower, and once someone falls inside, the five seals will adhere to their body, and at least half their Genesis Qi foundation will be obstructed!¡± ¡°Even if we¡¯re missing one person and the effect of the seal can¡¯t be brought to its perfect state, it can still turn Zhou Yuan from a tiger to a cat!¡± The other three people burst into laughter. The Five Spirits Universe Tower was the strongest trump card that they had prepared. Let alone Zhou Yuan, even Xu Ming or Yuan Kun wouldn¡¯t know what to do if they were to fall into the tower. The battle could be said to have ended when Zhou Yuan fell into the tower. ¡°Zhou Yuan is indeed capable. This ultimate move was reserved for the super heaven prides of the other eight regions when we entered the Fallen Abyss, but he had forced us to bring out this trump card,¡± Lu Hai said. Thinking of the ability that Zhou Yuan had revealed when he had killed the Venomous Dragon Palace¡¯s dark horse in seconds, Lu Hai couldn¡¯t help feeling a chill in his heart. Zhou Yuan had concealed his strength too well. The heaven prides of the nine regions are indeed amazing. Even the deteriorating Tianyuan Region has someone so powerful. But, fortunately for them, Zhou Yuan was in their hands in the end. The people locked in a fierce battle in the mountains also noticed that the tower had swallowed Zhou Yuan. Lu Xiao¡¯s, Mu Liu¡¯s, Han Yuan¡¯s and Ye Bingling¡¯s hearts sank. Although they didn¡¯t know what the light tower was, they could guess that it was a trump card of Lu Hai and the others. Moreover, Zhou Yuan¡¯s situation didn¡¯t look good! ¡°Go help him!¡± Ye Bingling sent a signal to Lu Xiao and others. Lu Xiao¡¯s expression was cloudy, and his eyes were flickering, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and sped towards the mountain summit. Although Lu Hai sensed Lu Xiao¡¯s movements, he didn¡¯t seem to care, and he shifted his gaze to the light tower, scrunching his brows in puzzlement. ¡°Why is the light tower so quiet?¡± A surprised look crossed the other three people¡¯s faces. From their experience, the Genesis Qi within the light tower should be pulsing wildly once someone fell inside. The seals should also be activated, but why was it so strangely quiet? Lu Hai¡¯s eyes flashed, and he felt an uneasy feeling in his chest. He immediately folded both hands in a hand seal. The light tower in the distance trembled and gradually grew transparent, revealing the inside of the tower. They didn¡¯t see anyone in the light tower! ¡°Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t suppressed inside!¡± Lu Hai felt his scalp go numb, and his voice had become sharper. The expressions of the other three changed drastically. They clearly witnessed Zhou Yuan being crushed and forced inside, so why was there no one inside it? If he wasn¡¯t in the tower, where else would he be?! ¡°Be on the alert!¡± Lu Hai roared, the uneasiness in his heart almost drowning him. As his voice faded, the Genesis Qi within their body rushed forth. Lu Hai¡¯s shadow suddenly rippled, and a figure floated out silently like a ghost. Four beams of sword light rapidly took shape, stopping inches from the back of the heads of Lu Hai and the others. The sword light dimmed, but Lu Hai and the others stiffened in fear and stood rooted to the spot. They felt a tingle at the back of their heads, and the smell of death shrouded them. Such sensations made them know that the slightest movement of Genesis Qi within their body would trigger the sword light to cut their heads off without hesitation. Beads of cold sweat gathered on Lu Hai¡¯s forehead. He glanced back and saw Zhou Yuan staring at them with a smile. ¡°Zhou¡ªZhou Yuan!¡± Lu Hai¡¯s brows were trembling, and his voice sounded pained. ¡°Why are you here?¡± It was obvious that Zhou Yuan had escaped with an incredibly strange bodywork technique the moment the light tower pressed down. Even Lu Hai and the others hadn¡¯t noticed that he was standing silently behind them. Such a speed and such a bodywork technique, they were terrifying! ¡°You really think I would be stupid enough to let you trap me inside?¡± Zhou Yuan laughed. What he used was the Celestial Shadow Art, one of the seven Cangxuan Arts. Zhou Yuan had been thinking about this technique for a long time, but he hadn¡¯t found the time to practice it. In preparation for the nine regions tournament, he finally found the opportunity to master it. His first time using the Celestial Shadow Art was a great success. This technique was incredibly mysterious. Once he hid in someone¡¯s shadow, it was impossible to detect him. Lu Hai¡¯s face twitched as he gritted his teeth and said reluctantly, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan represents the Tianyuan Region, but you didn¡¯t even dare to respond to our challenge. Instead, you used this sneak attack. Are you not afraid that people will say you won unfairly?¡± He originally thought that Zhou Yuan would face their final trump card to demonstrate the Tianyuan Region¡¯s strength, but who would have thought that Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t have such an intention? He had instead taken advantage of the moment they relaxed to approach them like a venomous snake. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but sneer when he heard Lu Hai¡¯s words. He gazed at them as if the four were fools. Lu Hai grew increasingly angry when he saw the look in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He, too, knew how ridiculous his words were. Paying no attention to them, Zhou Yuan turned to the mountain where the fierce battle was happening. His indifferent voice contained a chilling intent. ¡°Tell them to stop. You have already lost this round, so don¡¯t force me to kill you. It is normal to have death and injuries in a battle of this level.¡± Lu Hai exchanged glances with the other three people, then bowed his head. They hadn¡¯t expected that they would lose so inexplicably. ¡°Stop,¡± Lu Hai¡¯s voice rang out. The battle in the mountains halted. Everybody looked to the mountain summit and saw Zhou Yuan standing behind Lu Hai and the others. They also saw the sword lights hovering behind Lu Hai¡¯s and the other¡¯s heads. The people of the five forces suddenly felt icy cold. Lu Xiao, who was about to rush to the top of the mountain, also halted his steps, a look of astonishment crossing his face. No one thought that Zhou Yuan, whom they were very worried about, would reverse the situation in the blink of an eye! The eyes of the members of the four pavilions all sparkled with excitement. Zhou Yuan cast a glance at the light tower in the distance and said, ¡°That technique is interesting, but I have never heard that any of your five forces possessed such a technique.¡± The light tower was indeed a very dangerous attack. Otherwise, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t have chosen to evade it. When Lu Hai heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, his heart shuddered, and he coldly hissed, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate other people. Although we aren¡¯t as strong as the Tianyuan Region, we aren¡¯t weak in Hunyuan Heaven!¡± Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t respond. These five people were from five different forces, but they had practiced a secret art together? He of course didn¡¯t believe it. Moreover, all their preparations had targeted him and the Tianyuan Region. There was no way that Zhou Yuan would believe there was nothing fishy about this. What kind of person in Hunyuan Heaven could command five top forces? Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed, but he didn¡¯t say anything else. ¡°The battle is over. Withdraw the tower.¡± With sword light floating behind their heads, although Lu Hai and the others were reluctant, they had no choice but to obey. With one thought, the light tower in the distance began to disintegrate, then turned into waves of Genesis Qi and receded. But when the waves of Genesis Qi neared Lu Hai and the others, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed, and he suddenly made a move. Hair gushed out from his palm, penetrated the four waves of Genesis Qi and wrapped around the fragments inside. Zhou Yuan flicked his sleeve, and dozens of shimmering fragments flew towards him. This change happened in the blink of an eye. Lu Hai and the others all stood stunned, but then their expressions changed drastically. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you dare take our treasure?¡± Chapter 936 Passed Although Zhou Yuan could clearly see the fragments, it was hard to tell what sort of materials the fragments were made of. What he knew was that they were engraved with badly damaged ancient runes and exuded an indescribable, powerful energy. As he studied the fragments, his pupils suddenly shrank because he identified that the fragments were parts of some kind of Saint treasure! It was no wonder that he felt a dangerous energy. But he didn¡¯t know where Lu Hai and the others got their hands on them. Moreover, the damaged Saint treasure fragments had clearly undergone some powerful and remarkable refinement. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for Lu Hai and the others to summon a light tower possessing such a powerful suppression technique. ¡°Zhou Yuan, how dare you take our treasure!¡± Lu Hai¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed drastically. ¡°You better return it; otherwise, our top forces will ask the Tianyuan Region for an explanation!¡± They circulated the Genesis Qi wildly within their bodies. But Zhou Yuan maintained an indifferent expression. The sword light hovering behind Lu Hai¡¯s and the others¡¯ heads pierced forward half an inch, entering the backs of their heads without delay. Blood trickled down. Feeling the sharp pain, the four widened their eyes in fear and immediately stopped circulating their Genesis Qi. They didn¡¯t dare to move an inch. ¡°Do you really think I won¡¯t kill you?¡± Zhou Yuan said indifferently. But it was his indifferent tone that made Lu Hai and the others shudder. It was only after a good while that Lu Hai uttered with some difficulty, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you have already won. Why do you have to make it so ugly?¡± They knew that the fragments were fragments of a Saint treasure that had undergone a powerful refinement. More importantly, the object didn¡¯t belong to any of their five forces. If they were to lose it, it would be difficult for them to explain it to the owner. Zhou Yuan studied the suspended fragments in his hand and paid no attention to Lu Hai. He pondered for a moment and suddenly flicked his fingers. Chi! The sword light blazed brightly, piercing into their heads as horror filled their eyes. ¡°Ah!¡± They let out a wailing scream of terror, but they didn¡¯t pass through death¡¯s door. They each frantically shifted their gazes inward and found a sharp sword raging in their brain and bringing them sharp pain. They also found that the Genesis Qi within their bodies was becoming more and more disorderly. For a moment, they couldn¡¯t move an inch, so they frantically tried to operate their Genesis Qi with all their strength to expel the sword qi in their brain. Zhou Yuan expressionlessly walked by the four people. Therefore, while Lu Hai desperately tried to expel the sword qi that was causing havoc in his mind, he could only helplessly and heartachingly watch Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure move farther and farther away. And in their eyes, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t in a hurry to seize the flag. Instead, he appeared on the distant collapsed mountain summit. With the wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi whirled up and lifted the boulders away. Very soon he saw the super dark horse of the Venomous Dragon Palace whom he had blasted into the mountain. Zhou Yuan brought out the dozen pieces of Saint treasure fragments in his hand and suspended them around the dark horse¡¯s body. He immediately noticed some abnormal movements within his body before multiple fragments shot out from him. Zhou Yuan gave a satisfied smile upon seeing this. These five guys each held several pieces of the same Saint treasure, which some supreme person must have refined. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for a few Divine Dwelling experts to display the power of a Saint treasure. These fragments were exactly what Zhou Yuan was interested in. If used well, the Saint treasure fragments would undoubtedly become one of his killing weapons. The nine regions tournament was right in front of him, and a great battle was inevitable; therefore, it was good to have another trump card. With a wave of his sleeve, Zhou Yuan stored the fragments and ignored the super dark horse who was still in an unconscious state. He only moved slightly but immediately reappeared next to the huge flag. He stretched out his hand and swiftly pulled it down. Rays of light flowed around the flag. Zhou Yuan shook his hand, and the light descended and formed a scroll of light in the palm of his hand. This scroll was the pass to enter the Fallen Abyss. Zhou Yuan held the scroll in his hand, turned around and descended the mountain. As he lifted the scroll, it erupted in dazzling rays of light. The 2,000 people of the Tianyuan Region saw this scene, and they burst into deafening cheers and applause. ¡°Chief pavilion master is so powerful!¡± ¡°Chief pavilion master is invincible!¡± When the scroll fell into Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands, it symbolized that the Tianyuan Region had successfully passed through the Sever Nine Dragon round and obtained the eligibility to enter the Fallen Abyss and compete with the other eight regions! But everyone was well aware of the role that Zhou Yuan played in passing this round. If he hadn¡¯t taken the flag, they would have had to suffer a huge price in order to win. Lu Xiao wore a complex expression on his face. ¡°Fortunately, you¡¯re not the chief pavilion master; otherwise, the Tianyuan Region would have been finished,¡± Han Yuan remarked quietly. The corners of Lu Xiao¡¯s mouth twitched, but in the end, he didn¡¯t refute Han Yuan¡¯s statement. After meeting the super dark horses hidden in the top forces, he understood how arrogant he was before. His strength was at best on the same level as Lu Hai, but if he were to face five enemies of the same level simultaneously, it would have been impossible to win. But Zhou Yuan was able to win. This was enough to show that Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability was much better than his. Compared to the soaring morale on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side, the top five forces¡¯ people hung their heads low in shame. They had done so much preparation, but they had still ended up failing in the end. Zhou Yuan swept his eyes over the five top forces and indifferently uttered, ¡°Everyone, make way.¡± In the mountains, thousands of people looked at one another and eventually retreated dejectedly. Zhou Yuan shifted his gaze to the people of the Tianyuan Region and said indifferently, ¡°Everybody of the Tianyuan Region, follow me to explore the Fallen Abyss. I don¡¯t know how many people want to see my Tianyuan Region fall from the throne, but I want everybody of Hunyuan Heaven to know that my Tianyuan Region is still one of the nine regions!¡± The eyes of the 2,000 people of the Tianyuan Region blazed with excitement. A loud and orderly roar resounded through the mountains, ¡°We will follow the chief pavilion master¡¯s orders!¡± Zhou Yuan turned around, holding the scroll in one hand, and sped away from the mountains. Swoosh! Behind him, thousands of figures streaked across the sky. It was a spectacular scene. ..... Beyond the boundless mountain range. The distant sky and ground were shattered and cracked. Rivers dropped from the sky, and towering mountains were upside down. It was as if even the basic rules had been altered. It was a mysterious place. That was the Fallen Abyss, the place where many Law Domain experts had fallen. At this moment, on the Fallen Abyss¡¯s periphery, eight different groups of people were standing separate. They were the people of the eight regions. They had broken through the Sever Nine Dragons round and had gathered outside the Fallen Abyss. Several of them peered at the mountain range with ruminative expressions because the people from the Tianyuan Region still hadn¡¯t appeared. Could they have failed the first round? If they had, it would be fascinating. In so many years, when had the nine regions been defeated in the first round, the Sever Nine Dragons? Xu Ming smiled contemptuously. Jiu Gong also shook her head. It seems that the Tianyuan Region really had bad luck. Zhao Mushen seemed unconcerned. Wu Yao remained calm and composed, and she similarly didn¡¯t glance at the mountain once. If Zhou Yuan failed, it would indeed be a little disappointing. But she knew that it was impossible for a little Sever Nine Dragons round to stop someone who could persevere and turn around their past hopeless situation. Only Su Youwei clenched her hands tight, and a worried frown crossed her face. Everyone had different expressions. Chapter 937 The Show Begins The majority of their faces were twisted with shock and disbelief. ¡°They broke out?!¡± ¡°And it doesn¡¯t seem like they suffered much loss...¡± ¡°What happened? Are the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect, the Venomous Dragon Palace and the others all so useless?¡± ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be. Their combined forces shouldn¡¯t be weaker than the Tianyuan Region, so how could they fail?¡± ¡°......¡± Puzzled murmurs spread among them. It was clear that many people were particularly suspicious about the Tianyuan Region passing the Nine Sever Dragons. Xu Ming narrowed his eyes and curled his lips as he uttered indifferently, ¡°Lu Hai and the others are really useless. They couldn¡¯t even get rid of one Zhou Yuan.¡± On the Wushen Region¡¯s side, Wu Yao¡¯s phoenix eyes flickered when she sensed the movements behind her. But she didn¡¯t turn her head because she already knew the answer. Lan Ting and Zhao Yuanxiao, who were beside her, coldly watched the Tianyuan Region approach. ¡°Zhou Yuan is indeed quite capable.¡± Lan Ting frowned. The joint attack of Lu Hai and the others wasn¡¯t considered weak, and it would have been difficult for Lan Ting and Zhao Yuanxiao to win against them, but Zhou Yuan was able to break through them and reach the Fallen Abyss. It seemed that they needed to reassess Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength. ¡°Don¡¯t praise other people. Lu Hai and the others might have the advantage in numbers, but they have a fatal weakness: alone they are weak. I believe Zhou Yuan struck them one by one,¡± Zhao Yunxiao said indifferently. Lan Ting nodded. Zhao Yunxiao turned his head to look at Wu Yao and smiled. ¡°Junior sister Wu Yao, if we run into Zhou Yuan in the Fallen Abyss, don¡¯t be mad that we won¡¯t be giving you your chance.¡± There wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on Wu Yao¡¯s beautiful face. How could she not hear the malice in Zhao Yuanxiao¡¯s voice? She didn¡¯t say much. ¡°Whatever, as long as you have confidence in yourself.¡± Lan Ting smiled. ¡°Could it be that junior sister Wu Yao, you think we can¡¯t deal with him?¡± Wu Yao didn¡¯t bother replying. She closed her eyes slowly like a proud phoenix. Both Lan Ting and Zhao Yuanxiao possessed incredible strength, but Zhou Yuan was a demon-like being. The fact that he could break through Lu Hai and the other¡¯s obstruction further showed that his combat strength wasn¡¯t simple. Zhao Mushen also sensed the movements behind him, but he didn¡¯t turn his head, either. Liu Qiushu, who was next to him, raised her brows slightly and remarked, ¡°It¡¯s really surprising that the Tianyuan Region broke through the Scarlet Cloud Sword Sect and the other four top forces.¡± Standing with hands clasped behind his back, Zhao Mushen said indifferently, ¡°Everyone underestimated Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength.¡± Liu Qingshu smiled, eyes filled with admiration. ¡°He is quite strong, but there is still a huge gap between you and him.¡± In her view, Zhao Mushen was the nine regions tournament¡¯s true protagonist. Although Zhou Yuan was somewhat capable, he was only a little star. If he was lucky enough to meet Zhao Mushen, he would perhaps face a devastating defeat. Zhao Mushen smiled and didn¡¯t add more to the meaningless topic. He didn¡¯t feel any disdain or contempt for Zhou Yuan because Zhou Yuan was never worth anything in his eyes. If it hadn¡¯t been for the fact that the Wanzu Region¡¯s supreme sovereign had given him an order when he left, he perhaps wouldn¡¯t have paid any attention to him at all. He had come to the Fallen Abyss this time to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage, but he understood that he was the present king of the Divine Dwelling stage. If he stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage, his brilliance would dim because there were far too many top Heavenly Sun experts in Hunyuan Heaven. They were all once kings of the Divine Dwelling stage, just like him. Therefore, if Zhao Mushen wanted to be just as dazzling in the Heavenly Sun stage, he needed to refine the most flawless glass Heavenly Sun. It was his purpose for coming to the Fallen Abyss. ¡°Glass Heavenly Sun...¡± Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyes flashed, and he immediately glanced at Wu Yao and Su Youwei. His eyes drooped, an inexplicable look on his face. On the Zixiao Region¡¯s side, Su Youwei stared fixedly at the familiar figure leading the Tianyuan Region¡¯s people through the fog. Finally, she could relax her clenched hands. A smile bloomed on her stunning face. Xue Jingtao¡¯s face immediately darkened when he saw that smile. Although Su Youwei was usually cheerful and treated everybody well, he could feel that this smile was very different. Zhou Yuan had a very different status in her heart, and it made him envious. Xue Jingtao, however, didn¡¯t show his envy. He retracted his gaze and calmly stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the distance. Deep in his eyes, cold killing intent gleamed for an instant. How dare you covet our Zixiao Region¡¯s beautiful pearl? You just passed the Sever Nine Dragons round. There is nothing to be proud of. When you enter the Fallen Abyss is when the Tianyuan Region will cry. ... Amidst those complicated gazes, Zhou Yuan led the Tianyuan Region people through the fog and landed on a mountain. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t care too much about those secret malevolent gazes because he knew that the majority wanted to see the Tianyuan Region crumble and fail in the Sever Nine Dragons round. Zhou Yuan, however, didn¡¯t need any help in the nine regions tournament. He planned to rely on his own strength to face everything himself. Boom! Once the people of the Tianyuan Region appeared, the nine regions gathered together once again. An endless wave of Genesis Qi spread out in the void above, and then figures emitting terrifying pressure emerged slowly. They were the various regions¡¯ Law Domain experts. Chi Jing immediately cast her gaze towards Zhou Yuan, and a relieved smile lit up her face. As for Zhao Xiansun, he was also smiling, but when his eyes met Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, he looked ruminative. Boom! The world quaked violently after the nine regions¡¯ Law Domain experts appeared. Endless Genesis Qi gathered at their fingertips, as though vaguely turning into dazzling beams of light. The Genesis Qi was refined and compressed to a terrifying level. Swoosh! The nine beams of Genesis Qi then swiftly shot out, and where they passed, the void collapsed as if a black hole was forming. The beams rushed towards the Fallen Abyss¡¯s distorted world, and the sky and ground began to crack and tear open a gap. Ancient and wild energy, as well as faint battle cries like those from a battleground, gushed from the fissure. In the void above, Zhao Xiansun¡¯s indifferent voice rang out, ¡°The Fallen Abyss has opened. Everybody get ready to enter.¡± Everybody peered through the crack, which seemed to lead to an ancient battlefield, their eyes blazing with excitement and battle intent. Chapter 938 Split Into Teams As Zhou Yuan watched the crack widen, his eyes lit up. He was very interested in the Alpha Spiritium found in the Fallen Abyss. After connecting his nine Divine Dwellings, he would also need to think about advancing to the Heavenly Sun stage. Naturally, an ordinary grade of the Heavenly Sun stage couldn¡¯t satisfy his appetite. In the void above, Zhao Xiansun said indifferently, ¡°There were originally two more small steps in the three trials, but now it doesn¡¯t seem necessary. So, after much deliberation, we¡¯re opening the Fallen Abyss.¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips because he felt he was being targeted. Among the three trials, the most difficult one was the Sever Nine Dragons. Was Zhao Xiansun omitting the other two levels to let them join the main show and face powerful enemies because the Tianyuan Region had smoothly passed the trial? It was as though Zhao Xiansun couldn¡¯t wait to see something bad happen to the Tianyuan Region. Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind was racing, but he remained calm and composed. It didn¡¯t matter whether other people wanted to see misfortune befall the Tianyuan Region; the Tianyuan Region just needed to do their best. After all, it was a good thing that two of the three trials were removed, since that would save them some of his strength. ¡°The Fallen Abyss has opened, and I believe you all know the rules. Everybody go and prepare,¡± Zhao Xiansun said. His voice faded, and a commotion broke out among the people of the nine regions. Many Law Domain experts had perished in the Fallen Abyss, and when they had died, their Law Domains had collapsed and greatly impacted the world¡¯s rules and regulations, thus forming many strange spectacles. Therefore, many independent spaces had formed within the Fallen Abyss, each like a mini domain with its own mysteriousness. And it was in these mini domains that the power of the Law Domain accumulated and gave birth to a large amount of Spiritium. The nine regions tournament was a competition for these mini domains. The more mini domains one had, the more spiritium one would gain. This was a great opportunity for anyone. After all, wasn¡¯t the fierce battle in the Fallen Abyss for Spiritium? Moreover, Alpha Spiritium was also born in dangerous mini domains in which the top heaven prides ranked on the Divine Dwelling List would compete. Zhou Yuan turned to say to Lu Xiao and the others, ¡°We will split into five groups led by me, Lu Xiao, Han Yuan, Mu Liu and Ye Bingling.¡± This meant that the nine regions needed to divide into several groups and take several routes to compete for more mini domains and obtain the most Spiritium. Of course, the size of the group couldn¡¯t be too small; otherwise, it would be impossible to compete against the groups of the other regions. According to what happened in the past, the number of people in each team was around 400 to 700, which was the most suitable range. The Tianyuan Region only had 2,000 people, so Zhou Yuan divided them into five groups, each with around 400 people. The other eight regions had many more people. The Wanzu Region, which had the highest number of people, might have divided into ten larger teams. This would undoubtedly give them an advantage from the very start because the amount of Spiritium obtained would determine the final ranking in the nine regions tournament. In truth, Zhou Yuan would like to split into more teams, but doing so would only weaken the strength of each group and not bring much benefit. Splitting the Tianyuan Region¡¯s people into five groups was already the limit. Zhou Yuan held the light scroll, which was the pass to enter the Fallen Abyss. He instilled Genesis Qi into it, and it immediately erupted with specks of light. The specks descended onto the 2,000 people from the Tianyuan Region. ¡°These markings are very sensitive. If you encounter life-threatening danger, you can break them.¡± Zhou Yuan ran his eyes over the crowd, slowly adding, ¡°Everyone, although the Spiritium is good, don¡¯t be too greedy. The most important thing is your life.¡± Once one destroyed the marking, one would be sent out of the Fallen Abyss and be disqualified. Therefore, everybody was always reluctant to break them, and if they didn¡¯t, the price they had to pay in the end would be their own life. In the nine regions tournament, in order to fight for Alpha Spiritium, no one would hold back. Everybody nodded. In the void above, Zhao Xiansun glanced at the scroll in Zhou Yuan''s hand, a strange look flashing across his eyes. His eyes drooped, and his indifferent voice rang out again, ¡°If all parties are ready, then come through.¡± Boom! The moment his voice faded, Zhao Mushen sped out, followed by the vast number of people from the Wanzu Region. The thousands of people raced through the crack and vanished in the blink of an eye, as though the tremendous space instantly swallowed them. The Wanzu Region¡¯s movement immediately broke the peace. The other regions also set off, causing the Genesis Qi of the universe to surge violently. ¡°Go!¡± Zhou Yuan thundered and sped out, Lu Xiao and the others quickly following. Their 2,000 people skimmed across the air, then vanished without a trace as they passed through the crack. As the countless people of the nine regions entered the Fallen Abyss, the world fell silent. Zhao Xiansun smiled. ¡°Everyone, the nine regions tournament has truly begun. We will all be waiting here.¡± He flicked his sleeve, gathering mighty Genesis Qi to form a compass-like shadow in the void. It was a compass-like mirror, and multiple light specks appeared within it. The specks were each a different color, representing the people of the nine regions. Although they couldn¡¯t interfere with the operation in the Fallen Abyss, the nine regions¡¯ Law Domain experts had refined the passes so they could roughly detect the changes happening inside. The other Law Domain experts also sat down cross-legged in the air. Genesis Qi turned into clouds beneath them, and the Genesis Qi of the universe gathered around their bodies. It was as if there were many strange and mysterious spectacles happening. ¡°I¡¯m really curious which region will be eliminated first.¡± Zhao Xiansun chuckled, glancing at Chi Jing not far away. An imperceptible smile curved his lips. In the distant Fallen City, countless people reluctantly retracted their gazes from the empty mirror in the sky. They knew that the battle that was about to happen in Fallen Abyss would be truly marvelous. It would be the true nine regions tournament, but they couldn¡¯t watch and enjoy it. It didn¡¯t matter. When the final result came out, it would still cause an uproar. Thus, numerous people in Fallen City began to guess the nine regions tournament¡¯s final rankings. Unsurprisingly, the Wanzu Region and Zhao Mushen topped the list, with Wu Yao and Su Youwei following behind. As for Zhou Yuan and the Tianyuan Region, they were still very unpopular. Chapter 939 Mini Domain It felt as if heaven and earth were being overturned, and it was greatly discomforting. Fortunately, the sensation did not last for long. After several dozen breaths, Zhou Yuan felt his feet touch the ground. He immediately scanned the surroundings, and a mysterious land entered his sights. It was a barren land covered in weeds, and there were barely any other signs of life. Thick clouds floated in the sky, giving one an immeasurable feeling. Giant rends occasionally streaked the ground, as if an earth-shaking battle had once occurred in the mini domain. In addition, the domain felt unstable, and pockets of space distorted from time to time. Zhou Yuan gazed at the barren land for a while before turning around. Nearly five hundred figures appeared one after another behind him, each wearing slightly lost yet wary looks as they looked around. This was the team Zhou Yuan led, and Yi Qiushui and a few familiar figures were at the group¡¯s front. Shang Xiaoling, Ling Feng, Yuan Tiegang...these were the people Zhou Yuan had personally recruited into the Wind Pavilion. They currently held the high ranking positions of deputy pavilion master, and Zhou Yuan had placed them into his team during the distribution of members. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, Sheng Xiaoling and the others displayed respectful gazes. After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s status was now much higher than when he had recruited them. Of course, status was not the only thing that had changed; his strength had also soared tremendously. ¡°Zhou Yuan, the Genesis Qi here is very berserk.¡± Yi Qiushui walked over, her brows furrowed in worry. Zhou Yuan nodded. The Genesis Qi in the Fallen Abyss was extremely berserk. Hence, it took much longer to absorb than in Hunyuan Heaven. In other words, ordinary Divine Dwelling stage experts could not recklessly use their Genesis Qi. If one took two hours to fully replenish one¡¯s Genesis Qi in Hunyuan Heaven, one would take at least six hours in the Fallen Abyss. This would undoubtedly hold one back in battle. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment. With a thought, he absorbed some Genesis Qi into his body and quickly activated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. The faint roar of a dragon echoed in his body as his channels vibrated. Several breaths later, the berserk Genesis Qi was refined into a wisp of pure Heavenly Serpent Qi, and it flowed into his Divine Dwelling. Zhou Yuan raised his brow, somewhat surprised. It had not taken any longer for the Ancestral Dragon Scripture to refine Genesis Qi. Was it because the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was too tyrannical and could ignore the sliver of berserkness within the surrounding Genesis Qi? Zhou Yuan put this good news aside for the time being as he looked towards the five hundred figures before him. ¡°We¡¯ve already entered the Fallen Abyss. The nine regions tournament has finally begun. ¡°There may be another team that has entered this mini domain, and if we meet them, an intense battle will await us.¡± The several hundred members were silent, their expressions exceptionally solemn. They clearly understood that the Tianyuan Region was currently the weakest of the nine regions. On the bright side, the participants from the nine regions were split into numerous teams. With Zhou Yuan leading them, as long as the Tianyuan Region did not meet the main team from the other eight regions, they might be able to put up a fight against the other sub-teams. Furthermore, who could say that they would not meet a fellow Tianyuan Region team in this mini domain? It was not impossible. There were numerous mini domains in the Fallen Abyss, and even with several tens of thousands of people entering, they might not meet another team in every mini domain. However, Zhou Yuan could not be so optimistic as the leader, and he needed to be prepared for everything. He looked towards Sheng Xiaoling and said, ¡°Xiaoling, lead twenty members to search for spatial cracks. Let us know when you find any.¡± Spatial cracks were the mini domains¡¯ exits, and they were used to travel to other mini domains. Of course, spatial cracks could also be used as an escape route if the team encountered a strong foe. Shang Xiaoling nodded and swiftly led away twenty members. ¡°Ling Feng, lead eighty members to scout the area and see if any other teams have entered this mini domain.¡± The latter acknowledged the order and quickly left with his group. ¡°As for the rest, follow me to search for places with the highest concentration of Spiritium.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards the remaining three hundred members as his eyes turned sharp. ¡°The Fallen Abyss is filled with danger. There are not only many powerful foes waiting in the dark but also numerous hidden dangers. Hence, everyone needs to follow my commands properly. I will severely punish anyone whose recklessness causes any losses to the team!¡± Everyone¡¯s hearts shivered at Zhou Yuan¡¯s stern words, and the people respectfully responded, ¡°Understood!¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in approval and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± He led the way, flying in the air at low altitude as three hundred figures followed him closely. ... When Zhou Yuan began sweeping the mini domain with his group, several hundred figures were standing at the foot of a hill at another corner of the mini domain. These figures were dressed in mysterious yellow robes, and powerful Genesis Qi undulations were surging around them. A single glance of their powerful auras was all one needed to tell that they were elites. They were all advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts! What should have been an untameable group was a group of elites respectfully looking towards the top of the hill. There, a tall figure stood with his hands behind his back. He wore an indifferent expression as a heart-palpitating pressure slowly spread from his body, making the several hundred figures below feel tremendous pressure. This figure was the king of the Divine Dwelling stage in Hunyuan Heaven, Zhao Mushen! No one would have imagined that Zhou Yuan would meet the strongest contender in the first round. Zhao Mushen gazed at the clouds churning in the sky as he softly mumbled to himself, ¡°Teacher-uncle Zhao, there¡¯s no need for you to do this...is a mere Zhou Yuan worth such effort?¡± He paused as he shook his head. ¡°Never mind, since I¡¯m already here, I shall complete the mission from the supreme sovereign first. It¡¯s convenient, anyways.¡± His gaze turned towards the figures below as a nonchalant voice sounded, ¡°Go, find the other team in this mini domain...and destroy them.¡± Rumble! Chapter 940 Scheme Several hundred figures flew at low altitude like a flock of birds. Zhou Yuan led the group, his eyes scanning the land like an eagle¡¯s. Genesis Qi surged around him, ready to react if anything were to happen. The Fallen Abyss was filled with unknown danger, and it was a vile environment. One could not afford the slightest bit of carelessness. However, Zhou Yuan was surprised to discover that nothing out of the ordinary had happened along the way. Everything seemed to be rather calm. ¡°Is the danger lower because we just entered?¡± This was not impossible. He had heard that it would become increasingly dangerous as they traveled between the various mini domains. Though such thoughts swirled in his head, Zhou Yuan did not let his guard down. Slowly finding his own path over the years had forged his cautious nature. He had seen far too many occasions of people failing unexpectedly due to carelessness, and there was no lack of such individuals who had been defeated by his hand. Hence, he would not permit himself to make such a mistake. As the group swiftly advanced, Zhou Yuan carefully felt the surrounding flow of Genesis Qi. The place with the highest concentration of Genesis Qi would also hold the greatest Spiritium. After all, abundant Genesis Qi was one of the necessary conditions for the birth of Spiritium. Of course, this did not mean that every location with high Genesis Qi concentration would also contain Spiritium. However, the chance would be much greater. After traveling for an incense stick of time, Zhou Yuan found two locations with relatively higher Genesis Qi concentrations. Unfortunately, neither contained Spiritium. Despite this, Zhou Yuan was not disappointed. After all, the nine regions tournament had just begun. While leading the team in search of highly concentrated Genesis Qi, he suddenly tilted his head and looked towards a certain direction. A blast of Genesis Qi soared into the air, forming the shape of a tower before slowly dissipating. ¡°It¡¯s the signal from sister Xiaoling. Looks like they¡¯ve found a spatial crack,¡± said Yi Qiushui. Zhou Yuan nodded as he breathed a small sigh of relief. Finding a retreat route was pretty good news. ¡°Continue searching!¡± He waved his hand and quickened his speed. Several hundred figures flew past in the air. After a few dozen minutes, Zhou Yuan finally found a third area with high Genesis Qi concentration. When he arrived, his eyes immediately brightened. An extremely tall mountain stood beside a deep crevice. The mountain stood out from its barren surroundings because it was verdant and full of life. Numerous streams of light peaked out between the foliage, creating a rather marvelous sight. ¡°There¡¯s definitely Spiritium here!¡± After a long time, he withdrew his spirit senses. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Only then did Zhou Yuan relax a little. His figure flew forward and soon appeared on the mountain. He stood on a giant ancient tree as his eyes zoned in on its trunk. Like fireflies, faint specks of light floated out from the bark. Zhou Yuan could feel an indescribable aura swirling within the trunk. He lightly stomped, and the giant tree began to break apart from the top. Swish! As the tree fell apart, a flash of light suddenly shot out like an arrow. Zhou Yuan, however, was already prepared. He reached for the escaping light, and a stream of Genesis Qi rushed out from his hand, caught it, then slowly brought it before him. He looked towards his prize and found that the light was faintly transparent. Numerous specks of light sprinkled its insides like tiny diamonds. Overall, it seemed like a stream of air containing a flowing liquid. It gave off a very mysterious aura. Zhou Yuan grasped the strand of glowing air. At that moment, he felt his Divine Dwelling vibrate a little. It was a feeling of desire. ¡°So this is Spiritium.¡± A sliver of curiosity flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. To incite such a reaction from his Divine Dwelling, it had to be the rumored Spiritium. Spiritium would naturally form when a numerous combination of strict requirements were met, one of which was a certain level of Genesis Qi concentration. The strand of Spiritium snaked between Zhou Yuan¡¯s fingers as if it had a life of its own. Zhou Yuan played with it for a while before raising his head. Three hundred individuals stared at him with heated gazes as if they couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Zhou Yuan chuckled. He knew that Spiritium held an enormous allure to the others. It was a chance for them to reach the Heavenly Sun stage, a lifelong goal that many of them strived towards. To be honest, most of them did not care what grade Heavenly Sun they attained because ordinary people did not have the qualification for such ambition. ¡°Prepare to begin harvesting. All of the Spiritium will be gathered together first before being allocated according to your contributions.¡± He waved his hand. Three hundred individuals burst into cheers before quickly scattering across the mountain in an orderly fashion. They began to search for the hidden Spiritium. Spiritium might be found in the trees, plants, rocks, or even in the ground. To find it, they would have to begin cutting apart the trees and excavating the ground. Rumble! A bustling atmosphere enveloped the entire mountain. Tall ancient trees were chopped down, boulders were smashed, the ground was torn open by Genesis Qi... Zhou Yuan stood on a cliff, somewhat helplessly shaking his head at the chaotic scene. The group really resembled a swarm of locusts that only knew how to destroy. In contrast to the others, Zhou Yuan did not have much interest in the Spiritium because he had far greater ambitions. What he wanted was the even rarer and more precious Alpha Spiritium. However, Alpha Spiritium could not be found in these mini domains, but Zhou Yuan was not worried. The nine regions tournament had just begun, after all. Hss. Zhou Yuan sucked in a deep breath of the ancient and berserk air before shutting his eyes, silently waiting for them to finish their work. As time flowed, an incense stick of time quickly passed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s lightly shut eyes suddenly sprang open as a piercing look arose within them. He looked towards the northwest where a Genesis Qi disturbance had originated. Swish! Swish! Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, a dozen figures appeared on the horizon. The dozen figures were hurriedly fleeing. Eight figures closely followed them, powerful Genesis Qi erupting from their bodies. The group being chased was the scouts Zhou Yuan had dispatched earlier. Boom! While the scouts were urgently rushing towards him, blasts of Genesis Qi continuously soared into the sky and exploded, forming a warning symbol. It was the signal for an enemy attack! The three hundred individuals collecting Spiritium also saw the signal. The team leaders immediately shouted for everything to drop what they were doing as figure after figure rose into the air. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming to attack us?¡± Yi Qiushui swiftly arrived at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side with a grave expression. Zhou Yuan nodded as his eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°I wonder which region this team is from.¡± ¡°They¡¯re very strong!¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s expression suddenly changed as she peered into the distance. She had likewise found that only eight individuals were chasing the dozen scouts from their side. One must know that the scouts they had sent were elites! Boom! While they were observing from afar, Genesis Qi suddenly pulsed from the eight pursuers, causing their speed to rise. In the next instant, they blasted several torrents of berserk Genesis Qi towards the scouts. Their attacks were swift and fierce. It looked as if the scouts would not be able to avoid the bombardment. Gasps sounded from the Tianyuan Region group. Rumble! However, a blurry figure suddenly appeared in the sky. With a wave of his sleeve, golden Genesis Qi swept out and shattered the eight individuals¡¯ deadly attacks. ¡°Chief pavilion master is almighty!¡± On the mountain, three hundred Tianyuan Region members burst into cheers. The one who had stopped the attacks was naturally Zhou Yuan. He stood in the air, staring at the eight pursuers as he said, ¡°Which region are you from? Who is your team leader?¡± The eighth advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts superficially smiled when they saw Zhou Yuan. ¡°Do you really want to know?¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. One of the eight chuckled and said, ¡°We¡¯re from the Wanzu Region. Our team leader, hehe, it¡¯s honestly your honor to meet him. ¡°Our team leader is called Zhao Mushen.¡± They toyingly stared at Zhou Yuan. These words caused the faces of the three hundred Tianyuan Region members to turn pale. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. Wanzu Region? Zhao Mushen?! The first team I meet in the Fallen Abyss is headed by Zhao Mushen?! At this moment, Zhou Yuan did not feel that he was unlucky, but he instead smelled some kind of conspiracy. Chapter 941 Encounter The pressure from these two words made the three hundred Tianyuan Region members in the mountain turn deathly pale, and chills ran up their bodies. A few even lost their composure and cried out in a trembling voice, ¡°How can it be the Wanzu Region? How can it be Zhao Mushen?! That¡¯s impossible!¡± The team led by Zhao Mushen was definitely Wanzu Region¡¯s strongest. More importantly, its leader was the strongest Divine Dwelling stage expert in Hunyuan Heaven, Zhao Mushen! Everyone felt that they could put up a fight against the sub-teams from any of the other eight regions, but they couldn¡¯t match the main teams, let alone the team led by Zhao Mushen! Trying to fight would be akin to smashing a rock with an egg! The eight advanced Divine Dwelling stage practitioners from the Wanzu Region stood in the air as they mockingly looked towards the three hundred trembling Tianyuan Region members. Despite being at a huge numbers disadvantage, their presence overwhelmed the three hundred. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought as his expression darkened slightly. He could smell a conspiracy. He refused to believe that his luck was so bad that the first team he encountered would be Zhao Mushen¡¯s... Someone must have secretly done something to make our paths cross. But who could do such a thing? Zhao Xiansun! Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Only Zhao Xiansun, a Law Domain stage expert from the Wanzu Region, could have done it. It all made sense; Zhou Yuan had faintly felt malice from Zhao Xiansun when he was drawing lots earlier. But how had he done it? The seal! Zhou Yuan touched the seal on his body. Everyone had been imprinted with a seal when they entered the Fallen Abyss, and the seals were created through the combined efforts of the nine regions¡¯ Law Domain stage experts. Zhao Xiansun must have done something to the seal without senior sister Chi Jing noticing! Everything makes sense now. After Zhou Yuan figured it out, anger flared in his heart. Zhao Xiansun was truly shameless. To think that a mighty Law Domain stage expert would use such underhanded tactics! As the host of the nine regions tournament, Zhao Xiansun should be the most impartial person, and yet he had still taken the opportunity to play such tricks. From this, one could see how despicable he was. ¡°Zhao Xiansun, huh. Don¡¯t let me find a chance in the future, or I¡¯ll make sure to pay you back for everything that happened today!¡± Zhou Yuan committed this debt to his heart. So what if he was a Law Domain stage expert? Zhou Yuan did not fear even the palace master of the Sacred Palace in Cangxuan Heaven, a half Saint! Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered faintly before he turned his head. He said to Yi Qiushui, ¡°We¡¯re retreating. Withdraw towards the spatial crack we found.¡± He had no intention of clashing with the other party for something as silly as trying to prove himself. He acknowledged that he was not Zhao Mushen¡¯s match for now. Furthermore, both the team and their individual members were at a clear disadvantage. Yi Qiushui decisively nodded and turned around to issue instructions. Although the three hundred Tianyuan Region members were extremely unwilling, they understood the gravity of the situation and immediately prepared to withdraw. Everyone knew that they were definitely no match for the most elite Wanzu Region team! Stubbornly facing them would only result in heavy losses, and the entire team might even be wiped out! The Wanzu Region squad leader¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, did you not understand what I just said? Obediently wait here! Don¡¯t invite trouble to yourselves!¡± However, Zhou Yuan ignored him. The squad leader¡¯s expression grew increasingly stormy as he stared daggers at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, are you really going to be so tactless?¡± Zhou Yuan did not reply, but a sword orb appeared in his palm. Bzz! Torrential sword qi dashed into the sky, turning into eight deadly beams of sword light that mercilessly slashed at the eight individuals from the Wanzu Region. The eight advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts roared in anger, and Genesis Qi exploded from their bodies without any reservation. Although they knew Zhou Yuan was strong, it was too arrogant of him to face all eight of them alone! After all, all eight were quite famous even among the Divine Dwelling stage practitioners of the Wanzu Region. Rumble! The eight individuals acted in unison, unleashing a barrage of ferocious Genesis Qi attacks, but then their expression abruptly changed. The eight beams of sword light had surpassed their expectations. The beams instantly sliced apart their attacks, and the remaining sword qi ruthlessly struck their bodies. Urgh! The eight individuals were sent flying, and they vomited mouthfuls of blood. The squad leader¡¯s face was filled with terror. He had never expected that even the eight of them working together would be unable to block even a single sword attack from Zhou Yuan. The strength of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi far exceeded their imagination. On the giant mountain, the retreating Tianyuan Region members burst into cheers, their originally low morale recovering somewhat. Yi Qiushui continued to hurry them. The three hundred individuals swiftly rose into the air and began moving towards the location Shang Xiaoling had released the signal. Zhou Yuan stood in the air, his eyes filled with indifference as he gazed at the eight Wanzi Region Divine Dwelling stage practitioners. They did not dare to approach and could only look at him in fear and anger. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips curled downwards slightly. These Wanzu Region members were truly arrogant. To think that a few unknown individuals would dare to act all high and mighty before him. Did they think his sword qi was merely for display? ¡°Zhao Mushen is indeed very strong, but unfortunately, the likes of you guys cannot subdue me. If you continue to follow us, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless.¡± As his voice rang out, he turned around and left in an unhurried manner. The squad leader gnashed his teeth in anger. ¡°Keep on acting! We¡¯ve already notified our first senior brother. When he comes, we¡¯ll watch you kneel and beg for forgiveness!¡± However, the squad leader no longer dared to pursue. Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier sword attack had already frightened him. ... Swish! Three hundred figures pushed their speed to the limit as they frantically flew through the air. The scattered scouts continuously returned to the group along the way. The mood was vastly different from when they had just arrived. Panic was rising in the hearts of the Tianyuan Region members. Encountering the Wanzu Region and Zhao Mushen had evidently placed them under a tremendous amount of stress. At the front of the group, Zhou Yuan maintained a composed expression, but he did not try to console them because he felt it would not be effective. ¡°Zhao Mushen¡­¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh as he observed the frightened expression of the Tianyuan Region members. As expected of the king of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling stage, his name alone was enough to make so many people panic. However, Zhou Yuan also understood that his current chances against Zhao Mushen were abysmal. Although he had a few trump cards, he did not believe that Zhao Mushen did not have any. He could only defeat him if he unlocked the ninth Divine Dwelling. However, it was extremely difficult and unrealistic to achieve in a short amount of time. Hence, he intended to avoid Zhao Mushen for the time being. The Fallen Abyss was home to numerous opportunities. Zhou Yuan needed to make full use of it to unlock the ninth Divine Dwelling before being able to face Zhao Mushen. Before that happened, Zhou Yuan did not mind running from Zhao Mushen every time they met. He did not feel that fleeing was disgraceful. Stupidly challenging an opponent while knowing full well that you weren¡¯t his match was essentially courting death. Over four hundred individuals moved as fast as lightning. After an hour, a dozen figures rose to meet them. It was Shang Xiaoling¡¯s group. Space distorted nearby as a several-foot-long spatial crack squirmed. It was the mini domain¡¯s exit. Zhou Yuan waved his hand. Several hundred figures orderly rushed towards the spatial crack in silence. Everyone was quite dispirited. After all, no one expected that they would end up fleeing from their first mini domain in such a sorry manner. Zhou Yuan stood in the air as he watched the team hurriedly exit the mini domain. Every second mattered at this juncture. Once Zhao Mushen arrived, he would definitely be able to make them suffer losses. Zhou Yuan could only hope that Zhao Mushen arrived a little later. However, when this thought flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, the corner of his eye suddenly twitched. He expressionlessly lifted his head and saw the space ripple. A slim figure slowly emerged. An alarming pressure filled the area. The eyes of the retreating Tianyuan Region group flooded with terror as they gazed upon this figure. Chapter 942 First Clash Zhou Yuan chuckled and calmly replied, ¡°We¡¯re not your match, and I can¡¯t beat you for now. What else can we do but leave?¡± Zhao Mushen said, ¡°From your words, it seems that you only feel that you can¡¯t beat me for now? Does it mean that you¡¯ll be able to in the future?¡± Zhou Yuan shrugged but did not comment. Meanwhile, he made a hand signal towards Yi Qiushui and the rest from behind his back, telling them to hurry up and leave through the spatial crack. Zhao Mushen seemed to be unaware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s little movements as he continued to stare at Zhou Yuan with interest. Sensing Zhao Mushen¡¯s gaze, Zhou Yuan raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°You seem to be very interested in me?¡± ¡°Why do you say so?¡± Zhou Yuan replied, ¡°To have that mighty Law Domain stage expert of yours personally take action and let us meet in the first round...is investing such effort not a sign of interest?¡± Zhao Mushen chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re very perceptive.¡± The fact that the other party could not even be bothered to deny anything made Zhou Yuan narrow his eyes. From his brief contact with Zhao Mushen, Zhou Yuan could sense that though the other party seemed kindly, he was extremely proud. There was no disdain in his eyes when he looked at Zhou Yuan; one wouldn¡¯t feel disdain when looking at an ant at one¡¯s feet. ¡°Zhou Yuan, there¡¯s no need to try to delay for time. If you don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll let your Tianyuan Region leave safely. I don¡¯t have much interest in a group of small fry.¡± Zhao Mushen smiled as he looked towards the crowd successively entering the spatial crack. ¡°You should know that many will be injured if I take action now.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned calm as he said, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t move.¡± Zhao Mushen smiled, seemingly trusting the former. The two of them faced each other in the sky while the several-hundred-strong Tianyuan Region team squeezed into the spatial crack below in a panicky manner. Yi Qiushui was at the very back, her eyes filled with worry as she gazed at the two individuals in the sky. How could she not know that Zhou Yuan was being closely watched by Zhao Mushen? But she also understood that what she needed to do now was leave as quickly as possible. She would only become a burden to Zhou Yuan if she lingered. Yi Qiushui took a deep breath as her hand suddenly jerked. Countless tree branches flew out from her spatial bag and hurtled towards Zhou Yuan, filling the sky with shadows. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered when Yi Qiushui threw the branches into the sky. In the next instant, his figure turned to a black blur and disappeared. Branches hurtled through the air, casting countless shadows on the ground. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure leaped between the shadows at an unimaginable speed, stealthy as a phantom as he shot towards the spatial crack. Celestial Shadow Art! In the air, Zhao Mushen was not angered by Zhou Yuan¡¯s disappearance. He merely smiled and said, ¡°What a strange yet amazing technique. No wonder you dared to stay behind.¡± The lotus symbol between his brows began to glow. A pair of lotuses appeared in Zhao Mushen¡¯s pupils. Mystical light blossomed from his eyes as the world around him became clear. The darkness retreated, and the shadows disappeared. The leaping shadow Zhou Yuan had turned into was now clearly within Zhao Mushen¡¯s sight. ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve yet to accept your fate.¡± Zhao Mushen chuckled softly. ¡°However, escaping from my hands won¡¯t be as easy as you think. Did you really think that I was merely watching you earlier? I was using a secret technique to lock onto your presence. No matter how you run, you won¡¯t be able to escape my subsequent attack. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are far too weak.¡± Zhao Mushen clapped his hands together as a faint glow condensed between his palms. He then pulled apart the light, swiftly forming an inch-long glowing shuttle. The glowing shuttle was very streamlined, its sharp tip flickering with a dangerous and sharp light. As it hummed, it tore even space itself apart. Nine-colored light swirled around the shuttle, making it extremely beautiful. However, lethal power pulsed beneath the beautiful light. As Zhou Yuan zipped towards the spatial crack at full speed, Zhou Yuan felt an extremely dangerous undulation, causing the corner of his eye to twitch. He immediately increased his speed. The Genesis Qi in his body exploded without reservation. Swish! Two breaths later, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared at the edge of the spatial crack, and his foot stepped into it. In the sky, Zhao Mushen¡¯s expression remained indifferent. A low voice rang out as he gently flicked his finger. ¡°Nine Spirit Soul Breaker Shuttle.¡± Swish! The light shuttle trembled in his palm before vanishing. Bzzbzz! Only an extremely strong individual would sense the space rippling faintly. An undetectable streak of light pierced through the air, accompanied by deadly force as it shot straight towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s nape. With half a foot already in the spatial crack, Zhou Yuan felt a prickling pain all over his skin. It was the feeling that an extremely dangerous attack was coming. The sensation told him that if he were hit, even his strong body would be pierced easily. However, Zhou Yuan also understood that he could not stop at this juncture. Otherwise, Zhao Mushen would completely seal off his escape route. If that happened, there would be almost zero chance of survival against the overwhelming Zhao Mushen and his elite Wanzu Region team. Hence, Zhou Yuan did not hesitate, and he stepped into the spatial crack. Spatial ripples surged, enveloping his body. Swish! When Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure disappeared, however, the shuttle arrived and chased into the spatial crack after him. The surrounding Genesis Qi undulations gradually calmed down. Zhao Mushen nonchalantly gazed at the spatial crack as he muttered to himself, ¡°You¡¯ll be lucky to survive my Nine Spirit Soul Breaker Shuttle.¡± With the exception of Wu Yao, Su Youwei and Wang Xi, the other top ten rankers on the Divine Dwelling List would have to carefully face this attack of his, or they would pay a grave price. Once hit, the target¡¯s Spirit would be smashed to pieces. It was an extremely brutal attack. He had already locked onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s presence so the shuttle would not dissipate until Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was destroyed. Too many experts had died to his shuttle over the years. And now, one more would soon be added to that list. ¡°The supreme sovereign told me to capture you...but I¡¯m afraid that I¡¯ll only be able to bring back a corpse now.¡± Zhao Mushen shook his head as he smiled in a somewhat helpless manner. He then turned away from the spatial crack and leisurely left. An opponent of Zhou Yuan¡¯s level honestly did not interest him much. Fortunately for him, his target had now been dealt with. Chapter 943 Withdraw The Fallen Abyss¡¯s interior was very peculiar. After leaving a mini domain, one would find oneself in a very open, street-like spatial passage. Space occasionally distorted within the passage, and substances that appeared to be spatial membranes floated in the air. Behind each membrane was a mini domain, and they seemed countless, making an extremely surprising sight. Zhou Yuan wore a grave expression as he pushed his speed to the limit. He did not dare to relax even a little after entering the spatial passage because he could still faintly sense an extremely sharp undulation rapidly approaching from behind. It was likely Zhao Mushen¡¯s attack. It felt as if someone was menacingly aiming a knife at his back. ¡°He¡¯s really quite impressive.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned a little. Logically speaking, Zhao Mushen¡¯s Genesis Qi attack should have lost Zhou Yuan once he hid in the spatial crack. However, it appeared that Zhao Mushen¡¯s attack was still tightly locked onto him. From their initial encounter, Zhou Yuan could see that the king of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling List was indeed very extraordinary. Swish! While these thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, the area behind him suddenly shook. A streak of light shot out, heading straight towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s nape. Zhou Yuan was finally able to see what it was. It was a sleek, glowing shuttle that gave off a graceful charm. However, the sharp qi contained within made even Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression change slightly. Bzz! The shuttle seemed to sense Zhou Yuan¡¯s presence, its speed abruptly rising. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed once more. His figure blurred as he shot away like a shadow. Within the spatial passage, one object chased another at extremely fast speed. As time passed, however, Zhou Yuan found that the glowing shuttle remained as bright as before, with no signs of dimming. It could continuously absorb the surrounding Genesis Qi to replenish its energy while pursuing him. In fact, the shuttle seemed to be growing increasingly powerful as time passed. In other words, it would not stop until it hit him. Most importantly, the gap between them was gradually being closed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. After being chased for so long, he could already gauge the shuttle¡¯s strength. Furthermore, his initial Transformative stage Spirit had keenly sensed a Spirit-destroying undulation concealed within the shuttle. The shuttle could hurt not only his physical body but also his Spirit. What a domineering attack! Zhao Mushen¡¯s attack might not seem extraordinary, but there was a ruthlessness hidden within it. ¡°Looks like running away won¡¯t solve the problem¡­¡± If that happened, it would be impossible for him to fight against a team of several hundred people, no matter how strong he was. Hence, he needed to block the shuttle when he reached that spatial membrane! Having made his decision, Zhou Yuan cast aside all hesitation and shot forward. A few dozen breaths later, a spatial membrane appeared in front of him, and he charged straight into it. When his figure disappeared, the shuttle at his heels instantly pierced the spatial membrane. ¡­¡­ In a mini domain. Several hundred dejected figures were currently gathered. They were the Tianyuan Region team that had escaped. The events that had transpired earlier had dealt a substantial blow to their morale. Yi Qiushui stood on a boulder as she continuously glanced towards a certain spot behind them. Her eyes were filled with anxiousness and worry. Shang Xiaoling and the others tried to console her, but they had no faith in their own words. Although Zhou Yuan was not weak, he was facing the strongest Divine Dwelling stage expert in Hunyuan Heaven! Hence, the group could only awkwardly wait. If Zhou Yuan lost, the team would fall apart. Bzz! While they were waiting, the space behind them suddenly shattered as a figure dashed out. Several hundred individuals burst into emotional cheers when they saw the familiar silhouette. However, Zhou Yuan could not spare them any attention as he swiftly sped towards a nearby mountain valley. Swish! Almost immediately after he moved, the shuttle shot out from right behind him, pulsing with deadly energy as it pierced through the air and zipped towards his nape like a lightning bolt. Zhou Yuan managed to reach the valley first. Boom! Boundless Genesis Qi instantly exploded from his body without reservation, and he revealed all his 38 million Genesis Qi stars and activated his four spirit runes, adding another 13 million stars! Four Spirits Origin Diagram! Another 6 million! A total of 57 million Genesis Qi stars twinkled in the air as majestic Genesis Qi unfurled. The surrounding valley began to crumble. Zhou Yuan howled at the sky as the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his hand. He stared at the rapidly approaching shuttle of destruction. This time, he no longer attempted to avoid it. With a stomp of his foot, the ground crumbled, and he shot into the air. Dazzling rays of light exploded from the Heavenly Yuan Brush. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± The snow-white hairs turned pitch black. ¡°Million Whale!¡± The cry of an ancient whale rang out. A several-hundred-foot-long whale appeared in the sky and swept down into the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The black brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand was akin to a dragon, its sharp tip pulsing with dreadful energy. It tore through the air, thrusting straight towards the glowing shuttle. Boom! A loud noise boomed like thunder. Visible to the naked eye, Genesis Qi rippled from the collision. The valley floor burst open, and layer after layer of dirt and rock flew into the air as if a powerful force had scraped up three feet of earth. Yi Qiushui and the rest, who had been rushing over, hurriedly retreated. At the clash¡¯s epicenter, Zhou Yuan stared at the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s tip, where the shuttle was emitting dazzling light and pulsing with terrifying power. Wave by wave, it disintegrated the brush¡¯s hairs, but the hairs quickly regrew. The two forces had fallen into a temporary deadlock. Veins throbbed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead, and the flesh on his arms tore open, making him look exceptionally wretched. He did not dare to relax because the shuttle would deal a fatal blow to him if it got past the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Fortunately, the deadlock only lasted a dozen breaths before a faint cracking was heard. The shuttle fractured, then suddenly exploded. The instant it burst, a tiny, almost undetectable transparent figure shot towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s head like a phantom. However, the strange attack did not escape Zhou Yuan¡¯s senses. He was already prepared. With a wave of his sleeve, a Spirit lantern appeared with a flame jumping within it. ¡°Spirit Lantern Art!¡± Powerful flames spurted from the lantern, swallowing the tiny light figure. A piercing shriek erupted from the tiny light figure. It squirmed in the flames like a worm as it stubbornly tried to charge towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. However, when it was still an inch from Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, the Spirit fire burned it into nothingness. When the light figure completely vanished, the powerful Genesis Qi swirling around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body also dissipated. His tense body began to relax little by little as sweat poured down his back. Zhou Yuan stared at the faint remnant glow as he pursed his lips. Specks of silver surfaced from under his skin, a sign that Silver Shadow was about to be activated. If he failed to block the attack at the very last moment, he would have had no choice but to summon Silver Shadow. Fortunately for him, he had ultimately managed to neutralize Zhao Mushen¡¯s attack. Outside the valley, Yi Qiushui and the others cheered upon seeing that nothing had happened to Zhou Yuan. Their eyes were filled with respect. The fact that Zhou Yuan had successfully escaped from Zhao Mushen¡¯s hands and even neutralized his attack was more than proof of their leader¡¯s strength. Zhou Yuan was indifferent to their cheers. He did not feel that blocking a single attack from Zhao Mushen was something to be proud of. He lowered his head and gazed at his arms. They were covered in wounds due to the backlash of the clash. A casual attack from Zhao Mushen had forced Zhou Yuan to use his full strength, even nearly bringing out a trump card like Silver Shadow. Zhao Mushen¡¯s power had surpassed Zhou Yuan¡¯s expectations. If they fought a real battle, Zhou Yuan¡¯s life would definitely be at risk. Zhou Yuan expressionlessly watched the wounds on his arms slowly recover. This clash allowed him to understand Zhao Mushen¡¯s strength. However, Zhou Yuan did not lose spirit but instead began to burn with competitive battle intent. He spat out a breath of air as he turned towards the sky, his gaze seemingly penetrating space to see Zhao Mushen¡¯s figure. ¡°Zhao Mushen, you have won this round¡­¡± He slowly shut his eyes before suddenly opening them, revealing a look of determination. He had already decided that he would do everything he could to unlock the ninth Divine Dwelling. Chapter 944 Clash between Law Domain Experts When the wounds on Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms finally closed, he leaped into the air and landed next to the cheering Tianyuan Region crowd at one side of the valley. ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you alright?¡± Yi Qiushui was the first to rush forward, her pretty oval-shaped face filled with worry. Although they had been separated by some distance, she had still been able to sense how terrifying Zhao Mushen¡¯s attack had been. Most importantly, the attack had actually followed Zhou Yuan through the spatial passage. Zhou Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°Zhao Mushen is very strong. If I stayed behind to fight, I would most likely have lost.¡± Shang Xiaoling and the others suddenly rushed over and blurted out in succession, ¡°Chief pavilion master, you¡¯re already very amazing. That¡¯s the Zhao Mushen! If word spreads that you managed to safely retreat from under his eyes, it would definitely cause quite a commotion.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. He naturally understood just how big Zhao Mushen was in the hearts of the Divine Dwelling stage practitioners of the Hunyuan Heaven. Hence, he did not blame Shang Xiaoling and the others for being filled with respect and fear when they talked about Zhao Mushen. However, Zhou Yuan did not say anything else on the topic. He gazed at the group and said, ¡°It was our bad luck to have met the Wanzu Region and Zhao Mushen, but since we managed to retreat unscathed, there is no need for us to dwell on it. ¡°We¡¯ll continue searching these mini domains, and if we encounter another team, scout them out first and report back to me before we decide our next course of action.¡± Zhou Yuan then disseminated a series of instructions. The Tianyuan Region group obediently listened before scattering to carry out his commands. Zhou Yuan found a boulder and sat down. He urgently needed to inspect his seal first. Otherwise, they would only face more trouble if Zhao Mushen managed to pursue them. After all, it was not possible for Zhou Yuan¡¯s team to keep withdrawing. Zhou Yuan raised his hand as a faint seal emerged on its back. His Spirit reached out and entered the seal, carefully searching for any strange undulations. This seal was the handiwork of the Law Domain stage experts from the nine regions. As such, the experts¡¯ auras maintained a certain equilibrium, serving to monitor each other. Zhou Yuan based his inspection on this equilibrium point, trying to figure out if anything was amiss. After a long time, Zhou Yuan put down his hand as his expression relaxed slightly. His findings told him that the auras within the seal were indeed in equilibrium. In other words, Zhao Xiansun¡¯s trick was a one-time thing. Hence, Zhou Yuan no longer needed to worry that Zhao Mushen would pursue them. This gave him some time to increase his strength. After putting down this worry, Zhou Yuan closed his eyes. Although he had ultimately neutralized Zhao Mushen¡¯s attack, it had taken a lot out of him, and he needed to recover his Genesis Qi. While Zhao Yuan was recovering, he was unaware of the ripples he had caused outside the Fallen Abyss. ¡­¡­ Half a day prior, outside the Fallen Abyss. A group of Law Domain stage experts was sitting in the air, vast Genesis Qi gathering around them like clouds. Their gazes were fixed on a giant compass in front of them. Over ten thousand dots flickered on the compass, representing the participants of the nine regions tournament. Chi Jing¡¯s eyes were likewise glued to the compass. Through the aura she had left in the seals, she could clearly differentiate which dot belonged to which individual. From the very beginning, she paid close attention to Zhou Yuan¡¯s dot. She observed him as he led the team into a mini domain, and she soon discovered that another team had entered at practically the same time. Her pupils shrank slightly, evidently recognizing the team. The Wanzu Region, Zhao Mushen! Chi Jing was silent. A terrifying undulation erupted from her body, and all the Law Domain stage experts present suddenly looked towards her. Bzz! Chi Jing lifted a slender finger, and endless Genesis Qi converged above her head, transforming into a ten-thousand-foot long glowing azure blade. The blade looked as if it was crafted from crystal, a sign that Genesis Qi had been compacted to the limit. When the blade appeared, cracks formed in the surrounding space. Swish! The azure blade pierced through the air as it mercilessly slashed downwards towards Zhao Xiansun with destructive power. Zhao Xiansun raised his brow as he waved his sleeve. Boundless Genesis Qi converged towards him, forming a ten-thousand-foot-wide pair of wings. The wings blotted out the sun, their crystal-clear feathers sparkling under the light. Clang! The azure blade collided with a wing, causing layers of space to crumble around them. The other Law Domain stage experts were greatly alarmed, and they quickly moved to neutralize the aftershocks from the clash. Otherwise, the land below would be instantly destroyed. Zhao Xiansun indifferently asked, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, are you crazy?¡± Chi Jing let out an icy chuckle. ¡°Zhao Xiansun, I never imagined that a mighty Law Domain expert like yourself would be so despicable. Aren¡¯t you afraid that your petty tricks would bring shame to the Wanzu Region?¡± She pointed towards the compass. The other Law Domain experts followed her finger and instantly found that Zhou Yuan and Zhao Mushen had met, causing them to frown slightly. As Law Domain experts, none of them were fools. Hence, they knew that it was indeed far too unlikely for Zhou Yuan and Zhao Mushen to meet in the very first round. Zhao Mushen merely smiled and said, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, don¡¯t make baseless accusations. Do you have any proof?¡± He had done it very cleanly and was not afraid of being discovered. Hence, the other party could not do anything to him as long as he did not admit to it. Chi Jing, however, had no intentions of arguing. Icy light flashed in her eyes as she slowly raised a slender finger. Azure light pulsed from her body. In the next instant, an enormous azure Law Domain appeared behind her. Endless azure wind howled within the Law Domain. The wind possessed devastating power and could turn everything into nothingness wherever it passed. Wind God Law Domain! Zhao Xiansun¡¯s eyes widened when he saw that Chi Jing had actually directly brought out her Law Domain. Only a Law Domain could match another, and even he did not dare to easily let himself fall into someone else¡¯s Law Domain. Hence, he let out an icy snort and waved his sleeve. A Law Domain abruptly surged out from him, spreading outwards. Within this Law Domain, one could see a seemingly endless flood of flying creatures that gave off a majestic presence. Immortal Falcon Law Domain! It was said that Zhao Xiansun¡¯s Immortal Falcon Law Domain possessed terrifying might and had once devoured a hundred thousand miles of mountains in a single gulp. The two Law Domain experts faced each other, filling the entire area with a murderous aura. The other Law Domain experts cried out for them to stop. If they fought with their Law Domains, the nearby Fallen Abyss might be affected. If that happened, the disciples of the nine regions would likely suffer tremendous losses. The gray-robed Zixiao Region Law Domain expert, the elder Lu Xuangang, said in a heavy voice, ¡°Neither of you will be able to take responsibility for the consequences of fighting here.¡± Jin Zhong¡¯s voice boomed like thunder, ¡°If you want to fight, find a chance to after the nine regions tournament is over.¡± The other Law Domain experts nodded in agreement, indicating that they would take action against the two if they began to fight. Lu Xuangang looked towards Zhao Xiansun. ¡°Zhao Xiansun, the nine regions tournament needs to be fair. As the host, such little tricks are unbecoming of your position.¡± Zhao Xiansun narrowed his eyes and chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t know what old brother Lu is talking about.¡± Jin Zhong of the Wushen Region laughed and said, ¡°Why are you still so shameless?¡± Zhao Xiansun¡¯s acting might work against an ordinary person, but it was useless towards Law Domain experts like them. Zhao Xiansun maintained his smile, ignoring Jin Zhong¡¯s mockery. His skin was clearly very thick, and his character unscrupulous. The Law Domain expert from the Yaogui Region had fair skin and no eyebrows. Several glowing beads rolled between his fingers as he displayed a slight smile and said, ¡°Everyone, it¡¯s useless to bicker about such things. Even if Zhao Xiansun did do something, the blame is on us for not realizing it.¡± This person was called Zhen Yu, and he was quite a famous individual in Hunyuan Heaven. However, his words were clearly in support of Zhao Xiansun. For a time, the Law Domain experts in the air bickered, creating a rather noisy atmosphere. But from the looks of it, there was no longer any way for the battle to continue. A Law Domain expert watching the compass suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Eh? Zhou Yuan ran away with his team?¡± The arguing paused as everyone immediately cast over their gaze. Sure enough, they saw the glowing dot that represented Zhou Yuan flee from the mini domain. Lu Xuangang¡¯s gaze flashed, and he suddenly remarked, ¡°Zhao Mushen¡¯s attack is chasing him¡­¡± The other Law Domain experts nodded. They had likewise sensed an extremely powerful attack pursuing Zhou Yuan. It was evidently from Zhao Mushen. Chi Jing watched closely. Everyone wanted to know if Zhou Yuan would be able to neutralize Zhao Mushen¡¯s attack. Under the Law Domain experts¡¯ watching eyes, Zhou Yuan escaped to another mini domain before turning around to meet the pursuing attack. Zhou Yuan¡¯s glowing dot flickered violently. A dozen breaths later, the dot dimmed a little but still continued to glow... He had neutralized Zhao Mushen¡¯s killing move! The numerous Law Domain stage experts present raised their eyebrows slightly. The outcome was a little unexpected. Zhou Yuan seemed to have some ability. To think that someone who had only unlocked eight Divine Dwellings would be able to exchange a blow with the king of the Divine Dwelling stage, Zhao Mushen... The terrifying undulations around Chi Jing gradually calmed down. Her nearly vertical brows also returned to normal as the Law Domain behind her dissipated. She cast an indifferent glance at Zhao Xiansun. Although he still maintained his smiling appearance, Chi Jing could sense the hidden rage in his eyes. ¡°Zhao Xiansun, remember these despicable actions of yours. If there¡¯s an opportunity in the future, the Tianyuan Region will make you pay.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s icy voice rang out as her figure descended, arriving beside the compass once more. The other Law Domain experts inwardly shook their heads as they glanced at Zhao Xiansun. He had really been humiliated this time. His painstaking efforts had ultimately borne no fruit. It truly was trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice to bait it. Zhao Xiansun had lost face for no reason. Zhao Xiansun also withdrew his Law Domain and silently returned to his position. However, his fists involuntarily clenched within his sleeves. Zhao Mushen, what the hell are you doing! I can¡¯t believe you actually let that trash escape! an angry roar echoed in his heart. In the end, he restrained his anger. It was fine to have failed this time. He believed that Zhao Mushen would have plenty of chances in the future. Zhou Yuan might have been able to escape like a sorry dog that had lost its home, but he would not be so lucky next time. Chapter 945 Fallen Shadow Zhou Yuan was seated on a boulder. The surrounding Genesis Qi continuously flowed towards him, turning into Heavenly Serpent Qi after being refined by the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. It poured into his Divine Dwelling to replenish his reserves. After recovering his Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan did not stop immediately but instead pondered for a moment before submerging his mind into his Divine Dwelling. Zhou Yuan had currently unlocked and connected eight Divine Dwellings, making it extremely vast. Over 30 million Genesis Qi stars twinkled within, giving off a dazzling radiance. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze looked towards the barrier of the ninth Divine Dwelling. It looked like a mottled shell that was covering the entire ninth Divine Dwelling. With a thought, light exploded from all 38 million Genesis Qi stars. The light sprinkled down onto the mottled barrier, slowly grinding away at it. This continued for two hours. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows could not help but furrow. There was negligible progress. From this, one could see just how difficult it was to open up the ninth Divine Dwelling. It truly felt as if he was trying to grind an iron rod into a needle. Moreover, he had a strange feeling that there was something inside the ninth Divine Dwelling that made it much harder to unlock... I should have saved that Divine Dwelling Immeasurable Fruit¡­ The thought flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, but he soon shook his head. He had a feeling that even the fruit would fail to help him immediately unblock the ninth Divine Dwelling. There was something strange about his ninth Divine Dwelling that he could not explain. Zhou Yuan felt a little distressed. It seemed that having a Divine Dwelling of too high a grade brought its own problems. Plagued by these troubles, he could only withdraw from his Divine Dwelling and open his eyes. Nearby, Yi Qiushui immediately flew over when she saw him open his eyes. She asked with concern, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned and nodded. ¡°How¡¯s the scouting going? Are there any problems?¡± Yi Qiushui answered, ¡°After carefully searching for half a day, it¡¯s likely that we¡¯re the only team in this mini domain¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was not surprised. In the first place, it was quite unlikely to meet another team in every mini domain. There were uncountable mini domains in the Fallen Abyss, and even several tens of thousands of individuals could not fill them all. Yi Qiushui smiled and said, ¡°While you were recovering, I sent them to search for Spiritium.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Although the Fallen Abyss was filled with danger, there were also numerous opportunities. If he intended to unblock his ninth Divine Dwelling as soon as possible, he would likely need to find some kind of special opportunity. The figures soon landed in the valley. It was Shang Xiaoling and a few others. ¡°Chief pavilion master, we¡¯ve discovered a place rich in Spiritium. However, we¡¯ve also found some very strange things there. We¡¯re guessing that they¡¯re Fallen Shadows,¡± reported Shang Xiaoling. ¡°Fallen Shadows?¡± Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback. He knew of these Fallen Shadows. Due to the Fallen Abyss¡¯s unique environment, the practitioners that died within it would turn into mindless shadows of their past selves. These existances were known as Fallen Shadows. The shadows retained some of their power from when they were alive, and they also possessed certain special abilities due to the special characteristics of the Fallen Abyss. These Fallen Shadows were considered one of the most dangerous existences in the Fallen Abyss. However, Fallen Shadows also came in varying degrees of power. It was said that the Fallen Shadows would grow stronger the deeper they ventured into the Fallen Abyss. In fact, it was even rumored that Law Domain shadows existed. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment before he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go and take a look.¡± Shang Xiaoling nodded before flying off to lead the way while Zhou Yuan and Yi Qiushui followed. The group travelled at full speed and finally reached their destination an hour later. Zhou Yuan stood on a hill, his eyes directed to the front where a giant lake could be seen. The lake was covered in mists that completely blocked off one¡¯s senses. Despite this, one could faintly make out flickering light flowing at the bottom of the lake. It was Spiritium. Currently, several hundred Tianyuan Region members were gathered around the lake. They stared in desire at the lake bottom, but no one dared to rashly step in. ¡°Chief pavilion master, twenty members entered at the very beginning, but no one has yet to come out. After some probing, we discovered that the mist on the lake is likely a Genesis Rune boundary. ¡°We gathered a team proficient in Genesis Runes, but the progress has been rather slow and will likely take some time. We¡¯re worried that if it takes too long, the members trapped inside the mist will be at risk,¡± explained Shang Xiaoling. Zhou Yuan focused on the thick mist. It seemed to churn without any pattern, but he could keenly sense a peculiar undulation. ¡°It is indeed a Genesis Rune boundary,¡± said Zhou Yuan. Moreover, he could faintly feel a powerful undulation hidden deep within the mist. If his guess was correct, it should be a Fallen Shadow. ¡°Can it be broken?¡± asked Yi Qiushui. She knew that Zhou Yuan was one of the most proficient in Genesis Runes among the Divine Dwelling practitioners of the Tianyuan Region. ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Zhou Yuan fell into thought. Since there were people trapped inside, they could not afford to delay, or things would become dangerous. His figure moved, flying through the air like a great peng as he cast himself into the thick mists. When he entered, Zhou Yuan immediately felt his body sink as if he had fallen into a swamp. Furthermore, the surrounding mist seemed to endlessly rush towards him from every direction. As more and more mist converged around him, Zhou Yuan felt the Genesis Qi circulation in his body turn somewhat sluggish. Zhou Yuan raised his brow slightly. This boundary is quite problematic. No wonder so many people fell into its clutches earlier. However, he did not panic. Spirit light began to flicker between his brows, and his Spirit began reaching out to explore the boundary. To destroy it, he needed to find the boundary¡¯s nodes. It was times like this that Zhou Yuan somewhat missed the Decoder Saint Rune. If it were still around, he would easily find the boundary nodes with a single glance. Without it, he could only rely on his Spirit and his Genesis Rune proficiency. Zhou Yuan slowly walked forward, allowing the layers of mist to stick onto his body. He could see numerous mysterious Genesis marks in the depths of the mist. Together, these Genesis marks made up the mist boundary. As long as he could decipher the pattern, he would naturally be able to seek out the nodes. Zhou Yuan carefully observed the marks. Moments later, his eyes flickered faintly as if he discovered something. As time passed, however, he seemed oblivious to the increasing amount of mist sticking to his body... Swish! The mist faintly rippled some distance behind him as an almost invisible silhouette stealthily shot forward. A blow containing terrifying power viciously headed for Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. Just as the palm was about to hit him, the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips curved slightly as he muttered to himself, ¡°Finally come out?¡± Spirit light flickered between his brows as Spirit fire erupted and swiftly enveloped his body. Chch! The thick mist that stuck to his body was instantly burned away by the Spirit fire. The Genesis Qi circulation in his body immediately returned to normal. The Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his hand, pulsing with majestic Genesis Qi as it thrust towards a certain spot behind him like lightning. Thud! Two forces collided, causing a berserk shock wave to sweep outwards. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure jerked slightly as he took a step back, and the silhouette was also forced back. Realizing that Zhou Yuan had not been bound by the mist, it immediately turned around to hide itself in the mist. Zhou Yuan chuckled as he flicked a finger at it, sending out a dozen balls of Spirit fire. However, the Spirit fireballs did not chase the silhouette but instead charged into the mist in different directions. Zhou Yuan displayed a faint smile. ¡°Since you¡¯ve shown yourself, I¡¯ll begin by burning your nest.¡± Zhou Yuan already knew the silhouette was a Fallen Shadow the moment it appeared. The entire boundary had been drawn in when it attacked, allowing Zhou Yuan to see the boundary¡¯s nodes. Thud! The mist boundary violently rippled as his voice rang out. A muffled groan followed as a wave of fire unfurled, and the thick mist thinned. The boundary had been broken! Swish! The mist rapidly dissipated as an angry roar thundered. A blurry figure shot out from the fading mist, unleashing a frantic barrage of attacks on Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was finally able to take a good look at the silhouette. It retained a human appearance, but its body gave off a faded sensation. Its face was blurry, and the strong Genesis Qi undulations that spread from its body would make anyone wary. Clang! Clang! Zhou Yuan waved the Heavenly Yuan Brush, blocking every attack that was sent toward him. As the mist dissipated, his eyes suddenly widened. He had discovered twenty vortexes in the lake, a human figure trapped within each one. Tubes made from water reached out from the vortexes, connecting to the Fallen Shadow. Red qi was continuously being extracted through the tubes. It was blood qi. The Fallen Shadow was extracting their blood. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. He waved his sleeve, sweeping up the remaining mist as he shouted, ¡°Bombard it!¡± The several hundred Tianyuan Region members around the lake likewise discovered the Fallen Shadow. Genesis Qi immediately erupted from them when they heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s shout. Boom! In the next instant, several hundred torrents of Genesis Qi ruthlessly blasted the Fallen Shadow. Boom boom! Genesis Qi exploded, and the Fallen Shadow released a miserable shriek. Its body rippled violently and began to fade as it staggered backwards. Sensing the direness of the situation, the Fallen Shadow suddenly transformed into a blur and fled towards the depths of the lake. Swoosh! However, a shadow instantly appeared in front of it the moment it moved. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers clenched into a fist as snow-white brush hairs wrapped around his hand. Genesis Breaker! The hairs turned pitch-black. Thirty-eight million Genesis Qi stars twinkled behind him. Boom! The punch struck the Fallen Shadow¡¯s rippling body. A piercing shriek erupted before its entire body blasted apart. Zhou Yuan clearly saw a dazzling core emerge from the epicenter of the explosion, and he immediately grabbed it. It was a fist-sized orb. The orb was crystal-clear and seemed to contain a unique power. Before Zhou Yuan could identify it, the orb rapidly melted and flowed into his body through his palm. Zhou Yuan cried out in surprise. Before he could inspect the interior of his body, his heart shook as a dazzling radiance suddenly exploded from his eyes. Chapter 946 Liu Qingshu, Zhao Yunxiao He never imagined that the core Genesis orb of the Fallen Shadow would have such a miraculous effect! ¡°It¡¯s like they sent me a pillow when I¡¯m feeling drowsy.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but laugh. He had just been wracking his brains and worrying about the progress of his ninth Divine Dwelling. Who could have expected a solution to appear in the blink of an eye? Although it was not as straightforward as consuming a Divine Dwelling Immeasurable Fruit, it did not have the disadvantage of only working once. In other words, as long as he gathered a sufficient amount of cores, he could borrow their power to unlock his ninth Divine Dwelling. In the lake, the twenty trapped Tianyuan Region members regained their freedom when the Fallen Shadow was slain. They stumbled into the water before climbing out, each one looking rather pale. Several people quickly rushed over to support them. Zhou Yuan lowered his head and looked towards the lake. As the mist faded, the water became clear. He could clearly see dazzling Spiritium swimming inside the lake like fish. Zhou Yuan raised his head and said to Yi Qiushui and the others, ¡°Prepare to harvest the Spiritium.¡± Cheers instantly exploded around him. In the next instant, splashes endlessly sounded. Zhou Yuan flew onto a hill and called Shang Xiaoling over. ¡°Double the scouting group. If anyone finds any signs of a Fallen Shadow, directly report back to me.¡± Since he discovered the benefit of a Fallen Shadow, Zhou Yuan was naturally not going to let any escape. In his eyes, Fallen Shadows had become extremely attractive, even more so than ordinary Spiritium. Shang Xiaoling nodded and left to carry out his instructions. An incense stick of time later, the Spiritium in the lake was thoroughly cleaned out by everyone¡¯s joint efforts. Everyone was filled with happiness. The low morale due to being chased away by Zhao Mushen had fully recovered. Zhou Yuan subsequently dispatched them to search the mini domain while he waited for any news. Hence, the team led by Zhou Yuan thoroughly searched the mini domain over the next two days. Over this period, they found a total of four locations rich in Spiritium and managed to obtain over two hundred strands of Spiritium overall. Besides Spiritium, they found another two Fallen Shadows. Sure enough, Zhou Yuan obtained two more Fallen Genesis Orbs, which melted away a little more of his ninth Divine Dwelling barrier. Such progress was much quicker than using his Genesis Qi to slowly grind away at it! The good news put Zhou Yuan in quite a good mood. ... Strong winds howled in the domain, and the environment looked rather terrible. Zhou Yuan stood on a barren hill, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gazed upon the newly entered mini domain. He carefully felt the concentration of the surrounding Genesis Qi. Moments later, he raised his brows and remarked, ¡°The Genesis Qi concentration of this mini domain is higher than the previous two.¡± By the side, Yi Qiushui nodded and said with a solemn expression, ¡°It means it will also be more dangerous. Moreover...the chances of meeting another team from the eight regions will be higher.¡± The higher the concentration of Genesis Qi, the more Spiritium would be born. At the same time, it was also more likely for them to encounter another team, making the competition even more intense. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment before he looked towards Sheng Xiaoling and the others. ¡°Send out some scouts to carefully explore the place. If they encounter any teams, find out their identities and strength.¡± Sheng Xiaoling immediately acknowledged his command and quickly picked out a hundred members. The selected group soon dispersed in all directions like birds. Zhou Yuan instructed the others to be on guard. He had a feeling that there was definitely going to be another team in this mini domain. If the other party was hostile, a battle would likely await them...unless they were unlucky enough to meet Zhao Mushen¡¯s team again. If so, they would continue running. At this thought, Zhou Yuan felt a little helpless. The feeling of being constantly suppressed was something he had not felt for many years. However, it also motivated him to unlock his ninth Divine Dwelling as soon as possible. Zhou Yuan and the remaining members waited on the hill for about two hours. He then saw a dozen figures fly over from a distance with Shang Xiaoling at their head. From afar, he seemed to see a grave expression on Shang Xiaoling¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan immediately gestured with his hand. The several hundred figures behind him tensed their bodies and prepared themselves for what was coming. Shang Xiaoling soon landed and quickly arrived at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. ¡°There are indeed other teams in this mini domain. We found a total of two: Liu Qingshu of the Wanzu Region leads one, while Zhao Yunxiao of the Wushen Region leads the other.¡± ¡°Liu Qingshu and Zhao Yunxiao¡­¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself. The second name caused a strange look to emerge on his face. It was a name he deeply remembered. During his encounter with Wu Yao in the Great Wu Empire¡¯s capital, Zhao Yunxiao had launched a sneak attack on him. In fact, it could be said that there was a grudge between them. As for Liu Qingshu, he had likewise heard of her. She was quite famous and had a pretty high rank on the Divine Dwelling List. ¡°It seems that we are quite fated to meet the Wanzu Region.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Among the three mini domains they had entered, they encountered teams from the Wanzu Region in two of them. Shang Xiaoling said, ¡°When our scouts encountered them, they also discovered our presence.¡± She hesitated for a moment before she continued, ¡°Liu Qingshu and Zhao Yunxiao have requested you to meet with them and discuss how the Spiritium in this mini domain will be split.¡± Zhou Yuan responded, ¡°Since they¡¯re inviting me over, let¡¯s go and see what they have to say.¡± Yi Qiushui worriedly said, ¡°Will it be a trap?¡± ¡°You guys be on guard and carefully watch the surroundings when we¡¯re there. I¡¯ll go meet them and see what they¡¯re up to.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled before he continued, ¡°Liu Qingshu and Zhao Yunxiao may not be weak, but it will be naive of them to believe they will be able to stop me from leaving.¡± In the Fallen Abyss, if one were to disregard each team¡¯s overall strength, only the top few rankers would be able to make Zhou Yuan wary. At the very least, the likes of Liu Qingshu and Zhao Yunxiao were not enough to concern him. With his decision made, Zhou Yuan waved his hand and led the way by rising into the air. Behind him, several hundred people closely followed. An hour later, Zhou Yuan looked towards the front. Amidst the strong winds, two figures were visible atop a hill. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted down to the foot of the hill, where two several-hundred-member-strong teams were waiting. Zhou Yuan made a gesture towards Yi Qiushui and the others. His figure soon sped up and slowly descended towards the hill after several dozen breaths. When he landed, the two figures on the hill cast their gazes towards him. Zhou Yuan also looked over. Liu Qingshu was a pretty young lady and had a pure face. However, a faint seductive allure seemed to spread from between her brows. When she looked at Zhou Yuan, her eyes contained undisguised proudness. Zhou Yuan turned towards Zhao Yunxiao. The latter smiled back with a toyful gaze. Smiling, Zhao Yunxiao said, ¡°Tsktsk, Zhou Yuan, I never expected you to become the chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region in the few years since we met. How surprising. ¡°However, you truly know how to pick a place.¡± His words seemed to be full of praise, but his tone was sarcastic. The meaning was clear: if Zhou Yuan were in any of the other eight regions, he would not have such status. Zhou Yuan glanced at him and nonchalantly replied, ¡°A mere rat that likes to sneak up behind people...back then, I had recently advanced to the Divine Dwelling stage, and yet your sneak attack could do nothing to me. It seems to me that you haven¡¯t improved much since then.¡± Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°What big words!¡± By the side, Liu Qingshu immediately waved her hand upon seeing the fiery atmosphere between them and said, ¡°The two of you can resolve your differences another day. Our current goal is to decide on how to allocate the Spiritium in this mini domain.¡± Zhou Yuan turned towards Liu Qingshu. How could he not see the proud attitude she displayed? However, he ignored it and asked, ¡°How shall we do this, then?¡± Liu Qingshu smiled faintly and answered, ¡°Since we arrived earlier, we¡¯ve already scouted the entire place and found a total of nine locations with Spiritium. ¡°After some discussion, we¡¯ve decided that my Wanzu Region shall get four locations, the Wushen Region three, and your Tianyuan Region may harvest the remaining two.¡± Her tone was nonchalant. It seemed to be a discussion, but her words indicated that they had already decided on the outcome. Zhao Yunxiao nodded, still grinning from ear to ear as he stared at Zhou Yuan. Liu Qingshu looked at Zhou Yuan and displayed a sweet smile. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, your Tianyuan Region may suffer slightly with this allocation, but you should know the saying first come, first served. Won¡¯t it be better for everyone to share the spoils peacefully without any bloodshed?¡± Although her smile was sweet, her words clearly contained a small threat. Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± A sliver of disdain flitted across Liu Qingshu¡¯s eyes. However, the smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face soon receded as he indifferently said, ¡°But unfortunately, I¡¯m a barbarian who loves bloodshed. Hence, I¡¯ll be taking all nine of the Spiritium locations. Chapter 947 Negotiations Fall Through When Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out, Liu Qingshu¡¯s and Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s faces clearly changed, especially Liu Qingshu¡¯s. Her brows nearly arched till they were vertical, and frost covered her face. She was a heaven pride of the Wanzu Region. Although she was right below the top ten, she was still one of Wanzu Region¡¯s shining pearls with countless admirers. Even Zhao Mushen would adopt a gentle tone when speaking to her. Hence, she had a sense of superiority over Zhou Yuan from the start. In her eyes, a prestigious individual like herself was already being very respectful by inviting him over to discuss things. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that Zhou Yuan would dare to be so rude to her! To think that he even had the gall to say such crude words! He is basically an unappreciative and ungrateful fool! Liu Qingshu shot Zhou Yuan an icy stare. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan is very bold to speak so rudely to my Wanzu Region. You¡¯re the first person to do so for many years!¡± Liu Qingshu was evidently not easy to deal with. Zhou Yuan¡¯s words had clearly been directed at her, but she had twisted it to become the Wanzu Region. If word of this were to spread, the entire Wanzu Region would be hostile to Zhou Yuan. She sneered and said, ¡°If I meet senior brother Zhao later on, I will tell him what you said word for word.¡± This was an attempt to intimidate him using Zhao Mushen¡¯s name. Contrary to her expectation, Zhou Yuan merely chuckled and said, ¡°Zhao Mushen, huh? Don¡¯t worry. There is already a debt to settle between us. I already encountered him in the first mini domain, and he is indeed very formidable.¡± These words shocked Liu Qingshu and Zhao Yunxiao. Zhou Yuan had met Zhao Mushen in the first mini domain? Then why could he still appear here? Could he have escaped from Zhao Mushen¡¯s hands? But the team he brought didn¡¯t seem to have suffered much losses. Liu Qingshu frowned. ¡°Full of nonsense. I¡¯m starting to think you talked your way into becoming chief pavilion master. If you really did meet my first senior brother, how could you possibly have escaped given your abilities?¡± In her heart, Zhao Mushen was an invincible existence in their generation. Zhou Yuan, on the other hand, was someone no one in Hunyuan Heaven had even heard of before a year ago. Although others said that he was a super dark horse, was there any lack of such super dark horses over the years? Despite this, all of these super dark horses could only become stepping stones for true monsters like Zhao Mushen, becoming mere paragraphs in his invincible legend. Hence, Liu Qingshu did not believe a single word Zhou Yuan had said. Liu Qingshu shook her head as a faint trace of iciness filled her voice. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I have zero interest in playing such games with you. Since you refuse to acknowledge the outcome of our discussion, leave this mini domain with your team.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the pair as if he was looking at two idiots. ¡°Leave? Do you think you¡¯re Zhao Mushen?¡± The mockery in his words made Liu Qingshu¡¯s face even icier. ¡°It seems that you want to use force?¡± Amused, Zhao Yunxiao said, ¡°Although your team consists of the Tianyuan Region elites, if you act rashly, the two of us will have no choice but to join forces and teach you the rules.¡± As he spoke, his figure moved behind Zhou Yuan, blocking his retreat path. At the same time, Zhao Yunxiao exchanged a look with Liu Qingshi, and both waved their hands. Rumble! Majestic Genesis Qi immediately erupted from the two teams behind them. Over a thousand figures shot forth, landing directly between Zhou Yuan and the Tianyuan Region team. Meanwhile, Yi Qiushui also sensed the atmosphere change. A fierce look arose in her eyes as she immediately gave a command. Torrential Genesis Qi exploded from the Tianyuan Region group as they faced the other two teams. ¡°It seems that the negotiations have fallen through.¡± Shang Xiaoling¡¯s expression was grave. Yi Qiushui nodded. ¡°Act according to the plan.¡± On the way here, Zhou Yuan had already anticipated this outcome and had come up with a countermeasure. ¡°Are we really going to release all of our Genesis Qi when we fight?¡± Shang Xiaoling was a little hesitant. After arriving at the Fallen Abyss, it had become rather difficult to replenish their Genesis Qi, causing them to use it sparingly. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s plan was for them to use their Genesis Qi without reservation. But if they did so, though their battle power would be greater, what would they do about their Genesis Qi consumption? Much time would undoubtedly be wasted if they had to stay here to recover. Yi Qiushui was silent for a moment before she said, ¡°Do as he says. Only by overcoming the now will we have a next time.¡± Shang Xiaoling said nothing further on this topic and swiftly disseminated the instructions. Genesis Qi unfurled as the three parties faced each other. On the hill, Zhou Yuan likewise sensed the face-off behind them. He tilted his head, shot a glance at Zhao Yunxiao, then turned towards Liu Qingshu with a smile. ¡°Are the two of you planning to attack me together?¡± Liu Qingshu displayed a faint smile and answered, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan is the number one Divine Dwelling expert of the Tianyuan Region after all. Isn¡¯t it logical for us to give you such respect?¡± She was very cunning. Although she appeared to have nothing but disdain for Zhou Yuan¡¯s status, she did not hesitate to use the numbers advantage against him. She was completely oblivious to the mockery in Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. The prettier a woman, the more dangerous she was. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained nonchalant. ¡°Is this your final decision?¡± Zhao Yunxiao let out an icy chuckle. ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you still going to put up an act at this juncture? Do you really believe your ninth rank has any worth in our eyes? ¡°I may have failed to kill you in a single strike back then, but you can try me again today!¡± Zhao Yunxiao was very envious of Zhou Yuan¡¯s current status. After all, the Tianyuan Region was still one of the nine regions no matter how much it had fallen. As someone who could become the core of one of the nine regions, Zhou Yuan¡¯s status was essentially equal to Wu Yao¡¯s, the very same status Zhao Yunxiao had failed to achieve even after working hard for many years. And yet, this Cangxuan Heaven country bumpkin, whom he had only disdain for, had actually achieved it! Rumble! Boundless Genesis Qi abruptly soared into the sky. Genesis Qi sparkled in the air, revealing countless stars. There were a total of 33 million! Such Genesis Qi foundations were stronger than Lu Hai¡¯s and the others¡¯. From this, one could see how much strength the Wushen Region¡¯s heaven prides had concealed. It was all for the sake of astonishing everyone in the nine regions tournament. As Zhao Yunxiao felt the boundless power in his body, his heart overflowed with confidence. He cast a disdainful glance at Zhou Yuan and shouted, ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you cannot appreciate our kind gesture, I will make you understand that you don¡¯t even have the qualifications to bargain with us! Chapter 948 Wushen Hex and Six Dragon Circlets Thirty-three million Genesis Qi stars twinkled in the air as an imposing pressure spread from Zhao Yunxiao. This was not the end. He fiercely stared at Zhou Yuan and sneered, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I know that your Tianyuan Region has the four spirit runes, but do you think the other eight regions do not have something similar? ¡°I¡¯m going to show you the huge disparity between the heaven prides of our eight regions and the so-called heaven prides of the top-tier factions you¡¯ve defeated before!¡± As his shout rang out, Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s hands rapidly formed a series of seals. ¡°Wushen Hex!¡± A peculiar undulation pulsed from Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s body. Zhou Yuan watched as curse seals slowly appeared on the surface of Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s skin. There were a total of four curse seals! The appearance of each curse seal made the Genesis Qi stars behind Zhao Yunxiao jump in number by 3 million! When all four curse seals appeared, his Genesis Qi rose to 45 million! Zhou Yuan¡¯s composed face finally changed a little as he stared at the glowing curse seals that had appeared on Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s body. So this is the Wushen Hex, a secret technique similar to the four spirit runes that could temporarily boost one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations. The Wushen Hex was not the least bit inferior to the four spirit runes. This was the first time Zhou Yuan had seen a technique that could match the four spirit runes since arriving in Hunyuan Heaven. The nine regions did live up to their reputation. At the sight of Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression, Zhao Yunxiao laughed and said, ¡°The Wushen Hex has a total of five curse seals, but I¡¯ve only reached the stage of having four curse seals. If you meet junior sister Wu Yao, she will let you experience the might of the complete Wushen Hex.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly calculated in his mind: Each curse seal can add 3 million Genesis Qi stars, so five would be 15 million. In a certain manner of speaking, it was a little stronger than the four spirit runes. Of course, if he activated the second form of the four spirit runes, the Four Spirits Origin Diagram, the four spirit runes would be a little stronger than the Wushen Hex. At that level, however, a small boost would not bring about a significant advantage. In other words, the four spirit runes would not let him steamroll the apex heaven prides of the nine regions because the other eight regions also had something similar. It seems that the heaven prides from the other eight regions can¡¯t be underestimated. Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. Of course, he was not referring to the likes of Zhao Yunxiao, but Wu Yao... Her Genesis Qi foundations were even stronger than Zhao Yunxiao, reaching a total of 35 million! ¡°Since the Wushen Region has shown their secret technique, I¡¯ll also invite chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan to give his opinion on my Wanzu Region¡¯s technique.¡± Her hands met in front of her, and the roar of a dragon echoed in the surroundings. Four rings of light appeared around her slender body, and dragon silhouettes coiled around the glowing rings, giving off an alarming pressure. Her Genesis Qi rapidly rose by 12 million, reaching a total of 47 million! ¡°This is the secret technique of my Wanzu Region, the Six Dragon Circlets. However, I¡¯ve only reached the four-circlet stage due to my insufficient talent.¡± Liu Qingshu chuckled softly. Zhou Yuan raised his eyelids. Liu Qingshu was stronger than before. It was honestly somewhat depressing. The heaven prides from the other eight regions had concealed their strength, while the Tianyuan Region was just...weak. Without him, the Tianyuan Region would essentially be a punching bag during the nine regions tournament. Master, if you keep on being absent, the situation might become dire for the Tianyuan Region. Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. The Tianyuan Region was far too big of a property and was easily coveted by others. Furthermore, things were worsening over the years, and there was definitely an extremely powerful existence secretly pushing things along in the dark. From how the Wanzu Region had targeted him previously, that powerful existence might be supreme sovereign Wan Zu. Zhou Yuan appeared a little distracted as he thought about this. Liu Qingshu¡¯s eyes flashed, and she suddenly flicked her finger. Boom! The ground under Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet suddenly crumbled as countless streams of Genesis Qi broke out and swiftly wrapped around his body like a python. Liu Qingshu smiled and said, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, getting distracted is not a good habit.¡± Rumble! Zhao Yunxiao released a howl as boundless Genesis Qi surged out from behind him like layers of dark clouds. A terrifying pressure spread out, and he appeared behind Zhou Yuan in a flash. He threw a punch, and the surrounding space shook, an enormous crack emerging under his feet. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I may have failed to kill you in a single punch back then, but I will make up for it this time!¡± Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s laughter boomed like thunder. He had taken the split-second opportunity when Zhou Yuan was being bound to send a vicious punch toward his back. The disdain in Liu Qingshu¡¯s eyes grew even greater. What chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region? What a fool to have succumbed to any random move. Su Youwei must be blind to implicate herself with such a person, disgracing someone of her status for no reason. Thud! Boundless Genesis Qi exploded on Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. However, Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s expression abruptly changed. He had discovered that Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had burst apart and flowed downwards like a shadow. ¡°Oh, no!¡± His heart sank, but before he could move, the shadow reformed behind him. ¡°I would be more careful if it were Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen, but who the hell do you think the two of you are?¡± Zhou Yuan merely let them jump about because he wanted to see the secret techniques of the Wushen and Wanzu Regions. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were indifferent. A split second later, 38 Genesis Qi stars exploded. Four spirit runes activate! Four Spirits Origin Diagram! Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi leaped directly to 58 million! ¡°Mythic Saint Body!¡± Dazzling jade light erupted from his body. ¡°Azure serpent form!¡± Azure scales emerged layer by layer. Zhou Yuan¡¯s presence rapidly grew, reaching an alarming level. His eyes remained indifferent as his palm swatted forth. Vast Genesis Qi surged under his palm, blasting apart the space in its path as it swept towards Zhao Yunxiao like a tidal wave. Horror came to Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s face. Only then did he realize that his information about Zhou Yuan was outdated. The power Zhou Yuan displayed was far greater than before! Genesis Qi frantically surged in Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s body as he roared, ¡°Wushen Armor!¡± Genesis Qi condensed outside his skin, forming an offensive battle armor. The battle armor was different from Silver Shadow. One was a Genesis technique, while the other was made from Genesis Qi. This was Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s strongest defense! He knew that he only needed to delay Zhou Yuan for an instant, and Liu Qingshu would find an opportunity to help him out of this difficult situation. When the Genesis Qi battle armor took shape, Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm finally arrived. Clang! A ripple visible to the naked eye unfurled, and the entire hill crumbled, dust filling the air. Crack! The Wushen Armor Zhao Yunxiao had placed his hopes on did not live up to his expectations. Cracks swiftly spread across his armor, and it burst apart with a bang. Urgh! Berserk energy swept into his body like a flood. Zhao Yunxiao cried out in misery as blood wildly spurted from his mouth. His body flew like a cannonball, blasting through several hills along the way. Thud! In the end, he smeared a several-thousand-foot-long track on the ground before a pile of dirt buried him. The dust in the air slowly fell. Some distance away, the three teams stared at the scene in shock. No one had expected that after such a long wind-up time, Zhao Yunxiao, who had seemed so overwhelming, would be swatted away by Zhou Yuan in a single strike. Moreover, Zhou Yuan had found the chance to send out this fight-ending strike in a two-versus-one situation. The silence lasted for a moment before Zhou Yuan let out a soft sigh. He indifferently looked towards the pile of dirt in the distance as he said, ¡°Your sneak attack has been repaid¡­¡± Chapter 949 Swallow Everything All eyes were fixed on the cracks in astonishment. Zhao Yuanxiao¡¯s imposing, icy-cold bearing was still deep in their minds when they witnessed Zhou Yuan blast him away with one punch. Zhou Yuan was that strong? Seeing this scene, Liu Qingshu, who was hovering in mid-air, couldn¡¯t stop the expression on her pretty face from changing dramatically. She might be stronger than Zhao Yuanxiao, but her strength was still limited. Since Zhou Yuan was able to defeat Zhao Yuanxiao with one punch, his attack would most likely do the same to her. Her eyes flashed, and she suddenly yelled out, ¡°Everyone of the Wushen Region, hurry and destroy the Tianyuan Region¡¯s team to avenge Zhao Yuanxiao!¡± Not far away, a commotion broke out in the Wushen Region¡¯s team. It was clear that Zhao Yuanxiao¡¯s defeat had created a bit of panic and confusion. During their hesitation, the Wushen Region¡¯s team heard a battle cry behind them, and they turned and saw the Wanzu Region¡¯s team charging toward them and racing towards the Tianyuan Region¡¯s people. This forced the Wushen Region¡¯s team to speed up. The Wushen Region¡¯s team exploded in rage. Genesis Qi surged out, and they launched attacks at the Tianyuan Region¡¯s team. But Zhou Yuan, who was situated up high, could see that the people in front were mostly all the Wushen Region¡¯s people, while the people at the back belonged to the Wanzu Region. In other words, the Wushen Region¡¯s team would bear the brunt of the counterattack from the Tianyuan Region. ¡°Liu Qingshu is very cruel-hearted.¡± Zhou Yuan glanced over Liu Qingshui. This woman looks sweet and beautiful but is so cruel-hearted. As the two teams raced over, Yi Qiushui¡¯s pretty face turned solemn, and she thundered, ¡°Attack!¡± The Tianyuan Region¡¯s team had been prepared for a long time, and they erupted with Genesis Qi, using the gushes of Genesis Qi to bombard the two teams racing over. Bang! The mountains crumbled and flattened, the repeated bombardments resembling lightning striking down. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s unreserved attack caught the Wushen Region and Wanzu Region teams off guard, causing significant damage to both. The markings on many people¡¯s bodies were destroyed, which triggered the space to distort and form vortexes that swallowed their bodies. They were directly kicked out of the mini domain. The Wushen Region and Wanzu Region teams were both suppressed to the point they couldn¡¯t lift their heads. They looked at the Tianyuan Region¡¯s people like they were looking at lunatics because they realized that the Tianyuan Region¡¯s people had no intention of using their Genesis Qi sparingly. Liu Qingshu similarly watched them in disbelief, then sneered at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, you only care about the present. Do you plan to let your team do nothing for the next period of time just to have this mini domain?¡± One recovered Genesis Qi in the Fallen Abyss very slowly, so each team would try to save their Genesis Qi or use it sparingly. It was rare to see someone use all his strength at once like Zhou Yuan and his team. Zhou Yuan''s expression remained indifferent, and he was too lazy to explain things to Liu Qiushui. With a slight movement, he turned into a stream of light and shot towards her direction. Liu Qingshu rapidly drew back, her expression changing drastically. After witnessing Zhou Yuanxiao¡¯s one-punch defeat, she didn¡¯t dare to face Zhou Yuan head-on. While retreating, she motioned to the dozens of people of the Wanzu Region. They were all Wanzu Region elites who were at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. They rushed straight towards Zhou Yuan, clearly intending to help Liu Qingshu. Seeing this from a distance, Yi Qiushui immediately commanded the team to launch a stronger attack, thereby severely wounding the teams of the Wanzu and Wushen Regions. Boom! Genesis Qi burst forth from the dozens of advanced Divine Dwelling stage elites, pierced the void, and blasted towards Zhou Yuan with terrifying power. Zhou Yuan clenched his hand, and a sword pill slowly rose. Dozens of sword lights slashed out, slicing the Genesis Qi to pieces. His eyes were biting cold as he turned into a shadow and vanished. ¡°Be careful!¡± Liu Qingshu hurriedly warned. She, who was proficient in movement-type Genesis techniques, could easily evade Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack, but the others weren¡¯t as fast. Swoosh! Her voice had only just faded when Zhou Yuan reappeared in front of a Wanzu Region expert. The sword pill in his hand unleashed rays of dazzling sword light, like comets streaking across the sky, and it slashed at the expert¡¯s body. ¡°Ah!¡± The Wanzu Region expert let out a tragic wail. His body plummeted, and the marking on his body exploded, causing the space to twist and swallow him. As soon as his attack succeeded, Zhou Yuan swiftly turned into a shadow and vanished again. In mid-air, the dozen Wanzu Region experts were thrown into disorder, and whenever Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared, one person was kicked out of the small space. Liu Qingshu¡¯s pretty face was livid, but there was nothing she could do to Zhou Yuan. For a moment, she regretted provoking him. Zhou Yuan was more tricky than she had imagined. As she watched the battle between the three teams, her complexion didn¡¯t look too good. Although the Wanzu Region and the Wushen Region were overall stronger than the Tianyuan Region, she and Zhao Yuanxiao weren¡¯t the strongest of their respective regions, so their teams weren¡¯t their regions¡¯ elites. Zhou Yuan was the number one figure in the Tianyuan Region, so in terms of strength, his team was much better than theirs. Coupled with his unreserved use of Genesis Qi, he had suppressed the two teams into defeat. But Liu Qiushu was relieved to find that the eliminated people were mostly from the Wushen Region and that the members of the Wanzu Region were still at the back, so their loss wasn¡¯t considered too bad. It was just that if the battle continued, a defeat would happen sooner or later. Liu Qingshu¡¯s beautiful eyes flashed. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, why attack so aggressively? If you aren¡¯t happy with the distribution, we can discuss it again.¡± ¡°How about if the Tianyuan Region occupies five of the nine places rich in Spiritium?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure flashed, appearing in mid-air. The dozens of Wanzu Region Divine Dwelling elites stared at him with fear. ¡°What about the Wushen Region?¡± Zhou Yuan said with a half smile. Liu Qingshu smiled slightly. ¡°You have already defeated Zhao Yunxiao, and the Wushen Region¡¯s team has suffered heavy losses. They have already lost the qualification to share Spiritium with us.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows twitched. This woman is indeed cruel-hearted. She ruthlessly kicked away the Wushen Region when she realized they were no longer useful to her. The people of the Wushen Region roared and panicked when they heard Liu Qingshu¡¯s words. Some even attempted to flee. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s team halted their attacks, waiting for Zhou Yuan¡¯s instruction. Zhou Yuan surveyed the scene and said indifferently, ¡°If you had thought like this from the beginning, how good would that be?¡± Liu Qingshu still wore a smile, but she sneered inwardly. If you weren¡¯t that tricky to deal with, you wouldn¡¯t have your present treatment! ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, although you¡¯re very strong right now, you should still think about the future, right? My team¡¯s strength isn¡¯t even considered in the top five of the Wanzu Region,¡± Liu Qingshu stated. ¡°If you take a step back now, you will gain the Wanzu Region¡¯s friendship.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Liu Qingshu indifferently. ¡°Your ability to take advantage of a situation is amazing.¡± When Liu Qingshu heard him speak so ruthlessly, rage rose inside her chest. ¡°Don¡¯t be so proud. You will regret it later!¡± she warned. Zhou Yuan shook his head. Liu Qingshu looked beautiful, but she was incredibly scheming. She only changed her tone of voice for personal gain. As for the friendship she mentioned, it was simply laughable. It was most likely hostility. If Liu Qingshu found a chance in the future, she would most likely retaliate. Zhou Yuan ran his eyes over the Wanzu Region¡¯s team. They were mostly uninjured. He wanted to swallow his opponents, but that would no doubt lead to losses on his side. So, after pondering for a while, Zhou Yuan looked Liu Qingshu directly in the eye and said, ¡°I have told you before not to think about getting a strand of hair in this mini domain. I want all the Spiritium. ¡°If you''re smart, take your people and leave now. Otherwise, your time in the nine regions tournament ends here.¡± Liu Qingshu pinned a glare at Zhou Yuan, gritting her teeth. ¡°Does chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan really want to do this?¡± Zhou Yuan remained expressionless and no longer paid attention to anyone. ¡°After ten breaths, my Tianyuan Region will launch an attack.¡± Liu Qingshu clenched her fists in anger. Zhou Yuan''s indifference made her extremely infuriated. But Zhou Yuan no longer uttered a word, and he just waited for ten breaths. As time zoomed by, the mighty Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan''s body surged once again. When ten breaths finally passed, Liu Qingshui finally made a decision. Gritting her teeth, she took a deep look at Zhou Yuan and spoke in a threatening tone, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, the nine regions tournament has just begun. Let¡¯s see how much longer you can last. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± She was very decisive and didn¡¯t hesitate after making her decision. With a loud roar, she was the first to turn around and leave. Although reluctant, the Wanzu Region¡¯s people all followed after her and chose to finally withdraw from the battle for this mini domain. Everybody from the Tianyuan Region burst into deafening cheers. They could finally stand up proud, having defeated both the Wanzu Region and the Wushen Region. But there wasn¡¯t much of a ripple of emotion in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He could feel Liu Qingshu¡¯s anger and was certain that he had made an enemy. The relationship with the Wanzu Region was most likely going to worsen. But that didn¡¯t matter. Zhou Yuan shook his head and waved to the cheering crowd. Chapter 950 Purification Jade Table A mighty arc of Genesis Qi tore the sky apart, and a mottled black brush was slightly vibrating within the arc, humming with an earthshaking noise that quaked the void. The mottled black brush descended from the sky and struck a slightly illusory figure. Rumble! Tremendous Genesis Qi shock waves swept out. Cracks split the ground and spread to the surrounding areas, forming the shape of a cobweb. It was then that the illusory figure emitting powerful Genesis Qi unleashed a tragic wail. Its body rippled, and it exploded with a rumble. A shadow mysteriously appeared behind it, and his palm instantly pierced through the illusory figure¡¯s chest to retrieve an orb. It was at that moment the shadow revealed his face. It was Zhou Yuan. He gently tossed the Fallen Genesis Orb in his hand, a satisfied smile curving his lips. After running around for an entire day, they had finally wiped out all the Fallen Shadows in the mini domain. And that Fallen Genesis Orb was the ninth one. Zhou Yuan flicked his finger, and all eight Fallen Genesis Orbs rose into the air and gathered together, illuminating the room. If he refined the nine Fallen Genesis Orbs, it should greatly weaken the barrier of the ninth Divine Dwelling. Swoosh! Hundreds of figures streaked across the air and descended. They were the members of the Tianyuan Region team responsible for driving away the Fallen Shadows. Yi Qiushui landed next to Zhou Yuan and glanced at the Fallen Genesis Orb before she said with a smile, ¡°This is the last place rich in Spiritium in this mini domain.¡± ¡°Pass on my command to collect Spiritium here,¡± Zhou Yuan said. Yi Qiushui nodded and issued the order. Then, a worried frown crossed her beautiful oval face. ¡°What?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Yi Qiushui smiled bitterly. ¡°When we were fighting against the teams of the Wanzu Region and the Wushen Region, we didn¡¯t hold back at all and exhausted our Genesis Qi. If we were to go to a new mini domain in this state, I am worried our combat strength won¡¯t be enough if we run into some strong teams. But it will take at least three days for us to fully recover.¡± All the teams were making full use of every minute to compete for Spiritium. They would undoubtedly lose out on a lot if they were to rest for three days and not move onto the next mini domain. Zhou Yuan smiled calmly. When Yi Qiushui saw his expression, she couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°Do you have a plan?¡± Zhou Yuan clenched his hand, and a jade tablet emerged in the palm of his hand. The jade tablet was marked with numerous Genesis Runes, and there even seemed to be a wisp of azure-golden Genesis Qi flowing in its depths. Although a little puzzled, Yi Qiushui still followed his instructions. She first gathered Genesis Qi into the jade tablet, and she soon saw light bloom from the jade tablet. The engraved Genesis Runes also grew brighter. In particular, a wisp of azure-golden Genesis Qi inside it emitted a faint dragon roar. Yi Qiushui held the jade tablet tight, absorbing Genesis Qi into her body. Her beautiful eyes suddenly widened! She was stunned to find that the Genesis Qi was refined quickly before it entered her Divine Dwelling. ¡°How did that happen?¡± Yi Qiushui cried out in disbelief. It should be said that the universe Genesis Qi found in the Fallen Abyss was extremely berserk, and it was precisely because of this reason that it took a lot of effort to refine and absorb Genesis Qi. But the universe Genesis Qi she previously absorbed didn¡¯t seem to have this berserk nature. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°It seems to have an effect.¡± Yi Qiushui¡¯s line of sight shifted down to the jade tablet in her hand. ¡°Because of this?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°This is the Purification Jade Tablet I created. It can purify the berserk nature of the Genesis Qi. Also, with this object, the recovery of your Genesis Qi should be able to reach 80% of that in the outside world.¡± The Purification Jade Tablet wasn¡¯t too complex, but the core object was particularly special because it was a wisp of Zhou Yuan¡¯s World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi. Zhou Yuan relied on the Ancestral Dragon Scripture to refine the berserk nature of the Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan had done several tests before, and the Purification Jade Tablet was the final product of his experiments. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you''re too amazing!¡± Yi Qiushui''s beautiful face lit up with joy. This object was a real treasure to them. Now that they had the Purification Jade Tablet, they could use their Genesis Qi without any reservation, which would be an absolute advantage when they run into other teams. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°But there is a flaw to the Purification Jade Tablet. It can¡¯t survive for more than three days. It will only continue to have an effect if you give it to me to refine it again.¡± It would become ineffective because the wisp of World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi could only exist for three days at most. Of course, there wasn¡¯t a need for him to make this point that clear. ¡°That¡¯s just a small problem.¡± Yi Qiushui shook her head. Three days was already enough for them. Moreover, they always followed Zhou Yuan around, so if it became ineffective, they could ask Zhou Yuan to refine it for them again. With a wave of his sleeve, Zhou Yuan sent hundreds of jade tablets flying out, surrounding Yi Qiushui. He said with a smile, ¡°I will have to trouble you to distribute these jade tablets so that the rest of the teams can restore their Genesis Qi after they collect the Spiritium. We have another battle next.¡± With a gentle wave, Yi Qiushui stored away the jade tablets into the beautiful spatial bag at her waist. ¡°Those guys will be very happy. They have been worried the whole day about recovering their Genesis Qi.¡± She turned around, and her beautiful figure disappeared. Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged on a boulder and began to refine and absorb the Fallen Genesis Orbs one by one. As he refined the third one, he heard a loud cheer from the crowd. ¡°Chief pavilion master is powerful!¡± ¡°Chief pavilion master is invincible!¡± ¡°......¡± They must have received the Purification Jade Tablet and burst into cheers from the excitement. Zhou Yuan smiled and closed his eyes to continue refining the orbs. By the time Zhou Yuan refined the remaining Fallen Genesis Orbs, half a day had passed. Clouds had rolled across a dimming sky, and the wind had escalated to a hurricane force, causing havoc in the mini domain. Zhou Yuan rose to his feet and swept his gaze over everyone. They had finished gathering Spiritium and were sitting in a meditative posture. They each held a purification jade tablet in one hand, absorbing the universe Genesis Qi and recovering themselves. As Zhou Yuan looked at the color of the sky, there was a glint of pensiveness in his eyes. In the Fallen Abyss, it was said that the farther one traveled, the higher the risk of danger. But Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t afraid. Instead, he looked forward to it. This was because only those highly dangerous mini domains could give birth to Alpha Spiritium. The final ranking of the nine regions tournament was based on the quantity of Spiritium, but Alpha Spiritium had a higher weight than imagined. It was said that one wisp of Alpha Spiritium equaled thousands of wisps of ordinary Spiritium. Therefore, the nine regions tournament was ultimately a competition for Alpha Spiritium. While Zhou Yuan was pondering, the members of the Tianyuan Region gradually opened their eyes, their eyes twinkling, the sign of abundant Genesis Qi. They sprang up and simultaneously bowed to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan nodded without saying much and just waved. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the next space.¡± As his voice faded away, he led the way, and hundreds of people followed. They came to the gap in the space they found before and entered one after another. ..... By the time Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, a lush green world was before him. The world was full of vitality, and the ancient forest stood tall in the distance, with beasts roaring continuously. As he surveyed the world full of vitality, his expression gradually grew solemn because the universe Genesis Qi in the domain was so rich and abundant, several times stronger than the previous domains¡¯. Moreover, immersed in the rich universe Genesis Qi, he felt a wonderful and mysterious energy that made his Divine Dwellings tremble... It was¡­ Alpha Spiritium! Chapter 951 Yuan Kun Mountains upon mountains stretched across the plains. From afar they resembled barriers standing between the sky and earth. Zhou Yuan guided the team to land on a huge peak, and when everybody descended, exclamations of joy and excitement suddenly rang out. They had discovered a large amount of Spiritium on the mountain peak! Zhou Yuan also couldn¡¯t help marveling at the intensity of the universe Genesis Qi in the mini domain. Moreover, the Spiritium born here was far different than those they had previously encountered. It should be said that they only coincidentally found this place while exploring, which suggests that there must be even more Spiritium elsewhere. But this location was wider and more spacious than others. ¡°There must be a lot of Spiritium in this mountain range. Send scouts to investigate the place and find the locations,¡± Zhou Yuan said to Shang Xiaoling. Shang Xiaoling nodded and immediately turned and passed the command to the others. Yi Qiushui, who was next to Zhou Yuan, stood on her tiptoes and whispered, ¡°The universe Genesis Qi in this mini domain is so abundant. There is a high possibility of Alpha Spiritium here,¡± she paused for a moment, ¡°which means we might meet the teams of the other eight regions here. There may even be more than one team.¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression grew solemn, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of fear on his face. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. No matter who is here, we will fight if we can. But if we can¡¯t fight, we¡¯ll run.¡± Yi Qiushui snorted and couldn¡¯t help rolling her eyes. She thought he was going to say something encouraging, not something so simple. Zhou Yuan smiled, but he didn¡¯t feel burdened. ¡°If our strength isn¡¯t enough, a temporary retreat isn¡¯t shameful. So, before I connect all nine Divine Dwellings, I don¡¯t plan to face the top four.¡± ¡°Why do I hear some arrogance in your tone of voice when you say that? Are you saying that when you meet the other four people, you will face them directly?¡± Yi Qiushui asked. It should be said that the top eight people on the Divine Dwelling List were true top heaven prides. They were the fresh blood the eight regions had carefully cultivated. Their talents and the resources they had received were enough to make the heaven prides of top sects and factions envious. Therefore, even though Zhou Yuan had defeated Lu Hai, Zhao Yuanxiao and Liu Qingshu, as well as many other heaven prides along the way, there was still a huge gap between him and the top eight people on the Divine Dwelling List. In a sense, that was even more arrogant. Zhou Yuan smiled without saying much and simply closed his eyes. He quietly felt the strange fluctuation of energy between heaven and earth that made the Divine Dwellings in his body tremble. It was Alpha Spiritium. Unfortunately, although he was able to sense the existence of Alpha Spiritium, there was no way he could locate it. It seemed that he had to explore the area carefully. A moment later, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes sprang open, and his expression changed drastically. He abruptly turned, sensing a collision of Genesis Qi occurring elsewhere in the mountain range. ¡°Tell everybody to be on the alert. The scouts have run into other teams!¡± Yi Qiushui immediately turned around and issued an order. The Tianyuan Region team collecting Spiritium on the mountain immediately sprang up and assembled at the mountain peak. With Genesis Qi surging around them, they vigilantly gazed in the direction of the Genesis Qi collision. Under everyone¡¯s guarded gaze, a sharp whistle of wind sounded from a distance. Dozens of figures were rushing over. It was the scouts they had sent out. He fixed his eyes farther away, where hundreds of figures were skimming across the sky among deafening beast roars. Surprise flashed past Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The hundreds of figures were riding all sorts of Genesis beasts, whether it be birds, beasts or animals. The aura they emitted was truly frightening. ¡°It''s a team from the Yushou Region!¡± Yi Qiushui exclaimed. Of the nine regions, only the Yushou Region could control so many Genesis beasts. ¡°I wonder who is leading that team? I hope it¡¯s not the main team; otherwise, we¡¯re in trouble,¡± Yi Qiushui said softly. But Zhou Yuan put a damper on her optimism. ¡°You guessed it. It¡¯s their main team.¡± His eyes were locked on the center of the Yushou Region team, where a dark yellow ox was marching forward, quaking the ground and producing lazy moos. Sitting astride its sturdy body was a chubby pale man. A fat ox with a chubby man. How comical. But Yi Qiushui and the others grew serious when they saw the chubby pale man. They recognized that he was the number one figure of the Yushou Region and the one ranked eighth on the Divine Dwelling List, Yuan Kun! ¡°That¡¯s the Divine Earth Ox. It possesses remarkable strength and can carry a mountain on its back. It is said that when it fully matures, its strength is comparable to an expert of the Nascent Source stage.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, and then his body floated up slowly, hovering in mid-air. ¡°Zhou Yuan of the Tianyuan Region pays respect to Mister Yuan Kun,¡± Zhou Yuan said loud and clear. Sitting astride the giant ox, Yuan Kun narrowed his eyes and said with a wide smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to run into the team led by chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Mister Yuan Kun, our Tianyuan Region came to this area first. I don¡¯t know why you drove away our scouts.¡± Yuan Kun shook his head. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan is wrong. The rules of the nine regions tournament are never first come, first served.¡± He ran his eyes up and down Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, carefully scrutinising him. In truth, he didn¡¯t care too much when he found out it was a Tianyuan Region team, so he led his group towards them. But he didn''t expect the team to be led by Zhou Yuan. Yuan Kun didn¡¯t feel any contempt towards Zhou Yuan, because although he looked honest and simple, he was extraordinarily shrewd and cautious. He had vaguely sensed a dangerous aura from Zhou Yuan''s body. This man isn¡¯t as weak as others think. It was also because of this cautiousness that he didn¡¯t directly order his team to act. But it was impossible for him to give up. He had to see what ability Zhou Yuan had and whether or not the Tianyuan Region¡¯s new talent had the qualification to be on the same level as him and the other heaven prides of Hunyuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment before saying, ¡°Does that mean Mister Yuan Kun intends to fight us?¡± Zhou Yuan knew that although Yuan Kun was pale and chubby and looked like a wealthy young master, Zhou Yuan would be stupid to think that Yuan Kun was as simple as he looked. After all, Yuan Kun was the Yushou Region¡¯s number one Divine Dwelling stage expert. Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand and waved it gently. Boom! The hundreds of Tianyuan Region members erupted with Genesis Qi, and a commotion broke out on the Yushou Region¡¯s side. The atmosphere grew tense. Yuan Kun wiped the grease on his face with his sleeve. He observed the situation for a moment, then patted his ox. It slowly and leisurely stomped across the air. He stopped a thousand feet from Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, if a battle breaks out between the two teams, there will inevitably be casualties on both sides. Chapter 952 Zhou Yuan Against Yuan Kun He wanted to weigh whether or not the Tianyuan Region¡¯s chief pavilion master was qualified to talk to him. Zhou Yuan''s mind raced, but he didn¡¯t reveal a ripple of emotion. He said calmly, ¡°If you want, I can accompany you.¡± He had told Yi Qiushui before that he wasn''t afraid of running into anyone else other than the top four on the Divine Dwelling List. He didn¡¯t just say that as a bluff¡ªhe was confident in his strength. And in truth, he craved to test out the strength of the top eight heaven prides of the other eight regions. Although Yuan Kun was ranked eighth, his strength shouldn¡¯t be underestimated, and he was the best test subject. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan is indeed courageous. I just hope your strength won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± Boom! As his voice faded, mighty Genesis Qi shot into the sky, blotting out the sun and lighting up the void with countless Genesis Qi stars. There were at least 45 million! ¡°A foundation of 45 million Genesis Qi stars...¡± Zhou Yuan froze for a moment. After connecting the eighth Divine Dwelling, his Genesis Qi foundation had reached the level of 38 million. It was because of this that he was able to utterly crush Lu Hai, Zhao Yuanxiao and the others when he had faced them. And now, he finally met an even stronger opponent. Is this the foundation of a heaven pride from the other eight regions? It is indeed astonishing. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t utter a word, but his body shook and erupted with Genesis Qi. Thirty-eight million Genesis Qi stars illuminated the void. But this wasn¡¯t the end. He once again activated the four Genesis Runes as well as the second form of the Four Spirits Origin Diagram. The number of Genesis Qi stars skyrocketed, reaching 58 million! Such powerful Genesis Qi whizzed across the void, drawing gasps and exclamations from the Yushou Region¡¯s team. A serious and terrified look even crossed some people¡¯s faces. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had exceeded their expectations. Yuan Kun smiled. ¡°I knew that chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan had to have some ability since he dared to confront Xu Ming.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundation was already at the level of 38 million when he had opened up the eighth Divine Dwelling, and after external means, his foundation soared to a terrifying level of 58 million. As someone with the experience, Yuan Kun knew well that one¡¯s foundation would increase most terrifyingly when one connected the ninth Divine Dwelling. Once Zhou Yuan reached that point, his Genesis Qi foundation would be comparable to that of the top four heaven prides. Perhaps Xu Ming hated Zhou Yuan because of jealousy. Those light runes were like beast runes, and every time one appeared, he steadily erupted with more Genesis Qi pressure as Genesis Qi stars soared into the void behind him. At the end of the increase, Yuan Kun was glowing with beast runes all over his body and was exuding an extremely fierce aura. His Genesis Qi stars had soared by 16 million! And it had reached the level of 61 million! A Genesis Qi foundation of that level caused the wind to howl and roar and the mountains to tremble incessantly. Yuan Kun laughed, ¡°This is a secret technique of my Yushou Region. It¡¯s called the Million Beast Rune...but I still can''t be compared to chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, who is able to develop the four Genesis Runes of the Tianyuan Region into its second form.¡± The second form of the four Genesis Runes was regarded as one of the nine regions¡¯ top-secret techniques for increasing Genesis Qi. Yuan Kun flicked his sleeve, sending mighty Genesis Qi roaring as the qi transformed into dozens of torrents in the void. Within the void were shadows of giant beasts, each exuding terrifying ferocity. Roar! Yuan Kun spoke politely, but his attack was merciless. His Genesis Qi was filled with murderous intent, and torrents of it charged toward Zhou Yuan like beasts. A fierce roar resounded throughout the world. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned solemn. Besides his encounter with Zhao Mushen, this was the first time he truly faced one of the top heaven prides of the other eight regions. He knew he couldn¡¯t underestimate him. He lifted his hand, and a sword pill rose into the air. Fifty-eight million Genesis Qi stars flickered. Om! A sword cry filled the sky, and then a bright dazzling sword light streaked across the sky like a comet, slashing towards the torrents of beast Genesis Qi. Bang! The clash between the two sides in the void could be described as earthshaking, and the terrifying shock waves that followed flattened numerous mountains and tore deep cracks into the forest. This was a collision of pure Genesis Qi. The sword light was piercingly sharp, and it directly slashed the torrent of beast Genesis Qi to pieces. But this only created more torrents, which then attacked him. As the torrents of ferocious beasts grew more and more violent, the sword light seemed unable to withstand them anymore and began to retreat. A moment later, torrents of ferocious beasts swooped down to tear Zhou Yuan to shreds. Chi. But as they dived down, Zhou Yuan''s figure turned into a shadow and vanished from the world. The flood of fierce beast torrents had failed. Yuan Kun narrowed his eyes, seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s bizarre movement-type technique, but he didn¡¯t panic. He swiftly folded his hands together, and his eyes gradually changed, turning sharp and fierce like those of a hawk. ¡°Spirit Hawk Eye Art!¡± Light glowed inside his hawk-like eyes. The world in front of him suddenly became extremely clear. Yuan Kun finally realized a shadow was speeding towards him like a bolt of lightning. It was at that moment that the shadow exploded in front of Yuan Kun. Zhou Yuan strolled across the void, his body emitting a jade-like luster. Mythic Saint Body! All the golden blood in his heart had broken out. Golden light faintly seeped out his skin, and a terrifying power gushed from him. Snowy-white hair burst forth from his fists, covering them like a glove. Rune Breaker! The snowy-white hair turned jet black, filled with destructive power. Million Whale! An ancient whale shadow emerged, bringing a frightening power with it. Boom! Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch was so fierce and powerful that the void began to crumble under that one strike. Yuan Kun''s pupils shrank abruptly. He was evidently aware of the tremendous power of Zhou Yuan¡¯s counterattack, and a deep roar burst from his throat, ¡°Beast Demon Body!¡± His chubby body suddenly underwent a huge change. In just a few breaths, his fat tightened and transformed into solid-black muscles. He had become an eye-catching giant cast from black iron. An armor of black scales shrouded his body, glistening in the light. His monstrous fierceness resembled that of a beast demon! Roar! He unleashed a deafening roar as he clenched his giant fist and threw out a punch. With his punch, countless berserk beasts seemed to roar and quake the world. Boom! Amidst changing gazes, the two fists collided fiercely in the air. The boom was like a clap of thunder, crisply audible from hundreds of miles away. Moreover, the frightening shock waves spread out from the two people at its center and wreaked havoc, flattening all the towering mountains. Both teams drew back haphazardly and fled faster than rabbits to avoid being caught in the impact. But even so, some unlucky people were blasted away and only returned bruised and battered a good while later. Both teams stood far away, staring at the center of collision with looks of horror. Boom! The two figures had fought hundreds of rounds in just a few seconds. Rumble! In the end, the two figures were also struck by the shock waves. They trembled before they were blasted away. Every time their foot stomped in the void, it created an ear-splitting rumble. The two reeled back thousands of feet before they finally steadied their bodies. Zhou Yuan rubbed his fist, saying, ¡°What a powerful Beast Demon Body.¡± Yuan Kun looked chubby and round like a ball, but he unexpectedly possessed such tremendous bodily strength. Even his Mythic Saint Body didn¡¯t have much advantage. Yuan Kun¡¯s tough body gradually recovered, resuming his usual chubby form. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan is remarkable for being able to force me to use the Beast Demon Body so quickly.¡± ¡°That was just a test, and you also didn¡¯t use all your strength,¡± Zhou Yuan said. Yuan Kun was part of the Yushou Region, and many of the Yushou Region¡¯s powerful techniques required the cooperation of Genesis beasts. However, his Divine Earth Ox didn¡¯t participate in the battle. If it did, Yuan Kun would have been twice as strong. Yuan Kun shook his head. ¡°I also feel that you were concealing your strength. Therefore, if a real battle breaks out, it is difficult to say who would win.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Although he was fighting Yuan Kun, he didn¡¯t feel much hostility from him. He pondered for a moment and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s split the Spiritium in the mountains.¡± Yuan Kun smiled. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan is really generous. That isn¡¯t a bad idea.¡± Yuan Kun might not have agreed before, but after the fight, Zhou Yuan had proved with his strength that he was qualified to split the Spiritium with him. The atmosphere on the battlefield slowly eased, and the members of the two teams began to discuss with one another. Yuan Kun''s round, ball-like body floated over, and he leaned closer to Zhou Yuan with a smile. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, are you interested in cooperating with me to get something even greater?¡± Zhou Yuan surveyed him, and a slight smile curved his lips. Yuan Kun finally revealed his true purpose after testing his strength. ¡°You are talking about Alpha Spiritium?¡± Yuan Kun gave him a thumbs up. ¡°You¡¯re a clever person.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and nodded. It seemed that Yuan Kun knew where Alpha Spiritium could be found. Chapter 953 Cooperation He sprinkled some spices over it, and an aroma instantly filled the air. The ox was roasted until it was a golden color. Its fat dripped off and hit the campfire, creating bursts of intense flames. Its aroma was mouth-watering. Yuan Kun looked very skillful, like a real chef. Half an hour later, Yuan Kun gave a satisfied nod and tore off one of the steaming beef shanks and handed it to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Hey, try it. My cooking skills are unique in the Yushou Region.¡± Yuan Kun clearly sounded proud. It even seemed that he was more proud of his cooking skills than being ranked one in the Yushou Region. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched, and then he reached his hand out to take it. He watched Yuan Kun split the remaining fatty beef into two, one for himself to feast on, and he tossed the other to the Divine Earth Ox lying to the side. The Divine Earth Ox seemed to really enjoy it, and it finished the meat even quicker than Yuan Kun, leaving grease all over its lips. Zhou Yuan speechlessly shook his head when he saw this bizarre scene, then lowered his head to slowly enjoy the fatty beef shank in his hand. Besides, the flavor was really delicious. It was no wonder Yuan Kun was so proud of it. When Zhou Yuan finished the beef shank, Yuan Kun patted his stomach, looking very satisfied. ¡°Brother Yuan Kun, let''s talk about Alpha Spiritium.¡± Once the roast beef feast was finished, Zhou Yuan returned to serious business. Yuan Kun lifted up a stick to pick his teeth and grinned at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Brother Zhou Yuan must have noticed the strange fluctuation of energy when you entered this space, right?¡± ¡°There is indeed Alpha Spiritium in this space.¡± ¡°You came a few days late. We¡¯ve actually discovered the existence of Alpha Spiritium earlier.¡± Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly, ¡°Then you obtained the Alpha Spiritium?¡± Yuan Kun smiled stiffly. ¡°If I¡¯ve got it, how would I ask you to cooperate with me.¡± ¡°Did someone else get it before you?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. ¡°In this space, in addition to our two teams, there is also a team from the Zixiao Region and the team led by Jiu Gong. However, the team from the Zixiao Region is not the main force,¡± Xuan Kun said helplessly. ¡°Jiu Gong of the Xuanji Region?¡± Zhou Yuan sounded a little surprised. He didn¡¯t expect there to be another main force team besides them. Although he was unfamiliar with Jiu Gong of the Xuanji Region, he had long heard of her name. After all, she was the reviewer of the Divine Dwelling List, and she was also the reason why he couldn¡¯t make it into the top ten initially. A faint flush spread across Yuan Kun¡¯s chubby and pale face, and immediately he grumbled, ¡°That little woman is very domineering. She first occupied the area containing the Alpha Spiritium and then set up a Meridian Golden Light Boundary. I led a team of people to try to break through but gave up after half a day and tried to search for other Alpha Spiritiums. But unfortunately, we failed to find any.¡± Zhou Yuan whispered, ¡°Is Brother Yuan Kun saying that we should cooperate to break through Jiu Gong¡¯s Meridian Golden Light Boundary and seize the Alpha Spiritium?¡± Yuan Kun nodded. ¡°Otherwise, given that little woman¡¯s domineering personality, it would be difficult to get our hands on the Alpha Spiritium in this mini domain.¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°What? What is Brother Zhou Yuan thinking? I won¡¯t blame you if you don¡¯t want to offend Jiu Gong. That little woman is so arrogant, but because of the Xuanji Region¡¯s special status, nobody in Hunyuan Heaven will dare to mess with them.¡± Zhou Yuan could tell that Yuan Kun was trying to spur him to cooperate with him from his tone of voice. He smiled. ¡°Brother Yuan Kun, you don¡¯t need to do this. We all came to the nine regions tournament for Alpha Spiritium. Jiu Gong may be well known, but to me, she can¡¯t be compared to Alpha Spiritium. ¡°If she wants to stop me from getting Alpha Spiritium, she¡¯s my enemy.¡± Yuan Kun¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Your words are music to my ear. Then, when our teams finish collecting Spiritium in this mini domain, will we take action?¡± Zhou Yuan naturally had no objection and nodded with a smile. He was indeed a little curious about the girl who was second only to Wu Yao and Su Youwei among the Divine Dwelling stage experts within Hunyuan heaven. But if she wanted to take all the Alpha Spiritium, she would have to ask whether or not his Tianyuan brush agrees or not. In front of Alpha Spiritium...what was a beauty? Zhou Yuan and Yuan Kun both issued an order, and the two teams collecting strands of Spiritium hastened. After half a day, they finished collecting all the Spiritium in the mountains. Then, Yuan Kun led the way with his team, and Zhou Yuan closely followed with the Tianyuan Region¡¯s team. The two groups of people skimmed across the sky in a mighty manner, heading directly southwest. .... The southwest area. Compared with the rest of the space, the southwest area was very different. It was bitterly cold, and the icy wind felt as if it could lash one¡¯s skin. The snow-capped mountains were endless, and in the deepest location, numerous mountains of ice stood tall. At this moment, rays of dazzling golden light shrouded the tallest ice mountain, making it difficult for people to see through it. The flashing golden light was extremely mysterious, and even the raging icy wind couldn¡¯t penetrate it. A whistle of wind sounded from the distance. A large number of black shadows streaked across the air and landed outside the ice mountain flashing with golden light. Fierce and imposing. It was Yuan Kun and Zhou Yuan. ¡°Is this it?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise when he saw the ice mountain shrouded in golden light. In his eyes, it wasn¡¯t golden light but countless Genesis Runes. The boundary was quite strange in that it was a combination of Genesis Rune and Genesis Qi. ¡°I''ve long heard that the Xuanji Region¡¯s mastery of Genesis Runes is second only to the Shengwen Region. Now that I¡¯ve seen it, it is indeed a well-deserved reputation.¡± Zhou Yuan marveled. Yuan Kun stroked his greasy face and said in an irritated tone, ¡°If it were a real fight with spears and swords, I wouldn¡¯t be afraid of Jiu Gong. But after she set up this boundary, there wasn¡¯t anything I could do.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Get someone to send in a message. Let¡¯s try a peaceful method before resorting to force. Otherwise, people would say we were bullying a woman.¡± Yuan Kun nodded in agreement and ordered someone to send in the message. ..... When Zhou Yuan, Yuan Kun and their teams arrived, the many people inside the ice mountain were aware of their presence. One of them scanned them and chuckled contemptuously, ¡°I wondered who it was. It turned out to be the chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region.¡± This person was the captain of the Zixiao Region team, Xue Jingtao. Behind Xue Jingtao was a female disciple. After some hesitation, she said, ¡°Zhou Yuan and senior sister Su Youwei are acquainted with each other. We shouldn¡¯t make things difficult for him, right?¡± Xue Jingtao frowned. ¡°You are overthinking. How would junior sister Su Youwei know a peasant like him? Even if they are acquainted, their friendship wouldn¡¯t be as deep as you think. ¡°Besides, everybody in the nine region tournaments are enemies. Since we ran into each other, how can we hold back? ¡°Besides, it''s not us who are in charge. It¡¯s Miss Jiu Gong.¡± He waved his hand dismissively and didn¡¯t let the female disciple say anything more. ¡°I¡¯ll inform Miss Jiu Gong and see what she decides.¡± With that, he vanished in the blink of an eye. At the top of the ice mountain, Xue Jingtao''s figure appeared, looking ahead where a beautiful woman scrunched her brows in a frown. She was dressed in a loose robe, but that couldn¡¯t hide her curvaceous figure. In truth, she wasn¡¯t in the slightest inferior to Wu Yao and Su Youwei based purely on appearance. Each had their strong points. If Wu Yao was strong and tough, then Su Youwei was gentle and tenacious, and Jiu Gong was icily arrogant, which was charming to some people. As Xue Jingtao faced a woman like her, his heart inevitably fluttered, but he didn¡¯t dare to show it. He gave a cupped fist salute and reported, ¡°Miss Jiu Gong, Yuan Kun is back and brought a team to help him.¡± ¡°They sent a message to tell Miss Jiu Gong to open the Golden Light Boundary and share the Alpha Spiritium.¡± Jiu Gong raised her slender and long eyebrows. ¡°Who''s the helper he brought?¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan from the Tianyuan Region.¡± ¡°Oh? So it¡¯s him.¡± A smile broke out on Jiu Gong¡¯s beautiful face. ¡°Has Yuan Kun gone crazy? He thinks he can break my Meridian Golden Light Boundary with the help of someone ranked ninth on the Divine Dwelling List?¡± She tilted her head and said after a thought, ¡°Send a message back that if they want to share the Alpha Spiritium, they should talk to me once they break the Meridian Golden Light Boundary. If they don¡¯t have the ability, tell them to leave....¡± If Yuan Kun had found help from the main force of one of the other regions, she might have considered his request, but he had brought the Tianyuan Region¡¯s chief pavilion master. Chapter 954 Deduction At the foot of the ice mountain, Yuan Kun didn¡¯t look too pleased when he saw Xue Jingtao, and he turned to speak to Zhou Yuan beside him. ¡°How would that be the case, senior brother Yuan Kun? It¡¯s not that Miss Jiu Gong isn¡¯t giving you face, but that she got here first and took the opportunity.¡± Xue Jingtao smiled. He swept a glance over Zhou Yuan and said nonchalantly, ¡°Miss Jiu Gong said that her Meridian Golden Light Boundary couldn¡¯t be broken by someone senior brother Yuan Kun had casually found.¡± Zhou Yuan''s line of sight shifted from the ice mountain surrounded by golden light to Xue Jingtao. How could he not feel the other party¡¯s malice? ¡°You¡¯re from the Zixiao Region?¡± he asked. ¡°I am Xue Jingtao from the Zixiao Region. What advice does chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan have for me?¡± Xue Jingtao said with a smile. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°The number of people required for the golden boundary isn¡¯t small. Without our team, there is no way Miss Jiu Gong could have set up the boundary. So it was Miss Jiu Gong who sincerely invited us to help,¡± Xue Jingtao explained. He spoke proudly as if the golden boundary was also his masterpiece. Zhou Yuan said indifferently, ¡°Out of respect for Su Youwei, I advise you to leave and not get involved in this. You aren¡¯t qualified to participate in a battle of this level. It would be too late to regret it when you¡¯re injured.¡± Xue Jingtao¡¯s face darkened. He glared at Zhou Yuan and sneered, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, even if you can¡¯t break the Meridian Golden Light Boundary, is there a need to play a trick like this?¡± ¡°Are you trying to persuade us to leave and make the Golden Light Boundary break by itself?¡± Zhou Yuan said contemptuously. ¡°Naturally, since Miss Jiu Gong trusts us, we will stand firmly on her side. If you have the ability, why don¡¯t you break the Golden Light Boundary first? If you can¡¯t, get lost, and don¡¯t waste time here!¡± As his vehement voice faded, Xue Jingtao turned around and left. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm and without a ripple of emotion as he watched him leave. He only spoke out of respect for Su Youwei because he had learned from his previous observation of the Golden Light Boundary that the nodes controlled by the Zixiao Region team were particularly dangerous. Once they encountered an enemy, they would become a target. Jiu Gong had evidently planned this. After all, her cooperation with Xue Jingtao wasn¡¯t equal. Jiu Gong was part of a main team, and she felt that Xue Jingtao wasn¡¯t qualified to be on equal terms with her. If Su Youwei were here, she wouldn¡¯t have played such tricks. Unfortunately, Xue Jingtao was not qualified, and he didn¡¯t understand this. He even regarded himself as very important¡­ ¡°That woman doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for her.¡± Yuan Kun fumed. ¡°Brother Zhou, since negotiation didn¡¯t work, let¡¯s just charge through. I don¡¯t believe that our two teams can¡¯t break through the boundary!¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly stopped him. ¡°If we do that, we will have to pay a price even though we might destroy the boundary. There is no need to be so reckless!¡± Yuan Kun frowned. ¡°Then what do we do?¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly pointed to the golden light that enveloped the ice mountain. ¡°There is a method to break through the golden light boundary. If we investigate and attack it bit by bit, it will collapse itself. ¡°Brother Yuan Kun, do you see the countless Genesis Runes flowing inside the golden light?¡± Yuan Kun squinted his eyes, staring at it for a good while until tears streamed out. He said in embarrassment, ¡°Brother Zhou Yuan, I don¡¯t know anything about Genesis Runes. I don¡¯t understand it.¡± In his view, it was nothing but golden light. Although the fluctuation of Genesis Qi inside was somewhat strange, it was impossible for him to see the Genesis Runes, Genesis Marks and their trajectories. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. He felt as if he was playing a lute to a cow. It was no wonder that Yuan Kun couldn¡¯t do anything about the golden light boundary. It turned out his mastery in Genesis Runes was atrocious. Seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression, Yuan Kun suddenly blushed with embarrassment and said resentfully, ¡°Since brother Zhou Yuan understands Genesis Runes, then you should investigate it. I am ready to cooperate with you at any time, but I have to remind you that the Xuanji Region is skilled in combining Genesis Runes and Genesis Qi. Also, Jiu Gong is an outstanding talent, which means the golden light boundary she set up isn¡¯t a simple Genesis Rune Boundary.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile and then made a slight movement and appeared outside the tremendous golden light boundary. Light constantly flashed in his eyes. It was at this moment that the golden light boundary changed in front of him. Numerous Genesis Runes flowed like fish, but as he continued to observe, his face lit up with surprise. He found that the golden light boundary was indeed not a simple Genesis Rune. It had multiple Genesis Qi nodes. The combination of the two allowed the golden light to bloom dazzlingly. Once one stepped inside, the illumination of the golden light would confuse the Spirit and make it easy to control. ¡°It is indeed a little bizarre.¡± After Zhou Yuan scrutinized the boundary for a full hour, he suddenly couldn¡¯t help but nod. This Xuanji Region technique was indeed impressive. It was much more tricky to deal with a combination of Genesis Runes and Genesis Qi than an ordinary Genesis Rune Boundary. This boundary really piqued his curiosity. ..... Inside the ice mountain. Standing on a cliff, Xue Jingtao disdainfully peered at the outside world. His gaze penetrated the golden light boundary, and he saw Zhou Yuan, who had been walking around for an hour. ¡°Haha, chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan really thinks he found a way to break the boundary after a little investigation?¡± Xue Jingtao snorted as he turned his head to look at one of his senior brothers. Everyone burst into laughter. ¡°What a fool. Yuan Kun had tried to break the boundary for half a day, but we had ultimately driven him away.¡± ¡°Even Yuan Kun failed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s ranking isn¡¯t as high as his, but he thinks he can break the golden light boundary?¡± Xue Jingtao smiled, his eyes filled with contempt. ¡°Send an order to tell everyone to stay close to the nodes and operate the golden light boundary with all their strength. Don¡¯t let them have any chance of breaking through.¡± Someone behind him drew back and quickly turned to pass on the order. With one hand clasped behind him, Xue Jingtao coldly fixed his eyes on the figure outside the golden light boundary. ¡°Zhou Yuan, this time I am going to embarrass you to the point that you won¡¯t dare to appear in front of junior sister Youwei ever again.¡± ..... Outside the golden light boundary. As Zhou Yuan hovered in mid-air for a good while, his eyes constantly flashed with light. He was performing the ultimate deduction method. Following the trajectory of the Genesis Runes, he gradually figured out the location of the boundary¡¯s many nodes. The light in his eyes gradually faded, and the corners of his lips tugged upwards in a slight smile. He had finally made some progress. Chapter 955 Break Through Formation Yuan Kun stared at Zhou Yuan as he circled the Golden Light Boundary and repeatedly rubbed away the beads of sweat on his round face with his sleeve. There was a look of worry in his narrow and small eyes. Although his grasp in Genesis Runes was extremely poor, he had good vision and judgment. After personally experiencing the power of the Meridian Golden Light Boundary, he knew that once caught in it, even for someone with his strength, his Spirit would fall into a trance-like state, and if it weren¡¯t for his abundant and powerful Genesis Qi, he really would have been trapped. The boundary was Jiu Gong¡¯s proud work. This was why Yuan Kun wasn¡¯t sure whether Zhou Yuan could really break the golden light boundary. If he couldn¡¯t, they would have to try to charge through. ¡°Hmph, that woman Jiu Gong has gone too far!¡± Yuan Kun couldn¡¯t help but curse aloud. A shadow descended from the sky. It was Zhou Yuan. ¡°Brother Zhou Yuan, how was it?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°I have some confidence. Let¡¯s give it a try first.¡± Yuan Kun¡¯s face lit up with joy, and he gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Brother Zhou Yuan is so reliable.¡± Although he didn¡¯t know how confident Zhou Yuan was, it was better than standing there not knowing what to do. ¡°Let me make some preparations first,¡± Zhou Yuan said, sitting down cross-legged. He flicked his sleeve and took out many jade bamboo slips. At the same time, he clasped the Tianyuan brush and swung the brush with the tip facing down, bringing out multiple Genesis Runes that integrated with the bamboo slips. Yuan Kun looked at him blankly. To an idiot in Genesis Runes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions felt peculiar. He simply nodded and said to the people of the Yushou Region, ¡°So professional.¡± After half an hour, Zhou Yuan had readied everything. He and Yuan Kun gathered the teams of both sides. ¡°Send the elites of each team out and form groups of ten. They will follow me into the golden light boundary.¡± When his voice faded, there was a little commotion from the two teams of people. Very soon, figures stepped forward one after another, quickly forming teams. Zhou Yuan flung his sleeve, and the previously prepared bamboo slips floated out and hovered in front of each team. ¡°Hold the bamboo slips, and after you enter the boundary, immediately seal your Spirit. Otherwise, the golden light will strike your Spirit and control it,¡± Zhou Yuan warned. Hearing this, the elites exchanged glances with one another and uttered hesitantly, ¡°If our Spirit is sealed, our perception of the outside world will become weak. It will be difficult to detect a sneak attack.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand. ¡°It will be alright. Just listen to my command, and all will be fine.¡± Yuan Kun felt a little uncomfortable seeing the look of hesitation on his people¡¯s faces. He shot a fierce look at them and persuaded, ¡°Although Jiu Gong is only relying on a tortoiseshell and there is nothing we could do to her, she doesn¡¯t really want to offend us. If we just stay here and don¡¯t leave, her team won¡¯t be able to go anywhere.¡± What he meant to say was that everyone of the Yushou Region shouldn¡¯t worry too much because this was just a battle to break the formation. She wouldn¡¯t dare to go too far, so her methods wouldn¡¯t be too sinister. After being reprimanded by Yuan Kun, the elites of the Yushou Region gave an embarrassed smile and didn¡¯t dare say anything else. Zhou Yuan smiled at Yuan Kun and thanked him for trusting him. ¡°Don''t you need me to go in, too?¡± Yuan Kun asked. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and said, ¡°You just said that this is just a battle to break through the formation and not really a fight with Jiu Gong. If you go in, there won¡¯t be much you could do. Instead, it might make Jiu Gong feel that we only managed to break through because of the number of people we have, and she won¡¯t admit defeat.¡± He could feel that when Jiu Gong told them to break through the boundary first before they could negotiate with her, her challenge was directed at him. Although he didn¡¯t know why a heaven pride of the Xuanji Region whom he had never met before would treat him this way, he wasn¡¯t afraid of the challenge. He believed that nobody could beat him in terms of mastery in Genesis Runes. Although Yuan Kun looked clumsy, he was very sensitive. He also felt the same way as Zhou Yuan and so didn¡¯t say much and simply clapped his hand on Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let that woman have a taste of your strength.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled in response and, in a flash, came before the golden light boundary. Behind him were the dozens of teams. Zhou Yuan opened his hand, and strands of Genesis Qi light extended out. One end of the light was connected to the members of each team, while the other end landed in different areas of the golden light boundary. ¡°Follow the light and enter the boundary. After you step inside, don''t act recklessly. Remember to keep the bamboo slip in your hand and listen to my command. Don¡¯t go any further,¡± Zhou Yuan said solemnly once again. The members of the dozen teams nodded, and with a slight movement, a whistle of wind sounded, and they entered through the golden light boundary one after another. Zhou Yuan lifted his head and surveyed the golden light boundary, its golden light reflecting in his eyes. He saw that, in the boundary¡¯s depths, a coldly arrogant yet beautiful figure was looking at him with provocation and scrutiny. ¡°You want to test my strength? Then, I¡¯ll play with you.¡± He smiled and no longer hesitated. He took a large step forward into the golden light, and it swallowed his figure under the gazes of Yuan Kun, Yi Qiushui and the others. ¡°He¡¯s finally in?¡± In the golden light boundary, Xue Jingtao¡¯s eyes were fixed on somewhere. Jiu Gong had given him some control rights in the golden light boundary, so Zhou Yuan needed to pass Xue Jingtao if he wanted to break the formation. Xue Jingtao''s eyes glinted fiercely. ¡°Everyone listen! Operate the golden light boundary and activate the Spirit Dispersing Light! I''m going to turn them all into stupid idiots!¡± His voice passed through the boundary and instantly spread to the Zixiao Region teams defending the various nodes scattered throughout the boundary. ¡°Yes!¡± There was an immediate response throughout the whole golden light boundary. Om! Dazzling light suddenly broke out from the tremendous golden light boundary, and the universe Genesis Qi turned berserk. At the top of the ice mountain. Jiu Gong sat cross-legged gracefully. A light screen, which had formed in front of her, was flashing with many specks of light. She was staring intently at one of them, muttering, ¡°Yuan Kun didn¡¯t come? He has a big temper and lots of courage, but isn¡¯t he being overconfident?¡± She put her elbows on her knees and rested her cheeks in her palms, looking very lazy. ¡°Could it be...Xue Jingtao finds Zhou Yuan an eyesore and wants to teach him a lesson using my golden light boundary? Never mind, I¡¯ll just watch the good show first. Chapter 956 Jiu Gong attacks Buzz! All of a sudden, there was a bizarre fluctuation of energy coming from the boundary. The void rippled. Gushes of golden lights descended from the sky as if these lights were made of real substance. They flooded to every corner of the boundary. Zhou Yuan carefully studied the golden light resembling solid objects. A special power was contained within the light. The Meridian Golden Light Boundary had begun to operate. Once the golden light touched one¡¯s body, it could freeze and control one¡¯s Spirit, making it difficult for the body to move an inch. The teams that entered through the boundary had to have run into the golden light. Zhou Yuan took a mirror out from his sleeve. Multiple specks of light were flickering on the mirror, each one representing a team member. The light spots had dimmed because the members had sealed their Spirits, making it impossible for the Spirit Dispersing Golden Light to harm their Spirits. But at the same, their perception of the outside became extremely slow and weak. Although they could seal their Spirits to avoid being attacked by the Spirit Dispersing Golden Light, as their leader, Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t do the same. Otherwise, everything would end. There wasn¡¯t a ripple of expression on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he stared at the golden light descending. When he lifted his hand, multiple rays of Genesis Runes rose from his palm. The Genesis Runes quickly formed a light barrier around his body, and when the Spirit Dispersing Golden Light descended, the multiple Genesis Runes quickly melted and dissolved the light. However, the number of Genesis Runes were also reduced. As a result, Zhou Yuan had to constantly replenish them. Somewhere in the boundary, Xue Jingtao sneered as he watched them. ¡°Everyone sealed their Spirit? Is this your method of breaking through? Ridiculous.¡± The team members had basically become blind and deaf after sealing their Spirits, so Xue Jingtao couldn¡¯t understand what the use of them entering the boundary was! Was it to act as cannon fodder? Xue Jingtao''s eyes flashed. ¡°Tell people to get ready to attack. Remember to specifically target the Yushou Region people.¡± His method was ruthless. Zhou Yuan was leading the attack, so if anything were to happen to the Yushou Region people while the Tianyuan Region people were left unscathed, it would inevitably raise suspicion, and the fragile cooperation would break even without Xue Jingtao doing anything. Someone immediately responded to his order and vanished into the golden light. Clasping the mirror, Zhou Yuan looked carefully at the light specks. ¡°Team 3, take one hundred steps to the right and attack westward with all your strength.¡± ¡°Team 8, go three hundred steps straight and attack southward.¡± ¡°Team 5, stay where you are and attack the north-eastward.¡± ¡°----¡± Zhou Yuan issued command after command in an orderly manner, and the mirror relayed the orders to the ears of the many teams within the golden light barrier. The teams were slightly hesitant, but they ultimately acted and followed Zhou Yuan¡¯s order. When they came to the designated place, they locked their gazes in the direction Zhou Yuan specified. However, the area was shrouded in golden light and seemed no different from other places. ¡°Attack,¡± Zhou Yuan''s voice again sounded from the bamboo scrolls in their hands. Everybody gritted their teeth and circulated their Genesis Qi. The next moment, torrents of Genesis Qi roared out, ferociously bombarding the golden light in front of them. Boom! Waves of Genesis Qi spread out, and the golden light rippled where it was struck. The light then retreated, gradually revealing the boundary¡¯s original appearance. On a mountain cliff covered with snow and ice, the Zixiao Region disciples stared at the team close by with a look of surprise. They couldn¡¯t understand why their opponents could find out where they were. Suspended above the Zixiao Region disciples was a mirror emitting golden light. ¡°Destroy them, and smash the golden mirror. It¡¯s a boundary node,¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out from the bamboo slips in their hands. The team members were taken aback for a moment before their faces lit up with pleased surprise. The Yushou Region teams looked especially pleased. They had attempted to break through once before on Yuan Kun¡¯s order, but the result had been tragic. If Jiu Gong hadn¡¯t held back her strength, they would have paid a greater price. But even so, they failed to locate any boundary nodes. Zhou Yuan, however, could easily find a node perfectly concealed within the boundary. In comparison, Zhou Yuan¡¯s method of breaking the formation was superior to Yuan Kun¡¯s. This undoubtedly gave everyone great confidence, and they unreservedly activated all their Genesis Qi and launched a terrifying attack as they raced towards the Zixiao Region team. The teams that entered the boundary consisted of the Tianyuan and Yushou Region¡¯s core elites, whereas the Zixiao Region team was only led by Xue Jingtao. So when the two collided, the result was undoubtedly devastating. Although the Zixiao Region team fought with all their strength, in the end they were struck until they vomited blood and collapsed. Boom! Multiple torrents of Genesis Qi roared into the suspended golden mirror. Kacha! The golden mirror, attacked from every side, shattered. Zhou Yuan tilted his head, listening to the subtle shattering sounds. The corners of his mouth curved upwards in a smile. As the node shattered, the golden light boundary was no longer perfect, and it revealed its flaws. The initiative was shifting to his hands. Somewhere within the boundary, Xue Jingtao¡¯s face turned ashen because he had sensed that the node his team guarded had been destroyed. Within the golden light boundary, the lights were shaking, which was a sign that the boundary was beginning to crumble. ¡°How is this possible?¡± ¡°How could he break the golden light boundary so quickly?¡± Xue Jingtao couldn¡¯t help but unleash a roar. When Yuan Kun tried to break through, he was forced to retreat in embarrassment, but why was the result different with Zhou Yuan, who was ranked lower than Yuan Kun? His expression changed drastically, and he shouted, ¡°Attack now!¡± Golden light rippled, and many figures vanished. Zhou Yuan''s eyes flickered. As the nodes were destroyed, the operation of the golden light boundary became much clearer to him. He tilted his head slightly, sensing the subtle fluctuation of energy within the boundary. A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. ¡°Fools. ¡°Team 5, watch out for the left and get ready to counterattack. ¡°Team 3, move back thirty feet. ¡°---¡± The teams unhesitantly operated their Genesis Qi and struck in the directions he commanded. Bang! Genesis Qi exploded, and figures were blasted back in embarrassment. Their screams reverberated throughout the golden light boundary. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained indifferent. Xue Jingtao was cunning to plan a sneak attack, but that couldn¡¯t save the situation. It instead sped up the pace of Zhou Yuan discovering the other nodes. ¡°Continue to destroy the nodes.¡± Another series of orders rang out, resulting in the destruction of more and more nodes. Space trembled within the boundary as if it were about to shatter. Xue Jingtao¡¯s entire body shuddered as he watched the situation slip out of control. His scalp went numb. Zhou Yuan had destroyed such a powerful boundary in less than half an hour? How did he do it?! On the top of the ice mountain, Jiu Gong, who was lazily sitting cross-legged, suddenly straightened her back and stared intently at the light screen in front of her. The specks of light within it were growing dimmer. ¡°This guy has such a deep mastery over Genesis Runes. Xue Jingtao is so incompetent. He thought he could operate other powers in the boundary to launch an attack. He doesn¡¯t have a brain.¡± Jiu Gong lightly licked her red lips with the tip of her tongue, blazing battle intent bursting forth from her beautiful eyes. ¡°But this is pretty interesting.¡± Jiu Gong folded her beautiful hands in a hand seal and slowly closed her eyes. The turmoil within the golden boundary gradually subsided. Within the boundary, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly glinted fiercely. He looked up at the depths of the boundary. He knew that Jiu Gong had regained control of the golden light boundary. Chapter 956 Top Battle The two region¡¯s teams that were waiting outside burst into cheers when they saw the boundary showing signs of collapsing. ¡°Is this a sign the boundary is going to break?¡± Yi Qiushui asked in a surprised voice. Yuan Kun glanced at her and scrunched his brows in a frown. He said hesitantly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid not...¡± ¡°The golden light barrier is shrinking, but it is a rhythmic controlled shrinkage. It¡¯s more dangerous now than it was before.¡± Yuan Kun¡¯s narrowed eyes suddenly glinted fiercely. ¡°Jiu Gong has taken over!¡± ¡°Jiu Gong?¡± Yi Qiushui exclaimed. ¡°Wasn¡¯t she controlling the boundary before?¡± ¡°It should be Xue Jingtao who was controlling the boundary before. Jiu Gong is extremely arrogant, so she must have thought Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t break through the golden light barrier and didn¡¯t intend to do anything at the start. ¡°But Zhou Yuan''s ability clearly exceeded her expectations...he must have caused the signs of disorder in the golden light barrier we felt before. If this had continued, the golden light boundary would have undoubtedly been destroyed. ¡°So Jiu Gong couldn¡¯t sit still and do nothing anymore. She kicked away Xu Jingtao, and she is now ready to fight Zhou Yuan herself.¡± Yuan Kun stroked his chin that was barely visible and said, ¡°Although that woman is arrogant, she is indeed capable and decisive. As soon as she took over, she cut off the nodes that Zhou Yuan had destroyed. This is similar to cutting off one¡¯s tail to survive, and it¡¯s the reason why the golden light barrier shrank.¡± Although Yuan Kun wasn¡¯t skilled in Genesis Runes, he was still ranked eighth on the Divine Dwelling List and had extraordinary perception. Therefore, he quickly identified the changes that were happening within the boundary. ¡°I see...¡± Yi Qiushui nodded in understanding. ¡°But now that Zhou Yuan has destroyed several boundary nodes, can she still reverse the situation by taking over?¡± Yuan Kun sighed. ¡°The Meridian Golden Light Boundary is divided into two layers, the inside and the outside. What Xue Jingtao controlled was only the outer layer, but Jiu Gong has now abandoned the outer layer and shrunk the inner layer. In terms of danger, it is now trickier than before.¡± The golden light boundary was gradually shrinking and stabilizing as it grew more dazzling. Looking at it, Yuan Kun grew solemn. ¡°It¡¯s going to become troublesome.¡± .... Within the golden light boundary. Zhou Yuan similarly felt the golden light barrier shrink. He narrowed his eyes and let out a sigh. ¡°What a tricky opponent.¡± The nodes that he had destroyed were just like dead tissue on a person¡¯s body, and now that Jiu Gong had cleanly severed dead tissue, it couldn¡¯t further infect the body. Moreover, as the area shrank, the boundary¡¯s defenses grew stronger, and it wouldn¡¯t be as easy to destroy the remaining nodes. After all, Jiu Gong wasn¡¯t the same as Xue Jingtao, and her control of the boundary could be described as perfect. Regardless of the difficulty, there was no way that Zhou Yuan would give up. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and expanded his Spirit perception to survey the boundary¡¯s many flowing Genesis Runes. He then sent out a series of orders. ¡°Team 4, step forward two hundred feet and then move three hundred feet to the right and attack the northwest area. ¡°Team 8, move one hundred feet to the left and attack the southern area. ¡°Team 3... ¡°......¡± Under Zhou Yuan''s command, the teams swiftly moved to the positions Zhou Yuan directed them to, and they launched an attack. At the same time, on the top of the mountain, Jiu Gong¡¯s eyes were fixed on the light screen in front of her. Her mouth suddenly opened slightly, and a clear voice came out, ¡°The ninth node, strengthen the defense. ¡°The thirteenth node, manipulate the golden light to attack the team in the southwest. ¡°The fifteenth node, attack northward. ¡°......¡± Under her command, the boundary nodes immediately started to operate, either attacking, defending, or hiding¡­ Zhou Yuan wanted to attack and destroy the nodes, but Jiu Gong¡¯s quick defense created an illusion that prevented Zhou Yuan from determining the nodes¡¯ locations. Although the two sides hadn¡¯t met, they were already fiercely competing. Boom! Frantic Genesis Qi constantly erupted within the boundary. Zhou Yuan was aware of Jiu Gong¡¯s obstruction because he had only managed to find two real nodes and destroy them during this period of time, even if he had identified ten locations. Therefore, eight locations were illusions Jiu Gong had sent out to mislead Zhou Yuan. And in those locations, Jiu Gong had gathered mighty golden light to destroy Zhou Yuan¡¯s teams. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reacted in time and retreated, his teams would have suffered severe injuries. The speed at which his teams advanced and destroyed nodes was frustratingly slower than before. But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t feel anxious. He already knew that Jiu Gong was much more skilled than Xue Jingtao. Given her mastery in Genesis Runes and her advantageous position within the boundary, it was already a pretty good result for him to destroy two nodes. He only needed to move forward steadily and not be impatient. Otherwise, he could easily fall into her trap. Thus, Zhou Yuan began to slow down. He carefully deduced and observed the subtle changes within the boundary before advancing forward. For the next hour, Zhou Yuan and Jiu Gong repeatedly fought several rounds, but the battle¡¯s outcome still remained undecided. As the nodes continued to shatter, Zhou Yuan¡¯s team also suffered significant damage, with some eliminated from Fallen Abyss after suffering the boundary¡¯s impact. But overall, as Zhou Yuan occupied more and more nodes, the situation seemed to tilt towards his side. Outside of the ice mountain, Yuan Kun and Yi Qiushui could feel the boundary weakening little by little. Yuan Kun didn¡¯t say a word. Although that appeared to be the case, he possessed a keen sense like a Genesis beast, so when the situation seemed to tilt towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, he felt a little uneasy. He knew Jiu Gong was very difficult to deal with. And he knew this very well. Is Jiu Gong really unable to withstand his attacks? .... On the top of the ice mountain, Jiu Gong wore a solemn expression as she stared at the dimming nodes, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of panic on her face. An urgent voice sounded all of a sudden, ¡°Senior sister Jiu Gong, the twelfth node has been destroyed!¡± Jiu Gong¡¯s eyes glinted fiercely. She straightened her back and stared at a certain place on the light screen. Her red lips suddenly curved upwards, and her clear voice sounded, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are impressive to have struck so many holes into my Meridian Golden Light Boundary.... ¡°But you mustn¡¯t forget that there is a saying...one will suffer from his own scheming! ¡°Now that you''re inside, don''t even think about leaving!¡± Jiu Gong held a Genesis Rune brush in her slender hand, and its tip drew across the void like a bolt of lightning, forming a series of ancient Genesis Runes. They sprang into the sky and integrated into the boundary. When they fused with the boundary, a light speck in the depths of the light screen grew brighter. With a fierce glint in her eyes, Jiu Gong looked terrifying as she whispered to herself, ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you could force my Meridian Golden Light Boundary to this point, I must admit that your ability is remarkable, but unfortunately for you, I will be the one to win in the end! ¡°Meridian Golden Thunderbolt, break out!¡± Boom! A violent voice reverberated throughout the boundary, and an aura of destruction rapidly rose. Outside the boundary, Yuan Kun¡¯s face turned ashen. The wave of energy surging out from the boundary sent a chill down his spine. He realized that this was Jiu Gong¡¯s final attack! Chapter 957 Top Battle The two region¡¯s teams that were waiting outside burst into cheers when they saw the boundary showing signs of collapsing. ¡°Is this a sign the boundary is going to break?¡± Yi Qiushui asked in a surprised voice. Yuan Kun glanced at her and scrunched his brows in a frown. He said hesitantly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid not...¡± ¡°The golden light barrier is shrinking, but it is a rhythmic controlled shrinkage. It¡¯s more dangerous now than it was before.¡± Yuan Kun¡¯s narrowed eyes suddenly glinted fiercely. ¡°Jiu Gong has taken over!¡± ¡°Jiu Gong?¡± Yi Qiushui exclaimed. ¡°Wasn¡¯t she controlling the boundary before?¡± ¡°It should be Xue Jingtao who was controlling the boundary before. Jiu Gong is extremely arrogant, so she must have thought Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t break through the golden light barrier and didn¡¯t intend to do anything at the start. ¡°But Zhou Yuan''s ability clearly exceeded her expectations...he must have caused the signs of disorder in the golden light barrier we felt before. If this had continued, the golden light boundary would have undoubtedly been destroyed. ¡°So Jiu Gong couldn¡¯t sit still and do nothing anymore. She kicked away Xu Jingtao, and she is now ready to fight Zhou Yuan herself.¡± Yuan Kun stroked his chin that was barely visible and said, ¡°Although that woman is arrogant, she is indeed capable and decisive. As soon as she took over, she cut off the nodes that Zhou Yuan had destroyed. This is similar to cutting off one¡¯s tail to survive, and it¡¯s the reason why the golden light barrier shrank.¡± Although Yuan Kun wasn¡¯t skilled in Genesis Runes, he was still ranked eighth on the Divine Dwelling List and had extraordinary perception. Therefore, he quickly identified the changes that were happening within the boundary. ¡°I see...¡± Yi Qiushui nodded in understanding. ¡°But now that Zhou Yuan has destroyed several boundary nodes, can she still reverse the situation by taking over?¡± Yuan Kun sighed. ¡°The Meridian Golden Light Boundary is divided into two layers, the inside and the outside. What Xue Jingtao controlled was only the outer layer, but Jiu Gong has now abandoned the outer layer and shrunk the inner layer. In terms of danger, it is now trickier than before.¡± The golden light boundary was gradually shrinking and stabilizing as it grew more dazzling. Looking at it, Yuan Kun grew solemn. ¡°It¡¯s going to become troublesome.¡± .... Within the golden light boundary. Zhou Yuan similarly felt the golden light barrier shrink. He narrowed his eyes and let out a sigh. ¡°What a tricky opponent.¡± The nodes that he had destroyed were just like dead tissue on a person¡¯s body, and now that Jiu Gong had cleanly severed dead tissue, it couldn¡¯t further infect the body. Moreover, as the area shrank, the boundary¡¯s defenses grew stronger, and it wouldn¡¯t be as easy to destroy the remaining nodes. After all, Jiu Gong wasn¡¯t the same as Xue Jingtao, and her control of the boundary could be described as perfect. Regardless of the difficulty, there was no way that Zhou Yuan would give up. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and expanded his Spirit perception to survey the boundary¡¯s many flowing Genesis Runes. He then sent out a series of orders. ¡°Team 4, step forward two hundred feet and then move three hundred feet to the right and attack the northwest area. ¡°Team 8, move one hundred feet to the left and attack the southern area. ¡°Team 3... ¡°......¡± Under Zhou Yuan''s command, the teams swiftly moved to the positions Zhou Yuan directed them to, and they launched an attack. At the same time, on the top of the mountain, Jiu Gong¡¯s eyes were fixed on the light screen in front of her. Her mouth suddenly opened slightly, and a clear voice came out, ¡°The ninth node, strengthen the defense. ¡°The thirteenth node, manipulate the golden light to attack the team in the southwest. ¡°The fifteenth node, attack northward. ¡°......¡± Under her command, the boundary nodes immediately started to operate, either attacking, defending, or hiding¡­ Zhou Yuan wanted to attack and destroy the nodes, but Jiu Gong¡¯s quick defense created an illusion that prevented Zhou Yuan from determining the nodes¡¯ locations. Although the two sides hadn¡¯t met, they were already fiercely competing. Boom! Frantic Genesis Qi constantly erupted within the boundary. Zhou Yuan was aware of Jiu Gong¡¯s obstruction because he had only managed to find two real nodes and destroy them during this period of time, even if he had identified ten locations. Therefore, eight locations were illusions Jiu Gong had sent out to mislead Zhou Yuan. And in those locations, Jiu Gong had gathered mighty golden light to destroy Zhou Yuan¡¯s teams. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reacted in time and retreated, his teams would have suffered severe injuries. The speed at which his teams advanced and destroyed nodes was frustratingly slower than before. But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t feel anxious. He already knew that Jiu Gong was much more skilled than Xue Jingtao. Given her mastery in Genesis Runes and her advantageous position within the boundary, it was already a pretty good result for him to destroy two nodes. He only needed to move forward steadily and not be impatient. Otherwise, he could easily fall into her trap. Thus, Zhou Yuan began to slow down. He carefully deduced and observed the subtle changes within the boundary before advancing forward. For the next hour, Zhou Yuan and Jiu Gong repeatedly fought several rounds, but the battle¡¯s outcome still remained undecided. As the nodes continued to shatter, Zhou Yuan¡¯s team also suffered significant damage, with some eliminated from Fallen Abyss after suffering the boundary¡¯s impact. But overall, as Zhou Yuan occupied more and more nodes, the situation seemed to tilt towards his side. Outside of the ice mountain, Yuan Kun and Yi Qiushui could feel the boundary weakening little by little. Yuan Kun didn¡¯t say a word. Although that appeared to be the case, he possessed a keen sense like a Genesis beast, so when the situation seemed to tilt towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, he felt a little uneasy. He knew Jiu Gong was very difficult to deal with. And he knew this very well. Is Jiu Gong really unable to withstand his attacks? .... On the top of the ice mountain, Jiu Gong wore a solemn expression as she stared at the dimming nodes, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of panic on her face. An urgent voice sounded all of a sudden, ¡°Senior sister Jiu Gong, the twelfth node has been destroyed!¡± Jiu Gong¡¯s eyes glinted fiercely. She straightened her back and stared at a certain place on the light screen. Her red lips suddenly curved upwards, and her clear voice sounded, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are impressive to have struck so many holes into my Meridian Golden Light Boundary.... ¡°But you mustn¡¯t forget that there is a saying...one will suffer from his own scheming! ¡°Now that you''re inside, don''t even think about leaving!¡± Jiu Gong held a Genesis Rune brush in her slender hand, and its tip drew across the void like a bolt of lightning, forming a series of ancient Genesis Runes. They sprang into the sky and integrated into the boundary. When they fused with the boundary, a light speck in the depths of the light screen grew brighter. With a fierce glint in her eyes, Jiu Gong looked terrifying as she whispered to herself, ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you could force my Meridian Golden Light Boundary to this point, I must admit that your ability is remarkable, but unfortunately for you, I will be the one to win in the end! ¡°Meridian Golden Thunderbolt, break out!¡± Boom! A violent voice reverberated throughout the boundary, and an aura of destruction rapidly rose. Outside the boundary, Yuan Kun¡¯s face turned ashen. The wave of energy surging out from the boundary sent a chill down his spine. He realized that this was Jiu Gong¡¯s final attack! Chapter 958 Formation Destroyed Within the golden boundary, berserk waves of Qi gathered, golden light raged, and thunder vaguely echoed. A heart-pounding power gradually emerged. Zhou Yuan was aware of the power. His pupils shrank as he stared at the deepest part of the golden boundary. He muttered, ¡°So this is your plan. You had deliberately lured me into the depths to destroy me with one strike. Is this called making a person suffer from his own scheming? Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed, and he said with a smile, ¡°It''s a good plan, but...aren''t you afraid of leaving yourself open to attack?¡± He drew a deep breath, ignoring the golden boundary that was violently shaking, and issued a series of commands. The rhythm of his attacks accelerated. Rumble! His attacks were also far more effective than before. It was clear that Jiu Gong intended to abandon those nodes, because she was gathering all her power to prepare for a terrifying attack, and a counterattack of that level wasn¡¯t something that Zhou Yuan and his teams could withstand. Her attack would be enough to reverse the situation. But Zhou Yuan seemed unconcerned and continued to occupy and break the nodes. Atop the ice mountain. ¡°Senior sister Jiu Gong, they are capturing nodes much faster than before!¡± Urgent voices sounded from all over the place and passed into Jiu Gong¡¯s ears. Jiu Gong was unconcerned. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Gather all the boundary¡¯s power into the core node. The outcome of the battle will be decided by that.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± many people responded. The golden light boundary began to shrink, and the gathered power grew increasingly terrifying. Outside the ice mountain, Yuan Kun¡¯s and Yi Qiushui¡¯s faces grew more and more solemn when the two found that the power within the golden light boundary was becoming stronger. ¡°That power...even I will be severely injured if struck,¡± Yuan Kun stated. The Meridian Golden Light Boundary was Jiu Gong¡¯s masterpiece; thus, its power would be no trivial matter if it broke out. ¡°It¡¯s really troublesome now. It will be difficult for Zhou Yuan to advance or retreat.¡± Generally speaking, Zhou Yuan should have led the teams back when he saw the danger before him, but if he retreated, Jiu Gong would be able to quickly recapture the nodes and restore the golden light boundary. Zhou Yuan''s previous efforts would then be completely wasted. If that happened, breaking through the formation would be out of the question. Therefore, in Yuan Kun''s view, Zhou Yuan was truly caught in a very difficult and dangerous situation. Yuan Kun sighed inwardly and circulated his Genesis Qi, ready to help at any time. .... But as they advanced, the two regions¡¯ teams began to show fear. They could distinctly feel the destructive power surging ahead of them. Once that kind of power broke out, their teams would suffer disastrous losses. Aware of their fear, Zhou Yuan immediately reassured, ¡°It¡¯s already too late to back down. If you don¡¯t want to be eliminated from the competition, listen to my command.¡± His sternness made the teams suppress some of their fear of the power ahead. They gritted their teeth and pushed forward once again. But it was at this moment that the violent, thunder-like rumbling in the boundary¡¯s depths suddenly subsided. It was this silence that intensified the fear and panic in everyone¡¯s heart. They all knew that the momentary silence was just a prelude to the destructive counterattack that was coming. Jiu Gong¡¯s counterattack finished forming. At the top of the ice mountain, her red lips moved slightly, and she breathed out an orchid-like aroma. While her beautiful eyes were intently fixed on the light screen in front of her, her hands folded together, and a chilling voice rang out from the top of the ice mountain. ¡°It¡¯s over... ¡°Golden thunder... ¡°Fly...¡± Rumble! Thunder rumbled in the deepest part of the golden light boundary, and a mighty golden thunderbolt similar to a giant python came roaring out. It charged toward Zhou Yuan and the several teams. As the golden thunder surged toward them, it quaked the void. Xue Jingtao, who was somewhere in the boundary, couldn¡¯t stop his eyes from gleaming with excitement when he saw a counterattack of this level. There is no way Zhou Yuan can survive this! ¡°Let¡¯s see how arrogant you will be after this!¡± He gritted his teeth, excited. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, gazing into the depths of the boundary where the golden thunderbolt was shooting toward them. Even he shuddered when he saw that kind of power. If he were to withstand the attack alone, he was certain that he would have to use all his strength to protect himself. Furthermore, he could only protect himself. The other teams would most likely be destroyed directly. From this point of view, Jiu Gong¡¯s Meridian Golden Light Boundary was indeed extraordinary. The teams within the boundary turned ashen with fear. If they weren¡¯t the elites of the Tianyuan and Yushuo Regions, they would have already tried to flee. But even though they were elites, they still felt a little hopeless. How could they withstand an attack of that level? Just as despair filled them as they watched the terrifying thunderbolt rapidly approach, Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice rang in their ears. ¡°Everyone, crush the bamboo slip in your hand. Don''t worry, I¡¯m the person who brought you here, so I guarantee that I will take you all out.¡± He spoke in an indifferent voice, but that calmness seemed to have some sort of magical power that calmed the despair in their hearts. They peered down at the bamboo slips in their hands, gritted their teeth, and crushed them. Buzz! Beams of light shot up into the sky from where they stood. Countless Genesis Runes fluttered within the pillars of light, turning into strands of light that intertwined and rused with one another. Gradually, a huge transparent tortoiseshell appeared before them, and numerous Genesis Runes were flowing on the shell¡¯s surface. The shell reflected the golden light, making it appear even more dazzling. Zhou Yuan stood in front of the tortoiseshell. As he looked at it closely, the corners of his lips curved upwards, and his tensed body slowly relaxed. He looked at the approaching golden thunderbolt and uttered, ¡°Tortoise Mirror Boundary.¡± Boom! The torrent of golden lightning bombarded the tremendous tortoise mirror, causing the mountains to tremble and the ground to quake violently. Atop the ice mountain, Jiu Gong cast her beautiful eyes to the mountainside where the collision happened. She gently clenched her hands. The battle¡¯s outcome was about to be decided. The golden lightning should destroy everything in its way. She peered down at where the golden lightning was raging and wreaking havoc. Boom! But it was at this moment that the torrent of golden lightning suddenly vibrated and another torrent of golden lightning counterattacked and clashed with it. Boom! Spatial cracks formed in the void. Jiu Gong¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank, and her eyes widened in shocked disbelief. That golden thunderbolt possesses the boundary¡¯s power. Why and how could it suddenly attack the boundary? ¡°What¡¯s going on!?¡± Genesis Runes whirled in her eyes as she penetrated the golden light with her gaze. She finally saw the huge Genesis Rune Tortoise Mirror. The golden thunderbolt repeatedly bombarded the mirror, and the attack rebounded. In the end, a tsunami-like counterattack collided with the golden thunderbolt. ¡°Tortoise Mirror Boundary?!¡± Jiu Gong¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡°How is that possible? How could he set up a Tortoise Mirror Boundary within my boundary?!¡± She scanned the nodes Zhou Yuan had occupied, and her eyes suddenly flashed. ¡°It¡¯s those nodes!¡± It was precisely by connecting those nodes that Zhou Yuan was able to set up a Tortoise Mirror Boundary so quickly. In other words, Zhou Yuan had constructed a boundary from the foundation of her boundary. This wasn¡¯t something simple! To do so, he had to possess a deep mastery over Genesis Runes! Jiu Gong clenched her hands tight, and her heart sank. She realized that Zhou Yuan had been vigilant of her from the very beginning and the Tortoise Mirror Boundary was waiting for her counterattack. The Tortoise Mirror happened to completely suppress the golden light boundary because of its rebound characteristics! And the rebounded golden thunderbolt would swallow everything. ¡°So cunning!¡± Jiu Gong gritted her teeth. Boom! A torrent of golden thunderbolt counterattacked, and the light boundary¡¯s remains bore the brunt of the attack. In just a few breaths, the golden lightning vanquished all the nodes. Boom! The golden lightning whizzed through the boundary, completely dispersing the golden light filling the sky. Yuan Kun and the others at the foot of the mountain were stunned to see the huge boundary, which was enveloping the ice mountain, collapse. The true appearance of the ice mountain finally appeared in their sights, and at its summit, the Zixiao Region team stood with a blank face. Chapter 959 Driven away At this moment, no matter whether it was on or beyond the mountains, everyone was staring wide-eyed at this side of the world. The violent rumble of thunder and the dazzling golden light had long disappeared. And disappearing with them was the Meridian Golden Light Boundary that had previously made it difficult for Yuan Kun and the Yushou Region to advance any further. At the foot of the mountain, Yuan Kun stared dumbstruck at the scene for a good while, and he finally drew a deep breath and said, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan is indeed quite capable.¡± A flicker of jealousy and fear flashed across his eyes. The fact that Zhou Yuan was able to break through the golden light boundary proved that his achievements in Genesis Runes were extremely remarkable. ¡°Everyone says that the Tianyuan Region¡¯s chief pavilion master doesn¡¯t deserve his fame and that his foundation is lacking, but everything they said must seem ridiculous now.¡± Yuan Kun shook his head. He and Zhou Yuan were evenly matched in their previous fight. Although they both hadn¡¯t used all their strength, Yuan Kun still felt he couldn¡¯t beat Zhou Yuan even if he brought out all his trump cards. Moreover, Zhou Yuan had a deep mastery of Genesis Runes. Therefore, when Yuan Kun looked at Zhou Yuan again, he felt a hint of mysteriousness emanating from him. ¡°Xu Ming clashed with Zhou Yuan previously, and given his arrogance, he will certainly try to get vengeance with Zhou Yuan. But Xu Ming will be the one who will suffer in the end.¡± A gloating look flashed across Yuan Kun¡¯s narrowed eyes, and immediately after, he waved his hand cheerfully at Yi Qiushui. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Zhou Yuan has broken through the boundary, and we should also enter the mountain.¡± The huge Divine Earth Ox marched over, rocking the mountains. Yuan Kun flashed away and appeared on its body. The ox then charged towards the towering ice mountain with a deafening roar. The remaining teams quickly followed. On the ice mountain summit. Jiu Gong fell into a dumbstruck state when the golden light boundary broke. She evidently couldn¡¯t accept this fact. The Meridian Golden Light Boundary was one of her trump cards. She was confident she could trap anybody in the boundary except for the top four on the Divine Dwelling List. No, Li Tongshen might be somewhat troublesome to deal with because his achievements in Genesis Runes were greater than hers. After all, the Xuanji Region focused on Genesis Qi and Genesis Runes, while the Shengwen Region devoted the majority of their time and energy to Genesis Runes. This was the reason why even someone as strong as Yuan Kun had left in embarrassment when he had tried to break through the formation. Jiu Gong didn¡¯t feel any contempt towards Zhou Yuan, but she thought that Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundation was inferior to the top heaven prides of the other eight regions. This was because Zhou Yuan had risen to fame too quickly and hadn¡¯t faced an opponent considered a top heaven pride. The top heaven prides were naturally prideful, and it wouldn¡¯t be easy for them to admit that a new rising star was comparable to them. This was why Jiu Gong felt a little aggrieved when she learned that the outstanding Su Youwei had a close relationship with Zhou Yuan, but such thoughts were destroyed with the golden light boundary. Chi! Chi! Many figures appeared behind Jiu Gong one after another. It was the Xuanji Region team. They looked a little dejected, and their morale had been greatly affected as well. Xue Jingtao brought his people over and quickly stepped forward to whisper, ¡°Miss Jiu Gong, it¡¯s just a fluke that Zhou Yuan could break through the formation. What does Miss Jiu Gong plan to do next? We will all follow your orders.¡± Xue Jingtao¡¯s eyes glinted with malice. He similarly didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to possess such tyrannical strength. Although he was considered strong, he paled in comparison to Zhou Yuan. But not only did this not reduce his jealousy and resentment, his negative emotions intensified. Xue Jingtao wanted to spur Jiu Gong on. As long as Jiu Gong refused to follow the agreement with Zhou Yuan and Yuan Kun, a battle would break out between the two sides, and the Tianyuan Region and the Xuanji Region would tear each other¡¯s faces. Coupled with the fact that Zhou Yuan had previously offended Xu Ming, the Tianyuan Region would have angered two powerful regions in the nine regions tournament. It was only then that Jiu Gong finally recovered from her shock, and a complicated look flickered in her beautiful eyes. Swoosh! The wind suddenly whistled as multiple silhouettes rose into the sky and landed on the snow-capped mountain summit. Zhou Yuan and Yuan Kun were leading the teams. Yuan Kun grinned at Jiu Gong and said, ¡°Jiu Gong, you won¡¯t go back on your words, right?¡± Jiu Gong simply ignored him and fixed her beautiful eyes on Zhou Yuan, who hadn¡¯t said a word. She suddenly asked, ¡°Had you intended to use the Tortoise Mirror Boundary to break my Meridian Golden Light Boundary from the very start?¡± Zhou Yuan calmly answered, ¡°In terms of attack power, your Meridian Golden Light Boundary is remarkable among boundaries of the same level. In truth, if you hadn¡¯t launched that final attack, it would have been difficult for me to break the formation. ¡°Your boundary wasn¡¯t broken by me but by you.¡± This was the truth. The boundary¡¯s attack power was too terrifying, but Zhou Yuan destroyed it using its own power. Jiu Gong was silent for a moment, then uttered, ¡°Constructing another boundary from the remains of my boundary...your mastery of Genesis Runes is very impressive.¡± She then calmly added, ¡°I¡¯ve lost. I underestimated you, Zhou Yuan.¡± There still wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on Zhou Yuan''s face. ¡°Then the Alpha Spiritium in this place...?¡± Jiu Gong pondered for a moment, then turned to say to Xue Jingtao. ¡°Take your people and leave.¡± ¡°Miss Jiu Gong, didn¡¯t we agree to share the Spiritium inside the snow-capped mountain? We have only collected less than one tenth! How can we leave now?!¡± ¡°I was in charge of this place, but now it¡¯s not just up to me. If you can get them to agree, I naturally won¡¯t have any objection,¡± Jiu Gong said indifferently. Yuan Kun smiled. ¡°Although there is abundant Spiritium here, there isn¡¯t enough to share with so many people.¡± Of course he didn¡¯t want Xue Jingtao to stay and take a share of the Spiritium. He felt that Xue Jingtao wasn¡¯t qualified to be treated on the same level as them. If he were Su Youwei, it would have been very different. Xue Jingtao immediately turned to Zhou Yuan and forced out a smile. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, you are acquainted with junior sister Youwei. I hope you will give her some face.¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyelids drooped as he said indifferently, ¡°You also didn¡¯t give face to her before, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Prior to this, Xue Jingtao had displayed an uncompromising attitude and showed no mercy to them, but now that the situation had changed, he had again brought out Su Youwei¡¯s name. His behavior was simply despicable. Xue Jingtao¡¯s face went livid when he heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s argument. He clenched his fists tight in anger, and his heart almost exploded. In the end, he took two deep breaths and threatened, ¡°Fine, the Zixiao Region will remember what you did to us. I will tell junior sister Youwei the truth when I see her. I will let her know what kind of person you are!¡± Jiu Gong chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s unknown who Su Youwei will side with.¡± The veins on Xue Jingtao¡¯s temples visibly throbbed, and his eyes became a little bloodshot. He glanced at Zhou Yuan contemptuously and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Junior sister Youwei knows what¡¯s important. Nobody is more important than the Zixiao Region in her heart. If you don¡¯t believe it, then wait and see.¡± He flung his arm and turned away because he knew that it was no use lingering. The members of the Zixiao Region silently followed after him. Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze. He didn¡¯t feel that his actions would upset Su Youwei because he knew that they both understood their positions. Just as if Lu Xiao ran into Su Youwei with his team and foolishly schemed against her, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t be upset with Su Youwei if she took action against Lu Xiao. After they drove away the Zixiao Region team, Yuan Kun rubbed his hands together and turned to Jiu Gong with a smile. ¡°Jiu Gong, can you tell us how much Alpha Spiritium you have found here?¡± Jiu Gong shot a glance at him. ¡°None.¡± The smile on Yuan Kun¡¯s face stiffened. ¡°Jiu Gong, do you think we will believe that?¡± Zhou Yuan also scrunched his brows. Jiu Gong has occupied this place for so long. If there is Alpha Spiritium here, she must have gotten them already, right? Her words really can¡¯t be trusted. Jiu Gong snorted and didn¡¯t bother to explain. She just swept a glance over the two like they were country bumpkins. ¡°Do you really think that strands of Alpha Spiritium are that easy to find? Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll show you.¡± Jiu Gong turned around, heading into the depths of the ice mountain. Zhou Yuan and Yuan Kun exchanged a surprised glance with each other, and in the end, they quickly settled the teams and followed after her. Chapter 960 Seventy Million The ice cave led underground, making it extremely deep. Without saying anything, Jiu Gong leaped down. Zhou Yuan and Yuan Kun exchanged a glance with each other before they followed after her. They rapidly slid down the ice cave, cold wind lashing their bodies. Such a rapid descent lasted for several minutes, and the deeper they went, the more solemn Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression. The temperature was plummeting, and in the end, he had to operate his Genesis Qi to withstand the freezing temperature. It was impossible for ordinary people to stay long in such harsh conditions. Chi! While Zhou Yuan was beginning to panic, Jiu Gong suddenly stretched out her beautiful hand and touched the ice wall, leaving deep claw marks with just her fingertips. Her speed slowed, and she floated down. They seemed to have arrived. The Genesis Qi at Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Yuan Kun¡¯s feet quivered, and their speed also decreased. The three descended onto a huge bulging block of ice. Peering down, Zhou Yuan saw a tremendous icy lake below them. Huge ice blocks floating on the lake, and he vaguely saw dozens of specks of light in the lake¡¯s depths. He transferred Genesis Qi to his eyes, and his gaze turned sharp. Seeing through the lake, he made out ten specks of light. Ten ice lotuses! They were vivid and slowly blooming. Each petal was engraved with mysterious patterns as though they were created naturally. They also looked real yet gave off an illusory feeling, as if they were formed from the flow of air. The ice lotuses were incredibly bizarre. When Zhou Yuan laid eyes on them, his Divine Dwellings trembled violently with longing. Chi. Zhou Yuan inhaled sharply, a look of shock and joy filling his eyes. Besides Alpha Spiritium, what other objects could make his Divine Dwellings react so strongly!? Those ice lotuses were no doubt formed from Alpha Spiritium! While Zhou Yuan was overjoyed, he heard the sound of swallowing saliva beside him. Yuan Kun was staring intently into the icy lake¡¯s depths, and that look of desire almost burst forth from his eyes. Yuan Kun couldn''t help but take two steps forward. ¡°If you want to die, then go in,¡± Jiu Gong said coldly. Zhou Yuan focused his gaze, the Spirit in the middle of his brows flashed, and his perception power spread out. After a few breaths, he shifted his gaze to a small block of ice floating in the icy lake. Vaguely, he saw a silhouette inside it. The silhouette gushed with a dangerous, uncontrollable aura, stinging Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin. Zhou Yuan grabbed Yuan Kun¡¯s arm and signaled with his eyes. Jiu Gong answered indifferently, ¡°From my investigation, that Fallen Shadow should have been at the Heavenly Sun stage before its death. So even though its strength has been considerably weakened, its Genesis Qi foundation should still be around 70 million Genesis Qi stars.¡± Yuan Kun gasped with astonishment, and even Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids shook a little. ¡°Seventy million Genesis Qi stars.¡± That was stronger than any of them! If they were fighting alone, any one of them would be utterly crushed. After all, a gap of tens of millions in Genesis Qi was enough to make anybody despair. Jiu Gong shot a glance at Yuan Kun, saying, ¡°Do you now know why I haven¡¯t gotten any Alpha Spiritium?¡± Yuan Kun looked a little embarrassed, but then he retorted, ¡°Since you know you can''t get them yourself, why did you drive me away before?¡± Jiu Gong was taken aback for a moment. She snorted, ¡°I only found the Fallen Shadow after I got rid of you. Also, I knew you wouldn¡¯t give up so easily and would come back. There is also a high possibility that you would find someone to help.¡± Yuan Kun exclaimed, ¡°So you were waiting for me to come back with a helper!? Then why were you so arrogant?!¡± Feeling tricked, he gave her an exasperated look. Jiu Gong said indifferently, ¡°If you had brought back the leader of one of the other regions, I wouldn¡¯t have had to set up a formation to test you. But you had brought Zhou Yuan, so of course I needed to test his strength.¡± Zhou Yuan ignored the quarrel between the two and continued to study the ice-encased Fallen Shadow. ¡°Even if we join forces, I don¡¯t think we can get rid of it.¡± Even if they used an amplification art to increase their foundations, their Genesis Qi would at most be between 50 million and 60 million. But three people with 60 million Genesis Qi in total still couldn¡¯t compare to someone with a foundation of 70 million! Yuan Kun nodded, ¡°A foundation of 70 million Genesis Qi stars¡ªonly Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei have this ability.¡± ¡°Wang Xi should be able to reach such a level too,¡± Jiu Gong added. Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed. Zhao Mushen¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation has exceeded 70 million! He is indeed a powerful enemy! He scanned the surroundings and turned to Jiu Gong, saying, ¡°There are remains of Genesis Runes, is that your doing?¡± Jiu Gong cast him a surprised look. ¡°Your Spirit is really sensitive. That¡¯s correct. I had left these Genesis Runes. I originally planned to set up a Genesis Rune Boundary.¡± Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment before he said, ¡°A boundary isn¡¯t a bad plan, but it won¡¯t be enough. Even if you move the Meridian Golden Light Boundary here, it will still be difficult to wound the Fallen Shadow.¡± Jiu Gong shook her head. ¡°The Meridian Golden Light Boundary requires a lot of nodes and people. It is a formation of a huge scale. But the cold and harsh conditions of this place make it difficult for anybody to get close besides the three of us.¡± Zhou Yuan was silent. Without the Meridian Golden Light Boundary, ordinary boundaries would only pose a slight impediment. He and Yuan Kun could at most slightly injure a Fallen Shadow of the Heavenly Sun stage, but such injuries were unlikely to lead to a victory. At that time, when the battle became intense, the slightest of carelessness could result in their elimination. All three were silent for a good while, and the atmosphere turned somewhat depressing. It was clear that they were extremely reluctant to leave. After all, it was incredibly difficult to find Alpha Spiritium, and there were ten strands here! How could they be willing to let the Fallen Shadow obstruct them? During this silence, Zhou Yuan''s eyes suddenly flashed. ¡°But it isn¡¯t impossible to deal with.¡± Looks of astonishment crossed Yuan Kun¡¯s and Jiu Gong¡¯s faces. ¡°You have a plan?¡± Jiu Gong asked doubtfully. Ordinary methods would be ineffective in dealing with a Fallen Shadow with a foundation of at least 70 million Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan said calmly, ¡°I have a treasure that possesses a sealing power, and if it hits its target, it can seal at least half of one¡¯s Genesis Qi. But this treasure is one of my trump cards, and there is a limit to the number of times I can use it. So, if we end up with ten strands of Alpha Spiritium, I need to have at least half.¡± The sealing treasure that Zhou Yuan spoke of was indeed the Five Spirits Universe Tower that he had seized from Lu Hai and the others. He could just about activate it after keeping it for a period of time, and of course, the number of restrictions he mentioned was a lie. ¡°Five?¡± Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong both scrunched their brows. In the face of a treasure like the Alpha Spiritium, even the top heaven prides of the nine regions would appear petty. Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong were obviously reluctant to let Zhou Yuan take half the share. But Zhou Yuan didn''t say anything more. He just stared at the two people, appearing extremely firm. He didn''t deliberately take advantage of the situation. His sealing method could indeed play a crucial role, and his contribution would be the greatest. Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong were both very intelligent and understood this very well. Therefore, they gritted their teeth and reluctantly agreed. Chapter 961 Working Together Zhou Yuan was silently sitting on a chunk of ice floating in the icy lake, and his eyes were lightly shut. His mind was submerged in his Divine Dwelling, where a ball of Genesis Qi was churning. Within the ball were several glowing fragments. They were fragments of the Five Spirits Universe Tower. Lu Hai and the others had to work together to activate the Five Spirits Universe Tower, but Zhou Yuan could achieve the same feat by himself because his Genesis Qi foundation was far stronger than theirs. However, he could only activate it once over a short period. Zhou Yuan circulated his Genesis Qi, nourishing the fragments. This continued for an incense stick of time before he opened his eyes. Yuan Kun was sitting to one side of the same ice block. He retrieved several pieces of dried meat from his spatial bag and ravenously devoured them while the Divine Earth Ox also gorged itself beside him. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan open his eyes, Yuan Kun chuckled and offered him a piece of meat. Zhou Yuan shook his head. His gaze peered into the distance just as Jiu Gong¡¯s pretty figure nimbly flew past them. Icy qi filled the air, enveloping her body. Each time she landed, she left behind numerous Genesis Runes. She was setting up a Genesis Rune boundary. The Fallen Shadow before them was a huge threat, and even with the three of them working together, they did not like their chances. Hence, none of them dared to hold anything back, and they poured all their efforts into preparing their strongest trump cards. While Zhou Yuan nourished the fragments, Yuan Kun roped in the Divine Earth Ox, and Jiu Gong worked hard to set up her best boundary. After nearly half a day, Jia Gong¡¯s figure finally returned, her chest heaving gently as she panted. When she landed, her brows furrowed slightly as she gazed at the seated Zhou Yuan and the still eating Yuan Kun. These two bastards are so heartless. Both of them had happily watched her work without intending to help. ¡°Are the preparations done?¡± asked Zhou Yuan with a smile. Jiu Gong snorted coldly in response. Zhou Yuan swept a glance at the surroundings, his eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°Amazing. You set up eight Genesis Rune boundaries in such a short time. Even with that Fallen Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation of 70 million, it would be trapped for a brief moment.¡± Jiu Gong looked at him in surprise. Her eight boundaries had been layered together, yet Zhou Yuan could still discern them clearly. He was indeed very proficient in Genesis Runes. It was no wonder he could break her Meridian Golden Light Boundary. She slightly hoisted her fair chin and said, ¡°At least you can recognize it.¡± Unfriendly on the outside but warm on the inside. Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong were not disappointed by Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. Instead, they breathed a tiny sigh of relief. If his sealing move were perfect, it would be a trump card that was nigh impossible to guard against. As participants of the nine regions tournament, they were also fellow competitors and naturally did not wish Zhou Yuan to have such an unblockable skill. Jiu Gong said, ¡°Yuan Kun will be the vanguard, so search for a chance to lure it into the boundary. My boundary will delay it while Zhou Yuan finds an opportunity to use his sealing technique. Is everyone okay with this?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded while Yuan Kun displayed a pained look. Being the vanguard meant that he was going to receive a beating, making his role the most tragic. However, he knew that this was the part he needed to play, and there was no avoiding it. ¡°If everyone is ready¡­¡± Zhou Yuan took a deep breath as a fierce look emerged in his eyes. ¡°Then let¡¯s go!¡± Yuan Kun climbed to his feet and patted his tummy, undulating layers of fat. Despite this comical sight, a dangerous light slowly flickered in his narrowed eyes. Rumble! He suddenly erupted with a powerful wave of Genesis Qi. ¡°Beast Devil Body!¡± roared Yuan Kun as all of his flesh instantly turned pitch-black like metal. With a stomp, his body shot forth like a cannonball, and a punch blasted through the air. Rumble! Power poured out like a flood, blasting the ice block where the Fallen Shadow was hidden. Thud! The ice block instantly burst apart, and a piercing shriek rang out. The sound wave rippled through the air, throwing up giant waves on the icy lake. A glowing figure shot out like a phantom, ripping apart a wave as it appeared in front of Yuan Kun. Rumble! The Fallen Shadow didn¡¯t use any fancy tricks, and it threw a simple punch. A sonic boom rang out as the surrounding space rippled. Yuan Kun roared as he crossed his arms in front of him. Thud! The Fallen Shadow¡¯s fist landed, and a berserk ripple erupted in the air. Giant waves rose from the lake again. Yuan Kun shrieked in pain as his enormous figure was sent flying. He slammed into the lake, smashing all the ice blocks in his path as he skidded across its surface. Urgh. When he finally came to a stop, he vomited a mouthful of blood. Fresh blood flowed down his arms, and even an eerily white bone could be seen. ¡°That blasted thing is way too ferocious!¡± Yuan Kun cursed out loud, his eyes filled with alarm. He had already done what he could, but a single punch had nearly beaten him. Is this the power of a 70 million Fallen Shadow?! On the ice block, Zhou Yuan and Jiu Gong could not help but falter, their expressions shifting. The Fallen Shadow¡¯s power had exceeded their expectations. Yuan Kun''s scalp turned numb when he saw the Fallen Shadow shoot towards him once more, and he hurriedly yelled, ¡°Brother Ox!¡± Moo! The Divine Earth Ox mooed in the sky as it stepped forward. The surrounding space rippled as the ox seemingly turned into a terrifying embodiment of steel. It charged towards the Fallen Shadow with indescribable momentum. The force behind its charge was enough to topple a mountain. The Divine Earth Ox was extremely quick. The Fallen Shadow immediately turned around, erupting with boundless Genesis Qi. The released qi transformed into two giant hands and grabbed the ox by the horns. Dong! Space violently rippled. The Divine Earth Ox¡¯s charge was forcibly stopped. Swish! Yuan Kun¡¯s figure appeared on the Divine Earth Ox¡¯s back. He frantically made a seal with his bloody hands before slapping the ox¡¯s back, shouting, ¡°Devil Ox God Horn!¡± Bzzbzz! The Divine Earth Ox¡¯s horns abruptly turned black as night. The horns quivered, tearing open cracks in space as they erupted with terrifying power. The two giant Genesis hands instantly disintegrated. With a mighty roar, the Divine Earth Ox rammed the Fallen Shadow. Thud! The Fallen Shadow was sent flying, and it crashed into a giant wall of ice. Enormous cracks spread from the point of impact. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes twitched as he shot a glance at Yuan Kun and the Divine Earth Ox. When they joined forces, their battle power was terrifying. To think that even the Fallen Shadow had been blown away¡­ However, it did not seem to be of any use. The Fallen Shadow shakily descended from the ice wall and shook its head. The majestic Genesis Qi around its body did not show any signs of weakening, and the Fallen Shadow seemed to be somewhat angered. It released a piercing hiss. Hss! Its Genesis Qi undulations abruptly intensified, and the Fallen Shadow shot towards Yuan Kun again. Yuan Kun¡¯s scalp numbed a bit. He quickly patted the divine ox and said, ¡°Brother Ox, run!¡± He was finally certain that he could not beat it alone! He and the Divine Earth Ox were linked by the mind, and thus it immediately turned and fled into the sky. The Fallen Shadow immediately pursued them. Man and ox frantically fled as the Fallen Shadow chased. A dozen breaths later, Yuan Kun reached Jiu Gong¡¯s boundaries. However, the Fallen Shadow suddenly slowed as if it had detected something. Jiu Gong¡¯s and Zhou Yuan¡¯s hearts sank. Yuan Kun also realized the Fallen Shadow had slowed down. He gritted his teeth, slapped the Divine Earth Ox and shouted, ¡°Brother Ox, show it your secret move!¡± Plop! The Divine Earth Ox swung its tail. A dozen black egg-shaped metal balls shot out, viciously pounding the Fallen Shadow like arrows. The black metal eggs gave off a strange odor capable of stimulating one¡¯s emotions. The Fallen Shadow¡¯s eyes turned red, and it dashed forward without any hesitation. It stepped into the boundaries. Zhou Yuan and Jiu Gong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Chapter 962 Divide When the Fallen Shadow charged into the multiple boundaries, countless Genesis Runes appeared in the void under Jiu Gong¡¯s manipulation, as though forming countless Genesis Rune whips. The long whips hung down, blocking all the Fallen Shadow¡¯s escape routes. They wrapped around the Fallen Shadow¡¯s body and hands. Boom! The Fallen Shadow suddenly erupted with a gush of terrifying, violent Genesis Qi, exploding and shredding the layers upon layers of whips. Jiu Gong¡¯s beautiful face tensed up, and she frantically changed the seals. Crash! Those mighty Genesis Runes turned into a swamp, completely surrounding the Fallen Shadow, making it difficult for it to move. Boom! But in the face of its obstacles, the Fallen Shadow let out an enraged roar and swung out multiple punches. Genesis Qi raged like a torrent, quaking the void as it destroyed the Genesis Rune boundaries. In less than ten breaths, five of the eight boundaries were already destroyed! Jiu Gong¡¯s beautiful forehead was beaded with sweat, and she couldn¡¯t help but urge, ¡°Zhou Yuan, why aren¡¯t you doing anything?¡± Zhou Yuan wore a solemn expression as he intently fixed his eyes on the Fallen Shadow creating havoc. ¡°I only have one chance to attack. It isn¡¯t the best time yet!¡± Jiu Gong gritted her teeth without saying anything else. After all, she was also a top heaven pride who possessed extraordinary talent and strength. Therefore, she understood the importance of timing. Any reckless move could indeed make them lose their chance. So, she continued to operate the three remaining boundaries to attempt to trap the Fallen Shadow. Roar! Above the icy lake, the Fallen Shadow released a thunder-like roar. Its Genesis Qi raged all over the place, knocking down blocks of ice that battered the lake. The power was terrifying, and it rapidly began to break down the three remaining boundaries. Outside the boundaries, Yuan Kun¡¯s face twisted with fear. He patted the Divine Ox, whispering, ¡°Brother Ox, the situation doesn¡¯t look favorable, so be ready to flee.¡± Just now, the Fallen Shadow had almost killed him. He really didn¡¯t want it to come so close to death again. The Divine Earth Ox mooed in response. Glistening beads of sweat rolled down Jiu Gong¡¯s fair cheeks and chin. Her bright eyes were bloodshot, and she was staring fixedly at the last boundary. It was about to shatter. After a few seconds, she finally couldn¡¯t stand it, and she screamed, ¡°Zhou Yuan, this old woman can¡¯t withstand the onslaught any longer! Can you do it or not?¡± It was clear how much pressure she was under from the fact that she, an icily arrogant and graceful beauty, had called herself ¡®old woman¡¯. It was clear that after battling Yuan Kun and destroying the eight boundaries, the Fallen Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi had taken a toll! ¡°Now it¡¯s time!¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes glinted. He turned to say to Jiu Gong, ¡°I should tell you that you shouldn¡¯t ask a man whether he can do it or not!¡± Boom! He folded his hands into a hand seal, and a pillar of Genesis Qi shot out from the top of his head. Numerous fragments broke out from within the beam of light, and they quickly fused together to form a five-colored light tower above the Fallen Shadow. The light tower pressed down like lightning striking down and enveloped the Fallen Shadow. Yuan Kun¡¯s and Jiu Gong¡¯s eyes lit up. Boom! Genesis Qi violently exploded within the light tower, shattering the tower. Face ashen, Jiu Gong asked, "What happened? Did you fail?!¡± Zhou Yuan looked over at the Fallen Shadow in mid-air. The Genesis Qi pulsing around it was gradually weakening, and there was a five-color tower seal faintly formed in the space between its brows. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°The seal succeeded.¡± With the flick of his sleeve, the fragments returned to the palm of his hand. Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows. The fragments had become extremely dull, and it was obvious that Zhou Yuan had to store them in the Divine Dwellings for a while before he could use the technique again. Boom! When the Fallen Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi grew weaker, Yuan Kun knew that the seal had succeeded, and he burst out in a hearty laugh. ¡°The situation has changed. I will beat you this time!¡± He patted the Divine Ox and, wrapped in a torrent of powerful Genesis Qi, charged towards the Fallen Shadow to kill it. A battle once again broke out between the two sides up high. But this time, the arrogance the Fallen Shadow exuded had disappeared. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Five Spirits Universe Tower sealing technique hadn¡¯t truly sealed half of its Genesis Qi, but it had reduced it by at least 30%. Therefore, the Fallen Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi wasn¡¯t much weaker or stronger than Xuan Kun¡¯s. Moreover, with the Divine Earth Ox¡¯s assistance, they began to push the Fallen Shadow into retreat. But this smooth fighting didn¡¯t last for long. Yuan Kun was stunned to find that the tower sealing rune between the brows of the Fallen Shadow was gradually dimming. Moreover, the Fallen Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi was beginning to recover. Yuan Kun jumped up and couldn¡¯t help howling, ¡°Zhou Yuan, is your seal of such bad quality?! How long will it last?!" Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes. If seals could exist for a long period of time, wouldn¡¯t they be invincible? ¡°It¡¯s your fault for playing around so long,¡± Zhou Yuan grumbled, then immediately erupted with Genesis Qi. He sped through the air and joined the battle. With the addition of Zhou Yuan, the Fallen Shadow could no longer withstand the onslaught. Ganged up by three, the Fallen Shadow let out a prolonged miserable howl. Boom! The two sides fought for some time, and when the sealing tower between the Fallen Shadow¡¯s brows was flickering and about to disappear, Zhou Yuan clenched his fist. Hair surfaced on his skin and turned into a glove. Genesis Breaker! The hair turned jet black. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was icy cold as he slammed his fist into the Fallen Shadow¡¯s chest. The Fallen Shadow stopped struggling. A crack slowly spread through its body before the Fallen Shadow burst into specks of light that filled the sky. Zhou Yuan clenched his fist, grabbing a light orb from its dispersing body. It was a Fallen Genesis Orb. Feeling the power contained within the Fallen Genesis Orb, Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. He felt that if this Fallen Genesis Orb was refined, he should be able to greatly dissolve the barrier of the ninth Divine Dwelling...and perhaps maybe even connect through to the ninth Divine Dwelling. Zhou Yuan tossed the Fallen Genesis Orb around in his hands and said to Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong, ¡°This thing, I¡¯ll trade it for one portion of Alpha Spiritium.¡± They were only able to kill the Fallen Shadow with the three¡¯s combined power, so he couldn¡¯t keep the Fallen Genesis Orb to himself. Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong exchanged a glance, then nodded. They knew that the power contained within the Fallen Genesis Orb could help people connect Divine Dwellings, but they were now at the pinnacle of the Divine Dwelling stage, so they no longer had a need for it. It was their gain if Zhou Yuan exchanged a portion of Alpha Spiritium for it. Zhou Yuan stored the Fallen Genesis Orb, and then the three people shifted their blazing gazes into the icy lake¡¯s depths where the ice lotuses were glowing. Chapter 963 Super Domain Zhou Yuan gently patted the spatial bag at his waist, unable to conceal the satisfied smile on his face because there were four strands of Alpha Spiritium inside. Four strands of Alpha Spiritium was worth over 4000 ordinary strands of Spritium, a haul that far surpassed everything they had collected previously. He lifted his head and looked at Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong. Two teams had already assembled behind them, ready to leave at any moment. Zhou Yuan grinned and said, ¡°It¡¯s been great working together.¡± Yuan Kun grinned as well as he bumped fists with Zhou Yuan, while Jiu Gong seemed indifferent. She had regained her previous cold and prideful look, but after some hesitation, she said, ¡°I have something to tell you. I met Xu Ming in one of the earlier domains. He had eliminated one of your teams and had injured or killed about a dozen members in the process. The leader of that team should be your mountain pavilion master, Han Yuan.¡± As someone from the Xuanji Region, Jiu Gong was very well informed about the Tianyuan Region. Hence, it was not strange for her to recognize Han Yuan. The smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned rigid. Normally speaking, although everyone was a fellow competitor in the tournament, most of the main teams had their pride and would not take things too far. Just like Xue Jingtao from the Zixiao Region Zhou Yuan had met previously. Although Zhou Yuan was not fond of him, he had not eliminated his entire team or taken any of their lives. This was not purely because of Su Youwei but also because it was an unspoken rule among the participants. Main teams should face other main teams, and there was no need to be too ruthless towards the other teams unless the other party was untactful. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s understanding of Han Yuan¡¯s character, he was definitely someone who could endure humiliation and would most certainly yield against someone like Xu Ming. Despite this, Xu Ming had eliminated the entire team and had even made them suffer some losses. This was truly too much. Was it because of the slight disagreement they had previously? Xu Ming is truly both cruel and arrogant to the limit... Zhou Yuan sighed. The truth was that with the exception of a few members from the Wind Pavilion, he was not too familiar with everyone else. It was very unlikely for him to feel much for them. However, he was the chief pavilion master of the Tianyuan Region and their generation¡¯s leader; hence, he was responsible for their protection. Xu Ming¡¯s actions were most likely a provocation. Zhou Yuan lowered his gaze before he looked towards Jiu Gong and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± His tone was calm, but Jiu Gong¡¯s and Yuan Kung¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. They could hear a chilling killing intent in his voice. Xu Ming¡¯s actions had evidently angered him. Jiu Gong stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Just don¡¯t blame me for standing by and doing nothing when the time comes.¡± If the time came, she would naturally have the power to stop them, but she would not because she was not obligated to do so. Moreover, all there was between them was this one joint operation. It was not enough reason for her to pit herself against Xu Ming. Although it wasn¡¯t nice to hear, it was the truth. Zhou Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not that delusional.¡± Jiu Gong nodded. Zhou Yuan was not someone who did not understand their circumstances, after all. She said, ¡°This domain has already been cleaned out, so let us part ways here. Who knows whether we¡¯ll be enemies or allies when we next meet.¡± They had chosen to cooperate in this domain because the Fallen Shadow stationed here was too powerful. If not for its presence, Jiu Gong would have definitely monopolized everything, and a tough fight would have likely awaited Zhou Yuan and Yuan Kun if they wanted to contest. Therefore, who knew whether they would be friends or enemies the next time they met. ¡°We¡¯ll see each other again.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Jiu Gong decisively turned around and swiftly left with her team. Yuan Kun grinned and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, if we meet Xu Ming together, we can join forces and give him a beating. He¡¯s been an eyesore for a long time.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a slight nod in response. After a little more conversation, Yuan Kun left in a carefree manner. Zhou Yuan was silent for a while as he watched the two teams leave. He did not plan to leave immediately because he wanted to absorb the Fallen Shadow¡¯s Genesis Orb to see if he could unblock his ninth Divine Dwelling. With this decision made, he turned around and sat down on the ice mountain¡¯s summit. He adjusted his condition in preparation to absorb the Fallen Shadow¡¯s Genesis Orb. Yi Qiushui spread the team out, positioning them around Zhou Yuan. Half an incense stick of time passed. However, just as Zhou Yuan was slowly getting into a calm state of mind, he suddenly heard alarmed, panicked noises and a strange disturbance. His eyes abruptly opened. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He immediately looked towards Yi Qiushui as Genesis Qi surged around him. Yi Qiushui was gazing at the sky in panic. Numerous other members were doing the same. Zhou Yuan immediately raised his head and looked at the sky, only for his pupils to shrink. An enormous spatial crack was slowly tearing open in the sky, looking like a giant sinister mouth. Near-solid wind howled within it and devastated the surroundings. At closer inspection, it was not wind but Genesis Qi that had been condensed to the limit! ¡°This is¡­¡± Zhou Yuan gravely stared at the giant spatial crack. After some silence, he slowly said, ¡°A super domain is opening?!¡± ¡°Super domain?!¡± Yi Qiushui and the others cried out in surprise. The Fallen Abyss was divided into numerous mini domains like the one Zhou Yuan and his team were currently situated in. Above high-class mini domains was the super domain. It was said that the super domain would only open once a certain number of teams obtained Alpha Spiritium. In other words, the spatial crack above their heads had likely appeared above other teams that had Alpha Spiritium. This meant that numerous strong teams would be able to enter the super domain through the giant spatial crack. Of course, the opportunities and resources in the super domain were not merely limited to Alpha Spiritium. The opening of the super domain symbolized that the nine regions tournament had entered its second phase. The clashes in the super domain would determine the tournament¡¯s final rankings. Zhou Yuan concentrated on the spatial crack as excitement burned in his eyes. Compared to the super domain, the domain he was currently in was destitute. Of course, with so many strong experts gathering, the competition would intensify beyond one¡¯s imagination. Swish! Zhou Yuan suddenly heard the wind swoosh and looked over to find Jiu Gong and Yuan Kun rushing over with their teams. Even from a distance, he could still see the joy and excitement on Jiu Gong¡¯s and Yuan Kun¡¯s faces. Evidently, the opening of the super domain was also out of their expectations, and its opening meant that the tournament¡¯s greatest battles would soon begin. Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle, ¡°It seems that it¡¯s not time for us to part yet¡­¡± ... Meanwhile, outside the Fallen Abyss. The dozen or so seated Law Domain stage experts suddenly opened their eyes. They gazed at the compass before them, their expressions trembling for an instant. They then waved their sleeves, and light blossomed from the compass and slowly formed a giant screen. Within the screen seemed to be a vast ancient domain. The Law Domain experts narrowed their eyes, which flickered with a sliver of interest. ¡°Has the super domain finally opened?¡± Chapter 964 Failure Outside the ice mountain, the hurriedly returning Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong could not help but sigh as they stared at the giant spatial crack in the sky with excited eyes. They had originally intended to leave the mini domain through the spatial crack but had suddenly felt the disturbance, causing them to rush back immediately. The super domain¡¯s appearance was both a shocking and happy surprise, and they clearly understood what the opening of the super domain represented. If one were to say that the mini domains they previously entered were mostly consolation prizes for the sub-teams, then the super domain was the thing every main team looked forward to. Nearby, Zhou Yuan grinned at Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong. However, after a brief moment of contemplation, he did not approach them and instead stayed where he was. No matter what, he needed to attempt unblocking his ninth Divine Dwelling first. The opening of the super domain meant that the nine regions¡¯ other main teams would soon appear, and he was almost guaranteed to meet Zhao Mushen again. If he did not wish to flee again like before, Zhou Yuan needed to do everything he could to raise his power. Unblocking his ninth Divine Dwelling was the most realistic and effective method he currently possessed. Zhou Yuan clenched his hand, and the Fallen Shadow¡¯s Genesis Orb appeared in his palm. He brought his hands together as the Genesis Qi in his body began to churn. Resplendent rays burst out from the orb as boundless power flooded his body. This orb was more than several times more powerful than the Fallen Shadow Genesis Orbs he had absorbed previously. As the power washed through his body, Zhou Yuan felt a slight stabbing pain. The pain did not make him panic but instead made him secretly happy. The stronger the power within the orb, the better his chances of unblocking the ninth Divine Dwelling. The orb¡¯s power ultimately converged within his Divine Dwelling. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s control, it charged towards the barrier of his ninth Divine Dwelling. Boom! The entire Divine Dwelling trembled. As the boundless power ground it, the barrier thinned at a speed that could be seen by the naked eye, making Zhou Yuan overjoyed. Wave after wave of energy crashed into the barrier. However, Zhou Yuan''s happy mood did not last for long because he realized that when the barrier thinned to a certain point, it became impossible to progress any further no matter how much he tried. As time passed, the power within the Fallen Shadow¡¯s Genesis Orb slowly diminished. In the end, calm returned to the Divine Dwelling. Although the stars within shone even brighter than before, the thin barrier continued to stand, dashing Zhou Yuan¡¯s hopes of unlocking the ninth Divine Dwelling. ¡°Goddamnit!¡± He tightly clenched his fists as his eyes flickered indeterminately in thought. The ninth Divine Dwelling was even more difficult to unlock than all eight of his Divine Dwellings combined! Moreover... Zhou Yuan tightly furrowed his brows. He did not know why, but he had a faint feeling that there was something in his ninth Divine Dwelling supporting the barrier, causing his repeated attempts to fail. It was that something that made it so difficult to unlock his ninth Divine Dwelling! ¡°Is it just my imagination?¡± mumbled Zhou Yuan to himself. He could not ascertain whether his hunch was correct because such a thing had never happened before to anyone. His expression rapidly fluctuated. A long while later, he gradually composed himself. Although he had failed again, it was not without benefit. Zhou Yuan could feel that he was one step closer to a breakthrough. He only needed more powerful Fallen Shadow Genesis Orbs, and he would eventually unlock his ninth Divine Dwelling. As for how to obtain them, Zhou Yuan was not worried because he would soon enter the super domain. The opportunities there would far surpass anything from the earlier domains. Getting another powerful Fallen Shadow Genesis Orb would not be difficult. However, he would likely have to flee again if he encountered Zhao Mushen. At this thought, Zhou Yuan could not help but click his tongue. It had been many years since he had experienced this feeling of constantly having to run away. Zhao Mushen was a formidable foe, as expected of the king of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling stage practitioners. However...king of the Divine Dwelling stage, you won¡¯t be happy for much longer. When I unlock my ninth Divine Dwelling, the first one I¡¯ll be coming for will be you! Moreover, even without unlocking the ninth Divine Dwelling, Zhou Yuan was confident that if he went all out, he would at least make Zhao Mushen pay a substantial price even if he could not defeat him. It would be a price that Zhao Mushen might not be able to afford because he was not truly invincible among the Divine Dwelling experts. Wu Yao and Su Youwei possessed the strength that could threaten him. After reaffirming himself, Zhou Yuan stood up. He found that Yuan Kun¡¯s and Jiu Gong¡¯s teams were still here. They were waiting for the spatial crack to fully stabilize before entering. Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong likewise sensed that Zhou Yuan had ended his cultivation session and looked over. A sliver of pity flitted across their eyes; they evidently realized that Zhou Yuan had failed to break through. Yi Qiushui quickly walked over as she looked at Zhou Yuan in worry. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm as he waved his hand. He had experienced countless trials ever since stepping onto the path of cultivation. Hence, they underestimated his tenacity if they believed temporarily failing to unlock the ninth Divine Dwelling would leave him dejected. He did not say anything and merely raised his head to gaze at the growing spatial crack in the sky. It slowly squirmed as the Genesis Qi storm within grew more savage. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. He stared into the depths of the crack as if hoping to peek into its mysteries. His efforts, however, were fruitless. The only thing he sensed was the super domain¡¯s vast and ancient aura. He did not know what kind of opportunities would be inside, but he rather looked forward to them. Perhaps, the long-anticipated Heavenly Sun stage may be a possibility... While such thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, the spatial crack gradually stabilized, and the devastating storm slowly calmed. Once it finally stabilized, Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong dashed into the sky without the slightest shred of hesitation. Nearly a thousand individuals closely followed behind them. They entered the spatial crack and disappeared in the blink of an eye as if swallowed by a giant mouth of darkness. Zhou Yuan did not hesitate either. He made a ¡®be careful¡¯ gesture before rising into the air, leading his team into the still-slowly-squirming spatial crack. When they entered, Zhou Yuan clearly felt all of his senses being stripped away. The entire world seemed to spin as space distorted. However, the feeling only lasted for a few dozen breaths before coming to an abrupt halt. Zhou Yuan discovered that his surroundings had changed. He swept his gaze across the area. He seemed to be in a starry sky. Countless broken islands floated among the stars, as the land had been shattered. Chapter 965 Young Heroes Meet Once More As Zhou Yuan gazed upon the statues, his Divine Dwelling frantically shook as if his Genesis Qi was about to go out of control. He suppressed his Divine Dwelling with some difficulty but was unable to control his ragged breathing. He knew that his Divine Dwelling had reacted because it had sensed Alpha Spiritium. In other words, the nine mysterious statues contained a tremendous amount of Alpha Spiritium! The quantity was definitely incomparable to the few pathetic strands from earlier... It was likely that the bigger the statue, the more Alpha Spiritium there was within it... Zhou Yuan cast his gaze at the final statue. That ten-thousand-foot-tall monstrosity would definitely become the most intensely fought over thing in the nine region tournament. Whoever managed to occupy it would possibly become the tournament¡¯s champion! His eyes flickered in thought as competitiveness rose within him. Swish! While Zhou Yuan was staring at the nine ancient statues, the sound of rushing wind rang out. His gaze swiveled, and he saw numerous teams emerging from several spatial cracks. The silent starry sky immediately became rather noisy. ¡°So many?¡± Behind Zhou Yuan, Yi Qiushui suddenly blurted in surprise, ¡°Have all the remaining teams been drawn over?¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at the surroundings and nodded. ¡°The nine regions tournament has already entered its final stage. At this stage, ordinary members will no longer have much use.¡± He nudged his chin at the ancient statues standing in the depths of the starry sky and said, ¡°They are the keys to deciding the final rankings. Ordinary individuals won¡¯t be able to approach.¡± He could feel a tremendous amount of Genesis Qi pulsing from within the nine statues. The Genesis Qi formed barriers that ordinary individuals would not be able to pass. Hence, only the apex Divine Dwelling experts of the various regions would be able to approach and occupy the ancient statues. The other teams could only watch as spectators from the outside. Zhou Yuan said to Yi Qiushui, ¡°Send out the signal to gather the rest of our brethren.¡± As teams flooded into the domain, numerous signals exploded in the starry sky as each region began to gather its members. Yi Qiushui nodded in acknowledgment. She immediately retrieved a signal flare before flinging it into the sky. Boom! The flare exploded in mid-air as the flames condensed into the shape of a tower. Swish! Swish! When they saw Zhou Yuan, relief immediately appeared on their previously grave faces. ¡°Chief pavilion master.¡± The two teams arrived in front of Zhou Yuan and respectfully cupped their fists towards him. Zhou Yuan observed the teams. He could tell that they had experienced some tough times and had suffered substantial losses. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, Ye Bingling reported in an ashamed manner, ¡°My team has collected 1,000 strands of Spiritium but has lost 132 members. All of them were eliminated.¡± There was a complicated look in Lu Xiao¡¯s eyes as he also reported, ¡°My team obtained 1,300 strands of Spiritium and lost 89 members. All of them were also eliminated.¡± Zhou Yuan softly said, ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you guys. The Tianyuan Region is the weakest in this tournament, after all, and I know that you guys have tried your best to have made it all the way here. I also have something important to tell you...Han Yuan¡¯s team has been completely eliminated.¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s, Ye Bingling¡¯s and the others¡¯ faces instantly changed. An entire team eliminated...who would be so cruel? ¡°It was Xu Ming of the Yaogui Region.¡± Yi Qiushui gritted her teeth in anger. Rage surged on the faces of every single Tianyuan Region member. Xu Ming was from the Yaogui Region¡¯s main team, yet he still so ruthlessly dealt with one of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s sub-teams. What a shameless bastard with no respect for the rules. Zhou Yuan waved his hand to subdue the angry crowd. ¡°At the end of the day, it¡¯s because we are weaker than them, but I will not forget this matter.¡± He then lifted his head and gazed towards some of the floating islands in the distance. As various signals rose into the air, the numerous teams that were flooding into the domain finished gathering into their groups, creating quite an impressive sight. Zhou Yuan suddenly felt an icy gaze on him, and he immediately looked towards one of the floating islands in the distance. Numerous figures were gathering towards the island. On the highest point of the island, a figure was staring at him darkly. It was Xu Ming of the Yaogui Region. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan look over, a superficial smile rose from the corners of Xu Ming¡¯s mouth as he wordlessly transmitted, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, do you like the gift I sent you?¡± The gift he referred to was obviously eliminating Han Yuan¡¯s team. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained indifferent. He only gave Xu Ming a single glance before shifting his gaze away, unaffected by the provocation. Let him jump while he can. There will be a chance for revenge later on. Teams from the other six regions gathered on many floating islands, the groups growing bigger and bigger. He soon found the Zixiao Region. A familiar figure stood at the very front of the group. It was Su Youwei. Beside her, Xue Jingtao was saying something as he occasionally cast a vicious glare in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. He was likely telling Su Youwei about how Zhou Yuan had chased them away earlier. Su Youwei¡¯s beautiful face remained calm. No one could tell if she was happy or angry. Even farther away, Wu Yao proudly stood at the front of the Wushen Region group. She looked towards Zhou Yuan with her long narrow eyes, evidently not surprised that he had come this far. She had never underestimated him before. However, she would still defeat him. She wanted to prove that she was the perfect host for the sacred dragon blessing. Among the many gathered groups, the Wanzu Region undoubtedly created the largest presence. At the very front of the giant group, Zhao Mushen stood with his hands behind his back, his immeasurable aura akin to a bottomless abyss. Many experts felt only wariness towards him. Beside Zhao Mushen stood a pretty young lady. It was Liu Qingshu, and they were both staring at Zhou Yuan. A sliver of surprise flitted across Zhao Mushen¡¯s bottomless eyes as he deeply stared at Zhou Yuan. The fact that Zhou Yuan could stand here meant that he had neutralized Zhao Mushen¡¯s killing move. Liu Qingshi hatefully gritted her teeth as she stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°First senior brother, you can¡¯t let that tactless guy off. When I met him previously, I originally wanted to split some Spiritium with him out of goodwill. But in the end, he used force to chase us all away, giving no face to our Wanzu Region!¡± ¡°I underestimated him.¡± Zhao Mushen chuckled as he slowly shook his head. However, a sliver of interest rose in his eyes. The failure had not affected his state of mind. It was fine that Zhou Yuan had not died to his technique. Zhao Mushen could now use this opportunity to capture Zhou Yuan alive. His bottomless-abyss-like eyes focused on Zhou Yuan as an astonishing pressure slowly spread from his body. The originally noisy sky suddenly fell silent as countless gazes looked over in fear. Was Zhao Mushen going to move? Who was his target? They quickly followed Zhao Mushen¡¯s gaze, only to be stunned. Zhou Yuan! Zhao Mushen was going to attack Zhou Yuan?! Chapter 966 Bully Hence, numerous individuals secretly sighed in relief when they realized Zhao Mushen¡¯s pressure was directed at Zhou Yuan of the Tianyuan Region. It was also very surprising. After all, most of them had never heard of any disagreements between the two. However, such things were unimportant at this juncture. Several people gloatingly imagined how sullen Zhou Yuan would feel if he was eliminated with the main event right before his eyes. A mocking smile rose from the corners of Xu Ming¡¯s mouth as he shook his head. It seemed he would not even have a turn to deal with Zhou Yuan. Yuan Kun of the Yushou Region could not help but sigh as he stroked his fat cheeks. In the face of someone as fearsome as Zhao Mushen, even he had to be extremely cautious. If Zhao Mushen chose to attack Zhou Yuan, Yuan Kun would be unable to help. After all, he still needed to be responsible for the Yushou Region, and offending the Wanzu Region¡¯s Zhao Mushen wouldn¡¯t be wise. Jiu Gong¡¯s expression appeared a little regretful. She had already sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s potential from their previous encounter. If he could unblock his ninth Divine Dwelling, his battle prowess would likely rank among the top four. At that time, even Zhao Mushen would not have an easy time against him. What a pity...it seems Zhao Mushen does not plan on giving Zhou Yuan the opportunity to continue growing. However, it is not shameful to lose to the likes of Zhao Mushen. Even someone as proud as Jiu Gong admired Zhao Mushen¡¯s overwhelming power. Zhou Yuan may have the qualifications to vie with Zhao Mushen in the future but not now. However, by the time Zhou Yuan reached that step, Zhao Mushen might have already advanced to the Heavenly Sun stage. At that time, the gap between them would only grow larger. This was the path of cultivation. Once you were a step behind, you would always be a step behind. Catching up was not easy. Wu Yao was standing in the Wushen Region camp, wearing a bright red dress. Her arms were crossed, and she was giving off a dignified and powerful aura. She narrowed her eyes slightly, light flickering within them. No one could tell what she was thinking. Lan Ting and Zhao Yunxiao stood a little behind her. Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s complexion was still somewhat pale as he viciously glared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Earlier, Zhou Yuan had nearly killed him in the mini domain. Lan Ting silently stood to one side. He was likewise aware of Zhao Yunxiao¡¯s encounter with Zhou Yuan. Since Lan Ting was equal in strength to Zhao Yunxiao, Zhou Yuan could likely defeat him too. The two that were brimming with confidence before the tournament no longer had much pride left within them. Wu Yao covertly swept a glance at the two and inwardly shook her head. To think that a small loss was all it took to rob them of their drive... It was ironic that they had even looked down on Zhou Yuan previously. In comparison, Zhou Yuan far outclassed them in terms of character and tenacity. If either of them had experienced the many setbacks he had, it was very likely that both of them would have crumbled, let alone claw their way back onto their feet as he had. Despite this, if Zhao Mushen acted against Zhou Yuan now, it would still be a huge problem for Zhou Yuan. In thought, Wu Yao lightly tapped her fingers, her gaze flickering. She did not wish to see Zhao Mushen eliminate Zhou Yuan here because the nine regions tournament was her best chance to retrieve the sacred dragon blessing in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Zhao Mushen was really good at ruining things. Should she stop him? Many were watching Zhao Mushen and Zhou Yuan in the starry space, hoping that they would soon see some excitement. Under these gloating gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not even twitch, though a ruthless look flitted past in the depths of his eyes. He remained expressionless as a silver liquid emerged on the hand in his sleeve and slowly covered his arm. However, just as Genesis Qi began rushing through his body, another extremely powerful Genesis Qi pressure suddenly appeared in the starry space. Countless people looked over in bewilderment and saw Su Youwei of the Zixiao Region take a step forward. Space faintly rippled around her, and her pressure was not the least bit weaker than Zhao Mushen¡¯s. It had fully locked onto him. She did not speak as Genesis Qi churned around her. This was a warning. She was warning Zhao Mushen that she would intervene the moment he did anything. Uproar! A thunderous uproar swept across the place like a wave. The various experts were utterly shocked. They had never imagined that Su Youwei would step forward at this juncture and pit herself against Zhao Mushen for Zhou Yuan. What was the relationship between these two?! Although they had witnessed Su Youwei force away Xu Ming for Zhou Yuan in the Fallen City, how could the likes of Xu Ming compare to Zhao Mushen? Behind Su Youwei, Xue Jingtao¡¯s expression changed. He had just told Su Youwei an embellished account of what Zhou Yuan had done to him. He would never have expected that she would display her stance at this moment, even pitting herself against Zhao Mushen! Xue Jingtao sternly cried out, ¡°Junior sister Youwei! What are you doing? How can you offend Zhao Mushen for a mere Zhou Yuan? Don¡¯t forget your status!¡± Su Youwei cast an indifferent glance at him and said, ¡°You¡¯re too short-sighted. Zhao Mushen is our greatest enemy. Having Zhou Yuan around will be a big threat towards Zhao Mushen.¡± Xue Jingtao laughed in anger. What kind of joke was this? Zhou Yuan could threaten Zhao Mushen? Who the hell did he think he was?! ¡°I¡¯m the leader of the Zixiao Region. If you refuse to comply, withdraw immediately from the nine regions tournament,¡± Su Youwei said icily. There was a never-before-heard frostiness in her tone. Xue Jingtao tightly clenched his fists as his face distorted somewhat. In the end, he grudgingly backed down and said, ¡°Fine, go ahead and do what you want. I¡¯ll be waiting to see how you¡¯ll explain things when we return!¡± Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyes widened slightly. He tilted his head, looked in Su Youwei¡¯s direction and slowly said, ¡°Su Youwei, are you declaring war against me?¡± Su Youwei replied, ¡°If that¡¯s what you think.¡± Zhao Mushen was silent for a moment before saying, ¡°Do you know that this isn¡¯t the best place or time for us to fight?¡± Su Youwei indifferently answered, ¡°That¡¯s why I hope you¡¯ll be a little more rational.¡± Zhao Mushen was speechless. He then softly chuckled and raised his hands in surrender. The Genesis Qi pressure from his body slowly dissipated. ¡°Fine, it shall be as you wish. But Su Youwei, you cannot protect him.¡± Su Youwei was someone he had to be wary of. Moreover, he could faintly sense another person secretly targeting him. In such a situation, even Zhao Mushen had no choice but to take a step back. Su Youwei shook her head. ¡°When he unblocks his ninth Divine Dwelling, you¡¯ll perhaps have to think about whether you¡¯ll be able to protect yourself.¡± Zhao Mushen smiled and said, ¡°So optimistic about him? Then I¡¯ll happily wait and see.¡± He did not look down upon Zhou Yuan nor underestimate the potential of his ninth Divine Dwelling. Zhao Mushen merely had complete confidence in himself. As the two individuals withdrew their Genesis Qi pressure, the hostile atmosphere in the starry sky began to fade. Numerous individuals shook their heads in regret. It was a pity that a fight had not broken out. Xu Ming displayed a superficial smile. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan is such a lucky guy.¡± His tone was filled with mockery and sarcasm. Several gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan in amusement, barely able to conceal their envy. It felt really unacceptable for Su Youwei to protect him so fiercely! The silver liquid covering Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm receded slowly. He lifted his head, looked towards Xu Ming and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be taking whichever of the nine statues you pick.¡± Although Zhao Mushen could be put aside for the time being, he could bully Xu Ming to vent his frustration. I¡¯ll leave the lion for later and kill this dog now! Xu Ming¡¯s expression turned sinisterly cold. Uproar! Chapter 967 Zhou Yuan VS Xu Ming He swept his gaze across the area, ultimately pausing on Zhao Mushen. ¡°Zhao Mushen, how will these nine statues be allocated?¡± Everyone knew that the nine ancient statues were the crux of the nine regions tournament. The bigger the statue, the more Spiritium and opportunity contained within! Hence, intense struggles would undoubtedly erupt over these nine statues. Zhao Mushen answered in a gentle voice, ¡°If we allocated them according to the Divine Dwelling List rankings, I believe everyone will snort in disdain¡­¡± The top heaven prides from the other nine regions did not comment. There was, of course, no way that any of them would acknowledge such a suggestion. If they went according to the rankings, Zhao Mushen would occupy the largest ancient statue. This was something that Wu Yao and Su Youwei, ranked second and third, would never agree to. Zhao Mushen softly chuckled, his sculpted face exuding an extraordinary charm. He knew what everyone was thinking and thus did not offend the majority. He understood that they were the apex heaven prides of their respective regions and were extremely prideful individuals. Reputation and presence alone were not enough to make them yield the largest statue. At the end of the day, a battle was unavoidable. And he was not afraid of any of them challenging him. ¡°Since everyone feels that this won¡¯t work, we¡¯ll use a simpler approach,¡± Zhao Mushen casually said. ¡°Whoever fancies any of these statues can step forward and move to that statue. The one who manages to triumph over all the other challengers will naturally end up the owner of that statue.¡± The top heaven prides from the various regions nodded in agreement. At the end of the day, strength would determine everything. Smiling, Xu Ming nodded before glancing at Zhou Yuan. Robust Genesis Qi erupted from Xu Ming¡¯s body, rippling the space around him. Swish! His figure shot forward, zooming straight towards the nine ancient statues. Countless gazes converged on his body. Xu Ming flew past the first two statues and landed towards the third one. When his figure stopped, a white jade bracelet suddenly dropped from his wrist. A white bead expanded, turning into a giant hundred-foot-long beast that howled at the heavens. Its giant fists pulsed with astonishing power as it ferociously punched the Genesis Qi barrier around the stone statue. Boom! A loud noise thundered as a devastating shockwave unfurled. A crack was blasted open in the Genesis Qi barrier. Xu Ming¡¯s figure took the opportunity to descend, landing on the giant statue¡¯s head amidst countless amazed gasps. Xu Ming was quite the smart one. He understood that the larger statues would surely be contested more heavily, and he was ninety percent certain of occupying this statue. He planned to occupy the third statue first and then observe the situation before making his next move. On the statue¡¯s head, Xu Ming cast an icy glance at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Want to seek your own humiliation? Here, I¡¯ll give you a chance. I hope that you¡¯ll be able to break the Genesis Qi barrier and not let your Tianyuan Region lose all face.¡± Genesis Qi barriers were surrounding the ancient statues. Without sufficient power, it was impossible to break through them. Xu Ming would be more than happy if Zhou Yuan challenged him. In his view, Zhou Yuan was the weakest among the nine and was the perfect person to kill as an example to the others. With Xu Ming singling him out, numerous gazes turned towards Zhou Yuan. It was time to see if Zhou Yuan would dare to accept the main event¡¯s first challenge. Behind Zhou Yuan, Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the others wore grave expressions. Although they were extremely unhappy with Xu Ming¡¯s arrogant mannerisms, they understood that he had the power to back it up. Lu Xiao was silent for a moment before saying, ¡°Shall I go and probe him first? You can step up after I¡¯m defeated.¡± As members of the same camp, they shared both glory and shame. If Zhou Yuan were the first to be defeated, it would be a huge blow to the Tianyuan Region¡¯s dignity, and they would become a joke to everyone else. Zhou Yuan stared at the third ancient stone statue while Xu Ming challengingly stared back from the statue¡¯s head. He shook his head and said, ¡°The position he has chosen is not bad. What I need is a stepping stone, and Xu Ming is the most appropriate one.¡± Each stone statue contained tremendous amounts of Alpha Spiritium and pure Genesis Qi. If Zhou Yuan managed to occupy one, he would be able to borrow its power to attack the ninth Divine Dwelling. Once the ninth Divine Dwelling was unlocked, his strength would soar to amazing heights. At that time, he would gain the qualifications to vie with Zhao Mushen for the top. Hence, while Xu Ming hoped to slaughter Zhou Yuan as an example, Zhou Yuan also needed a stepping stone like Xu Ming. Zhou Yuan cast aside all hesitation as he shot forth. Several breaths later, he appeared above the giant stone statue. Light swirled on the glowing Genesis Qi barrier outside the statue, reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils. His expression remained calm as his body jerked. Boundless Genesis Qi erupted, 38 million Genesis Qi stars twinkling in the air as a powerful Genesis Qi pressure unfurled. Rumble! Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure dived down, his five fingers clenching into a fist as he punched. A giant torrent of Genesis Qi roared out like an angry dragon and blasted the Genesis Qi barrier. Boom! The sky seemed to ripple as a small tear emerged on the barrier and swiftly grew into a crack. Zhou Yuan slipped through in a flash before slowly descending towards the statue¡¯s head. The top of the head was akin to a wide plaza. Uproar! Several gasps of surprise rang out as Zhou Yuan descended. His 38 million Genesis Qi stars had shaken quite a number of people. Xu Ming¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so arrogant. It turns out that you do have some ability.¡± The Genesis Qi foundation Zhou Yuan displayed had clearly exceeded Xu Ming¡¯s expectations. Iciness overflowed from Xu Ming¡¯s eyes as he fiddled with the white jade bracelet in his hand. Soon after, he broke the bracelet with a flick. Twelve white jade beads rapidly grew as they shot outwards, turning into twelve giant puppet beasts. They roared angrily. The twelve giant beasts came in various shapes, but their savage auras were indistinguishable from true Genesis beasts. Roar! Twelve giant puppet beasts spread out behind Xu Ming. He cocked his head to the side, staring at Zhou Yuan as he said in an amused voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is the final chance I will give you. Get lost now, and you might preserve some of your dignity. Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for showing no mercy.¡± He wanted to infuriate Zhou Yuan because anger would make one lose rationality. Zhou Yuan raised his eyelids and nonchalantly said, ¡°I¡¯m hoping that these toys of yours will be able to make me a little serious.¡± Having his prided puppets called toys made Xu Ming¡¯s expression darken. An eerie smile appeared on his face. ¡°I hope that your tongue will still be so sharp when my puppets tear you to pieces! Go rip him to shreds!¡± Roar! Twelve giant white jade beats suddenly roared. The surrounding Genesis Qi rippled violently as they shot forward, pouncing towards Zhou Yuan with murderous intent. Chapter 968 Heavenly Genesis Puppet Booster Ar Twelve giant white jade beasts bolted forward like lightning brimming with savagery as they pounced towards Zhou Yuan. Giant shadows soon enveloped his surroundings. Murder churned in the air! A fierce look arose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as a sword orb rose from his hand. Bzzbzz! The piercing buzz of a sword rang out. With a jerk, sword light poured out of the sword orb. The deadly sword light sliced through the air, ripping open tears in the fabric of space as it passed. Clang! Clang! The torrent of sword light struck the twelve giant beasts. Blinding sparks exploded as the puppet beasts were pushed back. However, the sword light only managed to leave cuts on their metal-like bodies, and they were basically nothing to the beasts. The beasts immediately pounced towards Zhou Yuan again. However, their attempts were futile. The boundless sword light curved into the shape of a ball, enveloping Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The puppet beasts were unable to break through, no matter how frantically they attacked. Boom boom! The aftershocks from the clash washed over the stone statue¡¯s head. Its surface, however, was unimaginably tough, and the powerful aftershocks did not even leave a mark. Laughing, Xu Ming watched the twelve giant white jade beasts maniacally attack Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, is this all you have? You don¡¯t live up to your words at all!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained impassive amidst the sword light as he stared at the twelve giant beasts. After the previous clash, he had discovered that each puppet beast possessed strength equivalent to nearly 30 million Genesis Qi stars. As expected of the Yaogui Region. The puppets they create are a force to be reckoned with. Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. Puppets with a foundation of 30 million Genesis Qi stars were comparable to peak advanced Divine Dwelling stage experts. It was no wonder his sword light had failed to slice them to pieces. Huu. Zhou Yuan spat out a breath of air. He made a seal with one hand, and his four spirit runes slowly began to glow. Four spirit runes! Four Spirits Origin Diagram! Rumble! Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, 58 million Genesis Qi stars surging out behind him. An icy light flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He clenched his hand, and a thousand-foot-long wave of sword light unfurled from his palm. A chilling aura rapidly swept forth. His sword light was more dazzling and concentrated than before. Roar! The twelve giant beasts pounced at Zhou Yuan from every direction. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure turned into a shadow and sprang forward. The thousand-foot-long crescent-shaped sword light accompanied him. Clang clang clang! Deep slashes stretched across their metal-like bodies, from head to tail, nearly cutting them in half. Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden outburst drew numerous gasps from the starry sky. Many people¡¯s eyes widened when they saw the 58 million Genesis Qi stars behind him. Such a Genesis Qi foundation reached the level of the top eight experts on the Divine Dwelling List. Zhou Yuan sharply gazed at Xu Ming. ¡°Your toys aren¡¯t tough enough.¡± Xu Ming raised his eyebrows slightly and swept his eyes across the 58 million Genesis Qi stars behind Zhou Yuan. ¡°So this is the source of your confidence? It¡¯s not bad. ¡°However, I should teach you something. New dark horses like you should show a little more respect to us veteran Divine Dwelling experts. If you want to be the king of the Divine Dwelling stage, you should wait for us to advance to the Heavenly Sun stage!¡± Xu Ming¡¯s body jerked as he erupted with Genesis Qi. Countless Genesis Qi stars twinkled behind him, reaching a total of 48 million. Xu Ming¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was a little stronger than Yuan Kun¡¯s! ¡°Your Tianyuan Region has its four spirit runes while my Yaogui Region has a similar secret technique! So don¡¯t dream of using such a technique to surpass us!¡± Showing his Genesis Qi foundation was not the end. With a howl, Xu Ming formed a series of seals with his hands. ¡°Monster Puppeteer Art!¡± Twelve glowing strings suddenly shot out from his body, connecting to the twelve white jade beast puppets and instantly linking him to them. Rumble! The Genesis Qi stars behind him abruptly soared, reaching a quantity of 64 million. This was an entire 6 million more than Zhou Yuan! Though the difference was not huge, it was still a gap that could not be ignored. The seventh-ranker on the Divine Dwelling did possess some weight. Xu Ming observed how Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression seemed to turn somewhat graver as a strange smile emerged at the corners of his lips. ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t use the battle achievements you accumulated from those sub-par practitioners on us, or you will be the one who suffers. ¡°Allow me to show you the techniques of my Yaogui Region!¡± His hand seals suddenly changed once more! Bzzbzz! The surrounding Genesis Qi seemed to shudder as the 64 million Genesis Qi stars behind Xu Ming began to disappear at an alarming rate. In a few breaths, his Genesis Qi dropped to an extremely low level. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. While Xu Ming¡¯s Genesis Qi was weakening, a tremendous change occurred to the twelve giant white jade beast puppets. Golden light emerged from their bodies and swiftly enveloped them, turning them into golden beasts. This was no simple color change, of course. The bodies of the twelve beasts began to shrink, from a hundred feet to twenty feet long! Despite their smaller size, the twelve golden beasts now gave off an aura of perfection, and golden runes covered their bodies, flickering with mysteriousness and power. Power filled their bodies¡¯ every contour. Roar! The golden beasts roared at the sky. Powerful sound waves rumbled outward around them and resounded like thunder. Many people stared at the twelve golden beasts in alarm. Even the expressions of the top rankers on the Divine Dwelling List, such as Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong, turned a little graver. They could clearly feel that the Genesis Qi undulations of each of the twelve golden beasts had reached the level of 60 million stars. Xu Ming had used a special method to split up his 64 million Genesis Qi stars. In exchange, he had obtained twelve golden beast puppets with Genesis Qi levels of 60 million. In terms of combat ability, twelve metal beasts capable of working in perfect harmony would clearly surpass Xu Ming. Xu Ming wore a faint smile as he gazed at Zhou Yuan. Soon after, his chilling voice slowly sounded, ¡°This is my Yaogui Region¡¯s unique technique...the Heavenly Genesis Puppet Booster Art! ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Xu Ming smiled. ¡°It¡¯s your honor to die at their hands.¡± Roar! As his final word rang out, the roars of the twelve golden beasts shook the air. All one could see were flashes of gold as the beasts dashed forward. They created a near-perfect killing formation and cut off Zhou Yuan¡¯s every possible path of retreat. Chapter 969 Can’t Hide Any Longer Twelve flashes of gold rapidly grew in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The savage aura that assaulted his senses made it feel as if real beasts were pouncing straight toward him. A storm of devastating Genesis Qi unfurled, causing Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin to tighten abruptly. He felt a faint prickling pain all over his body. He had no intention of underestimating his opponent. With a deep breath, he clenched his hands, and 58 million Genesis Qi stars twinkled and surged out behind him, rippling the surrounding space. Rumble! One of the golden beasts arrived, its sharp claws slicing through the air, tearing tiny cracks in the fabric of space. The claw descended like a cannonball and blasted away the air. With a solemn expression, Zhou Yuan gasped the sword light in his hand and ruthlessly slashed. Clang! The sword light and the sharp golden claw collided in a flurry of sparks, the surrounding air shuddering. At the moment of impact, Zhou Yuan clearly felt a terrifying power flood towards him. The force violently jerked his entire body. Clang! Clang! Before Zhou Yuan could return to his senses, the attacks of the other eleven golden beasts arrived. Claws seemingly filled the sky as they descended, heading for Zhou Yuan¡¯s vitals. Even Zhou Yuan did not dare to face the onslaught of attacks. His figure moved away in a flash, turning into a blur as he hurriedly retreated. However, the twelve golden beasts followed like shadows. Wave after wave of attacks left Zhou Yuan no chance to even catch his breath. Clang clang clang! Sparks flew in every direction as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was beaten back with each blow. The twelve golden beasts¡¯ excellent teamwork nearly suffocated him. In the starry sky, the members from the various regions secretly wet their lips at this scene. The Yaogui Region¡¯s puppets were truly terrifying. Even Yuan Kun, Jiu Gong and other similar veteran practitioners would be hard-pressed in the face of such an onslaught. Yuan Kun wore a rather grave expression on his fatty face. How could he not tell that Xu Ming¡¯s attacks were filled with killing intent? He clearly planned on heavily injuring Zhou Yuan. If Zhou Yuan had nothing else up his sleeve, it would be very unlikely for him to make a comeback. Since Yuan Kun could arrive at such a conclusion, the heaven prides from the other regions were naturally able to do so as well. Jiu Gong inwardly shook her head. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had reached 58 million through the four spirit runes, he seemed to be somewhat lacking in terms of technique. With regards to Zhou Yuan, there was a deep sense of dread and envy in Xu Ming¡¯s heart. After all, Zhou Yuan could already compete with a ninth heaven Divine Dwelling stage expert like him at the eighth heaven Divine Dwelling stage. This point alone was enough to prove that Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent far surpassed his own. Wu Yao calmly observed the fight on the giant stone statue¡¯s head. Behind her, Zhao Yunxiao was closely watching with wide-open eyes and gritted teeth, as if unable to wait for the moment when Zhou Yuan would be destroyed. On the Zixiao Region side, Xue Jingtao was secretly excited as he watched Xu Ming completely suppress Zhou Yuan. He looked towards Su Youwei and said in a serious voice, ¡°Junior sister Youwei, you¡¯ve already offended Zhao Mushen. You cannot interfere later if Xu Ming eliminates Zhou Yuan! ¡°Even our Zixiao Region won¡¯t be able to handle offending both the Wanzu Region and the Yaogui Region together.¡± He tried his best to persuade her. Su Youwei silently looked at Xue Jingtao with her clear eyes. He somewhat unnaturally looked away as he said, ¡°I¡¯m trying to think of our Zixiao Region.¡± A sliver of disdain flitted past the depths of her eyes. She indifferently said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He won¡¯t lose to Xu Ming.¡± Strange anger rose in Xue Jingtao¡¯s heart when he heard Su Youwei¡¯s confidence in Zhou Yuan. He sneered and said, ¡°Oh? He¡¯s currently being one-sidedly beaten. I don¡¯t see any chance of him turning things around.¡± Su Youwei nonchalantly replied, ¡°That¡¯s because the gap between him and you is too big.¡± Veins popped up on Xue Jingtao¡¯s forehead. He almost couldn¡¯t hold back his anger. He sarcastically said, ¡°Is that so? Well, I¡¯ll be happily waiting to see how he will turn things around, then.¡± ... Clang! Sword light swept forth and smashed into five golden beasts. The dazzling sword light was forcefully shattered, bursting into countless specks of light. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was thrown backward, his feet leaving long marks on the ground. The Genesis Qi in his body was somewhat unstable. The battle power of these twelve golden beasts had surpassed his expectations. Furthermore, they had perfect coordination, and it was very difficult for Zhou Yuan to put up a fight, given his 58 million Genesis Qi foundation. Zhou Yuan frowned a little. It seemed he could not underestimate any of the veteran heaven prides of the other eight regions. Such power, technique and tactics were truly a pain to deal with. Looks like he had no choice but to get serious. He could no longer conceal all of his cards. Roar! The twelve golden beasts suddenly roared during Zhou Yuan¡¯s brief distraction. Gold flashed, and they appeared around Zhou Yuan, taking up twelve different positions and sealing off any path of escape. Golden light surged from their bodies and chased away the shadows, greatly weakening Zhou Yuan¡¯s Celestial Shadow Art. Dark golden light frantically converged towards their mouths, undulating with terrifying pulses. The surrounding space began to warp a little. Nearby, Xu Ming smiled smugly as he looked at Zhou Yuan and sighed. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I can¡¯t believe you let yourself be distracted. Since you made such a silly mistake, don¡¯t blame me for showing no mercy. ¡°Scram with all of your people.¡± He abruptly clapped his hands together, a low voice ringing out, ¡°Twelve Golden Armaments!¡± Roar! Boundless golden light burst from the golden beasts¡¯ mouths. It frantically converged, turning into twelve different glowing golden weapons. Sword, spear, axe... Every weapon flickered with utmost sharpness. They shot forward, piercing through the air like an unstoppable army. The twelve golden weapons were as swift as lightning, and many onlookers were only able to make out flashes of gold. However, this did not stop them from feeling a sharp aura that made their scalps turn numb. Everyone knew that Xu Ming had brought out his killing move. His attack was enough to seriously injure, or even kill, Zhou Yuan! Swish! As the golden light zipped towards him, it seemed impossible for Zhou Yuan to dodge. In the end, he could do nothing as the twelve golden weapons struck his body with devastating force. Boom! Golden light exploded, and a golden shockwave unfurled. Lu Xiao, Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the others shuddered and paled substantially. If Zhou Yuan took such an astonishing attack, he would most certainly sustain grave injuries! The corners of Xu Ming¡¯s mouth rose at an angle. He lazily stretched his body and mumbled to himself, ¡°Trash that can only rely on words¡­¡± He raised his head, looked towards Su Youwei and grinned as he wordlessly transmitted, ¡°Su Youwei, I already told you that you couldn¡¯t protect this trash!¡± This stone statue was his! While Xu Ming was grinning from ear to ear, he suddenly heard several gasps. The tips of his eyebrows trembled as he violently jerked his head in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. The golden light gradually faded, revealing a silhouette. His pupils abruptly shrank. A figure in silver armor was silently standing amidst the fading gold, slowly exuding an indescribably terrifying aura. His twelve golden weapons fell around Zhou Yuan, broken and shattered, turning into specks of light that soon dissipated into the air. All of this was reflected in Xu Ming¡¯s eyes as he stared at the silver-armored figure giving off a chilling aura. The corners of Xu Ming¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. An unexplainable chill stealthily rose in his heart. Chapter 970 Invincible It was a mysterious sight. The figure merely stood there as a faint dangerous aura spread, causing the eyes of the numerous top-tier heaven prides in the starry sky to widen slightly. Lu Xiao, Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the others had puzzled looks in their eyes. This was the first time they had seen Zhou Yuan bring out this silver armor... Among the numerous people present, only Su Youwei smiled faintly. A reminiscent look filled her eyes as she gazed at the silver battle armor. She could still remember how Zhou Yuan had used the silver armor¡¯s power to save them from the desperate crisis of King Qi¡¯s rebellion against the Great Zhou Empire. It had been so many years since then. The Great Zhou prince from back then was now akin to a dragon rising from the abyss. Su Youwei believed that Zhou Yuan would shine dazzlingly with a light of his own even in a place like Hunyuan Heaven. He was not inferior to any of them! ¡°Silver Shadow, it¡¯s been a long time since we last met,¡± mumbled Su Youwei in a voice only she could hear. Amidst numerous bewildered gazes, Xu Ming¡¯s expression changed slightly as he stared at the silver-armored Zhou Yuan. He had not expected Zhou Yuan to survive his killing move. However, a dark and ruthless look soon flashed across his eyes. ¡°Petty tricks!¡± With a howl from Xu Ming, the twelve golden beasts pounced forth once more. Extremely powerful Genesis Qi erupted from their bodies, shaking the surrounding space as sonic booms sounded. A seamless barrage enveloped Zhou Yuan again. Within the silver armor, Zhou Yuan watched the golden beasts ferociously pounce towards him with cold eyes. This time, however, the tip of his foot pushed off the ground, and his figure abruptly shot forward. Advancing instead of retreating! He charged directly at the nearest golden beast. ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡± Xu Ming was overjoyed by Zhou Yuan''s actions, a cruel light flashing in his eyes. Ch! A golden beast appeared in front of Zhou Yuan, its gleaming sharp claws viciously slashing at him. Five faint scars were ripped open in the fabric of space. The power of this strike could rip a giant mountain to shreds. Zhou Yuan swung his silver-armored hand upwards, meeting the golden claws head-on. Thud! A Genesis Qi shockwave rippled from the collision. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure did not budge a single inch this time. On the other hand, the golden beast roared and frantically pushed down its claws in an attempt to shred Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm. However, the claws merely screeched against Zhou Yuan¡¯s silver-armored hand, creating a spray of sparks. He suddenly jerked his arm, grabbing the golden beast before smashing it headfirst into the ground below. Dong! The ground shook for a moment before faint cracks began to spread. One must know that the earlier clash between Zhou Yuan and Yuan Kun had not left even a single mark on the ground. The force behind that smash had to be very terrifying to have cracked the ground. This was not the end. With a growl, Zhou Yuan grabbed the golden beast by its head and hind leg. The golden beast frantically struggled but was unable to escape Zhou Yuan¡¯s iron grip. He suddenly pulled, erupting with dreadful force. Rip! Countless onlookers watched in horror as what should have been an indestructible golden beast with a 60 million Genesis Qi foundation was brutally ripped apart! The entire starry sky turned deathly silent. Countless eyes nearly popped from their sockets. Zhou Yuan had torn the golden beast in two?! What kind of power was this?! The golden beast¡¯s body was comparable to an advanced Divine Dwelling stage physical cultivator, and its Genesis Qi had reached an impressive level of 60 million stars. What kind of power could tear one of them into two?! How had Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength soared to such an astonishing level?! Xu Ming was momentarily stunned. His entire face twisted as he stared at the golden fragments on the ground. ¡°Impossible! What did you do! How could you have destroyed my golden beast?!¡± Xu Ming lost his composure. Zhou Yuan had treated his prided battle puppet like a mere toy, forcefully tearing it in half! It was a huge blow to Xu Ming¡¯s pride! His face distorted even more as he roared in anger, ¡°Kill him!¡± The remaining golden beasts abruptly sped up, brimming with murderous intent as they leaped toward Zhou Yuan. Boom! Boom! Even with eleven beasts approaching him from every direction, Zhou Yuan did not shrink back. Instead, he transformed into a flash of silver and charged straight in. Thump thump! A brawl erupted between the two sides, and blast after blast of berserk Genesis Qi exploded, violently shaking the surrounding space. However, the eyes of countless onlookers rapidly twitched because the silver figure was unstoppable as he rampaged among the beasts. His silver fists repeatedly beat back the eleven ferocious golden beasts. As the battle grew increasingly intense, cracks began to appear on the golden beasts... Thud! Beast after beast slowly shattered under his silver fists, turning into golden fragments that spilled across the ground. Countless individuals watched on in shock. Even Yuan Kun sucked in a deep breath, his eyes filled with fear as he watched the silver figure. Zhou Yuan, with his destructive power, was practically akin to an invincible silver god of war! What the hell is that silver armor? Is it some kind of little Saint technique? Or perhaps a Saint treasure?! Astonishment and confusion flickered on Jiu Gong¡¯s face as an extraordinary splendor filled her eyes. Zhou Yuan is truly astonishing. To think that he was still hiding such a powerful trump card... The Zixiao Region¡¯s Xue Jingtao and the Wushen Region¡¯s Zhao Yunxiao involuntarily cried out in unison, ¡°How can this be!¡± Zhou Yuan was being overwhelmed just moments ago, so how had he suddenly brought about such a frightening reversal in the blink of an eye?! Could this be Zhou Yuan¡¯s true strength?! Wu Yao silently watched the battle as a complicated look flitted across her eyes. Although she knew that Zhou Yuan had been hiding something, her heart could not help but ripple when she witnessed him reverse the situation. The man who had been born with the sacred dragon blessing was no ordinary person, after all. The Shengwen Region¡¯s Li Tongshen and the Xuehai Region¡¯s Wang Xi had originally shown little interest in the fight between Zhou Yuan and Xu Ming; however, their gazes were currently fixed on the silver figure. Li Tongshen¡¯s handsome face appeared somewhat solemn, while the nonchalance in Wang Xi¡¯s eyes was slowly replaced by seriousness. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan is quite an interesting fellow. ¡°How did this happen?¡± On the Wanzu Region side, Liu Qingshu involuntarily gritted her teeth, her face filled with regret. Zhou Yuan should have been about to meet an unfortunate fate, but the situation had somehow changed just as he was about to be finished off. Zhao Mushen concentrated on the silver figure and softly said, ¡°The silver armor is extremely peculiar. It is neither a Genesis technique nor a Genesis artifact...however, his strength has risen to an astounding level after it appeared.¡± Liu Qingshu said, ¡°Can Xu Ming handle him?¡± Zhao Mushen pondered for a brief moment before shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid Xu Ming will lose. Zhou Yuan is quite capable.¡± A single sentence from Zhao Mushen was already enough to prove that Zhou Yuan was one of the top experts among Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling practitioners. Boom! Boom! An extremely astonishing Genesis Qi storm erupted on the statue¡¯s head. Countless gazes watched in shock and horror as golden beast after golden beast was sent flying. Each exploded in the air and filled the entire place with golden fragments. Urgh! Blood sprayed from Xu Ming¡¯s mouth. He stared ahead of him in disbelief. A silver-armored figure slowly walked towards him amidst the dancing golden fragments, his steps heavy. Chapter 971 Occupying the Stone Statue Countless onlookers stared in shock at the mess atop the stone statue¡¯s head. In the end, their gazes converged on the slender silver-armored figure as he walked out from the specks of light that filled the air. There was a sliver of graveness in the eyes of even the apex heaven prides from the other eight regions. They had no choice but to be wary of the astonishing power Zhou Yuan had displayed. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to so easily smash apart Xu Ming''s twelve golden beasts. ¡°How can this be¡­¡± Xu Ming stared at this scene with a warped expression. The reason he had repeatedly provoked Zhou Yuan was because he was envious of Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability. At the eight heavens Divine Dwelling stage, Zhou Yuan was already able to vie with veteran heaven prides like Xu Ming. Once Zhou Yuan unlocked his ninth Divine Dwelling, his Genesis Qi would soar to even greater levels. At that time, Zhou Yuan would far surpass Xu Ming. However, Xu Ming had never imagined that Zhou Yuan would already be capable of defeating his prided twelve golden beast puppets before unlocking the ninth Divine Dwelling. It was undoubtedly a huge blow to the proud Xu Ming. ¡°Toys¡­¡± Xu Ming¡¯s face twisted even more as he abruptly jerked his head and laughed in anger. ¡°Who the hell do you think you are! How dare you destroy the treasures of my Yaogui Region!¡± His hands swiftly formed a seal. Swish! Swish! The golden fragments on the floor suddenly shot towards Xu Ming and pierced his body, causing blood to flow. Thump! In a short few breaths, Xu Ming¡¯s body began to swell, the golden fragments piling up into what seemed like a puppet giant. A berserk and savage aura exploded from the puppet giant¡¯s body, and several cracks appeared on the ground below its feet. ¡°Monster Puppet Art!¡± A piercing shriek resounded through the area when the part where the head should be started to warp and take on the form of a beast. Roar! Roar! Xu Ming roared as he slammed his foot into the ground, sending his enormous body into the air. He ruthlessly threw a punch at Zhou Yuan. Boom! A piercing sonic boom rang out before the punch even landed. The faint imprint of a fist even appeared on the ground below. ¡°Zhou Yuan, die!¡± A rage-filled roar quickly followed. Zhou Yuan, still donned in silver armor, raised his head. The terrifying force in the sky made his expression change a little. The Monster Puppet Art seemed to be a fusion between one¡¯s puppet and one¡¯s own power. In a certain way, it was similar to Silver Shadow. However, it was clear that Xu Ming had yet to perfect the technique, and the fusion appeared overly forced. In Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, Xu Ming was merely a cornered beast. ¡°Genesis Breaker,¡± a low voice sounded from the silver armor. The snow-white hairs were dyed as black as night. Boom! Zhou Yuan pushed off the ground, cracking it as his body turned into a flash of silver that soared into the sky like a raging silver dragon brimming with torrential power. Gold and silver streaked over the stone statue¡¯s enormous head like two meteors, ultimately colliding above the head¡¯s center with a loud boom. Kaboom! Gold and silver fireworks erupted, and a shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye unfurled across the sky, slamming into the Genesis Qi barrier around the statue, rippling it violently. Everyone focused their gaze on the area above the stone statue¡¯s head. They knew that the fight between Zhou Yuan and Xu Ming would be decided right then and there. Two figures fell from the gold and silver fireworks, leaving long grooves as they hit and slid across the ground. Two figures¡ªone gold and one silver¡ªfaced each other shakily. The black hairs on Zhou Yuan¡¯s silver fist had completely receded. Light rapidly flickered on the silver armor as if it was neutralizing the clash¡¯s terrifying power. He raised his head and gazed at the enormous golden figure. ¡°You eliminated a team from my Tianyuan Region previously, so now, I shall eliminate you in return.¡± Thud! As his voice rang out, the enormous golden figure¡¯s knees slowly fell to the ground. Golden fragments dropped from its body, ultimately revealing Xu Ming¡¯s figure. Countless people stared in shock at the bloody hole in Xu Ming¡¯s chest. His chest had been pierced, and even his beating organs could be seen. His complexion was deathly pale, his eyes filled with an unyielding spirit. He could not believe that he had lost to Zhou Yuan! Moreover, Zhou Yuan was only at the eight heavens Divine Dwelling stage! ¡°How can this be¡­ ¡°How is this possible! ¡°How could I have lost! ¡°¡­¡­¡± Xu Ming trembled as he mumbled. The space around him had begun to distort because his injuries were too heavy and the seal on his body was beginning to send him out of the Fallen Abyss. Once he was sent out, it would mean he was eliminated! If that happened, the Yaogui Region would undoubtedly place last in the nine regions tournament! However, there was no longer anything that could be done at this juncture. Xu Ming could only gnash his teeth as he viciously glared at Zhou Yuan. He croaked, ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be too happy. You¡¯ll soon be eliminated! ¡°Zhao Mushen will not let you off! I¡¯ll be waiting for you outside!¡± As his rage-filled voice echoed, a vortex formed behind him and swallowed his entire body. Gasp. Countless people gasped in the starry sky, their expressions filled with shock. No one had expected the battle between Zhou Yuan and Xu Ming to end with Xu Ming being eliminated! The Yaogui Region members were deathly pale, as if they were at a funeral. With Xu Ming eliminated, who among them would have the ability to vie for the nine ancient statues? In contrast, the Tianyuan Region side burst into earth-shaking cheers after getting over their initial shock and disbelief. Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui tightly grabbed each other¡¯s hands, their eyes overflowing with emotion. Lu Xiao and Mu Liu exchanged a look as they breathed a deep sigh of relief. With Zhou Yuan having eliminated Xu Ming, the Tianyuan Region wouldn¡¯t be ranked last this time! Amidst the countless shocked and amazed gazes, the silver armor on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body receded like liquid. There was not much joy on his face, only an exceptional calm. He lifted his head and gazed at the innumerable individuals in the starry space. His indifferent voice rang out, ¡°This stone statue is mine for now. Anyone who wants it can go ahead and step forward.¡± His echoing voice was met with silence. The battle prowess he displayed had made everyone fearful. Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong had zero interest in challenging him because they had other options available. Li Tongshen and Wang Xi would not settle for the statue ranked third from the last. Hence, they saw no reason to compete with Zhou Yuan at this juncture. Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyes faintly flickered as he stared at Zhou Yuan. However, before he could do anything, Su Youwei suddenly shot forward, heading straight for the biggest and oldest stone statue. Wu Yao¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. Without saying a word, she also turned into a streak of light and followed after Su Youwei. Their goal was clearly the most ancient stone statue! Zhao Mushen smiled helplessly when he saw the two girls¡¯ actions and had no choice but to withdraw his gaze from Zhou Yuan. He could not let them occupy the most ancient stone statue. Compared to Wu Yao and Su Youwei, Zhou Yuan was far less of a threat. ¡°Never mind, I¡¯ll let him off for now.¡± With his decision made, Zhao Mushen no longer hesitated. His figure seemed to blink through the air, chasing after Wu Yao and Su Youwei. The trio¡¯s actions immediately set off everyone else present. Wang Xi and Li Tongshen also flew towards the front few stone statues. Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong paused for a moment before quickly following. Everyone wanted to occupy a bigger and more ancient stone statue because the larger stone statues represented greater opportunity and more Alpha Spiritium. Their movement marked the start of the tournament¡¯s climax. Zhou Yuan stood on the stone statue¡¯s head. No one came to visit him due to the statue¡¯s awkward position. It was ranked seventh among the nine statues, which was neither high nor low. His earlier battle had also intimidated everyone, making his location appear the most peaceful for a time. Zhou Yuan seated himself. He cast one glance towards the depths of the starry sky where power Genesis Qi undulations were erupting. He then closed his eyes slowly and gently touched the stone statue¡¯s head. He could clearly feel boundless Alpha Spiritium and undulations of pure Genesis Qi deep within the statue. He breathed in deeply as a resolute look emerged in his eyes. He would seize this opportunity to unblock his ninth Divine Dwelling! Only after unblocking the ninth Divine Dwelling would he gain the power the vie with Zhao Mushen! A rank seven statue did not satisfy him either! Chapter 972 Chaos in the Starry Space The many Law Domain experts were seated in the air, their gazes fixed on the mirror reflecting the starry sky in the depths of the Fallen Abyss. They were currently viewing the outcome of the battle between Zhou Yuan and Xu Ming. Space distorted, and Xu Ming was eliminated. This result made even the Law Domain experts¡¯ eyes ripple a little before several of them glanced at Chi Jing in surprise. Even existences like them were somewhat surprised by this ending. People like themselves could naturally see Zhou Yuan¡¯s enormous potential. Once he unlocked his ninth Divine Dwelling, he would gain the strength to compete with the top four. However, Zhou Yuan had yet to unlock his ninth Divine Dwelling when he had eliminated Xu Ming. That silver battle armor was quite amazing. Amidst the Law Domain experts¡¯ surprised gazes, Chi Jing¡¯s taunt body relaxed a little as happiness flitted across the depths of her eyes. She knew that having so many powerful foes around put Zhou Yuan under a tremendous amount of pressure, but he had ultimately managed to endure. After all, as someone who was regarded so highly by her master, this little junior brother of hers had excellent character. ¡°Hehe, Zhou Yuan¡¯s silver armor is rather interesting. Could it be one of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Saint artifacts?¡± laughter suddenly sounded. It was Zhao Xiansun. He smiled as he looked at Chi Jing, then shifted his gaze to another Law Domain expert. ¡°If so, Law Lord Zhen Yu, Xu Ming¡¯s loss is not shameful.¡± Zhen Yu was the Law Domain expert from the Yaogui Region. He had fair skin and no eyebrows. A glowing bead was currently spinning in his hand. His expression did not look too good. After all, he had not expected Xu Ming to be the first one to be eliminated. Since this happened, it was very likely that the Yaogui Region would place last this year. Chi Jing chuckled icily. Zhao Xiansun was undoubtedly trying to stir things up. However, Zhen Yu and Zhao Xianxun were clearly in cahoots and had repeatedly tried to suppress the Tianyuan Region. As such, seeing Zhou Yuan eliminate Xu Ming greatly pleased Chi Jing. Chi Jing indifferently said, ¡°Zhao Xiansun, even ordinary Law Domain experts are unlikely to own a true Saint artifact. Even if these young Divine Dwelling practitioners obtained one, how much power would they be able to bring out? After all, you¡¯re a Law Domain expert, so how can you say such ignorant things?¡± Zhao Xiansun¡¯s face twitched. He faintly smiled and retorted, ¡°Who knows what kind of craziness your Tianyuan Region will resort to when backed into a corner?¡± He waved his hand as he continued, ¡°But never mind. This is the limit of your Tianyuan Region¡¯s good luck. Once Zhao Mushen is free, I¡¯m afraid that Zhou Yuan will no longer be left standing.¡± Zhao Xiansun did not respond. He merely shook his head in disdain. ... The fires of battle rose in the starry sky as berserk blasts of Genesis Qi soared into the sky. The situation had turned exceptionally intense and chaotic. Not only had the apex heaven prides of the eight regions begun to compete for the stone statues, but even the slightly weaker heaven prides had started to stir. However, their target was the smallest, bottom-ranked stone statue. Normally speaking, since there were only nine statues, only the nine regions¡¯ apex practitioners were qualified to compete for them. However, no one could have predicted that Zhou Yuan would have eliminated the Yaogui Region¡¯s Xu Ming at the start of the fight. Since it had happened, there was now one extra statue. After all, Zhao Mushen, Zhou Yuan and the rest of the apex heaven prides could not occupy two statues at once. Hence, the other noteworthy heaven prides of the nine regions would hotly contest over the final stone statue. A storm of blood soon rose over the ninth stone statue. In the depths of the starry sky, Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei had locked onto the biggest and most ancient stone statue. This statue was extraordinary. Terrifying Genesis Qi formed an extremely frightening Genesis Qi barrier around it. Due to the barrier¡¯s thickness, even the Zhao Mushen trio could only slowly push their way in one step at a time. The slightest lapse would result in them being forced out from the barrier. Evidently, the first requirement to reach the most ancient stone statue was that one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations had to have reached an astonishing level. Behind the trio, the Xuehai Region¡¯s Wang Xi, who was ranked fourth on the Divine Dwelling List, was also attempting to break through the Genesis Qi barrier. However, his expression darkened when he realized that he couldn¡¯t advance even after pouring out all of his Genesis Qi. His rate of pushing into the barrier couldn¡¯t match the rate at which he was being forced out. After wasting half a day trying, he was still stuck in the most outer area. From this, one could see that there was still a gap between him and the other three. Even so, he at least had the ambition to try. Li Tongshen did not even glance at the first statue and instead sensibly choose the fourth one. However, the fourth statue was not peaceful either because Jiu Gong and Yuan Kun also arrived at this moment. Sparks flew when the trio¡¯s gazes met. They then began to break into the Genesis Qi barrier. One could tell that a battle would surely follow after they broke through. Only the final victor would have the right to occupy the statue. After all, everyone wanted a better statue because the resources contained within would be greater. Hence, no one would willingly give up without a fight. As a result, the starry sky was divided into three waves. The first wave was, of course, Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao, Su Youwei and Wang Xi, who was still stuck at the barrier¡¯s outermost region. They were the most powerful in the tournament. The second wave was Li Tongshen, Jiu Gong and Yuan Kun. The third wave was at the ninth stone statue where numerous powerful heaven prides, second only to the top, were restlessly stirring. It was quite a chaotic mess. Amidst the chaos, Zhou Yuan¡¯s stone statue was the most peaceful. No one came over to disturb him. After all, those with the strength to were competing for the other statues. Although the heaven prides without sufficient strength were tempted, they did not dare to provoke him after Xu Ming¡¯s example. Hence, Zhou Yuan silently sat with his eyes tightly shut amidst the chaos, his mind slowly entering the stone statue. Within the statue was a glorious radiance, and at the radiance¡¯s core, he saw a crystal skeleton. Tremendous, pure Genesis Qi churned like a sea. After solidifying, the Genesis Qi had slowly formed the stone statue¡¯s every grain. Evidently, the entire statue was made of the skeleton¡¯s solidified Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart surged as he sensed the enormous amount of pure Genesis Qi. Chapter 973 Rivals Move Zhou Yuan''s mind was completely focused on the skeleton¡¯s remains. From the looks of it, the remains should be that of an expert of the Nascent Source Stage because Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t feel any waves of energy at the Law Domain stage. Moreover, the remains of a Law Domain expert would be much more terrifying. He wondered if there would be the legacy of a Law Domain expert in the depths of the ancient statue. The vast amount of Genesis Qi seemed to have become an ocean in the depths of the stone statue. In that ocean, there were fish swimming back and forth, each crystal clear with shimmering scales. However, he didn¡¯t attempt to take the Alpha Spiritium. Time was too precious right now, and he needed to connect all nine Divine Dwellings. Only by doing so would he have the chance to compete for the largest ancient stone statue. The Spiritium here couldn¡¯t be compared to the amount contained in the other stone statue. Having made his decision, Zhou Yuan sent a stream of Genesis Qi out of his body without the slightest of hesitation. It swiftly arrived at the unfathomable ocean of Genesis Qi in the stone statue¡¯s depths, whirling above the ocean as though forming a tornado. The rotating column of wind drew up Genesis Qi from the ocean like a dragon inhaling water into its mouth. Finally, the Genesis Qi began to flow endlessly into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Zhou Yuan suddenly trembled. The Genesis Qi was so pure that it didn¡¯t require much refining before it turned from its transparent color to the golden-azure World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi. Zhou Yuan controlled the endless stream of Genesis Qi, directed it into his Divine Dwellings and battered the barrier of his ninth Divine Dwelling. As the barrier weakened, Zhou Yuan felt his mind shake as he once again felt a suppressive power spreading out from the ninth Divine Dwelling. A look of puzzlement crossed Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. This kind of matter is unheard of. Could someone have done something without me knowing? Zhou Yuan immediately increased the absorption rate of Genesis Qi. Increasingly powerful Genesis Qi madly rushed into his body. As Genesis Qi tunneled into him, his body suddenly began to expand, and wisps of terrifying Genesis Qi escaped from his body, almost forming a turbulent flow of Genesis Qi around him. The barrier of the ninth Divine Dwelling gradually weakened under the Genesis Qi¡¯s berserk force. It was only a matter of time until he connected through to the ninth Divine Dwelling. Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei cleared the Genesis Qi barrier almost at the same time and appeared above the ancient stone statue in a flash. They were the most dazzling people at the Divine Dwelling stage in Hunyuan Heaven, so countless people under the chaotic starry sky naturally cast curious looks their way when they saw the three standing facing each other. Among the three, Zhao Mushen was the first to make a name for himself and become well-known throughout the world overnight. As a result, he had firmly occupied the first position on the Divine Dwelling List for years. Wu Yao and Su Youwei both gained fame a little later than Zhao Mushen, but their reputation was in no way inferior to his. Wu Yao''s strength lay in the challenges she had experienced. After stepping into the Divine Dwelling Stage, she had been through numerous battles without losing a single one. There were even rumors that she had challenged Heavenly Sun stage experts, and although she had never won, she was able to escape unscathed. Compared to Wu Yao''s fierceness, Su Youwei appeared to be much gentler, but nobody dared to look down on her. After all, she was ranked first among all experts in the Divine Dwelling stage of Hunyuan Heaven in terms of one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation. There was no record of a battle between these three people, and even Wu Yao and Su Youwei had only clashed briefly. So, when the three stood facing each other, not only did the people present have a curious glow of excitement on their faces, even the Law Domain experts outside the Fallen Abyss gleamed with interest. Outside the statue¡¯s Genesis Qi barrier, Wang Xi hovered in the void with a look of unwillingness mixed with bitterness. He finally drew a deep breath. His body suddenly gave up his defenses, and he let the Genesis Qi barrier squeeze him out. He then sat down cross-legged outside the barrier. A faint halo of red light broke out from his body, and his originally blood-red hair turned a darker red, as if blood was dripping and flowing down his strands of hair. ¡°Once he completes his technique, his blood will start to burn and cause him endless pain. But if he can endure it, his strength will skyrocket.¡± ¡°But it is said that to reach the peak state of this technique, one must strengthen it through constant battle and massacre. Wang Xi is brewing a murderous power. With him standing guard there, whoever dares to touch the first stone statue must pass him first.¡± ¡°Once Wang Xi''s murderous state reaches its peak, he will be able to break through the Genesis Qi barrier, rush into the first stone statue and compete with the other three!¡± ¡°--¡± Chapter 974 The Battle of Three Kings It was wider there than the place Zhou Yuan and the others were. The top of the ancient stone statue was like an endless huge plain, and only the starry sky above it was shining brightly. On the plain, Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei stood facing each other in a triangular formation. Zhao Mushen stared intently at the two remarkably stunning and graceful women. A glimmer of admiration appeared on his handsome face, which looked as if someone had carved with a knife. He had never thought that of all the people in his generation, it would be two women of unparalleled beauty who could compete with him. Even Zhao Mushen, who was incredibly proud, thought highly of them. ¡°Do you two have to fight with me for this statue?¡± Zhao Mushen said softly. ¡°If you retreat now, then I, Zhao Mushen, will owe you two a favor. If you need anything in the future, you can just let me know.¡± Although his voice was gentle, it passed through the plain and fell clearly in the ears of the two women. Wu Yao raised her beautiful brows. ¡°What? The person ranked first on the Divine Dwelling List, the so-called king of the Divine Dwelling stage, doesn''t even have the courage to fight?¡± Wu Yao''s voice was slightly husky and, compared to an average woman¡¯s voice, wasn¡¯t soft but tough and deep. ¡°We have come all the way here, is there a reason to not fight?¡± Su Youwei asked. Her voice was gentle and soft, as if making others feel they were wrapped in a spring breeze. Her voice sharply contrasted with Wu Yao¡¯s. Zhao Mushen wasn¡¯t the slightest bit angry at being mocked by the two women. He helplessly smiled. ¡°You two are thinking too much. I just feel that since you two are both as beautiful as goddesses, other people would feel pity for you when you¡¯re tragically defeated in my hands.¡± He shook his head. ¡°But since you two aren¡¯t interested in my suggestion...let''s fight.¡° As Zhao Mushen¡¯s voice faded, he gently waved his sleeve and erupted with thousands of rays of light. The void quaked violently. Countless Genesis Qi stars emerged in the space above him. The total was at least 75 million! The appearance of such a terrifying amount caused even the universe Genesis Qi to surge violently. The roar from the collision of Genesis Qi echoed throughout the area. Many people in the outside world intently watched the stars form, and they couldn¡¯t help but gulp. A foundation of 75 million...and it was achieved without the help of any foreign means! Even Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong would feel a sense of powerlessness when they faced experts with a Genesis Qi foundation of that level. On the other hand, Wu Yao and Su Youwei didn¡¯t reveal a ripple of emotion on their stunning faces. They remained as calm as a lake as they stood before Zhao Mushen. Wu Yao folded her slender and beautiful hands together in front of her chest, forming a hand seal. A black lightning bolt rumbled out from the top of her head, and countless Genesis Qi stars emerged within the lightning. 74 million! It was just one million stars fewer than Zhao Mushen¡¯s! Her foundation was equally astonishing. Countless people marveled at the sight before they simultaneously cast their gazes toward Su Youwei. In Hunyuan Heaven, based on Genesis Qi foundation alone, everyone knew that no one could compare to Su Youwei. Under countless gazes, millions of specks of purple light emerged behind Su Youwei, transforming into a purple starry sky. Its stars, dazzling and beautiful, flickered endlessly. Chi! Countless gasps of astonishment sounded one after another throughout the world. Eighty-three million Genesis Qi stars were shining in the purple starry sky behind Su Youwei. 83 million! The sight suffocated many people, and such a terrifying Genesis Qi foundation made them feel hopeless. A ten heavens Divine Dwelling was indeed terrifying! It wasn¡¯t just them. Even Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao felt jealous when they saw the purple starry sky behind Su Youwei, their eyes flashing with envy. They knew the difficulty of increasing one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation when one reached their level. Despite the difficulties, Su Youwei was able to surpass 80 million! The ten variant Divine Dwelling, which was rarely seen in the world, gave Su Youwei a huge advantage. However, it was still impossible to predict the outcome of such a high-leveled battle with just this, even though the difference of millions of Genesis Qi stars was advantageous. As the top heaven prides of each region, their hidden trump cards were the turning points that would determine the battle¡¯s outcome. The millions of Genesis Qi stars shining brightly above the plain turned the universe Genesis Qi into a raging storm, and an oppressive feeling pervaded the air before the battle began. Even extraordinary heaven pride experts wouldn¡¯t dare take a step into the three¡¯s battlefield. Their gazes collided, and the void even quaked at that moment. Boom! The countless Genesis Qi stars vibrated, and three silhouettes shot out at almost the same time. They moved at lightning speed, making it impossible for many people to see them. The three crossed the vast and endless plain in just a few breaths and collided at its center like three meteors. Terrifying Genesis Qi shock waves swept out in all directions like thousand-foot-tall waves. Wu Yao clenched her slender and beautiful hand, and the black lightning rapidly materialized into a lightning whip resembling an enraged dragon. The lightning whip whizzed out, wrapping around Zhao Mushen and Su Youwei. During the process, even the void cracked and shattered. The whip¡¯s destructive power was terrifying. Zhao Mushen opened his mouth, shooting out a stream of light that met the thunderstorm head-on. The bolt of light transformed into a golden halberd engraved with flashing inscriptions and several dragon patterns. The dragons within the patterns entwined with one another and resembled real living creatures. As the golden halberd formed, a dragon roar resounded across the sky, and a terrifying pressure filled the air. It was a top Heaven Genesis Weapon! Zhao Mushen tightened his grip, then suddenly swung down the golden halberd. His slash shattered the void and tore apart the black lightning whip speeding towards him. He also took advantage of the moment Su Youwei was impacted by the whip¡¯s force to strike at her. A screech rang out with his slash. At lightning speed, Su Youwei folded her hands in a hand seal. Purple Genesis Qi frantically gathered and formed two purple wheels of light at her palms. More than 80 million stars were twinkling within the wheels. It was a magnificent spectacle. She lifted her hands, bringing the two purple wheels of light to meet the lightning whip and golden halberd at the same time. Clang! Terrifying sounds rang out as Genesis Qi shock waves erupted. The plain below was collapsing! The two purple light wheels spun wildly, countering the two frightening attacks. When the shock wave swept across them, all three paused for a moment but soon shot out once again. The golden halberd, black lightning whip and purple wheel collided repeatedly, and every collision invoked a violent storm. Under the starry sky, countless people fixed incomparably shocked gazes on the depths of the starry sky, where the chaotic battle between the three was happening. Even though a barrier of Genesis Qi shrouded the area in a film of light, it still couldn¡¯t conceal the earth-shaking movements occurring on the stone statue. This could be said to be the fiercest battle of the Divine Dwelling stage in Hunyuan Heaven! Countless people felt their scalps numbing, and they couldn''t help shuddering. It was indeed worthwhile to come all the way here to witness the battle between three kings! They trembled even more intensely at the thought of the final winner being announced¡­ Chapter 975 Joining Forces Boom! As monstrous Genesis Qi shock waves raged across the plain, the entire world quaked violently. At the source of the shock waves, three silhouettes repeatedly flashed past each other like lightning. Every collision brought about earth-shaking movements. The countless people watching from the outside world inhaled sharply. Although another battle was happening under the starry sky and involved top heaven prides, such as Li Tongshen, Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong, more than 90% of the people were intently watching the battle atop the largest stone statue. This was because the battle was too intense. If they didn¡¯t know better, the onlookers would have thought it was a battle amongst three Heavenly Sun stage experts. The brilliance of the three fighters almost obscured everyone else. Boom! Genesis Qi crashed down again and again like huge waves, and the three figures simultaneously paused for a moment. Wu Yao¡¯s beautiful face was full of fierceness. She had attacked continuously in the previous round and had made no defensive moves. Also, the black lightning she cultivated possessed the most destructive power among them. Wu Yao¡¯s phoenix eyes turned increasingly fierce as the battle went on. She couldn¡¯t remember the last time she had experienced such a satisfying battle. ¡°Since we¡¯re fighting, bring out everything you have!¡± Wu Yao roared, folding her beautiful hands together in a hand seal. An endless ray of light suddenly erupted from her elegant body. ¡°Wushen Art!¡± Her imposing aura soared dramatically, and light shimmered on her red dress. Her Genesis Qi stars skyrocketed from 74 million stars to 93 million! Her foundation had unbelievably increased by 19 million! She had used one of the Wushen Region¡¯s secret arts. Wu Yao clenched her hand, and two black lightning bolts struck down from the sky, pierced through the void and sped towards Zhao Mushen and Su Youwei. They were thousands of feet long. A look of caution flashed across Zhao Mushen¡¯s face when he saw the lightning roaring over like a black dragon. He didn¡¯t dare to be careless. With a stamp of his feet, the air around him exploded with an ear-piercing sound. ¡°Ancestral Spirit Law!¡± An illusory silhouette suddenly emerged from his body. It had no face yet radiated an indescribable ancient aura. The silhouette dived down, tunneling into the center of Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyebrows. Boom! Zhao Mushen''s Genesis Qi also soared, increasing from 75 million to 95 million in the blink of an eye! Su Youwei¡¯s body also erupted with intense purple light almost at the same time. ¡°Zixiao Star Formation!¡± Her foundation of 83 million Genesis Qi stars also skyrocketed. Countless people cast their gazes toward her because they were curious to know what sort of level Su Youwei¡¯s powerful Genesis Qi foundation would reach after a secret art strengthened it. Could it surpass 100 million?! But no one¡¯s Genesis Qi stars had ever passed the 100 million mark in the Divine Dwelling stage because there seemed to be a boundary stopping it from happening. The Genesis Qi stars behind Su Youwei continued to soar amidst countless curious gazes, but when the number reached 98 million, it came to an abrupt stop. Disappointed sighs resounded throughout the world. It was indeed extremely difficult to increase the number of Genesis Qi stars when one¡¯s foundation approached the limit of 100 million. One hundred million seemed to be the limit of the Divine Dwelling stage. Even so, very few people in the entire Hunyuan Heaven had been able to bring their Genesis Qi foundation close to the number of 100 million in the past. Based on this fact alone, Su Youwei¡¯s name would be remembered in history. While the audience was sighing in disappointment, Zhao Mushen and Su Youwei had made their move. Mighty Genesis Qi shot into the sky, blocking the black dragon-like lightning immediately. Boom! It was as though two mushroom-shaped clouds of Genesis Qi were spreading out from the ancient stone statue. The shock waves pounded the Genesis Qi barrier surrounding the statue, causing it to ripple continuously. Sitting cross-legged outside the Genesis Qi barrier, Wang Xi cast his blood-red eyes towards the three people fighting. He was filled with bitterness and desire. He also wanted to participate in a fight of that level to prove himself. However, he knew that he was still lacking compared to them. Therefore, he needed to raise both his qi and murderous qi. Although he had fought countless battles over the years, the murderous qi was sealed in his Divine Dwellings, and its release would take a period of time. He believed he could participate in the battle once he lifted the seal! He wanted to prove to everyone that the kings of the Hunyuan Heaven weren¡¯t just those three! He, Wang Xi, wasn¡¯t inferior to anyone else! The huge Genesis Qi clouds gradually subsided. Zhao Mushen stood hovering in the air, gazing at the 98 million extremely dazzling Genesis Qi stars behind Su Youwei. He narrowed his eyes, and his lips moved ever so slightly as a voice passed to Wu Yao¡¯s ears ¡°Wu Yao, Su Youwei¡¯s Genesis Qi is terrifying. If this three-person battle were to continue, it would only benefit her. There also seems to be a huge gap between you and her. I suggest we join forces to eliminate her first.¡± Wu Yao¡¯s phoenix eyes flashed, and a voice wrapped in Genesis Qi responded, ¡°Okay.¡± The two had reached an agreement in an instant. Their figures flashed out and appeared in front of Su Youwei as though they had teleported. Their actions caused an uproar in the outside world. Nobody had expected Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen to be the first to join forces! Boom! Wu Yao performed a hand seal with lightning speed. A fierce look crossed her beautiful face, and endless black lightning gathered behind her, gradually forming a black lightning egg. On the surface of the lightning egg, cracks spread rapidly. Li! A clear and resounding phoenix cry suddenly rang out, and a black lightning phoenix broke through the shell and beat her wings. Black lightning struck down, splitting the void. Little Saint Art, Descending Lightning Phoenix! ¡°Go!¡± She flicked her finger and sent the black lightning phoenix filled with destructive power speeding towards Su Youwei. Zhao Mushen lifted his head and roared skywards, summoning a gigantic golden light formation. The light formation rotated, and an ancient voice rang out. A pale-yellow mottled hand stretched out from the formation. The huge hand was formed from Genesis Qi, but for some reason it exuded a heart-pounding aura. Little Saint Art, Ancestral Spirit Hand! Boom! The ancient hand tore through the void and grabbed for Su Youwei. It was impossible to escape while shrouded in its shadow! Hua! In the outside world, countless people lost their voices. Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao were mercilessly trying to kill Su Youwei with two little Saint arts! Faced with such a situation, Su Youwei could be eliminated with the slightest of carelessness! Chapter 976 Reversal As she hovered in the air, her stunning face turned solemn, and she drew in a deep breath. Her eyes flashed, and the Genesis Qi flowing around her body surged. She folded her slender hands together and swiftly formed countless hand seals. Countless purple stars emerged all over her body, all vaguely connecting to form a gigantic starry painting. The starry painting protected Su Youwei by forming an extremely powerful defense. ¡°Little Saint Art: Amethyst Starry Painting!¡± Su Youwei¡¯s little mouth moved slightly, and a soft voice came out. The starry painting surrounded her in layers, which from a distance it looked as though purple-colored crystals were enveloping her. In the face of Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao¡¯s joint attack, Su Youwei chose to guard with her strongest defense move because Zhao Mushen had locked the surrounding space and she knew it wasn¡¯t wise to retreat. Boom! When the layers of the purple starry painting formed, Zhao Mushen was the first to attack. His conjured yellow mottled hand smashed through the void and bombarded the starry painting with devastating power. Rumble! A loud sound resounded, and the void shook violently and whipped up a storm of Genesis Qi. The starry painting¡¯s multiple layers flickered violently and showed signs of shattering under the mottle hand¡¯s repeated bombardment. However, the starry painting could evidently repair itself. When it was on the verge of collapsing, the layers rapidly condensed and strengthened themselves. The two were in a deadlock for a moment. Li! It was at this moment that a phoenix cry reverberated in the air. The space behind them shattered as a tremendous black lightning phoenix broke out from the sky. Endless bolts of black lightning shot out from the phoenix¡¯s mouth and fiercely bombarded the starry painting. Boom! Under these two terrifying forces, the speed at which the starry painting shattered suddenly accelerated. The amethysts enveloping Su Youwei''s body began to melt like ice surrounded by lava. Zhao Mushen knew that Su Youwei¡¯s powerful defense would collapse with one more attack. With one thought, he controlled the ancient hand to form a fist seal. ¡°The Heavenly Fist Severing Spirit Seal!¡± Boom! The ancient fist blasted through space and then, wrapped in devastating power, pounded the purple starry painting under countless horrified gazes. Bang! ¡°Wu Yao, now!¡± Zhao Mushen urged. Li! A phoenix¡¯s cry filled the air as a black lightning phoenix sped forward. Her mouth opened wide and instantly swallowed Su Youwei along with the crumbling starry painting into her stomach, where lightning rumbled endlessly. Seeing this, Zhao Mushen relaxed a little. ¡°What an overbearing lightning phoenix,¡± Zhao Mushen remarked with a smile. But his voice had just faded when his pupils suddenly shrank. He noticed that the lightning phoenix increased her speed rather than slow down after swallowing Su Youwei. The phoenix was charging straight at him. A loud clap of thunder echoed throughout the skies with violent intent. Zhao Mushen raised his brows. ¡°Su Youwei has only just been dealt with. Isn¡¯t it too soon for you to act?¡± But it was obvious that he wasn¡¯t surprised. He also hadn¡¯t withdrawn the ancient mottled hand, and he was about to launch an attack at Wu Yao. After all, they had only agreed to eliminate one person in their alliance. Now that Su Youwei had fallen into the lightning phoenix¡¯s stomach, she was no doubt severely wounded, and the threat had been greatly reduced. Boom! With a flick of his sleeve, Zhao Mushen¡¯s mottled hand again formed a fist wrapped in devastating power. The fist slammed out to meet the lightning phoenix head-on. Dong! The impact caused the black lightning to sputter across the sky and turn into countless lightning sparks. The sparks rained down, blasting thousands of holes into the plain below. Boom! The lightning phoenix let out a long screech in the void, then repeatedly bombarded the giant ancient hand. Every bombardment caused the world to quake. Many people in the outside world felt their scalp go numb, seeing such earth-shaking movements. In a battle of this level, even top heaven prides such as Yuan Kun and Jiu Gong would be killed instantly. The combat power of the top two on the Divine Dwelling List was indeed too terrifying. Wu Yao stood still in the void, analyzing the deadlock. Her phoenix¡¯s eyes suddenly glinted fiercely. A mysterious aura rose from her body, and her body vaguely took the form of a gigantic phoenix shadow. The universe Genesis Qi suddenly pulsed strangely. At that moment, Wu Yao¡¯s body could integrate with the world and borrow the power of heaven and earth. This was the Heavenly Phoenix Blessing! There were two parts of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Sacred Dragon Blessing within Wu Yao¡¯s body. She had gradually fused with them over the years and had created a Heavenly Phoenix Blessing that belonged to her. Of course, the Blessing was ever-changing. If Zhou Yuan could retrieve it, it naturally would be transformed into the Sacred Dragon Blessing that belonged to him. Wu Yao stretched out her slender fingers and made a flick in the air. Universe Genesis Qi rolled in, turned into crystal fragments and landed on the black lightning phoenix¡¯s body. The lightning phoenix¡¯s imposing aura soared dramatically as the crystal fragments formed a layer of crystal scales around her body. Li! She unleashed a long resounding cry before folding her wings together. Her tremendous body turned into a black arrow overflowing with black lightning, and the arrow struck the giant ancient hand. The many black lightning bolts revolved, and the arrow erupted with extremely destructive and penetrating power. It pierced right through the ancient hand. Zhao Mushen narrowed his eyes, and he immediately shot away. But his speed couldn¡¯t match the black lightning¡¯s. The lightning phoenix even left faint traces in the void as she passed. Unable to evade in time, Zhao Mushen immediately stopped what he was doing and rapidly performed a hand seal with both hands. Once again, a golden light formation emerged behind him, and it possessed much more powerful Genesis Qi than before! Boom! The golden light formation swiftly rotated, and two giant ancient hands stretched out to form a towering golden mountain! The mountaintop was marked with multiple ancient and mysterious patterns. Rumble! The huge golden mountain flickered, then reappeared above the black phoenix in the sky as though it had teleported. It came crashing down. The void instantly cracked. As the golden mountain pressed down, the black lightning phoenix let out a shrill cry, causing countless black lightning bolts to block the attack, but it had little effect. The golden mountain grew larger and larger as it descended, as though it was about to engulf the black lightning phoenix. Just as the black lightning phoenix was on the verge of being crushed, she suddenly opened her mouth, and a jet-black lightning bolt shot out towards Zhao Mushen. The black lightning bolt was compressed to a terrifying degree. Its speed was so fast that even Zhao Mushen couldn¡¯t evade it in time. He let out a thunderous roar and manipulated powerful Genesis Qi to gather around his palms. Then, he reached out to grab the black lightning bolt. Chi! The tyrannical force the black lightning bolt released caused blood to seep out from Zhao Mushen¡¯s hand. But Zhao Mushen didn¡¯t seem to care. He just stared fixedly at the black lightning bolt that was slowly pressing towards the center of his eyebrows. He knew about the black lightning¡¯s destructive power. If it managed to pierce through, even he would be severely wounded. More than 90 million Genesis Qi stars flickered wildly behind Zhao Musan. The black lightning bolt drilled out little by little, and just as it was only two inches away from Zhao Mu, it finally halted. Even Zhao Mushen breathed a sigh of relief. But before he had exhaled his breath fully, he saw a flash of purple light within the black lightning bolt. His pupils shrank rapidly, and his sweat-soaked hair stood on end. The moment he was about to summon another trump card, a flash of purple light and a beautiful figure appeared before him. It was Su Youwei! She isn¡¯t in the slightest wounded by the black lightning within the phoenix¡¯s body?! Su Youwei¡¯s Genesis Qi is still abundant and strong, and it shows no signs of injury! While various thoughts came to his mind, Zhao Mushen¡¯s face turned livid! Wu Yao and Su Youwei had joined forces against him! ¡°Zixiao Azure Underworld!¡± But the counterattack came too late. Su Youwei¡¯s beautiful hand glowed with azure-purple light, and an azure-purple sword flashed out. The sword looked as if it was forged from starlight, dazzling and mysterious. Pu! It pierced right through Zhao Mushen¡¯s chest. The Genesis Qi within his body violently pulsed. He loosened his grip slightly, and the black lightning bolt curved slightly and stabbed down into the top of his shoulder, like a black thorn. Su Youwei''s beautiful figure appeared behind Zhao Mushen. Farther away, Wu Yao flicked her finger, and the black lightning phoenix lifted her head and let out a loud cry. She stared at the wide-eyed Zhao Mushen and said indifferently, ¡°Zhao Mushen, you are the most dangerous person, so I think it¡¯s best that you are eliminated first.¡± In truth, when Zhao Mushen persuaded Wu Yao to join forces, she had already made an agreement with Su Youwei. Although there had been discord between them in the past, they were well aware of Zhao Mushen¡¯s danger. If Su Youwei were the first to be eliminated, Wu Yao would have had to face Zhao Mushen alone, and the difficulty of that would be greater than fighting against Su Youwei. This must be what Su Youwei was thinking, and so she immediately agreed to join forces with Wu Yao. Zhao Mushen fixed them with a glare, but Su Youwei¡¯s and Wu Yao''s Genesis Qis were raging and causing havoc in his body, so he couldn¡¯t utter a word. He finally collapsed. Everybody in the outside world was dumbstruck. Many people blankly watched this scene. The situation should have been Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao joining hands to deal with Su Youwei, but who would have thought that this was only an illusion and that Wu Yao and Su Youwei had reached an agreement first? Wu Yao had swallowed Su Youwei with the lightning phoenix, and the two women had joined forces to eliminate Zhao Mushen. Chapter 977 Reversal Ar Clouds of dust and smoke filled the air. There was utter silence under the entire starry sky. Even Wang Xi, who was outside of the barrier composed of Genesis Qi, stared at the deep pit in shocked disbelief. Yuan Kun, Jiu Gong and Li Tonshen, who were locked in a fierce battle above a distant stone statue, also paused for a moment and looked over with constantly changing expressions. No one thought that Zhao Mushen would be the first to fall in the battle of the three kings! He was Zhao Mushen, the strongest person at the Divine Dwelling stage in Hunyuan Heaven. All these years, even with Wu Yao and Su Youwei, the peerless pair, competing for the top position, he still stood firmly at the top. His position was unshakable. For many people at the Divine Dwelling stage, Zhao Mushen was always their goal. Although Wu Yao¡¯s and Su Youwei¡¯s appearances in the nine regions tournament could pose a challenge to Zhao Mushen, in truth, more than 80% of the people still believed that Zhao Mushen would be the ultimate winner. This was because he was Zhao Mushen! Therefore, everyone was stunned to see Zhao Mushen out-schemed by Wu Yao and Su Youwei. It was true that the more beautiful a woman was, the more deceptive she was! Wu Yao and Su Youwei hovered in the void with a considerable distance between them. Powerful Genesis Qi surged around their bodies. It was obvious they were vigilant of each other. They glanced at the place where Zhao Mushen had fallen, and then their gazes collided. In their gazes, there wasn¡¯t any friendship borne from their previous cooperation. Instead, their eyes were filled with caution and vigilance. Wu Yao lifted her eyes and said, ¡°Seems like it¡¯s our turn next?¡± ¡°I have long wanted to have a real fight with you.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s face glowed with a faint purple light, making her look even more pure and beautiful. Wu Yao¡¯s red lips moved slightly. ¡°Just because of Zhou Yuan?¡± Su Youwei said, ¡°Your Blessing is from His Highness, isn¡¯t that right? The reason you could get to where you are today is of course because of your outstanding talent, but that Blessing must have also played a huge role.¡± Wu Yao nodded and didn¡¯t deny it. She stretched out her slender and beautiful hand, and a mysterious qi flowed around her fingertips. There was a hint of indifference as well as disgust in her eyes. ¡°With everything, the strongest is always king. ¡°The reason my father took the Sacred Dragon Blessing from his body is that he was strong and the Great Zhou was weak. ¡°Zhou Yuan then retaliated and destroyed the Great Wu. This was because he was strong and the Great Wu was weak. ¡°So, if he has the ability to take back what belongs to him, he can go ahead. Of course, if he can¡¯t, don¡¯t blame me for taking the last part of the Sacred Dragon Blessing from his body.¡± Su Youwei was silent for a moment and then said, ¡°In that case, I will help His Highness get back what belongs to him.¡± Wu Yao stared at her for a good while and said, ¡°I really don¡¯t understand what charm he has that is worth you doing this for him. I originally thought we could be friends.¡± Wu Yao had never concealed her admiration for Su Youwei. Unfortunately for her, Su Youwei had never paid any attention to her kindness, and it seemed that Zhou Yuan was the reason. Su Youwei said indifferently, ¡°What you admire is only the current Su Youwei, but the former Su Youwei wasn¡¯t as bright and dazzling as now. She was just a little girl from a humble background. Without him, there wouldn¡¯t be the present Su Youwei. ¡°My grandfather always told me to repay someone for their kindness.¡± She lifted her beautiful hand, and purple light-like stars flowed within the palm of her hand, turning into a star-like sword. The tip of the sword pointed straight towards Wu Yao. ¡°Let¡¯s do it,¡± Su Youwei said. Wu Yao sighed inwardly without a ripple of emotion on her jade-like face, and then her phoenix eyes gradually turned fierce. Since they couldn¡¯t come to an agreement, it was better to settle it with a fight. Boom! Mighty Genesis Qi gradually spread out from Wu Yao¡¯s and Su Youwei¡¯s bodies, causing the sky and ground to quake violently. The atmosphere turned extremely tense as if a battle could erupt at any moment. But just as the two women were about to make a move, a strange sound suddenly rang out in the tensed atmosphere. ¡°Haha.¡± Wu Yao¡¯s and Su Youwei¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. They simultaneously twisted around to look at the huge pit that was originally filled with smoke and dust. Zhao Mushen lay quietly in the huge pit, his eyes wide, staring at the two women as he wore a strange smile. A lotus mark seemed to be emitting faint light at the center of his brows. A horrifying wound was covering almost half his body, but he didn¡¯t seem to care. Instead, the smile on his lips intensified. And, most unexpected to Su Youwei and Wu Yao, his Genesis Qi hadn¡¯t weakened at all. He didn¡¯t seem severely wounded. But how was that possible? They hadn¡¯t held back any of their strength in their previous attack. It would have been impossible for anybody else to withstand their attack! ¡°Let¡¯s join forces to get rid of him!¡± Wu Yao roared. Zhao Mushen''s strange smile made her feel a hint of uneasiness. Su Youwei¡¯s beautiful and delicate face also assumed a serious expression. When she heard Wu Yao¡¯s voice, she immediately activated her Genesis Qi without hesitation and shot towards him. Wu Yao similarly charged at Zhao Mushen. Zhao Mushen staggered to his feet in the deep pit. Watching the two women charge toward him murderously, he simply gave them a smile. ¡°You tried to scheme against me. Do you think I won¡¯t do the same?¡± He stretched out his hand and stabbed into the wound on his body. When he pulled his blood-soaked fingers out, there seemed to be two subtle waves of Genesis Qi. They were the Genesis Qis belonging to Su Youwei and Wu Yao. Zhao Mushen folded his blood-dripping hand in a hand seal with lightning speed. The smile on his lips became increasingly strange, and the lotus-like marking between his eyebrows began to glow. The lotus flower slowly bloomed, and a strange wave of energy emerged in the world. His hoarse voice resounded slowly across the plain. ¡°Sacred Lotus... ¡°Reversal Art!¡± As Wu Yao and Su Youwei dived down from the void above, their expressions changed dramatically. A strange force descended onto their body, forming two lotus-like silhouettes below them. The lotus flower, vivid and life-like, radiated a mysterious power. Wu Yao¡¯s and Su Youwei¡¯s figures froze in the air, like butterflies trying to dance gracefully in amber. Even the air itself froze. But most strange, huge wounds were spreading across Su Youwei¡¯s and Wu Yao''s bodies, and the marks were identical to Zhao Mushen¡¯s! Zhao Mushen smiled at the two beautiful figures stationary in the void, letting blood flow wildly from his wound. He suddenly opened his arms and smiled. ¡°What a beautiful scene. Two butterflies are in my hands.¡± Under the starry sky. Countless people were even more stunned by this scene. Who would have thought that Zhao Mushen, whom they thought had fallen into a desperate state, could reverse the situation? Countless people''s expressions turned complicated, and they secretly shook their heads. The king of the Divine Dwelling stage indeed deserved his title. On the Wanzu Region¡¯s side, Liu Qingshu and the others finally relaxed their tense bodies and broke into cheers. Their cheers echoed throughout the starry sky and penetrated a particular ancient stone statue. Chapter 978 Taotie Blessing The Law Domain stage experts gazed intently at the huge light mirror where two bright lotus flowers were slowly blooming. Wu Yao and Su Youwei were frozen within the lotus flowers, and a hideous scar had torn their bodies and caused chaos to their Genesis Qi. ¡°Reversal Art...¡± Studying the lotus flower that appeared below the two women, the Law Domain experts wore a strange expression on their faces. Jin Zhong of the Wushen Region and Lu Xuangang of the Zixiao Region visibly tensed up. They knew it was the Reversal Art. It was an extremely mysterious and bizarre Little Saint Genesis Art from the Wushen Region. Once mastered, it was said to be able to pass on fatal injuries to one¡¯s attacker. It was just that...they had never heard that the Reversal Art could freeze and seal space. They could tell that the Sacred Lotus was incredibly mysterious and that it vaguely exuded the energy of the Law Domain. It was no wonder that it could freeze both Su Youwei and Wu Yao like a seal. Lu Xuangang swept a glance over Zhao Xuansun. ¡°The Wanzu Region¡¯s Reversal Art is famous but is known to be extremely difficult to practice. I have never heard of anybody beneath the Nascent Source stage who has mastered this technique.¡± Zhao Xiansun smiled, saying, ¡°Zhao Mushen has outstanding talent. It isn¡¯t surprising that he could master this technique.¡± Jin Zhong further inquired, ¡°But I have never heard that the Wanzu Region¡¯s Reversal Art also has the power of the Sacred Lotus Seal.¡± The Reversal Art performed by Zhao Mushen was very special. It possessed the power of the Sacred Lotus Seal and even healed his fatal injuries. The technique was simply in defiance of the natural order. Not only did it reverse fatal injury onto the opponent, but it could also heal wounds, which differed hugely to the normal Reversal Art! Zhao Xiansun smiled. ¡°This is Zhao Mushen¡¯s blessing, and it isn¡¯t convenient for me to say anything.¡± Jin Zhong snorted and couldn''t say anything. He exchanged a glance with Lu Xuangang, and they scrunched their bows. It was obvious that the situation didn¡¯t look good for their regions. .... In the deep pit, Zhao Mushen looked up at the two beautiful figures bound by the two lotuses. With a smile, he gradually rose into the sky and arrived before them. ¡°In the end, I am still better,¡± Zhao Mushen said softly. Wu Yao¡¯s and Su Youwei¡¯s eyes flickered up at him. Everybody could tell that they were using all their strength to get rid of the Sacred Lotus Seal. Zhao Mushen¡¯s gaze shifted to Wu Yao, staring at her stunning face with deep admiration. ¡°Wu Yao, did you know that what I really coveted in the nine regions tournament wasn¡¯t the number one position of the nine regions, but...you?¡± Zhao Mushen shook his head. ¡°Don''t misunderstand. I don¡¯t covet you. To be precise, it''s the Blessing inside your body.¡± Wu Yao¡¯s pupils shrank. What exactly did Zhao Mushen want to do? Did he want to take her Blessing? But this was impossible because Blessings couldn¡¯t be taken away so easily. Her father was only able to extract the Blessing from Zhou Yuan and instill it into her and Wu Huang¡¯s bodies because they were born on the same day. Also, their bodies matched the Blessing¡¯s requirements! But Zhao Mushen wasn¡¯t born on the same day as her! ¡°It''s weird, isn''t it?¡± Zhao Mushen laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t meet the conditions to take away your Blessing. But unfortunately for you...there are a lot of things in this world that don''t follow the rules.¡± The lotus flower mark at the center of his eyebrows suddenly glowed, and vaguely, a mysterious aura gushed out. Even the universe Genesis Qi was faintly showing strange movements. Everybody was stunned to see an illusory silhouette emerge behind Zhao Mushen. The silhouette seemed to be that of a mysterious giant monster. It lifted its head and roared skywards. Its large and deep mouth was like the mouth of a giant abyss. Wu Yao¡¯s heart trembled when she saw the mysterious silhouette forming behind Zhao Mushen. It¡¯s some sort of Blessing?! Zhao Mushen also possesses a Blessing! But Wu Yao was unable to identify what being Zhao Mushen¡¯s Blessing came from. As though he had read Wu Yao¡¯s mind, Zhao Mushen said with a smile, ¡°The Blessing I possess is called the Taotie (a mythological Chinese creature) Blessing. Since the dawn of time, a sacred beast has existed. It¡¯s called the Ancestral Taotie. ¡°The Taotie Blessing is weak when born, but it possesses a special ability that other Blessings don¡¯t have...and that is the ability to devour other Blessings.¡± Wu Yao¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. She had never expected Zhao Mushen to possess such a special Blessing! It was no wonder that he had said what he really coveted in the nine regions tournament was the Blessing in her body. He wanted to swallow her Blessing! Zhao Mushen looked at Wu Yao and said softly, ¡°Wu Yao, do you think I was always this outstanding? You¡¯re wrong. In truth, my talent was extremely ordinary when I set foot on the cultivation path. I was just a stepping stone for other people. ¡°It was the Taotie Blessing that got me to where I am today. I¡¯m about to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage. If I devour your Blessing, I¡¯m certain it will make my breakthrough perfect.¡± He smiled. ¡°So...excuse me.¡± Roar! Behind him, the blurry Taotie Blessing unleashed a soundless roar, and black light spread out of its mouth like fog and surrounded Wu Yao. Zhao Mushen had long been preparing to devour her Blessing. .... Outside the Fallen Abyss. Anger bubbled up inside Jin Zhong when he saw this scene. He fixed a fierce look at Zhao Xiansun and said, ¡°How dare Zhao Mushen swallow Wu Yao¡¯s Blessing?!¡± Blessings were indeed quite mysterious in that they could directly affect one¡¯s cultivation talent. Adding to this, it was extremely beneficial to Genesis techniques and breakthroughs. Generally speaking, those who possessed Blessings would progress further along the cultivation path compared to ordinary people. Wu Yao¡¯s future would be destroyed if Zhao Mushen successfully devoured her Blessing! Zhao Xiansun¡¯s eyes slightly drooped. ¡°Mister Jin Zhong shouldn¡¯t be so angry. I will scold him when the nine regions tournament ends.¡± Jin Zhong¡¯s face grew even more livid. Wait until the nine regions tournament finishes? Zhao Mushen would have completely devoured her Blessing by then. What would be the use in scolding him then? But from the look on Zhao Xiansun¡¯s face, it was obvious that he intended to let Zhao Mushen do what he wanted. In the Fallen Abyss, even Law Domain experts couldn¡¯t interfere with what happens in the battle. So, no matter how angry he was, it wouldn¡¯t help the situation. ¡°Well, if your Wanzu Region intends to become enemies with my Wushen Region, I also can¡¯t stop you.¡± With nothing else that he could do, Jin Zhong had no choice but to threaten Zhao Xiansun. .... Powerful Law Domain experts were competing in the outside world, and the atmosphere under the starry sky was equally solemn. Countless people fixed their eyes above the stone statue in the depths of the starry sky. They didn¡¯t expect Zhao Mushen to be so ruthless¡ªhe intended to devour Wu Yao¡¯s Blessing! All Wushen Region¡¯s disciples flushed with anger and angrily rebuked him. Other than this, there was nothing else they could do. Facing the anger of the Wushen Region¡¯s disciples, Liu Qingshu simply snorted. ¡°Wu Yao has fallen into senior brother¡¯s hands, so naturally, she should pay the price. It¡¯s just a Blessing, not her life!¡± She undoubtedly gloated over Wu Yao¡¯s situation. After all, Wu Yao and Su Youwei were too remarkable, and she was very envious of them. Everybody was focused on the changes in the situation between Zhao Mushen and Wu Yu that they had failed to notice that Zhou Yuan had awoken from his training state. After Zhou Yuan withdrew from his state of cultivation, his mind was obviously immersed in the changes within his own Divine Dwellings. He stroked his chest with the palm of his hand, a quizzical look on his face. ¡°To think there¡¯s such a thing...¡± Zhou Yuan was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. He then looked up to see what was happening above the ancient stone statue in the depths of the starry sky and couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°It can swallow another¡¯s Blessing. It¡¯s indeed a little strange. ¡°But...the Blessing in Wu Yao¡¯s body is mine. I won¡¯t allow you, Zhao Mushen, to ruin it.¡± He sprang up and shook his body. Three muddled-colored halos emerged behind him, and a stream of mighty Genesis Qi surged out like a torrent, bringing earth-shaking pressure to this side of the world. Chi! Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t show any sign of reluctance to leave. He flashed away, rushed up and charged through the statue¡¯s barrier. He headed directly for the depths of the starry sky where the ancient stone statue was located. Zhou Yuan¡¯s movements immediately attracted countless eyes. When the onlookers saw Zhou Yuan leave the statue, they cried out in surprise one after another. ¡°Zhou Yuan is giving up on his stone statue?!¡± ¡°If he leaves now, it¡¯s the same as giving up, and if he wants to return later, the Genesis Qi barrier will reject him!¡± ¡°He is charging towards the first statue! How ambitious!¡± ¡°His Genesis Qi has become much stronger! He must have connected to the ninth Divine Dwelling!¡± ¡°No wonder his ambition has grown...but that''s still not a wise move!¡± ¡°......¡± Yuan Kun, Jiu Gong, Li Tongshen and others all noticed where Zhou Yuan was heading. Yuan Kun¡¯s and Jiu Gong¡¯s expressions turned somewhat complicated because they could feel an oppressive aura coming from Zhou Yuan''s body. Zhou Yuan had evidently become much stronger than before after connecting all nine Divine Dwellings! On the other hand, Liu Qingshu smiled coldly. ¡°He really doesn¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth! Does he think he has the qualification to challenge my senior brother after connecting the ninth Divine Dwelling? So stupid. Even Wu Yao and Su Youwei were defeated. Who does he think he is?!¡± Her brows frowned contemptuously. Chapter 979 Wang Xi Moves Aside Wang Xi was sitting cross-legged in midair. Terrifying murderous intent was rippling around him like an ocean, and his eyes had already turned a scarlet red color. Many people felt their scalps go numb, seeing the fiendish aura. Wang Xi shot a fierce look at Zhou Yuan, and a cold, sinister voice rang out. ¡°The path here is blocked. Get lost!¡± There wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face when he swept a glance over Wang Xi. ¡°Get out of the way. You aren¡¯t strong enough to compete for this stone statue.¡± If Zhou Yuan had met Wang Xi before he opened up all nine Divine Dwellings, he would have had to use everything he had to fight. Zhou Yuan¡¯s current Genesis Qi foundation was so powerful that even he couldn¡¯t believe it himself! Wang Xi, whom he was fearful of half an hour ago, was no longer a threat. The Chaos Divine Dwellings finally revealed their true terrifying power after all nine Divine Dwellings were connected. Wang Xi¡¯s expression turned chilly, and his eyes scanned Zhou Yuan like a knife. He had never regarded Zhou Yuan as an opponent, yet Zhou Yuan dared provoke him. Wang Xi could feel a much stronger fluctuation of Genesis Qi than before from Zhou Yuan. He knew that Zhou Yuan must have connected the ninth Divine Dwelling. But Wang Xi didn¡¯t believe that Zhou Yuan could soar to the sky with nine Divine Dwellings! Boom! Wang Xi didn¡¯t answer a word. With a slight shake of his body, blood-red Genesis Qi swept out and illuminated the void with 66 million Genesis Qi stars. After revealing his Genesis Qi foundation, he didn¡¯t stop there. He threw his head back and roared. There seemed to be a blood-red sea gushing from his body, and rising within the sea of blood were countless blood-red Genesis Qi stars. In the end, the number of Genesis Qi stars soared to the level of 85 million! Evidently, he had activated a Xuehai Region secret art! His Genesis Qi was indeed extraordinarily strong, and it was much superior to that of Xuan Kun, Xu Ming and other heaven prides on the Divine Dwelling List. It even neared the level of Zhao Mushen¡¯s, Wu Yao¡¯s and Su Youwei¡¯s qis. ¡°Sky Flooding Art!¡± Wang Xi¡¯s voice reverberated throughout the world like thunder as mighty Genesis Qi swept out and transformed into a surging sea of blood filled with a bloody stench, as though his qi was formed from real blood. Hua! The sea of blood whizzed forth as if to drown the world, and its tremendous shadow sped towards Zhou Yuan. But Zhou Yuan stood still in the void like a boulder and didn¡¯t move an inch. Hua! When the blood sea completely enveloped Zhou Yuan, a roar of astonishment burst from the crowd. No one thought Zhou Yuan would be so arrogant as to face a powerful enemy like Wang Xi and even let his blood sea envelop him. It should be said that the blood sea was terrifyingly corrosive and could eat up an expert of the same level once they were trapped within. While everyone was dumbstruck, suddenly, a faint dragon roar emerged from the blood sea¡¯s depths. The blood sea rippled violently before millions of azure-golden Genesis Qi light beams burst out and tore it apart in just a few breaths. Countless eyes widened as everyone stared at where the blood sea had dissipated. Mighty azure-golden Genesis Qi filled the void, and countless Genesis Qi stars twinkled. The amount was at least 93 million! Under the starry sky, there was utter silence. All eyes were blankly fixed on the many Genesis Qi stars that appeared behind Zhou Yuan. It was 93 million! ¡°How is that possible?!¡± Yuan Kun cried out in disbelief, and even the icily arrogant Jiu Gong opened her mouth soundlessly. There were 93 million Genesis Qi stars! Adding to this, Zhou Yuan had achieved this without activating any secret technique, which meant that this was his Genesis Qi foundation! It should be said that even Su Youwei, who possessed ten Divine Dwellings, only had a foundation of 83 million Genesis Qi stars! Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundation was 10 million more than hers?! What grade were that guy¡¯s Divine Dwellings?! On the Wushen Region¡¯s side, Liu Qingshu¡¯s face was livid as she stared at the Genesis Qi stars behind Zhou Yuan. After a while, she swallowed a mouth of saliva and mumbled, ¡°How is that possible?¡± Although Zhou Yuan''s muddled-colored Divine Dwelling halos were clearly variant Divine Dwellings, no one expected his Genesis Qi foundation to soar to this level after he connected all nine Divine Dwellings. Before this, Zhou Yuan had only possessed 39 million Genesis Qi stars! How much was it now? 93 million! It had increased by nearly 55 million! Liu Qingshu felt a headache coming on. She had never heard of anyone¡¯s Genesis Qi soaring by this much after connecting the ninth Divine Dwelling. Even Su Youwei¡¯s ten Divine Dwellings weren¡¯t as terrifying as his! Liu Qingshu gritted her teeth and said stiffly, ¡°So what if he has a foundation of 93 million. There is still the limit of the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Su Youwei Genesis Qi foundation was superior to Zhao Mushen¡¯s, but as they reached the 90 million level, the gap between them also narrowed. This meant that everything depended on what means and techniques one possessed. Therefore, Liu Qingshu believed that Zhao Mushen could defeat Wu Yao and Su Youwei even if they joined forces. He would naturally also be able to suppress Zhou Yuan! Amidst countless shocked gazes, Zhou Yuan was visibly taken aback. Even he didn¡¯t expect his Genesis Qi foundation to soar to such a level. He thought that his foundation would be perfect if it reached the level of 80 million, but it seemed that even he had underestimated his Chaos Divine Dwellings. He hadn¡¯t noticed much strangeness before opening up the ninth Divine Dwelling, so who would have thought the ninth Divine Dwelling would cause such earth-shaking changes? Zhou Yuan calmly looked at Wang Xi, whose expression was constantly changing. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t utter a word, and he let the terrifying oppressive pressure slowly spread out. Wang Xi drew a deep breath, his gaze somewhat complicated. He had never paid much attention to Zhou Yuan before and never expected the famous dark horse in Hunyuan Heaven to reach such a terrifying level in a short period of two years. ¡°A Genesis Qi foundation of 93 million. Zhou Yuan, you''re really strong. Maybe you''re the only one who has a chance to beat Zhao Mushen. Everybody has underestimated you.¡± The blood sea shrouding Wang Xi¡¯s body subsided slowly, then completely retracted into his body. He looked a little glum. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength was a huge blow to him. ¡°Go ahead. I hope you can make this nine regions tournament even more exciting.¡± Wang Xi stepped aside. Facing Zhou Yuan, who possessed a foundation of 93 million Genesis Qi stars, even he had to choose to move out of the way. Under the starry sky, everybody¡¯s expression turned complicated. Who would have thought that Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength could make a fierce and powerful person like Wang Xi willingly move aside and give up? From this fact alone it was clear how much pressure the foundation of 93 million Genesis Qi stars gave Wang Xi. Everyone sighed. From then on, a leader was going to again rise up the Divine Dwelling List. They just didn¡¯t know what would happen when the new and old leaders collided. Amidst those countless curious gazes, Zhou Yuan nodded to Wang Xi and immediately charged through the Genesis Qi barrier. The Genesis Qi barrier didn¡¯t obstruct Zhou Yuan in the slightest. He passed through in just a few breaths. Above the stone statue whose summit was as wide as a plain. The illusory monster that was breathing out black fog behind Zhao Mushen slowly came to a halt. Zhao Mushen had to halt the preparations for swallowing Wu Yao¡¯s Blessing and lift his head to look at the slender figure descending from the sky. He sighed, ¡°I finally understand why even the supreme sovereign would pay attention to you.¡± He didn''t expect the little mouse that he had released before to become so threatening that it would make even him feel danger. He, who had never regretted anything, finally felt a hint of regret. If he had known this would happen, he would have killed him that day. Zhou Yuan glanced over at Wu Yao and Su Youwei, who were trapped in the Sacred Lotus Seal, before he fixed a piercing gaze at Zhao Mushen. ¡°Don¡¯t covet things that don¡¯t belong to you.¡± Zhao Mushen studied Zhou Yuan with a strange expression, then said suddenly, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize before that you also possess a Blessing.¡± He sounded regretful. If he had realized that sooner, he would have gotten rid of Zhou Yuan that day and there wouldn¡¯t be any more trouble. But it didn¡¯t matter. Chapter 980 Just a Little More Outside the Fallen Abyss, the Law Domain experts all stared at the Genesis Qi stars behind Zhou Yuan. As they faced a Genesis Qi foundation of such a level, even their eyes assumed a strange expression. Since they could reach the Law Domain stage and become the top experts in Hunyuan Heaven, they were naturally amazingly talented cultivators. When they were at the Divine Dwelling stage, they were also known as kings of their stage and had suppressed many people of their generation with their strength. But even they hadn¡¯t possessed such a powerful foundation when at the pinnacle of the Divine Dwelling stage. From this, it was clear that Zhou Yuan was very extraordinary. His foundation was strong enough for him to compete with Zhao Mushen. Some people cast their eyes to Zhao Xiansun, whose smile had faded slightly. Evidently, Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance had destroyed what he had in mind. He was bound to be somewhat annoyed. After all, Zhao Mushen was preparing to take away Wu Yao¡¯s Blessing, but Zhou Yuan had suddenly appeared and obstructed him. ¡°Haha, Chi Jing, there is finally someone outstanding in your Tianyuan Region. It seems victory in the nine regions tournament will fall to the Tianyuan Region this time!¡± A roar of laughter sounded like thunder. It was from the Wushen Region¡¯s Jin Zhong. He, of course, was glad to see Zhao Mushen¡¯s plan ruined. After all, Wu Yao was the fresh blood the wushen Region had painstakingly cultivated. She was destined to have a bright future, so he couldn¡¯t let Zhao Mushen destroy her. Staring at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, Chi Jing was also overwhelmed with emotions. She was confident in Zhou Yuan from the start, but this was only because of her master, Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan had finally proved himself with his strength. He is indeed qualified to catch Cang Yuan¡¯s attention. Chi Jingsimply chuckled at Jin Zhong¡¯s words. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had skyrocketed, Zhao Mushen wasn¡¯t easy to deal with. She had witnessed him defeat Wu Yao, Su Youwei and other equally outstanding people with his own hands. Therefore, she couldn¡¯t be too happy before the battle outcome had been decided. Zhao Xiansun¡¯s face was expressionless. He, of course, knew that Jin Zhong was deliberately getting revenge, but he didn¡¯t argue, and just cast his icy gaze onto the gigantic mirror. Although the increase in Zhou Yuan''s strength somewhat disrupted the plan, Zhao Xiansun still believed Zhao Mushen would eventually suppress Zhou Yuan. The king of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling stage is bound to be Zhao Mushen! On the plain. But after witnessing Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying Genesis Qi foundation, even people who had been dismissive of Zhou Yuan had to admit he was strong enough to threaten Zhao Mushen. Therefore, the battle¡¯s final outcome hinged on the fight between them. Under countless gazes, Zhao Mushen remained calm and composed, even if the 93 million Genesis Qi stars behind Zhou Yuan were incomparably dazzling. It had to be said that, from Zhao Mushen¡¯s bearing alone, he was worthy of the title King of the Divine Dwelling Stage. But even Wang Xi, who was arrogant and unyielding, had willingly moved aside from the Genesis Qi barrier when facing the pressure of Zhou Yuan¡¯s 93 million Genesis Qi stars. ¡°A foundation of 93 million is indeed very powerful, but you should bring out the Tianyuan Region¡¯s four Genesis Runes. Otherwise, you won¡¯t have an advantage against me.¡± Zhao Mushen smiled. Behind him, powerful ocean-like Genesis Qi surged violently, and the 95 million Genesis Qi stars twinkled brightly. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°As you wish.¡± The four Genesis Runes surfaced from his body. Boom! The Genesis Qi throughout the world pulsed and bubbled violently like a pot of oil. Zhou Yuan¡¯s imposing aura rose once again, and the number of Genesis Qi stars in the void rocketed. Even Su Youwei, who possessed ten Divine Dwellings, had failed to break the Divine Dwelling stage¡¯s limits and bring the number of Genesis Qi stars to the level of 100 million. They were very curious as to whether Zhou Yuan, who had a stronger foundation than Su Youwei, could create a miracle. The Genesis Qi stars rapidly soared in number and, as they neared 99 million, suddenly stagnated and no longer increased. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned solemn because he found that as the number of Genesis Qi stars approached 100 million, the obstruction force grew stronger. With the four Genesis Runes, he had increased his foundation by another 14 million in the past, but now, there was only an increase of six million! He waited a few seconds until the first of the four Genesis Runes was completely exhausted before changing to another seal. ¡°Four Spirits Origin Diagram!¡± Rays of light spread from the four Genesis Runes, forming a light diagram on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The Genesis Qi stars that had stagnated behind him surged once again. Genesis Qi stars materialized one by one at a very slow speed. Countless people across the world stared wide-eyed at the miracle. When the number of Genesis Qi stars reached 99.99 million, however, the stars stagnated again, and an indescribable power formed an obstruction and prevented them from breaking through. He was just ten thousand Genesis Qi stars away from 100 million! Countless people gasped in disappointment. Zhou Yuan sighed softly in his heart. Ten thousand Genesis Qi stars didn¡¯t have much importance in ordinary times, but now, it was like an uncrossable mountain stream and made people despair. Although disappointed, no one could ignore the oppressive pressure brought about by Zhou Yuan¡¯s 99.99 million Genesis Qi stars. The void around him seemed to quake repeatedly, and it rippled vaguely. Su Youwei and Wu Yao, trapped in the Sacred Lotus Seal, also saw the impressive spectacle. Su Youwei¡¯s pure and stunning eyes flickered with joy and admiration. Your Highness, I have said before that you should never belittle yourself. As long as you want, even in Hunyuan Heaven, you are the most dazzling, Su Youwei spoke in a soft voice in her heart. The look in Wu Yao¡¯s eyes was much more complex. When she met Zhou Yuan for the first time in the Great Wu, Zhou Yuan had only just reached the initial Divine Dwelling stage, whereas she was at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. But now, the prince of the Great Zhou could soon become the king of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling stage. Facing Zhou Yuan, who was able to rise after the devastating disaster that happened during his childhood, even Wu Yao couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder that he carries the Sacred Dragon Blessing.¡± Genesis Qi pressure filled the sky. Zhao Mushen lifted his head, and his eyes reflected 99.99 million Genesis Qi stars. At that moment, there was even a hint of seriousness on his calm face. Facing such an unprecedented strong enemy, Zhao Mushen finally felt the pressure. This, however, didn¡¯t make him fearful. Instead, his eyes blazed as he stared intently at Zhou Yuan. A fiery heat seemed to be swallowing his opponent. ¡°Zhou Yuan, only someone as remarkable as you is worth swallowing!¡±. Boom! Mighty Genesis Qi erupted, and the void trembled. The Genesis Qi was like a giant endless wave crashing down on Zhou Yuan with tremendous force. Chapter 981 Zhou Yuan Against Zhao Mushen The moment that Zhao Mushen acted, universe Genesis Qi rolled in like dark storm clouds and spread towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. The void trembled incessantly. Zhao Mushen whirled his hand, gathering endless Genesis Qi in his palm as a nine-colored light shuttle took shape. The light shuttle quivered with endless sharp qi, which cut tiny traces into the surrounding air. The nine-color light shuttle wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to Zhou Yuan. Zhao Mushen had used it the first time Zhou Yuan had met him in a mini domain. But this nine-color light shuttle was clearly much stronger than the previous one. ¡°Nine Spirit Soul Breaker Shuttle!¡± Zhao Mushen flicked his finger and sent the nine-colored silhouette shooting out. It pierced the void and zoomed towards Zhou Yuan! Where the light shuttle passed, a shrill sonic boom rang out. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face didn¡¯t ripple as he watched the nine-colored light rays rapidly expand before him. Zhao Mushen is quite interesting. He is starting the battle with this Genesis art. Does he want to remind me of how embarrassing I looked in our previous encounter? In the void behind Zhou Yuan, astonishing Genesis Qi swallowed the 99.99 million Genesis Qi stars flickering brightly. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t bring out any Genesis technique to counter the attack, and he instead let the nine-colored silhouette shoot closer to him. Then, he stretched his hand out and wrapped his arm with powerful Genesis Qi, forming a layer of azure-golden armor-like scales. Bang! He directly grabbed the nine-colored light shuttle with one hand. Chi! The nine-colored light shuttle madly released a powerful force in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand, but his fist was motionless like a boulder. The light shuttle looked like a fish caught in an eagle¡¯s claw. No matter how it struggled, it couldn¡¯t budge. Expressionless, Zhou Yuan squeezed his hand. Bang! The nine-color light shuttle exploded and filled the sky with specks of light. Zhou Yuan looked at Zhao Mushen indifferently and said, ¡°If you wanted to use this to irritate me, you have instead made me look down on you, King of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling stage.¡± As Zhou Yuan lifted his palm into the air, a sword orb slowly rose. Because Zhou Yuan had opened up all nine Divine Dwellings, the sword orb had also undergone considerable changes. It had turned crystal clear, like a diamond, and its new quality made the orb seem indestructible. This transformation was a sign that he had mastered the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb. ¡°Sword Orb, differentiate.¡± With a slight touch, the sword orb trembled and transformed into hundred of sword orbs. Then, as they shot out, wrapped in sword light, they took the form of hundreds of light swords. Their sharp sword qi raged all over the world. Hundreds of sword lights flashed out simultaneously, every one possessing tremendous power superior to the original sword orb! The hundred beams of sword light streaked across the sky in a terrifying formation. Zhao Mushen stilled for a moment. Zhou Yuan now had the support of a powerful Genesis Qi foundation, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s every attack was terrifying. Zhao Mushen shook his hand, and a golden halberd appeared. He let out a long roar and met the attack head-on. Clang! The golden halberd erupted with dazzling rays of light and repeatedly clashed with the many sword lights, causing metallic clangs to ring throughout the world. The two fought hundreds of rounds in just dozens of seconds. Zhou Yuan''s sword light offensive was fierce, but Zhao Mushen¡¯s golden halberd was indestructible. No matter how the hundred sword lights struck, they couldn¡¯t break the golden halberd¡¯s defense. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Zhao Mushen¡¯s strength. Zhou Yuan should have had the upper hand based on the strength of his Genesis Qi foundation, but Zhao Mushen didn¡¯t seem disadvantaged. ¡°Sword Orb, assemble!¡± Zhou Yuan formed a seal with one hand and brought the hundred sword orbs gathering together again to form a light sword one thousand feet long in the void above him. The sword constantly buzzed and vibrated as it released a terrifyingly sharp aura. This was the first time that Zhou Yuan had truly displayed the sword orb¡¯s great power since he began cultivating the Devil Sweeping Sword Orb. Boom! The thousand-foot-long sword light slashed down, tore apart the void, and left a thousand-foot-long sword mark on the plain below. The slash¡¯s power made even Zhao Mushen¡¯s expression change slightly. The fierceness of Zhou Yuan¡¯s sword light, coupled with his foundation of 99 million Genesis Qi, made Zhao Mushen not dare to underestimate him. Zhao Mushen formed a seal with both hands at lightning speed. ¡°Ancestral Spirit Hand!¡± The golden light formation in the void behind Zhao Mushen suddenly flashed. Then, an ancient mottled hand stretched out and balled into a fist, like a fist of the gods. Wrapped in a terrifying storm of Genesis Qi, it collided with the sword light slashing down with devastating power. Rumble! The impact¡¯s violent shock waves were like tremendous thousand-foot waves. They swept across the void and battered the film of Genesis Qi outside the stone statue, causing it to ripple frantically. A disturbance of this scale made countless people¡¯s scalps go numb. The fierceness of the battle between Zhou Yuan and Zhao Mushen had exceeded the chaotic battle between the three kings before. Boom! The storm-like Genesis Qi shock waves shrouded Zhao Mushen. His face remained indifferent as he constantly made slashing motions with the golden halberd in his hand to forcibly destroy the many terrifying waves. However, at this moment, Zhao Mushen¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank because he saw a shadow flash across the void in front of him. A ghost-like figure was charging towards him. It was Zhou Yuan! Zhao Mushen had experienced Zhou Yuan¡¯s shadow-like body technique during their first meeting, but because Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had rocketed, the body technique was much faster and more bizarre than before. Zhou Yuan transformed into a shadow, and the sword orb in his hand turned into a three-foot azure sword wrapped in mighty sword qi. Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyes were piercing cold. He formed a seal with one hand, and a giant mottled hand stretched out again from the golden formation in the void behind him. The giant hand covered Zhao Mushen like an indestructible fortress. At the same time, Zhao Mushen swiftly changed his seal, preparing an even stronger counterattack. The sword orb in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand shot out and repeatedly bombarded the ancient mottled hand. But this only caused fierce vibrations and failed to blast the giant hand away. Zhao Mushen had clearly strengthened his defenses. At the same time, Zhou Yuan could sense that powerful Genesis Qi was accumulating in the giant hand. His eyes flashed, and he sped out and appeared just before the giant mottled fist. ¡°Let¡¯s see how hard your turtle shell is!¡± With a loud roar, the more than 90 million Genesis Qi stars in the void erupted with dazzling rays of light, and a silvery liquid seeped out from his body. In just a few breaths, the liquid transformed into majestic silver battle armor. Zhou Yuan¡¯s imposing aura continued to soar. Boom! He clenched his hand and slammed a punch at the ancient fist. His punch didn¡¯t contain any showy movements, but the tremendous force caused the void to shatter into countless fragments. Dong! Along with the deep rumble, a ripple spread out from the ancient giant fist. The void seemed to freeze for a moment. Then, the giant fist exploded into pieces. Zhao Mushen''s body was directly exposed. He, who had always remained calm and composed, revealed a look of horror. He didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to successfully break through his defense. But he didn¡¯t react slowly and drew back rapidly like a bolt of lightning. Chi! But when he moved, a silver-armored figure appeared behind him like a ghost. ¡°For that shuttle some time ago¡­I will return a fist to you!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out. Then, the iron fist covered in silver armor struck down like a bolt of silver lightning. It tore the void apart. Zhao Mushen''s face darkened. In the blink of an eye, three dazzling Divine Dwelling halos swiftly emerged behind him. Bang! The silver iron fist struck, and the three Divine Dwelling halos shattered in an instant. Rumble! Zhou Yuan''s fist slammed into Zhao Mushen¡¯s back, and a boom resounded throughout the void. Zhao Mushen¡¯s figure blasted down like a cannonball, crashing into the plain. Smoke and dust filled the area and even buried his body. There was utter silence under the starry sky. Everyone stared at the scene in shocked disbelief. In their memory, this was the first time that Zhao Mushen was defeated so tragically ever since he had become the no. 1 person of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling stage. Countless eyes immediately shifted to the slender silver-armored figure standing in the void. Everyone gulped, their eyes containing boundless awe. Chapter 982 Self-harm The blast tore a deep ditch into the ground, and at the end of the ditch, the ground¡¯s surface had cracked and showed signs of collapsing. Countless eyes gathered on the deep ditch, all wide with shock. After all, it was extremely rare to see Zhao Mushen in such a miserable state. But Zhou Yuan, who was standing in the void, didn¡¯t show a hint of joy because of this. His eyes under the silver armor were staring coldly at the collapsed ground. Although his attack had been fierce, it would be underestimating Zhao Mushen, the king of the Divine Dwelling stage, to think he could be gotten rid of so easily. Bang! At the end of the ditch, the ground suddenly broke apart as an arm stretched out. A figure slowly climbed up. Zhao Mushen¡¯s upper garment was torn, blood trickled down the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were particularly sinister. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and his body shook violently. The torn clothes crumbled to powder and scattered in the air, exposing his strong upper body. Light runes surfaced on his skin, resembling a layer of net covering his body. A pale yellow color also emerged on Zhao Mushen¡¯s skin, and an incredibly powerful force surged in his body. Evidently, Zhao Mushen had also practiced bodily Genesis techniques. Zhou Yuan carefully studied the mysterious net of light covering Zhao Mushen¡¯s skin. That net was precisely what had neutralized the majority of his attack. Zhao Mushen said indifferently, ¡°This is my Wanzu Region¡¯s Magnetic Xuan Net Technique, a top protection technique. This is why your sneak attack had little effect on me. ¡°Also, it''s not really a good idea to touch my body.¡± When his voice faded, he folded his hands together. Boom! A roar of Genesis Qi reverberated throughout the world. Zhou Yuan threw his head back and saw a tremendous golden light formation appear thousands of feet above him. The formation rotated swiftly, swallowing the Genesis Qi across the world, and it exuded a terrifying wave of energy. ¡°Little Saint Art, Unrestrained Golden Light!¡± The golden light formation unleashed a deafening roar before it erupted with a tremendous light beam. The beam shot down towards Zhou Yuan at an astonishing speed, like an enraged golden dragon. Boom! The golden light cracked the void where it passed, and swallowed the shattered fragments, boosting its power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. Zhao Mushen is indeed a heaven pride carefully cultivated by the Wanzu Region. The number of little Saint Arts he has practiced is endless. In terms of treatment, he is treated much better than me, an official disciple of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s supreme sovereign. Although his figure had disappeared, the golden beam didn¡¯t slow down and constantly wreaked havoc in the void. Zhou Yuan¡¯s shadowy face was overcast because he found that the golden light beam could accurately determine his location no matter how he evaded. He used a special method to mark my location when we made physical contact. Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. Zhao Mushen was really difficult to deal with. It was no wonder Zhao Mushen said it was not a good idea to touch his body. Boom! The dragon-like golden light beam constantly changed its direction in the void above, leaving behind streaks of light. From this scene, everyone knew that Zhao Mushen was infuriated and that he was counterattacking with a killing move to force Zhou Yuan to flee in embarrassment. Liu Qingshu and the other Wanzu Region disciples secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Previously, when Zhou Yuan had slammed a punch at Zhao Mushen, their hearts had jumped into their throats. Fortunately for them, Zhao Mushen was strong enough to withstand the attack and hadn¡¯t been wounded. He then took the opportunity to launch a counterattack, the Unrestrained Golden Light. This little Saint Art was well-known throughout the Wanzu Region, and Zhao Mushen had spent many years mastering it. Its power was extraordinary. Now that Zhou Yuan was marked, the Unrestrained Golden Light would fall on his head regardless. Zhao Mushen had to get revenge for what had happened before. Liu Qingshu gritted her teeth and said, ¡°You¡¯re dreaming if you think you can win against my senior brother!¡± In her heart, Zhao Mushen was almost invincible. In all these years, no matter what kind of strong enemy Zhao Mushen faced, they were all ultimately defeated at his feet and added to his famous reputation. This time, it would be no exception! On the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side, Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui, Lu Xiao and the others tensed up nervously, and their eyes unblinkingly followed the dragon-like golden beam. They rarely had the chance to interact with a powerful Genesis technique such as a little Saint Art. This rarity was enough to show that its power should absolutely not be underestimated. Chi! Zhou Yuan''s figure constantly transformed into shadows and sped to and fro, but as time passed, he found that the Unrestrained Golden Light was moving much more quickly. ¡°I can¡¯t dodge any longer,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, but he didn¡¯t seem panicked. Although he had constantly evaded the attacks, he had also been preparing for a counterattack. And now, it was almost time. You are not the only one with a little Saint Art. Zhou Yuan folded his hands together, and the Genesis Qi within his body pulsed and whizzed from him like a torrent. Boom! Thunder suddenly rumbled, and his figure suddenly flashed and appeared from the void. ¡°You¡¯re not going to run away anymore?¡± Zhao Mushen''s eyes were cold. Bang! The golden beam rumbled down with a strange vibrating buzz. Its sound waves had the power to shatter the Spirit. If it were someone with a weaker Spirit instead of Zhou Yuan, the golden light would have shattered their Spirit with its sound before it landed. The golden beam rapidly grew in front of Zhou Yuan. Just as the light beam was no more than one hundred feet away from the top of his head, Zhou Yuan flung his sleeve. A clap of thunder echoed in the sky. ¡°Yin Yang Lightning Rune!¡± Boom! A black-and-white white divine lightning bolt shot out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s sleeve, stunning the onlookers. The lightning sharply ascended with the wind and transformed into a tremendous black-and-white lightning dragon. Its roar tore apart the void. Rumble! The golden light beam repeatedly collided with the black-and-white lightning. The whole world seemed to still for a moment. Then, waves of light blanketed the world, violently quaking the void. In the void, the two little Saint Arts frantically collided hundreds of times. Each collision caused the sky to tremble and the ground to crack. But in the end, the two little Saint Arts couldn¡¯t do anything to each other, and as their Genesis Qi was exhausted, they gradually dispersed from the world. Zhao Mushen wrinkled his brows. He didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to withstand his Unrestrained Golden Light. This guy is really troublesome. It seems I have to be even fiercer. Zhao Mushen indifferently stared at Zhou Yuan standing in the void. Suddenly, he opened his mouth, and his golden halberd rose into the sky, hovering in the void like a golden python. It produced sharp booms. The golden halberd danced in the air at lightning speed, then suddenly blasted down. Zhao Mushen stretched out his hand as if to catch the golden halberd. ¡°No!¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes suddenly shrank. He knew that something was wrong when he saw the golden halberd speed straight down without slowing. Although he didn¡¯t know what Zhao Mushen was up to, Zhou Yuan instinctively waved his sleeve and shot out a stream of Genesis Qi to engulf the golden halberd. The corners of Zhao Mushen''s lips curved in a strange arc, and the golden halberd¡¯s descent sharply quickened. Puchi! The golden halberd ultimately pierced Zhao Mushen¡¯s chest under countless horrified gazes and nailed his body to the ground. A hideous wound appeared on his body, gushing out blood wildly. Zhao Mushen lay on the ground, letting the blood flow out. The light lotus between his brows flashed once again. Chapter 983 Heavenly Punishment Law Domain ¡°It''s the Reversal Art again!¡± ¡°How is that possible? Can that Reversal Art even transfer injuries caused by one¡¯s self?¡± ¡°I''ve never heard that the Wanzu Region¡¯s Reversal Art was so remarkable!¡± ¡°......¡± Under the starry sky, there was an explosion of whispers. Everyone was incredibly stunned. If the Reversal Art could indeed transfer self-inflicted injuries to the opponent, wouldn¡¯t that be too terrifying? It would have exceeded the capabilities of a little Saint Art. It¡¯s not even an exaggeration to say that it¡¯s a true Saint Genesis Art. While everybody was dumbstruck, Zhao Mushen, who was nailed to the ground by the golden halberd, fixed his eyes on Zhou Yuan in the distant void. His expression was strange. The final seal changed. Reversal Art, Rebirth. A mysterious wave seemed to ripple across the world. Zhou Yuan''s pupils shrank, and he increased his guard. Zhao Mushen¡¯s Reversal Art was very bizarre and terrifying. Wu Yao and Su Youwei, who were struck by the technique before, were still situated in the seal. Following the activation of the Reversal Art, Zhou Yuan waited a few moments and didn¡¯t notice any strange injuries appear on his body. All the gazes that were fixed on him turned puzzled. ¡°What happened? Did the Reversal Art fail?¡± When Wu Yao and Su Youwei were struck, their bodies were immediately injured. Urgh. Zhao Mushen spat out a mouthful of bloody foam and slowly pulled the golden halberd from his chest. He staggered to his feet, saying, ¡°You have overestimated the ability of the Reversal Art. Injuries caused by one¡¯s self can¡¯t be reversed onto the opponent.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. So injuries can¡¯t be transferred? Then why did you stab yourself with the golden halberd? Have you been beaten crazy? As though reading Zhou Yuan''s puzzled thoughts, Zhao Mushen smiled and said, ¡°Self-inflicted injuries can¡¯t be reversed...however, I didn¡¯t wound myself for this but for the seal.¡± Zhou Yuan''s face changed dramatically, and he spun around and swiftly turned into a shadow to flee. But the second his body moved, the void rippled, and a Sacred Lotus rapidly bloomed below him. His body suddenly froze. Hua! A commotion broke out in the crowd, and many people secretly shook their heads. Zhou Yuan has been tricked¡­ Now that he was caught in the seal, Zhou Yuan was like a fish on a chopping board, waiting for Zhao Mushen to slaughter him. It¡¯s a pity... Although Zhou Yuan has created a miracle, he will still be defeated in Zhao Mushen¡¯s hands. The man who had dominated Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling stage was indeed frightening... Wu Yao and Su Youwei were perfect examples! The Wanzu Region team led by Liu Qingshu burst with joy. The battle¡¯s outcome had basically been decided once the Sacred Lotus had imprisoned Zhou Yuan. ¡°I already said before that no one could shake my senior brother¡¯s status. So what if Zhou Yuan possesses a foundation of 99 million Genesis Qi stars? Didn¡¯t he also become a stepping stone?!¡± Liu Qiushui said with a satisfied look. Yuan Kun shook his head, a look of disappointment on his chubby face. In truth, he had hoped that Zhou Yuan could defeat Zhao Mushen. This wasn¡¯t because there was enmity between Zhao Mushen and him. He just didn¡¯t want Zhao Mushen to always be above him. A complicated expression crossed Jiu Gong¡¯s cold face. She had never thought that Zhou Yuan would be qualified to compete with Zhao Mushen. However, Zhou Yuan should be proud that he could force Zhao Mushen to such an embarrassed state during their battle. ¡°After today, you will be the first person below Zhao Mushen.¡± ... Mysterious light flashed across Zhao Mushen¡¯s body as his flesh and blood squirmed and slowly repaired itself. He then soared into the air and slowly drifted towards Zhou Yuan, who was imprisoned by the Sacred Lotus. Ten breaths later, he came to the Sacred Lotus and said with a faint smile, ¡°The Reversal Art is an extremely well-known little Saint Art from the Wanzu Region. But you probably don¡¯t know that my Genesis technique is called the Sacred Lotus Reversal Art and that our supreme sovereign had specially created it for me. This is why the Sacred Lotus has a wisp of the Law Domain stage¡¯s power. If you want to break it, you will have to use the strength of the Law Domain stage. Therefore, it¡¯s impossible for people below the Heavenly Sun stage to break free from its seal.¡± Heavenly Sun stage experts could rely on their strong Genesis Qi to forcibly break the seal. Of course, if Zhao Mushen were to use this technique once he reached the Heavenly Sun stage, it would likely make countless Heavenly Sun stage experts bow their heads. ¡°Next...I¡¯ll swallow your Blessing. Is there a reason for me to not accept what¡¯s delivered to me?¡± Zhao Mushen smiled, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of a smile in his eyes. Rather, they contained indifference and coldness. He folded his hands together. Buzz! Roars of Genesis Qi resounded through the world, and a mysterious gigantic beast-like silhouette gradually emerged behind Zhao Mushen. Evidently, he had intended to devour Zhou Yuan¡¯s Blessing since the beginning. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of it being poisonous, are you?¡± A whisper sounded. Zhao Mushen''s pupils suddenly constricted because he actually saw Zhou Yuan slowly lift his head while trapped in the Sacred Lotus Seal. Zhou Yuan mockingly looked him in the eye ¡°You''re not sealed?! How can that be!?¡± Even Zhao Mushen couldn¡¯t help but cry out in disbelief. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was exuding a mysterious power that distorted and twisted the void. It was as if the power was forming an invisible boundary smaller than a foot around his body. It seemed to be...a Law Domain that was less than half a foot long! It was just that this Law Domain lacked the earth-shaking power of a real Law Domain but still exuded the Law Domain¡¯s terrifying energy. ¡°The power of the Law Domain?!¡± Zhao Mushen finally noticed the mysterious energy being emitted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. He wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with that wave of energy because the Sacred Lotus in the center of his eyebrows contained the same power! But there was no way that his small amount of Law Domain power could form a small Law Domain similar to Zhou Yuan¡¯s half-foot Law Domain! The void around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body violently twisted and distorted. Then, it collapsed and formed a black hole. Unable to withstand the force, the Sacred Lotus beneath his body shattered little by little before it completely turned into light specks that filled the sky. Zhao Mushen¡¯s hair stood on end. Although he couldn¡¯t understand how Zhou Yuan could create a half-foot Law Domain, he could feel it fluctuating with a terrifyingly dangerous power. He decisively halted his Blessing and frantically retreated. Zhou Yuan had deliberately lured him closer to him! ¡°Since you have come, why are you leaving?¡± Zhou Yuan slightly smiled and took a large step forward. His figure vanished and reappeared before Zhao Mushen. He opened his hand and said softly, ¡°You treated me to a taste of your Sacred Lotus Seal, so I should return the favor. You should also try my old friend who has been lying unused for a long time.¡± He whirled his hand, and the half-foot Law Domain extended from Zhou Yuan''s head and shrouded Zhao Mushen. At the same time, there was a whisper. ¡°Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune¡­ Chapter 984 Each Show Remarkable Ability When the low murmured voice sounded, the half-foot area around Zhou Yuan violently twisted, and an indescribable force of terror raged out. Bang! The void collapsed in an instant as though a black hole had formed. That force was no longer an ordinary Genesis Qi power, but a power that far surpassed the Divine Dwellings stage. It was the power of the Law Domain! Although Zhou Yuan''s half-foot Law Domain was neither of the Law Domain nor the Divine Dwelling stage, it contained an unimaginable, destructive and devastating power. Gazing at the collapsed void around Zhao Mushen, Zhou Yuan fell into a trance-like state. After the fiercest battle that had ever happened in Cangxuan Heaven, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp had appeared and taken away the three Saint Runes in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. In the end, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp had turned to fragments and scattered, and the four Cangxuan Saint Runes had also disappeared with it. Zhou Yuan thought he would never see them again, but when he opened up the ninth Divine Dwelling, he finally saw them again. That¡¯s right...the four Cangxuan Saint Runes hadn¡¯t disappeared but were concealed in his unopened ninth Divine Dwelling without him realizing. Zhou Yuan took a closer look at the inside of his Divine Dwellings. All Divine Dwellings were completely connected, and they were vast, with more than 90 million Genesis Qi stars shining brightly in the air, each containing tremendous Genesis Qi. The four ancient Saint Runes were gathered together in the center of the Divine Dwellings, forming a slowly rotating sphere of light. As the sphere rotated, the Genesis Qi within the Divine Dwellings surged and roared. ¡°Old friends, it''s been a long time...¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan''s lips curved up in a strange arc. He was momentarily dumbstruck seeing the four Saint Runes when he had opened up the ninth Divine Dwelling because he had never thought there would be such an amazing gift in the ninth Divine Dwelling, which he had a lot of trouble connecting to his other Divine Dwellings. Of course, it was because of the runes¡¯ existence that Zhou Yuan had so much difficulty connecting the ninth Divine Dwelling. Despite this, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t angry or annoyed. Instead, he was overjoyed and excited. As their former owner, he knew of the four Saint Runes¡¯ mysteriousness better than anyone else. He knew they would undoubtedly become his strongest trump cards. His emotions surged wildly in his heart, but in the outside world, it only lasted a moment. Although the half-foot Law Domain seemed extremely rough, it was impossible for someone of the Divine Dwelling stage to withstand the Law Domain¡¯s power, no matter how rudimentary it was. The terrifying power gushing over from every direction almost suffocated Zhao Mushen, and the Genesis Qi within his body fell into disorder. Within a Law Domain, the Law Domain¡¯s owner of the Law Domain was the ultimate ruler. Although Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t achieve ultimate control like how he controlled his Divine Dwellings, he could still disturb the Genesis Qi within his opponent¡¯s body. Zhao Mushen felt a strong aura of death. It was the first time he had felt this since reaching the Divine Dwelling stage. ¡°Law Domain Vortex!¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes grew more aggressive and fierce. He had no intention of showing mercy because he knew that the slightest carelessness could lead to him being struck by a terrifying counterattack when facing a powerful enemy like Zhao Mushen. Buzz! The Law Domain vibrated, mobilizing an indescribable Genesis Qi force as it formed a vortex and twisted towards Zhao Mushen. This was the only thing that Zhou Yuan could control. After all, given his current strength, it was impossible to bring out the real power of the half-foot Law Domain. As Zhao Mushen watched the vortex swirling towards him, his hairs stood up. He gritted his teeth, and subtle rays of light burst from his chest, forming an extremely ancient and complicated curse rune. Boom! The Genesis Qi vortex shrank. Zhao Mushen¡¯s body seemed to explode to pieces and vanish. It was completely empty within the Law Domain, and only Zhou Yuan stood tall. Zhao Mushen''s body seemed to have turned into nothingness¡­ There was utter silence under the starry sky. Countless people stared at that scene in incomparably shocked disbelief. Zhao Mushen was destroyed to the point that not even a single bone of his body remained? Liu Qingshu stood frozen, and the faces of the other people from the Wanzu Region were ashen. Zhao Mushen¡¯s death would no doubt be a huge loss to the Wanzu Region. Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the others couldn¡¯t help but gulp. Wasn¡¯t Zhou Yuan¡¯s counterattack too fierce? ... Outside the Fallen Abyss. In the void above, the many Law Domain experts also fell into a moment of silence, staring puzzledly at the light mirror. They had a great understanding of Law Domains, and they of course realized that there was indeed a very primitive Law Domain power contained in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Law Domain. Zhou Yuan is just at the Divine Dwelling stage...how can he possess a Law Domain? Even if his Law Domain is rough and primitive, it is still a Law Domain, and its ultimate power should only be controlled by Law Domain experts! Could it be some kind of Saint treasure? But they had never heard of any Saint treasure that could create a half-foot Law Domain¡­ Some shifted their gazes to Chi Jing. But her face didn¡¯t ripple, making it impossible for them to know what she was thinking. Zhao Xiansun¡¯s eyelids twitched repeatedly as he tried to conceal his anger. After all, the situation was completely different to his expectation now that the situation had turned to this. He looked at Chi Jing, saying coldly, ¡°It seems that your Tianyuan Region has prepared a lot of good things for that boy to win.¡± He undoubtedly thought that the half-foot Law Domain treasure was the Tianyuan Region¡¯s gift to Zhou Yuan. Chi Jing continued to stare at the light mirror with an indifferent expression on her jade-like face, but waves were also surging in her heart. Even she didn¡¯t know that Zhou Yuan possessed such a trump card. It seems my junior brother still has many secrets, she thought to herself, then shifted her attention to Zhao Xiansun. She said sarcastically, ¡°We still can¡¯t be compared to the Wanzu Region. You even gave away the Divine Death Substitute Curse, which supreme sovereign Wan Zu should have personally developed, isn¡¯t that right? How generous! I think even Nascent Source stage experts would only be rewarded with that thing after they performed a great service for the Wanzu Region, isn¡¯t that right?¡± The corners of Zhao Xiansun¡¯s mouth twitched visibly, and he said sinisterly, ¡°No matter how many treasures you have prepared for that boy, my Wanzu Region will still win the nine regions tournament!¡± Chi Jing snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t say it so confidently. You might lose face again.¡± Although she said those words, her heart sank slightly because she saw that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Law Domain vortex had failed to kill Zhao Mushen and had allowed Zhao Mushen to activate the Divine Death Substitute Curse at the last critical moment. This was a technique that only supreme sovereign Wan Zu could practice. And after this, Zhao Mushen would no doubt keep at least half a foot away from Zhou Yuan. Moreover, although Zhao Xiansun was infuriated, he still made a solemn vow that they would win, which suggested that Zhao Mushen still had one last trump card to turn the situation around. I hope Zhou Yuan can stop him. Otherwise, all his efforts will go to waste. ... Above the plain. Zhou Yuan scanned the empty Law Domain and muttered, ¡°Ran away?¡± His eyes flashed with disappointment. He had waited for this opportunity for a long time, but he had failed in the end. Zhao Mushen was very tricky to deal with. His half-foot Law Domain gradually faded. It required too much Genesis Qi to activate the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune, so even though Zhou Yuan possessed a foundation of more than 90 million Genesis Qi, he could only activate it once in a period of time. Zhou Yuan lowered his head, peering at the ground in the distance. The void suddenly rippled, and a sinister-looking figure slowly strode out. It was Zhao Mushen. As their gazes collided, sparks sputtered out and almost ignited the air. Zhao Mushen didn¡¯t utter a word and sat down directly. The Genesis Qi across the world pulsed violently, and a mysterious monster-like silhouette emerged behind him again. The gigantic monster gradually grew clearer, and an inexplicable oppressive force pervaded the world. It was Zhao Mushen¡¯s Taotie Blessing. Zhou Yuan studied the mysterious monster¡¯s silhouette for a moment, and his brows scrunched together in a frown. For some reason, the Blessing felt familiar. That¡­ Chapter 985 Zhao Mushens last resor Zhou Yuan scanned the mysterious monster silhouette and somehow felt that it resembled Tuntun after Tuntun¡¯s transformation. This thought flashed to his mind, and he was a little dumbfounded. He shook his head to suppress the thought and fixed Zhao Mushen with a cold stare. Zhao Mushen was an enemy more difficult to deal with than he had imagined. Even a trump card like the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune had failed to get rid of Zhao Mushen. But he guessed that Zhao Mushen must have performed an incredibly rare and powerful defensive technique. Otherwise, with Zhao Mushen¡¯s strength alone, it would have been impossible to escape from the Law Domain vortex. ¡°What else do you have?¡± Zhou Yuan''s cold gaze was piercing, and he wasn¡¯t the least bit afraid. Rather, his blood was bubbling. He had always longed for a battle of this level where he could distinctly feel his strength progressing little by little. Zhao Mushen¡¯s gaze was similarly chilly as he stared at Zhou Yuan. If he hadn¡¯t activated the Divine Death Substitute Curse at the critical moment, he would have likely died then. His heart ached at the thought of the Divine Death Substitute Curse. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu had gifted him that treasure, and it could help him avoid a situation with the danger of death. It could only be used once because it would vanish immediately afterwards. If he wanted to receive another divine curse, he would most likely need to win the nine regions tournament first. Zhao Mushen had never felt the aura of death ever since reaching the Divine Dwelling stage. But this time, even he felt a chill down his spine during that moment of instant annihilation. Watching Zhou Yuan soar into the air, Zhao Mushen¡¯s face darkened. He hadn¡¯t expected the guy whom he had chased like a mouse to push him to this state. But it should end here. Zhao Mushen sat down cross-legged, his hands folding into a seal with lightning speed. Mighty and vast Genesis Qi gushed from his body, turning into a Genesis Qi light shield that enveloped him. Puchi! He bit the tip of his tongue, and blood squirted out. He drew multiple fine blood-red runes in the void with his blood-stained fingers. The runes landed on the light shield and flowed around like fish, making the shield appear particularly deep. Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows. Zhao Mushen had created a turtle shell; did he intend to withstand his attacks? This was not a wise choice. Boom! The shield rippled under the berserk bombardment. Zhou Yuan manipulated the powerful Genesis Qi to strike again and again. He knew that the shield would shatter sooner or later if he continued his onslaught. After all, he had an advantage in the strength of his Genesis Qi. Zhao Mushen had unexpectedly given up attacking and formed a light shield with Genesis Qi. Did he think he could withstand my attacks with that thing alone? What is this guy trying to do? Within the shield, Zhao Mushen abruptly looked up at Zhou Yuan¡¯s fierce bombardment. With an indifferent face, he folded his hands together, and his voice rang out, ¡°Swallow and transform!¡± The moment his voice faded, Zhou Yuan immediately sensed two extremely powerful waves of Genesis Qi whizz across the air and shoot through the Genesis Qi light shield. The shield suddenly erupted with a thousand rays of light, and it resembled a crystal shield from afar. Following the addition of these two powerful Genesis Qis, Zhou Yuan¡¯s bombardment suddenly grew weaker, and the shield rippled less frequently. Such a change surprised Zhou Yuan. Where did these two powerful waves of Genesis Qi come from? They clearly didn¡¯t belong to Zhao Mushen. But is there anyone else here? Zhou Yuan''s heart trembled. He abruptly turned his head toward where Wu Yao and Su Youwei were sealed, and his pupils rapidly shrank. He was shocked to see that the two Sacred Lotuses under them were slowly rotating, steadily drawing out powerful Genesis Qi from the two women¡¯s bodies and transferring it to the Genesis Qi shield around Zhao Mushen. Zhao Mushen was using the Genesis Qi within their bodies to fortify his defense! This meant the Genesis Qi light shield had combined three people¡¯s power! As increasing amounts of Genesis Qi were drawn from the two women, the Sacred Lotuses below them seemed to reach their limits, and the lotuses burst apart into specks of light. The two women finally escaped, but their beautiful faces were deathly pale as they weakly controlled the limited Genesis Qi in their bodies to float down from the sky. Wu Yao¡¯s phoenix eyes were icy, and her entire body exuded a chilly aura that made people¡¯s hearts pound with fear. She fiercely stared at Zhao Mushen with pure hatred. Su Youwei didn¡¯t look much better. If Su Youwei and Wu Yao were to fight head-on against Zhao Mushen, even if Zhao Mushen won in the end, he would have had to pay a heavy price to achieve victory. But who would have thought that Zhao Mushen would have schemed against them both and sealed them with his Reversal Art? However, Zhao Mushen was also surprised that he had successfully sealed them in the Sacred Lotuses. After that day, the two women would no doubt be on guard against him at all times and might even practice special Genesis arts to counter him in preparation for another battle in the future. There was no way that the future battle would be as relaxed as it was for Zhao Mushen that day. Zhou Yuan glanced at the two women from afar, then turned his gaze to Zhao Musan, who was within the bright crystal-like Genesis Qi light shield. Although he didn¡¯t quite understand why Zhao Mushen would put so much effort into building such an indestructible turtle shell, he knew that this was the beginning of Zhao Musen¡¯s last resort. ¡°What do you actually want to do?¡± Zhou Yuan looked at Zhao Mushen pensively and no longer wasted Genesis Qi to strike the light shield because it would no doubt consume a huge amount of his strength to break it apart. After all, the Genesis Qi shield combined the powers of Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei. Zhao Mushen lifted his head and fiercely stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are pretty good to have forced me to this point. Everyone underestimated you. But unfortunately, I will still be the one to have the last laugh! Because, compared to me, you are still lacking!¡± Zhao Mushen performed a seal with lightning speed, then pressed his hands against the ground. Suddenly, the Taotie Blessing behind him unleashed a thunderous roar and transformed into a black vortex with terrifying force similar to a black hole. The ground quaked. Wisps of Alpha Spiritium broke through the ground from the statue¡¯s depths, and they were all swallowed into the black vortex. Countless Genesis Qi stars emerged in the void behind Zhao Mushen and gradually showed signs of fusing together. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression abruptly changed, and countless gasps of astonishment rang out under the starry sky. Chapter 986 Breakthrough? When the countless Genesis Qi stars in the void behind Zhao Mushen began to show signs of fusing, a stunned look crossed everybody¡¯s faces, and it was obvious that waves were set off in their hearts. No one had thought that Zhao Mushen¡¯s last resort was to attack the Heavenly Sun stage directly! Once he succeeded, he would be the only Heavenly Sun stage expert in the Fallen Abyss, which meant that no means could be used to bridge the gap in cultivation level. The lowest Genesis Qi foundation of the Heavenly Sun stage was still a Heavenly Sun, which was equivalent to 100 million Genesis Qi stars! But given Zhao Mushen¡¯s background, if he were to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage, his Heavenly Sun''s rank surely wouldn¡¯t be ordinary. He could easily reach the level of the silver-snow Heavenly Sun, purple-gold Heavenly Sun or even the glass Heavenly Sun. He had a lot of confidence in this. Even if Zhao Mushen had previously suffered from Zhou Yuan¡¯s counterattacks, at this moment, even Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t dare to underestimate him, the person who had dominated the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling stage for many years. And once Zhao Mushen stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage, it would also decide the tournament¡¯s outcome. At that time, no matter what other heaven-defying means Zhou Yuan possessed, it would be impossible for him to reverse the situation. Wang Xi, Li Tongshen, Yuan Kun, and Jiu Gong, the various regions¡¯ top heaven prides, also stared at the happenings with complex expressions. Zhao Mushen is really difficult to surpass. On the Wanzu Region¡¯s side, many members held their breath in anticipation, and Liu Qingshu¡¯s cheeks flushed with pride. From Zhao Mushen¡¯s performance, he was indeed worthy of being called the king of the Divine Dwelling stage. ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you have forced my senior brother this far, I admit that we have underestimated you. But unfortunately for you, there is only one first place in the nine regions tournament, no matter how outstanding you are!¡± Entranced, Liu Qingshu stared at Zhao Mushen¡¯s figure. Once Zhao Mushen successfully broke through, he would leave the Divine Dwelling stage and no doubt set off waves within Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun List. It would undoubtedly be the start of a new legend of a king. On the plain destroyed by the great battle, Wu Yao and Su Youwei tightly pursed their lips. Amongst Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling stage experts, only they could catch up to Zhao Mushen and make a breakthrough to the Heavenly Sun stage. Unfortunately, one wrong move had exhausted their bodies of Genesis Qi, and it was impossible for them to break through forcefully at the moment. Moreover, they didn¡¯t have Zhao Mushen¡¯s ability to devour enough Alpha Spiritium directly from the stone statue¡¯s depths. In the void above the Fallen Abyss. A look of surprise crossed the Law Domain experts¡¯ faces. Zhao Mushen was indeed courageous. After all, he was bound to face a lot of unpredictable changes while breaking through on the stone statue, and if something went wrong, there would be huge risks. However, Zhao Mushen had to have been prepared long ago. The light shield around him had gathered not only his Genesis Qi but also Su Youwei¡¯s and Wu Yao¡¯s. Their combined strength was impossible for Zhou Yuan to destroy even if he exhausted all his strength. His barrier was a true iron turtle shell. Zhao Xiansun''s expression slightly softened, and he said indifferently, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, if your Tianyuan Region wins second place in the nine regions tournament, it¡¯s still much better compared to the previous years when you came last. The Tianyuan Region has improved a lot, and it can already be considered a success.¡± Chi Jing glared at him. ¡°You are happy too early. Aren¡¯t you afraid of accidents happening during Zhao Mushen¡¯s breakthrough and that he might die on the spot?¡± Zhao Xiansun chuckled, ¡°You really underestimate Zhao Mushen¡¯s background. His breakthrough will no doubt succeed.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s face darkened, and she didn¡¯t want to see Zhao Xiansun¡¯s smug, smiling face anymore. She shifted her gaze to the light mirror and saw that the Genesis Qi shield around Zhao Mushen¡¯s body had grown brighter and that his Genesis Qi stars had begun to fuse. As Zhao Xiansun had said, Zhao Mushen¡¯s foundation and background were too deep. He had long possessed the qualifications to break through, but he had repeatedly delayed it till this moment. The Wanzu Region could be said to have put in great efforts to keep the title of no. 1 of the nine regions. Given the current situation, Zhou Yuan''s only chance of turning the situation around was to prevent Zhao Mushen''s breakthrough. Otherwise, once the breakthrough succeeded, any other means would be meaningless. It would be impossible to touch the title of no. 1 of the nine regions then. But she knew how difficult it was to destroy the Genesis Qi shield formed from the powers of Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei. This was the same as asking Zhou Yuan to fight against three top heaven prides at once. ¡°Zhou Yuan, everything depends on you now,¡± Chi Jing muttered to herself. Boom! In the void, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was solemn and cold, and Genesis Qi was frantically pulsing around his body. With the flick of his sleeve, he out sent a black-and-white lightning bolt. It rumbled forth like a divine dragon and pounded the light shield. The light shield rippled violently but eventually swallowed even Zhou Yuan¡¯s Yin Yang Lightning Rune. Zhou Yuan hovered in the air and stopped his pointless attacks. He knew that if even a little Saint Art had little effect, any other attacks would just waste Genesis Qi. ¡°I must stop him from breaking through.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face had a cloudy expression. How could it be so easy to destroy Zhao Mushen¡¯s Genesis Qi light barrier? ¡°Even my Genesis Qi foundation of 99.9 million isn¡¯t strong enough.¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed. Then, he gritted his teeth. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll give you some more power!¡± Boom! He descended from the sky and slammed onto the plain, the ground cracking at his feet. He folded his hands together in a seal. Earth Saint Rune! he thundered in his heart. The Earth Saint Rune within his Divine Dwelling immediately erupted with rays of dazzling light. Buzz! A tremendous invisible ripple swept out from Zhou Yuan''s feet. Rumble! The entire incomparably huge stone statue seemed to quiver violently. Then, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed drastically. He sensed a terrifying gush of Genesis Qi rushing up from the depths of the ground and flooding into his body. The qi was indescribably pure, and it contained vast, tremendous power. ¡°¡± It''s the power from the remains in the statue¡¯s depths! Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled. The power was much stronger than the power released by the remains in the seventh stone statue. It was obvious that the remains within this stone statue belonged to someone who was a Law Domain expert before death! Boom! The torrent-like Genesis Qi raged in his body. He didn¡¯t dare to be careless. He guided the majestic Genesis Qi into his Divine Dwellings, causing his Divine Dwellings to tremble violently as if monstrous waves were flooding them. More than 90 million Genesis Qi stars flickered frantically, swallowing the torrent of Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan''s skin began to crack and seep blood. It seemed his whole body was about to rupture. It was then that the green pendant around his neck suddenly erupted with terrifying vitality. It poured into his body and gradually halted his skin¡¯s rupturing. It was the Life Quartz that the grand elder Mu Ni had gifted Zhou Yuan! Blood vessels appeared within the whites of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as his face contorted fiercely. He couldn¡¯t care too much about the blood that soaked his body, and he instead shifted his mind inward onto his Divine Dwellings and frantically absorbed the pure and vast Genesis Qi. Zhao Mushen wanted to make a breakthrough. But Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t willingly give up. Although it would take him some time to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage with his present foundation, this didn¡¯t mean he had exhausted his abilities. He still had other means! And that was to further increase his Genesis Qi foundation! And to truly break the limit of 100 million! Zhou Yuan had a feeling that he could even crushingly defeat the combined Genesis Qi of Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei once he broke through that limit! Zhou Yuan fixed his bloodshot eyes on Zhao Mushen inside the Genesis Qi light shield in the distance, and his face twisted into a fierce and sinister expression. Chapter 987 Past One Hundred Million! Wu Yao and Su Youwei, who were also on the plain with him, didn''t know what Zhou Yuan was planning. However, they could sense that his Genesis Qi was surging again. The Genesis Qi stars filling the sky behind him began to increase again at a slow speed! Both women''s stunning faces changed uncontrollably as they guessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s plan. He wants to break the limit and increase his Genesis Qi foundation to over 100 million?! What a bold, crazy plan! Hua! Everyone¡¯s eyes finally fell on the growing number of Genesis Qi stars, and shock erupted in the audience. The onlookers finally realized Zhou Yuan''s intention, and they were dumbstruck with horror. In their view, Zhou Yuan¡¯s crazy plan was more scalp-numbing than Zhao Mushen attempting to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage. Throughout Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s history, rarely had anyone broken the Divine Dwelling stage limit and achieved 100 million Genesis Qi stars. As a result, many people thought the Genesis Qi foundation in the Divine Dwelling stage could never exceed 100 million. But Zhou Yuan was challenging the impossible under countless gazes! He¡¯s crazy. This was everyone¡¯s thought. Even Wang Xi, Li Tongshen, Jiu Gong, and Yuan Kun, the top heaven prides, looked amazed. Everyone stared at the void behind Zhou Yuan. They didn¡¯t particularly care whether Zhao Mushen could break through, because even if he did and became a glass Heavenly Sun expert, in many people¡¯s view, it wasn¡¯t as astonishing as Zhou Yuan surpassing the Divine Dwelling stage¡¯s limit of 100 million stars. The glass Heavenly Sun was indeed stunning and dazzling, but it wasn¡¯t unique in this world. On the other hand, it was incredibly rare to see someone breaking the 100 million limit in the Divine Dwelling stage, as it was a feat only existing in legends. Liu Qingshu gritted her teeth, and her expression changed. ¡°He¡¯s just pleasing the crowd!¡± She didn''t believe that Zhou Yuan could accomplish this legendary feat! In her view, Zhou Yuan just wanted to take away the brilliance that belonged to Zhao Mushen by challenging the limit. But this method was ridiculous, and everybody would laugh at Zhou Yuan''s arrogance when he fails! Under the close watch of countless blazing gazes, the void behind Zhou Yuan vibrated, and the number of Genesis Qi stars began to grow. The increase wasn¡¯t rapid, but it grew at a slow and firm rate. The refinement of each and every Genesis Qi star drew gasps of astonishments from throughout the world. Even the veins on Zhao Mushen¡¯s forehead were visibly throbbing. Although he didn¡¯t turn his head once, he cast sidelong glances through the light shield towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. ¡°That bastard.¡± Zhao Mushen clenched his fists, then quickly retracted his gaze. I mustn¡¯t be distracted. Otherwise, I will fall into Zhou Yuan¡¯s scheme. That guy just wants to use this trick to make my breakthrough fail! How would it be that easy to break the limit of 100 million?! As long as he quietly completed his breakthrough, what was happening on Zhou Yuan¡¯s side would be nothing more but a ridiculous show. ¡°Seven thousand! ¡°Eight thousand five hundred! ¡°Nine thousand three hundred!¡± Astonished exclamations rang out under the starry sky as countless shocked eyes stared at the dazzling Genesis Qi stars in the void behind Zhou Yuan. Finally, amidst the trembling voices, the Genesis Qi stars rose to 9,999. Zhou Yuan''s foundation was only one step away from breaking the 100 million limit! Everyone shuddered at the sight. Even the many Law Domain experts outside the Fallen Abyss wore solemn expressions on their faces. For people of their level, juniors of the Divine Dwelling stage were like children to them, and it was rare for their actions to attract their real attention. But it was different this time. Even these Law Domain experts couldn¡¯t break the 100 million level at the Divine Dwelling stage in the past. If Zhou Yuan succeeded, he would have done enough for them to remember him. And under countless watchful gazes, just when Zhou Yuan was one Genesis Qi star away from 100 million, the increase stagnated. It seemed Zhou Yuan still couldn¡¯t pass the limit, regardless of the Genesis Qi¡¯s strength and majesty as it poured into his body. Countless people secretly sighed, but it wasn¡¯t clear whether it was from disappointment or relief. The one seemingly insignificant Genesis Qi star formed a barrier that was enough to make people feel despair. Perhaps there had also been remarkable heaven prides obstructed by one Genesis Qi star in the past. Zhou Yuan''s face also became extremely distorted. He completely focused his mind on his Divine Dwellings. Suddenly, earth-shaking movements sounded from within his Divine Dwelling. The boundless Genesis Qi seemed to have turned into a monstrous flood that caused havoc in the Divine Dwellings. It completely submerged them, causing the Divine Dwellings to no longer be able to withstand the Genesis Qi, and they began to produce faint cracking noises. An intense pain spread throughout Zhou Yuan''s body and almost tore him apart. Zhou Yuan''s mind was still solely focused on the 99.9 million Genesis Qi stars suspended within his Divine Dwellings. He was unwilling to be obstructed at the last step! But no matter how he activated his Genesis Qi, he still failed to refine the last Genesis Qi star. The feeling was similar to an invisible chain restricting the Divine Dwelling¡¯s limit. The restriction could no longer simply be broken with abundant Genesis Qi. ¡°I won¡¯t accept this!¡± Zhou Yuan''s growl echoed throughout the Divine Dwellings. ¡°Give me the last star!¡± His roar contained incomparable determination and faith, and it was during that roar that the light sphere formed from the four Saint Runes seemed to be drawn by some kind of force. It began to vibrate within the Divine Dwellings. The four Saint Runes suddenly bloomed with a mysterious brilliance. Even the mysterious and unpredictable fourth Saint Rune began to tremble. The light sphere pulsed with ripples of sacred light. All the Divine Dwellings shook violently, as though the sacred light was fiercely colliding with some invisible restriction. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t see the mysterious collision, but he felt that he had to put all hope on the sacred light sphere if he wanted to refine the last Genesis Qi star! ¡°Saint Runes, help me!¡± Zhou Yuan yelled in his heart. He knew that the four Saint Runes born from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp were incredibly ancient and were filled with intelligence. And in terms of grade, even the four ancient Genesis Runes within the Four Spirits Origin Tower couldn''t compare to it. As though the runes sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s cry for help, the light sphere suddenly vibrated even more fiercely while the four Saint Runes erupted with sacred light. The Divine Dwellings shook incessantly, and the two sides seemed to have become deadlocked. But in truth, Zhou Yuan was a little worried because the inside of his Divine Dwelling was too chaotic. If this continued, his Divine Dwellings could shatter any moment, which would be a real disaster for him! ¡°Four Saint Runes, hang in there!¡± While Zhou Yuan was praying incessantly, the light sphere¡¯s vibration suddenly came to a halt. But the stillness only lasted for a moment before a dazzling ray of light burst from the Saint Rune sphere, hiding all movements. The berserk Genesis Qi raging like a flood in the Divine Dwellings also gradually subsided. Zhou Yuan stared intently at the light sphere, wondering if it was an illusion, because he vaguely sensed that something seemed to be spinning inside it. Bang! Wrapped in mysterious force, the light sphere fiercely pounded the space above the Divine Dwellings. It clearly struck nothing, but a faint crackling noise sounded. The inside of the Divine Dwelling seemed to freeze. Endless light poured down, and the flood-like Genesis Qi began to evaporate, turning into wisps of steam. A glimmer of light finally blossomed above the 99.99 million Genesis Qi stars. It erupted in a blaze of light. Chapter 988 One kick The monstrous flood in the Divine Dwellings subsided like the end of a storm. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s attention wasn¡¯t on that but on the brightest Genesis Qi star refined in his Divine Dwellings. The star was dazzling, shining and far surpassing the other Genesis Qi stars. 100 million! Even Zhou Yuan was filled with boundless joy seeing 100 million twinkling Genesis Qi stars before him. He did it! He had truly broken the Divine Dwelling stage¡¯s limit! Most importantly, the Saint Runes could only temporarily increase the strength of one¡¯s Genesis Qi, yet the 100 million Genesis Qi stars flickering brightly showed no sign of disappearing. In other words, even if the Earth Saint Rune dissipated, Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi would remain at the same level and wouldn''t return to the 93 million he had in the past. Therefore, Zhou Yuan''s foundation had reached 100 million! One hundred million Genesis Qi stars flashed in the sky as light poured down overwhelmingly. Under that flowing light, Zhou Yuan could sense that his Divine Dwellings had grown. Moreover, there was a faint, glassy reflection of light at the end of his Divine Dwellings. All his Divine Dwellings had become more vast and tough. ¡°It¡¯s a glass crystal wall?¡± Zhou Yuan was surprised to see the glint of glassy light at the boundary of his Divine Dwellings. Only when a glass Heavenly Sun opened up would a glassy light bloom in the Divine Dwellings. A Divine Dwelling with a glass crystal wall could accommodate greater amounts of Genesis Qi, and it could also speed up one¡¯s cultivation of Genesis Qi. Not only that, the glass crystal wall had the ability to purify and obstruct any external Genesis Qi attempting to break into the Divine Dwellings to create trouble. In a sense, Divine Dwellings with a glass crystal wall could protect themselves better. It was just that one must reach the Heavenly Sun stage and refine a glass Heavenly Sun to possess a glass crystal wall. So why would it appear in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwellings? Although his Genesis Qi stars had risen to 100 million, he could feel that he was still at the pinnacle of the Divine Dwelling stage. Otherwise, the millions of Genesis Qi stars would have formed a Heavenly Sun already. Although puzzled, Zhou Yuan didn''t care too much because he had broken the limits of the Divine Dwelling stage. It wasn''t weird for some strange matters to occur. Zhou Yuan refocused his mind on the Saint Rune light sphere suspended inside his Divine Dwelling and whispered, ¡°Thank you.¡± The four Saint Runes undoubtedly played a critical role in breaking the limit since ordinary objects couldn''t collide with that invisible barrier. Buzz! The light sphere released a ray of light as though in response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s thanks. Zhou Yuan smiled and withdrew his mind from the Divine Dwellings. He stood quietly on the plain, his eyes slightly closed. The countless Genesis Qi stars flickering in the void behind him had vanished unknowingly, and even the mighty Genesis Qi constantly emitted from his body had turned to nothing. He stood there calmly and without a ripple of emotion, just like an ordinary person. Countless puzzled and stunned gazes gathered on him. ¡°What happened? Why has all the Genesis Qi disappeared?¡± ¡°There isn¡¯t the slightest wave of energy around. What''s going on?¡± ¡°Did he fail and encounter an adverse reaction that caused his Genesis Qi to disperse completely?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible. After all, it isn¡¯t that easy to push the limits.¡± Countless whispering voices sounded as many people closely watched Zhou Yuan. They thought Zhou Yuan must have failed, and they had never imagined that Zhou Yuan would succeed. Wang Xi, Li Tongshen, Jiu Gong and Yuan Kun, the top heaven prides, also wore bewildered looks. They similarly couldn''t perceive what exactly had happened because even they had never dared to dream about breaking the limits. On the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side, Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others tensed up nervously, and their faces scrunched up in worry. They understood that if Zhou Yuan succeeded, he would no doubt become Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s most dazzling new star. But if he failed, it would definitely lead to mockery from jealous people. ¡°Did he fail or succeed?¡± A deep frown creased Wu Yao¡¯s brows, and her beautiful face changed indefinitely. Even she herself didn''t know whether she hoped for Zhou Yuan to succeed or fail. Su Youwei clenched her fists as she stared fixedly at the slender, motionless figure in the distance and whispered, ¡°He definitely succeeded.¡± Her voice was incomparably firm. Many people from the Zixiao Region had said that she was the top heaven pride, but deep down, she knew that Zhou Yuan was the truly gifted one. He was born with the Sacred Dragon Blessing, and even if it was taken away, he changed himself a little and soared once again. If even he couldn''t push past the limit of the Divine Dwelling stage, no one else could. Amidst these gazes, Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes. His eyes turned an azure-golden color, and his pupils became similar to a dragon¡¯s inverted pupil. An indescribable oppressive aura spread from him, causing the void itself to shake. It was a strange phenomenon caused by the powerful World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi in his body. Zhou Yuan clenched his hands lightly. The space around his fist trembled, forming cracks. A Genesis Qi that was so powerful that it shocked even him was circulating within his body. The Genesis Qi was many times stronger than the previous 99 million Genesis Qi stars. His foundation had only increased by 10,000, but there was a drastic difference in strength. Under countless gazes, Zhou Yuan stretched his back and took a large step forward. With this step, he immediately appeared outside Zhao Mushen¡¯s Genesis Qi light shield as though he had teleported. Zhao Mushen stared intently at Zhou Yuan, his eyes flashing. Zhou Yuan, stop pretending. It is already impressive to win second place in the nine regions tournament. But before Zhao Mushen uttered a word, Zhou Yuan lifted his hand and stretched it through the light shield with a smile. He applied a little force and, like tearing down a piece of paper, easily tore the Genesis Qi shield that combined the powers of Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei The world quietened, and even the winds seemed to freeze. Zhao Mushen''s voice was stuck in his throat. Countless eyes were filled with great shock. The fact that Zhou Yuan could easily tear apart the Genesis Qi light shield of three top Divine Dwelling experts was already enough to demonstrate everything. Even the eyes of Wang Xi, Li Tongshen and the others were wide with disbelief. Zhao Mushen stared dumbstruck at Zhou Yuan as Zhou Yuan strode towards him with a mocking smile. ¡°Your breakthrough isn¡¯t complete yet?¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile, glancing at the Genesis Qi stars that had begun to fuse in the void behind Zhao Mushen. Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyes flashed, and his voice was low as he said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you really are amazing. You actually achieved such a legendary thing!¡± His expression was a little complicated because although he was extremely proud, his pride had been ruthlessly destroyed. Zhao Mushen drew a deep breath and said, ¡°If you¡¯re brave enough, wait a moment. I want to see who is stronger, the you who broke the Divine Dwelling¡¯s limit or me after breaking through! What do you think? Do you dare to wait!?¡± Zhou Yuan tilted his head and smiled at Zhao Mushen¡¯s provocative expression. Then, he suddenly spun around. His right foot was wrapped in terrifying Genesis Qi, and it instantly shattered the void. Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyes widened in horror seeing Zhou Yuan aim a kick at his face. Zhao Mushen¡¯s nose instantly collapsed into his perfect face, which seemed to be carved by a knife. His face contorted and gushed with blood. Bang! Countless Genesis Qi stars exploded in the void behind Zhao Mushen, and his breakthrough was forcibly obstructed. Bang! His body blasted away upside down and smashed huge craters one after another into the ground. In the end, a thousand-foot-long ditch was left on the plain. Zhao Mushen''s body was like a tattered leather ball: buried in a deep pit, covered in blood, and with his skin split apart. He only had a faint breath of life left. The entire world fell silent once again. Chapter 989 Zhao Mushen Eliminated The entire world fell utterly silent. Countless dumbstruck gazes stared at the end of the deep scar, where Zhao Mushen lay covered in blood and barely breathing. An incomparably miserable look had replaced the heroic spirit he had radiated when he was on the verge of breaking through to the Heavenly Sun stage. No one had thought Zhao Mushen¡¯s breakthrough would end in such a way: that Zhou Yuan would kick his face and interrupt his breakthrough. Zhou Yuan¡¯s kick also no doubt put an end to the tournament¡¯s final battle. As people stared at Zhou Yuan standing in the same spot as before, many eyes gradually filled with awe. Even Wang Xi and the others wore incomparably complex expressions, but there was also an undisguisable look of fear in their eyes. They knew that the old Divine Dwelling king of Hunyuan Heaven had been defeated and would be replaced by a new Divine Dwelling legend. This kind of replacement didn¡¯t involve any schemes whatsoever. No one would dare question Zhou Yuan¡¯s power after he had broken the Divine Dwelling stage¡¯s limit. The fact that he had torn apart the Genesis Qi light shield that combined the Genesis Qi of Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei was enough to explain everything. The present Zhou Yuan could most likely beat Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei together. In the quiet world, the void around Zhao Mushen¡¯s motionless body suddenly began to ripple, and a vortex swallowed his body. Countless people stared speechless again because this indicated that Zhao Mushen was so severely wounded that it activated the mark within his body. It had formed a space vortex to kick him out of the Fallen Abyss. In other words, he had been eliminated. Zhao Yuan had eliminated Zhao Mushen, who was thought to have the best chance of winning. Countless people trembled at the result. Who would have thought that Zhao Mushen, who had dominated Hunyuan Heaven for so many years, would fail? It was impossible. Everyone on the Wanzu Region¡¯s side fell into a trance-like state, particularly Liu Qingshu. Her expression changed indefinitely, and her voice turned sharp. ¡°How is this possible!? How could my senior brother lose? It¡¯s not fair! Zhou Yuan didn''t wait for my senior brother to complete his breakthrough!¡± The other members of the Wanzu Region, however, couldn''t echo what she said because they could feel the contempt from the members of the other regions. A failure was a failure, but Liu Qiushui still had to make excuses. Why should Zhou Yuan wait for Zhao Mushen to break through? Do you think the nine regions tournament is a game for children? It is normal to even lose your life here! Liu Qingshu closed her mouth amidst the many contemptuous gazes and clenched her hands and teeth. She couldn''t accept this result. She could accept Zhao Mushen losing to Wu Yao or Su Youwei, but not to the despicable Zhou Yuan! Ultimately, this was because she had always felt superior to Zhou Yuan. After all, she was one of the Wanzu Region¡¯s top heaven prides and had a powerful senior brother. What about Zhou Yuan? He had come from the deteriorating Tianyuan Region and had no outstanding achievement in the past. These were the factors that made Liu Qingshu look down on Zhou Yuan, but she had never thought that the person she despised would crush the pride in her heart. But no matter how difficult it might be for her to accept it, the truth was in front of her, and she had no choice but to face it. In the distance, Yuan Kun stroked his chubby face, looking a little dumbfounded. He then turned to say to Jiu Gong, ¡°The Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling stage is going to change again.¡± He knew that Jiu Gong thought extremely highly of Zhao Mushen, and the result of the battle most likely shocked her greatly. Jiu Gong¡¯s expression was indeed very complicated. As the reviewer of the Divine Dwelling List, she had witnessed Zhou Yuan achieve one amazing feat after another. She witnessed his rise to fame from a nobody in Hunyuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan had even broken the Divine Dwelling stage limit and had overwhelmingly defeated Zhao Mushen. From then on, nobody would dare look down on him anymore. ¡°I''m really curious now. I wonder how great of a wave he will cause when he reaches the Heavenly Sun stage,¡± Jiu Gong said softly. Once the nine regions tournament ended, each region¡¯s top heaven prides would most likely start breaking through. As they continued their fight on a higher level, the Heavenly Sun List, new blood would be welcomed onto the Divine Dwelling List. The majority of the experts on the Heavenly Sun List were previous generations¡¯ top heaven prides. They had seniority and dominated the list for years. If those on the Divine Dwelling List were the junior-level fresh blood of each region, the Heavenly Sun List was filled with senior-level fresh blood. As for the people ranked on the Nascent Source List, they were the true top fighting power of each region. There wasn''t a list for the Law Domain stage because anybody who made it onto the list was an authority of a region. Yuan Kun nodded in agreement. ¡°The heaven prides on the Heavenly Sun List have always looked down on us and see a battle with us as a trivial matter. It would be fun to see Zhou Yuan enter the Heavenly Sun stage and destroy their structure.¡± He cast a glance at the top of the ancient statue and sighed, ¡°But who would have expected this result?¡± He then smiled. ¡°This is why I have good eyes and didn''t have a conflict with Zhou Yuan. Instead, I had cooperated with him. Look at how Xu Ming and Zhao Mushen were eliminated. I realized that anybody who opposed him wouldn''t end well.¡± Jiu Gong rolled her eyes at his smug face. ... Zhou Yuan peered in the direction Zhao Mushen disappeared. Zhao Mushen was indeed a very difficult enemy. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t taken the risk to break the limit, the battle¡¯s final outcome could have been entirely different. But no matter how dangerous the process was, Zhou Yuan had won in the end. ¡°It seems that my Sacred Dragon Blessing is superior to your Taotie Blessing,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. He smiled and turned around. With a flash, he appeared in front of Su Youwei. ¡°How''s it going? You okay?¡± he asked with a smile. Su Youwei smiled brightly at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Congratulations, Your Highness, for winning first place in the nine regions tournament.¡± Zhao Mushen had been eliminated, and Su Youwei¡¯s and Wu Yao¡¯s Genesis Qis were exhausted, which meant the ancient stone statue belonged to Zhou Yuan. Su Youwei was very happy from the bottom of her heart to see Zhou Yuan so dazzling in Hunyuan Heaven. In her view, given Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent, he should have become the brightest star long ago and attracted everyone¡¯s attention and worship. She had always felt this way about Zhou Yuan, but other people didn¡¯t believe in him. However, from then on, nobody would dare question Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability again. ¡°I accidentally took your title of having the strongest Genesis Qi foundation among all Divine Dwelling experts,¡± Zhou Yuan joked. Su Youwei moved her red lips and smiled softly. Then, she tilted her head to the side and said, ¡°This is a trivial matter. You have another trouble to deal with now.¡± Zhou Yuan followed her gaze and saw Wu Yao standing calmly in a bright red dress. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment before striding towards Wu Yao. Chapter 990 Settled She stared at Zhou Yuan''s face. When she met Zhou Yuan for the first time in Great Wu¡¯s capital, she had never thought he would stand in front of her in such a way. This man who was born with the Sacred Dragon Blessing indeed has remarkable talent. But what she admired the most wasn''t Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent but his tenacity. He didn''t give up on life even after he had fallen to the bottom. Although she didn¡¯t know what kind of difficulty Zhou Yuan had faced from the moment he had unblocked the eight meridian channels and had set foot on the path of cultivation, she could imagine that it must have been filled with problems that would make ordinary people give up thousands of times already. But Zhou Yuan had persisted, and in the end, he had risen and reversed his fortunes. Wu Yao didn''t find this result difficult to accept. Instead, she let out a sigh of relief and felt her body grow much lighter, as though a weight had been lifted from her. The destined battle had finally come to an end. King Wu¡¯s face flashed in her mind, and she smiled faintly in her heart. Father, your plotting has completely unraveled today. Our Wu family does not have the capability to carry the Sacred Dragon Blessing. Wu Yao slowly closed her eyes, saying indifferently, ¡°Take it back.¡± Given her current state, she was no match for Zhou Yuan. Of course, even if her Genesis Qi was completely restored, she still didn''t stand a chance against Zhou Yuan, who had broken the Divine Dwelling stage limit. Therefore, she saw no significance in fighting back. Her body was slender and beautiful, her back straight. Although defeated, she still had pride in her heart. Zhou Yuan stared at Wu Yao for a moment, waves similarly surging in his heart. Ever since he unblocked the eight meridian channels and began cultivation, he had been waiting for this day. At this time, he would take back everything he had lost. Father, I did it¡­, Zhou Yuan said softly in his heart. He extended his hand and placed it gently on Wu Yao¡¯s slender shoulder. For a moment, he could feel her trembling. Her expression was enough to make a man of steel soft and weak, but Zhou Yuan remained expressionless and wasn''t affected. He had worked incredibly hard for many years, so no matter what, he had to take back what belonged to him. A dragon roar echoed throughout Zhou Yuan''s body. Rays of light gathered behind him and gradually took the shape of a dragon-like silhouette. The Sacred Dragon phenomenon. The giant dragon silhouette opened its mouth wide and inhaled sharply. Wu Yao''s body violently quivered again as rays of intense light emerged from her. Suddenly, a powerful and mysterious aura surged from the top of her head like smoke rising in spirals into the dragon''s mouth. That familiar aura was the Sacred Dragon Blessing that Wu Yao had taken away when Great Wu was destroyed! She could feel her life force weaken as the Sacred Dragon Blessing left her body. She understood that once Zhou Yuan took away the last of the Sacred Dragon Blessing remaining in her body, she would also perish. In a battle between the dragon and the phoenix, only the one that devoured the other would survive. The anguished roar that King Wu let out when he was beheaded flashed to Wu Yao¡¯s mind. ¡°As expected...¡± There wasn''t a hint of fear in Wu Yao¡¯s heart. Instead, it was utterly peaceful. The movements between Zhou Yuan and Wu Yao caught countless people¡¯s attention and drew many exclamations. Even at such a distance, they could feel Wu Yao¡¯s life force weakening. On the Wushen Region¡¯s side, thousands of members were livid. They soared into the air one after another and quickly rushed towards the last stone statue. They were all enraged. Wang Xi, Li Tongshen and the others scrunched their brows in a frown. They didn¡¯t know what was happening between Zhou Yuan and Wu Yao, but the situation didn''t look good for Wu Yao. ¡°Is Zhou Yuan taking away the Blessing from Wu Yu''s body? What''s going on? Does he also have the Taotie Blessing?¡± Jiu Gong couldn''t help asking. Wu Yao didn''t die when Zhao Mushen swallowed her Blessing, so why did she become like this when facing Zhou Yuan? ¡°No, the two¡¯s Blessings are very similar...as though they originated from the same body¡± Bewilderment filled Jiu Gong¡¯s heart. But if Zhou Yuan exhausted Wu Yao¡¯s life force here, he would no doubt anger the Wushen Region. It wasn¡¯t a wise move for him. On the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side, Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others all wore solemn expressions. Lu Xiao couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°What is Zhou Yuan doing? He already won. If something happens to Wu Yao, he can''t get away with it!¡± No one answered him, and terrified feelings overshadowed the joy that had filled everyone a moment ago. After all, nobody could say anything if one of them died in the battle, but Wu Yao clearly had no strength to fight back anymore. If Zhou Yuan took her life while she was in such a state, it could become troublesome for him. ... ¡°Your Highness...¡± Su Youwei¡¯s eyes flashed with worry as she looked at Wu Yao, who was on the verge of collapsing. She wasn¡¯t worried about Wu Yao but of the consequences that Zhou Yuan would face after he stripped away all of Wu Yao¡¯s life force. It was said that the Wushen Region¡¯s supreme sovereign attached great importance to Wu Yao. Zhou Yuan indifferently looked at Wu Yao¡¯s pale but beautiful face. His eyes flickered. It was then that Wu Yao closed her eyes and said indifferently, ¡°Zhou Yuan, what are you waiting for? When my father took away your Sacred Dragon Blessing, he didn''t hesitate at all. ¡°I told you before that the Sacred Dragon Blessing is what I hate the most. If it weren¡¯t for it, my mother wouldn''t have died, my little brother, Wu Huang, wouldn''t have become that kind of person. I wouldn''t have killed my own father and be left alone in this world. ¡°So...now, I''ll return it to you!¡± She folded her hands together in a seal, and her body shook violently. A long mournful roar seemed to ring out as a mysterious aura rose from her head. It turned into a dragon silhouette and sped into the mouth of the gigantic dragon behind Zhou Yuan. She unexpectedly forced out the last wisp of the Sacred Dragon Blessing! The moment the Sacred Dragon Blessing left her body, the glow on Wu Yao¡¯s face dimmed, and her delicate body slowly fell forward. Chapter 991 Supreme Sovereign Seeing the last wisp of the Sacred Dragon Blessing approaching, Zhou Yuan unhesitantly controlled the giant dragon silhouette to prepare to swallow it. It was something that belonged to him, and he was simply getting it back. Even if Wu Yao paid for it with her life, Zhou Yuan didn''t pity her. As she had said, this was perhaps their fate. Let me put an end to this now. The dragon silhouette unleashed a deafening roar and attempted to swallow the last wisp of the Sacred Dragon Blessing in one mouthful. But just as the last bit of the Sacred Dragon Blessing was about to be eaten, Zhou Yuan felt the entire world freeze. Even the world¡¯s Genesis Qi had stilled. The dragon silhouette kept its mouth wide open, but regardless of how it tried, it couldn''t swallow the last wisp. It was as though an indescribable force was obstructing it. It should be said that the giant dragon silhouette wasn''t formed from Genesis Qi, but was the embodiment of a type of Blessing. It was only faintly discernible, which meant ordinary forces couldn''t injure it. However, at that moment, it was like a mosquito in amber and was under control. Zhou Yuan''s expression changed dramatically. There was clearly a very terrifying external force intervening. Even Law Domain experts couldn''t intervene in what happens within the Fallen Abyss, which meant that the intervening person¡¯s strength exceeded the Law Domain stage. A Saint expert! A supreme sovereign! Wushen Region¡¯s supreme sovereign! Zhou Yuan''s face darkened because the supreme sovereign¡¯s action had undoubtedly broken the rules of the nine regions tournament. But facing an existence at the Saint level, he couldn''t explode with anger because he knew it would be meaningless. He looked up at the solidified dragon silhouette and saw the last wisp of the Sacred Dragon Blessing that Wu Yao forced out slowly descend and return to Wu Yao¡¯s body as though some kind of force controlled it. Zhou Yuan expressionlessly watched the scene and didn''t try to take it back. He knew that under the watchful eyes of a supreme sovereign, he was as weak as an ant, and there was no way he could withstand the consequences that might result from provoking the supreme sovereign. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you have already won. Do you need to completely take away the Sacred Dragon Blessing?¡± An indescribable majestic voice rang in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment, then said, ¡°Supreme sovereign Wu Shen?¡± The voice didn¡¯t respond. Supreme Wu Shen¡¯s voice sounded again, ¡°Now isn¡¯t the best time to take away the Sacred Dragon Blessing in Wu Yao¡¯s body. I indeed broke the rules by intervening, but I won¡¯t take advantage of you. If you listen and not take away the last bit of the Sacred Dragon Blessing in Wu Yao, I will help you with one thing.¡± Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows. Help me with one thing? What can he do for me? ¡°I will stop supreme sovereign Wan Zu from capturing you,¡± supreme sovereign Wu Shen said. Zhou Yuan''s pupils rapidly shrank. ¡°Why is supreme sovereign Wu Shen scaring me? I am just a little Divine Dwelling expert, so why would supreme sovereign Wan Zu need to deal with me personally?¡± ¡°Haha, little guy, do you really think you can hide from supreme sovereign Wan Zu? Does Cang Yuan really think that a little ant he sent into Hunyuan Heaven could escape Wan Zu¡¯s eyes?¡± Zhou Yuan''s face changed drastically. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu was indeed aware of his true identity. Although he had guessed this from the fact that supreme sovereign Wan Zu commanded Zhao Mushen to capture him, supreme sovereign Wu Shen finally confirmed his speculation. Zhou Yuan felt his scalp numb. After all, it wasn''t a good thing to be watched by one of the supreme sovereigns. Moreover, his master wasn''t in Hunyuan Heaven and most likely couldn''t save him in time. ¡°In any case, he is a supreme sovereign with transcendent status. How could he lower himself to deal with a little Divine Dwelling expert?¡± Zhou Yuan said bitterly. ¡°Indeed, no one really cares about a little Divine Dwelling expert, but there''s something big that involves you, and that''s enough for Wan Zu to take action.¡± Supreme sovereign Wu Shen''s indifferent voice echoed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. ¡°What do you say? Are you interested in my proposal? It isn¡¯t a small matter for a supreme sovereign to help you out.¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression changed again, and he finally asked after pondering for a moment, ¡°Are you ever going to let me get back the last of the Sacred Dragon Blessing that belongs to me?¡± ¡°When the time is right, you''ll get it back.¡± Supreme sovereign Wu Shen''s voice sounded ethereal. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. If he was alone, he wouldn''t fear supreme sovereign Wan Zu because, at worst, he would die. But he couldn''t die or be captured because he had more important things to do, and that was to awaken Yaoyao. To achieve his goal, he could abandon the Sacred Dragon Blessing for the time being, even though the Blessing was important. Supreme sovereign Wu Shen was only taking advantage of the fact that Zhou Yuan¡¯s supporter, Cang Yuan, wasn¡¯t around to do anything. But Zhou Yuan believed that Cang Yuan would return to Hunyuan Heaven sooner or later, and at that time, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about supreme sovereign Wu Shen intervening again. He no longer hesitated and nodded. ¡°I agree.¡± Supreme sovereign Wu Shen smiled faintly. He didn''t need to make a solemn promise because his identity as one of the supreme sovereigns was already enough. The force that froze the world suddenly disappeared, and the stilled Genesis Qi flowed once again. ¡°Your Highness!¡± Su Youwei immediately came to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, her expression serious. She was evidently aware of the situation. Zhou Yuan shook his head, signaling that there was nothing to worry about. Then, with the wave of his sleeve, the giant dragon silhouette circling in the air turned to nothing and vanished completely. Wu Yao, who was resting her cheeks on Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder, suddenly opened her eyes slowly. She straightened her body immediately and hurriedly drew back two steps. The expression on her beautiful face changed drastically, especially when she felt the Sacred Dragon Blessing in her body. She bit her red lips and lifted her head to look at the void above, saying in her heart, ¡°Why did supreme sovereign Wu Shen have to intervene? If you win, you are the king; if you lose, you are nothing, and I clearly lost. There was no need for the supreme sovereign to interfere.¡± Supreme sovereign Wu Shen¡¯s voice again rang in her mind, sounding a little helpless, ¡°Wu Yao, don''t be too concerned about a momentary success or failure. The Divine Dwelling stage is just an insignificant hurdle on your cultivation path. The real battle is in the future.¡± Wu Yao bit her red lips stubbornly. She didn''t like the result because wouldn''t that make Zhou Yuan think she was a sore loser? ¡°Wu Yao, you are not inferior to Zhou Yuan in any way. Don''t doubt yourself because of a loss. Remember what I said to you before, you have possessed the Sacred Dragon Blessing for so many years, but it doesn''t belong to you, nor is it suitable for you. You should look for what belongs to you.¡± Supreme sovereign Wu Shen''s voice was faint and soon dissipated. Chapter 992 Dust Settles The Law Domain experts present all sensed that the Genesis Qi had frozen under the starry sky. They immediately exchanged glances with one another, looking a little bewildered. It was obvious that nobody thought the matter would draw the attention of a supreme sovereign. Some gazes swept over Wushen Region¡¯s Jin Zhong. The person who intervened and protected the Sacred Dragon Blessing in Wu Yao¡¯s body had to be the supreme sovereign of the Wushen Region. There wasn''t a ripple of emotion on Jin Zhong¡¯s face, and he made no comment on the matter. Zhao Xiansun''s expression was cloudy ever since Zhao Mushen was eliminated, but he couldn''t help but remark coldly, ¡°Supreme sovereign Wu Shen really protects his juniors well. He even personally came forward to intervene and broke the rules.¡± He was unhappy because he expected Zhou Yuan to kill Wu Yao and make the relationship between the Tianyuan Region and the Wushen Region drop to a freezing point, but supreme sovereign Wu Shen had come out and messed it up. How could he not be disappointed and angry? Jin Zhong responded indifferently, ¡°If you have an opinion on this, you can go to the Wushen Region and speak to the supreme sovereign yourself.¡± Zhao Xiansun snorted coldly and shot a fierce stare in Chi Jing¡¯s direction. Chi Jing ignored him and continued to stare at the light mirror. She slowly relaxed her clenched hands in her sleeves, relieved to see that Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t taken away the last bit of the Sacred Dragon Blessing. It wasn''t the time for the Tianyuan Region and the Wushen Region to tear each other¡¯s faces yet. But she also understood the reason for Zhou Yuan''s action. He was just taking back what belonged to him. The present situation was what was best for the Tianyuan Region. After all, Zhou Yuan had defeated Zhao Mushen and won first place in the nine regions tournament, which would inevitably attract countless attention. Some forces might even feel unconvinced and indignant. Therefore, the Tianyuan Region could be said to be at the eye of the storm, and it would be unwise to become enemies with the Wushen Region at this time. ¡°Zhou Yuan, leave the last bit of the Sacred Dragon Blessing in Wu Yao¡¯s body for now. There is going to be another opportunity in the future,¡± Chi Jing said in her mind. When Cang Yuan returns and the Tianyuan Region rises again, as long as Zhou Yuan fairly defeats Wu Yao again, even supreme sovereign Wu Shen wouldn¡¯t be able to interfere anymore. He had to be tolerant and forbearant for now. ... On the plain. Zhou Yuan withdrew the Genesis Qi circulating around his body and swept a glance over Wu Yao without saying anything. He then turned and strode towards Su Youwei. In her view, Zhou Yuan had only stopped due to the oppression of supreme sovereign Wu Shen. Wu Yao, who had always been competitive and feisty, couldn''t accept this sort of behavior because she never liked using power to intimidate people. There was absolutely no need for the power of others for her to prove herself. Zhou Yuan said snappily, ¡°Lose to you? You¡¯re indeed arrogant.¡± Wu Yao took a deep breath and said, ¡°You did come in front of everyone this time, but you shouldn''t be so overconfident. After the nine regions tournament ends, everyone will start breaking through to the Heavenly Sun stage, and you won''t have such a huge advantage over them then.¡± Zhou Yuan didn''t respond. He would similarly prepare to attack the Heavenly Sun stage after harvesting all the Alpha Spiritium born from the remains in the depths of the statue. He didn''t believe that he would lose to Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and the others in breaking through to the Heavenly Sun stage, given the fact he had broken the limit of the Divine Dwelling stage. He came to stand next to Su Youwei and said, ¡°You should stay here and recover your Genesis Qi first.¡± Su Youwei and Wu Yao had both exhausted their Genesis Qi. In their present state, they couldn''t compete with the others for the second stone statue. Zhou Yuan whispered, ¡°I would give this place to you, but it¡¯s very important for me to win first place in the nine regions tournament...¡± Su Youwei smiled. ¡°You won with your own strength. Why are you saying this to me?¡± She gazed at Zhou Yuan with her beautiful eyes. Even if Zhou Yuan gave her this place, she wouldn''t accept it, but his gesture filled her heart with sweetness. Zhou Yuan sat down, exhausted. His face was grey with fatigue, but the battle with Zhao Mushen had indeed been thrilling. Zhou Yuan could finally relax. ¡°That guy...he was really tricky to deal with.¡± Su Youwei sat down gracefully beside him. Absorbing the universe Genesis Qi, she pursed her lips and said, ¡°But Your Highness had the last laugh. After today, your name will cause a sensation in Hunyuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head, saying, ¡°Are you not going to change the way you address me? You are now the pearl of the Zixiao Region, and my identity as the prince of the Great Zhou is a joke in Hunyuan Heaven!¡± But Su Youwei, who was always gentle and well-behaved, shook her head firmly, refusing to discuss the topic with Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan felt helpless. Although Su Youwei looked gentle and well-behaved, she was extremely stubborn and wouldn''t change what she had decided. The two sat together, chatting happily. Their posture showed their closeness and trust in each other. Wu Yao quietly sat cross-legged not far away and restored her Genesis Qi. Occasionally she swept her phoenix eyes over them. Her expression was indifferent, but a trace of envy flickered in the depths of her eyes. Ever since her mother had passed away, she had been alone. Even after she had come to the Wushen Region, she had focused all her attention on cultivating. Of course, she hoped to have true friends she could trust. However, the people she had met weren¡¯t pure-minded, so she really admired Su Youwei, who treated her with hostility just because of Zhou Yuan. A cloudy look flashed across Wu Yao¡¯s eyes. She peered blankly into the distance, and a kind face emerged in front of her. It was her mother. Her mother¡¯s eyes were still the same as when she was a child, filled with warmth and care. Wu Yao bowed her head, and rare tears welled up in her eyes. But that weak state of mind lasted only a few breaths, before she took a deep breath and suppressed it in the deepest part of her heart. Wu Yao, you once said in front of Mother¡¯s tomb that you would become the strongest person in the world. Only then would Mother not have to worry about you...so, keep working hard. Feeling the Genesis Qi gradually restoring in her body, Wu Yao stood up. Without saying anything to Zhou Yuan, she moved slightly and soared into the sky, her body a stream of light. She finally rushed out of the Genesis Qi light barrier. A whistle of wind sounded behind her. She glanced back to see Su Youwei skimming across the air. Wu Yao said indifferently, ¡°The second stone statue belongs to you. I¡¯m tired, and I don¡¯t want to fight with you anymore.¡± Su Youwei smiled. ¡°Second or third place doesn''t matter. Wu Yao, you¡¯re very amazing. I wanted to have a real fight with you today, but it¡¯s not possible anymore. I hope we will have a chance in the future.¡± Wu Yao was taken aback because she keenly felt that Su Youwei''s hostility seemed to have reduced greatly. She nodded. ¡°Just tell me when.¡± Su Youwei didn''t say anything more. With a slight movement, she transformed into a stream of light and descended directly onto the third stone statue. Wu Yao gazed blankly at her beautiful figure and, after a moment, landed on the second stone statue. As the two took their positions, the situation under the starry sky gradually became clear. Wang Xi no longer clung to the first stone statue because he knew there was a more powerful existence than Zhao Mushen. Moreover, Wu Yao and Su Youwei shouldn''t be provoked. In the end, he had no choice but to occupy the fourth stone statue, which was the same number as his ranking... No, with Zhou Yuan''s sudden rise in strength, Wang Xi¡¯s ranking would most likely fall to the fifth in the future. The fifth, sixth and seventh stone statues were unsurprisingly occupied by Li Tongshen, Jiu Gong and Yuan Kun. The Wanzu Region occupied the last two remaining stone statues because Zhao Mushen¡¯s elimination had stimulated the Wanzu Region¡¯s teams to take action. The heaven prides attacked wildly, and after several rounds of fierce battle and paying a great price, they managed to secure the last two stone statues. Of course, the majority of the other regions¡¯ teams didn''t want to be locked in a fierce battle with the Wanzu Region. The Wanzu Region had already lost a lot of face, and if infuriated, they could do anything. More importantly, after Zhao Mushen had been eliminated, even if the Wanzu Region¡¯s heaven prides snatched the last two stone statues, they still could not shake the situation. The outcome of the nine regions tournament had basically been determined. Zhou Yuan descended onto the first stone statue. He lifted his head to the starry sky and exhaled a deep breath, as though releasing all the exhaustion in his heart. But his eyes were filled with excitement. After more than a year of hard work, he had finally achieved his first goal of coming to Hunyuan Heaven: he won first place in the nine regions tournament! Gazing at the void, he could see Yaoyao¡¯s cold and beautiful face appearing in front of him. Her clear eyes seemed to be speaking to him, making his heart flutter. Zhou Yuan held out his hand and clenched it in the air. Chapter 993 Bountiful Harves A force in the depths of the statue attracted Zhou Yuan¡¯s attention. Zhou Yuan released his Spirit, and by the time his Spirit stabilized, he found that he was situated outside a tremendous ball of light. Thousands of fish-like wisps of flowing light slowly rose within the ball of light,and eventually changed into thousands of beings, including fish, birds, flowers, plants and insects. It was like an independent world. Watching the ever-changing flowing lights, Zhou Yuan felt a burning sensation in his heart because the wisps were all Alpha Spiritium! The quantity of Alpha Spiritium was several times greater than that inside the stone statue he was at before. With one thought, Zhou Yuan gathered Genesis Qi in front of him to form a vortex. The thousands of Alpha Spiritium strands suddenly gushed over from all directions and poured into the vortex one after another. There wasn''t any obstruction during this period. It took about an hour for Zhou Yuan to extract all the Alpha Spiritium. In the end, even he felt a little emotional with harvesting so much. It was no wonder that everybody wanted to fight for this place, even at the risk of breaking their skulls. Zhou Yuan stored away the Alpha Spiritium with a satisfied smile before studying the huge ball of light ahead of him again. He could faintly feel a body sitting cross-legged in the deepest part of the ball of light, where an indescribable oppressive pressure was faintly exuded, causing the void to vibrate. It was the remains of a Law Domain expert. Zhou Yuan''s heart pounded with excitement. Law Domain experts stood at the top of the world and were second only to Saint experts. The legacy of a Law Domain expert was incredibly rare, and it had a much greater appeal than Alpha Spiritium for experts of the Heavenly Sun stage and the Nascent Source stage. Zhou Yuan slowly drew closer to the huge ball of light and soon saw a mysterious ten-foot light shield around the remains in the depths of the light ball. A thousand streams of golden light flowed within the light shield, and each one made Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart pound a bit faster. The golden lights seemed to possess a remarkable spiritual nature. Zhou Yuan felt a sudden flash of insight when the golden light shone on him. He felt his mind clear up, and any obstruction he encountered in his Genesis art cultivation was instantly resolved. Zhou Yuan cast his greedy eyes on the thousand streams of golden light, his heart trembling. He knew they were Law Domain Sources! It was a really good thing! Zhou Yuan felt that if he obtained them, it would greatly reduce the effort required to cultivate Genesis techniques and little Saint Arts in the future. Perhaps he could even master the Seven Cangxuan Arts and integrate the true Cangxuan Saint Arts! Moreover, the more one was exposed to Law Domain Source, the greater one understood the Law Domain before stepping into the Law Domain stage in the future. Therefore, many Law Domain experts would fight over a strand of Law Domain Source. Zhou Yuan let out a wisp of Genesis Qi and guided it close to the light shield. But just as it was inches away, a beam of golden light shot out and instantly turned the wisp of Genesis Qi into nothing. At that moment, even the void showed signs of shattering. The moment the beam of golden light evaporated the wisp of Genesis Qi, it aimed directly for Zhou Yuan as though sensing something. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hair stood on end. It was only when his Spirit body hastily drew back that the golden light beam slowly returned to the light shield. A cloudy expression came to Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. It seemed that he wasn''t strong enough to touch Law Domain Source yet. Only a golden light beam shot out, but he already felt deadly danger from it. If thousands were to surge out, he would most likely be evaporated instantly. Not even a single bone would remain. ¡°It¡¯s so difficult. No wonder I haven''t heard of anyone obtaining a Law Domain Source from the nine regions tournament in the past.¡± Zhou Yuan was incredibly troubled about what to do. Should he just collect some Alpha Spiritium and leave? But he was reluctant to leave! A mountain of treasure was standing before him, so how could he go back empty-handed? But the Law Domain Source was like a tiger¡¯s tail¡ªthe tiger would rage when its tail was touched. Just when Zhou Yuan was hesitating, his Divine Dwellings vibrated suddenly, and he was stunned to see a ball of light fly out of his Divine Dwellings and beam into the depths of the stone statue. ¡°It¡¯s the Saint Rune light sphere!¡± Zhou Yuan''s Spirit stared intently at the light sphere, the four mysterious Saint runes slowly flowing on its surface. The light sphere hovered in the air for a moment, then floated over to the light shield under Zhou Yuan¡¯s surprised gaze. He was taken aback, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. He could only prepare to retreat at a moment¡¯s notice, since he knew he couldn¡¯t withstand that kind of power. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s nervous gaze, the Saint Rune light sphere easily pierced through the light shield. Like a rabbit seeing a hungry wolf, the golden light source, which Zhou Yuan had feared, fled frantically seeing the Saint Runes light sphere. Buzz! The light sphere revolved, creating a suction force that pulled the thousands of golden strands into the light sphere in a tyrannical manner. Zhou Yuan stared dumbstruck as the light sphere absorbed the terrifying streams of golden light. The golden light didn¡¯t even show a shred of resistance. However, he realized it was normal after careful thought. After all, the four Saint Runes, born from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, were sacred treasures that only Saint experts were qualified to come into contact with. The power they possessed could split the world apart. In less than a few dozen breaths, the light sphere cleanly absorbed the thousand streams of golden source. It then vanished from the void with a slight vibration, but Zhou Yuan could feel movement within his Divine Dwellings and knew it had returned. Zhou Yuan peered blankly into the empty light barrier. With the golden light source sucked dry, the light shield began to shrink, and even the remains started to show signs of crumbling. Clearly, after the loss of the Law Domain Source¡¯s protection, the remains gradually became nothing. From then on, Alpha Spiritium would most likely no longer be born within the statue. Zhou Yuan felt a little guilty. He bowed respectfully to the body before withdrawing his Spirit into his body. ... Outside the Fallen Abyss. In the void above, the several Law Domain experts fell quiet for a moment when the dust had finally settled under the starry sky. Their expressions changed indefinitely, revealing the surging waves in their hearts. The tournament¡¯s result was clearly unexpected to everyone. No one thought that the person who would eventually occupy the oldest stone statue would be Zhou Yuan¡­ He had defeated Zhao Mushen. It was undoubtedly shocking. Countless people rushed from the mountains when they learned of the final result from the huge mirror in the void. Exclamations and gasps of surprise rippled throughout the crowd. ¡°The Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan really is a dark hose...it¡¯s too terrifying.¡± ¡°The entire Hunyuan Heaven will be turned upside down when this matter comes out. The title of being king of the Divine Dwelling will most likely go to Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Yes, who would have thought that he could breach the limit of the Divine Dwelling stage...that¡¯s 100 million Genesis Qi stars! I really don¡¯t dare to imagine it.¡± ¡°Divine Dwelling experts are already considered strong with a foundation of tens of millions, but compared to him, it¡¯s like comparing the brightness of a firefly to the moon¡­¡± It was obvious how much shock the final result of the nine regions tournament had brought. Xu Ming from the Yaogui Region was pale and ashen-faced, and his eyes were filled with envy. The person he had looked down on had stepped on his head and ascended to being the king of Divine Dwelling stage. Moreover, what made him feel even more despair was Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation. If he were to face Zhou Yuan again, he knew he wouldn''t even last one round. So no matter how bitter and angry Xu Ming felt, he understood there was a huge gap between them. But he was relieved to know that Zhao Mushen had been eliminated since it would undoubtedly reduce the pressure on him. ¡°Hmph, Zhou Yuan, don''t be so proud. You made the Wanzu Region lose face, and the Wanzu Region¡¯s people won¡¯t leave the matter at that!¡± Xu Ming sneered. The title of being king of the Divine Dwelling stage might be terrifying, but Zhou Yuan was still just an ant to the Wanzu Region. They could easily send an expert on the Heavenly Sun List to teach him a lesson. Time quickly passed amidst countless exclamations of shock. Soon, the void outside the Fallen Abyss began to distort. It twisted into a vortex and formed a spatial channel. The atmosphere between heaven and earth was buzzing. It was a sign that each region¡¯s heaven prides were finally coming back out. Chapter 994 Change After a series of extremely bitter battles, the nine regions tournament had finally come to an end. The spatial vortex squirmed and twisted as countless figures flew out like locusts, and sharp whistles of wind rang out across the world. The crowds on the mountain broke into wild cheers. No matter what the final result was, the teams that fought for their region deserved their respect. Teams continued to pour out the vortex and land on a mountain, standing separate from the other regions. Zhou Yuan, who led the Tianyuan Region¡¯s teams, had no doubt become the focus of the onlookers. Gazes of surprise, admiration, and envy constantly swept over him. In terms of overall strength and team size, the Tianyuan Region was still the most unremarkable amongst the nine regions. But who would have thought that the Tianyuan Region would be the one to shine dazzlingly in the nine regions tournament? Of course, to be precise, it should be the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan stood at the forefront, his expression calm and indifferent, but Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and the others gazed at his back with awe. The respect and admiration they felt almost overflowed from their eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation among the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Divine Dwelling experts could be said to have reached its peak. Even Lu Xiao, who was prejudiced against Zhou Yuan in the past, willingly submitted to him. Facing Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying achievements, even he didn''t dare to think jealous thoughts. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reversed the tides, there was no way that the Tianyuan Region could have achieved such an amazing result. Lu Xiao knew very well that he wasn''t qualified to carry such an important responsibility. So, he was very glad that Zhou Yuan became the Tianyuan Region¡¯s chief pavilion master. Han Yuan and his people gathered together, looking a little ashamed. After all, his team was the first from the Tianyuan Region to be eliminated. ¡°Chief Pavilion Master...¡± Han Yuan spoke in a respectful tone with a trace of awe in his eyes, because he had also witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s earthshaking achievements through the huge light mirror. At that moment, his respect for Zhou Yuan had reached its pinnacle. After all, who would have thought that Zhou Yuan could dethrone even Zhao Mushen. Zhou Yuan waved his hand. ¡°I don''t blame you. Xu Ming came for me, and you guys just got involved.¡± He turned to the other team members behind Han Yuan and smiled. ¡°You all did a good job.¡± They immediately reddened with shame after hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s compliment. The majority of their team were Mountain Pavilion members, but facing Zhou Yuan now, they didn''t dare to be as casual as they had in the past. It was obvious that Chi Jing was extremely satisfied with Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance in the nine regions tournament. As the teams came out of the spatial vortex, the Law Domain experts in the void swept glances over them, and many of those gazes flickered with curiosity as they passed over Zhou Yuan. As the host of the nine regions tournament, Zhao Xiansun wore an expressionless face as he said indifferently, ¡°The nine regions tournament is nearing the end. The great battle is over. All teams, gather the Spiritium collected and prepare for the final ranking announcement.¡± His voice faded, and the commotion in the various regions¡¯ teams continued for a while. Yuan Kun from the Yushou Region was the first to step forward. With a wave of his wide sleeve, he formed a light sphere that contained tens of thousands of Spiritium flowing around like fish. But they were all ordinary Spiritium, and one thousand such Spiritium were needed to convert to an Alpha Spiritium. Yuan Kun flicked his finger, and more than 200 light lotuses rose in his Divine Dwellings, rushing towards the Genesis Qi light sphere. ¡°My Yushou Region found a total of 23,000 ordinary Spiritium, and 208 Alpha Spiritium,¡± Yuan Kun reported. ¡°The Xuanji Region harvested 25,000 ordinary Spiritium and 300 Alpha Spiritium,¡± Jiu Gong said, loud and clear. ¡°The Shengwen Region, 30,000 ordinary Spiritium and 600 Alpha Spiritium.¡± ¡°The Xuehai Region, 50,000 ordinary Spiritium and 900 Alpha Spiritium.¡± Su Youwei moved her red lips under countless gazes, and a gentle voice sounded, ¡°The Zixiao Region, 60,000 ordinary Spiritium and 1,200 Alpha Spiritium.¡± Wu Yao restored her usual fierce look on her beautiful face as she said, ¡°Wushen Region, 60,000 ordinary Spiritium and 1,800 Alpha Spiritium.¡± After everyone reported their results, on the Wanzu Region¡¯s side, Zhao Mushen¡¯s face was ashen. He had only just regained consciousness after being ejected from the Fallen Abyss. He said in a low voice, ¡°The Wanzu Region harvested 90,000 ordinary Spiritium and 800 Alpha Spiritium.¡± The 800 Alpha Spiritium were harvested by the Wanzu Region¡¯s heaven prides who desperately competed for the last two stone statues after Zhao Mushen was eliminated. From this, it was clear that one mustn¡¯t underestimate the Wanzu Region¡¯s overall strength. Even if they lost Zhao Mushen, they still had the strength to capture the last two stone statues. Of course, the more important reason was that Zhou Yuan had already eliminated Xu Ming, who was from the Yaogui Region. On the Yaogui Region¡¯s side, Xu Ming¡¯s face was livid because he was the first to be eliminated and had failed to occupy any stone statue or find any Alpha Spiritium. Under countless mocking gazes, Xu Ming uttered in a hoarse voice, ¡°The Yaogui Region harvested 30,000 ordinary Spiritium and...18 Alpha Spiritium.¡± Low snickering laughter spread out. Although everyone expected the Yaogui Region to have the worst performance, they didn''t think it would be that bad. The Yaogui Region broke the record of having the worst tournament result in many years. Amidst the roars of laughter, the members from the Yaogui Region reddened in embarrassment. But such laughter didn''t last too long because countless eyes were already cast in the Tianyuan Region¡¯s direction. They knew that the Tianyuan Region¡¯s result was the real highlight. Under millions of gazes, Zhou Yuan stepped forward and said loud and clear, ¡°The Tianyuan Region harvested 20,000 ordinary Spiritium and... 4,700 Alpha Spiritium.¡± Zhou Yuan''s voice echoed throughout the world, and countless people couldn''t help inhaling sharply. Twenty thousand ordinary Spiritium were equivalent to 20 Alpha Spiritium and was insignificant, but 4,700 Alpha Spiritium was enough to crush everyone else. This was the harvest from winning the oldest stone statue. Although everyone had already expected the result, when Zhou Yuan personally reported his harvest, they still couldn''t help but marvel. The winner of the nine regions tournament had finally appeared. Countless gazes of admiration and amazement looked at Zhou Yuan. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s achievements were only possible because of Zhou Yuan. The Tianyuan Region members couldn''t help but burst into earth-shaking cheers and applause. In the void, Zhao Xiansun¡¯s face was devoid of expression, but he clenched his fists tight and stared at Zhou Yuan with chilling intent flashing in his eyes. Zhou Yuan could be said to have completely crushed the Wanzu Region¡¯s face and reputation. Chi Jing breathed a long sigh of relief. She turned to Zhao Xiansun and said indifferently, ¡°Zhao Xiansun, the results are out. Are you not going to announce the ranking?¡± Zhao Xiansun coldly smiled and didn''t argue with Chi Jing. Instead, his indifferent voice rang out across the world, ¡°The nine regions tournament has come to an end. The final winner is the Tianyuan Region!¡± Exclamations of surprise continued to sound around the mountain. At this moment, the dust had truly settled. Zhou Yuan finally revealed a smile. He had fought very hard for nearly two years since coming to Hunyuan Heaven. This day had finally arrived. As long as the Tianyuan Region wins first place in the nine regions tournament, he would be eligible to take charge of the Ancestral Dragon Lantern, and his first step towards awakening Yaoyao would finally be completed! In the void above, Chi Jing smiled, then said to Zhao Xiansun, ¡°Since my Tianyuan Region won first place in the nine regions tournament, I hope the Wanzu Region will hand over the Ancestral Dragon Lantern early and let my Tianyuan Region take charge of it.¡± A strange smile curved Zhao Xiansun¡¯s lips as he said leisurely, ¡°Although the Tianyuan Region has won first place in the nine regions tournament, as for the Ancestral Dragon Lantern...I¡¯m afraid I can''t give it to you for the time being.¡± Chapter 995 Rallying Together Frost covered Chi Jing¡¯s cheeks, and a Law Domain loomed behind her. She fixed Zhao Xiansun with an icy stare. This bastard wants to create trouble again. ¡°Do you really think your Wanzu Region can dominate Hunyuan Heaven? Do you dare to not abide by the rules set by the nine supreme sovereigns back then?¡± The other six Law Domain experts all wore different expressions, but no one interjected, and they just stared at Zhao Xiansun. As Chi Jing had mentioned, the supreme sovereigns of the nine regions had set the rules of the nine regions tournament, and no one could ignore them, not even the Wanzu Region. Zhao Xiansun chuckled. ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing doesn''t need to tag me with such an unfair label. I, Zhao Xiansun, can¡¯t take such slander.¡± ¡°Then why did you say you can''t give the Ancestral Dragon Lantern to my Tianyuan Region?! Zhou Yuan won first place in the nine regions tournament, and according to the rules, the Tianyuan Region should be in charge of the Ancestral Dragon Lantern!¡± ¡°Yes, according to the rules, that is right,¡± Zhao Xiansun said indifferently. He swept a glance over Chi Jing¡¯s face, and the strange look in his eyes grew more intense. ¡°But this is under the premise that the power in charge of the Ancestral Dragon Lantern must be one of the nine regions!¡± Chi Jing emitted chilling intent from all over her body, causing even the Genesis Qi across the world to roam violently. The whispering voices around the mountain instantly froze, and a number of people cast bewildered gazes to the void. The anger of a Law Domain Expert could be described as earth-shattering. Everybody on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side was puzzled, and Zhou Yuan similarly scrunched his brows together in a frown. He vaguely felt somewhat uneasy. What was Zhao Xiansun planning now? Chi Jing¡¯s voice was icy cold, and vaguely, chilling killing intent filled the surrounding air. ¡°From what you said, it seems you want to remove my Tianyuan Region as one of the nine regions? Haha, could this be supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s order? I¡¯ll let you know that even if he¡¯s a supreme sovereign, he can¡¯t control my Tianyuan Region. If he¡¯s that remarkable, he can try destroying the Tianyuan Region!¡± Her burgundy hair blew in the wind, and her clear eyes grew fiercer. There wasn''t a hint of fear even when she spoke of the Wanzu Region¡¯s supreme sovereign. Although the opponent was a supreme sovereign, it didn''t mean that she couldn''t do anything. If Wan Zu thought he could kick the Tianyaun Region out of the nine regions without an explanation, he had overestimated his strength because although a Saint expert was strong, he wasn''t the only one in Hunyuan Heaven. Lu Xuangang from the Zixiao Region scrunched his brows. ¡°Zhao Xiansun, the nine supreme sovereigns created the nine regions. Your Wanzu Region can¡¯t do whatever you want!¡± Jin Zhong from the Wu Shen Region nodded. ¡°The Wanzu Region isn¡¯t the ruler of Hunyuan Heaven.¡± He interjected to repay Zhou Yuan for not going too far in the nine regions tournament and did not completely take away Wu Yao¡¯s Sacred Dragon Blessing. However, he understood that the most important factor for why Zhou Yuan had stopped was supreme sovereign Wu Shen¡¯s intervention. The other Law Domain experts didn''t say a word, but they evidently felt the same way. If the Wanzu Region really acted so domineering, it meant the Wanzu Region attached no importance to the other regions. Under several Law Domain experts¡¯ watchful gazes, Zhao Xiansun chuckled and said, ¡°You all have misunderstood. Of course I¡¯m not saying the Tianyuan Region will be removed from the nine regions. This isn¡¯t in compliance with the rules anyway.¡± He continued after a pause, ¡°However, you also know that the Tianyuan Region has become weaker and weaker over the years and that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan has been missing for many years. If the Tianyuan Region continues to deteriorate and still occupies one of the nine region positions as well as enjoy huge resources, isn¡¯t that unfair to the sects and factions of Hunyuan Heaven? The other six Law Domain experts fell silent. What did Zhao Xiansun mean? The Tianyuan Region¡¯s strength had indeed deteriorated over the years, but it still possessed a remarkable foundation, so besides the other eight regions, no other sects or factions dared to challenge the Tianyuan Region. Chi Jing stared at Zhao Xiansun, her eyes filled with chilling intent. ¡°So, do you think there are other sects and factions that want to wage war on my Tianyuan Region?¡± Zhao Xiansun wasn''t afraid of her gaze. ¡°The nine region positions are reserved for those who are capable. The Tianyuan Region is deep in the quagmire now, so it is understandable that someone might come forward to challenge the Tianyuan Region.¡± ¡°Is that right? If there are forces that want to challenge my Tianyuan Region, then please come out!¡± Chi Jing scanned the surroundings. In the void, besides the nine regions¡¯ Law Domain experts, there were the leaders of the top sects and factions in Hunyuan heaven. If there were threats to the Tianyuan Region other than the other eight regions, it would be the top sects and factions present. The atmosphere in the void had almost solidified. It was so oppressive that it felt suffocating. On the mountain below, the various sects and factions kept quiet out of fear, because they could feel the argument in the void above wasn''t a small fight anymore. There was a real possibility of it escalating into a real battle. And such a battle would shake the entire Hunyuan Heaven! Under Chi Jing¡¯s icy gaze that could freeze the sea, the Law Domains vibrated, and a figure wielding a crimson light sword slowly floated up. ¡°Haha, I, Hong Jiuyuan from the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect, pays respect to grand elder Chi Jing.¡± He was dressed in a crimson robe and had a pale face, and when he smiled, the void behind trembled. A fiery red Law Domain faintly formed around him, roaring with monstrous sword hums. The sound waves caused even the void to show faint signs of burning. Hong Jiuyuan was the sect master of the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect! Chi Jing¡¯s icy cold gaze paused on the crimson-clad man. She said indifferently, ¡°So it¡¯s your Crimson Cloud Sword Sect that plans to declare war on the Tianyuan Region?¡± Hong Jiuyuan chuckled as he met Chi Jing¡¯s heart-chilling gaze. ¡°Although my Crimson Cloud Sword Sect has expanded pretty well over the years, there is still a huge gap between the Tianyuan Region and us. Therefore...¡± ¡°Therefore, there¡¯s also my Venomous Dragon Palace!¡± A low voice rang out, and a thin old man flew over on a dragon¡¯s silhouette, his wrinkled body exuding terrifying power. ¡°There¡¯s also my Spirit Swallower Pavilion,¡± said a figure shrouded in black Qi that concealed even his face. But within the black fog, there seemed to be countless spirits wailing miserably. ¡°Thunder Mountain.¡± A giant-like burly figure stood tall in the void, his body flashing with lightning that caused the world to quake. Four top forces of Hunyuan Heaven showed hostile intent. Was there going to be a huge earthquake set off in Hunyuan Heaven? But it wasn''t over. Another white-haired old man appeared. His hair was completely white and so was his beard, and he resembled an immortal. ¡°How could my Tri-Mountain Alliance be missing from such a grand event?¡± Hua! Even the pupils of the other six regions¡¯ Law Domain experts shrank rapidly. Nobody thought that even the Tri-Mountain Alliance would take part. Amongst the many top sects and factions, the Tri-Mountain Alliance was considered one of the strongest because there were three Law Domain experts in the sect! Lu Xuangang¡¯s and Jin Zhong¡¯s expressions grew serious. They swept a glance at Zhao Xiansun and understood that the Wanzu Region had arranged everything. It seemed that the Wanzu Region¡¯s supreme sovereign had no intention of enduring any longer and wanted to bare his teeth to the Tianyuan Region. Faintly, they could feel a foul wind and a rain of blood that could impact the entire Hunyuan Heaven brewing. Chapter 996 Declaration of War The entire world seemed to be frozen. Chi Jing¡¯s face was devoid of expression as she stared at Hong Jiuyuan, mountain lord Gui Yuan and the others. She said, ¡°Are you really sure you want to challenge the Tianyuan Region? I will solemnly inform you that this will be considered as waging war against the Tianyuan Region.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s calm voice contained chilling, heart-pounding killing intent. If the top five sects and factions were to jointly challenge the Tianyuan Region, it would be a real war, and the scale of the battle would be the greatest in Hunyuan Heaven in thousands of years, as it was the first time that other forces dared to challenge the nine regions. Hong Jiuyuan said with a smile, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, the Tianyuan Region controls 800 prefectures and occupies numerous training resources. It is really unfair to us.¡± Mountain Lord Gui Yuan added, ¡°If grand elder Chi Jing is willing to share 500 prefectures with us, we won¡¯t offend you again.¡± A sneer tugged the corners of Chi Jing¡¯s lips. ¡°Very well, when my master returns and learns about this, I think he would praise you for your courage.¡± Hong Jiuyuan¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed a little, and a flicker of fear flashed in the depths of their eyes. After all, supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was one of the most powerful existences in Hunyuan Heaven. Had it not been for Cang Yuan¡¯s disappearance, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s constant deterioration over the years, and supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s support for them, they wouldn¡¯t have dared to come stroke a tiger¡¯s whisker. ¡°Haha, if the supreme sovereign could return to Hunyuan Heaven, how could he have ignored the Tianyuan Region for so many years?¡± Zhao Xiansun remarked with a faint smile. Chi Jing stared icily at Zhao Xiansun. How could she not tell that the Wanzu Region was the hand manipulating the top five forces to declare war on the Tianyuan Region? The Wanzu Region must have promised great benefits to the top five forces to drive them to throw away their lives working for the Wanzu Region. Wanzu Region had been preparing for this day for a long time. The Wanzu Region couldn¡¯t take action directly because that would lead to infighting among the nine regions, and the other supreme sovereigns wouldn¡¯t sit back and watch. However, the Wanzu Region didn¡¯t act this time and instead manipulated the top five forces to attack the Tianyuan Region. If the Tianyuan Region were defeated, the Wanzu Region would have more than enough reason to remove the Tianyuan Region as one of the nine regions. Sometimes a superficial show was especially important. The efforts that supreme sovereign Wan Zu had put in to force Cang Yuan out in previous years weren¡¯t enough, and he was beginning to become impatient. This time he intended to destroy the Tianyuan Region to force Cang Yuan to appear in Hunyuan Heaven! However, Zhao Xiansun seemed unconcerned towards Chi Jing¡¯s murderous gaze. He swept a glance across the other six Law Domain experts, saying with a smile, ¡°Everyone, the Tianyuan Region is now facing a challenge with the risk of being overturned. If it happens, the Tianyuan Region most likely can¡¯t be listed as one of the nine regions, isn¡¯t that right? ¡°Otherwise, the countless other sects and factions in Hunyuan Heaven would feel indignant and unsatisfied, and it could lead to disorder. This wouldn¡¯t be a good thing to Hunyuan Heaven, isn¡¯t that right?¡± The other six Law Domain experts kept quiet. The nine regions could be called the rulers of Hunyuan Heaven; therefore, the nine regions had to maintain power. If any one of the nine regions deteriorates or is surpassed by other sects or factions, then the problem lies with that region. The smile on Zhao Xiansun¡¯s face intensified when he saw their silence. He turned to Chi Jing and continued leisurely, ¡°So, if the Tianyuan Region is overturned, it naturally can¡¯t be called one of the nine regions anymore and, of course, won¡¯t have the qualifications to take charge of the Ancestral Dragon Lantern.¡± His expression turned sincere as he continued, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, it¡¯s not that we don¡¯t want to give you the Ancestral Dragon Lantern, but we plan to wait until the Tianyuan Region settles all the problems it is faced with first and then sit stably before we hand over the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. The Tianyuan Region would more justifiably deserve the Ancestral Dragon Lantern then, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Chi Jing fixed Zhao Xiansun with an icy stare. ¡°Old bird Zhao, the Tianyuan Region will remember the Wanzu Region¡¯s actions today and will certainly repay it in the future.¡± Hearing the way Chi Jing addressed him, Zhao Xianxuan immediately darkened because Chi Jing wasn''t the first person to call him that name. The person who started it was Chi Jing¡¯s senior brother. That bastard Zhuan Zhu! Chi Jing shot an icy cold stare at Hong Jiuyuan and the others. ¡°If you really want to declare war on my Tianyuan Region, I will take it on behalf of the Tianyuan Region. From now on, your five forces will be included on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s enemy list, and your people will be killed if they dare get close to the Tianyuan Region¡¯s area!¡± Her words were filled with chilling killing intent. If the top five forces united, there would be no less than eight Law Domain experts, but Chi Jing wasn¡¯t afraid in the slightest because Hong Jiuyuan¡¯s Law Domain foundation was too weak. If a battle really broke out between them, the five Law Domain experts from Tianyuan Region could each deal with two enemies at once. Therefore, the top five forces could pressure the Tianyuan Region, but to shake the foundation, they would have to pay a huge price for it! As Chi Jing¡¯s voice faded, a murderous aura spread out and saturated the air. When Chi Jing¡¯s voice faded, she clenched her fists, and the Law Domain behind her suddenly expanded. Then, a wave of azure light swept out and rolled Zhou Yuan and the others into her Law Domain. Her figure gradually faded and completely disappeared. Her icy cold voice, filled with killing intent, echoed throughout the world. ¡°If you want to fight, the Tianyuan Region will accompany you to the end! Let¡¯s see whether your five forces will dissipate or whether my Tianyuan Region will collapse!¡± The entire world fell silent. Even Hong Jiuyuan, mountain lord Gui Yuan and the other Law Domain experts tensed up. The other six Law Domain experts took a deep look at them before they flung their sleeves and expanded their Law Domains. The people of their regions were all swept inside and disappeared in a flash. Hong Jiuyuan, mountain lord Gui Yuan and the other three Law Domain experts cast a glance at Zhao Xiansun, who nodded at them before vanishing. Hu. Hong Jiuyuan, mountain lord Gui Yuan and the others exchanged glances and inhaled a deep breath. Then, their expressions grew increasingly fierce. It was their perfect opportunity to bite at the Tianyuan Region because it was at its weakest state. Moreover, supreme sovereign Wan Zu had promised to guide them to understand the Saint stage once they completed the task. If one of them becomes a Saint expert, so what if Cang Yuan returns?! With this thought, they unhesitantly turned around and disappeared into the sky. As the several Law Domain experts left, everybody else on the mountain gradually woke from the repressive atmosphere and sped away frantically. They knew that when the news spread, the entire Hunyuan Heaven would be shaken. Compared with that earth-shaking matter, the nine regions tournament could be considered nothing. Chapter 997 Identity Somewhere in the Law Domain, Chi Jing stood with her hands clasped behind her back, with Zhou Yuan standing behind her. ¡°The top five forces have declared war on the Tianyuan Region?¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help quivering when he heard Chi Jing¡¯s words. He knew exactly what this meant: a war of a terrifying scale was about to begin. He had never seen a war of such scale before. Although palace master Sheng Yuan had started the Cangxuan Saint Stamp War back in Cangxuan Heaven, the scale couldn''t be compared to this time even though that war had also involved other sacred sects. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that palace master Sheng Yuan possessed half-Saint strength, the Sacred Palace couldn¡¯t compare to the Tianyuan Region at all. The combined strength of the Tri-Mountain Alliance, Crimson Cloud Sword Sect, Venomous Dragon Palace and other forces wouldn¡¯t be weaker than the Tianyuan Region. As a result, the war was bound to be extremely tragic, and the entire Hunyuan Heaven would lose its brilliance because of it. Chi Jing¡¯s face was covered with frost as she said, ¡°The Wanzu Region must have manipulated all this. Moreover, supreme sovereign Wan Zu has been preparing for this for a long time, if we consider how the Tri-Mountain Alliance and the other top forces had risen after our master¡¯s disappearance. ¡°Therefore, supreme sovereign Wan Zu must have planned this day for a long time. Also, you just won first place in the nine regions tournament. If the Ancestral Dragon Lantern fell into the Tianyuan Region¡¯s hand, the Tianyuan Region would possess terrifying means, and supreme sovereign Wan Zu didn¡¯t want to see this happen. Therefore, he is beginning to reveal his plan.¡± Zhou Yuan''s face darkened, and he hissed through clenched teeth, ¡°That old dog!¡± He had worked incredibly hard for almost two years to win first place in the nine regions tournament. The Ancestral Dragon Lantern was almost in his hands, but supreme sovereign Wan Zu had suddenly appeared and obstructed him. How could he not be angry? Chi Jing comforted, ¡°There is no need to be upset. The Wanzu Region is still hindered by the rules, so it can¡¯t take action and can only support the Tri-Mountain Alliance, Crimson Cloud Sword Sect and the other forces. Now that supreme sovereign Wan Zu has thrown out all his cards, as long as our Tianyuan Region can withstand this onslaught, he will have to hand over the Ancestral Dragon Lantern in the end.¡± Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and said, ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu most likely wants to force the Tianyuan Region onto a road to death and make our master appear in Hunyuan Heaven.¡± Chi Jing nodded. ¡°If our master appears, he will fall into supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s scheme. For people of their levels, even a small flaw revealed could bring endless dangers. ¡°I have sent a letter to several other grand elders. When we return to the Tianyuan Utopia, we will prepare for battle. The Tianyuan Region has to win this war!¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He pondered for a moment and explained the conversation he had with supreme sovereign Wu Shen in the Fallen Abyss. ¡°As I thought, it was supreme sovereign Wu Shen who interfered. But it¡¯s a good thing. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s situation isn¡¯t too good, and we can¡¯t anger the Wushen Region,¡± Chi Jing said apologetically. As Zhou Yuan¡¯s senior sister, she couldn¡¯t help him get justice. Zhou Yuan smiled, expressing his understanding. Moreover, he still had a pretty good harvest this time. At the very least, he took back a part of the Sacred Dragon Blessing from Wu Yao. If he could find the time to integrate it, he most likely could progress further in the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Although he might not be able to increase his Genesis Qi to the grade-9 Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi, it was possible to increase it from grade 7 to grade 8. Even so, his strength would no doubt skyrocket. Of course, more importantly, he could take this breakthrough to truly step into the Heavenly Sun stage! A large quantity of Spiritium had appeared after the nine regions tournament, which meant many people in Hunyuan Heaven at the pinnacle of the Divine Dwelling stage would start their breakthrough and attack the highest-grade Heavenly Sun. If Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t take advantage of the time to break through, he would be left behind again. Even if he had broken the limits of the Divine Dwelling stage, he still couldn¡¯t be compared to a Heavenly Sun stage expert. Therefore, he needed to begin his breakthrough. ¡°There is another thing. Since you said that supreme sovereign Wan Zu and supreme sovereign Wu Shen are already aware of your identity, it isn¡¯t necessary for you to conceal your identity anymore. I intend to announce your identity in the next grand elder meeting, because according to the rules that our master set, his disciples can become grand elders of the Tianyuan Region,¡± Chi Jing explained. ¡°And as this war approaches, the announcement of your identity can reassure some people that our master hasn¡¯t fallen. It was just that he hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head when he heard Chi Jing¡¯s words. The position of grand elder could be said to be the highest in the Tianyuan Region, and in terms of status, it was much higher than his current position of chief pavilion master. If he were to become a grand elder, even Nascent Source stage elders would have to pay respect to him. However, in the end, Zhou Yuan muttered, ¡°I don¡¯t mind announcing my identity to reassure the citizens, but you don¡¯t need to restore my status as a grand elder yet.¡± That position was too high and too eye-catching. Even if he successfully broke through to the Heavenly Sun stage, he was still only a Heavenly Sun stage expert, and wouldn¡¯t it be strange to have a grand elder only at the Heavenly Sun stage? Even if no one dared say a word because of Cang Yuan¡¯s prestige, could anybody guarantee that there wouldn¡¯t be any resentment in other people¡¯s hearts? It wouldn¡¯t be a problem if Cang Yuan was overseeing the Tianyuan Region, but the Tianyuan Region was about to face a fierce war. Therefore, it was important to set the mind of the people at ease, and Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t want to ruin the state of the Tianyuan Region for his own power rights. If he announced his identity as one of Cang Yuan disciples, even if he refused to be a grand elder, no one within the entire Tianyuan Region would dare point a finger at him. Chi Jing was taken aback seeing Zhou Yuan decline, but she soon understood. She couldn¡¯t help but take a deep look at him. She stretched out her slender hand to gently rub Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re so considerate, but I, your senior sister, was too reckless.¡± Her admiration for Zhou Yuan had grown even greater. She knew more than anyone else what the grand elder position represented, but Zhou Yuan was able to resist the temptation. It was no wonder her master thought so highly of him. ¡°When we return to Tianyuan Utopia, you should prepare to enter closed-door cultivation to attack the Heavenly Sun stage.¡± Chi Jing smiled. ¡°As for this war, you don''t need to worry about it. Even though the Tianyuan Region has deteriorated over the years, not just any jumping clown can provoke us.¡± Zhou Yuan gently nodded, but he knew that it wouldn¡¯t be as simple and easy as Chi Jing said. It was just that a Divine Dwelling expert couldn¡¯t do anything to affect the situation given the war¡¯s scale. His priority should be to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage. A Heavenly Sun stage expert was considered a top elite even in the entire Hunyuan Heaven. And within the Cangxuan Sect, he would be considered an elder-level expert. Since the top five forces had declared war on the Tianyuan Region, the Law Domain experts were naturally the top power, and both sides wouldn''t act recklessly for the time being. Therefore, Nascent Source stage experts were the second strongest power. However, the main collision would be between Heavenly Sun experts! The Heavenly Sun experts of both sides were bound to break out into an extremely fierce battle. Chapter 998 Third Official Disciple In the first moment of returning to Tianyuan Utopia, she released the Four Pavilions members from the Law Domain. Standing at a high height, she peered at the vast utopia, watching countless figures shuttling back and forth. It was a bustling scene. ¡°Close all teleportation points in Tianyuan Utopia! All experts of the Divine Dwelling stage, Heavenly Sun stage and Nascent Source stage, immediately come out of closed-door training and wait for my orders!¡± Chi Jing¡¯s cold voice echoed throughout the world. Boom! An earthshaking commotion broke out in the Tianyuan Region, and countless people cast bewildered gazes towards Chi Jing in the void above. They had no idea what she intended to do. But Chi Jing didn''t explain anything. After she gave the order, elders would take care of that task. The entire Tianyuan Utopia turned chaotic for a moment. After issuing the urgent order to prepare for battle, Chi Jing¡¯s figure flashed and reappeared in a great hall, where four figures sat around a round table. They were the other four grand elders of the Tianyuan Region. Sect master Xuan Kun of the Heavenly Spirit Sect was the first to question Chi Jing. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why did the top five forces suddenly declare war on our Tianyuan Region?¡± They had received a message from Chi Jing a moment earlier. Clan leader Mu Ni from the Wood Clan, Patriarch Bai Ye from the White Clan and Patriarch Bian Chang from the Profound Crystal Clan all wore solemn expressions. ¡°Zhou Yuan defeated Zhao Mushen and won first place in the nine regions tournament,¡± Chi Jing said. Sect master Xuan Kun and the others were stunned for a moment, and finally, they couldn''t help exclaiming, ¡°Zhou Yuan won first place?¡± They found it unbelievable. Although they knew Zhou Yuan was extremely talented, they never thought he could defeat Zhao Mushen! Chi Jing said, ¡°But you should also know that this is only a minor factor that triggered this war. The real reason is that it¡¯s the order of the Wanzu Region¡¯s supreme sovereign. Only he could drive the top five forces to risk their lives to offend the Tianyuan Region.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun and the others all darkened hearing this. They were naturally aware of supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s dislike of the Tianyuan Region. The main reason for the Tianyuan Region¡¯s deterioration over the years was precisely supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s action. Grand elder Mu Ni, who always had a good temper, couldn''t help but hiss coldly, ¡°He went too far this time!¡± He was a little discontented. He felt that Chi Jing was still too young and arrogant. If he were there instead of Chi Jing, he wouldn''t have given Zhao Xiansun an excuse to create trouble for the Tianyuan Region. Mu Ni said indifferently, ¡°Sect master Xuan Kun, when you faced the hidden means of the Wanzu Region in the past, such as supporting the rise of the Tri-Mountain Alliance, you chose to stay quiet and kept the peace in the end. But was the Tri-Mountain Alliance ever grateful for that? Now that they have grown stronger, they didn''t hesitate to bite at us. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu has been plotting this for years, do you think he won¡¯t let the knife fall just because you¡¯re hiding like a turtle?¡± Sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s expression changed a little, and he finally kept quiet. ¡°We can¡¯t really blame sect master Xuan Kun. Ultimately, the reason this happened is that the Tianyuan Region doesn''t have a supreme sovereign standing guard,¡± patriarch Bai Ye said with a smile. Patriarch Bian Chang from the Profound Crystal clan spoke in an indifferent tone, ¡°But clan leader Mu Ni is right. This isn¡¯t something we could have avoided. Since the top five forces want to act as swords for someone else, our Tianyuan Region can¡¯t be afraid. Otherwise, we will become a joke of Hunyuan Heaven.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun finally nodded. ¡°Since the other side has declared war, we certainly can¡¯t show any weakness. If they want to fight, our Tianyuan Region will fight to the end!¡± Although the several grand elders often had quarrels and disagreements, they understood that in the face of a challenge from outsiders, benefit to any one of them meant benefit to all, whereas harm to one meant harm to all. Chi Jing nodded expressionlessly. ¡°The Elder Committee will discuss how to tackle the war. I have already issued an order to inform experts of the Divine Dwelling stage, Heavenly Sun stage and Nascent Source stage to prepare for battle.¡± While they were speaking, the flames of war began to rise, and all Divine Dwelling experts, Heavenly Sun experts and Nascent Source stage experts were mobilized. The scale of the battle could be easily imagined. This time, however, sect master Xuan Kun and the others no longer opposed the war because they understood that the top five forces had jointly declared war on the Tianyuan Region, and it wouldn''t be a small battle. It would no doubt set off a storm of blood, and it was unknown how many people would lose their lives in the war. Any war was incomparably tragic. Chi Jing scanned the surroundings and said, ¡°There¡¯s another matter.¡± She raised her hand into the air, and the Law Domain spread out behind her. Soon, sect master Xuan Kun and the others saw a young and slender figure stepping out. It was Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± Sect master Xuan Kun stared at him, frowning. Sect master Xuan Kun evidently still had some prejudice against Zhou Yuan. After all, Zhou Yuan had ruined his plan before, as well as suppressed all the Divine Dwelling experts of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, this is a grand elder meeting that even great elders aren¡¯t eligible to participate. Why did you bring him here? Are you ignoring the rules?¡± sect master Xuan Kun questioned in an imposing, deep voice. Patriarch Bai Ye added, ¡°Although Zhou Yuan won first place in the nine regions tournament and should be rewarded for his achievements, it still isn¡¯t right for grand elder Chi Jing to bring him here.¡± Grand elder Bian Chang didn¡¯t say a word and just swept a glance over Zhou Yuan¡¯s face and soon retracted his gaze. After all, the gap in status between them was far too great. Chi Jing calmly answered, ¡°I want to inform you of Zhou Yuan¡¯s true identity. ¡°Zhou Yuan is qualified to come here because he is my master¡¯s third official disciple.¡± The air flowing in the great hall seemed to freeze in that instant. Sect master Xuan Kun suddenly straightened his body and studied Zhou Yuan more closely, his expression changing constantly. ¡°Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s third official disciple? Grand elder Chi Jing, are you kidding?!¡± Patriarch Bai Ye and Patriarch Bian Chang stared at Zhou Yuan, their eyes flashing with shock. They completely lost the calmness they had before. Chi Jing cast a glance at Zhou Yuan, who nodded slightly at her before the spirit light in the center of his eyebrows began to glow. The next moment, the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone seemed to rotate slowly, producing an ancient noise. Sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s and the others¡¯ eyes shrank rapidly. ¡°Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualization Method?!¡± sect master Xuan Kun said with difficulty. They knew it was the top spirit tempering method created by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. In this world, only supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciples could practice that technique. Zhou Yuan clenched one hand, and the mottled black brush flashed out, glowing with many ancient Genesis Runes. The Heavenly Yuan Brush! Patriarch Bai Ye¡¯s and Bian Chang¡¯s eyebrows were trembling. It had to be true because no one could take both the Heavenly Yuan Brush and the Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone from Cang Yuan. Sect master Xuan Kun and others exchanged glances with one another, their expressions somewhat complicated, especially so for sect master Xuan Kun. Who would have thought that the youngster who had repeatedly destroyed his plan and infuriated him would be an official disciple of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan! According to the rules that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had set, Zhou Yuan, who was only at the Divine Dwelling stage, could become the Tianyuan Region¡¯s sixth grand elder and be on the same level as him! Thinking of this, even someone with sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s calmness would feel a little suffocated. Chapter 999 Summoning Order They had never thought that a youngster of the Divine Dwelling stage would be on an equal level with them. So what kind of attitude should they face Zhou Yuan with? A peer? But how could they ignore Zhou Yuan''s Divine Dwelling stage strength? Sect master Xuan Kun could casually scold Zhou Yuan in the past, but what about now? Therefore, facing such a situation, even three Law Domain experts felt extremely awkward. At the same time, they couldn''t help but criticize supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s decision back then...It was definitely too hasty. While the three grand elders were conflicted and silent, Zhou Yuan said with a faint smile, ¡°Grand elders, although my master has set the rules back then, I don''t need the status of grand elder, so you don''t have to announce there is a sixth grand elder to the Tianyuan Region.¡± Yuan Kun¡¯s and the others¡¯ stiff faces visibly relaxed when they heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. Evidently, their worries were alleviated. ¡°The reason why we want to announce this matter now is that the Tianyuan Region is about to face a huge war, and my appearance will reassure many people that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan hasn¡¯t died. It¡¯s just temporarily inconvenient for him to appear in Hunyuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly explained to the three, ¡°This way, people with different intentions should be deterred, and they won¡¯t dare to create trouble during this period of time.¡± Xuan Kun and the others exchanged glances with one another and gently nodded in the end. Clan leader Bai Ye smiled. ¡°Zhou Yuan...little friend is right, this news can put the mind of many people at ease.¡± Evidently, she was a little confused about how to address Zhou Yuan. After all, although Zhou Yuan was the chief pavilion master, she didn''t attach much importance to him. But he was an official disciple of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, which changed everything. Strictly speaking, their status was equal. If Zhou Yuan insisted on becoming the sixth grand elder, they didn''t have much reason to stop him. Sect master Xuan Kun cleared his throat and finally said with some difficulty, ¡°It is no wonder that you¡¯re so outstanding. It¡¯s understandable that you could suppress the heaven prides of my Heavenly Spirit Sect. This is not shameful at all for them to lose.¡± He had said it stiffly, but his attitude was evidently much better than before. He clearly wanted to protect his dignity. After all, even Law Domain experts had to accept harsh reality! Everybody looked hopefully at Zhou Yuan. As long as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan returned, all problems would be solved. Zhou Yuan muttered, ¡°My master can¡¯t return for the time being. The matter he is occupied with involves a lot of things, but there is one thing that is certain¡ªnothing has happened to my master.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun and the others nodded. Although disappointed, the most important thing was that they received news that their supreme sovereign was fine. Patriarch Bian Chang¡¯s crystal-like eyes lit up, causing the void to vibrate. ¡°It¡¯s really great to receive news about the supreme sovereign at this time. Grand elder Chi Jing, our Tianyuan Region has to fight with all our strength in this war. Since those dogs of the Wanzu Region dared to bite anyone, we should make them know what it feels like to have their muscles and bones broken!¡± Murderous intent surged from him as he was speaking. Sect master Xuan Kun said indifferently, ¡°Speaking of this, it has been a while since a Law Domain expert of Hunyuan Heaven has fallen.¡± His tone and words sounded a little domineering, and it felt as though he looked down on the Law Domain experts of the top five forces. But as a veteran Law Domain expert and someone who had received guidance from supreme sovereign Cang Yuan in the past, he indeed had the qualification to do so. Patriarch Bai Ye nodded with a smile. Clan leader Mu Ni nodded gracefully. ¡°When Hong Jiuyuan was wounded back then, he begged me for treatment. If I knew about today, I would have only left him with his hands and feet.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned inwardly, watching the several grand elders express their opinions. He could tell that they didn''t seem to think highly of the Law Domain experts of the other top forces. At the very least, the five Law Domain experts present wouldn''t fear them. Chi Jing nodded, and they finally reached a conclusion. ¡°In the next few days, in addition to the prefecture lords and sect masters, all Divine Dwelling experts, Heavenly Sun experts and Nascent Source experts must gather in Tianyuan Utopia, ready for battle!¡± ... Soon after Chi Jing returned to the Tianyuan Utopia, the news of the top five forces declaring war on the Tianyuan Region soon spread throughout the 900 prefectures. The entire Tianyuan Region was shaken. No one thought that someone would dare launch a war against one of the nine regions! This made countless people in Tianyuan Region feel strong anger rise in them. After all, as citizens of the Tianyuan Region, they were proud of being part of the nine regions, and the top five forces¡¯ action was undoubtedly similar to a wolf provoking a tiger! However, there were a number of people worried. They were considered to have sharper senses, and they could feel that the sudden war felt like a conspiracy. The top five forces were acting on behalf of the Wanzu Region! The Wanzu Region had the protection of supreme sovereign Wan Zu, but supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had been missing for many years, and it was uncertain whether he was alive. Many people couldn''t help but worry why the top five forces would want to provoke the Tianyuan Region. Could it be that they were certain that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was unable to return? Thus, in the tense atmosphere of the Tianyuan Region, while countless people were infuriated at the top five forces¡¯ provocation and were clamoring to take revenge, a lot of panic and uneasy emotions were secretly surging. ... In just a few days, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s defense grew much stronger, and all teleportation formations were temporarily closed. At the same time, a large number of Tianyuan Region¡¯s shadow guards flew around within Tianyuan Utopia, removing the spies that the top five forces had placed in the city. Chi Jing and the others were long aware of those spies¡¯ existence. It was just that they weren¡¯t a threat, so they allowed them to live during this peaceful period. But a war was on the verge of breaking out, and the top five forces had directly made it onto Tianyuan Region¡¯s enemy list. Therefore, they longer had to show mercy to those spies. So for the next few days, violent Genesis Qi often erupted from various areas of the Tianyuan Utopia, but fortunately, it was very quickly suppressed. The spies obviously didn''t have the ability to escape in the Tianyuan Region¡¯s headquarters. In addition, during those days, more and more experts of the Divine Dwelling stage, Heavenly Sun stage and Nascent Source stage rushed to the Tianyuan Utopia from various places, causing Tianyuan Utopia to be overcrowded. The smell of war and fire filled the entire world. On an empty island in the northwest of Tianyuan Utopia. There was only a huge square on the island, where endless crowds filled the square from one side to the other. The aura this crowd emitted was so great that it numbed people¡¯s scalps. Moreover, powerful Genesis Qi was roaming around every single person. Everyone¡¯s strength was at least of the Divine Dwelling stage or above! Summoned by Chi Jing, the experts of all clans, sects and forces that fit the requirements were sent to Tianyuan Utopia. In the southwest corner of the square. The Four Pavilions¡¯ people were all gathered. Almost everyone of the Four Pavilions possessed strength of the Divine Dwelling stage and were elites of the young generation. Therefore, when they all gathered together, the momentum and imposing aura they exuded weren''t weak in the slightest. Of course, more importantly, the slender figure standing at the forefront not only attracted awed gazes from Divine Dwelling experts. Even Heavenly Sun stage experts studied him curiously. Naturally, he was Zhou Yuan. He received so much attention because he had defeated Zhao Mushen and won first place in the nine regions tournament. It should be said that ever since the Tianyuan Region was established, the best result achieved was only third place, and they had never won first place in the nine regions tournament. The Tianyuan Region had never achieved this honor even during its strongest time, but it happened to achieve it when it was at its weakest. How could others not find it unbelievable? Zhou Yuan seemed unconcerned about the countless astonished gazes, while Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling wore proud expressions on their faces. ¡°The summoned powers are too great. Many heaven pride experts have shown up.¡± Mu Liu couldn''t help marveling when he saw the sea of people on the square. The majority of the people on the square was once part of the Four Pavilions, and they were also the most influential figures. After leaving the Four Pavilions, they were appointed to various positions in the Tianyuan Region and were rarely seen after that. But they had all been summoned to the Tianyuan Region. Mu Liu smiled at Zhou Yuan, jokingly saying, ¡°But no matter how powerful they are, they can¡¯t be compared to you, the chief pavilion master who has made history. Isn¡¯t that right, Lu Xiao?¡± Lu Xiao¡¯s face stiffly twitched, and he didn''t answer Mu Liu, but he kept scanning the surroundings, looking a little nervous. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Han Yuan couldn''t help asking. He found that Lu Xiao¡¯s state was a little strange, like he was in a state of anxiety. It wasn''t just him; the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples in the Four Pavilions also recoiled in fear. Zhou Yuan swept a puzzled look at them. Seeing Zhou Yuan''s inquiring gaze, Lu Xiao uttered in a low voice, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing has issued a summoning order, which means all experts of the Divine Dwelling stage, Heavenly Sun stage and Nascent Source stage have to come today...¡± He swallowed a mouthful of saliva before he continued, ¡°In other words...senior sister Qin Lian will also appear.¡± When he uttered the name, Zhou Yuan saw the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples shudder quietly, as if the temperature had dropped several degrees. Mu Liu¡¯s and Han Yuan¡¯s faces also changed. They both inhaled sharply and cast a sympathetic look at Lu Xiao. ¡°Hurry and apply to go into closed-door cultivation.¡± Lu Xiao was tempted. Zhou Yuan shook his head and pointed to the crowd moving aside in seconds to let a group of people pass. The group was led by an extremely imposing and tall figure, and where she passed, even Heavenly Sun experts withdrew one after another, their expressions changing. Chapter 1000 Qin Lian The other Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples beside him all bowed their heads like ostriches. Zhou Yuan was a little surprised to see the woman called Qin Lian have such an imposing manner and power to scare the Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples to such a state. ¡°Who is Qin Lian?¡± he asked Yi Qiushui. Yi Qiushui covered her mouth and whispered, ¡°An influential figure well-known throughout the entire Tianyuan Region. She is ranked sixth on the Heavenly Sun List, and once led the Tianyuan Region to win fifth place in the nine regions tournament, the best result in almost one hundred years except for yours.¡± A look of surprise crossed Zhou Yuan''s face. He was aware of the nine regions tournament¡¯s difficulty. Ever since the Tianyuan Region was established, it had only achieved third place even during its most flourishing period. Therefore, it was extremely difficult to win fifth place. ¡°Senior sister Qin Lian is a disciple of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. No, she is now considered the youngest elder in the sect, and within Heavenly Spirit Sect, she is known as the female devil who sends shivers down countless disciples¡¯ spines. ¡°She is in charge of disciplining and teaching the disciples, but her methods of correction are brutal and cruel. She must have strictly disciplined Lu Xiao and the others in the past for them to be so fearful of her. Even though the Tianyuan Region is somewhat weak in these years, amongst the Four Pavilions, the most outstanding people of each generation were mostly disciples of the Heavenly Spirit Sect.¡± Yi Qiushui looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Until you appeared.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. His appearance had dimmed the brilliant light of this generation¡¯s Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples, and he had completely suppressed them. Qin Lian no doubt felt that Lu Xiao and the other Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples were incompetent compared to him. It was no wonder that Lu Xiao and the others trembled at her name. It must have left a deep psychological shadow within them. Yi Qiushui sighed. ¡°The outside world says that the glory of the Tianyuan Region stopped at Qin Lian''s generation, because ever since her, each generation of young people got weaker and weaker. If you hadn¡¯t appeared, the Tianyuan Region certainly would be ranked at the bottom of the nine regions tournament again, and we might not have been able to even capture a stone statue.¡± This was very likely, because without Zhou Yuan, the Tianyuan Region could only rely on Lu Xiao. But Lu Xiao didn''t even have the confidence to win against the second-rate heaven prides of the other eight regions. The Tianyuan would become a laughing stock if he lost. Zhou Yuan swept a glance over the woman in the front. She had an extraordinarily tall figure, and her legs were straight and slender. She was dressed in a spotless azure robe, and it made her face look even more beautiful. Her sword-like eyebrows, in particular, made her eyes especially sharp, and nobody dared to look at her directly. Her long hair, tied in a ponytail with a bamboo strip, hung down to her ankles and swayed gently as she walked, like a scorpion¡¯s tail. When her footsteps halted, the atmosphere seemed to freeze for a moment. ¡°Elder Qin Lian,¡± Lu Xiao and the other Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples said cautiously. There wasn''t a trace of an expression on Qin Lian¡¯s face. She shot a glance at Lu Xiao and the others before an icy voice rang out like the cold winter. ¡°You have disappointed me. You are the worst generation of the Heavenly Spirit Sect in many years. When I sent you to the Four Pavilions, I repeatedly reminded you to practice hard if you don''t want to be trampled. ¡°Unfortunately, not a single one of you listened because you thought it was enough for you to dominate the Four Pavilions. If it weren¡¯t for special circumstances, you would have made the Tianyuan Region lose face!¡± Mu Liu, Han Yuan and the others felt their scalp go numb because Qin Lian¡¯s words were too ruthless. She basically pointed at Lu Xiao and the others in the face and scolded them like trash. Lu Xiao and the others flushed with embarrassment and bowed their heads in shame. ¡°Senior sister Qin Lian, please calm down. I think Lu Xiao and the others have done their best. After all, you can¡¯t ask everyone to be as good as you.¡± A laugh sounded from behind Qin Lian. It was a man in white. He looked handsome, but when he smiled, he exuded an imposing aura. The white-clad man immediately shifted his gaze to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You must be chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, am I right? Our Tianyuan Region really should thank you for turning the tides in the nine regions tournament. Haha, but chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan must quickly break through to the Heavenly Sun stage. After all, Divine Dwelling experts can only serve others in this war. ¡°If you''re afraid of something happening, you can follow us, and we''ll be sure to protect you then.¡± He spoke with a smile, but there was a deep meaning in his words. It seemed that he wanted to tell the other Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples that although the present chief pavilion master was remarkable, they shouldn''t feel too much pressure. Just like in this war involving the Tianyuan Region, Zhou Yuan, as a Divine Dwelling expert, would require the protection of him and other Heavenly Sun stage experts. Zhou Yuan looked at the man in white, and Yi Qiushui whispered to him, ¡°His name is Li Qingyue, the previous generation¡¯s chief pavilion master and now an intermediate Heavenly Sun stage expert.¡± Zhou Yuan looked a little surprised. He didn¡¯t expect him to be the former chief pavilion master. He could tell that Li Qingyue had some unclear feelings towards him, and it must be some kind of discomfort and jealousy. After all, as the previous generation¡¯s chief pavilion master, the achievements he made were a world of difference to Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Zhou Yuan said indifferently, ¡°After today, I will go into closed-door training and attack the Heavenly Sun stage.¡± Li Qingyue smiled. ¡°Then I hope you succeed, but if you really make a breakthrough, according to the rules, you will have to lose the identity of chief pavilion master. As your senior, I can directly recruit you into the team.¡± If Zhou Yuan weren¡¯t the chief pavilion master, he would no longer have the special status similar to an elder. He would become a normal expert who just entered the Heavenly Sun stage, and in a battle situation, Li Qingyue indeed was qualified to order him around. Zhou Yuan shook his head and ignored him. Li Qingyue still wanted to say something, but he immediately kept quiet when he felt a chilling gaze. Qin Lian stepped forward, saying indifferently, ¡°Let alone you, the former chief pavilion master, there haven¡¯t been any chief pavilion masters since the Tianyuan Region¡¯s establishment who could compare with the present. Therefore, you don''t need to have such jealous emotions.¡± Li Qingyue shrugged his shoulders, looking a little embarrassed. Qin Lian came to stand in front of Zhou Yuan, and her tall height made her on the same eye level as Zhou Yuan. Her scorpion-tail-like ponytail gently swung behind her. As she stood in front of Zhou Yuan, a gush of extremely astonishing Genesis Qi pressure spread out from her body, distorting the void with a yang energy unbearable to ordinary people. It was as though the void was burning. Lu Xiao and the others couldn''t help drawing back frantically. Only Zhou Yuan remained calm. The mighty Genesis Qi in his Divine Dwellings roared to withstand the pressure from the woman in front of him. The pressure lasted for more than a dozen seconds before gradually fading. Zhou Yuan faintly smiled. ¡°Does elder Qin Lian also have some advice?¡± The group seemed a little aggressive, but Zhou Yuan didn''t find it strange. After all, he had suppressed all Heavenly Spirit Sect disciples of this generation to the point that they couldn''t even throw a fit. Qin Lian and Li Qingyue were disciples of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, so it was inevitable that they wanted to come out to suppress and intimidate Zhou Yuan. Qin Lian stared at Zhou Yuan''s face, studying him for a good moment, then finally nodded. ¡°You aren¡¯t bad. I hope you break through to the Heavenly Sun stage as soon as possible. With your ability, I look forward to seeing you once again create stormy waves in the Heavenly Sun stage and raise the prestige of my Tianyuan Region. ¡°In addition, I would like to thank you on behalf of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. If it weren¡¯t for you, the Tianyuan Region team led by Lu Xiao would have made the Heavenly Spirit Sect lose face in the nine regions tournament.¡± Chapter 1001 Gather While Zhou Yuan stared at her in surprise, she seemed to know what he was thinking. She raised her sword-like eyebrows and said, ¡°Don''t worry, I¡¯m not that narrow-minded. If you hadn¡¯t turned the tides in the nine regions tournament, the Divine Dwelling experts in the Tianyuan Region would have been trampled into the ground. ¡°Compared to suffering a devastating blow to our reputation, what would it matter if you suppressed the Heavenly Spirits Sect¡¯s Divine Dwelling experts? They¡¯re just too incompetent.¡± She again shot Lu Xiao and the others an icy stare with her piercing sword-like eyes. Zhou Yuan didn''t know how to respond to Qin Lian¡¯s ruthless words and could only force a smile. ¡°But¡­,¡± Qin Lian paused for a moment before she continued, ¡°Lu Xiao and the others are useless, but that doesn''t mean the Heavenly Spirit Sect is like them. Besides, those on the Heavenly Sun List are the real hidden dragons. I look forward to you making your way onto the Heavenly Sun List and seeing whether you can create waves in that bottomless pool. ¡°One last thing. If you want to be involved in this war, try to come to the territory under my control, and I will do my best to take care of you.¡± Zhou Yuan had made a name for himself in the nine regions tournament, which undoubtedly attracted a lot of jealousy. In ordinary times, those jealous feelings wouldn¡¯t matter, but during a war, it was impossible to guarantee that the five top forces¡¯ Heavenly Sun experts wouldn''t look for an opportunity to kill him. Although Zhou Yuan was considered the strongest among all Divine Dwelling experts, if he broke through to the Heavenly Sun stage, he would only be at the initial level. This meant it would be very dangerous for him to face veteran Heavenly Sun experts or even deal with those who hadn¡¯t made it onto the Heavenly Sun List. Therefore, Qin Lian was looking out for Zhou Yuan. In response to Qin Lian¡¯s goodwill, Zhou Yuan said with a smile, ¡°If I face a problem, I will certainly ask elder Qin Lian for help.¡± Qin Lian could feel the politeness in Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. She couldn''t help but shake her head inwardly. She just treated it as Zhou Yuan still having an air of arrogance from being the strongest of the Divine Dwelling stage and his not wanting to lose face. Did he know that the waters of the Heavenly Sun stage were much deeper than the Divine Dwelling¡¯s? Therefore, Qin Lian didn¡¯t say anything else. She was also an extremely proud person, and she only expressed goodwill to Zhou Yuan because he helped the Tianyuan Region in the nine regions tournament. But if he didn¡¯t appreciate her goodwill, there was nothing else she could say. Qin Lian turned around and led her people to the side. Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze. Looking at the countless figures on the tremendous floating island, he felt the intense battle intent that had filled the world. He pursed his lips. From a certain point of view, these people were fighting for the same goal as him. Only when they defeated the five forces would the Wanzu Region hand over the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. The atmosphere on the floating island became more and more intense, and famous Heavenly Sun experts constantly appeared, causing exclamations of surprise to often ring out. Qin Lian was undoubtedly the most dazzling among the arrivals, so their gazes were filled with awe as they stared at her. Even some Nascent Source stage experts occasionally cast her admiring gazes. Qin Lian was evidently the most popular among the Tinayuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts. In addition to Qin Lian, Zhou Yuan saw other imposing figures. He peered ahead and saw a large number of White Clan experts assembling. At the forefront of the group was a white-haired man whose face was pale, and he wore a heart-chilling smile on his face. He even exuded a faint discernible oppressive pressure. He was Bai Yu from the White Clan, and he belonged to the same generation as Qin Lian and was ranked 15th on the Heavenly Sun List. Not far from Bai Yu was a burly man standing with his arms crossed. The man¡¯s eyes were like crystals, and a mysterious light surged around his body. He was Bian Buji from the Profound Crystal Clan, ranked 19th on the Heavenly Sun List. Farther away was a delicate woman with a particularly slim willow-like body. Her expression was gentle and kind. It was Mu Youlan of the Wood Clan, ranked 23rd on the Heavenly Sun stage. In addition to those most eye-catching people, several other Heavenly Sun stage experts were exuding equally terrifying pressure from their bodies. Some were most likely ranked on the Heavenly Sun List. From this, it was already enough to indicate that the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun foundation was indeed much stronger than their foundation of Divine Dwelling stage experts. This was normal because many Heavenly Sun experts had emerged before the Tianyuan Region had begun to decline and weaken. Under the pressure of the many Heavenly Sun experts, the Divine Dwelling experts on the floating island couldn''t help trembling, feeling weak and insignificant. Although what Li Qingyue had said wasn''t pleasant to the ear, it was indeed true. In a war of this level, the Heavenly Sun stage experts were the main force, whereas the Divine Dwelling experts could only assist and receive their commands. Buzz! While Zhou Yuan was sighing inwardly, Genesis Qi rippled through the void, and five figures emerged in the sky. Immediately, an indescribable majestic aura shrouded the world. Under this aura, even the floating island buzzing with people fell silent immediately. Let alone the Heavenly Sun stage experts, even the Nascent Source stage elders in the front bowed respectfully to the five figures in the void, their faces filled with awe. ¡°Paying respect to the five grand elders.¡± Countless figures on the floating island bowed one after another. ¡°Paying respect to the grand elders!¡± It was Chi Jing and the other four grand elders. Chi Jing swept a look over the countless figures on the floating island, nodding gently. ¡°Presumably, you already know that five top forces, including the Tri-Mountain Alliance, Crimson Cloud Sword Sect and the Venomous Dragon Palace, have declared war on the Tianyuan Region. As one of the nine regions, we can¡¯t easily let them off for their disrespectful action. ¡°My Tianyuan Region will fight this battle with all our strength and make them pay a disastrous price. Only then will nobody dare to underestimate my Tianyuan Region!¡± Roars echoed throughout the floating island. ¡°Fight with all our strength!¡± ¡°Fight with all our strength!¡± ¡°......¡± However, a worried frown crossed some people¡¯s faces. They weren¡¯t afraid of the top five forces but the Wanzu Region that was behind them. The majority of them were Nascent Source stage experts, as only people of their level would understand the deeper cause of this war. Chi Jing took in all the reactions and said calmly, ¡°In addition to the war, there is another important matter I want to tell you.¡± Under the countless gazes, Chi Jing pointed to Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You all must know that Zhou Yuan won first place in the nine regions tournament.¡± Many people cast a look at Zhou Yuan and marveled quietly. Some Nascent Source experts, however, didn''t have much of a ripple of emotion on their faces because in their opinion, placing first in the nine regions tournament didn''t mean anything. Rather, the nine regions tournament was just a little game among their little Divine Dwelling juniors. Chi Jing¡¯s voice fell from the sky and echoed in everyone''s ears, ¡°What I want to say is that Zhou Yuan has another identity...he is supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s third official disciple.¡± When her words resounded, it undoubtedly was like a tremendous bomb exploding on the floating island, causing everyone¡¯s pupils to shrink abruptly. The Nascent Source experts¡¯ faces were also twisted with disbelief. Qin Lian spun her head around and looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s expressionless face, her mouth widening. Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and Lu Xiao also stared dumbstruck at him. What did they hear?! Chapter 1002 War Credi On the floating island, countless people stared at the young figure behind them in disbelief. Even Nascent Source experts were in a state of shock. It was obvious how much Chi Jing¡¯s words had shaken them. Everyone in the Tianyuan Region knew that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan only had two disciples, Zhuan Zhu and Chi Jing. Those two were top experts known throughout Hunyuan Heaven! But Chi Jing suddenly informed them that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had a third disciple called Zhou Yuan, who was only at the peak of the Divine Dwelling stage! Countless people couldn''t believe it and found it impossible. In that silent world, Zhou Yuan didn''t utter a word and just clenched his hand. The Heavenly Yuan Brush flashed out, and ancient and mysterious Genesis Runes flickered on its body. Spirit power spread out behind him, vaguely revealing a Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone releasing ancient, oppressive pressure. ¡°The Heavenly Yuan Brush!¡± ¡°The Primal Chaos Divine Grindstone Visualisation Method?!¡± When the Heavenly Yuan Brush and the silhouette of the divine grindstone appeared, unsurprisingly, gasps and exclamations of shock rippled through the crowd. Even the Nascent Source experts trembled and inhaled sharply. After all, neither object could be faked. Chi Jing¡¯s indifferent voice rang out again, ¡°Zhou Yuan, who is from another Heaven, had caught my master¡¯s attention and was ordered to come to the Tianyuan Region.¡± Countless people stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure with blazing looks. But this time, admiration and envy gushed from their eyes. However, the eyes of the Nascent Source experts lit up. They understood the deeper meaning within Chi Jing¡¯s words: supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was still safe and sound in the world. After all, Zhou Yuan wasn''t very old, so if Cang Yuan had accepted Zhou Yuan as a disciple, it must have happened in recent years. They quietly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was alive, they felt they could stand up straight and no longer have to fear the Wanzu Region. The Nascent Source experts all peered at Zhou Yuan and couldn''t help feeling envious. This kid has such good luck to be favored by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. If he really is the supreme sovereign¡¯s official disciple, it isn¡¯t surprising that he achieved so many amazing things in less than two years. ¡°He¡¯s the supreme sovereign¡¯s third official disciple?¡± Li Qingyue¡¯s face turned ashen. Earlier, he had said Zhou Yuan would lose his identity as chief pavilion master if he broke through to the Heavenly Sun stage, but it seemed Zhou Yuan wouldn''t care about this identity and status. According to the Tianyuan Region¡¯s rules, the supreme sovereign¡¯s disciples would become grand elders, a level equal to sect master Xuan Kun! Qin Lian also wore a complicated look on her face. Many remarkable and talented heaven prides had always hoped to become supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s official disciple, but that position fell to Zhou Yuan. ¡°It¡¯s really unfair.¡± Qin Lian muttered to herself. Zhou Yuan was indeed outstanding and had won first place in the nine regions tournament, and perhaps he was already invincible in the Divine Dwelling stage, but in Qin Lian¡¯s and many Heavenly Sun experts¡¯ eyes, Zhou Yuan was too young and inexperienced. After all, who of the present Heavenly Sun experts weren¡¯t above the others back when they were at the Divine Dwelling stage? Although they had never won first place in the nine regions tournament, they had achieved many other remarkable feats. They had also gone through painstaking training to reach their present level and earn a place in Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage. Their achievements were not necessarily inferior to Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Moreover, even if one was outstanding in the Divine Dwelling stage, it did not necessarily mean one would achieve the same in the Heavenly Sun stage. It remained to be seen how bright Zhou Yuan''s future would be. Therefore, when Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity was announced, even Qin Lian and other open-minded people felt indignant and unhappy, let alone other Heavenly Sun experts. For example Bai Yu and Bian Biji, who stared at Zhou Yuan with scorching eyes, carefully scrutinized him. If Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity were what it used to be, they would have likely challenged him already. Zhou Yuan was very calm towards the countless shocked and scrutinizing gazes because he had already expected this scene. After all, his identity as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s third disciple was indeed unbelievable, even for Nascent Source experts. ¡°You...¡± Looking at Zhou Yuan, Lu Xiao, Mu Liu, Yi Qiushui and the others couldn''t say a word. With some difficulty, Yi Qiushui finally said, ¡°How could you be the third official disciple of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan?¡± She was considered the person who knew Zhou Yuan the best, and she was also the first person Zhou Yuan had met in Hunyuan Heaven. She had never thought that the young man she had saved would possess such a terrifying identity. Zhou Yuan smiled at her. ¡°It was my master who sent me to the Tianyuan Region, but I was injured in the spatial storm.¡± Ye Bingling cried out, ¡°No wonder you¡¯re so abnormal. So you¡¯re a disciple of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan.¡± After saying this, she covered her mouth and chuckled. The Four Pavilions disciples all stared at Zhou Yuan in awe. It was clear that they felt a lot of pressure after Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity was exposed, and even the members previously close to Zhou Yuan became a little cautious. After all, Zhou Yuan''s identity wasn¡¯t that of a chief pavilion master, and his status was instead comparable to one of the five grand elders! The silence on the floating island continued for a long while, and finally, there was a low murmur of whispers. However, after experiencing the initial shock, everyone finally realized that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was still alive. The atmosphere buzzed like never before, and everyone beamed with joy. As long as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was around, there would always be a stabilizing force in the Tianyuan Region. In the void, Chi Jing cast a glance at Zhou Yuan. After revealing Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s morale had dramatically improved. However, this also brought Zhou Yuan considerable pressure, such as scrutiny from Heavenly Sun experts. Although they didn''t dare to overstep their bounds because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s new identity, they would inevitably question whether Zhou Yuan had the qualifications to become the supreme sovereign¡¯s third official disciple. But Chi Jing didn''t worry too much because she believed in Zhou Yuan. ¡°Although Zhou Yuan is the third disciple of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan and is qualified to assume the position of grand elder, he has voluntarily declined. So, for the time being, there are still only five grand elders in the Tianyuan Region,¡± Chi Jing¡¯s voice rang out again. An uproar broke out, and countless people were a little surprised since no one thought Zhou Yuan would willingly give up such authority. Some Nascent Source experts¡¯ expressions also changed, but when they looked at Zhou Yuan again, they had a much better opinion of him. After all, they were only second to the five grand elders, and it would be difficult for them to bow respectfully to a junior at the Divine Dwelling stage. After Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity was revealed, the atmosphere on the floating island gradually reached its peak. Chi Jing grew solemn. With the flick of her finger, universe Genesis Qi came rolling over and formed a huge map in the void. ¡°From the information we have, the experts of the Tri-Mountain Alliance, Crimson Cloud Sword Sect, Venomous Dragon Palace, Spirit Swallower Pavilion and the Thunder Mountain have all swarmed out of their nests.¡± There were five territories lit up on the map, each symbolizing one of the top five forces. According to their geographical location, all five happened to be situated around the Tianyuan Region. But apart from the Tri-Mountain Alliance, the other four did not share a border with the Tianyuan Region. The situation resembled a group of wolves surrounding the tiger. Looking at this huge map, countless people grew serious because they could already feel the tension from the approaching storm. ¡°From today on, the Tianyuan Region will create the War Service List, which means whoever defeats experts of the five top forces will receive war credit. ¡°The Tianyuan Region will open the door to the treasure house, and with enough war credit, you can exchange for many Heaven Genesis techniques, little Saint Arts, grade-6-and-above Genesis Qi cultivation techniques, Genesis weapons, high-grade pills and other treasures! ¡°Moreover, with enough war credit, you can even exchange for a true Saint Genesis Art.¡± When Chi Jing¡¯s clear voice rang out, the entire Tianyuan Utopia bubbled with excitement, and every time she mentioned a reward, countless people¡¯s eyes reddened, and their breathing turned more hurried. In particular, when the Saint Genesis Art was mentioned, even the eyes of the Nascent Source experts gleamed covetously. ¡°Fight!¡± ¡°Fight!¡± Countless hysterical roars broke out. Facing the temptation of war credit, everyone burned with battle intent, and they saw the five forces¡¯ invading experts as war credits. Chi Jing and the other four grand elders nodded. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. After this day, the war would really break out, and he would soon begin his closed-door training to attack the Heavenly Sun stage. He knew he could only participate in the war once he reached the Heavenly Sun stage. It was all for the Ancestral Dragon Lantern! Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed red. If anyone stopped him from awakening Yaoyao, even if it were a colossal monster like the Wanzu Region, he wouldn''t have the slightest fear. Chapter 1003 Heavenly Dragon Qi The army of experts from the top five forces charged towards the Tianyuan Region from all directions like a swarm of locusts. The Tianyuan Region gave the most direct response; countless experts gathered at the border and immediately ignited the flames of war. At the border front, violent Genesis Qi erupted continuously, and battle cries echoed endlessly. There was a fierce battle everywhere, and the cloying smell of blood filled with air. Experts died on both sides every day. The meat grinder called war was indeed ruthless. This earth-shattering war caused great shock in Hunyuan Heaven, and the Tianyuan Region¡¯s borders became the focus of Hunyuan Heaven. All sects and factions paid great attention to the war. It was the first time in many years that a top force had dared challenge one of the nine regions ever since the nine regions¡¯ status was established. Everyone understood that this war concerned the future structure of Hunyuan Heaven, and if the Tianyuan Region was defeated, its prestige would be completely destroyed and its position as one of the nine regions would become unstable. It could become the first of the nine regions ever to have its status taken away! This would undoubtedly make the Tianyuan Region a laughing stock. Therefore, to maintain its status as one of the nine regions, the Tianyuan Region would fight the war with all its strength. And everybody knew how tragic war could be. ... As the earth-shattering war unfolded like a wildfire at the Tianyuan Region¡¯s borders, Zhou Yuan quietly sat cross-legged on a mountain peak on an uninhabited island in the depths of Tianyuan Utopia. Hurricane winds raged, but whenever a gust neared Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, it quietly disappeared and turned to nothing. His eyes were closed, his breathing faint, and he seemed to have fallen into a state of deep hibernation. He had been in this state for three days. Hu. As Zhou Yuan breathed faintly, the mist began to surge. He slowly opened his eyes to see a powerful wave of Genesis Qi sweep out and cause rumbles of thunder. After three days of adjustment, his state had finally reached its peak. ¡°It''s time to integrate the Sacred Dragon Qi...¡± Zhou Yuan muttered. A hopeful look flashed across his eyes. The Sacred Dragon Qi should have been returned to him when the Great Wu Empire collapsed, but unfortunately, Wu Yao had intercepted him, and he had only retrieved it in the nine regions tournament. PA! Zhou Yuan folded his hands together, performing a sealing technique. Roar! A resounding dragon roar echoed in the depths of his body, quaking the world. Zhou Yuan lifted his head and unhesitatingly activated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. A mysterious suction force broke out from his body, pulling the illusory dragon into his body. Boom! Zhou Yuan''s body rumbled as his skin turned a golden color and broke out with thin dragon scales. His body expanded little by little until he fully transformed into a ten-foot giant. His face didn''t ripple in the slightest as a result of the tremendous changes. With his eyes tightly closed, he fully concentrated on operating the Ancestral Dragon Scripture to integrate the Sacred Dragon Qi raging and causing havoc in his body. Wu Yao had taken away the Sacred Dragon Qi for a long time, and as a result, it had developed a trace of its own willpower, leading to this raging situation. But Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t worried because the Sacred Dragon Qi¡¯s resistance grew increasingly weak as he operated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. The Sacred Dragon Qi began to realize that Zhou Yuan was its true birthplace, and it eventually gave up resisting. It unleashed a joyous dragon roar before transforming into multiple mysterious wisps of golden light. They landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Golden bells seemed to be ringing. Inside the Divine Dwellings, the rays of light of 100 million Genesis Qi stars converged to form a tremendous azure-golden serpent-dragon silhouette. It hovered in the air, emitting endless pressure. Golden light descended from the sky and enveloped the azure serpent-dragon¡¯s huge body. Bathed in the dazzling light, the azure serpent-dragon unleashed a resounding roar before its body began to undergo great changes. The azure scales faded, gradually replaced by platinum-like dragon scales, and even the serpent-dragon began to take the form of a true dragon. Dragon horns that appeared cast from platinum slowly appeared on the serpent-dragon¡¯s head, and its roar began to resemble a true dragon¡¯s roar. The countless Genesis Qi stars inside the Divine Dwellings erupted with more dazzling light, as though cheering. This was a sign that his Genesis Qi grade had increased! However, the transformation from a serpent-dragon to a sacred dragon wasn¡¯t fully completed because the golden light specks that had gradually fallen vanished when the Sacred Dragon Qi¡¯s power was all absorbed. Zhou Yuan''s Spirit peered at the huge silhouette inside the Divine Dwelling. The former World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi was grade 7, and its form was an azure-golden dragon. It had clearly evolved. Its azure color had faded, and its silhouette was similar to a dragon cast from platinum. There were specks of slight purple light flashing around its body, although it was not too obvious. With one thought from Zhou Yuan, the platinum dragon silhouette transformed into a flash of light and vanished. The next moment, mighty Genesis Qi swept out. Its color changed from azure to platinum, and it gave off a cold and domineering aura. ¡°Such strong Genesis Qi...¡± Zhou Yuan studied the Genesis Qi carefully, and a feeling of joy and pleasant surprise gushed up from his heart. The platinum Genesis Qi was undoubtedly much more powerful than the azure-golden Genesis Qi! ¡°The evolution succeeded!¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed. After integrating the Sacred Dragon Qi, his grade-7 World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi increased by one level and was now considered a grade-8 Genesis Qi. However, it was a pity that it was still a distance away from transforming into a Grade-9 Sacred Dragon Qi. That distance was like a heavenly mountain stream. After all, grade-9 Genesis Qi was considered a top weapon in all Heavens. At the very least, Zhou Yuan knew that nobody possessed grade-9 Genesis Qi in the Tianyuan Region! ¡°I''ll call you...the Heavenly Dragon Qi,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. Roar! Mighty Genesis Qi roamed in his body, like a real dragon, causing his flesh and blood to tremble and his bodily strength to improve tremendously. Zhou Yuan¡¯s closed eyes snapped open, and his eyes appeared to be cast from platinum, shooting out beams a thousand feet long. The light beams were so sharp that they pierced right through the mountain peak in front of him. He narrowed his eyes, and the platinum light beams gradually faded. ¡°Such domineering Genesis Qi!¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed to see that the newly evolved Genesis Qi was much stronger than the World Subduing Heavenly Serpent Qi. If he had possessed Genesis Qi of this level when he had faced Zhao Mushen, he wouldn''t have been stuck in a prolonged battle. ¡°Did I use half a month to evolve the Genesis Qi?¡± He calculated the time and let out a long sigh. ¡°The war must have broken out by now, right?¡± He peered into the distance, then soon retracted his gaze because his closed-door cultivation wasn''t finished. When his Genesis Qi had evolved into a grade-8 Genesis Qi, he felt his Divine Dwellings vibrate and the countless Genesis Qi stars showed signs of fusing together. This was a sign that he was on the verge of breaking into the Heavenly Sun stage. Hu. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath, his eyes blazing. It had been more than two years since he reached the Divine Dwelling stage. Could he finally step out of this cultivation level? Zhou Yuan slowly closed his eyes. He looked forward to seeing what grade of Heavenly Sun he would refine in this breakthrough¡­ Chapter 1004 All Parties Breakthrough Many things had happened in Hunyuan Heaven during these three months. The biggest matter, of course, was the war between the Tianyuan Region and the top five forces. No matter how small or great, all sects and factions paid close attention to the changes in the war, and any new developments became the focus of Hunyuan Heaven and led to many heated discussions. When the war first started, the top five forces swarmed out of their nests in full force and headed to the Tianyuan Region borders to capture the frontier cities and other major resource points. That, however, was met with the Tianyuan Region¡¯s head-on attack. Numerous battles broke out at the Tianyuan Region¡¯s borders. From the start of the war, the Tianyuan Region proved its powerful foundation to the world. Even if they had fallen into decline over the years, they still battered and bloodied the armies of experts from the top five forces with their counterattacks, and it was unknown how many experts lost their lives on the battlefield. But the top five forces were extremely tenacious. They were unconcerned about their initial defeat and prepared stronger offensives in the blink of an eye and frantically attacked the Tianyuan Region¡¯s borders. Moreover, the top five forces issued a summons across the entire Hunyuan Heaven. They intended to enlist experts from any parties to join them to suppress the Tianyuan Region. The bait they threw out was that they would split the Tianyuan Region¡¯s 900 prefectures with them. The nine regions¡¯ territories were not only the most abundant in Genesis Qi; they also contained a large number of cultivation resources. Therefore, although they were jealous of such resources, many experts feared the nine regions¡¯ power and didn¡¯t dare to touch them. However, now that a pack of wolves surrounded the deteriorating Tianyuan Region, it was inevitable for some forces to lose their mind to greed and join in to tear a piece of fatty meat from the Tianyuan Region¡¯s colossal body. However, they were still the minority. Many more forces remained neutral and watched from the sidelines. Therefore, it seemed that the top five forces¡¯ move had little effect. But unexpectedly, the top five forces¡¯ armies grew stronger every day. After some investigation, some people found that there were forces continuously supporting the top five forces from the background. Strictly speaking, the majority of those forces were vassals of the Wanzu Region. Although their strength couldn¡¯t compare to the top five forces, they had an advantage in number. With that huge reserve army, their attack against the Tianyuan Region became fiercer, and the borders were washed with blood. It seemed they wouldn¡¯t rest until the Tianyuan Region was destroyed! Many people secretly sighed and felt sorry for what was happening to the Tianyuan Region. In the face of the Wanzu Region¡¯s fierce attacks, it seemed the Tianyuan Region was bound to suffer a calamity. So, with the Wanzu Region assisting in secret, the war gradually changed. In the face of the endless allied forces, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s counterattacks were soon withstood, and the two sides were locked in a fierce battle like a meat grinder. Experts continued to fall endlessly, making the war even more tragic and bloody. The smell of blood brought by the war almost shrouded the entire Hunyuan Heaven. But while the two sides continued to send experts to fill the gap in the war, the Law Domain experts of both sides hadn¡¯t yet acted. Perhaps the Law Domain experts of both parties were watching and waiting for the best moment to attack. After all, a move from a Law Domain expert could easily destroy the world. Although Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the other Law Domain experts were stronger than those of the other party in terms of individual strength, the five forces had an advantage in number, and coupled with Wanzu Region¡¯s secret support, it was difficult to find the best opportunity to attack. Therefore, they had to keep quiet for the time being. In this war, the outcome depended on which side would reveal a flaw first. ... While the war between the Tianyuan Region and the top five forces was like an unstoppable wildfire, another matter attracted a lot of attention. The Divine Dwelling stage heaven prides in Hunyuan Heaven had begun to make breakthroughs one after another. Among them, the most notable were undoubtedly Wanzu Region¡¯s Zhao Mushen, the Wushen Region¡¯s Wu Yao, the Zixiao Region¡¯s Su Youwei and the Xuehai Region¡¯s Wang Xi. The four had completed their breakthroughs at different times, but the most astonishing thing was that each of the four had refined a glass Heavenly Sun! The result drew countless exclamations of admiration. The glass Heavenly Sun was the highest-grade Heavenly Sun, and once refined, it could give birth to 400 million Genesis Qi stars! There were three levels in the Heavenly Sun stage, and similar to the Divine Dwelling stage, as one increased one¡¯s level, the refined Heavenly Sun would more greatly increase one¡¯s foundation. Zhao Mushen and the others had only just entered the initial Heavenly Sun stage, yet they already possessed a foundation of 400 million Genesis Qi stars. From this point, they could challenge even advanced Heavenly Sun experts who had only refined ordinary Heavenly Suns even if they were only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage! After all, an ordinary Heavenly Sun meant that one would only possess a foundation of 100 million Genesis Qi stars. Even at the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, there would at most be 400 to 500 million Genesis Qi stars. In a real battle, it would be impossible for ordinary Heavenly Sun experts to compete against the various regions¡¯ top heaven prides. Of course, this was only for those with ordinary Heavenly Suns. If the top heaven prides were to face a veteran Heavenly Sun expert who had refined a silver-snow Heavenly Sun, they could only challenge those of the intermediate-Heavenly Sun stage. As for facing a veteran Heavenly Sun expert who had refined a purple-gold Heavenly Sun or even a glass Heavenly Sun, they needed to train for a period of time first. Zhao Mushen could be said to have swept away all the bad luck in the nine regions tournament with his breakthrough. Countless people couldn¡¯t help but compliment him. It was no wonder Zhao Mushen had dominated the Divine Dwelling stage for several years. Even if he had encountered a setback, he wasn¡¯t dispirited and refined a glass Heavenly Sun. And when Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei broke through to the Heavenly Sun stage, many people began to turn their attention to the Tianyuan Region. They realized that Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t appeared in the war and had heard that he was preparing to break through to the Heavenly Sun stage. This piqued many people¡¯s interest because they were curious to know what kind of level Zhou Yuan, who had broken the Divine Dwelling stage¡¯s limit, would reach after his breakthrough. If his breakthrough failed...he was bound to become a laughingstock. But that result wouldn¡¯t be surprising. After all, Zhou Yuan had only been at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage for a few months, whereas Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei had prepared for years at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage. Therefore, Zhou Yuan¡¯s breakthrough in Tianyuan Utopia had become the focus of much anticipation and speculation. Chapter 1005 Mysterious Substance A figure was quietly sitting on a mountain peak, his face calm and without a ripple of emotion, like a bottomless pool. However, there were earth-shaking movements in his Divine Dwellings. The 100 million Genesis Qi stars inside his Divine Dwellings were gathering into a dazzling light cluster, and mighty waves of Genesis Qi were continuously sweeping out, creating howls and whistles within his Divine Dwellings. It took Zhou Yuan two months to combine the 100 million Genesis Qi stars into a tremendous cluster of Genesis Qi light. Moreover, that was just the beginning. Zhou Yuan''s Spirit focused on the newly formed light cluster, and with one thought, wisps of Alpha Spiritium came pouring out his spatial bag and followed his breathing into the Divine Dwellings. Swoosh! Alpha Spiritium constantly gushed into the Genesis Qi light cluster. With the addition of Alpha Spiritium, the Genesis Qi light cluster began to undergo major changes. The contained Genesis Qi became purer, as though refined a thousand times. Moreover, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the purest yang qi being born in the Genesis Qi light cluster. The instant the yang qi emerged, the temperature in the Divine Dwellings soared. However, the temperature didn''t make the Divine Dwellings uncomfortable. Instead, the heat spread out from the Divine Dwellings and penetrated Zhou Yuan¡¯s blood and bones, making him feel burning hot like an oven. An indescribable comfortable feeling spread throughout his body. It was pure yang qi. Once the Heavenly Sun was refined, pure yang qi would be born. The qi was mysterious and abnormal and could perfectly integrate with one¡¯s Genesis Qi. After successful integration, one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation would soar to a level unimaginable to Divine Dwelling stage experts. One¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation would skyrocket once one stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage due to the presence of the mysterious pure yang qi. Additionally, Genesis Qi that had integrated with pure yang qi would greatly soar in power. Pure yang qi could be called the Heavenly Sun stage¡¯s greatest gift. The pure yang qi¡¯s appearance also surprised Zhou Yuan a little. He immediately calmed his emotions and continued directing wisps of Alpha Spiritium into his Divine Dwellings. The Alpha Spiritium acted like firewood¡ªthe more there was, the brighter the pure yang qi in the Genesis Qi light cluster. The temperature inside the Divine Dwellings rose until the Genesis Qi light cluster resembled a blazing sun. Under the hot temperature, the Genesis Qi light cluster, without any clear shape, shrank and gradually formed a sphere. The initial form of the Heavenly Sun had appeared. The Genesis Qi erupting from the Heavenly Sun also grew stronger with the color change. The changes didn''t end at purple-gold but continued at a slow and steady speed. It was unknown how long had passed before a glint of glass flashed within the purple-gold. The glassy light spread rapidly, and in just a few breaths, the Heavenly Sun turned sparkling and crystal-clear like glass, untainted by a speck of dust. A glass Heavenly Sun was born! ¡°Is it a glass Heavenly Sun?¡± The birth of a glass Heavenly Sun didn¡¯t surprise Zhou Yuan because if even someone like him, who had broken the Divine Dwelling stage¡¯s limits, failed to refine a glass Heavenly Sun, who else in the world could succeed? But¡­ Was a glass Heavenly Sun the limit? Zhou Yuan''s Spirit gazed intently at the glass sun hanging high in a Divine Dwelling, and for some reason, he felt a strange feeling. It was a feeling of imperfection. Zhou Yuan pondered for a long while, then suddenly patted the spatial bag at his waist. There were still one thousand strands of Alpha Spiritium left inside. He completely inhaled them all into his Divine Dwellings. As he poured 1000 strands of Alpha Spiritium into the glass Heavenly Sun, the sun grew brighter and clearer. However, the particular change that Zhou Yuan expected didn''t appear. Zhou Yuan frowned with disappointment. It seemed that no amount of Alpha Spiritium could produce a change. However, he also understood that this was normal; otherwise, the glass Heavenly Sun wouldn''t be called the highest grade if it were that easy. If even Alpha Spiritium couldn''t bring about the changes he wanted, what could he do to make the Heavenly Sun progress further? Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, and finally, he shifted his gaze to the Saint Rune light sphere hanging high inside the Divine Dwelling. He previously was only able to break the Divine Dwelling limit with the help of the Saint Rune light sphere. He wondered if it could again improve the glass Heavenly Sun. Was this possible? But Zhou Yuan was disappointed once again. The Saint Rune light sphere remained motionless. He didn''t know whether it was because it didn''t want to help him or that it couldn''t help. ¡°Am I overthinking this?¡± Could the glass Heavenly Sun really be the limit? Is it really wishful thinking to want to advance even further? Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly, but just when he was hesitating to withdraw from practice, he suddenly felt movements within his body. He threw his head back and saw something suddenly falling from the void of the Divine Dwelling. It was a mysterious substance flashing with purple-and-gold light. Primitive and boundless, that purple-gold substance was mysterious and emitted an indescribable oppressive power. ¡°What is this?!¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed, but very quickly his heart trembled because he felt a familiar aura from the mysterious substance. ¡°It¡¯s...Yaoyao?!¡± Zhou Yuan felt an earthquake in his heart. That mysterious substance is from Yaoyao?! When did Yaoyao inject that mysterious substance into my body, and what is it, and why would it suddenly appear? While Zhou Yuan was panicking, the mysterious substance touched the glass Heavenly Sun and fused with it. Waves of light erupted from the glass Heavenly Sun, causing the Divine Dwellings to quake violently. Zhou Yuan''s Spirit stared intently at the glass Heavenly Sun. He could clearly see ancient and pale yellow light runes spread across the pure and untainted glass Heavenly Sun, and eventually, they enveloped the entire glass Heavenly Sun. The glass Heavenly Sun has turned into a...rune glass Heavenly Sun? Confusion crossed Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Is this a variant version of the glass Heavenly Sun? However, he could faintly feel that the glass Heavenly Sun had undergone tremendous changes. The ancient and obscure runes weren¡¯t as simple as he had imagined. Each one seemed to be born since the beginning of the world and was filled with an indescribable aura. ¡°Never mind, let''s see what level my Genesis Qi foundation has reached with the new Heavenly Sun...¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. What it became was important, but what was most important was the Genesis Qi foundation! The Genesis Qi foundation of an ordinary glass Heavenly Sun was 400 million, so his rune-marked glass Heavenly Sun should be stronger. Zhou Yuan focussed his Spirit, sensing the Heavenly Sun. A moment later, his eyes shot open, and shock emerged within them. Chapter 1006 Heavenly Sun Stage ¡°There¡¯s that many!?¡± Zhou Yuan could feel 720 million Genesis Qi stars contained in the glass Heavenly Sun marked with ancient runes! Seven hundred and twenty million! In the face of such a tremendous amount, even Zhou Yuan, who was psychologically prepared, froze for a good while. His Heavenly Sun had 320 million more Genesis Qi stars than a normal glass Heavenly Sun! What is this? The number of Genesis Qi stars is double than that of a normal glass Heavenly Sun! Zhou Yuan''s heart trembled. He originally thought that his Genesis Qi foundation would reach 500 million, which he would already be very satisfied with, but it never crossed his mind that the ancient runes brought by the mysterious substance could improve his glass Heavenly Sun to this extent! It could crush all the other glass Heavenly Suns! ¡°The Heavenly Sun stage is indeed terrifying,¡± Zhou Yuan marveled. It was only after truly stepping into the Heavenly Sun stage that he realized the huge gap between the Divine Dwelling stage and the Heavenly Sun stage. It should be said that every 10 million increase in Genesis Qi stars was incredibly difficult at the advanced Divine Dwelling stage, but that little increase wasn¡¯t even worth mentioning in the Heavenly Sun stage. In the Heavenly Sun stage, Genesis Qi foundation was measured by the hundred million. It was no wonder that even the most ordinary Heavenly Sun stage experts could easily beat a top Divine Dwelling expert. Even without bringing out any Genesis arts, Heavenly Sun experts could crush Divine Dwelling experts by relying purely on their Genesis Qi foundation. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes, feeling the powerful Genesis Qi roaming endlessly like a giant dragon within his body. The power it brought caused his body to quiver constantly. It was a power that a Divine Dwelling expert could never reach. The current him could easily crush his pre-breakthrough self with just a fist. Zhou Yuan stamped his foot on the mountain peak, and platinum Genesis Qi surged out from his feet and bombarded the giant mountain. Boom! The dragon-like platinum Genesis Qi rushed into the mountain, and seconds later, the towering mountain collapsed. Countless beams of platinum light shot out, and the tremendous mountain peak broke apart in just a few breaths. Moreover, the powerful yang qi wrapping the platinum Genesis Qi turned countless stone fragments into nothing instantly. It was the pure yang qi that could turn ordinary Genesis Qi even more domineering. Having crushed a mountain with the stamp of his foot, Zhou Yuan stood in the void and couldn¡¯t help roaring skywards. This kind of power made him incomparably happy. An uncontrollable smile lit Zhou Yuan''s face. Now that he possessed the strength of the Heavenly Sun stage, he could be considered an elder-level expert in the Cangxuan Sect. Moreover, he believed that when he returned to the Cangxuan Sect, he would indeed be one of the strongest experts there. ¡°That old dog Sheng Yuan!¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed coldly. He would never forget the culprit who forced him out of Cangxuan Heaven and caused Yaoyao to lose consciousness. He vowed to make Sheng Yuan pay with blood when he returned to Cangxuan Heaven. While Zhou Yuan was immersed in the strength of the Genesis Qi in his body, the void suddenly rippled, and a slender figure stepped out. ¡°Did you have a successful breakthrough? Congratulations,¡± Chi Jing said with a smile as she looked Zhou Yuan up and down, her burgundy hair gently fluttering in the wind. ¡°Is it a glass Heavenly Sun?¡± Chi Jing had already received news that Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao, Su Youwei and the others had broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage and had each refined a top glass Heavenly Sun. So, she knew that countless people in Hunyuan Heaven were waiting in anticipation for Zhou Yuan¡¯s breakthrough. Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment before he answered because he didn¡¯t know whether his rune-marked Heavenly Sun was considered a glass Heavenly Sun. When Chi Jing noticed Zhou Yuan¡¯s hesitation to answer, her expression tensed. Could it be that he didn¡¯t refine a glass Heavenly Sun? It was possible. Nobody has said that one could successfully refine a glass Heavenly Sun after breaking the Divine Dwelling stage¡¯s limit. Anything could happen, and an unexpected failure was also common. But Zhou Yuan was considered the strongest Divine Dwelling expert in Hunyuan Heaven after he had defeated Zhao Mushen. Therefore, he would undoubtedly be ridiculed if he failed to refine a glass Heavenly Sun. Seeing Chi Jing¡¯s nervous look, Zhou Yuan knew she had mistaken what he meant, and hurriedly explained, ¡°There is a glass Heavenly Sun, but...¡± He didn¡¯t say much and instead, with one thought, released a sweeping torrent of platinum Genesis Qi. A Heavenly Sun was faintly visible within the qi, and inside were countless stars flickering brightly, causing the void to quake violently. Chi Jing simply swept a glance over the Heavenly Sun and could already distinguish how strong his Genesis Qi foundation had become. A stunned look flashed across her usually calm face. ¡°Seven hundred million?¡± She inhaled sharply, staring at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°To be precise, it''s 720 million.¡± Even though Chi Jing was a Law Domain expert, the corners of her eyes still twitched rapidly when she heard his words. Although a foundation of 720 million Genesis Qi stars wasn¡¯t considered a big deal to people of her level, it was simply unimaginable for someone at the initial Heavenly Sun stage. She had never heard of such a thing from all her knowledge. Even top Heavenly Sun experts possessed a foundation of 400 to 500 million Genesis Qi stars at most. She had never heard of anyone with more than 700 million Genesis Qi stars in the initial Heavenly Sun stage! What kind of abnormal Heavenly Sun had Zhou Yuan refined? Chi Jing stared at Zhou Yuan with a strange expression as she rubbed her temples. She really couldn¡¯t understand him. He had created a primal chaos Divine Dwelling when he was at the Divine Dwelling stage, and now he refined a glass Heavenly Sun with a foundation of 700 million Genesis Qi stars at the Heavenly Sun stage. He really was a monster. ¡°I''m really curious what would happen when you reach the Nascent Source stage,¡± Chi Jing teased. Zhou Yuan gave an embarrassed smile. In truth, the peculiar change of his Heavenly Sun had little to do with him and was mainly due to Yaoyao¡¯s mysterious substance. ¡°Zhao Mushen has refined a glass Heavenly Sun, but if he knew that your glass Heavenly Sun contained more than 700 million Genesis Qi stars, he wouldn¡¯t want to meet you ever again,¡± Chi Jing said, her eyes turning to crescents as she smiled. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan''s changes made her very happy and glad. ¡°Zhao Mushen also refined a glass Heavenly Sun?¡± When Zhou Yuan ruined Zhao Mushen¡¯s breakthrough in the nine regions tournament, he thought he had delayed it, but unexpectedly, Zhao Mushen had also successfully reached the Heavenly Sun stage and refined a top glass Heavenly Sun. This guy really is tough. ¡°Not only him, Wu Yao, Su Youwei, and Wang Xi all made successful breakthroughs and refined glass Heavenly Suns.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. These four were the strongest among all Divine Dwelling experts in Hunyuan Heaven, so it wasn¡¯t surprising they had such achievements. Chi Jing stared at Zhou Yuan for a moment, hesitating, and finally gave a helpless smile. ¡°But your closed-door cultivation is finally over. Otherwise, it would be a little troublesome.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression tensed. ¡°What happened?¡± Chapter 1007 Rumors Chi Jing didn¡¯t directly answer Zhou Yuan¡¯s question, but said, ¡°You have been in closed-door cultivation for more than three months, and the war between our Tianyuan Region and the top five forces has been going on for more than three months.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s expression turned cold as she continued, ¡°And in these three months, the Tianyuan Region has paid a huge price. The top five forces are more difficult to deal with than we expected.¡± Zhou Yuan wrinkled his eyebrows. ¡°Are the top five forces really that strong?¡± ¡°They aren¡¯t strong, but the Wanzu Region behind them is strong. Chi Jing sighed. ¡°We aren¡¯t so much as fighting the top five forces in this war but fighting the Wanzu Region. It¡¯s just that the Wanzu Region still has scruples to follow the rules on the surface and so won¡¯t act directly. Even so, the region¡¯s methods are enough to give a headache to our weakening Tianyuan Region. ¡°The top five forces¡¯ experts that came at the start of the war were almost all defeated, but the Wanzu Region exerted its powers in the dark and had more vassal forces join them. We even suspect that these aren¡¯t just vassals of the Wanzu Region.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°There are other regions trying to strike us while we¡¯re down?¡± Chi Jing nodded. ¡°The Wanzu Region has many allies, for example, the Yaogui Region. But the Yaogui Region¡¯s assistance wouldn¡¯t be too obvious, so it¡¯s possible the Yaogui Region manipulated some vassal forces to assist the top five forces. ¡°It¡¯s also this reason that the top five forces became stronger in the past three months. They were able to even stabilize the collapsing situation and launch an even more aggressive offensive on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s border. ¡°During this period, our Tianyuan Region has suffered huge losses. We¡¯ve lost more than five hundred of our Four Pavilion members.¡± In the end, even Chi Jing¡¯s voice turned hoarse. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face grew overcast. After all, he was the Four Pavilions¡¯ chief pavilion master, and the Four Pavilions members were under his command. It should be said that the Four Pavilions hadn¡¯t even lost that many people in the previous nine regions tournament. It was really heartbreaking to see so many people buried in this war. Among them, there might even be familiar faces of those he had met before. ¡°Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling, are they alright?¡± Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and asked. Chi Jing shook her head, saying, ¡°They''re alright.¡± It was then that Zhou Yuan''s heart relaxed a little. After all, they were the closest to him in the Four Pavilions, especially Yi Qiushui. Not only had she saved him before, she had also done everything she could to help him in the Four Pavilions. So, he couldn¡¯t let anything happen to them no matter what. Therefore, Law Domain experts could bring the war to a swift end. Chi Jing answered, ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. There are seven Law Domain experts from the top five forces, and although they aren¡¯t as strong as us, it would be troublesome if they were to join hands to attack. Additionally, we don¡¯t dare to leave the Tianyuan Region without fully understanding the situation because we could easily fall into the opponent¡¯s trap. And once a Law Domain expert on our side is wounded, no number of Divine Dwelling and Heavenly Sun experts could compensate for this loss.¡± Zhou Yuan silently nodded. Although Chi Jing¡¯s words weren¡¯t pleasant to the ear, they were indeed true. The presence of a Law Domain expert wasn¡¯t comparable to any number of Divine Dwelling experts and Heavenly Sun experts since they were a strategic power! Their opponents seemed to only have seven Law Domain experts with weak foundations on their side, but the Wanzu Region, a venomous crocodile, was secretly supporting them. Therefore, Chi Jing wouldn¡¯t recklessly make a move before she found a good opportunity. The war outcome would most likely be decided by which side¡¯s Law Domain experts would reveal a flaw first. ¡°Didn¡¯t senior sister say there was a little trouble?¡± Zhou Yuan asked, changing the topic. Chi Jing¡¯s eyes turned fiercer as she explained, ¡°You have been in closed-door cultivation for too long, and recently, rumors are spreading throughout the Tianyuan Region that you¡¯re deliberately avoiding the war. The top five forces must have spread the rumors to shake the Tianyuan Region¡¯s morale. ¡°This means would have been useless on a Divine Dwelling expert, but you¡¯re different because you are our master¡¯s official disciple. Although you have declined to become a grand elder, your identity is undeniable. Even if you don¡¯t have a grand elder¡¯s power, you have the title of grand elder. ¡°You should know that the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts have many criticisms towards you becoming my master¡¯s third official disciple.¡± Zhou Yuan calmly nodded. Given his performance in the nine regions tournament, no Divine Dwelling experts in the Tianyuan Region would dare question his ability, but his performance couldn¡¯t deter Heavenly Sun experts. As the previous generations¡¯ heaven prides, they originally had a lot of contempt for the current generation¡¯s Divine Dwelling experts. Zhou Yuan''s achievements were remarkable, but in the eyes of Heavenly Sun experts, they weren¡¯t enough of a reason for supreme sovereign Cang Yuan to favor him. So, they were indignant and unconvinced. They couldn¡¯t accept that Zhou Yuan had achieved their lifelong goal with only the strength of the Divine Dwelling stage. Therefore, when Zhou Yuan''s identity was revealed, many Heavenly Sun experts from the Tianyuan Region had many inevitable criticisms in their hearts even though they didn¡¯t say anything. The top five forces most likely took advantage of their discontent to spread rumors in an attempt to shake the Tianyuan Region¡¯s morale. Thus, the rumors had spread like wildfire, saying that Zhou Yuan pretended to go into closed-door cultivation to avoid the war. And coupled with the numerous fierce attacks from the top five forces, it resulted in many casualties on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side and inevitably caused resentment towards Zhou Yuan. If this kind of rumor continued to spread, it would undoubtedly impact Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation greatly. Zhou Yuan was unconcerned about the impact on his reputation, but he knew that the rumors would, in the end, affect Cang Yuan¡¯s prestige. People would say he was a bad judge of character and had disappointed the Tianyuan Region¡¯s citizens, severely affecting the Tianyuan Region¡¯s morale. This was the opponent¡¯s real goal. Zhou Yuan smiled faintly, saying, ¡°The five top forces really would do anything to win. But this method is like paper in that it can be torn apart easily.¡± ¡°What are you planning?¡± Chi Jing asked. Zhou Yuan stretched his body and said, ¡°Of course I plan to participate in the war. From the beginning, I never intended to avoid battling. Now that my breakthrough is successful, I should also exercise my body. After all, this is the only way to win the Ancestral Dragon Lantern.¡± He smiled at Chi Jing. ¡°Also, I have to let all Heavenly Sun experts understand why our master chose me and not them.¡± Hearing his words, Chi Jing also smiled. ¡°They''ll finally understand what despair is.¡± An initial Heavenly Sun expert who possessed a foundation of 720 million Genesis Qi stars? That would most likely stun countless people. Chapter 1008 Scarlet Flame City The Scarlet Flame City belonged to the Chiyun Prefecture, which was located at the Tianyuan Region border, and it acted as a gateway into the region. Therefore, it had become the five top forces¡¯ focus in the war. At the beginning of the war, the five top forces¡¯ armies rushed towards the Chiyun Prefecture, but the Tianyuan Region¡¯s army waiting there very quickly defeated them. However, that didn¡¯t stop the top five forces. They soon recovered with the support of many powers, and fierce battles continued to break out on the Chiyun Prefecture¡¯s border. It was unknown how many experts died in the war, and their blood filled the air. Scarlet Flame City was a major city in Chiyun Prefecture, and so fierce battles broke out around it every day. A tremendous Genesis Qi light barrier shrouded the entire city, and countless obscure Genesis Runes continuously flowed around it, emitting powerful and dangerous waves of Genesis Qi. The city walls were heavily guarded, and soldiers patrolled them endlessly as experts stood on the tall city towers and scanned the distance for any sudden eruptions of Genesis Qi. The city was well defended. As a result of the war, the atmosphere in the originally bustling Scarlet Flame City had become depressed, and the figures shuttling back and forth wore tensed expressions and emitted murderous intent. A tall dome building stood in the north of the city, and people frequently came in and out. It looked particularly lively and was no different from the popular places in Scarlet Flame City before the war. Three words were engraved in showy and bold writing on the top of the dome building. ¡°War Service Hall.¡± The inside of the hall was buzzing with activity. A team covered in a strong smell of blood walked in from time to time, but that didn¡¯t draw much attention. Many simply swept an unsurprised glance over them. The teams marched to the center of the hall, took out a copper mirror and left it on the counter. A person in black behind the counter received the copper mirror and folded one hand in a seal. Specks of light rose from the mirror. They were Spirit light fragments. When one¡¯s Spirit was destroyed, it would turn into light fragments. The light fragments fell on the copper mirror and turned into an illusory face. It was the enemy killed. ¡°One hundred war credit points for an initial Heavenly Sun expert.¡± The man in black took out a jade seal and gently pressed it on the copper mirror. The number 420 flashed on the mirror. The copper mirror¡¯s owner put away the copper mirror with a satisfied grin. In the resting area. Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui, Mu Liu and others were seated around a table in the corner. ¡°I heard from my grandfather today that another dozen people from the Four Pavilion were killed,¡± Yi Qiushui said slowly, looking a little upset. Ye Bingling, Mu Liu and the others clenched their fists, then lifted their cups of wine and gulped them down with melancholic expressions. ¡°Crimson Cloud Sword Sect, Tri-Mountain Alliance and the others all deserve to die. We should have removed them from Hunyuan Heaven long ago!¡± Frost covered Ye Bingling¡¯s pretty face, and killing intent flashed in her eyes. The Four Pavilions¡¯ members were considered Divine Dwelling stage elites in the Tianyuan Region. Therefore, they shouldered many responsibilities in the war, and the price they paid was the loss of their people every day. Moreover, many were people whom Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling knew. They finally realized the cruelty of war. The others didn¡¯t speak, but the killing intent in their eyes was undisguised. Many people were drinking and cursing in other parts of the resting area. The majority scolded the Tri-Mountain Alliance, and some sobbed bitterly while clasping a wine bottle. Amidst the clamor and noise, an angry voice rang out, ¡°Hmph, we are fighting with our lives, but the little grand elder used closed-door cultivation as an excuse to avoid the war!¡± ¡°Who says he isn¡¯t!? Grand elder Chi Jing and Zhuan Zhu are also supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s official disciples, but they have accompanied supreme sovereign Cang Yuan to many tragic massacres and have been through countless brutal battles. They have done outstanding military service. It was only because of them that the Tianyuan Region now has its current territories. But that little grand elder is too lucky. He said he¡¯s going into closed-door cultivation, but he has disappeared for more than three months. Even Zhao Mushen and the others have completed their breakthrough. Would he really not have finished?¡± ¡°I think he''s afraid of joining the war, fearing an accident will happen!¡± ¡°His identity is superior to ours. Who could take responsibility if something happens to him?¡± Cold sneering voices rang out one after another, each one filled with resentment, jealousy and anger. ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s hard to say whether his identity is true and perhaps grand elder Chi Jing told him to pretend to be supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple to reassure the citizens. Otherwise, how could supreme sovereign Cang Yuan pay any attention to him?¡± The hall echoed with laughter. Yi Qiushui¡¯s face turned livid when she heard those words. ¡°Those Heavenly Sun experts have gone too far!¡± They naturally had heard the rumors, but they didn¡¯t take it seriously before. It was now getting worse, and coupled with the immense pressure they had been under in the war, they couldn¡¯t control themselves anymore. She stood up and directly walked over to the group of Heavenly Sun experts laughing. ¡°You dare insult a grand elder in public?¡± The Heavenly Sun experts turned their heads and swept a glance over her. They didn¡¯t dare to scold her because they recognized she was Yi Yan¡¯s granddaughter. They all lowered their heads. It was then that a burst of laughter sounded behind them. ¡°Miss Qiushui, we fight with our lives every day, and we might not be able to sit here tomorrow. So, it isn¡¯t a crime to say a few words, is it?¡± Yi Qiushui turned to see several Heavenly Spirit Sect experts sitting there, and the one in the center was the former chief pavilion master Li Qingyue. When the others heard his words, their expressions grew serious, and their temper flared. They turned around and continued their previous topic. Li Qingyue was right. They might not survive tomorrow, so who cared who they offended? Seeing everyone ignore her completely, Yi Qiushui clenched her fists, and her body trembled in fury. However, amidst the noise, a slender young figure walked into the War Service Hall. The hall suddenly went silent, and the laughter and banter suddenly stopped when that figure appeared. Everyone cast indescribable gazes at the familiar face. The laughing Heavenly Sun experts also stopped abruptly, each wearing a different expression because the figure that had walked into the hall was the person they were mocking. It was Zhou Yuan, who was nicknamed ¡®little grand elder¡¯. Chapter 1009 War Service Hall In the resting area, the Heavenly Sun experts¡¯ expressions changed unnaturally when they saw Zhou Yuan. Although they had spoken disrespectfully about Zhou Yuan moments ago, Zhou Yuan¡¯s status in the Tianyuan Region was undeniably high. Even if he had declined the grand elder position, he was still supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s official disciple. Therefore, even the elders of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Elder Committee had to be polite to him, let alone Heavenly Sun experts. They could criticize Zhou Yuan in secret, but they wouldn¡¯t dare to slight Zhou Yuan in front of him. However, they had the pride of typical Heavenly Sun experts and didn¡¯t want to reveal a trace of fear in front of Zhou Yuan. Therefore, they all stood tense, blankly watching Zhou Yuan as he approached, thinking about how they should respond to Zhou Yuan¡¯s scolding. Amidst their gazes, Zhou Yuan arrived at the resting area. However, while the Heavenly Sun experts held their breath and waited to see how Zhou Yuan was going to get angry, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t even glance at them. Instead, Zhou Yuan waved to a table of people in the corner with a smile. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± A surprised smile lit up Yi Qiushui¡¯s face, and she, Ye Bingling and Mu Liu simultaneously sprang to their feet. ¡°You¡¯re out? Did you break through?¡± Yi Qiushui asked curiously. She then immediately swept a glance over the Heavenly Sun experts wearing unnatural expressions in the resting area and whispered, ¡°Just ignore them.¡± It would affect Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation greatly if he got into a conflict with them. Zhou Yuan smiled. He, of course, had no intention of explaining himself to them. Even if he had clearly heard their words, it wasn¡¯t in his character to bring out his identity as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple to oppress others. Although their words were unpleasant to hear, they also risked their lives to fight for the Tianyuan Region. In a way, perhaps, they were also fighting for the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. Therefore, thinking about it in this way, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t intend to get angry at them because ultimately, they were simply ignorant and jealous of him. Before Zhou Yuan said anything, a laugh sounded behind him. ¡°Haha, little grand elder Zhou Yuan, everyone is under too much pressure and has drunk too much today, so they said the wrong thing. Please be the bigger person and don¡¯t take offense.¡± Zhou Yuan turned around and saw Li Qingyue, the former chief pavilion master. As expected, every Heavenly Sun experts¡¯ face reddened with anger. Be the bigger person? When we became well known in the Tianyuan Region, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t even exist yet! They made up their minds and decided that if Zhou Yuan dared to do anything to them, they would make a scene and see how he would clean up the mess! Zhou Yuan cast a glance at the smiling Li Qingyue and said indifferently, ¡°Just call me chief pavilion master. This is, after all, an unusual period, and the several grand elders are letting me keep the chief pavilion master position for a little longer. So, don¡¯t call me little grand elder yet.¡± Stung by Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, Li Qingyue forced a smile, his face twitching visibly. ¡°Chief pavilion master has such a good life. I didn¡¯t think you could change the rules.¡± There was undisguisable jealousy in his eyes. Back when he broke through to the Heavenly Sun stage, he was immediately removed from the chief pavilion master position and lost the high and mighty status similar to an elder¡¯s. However, the rules changed when it was Zhou Yuan¡¯s turn. Zhou Yuan simply ignored him because he could tell that Li Qingyue had come to create trouble, and the best way to deal with people like him was to ignore them. He turned to say to Yi Qiushui and the others, ¡°Help me select some elites from the Four Pavilions to form a team.¡± Yi Qiushui was taken aback for a moment before she asked, ¡°You want to participate in the war?¡± After the initial large-scale battles between the Tianyuan Region and the top five forces, both sides had adopted small scale invasions. Small groups, like hunters, searched everywhere to look for enemies. The many Heavenly Sun experts in the resting area also killed enemies in a similar way to gain war credit. But those hunting-like attacks were extremely dangerous, and once one encountered an enemy, one party was bound to be killed. It was a brutal and cruel method. In general, Divine Dwelling experts were used as scouts, spies and even cannon fodder. Therefore, a powerful Heavenly Sun expert was always chosen as their captain to help them earn war credits. But the hunting area was extremely dangerous for initial Heavenly Sun experts, and the Heavenly Sun experts who had lost their lives so far were all at that level. Only when one was at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage would one have the power to protect themselves and hunt for enemies. Even if Zhou Yuan had made a successful breakthrough, he was still only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, which meant it would be extremely dangerous for him to enter the hunting area. Therefore, when Zhou Yuan said those words, not only had Yi Qiushui paled, even Li Qingyue and other Heavenly Sun experts had cast strange gazes at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Is the bounty list over there?¡± Zhou Yuan pointed to the center of the War Service Hall. Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling were both horrorstruck by his words. The bounty list? Zhou Yuan wants to look for prey on the bounty list? Those listed on the bounty list were all powerful enemies who had killed several Heavenly Sun experts. Li Qingyue¡¯s and the other Heavenly Sun experts¡¯ pupils shrank. They looked at Zhou Yuan like they were looking at a lunatic. Is this guy crazy? Could it be that he is so eager to prove himself after all those rumors? But that isn¡¯t proving himself¡ªhe is looking for death! Li Qingyue had also hunted those on the bounty list, and every one of those battles was full of danger. If he had been slightly careless, the person walking out alive could have been his target. Even the thought of those battles made Li Qingyue tremble uncontrollably. Even he found the enemies on the bounty list difficult to deal with, so how would Zhou Yuan fare? Even if Zhou Yuan had broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage, he was still only an initial Heavenly Sun expert. There were three different levels in the Heavenly Sun stage, each differing vastly from the others. Those who made it onto the bounty list were all at or above the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. A lot of whispering broke out in the resting area, and many people cast puzzled gazes onto Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to their strange gazes and said nothing more. Under countless watchful eyes, he strode to the counter in the center of the hall. Ye Bingling and Yi Qiushui exchanged a glance with each other, then hurriedly followed. What is Zhou Yuan doing? Chapter 1010 Bounty Lis A puzzled and ruminative expression crept into their eyes. The little grand elder who rose to terrifying fame recently in the Tianyuan Region intended to take a task from the bounty list? Interesting...the Heavenly Sun experts present all knew how troublesome the targets on the bounty list were. Moreover, many Heavenly Sun experts from the Tianyuan Region had died in their hands. The little grand elder should have broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage. Otherwise, even if he is the so-called strongest Divine Dwelling expert, he would be nothing but cannon fodder when he steps onto the battlefield. He, at most, would be at the initial Heavenly Sun stage and have the ability to protect himself. As for hunting down opponents on the bounty list, there is no chance he would succeed. In the hall, several sharp-minded Heavenly Sun experts¡¯ gazes collided. They knew what the little grand elder planned. The recent rumors must have brought him immense pressure and trouble, so he came to prove himself by hunting down powerful enemies. It was a pragmatic approach, but...it was highly dangerous. A little carelessness could lead to the little grand elder being buried in the battlefield, and at that time, what trouble would it bring for no reason? Many people whispered in the War Service Hall. The majority of the Heavenly Sun experts indifferently watched the scene, suspecting the little grand elder to be pretending, and they expected someone to come out to block his seemingly reckless action just as he accepted a target. On the second floor of the War Service Hall. Two beautiful figures peered down. One of the two women was tall and slender, with a bamboo-like ponytail hanging down to her feet. It was Qin Lian. The woman beside her, petite in stature, was a sharp contrast to her. She was another outstanding talent in the Tianyuan Region, Mu Youlan. ¡°What''s he doing?¡± Qin Lian said, frowning. ¡°Could he really be planning to pick a target from the bounty list?¡± Mu Youlan¡¯s quiet voice contained a little surprise and curiosity. ¡°Nonsense.¡± Qin Lian shook her head. ¡°If the top five forces knew about his new identity, all the Heavenly Sun experts on the battlefield would most likely encircle him!¡± She knew Zhou Yuan had broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage, but that wasn¡¯t enough reason for him to mess around. Even if he had refined a glass Heavenly Sun...that wouldn¡¯t be enough! Mu Youlan suddenly said, ¡°Could it really be just a show? Look, elder Yi Yan came out.¡± Qin Lian followed her gaze and saw elder Yi Yan come to the center of the hall and greet Zhou Yuan with other people. A trace of disappointment flashed across her eyes. Although she felt it was utterly ridiculous for Zhou Yuan to enter the hunting battlefield, she still felt a little disappointed when she found that Zhou Yuan lacked such courage. After all, he was supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s official disciple. Could the supreme sovereign really have misjudged him? While thoughts raced through Qin Lian''s mind, Yi Yan greeted Zhou Yuan under countless watchful gazes. ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan.¡± Yi Yan gave a cupped fist salute. Looking at Zhou Yuan, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a little emotional. Who would have thought that the little guy who needed him to bring him to Tianyuan Utopia would be supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s official disciple? His status was higher than an elder¡¯s. ¡°Elder Yi.¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly bowed in response, and then he expressed his intention. ¡°Picking up a mission from the bounty list?¡± Yi Yan sounded surprised. Immediately after, he frowned and persuaded softly, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be reckless. I know you¡¯re determined, but can I suggest you join the war in the periphery war zone first?¡± He wanted to advise Zhou Yuan to take it step by step and not set his sights so high. Unsurprised by Yi Yan¡¯s persuasion, Zhou Yuan explained, ¡°Elder Yi, don¡¯t worry, I am not a reckless person.¡± Although he spoke in a gentle tone, he was incredibly firm. ¡°Also...if Elder Yi won''t let me, I will become a laughingstock here,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a faint smile. Yi Yan scrunched his brows and swept a glance around the War Service Hall, noticing the many suspicious gazes. He, of course, was aware of the recent rumors surrounding Zhou Yuan. Ultimately, the rumors started because many Heavenly Sun experts from the Tianyuan Region were jealous of him. Of course, Yi Yan understood their jealousy, because after he learned about Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity, he also couldn¡¯t help but sigh emotionally. Therefore, how could Heavenly Sun experts do any better? The scene of someone reaching the sky in a single bound usually only appeared in dreams, but it had happened with Zhou Yuan. Yi Yan carefully studied Zhou Yuan''s face and saw no signs of impulsivity in his clear eyes. He hesitated and finally nodded reluctantly. ¡°Since chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan insists, I also can¡¯t force you.¡± Yi Yan turned around and led Zhou Yuan to a wall in the War Service Hall. Many pieces of parchment paper were hung on the scarlet wall with steel nails. The paper fluttered with the wind, and faint Genesis Qi light flowed around them and seemed to transform into a figure. A bloody smell seeped out. ¡°Those are the bounty lists... ¡°Every parchment describes an extremely difficult and fierce Heavenly Sun expert...and the higher they are hung, the stronger they are and the more Heavenly sun experts they have killed,¡± Yi Yan explained. Zhou Yuan''s expression tensed, and he then shifted his line of sight to the hall¡¯s scarlet wall and ran his eyes over the parchment papers fluttering in the wind. ¡°Cao Ying, intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, silver-snow Heavenly Sun, estimated to have a foundation of 440 million Genesis Qi stars and has killed three intermediate Heavenly Sun experts from the Tianyuan Region.¡± ¡°Liu Xueshou, intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, silver-snow Heavenly Sun, estimated to have a foundation of 470 million Genesis Qi stars.¡± ¡°...¡± As Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across the wall, he only found intermediate Heavenly Sun experts and above listed. He suddenly looked up to see who the trickiest opponent was. There were two smiling pale faces on a gently fluttering parchment. ¡°It¡¯s two people?¡± ¡°Wang Qingshan, Wang Haiyuan, twin brothers with advanced Heavenly Sun stage strength and purple-gold Heavenly Suns. They have never separated no matter how strong or weak their opponents are, and their joint attacks are always well-coordinated and astonishing. It is rumored that even Heavenly Sun experts with glass Heavenly Suns have died in their hands.¡± Zhou Yuan was surprised to hear the two were twin brothers, but what surprised him the most was that the twin brothers had killed experts of the same level with glass Heavenly Suns. Given that they each only possessed a purple-gold Heavenly Sun and they could still kill experts with glass Heavenly Sun, they clearly possessed a terrifying combined strength. ¡°They are my targets. I was transferred to Chiyun Prefecture just to kill the two because they''ve killed a lot of our people,¡± a voice sounded behind Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan turned around to see that Qin Lian had come to stand behind him without him knowing. ¡°Have you succeeded?¡± Zhou Yuan asked with a smile. Qin Lian shook her head. ¡°They are extremely cunning and had fled during our battle.¡± The twin brothers¡¯ strength shouldn¡¯t be underestimated since they could escape from Qiu Lian, who was ranked sixth on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun List. It was no wonder that everyone said that there were hidden dragons among the Heavenly Sun experts in Hunyuan Heaven. Qin Lian looked at Zhou Yuan and let out a sigh. She then said helplessly, ¡°If you must, choose from the silver-snow Heavenly Sun experts at the bottom.¡± ¡°Thank you, elder Qin Lian, for warning me,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. He knew Qin Lian had good intentions, but silver-snow Heavenly Sun experts couldn¡¯t satisfy his appetite. He didn¡¯t have so much time to give experts of that level a hard time. As he lifted his palm, three nails in the center of the wall vibrated, and three parchments floated down. Many Heavenly Sun experts couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing. The three targets listed on the parchment were all intermediate Heavenly Sun experts with purple-gold Heavenly Suns! Not only did Zhou Yuan select three targets at once, but they were also all intermediate purple-gold Heavenly Sun stage experts! More than 80% of the Heavenly Sun experts in the hall wouldn¡¯t dare to accept those targets. Zhou Yuan, however, selected them without any hesitation. Inhaling sharply, the onlookers gazed at each other. Zhou Yuan...is crazy! Chapter 1011 Accep Zhang Zihao, intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, purple-gold Heavenly Sun, estimated foundation of 630 million Genesis Qi stars. Cao Xiao, intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, purple-gold Heavenly Sun, estimated foundation of 660 million Genesis Qi stars. Bei Gongqiao, intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, purple-gold Heavenly Sun, estimated foundation of 750 million Genesis Qi stars. In the War Service Hall, many eyes were fixed on the parchment. Everyone in the hall saw everything clearly, and many looked at Zhou Yuan like he was a lunatic. They didn''t expect Zhou Yuan to not give up but choose three difficult targets. The three people Zhou Yuan selected were considered well-known in Chiyun Prefecture, particularly Bei Gongqiao, who possessed a foundation of 750 million Genesis Qi stars. His strength had reached the pinnacle of the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, and he even showed signs of refining the third Heavenly Sun. He was considered one of the strongest among all intermediate Heavenly Sun experts. In the past few months, more than ten Heavenly Sun experts on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side had lost their lives to him. From this fact alone, it was obvious how strong and ruthless his means were. In the face of an opponent of that level, many Heavenly Sun experts present in the hall would immediately flee for their life if they encountered him on the hunting ground. Otherwise, if they were one step too late, they could end up losing their lives. But Zhou Yuan dared to take on a powerful enemy that even they wouldn¡¯t cope with. Many Heavenly Sun experts thought Zhou Yuan was too arrogant, and they looked at him with strange expressions. It seems he isn¡¯t putting on a show but seeking death! While everyone watched with a strange expression, Qin Lian took a deep breath, and a trace of anger flashed in her eyes. She was angry with Zhou Yuan¡¯s reckless behavior. She wouldn¡¯t pay much attention to Zhou Yuan if he were just an ordinary Heavenly Sun expert since Heavenly Sun experts were killed on the battlefield every day. But Zhou Yuan was different because he was supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s official disciple. If anything happened to him or the enemies killed him, it would greatly impact the Tianyuan Region¡¯s reputation. ¡°Chief pavilion master, I understand how you are feeling, but I hope you won¡¯t create trouble for us. You know what identity you have, and in order to protect you, we would lose even more things, including lives,¡± Qin Lian said loud and clear. In other words, the battlefield would become even more chaotic because of Zhou Yuan joining the war. It would make sense for them to go to all the trouble if Zhou Yuan really had the ability to kill the target he had chosen, but... Qin Lian pursed her red lips, and her eyes grew sharp. Could Zhou Yuan really do it? Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent, Qin Lian believed he would be able to do so in the future, but that would take some time. Zhou Yuan was too impatient! Facing Qin Lian''s piercing gaze, Zhou Yuan only smiled helplessly and said, ¡°I will take responsibility for all the consequences.¡± He knew that Qin Lian wasn''t targeting him, but he didn¡¯t know what he could say to her. Tell her that he possessed a foundation of 720 million Genesis Qi stars? If she didn¡¯t believe him, should he then prove it publicly and expose his strength and trump cards? Who knew whether there were spies from the top five forces here? Some things were better kept a secret because there would be greater benefits when the secrets were revealed. Gritting her teeth, Qin Lian stared at Zhou Yuan for a good while, then finally shook her hand and turned away. Her ponytail swung behind her, showing her anger and the disappointment in her heart. Zhou Yuan watched her as she left, and then he turned to Yi Yan, saying, ¡°Elder Yi, you won¡¯t stop me, right?¡± Yi Yan gave a wry smile. He took a deep look at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Although your decision is puzzling, you have never disappointed us since coming to the Tianyuan Region. Perhaps this is why the supreme sovereign favored you and not us. ¡°If you''re really determined to accept targets from the bounty list, allow me to make some arrangements first.¡± As Qin Lian had said, if Zhou Yuan joined the war, they would have to prepare protection for him. At the very least, they had to prevent Nascent Source experts from entering the battlefield. ¡°Sorry to trouble you, elder Yi.¡± Zhou Yuan expressed his thanks. No matter how crazy he was, he wouldn¡¯t be arrogant enough to face a Nascent Source expert. Yi Yan waved his hand. ¡°I will tell someone to bring you more information about those three people, but you also have to be careful.¡± He turned away when he finished speaking. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze then shifted to Ye Bingling, Yi Qiushui and Mu Liu behind him. They were all staring blankly at him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you really intend to hunt down those intermediate purple-gold Heavenly Sun experts?¡± Yi Qiushui asked. A skeptical look came to Ye Bingling¡¯s face as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t bring us into a difficult situation. We just want to earn some war credits. Do you really have to add to our difficulty?¡± The relationship between the two sides wasn¡¯t shallow, so they naturally spoke bluntly to each other. Zhou Yuan curled his lips and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if there really is a pit, I will jump in first. If you want war credits, you should follow me!¡± He smiled, rolled up the parchment papers and leisurely strode out of the War Service Hall. He couldn¡¯t break into the hunting zone alone and needed a team to assist him in finding his targets. Of course, everyone else was just supporting figures, and he still had to rely on himself in the final battle. Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and Mu Liu stared speechless at one another. They could tell Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t joking. ¡°Why is that guy so confident?¡± Mu Liu said, scratching his head. In truth, he also found it a little unbelievable. Even if Zhou Yuan has refined a glass Heavenly Sun, he would still be at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, so he shouldn¡¯t dare to face enemies with a foundation of over 600 million Genesis Qi stars, right? After all, he should only possess a foundation of 400 to 500 Genesis Qi stars at the initial Heavenly Sun stage! They exchanged glances with one another but still couldn''t think of what made Zhou Yuan so confident. Perhaps grand elder Chi Jing had given him some treasure or means to protect himself. ¡°That guy is playing so big this time. I just hope he can withstand the consequences.¡± They sighed, then hurriedly followed. Many people in the hall stared in bewilderment at Zhou Yuan as he left, and a moment later, buzzing noises erupted in the hall. The majority shook their heads and frowned. The little grand elder seemed determined. Hopefully, he could come back alive. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be good for the Tianyuan Region if something happened to him, given his identity. Watching this scene, Li Qingyue curled a corner of his lips in a sneer. ¡°He doesn¡¯t know the immensity of heaven and earth. If he wants to die, nobody can stop him. ¡°I look forward to seeing what you will do when you lose!¡± Chapter 1012 Team Unsurprisingly, this matter led to a lot of ridicule and laughter. The majority of people thought the little grand elder was too arrogant and that perhaps he still hadn¡¯t put away the mentality that he was the Divine Dwelling stage king and was invincible. But when he returned from his defeat, he would surely realize that no matter how mighty he was in the Divine Dwelling stage, he had to be smart and keep a low-profile when at the initial Heavenly Sun stage. According to the military rules, Heavenly Sun stage experts who wanted to enter the hunting area needed to prepare a team composed of Divine Dwelling experts. The team wasn¡¯t there to fight but to scout out places, set up Genesis Runes and search for targets. Once they found the target, they were to step back and leave the battle to the Heavenly Sun expert. This was the only way for Divine Dwelling experts to obtain war credits in the war zone. Otherwise, a Divine Dwelling expert on the battlefield would be similar to a little rabbit breaking into a wolf¡¯s den. Therefore, the Divine Dwelling experts would carefully choose the right Heavenly Sun expert as their leader because that person¡¯s strength would determine how much danger they would face and affect the efficiency of gaining war credits. Although Zhou Yuan had a resounding reputation, many Divine Dwelling experts didn¡¯t dare to join him because the targets he chose were too fierce. Even if Zhou Yuan had broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage, the hunting area would be just as dangerous for him as an initial Heavenly Sun expert, and the slightest carelessness could result in his team being wiped out. Therefore, to protect their lives, not many Divine Dwelling experts dared to join Zhou Yuan¡¯s team. As a result, it took Zhou Yuan almost three days to gather ten people for his team. ¡°It appears that all of us are already acquainted.¡± In a courtyard of Scarlet Flame City, Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help smiling as he swept a glance over the team led by Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling. This was because he was extremely familiar with all the faces. In addition to Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling, there were also Mu Liu, Han Yuan, Shang Xiaoling, Ling Feng and some other members of the Four Pavilions. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you can still smile,¡± Yi Qiushui said snappily. ¡°They are the only ones in the entire Scarlet Flame City who would dare join your team. The others ran away faster than rabbits when they heard you were recruiting.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, looking at Han Yuan and the others. ¡°Then why did you all come?¡± Han Yuan sincerely admired Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability because he had witnessed Zhou Yuan rising step by step. Therefore, Han Yuan, who could be called an opportunist, willingly went to find Yi Qiushui and recommended himself when he learned that Zhou Yuan was recruiting team members. Shang Xiaoling pursed her lips and said, ¡°You are our boss. Although you¡¯re much stronger than us now, if you need help, you only need to tell us, and we¡¯ll be there.¡± Shang Xiaoling and the others had suffered a lot until Zhou Yuan recruited them into the wind pavilion. Therefore, in their eyes, they owed Zhou Yuan. Although they might not even have the qualification to be his little brothers due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s present status, as long as Zhou Yuan had an order, they wouldn¡¯t refuse, regardless of the difficulty. Zhou Yuan was touched by Shang Xiaoling¡¯s, Ling Feng¡¯s and the others¡¯ serious expressions. He nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, since you¡¯re going to follow me, I guarantee I will bring you all back safely. We are going there to earn war credit, not to throw away our lives.¡± Hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s simple but confident words, everyone could not help but relax. Mu Liu smiled and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, tell me, did grand elder Chi Jing pass any special treasure or means to you?¡± The others also looked pensive. If so, it would explain why Zhou Yuan acted so confidently. Zhou Yuan shot an irritated glance at him, and he didn¡¯t bother responding to him. He directly turned to leave the courtyard. He said, ¡°Now that everybody is ready, let¡¯s set off.¡± At the city gate. Leading a group of people out of the city gate, Zhou Yuan glanced up at the huge wall to see two figures staring at him. It was elder Yi Yan and Qin Lian. Zhou Yuan nodded at them from afar before he transformed into a stream of light and shot into the sky, heading into the war zone in the distance. Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others quickly followed. Yi Yan sighed as he peered in the direction they left. My granddaughter doesn¡¯t know what sort of devil she¡¯s following and even dares to do something so dangerous. I tried to dissuade her, but that girl is too clever. She immediately pulled a long face and wouldn¡¯t let me speak. Qin Lian¡¯s icy face was devoid of expression as she said indifferently, ¡°Elder Yi, I should also go now. I will create a scene in the war zone to hopefully draw the advanced Heavenly Sun experts¡¯ attention onto me. This way, it should be safer on his side.¡± ¡°I have to trouble you.¡± Yi Yan nodded. ¡°I will also watch the Nascent Source experts in the war zone.¡± Qin Lian retracted her gaze. ¡°I hope that our little grand elder wouldn¡¯t be so reckless after this. Since he is the supreme sovereign¡¯s official disciple, he should assume some responsibility, not create problems for others to clean up.¡± From her words, it was clear she was very dissatisfied with Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions. She soared into the sky when her voice faded. She moved at lightning speed, and her momentum was tremendous. Wherever she passed, she attracted everyone¡¯s attention. Yi Yan understood her intention from her tremendous momentum. He peered in the direction Zhou Yuan and the others left, muttering, ¡°Zhou Yuan, Zhou Yuan, we have done what we can. The rest will have to depend on you.¡± If the trip was successful, the previous rumors surrounding Zhou Yuan would destroy itself. But if he failed, not only would he lose face and the prestige he had earned in the nine regions tournament, even supreme sovereign Cang Yuan would be called a bad judge of character. Therefore, Zhou Yuan could be said to be walking on the tip of a knife, and his trip would be full of danger and risk. Chapter 1013 Heavenly Fire Ancient Fores This was the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest. It was a well-known resource point in the Tianyuan Region, and the resources there were the towering flame trees called Heavenly Fire Trees. The Heavenly Fire Trees were red-hot and rooted in the depths of the ground to draw up blazing Genesis Qi. Matured trees gave birth to Tree Spirit Essence, which was a very precious cultivation resource. If a Heavenly Sun expert could refine one, it could mysteriously strengthen one¡¯s pure yang qi. The top five forces all coveted such a mysterious resource, so when the war broke out, this strategic resource location was one of the main targets they wanted to capture. The Tianyuan Region, however, wouldn¡¯t easily give up the location. As a result, the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest had turned into a huge battlefield, and both sides brought in countless experts to win this strategic location. The Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest had become a tragic war zone. Blood dyed the ancient forest red and made it more striking than before. ... ¡°Is this the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest?¡± Zhou Yuan stood atop a mountain, peering at the crimson forest coming into view on the horizon. The tall crimson trees in the forest resembled pillars that towered into the sky, and the extending crimson branches swaying in the wind looked like blazing flames. The Genesis Qi grew increasingly hot. Zhou Yuan circulated the Genesis Qi in his body and was surprised to find that his Genesis Qi had become more lively after integrating with the pure yang qi. A Heavenly Sun expert¡¯s combat strength would greatly improve in this place. However, it was much more difficult for Divine Dwelling experts to withstand such an environment. Zhou Yuan glanced at Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling and saw their pretty faces were a little red. Genesis Qi roamed around their graceful bodies to protect them from the heat coming from the outside world. It was clear that before the two integrated with pure yang qi, they couldn¡¯t adapt to the pure scorching universe Genesis Qi. Boom! Berserk waves of Genesis Qi occasionally loomed out of the endless crimson forest. There had to be a battle happening. Zhou Yuan could see a steady stream of teams charging in from the forest periphery, and the smell of war fire and blood assaulted his senses. Yi Qiushui walked over to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, clasping a copper mirror. A stream of light bloomed from the mirror, forming a map in front of them. It was a map of the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest. Yi Qiushui and the others were relieved to see his reaction because they were worried Zhou Yuan would insist on meeting the trickiest, Bei Gongqiao, first. They thought that perhaps meeting a powerful enemy like Zhao Zihao would make Zhou Yuan appreciate the tyrannical strength of the intermediate purple-gold Heavenly Sun stage and willingly give up on hunting down Bei Gongqiao. ¡°According to the real-time information given by the War Service Hall, Zhang Zihao should be in this area.¡± Yi Qiushui flicked her slender fingers, and the map rapidly shrank. She then pointed to an area of the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest. Zhou Yuan gently nodded. ¡°If we meet other enemies on the way, can we kill them?¡± Yi Qiushui and the others were taken aback. He has such strong killing intent. Does he intend to kill along the way? Where does he get his confidence from? Ye Bingling shook her head, saying, ¡°It isn¡¯t recommended to change targets. Since you have accepted a target from the bounty list, you belong to the hunting team, and the hunting team¡¯s mission is to kill extremely tricky enemies. The other enemies are left to the battlefield teams. ¡°The enemy has its own intelligence system, and if you change your target to someone else, you risk exposing yourself, which could lead to them attacking you. If you are besieged, we will most likely need to retreat, and your mission will have failed.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded to show his understanding. ¡°Then let¡¯s make a move.¡± Zhou Yuan streaked across the air and landed within the endless crimson forest. ... The temperature soared in the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest, and even the air seemed to burn as Genesis Qi faintly bubbled. Chi! Zhou Yuan and his group moved swiftly along the forest at a low height. The situation in the battlefield was incredibly complex, and they could catch fire if they flew too high. The group scattered, and Shang Xiaoling and Ye Bingling determined their bearings and led the way. They seemed very familiar with the forest and must have come many times before to earn war credit. Zhou Yuan stayed in the center position to provide support immediately if the situation ahead changed. They hastened along the road and tried to conceal their Genesis Qi as much as possible as they actively avoided many battles and Genesis Qi collisions. The day flew by quickly. Zhou Yuan saw no fewer than 100 battles that day, and the majority were between initial Heavenly Sun experts. Zhou Yuan adhered to the hunting team¡¯s rules, didn¡¯t intervene in the battles and quietly moved past. However, the enemies discovered Zhou Yuan a few times, but he eventually shook them off with his powerful Spirit ability. One day later, his team arrived at the area where their target was reported. ... Zhou Yuan sat quietly atop a giant crimson tree. He peered through the branches and leaves and saw Yi Qiushui and the others take out a bamboo slip from their sleeves. The bamboo slip was covered with Genesis Runes, and when it was crushed against a tree trunk, an eye-like Genesis Rune appeared and merged into the trunk and very quickly disappeared. It was a detection Genesis Rune that could monitor the surrounding movements in real-time. The team could earn war credits for setting up detection Genesis Runes. Furthermore, the War Service Hall could use the runes to gather intelligence and relay the details to the hunting team so the team could locate targets. After the Genesis Runes were set up, Yi Qiushui and the others gestured to Zhou Yuan and darted off in different directions. They were about to start exploring the area to look for the target. Zhou Yuan wanted to follow but was unanimously rejected. All his team members wanted him to rest and adjust his state. This was because they could only rely on Zhou Yuan to fight once they found traces of their target, and if Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t win, the team would have to retreat, and there could even be casualties. Seeing them firmly decline, Zhou Yuan had to helplessly agree and watch them leave. However, he didn¡¯t sit down and rest. Instead, he released his Spirit perception so that he could instantly know if anything happened to Yi Qiushui and the others. There was utter silence in the forest, except for the rustling of red leaves and the crackling of flames. One hour later. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes sprang open. There was a signal from Yi Qiushui and the others. ¡°Finally found him...¡± Zhou Yuan transformed into a shadow and vanished. Finally, it was time for him to do something. He looked forward to his first battle after his breakthrough to the Heavenly Sun stage. Chapter 1014 One Punch Zhou Yuan''s figure appeared atop a giant crimson tree like a shadow, startling Yi Qiushui and the others crouching there. They eventually relaxed their tense bodies when they realized it was Zhou Yuan. ¡°You found him?¡± Zhou Yuan whispered. Yi Qiushui and Ye Bingling nodded seriously. They pushed the layers of crimson leaves to the sides and looked ahead. Zhou Yuan followed their gazes to see that a large area of Heavenly Fire Trees had been chopped down to clear an open space. A number of figures were moving back and forth in front of a tent, seeming particularly busy. The majority were Divine Dwelling experts. They had chopped down a number of Heavenly Fire Trees in search of Tree Spirit Essence. ¡°Those bastards are so savage.¡± Yi Qiushui heartachingly watched the scene. When the Tianyuan Region collected Tree Spirit Essence, they drilled holes into the trees to extract it, but the top five forces disrespectfully and heartlessly destroyed the trees that belonged to the Tianyuan Region. Mu Liu whispered, ¡°Zhang Zihao is sitting in the center of the tent. We saw him a moment ago.¡± Han Yuan said, ¡°What should we do next? There are dozens of Divine Dwelling experts here, so should we lure some away first to let you find a chance to attack Zhang Zihao?¡± They were evidently very nervous, and their bodies were as tight as springs. However, it was understandable. Their target was an intermediate purple-gold Heavenly Sun expert on the bounty list who had killed dozens of Heavenly Sun experts. ¡°No need to be so troubled. As long as we kill Zhang Zihao, they are nothing to be feared,¡± Zhou Yuan said, shaking his head. As his voice faded, he leaped from the tree under their shocked gazes. ¡°Oh, my heavens!¡± Mu Liu and the others instantly paled. They didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to dare storm the campsite. He hadn¡¯t discussed or planned the attack or even waited until Zhang Zihao was off guard. ¡°What should we do?¡± Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others stared at each other in dismay, little beads of sweat forming on their beautiful foreheads. However, they dared not jump out because that would be the same as charging into a tiger¡¯s den. While they were panicking, Zhou Yuan landed outside the campsite. The patrolling Divine Dwelling experts were the first to notice his presence. They immediately sounded the warning horn after their initial shock, and a deafening blast resounded through the ancient forest. ¡°Enemy attack!¡± ¡°Enemy attack!¡± The curtain of the campsite¡¯s center tent was lifted, and a tower-like figure leisurely strode out. It was a burly middle-aged man holding a fatty, roasted animal leg in his hand, and his mouth glistened with grease. The iron tower-like man ran his eyes over Yi Qiushui and the others¡¯ hiding place, and he grinned. ¡°Just a few flies. I noticed their presence a while ago, but I wanted to see what tricks they planned to play. There is no need to panic.¡± Yi Quishui and the others were paralyzed with fear when they met his gaze. It turned out that the enemies had discovered their presence long ago. ¡°What to do, what to do, should we retreat!?¡± Yi Qiushui asked anxiously. ¡°We can''t retreat. Zhou Yuan already leaped down there.¡± Ye Bingling smiled bitterly, pointing to Zhou Yuan on the periphery of the campsite. While everyone¡¯s scalps went numb, Zhou Yuan looked at the iron tower-like man and said, ¡°You¡¯re Zhang Zihao?¡± Zhang Zihao narrowed his eyes and sized Zhao Yuan up. After a few breaths, light burst forth from his eyes, and a look of insuppressible wild joy lit up his face. He roared with laughter. ¡°You, are you Zhou Yuan from the Tianyuan Region!?¡± He recognized Zhou Yuan. However, this wasn¡¯t surprising since Zhou Yuan had become a well-known figure in Hunyuan Heaven. ¡°Hahaha, I have such good luck. I didn¡¯t expect you to appear directly in front of me. Did you know that anybody in our alliance who captures or kills you will be rewarded greatly?¡± His laughter shook the surrounding forest. The Divine Dwelling experts in the campsite cast astonished gazes over Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure because his name was particularly resounding in Hunyuan Heaven these days. His name was mentioned particularly often, too, when his identity as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple came out. Is that guy crazy? He dared come here alone! Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Zhao Mushen in the nine regions tournament, he was still only an initial Heavenly Sun expert. On the other hand, Zhang Zihao was an intermediate purple-gold Heavenly Sun expert! ¡°Hahaha!¡± Zhang Zihao burst into wild laughter, but at the same time, he released his perception to investigate the surrounding area. He found that besides the few flies in the periphery, Zhou Yuan was indeed the only one present! Did this guy really go deep into the battlefield alone? A gift has befallen them while they were sitting at the campsite! Boom! Zhang Zihao erupted with terrifying Genesis Qi, and vaguely, a purple-gold sun emerged in the void behind him. A terrifying oppressive Genesis Qi pressure spread out, causing the ground under his feet to crack. The panic in the eyes of Li Qiushui and the others intensified even more. They could distinctly feel the pressure brought about by a foundation of 600 million Genesis Qi stars. If they were to get any closer, the pressure alone would be enough to freeze them to the spot and make them lose all fighting spirit. ¡°Haha!¡± Zhang Zihao sternly fixed his eyes on Zhou Yuan like a tiger eyeing his prey. He didn¡¯t say anything. Although he couldn¡¯t understand why Zhou Yuan would be so stupid to come, he saw no reason to let him off since Zhou Yuan had come willingly. ¡°Bang!¡± With a stamp of his foot, the ground collapsed, and he shot out in the form of a stream of light, producing an ear-piercing sonic boom. ¡°Die!¡± Zhang Zihao¡¯s sinister laugh rang out as his figure almost instantaneously appeared above Zhou Yuan. He had a purple-gold sun behind him, and mighty Genesis Qi was surging around him. A fierce and blazing wave of energy raged like a storm, wreaking havoc everywhere. The second he displayed his foundation of over 600 million Genesis Qi stars, the surrounding space began to freeze. Boom! He thrust his fist, and dark red Genesis Qi roared out like a torrent. The Genesis Qi was incredibly pure and condensed like a blood-red flame. The ground had already begun to crack. The punch wasn¡¯t showy, but the pure Genesis Qi was displayed in full majesty. The Great Five Alliance¡¯s Divine Dwelling experts all sneered coldly. Zhou Yuan is bound to die! Yi Qiushui gritted her teeth, and her eyes reddened. She charged forward, but Ye Bingling and Mu Liu quickly held her back just before rushed onto the battlefield. ¡°Do you want to die!?¡± Yi Qiushui clenched her hands, staring intently at the battlefield. Unaware of what was happening behind him, Zhou Yuan calmly looked at Zhang Zihao, who had just thrown out the most tyrannical punch. Zhang Zihao possessed a foundation of more than 600 million Genesis Qi stars, which meant any counterattacks from Zhou Yuan would be useless if he hadn¡¯t broke-through to the Heavenly Sun stage. The gap in pure Genesis Qi foundation couldn¡¯t be compensated by any other means. But, unfortunately for him... As Zhou Yuan clenched his hands, white hair broke his skin, wrapped his fist and turned jet black. He drew back half a step and thrust out his fist. Bright platinum Genesis Qi rumbled out from his body, and a faint dragon roar echoed, shaking everyone¡¯s mind. A glass-like sun loomed behind him. A layer of the ground beneath his feet silently vanished as though it melted. Boom! The punch Zhou Yuan threw out expressionless was like a platinum dragon silhouette, colliding with Zhang Zihao¡¯s crimson fist in mid-air under countless gazes. ¡°Die!¡± Zhang Zihao laughed wildly. However, his wild laughter soon faded, and a trace of horror surged in his eyes. He felt that the Genesis Qi whizzing towards him during the collision was unbelievably strong! The collision utterly destroyed the 600 million Genesis Qi stars foundation that he was so proud of ¡°Glass Heavenly Sun!¡± His face twisted with fear and horror, and his body turned ice-cold. He finally knew why Zhou Yuan dared show up by himself: Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundation was more terrifying than his intermediate purple-gold Heavenly Sun stage cultivation! Zhang Zihao couldn¡¯t understand why someone who had just broken through to the initial Heavenly Sun stage could possess such an abnormal Genesis Qi foundation. Boom! But before he had the chance to understand, berserk Genesis Qi shock waves erupted and instantly destroyed the campsite. The towering Heavenly Fire Trees were sliced from the trunk, then crushed. Both sides¡¯ Divine Dwelling experts haphazardly retreated. When the shock waves finally dissipated, they immediately glanced at the battlefield and emitted cries of disbelief. A figure remained motionless amidst the collision, like a boulder. Is it Zhou Yuan?! Yi Qiushui and the others widened their eyes in shocked disbelief. The Great Five Alliance¡¯s¡¯ Divine Dwelling experts were in a state of panic. Where¡¯s Zhang Zihao?! Why is there no trace of him?! ¡°Where¡¯s Zhang Zihao?¡± Shang Xiaoling finally uttered a sentence after a good while. Mu Liu suddenly said, ¡°Look at the specks of light fluttering in front of Zhou Yuan. Don¡¯t they look like Spirit light fragments?¡± The atmosphere stilled. Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others stared in that direction with indescribable gazes. They wore stunned expressions as if there were indeed Spirit light fragments. Could it be that Zhou Yuan had crushed Zhang Ziyao with one punch to the point that not a single bone remained? Yi Qiushui and the others felt their scalps go numb. Chapter 1015 A Very Strong Zhou Yuan They stared especially hard at the Spirit light fragments that were drifting away in front of him. It was a sight so beautiful that it sent chills down one¡¯s spin. The Divine Dwelling stage practitioners from the five top factions slowly returned to their senses and began to realize what the drifting Spirit light fragments were. The realization made them feel as if they were in an ice house. ¡°Lord Zhang Zihao was slain by a single punch?¡± ¡°How can this be! The lord is at the intermediate purple-gold Heavenly Sun stage, and his Genesis Qi foundation surpasses 600 million stars!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage!¡± ¡°But the lord¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations have vanished¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± These Divine Dwelling stage practitioners were going crazy, their temples beating uncontrollably. This outcome was clearly a great blow to them, and they were unable to accept it for a time. However, Zhou Yuan did not care whether they could accept it. He gazed at the drifting Spirit light fragments in front of him before retrieving a copper mirror to collect the light fragments. ¡°Seems very strong¡­¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself. His eyes seemed to glow as a smile rose from the corners of his mouth. He was, of course, not referring to the punch that had insta-killed Zhang Zihao but to himself, or rather his Genesis Qi foundations and his newly evolved Genesis Qi. Although Zhou Yuan knew that Zhang Zihao was no challenge, he had not expected that a single punch would so utterly destroy his opponent that even his opponent¡¯s Spirit would shatter. Evidently, Zhou Yuan had underestimated the power of his 720 million Genesis Qi foundation. In addition, his Genesis Qi had evolved to the grade-8 Heavenly Dragon Qi. Zhou Yuan dared to claim that even in the entire Hunyuan Heaven, only a handful of people would surpass him in Genesis Qi grade. Grade-8 Genesis Qi was the pinnacle even in the nine regions, and it was not something that ordinary people could cultivate. Hence, although his Genesis Qi foundation was at the 720 million level, any opponent he encountered with equal foundation but only grade-7 Genesis Qi would be one-sidedly thrashed. Zhang Zihao¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation and Genesis Qi grade were both inferior to Zhou Yuan¡¯s, and he had even been overconfident. It was only logical that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Breaker punch would smash him to bits. Looks of horror appeared when the members of the Great Five Alliance saw Zhou Yuan collecting the Spirit light fragments. Having warred with the Tianyuan Region for so long, this was not an unfamiliar sight to them. It was what every hunter did after killing his or her target. This reality shocked them till their entire bodies turned numb. However, they soon realized the grave danger they were in. They exchanged a glance before abruptly shooting away in different directions, fleeing for their lives. Since even Zhang Zihao had been killed, staying would be asking to die. ¡°Stop them,¡± said Zhou Yuan with cold-blooded eyes. If these people were allowed to spread the news, he would undoubtedly be surrounded and attacked by the five top factions. Swish! By the time Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out, Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling, Mu Liu, Han Yuan and the others had already moved. Although they were fewer in number, the other party¡¯s morale had already crumbled, and they no longer dared to face any of them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure also disappeared from the spot before appearing in the air. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared. Dozens of snow-white brush hairs shot forth, darting through the air like white dragons as they quickly caught up to the Divine Dwelling practitioners and wrapped around their bodies. Genesis Runes appeared on the hairs and were swiftly imprinted onto the bodies of their targets. They instantly sealed the targets¡¯ Genesis Qi, causing them to tumble to the ground. With the aid of Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others, all the Divine Dwelling practitioners were captured in a short few dozen breaths. Not a single one was allowed to escape. Capturing them alive and handing them over to the War Service Hall would also award them some war credits. Yi Qiushui and the others dealt with the captives before looking towards Zhou Yuan. For a time, the entire place was silent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s ferocity had shaken them substantially. They were somewhat unable to believe that Zhou Yuan had slaughtered Zhang Yihao, who had a Genesis Qi foundation of 600 million, like a chicken... If Zhang Yihao were so easy to deal with, he would not have the qualifications to be on the bounty hunter list. Yi Qiushui could not help but ask, ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you really at the initial Heavenly Sun stage?¡± The others anxiously looked over, puzzled looks on their faces. Zhou Yuan chuckled. The coldness in his eyes faded as he answered, ¡°Do you think I can jump straight to the intermediate stage?¡± Yi Qiushui and the others looked at each other. They could assume it to be the benefit from breaking through the limit of the Divine Dwelling stage. ¡°I already said that I¡¯m not bringing you guys to your deaths.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Yi Qiushui and the others were still a little amazed as they nodded. They had originally believed that Zhou Yuan¡¯s confidence was due to some kind of trump card Chi Jing had given him. However, it now appeared that it was because his own strength was way too outrageous. All of them had underestimated a supreme sovereign¡¯s personal disciple. ¡°I heard that Zhao Mushen has also reached the Heavenly Sun stage and cultivated a glass Heavenly Sun. If you guys meet again, I feel that he won¡¯t be able to withstand even a single move from you.¡± Mu Liu sighed deeply. The once king of the Divine Dwelling stage had been left far behind Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate him.¡± Zhou Yuan was honestly still rather wary of Zhao Mushen. He was an extremely tenacious guy, after all. Although Zhou Yuan had interrupted his breakthrough during the nine regions tournament, it had evidently not affected Zhao Mushen much, given he had also later reached the Heavenly Sun stage. From this, one could see just how tenacious Zhao Mushen was. Moreover, his Taotie blessing was very strange and unpredictable. No one could say for sure that he would not suddenly amaze everyone overnight again and rise among the Heavenly Sun stage experts. Hence, such a rival could not be underestimated. They might even cross blows again in the future. ¡°Right, we found fifteen cases of Tree Spirit Essence on them. They likely extracted it from the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest.¡± Yi Qiushui raised her hand, and a dozen jade cases floated into the air. The cases opened, revealing that they were filled with scarlet-red liquid. Mystical flames seemed to rise within the liquid as the surrounding temperature rose. Zhou Yuan observed the scarlet-red liquid. He could feel the glass Heavenly Sun in his Divine Dwelling become a little hotter. ¡°This is some good stuff¡­¡± Desire shone in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. This item was a rare treasure for the Heavenly Sun stage and could increase one¡¯s cultivation speed if consumed while training. It could also increase the pure yang qi inside the Heavenly Sun. Previously, the production of Tree Spirit Essence in the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest was strictly controlled, and these fifteen cases would have fetched very high prices. Many people must have benefitted from the war that had erupted here. ¡°Each of you, take one case.¡± With a flick, Zhou Yuan sent several cases towards Yi Qiushui and the others. ¡°We also get a share?¡± Mu Liu, Shang Xiaoling and the others were pleasantly surprised. According to the rules, the battle spoils would usually not reach the hands of Divine Dwelling stage practitioners like them. They would already be very satisfied with some war credits. However, they understood Zhou Yuan¡¯s character and thus did not dwell on the topic as each member happily kept their portion. They might not be able to utilize the Tree Spirit Essence for the time being, but it would help them a lot once they advanced to the Heavenly Sun stage. Zhou Yuan waved his sleeve, keeping the remaining cases before instructing two members to take the captives away first. ¡°The first target has been neutralized. Let¡¯s go. There¡¯s still two more.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned as he cast a glance at the messy surroundings. Someone would likely arrive here soon to find out what happened. Hence, they should also move on to their next target. He shot forth, leading the way. Behind him, Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling, Mu Liu, Han Yuan and the others excitedly followed with happy expressions. Compared to the apprehensive mood two hours prior, they were now in high spirits with not the slightest hint of panic. They had realized that Zhou Yuan was even more reliable than they had imagined! Chapter 1016 Crucial Information Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others were standing on the branches of a giant tree, everyone craning their necks to peer into the distance. Two columns of berserk Genesis Qi were rising like smoke as wave after wave of Genesis Qi tore apart the ground and toppled the giant trees. Such destructive power was extremely astonishing. It was the battle between Zhou Yuan and the second target, Cao Xiao. It had taken them three days of searching in the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest to confirm Cao Xiao¡¯s location. However, in contrast to the apprehension they felt the first time, Yi Qiushui and the others had rather relaxed expressions this time. After all, they already understood how abnormally strong Zhou Yuan was after witnessing the terrifying sight of him blasting Zhang Zihao to smithereens. Although Cao Xiao had not been slain in a single punch this time, they could tell that Zhou Yuan had the absolute advantage in the fight. ¡°He¡¯s really far too frightening¡­¡± Mu Liu sighed as he watched. By the side, Han Yuan nodded in understanding. The thing that terrified him the most was the rate of Zhou Yuan''s progress. He could still recall how he, Lu Xiao and the others did not give Zhou Yuan a second glance when he arrived at the four pavilions. Who could have imagined that the very person all of them had looked down on would ultimately lead the four pavilions to become the champion of the nine regions tournament? This achievement alone had fully won them over. Han Yuan gloated, ¡°The Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage will likely share our experience soon.¡± How could they not understand the current attitudes of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage practitioners? They were obviously envious and skeptical. Unfortunately for them, all of their doubts would ultimately come back as a painful slap to their faces. Yi Qiushui earnestly declared, ¡°Since supreme sovereign Cang Yuan chose Zhou Yuan, it naturally speaks of how unparalleled he is.¡± Envy had clouded the eyes of the numerous Tianyuan Region Heavenly Sun stage experts, making them blind to certain things. They should consider this: had anyone from the Tianyuan Region ever became the champion of the nine regions tournament since the Tianyuan Region¡¯s establishment? Although Zhou Yuan had just stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage and would be on the weaker end when facing the more experienced Heavenly Sun stage experts, he would definitely leave them far behind in the dust if given some time. The others nodded. They rather looked forward to the arrival of that day. Boom! While they were conversing, an astonishing blast of Genesis Qi erupted from the faraway battlefield. Swish! The figure finally came to a stop, revealing itself to be a bloody body whose chest was caved in. Who else could it be but Cao Xiao, who was now practically on the edge of death? Genesis Qi weakly fluttered around him as fear flooded his face. Zhou Yuan''s battle power had terrified him, and he could not understand how Zhou Yuan could be so strong. Swish! Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared in front of Cao Xiao. His eyes were filled with cold indifference as he slowly lifted the mottled black brush in his hand. Light seemed to flow along the brush¡¯s sharp tip as the space around it shuddered. Cao Xiao was frightened out of his wits, and he begged in a trembling voice, ¡°D-d-don''t kill me!¡± In the face of death, he no longer had any trace of a Heavenly Sun expert¡¯s dignity. Zhou Yuan was unmoved. This was war. Those that died at Cao Xiao¡¯s hands might have once begged like this, but he had obviously shown no mercy. Bzz! There was no hesitation as he thrust the Heavenly Yuan Brush toward Cao Xiao¡¯s head with killing intent. Cao Xiao¡¯s soul nearly left his body as he shrieked, ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! I know a huge secret!¡± The sharp brush tip stopped half an inch before Cao Xiao¡¯s glabella, though the accompanying force left a small bloody hole between his brows. A little bit more and Cao Xiao¡¯s Spirit would have been destroyed. Zhou Yuan coldly said, ¡°You only have one chance.¡± Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s emotionless eyes, Cao Xiao swallowed and said, ¡°We found the Heavenly Fire Tree King in the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest and are currently refining as much Tree King Divine Essence as we can. Once we have enough, a Genesis Rune Boundary will be used as a medium to spread its power to all our Heavenly Sun stage experts on the battlefield, temporarily boosting their strength. When that happens, the alliance army will conduct a full-force assault on the Chiyun Prefecture battle line.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s originally expressionless face slowly turned grave. Yi Qiushui and the others heard him as well, and their expressions likewise changed. Yi Qiushui blurted out in disbelief, ¡°You guys have found the Heavenly Fire Tree King?¡± Mu Liu also cried out, ¡°Impossible! The Heavenly Fire Tree King is a mystical existence that birthed the entire Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest. Lady Mu Ni once personally probed the forest but failed to discover any trace of it. How could you guys have found it?¡± Cao Xiao said, ¡°How would I know? All I know is that they have definitely found the Heavenly Fire Tree King!¡± Everyone looked at each other, seeing the horror in each other¡¯s eyes. If Cao Xiao was telling the truth, the opposing army was brewing an earth-shaking plan. Once they succeeded, the entire Chiyun Prefecture would fall into their hands. Everyone turned their gazes toward Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes faintly flickered in thought as he looked towards Cao Xiao. ¡°You should have the location of the Heavenly Fire Tree King, right?¡± Cao Xiao did not beat about the bush. ¡°I¡¯m unaware of the exact location, but I do know that it¡¯s somewhere toward the southwest, deep behind our battle line.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. With a jerk of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, a Genesis Rune was drawn in the air. He cast a glance at Cao Xiao and said, ¡°You should know what to do.¡± It was a Spirit sealing rune. As long as Cao Xiao did not resist, it would be able to seal him for some time. Cao Xiao ultimately gritted his teeth and nodded. He could tell that disagreeing would immediately lead to his death. Zhou Yuan gently swung the brush tip, sending the rune towards Cao Xiao¡¯s head. The rune swiftly entered the spot between his brows and temporarily sealed his Spirit. Once his Spirit was sealed, Cao Xiao¡¯s eyes turned white as he powerlessly crumpled to the ground. Zhou Yuan looked towards Yi Qiushui and the others. ¡°Take him to elder Qin Lian as fast as you can and inform them of this matter." Yi Qiushui hurriedly said, ¡°What about you? You won¡¯t head there alone, right? The place will definitely be heavily guarded, and there may even be Nascent Source experts present! You need to be careful¡ªhe might have revealed this information to lure you into a death-trap.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be so foolish as to clash with them, and I will act appropriately.¡± Yi Qiushui and the others hesitated for a moment, but they ultimately nodded. Zhou Yuan should be strong enough to protect himself. Things would not become too disastrous as long as he did not act rashly. Knowing the severity of the situation, they did not dare to waste any more time and quickly grabbed Cao Xiao and left. Zhou Yuan watched them leave. Moments later, his gaze shifted towards the southwest as a faint light flickered in his eyes. ¡°The Heavenly Fire Tree King, huh¡­¡± He had naturally heard of this mystical existence. Did the Law Domain experts of the five top-tier factions really have the capability to find something that even grand elder Mu Ni could not? A contemplative look arose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Soon after, his figure turned into a shadow and vanished. Chapter 1017 So Strong? Amidst the scarlet-red forest, two figures peered into distance from atop a tree. Of the two, one had the tall and slender figure of a woman. There was a fierce look on her pretty face, and a ponytail that was as long as bamboo gently swayed behind her. It was Qin Lian. The petite girl beside her was Mu Youlan. These two renowned Heavenly Sun experts were currently gathered at this battlefront. The two young ladies were originally assigned to another battlefront. However, the Tianyuan Region transferred Qin Lian here to kill the two Wang brothers, Wang Qinghai and Wang Haiyuan, who had recently been rampaging in the Chiyun Prefecture and had repeatedly beaten back the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts. Although Qin Lian had injured the Wang brothers previously, she had failed to finish the job. Hence, the brothers were still a potential threat. Mu Youlan had arrived a little later, but she had yet to show herself, evidently intending to keep her presence secret. This was a precaution by the Tianyuan Region''s higher-ups to prevent Qin Lian from falling into a trap. After all, as one of their Heavenly Sun trump cards, her loss would definitely be a substantial blow to their morale. Qin Lian¡¯s gaze scanned the surroundings. It had already been several days since Zhou Yuan had entered the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest, but she had yet to receive any news of him. No one knew his current situation. Mu Youlan blinked and remarked, ¡°You¡¯ve sacrificed a lot to draw fire for Zhou Yuan.¡± Qin Lian had not only arrived at the frontlines, but she had even conducted a ferocious assault on the enemy. The resulting commotion had not been small. Qin Lian sighed softly. ¡°He is special. We cannot let anything happen to him. Drawing over the majority of the intermediate and advanced Heavenly Sun stage experts will make his situation safer.¡± Although she was very troubled by Zhou Yuan¡¯s recklessness, Qin Lian was someone who could see the big picture. Zhou Yuan¡¯s status was far too special. The consequences would be far worse if something happened to him instead of her. Mu Youlan frowned a little. She did not particularly dislike Zhou Yuan. It was, of course, mostly because he was the personal disciple of the supreme sovereign. After all, she was also considered an extremely outstanding heaven pride in the Tianyuan Region, but even so, she had not garnered any interest from the supreme sovereign. To suddenly have someone like that appear out of nowhere was not easy to accept. Although she did not like him, she did not allow this dislike to turn into anything worse. She merely maintained an indifferent attitude towards Zhou Yuan. The mess he caused had to be cleaned up by others. This was not the character a supreme sovereign¡¯s personal disciple should have. Grand elders Zhu Zhuan and Chi Jing had never done such things. Their dazzling battle accomplishments had subdued every person who had once doubted them in the Tianyuan Region. Qin Lian did not say anything about Zhou Yuan as her eyes continued to scan the surroundings. Blasts of Genesis Qi would occasionally erupt around them. It was a sign of battle and the gradual advance of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s battle line. However, Qin Lian frowned a little. She asked Mu Youlan, ¡°Do you feel that the enemy¡¯s battle line is somewhat weak¡­¡± They had never achieved such progress previously. The enemy¡¯s defensive line seemed to have grown weaker. Mu Youlan was silent for a moment before she nodded in agreement. ¡°It has indeed grown much thinner.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The two young ladies exchanged a glance, both somewhat puzzled. The five top-tier factions had been pushing hard for the past few months, so why had they suddenly relaxed their efforts? Qin Lian pursed her lips. She could not explain why, but she felt a little uneasy. There was definitely more to this than met the eye. Woo! A signal suddenly sounded behind them from the headquarters, and a strange sound was transmitted into Qin Lian¡¯s and Mu Youlan¡¯s ears. ¡°Oh?¡± Qin Lian turned around in confusion. Headquarters was calling her back. ¡°Let¡¯s go find out what happened.¡± Qin Lian¡¯s figure swooped down from the sky like a sparrow, shooting towards a certain location behind her. Mu Youlan¡¯s petite figure seemed to merge into the tree. One would faintly see light flickering and jumping between numerous trees. The two young ladies were extremely quick. Several minutes later, an enormous camp appeared in the forest. Genesis Rune boundaries enveloped the camp as sharp gazes swept the surroundings. It was a tightly guarded place. The two young ladies descended towards the camp''s center where several Heavenly Sun experts were already gathered. Qin Lian immediately looked towards Li Qingyue and the others. ¡°What happened?¡± Li Qingyue and the other Heavenly Sun experts shook their heads before pointing towards Yu Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others at the center. ¡°They suddenly rushed here and said they have something important to report. We tried to ask them, but they said to wait till you arrived.¡± Li Qingshan displayed an amused smile as he continued, ¡°If memory serves me right, they should be the team members Zhou Yuan recruited. Could something have happened to Zhou Yuan, and he now needs saving?¡± These words drew laughter from several Heavenly Sun experts. If it was true, the face won by their ¡®Little Grand Elder¡¯ in the nine regions tournament would be completely lost. Qin Lian¡¯s eyes widened. Soon after, she swept an icy glance across the place. The laughter immediately stopped. Anyone could see that Qin Lian was very influential and intimidating to the numerous Tianyuan Region Heavenly Sun experts. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity will not change no matter how envious you guys are. If something does happen to him, it will greatly affect our Tianyuan Region,¡± Qin Lian scolded in an icy voice. She then looked towards Yi Qiushui and the others. They were still catching their breaths due to rushing here and had exceptionally grave expressions. Qin Lian¡¯s heart could not help but sink a little. Had something really happened to Zhou Yuan? ¡°Did something happen to Zhou Yuan?¡± she asked in a slightly downcast voice. Yi Qiushui looked at Qin Lian and answered without beating about the bush, ¡°Zhou Yuan is fine. He told us to rush here to deliver some urgent news. The Great Five Alliance Army has found the Heavenly Fire Tree King, and they are currently making use of its power to strengthen the entire Chiyun Prefecture battle line. Once they succeed, their power will soar, allowing them to tear through the battlefront.¡± The surroundings turned deathly silent. Even Qin Lian¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank as her expression changed drastically. After a brief shock, Li Qingyue sternly shouted, ¡°What nonsense! Even grand elder Mu Ni failed to find the Heavenly Fire Tree King. How could the Great Five Alliance Army have found it?! ¡°Does Zhou Yuan understand the consequences of irresponsibly giving information that will disturb the hearts of the soldiers?!¡± The others returned to their senses and voiced their agreement one after another. The news brought by Yi Qiushui was far too alarming. After all, the Heavenly Fire Tree King existed only in legend and had only been mentioned by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan long ago. Such a mythical creature was extremely adept at hiding, and even grand elder Mu Ni¡¯s personal efforts had failed to discover it. Grand elder Mu Ni was someone with extremely high affinity with plants, and even she could not sense the Heavenly Fire Tree King. How could the Law Domain experts of the Great Five Alliance Army be better than her in this aspect? Everyone refused to believe it. ¡°How did you obtain this information?¡± asked Mu Youlan with doubt in her eyes. Grand elder Mu Ni was someone she greatly respected and admired. How could the Five Great Alliance Army succeed at something that even grand elder Mu Ni failed to do? Moreover, how had Zhou Yuan obtained such important information? Yi Qiushui calmly answered, ¡°Zhou Yuan captured the target he accepted from the bounty list, Cao Xiao, and obtained the information from his mouth.¡± These words instantly caused another commotion. Disbelief appeared in the eyes of numerous Heavenly Sun experts. Zhou Yuan had captured Cao Xiao? That was an expert at the intermediate purple-gold Heavenly Sun stage! Even among the Heavenly Sun experts present, several would be at a disadvantage against Cao Xiao. Was Zhou Yuan, an initial heavenly Sun stage expert, really so strong? They were not the only ones. Even Qin Lian and Mu Youlan were stunned, bewilderment coloring their eyes. It was not impossible for someone to defeat an opponent of a higher cultivation stage within the Heavenly Sun stage. However, this feat was mostly applicable to practitioners of lower grade Heavenly Suns such as the ordinary and snow-silver grades. Triumphing over a purple-gold Heavenly Sun practitioner was an exceedingly difficult task even for an initial glass Heavenly Sun stage expert. Li Qingyue¡¯s face twitched. He displayed a superficial smile and said, ¡°Could you guys have gotten the wrong person?¡± Yi Qiushui glanced at him and waved her hand. Han Yuan and the others threw out something that had been tightly bound by scarlet-red tree branches. Genesis Qi surged out, breaking the branches, and the object turned into a human figure as it crashed into the ground. ¡°This is Cao Xiao. I believe someone here must have fought him before and should be able to recognize him.¡± The expression of several Heavenly Sun experts present changed slightly as whispers spread. They had already identified that this person was indeed Cao Xiao. The expression of numerous Heavenly Sun experts changed. Zhou Yuan had really captured Cao Xiao? Yi Qiushui indifferently said, ¡°Of the three targets Zhou Yuan accepted, Zhang Zihao was killed in a single punch, while Cao Xiao was originally about to be killed but had lost his courage at the last moment and spilled this secret.¡± The surroundings fell silent again. Numerous Heavenly Sun experts could not help but gasp inwardly, traces of shock in their eyes. Killing Zhang Zihao in a single punch and capturing Cao Xiao alive... Was he still an initial Heavenly Sun stage expert?! Even Qin Lian and Mu Youlan looked at each other, seeing the astonishment in the other¡¯s eyes. Was Zhou Yuan actually so strong? Chapter 1018 Trouble Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was hidden within a shadow. He looked through the foliage and saw a defensive line that stretched to the ends of his sight. Teams consisting of Heavenly Sun experts constantly patrolled the area. This place was very close to the Great Five Alliance Chiyun Prefecture headquarters. He could even faintly sense several powerful and concealed presences deep inside. They were likely enemy Nascent Source experts. However, Zhou Yuan was not worried. He had the Celestial Shadow Art, a high-level concealment technique, and most importantly, the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune. The five-foot Law Domain could fully hide his presence, and even Nascent Source experts would be hard-pressed to discover any traces of him. The only problem would be if a Law Domain expert was present. However, this was very unlikely because the enemy Law Domain experts were being closely watched by his senior sister Chi Jing and the others. These various reasons were why he had dared to delve into enemy territory alone. His aim was to confirm the truth of Cao Xiao¡¯s words. Although Cao Xiao had revealed information regarding the Heavenly Fire Tree King to him, it might be a ruse to send Zhou Yuan to his death. However, Cao Xiao sorely underestimated Zhou Yuan if he believed it would work. ¡°Qin Lian and the others should attack soon¡­¡± Zhou Yuan cast a glance behind him. He could see huge batches of teams from the alliance miserably fleeing in his direction. This had already gone on for an entire day, and it was evidently a result of the intense battle that had erupted at the front lines. Qin Lian and the others had likely received the news. Regardless of its validity, they intended to launch an all-out attack to probe for more information. If the opportunity presented itself, they would naturally be more than happy to uproot the alliance¡¯s entire headquarters in the Chiyun Prefecture. ¡°From how fast the enemy¡¯s front lines are crumbling, it should not be long before the Tianyuan Region pushes to this location.¡± A look of thought emerged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. When that time came, an earth-shaking battle would be unavoidable. It would be a battle that would likely decide the fate of the Chiyun Prefecture battlefront. Zhou Yuan wet his lips. The war here had been going on for several months, and such a big event appeared just after his arrival. Who could say whether his luck was good or bad? ¡°I¡¯ll wait for the army to reach this location¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was not reckless enough to sneak in at such a time. He needed to wait for the army to draw away enough attention first. After all, he could not ignore the enemy Nascent Source experts even though he had some trump cards to protect himself. The wait lasted for three days. Over these three days, enemy teams from the front lines were continuously defeated and forced to withdraw. However, Zhou Yuan discovered that there was no hint of panic in the alliance headquarters even after they received so many of their defeated comrades. Instead, they were tightening security. This made him sigh deeply. No wonder the Great Five Alliance Army could compete with the Tianyuan Region...they were not to be underestimated. When he was sighing, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed, and he raised his head and peered into the distant sky. Space suddenly rippled before the piercing sound of rushing wind rang out. Countless streaks of light shot across the sky, charging toward this area with unstoppable momentum. They numbered in the tens of thousands, while an even bigger Divine Dwelling army followed behind them. As expected, Yi Yan, Qin Lian and the others had gathered all the forces in the Chiyun Prefecture in an attempt to destroy the Great Five Alliance Army¡¯s roots. The true battle was about to begin. The atmosphere had become so heavy that it was nearly impossible to breathe. With the arrival of the great Tianyuan Region army, countless Genesis Runes emerged from the alliance headquarters and began to weave together in the air, creating a protective boundary. Within the boundary, one could see countless figures arriving to face the incoming force. Yi Yan stood at the very front of the Tianyuan Region army. Behind him stood six figures giving off deep and powerful Genesis Qi undulations. They were the other six Nascent Source experts assigned to the Chiyun Prefecture battlefront. A little farther behind them were the numerous Heavenly Sun experts with Qin Lian at their head. Yi Yan stood in the air. His usually kind and gentle eyes had been replaced by a ferocious look as he cast his gaze toward the giant camp. Killing intent rose in the air around him. ¡°Hehe, elder Yi Yan, why have you guys come here so menacingly? Are you planning on forcing a decisive battle onto us?¡± Loud laughter sounded from the alliance army camp. Space rippled as eight figures walked out. From their Genesis Qi undulations, they were clearly experts that had stepped into the Nascent Source stage! The speaker was an elder in yellow robes standing at the front of the group. Yi Yan gazed indifferently at the yellow-robed elder and said, ¡°Old devil Xu Mou, I heard you guys found the Heavenly Fire Tree King.¡± The yellow-robed elder called Xu Mou chuckled and replied, ¡°Elder Yi¡¯s information network is very efficient.¡± He was evidently not surprised that Yi Yan had found out since he had no intention of hiding this matter. When Xu Mou did not deny it, Yi Yan¡¯s heart sank a little. To think that the alliance army had really found the Heavenly Fire Tree King...that was something that even grand elder Mu Ni had failed to achieve. Such a mythical existence would bring about tremendous benefits in the right hands. This was why they had not hesitated to mobilize the entire army the moment they caught wind of the news. Once it was confirmed, they would need to start the battle immediately. If they delayed too long, the other side would be able to bring out enough of the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power to put them at an absolute disadvantage. Rather than wait till the other side had enough power to steamroll over them, it would be better to take a chance now and snatch away the Heavenly Fire Tree King. Yi Yan asked with a dark expression, ¡°How did you guys find the Heavenly Fire Tree King? I highly doubt that the Law Domain experts of your five factions are that capable.¡± Xu Mou leisurely answered, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry about such matters.¡± As Xu Mou looked toward the Tianyuan Region army behind Yi Yan, his smile turned a little strange. ¡°But elder Yi Yan, you still dared to attack with your full force despite clearly knowing about the Heavenly Fire Tree King. Aren¡¯t you afraid of sending yourselves into a trap?¡± ¡°If you guys were really able to utilize the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power, you guys should be the ones attacking.¡± Yi Yan sneered. Although Yi Yan did not have a deep understanding of the Heavenly Fire Tree King, he had once heard grand elder Mu Ni say that it was a mythical natural existence that absorbed Genesis Qi to grow. It possessed tremendous power but did not have a complete consciousness. It could only act on instinct to avoid danger and seek fortune. Without a special method, it would be difficult to use the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power even if one obtained it. Xu Mou was slightly taken aback. Soon after, he laughed and said, ¡°Hehe, elder Yi Yan is so discerning. You¡¯re right. The Heavenly Fire Tree King is extremely troublesome, making it very difficult to utilize all of its power. After researching for so many days, we¡¯ve only managed to obtain a small portion... ¡°But I believe that this small portion should give you guys a big surprise. ¡°Haha, we originally intended to let you guys have a taste after refining it for a few more days, but since you¡¯re in such a rush to die, we will naturally oblige¡­¡± Xu Mou raised his hand. Rumble! A rumble sounded from the camp as a tower broke out from the ground and swiftly rose into the sky. The tower looked as if it were made from crystal, and countless cryptic runes had been carved into it. Amidst countless bewildered gazes, the runes on the crystal tower suddenly flickered then shot out numerous beams of light. However, the beams of light did not shoot toward the Tianyuan Region army but instead shone on the bodies of Xu Mou, the other Nascent Source experts and the numerous Heavenly Sun experts. Rumble! Yi Yan¡¯s expression sank as he felt the Genesis Qi in their bodies begin to rise. Xu Mou had never beaten Yi Yan. However, Yi Yan could now feel a dangerous sensation from Xu Mou¡¯s body. In the shadows nearby, Zhou Yuan sighed as he watched. He knew that the situation was going to become rather troublesome... Chapter 1019 Crystal Tower The Tianyuan Region army gazed and watched this scene in shock. They could likewise feel the figures connected to the alliance light beams steadily grow stronger. Yi Yan¡¯s expression was rather gloomy. They had obtained the information a little too late. The alliance could already utilize some of the Heavenly Fire Tree Kings¡¯ power. Xu Mou and the other enemy Nascent Source experts were originally at a disadvantage against the Tianyuan Region Nascent Source experts, and they had repeatedly avoided battles as a result. However, with the Heavenly Fire Tree King''s support, a close and intense fight would likely await the two forces when they clashed. Huu. Yi Yan breathed out deeply as killing intent arose in his eyes. No matter how bitter it would be, the battle that day would be unavoidable. The more they delayed, the greater the power Xu Mou and the others could utilize. In turn, the Tianyuan Region army would only become more and more disadvantaged unless they voluntarily abandoned the Chiyun Prefecture battlefront. However, that was impossible. Yi Yan raised his head and glanced at the sky. Such a big disturbance had likely drawn the gazes of the Law Domain experts on both sides. However, the Law Domain experts needed to guard against each other, and were waiting for the right opportunity to take action. At their level, victory hinged upon who revealed an opening first, because once an opening appeared, an earth-shattering assault would surely follow. Hence, they needed to stabilize the situation here without their help! ¡°Hear my command: we¡¯re going all out to destroy that crystal tower!¡± Yi Yan¡¯s voice thundered across the area. Rumble! He immediately shot forth, leading the charge. With a deep breath, the surrounding Genesis Qi surged into his body through his nose, causing his originally thin body to swell. Roar! He opened his mouth and blew! Whoosh! An endless barrage of shooting stars shot out like the herald of armageddon as they viciously bombarded the alliance army. Every shooting star contained extremely terrifying Genesis Qi, the dreadful power smashing apart even the space along its path. Hidden in the shadows, Zhou Yuan could not help but wet his lips at this scene. This was the power of the Nascent Source stage. A single breath could take on a thousand transformations and destroy the land. It was a certain pinnacle of Genesis Qi manipulation. Even having stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage, Zhou Yuan understood that he was still unable to manipulate his Genesis Qi to such perfection. At the end of the day, his comprehension of Genesis Qi was insufficient. Domineering and vicious to the extreme. Rumble! Two terrifying forces clashed in the sky. The heavens seemed to explode as the entire place shook. While Yi Yan and Xu Mou were exchanging blows, the other Nascent Source experts also dashed into the sky. Their battlefield had to be high up in the sky because, even though the Heavenly Sun experts might be able to withstand the wayward blasts of their battle, the Divine Dwelling experts would suffer grave losses. As the Nascent Source experts began their fight, Qin Lian took over the commander position and shouted, ¡°Attack!¡± She dashed forward, leading the charge. A huge group of advanced Heavenly Sun experts followed behind her. Genesis Qi spouted from their bodies as faint Genesis Qi suns rose behind them. Most of these Genesis Qi suns gave off snow-silver light while a few shone purple-gold. As for glass light, it was even rarer, and nearly none could be found. Even so, their imposing presence still shook the land. ¡°Hehe, Qin Lian, we brothers shall accompany you.¡± The space in front of Qin Lian suddenly rippled as two figures appeared, stopping her in her tracks. These two smiling individuals looked exactly alike. One wore a blue earring on the right ear, whereas a deep-yellow earring hung from the other¡¯s left ear. They were likewise connected to the mysterious light beam, and frightening Genesis Qi was pulsing around their bodies. Two purple-gold suns emerged. These two individuals were evidently the Wang brothers, Wang Qinhai and Wan Haiyuan, who had recently been wreaking havoc on the Chiyun battlefront. Qin Lian coldly gazed at the two and said, ¡°Do you think borrowing that thing¡¯s power gives you the qualifications to fight me? Were you not satisfied by the taste of my blade previously?¡± The Wang brothers¡¯ expressions changed slightly as they involuntarily glanced down towards their chests. They had nearly been chopped in half by Qin Lian previously, and they were thus very wary of this famous individual who was ranked sixth on the Heavenly Sun List. ¡°If they¡¯re not enough, how about when I¡¯m added?¡± Laughter rang out. Space rippled behind the Wang brothers as another figure appeared. It was a man in scarlet robes, wielding a magma-like sword. Astonishing sword qi and heat pulsed from his body. At the sight of him, Qin Lian knitted her brows together and slowly said, ¡°Ji Hu of the Crimson Cloud Sect...how are you here?¡± Ji Hu was no unknown individual, and he was ranked around the forties on the Heavenly Sun List. Normally speaking, Qin Lian would naturally be unafraid of him, but there was also a mysterious light beam linking to Ji Hu, boosting his power. In the face of this trio, even Qin Lian narrowed her eyes slightly. It seemed the enemy was very intent on killing her. More importantly, Ji Hu should have been at the southern battlefront, which was under Bai Yu''s command. What the hell was Bai Yu doing? Can¡¯t believe he let someone like Ji Hu slip away and come here... However, Qin Lian displayed no fear in the face of this powerful line-up. Instead, excitement and blood-lust flashed in her fierce eyes. With a grasp of her hand, a long dark-red blade appeared. Scarlet sparrows danced along the blade as a wave of heat surged from it. ¡°I hope that the three of you will be able to endure my slashes!¡± The corners of Qin Lian''s lips rose in an icy arc. Her figure shot forward as a ten-thousand-foot-long scarlet blade light swept forth like a fiery cloud, enveloping the enemy trio. Boom! Even with the power boost from the Heavenly Fire Tree King, the Wang brothers and Ji Hu did not dare to be negligent. They circulated their full power and charged forward to meet her head-on. In another location, Mu Youlan¡¯s figure appeared atop a giant tree. When she saw Qin Lian being ganged up on, she suddenly grasped her hand. A long vine whip appeared as the space behind her rippled, revealing a Genesis Qi sun. However, just as she was about to come to Qin Lian¡¯s aid, her expression suddenly changed, and she jerked her gaze toward a certain tree in front of her. A figure slowly rose from the top of the tree. It was a man with oily-green hair. He smiled charmingly as he stared at Mu Youlan. ¡°The Venomous Dragon Palace¡¯s Xiao Chongzi?¡± Mu Youlan¡¯s expression sank a little. Although this individual was ranked lower than her on the Heavenly Sun List, he should not be underestimated. A mysterious light beam was also connected to his back, causing his Genesis Qi undulations to rise rapidly. This person should be at the southern battlefront. Why was he here at the Chiyun battlefront? What the hell was that bastard Bai Yu doing? Two heavyweights are gone from the battlefront he is in charge of, and he doesn¡¯t even know? He was basically a sieve! Mu Youlan took a deep breath and swung her green vine whip. Countless sharp needles burst out from the surrounding trees, forming a cage as they enveloped Xiao Chongzi. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± Xiao Chongzi laughed. With a wave of his sleeve, his hand turned into a sinister ugly green worm. It bared its fangs and roared, spitting out a waterfall of poison that melted away the wooden needles. Their gazes clashed as killing intent surged. The two individuals shot forward, colliding in the air. Trees began to fall around them, the aftershocks from their battle flattening the surrounding area. Meanwhile, the advanced Heavenly Sun experts from both sides also clashed in battle. The entire sky seemed to crumble as the earth was torn open. Flood-like blasts of terrifying Genesis Qi wreaked havoc in the surroundings as the sounds of battle filled the horizon. Experts from both sides fell from time to time. The pungent stench of blood saturated the air. Zhou Yuan watched on with a grave expression. Only after personally witnessing the savagery of battle did he truly understand the cruelty of war. In this meat-grinder-like battlefield, even the usually high and mighty Heavenly Sun experts could die at any moment. The mysterious light beams behind the alliance army experts were far too eye-catching. These light beams were the game-changer that resulted in heavy losses for the Tianyuan Region side. Zhou Yuan frowned deeply as he shot a glance at the sky. Although he could not sense the Law Domain experts, he had a feeling that all of them were watching the battlefield. If the situation deteriorated too much, the Law Domain experts on both sides would no longer stay passive. Zhou Yuan naturally did not wish for the Law Domain experts on their side to lose their patience first, because it might put his senior sister Chi Jing in danger. Hence, he turned his gaze toward the mysterious crystal tower deep within the alliance army camp. He knew that he had to do something. Chapter 1020 Sneaking In An enormous battlefield stretched across the sky. Berserk Genesis Qi erupted from nearly every corner, blood saturating the air as the desperate fighting continued. The endless sea of trees was flattened, the ground was ripped open, and the countless mountains smashed to pieces. While the fighting spread like wildfire, a shadow appeared outside the Genesis Rune boundary of the alliance army camp. Hidden in the shadow, Zhou Yuan swept his gaze across the enormous boundary. The boundless Genesis Qi that flowed within secretly astonished even someone like him. This boundary was very high tier and possessed impressive power. If not, it would not be to protect the enemy headquarters. Before such a boundary, even all of his initial Heavenly Sun stage strength would not be able to leave a dent. However, if force didn¡¯t work, he could always use finesse. ¡°Decoder Saint Rune!¡± An ancient Saint Rune appeared from deep within Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes and began to rotate slowly. The Decoder Saint Rune was the first Saint Rune Zhou Yuan had obtained. Although it did not directly boost his combat capabilities, it gave him the ability to find numerous weaknesses, and it was the best tool to use against a Genesis Rune boundary. A Genesis Rune boundary was formed from countless connected Genesis Runes, and every link would have an almost impossible to detect imperfection or weakness. Such weaknesses were extremely faint and required an extremely powerful Spirit and a deep understanding of Genesis Runes to find with Spirit senses alone. The Decoder Saint Rune could find these weaknesses. When Zhou Yuan activated the Decoder Saint Rune, the Genesis Rune boundary before his eyes began to change. It was no longer a Genesis Qi barrier but countless complex circulating Genesis Runes. Even with the Decoder Saint Rune¡¯s help, the scale of the boundary and the innumerable flowing runes made him feel a piercing pain from his glabella. However, he forcibly suppressed the pain. The Saint Rune continued to rotate in his eyes as it began to identify the tiny weaknesses at an astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, half an incense stick of time passed. Two lines of blood flowed down the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, making him look rather terrifying. Huu. His wide-open eyes finally began to close slowly. Zhou Yuan wiped away the blood as the corners of his lips curled slightly. ¡°The Decoder Saint Rune is amazing as usual.¡± Even a Nascent Source expert would find it difficult to break open such a boundary within a short period, but with the Decoder Saint Rune, he had found an opening. These runes could not destroy the boundary, but they were akin to a virus. After merging into the boundary, they swiftly rendered a small area ineffective. After a few breaths, a long and narrow crack appeared in the boundary. A faint smile emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, and he cast one final glance at the battlefield before casting away all hesitation. He turned into a shadow as he dashed through the crack. After Zhou Yuan disappeared, the crack slowly resealed. Several hundred Genesis Rune experts were seated at a certain location in the camp. They were the ones overseeing the boundary. One of them suddenly looked towards a certain spot on the glowing crystal ball before him and frowned. He had sensed a slight disturbance. However, the disturbance was far too faint. Hence, he hesitated only for a moment before shifting his gaze away. ... Clang! High up in the sky, Qin Lian swung her fire sparrow broadsword. The blade danced in the air as the cry of a sparrow rang out across the horizon. Torrential scarlet light radiated as she fought with the Wang brothers and Ji Hu. The enemy trio ruthlessly attacked, thunder booming each time their Genesis Qi collided. There was a fierce look on Qin Lian¡¯s face. She did not back down even when facing three opponents, and her blazing and unyielding blade qi somewhat flustered the enemy trio. After half an incense stick of time, they had already exchanged over a hundred rounds. As time passed, Qin Lian¡¯s brows involuntarily furrowed. She had realized that the enemy trio seemed to have an endless amount of Genesis Qi. Moreover, the injuries she occasionally inflicted on them would swiftly recover. ¡°Is it because of those light beams?¡± Qin Lian glanced at the light beams connected to the trio¡¯s bodies. They appeared to ignore the laws of space. She had tried to cut them earlier, but her efforts had borne no fruit. The trio¡¯s increased ferocity was likely due to the mysterious light beam. ¡°Troublesome¡­¡± Qin Lian gritted her teeth. If things were already looking so bad for her, the other Heavenly Sun experts would likely be under even more pressure. They were definitely going to suffer painful losses. This battle was unexpectedly desperate. Moreover, who knew how bad things were for elder Yi Yan and the others? Qin Lian swept a glance at the sky above them where a storm of terrifying Genesis Qi was wreaking destruction. The outcome of the Nascent Source experts¡¯ battle was more crucial than hers... Previously, elder Yi Yan had always had the upper hand against Xu Mou, who was slightly weaker, but victory was no longer certain with the mysterious light beam¡¯s power. If they were defeated, it might result in a clash between the Law Domain experts. Like the butterfly effect, the outcome of this battle might affect the entire war. ¡°There is only one thing I can do now¡ªfight to the death!¡± A resolute look flashed in Qin Lian¡¯s eyes. She tightly grasped the handle of her blade as her long ponytail, hanging all the way to her feet, abruptly burst apart and fell around her like a waterfall. Fiery-red Genesis Qi rose around her, dying her black hair fire-red. ¡°AHH!¡± Qin Lian howled at the heavens. She seemed to transform into a fire sparrow, the blade in her hand stirring restlessly as it tore through the air. With a frightening might, it ruthlessly slashed towards the enemy trio. Even men like the Wang brothers and Ji Hu could not help but feel fear rise up from their feet. However, they were no ordinary individuals, and they soon adjusted their states of mind. They charged forward to meet the attack with ferocious looks in their eyes! If it were any other day, the three of them would not dare to risk their lives against Qin Lian. However, the boost from the light beam made this the best chance to slay her! If they killed her, their names would resound throughout the entire Hunyuan Heaven! ... As Qin Lian expected, she was not the only one who faced such problems. Mu Youlan and the rest of the advanced Heavenly Sun experts were also in similar situations. The enemies seemed to be unafraid of death. Not only had they become more powerful, their injuries were also rapidly recovering. If this continued, the situation would only become increasingly dire. If one looked down from above, one would see the entire Tianyuan Region army being pushed back. Several immeasurable presences were stationed at an elevation so high that ordinary people would likely never see in their lives. The Law Domain experts on both sides were observing the battle. One of the presences on the Tianyuan Region side stirred a little but ultimately restrained itself. However, one could faintly feel a sense of anxiousness and anger. ... While both sides¡¯ experts continued to clash in battle, a figure appeared within the shadow of a tent deep inside the alliance camp. Zhou Yuan raised his head and looked at the mysterious crystal tower. Chapter 1021 Bottom of the Tower Hidden in the shadows, Zhou Yuan observed the giant crystal tower that rose from the ground. It was covered in extremely complex and cryptic Genesis Runes and was clearly created by someone with a terrifying mastery over Genesis Runes. He did not even get the chance to observe the runes with his Spirit; a single glance of them made him feel a stabbing pain in his Spirit, causing him to hurriedly shift his gaze away. Light beams continuously shot out from the top of the tower to boost the Great Five Alliance Army. It seemed to have bottomless power. Zhou Yuan stared at the crystal tower for a moment but did not advance a step farther. His senses told him that a dozen Transformative Spirit experts were scanning the crystal tower¡¯s surroundings, and there was even an extremely hidden but powerful presence somewhere nearby. It must be a Nascent Source expert! The Great Five Alliance had left a Nascent Source expert to guard this place! From this, one could see just how important this location was to them. ¡°How troublesome¡­¡± Zhou Yuan muttered under his breath as his expression turned grave. The crystal tower¡¯s power should originate from the Heavenly Fire Tree King. To put a stop to this, he needed to save the Heavenly Fire Tree King. This was obviously no simple feat. No matter how difficult it was, Zhou Yuan had to try. After all, he could not idly sit by and watch the Tianyuan Region be defeated at the Chiyun Prefecture battlefront because their defeat would surely impact the overall situation and further reduce his slim hope of obtaining the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. Huu. Zhou Yuan breathed out deeply and said in a low voice, ¡°Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune.¡± Bzz! A five-foot Law Domain swiftly expanded from Zhou Yuan. The Law Domain was formless, but Zhou Yuan was still able to sense its existence. Within it, he felt a god-like sense of power over the domain. However, he understood that it was merely a misconception. The half-foot Law Domain¡¯s power originated from the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune, and he did not have much control of it. Truthfully speaking, despite its tiny size, a Law Domain was not something Zhou Yuan could touch with his current strength. Hence, he was not invincible in the five-foot Law Domain. But with the right timing, it could be a powerful trump card. Take this moment for example. With the five-foot Law Domain enveloping him and with the Celestial Shadow Art, he was likely to escape the detection of even a Nascent Source expert even while moving in front of one. Of course, these were precisely the reasons why Zhou Yuan had dared to take on this risky operation. As he neared, Zhou Yuan felt several Spirits carefully scanning the area. However, there was no response when they swept over Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Amidst the Law Domain, he had essentially fused with the land. Zhou Yuan stomped his foot at a certain distance from the crystal tower, and his figure turned into a faint black blur as he burrowed into the ground like a black snake. His Law Domain reached out in the ground, causing the soil to seemingly separate on its own as Zhou Yuan quickly advanced towards the crystal tower. From what he could tell, the crystal tower¡¯s power likely originated from deep in the ground. His advance continued for several dozen breaths. The soil before Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes parted, and the enormous bottom of the tower appeared within his sights. Innumerable giant chains reached out from its middle, each covered in ancient Genesis Runes. At the center where all the chains converged, Zhou Yuan saw a giant ball of light. He could barely make out what seemed to be flames within the light, and amidst the flames was the silhouette of a giant tree that gave off an ancient and boundless aura. Endless Genesis Qi was being extracted from the light ball and sent out through the chains. The extracted Genesis Qi was extremely pure and filled with life energy. It felt very similar to the light beams that were connected to the backs of the powerful experts from the Five Alliance Army. ¡°Is this the Heavenly Fire Tree King?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook a little. The Heavenly Fire Tree King was indeed an extraordinary existence. He had heard that it was a mystical creature of nature that was born from heavenly fire. It had a very long lifespan, and if one were to purely compare based on Genesis Qi, it would likely match Law Domain experts. Unfortunately, it was very difficult for such a creature to develop its own consciousness. As a result, it was unable to properly utilize its true power. However, it was very adept at avoiding danger and seeking fortune. Even grand elder Mu Ni had failed to find it despite personally searching the entire forest. Who knew how the Great Five Alliance had managed to capture it? Zhou Yuan sighed before looking above the countless chains. Many stone platforms floated in the air, each occupied by a seated figure. From their Genesis Qi undulations, they were all Heavenly Sun experts. A gray-robed elder sat on the platform at the very center. It was a Nascent Source expert! The security here was very tight. Evidently, the Great Five Alliance had invested an unimaginable force into the Chiyun Prefecture battlefront. It was very likely that they had already been eyeing the Heavenly Fire Tree King from the very beginning, and it had been the reason why they had made this place a battlefield. However, no one on the Tianyuan Region side had realized this. Perhaps, it was because even grand elder Mu Ni had failed to find the Heavenly Fire Tree King years ago that they hadn¡¯t thought of it. Hence, everyone believed that it would also be impossible for the Great Five Alliance¡¯s Law Domain experts. But they had found it. Moreover, they had even discovered the method to utilize the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power... In the shadows, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered in thought. He, too, did not believe the Great Five Alliance had such capabilities. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu might be behind this. Only someone like him had the power to locate the Heavenly Fire Tree King. ¡°That old bastard!¡± Zhou Yuan hatefully gnashed his teeth. All of his plans should have succeeded, but they had been foiled by supreme sovereign Wan Zu just as he was about to collect the rewards. However, Zhou Yuan understood that he was just an ant in the eyes of such an existence, and there was no use no matter how angry he grew. Hence, he needed to focus on resolving the problem before him. Zhou Yuan glanced at the defenses on the stone platforms. He was not worried about them. With his five-foot Law Domain and the Celestial Shadow Art, they would be unable to detect him even if he moved about right under their eyes. However, how could he take away the Heavenly Fire Tree King? Zhou Yuan was silent for a brief moment. Soon after, he turned into a shadow and stealthily flew through the air. He latched onto one of the chains and traveled through its shadow, swiftly approaching the ball of light. In a short moment, he arrived at the source. However, Zhou Yuan did not dare to advance any farther. At the end of the chain, he could sense several exceedingly powerful Genesis Runes. These runes possessed a unique power...Saint Fire! The same Saint Fire that only a Sant expert could create! Zhou Yuan had felt it from patriarch Cang Xuan before. Saint Fire could burn even the Law Domain. So it is supreme sovereign Wan Zu! Zhou Yuan cursed in his heart. The Great Five Alliance had no Saint expert after all. Worry rose within him. Although there was only a tiny remnant trace of the Saint Fire, his five-foot Law Domain might be revealed if he approached. What should I do? Retreat? Definitely not! While such thoughts were swirling in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, he suddenly felt a vague, foreign mind reach out towards him. Had he been discovered? Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shivered. The Law Domain stirred as he began to withdraw. However, just as his body was about to move, his eyes suddenly flashed as they flooded with amazement. He had realized that the mind was sending out a message¡ªa cry for help. The source of this message... Zhou Yuan looked towards the end of the chain. It was clearly the trapped Heavenly Fire Tree King! Chapter 1022 Unexpected Surprise The Heavenly Fire Tree King was asking him to save it? Has it gained awareness? Although an existence like it had an endless life force and Genesis Qi, wasn¡¯t it supposed to be very difficult for it to gain awareness? Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. Perhaps it had not gained a mind of its own but possessed unimaginable senses due to its innate ability to survive. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five-foot Law Domain might be able to hide from the Nascent Source expert above, but it was unable to escape the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s detection. Moreover, its instincts might be able to discern that Zhou Yuan could possibly save it... You think too highly of me. Do you think that I¡¯m a Law Domain expert? Zhou Yuan muttered in his heart but soon gritted his teeth. No matter what, he had to give it a try. Saving the Heavenly Fire Tree King was secondary, but he definitely needed to stop the alliance from using its power against the Tianyuan Region. With his decision made, Zhou Yuan no longer hesitated. However, he did not move but instead used his Spirit senses to observe the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s surroundings. Space was warped around the tree and flowing with faint traces of Genesis Runes. It was evidently some kind of suppressing boundary. The boundary was extremely formidable. Most importantly, there were traces of Saint Fire aura on the Genesis Runes in its core region. The Heavenly Fire Tree King was unable to escape because of this aura. The aura was the power of a Saint expert. The Saint Rune in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes rotated, allowing him to clearly view the hidden ancient boundary surrounding the Heavenly Fire Tree King. After some careful consideration, he frowned deeply as he looked towards the stone platforms above, especially the one where the Nascent Source expert was seated. These stone platforms were providing a steady stream of power to maintain the Saint Fire aura at the boundary¡¯s core. ¡°Too troublesome¡­¡± Zhou Yuan had a headache. To save the Heavenly Fire Tree King, he needed to fulfill two conditions. The first was to create a tiny hole in the Genesis Rune boundary around the tree to destroy its suppressive effect. Although such a small hole was insignificant, the Heavenly Fire Tree King could capitalize on it. After all, Zhou Yuan could only create a small opening for it, and the rest would still depend on the tree. Once he fulfilled the first condition, there was still the second step: forcing the Nascent Source expert off the main stone platform. Once the expert left, the entire boundary would loosen, allowing the Heavenly Fire Tree King to break free. These two conditions were as difficult as ascending the heavens. Zhou Yuan was merely at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, and he had relied on the five-foot Law Domain to appear here. Even with the five-foot Law Domain, he would be put in a perilous position if he dared to appear in front of a Nascent Source expert. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the first step first!¡± Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth. Spirit power stealthily flowed out from him and kept low as it approached the giant ball of light under the cover of the five-foot Law Domain. However, when Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit reached a certain point, the Saint Fire aura finally surged out. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit immediately felt an indescribable burning sensation. The pain seemed to spread from within his Spirit itself, wanting to burn it from the inside out. Zhou Yuan tightly clenched his jaw as he frantically circulated his Spirit power. Tiny wisps of fire began to appear around the Spirit seated between his brows. The flames were exceedingly tiny, but they gave off an indescribable pressure. Under the fire, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit slowly began to dim. His initial Transformative stage Spirit was about to combust just because he had approached some Saint Fire. God damnit! Zhou Yuan cursed in his heart. The initial Transformative stage was too weak! ¡°What can I do?¡± Hundreds of ideas instantly flashed through his mind. In the end, he realized that temporarily retreating was the best option. If he could not withstand the Saint Fire aura¡¯s burning power, saving the Heavenly Fire Tree King would be wishful thinking. At this juncture, he had no choice but to take a step back and think of another plan. With the decision made, Zhou Yuan did not dare to delay. A shadow squirmed as he began to retreat. However, extremely pure energy suddenly surged towards him through the chain. Like a vine, the energy wrapped around the shadow... This turn of events nearly made Zhou Yuan jump in fear. Was the Heavenly Fire Tree King trying to keep him here because it had sensed his intention to flee?! Before he could react, he felt incomparably pure energy surge into his head. The energy was so pure that it felt as if a celestial being had voluntarily revealed itself. It sprinkled onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s dim Spirit, causing it to emit a mystical light. Zhou Yuan then shockingly discovered that his Spirit, which had long stagnated at the initial Transformative stage, had slowly begun to swell. ¡°Is this the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s essence energy?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled. The energy was extremely pure as if it had gone through countless eons of refinement. Moreover, the life energy contained within it refined both his Spirit and body. The feeling intoxicated Zhou Yuan. His Spirit glowed as his Spirit power grew at an astonishing rate. It was the sign of an imminent breakthrough! Zhou Yuan was not surprised by this. His Spirit had been stuck at the initial Transformative stage for a long time. Encountering such a blessed opportunity would naturally allow his Spirit to grow to the next level. Fortunately for Zhou Yuan, he had the five-foot Law Domain, which he immediately used to conceal all undulations. Otherwise, the Nascent Source expert above him would have sensed something long ago. The Spirit breakthrough ended extremely quickly. By the time the pure energy quietly withdrew, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had already become bright and corporeal. The restlessly stirring and vigorous Spirit power was several times stronger than before! The surroundings were reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart as a sensation of clarity overcame him. He could observe even finer details now¡ªa benefit brought by having a stronger Spirit. This was the intermediate Transformative stage! Unrestrainable joy filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He had never imagined that he would receive such a blessing here, one that enabled his Spirit to ascend to the next level! An intermediate Transformative stage Spirit could match the Heavenly Sun stage! Zhou Yuan was dazed for a few seconds before he cast his gaze towards the flaming tree¡¯s silhouette inside the giant light ball. He had not expected to receive such amazing benefits from the tree king. Hence, he bashfully coughed softly as he sent out a thought, Elder tree king, you are far too courteous...but if you still have anything else to give, don¡¯t hold back so that I can begin risking my life to save you... Chapter 1023 Bluff This outcome made Zhou Yuan feel a little awkward, but he did not mind it too much. Of course, it would be best if he could receive more benefits, but even if he did not, the Spirit breakthrough was already more than enough to satisfy him. ¡°Hehe, please forgive me, tree king, I¡¯m coming to save you now!¡± With a thought, Spirit power began to extend towards the end of the numerous chains. Sure enough, he met the remnant Saint Fire aura once again. A feeling of terror flooded towards him as flames appeared around his Spirit in an attempt to burn it. The flames were still as fear-inducing as before, but Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and endured the pain. Cackle! Vigorous Spirit Fire gushed out from his Spirit, forming Spirit Fire armor around it. Zhou Yuan had not been able to do this at the initial Transformative stage because his Spirit Fire was not concentrated enough. After his previous breakthrough, his Spirit power had rapidly strengthened, giving him the ability to create this Spirit Fire armor. The armor greatly increased his Spirit¡¯s defense. The armor¡¯s appearance greatly alleviated the pressure Zhou Yuan felt. Hence, he ultimately endured the Saint Fire aura. Only a few dozen breaths had passed, but it felt infinitely long to Zhou Yuan. His entire body trembled as Genesis Qi undulated uncontrollably around him. If not for the five-foot Law Domain, his presence would have already been discovered. By the time the final second passed, Zhou Yuan was already drenched in sweat. His complexion was pale, and the stabbing pain between his brows made his face twist in agony. His recently revitalized Spirit had dimmed once more, a sign that he had used up the majority of his Spirit power reserves. Fortunately, he had managed to withstand the Saint Fire aura... ¡°What a terrifying Saint Fire¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was still filled with terror. What he had faced wasn¡¯t even true Saint Fire but some of its remnant aura. Even so, it had still forced him into such a miserable state. It was likely that a single glance would instantly evaporate his intermediate Transformative stage Spirit to nothingness if he encountered the real deal. The might of a Saint was akin to an immeasurable bottomless abyss. The fear in his heart slowly receded after some time. However, it would be difficult for his Spirit to recover in a short span of time. Hence, he could only send out a thought, Elder, I¡¯m lacking Spirit power. After a brief delay, a surge of pure energy flowed towards him, fully replenishing Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. However, the power this time was clearly not as same as before, and it only possessed a recovery effect. It did not strengthen his Spirit. After one final sigh of amazement, Zhou Yuan began to concentrate. His Spirit power slowly drew several Genesis Runes in the air. These runes merged into the giant boundary suppressing the Heavenly Fire Tree King, but they did not cause any disturbance. After all, Zhou Yuan was able to accurately target weaknesses in the boundary with the Decoder Saint Rune¡¯s help. The runes began their work, quietly eating away at a tiny area like a virus. The scale and level of this boundary was something unreachable for Zhou Yuan at the moment. Fortunately, his goal was to create a tiny, almost-negligible hole. As rune after rune fused into the surrounding space, a certain spot in the boundary suddenly rippled. Zhou Yuan, like a little mouse, had finally bored out a small hole. The hole was far too small to affect the boundary¡¯s circulation. Moreover, the boundary¡¯s power would naturally repair it as time passed. However, even an ant hole could destroy a thousand-mile dike. Once the Heavenly Fire Tree King blasted the boundary with its power, the hole would become the breakthrough it needed to escape. Phew. Zhou Yuan inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. The first step was completed at least. Only one final step remained between him and success. Zhou Yuan carefully withdrew his Spirit power and seated himself within the shadow. His gaze turned towards the floating stone platforms above him. Although the overseeing Heavenly Sun experts and the Nascent Source expert would constantly look towards him, they were unable to discover his presence. The hole in the boundary was done...but this was merely the start. For the Heavenly Fire Tree King to break out, the Nascent Source expert needed to be forced off his platform. This was the most troublesome part of the plan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expressions fluctuated indeterminately. After a long silence, a determined look flitted across his eyes. ... A gray-robed Nascent Source expert was sitting quietly on a stone platform. He understood how important this location was and thus did not dare to relax. His senses would scan the surroundings for any disturbances from time to time. Fortunately, he had yet to find anything out of the ordinary. He mumbled to himself, ¡°I wonder how the battle above is going...but with the endless support from the tree king, victory is only a matter of time.¡± His expression suddenly changed as his gaze abruptly swept downwards. He had sensed a faint disturbance below. His pupils violently shrank. Unbeknownst to him, a figure cloaked in a black robe had appeared on one of the chains below. The figure stood there like a ghost. What alarmed the gray-robed Nascent Source expert the most was that he had not detected how this figure had appeared! The Nascent Source expert swiftly reacted with a shout, ¡°Someone infiltrated this place!¡± The numerous Heavenly Sun experts immediately cast their gazes over, bewilderment appearing in their eyes as they locked onto the black-robed figure. The gray-robed Nascent Source expert did not attack but shouted, ¡°Who are you?!¡± ¡°Kekekeke¡­¡± The only response was a strange, piercing laugh. The black-robed figure suddenly dashed forward, heading directly towards them. ¡°Impudent!¡± The Nascent Source expert was both alarmed and angered. He had not expected the intruder to be so insolent. Not only had he not run away when discovered, he even dared to charge towards them. ¡°Since you want to die¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, fear flooded the eyes of the Nascent Source expert and the numerous surrounding Heavenly Sun experts. They had detected a Law Domain slowly spreading from the black-robed figure. ¡°Law Domain?!¡± The gray-robed Nascent Source expert¡¯s voice turned shrill as terror covered his face. The intruder was a Law Domain expert?! Which Tianyuan Region grand elder was this?! ¡°Retreat! Quickly retreat!¡± the gray-robed Nascent Source expert frantically roared as the Law Domain expanded. He had zero intention of facing the mysterious intruder because he knew that all of them would become fish on the chopping board the moment they fell into the Law Domain! Hence, he did not hesitate as he instantly leaped back, leaving the stone platform... Faces also filled with fear, the Heavenly Sun experts fled faster than rabbits. In a short span of a few breaths, all of them had retreated a substantial distance. As a result, the area around the black-robed figure was left empty. Under the black robe, a smirk appeared on a youthful face. Elder tree king, what are you waiting for? An astonishing undulation suddenly erupted from the center of the countless chains. Chapter 1024 Beat Him The expression of the retreating gray-robed Nascent Source expert changed drastically when the terrifying Genesis Qi undulation erupted from the suppression Genesis Rune boundary. However, his fearful gaze was still fixed onto the black-robed figure from which a Law Domain was slowly spreading. Although the Heavenly Fire Tree King was a mystical creature, all it had was Genesis Qi and was incapable of turning its power into proper fighting strength. Hence, even a few Nascent Source experts would be able to trap it. The mysterious Law Domain expert was the most terrifying existence here! All of them would die once the Law Domain reached them! However, the gray-robed Nascent Source expert was also somewhat bewildered. He realized that the Law Domain around the black-robed figure suddenly stopped when it extended to a radius of two and a half feet, seemingly no longer able to grow. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The Nascent Source expert¡¯s expression rapidly fluctuated. Doubt soon rose in his eyes. His senses told him that the Genesis Qi undulations given off by the black-robed figure were only at the Heavenly Sun level. Furthermore, the five-foot Law Domain did not give him the same fear he felt when facing a true Law Domain even though it felt similar to one. Moreover, the black-robed figure showed no indication of chasing them after forcing them off the platforms. The gray-robed Nascent Source expert¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. Soon after, he fiercely gritted his teeth. Genesis Qi surged forth with a wave of his sleeve, turning into a roaring glowing tiger. It leaped through the air as its shadow swiftly enveloped the black-robed figure. The Nascent Source expert and the numerous Heavenly Sun experts were stupefied to see the black-robed figure immediately turn tail and run. The gray-robed Nascent Source expert was momentarily stunned before his expression abruptly turned steely green with anger. How could he not understand by now that he had been tricked! This was no Law Domain expert! The intruder was a mere Heavenly Sun practitioner, and he had been putting up a bluff to scare them out of the boundary core zone, allowing the Heavenly Fire Tree King to escape! The gray-robed Nascent Source expert¡¯s face twisted in rage as he roared, his booming voice shaking the surroundings, ¡°Capture him! I will peel his flesh off piece by piece!¡± The Heavenly Sun experts looked at each other as they felt their faces flush red with embarrassment. So many of them had been scared off by a single Heavenly Sun practitioner. Rumble! Genesis Qi erupted from their bodies as they charged towards the retreating black-robed figure. However, the Saint Fire aura in the boundary was evidently extremely troublesome to deal with. The waves of energy from the tree king were instantly incinerated the moment they came into contact with the Saint Fire aura. The Nascent Source expert paid no further attention to Zhou Yuan after realizing his cultivation level. His figure flickered and appeared on a stone platform. Majestic Genesis Qi poured out of his body, powering the breaking boundary to frantically suppress the tree king. Zhou Yuan could not help but frown deeply when he felt the boundary¡¯s power begin to circulate once more. He had not expected the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s combat power to be so pathetic despite its boundless Genesis Qi. He had already helped it create an opening in the boundary, and he had even chased the others from the core area. Even after all this, the Heavenly Fire Tree King still appeared to be struggling. Zhou Yuan transmitted a thought, Elder tree king, hurry up! The tree king did not respond, but it was clearly redoubling its efforts to break free from the boundary¡¯s suppression. Swish! The numerous Heavenly Sun experts finally caught up. Zhou Yuan did not dare to take them on. His figure swiftly turned into a shadow and disappeared. ¡°Find him!¡± yelled the Heavenly Sun experts. One of the Heavenly Sun experts suddenly retrieved a copper mirror. The mirror rose into the air as dazzling rays exploded from it. Light swept across the area, dispelling the numerous shadows. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was quickly revealed under the light. Rumble! The instant he was revealed, a dozen torrents of Genesis Qi descended from the sky with unmatched ferocity. Zhou Yuan inwardly cursed, and he swiftly jumped back, avoiding the attacks. However, there were too many powerful enemies. They swarmed towards him, clearly intending to surround him. Elder tree king, I¡¯ll be leaving if you still can¡¯t come out, Zhou Yuan helplessly said in his heart. Lingering any longer would only reduce his chances of escaping. Boom! As if sensing Zhou Yuan¡¯s thoughts, a torrent of boundless Genesis Qi suddenly swept over just as the Heavenly Sun experts were about to unleash another bombardment, and knocked them away. Zhou Yuan quickly glanced over. The Heavenly Fire Tree King had blasted the Genesis Qi through the hole in the boundary. Boom boom! Blast after blast of Genesis Qi lashed out, forcing back the Heavenly Sun experts. However, the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s Genesis Qi attacks had really low offensive power. The opponents were merely a bunch of Heavenly Sun experts, yet not a single one had been slain. All the bombardment achieved were a few superficial injuries. Humph. On the central stone platform, an icy light flashed in the gray-robed Nascent Source expert¡¯s eyes. His figure moved, appearing above Zhou Yuan as he threw a punch. Space twisted as a torrent of berserk Genesis Qi roared forth, forcibly shattering a torrent of Genesis Qi from the Heavenly Fire Tree King. He looked towards Zhou Yuan, whose face was now revealed since the black robe had been destroyed. The Nascent Source expert swept a glance over him before icily chuckling. ¡°I was wondering who it was. It turns out to be the third personal disciple of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s supreme sovereign¡­¡± He had identified Zhou Yuan. After all, Zhou Yuan was no longer an unknown individual. ¡°Fine, since you¡¯ve come, don¡¯t even think about leaving. Once I capture you, the Tianyuan Region will lose all face!¡± Terrifying Genesis Qi rose around the gray-robed Nascent Source expert as he locked onto Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly. He was already preparing to activate the five-foot Law Domain and escape. He was no match for a Nascent Source expert, and lingering any longer would only remove any chance of escaping. Boom! Several blasts of Genesis Qi arrived again, viciously shooting towards the gray-robed Nascent Source expert. However, the Nascent Source expert merely laughed. A punch blasted through the air as Genesis Qi took the shape of a giant tiger, destroying the incoming attacks. The gray-robed Nascent Source expert disdainfully said, ¡°A blockhead with only Genesis Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but facepalm. The Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s offensive ability was frighteningly weak. Its Genesis Qi seemed to lean more towards the life attribute, possessing numerous miraculous properties while greatly lacking attack power. In addition, its mind had yet to develop fully and could not learn Genesis techniques. Overall, it sorely lacked offensive capabilities. However, the strength of its Genesis Qi could match even a Law Domain expert, and yet, it was currently being mocked by a Nascent Source expert. ¡°Gotta go¡­¡± Zhou Yuan turned and ran without hesitation. His goal had already been achieved, after all. Although he had not completely destroyed the boundary, the Genesis Qi transfer should be greatly reduced before it was repaired. In turn, this would substantially alleviate the pressure on the Tianyuan Region army. Swish! However, the moment Zhou Yuan turned around to run, a thick beam of light struck his body. His body froze for a moment. He was utterly shocked to feel extremely pure Genesis Qi surge into his body, causing his presence to climb. Gi...ve...you...pow...er¡­beat...him¡­ At the same time, a shaky voice like that of a newborn baby learning to speak sounded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. Chapter 1025 Challenging a Nascent Source Exper This Genesis Qi was far superior to his! Moreover, the Genesis Qi was incredibly gentle and pure. However, just as he thought, such gentle Genesis Qi resulted in a poor attacking nature. ¡°Is this the power of the Heavenly Fire Tree King?¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at the light beam connected to his back and couldn¡¯t help scratching his head. He didn¡¯t expect the Heavenly Fire Tree King to make such a move. But what surprised him the most was that he could hear the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s intermittent voices. The fact it could speak indicated that the Heavenly Fire Tree King possessed spiritual intellect. It was just that its spiritual intellect wasn¡¯t obvious. ¡°Interesting...¡± As Zhou Yuan felt the vast, endless Genesis Qi in his body, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he threw away his plan to flee. Although the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s Genesis Qi lacked offensive prowess, that didn¡¯t mean he had to flee. Moreover, that power would be different in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands than in the hands of the Heavenly Fire Tee King, which didn¡¯t know any Genesis arts. The boundless power in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body continued to grow. Boom! Dozens of Heavenly Sun experts shot over from every direction, Genesis Qi whizzed across the air, and many incomparably fierce attacks aimed for Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Even space gradually distorted. Before, Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t do anything but flee when faced with such a large-scale attack, but now he simply stretched out his hand, palm facing up. Endless Genesis Qi gushed from his palm, forming a dark-green wooden shield before him. Several vines wrapped the wooden shield. This was the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power. Bang! Waves of frantic Genesis Qi bombarded the vined, wooden shield but failed to chip off any wood shavings. The waves soon silently dissipated without any response from the shield. Standing behind the shield, Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t moved an inch. Pu! After swallowing the Genesis Qi attacks, the vines that tightly wrapped themselves around the shield suddenly shot out and pierced through space. They repeatedly struck the dozen Heavenly Sun experts, causing anguished screams to ring out. Blood spurted out wildly, and their figures slammed into the ground. Horror-struck, the Heavenly Sun experts surrounding Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t dare to take a step forward. Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had rocketed! But it was clear that the Heavenly Fire Tree King was willingly offering its power to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Hmph, so what if you have so much of that offensive-less Genesis Qi!?¡± The grey-robed Nascent Source expert clenched his fists and punched out. A tiger roar filled the air as powerful Genesis Qi took the form of a giant tiger and charged towards Zhou Yuan with a monstrous fiendish aura and terrifying murderous intent. But this time he looked much more serious than before, and his attacks were much more ferocious. Watching the giant Genesis Qi tiger approach, Zhou Yuan was no longer afraid. Instead, he was itching to try its power because the feeling of danger his opponents were giving him had greatly reduced after he gained the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power. He clenched his fist, and the mottled Heavenly Yuan brush flashed out. Endless green Genesis Qi poured into the brush, and azure runes spread across its body. The power was so strong that even the Heavenly Yuan brush trembled and produced faint grumbles. It was just that Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t display the Heavenly Dragon Qi¡¯s power if he borrowed the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power. Although the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s Genesis Qi was several times vaster than Zhou Yuan¡¯s, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Dragon Qi was superior based on attacking nature. However, Zhou Yuan felt that the boundless amount of Genesis Qi had compensated for the loss of its attacking nature. ¡°Million Whale!¡± As Zhou Yuan drew the Heavenly Yuan brush across the air, a resounding ancient whale cry rang out, and the void seemed to tear apart where the Heavenly Yuan brush touched. Hundreds of incomparably huge ancient whale silhouettes streaked across the sky, wrapped in earth-shattering power as they directly struck the Genesis Qi light tiger. Boom! Incomparably berserk shock waves erupted from the collision, causing the surrounding Heavenly Sun experts to draw back with terrified faces. Zhou Yuan had withstood Cheng Guang¡¯s attack! Zhou Yuan waved the Heavenly Yuan brush across the air to dissolve the shock waves surging towards him. He smiled at the grey-robed Nascent Source expert¡¯s dark face and said, ¡°Although the attacking nature isn¡¯t strong, it should be enough to deal with initial Nascent Source stage experts, right?¡± Cheng Guang¡¯s face twitched visibly, and his eyes reddened with fury. He hadn¡¯t seen a little Heavenly Sun expert dare to taunt him in so many years. ¡°Shameless! Since you want to die, I will fulfill your wish!¡± He folded his hands together, roaring, ¡°Little Saint Art, White Tiger Art!¡± Mighty and dazzling Genesis Qi roared out and gathered together to form a huge white tiger in the void, as though wrapped in a layer of crystal. The white tiger leaped across the air, its fur fluttering in the wind, its eyes exuding endless sparks. Its white fangs caused space to tremble. All Heavenly Sun experts on the ground shuddered at the white tiger¡¯s appearance, shocked by its ferocity. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. He had seen a little Saint Art before when he had fought Zhao Mushen, but there was a world of difference between the power of Zhao Mushen¡¯s little Saint Art and a Nascent Source expert¡¯s. The white tiger that Cheng Guang brought out was like a true fierce beast and didn¡¯t seem to be formed from Genesis Qi. Roar! The white tiger unleashed a deafening roar that contained terrifying oppressive pressure that could shatter one¡¯s Spirit. Green Genesis Qi surged wildly around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, turning into multiple azure runes on the center of his eyebrows. Bang! Zhou Yuan shook his body, and the azure runes on the center of his eyebrows flashed rapidly then calmed down. However, he couldn¡¯t help exhaling deeply. The tiger roar was extremely terrifying and specialized in crushing one¡¯s Spirit. If he didn¡¯t have the protection of the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power, he would have most likely been severely wounded even if his Spirit was at the intermediate Transformative stage. A Nascent Source expert was indeed terrifying. ¡°Hmph.¡± Cheng Guang snorted coldly when he saw that Zhou Yuan had survived the tiger¡¯s roar attack. With one thought, he sent the white tiger charging out to slaughter Zhou Yuan. Even space itself shattered like a mirror. Zhou Yuan rapidly drew back, his face growing serious as he swiftly folded his hands into a seal. Boom! A loud clap of thunder echoed throughout the skies. ¡°Lightning Prison Art!¡± As Zhou Yuan lifted his hand into the air, countless bolts of lightning appeared out of thin air, twisting around each other to form an incomparably huge lightning prison. Then, extremely violent lightning flashed, followed by shattering claps of thunder. It was the Lightning Prison Art, one of the seven Cangxuan arts! During his closed-door cultivation, Zhou Yuan had also practiced the seven Cangxuan arts, but he still hadn¡¯t made much progress in merging them. The lightning prison enveloped the white tiger, but the countless thunderbolts didn¡¯t seem to have much effect on the tiger¡¯s body. ¡°You really have no shame to present just a Heaven Genesis Technique,¡± Cheng Guang said contemptuously. Judging from the lightning prison¡¯s movements, it obviously hadn¡¯t reached the level of a little Saint art. Zhou Yuan was indifferent to Cheng Guang¡¯s ridicule and simply smiled. ¡°What¡¯s the hurry?¡± His right hand suddenly stopped forming seals. Little Saint Art, Yin Yang Lightning Rune! Zhou Yuan muttered in his heart. Boom! Space cracked, and black-and-white lightning entwined like a black-and-white dragon. It swooped down with earth-shaking power, shattering space. Countless lightning bolts gathered around the black-and-white dragon¡¯s body as the dragon sped into the lightning prison. In such an environment, the dragon¡¯s power soared once again! Cheng Guang¡¯s face paled. He finally understood that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Lightning Prison Art wasn¡¯t to wound them but to create a more perfect environment for the coming little Saint Art! The Yin Yang Lightning Rune¡¯s power was evidently rocketing inside the lightning prison. That boy is really cunning! Rumble! Without waiting to see how Cheng Guang would react, the black-and-white lightning dragon collided with the giant white tiger amidst countless dragon roars, bringing with it extremely ferocious lightning bolts. Chapter 1026 Breaking Out of the Tower Incomparably ferocious lightning exploded underground. Shock waves raged out and caused tremendous movement beneath the tower. The Heavenly Sun experts fixed their eyes on the black-and-white dragon as it collided with the white tiger. Where the lightning raged, the two terrifying forces collided frantically and corroded each other. The two forces seemed equally matched, but the lightning prison flashing with multiple lightning bolts was greatly increasing the black and white lightning dragon¡¯s power. Therefore, the deadlock in the battle lasted dozens of breaths until the black-and-white lightning dragon suddenly roared out loud. Roar! Black and white light rushed out and poured all over the white tiger¡¯s huge body. The white tiger let out a miserable howl, and its body was shredded under the domineering attacks from the black and white light. ¡°What?!¡± Cheng Guang cried out, watching the white tiger shatter to pieces. Boom! But the moment he cried out, the black-and-white lightning dragon that had destroyed the white tiger pierced the void with ferocious power and slammed into his body with lightning speed. Boom! Cheng Guang was blasted away. Although the black-and-white lightning dragon¡¯s power had diminished greatly after tearing apart the white tiger, Cheng Guang was still scorched black, and his clothes were shredded by the time he steadied his body. He looked incredibly miserable. ¡°You deserve to die!¡± Cheng Guang flew into a rage. He exploded with anger after seeing that a Heavenly Sun expert had pushed him to such an embarrassing state. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± he roared. But when his gaze shifted to Zhou Yuan, he was stunned for a moment because Zhou Yuan had already disappeared. He scanned the surroundings, and his pupils shrank rapidly. He found Zhou Yuan standing atop the stone platform he guarded before, grinning at him. Seeing Cheng Guang cast a glance over, Zhou Yuan tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan brush and instilled powerful Genesis Qi into its body. A layer of dark-green crystal spread across the brush and completely shrouded the tip. ¡°Stop!¡± Cheng Guang roared. If Zhou Yuan destroyed the center, the Heavenly Fire Tree King would escape, and if it then chose to transfer its power to Zhou Yuan, Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength would soar again! He really couldn¡¯t stop Zhou Yuan at that time. Chi! Zhou Yuan paid no attention to him. He fiercely swung the Heavenly Yuan brush down into the stone platform. Dark green light runes rapidly spread and covered the stone platform. Bang! The next moment, cracking sounds rang out as the stone platform that Zhou Yuan stood upon collapsed. It soon disintegrated into powder, which then whirled in the air. Zhou Yuan ignored him and turned to look at the suppression boundary. As the center fell apart, the chains crumbled, and the remaining Saint Fire aura dimmed and weakened after losing the Genesis Qi support. With the light cluster in the center, the tree-shaped silhouette suddenly swayed and slapped the boundary with its branches. Bang! After multiple slaps, a crack split the void, and it shattered with a loud boom. An indescribable wave of Genesis Qi erupted from the ground, and where it touched, the ground collapsed into chaos. ¡°You deserve to die!¡± The wave continuously pushed back Cheng Guang, who was still in the form of a giant Genesis Qi meteor. His face turned livid, and his eyes flashed with anger. He knew the Heavenly Fire Tree King had been freed and that he needed to call for reinforcements immediately. Otherwise, it would be troublesome if the Tree King escaped! ¡°It¡¯s finally free...¡± Zhou Yuan lit up with joy. The void rippled, and a silhouette landed on his shoulder with a flash. Zhou Yuan stared at his shoulder in astonishment. A small translucent green tree was exuding a relaxing ethereal aura as if cast from jade. Moreover, upon a closer look, he found flames mysteriously burning inside the little tree. ¡°Is this the Heavenly Fire Tree King?¡± Zhou Yuan was surprised to find that the little jade tree exuding spiritual intellect was the great Heavenly Fire Tree King. The Heavenly Fire Tree King swayed its branches as though bowing towards Zhou Yuan to thank him for his help. ¡°It¡¯s still a bit early to say thanks. We are still in their campsite,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. The Heavenly Fire Tree King extended its roots as though taking root in Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder. However, Zhou Yuan could feel endless, torrential Genesis Qi flooding into his body from his shoulder. Blood oozed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin as the powerful Genesis Qi shook his body, but very quickly, the Heavenly Fire Tree King repaired his wounds with its life-filled Genesis Qi. Hu. Zhou Yuan felt the wildly soaring power in his body. The power was so strong that it felt hypnotizing. Fortunately, he still maintained a clear head because he understood the power didn¡¯t belong to him. If he were absorbed in that power, it would harm his future. He understood what the Heavenly Fire Tree King meant. It wanted to lend its power to Zhou Yuan to escape! ¡°As you wish.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. It was rare that he could possess such power and display it freely. He wanted to have a taste of beating a Nascent Source expert while at the Heavenly Sun stage! He soared into the sky with a stamp of his feet, creating bursts of booming noise. ¡°The Tree King is mine!¡± Cheng Guang whizzed across the air, his expression sinister. He clenched his hand, and a giant blade appeared in his grip. A fierce tiger shadow wrapped the blade, and as he swung, a deafening tiger¡¯s roar quaked the void. However, facing his obstruction, Zhou Yuan curved his lips in a contemptuous sneer. ¡°Get lost!¡± The Heavenly Yuan brush swept across the air, and Genesis Qi, as boundless as a galaxy, collided with the giant blade. Bang! Space collapsed, and shock waves raged across the area, Cheng Guang¡¯s expression changing drastically. He spurted a jet of blood from his mouth, and his body plunged into the depths of the ground under countless shocked gazes. He was buried alive. The scalps of the Great Five Alliance¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts numbed. Cheng Guang is a Nascent Source expert! But Zhou Yuan blasted him into the ground with one strike! Zhou Yuan let out a long roar, and content filled his heart. He stamped his foot and transformed into a torrent! Boom! Wherever he passed, terrifying Genesis Qi overflowed the area as the crystal tower crumbled. Swoosh! The crystal tower collapsed, and Zhou Yuan broke out! Chapter 1027 Shocking Everyone A huge battlefront almost stretched across the world. Waves of ferocious Genesis Qi constantly collided, killing and filling the sky with a smell of blood. The battlefield, like a meat grinder, had swallowed an unknown number of people from both sides. Both sides were in a killing frenzy. Based on overall strength, the Tianyuan Region originally had the slight upper hand, but the advantageous situation gradually tilted towards the Great Five Alliance. The cause of this was the mysterious light beams that erupted from the crystal tower in the depths of the alliance¡¯s headquarters. The light beams provided a steady stream of Genesis Qi to the Great Five Alliances armies and allowed their wounds to recover at a much faster rate. The strength of the Great Five alliance¡¯s armies had doubled, and gradually the Chiyun Prefecture¡¯s battle line wavered and broke. ... Clang! As Qin Lian hovered in the sky, her long hair blazed like flames and her face was cold and fierce. She suddenly swung down the crimson blade in her hand. As the blade slashed through the air, blood spurted out, and an arm was severed. It was Ji Hu¡¯s arm. But at the same time, the Wang brothers¡¯ venomous snake-like blades pierced her abdomen, and the three¡¯s Genesis Qi fiercely collided. In the end, they were all blasted back. Hu. Beads of cold sweat dripped from Ji Hu¡¯s forehead, and his face was deathly pale, but he still glared coldly at Qin Lian. The blood stopped gushing from his arms, and his flesh squirmed as he tried to recover. ¡°Qin Lian, you must die here today!¡± Ji Hu hissed with a sinister smile. Expressionless, Qin Lian circulated the Genesis Qi around her body so that it rose like flames. She didn¡¯t care about her abdomen injury and said indifferently, ¡°Even if I die, you will have to come with me.¡± Wang Haiyuan smiled. ¡°Qin Lian, you have no chance. You¡¯re going to lose this time. ¡°Do you not see your army is beginning to collapse?¡± Qin Lian shifted her eyes and swept the battlefield. Although there wasn¡¯t a ripple of emotion on her face, her heart sank because the Tianyuan Region¡¯s battle line was indeed collapsing. Wang Haiyuan smiled and continued to attack her psychologically, ¡°And not only are the armies below being defeated, even your Nascent Source experts can¡¯t last much longer. So, how do you think you can win this time?¡± Qin Lian suddenly lifted her head and saw monstrous Genesis Qi rolling through the air. The movements were far fiercer than that below. The situation would truly become out of control once the Nascent Source experts lost. Wang Haiyuan smiled. ¡°Qin Lian, before you completely lose control of the situation, why don¡¯t you run away? Do you have to die here?¡± His intention was vicious. Qin Lian was one of her army¡¯s pillars, and if she retreated, the situation would collapse more quickly. Qin Lian¡¯s face was devoid of expression as she slowly clenched her slender hand. The crimson blade in her hold once again unleashed a long roar as she pointed its tip at the three. ¡°If these were ordinary times, I would have killed you three like dogs. But today, even if you have other means, I, Qin Lian, will still kill you!¡± Wang Haiyuan¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions turned cold. ¡°Then let¡¯s see who will die first!¡± Genesis Qi erupted from their bodies as they charged out once again. However, just when another fierce battle was about to break out between the four, Wang Haiyuan¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed drastically because they noticed that the mysterious light beam behind them had dimmed. The Genesis Qi rushing into their body had also weakened. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Their faces paled, and when they turned around and saw the dimming mysterious light beam, panic filled their eyes. Qin Lian was also taken aback by the change. She didn¡¯t expect the opponent¡¯s mysterious light beam to fail at this time. She peered down at the battlefield and, as she expected, found that the light beams behind the other experts had all begun to dim. The battlefield¡¯s chaotic frays also stilled because of the sudden change in situation, and both sides displayed different expressions. Naturally, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side was ecstatic, but the alliance¡¯s army, which had the upper hand a moment ago, didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Hahaha, Xu Mou, it seems the heavens aren¡¯t helping you!¡± Thunderous laughter echoed throughout the area. Even elder Yi Yan had been stunned by the change. Xu Mou donned a cloudy expression. He knew that he needed to stabilize the situation. ¡°Don¡¯t panic¡ªit¡¯s just a momentary fluctuation. Everybody, continue to attack and defeat the Tianyuan Region!¡± His roar rang in everyone¡¯s ears. Hearing Xu Mou¡¯s voice, the alliance army finally calmed their panic. But before they had fully calmed down, they were horrified to see the mysterious light beams behind them weaken rapidly. They then extinguished like a candle. The mysterious light beam had faded completely. As the light beams vanished, everyone could also distinctly feel the mighty Genesis Qi that had constantly poured into their body fade. Everyone instantly reverted to their original strength. Even Xu Mou couldn¡¯t help exclaim in shock, ¡°How can this be? What are those idiots doing?¡± He turned to their headquarters with a livid face. Though the crystal tower was still standing tall, Xu Mou¡¯s instinct told him that something had happened in the crystal tower. Elder Yi Yan also stopped his attacks because the sudden change had similarly stunned him. Is our luck really this good? Did the opponent really lose control of their Genesis Qi transmission?! Or could this be the enemies¡¯ trap? The tragic battlefield turned strangely calm and quiet. Standing in the air, Qin Lian peered at the bright crystal tower in the distance, her eyes flickering. Chi! A petite figure appeared beside her. It was Mu Youlan. She also looked a little distressed after a tricky battle. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked Qin Lian. Qin Lian shook her head in puzzlement. ¡°I don¡¯t know...the opponent¡¯s source of Genesis Qi suddenly failed. I don¡¯t know whether it¡¯s true or part of a trap. Let¡¯s watch carefully first. If it really failed, command the entire army to attack.¡± Mu Youlan sighed. ¡°I hope it really has failed, otherwise...¡± She knew the Tianyuan Region would be defeated in the Chiyun Prefecture battlefield if it hadn¡¯t really failed. Dong! While they were silent, Qin Lian felt the ground shaking, and its source seemed to be from the opponent¡¯s camp. Dong! The quaking grew louder and more hurried. Countless shocked gazes followed the source of the quaking and finally hovered on a crystal tower in the depths of the alliance¡¯s camp. It is from there¡­ Boom! As countless people focused their eyes on the crystal tower, it suddenly shook violently, and Xu Mou and other experts were horrified to see the crystal tower explode suddenly and collapse. The entire world fell silent, and only the crumbling tower could be heard. Not only were Xu Mou and the others horror-struck, but even elder Yi Yan, Qin Lian and the others were shocked. The Tianyuan Region experts inhaled sharply. What happened? Could it be that the Law Domain experts have finally made a move?! Swoosh! It was under those countless suffocating gazes that the top of the crystal tower burst apart and a tremendous figure shot into the sky like an eagle. That figure lifted his head and roared skywards. Mighty Genesis Qi swept out, and it threw everyone on the campsite into chaos. Everyone stared fixedly at the figure. The figure gradually calmed the Genesis Qi pulsing around him, revealing his face. Countless soldiers of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s army widened their eyes in shocked disbelief as though they saw a ghost. A look of astonishment crossed elder Yi Yan¡¯s face. Qin Lian also froze. Mu Youlan couldn¡¯t help rubbing her eyes repeatedly, ¡°Why does he look familiar? It seems to be Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan?!¡± Her voice became sharp at that moment. Chapter 1028 Reversal Mighty Genesis Qi erupted from the alliance¡¯s main camp as if they were monstrous waves, and they devastated the countless surrounding tents. The camp was immediately plunged into chaos. Everybody stared in astonishment at the figure rising into the sky. Under those gazes, the Genesis Qi light around the figure soon faded and revealed an extremely young face. ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± Elder Yi Yan was dumbstruck. He had never thought Zhou Yuan would be the one who had turned the alliance¡¯s camp upside down. Also, did he cause the crystal tower to explode? How could a Heavenly Sun expert do that alone?! Puzzled thoughts flooded his mind, and he was speechless for a good while. Of course, he wasn¡¯t the only one. Qin Lian, Mu Youlan and other Tianyuan Region¡¯s experts all watched his appearance in astonishment. Who would have thought that as the war became more disadvantageous to them, the person who would appear and rescue them would be Zhou Yuan! Although they didn¡¯t understand what happened, they knew Zhou Yuan extinguished the tremendous mysterious light beams that were strengthening the Great Five Alliance¡¯s army. Countless Heavenly Sun experts wore serious expressions. Before this, they could treat Zhou Yuan as a junior and criticize him to cover up their jealousy. But now, Zhou Yuan had fiercely struck them with the truth. Didn¡¯t they reach the Heavenly Sun stage before him? Even if he was only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, he had achieved things beyond their imagination. Zhou Yuan made them understand why supreme sovereign Cang Yuan thought highly of him and not of them. Gu. Mu Youlan swallowed a mouthful of saliva and whispered, ¡°How did he do it? Why is his Genesis Qi so strong? This isn¡¯t something that a Heavenly Sun expert can do alone!¡± Qin Lian also swept a puzzled glance up and down Zhou Yuan, and her gaze stopped abruptly on his shoulder. She noticed a little jade-like tree exuding endless spiritual intellect. ¡°That...could it be the Heavenly Fire Tree King?¡± Qin Lian exclaimed. Mu Youlan expelled a gasp of shock, and her beautiful eyes widened with disbelief. ¡°Impossible. How could he bring the Heavenly Fire Tree King out?¡± The crystal tower was no doubt heavily guarded, and even Nascent Source experts might not be able to break in successfully. How could Zhou Yuan, who is just at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, snatch away the Heavenly Fire Tree King? Did he think he was a Law Domain expert?! Qin Lian also found it unbelievable, but she could only give a wry smile and say, ¡°Although I don¡¯t know how he did it, our Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts have been taught a lesson.¡± Mu Youlan felt a little embarrassed because she had also misunderstood Zhou Yuan. ¡°Heavenly Fire Tree King!¡± ¡°Damn little thief! Dispatch everybody in the camp to kill him! We must recapture the Heavenly Fire Tree King!¡± Xu Mou was infuriated. They were about to win, but who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would intervene and snatch away the Heavenly Fire Tree King under their multitude of tough defenses? The many experts standing guard in the camp trembled when they heard Xu Mou¡¯s roar. The next moment, thousands of streams of Genesis Qi roared into the sky and desperately bombarded Zhou Yuan. They knew that if they allowed Zhou Yuan to take away the Heavenly Fire Tree King, their battle line in Chiyun Prefecture would no doubt collapse. Under countless gazes, Zhou Yuan stood tall in the air as he watched experts pounce over like locusts. He was without the slightest change in his expression. He chuckled¡ªhe could feel that the Heavenly Fire Tree King on his shoulder was frantically instilling mighty Genesis Qi into his body. The tree had to also know that they were about to escape! ¡°Omega Saint Spirit Art!¡± Zhou Yuan folded one hand in a seal, causing a tremendous silhouette to shroud his entire body. Then, wings of light extended out behind him. ¡°Mythic Saint Body!¡± His body suddenly emitted jade-green luster, and his flesh squirmed in high spirits. Zhou Yuan¡¯s momentum climbed steadily. Clasping the Heavenly Yuan brush, he grinned at the great army charging towards him. Then, he beat his light wings and dived down into the crowd. Boom! Berserk Genesis Qi erupted. Strengthened by the Heavenly Fire Tree King, Zhou Yuan was like a tiger charging into a flock of sheep. Where he passed, all Heavenly Sun experts were wiped out. People constantly fell and spurted out blood. Zhou Yuan was in a killing frenzy! In his eyes, the Heavenly Sun experts were like chickens or dogs made out of clay! Only some advanced Heavenly Sun experts could barely withstand Zhou Yuan and the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s combined strength, but they immediately retreated. The alliance camp fell into chaos. Countless experts from the Tianyuan Region¡¯s army stared dumbfounded at the scene. Their scalps numbed when they saw Zhou Yuan slash the Heavenly Sun experts to death as if slaughtering chickens. That guy is so fierce?! Although they could feel that Zhou Yuan¡¯s power came from the Heavenly Fire Tree King, he was still slaughtering Heavenly Sun experts! After seeing Zhou Yuan kill so many Heavenly Sun experts, they would most likely be fearful of him in the future. Qin Lian very quickly recovered from her shock. She took a deep look at Zhou Yuan, who was displaying invincible power, and her roar echoed throughout the battlefield, ¡°Tianyuan Region¡¯s army, listen to command! Attack with all your strength and defeat them!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone snapped out of their shock when they heard Qin Lian¡¯s roar. They immediately cast fierce glances at the Alliance¡¯s army. It was time for them to get back at the enemy for pushing them to such an embarrassing state! ¡°Kill!¡± Battle cries resounded, and the Tianyuan Region¡¯s army charged out like a tide. At a loss for what to do, the alliance army frantically tried to counterattack. ¡°I am going to find that bastard!¡± Mu Youlan said through gritted teeth. She hadn¡¯t had much of an upper hand against the Venomous Dragon Palace¡¯s Chongzi, but now was the perfect opportunity. She disappeared with a flash. Qin Lian tightened her grip around the crimson blade, staring fiercely at the Wang brothers and Ji Hu. ¡°It seems that the heavens aren''t on your side. Without the mysterious light beams¡¯ power, you three are just like clay chickens to me.¡± Li! As her voice faded, a crisp chirp rang out. She had already transformed into a beam of crimson light and shot out. Her unparalleled Genesis Qi enveloped the Wang brothers and Ji Hu. Above, Yi Yan threw his head back and laughed. He looked at Xu Mao, who had paled, and said, ¡°Come on, Xu Mao. Let me see what you have without the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power.¡± He flung his sleeve, and a river of crimson sparks gushed out like a meteor. With a darkened face, Xu Mou operated vast amounts of Genesis Qi, and it rose from the top of his head, forming an ancient desert. Boom! The two collided once again, quaking the ground and mountain. ... Fights broke out on the battlefield again. But this time, the situation had clearly changed drastically. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s attack was much fiercer than before. On the other hand, the Great Five Alliance¡¯s morale plummeted because Zhou Yuan had turned their camp upside down. The Great Five Alliance¡¯s army began to retreat under the Tianyuan Region¡¯s onslaught. Qin Lian, Mu Youlan and other top Heavenly Sun experts, as well as Yi Yan, all began to gain the upper hand in their battles. The battle was completely reversed. From the looks of it, the Great Five Alliance¡¯s defeat was imminent. ... As the situation was reversed, there was also a reversal in the void filled with terrifying auras. Chi Jing had almost failed to control herself from erupting, but then there was a sudden turn of events. Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance had changed the situation once again. Chi Jing withdrew her power and quietly waited with the other Tianyuan Region¡¯s grand elders while preparing an ultimate move. They could feel the aura of the Great Five Alliance¡¯s Law Domain experts was already looming. The sudden change of events must have made them feel anxious. The void was silent and oppressive, and there was even an emerging deathly atmosphere. Until a certain moment¡­ The void suddenly tore apart, and terrifying auras descended. The Great Five Alliance¡¯s Law Domain experts finally couldn¡¯t control themselves and were attacking! Chapter 1029 Law Domain Battle When Zhou Yuan wrecked the enemy¡¯s camp, a terrifying pressure descended upon the void, tearing it apart. The fierce battles on the battlefield halted, and countless people shuddered in fear. Under a Law Domain expert¡¯s oppressive pressure, they were as weak as ants. Everyone would be crushed into ash if that terrifying power descended. Zhou Yuan also suddenly froze. All his hair stood on end as though there was imminent danger. ¡°They finally can¡¯t endure anymore?¡± he muttered, but he wasn¡¯t in the slightest afraid because he knew the opponents had exposed themselves in the battle by bringing out a Law Domain first. The Law Domain experts on his side wouldn¡¯t miss such a good opportunity to attack. Roar! A huge crack tore the void, and a draconic roar filled with devastating power rang out. A jet-black dragon swooped down and shredded the void to pieces before descending toward Zhou Yuan. As the jet-black dragon dived down, the Genesis Qi across the world instantly merged with it and filled it with corrosive, destructive power. It was like a heavenly punishment. But just when the jet-black dragon descended, an icy voice echoed throughout the void, ¡°Old man Long Gu, are you so desperate to die?¡± It was Chi Jing¡¯s voice. Buzz! When her voice sounded, an azure tornado seemed to form in the void. It directly engulfed the black dragon¡¯s figure, crushing it to death. As the azure tornado rushed across the void, there seemed to be a tremendous Law Domain faintly visible inside the previous spatial crack. The Law Domain was dark, and thousands of venomous beasts roared inside. A thin black shadow could be seen in its depths. It was the Venomous Dragon Palace¡¯s Law Domain expert, old demon Long Gu. ¡°Since you¡¯re the first to expose your Law Domain, I will start with you.¡± An endless gust of azure wind howled towards the pitch-black Law Domain, blotting out the sun and sky. As the thin figure in the depths of the Law Domain watched the azure wind speed across his Law Domain, his face changed drastically. He knew the azure wind was the Azure Divine Wind born from Chi Jing¡¯s Law Domain and knew it was extremely domineering and bizarre. Where it touched, even the universe Genesis Qi would be shredded and form a death zone. Law Domain experts always concealed their true body within a Law Domain, and as long as they didn¡¯t expose themselves, it wouldn¡¯t be a serious problem no matter how an enemy attacked. Since Long Gu couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and had made a move, consequently exposing himself, Chi Jing took advantage of this chance to strike. Hu! As the azure wind gusted into the black Law Domain, countless black shadows resembling venomous beasts suddenly roared out and bombarded the gust of azure wind. However, they couldn¡¯t exert any effect this time because they were instantly disintegrated and turned to nothing as the wind swept past. Moreover, the azure wind began to corrode even the inside of the pitch-black Law Domain. Soon, specks of azure light emerged throughout the Law Domain. A grunt sounded from the Law Domain¡¯s depths, followed by old demon Long Gu¡¯s voice, ¡°The Azure Divine Wind is indeed powerful! Why don¡¯t you guys help out too?!¡± His voice shook the void. Cracks began to split the void, and soon unfathomable abyss-like auras descended one after another. Om! A sword cry echoed throughout the world as it slashed down with boundless blazing sword qi like a prairie fire. The sword qi was as intensely hot as the scorching sun, and it melted everything in seconds wherever it passed. It was the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect¡¯s Law Domain expert, Hong Jiuyuan! Rumble! Endless claps of thunder followed after the sword qi, and black thunderbolts appeared from unknown places as though to destroy the world. Vaguely, a black lightning Law Domain was at the source of the black thunderbolts, and standing within was a giant-like figure. It was the Thunder Mountain¡¯s sect master! Roar! Fog rolled into the Law Domain, and faintly, the chilling screech of a million ghosts could be heard. The voices could shatter even Spirits of the Transformative stage. The Spirit Swallower Pavilion¡¯s pavilion master! In addition to them, the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s three Law Domain experts also acted one after another. Unable to withstand the sudden vast power, even the void began to collapse. ¡°This group of old tortoises couldn¡¯t hold back any longer.¡± A sneer sounded in the void. It was sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s voice. The void split apart, and a giant kun* wandered out, opened its huge mouth, and swallowed the scorching sword qi incinerating the void. At the same time, its giant tail swayed as though strengthened by a terrifying power and crushed the Thunder Mountain sect master¡¯s black thunderbolt to powder. [TN Note: A legendary giant fish that can transform into a mythological bird] At the same time, an endless sea of forests appeared in the void, and a torrent of life force gushed forth, wiping out the million ghost shadows. It was grand elder Mu Ni! A huge white eye emerged in the void, spurting out white light that turned everything into white smoke upon contact. It enveloped the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s Law Domain experts. ¡°Bai Ye, you¡¯re too arrogant!¡± the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s Mountain Lord Gui Yuan fumed. The ethereal Moon Palace¡¯s Mountain Lord summoned a moon into the void. It poured out moonlight with indescribable chilling intent. At that moment, even the universe Genesis Qi turned to frost. The white light and the moonlight collided, causing the void to crumble. ¡°Haha, can I join in?¡± A hearty laugh rang out, shaking the void. A crystal giant strode forward. His figure was tall and imposing like a mountain, and as he thrust his giant crystal fist out, space seemed to be crushed to powder. It was the patriarch of the Profound Crystal Sect, Bian Chang. Om! A hunched old man stepped forward to face Bian Chang¡¯s crystal fist, waving his hand. A palm-sized turtle shell rose into the air as it expanded and met the wind. It grew to a thousand feet wide, and the turtle shell was mottled and covered with traces of age. It was the mountain lord of the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s Mystic Turtle Mountain. Boom! As the crystal fist slammed into the turtle shell, a deafening peal of thunder rumbled throughout the Chiyun Prefecture. Both sides¡¯ Law Domain experts had made a move! There were also abyss-like auras circulating in distant voids. It was from other Hunyuan Heaven Law Domain experts. They didn¡¯t dare to recklessly set foot into the area in case either side thought they were up to no good. Even Law Domain experts would want to avoid a battle of this level. They naturally could tell that, although the Great Five Alliance had a higher number of Law Domain experts, their combat strengths were inferior to the Tianyuan Region¡¯s five Law Domain experts. Moreover, old demon Long Gu was the first to expose his aura, and now that Chi Jing had locked her eyes onto his real body, she certainly wouldn¡¯t want to waste such a great opportunity. She intended to severely wound old demon Long Gu first. But the Great Five Alliance¡¯s Law Domain experts naturally wouldn¡¯t let her succeed. They did everything they could to stop her; however, the other four Tianyuan Region Law Domain experts obstructed them. At that moment¡­ The outcome depended on what would happen in the collision between Chi Jing and old demon Long Gu. The Law Domain onlookers were very curious to see Chi Jing¡¯s attack. It was probably the first time she, the youngest Law Domain expert, had made a move in all these years. Chapter 1030 Law Domain Battle Techniques Azure wind raged in the depths of the black Law Domain, instantly turning infinite venomous beasts to nothing in the void no matter how many pounced over. The whistling of azure wind triggered specks of azure light to bloom in the black Law Domain, signifying that the Law Domain was corroding. Old demon Long Gu erupted in anger when he saw the azure wind wreaking havoc in his Law Domain. ¡°Chi Jing, don¡¯t go too far! Do you really think I would be afraid of you? I¡¯ve been in the Law Domain stage much longer than you!¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re really incompetent! You¡¯ve reached the Law Domain stage so many years ahead of me, but you still only possess such abilities.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s sneer sounded from the azure wind. Old demon Long Gu reddened. He was considered one of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s top experts. All Law Domain experts within Hunyuan Heaven were most likely watching this battle, so if he let Chi Jing suppress him, how could he maintain face in the future? ¡°Nonsense! I will discipline you on behalf of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan!¡± As old demon Long Gu¡¯s voice faded, the black Law Domain vibrated violently, and the countless black shadows halted their attacks and instead began to swallow one another. Roar! Roars rang continuously in the air, and in less than ten breaths, all beasts merged into a tremendous black shadow in the Law Domain¡¯s depths. The shadow was a hideous, extremely sinister-looking ten-winged demon dragon. Its whole body emitted a corrosive stench, and its black saliva trickled down and corroded the void. An indescribable ferocious power filled the air, and the pressure from the power alone was enough to make Nascent Source experts shudder with fear. The demon dragon¡¯s body was marked with multiple Law Domain runes that brought it infinite power. It was a world-devastating demon dragon. When the ten-winged demon dragon emerged, the Law Domain experts watching the battle gasped in astonishment. ¡°Old demon Long Gu has actually refined a Law Domain Spirit...¡± There were three levels in the Law Domain stage. The first was the so-called ordinary Law Domain, which was when one established a Law Domain. The second level was when a Law Domain Spirit was born in the Law Domain, causing the Law Domain¡¯s power to soar to an unimaginable level. The third and highest level was when a Law Domain treasure was born. This level was particularly mysterious, and those whose Law Domain could give birth to Law Domain treasures were all top Law Domain experts with the qualification to touch upon the legendary Saint stage. The ten-winged demon dragon that appeared in old demon Long Gu¡¯s Law Domain was the so-called Law Domain Spirit! This proved that old demon Long Gu had reached the Law Domain stage¡¯s second level. Roar! Pu! Its ferocious dragon mouth widened, spewing out a black viscous dragon breath that contained Law Domain power! Endless black dragon breath gushed across the void and collided with the raging azure wind. The void collapsed as if the world was turned upside down. Boom! Fortunately, they were situated inside a Law Domain. Otherwise, at least half the Chiyun Prefecture would have been instantly destroyed. A battle between Law Domain experts was indeed terrifying. After the Law Domain Spirit was summoned, the raging azure wind halted and even showed signs of subsiding. ¡°Law Domain Spirit...I¡¯ve underestimated you, old man.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s icy voice rang out from the azure wind. Hu! The azure wind¡¯s howling turned increasingly ferocious, and a giant beautiful figure emerged under countless watchful gazes. The shadow was blurred, and only a palm-leaf fan could be clearly seen in her hand. An indescribable pressure spread out. The eyes of many Law Domain experts turned solemn because they recognized that it was Chi Jing¡¯s Law Domain Spirit, the Wind God! It had been a long while since Chi Jing summoned the Wind God, and it was much more real and tangible than before. Moreover, its power had evidently rocketed. The Wind God¡¯s shadow swung down the palm-leaf fan the moment it was summoned. Boom! The azure divine wind suddenly turned berserk, and every gust of wind transformed into a wind sparrow and blasted the dragon breath to nothing. Puchi! After piercing through the dragon breath, the azure wind sparrow teleported to the front of the ten-winged demon dragon and pounced towards its face. Roar! The ten-winded demon dragon erupted with an enraged roar. Even it couldn¡¯t withstand the attack with its mighty body, and it finally drew back after ten breaths. Its tremendous body was riddled with wounds. It was clear that Chi Jing¡¯s Wind God was superior in the battle between the Law Domain Spirits! Standing in the depths of the black Law Domain, old demon Long Gu was infuriated when he saw the ten-winged demon dragon being pushed back. He thought that even if his ten-winged demon dragon failed to beat Chi Jing, the battle could still end in a tie. Unexpectedly, Chi Jing¡¯s Law Domain Spirit was too fierce. Old demon Long Gu¡¯s eyes flashed, then glowed with a sinister glint. With a wave of his sleeve, the retreating ten-winged demon dragon roared skywards. Light rapidly flowed around its ten wings, then gathered in its mouth. ¡°Ten Dragon Flame Prison!¡± Old demon Long Gu¡¯s roar reverberated throughout the void. The dragon spewed out black flames. They were sticky like magma and contained destructive power. Black dragon flames sped through the area, torching the azure wind sparrows. But the azure wind god simply sneered at old demon Long Gu¡¯s desperate counterattacks. The palm-shaped fan vibrated, and two gusts of azure wind charged out. The wind entwined, then transformed into gigantic wind shears. It slashed through the air and tore apart the terrifying dragon flames. A flash of contempt crossed the depths of old demon Long Gu¡¯s eyes. The wind shears severed the dragon flames, but it was then that a lantern appeared and was cut apart. A cluster of faint white flames appeared as the lantern was destroyed. Flames swept past the wind shears, setting aflame the azure wind shears and instantly turning them into nothing, astonishing everyone. ¡°Haha, Chi Jing, weren¡¯t you very arrogant before? Come try this fire!¡± Old demon Long Gu¡¯s sharp laughter rang out as the dragon flames controlled another cluster of flames to strike the tremendous Wind God¡¯s shadow. The scene was evidently unexpected to many Law Domain experts. Looking at the cluster of faint white flames, they were silent for a moment before they cried out in astonishment. ¡°Is that the...Saint fire?!¡± Nobody thought that old demon Long Gu would possess a real Saint fire! Chapter 1031 Wind God Orb It was clear that old demon Long Gu¡¯s move was unexpected. It was real Saint fire! A power that even Law Domain experts feared. Sect master Xuan Kun, grand elder Mu Ni and the others also noticed the sudden change, and immediately anger rose in them. This wasn¡¯t directed at old demon Long Gu, but the hand that supported him. Only real Saint experts could refine Saint fire and seal it within a lantern. There were only a handful of Saint experts in Hunyuan Heaven, and it was obvious who was secretly supporting old demon Long Gu and the others. It was no doubt supreme sovereign Wan Zu! Although he hadn¡¯t acted himself, he had exhausted all his powers to deal with the Tianyuan Region. However, although they were well-aware of the source, there was nothing that sect master Xuan Kun and the others could do. Facing a Saint expert¡¯s plot, all they could do was passively endure with all their strength. It would be ridiculous to reason with the opponents. If it weren¡¯t for the complicated situation in Hunyuan Heaven and the fact that the Wanzu Region hadn¡¯t truly dominated Hunyuan Heaven, supreme sovereign Wan Zu would have already personally taken action to wipe out the Tianyuan Region with one hand. How could the Wanzu Region have wasted so much effort to support the Tri-Mountain Alliance, the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect and the others to send disciples to fight the Tianyuan Region? ¡°I hope Chi Jing can withstand this attack.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun and the others were busy dealing with the opponent¡¯s Law Domain experts and were unable to free themselves and help Chi Jing. This was a rare opportunity for them, and it would be a shame if they failed to inflict severe injuries to old demon Long Gu. ¡°The person behind you is really shameless.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s icy voice sounded from the azure wind in the black Law Domain. She remained fearless even facing a supreme sovereign. ¡°If you win, you are the king; if you lose, you are nothing. If you want to blame someone, blame supreme sovereign Cang Yuan for disappearing for too long and leaving the Tianyuan Region without a backer!¡± Old demon Long Gu said with a sinister smile. Xiong! Xiong! The faint white flame pushing out from the billowing black flames had already whizzed across the void, and when it touched the azure divine wind, it instantly turned the wind into nothing as though vaporizing it. That power surpassed the Law Domain¡¯s¡ªit was vast and powerful. ¡°Nonsense!¡± Old demon Long Gu¡¯s face darkened. The next moment, the billowing black flames roared even quicker, blotted out the sky, and gushed towards the Wind God¡¯s shadow with terrifying momentum. If the shadow was destroyed, Chi Jing¡¯s Law Domain invasion would end in failure. The corners of the huge Wind God shadow¡¯s lips seemed to curve in a contemptuous smile. The next moment, it folded its hand together. The azure divine wind raging around its body calmed and subsided into soft wind, whirling around the void. The Wind God shadow lifted its head, and a small azure light speck slowly floated in front of it and fired out. All noises inside the Law Domain seemed to freeze the moment the light speck appeared. The azure divine wind flowing around the Wind God¡¯s body produced whining noises as though it was submitting itself. In the depths of the Law Domain, old demon Long Gu was in a state of anxiety. He couldn¡¯t penetrate the azure light with his strength, but given his perception ability as a Law Domain expert, he felt an intense uneasiness. ¡°What is that?!¡± The Wind God shadow lifted its hand, and the speck of azure light landed on its fingertips. It then flicked its fingers. Om! The azure divine wind escalated to hurricane force, and the light speck tore through the air. At that moment, the azure light gradually dissipated, and many gazes finally penetrated it. Within the azure light was an azure orb the size of an eye. The orb was round and shiny, and a mysterious energy flowed around it. Moreover, there seemed to be an incomparably strange azure wind world within the azure orb. ¡°What¡¯s that?!¡± Many Law Domain experts froze when they saw the azure orb, feeling the mysterious power it contained. ¡°Is it a Law Domain treasure?!¡± Only they could see that the azure orb was a Law Domain treasure. Could it be that Chi Jing has already refined a Law Domain treasure? ! Doesn''t this mean her Law Domain has reached the third and highest level of the Law Domain stage?! She hid her strength too well! ¡°What? Impossible!¡± Old Demon Long Gu¡¯s face paled, and he even screamed out loud. There were only a handful of people in Hunyuan Heaven who could refine a Law Domain treasure. When did Chi Jing reach that level?! Om! Chi Jing paid no attention to his astonishment. Her icy voice rang out as the azure orb streaked across the sky. ¡°Old demon Long Gu, you can be the first sacrificial offering for my azure divine orb!¡± Swoosh! The azure orb shot into the air. Azure wind rapidly gathered behind it and gradually formed a tremendous azure wind shuttle. Where it passed, cracks silently spread across the black Law Domain. Invincible and unbreakable. The wind shuttle collided head-on with the Saint fire. There wasn¡¯t a loud boom during the collision but a horrifying corrosion of Genesis Qi. The two terrifying forces corroded each other thousands of times in that short period of time. Even the other Law Domains showed faint signs of cracking. Many Law Domain experts stared intently at the collision. Chi Jing was no longer afraid of the Saint fire after the birth of the Law Domain treasure. After all, that Saint fire wasn¡¯t controlled by a true Saint expert. Ding! The frantic corrosion between the two lasted for a dozen breaths, and at a certain moment, a faint sound rang out. A crack was spreading out above the Saint flame, shocking the Law Domain experts. It rapidly split and multiplied, and in the end, the flame broke apart and turned into nothingness. The Saint fire was destroyed! In the depths of the Law Domain, old demon Long Gu¡¯s eyes went wide. As the Saint fire shattered, the wind shuttle formed from the Wind God Orb continued to sweep forth and wipe out the black flames. Swoosh! Within seconds, the wind shuttle ripped through the black flames and penetrated the ten-winged demon dragon¡¯s tremendous body. Roar! An anguished roar resounded throughout the void. The ten-winged demon dragon shattered into countless specks of black light. Puchi. The Law Domain Spirit''s collapse caused a jet of blood to spurt from old demon Long Gu¡¯s mouth. He was both incomparably shocked and infuriated. In addition to anger, there was a hint of fear because he could feel the Wind God Orb¡¯s piercing sharpness. It could truly penetrate all objects! The Law Domain treasure was too powerful! He knew that he had been utterly defeated, and without hesitation, he attempted to retreat. But just when endless black mist surged around his body, the void shattered, and a speck of azure light sped towards him and directly penetrated the center of his brows. Chapter 1032 Memory The entire Law Domain seemed to have frozen when the little azure light speck penetrated the center of old demon Long Gu¡¯s brows. The Law Domain experts watching closely couldn¡¯t help gasping in astonishment. Chi Jing¡¯s strength had far surpassed their expectations. Of course, what surprised them the most was that Chi Jing had refined a Law Domain treasure, which signified she had reached the top level of the Law Domain stage. Among the Tianyuan Region¡¯s five grand elders, only sect master Xuan Kun, who had the most experience, had reached that level. The fact that Chi Jing could surpass the other three grand elders and refine a Law Domain treasure before any of them clearly demonstrated her amazing talent. It was no wonder that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan thought highly of her and accepted her as an official disciple. In the black Law Domain, old demon Long Gu¡¯s body gradually turned to black powder and dispersed, but at the same time, a beam of black light entered the void and fled. The black Law Domain cracked and shattered like glass, eventually crumbling. Old demon Long Gu wasn¡¯t killed directly because it wasn''t easy to kill a Law Domain expert. Even if Chi Jing possessed a Law Domain treasure, she couldn''t completely obliterate her opponent. However, old demon Long Gu hadn¡¯t escaped unscathed. Not only did his Law Domain shatter, but he had also suffered severe injuries. It would take him a long time to recover, and it could even affect his progress in the future. He might even have difficulty reaching the third level of the Law Domain stage in this life. He had paid an extremely heavy price, and Chi Jing had fiercely established her authority through her victory. When old demon Long Gu was severely wounded and he fled, both sides¡¯ Law Domain experts paused for a moment. Hong Jiuyuan, from the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect, said, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing is powerful. I didn¡¯t expect her to have hidden her strength so well.¡± The main reason old demon Long Gu was wounded and lost this time was because he fell into Chi Jing¡¯s trick. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have suffered such severe injuries even if he couldn¡¯t win. The Great Five Alliance¡¯s other Law Domain experts hadn¡¯t said a word, but it was clear they had increased their vigilance. Space rippled as five figures slowly emerged from the void. They were Chi Jing, Xuan Kun, Mu Ni, Bian Chang and Bai Ye, the five grand elders. Nearby, a group of figures also appeared. It was Hong Jiuyuan, mountain lord Gui Yuan and the other Law Domain experts. They hadn¡¯t appeared in their real bodies; instead, they were using Genesis Qi to create their figures. The white-haired and white-bearded ethereal mountain lord Gui Yuan chuckled, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing is too arrogant. Although you¡¯ve refined a Law Domain treasure, it won¡¯t be enough to destroy us all.¡± Chi Jing lifted her slender hand. A little azure light speck emerged and then turned into an azure orb whirling in her palm. She smiled. ¡°Old man Gui Yuan, if you don¡¯t believe it, you can have a try first.¡± Mountain lord Gui Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank when he saw the azure orb, and an obviously fearful, vigilant look flashed across his eyes. Sect master Xuan Kun said indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense here. Since you have no intention of fighting, get out of the Chiyun Prefecture with your people.¡± After one Law Domain expert had suffered serious injuries, the others most likely didn¡¯t intend to continue to fight. Moreover, the Tianyuan Region had begun to strike back in the battlefield below, and the Great Five Alliance¡¯s armies were already showing signs of defeat. The Tianyuan Region was evidently winning the Chiyun Prefecture battle. Xuan Kun and the others didn¡¯t plan on stopping Hong Jiuyuan and the others from leaving because their opponents were just apparitions formed from Genesis Qi. Without locking onto their Law Domains, it would be useless no matter how many times they destroyed them. Law Domain experts possessed means that could do anything. How could they be defeated so easily? Hong Jiuyuan and the others swept their gazes across the battlefield below and paused on a young figure. Zhou Yuan was the one responsible for the failure of their plan. Their gazes collided, looking furious. Hu. Hong Jiuyuan drew a deep breath, quelling his anger. He said calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Great Five Alliance will give up on the Chiyun Prefecture¡¯s battleline. But don¡¯t be so smug. This war hasn¡¯t finished.¡± ¡°My Tianyuan Region is ready to fight anytime.¡± Chi Jing smiled coldly. Hong Jiuyuan chuckled, but a strange expression came to his face. ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, you won¡¯t be happy for too long. Your Tianyuan Region will lose this war!¡± Chi Jing glared coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± With a flick of her finger, the boundless azure wind mightily gushed forth and tore Hong Jiuyuan¡¯s and the others¡¯ bodies to shreds. Their bodies scattered like powder, but cold, mocking laughter continued to echo throughout the void. As Chi Jing, Xuan Kun and the others watched the opponents¡¯ Law Domain disperse, they exchanged glances with one another. Grand elder Mu Ni scrunched her brows. ¡°What did Hong Jiuyuan mean by that?¡± Could he be just acting tough? The others shook their heads, frowning. Although the Great Five Alliance¡¯s offensive was fierce, they wouldn¡¯t be able to break through the Tianyuan Region¡¯s defense line. Since one of their Law Domain experts had been wounded, they would likely rest for a period of time first. Sect master Xuan Kun waved his hand. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Just be on guard.¡± Chi Jing nodded and shifted her gaze to the battlefield below. Her voice resounded throughout the world. ¡°The Great Five Alliance¡¯s Law Domain experts have retreated. Attack with all your strength! Drive the enemy away!¡± Her voice resembled the sound of heaven when it fell in the ears of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s soldiers. The army burst into deafening cheers, and their morale soared. On the other hand, the Great Five Alliances¡¯ armies panicked. If even Law Domain experts fled, they would no doubt die if they stayed any longer. They had lost their will to battle! Even the Nascent Source experts sighed inwardly and left without any hesitation. Their retreat led to the alliance army¡¯s collapse, and countless figures fled haphazardly. Standing in the center of the campsite, Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. The situation had been reversed, and more importantly, the opponent¡¯s Law Domain experts had paid a heavy price. Having been deterred in such a way, the Great Five Alliance would likely not dare create trouble in the near future. While thinking this, Zhou Yuan tilted his head to look at the jade-like Heavenly Fire Tree King on his shoulder. The Heavenly Fire Tree King also sensed that the crisis had been averted. It waved its branches at Zhou Yuan as though expressing its gratitude. Then, it suddenly extended a branch towards the center of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyebrows. Zhou Yuan didn''t feel any malicious intent, so after some hesitation, he let it pierce his skin with the branch. Boom! A deep roar echoed in his mind when the branch touched him. The world then spun, and the battlefield vanished, the battle cries fading. The surrounding mountains and rivers also changed, but the scenery remained Chiyun Prefecture. The only difference was that the mountains weren¡¯t occupied by an endless ancient red forest. Zhou Yuan was puzzled why the Heavenly Fire Tree King would pass this memory to him. It was then that he suddenly felt a change in the scenery. Space rippled, and a figure stepped out from the void. The figure exuded a vast and boundless aura, and even if it was clearly just an image, Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help shuddering when the person appeared. His eyes widened. The figure was master Cang Yuan! Chapter 1033 Open up Zhou Yuan stared in astonishment at the figure hovering within this illusory scene. This image should be one of the Heavenly Fire Tree King''s memories, but why would Cang Yuan be within it!? What¡¯s happening?! The Heavenly Fire Tree King had met master before? Full of puzzlement, Zhou Yuan stared intently at Cang Yuan¡¯s figure. In the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s memory, Cang Yuan still had white hair and a beard, but when he had appeared, the world had rumbled as though in awe of the Saint expert. Compared to the Cang Yuan in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, this Cang Yuan possessed a far more powerful aura. Hovering in the void, Cang Yuan swept his eyes across the rolling mountains beneath him and nodded gently. He then immediately lifted his hand, and a jade-green sapling appeared in his palm. Flames were slowly rising from its body. Hu. Cang Yuan opened his mouth and exhaled a mouthful of Genesis Qi towards the jade-green sapling. The Genesis Qi flickered with countless stardust, like a starry sky. It was clearly only a mouthful of Genesis Qi, but it seemed to contain a little world. The starry-sky-like Genesis Qi wrapped around the jade-green sapling. He whirled his hand around, and the jade-green sapling descended from the sky and landed on the mountain. Boom! The sapling instantly merged into the ground when it landed, quaking the mountains. Endless groves of large red trees erupted from the ground and grew at an astonishing rate, stunning Zhou Yuan. The mountain range transformed into a crimson forest in just a few minutes, and the forest boundaries continued to expand. It eventually became the present Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest. ¡°My master is the one who had planted the Heavenly Fire Tree King?!¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself. The sapling that Cang Yuan tossed down was clearly the Heavenly Fire Tree King! But Cang Yuan didn¡¯t stop after planting the Heavenly Fire Tree King. He lifted his hand and another two light spheres, one blue and one silver, rose from his hand again. As before, Cang Yuan breathed out and wrapped them in a mouthful of Genesis Qi. With the flick of his finger, the spheres streaked across the air and sped away. Cang Yuan closed his eyes and waited for an unknown amount of time before folding his hands together. Boom! The entire world quaked, and Zhou Yuan could feel a domain forming between Cang Yuan¡¯s hands. Cang Yuan had opened up a new domain. As the domain expanded, Cang Yuan''s body gradually floated into the air. He then spread his hands out, and the new domain began to rise, merging with the world. After that, another two light pillars shot into the sky on the other two sides of the world, one azure blue and the other silver. They formed two gigantic light diagrams at a high height, and the diagrams rotated slowly with unfathomable power. As the three light diagrams appeared the world, light beams burst from them, pierced the void and connected to one another. Cang Yuan smiled at the light formation, then lifted his hands into the air. Boom! A scene that shocked Zhou Yuan appeared. Large beams of light fired into the sky from all over the vast world, merging into the light formation. Each light beam was dazzling and mighty, and the Genesis Qi it gathered made Zhou Yuan shudder with fear. Under the Genesis Qi, he felt as small and insignificant as an ant. What is master Cang Yuan doing? Zhou Yuan watched in astonishment as hundreds of terrifying Genesis Qi light pillars fused into the formation. After some guidance and refinement within the light formation, they then poured into the domain that Cang Yuan had opened up like monstrous torrents. As a result, the domain, which was originally devoid of life force, turned into a blessed land! Even from just looking at this memory, Zhou Yuan could feel the vast, boundless Genesis Qi within the domain. As more and more Genesis Qi gushed into the domain, with Cang Yuan¡¯s extraordinary means, the three light diagrams were forcibly imprinted onto the domain entrance. The rippling throughout the world gradually subsided as the domain merged with the world. The source of the three light diagrams also silently hid into the world. Zhou Yuan was quietly watching. After a good while, he exhaled deeply. He finally knew what master Cang Yuan was doing. If his guess was correct, the domain that Cang Yuan had opened up should be the center of the present Tianyuan Region, the Tianyuan Utopia! Genesis Qi wasn''t born in the Tianyuan Utopia, and according to his senior sister Chi Jing, it was the 900 prefectures of the Tianyuan Region that provided the Tianyuan Utopia with endless Genesis Qi. But she evidently didn¡¯t know the real reason why the Tianyuan Utopia had become the blessed land for cultivation that countless people in the Tianyuan Region yearned for. It was because of the mysterious light formation formed from the three light diagrams. Only after refinement within the light formation would the world''s universe Genesis Qi allow the Tianyuan Utopia to develop to its current state. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help marveling. If his guess was right, the source of the three light diagrams was the Heavenly Fire Tree King and two other mythical creatures. This was the Tianyuan Region¡¯s greatest secret. Perhaps, even the grand elders such as Chi Jing and Xuan Kun didn¡¯t know it. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be confused about the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s existence. But why would the Great Five Alliance know about the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s existence and even try to capture it? Zhou Yuan was taken aback for a moment. The next moment, he seemed to understand something. A chill surged from the soles of his feet. The opponent¡¯s real target might be the Tianyuan Utopia? Why would they know about the secret that even Chi Jing and the others didn¡¯t? Hong Jiuyuan and the other Law Domain experts do not have that kind of ability. It was supreme sovereign Wan Zu! Zhou Yuan felt a chill in his heart. Others might not know, but supreme sovereign Wan Zu, a top expert in the world, would perhaps be able to see through this secret. He wanted to hunt down the three mystical creatures, break the formation diagrams and destroy the Tianyuan Utopia from the roots! What a vicious plan! It was much more terrifying to destroy the Tianyuan Utopia than capturing the region''s many prefectures! Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp numbed. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu would use any trick to force my master out. Chapter 1034 Wind Rain Lake and Bottomless Golden Lightning Abyss Battle cries sounded from all directions again, and Zhou Yuan opened his eyes with beads of cold sweat on his forehead. He panted heavily, and his face turned pale. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s vicious plan terrified him. ¡°Thank you,¡± Zhou Yuan said to the Heavenly Fire Tree King on his shoulder. The information it passed to Zhou Yuan was very important. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have known the enemy¡¯s real motive even after they destroyed the Tianyuan Utopia. Zhou Yuan swept his eyes around the chaotic battlefield and unhesitatingly crushed the jade medal Chi Jing gave him. The void rippled, and two beautiful figures emerged. It was Chi Jing and grand elder Mu Ni. "Zhou Yuan, you have made a great contribution this time.¡± Chi Jing smiled approvingly when she saw Zhou Yuan. If he hadn¡¯t sneaked into the enemy¡¯s camp and stolen the Heavenly Fire Tree King, the outcome of the war might have been very different. It was really hard to say, but she most likely wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to severely wound old demon Long Gu. Grand elder Mu Ni stared curiously at the translucent little tree on Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°So that¡¯s the Heavenly Fire Tree King? It really does possess immense power.¡± Given her perception, she naturally realized the Heavenly Fire Tree King possessed tremendous pure Genesis Qi full of life force. It was just that the life force was too intense that it led to a poor attacking nature. ¡°Something has happened,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a solemn look. He then told them about the memory images he saw and supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s plan. Chi Jing¡¯s and Mu Ni''s expressions changed drastically, and shocked disbelief surged through them. ¡°I can¡¯t believe there are such secrets to the Tianyuan Utopia!¡± Chi Jing exclaimed. Mu Ni clenched her teeth. ¡°That old man is annoying. He didn¡¯t even let us know about such an important thing!¡± Chi Jing''s expression was strangely serious. She suddenly lifted her hand, and the void around her rippled. Three more figures came out; it was Xuan Kun and the other two grand elders. ¡°Why did you call us?¡± Sect master Xuan Kun swept a glance over Zhou Yuan. ¡°I know he has made great contributions to the war, but you don''t need to call us all to praise him, right?" He thought Chi Jing wanted to use this chance to ridicule him. Chi Jing ignored him and turned to look at the Heavenly Fire Tree King. ¡°Can we see the memory image?¡± The Heavenly Fire Tree King didn¡¯t refuse. It extended its branches towards the five grand elders. All five closed their eyes when a branch touched their skin. Ten breaths later. Their eyes snapped open, their expressions changing dramatically. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu is ruthless!¡± Bian Chang hissed. "It turns out they want to target the Tianyuan Utopia.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s face also paled. Bai Ye nodded but then immediately looked at the Heavenly Fire Tree King with a suspicious stare. "Are those memory images really true? Could this thing be deliberately misleading us?¡± The Heaven Fire Tree King shrank back when it felt Bai Ye¡¯s gaze. Zhou Yuan shook his head, saying, "I would rather believe it than not believe it. If something really happens, it will be too late to regret it then." Bai Ye shot a glance at Zhou Yuan. If it were before, he wouldn¡¯t care what Zhou Yuan said. But Zhou Yuan was now supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple. He couldn¡¯t treat Zhou Yuan disrespectfully, so he didn''t say anything in the end. After taking a deep breath, Chi Jing said, "This is a Genesis-drawing formation created by three mystical creatures. After the formation¡¯s refinement, the universe Genesis Qi flowing into Tianyuan Utopia would become much purer. This is the reason why the Tianyuan Utopia could become a blessed land for cultivation.¡± "I have always wondered why the Tianyuan Utopia is full of life force. The Genesis Qi within the Tianyuan Utopia is not only good for cultivation, but it can also increase the speed of recovery,¡± sect master Xuan Kun exclaimed. Bian Chang said, ¡°It¡¯s useless to just talk about it. We must hurry and find the other two mystical creatures and protect them. Otherwise, it will be a disaster for the Tianyuan Region if they fall into the enemy¡¯s hands.¡± If the Tianyuan Utopia were destroyed, the Tianyuan Region would completely lose its prestige and the people¡¯s heart. Chi Jing said thoughtfully, ¡°From the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s memory, the two mystical creatures should have the water attribute and the lightning attribute, respectively. There are quite a few special places on the borders of the Tianyuan Region with these two attributes.¡± When she lifted her hand, she formed a huge map in front of her with Genesis Qi. The map glowed with many light specks of varying sizes. These were places that met the requirements of possessing water or lightning attributes. Mu Ni studied the map, and with a flick of her finger, some light specks quickly disappeared. "Since it¡¯s two mystical creatures comparable to the Heavenly Fire Tree King, their locations should be as impressive as the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest. These places do not match this requirement.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun, Bai Ye, and Bian Chang also flicked their fingers and eliminated some unlikely places. Very quickly, only a few spots were left on the map. In the end, the five grand elders all cast their eyes on the two remaining spots. The two spots, one south and one north, formed a triangle with the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest and covered the entire area of the Tianyuan Region. ¡°Wind Rain Lake.¡± ¡°Bottomless Golden Lightning Abyss.¡± The two places were the result deduced after the five grand elders analyzed various locations and their attributes, sizes and relations to the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest¡¯s location. The other two mystical creatures were located in those two places. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time. Clan leader Bian Chang and I will head to Wind Rain Lake. Sect master Xuan Kun and clan leader Bai Ye will go to Endless Golden Lighting Abyss. And grand elder Mu Ni, please guard the Heavenly Fire Ancient Forest," Chi Jing said without wavering. Everybody nodded. Chi Jing glanced at Zhou Yuan, nodded slightly at him, then immediately disappeared into the air. The other three Law Domain experts did the same. Gazing in the direction they left, Zhou Yuan let out a deep sigh, hoping they wouldn¡¯t be too late. On the northern border of the Tianyuan Region. An incomparably huge lake stood at the border. Its surface resembled a mirror, and the light reflected from it was almost blinding. Even Heavenly Sun experts wouldn¡¯t dare look at it directly. Moreover, heavy rains and hurricane winds often hit the area. It was Wind Rain Lake. Space rippled as Chi Jing and clan leader Bian Chang appeared. ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be much movement here,¡± Clan leader Bian Chang said with a sigh of relief as he scanned the surroundings. Chi Jing nodded and was about to speak when she caught a figure by the lake in the distance. She narrowed her eyes, watching the Genesis Qi roam around the figure. It was a Heavenly Sun expert not from the Tianyuan Region. Bian Chang''s eyes were icy cold. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, since that person appeared here, they should kill him. However, just as he was about to eliminate the little ant with one thought, the figure raised his head and smiled in their direction. He then bowed slightly to the space beside him. ¡°Respectfully welcome the decree.¡± As the void slowly tore apart, Chi Jing¡¯s and Bian Chang¡¯s pupils shrank. A golden scroll emitting infinite power slowly floated out. The power from the golden scroll made Chi Jing clench her teeth, and a voice filled with hate rang out. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu!¡± At the same time, on the southern border of the Tianyuan Region. Above a bottomless abyss filled with golden lightning, sect master Xuan Kun and clan leader Bai Ye similarly saw an ant-like Heavenly Sun expert. The expert bowed with a smile. ¡°Respectfully welcome the decree.¡± Space shattered shattered, and a golden scroll slowly floated out. Chapter 1035 Twin Towers When the golden scroll broke through the air, both Chi Jing¡¯s and Bian Chang¡¯s faces darkened. It was obvious that supreme sovereign Wan Zu was behind everything, and his purpose was very clear¡ªto destroy the Tianyuan Utopia. ¡°A great supreme sovereign has committed such shameful behavior!¡± Chi Jing¡¯s voice was icy cold. According to the rules, supreme sovereign Wan Zu shouldn¡¯t be involved in the war, yet he shamelessly controlled the Great Five Alliance and used such despicable means against the Tianyuan Region, such as the Saint fire that old demon Long Gu possessed, the attack on the Tianyuan Utopia and the golden decree. Besides not taking action himself, supreme sovereign Wan Zu had done everything he could. ¡°Hmph!¡± Chi Jing snorted coldly. A little azure light gathered at her fingertips and finally formed an azure orb wrapped in azure wind. ¡°Divine God Orb!¡± With the flick of her fingers, the Wind God Orb transformed into an azure light beam and streaked across the sky. Its momentum wasn¡¯t particularly earth-shaking, but where it passed, gusts of wind and pouring rain were dispersed in an instant. It even left eerie dark traces in the void. The beam of azure light pointed to the golden decree. As it descended, the golden decree swayed and began to burn with a sacred flame. It was a Saint fire! The Saint fire rose, forming a gigantic flaming hand. The hand lightly patted the Wind God Orb. Bang! The two collided and seemed to have formed a black hole in space; the surrounding universe Genesis Qi was abruptly turned to nothing as if in a vacuum. There was a deathly atmosphere. The azure light around the Wind God Orb dimmed, and the orb shot back into Chi Jing¡¯s body with a flash. Chi Jing trembled as blood trickled down the corner of her lips. She had been wounded in the head-to-head collision with the golden decree. After all, she underestimated the power contained within the golden decree. After striking Chi Jing¡¯s Wind God Orb, the golden decree slowly rose and unfolded above Wind Rain Lake. Om! The next moment, the fire that filled the sky descended upon the world, transforming into a giant hand of Saint fire. The hand grabbed at the Wind Rain Lake, and everything it touched was set to flame, including the universe Genesis Qi. The berserk storm around the Wind Rain Lake rapidly intensified, and a terrified aura faintly rose from the water¡¯s depths. It was likely coming from the mystical creature hidden within it. Chi Jing and Bian Chang paled at the scene. Even they felt powerless facing a supreme sovereign¡¯s means. The Saint fire was too powerful. Even if Chi Jing possessed a Law Domain treasure, it was still too difficult for her to withstand such an attack. Chi Jing¡¯s pretty face turned ashen. She slowly closed her eyes in despair, unable to bear to watch anymore. Bian Chang also sighed. The Saint fire hand slowly descended. At that moment, however, waves suddenly rolled up into a tremendous vortex on the lake¡¯s surface, and an equally large water hand stretched out from within. The two giant hands collided in the air, turning the world upside down. This sudden change shocked both Chi Jing and Bian Chang because they noticed the Saint fire hand was blocked! ¡°What kind of power is that?!¡± Bian Chang exclaimed. The giant hand formed from lake water can withstand the power of a Saint expert! Chi Jing stared intently at the giant lake-water hand, her eyes flickering. ¡°No, that¡¯s not a giant hand formed from lake water. It¡¯s also a hand of Saint fire!¡± In the depths of the lake water hand, a sacred Saint fire was clearly blazing. Moreover, Chi Jing found the power very familiar. ¡°It¡¯s my master¡¯s power!¡± Chi Jing¡¯s eyes widened with surprise. Bian Chang also exclaimed, ¡°Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan is back?!¡± Chi Jing shook her head. ¡°My master isn''t back. It¡¯s just that he predicted something would happen one day and left behind some means!: The golden decree fluttered in the void, and as the Saint fire continued to blaze, a pair of indifferent eyes slowly emerged. The decree emitted a low voice. ¡°Cang Yuan.¡± Hua! The Wind Rain Lake¡¯s surface undulated, and turbulent waves lifted up as something slowly rose from its depths. Chi Jing and Bian Chang stared puzzledly at the lake. The colossal object finally broke the surface. It turned out to be a jet-black iron tower engraved with ancient light runes. The tower had five levels, and when it appeared, the world dimmed abruptly. Strange light surged at the top of the iron tower. "It''s one of the mystical creatures!¡± Chi Jing exclaimed. One of the three mystical creatures that built the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s Genesis-Drawing Formation was standing atop the tower! However, when Chi Jing and Bian Chang failed to penetrate the tower with their powers, they found that the mysterious iron tower had formed a space of its own. It even possessed a certain control of the rules around it. The indifferent eyes on the golden decree grew even colder, and boundless Saint fire sped down to incinerate the iron tower. However, this time, the fire that had greatly troubled Chi Jing and Bian Chang failed to have any effect. It quietly died out as it approached the iron tower. ¡°Wan Zu. In my place, you have to follow my rules,¡± sounded a faintly discernible voice from the iron tower. Two words emerged as the voice faded. Heavenly Sun. ¡°Only Heavenly Stage experts can enter the tower." The indifferent eyes on the golden decree were watching intently, and they gradually faded. The golden decree also hid into the void. The black iron tower was a means left by Cang Yuan, and it was impossible to break through with a decree alone. It would be possible if supreme sovereign Wan Zu came in person, but that was unlikely to happen. What he had done to the Tianyuan Region was already close to the limit. If he were to go too far, the other supreme sovereigns would no longer sit still and do nothing. Therefore, he had to follow the rules. Cang Yuan, the battle between you and me isn¡¯t over yet. Meanwhile, at the Tianyuan Region¡¯s southern border, in the bottomless abyss where golden lightning raged endlessly... Sect master Xuan Kun and clan leader Bai Ye were similarly watching a black iron tower rise from the abyss slowly and withstand the golden decree¡¯s power. Two words slowly emerged on the iron tower. ¡°Nascent Source!¡± Chapter 1036 Tower Competition The battles had ended, and the chaos left on the ground indicated how tragic the war was. The Tianyuan Region army was beginning to clean up the battlefield, gathering bodies of fallen comrades. The region¡¯s troops had already captured the major camps of the Great Five Alliance and controlled them. Sitting in the camp, Zhou Yuan felt the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power leaving his body, and he entered a state of weakness and laziness and didn¡¯t want to move anywhere. The little jade tree, which the Heavenly Fire Tree King transformed into, was still rooted on Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder. It wasn¡¯t that it didn¡¯t want to leave, but it would be captured again even if it escaped due to the mark grand elder Mu Ni left on it. The Heavenly Fire Tree King possessed some spiritual intellect and felt that Mu Ni had no bad intention; therefore, it didn¡¯t insist on fleeing. Many Heavenly Sun experts shuttled in and out of the camp, and when they caught sight of Zhou Yuan, their expressions turned complicated because many didn¡¯t have a good opinion of Zhou Yuan before the battle. But everybody had seen what role Zhou Yuan had played in the Chiyun Prefecture battle. Zhou Yuan had truly reversed the tide. If he hadn''t infiltrated the enemy¡¯s camp and stolen the Heavenly Fire Tree King, the Tianyuan Region would have had more casualties. Zhou Yuan had undoubtedly proved himself. Even those jealous of Zhou Yuan had no choice but to put away their thoughts after seeing him contribute greatly to the war. They knew they would have been killed if they had to infiltrate the heavily guarded enemy camp to capture the Heavenly Fire Tree King in front of a Nascent Source expert. But Zhou Yuan had done it. No matter what method he used, it showed that his means were greater than theirs. Thinking about the previous rumors, they undoubtedly felt ridiculous. Those who took the rumors seriously could only sneak away with their face red with shame when they saw Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan, however, paid no attention to the gazes around him. He was instead very worried about what happened to Chi Jing and the others. While thoughts raced in his mind, he suddenly saw a pair of straight and slender legs stop in front of him. Zhou Yuan looked up to see that the long-legged owner was especially tall. Her body was stained with blood, and her face was coldly beautiful and aloof. It was Qin Lian. Mu Youlan stood behind her, her petite body almost covered entirely by Qin Lian''s figure. ¡°It¡¯s good to be alive,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. Qin Lian looked at Zhou Yuan''s face with the same complicated expression as the others, and she immediately said indifferently, ¡°I have killed the Wang brothers. I also broke Ji Hu¡¯s arm and leg, but unfortunately, he managed to escape.¡± Zhou Yuan secretly smacked his lips. The two were clearly beautiful women, but what they said was too terrifying. ¡°This time¡±¡ªQin Lian pursed her lips¡ª¡°it¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± If Zhou Yuan hadn''t stolen the Heavenly Fire Tree King, she would have had to pay a heavy price even if she successfully killed the Wang brothers. Mu Youlan nodded, her fair cheeks reddening. They originally had many opinions about Zhou Yuan¡¯s decision to choose a target from the bounty list because they felt his action was too reckless and could affect the overall situation. But who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would be the one to earn the most war credit in the end? This made Qin Lian and Mu Youlan a little embarrassed because, after some reflection, they found that they mainly felt that way because they hadn¡¯t trusted Zhou Yuan from the beginning. Zhou Yuan waved his hand, saying, ¡°I am a member of the Tianyuan Region, and I did what I should have done.¡± Of course, he also knew that the two women had previously doubted his ability. However, he thought it was normal because no one would believe someone could possess a foundation of 700 million Genesis Qi stars at the initial Heavenly Sun stage. Normally speaking, any initial Heavenly Sun expert who dared enter into the depths of the enemy¡¯s camp was seeking death. In truth, Qin Lian and the others were thinking of him. Looking at Zhou Yuan''s indifferent expression, Qin Lian thought he might be a little angry, so she bit her lip and said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault this time. We shouldn¡¯t have questioned your ability.¡± Mu Youlan hurriedly added, "If you want to blame someone, blame me. I said all those things to elder sister Qin Lian.¡± Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry when he heard the two¡¯s explanation. He awkwardly scratched his head, saying, ¡°I really don¡¯t blame you two. After all, you¡¯re not master Cang Yuan, so how could you see my potential?¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s words might be true, Qin Lian and Mu Youlan wanted to give him a beating. ¡°Just joking.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Qin Lian''s and Mu Youlan''s expressions eased a little. They crouched down and asked curiously, "How did you steal the Heavenly Fire Tree King? I heard there was a Nascent Source expert guarding the camp.¡± Zhou Yuan briefly explained it to them, seeing that they were so interested. Of course, he had succeeded mainly due to the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power. But even so, the thrill and danger during the infiltration caused the two women to turn pale. Zhou Yuan¡¯s behavior was undoubtedly the same as walking on the tip of a knife. The three chatted leisurely, and their relationship unknowingly grew closer. After a while, Zhou Yuan stretched his back and was just about to speak when his expression changed suddenly. Grand elder Mu Ni''s voice fell in his ears, ¡°Hurry and come to the main camp.¡± Zhou Yuan sprang up immediately. He waved to Qin Lian and Mu Youlan, then hurried to the main camp. When Zhou Yuan arrived, there was no one else inside except for Mu Ni, and her expression was a little solemn. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart pounded when he saw her expression, and he couldn''t help but ask, "The two mythical creatures haven¡¯t been taken away, right?¡± Mu Ni shook her head, ¡°The situation isn¡¯t that bad. Chi Jing and the others rushed to the two locations, but supreme sovereign Wan Zu also sent someone there and summoned a decree to capture the two mythical creatures. Chi Jing and the others were no match for it.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed abruptly. She continued, "But fortunately, Cang Yuan left behind some protection at the two locations, and it appeared at the critical moment to suppress supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s decree.¡± Zhou Yuan patted his chest and shot an annoyed glance at Mu Ni, who was out of breath. ¡°Cang Yuan had left behind two iron towers. One is a Heavenly Sun Tower, and the other is a Nascent Source Tower. The two mythical creatures are each atop one of the towers. ¡°Only Heavenly Sun experts and Nascent Source experts can enter the Heavenly Sun Tower and the Nascent Source Tower, respectively. There are five levels in each tower, and both sides will send one person to compete on each level. The first to occupy three levels can climb to the top to take the mythical creature.¡± Mu Ni stared at Zhou Yuan and continued, "This is the means Cang Yuan left behind. As for whether it can protect them till the end, perhaps it will depend on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s strength.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The appearance of the two iron towers had prevented a large-scale battle from happening and could reduce the number of casualties, but the battles within the towers would likely be bloody and brutal. Both sides would surely send their strongest Heavenly Sun and Nascent Source experts, and the battles would undoubtedly be the focus of the world. Chapter 1037 Promotion Since Cang Yuan had left behind such means, it showed everything that had happened was within his expectations. For people of their level, a momentary impulse represented a certain kind of foresight. Mu Ni shook her head, saying, ¡°Your thinking is too simple. After all, it¡¯s only a means left by Cang Yuan and not his real self. If we anger supreme sovereign Wan Zu, he will inevitably use other means. "The two iron towers stand tall and upright, and the rules are fairly fair to both sides, so supreme sovereign Wan Zu will tacitly approve of the battle and not create more trouble. ¡°Our priority now is to make a list of ten Heavenly Sun experts and Nascent Source experts. Chi Jing and the others will start the selection soon. This is a very important matter, and we must gather the strongest people.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded his head in disappointment. Although his Genesis Qi foundation had reached 720 million and he wasn¡¯t afraid of facing intermediate Heavenly Sun experts, both sides would no doubt only send out advanced Heavenly Sun experts in the mystical creature battle. Furthermore, their Genesis Qi foundations would be more than a billion each. With Zhou Yuan¡¯s 720 million Genesis Qi stars, he could show off among intermediate Heavenly Sun experts, but if he were to face top advanced Heavenly Sun experts such as Qin Lian and Mu Youlan, his strength would be inadequate. There was a huge gap between him and top advanced Heavenly Sun experts. But the mystical creature battle was critical to the Tianyuan Region and would even affect the future ownership of the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. He wouldn''t be able to eat and rest in peace if he couldn¡¯t do anything because he couldn¡¯t entrust his fate to other people. Zhou Yuan suddenly peered at the Heavenly Fire Tree King on his shoulders, and his heart skipped a beat. He exclaimed, ¡°Aunt Mu, can I borrow the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power to take one of the places?¡± He could previously suppress a Nascent Source expert with the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power, so if he could borrow it again to compete in the mystical creature battle, he was sure he could crush all other competitors. However, Mu Ni shook her head. "Supreme sovereign Wan Zu''s decree is still hanging above the iron tower, which means that he will be watching. If you borrow power that doesn¡¯t belong to you, he will be aware of it, and it could lead to other troubles. ¡°Moreover¡ª¡± Mu Ni swept her eyes over Zhou Yuan. He immediately felt as if her gaze was piercing through him. Mu Ni stretched out her hand and grabbed Zhou Yuan¡¯s. At that moment, he could feel a frightening yet gentle force gush into his body. It roamed around the depths of his flesh and blood. Zhou Yuan was shocked to see green wood shavings emerge on his skin. The odd substance turned to nothing when it met the air. ¡°Huh, what¡¯s this?¡± Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly. ¡°It¡¯s from the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power corroding your body. If you rely on its power for too long, your body will gradually turn to wood, and soon you will become a human-shaped wooden sculpture," Mu Ni explained. Zhou Yuan¡¯s back became soaked with cold sweat. He didn''t expect there to be side effects from using the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power. Moreover, he didn¡¯t realize it at all. He stared at the little jade tree on his shoulder and couldn¡¯t help shaking his shoulder. He wanted to shake it off. As though it sensed Zhou Yuan''s disgust, the little jade tree¡¯s branches dropped dispiritedly. Seeing this, Mu Ni said, ¡°Don''t blame it. It¡¯s not that it actively controls you. It¡¯s just that your strength is too weak, so the tree¡¯s strength corrodes it.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, smiling bitterly. He looked a little disappointed. It seemed that his plan of borrowing the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power to compete for the mystical creature battle wouldn¡¯t be successful. ¡°Do you want to participate in the mystical creature battle?¡± Mu Ni said with a gentle smile. ¡°How strong is your Genesis Qi foundation now?¡± ¡°Seven hundred and twenty million,¡± Zhou Yuan muttered. "It is extremely rare for someone to achieve such a foundation in the initial Heavenly Sun stage, but Qin Lian, Bai Yu, Bian Buji and Mu Youlan will no doubt each occupy one of the final five places because they are considered the top Heavenly Sun experts in the Tianyuan Region. "The last place is still to be discussed, but it will definitely be another top advanced Heavenly Sun expert, and their Genesis Qi foundation will need to be at least 1.3 billion to be chosen.¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head. It seemed that the requirements to be chosen was more difficult than he had expected. The condition of 1.3 billion Genesis Qi stars was 600 million higher than his current foundation. This couldn¡¯t be compensated by any Genesis techniques. His foundation would only soar if he makes a breakthrough and reaches the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. However, he had only made a breakthrough less than a month ago. How would it be that easy to break through again? If he were to borrow some foreign means to force a breakthrough, it could damage his foundation, and the gain wouldn¡¯t outweigh the loss. But when a disappointed look crossed Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, Mu Ni suddenly said with a smile, "However, it¡¯s not impossible.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at her in astonishment. ¡°Didn''t Cang Yuan give you his Heavenly Yuan brush? How many of its runes have you awakened?¡± ¡°Six runes!¡± Zhou Yuan answered immediately. ¡°Do you know what the seventh rune is called?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. "The seventh rune is called Promotion, and it has the ability to raise your level a little for a while. You are now at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, so if you awaken the seventh rune, you can possess the strength of the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage in a short period of time,¡± Mu Ni said with a smile. Zhou Yuan''s eyes widened. This seventh rune of the Heavenly Yuan brush actually possesses such an abnormal ability?! It can raise your cultivation level! Although there is a time limit, it¡¯s still amazing. "The Heavenly Yuan brush with the seventh rune awakened can be regarded as a quasi-saint weapon. It isn¡¯t surprising that it possesses that ability. Moreover, the promotion effect reduces as one grows stronger. For example, it is impossible for Law Domain experts like us to raise our cultivation level a little,¡± Mu Ni explained. Zhou Yuan secretly smacked his lips. As expected, the Heavenly Yuan brush¡¯s powers only manifested as one¡¯s cultivation level increased. ¡°But it¡¯s extremely difficult to awaken the seventh rune. I have tried many times before but still haven¡¯t succeeded.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. He had never stopped nourishing the Heavenly Yuan brush, but the seventh rune hadn¡¯t shown any movements in almost one year. The difficulty of awakening the seventh rune wasn¡¯t less than breaking through to the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. "As the Heavenly Yuan brush¡¯s level increases, its awakening will become more and more difficult." Mu Ni nodded, and then her eyelashes suddenly fluttered. ¡°Therefore, it requires the mysterious power of something extraordinary.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face lit up with understanding. He shifted his gaze to the Heavenly Fire Tree King on his shoulder. Under their watchful gazes, the Heavenly Fire Tree King shuddered as if sensing something wrong. Its jade light flashed as it transformed into a stream of light to escape. However, it had only just moved when a slender jade-like hand stretched towards it from the void and grasped it firmly. As Mu Ni looked at the little jade tree in her palm, a gentle smile curved her lips. "Little Tree King, let us borrow some power, okay?¡± The Heavenly Fire Tree King trembled uncontrollably. Noticing the pitiful look on its face, Zhou Yuan asked, "It won''t have much impact on it, right?¡± Mu Ni smiled. "Don''t underestimate its power. If its Genesis Qi didn¡¯t lack offensive power, there would be no way we could win in a fight against it. We are only going to borrow some of its power to help you awaken the seventh rune. It¡¯s only going to stay in low spirits for a while.¡± She raised her hand and gazed at the Heavenly Fire Tree King, saying, "You were planted by Cang Yuan in the past. If not for his strength, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to grow to this day and possess spiritual intellect. If you help out, it will be considered a great contribution to the Tianyuan Region, and afterward, nobody in the Tianyuan Region will treat you badly. "So, whether it is for repaying Cang Yuan or for your future, you should know what decision to make, right?¡± As Mu Ni spoke gently, light flowed around the Heavenly Fire Tree King. The tree froze for a long while, then finally drooped its branches as though finally accepting its fate. Chapter 1038 Number of places In the headquarters¡¯ main tent, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s five grand elders had gathered again. But when Mu Ni proposed to have Zhou Yuan participate in the mystical creature battle, sect master Xuan Kun unsurprisingly opposed it. Sect master Xuan Kun''s wrinkled face was tense. He swept a glance over Zhou Yuan. Although Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t a true grand elder, his status in the Tianyuan Region was unique, and he was eligible to attend meetings of this level. But sect master Xuan Kun wasn¡¯t easier to talk to because of his presence. On the contrary, he said in a deep voice, "You don''t know how important the battles in the twin towers are. According to the list we made before, those with a foundation less than 1.3 billion aren¡¯t qualified to participate. I don¡¯t deny that Zhou Yuan is talented, but he¡¯s only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage.¡± Mu Ni said with a smile, ¡°But Nascent Source experts can¡¯t do what he had done on the Chiyun Prefecture battlefield.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun argued, ¡°That was a special situation! But the battle in the two towers is going to be a real competition of strength, and any other means will be useless!¡± Chi Jing said indifferently, "Zhou Yuan has the Heavenly Yuan brush, so as long as he awakens the seventh rune, Promotion, his strength will skyrocket, and he will be strong enough to deal with the mystical creature battle.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun shook his head, saying stubbornly, ¡°The Heavenly Yuan brush can indeed increase one¡¯s strength, but who can guarantee his foundation can reach at least 1.3 billion with the Promotion rune? If he can¡¯t achieve it, it will be meaningless.¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan with fierce, piercing eyes and said, "Zhou Yuan, you can leave the situation to the top advanced Heavenly Sun experts. You don''t need to take such a huge risk. This is best for you and the Tianyuan Region." Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly. It was precisely because this matter was too important that he wanted to win a place. He didn''t want to leave any matter related to the Ancestral Dragon Lantern to other people, but he didn''t want to be in the limelight either. He even hoped that Qin Lian and the others could win three battles so he wouldn¡¯t need to do anything. "Sect master Xuan Kun, after I awaken the Heavenly Yuan brush¡¯s seventh rune, I will personally talk to the top advanced Heavenly Sun experts you selected. If they have no objection, let me have the last place.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun and the others were all taken aback. How could they not know from Zhou Yuan¡¯s tone that he didn¡¯t plan to just talk to the other selected people? Bian Chang, the Profound Crystal Clan¡¯sLeader, couldn''t help chuckling, ¡°No wonder you are supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple. You¡¯re quite courageous." "The mythical creature battle is set to happen in one month, and the provisional list of the people chosen will be released. But if you fail to meet our expectations in the end, the final list will also change.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded without any objection. Seeing this, sect master Xuan Kun didn''t say anything else. He took another deep look at Zhou Yuan, and then his figure vanished. Grand elders Bian Chang and Bai Ye also disappeared. The present situation in the Tianyuan Region was very tense, and their Genesis Qi transformations were needed elsewhere. The atmosphere within the tent eased as they left. "You really don''t rest, ¡± Chi Jing teased. The mythical creature should have had little to do with Zhou Yuan, an initial Heavenly Sun expert, but he still came forward. Zhou Yuan sighed, ¡°I really hope I won¡¯t need to appear in the end.¡± If he doesn''t appear, it means that everything is going well, but if he has to come to the rescue, it means the situation is very bad. So, he would rather not be in the limelight. ¡°Give me the Heavenly Yuan brush,¡± Mu Ni said with a smile. Zhou Yuan quickly took out the mottled black brush, respectfully handed it to Mu Ni, and said sweetly, ¡°I will have to trouble Aunt Ni.¡± Mu Ni received the Heavenly Yuan brush and stroked the body lightly. It immediately provoked strong surges of nostalgia, and her expression softened. "I haven''t seen it in many years.¡± After a good while, she smiled at Zhou Yuan and said, "It will take some time to awaken the seventh rune, but it should be done within a month.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded obediently. Chi Jing tossed something over, which Zhou Yuan quickly caught. It was a scarlet-red bamboo slip engraved with complex runes. It even faintly emitted a red-hot aura. ¡°This is the little Saint Art you had asked me to find to help you improve your bodily strength. This technique is called the Purgatory Great Flame Devil, and it is considered a top little Saint Art. It¡¯s much stronger than your Mythic Saint Body.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face lit up. The Mythic Saint Body was only a top Heaven Genesis Technique, and although it had displayed remarkable power in the past, it had gradually reached its limit when his strength had increased. Regardless of how hard Zhou Yuan had tried, the amount of golden blood refined and born in his heart was still no more than 300 drops, and the increase was slowing. This was the limitation caused by the Mythic Saint Body¡¯s level. To quickly raise his bodily strength, he needed a more powerful Genesis Art to strengthen his body. "You have obtained a large amount of Law Domain Source in the Fallen Abyss, and it should be enough for you to master this art.¡± Filled with joy, Zhou Yuan nodded repeatedly. "Thank you, senior sister Chi Jing.¡± If one were to exchange war credits for this kind of Genesis Art, one would have needed to use a ton of war credits, but Zhou Yuan luckily didn¡¯t need to. This was one of the benefits of revealing his identity. Even if Chi Jing gave him a top-level little Saint Art, the other three grand elders had to turn a blind eye because Zhou Yuan, an official disciple of the great master, had the right to such a technique. Chi Jing waved her hand. "During this period of time, concentrate on training and leave the Heavenly Yuan brush to Aunt Ni.¡± She paused, then seemed to have thought of something. She couldn¡¯t help chuckling, "When the list of names is announced, you will likely be where the wind and the waves are the fiercest again.¡± Zhou Yuan shrugged, not caring. After all, this kind of matter was a frequent occurrence. The Tianyuan Region and the Great Five Alliance didn¡¯t conceal the matter regarding the mythical creature battle, and so, within a few days, the matter had become both sides¡¯ focus of attention. Many other forces in Hunyuan Heaven also paid close attention to this matter. Therefore, as Chi Jing had said, the provision list for the mythical creature battle in the Heavenly Sun Tower caused a huge uproar when it was released. Unsurprisingly, the list of names shocked the countless Heavenly Sun experts in the Tianyuan Region. Of course, their shock wasn¡¯t directed at Qin Lian, Bai Yu, Bian Buji and Mu Youlan but at the fact that Zhou Yuan, an initial Heavenly Sun expert, had made it onto the list. After the initial shock, a wave of fierce opposition broke out. Of course, the majority of the Heavenly Sun experts who opposed hadn¡¯t participated in the battles on the Chiyun Prefecture battlefield. In contrast, those who did were much more rational. After all, they had witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s remarkable skills, but even so, many still expressed their concern about the provisional list: ¡°Sect master Xuan Kun is right. One needs to rely on true strength in the mythical creature battle, and no tactics or means can change anything.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan''s ability indeed isn¡¯t bad, but he is only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage!¡± ¡°The ones chosen for the mythical creature battle need to be top Heavenly Sun stage experts!¡± ¡°There¡¯s still a huge gap in strength between Zhou Yuan and them, isn¡¯t that right?¡± The release of the list of names also led to many arguments in the Tianyuan Region. Moreover, the matter didn¡¯t end there. The list had disseminated at the fastest speed possible and had spread throughout not only the Tianyuan Region but also the other eight regions, causing quite a stir. Chapter 1039 Heavenly Sun Top Three In a short few days, news of the double tower battle for the mystical creatures had spread throughout Hunyuan Heaven. The outcome of the duel between the two supreme sovereigns left countless people sighing in amazement. It was also at this time that the preliminary list for the Tianyuan Region¡¯s five Heavenly Sun participants was spread, causing quite a commotion. The source of the commotion was, of course, an all too familiar name on the list: Zhou Yuan. ... The Xuanji Region, in a tall building. Dressed in a wide robe and with a piece of gauze veiling her face, Jiu Gong read the report before her and sighed deeply. ¡°Tch tch, Zhou Yuan really knows how to stir things up. Barely any time has passed since he advanced to the Heavenly Sun stage, and he already dares to lock horns with the advanced Heavenly Sun experts¡­¡± The report contained information about the upcoming mystical creature contest between the Tianyuan Region and the Great Five Alliance. The Tianyuan Region participant list was naturally included, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s name was exceptionally striking. The servant girl beside Jiu Gong remarked, ¡°Zhou Yuan really doesn¡¯t understand the immensity of the heavens.¡± However, Jiu Gong shook her head. She might have had the same view if the name was anyone else¡¯s, but after experiencing the nine regions tournament, she now categorized Zhou Yuan as an extremely dangerous individual. After all, even the invincible Zhao Mushen had fallen to him. Zhou Yuan was basically a monster. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to make a prediction. Who knows what kind of surprises there will be in this contest.¡± She slightly puckered her red lips as she tapped the report with her slender finger. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it somewhat.¡± She also wanted to know if the emperor of their Divine Dwelling generation would still be as dazzling after stepping into the deeper waters¡ªthe Heavenly Sun stage. ... The Wanzu Region, in front of a palace hall. Zhao Mushen indifferently read the report in his hand. His gaze paused on Zhou Yuan¡¯s name for a long time. A raspy voice sounded from behind him, containing a strange sound that made one¡¯s Spirit feel a slight piercing pain, ¡°Hehe, he¡¯s much bolder than you. How long has it been since he advanced to the Heavenly Sun stage? To think that he dares to cross hands with advanced Heavenly Sun experts already...¡± Zhao Mushen turned his head and saw a man in gaudy clothes. The man was handsome, and he had a pair of eyes that resembled peach blossoms. His clothes were extremely extravagant, and he gave off an irresponsible aura. He was called Wang Xuanyang. He was once the leader of the Wanzu Region¡¯s Divine Dwelling experts and was now the main pillar of the Wanzu Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage. As for the Heavenly Sun List, he ranked second. Wang Xuanyang smiled and said, ¡°The Great Five Alliance is so useless. They can¡¯t even handle such a weak Tianyuan Region. What a waste of our Wanzu Region¡¯s support.¡± Zhao Mushen did not respond, his expression remaining indifferent. Not minding the lack of response, Wang Xuanyang continued to talk to himself. Soon after, his tone suddenly changed. ¡°You didn¡¯t take Wu Yao and Su Youwei in the nine regions tournament?¡± Zhao Mushen glanced at him and coldly said, ¡°Senior brother Xuanyang, I have no interest in them. I only desire their luck and blessing.¡± He was well aware of his senior brother¡¯s character. Wang Xuanyang loved beautiful women, and his Genesis Qi leaned towards the yin and yang nature. Several girls had already been destroyed in his hands over the years. Wang Xuanyang glanced at Zhao Mushen as if looking at an irrational fool. Soon after, Wang Xuanyang smiled. ¡°Since you failed, don¡¯t ask me to give them to you when I get them in the future.¡± Zhao Mushen replied, ¡°Senior brother Xuanyuan, Wu Yao and Su Youwei are not to be trifled with.¡± A peach blossom fan appeared in Wang Xuanyuan¡¯s hand. Yin-yang light flowed along it as it unfolded, revealing pictures of numerous beautiful girls in various postures. There were two empty spaces at the very center of the fan. ¡°It just so happens that there are still two empty spaces in my yin-yang peach blossom fan. If I manage to collect them...hehe, there¡¯ll be hope to reach the Nascent Source stage in the future. As for whether or not they¡¯re to be trifled with, that¡¯s your senior brother¡¯s business. Junior brother Zhao, you should spend your time thinking about how to retrieve your lost dignity from Zhou Yuan. After all, your defeat in the nine regions tournament has made our Wanzu Region suffer some backlash.¡± He completely ignored Zhao Mushen¡¯s words, slowly fanning himself as he unhurriedly left. Expressionless, Zhao Mushen watched his senior brother leave as a glimmer of iciness flashed in the depths of his eyes. He inwardly muttered to himself, I will naturally take back what I lost. Moreover...your position shall be mine in the future¡ªno, I will not be number two like you, but number one on the Heavenly Sun List! ... The Zixiao Region, in an enormous mountain valley. The valley was verdant with life. A waterfall crashed down from above, creating a loud rumbling that echoed throughout the valley. A beautiful figure was seated on a boulder overseeing the valley. It was a girl wearing a white dress. A heart-palpitating chill spread around her, and her expression appeared exceptionally cold, making her look very unapproachable. She was currently looking at the valley in admiration. On a stone platform within the waterfall, she could just barely make out a slender figure silently sitting in a cultivation position. The girl in white murmured in a soft voice, ¡°Junior sister Youwei¡¯s talent is exceptional. Her accomplishments will one day surpass mine. Oh?¡± Her expression suddenly changed while she was watching Su Youwei train. Moments later, she saw a young female disciple rush towards the valley. The girl in the white dress moved and appeared in front of the female disciple. ¡°What is it?¡± The female disciple was taken aback. She hurriedly bowed and said, ¡°Greetings, teacher-aunt Dong Ye!¡± The girl in white was called Dong Ye. She was a famous individual not only in the Zixiao Region but also in Hunyuan Heaven, because she was ranked three on the Heavenly Sun List! ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ye Dong nodded in acknowledgment. Her tone remained icy-cold. The female disciple hesitated for a moment. Her teacher-aunt Dong Ye was known to have a bad temper, and she was very against the opposite sex. However, the disciple did not dare to conceal anything. ¡°I have news to pass to my senior sister Youwei. She asked us to immediately deliver any new information about the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Tianyuan Region, Zhou Yuan?¡± Dong Ye¡¯s brows immediately furrowed at these words as an unhappy look appeared on her face. Dong Ye greatly admired Su Youwei and thus hoped that Su Youwei would be able to concentrate on her cultivation. Dong Ye did not wish for Su Youwei to be distracted by any relationships. However, there seemed to be something special between Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei... ¡°Give it to me.¡± She extended a hand. The female disciple did not dare to tarry, and she could only respectfully pass her the message with both hands. Ye Dong casually unfurled it and swept a glance over it. A strange look flashed in her eyes. She then shook her head and sneered, ¡°What arrogance.¡± An initial Heavenly Sun expert dared to vie with numerous advanced Heavenly Sun experts? Did the brat think he was still the same invincible king among the Heavenly Sun stage? Did the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Law Domain experts intend to watch all of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s hard-fought property be lost? ¡°Leave.¡± She waved her hand, sending off the messenger disciple. She then turned around and appeared on a cliff. Dong Ye glanced at Su Youwei, who was still cultivating, before looking at the scroll in her hand. With a clench, the scroll was destroyed. ¡°Youwei, your future prospects are limitless, and you may even have the chance to become the next Law Domain expert of our Zixiao Region. These men are not worthy of your attention.¡± ... The Wushen Region. Boom! A berserk collision of Genesis Qi exploded deep within the mountains as an entire mountain forest was torn apart. One could faintly see two figures exchanging a flurry of blows at the epicenter of the collision as the surrounding land crumbled around them. Rumble! After yet another astonishing clash, a slender figure was sent shooting backwards, then ultimately landed atop a giant tree. The figure was dressed in skin-tight training attire that greatly accentuated her exquisite figure. Who else could that gorgeous face belong to but Wu Yao? Her eyes were lightly shut as she focused on calming the churning Genesis Qi in her body. Moments later, she opened her eyes and cupped her fists together. ¡°Thank you, senior brother, for sparring with me.¡± Genesis Qi converged towards another giant tree in front of her as a figure walked out. It was a man in azure robes. The man¡¯s body was as straight as a spear. Although he was not very handsome, his eyes were deep and reserved, giving off a peculiar charm. Such a man did not need superficial things such as good looks. He gazed at Wu Yao, pausing on her fair and beautiful face. Ordinary men would feel ashamed and inferior at the sight of such beauty and not dare to speak. However, the man remained completely composed as he replied, ¡°Junior sister Wu Yao, you are very strong. Although it¡¯s not been long since your breakthrough, you will be hard-pressed to find any worthy opponents among the initial Heavenly Sun stage.¡± Wu Yao shook her hand. ¡°Senior brother, if you did not suppress your strength to the initial Heavenly Sun stage, I would have lost long ago.¡± She suddenly raised her head as a white sparrow flew over and perched on her shoulder. Wu Yao removed a small bamboo tube from the white sparrow¡¯s leg and retrieved a strip of paper from it. She swept a glance over it, her eyes rippling slightly. ¡°He already dares to participate in the fights between advanced Heavenly Sun experts?¡± Wu Yao pursed her lips. Others might feel that Zhou Yuan had an exaggerated opinion of his own abilities, but she had a faint feeling that he had a reason for this choice. If it was true, it would mean that Zhou Yuan was even stronger than she had imagined. Wu Yao kept the slip of paper and said to the man in azure robes, ¡°Senior brother Guan, let us stop here today. On a final note, please raise the intensity of the next session.¡± The azure-robed man was a little taken aback. He was about to advise her against it but then nodded in acknowledgment after seeing the determination on her face. ¡°Okay.¡± Wu Yao cupped her fists together in thanks. Soon after, her figure turned into a streak of light and left. As he watched her leave, the calm man¡¯s eyes finally rippled for an instant. Laughter suddenly sounded beside him. ¡°Tch tch, is the stone head who only knows how to train and fight about to see her springtime of youth?¡± The azure-robed man turned his head and glanced at the figure. It was his good friend. He said with a faint smile, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you know full well what I¡¯m talking about. There¡¯s no reason to hide it. An outstanding girl like junior sister Wu Yao is worthy of you. If you¡¯re interested, you should take action as soon as possible. Don¡¯t let others beat you to her.¡± The person grinned. ¡°Moreover, the news junior sister Wu Yao received is likely related to the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan. She usually has zero interest in others, and it¡¯s even less likely for her to specially collect information about someone.¡± The azure-robed man was silent. ¡°Aren¡¯t they enemies?¡± ¡°Who knows...love and hate are the hardest to distinguish.¡± The azure-robed man chuckled in an unconcerned manner. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. If I am interested, I have never feared any enemy, no matter the area.¡± His calm tone was filled with absolute confidence and assertiveness. However, no one would feel anything was out of place. This person did have the qualifications to say such words...because he was the king of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Divine Dwelling List¡ªGuan Qinglong! He was on a completely different level than Zhou Yuan. Chapter 1040 Fragmen A lake of lava lay deep underground in the southwest sector. Giant bubbles rose from the scarlet-red magma and violently burst apart, sending a spray of fire rain in all directions. A terrifying heat filled the entire underground area. Zhou Yuan was seated on a boulder that protruded from a cliff. After confirming his participation in the mystical creature battle, he had directly returned to the Tianyuan Utopia, ignoring the giant debate that had erupted due to the participant list. All doubts would naturally fade once the outcome emerged. It was meaningless to argue over it. He had come to the underground lava lake to practice the newly obtained body-tempering little Saint Art, the Purgatory Great Flame Devil. However, he had not started immediately. Instead, he was currently viewing the interior of his Divine Dwelling... In the Divine Dwelling, Zhou Yuan¡¯s consciousness hovered next to the Saint Rune light sphere as he curiously probed it. The Saint Rune light sphere was made from the four Saint Runes. What sparked Zhou Yuan¡¯s curiosity was that he was still unable to see the fourth Saint Rune! Decoder, Earth and Heavenly Punishment. Zhou Yuan had already tasted the unique powers of three of the four Saint Runes. Only the fourth Saint Rune had long eluded him. He was still completely in the dark about its name and power... Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit scanned the glowing Saint Rune sphere before focusing on the fourth Saint Rune. The moment he did so, Zhou Yuan felt his Spirit power be consumed at an extremely rapid pace. However, he did not panic, because this had happened before. It seemed that merely viewing the fourth rune required extremely abundant Spirit power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had been at the initial Transformative stage previously, and it had only managed to last for a dozen breaths before being exhausted, making it hard for him to make any progress in his probing. Now, his Spirit had advanced to the next lesser cultivation realm and should be able to last longer. His Spirit power rapidly depleted. In the blink an eye, several dozen breaths passed. Zhou Yuan could no longer remain composed. He could feel his Spirit power approach rock-bottom. The amount of Spirit power needed to view the fourth Saint Rune far surpassed his initial expectations. But he knew that giving up now would only end up wasting his earlier efforts. Hence, he gritted his teeth and urged out all his remaining Spirit power. Rumble! A ripple seemed to spread in his Divine Dwelling, and the glass Heavenly Sun violently flickered. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit tenaciously focused on the side of the sphere where the fourth Saint Rune was. The surface rippled intensely as mist seemed to fade, and the silhouette of a single ancient word faintly flashed past... ¡°Mysterious? Mysterious what?¡± Zhou Yuan felt a little agitated. This was clearly only half of the fourth rune¡¯s name. Without knowing the whole thing, he would be unable to activate the fourth rune¡¯s true power. Unfortunately, his current Spirit power was clearly still not enough to find out the rune¡¯s true name. Regret filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. However, just as his exhausted self was about to withdraw, he suddenly saw the Saint Rune sphere violently shudder. Ripples spread across its surface as the sphere turned somewhat transparent. To his shock, Zhou Yuan discovered that there was something inside the sphere! What is this? It seems to be some kind of fragment?! An indescribable power spread from the mysterious fragment that made respect rise within one¡¯s heart. Moreover, Zhou Yuan felt a familiar feeling from it. This is... After several seconds of silence, Zhou Yuan''s heart began to thump violently, and his eyes widened abruptly as shock filled his pale face. The item hidden inside the Saint Rune sphere was...a fragment of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp?! In the great battle of Canxuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan had ultimately borrowed patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s power to shatter the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. The stamp was smashed into numerous fragments that scattered throughout Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan never imagined that a fragment would be swept along with the four Saint Runes, hiding together with them in his Divine Dwelling! Moreover, Zhou Yuan could clearly sense that this fragment was likely the biggest of them all! ¡°This¡­¡± In the face of such a discovery, even Zhou Yuan could not restrain his astonishment. This was the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Anyone who possessed it could become the master of an entire heaven. Such power and status were hard to even imagine. In the face of a true natural ultimate treasure like it, even the supreme sovereigns would be tempted. Zhou Yuan gulped. It was no wonder the four Saint Runes had taken the form of a glowing sphere. It was likely to seal the fragment¡¯s aura. Otherwise, who knows what the supreme sovereigns in Hunyuan Heaven may do if they discover its presence? It was his earlier probing of the fourth rune that caused a disturbance in the sphere, resulting in the Saint Stamp fragment hidden deep within it being revealed. To be honest, Zhou Yuan already had a faint feeling that there was something inside the sphere the moment the sphere had appeared. However, he had assumed he was overthinking things and did not give the matter much thought. Who could have expected that he would stumble upon such a discovery¡­? His shock lasted for a long time before slowly fading away. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes twinkled in thought. Even with the Sacred Palace¡¯s capabilities, it would likely take them some time to gather all of the fragments. However, once they collected all of the other fragments, the final fragment¡¯s existence would likely be discovered even with the seal of the four Saint Runes sphere. That old dog Sheng Yuan would never let him off. However... ¡°If that time comes, who knows whether I will be the one who won¡¯t let him off!¡± Iciness flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The day would eventually come when he would return to Cangxuan Heaven for his revenge. The old dog Sheng Yuan made Yaoyao fall into a deep sleep and nearly destroyed the Cangxuan Sect. Every single one of these debts was clearly carved into Zhou Yuan¡¯s memory. Zhou Yuan''s continuous growth over the years was akin to a race with the Sacred Palace. He needed to return before the Sacred Palace gathered all of the Saint Stamp fragments. Otherwise, no one would be able to stop a recovered Sheng Yuan who had the majority of the Saint Stamp¡¯s power. In addition, Zhou Yuan owed a huge debt of gratitude to the Cangxuan Sect, and his parents were still in Cangxuan Heaven. Hence, there was absolutely no way he would idly sit by and watch the Sacred Palace lord over Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan released a deep breath as his expression turned a little grave. What a tremendous amount of pressure. However, he also understood that he could not rush his progress. He was already growing at a rapid pace, and it would only hurt his foundations if he were to single-mindedly pursue cultivation speed. That was a mistake he could not afford to make. The many factions in Cangxuan Heaven were well aware of the Sacred Palace¡¯s ambitions. Hence, it would not be easy for the Sacred Palace to gather all of the Saint Stamp fragments. ¡°Old dog Sheng Yuan, let¡¯s see who¡¯s faster¡­¡± A determined light blossomed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He soon closed his eyes and began to recover his depleted Spirit power. Half a day later, Zhou Yuan, fully recovered, opened his eyes and looked towards the magma lake below. It¡¯s time to master the Purgatory Great Flame Devil... Chapter 1041 Cultivating the Purgatory Great Flame Devil Zhou Yuan stood on the cliff, his face turning a little solemn as he felt the heat wash over him. The high temperature was already faintly tingling his skin, a small taste of how frighteningly hot it would be when he ventured deeper. Chi Jing had helped inscribe the runes to create this unique training environment for Zhou Yuan because the environment was necessary to cultivate the Purgatory Great Flame Devil art. Zhou Yuan patted the spatial bag at his waist. Light rapidly flashed around him as several cases appeared, each case as tall as a human. The cases opened, revealing their insides filled to the brim with scarlet-red crystals. Faint white smoke rose from the crystals as a terrifying heat rippled from them. These were fire smoke crystals, a material that would only form deep underground after being refined thousands of times. The crystals absorbed the fire Genesis Qi deep underground and gave off extreme heat. With a flick, Zhou Yuan sent all the fire smoke crystals pouring into the lava lake. Rumble! Giant waves rose from the lake as its scarlet-red hue deepened. The temperature began to rise at an alarming pace, and even the air started to distort a little. Zhou Yuan did not stop there. He took out several dozen different rare ingredients and also threw them into the lake. The environmental conditions to cultivate the Purgatory Great Flame Devil art was exceptionally demanding and required a mix of numerous precious resources. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had a very special position in the Tianyuan Region. Otherwise, a mere chief pavilion master would never be allowed to waste resources so freely. The preparations were complete two hours later. When one looked towards the lava lake again, one would see a lot of scarlet-red crystal dust sparkling within it. The terrifying temperature made the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitch a little. He had a feeling that some of the weaker initial Heavenly Sun experts would quickly turn to ash if they jumped into the lake. And he had to train in this very same lake... The Purgatory Great Flame Devil art was truly terrifying. Who knew how much suffering it would take to master it? Huu. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath as determination arose in his eyes. There was no such thing as an easily gained power in this world. Others only saw how he repeatedly created miracles, but how could they imagine the amount of effort behind each one? He took a step forward, and his body plummeted from the cliff. Splash! His figure fell straight into the lava lake. An intense burning pain erupted. Zhou Yuan felt as if he was being melted; however, the mangled flesh on his face made it impossible for anyone to tell what expression he was wearing. The Purgatory Great Flame Devil art was an extremely tyrannical skill. To learn it, one needed to have a body with good foundations. If one¡¯s body were too weak, it would be burnt to cinders even before cultivation could begin. Chi Jing had chosen this body refining little Saint Art for Zhou Yuan because he perfectly fulfilled this condition. Jade light began to blossom within his flesh to withstand the dreadful heat¡¯s invasion. Abundant life energy rapidly repaired his destroyed skin and flesh. It was the handiwork of the Tiayu Green Wood Mark. Zhou Yuan silently sat deep inside the lava lake as his body underwent a continuous cycle of destruction and regrowth. He had thankfully endured the first trial. Only when the body was able to survive in this harsh environment would he be able to begin training. Zhou Yuan clenched his hand, and a scarlet-red jade strip appeared in his palm. His Spirit quickly entered it. Boom! A loud boom rang out in his head. It seemed as if a volcano was erupting, causing endless lava to rain down from the sky. Amidst the falling lava, a giant scarlet-red devil towered over the land. Lava flowed down the devil¡¯s entire body, and it even spat molten rock from its mouth, turning the entire world into a sea of fire. Zhou Yuan focused and began to visualize the great flame devil. A small transformation began to occur in his body. Some of his flesh turned scarlet-red like magma as the blood in his body began to circulate with more force. An indescribable searing energy rose within his body. The energy was like the flames in a furnace, refining a piece of metal and purging it of its impurities. Zhou Yuan¡¯s flesh seemed to turn transparent little by little, such that even bone could be seen at several parts of his body. He was clearly under a tremendous amount of pain. However, Zhou Yuan stubbornly gritted his teeth and endured. He could feel new drops of golden blood being produced in his heart, a phenomenon that had not occurred for a very long time! The Purgatory Great Flame Devil was indeed a top-tier body-refining little Saint Art! It far surpassed the Mythic Saint Body in both power and profoundness. However, the process consumed Law Domain Source, and there was not much left in the scarlet jade strip. An ordinary practitioner would use it very sparingly each day. But this was no problem for Zhou Yuan because he had obtained a tremendous amount of Law Domain Source in the Law Domain statue from the nine regions tournament. With his supply of Law Domain Source, Zhou Yuan could indulge as he pleased. Hence, he could progress in his cultivation far faster than any ordinary person. This was one of the reasons why he was confident in reaching the elementary level after a month. With a thought, he began to consume the Law Domain Source in his Divine Dwelling. Zhou Yuan did not feel any pain at the loss of the precious energy. The Law Domain Source was not a power he could wield in his current state. Since it could be used for a Genesis technique that could strengthen him, there was no need to hide it away. When he grew strong enough in the future, there would naturally be a chance to obtain more Law Domain Source. He remained composed as he allowed the terrifying heat to wreak havoc in his body. It was as if a volcano was erupting within him. The underground world of magma was completely silent. Only the popping of magma bubbles could occasionally be heard. A month quietly passed. Chapter 1042 Huge Growth The root cause was naturally the twin tower battle with the Great Five Alliance. Although many did not understand the deeper implications behind this battle, they could feel that it would substantially impact the war between these two enormous entities. There was one issue that the Tianyuan Region kept arguing over: the preliminary participant list. Numerous Heavenly Sun experts signed a petition to change the participant list, but the higher-ups ultimately suppressed it. However, a forceful suppression only further incited them. For a time, it seemed impossible to put a rest to the dissenting voices. The internal conflict naturally drew the attention of the other factions in Hunyuan Heaven. All of them could not help but sigh at how far the Tianyuan Region had fallen from its former glory. Regardless of the details, the twin tower battle had undoubtedly become the focal point of the various Hunyuan Region factions over this period. Some of the sharper factions could faintly sense that it was no simple clash between the two sides. After all, there had originally been a large-scale war between the two parties. But in the blink of an eye, it had suddenly turned into a lukewarm tower battle? There was definitely more to this matter than the eye could see. They had a feeling that the tower battle would greatly change the situation in Hunyuan Heaven. Such a grand occasion naturally drew countless factions over. The various factions gathered around the tower battle sites, making it seem as if a storm was gathering on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s two borders. ... Tianyuan Utopia, a certain underground lava lake. Terrifying heat filled the underground cavern, constantly melting the surrounding rock walls. The lava lake had shockingly shrunk from its initial size, and only a small lava pool remained of the once giant lake. A figure was silently seated at the center of the pool, allowing the boiling-hot magma to flow over him. Faint ancient scarlet-red markings were on his body, seemingly stretching across his skin like red stripes. It was naturally Zhou Yuan. He had undergone a tremendous transformation. His body seemed to have grown several sizes larger, and his skin was scarlet red. It looked as if magma was flowing under his skin while an extremely domineering aura brewed within his flesh. Each quiver of his muscles rippled the surrounding space. Moreover, if one took a closer look, one would realize that Zhou Yuan was slowly absorbing the surrounding magma, draining it little by little. His body had nearly devoured the enormous lava lake! Gugu! A strange noise suddenly sounded in the silent underground, originating from Zhou Yuan¡¯s flesh. Instead, his mind was in an untouchable state of calmness. He could feel the dreadful power circulating in his body. Zhou Yuan opened his mouth and sucked. The remaining magma immediately whizzed into the air, turning into a river of red as he swallowed it into his body. Ssss! Thick white fog rose from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, the frightening heat distorting the air. His large body began to shrink bit by bit as the ancient scarlet-red markings slowly receded. In the end, he returned to his normal state. Zhou Yuan lowered his head and slowly clenched his fist. Rumble! Scarlet-red lava flowed out from his fist and covered his entire arm. Boom! Zhou Yuan threw a punch. The ground below his feet crumbled, cracks extending in every direction. The entire underground cavern shook violently as boulders began to tumble from the ceiling. The underground magma cavern had nearly been destroyed by a single punch. In addition, the terrifying and domineering magma had melted a giant pit in the ground. ¡°What tyrannical power¡­¡± Zhou Yuan grinned from ear to ear. The Purgatory Great Flame Devil¡¯s destructive power far surpassed the Mythic Saint Body. The force of magma was also surprisingly destructive. After nearly a month of training, Zhou Yuan had finally reached the elementary level of the Purgatory Great Flame Devil art! Such progress was exceedingly astonishing but also within expectation. Zhou Yuan had consumed a tremendous amount of Law Domain Source and had spent almost every waking moment of the past month cultivating the Great Flame Devil art. None of this art''s past practitioners could squander resources as extravagantly as him. Furthermore, Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent and the training environment created by Chi Jing were also indispensable. Boom! Zhou Yuan collected himself, then soared into the air. He instantly melted a hole in the rock wall as he charged out from the underground cavern with a few flickers and appeared in the sky. Phew. As he gazed upon the spacious land once more, Zhou Yuan felt very relaxed and carefree. He howled at the sky. His howl was akin to thunder as it rumbled across the land. Bzz! As his howl echoed, he suddenly heard the sound of rushing wind. A streak of light arrived, shooting straight towards Zhou Yuan. When Zhou Yuan saw this, even more happiness flooded his eyes. Due to the relationship between them, he could naturally sense the mottled black brush within the light... The Heavenly Yuan Brush! Furthermore, the Heavenly Yuan Brush gave him an extremely mystical feeling. It seemed as if it had undergone a complete metamorphosis. Bzzbzz! The Heavenly Yuan Brush gleefully danced around Zhou Yuan with astonishing liveliness. The surrounding Genesis Qi surged over and was absorbed into the brush. Zhou Yuan reached out, and the mottled black brush slowly landed in his hand under his gratified gaze. Both hands closed around the brush as the Genesis Qi in his body poured into it. Bzz! A condensed aura of Genesis Qi converged in the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s snow-white tip. A beam of Genesis Qi abruptly shot out, rippling the surrounding space as it turned a mountain in the distance to dust. The brush¡¯s Genesis Qi amplification ability had grown stronger. With a flick of his finger, the brush returned into his body. He could feel numerous new and amazing abilities from it. He lightly shut his eyes. Snow-white hairs extended from his body, forming a pair of white wings. Rumble! With a flap, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure vanished from the spot. His figure appeared ten thousand feet away. He clenched his hand, and a snow-white sword appeared within it. With a light swing of the sword, a slash of torrential sword light was sent flying forward. Zhou Yuan chuckled, an unconcealable look of satisfaction in his eyes. The Heavenly Yuan Brush was nothing like before. Its near-endless transformations would greatly boost his arsenal of attacks. With a wave of his sleeve, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared again, silently hovering in front of him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the ancient runes along its body, ultimately stopping on the seventh rune. The previously dim rune he had long yearned for now gave off a dazzling light... Seventh rune, Promotion. Chapter 1043 Qualification Wind Rain City. The city had derived its name from the nearby Wind Rain Lake. Though it was not well-known in the past, it had recently become the focus of countless Hunyuan Heaven factions due to the twin tower battle. The city¡¯s name was quite apt for the storm that was brewing over it. The Tianyuan Region had dispatched a massive military force to maintain order in Wind Rain City. The various outside factions were surprisingly obedient and did not cause many problems. In contrast, several disputes had broken out internally, making the Tianyuan Region look like a laughing stock to these outside factions. The reason for these disputes was undoubtedly Zhou Yuan¡¯s participation. The majority of the veteran Tianyuan Region Heavenly Sun experts felt much more experienced than a new generation Heavenly Sun practitioner like Zhou Yuan. As a result, they could not help but feel a sense of superiority over him. Although Zhou Yuan had achieved astonishing feats on the Chiyun Prefecture battlefield, many of the Heavenly Sun experts who had not participated in the fight were still skeptical of his abilities. It was a popular belief that Zhou Yuan had merely gotten lucky and had managed to borrow the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power. They insisted that Zhou Yuan¡¯s initial Heavenly Sun stage cultivation was not enough for him to take on such a heavy responsibility. At the end of the day, it was their ego that made them unable to acknowledge or accept that a new Heavenly Sun expert was able to surpass them and become a core pillar of the Heavenly Sun stage. The many squabbles that arose due to this were nothing but entertainment to the outside parties. ... Wind Rain City, a manor in the northern sector. A large hall stood amidst the manor, the boiling clamor within nearly popping off the roof. The place was overflowing with people. When one took a closer look, one would discover that the Genesis Qi spreading from every individual had reached the Heavenly Sun level. Everyone in the entire group was basically considered an elite in the Tianyuan Region. On a stage at the front of the hall were three Nascent Source experts. They were currently feeling somewhat helpless as they gazed at the angry crowd below. The matter this time had created big waves among the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage, and even the five grand elders did not wish to forcibly suppress the opposition in fear of creating more unrest among the people. Hence, this matter had been thrown to the three of them to deal with, but what could they do? Honestly speaking, they also felt that Zhou Yuan would not be a reliable fifth participant. However, they also understood that expressing their opinions would not change anything due to his special status. A middle-aged Heavenly Sun stage man stood up and said in a loud and clear voice, ¡°Elders, the Heavenly Sun Tower Battle will start in two days. After some discussion, we have decided to recommend senior brother Wang Ping and senior sister Lu Ping for the fifth participant slot. We want them to represent our Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage experts!¡± His words immediately drew numerous approving voices. The three Nascent Source experts looked over and found a man and a woman standing in front of the group. Both of them gave off extraordinary presences. From the Genesis Qi rippling off their bodies, they were clearly peak experts of the advanced Heavenly Sun stage. Among the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts, these two individuals were second only to Qin Lian and the other three participants. Their Genesis Qi foundations had reached the astonishing level of 1.3 billion! The fifth participant slot should have originally gone to either of them. However...this decision was made by the five grand elders. What use was there in recommending them to us? While the three Nascent Source experts were cursing inside, Qin Lian suddenly slammed her hand into the table. The noise echoed throughout the large hall, causing the place to fall silent as numerous people looked over with respectful gazes. Qin Lian was clearly very influential among the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage. The many Heavenly Sun practitioners had far more faith in her than the three Nascent Source elders. ¡°The five grand elders naturally have their reason for making such a decision. After causing such a ruckus for so long, isn¡¯t it time for you guys to stop?¡± Qin Lian¡¯s sharp gaze swept across the crowd. Anyone who met her gaze quickly looked away. The hall went a little silent. Laughter suddenly rang out. ¡°Hehe, I feel that we can¡¯t blame them for kicking up a fuss. After all, they¡¯re only concerned about our Tianyuan Region.¡± Qin Lian gazed over as she knit her brows together. The speaker was Bai Yu, who was second in influence only to her among the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage experts. Bai Yu displayed a faint smile as he continued, ¡°The Great Five Alliance¡¯s participant list is already out, and they¡¯re all our old acquaintances. Although the odds are slightly in our favor, it will still be best to cover all corners. Allowing Zhou Yuan to take one of the slots will only put the rest of us under more pressure. ¡°Moreover...Zhou Yuan is our esteemed little grand elder, and such life-or-death fights should be left to underlings like us. There¡¯s no need for him to compete with us for war credits.¡± His tone was ordinary, but his words¡¯ deeper meaning drew another wave of angry noises from the hall. The Great Five Alliance¡¯s participant list had already been publicized. From their respective line-ups, the Tianyuan Region side had the advantage. Was their little grand elder being so proactive because he was already privy to this information long ago and was planning to get some easy honor and achievements? At the sight of the rowdy hall, Qin Lian said icily, ¡°Everyone who was part of the Chiyun Prefecture battle has witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s capabilities. Although his cultivation is at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, he cannot be compared to any ordinary initial Heavenly Sun expert!¡± Several of the Heavenly Sun experts in the hall gave slight nods of acknowledgment. They had participated in that battle, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s feats had indeed been miraculous. Bai Yu nonchalantly said, ¡°Although I was not present at the Chiyun Prefecture battle, I¡¯ve heard that Zhou Yuan merely borrowed the Heavenly Fire Tree King¡¯s power. I do not deny that it was a heroic effort, but the problem is that he cannot rely on such methods in the Heavenly Sun Tower Battle. ¡°Qin Lian, do you dare to guarantee that he possesses sufficient strength to face the peak experts of the advanced Heavenly Sun stage in direct combat? If something unexpected happens and our Tianyuan Region ends up losing face, will you be able to bear the consequences?¡± His words were akin to exceptionally sharp daggers. Even Qin Lian was unable to respond for a time. She did not doubt that Zhou Yuan could put up a fight against intermediate Heavenly Sun experts, but if it were the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, she felt that he was still somewhat lacking. Qin Lian originally felt that they only needed to win three fights for the battle to end. In that scenario, Zhou Yuan would not need to come out. However, this was the most optimistic situation. No one knew whether the Great Five Alliance had any tricks up their sleeves... While Qin Lian was silent, Bian Buji, who had not talked since the beginning, slowly said, ¡°This matter is very important, and I do not wish for any burdens among the five participants. We¡¯re not playing around here but representing the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage!¡± With even the usually neutral Bian Buji displaying his stance, the Heavenly Sun experts in the hall breathed a sigh of relief. Qin Lian did not say anything else because she knew that she did not have enough reason to convince the two. The three Nascent Source experts felt their heads begin to ache again. Creak! The sound of a door opening was heard at this moment. Numerous people gazed over with frowns and found a slim figure standing at the entrance. When they saw who it was, their eyes immediately widened. Zhou Yuan! To think that he had appeared! The hall fell silent once more. No Heavenly Sun expert dared to criticize Zhou Yuan in his face because his status put them under a substantial amount of pressure. However, this did not stop them from staring at him with cold eyes, using their silence to signify their opposition. Zhou Yuan remained expressionless and composed under the many varying gazes as he walked to the center of the hall, stopping in front of Wang Ping and Lu Ping. He looked at the two individuals, and they fearlessly met his gaze. They were proud practitioners, after all. Zhou Yuan raised his gaze and indifferently said, ¡°Useless people always believe that others are as useless as themselves.¡± His words instantly drew anger from the numerous Heavenly Sun experts. Zhou Yuan dared to call them useless?! However, before any of them could speak, they saw dazzling Genesis Qi light spread from behind Zhou Yuan as a grand glass sun slowly appeared. However, the sun was somewhat unique¡ªfaint glowing patterns adorned its surface. The shocking thing, however, was the terrifying Genesis Qi pressure that began to fill the hall. The eyes of numerous Heavenly Sun experts widened little by little as disbelief flooded their eyes. They seemed to see countless stars twinkling in the glass sun. The number had reached¡­ 1.5 billion! Qin Lian¡¯s, Mu Youlan¡¯s, Bai Yu¡¯s and Bian Buji¡¯s hearts shook as inconceivable looks emerged in their eyes. Amidst the shock and silence, Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifferent voice rang out, ¡°Is this enough?¡± Chapter 1044 Convincing the Masses Shock colored everyone¡¯s eyes, including the three Nascent Source experts, Qin Lian, Bai Yu and the other two... A Genesis Qi foundation of 1.5 billion! Naturally, the raw number alone wouldn¡¯t make them lose their composure, but it became especially terrifying when the number was paired with Zhou Yuan, who had advanced to the Heavenly Sun stage only three to four months ago. One must know that even Mu Youlan, an advanced glass Heavenly Sun stage expert, only had a Genesis Qi foundation of 1.6 billion! It was this same 1.6 billion that qualified her for the Heavenly Sun List, making her one of the strongest among Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage experts! It had taken years of hard work for Mu Youlan to accumulate such foundations. Even so, Zhou Yuan was now fast approaching her level. How frightening and insane was this?! Even these individuals were utterly shocked, let alone the other Heavenly Sun expert present. Stupefied, they stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. At this moment, they felt as if they understood the saying ¡®all men were equal, but some were more equal than others¡¯. They were basically dirt compared to Zhou Yuan. Was this why he had gained the supreme sovereign¡¯s favor? Many of the jealous Heavenly Sun experts could not help but feel rather dispirited. The silence in the hall continued as a stifling atmosphere filled the place. The Genesis Qi pressure gradually dissipated along with the glass sun behind Zhou Yuan. ¡°Anyone who still has any complaints about my participation may voice them.¡± Complete silence. ¡°If there¡¯s none, go and do what you should be doing. I have no objections to any of you questioning my abilities, but those that can only talk are not welcomed in the Tianyuan Region.¡± The iciness in his voice made the hearts of several Heavenly Sun experts shiver. The crowd regained their calm as their jealousy and anger faded. Zhou Yuan¡¯s current status was very special, and even the numerous elders did not dare to show any rudeness towards him. Offending him would not be a wise decision. Hence, rustling echoed in the hall as the numerous prideful and headstrong Heavenly Sun experts lowered their heads and began to leave, their backs looking a little pitiful. ¡°What about the two of you?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted towards Wang Ping and Lu Ping. ¡°If you¡¯re still unconvinced, I will give you guys a fair chance to challenge me.¡± Wang Ping and Lu Ping smiled bitterly as they exchanged a look. Their arrogance had long been shocked away by Zhou Yuan¡¯s 1.5 billion Genesis Qi foundation. As such, they cupped their hands together and bowed before turning to leave. Zhou Yuan turned towards the still present Qin Lian, Bai Yu and the others. ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you guys.¡± Qin Lian and Mu Youlan quickly walked over, their gazes filled with bewilderment as they looked Zhou Yuan up and down. ¡°Your Genesis Qi?¡± They had discovered that his Genesis Qi had weakened. ¡°It¡¯s not from my own cultivation. I borrowed some external help and am unable to maintain the state for extended periods. However, it should be enough for the mystic creature battle.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. He did not hide anything. After all, it was very easy to find out. Qin Lian and Mu Youlan breathed a tiny sigh of relief, especially the latter. Her current foundation was only at the 1.6 billion mark after many years of hard training. If it were really so easy for Zhou Yuan to catch up, she would really begin to doubt her own talent. ¡°Hehe, looks like the supreme sovereign has left many good things for little grand elder Zhou Yuan. But will the Genesis Qi obtained by relying on external methods be dependable?¡± Laughter sounded from behind him. It was Bai Yu. Zhou Yuan glanced at him. Bai Yu seemed to be smiling, but there was some sarcasm in his voice. Zhou Yuan was no stranger to such treatment ever since his identity as the supreme sovereign¡¯s personal disciple was revealed. The negative feelings Bai Yu felt towards him were likely greater than the other Heavenly Sun experts. After all, Bai Yu was one of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s most outstanding Heavenly Sun experts. If someone were to gain the supreme sovereign¡¯s favor, he would be one of the most likely candidates. ¡°There¡¯s no need to explain to you whether or not it will be dependable. If you have any doubts, go find sect master Xuan Kun,¡± said Zhou Yuan in a friendly voice. The smile on Bai Yu¡¯s face turned rigid. How could he not feel the sharpness under Zhou Yuan¡¯s friendly demeanor? This made Bai Yu somewhat angry. If not for Zhou Yuan¡¯s status, what right would he have to say such things to him? Bai Yu indifferently said, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, little grand elder. I was merely thinking about our Tianyuan Region. The battle is a best of five. If an accident happens to you, the rest of us will be put under a lot of pressure.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°How I perform is my business. You only need to maintain your own condition.¡± In the face of Zhou Yuan¡¯s superior attitude, Bai Yu could not help but clench his fists tightly under his sleeves. He ultimately restrained himself and displayed a cold smile. ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait and see. I hope that the little grand elder will not bring shame to the supreme sovereign when the time comes.¡± As the final word rang out, he waved sleeves and left. Zhou Yuan then turned his gaze towards Bian Buji, but before Zhou Yuan could speak, Bian Buji slowly said, ¡°I don¡¯t care where your power comes from. I naturally have no complaints as long as you win and preserve the dignity of our Tianyuan Region. But if we end up losing because of you, I will send a formal complaint to the five grand elders regardless of your status.¡± He looked straight at Zhou Yuan without the slightest hint of avoidance, then also turned to leave. However, Zhou Yuan was not angered by his bluntness. Dealing with someone like this was far better than Bai Yu, who played all kinds of little tricks. Qin Lian said, ¡°Bian Buji always speaks his mind. You shouldn¡¯t find fault with him because of this.¡± ¡°Bai Yu, on the other hand, has definitely been pissed off, and he¡¯s not a forgiving person.¡± Mu Youlan chuckled. From the contact they had previously, she felt that Zhou Yuan was not someone who would purposely put on airs. It was likely that he had intentionally put up an act to piss off Bai Yu because he did not like him. Zhou Yuan nodded and asked, ¡°Is the Great Five Alliance¡¯s participant list for the Heavenly Sun Tower Battle already out?¡± Qin Lian nodded. ¡°It¡¯s out. Every participant is a core pillar among the Great Five Alliance¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage, and they are extremely powerful. None of them have a Genesis Qi foundation smaller than 1.5 billion stars. The Great Five Alliance has sent forth their best personnel this time.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly. The battles between the advanced Heavenly Sun stage was not going to be easy. Qin Lian said, ¡°We¡¯re putting you last in the mystical creature battle. This way, you won¡¯t need to fight if we manage to take three matches. I hope that you¡¯ll be able to accept this arrangement.¡± Although Zhou Yuan could temporarily boost his Genesis Qi to the 1.5 billion mark, Bai Yu was right¡ªit was not a reliable solution. Hence, it would be best if Qin Lian and the others could take three matches, allowing Zhou Yuan to sit this one back. After all, his status was too special, and there would be substantial repercussions if he lost. Under Qin Lian¡¯s nervous gaze, Zhou Yuan helplessly answered, ¡°I already told you that I¡¯m not participating for fame or glory. I¡¯ll happily accept any arrangement, even a victory without having to lift a finger.¡± He knew that Qin Lian was worried that he would be too prideful and refuse to be someone who did not contribute. But the truth was that he did not care. He was only participating because he did not wish to put his fate in someone else¡¯s hands. He would be more than happy to sit back and watch Qin Lian and the others obtain a smooth victory. Although he did not know whether he would be able to bring about a comeback if Qin Lian and the others lost, he would do his best if the time came. Qin Lian secretly breathed a sigh of relief as a smile appeared on her usually stern face. ¡°I hope that everything will go well,¡± she said as she extended her hand. Mu Youlan giggled and placed her hand on Qin Lian¡¯s. Zhou Yuan hesitated slightly before also reaching out. ¡°I wish you guys victory. Bring glory to our Tianyuan Region.¡± Chapter 1045 The Battle Begins Wind Rain Lake. The mountains in the lake¡¯s vicinity were filled with people. Countless Genesis Qi clouds hovered in the air, carrying innumerable figures. There were several powerful hidden presences even farther up in the sky. These were the Law Domain experts from the various factions. Furthermore, vast, immeasurable presences hovered in places even Law Domain experts could not sense. The Saint experts were also observing. After brewing for an entire month, the mystic creature battle had undoubtedly become the focal point of the innumerable Hunyuan Heaven factions. Everyone knew this was not merely a clash between the Tianyuan Region and the Great Five Alliance, but a battle of schemes and wits between two supreme sovereigns. After this battle, Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s landscape would definitely change. It would be a change that even the supreme sovereigns would not be able to ignore. ... On a certain hill near the Wind Rain Lake. This tightly guarded hill was the Tianyuan Region¡¯s base camp. Chi Jing, Xuan Kun, Mu Ni and the other two grand elders were currently standing at the hill with their hands behind their backs. Their eyes contained a piercing iciness as they stared at a certain spot far away. The mystic creature battle was split into two locations. Hence, only half of the crowd was at the Wind Rain Lake. The equally popular Golden Lightning Abyss was the venue of the Nascent Source battle. The five grand elders had each sent a cultivation double to oversee the Golden Lightning Abyss, allowing them to rapidly move between locations. Chi Jing turned to look behind her where the lead actors of today''s battle were gathered: Qin Lian, Bai Yu, Bian Buji, Mu Youlan and Zhou Yuan. ¡°The Great Five Alliance¡¯s participants have already been determined. The Crimson Cloud Sword Sect¡¯s Zhang Chenfeng, the Venomous Dragon Palace¡¯s Chen Le, the Thunder Mountain¡¯s Ke Wen, the Spirit Swallower Pavilion¡¯s Zhuang Ming and the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s Lu Qing. ¡°These are the core pillars among the Great Five Alliance¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage. All of them have glass Heavenly Suns, and they are famous individuals. Do not underestimate them,¡± Chi Jing warned them. Achieving the glass Heavenly Sun was extremely demanding on one¡¯s talent and luck, and even the Tianyuan Region did not have many practitioners of this caliber. Even so, the Great Five Alliance had still been able to gather a few. The five participants nodded. Zhou Yuan hesitated a little before saying, ¡°Although our five opponents are quite extraordinary, we still have a clear advantage. Someone like supreme sovereign Wan Zu will definitely know this. Could he have dispatched Heavenly Sun experts from the Wanzu Region as replacements?¡± As such, it might be dangerous if the Wanzu Region substituted the participants. Chi Jing nodded and said, ¡°We¡¯re also worried about this possibility. However, it is not so easy for the Wanzu Region to replace the participants. The metal tower was left behind by our master after all, and it will be able to make its own judgments. If the Wanzu Region tries to make a substitution, they might fail to even enter the tower.¡± Evidently, Cang Yuan had also made his own preparations. Zhou Yuan did not dwell on the topic. Since it was a clash between supreme sovereigns, even Chi Jing and the other Law Domain experts would not be able to interfere so easily, let alone a mere Heavenly Sun practitioner like himself. Bzz! Vast Genesis Qi suddenly surged in the distance. Space rippled as several figures walked out. An extremely astonishing pressure filled the area, drawing looks of reverence from the various experts present. The Law Domain experts from the Great Five Alliance had arrived. However, old demon Long Gu was not present. It appeared that he couldn¡¯t even show himself after being gravely injured by Chi Jing. The gazes of the Law Domain experts clashed, and the temperature seemed to plummet. Genesis Qi churned violently as if a volcano was about to erupt. The experts from the various factions were greatly alarmed. If the Law Domain experts fought, they would be akin to unlucky fish caught in the storm. Fortunately, both parties could restrain themselves, and the chilling eeriness in their eyes ultimately receded. Crash! Giant waves suddenly rose in the Wind Rain Lake. Countless onlookers watched as a black tower slowly rose from the lake. The black tower looked mottled as if it had weathered countless years. The two ancient words, Heavenly Sun, were carved onto the tower, and they gave off a mysterious power as if the words were some kind of rule. Anyone who violated their power would not be able to enter the tower. When the black metal tower rose from the lake, everyone felt the atmosphere suddenly grow tense and fill with hostility. Countless gazes converged on the two parties. Chi Jing looked towards Qin Lian without wasting any time and said, ¡°Qin Lian, take the first match.¡± Qin Lian was the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in the Tianyuan Region, and she was ranked sixth on the Heavenly Sun List. Her level far surpassed any Heavenly Sun expert from the Great Five Alliance, and the Tianyuan Region clearly planned on starting the match with a decisive victory. ¡°Understood!¡± Qin Lian acknowledged, her pretty face filled with ice. The long ponytail behind her hung down to her feet. Her figure moved, appearing above the black metal tower. ¡°Sending out Qin Lian for the first match...looks like the Tianyuan Region is determined to clinch the first victory!¡± ¡°Qin Lian is number six on the Heavenly Sun List. Although the list is not absolute, everyone acknowledges her strength. No one among the Great Five Alliance¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts is her match.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s not just Qin Lian. The participants from the Great Five Alliance don¡¯t match up to Bai Yu, Bian Buji and Mu Youlan either. I feel that the only match they¡¯ll be able to take is the one against the Tianyuan Region¡¯s little grand elder, Zhou Yuan¡­¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan is quite an interesting fellow. His cultivation is clearly at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, but he still insists on taking part.¡± ¡°It may be because of fame and accomplishment¡­¡± ¡°......¡± Qin Lian¡¯s appearance drew whispers from the numerous factions. Overall, it seemed that the majority favored the Tianyuan Region. It was, after all, one of the nine regions, and although it had grown weaker in recent years, its foundations were still much stronger than the Great Five Alliance¡¯s. Qin Lian cast her chilly gaze towards the Great Five Alliance as she shouted coldly, ¡°Who will fight?¡± As her voice faded, a figure emerged from the Great Five Alliance camp and quickly appeared outside the black tower. ¡°The Crimson Cloud Sword Sect¡¯s Zhang Chengfeng is here to seek pointers from you!¡± The speaker was a man in crimson robes. When he appeared, searing sword qi rippled outwards, vast and mighty like a crimson cloud. ¡°The Crimson Cloud Sword Sect¡¯s Zhang Chengfeng¡­¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes as he observed the crimson-robed man. He could feel a dangerous sensation from the man¡¯s body. He was clearly no ordinary individual. Mu Youlan elaborated from beside Zhou Yuan, ¡°Zhang Chengfeng is known as the Fire Swordsman within the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect. It''s rumored that the sect¡¯s Law Domain experts have high hopes and expectations for him. He has cultivated a glass Heavenly Sun, and his current Genesis Qi foundations have likely reached 1.9 billion.¡± ¡°1.9 billion.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. These advanced glass Heavenly Sun experts were not to be underestimated. Even after borrowing the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s power, he could barely touch the 1.5 billion mark. Of course, it was mainly because the brush¡¯s Promotion ability could not fully bring out his potential. Zhou Yuan had a feeling that 1.5 billion was not his limit at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. Zhang Chengfeng should be the most powerful among the five participants. It appeared that the other side was not using the strategy of matching their strongest against the Tianyuan Region¡¯s weakest. It was useless, anyway, since both sides could change their fighter at any time, rendering such tactics useless. Strongest against strongest, may the better practitioner win. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly as he continued to observe Zhang Chengfeng. 1.9 billion was indeed very strong. However, he knew that Qin Lian¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had reached 2.1 billion. A difference of 200 million was a huge advantage for Qin Lian. No matter how he looked at it, Zhang Chengfeng did not have any chance of victory. But he had still been sent out by the Great Five Alliance. Was this trying to smash an already broken vase? What exactly were they thinking? While various thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, Qin Lian and Zhang Chengfeng turned into streaks of light and dashed into the black metal tower amidst countless watching gazes. The mystic creature battle had officially begun. Chapter 1046 Unexpected Outcome She was evidently on one of the floors within the tower. Qin Lian¡¯s expression remained unchanged as fiercely stared at a certain spot in front of her. Space rippled faintly as a figure emerged. It was the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect¡¯s Zhang Chengfeng. Zhang Chengfeng stared back at Qin Lian as he smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve long heard of miss Qin Lian¡¯s overwhelming strength from junior brother Ji Hu. It seems that I¡¯m going to be the unlucky one who experiences it today.¡± However, Qin Lian had zero intention of answering him. With a grasp of her hand, a large scarlet blade appeared. The blade gleamed icily as the surrounding space rippled a little. Rumble! Astonishing Genesis Qi erupted from her body, and a Genesis Qi storm unfurled as a glass sun appeared behind her, accompanied by a terrifying pressure. ¡°A foundation of 2.1 billion¡­¡± Zhang Chengfeng¡¯s pupils shrank a little. His opponent¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was 200 million greater than his own. This was not a small gap, and it would put him under a tremendous amount of pressure. ¡°Crossing hands with the sixth-ranker on the Heavenly Sun List will at least fulfill a wish of mine!¡± However, Zhang Chengfeng was no ordinary individual. Although the situation was somber, he showed no fear. He placed his hands together before slowly pulling them apart. Scarlet-red Genesis Qi stretched from his palms and slowly took on the form of a burning three-foot-long sword. Numerous fiery runes decorated the blade. A searing heat spread, warping the surrounding space. Bzz! Scarlet-red Genesis Qi erupted as a glass Heavenly Sun also appeared behind him. However, there was clearly a difference between them even though they were both glass Heavenly Suns. At the very least, Qin Lian¡¯s Genesis Qi was clearly much stronger than Zhang Chengfeng¡¯s. Thump! Qin Lian tightly grasped the scarlet sparrow blade. A split second later, Genesis Qi rumbled as her figure turned into a bolt of scarlet lightning. Cheng Feng only saw a flash of scarlet before a scarlet-red blade ruthlessly slashed down at him with the cry of a sparrow. Blade light swept forth as space cracked and shattered. Zhang Chengfeng did not dare to delay a single moment, and he immediately brought up his burning sword light to meet the attack. Clang! Blade and sword light collided as torrential fire spurted outwards, burning the air. The clash had clearly displayed the gap made from a difference of 200 million stars. Swish! Qin Lian had no intention of relenting after the successful attack. She bent her long slender legs as flames exploded from her body, and her figure disappeared like a ghost. Bzz! Bzz! Bzz! Glowing scarlet-red blades seemed to fill the entire sky as they descended, cutting off any possible path of escape for Zhang Chengfeng. ¡°Little Saint Art, Crimson Cloud Sword Light!¡± Genesis Qi frantically erupted from Zhang Chengfeng¡¯s body as a wave of sword light swept outwards. The sword light gathered together like layers of churning crimson clouds that loomed towards Qin Lian. Crimson Cloud Sword Light was one of the signature Genesis techniques of the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect. When used, sword light would become akin to clouds, stacking layer upon layer. Anyone it caught would find themselves inside a devastating cage of heavenly fire that was near impossible to escape. Zhang Chengfeng clearly had no intention of warming up. He was going all-out. Qin Lian narrowed her eyes. The long ponytail behind her abruptly exploded, and her fine black hair turned scarlet red. Her long hair drifted around her, making her appear like a scarlet sparrow with outstretched wings. A low cry rang out from her mouth. ¡°Little Saint Art, Scarlet Sparrow Dance!¡± Lii! She gracefully walked through the air, and her slender body twirled. She ferociously slashed with the scarlet sparrow blade in her hand, and it gushed out scarlet-red Genesis Qi. A dancing scarlet sparrow seemed to emerge from the slash as it ruthlessly sliced into the crimson clouds with torrential momentum. Chla! The ripping of space rang out as the dazzling blade fell. The endless crimson clouds were violently sliced apart, long cracks even appearing on the azure jade floor below. However, the jade seemed to possess some kind of repairing power. The cracks soon disappeared, returning the ground to its previous appearance. Urgh! However, Zhang Chengfeng did not have the same power. After chopping through the crimson clouds, the surplus force struck his chest. Blood sprayed from his mouth as his body skidded across the ground, traveling nearly a thousand feet. It had been a brief exchange, but the winner was already clear. Meanwhile, outside the metal tower, a commotion swept over the countless onlookers. From what they had seen so far, the first match would undoubtedly end in Qin Lian¡¯s victory. The Tianyuan Region side also burst into cheers, the numerous Heavenly Sun experts looking proud. ¡°As expected of senior sister Qin Lian.¡± Mu Youlan breathed a sigh of relief. She was the weakest among the Tianyuan Region¡¯s four Heavenly Sun pillars, and honestly, she did not have much of a chance against Zhang Chengfeng. Hence, Qin Lian achieving a clean victory greatly boosted their morale. Zhou Yuan did not speak and instead glanced at the Great Five Alliance camp. They looked unruffled¡ªno signs of any panic. It was as if they had already predicted this outcome. He tightly furrowed his brows. What were they thinking? Could they have already accepted their fate? ... Long scarlet-red hair danced around Qin Lian as she slowly descended. She brandished the scarlet sparrow blade as her cold eyes locked onto Zhang Chengfeng¡¯s bloody figure. Nearly his entire chest had been chopped open. ¡°Cough, as expected of the sixth-ranker on the Heavenly Sun List. You¡¯re truly formidable.¡± Zhang Chengfeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and grinned. Qin Lian did not reply. She slowly walked forward as her blade dragged across the ground, leaving behind black scorch marks. Zhang Chengfeng continued, ¡°I know that none of the Great Five Alliance¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts are your match, including myself. Perhaps all of you believe that you will achieve a clean and easy victory...hehe¡­¡± The smile on his lips turned strange. An icy light abruptly blossomed in Qin Lian¡¯s eyes as she suddenly sped forward, turning into a blur of scarlet. She intended to slay Zhang Chengfeng and end the match. ¡°But Qin Lian, you can¡¯t beat me!¡± He smiled sinisterly. The flesh on his chest wiggled as something tunneled out from his body. It was a rune dyed in blood. When it emerged, it quickly twisted into itself, turning into a glowing ball. It pulsed with a heart-palpitating power. The rune-ball beat faintly like a heart, an exceptionally strange sight. Although Qin Lian clearly knew that the rune-ball was extremely dangerous, her face remained ice-cold as she ruthlessly swung the scarlet sparrow blade. The glass sun behind her shone dazzlingly, its torrential Genesis Qi rippling the surrounding space. Rumble! However, before the blade could fall, blood light squirmed across the rune-ball. A terrifying force spouted out, warping even space itself. Boom! Outside the metal tower, countless people watched in shock. The force was far too frightening, easily tearing apart even the barrier around the arena. Thump! Thump! Two figures shot out from the tower and crashed into the Wind Rain Lake¡¯s surface. The figures bounced across the water, leaving deep ripples in their wake. They travelled several thousand feet before coming to a miserable stop. Urgh! Qin Lian steadied her body as she vomited a mouthful of blood. Her eyes were practically spitting fire as she stared at a spot in the distance where Zhang Chengfeng¡¯s limp body floated in the water. His entire body had nearly been torn apart, his face so deathly pale that he looked mere moments from death. Despite his grave injuries, Zhang Chengfeng still managed to grin at Qin Lian. Qin Lian¡¯s face turned ugly with anger. She was not the only one. The faces of Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the others also darkened. Qin Lian and Zhang Chengfeng had been blown out of the tower. Although Zhang Chengfeng only had half a breath left in him, it did not make much of a difference to the outcome. In other words...what should originally have been a clean and easy victory had ultimately ended in a draw! Things had gone wrong in the end. Chapter 1047 Draw Qin Lian was the sixth-ranker on the Heavenly Sun List, and her Genesis Qi foundation far exceeded Zhang Chengfeng¡¯s. This match should have been hers! However, with both of them exiting the tower, it was clearly a draw! This situation was undoubtedly the most beneficial to the Great Five Alliance. After all, a sure defeat turning into a draw was greatly to their advantage. Uproar! Whispers erupted in the area as several gazes turned excited. They had originally believed the Tianyuan Region would achieve a smooth victory, but now, it seemed that things were turning out quite differently. No one faulted the Great Five Alliance for using such tactics because the metal tower was constructed by supreme sovereign Cang Yuan and had its own probing abilities. If the Great Five Alliance were able to successfully bring in that strange rune, it meant that they had tricked the senses of a supreme sovereign. Some of the smarter individuals knew that this was akin to a game of chess between the two supreme sovereigns. Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan wished to restrict the Great Five Alliance through the tower, but supreme sovereign Wan Zu was no pushover either. Although they had entered supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s arena, supreme sovereign Wan Zu clearly did not plan on following the rules set by Cang Yuan... Amidst the whispers, the Tianyuan Region camp was silent. The outcome was clearly very difficult for them to accept. ¡°How despicable!¡± Mu Youlan gnashed her teeth. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression had also darkened substantially, but he did not say anything because it was meaningless. Although Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the others surged with anger in their eyes, they did not speak either. They also understood that it was pointless. Qin Lian returned with a frosty face, a chilling aura spreading from her entire body. She was the most sullen one. Victory was clearly right before her eyes, but her opponent had ultimately forced her into a stalemate. It was nearly impossible to suppress such emotions. Mu Youlan hurriedly walked over and consoled her in a soft voice. Qin Lian didn¡¯t utter a single word, but her tightly clenched fists revealed her inner feelings. There was nothing good for Zhou Yuan to say at this juncture. He could only wait for her to calm her anger. Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the other three grand elders exchanged a look before looking towards Bai Yu. ¡°You will take the second match.¡± However... Zhou Yuan glanced at Chi Jing, seeing her grave expression. No one knew whether their opponents still had any more of that strange rune. It was something that even Law Domain experts could not create, and it was likely supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s handiwork. That old dog! Zhou Yuan could not help but curse inside. To think that an almighty supreme sovereign would be so unscrupulous. He clearly did not care about his status and was determined to force the Tianyuan Region into its grave. All of this was for the sake of forcing out master Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. From the information he currently had, the supreme sovereign had to have a deeper reason for forcing out master Cang Yuan...his target was likely Yaoyao. Who exactly is Yaoyao? Why did she elicit such elaborate schemes from Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s big bosses? Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was extremely stormy. No matter who Yaoyao was, there was absolutely no way he would let her land in supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s hands. Zhou Yuan could trust Cang Yuan, and Cang Yuan also treated Yaoyao as his kin. There was no need for Zhou Yuan to worry about Cang Yuan hurting her. But the same could not be said for supreme sovereign Wan Zu. Old dog, how dare you plot against Yaoyao. When I step into the Saint sage, I¡¯ll definitely chop off your head! Zhou Yuan made a small goal for himself. Before he could accomplish this goal, however, the Tianyuan Region had to first solve the problem in front of them. If the mystical creature fell into the hands of supreme sovereign Wan Zu, he might be able to force out master Cang Yuan by taking the Tianyuan Region hostage. While Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were flickering in thought, Bai Yu¡¯s figure shot forward under countless watching gazes. A figure also emerged from the Great Five Alliance side. It was the Venomous Dragon Palace¡¯s Chen Le. His Genesis Qi foundation was said to have reached the 1.8 billion level, and he was second only to Zhang Chengfeng in the Great Five Alliance. The two individuals did not waste any time, and they directly shot into the black metal tower. It was the same azure jade arena. However, the duelists were now Bai Yu and Chen Le. Bai Yu coldly stared at Chen Lu. Even if he was stronger than his opponent, Qin Lian¡¯s earlier example made him even more cautious than Chen Le. He was not the only one. The countless onlookers outside were all closely watching Chen le. They wanted to determine a certain matter... Chen Le smiled under everyone¡¯s gazes, chuckling as he looked at the cautious Bai Yu. ¡°Come on, Bai Yu. You¡¯re one of the famous rankers on the Heavenly Sun List. Is there a need for such prudence against a small fry like me?¡± His tone was filled with mockery. Bai Yu sneered. ¡°If we were to use our real abilities, wouldn¡¯t it be easy to deal with trash like you?¡± ¡°Come at me then.¡± Chen Le retained his smiling appearance. Bai Yu did not move but continued to scan Chen Le¡¯s body. Chen Le acted as if he was struck by a sudden flash of understanding. ¡°So you¡¯re afraid of that thing¡­¡± He shook his head and said, ¡°You don¡¯t know how much one has to suffer to conceal that toy within one¡¯s flesh. I previously watched Zhang Chengfeng howling in pain for three days and nights. I definitely do not want to experience such suffering.¡± Bai Yu relaxed inwardly when he heard this. But before a smile could form on Bai Yu¡¯s face, Chen Le sighed softly and said, ¡°But so what if I don¡¯t want to? We¡¯re only pieces on the chessboard, that¡¯s why¡­¡± The smile on Chen Le¡¯s face suddenly turned sinister and crazed. ¡°Hahaha, you¡¯re right, you fool. I also have the same toy in me! ¡°Not just me, all of us have it in our bodies!¡± He laughed maniacally as he suddenly sliced his finger across his chest. His flesh split open and squirmed as the same strange rune slowly climbed out like a worm. The bloody rune swiftly folded into itself, turning into another glowing rune-ball that pulsed with terrifying energy. Uproar! A torrential uproar erupted outside the tower. All five of the Great Five Alliance participants had the rune in their bodies. Wouldn''t this mean that they were already in an unbeatable position? On the Tianyuan Region side, everyone¡¯s faces turned ashen as a heavy atmosphere engulfed them. The five grand elders were no exception. Although they remained silent, anyone could feel the nearby space begin to ripple around them. However, even Law Domain experts like them could not interfere in this battle of schemes between supreme sovereigns. All they could do was helplessly watch by the sidelines. Boom! Another terrifying explosion of energy burst out from the black metal tower as two ragged figures were blasted out. Their mangled bodies spiraled through the sky, blood violently spurting from their mouths. It was Bai Yu and Chen Le. The second match had ended in a draw again! Chapter 1048 Bad News Countless onlookers stared at Bai Yu and Chen Le, who had been blasted out of the black metal tower. There was no commotion this time but a strange silence. It seemed that the Great Five Alliance had come prepared. With the strange rune, losing was no longer possible for the Great Five Alliance. As such, they only needed to steal a single victory somehow to win the overall battle. Innumerable gazes looked towards the Tianyuan Region camp, pausing on Bian Buji, Mu Youlan and Zhou Yuan. The gazes ultimately swept past Bian Buji and Mu Youlan, then gathered on Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. If one were to ask who of the five Tianyuan Region participants would most likely be defeated, it would naturally be the one with the weakest foundation, Zhou Yuan. After all, the others were all true advanced Heavenly Sun experts, whereas it had only been a few short months since Zhou Yuan stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage. The atmosphere on the Tianyuan Region side grew somewhat suffocating. Many gazed at Zhou Yuan as they sighed. Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others were currently gathered together. Their faces were filled with graveness, and their eyes with worry. Ye Bingling could not help but mutter in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan is so unlucky¡­¡± If nothing unexpected had happened, Qin Lian and Bai Yu would have been able to win their matches. With one more victory from Bai Buji, the Tianyuan Region would take three of the five matches, allowing Zhou Yuan to participate merely as a formality and watch without having to do anything. But who could have imagined that Qin Lian and Bai Yu would be forced into draws? As such, the upcoming fighters were now under even greater pressure. One could not help but say that Zhou Yuan¡¯s luck was really terrible. ¡°Bian Buji.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s voice was so cold that even the temperature began to fall. Bian Buji took a deep breath and cupped his fists together towards the five grand elders before flying forward. However, even he was not optimistic about the fight. The strange rune was impossible to guard against. Rumble! A figure zipped out from the Great Five Alliance side on a bolt of lightning. It was the Thunder Mountain¡¯s Ke Wen. The two individuals¡¯ gazes clashed as killing intent surged. Soon after, they dashed into the tower. However, it was only a few dozen breaths later when a terrifying wave of energy unfurled from the tower once more, nearly shattering the nearby space. Thud! Two bloody figures were sent flying from the tower. As expected, another draw. However, the other party had no intention of fighting and had directly summoned the glowing rune-ball to end the match. Countless onlookers cast their gazes towards the remaining participants, Mu Youlan, Zhou Yuan, Zhuang Ming and Lu Qing. Zhuang Ming¡¯s and Lu Qing¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations were at the 1.6 billion level. Although this was slightly weaker than Mu Youlan¡¯s, both of them far surpassed Zhou Yuan. Was this the Great Five Alliance¡¯s plan? Forcing draws until the final match and then winning against Zhou Yuan? Chi Jing slowly said, ¡°Mu Youlan!¡± Mu Youlan nodded. There was a tense look on her face as she rose into the air. The Spirit Swallowing Pavilion¡¯s Zhuang Ming also appeared outside the black metal tower from the Great Five Alliance side. The two figures soon drifted into the tower, then faced each other inside. Dazzling glass suns rose behind them. Mu Youlan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was undoubtedly a little stronger. She was at the 1.69 billion level, nearly touching the 1.7 billion mark. Zhuang Ming was only slightly weaker, at 1.63 billion. Such a gap was not difficult to overcome for the Heavenly Sun stage. Hence, Zhuang Ming did not immediately release the strange rune but instead chose to face Mu Youlan in combat first. Zhuang Ming clearly had some pride. If he defeated Mu Youlan and won a victory, it would establish a gargantuan advantage for the Great Five Alliance. However, he had somewhat underestimated the petite Mu Youlan¡¯s battle power. After going at it for several dozen rounds in the tower, Mu Youlan found her opportunity and sliced off one of Zhuang Ming¡¯s arms with her vine-like sword. The mistake made Zhuang Ming panic. He understood that Mu Youlan had planned to kill him with that move. Fortunately, he had narrowly avoided the fatal blow. After such an intense battle, Zhuang Ming did not dare to delay a second longer. Who knew how heavy a punishment awaited him if he lost and caused the plan to fail. Hence, he ripped open his flesh and activated the rune-ball without hesitation. Boom! When the glowing rune-ball exploded, no one was surprised to see the two figures blast out of the tower. The fourth match, draw! Numerous regretful sighs sounded from the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side. Mu Youlan had nearly dispatched her opponent and taken the first victory. Unfortunately, the other party had avoided the killing blow. With Mu Youlan¡¯s match over, countless gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan in pity. The Great Five Alliance would likely take the only victory through him and end the mystic creature battle. Qin Lian had already regained her composure by this time. She turned to Zhou Yuan with a grave expression and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, Lu Qing¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation should be at the 1.6 billion level, which is only a tenth of a billion more than you with your boost. Given your capabilities, you may be able to beat him. ¡°Moreover, given the current situation, you only need to drag the last match to a draw to make it an overall draw. Although it¡¯s bad for our reputation, at least they won¡¯t be able to take away the mystical creature! ¡°That¡¯s why you have to get a draw at all cost!¡± The others nodded in agreement. Although the Tianyuan Region had lost face, the Wanzu Region¡¯s plan would not succeed as long as they preserved the mystical creature. Bai Yu remarked in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m just afraid that even a draw will be too much for him.¡± Qin Lian shot a glance at Bai Yu and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan will have a 1.5 billion foundation after being boosted. If he can¡¯t do it, who else will be able to?¡± Bai Yu unhappily frowned but did not say anything in the end. He was currently full of anger with no outlet for release. Zhou Yuan looked at Chi Jing. Chi Jing nodded at him and said, ¡°As long as you manage a draw, it won¡¯t be¡ª¡± Her expression suddenly changed before she could finish. The other four grand elders¡¯ faces also turned extremely ugly. Rumble! The surrounding Genesis Qi rippled violently as the pressure of the Law Domain experts spread, making it hard to breathe for the numerous Nascent Source and Heavenly Sun experts nearby. Zhou Yuan hurriedly shouted, ¡°What is it, senior sister Chi Jing?!¡± Chi Jing and the others quickly realized their mistake and immediately withdrew their pressure. Their eyes were brimming with murder as they glared toward the Great Five Alliance. The Great Five Alliance¡¯s Law Domain experts looked back in mockery. Chi Jing closed her eyes and slowly opened them again after a brief moment. She gently massaged her temple as she said in a tired and powerless voice, ¡°The mystical creature battle at the Golden Lightning Abyss has already ended. As we expected, the result is five draws.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes twitched. Their opponents were indeed very well prepared. It was not only the Heavenly Sun side¡ªeven the Nascent Source side had not been spared. Zhou Yuan sighed and said, ¡°Although a draw is shameful, it¡¯s still an acceptable outcome.¡± ¡°What do you know!¡± Sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s voice was filled with rage. ¡°Although the ultimate outcome was five draws, when the final match was decided, supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s Law Decree broke into the supreme sovereign¡¯s tower and snatched away the mystical creature!¡± ¡°What?!¡± This time, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡°The Nascent Source Tower¡¯s mystical creature has been lost? How can this be? Wasn¡¯t it a draw?!¡± Chi Jing slowly said, ¡°Our master made the twin towers to force supreme sovereign Wan Zu to comply with his rules and avoid a large-scale war. However, all of us underestimated supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s capabilities. Although he was forced into this situation, he managed to change the rules set by our master. ¡°He likely changed it such that he would be allowed to take away the mystical creature if it ended in a draw. In other words, the only way we can safeguard the mystical creatures is to win the twin tower battles. A loss or a draw will result in our opponent¡¯s victory.¡± Everyone fell silent as an air of despair began to creep over them. If even a draw was considered the other side¡¯s win, they no longer had any hope left. The other party only needed to summon the rune-ball to easily obtain a draw. Someone snarled through gnashed teeth, ¡°This is way too despicable!¡± They had previously believed that they would only lose face if the final result was a draw. However, they now knew that it would not be as painless as losing some face. Qin Lian paled substantially, her eyes filled with indignance. But this was a chessboard set by the supreme sovereigns. How could people like them change anything? All they could do was struggle their hardest as pieces on the board. Zhou Yuan was also silent for a long time before he asked Chi Jing, ¡°How bad is losing one mystical creature?¡± Chi Jing answered, ¡°Although losing one will hurt, it has yet to reach supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s desired outcome, or they would not have bided their time after obtaining the Heavenly Fire Tree King. At least two mystical creatures are needed to destroy the Tianyuan Utopia.¡± Zhou Yuan faintly nodded. ¡°In other words, all is not yet lost.¡± Chi Jing chuckled bitterly. The current situation was not far from a complete defeat. Zhou Yuan did not say anything else. His figure moved and appeared outside the black metal tower under countless watching gazes. Since a draw was also a loss...he would have to pour all of his power into winning this match! Chapter 1049 Zhou Yuan Appears Zhou Yuan wasn''t considered a nobody in Hunyuan Heaven; he had risen to fame after his remarkable performance in the nine regions tournament, and his fame had further increased after he revealed his identity as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple. However, it didn''t matter how famous he was. Strength was the most important attribute in an occasion like this. A few months ago, Zhou Yuan was the king of the Divine Dwelling stage. But when the former king stepped into a new world, the so-called invincible halos he possessed completely disappeared. He was no longer the king, and he was instead at the bottom. It would take him some time to bloom to the same radiance he had before. Therefore, many people were puzzled to see Zhou Yuan appear in front of the tower to participate in the incomparably fierce mystical creature battle. Only advanced Heavenly Sun experts who had opened up a glass Heavenly Sun were qualified to appear in such an occasion. Even if Zhou Yuan had achieved this, he was still only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage! How huge was the gap between him and the other chosen experts? However, Zhou Yuan had a special status, so he didn''t draw many contemptuous gazes. Instead, many eyes were filled with doubt and curiosity. They wanted to see what the king of the Divine Dwelling stage could do in a battle of the Heavenly Sun level. Would he shock everyone again, or did he, the newcomer, enter the wrong place? Swoosh! As Zhou Yuan appeared outside the black iron tower, a stream of light also descended from the sky on the other side of the black tower. It was a man with narrow eyes. Sizing up Zhou Yuan, he lifted a corner of his lips and said mockingly, ¡°Are you really at the initial Heavenly Sun stage? Don¡¯t tell me you think nobody would do anything to you because you¡¯re supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple.¡± This person was Lu Qing from the Tri-Mountain Alliance and the Great Five Alliance¡¯s last person to appear. Zhou Yuan swept an indifferent glance over him and didn¡¯t respond. With a slight movement, he transformed into a stream of light and sped into the black iron tower. ¡°How arrogant.¡± Lu Qing curled a corner of his lips into a sneer. ¡°It was you who defeated Chen Xuandong and made my Tri-Mountain Alliance lose face. Today, I want to see how it feels to trample a supreme sovereign¡¯s disciple.¡± Under countless gazes, he immediately entered the iron tower. On the huge jade battle stage. Zhou Yuan stood opposite Lu Qing. "Zhou Yuan, bring out all your trump cards. Otherwise, you won''t have much chance in winning," Lu Qing said indifferently. Ordinary initial Heavenly Sun experts would be too terrified to move an inch under the pressure of his Genesis Qi. If Zhou Yuan didn''t have any trump cards, there was no point in proceeding with the battle. Lu Qing believed that shouldn''t be the case; otherwise, it meant Zhou Yuan had only come to embarrass himself. Feeling the oppressive Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly. The pressure brought about by 1.6 billion Genesis Qi stars was indeed terrifying. Without the Heavenly Yuan Brush, he couldn¡¯t possibly compete with an opponent of that level. Hu. Clenching his hand, Zhou Yuan exhaled a mouthful of white qi, and the mottled Heavenly Yuan Brush flashed out. He gently wiped its body and directly activated the seventh rune. ¡°Promotion.¡± The Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s seventh rune erupted in dazzling light, and even the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth seemed to have been stimulated. The Genesis Qi mightily raced towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush, and once the Heavenly Yuan Brush refined the qi, it rushed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body without reservation. Boom! The space around Zhou Yuan vibrated fiercely, and a glass Heavenly Sun appeared behind him. It was just that the power of the Genesis Qi erupting from the glass Heavenly Sun was soaring at an astonishing speed. In just a few breaths, the number of Genesis Qi stars reached the level of 1.5 billion. Hua! A torrential uproar broke out in the audience. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Sun was said to only be at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, so how could he have achieved a foundation of 1.5 billion Genesis Qi stars?! However, as everyone gradually calmed down, they came to understand that it was impossible for anyone to possess such a terrifying foundation at the initial Heavenly Sun stage. Zhou Yuan should have only achieved such a level due to some foreign means. As a result, many eyes gleamed with interest. It seemed Zhou Yuan had come prepared. But the atmosphere on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side was as tense as before. Even Chi Jing and the other grand elders wore expressionless faces and didn¡¯t show any joy. The 1.5 billion foundation had only pulled the gap between the two sides closer, and it would be insignificant if the opponent used any strange runes to further raise his foundation. ¡°So this is your trump card?¡± Lu Qing¡¯s face was filled with surprise as he looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°It is no wonder that you are supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple. Many people would be envious of your trump cards. But 1.5 billion isn¡¯t enough.¡± Staring at Lu Qing, Zhou Yuan tightened his hold on the Heavenly Yuan Brush and said indifferently, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the presence of those runes, it wouldn¡¯t require much effort to deal with trash like you.¡± Lu Qing¡¯s eyes flashed, and he smiled angrily. ¡°Is that right? Then I really need to test out your 1.5 billion foundation!¡± His voice faded, and he was about to charge out. However, the moment he lifted his foot and stepped forward, the fury on his face suddenly disappeared. He stared at Zhou Yuan contemptuously. ¡°Do you think you can anger me to do what you want? Zhou Yuan, you only wanted to anger me so that I wouldn¡¯t activate the rune. Then, you would have waited for the chance to strike.¡± Smiling, Lu Qing shook his head. ¡°What a good plan, but unfortunately for you, it''s useless.¡± He said with pity, "It seems you also know that everything you do is useless. Don''t worry, I won''t give you any chance. I will let you feel what despair is.¡± Zhou Yuan remained expressionless. Lu Qing was too cautious. Zhou Yuan did intend to anger him and kill him before he activated the rune-ball. Unfortunately¡­ Seeing that there wasn¡¯t the slightest ripple of expression on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, Lu Qing soon felt bored, and his eyes turned icy. He ran his fingers down his chest and tore his skin. Blood gushed out. Many sighs echoed around, and some people cast sympathetic gazes toward the Tianyuan Region. On the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side, everyone¡¯s eyes were filled with despair. Bizarre runes squirmed out of Lu Qing¡¯s flesh and quickly gathered to form a rune-ball. Lu Qing stretched out his fingers and flicked lightly. The runic light sphere immediately shot out. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I will make you know the feeling of despair. This time, the Tianyuan Region is bound to lose!¡± Chapter 1050 Swallow Under countless gazes, the rune-ball floated out. Even if it wasn¡¯t particularly fast, no one dared underestimate the terrifying power it contained. Many people on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side shook their heads and sighed. The opponent hadn¡¯t given them a chance at all. They previously thought that even if the match ended in a draw, the Tianyuan Region wouldn¡¯t suffer too great of a material loss. On the other hand, Chi Jing and the others, who knew the Tianyuan Region would lose the battle even if they tied in the end, clenched their hands and looked glum. Even Law Domain experts like them couldn¡¯t change anything in the end. Once Zhou Yuan was defeated, supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s decree, which was hanging in the air, would forcibly take away the mythical creature atop the tower. The Tianyuan Region would be utterly defeated. Qin Lian bit her lips with such force that she even broke the skin. As she watched on, unwillingness and bitterness filled her heart. They had lost too much in the battle. She wouldn¡¯t have the smallest complaint if they were defeated in a fair fight based on strength. They clearly had an absolute advantage in strength, yet the other party had forcibly suppressed them. However, Qin Lian also understood that it was naive to ask for fairness on this occasion, but she still couldn¡¯t quell her indignation. Mu Youlan understood how Qin Lian felt. She stretched out her cold little hand, took Qin Lian¡¯s and sighed. Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others at the back were ashen-faced and had closed their eyes, afraid to watch what would come next. Everyone from the other forces secretly sighed. It seemed that the game between the two supreme sovereigns would end soon and that supreme sovereign Wan Zu would become the final winner. Everyone fixed their eyes on the jade battle stage. Zhou Yuan was also staring intently at the rune-ball shooting out. The power contained within it made him feel an intense danger. His eyes flickered wildly. After several breaths, a fierce glint flashed across his eyes, and he ultimately sped towards the rune-ball. When Lu Qing saw him charging at him, his lips curved into a ruthless smile. ¡°You have a death wish!¡± The power contained in the sphere wasn¡¯t something that Heavenly Sun experts could bear. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that the power contained within it was mainly designed to destroy the iron tower barrier, they would have been wiped out long ago. If Zhou Yuan rushed forward, he would suffer the greatest impact and might even be killed outright. Zhou Yuan''s actions surprised everyone. No one thought he would dare to step forward to face the indestructible power. ¡°He really is crazy!¡± Everyone shook their heads secretly. ¡°What is he doing? Does he really want to die?¡± Xuan Kun couldn¡¯t help saying angrily. Zhou Yuan had a special status: he was supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple. If something happened to him, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s situation would likely worsen. The faces of the other three grand elders were also stiff and cold like water. To all other parties¡¯ astonishment, Zhou Yuan had already appeared next to the rune-ball. The sphere released a dazzling luster, its terrifying force on the verge of exploding. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath. Then, he did something that shocked everyone. He opened his mouth and inhaled sharply, swallowing the rune-ball. ¡°He¡¯s crazy! He¡¯s crazy!¡± Countless people felt their scalps go numb. They were well aware of the terrifying power contained in the sphere and that even Nascent Source experts couldn¡¯t bear that power. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t evade or block the sphere but swallowed it directly. Does he want to die that quickly? Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the horrified gasps. He hadn¡¯t swallowed the rune-ball but sent it into his Divine Dwellings. Inside his Divine Dwellings, the rune-ball descended from the sky, its terrifying power violently quaking them. Zhou Yuan appeared in his Divine Dwellings. As he gazed at the sphere on the brink of explosion, his heart pounded, and he shot a look at a ball of light close by. It was the Saint Rune light sphere! ¡°Big brother, do me a favor!¡± he cried for help. The Saint Rune light sphere, transformed from the four Saint Runes, possessed a strong spiritual intellect. More importantly, what existed inside the sphere was a fragment of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, which possessed an even stronger and astonishing spiritual intellect. This was what Zhou Yuan bet on! Although he lacked the strength to withstand the rune-ball, the Saint Rune light sphere in his Divine Dwellings might have the ability to do so. The four Saint runes plus a fragment from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp were extraordinary existences! They existed within Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwellings, which provided them shelter. Otherwise, if they were exposed, all four Saint Runes and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would undoubtedly attract covetous gazes. Zhou Yuan believed that they would come to his rescue if any fatal danger appeared. Therefore, when the rune-ball shot out, Zhou Yuan stared at the Saint Rune light sphere hanging within his Divine Dwellings. Only a few seconds had passed, but those seconds felt like torment to Zhou Yuan. But just as his heart pounded frantically, the Saint Rune light sphere within his Divine Dwellings finally moved. The four Saint Runes rotated rapidly, and the next instant, the Saint Rune light sphere appeared before the runic sphere as though it had teleported. A crack spread across the Saint Rune light sphere¡¯s surface and swallowed the rune-ball in one mouthful. The crack quickly repaired itself, sealing the rune-ball inside. It was also at this moment when the rune-ball exploded and erupted with blinding rays of light like a small sun. The entire Divine Dwelling shook frantically. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were blinded, and his ears were ringing, but his heart was beating like a drum. He knew that he had to take a huge risk this time. If the Saint Rune light sphere failed to suppress the rune-ball, his situation would look very bleak and he would likely be defeated in the battle. But he wasn¡¯t afraid. He knew that not everything in the world was certain. To become the ultimate winner, courage was essential. The four Saint Runes rotated incessantly at the center of the burst of light and attempted to dissolve its terrifying power. However, the four runes were somewhat slow. The fragment inside the Saint Rune light sphere quivered and erupted with an endless suction force, frantically swallowing the rune-ball¡¯s explosive power. Zhou Yuan watched the blinding light rays be suppressed under the cooperation of the Saint Runes and the fragment. The light even began to fade. Ten breaths later, it vanished. Zhou Yuan stared blankly into the distance. The Saint Rune light sphere continued to spin steadily, and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s fragment glowed with a mysterious luster. The rune-ball had completely vanished. Although the Saint Rune light sphere had dulled a lot, it had successfully withstood the explosion. Suc...success? Even Zhou Yuan''s emotions surged violently like a tide. Joy and excitement filled his heart, causing his entire body to tremble. He had won! The Saint Rune light sphere had lived up to his expectations and had dissolved the rune-ball¡¯s power! He had destroyed his opponent¡¯s greatest trump card! Chapter 1051 Shock Even if he wants to die, he doesn¡¯t need to do it this way! On the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side, Qin Lian was even more ashen. Trembling all over, she murmured, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you lunatic!¡± From her perspective, Zhou Yuan¡¯s action of swallowing the rune-ball in one gulp was too extreme and seemed to be a desperate final counterattack. Is there a need for you to do that?! With your talent, you will still have a chance to turn things around even if the Tianyuan Region is destroyed. There is no need to sacrifice your life! She stared dumbly at the black iron tower, her mind blank. Yi Qiushui clapped her hand over her mouth, and her legs felt like jelly. If Ye Bingling hadn¡¯t tightly held onto her, she would have likely collapsed on the ground. Even so, her eyes were red, and she let out muffled sobs. She had previously witnessed the rune-ball¡¯s tremendous power, which even the iron tower that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan created failed to withstand. What could Zhou Yuan, an initial Heavenly Sun expert, do under that terrifying power? Although Zhou Yuan had created miracles time and time again, they were all at a level similar to him, but the rune-ball clearly contained power that far exceeded the level that a Heavenly Sun expert could achieve. Therefore, the situation didn¡¯t look too good for Zhou Yuan. Chi Jing stared expressionless at the scene, her short burgundy hair fluttering in the wind, a monstrous killing intent surging in her bright eyes. "Little junior brother, if you fall here, I will make sure one of the enemy¡¯s Law Domain experts is buried with you,¡± she whispered. Sect master Xuan Kun and the others wore expressions as cold as water. They knew that Chi Jing appeared calm but was probably on the verge of erupting. "Hey, why didn''t it explode?" Suddenly, sect master Xuan Kun felt something was wrong. Even Chi Jing was stunned for a moment when she heard him, and a trace of puzzlement flashed past her eyes. Yes, why didn¡¯t the rune-ball explode? After a few breaths, the other parties also noticed the bizarre situation. Looks of astonishment crossed their originally shocked faces as they whispered to one another. "What''s the matter? Why didn''t the rune-ball explode?" ¡°Could there be a problem?" ¡°Could Zhou Yuan have dissolved the sphere¡¯s power?" "How is that possible!? Even Nascent Source experts couldn¡¯t block the rune-ball¡¯s power, so how could he, an initial Heavenly Sun expert, dissolve its power?!¡± ¡°Then, why didn¡¯t it explode?¡± ¡°That¡ª¡± Bewilderment came to everyone¡¯s face. They couldn¡¯t understand why the rune-ball suddenly failed. On the jade battle arena. Lu Qing¡¯s roaring laughter stopped, and he looked at Zhou Yuan with a surprised expression. At this moment, Zhou Yuan closed his eyes tight and stood quietly. However, the rune-ball that Zhou Yuan swallowed was like a misfired cannonball. "What''s the matter?" Lu Qing said puzzledly, but he didn''t dare approach Zhou Yuan. If the rune-ball¡¯s explosion was only delayed, he would be impacted if he got too close to Zhou Yuan. Even at this time, he still didn¡¯t think Zhou Yuan would be able to withstand the rune-ball¡¯s explosion, and he believed the explosion¡¯s delay was due to other reasons. "Zhou Yuan, no matter how you struggle, you can''t change the ending!" Lu Qing''s eyes were sinister. Unexpectedly, Zhou Yuan slowly opened his closed eyes. His gaze met Lu Qing¡¯s, and the two were deadlocked for a moment. No matter whether it was inside or outside the tower, the air seemed to have frozen. All eyes were staring blankly at Zhou Yuan Even the Law Domain experts couldn¡¯t maintain their calm, and their eyes were wide with disbelief. They had finally confirmed that Zhou Yuan had dissolved the power of the rune-ball that supreme sovereign Wan Zu had created. This fact had an indescribable impact on them. After all, the rune-ball was a supreme sovereign¡¯s creation! They really couldn¡¯t understand how Zhou Yuan had achieved this. ¡°This¡ª¡± Sect master Xuan Kun, clan leader Mu Ni and the others all stared wide-eyed and speechless in amazement. The sudden reversal made the Law Domain experts¡¯ hearts palpitate. Chi Jing was also dumbstruck for a good while. Then, she noticed sect master Xuan Kun¡¯s and the others¡¯ investigative gazes and said after a little hesitation, ¡°My master might have left Zhou Yuan with some protective means that could dissolve the rune-ball.¡± This reason was plausible. Everyone could tell that the ability to dissolve the rune-ball¡¯s power didn¡¯t come from Zhou Yuan. Any means that could counter a supreme sovereign must come from a supreme sovereign of the same level. Therefore, sect master Xuan Kun and the others nodded suddenly as though a weight lifted off their minds. Earth-shaking cheers erupted on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side. The transition from despair to hope was full of ups and downs. Qin Lian, Mu Youlan and the others stared speechless at one another. If the change hadn''t happened in front of them, they would have found it difficult to believe. "Sister Qin Lian, luckily you strongly supported Zhou Yuan to participate in the war," Mu Youlan said joyfully as she patted her chest. Bai Yu''s expression twisted unnaturally as he said, "It''s only because our supreme sovereign left him a means of protection.¡± Bian Buji shook his head, saying, "No matter what means he has kept hidden, it''s already impressive that he has the courage to swallow the rune-ball into his body.¡± He shot a glance at Bai Yu and said, ¡°If it were you, would you dare to swallow it?¡± Bai Yu¡¯s countenance changed drastically, but he couldn''t answer. They had all witnessed the rune-ball¡¯s power. No matter what means they each had, the rune-ball was a massive bomb that they had to swallow within their bodies. The slightest carelessness could turn them to ashes. Given Bai Yu¡¯s cautious character, even if he had the means, he wouldn¡¯t dare do so. He was silent for a moment before he answered, "But even if Zhou Yuan has dissolved the rune-ball¡¯s power, he might not be able to deal with Lu Qing''s foundation of 1.6 billion Genesis Qi stars. Zhou Yuan only possessed a foundation of 1.5 billion after borrowing power from foreign objects. There¡¯s no guarantee that he will win.¡± Qin Lian, Mu Youlan and Bian Buji frowned slightly. Although Bai Yu''s words were unpleasant to the ear, they were indeed true. Even if Zhou Yuan had countered the rune-ball, Lu Qing was still a dangerous enemy. An earth-shaking clamor burst from the outside world as the atmosphere on the jade battle arena froze. The corners of Lu Qing''s mouth constantly twitched. The sight of the rune-ball¡¯s failure had evidently impacted him greatly. He couldn''t imagine how Zhou Yuan had withstood his attack. "It seems that what your supreme sovereign prepared for you doesn¡¯t have a 100% chance of succeeding.¡± Zhou Yuan twisted his neck lightly, grinning at Lu Qing. Lu Qing''s face turned livid, but in the end, he drew a deep breath to calm his shocked emotions. ¡°No wonder you are a supreme sovereign¡¯s disciple. You indeed have a lot of means on you. But it doesn''t matter¡ªthe result will still be the same.¡± Monstrous Genesis Qi surged behind him, and three Heavenly Suns vaguely emerged, filling the sky with mighty pressure. Although the situation had spiraled a bit out of control, Lu Qing didn¡¯t panic because he was a true advanced Heavenly Sun expert with a foundation of 1.6 billion stars. In contrast, Zhou Yuan had just barely reached 1.5 billion with the help of foreign objects. If they were to only fight with their own ability, Lu Qing believed he had an absolute certainty of winning! Chapter 1052 Fighting Lu Qing On the Great Five Alliance¡¯s side, the Crimson Cloud Sword Sect¡¯s sect master Hong Jiuyuan knitted his brows in a frown. The sudden change was evidently unexpected to everyone. They had never thought that the runic sphere that supreme sovereign Wan Zu had carefully refined would fail! Seeing the situation on the jade battle stage, mountain lord Gui Yuan from the Tri-Mountain Alliance said indifferently, ¡°Although the situation has changed, don¡¯t panic. Luckily, the means is in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands and not Qin Lian¡¯s.¡± The other Law Domain experts nodded. They understood what mountain lord Gui Yuan meant. If it were Qin Lian instead of Zhou Yuan, no Heavenly Sun experts on their side would be able to survive. But with Zhou Yuan, the result was not guaranteed. After all, Zhou Yuan was only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, and his foundation of 1.5 billion Genesis Qi stars was only achieved after using foreign means, which meant it might not be stable. Lu Qing possessed a foundation of 1.6 billion stars. Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t have much of an advantage against him. The gap of 100 million wasn¡¯t considered small even in the Heavenly Sun stage. Moreover, even if Zhou Yuan possessed unexpected combat strength, as long as Lu Qing obtained a tie and didn¡¯t lose, they could still follow their original plan. ... ¡°Boom!¡± Powerful Genesis Qi raged out from Lu Qing''s body like a storm, bringing an oppressive pressure to the world. Lu Qing''s Genesis Qi appeared golden and exuded an eerie and sharp aura. It was a grade-7 Genesis Qi called Mystic Aged Gold Qi, and it had domineering offensive and destructive power. "I really want to know what''s so great about a supreme sovereign¡¯s disciple!" Lu Qing sneered and immediately launched an attack. Swoosh! Mighty golden Genesis Qi rushed out, then transformed into billions of golden spears hurling down like a rainstorm. They blocked all of Zhou Yuan''s escape routes. A sharp light flowed around the golden spears, and it tore tiny streaks in space where it passed. Standing on the battle platform, Zhou Yuan peered up at the golden spears pelting down from the sky, his expression unwavering. Dong! He stamped his foot. Roar! A torrent of platinum Genesis Qi suddenly rose from Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, and as a dragon roar resounded throughout the sky, a huge platinum dragon claw extended out from the platinum torrent and met the golden spears head-on. The white-gold dragon scales on the dragon¡¯s claws shimmered like diamonds. Dong! ¡°Such strong Genesis Qi!¡± Lu Qing''s expression changed ever so slightly. Their first clash was a competition of Genesis Qi. Lu Qing knew clearly that his Genesis Qi foundation was superior, yet he didn¡¯t have an advantage against Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that Zhou Yuan¡¯s platinum Genesis Qi was a higher grade than his Mystic Aged Gold Qi! He estimated it to be at least grade 8! ¡°He¡¯s so lucky!¡± Lu Qing said through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with jealousy. He was already a talent among the Heavenly Sun experts from the Tri-Mountain Alliance, but even so, the Genesis Qi he cultivated was still only grade 7. ¡°So what if his Genesis Qi is grade 8? The gap of 100 million stars can¡¯t be compensated for so easily!¡± Lu Qing folded his hands in a lightning bolt seal and rubbed it suddenly! ¡°Little Saint Art, Golden Wind Bone-Corroding Art!¡± Gusts of golden wind whizzed forth from Lu Qing''s palm, tearing space with its terrifyingly fierce and sharp power. That level of destructive power was astonishing. Chi! The golden wind lashed the platinum dragon claws and corroded the platinum dragon scales. Seeing this, Zhou Yuan flicked his fingers, and the dragon claw transformed into platinum Genesis Qi and retracted. ¡°Heavenly Dragon Qi, Heavenly Dragon Roar!¡± Mighty platinum Genesis Qi gathered above Zhou Yuan, and a fierce and imposing dragon head vaguely took shape. The dragon opened its mouth wide and released an earth-shattering roar. Its near-solid sound wave clashed with the golden wind, constantly shredding space. However, the raging golden wind was blocked. Zhou Yuan looked quite satisfied with this result. His grade-8 Heavenly Dragon Qi was indeed powerful and remarkable; it successfully blocked the opponent¡¯s little Saint Art by relying on the power of pure Genesis Qi. Om! But Zhou Yuan''s eyes suddenly turned chilly. Space collapsed, and a stream of golden light, aiming for Zhou Yuan, shot out at an unbelievable speed. Zhou Yuan intently focused his eyes and saw a golden wheel inside the beam of golden light. It was covered with scales and was exuding a fierce aura. It was a peak Heaven Genesis Weapon! As Zhou Yuan clenched his hand, countless snow-white hairs broke his skin and quickly transformed into a giant snow-white shield in his hand. Clang! The golden wheel fiercely slashed into the huge shield and immediately sliced numerous snow-white hairs. But just when the wheel was about to pierce the shield, the shield faded into countless white chains and tightly coiled around the golden wheel, rapidly slowing down the wheel. Eventually, the wheel halted only a few inches from Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. In the distance, a look of disappointment flashed across Lu Qing¡¯s eyes when he saw that the golden wheel had failed to kill Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. He shook his shoulders, and a pair of wings stretched out from his back. Chi! Beating his wings, Zhou Yuan mysteriously vanished like a ghost, while Lu Qing¡¯s expression changed drastically. Lu Qing rapidly drew back, leaving behind afterimages. Bang! Where he was standing a split second ago, a snow-white spear wrapped in mighty Genesis Qi was thrust out and split the jade floor. Clasping a long spear shrouded in white hair, Zhou Yuan sped toward him. He pointed the spear and sent out thousands of rays of light. They quickly shattered space and enveloped Lu Qing. Lu Qing clenched his hand, and the golden wheel appeared in his grip. It flickered constantly, similarly containing monstrous Genesis Qi. Clang! The spear shadow and the wheel shadow repeatedly collided like lightning bolts. In just a few dozen breaths, they collided hundreds of rounds, and their Genesis Qi shock waves exploded and quaked space. Zhou Yuan and Lu Qing were evenly matched. However, Lu Qing¡¯s face darkened. His Genesis Qi was clearly stronger than Zhou Yuan¡¯s by 100 million, yet he didn¡¯t have the advantage. Moreover, the more he fought, the more he shuddered with fear because he found that Zhou Yuan¡¯s platinum Genesis Qi was particularly mysterious and domineering. During every collision, a faint dragon roar drilled into his body and echoed in his Divine Dwellings, causing his Divine Dwellings to vibrate and lose control of their Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan really is difficult to deal with. But¡­ Lu Qing¡¯s eyes glinted ominously. ¡°You think I, Lu Qing, can be pushed around easily?!¡± Lu Qing erupted in dazzling golden light. As the light flowed around him, his body strangely expanded. In just a few breaths, he had transformed into a golden giant, and an extremely fierce aura had pervaded the air. ¡°I¡¯ll let you try my Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s powerful bodily strength! ¡°Mountainous Golden Transformation!¡± Chapter 1053 Power of the Flame Devil As the giant golden palm crushed down like a mountain, the long spear formed from snow-white hair in Zhou Yuan''s hand shattered instantly, and the white hairs scattered and drifted in the air like snow. A terrifying force blasted Zhou Yuan backward with a sharp sonic boom, and his feet left long trails across the jade floor. ¡°Corrosion!¡± Zhou Yuan roared in his heart. Countless hairs invisible to the naked eye entered Lu Qing¡¯s body when Lu Qing breathed in. ¡°It¡¯s useless!¡± When Lu Qing''s voice rang out, the golden light in his body suddenly gushed forth and turned all the hair invading his body to powder. Then, he vomited them out. After activating the so-called Mountainous Golden Transformation Art, Lu Qing''s combat strength had evidently soared dramatically. Rumble! Even if Lu Qing was already dominating the battle, he didn¡¯t hold back his attacks. Waving the golden wheel in his hand, he stomped and charged forward with his golden body, causing space to collapse. He then launched another fierce, storm-like onslaught on Zhou Yuan. The white hair in Zhou Yuan''s hand frantically rushed out to take the form of a huge shield, and Genesis Qi rapidly flowed around the shield to counter Lu Qing¡¯s attack. One person was frantically attacking and one person was defending, but Lu Qing''s momentum seemed to be growing stronger. Sighs of disappointment spread through the crowd as they watched on. Zhou Yuan had already solved the biggest problem, but in the end, he still fell into a disadvantageous situation in a frontal battle against Lu Qing. However, this was normal. After all, Lu Qing was a true advanced Heavenly Sun expert. On the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side, everyone looked tense and held their breath anxiously. They all understood that the outcome of the war depended on Zhou Yuan. "It''s so troublesome for Zhou Yuan to deal with Lu Qing¡­. If we had the means he has, would we need to go through so much trouble!?¡± Bai Yu couldn''t help grumbling. But no one paid any attention to him. All eyes were fixed on the black iron tower. After a while, Qin Lian''s eyes flickered. ¡°The Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan seems somewhat stirred¡­" The others focused their gaze and, indeed, felt the battle between the two had intensified. The Genesis Qi in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was beginning to show signs of restlessness. The temperature around steadily increased and even distorted space. Clang! The golden wheel fiercely slashed the white shield, splitting it in half. ¡°Go die!¡± The killing intent in Lu Qing¡¯s eyes surged when Zhou Yuan revealed a flaw. The golden wheel broke free of his hand, erupted with blinding golden light and roared towards Zhou Yuan like a giant golden-scaled beast. His eyes had unknowingly turned crimson-red, and red patterns had emerged beneath his skin. Even the Genesis Qi within his body had turned berserk. Roar! A low and violent roar came from his throat, and the crimson luster suddenly expanded, enveloping his body like a blazing red sun. Clang! The golden wheel turned into a streak of golden light and slashed the crimson light with a loud metallic clang. The next second, the golden wheel was sent flying, covered in red-hot lava. Lu Qing narrowed his eyes, staring cautiously at the crimson light. Boom! The sound of footsteps ahead of him drew Lu Qing¡¯s attention, and his expression changed drastically. A ten-foot-tall figure strode out slowly covered in molten lava and emitted an intense heat. His appearance made even the void show signs of distortion. Suddenly, a ruthless and oppressive force gushed out, like a flame devil coming out of purgatory. Zhou Yuan stared at Lu Qing¡¯s golden figure. His eyes made him appear violent and manic, but the depths of his body were exuding an absolute calmness. He had finally performed the Purgatory Great Flame Devil technique. But because he had only just started practicing the technique, he needed some time to activate it, and he also needed to be filled with fury. Only with the combination of anger and powerful Genesis Qi could he possess the ruthless and oppressive power of the Flame Devil. Previously, he had allowed Lu Qing to repeatedly attack just to accumulate anger. And now, the wheel of fortune had reversed. Crimson light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes as he stamped his feet. Molten lava spewed out from beneath his feet like a torrent and instantly surged towards Lu Qing. As molten lava gushed forth, Zhou Yuan vanished into thin air, and then, fists clenched, he drilled out the molten lava and flung out a punch towards Lu Qing in the most simple and most brutal way. Space directly crumbled, and even the air seemed to burn. Terrifying power roared towards Lu Qing like a hurricane, and he didn¡¯t dare to be careless. Golden light rapidly flowed around his giant golden fist, and he threw out his own punch, meeting Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch head-on with full strength. Boom! The moment the crimson and golden lights wildly collided, the jade slabs beneath Zhou Yuan and Lu Qing split and shattered. The collision tore numerous cracks in space. However, the stalemate only lasted for a few breaths before the crimson light drowned out the golden light. The lava fist slammed into Lu Qing''s crossed arms. Rumble! Lu Qing widened his eyes in astonishment. Zhou Yuan''s fist was like a silent volcanic eruption, trying to incinerate everything. Even the Mountainous Golden Transformation couldn¡¯t withstand the fist¡¯s powerful and berserk force! Lu Qing''s tremendous golden body reeled back, his feet digging into the ground. ¡°Flame Devil Meteor!¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head and roared skywards like a flame devil, and then suddenly, he slashed the air with both hands. Molten boulders smashed through space, striking multiple holes into Lu Qing¡¯s indestructible golden body. The battle situation had been reversed. Outside, countless eyes widened in shock. Evidently, many didn¡¯t expect the situation to be reversed so quickly. Meanwhile, there was a low commotion within the Great Five Alliance, and even the Law Domain experts¡¯ expressions had changed. Mountain lord Gui Yuan said indifferently, "Don''t worry. Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi was achieved after relying on foreign means, and it won¡¯t last forever. Lu Qing has yet to use Mt. Guiyuan''s strongest defensive technique. Once he does so, the battle will end in a tie.¡± The other Law Domain experts¡¯ expressions finally eased when they heard his words. Boom! At the same time, on the battlefield, Lu Qing, who was repeatedly suppressed, couldn¡¯t hold on any longer. Zhou Yuan''s attacks were too fierce, and if they continued, even his golden body could be forcibly exploded. Therefore, Lu Qing didn¡¯t dare to hesitate anymore. He suddenly folded his hands together and roared, "Guiyuan Qi-Fusion Barrier!¡± Om! A mysterious light film spread from Lu Qing''s body and shrouded him. The film was only around one foot wide, and the ancient patterns on it vaguely resembled those on a turtle shell. Boom! The giant lava fist again blasted through the void, but this time, its surging power was suddenly reduced by half when the domineering and scorching lava passed the light barrier, and it only pushed Lu Qing back a few steps. ¡°Oh?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s crimson eyes flashed as he stared at the mysterious barrier around Lu Qing¡¯s body. Lu Qing sneered, "Zhou Yuan, don''t waste your efforts. My Guiyuan Qi-Fusion Barrier can dissolve all powers. Coupled with the power of my golden body transformation, you can''t beat me!¡± However, even Lu Qing''s attacks would be weakened once the Guiyuan Qi-Fusion Barrier was activated. Therefore, it was a pure iron turtle shell. Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows, but his attacks didn¡¯t stop. Instead, he launched a fiercer onslaught on Lu Qing and pelted him like a rainstorm. But just as Lu Qing said, all attacks were weakened once they passed through the barrier, and they would no longer be able to inflict much damage to Lu Qing, who was in his golden body transformation. ¡°Hahaha, Zhou Yuan, are you at a loss on what to do?! I told you there is nothing you can do. No matter how hard you struggle, this battle will still end in a draw,¡± Lu Qing roared with laughter. Zhou Yuan''s face was expressionless and as cold as water. His tone was indifferent when he said, "Your turtle shell barrier is indeed troublesome, but it''s not as strong as you say. As long as there¡¯s a power superior to it, it will naturally collapse.¡± He had already seen through the Guiyuan Qi-Fusion Barrier during his previous attacks. Lu Qing was taken aback at first but then said with a grin, ¡°You¡¯re very smart, but so what if that is the case?¡± Zhou Yuan said indifferently, "Then I¡¯ll break it.¡± "Nonsense!" From their previous exchange, Zhou Yuan''s combat strength was indeed tyrannical, but Zhou Yuan, at best, was only slightly stronger than him, and it was ridiculous of Zhou Yuan to think he could forcibly break the Guiyuan Qi-Fusion Barrier. However, Zhou Yuan didn''t waste time talking to him anymore. He strode forward. Snow-white hair rushed out from the huge lava fist and covered it like a glove. ¡°Genesis Breaker.¡± A jet-black light spread out, turning the snow-white glove a mysterious jet-black color. ¡°Ignite, Golden Blood.¡± As Zhou Yuan muttered, his ten-foot tall body quivered sharply, and a hundred drops of golden blood blazed in his heart. A mighty and terrifying power raged through him like a monstrous torrent, pouring into his every limb and bone. Boom! As Zhou Yuan stood in the same spot, a frightening power erupted from him and continuously rippled space. Lu Qing narrowed his eyes, but he wasn¡¯t the least bit afraid. Zhou Yuan¡¯s power was remarkable, but he knew his Guiyuan Qi-Fusion Barrier wouldn¡¯t break that easily! As long as it blocked Zhou Yuan¡¯s final fatal attack, Lu Qing would complete his mission. Golden blood erupted, and the red markings on Zhou Yuan''s body turned even more striking. In his crimson eyes, a destructive power seemed to brew. Rumble! He stepped forward, exuding oppressive pressure, and appeared before Lu Qing mysteriously like a ghost. Then, he swiftly thrust his fist out! His punch was not complex, but the power contained within it was extremely concentrated. Om! Under countless gazes, the tremendous jet-black fist slammed into the Guiyuan Qi-Fusion Barrier and created violent ripples. The two were in a stalemate, and the terrifying power released from both caused space to tremble wildly. "Haha, Zhou Yuan, I told you that you couldn¡¯t break my barrier. Your strength is lacking!" Lu Qing laughed widely. Many people shook their heads in disappointment. ¡°Is that right¡­¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly as he watched Lu Qing roar with laughter. He folded one hand into a seal. ¡°Seven Cangxuan arts, Azure Sky Art!¡± The void suddenly undulated, and a drop of deep azure liquid landed on the giant black fist. The Azure Sky Art was the only Genesis art among the seven Cangxuan arts without active attacking properties, but the Azure Sky Essence that it refined could greatly enhance the power of a Genesis weapon and a Genesis art! Back when Zhou Yuan was in the Cangxuan Sect, he and Chu Qing had once experienced this technique¡¯s power in the Chosen challenge. But this was the first time Zhou Yuan displayed this technique since receiving it. Azure ripples spread out from the giant black fist, and at that moment, the void seemed to still for a moment. Expressionless, Zhou Yuan punched out once again. Cracks tore space. Kacha! Faintly, there seemed to be the sound of shattering. Lu Qing''s eyes snapped wide with shock as he noticed tiny cracks emerging on the Guiyuan Qi-Fusion Barrier. ¡°How is that possible?!¡± Before his astonished muttering had faded completely, Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist again erupted with monstrous torrents of lava. Bang! The Guiyuan Qi-Fusion Barrier exploded to pieces. However, Zhou Yuan''s attacks continued unabated. After the ruinous molten lava battering, he aimed a fierce punch at Lu Qing''s golden body. Rumble! Lava swept forth, and Lu Qing¡¯s golden body abruptly exploded. A scorched figure blasted out from the explosion and left deep trails on the jade floor. Lu Qing¡¯s aura had dramatically diminished, and it was unknown whether he survived. Both the inside and the outside of the tower fell utterly silent. Chapter 1054 Mystical Creature Obtained No one had expected the battle to be reversed so quickly. Ten seconds ago, Lu Qing had pushed Zhou Yuan to his limit with his Guiyuan Qi-Fusion Barrier¡¯s strong defense. But ten seconds later, it was unknown whether he was dead or alive. The astonishing power that had suddenly erupted from Zhou Yuan made countless people turn pale. An attack of that level was obviously not something that could be achieved with 1.5 billion Genesis Qi stars! The stilled atmosphere lasted for several breaths before it was torn apart by a sudden explosion of noise. ¡°Lu Qing was defeated!" ¡°But Zhou Yuan had struggled to stop Lu Qing before!¡± "Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi shouldn¡¯t be as strong as Lu Qing¡¯s¡ªLu Qing is a veteran of the advanced Heavenly Sun stage with powerful means. How could he lose?!¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s difficult to believe, it¡¯s the truth. Everyone has underestimated the former king of the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± "Impressive. I originally thought he would be undetectable for a period after entering the Heavenly Sun stage and before standing out again. Unexpectedly, we underestimated him.¡± "It''s no wonder that even supreme sovereign Cang Yuan thinks highly of him. His talent in cultivation and combat is indeed rarely seen in this world.¡± ¡°......¡± A murmur went through the audience as they gazed at the young figure standing in the tower, their eyes brimming with astonishment, admiration and shock. Amidst the commotion, the people on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side finally awakened from their stunned silence and erupted in deafening cheers. They sounded like thunder rumbling across the Wind Rain Lake. For people from the Tianyuan Region, the mystical creature battle could be described as being full of twists and turns. At first, they thought it shouldn¡¯t be too difficult for them to beat the Great Five Alliance with the Tianyuan Region¡¯s tyrannical strength, but who would have thought that the Great Five Alliance would use secret means to drag out a tie in every match that the Tianyuan Region should have won? Qin Lian, Bai Yu and the strongest Heavenly Sun experts from the Tianyuan Region all returned defeated...but Zhou Yuan, who seemed to be in the battle to fill in the last number, had unexpectedly reversed the situation at the most critical moment. It was just like he did in the nine regions tournament. So, even the Tianyuan Region¡¯s arrogant Heavenly Sun experts looked at Zhou Yuan with particularly complex expressions. The unconvinced feelings they had before had almost all disappeared. In this period of time, a newcomer should know his place. However, when Zhou Yuan''s identity as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple came out, many Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts couldn¡¯t help feeling jealous and bitter. They even began to dislike him. However, all those emotions were completely wiped away after this battle. "I finally understand why he could become our supreme sovereign¡¯s disciple,¡± Qin Lian sighed, staring at Zhou Yuan''s figure. Mu Youlan pursed her lip and said, "That guy is abnormal. I have never heard of anyone defeating an advanced glass Heavenly Sun expert in just a few months after reaching the Heavenly Sun stage.¡± Bian Buji nodded. Bai Yu''s expression changed indefinitely. He originally wanted to dampen everyone¡¯s excitement, but in the end, he couldn¡¯t say anything because he knew that anything he said would sound especially ridiculous after Zhou Yuan had reversed the situation again. Yi Qiushui, Ye Bingling and the others hugged each other tightly, cheering excitedly. The Four Pavilions¡¯ members all flushed with pride. After all, Zhou Yuan was their chief pavilion master, and the glory of his victory would illuminate the Four Pavilions¡¯ face. In the forefront, Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the other grand elders stared speechless at the iron tower for a long while. Then, they sighed gently. ¡°This disciple of our supreme sovereign¡¯s is indeed quite special,¡± sect master Xuan Kun remarked. Although Zhou Yuan previously had some disputes with the Heavenly Spirit Sect, sect master Xuan Kun had to admit that Zhou Yuan had created many miracles after coming to the Tianyuan Region. A smile curved Chi Jing''s red lips as she said, "That supreme sovereign must feel a little uncomfortable right now.¡± She knew that supreme sovereign Wan Zu was paying close attention to the battle. He had racked his brain to make the Great Five Alliance work for him, but in the end, a little Heavenly Sun expert had destroyed his scheme. Even he, a supreme sovereign with a heart as deep as an abyss, would find this hard to accept. This made Chi Jing very satisfied. After all, she had been under immense pressure from supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s scheming during this period. Although they had lost the mystical creature in the Nascent Source Tower, they had still greatly disrupted supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s plan by defending the mystical creature in the Heavenly Sun Tower. Overall, the Tianyuan Region hadn¡¯t lost completely. Compared with the thunderous cheers on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side, the atmosphere around the Great Five Alliance was deathly silent. Even Hong Jiuyuan and the other Law Domain experts were dumbstruck at their defeat, their faces somewhat livid. The other people behind them didn¡¯t even dare to breathe. The veins on Hong Jiuyuan¡¯s forehead throbbed as he turned to say to mountain lord Gui Yuan, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Lu Qing could hold on?!¡± Mountain Lord Gui Yuan¡¯s face twitched as he tried to explain, ¡°Zhou Yuan is abnormal. Even supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s means were ineffective against him. Do you expect Lu Qing to have absolute certainty in winning?¡± Hong Jiuyuan choked for a moment. Mountain lord Gui Yuan was right. Zhou Yuan had countered even supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s means, so it was not surprising Zhou Yuan managed to win against Lu Qing. ¡°Lu Qing¡¯s defeat means the Tianyuan Region has won and we have lost the mystical creature in the Heavenly Sun Tower,¡± Hong Jiuyuan uttered in a low voice. The other Law Domain experts nodded. No one had thought Zhou Yuan could ruin all their careful plotting. Mountain lord Gui Yuan waved his hand, saying, ¡°We are just carrying out a mission. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s plan shouldn¡¯t be this simple. We only need to follow the orders.¡± Hearing this, Hong Jiuyuan and the others finally nodded, their eyes flickering. Inside the black iron tower. Zhou Yuan''s flame-devil body rapidly shrank, and very soon, he resumed his normal appearance. He glanced at Lu Qing, who was like charcoal in the distance. Then, a stream of light descended from the sky, wrapped around him and expelled him from the tower. This symbolized that the outcome of the tower battle had been decided. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief because he could feel the mighty Genesis Qi in his body beginning to fade. He had reached the time limit for the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Promotion. He clenched his hand, and the Heavenly Yuan Brush flashed out. Gazing at the seventh rune, Zhou Yuan saw the ancient Genesis rune grow dim, and he knew he couldn¡¯t activate Promotion again for a while. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t need it any time soon. Rumble! Zhou Yuan suddenly felt a vibration within the tower, and the jade slabs at his feet suddenly lifted up and slowly floated to the top of the tower. He saw a stone platform. The stone platform was engraved with many ancient runes, and in the center, a crystal ball hovered in the air. The crystal ball was like a world of storm; it contained surging blue waves, roaring wind, and heavy rains. And as the waves surged, the crystal ball seemed to possess a life force that caused many changes. It was like a water spirit. Zhou Yuan knew that the strange life inside the crystal ball should be the mystical creature of the Wind Rain Lake. So, he stretched out his arm and held the crystal ball in his hand without any obstruction. The mystical creature in the Wind Rain Lake was finally in his hands. Chapter 1055 Universe Prison Zhou Yuan felt a weight off his heart. Although they had lost the mystical creature in the Nascent Source Tower, they had fortunately won the Heavenly Sun Tower and had prevented the situation from crumbling into an unbearable state. ¡°A supreme sovereign¡¯s power is really too strong,¡± Zhou Yuan said, pursing his lips. Although the Tianyuan Region had won the match against the Great Five Alliance, in truth, Zhou Yuan had felt a tightness in his chest throughout the match. Ultimately, this was due to the pressure from supreme sovereign Wan Zu, who was behind the Great Five Alliance. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu hadn¡¯t acted personally, but some of his schemes had given Chi Jing and the others a feeling of crisis. It was unknown whether supreme sovereign Wan Zu would stop since his plan had failed this time, but if he wasn¡¯t willing to stop, the Tianyuan Region could never be peaceful. Zhou Yuan sighed in his heart. There was no use overthinking the matter. If a supreme sovereign were to do anything, it wasn¡¯t something that he, a little Heavenly Sun expert, could interfere with. The Tianyuan Region could only settle the problems when they came. With this thought, Zhou Yuan slowly floated up and emerged from the top of the tower. Standing atop the tower, Zhou Yuan planned to return to the Tianyuan Region¡¯s main camp. However, he noticed something was wrong. It was too quiet. Zhou Yuan stared toward the Tianyuan Region base camp where he could see Chi Jing and others, but he couldn''t hear any voices for some reason. It was as if he had fallen into an oil painting. A gush of horror surged within Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He clearly didn¡¯t feel imprisoned, but the world seemed to have become a prison isolated from the rest of the world, preventing him from contacting the outside world. In the face of such a terrifying imprisonment power, even Zhou Yuan was a little afraid. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu!¡± He balled his hands into fists and gritted his teeth. Who else could create a prison-world apart from supreme sovereign Wan Zu!? It was clear that supreme sovereign Wan Zu didn''t intend to let Zhou Yuan leave with the mystical creature and had no choice but to take action himself! Thick clouds stirred up in the void, and vaguely, there seemed to be a pair of indifferent eyes penetrating the domain and staring emotionlessly at him, the little ant struggling in the Universe Prison. Zhou Yuan''s spatial bag automatically opened itself, and the crystal ball containing the Wind Rain Lake¡¯s mystical creature slowly floated up. However, although that power seemed calm, it was impossible to oppose it, and Zhou Yuan could only watch his fingers crack open little by little. His flesh was exposed, and blood trickled out. But Zhou Yuan still clung to the crystal ball with bloodshot eyes. ... ¡°Something¡¯s wrong!¡± Outside the Wind Rain Lake, Chi Jing was staring intently at the silent black iron tower. Although there seemed to be nothing unusual, for some reason, she felt uneasy. Sect master Xuan Kun and the others scrunched their brows in puzzlement when they heard Chi Jing¡¯s cry. Chi Jing didn¡¯t waste any time and summoned an azure orb with a clench of her slender hand. Wrapped in monstrous azure wind, the azure orb flashed out of her hand and sped towards the Wind Rain Lake. Om! The Wind God Orb pounded into something as though it had struck some kind of invisible barrier. The space around it rippled endlessly, and the Wind God Orb, which contained infinite power, was directly hurled back! It had made no impact! ¡°Universe Prison!¡± Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the others immediately paled. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu is so shameless! He actually attacked a junior of the Heavenly Sun stage!¡± Chi Jing fumed. Who would have thought the high and mighty supreme sovereign Wan Zu would ignore the rules and take action himself after seeing his plan had failed! However, Chi Jing¡¯s voice didn¡¯t evoke any response. She scanned the surroundings and found that everyone across the world was in a kind of silent and still state. Evidently, they were all imprisoned in the Universe Prison, and everything before their eyes was illusory and not real. Perhaps, they saw Zhou Yuan exit the tower and witnessed him leaving safely. Only Law Domain experts weren¡¯t affected by the illusion. Even so, they couldn¡¯t do anything in the face of a supreme sovereign¡¯s tremendous power. Chi Jing was about to fight back when sect master Xuan Kun obstructed her. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your strength.¡± Even if Chi Jing sacrificed her life, she wouldn''t be able to shake the Universe Prison. Chi Jing bit her lips and broke her skin because she also knew it was useless. The blood trickling down showed her indignation and powerlessness. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu! Does he think he could conceal what¡¯s happening by using the Universe Prison?!¡± However, Chi Jing also understood that it was impossible to restrain a supreme sovereign with rules alone. An expert at the supreme sovereign level could do anything as long as they wanted to. Chi Jing couldn¡¯t help blaming herself. If it weren¡¯t for their incompetence, how would Zhou Yuan need to come forward and be targeted by Wan Zu?! ¡°Wan Zu, if you kill Zhou Yuan, I won¡¯t rest until you are killed!¡± Intense killing intent and hatred filled Chi Jing''s eyes. She indeed couldn¡¯t do anything to supreme sovereign Wan Zu now, but if there was a chance in the future, she vowed to avenge Zhou Yuan, even if it meant training painstakingly hard for the rest of her life! ... Kacha! Zhou Yuan¡¯s fingers snapped one after another, and the blood-soaked crystal ball was about to slip from his hand. His eyes were intently fixed on the void. There wasn¡¯t a hint of anger in his eyes, and instead, they were calm and deep. He might just be an ant to Wan Zu, but there was no guarantee as to what would happen in the future. When he first started on his cultivation path, King Wu was also beyond his reach. Kacha! His tenth finger finally snapped, and he was in an extremely miserable state. The crystal ball left his grip and slowly floated up. But it was at that moment that another imposing power descended upon the world and brought the crystal ball to a still. ¡°Wan Zu, enough,¡± a majestic voice sounded from the void. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled when he heard the familiar voice. The voice belonged to the Wushen Region¡¯s supreme sovereign! When the Wushen Region¡¯s supreme sovereign retrieved the last part of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Sacred Dragon Blessing in the nine regions tournament and returned it to Wu Yao, he had made a deal with Zhou Yuan. But Zhou Yuan didn''t expect the Wushen Region¡¯s supreme sovereign to actually help him out at this most critical juncture! Two mighty forces collided outside the endless void, causing the Genesis Qi within the Tianyuan Region to ripple violently. But in the end, Zhou Yuan saw the floating crystal ball slowly land back in his palm. The silence was broken, and voices fell into Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears once again. Zhou Yuan blankly stared at the void. Everything before seemed like an illusion to him. Only his broken fingers proved he had indeed gone through a terrifying experience. ¡°Boy, I don¡¯t owe you anything now,¡± an indifferent voice echoed in the void, drilling into Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment and then bowed towards the distant void, expressing his thanks to supreme sovereign Wu Shen. After all, the difference in status between him and supreme sovereign Wu Shen was too great. Even if supreme sovereign Wu Shen didn¡¯t intend to fulfill the deal they had made, Zhou Yuan would have no choice but to accept it. But to keep to his promise with Zhou Yuan, supreme sovereign Wu Shen didn¡¯t hesitate to clash with supreme sovereign Wan Zu. Supreme sovereign Wu Shen could be said to have given Zhou Yuan enough face. However, this was more likely due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s master, Cang Yuan. But Zhou Yuan was still very grateful. He drew a deep breath and took a deep look toward where supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s indifferent eyes were previously in the sky. After a while, he turned to face the Tianyuan Region¡¯s base camp. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu...if I have the chance in the future, I will get revenge for breaking my ten fingers!¡± Chapter 1056 Escape On the Great Five Alliance¡¯s side, Hong Jiuyuan and the other Law Domain experts couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing when they saw Zhou Yuan suddenly appear, and horror filled their eyes. They naturally were aware of the Universe Prison¡¯s presence and knew that supreme sovereign Wan Zu had acted. But before they could celebrate, they saw Zhou Yuan land in the Tianyuan Region¡¯s base camp unobstructed. Zhou Yuan has escaped from the Universe Prison! But how is that possible?! Even supreme sovereign Wan Zu had failed to capture Zhou Yuan! How could a Heavenly Sun expert¡¯s strength be so abnormal?! Mountain lord Gui Yuan knitted his brows, pondered for a moment and said, ¡°That can''t be Zhou Yuan''s power. Even the Genesis Qi across the world has become more turbulent. Maybe¡­another supreme sovereign interfered.¡± The others went silent. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu had already broken the rules a little by taking action himself. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t impossible for other supreme sovereigns to interfere if they couldn¡¯t stand watching. ¡°That kid has such good luck!" Hong Jiuyuan sighed. Zhou Yuan was indeed incredibly lucky to have escaped unscathed under a supreme sovereign. The other Law Domain experts nodded in agreement. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan landed in the Tianyuan Region¡¯s base camp amidst deafening cheers and blazing gazes. The treatment he received was almost a world of difference compared to that of the previous battle. Chi Jing, Mu Ni and the other Law Domain experts darted over to greet Zhou Yuan. Their expressions were a little puzzled because they were similarly surprised by Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability to break out of the Universe Prison. ¡°What happened?¡± Chi Jing asked. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wu Shen helped me out.¡± Chi Jing nodded, biting her lips. Only a supreme sovereign could have saved Zhou Yuan from the Universe Prison. Mu Ni reached out to hold Zhou Yuan''s broken ten fingers. Genesis Qi filled with life force rushed forth from her hand, and Zhou Yuan¡¯s broken flesh rapidly squirmed. His fingers were completely restored in just a few breaths. ¡°It¡¯s been difficult on you, child.¡± Mu Ni sighed Even Law Domain experts would fear a supreme sovereign¡¯s attack. It was hard to imagine how afraid Zhou Yuan felt before. Fortunately, he was tough and tenacious. If it were someone else, that person would have suffered psychological injuries even if saved, and it could even affect their cultivation in the future. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°It''s my honor to be able to force a supreme sovereign to take action against me, a little Heavenly Sun expert.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun swept a glance over Zhou Yuan. Even though he had disliked Zhou Yuan in the past, he had to compliment him. ¡°Boy, you have the greatest courage I have ever seen. No wonder our supreme sovereign favors you.¡± Patriarch Bian Chang also said firmly, ¡°If he is given enough time, our Tianyuan Region will no doubt gain another Law Domain expert.¡± This was the highest praise. After all, Law Domain experts were the strongest existences in the world, second only to the supreme sovereigns, and they could become awe-inspiring authorities. Zhou Yuan smiled without revealing what was on his mind. He wouldn¡¯t be satisfied with just reaching the Law Domain stage because, whether it was returning to Cangxuan Heaven to get revenge or to get back at supreme sovereign Wan Zu for this day, he couldn¡¯t achieve either with just Law Domain stage strength. It was just that he couldn¡¯t tell sect master Xuan Kun and the others what was on his mind; otherwise, they would spit out the word lunatic. They had never heard of a Heavenly Sun expert arrogant enough to hold a grudge against a supreme sovereign. Zhou Yuan handed the crystal ball still dripping with blood to Chi Jing and said with a smile, "Fortunately, I protected it.¡± Chi Jing earnestly received the crystal ball and wiped off the blood. She looked visibly relieved. After all, the crystal ball concerned the Tianyuan Region¡¯s survival, so she had to take the matter seriously. ¡°We have one win and one loss in the twin tower battle. One of the mystical creatures has fallen into the enemy¡¯s hands.¡± Chi Jing looked at Zhou Yuan with an indescribably pleased expression. "Speaking of this, junior brother, you retrieved two of the three mystical creatures.¡± Zhou Yuan was indeed the one who had protected the Heavenly Fire Tree King and the mystical creature in Wind Rain Lake. If it weren¡¯t for him, the enemies might have already gotten their hands on all three mystical creatures and easily destroyed the Tianyuan Utopia. But Zhou Yuan had no intention of taking the credit for himself. Instead, his face scrunched up in worry, and he whispered, ¡°Now that the opponent has one of the mystical creatures in their hands, supreme sovereign Wan Zu most likely won¡¯t leave the matter at that.¡± The atmosphere turned heavy again. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu was a mountain-like existence that pressured Chi Jing and the others again and again to the point that they couldn¡¯t even breathe. ¡°What do we do next?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Chi Jing took a deep breath and said, "The other party''s intentions are obvious. They want to destroy the Tianyuan Utopia. Our Tianyuan Region will draw up a full defense strategy, and we five will return to the Tianyuan Utopia to guard it at all times. We will also bring the two mystical creatures back to prevent issues from arising. ¡°By borrowing the power of Saint treasures, the Tianyuan Utopia will become more secure. Although you have disrupted their plans, I have a hunch that supreme sovereign Wan Zu won¡¯t give up. Therefore, his next attack will no doubt be more vicious and deadly. Also,¡± she bit her lip and said with icy eyes, ¡°he won¡¯t wait long before he launches another attack." The several Law Domain experts all wore serious expressions. Wan Zu almost destroyed us with his scheme this time, so how fierce would his next offensive be? It was indeed difficult to rest when a supreme sovereign was watching them. Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly because he could feel the powerlessness in Chi Jing¡¯s and the others¡¯ hearts. Without a supreme sovereign in the Tianyuan Region, they had no choice but to remain passive in response to Wan Zu¡¯s plot. In the distance, the Great Five Alliance army had already begun to retreat, but Zhou Yuan could feel the ruminative gazes from the opponents'' Law Domain experts as they left. Zhou Yuan was silent for a good while, and then he shifted his gaze to the Tianyuan Region experts celebrating. They might not know that this narrow victory wasn¡¯t the end of the war but a victory that had further infuriated supreme sovereign Wan Zu. The Tianyuan Region might suffer an even more violent storm in the future. Even Zhou Yuan didn''t know whether the Tianyuan Region could survive the next onslaught. Chapter 1057 Rambling Woman Many people were shocked to hear that Qin Lian and Bai Yu, the strongest Heavenly Sun experts in the Tianyuan Region, had failed in the mystical creature battle and that Zhou Yuan had reversed the tides once again. Although they all knew that Lu Qing, who was Zhou Yuan¡¯s opponent, was considered the weakest of the Heavenly Sun experts selected from the Great Five Alliance, they were also aware that Zhou Yuan had only broken through to the Heavenly Sun stage a few months ago. The initial and advanced Heavenly Sun stage were two completely different levels! Just look at the example of the Divine Dwelling List rankers who could change the direction of the wind with their roar. Even a person like Zhao Mushen became very low-profile after breaking through to the Heavenly Sun stage because he knew that he was a newcomer in the Heavenly Sun stage regardless of how dazzling he was before. He had to accumulate more experience before he could become dazzling once again in the Heavenly Sun stage. Before that, the wisest thing to do was to keep a low profile. But Zhou Yuan had broken this norm. Not only did he forcibly participate in a battle that should have belonged to advanced Heavenly Sun experts, he also became the most dazzling one among them with strength at only the initial Heavenly Sun stage. Countless people, of course, secretly marveled at such a result. The king of the Divine Dwelling stage, who had broken the Divine Dwelling stage limit, was indeed different from others. Although Zhou Yuan had suppressed Lu Qing, he had only succeeded because of help from foreign powers. However, his performance still made countless Heavenly Sun experts in Hunyuan Heaven look at him differently and attach more importance to him, the junior who had dominated the Divine Dwelling stage. Of course, the higher level one was, the more one needed to pay attention to the situation between the Tianyuan Region and the Great Five Alliance. Each side had won a mystical creature in the mystical creature battle. Therefore, generally speaking, the Great Five Alliance and supreme sovereign Wan Zu hadn¡¯t achieved the desired outcome. A few days after the battle ended, the people from both sides retreated from the battlefield, and the atmosphere was seemingly more peaceful. Only sharp-minded people could faintly feel the storm brewing. The supreme sovereign was not a friendly person. Since he had clearly made a move, he wouldn¡¯t stop until he achieved his goal. It was unknown what this unfathomable supreme sovereign was going to do next. ... Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao were both extremely prideful and proud of their talents. Although they recognized Zhou Yuan¡¯s abilities, they couldn¡¯t watch him gallop farther and farther away. Their arrogance made them unwilling to give up, and so, they did everything they could do to catch up and surpass Zhou Yuan. The Zixiao Region, in a valley of waterfalls. Standing on a mountain wall, a beautiful woman in a white dress stared at the letter in her hand. A bewildered look flashed across her icy eyes. ¡°Zhou Yuan...defeated Lu Qing from the Tri-Mountain Alliance?¡± The woman in white was naturally Dong Ye from the Zixiao Region. She was a well-known Heavenly Sun expert in Hunyuan Heaven and was ranked higher than Qin Lian on the Heavenly Sun List. The young female disciple who came to deliver the letter couldn¡¯t help but marvel out loud, "Senior sister Dong Ye, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan is amazing. He is an initial Heavenly Sun expert, but he defeated Lu Qing, an advanced Heavenly Sun expert.¡± Dong Ye swept a glance over her and said indifferently, ¡°He has some ability, but he could only defeat Lu Qing because he had temporarily increased his strength with external means. Otherwise, Lu Qing could have crushed Zhou Yuan to death with his Genesis Qi. "The gap between the initial Heavenly Sun stage and the advanced Heavenly Sun stage is greater than you think. Also, Zhou Yuan only faced Lu Qing, a Heavenly Sun expert with a weak Genesis Qi foundation. If Zhou Yuan went against someone else, such as Zhang Chengfeng, he wouldn¡¯t succeed even if he has help from external means.¡± The young female disciple stuck her tongue out and said, "Do I still have to provide information to senior sister Youwei?¡± Dong Ye said nonchalantly, "I told you before that junior sister Youwei needs to concentrate on her training and shouldn¡¯t receive news that will distract her.¡± The young female disciple helplessly nodded. ¡°Senior sister Dong Ye,¡± a soft and crisp voice suddenly rang out from behind them. Expressionless, Dong Ye hid the letter in her hand and turned around, looking at the girl coming over with light steps. The girl was stunningly beautiful, and because she had just come out of training under a waterfall, the silk fabric draped over her was marked with water stains, making her fair jade-like skin glisten under the sun. Even a beautiful girl like Dong Ye was stunned by the woman¡¯s beauty. It was Su Youwei. "Youwei, is your training going well?" A smile came to Dong Ye''s icy face. Su You smiled slightly, extended her slender finger and pointed to the scroll in Dong Ye¡¯s hand. ¡°Senior sister Dong Ye, that¡¯s something for me, right?¡± Dong Ye¡¯s smile stiffened. ¡°Junior sister Youwei, you are still training. Don''t be distracted by some unnecessary things. You have a boundless future. If this matter slows down your training, I can¡¯t take responsibility if our supreme sovereign were to get mad.¡± However, Su Youwei didn¡¯t say anything and just continued to smile at her. Dong Ye had no choice but to give in. She knew that, although Su Youwei looked gentle, she was extremely stubborn and persistent. Su Youwei took the scroll and read it carefully. A smile quickly bloomed on her pure and beautiful face. Her smile was so joyful and radiant that it took Dong Ye¡¯s and the young female disciple¡¯s breaths away. "His Highness is really amazing." Su Youwei chuckled, a glimmer of admiration in her eyes. Dong Ye coughed intentionally and said, ¡°Junior sister Youwei, you aren¡¯t the same as back then, so don¡¯t address him as you did before.¡± Even the Zixiao Region¡¯s supreme sovereign thought highly of Su Youwei, and with time, she, without a doubt, would become a rising star in the Zixiao Region. Although Zhou Yuan was capable, she shouldn¡¯t address him as His Highness. Otherwise, outsiders would think the Zixiao Region was weaker than the Tianyuan Region. Su Youwei, who always spoke gently, said in a serious tone, ¡°Senior sister Dong Ye, without His Highness, there wouldn¡¯t be the present Su Youwei. So, no matter what status I have, I will never stop calling him His Highness.¡± Dong Ye was startled. It was the first time she saw Su Youwei so serious and stern, which made her feel a little awkward. ¡°Junior sister Youwei, I am just reminding you,¡± she explained. Su Youwei shook her head. ¡°Senior sister Dong Ye, I understand your kind intentions, but if someone comes to pass on information about him in the future, can I ask you not to intercept it? Although you¡¯re in charge of my training, that doesn¡¯t include my personal affairs. "Also...His Highness Zhou Yuan is the true Sacred Dragon heaven pride. I can never match up to him in terms of accomplishments. Of course I have to be respectful to him.¡± She bowed apologetically to Dong Ye, then turned and left. Watching her beautiful departing figure, Dong Ye couldn¡¯t help stamping her feet in fury. She sincerely wanted to make friends with Su Youwei, so she could only direct her anger at Zhou Yuan, whom she had never met before. ¡°What Sacred Dragon heaven pride? Silly girl, you have been deceived¡­he just defeated that trash, Lu Qing. There are so many tortoises in the shallow waters of the Divine Dwelling stage. Let¡¯s see if that kid can be as remarkable in the Heavenly Sun stage as he was in the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± ¡°......¡± In a huff, Dong Ye, who was always cold and elegant, had become a loud, rambling woman. Chapter 1058 Golden Pagoda A secluded and grand manor stood on a small floating island, surrounded by rivers and lakes with beautiful reflections of the mountains. The island was inscribed with Genesis Rune boundaries that engulfed and refined the mighty Genesis Qi from the outside world before allowing it to flow into the island. Thus, the Genesis Qi around the island was particularly pure. This place was regarded as a top training place in the Tianyuan Utopia, and ordinary people weren¡¯t allowed to enter. Even the Tianyuan Region¡¯s elders weren¡¯t eligible. This was Zhou Yuan¡¯s training area. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s status as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple, although he wasn¡¯t yet ranked a grand elder, many elders in the Tianyuan Region were respectful and polite to him. In addition, Zhou Yuan had repeatedly contributed greatly to the Tianyuan Region. As a result, Chi Jing rewarded him with this special place after the mystical creature battle ended. On a little hill deep in the manor, Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, breathing in the universe Genesis Qi. A faint platinum dragon silhouette loomed behind him, and a low roar resounded, exuding oppressive pressure. Scarlet light constantly flowed under his skin, and occasionally, burning-hot lava-like markings flashed across his skin. The heat he emitted was enough to melt the little hill on which he sat cross-legged. Hu. It was unknown how long the training lasted. Zhou Yuan finally opened his eyes, and the scarlet light bubbled up, causing the void to distort. "The Great Flame Devil Art is more difficult to cultivate than the Mythic Saint Body.¡± Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, but he wasn¡¯t surprised because the Great Flame Devil was a top-level little Saint Art, while the Mythic Saint Body was only a Heaven Genesis Technique. The gap between them was difficult to measure. "However, if I can integrate the seven Cangxuan arts, I¡¯m sure that the true Saint Genesis Art will not disappoint me.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes blazed. A Saint Genesis Art was extraordinary, and not even Nascent Source experts would know many Saint Genesis Arts. If Zhou Yuan mastered one, it would undoubtedly become one of his powerful trump cards. But the integration of the seven Cangxuan arts was more difficult than Zhou Yuan had imagined. Although he had mastered the seven Cangxuan arts and had cultivated them to the greatest level possible, integrating them wasn¡¯t as smooth as he hoped. However, there was indeed some progress, and Zhou Yuan believed he could succeed with more time. Swoosh! As thoughts raced in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, the wind whistled in the distance. He peered up. A figure landed not too far away and said respectfully, ¡°Chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan, grand elder Chi Jing invites you to the conference hall.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Half a month had passed since the mystical creature battle. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s borders had been surprisingly quiet, and the Great Five Alliance hadn¡¯t launched any attacks. However, this abnormal situation made the Tianyuan Region more vigilant than before, and the grand elders, including Chi Jing, guarded the Tianyuan Utopia at all times. Chi Jing most likely sent a message to Zhou Yuan because she detected strange movements from the Great Five Alliance. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t waste any time. With a slight movement, he turned into a stream of light and soared into the sky. ... The conference hall. When Zhou Yuan arrived, all five grand elders were already inside. He apologized and quickly seated himself. He looked at Chi Jing first and saw a solemn expression on her face. ¡°Senior sister, are there movements on the Great Five Alliance¡¯s side?¡± Chi Jing nodded, and with a stroke of her hand, rays of Genesis Qi light spread out and formed a map of the Tianyuan Region in front of her. "The Great Five Alliance has withdrawn all attacks, but our spies have found that there is an ulterior motive.¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression tensed, and before he could inquire further, Chi Jing flickered her finger. The Genesis Qi light screen rippled, and a pagoda-shaped silhouette gradually emerged. It was a nine-story golden pagoda. Each story was inscribed with ancient and obscure Genesis Runes. The runes were so powerful that even if Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was at the intermediate Transformative stage, he still felt bursts of pain shoot through his body. Zhou Yuan was horror-struck because he knew the pagoda was only an image, which meant the real pagoda was even more powerful. ¡°What is this?¡± Zhou Yuan asked in a serious tone. ¡°We don¡¯t know¡­¡± Sect master Xuan Kun said in a low voice, ¡°In recent days, although the Great Five Alliance temporarily postponed their attacks, they started to build pagodas just outside the Tianyuan Region¡¯s border.¡± Chi Jing tapped her fingers, and Zhou Yuan saw the map light up with nine specks around the Tianyuan Region¡¯s border. Those specks perfectly encircled the entire Tianyuan Region. They were also the locations of the nine-story golden pagodas. "The nine golden pagodas should be supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s masterpieces. Even we can¡¯t inscribe Genesis Runes of that level, let alone the Great Five Alliance¡¯s Law Domain experts,¡± Chi Jing explained. The atmosphere in the hall became tense. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu has indeed continued to make his moves. "Can they be destroyed?" Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows in a frown. Although he didn''t know their enemy¡¯s motive for building the golden pagodas, he was certain the pagodas wouldn¡¯t be good for the Tianyuan Region. So, if the pagodas could be destroyed, that would be his first choice of action. Chi Jing shook her head, saying, "After learning this information, we immediately dispatched elite teams to destroy the pagodas, but the Great Five Alliance are heavily guarding them. Moreover, the pagodas are emitting a particularly dangerous aura that fills even Law Domain experts like us with fear.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun, wearing a glum expression, nodded. ¡°We know that the golden pagodas must be a plot to target the Tianyuan Region, but we have no choice but to watch helplessly.¡± Patriarch Bian Chang slammed his fist on the table. The table didn¡¯t budge, but space shattered like glass. His face was dark, and the feeling of helplessness must have made him feel oppressed. Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. It was clear that supreme sovereign Wan Zu hadn¡¯t given up after his failure last time, and instead, his attacks had become fiercer and more extreme. In the face of supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s aggressive attacks, the Tianyuan Region had no other choice but to passively defend. ¡°What should we do next?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Chi Jing drew a deep breath and said, "Although I don''t know the nine golden pagodas¡¯ specific function, we speculate that the alliance is still targeting the Tianyuan Utopia, so we will do our best to guard the Tianyuan Utopia. "As long as we have the power of the Tianyuan Utopia and the Sky Illuminating Eye, we can counter supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s plan.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s eyes blazed with determination. If Wan Zu goes too far, we will fight back with our lives! Zhou Yuan nodded. The Sky Illuminating Eye, a double lotus saint treasure, was the sun hanging high in the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s sky. It was ranked 14th on the saint treasure list in all heavens, and its power was infinite. Even Law Domain experts would shudder under its might. The treasure could be regarded as the Tianyuan Region¡¯s last hope. Zhou Yuan shifted his gaze to the map. Gazing at the nine golden pagodas standing on the border, he sighed deeply. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu is detestable. However, Zhou Yuan, a little Heavenly Sun expert, had no role to play in a battle of this level. So, he could only watch and see what supreme sovereign Wan Zu planned to do. ... As Chi Jing and the others anxiously waited, one month passed in the blink of an eye. Under the attention of various forces, the nine golden pagodas outside the Tianyuan Region¡¯s border gradually took shape. It seemed that a storm of destruction was brewing to extinguish the Tianyuan Region, to transform it into a blazing fire. Chapter 1059 Destruction Descends Supreme sovereign Wan Zu was creating the nine golden pagodas, and unsurprisingly, he wouldn¡¯t stop until he achieved his goal. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu had always kept his means a secret and had manipulated the Great Five Alliance to attack the Tianyuan Region. However, infuriated by their previous defeat, he no longer disguised his attacks and even unmasked his intentions. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu would rather give up face to destroy the Tianyuan Region. His determination made many people shudder because it seemed the Tianyuan Region couldn¡¯t evade calamity this time. This was a major event that could shake the entire Hunyuan Heaven. Thus, many people shifted their attention to the nine golden pagodas being built. ... On the Tianyuan Region¡¯s western border. A nine-story golden pagoda stood quietly on a towering mountain a hundred miles from the border. The sun shone brilliantly. Its golden light bounced off the pagoda¡¯s surface, and the ancient Genesis Runes on the pagoda squirmed like living creatures. A disturbing energy could vaguely be felt. Hong Jiuyuan, mountain lord Gui Yuan and the other Great Five Alliance Law Domain experts were gathered above the towering mountain. They peered down at the golden pagoda and looked at one another with relief in their eyes. If what supreme sovereign Wan Zu said would come true, today is the Tianyuan Region¡¯s doomsday, and we will finally complete our mission. Thinking about what supreme sovereign Wan Zu promised them after they successfully completed their mission, they couldn¡¯t control their impatience and excitement. ¡°The nine pagodas have formed¡­¡± Mountain lord Gui Yuan drew a deep breath and signaled at Hong Jiuyuan. ¡°Get ready to act.¡± Hong Jiuyuan nodded and swept his gaze around the area, feeling the many different powerful auras circling them. He could sense that several Law Domain experts from the Tianyuan Region were spying on them, but he didn¡¯t care. He needed an audience to make the Great Five Alliance rise to fame in Hunyuan Heaven through this grand event. Then, perhaps the Great Five Alliance would replace the Tianyuan Region and become one of the nine regions. "Chi Jing, I want you all to witness the end of the Tianyuan Region! Is everybody ready?¡± Hong Jiuyuan ran his eyes over the other Law Domain experts. They nodded, and immediately afterward, their figures turned to wisps of mist and dissipated into thin air. They were merely fake bodies made from Genesis Qi. A sinister smile twisted Hong Jiuyuan¡¯s lips when he saw that the several Law Domain experts had returned to their positions. He folded his hands in a seal with lightning speed. The ancient Genesis Runes on the golden pagoda grew brighter, and the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth frantically surged. Soon, the golden pagoda emitted a terrifying energy that would make even Law Domain experts turn pale. Many onlookers¡¯ hearts trembled with fear. Such power and momentum¡­presumably, supreme sovereign Wan Zu racked his brain to create these golden pagodas. The Genesis Qi between the heaven and the earth rushed towards the golden pagoda, and eventually, an endless Genesis Qi vortex formed above it. The vortex was thick and deep and made one¡¯s scalp go numb. Everyone within a tens-of-thousand-mile radius was shocked to find that the universe Genesis Qi had become much weaker. The universe Genesis Qi was vast and endless, and it required immense power to weaken the Genesis Qi within such a huge area. Om! The Genesis Qi vortex slowly rotated, and in the end, it whizzed down and sank into the nine-story golden pagoda. The pagoda erupted with billions of rays of golden light, and the blinding brightness suppressed even the blazing sun. At the same time, the other eight golden pagodas around the Tianyuan Region similarly exploded with boundless golden light. ... Tianyuan Utopia. The atmosphere in the Tianyuan Utopia was oppressive. Chi Jing and the other grand elders stood in the void. All elite experts from the Tianyuan Region had gathered in the Tianyuan Utopia, and powerful undulating Genesis Qi had filled the sky. A huge light screen stretched across the void. It was the brilliant light released from the nine golden pagodas. Chi Jing watched the light screen form with an ashen face. She gritted her teeth and said, "Each of those golden pagodas needs to be controlled by a Law Domain expert. When did the Great Five Alliance ever have nine Law Domain experts?!¡± Others might not see it, but Chi Jing and the other grand elders felt it clearly. A Law Domain expert guarded each golden pagoda, but the number of Law Domain experts present exceeded the Great Five Alliance¡¯s strength. Sect master Xuan Kun looked glum. Law Domain experts wouldn¡¯t emerge so easily. Therefore, it went without saying that the extra Law Domain experts had come from the Wanzu Region! Supreme sovereign Wan Zu had disregarded his face and dispatched the Wanzu Region¡¯s Law Domain experts to participate in the war. Chi Jing drew a deep breath and cast a glance below her at Zhou Yuan. Her lips moved slightly, and her faint voice rang in his ears, ¡°If the Tianyuan Utopia collapses today, I will teleport you out at the last moment. Hunyuan Heaven is vast, and even the Wanzu Region won¡¯t be able to find you that easily. You should be safer there.¡± Zhou Yuan''s pupils shrank. From Chi Jing¡¯s tone, she seemed to be making arrangements in case she died. It seemed she didn¡¯t plan to flee even if the Tianyuan Utopia collapsed; instead, she was planning to be destroyed with it. Zhou Yuan clenched his hands, staring at the light screen. The nine golden pagodas seemed to exude a deathly aura, and he once again felt small and weak. He had already been forced to flee Cangxuan Heaven. He didn¡¯t want to be forced out of the Tianyuan Region again. ... As Hong Jiuyuan watched the destructive power emanate from the golden pagodas, his eyes turned strangely solemn. He lifted his hand, and a golden crystal flashed out. A golden cloud was faintly visible within the crystal, and the cloud was spewing out endless golden lightning bolts. It was the mystical creature from the Golden Lightning Abyss! With a flick of his finger, the mystical creature swiftly rose into the sky and floated in the endless void. It hovered at the exact center of the nine golden pagodas. Boom! The nine golden pagodas brewing destructive power shook, and nine thousand-foot golden torrents shot into the sky. The power they contained shattered space and hurled spatial fragments in all directions. Amidst shocked gazes, the nine golden torrents blasted towards the golden crystal in the endless void. Boom! Space continued to collapse. Even Law Domain experts from other forces stared horror-struck at the terrifying Genesis Qi. Om! Ripples rapidly bloomed around the golden crystal. The next second, the crystal rotated, and its mirrored surface released countless rays of light. The light rays condensed at an astonishing speed and finally pointed toward something within the Tianyuan Region. "Found it." A cold smile tugged at the corners of Hong Jiuyuan''s mouth. It was the entrance to the Tianyuan Utopia! Boom! As though drawn by some kind of force, the converged nine golden torrents engulfed the golden crystal and pierced through space with destructive power. In the end, amidst stunned gazes, it fiercely slammed into the entrance to the Tianyuan Utopia! Destruction descended at that moment! Chapter 1060 Sky Illuminating Eye Like a river, the terrifying golden torrent pierced space and blasted through the endless void. The vast torrent was clearly visible to the million Tianyuan Region citizens, and the destructive power it contained made their Spirits tremble with fear. Everyone in the Tianyuan Region was terrified because they knew a huge calamity was about to descend, and as members of the Tianyuan Region, its destruction would impact them hugely. The peaceful and orderly cultivation they had would be destroyed, and to establish a new order, they would inevitably have to experience killings and conflicts. However, even if they wanted to participate in the war, they would be powerless against attacks of that level. They could only helplessly watch the torrent of destruction pierce the void and wait for their fate. Rumble! Amidst countless shocked gazes, the golden torrent struck a spot in the void. The void began to collapse, forming a massive black hole, and in the depths of the black hole seemed to be a domain with numerous floating islands. It was Tianyuan Utopia! But as the void continued to collapse, a huge circular light diagram suddenly emerged in front of the entrance. The light diagram, a protection boundary that Cang Yuan had personally set up in the past, was mysterious and exuded tremendous power, and its core was three mystical creatures. The terrifying golden torrent struck the light diagram boundary, creating berserk ripples, but the boundary was clearly unimaginably durable. No matter how it was battered, there wasn¡¯t a trace of damage. Countless Tianyuan Region citizens breathed a sigh of relief. In the void above the border, Hong Jiuyuan watched with narrowed eyes. He muttered, ¡°Is that the protective barrier that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan set up in the past? It¡¯s indeed frightening.¡± He couldn¡¯t help shuddering at the power emanated from the boundary. Even if all their Law Domain experts simultaneously launched attacks, they wouldn¡¯t be able to shake the boundary in any way. ¡°Unfortunately for them¡­¡± Hong Jiuyuan shook his head again, and one of the three mystical creatures that formed the light diagram boundary fell into the alliance¡¯s hands. He folded his hands together. Om! The golden crystal engulfed by the golden torrent cracked, then broke into fragments. The inside, which were like layers of cloud, was also torn apart. Mighty power gushed out, and the golden torrent immediately absorbed it. The torrent surged wildly, and its momentum grew increasingly terrifying. Most importantly, as the golden crystal shatter, the numerous light runes within the originally perfect boundary began to dim, and flaws emerged on the perfect boundary. Hua! The Tianyuan Region citizens all tensed up again. ¡°I can''t let them attack anymore,¡± Chi Jing uttered in a low voice. Sect master Xuan Kun nodded. ¡°What do you plan to do?¡± Chi Jing lifted her head, gazing at the bright sun hanging above the Tianyuan Utopia. It was the Sky Illuminating Eye, a double lotus Saint treasure well-known throughout Hunyuan Heaven. She stretched out her hand, a token flashing in the center of her palm. The token was engraved with a deep ancient eye that emitted a mysterious aura. It was the Sky Illuminating Token. A saint treasure like the Sky Illuminating Eye possessed an independent spiritual intellect. It only listened to supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s orders, and Chi Jing could only control it using Cang Yuan¡¯s power from the Sky Illuminating Token he had left behind. As Chi Jing activated the Sky Illuminating Token, a wisp of azure mist rose from the token and dissipated in the void. At that moment, everyone in Tianyuan Utopia felt the universe Genesis Qi surge frantically. Startled, they lifted their heads and saw a gap tear open in the scorching sun that hung high in the sky. An incomparably huge, ancient, mysterious eye was seemingly within the gap. Even Law Domain experts felt an intense chill rush out of their hearts when they looked at the eye. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°It¡¯s the saint treasure that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan left behind, the Sky Illuminating Eye!¡± Qin Lian exclaimed, a look of surprise lighting up her icy and solemn face. "Master Chi Jing is going to mobilize the Sky Illuminating Eye! The Sky Illuminating Eye¡¯s power can definitely defeat them!" Yi Qiushui exclaimed with excitement. Although surprised, Zhou Yuan still knitted his brows in a frown, and a look of worry remained in his eyes. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu must already know about the Sky Illuminating Eye¡¯s existence, so he must have come prepared. However, Chi Jing''s move undoubtedly raised morale in the Tianyuan Utopia. The crowd cheered in unison, and they seemed to have full confidence in the legendary saint treasure. The Sky Illuminating Eye slowly turned towards the outside of the Tianyuan Utopia, penetrated the void and locked onto Hong Jiuyuan¡¯s direction. Hong Jiuyuan¡¯s expression abruptly changed. The crisis that descended from the sky made him know that the Tianyuan Region had begun to fight back. ¡°Did they directly activate the Sky Illuminating Eye?¡± he asked solemnly. Swoosh! A wisp of flame spurted from the Sky Illuminating Eye hanging high above the Tianyuan Utopia. The flame was only around a foot long at first, but it blazed and transformed into a white flaming meteor when it penetrated the void. Boom! The flame meteor shattered the void and appeared next to Hong Jiuyuan as though it had teleported. An indescribable force shrouded the entire space, and even Hong Jiuyuan couldn¡¯t break the void to escape. The flame around the meteor was Saint fire! And within the meteor was a power that only a Saint expert could possess! If and when the meteor fell, even Law Domain experts wouldn¡¯t survive! When Hong Jiuyuan saw the meteor speeding down from above, his expression changed drastically because he knew he couldn¡¯t escape. So, he didn¡¯t make any useless movements. He knew someone would help out, given the attack¡¯s power. Om! As the burning meteor neared, a mysterious light beam pierced the sky under countless astonished gazes and shone on the meteor. The meteor enveloped in Saint fire melted at a terrifying speed and completely vanished only a few meters from Hong Jiuyuan. A gust of wind lashed Hong Jiuyuan¡¯s face, but his countenance remained unchanged even though his back was soaked in cold sweat. Chi Jing¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed dramatically. They shifted their gaze to the outside of the void and locked their eyes on a golden pagoda at the Tianyuan Region border. A green-robed figure was standing there with his hands clasped behind his back, grinning. He wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to Chi Jing and the others. He was Zhao Xiansun from the Wanzu Region. Zhao Xiansun held an eight-sided bronze mirror in his hand. The mirror looked old and ordinary, but Chi Jing and the others turned ashen when they laid their eyes on it. Chi Jing gritted her teeth, and an icy voice rang out. ¡°Ancestral Spirit Mirror!¡± It was the Wanzu Region¡¯s Saint treasure, which was also classed at the double lotus grade, and it was listed 11th on the Saint Treasure List! Chapter 1061 Last Resor As the light screen flickered, Zhao Xiansun¡¯s figure gradually emerged. The eight-sided bronze mirror in his hand immediately caused a commotion in the Tianyuan Utopia. ¡°The Wanzu Region even brought out the Ancestral Spirit Mirror. They really want to destroy our Tianyuan Region!¡± ¡°They are going too far! If supreme sovereign Cang Yuan was around, would the Wanzu Region dare go that far?!¡± ¡°Our supreme sovereign has been gone for many years. I wonder how he is. If he¡¯s fine, why would he ignore the Tianyuan Region¡¯s affairs?!¡± ¡°How could something happen to our supreme sovereign? Isn¡¯t chief pavilion master Zhou Yuan his newly accepted disciple?¡± "That...may not be the case¡­maybe the five grand elders made it up to reassure people.¡± There were whispers throughout the Tianyuan Utopia, and everyone¡¯s heart was shaken. They wouldn¡¯t dare to say such things in the past, but the Tianyuan Region was facing a huge crisis. If the people¡¯s minds weren¡¯t set at ease, panic would no doubt spread through the Tianyuan Region. Their murmuring voices had a significant impact on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s morale, and some of the gazes on Zhou Yuan turned somewhat complicated. Zhou Yuan''s expression was indifferent. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t notice the gazes but that it was meaningless to say anything in response because the slightest carelessness could lead to the Tianyuan Region being in danger of being overthrown. At that time, it wouldn¡¯t matter whether or not he really was supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s official disciple. Zhou Yuan stared intently at Zhao Xiansun¡¯s figure on the light screen. His speculation was indeed correct. The enemy was aware of the Sky Illuminating Eye¡¯s existence and had a way to deal with it. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu was determined to win! Even Zhou Yuan, who had always been calm and composed, couldn''t help feeling worried and anxious in the face of such a situation. Only his master Cang Yuan could solve their present situation, but if Cang Yuan appeared, he would fall into supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s scheme. Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t worried that anything would happen to his master, but he felt that something might happen to Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan felt that supreme sovereign Wanzu¡¯s plot was targeting Yaoyao. On one side was the Tianyuan Region¡¯s calamity, and on the other was Yaoyao. "Too weak, I¡¯m still too weak..." He gritted his teeth and murmured bitterly in his heart. Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the others all coldly stared at Zhao Xiansun¡¯s figure. ¡°Brother Jiuyuan, continue to attack.¡± He tilted his head, lips opening and closing, but his voice seemed able to penetrate space and directly fell into the ears of Hong Jiuyuan, who was on another side of the border. Hong Jiuyuan exhaled and nodded. The next moment, he changed his hand seal, and golden torrents continuously spewed from the nine pagodas and swept across the sky, causing strange spectacles throughout the world. The golden torrents were as mighty and vast as a galaxy, and they incessantly bombarded the light boundary at the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s entrance. Dong! An indescribable boom resounded with every strike, and those booms directly formed a tangible sound wave. The thunderous collision could be heard throughout the entire Tianyuan Region. Fear filled countless people¡¯s eyes as the people helplessly watched the destructive attacks in the void. Under the battering, the corner of the light boundary dimmed and constantly rippled with large waves. Everyone trembled, praying the light diagram boundary could withstand the terrifying attacks. Their prayers seemed effective. The dimmed boundary corner constantly quaked under the bombardment, but the boundary still stood firm at the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s entrance. This gave a glimmer of hope to the countless Tianyuan Region citizens. Faint sighs of relief could be heard throughout the Tianyuan Utopia. Even if a corner of the protective boundary that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had left behind was chipped, it wouldn¡¯t be so easy to destroy it. Zhou Yuan also breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that supreme sovereign Wan Zu was too impatient. With only one mystical creature in his hands, he could at most weaken the protective boundary. It would be difficult to shake its foundation. From the looks of it, if supreme sovereign Wan Zu didn¡¯t take action himself, he might not succeed in breaking the protective boundary. Zhou Yuan wasn''t the only one who had such thoughts. Within the Tianyuan Utopia, many people¡¯s tensed hearts relaxed. Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the others glanced at one another. Although their faces remained solemn, the glum expression between their eyebrows had faded because the protective boundary¡¯s defensive power was beyond their expectations. "I hope supreme sovereign Wan Zu will not personally attack,¡± patriarch Bian Chang said. Even though the Wanzu Region had sent out Law Domain experts, without supreme sovereign Wan Zu, the significance was completely different. But even if supreme sovereign Wan Zu took action himself, the other supreme sovereigns might not sit still. After all, a supreme sovereign had personally attacked the center of one of the nine regions and had completely broken Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s rules. Chi Jing nodded lightly. It seemed that as long as supreme sovereign Wan Zu didn¡¯t personally make a move, the Great Five Alliance wouldn¡¯t succeed in breaking the protective boundary. This was the only piece of good news for the Tianyuan Region. But for some reason...Chi Jing still felt slightly uneasy. Could the enemy really not have other things planned? ... Gazing at the indestructible light boundary for a long while, Zhao Xiansun grinned. A supreme sovereign¡¯s power is extraordinary. Even if we gathered all nine Law Domain experts¡¯ power, we can¡¯t break the boundary. However... The corners of his lips curved upwards in a strange arc. Chi Jing, Chi Jing, if you think that only your master has extraordinary means, you are too naive. It¡¯s just that some means are too important and shouldn¡¯t be used so recklessly. But today, the Wanzu Region must win, and those means have to be used. Zhao Xiansun chuckled. Once those means are activated, the Tianyuan Region will likely be turned upside down. ¡°The show is about to begin.¡± As Zhao Xiansun lifted his hand into the air, a jade seal appeared in his palm. The jade seal produced a halo of light before it crumbled bit by bit and dissipated into specks of light. Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the others locked their eyes on Zhao Xiansun. Zhao Xiansun¡¯s action made them very vigilant and puzzled about why nothing happened after the jade seal shattered. Zhao Xiansun seemed to have just crushed an ordinary jade seal. But Chi Jing and the others understood that Zhao Xiansun wouldn¡¯t possibly do something so pointless. There had to be a purpose to his action, but they didn¡¯t know what deep meaning it had, and they only instinctively felt uneasy. ¡°What is he doing¡­¡± Before Chi Jing''s voice completely faded, she sensed a bizarre wave of energy emerging behind her. Her body tensed up, and she slowly and stiffly turned her head. Behind her, patriarch Bai Ye wore a complex expression and was tightly holding a crystal ball in his hand. Wind and rain raged inside the crystal ball. It was the mystical creature that Zhou Yuan had obtained from the Wind Rain Lake. Sect master Xuan Kun, Mu Ni and patriarch Bian Chang all stared at him intently. The void froze. Chi Jing closed her eyes bitterly and said hoarsely, "Bai Ye, don''t do something stupid.¡± She finally understood why Zhao Xiansun crushed the jade seal. Patriarch Bai Ye sighed and said, ¡°A fine bird always chooses its tree to nest in. The Tianyuan Region is no match for supreme sovereign Wan Zu. Why do you all have to stubbornly resist? ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± His voice was apologetic, but his eyes were cold and determined. He suddenly folded his hands together and poured a tremendous amount of Genesis Qi into the crystal ball. Kacha! The crystal ball shattered, and a mighty torrent shot into the sky. It directly pierced through the Tianyuan Utopia and slammed the boundary at the entrance. The entire Tianyuan Utopia began to crumble. Chapter 1062 Traitor The shocked disbelief throughout the world made the atmosphere deathly still. Countless people stared dumbstruck at the figure standing in the void. They would never have imagined that grand elder Bai Yu, a top expert in the Tianyuan Region, would launch a fatal attack at the Tianyuan Region in the most critical moment. Patriarch Bai Yu was one of the five grand elders! When the Tianyuan Region was founded, he followed supreme sovereign Cang Yuan and made significant contributions to the Tianyuan Region. Many experts in the Tianyuan Region saw him as their goal to work towards. But as one of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s pillars, he had betrayed the Tianyuan Region at the critical moment! Many people were paralyzed with shock, and their eyes glazed over in a hypnotic trance, which showed how hugely the betrayal impacted them. The Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s morale almost instantly collapsed. ¡°How can this be¡­¡± Qin Lian was also rooted to the spot, body trembling and beautiful face ashen. She couldn''t imagine why someone with a high status and identity like Patriarch Bai Ye would choose to betray the Tianyuan Region. Zhou Yuan was similarly stunned. But for some reason, his expression was somewhat calm. Perhaps, it was because he had seen this kind of thing happen in the Cangxuan Sect before. From a certain point of view, patriarch Bai Ye was similar to peak master Lei Jun from the Cangxuan Sect. They both kept a low profile, but that was only a disguise. No one had thought that grand elder Bai Ye, who had always been low-profile, would secretly seek refuge with the Wanzu Region. Could it be that he wasn¡¯t optimistic about the Tianyuan Region? But it made sense. Although the Tianyuan Region remained one of the nine regions, the absence of a supreme sovereign had led to the Tianyuan Region deteriorating over the years. The Tri-Mountain Alliance and Crimson Cloud Sword Sect had never dared to jump in front of the Tianyuan Region to display their power, but they had now joined forces and attacked the Tianyuan Region together. Under such circumstances, if supreme sovereign Wan Zu had made some sort of deal with grand elder Bai Yu, even someone with his status and identity would understandably be tempted. Zhou Yuan glanced around and sighed, "It seems that grand elder Bai Ye had come prepared. It¡¯s no wonder I don¡¯t see Bai Yu and the other core members of the White Clan today.¡± Qin Lian hurriedly swept her gaze around and indeed saw no sign of Bai Yu. ¡°I was also wondering why I didn''t see Bai Yu today. It turns out he..." Mu Youlan gritted her teeth. Qin Lian and the others fell silent, finding it very hard to accept the truth. After all, the White Clan was a powerful member of the Tianyuan Region. They had fought together side by side for many years, but now the clan had suddenly betrayed them. ¡°Will our Tianyuan Region really be destroyed?" Qin Lian mumbled, her voice trembling. Even she felt helpless. Zhou Yuan lifted his head and peered at the figures standing in the void. They could have defended the Tianyuan Utopia, but the situation spiraled out of control with Bai Ye¡¯s betrayal. So, even he was a little pessimistic. ¡­ As the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s morale crumbled, Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun, Mu Ni and Bian Chang all glared at Bai Ye. "Bai Ye, why did you betray us?" Chi Jing said through gritted teeth, her voice chilling. Bai Ye drooped his eyes as he said, "Chi Jing, supreme sovereign Cang Yuan has been gone for many years because he had made a wrong choice. The Tianyuan Region will collapse sooner or later if it continues like this. So, I have to find a way out for the White Clan.¡± ¡°Our supreme sovereign will return soon!" Bian Chang said angrily. Bai Ye said indifferently, "But when? Should we wait thousands of years for him? Would the Tianyuan Region still exist then? Without the Tianyuan Region, is there a need for us to struggle bitterly?¡± Sect master Xuan Kun''s face darkened. ¡°Is it because supreme sovereign Wan Zu promised you something?¡± Bai Ye''s eyes flickered, and he didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°That¡¯s correct. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu has promised to help me comprehend the Saint stage. I, of course, want to reach the supreme cultivation state. ¡°Only when one becomes a Saint expert will one be a true ruler of the world. Even Law Domain experts are only second best.¡± An ambitious fire blazed in Bai Ye¡¯s eyes. Sect master Xuan Kun shook his head, saying, "Ambition has clouded your mind. If the Saint stage is that easy to achieve, there wouldn¡¯t be only one supreme sovereign in the Wanzu Region in so many years!¡± Mu Ni said coldly, "For your own selfish desires, you dragged the White Clan into a dangerous situation. Have you thought about what would happen to your White Clan if the Wanzu Region¡¯s plan fails today?¡± Bai Ye snorted, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you are still waiting for supreme sovereign Cang Yuan to return? But if he does return, that would be great news since it would more greatly satisfy supreme sovereign Wan Zu.¡± Obviously, he knew some secret that made him so confident. ¡°Since you won¡¯t listen to our advice, I have to expel you on behalf of my master.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s short burgundy hair fluttered in the wind, and terrifying killing intent gathered in her bright eyes, causing the temperature around her to plummet. She opened her little mouth and released a wisp of azure light. Om! An azure orb shone brightly within the azure light, seemingly containing a world of storm. Chi Jing had summoned the Wind God Orb immediately, which clearly showed how angry she was with Bai Ye''s betrayal. Swoosh! The Wind God Orb quivered and directly broke space. Wrapped in frightening power, it appeared above Bai Ye as though it had teleported, and it was about to crush down. The Wind God Orb descended, collapsed space and brought an earth-shattering aura to the world. Bai Ye¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he watched the Wind God Orb descend. He didn¡¯t evade or strike back with any defensive moves. Instead, he let the Wind God Orb explode his body. His body shattered, but his laughter filled the air. "Haha, Chi Jing, you should focus on how to protect the Tianyuan Utopia. I¡¯m not interested in playing with you.¡± He was a Genesis Qi double, and his real body most likely wasn¡¯t in the Tianyuan Utopia. Boom! But before they could track his real body, the entire Tianyuan Utopia quaked violently. Chi Jing raised her head abruptly, peering at the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s entrance. The stabilized light boundary began to crack, and Genesis Qi fragments constantly dropped from it. Even Chi Jing felt a chill run down her spine when she saw the boundary falling apart. She knew that the boundary would lose its stability once two mystical creatures were lost. The protection boundary Cang Yuan created was about to be destroyed. The boundary connected the 900 prefectures in the Tianyuan Region. So once the boundary broke, the Tianyuan Utopia would lose its Genesis Qi support, and the rich vitality within the Tianyuan Utopia would be lost. The blessed land for cultivation would gradually become a place without a source of Genesis Qi. The loss of the Tianyuan Utopia would be a fatal blow to the Tianyuan Region. The region might even lose its status as one of the nine regions. Chapter 1063 Appear? Under the golden torrent¡¯s battering, the boundary continued to shatter, and countless boundary fragments scattered in the void. The cracks in the light boundary multiplied, and some experts could even see a domain with numerous floating islands through the cracks. Countless Tianyuan Region citizens watched the scene in horror. Situated in the outside world, they naturally were unaware of Bai Ye¡¯s betrayal, but they knew they were in a very bad situation from the boundary¡¯s incessant splintering. They were very puzzled as to why there would be such a sudden change. The light boundary looked very stable to them before. The change in the light boundary caused panic to spread through the Tianyuan Region. The Tianyuan Utopia was the center of the Tianyuan Region and a blessed cultivation place that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had created. Many Tianyuan Region citizens regarded it as a blessed land and had always hoped to find a chance to enter the Tianyuan Utopia for training. Therefore, the Tianyuan Utopia had an important position in millions of the Tianyuan Region citizens¡¯ hearts. If the Tianyuan Utopia were destroyed before their eyes, it would have an unimaginable impact on them, and once their sense of purpose diminished, the Tianyuan Region would no doubt face destruction. Powerful, mighty auras circled above the Tianyuan Region, closely watching the collision at Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s entrance. Those auras belonged to the top experts from other forces in Hunyuan Heaven. Among them, many were Law Domain experts. Although the Tianyuan Region citizens couldn¡¯t see past the void and didn¡¯t know what was happening in the Tianyuan Utopia, the Law Domain experts had clearly witnessed Bai Ye¡¯s betrayal. The unexpected change had shocked even Law Domain experts. They similarly hadn¡¯t expected Bai Ye to betray the Tianyuan Region. Bai Ye was one of the five grand elders in the Tianyuan Region, and they wondered how much effort the Wanzu Region had put in to pull Bei Ye to their side. The effect of Bei Ye¡¯s betrayal was undoubtedly earth-shattering. The boundary was unable to last after two mystical creatures were destroyed. The Law Domain experts sighed sympathetically. It seems the Tianyuan Region can¡¯t escape calamity today. Of course, some people were secretly delighted. After all, the Tianyuan Region was one of the nine regions, and the 900 prefectures under its rule possessed innumerable rare training resources that top forces coveted. Those top forces dared not do anything in the past, but if the Tianyuan Region were to split from the nine regions, they would undoubtedly take a huge bite of the Tianyuan Region. Given the Tianyuan Region¡¯s size, one bite was enough to fill them up. The great movements within the Tianyuan Region had awakened the supreme sovereigns from their training and attracted their attention. The other supreme sovereigns were all aware of supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s plan and intentions. However, they made no effort to stop him and even somewhat approved his action. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu had long broken some rules. Except for the time supreme sovereign Wu Shen interfered when he attacked Zhou Yuan, the supreme sovereigns had kept quiet about all his other plans. After all, Cang Yuan had gone too far in that one matter. Even if there were disputes, you can''t act secretly and sneak out of Hunyuan Heaven and stay hidden for so many years, right? That matter is very important. If something goes wrong, even you, Cang Yuan, can''t take such responsibility! It¡¯s infuriating! It¡¯s good that Wan Zu is trying to force you out, since some matters have to be resolved! How infuriating! At that moment, all top experts in Hunyuan Heaven had their attention on the Tianyuan Region. ... Boom! Watching the light boundary shatter slowly, Chi Jing didn¡¯t give up. Gritting her teeth, she operated the Sky Illuminating Eye. It refined Saint fire meteors one after another and bombarded the golden torrent. However, Chi Jing was put under a heavy load to activate a Saint treasure like the Sky Illuminating Eye, even if she possessed the Sky Illuminating Token. Soon, blood trickled down the corners of her lips. But she didn''t care¡ªher eyes were filled with stubbornness and persistence. However, her offensive had little effect. Every time a Saint fire meteor struck, a mysterious light beam pierced the void and directly melted the meteor. Standing atop the golden pagoda, Zhao Xiansun smiled faintly as he watched the mysterious light beams from his Ancestral Spirit Mirror penetrate the void. "Chi Jing, you¡¯re still resisting?" He sneered. Chi Jing¡¯s face remained expressionless, but her eyes gradually turned blue like sapphire. A Law Domain world seemed to be roaming in the depths of her eyes. She exhausted all her strength. The Sky Illuminating Eye that resembled a blazing sun grew even bigger, but Chi Jing had to pay the price for this. The bloodstains on the corners of her lips darkened. ¡°Chi Jing, let me do it,¡± Mu Ni said heartachingly. Chi Jing shook her head. She was the one who had always refined the Sky Illuminating Token, so she knew its power would weaken if its operator were changed to sect master Xuan Kun or Mu Ni. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re getting angry¡­¡± Zhao Xiansun chuckled. He also felt the Sky Illuminating Eye¡¯s power had grown stronger and knew that Chi Jing was trying to turn around her fate. ¡°Why do you have to do this?" Zhao Xiansun said in a pitying voice. Although Chi Jing¡¯s action would create some trouble for him, it wouldn¡¯t change the final ending. Therefore, in his view, Chi Jing was doing something meaningless. As he lifted his palm into the air, the Ancestral Spirit Mirror floated up, and the ancient Genesis Runes that seemed to have existed since the beginning of the universe gradually grew brighter. Zhao Xiansun''s face also turned purple-red. Om! A mysterious light beamed from the Ancestral Spirit Mirror, shattering space. ... Boom! While Chi Jing and Zhao Xiansun attacked one another with the power of their respective Saint treasure, more than half of the boundary at the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s entrance was destroyed. The commotion brought by Bai Ye¡¯s betrayal had faded, and the Tianyuan Utopia had quieted. However, the silence was an indication of their powerlessness and despair. Everyone stared blankly at the crumbling light boundary. The glory the Tianyuan Region had in the past had shattered at that moment. In the future, they might no longer be proud to be citizens of the Tianyuan Region. Muffled sobs rang out throughout the Tianyuan Utopia. Chi Jing¡¯s little hand in the air stiffened slightly as she stared out of the void in a daze. She didn¡¯t operate the Sky Illuminating Eye this time and just gently wiped the blood at the corners of her lips. At this time, even someone as determined as her felt a hint of despair. She painfully closed her eyes. Master, senior brother¡­I am incompetent and can¡¯t defend the Tianyuan Utopia, she muttered sorrowfully in her heart. Under countless gazes, the last piece of the boundary that guarded the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s entrance began to crack and release countless specks of light. Once this piece broke, the Tianyuan Utopia would lose the Genesis Qi that connected the 900 prefectures of the Tianyuan Region, and it would undoubtedly collapse. Kacha! The last boundary piece crackled as cracks spread throughout it. Bang! In the end, the light boundary could no longer hold on, and it finally broke apart. All the citizens within the Tianyuan Region were in despair. A relieved smile lit up Zhao Xiansun¡¯s face. Their plan had finally succeeded. From then on, there would be only eight regions in Hunyuan Heaven! ¡°Huh?¡± Before the smile fully bloomed on Zhao Xiansun¡¯s face, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. He found that the universe Genesis Qi from the region¡¯s 900 prefectures was still flowing towards the Tianyuan Utopia. ¡°Huh?¡± The Law Domain experts also cried out in shock. Mighty auras fluctuated in the depths of the void. Many people cast their eyes towards the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s entrance. Light rays were converging, and the last little boundary piece was still standing strong. Although the boundary was covered in cracks, one could see faint threads joining the cracks together upon a closer look. Moreover, endless silk threads were hanging down from the void. They constantly pulled over the fragments floating in the void and pieced them back into the light boundary, shocking countless people. The Law Domain experts were especially shocked because they knew what kind of terrifying power was needed to put the fragments together. Moreover, the silk threads emitted an aura that made them shudder with fear. That aura¡­ A Saint expert! The mighty auras in the depths of the void gradually grew more powerful, and unfathomable eyes revealed themselves in the void. All pairs of eyes stared intently at the light boundary. "Cang Yuan...are you finally showing yourself?" Chapter 1064 Congratulations, New Sain Countless people cast shocked and suspicious gazes at the entrance. Light strands constantly seeped through the void. Those mysterious light threads seemingly possessed extraordinary power and even pieced together the broken boundary fragments. In just a few breaths, the boundary¡¯s last fragile piece unexpectedly stood strong even though it was covered in faint cracks and was about to shatter. This scene stunned many experts, and the power contained within the mysterious light threads made their hearts pound with fear. That power well-surpasses the Law Domain stage! Could it be...supreme sovereign Cang Yuan has finally shown himself? Within the Tianyuan Utopia, sect master Chi Jing, Xuan Kun and the others were struck dumb by the sudden change. They exchanged surprised and worried glances with one another. That power must be from a Saint expert! But if Cang Yuan had really returned, even if he could solve the Tianyuan Region¡¯s crisis, in a sense, he had fallen into the opponent''s scheme. Therefore, they didn''t know whether they wanted to see Cang Yuan appear. But only the high-level experts pondered that question. Countless people within the Tianyuan Utopia burst into deafening cheers, and their joy wiped out the despair that had previously filled the world. Zhou Yuan, on the other hand, was anxious. He was uncertain whether the mysterious power came from master Cang Yuan¡­ ¡°Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan?¡± Hong Jiuyuan¡¯s pupils shrank and fear filled his eyes. Naturally, he was afraid of the great supreme sovereign. ¡°Continue to attack!¡± Zhao Xiansun¡¯s icy voice fell into his ears, causing him to hesitate for a while. In the end, he gritted his teeth and continued to operate the golden tower. Since they had already reached this step, they couldn¡¯t give up regardless of whether supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had appeared. Rumble! Under Hong Jiuyuan¡¯s operation, more terrifying gold torrents rushed into the sky and frantically pounded the boundary put back together by the mysterious light threads. In the void¡¯s depths, universe Genesis Qi surged and formed a mysterious eye that locked onto the light boundary. ¡°Cang Yuan, if it¡¯s you, then show yourself!¡± Boom! A mighty golden torrent charged through the boundary under countless gazes. A crack slowly tore in the void in front of the light boundary, and a hand popped out. The hand, slender and fair, gently reached out to pat the mighty torrent. It appeared extremely small beneath the torrent, but for some reason, its appearance caused the entire void to quake. Om! After the mighty torrent was destroyed, the crack in the void slowly widened, and a figure strode out. All eyes gathered on the figure. The mighty auras in the void suddenly flickered. ¡°You finally showed yourself!¡± Endless Genesis Qi rushed forth from somewhere in the void, forming a blurry figure. The figure was imposing and almost invisible, but he emitted an oppressive pressure that made the world tremble. It was supreme sovereign Wan Zu! Cang Yuan¡¯s appearance meant his goal had been achieved, and he could continue to the next step of his plan. Wan Zu¡¯s gaze penetrated the void, locked onto the figure stepping out the spatial crack and then¡­seemed to still momentarily. ¡°Huh?!¡± The other supreme sovereigns also cried out in puzzlement, and their auras shook violently. ¡°Huh?!¡± Countless people cast blank gazes towards the figure, including Law Domain experts, and their mouths slowly fell open. They realized the figure that stepped out of the spatial crack wasn¡¯t supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, whom they were familiar with. It was a young man with a tall and straight body like a pine tree. His face was as pretty as jade, and his facial features resembled those of a carved stone statue. He exuded an astonishing charm, and the smile that curved the corners of his lips made one feel at ease. In particular, the scarlet-red gourd on his back, which was as tall as a person, exuded a faint terrifying aura. The person before them wasn¡¯t supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, whom everybody expected. The man with the gourd on his back scratched his head and said with a smile, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s so lively here.¡± The world fell utterly silent. Zhou Yuan was also a little dumbfounded. He stared at the mysterious man blankly. He clearly isn¡¯t master Cang Yuan, but if it¡¯s not my master, who is he? He cast a glance over at Qin Lian and the others and saw puzzled expressions on their faces. They seemed to be vaguely familiar with him, but they couldn¡¯t recognize him. Zhao Xiansun, Hong Jiuyuan and the other Law Domain experts similarly stared dumbly at the man, and it was only after a good while that shocked disbelief rushed forth from their eyes. Chi Jing¡¯s eyes widened, and her voice trembled, ¡°Senior brother!?¡± Although the man with the huge gourd on his back had a slightly different bearing than he did in the past, Chi Jing recognized him from his familiar aura. ¡°Zhuan Zhu?!¡± sect master Xuan Kun exclaimed. He was also stunned because the man was supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s eldest disciple who had been missing for a long time. They had never imagined that the person who would appear during the Tianyuan Region¡¯s most critical time wouldn¡¯t be supreme sovereign Cang Yuan but Zhuan Zhu! Hua! Uproar and commotion broke out among the millions of Tianyuan Region citizens. They also recognized the man after a little reminder. But very soon, they felt a little uneasy again because the person who had come wasn¡¯t supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. Could supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s eldest disciple, who had been missing for many years, solve their crisis? ¡°Zhuan Zhu, I didn¡¯t expect it to be you!¡± A glum look surfaced in Zhao Xiansun¡¯s bewildered eyes. For some reason, he felt a disturbing aura exuding from Zhuan Zhu, a former rival of his. Zhuan Zhu had been in closed-door cultivation for so many years, and Zhao Xiansun had even thought he had died. But it seemed this wasn¡¯t the case. His eyes gleamed as he passed a message to Hong Jiuyuan, ¡°Attack him!¡± Although Zhuan Zhu had shown terrifying powers, those could be the means of Cang Yuan. Zhao Xiansun didn¡¯t dare to think about it and didn¡¯t even dare to believe it. Hong Jiuyuan immediately activated the nine golden towers when he received the command because he wanted to confirm something. But while the nine towers frantically rotated, Zhuan Zhu seemed to have detected something. His gaze pierced the void, and he smiled, applying pressure with his hand. Boom! Space crumbled. Rumble! Then, the scene that Zhao Xiansun, Hong Jiuyuan and the other Law Domain experts saw sent a chill down their spines. The golden towers that supreme sovereign Wan Zu had personally created collapsed and were forcibly crushed into golden pancakes. Even Zhao Xiansun and the others felt fear surging into their hearts because they couldn¡¯t believe what they saw. After suppressing the nine golden towers behind him, Zhuan Zhu peered up and said with a smile, ¡°Elders, please show yourself.¡± The depths of the void vibrated ever so slightly, and mighty Genesis Qi gathered and gradually transformed into eight figures, stunning the countless watchers. The eight figures stood tall in the void, and when they appeared, the entire world trembled as though it couldn¡¯t bear their powers. It was the supreme sovereigns of the eight regions! The strongest existences in Hunyuan Heaven! They had all appeared at the same time! Awe filled countless eyes, but the eight supreme sovereigns ignored those gazes and only stared at Zhuan Zhu. They didn¡¯t utter a word, but their eyes glinted as though they were confirming something. Zhuan Zhu also knew what they were thinking. He smiled, and the next moment, a wisp of aura rose from his head and turned into a slowly blooming Saint lotus. The Saint lotus¡¯ appearance caused the heaven and the earth to hum simultaneously and made the Genesis Qi surge wildly. Countless strange sights appeared throughout the world as though congratulating something. All living beings across the world were astonished. As for the eight supreme sovereigns, they quivered in the void as they silently watched the saint lotus bloom above Zhuan Zhu¡¯s head with different expressions. But in the end, they all stood with one hand in front of them and bowed their head, performing the most ancient ceremony. ¡°Congratulations, new Saint.¡± Deafening voices as clear as a bell rang throughout Hunyuan Heaven. Chapter 1065 World Congratulates Resounding voices echoed in every corner of Hunyuan Heaven like a bell. Countless beings lifted their heads in astonishment. For them, such a spectacle was seen only once in a lifetime, and only those with profound knowledge would remember a record of such spectacles in the ancient books. ¡°Another Saint is born in Hunyuan Heaven?¡± They were so shocked that they couldn¡¯t control themselves. It was rumored that the birth of a new saint would draw congratulations from across the world. Iridescent clouds would fill the sky, and golden lotuses would surge up from underground, all rare spectacular sights. No one thought they could witness a new Saint¡¯s birth as it was a rare occurrence, and many people would never encounter it once in their entire lives. Although the citizens in Hunyuan Heaven still didn¡¯t know about the new Saint¡¯s background, that didn¡¯t stop them from feeling delighted because Saint experts were leaders of the human race. The addition of a new Saint indicated that Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s strength had gone up a level, which was undoubtedly a great occurrence from any point of view. After all, in this world, the human race was not the strongest race. Within the universe, the mysterious and powerful Sacred Race were the true rulers of this world. The Sacred Race had brought tremendous pressure to the other races in the world. Otherwise, the Sacred Race wouldn¡¯t have dominated four of the nine heavens, and the rest of the races wouldn¡¯t only cower and reside in the other five heavens. Although the Hunyuan Heaven citizens didn¡¯t know where the new saint came from, those within Tianyuan Region were able to witness the birth of the new Saint. As a result, the entire Tianyuan Region was buzzing like never before. Countless Tianyuan Region citizens stared blankly at the tall figure with a saint lotus formed above his head. The next moment, they dropped to one knee, and their eyes widened with admiration and reverence. ¡°Congratulations, new Saint!¡± ¡°Congratulations, new Saint!¡± ¡°......¡± Booming voices echoed throughout the Tianyuan Region¡¯s 900 prefectures, quaking the mountains and sky. At the borders, Zhao Xiansun, Hong Jiuyuan and the other Law Domain experts stared dumbstruck at the appearance of a new Saint expert. The Genesis Qi frantically circulating around their bodies displayed how strong their emotions were at that moment. Especially Zhao Xiansun. His eyes were wide with disbelief. After all, he had always regarded Zhuan Zhu as his rival. He originally thought he could catch up to Zhuan Zhu, but Zhuan Zhu¡¯s appearance seemed to have directly thrust him into the depths of an abyss. The Saint lotus above Zhuan Zhu¡¯s head clearly symbolized his cultivation level. He was a one-lotus Saint expert! Everyone below the Saint stage was ordinary to him! ¡°How is that possible¡­how is that possible¡­,¡± Zhao Xiansun murmured. As an expert at the pinnacle of the Law Domain stage, he was only one step away from becoming a Saint expert, but the gap he had to cross was comparable to the distance between heaven and earth. It was possible that he would never make that step in his life. When he met Zhuan Zhu again in the future, he would have no choice but to bow his head and respectfully address him as supreme sovereign. How could he accept this? But even if he couldn¡¯t, would Zhuan Zhu return to the Law Domain stage? Zhao Xiansun slowly lowered his head, and the triumphant look he had before had completely vanished. ... On the Tianyuan Region¡¯s border. Bai Ye lifted his head and gazed silently at the void. As he quivered, he exuded a terrifying aura. Many White Clan experts stood behind him, similarly filled with fear. They originally thought the Tianyuan Region would be destroyed, but who would have thought that Zhuan Zhu would suddenly appear at the critical moment? Moreover, he had broken into the Saint stage! It was terrifying to have two Saint experts in one region! All White Clan experts felt a chilling terror creep over them. They were well aware of the power a Saint expert possessed and knew that they would fall into a crisis if Zhuan Zhu noticed them. ¡°Clan leader¡­,¡± A White clan elder muttered in a trembling voice. This voice snapped Bai Ye out from his horror. His expression changed dramatically, and he finally said hoarsely, "Quickly inform all White Clan members to escape from the Tianyuan Region!¡± Everybody was silent and still for a moment when they heard his command, but soon, many scrambled to flee. ... The Tianyuan Utopia similarly plunged into a surging ocean. After the initial shock, even Chi Jing and sect master Xuan Kun couldn''t stop a smile from spreading over their faces. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Zhuan Zhu to break through to the Saint stage¡­his talent¡­¡± Sect master Xuan Kun sighed, jealousy in his voice. Mu Ni chuckled, ¡°We have to call him supreme sovereign Zhuan Zhu from now on.¡± Grand elder Bian Chang also laughed, "Haha, it seems the heaven doesn¡¯t want our Tianyuan Region destroyed. It is incredibly rare to have two saints in one region in the history of Hunyuan Heaven!¡± Chi Jing clenched her hands tightly as she gazed up at Zhuan Zhu¡¯s figure with tear-filled eyes. Before Zhuan Zhu¡¯s appearance, she was determined to defend the Tianyuan Utopia to death, but who would have thought that her senior brother would suddenly break through to the Saint stage and shock the world! ¡°So many years of closed-door cultivation is indeed effective¡­¡± Chi Jing felt a weight lift from her, and she said with pursed lips, ¡°Where did he find such a huge gourd? He looks silly¡­but he didn¡¯t disappoint me after I worked so hard for so many years to help him take care of the responsibilities required of the grand elder position.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun and the others laughed. They were previously so anxious that they didn¡¯t even dare show a smile. But now that Zhuan Zhu had broken through to the Saint stage, he had become their pillar. Even if Zhuan Zhu might be weaker than the other veteran supreme sovereigns, he was still a Saint stage expert, and even the other supreme sovereigns had to treat him as an equal. The tremendous pressure they previously endured had diminished. ... ¡°So, that¡¯s senior brother Zhuan Zhu¡­¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise when he finally learned the identity of the man carrying the huge scarlet gourd. Ever since coming to the Tianyuan Region, he had heard his senior brother¡¯s name mentioned repeatedly, but he didn''t expect his senior brother to break through to the Saint stage the moment he showed up. ¡°It¡¯s grand elder Zhuan Zhu! Our Tianyuan Region is saved!" Qin Lian, Mu Youlan, Yi Qiushui and the others cheered. They couldn¡¯t help flushing with excitement, and they almost wept with joy. Zhou Yuan gazed at the figure with blazing eyes. This result was unexpected to him, but he wasn¡¯t sure whether his senior brother Zhuan Zhu¡¯s appearance could solve the Tianyuan Region¡¯s crisis. After all, there should still be a gap between his senior brother Zhuan Zhu and supreme sovereign Wan Zu, even if Zhuan Zhu had broken through to the Saint stage. But Zhou Yuan was certain of one thing: everything would be very different now that a Saint expert had assumed command of the Tianyuan Region. Chapter 1066 Matter ends The outcome was unexpected to everyone. Not only did supreme sovereign Wan Zu fail to force Cang Yuan out in the end, but he had also brought out another supreme sovereign in the Tianyuan Region. This was a huge matter. The addition of a Saint expert in Hunyuan Heaven would lead to a huge change in the world. Although Zhuan Zhu was only a one-lotus Saint expert, and there was a gap between him and other supreme sovereigns, as a Saint expert, he was an equal to the other eight supreme sovereigns. It was incredibly rare to have two Saints in one region in the history of Hunyuan Heaven. Faced with such a scene, the eight supreme sovereigns were silent for a good while. Zhuan Zhu placed one hand on his chest and gave a slight bow to the other eight supreme sovereigns. Then, he swept a glance over the light boundary at the Tianyuan Region¡¯s entrance and smiled. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu, you¡¯re a Saint expert, but you are willing to lower yourself to deal with the Tianyuan Region. You really attach great importance to my Tianyuan Region.¡± He lifted up his eyes and looked directly at supreme sovereign Wan Zu. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu wore an indifferent expression, and there wasn¡¯t a hint of emotion on his face as he said, ¡°Supreme sovereign Zhuan Zhu, you should know my purpose of coming here. Also¡­there are some things that Cang Yuan needs to explain to not only me but also the other supreme sovereigns.¡± Zhuan Zhu scratched his head, saying, ¡°If you want my master to give you an explanation, you should find him elsewhere. Why create trouble in the Tianyuan Region?¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu scrunched his brows. If Cang Yuan wanted to keep hidden, given the vastness of all the Heavens, it would be impossible to find him. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s plan was about to succeed if Zhuan Zhu hadn¡¯t appeared and disturbed it. It was understandable that he, who was always calm and composed, was in a bad mood. Zhuan Zhu smiled. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu, today¡¯s matter ends here.¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu narrowed his eyes, saying indifferently, ¡°You have just entered the Saint stage, yet you dare order me?¡± Zhuan Zhu shook his head, saying, ¡°Your plan has caused huge damage to my Tianyuan Region, and I have already given you enough face by keeping the peace.¡± He paused to ponder. ¡°But supreme sovereign Wan Zu, if you aren¡¯t satisfied, I will retreat and let you destroy the Tianyuan Region.¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu stared at Zhuan Zhu indifferently, knowing that he must have something else to say. There seemed to be endless storms raging in supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s eyes, and the entire world seemed to be suppressed. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Ancient light runes emerged on the huge red gourd behind Zhuan Zhu. It seemingly possessed some sort of vitality and was breathing. ¡°Although I can¡¯t win against you elders, I have no difficulty dealing with others who are from your Wanzu Region. Also, you can¡¯t stop me.¡± Zhuan Zhu continued with a smile, "If my Tianyuan Region falls apart, it falls apart. But the people of your Wanzu Region can¡¯t live in peace so easily.¡± He was indeed superior to Zhuan Zhu, and he had the confidence he could defeat him. However, he could only defeat and not kill him. If Zhuan Zhu escaped, the Wanzu Region citizens really wouldn¡¯t dare to leave the Wanzu Region¡¯s borders. And it was impossible for him to protect them at all times. A Saint expert who could appear unexpectedly indeed posed a terrifying threat to him. Zhuan Zhu wasn¡¯t intimidated by supreme sovereign Wan Zu. He had nothing to fear; therefore, even if he were injured 1000 times, he had to wound his enemy 800 times. Wan Zu glowered at Zhuan Zhu, who was grinning at him. He never thought Cang Yuan¡¯s eldest disciple, who always had a playful attitude towards life, would be so difficult to deal with. Countless people shuddered and didn¡¯t dare to even breathe loudly. A game between two supreme sovereigns could determine the rise and fall of a region and affect billions of people. Within Tianyuan Utopia, Chi Jing''s and the others¡¯ faces were contorted with nervousness. However, they were much calmer compared to their earlier panic state. After all, as long as Zhuan Zhu, a supreme sovereign, was present, the Tianyuan Region would still have a pillar supporting them even if the Tianyuan Utopia was destroyed. Therefore, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for the Tianyuan Region to bounce back when the time was right. Of course, there would be inevitable losses if the Tianyuan Region was destroyed, and it would be best to avoid such a situation. But that depended on whether supreme sovereign Wan Zu was willing to let them. Under countless gazes, supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s eyes gleamed with a heart-chilling light, and then, he swept his gaze across the other seven supreme sovereigns. ¡°Everyone, we are only one step away from forcing Cang Yuan to appear. Who is willing to join hands with me to capture Zhuan Zhu? Don¡¯t worry. I know the importance of a Saint expert, and I won¡¯t harm his life. I will release him once this matter is over.¡± He could defeat Zhuan Zhu by himself, but he couldn''t stop him from escaping. However, if he had another supreme sovereign¡¯s help, Zhuan Zhu would have no choice but be captured obediently. One of the supreme sovereigns chuckled, ¡°Wan Zu is right.¡± The man who spoke had a devilish face, and his long black hair was swaying in the air. It was supreme sovereign Yao Gui. It was rumored that every strand of supreme sovereign Yao Gui¡¯s hair was formed from a demon puppet. Those demon puppets could scatter throughout millions of domains, and as long one remained, he could be reborn no matter how much damage was inflicted to his body. ¡°Thank you, brother Yao Gui.¡± Wan Zu expressed his gratitude. Supreme sovereign Yao Gui was one of his long-term allies, and they had long agreed to join hands to deal with Cang Yuan when he appeared. However, not all the supreme sovereigns were on the same path as Wan Zu. Supreme sovereign Wu Shen¡¯s majestic voice trembled the void, ¡°Do you two want to violate the agreement among Saint experts in Hunyuan Heaven?¡± Supreme sovereign Wu Shen¡¯s real body was a thin, ordinary-looking middle-aged man, but everyone knew that he had achieved the Saint stage with rare, powerful bodily strength. His combat strength was known to be fierce and terrifying. The so-called agreement among Hunyuan Heaven Saint experts was that they wouldn¡¯t recklessly start a battle against other Saint experts. After all, a Saint expert¡¯s power was too frightening and could impact the entire Hunyuan Heaven. "This isn¡¯t right. Zhuan Zhu has just become a Saint expert. How could we capture and seal him? Cang Yuan¡¯s matter has nothing to do with him,¡± an elegant voice resounded. It was a graceful figure with multiple purple halos behind her. She was as beautiful as a celestial being, and her bearing was ethereal. Her mysterious purple eyes, in particular, made her seem unreachable. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao! The other supreme sovereigns remained silent and didn¡¯t say a word. They wanted to maintain a neutral stance. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu and Yao Gui knitted their brows in a frown. It was difficult to continue their plan with the opposition of supreme sovereign Wu Shen and supreme sovereign Zi Xiao. Wan Zu said in a deep voice, ¡°Do we just let Cang Yuan mess around? If he falls into the Sacred Race¡¯s hand, who will be responsible then?¡± All the supreme sovereigns frowned. Zhuan Zhu spoke again, ¡°Supreme sovereigns, my master will return to Hunyuan Heaven within a few years at most.¡± He knew it would be difficult to end the matter if he didn¡¯t assure them somehow. The supreme sovereigns¡¯ eyes flickered slightly. A few years wasn¡¯t long to them¡­ "Then I hope you remember this promise. If Cang Yuan doesn¡¯t show up by then, we will all have to join hands to force him out.¡± This time, the one who spoke was an elder with a yin-yang light disk floating behind his head. The disk seemed capable of prying into the endless world as it rotated. That person was the supreme sovereign from the Xuanji Region. Zhuan Zhu nodded. A hint of disappointment flashed in supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s eyes, but he knew he had to stop here. The several supreme sovereigns exchanged glances with one another and gradually vanished. As the ancient light runes covering the huge red gourd on Zhuan Zhu¡¯s back faded, the high tension in the atmosphere slowly dissipated. The dispute had finally shown signs of calming down after Zhuan Zhu appeared. Everyone felt relieved, freed from a huge weight. Rumble! However, just as all parties were about to retreat, a terrifying wave of energy erupted outside the endless void. It gushed down and set off a storm across the entire Hunyuan Heaven. The eight supreme sovereigns¡¯ silhouettes, which were about to fade, suddenly stilled. They lifted their heads and pierced the void with their eyes, looking at Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s boundary wall! A tiny gap had emerged in the boundary, and they saw a huge and ruthless eye peering into Hunyuan Heaven through the gap. The expressions of the eight supreme sovereigns and Zhuan Zhu changed dramatically. Nine terrifying auras soared from them, causing the Genesis Qi throughout Hunyuan Heaven to surge violently. ¡°A Sacred Race supreme sovereign dares to peep into my Hunyuan Heaven?!¡± Nine majestic voices resounded throughout the world. Chapter 1067 Blessing Battle of the Heavens Countless beings shivered because they felt destruction from that icy gaze. The expressions of Zhou Yuan and the others in the Tianyuan Utopia also changed dramatically because the cold-blooded eyes sent a chill down their spines. ¡°That¡¯s¡ªa supreme sovereign of the Sacred Race?!¡± Zhou Yuan gulped, his eyes widening in fear. Qin Lian, Mu Youlan and the others even turned ashen. The fear they felt was much stronger than when the Tianyuan Utopia was close to being destroyed. This was because the words Sacred Race could be considered a nightmare for all living beings. Even those in Hunyuan Heaven, the strongest of all heavens, still greatly feared the mysterious and powerful Sacred Race. There were nine heavens in Tianyuan World. The human race occupied five of them, and the Sacred Race occupied the other four. Based on this fact alone, it was clear how terrifying the Sacred Race was. There were many records of wars waged by the Sacred Races in the ancient books, and every time, all races suffered disastrous damage, such as the death of supreme sovereigns. It was just that the Sacred Race seemed to only exist in ancient books. It was unknown how many years had passed since the Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereigns had been seen in Hunyuan Heaven. So, the appearance of a Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereign undoubtedly brought endless fear and unease to the Hunyuan Heaven citizens. Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t as afraid as Qin Lian and the others. After all, he had seen a similar scene in Cangxuan Heaven and had met the Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereigns more than once. However, judging from the current situation before him, the Hunyuan Heaven was indeed worthy of being called the strongest among the five heavens. At the very least, the Sacred Race didn¡¯t stretch out its hand and attack. On the other hand, the Sacred Palace, which the Sacred Race supported, was extremely arrogant and powerful in Cangxuan Heaven. But why would a Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereign suddenly target Hunyuan Heaven? Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows as he vaguely felt something major would soon happen. Boom! While thoughts raced in Zhou Yuan''s mind, the eight supreme sovereigns and Zhuan Zhu soared into the sky, stepped through the multiple voids and appeared outside the boundary wall. The terrifying aura rising from their bodies constantly caused the void to shatter. ¡°Sacred Race supreme sovereign, why did you attack my Hunyuan Heaven?!" Supreme sovereign Wu Shen¡¯s body gradually turned golden, and his thin body caused the world to tremble. The other supreme sovereigns stared vigilantly at the giant eye outside the boundary wall, but they weren¡¯t too worried because there was only one person outside the boundary. It didn¡¯t matter whether he could break through the boundary wall and enter Hunyuan Heaven because he wouldn¡¯t be able to return if he were to face nine supreme sovereigns at once. The giant eye rolled around, casting icy looks at the nine supreme sovereigns. "Unexpectedly, in addition to Cang Yuan, your Hunyuan Heaven has another supreme sovereign. Congratulations,¡± an indifferent voice resounded from outside the boundary wall. All supreme sovereigns remained indifferent, and even the playful smile always on Zhuan Zhu¡¯s face had faded. He narrowed his eyes and stared intently at the giant eye. Seeing the supreme sovereigns pay little attention to him, the Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereign said lazily, ¡°I am here to inform you that the Sacred Race will restart the Blessing Battle of the Heavens soon. I hope you will all be prepared.¡± When these words came out, the pupils of all nine supreme sovereigns shrank. "The Battle of the Heavens...is going to start again?" The nine supreme sovereigns exchanged glances with one another, their faces growing solemn. This was a major matter and concerned the fate of all races. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao said in a cold voice, ¡°One thousand years haven¡¯t passed since the last Battle of the Heavens, right? Your Sacred Race might be ready, but how can other races be prepared in such short notice?¡± ¡°Haha, that has nothing to do with my race.¡± The Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereign said in an unconcerned voice, "My race is the king of Tianyuan World and naturally can decide the date of the battle. If you¡¯re not satisfied, you can also try to have this ability." All nine supreme sovereigns¡¯ faces darkened, but the supreme sovereigns couldn¡¯t retort because the Battle of the Heavens was located in a mysterious place of the Tianyuan World, one of the sources that gives birth to Tianyuan World¡¯s Genesis Qi. Even if they were to unite the other four heavens, they might not have the ability to open up that place. Within Tianyuan World, only the Sacred Race possessed such an ability. The Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereign smiled. "If your Hunyuan Heaven doesn''t want to participate, don¡¯t force yourself.¡± The Battle of the Heavens could represent the future destiny of one heaven. If Hunyuan Heaven didn¡¯t participate, the Blessing would be seized by other heavens and allow them to become stronger for the next one thousand years, while the Hunyuan Heaven would deteriorate. Most importantly, although it would be difficult to accept it if the Blessing were to fall to the other four heavens, they absolutely couldn¡¯t accept it if the Sacred Race claimed the Blessing. The nine people glanced at one another. Although they saw anger in each other¡¯s eyes, they all suppressed it in the end. ¡°Our Hunyuan Heaven knows. If you¡¯ve passed along your message, see yourself out!¡± Supreme sovereign Wu Shen¡¯s icy voice resounded as she stretched out her hand towards the boundary wall. The world quaked, and he forcibly sealed the slight crack. And as the gap in the boundary wall faded, the giant eyes flashed and disappeared with a sneer. ¡°My Sacred Race will be waiting in Guyuan Heaven¡­¡± Standing in front of the boundary wall, the nine supreme sovereigns silently gazed at where the gap disappeared. It was clear that the sudden change was unexpected to all of them. Zhuan Zhu also sighed. He didn''t expect to encounter such a major event the moment he stepped into the Saint stage. "Everyone, I think you all know how important this Battle of the Heavens is, so let¡¯s not waste time. We should all go back and prepare. No matter what, we have to protect the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Blessing for the next one thousand years!" supreme sovereign Xuan Ji said. The other supreme sovereigns nodded and, with a slight motion, immediately vanished. They all understood that no one could manage it alone in the face of such threats and challenges. Even they, the mighty supreme sovereigns, were troubled by the upcoming battle. There most likely wouldn¡¯t be any peace in Hunyuan Heaven for some time. Chapter 1068 War Ends The Sacred Race had destroyed and enslaved countless races throughout history. For a certain period of time, even the human race had retreated repeatedly and suffered heavy losses. If it weren¡¯t for the rise of the supreme sovereigns in the human race and the fact they paid a great price, the human race wouldn¡¯t have survived under the Sacred Race¡¯s suppression. Even so, if the various races weren¡¯t pressured by the Sacred Race and hadn¡¯t started to join forces, the human race alone likely wouldn¡¯t be a match for the Sacred Race. Therefore, the Sacred Race¡¯s power and mystery recorded in many ancient books were bound to instill fear. It was just that, except for some top experts, only a few beings in Hunyuan Heaven had personally felt the threat and pressure from the Sacred Race. But the Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereign¡¯s appearance and his cold and ruthless gaze were enough to make countless beings feel the fear that existed in their blood. The mysterious and domineering Sacred Race was like sharp knives hanging above all races in Tianyuan World. But despite the appearance of the Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereign, when Zhuan Zhu¡¯s silhouette descended from the sky and appeared in the Tianyuan Utopia, deafening cheers still rang throughout the utopia, and countless awe-filled eyes were cast onto him. Zhuan Zhu smiled, saluting the cheers of the crowd with his hand. His playful, carefree attitude seemed warm to everyone. After all, all the other supreme sovereigns were mysterious and intimidating and were unlike Zhuan Zhu. Therefore, the cheers in the Tianyuan Utopia intensified. But before Zhuan Zhu could continue to play around, he felt a somewhat unfriendly gaze from below. He followed the direction of the gaze, then suddenly quivered. He immediately disappeared into the void and appeared in front of Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun and the others. "Which family¡¯s little junior sister are you? You¡¯re too pretty." Zhuan Zhu looked at Chi Jing¡¯s displeased face and showed an ingratiating smile. The corners of Chi Jing¡¯s lips curved upwards as she sneered, "When you left that position to me, didn''t you say you would be out in a year?¡± Chi Jing glared at Zhuan Zhu. Zhuan Zhu was originally responsible for the grand elder position, but he had found a reason to make Chi Jing take over for him. She had agreed to help him only for a year, but she had filled in for him until now! How could Chi Jing not understand that she had been fooled? Zhuan Zhu flushed with embarrassment and guilt when he met Chi Jing¡¯s gaze. He quickly moved behind Chi Jing and massaged her shoulders. ¡°Junior sister, don¡¯t be angry. It¡¯s not that I, your senior brother, didn¡¯t keep my promise. I only intended to go away to train for a year, but who would have thought I would be struck with enlightenment during the closed-door cultivation session and see an opportunity to break through? That¡¯s why I took longer than expected.¡± Chi Jing rolled her eyes and pushed him away. ¡°Leave! Do you think I am as stupid as I was back then?¡± Sect master Xuan Kun and patriarch Bian Chang felt a little cautious around Zhuan Zhu. After all, he had stepped into the Saint stage. Clan elder Mu Ni, however, looked much better and wore a gentle smile. Chi Jing and Zhuan Zhu had always been close to her, and she was also very pleased to see Zhuan Zhu break through to the Saint stage. Zhuan Zhu grinned at clan elder Mu Ni and greeted her, ¡°Aunt Ni.¡± Then he turned to sect master Xuan Kun and patriarch Bian Chang. ¡°I have troubled everyone all these years.¡± Sect master Xuan Kun and patriarch Bian Chang shook their heads with delighted smiles. With a supreme sovereign commanding the Tianyuan Region, everything would be very different in the future. They had suffered enough all these years without a supreme sovereign as a backer. ¡°Supreme sovereign Zhuan Zhu is back. The Tianyuan Region can finally relax,¡± sect master Xuan Kun sighed. Bian Chang nodded and then uttered after some hesitation, ¡°Regarding Bai Ye¡­¡± Bai Ye had led the White Clan to betray the Tianyuan Region and had almost given the Tianyuan Region a devastating blow. Zhuan Zhu waved his hand, then immediately exhaled a cloud of white mist. The white mist rose in front of him, turning into a light screen. Within the light screen, a towering mountain of Genesis Qi stood tall. The mountain, crystal-clear like a gemstone, signified that the Genesis Qi had been compressed to a terrifying stage. Faintly, ancient light runes were emerging on the mountain and exuding inexplicable and terrifying pressure. At that moment, the towering mountain was pressing on a figure. Half the figure was pinned beneath the mountain, and the man couldn''t budge no matter how he struggled. It was Bai Ye! Zhuan Zhu smiled. ¡°I have pinned Bai Ye. As for how to deal with him, I will leave that to the Elder Committee.¡± Hearing Zhuan Zhu¡¯s indifferent tone and seeing Bai Ye suppressed, the awe in the eyes of Xuan Kun and Bian Chang intensified even more because they didn¡¯t see or hear Zhuan Zhu take action against Bai Ye. That meant he had taken care of everything with one thought and had effortlessly suppressed a Law Domain expert. A Saint-level supreme sovereign was indeed terrifying. As Chi Jing looked at the suppressed Bai Ye, a complicated look came to her eyes. After all, who would have thought that Bai Ye would betray them after they had worked together for so many years? She shook her head, trying to forget about the matter, and said, ¡°Right, I have someone to introduce to you.¡± Chi Jing flicked her finger, and Zhou Yuan, who was below them, suddenly felt a cloud of Genesis Qi form beneath his feet. It directly lifted him up. "Senior brother, do you know about his identity?" Chi Jing pointed to Zhou Yuan, keeping Zhuan Zhu in suspense. But Zhuan Zhu swept a glance over Zhou Yuan and chuckled, ¡°Isn¡¯t he junior brother Zhou Yuan?¡± His eyes glinted with interest. Under Zhou Yuan''s helpless expression, Zhuan Zhu circled around and touched Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest again and again, bringing goosebumps to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan stared at his senior brother, whom he had never met before, with a guarded gaze. "What are you doing?" Chi Jing said irritably, slapping Zhuan Zhu¡¯s groping hand. Zhuan Zhu grinned. "I just want to know what kind of person can ignite sparks with that person.¡± When Zhou Yuan saw his weird smile, a light dawned, and he felt Zhuan Zhu was talking about Yaoyao. ¡°You, you saw master Cang Yuan recently?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Zhuan Zhu would only know about Yaoyao and him if he saw Cang Yuan. But what does his weird look mean? Isn¡¯t it normal that Yaoyao and I have some sparks since we¡¯re a perfect match? It¡¯s not like I have sparks with Tuntun! Zhuan Zhu patted the big gourd behind him and said with a smile, "My treasure was obtained through our master¡¯s guidance.¡± Chi Jing gasped. It turns out he has seen our master recently, so it''s no wonder that he knew about Zhou Yuan''s identity. However, after Zhuan Zhu changed the subject, Zhou Yuan felt a little closer to his senior brother. His nonchalant attitude didn¡¯t make him seem arrogant and instead made him very approachable. While they were chatting, Chi Jing suddenly asked, "What''s the deal with the Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereign?¡± The atmosphere suddenly tensed, and Zhou Yuan, sect master Xuan Kun and the others all stared at Zhuan Zhu curiously. Zhuan Zhu sighed, ¡°Let''s deal with the mess in Tianyuan Utopia first, and then I¡¯ll tell you about it. Anyway, supreme sovereign Wan Zu should have no time to create trouble again. ¡°Of course¡­the entire Hunyuan Heaven also wouldn¡¯t have any peace.¡± Chapter 1069 Settling Scores Although the sudden appearance of a Sacred Race''s supreme sovereign had diverted a lot of people¡¯s attention, Zhuan Zhu¡¯s breakthrough still created countless storms in Hunyuan Heaven. After all, there hadn¡¯t been the birth of a new Saint expert in a long time. Zhuan Zhu¡¯s breakthrough to the Saint stage also meant there would be a supreme sovereign guarding the Tianyuan Region. As a result, the precarious situation the Tianyuan Region was under had instantly become as stable as a boulder. The borders were calm and peaceful, and the provocations and challenges they frequently saw had disappeared completely, as though they had never appeared. A supreme sovereign possessed power that could command everything in sight. Even if Zhuan Zhu had only just reached the Saint stage, once stepped into that level, it was equivalent to reaching the pinnacle amongst the heavens and could draw forth awe and reverence. Moreover, when Cang Yuan returned in the future, the Tianyuan Region would possess two Saint experts, which was a terrifying situation! At that time, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s momentum would reach the peak since its establishment. The region might surpass and suppress even the Wanzu Region, the Wushen Region and the Zixiao Region, which were the strongest of the nine regions. Therefore, all forces in Hunyuan Heaven now understood that the Tianyuan Region would maintain its position as one of the nine regions and would even become more stable than before! Those who had tried to take advantage of the turbulence in the Tianyuan Region to gain power also quietly retreated in cold sweat. It was most difficult for the Tianyuan Region¡¯s vassal forces because they had chosen to stay on the sidelines and watch when the Tianyuan Region was in a crisis. They originally weren¡¯t optimistic about the Tianyuan Region¡¯s situation, but who would have thought that another Saint expert would emerge in the Tianyuan Region? The vassal forces presumably were like ants anxious of running into trouble because they feared the Tianyuan Region would want to settle scores with them. Countless people cast their gaze towards the Tianyuan Region. As many waited anxiously, the Tianyuan Region announced that traitor Bai Ye had been suppressed and the White Clan would be stripped of the privileges and resources they once had and be reduced to an ordinary family in the Tianyuan Region. They would also bear the name of a sinful clan. Therefore, the once prestigious White Clan would never be able to recover, and many forces sighed for them. Of course, in addition to resolving its internal problems, the Tianyuan Region didn¡¯t let off other enemies. The first to bear the brunt was the Tri-Mountain Alliance, which was closest to the Tianyuan Region. The Tri-Mountain Alliance shared a border with the Tianyuan Region and had caused a lot of trouble for the Tianyuan Region in the war. Therefore, they were the first the Tianyuan Region wanted to settle scores with. The Tianyuan Region simply sent a Heavenly Sun expert to accompany Zhuan Zhu to the Tri-Mountain Alliance, but the Tri-Mountain Alliance had abandoned all its properties, foundations and estates and had relocated their sect to another area in Hunyuan Heaven. The Tri-Mountain Alliance had built all its family properties and estate over many years. Although it was painful to give up everything, they had no other choice because they were too close to the Tianyuan Region. The Wanzu Region showed no intention of assisting them and had clearly abandoned them. Without the Wanzu Region¡¯s support, the Tri-Mountain Alliance¡¯s three Law Domain experts didn¡¯t have the courage to fight back. After all, Bai Ye was a huge lesson for them, and if they were to resist, the Tianyuan Region would likely use them to display its powers. As a result, countless forces once again witnessed the strength of a supreme sovereign. A decree was enough to make a top force relocate the entire sect. After driving away the Tri-Mountain Alliance, the Tianyuan Region didn''t take any action against the other top forces that participated in the war, mainly because the other four were too far from the Tianyuan Region and were in the Wanzu Region¡¯s territories. If the Tianyuan Region wanted to retaliate, it would be difficult. But even so, the Tianyuan Region still sent a letter asking the other four to compensate them for its losses. The four top forces had to swallow the insult and humiliation silently when they received the Tianyuan Region¡¯s blackmail. They knew that if it weren¡¯t for the Wanzu Region¡¯s protection, they would likely end up the same as the Tri-Mountain Alliance. And perhaps, even their Law Domain experts would be captured and suppressed. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s actions were already considered relatively restrained. All this was due to the region¡¯s fear of the Wanzu Region and the appearance of a Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereign. Therefore, the four top forces finally handed over a huge amount of compensation. Once things reached this point, the matter that attracted the attention of all forces in Hunyuan Heaven had finally come to an end, and the Tianyuan Region¡¯s fist had made all the forces understand again that the Tianyuan Region was still one of the nine regions in Hunyuan Heaven. Anyone who dared provoke this beast would pay a heavy price. ... ¡°The Battle of the Heavens?!¡± When all the outside forces regained their respect for the Tianyuan Region, Zhuan Zhu announced in the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s conference hall the news that the Sacred Race¡¯s supreme sovereign had given them, and everyone¡¯s mind unsurprisingly went blank. Only Chi Jing, sect master Xuan Kun, clan leader Bian Chang, Mu Ni and Zhou Yuan were in the meeting hall Zhou Yuan was now truly one of the grand elders in the Tianyuan Region. He had replaced Bai Ye on Zhuan Zhu¡¯s order. Given Zhuan Zhu¡¯s current prestige in the Tianyuan Region, his order was met with few objections. Zhou Yuan was a little helpless about this. He wasn¡¯t interested in the position of grand elder and felt his senior brother had unkind intentions in giving him the position. My senior brother wants others to work but wants to do nothing himself. He had tricked senior sister Chi Jing with the excuse he had to go into closed-door cultivation, but now he is planning to deceive his junior brother? Zhou Yuan felt a little defeated because Zhuan Zhu had used his usual tactic¡­ "What is the Battle of the Heavens?" Zhou Yuan blankly looked at Chi Jing and the others. Chi Jing grew serious and said, "As the name suggests, it is a battle that affects the nine heavens of Tianyuan World.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled. That scale is a bit scary, isn¡¯t it? Mu Ni looked at Zhou Yuan and explained, ¡°It is rumored that the ancestral dragon was born at the beginning of the universe. Later, the ancestral dragon formed all things on earth and subsequently led to the birth of the living beings in Tianyuan World. In Tianyuan World, there is a special existence, the ancestral land formed from the ancestral fragment that gave birth to the ancestral dragon. We call it Guyuan Heaven. This heaven isn¡¯t one of the nine heavens but an independent existence. ¡°Guyuan Heaven is extremely mysterious. It contains the most ancient Genesis Qi, which we call ancestral qi. The Guyuan Heaven connects to the nine heavens. However, these channels are always closed and will only open at a specific time...¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed. "At a specific time...could it be during the so-called Battle of the Heavens?¡± Mu Ni nodded. "Yes, the so-called Battle of the Heavens is actually a competition for the distribution rights of the oldest universe Genesis Qi within Guyuan Heaven. "Do you know why our Hunyuan Heaven became the strongest of the five heavens besides the four heavens of the Sacred Race? ¡°That''s because Hunyuan Heaven had repeatedly won the largest share of ancestral qi after the Sacred Race in the past Battles of the Heavens. Because of that, Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Genesis Qi is filled with an essence that allows countless heaven prides to be born. "Everyone in Hunyuan Heaven, including us, is actually blessed by that!¡± Zhou Yuan was a little stunned. There is such a deep reason for Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Genesis Qi to be so strong! Cangxuan Heaven is always ranked at the bottom in terms of strength. Could the reason be that it came last time and time again in the Battle of Heavens? ¡°Calculating the time, the Battle of Heavens happens around once every thousand years, but it¡¯s not time yet. The Sacred Race insists on starting it, so we have to quickly prepare,¡± said Zhuan Zhu helplessly. "Why are we so passive?" Zhou Yuan said puzzledly. Zhuan Zhu sighed, "Because the Sacred Race is much stronger, they can forcibly open up the Guyuan Heaven, but we can''t. They only informed us because the Guyuan Heaven follows a certain rule: the more heavens that participate, the stronger the ancestral qi it births." ¡°In simple terms, what the Sacred Race wants is not only their share of ancestral qi but also the five heavens¡¯.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. "If this is the case, it seems we have to rely on the major players like you.¡± In Zhou Yuan''s view, only people like Zhuan Zhu and Chi Jing could participate in a battle of that level, which concerned all heavens. But Zhuan Zhu stroked his chin and grinned at Zhou Yuan. "Little junior brother, you¡¯re wrong. This matter is not only dependent on us. We also need to rely on you." Chapter 1070 Ancestral Dragon Flesh Zhou Yuan stated at Zhuan Zhu suspiciously. From the name, the Battle of the Heavens seemed to be on a terrifying scale and encompassed all nine heavens of Tianyuan World. This was the greatest battle that Zhou Yuan had ever seen. Moreover, the prize they were competing for had a far-reaching influence and would affect even the strength of universe Genesis Qi within the nine heavens in the next thousand years. An extra share of the ancestral qi born in Guyuan Heaven could greatly impact every Heaven. Hunyuan Heaven was so powerful because it had nine supreme sovereigns, while the Cangxuan Heaven, where Zhou Yuan was born, only had one supreme sovereign, Cang Xuan, and he had fallen. The Battles of the Heavens didn¡¯t completely cause the gap between the two, but it must have had a significant effect. Therefore, in Zhou Yuan''s view, a competition of that level should concern only Zhuan Zhu, a supreme sovereign, or top Law Domain experts such as Chi Jing, while he, a little Heavenly Sun expert, could only cheer at the sidelines. ¡°To be precise, we need to depend on you Heavenly Sun experts¡­ "The scale of the Battle of the Heavens is indeed tremendous, and even we supreme sovereigns will need to enter the battlefield. However, our fight is on another level,¡± explained Zhuan Zhu when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s surprised expression. ¡°The outcome of the Battle of the Heavens is not only determined by us.¡± Zhuan Zhu flicked his fingers, and a gush of Genesis Qi gathered in front of him, forming an oval light screen. The oval screen was divided into three distinct layers. "Guyuan Heaven is extremely mysterious. It transformed into a three-level domain when it was born. The first level is the Law Domain space, the second is the Nascent Source, and the third is the Heavenly Sun space." Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled as he understood something. Zhuan Zhu smiled and nodded. ¡°Correct, just as you think, only those who fit the criteria can enter the space. For example, Law Domain experts can¡¯t enter the Nascent Source space and Nascent Source experts can¡¯t enter the Heavenly Sun space. ¡°Each level of the domain contains 20% of the total ancestral qi born in Guyuan Heaven...and there are nine spatial channels in the depths of each domain level. The nine channels differ in strength, and if one can open up and occupy the strongest channel and then connect it to one¡¯s heaven, that heaven will get the largest share of ancestral qi.¡± ¡°I see¡­" Zhou Yuan was amazed by Guyuan Heaven¡¯s mysterious ability to create such rules and control each of the three levels to contain 20% of the total ancestral Qi belonging to it. In this way, the Heavenly Sun experts from the various heavens would have the qualifications and reason to participate. This level of influence usually had nothing to do with experts of the Heavenly Sun stage, but the Battle of the Heavens had given them a golden opportunity. ¡°Three levels of domain, and each contain 20%¡­then what about the other 40%?" Zhou Yuan asked curiously. Zhuan Zhu¡¯s face turned solemn. "The remaining 40% depends on the various Heavens¡¯ supreme sovereigns." Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. As expected, the largest share was dependent on the supreme sovereigns of the various heavens. This was understandable. After all, they were the strongest existences in all heavens. ¡°The Battle of the Heavens is indeed worthy of its name. From the supreme sovereigns to the Heavenly Sun experts, everyone has a chance to enter the battlefield. I thought it was a duel between heavens.¡± Zhou Yuan smacked his lips. Zhuan Zhu chuckled, "You think too much. Although the Blessing Battle of the Heavens is very important, it still can''t reach that level. You should know that there aren¡¯t just nine heavens in the former Tianyuan World.¡± Zhou Yuan''s pupils shrank as he stared at Zhuan Zhu in disbelief. Does he mean that there used to be more than nine heavens in Tianyuan World? What happened to the other heavens? From what he said, it seems they were destroyed in previous great battles. The protagonists of those battles were obviously the Sacred Race and other races. Chi Jing also looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Generally speaking, the Battle of the Heavens is considered a competition, but at a deeper level, it should be divided into two parties. One is the Sacred Race, and the other is the five heavens, which includes the human race. "To put it simply, if I had no other choice, I would rather let the other four heavens get larger shares to stop the Sacred Race as much as possible.¡± Zhou Yuan''s face turned solemn. The Sacred Race was the greatest enemy. If the Sacred Race won a greater share of ancestral qi, they would rise even more, and they would have even more powerful experts in the future. ¡°What a heavy responsibility.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed and then said helplessly, "However, even if Heavenly Sun experts will participate in the battle, the participants should be top Heavenly Sun experts in Hunyuan Heaven, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Lu Qing once, Lu Qing was considered nothing among the Heavenly Sun experts in Hunyuan Heaven. At the very least, Qin Lian and Bian Buji from the Tianyuan Region were stronger than him. Not to mention, there were fiercer people ranked higher than Qin Lian on the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun List, and those top experts weren¡¯t easy to deal with. Of course, more importantly, there were Heavenly Sun experts in the mysterious and powerful Sacred Race. There would be demons of all kinds running wild. Therefore, Zhou Yuan was aware of his own strength. Right now, he had little chance of victory against Qin Lian and the others. But from what Zhuan Zhu said, it seems he wanted Zhou Yuan to participate¡ªZhuan Zhu had too much faith in him! Zhuan Zhu stroked his chin and said with a smile, "You don''t have to belittle yourself. You have to believe in your potential. This is what our master told me to do.¡± "Master Cang Yuan?" Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He didn''t expect it to be Cang Yuan¡¯s order. But, if he were to participate in a battle of that level with the strength of the initial Heavenly Sun stage, it would indeed be difficult, and it wouldn¡¯t be enough to rely solely on the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Promotion. "Master told me to pass on the message that there might be something you need there,¡± said Zhuan Zhu in a nonchalant voice. ¡°Something I need?" Zhou Yuan was a little puzzled, but then his eyes suddenly flickered. His breathing stopped for a moment. It had to be extremely important if Cang Yuan told Zhuan Zhu to pass the message to Zhou Yuan. In Zhou Yuan''s mind, there was only one thing. The Ancestral Dragon Flesh! The second object he needed to awaken Yaoyao! Cang Yuan had previously told him that Yaoyao needed the Ancestral Dragon Lantern and Ancestral Dragon Flesh to awaken. They were close to getting the Ancestral Dragon Lantern, but the Ancestral Dragon Flesh was still a mystery to him. In the few years that Zhou Yuan spent in Hunyuan Heaven, he had done everything he could to search for the Ancestral Dragon Flesh but to no avail. Zhou Yuan felt despair about this, but who would have thought that this clue would be in the so-called Battle of the Heavens! Zhou Yuan¡¯s breathing became hurried. But he suddenly frowned again because he had thought of the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. He had clearly helped the Tianyuan Region win first place in the nine regions tournament, but the Wanzu Region had used every reason to refuse to hand over the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. ¡°That damn supreme sovereign Wan Zu,¡± Zhou Yuan uttered resentfully. ¡°Don''t curse¡­¡± Zhuan Zhu chuckled, as though he knew what Zhou Yuan was thinking. He stretched out one finger and drew it across the air. Space suddenly tore open, and then, a simple and primitive lantern slowly floated out from the tear, shocking Zhou Yuan. As the lantern appeared, it released a terrifying pressure that crumbled space. Even Chi Jing and sect master Xuan Kun couldn¡¯t help drawing back a few steps. Zhou Yuan was much worse. His body stiffened, and his flesh trembled incessantly, showing signs of disintegration. Chi Jing patted Zhou Yuan''s shoulder lightly, and a force shrouded him. The force helped him break free from the terrifying pressure, and he reeled back in shock. ¡°That¡¯s¡­?¡± He stared intently at the lantern covered with ancient scales, his voice trembling. ¡°That''s the Ancestral Dragon Lantern.¡± Zhuan Zhu smiled. ¡°I personally went to the Wanzu Region, and supreme sovereign Wan Zu had no reason to refuse to hand it over. Otherwise, he would violate the sacred agreement.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was skewed with emotions. It¡¯s indeed the Ancestral Dragon Lantern! He had worked painstakingly hard ever since coming to Hunyuan Heaven and had finally achieved his goal! However, Zhou Yuan also understood that he should thank Zhuan Zhu for retrieving the lantern. If he hadn''t entered the Saint stage, supreme sovereign Wan Zu wouldn¡¯t have easily handed over the Ancestral Dragon Lantern and the Tianyuan Region wouldn¡¯t have the qualification to show up at their door and retrieve it. So ultimately, strength was king. "Thank you, senior brother,¡± Zhou Yuan earnestly said to Zhuan Zhu after taking a deep breath. Zhuan Zhu said with a smile, "Do you want to participate in the Battle of the Heavens now?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned, eyes blazing with battle intent. Now that the Ancestral Dragon Lantern was in his hand, he was missing the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. He must fight for it no matter what! Zhuan Zhu put away the Ancestral Dragon Lantern and said indifferently, "But you were right before. Given your current strength, you will be beaten in the Battle of the Heavens if you go¡­" Zhou Yuan''s smile suddenly stiffened. He glared at Zhuan Zhu. If that¡¯s the case, why tell me so much!? Why did he give him so much encouragement! Zhuan Zhu grinned mischievously and then stretched his back, got up and patted Zhou Yuan on the shoulder. "Little junior brother, to prevent you from being beaten by the Heavenly Sun monsters from the other heavens, I, your senior brother, will train you. You have to be prepared." Hearing Zhuan Zhu''s seemingly malicious voice, Zhou Yuan shuddered, and a chill surged into his heart. Chapter 1071 Prepare for Battle Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged atop a mountain, frequently scanning the surroundings. "Why isn¡¯t he here yet?¡± He naturally was waiting for his senior brother. A few days ago, Zhuan Zhu said he would properly train up Zhou Yuan. Although Zhou Yuan for some reason felt he would suffer greatly during the training, he didn¡¯t refuse, and on the contrary, he was full of anticipation. He knew very well that even though Zhuan Zhu seemed to be up to something, Zhuan Zhu ultimately wanted to give him guidance in his cultivation. Guidance from a saint expert was enough to make many Law Domain experts envious. Therefore, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t decline the offer. He knew very well that he must further improve his strength in preparation for the Battle of the Heavens. Otherwise, even if he possessed the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Promotion, it would be impossible for him to accomplish anything in that terrifying battle. Unless he could advance to the intermediate level of the Heavenly Sun stage! Only after he reached the intermediate stage and by relying on the Promotion Rune¡¯s power could he compete with top Heavenly Sun experts. But if he wanted to make another breakthrough in such a short period of time, he couldn¡¯t rely on the usual methods, and so, he put all his expectations on Zhuan Zhu. Buzz! And while Zhou Yuan was full of expectations, countless flecks of Genesis Qi gathered in the void, and after a few breaths, a familiar figure emerged in front of him. It was Zhuan Zhu. ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m exhausted.¡± As soon as Zhuan Zhu showed up, he sighed miserably and collapsed onto his buttocks. He peered at Zhou Yuan and said, "Little junior brother, how about I recommend you as chief grand elder and you can manage the Tianyuan Region¡¯s affairs!¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression remained unchanged, and he said indifferently, ¡°Senior brother, those affairs can¡¯t be tossed around. My grand elder status is just like a mascot. If you let me take care of the affairs, it¡¯s the same as letting the Great Five Alliance come and take over our Tianyuan Region.¡± ¡°You''re so useless,¡± Zhuan Zhu murmured, the corners of his mouth twitching. Zhou Yuan nodded indifferently, and said with a smile, "Big brother, I¡¯ve been waiting for your training!¡± Of course he knew why Zhuan Zhu was so upset, because Chi Jing had quit her job and said that she was going into closed-door cultivation to attack the Saint stage. As a result, she left all the affairs of the Tianyuan Region to Zhuan Zhu, which was clearly revenge for what their senior brother did to her before. Moreover, Zhuan Zhu was responsible for repairing the protection barrier at the Tianyuan Utopia¡¯s entrance. He must have been worn out these days. Zhuan Zhu said indignantly, "I shouldn''t have come back!" Zhuan Zhu sighed for a good while. Seeing Zhou Yuan stubbornly refused to listen to him, he said emotionlessly and the expression on his face faded. ¡°Little junior brother, you¡¯re a bit ruthless.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Senior brother, when I become a saint expert, I will help you share your responsibilities.¡± Zhuan Zhu rolled his eyes. When you become a saint expert, I would have been exhausted to death already. What use would that be? "Our Tianyuan Region will send out around 1000 Heavenly Sun experts to participate in the battle in Guyuan Heaven. They would all be elites of the Heavenly Sun stage. We will temporarily set two captains, they are Qin Lian and you." Zhuan Zhu finally got down to business. Zhou Yuan said helplessly, ¡°I will be the weakest captain in all heavens.¡± ¡°Sounds about right.¡± Zhuan Zhu smiled, "The other eight regions in Hunyuan Heaven and the top forces will send their strongest Heavenly Sun elites. But even though they are all teams from the Hunyuan Heaven, don''t be naive and think everyone is an ally. ¡°For example, if the team from the Wanzu Region has the chance, they perhaps might not mind destroying you. "Also, although our ultimate goal is to link the strongest channel to Hunyuan Heaven, there is a difference as to who gets through and has control.¡± "What do you mean?" Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly. Zhuan Zhu said, "Simply speaking, although the person who controls the channel can''t absolutely control the ancestral qi, they tamper with it. For example, direct the flow of ancestral qi to our Tianyuan Region a little bit more. "Do you know what this will result in? It will increase the grade of Genesis Qi in our Tianyuan Region and the cultivation efficiency within our Tianyuan Region would greatly improve. Maybe it wouldn¡¯t be noticeable in the short-term, but the benefits in the long-run are extremely frightening.¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression turned solemn. He understood Zhuan Zhu''s meaning. The inflow of ancestral qi would change the Genesis Qi within the entire Hunyuan Heaven. The total amount wouldn¡¯t change, but the Genesis Qi of a certain area could be made stronger or weaker. This was an extremely terrifying means because the universe Genesis Qi was the foundation of everyone¡¯s cultivation. Why could the nine regions become the nine regions and attract heaven prides throughout Hunyuan Heaven? Isn¡¯t it because the Genesis Qi there was abundant and they had better cultivation resources than others? And by controlling that channel, one can alter the Genesis Qi condition. It could become a strategic weapon of destruction for all forces. ¡°In other words, even if we win the channel, we have to be careful of internal competition?" Zhou Yuan asked. Zhuan Zhu nodded. Zhou Yuan couldn''t help but smack his lips. The Battle of the Heavens was indeed brutal. Not only must he defeat the enemies, he had to be careful of sneak attacks. "By the way, Zhao Mushen from the Wanzu Region, Wu Yao from the Wushen Region and Su Youwei from the Zixiao Region should also participate in the battle. The supreme sovereigns of their regions attach great importance to the three and will surely be training them right now,¡± Zhuan Zhu reminded. Although Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback, he wasn¡¯t too shocked. After all, Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei were all top talents. They only kept a low-profile recently because they just reached the Heavenly Sun stage, but once the time came, they would no doubt rise above the others. "It seems the three supreme sovereigns are planning to make them use the opportunity in Guyuan Heaven to leap into the Nascent Source stage,¡± said Zhuan Zhu, stroking his chin. Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment before he exclaimed out loud, "There is such an opportunity in Guyuan Heaven?¡± Zhao Mushen and the others should be at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, the same level as I am. The gap between that and the Nascent Source stage is as great as a chasm, but the Guyuan Heaven could make people soar to the Nascent Source stage in one step? Zhuan Zhu smiled. ¡°Guyuan Heaven was a fragment of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s birthplace. It naturally contains endless mystery. With the great opportunities in Guyuan Heaven, it isn¡¯t impossible to reach the Nascent Source stage in one step.¡± "And this kind of thing has happened in the past.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn''t help smacking his lips, and his eyes blazed with flames. He also longed for the power of the Nascent Source stage. So, he looked at Zhuan Zhu and said seriously, "Senior brother, please give your junior brother, I, guidance in cultivation!¡± He knew well that even if there were such great opportunities in Huyuan Heaven, he needed tremendous strength to support him. Therefore, he had to break through to the intermediate-Heavenly Sun stage! The Heavenly Sun experts in Guyuan Heaven would likely be the strongest in the entire Tianyuan World. In the face of the magnificent full-scale drama that would affect the nine heavens, even Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t dare to underestimate it. Not to mention there was the mysterious sacred race. Zhou Yuan felt tremendous pressure. Zhuan Zhu pursed his lips and pointed his finger. ¡°I will let you practice there before the Battle of the Heavens begins. Whether or not you can break through to the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage depends on your own ability.¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head curiously and followed Zhuan Zhu''s gaze, and then, his face stiffened. ¡°Senior brother, are you joking?!¡± This was because Zhuan Zhu was pointing to the blazing sun hanging above Tianyuan Utopia. It was also the saint treasure guarding the Tianyuan Utopia, the Sky Illuminating Eye! Chapter 1072 Training in the Illuminating Sea There were no waves surging above the sea, and the surface seemed to be frozen. The stillness was very strange. Standing on the surface of the sea, Zhou Yuan puzzledly scanned the surroundings, "Is that the Sky Illuminating Eye?¡± Zhuan Zhu nodded. "This is the Illuminating Sea, the source of the Sky Illuminating Eye¡¯s power, and the seawater here is also formed from the purest universe Genesis Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly shrank, and he stamped his feet. But he found that, even if he exerted all his strength, he couldn''t lift half a wave. Every drop of seawater was unbelievably heavy. What kind of rich Genesis Qi could transform into such seawater Genesis Qi? Zhuan Zhu flicked his finger, and seawater splashed up and landed in his palm. He jokingly said, "Do you believe me if I say this handful of water can crush you to death?¡± Zhou Yuan''s face darkened. He found that his senior brother was good at everything, but he enjoyed mocking people. "What should I do next?" Zhou Yuan asked, changing the subject. Zhuan Zhu smiled and waved his sleeve. Zhou Yuan suddenly felt the sea vibrating. He peered down and saw a huge eye slowly opening in the depths of the seabed. The giant eye emitted a frightening earth-shaking power. And as the giant eye emerged, a stream of light gushed forth and formed a blooming lotus in the sea. Faint flames leaped about within the light lotus, and although the flames seemed weak, their appearance whipped up slight waves from the surrounding mountain-like sea water. The seawater near the light lotus was incinerated into crystal dust and floated into the lotus flower. Zhuan Zhu said indifferently, ¡°The light lotus contains wisps of Saint fire.The training plan I prepared for you is to enter the light lotus. The Saint fire will continue to incinerate the super strong Genesis Qi in the surroundings and produce Genesis Qi Saint Dust. Yes, it¡¯s an extremely pure Genesis Qi unimaginable to someone of your level. To you, each speck of Genesis Qi Saint Dust is a great nourishing substance, and if you can refine and absorb them, they can tremendously strengthen your Genesis Qi foundation.¡± ¡°Saint fire?¡± However, Zhou Yuan was still very cautious. His scalp numbed when he heard those two words because he knew how terrifying the Saint fire was and that even Law Domain experts were fearful of its power. The light lotus seemed harmless, but Zhou Yuan felt a deadly aura of danger. ¡°Can my body even withstand such an experience?¡± he asked. Zhuan Zhu nodded as though saying ¡®I¡¯m glad you understand. Given your bodily strength, you would die in less than ten breaths.¡± "Hey, if this is the way to free myself from those troublesome affairs, I really want to try it." Zhuan Zhu looked at Zhou Yuan maliciously. Annoyed and amused at the same time, Zhou Yuan could only roll his eyes. Zhuan Zhu pulled out a strand of hair. It suddenly turned into a stream of light and landed on the light lotus. The next moment, an extremely powerful aura of life appeared inside the light lotus and transformed into countless tiny dancing people. "This life aura will protect you, so that you won¡¯t be incinerated into ashes...but the Saint fire will still bring unimaginable pain to your body as it blazes. This is inevitable. To absorb the Genesis Qi Saint Dust, which can¡¯t be touched by someone of your level, you will have to rely on the Saint fire¡¯s power.¡± Zhuan Zhu peered at Zhou Yuan and said nonchalantly, "Of course, if you think it''s too dangerous, we can choose a gentler method, but the effect won¡¯t be the same.¡± Zhou Yuan intently stared at the lotus floating in the sea, smiled and shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s go with the first method.¡± Zhuan Zhu raised his brows and then smiled at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Not bad." ¡°Senior brother, please send me down." The seawater was incomparably thick and heavy, and given his current strength, it was impossible to break through the water. Zhuan Zhu nodded, without saying anything else. With a wave of his sleeve, the sea surface split apart, directly forming a passageway into the light lotus. Zhou Yuan once again marvelled at a Saint expert¡¯s vast and mighty power, and then, without the slightest hesitation, he transformed into a stream of light and charged into the light lotus. Roar! The moment Zhou Yuan rushed into the light lotus¡¯ area, his expression abruptly changed, and an indescribably frightening force gushed forth from all directions. Then, Zhou Yuan noticed his body beginning to melt at an unbelievable speed. Terrifying pain shot through Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and almost drowned his mind. A muffled grunt came from his bloodied throat. He sat cross-legged in the air and his body suddenly swelled, and red lava-like patterns slowly spread across his body. ¡°Great Flame Devil!¡± His body drastically strengthened. However, this only lasted a few breaths at most. Zhou Yuan''s body soon continued to melt rapidly, and his whole body seemed to turn into a blood-red skeleton. The crystal dust whirling in the air silently floated down and turned into flecks of light with the Saint fire¡¯s heat and merged with his skeleton-like body. But Zhou Yuan''s vitality was dissipating at an alarming rate, and even his Spirit began to wander. However, just as his bones began to melt, an incredible aura of life shrouded him and instantly regenerated his flesh! In just seconds, Zhou Yuan''s skeleton-like body was restored to its original state. But his face was distorted due to the burning pain. The pain this time was several times more unbearable than when he was practicing the Great Flame Devil art! But even so, his eyes still blazed with unshakable determination. He had long developed an iron-like tenacity after so many years of cultivation. ¡°Again!¡± he roared. The blazing saint fire came again. As a result, the figure in the light lotus burned continuously, and then, recovered under the mysterious aura of life, and then continued to burn¡­It was like the most painful torture in the world. Yet the figure within the lotus withstood this onslaught again and again. However, as his body burned and restored, the waves of Genesis Qi exuded from his body were evidently growing stronger! Above the sea, Zhuan Zhu¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise as he watched Zhou Yuan grit his teeth and withstood the countless times of burning in the light lotus, because he knew well what kind of destructive power a Saint fire would have on a Heavenly Sun expert like Zhou Yuan. A Saint fire not only incinerated one¡¯s body, but also strikes the Spirit. A Nascent Source expert¡¯s body might be able to withstand a Saint fire¡¯s power, but their Spirit would likely be destroyed. The fact that Zhou Yuan withstood was enough to show his tenacity. "This little junior brother, really isn¡¯t bad¡­" He chuckled, a hint of admiration in his eyes. The next second, he disappeared into thin air, and the entire sea surface restored its usual calmness. Even if Zhou Yuan roared in the sea again and again, those sound waves couldn¡¯t penetrate the surface. Chapter 1073 Recruitmen To countless beings in Hunyuan Heaven, the Battle of the Heavens would undoubtedly seem a little unfamiliar because it had been a long time since the last. But once news about the battle spread, it very quickly evoked memories they learned from many ancient books and stories retold by elders in their clan. This was because it was a battle of a magnificent scale. The scale of the Battle of the Heavens was terrifying and affected all nine heavens of the Tianyuan World. And in a sense, the Battle of the Heavens wasn¡¯t a one-on-one battle, and instead had an unignorable impact on any region. Once the mighty ancestral qi born in Guyuan Heaven flows into a Heaven¡¯s region, it would increase the grade of the universe Genesis Qi in that region and make it purer and more powerful than before. The ultimate effect of this was that the cultivation efficiency in that region would soar, and beings in that region could achieve twice the result with half the effort. Moreover, the influence would last a period of time. How many heaven prides would benefit from the improved Genesis Qi during this period? Even veteran Nascent Source experts could use that chance to break through into the coveted Law Domain, and thereby become top-level existences in all heavens. Therefore, regardless what level an expert was, it would be impossible for them to ignore the Battle of the Heavens. Of course, the minimum cultivation level one must have reached to participate in a battle of that level was the Heavenly Sun stage, and anyone below the Heavenly Sun stage could only watch the battle anxiously and quietly wait for the final result. But that didn¡¯t stop the news of the Battle of the Heavens spreading to every corner of Hunyuan Heaven like a virus. Even the previous nine regions tournament paled in comparison to such a grand battle. It was said that some Heavenly Sun experts and Nascent Source experts had recently received numerous training resources to improve their strength as much as possible. Moreover, the nine regions released a recruitment notice and offered very favourable benefits in hope of attracting top Heavenly Sun and Nascent Source experts. Although the nine regions were the leaders of Hunyuan Heaven, the vast Hunyuan Heaven naturally concealed many hidden dragons, and some of the hidden experts weren¡¯t much weaker than the veterans on the Heavenly Sun List and Nascent Source List. The nine regions¡¯ actions unsurprisingly set off huge movements in the Hunyuan Heaven. Many unaffiliated cultivators were indeed tempted by the favourable benefits the nine regions offered, and so, during this period, dark horses emerged one after another and unfamiliar names burst forth. Those people displayed their remarkable strength, and the Heavenly Sun List and Nascent Source List began to change. It was only then that many people realized the waters of their Hunyuan Heaven were so deep and concealed many great players.... But not only the nine regions hoped to recruit talents, even the other top forces were eager to act, because, as members of Hunyuan Heaven, they were also qualified to participate in the Battle of the Heavens. Their goal in the battle perhaps wasn¡¯t to fight for the nine main channels of ancestral qi; after all, there were still many other ancestral qi channels in Guyuan Heaven. If they could occupy them and direct the ancestral qi contained in them towards their headquarters, it could similarly bring great benefits to their forces. Therefore, they couldn''t help but take action. As a result, the Hunyuan Heaven became even more tumultuous. However, the nine regions were undoubtedly more advantageous among the many recruiting forces. Among the nine regions, the Wanzu Region, Wushen Region and Zixiao Region were unsurprisingly the most popular. The matter that was unexpected was that the Tianyuan Region¡¯s popularity wasn¡¯t any lower than the three top forces. This was unimaginable in the past. After all, everyone knew the Tianyuan Region was the weakest. However Zhuan Zhu¡¯s powerful return to the Tianyuan Region had overturned the Tianyuan Region¡¯s deterioration. Evidently, the shock of having two Saint experts in the same region was unbelievably strong. Therefore, countless hidden dark horses flocked to the Tianyuan Region during the recruitment period. As the Tianyuan Region''s recruitment progressed, it had been four months since Zhou Yuan went into closed-door cultivation. ... The Sky Illuminating Eye. In the depths of the Illuminating Sea. The light lotus floated in the sea, a faint flame rose, and Zhou Yuan sat inside the lotus. Even after four months of adjustment, his body was still in a constant melting state, and his powerful body, which he was extremely proud of, was as fragile as a candle there. Zhou Yuan''s face was bloodied and his bones were exposed like a skeleton. His flesh and blood made slight crackling sounds as his flesh melted. But Zhou Yuan didn''t budge, as though he felt no pain. It wasn¡¯t that the pain had weakened over time, but the four months of melting pain had left Zhou Yuan in a numbed state. However, even though Zhou Yuan had suffered inhumane torture in the past four months, he had gained tremendous benefits. Even his bodily strength had increased by more than one level, let alone in other areas. The Great Flame Devil¡¯s level also improved. The golden blood in his heart had quietly reached more than 1,800 drops, and as his heart beat, the astonishing force that permeated his bones and limbs were enough to move mountains and split the sea. The faint flames rising in the light lotus had begun to fade after four months. However, the Genesis Qi breakthrough that Zhou Yuan anticipated the most hadn''t appeared. Obviously, a breakthrough in his Genesis Qi was more difficult to achieve than that of ordinary people. Zhou Yuan''s closed eyes opened slightly, and his pupils on his bloody face looked particularly striking. As he stared at the extremely faint flames in the light lotus, his eyes flickered, and a moment later, his eyes blazed with determination and fierceness. He opened his mouth abruptly and inhaled deeply. Hu! Zhou Yuan swallowed the faint flames remaining in the light lotus! Although the flames were extremely tiny, it ultimately originated from the Saint fire, and if it were placed in an ocean, the entire ocean area would bubble. But Zhou Yuan dared to swallow it in one mouthful. His action was crazy! Roar! After swallowing the wisps of flame, Zhou Yuan''s flesh and blood was instantly burned cleanly, and even his bones began to melt. That inhuman pain was enough to make anyone crazy, but Zhou Yuan remained motionless. He activated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and directly forced the flames into his Divine Dwellings. The terrifying heat disappeared. The light lotus gradually grew cold. But Zhou Yuan''s skeleton-like body stilled, and his aura of life seemed to be weakening at an alarming speed. His Spirit at the center of his eyebrows also dimmed and was on the verge of extinguishing. From a distance, there seemed to be a dried-up corpse sitting cross-legged in the light lotus, with his life force annihilated. That state lasted for a long while. At a certain moment, Zhou Yuan''s skeleton-like body suddenly trembled. The little life aura remaining in the light lotus whizzed, his flesh and blood rapidly began to recover, and his Spirit gradually grew brighter. Zhou Yuan folded one hand in a seal. Om! Rays of Genesis Qi gathered behind him and finally transformed into a glass heavenly sun. But before it ended, the corners of his mouth curved upwards. Om! After the first glass sun formed, the light erupted again, and another more magnificent glass sun slowly emerged. Two suns! He had finally stepped into the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage! Chapter 1074 Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun A scream resounded, the sea surface automatically split apart, and a figure soared into the sky. Standing in midair, Zhou Yuan felt the mighty Genesis Qi surging in his body, and his eyes were filled with joy and excitement. After four months of painstaking training and suffering endless pain, he finally achieved what he wished. He had broken-through to the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage! He closed his eyes slightly, feeling his Genesis Qi. After a while, the corners of his lips slowly curved upwards. "1.86 billion Genesis Qi stars¡­" ¡° Following his breakthrough, his Genesis Qi foundation had rocketed from 720 million to 1.86 billion! It was a frightening increase. Moreover, a foundation of 1.8 billion was comparable to some advanced Heavenly Sun experts! Evidently, an ordinary glass Heavenly Sun couldn¡¯t be compared to the potential of Zhou Yuan''s variant glass Heavenly Sun. The Genesis Qi increase surprised even Zhou Yuan a little. He originally thought that after the breakthrough, his foundation would at most reach 1.6 billion because when he activated the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Promotion, his Genesis Qi foundation was around that level. But that didn¡¯t mean it was the limit of his potential. This was an unexpected surprise. Zhou Yuan chuckled, and a strong confidence rose in his heart. Although he was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, he already had the qualifications to face top advanced Heavenly Sun experts. At the very least, within the entire Tianyuan Region he wouldn¡¯t be inferior to any Heavenly Sun experts except for Qin Lian. Moreover, this was without activating the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Promotion Rune. If it were used, even Qin Lian would be no match for him. Based on combat strength, Zhou Yuan felt he could make it onto the top five of the Heavenly Sun List. He had achieved a great harvest from this closed-door cultivation. Zhou Yuan glanced at the two Heavenly Suns hovering behind him and noticed the ancient light runes on the glass Heavenly Sun had multiplied and wrapped around the suns like vines. He understood that the ancient light runes were incredibly powerful and that he could possess such a foundation at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage only because of those ancient runes. "Oh, the breakthrough was successful?¡± While Zhou Yuan beamed with joy, a laughter suddenly rang out and countless Genesis Qi light rays gathered in front of him, turning into Zhuan Zhu''s figure. Zhuan Zhu studied Zhou Yuan with a smile, then raised his brow slightly. ¡°To possess such a Genesis Qi foundation at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage¡­yes, your potential is comparable to the heaven prides of the sacred race.¡± Zhou Yuan also knew it was rare to see Heavenly Sun experts with strength of his level in the entire Hunyuan Heaven, but Zhuan Zhu said that he was comparable to the heaven prides of the sacred race? Zhuan Zhu was silent for a good while before he answered, ¡°Although the sacred race is domineering, it has to be said that they are blessed by heaven.¡± He swept a glance over Zhou Yuan¡¯s two glass Heavenly Suns, or precisely, the ancient light runes on them. "A Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun is indeed rare, but it¡¯s not unseen within the heaven prides of the sacred race.¡± This time Zhou Yuan was stunned. He then asked puzzledly, ¡°You mean my variant glass Heavenly Sun is called Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun?¡± Zhuan Zhu smiled and pointed to the Heavenly Suns, ¡°The ancestral dragon have nine toes on its claws, so they are also called nine claws...and only the most outstanding Heavenly Sun experts in the world could make such ancestral runes appear after refining a glass Heavenly Sun. The ancestral runes will spread and eventually resemble nine claws clutching the sun. that is when the Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun is formed.¡± Zhou Yuan carefully studied the glass Heavenly Suns floating behind him, and he indeed found the faint irregular light runes had formed a dragon claw. ¡°There seems to be only four claws.¡± Zhou Yuan said curiously. Zhuan Zhu nodded. "As your strength increases, the claw runes will grow, but it depends on your potential and opportunities whether you can eventually achieve nine claws.¡± "What happens when you refine a Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun?" Zhou Yuan couldn''t help asking. "First of all, it possesses incredible power. Also, it is said that when those with a Nine Claw Heavenly Sun breaks through to the Nascent Source stage, there is a high probability they will directly enter the greater Nascent Source stage¡­" Zhou Yuan''s eyes widened. The grade classification of the Nascent Source stage in Hunyuan Heaven was a little different from Cangxuan heaven. It was instead divided into the little Nascent Source stage, greater Nascent Source stage and perfect Nascent Source stage. The so-called Greater Nascent Source stage was equivalent to the intermediate-Nascent Source stage. In other words, after the Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun breaks through to the Nascent Source stage, it can skip levels! This was terrifying because greater Nascent Source experts were veteran elder-level experts even in the nine regions, and they could establish their own sect or faction! The Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun could save a lot of time. Zhou Yuan smacked his lips. He had to admit his heart skipped a beat. He had always felt his rune-marked Heavenly Sun was strange, but looking at it now, he saw it¡¯s handsomeness. I¡¯m sorry, I underestimated you. Zhou Yuan reflected in his heart, and then anxiously asked, ¡°Senior brother, how can I increase the number of claws?¡± Zhuan Zhu stroked his chin and said, ¡°This will be very difficult¡­for ordinary people. But you¡¯re very lucky and have a perfect opportunity.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled. ¡°You mean...Guyuan Heaven?¡± Zhuan Zhu nodded. "As far as I know, there aren¡¯t many things in the world that can improve dragon claws, but the ancestral qi in Guyuan heaven is one of them.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up like an explosion. It seemed he had overlooked the huge opportunity in Guyuan Heaven. It was no wonder that all heavens would fight for such an opportunity. At that moment, Zhou Yuan''s enthusiasm to enter Guyuan Heaven suddenly soared. "Well, now that you have successfully broken-through, there is something you should do,¡± urged Zhuan Zhu as he stretched his back. ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan asked helplessly. Zhuan Zhu told him about the recent recruitment of Heavenly Sun experts and Nascent Source experts happening in the Tianyuan Region. ¡°Our Tianyuan Region has been very popular and a lot of good seedlings have come. You don¡¯t need to pay attention to those at the Nascent Source stage, but the Heavenly Sun stage recruitment is temporarily left to Qin Lian and it seems she has encountered some trouble.¡± ¡°Trouble?¡± Zhou Yuan raised his brows. Zhuan Zhu swept his gaze over Zhou Yuan and said teasingly, "It''s related to you...You should know the top unaffiliated cultivators are unruly. The Tianyuan Region has already announced our two captains, which are you and Qin Lian, but although they approved of Qin Lian, they still¡­had an unconvinced attitude towards you. ¡°The Battle of the Heavens will soon begin. After a discussion with the other regions, those selected from each region will meet in a few days. So, to avoid being ridiculed, we must resolve this internal problem first. ¡°We have just recruited those unaffiliated cultivators and we need them in the battle. We can¡¯t forcibly suppress them, so we have to rely on you. You should be very comfortable with this kind of matter." Zhou Yuan said snappily, "Do you mean I have been questioned too many times?¡± Zhuan Zhu spread his hands and shrugged. ¡°It''s actually a compliment. It means you have done things that are beyond your level.¡± As he said, he flicked his finger and a spatial vortex appeared in front of him. ¡°Then I should thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes, but he didn''t refuse to take the mission. After all, this was considered as preparation for Guyuan Heaven. He of course had to do his best for the so-called Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun and Ancestral Dragon Flesh. Zhou Yuan waved to Zhuan Zhu and then strode into the spatial vortex. Zhuan Zhu was right¡­ Zhou Yuan indeed had great experience in dealing with those thorns. Chapter 1075 Phoenix Perch House It was also where the Tianyuan Region recruited top Heavenly Sun unaffiliated cultivators. In the past four months, it was unknown how many Heavenly Sun experts had come to Resting Dragon City from all over Hunyuan Heaven and turned the city into an even more bustling place. A huge manor that stood on the west of Resting Dragon City was currently the most lively place in the city because almost all Heavenly sun unaffiliated cultivators who came to the Tianyuan Region had gathered there. In the center of the manor stood a building called the Phoenix Perch House. Many Tianyuan Region experts guarded the Phoenix Perch House and only those who could break through the numerous barriers could ascend the building. Once they successfully entered the building, they were considered to have received the Tianyuan Region¡¯s approval. Therefore, unaffiliated cultivators from various places constantly surrounded the building. They gazed at the figures upstairs with envy in their eyes. As unaffiliated cultivators, they naturally yearned to receive an identity from the Tianyuan Region. Moreover, Guyuan Heaven was said to contain great opportunities, so if they could explore there, they likely could reach the sky in one step. But unfortunately, the barriers the Tianyuan Region set up weren¡¯t easier, and only those with advanced Heavenly Sun strength could pass. Many outside the building didn¡¯t have much confidence in passing. Outside the Phoenix Perch House, a jade wall flowed with mysterious light. Every time someone passed the assessment, their name would appear on the jade wall, along with the time it took for them to pass. Whenever a new name appeared on the jade wall, it drew countless admiration and envy. But more people couldn¡¯t help shifting their gaze to the top of the wall, where there were three names that attracted everyone''s attention. Han Jinhe, 23 breaths. Xue Qingmei, 35 breaths. Wan Su, 40 breaths. The time they took to complete the assessment was extremely striking among the others that were all between half an hour to one hour. Many unaffiliated cultivators gazed in awe at the three names. The three could be described as the most dazzling dark horses among the unaffiliated cultivators who received recruitment invitations. The strength they displayed stunned everyone. Before they appeared, no one expected someone to be as strong as them among the unaffiliated cultivators. Their foundation, even if placed among all Heavenly Sun experts in the Tianyuan Region, was undoubtedly comparable to top Heavenly Sun experts such as Bian Buji and Mu Youlan. Gazing at the three names, many people began to whisper to one another. "But I heard that Han Jinhe, Xue Qingmei, and Wang Su haven¡¯t officially announced they would join the Tianyuan Region team.¡± "Yes, it is said that they want the captain¡¯s position.¡± "Haha, are they dissatisfied with the two current captains?¡± "Qin Lian''s strength is obvious and no one can doubt her ability. Han Jinhe and the others most likely are targeting grand elder Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°They really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for them. Zhou Yuan is now one of the five grand elders in the Tianyuan Region. He has tremendous status. Are they asking for trouble?¡± "Not necessary. The Tianyuan Region is widely seeking heroes right now. Han Jinhe and the others can leave the Tianyuan Region and go to other regions if they wish. The other regions would warmly welcome them. Also, many people here would follow them. If they really leave, I think half of the people in Phoenix Perch House would walk out. And if that matter spreads out, we will become a laughingstock.¡± "I think Han Jinhe and the others did the right thing. Zhou Yuan is a grand elder, but he¡¯s only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage. Although he has defeated Lu Qing before, that was only because he used foreign means to aid him. Han Jinhe and the others have fought hundreds of battles, but they want them to be under an initial Heavenly Sun expert. They most likely can¡¯t ensure such leadership.¡± "Yes, when a battle breaks out in Guyuan Heaven, who would care if you¡¯re a grand elder from the Tianyuan Region?¡± There were countless quarrels and commotion around the Phoenix Perch House, and many gazes were filled with ridicule. They felt there might be a good show occurring soon. Hundreds of figures gathered on the building¡¯s top floor. In the center, three figures sat together, and a large group of people stood and sat behind them. Their eyes were filled with respect when they looked at the three figures. In the middle of the three figures was a graceful man with hair tied up and a strand of golden braid flowed down his back. He wore a calm expression, but the slight tilt in the corners of his lips showed hidden arrogance. He was Han Jinhe. Left of Han Jinhe sat a beautiful woman. The woman had short, dry hair and was dressed in a loose training robe, but that couldn¡¯t hide her fiery curvaceous body. She was Xue Qingmei. The man on the right was burly, dark and hairy, and his bronze-like eyes were filled with fiendish aura that would terrify one to the core. He was Wang Su. The three were strongest experts recruited by the Tianyuan Region. "It is said the people chosen from the nine regions in Hunyuan Heaven will soon meet each other,¡± said Han Jinhe indifferently. ¡°Has the Tianyuan Region still not given us an answer?" Xue Qingmei said, frowning. "We aren¡¯t asking for much. Just a captain position. We don''t want to be commanded.¡± As unaffiliated cultivators, they had witnessed too many underhanded means, and some commanders even used their teammates as cannon fodder and sacrificed them as they wished. Wang Su said angrily, ¡°I can accept Qin Lian being captain but if grand elder Zhou Yuan is forced to command because of his identity, he will cause many casualties. How can I let down the brothers I brought with me?¡± Han Jinhe whispered, "Today is the deadline. If they don''t give us a response, I plan to leave the Tianyuan Region.¡± "Wherever Brother Han goes, we will follow!" Voices rang behind Han Jinhe. Xue Qingmei and Wang Su also nodded. When the three expressed their stance, almost half the unaffiliated cultivators in the building immediately echoed their words, while the other half exchanged worried and hesitated glances with one another. While the inside of the building was in chaos, a Heavenly Sun expert from the Tianyuan Region appeared and said to Han Jinhe and the others, "Elder Qin Lian would like to see you.¡± Han Jinhe and the others exchanged glances, a trace of a smile on their lips. It seemed the Tianyuan Region couldn''t bear the pressure and gave in. They stood up and followed the Heavenly Sun expert upstairs. They pushed open a door and entered a spacious hall. The tall and elegant Qin Lian caught their attention as soon as they stepped into the hall. But to their surprise, Qin Lian wasn¡¯t seated in the main seat. They puzzledly stared at the young man who was. The young man watched them enter the hall without a ripple of expression. Han Jinhe narrowed his eyes, and his mind raced, as he tried to figure out the young man¡¯s identity. ¡°This must be the Tianyuan Regions¡¯s grand elder Zhou Yuan, isn¡¯t that right?¡± He paused, but before waiting for Zhou Yuan''s answer, he said, "Since grand elder Zhou Yuan is here, the matter can be dealt with much easier. Has the Tianyuan Region agreed to our request?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelid fluttered. ¡°You three applied to be captain?¡± Han Jinhe nodded lightly. Xue Qingmei and Wang Su stared calmly at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan similarly stared at the three, and after a while, he smiled and set down the tea cup in his hand. "I''m sorry, I declined your request." Chapter 1076 Shock The smile on the faces of Han Jinhe and the others suddenly stiffened. They evidently didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to answer so firmly. The three exchanged glances, eyes flashing with anger. Although they were unaffiliated cultivators, they had experienced spells of good fortune in the past. Otherwise, they wouldn''t possess their current foundation. Therefore, the arrogance in their hearts wasn¡¯t any weaker than that of many top Heavenly Sun experts in the Tianyuan Region. They had trekked the world alone and enjoyed the carefreeness. If it weren¡¯t for the great opportunity in Guyuan Heaven, they wouldn¡¯t have voluntarily come to the Tianyuan Region. Strictly speaking, even if they joined the Tianyuan Region, it was just an employment-like relationship, and once the affairs in Guyuan Heaven were over, they would leave the Tianyuan Region at any time. In Hunyuan Heaven, all forces, including the other eight regions, did everything they could to recruit top unaffiliated cultivators. As a result, many unaffiliated cultivators¡¯ status had soared like the tide. Even the Nascent Source elders from the Tianyuan Region treated Han Jinhe and the others respectfully, which made them even more arrogant. It was precisely because of their increased arrogance that they couldn¡¯t accept Zhou Yuan¡¯s tough attitude. Qin Lian swept her gaze over Zhou Yuan without a ripple on her face, but a trace of worry flashed across the depths of her eyes. Of course, Qin Lian couldn¡¯t disagree with Zhou Yuan taking over command, given his status as a grand elder. However, she thought Zhou Yuan would be a little gentler. After all, the three people in front of them weren¡¯t from the Tianyuan Region, and Zhou Yuan''s grand elder status might have little importance to them. If Zhou Yuan angered them and made them leave, given the three¡¯s prestige among the unaffiliated cultivators, many would leave with them, and the Tianyuan Region¡¯s recruitment would be a waste of effort. However, despite the worries and doubts in her heart, Qin Lian didn''t interrupt in the end, which could be considered as giving Zhou Yuan enough face. Hu. Han Jinhe¡¯s face was icy-cold. He drew a deep breath and suppressed his anger. He looked Zhou Yuan in the eye and said, ¡°It seems that grand elder Zhou Yuan looks down on us unaffiliated cultivators. Since that¡¯s the case, we shouldn¡¯t stay and be humiliated any longer.¡± He turned around and was about to leave. Xue Qingmei and Wang Su also shook their heads. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s youngest grand elder gave them the feeling of inexperience and recklessness. It seems it was a mistake to come to the Tianyuan Region. We don''t know how good his ability is, but his temper isn¡¯t small. Watching the three leave, Zhou Yuan said indifferently, ¡°Go, our Tianyuan Region doesn''t need people who only come to seek benefits.¡± Han Jinhe¡¯s footsteps halted, and his expression was icy-cold. He knew Zhou Yuan was using reverse psychology to make him stay, but he couldn¡¯t ignore it because if the matter were to spread, it would no doubt ruin their reputation. Han Jinhe sneered without turning his head, "What a joke. Although I dare not say that we are invincible against the Heavenly Sun experts in the Tianyuan Region, there are only a handful of Heavenly Sun experts in the Tianyuan Region we are fearful of, such as elder Qin Lian. "Of course, it doesn¡¯t include you, grand elder Zhou Yuan. If you weren¡¯t a grand elder, then just because you defeated Lu Qing¡­¡± His tone was mocking, and the meaning of his words was obvious. ¡°Nonsense!¡± thundered Qin Lian. Zhou Yuan waved his hand, motioning Qin Lian to not get angry, and slowly stood up. ¡°To know whether or not I¡¯m a fool, it¡¯s useless just standing there. You will know the answer when you try.¡± This time, Han Jinhe and the others finally turned around, staring at Zhou Yuan with a strange gaze. Did Zhou Yuan want to personally test their strength? The corners of Han Jinhe¡¯s mouth curved slightly upwards as he sneered, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, you wouldn¡¯t be finding an excuse to detain us, right? That wouldn¡¯t sound good if such a matter spread.¡± Although Zhou Yuan had defeated Lu Qing, which was considered a good achievement, Lu Qing wasn¡¯t on the same level as them. However, Zhou Yuan ignored their ridicule and continued, "The test is very simple. As long as you three don¡¯t move a step under the pressure of my Genesis Qi, you can have the captain position.¡± Qin Lian looked rather taken aback. What did Zhou Yuan say? He wanted to deter the three with the pressure of Genesis Qi alone? What is Zhou Yuan planning? She wasn¡¯t the only one shocked. Han Jinhe and the others were even more stunned, and then anger immediately rose to their eyes. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, do you want to humiliate us?¡± According to what they knew, Zhou Yuan had only been at the Heavenly Sun stage for a short period of time, although he was quite well known in Hunyuan Heaven. Moreover, he was only able to defeat Lu Qing with the help of foreign means. They felt any one of them could easily deal with Lu Qing. So even if Zhou Yuan were to fight them alone, the chance of him winning would be extremely small. Moreover, he wanted to suppress the three with the pressure of Genesis Qi alone? Boom! Zhou Yuan didn''t say anything else to them and just indifferently took a step forward. At that moment, two glass Heavenly Suns emerged behind him and erupted with 1.86 billion Genesis Qi stars. Boom! The void violently trembled. A Genesis Qi storm erupted from Zhou Yuan''s body, and then a terrifying Genesis Qi pressure overwhelmingly raged around them. When the Genesis Qi raged, the expressions of Qin Lian, Han Jinhe and the others changed drastically. ¡°Intermediate Heavenly Sun stage?!¡± ¡°1.86 billion Genesis Qi stars?!¡± Qin Lian''s eyes widened in disbelief. She was shocked about Zhou Yuan¡¯s breakthrough and his extremely terrifying Genesis Qi foundation. This was the first time she saw an intermediate Heavenly Sun expert with a foundation of 1.86 billion stars! His foundation was comparable to many top advanced Heavenly Sun experts! Shock also brimmed the eyes of Han Jinhe and the other two. Among the three, Han Jinhe was the strongest, and his foundation had reached 1.9 billion. On the other hand. Xue Qingmei and Wang Su possessed foundations of around 1.8 billion. However, their Genesis Qi grade wasn¡¯t as great as Zhou Yuan''s, so when Zhou Yuan revealed his foundation of 1.8 billion, they suddenly felt a huge pressure enveloping them. The ground around their feet shattered into powder. "How could this be..." Stormy waves were set off in the three¡¯s hearts. They gritted their teeth and frantically circulated their Genesis Qi to withstand the overwhelming pressure. Zhou Yuan''s eyes were icy. He knew that the three people were arrogant and couldn¡¯t be subdued with ordinary means. So, he angered them, and it would restrain their arrogance as long as he could crush their anger. Zhou Yuan activated the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Promotion Rune with a clench of his hand. As a result, the two glass Heavenly Suns behind Zhou Yuan grew even brighter, and his foundation rocketed. 1.9 billion! 2 billion! 2.1 billion! As the terrifying Genesis Qi pressure increased, the shocked horror in the eyes of Han Jinhe and the others intensified. Even Qin Lian couldn¡¯t help but circulate her Genesis Qi to withstand the pressure. Even if Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi wasn¡¯t directed at her, she could still feel oppression from the escaped Genesis Qi. She stared intently at Zhou Yuan''s figure, her eyes flickering. In truth, she had also received many resources from the Heavenly Spirit Sect in the past few months, and even sect master Xuan Kun had personally given her guidance in cultivation. This had helped her increase her foundation from 2.1 billion to 2.3 billion! But that kind of improvement, compared to Zhou Yuan''s, wasn¡¯t even worthy of being mentioned. In the hall, the bodies of Han Jinhe and the others squeaked under the terrifying Genesis Qi pressure, and the panic in their eyes grew increasingly intense. They were close to their limits, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi pressure didn¡¯t seem done yet! Zhou Yuan expressionlessly stared at the three struggling. Then, with a stamp of his foot, his Genesis Qi foundation suddenly soared by another 200 million! It had reached 2.3 billion! The same level as Qin Lian¡¯s! Boom! At that moment, Han Jinhe and the others finally couldn''t bear it any longer. With a muffled grunt, blood seeped through the corners of their mouths, and they didn''t dare to resist any longer. They shot back in embarrassment. As they retreated, the two glass Heavenly Suns behind Zhou Yuan faded, and the terrifying Genesis Qi also cleanly vanished, as though the previous raging storm-like scene was an illusion. However, the several people present understood it couldn¡¯t be an illusion. Even Qin Lian¡¯s countenance changed. She didn''t expect Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation to be equal to hers, and she felt that 2.3 billion most likely wasn¡¯t Zhou Yuan''s limit. Maybe this guy is taking my face into consideration and didn''t directly surpass me. She sighed in her heart and then looked pitifully at the terrified faces of Han Jinhe and the others. Zhou Yuan had clearly put them in their place. Chapter 1077 Subdued They had been utterly frightened by Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying Genesis Qi pressure. A 2.3 billion Genesis Qi foundation! And it was not even the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, but the intermediate! The three of them were top practitioners among the numerous unaffiliated cultivators, but when had they ever seen such a frightening intermediate Heavenly Sun stage foundation?! Even the current king of the Heavenly Sun stage, Guan Qinglong, was not this terrifying at the intermediate stage, right? The Han Jinhe trio finally experienced the meaning of a despairing gap. The three of them had stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage many years ago but had now been left in the dust by Zhou Yuan, who had only advanced to the Heavenly Sun stage half a year ago. On the stone steps to the hall, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face remained impassive as he stared at the trio below. Under his gaze, the three gradually returned to their senses. For a time, ashamed looks colored their faces. Recalling their arrogant attitudes towards Zhou Yuan earlier made them feel like a bunch of clowns. Zhou Yuan withdrew his imposing aura as he slowly said, ¡°Do the three of you still feel that I am not qualified enough to lead the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun team?¡± The trio exchanged a look. In the end, they said with some difficulty, ¡°We are the ones who were blind.¡± How could they not understand by now that grand elder Zhou Yuan¡¯s goal had been to subdue their arrogance? The provocations from earlier were merely setting the groundwork. Zhou Yuan gazed at them. There was almost no trace of the uncompromising stance from earlier as he said, ¡°I understand the three of you want to become captain because you¡¯re worried that we will give careless commands that will result in serious losses among the unaffiliated practitioners. However, I feel that my Tianyuan Region is still one of the nine regions after all, and we are still a formidable force to be reckoned with. To be blunt, if we do encounter something that even we are unable to handle, sending you guys out as cannon fodder won¡¯t change anything.¡± The Han Jinhe trio relaxed somewhat due to the softening of Zhou Yuan¡¯s attitude. Although Zhou Yuan was implying they weren¡¯t strong enough, they had already withdrawn their prideful attitudes after being intimidated. After some serious consideration, they felt that Zhou Yuan¡¯s words were not unreasonable. ¡°The captain has the authority to command all of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s forces. If there are too many people in this position, it will lead to confusion and chaos. For the sake of the big picture, I have to refuse your request.¡± However, he knew that if he had begun in this manner, the trio would have likely felt that he was easily bullied and would have tried to take advantage of him, something the unaffiliated practitioners were particularly adept at. But with the ¡°big slap¡± given to them at the start, although the trio¡¯s expressions were currently a little ugly, they had begun to accept Zhou Yuan¡¯s reasoning for rejecting them. The three felt somewhat downcast. After all, they had not only failed to get the job but had also been roughed up by Zhou Yuan. This was quite a blow to their confidence, and they did not know how they would face their supporters outside later. Zhou Yuan cast a glance at them as he smiled faintly. ¡°However, although I cannot give you three the captain position, I have acknowledged your strength. I will appoint you as vice captains with the authority to command your own teams. Of course, you¡¯ll have to first run them through me and captain Qin Lian.¡± The Tianyuan Region had recruited quite a number of unaffiliated cultivators. These cultivators were used to freedom and were untamable individuals. If he were to forcibly supervise them, it would make them more rebellious towards him. Hence, it would be better to hand the lot over to the Han Jinhe trio to manage. If any conflicts were to occur, he would have the trio take responsibility, and he might even have the chance to act as the good guy and win their hearts over. As such, he had already planned to give this position to them. However, he could not yield it so easily at the start. He needed to first teach them a lesson so that they would obediently listen to his words and not cause more trouble. Sure enough, the downcast trio immediately perked up at his words. They joyfully looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Vice captain?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and smiled. ¡°If the three of you don¡¯t feel that it¡¯s beneath you, we shall proceed accordingly.¡± The trio exchanged a look before nodding. Somewhat embarrassed, they said, ¡°We were too hot-headed earlier. I hope that grand elder Zhou Yuan can forgive us.¡± By this time, they had no choice but to submit. After all, there was not much time left till Guyuan Heaven opened, and after experiencing Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, they were now somewhat expectant towards his performance. If they could get a share of the rewards in Guyuan Heaven, being ordered around like a little brother would not be unacceptable. Unaffiliated practitioners like them could endure anything in order for a chance to grow stronger. Zhou Yuan smiled as he nodded. ¡°You guys will be in charge of grouping the unaffiliated practitioners outside.¡± The Han Jinhe trio nodded repeatedly as they patted their chests. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, grand elder Zhou Yuan. We will take care of everything.¡± After finishing, they hurriedly exited the hall. As he watched them leave, Zhou Yuan chuckled softly. Qin Lian tilted her head to the side and clapped. A rare smile appeared on her beautiful but aloof face. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan¡¯s carrot-and-stick approach has nearly reached perfection.¡± Smiling, Zhou Yuan shrugged. Qin Lian somewhat eagerly looked Zhou Yuan up and down. ¡°But I¡¯m even more curious about how strong you¡¯ve grown. Shall we have a small match to test your strength?¡± Previously, there had been a huge gap in strength between Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian. However, she could not sense a dangerous sensation from him. This undoubtedly drew out her competitive side. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shivered at the burning light in Qin Lian¡¯s eyes. He hurriedly shook his head and quickly turned around to leave. Boom! However, just as he was about to lift his foot, an astonishing burst of Genesis Qi erupted behind him, then roared straight towards him. ... While Zhou Yuan was dealing with the eager Qin Lian, the Han Jinhe trio had returned to the building. Several hundred top-tier unaffiliated cultivors immediately crowded over at the sight of them. ¡°Brother Han, how did it go? Has the Tianyuan Region given you guys the captain position?¡± Han Jinhe looked at the crowd with an indifferent face. ¡°Relax everyone, the Tianyuan Region views us as a very important force. We fought hard with grand elder Zhou Yuan for everyone¡¯s benefit.¡± ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan? He¡¯s here?¡± Numerous unaffiliated cultivators gasped. Regardless of Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, his grand elder status drew respect, especially in the Tianyuan Region. Han Jinhe smiled and nodded. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation is well-deserved, and we even exchanged a few pointers with him. His strength is truly amazing, and I believe that under his and captain Qin Lian¡¯s leadership, the Tianyuan Region team will certainly achieve good results in the upcoming Guyuan Heaven battle. We¡¯ve definitely come to the right place.¡± These words immediately drew astonished looks from the numerous unaffiliated cultivators. The three had exchanged pointers with Zhou Yuan? They clearly understood the trio¡¯s strength. When they joined forces, they were able to put up a fight even against the Tianyuan Region¡¯s strongest Heavenly Sun expert, Qin Lian. Wasn¡¯t grand elder Zhou Yuan at the initial Heavenly Sun stage? Why was Han Jinhe so full of praise for Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength? Uncertainty flickered in the eyes of the numerous unaffiliated cultivators, but no one doubted Han Jinhe¡¯s words. After all, it was far too easy to uncover any lies. If it was true, Zhou Yuan had likely grown tremendously over the past few months. This was not impossible. After all, he was supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s personal disciple. Moreover, supreme sovereign Zhuan Zhu was currently overseeing the Tianyuan Region. As his junior brother, Zhou Yuan might have received some personal guidance. At this thought, the numerous unaffiliated cultivators could not help but readjust their attitude. As unaffiliated cultivators, they thoroughly understood the importance of strength. Han Jinhe nonchalantly said, ¡°Hehe, since we already have such great captains, the three of us will not go after that position. Fortunately, grand elder Zhou Yuan regards us very highly and has asked us to take on the vice captain positions to specially take charge of all the unaffiliated cultivators. Everyone can come over to register with us. We still need to report to grand elder Zhou Yuan after the teams are formed.¡± Xue Qingmei¡¯s and Wang Su¡¯s faces turned a little red. They had clearly been disciplined by Zhou Yuan, but the story had changed completely after Han Jinhe had told it. However, the unaffiliated cultivators present did not scrutinize the story and were instead overjoyed. After all, they felt that the vice captain position was more or less the same, and following Han Jinhe and the others was better than someone else giving them orders. Some of the affiliated cultivators who had been watching as bystanders secretly breathed a sigh of relief. They had not approved of Han Jinhe and the other¡¯s intentions to become captains, but they had been powerless due to their strength and influence. They were, of course, also worried about their own interests like the Han Jinhe trio. Fortunately, the worst scenario had not occurred. However, this scene made them think a little. They knew that Han Jinhe was extremely prideful. Given how he now revered Zhou Yuan, it could only mean that Zhou Yuan had crushed their ambitions. This made them both curious and happy. If their guess was right, the Tianyuan Region might become one of the main Hunyuan Heaven teams in the Guyuan Heaven battle. Chapter 1078 It Begins Moreover, the Han Jinhe trio had failed to obtain the captain position. Some of the sharper individuals surmised that the trio had clashed with grand elder Zhou Yuan and lost. Why else would such proud individuals like them suddenly become so obedient? This made many unaffiliated cultivators click their tongues in admiration. It appeared that grand elder Zhou Yuan was not as simple as they had thought. They had originally not been optimistic of him because of his initial Heavenly Sun stage cultivation despite his high-ranking position. After all, a leader who needed to borrow an external power to defeat Lu Qing did not seem dependable. However, the recent development had alleviated their worries substantially. None of them were idiots, after all. When even three problematic individuals like Han Jinhe and the other two were subdued, only a fool would still dare to underestimate Zhou Yuan. Hence, several top-tier unaffiliated cultivators who were originally observing in secret finally made their decision. The result was a rapid rise in the number of unaffiliated cultivators entering the Phoenix Perch House. ... ¡°We¡¯ve confirmed the news. In three days, the various factions in Hunyuan Heaven will gather at Heaven Pillar Peak to further discuss the details of the Guyuan Heaven battle. Guyuan Heaven will open within a month, and before it opens, Hunyuan Heaven needs to get everybody on the same page.¡± Several extraordinary individuals were gathered in the hall, with Zhou Yuan seated at the head of the group. Besides the local Tianyuan Region practitioners such as Qin Lian, Bian Buji, Mu Youlan and the others, Han Jinhe, Xue Qingmei, Wang Su and other recruited affiliated cultivators were also present. Of course, nearly a thousand unaffiliated cultivators had already been recruited, and these were only the representatives. The group¡¯s expressions turned a little more solemn upon hearing Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. With the forces of Hunyuan Heaven gathering, it would not be long till the battle for Guyuan Heaven. The scale of this battle was something no one present had ever experienced before, and even Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s famous nine regions tournament would pale in comparison. Only the most elite members of each cultivation stage would be able to participate in this grand event. It was easy to imagine how intense of a clash it would be. It was an event that directly affected every single person. Hence, the various factions of a heaven would set aside their differences and unite when the time came. Although there would still be some minor scheming, everyone would basically be on the same page. Zhou Yuan said, ¡°Our Tianyuan Region will set off tomorrow. Everyone should finish their preparations by today.¡± The group nodded in acknowledgment. After a little more discussion, the crowd scattered. Qin Lian was the last to leave, still biting her lip as she fervently glanced at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan shivered under her gaze. He knew that Qin Lian wanted to battle him again. She had been constantly pestering him recently and had forced him to fight three or four times a day. Since he did not plan to reveal his full power in these matches, their duels always ended in draws. However, he had not expected this would only make Qin Lian even more competitive. She would grow fiercer and fiercer in their fights as if having an endless supply of energy. Zhou Yuan had been pestered so badly for the past few days that his legs would turn to jelly at the mere thought of it. As such, he hurriedly shook his head to reject her. Qin Lian could only turn and leave in disappointment. Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly as he gazed at her slender figure before awkwardly scratching his head. Cangxuan Heaven had suddenly come to his mind. Strictly speaking, he was a member of Cangxuan Heaven, but he was now fighting for Hunyuan Heaven. It was said that when entering Guyuan Heaven, one would be imprinted with a source brand. The laws of Guyuan Heaven would allocate ancestral qi according to one¡¯s brand. ¡°Does this make me a traitor?¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself with an odd expression. ¡°I wonder who will be participating from Cangxuan Heaven. Will there be any familiar faces?¡± Zhou Yuan felt somewhat expectant. He felt that there was a high chance of Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others appearing. ¡°What about Li Chunjun, Qingyu, Luluo and the others?¡± Memories rose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. They were the first group of companions he had met after leaving the Great Zhou Empire, and they were his closest friends. Zhou Yuan would never forget how Li Chunjun, Qingyu and the others had secretly aided him while maintaining their respective sects¡¯ neutrality when the Sacred Palace had dispatched countless elite disciples to kill him on his way back to the Great Zhou Empire. It was a debt he would always remember. It would be pretty nice to meet these old friends again in Guyuan Heaven. At the very least, it would mean that they were doing pretty well in their respective sects. Zhou Yuan grinned. If they did meet, he would not mind lending them a helping hand and making a small contribution to Cangxuan Heaven. ... The next day. When the first ray of light broke through the clouds, countless people in Resting Dragon City suddenly felt the Genesis Qi in the area ripple. A shadow appeared in the sky, enveloping nearly half of the entire city. Everyone lifted their heads to find a giant flying ship in the sky. In Phoenix Perch House, Zhou Yuan glanced at the flying ship before looking down from the building. Nearly a thousand figures were gathered. They were the top-tier unaffiliated cultivators who had been recruited recently. All of them were currently looking at the flying ship in excitement. ¡°Prepare to board!¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand. With Han Jinhe and the others leading them, nearly a thousand people rose into the air and swarmed towards the flying ship in the sky. Zhou Yuan also floated upwards with his hands behind his back. ¡°Victory to grand elder Zhou Yuan!¡± Countless voices suddenly rang out in the city. Zhou Yuan lowered his head and saw countless expectant eyes wishing him all the best from below. The Battle of the Heavens affected the Genesis Qi of Hunyuan Heaven. If Zhou Yuan and the others managed to occupy and open several passages, more ancestral qi would flow towards the Tianyuan Region, making the Genesis Qi more concentrated and abundant. Every single person in the Tianyuan Region would benefit. Hence, everyone gave their blessings to the departing Tianyuan Region team. Zhou Yuan did not pause as he nodded to the city below. His figure soon landed on the flying ship. ¡°We¡¯re setting off. Onwards to Heaven Pillar Peak!¡± Rumble! The flying ship buzzed. With a gush of Genesis Qi, the ship accelerated through the sky. Meanwhile, all kinds of giant flying vessels set off from various locations in Hunyuan Heaven, carrying numerous elite teams as they headed towards Heaven Pillar Peak. The scale far surpassed the nine regions tournament. A battle between the various heavens would soon begin. Chapter 1079 Heaven Pillar Peak These terrifying storms did not limit themselves to the peak, and they would occasionally sweep downwards. All life was instantly devoured wherever they passed, making them a well-known disaster in Hunyuan Heaven. These Heaven Pillar Peak calamity storms made the mountain one of the most dangerous locations in Hunyuan Heaven. Normally speaking, even Nascent Source experts would not dare to carelessly move about. This also made it rather desolate. However, the mountain had recently become the focal point of Hunyuan Heaven because one needed to pass through Heaven Pillar Peak to enter Guyuan Heaven. The various factions arrived in swarms, ultimately gathering in the city below Heaven Pillar Peak. Named after Heaven Pillar Peak, Heaven Pillar City looked rather ancient and was clearly unable to sustain the crazy influx of people. Therefore, tents of varying colors could be found on the plains outside the city, stretching all the way to the end of one¡¯s sights. It was quite a magnificent scene. However, even such an amazing sight appeared dim in comparison to Heaven Pillar Peak. The endless tents that wrapped around the mountain¡¯s foot were akin to ants surrounding a giant ant nest. ¡­¡­ When Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian arrived at Heaven Pillar Peak with the team, they were greeted by endless camps and lights that stretched to the ends of their sights. ¡°So this is Heaven Pillar Peak¡­¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head and gazed at the enormous entity bathing in the glow of the setting sun. The mountain nearly filled his entire vision, and it looked endless no matter which way he turned, creating a feeling of oppressiveness. Zhou Yuan knew that he was only looking at the tip of the iceberg. Most of the peak was concealed by thick layers of clouds. Zhou Yuan also took note of several boundaries in the sky around the mountain. These boundaries were likely precautions against the devastating storms from Heaven Pillar Peak to prevent any losses among the gathered factions. Qin Lian looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Get them to set up camp while we go into the city. I believe the other eight regions are already here.¡± The various factions had gathered at Heaven Pillar Peak to discuss the battle for Guyuan Heaven. For example, they would decide on certain rules and guidelines beforehand to prevent the in-fighting from becoming too fierce since the in-fighting would only end up benefiting the other heavens. ¡°I guess it¡¯ll be a meeting of formidable and ruthless characters.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. Only the most powerful Heavenly Sun experts of the various factions had the qualifications to participate in this meeting, and he would likely be the most unremarkable among them. After all, all of them surpassed him in both experience and cultivation. Qin Lian chuckled softly. ¡°Experience means nothing before true power. Moreover, you¡¯re actually the most monstrous of us all. How long has it been since you stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage? A year? What about us? Who hasn¡¯t spent several times that period accumulating power in the Heavenly Sun stage? ¡°And yet, you¡¯re already slowly catching up to us oldies...such a thing has rarely happened even in Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s long history.¡± Zhou Yuan felt a little overwhelmed by Qin Lian¡¯s praise. He knew how prideful she was, and he had never expected her to think so highly of him. Upon seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s shocked gaze, Qin Lian frowned slightly and said, ¡°Although we could never properly decide the victor of our bouts over the past few days, do you think I didn¡¯t realize that you did it on purpose?¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly smiled and said, ¡°Weren¡¯t you also holding back?¡± Qin Lian gritted her teeth and retorted, ¡°If I have to use all of my trump cards in a duel against a junior who had entered the Heavenly Sun stage so many years after me, what difference would that be from admitting defeat?¡± In the face of her stubbornness, Zhou Yuan could only display a helpless smile. While the two were conversing, the giant flying ship descended from the sky. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian left some instructions for Bian Buji, Mu Youlan and the others before leaping into the air. They turned into two streaks of light and shot towards the small ancient city. The city was currently filled with numerous powerful practitioners. It was not only the Heavenly Sun practitioners that had things to discuss; the Nascent Source stage and the Law Domain stage were also meeting up. Of course, this had nothing to do with Zhou Yuan and the others. The two landed in the western part of the city where a stone tower stood. There were numerous guards around the tower, each giving off powerful Genesis Qi undulations. However, the guards only shot a single glance at Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian arriving. No one came forward to question or stop the duo because the guards were clearly already aware of the duo¡¯s identities. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian walked straight into the stone tower after arriving. As they stepped through the entrance, a spacious stone hall greeted them, and it was already filled with people. The hall was like some kind of arena. Stone steps extended downwards with numerous seats built into each layer. At the very center was a round black stone table. Several figures were already seated at the thick and simple table. Every individual was resting with their eyes lightly shut. They appeared relaxed but gave off faint heart-palpitating pressure. Only the representatives with sufficient strength were allowed to sit at the black stone table. The ones seated there were the most powerful Heavenly Sun experts in Hunyuan Heaven. Numerous gazes looked over when Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian appeared. Some of the gazes paused on Zhou Yuan in curiosity, evidently recognizing him. There was also no lack of indifferent gazes. The owners of these gazes clearly didn''t feel that a newcomer who had stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage less than a year ago was worthy of any attention, even if he held a position in the Tianyuan Region that they could only look up to. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change, displaying no anger whatsoever in response to their disrespectful gazes. Just as he was about to walk forward, a familiar undulation and a light fragrance suddenly appeared behind him. Zhou Yuan immediately felt numerous gazes shift away from him in amazement. He did not look back because the figure had stopped when she was shoulder to shoulder with him. He looked to the side, and a bright red dress entered his eyes along with skin as fair as snow and a slender body with enchanting curves that rose like a mountain range. A sharp nose proudly stuck out from her beautiful face, the tip seemingly glowing under the light. As his gaze moved upwards, he found a pair of indifferent phoenix eyes silently observing him. Icily arrogant as usual, like an empress. Her elegance had not diminished since their last encounter. It was Wu Yao. ¡°We meet again,¡± Zhou Yuan smiled as he called out to her. Wu Yao swept a glance at him and said, ¡°You¡¯d better be careful in Guyuan Heaven. If there¡¯s a chance, I¡¯ll definitely take back what I lost.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but raise his brow at the faint Genesis Qi pressure from Wu Yao¡¯s body. Intermediate Heavenly Sun stage...looks like my senior brother was right. Wu Yao had also received special grooming from supreme sovereign Wu Shen recently. Given her talent, the session had clearly benefited her greatly. However, Zhou Yuan was not afraid. He had not feared Wu Yao even when she had far outclassed him in power back then, let alone now. Hence, he laughed and said, ¡°Anytime. But I also have a warning for you.¡± Zhou Yuan sized up Wu Yao with a playful smile. ¡°It will not be worth it when you end up losing what you still have.¡± Wu Yao glared at Zhou Yuan. Although his words seemed to be disrespectful, she understood that he was genuinely warning her that she would lose again. The faint anger in her heart slightly alarmed Wu Yao. She was usually very disciplined, and ordinary people would not be able to shake her no matter how hard they tried to provoke her. So why had she been so easily incited by Zhou Yuan? He was really her mortal enemy! Just as Wu Yao was about to retort, a faint chuckle suddenly sounded behind her, breaking the face-off between her and Zhou Yuan. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, we should all mind our own business, but I will not agree if you intend to finish off junior sister Wu Yao.¡± The voice was rather ordinary, but when it spread, the surrounding space seemed to ripple faintly. Zhou Yuan saw numerous gazes suddenly turn fearful and wary. Zhou Yuan turned his head and found a man in azure robes standing two steps behind him. The smiling man had a very ordinary face that seemed to exude an indescribable charm. Eyes that were as deep as the abyss. All the man did was stand there, but a suffocating mountain-like pressure seemed to spread from him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin abruptly tightened as his expression turned a little grave. He had already read the reports on Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s most powerful Heavenly Sun experts. The man before him was likely the superman that reigned as the king of the Heavenly Sun List... Wushen Region, Guan Qinglong. Chapter 1080 Meeting the Two Girls Again The ruler of the Heavenly Sun List deserved every bit of his reputation. A fierce look arose in Qin Lian¡¯s eyes. She stared straight at Guan Qinglong as her foot shifted half a step towards him. However, anyone could see that she was extremely wary of him. In the stone hall, numerous gazes filled with interest as they watched. Were the Tianyuan Region and the Wushen Region going to clash even before the conference began? But the Tianyuan Region side was clearly outclassed. Although Qin Lian was a formidable individual, there was still a big gap between her and Guan Qinglong. However, when Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Guan Qinglong¡¯s gazes clashed, Wu Yao¡¯s crescent-shaped brows scrunched together. ¡°Senior brother Guan, this is a matter between me and Zhou Yuan. I believe that neither of us wishes for any external interference. Victory or defeat and life or death will hinge upon our abilities.¡± Guan Qinglong was not surprised by Wu Yao¡¯s reaction, evidently already well-aware of her character. He chuckled and said in a calm voice, ¡°You¡¯re being overly serious, junior sister Wu Yao. Victory or defeat is fine, but there¡¯s no need for life and death, right? If it does reach that stage, I will not sit still even if you blame me later on.¡± Soon after, he looked towards Zhou Yuan and cupped his fists together. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, if it does reach that step, please show mercy.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s no pushover. I¡¯m afraid that I¡¯ll be slain by her the moment I concede a single step.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze covertly swept across the two of them, his sharp senses telling him that Guan Qinglong seemed to be a little too concerned about Wu Yao, while Wu Yao did not seem to be very interested. Guan Qinglong laughed and did not speak any further on the topic. He did not intentionally linger and walked straight towards the black round table. Each step was taken with an emperor¡¯s dignity as an extraordinary aura spread, causing the eyes of several beautiful girls present to dazzle. Guan Qinglong might not be handsome, but his charm transcended mere superficial looks. Even Zhou Yuan could not help but nod inwardly. As the one who had managed to suppress numerous prided geniuses and stably hold onto his number one seat on the Heavenly Sun List, Guan Qinglong was more than exemplary. It was somewhat similar to Zhao Mushen in the nine regions tournament previously, but Guan Qinglong was clearly much calmer and reliable, making him even more immeasurable. Wu Yao icily replied, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m you? If your girlfriend didn¡¯t help you in the Great Wu Capital, I would have killed you long ago.¡± She was obviously referring to Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan blinked and said righteously, ¡°Are you the same as us? I¡¯ll have you know we¡¯re a couple. What about you? What¡¯s your relationship with Guan Qinglong?¡± Wu Yao¡¯s brows nearly turned vertical as she gave Zhou Yuan a vicious glare. ¡°Shameless.¡± His skin was really thick. She, too, did not linger and quickly brushed past him. Zhou Yuan shrugged as he gazed at her slender-as-a-willow figure. Ever since the nine regions tournament, there had been a little less hostility between them when they met. Perhaps, Wu Yao had felt that he had let her off previously, but it was not like he had a choice. After all, he was not capable enough to kill Wu Yao while supreme sovereign Wu Shen was watching. However, if he did defeat Wu Yao again and take back the final sacred dragon blessing, wouldn¡¯t she die? Would supreme sovereign Wu Shen hold a grudge against him? Zhou Yuan clawed at his head in distress. He honestly preferred the previous raw and bloody hostility between them. At the very least, he did not need to show any mercy nor think about the consequences of retaliating and killing her. Qin Lian suddenly remarked in an interested tone, ¡°There seems to be quite a story between you and Wu Yao. ¡°Guan Qinglong also seems to be a little interested in her. Tch tch, this is so rare. I¡¯ve known him for so many years, but I¡¯ve never heard of him showing interest in any girl. It is as if he was made from stone and would never have feelings for anyone. But Wu Yao is indeed a remarkable beauty, and she is top-class in both appearance and presence.¡± Qin Lian stared at Zhou Yuan, displaying a rarely seen gossipy side. ¡°Is this the legendary love triangle?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. He ignored her and walked away. Qin Lian quickly caught up. There appeared to be some pity in her voice as she said, ¡°But your rival is Guan Qinglong, and I honestly don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be his match. His strength and magnanimity far outclass you.¡± Veins popped on Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead as he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing between us! We¡¯re mortal enemies! Do you know what that means? It means either she dies or I die!¡± ¡°A love-hate relationship, huh? What a great story.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned black. He truly never imagined that Qin Lian, who was usually cold and distant, would become so gossipy on such matters. He paid her no further attention and quickened his pace. The two descended the stone steps, one seemingly running, the other closely pursuing. Zhou Yuan looked towards the black round table at the center. Guan Qinglong had already seated himself, while Wu Yao was seated one row behind him. Evidently, only the spokespersons from the various factions would have a seat at the table. Zhou Yuan pondered for a brief moment before taking a step to the side, putting himself on the path towards one of the stone seats on the stairs. However, Qin Lian grabbed his arm before he could take another step. Zhou Yuan helplessly asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Qin Lian pointed at the black stone table and said, ¡°Are you joking? You¡¯re a grand elder of our Tianyuan Region whose status is much higher than mine. Do you expect me to sit there instead of you?¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but roll his eyes. Don¡¯t you know that I¡¯m just a mascot?! Outside of the Tianyuan Region, who in Hunyuan Heaven would take me seriously as a Tianyuan Region grand elder? However, Qin Lian quickly pushed him forward and took the position behind the main seat. Zhou Yuan was powerless. He could only step forward and seat himself at the black round table under numerous watching gazes. Amused gazes were observing him, but no one said anything. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s intermediate Heavenly Sun stage cultivation was extremely out of place, the Tianyuan Region was no longer the same as it had been in the past. Following Zhuan Zhu¡¯s return as a Saint, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s power had grown tremendously. Hence, no one was inclined to offend the Tianyuan Region anymore. Zhou Yuan ignored their gazes and closed his eyes to rest until the meeting began. After a long time, he suddenly heard a disturbance in the hall. He immediately opened his eyes and looked over. Two beautiful figures had arrived together. The first figure was quite pretty, but her aura was far too cold. Even the air nearly froze at the chilling presence that emanated from her body, causing several people to shiver uncontrollably. Most of the gazes looked towards the figure a step behind her. It was a girl wearing a purple dress. Her beauty was peerless, and though somewhat hidden by the purple dress, her willow-like waist and long legs were still extremely attention-grabbing. In contrast to Wu Yao, her demeanor was kindly and gentle. If Wu Yao was a glaring ruby, she was a refreshing and calming jade. Her appearance likewise drew amazement from the many watching gazes, the eyes of several men even glowing brightly as they observed her. However, such gazes were quickly discovered by the ice-cold girl in front of her. Her frosty gaze immediately swept over them, causing the many admiring gazes to withdraw. When Zhou Yuan saw the girl in purple, a happy smile emerged on his face. It was Su Youwei. Su Youwei was clearly searching for a certain figure after entering. They saw each other at nearly the same time, causing a joyous look to surface on her pretty face. Her lips could not help but curl slightly as she cheekily winked at Zhou Yuan. It was a very lovely sight. Zhou Yuan grinned at her. But before his smile could fully blossom, he saw the piercingly frosty gaze of the girl in front of Su Youwei lock onto him as if in warning. Zhou Yuan was a little baffled. He did recognize this young lady. She was the Zixiao Region¡¯s Dong Ye, ranked third on the Heavenly Sun List. But there was no grudge between them, right? Why did it seem that she hated him deeply? Puzzled, Zhou Yuan could only restrain himself and give a small nod to Su Youwei. The arrival of the Zixiao Region representatives was followed by several extremely famous individuals in Hunyuan Heaven. The entire hall began to grow lively as the black round table was gradually filled. This was a gathering of heroes. The nine regions tournament paled in comparison to this gathering, but this was not strange. After all, the waters of the Heavenly Sun stage were much deeper than the Divine Dwelling stage. ¡°Oh! Looks like almost everyone is here.¡± Clear laughter suddenly sounded amidst the lively atmosphere. Everyone looked over to see a man in gaudy clothes entering with a wide smile. He looked rather sloppy, but his peach-blossom eyes made others feel uneasy. When he appeared, looks of wariness and fear flitted across the eyes of several individuals present. The new arrival was the main pillar of the Heavenly Sun stage in the Wanzu Region, the one ranked second on the Heavenly Sun List, Wang Xuanyang. Wang Xuanyang toyed with a black and white fan as his gaze swept across the hall, pausing slightly on Wu Yao and Su Youwei. Zhou Yuan paused his gaze on Wang Xuanyang before suddenly looking behind him, finding a familiar face. Excellent posture, chiseled features and as dazzlingly handsome as a sun. It was Zhao Mushen. However, Zhao Mushen appeared to be much more reserved. His hands were hidden in his sleeves as he silently stood behind Wang Xuanyang, making himself appear as invisible as possible. Zhou Yuan could not explain why, but he felt that this Zhao Mushen was even more dangerous. ¡°This guy¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. While Zhou Yuan was observing Zhao Mushen, the latter¡¯s eyes rippled for a moment and also looked over, meeting Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze. Zhao Mushen displayed no anger when faced with the formidable foe who had defeated him previously. He merely looked deeply at Zhou Yuan before slowly withdrawing his gaze, returning his deep eyes to Wang Xuanyang¡¯s back. ¡°It seems that the battle for Guyuan Heaven will be much more interesting than the nine regions tournament.¡± Zhou Yuan rubbed his chin. Under numerous fearful gazes, Wang Xuanyang flamboyantly seated himself on the final empty spot at the round table. He leaned forward, propping his face with one hand as he continued to play with the black and white jade fan with his other. His peach-blossom eyes swept across the table before coming to a stop on Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. He nonchalantly smiled and said, ¡°Since when could an intermediate Heavenly Sun practitioner sit at a meeting between top-tier Heavenly Sun experts?¡± At his words, the eyelids of several people in the stone hall jumped a little. Wang Xuanyang was making things difficult for the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan. Chapter 1081 Wang Xuanyang No one was surprised by Wang Xuanyang¡¯s words. The Wanzu Region had basically been backing the Great Five Alliance in their war against the Tianyuan Region. However, the Wanzu Region had failed to achieve its desired outcome. Zhuan Zhu had returned as a Saint, completely messing up the Wanzu Region¡¯s schemes. In the end, the Wanzu Region had not only returned empty-handed but had also caused their underlings to sustain grave losses. Take the Tri-Mountain Alliance for example. It had been forced to relocate, losing tremendous resources and face. These losses also indirectly affected the Wanzu Region. As such, it could be said to be the Wanzu Region¡¯s loss. This undoubtedly frustrated the entire Wanzu Region. After all, they had already grown used to a smooth-sailing life over the years, and they had never encountered anything remotely resembling a setback. How could they possibly accept getting their heads bloodied after butting heads with the Tianyuan Region, which they looked down upon? In turn, this led to a little hostility between the Tianyuan Region and the Wanzu Region. Given Wang Xuanyang¡¯s character, there would naturally be no lack of provocation during their meeting. Most importantly, Zhou Yuan was sitting at the black round table, and it gave Wang Xuanyang an excellent reason to create trouble. After all, everyone else at the table was at the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, making an intermediate Heavenly Sun expert akin to a wolf that had stumbled into a tiger den. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged, clearly unaffected. Qin Lian, on the other hand, was unable to sit still. Her face turned frosty as she said, ¡°Wang Xuanyang, Zhou Yuan is a grand elder of my Tianyuan Region. If he doesn¡¯t have the qualifications, you wouldn¡¯t even be allowed to enter the door.¡± Wang Xuanyang leisurely replied, ¡°Grand elder? Hehe, since he¡¯s a grand elder, shouldn¡¯t he be going to the Law Domain conference? Why has he come here instead to mingle with junior Heavenly Sun practitioners like us?¡± A few people chuckled inwardly. In accordance with status, Zhou Yuan did have the right to participate in the Law Domain conference. However, the thought of such a scene was just too comical. If Zhou Yuan was compared to a wolf among tigers here, he would likely be an ant in the Law Domain conference... Smiling, Wang Xuanyang stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°It¡¯s your business if your Tianyuan Region likes to play childish games like randomly giving away a grand elder position. Hence, don¡¯t expect other factions like us to acknowledge such things. Zhou Yuan raised his gaze and smiled at Wang Xuanyang. ¡°Then what should I be bringing up?¡± ¡°Your own strength, of course. Otherwise, will you be using your grand elder status to scare off teams from the other heavens in Guyuan Heaven?¡± Wang Xuanyang smiled superficially. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°I feel that I''ve just barely made the cut, so there¡¯s no need for you to worry. As for what I¡¯ll do when encountering other teams in Guyuan Heaven, that¡¯s none of your business, is it? The final few words caused the eyes of several people in the hall to widen a little as they looked towards the faintly smiling Zhou Yuan. No one had expected this Tianyuan Region grand elder to be so...direct...and that he would give no face to Wang Xuanyang. However, there seemed to be nothing to fault about his attitude. Although Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, no one could deny his Tianyuan Region grand elder status. He honestly didn¡¯t need to give any face to Wang Xuanyang. On the Zixiao Region side, Dong Ye was expressionless. She did not have any good feelings towards Zhou Yuan and Wang Xuanyang. She slightly tilted her head backward and said to Su Youwei, ¡°He¡¯s too rude.¡± Su Youwei softly chuckled. Her eyes seemed to glitter as she stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Not really, I feel he¡¯s being very genuine.¡± The corners of Dong Ye¡¯s mouth could not help but twitch. How can you call this genuine? You¡¯re even worse than him! Dong Ye was somewhat irritated. She had originally hoped for Su Youwei to take a proper look at Zhou Yuan, but the girl¡¯s eyes could only see his virtues. She was basically hopeless. ¡°What¡¯s so good about him¡­¡± Dong Ye felt a sense of helplessness. Given Wang Xuanyang¡¯s character, he would not be able to tolerate Zhou Yuan¡¯s rudeness. Sure enough, it went exactly as Dong Ye predicted. The smile on Wang Xuanyang¡¯s face slowly disappeared, and the black-white fan in his hand suddenly snapped shut. Swish! A beam of black and white shot out swifter than thunder as it dashed towards Zhou Yuan. A strange fragrance spread in its wake. ¡°Yin Yang Poison Miasma?¡± Several people recognized the strangely fragrant black-white beam, and their eyes immediately widened in shock. It was one of Wang Xuanyang¡¯s unique techniques: a poison made from his own Yin Yang Genesis Qi and numerous secret ingredients. Once affected by this poison, one would be overwhelmed by carnal desires and lose all rationality. The poison was extremely difficult to deal with, as it could penetrate Genesis Qi and directly infect the Spirit. Even experts of the same cultivation level were very cautious of this poison and did not dare to let it touch them. Wang Xuanyang¡¯s intentions were very evil. He did not hope to poison Zhou Yuan to death but to make him humiliate himself in front of everyone and lose all face. In turn, this would greatly shame the Tianyuan Region. Wang Xuanyang¡¯s seat was rather near to Zhou Yuan, and the attack was far too swift and sudden. Hence, even Qin Lian, who had been vigilant since the start, was unable to respond in time. She could only watch helplessly as the black and white beam shot towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi automatically surged out in response, swiftly creating a barrier in front of him. Ch! However, the beam instantly pierced the barrier and shot into Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Black-and-white light blossomed between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows. Several gazes in the hall filled with interest, anticipating the subsequent entertainment. They could already imagine how much a fool Zhou Yuan would make of himself after succumbing to Wang Xuanyang¡¯s poison. Smiling, Wang Xuanyang also propped up his chin and stared at Zhou Yuan. However, his eyes were filled with an ice-cold cruelness. The hall fell silent as every gaze converged on Zhou Yuan. However, the black and white light between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows did not continue to spread. Neither did his eyes lose their rational shine. Invisible flames began to rise from his body, and the black-and-white light swiftly melted away upon encountering them. In a short few breaths, all of the light had been cleanly burned away. Several gasps sounded in the hall. ¡°Self-protective Spirit Fire?¡± ¡°Such strong Spirit Fire. They must come from an intermediate Transformative stage Spirit, right?¡± ¡°An ordinary intermediate Transformative stage Spirit can¡¯t create such powerful flames. His Spirit cultivation has likely reached the peak of the intermediate stage¡­¡± The crowd was amazed at the sight of the still composed Zhou Yuan. It was no wonder he did not fear the poison. Although the Yin Yang Poison Miasma could directly target the Spirit, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was strong enough to produce Self-protective Spirit Fire. Hence, it was impossible for the poison to invade his Spirit. Those present were the finest experts among the Heavenly Sun stage, but if they were to compare Spirit cultivation, only a small handful were able to match Zhou Yuan. As the black and white light melted away, Wang Xuanyang¡¯s eyes narrowed a little. The smile on his face had completely dissipated. After all, it was very shameful for someone as strong as him to fail to achieve a result after launching a sneaky attack on Zhou Yuan. ¡°This brat¡­¡± Wang Xuanyang¡¯s eyes turned ice-cold. ¡°Wang Xuanyang, you¡¯re asking for it!¡± However, an icy voice filled with murder abruptly rang out. Qin Lian appeared in the air as her hands grasped a large blade. A trail of terrifying Genesis Qi arced behind it as it viciously slashed at Wang Xuanyang. The power of the blade shattered even the surrounding space. Wang Xuanyang raised the black and white fan. A vortex of black and white Genesis Qi emerged and clashed against the falling blade. Clang! A devastating storm of Genesis Qi unfurled. The other practitioners quickly took action, neutralizing the Genesis Qi shockwave. Qin Lian¡¯s and Wang Xuanyang¡¯s bodies slightly jerked back. Wang Xuanyang used the armrest to brace himself, causing a crack to grow along it. Qin Lian¡¯s body was sent flying, only managing to dissipate the force after several steps. Wang Xuanyang clearly had the upper hand in that exchange. This was no surprise. After all, Wang Xuanyang¡¯s rank on the Heavenly Sun List was higher than Qin Lian¡¯s. Qin Lian¡¯s eyes turned even frostier. Genesis Qi erupted from her body as she prepared to attack again. An icy smile rose from the corners of Wang Xuanyang¡¯s mouth. ¡°You alone are not enough. How about you ask grand elder Zhou Yuan for help?¡± Zhou Yuan remained expressionless. Killing intent flashed in his eyes as he slowly rose to his feet. ¡°Wang Xuanyang, I think that¡¯s enough, right?¡± However, a deep voice suddenly sounded as a terrifying Genesis Qi pressure spread out. Numerous gazes looked over, converging on Guan Qinglong¡¯s body. If it was not stopped soon, they would no longer be able to conduct the conference. Wang Xuanyang glanced at Guan Qinglong. Soon after, he smiled and shrugged. The black and white fan spread open again as his Genesis Qi pressure withdrew into his body. He smiled at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, Guyuan Heaven is filled with danger. You should closely follow Qin Lian at all times, or a swift death will probably await you.¡± Zhou Yuan extended his hand to stop the frosty-face Qin Lian. He also smiled and said, ¡°You should also be a little more careful. But if something does happen to you, on account that we¡¯re from the same heaven, I will do my best to bring back your corpse.¡± The smiling duo seemed to have put their weapons aside for the moment, but icy killing intent flowed deep in both of their eyes. Chapter 1082 Pac The conference had finally begun. Several gazes looked towards Guan Qinglong. There was no clear host for this conference, but Guan Qinglong was obviously the only person respected enough for the job. Under numerous gazes, Guan Qinglong slowly said, ¡°I believe your respective factions have already briefed all of you about the battle for Guyuan Heaven. ¡°The battle for Guyuan Heaven is a fight for ancestral qi. Ancestral qi is a mysterious and unfathomable qi born in Guyuan Heaven which even Saints cannot create. Our ultimate goal is the nine ancestral qi channels deep within Guyuan Heaven. Although the nine ancestral qi channels are the final goal, there are also numerous branch channels that will be fiercely contested for.¡± Guan Qinglong¡¯s voice echoed in the stone hall while everyone earnestly listened with solemn faces. Most of the people gathered here were not from the nine regions and were thus less informed about Guyuan Heaven. After all, Guyuan Heaven would only appear once every thousand years or so, a period in which numerous factions would disappear into oblivion. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face remained impassive as he listened. He recalled the additional information about Guyuan Heaven in his head. Though the branch channels also contained ancestral qi, the amount was far from comparable to the nine channels. It would be more accurate to call them the nine main ancestral qi channels instead of mere channels. Although the branch channels contained much less ancestral qi, they were much more abundant in number. Successfully occupying a few would still bring great benefits. For most of the participants, these branch channels were more practical targets. The ancestral qi of the branch channels was not as berserk, allowing one to retain the ancestral qi more easily. One must know that even a tiny strand of the magical ancestral qi was comparable to a hundred days of cultivation in Hunyuan Heaven. There were even rumors that numerous mystical objects could be found in the branch channels. Some of which were even nourished by ancestral qi till they gained egos of their own, giving them the possibility to evolve into Saint artifacts. Obtaining any of them would be tremendously beneficial to one''s cultivation. These were where the opportunities of Guyuan Heaven lay. ¡°Hence, everyone will be aiming to occupy these branch channels during the initial phase. I believe everyone here is already aware of our competitors. ¡°Let¡¯s put aside the Sacred Race for the moment and talk about our five heavens. The other four heavens are no pushovers, and they will be strong rivals when contesting for the branch channels. Hence, battles with them will be unavoidable. ¡°Among the other four heavens, Qiankun Heaven and Wanshou Heaven are the strongest and are second in strength only to our Hunyuan Heaven. Though Wuxing Heaven and Cangxuan Heaven are weaker, they are not to be underestimated.¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips at the mention of Cangxuan Heaven, feeling somewhat helpless. His old home really was the weakest of the five heavens. Qiankun Heaven used to rival Hunyuan Heaven as the strongest among the five. Although they were subsequently pushed down a little by Hunyuan Heaven, it would be very foolish to underestimate them. Wanshou Heaven, on the other hand, was rather unique. It was ruled by Genesis Beasts. More than sixty percent of all Genesis Beasts were likely gathered in Wanshou Heaven, with no lack of sacred beast bloodlines among them. Once Genesis Beasts reached grade 6, they would undergo a metamorphosis and gain intelligence that was not the least bit inferior to the other races. Hence, Wanshou Region¡¯s overall power was exceptionally frightening. In the stone hall, several people displayed solemn expressions. These were some very strong rivals. In fact, there were likely several factions among them that could match the nine regions. Such teams would definitely be huge threats in Guyuan Heaven. Moreover...there would no longer be any external protection when they entered Guyuan Heaven. In the nine regions tournament, Zhou Yuan and the others were given protective artifacts that would shatter and teleport the user away just before they could take fatal damage. However, Guyuan Heaven was a mystical place where even Saint experts could not easily interfere. Hence, everyone would have to rely on their own abilities. It was very normal to die inside when one fell into danger. This point alone made it clear to everyone present how bloody the battle for Hunyuan Heaven would be. The nine regions tournament was not even worth mentioning in comparison. ¡°Of course, the five all-races heavens are not our only competitors.¡± Guan Qinglong paused as his usually calm face slowly turned a little dark. ¡°You guys should know that they aren¡¯t the greatest threat. It will truly be life or death when we encounter the teams from the four Sacred Race heavens.¡± The two words, Sacred Race, turned the atmosphere somewhat stifling as fear flitted across the eyes of several individuals. The strongest race of Tianyuan World. In the face of their mortal enemies, not a single one of the many races would be able to maintain their calm. After all, if the many races had not joined hands, the Sacred Race would have long unified Tianyuan World long ago, and all the other races would have become their slaves. There was still room for compromise when the teams from the five heavens met, but it would literally be a fight for survival when any of them met the Sacred Race. Zero compromise, only life or death. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was also somewhat grave as he stroked the stone armrest. The battle for Guyuan Heaven felt like a small-scale world war. ¡°Although there are many strong competitors, all of us here share the same goal: seize as much ancestral qi as possible to benefit the entire Hunyuan Heaven.¡± However, no one said anything in response to these words. Guan Qinglong was not wrong. Opening a branch channel and drawing ancestral qi into Hunyuan Heaven would indeed improve Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Genesis Qi. However, the various factions present were more inclined to draw ancestral qi towards the territories of their respective factions. If the ancestral qi of a single branch channel was divided into ten parts, the controller could allocate more than six parts to their faction¡¯s territory. The leftover ancestral qi would then flow to other parts of Hunyuan Heaven. Hence, even factions from the same heaven would compete for these branch channels. However, there was one thing no one could deny. Getting leftover ancestral qi was still better than letting it fall into the hands of the other heavens. This was the main reason why the various factions were still able to peacefully gather for a discussion. Guan Qinglong¡¯s voice sounded once more, ¡°The final goal of this meeting is to reach a mutual agreement between the various factions. This pact can be simplified to a simple phrase: watch each other¡¯s backs.¡± The representatives from the numerous factions faintly nodded in agreement. This was their goal for coming here. Wang Xuanyang toyed with his black and white jade fan as he asked, ¡°Watching each other¡¯s backs is only with regards to the other heavens. What about internal conflicts?¡± He cast a glance at Zhou Yuan, making his meaning clear. Guan Qinglong smiled faintly. ¡°Internal conflicts are not included.¡± Wang Xuanyang slowly closed his fan, hiding his mouth as he said, ¡°That¡¯s what I wanted to hear.¡± Zhou Yuan remained expressionless, ignoring Wang Xuanyang¡¯s provocative gaze. However, an icy gleam flashed in his lowered eyes. It would be best if Wang Xuanyang understood what was good for him, but if he tried to cause trouble, Zhou Yuan did not mind helping him collect his corpse. Guan Qinglong lightly pressed his hand onto the table, causing a glow to emerge. Numerous words appeared, forming a simple pact. ¡°If no one has any objections, press your hands into the table to agree.¡± He led the way, leaving a handprint on the pitch-black table. Pah pah. The representatives of the various factions also reached out and pressed their hands into the table as handprint after handprint appeared. ¡°Everyone, this battle will have a long-lasting impact...that¡¯s why we¡¯ll fight for Hunyuan Heaven!¡± Guan Qinglong¡¯s deep voice boomed across the stone hall. ¡°For Hunyuan Heaven!¡± The rising voices made the crowd¡¯s blood boil with excitement. Zhou Yuan also pressed his palm onto the table as the corners of his lips curled slightly. For Yaoyao! Chapter 1083 Waiting The dangers in Guyuan Heaven were not to be underestimated. It was said Hunyuan Heaven once suffered devastating losses, losing almost half of their Heavenly Sun and Nascent Source participants. One of the nine regions teams was even nearly wiped out. Hence, not a single faction dared to underestimate the battle for Guyuan Heaven. Even so, it would be naive to believe that the agreements would allow the various factions to put aside all their differences and cooperate whole-heartedly. When faced with enough potential benefits, even factions from the same heaven would secretly scheme against each other. This was something every faction clearly understood. However, it did not mean that the agreements were useless. At the very least, the various factions would be able to swiftly band together in the face of danger. ... Over the following days, the various factions remained camped under Heaven Pillar Peak. They were waiting for Guyuan Heaven to open. Half a month passed. Rumble! At the Tianyuan Region camp training area, a blast of berserk energy exploded as a dragon roar faintly echoed. Two figures were thrown backward, their feet leaving long marks across the ground. The watching crowd of Tianyuan Region Heavenly Sun experts burst into cheers, as gaze after gaze respectfully looked towards the young figure at the center of the arena. It was Zhou Yuan. His two opponents were Bian Buji and Mu Youlan. These two were once two of the four Tianyuan Region Heavenly Sun pillars. Half a year ago, Zhou Yuan was still a mere newcomer in their eyes. Who could have imagined that he would grow powerful enough to take both of them on together half a year later? In fact, he was even stably taking the upper hand in the fight. Most of the Tianyuan Region crowd, who were still unaware, were utterly shocked by Zhou Yuan¡¯s display of strength and could not help but burst into cheers. After all, suddenly finding out that Zhou Yuan was so strong both excited them and made them more confident in the subsequent battle for Guyuan Heaven. Mu Youlan and Bian Buji exchanged a look, seeing the shock in each other¡¯s eyes. They had only agreed to this fight because Qin Lian had said that they might not be Zhou Yuan¡¯s match even if they worked together. They naturally did not believe this was true. After all, Qin Lian was not the only one who had grown much stronger over the past few months. The two of them had also made substantial progress. The outcome, however, was a little hard to swallow for Bian Buji and Mu Youlan. Mu Youlan could not help but mumble, ¡°How is he so strong?¡± Bian Buji let out a bitter chuckle as he sighed. ¡°As expected of the supreme sovereign¡¯s personal disciple.¡± Zhou Yuan walked forward and patted their shoulders with a smile before waving at the crowd of onlookers. When he saw the respect in their eyes, he could not help but chuckle inwardly. He had pulled strings to set this match up with the goal of fully winning over both the Tianyuan Region crew and the recruited unaffiliated cultivators. It was to prevent any potential internal problems after entering Guyuan Heaven. A display of power was more effective than any status. After consoling Bian Buji and Mu Youlan, Zhou Yuan turned and walked towards Qin Lian, who was standing at the edge of the arena. She winked at him and chuckled softly. ¡°It seems that you¡¯ve achieved your goal.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your cooperation.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Right, here¡¯s the information you wanted about Wang Xuanyang.¡± Qin Lian passed him a scroll as her expression turned a little more solemn. ¡°Do you really plan on crossing blows with him? He¡¯s definitely not someone to be trifled with.¡± Zhou Yuan received the scroll with a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s best to be prepared. I may not desire to kill the tiger, but the tiger may want to hurt me.¡± Qin Lian nodded in agreement. The Wanzu Region and the Tianyuan Region were clearly not on good terms, and it would not be easy to resolve the differences between them. Moreover, given Wang Xuanyang¡¯s petty nature, he would certainly be more than ready to deal a blow to them if he found the chance. Zhou Yuan unfurled the scroll. His eyes swept across it and widened a little. ¡°Initial estimate of Genesis Qi foundation: likely near 30 billion... ¡°Yin Yang Mystic Qi, peak grade 7¡­ ¡°Wields the Yin Yang Jade Fan, a top-tier Heaven Genesis Weapon... ¡°Known Genesis techniques... After reading the information, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned a little graver. It was exactly as Qin Lian had said. Wang Xuanyang was indeed formidable and extremely dangerous. This should not be a surprise. Wang Xuanyang was ranked two on the Heavenly Sun List, after all. Zhou Yuan kept the scroll as his eyes narrowed. Although Wang Xuanyang was a tough adversary, if he tried anything funny, Zhou Yuan would have no choice but to face him, and they would find out who was tougher. With Promotion and his numerous trump cards, Zhou Yuan should be able to put up a fight against Wang Xuanyang. ¡°Thanks.¡± Zhou Yuan expressed his gratitude towards Qin Lian. Qin Lian curled her lips. ¡°Your girlfriend from the Zixiao Region isn¡¯t here today?¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly said, ¡°She¡¯s just a friend.¡± Qin Lian was naturally referring to Su Youwei. Over the past half a month, she would often come to the Tianyuan Region camp to find Zhou Yuan, and she would of course be noticed by Qin Lian and the others. Qin Lian gave Zhou Yuan a strange look and clicked her tongue in amazement. ¡°The Wushen Region¡¯s Wu Yao and the Zixiao Region¡¯s Su Youwei are well known throughout Hunyuan Heaven as great beauties, and even a girl like myself can¡¯t help but have a little of my breath taken away at their beauty. How do two such outstanding young ladies have such complicated relationships with you?¡± There seemed to be a little disdain in her eyes, as if she felt he did not match up to Wu Yao and Su Youwei. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. He knew that her gossipy side had been incited again. He had already explained his relationships with Wu Yao and Su Youwei many times, but Qin Lian had obviously not listened to a single word. She seemed to be more convinced by her own imagination. ¡°Hurry up and go train the team,¡± Zhou Yuan barked in a slightly peeved voice. It had been rather boring to wait over the past half a month, so Qin Lian had been placed in charge of drilling the Tianyuan Region side together with the unaffiliated cultivators to improve their teamwork. Qin Lian could only shrug, somewhat regretful that she had failed to dig out more juicy gossip from Zhou Yuan. The two split up, but they soon came to a stop at the same time after only a few steps. They abruptly raised their heads and looked towards the majestic Heaven Pillar Peak. An extremely terrifying spatial undulation had erupted from the peak, causing the entire place to ripple for a moment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Qin Lian¡¯s gazes met, seeing the unrestrainable joy in each other¡¯s eyes. After they had waited for half a month, Guyuan Heaven was finally beginning to open! Chapter 1084 Grand Opening When a loud rumble sounded from the seemingly endless clouds that covered Heaven Pillar Peak, the various factions below jerked their heads upwards and stared at the thick clouds in bewilderment and joy. It was finally happening! Under countless watching eyes, the thick cloud layer began to stir. A devastating storm of wind exploded from the spatial undulation, tearing everything in its path to pieces. It was Heaven Pillar Peak¡¯s infamous wind calamity! ¡°Raise the boundary!¡± Numerous shouts rang out from the endless line of camps at the mountain foot. Boundary after boundary swiftly rose, nearly covering the entire sky. The destructive windstorm slammed into the boundaries, quickly beginning to tear through. Fortunately, the many factions were well-prepared. More and more boundaries continued to rise, while experts began to unleash blasts of Genesis Qi to scatter the windstorm. However, the windstorm seemed endless. Hence, the many factions did not dare to hold anything back as they continued to defend. The originally calm foot of the mountain turned extremely busy for a time. Boundaries also rose from the Tianyuan Region camp. Zhou Yuan raised his head, his expression turning somewhat grave as he observed the boundaries ripple violently. Even a Heavenly Sun expert would not last for long amidst such destructive power. Once one¡¯s Genesis Qi was exhausted, one would be swiftly torn to pieces. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder that no one dares to enter the Heaven Pillar Peak region¡­¡± Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. Before the raw might of nature, even Nascent Source experts would have to be extremely wary. A practitioner would likely only be able to ignore such power when he or she stepped into the Law Domain stage. Qin Lian could not help but mutter from the side, ¡°I wonder how long it¡¯ll last.¡± Zhou Yuan concentrated on the bottomless spatial hole that had appeared in the cloud layer as the Saint Rune swirled deep in his eyes. He had activated the Decoder Saint Rune. Pierce through! The thick cloud layers gradually turned clear as the peak was reflected in his eyes. Nine imposing figures stood amidst the heavily distorted space. They appeared to be pouring out unimaginable power that was slowly ripping apart the fabric of space. These should be Hunyuan Heaven''s nine supreme sovereigns. They were likely warping space to create a passageway into Guyuan Heaven, and the deadly windstorm had likely arisen due to their actions. ¡°The windstorm will stop when the nine supreme sovereigns open the spatial passage.¡± Zhou Yuan took a deep breath as a feverish look gradually covered his eyes. He was rather looking forward to the battle for Guyuan Heaven because only by interacting with more top-tier experts would he be able to grow more rapidly. He needed formidable foes as whetstones. Qin Lian immediately turned around to spread his order while Zhou Yuan continued to stare at the clouds with his hands behind his back. Rumble! Thunder boomed from deep within the cloud layer for the next two hours. Just as the situation was becoming somewhat hellish for the various factions, the thunder gradually came to a stop. A majestic power suddenly unfurled, completely obliterating the devastating windstorm. Even the thick layers of clouds that covered the peak all year round began to thin. Countless people gazed towards Heaven Pillar Peak. Although it was too far to make out the scenery even after empowering their eyes with Genesis Qi, all of them could clearly feel nine terrifying presences from the peak. The supreme sovereigns of the nine regions. Right above the peak, a spatial door silently hummed. Rumble! The nine supreme sovereigns waved their sleeves as a loud noise boomed across the air. The spatial door slowly began to open, revealing a deep darkness that seemed to lead to a mysterious location. Countless people stared at the opening door and were filled with anticipation, nervousness and fear of the unknown. Bzz! The surrounding Genesis Qi rapidly gathered outside the giant spatial door and gradually transformed into rainbow steps. The steps stretched downwards, but even the dreadful windstorm was unable to shake them. ¡°Hunyuan Heaven Law Domain experts, ascend and enter Guyuan!¡± a deep voice boomed, and figure after figure appeared on the steps like phantoms. These figures seemed to rapidly teleport, appearing outside the spatial door after a few blinks. Zhou Yuan gazed at the figures that gave off terrifying auras before pausing on a tall and slender individual. Short wine-red hair danced in the wind, giving her a heroic and valiant air. It was his senior sister, Chi Jing. Sect master Xuan Kun and clan leader Bian Chang could be seen beside her. Grand elder Mu Ni had not come because a Law Domain expert still needed to be stationed at the Tianyuan Region. As she stood before the spatial door, Chi Jing seemed to sense his gaze. She swept a glance towards him and displayed a smile as she transmitted a faint voice, ¡°Little junior brother, be extra careful in Guyuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and softly said, ¡°Senior sister Chi Jing, you should also be careful. I look forward to your safe return.¡± Under countless respectful gazes, the force that was second only to the Saints stepped into the door and disappeared. Countless onlookers cupped their fists and bowed. In a certain manner of speaking, all of them were fighting for Hunyuan Heaven. ¡°Hunyuan Heaven Nascent Source experts! Enter Guyuan!¡± After the Law Domain experts¡¯ departure, the booming voice rang out once more. This time, the surrounding Genesis Qi abruptly began to boil as streaks of light dashed into the sky and landed on the rainbow steps. Every figure gave off powerful Genesis Qi undulations as they walked up the steps. There were far more Nascent Source experts than Law Domain experts. In addition, practically every individual present was an elite of the Nascent Source stage and very famous in Hunyuan Heaven. Hence, they looked far more impressive than the Law Domain experts. Numerous Heavenly Sun experts looked towards them in yearning. Compared to the somewhat unreachable Law Domain stage, the Nascent Source stage was obviously a much more practical goal. The biggest goal of most of the Heavenly Sun experts was to find an opportunity to advance to the Nascent Source stage in Guyuan Heaven. ¡°Hunyuan Heaven Heavenly Sun experts!¡± After the Nascent Source experts left, it was finally the biggest group¡¯s turn, the Heavenly Sun experts. Rumble! The scale was shocking. Countless streaks of light instantly soared into the sky like fireworks, densely packed together like a swarm of locusts. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian were no exception. They immediately rose into the air while the several-thousand-strong team of Tianyuan Region Heavenly Sun elites followed behind them. Countless figures landed on the rainbow steps. From far away, it looked as if ants were climbing a stairway into the heavens. As they gradually approached, the Heavenly Sun experts finally realized how humongous the spatial door was. Under the towering door, all of them felt akin to ants. In the sky above, nine imposing silhouettes could be seen. They gave off an endless pressure that could shake even the earth itself. The Heavenly Sun experts bowed towards the nine imposing figures, showing their respect. Zhou Yuan also bowed, and a voice sounded in his ear, ¡°Little junior brother, be very cautious in Guyuan Heaven. If you encounter a strong foe, know when to retreat to avoid defeat. The overall amount of ancestral qi in the Heavenly Sun level is merely a small portion of the whole, and it will not be a huge issue if the Sacred Race ultimately becomes the victor. Remember that where there is life, there is hope, and there will always be another chance in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s body froze a little as a warm feeling flowed in his heart. He gently nodded in Zhuan Zhu¡¯s direction. However, he understood that Zhuan Zhu was not being completely honest. Even if it was only a struggle between the Heavenly Sun experts from the various Heavens, the Heavenly Sun level still contained twenty percent of Guyuan Heaven¡¯s ancestral qi. That was no small portion. Zhuan Zhu merely did not wish for Zhou Yuan to take overly risky actions. The battle for Guyuan Heaven affected all the Heavens of Tianyuan World. There was no exception. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan tilted his head towards Qin Lian and the others, who looked tense and nervous, before taking a deep breath. He took the lead and stepped forward, entering the giant spatial door. Behind him, the giant group of Hunyuan Heaven Heavenly Sun teams also flooded in. From this very moment, the ancestral qi battle that affected all Tianyuan World¡¯s nine Heavens had finally begun. It would be an event that far surpassed everything Zhou Yuan had experienced before. Chapter 1085 Earth Disaster A desolate air filled the land. Crude-looking boulders were randomly scattered across the earth. In the distance, numerous unimaginable, tall mountains were towering over the land like giants. A cracked, broken sun hung high in the sky, sprinkling sunlight that was not warm but a little cold. Wind howled across the land, making rocks tumble and sand fly. The entire world was akin to primordial land. Bzz! Amidst the bleakness, space suddenly began to distort, ultimately forming a giant spatial door. The door rippled as countless figures flew out like locusts. These figures naturally belonged to the Hunyuan Heaven teams. Numerous people flew out of the door and landed on a barren plains, immediately chasing away the desolate atmosphere. Innumerable gazes curiously observed the surrounding land as whispers began to spread. On a certain spot on the plains, Zhou Yuan glanced at Qin Lian and said, ¡°Do a headcount and keep your guard up at all times.¡± Qin Lian nodded in acknowledgment and proceeded to carry out the instructions. She swiftly gathered all of the scattered Tianyuan Region team. As the team gathered, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept over the unfamiliar land. He first gauged the Genesis Qi concentration, and his brows instantly raised in surprise. The concentration was several times greater than the Tianyuan Utopia. More importantly, there seemed to be some kind of ancient and primordial aura in the Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan could feel his Divine Dwelling faintly vibrating. The Genesis Qi in his body seemed to cheer in joy, a sign of its desire for the surrounding Genesis Qi. ¡°Legends says that Guyuan Heaven was born from a fragment of the Ancestral Dragon. It seems that this does hold some truth to it.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. It had taken master Cang Yuan a herculean effort to create a cultivation paradise like the Tianyuan Utopia, but it was still much more inferior to Guyuan Heaven. Even without any blessings or opportunities, a place like this would tremendously benefit anyone who cultivated here. ¡°Such concentrated Genesis Qi!¡± ¡°I can already feel my Genesis Qi growing a little after a single breath!¡± ¡°This is an amazing treasure land!¡± ¡°......¡± The various factions also realized how special the Genesis Qi was, and countless excited voices cried out in amazement. Some individuals even sat down and began absorbing the surrounding Genesis Qi. The place turned rather chaotic for a time. On the Tianyuan Region side, several of the unaffiliated cultivators began to stir restlessly. Their usual training conditions were below average. Such a cultivation paradise would tempt even the members of the nine regions, let alone unaffiliated cultivators like them. The unaffiliated cultivators somewhat disagreed to Zhou Yuan¡¯s scolding, but they ultimately did not disobey his orders. They could only hold themselves back for the moment. However, it was clear that they were very unhappy with him. Just as Zhou Yuan was about to speak again, his Spirit suddenly sensed a faint movement. Underground? Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly as he shouted, ¡°Careful!¡± Rumble! The plains suddenly began to shudder violently the instant the word left his lips, as if an earth dragon was rolling about below. Everyone watched in alarm and shock as the originally solid ground turned into mud. A giant vortex formed, swallowing the figures who had sat down to cultivate. Countless tiny spikes reached out from the mud, piercing the bodies trapped within it. Shrieks and screams rang out. Everyone¡¯s scalps turned numb as they watched the bodies begin to disintegrate, turning into dust that swiftly scattered into the wind. Thump! Thump! Strange mud figures began leaping out from the mud vortex. They looked tough and powerful, as if they were made from rock instead of mud. The mud creatures frantically swarmed out and pounced into the crowd. Their victims were cleanly devoured and rapidly digested into pure Genesis Qi, leaving not even a single bone. The sudden turn of events greatly alarmed everyone. ¡°It''s an Earth Disaster!¡± Zhou Yuan watched the chaos unfurl with a grave expression. An Earth Disaster was one of the strangest and most unfathomable dangers in Guyuan Heaven. It was said that the land in Guyuan Heaven possessed some kind of consciousness of its own that chased after existences that had strong Genesis Qi. It would devour these existences, decompose them back into Genesis Qi and feed it back to Guyuan Heaven. Hence, the terrain in Guyuan Heaven could change at any moment. Plains could turn into muddy swamps, tall mountains into bottomless abysses¡­ Anyone who fell in would soon be swiftly decomposed. This was the phenomenon known as Earth Disaster. Due to this bizarre phenomenon, a single second was all it would take for a safe mountain cave to turn into a burial ground. To be more precise, even one¡¯s bones would be decomposed in Guyuan Heaven. Danger lurked at every step. The strange mud figures were earth creatures born from the Earth Disaster. They did not have minds of their own, and they were driven only by the instinct of devouring lifeforms that possessed Genesis Qi. An Earth Disaster was extremely terrifying. Even powerful practitioners like Zhou Yuan and the others would succumb at the slightest negligence. Fortunately, the Earth Disaster they currently faced did not seem to be the worst kind. The chaos caused by the Earth Disaster did not last for long. After the various factions¡¯ initial panic, the factions swiftly returned to their senses. Everyone quickly created distance from the vortex before sending out a barrage of Genesis Qi, blasting the earth creatures back to mud. After half an incense stick of time, the giant mud vortex slowly began to recede, and the ground returned to its original state. Several individuals were still unconvinced and sent out yet another barrage of attacks, but all it did was leave several craters in the ground. It was as if everything had merely been an illusion. However, the remnant fear and alarm on countless people¡¯s faces told everyone that the earlier events had indeed transpired. The sudden danger made many people clear-headed. Although this was a cultivation paradise, it was also filled with fatal danger. Anyone who lost their caution would likely not be far from death. Zhou Yuan glanced at the unaffiliated cultivators who had wanted to cultivate, and said, ¡°It¡¯s likely that the Earth Disaster had occurred because too many of us had appeared all at once, creating a strong fluctuation in the Genesis Qi.¡± Under his gaze, ashamed looks arose on the unaffiliated cultivators. No one dared to meet his eyes. There was now more respect in everyone¡¯s eyes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°We¡¯re fortunate to have you with us.¡± Qin Lian sighed. More than a hundred people had died earlier. They had only managed to swiftly avoid the Earth Disaster due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s timely warning. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit cultivation was high compared to the majority, making him more aware of any changes in the surrounding Genesis Qi. Even Qin Lian had not been able to detect the Earthly Disaster as quickly as him. Zhou Yuan waved his hand, telling them it was not a big deal. He gazed at the giant crowd and saw several signal flares rise into the air. It was a gathering signal for the nine regions. Zhou Yuan began moving towards the center of the plains as his voice echoed from far away. ¡°Let¡¯s go and meet the others first. The most important thing to do now is to make a base of operations and create a Qi Observation Platform as soon as possible.¡± Chapter 1086 Fragment Snatching The town was naturally constructed by the various factions of Hunyuan Heaven. It would be their initial base of operations. Numerous Genesis Runes had been inscribed into the ground, forming a barrier that enveloped the entire town. The barrier¡¯s sole purpose was to seal off Genesis Qi, and with it in place, they would be able to avoid Earth Disasters. Without the barrier, another Earth Disaster would quickly arrive since so many people were gathered in a single place, creating an area abundant in Genesis Qi fluctuations. If another Earth Disaster occurred, the entire Hunyuan Heaven force might even be wiped out. A tall tower swiftly took shape at the town¡¯s center, and it was crowned by a jade-like mirror glimmering with numerous Genesis Runes. This was the Qi Observation Tower, and its function was to pick up any ancestral qi flow within a ten-thousand-mile radius. Normally speaking, a place flowing with a tremendous amount of ancestral qi would very likely be an ancestral qi branch channel. It was not difficult to construct the Qi Observation Tower, and practically all of the factions had been taught how to. However, every use of the tower required a tremendous amount of Genesis Qi. Hence, the numerous factions needed to work together to activate a single scan. This was why they needed to cooperate during the initial phase. As time passed, the various factions would gradually scatter into smaller teams. After all, branch channels were not that abundant, and being gathered together would make it more difficult to split the limited resources, causing conflicts to arise. With the various factions focused on a singular task, the Qi Observation Tower was completed in half a day, and their respective representatives soon gathered under the tower. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian stood at the front. The nine regions had the best spots, while the other top-tier factions were lined up behind them. Guan Qinglong raised his head. He gazed at the white-jade mirror atop the tower and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡± A beam of azure Genesis Qi shot out from the top of his head. The azure light gave off a formidable and imposing aura as it charged into the white-jade mirror like an azure dragon. Rumble! Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan, Qin Lian and the others also circulated their Genesis Qi. In an instant, countless streams of Genesis Qi whizzed out and poured into the mirror. As the Genesis Qi poured into it, light began to swirl in the mirror. A flash of light suddenly shot out and cast itself into the endless sky. Bzzbzz! The mirror vibrated as an image began to form on its surface. The representatives stared at the mirror in excitement. Swish swish! A string of light grew from the mirror, stopping at the tower¡¯s halfway point, and slowly formed a glowing picture. Mountains and rivers could be seen in the picture. It was likely a projection of the surrounding area. A mysterious faint yellow qi emerged on the image, gradually dyeing certain locations in a faint yellow hue. Desire filled everyone¡¯s eyes as they stared at the yellow areas. These areas were rich in ancestral qi and were likely to contain ancestral qi branch channels. Of course, this was not absolute. The Qi Observation Tower could only scan the surface, and it couldn¡¯t probe deep into the mountains or underground. Hence, luck was still an important factor. It was more than possible that a location marked yellow would yield either nothing or only a tiny branch channel, while those seemingly fainter yellow areas might contain a large branch channel. Of course, the possibility of that happening was minimal. Zhou Yuan curiously observed the picture. Although the faint yellow qi was only a reflection created by the Qi Observation Tower, it still gave off a mysterious and ancient aura. He swept his gaze across the entire map and found several districts covered in darker yellow qi. These spots likely contained a substantial amount of ancestral qi, and they would soon become the various factions¡¯ main targets. A thought suddenly struck him while he was observing. Since the flow of faint yellow qi was only shown at the surface, could he borrow the Decoder Saint Rune¡¯s power to take a deeper look and get a better picture? Zhou Yuan immediately activated the Decoder Saint Rune. He had nothing to lose by trying. An ancient Saint Rune began to rotate in his pupils as the scenery before his eyes changed. He concentrated on the suspended map, carefully inspecting it. Sure enough, changes began to occur to the flows of the faint yellow qi. It was as if he was now viewing it on a deeper and more detailed level. Excitement and surprise flooded Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. The Decoder Saint Rune worked! His bold attempt had resulted in an amazing outcome. While Zhou Yuan was testing out the Decoder Saint Rune, the representatives of the various factions were already stirring restlessly. Boom! At a certain moment, bursts of Genesis Qi erupted from Guan Qinglong, Wang Xuanyang, Dong Ye and the other nine region representatives as they made their moves. On the Tianyuan Region side, Qin Lian was the one to act. Her Genesis Qi foundation was stronger than Zhou Yuan without Promotion, making her the more appropriate candidate to vie against the others. A stream of Genesis Qi shot out from her palm, heading straight towards the glowing map. Qin Lian¡¯s target was extremely clear. It was one of the areas with the highest concentration of faint yellow qi. The map could be broken, so whoever fancied a certain district only needed to snatch the corresponding fragment. Of course, the same piece would likely be targeted by more than one person, making clashes unavoidable. Such clashes would, of course, not be real battles but more like mini competitions. The victor would be the first one who managed to force away the other competitors¡¯ Genesis Qi and claim the map fragment for themselves. In a certain manner of speaking, it was still a display of one¡¯s strength. The nine regions were the first wave to move because it was their privilege, while the other factions could only wait for their turn. Qin Lian was fully focused. Her Genesis Qi instantly arrived and swiftly wrapped around the fragment she had chosen. ¡°Hehe¡­¡± However, a soft chuckle sounded just as she was about to withdraw. A beam of black and white Genesis Qi suddenly arrived from the side and collided with Qin Lian¡¯s Genesis Qi. Thud! The two forces frantically began to erode and blast each other, clashing over a hundred times in a span of a few breaths. However, the black and white Genesis Qi ultimately gained the upper hand and sent Qin Lian¡¯s Genesis Qi flying. It quickly took the opportunity to swallow the map fragment she had been targeting. ¡°Wang Xuanyang!¡± Qin Lian icily glared at the nearby man. Wang Xuanyang returned the glare with a glance and a faint smile. ¡°If you¡¯re less skilled, don¡¯t be so quick to act next time.¡± The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he looked towards Zhou Yuan and mockingly said, ¡°I originally thought that grand elder Zhou Yuan would be the one to move, but it seems that he prefers to hide?¡± Wang Xuanyang gently waved his fan. ¡°I do feel a little bad for snatching the piece you had your eyes on. Here, I¡¯ll give you guys a few pieces to choose from.¡± Black and white Genesis Qi shuddered as it sent several nearby map fragments shooting towards Qin Lian¡¯s Genesis Qi. Laughter sounded from the surroundings. Weaker yellow qi swirled around the map fragments kicked over by Wang Xuanyang. They were clearly not on the same tier as the one he had snatched away, and he was obviously trying to humiliate them. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered with a strange light as he stared at the map fragments. Rage boiled in Qin Lian¡¯s eyes, but she understood that this was not the time to bicker. She ignored the fragments shooting towards her Genesis Qi and began to find another target. However, Zhou Yuan''s voice was suddenly transmitted into her ears, ¡°Select the third map fragment from the left.¡± Qin Lian¡¯s eyes nearly popped from their sockets as she looked towards Zhou Yuan in disbelief, clearly not understanding his intentions. Wang Xuanyang was purposely trying to humiliate them, and they were going to voluntarily play along? Zhou Yuan urged in a low voice, ¡°You heard me right. Quickly grab it!¡± Qin Lian¡¯s eyes rapidly flickered in hesitation, but she ultimately chose to trust Zhou Yuan. She gritted her teeth as Genesis Qi swept out, grabbing the map fragment before withdrawing from the map. When Qin Lian withdrew the map fragment, the surroundings fell silent before quickly filling with roaring laughter. To them, Qin Lian had lost her rationality due to anger. Qin Lian¡¯s face was ice-cold. She hatefully glared at Zhou Yuan as she growled, ¡°Even if you¡¯re a grand elder, you¡¯d better give me an explanation!¡± Chapter 1087 The First Battle Qin Lian''s chest heaved as she suppressed her anger. If she didn¡¯t have to conserve strength, she would have retorted. Only a weak, pale yellow aura lingered around the area that Zhou Yuan had chosen, and even the map fragments that hadn¡¯t been selected were much better than it, to say nothing of the one she had her eyes on. Therefore, she couldn¡¯t understand why Zhou Yuan had suddenly intervened in her choice. More importantly, Wang Xuanyang had deliberately thrown out that area to humiliate them, but they had taken the bait. This was a complete loss of face. Didn''t you see the strange expressions on the surrounding people¡¯s faces!? "I want to choose again!" Qin Lian clenched her teeth. She still couldn¡¯t understand Zhou Yuan¡¯s decision and wanted to exchange for another map fragment. However, Wang Xuanyang said with a smile, "Qin Lian, you have already made your choice, so how can you have another chance to choose? Our nine regions were already given priority to choose first. If you insist on exchanging for another, that means you don''t treat the other factions as human beings, is that true?¡± Wang Xuanyang¡¯s words were extremely vicious. Hearing this, the top forces couldn''t help but look in discontent at Qin Lian. The nine regions have already snatched the best areas. Do they really not want to leave anything for us? The nine regions are strong, but they can''t be so domineering, right? Qin Lian''s pretty face was livid, and the gaze she fixed on Wang Xuanyang could freeze people like the cold winter, but Wang Xuanyang didn''t care and boldly swept his gaze up and down Qin Lian''s tall and slender figure. But just when Qin Lian was on the verge of erupting in anger, Zhou Yuan grabbed her wrist and pulled her away. ¡°Never mind, never mind.¡± After two steps, he tilted his head to look at Wang Xuanyang again and said with a smile, "If the Tianyuan Region¡¯s trip is fruitful, maybe I have to thank you.¡± He dragged Qian Lian away. Wang Xuanyang wrinkled his brows as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. Zhou Yuan¡¯s reaction was indeed a bit weird, but he couldn¡¯t think of a reason for his weirdness. He sneered inwardly, That kid has unrealistic expectations. The other regions¡¯ leaders shook their heads. This is the Tianyuan Region''s choice. They can¡¯t blame others even if they have no harvest in the end. Only Su Youwei¡¯s eyes were filled with worry as she watched Zhou Yuan leave. Dong Ye turned her head, saying, "Zhou Yuan seems clever, but he¡¯s actually a bit stupid. I pity Qin Lian.¡± It would be good if Zhou Yuan really has the ability to lead, but at the moment, he only has grand plans but little skill. He only knows how to ruin things. Hearing her senior sister speak ill of Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei said helplessly, "His Highness Zhou Yuan won¡¯t do useless things. He should have his own reason.¡± Dong Ye pursed her lips. "I can''t think of a good reason for abandoning an area with stronger ancestral qi and choosing a worse area. Watch, the Tianyuan Region''s first opportunity will be wasted.¡± Su Youwei didn''t respond and just pressed her delicate red lips together. The worry in her eyes intensified. ... Zhou Yuan pulled Qin Lian back to where their team was, but Qin Lian was completely silent and cold along the way. Mu Youlan, Bian Buji, Han Jinhe and the others hurriedly greeted them, but noticing Qin Lian''s expression, they couldn''t help asking puzzledly, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Ask him!¡± Qin Lian shot an angry stare at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan took out the map fragment and flicked it lightly. It stretched out in the void, and after a while, he identified the specific location. A saint rune flickered in the depths of his eyes as he studied the map. Then, he heaved a sigh of relief and chuckled, ¡°As expected, I was right.¡± He turned to Qin Lian and said with a smile, "There is more to everything than meets the eye. Even if you snatched the area that seemed rich in ancestral qi, you still might not be able to gain anything. On the contrary, in some seemingly unremarkable places, perhaps there might be unexpected gains.¡± As Qin Lian looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s odd expression, the frost on her face slowly melted and her expression eased to a half-believing, half-doubting one. She also had some understanding of Zhou Yuan and knew that he wouldn¡¯t shoot arrows aimlessly. He perhaps had a reason to choose that map fragment. But she couldn¡¯t think of the reason. Qin Lian pursed her lips and said helplessly, ¡°You¡¯re a grand elder, and I can''t stop you. Just do whatever you want.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn''t help chuckling, ¡°What you said makes it seem like I''m bullying an innocent girl.¡± Qin Lian rolled her eyes, and her face resumed her usual icy-cold expression. She swept a chilling gaze across him. The Tianyuan Region troops who had been watching the show shuddered and fell silent, then quickly turned away. They knew that even if Qin Lian looked helpless in front of Zhou Yuan, she was incomparably ruthless when she was training them. ¡°Why are you all standing there? Immediately assemble everybody and set off!" Qin Lian''s cold voice rang in the ears of more than 2000 Heavenly Sun experts. Everyone dispersed, and the 2000 troops immediately prepared and gathered together. Everyone¡¯s face was full of anticipation and anxiety. Although they yearned for the ancestral qi vein so that they could receive great benefits, they knew there would be countless dangers ahead. No one knew what they would encounter. After all, Guyuan Heaven was too mysterious. Seeing this, Qin Lian drew a deep breath, then looked at Zhou Yuan and said, "I hope your choice won''t disappoint us.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Qin Lian issued an order, and her tall and slender figure soared to the sky first. Zhou Yuan smiled and followed. The 2000 troops leaped up with Genesis Qi and streaked across the air. When Zhou Yuan and the others set off, a group of people also swept out like locusts in all directions from the temporary town. The scene was spectacular. Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s first battle in Guyuan Heaven was unfolding at that moment. Chapter 1088 Search for Ancestral Qi And in that half a day, they had experienced an Earth Disaster while they took a rest halfway to their destination. Fortunately, everyone was already on guard, and so, when the disaster broke out, they evaded it in time and didn¡¯t suffer too much loss. And as they pushed forward on their journey, Zhou Yuan and the others encountered creatures native to Guyuan Heaven. They were beast-like creatures similar to Genesis Beasts but without their spiritual intellect. Instead, they acted on instinct like beasts and were called ancient beasts. Although ancient beasts lacked intelligence, they had something extraordinary¡ªterrifyingly tough bodies that were cultivated throughout the many years of absorbing the universe Genesis Qi. Even top Heavenly Sun experts in the Tianyuan Region would envy their physical strength. There were likely less than ten people in the entire army who could compete with ancient beasts in terms of physical strength. Therefore, many ancient beasts in Guyuan Heaven were tremendous and possessed the strength to flatten mountains. Zhou Yuan and the others had encountered a mountain-like giant beast. It had four hooves as thick as pillars, quaking the ground and mountains as it moved. Facing the beast, even Zhou Yuan felt intense danger. Therefore, they actively avoided the giant beast so as to not irritate it and lose their troops unnecessarily. The dangers in Guyuan Heaven were evident. After half a day of thrilling journeying, Zhou Yuan and the others arrived at the area indicated on the map fragment. It was an extremely barren mountain range with no end in sight. Huge peaks stretched up from the ground and towered into the clouds. However, there seemed to be little vitality throughout the entire mountain range. It was hard to find a fleck of green, and only bare boulders and rocks were visible. Everyone stared at Zhou Yuan, including Qin Lian. Zhou Yuan broke the silence with a cough and scanned the vast mountain range. It will take a few days to explore the entire mountain range. He waved his hand and said, "Why are you all standing in a daze? Dig up the ancestral qi vein!¡± Seeing him raise his voice, the Heavenly Sun troops had no choice but to shrug their shoulders and assemble into their assigned team formation and advance towards the mountain range. Boom! As the troops acted, rumbles echoed from the mountains. Every little team circulated their Genesis Qi and turned it into a pointed spiral to drill into the ground. Deep pits appeared one after another, and the ground was riddled with holes in minutes. Zhou Yuan watched with arms folded, then shifted his gaze to Qin Lian. ¡°Why do you keep staring at me?¡± Qin Lian said snappily, ¡°Oh mighty grand elder Zhou Yuan, I would like to ask, do you really think we can harvest anything in this place?¡± Qin Lian was bitterly disappointed to the core when she had arrived at the mountain range because the place was extremely barren and didn¡¯t look like a place rich in ancestral qi. It should be said that a place with intense ancestral qi should give birth to many ancient beasts, but they hadn¡¯t seen even half the shadow of a beast. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°We¡¯re here already, so let''s search around first.¡± Qin Lian sighed and had no other choice but to do as he said. Without saying anything more to him, she soared into the air and scanned their surroundings while keeping her guard up. Zhou Yuan also turned his attention to the barren mountain range. A Saint rune circulated in the depths of his eyes, but even after running his eyes over the mountains again and again, he didn¡¯t notice any place with a large concentration of ancestral qi. However, he wasn¡¯t surprised. The mountain range was too vast, and his Decoder Saint Rune couldn¡¯t search everything at a glance. However, he believed in the Decoder Saint Rune¡¯s power and knew that an ancestral qi vein had to be hidden within the seemingly barren mountain range. Moreover, when he previously surveyed this area from the white-jade mirror, he found that although the pale yellow aura was weak on the surface, there were specks of light in the depths of the ground. This strangeness wasn¡¯t seen in the other locations, which was why he had told Qin Lian to choose this place. ¡°I will find you,¡± muttered Zhou Yuan. Placing one hand behind his back, he stepped forward. Every step he took was equal to tens of feet, and every time he took a step forward, he carefully observed the surroundings. Rumor has it that the ancestral qi vein possessed a special spiritual intellect to seek good fortune and avoid danger, so it wasn¡¯t easy to find. Therefore, Zhou Yuan slowly walked into the mountain range, scanning the surroundings with every step. The great army was also in the mountains, searching carefully as they advanced. Rumbles echoed throughout the entire mountain range. The day flew by in the blink of an eye. Hovering high up, Qin Lian assumed an angry countenance because they hadn¡¯t detected the slightest trace of ancestral qi after almost an entire day, let alone the ancestral qi vein. Mu Youlan, Bian Buji, Han Jinhe and other deputy captains also darted over to Qin Lian''s side and shook their heads, indicating that they had found nothing in their areas. Qin Lian grew increasingly annoyed. If they were to return empty-handed, the Wanzu Region would no doubt ridicule them. More importantly, it would be a huge blow to the troops¡¯ morale. ¡°Where¡¯s Zhou Yuan?¡± Qin Lian asked. Mu Youlan pointed to the depths of the mountains. "I saw him go there by himself.¡± When Qin Lian heard this, she transformed into a stream of light and sped into the depths. She finally saw Zhou Yuan standing on an ordinary hill after searching in the mountains for a good while, and she immediately landed next to him. "We have searched the entire day and found nothing.¡± Qin Lian stared at Zhou Yuan and said helplessly, "This time we are probably going to return without any harvest.¡± But she had no intention of blaming Zhou Yuan, and instead, she said in a comforting voice, ¡°It¡¯s our first time in Guyuan Heaven. We don¡¯t have much experience, so it''s not surprising that we made a misjudgment. You don¡¯t need to be upset.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. "Don''t you think this mountain range is too barren? Also, we¡¯ve been searching for half a day, but we haven''t found a single ancient beast.¡± Qin Lian frowned. ¡°That doesn''t mean anything, right?¡± Zhou Yuan stamped his feet and lifted his hand into the air. Suddenly, hundreds of shadows swept out and turned into stone pillars. They scattered throughout the area like nails. ¡°Earth Suppression Pillar? Zhou Yuan, what are you doing?" Qin Lian exclaimed. The Earth Suppression Pillar could only be used after finding the ancestral qi vein. Their function was to suppress the vein and prevent it from escaping. Could it be¡ª Qin Lian looked around and then felt more carefully, but she still found no signs of ancestral qi. "Call everyone here." Zhou Yuan didn''t explain too much and just instructed Qin Lian. Although confused, Qin Lian didn''t ask any more questions. She turned around and left. A moment later, there were countless piercing noises in the distance, and all troops from the Tianyuan Region gathered around the hill where Zhou Yuan was. However, everyone surveyed the surroundings in bewilderment because they also couldn¡¯t feel anything strange here. Facing the countless doubtful gazes, Zhou Yuan calmly pointed to an area. ¡°Dig. The ancestral qi vein should be right below there.¡± Chapter 1089 Capture the Vein The entire team stared at the ordinary-looking hill and then exchanged surprised glances with one another. They didn''t sense any unusual energy undulations, let alone the so-called ancestral qi. Mu Youlan, Bian Buji, Han Jinhe and the others displayed some hesitation and then cast a look in Qin Lian¡¯s direction. Qin Lian pondered for a moment, then said through gritted teeth, ¡°Dig.¡± But there was obvious worry in her eyes. If Zhou Yuan was right, he would develop trust in everyone¡¯s hearts, but if he failed, it would undoubtedly affect his prestige. After all, there were many unaffiliated cultivators in their team, and they all came not to win glory for the Tianyuan Region, but for their own benefits. If Zhou Yuan repeatedly acted wilfully and ordered them to do things without any benefits, the unaffiliated cultivators, who were like employed soldiers, might retreat or even join other forces. But seeing Zhou Yuan so persistent, Qin Lian didn¡¯t try to persuade him. Boom! Following Qin Lian''s order, the numerous teams no longer hesitated, and they erupted with bursts of Genesis Qi. Their Genesis Qi transformed into countless swirling drills and burrowed into the ground. The earth quaked, the ground split apart, and a pit began to expand. After a while, a huge dark pit appeared in front of everyone, but the expected ancestral qi vein did not. Faint commotions broke out in the team. After a whole day of unfavorable events, many were unable to bear it any longer. Although they didn¡¯t dare to disobey orders, they couldn¡¯t stop themselves from grumbling complaints. Seeing this, Qin Lian scrunched her brows and was about to scold them. Zhou Yuan waved his hand and stopped her. He stared into the depths of the giant pit as a Saint rune flowed in the depths of his eyes. "Interesting, the vein is like a living thing and knows how to hide,¡± he chuckled. No matter how everyone dug madly, there wasn¡¯t a glimpse of the ancestral qi vein. But it wasn¡¯t that nothing was in this area¡ªthe vein was just constantly hiding from them. Generally speaking, in such a situation, one could only cast a wide net to form a containment zone. Although the efficiency of this method wasn''t particularly good, as long as they could discover a little flaw, they could detect its whereabouts. Moreover, the vein seemed to have a strong spiritual intellect. As Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand, snow-white hair swept out of his palm like a wave and transformed into a python-like torrent. Swoosh! Wrapped in mighty power, the white python sped down, breaking through the thick soil and rocks. It madly tunneled into the depths of the earth. Boom! However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the countless doubtful and puzzled gazes, and he focused on manipulating the torrent into the earth¡¯s depths. This was because he could see that the ancestral qi vein was constantly avoiding his encirclement as he gazed at it with his Decoder Saint Rune. Fortunately, he had locked the area with the Earth Suppression Pillar. As a result, the ancestral qi vein couldn¡¯t escape and could only hide and evade in the constantly shrinking area. The ancestral qi vein would be caught sooner or later. Stronger experts like Qin Lian or those who had some achievements in Spirit finally noticed something strange as Zhou Yuan closed in on the ancestral qi vein. Their eyes widened. ¡°I finally caught you.¡± After ten breaths, the corners of Zhou Yuan''s lips curved upwards, and he pressed his hands together. Boom! The white python-like torrent smashed through the underground boulders, and an indescribable ancient qi erupted like a volcano amidst countless shocked gazes. In the depths of the earth, a pale yellow current flowed out. The current seemed illusory, but vaguely, it transformed into a long dragon-like silhouette. It was clearly just a current of qi, but many people felt an ancient spiritual nature and intellect. Moreover, everyone felt the Genesis Qi in their body surge when they laid eyes on the pale yellow current, a sign of extreme desire and covetousness. Roar! The pale yellow current seemed to be roaring. "It''s the ancestral qi vein!" someone exclaimed. ¡°We really found it?!¡± Everyone cast surprised gazes towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s slender figure one after another, and they were all at a loss for words. The outcome was evidently unexpected. They would never have thought that an ancestral qi vein would exist in such a barren area. Qin Lian, Mu Youlan and the others also stared at Zhou Yuan in amazement. "You...how could you perceive the ancestral qi vein so clearly?" Qin Lian couldn''t help asking in shock. The ancestral qi vein was extremely difficult to detect, and even they needed to rely on the Qi Observation Platform to perceive the general direction before they could gradually search for it. But even if the ancestral qi vein was perfectly concealed and they had exhausted everything and failed to find the slightest trace, Zhou Yuan had managed to capture it precisely. They couldn''t see what happened underground, but it was obvious Zhou Yuan was chasing the ancestral qi vein. But how could he detect it?! Zhou Yuan smiled. He naturally wouldn¡¯t expose the Decoder Saint Rune, so he just let them think that his Spirit perception was especially strong. "Prepare the altar and connect it to Hunyuan Heaven, then guide the ancestral qi vein into it,¡± Zhou Yuan commanded. Boom! But just as his voice faded, the ground began to vibrate. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Qin Lian increased her guard. Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows and immediately shifted his gaze towards the huge pit¡¯s depths where the ancestral qi vein was. With his Decoder Saint Rune, he saw countless strange auras surging in the ground¡¯s depths like a tide. "Is it an ancient beast born from this ancestral qi vein?¡± Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across the barren mountain range in deep thought. The reason they couldn¡¯t see a single ancient beast¡ªthere likely wasn¡¯t any¡ªwas because this mysterious ancient beast underground had swallowed them all. "All teams, be alert! Prepare to fight!" Zhou Yuan roared. The torrent-like aura underground exuded a dangerous atmosphere and should not be underestimated. But this only made Zhou Yuan even more curious. He only chose this area on the Observation Qi Platform because he had detected a vague abnormality with the ancestral qi vein through his Decoder Saint Rune. Perhaps the ancient underground beast would have some answers to these anomalies. Hearing Zhou Yuan''s order, everyone increased their guard and erupted with mighty Genesis Qi one after another. Genesis weapons emitting chilling aura flashed to their hands. The ancestral qi vein was right in front of them. As long as they could eliminate this last obstacle, they could enjoy the nourishment from the ancestral qi. This would be their opportunity and blessing, and so, their fighting spirit was extremely high. Countless eyes filled with fighting spirit locked on the giant pit¡¯s depths. The vibration grew increasingly violent, and at a certain moment, the pit¡¯s depths were suddenly torn apart. A black torrent gushed out with an ear-piercing sonic boom and ferocity. Chapter 1090 Rat Tide The black torrent gushed out from the ground. A fiendish aura wreaked havoc as it sped towards the Tianyuan Region team standing outside the giant pit with lightning speed. It was only when the sun illuminated the black torrent that everyone saw its true appearance. It was a swarm of ancient rodent beasts. Their bodies were tremendous, their fur dark, their eyes scarlet. Ancient runes were flashing all over their claws and teeth. Although the ancient rat beasts resembled rats, they exuded an indescribable ancient fierceness from their bodies, like panthers. "Attack!" Qin Lian''s cold voice rang out. Boom! The next moment, the 2000 Heavenly Sun experts struck back with full strength. Mighty Genesis Qi turned into thousands of waterfalls and bombarded the black torrent as if boulders breaking into a mountain. The black torrent was severed in an instant, but soon, the rats again rushed out in endless numbers. They charged out of the huge pit and approached the nearby Tianyuan Region team members. Bang! Caught off guard, some Heavenly Sun experts were blasted into the distance, and the ancient rats¡¯ sharp claws slashed at them. Fortunately, everyone present was an elite. They soon snapped out of their shock, and in formations of small teams, they used all sorts of means to rapidly sever the swarm of ancient rats. Based on strength, the ancient rats were at most at the Divine Dwelling stage, but when they gathered in numbers, they were particularly terrifying. Bian Buji, Mu Youlan, Han Jinhe and the other deputy captains rushed onto the battlefield and killed the nearby ancient rats with explosions of Genesis Qi. However, the endless swarm was too terrifying. In just a few breaths, the black torrent had occupied the barren mountain range and surrounded the entire Tianyuan Region team. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian hovered in the sky with solemn expressions. Guyuan Heaven is indeed full of danger. Even the ancient beasts born from an ancestral qi vein are very difficult to deal with. ¡°There¡¯s too many!" Qin Lian exclaimed. It¡¯s no wonder this mountain range is so barren. Those ancient rats are the culprit. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. "Something is controlling them...that thing in the deepest place should be the rat king. The group of rats will scatter once we kill it.¡± He looked at Qin Lian, and they both nodded decisively. Boom! Mighty Genesis Qi exploded as the two sped down simultaneously. They tunneled down into the deep pit and shattered the ground surface with Genesis Qi. Rumble! But they didn''t rush too far down, as when they felt the rocks collapsing, a spacious underground palace had appeared below them. Chi! Their offensive was fierce, but Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian had both fought countless battles. Genesis Qi gushed forth from their bodies and formed several tough Genesis Qi barriers in front of them. At the same time, they opened their mouths and roared out torrents of Genesis Qi. The claws stretched out from the darkness tore down their layers of defense, but the two domineering Genesis Qi torrents battered them repeatedly during their brief moment of stillness. Bang! The two giant beasts were blasted upside down, and they smashed into the ground, tearing long tracks into the ground. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian followed the tracks and saw two giant rats with golden fur. Each had two wings on its back. They shone coldly like blades. The two flying golden rats seemed to be a male and a female pair, and they should be the king and queen of the ancient rats. Golden runes gathered on their foreheads, and even their claws and teeth were a pale golden color. Saliva trickled down their mouths and corroded the ground. "What tough bodies," Zhou Yuan couldn''t help complimenting out loud. Even though he and Qin Lian hadn¡¯t held back their Genesis Qi attacks and had seemingly battered the two golden rats, they had failed to inflict much harm. According to his speculation, the two golden rats likely wouldn¡¯t be weaker than top-tier advanced Heavenly Sun experts. If Han Jinhe and the others were here instead of Zhou Yuan, they would have likely been eaten. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian met each other¡¯s gaze, then nodded simultaneously. Swish! Zhou Yuan was the first to transform into a shadow, and he vanished into thin air. When he reappeared, he was already in front of the two golden rats with his hand spread open. Hair rapidly shrouded his hand, and a mysterious light flashed in the center of his palm. ¡°Heavenly Yuan brush, Spirit Devour¡­Spirit Burial!¡± Boom! At that moment, a terrifying shock wave erupted from Zhou Yuan''s palm. That shock wave wasn¡¯t formed from Genesis Qi, but it specifically targeted the Spirit! The ancient beasts possessed terrifyingly tough bodies, but they also had flaws, and that was their weak Spirit. Therefore, as the Spirit Burial approached, the two golden rats fell into a lifeless state. Zhou Yuan stamped his foot, and white hair broke out from the ground around the two golden rats¡¯ feet and tightly wrapped around them. Swish! While Zhou Yuan suppressed them for a moment, Qin Lian appeared above one of the golden rats, and a scarlet sparrow blade flashed out from her slender hand. Top Heaven Genesis Weapon, Scarlet Sparrow Blade The sword whizzed down like a red sparrow incinerating the sky, and its terrifying blazing aura distorted space. The fiery aura snapped the two golden rats out of their lifeless state. Their hair stood on end, and they made ear-piercing noises. Swish! The blade swung down. One of the golden rats was directly sliced in half, and blood splattered in all directions as the rat crashed into the ground. But the other rat, the male golden rat king, was only inflicted with a hideous wound. Infuriated, it broke free of the snow-white hair¡¯s binding and shot out. "A pity." Qin Lian descended with a regretful look on her face. She should have killed both with her previous blade strike, but the rat king was too cunning and had moved back a little, resulting in her blade slashing more towards the female rat. Chi! The golden rat king screamed furiously, and the scarlet color in its small eyes intensified. However, it knew how dangerous the two people in front of it were, so it spun around to flee. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian unhesitantly gave chase. The three shuttled through the underground palace. Bang! Under their pursuit, the golden rat king suddenly rammed into a boulder. It smashed the boulder apart and charged through it. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian followed and rushed into the cave almost at the same time. As they entered the cave, their field of vision suddenly widened. At this moment, in the center of the cave, several white stalactites were hanging down from the ceiling. Clusters of faint light were gathered at the tips of the stalactites, and within them were mysterious objects. They radiated an ancient, pure, mysterious wave of energy. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. Qin Lian drew a deep breath, and shock and joy gushed forth from her beautiful eyes. "Zhou Yuan, those are mysterious treasures! They are formed from the nourishment of ancestral qi over many years, and they are essential to refine Saint treasures!¡± Zhou Yuan''s heart trembled, and his eyes similarly gleamed covetously. It should be said that not every ancestral qi vein gave birth to such mysterious treasures! As expected, this ancestral qi vein contained treasures. Swoosh! While Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Qin Lian¡¯s attention was drawn to the mysterious treasures, the golden rat king suddenly shot out and pounced towards a stalactite. It swallowed a mysterious treasure along with the stalactite in one bite. Roar! As it screamed, its body began to swell and emit a fiendish aura. Evidently, it wanted to use the mysterious treasure to increase its strength. But Zhou Yuan was greatly enraged. With crimson red eyes, he took a large step forward. Heavenly Yuan Brush, Promotion! Boom! A storm of terrifyingly powerful Genesis Qi suddenly raged from his body, causing the cave to shake violently. ¡°Great Flame Devil!¡± Amidst his roar, Zhou Yuan''s body suddenly expanded, and lava flowed over his body. He looked like a fierce flame devil. His roar rumbled like thunder in the earth¡¯s depths: ¡°Beast, spit out my treasure!¡± Chapter 1091 Mysterious Treasure Shouldn¡¯t the golden flying rat king be their rightful owner? After all, it had lived here for many years. Qin Lian could tell that the mysterious treasures were maturing under the ancestral qi vein¡¯s nourishment and that the golden rat king hadn¡¯t swallowed them yet because it was waiting for them to mature completely. Unfortunately for the rat king, who would have thought that Zhou Yuan, the demon star, would come? Boom! While thoughts whirled in Qin Lian''s mind, Zhou Yuan, in the Great Flame Devil transformation, shot out. He appeared above the golden rat king as though he had teleported. The aura of the golden rat king, who had swallowed the mysterious treasure, was soaring drastically. Hss! The golden rat king unleashed a fierce roar and grinned threateningly at Zhou Yuan. Bang! Zhou Yuan responded with an iron fist wrapped in lava. As his fist slammed out, the intense heat distorted space, and two striking Heavenly Suns emerged behind him. His Genesis Qi foundation directly soared to 2.3 billion! Rumble! Zhou Yuan slammed his fist into the golden rat king''s head, causing lava to spew out like a volcanic eruption. The golden rat king screamed in anguish as it blasted into the ground, forming a deep crater. The skin of the golden rat''s head was split, and its flesh was torn. Blood rapidly flowed down its head, but the rat king¡¯s strength had obviously soared after it had swallowed the mysterious treasure. Thus, Zhou Yuan had failed to kill it with his fierce punch. ¡°You still want to fight?¡± Zhou Yuan sneered. His ghost-like figure sped down again, leaving behind many blurred shadows. The golden rat king turned into a stream of golden light and swiftly evaded Zhou Yuan. Boom! Inside the cave, one chased frantically while the other madly fled. Their constant berserk attacks turned the place upside down. Qin Lian didn¡¯t join the chase. Instead, she appeared between the stalactites and circulated her Genesis Qi to form a shield to protect them from the battle¡¯s shock waves. If they were damaged, both she and Zhou Yuan would be heartbroken. Bang! Inside the smoke- and dust-filled cave, Zhou Yuan''s mighty demonic shadow descended from the sky. His feet, wrapped in mountainous power, crashed into the rat king¡¯s back. Rumble! A deep hole split open in the ground and firmly trapped the rat king. It struggled frantically, trying to escape, but Zhou Yuan frantically thrust out his fist again. The snow-white hair around his hand shone coldly like thorns. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± Boom! Zhou Yuan¡¯s crimson eyes flashed with a cold, ruthless look, and his fist transformed into countless fist shadows and bombarded the rat king¡¯s incomparably tough body. The cave rumbled, and the ground crumbled. After a few minutes, the deafening booms gradually stopped. Qin Lian peered down and watched the smoke and dust disperse and reveal a giant dark pit. In the depths of the pit, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had resumed its original appearance, and his demonic body had vanished. The ferocious golden rat king was crushed like mud beside his feet, its blood splattered across the deep pit. Zhou Yuan looked a little helpless at the rat king¡¯s miserable appearance. The rat king¡¯s bodily strength was too tyrannical, and Zhou Yuan had no choice but to attack with full-strength. Otherwise, given the rat king¡¯s tenacious nature, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t be able to kill it even after one day of fierce battle. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Zhou Yuan apologized without much sincerity, and then, with a wave of his hand, a chunk of the rat king''s flesh floated up. He crushed it to a pulp, and a mysterious shimmering treasure revealed itself. It was a deep yellow crystal with nine eye-like holes. It radiated an indescribable feeling of mystery. From the nine-hole crystal, Zhou Yuan could feel an ancient aura identical to ancestral qi. "Is this a mysterious treasure nourished by ancestral qi?" Zhou Yuan opened his hand and curiously studied the crystal. It was rumored that this kind of mysterious treasure was needed to refine Saint treasures. Thus, this object was incredibly rare and precious. However, while Zhou Yuan examined the nine-hole crystal in his hand, snow-white hair broke out from his palm without his control, wrapped around the crystal, then vanished like lightning. The sudden change stunned Zhou Yuan. ¡°Heavenly Yuan Brush?!¡± He immediately looked inside his Divine Dwelling and saw the Heavenly Yuan Brush quietly suspended inside with its snow-white hair hanging down and twisting to form a sphere. Rays of light bloomed from the inside of the sphere. It was the crystal. Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the white hair instilling a bizarre force into the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Moreover, under that force, the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s mottled body seemed to become even more abstruse. Even the eighth rune on the Heavenly Yuan Brush was releasing wisps of light. ¡°The Heavenly Yuan Brush can swallow these kinds of mysterious treasures to evolve itself?!" Zhou Yuan exclaimed. The Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s power had already surpassed ordinary top-level Heavenly Genesis Weapons and could even be considered a Quasi-Saint Genesis Weapon. However, he understood there was still a huge gap between the Heavenly Yuan Brush and a true Saint Genesis Treasure. But as the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s grade increased, its awakening and evolution had become increasingly difficult. But the mysterious treasure from Guyuan Heaven made Zhou Yuan see an opportunity. As though it felt Zhou Yuan''s gaze, the Heavenly Yuan Brush vibrated and hummed. Zhou Yuan understood its meaning¡ªit wanted more ancestral qi treasure. Zhou Yuan grinned. It seemed he would need to start working hard to support this little brat. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll help you get more,¡± Zhou Yuan uttered helplessly, but he was still happy about it. After all, as the Heavenly Yuan Brush awakened and evolved, it would also improve his strength. Zhou Yuan was about to withdraw from his Divine Dwellings. But at that moment, he stopped abruptly, and surprise flashed across his face. He had felt a strange fluctuation of energy within his body. It was just that this wave was extremely weak and could easily be overlooked. Zhou Yuan, who was always very cautious, didn''t overlook it and instead began to interact with it. Under his sensing, the slight wave of energy indeed appeared again. His heart trembled, and large amounts of silver liquid suddenly gathered within his Divine Dwellings, gradually turning into a silver sphere in front of him. The silver sphere was as smooth as a mirror, and its surface occasionally bloomed with faint ripples. Zhou Yuan stared dazedly at the silver sphere. ¡°Silver Shadow?!¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression changed drastically. He didn''t expect the faint wave to be from Silver Shadow! This had never happened before. It was the first time that the Silver Shadow had actively sent him a message. Of course, this was because Silver Shadow was a lower grade than the Heavenly Yuan Brush. "Have you also developed a trace of spiritual intellect?" Zhou Yuan reached out curiously and held the silver sphere in his hand. It seems that, after nurturing it for so many years, he had developed a connection with Silver Shadow. Silver Shadow¡¯s rounded surface rippled, but its spiritual intellect was evidently inferior to the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s. ¡°What is it that you want?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. There had to be a reason for Silver Shadow to suddenly produce a response. Silver Shadow couldn''t clearly express its thoughts and could only make its surface ripple continuously. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, and suddenly understanding dawned on him. He peered at the Heavenly Yuan Brush not far away and said thoughtfully, "You also want ancestral qi treasure?¡± That ancestral qi treasure was the only thing unusual in his Divine Dwelling. Silver Shadow immediately trembled violently, and the ripples turned even more hurried. Zhou Yuan smiled and quickly comforted, "Okay, I know, don''t worry, I won''t treat you badly.¡± Zhou Yuan also had fond feelings towards Silver Shadow, which had followed him since he started his cultivation. It was unknown how many times he had relied on the Silver Shadow to help him reverse the tides. However, as Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength increased, he felt that Silver Shadow couldn¡¯t keep up with him. But he felt that perhaps the ancestral qi treasure in Guyuan Heaven would provide an opportunity for Silver Shadow to evolve. In the deep pit, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, staring at his empty palm. He couldn''t help smiling bitterly. It seems that I not only have to provide for one little brat but two¡­ Chapter 1092 Harves Qin Lian swept a glance across the deep pit and said with a smile, ¡°Really ruthless.¡± Zhou Yuan was helpless towards her mockery. After all, the scene was indeed reeking of blood. So, he didn''t respond and shifted his gaze to the stalactites, his eyes blazing. Many stalactites hung from the cave¡¯s ceiling, but only very few had refined ancestral qi treasures. Zhou Yuan counted the stalactites containing treasures, and not counting the one the golden rat king had swallowed, five were left. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect there to be ancestral qi treasures here,¡± exclaimed Qin Lian. She clearly understood their value. However, she suddenly cast an astonished glance at Zhou Yuan and said, "Could this be the reason you told me to choose this area?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and didn''t deny it because he had indeed instructed Qin Lian to make that choice. Moreover, given how clever Qin Lian was, she would no doubt connect the harvest they had made this time to Zhou Yuan and come to that conclusion. ¡°Our supreme sovereign gave you some kind of means to do this?¡± Qin Lian stared excitedly at Zhou Yuan. In her opinion, it was impossible for Zhou Yuan to possess that kind of strength. The only explanation was that supreme sovereign Zhuan Zhu had given him some means that ordinary people didn''t know about. Zhou Yuan gave a mysterious smile. Since he could shift the reason to his senior brother, it would save him from explaining too much and risk exposing the Decoder Saint Rune. ¡°Let¡¯s get the treasures first.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand and then flicked his finger. A light sphere hanging above the five stalactites floated in front of Qin Lian and him. Its rays of light gradually faded, revealing its true appearance. There were five mysterious treasures of varying shapes and sizes, but all exuded an ancient aura. Looking at them, Zhou Yuan felt the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his body cheer and leap about again. Additionally, there was another weak wave of energy, which presumably was from Silver Shadow. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, then looked at Qin Lian and asked, "How should we divide them?¡± After a deep thought, Qin Lian said indifferently, ¡°For the time being, you don¡¯t need to bring them out. After all, they¡¯re too few and can¡¯t be distributed evenly. They will easily lead to disagreements. ¡°Furthermore, we only got them mainly because of you and me. The others aren¡¯t qualified to share such treasures. So I suggest that you take four, and I, if grand elder Zhou Yuan is willing, will be satisfied with one.¡± ¡°There will surely be more ancestral Qi treasures, and team members with outstanding contribution can be rewarded with them.¡± Zhou Yuan flicked his finger, sending two of the five ancestral qi treasures floating towards Qin Lian. "I am a grand elder of the Tianyuan Region. I can¡¯t be so stingy and only give out one.¡± Qin Lian didn''t know that Zhou Yuan had retrieved the ancestral qi treasure the golden rat king had swallowed, but Zhou Yuan didn''t take advantage of this fact. He knew there would be more opportunities in the future. Qin Lian stared blankly at the two ancestral qi treasures suspended in front of her. She didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to be so generous. After all, they both knew about the value of such ancestral qi treasures. Qin Lian swept a glance over Zhou Yuan, who just smiled at her. His expression was sincere and contained no other intention. So, she didn¡¯t hesitate anymore and accepted them. ¡°Thank you, grand elder, for your generosity. If there¡¯s anything you need me for in the future, I wouldn¡¯t even hesitate to go into boiling water or tread on fire for you.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help chuckling. He stored the remaining three ancestral qi treasures with a wave of his hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s head out.¡± Since the rat king and queen had been killed, the rat tide outside should have receded. And after this, they had another important matter to deal with, and that was to digest the ancestral qi vein, their top priority. Qin Lian nodded, and the two followed the path back and quickly returned to the others. As they darted from the deep pit, they saw that the Tianyuan Region troops were gathered around the pit and the ground was strewn with rat corpses. The stench of blood saturated the air. Bian Buji, Mu Youlan, Han Jinhe and the others darted over to greet Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian. "The rat tide has receded, but we lost more than 30 people¡­" Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian both nodded. It was inevitable that an attack of that level resulted in casualties. The Tianyuan Region would have to compensate their families, but this was handled by other departments. Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across everyone. He knew what everyone was looking forward to, so he didn''t say anything pointless. He waved his hand and said, "Everyone, get ready. We will receive the ancestral qi vein next!¡± Cheers broke out, and everyone¡¯s eyes blazed with anticipation. They had crossed the heavens and come to the dangerous Guyuan Heaven precisely for the ancestral qi. Although the majority of ancestral qi in the ancestral qi vein would flow into Hunyuan Heaven, they could still absorb the first wave of ancestral qi, and that was a great enough harvest to them. As Zhou Yuan waved his sleeve, a ray of light shot out and descended into an open space on the hill. Boom! The light expanded as it met the wind, and it turned into a black altar. The altar was marked with countless ancient Genesis Runes, and those runes were so mysterious that even Zhou Yuan, who had great accomplishments in Spirit, couldn¡¯t see through their mystery. This altar was the ancestral qi receiving platform that Zhuan Zhu had refined. It could not only connect to Hunyuan Heaven but also protect the ancestral qi vein. Most importantly, it would guide almost half of the vein¡¯s ancestral qi to the Tianyuan Region. With a slight movement, Zhou Yuan appeared in the center of the altar and folded his hands in a seal. As his seal changed, the black altar vibrated and its ancient Genesis Runes bloomed rays of dazzling light. The light swiftly gathered and tore a crack in the space. The flow of light pulled the gap wider and wider, and it gradually formed a spatial channel that constantly lengthened and shortened. Buzz! A mysterious force erupted within the spatial channel and enveloped the ancestral qi vein below. Then, a terrifying explosive force sucked it in. The ancestral qi vein had an instinct to seek good fortune and avoid misfortune. Therefore, it instinctively resisted, but the power that erupted from the spatial channel was too powerful. No matter how it resisted, in the end, it was slowly uprooted from the earth¡¯s depths. The billowing mysterious pale yellow current rose, and the entire mountain range quaked violently. Looking down from the sky, it resembled a tremendous yellow dragon being pulled out from depths of the underground. The yellow dragon whizzed towards the spatial channel under the suction force. "Everyone, stay alert, concentrate and absorb. Don''t make any noise!" Zhou Yuan¡¯s thunderous voice rang in everyone¡¯s ears as he stared at the ancestral qi vein roaring over. The 2,000 team members sat cross-legged in front of the altar, ignoring the bloodstains on the ground. The place where they sat was exactly where the ancestral qi vein needed to pass, which meant the yellow dragon would shroud them as it rushed past. Everyone closed their eyes and frantically absorbed ancestral qi, causing their Genesis Qi to surge up and down. The yellow dragon didn¡¯t enter the spatial channel but instead steadily instilled it with ancestral qi. After Zhou Yuan monitored the process for a while and found no problem, he appeared in front of the channel and sat down cross-legged. His eyes blazed as he watched the mysterious ancestral qi roar over like a torrent. If the ancestral Qi treasure was said to improve his Heavenly Yuan Brush and Silver Shadow, then the nourishment from ancestral qi would greatly improve his strength. ¡°Come on, let me see how wonderful your ancestral qi is!¡± Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath and gradually closed his eyes. The yellow dragon gushed over and engulfed Zhou Yuan''s figure. Chapter 1093 Toxic Bang! Zhou Yuan folded his hands together, and wisps of platinum dragon qi spiraled up from his body, forming a platinum dragon head where his head was. The dragon opened its mouth wide and sharply inhaled. Dragon Breathing! Gugu! As a result, the numerous strands of ancestral qi were forcibly absorbed, and they madly poured into Zhou Yuan''s body. The absorption was much faster than everyone else¡¯s, including Qin Lian¡¯s. The tremendous influx of mighty ancestral qi immediately caused huge changes within Zhou Yuan''s body. The first was his Genesis Qi. As his Genesis Qi fused with the strands of ancestral qi, it expanded and grew more vigorous at an astonishing speed. A stream of vigorous Genesis Qi pulsed through every meridian in Zhou Yuan''s body and brought him tremendous strength. Then, the strengthened Genesis Qi eventually flowed into his Divine Dwelling and poured into his two Heavenly Suns. The two glass Heavenly Suns gradually grew more dazzling, and the waves of Genesis Qi radiating from them were continuously strengthened. Upon a careful look, one would even notice that runes were extending from the four claws that covered the glass sky suns¡­a sign that the fifth claw was being refined! This scene made Zhou Yuan indescribably happy. As expected, his senior brother was right. The ancestral qi in Guyuan Heaven could indeed gradually refine the Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun. But without enough ancestral qi, Zhou Yuan had a feeling the legendary Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun might not appear! Thus, he even more frantically absorbed ancestral qi! As increasing amounts of ancestral qi poured into his body, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt a special aura spreading inside him. That feeling was as though the aroma of a pure and sacred incense was drifting within his body. It gave him a sensation of sudden enlightenment. The aura entranced Zhou Yuan''s mind, and at a certain moment, he seemingly opened his eyes. He found that he was on a tall mountain peak with endless clouds and mist hovering around. Buzz! In the midst of the billowing clouds and mists, a figure emerged. The figure was identical to him. The figure flashed, and wings stretched out, absorbing the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth to strengthen itself. Zhou Yuan stared at the figure and was stunned for a moment. He recognized that it was the Omega Saint Spirit Art! At the same time, another figure of Zhou Yuan appeared in the clouds and mist around him. It suddenly roared skywards, and its body rapidly swelled. The incomparably tough body exuded an astonishing power. Understanding dawned on him. And to confirm his understanding, figure after figure appeared among the clouds, each performing a different Genesis art. Sword qi whistled as an incomparably fierce sword shadow tore apart the world¡ªthe Devil Sweeping Sword Orb! A lightning prison descended, and an incomparably fierce and overbearing clap of thunder roared¡ªthe Lightning Prison Art! A greenish-yellow qi turned into marrow fluid and dripped down¡­ ... These were the seven Cangxuan arts that Zhou Yuan had cultivated! Staring at the multiple figures performing the seven arts, Zhou Yuan felt his speculations become stronger. He knew that this might be a sign that the seven Cangxuan arts were about to merge. He had waited for years; was this finally the moment? Buzz! When each of the seven Cangxuan arts was performed to its peak state, the seven figures suddenly shot out and collided like streams of light. At that moment, the clouds and mist surged frantically and twisted into a tremendous vortex. Little by little, the rays of light gathered at the center. Zhou Yuan stared at the center of the vortex, curious to know what would appear from the integration of the seven Cangxuan arts! Under his intense gaze, a blurry shadow finally formed at the center of the vortex, which seemed to be the outline of a certain object¡­ But just when Zhou Yuan squinted his eyes to look more closely, he suddenly felt the incense-like smell completely dissipate, and the entire sea of clouds rapidly melted. Everything in front of him vanished into thin air. ¡°Bastard!¡± Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and couldn''t help cursing out loud. He disappointedly raised his head, only to see the last ancestral qi pass through him and drill into the spatial channel opened up by the altar. Evidently, the previous enlightenment was interrupted because all the ancestral qi had left. Fortunately, the seven arts had shown signs of integration, and with enough ancestral qi, the seven arts would no doubt complete their fusion. "I will need a lot more ancestral qi,¡± Zhou Yuan speculated. But no matter how much was needed, he would definitely meet the requirement because he felt that he would be very satisfied with the integration of the seven Cangxuan arts. While Zhou Yuan was still a little dejected, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts were finally awakened. They immediately felt the changes within their bodies. The next moment, countless cheers of joy resounded like thunder and quaked the entire mountain range. Their strengths had evidently rocketed. Zhou Yuan stretched his back and similarly sensed the changes with his body. Then, he couldn¡¯t help raising his brows. ¡°My Genesis Qi foundation has increased by...20 million?!¡± Facing this kind of increase, even Zhou Yuan, who was always calm and composed, was a little dazed. Generally speaking, it would take a long period to gain 20 million Genesis Qi stars if one were to cultivate normally in Hunyuan Heaven, even with glass Heavenly Suns. More importantly, this growth was after breaking the upper limit. Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reached the Heavenly Sun stage¡¯s limit. He only needed to continue to raise his strength if he wanted to increase his Genesis Qi foundation. But many people in the advanced Heavenly Sun stage had reached their limit, and to further increase their foundation required a lot of effort and resources, even if it was an increase of a few thousand Genesis Qi stars. But a short period in Guyuan Heaven had allowed them to obtain benefits that they could never imagine. The ancestral qi was clearly terrifying! At that moment, Zhou Yuan was itching to capture ten more ancestral qi veins to raise his Genesis Qi foundation by another few hundred million! Zhou Yuan took a look at his Divine Dwellings and found that a part of the fifth dragon''s toe had formed. If he were to come to Guyuan Heaven a few more times, his four-claw Heavenly Sun would likely transform into a five-claw Heavenly Sun! ¡°What a great opportunity and blessing¡­¡± Zhou Yuan couldn''t help sighing emotionally. Whether it was the increase in his Genesis Qi foundation, the addition of dragon runes on his Heavenly Suns, or the divine enlightenment brought by the smell of burning incense, they could only come with luck, yet they had all appeared at the same time. Zhou Yuan knew how happy everyone was, so he let them celebrate. Just as he stood up lazily, Qin Lian suddenly came over. "How was it? How much did your Genesis Qi foundation increase?" Zhou Yuan asked with a smile. ¡°Around seven million,¡± Qin Lian replied, then bit her red lips, staring at Zhou Yuan with a strange and resentful gaze. ¡°What''s with your expression?¡± Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly. Qin Lian gritted her teeth and uttered in a trembling voice, "Zhou Yuan, do you have some sort of infectious toxin?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Zhou Yuan sounded perplexed. A Heavenly Sun emerged behind Qin Lian. She pointed to a spot on the sun. ¡°Then why did such a thing suddenly appear on my Heavenly Sun? That is clearly something that only exists on your Heavenly Sun! What did you do to me?¡± Zhou Yuan followed her gaze and couldn''t help but freeze for a moment. He repeatedly rubbed his eyes. He noticed a small mottled pattern on Qin Lian¡¯s originally pure and flawless glass Heavenly Sun. That familiar mark was¡­a dragon rune? Zhou Yuan distinctly remembered that there wasn¡¯t such a dragon rune on Qin Lian¡¯s Heavenly Sun before. In other words, her Heavenly Sun underwent a change after absorbing ancestral qi. This wasn¡¯t unbelievable. Zhuan Zhu had told him the Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun could either exist innately or be acquired. One with an innate Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun would see dragon runes appear while refining a Heavenly Sun. To acquire a Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun, however, one needed to encounter great opportunities and blessings after reaching the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, thus allowing their Heavenly Sun to change, possess a dragon rune and turn into a Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun. However, since it was divided into innate and acquired power, there was a clear difference in strength. According to his senior brother, an acquired Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun would be close to its limit at the six-claw Heavenly Sun level, and it would be near impossible to reach nine claws. But even so, a Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun had much greater potential than an ordinary glass Heavenly Sun. After all, it was considered a legendary Heavenly Sun¡­ So, Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment, then his face darkened as he looked at the woman who had failed to understand how blessed she was. ¡°You''re the toxic one, your whole family is toxic!¡± Chapter 1094 Return to the City Although everyone looked worn-out, unconcealable joy and excitement were gushing from their eyes. Their first harvest in Guyuan Heaven had already exceeded their expectation. This was especially the case for unaffiliated cultivators. Although unaffiliated cultivators obeyed orders, they always appeared slack and resisted discipline. But this was normal. After all, they were carefree and were not used to being controlled all the time. However, they had become very different after experiencing the impact of the ancestral qi. The massive increase in their Genesis Qi foundation thoroughly stirred up the morale of the unaffiliated cultivators. In the past, they had to fight with their lives to slightly improve their Genesis Qi foundation, but the harvest they had received from the ancestral qi¡¯s influence was much greater than all those resources that they had exchanged for with their lives. After personally experiencing it, they completely understood how great the opportunities in Guyuan Heaven were. One after another, they cast their gaze to the young figure at the forefront, their eyes full of obedience and admiration. They didn¡¯t forget that it was Zhou Yuan who had brought about all this. Their leader indeed possessed unimaginable ability. It was indeed an opportunity and blessing to be able to follow Zhou Yuan. They needed to firmly hold onto this opportunity! Many unaffiliated cultivators glanced at one another, and they all saw the blazing look in each other¡¯s eyes. Han Jinhe, Xue Qingmei and Wang Su, the deputy captains of the unaffiliated cultivators, also noticed the change in their attitudes. Their expressions turned complex. After all, the unaffiliated cultivators respected and admired them the most, and they would carry out whatever tasks the three told them. This was also the main reason why Zhou Yuan had appointed them deputy captains. But after this matter, Han Jinhe and the others understood that Zhou Yuan¡¯s status might have surpassed theirs in many unaffiliated cultivators¡¯ hearts. Although they sighed emotionally, they weren¡¯t unhappy because they agreed about Zhou Yuan''s ability. They all came to Guyuan Heaven to improve their strength, and if Zhou Yuan could lead them to obtain greater harvests, they truly didn¡¯t mind who led them. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s great army naturally attracted a lot of attention when they entered the city. Many couldn¡¯t help feeling puzzled and surprised to see the unconcealable excitement on the Tianyuan Region faces. After all, the matter that the Tianyuan Region had chosen an area weak in ancestral qi under Wang Xuanyang''s scheming had spread all around in the past few days. Additionally, those who guided the ancestral qi to Hunyuan Heaven could also enjoy the first wave of ancestral qi, and their region or force would benefit more. Therefore, many forces had hoped the Tianyuan Region would choose wrong every time. But why is everyone from the Tianyuan Region team full of joy, and why don¡¯t they look disappointed? Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the puzzled and investigative gazes. He directly led his team back to the Tianyuan Region¡¯s resting area and said, ¡°Everyone, take a break while we wait for the next opening of the Qi Observation Platform.¡± Everyone responded and then dispersed. The majority returned to the resting place to make the best use of the time to train and adapt to their increased Genesis Qi. In Guyuan Heaven, a place full of hidden dangers, the stronger one was, the higher chance one had of surviving. They didn''t want to suffer the same outcome as their comrades who were buried in the mountains. Zhou Yuan watched everyone disperse and then turned to say to Qin Lian, ¡°Go and inquire about the other forces¡¯ situation and see how many forces have returned successfully.¡± The Qi Observatory Platform could observe the flow of ancestral qi between heaven and earth within a radius of tens of thousands of miles. It was impossible to scan such a huge area in one detection, so there were always no fewer than five detections before the entire area was scanned. Qin Lian nodded, but she didn¡¯t dare to look at Zhou Yuan. She turned around and darted away. She had treated the dragon rune on her Heavenly Sun as a virus she had caught from Zhou Yuan. Later, after Zhou Yuan¡¯s explanation, Qin Lian almost searched for a crack to hide into. She was so embarrassed that she didn¡¯t dare to look at Zhou Yuan on the way back. Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t bothered. After all, the Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun was extremely rare. If his senior brother Zhuan Zhu hadn¡¯t explained it to him, he likely wouldn¡¯t have known that his rune-marked Heavenly Sun was actually a Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun, which was superior to a glass Heavenly Sun. Although Qin Lian was a top figure in the Heavenly Sun stage, she had never heard of a Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun before and thus didn¡¯t know much about it. On the other hand, the glass Heavenly Sun was known for its purity, so when she suddenly saw strange markings on her Heavenly Sun, she understandably lost her mind. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help smiling as he watched Qin Lian dart away in embarrassment. Then, he turned around and went back to his room for closed-door cultivation to adapt to his increased Genesis Qi foundation. When night enveloped the earth like a black screen, Qin Lian successfully brought back information. ¡°About 60% of the forces have returned. Four of the other eight regions have also returned smoothly. All parties have agreed to start up the Qi Observation Platform once around 80% of the forces have returned, which should be within two days.¡± Qin Lian told Zhou Yuan all the information she had obtained. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°How are the other four regions¡¯ harvests?¡± ¡°The first teams to return were from the Wushen Region, the Zixiao Region, the Xuanji Region and the Xuehai Region. It is said that the first three were very lucky and found an ancestral qi vein in their chosen area, but the Xuehai Region wasn¡¯t as successful. The ancestral qi vein they found was weak and was almost nothing.¡± This didn¡¯t surprise Zhou Yuan because he had already predicted the outcome when those four regions had selected their areas. The areas that the Wushen Region, Zixiao Region and Xuanji Region had chosen were all rich in ancestral qi, and the probability of their area containing an ancestral qi vein was particularly high. However, although the area chosen by the Xuehai Region seemed abundant in ancestral qi, that appearance was only superficial. Perhaps it would give birth to an ancestral qi vein in one hundred years, but not now. ¡°The Wanzu Region hasn¡¯t returned?¡± Zhou Yuan asked with a smile. Qin Lian shook her head. Zhou Yuan didn''t ask further, and he said with a mocking gaze in his eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s wait. Maybe there will be a good show soon.¡± "What do you mean?" Qin Lian rolled her eyes. The area that the Wanzu Region team went to was the map fragment that Wang Xuanyang had taken from her, which meant that it could have been the Tianyuan Region¡¯s area. Qin Lian still held a grudge about this matter. But from what Zhou Yuan said, it seemed the area was a bit tricky. Zhou Yuan didn''t elaborate and said mysteriously, ¡°You¡¯ll know when they return.¡± Qin Lian rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan. They chatted a little more and then she left. In the next two days, Zhou Yuan gradually learned to control his increased Genesis Qi, and during those two days, many forces returned to the city one after another. Among them, some were joyful, and of course, more came back empty-handed. The city gradually became lively. It was then that the Wanzu Region, the only one of the nine regions missing, finally returned to the city. Bang! Zhou Yuan''s door was violently pushed open, and Qin Lian stormed in, staring at Zhou Yuan with blazing eyes and exclaiming, ¡°The Wanzu Region team is back!¡± Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and smiled. ¡°How was their outcome?¡± "It is said that when they arrived, they suffered countless violent attacks from ancient beasts, and it resulted in heavy casualties. The key point is that after they got rid of all the ancient beasts and dug three feet into the ground¡ª¡± Qin Lian took a deep breath. Looking at Zhou Yuan''s eyes that were shining brightly, it was the first time she felt a little admiration. ¡°They found nothing!¡± Qin Lian¡¯s full chest heaved. It was obvious that her emotions weren¡¯t stable because she knew this could have been the Tianyuan Region¡¯s outcome. At that time, as the person responsible for choosing an area, she was inevitably under great pressure. And this had changed because Zhou Yuan had intervened. Therefore, Qin Lian, who was always cold and arrogant, stared at Zhou Yuan sincerely. "Zhou Yuan, thank you. You are the most suitable leader for the Tianyuan Region team.¡± Chapter 1095 Sharp Contras Below the Qi Observation Platform. A buzzing and lively atmosphere permeated the area, and the various forces that had returned to the city were gathered around discussing the harvests of their trip. A small number of the forces beamed with smiles, and they evidently had a good harvest. But the majority were frowning about their small harvest. This was normal. It wasn''t easy to find an ancestral qi vein, and without good luck, people often returned empty-handed. For example, didn¡¯t the Wanzu Region return empty-handed? Thinking of this, some couldn¡¯t help cast mocking gazes towards the front, where the Wanzu Region team led by Wang Xuanyang looked particularly dejected. In truth, it wasn¡¯t particularly funny to return empty-handed. The Xuehai Region of the nine regions also didn¡¯t have much harvest, but they weren¡¯t ridiculed. The Wanzu Region was different because everyone knew that the area the Wanzu Region had chosen was snatched from Qin Lian¡¯s hand. Not only did Wang Xuanyang snatch it, but he had also despicably thrown an area towards Qin Lian in an attempt to humiliate her. But for some reason, Qin Lian had reached out and picked it up. Qin Lian''s action caused much ridicule at the time, but no one thought it would lead to such an unbelievable outcome. The Tianyuan Region, which had originally picked an area weak in ancestral qi, came back with a tremendous harvest. Everyone could feel that every single person of the Tianyuan Region team had become stronger than when they had set off, and only the ancestral qi vein could do this. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s outcome was a sharp contrast to the Wanzu Region¡¯s even after the Wanzu Region team had snatched the area seemingly rich in ancestral qi from Qin Lian¡¯s hand. Not only did the Wanzu Region team suffer losses, but they had also returned empty-handed. They tried to scheme against others but only ended up worse off. No one could imagine how aggrieved and angry Wang Xuanyang was. Under such an atmosphere, Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian slowly arrived and landed below the Qi Observation Platform, attracting many amazed gazes. After landing, Zhou Yuan immediately cast his gaze on Wang Xuanyang¡¯s darkened face. He said with a smile, ¡°Brother Xuanyang, our Tianyuan Region should thank you for our harvest. I must thank you here on behalf of the entire Tianyuan Region.¡± He gave a cupped fist salute as he spoke. The leaders of the various forces couldn''t help but twitch their mouths. This guy is ruthless. It¡¯s clear that he wants to add fuel to the fire. Is he not afraid of Wang Xuanyang going crazy? He is, after all, ranked second on the Heavenly Sun List. And Zhou Yuan was indeed not afraid. Therefore, Zhou Yuan had no intention of giving face to Wang Xuanyang. As Wang Xuanyang looked at Zhou Yuan with an icy stare, light flowed around the black-and-white jade fan in his hand. He said indifferently, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, don''t take this chance to try to show off. If it weren¡¯t for your status as a grand elder, you wouldn¡¯t even have the right to stand here and speak. I suggest you be more cautious. There are many dangers in Guyuan Heaven, and perhaps someone won¡¯t take your grand elder identity seriously. It would be unfortunate to die here.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°But you, Wang Xuanyang, are the one always trying to show off. I didn''t have any losses but made a large harvest. But you¡­your loss isn¡¯t small this time, is it?¡± Wang Xuanyang¡¯s face darkened. ¡°You want to die?!¡± He stepped forward, and black-and-white Genesis Qi spiraled out from his body, emitting a terrifying pressure. But before he did anything, an indifferent voice sounded beside him, "Wang Xuanyang, it''s time for the Qi Observation Platform to start up. If you don''t want to choose, you can retreat with your Wanzu Region people first. And once it¡¯s over, do whatever you want.¡± Wang Xuanyang shifted his gaze to the side and saw Guan Qinglong standing with arms crossed and looking indifferently at them. The surrounding forces also cast dissatisfied gazes over them. After all, for everyone, watching the Wanzu Region fight against the Tianyuan Region wasn¡¯t as attractive as searching for ancestral qi veins. Wang Xuanyang''s eyes were sinister as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s half-smiling face. But in the end, he drew a deep breath and suppressed his anger. He knew that Zhou Yuan deliberately wanted to provoke him and that he shouldn¡¯t do what Zhou Yuan wanted. A little setback is nothing. Guyuan Heaven has just opened. I will have an opportunity to make this so-called grand elder from the Tianyuan Region know what regret is. On the other side, Dong Ye from the Zixiao Region whispered to Su Youwei, ¡°It¡¯s not wise to anger Wang Xuanyang.¡± As third on the Heavenly Sun List, Dong Ye was well aware of Wang Xuanyang''s strength. Although he disgusted her, she had to admit that he possessed tyrannical strength, and if he were to go crazy, even Qin Lian couldn¡¯t stop him. Su Youwei responded with a shallow smile, "Senior sister, you also thought the Tianyuan Region would come back empty-handed, but the outcome is quite different from what you said. His Highness Zhou Yuan can''t be understood with common sense.¡± Dong Ye pursed her lips and said, ¡°He¡¯s just lucky this time. But can he do this again and again?¡± As a top-tier veteran Heavenly Sun expert, she looked down on Zhou Yuan and other juniors. Su Youwei gently shook her head. From her understanding of Zhou Yuan, she knew he wouldn¡¯t shoot an aimless arrow. Those who only thought he was lucky would never see through him. "Since almost everyone is here now, let''s get ready to activate the Qi Observation Platform,¡± Guan Qinglong''s resounding voice rang out. ¡°The Qi Observation Platform¡¯s second detection will give better results than the first, and more areas will be detected. So after a discussion, we decided every force can choose two map fragments.¡± Many forces couldn¡¯t conceal their smiles. Their chance of encountering an ancestral qi vein would be greater with two map fragments. Swoosh! Following Guan Qinglong''s order, mighty beams of Genesis Qi shot into the sky one after another and entered the white-jade mirror above the Qi Observation Platform. Countless hopeful gazes gathered on the mirror flowing with dazzling light. Wang Xuanyang blankly stared at the white-jade mirror, then he turned his head slightly to say to the person beside him, ¡°This time, each force will send out two people to select map fragments. I will obstruct Qin Lian, and you will watch Zhou Yuan. No matter which map fragment he chooses, block him. Don''t worry, as long as it doesn''t disturb other people, it doesn''t matter if you two really get into a fight.¡± His eyes flashed coldly. ¡°That so-called grand elder is enjoying his success too much, I need to calm him down, and maybe he will realize that it isn¡¯t his turn to speak here. Can you do it?¡± Wang Xuanyang stared at the man next to him. It was a man in a black robe. The man was ugly, and his face was covered with centipede-like scars. Those scars extended to the depths of his neck, and his eyes were ruthless and bloodthirsty. This person was called Qianhu, and he was second only to Wang Xuanyang among the Wanzu Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts. Anyone who fought him was always either killed or severely wounded. A calm voice suddenly sounded, ¡°Senior brother Wang, Zhou Yuan conceals his strength very well. If you really want to deal with him, it''d be better to take him on yourself. It might not be enough to send someone else to deal with him. Instead, you might help increase his prestige.¡± Wang Xuanyang scrunched his brows, staring at the person who had spoken. It was Zhao Mushen. Qianhu tilted his head and glared at Zhao Mushen with bloodthirsty eyes. Then, he stretched out his hand and clapped Zhao Mushen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Junior brother Zhao, do you mean I can''t deal with an intermediate Heavenly Sun stage piece of trash?¡± He smiled, which looked somewhat sinister. Zhao Mushen glanced down at the hand on his shoulder and said indifferently, ¡°I just don''t want my Wanzu Region to be ridiculed again. I have fought Zhou Yuan before. He is very difficult to deal with, so if you want to deal with him, you must use thunderous methods and force. Don¡¯t give him any chance of reversing the situation.¡± Qianhu smiled, contempt in his eyes. ¡°Since you know you¡¯re a loser, then shut up. I will regain all the face you made the Wanzu Region lose.¡± He withdrew his hand and didn''t glance at Zhao Mushen again. In his opinion, Zhao Mushen had completely lost his spirit after losing to Zhou Yuan. Wang Xuanyang also indifferently retracted his gaze and ignored Zhao Mushen. Seeing the two stubbornly refuse to listen to him, Zhao Mushen looked expressionless, but a hint of icy-coldness flashed across his eyes. Two idiots. Chapter 1096 High-Class Areas As beams of majestic Genesis Qi gushed into the white-jade mirror above the Qi Observation Platform, a pillar of blinding light suddenly shot into the sky and illuminated everything. The pillar hovered in the air for half an hour, which was undoubtedly much longer than the first time. But this also indicated that the white-jade mirror¡¯s detection area would be clearer and larger than before. Under countless anxious gazes, the rays of light retracted and eventually disappeared into the white-jade mirror. Swoosh! Rays of light swept out and formed an incomparably large map in midair. The map was much clearer than the last time, and the flow of ancestral qi was evidently more intense! But when all eyes gathered on the map, a loud commotion suddenly broke out. This was because they saw 14 areas on the map where astonishingly strong ancestral qi lingered. The ancestral qi was so rich that the area was seemingly shrouded by faint yellow clouds. Seeing the 14 areas, even top experts such as Guan Qinglong, Wang Xuanyang, and Dong Ye were stunned for a good while, and their pupils shrank. The class of the area detected this time was clearly higher than the first time. The veins in the previous areas were at most low class, and the one that Zhou Yuan found, which gave birth to mysterious treasures, was regarded at the middle level. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s Decoder Saint Rune, every one of the 14 new areas was not inferior to the previous areas! Of course, Guan Qinglong and the others might not know this, but that didn¡¯t stop them from seeing the importance of the 14 areas. On the other hand, the other forces showed disappointment. Although they coveted the 14 areas, they knew they would have no chance because each force could choose two map fragments this time. The strongest experts from the nine regions, such as Guan Qinglong, Wang Xuanyang, and Dong Ye, should manage to grab one each, and the nine regions would no doubt send out their other strongest members to compete for the remaining five pieces. Therefore, a fierce competition for the remaining five areas would inevitably break out. This piqued many forces¡¯ interests. Such a battle wouldn¡¯t happen on a large-scale, but the fight would depend on real skills. Therefore, they hoped to see the other sides suffer so that they would have a chance. All the forces simultaneously drew back silently and left the battlefield to the others, as though ready to watch a good show. "Bai Chuchu is indeed very strong, but Qianhu isn¡¯t someone easy to deal with either. Even his name is enough to make children cry. Whoever he fights either dies or is severely wounded or tortured if they are an enemy.¡± ¡°But the second strongest from the other regions aren¡¯t simple either. This competition is going to be interesting.¡± ¡°Then what about the Tianyuan Region?¡± "The second strongest Heavenly Sun expert in the Tianyuan Region should be Bai Yu. Unfortunately, the White Clan had rebelled, and their patriarch was suppressed. Thus, the people of the White Clan had no right to participate in Guyuan Heaven.¡± "Without Bai Yu, there''s still Bian Buji and Mu Youlan." ¡°Have you forgotten the Tianyuan Region¡¯s grand elder?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± Everyone whispered to one another, but they burst into laughter whenever Zhou Yuan¡¯s name was mentioned. Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity as a grand elder was too dazzling here. Generally speaking, only Law Domain experts could become a region¡¯s grand elder. That status was too distant to many Heavenly Sun experts. However, Zhou Yuan had obtained that awe-inspiring status while having strength at the Heavenly Sun stage. This was difficult for many people to accept. Dong Ye from the Zixiao Region ran her eyes across the tense battlefield and turned to say to Su Youwei, ¡°Who do you think the Tianyuan Region would send out besides Qin Lian? Bian Buji or Mu Youlan?¡± Su Youwei softly gazed at a slender figure across from them and smiled. "Senior sister, you know my answer.¡± Dong Ye smiled indifferently and said, "Youwei, don''t be so biased. If he intervenes, he will only embarrass himself. Even Lu Qing, who Zhou Yuan defeated before, can¡¯t be compared to the second best from the other eight regions.¡± Su Youwei smiled. "Senior sister, do you want to make a bet? If His Highness Zhou Yuan can win a map fragment, you can¡¯t talk bad about him in front of me again. Also, if he encounters any danger in the future, you have to help him once.¡± "Help him once?" Dong Ye raised her slender brows and cast a glance over her shoulder. ¡°Are you worried that Wang Xuanyang will target him?¡± Su Youwei nodded. "You really...," she said in an exasperated voice, but in the end, she agreed. "I¡¯ll make the promise, but if he fails, you have to promise me to contact him less in Guyuan Heaven.¡± Recently, she had found that speaking ill of Zhou Yuan in front of Su Youwei didn¡¯t have much effect, so she had to change her strategy. If she could reduce the two¡¯s contact, perhaps it could make Su Youwei wake up. Su Youwei smiled sweetly, and her beautiful face seemed to be glowing. In truth, she wasn¡¯t worried that Zhou Yuan would lose against the other region¡¯s second strongest because she had gone to find Zhou Yuan many times when they were stationed on the Heavenly Pillar Peak and she often saw Zhou Yuan practicing with Qin Lian. Although she didn¡¯t know if Qin Lian was concealing her strength, Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation was, to some extent, not inferior to any other second-best expert of the eight regions. However, Su Youwei was worried about Wang Xuanyang. Wang Xuanyang had long secured the second spot on the Heavenly Sun List. Even Dong Ye might not be a match for him, let alone Qin Lian. Now that things had gotten so ugly between Zhou Yuan and Wang Xuanyang, Wang Xuanyang would undoubtedly make a move if he had the chance. Therefore, Su Youwei had to find a reason to make Dong Ye help Zhou Yuan out. On the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side, Qin Lian wasn¡¯t captivated by the 14 areas rich in ancestral qi. She immediately turned to ask Zhou Yuan, ¡°What should we choose? Are there also fake lands among those 14 areas?¡± The so-called fake lands were those similar to the ones that the Wanzu Region and the Xuehai Region had chosen last time. ¡°Don¡¯t pick a wrong one this time,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. ¡°There are indeed real and fake areas among the 14, but the harvest this time should be greater than the last time.¡± ¡°How about this..." Qin Lian shifted her gaze to the 14 areas. "I will snatch one in a moment, and the other five¡­maybe you can grab one. How does that sound?¡± she said with a smile. Her expression was relaxed because she was well aware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, even if the others didn¡¯t. At the very least, Qin Lian had never truly won against Zhou Yuan during their training. Although she had trump cards that she didn''t use, she also felt Zhou Yuan was holding back his strength. Zhou Yuan might not necessarily lose against the weaker no. 1 Heavenly Sun experts from some regions. Moreover, only the second-best Heavenly Sun experts from each region would be competing for the five remaining map fragments. "Pay more attention to Qianhu from the Wanzu Region. Wang Xuanyang most likely chose him as your opponent,¡± Qin Lian reminded him. ¡°The Wanzu Region¡¯s Qianhu¡­¡± Zhou Yuan tilted his head slightly and peered at the Wanzu Region team. His eyes were drawn to an ugly man standing beside Wang Xuanyang. The man was grinning sinisterly at him. After a glance, Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze and shook his head expressionlessly. "I hope his strength will surprise me, like his appearance¡­" Chapter 1097 Qianhu While several forces slowly moved back and relinquished their space, the top experts from the nine regions emitted terrifying Genesis Qi pressure. Then, almost all of the nine regions¡¯ top experts simultaneously sped out! Genesis Qi erupted from them like huge waves surging into the sky, and their figures shot out like lightning but didn¡¯t touch one another. They tacitly scattered, each speeding towards a middle-class ancestral qi area. All the watching parties had already predicted the top experts¡¯ decisions, so they just turned away after a glance. The real competition would be for the five extra middle-class areas that would appear next. Their wait wasn¡¯t too long. On the Wushen Region¡¯s side, a white figure suddenly shot out after Guan Qinglong acted. It was a woman in a white training robe. With a beautiful appearance and a slender figure, she looked like a pretty daughter from a humble family, but when she made a move, many top-tier Heavenly Sun experts trembled with fear. She was Bai Chuchu from the Wushen Region, second only to Guan Qinglong on the Wushen Region¡¯s team! With a slight movement, she raced towards a middle-class ancestral qi area as eight figures from the other regions rose into the sky. Mighty Genesis Qi raged like a storm. "Bai Chuchu, if you want to take this area, you have to ask me first!¡± Just as Bai Chuchu stretched her hand towards a map fragment, a thunderous roar resounded as a figure appeared in front of her like a ghost. The figure directly aimed a palm strike at her. Under that palm, a sea of blood raged and engulfed everything as it passed. Its momentum was terrifying. The person intercepting her was a man in a red robe. His face was icy and arrogant. He was the second strongest Heavenly Sun expert from the Xuehai Region, Zhu Chilian. Bai Chuchu just chuckled and thrust her slender hand out in response to Zhu Chilian''s interception. Then, her little hand showed signs of transforming into jade, a glowing white jade. Her jade-like hand looked delicate and beautiful, but as it struck out, even the void quaked violently and a piercing whistle seemed to resound through the air. Bang! Bai Chuchu and Zhu Chilian collided head-on. Genesis Qi shock waves erupted, shattering the fabric of space around them. But Bai Chuchu¡¯s elegant body only quivered a little, whereas Zhu Chilian was blasted back. Faint wisps of blood qi rose from Bai Chuchu''s head as she smiled indifferently. "Zhu Chilian, your Omni Palm Strike of the Blood Sea is much worse than your senior brother¡¯s.¡± Bai Chuchu simply smiled and ignored him. She reached out to grab the map fragment of a middle-class ancestral qi area. The first person to win a map fragment was a region¡¯s second strongest Heavenly Sun expert. The exchange between the two happened and ended at lightning speed. Meanwhile, several figures raced towards the remaining four map fragments. It was clear that none intended to provoke Bai Chuchu, who was seemingly harmless but extremely dangerous. Countless people suddenly noticed a figure rushing out from the Tianyuan Region team. The figure immediately drew gasps and exclamations. ¡°They sent out Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°Are there no other people in the Tianyuan Region?!¡± ¡°Perhaps the grand elder wants to be in the limelight again.¡± ¡°Then he came to the wrong place!¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression remained indifferent amidst the sniggering. He cast a glance at Bai Chuchu from the corner of his eyes, surprised by the terrifying aura she exuded when she fought Zhu Chilian. But for the time being, he didn''t plan to go up against Bai Chuchu. Instead, he faded into a shadow and reappeared in front of a map fragment. He stretched out his hand and was about to grab it. ¡°Trash, is this something you can touch?!¡± A sinister laugh filled with hostility resounded above his head. ¡°It¡¯s Qianhu from the Wanzu Region!" ¡°He really is targeting Zhou Yuan!¡± This scene drew countless eyes. Boom! The person who had appeared above Zhou Yuan was Qianhu from the Wanzu Region. He fiercely stared at Zhou Yuan like a tiger eyeing its prey, and there wasn¡¯t a hint of politeness in his tone. He opened his mouth wide, and incomparably fiendish red Genesis Qi spiraled up from his body, forming a gigantic tiger head above his head! The tiger opened its bloody mouth. Roar! Qianhu erupted with incomparably fierce Genesis Qi. The Genesis Qi was dark red and rumbled with tiger roars, shaking the world and one¡¯s Spirit. ¡°Tiger Demon Roar!¡± The sound waves from the tiger¡¯s roar were visible to the naked eye and were wrapped in a power that could shatter one¡¯s Spirit. The waves directly raged towards Zhou Yuan. Qianhu¡¯s Tiger Demon Roar was domineering and could shatter one¡¯s Spirit if it struck. Even if someone withstood the attack, they would be rooted to the spot for a moment, which would allow Qianhu to launch an even more deadly attack. This was a means Qianhu often used. It was unknown how many enemies had lost their lives to him in the past. Boom! The sound waves roared towards Zhou Yuan with a thunderous momentum. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body stiffened as though he was frightened to the spot by the tiger¡¯s roar. Qianhu''s ugly face turned even more hideous and terrifying. ¡°What grand elder are you? Given your ability, it seems the Tianyuan Region is deteriorating!¡± Three glass Heavenly Suns emerged behind Qianhu, and a terrifying Genesis Qi pressure filled the air. It drew the attention of the other regions¡¯ second strongest experts who were in a fierce battle. A Genesis Qi foundation of 2.1 billion! Even Bai Chuchu cast over an astonished gaze and muttered to herself, ¡°That ugly tiger¡¯s strength has grown again. I can¡¯t believe he reached that level.¡± Given Qianhu¡¯s foundation of 2.1 billion, even she would struggle to deal with him. ¡°Does the grand elder from the Tianyuan Region have any ability? He¡¯s so easily frightened by Qianhu¡¯s tiger roar. He really doesn¡¯t deserve to be a supreme sovereign¡¯s disciple.¡± Boom! Qianhu¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation of 2.1 billion erupted. He balled his huge hand into a fist, and dark-red Genesis Qi rapidly gathered and transformed into a giant hammer engraved with numerous tiger patterns. The hammer resembled an enraged tiger demon swallowing the sky. ¡°Little Saint Art, Tiger Demon Chaos Cloak!¡± Qianhu had used an incomparably fierce killing move. It was evident that he had no intention of giving Zhou Yuan any chance to counterattack. The giant hammer smashed down, shattering even space. Countless eyes were filled with shocked horror. Even at their distance, they could feel the power of Qianhu''s ultimate killing move. ¡°Qianhu is ruthless. He plans to kill Zhou Yuan with one strike!¡± Qin Lian cast a glance over from afar, and her eyes flashed when she saw Qianhu''s violent offensive. Before she could make a move, she felt a chilling murderous intent lock onto her. As soon as she lifted her gaze, she saw Wang Xuanyang. He was grasping a map fragment in one hand and gently fanning himself with a black-and-white jade fan in the other. "Qin Lian, I advise you to not act recklessly. Otherwise, don''t blame me for not being gentle with you.¡± The corners of Qin Lian¡¯s lips tugged slightly upward when she saw Wang Xuanyang¡¯s calm and confident expression. She said indifferently, "Wang Xuanyang, sometimes when someone puts their nose into something on their own initiative, they can¡¯t blame others for stepping on it.¡± The fan in Wang Xuanyang¡¯s hand paused, and he stared at Qin Lian with narrowed eyes. "You seem to have huge confidence in Zhou Yuan.¡± Qin Lian paid no more attention to him and just watched the thunder-like hammer smash down. Wang Xuanyang said expressionlessly, ¡°You¡¯re just bluffing." Boom! Amidst gazes from all forces, the attack, resembling a tiger demon crushing a mountain with a hammer, headed for Zhou Yuan¡¯s head with unstoppable force. As the hammer¡¯s shadow enveloped Zhou Yuan, Qianhu suddenly noticed Zhou Yuan''s stiffened figure seemingly move. Zhou Yuan slowly raised his head and stared at him with his seemingly lifeless eyes. Under such a gaze, Qianhu felt an endless chill arise in his heart. The chill surprised him a little, but the ferocity in his eyes immediately intensified, and he forcibly suppressed the chill. ¡°You are just a mere intermediate Heavenly Sun expert. Stop pretending! No one can save you today. Die!¡± Amid the ruthless roar, the heavy hammer slammed down. Chapter 1098 One Punch The heavy hammer roared towards Zhou Yuan''s head amidst solemn gazes, and the fabric of space showed signs of crumbling. Hovering in midair, Zhou Yuan indifferently watched the tiger hammer wrapped in destructive force swing towards him. He slowly clenched his hand and raised his fist. His punch, simple and unshowy, differed greatly from Qianhu¡¯s incomparably fierce attack. Many onlookers inwardly shook their heads, and their gazes towards Zhou Yuan turned sympathetic. Zhou Yuan would survive if he fled, but he¡¯s unwilling to retreat and instead wants to face the attack head-on! Does he want to die?! Clang! Under many pitiful gazes, the tiger hammer slammed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist as if it were a mountain. Space seemed to shatter, and frightening shock waves wreaked havoc like a storm. However, everyone watching soon froze one after another because they found that the scene of Zhou Yuan being crushed didn¡¯t happen as they had expected. Zhou Yuan was still standing in the void, motionless. His fist was touching the tiger hammer as frantic ripples appeared throughout the weapon. In the end, cracks spread throughout the hammer, and it burst into flecks of light in the sky. The air seemed to still. Countless people were speechless, including Qianhu. His ugly face was crossed with utter disbelief. He couldn¡¯t understand how his full-strength attack had failed to push Zhou Yuan back half a step and how Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch had shattered his hammer. What kind of strength is this?! "How is this possible?!" The scars on Qianhu''s face squirmed like centipedes. There was a horrified expression within his ferociousness. Amidst countless amazed gazes, two Heavenly Suns loomed behind Zhou Yuan, and a powerful wave of Genesis Qi swept out like a storm. Genesis Qi pressure enveloped all the onlookers. A foundation of 2.3 billion! As soon as such a foundation was revealed, gasps rang out in rapid succession from the city. Even the countenance of the number one experts from the other eight regions changed. A foundation of 2.3 billion couldn¡¯t and mustn¡¯t be ignored! Even Guan Qinglong stared in deep thought at the two Heavenly Suns behind Zhou Yuan. Wang Xuanyang¡¯s face darkened because he finally understood the meaning behind Qin Lian''s words. But¡­how is this possible? How can Zhou Yuan possess such a Genesis Qi foundation?! Wang Xuanyang''s eyes were dull and lifeless. Could he have means that could temporarily increase his Genesis Qi in large amounts? He naturally knew how Zhou Yuan had defeated Lu Qing in the Heavenly Sun Tower. But he didn¡¯t expect that Zhou Yuan¡¯s special method would not weaken after Zhou Yuan broke through to the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, let alone become even stronger. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± Qianhu couldn¡¯t help but roar out loud. The fierce glint in his eyes intensified, and a tiger pattern appeared on his body. His anger was almost palpable. ¡°Tiger Demon Transformation!¡± He roared like a tiger, but Zhou Yuan interrupted his roar, laughing and saying, ¡°You struck me with a hammer, so I will return it with a punch. How does that sound?¡± "Before Zhou Yuan¡¯s laughter faded, Zhou Yuan strode forward. Boom! With that step, a boundless and endless Genesis Qi pressure enveloped Qianhu from all directions, like a mountain crushing him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation, which exceeded Qianhu¡¯s by 200 million, forcibly suppressed Qianhu¡¯s roar and pressed on his heart and blood. ¡°The Great Flame Devil.¡± Red runes suddenly surfaced on Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin, and waves of hot qi spread out from his body and distorted the air around him. As the red qi rose, his eyes gradually turned red. A terrifying and berserk force roared in his body and eventually flooded all his limbs and bones. Zhou Yuan''s face was completely devoid of expression as he balled his hands into fists. Snow-white hair swiftly spread over his hands, becoming white gloves. ¡°Genesis Breaker.¡± The snow-white hair instantly turned a jet-black color and flashed with a deep, dark, sharp luster. ¡°Million Whale.¡± Space vibrated as an ancient whale cry resounded and several ancient giant whale silhouettes wandered in the air like swimming fish. Boom! Zhou Yuan punched out. In Qianhu¡¯s eyes, that punch was as though thousands of ancient whales were pouncing toward his face. Its terrifying force made the fear in Qianhu¡¯s heart multiply like weeds. However, Qianhu was regarded as the second strongest among the Wanzu Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts, and he knew that if he retreated, it would be hard for him to escape. Retreating would also place a shadow of fear in his heart and make it difficult for him to continue cultivating. He bit his tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood. The blood splattered on his body and caused his tiger stripes to redden. His body also grew larger and became like a peerless fierce tiger. Qianhu roared and balled his giant hand into a fist, forming a fierce force behind his attack. He gathered all his strength and met Zhou Yuan''s fist speeding towards him. The aura flowing between heaven and earth seemingly stilled. The two fists collided. However, the collision only lasted for a few breaths. A blood-red color filled Qianhu''s face, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His entire arm burst into a foam of blood. Boom! His body flipped upside down as it blasted back like a cannonball. He slammed into the ground and tore a deep ditch. In the end, his body was buried, and it was unknown whether he was alive or dead. The audience fell utterly silent. Everyone stared dumbstruck. Zhou Yuan had defeated the widely-known second strongest Heavenly Sun expert from the Wanzu Region with a single punch! Those still battling couldn¡¯t help but pause their fight and glance at Zhou Yuan in bewilderment. Intense fear began to form inside them. Even Bai Chuchu frowned as she studied Zhou Yuan solemnly. Everyone thought that Zhou Yuan was a pushover, but now it seemed he was a giant crocodile in sheep''s clothing and could swallow even a tiger like Qianhu with one bite! Facing the deathly silence, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t have a ripple of expression on his face. He slowly retracted his fist, and without casting a glance at Qianhu, who was unconscious, he reached out to grab the map fragment of a middle-class ancestral qi area. "This map fragment, my Tianyuan Region will take it.¡± His tone was indifferent, but the second strongest figures from the other regions were utterly silent, and no one dared to object. Zhou Yuan had proved his qualification to take the map fragment with his strength. As a result, the second of the five map fragments fell into Zhou Yuan''s hands. Chapter 1099 Impress with Power It was then that they finally understood why Zhou Yuan could become the leader of the Tianyuan Region team. In the past, they always thought the reason Zhou Yuan was the leader was because of his status as grand elder. But now, it seemed he was more than qualified. Given his foundation of 2.3 billion, he could compete with the no. 1 Heavenly Sun expert from the eight regions. The most terrifying thing was that Zhou Yuan was still at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. They couldn''t imagine what level would Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength reach once he broke through to the advanced Heavenly Sun stage. He could even challenge Guan Qinglong''s position, right? Zhao Mushen watched expressionlessly. Although he already felt that Qianhu might not be able to deal with Zhou Yuan, he didn¡¯t think Zhou Yuan could defeat him in one punch. Zhao Mushen had also broke-through to the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage with the opportunities in Guyuan Heaven. His cultivation speed was considered quick and abnormal among his peers, and without Zhou Yuan''s existence, he would have, as he did in the past, looked at people of his generation with disdain. ¡°He must have used some secret method to increase his potential to 2.3 billion. His true Genesis Qi foundation should be around 1.5 billion to 1.7 billion." Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyes flashed. But even so, Zhou Yuan was still stronger than him. But he wasn¡¯t dispirited, and instead, was full of fighting spirit. He believed in his potential, and knew that, as long as he was given enough opportunities, he could soar to the sky and surpass Zhou Yuan. This was what Zhao Mushen was best at. The Taotie Blessing had brought him many miracles. He was ordinary, but once the opportunity came, the others would know who the true dragon is. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I will surpass you in Guyuan Heaven!¡± Zhao Mushen slowly retracted his gaze. The dazzling radiance that he once exuded all over his body seemed to have faded completely. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re brave!¡± While everyone was struck dumb by Zhou Yuan''s strength, Wang Xuanyang¡¯s face darkened and his eyes were filled with anger. He fixed Zhou Yuan with a cold stare as black-and-white Genesis Qi erupted and flowed around him like yin and yang fish. A frightening Genesis Qi pressure pervaded the air, as though to directly suppress Zhou Yuan with a mountainous force. As terrifying Genesis Qi enveloped Zhou Yuan, he narrowed his eyes because he felt the pressure was similar to when he suppressed Qinahu with Genesis Qi pressure. The Genesis Qi foundation that Wang Xuanyang displayed was at least 2.5 billion! But that pressure only lasted for a few breaths before Qin Lian''s enraged voice resounded. She clenched her fist and the Scarlet Sparrow Blade flashed out, exploding with Genesis Qi. The blade slashed through the air, aiming for Wang Xuanyang. Wang Xuanyang coldly snorted. As he stretched out his hand, black-and-white Genesis Qi in his palm turned into a round black-and-white shield of several meters tall and wide. Clang! He brought the shield up to block the Scarlet Sparrow Blade, causing violent ripples. Qin Lian''s pretty face was icy cold, but a scarlet rune suddenly emerged in the centre of her brows. Then, a pair of scarlet light wings extended out from her back, and at the same time, her Genesis Qi foundation skyrocketed. Astonishingly, it reached the level of 2.5 billion. Zhou Yuan raised his brows. Qin Lian indeed concealed her trump cards. Chi! Beating her scarlet light wings, Qin Lian sped towards Wang Xuanyang like a ghost, and hurled down a sky of blades. Wang Xuanyang¡¯s eyes turned sharp and icy. His black-and-white jade fan, also shrouded in black Genesis Qi, collided head-on with the countless blades. In just a few breaths, the two had fought hundreds of rounds. Space trembled violently and the intensity of the battle was much fiercer than the match between Zhou Yuan and Qianhu. Clang! But just as he almost struck, a black-and-white halo of light flashed out from behind and obstructed him. Wang Xuanyang''s eyes grew sharp. He turned his head and saw Zhou Yuan treading on air and clasping the Heavenly Yuan brush. Genesis Qi surged all around him, and it was clear he intended to join hands with Qin Lian to deal with him. Zhou Yuan indeed had this plan. He wanted to see how strong Wang Xuanyang was. However, just when he was about to launch another attack, his body froze and he felt a strange aura had locked him to the spot. He immediately tilted his head slightly and saw a figure hovering in the air. It was a grey-haired man with a very ordinary appearance. He wore a gentle smile, and a number of strange beaded chains were draped around his neck and wrists. Zhou Yuan recognized the man¡¯s identity from the beads. The man was from the Yaogui Region. He was Li Zhu, the no. 1 expert of the Heavenly Sun stage in the Yaogui Region. The Yaogui Region and the Wanzu Region have always had a close relationship. When the Wanzu Region manipulated the top five forces to besiege the Tianyuan Region, the Yaogui Region also secretly assisted them. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t strange that Li Zhu appeared to prevent Zhou Yuan from joining forces with Qin Lian. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, you have had enough of the limelight. Just stay here now." Li Zhu said with a smile. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes, and the top of his Heavenly Yuan brush shone coldly. "If grand elder Zhou Yuan hasn''t played enough, I can accompany you." Li Zhu smiled faintly. A string of beads slid off from his wrist and rapidly enlarged. In a flash, it transformed into a silver iron man of over ten feet tall. The huge silver body was engraved with ancient runes and constantly absorbing the universe Genesis Qi. The giant exuded an intimidating and imposing aura. All forces turned a little excited when they saw Li Zhu join the battle. They didn''t expect Li Zhu from the Yaogui Region would choose to make a move at such a time. It was obvious he came to assist the Wanzu Region. On the Zixiao Region¡¯s side, Su Youwei gently tugged the corner of Dong Ye¡¯s sleeve. Dong Ye glanced at her helplessly. How would she not know what Su Youwei was thinking. Su Youwei smiled. "Senior sister, you lost the bet. Since you agreed to the bet, you must accept the loss.¡± Dong Ye sighed. She originally planned to watch the show, but it seemed that Su Youwei didn''t intend to let her. However, it indeed wasn¡¯t good for the situation to continue. After all, they were all considered the same team in Guyuan Heaven, no matter what grudge they have. She strode forward and a stream of snow-white Genesis Qi gushed out of her sleeve like a white glass and froze the air around Li Zhu. Dong Ye''s sudden attack drew countless bewildered gazes. Even Li Zhu frowned slightly. He didn¡¯t understand why the Zixiao Region would suddenly intervene. Dong Ye met his gaze and pointed to the distance. ¡°Are you guys planning to start a war here?¡± Many people followed where her finger pointed to and saw thousands of figures from two sides charging towards each other in a threatening manner. They were the teams of the Tianyuan Region and Wanzu Region who rushed over upon receiving the news. The leaders of other regions also nodded when they saw this and immediately acted. Genesis Qi filled the air and directly separated Wang Xuanyang and Qin Lian. Wang Xuanyang and Qin Lian were both propelled backwards. Zhou Yuan appeared behind Qin Lian, whose body was shrouded in spiralling scarlet qi. However, he could feel the Genesis Qi within Qin Lian¡¯s body was agitated and she was wounded in the battle against Wang Xuanyang. Wang Xuanyang¡¯s strength surprised Zhou Yuan a little. Wang Xuanyang threw an angry glance at Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian before he turned around and said nothing. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed coldly as he watched Wang Xuanyang leave. That guy has repeatedly targeted the Tianyuan Region. He really is an unstable danger. If there¡¯s a chance, I must eliminate this trouble as soon as possible. But this wasn¡¯t a simple matter. Even if he and Qin Lian joined forces, they might not be able to kill him. Qin Lian had already used a secret technique but she still didn¡¯t have the upper hand. Wang Xuanyang indeed deserved the second spot on the Heavenly Sun List. Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed. He felt he would have much more confidence if Silver Shadow completes its transformation with the ancestral qi treasures in Guyuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan peered down at the map fragment in his hand and pursed his lips. He hoped to acquire more ancestral qi treasures. The two little brats in my Divine Dwellings have such huge appetites. Chapter 1100 One Month Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged on a boulder. He slowly opened his eyes after half a day. Bright light surged in his eyes and the Genesis Qi exuded from his body had become much more tyrannical. ¡°My Genesis Qi foundation has reached 1.95 billion¡­" White qi spewed from his mouth like an arrow and shot into a wall of the cave, and immediately blasted a bottomless black hole into the cave. As Zhou Yuan felt the Genesis Qi within his body, a satisfied smile bloomed on his face. It was almost one month since he came to Guyuan Heaven. During the month, the forces from Hunyuan Heaven had already rooted out the ancestral qi veins within hundreds of miles of the city. Of course, conflicts that resulted from that were inevitable. Some forces even got into brutal fights for the ancestral qi veins. Even the nine regions didn¡¯t stop that kind of dispute. Of course, they also couldn¡¯t stop it because there were not enough ancestral qi veins to go around, and so, fights were unavoidable. Only those with real strength enjoyed more opportunities. Does that mean the nine regions benefited from this rule? During that one month, under the leadership of Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian, the Tianyuan Region had great harvests. They undoubtedly avoided many troubles with the help of the Decoder Saint Rune¡¯s mysterious power. As a result, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had rocketed from 1.86 billion to 1.95 billion. An increase of 90 million was unbelievable anywhere in Hunyuan Heaven. In addition to improvements in his Genesis Qi foundation, Zhou Yuan also gained a lot of ancestral qi treasures in that one month. Zhou Yuan lightly patted the spatial bag around his waist and dozen streams of light shot out and turned to jade boxes hovering around him There were 25 jade boxes, each containing an ancestral qi treasure. This was what Zhou Yuan harvested during that month. With the flick of his finger, Zhou Yuan slowly opened up all the jade boxes, and brilliant colors suddenly bloomed. The ancestral qi treasures emitted a mysterious aura that turned all Genesis Qi within the cave thick and heavy. Zhou Yuan stared captivated at the little treasures. He couldn''t get bored looking at them no matter how long he stared at them. But his gaze soon turned melancholic as he retracted it. This was because he had hid these treasures for a month but it was time to feed his two little brats. The two little brats also seemed to sense there were many treasures on him and created a lot of disturbances during this period. Zhou Yuan was both angry and amused by this. He had to give a little face to the former Saint treasure. "There are a total of twenty-five ancestral qi treasures here, how are you going to share them?" Zhou Yuan muttered. The moment he finished speaking, snow-white hair broke out from his left hand, wrapped around the jade boxes like lightning and pulled out the ancestral qi treasures in them. And from Zhou Yuan''s right hand, silvery liquid gushed out like a silver chain and competed for the ancestral qi treasures. But how could Silver Shadow be a match for the Heavenly Yuan brush. Its silver chain was directly crushed when it occasionally touched the Heavenly Yuan brush. In the end, the Heavenly Yuan brush won 20 treasures, while Silver Shadow only got five. At that moment, Zhou Yuan felt the Silver Shadow release an aggrieved ripple. ¡°You''re a Saint treasure, don''t bully your little brother like that?" Zhou Yuan couldn''t help but say fairly. The Heavenly Yuan brush possessed extraordinary spiritual intellect, and naturally understood Zhou Yuan''s meaning. So, after a moment of hesitation, it reluctantly tossed out five ancestral qi treasures. Silver Shadow quickly took them. Although it had a much weaker spiritual nature to the Heavenly Yuan brush, it still released a faint wave of excitement. The Heavenly Yuan brush paid no attention to it and withdrew into the Divine Dwellings to refine the new ancestral qi treasures. Silver Shadow obediently followed. Zhou Yuan smiled with anticipation. I wonder what sort of changes will the Heavenly Yuan brush and Silver Shadow undergo after they swallowed all those ancestral qi treasures. So he didn¡¯t leave right away. Instead, he sat cross-legged, waiting for the final result. He waited for an entire afternoon. When a warm sunset glow appeared over the horizon, Zhou Yuan felt the vibrations within his Divine Dwellings had stopped. But to his disappointment, the Heavenly Yuan brush didn¡¯t change much after swallowing 15 ancestral qi treasures, except its mottled body had become deeper and the eighth Genesis Rune turned brighter. "It''s really not that easy to awaken the eighth rune." Zhou Yuan sighed. It was a pity. There were as many powerful experts in Guyuan Heaven as the number of clouds. Without counting the experts from other regions, Wang Xuanyang alone was already troublesome enough for Zhou Yuan. Wang Xuanyang had restrained himself during that one month, but Zhou Yuan still constantly remained vigilant. Buzz. But just when Zhou Yuan was about to get up and end his cultivation training, he felt a slight vibration within his Divine Dwellings. His countenance immediately changed, and he lifted his hand into the air. Silver liquid seeped out his palm and turned into a silver sphere suspended in midair. It naturally was Silver Shadow. Zhou Yuan stared at it in astonishment as he could faintly feel some special changes within Silver Shadow. Additionally, its smooth surface was covered with faint runes. The drastic change that Zhou Yuan anticipated didn¡¯t appear on the Heavenly Yuan brush, but on Silver Shadow. Zhou Yuan stretched out his finger and gently stroked the silver sphere. He could distinctly feel an indescribable connection with it. The moment Zhou Yuan''s finger touched the silver sphere, ripples suddenly appeared with buzzing and humming. Then, Zhou Yuan saw a stream of silver liquid flowing out from the sphere. The silver liquid continued to flow until it formed a human-shaped silhouette. The silver human silhouette grew increasingly clear, and when the final figure completely formed, Zhou Yuan''s eyes snapped wide. This was because the silver body in front of him was identical to him in its appearance and figure, except for its silver color. Most importantly, Zhou Yuan felt a particularly tyrannical fluctuation of Genesis Qi within its body. If it were measured in terms of Genesis Qi stars, he felt that the human figure transformed by Silver Shadow should possess at least a foundation of around 1 billion Genesis Qi stars. A look of astonishment crossed Zhou Yuan''s face. If Silver Shadow was previously only considered as an object with little spirituality, now it was truly alive. Silver Shadow had undergone earth-shattering changes after transformation. Chapter 1101 Silver Shadow’s Transformation Zhou Yuan stared dazedly at the silver figure for a good while and eventually suppressed his astonishment. He felt an inseverable special connection with the silver figure in front of him. He felt that the silver figure before his eyes was a part of him. It was somewhat like¡­a doppelganger-like existence. In the past, Silver Shadow could only form silver armor around Zhou Yuan to increase his strength, but it had now become an independent being. To a certain extent, it was now a special Heavenly Sun expert who possessed a Genesis Qi foundation of 1 billion. ¡°Silver Shadow?¡± Zhou Yuan tried to call it. The silver figure didn¡¯t move and seemed extremely stiff, but its silver eyes rolled slightly and a flicker of spirituality flashed from his eyes. ¡°Move about." Zhou Yuan gave another order. Silver Shadow slowly lifted its feet and stiffly marched around the cave. At the same time, under Zhou Yuan¡¯s order, it circulated its Genesis Qi and blasted a deep pit into the cave wall with it¡¯s fists. It seemed incapable of being tired, and had no sense of pain, life or death. As Silver Silver sped up, it¡¯s stiff movements were completely gone, and it¡¯s body finally became as flexible as a human body. Zhou Yuan continued to issue commands with great interest, and soon he found that Silver Shadow''s body was very powerful and possessed extremely powerful abilities of recovery. It even might not be weaker than Zhou Yuan. However, Silver Shadow also had its flaws; it had no other means to fight. This disappointed Zhou Yuan a little. Genesis Qi was only the basis of one¡¯s combat strength, and to fully or even double the power of one¡¯s Genesis Qi, one would need to rely on Genesis arts. Without any Genesis Art, Silver Shadow¡¯s combat strength would be quite worrying. It was similar to the ancient beasts in Guyuan Heaven that had only brute strength and no spiritual intellect. It seemed Silver Shadow would be better to become battle armor and cover Zhou Yuan. At least in that way, it could increase Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength. While Zhou Yuan had that thought, he felt a faint wave of energy. It came from Silver Shadow. Zhou Yuan carefully sensed the information contained within the wave of energy. The information was very vague, but he still understood the vague meaning behind it... ¡°¡­Teach?¡± ¡°Teach what?¡± A puzzled expression came to Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, then, a moment later, he looked at Silver Shadow in disbelief. ¡°You mean teach you Genesis techniques?!¡± Silver Shadow slowly came to stand in front of Zhou Yuan and stretched out its hands. During that moment of contact, Zhou Yuan could feel his perception directly entering and spreading throughout Silver Shadow¡¯s body. He could detect many mysteries within Silver Shadow¡¯s body. He even noticed a Genesis Qi stamp in Silver Shadow¡¯s body, which should be formed during the many years it was stored in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body The Genesis Qi stamp was so deep that it was unerasable. This meant Zhou Yuan could completely destroy Silver Shadow from the inside to the outside with a single thought. Then, Zhou Yuan felt a mysterious orifice somewhere in Silver Shadow¡¯s body. A light dawned on Zhou Yuan. That could hold a Genesis art. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, and suddenly thought about the Great Flame Devil¡¯s cultivation method in his heart. At that moment, he could feel a stream of heat in his body pouring into Silver Shadow, and finally accumulated around the orifice. An hour later. The originally transparent hole turned crimson, like lava had interweaved and formed several ancient and complicated patterns. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, looking expectantly at Silver Shadow. "Silver Shadow, activate¡­the Great Flame Devil!" Silver Shadow drew back one step and closed its silver eyes. A second later, its eyes snapped wide and its silver pupils had turned crimson. Its silver body was streaked with lava-like red patterns and a red-hot and berserk wave erupted. It was undoubtedly the Great Flame Devil! Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath and his eyes lit up. So this was Silver Shadow¡¯s most powerful ability! It could swiftly cultivate the Genesis art Zhou Yuan had learned in an almost clone-like way! In this way, it seemed no different to a human, but it was superior in that it was physically stronger and could recover rapidly. And now it had learnt a body Genesis technique like the Great Flame Devil, based purely on bodily strength, Zhou Yuan felt even he might not be able to beat Silver Shadow. The most terrifying thing was that Zhou Yuan found that Silver Shadow¡¯s orifice could multiply as it evolved. When that happened, if Zhou Yuan passed on more powerful Genesis arts he had cultivated, it was unimaginable what sort of astonishing level its strength could reach. In the future, Zhou Yuan could become two with a shake of his body. This would be hugely advantageous in battle. Although a foundation of 1 billion was considered weak among many opponents that Zhou Yuan had faced before, it didn¡¯t matter. As Zhou Yuan swallowed more ancestral qi treasures, Silver Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had huge potential to grow. Zhou Yuan''s eyes beamed with joy. Silver Shadow¡¯s transformation was undoubtedly a huge surprise to him. He didn¡¯t feed those ancestral qi treasures to it in vain. He told Silver Shadow to disperse the Great Flame Devil, and he felt the changes within its body again. "Hey, the red light and red patterns in the orifice have become weaker¡­" Zhou Yuan gasped, and immediately scratched his head. Does this mean the Genesis arts that Silver Shadow obtains from me have a consumable nature? Will it disappear once used too many times? I have to replenish it once they disappear? ¡°This isn¡¯t a huge problem¡­¡± Although this was a little flaw, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t too disappointed. This kind of consumable property was normal. It would be even more unbelievable if he could pass Genesis arts he had worked so hard to learn onto Silver Shadow without any drawbacks. Perhaps, Silver Shadow could reach that level if it becomes a true Saint treasure. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were full of smiles. Silver Shadow has undergone a reborn-like change after following me for years. But thinking of this, his heart skipped a beat. Would Silver Shadow¡¯s change have something to do with Yaoyao? Back when Yaoyao studied Silver Shadow, she had made changes to it in many areas. Perhaps other people might not have such an ability, but Zhou Yuan believed there was a high possibility that Yaoyao could do so, given her mysterious powers. ¡°Yaoyao¡­¡± Yaoyao had given him countless help and support over the years, and if it weren¡¯t for her, Zhou Yuan felt he couldn¡¯t achieve what he had. But it was also because of him that Yaoyao was severely wounded and unconscious till now. He felt he owed Yaoyao too much. "Don''t worry, I will be able to awaken you when I find the Ancestral Dragon Flesh in Guyuan Heaven." Zhou Yuan slowly clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with determination. At that moment, he heard footsteps at the entrance to the cave. With a wave of his sleeve, Silver Shadow dissipated. It turned into a stream of silver liquid and fell into his palm. It quickly penetrated into his body and vanished. Zhou Yuan cast his gaze to the cave entrance and saw Qin Lian darting over. "Did something happen?" Zhou Yuan asked, seeing the suspicious expression on her face. Qin Lian came over and handed Zhou Yuan something, which seemed to be a scroll of parchment. "Someone secretly gave this thing to us and said to give it to you.¡± Zhou Yuan found it strange. He received the parchment and wrapped it in Genesis Qi. It was only after he confirmed there wasn¡¯t any abnormality inside the scroll that he slowly unfolded it. There was nothing but a line of writing. But it was the writing that caused Zhou Yuan''s pupils to shrink and murderous intent rose in the depths of his eyes. "Wang Xuanyang plans to attack Su Youwei and seize her Yin source to perfect his Yin Yang Peach Blossom Fan.¡± Chapter 1102 Join forces Zhou Yuan silently passed the parchment to Qin Lian. Her expression changed abruptly after taking a look. Since Su Youwei has come to our camp to find Zhou Yuan several times before, it¡¯s clear the two have a very close relationship, and now Wang Xuanyang plans to attack Su Youwei? ¡°Who delivered the message?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Qin Lian shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know, the person who received it never saw who it was.¡± She pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Could it be fake? Could someone be trying to lure you to fight Wang Xuanyang?¡± "It''s possible, but I''d rather believe that it''s true. If he really does something to Su Youwei, we must prevent it from happening. Otherwise it will be too late if something were to occur.¡± A chilling look flashed in Qin Lian¡¯s eyes. ¡°Given how Wang Xuanyang is, it¡¯s possible that he is lusting after Su Youwei. Also, his Yin Yang Peach Blossom Fan is said to evolve with a female¡¯s yin source. Many women have been ruined in his hands. "But I heard that Dong Ye from the Zixiao Region thinks highly of Su Youwei, and Wang Xuanyang also disgust her. So is Wang Xuanyang not afraid of Dong Ye retaliating?¡± Zhou Yuan said indifferently, "We only learned about this incident because someone notified us. If Wang Xuanyang acts cleanly and cleans up well, it¡¯s possible he can throw the blame to other heavens.¡± In the past month, as the ancestral qi veins within a radius of 100,000 miles were found, all forces began to disperse and moved to other areas. But they ran into forces from other heavens along the way. Therefore, if Wang Xuanyang did a clean job, Dong Ye might not be able to do anything to him, unless she didn¡¯t care about starting a war with the Wanzu region team led by Wang Xuanyang. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "But we can discuss this matter with Dong Ye. If we join forces, we could set a trap for Wang Xuanyang. He is vicious, sinister and would stoop to anything. Since a feud has already been formed, it¡¯s best to get rid of him as soon as possible.¡± Qin Lin looked surprised at Zhou Yuan, "You want to join forces with Dong Ye?¡± Immediately after she asked the question, she said teasingly, "But I heard that she¡¯s very dissatisfied with you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know her and have never offended her, why would she be dissatisfied with me?¡± Qin Lian smiled. "It''s because of Su Youwei. She¡¯s too outstanding and Dong Ye thinks extremely highly of her. She thinks that your presence will make Su Youwei unable to focus on her own cultivation.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head helplessly. "If she values Su Youwei so much, there¡¯s a high chance she will join forces with us.¡± This was the Tianyuan Region¡¯s new base. A Genesis Rune boundary was faintly visible, blocking everyone''s waves of Genesis Qi The camp was very lively. People constantly came and went, and from time to time, teams returned from afar. Now that everyone was more familiar with Guyuan Heaven, when the Qi Observation Platform detected low-class ancestral qi veins, Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian didn¡¯t necessarily need to set out. Instead, they left it to Bian Buji, Han Jinhe and the others to handle. However, if a middle-class vein was discovered, one of the two was still needed. "Which direction is the Zixiao Region¡¯s new camp?" Zhou Yuan asked. Qin Lian said, "The southwest, it should take us a few days from here.¡± She looked at Zhou Yuan and said, "You don''t plan to go alone, do you? I think even if Dong Ye agrees to join forces with you, you two might not be able to defeat Wang Xuanyang.¡± Qin Lian folded her arms. "So you have to take me with you too.¡± Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment and said, "This is regarded as a personal matter so it won¡¯t be good for you to help and someone needs to stay behind with the Tianyuan Region team.¡± Qin Lian shook her head. ¡°The Tianyuan Region has a deep feud with the Wanzu Region and Wang Xuanyang is a hidden danger. If we can eliminate him, it will be much safer for us to act in the future. As for this place, we can tell Bian Buji and the others to temporarily stop searching for ancestral qi veins and focus on defense, just in case.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little moved to see Qin Lian insisting to go with him. He knew she was worried about him traveling alone. So he finally agreed, "Then I will explain to Bian Buji and the others later. We will set off secretly and head to Zixiao Region¡¯s territory.¡± Qin Lian nodded. Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian arrived in the Zixiao Region¡¯s territory a few days later. If Wang Xuanyang was really after Su Youwei, he would set up hidden sentry posts around, so they avoided coming in a grand way and alarming anyone. Qin Lian and Dong Ye were acquainted, so they secretly contacted Dong Ye when they arrived. A camp in the Zixiao Region¡¯s territory. Sitting on the upper seat, Dong Ye looked at the parchment in her hand and her cheeks that were always shrouded in frost almost froze and her eyes turned biting cold. Su Youwei stood gracefully behind Dong Ye and also saw the words on the parchment, but she didn''t show much anger. Instead, she gazed at the young man who brought the notice with a cheerful smile. After a while, Dong Ye raised her head, studied Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian with a cold gaze, and said indifferently, ¡°Is this fake? You want to drag my Zixiao Region into the battle between your Tianyuan Region and the Wanzu Region?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡±I would rather this be fake, so that at least Youwei won¡¯t be in danger.¡± Dong Ye glanced at Su Youwei, and seeing the captivating smile blooming on Su Youwei¡¯s beautiful and pure face, she immediately felt a little uncomfortable and snorted, ¡°A smooth tongue.¡± However, this matter concerned Su Youwei so she didn¡¯t dare to ignore it. She said after a deep thought, "Even if Wang Xuanyang really has such an intention, I just need to take Youwei with me everywhere. Why do I need to join forces with you to get rid of him?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡±How can someone forever guard against thieves? What if there¡¯s a mistake? The safest way is to directly get rid of the source of evil.¡± Dong Ye sneered, ¡°Who do you think Wang Xuanyang is? Neither I nor Qin Lian can defeat him alone. You think you¡¯re qualified to go up against Wang Xuanyang because you defeated Qianhu?¡± Su Youwei''s clear voice suddenly sounded, "Senior sister, you told me that His Highness Zhou Yuan''s strength isn¡¯t bad, and is worthy of being number one among his peers.¡± Dong Ye''s frosty cheeks suddenly stiffened, and she swept an annoyed glance over Su Youwei. Which side is this girl on? Dong Ye pursed her lips and glared at Zhou Yuan. "Don''t be so smug, your strength and talent are indeed outstanding among your peers, but as for number one among your peers, Youwei is still better than you.¡± Dong Ye said proudly, ¡°Our supreme sovereign favors junior sister Youwei and trained her personally. Youwei just likes to keep a low-profile. Otherwise she would have already taken away half of the radiance you have.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at Su Youwei in surprise, who frantically waved her little hand. ¡°Then I have to congratulate you." Zhou Yuan smiled happily. In truth, he wasn¡¯t too shocked. Su Youwei was born with the Yin and Yang Qi Dwelling, and she later possessed the incredibly rare ten Divine Dwellings when she reached the Divine Dwelling stage. All this showed her outstanding talent and potential. Moreover, she was favoured by the Zixiao Region¡¯s supreme sovereign, whose ability was much more profound than Zhou Yuan¡¯s senior brother Zhuan Zhu. With a supreme sovereign¡¯s training, although Su Youwei was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage like Zhou Yuan, her ability couldn¡¯t be calculated with common sense. Su Youwei blinked playfully. "With His Highness, such a remarkable person, in front of me, how could I not work hard?¡± But before she could say anything more, Dong Ye stood in front of her, blocking the gaze between Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei. Dong Ye looked expressionlessly at Zhou Yuan, silent for a moment, and finally said indifferently, ¡°What you said makes sense, I can''t always watch Youwei.¡± "Fine, I will find the opportunity to arrange it. If Wang Xuanyang really takes the bait, we can join forces this one time.¡± "I originally didn''t want to intervene in the matter between you two, but since Wang Xuanyang dared to lust after someone from my Zixiao Region¡ª¡± The chilling look in Dong Ye''s eyes almost froze the air, and her voice was as cold as ice. "I¡¯ll tear him to pieces and feed him to the dogs!¡± Chapter 1103 Setting the Trap On the highest point of the valley, Wang Xuanyang was peering into the distance and fanning a black-and-white jade fan. After a while, he opened his mouth and said, "Are all the secret sentry posts around the Zixiao Region set up?¡± ¡°All set up. Any team leaving the Zixiao Region territory will be under our control." Qianhu, who had one arm broken, replied in a low voice. Wang Xuanyang nodded with a satisfied smile, and his eyes gleamed lustfully. "Su Youwei is a superb furnace, if we can seize her Yin source, it will be of great benefit to me. But it¡¯s a pity that we have to operate in complete secrecy and clean up well afterwards. We have to get rid of her in the end. Otherwise it would be enjoyable to have her around.¡± Qianhu said after some hesitation, "I''m worried Dong Ye will go crazy then.¡± "If we do things cleanly, she can''t do anything to me even if she has her suspicions." Wang Xuanyang smiled. "Wu Yao from the Wushen Region is also excellent, but Guan Qinglong seems to have a thing for her. That guy shouldn¡¯t be messed with, so it¡¯s best to not anger him for the time being.¡± Wang Xuanyang licked his lips, and a sinister smile curved the corners of his mouth. "But if we can collect those two Yin sources, Guan Qinglong might not be able to do anything to me afterwards¡­" Qianhu looked a little terrified. After all, Guan Qinglong, who was ranked number one on the Heavenly Sun List, was too powerful. Even someone as fierce as Qianhu feared Guan Qinglong from the bottom of his heart. Wang Xuanyang shot a glance at him, and contempt flashed across his eyes. Waving his fan, he strode down the mountain. "Remember to report any updates to me." While Wang Xuanyang waited, six days had passed. But he wasn¡¯t anxious at all. Dong Ye valued Su Youwei very much and wouldn¡¯t let her out; however, Wang Xuanyang didn¡¯t believe she could lock her in all the time. After all, Su Youwei also came to Guyuan Heaven to search for opportunities and did not come as a prisoner. And it was indeed as Wang Xuanyang thought. On the ninth day, a message arrived. "The Zixiao Region will search for a low-class vein, and the team will be led by a veteran advanced Heavenly Sun expert and Su Youwei will assist¡­" In the camp, as Wang Xuanyang read the scroll in front of him, his eyes fixed fiercely on Su Youwei''s name. Then, he stretched out his finger and stroked it gently with a drunken look. "Little beauty, you will soon fall into my hands. "I heard you have a good relationship with Zhou Yuan. "Haha, that¡¯s even better¡­" He flicked his sleeve, got up and walked out of the camp. At that moment, the night sky was dotted with stars like grains of sand. But when Wang Xuanyang disappeared, a figure sitting cross-legged that he didn¡¯t see opened his eyes. It was Zhao Mushen. A strange arc curved his lips as he peered in the direction that Wang Xuanyang left. ... A team of more than 300 people from the Zixiao region was stationed somewhere in the mountains. The clusters of campfire broke up the dim light of night. Su Youwei stood gracefully on the hill where the camp was set up. Her slim and beautiful figure was even more captivating in the hazy night. Her eyes flickered like stars over the forest shrouded by the dark night. The leader of her team was a veteran advanced Heavenly Sun expert from the Zixiao Region and the mission of their trip was to capture a low-class ancestral qi vein in this mountain range. Of course, this was only what it appeared on the surface. Their real goal was to lure Wang Xuanyang out. However, they had stayed in the camp for a few days, yet there were no signs of Wang Xuanyang. He must be secretly checking whether there is any danger. But Zhou Yuan and Dong Ye were both extremely well prepared, so how could Wang Xuanyang detect their presence? The two sides were like hunters eyeing on the same prey, except that one of the hunters didn¡¯t know that the prey had already cooperated with the other hunter. In truth, Su Youwei wasn¡¯t too angry that Wang Xuanyang was after all because her mind was only focussed on the fact that Zhou Yuan came to protect her the moment he knew someone wanted to harm her. "His Highness still cares about me¡­" Under the dim light of night, the beautiful girl secretly pursed her lips and smiled. Her flirtatious expression mesmerized everyone in the camp, be it male or female. It was at that moment when Su Youwei suddenly felt an extremely hot gaze that fixated on her in the dark night. Su Youwei pursed her little red lips, but a chilling murderous intent flashed across the depths of her eyes. Wang Xuanyang is indeed here! As the campfires blazed, Su Youwei suddenly felt that the noisy camp become quieter. She narrowed her beautiful eyes and shifted her gaze to the camp. All figures stood in the same spot and their eyes were clearly open, but there was a dead lifeless look on everyone¡¯s faces. "Poisoned..." Su Youwei''s face turned icy-cold. ¡°When did this happen?¡± Su Youwei smelled a whiff of a very faint aroma emitted from the burning campfires. Wang Xuanyang must have put poison into the campfires without anybody knowing¡­ The strange scent also penetrated Su Youwei¡¯s nose, and even if she held her breath, it still invaded her body. However, the poisonous gas had no effect on her. Su Youwei circulated her Genesis Qi and completely dissolved the poison. "Huh? You dissolved my Spirit Confusion Fog? Only extremely high-grade Genesis Qi can do that. And even among the grade 7 Genesis Qi, only very few top Genesis Qi can just about withstand it¡¯s effect. But no one could dispel the poison as fast as you.¡± A surprised voice sounded from the darkness. Su Youwei peered coldly in the direction the voice sounded from and saw a figure slowly emerging. Black-and-white light flowed around his body, making him appear illusionary and difficult to perceive. But Su Youwei was relieved to see the person. It was Wang Xuanyang! If that was the case, then senior sister Dong Ye wouldn¡¯t get mad at His Highness Zhou Yuan. Su Youwei stared coldly at Wang Xuanyang, but she didn''t want to say even half a word to him because she found him disgusting. But Wang Xuanyang didn''t mind the look of disgust in Su Youwei''s eyes. Instead, he drew in a long whiff, seeming intoxicated by the delicate fragrance coming from Su Youwei¡¯s body. He smiled. "Miss, the scenery is beautiful and the time is perfect, would you like to spend the night with me¡ª?¡± But before Su Youwei said anything, a woman filled with murderous rage blasted through the mountains and forests. At the same time, Genesis Qi accumulated in space and transformed into an icy white glass roaring towards Wang Xuanyang. "Wang Xuanyang, go to your Wanzu Region to find a dog to spend the night with you!¡± Chapter 1104 Wang Xuanyang’s Backup When the icy voice containing thick killing intent echoed throughout the mountains and forests, a gush of waterfall-like snow-white Genesis Qi roared towards Wang Xuanyang. It was obvious that the sudden attack startled Wang Xuanyang a little. He stood there blankly till a gush of cold air assaulted his face, and he snapped out of the shock. A jet of black-and-white Genesis Qi spurted from his opened mouth, forming a shield of light in front of him. Bang! The icy torrent of Genesis Qi and the black-and-white shield collided. Frost spread like lightning across the ground, turning the nearby sea of forest instantly into crystal-clear ice trees. Wang Xuanyang swiftly drew back, and slid across the frosted ground. He immediately swung his sleeves to steady his body as he stared in the direction of where the attack came from. His expression changed abruptly, and a deep frown crossed his brows. ¡±Dong Ye?¡± Under his intent gaze, a figure shrouded in chill walked out from the darkness, and a pair of eyes pierced Wang Xuanyang like icicles. "Wang Xuanyang, how dare you stretch your disgusting claws at someone of my Zixiao Region?!" Dong Ye''s eyes were full of killing intent. She knew of Wang Xuanyang''s purpose of coming, so she naturally burst into anger. Wang Xuanyang rolled his eyes and lifted his hand, ¡°Dong Ye, if I say this is a misunderstanding, would you believe me?¡± An icy and determined sneer curved the corners of Dong Ye''s lips. ¡±From now on, in Guyuan Heaven, your Wanzu Region is my Zixiao Region¡¯s enemy.¡± The smile on Wang Xuanyang''s face faded. He had never expected Dong Ye¡¯s stance to be so firm. Once she said this, they would have to fight to the death. He narrowed his eyes, a dangerous and chilling aura flowing around his eyes. ¡±Dong Ye, you are the leader of the Zixiao Region, you can''t act so wilfully. Do you know what consequences your actions could bring? "Have you considered the safety of your thousands of Zixiao Region team members?¡± Bang! However, Dong Ye blasted out and responded to his threat with a torrent of icy qi. She reached into the torrent and pulled out a crystal-clear jade bow. Buzz! Dong Ye drew the bow at lightning speed. An icy arrow shot out with incredible speed and disappeared into thin air in a flash. When it reappeared, it was already in front of Wang Xuanyang. Humph! Wang Xuanyang coldly snorted and threw out a punch. Black-and-white Genesis Qi rapidly flowed around his fist. A seemingly simple punch caused the void to crack. It was obvious how terrifying his Genesis Qi foundation was. Wang Xuanyang''s fist collided with the icy arrow, distorting the void. Dong Ye''s face was icy-cold as she pulled the bowstring. Icy Genesis Qi swiftly gathered on the bowstring, and faintly, a white glass image seemingly formed on the ice arrow. ¡°White Glass Genesis-Sealing Arrow!¡± Buzz! As the bowstring vibrated, icy white glass roared through space, aiming directly at Wang Xuanyang who was bound by the ice chain. The White Glass Genesis-Sealing Arrow was one of Dong Ye¡¯s strongest attack. Once struck, the extremely cold Genesis Qi would penetrate one¡¯s body and seal one¡¯s Genesis Qi, thereby weakening one¡¯s strength. ¡°Haha.¡± But when the Genesis-sealing arrow pointed towards Wang Xuanyang, he emitted a low sneer and a special flame blazed around his body. The flame was milky-white, fierce and burning hot. The flame cleanly incinerated the ice chain the moment it appeared. He raised two fingers into the air, and a flame gathered on his fingertips. Then, a beam of flame shot out with a boom, colliding with the Genesis-sealing arrow. In the end, both were annihilated. ¡°Dong Ye, although your ice Genesis Qi can freeze everything, unfortunately for you, it has no effect on me. My Little Sun Flame is refined over the years by collecting Yin and replenishing my Yang. It is best suited to deal with women like you.¡± Wang Xuanyang collected women¡¯s Yin to strengthen his Yang qi, and when his Yang qi flourished, he refined the so-called Little Sun Flame. Once the flame invaded a woman''s body, it can cause her blood to boil, her body burn, and her organs to incinerate. "Let me try it on you too!¡± But when Wang Xuanyang''s voice faded, space suddenly tore apart, and another slender figure flashed out, swinging down a scarlet blade. Wrapped in boundless blazing qi, the crimson blade slashed towards Wang Xuanyang''s head. As the blade came slashing at Wang Xuanyang, it caused deep marks to be ripped in the ground. ¡°Qin Lian?!¡± Wang Xuanyang¡¯s pupils shrank rapidly when the familiar sparrow¡¯s cry rang out. However, before he could think too much, his black-and-white jade fan quickly unfolded and sent two beams of black-and-white light through the air that turned into a pair of black-and-white scissors. Clang! The scissors fiercely collided with the Scarlet Sparrow Blade, and a berserk Genesis Qi shock wave erupted. Qin Lian''s strong and beautiful figure blasted back and she steadied herself atop a crystal-clear ice tree. She pointed her Crimson Sparrow Blade at Wang Xuanyang as she looked at him with an icy stare. Wang Xuanyang¡¯s face darkened looking at the two women. It was normal to see Dong Ye, but Qin Lian''s appearance made him feel a hint that this was a scheme. This was clearly a trap targeted at him. But why did they know that I would attack Su Youwei today? ¡°Interesting¡ª "It seems the Zixiao Region and the Tianyuan Region are planning to join forces. "The second and sixth on the Heavenly Sun List have joined forces to try to eliminate me?¡± Wang Xuanyang peered into the darkness in another direction. ¡°There¡¯s also grand elder Zhou Yuan, isn¡¯t that right?¡± There, he felt a faint fluctuation of Genesis Qi. A figure slowly strode out from the darkness, staring indifferently at Wang Xuanyang. It was Zhou Yuan. "Haha, what a line-up," Wang Xuanyang sneered. "But can I ask, how do you know about my movements?¡± Zhou Yuan clenched his hand, and the Heavenly Yuan brush appeared in his grip. He said indifferently, "You¡¯re going to die, why ask about this?¡± Since they had already acted, they must eliminate Wang Xuanyang to avoid future troubles. The black-and-white jade fan in Wang Xuanyang''s hand quivered, and his narrowed eyes glinted cold and sinisterly. "Zhou Yuan, although your ambush surprised me, you shouldn¡¯t underestimate my ability. "Do you really think I¡¯m an idiot? Do you think I would be unprepared?" A jade tablet appeared as he stretched out his hand. He crushed it casually. Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan, Dong Ye, and Qin Lian''s expressions tensed. To think Wang Xuanyang has come prepared! And just a few seconds after Wang Xuanyang crushed the jade tablet, Zhou Yuan and the others felt a wave of Genesis Qi erupting from afar and quickly approaching them. A few seconds later. A figure descended from the sky and landed atop a tree. Zhou Yuan and the others¡¯ expressions changed when they saw who it was. Li Zhu from the Yaogui Region! This was unexpected to any one of them. No one thought Wang Xuanyang would secretly contact Li Zhu and ask him to come! "Wang Xuanyang, you are in big trouble." Li Zhu frowned as he analyzed the situation. Wang Xuanyang shrugged. ¡°Fell into a trap.¡± "Li Zhu, I will deal with Dong Ye and Qin Lian. You only need to capture Zhou Yuan.¡± Qin Lian said in an icy voice, "Li Zhu, do you want to join the fight between our three regions? "If you intervene, you will become an enemy of my Zixiao Region.¡± However, Li Zhu''s expression remained unchanged in the face of their threats. Evidently, he had taken that into consideration long ago. ¡°Since I have chosen to join forces with Wang Xuanyang, I naturally won¡¯t be threatened by you.¡± He shifted his gaze to Wang Xuanyang. "Just deal with Zhou Yuan? That''s fine, but if the Zixiao Region and Tianyuan Region are angered, you have to double the reward.¡± Wang Xuanyang raised his brows and said, "No problem.¡± He immediately grinned at Zhou Yuan, Qin Lian, and Dong Ye. "Now, we can have some fun tonight.¡± Chapter 1105 Two Against One? Ranked seventh on the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun List, Li Zhu was just ranked behind Qin Lian, which means his strength mustn¡¯t be underestimated. Dong Ye wrinkled his brows and immediately glanced at Zhou Yuan. "You won¡¯t hinder us, will you?¡± If Li Zhu captured Zhou Yuan, Qin Lian would hold back attacking and the situation would turn disadvantageous towards them. Seeing Dong Ye''s questioning gaze, Zhou Yuan didn''t answer her and instead asked, "Can you two deal with Wang Xuanyang?¡± Although Dong Ye was ranked third on the Heavenly Sun List and Qin Lian sixth, and their combined strength almost equalled Wang Xuanyang¡¯s, Zhou Yuan knew that Wang Xuanyang wasn¡¯t easy to deal with. Dong Ye and Qin Lian exchanged a glance and saw a rather solemn look in each other¡¯s eyes. Although Wang Xuanyang¡¯s behavior was disgusting, they had to agree his strength was remarkable. Among all Heavenly Sun experts of their generation, only Wang Xuanyang could pose a little threat to Guan Qinglong. This point alone was enough to show Wang Xuanyang''s tyrannical strength. Therefore, even if they were to join forces against Wang Xuanyang, they still didn¡¯t dare to say that they had an absolute chance of winning. Seeing the two women¡¯s expressions, Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. It seems they aren¡¯t confident in winning. I have to get rid of Li Zhu as soon as possible and assist them. Shua! Wang Xuanyang smiled at Zhou Yuan, cold killing intent gleamed deep in his eyes. Immediately after, his figure soared into the sky and charged into the distance. "Li Zhu, I leave him to you.¡± As soon as he moved, Dong Ye and Qin Lian erupted in Genesis Qi and pursued after him. After several breaths, a frightening Genesis Qi storm raged in the distance, and the ground quaked violently. The fight between the three had started. Terrifying Genesis Qi rapidly tore the entire mountain range apart. Li Zhu didn''t glance at the battle on the other side, but smiled at Zhou Yuan. "I heard that Xu Ming was defeated in your hands at the nine regions tournament?¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Li Zhu and said, "If you don''t want to follow the same tracks as him, I suggest you leave. We will pretend we never saw you here.¡± Li Zhu chuckled, shaking his head. There was a little contempt and mockery in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan. "What? Grand elder Zhou Yuan wants to drive me away with just words? ¡°Unfortunately for you, a grand elder¡¯s authority doesn¡¯t have any effect on people from other regions.¡± A foundation of 2.3 billion! As soon as Li Zhu made a move, he revealed his Genesis Qi foundation, which was only slightly less than Qin Lian. Li Zhu tilted his head and said, "When I saw you fighting Qianhu before, your Genesis Qi foundation skyrocketed to 2.3 billion, isn¡¯t that right? It is amazing. When you reach the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, I believe only Qinglong can suppress you.¡± "But unfortunately, you won''t have that opportunity.¡± Li Zhu folded his hands into a seal in lightning speed. The next moment, the strings of beads on his wrist strangely penetrated into his flesh, and then his Genesis Qi foundation suddenly soared. 2.35 billion, 2.4 billion. It finally stopped at the level of 2.5 billion. It was evident that Li Zhu had activated a secret means to increase his Genesis Qi foundation. 2.5 billion Genesis Qi stars erupted, quaking and cracking the ground nearby. Standing atop a tree, Li Zhu peered down at Zhou Yuan and said indifferently, "No matter how great your potential is, that is the future. At least right now, you aren¡¯t qualified to act tyrannical in front of me.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. As expected, none of the people on the Heavenly Sun List were easy to deal with. Qianhu wasn¡¯t even on the same level as Li Zhu. "Do you think that¡¯s all my trump cards? No, you are wrong.¡± Li Zhu didn¡¯t stop after unreservedly displaying his Genesis Qi foundation. Instead, he looked pitifully at Zhou Yuan. "The rankings on the Heavenly Sun List haven''t changed in a long time because I haven¡¯t exposed all my strength. With the trump cards I currently have, even Qin Lian might not be able to suppress me.¡± As he slowly lifted his hand, his palm suddenly split, blood streamed down and a red bead made of unknown material rolled out. Buzz! The blood-red bead constantly expanded with the wind, like a mass of flesh squirming, and after just a few breaths, grew to a ten-feet blood-red giant. The giant exhaled blood-red mist, and its body was covered with complicated markings. The most astonishing thing was that the Genesis Qi exuding from its body also reached the level of 2.3 billion! Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression tensed up. He could tell that it should be a puppet, but it was very rare to see a puppet possess such powerful Genesis Qi. "This is the Life Core Blood Puppet of my Yaogui Region. It has been nourished within my flesh for many years, and now finally possesses some combat power. ¡°What do you think? With your strength, how can you go up against my Life Core Blood Puppet and me?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. No wonder Li Zhu was so confident. Given his strength, coupled with his Life Core Battle Puppet, he wouldn¡¯t be inferior to even Qin Lian. "You are already weaker than me, and now you have to fight against two. What are you going to do?" Li Zhu sighed, looking pitifully at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan couldn''t help chuckling seeing Li Zhu''s arrogant face. "Who said I¡ª?¡± ¡°Who said he is fighting against two alone?¡± Zhou Yuan was startled because he didn''t say that. He turned his head and saw a beautiful and graceful figure standing behind him. That slender figure and sweet smile¡ªwho else would it be besides Su Youwei. Su Youwei blinked her beautiful eyes at Zhou Yuan and said teasingly, "Your Highness, there is no one else here, you shouldn''t mind if I steal some of the limelight, right?¡± She tilted her head slightly, pointed her beautiful finger to the blood-red puppet in space, and said with a smile, "I won''t disturb you playing with him, but let me deal with that puppet!¡± Zhou Yuan looked at Su Youwei, who gazed in anticipation at him. Su Youwei looked forward to being able to fight alongside Zhou Yuan because she hadn''t experienced that feeling in many years. As Zhou Yuan looked at the face that was much more beautiful and graceful compared to the past, his many memories in the Great Zhou Empire flooded out from his heart, bringing him bursts of warmth. So, he nodded with a smile. ¡°Do you want to race to see who gets rid of their target first?¡± Su Youwei''s clear and mesmerizing eyes suddenly shined in the dim light of night, and a smile uncontrollably bloomed on her lips like a flower as she nodded vigorously. ¡°Okay!¡± Chapter 1106 Su Youwei’s Strength He stared at Su Youwei with a puzzled frown because in his perception Su Youwei was weaker than Zhou Yuan. Moreover, she was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. She dares interfere in a battle of this level with her strength? ¡°The new generation of Heavenly Sun experts in Hunyuan Heaven are all so arrogant!¡± said Li Zhu indifferently. "My puppet doesn''t know how to be gentle to a woman. If you don''t want to die an ugly death, I advise you to stay still. I don''t want to mistakenly kill you and have to explain to Wang Xuanyang.¡± Su Youwei ignored him and tilted her head while looking at Zhou Yuan. "Your Highness, do you want to see my Heavenly Sun?¡± Zhou Yuan was indeed a little curious. Su Youwei was born with a Yin Yang Qi Dwelling and had refined the so-called ten Divine Dwellings after reaching the Divine Dwelling stage. Zhou Yuan was curious to know what bizarre things would happen after she broke-through to the Heavenly Sun stage. As Su Youwei folded her little fair hands together, waves of astonishing Genesis Qi abruptly rippled out from her body. Behind her, as Genesis Qi rose into the air, two Heavenly Suns emerged. Surprised expressions crossed both Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Li Zhu¡¯s faces. This was because they found that Su Youwei¡¯s Heavenly Suns were neither glass nor colored, but black and white, like yin and yang disks and seemed mysterious and unpredictable! The black and white suns slowly rotated, like two yin and yang fish chasing each other. ¡°What kind of Heavenly Suns are those? Zhou Yuan was a little dumbfounded because it was the first time he saw someone with black and white Heavenly Suns. However, the more Zhou Yuan thought about Su Youwei''s Yin Yang Qi Dwelling, a light dawned on him. Su Youwei was born compatible with Yin and Yang, and in a sense, her and Wang Xuanyang''s Genesis Qi were the same. But the class between the two differed hugely. Su Youwei''s Yin Yang Genesis Qi were innate and natural, and drew upon the most origin power between heaven and earth. On the other hand, Wang Xuanyang seized a woman''s Yin Qi to strengthen his Yang Qi. His Yin Yang Qi was too inferior to even be compared to Su Youwei¡¯s. Zhou Yuan intently stared at the black-and-white Heavenly Suns behind Su Youwei because he vaguely noticed something was on them. But he couldn''t identify what it was with the naked eye, and so, after hesitating for a moment, he finally activated the Decoder Saint Rune. As the Saint Rune flowed around in the depths of his eyes, the next moment, he finally saw some familiar-looking patterns on Su Youwei''s Yin Yang Heavenly Suns. They were dragon runes. Dragon-Claw Heavenly Sun! To be precise, her Heavenly Suns should be called Dragon-Claw Yin Yang Heavenly Suns! "What a mouthful,¡± Zhou Yuan murmured. Through his Decoder Saint Rune, he could clearly spot three complete dragon runes on Su Youwei¡¯s Heavenly Suns, indicating her Dragon-Claw Heavenly Sun was at the three-claw level, which was slightly lower than his. But even so, it was still terrifying. After all, this was the first time Zhou Yuan had seen anyone other than him reach such a level. Qin Lian hadn¡¯t even reached one-claw. Based on that, her Heavenly Sun should be considered an innate Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun with boundless potential, Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help sighing emotionally as he stared at the beautiful and elegant girl in front of him. Who could imagine the miserable and desperate look that this remarkable girl had when Zhou Yuan first met her? Thinking back to the thin little girl dragging her seriously ill grandfather in the torrential rain and sobbing in front of a clinic, his heart still ached. "It seems that even if my Sacred Dragon Blessing was taken away, I¡¯m still very lucky,¡± said Zhou Yuan suddenly with a smile. Su Youwei¡¯s big, bright eyes blinked puzzledly. "Otherwise, how would I have ran into you back then?¡± Su Youwei bit her lips and smiled sweetly. Zhou Yuan''s figure was clearly reflected in her clear eyes, as though engraved into the depths of her spirit. "Your Genesis Qi foundation should be around the level of 1.6 billion,¡± said Zhou Yuan after sensing the strength of the Genesis Qi exuding from Su Youwei''s body. ¡°But that level isn¡¯t enough to fight the blood puppet.¡± "Your Highness, don''t worry. I have a secret method, which supreme sovereign Zixiao specially created for me,¡± Su Youwei chuckled, her eyes and brows curved, like a child showing off her favorite toy. She swiftly folded her hands in a seal, and her fingertips glowed with specks of mesmerizing light. ¡°Yin and Yang Unite!" As her voice faded, the two Yin Yang Heavenly Suns began to fuse, and when they completely merged, the Genesis Qi emitting from Su Youwei''s body also rocketed. 1.7 billion, 1.8 billion, 1.9 billion¡­ In the end, it soared to the level of 2.2 billion! An increase of 600 million! Even Zhou Yuan inhaled sharply. The increase is too terrifying. "It''s a pity that my secret method can only last a short while,¡± remarked Su Youwei regretfully. "Be content." Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes. Su Youwei giggled. "Your Highness, I''ll make a move first.¡± She soared into the air with a slight graceful movement, and under Li Zhu''s somewhat sullen gaze, a waterfall of Genesis Qi blasted towards the blood puppet. Now that Su Youwei''s Genesis Qi had soared to the level of 2.2 billion, which was still a little weaker than the blood puppet, the gap between them had mostly closed. Therefore, Li Zhu didn¡¯t dare to let his blood puppet be careless. With one thought, the blood puppet unleashed a deafening roar, and its tremendous body turned into a mountain-like shadow and shrouded Su Youwei. Boom! They collided in mid-air, resulting in an explosion of shock waves and rumbles of thunder. There was a clear difference in size between the two, but the blood puppet still didn¡¯t have much advantage over Su Youwei. When Zhou Yuan saw Su Youwei handling the blood puppet with ease, he finally retracted his gaze and smiled at Li Zhu. "It seems that your two-against-one strategy has failed.¡± Li Zhu glanced at Zhou Yuan and said indifferently, "After I capture you, she¡¯ll realize that all her resistance is meaningless.¡± Li Zhu folded his arms and peered down at Zhou Yuan. Su Youwei¡¯s strength had indeed surprised him, but nothing more. A foundation of 2.2 billion can¡¯t change the situation. The battle on his side was the most important. He believed Zhou Yuan couldn''t endure the absolute suppression of his 2.6 billion Genesis Qi foundation. Zhou Yuan simply grinned in response to Li Zhu''s contemptuous look. "Actually, she interrupted me before I even finished speaking.¡± Li Zhu scrunched his brows. As Zhou Yuan twisted his neck, the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Promotion Rune gradually grew brighter. "Who said¡ª¡° ¡°A foundation of 2.3 billion Genesis Qi stars is my limit?¡± Li Zhu''s pupils suddenly shrank when he saw a strange teasing expression spreading over Zhou Yuan''s face. Chapter 1107 Great Battle Against Li Zhu As Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice died away, the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Promotion Rune erupted in blinding rays of light that were far stronger than any previous times. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation also soared at an astonishing rate as he activated the Promotion Rune. As Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation neared the 2.3 billion level, something happened that made Li Zhu''s expression change drastically¡ªThe increase showed no sign of slowing down and continued to rise fiercely. 2.4 billion! 2.5 billion! It was only when Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation reached 2.5 billion that the increase gradually slowed. As Zhou Yuan clasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush, his robe billowed around him and the astonishing pressure exuding from his body continuously tore cracks into the ground. He raised his head, looked at Li Zhu, who looked particularly dark and unpleasant under the dim light of night, and grinned. "Are you satisfied now?¡± He had never activated the Promotion Rune¡¯s power to its peak during his training sessions with Qin Lian because it was never necessary. After all, Qin Lian wasn¡¯t an enemy. This was the first time that Zhou Yuan fully activated the Promotion Rune after reaching the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. And the result of it undoubtedly surprised Li Zhu. ¡°So this is your foundation,¡± Li Zhu uttered, his expression dark. Who would have thought Zhou would conceal his strength so deeply? "I already warned you to leave and we can pretend we didn¡¯t see you here earlier,¡± Zhou Yuan said. However, Li Zhu snorted. As the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in Yaogui Region, he was undoubtedly prideful. ¡°So what you have a foundation of 2.5 billion Genesis Qi? It¡¯s just the same level as mine. The final outcome of the battle remains to be decided!¡± His eyes suddenly turned fierce and sharp, and with a flick his sleeve, several beads shot out, expanding as they met the wind and finally transforming into tremendous puppet beasts. The giant beasts fixed their threatening eyes on Zhou Yuan. Roar! The next moment, ten puppet beasts pounced towards Zhou Yuan with murderous intent. Zhou Yuan faintly smiled seeing this and lifted his hand. A silver sphere whirled in his palm and flowed out like a liquid till it turned into a silver figure identical to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Eliminate them,¡± commanded Zhou Yuan. Silver Shadow immediately transformed into a silver lightning bolt and sped out. As it streaked across the air, crimson runes emerged over its silver body and a blazing and ruthless aura erupted from them. Great Flame Devil! Bang! Silver Shadow charged into the group of puppets, and as its silvery light flashed, it blasted the several giant puppet beasts back with terrifying combat strength. But why is that mysterious silver figure even fiercer than my giant puppets? Also, from its movements, it seems unconcerned of being wounded. That boy has quite a few means! Swoosh! Then, a streak of cold light suddenly tore the space in front of Li Zhu, followed by platinum Genesis Qi, like a platinum dragon somersaulting in the air. "Can you afford to be distracted at a time like this?" Zhou Yuan''s laughter resounded with the cold light. A mighty attack swept towards Li Zhu. His face grew overcast and as his hand quivered, a golden umbrella appeared in his grip. Flowing with Genesis Qi, the umbrella sprang up and withstood the attack like a shield. Clang! Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s snow-white tip pointed at the center of the umbrella and sparks sputtered in all directions. Mighty platinum Genesis Qi battered the umbrella, causing the surface to ripple violently, but more Genesis Qi were expelled as the umbrella rotated. The golden umbrella in Li Zhu''s hand was clearly a top-tier Heaven Genesis Weapon capable of dissolving attacks. Chi! Zhou Yuan''s expression remained unchanged. With a flick of his wrist, the brush tip multiplied into countless shadows and pelted down like torrential rain. The mighty offensive split the space around and ear-piercing booms echoed in the night sky. Li Zhu snorted coldly and the umbrella in his hand also shot out. Countless shadows collide in the air. In just a few breaths, they had fought hundreds of rounds. In that kind of head-on collision, Li Zhu''s expression gradually became a little unpleasant, because he began to feel some pressure. Their Genesis Qi foundation was almost at the same level. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack was more aggressive and domineering than his. ¡°Could this guy''s Genesis Qi be grade 8?" Li Zhu studied the platinum Genesis Qi rising from Zhou Yuan''s body, and felt a dangerous aura. The Yaogui Region¡¯s cultivation techniques could be traced to the same origin and the highest level was also grade 8. However, this level required great resources, and even if he had worked painstakingly hard for so many years, he had only cultivated top-level grade-7 Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi could suppress him because his Genesis Qi grade surpassed his. Clang! The brush tip collided with the umbrella tip, and the two astonishing Genesis Qi clashed. The space around crumbled and two figures were blasted back. Zhou Yuan pointed the Heavenly Yuan Brush towards the ground and, with a stamp of his foot, sent platinum Genesis Qi spiralling into the sky like billowing clouds. ¡°Heavenly Dragon Claw!¡± The platinum Genesis Qi rapidly gathered and formed an incomparably huge dragon claw. Then, it fiercely slammed down. The dragon claw was covered in scales, glistening brightly. ¡°Devil Puppet Shadow!¡± Li Zhu roared. Mighty Genesis Qi swept forth, forming a giant shadow behind him. As the shadow thrust its palm forward, there appeared to be countless puppets squirming and hissing in its palm. Bang! The palm and claw met head-on. Genesis Qi shock waves wreaked havoc and devastated all nearby forests. However, Li Zhu''s face grew increasingly sullen, because he found it hard to accept that he didn¡¯t have the upper hand in any of the rounds. Before this battle, Li Zhu secretly looked down on Zhou Yuan. After all, Zhou Yuan was considered a junior to him and was still a nobody when Li Zhu made a name for himself in Hunyuan Heaven! But the junior had humiliated him in this fight. This was hard to accept for Li Zhu because of his strong pride. "I don''t believe I, Li Zhu, can''t stop you, a little junior!¡± Li Zhu had a fierce glint in his eyes and his face bore a look of determination. With a slight movement, he appeared above and folded his hands in a seal. Two demonic patterns emerged in his palms, from which a mysterious light bloomed. ¡°The Great Devil Puppet!¡± As his thunderous roar echoed throughout the world, the earth shook and countless rocks and trees were sucked into the sky, and finally turned into powder and gathered towards Li Zhu. Gathering along with them was the vast Genesis Qi between heaven and earth. Therefore, in just a few breaths, Li Zhu''s figure had disappeared and was replaced by a giant thousand-feet-tall puppet body. The surface of the puppet body was streaked with countless vague ancient patterns. Thunder and wind raged as the giant figure inhaled. An extremely astonishing Genesis Qi storm erupted from it and swept out in all directions. Zhou Yuan lifted his head and stared at the gigantic figure, his expression serious. "Zhou Yuan, no matter how talented you are, as a junior of the Heavenly Sun stage you can¡¯t behave wildly in front of us veteran Heavenly Sun experts! ¡°Get lost!¡± Li Zhu''s roar echoed like thunder. Then, as he lifted his giant foot, countless runes emerged on the sole of his foot. He stamped his foot and cracked the space around, and even the mountains below were crumbling. Not even those ranked on the top of the Heavenly Sun List would dare be careless facing Li Zhu''s foot. On the more intense battlefield in the distance. Wang Xuanyang fanned the yin yang jade fan in his hand, blowing out black-and-white hurricane wind to lash out at Qin Lian and Dong Ye. It caused wind to whistle throughout the world. At the same time, they also notice tremendous movement in the distance. Wang Xuanyang couldn¡¯t help smiling when he saw the giant puppet. ¡°Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t bad if he could force Li Zhu to use that. As far as I know, he prepared that for you guys. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s situation doesn¡¯t look good.¡± Qin Lian and Dong Ye didn¡¯t respond and just cast a glance to the distance, and their attacks turned even fiercer. However, a hint of concern and worry emerged in the depths of their eyes. If Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t withstand it, their situation could turn even more troublesome. Chapter 1108 Earth Saint Rune Appears Again The huge foot, like the foot of a mighty god, descended with destructive force, shattering space and crumbling the mountains. Zhou Yuan raised his head and solemnly stared at the foot crushing down. Li Zhu¡¯s means was overbearing, and his tremendous body was clearly formed from absorbing and merging the essence and Genesis Qi between heaven and earth through a special way. Li Zhu was purely using strength to force Zhou Yuan to submission. Zhou Yuan felt that even Qin Lian and the others would have to exert all their strength and bring out all their trump cards to withstand Li Zhu¡¯s foot. It was indeed true that no one on the Heavenly Sun List was simple. Hu. A jet of white qi spurted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. The pressure pressing down from above caused crackling within his body. Despite this, there wasn¡¯t a hint of fear in his eyes, and instead, they blazed with fighting spirit. Only such a powerful enemy could make him improve. ¡°The Great Flame Devil!¡± Crimson runes spread across Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and his eyes grew increasingly red with vicious tendencies. But the depths of his eyes were still clear and bright. The blistering heat radiating from his body caused the nearby space to twist and distort. The ground constantly dried up and cracked. It was only after he activated the Great Flame Devil and his body was strengthened that the pressure that shrouded the world weakened a little. Roar! Platinum Genesis Qi erupted completely from Zhou Yuan and the two Heavenly Suns behind him grew increasingly clear. The dragon runes were much brighter than before and faintly, they even emitted ancient dragon roars. Zhou Yuan''s momentum was rising steadily. But it still wasn¡¯t enough. The means that Li Zhu used was so tyrannical that Zhou Yuan felt it passed the level range of a little Saint Art. In Zhou Yuan¡¯s view, Li Zhu was able to achieve that sort of level and draw upon the fusion of essence and Genesis Qi between heaven and earth not because of his own strength but the two strange runes imprinted on his palms. Zhou Yuan had only caught a glimpse of those runes, but he already felt their vast power. Their power was extraordinary and they were perhaps bestowed on him by the Yaogui Region¡¯s supreme sovereign. Therefore, it mustn¡¯t be underestimated. Looking rather solemn, Zhou Yuan crouched down and gently touched the ground with his palm. A similarly mysterious light rune emerged in the centre of his palm. ¡°Earth Saint Rune!¡± Buzz! A ripple unperceivable to the naked eye suddenly spread out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. Then, the ground began to violently vibrate, mountains trembled and rocks tumbled down, like an earth dragon was leaping out. Buzz! It was as though a furious dragon had invaded his body and was raging inside. Zhou Yuan¡¯s veins squirmed and bulged like snakes, making him look fierce and hideous. This was because the force flooded into his body was too tyrannical, causing signs of tearing and blood seeping out. Hss. The severe pain made Zhou Yuan inhale sharply through clenched teeth. His expression was incredibly solemn because he found that the Earth Saint Rune absorbed much more earth¡¯s power in Guyuan Heaven compared to in Hunyuan Heaven. However, it made sense. Guyuan Heaven was filled with ancestral qi, one of the most ancient Genesis Qi and the ground also contained that power. Thus, bodily injuries were unavoidable as Zhou Yuan drew up power via the Earth Saint Rune. Sensing the terrifying power within his body, Zhou Yuan felt as though he could crush stars with a slightest movement. ¡°But¡ªit can become even stronger!¡± Zhou Yuan smacked his lips. He could feel the power drawn up by the Earth Saint Rune hadn''t reached its limit, but his body couldn¡¯t endure the incoming power any longer. Zhou Yuan drew in a deep breath. Thousand drops of golden blood erupted in his heart. A golden torrent suddenly gushed out from his heart, flooding all his limbs and bones. The golden blood repaired his torn flesh where it passed at an astonishing speed, and enveloped Zhou Yuan¡¯s body with a faint golden film. It looked as though Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had turned into an impenetrable and indestructible golden statue. ¡°Again!¡± He slammed his palm into the ground. Boom! The ground quaked and terrifying power frantically poured into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Then, rays of golden light suddenly erupted from the depths of his body, making him look cast from gold from afar. Zhou Yuan finally stopped absorbing the power of the great earth and slowly stood up straight as golden light constantly overflowed his body and specks of golden light fluttered out. There was too much power for his body to contain. His eyes, originally red after he activated the Great Flame Devil, were now glowing with golden light and even his pupils had turned golden. ¡°That power¡ª¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head, watching the foot pressing down like a mighty god without a hint of fear. He clenched his hand and the Heavenly Yuan Brush flashed out his grip. The tip of the brush pointed skywards and its entire body began to buzz and quiver. The golden light flowing around the tip released an extremely sharp power. Dong! Zhou Yuan stamped his foot. The ground beneath his foot collapsed into a bottomless pit. Cracks extended in all directions like pythons and tore down trees. He soared into the sky. He met the giant mighty god-like foot head-on. ¡°You want to die!¡± Li Zhu¡¯s thunderous voice rang out from the giant body and all his power was gathered into that foot. Zhou Yuan''s figure glistening with golden light seemed small and insignificant under the giant foot. Even so, he charged forward, rays of golden light gushing out the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Finally, he collided directly with the sole of the foot. Rumble! Suddenly, a terrifying storm raged and wreaked havoc, completely flattening that stretch of mountain range. Even Wang Xuanyang, Qin Lian, and Dong Ye in the distance paused their battle for a moment and cast a solemn glance from the corner of their eyes towards the explosion. The battle between Zhou Yuan and Li Zhu was fiercer than they expected. Who had the upper hand in such a collision? A shaft of golden light rose from under the giant¡¯s foot, piercing up through the foot! Wherever it passed, the giant puppet¡¯s body cracked! Swoosh! But the golden light beam didn¡¯t stop and constantly rushed up till it pierced out from the giant¡¯s head with a loud boom. The golden figure hovered in space. The intense golden light it emitted illuminated thousands of miles into the distance like golden stars. And under the golden figure, the puppet that stood like a giant between heaven and the earth exploded after several breaths. Boulders tumbled down and smoke and dust filled the world. Looking at the golden figure hovering in space, even Wang Xuanyang, Dong Ye, and Qin Lian felt dazzled. They shuddered all over. No one thought Li Zhu would be defeated in such a way. Chapter 1109 The Powerful Wang Xuanyang The giant body constantly crumbled and smoke and dust swept over the mountains like a sandstorm. Hovering in the air, Zhou Yuan let out a long sigh as he watched the giant collapse. Then, he sharply swept his gaze across the surroundings. Now that the giant had collapsed, Li Zhu should have also suffered severe injuries. Under his intent gaze, a stream of dim light fell from the giant¡¯s body. It was Li Zhu. Li Zhu¡¯s face was deathly pale, the Genesis Qi around his body seemed spiritless, and his eyes were filled with fear and shocked disbelief as he looked at Zhou Yuan. Even if the cruel facts were laid in front of him, he still found it hard to believe that Zhou Yuan defeated him. ¡°That guy¡ª¡± Li Zhu gritted his teeth, his expression complicated. He shifted his gaze to his Life Core Blood Puppet, only to see Su Youwei had already suppressed it. He couldn¡¯t control his anger any longer and roared, ¡°Why is this generation of Heavenly Sun experts so abnormal?!¡± Not only Zhou Yuan, even Su Youwei, who hasn¡¯t had any dazzling achievements before, turned out to be so difficult to deal with. They were clearly only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, yet Su Youwei was able to suppress his blood puppet and Zhou Yuan was able to inflict severe injuries to him. However, he also understood that whatever he said now was useless. He was already wounded, and even if he were to stay any longer, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t show any mercy to him. And so, he folded his hand in a seal. Swoosh! The moment his seal was completed, his blood puppet fighting Su Youwei in the distance suddenly drew back rapidly and retreated. Its huge body shrank and turned back into a blood-red bead. It streaked across the air with incredible speed and drilled into Li Zhu¡¯s palm. After withdrawing his blood puppet, Li Zhu collapsed on the ground, bringing up a flurry of dust and gravel. Shua! Zhou Yuan''s golden figure descended from the sky, and he aimed a punch at where Li Zhu fell. The ground cracked from the impact of his punch, but Zhou Yuan raised his brows and said, ¡°He escaped?¡± He peered down at the deep pit and saw a broken puppet but Li Zhu¡¯s real body was gone. Li Zhu had used a special means to escape. ¡°He slipped away so quickly.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled, but he wasn¡¯t interested in pursuing after him. After all, he didn¡¯t hold much eminity with Li Zhu. His priority right now was to deal with Wang Xuanyang. Su Youwei also appeared next to Zhou Yuan. "Your Highness¡¯s strength puts everyone else to shame. I can never catch up to you,¡± said Su Youwei with a bright smile and a look of admiration in her clear eyes. Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes. ¡°The way you belittle yourself is too fake.¡± ¡°Compared to Your Highness I¡¯m still not good enough,¡± Su Youwei corrected him with a smile. Zhou Yuan smiled and stretched out his fist. Su Youwei also balled her hand into a fist and they lightly tapped each other¡¯s clenched fist. ¡°I hope we can work together again.¡± "Let''s go, there is a fiercer one over there." Zhou Yuan looked into the distance, where Wang Xuanyang, Dong Ye, and Qin Lian were battling. Compared with Li Zhu, Wang Xuanyang was more tricky to deal with. Su Youwei followed Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze and saw Wang Xuanyang¡¯s figure in the distance. She pondered for a moment and whispered, ¡°Your Highness, I have an idea.¡± She leaned closer to Zhou Yuan, pressing her red lips to his ears and whispered something, bringing a sweet-pleasant aroma that could send one¡¯s heart galloping. Zhou Yuan fully concentrated on what she was saying. Then, he couldn¡¯t help raising his brows and looked surprised at Su Youwei. ¡±Are you sure?¡± Su Youwei nodded firmly. Zhou Yuan finally nodded after some hesitation. ¡°Then let¡¯s give it a try.¡± When the giant''s body had collapsed, Wang Xuanyang¡¯s face grew particularly dark and unpleasant because he knew that Li Zhu had failed, and given his personality, he would no doubt flee. "I really underestimated grand elder Zhou Yuan,¡± uttered Wang Xuanyang, chilling intent flowing around his eyes. At the same time, he faintly regretted provoking Zhou Yuan. He felt he should have waited until he got his hands on Su Youwei and Wu Yao first. At that time, his combat strength would skyrocket and he wouldn¡¯t even be afraid of facing Guan Qinglong. He could get rid of Zhou Yuan with a turn of his hand then. Moreover, he wouldn¡¯t have fallen into the present humiliating situation. In contrast to Wang Xuanyang, Dong Ye''s and Qin Lian¡¯s faces lit up with pleasant surprise. Even Qin Lian was particularly stunned by the outcome. After all, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t that strong when she trained with him before, which meant Zhou Yuan also concealed his strength. On the other hand Dong Ye''s expression was a little complicated. She didn¡¯t think much of Zhou Yuan even after he defeated Qianhu from the Wanzu Region, but now that he defeated Li Zhu, she had to raise his position to a similar level as them. But overall, Dong Ye was more glad and happy. After all, compared to Zhou Yuan, Wang Xuanyang was a disgusting and hateful enemy. Dong Ye and Qin Lian exchanged a glance with each other, and suddenly, a fierce and overbearing gush of Genesis Qi erupted from them to envelop Wang Xuanyang. As long as they could stall Wang Xuanyang till Zhou Yuan comes to support them, the tide battle would tilt to their side. Wang Xuanyang evaded the two¡¯s attack like a ghost and said indifferently, "Do you really think he can change anything when he comes?¡± However, the two women ignored him and launched even fiercer attacks. Wang Xuanyang evaded constantly while saying indifferently, "I''m also a little annoyed. I originally wanted to wait for Li Zhu to get rid of Zhou Yuan first before I took action so I could see your despair. But it seems I can''t wait anymore.¡± While speaking, his sleeve vibrated and waves of terrifying Genesis Qi rapidly gathered, causing space to twist and produce bolts of lightning. Feeling the dangerous atmosphere, Dong Ye¡¯s and Qin Lian¡¯s countenance changed dramatically. They frantically drew back and at the same time circulated their Genesis Qi to its peak state. They knew that this was a means that Wang Xuanyang had been preparing for a long while. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s too late to retreat now,¡± chuckled Wang Xuanyang, flicking his sleeve and sent out a gush of black-and-white light. "Yin Yang Qi Hoops." The two black-and-white lights formed two black-and-white hoops of light. The hoops flashed through space, shattering it along the way, and when they reappeared, they were already nearing Qin Lian and Dong Ye. The black-and-white hoops slowly shrank, as though freezing space, and made it impossible for the two to flee. The two¡¯s expressions changed dramatically as they frantically operated the Genesis Qi around their body to counter the black-and-white hoops. They knew they would be trapped completely once the hoops touched their bodies and Wang Xuanyang could do whatever he wanted to them. Wang Xuanyang¡¯s lips broke into a playful smile as he gazed at the two women. ¡°You two are also considered top quality. After I capture Su Youwei, I can also play with you two.¡± Hearing his disgusting and filthy words, Dong Ye and Qin Lian both turned livid and their eyes almost spurted out flames. Wang Xuanyang paid no attention to their response and just turned his head and peered into the distance, where a golden figure was racing through the air at an astonishing speed. He chuckled, "While you are trapped, you can watch how I destroy your savior.¡± He slowly lifted his hand and bent two fingers inward. Black-and-white swiftly runes gathered on his fingertips, strangely turning his fingers black and white. An extremely dangerous wave of energy was emitted from his fingers, shaking the nearby space. ¡°That¡¯s¡ª¡° Dong Ye¡¯s and Qin Lian¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. ¡°Life-Seizing Yin Yang Finger!" This was one of Wang Xuanyang''s ultimate killing moves. Although Wang Xuanyang had cultivated numerous Genesis Arts, this was ranked first in terms of lethality. Evidently, Wang Xuanyang had been preparing this move for a long while and was waiting for the perfect opportunity to launch it. And he left the killing move for Zhou Yuan! "Zhou Yuan, get away!¡± Qin Lian yelled loudly. ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± Wang Xuanyang smiled faintly as his black-and-white fingertips quivered. Then, a black-and-white light beam full of destruction aura burst forth from his fingertips, directly aiming for Zhou Yuan in the distance. Even space was torn apart where the black-and-white light beam passed. ¡°Die.¡± Wang Xuanyang muttered to himself. Chapter 1110 Reversal Yin Yang When the black-and-white light streaked across the air, Zhou Yuan could feel a destructive aura locking him to the spot. Immediately, his hair stood on end. The power gathered on it was more terrifying than Li Zhu¡¯s giant foot. ¡°No wonder he is ranked second on the Heavenly Sun List!¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression was solemn, and his vigilance was raised to its highest. He didn''t continue to meet the attack head-on. Instead he moved all of a sudden and sped away like a ghost. It was better to dodge such a destructive attack. Shua! But how would it be that easy to shake off the black-and-white light beam? It flashed towards Zhou Yuan as though it had teleported and followed Zhou Yuan everywhere like a maggot. Zhou Yuan shuttled through the mountains and forest at full speed, making it difficult for ordinary people to catch his figure clearly. Even Qin Lian and the others could only perceive a shadow moving between the mountains and forests. But no matter what body movement technique Zhou Yuan used, the black-and-white light beam continued to follow closely and firmly remained locked on him. As Wang Xuanyang watched Zhou Yuan flee repeatedly, a ruthless smile carved the corners of his mouth. ¡°He¡¯s like a stray dog. ¡°Weren''t you very arrogant before? Is this all you have? "But unfortunately, it is useless even if you run as fast as a dog.¡± He ever so lightly moved his two fingers that had turned black-and-white. ¡°Die!¡± The black-and-white light beam suddenly accelerated, appearing behind Zhou Yuan as though teleported. Then, under Qin Lian''s horrified gaze, it shot towards Zhou Yuan''s back. Boom! Terrifying a Genesis Qi storm swept through the dense mountains and forests, crushing all vegetation. It was a scene of devastation everywhere. Wang Xuanyang curled a corner of his lips in a sinister sneer as he peered at the huge pit formed on the ground. Then, he turned to look at Qin Lian and Dong Ye and shrugged. ¡°This is the reinforcement you¡¯re waiting on?¡± Dong Ye''s face was overcast and she didn¡¯t say a word. Genesis Qi constantly gushed forth from her to resist the black-and-white hoop¡¯s constriction. While Qin Lian almost shot flames from her eyes as she thundered, "Wang Xuanyang, my Tianyuan Region won¡¯t rest until you are killed!¡± ¡°Who can you blame when Zhou Yuan¡¯s ability is inferior? I am also thinking for your Tianyuan Region¡¯s reputation. Now he won¡¯t be able to carry the grand elder title and embarrass the Tianyuan Region." Wang Xuanyang couldn¡¯t care less about Qin Lian''s threat. "That boy shouldn''t be dead yet, I''ll go and get rid of him completely first and then come play with you two.¡± With a sinister smile, Wang Xuanyang stretched out his foot and stomped on Zhou Yuan''s head. ¡°So what if you¡¯re a grand elder from the Tianyuan Region? Aren¡¯t you being stepped on like a dog now? Zhou Yuan, Zhou Yuan, you actually have very scary potential, but you had to go against me. What a fool.¡± He turned Zhou Yuan¡¯s face over with his foot to see the look of despair on his face. But he suddenly froze. He found that Zhou Yuan''s face had turned silver and his eyes were wide open and staring intently at him. "What?!" Wang Xuanyang''s pupils shrank. This isn¡¯t Zhou Yuan! However, he keenly sensed something abnormal and immediately erupted with Genesis Qi as he drew back without any hesitation. Bang! But just as he moved, the soil beneath his feet exploded and a figure charged out like a ghost. Snow-white hair blasted out from his sleeves and wrapped around Wang Xuanyang like a white python. ¡°Zhou Yuan?!¡± The sudden attack made Wang Xuanyang''s eyes turn icy cold. His Genesis Qi erupted, wanting to destroy this attack. But before he could circulate his Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan grinned. "Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune.¡± A small ten-foot Law Domain spread out and shrouded Wang Xuanyang, thereby suppressing his mighty Genesis Qi. It was as though he was in the depths of a bottomless mud pit. Taking advantage of the few seconds that Wang Xuanyang¡¯s Genesis Qi was weakened, Zhou Yuan flicked his fingers and flecks of light shot out. Upon a closer look, they turned out to be a black-and-white needles marked with bizarre runes. Swish swish! The needles pierced into Wang Xuanyang''s body like lightning bolts and precisely sank into different locations. Once Zhou Yuan had done that, Wang Xuanyang had already escaped from his Law Domain and his vast Genesis Qi had recovered. He first peered at the black-and-white needles in his body in bewilderment, but after he saw they hadn¡¯t inflicted any damage to his body, he immediately turned towards Zhou Yuan with murderous intent in his eyes. "You dare launch a sneak attack on me!¡± Boom! A terrifying Genesis Qi foundation broke out, and an oppressive pressure enveloped Zhou Yuan like a mountain. Zhou Yuan''s countenance changed uncontrollably. Wang Xuanyang¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation exceeded the level of 2.8 billion! This guy is really much trickier to deal with than Li Zhu. Black-and-white Genesis Qi raged out as Wang Xuanyang thrust his palm forward to kill Zhou Yuan. But as soon as launched his palm strike, his figure suddenly froze and his expression twisted in shocked horror, because he noticed faint smoke spiralling out his body and the Genesis Qi within his body was bubbling. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± As Wang Xuanyang swept his gaze around, he saw the black and white needles inserted in his body quivering and releasing bizarre energy waves. It was those black-and-white needles that caused changes in his Genesis Qi. ¡°I¡¯ve been tricked.¡± The abnormal state of his Genesis Qi made him frantically try to crush the black-and-white needles, but he found that no matter what he did, the Genesis Qi in his body was actively avoiding the needles. Finally, his eyes went wide with fear. He paid no attention to Zhou Yuan anymore and soared into the sky, attempting to flee. This was because he could feel the Genesis Qi in his body beginning to escape his control. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise and he exclaimed, "Is it really so effective?¡± The black-and-white needles were naturally given to him by Su Youwei, who told him that as long as those Reversal Yin Yang needles were inserted into certain positions on Wang Xuanyang''s body, they could cause him to lose control of his Genesis Qi. Wang Xuanyang''s body was always enveloped in mighty Origin Qi and if Zhou Yuan hadn''t suppressed them for a moment with his Law Domain, the reversal Yin Yang needles might not have succeeded that easily. Zhou Yuan stared at Wang Xuanyang, who was fleeing rapidly, and a determined look blazed in his eyes. This is the best time to beat the drowning dog. But just when he was about to act, he saw Su Youwei''s figure appearing in the sky, on Wang Xuanyang''s retreating route. ¡°Youwei, be careful!¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly reminded. But Su Youwei simply smiled at him and signaled him to not worry. "Haha, the beauty brought herself to me, I can¡¯t say no!" Wang Xuanyang was overjoyed when he saw Su Youwei. Even if he was in a poor state, he could still capture Su Youwei with his strength. So he stretched out his hand and a waterfall of Genesis Qi was about to coil around Su Youwei. Su Youwei stared at Wang Xuanyang with an icy-cold gaze as she folded her hands in a seal and two black-and-white yin yang Heavenly Suns emerged behind her. Swoosh! As soon as those two Heavenly Sun appeared, they disappeared with a screech. The next second, they reappeared directly above the head and below the feet of Wang Xuanyang who was rushing over. As the two Heavenly Suns rotated, there seemed to be a mysterious power being released. It was also when the two Yin Yang Heavenly Suns enveloped Wang Xuanyang that the black-and-white needles in his body violently vibrated and slowly tunnelled deeper into his body. A look of horror crossed his face because he found that his body had frozen uncontrollably and the Yin Yang Genesis Qi within his body had escaped his control. "You, what did you do?!" he thundered, glaring at Su Youwei. Su Youwei still ignored him and gently folded her slender hands. Then, her clear voice resounded like a mountain stream. ¡°Yin Yang Reversal Art!¡± Chapter 1111 Natural Enemy When Wang Xuanyang heard Su Youwei''s icy-cold voice, he found the Genesis Qi within his body had become disorderly, shocking him. In particular, his three Heavenly Suns were shaking violently in his Divine Dwellings. Wisps of black-and-white mist rose from the three Heavenly Suns, escaped his body and was swallowed by the two Heavenly Suns above his head and below his feet. As black-and-white mists spiralled out his body, Wang Xuanyang was again shocked to see his Genesis Qi foundation weakening. The most terrifying thing was that it wasn¡¯t a temporary reduction. He felt he had lost a portion of his Genesis Qi foundation forever. ¡°How is that possible?!¡± Wang Xuanyang¡¯s eyes went wide with fear as he had never seen such a situation before. He turned to look at Su Youwei, whose stunning face looked as terrifying as a devil in his eyes, and thundered, "What did you do to me?!¡± Su Youwei swept an indifferent glance over him and said, "You and I both possess the same yin yang Genesis Qi, but the yin qi you obtained from women is of inferior quality so I helped you dissolve some of it.¡± Hearing this, Wang Xuanyang¡¯s heart trembled. He peered up and down at the black-and-white Heavenly Sun above his head and below his feet, from which he detected extremely pure Yin Yang Genesis Qi that was much superior in grade to his. If the Yin Yang Genesis Qi that Su Youwei cultivated was the king of Yin Yang properties, his, which was cultivated by collecting yin qi from others, was like the king¡¯s subject. Of course, if this was a normal head-to-head battle, Wang Xuanyang could overcome that suppression with willpower, but the strange Yin Yang needles in his body had made him lose control of his Genesis Qi. This gave Su Youwei an opportunity. ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re devouring my Yin Yang Genesis Qi?!" Wang Xuanyang''s face twisted into an angry scowl because he could distinctly feel the Genesis Qi within his body being dissolved and the two Yin Yang Heavenly Suns above his head and below his feet growing increasingly tyrannical. ¡°This is karma, did you ever think this would happen to you when you took those women''s Yin Qi?¡± Su Youwei''s eyes were emotionless and without a hint of mercy. After all, Wang Xuanyang had a notorious reputation and it was unfortunate that no one in the Wanzu Region dared do anything to him. Since he wanted to target me today, he can¡¯t blame me for fighting back. Su Youwei ignored him and continued to manipulate her two Yin Yang Heavenly Suns to form a reversal formation with all her strength. The formation constantly dissolved and devoured the Genesis Qi within Wang Xuanyang¡¯s body. Floating in the sky, Zhou Yuan watched the scene with astonishment. He never thought Wang Xuanyang would be humiliated by Su Youwei in such a way. He used his Decoder Saint Rune to observe the situation and understood Su Youwei''s goal. He couldn¡¯t help but look pitifully at Wang Xuanyang. That guy''s yin and yang Genesis Qi is tyrannical, but unfortunately for him, he met Su Youwei, his natural enemy. He perhaps is now regretting provoking Su Youwei. In the distance, Dong Ye and Qin Lian were able to break free from the hoop as a result of Wang Xuanyang''s difficulties. They drew closer with a look of disbelief as they saw Wang Xuanyang trapped by Su Youwei. His miserable face was completely different from when he was in high spirits moments before. The two women looked at each other, trying to understand what happened, because in their view, Wang Xuanyang could crush Su Youwei with his strength. But how did he end up like that? Under the gazes of Zhou Yuan and the others, Wang Xuanyang''s Genesis Qi had crazily weakened in just a few minutes. Wang Xuanyang was even more crazy, because he could distinctly feel the three glass Heavenly Suns in his Divine Dwellings had become much weaker, and his foundation, which he had worked painstakingly hard to accumulate over the years, was being wildly looted. ¡°I can¡¯t let this continue anymore!¡± Wang Xuanyang''s face twisted fiercely as he knew that if it continued like this, Su Youwei would completely drain his Genesis Qi. And that Genesis Qi would benefit her hugely! But the yin yang needles in his body were suppressing his Genesis Qi! Wang Xuanyang''s eyes flickered with a fierce glint as he gritted his teeth. One of his Heavenly Suns suddenly exploded inside his Divine Dwelling. Boom! Genesis Qi raged out from his body, and the yin yang needles inserted in his body abruptly shattered to pieces. The two black-and-white Heavenly Suns, one above and one below, were also blasted back. "Youwei, be careful!" Dong Ye, who had been on guard against Wang Xuanyang, darted in front of Su Youwei to protect her when she saw him break free. However, Wang Xuanyang unexpectedly didn¡¯t rush towards Su Youwei, and although the anger and hatred in his eyes were almost palpable, because he knew that if he were to stay any longer, he might not survive. Swoosh! So he took advantage of the self-destructive power of Heavenly Suns in his body and fled into the distance like a lightning bolt. But the moment he moved, a figure immediately followed after him. Zhou Yuan bolted off at full speed, following Wang Xuanyang like a maggot. His eyes were sharp and cold. Since they had pushed Wang Xuanyang to such a state, it would be troublesome if he managed to escape. They must properly clean up their mess. Wang Xuanyang obviously sensed Zhou Yuan following him. His eyes blazed with anger. If this had happened before he was wounded, he would have slapped Zhou Yuan to death already. But now that the Genesis Qi was rioting in his body and his state was extremely poor, he would no doubt lose the chance to escape if Zhou Yuan, Dong Ye and others caught up to him. Therefore, after hesitating slightly, he flung his sleeve and sent a black shadow charging towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan instinctively flicked his fingers and shot out a stream of Genesis Qi. It perfectly struck the black shadow, causing it to explode in rays of light. ¡°Spatial bag?¡± ¡°Ancestral qi treasures?!¡± Even Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck for a moment when he saw the many shadows flying past him. He abruptly flicked his sleeve and Genesis Qi rolled out to catch and store away the scattering ancestral qi treasures. But Wang Xuanyang took advantage of that moment to flee. ¡°So generous." Zhou Yuan couldn''t help smiling. Wang Xuanyang really would do anything to escape. But his actions were useless because Zhou Yuan had already left a mark on Wang Xuanyang in the deep pit. Wang Xuanyang might be able to detect the mark in his peak state, but now he was like a frightened bird. Dong Ye, Qin Lian, and Su Youwei rushed up from behind, and Zhou Yuan nodded at them. "Continue to pursue. His condition isn¡¯t good. He won''t be able to escape far. Since we have acted already, we have to completely remove the root of the trouble.¡± The three women nodded, cold murderous intent flashing in their eyes. They must kill him this time! Chapter 1112 Schemed Under the dim light of night, a stream of light streaked across the sky at unbelievable speed, creating sonic booms and blasts of air. It was just that no speed could hide the panic on his face. This stream of light naturally was Wang Xuanyang. His face was deathly pale and the Genesis Qi around his body was undulating unstably. ¡°Die! Die!¡± Wang Xuanyang''s face twisted as he roared repeatedly. The anger and hatred in his eyes were palpable. He never thought he would lose that badly. In order to break free, he even destroyed one of his Heavenly Suns, and to re-cultivate it again would require a lot of effort and energy even in a blessed land such as Guyuan Heaven. Moreover, Su Youwei had forcibly looted a huge amount of his Genesis Qi. It was similar to forcibly scraping flesh off his body. He had suffered a disastrous loss in that battle. He originally planned to find opportunities in Guyuan Heaven to attack the Nascent Source stage, but all his hope was destroyed completely. Now he was like a tiger away from his mountain and had descended to the plains. But compared to death, this price was acceptable. "Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei! Wait till I regain my strength, you will regret your actions!¡± Wang Xuanyang was like an enraged beast, but he also understood that his condition was extremely poor and that anyone with a foundation of more than 1.5 billion could kill him. Therefore, he must hurry back to the Wanzu Region¡¯s base as soon as possible. Once he returned to their base, Zhou Yuan and the others wouldn¡¯t dare do anything to him given the Wanzu Region¡¯s power.. Wang Xuanyang swept a glance behind him with his scarlet eyes and could feel several waves of Genesis Qi following closely. Zhou Yuan and the others were chasing at full speed. "It''s still very far away from the camp and they won¡¯t give up. My condition isn¡¯t too good and I might not be able to escape. ¡°Also, they might have left a Genesis Qi seal on me.¡± Wang Xuanyang''s eyes flickered. His Genesis Qi was in an extreme state of disorder and he couldn¡¯t erase the Genesis Qi seal left on him. As a result, Zhou Yuan and the others were able to accurately locate his whereabouts. He pondered for a moment and gritted his teeth. Bang! His arms exploded, blood spurted everywhere, and his arms fell in four parts. Enveloped in powerful Genesis Qi, the four parts of broken arms turned into four beams of blood light and shot in different directions. As for him, he did everything he could to conceal his Genesis Qi and fled at a low altitude, disappearing into the dark forests. Several minutes later, Zhou Yuan and the others flashed across the sky. "Let''s split up, now that his strength is greatly reduced, there shouldn¡¯t be any danger,¡± suggested Qin Lian. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°He must have broken his arms to confuse us so he could survive. Let¡¯s split up and search.¡± The four agreed and sped off as streams of light. While Zhou Yuan and the others scattered off to different directions, Wang Xuanyang lay quietly in a mountain cave like a dead body. He remained in that state for a long while before he finally opened his eyes. He felt Zhou Yuan and others should have been diverted away. As he stared at his broken arms, the corners of his eyes twitched. He had never thought such a tragic day would ever come to him. But you are too naive if you think you can kill I, Wang Xuanyang! Wang Xuanyang grunted coldly, and with one thought, he split open his chest and brought out a jade bead. He manipulated his Genesis Qi to crush the jade bead, and suddenly, an aroma filled the cave. Inside the bead was a crystal clear pill. "Although my injuries are serious, the Mythic Crystal Pill is a healing pill I exchanged in the Wanzu Region and should be able to heal some of my injuries. If I then hide for a period til I restore my strength, I should be able to return to the Wanzu Region¡¯s base.¡± Wang Xuanyang drew a deep breath and opened his mouth to swallow the pill. However, just as he inhaled, he found the pill remained suspended in front of him. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect senior brother Wang to still have such a mysterious pill." A faint laughter echoed throughout the dark cave. Wang Xuanyang could feel all the hair on his body suddenly stood on end. He stared fiercely into the darkness. ¡°Who is it?!" A hand stretched out from the darkness, fingers bent, and the pill in front of Wang Xuanyang slowly flew into the palm. The sound of footsteps drew closer and as the figure walked out of the darkness, Wang Xuanyang''s eyes suddenly widened in shock. ¡°Zhao Mushen?!¡± The person who walked out of the darkness was Zhao Mushen from the Wanzu Region! "It''s me, senior brother." Zhao Mushen nodded with a smile. Wang Xuanyang''s expression grew dark and unpleasant. ¡±Why are you here?¡± Zhao Mushen pointed to the pill in his palm, and said, ¡°Senior brother Wang, have you forgotten? You told me to exchange this pill for you. I have hidden a tracker in it, so I can locate your position.¡± Wang Xuanyang''s heart trembled, and all his suspicions were answered. "Zhao Mushen, you are the one who schemed against me?! "You informed Zhou Yuan and Dong Ye that I was going to attack Su Youwei?!¡± Wang Xuanyang''s face suddenly twisted into an angry scowl. "You are so bold!¡± Zhao Mushen said indifferently, "In truth, I was the one who reminded you several times to ask Li Zhu from the Yaogui Region to assist you. I thought that after you joined forces with him, both your side and Zhou Yuan¡¯s side would suffer considerable damage and you would at least kill one or two of them. But, unfortunately you¡¯re a piece of trash.¡± Wang Xuanyang felt a chill running down his spine. Zhao Mushen has schemed against me from the very beginning. "Why did you do that?!" Zhao Mushen''s face was devoid of expression as he said, "Because you''re trash, and you don''t deserve to be the leader of the Wanzu Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage. Of course, the main reason is that I need you to be my stepping stone. ¡°Senior brother Wang, my potential is far better than you. If you can give up on yourself to help me, I will surely surpass Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°In your dreams!¡± said Wang Xuanyang furiously. "Zhao Mushen, if you dare do anything to me, you will no doubt be severely punished when our supreme sovereign finds out!¡± Zhao Mushen smiled. "That''s why I designed this situation. Everyone will know that you were killed by Zhou Yuan. How would it have anything to do with me?¡± He slowly approached Wang Xuanyang. Black qi spread out from his body. Wang Xuanyang trembled, fear overflowing his eyes. "Junior brother Zhao, your Taotie Blessing can only swallow up blessings, but I have none. What do you want from me?!¡± Zhao Mushen smiled. "No, you are wrong. That''s in normal situations, but every few years, my Taotie Blessing can start a complete devouring process.¡± He grinned, revealing his white teeth and making the dark cave look particularly ominous. "Complete devouring means to completely swallow everything you have.¡± The fear in Wang Xuanyang''s eyes was so strong that he madly drew back and blood flowed wildly from his broken arms. "Don''t come near me! Don''t come near me!¡± Black qi filled the cave, and gradually a mysterious beast shadow took shape. It unleashed an ancient roar and ink-black qi corroded Wang Xuanyang''s body till he was completely covered. The cave fell dead silent. Chapter 1113 Winner A mountain wall suddenly fell apart, and a figure slowly strode out of it. He stood on a mountain cliff and peered at the steep peaks in the dark with the corners of his mouth tugged just slightly upward. The smile soon spread over his face and turned into a loud laugh. Zhao Mushen was undoubtedly in a very good mood. The scheme he planned for so long had finally blossomed. Wang Xuanyang had suppressed Zhao Mushen in various ways ever since he stepped into the Heavenly Sun stage. Zhao Mushen knew that this was because Wang Xuanyang feared him and knew he was the only one in the Wanzu Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage who could threaten his status. In fact, he was right. Therefore, Zhao Mushen had never thought to expose his sharp edges from the beginning. Instead, he let Wang Xuanyang order him about, which gradually decreased Wang Xuanyang''s wariness towards him. But Wang Xuanyang, who was very arrogant, had no idea that Zhao Mushen''s plan was like a quagmire. It would surround him little by little and then he would finally pull him into the depths to bury him. Everything of his had become a stepping stone for Zhao Mushen. Zhao Mushen turned back to look at the cave and said with a smile, ¡°Senior brother, the feng shui in Guyuan Heaven is pretty good. It¡¯s a good place to bury one¡¯s body...Oh, I almost forgot, you don''t even have a body remaining. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t blame me. if you hadn¡¯t suppressed me by all means you could think of, I wouldn''t have had to take this path. ¡°Also...you''re too stupid. If you continue to lead the Wanzu Region team, we will suffer a lot of injuries.¡± He shook his head and said nothing else. Genesis Qi circulated around him as he planned to leave. "Tsk tsk, I didn''t expect all our efforts benefited you in the end.¡± But at that moment, a somewhat surprised voice suddenly sounded from the forest. Zhao Mushen''s body suddenly stiffened and he slowly turned his head. A shadow crept out from the top of a tree, staring at him. It was Zhou Yuan. Zhao Mushen remained silent for a moment, then said: ¡°How did you find this place?¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile, "How could he escape my perception? But you really surprised me. It seems you were the one who informed me about Wang Xuanyang¡¯s plan.¡± Zhao Mushen¡¯s face was devoid of expression. Zhou Yuan studied Zhao Mushen with a complicated expression. "Your original intention should be for a battle to break out between both sides and both sides to suffer damage. But to be honest, although your intention from the start isn¡¯t good, I should still thank you. If it weren¡¯t for your information, something could have happened to Su Youwei.¡± Zhao Mushen smiled faintly. ¡°You don¡¯t need to thank me, we are still enemies after all. Zhou Yuan smiled. "But even if I am thankful to you, I can¡¯t let you go that easily. You are more troublesome than Wang Xuanyang. If I let you go, it would make me unable to eat or rest peacefully.¡± The Heavenly Yuan Brush flashed out his grip, pointing towards Zhao Mushen. Zhao Mushen was a little speechless. This bastard just thanked me, but then he acted ruthlessly. ¡°But right now, you can''t stop me alone." Zhou Yuan waved his hand. The Genesis Qi not far away fluctuated and turned into three figures. It was Dong Ye, Qin Lian and Su Youwei. The three women equally stared at Zhao Mushen with a strange expression, not expecting Wang Xuanyuan to be killed in Zhao Mushen¡¯s hands in the end. Everything in the world was strange and unpredictable. Zhao Mushen slightly scrunched his brows as he looked at Dong Ye and the others. Although he had swallowed Wang Xuanyang, he hadn¡¯t completely digested his power yet. But even if he had, it was impossible for him to go up against four people. . "Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s not a good idea for you to kill me here.¡± Zhao Mushen said indifferently. "I left the Wanzu team a message. If I don¡¯t return, they will know that you killed Wang Xuanyang and me. The Wanzu Region team will no doubt retaliate against you, and although you might be able to withstand it, you will still have to pay a price in the end. ¡°But if you let me control the Wanzu Region team, those things will not happen. We can even temporarily become allies. After all, our goal in Guyuan Heaven is the same. "As for what Wang Xuanyang did to Su Youwei¡ªhe is now dead, and your anger should be gone too.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his brows as he listened to Zhao Mushen talk leisurely and confidently. But he also had to admit that what he said made sense. Even if the Wanzu Region lost Wang Xuanyang, its overall strength shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. If the Wanzu Region team were to retaliate, Zhou Yuan and the others would undoubtedly suffer considerable losses even if they survived, and that would benefit other forces. Zhou Yuan cast his gaze to Dong Ye and the others and saw a deep look on their faces. Then, they nodded at him. He pondered for a moment, turned the tip of his Heavenly Yuan Brush, and indifferently said, ¡°We can let you go, but if we find out that you can''t restrain the Wanzu Region team, we will announce to the world the you swallowed Wang Xuanyang and you will likely be in trouble yourself.¡± Zhao Mushen was silent for a moment and then said, "Don''t worry, I am not as stupid as Wang Xuanyang.¡± But he was inwardly annoyed that Zhou Yuan and others could use that to threaten him. "Can I go now?" He said calmly. Zhou Yuan grinned and said, "Wait." "What else?" Zhao Mushen frowned. "We have fought the entire night and finally wounded Wang Xuanyang, but you came and took advantage of it. That¡¯s not fair. We aren¡¯t your lackeys.¡± "What do you want?" said Zhao Mushen coldly. Zhou Yuan: "Give each of us five ancestral qi treasures." The veins on Zhao Mushen¡¯s forehead visibly pulsed. ¡°I noticed that Wang Xuanyang¡¯s spatial bag is missing and it must be in your hands now. I am not the captain of the Wanzu Region team, how could I have so many ancestral qi treasures?¡± "Then three each, what? Still can''t give that? Then two. I can¡¯t go any lower. If it¡¯s any less, we might as well just kill you here now.¡± Zhao Mushen turned a little pale when Zhou Yuan pointed the Heavenly Yuan Brush at him again. He finally grunted and threw out eight streams of light. Zhou Yuan flung his sleeve and swept them over. After examining them, he let out a sigh. "Zhao Mushen, you¡¯re quite miserable.¡± Zhao Mushen inwardly seethed. It wasn¡¯t easy to obtain those ancestral qi treasures with Wang Xuanyang always suppressing him, but Zhou Yuan not only snatched them, he even dared to express dissatisfaction with them. "Can I go now?" he said coldly. Zhou Yuan waved dismissively. Zhao Mushen let out a cold grunt, and with a slight movement, turned into a stream of light and whizzed through the air, disappearing after a few breaths. Dong Ye, Qin Lian, and Su Youwei came to Zhou Yuan''s side. "I didn''t expect Wang Xuanyang to die like that." Dong Ye sighed. "Congratulations, you are now ranked second on the Heavenly Sun List,¡± said Zhou Yuan with a smile. Dong Ye pursed her lips, "Who wants to be second.¡± "You squeezed so much from Zhao Mushen that his face turned pale." Qin Lian said. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°He did that for us to see. That guy''s harvest is far more than those few ancestral qi treasures.¡± Su Youwei stared in the direction where Zhao Mushen disappeared and said, "Zhao Mushen is much more troublesome than Wang Xuanyang. You should be careful in the future.¡± They never had thought that their encirclement and suppression of Wang Xuanyang was all manipulated by Zhao Mushen. He was much more shrewd than Wang Xuanyang, the simple fool. "I still feel that we shouldn¡¯t have let him go." Dong Ye said. "We can''t stop him." Zhou Yuan shook his head. Noticing the puzzled gazes on the three women¡¯s faces, he flicked his sleeve and tore the ground with a streak of Genesis Qi. Then, Su Youwei and the others saw countless silver beads hidden below the ground. There was berserk energy fluctuating with them. ¡°Are those Yin Lightning Beads?" Dong Ye asked in surprise. "Why did he hide so many Yin Lightning Beads under the ground? Although the destructive power of those things isn¡¯t small, it likely can''t hurt us,¡± asked Qin Lian puzzledly. Su Youwei''s beautiful eyes flashed and she whispered, ¡°He most likely doesn''t plan to use them to wound us, but instead wants to use them to cause strong fluctuation in Genesis Qi and subsequently Earth Disasters.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. "Yes, if an Earth Disaster occurs, we will all be in a panic, and at that time, he has the best chance to escape. That guy is very cunning and not easy to catch, so it''s better to end on a good note. ¡°Also, what he said makes sense.¡± Dong Ye sighed. "That guy is so scheming.¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile, "But there is no need to dwell on this. At least we got rid of Wang Xuanyang and Zhao Mushen didn''t take all the benefits¡­anyway how are you?¡± He suddenly turned to Su Youwei. He was referring to the matter that Su Youwei looted Wang Xuanyang''s Genesis Qi. Su Youwei smiled. "The harvest this time is indeed good and my strength should soar after closed-door cultivation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and immediately took out all the ancestral qi treasures he had obtained. ¡°Let¡¯s split them.¡± He gave half, which was exactly fourteen, to Dong Ye and Su Youwei. Dong Ye received seven without any hesitation and a hint of a smile bloomed on her frosty face. After all, seven ancestral qi treasure could be regarded as a great harvest. But Su Youwei didn''t accept it and pushed her share back towards Zhou Yuan. "I will give my share to His Highness. I have already obtained enough benefits.¡± ¡°You¡ªare you stupid!" Dong Ye fumed when she saw this. Su Youwei shook her head firmly, gazing at Zhou Yuan with her big bright eyes. Zhou Yuan felt his head aching. ¡°Why are you dilly dallying, this is a little token from her.¡± Qin Lian couldn''t stand watching any longer and took the ancestral qi treasures under Dong Ye''s gaze that almost shot out flames. ¡±Youwei, don''t worry, I will leave them to Zhou Yuan,¡± She said with a smile. ¡°Qin Lian, you!¡± Dong Ye glared at Qin Lian, but in the end she could only grunt and drag Su Youwei away. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Being pulled away by Dong Ye, Su Youwei looked a little helpless and she could only turn her head back every few steps and waved to Zhou Yuan. Once the two women disappeared in the distance, Qin Lian handed Zhou Yuan all the ancestral qi treasures and said teasingly, ¡°The token of a beautiful woman. If you can abduct the little beauty from the Zixiao Region for our Tianyuan Region, we will gain another pillar in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan shot a glare at her, stored away the ancestral qi treasures into the spatial bag, and stretched in relief. Now that they had dealt with Wang Xuanyang, they could focus back on searching for ancestral qi veins. Their opportunities in Guyuan Heaven had only just begun. Chapter 1114 Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd The other forces from Hunyuan Heaven similarly expanded their search area to harvest ancestral qi. The forces from Hunyuan Heaven were considered peaceful to one another, but the commotion from the Wanzu Region led to a lot of shock. Wang Xuanyang perished and Zhao Mushen rose to become the Wanzu Region team captain. The news understandably shocked various forces because Wang Xuanyang wasn¡¯t a nobody; he was ranked second on the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun List! In the entire Hunyuan Heaven, who else could suppress Wang Xuanyang besides Guan Qinglong. Wang Xuanyang''s personality wasn¡¯t particularly good, but no one could question his strength . Therefore, his death had a huge impact on the various forces. Moreover, from the information they heard from the Wanzu Region team, it appeared that an extremely powerful beast attacked and killed Wang Xuanyang when he went out alone to search for an ancestral qi vein. The news terrified all parties because they had encountered powerful ancient beasts along the way and it wasn¡¯t impossible to escape from them even if they couldn¡¯t defeat them, but Wang Xuanyang had encountered such a powerful beast that even someone with his strength couldn¡¯t even flee for his life. He was already killed, so no one knew what the exact circumstances were, but for the sake of safety, everyone was much more careful and cautious after the incident. Only the Tianyuan Region and the Zixiao Region were unaffected, which puzzled all the other forces. Are they made of steel? ... In a deep gully. Roar! Amidst faint echoing roar, Genesis Qi rolled in like a yellow dragon and continuously sank into an altar. Thousands of figures were sat cross-legged before the altar, frantically absorbing the mighty ancestral qi. At the very front, Zhou Yuan hadn''t closed his eyes yet and was staring at the billowing ancestral qi with a smile. In the past month, they had found dozens of ancestral qi veins, four of which were intermediate-class veins, and such a harvest should be the best among the Hunyuan Heaven forces. Under the nourishment from the dozens of ancestral qi veins, the Tianyuan Region team¡¯s strength increased at an astonishing speed. As for Zhou Yuan, his improvement was even more unbelievable. His Genesis Qi foundation had soared past 2 billion and was reaching the level of 2.9 billion. Its combat strength would greatly soar then. However, although Zhou Yuan was content with his improvements, he still looked forward to this moment because he felt his seven Cangxuan arts would finally fuse. "Come on, let me see, what exactly is the seven Cangxuan arts!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed with anticipation, and immediately after, he closed his eyes and let the billowing ancestral qi drown his body. ... As before, he was on a mountain cliff shrouded by an endless sea of clouds. Above the clouds and mist, several figures of Zhou Yuan repeatedly darted across the air, performing the seven Cangxuan arts. Finally they merged one by one. This repeated over and over again as though it would never end. Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged atop the mountain cliff, calmly watching the figures without a ripple of emotion. It was unknown how long had passed, but a trace of enlightenment finally emerged in his mind. A sun slowly rose from the sea of clouds in the distance, illuminating areas thousands of miles across. A faint smile spread over Zhou Yuan''s face, and immediately after, he folded his hands in several strange and ancient seals. His hands changed rapidly into countless seals, and finally, images flew out. At a certain moment, the countless images merged. Zhou Yuan suddenly pinched his fingers together like holding a flower. ¡°Precious treasure, come out." There seemed to be a whisper. Buzz! The sea of clouds tumbled as countless figures identical to Zhou Yuan appeared and stood together. Where they gathered, a fleck of light bloomed, gradually growing brighter and stronger, and within it, a silhouette was becoming clearer. The space around vibrated. Zhou Yuan stared at the silhouette with a blazing gaze, and the feeling in his heart grew deeper. It was a Saint Genesis Art! A profound Genesis Art that Zhou Yuan had never touched upon, and which differed hugely from the little Saint Arts that he had cultivated before. While Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes blazed, he finally saw the silhouette clearly. It seems to be a... gourd? To be precise, it should be a gourd-like silhouette, which lay between nothingness and substance. It seems to exist, but was difficult to perceive. As Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand, the gourd silhouette hovered up and down, and slowly floated onto his palm. In such close contact, Zhou Yuan noticed rainbow-colors reflecting off the gourd and it exuded an indescribable feeling of mystery and sharpness. That sharpness could pierce all substance. A message rose in Zhou Yuan''s heart. ¡°This is¡­¡± ¡°Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd?" An inconcealable smile curved the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. This is the product of the fusion of the seven Cangxuan arts? This is the Saint Genesis Art of the Cangxuan Sect? He had finally fused the seven Cangxuan arts after obtaining them for so many years. From the information that Zhou Yuan received, the Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd could contain seven rainbow sword lights with the power to sever the sky when they all appeared together. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t know whether he could sever the sky with it, but he knew that the Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd would no doubt become his strongest trump card! Gazing at the gourd, Zhou Yuan could vaguely perceive a very subtle rainbow light swimming in the depths. It was just that the light was too weak and needed to be continuously strengthened with Genesis Qi. That should be the so-called rainbow sky-severing sword light, but maybe it''s still in its infancy stage¡­ It seemed Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t bring out all seven sword lights right now. But even if the rainbow sword light was still weak, Zhou Yuan could already feel the power it possessed. If he possessed such a sword light when he faced Wang Xuanyang, he felt he could have killed him with one sword strike if he got the timing right. In danger-ridden Guyuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan felt much more at ease holding such a trump card. ... In the deep gully, when Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, he found that the ancestral qi vein had already been fully absorbed and the others had begun to pack up and return to the camp. In a good mood, Zhou Yuan stood up with a wide smile and immediately saw Qin Lian waiting for him on the side. "It seems you had a great harvest this time?" Qin Lian asked curiously when she saw Zhou Yuan''s smile. Zhou Yuan smiled without saying anything and he didn¡¯t intend to expose his new trump card. Qin Lian just rolled her eyes when he didn''t answer her. But she also didn''t care too much and continued, "By the way, there¡¯s an update to what you asked us to pay attention to.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback at first till he remembered what he asked them to look out for, and suddenly his face lit up. ¡°You met with people from Cangxuan Heaven?¡± He had asked Qin Lian and the others to help him listen out for news about Cangxuan Heaven. After all, he was born in Cangxuan Heaven and had a deep relationship with the Cangxuan Sect. Moreover, his best memories with Yaoyao were in Cangxuan Heaven. Qin Lian shook her head. "We haven''t met people from Cangxuan Heaven, but we have intelligence exchanges with other forces from Hunyuan Heaven. What we heard this time is from the Yushou Region¡­" "I heard that they ran into people from Cangxuan Heaven while searching for ancestral qi veins. You know that the guys from the Yushou Region are good at taming beasts, but they met someone from Cangxuan Heaven better than them. That person even directly took control of their battle beasts. Fortunately, that person acted alone and the Yushou Region in the end trapped that person in a mountain with complex terrain. It will be a matter of time before that person is captured.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback for a moment and then asked, ¡°Was that person a man or a woman?¡± Qin Lian thought for a while and said, ¡°I think it¡¯s a woman." Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath with a strange expression. There wasn¡¯t any particularly powerful beast taming sect in Cangxuan Heaven, but he did know a beast-taming genius who was born able to understand animals¡¯ minds. The image of a beautiful green-haired girl with an ice-blue bird on her shoulder flashed to his mind. Luluo¡­is it you? Chapter 1115 Old Friends Numerous figures were currently scouting the area. Each of these figures were accompanied by ferocious beasts, their guttural cries endlessly echoing amidst the mountains. A man stood with his hands behind his back on one of the peaks. He had a head full of white hair, and gave off a somewhat timeless aura. However, his eyes were so sharp that no one dared to look at them directly. He was called Tong He, and was the number one Heavenly Sun of the Yushou Region. He was also the leader of the Hunyuan Heaven Yushou Region team. Behind Tong He, a Yushou Region disciple reported, ¡°Senior brother Tong He, we¡¯ve been searching for several days but have yet to find that girl.¡± Tong He indifferently said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯ve already surrounded the entire mountain range. She can¡¯t escape.¡± There was fear and anger in the disciple¡¯s eyes as he remarked, ¡°That girl is truly abominable. I don¡¯t know what method she used to make our battle beasts defect.¡± They had never encountered such a situation before. After all, the Yushou Region was one of the best beast tamers even among all the heavens. No one had expected them to suffer at the hands of a little girl from Cangxuan Heaven. Tong He glanced at the disciple and said, ¡°I heard that you guys were the first to attack when you met her?¡± The disciple¡¯s expression changed slightly, but he ultimately did not conceal anything and answered in a low voice, ¡°Some of our junior brothers were interested in the strange bird she had. Its bloodline was quite pure.¡± Tong He frowned and said, ¡°I will deal with you guys when we return.¡± The disciple had no choice but to acknowledge. Tong He¡¯s tone grew icy, ¡°However, our Yushou Region¡¯s face is not something someone from a mere Cangxuan Heaven can step on.¡± There was pride in his voice, and disdain towards Cangxuan Heaven. But this was normal. Cangxuan Heaven was ranked last among the heavens, and it was said that their only Saint had already died long ago. Their strongest expert was merely at the Law Domain stage. In Hunyuan Heaven, such strength would likely be less than some of the top-tier factions. Although the Yushou Region might be at fault in this matter, Tong He clearly did not intend on settling things fairly. In this world, only equally strong parties would discuss fairness, and in Tong He¡¯s view, those from Cangxuan Heaven did not have the right to reason with him. Moreover, they needed to know how the girl had made their battle beasts defect, because such a threat was far too great to them. Once the Yushou Region lost their battle beasts, their battle power would greatly diminish. ¡°Right, senior brother Tong Yu, someone else has been hindering our scouting efforts. It''s another girl whose cultivation is at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, but she is unimaginably quick, and we¡¯re incapable of catching her. ¡°We suspect her to be the green-haired girl¡¯s companion.¡± ¡°Initial Heavenly Sun stage?¡± Tong He shook his head. Cangxuan Heaven was indeed the weakest of the heavens. To think that someone with such low cultivation was allowed to enter Guyuan Heaven. ¡°No need to pay any attention to her. If she¡¯s hindering us, it must mean that we¡¯re heading in the correct direction. ¡°Focus on catching the green-haired girl first.¡± The disciple acknowledged and swiftly withdrew to spread the command. The Yushou Region scouting teams soon began to redouble their efforts. ... In a cave deep in the mountain range. A petite figure was seated on a rock, her hands propping up her distressed face. Long dark-green hair hung from her head in a ponytail. She was more the small side, giving her a dainty feeling. Her face was bright and clean like jade, while also pure and beautiful. Her eyes in particular were exceptionally bright, flickering with cunningness and eccentricness. If Zhou Yuan was present, he would certainly recognize this individual. Looking a little more matured, it was the first friend he had met after leaving the Great Zhou Empire...Luluo Chirp chirp! Blue light suddenly flashed on Luluo¡¯s shoulder and a little ice-blue bird appeared. Ancient patterns seemed to shimmer on its tiny wings. When it appeared, the temperature in the cave abruptly plummeted as frost spread across the ground. Its sharp beak gently nudged Luluo as if consoling her. Luluo cupped the bird in her hands as she bitterly said, ¡°Those Hunyuan Heaven people are too much! They were clearly the ones who struck first, and are even targeting me now. ¡°What do we do now? There¡¯s too many of them, how are we going to escape?!¡± Jingle! While Luluo was agonizing over her predicament, the faint jungle of bells rang out in the cave. Luluo¡¯s large eyes immediately brightened. ¡°Qingyu Qingyu!¡± A fragrant breeze blew into the cave as a beautiful figure appeared in front of Luluo. The newcomer wore a black dress, and had a much more slender and domineering figure when compared to the petite Luluo. The dress hugged a waist as slender as a willow branch, and as the edges of the dress fluttered, one would catch a glimpse of snow-white calves that were nearly impossible to look away from. An ample bosom rose in front of her like towering peaks, and a fair neck as slender as a black swan. As for her face, if Luluo was the pure maiden type, she would be an unrejectable temptress. Every frown and smile of her long and narrow peach-blossom-like eyes was filled with irresistible charm. Tiny golden bells were stringed around her bare feet, giving her a more graceful air. This was another old friend of Zhou Yuan, Zuoqiu Qingyu. Zuoqiu Qingyu somewhat helplessly looked at the excited Luluo and said, ¡°You were supposed to find help, but you ended up landing yourself in such big trouble instead. Those people outside are practically overturning mountains to find you.¡± Luluo sullenly said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t the one who started it, they were the ones who struck first.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu sighed and smiled bitterly, ¡°It seems that the factions from the other heavens are not very friendly.¡± Although both parties had not interacted much, Zuoqiu Qingyu could already feel the side¡¯s arrogance. There had clearly been disdain in their eyes after finding out the two girls were from Cangxuan Heaven. Luluo asked in a low voice, ¡°What do we do? If we don¡¯t find any help...elder brother Chu Qing and the others won¡¯t be able to endure much longer.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu was silent for a moment, before she said, ¡°No matter what, we have to first escape their encirclement. Since we encountered people from Hunyuan Heaven, we will definitely be able to meet other Hunyuan Heaven factions. We can try our luck with them. ¡°The entire Hunyuan Heaven can¡¯t be filled with the same kind of people. And if it really doesn¡¯t work out, we can find factions from the other heavens!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu pondered for a brief moment and said, ¡°Pass Little Frost to me later. I¡¯ll disguise myself as you and draw them away, while you find an opportunity to escape. You should already know our next meeting point.¡± Luluo worriedly said, ¡°Ah? That¡¯s too dangerous. Those people are very strong!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu chuckled as she said with confidence, ¡°I¡¯m not planning on butting heads with them. It¡¯s not like you don¡¯t know how agile I am. Even advanced Heavenly Sun experts might not be able to catch up to me.¡± Luluo hesitated for a long time. In the end, she could only grit her teeth and nod. ¡°Be careful!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu nodded. Yee! However, just as the two girls were about to carry out their plan, they suddenly heard the cry of a crane. Luluo expression immediately changed. ¡°Crap, we¡¯ve been discovered!¡± Rumble! The entire mountain began to shake violently. Half of the mountain was torn apart by a terrifying force, allowing sunlight to shine in through the cracks. Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo looked outside and saw a giant white crane in the air. Atop the crane¡¯s head was a man with white hair. Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s and Luluo¡¯s faces paled slightly at the sight of him, sensing an extremely dangerous aura. The man atop of the crane was Tong He. He indifferently gazed at the two girls in the cave as his cold voice echoed across the mountains, ¡°We¡¯ve been playing hide-and-seek for quite a few days. You guys should have already had your fill, right? ¡°Will you two voluntarily hand yourselves over, or do I have to personally take action?¡± Chapter 1116 A Little Face However, it was not the white crane that pressured Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo, but the white-haired man atop its head. Even from such a distance, the Genesis Qi pressure from his body made them unable to breathe properly. The two girls¡¯ faces paled a little. Tong He¡¯s sharp gaze locked onto the two girls as his indifferent voice sounded, ¡°Turn yourselves in. Neither of you can escape.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Honored one, we have no intentions of offending you, and what happened previously was an accident. Why must you keep pressing the matter? Are all Hunyuan Heaven people so arrogant and tyrannical?¡± Tong He¡¯s gaze paused on Zuoqiu Qingyu, before slowly turning to Luluo. ¡°You may leave, but your friend needs to stay behind.¡± He was very concerned about how Luluo had made them lose control of their tamed beasts. This was an extremely huge threat to them. Zuoqiu Qingyu knew that bargaining was useless, and could only grab Luluo¡¯s hand. ¡°Go!¡± Jingle! Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s figure turned into a blur as she shot deeper into the cave. ¡°Stubborn fools.¡± Tong He shook his head. The giant crane suddenly flapped its wings, sending out a raging tempest. The giant mountain was rapidly torn apart as wind blades homed in on the fleeing figures as if they had a mind of their own. Thud! Thud! It was as if the entire area was being overturned. Zuoqiu Qingyu fled at full speed with Luluo, while wind blades frantically chased them down. Fortunately, her movement art was extremely amazing. Any wind blade that sliced towards them was dodged by a hair¡¯s breadth. ¡°What a formidable movement art.¡± Tong He was somewhat surprised. The girl was clearly at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, and would at most be average when placed in any of the Yushou Region teams. Despite this, if there were to compare movement art alone, even Tong He would not be able to compete. After all, successfully avoiding his attacks while running away with a burden was honestly amazing. It seemed that although the Cangxuan Heaven people were weak, they did have their specialities. ¡°But it¡¯s futile.¡± Tong He shook his head and raised his hand. Rumble! Wind walls made from Genesis Qi descended from the sky, sealing off the entire area before swiftly shrinking towards the middle. The wind walls formed a cage. There was no escape no matter how fast Zuoqiu Qingyu was. The walls would continuously close in on Zuoqiu Qingyu, giving her less and less space to dodge. In the end, she would have nowhere to hide. It was at this moment that Luluo suddenly cried out, ¡°Little Frost!¡± Chee! The small bird on her shoulder rose into the air and blew out a torrent of icy blue qi that smashed into one of the wind walls. Frost spread, freezing the entire wall before it shattered to pieces. Luluo urged, ¡°Qingyu, leave!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu felt a rush of energy and immediately pushed her speed to the limit, pulling Luluo along as they hurriedly escaped. ¡°Oh?¡± Tong He watched in amazement. His gaze paused on the little blue bird on Luluo shoulder. ¡°An offshoot of the Heavenly Ice Phoenix bloodline...no wonder those guys were tempted by it. It¡¯s unfortunate that you¡¯ve encountered me.¡± Tong He chuckled and made a seal with one hand. Rumble! A giant wave of Genesis Qi rose from behind the shattered wind wall, turning into a giant azure Genesis Qi hand. A shadow enveloped the two girls as the hand swatted down on them. It was impossible to dodge no matter how quick they were. Luluo gritted her teeth and made a seal. The small blue bird on her shoulder transformed into a flash of blue that shot into her body. Glowing ice-blue runes appeared on her face as her Genesis Qi rapidly rose. Luluo opened her tiny mouth and blew. Hoo! An ice-blue storm swept out and a giant blue bird emerged from within. Endless frost spread across the area as it collided with the Genesis Qi hand. Boom! Berserk shockwaves erupted, destroying the surrounding mountains. Luluo and Zuoqiu Qingyu were also sent flying, before crashing into a cliff. Urgh. Lulup vomited a mouthful of blood as the ice-markings on her face disappeared. Little Frost reappeared on her shoulder, looking rather weak with its dim feathers. Luluo gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Qingyu, leave quickly! Don¡¯t care about me!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu icily snorted. ¡°Stop talking about leaving, if we die, we die together.¡± Luluo pulled Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s hand and hopelessly said, ¡°Cangxuan Heaven is too weak. Those Sacred Palace bastards, they caused our Cangxuan Heaven factions to fall apart the moment we arrived.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu sighed softly. Compared to the other heavens, Cangxuan Heaven was indeed too weak. This was something anyone could see from how initial Heavenly Sun experts like them were brought in to make up the numbers. Moreover, they were new Heavenly Sun experts that had recently advanced right before the battle for Guyuan Heaven. With the exception of certain monsters, their cultivation speed was already considered top-tier. After all, Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s cultivation conditions were far worse than Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s. Due to the Battle of the Heavens, their sect had given them a tremendous amount of cultivation resources, allowing them to ascend to the Heavenly Sun stage, and gain the qualification to enter Guyuan Heaven. Of course, not just anyone could enjoy such treatment, and only a handful of disciples were given these benefits. From this, one could see how highly regarded Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo were in their sect. Unfortunately, no matter how talented one was, even the most talented person would be unable to shine without sufficient cultivation resources. The Hunyuan Heaven teams they encountered were not more talented than the two girls, but rarely did they find any initial Heavenly Sun stage experts among them. Luluo gazed at the giant Genesis Qi hand that was looming towards them and said, ¡°Looks like we¡¯re going to die here. What a pity.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu pulled in Luluo by the shoulder to console her. Luluo hugged the small blue bird and suddenly said, ¡°I wonder if our Canguan Heaven will be in a different state if Zhou Yuan was still around.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu was taken aback as she recalled memories of the young man that she had not seen for several years. There had been no news of Zhou Yuan after that earth-shaking affair, and he was even rumored to have died... If the Cangxuan Heaven team was led by him, things would probably be different, right? ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying such things now? Who knows whether he¡¯s even alive or dead.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s eyes dimmed somewhat. ¡°And Yaoyao, it¡¯s been so many years since I last saw her. I wonder how she¡¯s been.¡± Luluo pouted. She had already given up on struggling. After all, the gap between both sides was just far too great. The white-haired man¡¯s strength was definitely apex-level among Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun experts. In this hopeless situation, they began to recall their two friends who had disappeared for a long time. The two girls hugged each other as the giant hand descended with terrifying power, causing the land below to crumble. ¡°Oh?¡± However, while they were waiting for death, Luluo¡¯s eyes suddenly widened. White brush hairs had suddenly appeared above them, spreading outwards at an astonishing speed. The hairs ultimately took the form of a giant spider web. ¡°What is that?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu was also stunned. While they were confused, the Genesis Qi hand ruthlessly struck the web, causing a storm of frightening Genesis Qi to unfurl. Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo watched in shock as the seemingly weak-looking spider web withstood the attack. When the Genesis Qi storm finally dissipated, the web remained firmly fixed in the air above them, casting its protective shadow over their bodies. In the sky above, Tong He¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. Tong He, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo looked towards the center of the spider web. A shadow shuddered as a slender figure gradually appeared in their sights. Meanwhile, a chuckle broke the silence. ¡°Captain Tong He, they are my friends. Could you give me a little face and let them off?¡± Unconcealable joy emerged on Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s and Luluo¡¯s faces as they involuntarily cried out, ¡°Zhou Yuan?!!¡± Chapter 1117 Intimidate They never imagined that their friend would appear when they were on the edge of despair. On the web, Zhou Yuan turned his head and grinned as he gazed at the two shocked girls. His dazzling smile was filled with happiness. ¡°Qingyu, Luluo, long time no see.¡± He observed Luluo had grown a little taller, but still retained her petite figure. Her pure and innocent face was more adorable than he remembered. Zuoqiu Qingyu had not changed much, though every expression she made had grown even more alluring. It was fortunate that he had rushed over in time. They did not seem to have sustained any injuries. Zuoqiu Qingyu finally returned to her senses and dazedly stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s familiar face, unable to believe her eyes. ¡°Zhou...Zhou Yuan? Are you really Zhou Yuan?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. Luluo started shouting in excitement, ¡°Ah, Zhou Yuan, is it really you? You¡¯re still alive?!¡± Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. ¡°I¡¯m doing pretty well.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu also smiled. However, she quickly remembered their current predicament. She nervously looked towards Tong He and said, ¡°Careful Zhou Yuan, he¡¯s very strong!¡± Luluo also nodded repeatedly. ¡°If you can¡¯t beat him, run away!¡± The strength displayed by Tong He had made them fearful. Although meeting Zhou Yuan was a happy occasion, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo did not wish to see him falling into danger because of them. Zhou Yuan smiled at them and waved his hand. In the sky, Tong He¡¯s expression turned solemn. He stared at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, it isn¡¯t appropriate to interfere in the affairs of the Yushou Region, right?¡± Zhou Yuan cupped his fists together. ¡°Captain Tong He, these two girls are my friends. If they have offended you earlier, I can apologize on their behalf.¡± Tong He frowned. He gazed at the nervous Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo in silence for a while, before he said, ¡°I can let off one of them, but the green-haired girls needs to stay behind.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head and smiled faintly, ¡°I have to take both of them.¡± Tong He¡¯s eyes grew sharp. ¡°If I don¡¯t agree?¡± Zhou Yuan sighed softly. ¡°Although I do not wish for any conflicts with the Yushou Region, if captain Tong He really cannot let them off, I¡¯ll have to forcefully take my friends away.¡± ¡°Humph, what a bold claim!¡± Tong He could not help but laugh in anger. Although he was being courteous towards Zhou Yuan, it was mostly on account of the Tianyuan Region. As for Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, Ting He was clearly unafraid because the battle with Wang Xuanyang had been kept under wraps. Below, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s and Luluo¡¯s hearts sank at Tong He¡¯s refusal to back down. Zhou Yuan calmly observed Tong He as a faint rainbow glint appeared in his eyes. The rainbow gourd in his Divine Dwelling that seemed to flicker between illusion and reality slowly began to ripple, as a rainbow spark slowly circulated within. Zhou Yuan had brought out a sliver of the Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd¡¯s aura. When the aura locked onto Tong He, the erupting Genesis Qi from his body instantly fell calm. A trace of terror appeared on his face as his hand trembled uncontrollably. He had felt death, and knew that he would die at the slightest movement. Cold sweat trickled down his back, wetting his clothes. He stared at Zhou Yuan in fear, not daring to make any movements. Tong He could not understand nor believe why Zhou Yuan would cause him such terror. What the hell is that?! Since when did Zhou Yuan become so terrifying?! Had he merely been acting weak all along? Neither Zhou Yuan nor Tong He spoke as they communicated with their gazes. However, this scene looked extremely bizarre in Luluo¡¯s and Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s eyes. Tong He had been on verge of attacking, so why did he suddenly extinguish his Genesis Qi? Although it was very strange, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo were no fools. They knew that Zhou Yuan was the reason. The realization made them look towards Zhou Yuan in astonishment. Tong He was already an apex-level expert to them, but he was now akin to a mouse that had seen a cat when faced with Zhou Yuan. How strong is Zhou Yuan now? Zhou Yuan slowly asked again, ¡°Captain Tong He, won¡¯t you give me a little face?¡± Tong He did not answer, not because he did not wish to, but because he found it very difficult to speak due to the tiny sliver of aura that Zhou Yuan gave off. It was far too frightening. Tong He could feel that his life would end the moment it was released. Swish! It was at this moment that numerous figures suddenly shot out from the forest behind them, each riding a ferocious beast. It was the Yushou Region members. Worried looks appeared on Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s and Luluo¡¯s faces. ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is an affair of our Yushou Region. Don¡¯t be a busy body!¡± Shouted a disciple from the group. They had seen Tong He and Zhou Yuan facing off, and were naturally going to support their boss. ¡°Yeah! Quickly withdraw and don¡¯t interfere!¡± ¡°Senior brother Tong He is on an entire different level from the Wanzu Region¡¯s Qian Hu!¡± More and more people echoed along, showing their support for Tong He. However, because Tong He was back facing them, none of them could see his entire face twitch and twist a little. These bastards! Are they planning on getting me killed to replace me? However, before he could say anything, another swarm of figures arrived. Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo felt even more nervous. It seemed to be another faction that was not weaker than Tong He¡¯s team. They did not know whether these were friends or foes. Fortunately, the second group did not display any hostile intent towards the two girls. Instead, several figures appeared around them in a protective stance. Mu Youlan arrived in front of the two girls and displayed a friendly smile. ¡°Relax, everything is alright now. You two are grand elder Zhou Yuan¡¯s friends, and the Tianyuan Region will definitely protect you.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo looked at each other, seeing the shock in the other party¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan is from the Tianyuan Region of Hunyuan Heaven? And he seems to be doing pretty well. Qin Lian appeared in the air, staring at Tong He as she said, ¡°Tong He, are you sure you want to start a fight?¡± Qin Lian did not wish to clash with the Yushou Region. After all, relations between them had yet to deteriorate to an irreversible state. Hence, she tried to persuade him. ¡°I hope that you will give some face to our Tianyuan Region.¡± Qin Lian was even considering using an ancestral qi treasure in exchange for peace. However, before she could lay out the terms, Tong He finally spat out a single word, ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°Goodbye!¡± While Qin Lian was stunned, Tong He had already turned the giant crane around and sent a vicious glare at the Yushou Region disciples. Without saying a single word, he rode off on the crane. The Yushou Region disciples were somewhat stupefied. There seemed to be something different about their boss. Although they were confused, they soon followed after him. Qin Lian was likewise bewildered. Tong He had left before she could begin to persuade him. Does he really respect the Tianyuan Region so much? But why does his leaving figure seem a little panicky? Regardless, it was still best for them to have settled things peacefully. She turned around, looked at Zhou Yuan and somewhat helplessly scolded, ¡°Tong He seems to be a very receptive person, why must you insist on butting heads with him?¡± Zhou Yuan blinked repeatedly, unable to stop himself from chuckling. He knew the real reason, of course. The Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd¡¯s aura must have been too terrifying. However, the outcome also surprised him. He had not expected the gourd to be such an effective deterrent... A Saint level Genesis art did live up to its reputation. He sighed inwardly as his figure descended from the sky and landed in front of Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo. ¡°Alright, everything is okay now.¡± The two girls had yet to return to their senses after seeing the Yushou Region withdraw. It was hard to believe that such a powerful force would retreat just like that... ¡°Wow! Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re just too amazing!¡± Luluo excitedly cried out as she pounced at Zhou Yuan, hugging him by the neck. However, due to her exceptionally tiny body, she looked akin to a squirrel swinging from his body. Zuoqiu Qingyu also stared in astonishment at the young man before her, unable to express herself for a time. The young man who had walked out of the Cangmang Continent with them all those years ago seemed to have achieved some pretty remarkable things. While such thoughts were swirling in her head, with Luluo still hanging by his neck, Zhou Yuan helplessly reached out and pulled her towards him as he revealed a slightly pleased smile. ¡°Are you awed by my heroic rescue?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu rolled her eyes at him and scoffed, ¡°Tch, you¡¯re still far from Yaoyao!¡± Soon after, a smile emerged on her lips. He was still the same Zhou Yuan from back then... Chapter 1118 Cangxuan Heaven’s Situation Zhou Yuan, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo and the others were currently gathered around one of the bonfires. Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo still felt a little unreal as they gazed at Zhou Yuan, especially when they saw the respectful attitudes the numerous Tianyuan Region experts displayed towards him. Luluo asked in a small voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, so you went to Hunyuan Heaven all these years? And even joined the Tianyuan Region?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and nodded. ¡°I heard them call you grand elder? Is that your nickname?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s ears had pricked up at how Zhou Yuan was addressed. No matter where it was, grand elder was not an easily picked up title. Information of the various heavens had been crammed into their heads before the battle for Guyuan Heaven. Hence, they understood what grand elder meant in the Tianyuan Region. It was precisely because of what it represented, that Zuoqiu Qingyu did not dare to believe it. Instead, she had rationally concluded that it was some kind of special nickname. Zhou Yuan chuckled, not concealing anything. ¡°I¡¯m indeed a grand elder of the Tianyuan Region...moreover, it is exactly what you¡¯re thinking of. It¡¯s not a nickname.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo blankly stared at him. The shock that assaulted them now was event more intense than when he had chased away Tong He. Zuoqiu Qingyu finally managed to pull her gaze away, looking at Qin Lian and the others. The Genesis Qi pressure from this young lady was stronger than even the white-haired man. Such an individual was definitely apex-level in the Tianyuan Region. Zuoqiu Qingyu finally managed to stutter, ¡°He¡¯s joking, right?¡± Qin Lian could not help but laugh, before she solemnly answered, ¡°Zhou Yuan is indeed one of the five grand elders of our Tianyuan Region. It is not a joke.¡± The corners of Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s lips twitched slightly. ¡°But...from what I understand, Tianyuan Region grand elders are Law Domain experts?!¡± The Law Domain stage. In the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, only their sect master had managed to reach this cultivation level! It represented the pinnacle of Cangxuan Heaven. Although Zhou Yuan was crazily stronger than before, there was still a gargantuan gap between him and the Law Domain stage. ¡°Zhou Yuan is supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple. According to the rules set by the supreme sovereign, he is qualified to become a Tianyuan Region grand elder,¡± explained Qin Lian. She knew how inconceivable it was for a Heavenly Sun expert like Zhou Yuan to become a grand elder. Hence, she understood Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s and Luluo¡¯s reactions. Supreme sovereign was a title given only to Saint experts. Cangxuan Heaven had not seen a Saint expert ever since patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death. Zhou Yuan waved his hand and curiously asked, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about me, tell me about you guys...aren¡¯t you supposed to be with the Cangxuan Heaven team? Why did you separate from them?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s and Luluo¡¯s faces dimmed at these words. ¡°Aih, don¡¯t bring that up. Many things happened after the Cangxuan Heaven teams entered Guyuan Heaven.¡± Luluo gnashed her teeth and angrily said,¡± It¡¯s because of those Sacred Palace bastards!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes rippled slightly at the mention of Sacred Palace, as iciness flowed out from deep within them. The hatred from long ago had now faded due to the passage of time, but instead grown in intensity. After all, in a certain manner of speaking, he had been forced out of Cangxuan Heaven by the Sacred Palace. Most importantly, they were the main culprits of Yaoyao¡¯s current unconscious state! Zuoqiu Qingyu sighed softly and slowly said, ¡°We have to start from when you disappeared...you had shattered the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, causing its fragments to scatter in Cangxuan Heaven. Over the years, the various factions have been finding and fighting over these fragments.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. An ultimate treasure like the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was far too tempting, and its scattered fragments would most certainly draw everyone¡¯s attention and greed. But he had no choice back then. If he had not done so, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would have landed in palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s hands, and when that happened, it would be a disaster for Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°Fortunately, the other great sects were still rational. They took precautions against the Sacred Palace while searching for the Saint Stamp fragments. ¡°After all, palace master Sheng Yuan is currently Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s only false Saint¡­ ¡°Has he recovered?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. He remembered palace master Sheng Yuan had been gravely injured in the battle. Zuoqiu Qingyu shook her head. ¡°He does not seem to have completely recovered. Otherwise, Cangxuan Heaven would have been turned upside down...but even so, the Sacred Palace is still growing at an alarming rate. ¡°The Sacred Palace and the five great sects have clashed repeatedly while searching for the Saint Stamp fragments. Both sides have suffered substantial losses.¡± As she spoke, Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s expression grew increasingly sombre, ¡°But the scales have been tipping towards the Sacred Palace. I¡¯ve heard my sect master mention that palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s recovery has been speeding up.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly asked, ¡°Have the five great sects considered exterminating the Sacred Palace?¡± Although the Sacred Palace was powerful, the five great sects should not lose if they worked together, right? Luluo was the one to answer this time. ¡°Although the five great sects stand united on the surface, they are incapable of fully trusting each other. To destroy the Sacred Palace, they have to deal with palace master Sheng Yuan. Even if he hasn¡¯t fully recovered, he¡¯s still a false Saint¡­ ¡°If he¡¯s pressed too far, at least half of the Law Domain experts from the five great sects wil die. This price is too heavy, and even the five great sects do not dare to take such a risk. ¡°Hence, their current plan is to focus on searching for the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments. As long as palace master Sheng Yuan does not obtain all of the fragments, he will not be able to become a true Saint.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, feeling somewhat regretful. This was the best chance to finish off palace master Sheng Yuan, but the five great sects were clearly unwilling to pay such a huge price. After all, everyone had their own motives, and losing a Law Domain expert was too devastating. If they were unlucky, they may even fall from their place as great sects. ¡°This is why the Cangxuan Heaven situation had become very messy. ¡°As for why we appeared here alone¡­¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu gritted her teeth as anger flourished on her pretty egg-shaped face. ¡°Who else is responsible but the Sacred Palace! ¡°When our Cangxuan Heaven team entered Guyuan Heaven, the Sacred Palace team immediately clashed with the rest of us. However, they did not fight, but instead choose to withdraw. ¡°We had originally believed they had decided to keep the peace for the time being... ¡°But who could have imagined that they would launch a night attack on our main camp seven days later...the various factions suffered terrible losses, and were repeatedly forced back.¡± Zhou Yuan interjected, ¡°Although the Sacred Palace is powerful, they shouldn¡¯t be strong enough to defeat the combined might of the five great sects, right?¡± The five great sects would definitely have dispatched their elites. How could such a force be crushed so easily? Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo exchanged a glance as their faces turned exceptionally frosty. ¡°The Sacred Palace had the support of a Sacred Race team¡­¡± The originally noisy surroundings instantly turned deathly silent, as Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression slowly darkened. Chapter 1119 Rescue Mu Youlan could not help but ask, ¡°How dare the Sacred Palace team do that! Aren¡¯t they afraid of cutting themselves off from everyone else?¡± If something like this occurred in Hunyuan Heaven, even an entity like one of the nine factions would become everyone¡¯s common enemy, and be immediately exterminated by everyone else. Hence, this was inconceivable to people like Qin Lian, Mu Youlan and the other Hunyuan Heaven members. Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo felt uncomfortable under the many surrounding gazes. After all, this matter had happened in Cangxuan Heaven, and was honestly quite shameful for them. Zhou Yuan waved his hand and explained, ¡°Cangxuan Heaven is the weakest of the Heavens. Hence, it has been the target of the Sacred Race¡¯s plotting for many years. The Sacred Palace is a faction that was brought up by the Sacred Race. ¡°In the beginning, the Sacred Palace had managed to conceal their roots. By the time the truth was finally revealed, their strength had already reached the apex of Cangxuan Heaven, and there was no longer anyone left to restrain them. ¡°It was also the Sacred Palace that forced me to leave Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Qin Lian and the others nodded in comprehension. They understood that the other Cangxuan Heaven factions were not to blame. After all, Cangxuan Heaven did not possess Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s overwhelming power, and it was very difficult for them to completely eliminate the Sacred Race¡¯s influence. Moreover, even a seemingly almighty existence like Hunyuan Heaven was extremely wary of the mysterious and powerful Sacred Race, let alone the weakest Cangxuan Heaven... Zhou Yuan solemnly asked, ¡°What¡¯s the current state of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s main force?¡± ¡°After being beaten, the Cangxuan Heaven factions elected the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s senior brother Chu Qing as their leader. He¡¯s been leading the remaining forces to resist the Sacred Palace¡¯s attacks. However, the situation is still very dire. With a Sacred Palace team on the other side, we only continued to suffer devastating losses.¡± ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing?¡± The familiar name evoked several memories within Zhou Yuan. The picture of a bald and care-free man, who was exceptionally lazy, flashed in his mind. However, when even someone as lazy as Chu Qing was forced to step forward and become a leader, one could see just how bad things were for Cangxuan Heaven. Luluo puffed her cheeks and angrily said, ¡°I met those people before coming here, but they didn¡¯t even bother listening to me first before trying to snatch Little Frost.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and suddenly asked, ¡°Who''s the Sacred Palace captain?¡± ¡°Li Xuan, a Chosen of the previous generation, and also the current strongest Heavenly expert in the Sacred Palace and the entire Cangxuan Heaven.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a vicious, double-crossing bastard! He¡¯s practically a snake!¡± added Luluo. The name was unfamiliar to Zhou Yuan, but that was to be expected. When he was still active in Cangxuan Heaven, he had only been at the initial Divine Dwelling stage, while Li Xuan was most likely already at the Heavenly Sun stage since he was a Chosen of the previous generation. Li Xuan might have heard of Zhou Yuan, and most likely laughed him off. An initial Divine Dwelling expert was not worthy of his attention. Zuoqiu Qingyu hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Zhou Yuan, will you...will you help us?¡± Although she knew Zhou Yuan had extraordinary status in the Tianyuan Region, this matter was far too big. Once he got involved, he would have to face the Sacred Race. Hence, Zuoqiu Qingyu was not certain if Zhou Yuan would be willing. After all, he was now a Tianyuan Region grand elder, and needed to be responsible for the safety of the Tianyuan Region team. Luluo did not say anything. She merely looked at Zhou Yuan with expectant eyes. The numerous surrounding gazes converged onto Zhou Yuan. He stared at the rising flames, displaying no hesitation as he smiled and said, ¡°Although I¡¯m currently a Tianyuan Region grand elder, my roots are in Cangxuan Heaven. This is an unchangeable fact. My feelings for the Cangxuan Sect are no weaker than the Tianyuan Region. ¡°If the Cangxuan Sect is in danger, I will definitely come to their aid. Of course, this is my decision, not the Tianyuan Region team¡¯s. They will make their own choice.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu bit her lip, her eyes dazzling as she stared at Zhou Yuan. Luluo rubbed her tearing eyes and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m so touched, but if you go alone, won¡¯t you be going to your death?¡± Zhou Yuan curled his lips and said, ¡°You¡¯re the one who will be going to your death, I¡¯m pretty strong now.¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re the leader of our Tianyuan Region team, how can you go off by yourself?¡± Qin Lian rolled her eyes at Zhou Yuan. ¡°And you¡¯re also a grand elder. If something happens to you, how will we explain to supreme sovereign Zhuan Zhu? ¡°So don¡¯t say such meaningless things!¡± She looked towards Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo as her expression softened somewhat. ¡°What¡¯s the Sacred Palace team¡¯s numbers like and how strong are they? And the Sacred Race team, is there any information you have to share on them?¡± While she was questioning, Qin Lian cast a glance at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°We have to at least find out this information so we can come up with a plan, right?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu quickly answered Qin Lian in detail. Of course, it was limited to what she knew. Qin Lian fell silent for a brief moment before she said, ¡°The Sacred Palace team is not much of a threat. The only uncertainty factor is the Sacred Race team, but from what we know, it¡¯s not the entire force of one of the Sacred Race heavens, but a subteam.¡± ¡°Only a subteam?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu could not help but say. A subteam had destroyed the elites from the various factions of Cangxuan Heaven? If senior brother Chu Qing had not stepped up, the Cangxuan Heaven team would have suffered even heavier losses. Qin Lian calmly said, ¡°If it was the entire force of a Sacred Race heaven...you guys would have been wiped out.¡± Although her words were a little cruel, it was the truth. Cangxuan Heaven was the weakest of the heavens, and their strongest faction, the Sacred Palace, had also betrayed them. The full power of an entire Sacred Race heaven team would certainly be able to easily destroy such a force, leaving at most a handful of survivors. ¡°But if it¡¯s only a Sacred Race subteam, our Tianyuan Regino should be able to take them down.¡± Qin Lian looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Please remember your status. You¡¯re a Tianyuan Region grand elder that has the authority to command everyone from the Tianyuan Region. Don¡¯t try and handle everything by yourself because it¡¯s your personal matter. We will never agree for you to go alone.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s and Luluo¡¯s eyes immedaitely brightened. They understood what Qin Lian was trying to say: the entire Tianyuan Region will be coming to their aid. Moreover, it was all because of Zhou Yuan. Zuoqiu Qingyu joyfully said, ¡°Thank you. Senior brother Chu Qing has also said that we can give up some of the ancestral qi branch channels we discovered to anyone who helps us.¡± Although the Tianyuan Region team was basically helping because of Zhou Yuan, they did not want the Tianyuan Region to help for nothing. There should be some reward so both sides could be happy. Qin Lian nodded. The other party¡¯s tactful response had bettered her impression of them. ¡°Although it''s only a Sacred Race subteam, we cannot be careless. No one knows whether the main team would be drawn over. Hence, we have to first inform the other Hunyuan Heaven factions so that we can call for reinforcements if the situation requires it.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. If they encountered the main force of any Sacred Race heaven, it would be impossible for the Tianyuan Region to stop them alone. Qin Lian¡¯s plan was the most reliable. Hence, he gave Qin Lian a thumbs up, eyes filled with appreciation as he said, ¡°Very meticulous. Elder Qin Lian has yet to find a cultivation companion, right? My Cangxuan Sect¡¯s senior brother Chu Qing is actually a pretty good choice, but he¡¯s bald. Shall I introduce him to you?¡± He felt that they were very compatible. Qin Lian was capable, efficient and direct. It would certainly be very interesting to see what would happen when she met senior brother Chu Qing, who refused to voluntarily do anything unless you placed a knife to his neck. However, veins popped out on Qin Lian¡¯s head at his suggestion. ¡°Scram!¡± Chapter 1120 Night Talk Zhou Yuan gazed at the rising bonfires of the camp from atop a hill as he stretched his arms towards the sky. The decision to rescue Cangxuan Heaven had already been made. Next, they only needed to notify Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s other eight regions, and they would be able to begin their operation. Although the Cangxuan Heaven main force was in quite a predicament, Zhou Yuan was still happy that he would soon see many familiar faces. The friends that had worked hard together back then had begun to reveal their brilliance. Soft footsteps were suddenly heard behind him. Zhou Yuan tilted his head backwards, and saw Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo approach. The alluring beauty and the sweet and cute young lady seemed to make even the moonlight full of flavor. They sat down beside Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, we really have to thank you for this.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s expression was much more relaxed, evidently no longer carrying a heavy burden. She knew that the Tianyuan Region would not have accepted so easily if not for Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be polite. I¡¯m from Cangxuan Heaven too after all, and I also have many friends in the Cangxuan Sect. How can I sit by while they¡¯re in danger?¡± Zhou Yuan had deep feelings towards the Cangxuan Sect. Beautiful memories of a certain tiny cave dwelling in the sect were still carved deep in his mind. While Zhou Yuan was reminiscing, Luluo suddenly asked, ¡°Right, where¡¯s Yaoyao? Your Tianyuan Region friends do not appear to know her?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand went rigid. He was silent for a moment, before he answered, ¡°In that great battle years ago, Yaoyao fought with palace master Sheng Yuan to protect me, and ended up sustaining serious injuries. She has been in a deep sleep till today, and I¡¯ve been working to awaken her for the past few years.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s expression changed, while worry appeared in Luluo¡¯s eyes. Zuoqiu Qingyu comforted him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Yaoyao will be okay.¡± ¡°I also believe so.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. He quickly changed the topic, ¡°Right, I¡¯ve been unable to ask because there were too many people around earlier, but how has the Great Zhou Empire been? And my parents?¡± His expression was somewhat nervous. This was a worry that had plagued Zhou Yuan ever since he left Cangxuan Heaven. After all, the Sacred Palace and him were akin to fire and water. If the Sacred Palace wanted revenge, there was no way the Great Zhou Empire would be able to survive. He had asked the Cangxuan Sect to take care of the Great Zhou Empire before he left, but who knew what happened since then. Zhou Yuan breathed a heavy sigh of relief. This favor is as heavy as a mountain. Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. The Cangxuan Sect ahd safeguarded the Great Zhou Empire for several years. To them, it might merely be dispatching a single elder, but Zhou Yuan was deeply grateful. This was why he had to go when senior Chu Qing and the others were in trouble. Zhou Yuan asked, ¡°Are Li Chunjun, Zhen Xu and the others also here?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu nodded as she displayed a beautiful smile. ¡°They¡¯re currently the pillars of the younger generation in their respective sects, and also managed to advance to the Heavenly Sun stage due Guyuan Heaven¡¯s emergence. Luluo excitedly elaborated, ¡°The most amazing one is Li Chunjun...he¡¯s created quite a name for himself in Cangxuan heaven. Besides you and the deceased Wu Huang, he¡¯s the finest in our generation.¡± Zhou Yuan revealed a smile. The truth was he had the highest expectations of Li Chunjun among their small group that had left the Cangmang Continent together. The tenacity and strong will he displayed in pursuing the sword had earned the respect of even Zhou Yuan himself. If such a person was placed in Hunyuan Heaven, he would certainly be an unparalleled genius that even the nine regions would fight over. ¡°The Sacred Palace¡¯s Li Xuan. What is his Genesis Qi foundation?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Li Xuan was known to be the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in Cangxuan Heaven, and Zhou Yuan was very curious about what level he was at. Zuoqiu Qingyu pondered for a brief moment and answered, ¡°From the fight between him and senior brother Chu Qing, Li Xuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation has likely reached 2.5 billion.¡± 2.5 billion...if he has some kind of Genesis Qi boosting art, it will likely approach 2.8 billion. Zhou Yuan secretly estimated. Li Xuan was not inferior to Qin Lian. It was no wonder that he could become the number one Heavenly Sun expert in Cangxuan Heaven. The Sacred Palace¡¯s capabilities were extraordinary, and the heaven pride they had poured their resources into nurturing was not to be underestimated. Of course, the Sacred Palace was only able to nurture at most one of two disciples like Li Xuan every generation. This was one of the differences between the apex-level factions of Cangxuan Heaven and Hunyuan Heaven. The nine regions, at the very least, seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of top tier disciples. Take the Wanzu Region for example, when Wang Xuanyang died, there was an even stranger and more unfathomable Zhao Mushen to replace him. ¡°It seems that senior brother Chu Qing must have been very blessed over the years to have become powerful enough to exchange blows with Li Xuan.¡± Zhou Yuan was both surprised and curious. When he left Cangxuan Heaven, Chu Qing had been roughly on the same level as him. But from what he had heard, Chu Qing had likely stepped into the advanced Heavenly Sun stage. There must be some unimaginable story behind such rapid progress. Zhou Yuan did not feel this was unfair. Chu Qing would certainly be an individual that could give Guan Qinglong a run for his money if he raised in Hunyuan Heaven instead. After all, Chu Qing was one of the most talented individuals Zhou Yuan had ever encountered. Moreover, Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation path was seeking the pinnacle, and was much harder to walk than normal. However, effort would naturally be rewarded. It was why he was able to easily destroy advanced Heavenly Sun experts at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. In fact, if Wang Xuanyang was somehow reborn, Zhou Yuan was confident in sending him back to the afterlife with Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light. Zuoqiu Qingyu let out a lovely laugh and said, ¡°I heard that in preparation for Guyuan Heaven, the Cangxuan Sect opened the Saint tower that had been sealed away for many years. The tower was constructed by patriarch Cang Xuan long ago. It is rumored that one can obtain some knowledge of a Saint from it, and can even fix any flaws in one¡¯s cultivation. It holds endless wonders and mysteries within it, and is an extremely rare opportunity. Senior brother Chu Qing borrowed its powers to reach his current state.¡± ¡°A tower left by patriarch Cang Xuan?¡± Zhou Yuan wet his lips. He had only been a mere disciple in the Cangxuan Sect previously, and was naturally unaware of such a treasure. It seems that he had underestimated the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s foundations. After all, it was a sect founded by patriarch Cang Xuan. Luluo regretfully said, ¡°If you had stayed in the Cangxuan Sect, you may have obtained even greater benefits from the tower.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu could not help but roll her eyes. ¡°What¡¯s there to be regretful about. He has already become a Saint expert¡¯s direct disciple. Why would he care about a Saint¡¯s tower?¡± Zhou Yuan was calm and smiling on the outside, but his heart was being torn to pieces. Although Cang Yuan was his master, his master was constantly on the run, and could only hide and wander about in the spaces between the heavens. Cang Yuan did not have any time to personally instruct Zhou Yuan. His accomplishments were mostly earned through his own efforts! ¡°Sect master Qing Yang and the others are too much, why didn¡¯t they reveal such a treasure while I was in the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Of course, Zhou Yuan was joking. A Saint¡¯s tower was extremely precious, and would definitely lose a little of its power each time it was opened. Hence, it would not be opened unless absolutely necessary. While he amused himself with such thoughts, Zhou Yuan smiled at the two girls and said, ¡°We should be able to move in two days, and head straight for the area the Cangxuan Heaven team is at.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Luluo cheered. They had been carrying a heavy burden all this time, and would at least not disappoint everyone¡¯s expectations when they finally returned with reinforcements. Zhou Yuan enjoyed the smiles that blossomed on their faces, before peering into the distance with expectant eyes. After so many years, he could finally see those familiar faces again. Senior brother Chu Qing, senior sister Li Qingchan, and all the fellow disciples that had protected me on the way back to the Great Zhou Empire. I hope that all of you are still doing well. ... After two days, the Tianyuan Region main force finally received a response from the other eight regions. With Zuoqiu Qingyu and Luluo guiding them, they began heading towards the north with one goal in mind: to rescue Cangxuan Heaven. Chapter 1121 Blood Pill There were numerous swamps in the forest which were inhabited by sinister ancient beasts. Danger lurked at every corner, making the entire forest one huge danger zone. Despite this, many tents had been set up in the forest. The tents were covered by leaves and branches to conceal their location. Figures could be seen hurrying about in the camp. A stifling atmosphere enveloped the place, everyone¡¯s faces filled with worry and fear. This was Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s temporary headquarters. In the past month alone, they had already changed locations over a dozen times like dogs that had lost their home... A figure was seated atop a sentry tower in the camp, his shining bald head an exceptionally eye-catching sight. Anyone who passed by would stop and cast a respectful gaze towards the bald figure. Because he was the current leader of the Cangxuan Heaven team. The Cangxuan Sect, Chu Qing. If not for his valiant efforts of repeatedly stopping the other side from chasing them over the past month, even more of them would have landed in the Sacred Palace¡¯s hands. It was rumored that the Sacred Race would refine live prisoners into pills to be consumed. It was extremely bloody and frightening. Aih¡­ Chu Qing rubbed his bald head. His face remained composed, but he sighed inwardly. He did not understand how he had become the leader of these people... When Li Xuan was rampaging through their ranks, he had no choice but to fight to protect the Cangxuan Sect disciples. Though there had been no conclusion to their battle, he could tell that Li Xuan was very astonished by his strength. After all, Chu Qing had never bothered to show his true power before, and seemed to wish he could be invisible forever. No one had expected the lazy baldy to possess strength that was no inferior to Li Xuan. Afterwards, the Cangxuan Sect were forced to keep retreating and relocating, while the Sacred Palace side relentlessly gave chase. Over the past month, countless clashes had erupted between both parties. In the past, Chu Qing would always find an opportunity to blend into the background, but whenever he appeared now, countless expectant gazes would look towards him. It was no longer possible to slack off! Chu Qing felt very tired and haggard recently. ¡°Stop wallowing in self-pity. How long has it been already!¡± A clear voice suddenly sounded behind him. Chu Qing turned his head and saw a slim figure. Her cold, beautiful face seemed to brighten the stifling atmosphere, causing numerous gazes to sneak glances from all over. The beautiful face, the cold aura. It was Li Qingchan. Li Qingchan shot a glance at him. She understood Chu Qing¡¯s character far too well. ¡°I¡¯ve been helping you deal with every single problem that arose between the various factions over this period, and all you do is show your face once or twice at an important juncture. What¡¯s so tiring? If you keep up this attitude, I''ll let you settle everything yourself from now onwards.¡± Chu Qing hurriedly climbed to his feet and displayed a simple smile, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like this, senior brother is wrong.¡± Li Qingchan was not in the mood to joke around. Her brows knitted tougher as she said, ¡°Some of the messengers we¡¯ve sent to search for help have returned, but none of them have anything good to report.¡± Chu Qing sighed. ¡°Nothing we can do about it. Guyuan Heaven is so huge, and it won¡¯t be easy to bump into factions from the other Heavens. Even if we somehow manage to meet them, they will likely be very reluctant when they hear about the Sacred Race. ¡°The situation...is not very good.¡± Li Qingchan was silent. The battle for Guyuan Heaven was far too cruel. It was the real thing, and not some training mission. This was a war between the Heavens, and as the weakest Heaven, their Cangxuan Heaven was naturally an easy target. ¡°Those damned Sacred Palace betrayers!¡± Li Qingchan grinded her teeth as her face twisted in anger. The Cangxuan Sect had also suffered casualties, several of which she even knew personally. Chu Qing took a deep breath as he gazed towards the dark and gloomy forest. His expression turned grave as he said, ¡°Junior sister, I¡¯ve been having a bad feeling recently...they have been relentlessly pursuing us for the past month, and don¡¯t seem to have any intention of letting us off. It just feels a little too coincidental every time we find an opening to breakthrough and escape.¡± Alarm rose within Li Qingchan. ¡°You mean they¡¯re purposely letting us escape?¡± Chu Qing slowly answered, ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Perhaps I¡¯m being too sensitive.¡± He stared at Li Qingchan as he continued, ¡°Junior sister, if it does come to that stage, I will buy some time while you and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples scatter and escape. Do everything you can to survive. As for the ancestral qi channels, don¡¯t think about them for the time being.¡± Li Qingchan¡¯s nails dug into her palms as her eyes turned somewhat red. She understood that if it did reach that stage, Chu Qing would use his life to protect them. This lazy first senior brother was usually unreliable, but when it came to the crunch, he would still step up to shoulder his responsibilities. Chu Qing sighed at Li Qingchan¡¯s appearance. Soon after, he smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, I might be wrong. Moreover, some of the people we dispatched still haven''t returned. Who knows, maybe a miracle will happen.¡± Li Qingchan bit her lip, but her heart was as gloomy as the forest. She did not see much hope. How can a miracle appear so easily... ... Meanwhile, in a valley some distance from the forest. The valley was covered in tents with guards continuously patrolling the area. A tall and handsome man was walking towards the deepest area of the valley. When the guards saw him, they bowed with respectful faces. He was the Sacred Palace captain, Li Xuan. Li Xuan¡¯s expression remained impassive, ignoring all of the bowing guards. When he arrived at the deepest part of the valley, a look of reverence appeared on his face. The look intensified, nearly turning fanatical when he finally caught sight of the two figures there. Li Xuan arrived behind the two figures and respectfully greeted them, ¡°Senior brothers.¡± The two figures turned around at his voice, revealing themselves to be two tall young men wearing friendly smiles. However, the terrifying undulations that faintly pulses from their bodies pressured even Li Xuan. These two members of the Sacred Race! They were the two Sacred Race subteam captains Li Xuan had seeked help from. Captain Ji Mo and vice captain Wei Tuo. They did not look much different from humans, but there were faint glowing patterns on his face. There was also what appeared to a vertical slit between their brows. Something seemed to be wiggling under the slit, giving off a strange sensation. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s junior brother Li Xuan.¡± Ji Mo smiled at Li Xuan. ¡°How¡¯s the progress? Are the Cangxuan Heaven people fleeing in the direction we planned for them?¡± Li Xuan nodded and respectfully said, ¡°Everything is going according to senior brother Ji Mo¡¯s plan.¡± Ji Mo nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Good. When they¡¯re all in position, we can reel in the net.¡± Li Xuan hesitated for a moment and asked, ¡°May I ask why senior brother Ji Mo is forcing them into that location? I feel that it might be better to finish them off as soon as possible. The longer we delay, the more likely trouble will come knocking.¡± By the side, Wei Tuo smiled as he stared at Li Xuan. However, the cold indifference in his eyes made one¡¯s heart shiver involuntarily. ¡°Junior brother Li Xuan, don¡¯t ask too many unnecessary questions. Just do as we tell you.¡± Under Wei Tuo¡¯s gaze, Li Xuan felt a chill run up his spine. He hurriedly nodded and said, ¡°Thanks for your teachings senior brother.¡± ¡°Hey, no need to be so serious Wei Tuo.¡± Ji Mo, who was dressed in green clothes, waved his hand. He gently pulled Li Xuan forward and pointed to a pit below. ¡°Hehe, come over and see this. Doesn¡¯t this sight relax you?¡± Li Xuan looked at the giant pit and immediately felt a chill rise from the bottom of his feet. A giant boiling cauldron rose from the pit, numerous ancient runes carved into its body. Figures, whose Genesis Qi was sealed, were currently being thrown into the cauldron one after another. The continuous shrieks and screams made one¡¯s hair stand on end. They were the Cangxuan Sect prisoners. Ji Mo was somewhat enraptured by this scene. Soon after, he beckoned with his hand and a ball of blood-red light shot out from the cauldron. It landed in its hand, transforming into a dozen red pills. He placed a pill in his mouth and gently chewed it, releasing a noise indicating enjoyment. ¡°As expected, Blood Genesis Pills made from humans taste better¡­¡± Ji Mo sighed deeply, before explaining to Li Xuan, ¡°This Blood Genesis Pill is the most popular blood pill in our Sacred Race. If consumed frequently, it will not only strengthen one¡¯s Genesis Qi but also one¡¯s physical abilities. It truly is a wondrous thing. ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s very difficult to find so many humans to refine these pills in our four Sacred Race Heavens. Hehe, the battle for Guyuan Heaven has really satiated my appetite.¡± His lips seemed to glisten with a blood-red glow, a sinister and strange sight. ¡°Does junior brother Li Xuan want to try one?¡± He smiled faintly as he offered Li Xuan a blood-red pill. Li Xuan¡¯s expression fluctuated a little, but when he saw the smile on Ji Mo¡¯s face begin to recede bit by bit, he reached out and accepted the pill. He quickly stuffed it into his mouth and swallowed with some difficulty. ¡°Haha.¡± Ji Mo laughed heartily before patting Li Xuan''s shoulder as if acknowledging him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry junior brother Li Xuan, you¡¯ve done a great service to the Sacred Race. After this is over, we will increase the support given to the Sacred Palace. When that happens, your Sacred Palace will become the ruler of Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°With our Sacred Race¡¯s support, who cares about the other Heavens and races?¡± ¡°When the Sacred Race unified Tianyuan World, all of the races will be nothing but livestock.¡± Li Xuan slowly nodded as a determined look flowed out in his eyes. That¡¯s right, the Sacred Race is the strongest race in this world. No race or faction will be able to withstand their power. Hence, the Sacred Palace¡¯s choice is right. Everyone should join the Sacred Race as soon as possible to ensure the survival of the human race. The only fate awaiting those stubborn fools is death. Chapter 1122 Battle in the Canyon This was a wide, seemingly endless canyon. Sharp cliffs rose like blades around it, piercing straight through the clouds. Inside, a giant raging river charged through like a white dragon. The river slammed into the surrounding cliff walls, making a thunderous boom akin to a dragon roar. Countless blasts of Genesis Qi were colliding in the canyon, the berserk undulations making the entire place tremble. Two sizable forces were currently fighting. Both sides were ruthless. Gravely injured figures plummeted from the sky with each pulse of devastating Genesis Qi, falling and disappearing into the river below... It was a desperate and bitter battle. These two warring groups were the Sacred Palace and Cangxuan Heaven main force. There was no mercy, only endless carnage. Blood sprayed everywhere, slowly dyeing the surrounding cliffs in a hideous blood-red. At a certain spot in this battlefield, three figures were gathered together. One of them was a tall and muscular bludgeon wielding man. A ferocious aura spread from every fibre of his body. Although he was at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, every swing of his giant bludgeon sent several same cultivation level enemies flying backwards. Ch! Space suddenly rippled as a flash of gray shot out, heading straight for the muscular man¡¯s nape. Clang! However, a wave of black Genesis Qi swept over just before the hit could land, blocking the sinister attack. The muscular man turned his head and grinned, ¡°Thanks, Zhen Xu.¡± A shady-looking young man had appeared behind the muscular man. He gave off a dark and evil aura, that chilled the surrounding air. He glanced at the muscular man and said, ¡°Ning Zhan, you should keep an eye out while fighting. You would have died long ago if I wasn¡¯t here to block so many sneak attacks.¡± The muscular man and the shady-looking man were Zhou Yuan¡¯s old friends, Ning Zhan and Zhen Xu. ¡°Moreover, our mission is to protect blindy, remember?¡± Only then did Ning Zhan look towards a certain spot further behind them, where a frail young man was silently standing. A piece of black cloth was wrapped around his eyes, and a mottled sword lay in his bosom. Ning Zhan awkwardly scratched his head as he forced a smile, ¡°Of course I remember!¡± His giant bludgeon swept forth once more together with a whirlwind of Genesis Qi, sending two charging enemies flying backwards again. Zhen Xu turned his gaze towards a nearby area, where an advanced Heavenly Sun expert from the Sacred Palace was wreaking havoc. In a few short breaths, a dozen people were injured at his hands. The advanced Heavenly Sun experts on their side were temporarily unable to lend their aid. After all, the battlefield was far too big... Blindy was naturally Li Chunjun. He grasped the hilt of his sword and slowly raised it as his hoarse voice sounded, ¡°Almost. I¡¯ll be depending on you guys after.¡± Fresh blood flowed down his fingertips, swiftly enveloping the sword. As it was dyed in blood, the spots on the sword began to fade one after another. In the end, the sword floated in front of him, seemingly breathing as it slowly tore apart the surrounding space. ¡°Go.¡± Li Chunjun made a sword seal and flicked. A flash of sword light shot forth, so fast that even Zhen Xu and Ning Zhan could only see its afterimage. The nearby Sacred Palace advanced Heavenly Sun expert¡¯s face abruptly changed as he quickly darted backwards to avoid. Bzz! Though he was fast, the sword was faster. Space rippled in front of him as light swept out and rapidly enlarged in his eyes. The advanced Heavenly Sun expert knew that there was no avoiding this attack. With a furious roar, Genesis Qi erupted from his body. His palm thrust through the air, accompanied by a surging tide of Genesis Qi. Ch! However, the advanced Heavenly Sun expert soon released a blood-curdling shriek. His arm was ripped to pieces by sword qi as his body was thrown backwards. He hurriedly turned around and fled, clearly gravely injured by the devastating attack. The nearby Cangxuan Heaven alliance members burst into cheers. ¡°What a pity¡­¡± Ning Zhan shook his head, feeling somewhat regretful. The advanced Heavenly Sun expert had been cunning enough to sever his arm at the very last moment. Otherwise, Li Chunjun¡¯s sword should have been able to take his life. Even so, it was a miraculous feat for an initial Heavenly Sun expert to seriously injure an advanced Heavenly Sun expert. After unleashing the sword, Li Chunjun¡¯s body began to tremble violently. Blood seeped from his clothes, and cracks had appeared on his arm. The sword qi had been too fierce and powerful for his body to bear. Li Chunjun retrieved the sword with trembling hands. He felt exceptionally weak. The attack had been a huge burden on him, and it was the last attack he would fire off today... Though the sword attack had been overwhelming, Li Chunjun had paid a painful price to pull it off. Ning Zhan and Zhen Xu knew that Li Chunjun was currently at his weakest. They immediately withdrew towards him to protect him. Ning Zhan¡¯s eyes scanned the surroundings. As he observed the battlefield, he grimly said, ¡°It¡¯s a deadlock, but the Sacred Race team has yet to join the fight¡­¡± Zhen Xu and Li Chunjun fell silent. The power displayed by the Sacred Race team previously had been far too astonishing. In mere moments, the alliance army had nearly fallen apart. Li Chunjun suddenly said, ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯re going to let us escape so easily this time.¡± Zhen Xu¡¯s and Ning Zhan¡¯s eyes narrowed as their expressions turned exceptionally grave. If Li Chunjun was right, the battle today would be more desperate than ever. Zhen Xu slowly said, ¡°Qinyu and Luluo haven¡¯t returned. I wonder how they¡¯re doing.¡± Li Chunjun shook his head. ¡°I heard that the others didn¡¯t bring back any good news. It seems that Cangxuan Heaven will have to overcome this by ourselves.¡± Zhen Xu suddenly said, ¡°We should think of a way to retreat.¡± Ning Zhan icily snorted as his bludgeon slammed into the ground, creating a mini crater. ¡°I rather die fighting than retreat.¡± Zhen Xu frowned. ¡°You¡¯ll only be a meaningless sacrifice. Why not consider withdrawing temporarily and coming back for revenge once you¡¯re stronger?¡± Ning Zhan did not respond, but the determination in his eyes made his stand clear. Retreat was not an option. Zhen Xu felt very frustrated. Even this bastard¡¯s brain is made of muscle. He¡¯s a stubborn idiot that only knows how to charge head-first into battle. However, what could they change even if they put their lives on the line? All they would do was add a few more cold corpses to the pile. Li Chunjun did not participate in the argument. He raised his head and looked upwards, where the fighting was the most intense. Only the strongest warriors on both sides could partake in this battle. He saw Chu Qing at the very front. Glowing shuttles danced around Chu Qing, taking the life of a Heavenly Sun expert with every flicker of their bodies. He had already become the rallying flag for the Cangxuan Heaven side. As long as he was there, Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s morale would never crumble. Unfortunately, Li Chunjun knew that even Chu Qing could not save them from this desperate crisis. Will Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s journey in Guyuan Heaven end in a tragedy today? Li Chunjun tightly gripped the sword hilt with trembling hands. How frustrating. Chapter 1123 The Plan Chu Qing stood in the air, golden shuttles zipping around him like birds. The shuttles gave off extremely deadly auras, leaving tears behind in the fabric of space as they passed by. Chu Qing stood at the center of the battlefield, making it very easy for his enemies to surround and attack him. However, every Genesis Qi attack that arrived was swiftly shattered by the golden shuttles. There was a focused look on his face as the golden shuttles occasionally shot forth, turning into deadly flashes of gold that pierced the Sacred Palace experts. Although the battle was currently in a deadlock, Chu Qing did not dare to relax. Instead, his brows knitted together a little. The Sacred Race team had yet to enter the battlefield. ¡°Attack!¡± Another small group of advanced Heavenly Sun experts charged towards him an assault formation. But before Chu Qing could respond, azure smoke surged out from behind him. Countless sparks blossomed in the smoke as torrents of fire swept through it, smashing into the advanced Heavenly Sun experts. Boom! The advanced Heavenly Sun experts were blown away back the explosions, their bodies charred black by the fire. Chu Qing turned his head, and saw azure smoke condense into a figure. It was a middle-aged man, bare-footed and with a pipe in his hand. He looked like a farmer working in the fields. When Chu Qing saw him, he cupped his fists together. ¡°Senior brother Mu Wuji.¡± Zhou Yuan would definitely be surprised if he was here, because Mu Wuji was also an old acquaintance of his. Mu Wuji was the one who guided Zhou Yuan to the Cangxuan Sect after leaving the Cangmang Continent. Back then, Mu Wuji had been at the Divine Dwelling stage, but had now reached the peak of the Heavenly Sun stage after several years of cultivation. He was one of the Cagnxuan Sect¡¯s strongest Heavenly Sun experts. Mu Wuji gazed at the chaotic battlefield with a grave expression. ¡°Junior brother Chu Qing, the Sacred Palace practitioners are fighting far too desperately. Something feels wrong. Moreover, the Sacred Race team has yet to move.¡± Chu Qing nodded. ¡°I¡¯m afraid this will be our final battle.¡± Mu Wuji¡¯s heart sank. Chu Qing slowly said, ¡°I¡¯ve already made preparations with junior sister Qingchan. Once things turn sour, she will escape and scatter with the Cangxuan Sect disciples. As for the others, there¡¯s not much we can do.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± asked Mu Wuji. Chu Qing grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll be staying behind of course to accompany that traitor Li Xuan.¡± Mu Wuji could see the killing intent in Chu Qing¡¯s eyes. He clearly intended to perish together with Li Xuan. After all, Li Xuan was the main reason for Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s current predicament. ¡°Whose the first?¡± asked Chu Qing. ¡°That brat Zhou Yuan, of course. Heh, I was the one who guided him into the sect back then.¡± Mu Wuji felt somewhat proud. However, he soon realized something and glared at Chu Qing. ¡°Don¡¯t change the topic!¡± Chu Qing chuckled. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan huh, I can accept that. After all, he¡¯s the first person to gather all seven Cangxuan arts.¡± However, as he watched Mu Wuji¡¯s face slowly turn stern, Chu Qing could only helplessly say, ¡°Senior brother, I have to stay behind. Otherwise, even less of the Cangxuan Sect disciples will be able to escape. ¡°I also wish to be useful to the sect in the future, but the situation does not allow it. ¡°No one else can stop Li Xuan. Moreover, the two Sacred Race captains have yet to move. They seem to enjoy watching us kill each other, or maybe, they feel it is beneath them¡­¡± Mu Wuji fell silent as sorrow filled his face. ¡°We truly were frogs watching the sky from the well that is Cangxuan Heaven...there¡¯s just too huge of a gap between Cangxuan Heaven and the other heavens.¡± Chu Qing sighed. There was nothing he could do about this. Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s weakness was not something that could be changed in the short term unless they could produce an expert that could stand at the apex even among all the heavens. Only such an existence would be able to change Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s current situation. But Chu Qing understood it was not practical to believe in such a possibility. After all, it was something even patriarch Cang Xuan had been unable to achieve. Chu Qing raised his head and looked towards a certain tall peak far away. He could just barely make out three silhouettes which belonged to Li Xuan and the two Sacred Race captains. He tightly clenched his fists as iciness flashed in his eyes. ¡°What exactly are you guys planning?¡± ... ¡°Senior brothers, what are we waiting for? This should be the best time for us to finish them off.¡± Li Xuan could not help but ask as he gazed at the enormous battlefield. The Sacred Palace forces were currently engaging the Cangxuan Heaven factions in fierce combat, and had already suffered tremendous losses. Many disciples had died in the canyon, their bodies swallowed by the raging river below. But the Sacred Race team, Ji Mo and Wei Tuo were still not moving. Li Xuan¡¯s heart ached for the fallen disciples, not because he cared, but because they were his to command. Every disciple that died would shave away his power. Ji Mo ignored Li Xuan, focused instead on the crystal ball in his hand. Blood-red dots were emerging in the crystal ball, slowly dyeing it red. He observed it for a long time before a smile finally rose from the corners of his mouth. Ji Mo seemed to be in a pretty good mood. With a smile, he asked, ¡°Junior brother Li Xuan, didn¡¯t you ask me why we forced the Cangxuan Heaven forces here?¡± Li Xuan immediately displayed a curious expression. Ji Mo pointed at the canyon and grinned, ¡°Because there¡¯s a high grade ancestral qi branch channel hidden deep under this canyon!¡± ¡°High grade branch channel?!¡± Li Xuan¡¯s heart shook violently. They had discovered a few branch channels previously, but all of them had been low grade. Even so, they had reaped substantial benefits. If a low grade branch channel was already so amazing, the intermediate ones would naturally be much better. As for a high grade branch channel, Li Xuan had not even considered it before. Ji Mo was telling him that there was a high grade branch channel hidden under the canyon? How could this not shock him? ¡°How does senior brother Ji Mo know?¡± Li Xuan could not help but ask. He had not sensed any peculiar undulations, so why was Ji Mo so certain? Ji Mo softly chuckled. ¡°The Sacred Race understands Guyuan Heaven far better than your five lower heavens.¡± Five lower heavens was what the Sacred Race called the other five heavens. The four heavens occupied by them were naturally referred to as the four upper heavens. From this, one could see just how superior the Sacred Race felt they were when compared to the other races. ¡°However, the high grade branch channel is hidden very deeply, and ordinary methods will not be able to force it out. We can only set a bait to entice it¡­¡± Ji Mo smiled as he pointed towards the bloody battlefield. ¡°They are our bait.¡± Li Xuan¡¯s face twitched a little. ¡°Senior brother Ji Mo intends to induce an Earth Disaster to dig out the high grade branch channel?¡± Ji Mo smiled and nodded. Li Xuan said in admiration, ¡°Senior brother Ji Mo is so smart!¡± However, his heart was bleeding inside. Many of the Sacred Palace forces were also dying for this plan. Ji Mo did not care what Li Xuan thought. Still smiling, he kept the crystal ball and looked towards the battlefield. His tone was gentle, but the killing intent in his voice turned the surrounding air ice-cold, ¡°It¡¯s about time... ¡°Go. No need for prisoners this time. Kill them all.¡± As his hand fell, figures slowly rose into the air behind him. A terrifying pressure swept forth like the tide, enveloping the entire canyon. Chapter 1124 Rising Against the Tide In an instant, countless powerful Genesis Qi light beams shot into the sky. Figures rose into the sky one after another behind Ji Mo. This was the Sacred Race subteam he led. Wei Tuo indifferently said, ¡°Kill all of these pigs.¡± ¡°Attack!¡± Several thousand Sacred Race experts cast their gazes towards the battlefield, their eyes filled with cruelness and bloodlust. In their eyes, the races of the other heavens were merely livestock to be slaughtered. The Sacred Race was the true rulers of the Tianyuan World! Rumble! The Sacred Palace team fanned out, seemingly filling the sky, before plunging into the battlefield. With the Sacred Race team¡¯s entry, the tides instantly began to turn. The Cangxuan Heaven alliance force was swiftly crushed, figure after figure falling like flies from the air. It was a very tragic sight. Red blossomed in the giant river below, dyeing it dark red. Despair emerged on the faces of the alliance force. Some individuals lost their courage, crumbling inside as they desperately dashed towards the Sacred Race team while shouting out their surrender. However, they were met by merciless blasts of Genesis Qi. Bodies were blown apart and turned into bloody chunks. Chu Qing¡¯s fingers dug into his flesh. He lowered his head and looked towards a certain corner of the battlefield, where Li Qingchan was leading the Cangxuan Sect disciples. Their gazes met for an instant, before he took a deep breath and began moving forward against the fleeing alliance army. He knew that if no one stepped up to cover their backs, the entire Cangxuan Heaven alliance force would be annihilated. Everyone else desperately ran away, while Chu Qing advanced alone. It was an extremely moving yet tragic scene. The eyes of Li Qingchan and the other Cangxuan Sect disciples had turned red, several female disciples trying their best to muffle their crying. Azure smoke condensed behind Chu Qing, revealing Mu Wuji¡¯s figure. ¡°I can¡¯t let you die alone.¡± He sighed. ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing, don¡¯t forget about us!¡± Several advanced Heavenly Sun experts also rushed over and landed behind Chu Qing. Their expressions were determined, ready to face their deaths. Chu Qing gave a slight nod. He did not speak and merely continued to move forward. The other top experts of the five great sects finally realized Chu Qing¡¯s intentions, causing them to fall silent for a moment. They quickly said something to their fellow disciples before appearing behind Chu Qing one after another. They understood that someone needed to step up at such a time. The Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Chu Qing had dared to step forward. How could they not do the same? Li Xuan mockingly said, ¡°What a touching scene. Chu Qing, do you really think that your efforts will have any use?¡± Chu Qing did not reply. His bald head glowed as hair began to grow, falling behind him like a black cape. His hair looked like a million black spikes as they gently swayed in the wind. Chu Qing coldly said, ¡°Li Xuan, not everyone likes to be someone else¡¯s dog like your Sacred Palace. ¡°You should be careful. If you kneel too long, you might no longer be able to get up.¡± Li Xuan¡¯s expression darkened. Before he could speak, a hand reached out from behind and patted his shoulder. Ji Mo moved past Li Xuan, looking at Chu Qing with an amused smile, ¡°How admirable. However, my favorite pastime is to break unyielding pigs like you. ¡°Since you don¡¯t like to kneel, forever crawl on the ground like worms.¡± His gaze swept past Chu Qing, looking towards the elite Cangxuan Heaven disciples. ¡°I can give the others a chance. I promise not to kill whoever manages to capture him.¡± He pointed towards Chu Qing. However, no one responded. There only an ice-cold determination in their gazes as they stared at Ji Mo. Everyone who decided to follow Chu Qing was naturally ready for death. All they hoped for now was to delay the enemy even a second longer to buy more time for the disciples behind to escape. Ji Mo¡¯s smile grew even wider. Soon after, he shook his head. ¡°A bunch of foolish pigs. Since that is the case... ¡°Kill them all.¡± He waved his hand. Rumble! Astonishing killing intent erupted from the Sacred Palace and Sacred Race members behind him, before they swarmed forward like a wave. They were like a giant black cloud that blotted off the sun, spreading the smell of death. Chu Qing gazed at the vast army charging towards them. He took a deep breath and shouted, ¡°For Cangxuan Heaven! To our deaths!¡± ¡°For Cangxuan Heaven! To our deaths!¡± ¡°To our deaths!¡± ¡°...¡± Shouts rang out one after another. Chu Qing led the charge, only determination visible on his face, no trace of his past laziness. Behind them, Li Qingchan and the many Cangxuan Sect disciples displayed sorrowful expressions. They quickly turned to run, not wanting to waste any of the precious time Chu Qing and the others were buying for them. Rumble! However, the piercing sound of rushing wind was suddenly heard from the horizon. The sound grew louder and louder, becoming akin to rumbling thunder as it swept over from afar. The entire canyon seemed to tremble faintly. This sudden turn of events alarmed both sides. Every gaze turned towards the noise in bewilderment. The eyes of countless people violently shrank. They saw numerous figures appearing in the sky. These figures seemed to cover the horizon as they flew over, the scale not the least bit inferior to the Sacred Race team. ¡°This is?¡± Li Qingchan and the Cangxuan Sect disciples dazedly stared at the giant force that had suddenly appeared as they began to tremble. Chu Qing forcibly stopped himself, his expression changing rapidly as he looked at the enormous group that was swiftly flying towards them. From their Genesis Qi pressure and aura, they were obviously no ordinary faction. Was this an enemy or a friend? Ji Mo frowned as he gazed at the arriving army. His expression turned cold. The new arrivals were not weaker than them. He took a step forward as his indifferent voice boomed like thunder, ¡°I am Ji Mo of Shengling Heaven¡¯s Sea Subduing Hall. Who are you?!¡± His voice powerfully rippled through the air. Under countless bewildered gazes, the new group got into a formation and parted in the sky. A path was revealed and a youthful figure walked out. When the figure walked out, the sword in Li Qingchan¡¯s hand slipped from her hand as shock filled her usually frosty face. Li Chunjun, Zhen Xu and Ning Zhan also dazedly stared at the figure, the latter two even rubbing their eyes. Ning Zhan mumbled, ¡°Are we seeing things?¡± ¡°He looks like¡­¡± However, the majority had blank looks on their faces. After all, it had been many years since Zhou Yuan left Cangxuan Heaven. Besides a handful that knew him, no one else could recognize him. Hence, they were utterly confused by the shocked reactions of Li Qingchan, Li Chunjun and the others. However, their confusion did not last long. As the youthful figure walked forward, his calm voice that seemed to give off a feeling of pressure echoed across the sky, ¡°Hunyuan Heaven, a grand elder of the Tianyuan Region... ¡°Cangxuan Sect Chosen, Zhou Yuan is here!¡± Chapter 1125 Cangxuan Sect’s Chosen ¡°Cangxuan Sect Chosen, Zhou Yuan is here!¡± When a voice echoed throughout the great valley, countless people from the Cangxuan Sect opened their mouth soundlessly, particularly disciples of the Cangxuan Sect. Their faces were crossed with shocked disbelief. ¡°Cangxuan Sect Chosen, Zhou Yuan?!¡± They didn¡¯t quite understand Zhou Yuan''s first sentence, but his identity was clear from his last sentence. He¡¯s also from the Cangxuan Sect? The majority of the Cangxuan Sect disciples who could stand here were more senior than Zhou Yuan and were higher-ups within the sect when Zhou Yuan made a name in the Cangxuan Sect. Therefore, they always looked at Zhou Yuan proudly like a younger brother. When Zhou Yuan left Cangxuan Heaven, his name gradually faded from the sect over the years and only very few people ever mentioned his name, except for some of his friends. But when they heard his name again, the dazzling achievements he had gained in the Cangxuan Sect involuntarily flashed to their minds. ¡°It really is him!¡± Zhen Xu and Ning Zhan looked at each other, Immediately, even Zhen Xu, who always had a gloomy personality, showed a hint of excitement in his eyes. Li Chunjun also raised his head, facing the same direction with his eyes covered by a black cloth. However, he was focussed on something else. ¡°That Genesis Qi indeed belongs to Zhou Yuan. Moreover, he has become so strong that even the sword qi in my body is trembling, as though it sensed indescribable danger.¡± Zhen Xu and Ning Zhan also shuddered. Although Li Chunjun, like them, was only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage, they knew that Li Chunjun''s combat strength far surpassed theirs. After all, not all initial Heavenly Sun experts were capable of killing advanced Heavenly Sun experts, even if the advanced Heavenly Sun experts were relatively ordinary. But they had never heard Li Chunjun appraise someone in such a way. Not even Chu Qing. But right now, Li Chunjun commented on Zhou Yuan in this way. In other words, Zhou Yuan had reached a level far beyond them. Ning Zhan tightly clasped his iron rod and slowly said, "It seems that he has been doing well these years.¡± Zhou Yuan''s appearance equally shocked Li Qingchan. She never expected an old friend would come save them at such a critical moment. Moreover, others might not understand Zhou Yuan''s first sentence, but she did. "Hunyuan Heaven, Tianyuan Region¡¯s grand elder?¡± It seems he has been in Hunyuan Heaven all these years? Li Qingchan had heard that the most powerful forces in Hunyuan Heaven were overseen by Saint experts and their grand elders were Law Domain experts, which were the same level as sect master Qing Yang! Faced with such shocking facts, even Li Qingchan, who was always calm and composed, was left speechless. What has Zhou Yuan done over the years? ! However, in addition to shock, a relieved smile also lit up her icy face. She swept a glance over the panicking Cangxuan Sect disciples beside her, and said in a serious voice, "We are saved!¡± "Senior brother Zhou Yuan, can he really do it?" asked another disciple anxiously. After all, the Sacred Race team was too strong that they felt despair. Li Qingchan nodded firmly, staring at the vague slender figure in the distance. ¡°If it¡¯s someone else, I¡¯m not sure. But I absolutely believe he can!¡± This was because Li Qingchan had witnessed too many miracles from Zhou Yuan. The other forces from Cangxuan Heaven were also whispering to one another at that moment. Some Heavenly Sun experts also faintly remembered Zhou Yuan¡¯s name that once reverberated throughout Cangxuan Heaven, and they couldn¡¯t help look enviously at the former Cangxuan Sect Chosen who had been doing very well after disappearing for many years. ¡°He went to Hunyuan Heaven? Why did he become a grand elder of the Tianyuan Region?¡± Mu Wuji was also dumbfounded. Tianyuan Region grand elder? What kind of identity is that? He really couldn''t connect that position with the youngster who he introduced into the sect. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen this kid in just a few years, but he has become so strong,¡± muttered Mu Wuji, and immediately after, his eyes lit up. If Zhou Yuan had come alone, he might not be able to change the situation much, but he was a grand elder of the Tianyuan Region and the powerful force before him must be the Tianyuan Region team. "It seems we won''t have to die now.¡± Mu Wuji grinned at Chu Qing. Chu Qing said a little helplessly, "This guy came at such an untimely moment. My emotions were already brewing but he suddenly interrupted them.¡± Although he said this, the relaxed corners of his eyes exposed his joy. He wasn¡¯t concerned about his own safety, but he hoped more people of Cangxuan Heaven could survive with Zhou Yuan leading the Tianyuan Region team to intervene. ¡°Cangxuan Sect Chosen, Zhou Yuan?¡± On the opposite side, Li Xuan from the Sacred Palace scrunched his brows in a frown. Zhou Yuan¡¯s name has had a vague impression on him before because Zhou Yuan had defeated even the Sacred Palace¡¯s Jiang Taishen and Wu Huang, and made impressive achievements. But Li Xuan didn''t care too much. After all, in his view, they were like children quarrelling over rankings and weren''t worthy of his attention. But he never expected the person who had been missing for many years would appear at such a time. Moreover, he was afraid of the Hunyuan Heaven team behind Zhou Yuan. "Who is that person?" Ji Mo asked. Li Xuan hurriedly explained, "That person used to be a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, but was later driven out of Cangxuan Heaven by our Sacred Palace. It seems that he fled to Hunyuan Heaven.¡± "Then why did he say he¡¯s a grand elder of the Tianyuan Region?¡± Ji Mo frowned. From what he knew, the Tianyuan Region grand elders were all at the Law Domain stage, but Zhou Yuan was evidently far from that level. Li Xuan shook his head hesitantly. ¡°It might just be a lie.¡± Ji Mo said expressionless, "It doesn''t matter whether it''s a lie or not. Since the Tianyuan Region team has arrived, they will disrupt our plan.¡± Their Shengling Heaven was ranked third among the four heavens of the Sacred Race and Hunyuan Heaven was the leader of the lower five heavens, so even if Ji Mo was arrogant, he couldn¡¯t underestimate them. Fortunately for him, only the Tianyuan Region team and not the other eight regions of Hunyuan Heaven. It was clear that even Ji Mo knew about the Tianyuan Region¡¯s deterioration over the years. He raised his head and swept an indifferent gaze over Zhou Yuan, saying, "Everyone of Hunyuan Heaven, you and I have never interfered in each other¡¯s business. If you turn around and leave now, I will be happy to make friends.¡± Ji Mo paused for a moment before he continued, ¡°I hope you can calmly think about the consequences of being an enemy of my Sacred Race.¡± The battlefield fell silent, and many Cangxuan Heaven people¡¯s expressions changed indefinitely. They knew Ji Mo was threatening them, but they could vividly feel the fear brought up by the words Sacred Race. In this world, no force can easily ignore that fear. They turned to the young man standing in the forefront of the Tianyuan Region team. Can the former Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect really endure such pressure? Under many gazes, Zhou Yuan remained calm and he slowly lifted one finger. Buzz! Platinum Genesis Qi swiftly gathered around his fingertip, turning into a shaft of light and shot out. Boom! The Genesis Qi light beam brushed past Ji Mo¡¯s shoulder and crashed into a mountain wall, blasting the wall apart. Ji Mo''s hair fluttered, but his face didn¡¯t ripple at all. He knew that Zhou Yuan had shown his answer through action. So, a smile cracked over his lips and that smile was chilling. "If you want to die, then I will fulfil your wish." ¡°Lowly pig!¡± Chapter 1126 Tes So in their view, Zhou Yuan was asking for death. Zhou Yuan, however, seemed to not notice the many contemptuous gazes. He smiled at Ji Mo and said, "I wonder how you plan to let me die. "Do you want to come up and play? I am also very curious to see what¡¯s so great about the Sacred Race?¡± A faint light flickered in Ji Mo''s eyes as he studied Zhou Yuan for a moment. Then, he smiled mockingly. "Are you sure you¡¯re the leader of the Tianyuan Region team? An intermediate Heavenly Sun expert?¡± He detected Zhou Yuan''s cultivation level. His remark drew loud laughter from many Sacred Race experts, and the contempt in their eyes intensified. Has the Tianyuan Region deteriorated to such a state that even someone at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage could become the leader? Do they have no other people? The various experts from Cangxuan Heaven stared at Zhou Yuan in bewilderment. The former Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect is only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage? But, in truth, he is already considered very talented since he could achieve this in a few years. After all, Zhou Yuan''s peers, such as Li Chunjun and Zuoqiu Qingyu, who were equally talented, were still only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage. Although Li Chunjun took an alternative route and was able to display strength of the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, it had a huge burden on him and he wasn¡¯t considered a true top-tier advanced Heavenly Sun expert. Even if Li Chunjun erupted with terrifying strength, he was still no match for top advanced Heavenly Sun experts such as Chu Qing. Among the Cangxuan Sect young generation, only Chu Qing had reached the advanced Heavenly Sun stage. This was because the Cangxuan Sect had opened up for him the Saint Tower, a treasure that old ancestor Cangxuan left for the Cangxuan Sect. It was said to have a limited number of times which it could be opened. Therefore, it was impressive that Zhou Yuan could reach the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. Even so, an intermediate Heavenly Sun expert couldn¡¯t change the present situation. But fortunately, no one was too disappointed about this. After all, they had never truly placed their hopes on Zhou Yuan from the beginning. They, however, were optimistic about the powerful and fierce Tianyuan Region team led by Zhou Yuan. It was just that the expressions on the Tianyuan Region team members¡¯s face surprised them a little. They didn¡¯t show any anger towards the opponents who mocked Zhou Yuan, and instead they wore strange expressions. Ji Mo stared contemptuously at Zhou Yuan. But he didn¡¯t plan to respond to Zhou Yuan''s provocation, because in his opinion, that would lower his status. He tilted his head slightly, and Wei Tuo immediately understood what he was thinking. "There is no need for me to do it myself, right? Just send any advanced Heavenly Sun expert,¡± He said. Ji Mo explained, "I want a crushing killing. I want the leader of the Tianyuan Region team devastatingly killed in front of everyone. This will greatly impact their morale. ¡°So, it¡¯s safer that you take on the challenge.¡± Wei Tuo was obviously reluctant, but Ji Mo was the captain and he couldn¡¯t refuse. He cast an icy stare at Zhou Yuan. ¡°I will make him regret coming here.¡± With a slight movement, Wei Tuo appeared on a boulder in front of Zhou Yuan like a ghost. His face was dark and unpleasant, and he had no intention of saying a word. He simply stomped his foot, and a vast amount of Genesis Qi soared into the sky like a torrent while three glass Heavenly Suns loomed behind him. A Genesis Qi pressure that twisted countless people¡¯s faces with fear swept across the air. Given the intensity of the Genesis Qi, it was at least at the level of 2.7 billion! His Genesis Qi foundation was very close to that of Wang Xuanyang and others¡¯! ¡°Zhou Yuan, be careful!¡± Chu Qing solemnly reminded. The pressure brought by Wei Tuo''s Genesis Qi made even people like Chu Qing who were outside felt suffocating. "Aren''t you going to help him?!" Mu Wuji was so worried that he couldn¡¯t help shouting to Qin Lian and the others who were standing in the air watching. ¡°No need to worry.¡± Qin Lian smiled at him seeing his anxious face. Zhou Yuan had previously single-handedly defeated Li Zhu. Moreover, He was much stronger than before, so Qin Lian wasn¡¯t worried that Wei Too could threaten Zhou Yuan. Mu Wuji''s face twitched uncontrollably. Don''t worry? Wei Tuo''s Genesis Qi pressure is so strong that it¡¯s difficult to breathe. Also, Zhou Yuan is only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage! At that moment, Mu Wuji even suspected that they wanted to deliberately kill Zhou Yuan. In contrast to Chu Qing and Mu Wuji, Zhou Yuan was incredibly calm. There was only a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Wei Tuo should be only the second strongest in the Sacred Race team in front of him. But his Genesis Qi foundation is close to Wang Xuanyang¡¯s. It should be said that Wang Xuanyang was second only to Guan Qinglong in the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage. ¡°They say that Shengling Heaven is ranked third among the four heavens of the Sacred Race and the Sea Subduing Hall is an overlord-like force. I can tell the Sacred Race¡¯s strength is remarkable and unfathomable since a heaven ranked third could compete with Hunyuan Heaven, the strongest heaven of the non-sacred races. "But I couldn''t force Ji Mo down to fight.¡± Zhou Yuan was a little disappointed. His goal was actually Ji Mo. If he could kill him, the morale of the Sacred Race would inevitably decrease and it would reduce the damage to his team if a battle breaks out between them. Boom! While Zhou Yuan was in deep thought, Wei Tuo''s cold gaze like a venomous-snake locked on his body. The next moment, the mountain beneath his feet began to crumble and boulders tumbled down the mountain. Wei Too shot out like a lightning bolt with 2.7 billion Genesis Qi stars roaring behind him, like a deadly monster descended upon the world. Rumble! Although Wei Tuo was contemptuous of Zhou Yuan, he didn¡¯t hold back at all. He mercilessly threw out a punch, shattering space, and several spatial fragments revolved around his fist like wind. ¡°Nine Void Fragments!¡± Not only did he unreservedly reveal his Genesis Qi foundation, he performed a killing move. Nine hurricane-force winds revolved around him, each one more powerful than the previous as it got closer to the center like nine tremendous beasts. He constantly shattered the void where he passed. Shrouded by such a terrifying offensive, everyone on the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s side of the great valley stood aghast. Chu Qing gritted his teeth and was about to help out. But just as he moved he felt a chilling and terrifying aura locked him to the spot. Chu Qing looked up to see Ji Mo staring down coldly at him like a venomous snake eyeing his prey. Chu Qing''s face darkened. He knew that it was impossible for him to help Zhou Yuan now. "Junior brother Zhou Yuan, you have to be careful." Unable to do anything, Chu Qing could only stare worriedly at Zhou Yuan. Under countless terrified gazes, Zhou Yuan simply smiled in anticipation. He wanted to test out what kind of level his strength would reach if he fought without any reservation. As a result, he balled his hand into a fist, and a low voice sounded in his mind. ¡°Promotion.¡± Chapter 1127 Expose Astonishingly powerful Genesis Qi swept across the void and displayed its terrifying destructive power, shattering space and mountains where it passed. On the great valley battlefield, everyone from Cangxuan Heaven watched the battle with their faces scrunched up in worry. "Qingchan, isn¡¯t Chosen Zhou Yuan too arrogant?" An advanced Heavenly Sun expert beside Li Qingchan whispered. But even if Wei Tuo was aggressive, overbearing and imposing, Li Qingchan just stared at the slender young figure and said through gritted teeth, ¡°Zhou Yuan was never a reckless person, he must have confidence in winning since he accepted the challenge.¡± The advanced Heavenly Sun expert could only smile bitterly when he heard Li Qingchan¡¯s words. He of course had heard about Zhou Yuan¡¯s name and reputation before, but he didn¡¯t care too much because he was already at the Heavenly Sun stage then and didn¡¯t think much about battles of the Alpha Origin stage. But Zhou Yuan was going to face a top enemy of the Heavenly Sun stage! Wei Tuo''s Genesis Qi foundation was at the terrifying level of 2.7 billion. If Zhou Yuan were to face him, Wei Too could suppress Zhou Yuan to the point that he couldn¡¯t move with Genesis Qi alone. On the other hand, Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. Given the gap between them, how could others relax? ¡°What is Zhou Yuan doing? Can he really stop that person of the Sacred Race?" Ning Zhan couldn''t help mumbling. Zhen Xu slightly furrowed his brows. His rationality told him that the gap between the two should be huge and that Wei Tuo could kill any ordinary intermediate Heavenly Sun expert on the spot, but he wasn¡¯t so certain about Zhou Yuan. He pondered for a moment and finally gave a more pertinent answer, ¡°Zhou Yuan should have some means to deal with him. At the very least, he wouldn¡¯t be beaten to death.¡± Ning Zhan looked at Li Chunjun again and said, "What do you think?¡± Li Chunjun thought for a moment before he answered, "I think Wei Tuo might be killed.¡± His words suprised both Ning Zhan and Zhen Xu. They didn¡¯t think Li Chunjun would give such a shocking answer, which they didn''t even dare to think about. Zhen Xu finally couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Intuition.¡± Zhen Xu and Ning Zhan were speechless. Boom! While they were discussing the battle, Wei Tuo had appeared in front of Zhou Yuan and punched out with berserk storm-like Genesis Qi wrapped around his fist. Space exploded with that punch. "Lowly pig, you dare act tough in front of my Sacred Race?!¡± Wei Tuo''s face grew hideous and sinister, and his eyes were filled with pleasure, because he knew that Zhou Yuan would explode into blood foam under his punch. His corpse would be utterly destroyed. The corners of his mouth also curved upwards. Boom! It was at that moment he erupted with a platinum Genesis Qi storm and his Genesis Qi foundation soared at an indescribable speed. It soared to 2.8 billion in just a few breaths! It surpassed Wei Tuo¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation! Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was already near 2.1 billion before the battle, which was a huge increase compared to before he came to Guyuan Heaven. That foundation, coupled with his Promotion Rune, had allowed Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation to reach a terrifying level. ¡°What?!¡± The terrifying Genesis Qi erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body caused Wei Tuo¡¯s expression to change dramatically and twisted in shock. That bastard is only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, so how could he erupt with such terrifying Genesis Qi? What kind of secret art could achieve this? Wei Tuo roared in his mind. An indescribable feeling of danger gushed to his heart. This made Wei Tuo know that Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack carried the aura of death. But Wei Tuo didn¡¯t lose his rationality from the shock. His expression abruptly changed and he immediately burst out laughing, ¡°Pig, you pretended to be a pig to eat the tiger, but it¡¯s a pity that you underestimated my sacred race!¡± Wei Tuo instantly folded one hand into a seal and activated the secret art he had been secretly preparing. Although he had disdain for Zhou Yuan, he, in truth, had prepared for the worst. He originally thought he wouldn¡¯t need to use those preparations, but now he should be thankful for his usual cautiousness. ¡°The Great Wave Layers!¡± With a roar, Genesis Qi rolled up behind him and his foundation climbed again to the level of 2.9 billion, surpassing Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Boom! The space around him shattered constantly from the terrifying Genesis Qi pressure. "No matter what means you have, a pig will always be a pig!¡± Wei Tuo roared as he slammed out his fist, sending a tremendous wave of Genesis Qi gushing straight towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan watched the wave speed towards him without a ripple on his face, but the smile on his lips slowly intensified. "Is this all you have?" His smile seemed a little strange. ¡°I¡¯m sorry but it''s still not enough.¡± Then, the seal that he had prepared finally formed. ¡°Earth Saint Rune!¡± Buzz! The ground quaked, followed by an endless stream of berserk force coming up from the depths of the earth and rushing madly into his body through his feet. Zhou Yuan''s body quivered violently, his blood bubbled and the ground around his feet constantly cracked. But what made Wei Tuo''s expression change dramatically was that Zhou Yuan''s 2.8 billion Genesis Qi foundation soared once again, reaching the level of 3 billion amidst countless stunned gazes! "How is that possible?!" Even Wei Tuo exclaimed. He couldn''t believe that someone at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage could raise his Genesis Qi foundation to such a level! Boom! But no matter how aghast he was, Zhou Yuan erupted with all his Genesis Qi and no longer defended tenaciously. He stood on tiptoe and snow-white hair broke out from his soles and covered his feet. ¡°Genesis Breaker The snow-white color quickly turned a deep, dark color. Chi! Like a heavy hammer, when Zhou Yuan aimed a kick at Wei Tuo, it shattered the space ahead of him and was wrapped in countless spatial fragments. The power of kick could split even a mountain into two parts. Facing such power, Wei Tuo had no room to retreat anymore. He understood he had to face it head-on for a chance to survive. He hoped that perhaps Zhou Yuan''s power would be some kind of illusion to deceive him! "I don''t believe a lowly pig can surpass a heaven pride of the Sacred Race!¡± Wei Tuo''s eyes were fierce and ruthless as he circulated all his strength. Then, an arc of sunlight collided with the foot wrapped in spatial fragments. Boom! A thunderous noise resounded from the impact, and the entire great valley quaked violently. Berserk Genesis Qi shock waves immediately followed and severed everything as they passed including the great river. All eyes were fixed on the source of the collision. There, the two forces seemed to be in a stalemate, and then everyone¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. This was because they saw that Zhou Yuan''s figure remained motionless like a boulder under the collision. On the other hand, Wei Tuo unleashed a tragic scream and half his body exploded to pieces, filling the air with blood. Bang! His body was blasted back from the impact of the destructive force and directly rammed into the great valley. Wherever he passed, mountain walls fell apart as though a divine giant hatchet was opening up another mountain stream in the great valley. The noisy battlefield fell silent and only rushing water from the great river could be heard. Countless people stared aghast at the fissure that ran through the great valley and then at the figure embedded into the mountain wall at the end. It was Wei Too, but half of his body was destroyed and his blood stained the mountain wall red. Seeing this, let alone the various forces from Cangxuan Heaven, even the sacred race team members, who wore mocking expressions before, froze for a moment. Mountain wind whistled across the great valley. The countless figures frozen in shock finally came back to their senses gradually. They looked at the young figure standing atop the mountain and trembling emotions surged from their hearts to the top of their skulls, causing their scalp to numb for a moment. Who would have thought that a top expert from the Sacred Race would be defeated from an intermediate Heavenly Sun expert¡¯s kick. Chapter 1128 Abnormal Intermediate Heavenly Sun Stage It was just that there was still utter silence in the valley, and countless people were staring blankly at the huge fissure that appeared across the valley, especially the figure embedded into the mountain wall at the very end of the fissure. At that moment, Wei Tuo looked indescribably tragic and no longer had half the imposing manner or arrogance he had before. Gulp. Li Qingchan, who always cared about her image, also clapped her small hand over her mouth and gulped. Although she knew Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t a reckless person from the start, she never thought Zhou Yuan could send the deputy captain of a Sacred Race team flying with one kick. He was a terrifying enemy with a Genesis Qi foundation of 2.7 billion and had used a secret means to increase it to the level of 2.9 billion! A Heavenly Sun expert of such a level could crush all Heavenly Sun experts in the entire Cangxuan Heaven! Even someone as strong as Chu Qing would likely be crushed facing Wei Tuo. Who would have thought the battle would end in such a way. The advanced Heavenly Sun expert from the Cangxuan Sect next to Li Qingchan wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, hands trembling and muttering, ¡°I understand what your emotions were like back then when such a monster appeared in your generation.¡± Zhou Yuan was clearly only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage but his Genesis Qi foundation could soar to the level of 3 billion! What other words could describe him besides monster? He and other Heavenly Sun experts in Cangxuan Heaven didn¡¯t quite understand why the younger generation would revere Zhou Yuan so much In the past, but now he understood. Sometimes, such a monster was just for people to worship and revere. "Compared with him, us advanced Heavenly Sun experts are nothing.¡± Experts from other forces of Cangxuan Heaven also finally snapped out from the shock and smiled wryly. They previously felt that Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation level didn¡¯t quite match with his reputation, but now they realized they were too narrow-minded and that Zhou Yuan¡¯s intermediate Heavenly Sun stage and the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage they imagined were not the same. Ning Zhan and Zhen Xu looked at each other and then simultaneously turned to Li Chunjun, who was standing silently beside them, and said indifferently, ¡°I thought the gap between us would be closed when we meet again, but it seems we were too naive.¡± There wasn¡¯t much of an expression on Li Chunjun¡¯s face when he heard their words. He just gave a faint smile and said, ¡°I think it''s good. He is my goal. The farther he goes, the more motivated I am to catch up to him.¡± Li Chunjun seemed taken aback. After a moment, the iron sword in his arms quivered and wisps of the piercingly sharp sword qi shot towards Ning Zhan. Ning Zhan couldn¡¯t evade in time and the sword qi tore his robe to pieces, exposing his sturdy upper body. With a howl of rage, Ning Zhan swiftly took out a robe from his spatial bag and put it on. But he didn¡¯t dare to provoke Li Chunjun again. That guy''s sword qi is so painful when struck! ¡°You deserved it,¡± remarked Zhen Xu. That guy is so stupid to say it out loud. He should be smarter like me and keep it to himself. But he still felt Li Chunjun''s piercing sword-like gaze on him as such a thought appeared in his mind. So Zhen Xu said with a frown, ¡°Blind Sword, don¡¯t go too far, can''t I even think about it?¡± Veins throbbed on Li Chunjun''s forehead, and then, a gush of sword qi swept towards the two. "This is too abnormal, right?" In mid-air, after staying silent for a long while, Mu Wuji finally said with difficulty. Although Chu Qing was equally stunned, he soon snapped out of it when he recalled the many miracles that Zhou Yuan made in the past. He shrugged his shoulders, saying, "In truth, it can be regarded as normal. ¡° "Junior brother Zhou Yuan had actually done many similar things in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Mu Wuji couldn''t help saying, ¡°But Wei Tou is a powerful enemy with a Genesis Qi foundation that can reach 2.9 billion! It¡¯s 2.9 billion! You know that no one in Cangxuan Heaven at the Heavenly Sun stage has ever reached that level in hundreds of years. Zhou Yuan defeated someone of that level with a kick.¡± His flushed face showed how great of an impact that Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory had on him. Chu Qing also understood and said with a smile, "But don¡¯t our Cangxuan Heaven have one now? Besides, it was you who introduced him to the sect. Speaking of which, you made a great contribution to the sect. ¡° Although Zhou Yuan was now cultivating in Hunyuan Heaven, he was born from Cangxuan Heaven. This was an unchangeable fact. Mu Wuji was taken aback and then immediately grinned. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± However, they had to admit that their tensed up hearts gradually relaxed after Zhou Yuan''s kick. Zhou Yuan showed the various forces in Cangxuan Heaven that he is capable of reversing the almost overturned situation with his strength. Compared with the incomparable shock the various forces from Cangxuan Heaven felt, the Sacred Race team was extremely enraged and frightened. Angry and cold gazes cast towards Zhou Yuan like blades. The Sacred Race was arrogant and regarded all other races as dogs, so they had a condescending attitude even when they faced the Tianyuan Region. They thought that Wei Tuo would instantly defeat Zhou Yuan and kill him, but who would expect the result was that Wei Tuo suffered a crushing defeat? The contrast was too great that it was too hard for the Sacred Race to accept. However, in addition to shame and anger, there was also fear in their hearts. After all, they had witnessed Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi soar to the level of 3 billion. It was almost impossible for such a foundation to appear on an intermediate Heavenly Sun expert. After witnessing such a power, even heaven prides of the Sacred Race had to admit that Zhou Yuan was indeed a great enemy! But Wei Tuo was defeated, and it was unlikely any one of them could suppress Zhou Yuan. As a result, everyone cast hopeful gazes toward Ji Mo. Under those many gazes, Ji Mo retracted his indifferent gaze from the miserable-looking body of Wei Tuo in the distance and waved his hand. Several Sacred Race experts darted out to retrieve Wei Tuo who was seriously wounded. Ji Mo shifted his gaze to Zhou Yuan and said indifferently, "I really underestimated you. I didn''t expect there to be a person like you in the human race.¡± Even Ji Mo was a little apprehensive of Zhou Yuan, a talent who could reach such a level at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. Among the four heavens of the Sacred Race, only the sacred heaven prides from the strongest Shengzu Heaven could be compared to him. Killing intent uncontrollably rose from the bottom of Ji Mo¡¯s heart. That boy is only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage yet he possesses such strength. If he reaches the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, he will likely reduce the Sacred Race¡¯s harvest in Guyuan Heaven. He previously thought that Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t qualified to show up here, but now he had to admit his mistake. Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory had greatly raised the morale of Cangxuan Heaven and the Tianyuan Region and impacted the sacred race¡¯s morale. If he didn''t stand up soon, the situation could spiral out of control. Ji Mo fixed his eyes on Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You are now qualified to play with me. ¡°How about this; if you can endure one of my attacks, I will let go of the entire Cangxuan Heaven? ¡°What do you say? Do you dare accept this challenge?¡± A smile bloomed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. "Your thoughts are the same as mine. How about you take one of my moves?¡± The two stared at each other and smiled, but the killing intent beneath that smile was almost palpable. It was also at that moment that a rainbow light emerged in the depths of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. The vertical rune on the center of Ji Mo''s brows also squirmed slightly. An austere atmosphere filled the entire valley and even the great river running through the valley was on the verge of freezing. Chapter 1129 Sacred Pupil At that moment, even the arrogant Sacred Race team members grew more cautious. This was because the strength that Zhou Yuan demonstrated made them have no choice but to draw away from the arrogance they had before. Both sides didn¡¯t want to start a war because they knew that both sides would suffer great losses once a battle breaks out and that would benefit other teams. Just as the other five heavens of all races were in a competitive relationship, the four heavens of the Sacred Race similarly had many competitions among them. However, Li Xuan of the Sacred Race was the one who found it most hard to accept. He had almost wiped out the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s great army but someone suddenly appeared and blocked his path. Li Xuan glared at Zhou Yuan''s figure with a trace of fear flickering in the depths of his eyes. He always gave a snort of contempt when he heard how Zhou Yuan suppressed the younger generation of the Sacred Palace and thought Jiang Taishen and the others were such trash. But it was only now that he understood how unlucky they were to face Zhou Yuan. It was simply sad to be in the same generation as such a person. But the saddest thing was that Li Xuan also began to experience that feeling. "This guy is strong, but fortunately senior brother Ji Mo is here. He can definitely suppress him.¡± Li Xuan shifted his gaze to Ji Mo again, and the awe in his eyes intensified. As long as Ji Mo could suppress Zhou Yuan, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s morale would be hugely impacted and their situation would be turned around. As everyone withdrew from the great valley battlefield, countless people cast nervous and tense gazes towards the two figures facing each other on the battlefield. Everyone knew that the match between these two would determine the outcome of the battle. Under countless watchful gazes, Ji Mo slowly hovered into the air as he stared at Zhou Yuan. However, the contempt he showed earlier was completely gone. Although he still exuded the arrogance of the Sacred Race, he knew that such arrogance had little effect against an opponent like Zhou Yuan. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan from the Tianyuan Region, am I right? If you retreat now, I can let you take away those people from the Cangxuan Sect,¡± said Ji Mo indifferently. A commotion suddenly broke out in the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s great army. The non-Cangxuan Sect people scrunched their faces in worry. They didn¡¯t think Ji Mo, who was always arrogant, would take a step back. But they were relieved to see Zhou Yuan shaking his head calmly and saying, ¡°I will take everyone.¡± Ji Mo shook his head in disappointment. "Humans don''t know how to appreciate kindness.¡± "Since that''s the case, then die!¡± As Ji Mo¡¯s voice faded, his eyes turned chilling and Sacred blood with flecks of golden light trickled down from his fingertips, sketching out an ancient golden rune in space in just a few breaths. The golden rune took shape, turned into a shaft of golden light and shot towards the centre of Ji Mo''s brows. ¡°Activate the Sacred Pupil!¡± Ji Mo¡¯s voice resounded like thunder. Boom! All the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth was seemingly rioting. The Sacred Race team members all stared in awe at the center of Ji Mo¡¯s brows because the Sacred Pupil was the most distinct sign of the Sacred Race, and only when one had cultivated their blood to the strongest state would one be able to activate it. Moreover, the Sacred Pupil was considered as one of the Sacred Race¡¯s remarkable abilities and had boundless powers. Amidst stunned gazes, the vertical rune in the center of Ji Mo¡¯s brows slowly opened, revealing a vertical pupil flickering with golden lights. Everyone felt indescribable fear flooding them when they saw the pupil, whether it was people from Cangxuan Heaven or the Tianyuan Region. The vertical pupil that contained no emotion was like a divine eye coldly watching all living beings and could destroy any living being with its power. The Genesis Qi between heaven and earth surged frantically. Qin Lian and the others were also aghast by the strange phenomenon. What kind of power is capable of causing such a phenomenon in the world?! Even Qin Lian, who had utmost confidence in Zhou Yuan, felt a little worried after seeing such a strange scene. Ji Mo was evidently much stronger than Wei Tuo! Ji Mo stood in space with his hands clasped behind his back, staring indifferently at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Since you saw my Sacred Race¡¯s Sacred Pupil, you can die without any regret now.¡± Zhou Yuan looked rather solemn as he studied Ji Mo¡¯s vertical pupil because he could faintly see two star-like objects slowly revolving around his pupil in a strange formation. A feeling of danger surged to Zhou Yuan''s heart. The power of the Sacred Pupil was terrifying. When Ji Mo''s voice faded, the world fell silent for several breaths before a vast amount of Genesis Qi wildly gushed over and the two star-like spots in the vertical pupil suddenly grew brighter. A drop of golden blood rolled down from the corner of Ji Mo''s eyes, as though forming a strange rune on his face. Then he performed a seal. "Sacred Pupil, Light of Obliteration!¡± Om! A dark light beam shot out from the Sacred Pupil. That light beam was silent, but the moment it shot out, the entire sky dimmed as though it swallowed all light. Everything turned to powder wherever it went. The people from the Cangxuan Heaven and the Tianyuan Region were all horrified because such a powerful offensive was simply unheard of. Many worried and nervous gazes focused on Zhou Yuan. They didn''t know how Zhou Yuan would tackle such a terrifying offensive. As everyone fixed their gazes on Zhou Yuan, he drew a deep breath and closed his eyes slightly. Within his Divine Dwellings, the gourd silhouette that lied between illusion and substance pulsed slightly, and the ray of flowing rainbow light within it gradually grew brighter till it finally burst out with a screech. Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes and held one hand out in front of him, palm facing up, and said softly, ¡°Precious treasure, please show yourself.¡± Om! A ray of rainbow light suddenly rose from the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Although the light was faint, the darkness that shrouded the world was instantly cut apart when it appeared. Chapter 1130 Desperately Fighting Everyone who saw the light felt an indescribable chill running down their spine. That chill was combined with the aura of death and nothing in the world could stop it when it rises. Countless people trembled. Even Qin Lian, Chu Qing and others with similar strength as them revealed a look of fear. The rainbow light exuded a terrifying and dangerous aura, and under that aura, they felt that no matter what means they use they wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand such a light. ¡°What kind of technique is that?!¡± Qin Lian knew that Zhou Yuan''s strength had rocketed during this period, but she never imagined that Zhou Yuan could master such a terrifying Genesis Art. Zhou Yuan had never performed such a technique in the past! She felt that she no doubt would be killed if she were to face the rainbow light. "Could it be a real Saint Genesis Art?!¡± Qin Lian''s eyes widened. Saint Genesis Art was the supreme Genesis Art and its power was extremely terrifying. But they were extremely rare because only Saint experts could create Genesis Arts of such a level. In the entire Hunyuan Heaven, only a handful of people possessed the strength to create such a Genesis Art. Moreover, the cultivation of a Saint Genesis Art was equally extremely difficult. Let alone those at the Heavenly Sun stage, there were few at the Nascent Source stage who could master such difficult art. Only Law Domain experts could use them as their trump cards. However, the mysterious rainbow light that Zhou Yuan displayed was likely a Saint Genesis Art! It was extremely rare to see someone at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage cultivate a Saint Genesis Art. However, considering Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity, it was a little understandable. Zhou Yuan¡¯s master and senior brother were both Saint experts. No one in the entire Hunyuan Heaven was as lucky as him. Qin Lian¡¯s tensed body finally eased a little. Ji Mo¡¯s Sacred Pupil art was terrifying, but Zhou wouldn¡¯t necessarily be afraid of him if he held a Saint Genesis Art. Zhou Yuan intently watched the rainbow light soar into the sky and cut through the darkness. The light seemed weak, but from the aura it exuded, no one would dare underestimate it. This could be considered the strongest technique he had ever used. That kind of power, scared even him. However, even if its power was so terrifying, the rainbow light wasn¡¯t a complete form. After all, Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t cultivated it for long, and it could only be regarded to be in its embryonic stage. Therefore, it was hard to imagine what sort of scene would appear once the seven complete rainbow sword lights of the Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd were cultivated and appeared at the same time? At that time, there was nothing it couldn''t sever. ¡°That guy has some ability.¡± Ji Mo also noticed the terrifying aura the rainbow light exuded. His indifferent face had turned much colder and there was an addition of fear in his eyes when he looked at Zhou Yuan. He never thought there would be someone like Zhou Yuan in the human race. "But I don''t believe you can stop the Sacred Pupil of my Sacred Race.¡± Ji Mo had great confidence in the Sacred Pupil that the Sacred Race took pride in. Shua! He closed his hands abruptly and the black light beam that penetrated the void sped up, aiming directly for the rainbow light streaking across space. ¡°Watch how the power of my Sacred Pupil destroys your hopes!¡± Countless gazes gathered in space, intently watching the earth-shaking collision about to happen. However, just as everyone held their breath nervously, Zhou Yuan''s eyes were filled with flowing light and his seal suddenly changed. Swoosh! The rainbow light ray that was about to collide with the black light beam suddenly changed its position, and moved directly parallel to the black light beam. It was headed for Ji Mo! On the other hand, the Light of Obliteration pointed towards Zhou Yuan! Hua! Countless aghast voices rang out across heaven and the earth. No one expected Zhou Yuan to be so decisive and ruthless. He showed no intention of blocking the Light of Obliteration and wanted to fight Ji Mo directly! ¡°That''s too dangerous!¡± Countless people¡¯s scalps numbed. The best decision would be to destroy the light beam of obliteration with his rainbow light, but Zhou Yuan planned to take a risk and fight Ji Mo with everything he had! Ji Mo''s expression also changed slightly as he watched the rainbow light rapidly whizzed through the air. He also didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to be so fierce. "You really want to die! With your strength, how can you withstand my Light of Obliteration?!¡± Ji Mo''s expression changed and his face darkened. But he wasn¡¯t an ordinary person and he soon recovered his composure after a few breaths. "If you want to die, I will fulfil your wish. I don''t believe you, an intermediate Heavenly Sun expert, can compete with me in terms of defense! ¡°Let¡¯s see which of us will withstand!" Ji Mo folded his hands into a seal in lightning speed and the Genesis Qi within his body suddenly surged. He lifted his hand into the air and countless tortoise shell-like fragments appeared around him, whirling rapidly and at the same time building a powerful defence. Many people trembled at the scene. No one thought Zhou Yuan would be so tough. They were both at the edge of a cliff and they could suffer heavy losses with the slightest carelessness because the Light of Obliteration and the rainbow light were Ji Mo and Zhou Yuan¡¯s strongest means and mustn¡¯t be underestimated. It was just that the people from Cangxuan heaven and the Tianyuan Region were a little worried and restless because although Zhou Yuan was extraordinary, he was still only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. He would still be at a disadvantage facing a top advanced Heavenly Sun expert like Ji Mo. Would his plan be effective? But they also knew it was too late to say anything and the only thing they could do was to pray that Zhou Yuan could withstand the Light of Obliteration. Or perhaps Ji Mo failed to withstand Zhou Yuan¡¯s rainbow light. Everyone kept silent, regardless whether they were from Cangxuan Heaven, Tianyuan Region or the Sacred Race. The Light of Obliteration and the rainbow light reflected in their eyes. Only the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth was frantically pulsing. Under thousands of intent gazes, the dark light beam appeared before Zhou Yuan and was about to pierce through him like a strand of hair of the God of Death. The rainbow light appeared in front of Ji Mo and slashed down. The whole world fell utterly silent at that moment. Chapter 1131 Each Show Remarkable Ability When the rainbow light appeared above Ji Mo and slashed down, a tremendous endless sword mark wildly extended out from beneath Ji Mo''s feet. The sword mark was as deep as an abyss, and the cut across the ground was as smooth as a mirror, splitting everything apart. As the rainbow light approached, Ji Mo felt the power contained within it was increasingly apparent and he had never looked that solemn and serious before. His body tensed up, and he circulated the Genesis Qi in his body without any reservation Chi! A thousand layers of Genesis Qi shrouded him. But Ji Mo soon discovered that this had no effect. His Genesis Qi defense disintegrated like paper as the rainbow light descended. Ji Mo retreated with lightning speed as horror filled his eyes. At the same time, he flung his sleeve and threw out several defensive Genesis Qi treasures to form a line of defense again. But as before, they were no use. Boom! Boom! Boom! Countless people cast nervous, tense gazes at Ji Mo, who constantly drew back as the stream of rainbow light chased after him and instantaneously destroyed any defense that Ji Mo brought out. Such destructive power made many people¡¯s scalps feel numb. In less than ten breaths, Ji Mo''s many means were all expelled. His face turned ashen and a look of sheer terror washed over his face. The power of Zhou Yuan¡¯s rainbow light far exceeded his imagination. This made him feel a little regretful. If he had known that Zhou Yuan was so tricky to deal with, he wouldn''t have gotten into a conflict with him here. But a conflict had broken out and it was too late to change anything. Moreover, Ji Mo wasn¡¯t an overcautious person. His expression suddenly changed and his face bore a look of determination. He had to kill Zhou Yuan no matter what price he had to pay. Otherwise, once Zhou Yuan reached the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, Ji Mo had no confidence to compete with him again. Zhou Yuan must die today! "My ray of obliteration light will definitely be able to destroy him, but his rainbow light also has the power to eliminate me, so I must withstand it first!¡± Ji Mo sighed deeply, a flicker of coldness and mockery appearing in his eyes. "Zhou Yuan, Zhou Yuan, your talent is remarkable and you are indeed a heaven pride of the human race, but unfortunately, you have underestimated the natural means of my Sacred Race.¡± "Do you really think the fact my Sacred Race can suppress all other races is false?!¡± Pa! Ji Mo suddenly folded his hands together, forming an ancient seal. As the rainbow light slashed through the air towards Ji Mo, the obliteration light beam that contained destructive power also aimed towards Zhou Yuan. The light beam annihilated everything where it passed. Everyone stared in utter shock at the two deep rifts that appeared across the great valley. The destructive power made even advanced Heavenly Sun experts shudder inwardly. They were at the Heavenly Sun stage but the gap between them and Zhou Yuan and Ji Mo was too great that it was simply indescribable. If those two offensives were launched at them instead, they likely would suffer considerable damage, no matter which side they were on. But the question right now was who, Zhou Yuan or Ji Mo, could withstand the opponent¡¯s destructive offensive? They all understood that the one who survived will be the winner. The world fell silent and all eyes were on the end of the two abyss-like rifts. Who withstood in the end? Bang! It was during that silence that several boulders suddenly exploded and a dark hole appeared in the depths of the deep sword mark, followed slowly by a figure. When the figure appeared under countless nervous gazes, the people from the Tianyuan Region and Cangxuan Heaven all turned pale-faced while the Sacred Race team erupted in earth-shattering cheers. This was because the person who came out was Ji Mo! It was just that Ji Mo looked rather miserable with a deep sword wound across on his chest, which almost split him apart. But regardless of the severity of his injuries, at least Ji Mo withstood the terrifying rainbow light in the end. Under countless shocked gazes, Ji Mo expressionlessly glanced down at the injuries on his body and couldn''t help but clench his fists. No one had noticed that the Sacred Pupil at the center of his brows had closed and the vertical rune at the center of his brows also dimmed to the point that it was almost invisible. He had to pay a heavy price to withstand Zhou Yuan''s destructive sword light. The Sacred Pupil was an innate supernatural power of the Sacred Race that can nurture and develop many amazing arts. Moreover, Ji Mo¡¯s Sacred Pupil had developed a Death Substitute Art, which meant any critical damage to him could be transferred to his Sacred Pupil. But this also meant the Sacred Pupil would be severely injured and would be in a sealed state for a long period. This period could be forever. Ji Mo''s eyes blazed with fury. Even if he was mentally prepared to pay such a price, his heart still ached. Hu Ji Mo drew a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his heart. Although the price he paid was heartbreaking, fortunately, he had eliminated a powerful enemy. Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent was too demonic. If he were to reach the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, he undoubtedly would become the Sacred Race¡¯s strongest enemy in Guyuan Heaven. Therefore, they could avoid any future troubles by eliminating him now. Ji Mo lifted his head, sweeping a cold gaze over Cangxuan Heaven and Tianyuan Region teams, and immediately, he curled his lips in a bloodthirsty smile and said, "It seems that he isn¡¯t your savior today. Don¡¯t worry, when we capture you all, we will refine all of you into blood pills and not waste anything!¡± Hearing Ji Mo¡¯s chilling and murderous voice, the teams of Cangxuan Heaven and Tianyuan Region all felt a chill surging in their hearts. Pu! However, just when Ji Mo''s voice fell, a faint strange sound suddenly sounded. The voice was subtle, but it resembled a clap of thunder when it fell in everyone''s ears, because that voice came from the deep crack behind them. Shua! Countless people followed the noise with astonished gazes. Then, they trembled when they saw the ground tore apart at the very end of the rift and an arm slowly stretched out. A figure climbed out from underground, shaking off the mud on his body. That figure also looked very miserable. There were red lines spread all over his upper body and emitted strong heat. Snow-white hair constantly rustled down from his body, burying his feet. There was a large black scorched mark on his chest and his flesh there showed signs of burning. It was Zhou Yuan! Although he looked miserable, his appearance still halted the cheers in the Sacred Race team and their arrogant gazes immediately turned terrified. They couldn''t believe Zhou Yuan could survive Ji Mo''s strongest attack! Hua! This time, the people from the Tianyuan Region and Cangxuan Heaven burst into deafening cheers, and countless gazes brimmed with joy and excitement as they fell on Zhou Yuan. Amidst the earth-shattering cheers, Zhou Yuan shook off the mud and snow-white hairs on his body, raised his head, and smiled at Ji Mo who was standing dumbstruck. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Chapter 1132 Bluffing Ji Mo was in a state of shocked disbelief when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure as though struck by lightning. ¡°Zhou Yuan actually withstood my light beam of obliteration?! Impossible¡­impossible!¡± Ji Mo, who was always calm and indifferent, also lost self-control. His face twisted into a hideous expression. He only managed to endure Zhou Yuan¡¯s rainbow light with the help of the Death Substitute Art from his Sacred Pupil. In other words, Zhou Yuan¡¯s rainbow light could have killed him. But even if he survived in the end, he had to pay a heavy price¡ªhis Sacred Pupil was in a sealed state. Ji Mo was confident that his obliteration light beam wasn¡¯t in any way weaker than Zhou Yuan¡¯s rainbow light. But he was only able to withstand Zhou Yuan¡¯s light beam with the help of his Sacred Pupil, so how could Zhou Yuan stand alive in front of him? ! Ji Mo balled his hands into fists, his expression dark and unpleasant. He thought he had already overestimated Zhou Yuan, but now it seemed his overestimation was still too conservative... The Sacred Race team didn¡¯t even utter a sound, and the shock on their faces was much stronger than Ji Mo¡¯s. After all, they all knew how strong Ji Mo was. Ji Mo was no doubt the strongest in the Heavenly Sun stage in their heaven and among the best even in Shengzu Heaven, the strongest heaven of the Sacred Race. Therefore, they couldn¡¯t understand how Ji Mo would suffer such losses in the hands of Zhou Yuan, who was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. As members of the Sacred Race, they were all arrogant and viewed other races as dogs. Therefore, they never expected such a powerful person would appear in the human race they despised. When gazes shifted to Zhou Yuan again, the contempt that filled them before had silently disappeared and replaced by intense hostility and killing intent. The Sacred Race were enemies with the other races in the Tianyuan World because the Sacred Race had no intention of co-existing with the other races. They wanted to be the only ruler of the Tianyuan World and the other races must become their slaves if they wanted to survive. Therefore, the more outstanding Zhou Yuan was, the more the Sacred Race should eliminate him. They all had the same thought, but no one dared to act recklessly. The miserable-looking young figure in the distance brought tremendous pressure to them. This was because they could tell the sacred rune in the center of Ji Mo¡¯s brows had dimmed significantly, and it was obvious that Ji Mo paid a heavy price to withstand Zhou Yuan¡¯s rainbow light. This was clear from the chaotic Genesis Qi circulating around his body. Although they didn¡¯t want to admit it, they knew in their hearts that the situation was spiralling out of control. As he lifted his hand, a silver liquid swiftly gathered in his palm and turned into a silver ball. There were countless ancient patterns on the ball, which was naturally Silver Shadow. The only thing was that Silver Shadow looked particularly dull and was half its size compared to before. This was because Silver Shadow acted as a shield for Zhou Yuan to withstand Ji Mo''s Light of Obliteration. Of course, even if it had cultivated the Great Flame Devil, it still wasn¡¯t enough to withstand Ji Mo¡¯s ultimate move alone. It was only able to survive because Zhou Yuan had activated the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune when the Light of Obliteration struck him. His Law Domain directly halved the light beam¡¯s power. But even so, the light still pierced Silver Shadow and wounded Zhou Yuan. He had thereby activated the Great Flame Devil and the Heavenly Yuan Brush to protect his body. Without his Law Domain and the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan would have been hesitant in taking on the obliteration light beam. Zhou Yuan stored away Silver Shadow, and under countless gazes, peered in Ji Mo¡¯s direction, saying, "It seems the ending is a little different from what you thought.¡± Ji Mo''s face darkened, and after a while, he said indifferently, "You indeed surprised me. I didn''t expect there to be someone like you in the human race.¡± Zhou Yuan''s piercing gaze fell on the center of Ji Mo''s eyebrows, and he smiled. ¡°It seems you paid a heavy price to block my attack?¡± ¡°Your injuries also aren¡¯t light, right?" "A lot better than you." Zhou Yuan smiled. The two taunted back and forth, seeming to test how severe each other''s injuries were. Ji Mo finally sighed indifferently. He was silent for a moment, and then said, ¡°Zhou Yuan from Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Tianyuan Region, is that right? I will remember you, I admit that I underestimated you. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder that Hunyuan Heaven became the head of the lower five heavens. Even the deteriorating Tianyuan Region produced someone like you.¡± When Zhou Yuan heard the high and mighty attitude from Ji Mo¡¯s words ¡®lower five heavens¡¯, Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help chuckling. "We don''t accept the name lower five heavens.¡± The corners of Ji Mo¡¯s lips curved contemptuously. ¡°I know you¡¯re not happy, but that is the truth. My Sacred Race occupies four heavens of the nine heavens in the Tianyuan World and is countless times stronger than your five heavens. The blessings of the universe are also within my Sacred Race. So, it isn¡¯t something a little Heavenly Sun expert like you can change. ¡°When you are weak, you have to accept it. Don''t try to challenge an existence that you cannot bear." He waved his hand dismissively as though didn¡¯t want to say anything else to Zhou Yuan again. "You have some abilities since you didn''t die in my hands today...Fine, the people from the Cangxuan Heaven can leave. When I see you next time, I will make you try the strength of my Shengling Heaven.¡± Li Xuan from the Sacred Palace wanted to say something, but he was deterred by Ji Mo''s chilling gaze. The Sacred Race team members whispered to each other, and in the end remained quiet and obeyed Ji Mo¡¯s command. On the Cangxuan Heaven''s side, many people burst into cheers and cast respectful and grateful gazes at Zhou Yuan. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reversed the tides, the Sacred Race wouldn¡¯t have let them go so easily. Qin Lian and other Tianyuan Region members relaxed slightly. If they were to clash with the Sacred Race team, there would be inevitable damage to them. Therefore, it was already considered the best result to be able to save the Cangxuan Heaven people without a fight. Zhou Yuan stared at Ji Mo, narrowing his eyes. Ji Mo¡¯s expression changed when he saw that Zhou Yuan still hadn''t left. ¡°What? Why aren¡¯t you leaving? I have already notified the rest of the Shengling Heaven. Once they come you won¡¯t be able to leave!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled in response to Ji Mo''s threat. He gazed at the great valley destroyed in the battle with a strange expression Then, he lifted his head and gave Ji Mo a smile. ¡°How about this¡­you take your people away and leave the great valley for my Tianyuan Region team.¡± Fury and killing intent burst forth Ji Mo¡¯s eyes when he heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. Chapter 1133 Forced to Retrea Terrifying killing intent gushed forth from Ji Mo''s body, causing the temperature in the great valley to plummet. "What did you say?" Ji Mo stared coldly at Zhou Yuan like a venomous snake. His every word created an oppressive pressure. The Sacred Race team behind him looked terrifying with a fierce glint in their eyes and powerful Genesis Qi surging around them. They didn''t expect Zhou Yuan to be so arrogant. They had already taken a step back and asked him to leave with his people, but he dared to tell them to get out of this place! The Tianyuan Region team was also a little puzzled as to why Zhou Yuan would irritate Ji Mo in such a way. Given the situation, it was already great to be able to retreat peacefully. Under Ji Mo¡¯s and many other murderous gazes, the smile on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face faded and his expression turned icy and contemptuous. ¡°I said take your people and get out of here immediately!¡± While talking, he stepped forward. Earth Saint Rune! Om! Vast Genesis Qi gushed up from the earth and poured into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. With the clench of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his grip and an astonishing Genesis Qi pressure pervaded the great valley. That imposing pressure suppressed the Sacred Race team for a moment. ¡°Do you really think I don¡¯t know what situation you are in now? Do you think I don¡¯t know much combat strength you have left?¡± Zhou Yuan sneered, pointing his Heavenly Yuan Brush towards Ji Mo. "If you have the courage, come and play with me again!¡± The corners of Ji Mo''s eyes twitched and his face turned even fiercer. He didn''t expect Zhou Yuan to be so arrogant. But what he was most annoyed with was how Zhou Yuan knew what his current state was. He had suffered severe damage after his Sacred Pupil was sealed. Although he looked perfectly fine on the outside, the Genesis Qi within his body was already rioting. But he had forcibly suppressed all this, so how could Zhou Yuan know about it?! Ji Mo glared at Zhou Yuan and asked again, "Zhou Yuan, do you really intend to fight to the death with my Shengling Heaven?¡± Zhou Yuan said indifferently, ¡°Ji Mo, the more you are like this, the more you confirm my speculation. "It seems that you are really weak now. ¡°Also¡ª" He swept a glance across the great valley, the corners of his mouth curving upwards in a mocking smile, ¡°Is this your purpose of driving the people from Cangxuan Heaven to this great valley like sheep? What a good plan.¡± Chu Qing and the others puzzledly scanned the great valley. They were vaguely aware of the Sacred Race team¡¯s intention before but they still couldn¡¯t understand what was so special about this place. Seeing Ji Mo''s expression changing, Zhou Yuan smiled. "Isn''t it just a high-class ancestral qi vein? What¡¯s the need to conceal this.¡± Ji Mo''s heart sank. This bastard really knows! Hua! But those words stirred up shock from the Tianyuan Region and Cangxuan Heaven teams, and they all ran their gaze across the great valley in disbelief. There is a high-class ancestral qi vein here?! Neither the Tianyuan Region team or Cangxuan Heaven team has found an ancestral qi vein of such a level yet! Ji Mo was silent for a good while, and finally stopped trying to cover up the truth. ¡°You are indeed very smart, but don¡¯t even dream of making us retreat. I have already notified the other forces of Shengling Heaven and they will be here very soon. Let¡¯s see who will die then,¡± he said coldly. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡±It just so happens that I have also notified other teams from Hunyuan Heaven. Our heavens can compete then.¡± In truth, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t believe that Ji Mo had informed the other Shengling Heaven teams because high-class ancestral qi veins were very rare and anyone who found one would want to enjoy it alone. If he were to notify other forces that would reduce his share significantly. Especially since Ji Mo had an arrogant personality, he must have felt Cangxuan Heaven was nothing to be feared and that he could perhaps even swallow the Tianyuan Region team. Therefore, how would he notify the other forces of Shengling Heaven to come over to help when he was so confident? Perhaps Ji Mo did have such a thought now, but it was too late. When reinforcement from Shengling Heaven comes, the high-class ancestral qi vein would have been taken already. Of course, Zhou Yuan also didn''t notify the other Hunyuan Heaven teams for a similar reason as Ji Mo. They both only said that to scare each other. Ji Mo''s eyelids twitched, and the anger in his heart blazed like a raging flame. He glowered at Zhou Yuan, hating the fact that he was unable to tear him to pieces. However, Zhou Yuan didn''t say anything else to him. His face turned solemn and cold killing intent filled his eyes. ¡°Teams of the Tianyuan Region and Cangxuan Heaven, prepare to attack! "The Sacred Race is ruthless. If you want to avenge your comrades, we have to make them pay with blood!¡± When Zhou Yuan''s cold voice resounded in the great valley, Qin Lian unhesitatingly signalled with a wave of her hand. The Tianyuan Region team erupted with Genesis Qi without any reservation and a mighty pressure shrouded this side of the world. The people from Cangxuan Heaven also assembled into battle formation. As Chu Qing stood in front of everyone, his thorn-like hair fluttered with the wind and his expression grew austere. ¡°A debt of blood must be paid in blood.¡± ¡°A debt of blood must be paid in blood.¡± The various forces from Cangxuan Heaven roared. Ji Mo had captured many of their comrades and refined them into blood pills. The blood feud must be settled. They couldn¡¯t stand a chance before and could only retreat in embarrassment, but now that Zhou Yuan had stabilized the situation, how could they continue to retreat?! Countless roars echoed across the great valley, causing it to quake violently. The Sacred Race and Sacred Palace team members¡¯ expressions changed when they saw their opponents¡¯ momentum and fighting spirit soar. Mom importantly, they felt that their pillar, Ji Mo, was no longer as bold and fierce as before. They would no doubt suffer heavy losses from the opponents¡¯ fierce counterattacks. ¡°Ji Mo, since you don''t want to leave, stay here to be buried!¡± Zhou Yuan tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush and mighty Genesis Qi roared into the sky like a giant platinum dragon. He lifted his hand into the air, and a weak rainbow light appeared in his palm once again. Ji Mo¡¯s pupils shrank rapidly when he saw the faint light, and a look of panic crossed his face. Zhou Yuan could bring out his previous powerful offensive again?! My Sacred Pupil can''t use the death substitute again! ¡°Die!¡± While Ji Mo panicked, Zhou Yuan¡¯s thunderous voice rang out. Then, he soared into the sky, rushing towards the Sacred Race team. The teams of Cangxuan Heaven and Tianyuan Region followed closely. The entire world quaked from such a tremendous momentum. Ji Mo balled his hands into fists and his body quivered. It wasn¡¯t from fear but anger. The beings that he regarded as pigs dared to provoke his Sacred Race. But could he really stay at a time like this? His rationality told him that once a war starts, they would no doubt suffer heavy losses. At that time, the other people from Shengling Heaven might not be convinced with the Sea Subduing Hall¡¯s power and target his position of commander. Moreover¡ª The faint rainbow light in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand filled them with fear. Ji Mo¡¯s expression frantically changed for several seconds before he finally said through gritted teeth, ¡°Sacred Race team, retreat!¡± He turned around and led the team away. Although the Sacred Race team looked disappointed, they had no choice but to follow because they also knew that they had lost the upper hand. But the one who was most shocked was Li Xuan from the Sacred Palace. He never thought Zhou Yuan could scare off Ji Mo! But if even Ji Mo had retreated, Li Xuan would no doubt die a graveless death if he were to stay any longer so he had no choice but to follow and flee like a stray dog. "Zhou Yuan, when we meet again, I will massacre your Tianyuan Region team!¡± As the Sacred Race team fled, Ji Mo¡¯s raging roar resounded in the distance. Zhou Yuan waved his hand to stop everyone from pursuing the enemies. As he watched the many figures flee in embarrassment in the distance, a corner of his mouth curved mockingly and the rainbow light in his hand dimmed. That guy is so easily scared. A Genesis Qi flame dyed with a little color is enough to scare him off. "When we meet again, I want to see what else you have to counter my Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light.¡± Intense killing intent flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. That guy¡¯s Sacred Pupil is now sealed and likely won¡¯t recover for a period. And without the Sacred Pupil¡¯s protection, the next time we met will be your death day. Chapter 1134 Reminisce Who would have thought the mysterious and unfathomable Sacred Race would have such an embarrassing moment? It was utterly silent in the great valley, and everyone was staring gratefully and in awe at the young figure standing in the forefront. All Cangxuan Heaven forces knew that they likely wouldn¡¯t be able to escape if Zhou Yuan hadn''t appeared. As a result, after a moment of silence, everyone from Cangxuan Heaven bowed respectfully towards Zhou Yuan. But Zhou Yuan saw a hint of sorrow on many people¡¯s faces. Although the Sacred Race team was driven away, Cangxuan Heaven had still suffered significant losses, with many comrades killed in battle. The Cangxuan Heaven forces could be said to have endured life and death. He waved his hand gently, and didn¡¯t know what comforting words to say. After all, this was a war, and not some training among sects and factions. At that moment, he also more deeply understood that the Sacred Race was indeed the greatest enemy of all races. When the two meet, there is nothing to be said except fight to the death. After all, the two sides had completely different stances. The Sacred Race claimed to be the ruler of all heavens, the king of the Tianyuan World, and the most noble and powerful existence, and the other races were to be enslaved by them. It was said that the Sacred Race was even more powerful in the distant past and had suppressed all races to the point that they couldn¡¯t raise their heads. The Sacred Race only regarded the other races as dogs to be slaughtered and bullied. During the darkest times, all races were suppressed and almost suffocated. Many races were wiped out at the time. Fortunately, all races joined hands, and the birth of some mighty existences helped them stabilize the overall situation in the end. After several great wars, the human race and all races occupied the great five heavens they had now. Although what Ji Mo said was unpleasant to the ear, Zhou Yuan had to admit that the four heavens that the Sacred Race occupied were most rich in Blessings among the nine heavens of the Tianyuan World. From a certain perspective, they weren¡¯t blowing their own trumpet by calling their heavens the upper four heavens. Zhou Yuan fell into deep thought. This was the first time he faced an expert from the Sacred Race, and Ji Mo¡¯s strength was indeed terrifying. Given his strength, in the entire Hunyuan Heaven, only Guan Qinglong could threaten him. He should be considered as the second strongest in the Heavenly Sun stage, replacing Wang Xuanyang. But even so, he still failed to kill Ji Mo. Zhou Yuan wondered how difficult would the mysterious Shengwang Heaven and the Shengzu Heaven, which were ranked second and first, respectively, be to deal with. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath, put away the fear and austere expression on his face and landed somewhere in the great valley. This was where the Cangxuan sect disciples headed by Chu Qing and Li Qingchan were. The Cangxuan sect disciples evidently became more cautious when Zhou Yuan arrived, and their eyes were filled with awe. But in fact, most of them were higher up than Zhou Yuan in terms of seniority. Even Chu Qing and Li Qingchan were of a younger generation than them, but in this kind of place, seniority had little importance and only strength mattered. After all, when you meet the Sacred Race, you would only be greeted with a butcher blade if you brought out your seniority. Although Zhou Yuan was once a Chosen of the Cangxuan Sect, he was now the captain of the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Tianyuan Region team. "Senior brother Chu Qing, senior sister Qingchan¡­I haven''t seen you for a few years, hope you are well?¡± Under awed gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face beamed with joy from the bottom of his heart. Hearing Zhou Yuan''s address them in such a way, almost all the Cangxuan Sect disciples breathed a sigh of relief and their faces lit up because it showed that Zhou Yuan still acknowledged his identity as a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. This immediately made the many Cangxuan Sect disciples more friendly. Chu Qing¡¯s long hair had disappeared and he became bare-headed again. He rubbed his head and sighed, "Junior brother Zhou Yuan, I didn¡¯t expect you would come to rescue us in the critical moment, but I¡¯m really touched. If possible, I would like to introduce junior sister Qingchan to you.¡± Bang! But the moment he finished saying this, Li Qingchan scrunched her brows and lashed out with a kick, knocking Chu Qing onto his knees in front of Zhou Yuan. ¡°What can you expect from a dog but a bark,¡± uttered Li Qingchan coldly. This guy was good before, but once the crisis was lifted, he immediately resumed his usual self. Zhou Yuan chuckled. Senior brother Chu Qing is the same as before. ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing, you don¡¯t need to bow to me." Zhou Yuan pulled Chu Qing up. Chu Qing shook off Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands angrily. The Cangxuan Sect disciples all giggled, breaking the formal and slightly mournful atmosphere for a moment. Li Qingchan looked at Zhou Yuan with her cold and beautiful eyes and said softly, "This time, we really have to thank you.¡± She understood that if Zhou Yuan hadn''t descended like a deity, she would have been fleeing with the many Cangxuan Sect disciples and it was unknown how many of them would be buried in the great valley. "I''m also a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect¡­I ran into Qingyu and Luluo, but I still came a little too late,¡± said Zhou Yuan. He could see that many Cangxuan Sect disciples had been wounded and killed. Chu Qing clapped Zhou Yuan on the shoulder, saying in a comforting voice, "Don''t worry about it. They died because I, their eldest senior brother, didn''t do a good job. It has nothing to do with you.¡± Zhou Yuan could see sorrow hidden beneath Chu Qing¡¯s mischievous-looking face. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s senior brother, who was always lazy and apathetic, also showed some responsibility this time. If Chu Qing hadn¡¯t stepped forward at the most difficult moment, the people from the Cangxuan Sect and even Cangxuan Heaven likely couldn¡¯t wait for Zhou Yuan to arrive. Zhou Yuan didn''t say anything else on this topic and just turned his gaze away and saw a familiar figure behind Li Qingchan. ¡°Senior brother Kong Sheng, hope you have been well.¡± That figure was Kong Sheng, a Chosen of Cangxuan Sect¡¯s Sword Cometh Peak. Zhou Yuan often had conflicts with Kong Sheng when he was still in the Cangxuan Sect. Of course, to be precise, he didn¡¯t quite get along with the entire Sword Cometh Peak, including peak master Ling Jun. However, those were only small disputes, and Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t take them to heart. After all, when he rushed back to the Great Zhou Empire from Cangxuan Sect, the Cangxuan Sect disciples who protected and assisted him along the way included Sword Cometh Peak disciples led by Kong Sheng. Kong Sheng''s expression was slightly unnatural and he nodded stiffly. He was prideful, so he didn¡¯t know how to face Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan also understood how he was feeling and so he just smiled. But, just as he was about to turn away, he saw a puff of smoke and a barefooted middle-aged man with a tobacco pipe smiling at him. ¡°Teacher uncle Mu Wuji?¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed. This person had left a deep impression on him because he was the one who introduced him to Cangxuan Sect when they were in the Saint Remains Domain in Cangmang Continent. In a way, he was his guide. "Hey, you still remember me." Mu Wuji smiled. "If teacher-uncle hadn''t guided me back then, how would there be the present Zhou Yuan?¡± Mu Wuji said emotionally, "If I hadn''t led you into the sect back then, the Heavenly Sun experts of my Cangxuan Sect would have been wiped out.¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan through the curling smoke and said with a chuckle, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you achieved what you have today by yourself. I was lucky enough to lead you into the Cangxuan Sect. This is the greatest achievement in my life.¡± ¡°Without the Cangxuan Sect, I wouldn¡¯t be standing here today,¡± said Zhou Yuan sincerely. When Zhou Yuan looked at the Cangxuan Sect with his current status, its overall strength might not be comparable to the Tianyuan Region, but he knew that if the Cangxuan Sect hadn¡¯t given him a lot of support back then, he wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to get revenge for the Great Zhou and kill King Wu. After all, the Sacred Palace was behind Wu Huang. While Zhou Yuan, Chu Qing and others were catching up, the leaders of various Cangxuan Heaven forces led their teams over. Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, Sword Seeker Sect, Heavenly Ghost Sect, North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall¡­ The leaders of the four great sects all expressed their gratitude to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan responded to them one by one, and then looked at the familiar figures behind them with a smile. "I didn''t expect this would be the place where we meet again.¡± In addition to the Zuoqiu QIngyu and Luluo who he saw before, Li Chunjun, Ning Zhan, and Zhen Xu were also here. His little friends who he left the Cangmang Continent with and went to the Shengzhou Continent to explore were finally gathered together again. "I can¡¯t even beat one of your legs now,¡± said Ning Zhan in a disappointed tone. Even if he was addicted to battles, he knew that the gap between him and Zhou Yuan was too great and it was impossible for them to have a match. Zhen Xu was as cold as ever, and only nodded slightly to Zhou Yuan. But his eyes were evidently brighter than usual. He could feel that Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t different from how he was in the past even if there was a difference in strength between them. Li Chunjun blankly clasped his rusty and mottled sword and said in a hoarse voice, "The sword light you just used was amazing.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu rolled her eyes at the three. ¡°You three are really three pieces of wood.¡± Luluo smiled and extended out a little fist, exclaiming excitedly, "Everyone is still alive. We should remember this moment. Fist bump quickly.¡± Gazing at his little friends who he had fought alongside with, Zhou Yuan felt a warmth filling his heart. He smiled and stretched out a fist. Zuoqiu Qingyu also smiled sweetly and bumped the other fists. Ning Zhan, Li Chunjun, and Zhen Xu glanced at each other, revealed a faint smile, and also extended out their fists. The five fists touched, and Zhou Yuan chuckled lightly. "Everyone, live well. When I return to Cangxuan Heaven, I will still need your help.¡± The four people¡¯s eyes flashed. They knew about Zhou Yuan''s feud with the Sacred Palace, so at the same time their hearts trembled uncontrollably, not because of fear, but a kind of excitement. They understand what Zhou Yuan meant... When he returned to Cangxuan Heaven would perhaps be the time for his real battle with the Sacred Palace. Chapter 1135 Divide Standing somewhere in the great valley, Zhou Yuan studied the great rushing river that ran through the valley, the Decoder Saint Rune flowing in the depths of his eyes. It was time to collect their harvest now that the Sacred Race had retreated. Under the Decoder Saint Rune¡¯s prying gaze, everything concealed in the depths of the earth was clearly revealed to Zhou Yuan, including the high-class ancestral qi vein. ¡°It¡¯s hidden so deep¡­¡± But Zhou Yuan was a little surprised that the terrain was this complicated and the ancestral qi vein was hidden incredibly deep into the ground. It was impossible to detect the ancestral qi vein with ordinary means. Zhou Yuan wondered how Ji Mo learned about its existence. Under normal conditions, even Zhou Yuan would have overlooked this area if he hadn¡¯t used the Decoder Saint Rune to investigate carefully. He only detected it when he tunnelled into the ground. Moreover¡­ After investigation, Zhou Yuan found that the ancestral qi within the ancestral qi vein was at least ten times stronger than the strongest vein they had ever discovered! If based on harvest alone, such an ancestral qi vein was enough to make thousands of people from the Tianyuan Region rush here without stopping and even unhesitatingly go to war with the Sacred Race team. "What? Is there really a high-class ancestral qi vein here?" Qin Lian asked impatiently. She also coveted a high-class ancestral qi vein. Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. Qin Lian, Mu Youlan, Han Jinhe and others all lit up with pleasant surprise. No one expected their accidental clash with the Sacred Race would result in such a great harvest, which would boost their morale. "No wonder I felt that the Sacred Race team was deliberately driving us somewhere. But why did they drive us all here? Because of the high-class ancestral qi vein?" Chu Qing said puzzledly. Zhou Yuan explained, "Because this high-class ancestral qi vein is hidden too deeply. They drove the people from Cangxuan Heaven to make them fight with the Sacred Palace people. As a result, the blood scent and the fluctuation of Genesis Qi would trigger Earth Disasters in the depths of the ground and draw out the ancestral qi vein¡­" "Although their means are cruel, it is indeed effective. The high-class ancestral qi vein has reached the point where it can be captured now.¡± Li Qingchan''s cold face was shrouded in frost as she said hatefully, "What beasts!¡± Zhou Yuan also nodded. There were other methods to draw out high-class ancestral qi veins but Ji Mo chose the cruelest one. From this fact, it was clear that the people from other races were worthless in their eyes. The surroundings immediately fell silent. High-class veins were incredibly rare and their benefits equalled to that of more than a dozen of middle-class ancestral qi veins. Therefore, a high-class ancestral qi vein was a huge temptation for any force. Qin Lian, Mu Youlan, and Han Jinhe and other Tianyuan Region people didn¡¯t say anything and just looked at Chu Qing and Li Qingchan. In truth, if it were an ordinary situation, they wouldn¡¯t plan to share the harvest. But this time it was different. Although Zhou Yuan was a grand elder of the Tianyuan Region, he was also a Cangxuan Sect Chosen and it was clear that he still had deep feelings towards the Cangxuan Sect. So they waited to hear what the Cangxuan Sect would say. Li Qingchan showed a rare awkward expression. From a moral point of view, it would only be fair if they gave up on the ancestral qi vein since the Tianyuan Region traveled so far over to rescue them. However, the other Cangxuan Heaven forces had asked her the high-class ancestral qi vein and wondered if they could have a share of it to soothe their depression. Li Qingchan cast a glance at Chu Qing only to find that he was spacing out, and her expression immediately darkened. Chu Qing quickly recovered from his dazed state and said with a bitter smile, "There is no need to ask me about this kind of thing, is there? You can make a decision.¡± Qin Lian folded her arms and looked discontent. ¡°You won''t stand up at such a time and want to rely on a girl?¡± Chu Qing was silent for a moment and then said: "Actually...I''m just a puppet.¡± Qin Lian was a little speechless about his shamelessness. She glanced at Zhou Yuan and said in an irritated voice, "I know where you learned the habit of evading work.¡± Zhou Yuan said angrily, "How would I be lazy to that degree?¡± ¡°Junior brother, save some face for your senior brother,¡± said Chu Qing nonchalantly. Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes at him. "I will make the final decision then on how to share the high-class ancestral qi vein. The Tianyuan Region will take 70% and 30% will be left for Cangxuan Heaven. In addition, the Tianyuan Region will provide protection to Cangxuan Heaven for a period.¡± Chu Qing scratched his head, saying, ¡°30% is a bit too much." Even 30% of the ancestral qi contained in the high-class vein was more than that in several middle-class ancestral qi veins. Even if they had worked very hard, they have never received such a great harvest. Li Qingchan bit her lips, looking at Zhou Yuan with a complicated gaze. They all understood that Zhou Yuan wanted to take care of Cangxuan Heaven, and this was because of the Cangxuan Sect. Zhou Yuan waved his hand. He was aware of the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s terrible state. They had suffered heavy losses, and their morale was extremely low. If he let them share some of their harvests, that would no doubt improve the Cangxuan Heaven''s morale. If course, the most important thing was that it would raise some people¡¯s strength and make Cangxuan Heaven stronger overall. Of course, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t deny that he did that because of the Cangxuan Sect. "What do you think?" He looked at Qin Lian and the others. Qin Lian gave a faint smile and nodded, saying that she had no opinion. The others shrugged. They also knew that they weren¡¯t giving Cangxuan Heaven 30% out of pity but because they have to give face to Zhou Yuan. After the battle with Ji Mo, Zhou Yuan''s prestige in the Tianyuan Region team members¡¯ hearts had reached an unprecedented level, because that was the first time that he had shown such terrifying strength, which surpassed even Qin Lian¡¯s. This created an effect of excitement within the Tianyuan Regionn team. After all, the stronger one¡¯s captain, the more beneficial it would be for them in Guyuan Heaven. "Then it¡¯s decided." Zhou Yuan exclaimed. Li Qingchan wanted to say something when Chu Qing stopped her. He said helplessly, "Forget it, this is a little token of his. But we have to make this matter clear to the other forces afterwards. They all owe Zhou Yuan a favor, and later when they return to Cangxuan Heaven, they should take care and protect the Great Zhou Empire. Hearing this, Li Qingchan nodded Gazing at Zhou Yuan, who had turned to communicate the plan to the Tianyuan Region team members, she said softly, "I didn''t expect he would come this far in just a few years¡­ "He was just an inexperienced youngster when he came to the Cangxuan Sect.¡± In the past, she had always felt that Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t worth so much care from Yaoyao, but now it was clear that her vision wasn¡¯t as good as Yaoyao. Chu Qing smiled and said, ¡°This is just now...wait, wait until he returns to Cangxuan Heaven, at that time you will be stunned by his progress. "Even a lazy person like me is looking forward to that day. So, we have to make good use of the time to improve our strength. Otherwise, when the big show begins, we won''t even be eligible to participate... .¡± Li Qingchan remained silent for a moment, then nodded vigorously. The scene of how Sacred Palace wreaked havoc on Cangxuan Sect flashed to her mind. She slowly balled her pretty hands into fists, and her eyes flashed with intense hatred. ¡°I also look forward to that day¡­¡± Chapter 1136 Abnormal The great valley violently quaked when dozens of Genesis Qi exploded in the depths of the great river that cut through it. Roar! Vast Genesis Qi swept out like the roar of ancient beasts. Then, huge vortexes emerged in the great river and endless earth beasts gushed forth like the tide. They were transparent and looked like liquid creatures, but the Genesis Qi erupted from them shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. ¡°Kill!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression tensed slightly when he saw this scene. Then, he signalled with a wave of his hand. The people from the Tianyuan Region and Cangxuan Heaven, who had been prepared for some time, whizzed out one after another to meet the earth beasts charging out from the river¡¯s depths. Boom! A battle broke out in the great valley once again. This battle was very fierce because the scale of the earth beasts born from the high-class ancestral qi vein surpassed everyone''s imaginations. Therefore, even Zhou Yuan, who was watching over the situation, led troops onto the battlefield, and it took them two hours to completely wipe out the earth beasts. But before they could rest, the great river rolled up and a tremendous pale-yellow water dragon loomed out. The ancestral qi it contained caused the Genesis Qi across the world to frantically pulse. "Is that the ancestral qi contained in the high-class vein?" Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glimmered, staring at the huge yellow water dragon. The ancestral qi contained in it was far more than any veins they had ever encountered. ¡°Prepare the altar!¡± An altar was swiftly set up in front of the great river. Around one thousand people from the Tianyuan Region sat cross-legged before the altar, while the other thousand were vigilantly watching the surroundings, waiting for the time to switch roles. A little further behind the Tianyuan Region¡¯s altar, Chu Qing and the others had also set up the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s altar. Besides the half of the team that were on watch duty, all Cangxuan Heaven team members gathered before the altar with excitement. Although they all knew that by setting up a Cangxuan Sect altar would being greater benefits to the Cangxuan Sect compared to other Cangxuan Heaven forces, no one was unhappy with this arrangement because they knew that Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t have shared 30% of the high-class ancestral qi vein if it weren¡¯t because of the Cangxuan Sect. Zhou Yuan descended before the altar and sat down cross-legged, looking at the yellow water dragon rising from the river. Then, he made a one-handed seal. Boom! As Zhou Yuan¡¯s seal formed, the altar behind him suddenly developed a strange suction force that captured the yellow water dragon. Then, the water dragon soared into the sky and turned into water droplets, falling on the altar like a rainstorm. Drops of ancestral qi beat Zhou Yuan''s body, creating a cold and refreshing sensation, but Zhou Yuan could feel streams of vast ancestral qi pouring into his body. Compared to middle-class ancestral qi veins, the ancestral qi here was evidently much purer and ancient. As ancestral qi gushed into his body and merged with his Divine Dwellings, the two Heavenly Suns within them gradually grew brighter and the Genesis Qi contained in it also soared at an astonishing rate. Even the dragon claw rune on his Heavenly Sun was growing and extending out. Zhou Yuan was overjoyed with the speed of improvements happening within his body. The vein deserved to be called a high-class ancestral qi vein. The improvements it brought were far better than any middle-class vein. A strong sense of anticipation rose in his heart. He was very curious to know what great changes the rare high-class ancestral qi vein would bring to him this time? The high-class ancestral qi vein lasted for three days. During those three days, the teams had rotated several times, and only a handful of people such as Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t moved at all and absorbed the ancestral qi from beginning to end. This was the benefit as a leader. After all, they had to face the strongest enemy in battle. Therefore, no one could question their right to enjoy the best treatment. When the sun set on the third day, everyone withdrew from their cultivation state. They stared at the great river that was slowly drying up. There were several huge cracks appearing in the river that extended to the depths of the earth, where the river water flowed away. Everyone who withdrew from their cultivation state immediately examined themselves to check their changes and soon burst into cheers of excitement. It was obvious that many had improved tremendously. Qin Lian also checked herself, and immediately her countenance changed. ¡°My Genesis Qi foundation has increased to 2.6 billion.¡± Her Genesis Qi foundation was already 2.5 billion after several upgrades, but she didn¡¯t think it would soar by another 100 million this time. High-class ancestral qi veins were indeed terrifying! If she were to use her secret art again, she felt that her combat strength could compete with Dong Ye, who was ranked third on the Heavenly Sun List. Even if Qin Lian had a cold personality, she couldn''t help grinning at such a tremendous increase. "It seems that Miss Qin Lian had a good harvest." A laughter sounded. Qin Lian tilted her head and saw an eye-catching shining head. She narrowed her eyes slightly, and said, "Captain Chu Qing.¡± ¡°My improvement isn¡¯t bad, what about you?" Chu Qing said with a smile, "Thanks to you guys, my Genesis Qi foundation has increased by around 100 million.¡± Qin Lian stared blankly at him at first, and then her heart trembled. The Tianyuan Region had taken 70% of the high-class vein, which allowed her Genesis Qi foundation to increase by around 100 million, but the Cangxuan Heaven''s side only had a share of around 30%, yet Chu Qing''s harvest was the same as hers? ! What did this imply? It showed that the talent of the lazy baldy, who makes people speechless, was superior to her! The answer made Qin Lian feel a little aggrieved. Zhou Yuan had already surpassed her but now even the lazy baldy was stronger than her? As a result, Qin Lian put away the smile on her face and resumed her usual coldness. Chu Qing felt a little uneasy when he saw Qin Lian¡¯s changing expression. This woman is indeed difficult to talk to but I came over because Li Qingchan kicked me over to express gratitude on behalf of the entire Cangxuan Heaven. So, he smiled, ¡±Miss Qin Lian, the Tianyuan Region has helped us a lot this time. I came to express my thanks on behalf of the Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Qin Lian nodded indifferently. "Don''t thank me, it''s all because of grand elder Zhou Yuan.¡± However, Qin Lian''s expression still eased a little, though she still looked at Chu Qing with a strange gaze. Chu Qing could only endure her gaze, even if he felt his whole body was uncomfortably stabbed with needles. But at the same time he warned himself to stay away from women. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan, who had just awakened, quickly rescued him from the awkward situation. Zhou Yuan stretched his body, attracting much attention. Qin Lian stared intently at Zhou Yuan, feeling a sharper aura from him, and immediately she couldn¡¯t help but ask, "How much has your Genesis Qi foundation increased by?¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at her and then at Chu Qing. He had overheard their conversation, and so he said after some hesitation, "Don''t ask about that. Why do you like to ask for embarrassment in front of people?¡± Qin Lian was so angry that the veins on her forehead throbbed and she said through gritted teeth, ¡°How much?!¡± Zhou Yuan sighed helplessly and finally whispered, "Not much, only 200 million.¡± Although Qin Lian was mentally prepared she still inhaled deeply and shot annoyed glances at him and Chu Qing. ¡±Your Cangxuan Sect is too abnormal!¡± She flung her sleeve and stormed off. Zhou Yuan sighed, staring at Qin Lian''s furious figure as she left. She¡¯s too naive. My harvest this time isn¡¯t just an increase of 200 million in my Genesis Qi foundation. The dragon claw rune on his Heavenly Suns had reached five claws! Silver Shadow, however, was the one that changed the most. When he lifted his hand into the air, a silver liquid rose and turned into a silver ball. Silver Shadow, who had sustained severe injuries from Ji Mo, had not only completely recovered with the help of the vast ancestral qi but its improvement utterly stunned Zhou Yuan. Silver Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had skyrocketed to 2 billion from 1.4 billion! An earth-shattering increase! Of course, the price that Zhou Yuan paid for this was that almost half of the ancestral qi he absorbed was given to Silver Shadow. But in Zhou Yuan¡¯s view, it was completely worth it because Silver Shadow had finally opened a second orifice. After experimenting, Zhou Yuan copied his Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd Art over to Silver Shadow as he hoped. This was the most terrifying aspect of his harvest! Chapter 1137 Mystic Ruins And now that they had the Tianyuan Region¡¯s support, it was a good opportunity to collect all the targets they detected into the bag. The majority of the ancestral qi veins found were low-class, and their quality couldn¡¯t be compared with the high-class vein they previously, but no one was unhappy and they all still harvested happily. After all, high-class veins could only come by with luck and middle and low-class ancestral qi veins could add up to something great that was comparable to high-class ancestral qi veins. Every little bit of ancestral qi was a precious substance in Guyuan Heaven and it was an opportunity that couldn¡¯t be exchanged for with any amount of money in Hunyuan Heaven or Cangxuan Heaven. This could be seen from the fact that everyone¡¯s strength had soared in just one month after entering Guyuan Heaven. Boom! The body of a towering mountain was broken open, gushing out billowing ancestral qi. Standing in a high place, Zhou Yuan casually absorbed the ancestral qi coming out, but he didn¡¯t take it too seriously because his vision had been broadened after seeing a high-class vein. Although he didn¡¯t look down on the low-class ancestral qi veins, his way of thinking had been raised. The thousands of people from the Tianyuan Region and Cangxuan Heaven sat cross-legged before an altar, greedily swallowing ancestral qi. Zhou Yuan could treat the low-class ancestral qi as ordinary, but they obviously couldn''t. "This is the last vein we detected,¡± said Li Qingchan, coming over to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. Zhou Yuan nodded. "Is there any news about the teams from the Shengling Heaven these days?¡± Li Qingchan shook her head and said puzzledly, "At the very beginning, we discovered traces of them far away, but recently we haven¡¯t spotted half a shadow of them as though they all left the area.¡± "Are you scared?" Mu Youlan said casually. "We are just a team of Hunyuan Heaven. It¡¯s impossible to scare off the entire Shengling Heaven." Zhou Yuan shook his head, he was not that arrogant. "What are you going to do next?" asked Qin Lian. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment and then looked at Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others. ¡°What about you guys? Are you going to explore alone or¡ª?¡± He smiled bitterly. ¡°But from what I see, our modestly ambitious request might not be fulfilled.¡± Given the Cangxuan Heaven''s current strength, it would be wiped out if it were to encounter people from Shengling Heaven. Chu Qing said hesitantly, "I have discussed this matter with the Cangxuan Heaven forces. The people from Cangxuan Heaven would like to join your Tianyuan Region team and of course we will be under the command of the Tianyuan Region team. Although we aren¡¯t as strong as you guys, we can carry out some exploration tasks." Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°I had the same thought.¡± To the other five heavens shared by all races, Cangxuan Heaven was now considered half crippled. If they were to arrogantly go out alone, Zhou Yuan also wouldn¡¯t be able to stop them. So it was best that they could leave their dignity behind. After all, the Cangxuan Heaven still had some remaining fighting strength. For example, given Chu Qing¡¯s strength, he could be ranked at the top of the Heavenly Sun List in Hunyuan Heaven. Therefore they could raise the Tianyuan Region team¡¯s strength. As for sharing profits, it wasn¡¯t a big problem. Qin Lian, Mu Youlan and the others also expressed their support for the plan. With the addition of Cangxuan Heaven people, the Tianyuan Region team likely wouldn¡¯t be weaker than the teams of the Wanzu Region and the Wushen Region in terms of overall strength. ¡°Then it¡¯s decided, we will return and head to Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s territory,¡± said Zhou Yuan. He was very satisfied with the decision of coming to support Cangxuan Heaven because he not only saved many of his old friends, the harvests were also unbelievable. His Genesis Qi foundation had reached the level of 2.4 billion and his Dragon Claw Heavenly Sun had grown to the level of five claws! Most importantly, of course, was that Silver Shadow underwent a reborn-like growth. A foundation of 2.2 billion Genesis Qi stars, coupled with the Great Flame Devil and its special materials meant that it could face enemies with a foundation of 2.2 billion. This would really help Zhou Yuan and Silver Shadow wouldn¡¯t be treated as a human shield and beaten up every time. The most terrifying thing was that Silver Shadow also possessed the Saint Art Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd. And now, there was a stream of rainbow light flowing around the gourd in its body. In other words, Zhou Yuan now had two rainbow sword lights. It was just that Silver Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi would be exhausted once it brought out the sword light and would have to recover for a period before it could move again. But no matter what, Zhou Yuan¡¯s killing move had become even more powerful. If he had those two sword lights when he fought Ji Mo a few days ago, Ji Mo likely would have been killed. ¡°Huh?¡± While Zhou Yuan was immersed in his harvests, Qin Lian suddenly screamed behind him. Zhou Yuan twisted around and saw Qin Lian took out a golden incense from her spatial bag. It suddenly ignited itself and a curl of smoke drifted up. ¡°It¡¯s a message from Hunyuan Heaven!" Qin Lian exclaimed. They had informed the other Hunyun Heaven forces and left a message incense before they came to rescue the Cangxuan Heaven people. This was originally for them to easily contact other Hunyuan Heaven forces for assistance if something happened. But in the end, they didn¡¯t need to use it and instead the other side ignited it first. "Something seems to have happened." Zhou Yuan''s face turned serious. Given Hunyuan Heaven''s overall strength, it wouldn¡¯t be a trivial matter for them to ignite the message incense. Smoke rose under the nervous gazes of Zhou Yuan, Qin Lian and the others, and gradually formed a smoke screen before them. A figure appeared on the smoke screen. It was Guan Qinglong. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, has the matter on your side been resolved?" Guan Qinglong''s calm voice sounded. Zhou Yuan nodded and asked bluntly, ¡°Did something happen?¡± Guan Qinglong said, ¡±Well, during the time you left, we found a place during our exploration. There is a huge jade disc completely condensed from ancestral qi. If our speculation is right, we have encountered mystic ruins of Guyuan Heaven!¡± It was rumored that in addition to ancestral qi veins in Guyuan Heaven, there might be some places abundant in ancestral qi and eventually those ancestral qi would give birth to mysteries substances. The substances were mysterious, and in terms of rarity, were superior to high-class ancestral qi veins. In the entire Guyuan Heaven, only the nine ancestral qi channels could surpass them! It was just that mystic ruins were extremely difficult to find and rarely born. Zhou Yuan and the others didn¡¯t expect the Hunyuan Heaven teams would discover such a place! However, if the other guys from Hunyuan Heaven found a mystic ruins, they wouldn¡¯t want the Tianyun Region team to be present, right? Since there would be one less power sharing the benefit. Zhou Yuan''s eyes flickered slightly, and he asked, ¡°Did any other heavens find these mystic ruins?¡± Guan Qinglong nodded. "The movements here are relatively huge, so the other heavens¡¯ forces also detected it. Currently there¡¯s the Wanshou Heaven and the Shengwang Heaven, which is ranked second among the Sacred Race heavens. But I don¡¯t know whether there will be other heavens.¡± ¡°Wanshou Heaven.¡± ¡°Shengwang Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression became more solemn. It was no wonder that Guan Qinglong would inform him¡ªHe had encountered powerful enemies. Although Hunyuan Heaven was known to be the strongest heaven among the five heavens shared by all races, the Wanshou Heaven shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. Its strength far surpassed Cangxuan Heaven and it could even threaten Hunyuan Heaven. As for the Shengwang Heaven, it should be even stronger being the second strongest heaven of the Sacred Race. It was stronger than the Shengling Heaven that Zhou Yuan encountered before. Thinking of the Shengling Heaven, Zhou Yuan''s heart suddenly trembled. He said, "In addition to the Shengwang Heaven, I am worried the people from the Shengling Heaven are also hurrying over there.¡± No wonder there were no traces of the Shengling Heaven teams in this area recently. They likely had darted over there upon receiving the news. Guan Qinglong''s expression grew even more solemn. If a Shengling Heaven team were also there, it would turn into a chaotic war among four heavens. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, please lead the Tianyuan Region team there as soon as possible." "Understood, we will leave immediately." Zhou Yuan nodded. The smoke gradually dissipated, forming a map-like image, of which one spot was shining brightly. That was presumably where the Hunyuan Heaven people were. Zhou Yuan stared at the map image, then let out a deep sigh and swept a glance over the crowd. "Everyone, I''m afraid there¡¯s big trouble this time¡ª¡± Chapter 1138 Return to Base They finally arrived at an ancient mountain range with no end in sight. The peaks throughout the mountain range were lofty and majestic, towering into the sky. Everyone couldn¡¯t help marvelling at the tall mountains that exuded an ancient and barren charm. Moreover, fog gathered between the mountains and was so thick that no matter how fierce the wind was, it couldn¡¯t stir up the fog. Not even one¡¯s Spirit could penetrate the dense fog. Fortunately, Hunyuan Heaven had left scouts on the periphery. They at first panicked when they saw Zhou Yuan and his mighty army. After all, the size of the Tianyuan Region army wasn¡¯t as large before. Their panic only faded slightly when they identified Zhou Yuan and Qin Lian. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, captain Qin Lian, please come with us. The Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s base camp is already set up in the mountains." A scout stepped forward and said respectfully. Zhou Yuan nodded, letting them lead the way, and he followed with his large army of troops. The large group shuttled through the ancient forest shrouded in dense fog for almost an hour before their visions finally improved and the forests became clearer. They saw a huge Genesis Rune Boundary shrouded the area, dispelling the dense fog, and many camps were set up within the boundary. There were many sentry towers around the camp. They immediately sounded a warning horn when they spotted their large army. Uproar broke out in the huge camp, and waves of Genesis Qi erupted. Figures appeared on the camp periphery like lightning bolts, staring suspiciously at the large crowd. Guan Qinglong, who stood at the forefront of the group, was the most striking. He was considered the most calm and only looked a little surprised at the many people. Finally, he fixed his gaze on Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, what¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Yuan stepped forward and explained, "They are people from Cangxuan Heaven. They were attacked by the Shengling Heaven. We went to rescue them and drove away the Shengling Heaven team, but the Cangxuan Heaven had suffered considerable damage and so temporarily joined forces with my Tianyuan Region team.¡± ¡°Just people from Cangxuan Heaven?¡± The Hunyuan Heaven forces lost a bit of interest when they heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. Cang Xuan Heaven''s strength was the weakest among the heavens, and now that it had suffered damage, it was of even less importance. It seems that although Cangxuan Heaven is weak, there are people that are presentable, Guan Qinglong thought to himself. But immediately after he chuckled to himself. Zhou Yuan, junior sister Wu Yao, and Su Youwei from the Zixiao Region are also not ordinary people, so I shouldn¡¯t look down on Cangxuan Heaven. "You came at the right time. The people from the Wanshou Region will come today. They say it¡¯s to discuss how we could cooperate, but they have to measure Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s strength to see if we have the qualification first.¡± While speaking, Guan Qinglong ordered people to open the boundary and welcomed all the troops in. ¡°They have nerves. They need to weigh Hunyuan Heaven''s strength?" Zhou Yuan said with a smile. Dong Ye said indifferently, "Don¡¯t underestimate the Wanshou Heaven. Although our Hunyuan Heaven is known as the strongest among the five heavens shared by all races, the title is a little old and heavens such as Qiankun Heaven and Wanshou Heaven have never given up on the goal of surpassing our Hunyuan Heaven.¡± But before she finished her sentence, she saw Zhou Yuan greeting Su Youwei happily and Su Youwei responded with a sweet smile. She couldn¡¯t help scrunching her brows and took a step to the side, blocking the interactions between the two. Zhou Yuan was a little helpless when he saw Dong Ye acting like a mum protecting her child. He pursed his lips and shifted his gaze to the Wanzu Region¡¯s side and noticed Zhao Mushen who hadn¡¯t said a word. ¡°Captain Zhao Mushen, someone new in a position of responsibility usually is quick to make lots of changes. Have you reorganized the Wanzu Region team yet?¡± The Wanzu Region team still looked hostile at Zhou Yuan as before, but it was obvious that Wang Xuanyang¡¯s death had a huge impact on them and so they had quelled their arrogance and didn¡¯t dare to provoke them unnecessarily. Zhao Mushen said indifferently, "I will inherit the will of senior brother Wang Xuanyang and lead my Wanzu Region to the glory that it deserves.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a thumbs up. Inherit his will? You swallowed him to the point that not even his ashes remain. Why didn¡¯t he notice that you¡¯re a ruthless and vicious person? Wang Xuanyang is really unlucky to have such a junior brother. But Wang Xuanyang also brought it on himself for suppressing Zhao Mushen in various ways, which forced Zhao Mushen, a ruthless and vengeful man, to scheme against him and even swallow him. He had no problem with Zhao Mushen taking over the Wanzu Region team and he wouldn¡¯t waste effort to deal with them as long as they don¡¯t provoke him. After all, Zhou Yuan was more fearful of Zhao Mushen than Wang Xuanyang. Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze, and then noticed that a gaze had been fixed on him all this time. He tilted his head to look at the slender and beautiful figure beside Guan Qinglong and said, "It seems you also improved a lot during this period .¡± The beautiful figure was naturally Wu Yao. She stared coldly at Zhou Yuan, her beautiful face more stunning than rays of light. She opened her mouth slightly and said, ¡°You have extremely good fortune. I¡¯m just worried if you accidentally die, who will I find to retrieve my Blessing?¡± Wu Yao said calmly, "This is originally a battle of fate. If you win in the end, I won''t have any complaints, even if I die in your hands. So I hope you¡¯re the same.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Guan Qinglong coughed loudly, interrupting the dispute between the two. "Now that everyone is regarded as one team, let''s not fight. There is a way to settle anything.¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan and changed the subject. ¡°There is actually another reason for recruiting you so urgently. The people who came to pass on a message from the Wanshou Heaven specifically asked to see you.¡± It was Zhou Yuan''s turn to be surprised. ¡°The people from Wanshou Heaven want to see me?" Guan Qinglong nodded seriously. Zhou Yuan frowned in puzzlement. He had never been to Wanshou Heaven and he didn''t know anyone from there, so who would want to see him? What is this about? Chapter 1139 Members of Wanshou Heaven Countless curious gazes in the enormous camp looked towards a certain direction. Many people were honestly rather curious about Wanshou Heaven. It was said that Wanshou Heaven was mainly populated by Genesis Beasts, occupying more than 70% of the land. Moreover, there were special laws in Wanshou Heaven that enabled Genesis Beasts to more easily cultivate and develop intelligence compared to the other Heavens. Hence, Wanshou Heaven was the holy land for many Genesis Beasts that had developed their own intelligence. A group led by Guan Qinglong was waiting outside the camp. Zhou Yuan was naturally among them. Everyone was currently peering into the distance where they could feel a tremendous amount of unconcealed Genesis Qi undulations. The sound of rushing wind rang out as the fog was barbarically torn apart by a powerful force. Figure after figure emerged and descended from the sky, landing in front of the camp. Countless gazes looked over, finding over a hundred individuals. They were mostly similar to humans, but had some special beast-like characteristics. At the moment, they were also observing the Hunyuan Heaven side. Guan Qinglong cupped his fists together and smiled as his steady voice rang out, ¡°Friends from Wanshou Heaven, I am Guan Qinglong of the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Wushen Region. I welcome all of you here.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s captain Guan Qinglong. I¡¯ve long heard of your name.¡± A voice tinged with a sliver of special authority sounded from the Wanshou Heaven side as a muscular and imposing man slowly walked out. He had a handsome face and golden pupils. As he spoke, a dragon roar seemed to faintly echo, rippling the air around him. Guan Qinglong gazed at the person and said, ¡°You must be Wanshou Heaven¡¯s head captain, the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s Jiang Jinlin.¡± Zhou Yuan also stared at the golden-pupil man. The faint pressure he gave off was likely dragon pressure. He gave Zhou Yuan a very dangerous feeling, and was obviously not to be underestimated. As for the Mystic Dragon Clan, Zhou Yuan had already done his homework on them. Although there were millions of different species in Wanshou Heaven, the seven clans reigned above everyone else as the strongest. The Mystic Dragon Clan, the Spirit Phoenix Clan, the Golden Monkey Clan, the Mountain Moving Ape Clan, the Roaring Heavenly Lion Clan, the Ancient Whale Clan and the Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan...among them, the Mystic Dragon Clan and the Spirit Phoenix Clan were just a tiny bit stronger than the rest. In a certain manner of speaking, this attitude was a little similar to the Sacred Race¡¯s, just not as extreme. Jiang Jinlin¡¯s golden pupils nonchalantly swept across the captains of the various Hunyuan Heaven factions as he casually remarked, ¡°Hunyuan Heaven doesn¡¯t seem to be as strong as I expected. With the exception of captain Guan Qinglong, the captains from the other eighth regions seem pretty ordinary.¡± These words immediately made the atmosphere a little rigid and the faces of the other captains turned a little sour. Jiang Jinlin was so rude, was he here to flex his muscles at Hunyuan Heaven? Guan Qinglong¡¯s expression remained impassive as he said, ¡°Wang Xuanyang is pretty strong as well. Unfortunately, he died in an accident.¡± Jiang Jinlin smiled and said, ¡°To have died so early, his capabilities must have been rather limited.¡± Several people on the Wanzu Region side sent angry glares over. Why is this bastard¡¯s tongue so malicious? Guan Qinglong¡¯s expression darkened a little. Fortunately, an elegant voice sounded at this moment, ¡°Please forgive us friends from Hunyuan Heaven. Captain Jiang Jinlin has always been quick to talk before he thinks and knows nothing of restraint. However, he does not have any ill intentions.¡± Several gazes followed the voice and their eyes brightened in amazement. It was a tall and slender woman. Her black hair was tied up in a phoenix bun, displaying her fair and lovely neck. She wore a golden dress that looked very luxurious, and wrapped nicely around her beautiful body. Overall, she gave off an elegant and high-class aura. She met everyone¡¯s gazes with a slight smile. ¡°The Spirit Phoenix Clan¡¯s Ai Qing greets our Hunyuan Heaven friends.¡± Guan Qinglong¡¯s expression softened a little. ¡°So it¡¯s the Spirit Phoenix Clan¡¯s captain Ai Qing.¡± Zhou Yuan only took a single glance before shifting his eyes away. Although she was pretty, he had developed a certain resistance against such beauty due to Yaoyao and Su Youwei. In a certain manner of speaking, Ai Qing was a little similar to Wu Yao, however, one was elegant while the other was domineering. Ai Qing clearly did not wish for things to turn unfriendly at their first meeting. Hence, she took over Jiang Jinlin and began to introduce the captains from both sides in order to ease the tension. Jiang Jinlin did not seem to care, still wearing his prideful expression. In his eyes, no one else on the Hunyuan Heaven side was worthy of his attention besides Guan Qinglong. He felt that Hunyuan Heaven did not really live up to their title of strongest among the five heavens. ¡°This is the Ancient Whale Clan captain, Gu Dali.¡± Zhou Yuan looked over in interest, and found a large, pale fatty. He looked simple, honest and seemingly harmless, but Zhou Yuan could sense the terrifying power contained within the fatty¡¯s body. The Ancient Whale Race was well known for their strength, and the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s million whale rune had been designed based on them. ¡°These are the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s captain Jin Linger and vice captain Jin Feng. They¡¯re siblings.¡± Ai Qing pointed at a pair of figures.The girl was exceptionally eye-catching. She had long, glittering golden hair that draped over her shoulders, reaching her waist. A golden tail reached out from behind her and was wrapped around her tiny waist. She had an extremely hot and sexy figure that accentuated even more by her very fitting black clothes. Her facial features were also very beautiful, and a certain wildness seemed to flicker cheekily in her eyes. She gave off a completely different aura from Ai Qing, but her charm was equally strong. Her figure was way too sexy, and even Zhou Yuan could not help but take a second glance. To his surprise, the girl called Jin Linger walked towards him with quick, small steps, her wild eyes staring straight at him. No one knew why Jin Linger was heading towards Zhou Yuan. Under many curious gazes, Jin Linger arrived in front of Zhou Yuan. She looked him up and down several times, before she frowned a little, ¡°You¡¯re the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze flickered, ¡°You¡¯re the ones who wanted to meet me?¡± Jin Linger did not reply. Soon after, she somewhat disappointedly said, ¡°What the heck? Only the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage? ¡°Our Little Grandpa told us that the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan is an ultimate and unparalleled genius blessed by the heavens. He even said that we can¡¯t compare to a single hair on his body... ¡°But from what I see¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re nothing special.¡± Chapter 1140 News of Tuntun How could any girl take this lying down? No wonder her resentment was so great. This was truly absurd. Zhou Yuan faked a cough and amiably said, ¡°Your elder must have heard some groundless rumors. I really do not know anyone from Wanshou Heaven, so there¡¯s no need to take his words seriously.¡± However, Jin Linger¡¯s brows knitted together. ¡°Little Grandpa said he was with you for very long.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback again. His brows furrowed deeply as he mumbled in confusion, ¡°I don¡¯t recall being acquainted with any high grade Genesis Beasts in Wanshou Heaven¡­¡± Though he had encountered numerous Genesis Beasts, most of them had yet to develop any intelligence and would attack him on instinct. It was impossible to communicate with any of them. He shook his head. Just as he was about to speak again, a certain thought suddenly flashed in his head. His eyes nearly popped from their sockets as he stared at Jin Linger in disbelief. ¡°You...could you be referring to Tuntun?!¡± Among the high grade Genesis Beasts he knew, Tuntun had accompanied him the longest. Moreover, it was very intelligent and had an extraordinary bloodline. Master Cang Yuan had said he had sent it to a suitable place. Could this place be Wanshou Heaven? ¡°What Tuntun? In our Golden Monkey Clan, everyone addresses it as Little Ancestor!¡± Jin Linger glared at Zhou Yuan. To think he dared to be so disrespectful to Little Grandpa. Zhou Yuan couldn''t care less about her reaction. He turned somewhat emotional as he said, ¡°Tuntun is at your Golden Monkey Clan? How is it doing? Did it come to Guyuan Heaven?¡± Jin Linger indifferently answered, ¡°Little Grandpa has some ties with our Golden Monkey Clan, and is indeed staying with us. However, it did not come to Guyuan Heaven, because this place holds no meaning for it.¡± At the mention of Little Grandpa, Jin Linger¡¯s usually wild and untamed eyes were filled with deep respect. ¡°Little Grandpa? Tuntun is a guy?¡± Zhou Yuan rubbed his chin, his eyes flickering in thought. ¡°How dare you!¡± Jin Linger viciously glared at Zhou Yuan again, before she proudly said, ¡°Only my brother and I address Little Ancestor in that manner, and we¡¯re the only two who are allowed to do so in the entire Golden Monkey Clan. Little Ancestor is an Alpha Holy Beast that was born from the land, and is the only one in existence. It had no mother or father, and likewise no sex. Hence, don¡¯t use your narrow human eyes to judge it!¡± Zhou Yuan gloatingly said, ¡°If it has no sex, what does it look like when it takes human form? An androgynous person?¡± Jin Linger snorted at Zhou Yuan¡¯s childish question and a proud smile formed on her lips. ¡°You think too much. Someone with a true holy beast bloodline will not take human form. It already has the strongest body in the world, and having a human form will instead be weak in its eyes. If it was you, would you willingly become an ant that crawls on the ground? Zhou Yuan was speechless, and could not help but smile in embarrassment. He was also a little disappointed. He had been rather curious about what Tuntun would look like in human form. However, he was already very happy and satisfied that he had finally heard news of Tuntun. It seemed that he would have to bring Tuntun back from Wanshou Heaven after Yaoyao awakened. ¡°When we left, Little Ancestor told us we can ask for your help if we encounter any trouble in Guyuan Heaven.¡± At this point, a mocking smile rose from the corners of Jin Linger¡¯s lips. ¡°However, perhaps Little Ancestor would not have expected that the person it thought so highly of would still be stuck at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, since you¡¯re Little Ancestor¡¯s friend, you¡¯re also our friend. If you encounter any trouble, we siblings will not idly sit by.¡± She seemed to be pretty happy. After all, the person Little Ancestor always used to put the siblings down did not seem to be as amazing as they had imagined. This made her breath a sigh of relief. She could not wait to return to the Golden Monkey Clan and finally rebut Little Ancestor so it would not always feel that they were useless. Zhou Yuan chuckled inwardly at the sight of her joyful appearance, and did not say anything. After all, Jin Linger had brought him news of Tuntun. Jin Linger tossed a small golden object to Zhou Yuan and he hurriedly caught it. ¡°This is from Little Ancestor, but it seems that you¡¯ll need the power of the Nascent Source stage to open it.¡± The golden light in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand receded, turning into a purple-gold scale. It was a familiar sight; one of Tuntun¡¯s scales after it transformed. However, extremely powerful undulations pulsed from the scale. From this, he could tell that Tuntun had grown much stronger than before. The golden scale should contain some information from Tuntun, but from Jin Linger¡¯s words, anyone below the Nascent Source stage would be unable to open it. He can¡¯t be trying to show off, right? Zhou Yuan muttered inwardly. This was quite in line with Tuntun¡¯s show-off nature. However, it did make him a little depressed. It seemed that he would always be slower than Tuntun and Yaoyao no matter how fast his cultivation progressed. Others called him abnormal, but he felt that those two were the true monsters. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan kept the scale and cupped his fists together in gratitude. Jin Linger waved her hand before turning around and walking back to the Golden Monkey Clan. She said something to her young brother Jin Feng, and he cast his gaze over and smiled at Zhou Yuan. He seemed quite friendly. Zhou Yuan returned the smile and cupped his fists together from afar. After Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Jin Linger¡¯s exchange ended, the surrounding onlookers withdrew their gazes. They had originally thought that Jin Linger was going to cause trouble for Zhou Yuan, but it seemed that they were on quite good terms. When had these two become acquainted? On the Wanshou Heaven side, Jiang Jinlin frowned a little. He had likewise thought that Jin Linger was going to make things difficult for Zhou Yuan. Tianyuan Region was the weakest of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s nine regions, and was the perfect target for them to show off their power. Their motive was not to exchange information with Hunyuan Heaven, but to seek cooperation with Wanshou Heaven playing the leading role. This would give them an advantage when it was time to split the spoils. He secretly made a gesture, and the Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan captain walked forward. He was a large, muscular man that gave off a ferocious aura. However, a figure quickly appeared beside him. Jin Linger¡¯s brother smilingly placed a hand on his shoulder and said, ¡°Wang Meng, come with me. I have something to tell you.¡± Without waiting for a reply, Jin Feng dragged Wang Meng away. The corners of Jiang Jinlin¡¯s eyes twitched. He looked at Jin Linger, only to find that latter fearlessly staring back at him, her beautiful eyes filled with warning. Jiang Jinlin remained expressionless, but he could anger rising within him. This unruly Jin Linger was making a mess of things! By the side, Ai Qing shook her head at him. Since Jin Linger had ties with Zhou Yuan and wanted to protect him, there was no need to go after him for the time being. They would soon cross blows either way. Guan Qinglong also withdrew his thoughts at this moment and said, ¡°Friends from Wanshou Heaven, please enter the camp so we can discuss things in detail.¡± Ai Qing revealed a faint smile and nodded. She and Jiang Jinlin led the Wanshou Heaven group into the camp. Zhou Yuan watched them enter before smiling at Qin Lian. ¡°It seems that this discussion will be quite heated¡­¡± How could he not see Wanshou Heaven¡¯s intentions? However, Hunyuan Heaven also wanted to be the dominant side of the partnership. Hence, there would naturally be no lack of clashes later. Next, they would find out whose fist was bigger. Chapter 1141 Flexing Having seated themselves, Ai Qing did not bother with any pleasantries and dived straight into the main topic, sharing some of the information they had gathered. ¡°Friends from Hunyuan Heaven, the newly discovered mystic ruins are of utmost importance. After some preliminary scouting, we found that the giant stone wall gives off an extremely terrifying pressure. Due to this pressure, anyone whose Genesis Qi foundation is below 2 billion will be unable to approach.¡± ¡°2 billion Genesis Qi foundation?¡± These words caused an outbreak of murmurs on the Hunyuan Heaven side. Everyone had shocked expressions. Guan Qinglong slowly said, ¡°If so, the battle for the ancestral qi stone wall will likely be limited to only the top experts from both sides.¡± Dong Ye¡¯s icy voice followed, ¡°But the main force cannot let their guards down. The other party may conduct a large-scale attack to hinder our top experts.¡± Jiang Jinlin lightly tapped the table as he nonchalantly looked towards the Hunyuan Heaven side. ¡°I believe captain Guan Qinglong has tried to approach the ancestral qi stone wall. Perhaps you know a little more?¡± Guan Qinglong softly chuckled. He did not conceal anything. ¡°I did attempt to approach the wall, but was quickly forced back by a certain individual from Shengwang Heaven. However, I did manage to catch a small glimpse of the wall. There seems to be several stone lotus seats at the foot of the wall which give off a mysterious light. The mysterious light gave off extraordinary ancestral qi undulations, and if I¡¯m not wrong, they are the true treasures of the ancestral qi stone wall.¡± Jiang Jinlin¡¯s fingers stopped as he asked, ¡°How many seats did you see?¡± This was an extremely important question. From what the information they had garnered, each lotus seat represented a great blessing. Obtaining more seats would strengthen the battle power on their side. ¡°I counted ten, but I¡¯m not completely certain,¡± answered Guan Qinglong. Ten... The captains looked at each other. This was a case of having too little porridge and too many monks. One must know that there were more than fifteen captains present, not including the few non-captain individuals that also possessed astonishing strength. Jiang Jinlin slowly said, ¡°Ten lotus seats. If we ultimately succeed in defeating Shengwang Heaven, I hope that our Wanzu Region will get six.¡± These words immediately drew a series of unhappy grunts from the Hunyuan Heaven side. The Yaogui Region¡¯s Li Zhu let out an icy chuckle and asked, ¡°Based on what?¡± Jiang Jinlin chuckled. He stared at Guan Qinglong as he slowly said, ¡°You should have crossed hands with that person. How was it?¡± Jiang Jinlin shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s because you haven¡¯t seen his Sacred Pupil Art. From the information we gathered, Mi Shan¡¯s Sacred Pupil has reached the three star stage. His pupil can borrow the power of the stars, and once he uses his Pupil Art, victory will be very difficult for even captain Guan Qinglong.¡± Guan Qinglong frowned slightly but did not say anything else. A voice suddenly interjected, ¡°May I ask how the Sacred Pupil Arts are categorized?¡± Numerous gazes looked over, converging on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Jiang Jinlin also cast an uninterested glance over and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for an intermediate Heavenly Sun expert like you to ask about such things. An opponent at that level is something you have to worry about.¡± However, a nonchalant voice sounded right after Jiang Jinlin¡¯s, ¡°The Sacred Race¡¯s Sacred Pupils are also known as nine star Sacred Pupils, which is also the highest stage. When the Sacred Pupil opens, one might be able to see stars rotating within. The number of stars represents the level of the pupil. Mi Shan, whom we mentioned earlier, has reached the three star stage.¡± Jiang Jinlin frowned and looked towards Jin Linger. Jin Linger shrugged at him and said, ¡°This is not important information anyways, what¡¯s the point of hiding it?¡± She then looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°But he is right. You have no use for such information. There will naturally be others who will worry about such opponents.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled but did not try to explain. He recalled his fight with Ji Mo. Ji Mo¡¯s Sacred Pupil had two stars, meaning that was a two star Sacred Pupil... Guan Qinglong calmly said, ¡°Although Mi Shan has a three star Sacred Pupil, I also have my own trump cards.¡± Jiang Jinlin smiled and said, ¡°Alright then, even if captain Guan Qinglong manages to keep Mi Shan busy, do you know that Mi Shan has a twin brother called Mi Shi who is no weaker than him?¡± ¡°Shengwang Heaven has another practitioner that is no weaker than Mi Shan?¡± This time, Guan Qinglong was somewhat startled. Was the Sacred Race really so powerful? Ai Qing softly said in her graceful voice, ¡°Captain Guan Qinglong, captain Jiang is not lying. Mi Shan does have a twin brother who is also extremely powerful. ¡°Captain Jiang does have his reason for asking for six lotus seats. We have a certain method to deal with Mi Shan. If we succeed, we have a 90% chance to defeat him. ¡°Defeating the Shengwang Heaven¡¯s commander will naturally tip the scales in our favor. It should not be unreasonable for us to ask for one more lotus seat with such contribution, right?¡± Guan Qinglong was unmoved. He slowly said, ¡°There¡¯s actually something else I have to share with you guys. We obtained information that besides Shengwang Heaven, Shengling Heaven has also arrived to vie for the ancestral qi stone wall.¡± At these words the expressions of Jiang Jinlin, Ai Qing and the other Wanshou Heaven captions changed. Although Shengling Heaven was not as strong as Shengwang Heaven, their addition would certainly be a huge factor that may spiral the situation out of their control. Ai Qing¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed as she said, ¡°Shengling Heaven¡¯s commander is called Ji Mo, and is also extremely powerful. In a one-on-one fight, only captain Jiang from our Wanshou Heaven is strong enough to suppress him.¡± Jiang Jinlin nodded. ¡°His Sacred Pupil has been cultivated to the two star stage. He is not an easy opponent.¡± Guan Qinglong merely chuckled and said, ¡°Ji Mo is honestly not a huge threat now.¡± Jiang Jinlin raised his brows and looked towards Guan Qinglong. ¡°Why do you say so?¡± Guan Qinglong offhandedly said, ¡°Because a captain from our Hunyuan Heaven crossed blows with him previously, and managed to heavily injure his Sacred Pupil. It is very unlikely for him to recover so quickly.¡± Jiang Jinlin¡¯s and Ai Qing¡¯s expressions changed as they looked at each other, seeing the shock in the other party¡¯s eyes. Ai Qing said, ¡°Captain Guan is joking, right? There¡¯s someone on your side with such strength besides yourself?¡± How could she not know the intent behind Guan Qinglong¡¯s words. He was saying that Hunyuan Heaven was also a force to be reckoned with. Even without Wanshou Heaven to deal with Mi Shan and Mi Shi, Hunyuan Heaven could still try their luck. This was flexing to tell them who was stronger. Only the strongest deserved a greater reward. Jiang Jinlin¡¯s sharp gaze carefully swept across each nine region captain¡¯s face. In the end, he said, ¡°I¡¯m very curious to know which captain you were referring to. Although the Zixiao Region¡¯s captain Dong Ye is strong, she should not be able to pull off such a feat. As for the Wanzu Region, it¡¯s even more unlikely since Wang Xuanyang has died.¡± An amused smile rose from the corners of Jiang Jinlin¡¯s lips. ¡°Or is captain Guan merely making things up?¡± Guan Qinglong softly chuckled as his gaze turned towards a nearby seat. The other captains including Dong Ye and Li Zhu also looked over with complicated gazes. Jiang Jinlin, Ai Qing, Jin Linger and the other Wanshou Heaven captains also followed their gazes. Their pupils could not help but shrink as their expressions turned rigid. Under the attention of numerous gazes, Zhou Yuan felt somewhat helpless as he displayed a faint smile at Jian Jinlin and the others. ¡°That person is me.¡± Chapter 1142 This guys a Big Sho The Hunyuan Heaven side was still quite okay because they had already heard it before. They were shocked out of their minds when they first heard the news, and even Dong Ye, who had witnessed Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, found it very hard to believe. Dong Ye had seen Zhou Yuan in action when they ganged up on Wang Xuanyang previously. Although he had displayed surprising power, he was clearly still not strong enough to heavily injure the Shengling Heaven¡¯s Ji Mo. From the information they had, Ji Mo was definitely stronger than Wang Xuanyang, and was likely capable of putting up a fight against the likes of Guan Qinglong. If they were to take Guan Qinglong out of the picture, an opponent like Ji Mo was someone no one in Hunyuan Heaven could match, including Dong Ye. And yet, Zhou Yuan had gravely injured such an opponent. So what did this say? Dong Ye¡¯s gaze was somewhat complicated as she looked at Zhou Yuan. In a manner of speaking, she had watched every step of his astonishing and rapid progression. Several months before entering Guyuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan had been nothing in her eyes. However, she had no choice but to admit now, that his battle power had likely already surpassed her own. Such a monstrous person... It was no wonder that even Su Youwei admired him and was so committed to him. While the Hunyuan Heaven side were showing mixed feelings in their eyes, the Wanshou Heaven group finally recovered from their shock. Jiang Jinlin skeptically stared at Zhou Yuan, his eyes full of doubt. ¡°Captain Guan Qinglong, are you joking with us? You¡¯re telling me an intermediate Heavenly Sun expert managed to heavily injure Ji Mo? Are you Hunyuan Heaven people all so childish?¡± Ai Qing also nodded in agreement and tactfully said, ¡°If captain Guan Qinglong is unsatisfied with our proposal, we can continue to discuss the details.¡± Guan Qinglong softly chuckled and said, ¡°Captain Zhou Yuan encountered Shengling Heaven¡¯s Ji Mo because he went to rescue some Cangxuan Heaven friends. Right, most of the Cangxuan Heaven team is currently staying with us, and I¡¯ve also invited their captain Chu Qing over.¡± As he spoke, the tent flap was pulled open and two figures walked in. One of them had a shining bald head, while the other was the cold-looking Li Qingchan. Chu Qing seated himself, the usual lazy look on his face as he said, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan did gravely injure Ji Mo. I can only tell you guys that whoever treats him as an ordinary intermediate Heavenly Sun expert is a super idiot.¡± Jiang Jinlin stared hard at Zhou Yuan. He had originally believed that he only needed to pay attention to Guan Qinglong, but it now seemed that the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan, whom he had practically ignored from the start, was actually also a big shot. The most shocked of the bunch were the Jin Linger and Jin Feng siblings. Jin Feng could not help but mutter, ¡°Sis, didn¡¯t you say he¡¯s very ordinary?¡± Jin Linger gritted her teeth. ¡°Who knew that he was acting weak!¡± ¡°If he is truly able to seriously injure an enemy like Ji Mo while at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, Little Ancestor was not exaggerating about him.¡± Jin Feng sighed, some admiration in gaze when he now looked towards Zhou Yuan. After all, even their Little Ancestor praised him so highly. Zhou Yuan was naturally worthy of Jin Feng¡¯s respect. Jing Linger¡¯s pretty face turned a little unnatural. Her face could not help but feel hot when she recalled how pleased she had acted in front of Zhou Yuan earlier. Embarrassment and anger surged in her eyes, but in the end, she could only grind her teeth and send a vicious glare at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan ignored the awkward atmosphere and elaborated, ¡°When we previously encountered Ji Mo, he had only been leading his Sea Subduing Hall team. His Sacred Pupil has a Death Substitute Art. After using it, his Sacred Pupil will enter a sealed state which is extremely difficult to recover from. Although Ji Mo is still a strong adversary, his threat level has decreased substantially without his Sacred Pupil. ¡°Besides Ji Mo, they also had a vice captain, Wei Tuo, but he was also gravely injured by me and I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s still alive. ¡°However, the other Shengling Heaven teams did not suffer any losses and not to be underestimated.¡± ¡°Death Substitute Art¡­¡± The crowd fell silent once more. To have forced out Ji Mo¡¯s Death Substitute Art meant that Zhou Yuan had created a fatal threat to his life. The threat had been so great that Ji Mo had no choice but to respond even if it meant having his Sacred Pupil sealed. What kind of power could have done that? Even the extremely prideful Jiang Jinlin felt a little wary when he looked towards Zhou Yuan again. ¡°Although the combined might of Shengwang Heaven and Shengling Heaven is very powerful, we do have three heavens on our side, and should not be weaker than them. ¡°I feel that now is not the appropriate time to decide the distribution of the lotus seats. Though I understand the seats are our main goal, it¡¯s a little early to decide especially since we have yet to confirm how many there are. Instead, I suggest we divide them according to contribution. Whoever contributes more will naturally get more seats. Likewise, whoever contributes less should gracefully give in.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice rang out in the tent. If it was before, it was likely that no one would have given him much consideration. But now that they knew he had gravely injured Ji Mo, even the proud Jiang Jinlin did not immediately retort. At the end of the day, the weight of one¡¯s words was still dependent on one''s strength. Guan Qinglong pondered the suggestion for a while and ultimately nodded in agreement. ¡°It sounds fair.¡± On the Wanshou Region side, Jiang Jinlin and Ai Qing exchanged a look before the latter released a lovely laugh. Her long and narrow phoenix eyes curiously looked towards Zhou Yuan as she smiled and nodded, a movement that better accentuated her elegant and fair neck. ¡°Then we shall proceed according to captain Zhou Yuan¡¯s suggestion. Everything shall depend on one¡¯s contribution.¡± Her voice was clear like the cry of a phoenix. ¡°Mi Shan and Mi Shi are the strongest experts on the other side. Leave Mi Shen to me and Jiang Jinlin. As for Mi Shi, we¡¯ll have to request captain Guan Qinglong to deal with him. ¡°Of course, although these two are the strongest, the other Sacred Race experts cannot be underestimated. Although Ji Mo¡¯s Sacred Pupil is sealed, he is still a formidable foe. His Genesis Qi foundation is near the 3 billion level, and besides captain Guan Qingling and Jiang Jinlin, there is likely no one in our three heavens who is strong enough to keep him in check. Since captain Zhou Yuan managed to gravely injure him, we¡¯ll have to trouble you to handle your old enemy.¡± Ai Qing¡¯s gaze turned towards Jin Linger. ¡°But to be safe, we will send captain Jin Linger to aid you.¡± In the end, she was still not fully convinced, and was worried that things may go awry on Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. Zhou Yuan chuckled. It made no difference to him. After going through the main components of the plan, the atmosphere in the tent turned rather relaxed. Guan Qinglong stood up and said, ¡°We shall launch our attack in three days, take over the ancestral qi stone wall and beat back the two Sacred Race heavens!¡± Jiang Jinlin also rose to his feet. ¡°Looking forward to a happy collaboration. I hope that we will be able to witness the might of Hunyuan Heaven. Please don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± There was still pride rising in his tone. Guan Qinglong could not be bothered to argue, and merely displayed a faint smile. ¡°Well, I hope you will be able to subdue Mi Shan.¡± Chapter 1143 The Mysterious Shengzu Heaven The Hunyuan Heaven main force had come to a stop on a large plateau. However, they did not set up camp this time, but instead silently seated themselves and began to absorb the surrounding Genesis Qi. Everyone understood that an intense battle awaited them, a battle that would be far more dangerous than any they had ever experienced. Before, the Sacred Race was merely a name that was filled with mystery and danger. The many records of the Sacred Race spoke mainly of their overwhelming power, making the Hunyuan Heaven members feel a tremendous amount of pressure. However, they also understood that as Hunyuan Heaven representatives, every battle they fought was for the future of Hunyuan Heaven. Every additional portion of ancestral qi obtained might result in the appearance of another heaven pride. Among these talented geniuses, some might ultimately grow into Law Domain experts, strengthening the heaven¡¯s overall might, or even a Saint stage expert that would greatly boost the heaven¡¯s power. Hence, the battle for Guyuan Heaven was not only for their own benefit, but also for every resident of their heaven. Guan Qinglong, Zhou Yuan and the other captains were gathered at the front. All of them were peering into the distance where an enormous stone wall silently towered within the misty mountains, as if it had existed since the start of time and would continue on into eternity. Though they could only make out its silhouette, the ancestral qi undulations it gave off were so concentrated that Zhou Yuan and the others, who were seeing it for the first time, began to subconsciously breathe a little heavier. Even the high grade branch channel from before paled in comparison to this wall. However, this was not strange. Extremely high concentrations of Genesis Qi would gather at such locations, and after years of settling, a structure like the wall would be born. The difficulty of achieving such conditions was far greater than a high grade branch channel. ¡°It really is a blessing of nature.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed as desire burned in his eyes. Guan Qinglong chuckled and said, ¡°But even the best blessing can only be enjoyed by the winner. If we fail, we will have to flee with our tails between our legs.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. A thoughtful look appeared in his eyes as he said, ¡°I did not expect Shengwang Heaven alone to be capable of matching our Hunyuan Heaven. What about Shengzu Heaven?¡± At these words, Zhou Yuan observed the usually calm Guan Qinglong¡¯s face turn grave. ¡°Shengzu Heaven is far stronger than you can imagine.¡± Guan Qinglong sighed. ¡°Do you know how most of the past battles for Guyuan Heaven have ended?¡± ¡°The battle for Guyuan Heaven occurs roughly once every thousand years, and our records show that we¡¯ve participated nearly a hundred times. Among these records, the five heavens have only seized the biggest main channel five times. ¡°In other words, the remaining ninety plus times ended in Shengzu Heaven¡¯s victory. ¡°It¡¯s an abysmally low win-rate for us.¡± The expressions of Zhou Yuan, Qin Lian, Chu Qing and the other captains turned somewhat ugly. After nearly a hundred battles, the five heavens of the many races had only gained the upper hand five times?! ¡°Our five triumphs were made possible because of the super heaven prides that emerged from the five heavens. Among these five super heaven prides, two ultimately ascended the peak and became Saint experts!¡± Guan Qinglong looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan is one of them.¡± Surprise filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. The answer to his question had somewhat exceeded his expectations. He never imagined that his master was so dazzling in his youth. It was no wonder he had managed to step into the Saint stage and stand at the apex of the many races. ¡°From these numbers, one can imagine what kind of monsters are needed to fight against Shengzu Heaven.¡± Guan Qinglong smiled helplessly. Even his usual calm and confident self seemed rather pessimistic in the face of the mysterious and powerful Shengzu Heaven. The others were also silent. Dong Ye, Su Youwei, Wu Yao and the rest displayed grave expressions. Amidst the depressing atmosphere, Zhou Yuan suddenly asked in an earnest voice, ¡°Could I be that kind of monstrous heaven pride?¡± Pfft. Su Youwei held back her laughter, light seemingly swirling in her eyes. Her beauty made the surroundings feel dim in comparison. She replied in a serious manner, ¡°Your highness is genius sent down by the heavens. You definitely are.¡± Dong Ye hurriedly pulled Su Youwei behind her and angrily glared at Zhou Yuan, ¡°Is your stupidity contagious?¡± Why did the usually clever and quick-witted Su Youwei always seem like a fool in front of Zhou Yuan. To think that she could even say such things! Zhou Yuan unhappily glanced at Dong Ye. ¡°How can an ordinary person like you possibly understand her god-like judgement.¡± The other Hunyuan Heaven captains chuckled inwardly. Although they felt Zhou Yuan was joking, the stifling atmosphere from before had receded substantially. Wu Yao glanced at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure from behind. The others may not know how terrifying he was, but she understood him all too well. No one could possibly imagine that the one who gravely injured Shengling Heaven¡¯s Ji Mo with the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage strength had all of his luck and blessing stolen when he was a baby, making him incapable of unlocking his eight meridian channels and throwing him into the pits of despair. Despite his hopeless situation, he had still crawled back up step by step. All of his past grievances and grudges had been personally torn to pieces by him. In fact, if not for supreme sovereign Wu Shen¡¯s protection, she would have lost her life to Zhou Yuan, allowing him to finally gather the complete sacred dragon blessing. Although Wu Yao still viewed him as her mortal enemy, she had no choice but to admit that this seemingly gentle young man had far greater talent and character than anyone else in the same generation. Even Guan Qinglong was temporarily stronger than Zhou Yuan because he had a head start. Hence, the others might not believe Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier words, but she did a little. Rumble! While they were conversing, numerous Genesis Qi undulations suddenly erupted from a nearby plateau, accompanied by faint beastial grunts. ¡°The Wanshou Heaven main force has arrived.¡± Guan Qinglong looked over and soon saw the team led by Jiang Jinlin and Ai Qing. The Wanshou Heaven main force was an exceptionally astonishing sight. Numerous Genesis Beasts travelled in their true forms like ten thousand wild beasts galloping across the plains, shaking the land wherever they passed. Two entire heavens and half of Cangxuan Heaven gathered together was an exceptionally grand sight to behold. A storm was slowly brewing. ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s quite a number of people...I wonder how many of you will be left after this battle?¡± When the Wanshou Heaven group appeared, an indifferent chuckle suddenly sounded across the area. Rumble! An astonishing storm of Genesis Qi unfurled, tearing apart the thick mists. The pupils of Zhou Yuan, Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin and many others shrank slightly as they gazed into the distance. Countless figures were gathered on a peak like a giant dark cloud of endless killing intent. At the front of the army, a young man in back robes stood with his hands behind his back, smiling indifferently as he observed them. An enormous pressure filled the air. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he stared at the black-robed young man. This should be the overall commander of Shengwang Heaven, Mi Shan... Chapter 1144 Chaotic Battle However, the top level experts of Hunyuan Heaven and Wanshou Heaven were instead cautiously watching the black-robed young man in front of the army. He stood there with his hands behind his back, his short hair gently swaying in the wind. He looked quite handsome, but his pupils gleamed with a sinister coldness. His gaze was filled with superiority and indifference, without the slightest shred of emotion, as if he was looking at livestock. ¡°Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Guan Qinglong, Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Jiang Jinlin¡­¡± An indifferent smile hung from the corners of Mi Shan¡¯s mouth as his eyes swept across the two figures in front of the Hunyuan Heaven and Wanshou Heaven forces. ¡°Your five lower Heavens do not seem to have any monster-level heaven prides this generation.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re from Shengzu Heaven. What we have is enough to deal with you guys.¡± Iciness flashed in Jiang Jinlin¡¯s golden pupils as he sneered. Mi Shan cast a glance at Jiang Jinlin. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the Blood Genesis Pills made from a Mystic Dragon Clan member¡¯s body will be of great quality and taste pretty good. If I capture you, I will make sure to use every last bit of your flesh.¡± Jiang Jinlin revealed his sinisterly white teeth. ¡°My Mystic Dragon Clan loves to dig out your Sacred Pupils to use as battle trophies. I hope that your Sacred Pupil will satisfy me.¡± Both parties were smiling, but their eyes were overflowing with bone-chilling killing intent that made the surrounding temperature fall. ¡°Mi Shan, you¡¯re as talkative as usual¡­¡± A figure that looked exactly like him walked out from behind Mi Shen. When they stood together, it was almost impossible to tell them apart. ¡°Mi Shi, you¡¯re too old-fashioned.¡± Mi Shan smiled faintly. ¡°I enjoy watching how my opponents¡¯ expression changes before and after we fight. From confidence to absolute despair. The process is very entertaining.¡± The figure that looked exactly like him was his twin brother, Mi Shi. Mi Shi¡¯s gaze swept across the alliance as he indifferently said, ¡°Hunyuan Heaven and Wanshou Heaven have joined forces as expected, and there¡¯s even quite a few Cangxuan Heaven members among them. You guys look pretty impressive. If Shengling Heaven did not rush here in time, we might actually be in a little trouble.¡± ¡°Ji Mo, who injured your Sacred Pupil?¡± Mi Shi tilted his head to the side. A familiar figure walked out from behind and arrived beside Mi Shi. It was Ji Mo. He darkly stared at the Hunyuan Heaven side, his eyes filled with resentment and hatred as they ultimately locked onto Zhou Yuan. ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± ¡°Intermediate Heavenly Sun stage?¡± Mi Shan and Mi Shi were somewhat surprised when they followed his gaze. They were a little unable to believe that Ji Mo had lost to an intermediate Heavenly Sun brat. Mi Shan smiled nonchalantly, ¡°Saint Genesis Art huh...no wonder he managed to gravely injure you. He is indeed very capable to have learnt one at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. It¡¯s a pity that he¡¯s only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage with its weak foundation. Mi Shi looked towards Ji Mo and said, ¡°We¡¯ll leave him to you. Although your Sacred Pupil is sealed and your battle power has decreased, your Genesis Qi foundation is still there. I¡¯ll pass the Sacred Stone Shield to you. It should be able to block his Saint Genesis Art once, and given his cultivation, it should be impossible for him to use it twice.¡± Ji Mo slowly nodded, his eyes filled with maliciousness as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will make him pay a painful price. I will capture him and boil his flesh into a batch of Blood Genesis Pills!¡± He did not fear Zhou Yuan, because it was ultimately his carelessness that had allowed Zhou Yuan to injure him previously. Moreover, he had an unshakable advantage in terms of Genesis Qi foundation. If he fought properly, it would be easy to suppress Zhou Yuan. Hence, there was no need for him to take any risks. If he had properly conserved his trump cards, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s rainbow light attack would not have forced him to pay such a terrible price. At the very least, he would have been able to find an opportunity to withdraw. However, there was no medicine for regret in this world. Fortunately, he had not lost completely and still had his Genesis Qi foundation. He had also fully recovered from his other injuries. Besides lacking his Sacred Pupil¡¯s power, he was still the strongest in Shengling Heaven. As long as he guarded against the rainbow light, Zhou Yuan would be squashed easily! Mi Shan chuckled. He didn¡¯t really take Zhou Yuan seriously. Instead, most of his attention was on Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin. Among the many experts present, only the two of them could threaten him. ¡°Prepare for battle. Once we kill Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin, the rest of them are nothing to fear.¡± Mi Shan¡¯s figure slowly rose into the air. Mi Shi and Ji Mo arrived beside him, arms crossed as they coldly stared at the three Heaven alliance. Behind them, the two Sacred Race Heaven experts revealed cruel looks in their eyes, as if looking at livestock that were awaiting slaughter. Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin also rose into the air, grave looks in their eyes. The battle today was definitely going to be very bloody. After all, there were five Heavens participating, which was more than half of Tianyuan World. ¡°Everyone, prepare for battle.¡± Guan Qinglong¡¯s and Jiang Jinlin¡¯s deep voices rang out in everyone¡¯s eyes. Powerful Genesis Qi undulations erupted one after another. Zhou Yuan slowly cracked his neck before looking towards Li Qingchan and the others. ¡°Be a little more careful later.¡± A battle of such scale was exceptionally dangerous to initial Heavenly Sun experts like them, because a single Heavenly Sun expert would easily mow them down. ¡°You be careful too.¡± There was no fear on Li Qingchan¡¯s frosty face. ¡°Our Cangxuan Heaven may not be as strong as the other two Heavens, but here are no cowards among us!¡± Behind her, determined looks emerged on the Cangxuan Heaven troops. Chu Qing took a deep breath and cautioned, ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, take care of yourself. Ji Mo will be prepared this time, and you¡¯re definitely the first target in his sights.¡± Zhou Yuan noded. While they were conversing, Mi Shan, Mi Shi, Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin raised their hands. ¡°Attack!¡± Icy voices brimming with killing intent were spat out from their mouths. The area instantly filled with a murderous aura. Rumble! Countless pillars of Genesis Qi rose into the sky. Two giant torrents rushed forward, accompanied by guttural war cries, before ultimately smashing together in the air. The great battle had finally begun. Chapter 1145 Apex Face-off Countless Genesis Qi collisions erupted in the mountain forest, causing unprecedented destruction in the ancient woods. The endless sea of trees was torn apart as deep gorges stretched across the land. From above, one would see innumerable explosions of Genesis Qi as fighters clashed repeatedly. It was magnificent, yet also filled with bitterness and desperation. Guan Qinglong was the first to move. He did not enter the chaotic battlefield, but instead appeared in the sky above. His expression was deadly serious, because Mi Shi¡¯s Genesis Qi had been locked on him since the beginning. The space in front of Guan Qinglong rippled as a figure emerged. ¡°Guan Qinglong, are you the strongest Heavenly Sun of this generation in the five lower Heavens?¡± Mi Shi sized-up Guan Qinglong. ¡°I¡¯ll admit that you¡¯re pretty strong, but if you¡¯re only at this level, the Sacred Race will end up as the biggest winner again. ¡°When you guys finally meet Shengzu Heaven, you will learn the true meaning of despair.¡± Mi Shi¡¯s intent was malicious. He had said these words to shake Guan Qinglong and make him reveal an opening. Fortunately, Guan Qinglong was unfazed. He indifferently said, ¡°We will naturally pay Shengzu Heaven a proper visit after this, but I¡¯ll have to first prepare a gift for them: your head on a pike.¡± Rumble! Three glass Heavenly Suns rose behind him as an astonishing storm of Genesis Qi unfurled. The nearby space violently rippled as a heart-palpitating pressure spread. Seeral shocked gazes looked up from the battlefield below. Guan Qinglong¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had reached the terrifying level of 3.3 billion. In the face of such power, even Mi Shi¡¯s expression changed a little. He slowly said, ¡°Hunyuan Heaven does live up to its name as the leader of the five lower Heavens.¡± Boundless Genesis Qi surged out from behind him as three Heavenly Suns also emerged. All the Genesis Qi in his body erupted without reservation. 3.2 billion! Although it was 100 million less than Guan Qingling, Mi Shi¡¯s aura was equally imposing, not losing to Guan Qinglong in the slightest. ¡°I¡¯m interested to find out how capable Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s strongest Heavenly Sun is. I hope you don¡¯t disappoint.¡± Mi Shi grinned, revealing an eerie set of white, beast-like teeth. In the next instant, he lifted his palm. Rumble! Genesis Qi surged out from behind him, transforming into a ten-thousand-feet-tall wave. The tidal wave rushed towards Guan Qinglong, shattering space as it crashed towards him. Guan Qinglong extended his arm, formed a knife-hand and chopped downwards. ¡°Azure Underworld Light.¡± Bzz! A figure suddenly shot out from the drifting light dots, thrusting the spear in his hands. The spear turned into countless afterimages, each pulsing with extremely deadly Genesis Qi as they attacked Guan Qinglong from every direction. Genesis Qi gathered towards Guan Qinglong''s hand, turning into an azure dragon blade. Clang! The blade danced in the air, sending out flickering blades of azure light. The light blades sprung forth, cutting through the fabric of space. Clang clang clang! Two figures exchanged a series of lightning-quick blows in the sky. Each collision was followed by a loud clang and the thunderous rumble of Genesis Qi. The intense duel had erupted in full force! ... "I did not expect you to voluntarily single me out." At another area in the sky, Mi Shan gazed indifferently at Jiang Jinlin. ¡°Is this some kind of tactic? Using an inferior specimen to try and beat a superior being?¡± Jiang Jinlin¡¯s golden pupils gave off a piercing pressure as he stared at Mi Shan and smiled icily, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to worry about such things because you¡¯ll soon be a dead specimen.¡± Mi Shan chuckled and shook his head. ¡°What a sharp-tongued worm. Fine, I¡¯ll slay you first and then go help Mi Shi capture Guan Qinglong. You guys can finally rest forever after today.¡± As he shook his head, vast Genesis Qi flooded out from his body like a storm, so powerful that the surrounding space trembled under its might. A Genesis Qi foundation of 3.3 billion. This was not the least bit inferior to Guan Qinglong¡¯s! Jiang Jinlin¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, before he stealthily cast his gaze towards a certain spot on the battlefield below. Upon sensing Jiang Jinlin¡¯s gaze, the concealed Ai Qing nodded as a faint Spirit Phoenix began to appear behind her. Jiang Jinlin withdrew his gaze, iciness flickering in his eyes as he stared at Mi Shan. Golden dragon scales began to grow on his face as the roar of a dragon echoed from his body. His Genesis Qi erupted, revealing a Genesis Qi foundation of 3.2 billion. The strongest Wanshou Heaven Heavenly Sun was clearly no pushover either. The two fighters¡¯ gazes clashed in the air, chilling killing intent spilling into the surrounding air. Boom! They shot forth a split second later, accompanied by a storm of Genesis Qi as they collided in the air with overwhelming force. ... The battlefield stretched across the vast mountain range, new battles constantly starting all over. Despite the chaos on the battlefield, several gazes were keeping an eye on the few heavyweight fights, where any change would sway the morale of the fighters on both sides. To be more precise, there were a total of three key battles. Guan Qinglong and Mi Shi. Jiang Jinlin and Mi Shan. The third was naturally Shengling Heaven¡¯s Ji Mo and his opponent, Zhou Yuan from the alliance army side. "Zhou Yuan, how should I help?" Jin Linger followed closely behind Zhou Yuan, her explosively sexy body an imaginable sight as usual. Her eyes were currently filled with wariness as she stared at a certain arm-crossed figure standing in the air. Who else could it be but Ji Mo? Moreover, Ji Mo had already displayed his 3.1 billion Genesis Qi foundation. There was no doubt that he was an existence second only to four powerhouses, Mi Shan, Mi Shi, Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin. Jin Linger¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was only at the 2.7 billion level. Though this was already top-tier, she was clearly weaker than Ji Mo. Zhou Yuan stared at Ji Mo, before he grinned and said, ¡°The best help you can provide is to stand here and cheer for me. If you¡¯re bored, you can go ahead and help the others.¡± Jin Linger frowned. ¡°No way! You¡¯re only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, and his Genesis Qi foundation is too strong!¡± Although Zhou Yuan had seriously injured Ji Mo previously, Jin Linger knew nothing about how it had transpired. Hence, she could not verify its validity. If Zhou Yuan was killed by Ji Mo, it would be a huge loss for their side and would definitely affect their morale. ¡°How about I go first to try and tire him!¡± Jin Linger gritted her teeth as her long golden hair scattered around her. Her golden tail unwrapped from her waist and lightly whipped the air, emitting a sonic boom. Zhou Yuan ignored her and calmly took a step forward. Rumble! Genesis Qi whizzed out of his body, a torrent of white and gold soaring in the sky. A Genesis Qi foundation of 2.4 billion was clearly displayed. After cultivating the high grade ancestral qi branch channel, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had grown to 2.4 billion! ¡°Promotion!¡± A low voice rang out. Rumble! His Genesis Qi foundation frantically increased, climbing till it reached the 3.1 billion level. Jin Linger¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, her mouth falling agape as she felt the pressure spreading from Zhou Yuan. What kind of monster was he to raise his Genesis Qi foundation to this level at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage! How terrifying would he be when he stepped into the advanced Heavenly Sun stage?! ¡°You¡­¡± Jin Linger could not say anything else. Only now did she finally understand why Little Ancestor always told them they could not compare to a single strand of hair on Zhou Yuan. ¡°Go help the others, and leave Ji Mo to me. Don¡¯t worry, since I managed to seal his Sacred Pupil previously, I¡¯ll make sure to take his life today.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned at Jin Linger. She did not know why but there was now a never seen before confidence and swag in his smile. When the final word landed, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had already disappeared from the spot like a phantom. Jin Linger¡¯s eyes flickered as she watched Zhou Yuan rise into the sky, before cupping her now slightly hot face as she mumbled, ¡°That look just now, he¡¯s really beginning to resemble my type¡­¡±¡¯ ¡°But you¡¯d better not be pretending, otherwise, I won¡¯t be able to save you in time.¡± Chapter 1146 Battling Ji Mo Again He could feel that Zhou Yuan had grown stronger, clearly because of the high grade ancestral qi branch channel. This bastard had stolen the rewards that originally belonged to him! ¡°We meet again.¡± In contrast to Ji Mo¡¯s hateful gaze, Zhou Yuan was all smiles. ¡°The high grade branch channel you found for me previously was excellent. I should thank you again.¡± Zhou Yuan had intentionally mentioned the matter to rile up Ji Mo in an attempt to make him lose his rationality to rage. Veins popped on Ji Mo¡¯s forehead, but he understood Zhou Yuan was trying to anger him. He sneered and said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so happy, I was merely careless previously. This time, I¡¯m going to kill you and make a batch of Blood Genesis Pills from your flesh and blood!¡± Zhou Yuan nonchalantly asked, ¡°But can you? If you could, you wouldn¡¯t have fled like a dog with its tail between its legs the last time.¡± Ji Mo icily said, ¡°If not for my carelessness, you wouldn¡¯t have any chance previously!¡± In their previous clash, Ji Mo¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was far greater than Zhou Yuan¡¯s. If he had taken the steady approach, there would have been no opportunity for Zhou Yuan to pull off such a risky maneuver. Zhou Yuan chuckled. Just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed. He immediately waved his sleeve, sending out a torrent of snow-white brush hairs. The hairs twisted into a white shield behind him that cackled with white-gold Genesis Qi. Clang clang! The white shield had barely formed when the nearby space suddenly shattered and several extremely sharp strings of light shot out. They headed straight for Zhou Yuan¡¯s vital points, but were ultimately stopped by countless brush hairs. ¡°You¡¯re still as treacherous as ever,¡± remarked Zhou Yuan. The sneak attack had clearly originated from Ji Mo. Ji Mo¡¯s expression darkened. He had hoped to catch Zhou Yuan off-guard and did not expect his senses to be so sharp. ¡°Since that didn¡¯t work out, I shall crush you directly! ¡°Do you believe your temporary 3.1 billion Genesis Qi foundation gives you the qualifications to fight me? That¡¯s too naive!¡± Ji Mo stook a step forward and made a seal with one hand. Glowing runes emerged and spread on his face, forming some kind of mysterious tattoo. Rumble! Ji Mo¡¯s Genesis Qi abruptly rose, jumping from 3.1 billion to 3.4 billion in the blink of an eye! Terrifying Genesis Qi surged behind him like an ocean, violently shaking the surrounding space. Swoosh! Ji Mo¡¯s Genesis Qi exploded as his figure shot forth like a lightning bolt, leaving numerous afterimages behind him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure hurriedly retreated. ¡°Trying to run? It¡¯s too late!¡± However, Ji Mo appeared in front of Zhou Yuan the moment he began to move and threw a punch. Destructive Genesis Qi pulsed from Ji Mo¡¯s fist, shattering even the surrounding space as muffled thunder vibrated through the air. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change, no hint of fear on his face. Two suns emerged behind him as he also pushed his Genesis Qi to the limit. Boom! His Genesis Qi swept out as he also threw a full-power punch. He also wanted to test how strong his opponent¡¯s 3.4 billion Genesis Qi foundation was. Booom! Two fists slammed into each other as a Genesis Qi shockwave unfurled. Ripples spread in the sky, accompanied by a loud boom. Swish! However, Ji Mo had definitely gained the upper hand in the exchange. His figure only jerked back slightly, while Zhou Yuan¡¯s was sent hurtling downwards, crashing into a mountain. ¡°My Genesis Qi foundation is stronger than yours by 300 million, and yet you dare to face me head-on? Stupid fool!¡± Ji Mo¡¯s face was filled with mockery. ¡°You will definitely die today!¡± A bronze spear appeared in Ji Mo¡¯s hand. Boundless Genesis Qi poured in, causing it to buzz excitedly and cut the surrounding space. Swish! His figure descended like a lightning bolt, heading straight towards the mountain Zhou Yuan had crashed into. The terrifying force was so great that the mountain began to crumble even before the attack landed. From this, one could see Ji Mo¡¯s unrelenting ruthlessness. In the distance, Jin Linger¡¯s face changed slightly. She could not help but stamp her feet in worry and frustration. ¡°He can¡¯t have been acting earlier, right?¡± However, it was already too late for her to save him. Moreover, even someone as strong as her would not be able last for long in the face of Ji Mo¡¯s frightening Genesis Qi foundation of 3.4 billion. The only thing she could do now was pray that Zhou Yuan could survive a while longer. While these thoughts were racing through Jin Linger¡¯s head, Ji Mo arrived, slamming heavily into a certain silhouette amidst the dust. Clang! An extremely loud clang rang out. Boom! A shockwave that could be seen with the naked eye swept outwards, blowing away the nearby Heavenly Sun experts. Thud! A figure was sent flying from the destroyed mountain, smashing into another nearby peak. However, the figure quickly rose back into the air. Numerous gazes were shocked to see who it was. The one who had been sent flying was Ji Mo, who had the clear upper hand earlier. Ji Mo¡¯s expression changed indeterminately as he stared at the destroyed remains of the mountain. A figure slowly walked out from the dust. He stopped on a boulder and a voice rang out, ¡°Ji Mo, are you really in such a hurry to die?¡± Countless gazes looked over. They saw a figure wielding a mottled black brush, frightening undulations pulsing from his body. Hot scarlet-red runes spread across his skin, causing the surrounding air to distort a little. The most shocking discovery, however, was that the Genesis Qi undulations from Zhou Yuan had also reached the 3.4 billion level! Countless people involuntarily cried out, ¡°How can this be?¡± An intermediate Heavenly Sun expert with a Genesis Qi foundation of 3.4 billion. This was extremely rare even in the Sacred Race! In the distance, Jin Linger could not help but swallow. She was truly unable to understand how Zhou Yuan had boosted his Genesis Qi to such a level. Does he have no limit? It was common knowledge that even secret arts could not raise one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation without limit due to the cultivation boundary restriction. From what she knew, even the most elite intermediate glass Heavenly Sun experts¡¯ limits were at the 3 billion range. And yet, Zhou Yuan had somehow pushed his all the way to 3.4 billion! Will his Heavenly Sun implode due to giving over his limits? Zhou Yuan ignored the shocked gazes as he felt the boiling Genesis Qi in his body. The boost this time had come from pulling out the maximum power of the Earth Saint Rune. However, Earth Genesis Qi was extremely condensed and heavy, and even he was only able to bear the additional 3 billion boost with the Great Flame Devil¡¯s strengthened body and the Taiyi Green Wood Mark continuously mending his wounds. Zhou Yuan grimaced a little as he felt the faint piercing pain in his body. The Earth Genesis Qi absorbed by the Earth Saint Rune was no joke. He had not expected to feel pain even with the Great Flame Devil. If an ordinary person was to try this, his body would likely disintegrate from the power. He lifted his head and stared at Ji Mo as cold murder flashed in his eyes. Since even these cards have been brought out...won¡¯t it be somewhat inexcusable if you don¡¯t die today? Chapter 1147 Sacred Sealing Ar First, was the most attention-grabbing battle between Guan Qinglong and Mi Shi. Both fighters favored direct, head-on clashes, using the raw might of their Genesis Qi to overwhelm the opponent. However, since their Genesis Qi foundations were roughly equal, the fight was quite literally earth-shaking, each clash causing reverberations that could be felt throughout the battlefield. From the current situation, it seemed that Guan Qinglong had the initiative. After all, his Genesis Qi foundation was a little stronger than Mi Shi¡¯s. Hence, the allied races side were not overly worried about this battle. Although things were looking pretty good for them on this side, Jiang Jinlin¡¯s situation was not as optimistic. Rumble! Jiang Jinlin roared at the sky as his body began to swell. Numerous scales grew on his skin as his hands turned into dragon claws. His nails became as sharp as knives, capable of cutting the fabric of space with the faintest twitch. He looked like a humanoid dragon, possessing near god-like physical abilities that allowed him to release devastating power with each swing or kick. Moreover, the Genesis Qi undulations from Jiang Jinlin¡¯s body had reached the 3.6 billion level! Evidently, he had also activated a Genesis Qi boosting secret art. Despite this, he was unable to gain the upper hand. Jiang Jinlin¡¯s golden pupils stared hard at Mi Shan, standing in the air in front of him. Strange, mystical glowing runes covered Mi Shan¡¯s entire body. The runes seemed to form some kind of mysterious tattoo which boosted Mi Shan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation to the 3.8 billion level! A slit wiggled between his brows, as if something frightening was hiding within. It gave off an extremely dangerous sensation. ¡°What an ugly look. However, you seem to be much weaker than Guan Qinglong.¡± Mi Shan smiled faintly as he gazed at the dragonoid Jiang Jinlin. ¡°I originally thought he would be my opponent. Instead, I get to humiliate you.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know who will be humiliating who yet!¡± A fierce light rose in Jiang Jinlin¡¯s eyes. He cast a glance at a certain spot below, before his mouth abruptly ballooned. With a tiny plop sound, a ball of golden dragon blood was spat out. Golden dragon blood sprayed across the sky like rain, filling their surroundings. Mi Shan raised his brows slightly, Genesis Qi surging around him to form a screen that blocked the golden dragon blood. ¡°Oh? So anxious that you¡¯re vomiting blood?¡± However, his mocking fell on deaf ears. Instead, an icy smile rose from the corners of Jiang Jinlin¡¯s mouth. ¡°Mi Shan, do you really believe I¡¯ve come unprepared? ¡°You may be the strongest expert of Shengwang Heaven, but your life is mine today! Mi Shan frowned slightly. He waved his sleeve, sending out torrents of Genesis Qi to blast the golden dome. However, the golden dome was expectedly solid. The attacks could only cause ripples and were unable to destroy it. ¡°Is this the coffin you¡¯ve prepared for yourself?¡± Mi Shan smiled. Jiang Jinlin was expressionless. With a deep breath, he suddenly thrust a dragon claw forward. Golden blood converged towards his palm, slowly turning into an ancient glowing rune. He turned the claw towards Mi Shan, and a split second later, Jiang Jinlin¡¯s body rapidly began to wither, as if all his flesh, blood and lifeforce was being poured into the ancient glowing rune. ¡°Mi Shan, have a taste of this wonderful gift I¡¯ve prepared especially for you. ¡°Sacred Sealing Art!¡± Bzz! The glowing rune in Jiang Jinlin¡¯s claw turned into a beam of light. The beam pierced through the air and appeared in front of Mi Shan before bursting into rays of light. Mi Shan¡¯s expression changed slightly. He could see countless tiny glowing runes within the light rays. The runes gave off a peculiar power that began sealing any Genesis Qi they came into contact with. They were clearly very effective against Genesis Qi. If he allowed the runes to enter his body, his power would be greatly restricted, causing his strength to fall. ¡°A sealing technique? So that¡¯s what you were planning!¡± Mi Shan sneered as the slit between his brows began to wiggle. It slowly cracked open, revealing a Sacred Pupil. Three stars revolved in the pupil, giving off a mysterious power. ¡°Sacred Pupil Barrier!¡± Swish! Sacred light spewed from the Sacred Pupil, gathering above Mi Shan¡¯s head like a cloud. Tendrils of light descended from the cloud, enveloping Mi Shan¡¯s body. Jiang Jinlin¡¯s sealing runes could not achieve the same unstoppable effect against the sacred light. The runes were gradually stopped, no longer able to advance. ¡°Jiang Jinlin, you¡¯re too naive. Your strange sealing runes aren¡¯t strong enough to penetrate my Sacred Pupil¡¯s light barrier.¡± Mi Shan chuckled. However, there was no sign of defeat in Jiang Jinlin¡¯s eyes. Instead, a strange smile rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a little too early to celebrate?¡± Mi Shan¡¯s eyes narrowed as a faint sense of unease rose within him. Swish! He suddenly heard the clear cry of a phoenix. Mi Shan jerked his head downwards and saw a glowing phoenix rise into the sky and charge into the golden dragon domain. Mi Shan¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank as he stared at the glowing phoenix, because he had seen countless glowing runes within the phoenix. Though they were somewhat different from Jiang Jinlin¡¯s, they clearly possessed the same ability: sealing power! Mi Shan''s eyes turned icier as he locked onto a certain spot within the phoenix, where a pretty figure raised her head to meet his gaze. It was the Spirit Phoenix Clan¡¯s Ai Qing. The glowing phoenix slammed into the sacred light around him and swiftly merged with Jiang Jinlin¡¯s light of sealing. A tremendous change occurred when the two forces touched. Light condensed into the shapes of a dragon and a phoenix, which began circling around the sacred light at high speed, creating a circle of light. Mi Shan¡¯s sacred barrier rapidly began to thin, causing his expression to darken. ¡°Mi Shan, this sealing technique was created by the Saint experts of Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Mystic Dragon Clan and Spirit Phoenix Clan. It requires the fusion of dragon and phoenix to achieve its maximum power. Once the dragon phoenix light circle is formed, you¡¯ll be unable to escape no matter how capable you are.¡± An icy smile emerged on Jiang Jinlin¡¯s face. ¡°Mi Shan, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too stupid and allowing yourself to fall into my Golden Blood Dragon Domain.¡± Jiang Jinlin clenched his claw. The dragon phoenix light circle finally shattered the sacred light and shrank towards Jin Shan¡¯s body. Once bound by the circle, Mi Shan¡¯s power would be sealed away. Deafening cheers erupted from the many fighters that were keeping an eye on the battle. The scales would certainly begin to tip once Mi Shan was dealt with. However, there was surprisingly no panic on Mi Shan¡¯s face as he watched the circle shrink towards him. Instead, the corners of his mouth curled slightly. ¡°Jiang Jinlin, I should return your earlier words...it¡¯s a little too early to celebrate. ¡°While you were scheming against me, I was also scheming against you! Do you believe your sealing technique is a secret? I already knew about it long ago!¡± Mi Shan displayed a strange smile as light suddenly blossomed from his Sacred Pupil. The dragon phoenix light circle was swiftly sucked into the Sacred Pupil. ¡°What?!¡± Jiang Jinlin¡¯s expression changed drastically. ¡°You sucked in the dragon phoenix light circle?!¡± Jiang Jinlin was in a state of disbelief. Given the sealing power of the circle, Mi Shan should not dare suck it in no matter how powerful his Sacred Pupil was! ¡°Who said I sucked it in?¡± The strangeness of Mi Shan¡¯s smile intensified. ¡°I merely helped you change its target.¡± Jiang Jinlin¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank as if finally realizing something. He immediately jerked his head in Guan Qinglong¡¯s direction and shouted, ¡°Careful!¡± The instant his shout rang out, a strange expression emerged on Mi Shi¡¯s face as he grinned, ¡°Too late.¡± The Sacred Pupil between his brows suddenly opened. Bzz! A circle of light shot out. It was the dragon phoenix light circled that had been sucked away by Mi Shan. The circle zipped straight towards Guan Qinglong at an astonishing speed. The sudden attack alarmed Guan Qinglong, but it was already too late for him to avoid it. A ruthless light flashed in his eyes as he swung the azure dragon blade. Azure light pulsing with terrifying Genesis Qi hacked into Mi Shi¡¯s chest. Squelch! A sinister, bloody wound appeared on Mi Shan¡¯s body, nearly cutting him into two. However, he did not seem to care, because the circle had already shot into Guan Qinglong¡¯s body. Countless gazes could only watch, horrified, as the powerful Genesis Qi surging around Guan Qinglong began to weaken at an alarming rate... Chapter 1148 Disaster for Guan Qinglong The scene caused chills to run up the spines of the three Heavens alliance members. Guan Qinglong was one of their main pillars. If an accident happened to him, the entire situation would soon fall apart. Under countless horrified gazes, Guan Qinglong¡¯s expression darkened. He could feel a peculiar power sealing away his Genesis Qi, causing his power to fall. Damnit! Even Guan Qinglong could not help but curse inwardly. ¡°Hahaha.¡± In front of him, Mi Shi roared with laughter despite nearly being cut into two by Guan Qinglong¡¯s slash. An amused look emerged on his face as he stared at Guan Qinglong and said, ¡°Mi Shan¡¯s Sacred Pupil and mine have a unique connection. Mi Shan¡¯s Sacred Pupil can suck away any powerful attacks and send them out through mine. ¡°What do you humans call this? Retribution! ¡°Haha, it seems that my Shengyuan Heaven will triumph in today¡¯s battle!¡± Mi Shi completely ignored the sinister wound on his chest. Although it was a terrible injury, it did not drastically affect his combat capabilities, making his situation much better than Guan Qinglong¡¯s. Hence, Mi Shi turned into a blur as he dashed towards Guan Qinglong. This was the best chance to kill him. Guan Qinglong¡¯s expression darkened even more. He was not foolhardy enough to clash with Mi Shi now, and hurriedly began to retreat. He was desperately thinking of a way to break the seal. Otherwise, his life would be in danger today. However, the Genesis Qi seal had greatly diminished his abilities, making his speed a far cry from before. Hence, it only took a second for Mi Shi to appear in front of Guan Qinglong and punch. Genesis Qi surged forth like a dragon, smashing through the air and slamming into Guan Qinglong¡¯s chest. Urgh. Guan Qinglong grunted as blood appeared from the corner of his mouth. His figure plummeted to the ground, raising a cloud of dust when he smashed into the battlefield below. A cruel smile appeared on Mi Shi¡¯s face as he gave chase once more. Far away, Jiang Jinlin quickly reacted with a roar, ¡°Protect Guan Qinglong!¡± He understood that once Guan Qinglong was killed by Mi Shi, he was next on their list. ¡°Ai Qing, quickly help him undo the seal!¡± At the same time, he sent a transmission in Ai Qing¡¯s direction. The sealing art was the handiwork of him and Ai Qing, and only the two of them could swiftly undo it. At a certain spot on the battlefield below, Ai Qing¡¯s beautiful face had turned exceptionally ugly. She too had not expected the big present they had prepared for Mi Shan to be used on Guan Qinglong instead. If Guan Qinglong was killed and everything fell apart, they would be the main culprits to blame. ¡°Where are you going?¡± However, the scene of her helping Jiang Jinlin had already caught the attention of the other Sacred Race experts. She was quickly spotted when she appeared again, eliciting an icy chuckle as a Sacred Race expert, who also had a Genesis Qi foundation of 2.7 billion, shot towards her. A barrage of attacks soon enveloped Ai Qing. Ai Qing had no choice but to stop, grinding her teeth as she moved to face him in battle. While Ai Qing was being delayed, Guan Qinglong was facing life-threatening danger, Mi Shi clearly hell-bent on murdering him. Fortunately for him, the nearby experts from the three Heavens understood Guan Qinglong¡¯s importance. A dozen practitioners immediately dashed over, throwing out their strongest Genesis Arts at Mi Shi in an attempt to stop him. ¡°Scram, you annoying flies!¡± Mi Shi merely sneered in the face of these attacks. Genesis Qi erupted from his body, destroying all of the incoming attacks. In spite of their interference, his speed did not drop in the slightest. In the span of a few breaths, he appeared above Guan Qinglong. ¡°Tch tch, Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s strongest Heavenly Sun ultimately dying because of his teammates. How humiliating!¡± Mi Shi emitted a piercing laugh. However, he was not going to show any mercy. His two fingers pointed at Guan Qinglong as boundless light roared out. ¡°Sacred Burial Finger!¡± Bzz! A beam of light pierced through the air, causing space to disintegrate wherever it passed. It gave off an aura of pure annihilation. The eyes of countless watching three Heaven experts nearly burst from their sockets. However, a split second before the beam could hit its target, a beautiful figure suddenly appeared in front of Guan Qinglong. Dressed in a red dress, it was Wu Yao! Guan Qinglong¡¯s expression changed drastically as he hurriedly yelled, ¡°Junior sister Wu Yao, careful!¡± Wu Yao ignored, her grave eyes focused only on the beam of annihilation. A mysterious aura surged from the depths of her pupils as a dragon silhouette appeared behind her. It was the Sacred Dragon Blessing. However, if one took a closer look, one would discover another unique presence incubating within the dragon. Wu Yao took a deep breath. She understood the terror of Mi Shi¡¯s attack, but also knew that she could not back down. If she did, Guan Qinglong would most certainly be killed, dealing a fatal blow to their morale. Her hands swiftly formed a seal. Her body trembled faintly as a pair of wings existing between reality and illusion slowly unfurled from her back. Wu Yao¡¯s face paled, but the surging Genesis Qi in her body abruptly grew stronger. She opened her mouth slightly and breathed out a ball of fire. The fire ball had a deep-red hue and looked very mysterious. The flames jumped as if a bird was spreading its wings, intangible yet clearly visible, while also difficult to sense clearly. However, no one could ignore the dangerous sensation pulsing from it. Swoosh! Deep-red flames rose and collided with the falling beam of annihilation. Boom! Even space itself began to shake violently. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Wu Yao¡¯s flames were not immediately extinguished and managed to endure for a brief moment. However, the flames did not last for long. The two forces rapidly eroded each other, and though the beam was shrinking, the flames were also rapidly dimming. ¡°Interesting, an intermediate Heavenly Sun expert can briefly withstand my Sacred Burial Dinger?¡± Ji Shi was also somewhat surprised. He coldly observed Wu Yao and shook his head. ¡°Unfortunately, you¡¯re ultimately a mere mantis trying to stop a cart! ¡°Die together!¡± The beam suddenly pierced through the flames, diving straight at Wu Yao. However, a black and white Yin Yang disc suddenly appeared out of nowhere and blocked the substantially weakened beam. The two forces shuddered violently. In the end, when the black and white disc was shattered, the attack from Mi Shi was finally neutralized. Wu Yao turned her head in shock and stared at the figure that had appeared beside her. Dressed in purple, it was Su Youwei. She was currently panting slightly, evidently having poured all of her power into the Yin Yang disc. In the air, Mi Shi¡¯s expression had darkened somewhat. He had not expected his attack to be stopped by these two fragile-looking girls. Although they looked drained, they were after all two intermediate Heavenly Sun experts. ¡°What amazing talent. If the two of you were given some time, you will likely become more troublesome than Guan Qinglong.¡± A chilling light flashed in Mi Shi¡¯s eyes. ¡°That¡¯s why both of you shall also die here!¡± His figure moved, pouncing towards the two girls like a phantom. He planned on killing them first before moving on to Guan Qinglong. All of the five lower Heavens¡¯ top-tier heaven prides had to die! Wu Yao¡¯s and Su Youwei¡¯s faces turned exceptionally grave, however, they did not show any fear. They understood that it was useless to be afraid. The only thing to do now was put their lives on the line! However, just as resolute looks appeared in their eyes, long black hair suddenly shot through the air and wrapped around their waists. Their bodies were flung backwards, along with Guan Qinglong. While they were being thrown through the air a figure dashed past them from behind. Long black hair danced like needles. It was Chu Qing. Thud! However, a brief contact with Mi Shi was all it took to send Chu Qing flying. His body was smeared across the ground leaving a long trail of blood. Mi Shi indifferently glanced at Chu Qing. ¡°Courageous. I did not expect you to survive that.¡± Soon after, his gaze turned back to survey his surroundings. After Wu Yao¡¯s, Su Youwei¡¯s and Chu Qing¡¯s interference, there was now an endless stream of three Heaven experts fearlessly charging towards him. A sinister and cruel smile emerged from the corners of his lips. ¡°Fine, show me how many of you will sacrifice your lives in order to save him.¡± Terrifying Genesis Qi began to converge towards his palm. However, just as he was about to unleash the attack, his expression suddenly changed as his head jerked upwards, looking towards a certain direction. An extremely alarming Genesis Qi undulation had erupted. He was not the only one. Wu Yao, Su Youwei and the others also looked over in shock. Soon after, joy surged in their eyes. The pulse had originated from Zhou Yuan¡¯s battlefield! Chapter 1149 Killed When Jiang Jinlin activated the sealing Saint art, a terrifying Genesis Qi shock wave raged above the battlefield where Zhou Yuan and Ji Mo were present, causing tremendous ripples to spread towards the distance like invisible waves. Bang! A figure plunged from the sky, smashed through a mountain and blasted a huge pit into the ground. Ji Mo pulled himself up from the huge pit, his clothes ripped and his body covered with bloodstains. He never looked so miserable before. As he stared intently at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the sky, his face twisted in anger and his cheeks puffed up like a toad. "How could that guy possess such tyrannical strength? He actually suppressed me in a head-on confrontation!¡± Ji Mo¡¯s heart trembled. He originally thought that Zhou Yuan only luckily wounded him with his Rainbow Light Art, therefore he intended to tackle the battle steadily and overwhelm Zhou Yuan with his powerful Genesis Qi foundation. But even if he activated a secret technique to raise his foundation to the level of 3.4 billion, he still couldn¡¯t do anything to Zhou Yuan as before. Instead, Zhou Yuan managed to gain the upper hand. ¡°It¡¯s clearly just a Genesis Qi foundation of 3.4 billion.¡± Ji Mo''s expression changed indefinitely as he stared at the platinum Genesis Qi rising from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The Genesis Qi was mysterious and tyrannical, and in terms of quality, was considered top-class even among grade-8 Genesis Qi. Moreover, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was extremely tough and he possessed strength that could move mountains and seas. Ji Mo also found it extremely unbearable when Zhou Yuan''s punch landed on him. In addition, there was his Spirit power that suddenly appeared from time to time, and could even condense into a Spirit Flame, which made Ji Mo have no choice but to divert his attention to deal with it. It was precisely those means that had badly beaten Ji Mo and made him fall into a dangerous state. ¡°That bastard is so abnormal!¡± Ji Mo fumed. Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate-Heavenly Sun stage yet his Genesis Qi foundation could erupt to the level of 3.4 billion. Let alone in Shengling Heaven, no one in Shengwang Heaven could possess such abnormal abilities, and only the heaven prides from Shengzu Heaven could possibly possess such remarkable strength. But not only did Zhou Yuan possess strong Genesis Qi, his bodily strength and Spirit was equally as strong. He simply had no flaws. Even Ji Mo began to fear Zhou Yuan. If that guy reaches the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, he might even have the qualification to compete with Shengzu Heaven heaven prides. And just as thoughts stream through Ji Mo''s mind, he suddenly detected abnormal movements in the distant sky and his eyes lit up with joy. The situation changed in an instant. Zhou Yuan, who originally wanted to pursue Ji Mo, also noticed the change. He stared in that direction and frowned. He was speechless when he saw Guan Qinglong struck, and he finally muttered to himself, ¡°That Jiang Jinlin¡ª¡± "Haha, Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be so smug. When Guan Qinglong dies, you will no doubt lose!" Ji Mo roared with laughter as he stared sinisterly at Zhou Yuan. Now that the situation had changed drastically, as long as he could keep Zhou Yuan here until Mi Shan and Mi Shi comes, Zhou Yuan would no doubt be killed! Zhou Yuan looked at Ji Mo indifferently, saying, "It''s okay, I just need to get rid of you quickly.¡± Ji Mo fumed, ¡°Nonsense!¡± In his view, even though Zhou Yuan was hard to defeat, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult to stall for time. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to him and just tightly gripped his Heavenly Yuan Brush. Then, the brush tip vibrated, brush hair swept across the air and several mysterious marks emerged in space. Rumble! Suddenly there was a low-pitched rumbling sound of thunder. Then, a black-and-white thunderbolt emerged, circling around the Heavenly Yuan Brush like a black and white dragon as it emitted terrifying waves that quaked the world. The black-and-white lightning dragon was naturally the Yin Yang Lightning Rune! Zhou Yuan was clearly more skilled in the technique than before. And the black-and-white dragon even exuded a spiritual intellect as it moved. The lightning dragon wrapped around the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s tip and finally was imprinted on the tip like a tattoo. A blinding black-and-white lightning leapt about on the brush tip. Even space was torn. Ji Mo also noticed that Zhou Yuan was preparing a killing move. As his expression tensed, he focused his gaze and greatly increased his guard. Zhou Yuan exhausted all his strength to display the Yin Yang Lightning Rune and then drew a deep breath. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± The brush tip instantly turned jet-black. ¡°Million Whale!¡± An ancient whale roar resounded, and a number of ancient whale shadows hovered in the air before drilling into the brush tip. The lava-like patterns on Zhou Yuan''s body grew increasingly crimson-red, emitting intense heat and distorting even space. The Heavenly Yuan Brush frantically absorbed the Genesis Qi within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. This caused the brush to constantly vibrate and the terrifying waves of energy it released made Ji Mo¡¯s expression change again. When the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s power was brewed to its peak, Zhou Yuan''s eyes suddenly turned more fierce and piercing. Then, lightning flashed in space. Shua! Enveloped in terrifying qi, Hhe streaked across the air like a black-and-white lightning bolt and sped towards Ji Mo. Although separated by a great distance, the ground still cracked and a bottomless crevasse was torn into the ground. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me! Don¡¯t even dream about it!¡± Ji Mo¡¯s scalp numbed when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s full strength attack But he wasn¡¯t too afraid. He roared and flung his sleeve. A stream of light blasted out and rapidly transformed into a shield above him. The shield seemed cast from stone and was covered with mottled traces and vague ancient patterns. The light rays emitted from the stone shield were similar to boulders and gave people an indestructible feeling. This object was the Sacred Stone Shield given to him by Mi Shi. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. It would be difficult to penetrate such a defence even if I attack with full strength. Ji Mo also seemed to be aware of this fact and so his gaze was full of provocations as he looked at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan curled a corner of his lips in a sneer and immediately after flicked his sleeve. A ray of silver light shot out, directly striking the stone shield. It was a silver ball of light. It was Silver Shadow! Silver Shadow rapidly melted upon contact with the stone shield, and covered the shield with silvery liquid at an incredible speed. In the end, the stone shield turned into a silver shield. It was at that moment when Ji Mo found that he had temporarily lost control of his shield. The silver liquid seemed to have formed a prison and isolated the stone shield from the world. The silver shield plunged uncontrollably from the sky, smashing into the ground. Zhou Yuan suddenly appeared above Ji Mo, his Heavenly Yuan Brush quivering violently in his hand as though suppressing a terrifying force. A look of horror twisted Ji Mo¡¯s face. He never thought that Zhou Yuan could control his Sacred Stone Shield, which was his last defense, with such a bizarre method. Horrified, Ji Mo frantically drew back. But it was still too late. A dark tip entwined with black-and-white lightning flashed past his eyes Chi! There was a burning smell rising. A shadow pierced Ji Mo''s body and vanished in a flash. Boom! An abyss of thousands of feet tore the ground behind Ji Mo, and it was so dark that it sent chills to his heart. All mountain peaks in the way were completely flattened. Zhou Yuan reappeared behind Ji Mo, his Heavenly Yuan Brush pointing to the ground with blood trickling down its tip. Ji Mo immediately stiffened, his face twisted in horror. He reluctantly glanced down at his chest only to see a bloody hole. Terrifying power raged around the hole, cutting off all life force in his body. ¡°How is it possible¡ª¡± he muttered, eyes widening. ¡°How would I lose¡ª¡± Behind him, Zhou Yuan slowly withdrew the Heavenly Yuan Brush, saying indifferently, "Hunyuan Heaven Tianyuan Region Zhou Yuan has killed Shengling Heaven Sea Subduing Hall Ji Mo here.¡± Ji Mo collapsed onto the ground, bringing up a cloud of dust and smoke. All eyes filled with shocked disbelief were fixed on the battlefield. Mi Shi, who was hunting down Guan Qinglong and the others, suddenly halted his footsteps and peered in that direction with a sullen expression. Who would have thought that Ji Mo would be killed? Chapter 1150 Facing Mi Shi Particularly the Sacred Race experts. They couldn¡¯t believe the strongest Heavenly Sun expert of their Shengling Heaven would die here! Although Ji Mo had lost to Zhou Yuan before, he didn¡¯t die, and many people thought it was only because Ji Mo underestimated Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength. They believed Ji Mo would wash away the humiliation if they were to face each other again. But who would have thought that the second confrontation would end with Ji Mo¡¯s death This was a huge blow to the Shengling Heaven¡¯s morale. The people from the Shengwang Heaven looked a little better, but they still stared vigilantly at Zhou Yuan. Although Ji Mo wasn¡¯t as strong as Mi Shi, he was still one of their top experts. They originally thought they had dominated the battle after Guan Qinglong was sealed, but who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would kill Ji Mo at the most important juncture. "Trash. He¡¯s killed by someone of a lowly race. The Shengling Heaven is getting worse.¡± "Fortunately, Guan Qinglong has been sealed.¡± ¡°Yes, now that captain Mi Shi has made a move, if that kid dares come over, captain Mi Shi will make him understand the difference between the Shengwang Heaven and Shengling Heaven.¡± ¡°...¡± The Shengwang Heaven experts whispered to each other. It was clear that their morale was still high and they had utmost confidence in Mi Shan and Mi Shi. The people from the three great heavens cheered quietly. Their heart went ice-cold the moment Guan Qinglong was sealed, but Zhou Yuan had injected hope into them once again. They didn''t expect Zhou Yuan to defeat Mi Shi, but as long as he could stall for time till Guan Qinglong breaks the seal, the dominant position would return to their side. ¡°That guy¡­¡± Jin Ling''er stared dazedly at Zhou Yuan''s figure from afar, and then couldn''t help but wipe the beads of cold sweat on her face. Even if she witnessed Zhou Yuan kill Ji Mo, she still couldn¡¯t believe it. Ji Mo was the strongest Heavenly Sun expert from Shengling Heaven, and only Jiang Jinling was slightly stronger than him in the entire Wanshou Region. ¡°He¡¯s too abnormal¡­Little Ancestor is right.¡± Above the battlefield. Mi Shan''s expression was dark and unpleasant as he swept a glance over Jiang Jinlin, who was breathing a sigh of relief, and said indifferently, "Do you think he can change anything just by killing Ji Mo? "If he dares to obstruct Mi Shi, I think he will end up the same as Ji Mo.¡± Jiang Jinlin said indifferently, ¡°He just needs to withstand until Guan Qinglong breaks the seal.¡± If even Guan Qinglong is like that, Zhou Yuan must be nothing special. ¡°So ruthless. Your Mystic Dragon Clan is somewhat similar to my Sacred Race. Unfortunately, your foundation and background can¡¯t be compared to my Sacred Race¡¯s.¡± Mi Shan smiled contemptuously. Jiang Jinlin''s expression turned icy. ¡°My Mystic Dragon Clan originates from the creator of the Tianyuan World, the Ancestral Dragon!¡± ¡°The Ancestral Dragon can transform into thousands of beings, but your Mystic Dragon Clan is nothing special. Don¡¯t think just because your name has the word dragon in it that you can make such ridiculous claims." Mi Shan laughed. Anger surged in Jiang Jinlin''s eyes, and he could no longer suppress his killing intent. Mighty Genesis Qi gushed towards Mi Shan. The two moved and a fierce battle between the two broke out again. ... On the other side of the battlefield. Guan Qinglong sat cross-legged on the ground as faint Genesis Qi circulated around him. Experts from the three great heavens rushed over to protect him. But even though they had the advantage in numbers, their bodies still tensed up and their eyes filled with fear when they faced Mi Shi. Mi Shi, however, paid no attention to them because he knew that his opponent had changed when Zhou Yuan killed Ji Mo. Om. The space in front of him rippled, and a figure emerged. The figure, clasping the Heavenly Yuan Brush that was dripping blood from its tip, emitted a chilling fiendish aura. However, the people behind felt a weight off them when they saw who arrived and a look of awe came to their eyes. ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing, are you alright?" Zhou Yuan immediately turned to check on Chu Qing, who was covered in blood, when he appeared. Chu Qing grinned and seemed to not care about his injuries. ¡°I¡¯m still fine. But if you came any later, I really would have died here.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and then glanced at Su Youwei and Wu Yao, who were both a little pale-faced. If the two hadn¡¯t appeared at the critical juncture and joined hands to help Guan Qinglong counter a killing attack, he could have been in critical danger. If Guan Qinglong was killed, that would have a huge blow to everyone¡¯s morale and impact the entire situation. At that time, even Zhou Yuan might not be able to save the situation. After all, many Hunyuan Heaven people had huge confidence in Guan Qinglong. "Not bad. You managed to block that guy''s attack,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a chuckle. Wu Yao glared coldly at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Are you mocking me?¡± Zhou Yuan had killed Ji Mo, while she needed Su Youwei¡¯s help to counter Mi Shi¡¯s attack. The gap between them was obvious, and given how prideful Wu Yao was, how would she want to admit that Zhou Yuan was better than her? Even if it was the truth. Su Youwei smiled sweetly and said, "Compared to Your Highness, the difference is huge, but I will try my best to catch up to Your Highness!¡± There was a world of difference between the two women¡¯s reactions, making Zhou Yuan feel a little helpless. He could only wave his hand and said, ¡°Escort captain Guan Qinglong to captain Ai Qing. I will deal with Mi Shi.¡± ¡°Your Highness, be careful. He¡¯s extremely strong and he possesses a Sacred Pupil. He¡¯s much trickier to deal with than Ji Mo,¡± reminded Su Youwei. Zhou Yuan nodded. Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Chu Qing and the others didn¡¯t stay any longer and swiftly retreated with Guan Qinglong. Mi Shi didn''t pursue after them and swept his gaze ruminatively up and down Zhou Yuan, saying, ¡°I didn''t think Ji Mo would die in your hands.¡± Zhou Yuan also fixed his eyes on Mi Shi and his expression tensed a little. Mi Shi gave off a much more dangerous feeling than Ji Mo. In addition, the Sacred Race¡¯s Sacred Pupil was the most tricky to deal with as it contained many mysterious arts that were difficult to defend against. Guan Qinglong also was sealed because of the ability of Mi Shi¡¯s Sacred Pupil. ¡°It will be a tough battle." Zhou Yuan sighed deeply. It seemed that he mustn¡¯t hold back if he wanted to defeat Mi Shi. ¡°A tough battle?¡± Mi Shi tilted his head, smiling strangely. Light suddenly flowed around the Sacred Pupil on the center of his brows as he said, "Zhou Yuan, do you really think you can challenge me because you killed Ji Mo? "My Sacred Pupil has reached the three-star level, which is completely different to Ji Mo¡¯s¡­ "If you still cherish your little life, I suggest you run away now like a stray dog.¡± While smiling, the three flecks of stars gradually emerged within his Sacred Pupil and a terrifying force caused the nearby space to vibrate. But Zhou Yuan remained expressionless to Mi Shi¡¯s threat. A silver ball rolled out from his sleeve, turning into silver liquid and formed a silver figure identical to him next to him. He pointed his Heavenly Yuan Brush to Mi Shi. ¡°Is one of your Sacred Pupil¡¯s abilities talking rubbish?¡± Chapter 1151 Ultimate Move Mi Shi''s face already turned cold and unpleasant, and mighty Genesis Qi soared into the sky like smoke signals, stirring the wind and clouds. He swiftly transformed into a stream of light and shot towards Zhou Yuan. "Since you¡¯re in a hurry to die, I will fulfil your wish!¡± A Genesis Qi foundation of 3.6 billion erupted and brought tremendous pressure that tore the ground apart where it passed. The powerful pressure also made Zhou Yuan tense up. His Genesis Qi foundation was only 3.4 billion even after activation of his Promotion Rune and Earth Saint Rune. There was still an obvious gap between him and Mi Shi. This guy is much more dangerous than Ji Mo. With this thought, Silver Silver, who was beside him, darted out and crimson lava patterns emerged on its body. Great Flame Devil! Silver Shadow possessed a Genesis Qi foundation of 2 billion and coupled with its special body that was strengthened by the Great Flame Devil, it possessed considerable combat strength. Bang! Silver Shadow met Mi Shi head-on. But Mi Shi only threw out a punch, yet space exploded and a torrent of terrifying Genesis Qi smashed into Silver Shadow¡¯s body, causing its chest to collapse and its body blasted away like a cannonball. This resulted in a deep thousand-foot-long crevasse into the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t bring out a toy like that to embarrass yourself!¡± Mi Shi roared with laughter. Given his current foundation of 3.6 billion Genesis Qi stars, the power of his every movement was difficult to withstand for a puppet with only a 2 billion foundation. If it weren''t for the extraordinary materials that made up Silver Shadow and the Great Flame Devil, that punch could have shattered Silver Shadow. ¡°Still isn¡¯t enough¡­¡± muttered Zhou Yuan. It seemed that the present Silver Shadow could only act as a shield when faced with a powerful enemy like Mi Shi. Silver Shadow had to raise its foundation to at least 3 billion in a head-on battle. Swoosh! As thoughts streamed through his mind, a shadow suddenly appeared in front of him, aiming a punch at him. The ground directly below cracked and an abyss swallowed up Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan clenched his fist and similarly circulated his Genesis Qi without any reservation. Platinum Genesis Qi roared, forming a dragon silhouette behind him. Boom! The two fists collided. Shock waves visible to the naked eye rapidly spread out, tearing several bottomless cracks into the ground within a one thousand mile radius and causing mountain peaks to crumble into boulders. Zhou Yuan quivered and blasted away, every step of his shattering space. It was clear that Mi Shi had the upper hand in that head-on clash. The experts from the three great heavens immediately assumed a serious and solemn expression when they saw this. As expected, although Zhou Yuan could kill Ji Mo, he didn''t have much advantage against Mi Shi, who was much stronger. "Quick, captain Ai Qing come here!¡± The Mushen Region experts¡¯ faces lit up when they saw a beautiful figure darting over. Ai Qing elegantly descended next to Guan Qinglong. As she swept her beautiful eyes over his faint dragon-phoenix halo around his body, she couldn¡¯t help smiling wryly. Who would have thought that the ultimate move they prepared would strike her teammate in the end? "Captain Ai Qing, how long until the seal is lifted?" asked Guan Qinglong solemnly. "Captain Zhou Yuan won¡¯t be able to withstand it for long!¡± He saw Zhou Yuan''s disadvantageous situation and knew that Zhou Yuan would be in critical danger if Mi Shi fought with all his strength. Moreover, the other areas of the battlefield were even more tragic-looking. There were constant casualties from the three great heavens. If the battle dragged on any longer, the number of casualties would greatly increase. Ai Qing bit her lips and said, "I''m afraid it will take at least an hour.¡± Guan Qinglong didn¡¯t look too good when he heard her answer, and the others also scrunched their faces with worry. The time it would take was far too long. Not only Zhou Yuan might not be able to endure for that long, how many people would die during that one hour? ¡°Please be as quick as possible.¡± Guan Qinglong sighed, his eyes filled with worry. ¡°I''m not only worried about captain Zhou Yuan, but captain Jiang Jinlin, I¡¯m worried¡­" Hearing this, Ai Qing and the others immediately shift their gaze to Jiang Jinlin''s side of the battlefield. Their heart immediately sank because Mi Shan had begun to display his terrifying power. He had completely dominated the battle. If Jiang Jinlin didn¡¯t possess a tough body, he likely would have sustained severe injuries already. From the looks of it, the three great heavens were beginning to fall into a disadvantageous situation. "I hope they can hold on a little longer." Ai Qing sighed. The Sacred Race was indeed tyrannical. They still managed to dominate the battle even if the three great heavens had joined forces. She shook her head vigorously to forcibly suppress her emotions and sat down cross-legged behind Guan Qinglong. She stretched out her hand and began to lift the seal on Guan Qinglong¡¯s body. ... Mi Shi had blasted Zhou Yuan back with one punch, but he didn¡¯t look too smug. Instead, he stared at Zhou Yuan with narrowed eyes, because he could feel that even though his punch had blasted Zhou Yuan into the distance, it didn''t inflict much injuries to him. "Although that guy''s foundation is only 3.4 billion, his body and Spirit were sturdy and tyrannical and his foundation is as solid as a mountain. It will be difficult to completely defeat him.¡± Mi Shi''s eyes grew increasingly cold. "It seems that you can¡¯t be dealt with using ordinary means.¡± He drew a deep breath and his Sacred Pupil in the center of his brows flickered with a mysterious luster. Then, rays of ash-colored light flowed out from his Sacred Pupil and his body showed signs of petrification where the ash-colored light passed. ¡°Sacred Indestructible Stone Art!¡± Boom! He only stood there, but the ground was unable to bear his weight any longer. It collapsed and formed a black hole. Mi Shi hovered in the air, while everything below his feet shattered constantly, as though bearing an unbelievable weight. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression tensed up as he stared at the petrified Mi Shi because he could feel that the dangerous aura Mi Shi emitted was more intense than before. He folded one hand into a seal. Roar! Indiscernible flames suddenly appeared and revolved around Mi Shi. The flames gathered into a dragon shape and roared towards Mi Shi. It was Spirit Fire! But Mi Shi simply waved his hand indifferently when he saw the Spirit Flame attack, eliminating them completely. "What a powerful body-strengthening technique..." remarked Zhou Yuan. The petrification technique had greatly raised Mi Shi''s defense and strength, and his stone skin could even withstand the erosion from Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit Flame. Mi Shi was undoubtedly more powerful and more difficult to deal with. ¡°Do you only know these little tricks?¡± Mi Shi sneered sinisterly. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed coldly, and immediately after, he cast his gaze at the battlefield that Jiang Jinlin was on in the distance. He could tell that Jiang Jinlin had similarly fallen into a disadvantaged position. The dominant position gradually tilted towards the Sacred Race¡¯s side, and if Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t killed Ji Mo, it could have become a one-sided battle. Hu. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breathing and folded one hand in a seal. Silver Shadow darted over as a stream of silver light from afar and landed in his palm. It suddenly turned into a silver liquid and flowed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, shrouding him like armor. At the same time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes beneath the silver armor flashed with rainbow colors. They were in a critical situation and the winner must be determined as soon as possible. Since the other means had little effect... Then¡­it¡¯s time to use the ultimate move. Chapter 1152 Two Rays of Sword Ligh Boom! Waves of terrifying energy were emitted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, shattering the nearby space. Then, an indescribably sharp qi emerged that seemed capable of tearing the world apart. The entire battlefield quaked under such an atmosphere. Mi Shi, who was Zhou Yuan¡¯s opponent, immediately noticed the terrifying energy waves, and his expression grew solemn. He said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯ve heard from Ji Mo that you possess an amazing Saint Genesis Art. Are you finally bringing it out now?¡± The trump card that Zhou Yuan had, which Mi Shi was most afraid of, was obviously the Saint Genesis Art that caused Ji Mo¡¯s Sacred Pupil to be sealed. Everyone¡¯s gazes were fixed on the battlefield. They could feel that Zhou Yuan was getting serious. But it was still unknown whether the astonishingly powerful Saint Genesis Art he summoned could reverse their situation. Ai Qing, who was helping Guan Qinglong to lift the seal, scrunched her beautiful brows when she saw the changes on the battlefield. "Captain Zhou Yuan''s move isn¡¯t wise. His main task now is to stall for time. There is no need to clash with Mi Shi again, what if¡­¡± Although Zhou Yuan was at a disadvantage in his previous match against Mi Shi, he was still able to stall Mi Shi. Ai Qing felt that Zhou Yuan only needed to continue to stall Mi Shi, and there was no need to take such a risk because if he failed, who else could restrain Mi Shi? Su Youwei said suddenly, "Mi Shi is a strong enemy and there is a gap between His Highness''s Genesis Qi foundation and his. If His Highness dragged on the battle, it could be even more dangerous for him. So it¡¯s better to take a risk. From my understanding of His Highness, he wouldn¡¯t take such a huge risk if he didn¡¯t have confidence.¡± Ai Qing glanced at the girl, whose face and elegance stunned even her. How could she not hear from Su Youwei¡¯s tone that she was defending Zhou Yuan. She wasn¡¯t a person who liked to argue so she said calmly, ¡°Do you think captain Zhou Yuan can defeat Mi Shi under such danger? Of course I hope so, because that would be the best result, but you can¡¯t deny that he might fail, right?¡± "Then I will step forward. Even if I die here, I will stop him for a while,¡± Su Youwei replied calmly. Everyone looked at each other awkwardly. Although the two women didn¡¯t say much, everyone present could feel their conflict. But Wu Yao suddenly opened her mouth and said indifferently, "Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t an idiot. He should know the consequences. Since he has made that choice, he knows the result wouldn¡¯t be worse than delaying Mi Shi.¡± Guan Qinglong also felt a little helpless when he saw the three women arguing. He smiled wryly and said, ¡°Captain Ai Qing, let''s concentrate on helping me break the seal. No matter what captain Zhou Yuan chooses, I will be able to end it once the seal is lifted.¡± His voice was full of confidence. This was the arrogance of being the strongest in Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage. Although he was sealed by an ultimate move from his teammate not long after the battle started¡­ it was not his fault. Ai Qing didn''t say anything else. She closed her eyes and tried to speed up the process of removing the seal. ... Om! As a terrifying aura accumulated, Zhou Yuan, who was covered by silver armor, slowly lifted his hand into the air and a ray of rainbow light emerged in his palm. The light, stunning and dazzling, resembled a rainbow fish. But when it appeared, the space around Zhou Yuan was constantly being torn, creating dark traces. Beneath the armor, eyes that were as cold and piercingly sharp as a blade locked on Mi Shi. Then, Zhou Yuan lifted his hand. ¡°Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light!¡± Swoosh! A ray of rainbow light shot out, speeding across space. Roar! A roar rang out from Mi Shi¡¯s throat as he frantically retreated. But no matter how he moved and evaded, the space in front of him crumbled and the ray of rainbow light followed closely behind him as though able to teleport through space. Mi Shi could feel a power from the rainbow light that made his hair stand up on end. That power was too strong. ¡°It¡¯s finally here? I have been waiting for it for a long time. I want to see whether your rainbow sword light that can sever the world cut through my indestructible stone body!¡± Mi Shi wasn¡¯t in the least afraid, and instead, his eyes blazed brightly. He unleashed a long roar as a light ray shot out from his Sacred Pupil. It rapidly spread out like water and completely enveloped his body. ¡°Sacred Pupil, Indestructible Stone Body!¡± Mi Shi¡¯s body suddenly underwent drastic changes. It rapidly swelled and he grew to more than ten-feet tall. His flesh color faded and was replaced by a rich grey-white. Within seconds, he had transformed into an ancient mottled stone man that seemed to have survived countless years. Roar! The ancient stone giant emitted a low roar from his throat, and immediately crossed his stone arms in front of his chest, like a mottled stone shield. Shua! The space in front of him suddenly shattered as a ray of rainbow light shot through. The ray of rainbow light slashed its stone arms. The world seemed to still at that moment. Clang! An earth shattering noise resounded throughout the world and thousand-feet shock waves swept out. The ground crumbled as countless deep cracks were torn into it. The people in the surroundings who couldn¡¯t evade in time were blasted into the distance vomiting blood and were left with multiple wounds across their bodies. At the source of the collision, where Zhou Yuan and Mi Shi were, a bottomless pit had formed. The pit was dark but its edges were smooth as a mirror like tofu that had been sliced by an incomparably sharp blade. Horror filled countless eyes. Even the top experts from both sides were palpitating from the terrifying clash. It was unknown who was superior in that confrontation? Under countless intent gazes, the Genesis Qi at the source faded and everyone saw an ancient stone man standing quietly with his arms folded in front of him. ¡°It withstood that attack?¡± Amidst puzzled voices, the ancient stone giant¡¯s arms crackled as cracks spread across half its body and rocks tumbled down ¡­ Bang! The stone giant¡¯s upper body shattered apart, revealing Mi Shi¡¯s face. He was covered in bloodstains, which made him look like broken porcelain. Pff. He spurted out a jet of blood, staring at Zhou Yuan. "What a domineering Saint Genesis Art...it can even destroy my indestructible stone body¡­" ¡°But unfortunately for you¡­I withstood it!¡± Mi Shi threw his head back and laughed wildly. Although the rainbow light had struck him, he survived in the end. Clearly, his indestructible stone body didn¡¯t need to fear the ray of rainbow light too much. "Hahaha, Zhou Yuan, the power of a Saint Genesis Art is no doubt powerful, but given your foundation, it must have exhausted all your power. What else do you have to play with me?!¡± Mi Shi¡¯s wild laughter echoed across the battlefield, making everyone from the three great heavens turn ashen and look uneasy. Ai Qing also sighed, shaking her head. Just as she thought, Zhou Yuan''s risk-taking didn¡¯t achieve the desired outcome. The situation would turn even trickier after this. While Mi Shi roared with laughter, the silver armor on Zhou Yuan''s body suddenly dimmed and then quickly turned into silver liquid and flowed away. Zhou Yuan calmly glanced at his silver armor that was fading, then at Mi Shi, who was laughing wildly, and a strange smile curved the corners of his mouth. Shua! He sped out. ¡°You want to die!?¡± A ruthless smile came to Mi Shi¡¯s face when he saw that Zhou Yuan dared to charge forward. But just as the smile bloomed on his face, he saw rainbow lights flashing in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. Then, another incomparably terrifying wave erupted from Zhou Yuan''s body. A ray of rainbow light shot up from the top of Zhou Yuan''s skull and then slashed down at Mi Shi like a lightning bolt. Mi Shi stood dumbstruck, and an intense fear filled his eyes. Then, he twisted around without any hesitation and fled. At the same time he roared inwardly, ¡°His mother! How is it possible¡­how could he have another rainbow sword light?!¡± Chapter 1153 Zhao Mushen Sacrifices his Life When the second ray of rainbow light shot out, not only Mi Shi was filled with disbelief, even the experts from various forces revealed unconcealable shock in their eyes. No one thought that Zhou Yuan could activate two rainbow light rays one after another! This was unbelievable because the cultivation conditions of a Saint Genesis Art was extremely demanding and the activation of a Saint Genesis Art required vast Genesis Qi to support it. It was speculated that for someone at the Heavenly Sun stage, one should only be able to use it once at a time, even if one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was over 3 billion. One would suffer adverse effects if it were used more than once at a time. Even Guan Qinglong and Mi Shan, who were the strongest on the battlefield, likely couldn¡¯t activate a Saint Genesis Art twice in a row! But Zhou Yuan could! And it wasn¡¯t an illusion judging from the power contained in the second rainbow sword light! Therefore, Mi Shi turned around and fled without any hesitation when he saw another rainbow sword light streaking across the air. Given the damage his stone body had already suffered, it couldn¡¯t withstand a second attack! Shua! Mi Shi bolted into a full speed dash. Moreover, he ruthlessly sped past some Sacred Race experts along the way. Unable to evade in time, they exploded into blood foam as the rainbow sword light sped after Mi Shi. However, his actions made little difference. The rainbow sword light continued to closely follow him like a maggot and got increasingly closer to him. Its strong and dangerous aura made Mi Shi¡¯s hair stand on end. His expression became dark and sinister because the outcome was completely out of his expectation. Ji Mo never told him that Zhou Yuan was able to bring out another rainbow sword light soon after the first, and now it caused him great trouble. Boom! Mi Shi took a deep breath and blew out a puff of grey smoke. As it came into contact with air, it instantly transformed into a mighty torrent of mud and stones and collided with the rainbow sword light. Chi! Even so, Mi Shi couldn¡¯t obstruct the rainbow sword light. The torrent of mud transformed from Genesis Qi that could crush towering mountains exploded as the sword light sped past. Mi Shi had no choice but to continue to flee frantically. But everyone noticed that Mi Shi''s escape route passed Mi Shan¡¯s battlefield. Mi Shan had dominated his battle. Jiang Jinlin was dripping with blood and even his dragon scales were torn off. The several bone-deep scars all over his body made him look extremely tragic. However, Jiang Jinlin was still full of valor. Even if he was beaten to such a tragic state, he still fiercely struck back and persisted in battling Mi Shan. Mi Shan''s face darkened facing Jiang Jinlin¡¯s pestering because their situation had gotten out of control as a result of Zhou Yuan¡¯s second rainbow sword light. If he sat back and watched Mi Shi get wounded, the situation could turn very bad for them. "Haha, Mi Shan, I am your opponent. Don''t even think about saving someone else!¡± Jiang Jinlin noticed Mi Shan¡¯s strange gaze. He burst into laughter and fiercely launched an attack again. Boom! However, Mi Shan threw out a punch that tore through space and slammed into Jiang Jinlin''s chest. His chest collapsed and his dragon scales crumbled to powder. Puchi. Jiang Jinlin spouted a jet of blood. He unleashed a deafening roar and his half-dragon body turned even fiercer as he charged forward. As part of the Mystic Dragon Clan, he originally possessed an incredibly tough body and vitality. As long as Mi Shan couldn¡¯t kill him, his wounds would heal sooner or later. Mi Shan stared at Jiang Jinlin and sneered, "Do you really I can''t provide help just because you are pestering me? You underestimate me!¡± As he fixed his gaze on Mi Shi, who was rushing in his direction, his Sacred Pupil suddenly erupted with sacred light. ¡°Sacred Pupil, Shatter Space!¡± As the sacred light surged, the space in front of Mi Shi suddenly twisted and distorted as though forming a spatial crack. The spatial crack swallowed the rainbow sword light like a tremendous mouth. The spatial crack erupted with terrifying shock waves before it gradually vanished. Hua! Shocked voices echoed throughout the world as everyone cast stunned gazes towards Mi Shan, who Jiang Jinlin was obstructing. They couldn¡¯t believe that Mi Shan could make a move at the critical juncture to help Mi Shi resolve his crisis. But Mi Shan evidently had to pay a price for this. A trickle of blood flowed out from his Sacred Pupil as it quickly dimmed. "But the price is worth it. Zhou Yuan''s only means left were those two rainbow sword lights, and without them, he is nothing but a toothless tiger. Mi Shi can handle him now." Mi Shan breathed a sigh of relief. Mi Shi, who survived the crisis, also let out a long sigh. He immediately glared sinisterly Zhou Yuan. This kid pushed me to such an embarrassing state. If I don¡¯t kill him today, I can¡¯t vent my anger. He didn''t act immediately, but quickly took out a handful of blood pills and stuffed it into his mouth. He wanted to rapidly restore his Genesis Qi. However, while Mi Shi fixed his attention on Zhou Yuan, he failed to notice a strange shadow appearing behind him. The shadow pounced forward and held tightly onto Mi Shi. Then, several strands of Genesis Qi tied the two together. Mi Shi¡¯s face paled at the sudden change. When he swept a glance behind him and saw a figure furiously circulating Genesis Qi, he felt a chill run down his back. Ah! The figure behind him spurted out a mouthful of blood, but held him even more tightly. Zhou Yuan and the others exclaimed, "Zhao Mushen?!¡± The person who appeared behind Mi Shi turned out to be Zhao Mushen! ¡°An ant dares to attack me! You want to die!" Mi Shi''s body was constantly vibrating with Genesis Qi, shaking Zhao Mushen, who was behind him, to the point that his body was tearing and blood surged wildly. But Zhao Mushen didn''t care about his injuries. Instead, his face twisted in a ruthless smile and he sank his teeth into Mi Shi''s neck, frantically sucking his blood. At the same time, he roared, ¡°Zhou Yuan, why are you still standing there!¡± Shua! Before his voice faded, Zhou Yuan darted out, even if he didn''t understand why Zhao Mushen would suddenly sacrifice his life like that. This obviously wasn¡¯t in line with his character, but he had no time to worry about this because their priority was to kill Mi Shi. Sacred Race experts sped towards Mi Shi in an attempt to protect him when they saw this. Wu Yao, Su Youwei, Chu Qing and the others also acted, intercepting the Sacred Race experts. The battlefield instantly became intense. But only Mi Shi was in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. He swiftly appeared in front of Mi Shi and Zhao Mushen, who were bound together, and the corners of his eyes twitched. ¡°Get lost!¡± Mi Shi thundered, Genesis Qi frantically erupting from his body. Boom! Zhao Mushen was finally blasted away, his body torn and he looked extremely miserable. Mi Shi also reeled back. With a wave of his sleeve, Zhou Yuan brought out a stretch of Genesis Qi to engulf Zhao Mushen, who was weak and gasping for breath as though on the verge of death. ¡°You¡ª¡± said Zhou Yuan. Zhao Mushen grinned, his teeth stained with blood. He stared intently at Mi Shi with a strange, covetous glint in his eyes. "Zhou Yuan, stab me with your Heavenly Yuan Brush,¡± urged Zhao Mushen. Zhou Yuan was taken aback at first, but then he tightly clasped his Heavenly Yuan Brush and thrust it towards Zhao Mushen, piercing his lower abdomen. Chi! Zhao Mushen gripped the brush and twisted his face to look at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me to stab you?¡± said Zhou Yuan with a smile. The corners of Zhao Mushen''s mouth twitched. The bastard didn''t hesitate at all as though he wanted to take the opportunity to kill me. However, he had no time to pay attention to Zhou Yuan. He folded one hand in a seal and the bloodstains on his face suddenly squirmed, forming a pattern. Puchi! The moment the seal formed, Mi Shi spurted out a jet of blood and a hideous hole strangely appeared in his lower abdomen. Mi Shi stared in disbelief at the strange injury in his lower abdomen and then furiously turned to Zhao Mushen. Someone who he regarded as an ant of the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage had caused the injury to his lower abdomen. Zhao Mushen smiled in the face of Mi Shi¡¯s murderous gaze and said, "When you were at your weakest, I swallowed your blood and injected my blood into your body. So we are now considered connected.¡± He gripped his other arm and twisted suddenly. Kacha. He forcibly ripped off one of his arms. ¡°Ah!¡± There were two tragic screams. One was from Zhao Mushen and the other was naturally Mi Shi. Mi Shi looked furiously at his right arm, where blood was rushing out. His entire arm was ripped off and fell. Moreover, before the arm fell to the ground, a suction force erupted and caught it. It was Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan held the severed arm in disgust and said to Zhao Mushen, ¡°The thing you want?¡± Zhao Mushen previously passed a message to him and asked him to cooperate with him in snatching one of Mi Shi¡¯s arms. Zhao Mushen''s eyes blazed fiercely as he grabbed the severed arm. Then under Zhou Yuan''s somewhat astonished gaze, he opened his mouth wide and swallowed the arm in one go. Chapter 1154 Can Destroy Stars Moreover, he vaguely felt that the Genesis Qi within Zhao Mushen''s body had soared. Ah! At the same time, Mi Shi let out an anguished scream. Clasping his severed arm he stared at Zhao Mushen with a grim face, because he had a feeling that it wouldn''t be easy to regrow his broken arm. Broken limbs weren¡¯t serious to top cultivators and could be regenerated with elixirs and pills. But Mi Shi felt he had permanently lost an arm. It seemed that he might not be able to regenerate his severed arm even with the help of elixirs or rare pills. This was because Zhao Mushen had swallowed his arm. Therefore, Mi Shi was as angry as he was shocked. He wanted to swallow Zhao Mushen alive. He didn¡¯t think an ant-like intermediate Heavenly Sun expert could push him to such a miserable state. Facing Mi Shi''s baleful gaze, Zhao Mushen stepped back and stood behind Zhou Yuan. "He is severely injured now, so I will leave him to you,¡± said Zhao Mushen after a cough. Zhou Yuan smiled. "I wondered why you would sacrifice yourself. So it was because of greed. You were after his arm.¡± Zhao Mushen said expressionlessly, "You don''t need to care about my motives. You just need to focus on the results. Although I took advantage of when you wounded him and caused him to temporarily fall into a state of weakness, it is still considered a contribution.¡± Zhou Yuan didn''t deny it. Moreover, he couldn¡¯t be bothered arguing with him. ¡°Fine, you can take partial credit.¡± Waving his Heavenly Yuan Brush, he looked at Mi Shi with fierce, piercing eyes. Mi Shi was considered truly wounded and now was the best time to get rid of him once and for all. "If you really want to thank me, you can help me dig out his Sacred Pupil. I think it will taste very good,¡± said Zhao Mushen suddenly. The corners of Zhou Yuan''s mouth twitched. He felt his stomach churned with nausea. This guy¡¯s taste seems to be getting weirder, and his swallowing means is terrifying. He ignored Zhao Mushen''s request. Genesis Qi circulated around his body and locked on Mi Shi from afar. Boom! But just as Zhou Yuan planned a final attack on Mi Shi, a loud noise echoed throughout the world and a terrifying wave of Genesis Qi erupted. Countless people immediately turned to the source of the noise and their expressions changed abruptly. It was from the battle between Jiang Jinlin and Mi Shan. Moreover, there seemed to be a special corrosive power contained in the hole, obstructing Jiang Jinlin''s powerful vitality from rapidly recovering. Wa! Blood wildly gushed from Jiang Jinlin''s mouth, while his golden dragon eyes stared intently at Mi Shan, filled with rage and unwillingness. Mi Shan had once again used the power of his Sacred Pupil, which seemed capable of manipulating space, and pierced his body with sharp spatial fragments. Even the powerful body of the Mystic Dragon Clan couldn¡¯t endure such injuries. ¡°Hmph, if I hadn¡¯t consumed the Sacred Pupil¡¯s power to save Mi Shi, you would be dead!¡± said Mi Shan contemptuously. Jiang Jinlin let out an enraged roar from his throat. But in the end, due to his injuries, he plunged from the sky and crashed to the ground, smashing a deep pit into the mountain forest. Hua! And Jiang Jinlin''s defeat was like a storm in the battlefield that made experts from the three heavens pale. No one expected there would be so many ups and downs in this battle. Zhou Yuan finally wounded Mi Shi after much difficulty, but Mi Shan had defeated Jiang Jinlin at the most critical juncture! The strongest person on the enemy¡¯s side finally acted. Such a change also caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression to change. He had consumed the majority of his Genesis Qi and his condition was far from perfect. He could deal with Mi Shi, who was severely wounded, but if Mi Shan joined the battle, he didn¡¯t know how to deal with both at the same time. ¡°Hahaha.¡± Mi Shi threw his head back and laughed wildly. He then stared fiercely at Zhou Yuan and said, "It''s a pity, you have exhausted all your powers, but luck is on my Sacred Race¡¯s side!¡± As his voice faded, the space around rippled, and a figure stepped out. It was Mi Shan. Mi Shan¡¯s face was devoid of expression and the blood trickling down his sacred pupil made him look frightening. He emitted a heart-chilling fiendish aura. Mi Shan stared at Zhou Yuan and said, "I didn''t think an intermediate Heavenly Sun expert could almost defeat me.¡± Feeling the terrifying pressure radiated from the two, Zhou Yuan solemnly tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush and his entire body tensed up. "Let''s attack together. We should kill him first. If he isn¡¯t killed, there would be endless troubles after this,¡± urged Mi Shan. Mi Shi nodded. Boom! The two acted almost instantaneously. Mighty Genesis Qi shot across the air, blocking all Zhou Yuan¡¯s escape routes and swept towards Zhou Yuan with violent force. Space crumbled inch after inch where their Genesis Qi passed. It was obvious the two were filled with murderous intent towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan''s face assumed a serious and solemn expression as he prepared his Heavenly Punishment Law Domain. He couldn¡¯t face the joint attacks of Mi Shan and Mi Shi head-on. He could only use his Law Domain to weaken his opponents offensive and take the chance to retreat. Rumble! Two Genesis Qi torrents entwined around each other and roared out like two giant pythons. Many people¡¯s expressions changed drastically. They immediately rushed out to help. But it was too late. As the two Genesis Qi torrents rapidly neared Zhou Yuan and he prepared to activate his Law Domain, he suddenly felt another gush of terrifying Genesis Qi soaring into the sky from the battlefield. Om! It was a resounding sword cry. ¡°Mi Shan and Mi Shi, do you think I, Guan Qinglong is just a mascot?!¡± A roar resounded like thunder. A figure appeared above Zhou Yuan like a ghost, clasping a tremendous azure dragon blade, and brought it down with incredible speed. All space in front of it shattered. A ray of azure blade light roared out, which upon a closer inspection, resembled an azure dragon glistening with vivid dragon scales. As it bared its fangs, earth-shattering blade qi filled the air. Guan Qinglong¡¯s deafening roar resounded throughout the battlefield. ¡°My Azure Dragon Blade can destroy stars!¡± Chapter 1155 Victory The Azure Dragon Blade roared through space and smashed into the two Genesis Qi torrents about to hit Zhou Yuan. Bang! At that moment, there seemed to be an earth shattering thunder rumbling and the space around it constantly shattered. When the Azure Dragon Blade slashed down, the two Genesis Qi torrents only lasted a few seconds before breaking into countless flecks of Genesis Qi and scattered throughout the world. The remnants of the blade light continued to slash fiercely towards Mi Shan. Mi Shan¡¯s face darkened. His Sacred Pupil flashed with sacred light and the space in front suddenly twisted, forming a spatial barrier-like protection. Clang! The Azure Dragon Blade swung down, striking the spatial barrier. The two were deadlocked for a moment and in the end shattered simultaneously. However, Mi Shan grunted and the veins on his forehead pulsed. He quivered slightly and the blood trickling down his Sacred Pupil turned more concentrated. ¡°Guan Qinglong!¡± Mi Shan glared at the tall figure emerging behind Zhou Yuan. The figure, clasping a huge blade, was imposing and domineering, and his appearance caused space to tremble. It was Guan Qinglong who just removed the seal! The troops from the three great heavens burst into cheers. Guan Qinglong¡¯s appearance at the most critical juncture in the battle undoubtedly filled them with excitement and boosted their morale. He could even reverse the battle. After all, Ji Mo had been killed, Jiang Jinlin and Mi Shi were both seriously wounded and Zhou Yuan''s condition was gradually worsening. Mi Shan wasn¡¯t any better, because his strength was hugely consumed from repeatedly activating his Sacred Pupil. Only Guan Qinglong was still a perfect state. After all, he hadn¡¯t made a move after being sealed. Therefore, he was still full of fighting strength. "If you don''t make a move soon, I really can''t hold on any longer." Zhou Yuan also was relieved to see Guan Qinglong. He had already exhausted his strength in the battle, having killed Ji Mo and inflicted severe injuries to Mi Shi. He had outperformed everyone in the battle with his two achievements, including Jiang Jinlin and Guan Qinglong. But ultimately, he was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage and he only lasted this long due to his many secret means. Therefore, if Guan Qinglong didn¡¯t act soon, Zhou Yuan likely wouldn¡¯t survive against Mi Shan and Mi Shi. If I were at the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, even if Mi Shan and Mi Shi joined forces, they wouldn¡¯t be able to touch me. Zhou Yuan thought to himself. If Zhou Yuan weren¡¯t present, he might not be able to wait until his seal was lifted. At the thought of the troops from the three great heavens killed and the situation collapsing, Guan Qinglong felt a chill run down his spine. If that were to happen, his reputation in Hunyuan Heaven would be ruined. After all, he was regarded as Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s commander in chief. The battle of Guyuan Heaven was a battle for fortune and Genesis Qi for the next thousand years among the heavens. Even if the battle determined only one-fifth of the entire Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s fortune, it was still an extremely terrifying scale. The more they obtained, the stronger Hunyuan Heaven would become in the future. Therefore, all Hunyuan Heave forces attached great importance to the battle, and Guan Qinglong would undoubtedly attract a lot of criticism if he performed badly. Therefore, Guan Qinglong was very grateful to Zhou Yuan. "I''m the captain of the Tianyuan Region team as well as a member of Hunyuan Heaven army, How can I just sit back and watch?" Zhou Yuan said with a smile. "It''s just that I have exhausted my strength¡­we have to depend on you now captain Guan Qinglong.¡± Zhou Yuan could feel the Genesis Qi within his body fading. This was because Promotion had almost reached its time limit. Once he lost the increase to his Genesis Qi, he wouldn¡¯t be qualified to compete with Mi Shan, Mi Shi, or other powerful opponents. Therefore, Zhou Yuan desperately wanted to truly reach the advanced Heavenly Sun stage. He cast his gaze towards the depths of the vast mountain range, where an ancient stone tablet loomed in the thick fog and exuded a special charm. Zhou Yuan''s eyes were filled with anticipation as he gazed at the stone tablet because he knew that his chance of breaking into the advanced Heavenly Sun stage was there. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, just leave the next battle to me.¡± Guan Qinglong nodded. That day¡¯s battle was very frustrating to him because he was well prepared for a big battle, but just as he finished warming up, he was sealed by Jiang Jinlin and Ai Qing''s seal. As a result, he became a spectator during the fiercest times. Now that the seal was finally removed, he looked forward to a battle that he could fight to his heart¡¯s content. Zhou Yuan nodded, and then smiled kindly at Mi Shan and Mi Shi and slowly drew back. Whereas Guan Qinglong looked at Mi Shan and Mi Shi with his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. He pointed his Azure Dragon Blade forward and said, "I will face you both alone.¡± His voice was imposing and domineering. However, no one could question Guan Qinglong''s strength. After all, before Zhou Yuan reached the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, he would still be the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in Hunyuan Heaven. Only Mi Shan in his perfect state could compete with him. Even Mi Shi wasn¡¯t strong enough. If Guan Qinglong wasn¡¯t suddenly sealed, Mi Shi''s outcome likely wouldn¡¯t be much better than Jiang Jinlin. Guan Qinglong was now in perfect condition while Mi Shan''s Sacred Pupil was damaged and Mi Shi was severely injured. Therefore, even if he was fighting against two, he still had absolute confidence. Boom! Mighty Genesis Qi rose from the top of Guan Qinglong¡¯s skull like smoke signals, and within those azure Genesis Qi, there seemed to be an azure dragon hovering around, exuding an extremely domineering aura. A terrifying pressure enveloped the area. The entire battlefield seemed to have frozen, and the people on both sides looked up at the sky. The two sides were in a stalemate, and the battle between Guan Qinglong and Mi Shan, who were their top experts, would affect the battle¡¯s direction. Mi Shan glared at Guan Qinglong, his eyes full of intense killing intent. How would he not know about his own state? His present chances of winning against Guan Qinglong was less than 30%. Even if Mi Shan didn''t want to admit it, he knew that their Shengwang Heaven and Shengling Heaven had fallen into an extremely disadvantaged position in the battle for the mystic ruins. All this.. This wasn¡¯t because of Guan Qinglong, but because of Zhou Yuan who was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage! Mi Shan stared at Zhou Yuan, who was behind Guan Qinglong, his eyes cold and sinister, as if imprinting Zhou Yuan''s face deeply into his mind. Hu. In the end, Mi Shan inhaled deeply and said indifferently, "Guan Qinglong, you win this time.¡± The powerful aura surging around Guan Qinglong stilled for a moment as he stared at Mi Shan. "Are you admitting defeat?¡± "It''s just a momentary loss. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Mi Shan was a very rational person. He knew that if the battle continued, not only they wouldn¡¯t win, there could be even greater losses. Therefore, he must swallow the humiliation and retreat. "Guan Qinglong, don¡¯t be so smug. The Battle of Guyuan Heaven will be very interesting this time. You will understand this when you set foot into the central area. Perhaps the lower five heavens¡¯ result this time would be the worst ever,¡± sneered Mi Shan, his mouth curved in a ruthless smile. Guan Qinglong narrowed his eyes. "Oh? Because of you?" ¡°Of course not¡­¡± Mi Shan said with a ruminative smile, "I can only say that you guys are very unlucky. The Shengzu Heaven is the strongest it has been in tens of thousands of years¡­" "Guan Qinglong, believe me, when you meet those from Shengzu Heaven, you will understand what true despair is.¡± He no longer hesitated and turned away. At the same time, his cold voice rang throughout the battlefield, "Shengwang Heaven and Shengling Heaven team members, retreat!¡± Hua. His words caused a huge commotion. Although the Sacred Race army was reluctant to retreat, they understood they had lost their advantaged position. In the end, they retreated one after another. The huge team retreated swiftly like a tide. Within minutes, the battlefield that was enveloped in the flames of war suddenly became silent. The people from the three heavens exchanged glances with each other and it was only after a good while that they snapped out of their dazed state and erupted in earth-shattering cheers, shaking the mountains. In mid-air, Guan Qinglong peered in the direction where Mi Shan and the others retreated, but there wasn¡¯t much joy on his face, and instead he wrinkled his brows. Mi Shan''s words made him feel a little uneasy. ¡°Shengzu Heaven¡­¡± Chapter 1156 Divide The battle was essentially a tragedy. All heavens, including the three heavens of all races and the two Sacred Race heavens suffered heavy casualties. The entire battlefield was devastated, corpses were strewn across the ground, and a blood stench filled the air. Many people heaved with sobs as they held their comrades¡¯ corpse in their arms. Cries of sadness spread through the battlefield, making everyone¡¯s heart feel heavy. Zhou Yuan fell silent when he saw this scene. Qin Lian, Mu Youlan and others also rushed over to his side. They were all riddled with wounds of varying sizes and they evidently had been through fierce battles. "How are the casualties on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side?" Zhou Yuan asked. Qin Lian said mournfully, "There are more than 200 people killed and more than 500 people seriously injured.¡± What those simple numbers represented was incredibly upsetting. Zhou Yuan said in a low voice, "Put away their bodies and bring them back to Hunyuan Heaven. They fought for the Tianyuan Region, and the Tianyuan Region mustn¡¯t treat them badly.¡± Qin Lian and the others nodded. "If our captain hadn¡¯t displayed his remarkable power, the battle could have been more tragic and our losses would be even greater,¡± said Mu Youlan, looking at Zhou Yuan admiringly. Everyone witnessed Zhou Yuan''s dazzling achievements in the battle. "Your prestige in the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage is now equal to Guan Qinglong." Qin Lian nodded in agreement. If Zhou Yuan hadn''t come forward and killed Ji Mo as well as severely wounded Mi Shi, the outcome could have been very different to what it was. This was obvious from the looks of gratitude and awe from the experts of various forces. Although Zhou Yuan was a grand elder of the Tianyuan Region, the majority of Hunyuan Heaven forces never thought Zhou Yuan was qualified to be on the same level as them. But this thinking was completely wiped away after the battle. Although Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage, he wasn¡¯t an ordinary intermediate Heavenly Sun expert. But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t care too much about this. He didn¡¯t care about prestige. After all, the Sacred Race was their greatest enemy. If he sat and watched them defeat the three heavens, he wouldn''t be able to turn the tide then, no matter how strong he was. Chu Qing and Li Qingchan also darted over. From the look on their faces, it was obvious that Cangxuan Heaven had also suffered heavy losses. Zhou Yuan could only clap Chu Qing on the shoulder, and then, when he wanted to hug Li Qingchan to comfort her, he quickly retracted his hand seeing her icy gaze and smiled helplessly. On the battlefield, the various forces were gathering their troops and counting their losses. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, captain Guan Qinglong has something to discuss with you,¡± Someone came over and reported respectfully. Zhou Yuan glanced at a high slope in the distance, where the captains of various forces gathered. He nodded and headed over there with Qin Lian, Chu Qing and the others. As he arrived, the several captains cast respectful looks his way. Even the arrogant people from Wanshou Heaven quelled their arrogance and showed respect. Jin Ling''er stood with Jin Feng, staring at Zhou Yuan. Her beautiful eyes that always looked wilful blazed. The Genesis Beast Clan admired power and Zhou Yuan created remarkable battle achievements with strength of the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. How would she not be utterly convinced? ¡°No wonder Little Ancestor thinks highly of him.¡± Jin Ling¡¯er bit her red lips and her beautiful eyes gleamed magnificently. Jin Feng suddenly coughed and whispered, ¡°Elder sister, what are you doing? Don''t forget Little Ancestor¡¯s warning.¡± ¡°What?¡± Jin Ling¡¯er questioned. Jin Feng gave a hollow laugh. Jin Ling¡¯er looked at him blankly and finally remembered something. Before coming to Guyuan Heaven, their Little Ancestor had warned them about something. Strictly speaking, it was for her. What was the warning? Don''t try to hit on Zhou Yuan, otherwise there will be serious consequences! It''s so serious that even Little Ancestor will be beaten up! Jin Linger almost sneered at the warning then. As the pride of the Golden Monkey Clan, she had countless admirers both within and outside the clan, how would she even lay her eyes on a mere human? Besides, who would dare beat up her Little Ancestor? Given his status, there were only a handful of people in the Wanshou Region who would have such courage. Therefore, Jin Linger was puzzled about her Little Ancestor¡¯s warning. Jin Ling''er pouted her little lips and said, "Little Ancestor is annoying.¡± However, the gleam of admiration in her eyes still faded. Her Little Ancestor¡¯s warning indeed had an effect. Zhou Yuan didn''t care about Jin Ling''er''s gaze, because in front of him were Jiang Jinlin and Ai Qing. Jiang Jinlin''s face was incredibly pale and the Genesis Qi around him was much weaker than before. His body was covered in deep scars, and even if he possessed the powerful body of the Mystic Dragon Clan, he couldn¡¯t heal those severe injuries right away. Jiang Jinlin looked a little uncomfortable when he faced Zhou Yuan because he had never attached any importance to Zhou Yuan before the battle. Otherwise they wouldn¡¯t send Jin Ling''er to assist him. It was clear that they didn¡¯t believe in Zhou Yuan''s ability. But the final outcome was unexpected to anyone. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reversed the tide, the three great heavens would have been defeated instead. Even Jiang Jinlin, who was very arrogant, didn''t dare look down on Zhou Yuan after Zhou Yuan killed Ji Mo and inflicted severe injuries to Mi Shi. Jiang Jinlin¡¯s strength was similar level to Mi Shi¡¯s. If Mi Shan hadn¡¯t rescued Mi Shi with his Sacred Pupil, Zhou Yuan might have even killed him. Therefore, Jiang Jinlin didn¡¯t dare to underestimate Zhou Yuan anymore. Ai Qing¡¯s expression turned a little complicated as she gazed at Zhou Yuan. She originally thought the strongest person in the Hunyuan Heaven team was Guan Qinglong. But now, it seemed Zhou Yuan from the Tianyuan Region had revealed hidden talents. But what was most terrifying was that Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. Once he reached the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, wouldn''t he surpass even Guan Qinglong? Perhaps, he would become the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in the five heavens. Guan Qinglong looked at Zhou Yuan and said solemnly, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, no one can question your contribution in the battle against the two heavens of the Sacred Race. I want to express gratitude to you on behalf of everyone." The others also nodded, showing their gratitude. Zhou Yuan''s distinguished battle accomplishment was superior to everyone else¡¯s. Even Jiang Jinlin remained silent and didn¡¯t raise any objections. However, Zhou Yuan seemed unconcerned about their gratitude. He just waved his hand and stared at the dense fog that shrouded a distant mountain range. In the dense fog, an ancient stone tablet seemed to have existed since ancient times, exuding a special charm. "Everyone, now that the enemy has retreated, is it time to discuss how the mystic ruins will be divided?" said Zhou Yuan with a smile. He wasn¡¯t referring to the distribution among core members, but the arrangement for the various forces¡¯ ordinary members. This was because one required a foundation of around 2 billion Genesis Qi stars to get close to the ancient stone tablet, which meant only the top experts from each force could obtain the core opportunity. But that meant many people would be unable to get near the stone tablet and hence enjoy the rare opportunity. They had also made contributions in the battle and so they should be rewarded accordingly. Otherwise, who would continue to risk their lives in battle? And without them, it would be difficult to succeed by just relying on the top experts. Fortunately, the various forces leaders were prepared. Although the stone tablet was inaccessible to people with a foundation under 2 billion Genesis Qi stars, once it was activated, it would erupt with mighty ancestral qi and countless ancestral qi treasures that would spread to the periphery. And those were the opportunities that many people hoped to obtain. The closer one was to the stone tablet, the more ancestral qi and ancestral qi treasures one could obtain. According to what they previously agreed on, the positions in front of the stone tablet would be divided into three groups. The first group was naturally closest to the stone tablet, and thus would receive the first wave of ancestral qi. After the first wave of ancestral qi was absorbed by the first group, it would flow to the second group, and the third group¡­ From their previous agreement, there were only two forces that secured the first position, which were the Wushen Region in Hunyuan Heaven and the Mystic Dragon Clan in Wanshou Heaven. Moreover, they had Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin, who led the army, in their team. Guan Qinglong turned to Zhou Yuan and said with a smile, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan has contributed the most in the battle. The Tianyuan Region is of course included in the first group.¡± Jiang Jinlin didn''t say anything. He no doubt would have opposed it if he heard this before the battle. After all, his share of ancestral qi would lessen with more people in the first group and no one would be happy about their benefits going to other people. But Zhou Yuan''s battle accomplishments were so remarkable that there was nothing he could say. If Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t qualified to be in the first group, the Mystic Dragon Clan and the Wushen Region also wouldn¡¯t be qualified. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and then said, "I don''t know if I can also get a space in the second group.¡± He of course requested the position for the Cangxuan Sect. After all, all Cangxuan Heaven forces would be allocated to the third group if based solely on battle accomplishments. But Zhou Yuan was a member of the Cangxuan Sect and so he must seek benefits for his senior and junior brothers. After all, in such an occasion, even Chu Qing¡¯s words carried little weight. Guan Qinglong glanced at Chu Qing and the others behind him, hesitated, and finally nodded. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan comes from the Cangxuan Sect, so of course they are qualified to share some of your credit.¡± Jiang Jinlin frowned and was about to argue, but Ai Qing pulled him back. ¡°It¡¯s not good to provoke Zhou Yuan. Don¡¯t get on his bad side because of a little benefit. Think about it, what if he breaks through to the advanced Heavenly Sun stage in the mystic ruins?¡± Ai Qing whispered into Jiang Jinlin''s ears. Jiang Jinlin''s countenance changed slightly. Zhou Yuan was only at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage yet he could already inflict severe injuries to Mi Shi. How strong would he be once he reached the advanced Heavenly Sun stage? At that time, even he and Guan Qinglong likely would be no match for him. Thinking of that scene, even Jiang Jinlin, who was very arrogant, gulped secretly. So, he also nodded slightly and said, "I have no objection.¡± Once the two commanders-in-chief made a final decision, the positions were decided. Chapter 1157 Stone Table But everyone suddenly stopped around ten thousand feet from the stone tablet. They peered through the fog and stared at the ancient stone tablet in the distance. The stone tablet was at least ten thousand feet tall. It resembled a mountain and seemed full of mystery when shrouded in fog Even at such a distance, one could distinctly feel a frightening oppressive pressure released from the stone tablet, making the majority of the army unable to advance any further. ¡°Everyone, get into your allocated positions!" Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin issued an order. The troops from the Wushen Region, Tianyuan Region, and Mythic Dragon Clan sat down cross-legged where they were, which was the first position. The others looked enviously at them as they stepped back some distance and split into the second and third groups. This was because ancestral qi would erupt from the front of the stone tablet and so they could only absorb more ancestral qi in that direction. Zhou Yuan turned to the Tianyuan Region team and swept his gaze over the several familiar figures sitting in non-eye catching areas. They were Li Chunjun, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo and the others. They also smiled at him to express their gratitude. They weren¡¯t members of the Tianyuan Region, so if they were assigned positions according to normal circumstances, they would be in the third group and their share of benefits would be much lower. Therefore, Zhou Yuan secretly transferred them to the Tianyuan Region team, and given his prestige in Hunyuan Heaven, no one would dare object. After all, the Tianyuan Region was only in the first position because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s remarkable battle accomplishments. A little help from him was considered a great opportunity for Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others. ¡°Those with a foundation of at least 2 billion or able to withstand the stone tablet¡¯s pressure, come with us!¡± After the large army was settled, Guan Qinglong''s imposing voice rang again. Very quickly, a group of people all exuding powerful Genesis Qi gathered. Many gazes behind were filled with envy and awe. Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across everyone and saw Wu Yao, Su Youwei, and Zhao Mushen were also present. Zhao Mushen¡¯s Genesis Qi was the strongest among the three. Moreover, Zhou Yuan could sense his foundation had reached the 2 billion level, which was only four billion less than his. This should be the benefit he got after swallowing Wang Xuanyang. As for Wu Yao and Su Youwei, although their Genesis Qi foundation hadn¡¯t reached 2 billion, the two women were outstanding and so they could tolerate the stone tablet¡¯s oppressive pressure. "Junior brother Zhou Yuan, sorry to trouble you about the Cangxuan Sect matters. Junior sister Qingchan told me to say thank you.¡± A low voice sounded next to Zhou Yuan and he turned around to see Chu Qing¡¯s signature shiny head. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing, have you forgotten that I¡¯m also a member of the Cangxuan Sect?¡± Then, he shifted his gaze to the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s area and saw a cold but beautiful woman sitting in the front looking at him with her bright eyes. Their gazes met and Li Qingchan calmly looked away. However, Zhou Yuan could still see gratitude in her eyes. After all, compared to their senior brother Chu Qing, who constantly tried to escape responsibilities, Li Qingchan was truly concerned and worried about many of Cangxuan Sect matters. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze with a smile. The top experts from the three heavens all stepped into the thick fog and headed towards the ancient stone tablet in anticipation. Soon, as Zhou Yuan and the others walked out of the dense fog, the ancient stone tablet finally revealed itself clearly in front of them. Everyone¡¯s eyes blazed brightly. The stone tablet towered into the clouds and its surface was old and mottled. Those traces left over countless years gave off an extraordinary charm that caused nearby Genesis Qi to fluctuate strangely. Moreover, waves of mighty ancestral qi were released from the stone table, shocking everyone. The ancestral qi gradually condensed in certain areas to form lotus platforms. The ancestral qi lotus platform didn¡¯t surprise anyone because Guan Qinglong had mentioned them before. But they were delighted that the number of lotus platforms was more than what Guan Qinglong previously told them. Even so, there were only 25 seats. And the number of elite experts from the three heavens who came here exceeded 25. Guan Qinglong went into discussion with Jiang Jinlin and the others again, but Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t participate because he knew that, given his accomplishments in the battle, not only was he eligible to obtain a lotus platform, even Qin Lian could get one. The discussion soon ended. On the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s side, the Wushen Region Wanzu Region, Zixiao Region and the Tianyuan Region each got two lotus platforms, while on the Wanshou Heaven, the Mystic Dragon Clan, Spirit Phoenix Clan and the Golden Monkey Clan also received the same number each. But on the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s side, except for Chu Qing, everyone else didn¡¯t contribute enough in the battle. The twenty-five seats were quickly allocated. Those who hadn¡¯t been assigned a lotus platform had no choice but sit below the stone tablet and cultivate there. But the opportunity they would receive still far outweighed the troops in the distance. ¡°Everyone¡­¡± Guan Qinglong stared at the ancestral qi lotus platforms formed above the stone tablet with blazing eyes. "Although the previous battle was tragic, it¡¯s time to collect our harvest. "Of course, what opportunities you would obtain depends on your own good fortune. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Before his voice died away, 25 figures raced across the sky, each landing on one of the 25 ancestral qi lotus platforms. As they descended, the ancient stone tablet seemed to sense something. The ground quaked violently and vast amounts of ancestral qi erupted out. The ancestral qi first swept up, forming a huge ancestral qi canopy over the stone tablet and even blotted out the sun. Hu! Soon after, ancestral qi rolled out like waves and eventually engulfed everyone from the three great heavens within tens of thousand feet. Whereas, the 25 ancestral qi lotus platforms erupted in rays of dazzling light and gradually drowned the several figures. Chapter 1158 Lotus Platform The huge ancient stone tablet buzzed and vibrated, as through emitting low roars from the ancient times. Mighty ancestral qi gushed out endlessly like thousand-feet waves. The 25 lotus platforms above the stone tablet created a powerful suction force that frantically drew over the ancestral qi and vaguely formed several ancestral qi vortexes. The 25 people sat cross-legged on the lotus platforms all couldn''t help beaming with delight. Even Zhou Yuan, who had seen a high-class ancestral qi vein, marvelled at the vast ancestral qi. However, while they were filled with joy, they noticed a mysterious wave emitting from the stone tablet and eventually swept over their bodies. It was as though they were being scanned. The sudden change surprised everyone and made them increase their vigilance. Guyuan Heaven was mysterious and unfathomable and one shouldn¡¯t lower their guard at any time. But fortunately, no one felt anything unusual within their bodies once the wave passed. ¡°Huh?¡± Someone murmured puzzledly. Rays of brilliant light were suddenly released from the lotus platform where that person was. The lights were five different colors and lingered on the lotus platform, looking particularly mysterious. Moreover, when the five-colored light appeared, the speed at which ancestral qi gathered on his lotus platform was evidently much faster. "What¡¯s that?" Everyone sounded surprised. But before they could think deeper about it, they noticed mysterious light halos blooming from all 25 lotus platforms. But those light halo were either five or six different colors. "I know that the light halos represent the lotus platform¡¯s grade...I read in an ancient book that the lotus platform is ranked into nine grades, with grade nine shown by nine different colors. If my guess is correct, the waves of energy previously released from the stone tablet were to evaluate our talent and potential. Those with greater talent or potential will see a higher grade in their lotus platforms. The higher one¡¯s lotus platform grade, the greater opportunities one will obtain,¡± someone explained. Everyone looked over to see it was the Spirit Phoenix Clan¡¯s Ai Qing speaking. ¡°I understand¡­¡± Suddenly, a light dawned on everyone¡¯s face. Then, they swept their gazes across the others¡¯ lotus platforms. It was then when they discovered the lotus platforms of Ai Qing, Dong Ye, Qin Lian, Jin Ling¡¯er were blooming seven different colors. They had become grade-7 lotus platforms. As the grade-7 platforms took shape, the stone tablet emitted low cries and mighty Genesis Qi gushed towards them like torrents. Moreover, the torrent carried several mysterious objects, of which the most striking were the several ancestral qi treasures! Hua! But while everyone was sighing, an even dazzling light came into their line of sight. The light were eight different colors! ¡°Grade-8 lotus platforms?!¡± Everyone cast astonished gazes towards the three lotus platforms blooming eight different colors. Unsurprisingly, Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin were among the three. But they were shocked to see that the third person was Chu Qing from Cangxuan Heaven! His talent and potential were comparable with Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin?! Even Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin couldn''t help glancing at Chu Qing. Guan Qinglong looked a little better because he already sensed Chi Qing had remarkable talent before, but Jiang Jinlin didn''t look too happy. As an arrogant person, he could accept Guan Qinglong, who was the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in Hunyuan Heaven, to be on the same level as him, but Chu Qing was a nobody. But no matter how unhappy he was, he had to accept the truth. As their grade-8 lotus platforms took shape, the ancient stone tablet vibrated even more violently, gushing out more powerful Genesis Qi and ancestral qi treasures. The gifts for grade-8 lotus platforms were naturally superior to those for grade-7 platforms. Many people stared at the three grade-8 lotus platforms with glances of envy and awe. ¡°Grade-8 lotus platforms are remarkable¡­but if even Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin, our two commander, only reached grade 8, it seems that grade-8 lotus platforms are the limit.¡± ¡°Grade-9 lotus platforms are impossible to achieve.¡± ¡°....¡± Amid low murmurs, three lights suddenly bloomed from three different lotus platforms. They were all eight different colors, attracting stunned gazes. Three figures sat quietly on those lotus platforms. They were two women and one man. They were Wu Yao, Su Youwei and Zhao Mushen! Everyone¡¯s eyes widened when they learned that the three people¡¯s lotus platforms were ranked grade-8. They sighed repeatedly, knowing that Guan Qinglong and the others were veteran Heavenly Sun experts, while Wu Yao and the others were of a younger generation. Generally speaking, their generation shouldn¡¯t be qualified to enter Guyuan Heaven, but the three were too outstanding to not enter. But who would have thought that the three¡¯s talent and potential were not inferior to Guan Qinglong and the others. ¡°No! It hasn¡¯t ended!¡± At this time, someone suddenly exclaimed! Even the pupils of Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin shrank as they stared at the three grade-8 lotus platforms, which were eight different colors like theirs. They found that the eight colored light was surging violently as though climbing with all its strength. It was during that deadlocked moment, when it appeared to reach the limit, a faint almost imperceptible light flashed among the eight colors. The ninth color! But the ninth color was too faint, It just flashed past and then calmed down. Jiang Jinlin couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. If the three lotus platforms were ranked as grade 9, it would be really hard for him to accept it. Although it seemed that Wu Yao, Su Youwei, and Zhao Mushen''s lotus platforms were stronger than his, they were still only grade 8 in the end. "The talents and potential of those three have reached such a level¡­Hunyuan Heaven is indeed strong.¡± Even Jiang Jinlin has to admit that Hunyuan Heaven was rightfully named the strongest of the five heavens. "However, in the end, no one achieved the legendary grade-9 lotus platform.¡± Jiang Jinlin was happy with the result. No! He suddenly remembered something and shifted his gaze to a certain place. That guy hasn¡¯t started! It was Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction! Guan Qinglong and the others also stared intently at Zhou Yuan¡¯s platform which was the only one that was still calm and quiet. However, the lotus platform soon vibrated and buzzed. Then, mysterious light halos erupted! One¡­three¡­six¡­eight¡­ Eight halos appeared within seconds. The lotus platform stilled for a moment after the eight halos appeared, but then another halo bloomed unhesitatingly. Wu Yao and the others were unable to summon the ninth light halo despite urging repeatedly, but there wasn¡¯t the slightest obstruction with Zhou Yuan''s lotus platform. Nine light halos revolved around the lotus platform, stunning, mysterious and radiated an ancient charm. It was a grade-9 lotus platform! As Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin and everyone else stared at Zhou Yuan, who was sitting quietly within the nine halos, their eyes widened in astonishment. Rumble! The ancient stone tablet vibrated like never before and the whole world seemed to be rumbling like cheers from the ancient times. Boom! Immediately afterwards, a current of ancestral qi swept out countless ancestral qi treasures from the stone tablet and directly drowned Zhou Yuan and his lotus platform. The gifts of ancestral qi treasures seemed endless! Chapter 1159 Grade Nine Lotus Platform Countless eyes stared at the scene in front with astonishment and admiration. Even top experts such as Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin fell into a stunned state. It took them a long while before they could recover, and even then they still wore complicated expressions. A grade-9 lotus platform! The ancient stone tablet gave Zhou Yuan a high appraisal, which meant Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent and potential were superior to theirs. However, they shouldn¡¯t be underestimated because they were already considered true heaven prides and had reached great heights. However, Zhou Yuan surpassed them, which showed his terrifying talent and potential. Guan Qinglong sighed inwardly. After witnessing that scene, even he, who was always calm and confident, could only smile bitterly. Zhou Yuan really is a rare monster-like being. If Zhou Yuan could use the opportunities from the stone tablet to breakthrough to the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, Guan Qinglong had a premonition that he would have to step down from the title of strongest Heavenly Sun expert in Hunyuan Heaven. Although all kinds of emotions swelled up in his heart, Guan Qinglong was¡¯t a narrow-minded person. He already began to feel that he wasn¡¯t strong enough after the clash with Shengwang Heaven. He felt that he might not have the qualification to take on the most powerful and mysterious Shengzu Heaven. If Zhou Yuan could breakthrough at this critical juncture and lead Hunyuan Heaven to victory, Guan Qinglong was willing to step down. However, compared to his open-mindedness, Jiang Jinlin was incredibly jealous of Zhou Yuan. Staring at Zhou Yuan¡¯s face that looked somewhat sacred under the lingering nine-colored halos, he couldn¡¯t help gritting his teeth. He hated the fact that he couldn¡¯t kill Zhou Yuan and take his place. But that was only wishful thinking. After all, he understood that if he were to do anything that interrupted Zhou Yuan, he would become a target of public criticism. In the end, he could only grit his teeth in anger and close his eyes. After the initial shock, everyone finally composed their emotions and focussed their minds back onto their own lotus platforms. Regardless of how they envy Zhou Yuan, the most pressing matter and realistic thing to do now was to digest their own opportunities first. ... As Zhou Yuan¡¯s grade-nine lotus platform took shape, he ignored the many astonished gazes on him and focussed his attention on cultivation, isolating himself from the outside world. As mighty ancestral qi rushed through his body, his Divine Dwellings quivered frantically as though longing for them. Ancestral qi flowed along his meridians and flooded his Divine Dwellings. The Divine Dwellings suddenly became foggy from the endless rich ancestral qi. The two Heavenly Suns frantically absorbed the ancestral qi and grew increasingly bright at an unbelievable speed. Countless Genesis Qi stars were constantly born inside his Divine Dwellings. Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation soared at an astonishing rate! The rapid growth stunned even Zhou Yuan. Within minutes, his Genesis Qi foundation skyrocketed to 2.9 billion from 2.4 billion! An increase of 500 million! Moreover, it didn¡¯t stop there and continued to soar at a steady rate. Zhou Yuan suppressed his joy and excitement and did everything he could to manipulate the ancestral qi to continue to pour into his body and guided them through his meridians. Moreover, his meridians became tougher and more resilient as ancestral qi flowed through them. As his Genesis Qi foundation skyrocketed, he noticed the dragon-claw runes on his Heavenly Suns were extending. His dragon claw rune was previously at the five-claw stage. But within minutes, half the sixth rune was already formed. In addition to ancestral qi, countless ancestral qi treasures spewed out from the stone tablet. Ancestral qi treasures were all sorts of substance and objects, including crystal dust, which Zhou Yuan invested them all on Silver Shadow and his Heavenly Yuan Brush Silver Shadow and the Heavenly Yuan Brush emitted happy waves in response as they devoured all the ancestral qi treasures that came their way. They were able to devour to their heart¡¯s content this time. Those weren¡¯t the only benefits... In addition to the increase in his Genesis Qi foundation and the endless ancestral qi treasures, Zhou Yuan could feel his flesh squirming and blood bubbling. Even his Great Flame Devil was uncontrollably activated. The temperature within Zhou Yuan''s body soared suddenly like an oven. Ancestral qi containing mysterious ancestral qi treasures gradually merged under the oven-like conditions and in the end transformed into a mysterious liquid that fused with his blood. Zhou Yuan could feel that every inch of his flesh and blood within his body was emitting unimaginable heat, and it was under that high temperature that his flesh and blood were being wildly refined, growing stronger and tougher. A terrifying power that seemed capable or moving mountains and sea erupted from his blood. Drops of golden blood were constantly born in his heart under those conditions. Before he knew it, the Great Flame Devil was improved dramatically. In addition to the changes in his body, his Spirit was similarly refined and improved. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t stop quivering with excitement and joy at the improvements and transformations of every part of his body. Although he knew mystic ruins were rare opportunities in Guyuan Heaven, it was only after experiencing one himself that he understood how much better it was compared to a high-class ancestral qi vein! It had the power to make people feel as if they were reborn. Of course, Zhou Yuan understood that such improvements were due to the fact the stone tablet ranked his lotus platform grade-9. The stone tablet possessed a spiritual intellect and it would only give someone it felt qualified such rare opportunities. Thank you. Zhou Yuan thanked him in his heart, and then began to focus his mind. Since he had such opportunities, he had to grasp them all and swallow everything to the last drop. As long as he cleanly swallowed up all opportunities, he knew his overall strength would leapt to a shocking height. Zhou Yuan looked forward to seeing how strong he would become. Chapter 1160 The Rear Wave Rises However, the majority withdrew from cultivation after around seven days because their bodies had reached their limit and could no longer tolerate any more ancestral qi. They had to wait until their bodies digested the ancestral qi before they could continue to absorb more. The three great heavens army was still very excited after they withdrew from their cultivation state because of the significant improvements they gained from the opportunity. For the rest of the time, they occasionally cast curious and awed glances at the 25 lotus platforms above the stone tablet. They were the top experts in the three great heavens. Seven days after the great army withdrew from cultivation, the stone tablet had erupted for more than half a month. During this period, the figures on the 25 lotus platforms one after another opened their eyes and Genesis Qi soared into the sky like smoke signals, which were visible within thousands of miles. Qin Lian opened her eyes on the 16th day, and powerful Genesis Qi gushed forth from her body like a storm. She beamed with unconcealable joy. Her Genesis Qi foundation had soared to 3 billion after the cultivation! An increase of almost 500 million! It would have taken Qin Lian at least a few years as well as countless cultivation resources to achieve such a level in Hunyuan Heaven. But it only took her three months in Guyuan Heaven. It was clear that the opportunities in Guyuan Heaven were remarkable and rare. Qin Lian¡¯s beautiful figure moved slightly and she descended from the lotus platform. "You also increased your Genesis Qi foundation to 3 billion?" A surprised voice sounded beside her. Qin Lian turned to see Dong Ye from the Zixiao Region. Dong Ye was surprised because her Genesis Qi foundation was also 3 billion, but there was still a huge gap between her and Qin Lian before they entered Guyuan Heaven. Qin Lian was catching up to her now. Although pleased with her improvements, Qin Lian didn¡¯t show it and instead, she cast her gaze to the lotus platform that was still spewing out ancestral qi. "3 billion isn¡¯t that impressive. I feel that someone will increase their Genesis Qi foundation to 4 billion after this!¡± Surprised, Dong Ye immediately followed her gaze. ¡°You think Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation might reach 4 billion?!¡± ¡°What? Is it not possible?¡± Qin Lian smiled. Dong Ye said snappily, ¡°From what I know, even if a glass Heavenly Sun was cultivated to its peak, one¡¯s foundation can¡¯t exceed 4 billion. That¡¯s the limit.¡± Qin Lian said calmly, ¡±Do you think Zhou Yuan is just an ordinary Glass Heavenly Sun expert?¡± Zhou Yuan''s talent and potential were far beyond her imagination. He was like a blazing sun that covered up everyone else¡¯s rays of light. Let alone her, even Guan Qinglong was overshadowed by Zhou Yuan. She reflexively refuted what Qin Lian said, but after calming down, she had to admit that there was a high possibility of what Qin Lian said would come true. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation could exceed 4 billion. A Heavenly Sun expert like him had never been seen in Hunyuan Heaven in many years. Is it really going to reappear in the world this time? While Dong Ye was in a very complicated mood, more people awakened on the 25 lotus platforms. When Jiang Jinlin awakened, his Genesis Qi was as vast as the clouds, roaring like dragons. His Genesis Qi foundation had reached a terrifying level of 3.7 billion. But before Jiang Jinlin rejoiced, he sensed even stronger Genesis Qi erupting from not far away, which drew countless exclamations. It was from Guan Qinglong. Azure Genesis Qi swept across the sky and turned half the horizon an azure color. His Genesis Qi foundation reached 3.9 billion! Astonishment filled everyone¡¯s faces. But Guan Qinglong sighed inwardly because he tried to aim for 4 billion, but failed in the end. It indeed wasn¡¯t as easy to break the limit as he thought. ¡°Guan Qinglong, you¡¯re ambitious.¡± A nonchalant voice sounded. It was from Jiang Jinlin. How would he not understand what Guan Qinglong wanted to do from his expression? Guan Qinglong''s expression was calm when he said, ¡°It is said that there are so called sacred heaven prides in the most mysterious Shengzu Heaven¡­and to become a sacred heaven pride one has to possess a foundation of 4 billion Genesis Qi stars.¡± He peered into the distance and said, ¡°Mi Shan said that the current generation of Heavenly Sun experts from Shengzu Heaven is one of the strongest in tens of thousands of years. If no one from our five great heavens reaches that level, the final battle would be very difficult.¡± Jiang Jinlin''s expression turned a little sullen when he heard this. He was an extremely arrogant person, but he was also powerless in the face of the Sacred Race¡¯s heaven prides who appeared to be blessed by heaven. ¡°Fortunately, our Hunyuan Heaven has good luck¡­" Guan Qinglong smiled and his gaze shifted to the last four lotus platforms that were still radiating dazzling light. On them sat Zhou Yuan, Wu Yao, Su Youwei and Zhao Mushen. "Although they have potential, it''s a pity that they have weak foundations,¡± Jiang Jinlin remarked after he swept a glance over them. Besides Zhou Yuan, Wu Yao and the others all had a weak foundation. So, in his opinion, even with the opportunities from the stone tablet, it would be hard for them to rise to important positions. "The rear wave pushes the front wave. You will pay the price if you look down on them." Guan Qinglong naturally knew how Jiang Jinlin felt. After all, the feeling of being overtaken by the rear waves was never good. Moreover, all four were from Hunyuan Heaven. Jiang Jinlin snorted coldly, ¡°I look forward to seeing how fierce those rear waves can be!¡± He floated down and landed next to the stone tablet. While digesting the ancestral qi in his body, Jiang Jinlin occasionally cast furtive glances at the four lotus platforms that were still brightly lit. On the 25th day, there was finally movement from three of the four lotus platforms. Wu Yao, Su Youwei, and Zhao Mushen opened their eyes almost at the same time. The Genesis Qi throughout the world surged violently at that moment. A dragon silhouette hovered in the sky above Wu Yao. But upon a closer look, one would notice a faint aura brewing within the dragon silhouette. On the other hand, above Su Youwei was a black-and-white sun and yin and yang fused mysteriously. A mysterious beast shadow appeared above Zhao Mushen that seemed capable of swallowing the world with its imposing bearing. Many people were dumbstruck by such a spectacle. Moreover, the three''s Genesis Qi was surging madly. In just a few breaths, Wu Yao¡¯s and Su Youwei''s Genesis Qi foundations soared to the level of 3.7 billion. Whereas Zhao Mushen was better. He reached 3.8 billion and surpassed Jiang Jinlin! Hss. Countless people inhaled sharply. Wu Yao¡¯s and Su Youwei¡¯s foundation were previously less than 2 billion but it had skyrocketed to 3.7 billion. The increase was too terrifying! Many even felt they could break the limit of 4 billion if the three didn¡¯t have a weak foundation before this. All eyes were filled with awe as they stared at the three. They felt that a new leader was slowly rising. Jiang Jinlin''s expression turned a little unpleasant. To him, Wu Yao and Su Youwei were just beautiful vases, but now, the two so-called vases were the same level as him. Guan Qinglong also wore a somewhat complicated expression, but he was more delighted than anything. He gazed at Wu Yao''s slender and proud figure, and felt that she finally was beginning to display a radiance that belonged to her. The veteran Heavenly Sun experts dominated the first half of the Battle of Guyuan Heaven, but this likely would change in the second half. Guan Qinglong''s gaze slowly shifted to the last young figure still sitting silently on the nine-colored lotus platform. There was a hint of anticipation in his complicated expression. Zhou Yuan¡­how far will you reach this time? His question was finally answered after one month since the stone tablet was opened up. As the world slightly quivered, the figure on the last lotus platform slowly opened his eyes after one month. Chapter 1161 Nine Main Veins Appear When Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, everyone felt the world stirring restlessly, which affected even the Genesis Qi in their bodies and caused them to lose control of it. Everyone was so terrified that they urgently suppressed it with all their strength and then stared in horror at Zhou Yuan. They of course knew that Zhou Yuan caused such restlessness. This made everyone stand in shocked silence because they had never seen anyone affecting others¡¯ Genesis Qi during cultivation. Hua! But just as they were suppressing the agitated Genesis Qi in their bodies, they heard rushing water. ¡°What is that?¡± someone exclaimed. Countless people lifted their heads to see mighty universe Genesis Qi gathering, and because the Genesis Qi was too rich, it formed a tide of Genesis Qi. The thousand-feet-tall tide of Genesis Qi swept across the world. That strange phenomenon caused the whole world to tremble. Roar! A resounding dragon roar rang out from the vast Genesis Qi tide. Countless people followed the source of the roar and saw a gigantic dragon silhouette soaring in the tide. An indescribable oppressive aura filled the air and even people like Guan Qinglong felt intermittent feelings of suppression. The giant dragon opened its mouth, swallowing the Genesis Qi tide formed from universe Genesis Qi. In the end, the giant dragon dived down and turned into a tremendous light pillar, completely enveloping Zhou Yuan. Mighty Genesis Qi flooded Zhou Yuan''s body, causing the space behind him to vibrate and three Heavenly Suns slowly emerged. The advanced Heavenly Sun stage! Zhou Yuan finally broke through to the advanced Heavenly Sun stage with the help of the ancient stone tablet¡¯s opportunity! Hua! Gasps and exclamations arose from the spectators and awe and surprise filled their eyes. Moreover, as the three Heavenly Suns emerged, Genesis Qi that made many people¡¯s scalp go numb erupted from Zhou Yuan like a volcano. Countless eyes suddenly went wide. Gasps of astonishment rippled throughout the area. Even Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin were dumbstruck for a moment and their mouths fell open. This was because they could feel from the Genesis Qi erupted from Zhou Yuan that his Genesis Qi foundation had reached the level of 4.3 billion! 4.3 billion! If this was their reaction, what about the others from the three great heavens? They stared blankly at Zhou Yuan and it was only after a long while that mutters could be heard. ¡°Is my perception wrong?¡± ¡°4.3 billion? Impossible?¡± ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan had raised his Genesis Qi foundation by almost 2 billion in this upgrade?!¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± ¡°......¡± The gap was too great! They smiled wryly and sighed. Then, they couldn¡¯t help looking at Zhou Yuan with unprecedented awe. This was because when a gap between two people was so great that it made one feel despair, one would lose all feelings of jealousy. ¡°What?¡± Qin Lian retracted her astonished gaze, and then raised her chin proudly as she looked at Dong Ye, who was standing dumbfounded. Dong Ye gulped. She couldn¡¯t hide her envy this time and exclaimed, ¡°Your Tianyuan Region is so blessed.¡± A powerful Heavenly Sun expert such as Zhou Yuan was extremely rare even in the entire history of Hunyuan Heaven. Qin Lian remarked, ¡°it¡¯s not surprising that Zhou Yuan has such achievements since supreme sovereign Cang Yuan thought highly of him and accepted him as an official disciple.¡± However, her face was full of unconcealable joy. Zhou Yuan¡¯s upgrade this time would allow him to become the new leader of the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage and the Tianyuan Region would no doubt rise to fame through this. The Tianyuan Region¡¯s reputation would greatly improve when they returned to Hunyuan Heaven. Who would dare say the Tianyuan Region is deteriorating in the future? ¡°That guy.¡± Zhao Mushen lifted his head, looking at Zhou Yuan with a frown. He originally thought he would surpass Zhou Yuan with his upgrade, but it turned out that Zhou Yuan¡¯s upgrade was even more terrifying than his. As one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation neared the 4 billion hurdle, every little increase was incredibly difficult. Therefore, Zhao Mushen knew how much stronger was Zhou Yuan¡¯s 4.3 billion compared to his 3.8 billion. Even Zhao Mushen, who was also known to be remarkable, couldn¡¯t help sighing because it seemed that the more he tried to catch up to Zhou Yuan, the bigger the gap there was between them. He felt that he, who had the Taotie Blessing, should have been the only protagonist. Wu Yao stared at Zhou Yuan, her lips pursed slightly and her expression somewhat complicated. She, who was extremely prideful, had never truly admired anyone in her generation, even Guan Qinglong. But when facing Zhou Yuan, a trace of that emotion was born. This was because she was aware of the process of how Zhou Yuan rose and how difficult it was. Father, although you took his Blessing back then, it seems you have perhaps helped him instead. For some reason, such a thought flashed across her mind. Without the setbacks he suffered during his childhood, Zhou Yuan would sail smoothly and might not be able to achieve what he had today, even if he had the disposition of the sacred dragon. Therefore, in a way, King Wu¡¯s action back then had perhaps helped Zhou Yuan. Compared with Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao, who both had different thoughts, Su Youwei just gazed silently at Zhou Yuan with a slight smile on her beautiful face. Zhou Yuan was always the dazzling sacred dragon in her heart, regardless whether it was in Great Zhou City when he was dull and weak or now. That never changed to her. Amidst astonished gazes, the three Heavenly Suns behind Zhou Yuan finally vanished. The lotus platform beneath him also began to fade and finally dispersed as powder. At the same time, cracks appeared on the ancient stone tablet as though it had consumed all its strength and rapidly extended to every corner. Boom! The ancient stone tablet showed signs of collapsing, but there were no broken fragments or dust because the entire stone tablet was gradually turned into nothingness. Within seconds, the tremendous mountain-like stone tablet vanished from the world as if it never existed. Zhou Yuan peered in the direction where the stone tablet disappeared and bowed his head. He knew how important this opportunity was to him. The Battle of Guyuan Heaven was nearing its peak, but he wasn¡¯t afraid of the other three heavens of the Sacred Race and only the most mysterious Shengzu Heaven made him feel fearful. Without the opportunities from the stone tablet, he wouldn¡¯t have the confidence to face the Shengzu Heaven. He could finally try now¡­ Boom! While Zhou Yuan was in deep thoughts, he noticed abnormal movements across the world. He abruptly raised his head and peered solemnly at the void. Guan Qinglong and the others also looked up with a change of expression. The Guyuan Heaven world seemed to be shaking violently and the ground constantly cracked, mountains crumbled and sea receded¡­ It was as though the world was changing. It was under such tremendous changes that Zhou Yuan felt the ancestral qi between heaven and earth increasingly sharply. He could feel nine waves of ancestral qi brewing in the world, which was so vast that they made one shudder. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath. Those are signs that the nine main ancestral veins in Guyuan Heaven are appearing! Chapter 1162 Commander in Chief Not only Zhou Yuan saw the strange phenomenon, Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin and the others also lifted their heads abruptly and stared into the distance with joy and anticipation. The ancestral qi waves were the strongest they had ever seen. Even the ancestral qi surging in the ancient stone tablet was less than one-thousandth of those waves of ancestral qi. There was only one thing in Guyuan Heaven that was stronger than the ancestral qi contained in mystic ruins¡­and that was the nine main ancestral qi veins in Guyuan Heaven! This was also their final goal in Guyuan Heaven! The nine main ancestral qi veins were concealed and difficult to detect In ordinary times and it was only when ancestral qi veins were harvested and mystic ruins emptied, which resulted in an imbalance in ancestral qi, would the nine main veins appear in the world. Now was undoubtedly the perfect time. "The nine main ancestral qi veins have appeared!¡± Guan Qinglong¡¯s voice rang in everyone¡¯s ears. Boom! The atmosphere was buzzing like never and everyone from the three heavens stared at the distant sky. Their fierce eyes blazed with anticipation, yearning as well fear and apprehension. Their ultimate mission in Guyuan Heaven was to compete for the main ancestral qi veins, which would not only bring great opportunities to their heaven but also greatly enhance their fortune. The main veins concerned their heavens¡¯ strength in the future. But after several clashes with the Sacred Race, they finally understood how difficult it would be. They might even have to pay a heavy price. No one was confident of leaving Guyuan Heaven alive. But they also understood that they had no other choice. The atmosphere turned heavy and depressed for a while. Then, apprehensive gazes shifted away, pausing on Guan Qinglong and finally fixed on the young man who just completed his upgrade. They didn¡¯t have much confidence in the final battle. After all, the Sacred Race was too powerful, and they hadn¡¯t even met anyone from the most mysterious and powerful Shengzu Heaven. So now, they hoped to have a pillar that could support them. Guan Qinglong was their pillar in the past, but they all knew that Guan Qinglong didn''t have much advantage against the mysterious Shengzu Heaven. So now, only Zhou Yuan, who had just finished breakthrough, could give them hope. This was because he was much stronger than Guan Qinglong. Guan Qinglong was also aware of this, but he wasn¡¯t angry and instead he wore a complicated expression. He wasn¡¯t narrow-minded and wouldn¡¯t resent Zhou Yuan for surpassing him. He just didn¡¯t expect this day to come so soon. At the same time, he also felt a little glad. The three great heavens needed a pillar that they could put their hope on. That person wasn¡¯t Guan Qinglong or Jiang Jinlin because they both weren¡¯t qualified. Only Zhou Yuan was! However, Jiang Jinlin wasn¡¯t as open-minded as Guan Qinglong. After all, he was the commander-in-chief of the Wanshou Heaven, but even those from Wanshou Heaven put their hopes on Zhou Yuan. So, he had to say something. But Ai Qing immediately stopped him, whispering, "What do you want to do? The nine veins have appeared and everyone is under great pressure. Only Zhou Yuan can take on the great responsibility and boost everyone¡¯s morale. If you obstruct this, you are acting against everyone and even those from Wanshou Heaven wouldn¡¯t support you.¡± Jiang Jinlin''s face alternated between green and white. Ai Qing¡¯s words were unpleasant to the ears but they were the truth. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s current strength and prestige, if Jiang Jinlin continued to be so stubborn, it would lead to great disagreements in Wanshou Heaven and seriously affect his reputation then. In the end, he had to swallow back what he wanted to say. Ai Qing glanced at Jiang Jinlin with disappointment in her eyes. The person who was considered the leader of the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage didn¡¯t perform particularly well in Guyuan Heaven, whereas Zhou Yuan, who she didn''t think much of when she first met him, had turned the world upside down in just one month. Such a person was a true heaven pride. Compared to him, Jiang Jinlin, the pride of the Mystic Dragon Clan, was dull and ordinary. Ai Qing stared at Zhou Yuan with her beautiful eyes. Then, her eyes flickered and she stepped forward. A sweet-sounding phoenix-like voice came out of her mouth, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, now that the nine veins have appeared, a great battle is imminent. I propose grand elder Zhou Yuan be the commander-in-chief of the five heavens to deal with the four sacred race heavens.¡± Her words drew exclamations from many people because no one thought Ai Qing would make such a bold suggestion. It should be said that it was rare to see a commander-in-chief for all five heavens in the past Battle of Guyuan Heaven. The reason was simply. It was because it was hard to make everyone respect that person. But after the initial gasps of exclamations, countless joyful cheers simultaneously rang out. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, please take on the role of commander-in-chief for the five heavens!¡± "We all will blindly follow commander Zhou Yuan!¡± Ai Qing¡¯s suggestion was clearly what the majority had in mind. Now that a war was upon them, the best strategy naturally was to combine the strength of the five heavens. It was just that no one had the strength and prestige to become a commander-in-chief for all five heavens in the past. However, Zhou Yuan, who possessed a foundation of 4.3 billion, was more than strong enough! Zhou Yuan was a little taken aback by the sudden commander-in-chief position pushed upon him and still hadn¡¯t recovered Chu Qing rubbed his bare head and said with a smile, "If junior brother Zhou Yuan is the commander-in-chief, my Cangxuan Heaven has no objection.¡± Guan Qinglong also nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s better to have someone in charge. Otherwise everyone would be like scattered sand. My Hunyuan Heaven has no objection.¡± Gazes shifted to Jiang Jinlin, whose face was livid. He evidently didn¡¯t expect Ai Qing to make such a proposal. If Zhou Yuan became the commander-in-chief, wouldn''t he be superior to me and I would have to listen to his command? However, while Jiang Jinlin was silent, he could feel the Wanshou Heaven troops¡¯ gazes becoming a little unfriendly. He had no other choice but say, ¡°We only have three heavens here. Qiankun Heaven and Wuxing Heaven aren¡¯t present, how can we decide the commander-in-chief for the five heavens? "I heard the Qiankun Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage leader is a rare talent.¡± Although Hunyuan Heaven was the strongest among the five heavens, Hunyuan Heaven wasn¡¯t invincible and Qiankun Heaven was the one most threatening to Hunyuan Heaven. The title strongest of all heavens belonged to Qiankun Heaven in the past, but Hunyuan Heaven suddenly caught up and surpassed them. However, the strength of Qiankun Heaven shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. It was always on the lookout for opportunities to regain the title strongest of all heavens. Therefore, it would be extremely unwise to underestimate Qiankun Heaven. Zhou Yuan felt a little helpless. In truth, he had little interest in the commander-in-chief position, so he wanted to slip away from the responsibility through Jiang Jinlin¡¯s words. However, Guan Qinglong said solemnly, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, we asked you to be the commander-in-chief not because of selfishness, but the Sacred Race is extremely strong and our five heavens would be utterly defeated in Guyuan Heaven if we are like scattered sand. "The price we would pay then is unimaginable, and in the worst case, all races in the five heavens could be wiped out.¡± ¡°Therefore, since you have such strength, you shouldn¡¯t refuse!¡± Chi Qing nodded and said: "If Qiankun Heaven isn¡¯t convinced, we could have a match then.¡± After the two expressed their stance, Jiang Jinlin realized everyone was staring at him again. He roared in anger in his heart because he knew his excuse didn¡¯t work. Even Ai Qing was looking at him with an icy expression. He could only grit his teeth and say, ¡°Our Wanshou Heaven has no objection.¡± Countless eyes stared hopefully at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan realized that he had no choice but to accept the position. He just nodded slightly without saying anything. In his view, commander-in-chief was just a meaningless name. As he nodded, countless people showed lit up with joy and cheers erupted in waves, causing the mountains to shake. ¡°Congratulations, commander Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°Congratulation, commander Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°...¡± Chapter 1163 Unacceptable Because if things went wrong, he would be the target of everyone¡¯s blame. After all, the higher the position the greater the responsibility. Despite this, Zhou Yuan could not reject. In the face of the mysterious and powerful Sacred Race, the three heavens needed someone to place their hopes and belief in. Guan Qinglong or Jiang Jinlin could originally fulfil the role, but after Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation breakthrough, they were now rather lacking in comparison. If he had not stepped forward, the troop¡¯s morale would have been substantially affected. In any case, the most important thing now was to fight for nine main channels that would soon arrive! Compared to this grand event, the ancestral qi branch channels and mystic ruins were not even worth mentioning. The power of the nine main channels was so great that it could even affect an entire heaven. Such power was unimaginable to Heavenly Sun practitioners like Zhou Yuan and the others. If not for Guyuan Heaven¡¯s special rules, practitioners with their cultivation would never have the qualifications to participate in a battle of such stakes. However, it was also a huge opportunity for them. Even a tiny sliver of the power contained within the nine main channels was enough for them to undergo a complete transformation. It was a one in a million opportunity. Hence, after becoming the overall commander, Zhou Yuan immediately ordered every member of the three heavens to begin rushing towards the central region, where the nine main channels disturbance was originating from. The army swiftly set off, making no pit stops in between. In fact, they even decisively abandoned any branch channels that were drawn out due to the nine main channels¡¯ imminent emergence. Everyone knew that all the other heavens, including the Sacred Race heavens, were heading towards the main channels at full speed. The faster they reached, the more time they would have to prepare. ... Countless Genesis Qi clouds whizzed past in the sky. Zhou Yuan was seated on a cloud at the very front. His eyes were lightly shut, concentrating on the numerous changes that had occurred in his body. He had honestly benefited a lot from the stone tablet. Not only had his cultivation advanced to the advanced Heavenly Sun stage, his Genesis Qi foundations had also soared to the 4.3 billion level, completely surpassing the 4 billion barrier. Do not underestimate this barrier, it was something that countless amazing heaven prides had ultimately failed to cross. Moreover, there was a substantial gap between a practitioner who stepped into the Nascent Source stage at the 3.9 billion level and the 4 billion level. In fact, it would even affect their future cultivation progress during the Nascent Source stage. Wu Yao, Su Youwei and Zhao Mushen had the qualifications and potential to reach the 4 billion barrier, because they were more talented than Guan Qinglong. As such, one can see just how praiseworthy it was for Zhou Yuan to reach the 4.3 billion level. This was also the reason why the three heavens had unanimously agreed for him to be the overall commander. Such strength and foundations was more than enough to make them submit. However, the 4.3 billion Genesis Qi foundation was not the only thing Zhou Yuan had gained. The seventh dragon rune on his Heavenly Sun had reached full completion. In other words, he now had a seven claw Heavenly Sun. He was not far from the highest nine claw Heavenly Sun. From what senior brother Zhuan Zhu had told him, a heaven-defying evolution would occur when he achieved a nine claw Heavenly Sun and stepped into the Nascent Source stage. Initial, advanced and perfect were the three levels of the Nascent Source stage. While others would reach the initial stage after ascending from the Heavenly Sun stage, a practitioner with a nine claw Heavenly Sun would be able to directly form an advanced Nascent Source! This was essentially skipping an entire lesser cultivation realm. Only Nascent Source experts would understand how much time, effort and luck was needed to advance from the initial stage. Hence, such a breakthrough would definitely make them go crazy with envy. ¡°It becomes increasingly difficult to form the subsequent dragon runes. If I wish to achieve the nine claw rank, I¡¯ll need the power of the first channel!¡± There were nine main channels, and the strongest among them was known as the first channel. For Zhou Yuan to reach the nine claw rank, he would require the most powerful first channel. The others were just not enough. Red-hot desire surging out from his heart, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and peered into the distance, his gaze filled with fierce determination. The battle for Guyuan Heaven was supposed to be extremely cruel after all. Hence, regardless of whether it was for Hunyuan Heaven or himself, he would try to compete for the first channel in the final fight! Even if his opponent was the most mysterious and immeasurable Shengzu Heaven! The next ten days were spent travelling at full-speed. On the tenth day, Zhou Yuan finally felt the ancestral qi undulations surge wildly. This meant that they were finally entering the central zone where the nine main channels would appear. However, just as they entered, Zhou Yuan suddenly raised his hand. The endless stream of clouds came to a sudden halt behind him. Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin and the others frowned slightly as they looked towards the front. They had sensed the appearance of a great number of Genesis Qi undulations. The scale did not lose much to their side. Guan Qinglong asked in a solemn voice, ¡°Is it the Sacred Race?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head as surprise emerged on his face. ¡°Not the Sacred Race. It¡¯s...Qiankun Heaven and Wuxing Heaven.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± It was Guan Qinglong¡¯s turn to be surprised. He had not expected Qiankun Heaven and Wuxing Heaven to be together. From the mountains in the distance, several streaks of Genesis Qi rose into the sky and swiftly approached. Guan Qinglong¡¯s voice immediately rumbled like thunder, ¡°Friends from Qiankun Heaven and Wuxing Heaven, Hunyuan Heaven, Wanshou Heaven and Cangxuan Heaven have already elected the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Tianyuan Region¡¯s captain Zhou Yuan as the overall commander for the five heavens. We¡¯d like to invite your commanders to come over for a discussion.¡± Guan Qinglong did not hide anything. Instead, he dived straight into the most important topic to see what response Qiankun Heaven and Wuxing Heaven would have. After all, they needed to somehow unite the five heavens before the imminent final clash with the Sacred Race. The approaching figures came to a stop when they heard his words, before returning to the mountain range. It was silent for a long time. In the end, a voice that was neither angry nor happy echoed from the mountains, ¡°Qiankun Heaven does not accept your decision.¡± Chapter 1164 Bai Xiaolu Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained impassive. The other party¡¯s response did not surprise him. After all, he had only been acknowledged by Hunyuan Heaven, Wanshou Heaven and Cangxuan Heaven, and had yet to gain approval from Qiankun Heaven. Moreover, Qiankun Heaven was essentially Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s greatest rival, and they had clashed countless times over the years. Qiankun Heaven claimed that they were no weaker than Hunyuan heaven, and thus refused to fully acknowledge Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s title as the leader of the heavens. In a manner of speaking, Hunyuan Heaven had gone and elected an overall commander behind Qiankun Heaven¡¯s back. How could Qiankun Heaven possibly acknowledge him? Jiang Jinlin glanced at Zhou Yuan. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Qiankun Heaven¡¯s commander is no ordinary person this time, and is a disciple of Nirvana Palace, one of the oldest factions which is also the current leader of Qiankun Heaven¡¯s eight great factions. Elders in my clan have told me that their greatest Heavenly Sun expert in this generation is an astounding genius that only comes once every thousand years, and is likely not any less talented than captain Zhou Yuan.¡± There was a slight bit of gloating in his eyes. After all, he had been outshone by Zhou Yuan, which was naturally not a great feeling. Since someone who could compete with Zhou Yuan had now appeared, he was certainly more than happy to watch them fight it out. Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°I don¡¯t really care about the position. If captain Jaing Jinlin was capable enough to take it up, I would have given it up to you without any hesitation.¡± Jiang Jinlin¡¯s face twitched. How could he not understand what Zhou Yuan was trying to say? Zhou Yuan had blatantly declared that he wasn¡¯t capable enough to become overall commander. Guan Qinglong said, ¡°I am confident in captain Zhou Yuan.¡± Soon after, he made a gesture and the three heavens group descended from the sky. A black sprawling mass quickly filled the mountain forest. ¡°If Qiankun Heaven has any objections, you should come out and discuss with us. If you have a better suggestion, we three heavens will not reject it without consideration.¡± Guan Qinglong¡¯s strong voice rang out. Not long after, something seemed to stir deep in the mountain. The ground shook a little as figure after figure flooded out like a tide. It was the Qiankun Heaven and Wuxing Heaven main force. Their numbers were pretty comparable to the three heavens. All five heavens were finally gathered. He estimated that there were no less than five experts with Genesis Qi foundations that surpassed 3 billion. Wuxing Heaven was much weaker compared to Qiankun Heaven, but was still clearly stronger than Cangxuan Heaven. This made Zhou Yuan feel a little helpless. It seemed that Cangxuan Heaven was destined to be the weakest. As Zhou Yuan stared at the giant army, a figure walked out. It was a man wearing long robes. His robes were decorated with glowing earth, wind, water, fire and lightning runes that seemed to flow on its surface. ¡°I am Wuxing Heaven¡¯s Li Fu. Greetings friends from Hunyuan Heaven, Wanshou Heaven and Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Although the man looked ordinary, his eyes were exceptionally striking. They seemed to occasionally flash with light of the five elements, accompanied by a faint melodious five element sound. Zhou Yuan, Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin cupped their hands together. Li Fu was extremely strong, and their senses told them that his Genesis Qi foundation was over 3.6 billion. He was most likely Wuxing Heaven¡¯s commander. ¡°It seems that captain Li Fu has also discovered a mystic ruins and benefited substantially from it.¡± Guan Qinglong slowly said. It was very improbable to reach this level without some luck. Li Fu displayed a gentle smile and said, ¡°You must be Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s captain Guan Qinglong. What keen eyes, we did find a mystic ruins previously, but also bumped into the Shengming Heaven main force there. ¡°We nearly lost to them, but fortunately, Qiankun Heaven¡¯s captain Bai made a timely arrival and helped us repel them.¡± Although Shengming Heaven was last among the four Sacred Race heavens, only a fool would underestimate them. ¡°So that¡¯s what happened.¡± Everyone was struck by a flash of understanding. It was not strange for there to be more than one mystic ruins in the vast Guyuan Heaven. Guan Qinglong said, ¡°Captain Li Fu, could you invite Qiankun Heaven¡¯s captain Bai over to meet us? It will be better for us five heavens to stand united in the upcoming battle.¡± Li Fu awkwardly said, ¡°Captain Bai does not wish to meet you guys.¡± Zhou Yuan, Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin and the others frowned. If Qiankun Heaven was unhappy with them, a representative should come out and explain things properly. Hiding away and refusing to meet them honestly made them somewhat speechless. Li Fu helplessly said, ¡°Captain Bai has only heard of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Guan Qinglong, and the name Zhou Yuan is completely unfamiliar. What right does he have to be the five heavens¡¯ overall commander?¡± Guan Qinglong¡¯s expression darkened, while Jiang Jinling chuckled inwardly. No anger was visible on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Instead, he slowly walked forward with a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Zhou Yuan. If captain Bai has any complaints, feel free to come forward and tell me. Why are hiding behind others like a girl? ¡°Won¡¯t you know whether I¡¯m qualified once you test me?¡± Li Fu¡¯s expression instantly changed, but before he could speak, all of them heard an icy shout from the mountains behind. Humph! Rumble! The entire mountain range suddenly began to shake. The three heavens watched in shock as a giant mountain rose from the mountain range. They were shocked not by the giant mountain, but by the figure lifting it with a single hand from below. Rumble! The figure threw the mountain, and its enormous shadow loomed over Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly. He could tell that the thrower had not used a single wisp of Genesis Qi, relying solely on raw strength. Lifting a mountain with a single hand. Such strength was overwhelming. However, it was naive to think that this could intimidate him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers slowly clenched into a fist as burning magma runes spread on his body. An aura of violence filled the air as the ground below him melted into a magma pool. He allowed the mountain to continue along its trajectory before punching just as it arrived. Boom! His figure was as tiny as an ant compared to the mountain, but when he punched, the mountain froze in the air. A terrifying head erupted, turning the entire mountain to ashes. After the blessings from the stone tablet, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Great Flame Devil had reached the advanced level. After turning the mountain to dust, his gaze turned towards the front where a figure was falling from the sky. When he saw the figure, he could not help but be stunned. It was a little girl dressed in white. Her skin was fair as snow, and she looked very cute. A hammer leaned on her tiny shoulder, its giant shadow burying her entire body. ¡°I¡¯m the captain of Qiankun Heaven, Bai Xiaolu. ¡°You want me to test you?!¡± Ferocity flashed in her eyes as she stared at Zhou Yuan. Chapter 1165 Untouchable Saint Glass Body They never imagined that Qiankun Heaven¡¯s strongest Heavenly Sun expert would look like this. Humph. As if sensing the numerous odd looks directed at her, the little girl in white coldly snorted again and smashed her giant hammer into the ground. A deep crevice appeared and the ground shook as if an earth dragon was rolling about. What terrifying physical power! The expressions of several people rapidly changed, fear visible in their eyes when they looked at the little girl again. ¡°You¡¯re the overall commander they elected?¡± Xiao Bailu¡¯s jet-black eyes stared at Zhou Yuan. Her voice was cold and young. If one ignored her frightening physical abilities, one would definitely describe her as extremely adorable. However, her following words made it impossible to link her to adorableness. She disdainfully looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°This senior lady doesn¡¯t acknowledge the drama your Hunyuan Heaven is putting up! ¡°Moreover, isn¡¯t Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s strongest expert Guan Qinglong? Where did you come from?¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at Bai Xiaolu. Although she looked like a little girl on the outside, he could sense that her true age had no relation to her appearance. It was likely because of a technique she practiced. Since she wasn¡¯t a little girl, it would not be bullying. Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°You don¡¯t acknowledge me?¡± His smile receded slightly. ¡°If you don¡¯t, then show us your ability. Since you¡¯re no kid, don¡¯t rely on this childish and unreasonable behaviour.¡± He was completely fine with angering the other party, because he knew that it was impossible to gain their acknowledgement through words alone. In the end, the one with a harder fist would be right! Sure enough, Bai Xiaolu¡¯s face immediately filled with rage. After all, no one in Qiankun Heaven dared to speak to her in this manner. She viciously glared at Zhou Yuan as she tightly gripped her heavy, golden giant hammer and sneered, ¡°It¡¯s very simple if you want the position. Defeat me! And make me acknowledge your strength!¡± Rumble! A surge of terrifying Genesis Qi exploded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Three Heavenly Suns appeared behind him, his 4.3 billion Genesis Qi foundation on full display. Genesis Qi turned into a dreadful pressure that loomed towards the Qiankun Heaven and Wuxiang Heaven main force behind Bai Xiaolu. Everyone¡¯s expression changed drastically. 4.3 billion! If they were to solely compare Genesis Qi foundation, Zhou Yuan would be more terrifying than that violent monster, Bai Xiaolu! A terrifying pressure swept across the area, rippling the air. Bai Xiaolu¡¯s face gradually turned grave, but burning battle intent also began to rush out in her jet-black eyes. ¡°So you do have some ability! ¡°However, this is still not enough to scare me!¡± Bai Xiaolu stomped her foot and the Genesis Qi in her body erupted. Three Heavenly Suns emerged, revealing her 4 billion Genesis Qi foundation! She had also surpassed the 4 billion barrier! Guan Qinglong and Jiang Jinlin watched with complicated looks in their eyes, especially Guan Qinglong. He never expected Qiankun Heaven¡¯s strongest Heavenly Sun expert to beat him to this step. Wouldn¡¯t this mean that if not for Zhou Yuan, Hunyuan Heaven would be the one suppressed by Qiankun Heaven? As expected, Qiankun Heaven cannot be underestimated. Though she had brought out her 4 billion Genesis Qi foundation, Bai Xiaolu understood that there was still a gap of 300 million between her and Zhou Yuan. It was a gap that could not be made up for through ordinary means. Fortunately, Genesis Qi foundation was not her strongest suit. Bai Xiaolu¡¯s face turned increasingly icy and serious. In the next instant, her tiny body suddenly began to change, slowly growing tall and slender. In a short span of a few breaths, she had become a tall and slender woman. This was Bai Xiaolu¡¯s true form. She looked extremely delicate, skin as white as snow that seemed that it might break with a gentle blow. However, her twinkling star-like eyes gave off a domineering coldness. Glass light suddenly flowed across her skin, slowly forming numerous unique runes that extended all over her body. She seemed to glow with a sacred light, drawing countless gazes towards her. Dirt swirled around her, but was unable to touch her body. When Zhou Yuan saw the ancient glass runes on Bai Xiaolu¡¯s skin, his expression turned rather grave as he slowly said, ¡°Untouchable Saint Glass Body?¡± The Untouchable Saint Glass Body was attained when the one reached a certain level of external cultivation. It was said that the true Saint Glass Body had power comparable to the Nascent Source stage. However, Bai Xiaolu¡¯s Saint Glass Body had yet to reach that level. Even so, it was already extremely terrifying. After all, even Zhou Yun was still a step away from reaching it. Bai Xiaolu definitely lived up to her title as the Qiankun Heaven¡¯s strongest Heavenly Sun! Her Genesis Qi foundation plus the physical power bestowed by the Saint Glass Body gave her the qualifications to threaten him. Rumble! While Zhou Yuan was still amazed by her external cultivation, Bai Xiaolu made her move. She tightly gripped the golden giant hammer with both hands and took a step forward, appearing directly in front of Zhou Yuan as she slammed the giant hammer down. The air cracked and shattered under the terrifying power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes gleamed as he circulated his 4.3 billion Genesis Qi foundation. Five fingers tightened into a fist, all 4.3 billion flowing through his arm as his fist collided with the hammer. Clang! A devastating shockwave swept outwards, instantly destroying the surrounding land. Everything within a certain radius, even the mountains, were flattened to dust. The experts on both sides swiftly acted, sending out countless streams of Genesis Qi to neutralize the shockwave, before staring in horror at the epicenter. Zhou Yuan had been pushed three steps back, while Bai Xiaolu and her giant hammer had retreated two steps. Bai Xiaolu had clearly taken a slight upper hand in that clash. However, Bai Xiaolu did not look pleased. Instead, her eyes grew increasingly grave as she stared at Zhou Yuan. She could feel that he had concealed a lot of power in the earlier clash. ¡°I originally thought that Qiankun Heaven would be capable of suppressing Hunyuan Heaven this generation. I never expected Hunyuan Heaven to produce a monster like you.¡± Bai Xiaolu slowly said, ¡®However, if you can¡¯t convince me with your strength today, don¡¯t even think about gaining my acknowledgement!¡± Zhou Yuan lightly shook his hand as he stared at Bai Xiaolu in amazement. Even destructive energy churning in the air around them voluntarily parted around her. This was the untouchable property of the Saint Glass Body. ¡°What a strong body.¡± Zhou Yuan inwardly sighed in admiration. Even he felt somewhat envious. After all, he also practiced external cultivation, and also dreamed of attaining the Saint Glass Body. As he sighed, blazing red lava runes emerged on his body. Great Flame Devi! The ground under his feet began to melt as a scorching heat rose in the air. The silhouette of a red devil appeared behind him, giving off an aura of pure brutality. He opened his mouth and spat out a breath of air, sparks and flames dancing within it. Zhou Yuan had also brought his maximum physical ability. Bai Xiaolu¡¯s eyes glowed. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was not as strong as hers, it was not that far off. She enjoyed battle and loved physical clashes the most. It was hard to imagine that such a frail looking girl would be so fond of violence. Rumble! Zhou Yuan and Bai Xiaolu shot forward once more and collided like two meteors. Dong! Dong! The two figures ferociously charged at each other, every clash literally earth-shaking. Fists and legs turned into countless afterimages as they furiously pounded the opponent. The eyelids of countless onlookers jumped erratically at each blow. They understood that the power in each punch and kick was enough to pulverize a Heavenly Sun expert with a Genesis Qi foundation of 3 billion. The two were basically monsters in human skin. After Zhou Yuan brought out his physical power, anyone with a discerning eye could see that he was slowly gaining the upper hand. Only Zhou Yuan himself felt extremely troubled. Although he was suppressing Bai Xiaolu, her Saint Glass Body was way too unreasonable, its defensive power neutralizing the majority of his power. ¡°Ahaha, Zhou Yuan, although you¡¯re very strong, you can¡¯t do anything about me! ¡°Your attacks can¡¯t do much damage to my body, and even if they do, everything is instantly repaired by my Saint Glass Body!¡± Bai Xiaolu could sense Zhou Yuan¡¯s difficulty, merrily laughing as she fought. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm as he gazed at the now somewhat pleased Bai Xiaolu and said, ¡°Your body is indeed the strongest I¡¯ve seen among our generation, but you also have your weakness.¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Bai Xiaolu sneered. However, Zhou Yuan did not plan on arguing with her. His Spirit began to vibrate as he poured all of his Spirit power into his fist. After the previous exchanges, Zhou Yuan understood that Bai Xiaolu¡¯s defence was extremely terrifying. However, she had a weakness: her Spirit was not that strong. The Saint Glass Body could neutralize most of his power, but could not neutralize Spirit attacks. Thump! Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist howled as it slammed into Bai Xiaolu¡¯s chest. Bai Xiaolu seemed to be oblivious to all of his attacks, but this time, a look of pain immediately appeared on her face. When Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch landed on her body, a force had directly attacked her Spirit. The pain caused by a Spirit attack was incomparable to any physical pain. ¡°You!¡± Bai Xiaolu was enraged. However, she was replied by a torrential barrage of punches. Countless punches bombarded her, sealing every escape route. Bai Xiaolu gritted her teeth and hurriedly rose to meet the attacks. However, each clash made veins pop up on her forehead as her face flushed red. Her figure continuously retreated. However, Zhou Yuan chased relentlessly, showing no mercy even if she was a girl. Both sides could only watch in shock. AH! Bai Xiaolu was finally unable to endure and her body was sent flying. It crashed into the ground, leaving a deep scar. Before she could speak, a figure that was the incarnate of fiery brutality pounced at her, pinning her down as scorching fists began to rain down once more. The ground shuddered continuously. Bai Xiaolu seemed to be beaten stupid by Zhou Yuan¡¯s ferocity. After only god knows how many hits, she finally let out a shriek when she felt her Spirit begin to wither. The slender body swiftly shrank, turning back into a small girl. Her face was bruised, tears forming in her large jet-black eyes as if she was on the verge of tears. She looked very pitiful. However, Zhou Yuan was unmoved. Another punch smashed into her body before he exhaled and said, ¡°Convinced yet?¡± Bai Xiaolu glared at him, but when she saw Zhou Yuan lift his fist again, she hurriedly crossed her arms over her face and sullenly said, ¡°I¡¯m convinced I¡¯m convinced!¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, but still swung his fist downwards to hit her. Bai Xiaolu cursed, ¡°Why did you hit me?!¡± Zhou Yuan grinned, ¡°I felt like it, if you¡¯re unhappy, we can always go again.¡± She had gained a little understanding of Bai Xiaolu¡¯s temperament. The softer the approach, the more unreasonable she would be. Only by being merciless would she behave a little better. Sure enough, although Bai Xiaolu was angered, she kept quiet and did not challenge him. Zhou Yuan patted his hands in satisfaction before climbing up from her body. Bai Xiaolu pitifully rose to her feet with red eyes. There was no trace of the overwhelming aura from before. Smiling, Zhou Yuan patted her head, but his hand was quickly brushed away by her. He then raised his head to look at the rest, ready to announce the results. However, he discovered that countless people were staring at him as if he was a beast. Chapter 1166 Shengzu Heaven’s Plan ¡°Will you guys listen to my explanation?¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Bai Xiaolu was far too good at taking a beating. If he did not use his full power, she won¡¯t even feel an itch. Moreover, if he relaxed even slightly, it was very possible for her to turn the tables on him. Don¡¯t just see her as a little girl! That¡¯s a fake appearance to trick others! The power contained within that seemingly weak body was something even Zhou Yuan did not dare to underestimate. Bai Xiaolu was somewhat happy when she saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s shrivelled appearance. While in her little girl form, it was inevitable for her character to be affected. The rising dust around her was unable to touch her body, allowing her skin to remain clean and pristine. ¡°You¡¯re so cruel, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯ll even beat a little girl,¡± said Xiao Bailu as she shook her body. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. He forced a smile and said, ¡°Stop trying to act young.¡± Bai Xiaolu ignored his mockery. She made a grabbing motion as the giant golden hammer and it flew towards her. After keeping the hammer, her jet-black eyes looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Although you have no charm, I¡¯ll admit that you¡¯re very strong. ¡°I originally believed that my opponent would be Guan Qinglong, who could have expected¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°I, Bai Xiaolu, acknowledge you as the overall commander.¡± She did not give any excuses and magnanimously admitted her defeat. This slightly improved Zhou Yuan¡¯s impression of her. The three heavens members breathed sighs of relief. Bai Xiaolu was Qiankun Heaven¡¯s representative, and it would be very problematic if she refused to concede. After all, they could not possibly attack the Qiankun Heaven team as it would only benefit the Sacred Race. Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin and the others walked over. Guan Qinglong cupped his fists together towards Bai Xiaolu and said, ¡°Thank you for seeing the big picture captain Bai.¡± Li Fu and the other elite experts of Qiankun Heaven and Wuxing Heaven also joined the group. From the looks of it, the entire Wuxing Heaven viewed Bai Xiaolu as their leader. Bai Xiaolu said, ¡°There is a reason why I refused to acknowledge you earlier. I understand the great danger we¡¯ll be facing next, and I cannot allow someone who is not capable enough to be the overall commander, that¡¯s why I needed to personally test your strength.¡± Zhou Yuan mused, ¡°From your words, it seems that you know what kind of danger we¡¯ll be facing next? ¡°You guys have met Shengzu Heaven?¡± ¡°If not for my toughness and the fact that he seemed to be rushing off somewhere, I may already be dead.¡± Everyone''s expressions changed drastically as they stared at Bai Xiaolu, including Li Fu and the other top experts from Qiankun Heaven. From the looks of it, even they were unaware of this matter. One of the Qiankun Heaven experts suddenly cried out in surprise, ¡°Was it that one time when captain went scouting? No wonder you didn¡¯t look too good when you returned!¡± The others were struck by a flash of understanding, clearly recalling the same event. ¡°Shengzu Heaven¡¯s strongest sacred heaven pride¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression also turned somewhat grim. He clearly understood how difficult it was to deal with Bai Xiaolu after their match. He felt that it was very hard to do any real damage to her unless he used the Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light. And now, Bai Xiaolu was saying that she had been beaten in less than ten rounds against Shengzu Heaven¡¯s strongest sacred heaven pride. What kind of terrifying strength did he possess?! Bai Xiaolu¡¯s eyes were somewhat gloomy as she said, ¡°He¡¯s called Jia Tu.¡± ¡°Jia Tu¡­¡± Zhou Yuan committed this name to memory. This person would perhaps be their biggest hurdle. ¡°Besides this, Shengzu Heaven seems to have some kind of crazy plan. I bumped into Jia Tu because I discovered a mystic ruins, which he was actually carrying. ¡°Shengzu Heaven was not present in any of the previous clashes with our five heaven, because they were focused on finding mystic ruins, while the other Sacred Race heavens were distracting us. ¡°Although I don¡¯t know why they''re moving these mystic ruins, I believe that it¡¯s definitely some sort of scheme against our five heavens.¡± The surroundings were silent. Everyone was clearly stunned by Bai Xiaolu¡¯s words. Wuxing Heaven¡¯s Li Fu said with some difficulty, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us earlier?¡± Bai Xiaolu slowly answered, ¡°Because it wouldn¡¯t have made a difference. We didn¡¯t have enough power.¡± Li Fu had no response. It was true, even if they knew earlier, it¡¯s not like their two heavens dared to go seek out Shengzu Heaven. ¡°What exactly are they up to?¡± Guan Qinglong¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed together, his face filled with worry. Shengzu Heaven¡¯s actions made him very uneasy. Gaze after gaze turned towards Zhou Yuan. As their nominated overall commander, he was currently their core. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained calm under their nervous gazes. He knew that once he showed any panic, their morale would be greatly affected. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what they¡¯re up to. We don¡¯t have any way out. The nine ancestral qi main channels are right in front of us. No matter what they¡¯re plotting, everything will be clear once we go there. ¡°All of us carry the future of our homes on our shoulders. The Sacred Race are treacherous, ruthless, and heartless. If we allow them to grow stronger, there may no longer be any place for us in Tianyuan World.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression gradually turned fierce. His gaze swept across the crowd as he slowly said, ¡°This will very likely be a key battle that will affect the future. For the sake of our heavens, our sects, and the people we must protect, no matter what we have to face...we can only fight to the death!¡± His voice echoed in everyone¡¯s ears. Everyone¡¯s faces gradually turned red. A fire began to burn in their hearts, boiling the blood that ran through their veins. ¡°Fight to the death!¡± ¡°Fight to the death!¡± ¡°......¡± Roar after roar rang out, ultimately converging together into a maelstrom that soared into the sky. ¡°Disciples of the five Heavens, prepare to move!¡± Zhou Yuan showed no hesitation and released a long whistle. The five Heavens troops began to move. In the end, the vast army set off with Zhou Yuan, Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin and the others at their head, rushing straight towards the central zone. They could already feel the endless power of the nine main channels bursting out from the central zone. Their current location was somewhere around the outer regions of the central zone. Half a day later, they neared their destination. On a ten-thousand-feet-high cliff in the central zone, Genesis Qi undulations suddenly appeared along with several figures. It was a small group led by Zhou Yuan. Behind them, the five heavens main forces advanced into the mountain range. One of the figures said, ¡°Guyuan Heaven¡¯s core is right ahead¡­¡± Zhou Yuan, Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong and the others raised their heads and peered at the horizon. Next, their pupils abruptly shrank. ¡°This is¡­?!¡± They had seen an immense light array floating in the distance. The light array connected the land and sky, stretching to the end of their sights. Space distorted around the array, blocking all senses and making it impossible to peak behind it. An indescribable and mighty power rippled across the area. The light array was akin to a heavenly wall that towered before them, cutting off Guyuan Heaven¡¯s core from the rest of the world. Behind the majestic light array, one could faintly see several ancient mountains, stone tablets and giant pillars. These mountains, tablets and pillars gave off a torrential amount of ancestral qi. They were clearly transformed from mystic ruins! Deep within the unimaginable array, the nine ancestral qi main channels could be seen, throbbing as if they were breathing in the world around them. The entire Guyuan Heaven seemed to gently heave along with them. ¡°I know what they¡¯re doing¡­¡± Bai Xiaolu¡¯s nails bit into her palms, veins popping on her fists. Her eyes were filled with burning rage and some kind of fear. ¡°They¡¯re...planning on hogging the nine main channels, leaving nothing for our five heavens!¡± Chapter 1167 Jia Tu The others¡¯ expressions changed at Bai Xiaolu¡¯s words. Anger and shock soon surged in their eyes. Even Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression darkened. He had not expected the Sacred Race to be so greedy! Guan Qinglong asked in a grave voice, ¡°Can they really devour all nine main channels? Such a thing has never happened in the past.¡± Due to the laws of Guyuan Heaven, it required the power of nearly an entire heaven to subdue and capture one of the main channels. Of course, they first had to stop all the other competitors. For countless years, the nine heavens lived by the unspoken rule of one main channel per heaven, the only difference being who got the stronger or weaker main channels. Something as extreme as hogging all nine main channels had never occurred before. The nine main channels possessed a unique ego of their own that would instinctively resist something like that happening. The others nodded one after another. Bai Xiaolu slowly said, ¡°It has indeed never happened in the past because the Sacred Race did not have the means, but now...they are clearly prepared.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shuddered. He gazed at the mysterious space-distorting array that connected the land and sky, and softly said, ¡°It¡¯s that array boundary?¡± Bai Xiaolu frowned deeply and said, ¡°Qiankun Heaven managed to scout some information previously, and if memory serves me right, that boundary is most likely the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation. It was conceived by the Sacred Race¡¯s Saint experts, and once set up, it has the terrifying power of devouring and digesting the land. ¡°They likely plan on using this boundary to suppress the nine main channels, capture them and send the ancestral qi into the four Sacred Race heavens. ¡°But from our information, that boundary shouldn¡¯t have been perfected yet. It seems that the Sacred Race may have intentionally fed us fake news in order to trick us.¡± Her expression was exceptionally ugly. ¡°No wonder Shengzu Heaven was relocating mystic ruins. They wanted to utilize the mystic ruins as nodes for the boundary¡­ ¡°We¡¯re late. Once the boundary is formed, it will connect the sky and land, distorting space to create an impassable wall. We¡¯re stuck outside...and can only watch them borrow the boundary¡¯s power to subdue the nine main channels and extract their ancestral qi.¡± Regret rose in Bai Xiaolu¡¯s eyes. If she knew about this plan earlier, she would have informed the other heavens so that they could try and stop the Sacred Race together. However, the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation was already set up, and they no longer had any way to turn the tables. If the rest of the five heavens were to know about this, it might deal a fatal blow to their morale. However, it was impossible to keep under wraps, because the boundary was just too...obvious. There were already troops flying up the mountain behind them, shock and fear first coloring their faces when they saw the boundary, quickly followed by panic and loss. Restlessness had already begun to spread. Rumble! While the five heavens forces were at a loss, a disturbance spread from the great array in the distance. Space warped, seemingly peeling away layer after layer as the silhouettes of mountains began to appear. Several figures appeared on one of the mountains, looking towards the five heavens forces in amusement. They had evidently sensed the five heavens¡¯ arrival. A figure appeared on one of the peaks in the great array, looking over with indifferent eyes. Zhou Yuan and the others immediately locked onto this figure. Even from so far away, they could sense an indescribable feeling of danger from him. He wore black robes and had placed his hands behind him. His eyes were as deep as the stars, giving off an immeasurable feeling. A faint golden glow seemed to be emitted from the slit between his eyes, making him appear more mysterious. A pair of dragon and phoenix earrings hunt from his earlobes, gleaming with a strange light. He seemed to smile as he stared at Zhou Yuan and the others, before a soft chuckle echoed across the area. ¡°Friends from the five heavens, do you guys like the gift I¡¯ve prepared?¡± Bai Xiaolu stared hard at the figure, grinding her teeth as she said, ¡°He¡¯s Jia Tu! Shengzu Heaven¡¯s strongest sacred heaven pride!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly. This person gave him an extremely oppressive feeling. He could feel an almost solid threat even with his 4.3 billion Genesis Qi foundation. No one replied to Jia Tu¡¯s mocking question. Everyone merely continued staring at him with ice-cold eyes. However, Jia Tu clearly did not seem to mind, or perhaps, he never once viewed any of them as worthy. After all, the Shengzu Heaven team he led had never participated in any battles with the other heavens. Although it was because they were preparing the great array, it might also indicate an indescribable disdain. ¡°You guys truly are a little boring.¡± Jia Tu remarked due to their silence. ¡°It seems that you guys have yet to lose all hope. Since that is the case, allow me to demonstrate for you guys again.¡± He softly chuckled as he extended his hands and clapped. Rumble! A tremendous change began to occur. Stars seemed to flutter deep in the great array as a giant black hole slowly emerged, giving off a boundless power. Under this power, Guyuan Heaven¡¯s core region heaved. Zhou Yuan and the others could make out what seemed to be an endless sea. The sea was torn apart as ancestral qi rose from its depths. An indescribable power seemed to reach out, grabbing an invisible dragon. In a giant desert plagued by sandstorms, the silhouette of an enormous yellow dragon struggled violently. Mud churned wildly in a bottomless swamp, thrown about as if the entire swamp was being turned upside down. A deep abyss was ripped open, ancestral qi rapidly rising from the darkness. ...... A total of nine locations in Guyuan Heaven¡¯s core region were being smashed apart! The nine main channels were clearly hidden within! All nine main channels were currently being locked in place by the black hole in the sky. Ancestral qi rose from them, converging towards the black hole. Shengzu Heaven was already beginning to subdue and extract the main channels! The eyes of countless people from the five heavens nearly burst from their sockets, someone even howling in anguish and despair. The situation was going out of control. However, they were not the only ones who were affected. Even Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin and the others tightly clenched their fists, veins throbbing on their foreheads. Bai Xiaolu¡¯s head seemed to hang powerlessly from her neck. In the face of such despair, even she was at a loss. The mighty power pulsing from the great array made them unable to find the courage to even approach it. Smiling from ear to ear, Jia Tu gazed at the rising despair before waving his hand as if chasing away ants. ¡°Forget it, get lost. Don¡¯t think about the nine main channels anymore, and use this chance while we¡¯re busy to find the remaining branch channels or mystic ruins. Hopefully, you¡¯ll be able to make up for your loss a little.¡± He seemed to be pointing out a path for the five heavens out of pity, even if it was a pathetic option. Bai Xiaolu and the others shook in anger. However, his words did have some effect. There were already some who were preparing to go search for any remaining ancestral qi. After all, if they couldn¡¯t have the meat, they would at least try to get a little soup. This was a sign of giving up. Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong and the others watched with ugly expressions. However, they did not know how to stop this from happening. The morale dropped impossibly low. However, while even the five heaven elites were at a loss, Zhou Yuan suddenly walked forward. He stared at Jia Tu from afar and slowly said, ¡°Do you really want us to leave so badly? Or are you worried about something?¡± Jia Tu¡¯s smile receded slightly. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Zhou Yuan in a seemingly interested manner. ¡°Oh? Worried that you five heavens ants might be able to cause some destruction?¡± Zhou Yuan stared hard at Jia Tu. A long while later, his gaze shifted towards the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation. The Saint Rune rapidly spun in his pupils, making them appear rather mysterious. At the same time, his calm voice rang out across the area, ¡°You should be worried that there might still be some flaws in your yet to be perfected boundary.¡± Countless gazes from the five heavens looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure as if suddenly understanding something. The eyes of Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglon, Jiang Jinlin and the other super elite Heavenly Sun expert slowly widened as they stared in Zhou Yuan in disbelief. On the peak in the great array, Jia Tu¡¯s amused smile slowly began to recede. Chapter 1168 The Flawed Array Shock slowly turned into slivers of joy and surprise as the five heavens troops expectantly stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Amidst their despair, Zhou Yuan¡¯s words had undoubtedly given them a sliver of hope. ¡°Zhou Yuan, what do you mean?¡± Bai Xiaolu could not help but grab Zhou Yuan¡¯s sleeve, her large, jet-black eyes staring at him like a drowning man clasping onto the straw of hope. Guan Qinglong and the others also stared at Zhou Yuan with burning gazes, subconsciously holding their breaths as if afraid that even the tiniest sound would scare away this sliver of hope. Under their gazes, Zhou Yuan continued to focus on the great array boundary as he calmly said, ¡°The boundary is indeed powerful beyond my imagination. As expected of the Sacred Race Saint experts. If it was in its complete form, I would not be able to understand its depth and profoundness. Unfortunately for them¡­¡± He paused as he turned towards Xiao Bailu. ¡°You previously mentioned that the Sacred Race had not perfected the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation. You are right, the great array before us is not complete. ¡°It still has flaws! ¡°Jia Tu likely also knows of these flaws, hence why he tried to crush our spirits earlier. He wanted us to voluntarily back down because he¡¯s very cautious and is worried that an unexpected accident may happen.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across his surroundings, looking directly into their hopeful eyes as he said, ¡°Simply put, their meticulously set up great array boundary is not an impenetrable wall. We¡­still have a chance!¡± Uproar! The eyes of countless five heavens members began to light up, their earlier despair and frustration gradually turning into burning battle intent. At the end of the day, none of them wished to withdraw here. Those that could arrive here were tenacious and determined individuals. They were not afraid of death, but one that was meaningless and hopeless. The great array before them was far too terrifying, so powerful that it had made them despair. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s words had wiped away that despair. Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong and the others breathed heavy sighs of relief. If the morale was destroyed by a few words from Jia Tu, they would not know how to explain when they returned to their respective heavens. In fact, they would likely be blamed heavily for such a failure. However...how was Zhou Yuan able to see the flaws in the great array? It was a boundary derived from the joint efforts of several Saint experts, and was extremely complex. Let alone someone like Zhou Yuan, even existances with Allroaming stage Spirits might not have such capabilities. However, Zhou Yuan appeared very certain. Was he making it up to stabilize their morale? For a time, Bai Xiaolu and the others became anxious and agitated, the earlier joy quickly fading away. However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to them. His gaze remained fixed on the figure atop the peak inside the array. It was true that it was impossible for him to see the flaws of the boundary with his Spirit cultivation alone. Fortunately, although his Spirit cultivation was insufficient, he had the Decoder Saint Rune. Although this Saint Rune did not directly boost his combat power, it could find any weaknesses and had pleasantly surprised Zhou Yuan many times over the years. Now, there was another hurdle for it to overcome. Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, Jia Tu remained expressionless. Interest emerged in his eyes as he gazed at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°It seems that there¡¯s someone with whose not that shabby in the five lower heavens. ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re right. This boundary has yet to be perfected.¡± He voluntarily admitted. Bai Xiaolu and the others were overjoyed. Jia Tu cocked his head slightly, an amused expression on his face as he playfully said, ¡°Your read was good. I am rather cautious and was indeed hoping to scare you guys away with my earlier words. ¡°What can I say, I don¡¯t really like risk. ¡°However, it seems that you have foiled my plan.¡± A smile rose from the corners of Jia Tu¡¯s mouth, a smile that had no trace of warmth and instead made one¡¯s heart shiver. ¡°However, do you guys know what are the odds of you guys messing things up?¡± He extended a single finger. ¡°One percent. ¡°You guys have a one percent chance of destroying the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation.¡± The smile on his lips grew wider. ¡°And a ninety nine percent chance of every single five heavens person dying here.¡± The joy on the five heavens members'' faces faded little by little. Everyone turned to look at each other with grave expressions. ¡°One percent?¡± A faint smile emerged on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Stop trying to scare us. I feel that we have a fifty percent chance of breaking through this array. Moreover, so what even if it¡¯s one percent? ¡°We five heavens carry the future of the races on our backs, and we seek nothing but a battle to the death.¡± Rumble! Boundless Genesis Qi erupted from his body. Brandishing the Heavenly Yuan Brush, the slim body gave off vast presence that made the land tremble slightly. It felt as if he feared nothing. Behind him, countless gazes converged on his back as their originally grave eyes slowly turned determined. ¡°Only a battle to the death!¡± ¡°Battle to the death!¡± ¡°.....¡± Roars began to ring out one after another, quickly turning into a deafening din. A giant sound wave soared into the sky and scattered the clouds. Boundless battle intent swept across the area. Jia Tu watched with the same cold smile, however, a cruel iciness began flowing out deep in his eyes. He knew that his words had been rendered useless. It was fine, he merely wanted to try anyways. Since words were useless, he would let them butt their heads against the boundary till they bled to death. The scene of corpses littered across the ground would be pretty nice too. Hence, Jia Tu softly chuckled and said, ¡°Fifty percent? Never mind, a fool has no fear after all. You are the one who will be responsible for their deaths. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll temporarily spare your life so you can first bury all of their corpses.¡± To be honest, he never once took the five heavens seriously. In his eyes, they were merely ants roaring at a giant. Would a giant care? A single foot was enough to crush them all. Jia Tu shook his head as his figure gradually faded. An indifferent voice echoed across the area, ¡°Bring them all and come at us. If you really make it all the way in front of me, I may consider keeping you as a slave.¡± Rumble! The enormous boundary suddenly began to ripple violently. Space warped as countless sceneries flashed across it: mountains, deserts, buildings... There was also a surging killing intent now that made everyone¡¯s hearts shudder. Zhou Yuan pursed his lips as he watched, fierce determination rising in his eyes. He knew that the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation had been properly activated. The final owners of the nine main channels would hinge upon this formation breaking battle. Chapter 1169 Finding the Vulnerabilities Within the great array, Jia Fu stood on a peak with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent as he watched space begin to warp and distort. ¡°Hehe, Jia Tu, it seems that your plan to scare them off has failed.¡± Laughter suddenly sounded behind him. He tilted his head and saw several figures appear. Every single one of these figures gave off extremely terrifying Genesis Qi undulations. All of them had reached the 4 billion mark! They were the other sacred heaven prides of Shengzu Heaven. ¡°I already said it wasn¡¯t necessary. What threat can these lowly ants possibly pose? We¡¯ve been searching for mystic ruins ever since the battle for Guyuan Heaven began, and never got the chance to begin slaughtering them. If they were really scared off by you, things would be boring.¡± The speaker was a tall, muscular man. Blood-red runes decorated his bare upper torso. The runes looked similar to numerous ferocious beasts that seemed to roar savagely as they squirmed. He grinned, but the savagery in his eyes only gave others the chills. Jia Tu flatly said, ¡°De Moyue, our mission is to safeguard the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation as it devours the nine main channels. This matter is of utmost importance, and if mistakes happen, none of us will survive the rage of the Saints. ¡°I do not wish to see anything go wrong when victory is already so certain. Hence, it will be best if we can intimidate them into retreating. ¡°However, it seems that not all of the five lower heavens are trash. That person from earlier slightly exceeded my expectations.¡± ¡°The one who said he has a fifty percent chance of breaking our Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation?¡± said another sacred heaven pride in a clearly amused voice. His pupils gave off a blood-red glow and looked like two blood-red vortexes, both bizarre and sinister. Jia Tu softly chuckled. ¡°Delusional ravings of an ignorant fool¡± The other sacred heaven prides laughed as well. Their laughter was filled with mockery. Even if it was not perfect, the great array was derived by the Saints of their Sacred Race. It was profound beyond their comprehension, and let alone a mere Heavenly Sun practitioner, even Law Domain experts would feel powerless against it. ¡°Now that the great array has been activated, instruct the other three heavens to prepare to enter their stations to defend. ¡°Our Shengzu Heaven troops shall be scattered at the key nodes.¡± Jia Tu seamlessly gave out commands as messengers left one after another to spread them. ¡°Of course, this is to be prepared just in case. The great array has already distorted and folded space, making it an impenetrable fortress. Although there are flaws within it, I don¡¯t believe that the five heavens will be able to find them.¡± ¡°We shall wait here for the entertainment to start.¡± Smiling, Jia Tu gazed outside the great array. ¡°Let¡¯s watch how many times the five heavens will smash their heads trying. When they finally despair, they will shift their frustration and anger to that fellow from earlier. ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m really looking forward to it.¡± ... ¡°Zhou Yuan, do we really have a fifty percent chance of breaking this array?¡± On the mountain top, Bai Xiaolu somewhat nervously looked towards Zhou Yuan. The others also cast their gazes over. Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°Whether or not we will doesn¡¯t depend on a single person, but the resolve of every individual. It will be a battle filled with extreme danger. Only by courageously pushing forward, and casting away all thoughts of retreat will we be able to grasp onto victory amidst despair.¡± He did not directly answer Bai Xiaolu¡¯s question because it was meaningless. The fifty percent he quoted earlier was indeed mostly to console the others. If everyone fought with their lives on the line, it was not impossible to break the array. Bai Xiaolu also regained her cool and realized the childishness of her question. Her large, jet-black eyes looked towards the warping space in the distance. ¡°What should we do next?¡± There was now some confidence in her voice. Evidently, Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier performance had earned him the acknowledgement of Qiankun Heaven¡¯s strongest Heavenly Sun expert. Zhou Yuan concentrated on the great array and said, ¡°We¡¯ll naturally be attacking the array and foil the Sacred Race¡¯s plans. ¡°However, the array has already activated, and power within is terrifying beyond imagination. If we recklessly attack, even I will be instantly obliterated by its power. Only by first finding the flaws and weak points can we plan a path to invade the array, and destroy all of its nodes to ultimately bring it down.¡± Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong and the others nodded. They could also sense the surging power within the array, and it was honestly not something the likes of them could withstand. If the imperfect array wasn¡¯t focused on the nine main channels, they would not dare to have any thoughts of approaching. Bai Xiaolu expectantly asked, ¡°Do you know where the weak points are?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head and helplessly said, ¡°Do you really think I know everything? That¡¯s an array conceived by their Sacred Race Saints after all. If I could accurately pinpoint the weaknesses after a few glances, won¡¯t that be looking down on the Sacred Race Saints a little too much?¡± Bai Xiaolu was somewhat taken aback. ¡°If you can¡¯t find the weak points, how are we going to do this? We might as well pack up and return home.¡± Zhou Yuan ignored her and sat down on the mountain top. The Saint Rune spun in his pupils as he concentrated on the enormous space-warping boundary. The Genesis Qi in his body frantically surged out, providing energy for the Saint Rune. He intended to borrow the Saint Rune¡¯s power to find the vulnerabilities. ¡°Give him some time.¡± Bai Xiaolu wanted to say more, but was stopped by Guan Qinglong. By the side, Jiang Jinlin frowned and said, ¡°If he can¡¯t pinpoint the array¡¯s weaknesses...what shall we do?¡± Bai Xiaolu and Guan Qinglong were silent. ¡°I believe his highness will succeed!¡± A soft but firm voice rang out. Everyone looked over and saw that it was Su Youwei, her face seemingly glowing with jade light, so beautiful that it was impossible to guard against. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Wu Yao¡¯s phoenix eyes also swept a glance at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back and said, ¡°Although he¡¯s my mortal enemy, if you guys knew what he had experienced, you¡¯ll understand that creating miracles isn¡¯t hard for him.¡± Arms crossed, Zhao Mushen said with deep and cold eyes, ¡°I do not want to flee back to Hunyuan Heaven like a dog that has lost its home. I¡¯m quite interested in those Sacred Race sacred heaven prides, so it¡¯s best that we have a little confidence in him.¡± After the trio spoke, more and more apex experts from the five heavens also nodded in agreement. Everyone began to spread out, forming several protective circles around Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan seemed oblivious to the outside word. The Saint Rune continued to rotate in his pupils as blood began to drip from the corners of his eyes. However, he did not care, because what seemed to be a waterfall of countless Genesis Runes seemed to rush down his eyes. He was searching. His search lasted for a full five days. On the fifth day, Zhou Yuan slowly shut his blood-shot eyes that seemed as if they were about to burst apart. His somewhat hoarse voice softly rang out, ¡°Found them.¡± Every gaze on the mountain immediately converged on his body. Chapter 1170 Battle to Break the Array On the mountain top, Impatient and surprised gazes looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were blood-shot, and there were traces of blood at the corners of his eyes. He looked tired beyond belief. Even with the Decoder Saint Rune, the process had clearly taken a lot out of him. If his Spirit was not tougher than most, it might have been scattered into nothingness half-way through. What a terrifying boundary. Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. If the boundary had been perfected, even using up his entire Spirit would not have yielded him any results. Fortunately, their luck had not been completely used up yet. Zhou Yuan raised his head and gazed at the nervous and excited faces of the crowd around him before nodding. Uproar! The crowd cheered as relieved smiles appeared on their tense faces. They understood how important this step was. If Zhou Yuan failed to find the array¡¯s vulnerabilities, even throwing away every single one of their lives would not be able to shake the boundary. All they could do then was helplessly watch as the Sacred Race seized the nine main channels. While everyone was breathing sighs of relief, a whiff of fragrance drifted towards Zhou Yuan. A fair and slender hand carefully wiped away the blood at his eyes. ¡°Your highness, it¡¯s been hard on you.¡± Despite being somewhat of a clean-freak, Su Youwei did not throw away the dirty cloth, but instead kept it in her sleeve without flinching. She revealed a small smile at Zhou Yuan, oozing with so much warmth and tenderness that it could soothe away all tiredness. Her heart ached a little at the pressure Zhou Yuan was under. The overall commander did bring many tangible benefits, but Zhou Yuan had done so much because of it. However, Su Youwei understood that this was his character, which had never changed over the years. Several envious gazes watched them. Although there were many talented beauties among those gathered here, Su Youwei was undoubtedly top-tier in both looks and character. In fact, in their brief period together over the past few days, many young elites had shown their good will towards Su Youwei in hopes of earning her favor. Wu Yao¡¯s phoenix eyes rippled faintly as she watched. Guan Qinglong seemed to sense this, and quickly cupped his fists together towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, you will definitely be awarded the highest honor if our five heavens obtain a favorable result in the battle for Guyuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained impassive as he shook his head. He had given so much because he had a goal of his own. His main goal for coming to Guyuan Heaven was to obtain the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. Since it had yet to appear, it must be somewhere among the main channels. The Ancestral Dragon Flesh was key for Yaoyao¡¯s revival, and he would not hesitate to slaughter a path to it no matter the obstructions. Zhou Yuan nodded to Su Youwei in thanks before waving his sleeve. A thousand azure jade strips appeared in front of him. ¡°Split yourselves into a thousand teams. Each team will be given one of these jade strips, in which I¡¯ve imprinted directions and instructions. ¡°The teams will spread out in the boundary and rattle its foundations. ¡°However, this is only the first step.¡± With a flick, another hundred or so purple jade strips flew out. ¡°These purple jade strips hold several of the boundary node locations and will be given to our most elite experts. The nodes will definitely be guarded by powerful experts, and your mission is to do everything in your power to destroy these nodes. ¡°Only by destroying them layer by layer will we ultimately bring down the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation.¡± Everyone¡¯s faces turned solemn at Zhou Yuan¡¯s stern voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry overall commander Zhou Yuan, we will make sure everyone clearly understands your instructions.¡± A serious look appeared on Bai Xiaolu¡¯s young face. Zhou Yuan nodded and somewhat tiredly closed his eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll attack tomorrow.¡± His voice was calm, but filled with rising killing intent. Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin and the others quickly left to spread his instructions. A day passed in the blink of an eye. Fully recovered, Zhou Yuan stood on the mountain top, coldly observing the boundary that encompassed the sky and land. He could faintly sense countless mocking gazes watching them from inside. Perhaps, the Sacred Race members would never expect that he would really find the boundary weak points. ¡°Overall commander Zhou Yuan, everything is ready.¡± Bai Xiaolu¡¯s voice sounded from behind. Zhou Yuan turned around and gazed at the mountain range, where a thousand teams of the five heavens most elite Heavenly Sun practitioners were neatly lined up. Strong gales blew through the mountains, but was unable to disperse the heavy killing intent. Zhou Yuan looked straight at them and slowly said, ¡°Everyone, there are only two endings that await us: break through the boundary and seize the ancestral qi main channels, or fail and die! ¡°Once we enter, there will be no turning back. ¡°If anyone does not wish to participate, they may withdraw now.¡± His voice rang out in everyone¡¯s ears. However, no one responded, their nervous faces filled with firm resolve. Everyone understood the importance of this battle. If they gave up on the nine main channels, the Sacred Race would produce countless more experts in the future, and become even stronger. Once the Sacred Race began to invade the five heavens, their family and friends would be mercilessly slaughtered, and refined into blood pills for the Sacred Race¡¯s enjoyment. The survivors would be reared like pigs. In the higher realms of Guyuan Heaven, the Nascent Source, Law Domain and even the Saint experts were fighting, desperately trying to win one more sliver of hope for the many races. No one was exempt in the battle against the heartless, cruel and powerful Sacred Race. Hence, no matter how nervous and uneasy they felt, no one backed down. Zhou Yuan gazed at the determined faces and took a deep breath before nodding to Bai Xiaolu and the others. ¡°Teams of the five heavens...attack together with me!¡± As his stern voice rang out, Zhou Yuan took the lead, rising into the air before shooting towards the vast array in the distance. Rumble! Behind him, a thousand teams rose like a swarm of locusts. They covered the sky, land and sun, seemingly endless in number. Within the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation, Jia Tu was seated on a peak. He lowered his head to look at the ants burrowing in the ground before smiling as he pointed at the ant hill. The ant hill was instantly destroyed as countless ants fled for their lives. He stretched his back and lifted his head to gaze outside the great arrow. A heartless and cruel smile rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°The ants...have finally come to seek their deaths.¡± Several Shengzu Heaven sacred heaven prides appeared behind him. ¡°Do you guys think the five heavens have found the vulnerabilities of the array?¡± someone asked. ¡°Impossible. Even if the array has imperfections, it is impossible to find them in a few days.¡± One of the sacred heaven prides snorted disdainfully. ¡°Their trash leader is probably putting up an act.¡± ¡°I do hope that they will come on. Otherwise, it will be too boring.¡± ¡°......¡± While they were conversing, the five heavens teams arrived. They swiftly approached the distorting layers of space and stopped in front of it. The sacred heaven prides also stopped talking and looked over with various expressions. The young figure at the front of the army raised his head and looked towards the great array. His gaze seemed to pierce through the array, looking straight at them as he extended a hand and lightly waved. Rumble! Countless figures rose into the air behind him and charged towards various locations amidst the distorting layers of space without any trace of hesitation. Plop! At the moment of impact, Jia Tu and the others felt the great array tremble faintly. However, the array did not send out blasts of destructive power like they had imagined. The five heavens army had not been turned to dust. The teams had suddenly disappeared upon touching the warping space. At the same time, Jia Tu and the others sensed countless unfamiliar Genesis Qi undulations suddenly erupting in various locations within the array. The atmosphere on the mountain seemed to solidify. The sacred heaven prides¡¯ faces darkened. Jia Tu remained expressionless, but the coldness in his eyes nearly froze the air around him. ¡°That kid¡­ ¡°I underestimated him.¡± How could they not know by now that the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation¡¯s vulnerabilities had been found by Zhou Yuan! Jia Tu exhaled before he turned his head and indifferently said, ¡°Stop dreaming and go guard the key nodes in the boundary... ¡°Since the five heavens are so courageous... ¡°This place shall be their grave.¡± Chapter 1171 The War Begins It was a large island surrounded by distorted space. Figures continuously emerged behind him one by one, reaching roughly a hundred in total. They were led by Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin and the other apex-level experts. All of them were holding the purple jade strips passed to them by Zhou Yuan earlier. They had used the spatial coordinates in the jade strips to gather here. Bai Xiaolu curiously observed the surroundings as she asked in her immature voice, ¡°Is this the interior of the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and did a headcount to make sure that no one was missing. Guan Qinglong asked in a low voice, ¡°What do we do next?¡± Zhou Yuan explained, ¡°This is one of the boundary nodes we are using as an access point to enter the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation¡¯s interior. From here, we¡¯ll dive deeper and deeper into the boundary and ultimately reach its core. ¡°However, the boundary¡¯s overwhelming power is not something we can face. Take this node for example, even all of us gathered here won¡¯t be able to break the space here.¡± Zhou Yuan pointed towards the distorted space in front of them. The terrifying power within made his heart shiver. Bai Xiaolu and the others also revealed grave expressions. However, their gazes continued to be fixed on Zhou Yuan, because they knew that he definitely had a method to overcome this since he had brought them here. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me. The next move doesn¡¯t depend on me but all of our five heavens teams.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed softly and retrieved a purple-gold jade strip. Light blossomed from it, forming a screen in the air. There were a thousand scattered dots blinking on the screen. ¡°These dots represent all of our teams. They¡¯re currently spread throughout various locations in the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation, and have likely already begun fighting with the defending Sacred Race teams... ¡°Their mission is to destroy all the outer boundary nodes. ¡°Only when a certain number of these nodes are destroyed will the space where we¡¯re at begin to weaken. When that happens, it''¡¯ll be our chance to dive deeper.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the dots as he pursed his lips. ¡°Simply put, they¡¯re using their lives to build a path for us.¡± The place instantly fell silent as gaze after gaze looked towards the screen. They could see some of the dots dimming, and even some that suddenly disappear... It meant that an entire team had been wiped out. A cruel and desperate aura spread from the screen. It was like Zhou Yuan had said, they were using their lives to build a path. A path into the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation. Zhou Yuan¡¯s head was slightly lowered as a sign of respect for them. This was how battles against the Sacred Race were, cruel and no option to turn back. ¡°Nearly all of the Sacred Race forces should be gathered here to form the foundation and maintain operation of the great array. However, it also makes their power dispersed. In other words, this is the best chance for us to focus our power and push in.¡± Zhou Yuan breathed in deeply, forcibly calming himself. ¡°Everyone, if we do reach the end of our journey and manage to destroy the array, the backlash will completely obliterate the Sacred Race. ¡°It¡¯s a road of no retreat. We can only advance with all our might!¡± Everyone tightly clenched their fists as fierce determination rose in their eyes. The screen continued to flicker for an incense stick of time. Over this period, Zhou Yuan and the others personally witnessed nearly a hundred dots disappear, which meant nearly a hundred teams had been wiped out. Every member of these teams had lost their lives. That was over ten thousand of the five heavens most elite Heavenly Sun experts. They were individuals with their own stories, and geniuses that were adored by numerous others. However, these very same individuals had lost their lives without leaving even a name behind. It was a devastating loss. No one could remain indifferent to such a tragedy. A few of the more emotional girls could not help but muffle their crying. However, these sacrifices were not in vain. Zhou Yuan could feel the space before them begin to ripple violently as cracks began to appear. ¡°Go! Attack the positions recorded in your purple jade strips!¡± Zhou Yuan''s icy voice rang out on the island. ¡°Don¡¯t waste the lives they used to open a path for us, we must win this battle!¡± Behind Zhou Yuan, the hundred figures roared, ¡°We must win!¡± Their figures shot forth, charging straight into the warping space, before disappearing into it. Their departure made the island become rather empty. Zhou Yuan turned his head and gazed at the ones left standing behind him, Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong, Jiang Jinlin, Li Fu, Chu Qing, Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao, Su Youwei... These were the five heavens¡¯ strongest Heavenly Sun experts. There was another group quietly standing behind them with solemn expressions. They would be accompanying the first group of super elites, and in simple terms, were their subordinates. Even so, they would face dangers that far surpassed all of the other teams. Among them were several familiar faces, Li Qingchan, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo, Li Chunjun and the others. Zhou Yuan raised his hand and several golden jade strips flew towards the crowd. ¡°Everyone, it¡¯s our turn next. Our routes are the most important because they lead straight to the key nodes. However, the Sacred Race will also be dispatching their strongest experts to guard these locations, and our goal is to destroy all of them. ¡°Every single one of you is very important. If you fail, those who paid with their lives to open the path for us would have died in vain. ¡°The war has already begun, and no one can escape. If we want to win, everyone will have to play their part!¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°That¡¯s why...please use your lives to defeat every person who obstructs us!¡± Everyone silently nodded, even Jiang Jinlin, who greatly envied Zhou Yuan, tightly gripped his golden jade strip, killing intent flowing in his eyes. No one spoke as they silently adjusted their condition. Another incense stick of time later. Space began to ripple once more. Zhou Yuan looked at the crowd, pausing on Su Youwei as he gave her a light nod, asking her to be a little more careful. Rumble! Everyone¡¯s figures shot forth and collided with the warping space. Space rippled as figure after figure disappeared. The floating island was now deserted, but a sombre aura began to brew. The war of no retreat had formally begun. Chapter 1172 Amusement and Killing Inten The first thing that greeted Zhou Yuan when he emerged from the distorted space was a sky full of flying sand. He had ended up in what appeared to be a desert. Space rippled behind him as figures arrived one after another. This small squad was mainly composed of a few advanced Heavenly Sun experts. However, there were also some familiar faces among them such as Li Qingchan, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun and the others. Due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s influence, they had been allowed to partake in the mystic ruins reward, and had benefited substantially, advancing to the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. Moreover, because of their talent, their foundations were very respectable despite recently being new intermediate Heavenly Sun experts. ¡°You guys didn¡¯t need to follow me. My path will likely be the most difficult.¡± Zhou Yuan helplessly smiled at them. Li Chunjun¡¯s raspy voice sounded in reply, ¡°We should repay you for all you¡¯ve done for us.¡± Zhou Yuan had helped them far too much in Guyuan Heaven, and they also seeked to reciprocate. Although there was not much they could help with given his current strength, they were determined to do their best within the range of their abilities. Hence, they were unafraid of the extreme danger following Zhou Yuan entailed. Li Qingchan said, ¡°We can¡¯t always let you carry all the burdens.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu''s eyes turned into crescents as she flirtatiously said, ¡°Relax, we know our limits and won¡¯t be a burden to you.¡± Luluo pouted and said, ¡°Honestly, I just feel that following you will yield a little more rewards.¡± Their words warmed Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. ¡°I hope that senior sister Qingchan can help me command the team. If we encounter the more powerful nodes, your main task will be to set up the array flags at the designated locations to suppress the boundary¡¯s power. ¡°However, the Sacred Race will likely send people to stop you, making it very dangerous to guard these flags. Everyone be careful.¡± Li Qingchan was obviously the most reliable and rational among the group. It would be difficult for Zhou Yuan to spare any attention if he encountered a strong foe, and he would more than likely be relying on Li Qingchan to give commands most of the time. Li Qingchan nodded in acknowledgement. After giving these instructions, Zhou Yuan did not delay any further. His eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at the desert, before he took a step forward, appearing a thousand feet away in an instant. He was heading deeper into the desert. With Li Qingchan leading them, the team closely followed. However, Zhou Yuan stopped after a few minutes as his icy gaze looked towards the front, where a conspicuous stone mountain towered over the desert. Powerful Genesis Qi undulations appeared on the mountains as sharp and alert gazes locked onto their group. Li Qingchan and the others breathed small sighs of relief. The first boundary did not seem too problematic. However, space on the stone mountain suddenly rippled and a figure slowly appeared. The newcomer¡¯s aura was as deep as the abyss. His face was as fair as jade, and a signature pair of dragon phoenix earrings hung from his ears. Every fibre of his being gave off an immeasurable and unfathomable feeling. ¡°Jia Tu?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank slightly at the sight of this person. Shengzu Heaven¡¯s strongest sacred heaven pride! Zhou Yuan was a little stupefied, because Jia Tu should be defending the final node. Why had he appeared here?! Had he given up on the node he was supposed to be stationed at? Behind him, the expressions of Li Qingchan and the others changed drastically. They hastily circulated their Genesis Qi, preparing to face this formidable foe. He should have originally been the final obstacle, but had appeared in front of them so soon after entering the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation. This undoubtedly messed up their rhythm. ¡°You¡¯re the overall commander of the five lower heavens? You should be called...Zhou Yuan?¡± Jia Tu¡¯s deep eyes observed Zhou Yuan with a faint smile. ¡°Do you really think that you guys will be able to break the Sacred Derivation Boundary Array?¡± Zhou Yuan replied, ¡°Who can for sure whether we can? Moreover, there should be no need to tell me such nonsense if you were still calm.¡± Jia Tu nonchalantly said, ¡°I merely felt a little interested since it¡¯s so rare to see an ant who dares to challenge me. However, you are indeed somewhat loathsome. That¡¯s why I''m going to pour some water over your enthusiasm.¡± A strange smile rose from the corners of his mouth. He extended his hand and space began to distort. A spatial crack was torn open and Jia Tu reached inside and grabbed a figure out. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression immediately changed, ¡°Youwei?!¡± The one who had been dragged out was Su Youwei! ¡°I believe you have a special relation with this girl, right?¡± Jia Tu grinned like a cheshire cat. His hand clasp around Su Youwei¡¯s fair and slender neck, as Genesis Qi chains tightly bound her. ¡°You fool, you underestimated the Sacred Derivation Boundary Array far too much. Anyone who enters will become lambs for the slaughter. Zhou Yuan, you¡¯d better remember that you¡¯re the one who''s responsible for their deaths.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s face turned red as she frantically struggled. However, it was to no avail. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned extremely dark. ¡°Do you want to save your little lover?¡± Jia Tu snapped his fingers. The space in front of Zhou Yuan began to ripple as a spatial crack emerged. ¡°Then leave this place. I¡¯ll let her go once all of you are out. Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for destroying this flower.¡± The expressions of Li Qingchan and the others changed drastically. They wanted to speak but ultimately could not find the words. Jia Tu was too cunning and devious. If they took the path he offered, the entire plan would fall apart. Jia Tu chuckled. ¡°Have you made your decision?¡± Rumble! The only response he received was Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure abruptly shooting forward. Countless afterimages were left behind in the air as he shot straight to the top of the stone mountain. ¡°Impudence! How dare a lowly ant like you charge at a sacred heaven pride!¡± A Shengzu Heaven expert shouted as he released all 3.3 billion of his Genesis Qi foundation. He seemed to turn into a torrent of energy as he charged straight at Zhou Yuan. Thud! The two collided like meteors. However, the Shengzu Heaven expert released a horrified shriek. His entire body burst apart due to the terrifying force of the collision, scattering into bloody pulp in the sky. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure pierced through the bloody mist and landed on the stone peak. ¡°Is this your decision? What a heartless man.¡± Jia Tu could not help but sigh at this scene. His eyes abruptly turned ice-cold as Genesis Qi erupted from his palm. Crack! Su Youwei¡¯s neck was twisted. Genesis Qi flooded into her body, destroying all signs of life. Jia Tu threw aside her body and said, ¡°See, you killed her.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Jia Tu with indifferent eyes. Soon after, a mocking smile rose from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Jia Tu, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d even resorted to such despicable tactics. It seems that you¡¯re more shaken than I thought. Are you really afraid that I¡¯ll succeed in destroying the boundary?¡± Jia Tu¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°All of this was merely an illusion, including you.¡± Zhou Yuan walked in front of Jia Tu and placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡°I know that you¡¯re trying to anger me, and make me lose my rationality. From there, it¡¯ll be more likely for me to make mistakes¡­¡± With an indifferent expression, Zhou Yuan raised his leg and sent it stomping down. A terrifying Genesis Qi shockwave unfurled from his body like a storm. The approaching Sacred Race experts were blown away by the Genesis Qi pressure, vomiting blood as their bodies were sent flying. ¡°However, you have achieved your goal.¡± Amidst the bloody mist, Zhou Yuan''s hand swung downwards, scattering Jia Tu¡¯s figure. Blood-chilling killing intent surged in his eyes, nearly turning tangible. Jia Tu had succeeded in fully rousing Zhou Yuan¡¯s killing intent. It was a long time since he had wanted to kill anyone so badly. The last time he had felt this way was when that old dog Sheng Yuan hurt Yaoyao till she fell into a deep slumber. Zhou Yuan coldly said, ¡°Jia Tu, wait for me to reap your life at the final node.¡± Jia Tu¡¯s figure faded as an emotionless chuckle rang out. ¡°Hehe, how arrogant. Who do you think you are¡­ ¡°You¡¯re only an ant that doesn¡¯t know it yet, and you should be honored that I toyed with you. ¡°I¡±ll be waiting then...don¡¯t die on the other sacred heaven prides¡¯ hands along the way. Otherwise, it will be far too disappointing.¡± Chapter 1173 Sacred Heaven Pride Filled with murderous aura, figures sped towards the Sacred Race team that Zhou Yuan wounded. The Sacred Race team was wiped out after a short moment. Li Qingchan immediately commanded the team members to disperse and put up flags within the node domain. Soon, the boundary violently vibrated, the space began to distort and the sand that filled the sky gradually receded. Li Qingchan came to Zhou Yuan''s side and stared at him with her beautiful and icy eyes. She previously also felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s intense killing intent and knew he had some sort of relationship with the girl called Su Youwei. It was indeed infuriating that Jia Tu''s used this as an illusion. But she didn''t say much because she believed in the young man in front of her. He had achieved outstanding things over the years, but what was most outstanding was his tenacity. If Jia Tu thought that such a method could shake his heart, he greatly underestimated him. Jia Tu''s teasing behavior only intensified Zhou Yuan''s killing intent. ¡°Is everything alright?" Li Qingchan whispered, her beautiful eyes glistening like moonlight. Zhou Yuan smiled. "I''m just thinking what method of death I should give him.¡± Li Qingchan nodded and said in a rare gentle voice, "But don''t underestimate him. Since he¡¯s the strongest sacred heaven pride in Shengzu Heaven, his strength must be unfathomable.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and said solemnly to Li Qingchan, "Senior sister Qingchan, I really didn''t expect you to have a gentle side.¡± Li Qingchan flicked her slender fingers and the sword in her hand flashed out half an inch from its scabbard. Cold light immediately filled the air and the temperature plummeted. "Ahem, the node here has been destroyed. Let¡¯s hurry and move on to the next place.¡± Feeling the chilling atmosphere, Zhou Yuan coughed dryly and immediately gave another order. He sped away first and smashed the space in front of him with a punch. Li Qingchan¡¯s lips twitched slightly when she saw his panicked figure, but since Zhou Yuan could still joke with her, his mind clearly wasn¡¯t affected by Jia Tu, which made her a little relieved. With a wave of her hand, she led the team and immediately followed. For the half day following this, Zhou Yuan led the team to break through six boundary nodes in one go. The process was very smooth, but Zhou Yuan understood that this was because his strength was too tyrannical, so he ignored everything and pushed through. However, Zhou Yuan grew increasingly serious during this process of advancement. Of course, his route was guarded by the strongest people. It was evident that the number of top experts in the Sacred Race was indeed much more than the five heavens. According to Zhou Yuan¡¯s speculation, if the Sacred Race weren¡¯t that ambitious and tried to swallow all nine main ancestral qi veins in one bite and instead concentrated their efforts to seize the strongest main veins, it would be hard to contend against them. It was no wonder that the Sacred Race obtained the greatest benefits in almost every Battle of Guyuan Heaven in the past. The five heavens could only have their leftovers In a boundary node. Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged, inhaling Genesis Qi to recover. The fierce battles during that half-day also took a toll on him. And as boundary nodes were constantly broken, the Sacred Race experts that guarded the nodes were stronger than before. Therefore, he must be in top condition. While recovering his Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan took out a purple-gold jade bamboo slip, from which light radiated and formed a light screen. Countless specks of light flickered on the light screen, which were exactly the teams from the five heavens that entered the great formation. "The damage is even greater..." Zhou Yuan just scanned the screen roughly and found that some light specks had completely dimmed and vanished. The entire army seemed to have wiped out after a tragic battle. But their sacrifices weren¡¯t worthless. The nodes that were destroyed gradually shook the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation. Zhou Yuan inhaled deeply, suppressing the emotions fluctuating in his heart, and looked at the most important routes. Among these routes, Bai Xiaolu was the one who advanced most rapidly. She had destroyed four nodes in total, which was only just behind him. Jiang Jinlin, Guan Qinglong and the others were a little slower, and likely had encountered more difficult and powerful enemies. Zhou Yuan looked at Zhao Mushen¡¯s, Su Youwei¡¯s, and Wu Yao¡¯s routes. Although they weren¡¯t advancing as swiftly, the light specks that represented their state were still very bright, indicating they hadn¡¯t suffered much damage. The enemies they encountered would be stronger the further they advanced. Zhou Yuan stood up, turned his head to look at Li Qingchan and the others, saying, "The next node is quite important. The other side would inevitably have their top experts guard it. Everyone be careful.¡± Li Qingchan and the others nodded seriously. They all understood that they weren¡¯t qualified to participate in a battle of Zhou Yuan''s level, and the only thing they could do was protect the formation flags. Zhou Yuan threw out a punch, smashing the void with dragon-like Genesis Qi. The domain suddenly twisted and tore apart. He took the lead and stepped through. As he stepped through the spatial crack, the scene in front changed almost instantly, becoming a vast sea of forest that extended endlessly. Zhou Yuan immediately cast his gaze into the distance. He peered at a mountain peak. One person led the way in front and the other two closely followed. The one who took the lead didn¡¯t conceal his Genesis Qi at all. It raged across the world like a storm, causing space to vibrate. The Genesis Qi foundation of the two behind him was both around 3.8 billion! Li Qingchan¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed slightly. Someone with a foundation of 4 billion could be considered as a sacred heaven pride! A sacred heaven pride had led two top sacred race experts to stop them! ¡°Shengzu Heaven¡¯s sacred heaven pride¡­¡± As Zhou Yuan calmly studied the three figures before him, a dark stream of light gathered in his palm and transformed into a mottled dark brush. ¡°Finally someone presentable came." Zhou Yuan pointed his Heavenly Yuan Brush forward, his eyes filled with fighting spirit and murderous intent. His body slowly exuded an overbearing aura that blotted out the sky and swept across the world. ¡°Let me see, how capable the sacred heaven prides from Shengzu Heaven are!¡± Chapter 1174 Heavenly Dragon Palm Seal Moreover, he unreservedly revealed his Genesis Qi foundation of 4 billion, and an oppressive atmosphere filled the space. "You are a sacred heaven pride from Shengzu Heaven?" Zhou Yuan sized up the person before him, and noticed he was carrying a huge red spear and his burly body exuded an oppressive pressure. His face was ordinary-looking, but a chilling fierceness flashed in his eyes. He looked like a humanoid beast. From his bearing, Zhou Yuan knew he was much stronger than the brothers Mi Shi and Mi Shan, who they previously encountered. "I am Xiao Yin, a Shengzu Heaven¡¯s sacred heaven pride!" The huge red spear in his hand pointed at Zhou Yuan as he grinned, giving off a ferocious, arrogant and condescending aura. ¡°I heard you¡¯re the commander-in-chief for the five lower heavens in Guyuan Heaven? You don¡¯t seem that special. I would make a huge contribution to the team if I kill you here.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at him indifferently, unaffected by his taunting. He turned his head and said to Li Qingchan and the others, ¡°Go put up the flags, I will handle the situation here.¡± Li Qingchan nodded. ¡°Be careful.¡± Without any hesitation, she darted away with the others. They scattered and searched for locations to put up the flags. ¡°Where are you going?!¡± Xiao Yin gave a sinister smile. He thrust his arm and a red spear roared out with a blood-red torrent like a blood-red Jiao-dragon. Shrouded in earth-shattering Genesis Qi, it tore through the sky and sped towards Li Qingchan and the others. However, before that tyrannical offensive neared Li Qingchan and the others, a figure appeared in front of them like a ghost. Zhou Yuan balled his hand into a fist and white hair broke out from his skin, enveloping his fist like a glove. Boom! His fist directly slammed into the blood-red Jiao-dragon, causing a resounding metallic noise. Even the entire void wildly distorted. Then, the blood-red spear blasted backwards, producing sorrowful wailing, and in the end, crashed into several mountain peaks. ¡°You only have a Genesis Qi foundation of 4 billion yet you dare act so arrogant. Do the sacred heaven prides in your Sacred Race not have a brain?¡± Zhou Yuan stared sharply at Xiao Yin as three Heavenly Suns loomed behind him. At the same time, 4.3 billion Genesis Qi stars unreservedly erupted from his body and terrifying pressure gushed in all directions like thousand-feet waves. ¡°A 4.3 billion Genesis Qi foundation?!¡± Xiao Yin¡¯s pupils shrank. Boom! But before he could ponder more carefully, Zhou Yuan took one step forward and instantly appeared right in front of Xiao Yin. Expressionless, he punched out. Monstrous platinum Genesis Qi burst forth. An ancient dragon roar resounded deep in the Genesis Qi, shaking one¡¯s Spirit. Zhou Yuan had circulated all his 4.3 billion Genesis Qi in that punch. As a result, space rippled violently and spatial cracks spread through space as the punch blasted out. ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m a lowly ant species?!¡± Xiao Yin¡¯s face twisted fiercely and his eyes reddened in fury when he heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s taunt. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s 4.3 billion Genesis Qi foundation was stronger than his, Xiao Yin had no intention of retreating because as part of the Sacred Race he couldn¡¯t retreat from the bastards of the five lower heavens. ¡°Mysterious tablet secret art!¡± Xiao Yin roared. His clothes burst to pieces, revealing a stone tablet rune on his chest. The rune squirmed and released rays of mysterious light that rapidly spread to every part of Xiao Yin¡¯s body. His Genesis Qi foundation soared at an astonishing speed! His Genesis Qi foundation reached the level of 4.2 billion within a few breaths! ¡°Mystic Jiao-Dragon Fist!¡± Xiao Yin balled his hand into a fist and punched out. A Jiao-dragon shadow suddenly rose from his body and dived down, merging into his fist. Them, a tremendous Jiao-dragon fist wrapped in surging Genesis Qi thrust directly towards Zhou Yuan. Xiao Yin also unreservedly put all his strength into that punch. "Compared with our Sacred Race, what are you?!" Xiao Yin roared with laughter. The Jiao-dragon Genesis Qi he cultivated was ranked grade 8 and was known to be tyrannical. Moreover, he activated a secret art to raise his Genesis Qi foundation even more. Any opponent wouldn¡¯t dare attack recklessly even with a 4.3 billion Genesis Qi foundation. But that was only...what he believed. Zhou Yuan''s face didn¡¯t ripple in the slightest in the face of Xiao Yin''s full-strength counterattack. He carefully sensed the World Subduing Heavenly Dragon Qi surging in his body, and felt an unprecedented vast feeling. This was the first time that Zhou Yuan completely and unreservedly circulated his Genesis Qi to its peak after his breakthrough to the advanced Heavenly Sun stage. Roar! A majestic ancient dragon roar echoed constantly throughout his body, cleansing his flesh and blood. It was amidst the dragon roar that a divine light flashed across his mind. It was as though he was enlightened. Then, suddenly, he balled his hands into fists and his fingers folded into a seal. The Genesis Qi he cultivated from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture contained powerful arts that one could only understand once one¡¯s Genesis Qi reached a certain level. Zhou Yuan had a feeling that the lightning-like Genesis art that suddenly flashed would be extraordinary. Boom! As Zhou Yuan thrust out his palm, a platinum light formation spread forth from his palm. Then, the light formation tore apart itself and a monstrous platinum dragon shadow, shrouded in indescribable power, charged out. Space shattered before the platinum dragon shadow. Thousands of spatial debris scattered everywhere. The platinum dragon shadow rapidly enlarged in front of Xiao Yin and the powerful and dangerous aura it emitted made even Xiao Yin''s body tense up and his hair stand on end. But the most terrifying thing was that even his Jiao-dragon spirit was shuddering in fear. His Mystic Jiao-dragon Fist required a Jiao-dragon¡¯s spirit as sacrifice to possess such a fierce power, but the platinum dragon shadow had utterly suppressed the Jiao-dragon seal. Boom! But it was too late to change his move or even retreat. A fierce light glinted in Xiao Yin¡¯s eyes. He decided neither to advance nor to retreat, and instead blood-red Jiao-dragon scales surfaced on his body. ¡°That kid has some skill, so it¡¯s best to counter his offensive first, then join forces with the others and use our trump cards to kill him.¡± The others that Xiao Yin mentioned were naturally the other two who possessed a 3.8 billion Genesis Qi foundation. Their Genesis Qi were of the same origin and there was a secret art that could combine the three¡¯s strength into one. They no doubt could finally suppress Zhou Yuan then. It was just that Xiao Yin, who was arrogant, didn¡¯t want to join forces with others. This was why he came alone to first test Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength! "I don''t believe that I, a high and mighty Shengzu Heaven sacred heaven pride would lose to a lowly species!¡± Xiao Yin''s ferocious nature was aroused. His speed suddenly skyrocketed and then, shrouded in majestic power, he collided with the platinum dragon shadow roaring towards him. Rumble! Berserk Genesis Qi shock waves raged across the air. The mountain forest was instantly razed to the ground. Bang! Li Qingchan and the others in the distance also halted for a moment and stared in astonishment at the collision. This was the first time they saw Zhou Yuan attack after his breakthrough. Zhou Yuan was hovering in the air while Xiao Yin was ferociously speeding across the air, but the astonishment on Li Qingchan''s face intensified. This was because she noticed a huge hole appearing on Xiao Yin''s chest. And around the hole was platinum Genesis Qi crazily corroding his flesh. The other two Sacred Race experts also stared wide-eyed at the scene. ¡°How¡­ is it possible?¡± Xiao Yin peered down at the hole on his chest and disbelief filled his face. He didn''t think Zhou Yuan''s offensive would be so terrifying. The vitality in his body was fading rapidly. Strong unwillingness mixed with shock came to Xiao Yin''s eyes. He still had other means to use more trump cards to bring out and he still hadn¡¯t activated his Sacred Pupil¡­It shouldn''t end like this. I planned to block Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack and then begin to counterattack. But¡­now, he had no chance to counterattack. Ah! Xiao Yin roared skywards, his voice full of unwillingness and anger. His wailing stopped abruptly, and his body plummeted from the void like a golden mountain or jade pillar, smashing a deep pit into the ground. Li Qingchan¡¯s and the others¡¯ mouth fell open. The battle has ended before we even put up a flag?! A Shengzu Heaven sacred heaven pride was killed?! The other two Shengzu Heaven experts shuddered at the scene and almost cursed out loud. Xiao Yin¡­that bastard is too arrogant. We planned to attack Zhou Yuan together with our secret art¡­But now that their leader, Xiao Yin, was killed, what use would joining forces be?! ¡°Idiot! Idiot!¡± The two roared in anger in their hearts. In the void, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained indifferent as he watched Xiao Yin fall to the ground, though there was a hint of astonishment in the depths of his eyes. He had a feeling the Heavenly Dragon Palm Seal would be extraordinary, but he didn¡¯t think it could kill Xiao Yin in one strike. Its power wasn¡¯t inferior to a ray of rainbow sword light. Of course, his Heavenly Dragon Palm coincidentally had a restraining effect on Xiao Yin''s Jiao-dragon Fist. He refined a Jiao-dragon spirit, but because of that, he was utterly destroyed under the Heavenly Dragon¡¯s might. That guy¡­to put it simply, has bad luck. Zhou Yuan happened to grasp a Genesis art from the World-Subduing Heavenly Dragon Qi to restrain it completely. But Zhou Yuan felt it likely wasn¡¯t a coincidence and perhaps the Jiao-dragon fist¡¯s provocation triggered the World-Subduing Heavenly Dragon Qi. He shook his head and turned his attention to the other two Sacred Race experts. They instantly shuddered and broke the boundary and fled. Zhou Yuan didn''t chase after them. He lifted his head and stared at somewhere in the void, where he faintly felt he was being watched from, and a cold sneer curled his lips. Then, he stretched out a finger and pointed to Xiao Yin lying dead on the ground. At the same time¡­ On a mountain summit in the depths of the Sacred Derivation Boundary, Jia Tu stared expressionless at the light screen in front of him and suddenly thrust out his palm. A towering mountain was silently annihilated. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± His quiet voice was so full with thick killing intent that there seemed to be a bloody taste in the air. Chapter 1175 Xu Lei He didn''t think Zhou Yuan could kill Xiao Yin with a single palm strike. ¡°A foundation of 4.3 billion¡­¡± ¡°Grade-8 Genesis Qi..." ¡°A palm strike comparable to a Saint Genesis art¡­¡± ¡° Jia Tu¡¯s gaze grew increasingly vicious. He was generally aware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength through his spying, and he felt that Xiao Yin was only killed in seconds because he was too careless. After all, he originally appointed another two people to help him deal with Zhou Yuan. If they joined forces, Zhou Yuan could have been utterly destroyed. But that idiot had to show off his ability first, and as a result, he died¡­ Jia Tu¡¯s face was devoid of expression, and with a wave of his sleeve, a complicated network of light rays emerged on the light screen in front of him. The intertwining light rays were the boundary network of the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation and where they intertwined were the boundary nodes location. But the nodes had dimmed in places, which was a sign of damage. ¡°Zhou Yuan is a scourge. If I knew about this, I would have killed him long ago,¡± uttered Jia Tu coldly. There was no mention of Zhou Yuan¡¯s name in the information they collected because he was a mere intermediate Heavenly Sun expert. At the time, no one thought Zhou Yuan would be such a big threat. "It seems it was really too risky to set up a huge formation to swallow all nine main veins,¡± a voice came from behind Jia Tu. It was a white-haired man wielding a crimson-gold rod on his back. As he blinked, golden lightning faintly flashed in his eyes. The person who spoke was called Xu Lei, a sacred heaven pride in Shengzu Heaven second only to Jia Tu. Jia Tu said indifferently, "Although the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation has its flaws, it is ultimately derived from the Saint experts in our Sacred Race. Its complexity and profoundness makes it difficult for even experts with Spirit of the Allroaming stage to identify its hidden flaws.¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan...must be carrying some kind of mysterious treasure.¡± If it weren''t for Zhou Yuan, the five heavens army couldn¡¯t take half a step into the formation even if they all risked their lives. Staring at the light screen, Xu Lei suddenly said, ¡°The boundary isn¡¯t fully operated yet. If we remove the boundary and combine our strengths it wouldn¡¯t be too difficult to destroy the people from the five heavens. It should also be the safest method.¡± ¡°No!¡± Jia Tu refused without any hesitation. ¡°Once the boundary is removed, we can¡¯t assemble it again with our strength. At that time, we also can¡¯t swallow all nine main veins.¡± Moreover, they wouldn''t know how to report back to Shengzu Heaven and could even be punished. After all, the Saint experts had been preparing for years to swallow the main ancestral qi veins. "Although the situation is a little unexpected, there¡¯s no need to panic. Those lowly ants can¡¯t truly shake the boundary.¡± Jia Tu looked at Xu Lei and said, ¡°The ones in front are just appetizers. Do you think they can really get past the final nodes guarded by us?¡± Xu Lei pondered for a moment, then chuckled and shook his head. ¡°They are just ants trying to shake a tree.¡± Jia Tu smiled and said calmly, "So everything is still under control. We¡¯ll just let them feel a trace of hope before we crush them. Their expressions at that time will be quite amusing.¡± "Well, we¡¯ll let them be happy for a while." Xu Lei nodded. The two sat and stood before the light screen, quietly watching the changes within the boundary. Half a day flashed by. The light specks on the light screen, which represented the boundary nodes, constantly dimmed. More and more nodes were being destroyed. The boundary also grew increasingly unstable. Jia Tu''s expression remained indifferent. He paid no attention to the ordinary teams from the five heavens because even if they were to create huge disturbance on the periphery, they couldn¡¯t destroy the boundary. His eyes were fixed on the deepest nodes. Those were along the most important route. And that was exactly the direction where the five heavens top experts were heading. After advancing for a day, they were nearing the line of defense in the depths. ¡°They are almost here. We can¡¯t be careless anymore. Otherwise that will be like playing with fire,¡± urged Xu Lei. Jia Tu also nodded slightly. The next line of defense could be regarded as the last line of defense in the boundary¡¯s center. "Pass on the order and tell everyone to be ready." Then, Jia Tu shifted his gaze to a certain node, where Zhou Yuan should be and his eyes flashed with intense murderous intent. "Xu Lei, I leave Zhou Yuan for you to deal with this time.¡± Xu Lei, a Heavenly Sun expert second only to him in Shengzu Heaven, should be enough to deal with Zhou Yuan given his strength. Moreover, the fact that Jia Tu sent out Xu Lei also showed that he didn''t look down on Zhou Yuan. Xu Lei stretched his body, saying, ¡°But if I go, you won''t be able to play.¡± There was undisguised arrogance in his tone and words. Jia Tu smiled. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. I have to sit here and overwatch everything just in case.¡± Xu Lei raised his brows. "What do you mean just in case? You mean if I lose to Zhou Yuan?¡± "Don''t pick faults in my words¡­I just have to take responsibility for our mission, though I don¡¯t think that there would be any problems¡­ "Right, if you get rid of Zhou Yuan, break his limbs and bring them back. I will refine them into a slave and control it to kill his family." A cruel and bloodthirsty smile twisted the corners of his mouth. Jia Tu evidently had deep hatred towards Zhou Yuan, who had repeatedly ruins his plans. ¡°As you wish." Xu Lei waved his hand and stepped forward. The space in front instantly shattered and his figure vanished. Watching Xu Lei¡¯s departing figure as he left, Jia Tu''s expression turned indifferent again. Then, he shifted his gaze to the boundary light speck where Zhou Yuan was and said pitifully, "Poor lowly ant. You¡¯ve worked so hard for a day, but in the end it¡¯s useless. "You will soon experience what despair is¡­" With a flick of his finger, invisible waves rippled the great formation. At the same time, many Sacred Race experts erupted with terrifying Genesis Qi. They pierced through the boundary with a slight movement and came to the last line of defense. The people who Zhou Yuan encountered before weren¡¯t considered a threat except the sacred heaven prides. The real show had only just started. Chapter 1176 Powerful Enemies Appear But there wasn¡¯t a ripple of expression on her face. After several fierce battles, her clothes were a little torn and exposed her fair glass-like skin, but because of her Saint Glass Body, she still looked untainted by a speck of dust. The powerful enemies she encountered in those nodes couldn¡¯t stop her half a step. She stared silently at the changing space, waiting for it to stabilize. Finally, she appeared to be standing on a tremendous square surrounded with huge mottled and ancient statues. Bai Xiaolu stepped across the square, seemingly relaxed, but in truth, her body was very tense and terrifying power was on the verge of exploding from her body. This was because she knew that the boundary node in front of her was extremely important, and it was almost the last line of defense. She halted her footsteps around one hundred steps forward and peered coldly ahead with her huge black eyes. A figure was sat cross-legged atop a stone statue with a beast leg dripping with blood in his hand. His sharp teeth pierced through and crushed the bone, splattering blood everywhere. The person was burly and tall and his upper body was bare, revealing all the vivid beast patterns inscribed on him. As those patterns squirmed, the roar of beasts resounded. Staring at him, Bai Xiaolu¡¯s expressions grew serious because she felt a dangerous aura emitting from him. Moreover, the fierce beast patterns that shrouded his body were equally terrifying. He was clearly an expert specialized in cultivating physical strength. ¡°Flawless Saint Glass Body?" The man grinned at Bai Xiaolu, and his teeth still stained with blood made him look even more terrifying. ¡°I didn¡¯t think someone in the five lower heavens can cultivate their body to such a level.¡± Standing up, he erupted with a ferocious aura, as though thousands of fierce beasts were roaring behind him. "I am De Moyue, a Shengzu Heaven sacred heaven pride, remember my name¡­because I will eat your body bit by bit after defeating you.¡± Bai Xiaolu''s little face was icy-cold. Then, her body grew slender and long, and her skin radiated a sacred glass light, as though untouchable. ¡°I have no interest in your disgusting body, so I have to crush you after I defeat you¡­" her voice was icy and filled with thick killing intent. Boom! Before her voice faded, several images of her appeared as she shot out. She clenched her slender hand and a golden hammer appeared in her grip, as though lifting a mountain, and slammed towards De Moyue. Rumble! Terrifying shock waves broke out and destroyed all the ancient stone statues. ... He circulated his Genesis Qi without any reservation. He solemnly focussed his gaze ahead. There, a tall figure clad in heavy armor stood, and only a pair of eyes filled with killing intent was exposed from his facial armor. Even if he merely stood there, a murderous aura assaulted Zhao Mushen¡¯s face as though he was facing a powerful army. That aura made Guan Qinglong feel piercing pain in his skin. It was an extremely dangerous and powerful enemy! His opponent¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation likely broke the 4 billion level! ¡°Remember me, I am Yuan Jiu, a Shengzu Heaven sacred heaven pride, the one who will kill you.¡± Yuan Jiu¡¯s indifferent voice rang out. Then, as he stamped his feet, cracks split the ground and he roared out with surging killing intent. ... At the same time, another sacred heaven pride emerged in front of Jiang Jinlin. His eyes were like blood-red whirlpools. ¡°Mystic Dragon Clan? ¡°I can pluck out your tendons and remove your bones to make a top-quality Blood Genesis Pill.¡± ... Chu Qing stared at the two familiar figures in front of him. They were brothers Mi Shan and Mi Shi. Chu Qing couldn''t compete with them before, but after the opportunities from the ancestral qi stone tablet, his Genesis Qi foundation had skyrocketed to 3.5 billion. Mi Shan and Mi Shi missed the opportunity from the ancestral qi stone tablet, and although their strength had improved, their Genesis Qi foundations were only 3.4 billion and 3.3 billion, respectively. Thus, they couldn¡¯t be compared to Chu Qing. But the two were a threat to Chu Qing since they joined forces to deal with him. ¡°Ai¡­¡± As Chu Qing sighed, black hair swiftly grew from his bare head like spikes and finally fluttered behind him like a black cloak. "Junior brother Zhou Yuan is waiting for us, please brothers can you¡­ ¡°Get lost!¡± Chu Qing¡¯s gaze suddenly turned cold and fierce. The next moment, three figures, shrouded in mighty Genesis Qi, simultaneously sped out and clashed. ... "You are Li Fu, the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in Wuxing Heaven?¡± A black-clad youngster smiled kindly in front of Li Fu, and his wide smile made him appear friendly. It was just that his words made his bright smile look a little strange. "I am Ji Tianluo, a sacred heaven pride from Shengzu Heaven¡­" "After you die, I will prepare a good coffin for you.¡± ... The forest ground was covered with fallen leaves. Wu Yao stood amidst fallen leaves, staring at the big tree ahead with her sharp phoenix eyes, where a woman in white was sitting and looking at her condescendingly. ¡°Such a beautiful person." The woman in white giggled as she studied Wu Yao''s flawless face and beautiful figure. Her graceful curves made even her drool. ¡°I am Gu Yan, a Shengzu Heaven sacred heaven pride.¡± She giggled. "Your face is so beautiful, can you lend it to me?¡± She stretched her neck slightly, and vaguely there was a faint blood-color line across her neck, as though her entire face was just a mask. However, facing the bizarre white-clothed woman, Wu Yao didn''t utter a word and just balled her hand into fist and punched out. Boom! Thunder reverberated throughout the world as a black thunderbolt full of destructive power rumbled out, drowning the woman in white. ... Su Youwei clasped a star-like sword in her hand as her Yin-Yang Heavenly Suns rotated behind her, absorbing and spewing out monstrous Genesis Qi. She turned around sharply and swung her sword. A black-and-white sword light roared out like a yin-yang dragon, slashing through the air towards somewhere in the void. Clang! A scarlet chain fiercely blasted out, colliding with the black-and-white sword light, causing terrifying Genesis Qi shock waves to sweep out and destroy everything in all directions. The chain retracted and a figure loomed where it was. The figure was thin with scarlet chains twisted around her. But those bizarre chains seemed to possess a spiritual intellect. If it was inserted into a person¡¯s body, it could suck up blood as it squirmed. Su Youwei''s pretty face turned solemn. Although she knew the person in front of her should be a sacred heaven pride from the Shengzu Heaven and possessed tyrannical strength, she fearlessly launched another offensive. "His Highness is facing a great obstacle alone, how can I hold him back? So, no matter who you are, please go die.¡± Yin-yang light flowed around her beautiful face, making her look extraordinarily mysterious. ... "Boy, remember my name, I am¡­" "I''m not interested in knowing your name. After I kill you, I can try the taste of a sacred heaven pride from Shengzu Heaven?!¡± Zhao Mushen wore a strange smile as he stared intently at the figure in front of him that exuded vast Genesis Qi. His opponent¡¯s Genesis Qi was evidently stronger than his, but not only was he unafraid, he quivered with excitement. This was because he was excited for something good to eat. So, he took the initiative and sped out. ... At almost the same time, the top Heavenly Sun experts from the five heavens all encountered the trickiest enemies. No one could predict what the outcome would be and how many people would die or live in the end. Zhou Yuan was similarly facing a powerful enemy. It was a man with white hair and a crimson-gold rod. Chapter 1177 Battling Xu Lei But Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t in the mood to pay attention to this. His eyes were fixed on a run-down tower, where a white haired-man was sitting cross-legged and gently tossing a handful of blood-red pills into his slightly opened mouth. As Zhou Yuan swept his gaze over the blood pills, his eyes turned a little colder because he could detect a rich blood smell from them. They were clearly Blood Genesis Pill, a common pill seen among the Sacred Race and was refined from the flesh, blood and Genesis Qi of many living creatures. But they seemed to be the Sacred Race¡¯s favorite snack. ¡°Do you want some?¡± Noticing the change in Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression, he smiled and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to look at me with those eyes. Just as your humans slaughter pigs for food¡ªin the Sacred Race¡¯s eyes, the lowly creature in Tianyuan World is no different to pigs or dogs. ¡°You humans eat the flesh of pigs but our Sacred Race can¡¯t eat your flesh?¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression remained indifferent, and he ignored his argument. The man called Xu Lei possessed tyrannical strength and was many times stronger than all the sacred heaven prides he had previously encountered. He was a true powerful enemy. "I thought I would see Jia Tu here,¡± said Zhou Yuan. Xu Lei smiled. "Trust me, if you see him, you will feel despair.¡± "Also, if we let you lowly ants come to the core of the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation, isn¡¯t that saying we¡¯re incompetent?¡± ¡°Whether you are incompetent or not, I will know after I try. But your appetite is pretty big,¡± Zhou Yuan calmly mocked him. The appetite Zhou Yuan was referring to naturally was the fact that the Sacred Race intended to swallow all nine main ancestral qi veins. Xu Lei said indifferently, ¡°Our Sacred Race is the most noble race in Tianyuan World. We naturally should enjoy the best opportunity between heaven and earth. You lowly ants should be grateful to the Sacred Race for surviving till now, but you dare take the food that the Sacred Race wants.¡± ¡°The most noble race? Ridiculous.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡° "Of course you lowly ants don¡¯t know how noble our Sacred Race is. The living beings in all your heavens are only born from incarnations of the Ancestral Dragon, but my Sacred Race is different¡ªwe have our own god!¡± Xu Lei chuckled and a fanatical and reverent expression suddenly came to his face. ¡°God?¡± Feeling the murderous intent in Xu Lei¡¯s eyes, Zhou Yuan composed his emotions. With a calm look on his face, three Heavenly Suns erupted from his Divine Dwellings. Boom! His Genesis Qi foundation of 4.3 billion was unreservedly displayed! A pillar of platinum light pierced the sky and an oppressive pressure filled the air. ¡°4.3 billion.¡± Xu Lei narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°It¡¯s rare for a Heavenly Sun expert like you to appear in the five lower heavens, but unfortunately, you¡¯re still lacking in my opinion.¡± As he took a step forward, three Heavenly Suns emerged behind him. Boom! Golden lightning-like Genesis Qi revolved around his body, causing space to tremble. His Genesis Qi foundation rapidly soared past the level of 4.4 billion and neared 4.5 billion! This was the powerful foundation of the sacred heaven pride ranked second in the Sacred Race! But what made Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes shrink was that he saw familiar ancient markings on the three Heavenly Suns behind Xu Lei. They were dragon runes! Dragon-Claw Heavenly Suns! They were six-claw Heavenly Suns! Zhou Yuan assumed a serious and solemn expression, but he wasn¡¯t too surprised. Given the resources and unique talents of the Sacred Race, it shouldn¡¯t be surprising that a sacred heaven pride could refine Dragon-Claw Heavenly Suns. He, as expected, is indeed a strong enemy. Zhou Yuan hesitated no more. As Genesis Qu undulated from his body, three Heavenly Suns emerged behind him, resonating with the sound between heaven and earth, and immediately made the universe Genesis Qi become frantic. ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Lei stilled for a moment and surprise crossed his face when Zhou Yuan summoned his Heavenly Suns. ¡°Seven-claw Heavenly Sun!?¡± This was because he noticed that Zhou Yuan also possessed Dragon-Claw Heavenly Suns and he had more dragon-claw runes than him. "Interesting, it seems that the five lower heavens have some residual blessing since you could refine seven-claw Heavenly Suns!" Although Xu Lei spoke indifferently, the killing intent in his eyes greatly intensified. "If I kill you here, maybe you will be the last person in the five lower heavens with seven-claw Heavenly Suns.¡± Xu Lei chuckled. Boom! As his voice died away, he vanished with a flash of golden light. ¡°Amazing speed!¡± Zhou Yuan''s pupils shrank. Xu Lei was the fastest person he had seen in his generation. Even Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t capture his movements. ¡°Decoder Saint Rune!¡± Saint Runes roamed in the depths of Zhou Yuan''s eyes. He turned into a shadow and sped to the right. Bang! The moment he acted, a crimson-gold rod wrapped in golden lightning swung down, fiercely slamming into where Zhou Yuan was previously standing. Kacha! Cracks instantly split the ground and rapidly extended in all directions like earth dragons, tearing down countless dilated buildings on the way. ¡°Huh?¡± A surprised voice rang in the void, ¡°You¡¯re not bad since you could evade my attack.¡± It should be said that he was the best in the entire Shengzu Heaven¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage in terms of speed, and even Jia Tu was inferior to him. Zhou Yuan''s figure blurred and he flashed across the air. "Hey, you can''t escape!" But a mocking laughter rang in his ears and golden lightning flashed out from the ground. The lightning intertwined with each other, forming a net to block all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s escape routes. Boom! Shrouded in a vast sea of golden lightning, he ruthlessly aimed the crimson-golden rod at the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s skull with mountainous force. The momentum was so great that it almost solidified the atmosphere. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned extremely serious because he knew he couldn¡¯t evade the opponent¡¯s fierce attack this time. Since I can''t evade, I¡¯ll meet it directly! He clenched his hand and the Heavenly Yuan Brush flashed out, its white tip instantly turning a dark color. Platinum Genesis Qi roared and surged above the tip, like a dragon hovering around it and about to swallow the world. Clang! The crimson-gold rod collided with the mottled black brush. They both had erupted their Genesis Qi foundation without any reservation in that fierce collision. Rumble! Space stilled for a moment under the impact and then, indescribable Genesis Qi shock waves turned into tornados and suddenly tore down everything in their way, including thousands of buildings. Bang! Two figures blasted back in the Genesis Qi tornados. Space shattered and crumbled as their feet slammed across the air. Xu Lei tightened his grip around his crimson-gold rod as he stared coldly at the young figure in the distance. ¡°Interesting.¡± Although his Genesis Qi foundation surpassed Zhou Yuan¡¯s, he didn¡¯t obtain the overwhelming advantage as he imagined because Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi grade was far beyond his expectation. Zhou Yuan''s Heavenly Yuan Brush pointed to the ground. As he stared at Xu Lei, his eyes grew increasingly fierce. ¡°Fine, before I get rid of Jia Tu, I will use you as warm up!¡± Chapter 1178 King of Secret Arts Two figures repeatedly clashed like lightning above the ancient city of ruins. In less than a few minutes they had already collided over thousands of times. Terrifying Genesis Qi shock waves erupted with every collision, destroying countless old buildings below. Even the shock waves from a battle of that level could inflict severe damage to Heavenly Sun experts with a Genesis Qi foundation of less than 3.5 billion, which highlighted how fierce the clashes were. Bang! Genesis Qi again broke out from another fierce clash. Hovering in mid-air, Xu Lei remained expressionless, but his eyes appeared especially chilling. His Genesis Qi foundation was 100 million more than Zhou Yuan¡¯s and he cultivated grade-8 Golden Tribulation Lightning Qi, which was known for its destructive power. But even so, he didn¡¯t have much advantage in this battle. ¡°That guy¡¯s Genesis Qi grade is likely higher than my Golden Tribulation Lightning Qi..." Lu Xiao¡¯s heart trembled a little when he learned about Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi grade because his Genesis Qi was already considered top-quality amongst grade 8 Genesis Qi. Grade-8 Genesis Qi was likely the top grade in the five lower heavens and the legendary grade-9 Genesis Qi must be unheard of. Even amongst the Sacred Race, it was extremely rare. This was why he was so astonished when he learned that the platinum Genesis Qi that Zhou Yuan cultivated was so powerful. Although it wasn¡¯t quite at the level of grade-9 Genesis Qi, it could be ranked at the top among grade-8 Genesis Qi! Moreover, the mottled black brush in Zhou Yuan''s hand must have reached the threshold of a Saint object, otherwise it couldn¡¯t face his crimson-gold rod without falling into an inferior position. A Saint expert in Shengzu Heaven personally refined the crimson-gold rod for him so it likely would reach the level of Saint objects in the course of time. Zhou Yuan was only able to withstand Xu Lei¡¯s offensives because of the grade of his Genesis Qi and the mottled black brush. ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­¡± Xu Lei¡¯s eyes were icy as he folded his hands into a seal. Golden light rays gushed out from the top of his skull, rapidly accumulating above him until they formed a golden thundercloud. Golden lightning roamed around the cloud, releasing terrifying power that quaked the world. "Golden Lighting Body Art!¡± As Xu Lei thundered, golden lightning bolts rained down and struck his body. But Xu Lei didn¡¯t inflict the slightest injury to Zhou Yuan, and instead the Genesis Qi within his body soared at an unbelievable rate as the lightning bolts bombarded him. Xu Lei¡¯s Genesis Qi skyrocketed to 4.8 billion within a few breaths! It increased by almost 400 million! Xu Lei peered down at Zhou Yuan, looking particularly smug. ¡°Zhou Yuan, my secret art is considered one of the best among the Sacred Race¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage. You¡¯re quite capable of forcing me to use such a secret art to defeat you.¡± They could be considered at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Sun stage; therefore, ordinary secret arts had little effect on them, but Xu Lei could still increase his Genesis Qi foundation by another 400 million, which means his secret art was remarkable. ¡°A secret art that can increase your foundation by 400 million¡ªamazing,¡± exclaimed Zhou Yuan. But immediately afterwards, an ancient rune on the Heavenly Yuan Brush suddenly lit up, causing universe Genesis Qi to frantically whizz over. ¡°Promotion!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation crazily rocketed. It directly soared from 4.3 billion to 4.8 billion! An increase of 500 million! His Promotion Rune gave him an increase of 700 million before he broke-through to the advanced Heavenly Sun stage. But after he reached the advanced Heavenly Sun stage and neared the peak of that cultivation stage, any increase was much more difficult than before. Therefore, its effect weakened and dropped to 500 million. Even so, the arrogance on Xu Lei¡¯s face faded. ¡°An increase of 500 million?! How is that possible?¡± Disbelief filled Xu Lei¡¯s eyes. What kind of secret art is that? How could it provide such a huge increase? His gaze paused on the Heavenly Yuan Brush in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand because he felt a faint aura being released from there. That aura¡­it seems to be a true Saint object! But its power is too weak to be a Saint object. ¡°Could that be a Saint object in the past?¡± Xu Lei quickly arrived at the answer and his face became sullen. While Xu Lei was still in shock, Zhou Yuan looked at him with a corner of his lips curled in a sneer. ¡°You think it¡¯s over?¡± He crouched down, slammed his palm into the ground and a Saint rune flashed in his palm. ¡°Earth Saint Rune!¡± Boom! The ground quaked as ripples visibly spread out. Then, incomparably thick Genesis Qi rushed madly into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body from the depths of the earth. Little snakes appeared to be slithering under Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin, attempting to break out, but were firmly imprisoned inside his flesh in the end. Under Xu Lei¡¯s astonished gaze, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi soared once again. 5 billion! It was an increase of another 200 million! "You!" Facing Zhou Yuan¡¯s might, even Xu Lei was somewhat speechless. His round eyes clearly revealed how his heart was trembling. Even extraordinary secret arts had little effect on people at their level, but Zhou Yuan possessed two of such secret arts?! Moreover, the two weren¡¯t in conflict with one another? Zhou Yuan lifted his head. As he looked at the terrified look that crossed Xu Lei¡¯s face, his scornful smile intensified. ¡°Sorry, but you can call me...the king of secret arts!¡± Boom! Before Xu Lei responded, he already sped out and streaked across the sky. An ear-piercing sonic boom spread like an invisible wave. Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed couldn¡¯t be compared to Xu Lei¡¯s before, but now, under his 5 billion Genesis Qi stars, he surpassed even Xu Lei. Therefore, by the time Xu Lei snapped out of his shock, Zhou Yuan was already standing in front of him as though teleported. Rumble! ¡°Million Whale!¡± Ancient whale cries echoed throughout the world, and the mottled brush in his hand turned into a giant pillar. He fiercely thrust it towards Xu Lei with indescribable power. Xu Lei wasn''t an ordinary person; therefore, at the critical juncture, following a resounding roar, his crimson-gold rod erupted in a blaze of light. He similarly fought back with full-strength. Mighty and domineering, tens of thousands of golden lightning bloomed behind him and met the giant pillar head-on. Clang! Resounding metallic noise resounded as space tore apart. Bang! Soon, a figure blasted away miserably, crashing into the ancient city ruins and split the ground with a thousand feet deep crevasse. It was unknown how many buildings were crumbled into powder along the way. It was only when that figure charged out from the ruins that his face was revealed. It was Xu Lei! His face was dark and unpleasant, and it was obvious that Zhou Yuan completely suppressed him in the previous clash. ¡°Fine¡­¡± His eyes were sinister and cold. Boom! Before he finished his sentence, the space in front of him exploded again and Zhou Yuan charged out like a wild beast. Terrifying Genesis Qi battered his body like a rainstorm. Xu Lei roared and lightning swiftly revolved around his body. Unwilling to show any weakness, he faced Zhou Yuan with all his strength. Rumble! The two frantically clashed over and over again, leaving countless images in the air. The force from every collision tore space and swept down large areas of ruins. Regardless of how much Xu Lei didn¡¯t want to admit it, he had fallen into a disadvantaged position in the Genesis Qi collision. Zhou Yuan''s 5 billion Genesis Qi foundation put him at a disadvantage in every aspect. Clang! Xu Lei was miserably blasted away once again, but this time he didn¡¯t recklessly charge forward because he knew it was pointless. He would only fall into a worse situation and add to his injuries if he competed against Zhou Yuan with Genesis Qi. Hu. Xu Lei drew a deep breath and formed a cross with his arms in the air. That strange motion caused the stars to quiver. Boom! Space vibrated behind him and thunder rumbled madly. Lightning intertwined with each other and formed an ancient pattern. A giant seemed to be roaring skywards like the god of thunder within the lightning pattern. An extremely terrifying aura enveloped the world. Zhou Yuan paused, his expression serious. ¡°That move¡­¡± While Zhou Yuan tensed up a little, Xu Lei¡¯s icy voice that was full of killing intent reverberated throughout the world like rolling thunder. ¡°Saint Genesis Art, Nine Palaces of Rolling Thunder!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. It was indeed a Saint Genesis Art! It seems this guy is furious. Chapter 1179 Destroy Lightning Palm in one Slash As Xu Lei¡¯s murderous voice rang out, thousands of golden lightning bolts roared in the lightning pattern behind him. The lightning accumulated until a thousand-feet-tall golden lightning palm thrust out from the lightning pattern. It resembled the god of lightning¡¯s palm. It was as large as the sky, and the endless lightning twisting around it constantly shattered space as they roar. Countless ancient light runes flickered on the lighting palm, emitting an indescribable aura of destruction. Under that lightning palm, even a mountain range would be crushed into a puff of smoke as though never existed. Even Zhou Yuan¡¯s face grew especially serious when he saw such an offensive. It was no wonder that Xu Lei was second only to Jia Tu in Shengzu Heaven since he could cultivate such a powerful Saint Genesis Art. Even Zhou Yuan felt extreme danger as the palm descended. Even he might die if he didn¡¯t have a force equal to it to withstand. But there wasn¡¯t a flicker of fear in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. As he stared at the sky, fighting spirit blazed in the depths of his eyes. Although Xu Lei was strong, Xu Lei underestimated Zhou Yuan if he thought he could get rid of Zhou Yuan like that. Hu. Zhou Yuan blew out a puff of white air from his nose and swiftly folded his hands into a seal. Then, the rainbow gourd, which hovered between an illusory and solid state, in his Divine Dwellings suddenly vibrated. Rainbow color lights shot up from the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s skull. Om! An indescribably sharp qi gathered in the world. It was so sharp that it could slice the world in half. The invisible sword intent slashed apart even the layers of clouds high above. The blaze of rainbow colors surged, expanding rapidly, and turned into a thousand-feet beam of sword light in just a few breaths. Rainbow colors and countless crystal dusts constantly circulated around the sword light. The sword light was so dazzling and vast that it resembled a galaxy in the night sky. It naturally was the Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light. The rainbow sword light that Zhou Yuan previously brought out was only a ray of rainbow light and couldn¡¯t be compared to the current one in terms of power or momentum. If the ray of sword light that Zhou Yuan previously cultivated had only just crossed the threshold, the current beam of sword light showed signs of perfection. This was of the many benefits from the stone tablet in the mystic ruins! ¡°Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd, Sky Severing Sword Light!¡± As Zhou Yuan muttered, the galaxy-like rainbow sword light soared into the sky, splitting the void in half and left a deep black marking in the sky that only faded after a good while. Even time seemed to have still during the collision. Unexpectedly, there wasn¡¯t any loud boom or shock waves of Genesis Qi from the collision. The rainbow sword light instantly appeared behind the lightning palm with a flash. The rainbow light beam faded rapidly. The thousand-feet sword light shrank by more than ten times in seconds. But the lightning palm slowly split into two from the center. The lightning palm fell, turning into a sky of golden light. As Zhou Yuan raised his head, the golden light reflected on his face made him appear fiercer and merciless. The remaining rainbow sword light slashed towards Xu Lei following the weak waves of Genesis Qi from the lightning palm. Clang! Shrouded in golden lightning Genesis Qi, the crimson-gold rod collided with the remaining rainbow sword light. The sword light shattered to pieces, while Xu Lei grunted and spurted a mouthful of blood. He reeled back thousands of feet in embarrassment before he could steady himself. But shock and disbelief filled his face. ¡°How could¡­¡± He couldn''t believe Zhou Yuan could slice apart his Nine Palaces of Rolling Thunder. Even Zhou Yuan¡¯s remaining sword qi caused significant damage to him! ¡°Your Saint Genesis Art¡¯s power is lacking.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled as he looked at Xu Lei. The outcome didn¡¯t surprise him because he had the upper hand whether it was in Genesis Qi foundation, Genesis Qi grade or the Saint Genesis Art¡¯s power. What did Xu Lei have to compete with him? Xu Lei¡¯s face was overcast with a fierce frown as he wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth. After the battle, he had to quell the arrogance in his heart because although the person in front of him was a lowly ant, the strength he possessed did not allow him to be underestimated. Otherwise he could be killed in the hands of this lowly ant if he continued to underestimate him. This was something that Xu Lei couldn¡¯t accept. Xu Lei drew a deep breath, suppressing the unwillingness and bitterness in his heart. Staring at Zhou Yuan indifferently, he suddenly flung his sleeve. The space behind twisted and distorted and a tremendous light portal emerged. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression tensed. "This space portal leads to the core of the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation. ¡°Do you want to go? Xu Lei sneered, "But I won''t make it easy for you. "Zhou Yuan, your strength is indeed more tyrannical than I imagined. Also, I¡¯m impressed you could cultivate to such a level in the five lower heavens. But unfortunately for you, I won¡¯t let you pass!¡± The vertical line on the center of his brows slowly opened. A mysterious and ice-cold Sacred Pupil appeared. Four stars rotated within the Sacred Pupil. Four star level! Boom! Endless lightning spewed from the Sacred Pupil. Then, thunderclouds gushed forth from the Sacred Pupil and expanded into monstrous thunderclouds in just a few breaths. They all gathered in front of the space portal. The dense thunderclouds were filled with terrifying waves of energy and destructive power. Xu Lei seated himself in the depths of the thunderclouds, locked his eyes on Zhou Yuan and said indifferently, "Zhou Yuan, this is one of my Sacred Pupil transformation techniques¡­The Sacred Lightning Tribulation Cloud!¡± "Due to many restrictions, this technique can¡¯t attack and is only used as defense, but no one dares to enter the tribulation clouds. "Zhou Yuan, if you want to enter the space portal, you have to make it through the tribulation clouds!¡± Xu Lei was no longer obsessed with defeating Zhou Yuan and instead he set up defensive measures. The victory would still belong to him if he successfully guarded the space portal. Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows as he studied the black thunderclouds that blotted out the sky. The thunderclouds were extremely mysterious and seemed to contain tribulation lightnings. Moreover, the destructive power it possessed made one shudder with fear. The Sacred Race was really a race blessed by heaven. The power of their Sacred Pupil was so unfathomable and mysterious that it made countless people envious. However¡­ Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glinted fiercely as he stared at the space portal in the depths of the thunderclouds. No one can stop me today! So what if there are tribulation lightnings? I¡¯ll just tear them to shreds! Chapter 1180 Sacred Pupil Transforms into Tribulation Lightning Dense thunderclouds rolled across the sky, blotting out the sun, and released waves of destruction that caused the world to vibrate violently. Sitting in the depths of the thundercloud, Xu Lei wore an extremely calm expression and seemed very confident in his means. This was because even Jia Tu wouldn¡¯t be able to create much trouble for him inside the tribulation cloud he formed from his Sacred Pupil. But the technique had its flaws¡ªit couldn¡¯t attack. Therefore, if the opponent retreated, it would only become a lightning display. But it was perfect to used in his present situation. He surrounded the space portal with tribulation lightning. Therefore, Zhou Yuan had to charge through the lightning tribulation to reach the core of the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation, while Xu Lei sat leisurely in the background. Although he was a little reluctant to bring out such a defensive measure, it would be worth it if it could obstruct Zhou Yuan from advancing and stop him from disturbing the Sacred Race¡¯s great plan. Rumble! As Zhou Yuan peered up at the thick thunderclouds, he could feel the dangerous waves contained within it, but he still calmly strode forward without much hesitation. He broke into the tribulation clouds with that one step. Boom ! Thunderclouds scudded as through forming a whirlpool and endless lightning frantically gathered, merged and compressed. A thousand-feet tribulation lightning shrouded in the aura of destruction crashed down. Platinum Genesis Qi roared out from the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s skull, forming a cloud of qi above him. The cloud vibrated violently from the impact and its surface drooped and shrank a little. Boom! Tribulation lightning bolts were constantly refined and struck down with fierce and unmatched power. In just a few breaths, the Genesis Qi cloud broke apart and a lightning bolt penetrated space and crashed towards him. ¡°Great Flame Devil!¡± Lava-like patterns appeared all over Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as tyrannical power surged within his body. An intense heat was emitted, twisting and distorting space. Boom! The tribulation lightning fiercely struck his body. Lightning flowed all over the place, and Zhou Yuan dropped several hundred feet before he could steady his body. By the time, his skin was already scorched and smoke curled up from his body. His injury clearly wasn¡¯t light at all. ¡°What a powerful tribulation lightning!¡± If my Great Flame Devil hadn¡¯t reached great heights because of the opportunities in the mystic ruins, my body likely couldn¡¯t withstand the tribulation lightning¡¯s power. With a solemn face, Zhou Yuan circulated all his Genesis Qi and bodily strength to destroy the destructive power that invaded his body. The destructive power wreaking havoc in his body was gradually eliminated. ¡°Huh?¡± But the moment the destructive power disappeared, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart quivered and astonishment surged from his heart. This was because he could feel his bodily strength had improved once again through his Spirit perception. "This...is from being struck by the tribulation lightning¡¯s destructive power?¡± A light dawned on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Since his body had reached such a level, ordinary training methods had little effect on it. However, the tribulation lightning¡¯s destructive power, which, if he could withstand, could strengthen his body. ¡°There''s such a good benefit from the tribulation lightning?¡± But Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows again after a thought. ¡°If I want to borrow that guy¡¯s tribulation lighting to refine my body, I would have to provoke large amounts of tribulation lightning, but those lightning, which contain ferocious and destructive power, could shake my Spirit and mind if it were to accumulate in my body. Also, I could fail miserably if I was careless. "If I can weaken the tribulation lightning¡¯s power and remove some of its violent tendencies, that would be great!¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head, wondering if he was asking too much. But just as he was about to give up on the idea, he suddenly raised his brows. "Actually...it''s not impossible.¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed. He instantaneously appeared in the depths of the thunderclouds and erupted in platinum Genesis Qi, forming a light barrier to protect him as well as to prevent him from being detected. Xu Lei sneered, ¡°Stop pretending, no matter who you are, you will be destroyed into ashes under my tribulation lightning!¡± Thunderclouds scudded by and dozens of thick tribulation lightning roared down like dragons, slamming into the Genesis Qi barrier. Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged within the light barrier, gazing at the several astonishingly powerful tribulation lightning, and muttered, ¡°Heavenly Punishment Law Domain.¡± Hum. A mysterious one-foot Law Domain spread out from Zhou Yuan. A tribulation lightning crashed down and split the light barrier, piercing right into the one-foot Law Domain. But the tribulation lightning was immediately weakened the moment it entered the Law Domain. The most astonishing thing was that the Law Domain¡¯s strength forcibly erased its violent tendencies and tyrannical power. This was the power of the Law Domain! Even if Zhou Yuan''s Law Domain was only one feet wide, which was far inferior to a true Law Domain expert¡¯s Law Domain, any object that broke into his Law Domain was suppressed. Only another Law Domain could fight against the power of a Law Domain. Or¡­it could be incinerated it with a powerful Saint fire Although Xu Lei¡¯s tribulation lightning was powerful, they only contained power at the Heavenly Sun stage. Therefore, all lightning was crushed when they invaded the one-feet Law Domain. The Law Domain is indeed impressive, Zhou Yuan marveled inwardly, but it¡¯s a pity that my Law Domain, like Xu Lei''s tribulation lightning, is limited by my strength. Boom! As thoughts streamed through his mind, the fierce tribulation lightnings continued to strike down, weakened by his Law Domain, and bombarded his body. Suddenly, lightning roamed around his body, scorching his skin, and even blood seeped out from his pores. Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows. Even if weakened, such a huge number of lightning still brought him endless pain. He gritted his teeth, enduring the piercing pain, and continued to circulate his strength to eliminate the destructive power that invaded his body. A moment later. Zhou Yuan finally relaxed his brows and surprise lit up his face. He found that his body was indeed strengthened as the destructive power was worn away. ¡°This..is a pleasant surprise." A smile spread over Zhou Yuan''s face. He raised his head and peered through the light barrier. His eyes blazed as he stared at the lighting swirling around in the sky. Perhaps, he could use the power of Xu Lei¡¯s tribulation lightning to improve his body to another level. At that time, maybe he also could experience the Sacred Glass Body¡¯s mystery... After all, it would be a lie if he said he wasn¡¯t envious of Bai Xiaolu''s Sacred Glass Body! ¡°Xu Lei¡­ ¡°It depends on you whether or not I can reach that level.¡± Chapter 1181 Strengthen Body with Tribulation Lightning Thunder continuously rumbled within the dense and berserk thunderclouds and tribulation lightning bolts constantly rained down like enraged dragons. A monstrous destructive force battered the platinum Genesis Qi barrier below. Space distorted under the thunderous rumbling. Xu Lei sat in the depths of the thunderclouds, staring coldly at the Genesis Qi light barrier. He could sense Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi steadily weakening. "Hmph, no matter how talented you are, you have no chance of surviving inside my tribulation clouds!¡± Xu Lei snorted coldly. It was just that he also paled a little and dark blood surged within his Sacred Pupil. It was clear that the tribulation cloud art took a toll on his Sacred Pupil and it would take him a period to fully recover. However, he felt it was worth it as long as he could obstruct Zhou Yuan and stop him from interfering with the Sacred Race¡¯s plan. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can withstand.¡± Xu Lei drew a deep breath, light roaming within his Sacred Pupil. Thunderclouds suddenly rolled more frantically, and tribulation lightning continued to rain down. He estimated he could completely eliminate Zhou Yuan and turn him to ashes in less than an hour. "Cherish your last moment alive.¡± Xu Lei smiled, closing his eyes. He closed them for exactly one hour. As Xu Lei opened his eyes, he couldn¡¯t help scrunching his brows in a frown because he saw the Genesis Qi light barrier remained, even if it was slightly tottering Moreover, Zhou Yuan still stubbornly stood tall, even if his Genesis Qi was much weaker than before. Xu Lei somehow felt a little uneasy. Hasn¡¯t that guy endured for too long? He wanted to peep into the light barrier to understand the situation, but for some reason, a peculiar power within the light barrier prevented his perception from penetrating. Xu Lei''s eyes flickered around and finally a ruthless look flashed across his eyes. Since there¡¯s something wrong, I should change my move. No matter what, I can¡¯t let that boy have the slightest opportunity! ¡°You¡¯re still not dead? Then I¡¯ll increase the power!" Xu Lei folded his hands into a seal. Streaks of blood crawled around his face like worms and finally all tunnelled into his Sacred Pupil in the centre of his brows. Blood-colored light bloomed from his Sacred Pupil. Boom! Blood-colored light wisps roamed around the rolling thunderclouds, turning a tribulation lightning a dark-red color and emitted a bizarre and terrifying aura. Unable to bear the tribulation lightning¡¯s power any longer, the clouds around began to dissipate. ¡°Go!¡± Xu Lei thundered. The dark-red tribulation lightning struck down, crashing into the Genesis Qi light barrier. Boom! A muffled grunt sounded. ¡°He¡¯s really tenacious,¡± remarked Xu Lei, but he still praised himself for his cautiousness. Although he was unaware what Zhou Yuan was doing inside, he knew it wouldn¡¯t be anything good and so he suddenly increased his power, which should be a surprise to Zhou Yuan. "Now, destroy it in one go.¡± More and more blood streaks gathered on Xu Lei¡¯s face and finally merged into his Sacred Pupil. While the thunderclouds continued to brew dark-red tribulation lightnings and pelted the Genesis Qi barrier in quick succession. Under such a terrifying offensive, the space around the Genesis Qi barrier began to show cracks. However, blood trickled down Xu Lei¡¯s Sacred Pupil due to the power required to activate the tribulation lightning, making him appear even more frightening. The Genesis Qi in his body was gradually exhausted. But Xu Lei still gritted his teeth and had no intention of giving up. He knew Zhou Yuan was an extremely difficult opponent and so he had to concentrate all his energy to defeat him. Otherwise, if he let Zhou Yuan catch his breath, the situation could change again. Xu Lei stared intently at the Genesis Qi barrier growing weaker from the impact. It¡¯s severely damaged now. Almost there. Xu Lei curled a corner of his lips in a sneer and exerted his final strength. The last dark-red tribulation lightning slammed into the Genesis Qi light barrier like a fierce dragon. Boom! The barrier finally reached its limit, shattered and lit the sky with countless flecks of light. Xu Lei stared at the shattered barrier with a faint smile, but that smile only lasted a few breaths. Horror filled his eyes. This was because he saw Zhou Yuan sitting cross-legged in the center of the barrier. His clothes were in tatters, exposing his scorched skin, and he even faintly emitted a barbecue smell. But Zhou Yuan''s eyes were extraordinarily bright like the stars. He raised his head and looked at Xu Lei¡¯s horrified face with a slight smile. ¡°You''re still alive?!" Xu Lei exclaimed. Zhou Yuan is still alive after being struck by tribulation lightning so many times?! How is that possible? What kind of monster is he? Zhou Yuan ignored Xu Lei''s terrified gaze and stood up tremblingly. He looked at his scorched body and grinned, showing his white teeth. ¡°Your tribulation lightning is very powerful and almost killed me. "However, unfortunately for you, it¡¯s only almost. "Also, I should thank you for increasing your power. Otherwise, I would have endured everything for nothing.¡± He looked sincerely at Xu Lei. "What do you mean?" asked Xu Leihan. Zhou Yuan''s body swayed slightly. Then, his scorched skin peeled off and his burnt black body was replaced by a tough body with boundless strength. Every contour of his body was full of power but he didn¡¯t appear particularly well-built. Zhou Yuan extended his hand and squeezed slightly. There seemed to be thunder rumbling in his palm. As he thrust his palm down, space showed signs of distorting. He moved about his body randomly and a strange thunderous roar echoed inside his body, which were abnormal noises from his flowing blood and muscles vibrating. An indescribable power flooded his limbs and bones. He suddenly threw out a punch and blasted a hole into the sky. Looking at Zhou Yuan¡¯s body from afar, Xu Lei felt danger that made his hair stand on end. Then, he suddenly saw lights flowing across Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The light was sacred-looking and transparent like glass. Dust whirled across the world, but when it neared Zhou Yuan, it actively avoided him. Xu Lei stared blankly at the scene. Then, his heart quivered violently and his face twisted uncontrollable because he finally understood what happened. ¡°Saint Glass Light?!¡± ¡°You used my tribulation lightning to strengthen your body?!¡± Chapter 1182 Saint Glass Ligh The tribulation lightning he formed with his Sacred Pupil not only failed to inflict injury to Zhou Yuan, but helped strengthen his body to another level! This guy deliberately concealed himself with the Genesis Qi barrier to make him appear miserable from being struck by tribulation lightning, but he was in fact using the lightning¡¯s power to strengthen his body! Moreover¡­ "How dare you use my tribulation lightning to refine your own body?!" His tribulation lightnings were violent, powerful and contained destructive tendencies, and if too much accumulated in one¡¯s body, it could lead to an explosion. No one would be that crazy to endure it with their bodies! He didn''t understand exactly why Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t destroyed by the destructive power contained within the lightning. But Zhou Yuan had no interest in answering to alleviate Xu Lei¡¯s puzzlement. Instead, he checked the changes within his body. Even without circulating Genesis Qi, his surging power was enough to send a chill down one¡¯s spine. According to his estimation, he could kill anyone with a Genesis Qi foundation of less than 3 billion on the spot with one punch. "Unfortunately, I still haven¡¯t refined the real Saint Glass Body.¡± Zhou Yuan sounded a little disappointed. Although wisps of Saint glass light were born from his body, his body still wasn¡¯t considered a true Saint glass body. However, this was normal because if he did reach that level, he could face Nascent Source experts with his bodily strength alone. Bai Xiaolu''s glass body also hadn¡¯t reached that level. Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan chuckled again. He was too greedy because the birth of glass light was already very difficult and would have taken years of painstaking practice in normal circumstances. He already profited hugely to achieve this level from Xu Lei¡¯s tribulation lightning. After all, he had taken the hardest first step, and with continued practice, he no doubt would achieve a true Saint glass body in the future. Therefore, he should be satisfied with achieving the glass light. The glass light was rumoured to linger outside one¡¯s skin like a faint halo and could act as a strong defense shield. With the mysterious light¡¯s protection, not only would his power greatly increase, his defensive ability would also be greatly enhanced. It could be called a divine light protection. Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan peered up at the layers of thunderclouds in the sky. The tribulation lightning¡¯s power was almost exhausted and the thunderclouds showed signs of dissipating. Boom! Thunderclouds scudded across the sky and thunder rumbled, seemingly about to erupt. Roar! Zhou Yuan opened his mouth and unleashed a long roar. His roar was like a dragon and almost formed a solid sound wave. The sound wave swept everywhere, dispersing the thunderclouds still trying to accumulate wherever it passed. When the thunderclouds disappeared, a brilliant shaft of sunlight came through. Standing amid flares of light, Zhou Yuan smiled indifferently at Xu Lei¡¯s sullen face. ¡°Do you have any tricks left?¡± Xu Lei''s face paled a little. He slowly closed his Sacred Pupil that was constantly dripping with blood. He had paid a huge price to summon the tribulation lightning, but it was no use in the end. And now, he was left temporarily unable to activate his Sacred Pupil, his strongest trump card. Xu Lei understood that he was no longer a match for Zhou Yuan given his present conditions. However, he was very resolute. Although reluctant to admit defeat, he no longer attacked recklessly because he knew that he could be killed. Hu. Xu Lei took a deep breath and drew a step back. His retreat meant that he gave up on defending the space portal. He stepped into a slightly distorted space, and if he took another step back he could leave the boundary node and Zhou Yuan couldn''t stop him. "Zhou Yuan, you won this time,¡± uttered Xu Lei emotionlessly. "Thank you then,¡± said Zhou Yuan with a smile, "It''s a pity that your tribulation lightning isn¡¯t long-lasting enough. Otherwise, I could have improved a little bit more.¡± The corners of Xu Lei''s mouth twitched when he heard Zhou Yuan''s ridicule! ¡°A prisoner also has a full meal before their death row. Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s actually for your own good if you were obstructed by me here, because when you meet Jia Tu, you will be utterly defeated till not a piece of your skin is left complete. You will no longer be able to cultivate and become crippled." "I really want to see then.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of fear in his eyes. Instead his eyes blazed with anticipation and fighting spirit. He had never feared a battle, because in his opinion, strong enemies were polishing stones to improve his strength. He had met many powerful enemies over the years, and it was from them that he became increasingly strong. Xu Lei couldn¡¯t help but snort seeing that Zhou Yuan was unaffected by his threat. His mind is so tough, it¡¯s no wonder he possessed such strength. "But don''t be so smug. I can''t obstruct you, but you can''t enter this space portal either,¡± sneered Xu Lei. Zhou Yuan calmly looked at the space portal that stood firmly in the illusory space. It looked faint but it was connected to the entire formation¡¯s power. Therefore, even if Zhou Yuan exhausted all his strength, he couldn¡¯t move it in the slightest. There were two requirements to enter the depths of the boundary from this space portal: one was to defeat Xu Lei and the other was to destroy the majority of the other important nodes. Only then would the boundary be shaken and reveal its flaw. The other important nodes were undoubtedly the routes taken by Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong and the others. "I wonder how the others are..." Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment, and then took out a purple-gold bamboo slip. It suddenly glowed and formed a faint light screen in front of him. His gaze locked on the innermost light spots. His pupils shrank uncontrollably the moment his gaze landed on the light screen. This was because he saw two light spots had gone out. In other words, two people had died in the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation. Who were they?! Chapter 1183 Two People Died in Battle A dark-yellow dragon was lying on its stomach in a giant pit, its scales had shattered and blood constantly flowed out its body, staining the ground a faint golden color. The giant dragon''s body was motionless, and although its eyes were opened, its vitality was completely gone. Dong! Grinning, a figure dripping with blood summoned a cauldron in front of the dragon and added materials to light the cauldron. As the fire blazed, the intense heat caused even space to distort. The figure lifted the cauldron lid with the flick of his sleeve and a stream of blood-color light swept across, severing the dragon claws and tossed them into the cauldron. "Haha, the Blood Genesis Pill refined from the blood and flesh of a member of the Mystic Dragon Clan makes anyone hungry,¡± he said with a smile. As he sliced the dragon flesh from the dragon¡¯s body, he moved closer and stared at the dragon eyes that were still filled with disbelief and terror. ¡°You¡¯re not bad since you could wound me to this extent. Unfortunately, you still died in the end. "And I will enjoy your dragon flesh.¡± The figure¡¯s eyes were blood-red like whirlpools and chilled one to the bone. In particular, when he laughed, many would shudder uncontrollably. The figure was a sacred heaven pride from Shengzu Heaven. The dragon corpse in front of him was his opponent¡­Jiang Jinlin from the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Mystic Dragon Clan. ... Clang! In the mountains, a figure was hammering a boulder to create a coffin lid. The figure was a youngster dressed in black and wore a bright smile. He examined the coffin lid and nodded in satisfaction. Behind him was a stone coffin carved with exquisite and detailed patterns. A body with twisted limbs laid inside the stone coffin. The body, icy-cold and stiff, was clearly dead. It was Li Fu, the commander-in-chief from Wuxing Heaven. The black-clad youngster lifted up the coffin lid and turned to look at the corpse inside the stone coffin. His clothes suddenly ripped apart, revealing the hideous scars all over his body, as if struck by lightning, burnt and slashed. "You have wounded me severely,¡± said the black-clothed youngster with a smile, "but I will be the bigger person and won¡¯t make a fuss about it. Look, I even created such a beautiful coffin for you. ¡°So, you can rest in peace now.¡± The youngster dug a deep hole, buried the stone coffin, and then lit three incense sticks and bowed sorrowfully. But when he raised his head, a strange smile spread over his face. "I''ve done a ceremony for you...so, can I eat you now?¡± ... ¡°Jiang Jinlin¡­Li Fu¡­¡± He remained silent for a good while, composing his emotions, and finally bowed his head and mourned for the two who died in battle. Although his relationship with Jiang Jinlin wasn¡¯t too good, they were still on the same side and could be considered comrades. If a rabbit dies, a fox grieves, let alone a human. ¡°Haha, it seems that two people on your team have died.." Xu Lei¡¯s laughter rang in the void. It seemed that he also learnt about the result through another channel. He stared mockingly at Zhou Yuan, saying, ¡°Are you beginning to feel despair? The door to the core is right in front of you and you have reached the limit of what you can do. Unfortunately...you still can''t get in. "Give up, this is the huge gap between you lowly ants and my Sacred Race. Even if the five lower heavens have an abnormal monster like you, it still can¡¯t change the result. In the face of absolute power, you are still small and insignificant, like a speck of dust.¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head, looking emotionless at Xu Lei, but the indifference made Xu Lei shudder inwardly. He didn¡¯t say anything to Xu Lei and just silently gripped the purple-gold bamboo slip in his hand, passing a message through the slip. ¡°I am Zhou Yuan, I have two pieces of news to tell you all. "The first news is that I have defeated the sacred heaven pride who obstructed me, and I am now just outside the space portal that leads to the boundary core. "The second piece of news is that...Jiang Jinlin and Li Fu have both died in battle. "If the majority of the other important nodes aren¡¯t destroyed, our gamble will end in failure¡­ ¡°But we can¡¯t retreat now¡­ ¡°So, I hope¡­ ¡°Everyone, regardless who you are fighting for, we should fight to the death!¡± ... Dong! On a square with no end in sight, countless stone statues suddenly crumbled to pieces. Two figures shot out, leaving deep marks on the ground. Bai Xiaolu''s long black hair flowed behind her and her body had become slender and long like a willow branch. Although she appeared delicate and weak, the power she possessed could crush a mountain. However, Bai Xiaolu¡¯s condition wasn¡¯t particularly good. Her glass-like skin was riddled with countless wounds and her right arm was twisted and seemed to have snapped from tremendous pressure. Bai XiaoLu lifted up her slender arm and twisted it expressionlessly. Following a loud snap, her arm was moved back into position, and she glared ahead with an extremely icy gaze. A burly figure of at least ten-feet-tall stood like an iron tower. A fierce beast extended out as his flesh squirmed. Half its body was still stuck inside the body while the other half roared and waved frantically in the air. From a distance, it resembled a monster combined from several fierce beasts. It was De Moyue, the sacred heaven pride who obstructed Bai Xiaolu. The two had already been through an extremely fierce and bitter battle. However, De Moyue seemed to have the upper hand. Bai Xiaolu''s eyes were icy-cold, and just as she was about to launch another offensive, she paused abruptly because she heard a voice in her ears. It was Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice that came through the jade bamboo slip. ¡°Jiang Jinlin and Li Fu have died in battle?¡± Bai Xiaolu¡¯s countenance changed. She carefully listened to Zhou Yuan¡¯s every word and exhaled deeply at the end. ¡°Our situation is bad¡­¡± She knew Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t enter the boundary¡¯s core if they didn¡¯t destroy the majority of the nodes. But as Zhou Yuan had said, they couldn¡¯t retreat because even if they chose to give up they would still be killed in the end. Moreover, the Heavenly Sun stage elites from the five great heavens would be wiped out then. It would be a huge loss to the five heavens. Although Heavenly Sun experts weren¡¯t particularly special, they were still the new blood, which the five heavens had put in considerable effort and resources to cultivate. ¡°It seems¡­ ¡°We have to fight to the death,¡± muttered Bai Xiaolu. She folded her hands into a seal and a glass rune emerged in the center of her brows. Several light rays rapidly spread out and enveloped her body. A terrifying power brewed from her body. Mo Yue¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. ¡°You are burning you own flesh and blood...what a lunatic." ... Chapter 1184 Each Fight With Their Life Despite his severe injuries, Guan Qinglong still hadn¡¯t fallen. He tightly gripped his Azure Dragon Blade, blood streaming down his arm and dyed the blade blood-red. A tall figure clad in heavy armour stood in front of him. The armor was similarly covered with deep sword marks, but compared to Guan Qinglong, his state was much better. As Guan Qinglong looked at the armored figure exuding an imposing bearing, his expression tensed and his countenance changed. "Even Jiang Jinlin and Li Fu have died in battle¡­" Guan Qinglong¡¯s expression was particularly complex because this was the first time they received news of a leader¡¯s death since the start of the Battle of Guyuan Heaven. It was clear that the Sacred Race elites were incredibly powerful. Even Guan Qinglong had fallen into a disadvantaged position, and if the situation continued like this, he also might die in battle. But¡­I can¡¯t just die like that. Guan Qinglong slowly tightened his grip around the blade, muttering, ¡°Even if I die, I should do something useful before I die. ¡°Captain Zhou Yuan, you are stronger than me. Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s hope is on you. ¡°I will do everything I can to clear the path for you. ¡°For all heavens!¡± The blood trickling down Guan Qinglong¡¯s arm formed an ancient rune on the blade. Guan Qinglong¡¯s tall figure gradually shrivelled, and the three Heavenly Suns behind him¡­suddenly burst into flames. ¡°This art is called the Heaven Sealing Art!¡± As azure light roamed around his eyes, he suddenly brought his blade down. The sky and ground split into two where the azure light passed. .. ¡°So difficult¡­¡± Chu Qing sighed. He also received Zhou Yuan¡¯s message. He immediately raised his head, staring at the two figures ahead. Mi Shan and Mi Shi both had a weaker Genesis Qi foundation than him, but their combined strength could still hold him up. The two sides were equally matched. But the delay was detrimental because his opponent was considered the defender, which means it would be considered a victory to them as long as they could defend the node. "Although I¡¯m lazy...I don''t want to hold everyone back,¡± said Chu Qing with a smile. He clenched his hand and a golden shuffle appeared in his grip. His eyes suddenly grew sharp and countless images appeared as he sped out. Mi Shan and Mi Shi unleashed a deafening roar and erupted in astonishing Genesis Qi, meeting him head-on. The golden shuttle streaked across the sky, flashing with a familiar rainbow color. ... They were long and thin needles. Wu Yao''s flawless jade-like face was icy and determined. Her bright red dress was torn, exposing her fair skin, but made her even more charming than usual. "Hehe, don''t worry, I won''t hurt your beautiful face, because my heart would ache,¡± a giggle echoed in the dense fog, but it was impossible to distinguish the direction it was from. Both Wu Yao¡¯s body and mind tensed up. She had to be on guard at all times. The dense fog was transformed from her opponent¡¯s Sacred Pupil and it not only blocked one¡¯s perception, but also constantly drew away the Genesis Qi within her body. The situation could become very dangerous to her if it continued. But she didn¡¯t sit and wait for death. Something strange began to form in her Divine Dwellings. It appeared to be an object between a state of nothingness and substance. It resembled a light ball and was enveloped in the Sacred Dragon Qi. As though it was being nourished. However, it seemed to be missing something. While Wu Yao knitted her brows in a frown, Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang in her ear. ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± Wu Yao''s mind that was like an ice lake rippled slightly and Zhou Yuan¡¯s face flashed across her mind. Boom! Her Divine Dwellings suddenly vibrated. Wu Yao¡¯s phoenix eyes suddenly lit up. Her red dress billowed and a golden flame blazed from her body, producing a faint phoenix cry. Chi! The golden flame formed a ring of fire, incinerating the dense pink fog where it passed. Wu Yao¡¯s eyes flashed coldly as she sped out like lightning. Golden flames twisted around her fair hand like a golden flame blade and slashed through the air towards a figure hovering in space. ... Bang! Berserk Genesis Qi shock waves raged across the air. Su Youwei¡¯s beautiful body was blasted back, leaving a long and deep mark across the ground. A streak of blood trickled down a corner of her lips. In front of her was a figure covered in chains. The figure¡¯s expression grew cold. ¡°You have great potential, but unfortunately, you¡¯re going to die here.¡± He stepped forward. This was because he saw a yin-yang light disk emerging on the ground and he happened to be standing on the yang eye while Su Youwei stood on the other yin eye. Although he knew the situation wasn¡¯t good for him, he didn¡¯t dare make any strange movements because he could feel the terrifying power contained within the yin-yang light disk. "That power can¡¯t distinguish the enemy, are you sure you want to trigger it?" asked the chained sacred heaven pride in a serious voice. ¡°If you really triggered it, your probability of death is likely higher than mine." Su Youwei said indifferently, "I''m not afraid of death, I''m just afraid of His Highness being unhappy. "He wants to go forward, so I have to push him from behind, even at the cost of my own life.¡± Her seal changed as she spoke. Boom! Terrifying power erupted under the sacred heaven pride¡¯s shocked gaze and engulfed them both. ... ¡°Eat!¡± ¡°Eat!¡± ¡°Eat!¡± Yuan Yang''s face darkened. He repeatedly launched terrifying Genesis Qi offensives to blast away the ghost-like figure constantly speeding over. The figure was Zhao Mushen. He was dripping with blood and his body was badly mangled. But his eyes, filled with icy-coldness, gleamed covetously as they fixed on Yuan Ying. Yuan Ying had the absolute upper hand throughout the match. But Yuan Ying had suddenly become overcautious and hesitant. This was because...Yuan Ying noticed three fingers missing when he glanced at his hand. Zhao Mushen had bit off his fingers and swallowed them during their previous clash. But what chilled Yuan Ying to the bone was that his flesh and blood had disappeared where he was bitten, and no matter how he circulated his Genesis Qi, he couldn¡¯t restore his fingers. ¡°That pervert¡­¡± Yuan Ying said sullenly. That guy completely disregarded his life just to take a bite of me. He would bite me at any price. But he¡¯s terrifyingly tenacious and still isn¡¯t dead after suffering several attacks. In Yuan Ying''s view, Zhao Mushen was more ruthless than members of the Sacred Race. Although we eat all kinds of living beings, they were all refined into blood pills before eaten, but that bastard swallowed my fingers raw! Yuan Ying sometimes suspected whether Zhao Mushen was part of the Sacred Race. A fierce glint flashed across Yuan Ying¡¯s eyes. He suddenly balled his hand into a fist as he stared at the figure speeding over. "It doesn''t matter what you are, I¡¯ll kill you first!" Space suddenly twisted as a black liquid flowed out like a moving shadow and clung to Zhao Mushen¡¯s upper body. Zhao Mushen stared coldly at Yuan Ying, black light flowing in his mouth like a black hole capable of swallowing everything. In truth, the things he swallowed weren¡¯t swallowed into his stomach but transformed into pure universe Genesis Qi. Zhao Mushen tried to wrench himself free, but the black liquid clung to him firmly, preventing him from escaping. His expression suddenly stiffened. ¡°Jiang Jinlin and Li Fu have died? ¡°Zhou Yuan, Zhou Yuan, even you are at a loss on what to do?¡± Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyes flashed and he bore a look of determination. "Zhou Yuan, what I am going to do is for the people of my Wanzu Region. I don¡¯t care whether you live or die!¡± Zhao Mushen''s body exploded to pieces from his chest below, sending flesh and blood splattering everywhere. Yuan Ying''s pupils shrank, evidently horrified by Zhao Mushen¡¯s action. But soon after, he felt a chill gush over. He abruptly lifted his head up and saw a head shooting across the air, its mouth wide open and spewing black light. Moreover, there seemed to be an ancient beast looming on the head. Before he could react, black light had already enveloped him. Chapter 1185 Live or Die The space portal that leads directly to the core was right in front of him, but he couldn¡¯t enter. This was because as long as the majority of the important nodes remained, no matter how remarkable he was, he was still powerless in front of the space portal that gathered countless elite Sacred Race members¡¯ strength. ¡°Zhou Yuan, give up. ¡°You are pretty talented. If you join the Sacred Race, you would also be valued. When the Sacred Race unifies Tianyuan World, you can perhaps still protect your family and friends,¡± said Xu Lei condescendingly. But Zhou Yuan paid no attention to his nonsense and continued to stare at the light screen before him. ¡°Hmph,¡± Xu Lei coldly snorted, ¡°So stubborn. "Then you will die with the rest of the Heavenly Sun experts from the five heavens.¡± Boom! The moment his voice faded, the node vibrated and the void rippled in chaos. Xu Lei¡¯s countenance changed dramatically. ¡°The boundary is shaking?!¡± Zhou Yuan also noticed the sudden change. He immediately shifted his gaze to the innermost light spots on the light screen. His pupils shrank. The light spots were dimming at an unbelievable speed. This indicated that their life force was dissipating. A sign they had suffered critical injuries. Zhou Yuan stretched out his finger and gently stroked the light sports. Scenes flashed across his mind like lightning. ¡­ Bai Xiaolu was sitting next to a formation flag, her body a lot smaller than before and resembled a five-year-old girl. Her skin that previously glowed with glass light was now dull and ordinary. Bai Xiaolu glanced behind her, where a huge pit was filled like a pool of blood and a corpse silently floated on the surface. Although her condition was bad, she still held onto her last breath. This could be regarded as her worst battle ever. ¡°I don''t have any strength left. Zhou Yuan, if you can''t handle Jia Tu, we will all die here¡­" ¡­ Guan Qinglong took the most difficult steps with his shrivelled body. Every step seemed to exhaust his strength. Azure light circulated around his body to form a special light shield. An armored figure stood motionless behind him. The sacred heaven pride hadn¡¯t died and was only sealed by Guan Qinglong. This was because Guan Qinglong had no strength left to kill him, but fortunately, he could take advantage of this moment to complete his mission. Guan Qinglong came to a certain place in the void, took out a formation flag with trembling hands and inserted it into the ground with all his strength. ¡°Captain Zhou Yuan, everything depends on you now¡­¡± ... Chu Qing put up the formation flag and sat down cross-legged. He was dripping with blood and one of his arms was missing. Behind him, two headless corpses stood upright. He defeated and killed Mi Shan and Mi Shi at the cost of his arm. But compared to the others, the price he paid was the smallest. ... Wu Yao tottered from side to side. A one-foot silver needle pierced right through her abdomen and blood constantly trickled down the silver needle. However, her narrow phoenix eyes were still full of coldness. The sacred heaven pride called Gu Yan opened her mouth wide while Wu Yao slowly removed her hand from her chest. And as she removed her hand, she also took her life. ¡°How¡­how is that possible¡­¡± her eyes shrank. She couldn''t believe she would perish here. Wu Yao was in no mood to talk with her. She staggered across to a certain place in the void and planted a formation flag. Pff. A jet of blood spurted out from her mouth, making her lips appear even more striking. ... A giant hole appeared in the ground. The entire world was filled with swirling ashes, as though everything had been destroyed. A delicate dirt-stained hand stretched out from the edge of the giant hole and a beautiful figure crawled out the hole with difficulty. Su Youwei''s body was riddled with hideous scars, and blood constantly seeped out from her fair jade-like skin, indicating her internal injuries reached an extremely serious stage. But she paid no attention to the throbbing pain brought by her internal injuries. Although she appeared gentle on the surface, her mind and heart were very tough. She could reach such a level in these years, not only because of the training in the Zixiao Region, but also because of her resilience. She peered into the deep hole with an indifferent gaze, and then turned to a certain location, took out a formation flag and put it up. After she completed her mission, she sat down and hugged her knees in exhaustion, slightly raising her blood-stained yet still beautiful face. ¡°Your Highness, I haven¡¯t held you back, right?¡± ... Half a body was slowly crawling along the ground, leaving a hair-raising trail of blood wherever it passed. Half of Zhao Mushen¡¯s body had exploded to pieces and his intestines dragged along the ground as he crawled, but he didn¡¯t care, because his blood and flesh would be restored after he swallowed the sacred heaven pride. He also only had a bald head left before he swallowed his previous opponent. His hoarse laughter rang in the air, ¡°Hahaha¡­so what if you are a sacred heaven pride, are you more ruthless than I am?¡± He took out the formation flag and inserted it into the ground. Feeling the node shaking, he lifted his head. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡± ... Zhou Yuan moved his fingers away from the light spots and images abruptly stopped flashing across his mind. He stared silently at the dimmed spots for a long while because he could imagine how tragic the battles were even from the flashing images. This was a victory they exchanged for with their lives. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, looking at the nodes shaking increasingly violently. The entire Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation was in disorder and not as perfect as before. Kacha! Cracks spread rapidly across the space portal. ¡°No matter what the outcome is, you have nothing to be ashamed of before anybody.¡± Ignoring Xu Lei''s shocked and angered gaze, Zhou Yuan stood up and appeared in front of the space portal with a slight movement. The boundary shook violently. At the same time, the Sacred Race teams and five heavens teams halted their battle and raised their head. They saw Zhou Yuan standing in front of the space portal in the void¡¯s depth. This was why the formation fell into chaos and could no longer form a barrier. Boom! Under countless intent gazes, Zhou Yuan punched out! Platinum Genesis Qi roared out like a dragon. He unreservedly erupted his Genesis Qi foundation. Rumble! The wind blast generated from the fist slammed into the space portal like an enraged dragon. Cracks rapidly extended across the space portal until it exploded into countless streams of light. A spatial vortex hovered behind the space portal. It led to the boundary¡¯s core, which could affect the Sacred Race¡¯s plan if destroyed. However, it wasn¡¯t that easy for that to happen because it was guarded by the strongest sacred heaven pride. Everyone¡¯s last hope was on the figure standing in front of the space vortex. ¡°Captain Zhou Yuan, we will win!¡± The troops from the five heavens yelled. As though contagious, more and more voices rang out. ¡°We will win!¡± ¡°We will win!¡± ¡°......¡± Hoarse and exhausted voices echoed throughout the boundary formation. Bai Xiaolu and the others listened calmly and weakly to the mighty voices. They knew that Zhou Yuan''s name would resound throughout all the heavens if they won. Of course, if he lost, everything would end. All of them would die here. Standing in front of the spatial vortex, Zhou Yuan didn''t turn his head back once when he heard those voices. He lifted his foot and stepped into the spatial vortex without any hesitation. Even Zhou Yuan lacked the confidence of winning against the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in the Sacred Race. But no matter what, he couldn''t shrink back. This battle¡­ I either live or die.. ..there is no other path. Chapter 1186 Powerful Jia Tu Sweeping his gaze around, he saw that he was on an incomparably large suspended land where towering mountains and tremendous rivers stretched beyond his line of sight. When he concentrated Genesis Qi in his eyes, he could see many suspended lands in the distant void. Mysterious and unfathomable, the sun and moon appeared at the same time in the boundless sky. But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t pay much attention to the changes in the environment because his gaze was fixed on the pillar-like mountain in the distance. As the imposing mountain pierced through the clouds, it made one feel incredibly small and insignificant. A figure was sitting cross-legged atop a pine tree on the mountain summit. He ignored Zhou Yuan''s appearance, and peered up at the sun and moon, He didn¡¯t utter a word but an indescribable pressure filled the entire world and made even Zhou Yuan¡¯s body feel much heavier. ¡°Jia Tu.¡± Murderous intent rose to Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. As though detected the surging killing intent, the figure lowered his head and cast a gaze at Zhou Yuan. As he smiled faintly, the dragon and phoenix earrings on both his ears swayed gently. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you could actually come. ¡°You are indeed a talent since you could achieve such strength in the five lower heavens.¡± ¡°So, I am willing to give you a chance to serve me. I can ask the Sacred Race¡¯s Saint experts to change your bloodline and make you become a minority of the Sacred Race.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his eyes and said indifferently, ¡°But I want to kill you more.¡± Jia Tu shook his head and said in a disappointed voice, "A lowly ant from the five lower heavens really doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate favors and have wishful thinking.¡± ¡°Never mind, since you want to die, I will fulfil your wish.¡± He cast a glance at the node space and continued, ¡°Now that the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation is in disorder, everyone within the boundary must be watching us. They likely have put all their hope on you, is that right? ¡°Say, when they find their last hope is so useless, would they resent you because of your poor strength?¡± he asked, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Sometimes when one¡¯s hope is shattered, it can make one go crazy.¡± ¡°You talk too much nonsense.¡± Zhou Yuan stepped forward expressionless. Boom! Three Heavenly Suns loomed behind him, gradually growing clearer. The clearer one¡¯s Heavenly Sun was on the outside, the more it could connect with universe Genesis Qi. From this, it was clear that Zhou Yuan was fearful of Jia Tu. 4.3 billion Genesis Qi stars erupted without any reservation. But it didn¡¯t end there. ¡°Promotion!¡± ¡°Earth Saint Rune!¡± A foundation of 5 billion Genesis Qi stars! Faced with such a powerful enemy, Zhou Yuan had no intention of testing his opponent¡¯s strength. As the five heavens people saw this scene, their eyes brimmed with gazes of astonishment and shock. Even though layers of spatial nodes separated them from Zhou Yuan that didn¡¯t stop them from feeling the powerful Genesis Qi pressure released from Zhou Yuan. ¡°Seven-Claw Heavenly Sun?¡± Jia Tu raised his brows when he saw the ancient dragon runes on Zhou Yuan¡¯s three Heavenly Suns. ¡°You are indeed a top heaven pride since you could achieve such a level with the resources and lowly human race status in the five lower heavens. No wonder even Xu Lei couldn¡¯t stop you.¡± Zhou Yuan still had no intention of responding. He flicked his sleeve and folded one hand into a seal. Rumble! A huge thunderbolt reverberated in his sleeve, and then, a black-and-white lightning roared out with astonishing force and whizzed towards Jia Tu with unimaginable speed. Yin Yang Lightning Rune! The black-and-white lightning streaked across the sky and came a few meters away from Jia Tu, who watched it near him without a ripple of expression. He suddenly opened his mouth and blew out. A jet of white qi spewed out. The temperature plummeted and the space around Jia Tu seemed to have frozen with countless ice crystals emerging in the air. Pu! The white qi current collided with the black-and-white lightning. Then, the lighting suddenly froze, and when it struck again, it exploded into countless light specks. Everyone from the five heavens felt a chill in their hearts when they saw this scene. Jia Tu effortlessly destroyed Zhou Yuan¡¯s powerful offensive. How strong was Jia Tu?! Zhou Yuan also assumed a serious and solemn expression. Even by just sitting there, Jia Tu released a terrifying pressure and dangerous aura. Jia Tu was likely the most dangerous person at his level that he had ever met. Jia Tu stretched his body and said indifferently, "Actually, what Xu Lei said to you before is right. You shouldn''t come to me because that will destroy all your confidence.¡± The space suddenly began to vibrate. A terrifying wave of Genesis Qi slowly rose from his body. His Genesis Qi was deep silver as though there were countless star dusts flickering within. Moreover, there was a mysterious chilling intent that seemed capable of freezing everything. Three Heavenly Suns slowly emerged behind him as the Genesis Qi soared. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank abruptly when he saw the three Heavenly Suns. This was because he saw familiar dragon runes on them. There were more dragon runes on them than his Heavenly Suns! They were Eight-Claw Heavenly Suns! Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. Although emotions were surging up within him, he wasn¡¯t surprised. After all, he was able to achieve Seven-Claw Heavenly Suns, let alone Jia Tu, the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in the Sacred Race, who likely had received greater resources and opportunities than him. Jia Tu''s talent was clearly unquestionable, otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be sitting in that position. Therefore, since he possessed the talent and sufficient resources and opportunities, it wasn¡¯t surprising that he refined Eight-Claw Heavenly Suns. Zhou Yuan''s face grew increasingly solemn and his entire body tensed up. This was because he could feel that, in addition to the Eight-Claw Heavenly Suns, Jia Tu¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had reached a very terrifying level. A foundation of 5.1 billion stars! It should be said that Zhou Yuan only achieved a 5 billion foundation through the help of secret arts, but Jia Tu¡¯s foundation was 5.1 billion without any external means. It was 800 million more than Zhou Yuan¡¯s! Jia Tue stared at Zhou Yuan with a mocking smile and folded one hand in a seal. Boom! As the world quaked, Jia Tu¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation soared again. Countless people from the five heavens watched tremblingly because they knew Jia Tu activated a secret art. Jia Tu already had the upper hand in Genesis Qi foundation yet he still activated a secret art to increase it even more. This was evidently to torture their minds. He wanted Zhou Yuan and all the spectators from the five heavens to feel despair. Jia Tu¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation continued to soar under astonished gazes until it reached 5.6 billion. As terrifying Genesis Qi whizzed around the node, even the space around Jia Tue seemed unable to bear the tremendous power. It constantly distorted and even shattered. The pillar like mountain beneath him slightly shook and boulders tumbled down. 5.6 billion! Even Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp numbed as he faced Jia Tu. He¡¯s the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in the Sacred Race? His strength is that abnormal? ¡°Are you trembling?¡± Jia Tue smiled warmly at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Unfortunately for you, I don¡¯t like to give people a second chance.¡± Jia Tu vanished when he finished his sentence. Zhou Yuan retreated frantically, his expression changing. But the moment he moved, the space in front shattered to pieces and a figure appeared in front of him as if teleported. The figure swiftly thrusted out a palm. The palm seemed casual and gentle, but it was enveloped in terrifying Genesis Qi and destroyed everything in front. The whole world seemed to be shaking because of it. Facing the palm that obstructed all escape routes, Zhou Yuan had no chance of evading. Moreover, the blast of wind from the palm strike came so fast towards him that it struck his body the moment he swiftly crossed his arms to form a defense. Boom! Enormous Genesis Qi shock waves of ten-thousand feet-tall spread across the void. Space shattered. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was blasted away and smashed a bottomless abyss-like hole into the ground. The impact was similar to a meteor striking the earth. Countless people from the five heavens watched this scene tremblingly, despair and terror filling their eyes. Who would have thought that the strongest Heavenly Sun expert from the five heavens would almost be killed by a palm strike from the strongest Heavenly Sun expert in the Sacred Race? Chapter 1187 Ancient God Scripture? This was because they had witnessed how Zhou Yuan dominated previous battles time and time again and had never seen a situation where he was almost killed in a split second. This clearly demonstrated Jia Tu¡¯s terrifying strength. Under countless gazes, Jia Tu looked at the crack that split the ground below without a ripple on his face, and only a faint surprise flashed across his eyes. ¡°That palm strike didn¡¯t destroy him?¡± He felt a strange power released from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and dissolved the majority of his offensive when his power flooded the area. Bang! A loud boom resounded in the abyss, followed by a figure shooting into the sky. The figure was of course Zhou Yuan, only that he looked somewhat tragic. His upper garment was in tatters, his arms were bloodied and mangled, and even some bones had fractured. His face was overcast with a frown. The speed and power of Jia Tu¡¯s violent attack far exceeded his expectation. The power of 5.6 billion Genesis Qi foundation was beyond his imagination. If Zhou Yuan hadn''t timely activated his Heavenly Punishment Law Domain during the collision and that he possessed the Saint glass light to protect him, he likely would have died under the palm strike. Zhou Yuan shook his arm and the twisted bones quickly returned to their original state and his torn flesh rapidly healed under his remarkable recovery ability. But Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t too concerned about his external injuries and just stared at the silver Genesis Qi circulating around Jia Tu¡¯s body, a storm rushing up in his heart. He wasn''t shocked by the power of his opponent¡¯s Genesis Qi, but¡­ He faintly felt Jia Tu¡¯s Genesis Qi was somewhat similar to the Genesis Qi he cultivated from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. However, although Jia Tu¡¯s Genesis Qi was extremely high grade, it wasn¡¯t as pure as his. Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed. He felt that the Genesis Qi that Jia Tu cultivated might be connected to the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. "Your Genesis Qi is quite powerful," praised Zhou Yuan. He wanted to obtain some information from Jia Tu. Jia Tu, who didn¡¯t pay much attention to him at first, couldn¡¯t help smiling when he heard his compliment. ¡°You have good eyes. The Genesis Qi I cultivate comes from the Ancient God Scripture, which is passed down from the God of our Sacred Race. Only the most talented of a generation in the Sacred Race is allowed to cultivate it.¡± The so-called Ancient God Scripture was something that Jia Tu was incredibly proud of. Zhou Yuan¡¯s question perfectly scratched his itch. ¡°Ancient God Scripture?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed. Could it be the Ancestral Dragon Scripture? But it was Yaoyao who gave him the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, a mysterious and rare cultivation art in the world. So what was the origin of Jia Tu¡¯s Ancient God Scripture, which seemed related to the Ancestral Dragon Scripture? Could Yaoyao have some sort of relationship with the Sacred Race? But if this is the case, given the enmity between the Sacred Race and all races, how would master Cang Yuan keep Yaoyao by his side and raise her with his heart? Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows. Yaoyao¡¯s identity was too mysterious. Once she regained consciousness, he thought he must ask master Cang Yuan to explain everything to him. He felt that he had the right and qualification to know about those matters now. Zhou Yuan quickly suppressed the emotions that streamed through his heart. His priority was to get rid of Jia Tu. Only after he eliminated Jia Tu and obtained the Ancestral Dragon Flesh would Yaoyao awaken. Moreover, Jia Tu seemed to not notice the similarities between their Genesis Qi, which surprised Zhou Yuan a little. After all, Jia Tu¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was clearly better than Zhou Yuan¡¯s yet he failed to notice the similarities but Zhou Yuan did. Is it because the Ancestral Dragon Scripture is more orthodox? speculated Zhou Yuan. But his speculation had little importance at such a time, because he could feel the tremendous Genesis Qi surging around Jia Tu¡¯s body again. Given Zhou Yuan''s current state, he knew he was no match for Jia Tu, even if he had the protection of the Heavenly Punishment Law Domain and possessed the mysterious glass light. After all, such passive defenses couldn¡¯t last forever and also consumed huge amounts of his Genesis Qi. Therefore, the longer the battle dragged on, the more dangerous Zhou Yuan¡¯s situation. Hu. Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed, and he stretched out his hand without any hesitation. A silver ball emerged in his palm. It was Silver Shadow. However, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t transform Silver Shadow into a human form this time and just folded his hands into a seal. The Silver Ball suddenly turned into silver liquid and flowed down and spread throughout his skin. But it didn¡¯t shroud him like an armour as it did in the past. Instead, it formed several mysterious silver streaks that intertwined with each other and created mysterious rune marks. They eventually sank into his skin. From afar, they looked like mysterious silver tattoos. Of course, the most striking was still the pair of silver wings extended out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. The one-foot silver wings glistened under the sun and radiated a sacred aura. As the silver runes and silver wings took shape, the universe Genesis Qi endlessly converged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction, as though drawn by some kind of force. Zhou Yuan slowly clenched his hand and then peered at the silver rune on his hand. His eyes widened in surprise. This was Silver Shadow¡¯s new form, which Zhou Yuan called the Silver God Rune. Silver Shadow''s ability to evolve into this form was precisely one of the benefits that Zhou Yuan obtained from the mystic ruins stone tablet. Silver Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had soared to the level of 3.5 billion, but that still wasn¡¯t enough against powerful enemies such as Jia Tu. After all, one¡¯s Genesis Qi strength couldn¡¯t be added together in such a simple way. Zhou Yuan¡¯s 4.3 billion foundation and Silver Shadow¡¯s 3.5 billion couldn¡¯t be equaled to 7.8 billion. But if the Silver God Rune was fused with Zhou Yuan, it would no doubt increase his strength tremendously. This was also one of the trump cards he prepared for Jia Tu. Zhou Yuan''s eyes were chilling when he clenched his hand. The Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his grip in a flash and its sharp tip pointed towards Jia Tu from a distance. ¡°Huh?¡± Jia Tu raised his brows in surprise. Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation hadn¡¯t changed much, but his bearing was much more imposing. However, Jia Tu¡¯s expression was still calm and composed. He nodded with interest as if the prey chosen to go on the beast fighting stage suddenly erupted with terrifying strength and caught his attention. But no matter how frantically the prey erupted, it was always just a prey, and its purpose was to entertain him. The prey would be killed once the fun was over. "Zhou Yuan, let¡¯s see how much fun you can bring me.¡± As his voice faded, Jia Tu vanished again. A terrifying offensive was launched again. Chapter 1188 Four Rays of Sword Ligh Two figures streaked across the sky like lightning bolts, producing ear-piercing sonic booms. A terrifying Genesis Qi storm broke out from the two, engulfing everything in the way as it raged across the area. The shock waves from the battle constantly tore apart the mountains and rivers below. Many people couldn¡¯t help but shudder at the two¡¯s destructive power. Shua! Jia Tu suddenly appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s right as if teleported. He blasted out a fist and a Genesis Qi torrent roared into the sky like an enraged dragon, enveloping Zhou Yuan with destructive force. But just as it neared Zhou Yuan, he beat the silver wings behind him. He reappeared hundreds of feet away, swiftly evading Jia Tu''s terrifying offensive. He previously wasn¡¯t as fast as Jia Tu, but with the help of Silver Shadow¡¯s new form and the pair of silver wings, his speed increased tremendously and helped him avoid Jia Tu''s attack. But Zhou Yuan didn''t dare to relax, because his speed was only at the same level as Jia Tu even with Silver Shadow¡¯s help. Bang! Therefore, Zhou Yuan had only just retreated when Jia Tu''s cold laughter rang in his ears. Genesis Qi palms hurled down like a rainstorm. Even Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t evade such an offensive with his remarkable speed, and had no choice but to face it with full-strength. Boom! Genesis Qi undulated, and a giant thousand-feet Genesis Qi wave broke out. Zhou Yuan finally had the strength to endure Jia Tu¡¯s terrifying offensive through Silver Shadow¡¯s new form, but Jia Tu still had the upper hand when the two faced head-on. His 5.6 billion Genesis Qi foundation completely suppressed Zhou Yuan. ¡°Great Flame Devil!¡± roared Zhou Yuan. Crimson streaks appeared all over his body. The temperature in the air steadily climbed, causing the void to twist and distort. ¡°Million Whale!¡± His bodily strength and Genesis Qi within his body swiftly merged together. The ancient whale shadow hovered out, and as he swung the mottled brush, even the clouds shattered under the berserk force. He could kill even Xu Lei with his brush¡¯s present power. Zhou Yuan had unreservedly brought out all his means to deal with Jia Tu. ¡°Oh.¡± Jia Tu smiled in response to the terrifying offensive rushing towards him. ¡°Finally a decent attack." Although he said this, he showed no intention of drawing back and instead, he strode forward and formed a mysterious fist seal with his hand. ¡°The Great Lion Seal!¡± As the fist seal slammed out, there seemed to be a deafening lion roar reverberating throughout the world. Jia Tu¡¯s fist seal seemed to have transformed into a giant ancient lion, shuttling through time and space and clashed with the Heavenly Yuan Brush with boundless fierceness. A loud explosion directly smashed the void. Everything shattered throughout the world as though a hurricane was wreaking havoc. Jia Tu actually withstood Zhou Yuan full-strength punch! Even the hair on the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s tip broke apart, becoming swirling fragments in the sky. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed when he saw his attack failed. He flicked the mottled brush body and a Genesis Rune suddenly glowed. ¡°Spirit Devour, Spirit Burial!¡± Boom! Boom! Boom! The Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s tip produced three resounding booms before launching a mighty Spirit offensive at Jia Tu. It was the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Spirit Devour Rune! The third Spirit Burial stage¡¯s power made even Zhou Yuan feel piercing pain in the center of his brows. He ignored the pain to his Spirit. His eyes flashed fiercely as he continued to erupt with the remaining power contained in the Spirit Devour Rune. Boom! The fourth Spirit Burial stage! When the fourth Spirit Burial stage erupted, blood streamed down Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose and the veins on his forehead throbbed, causing tearing pain to his Spirit. The Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s Spirit Burial power specifically attacked one¡¯s Spirit. Due to Jia Tu¡¯s powerful Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan thought to attack his Spirit instead and see whether it would be effective. Surprise flashed across Jia Tu¡¯s eyes when he saw such destructive Spirit power gushing towards him. He clearly didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to have concealed such a means. ¡°You want to attack my Spirit?¡± But Jia Tu didn¡¯t panic in the slightest and chuckled instead. His dragon and phoenix earrings gently vibrated before they fell from his ears and transformed into two dragon and phoenix silhouettes in front of him, like a dragon and phoenix shield. Boom! The Spirit attack that the Spirit Burial formed fiercely smashed into the dragon and phoenix shield, but it only caused it to ripple. The dragon and phoenix suddenly opened their mouths and swallowed all Spirit power. Zhou Yuan''s heart sank. Jia Tu has endless means. He is very difficult to deal with. Zhou Yuan retreated without any hesitation. ¡°You plan to flee?¡± Jia Tu smiled at Zhou Yuan and threw out a punch. The fist slammed through the dragon and phoenix shield in front of him and the dragon and Phoenix silhouettes immediately enveloped his fist like a glove. Moreover, the Spirit power they swallowed earlier was released at the same time. Boom! That punch blasted through space and appeared right in front of Zhou Yuan. The fist not only contained Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit Burial power, but also Jia Tu¡¯s terrifying Genesis Qi. The two together created a frightening counterattack. Bang! The punch sent Zhou Yuan flying again. His figure streaked across the sky and then smashed through a lofty mountain. Boulders tumbled down and buried him alive. Many Sacred Race experts within the boundary roared with laughter. The five heavens troops were all pale-faced. Jia Tu¡¯s expression was terrifying as he stood in the air like a demon king. Regardless of how strong Zhou Yuan¡¯s means were, it had no impact on Jia Tu. Bai Xiaolu, Wu Yao, Su Youwei, Zhao Mushen and the others remained silent. This was their first time seeing an opponent that had suppressed Zhou Yuan in all aspects. Jia Tu was too strong. If they were on the battlefield instead of Zhou Yuan, they likely would have felt despair. It was already very impressive that Zhou Yuan lasted so long against Jia Tu. But it still wasn¡¯t enough for them to win. Hovering in space, Jia Tu peered at the collapsed mountain with an indifferent smile. ¡°He shouldn¡¯t be dead, right?¡± Hum! A resounding sword cry responded to him. Boom! Piercing sharp sword qi squeezed out from the bottom of the mountain, turning countless boulders into powder. "Is this the sword qi from one of your Saint Genesis Art? It¡¯s indeed incredibly sharp and fierce,¡± said Jia Tu curiously. Swoosh! A ray of rainbow sword light slowly rose. ¡°That ray of sword light is powerful, but one likely won¡¯t be enough.¡± Hum! Another sword cry resounded across the world as though in response to him, and a second ray of rainbow sword light rose into the sky. ¡°Interesting. This should be your strongest attack, isn¡¯t that right?" said Jia Tu, clapping his hands. "If I destroyed them, wouldn¡¯t you lose all hope?¡± But as soon as his voice faded, another sword cry rang in the silent world. This time it wasn''t one but two! Amidst astonished gazes, another two rainbow sword lights slowly rose from the bottom of the mountain. The four rays of rainbow sword light stood side by side. The sword qi they emitted was enough to shake the void. Jia Tu¡¯s expression finally changed for the first time when he saw the four rays of rainbow sword light. Chapter 1189 Starry River of Destruction Indescribable sword qi flooded to every corner. Anyone could feel the terror of the four rays of sword light. The countenance of Wu Yao, Su Youwei, Zhao Mushen and the others changed. They were familiar with Zhou Yuan¡¯s rainbow sword light and knew that they were his trump cards, but from what they knew, Zhou Yuan could only summon one ray of rainbow sword light at a time given his Genesis Qi foundation. Why would there be four rainbow sword light rays at once?! It¡¯s impossible to summon four rainbow sword light rays at once with his foundation even if he squeezed out every last drop of his Genesis Qi, right? But after the initial shock, a glimmer of hope rose to their hearts. A level of offensive such as the rainbow sword lights could indeed threaten someone as strong as Jia Tu! Perhaps it could even decide the outcome of the battle. ¡°You concealed your strength well.¡± Hovering in space, Jia Tu gazed at the four rainbow sword lights floating in the distance because the sword qi they emitted made him feel tingling pain on his skin. He had to admit that Zhou Yuan''s move could indeed threaten him The raging sword qi crushed the boulders within the collapsed mountain into powder and Zhou Yuan''s figure slowly rose from them. Zhou Yuan similarly stared at the four rainbow sword lights in astonishment. He had tremendously improved due to the ancestral qi within the stone tablet. Not only was his Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light more perfect, the ray of sword light within the gourd silhouette in his Divine Dwellings also multiplied. Then, he copied the newly improved rainbow sword lights into Silver Shadow''s orifice. As a result, he and Silver Shadow could summon four rays of rainbow sword light together. This was one of his means stored at the bottom of his chest Hu. Zhou Yuan puffed out white qi from his nose and his eyes immediately turned cold and fierce. Then, he folded his fingers together in a sword seal. ¡°Go.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything to Jia Tu and urged the four rainbow sword lights to slash through the air towards Jia Tu. As rainbow lights streaked across the sky, an indescribable sword qi locked onto Jia Tu, making it impossible for him to evade. The momentum of the four Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Lights simultaneously slashing out almost split the sky apart. The Genesis Qi between heaven and earth frantically fled and dared not appear in front of the sword lights. The sword lights moved at extreme speed, as if able to penetrate through space, and in just one breath, was already in front of Jia Tu¡¯s eyes, rapidly enlarging. He folded his hands together in a series of seals and in the end thundered, ¡°Dragon-Phoenix Heavenly Evolution Wheel!¡± Dragon and phoenix shadows roared around his body, entwining to form a huge wheel of thousand feet tall. Then, dragons and phoenix circled around inside the light wheel, exuding boundless power. His dragon and phoenix earrings were a quasi-Saint object refined for him by a Saint expert in the Sacred Race. If his trip to Guyuan Heaven was successful, his quasi-Saint object could complete its transformation to become a true Saint-level object. The object, refined from the soul of dragon and phoenix, was an integration of attack and defense power, which made Jia Tu have no flaws. But the current light wheel form was its true appearance. Evidently, Jia Tu didn¡¯t want to be careless in case it failed miserably against Zhou Yuan¡¯s four rainbow sword lights. The four rainbow sword lights slashed through the air and fiercely swung down at the dragon-phoenix wheel as if slicing the world apart. However, that earth-shattering collision didn¡¯t produce any earth-shattering noise as expected. The wind between heaven and earth seemed to have stilled. Only the space around the collision was constantly shattering, sending countless spatial fragments whirling around. The area within thousands of feet of the collision had turned into a tremendous black hole. The black light concealed everything. However, the black hole-like spectacle only appeared for a moment and soon dissipated. Pu! When the black hole faded, everyone saw two rainbow sword lights break to pieces. At the same time, a huge crack was torn into the dragon-phoenix wheel. The dragon-phoenix wheel managed to withstand two Sky Severing Rainbow Sword Lights! The remaining two pierced through the wheel and slashed towards Jia Tu. Everyone from the five great five heavens lit up with excitement and joy because this was the first time Zhou Yuan broke through Jia Tu¡¯s defense since the start of the battle. Jia Tu frantically retreated, speeding across the sky like a stream of light. However, no matter how he retreated, he failed to break away from the two remaining sword lights. Mighty sword qi rushed towards him, almost flooding the entire world within his sight. They were unavoidable. Boom! The two rainbow sword lights whizzed across and slashed Jia Tu¡¯s body under countless shocked gazes. Space ripped apart and another black hole emerged from the collision, causing a storm of sword qi to rage across the area and thousands of holes split open the void. Hua! Uproar broke out from the Sacred Derivation Boundary. Everyone from the five heavens flushed with excitement. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fierce counterattack would no doubt inflict severe damage to Jia Tu! That undoubtedly brought a glimmer of victory to them. However, Bai Xiaolu, Wu Yao, Su Youwei and the others weren¡¯t as relaxed. Their expressions were as solemn as before because they weren¡¯t confident that Zhou Yuan¡¯s two sword light rays could kill Jia Tu. Countless people fixed their eyes on the black hole. The black hole rapidly shrank. After a few breaths, when the black hole disappeared, countless people¡¯s pupils shrank rapidly. A figure stood with his hands clasped behind his back. It was Jia Tu! Moreover, there wasn¡¯t the slightest injury on Jia Tu¡¯s body and he still wore an indifferent expression. However, the vertical line on the center of his brows suddenly opened, revealing his mysterious Sacred Pupil. Five stars were suspended inside. Stars suddenly filled the space behind Jia Tu, which upon a closer look was actually a tremendous star map. In the star map, a starry river released boundless powers as it flowed. It was then when everyone saw the starry river transformed from countless stars had tightly imprisoned the two rainbow sword lights. It was Zhou Yuan¡¯s two remaining sword lights. The starry river smashed down, and the two rainbow sword lights gradually dimmed before erupted into countless fragments with a loud boom. The starry river had destroyed them both. Countless people from the five heavens paled at the scene, unconcealable fear filling their eyes. Even Bai Xiaolu and the others sighed. As they thought, Zhou Yuan¡¯s powerful means couldn¡¯t do anything to Jia Tu. ¡°He¡¯s the strongest at the Sacred Race¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage? His strength really makes one feel despair.¡± Even they, who had a tenacious mind, felt powerlessness at such a time. Jia Tu stared at Zhou Yuan without the slightest emotion and said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m impressed you could force me to display my Sacred Pupil¡¯s power given your background. Zhou Yuan, you can be considered a true heaven pride. If you were in the Sacred Race, your accomplishments could be even greater than mine. ¡°But unfortunately¡ª¡± Jia Tu shook his head, "The four rays of sword lights should be your strongest attack and you most likely can¡¯t summon them again given your foundation. ¡°Also, I¡¯ve only just started to show my strongest attacks.¡± He pointed to the star map behind him, saying, "This is transformed from my Sacred Pupil. It''s called the Starry River of Destruction Map and no one below the Nascent Source stage can destroy it.¡± Jia Tu looked condescendingly at Zhou Yuan, saying indifferently, ¡°Zhou Yuan, how can you win against me?¡± His voice reverberated in every corner of the boundary. The eyes of everyone from the five heavens dimmed and they exuded an aura of despair. Hovering in space, Zhou Yuan glanced at Jia Tu, who was arrogant and overbearing, and then stared at the star map behind him, which was even more mysterious and bizarre than him. He wiped away the blood on the corner of his mouth. At such a moment, he had to admit Jia Tu was strong and that this was the most difficult battle he had experienced in his life. Jia Tu had easily countered his many trump cards. But no matter how difficult the battle was, Zhou Yuan would never give up. Jia Tu couldn¡¯t help frowning when he saw the fighting spirit in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes still hadn¡¯t extinguished. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tenacity really exceeded his expectation because anyone else would have lost all hope by now. He shook his head and flicked his sleeve. Boom! The huge star map flashed and the world seemed to be transferred elsewhere. Zhou Yuan also felt the strange movement. By the time he returned to his senses, he found that he was standing in the star map with an endless river flowing around him and a terrifying power crushing down. His flesh cracked and blood trickled down his skin. Jia Tu¡¯s indifferent voice rang again, ¡°Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t reverse the situation this time.¡± The starry river constricted and brought destruction upon the world. Chapter 1190 The Fourth Saint Rune The enormous starry river around Zhou Yuan slowly shrank. Every time it constricted, an indescribable force rushed over from all directions, causing the Genesis Qi surging around Zhou Yuan to recede. A terrifying pressure shrouded him completely, causing his body to crack and blood gushed everywhere. This starry river¡¯s destructive power was indeed terrifying. Zhou Yuan''s face grew overcast. Jia Tu¡¯s Sacred Pupil reached the five-star level and the arts it could transform into was much more terrifying than Xu Lei¡¯s. Hu. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath as terrifying power constantly constricted him. A one-foot Law Domain suddenly broke out, protecting him completely. Heavenly Punishment Law Domain! The Law Domain drastically reduced the starry river¡¯s constriction power. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression didn¡¯t seem to relax and instead grew increasingly serious because he knew his Heavenly Punishment Law Domain couldn¡¯t withstand it forever. Based simply on Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan knew he couldn¡¯t compete with Jia Tu¡¯s 5.6 billion Genesis Qi foundation. He would no doubt lose first if they were locked in a fierce battle. Jia Tu also had the same thought, which was why he wasn¡¯t angry or surprised that Zhou Yuan summoned his Law Domain to withstand his starry river¡¯s destructive power. Instead, he curled his lips in a sneer. Zhou Yuan''s actions showed that he had almost exhausted everything he had. Jia Tu folded his hands together and the starry river continued to constrict. Zhou Yuan¡¯s one-foot Law Domain rippled repeatedly. Anyone could tell from this scene that Zhou Yuan had fallen into a hopeless situation. Everyone from the five heavens looked in despair at Zhou Yuan, who was trapped in the starry river. They knew that Zhou Yuan had already done everything he could, but Jia Tu was too tyrannical. Even Zhou Yuan''s four powerful sword lights had failed to kill him. Even they wouldn¡¯t have the fighting spirit to face such a powerful enemy. Not only them, Bai Xiaolu and the other top experts from the five heavens also felt their heart sink. The starry river transformed from Jia Tu¡¯s Sacred Pupil was too terrifying. Zhou Yuan likely couldn¡¯t get through the difficult situation unless he could summon all four rays of sword light again. Everyone fixed their eyes on the figure in the starry river. Those from the Sacred Race wore mocking smiles while those from the five heavens were shrouded in despair. As time passed, the Law Domain around Zhou Yuan undulated more and more violently, a sign it would soon fade. Jia Tu stood with hands clasped behind his back, looking indifferently at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You look really tragic. Kacha! As his voice faded, the Heavenly Punishment Law Domain finally reached its limit and crumbled into nothingness. An incomparably terrifying power wildly rushed over again. Chi! Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin began to tore apart, and even his glass light, which greatly strengthened his defense, couldn¡¯t endure the starry river¡¯s destructive power. ¡°Great Flame Devil!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned icy, but the temperature around began to soar as red patterns emerged across his body. ¡°Green Wood Mark Taiyi!" Ancient runes emerged in his flesh and blood, erupting with majestic vitality to repair his injuries. Zhou Yuan brought out everything he had to withstand the starry river¡¯s destructive power. This, however, still wasn¡¯t enough. His skin and flesh cracked little by little until his bones were exposed and split. The injuries all over his body made many people¡¯s hair stand on end. His body constantly crackled, as if crushed by gravity. Dripping with blood, Zhou Yuan slowly closed his blood-red eyes, as though he gave up. Jia Tu looked skyward and laughed wildly. His laughter echoed in every corner of the boundary. ¡°Hahaha, is he the strongest Heavenly Sun expert from the five heavens? I told you lowly ants that you can¡¯t defeat our Sacred Race with your power!?¡± Countless people from the five heavens balled their hands into fists. Their fingertips almost punctured their palms, but the pain from that couldn¡¯t be compared to the anger and despair in their hearts. A bitter smile came to Bai Xiaolu¡¯s face that didn¡¯t match her appearance or age. ¡°Even Zhou Yuan can¡¯t win¡­¡± She, who was very prideful, acknowledged Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength. But now, even Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t stop Jia Tu. Was there any hope? ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Wu Yao silently stared at the bloodied figure in the starry river. ¡°How could you die here? I still haven¡¯t defeated you!¡± ¡°Your Highness¡­¡± Su Youwei raised her blood-stained face. She, who was always strong-hearted, couldn''t help trembling and her eyes reddened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m too useless and couldn¡¯t help you.¡± She thought she could face everything with Zhou Yuan after all her years of cultivation, but in the end, she realized that she still wasn¡¯t good enough. Zhao Mushen peered at the void with a dark face, gritted his teeth and said, "Zhou Yuan, you are the one who defeated me. I don''t believe you will lose here! ¡°Also, I don¡¯t want to die here! I haven¡¯t eaten enough Sacred Race people!¡± However, although he said that, what else could Zhou Yuan do in the face of Jia Tu¡¯s abnormally strong power? Perhaps, he believed in Zhou Yuan, who had always created miracles in the past. Hahaha! Jia Tu''s laughter continued to echo between heaven and earth. "Zhou Yuan, do you not feel the despair from the lowly ants? "They still seem to be hoping you could turn the situation around! "Now, do you regret taking those idiots to break through the boundary formation?! Say, if they all die here, will the name Zhou Yuan become infamous? ¡°Haha, you brought about their deaths!¡± Jia Tu roared with laughter. He suddenly stretched his back and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s time.¡± The starry river had constricted to its highest degree. Flesh shed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, turning to powder by a terrifying force. ¡°Huh?¡± Jia Tu noticed Zhou Yuan¡¯s body shrivelling and his blood dried up like a corpse. Surprised flashed in Jia Tu¡¯s eyes because that wasn¡¯t one of his starry river¡¯s powers. What is that guy doing? His eyes turned fierce, and he roared, ¡°Die!¡± He folded his hands together. Boom! The starry river vibrated violently, like a huge halo suddenly constricting, and terrifying forces rushed over, crushing the space around Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan would no doubt die when the power descended. Everyone stared intently and dared not utter a sound. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes tight, even if the destructive power was rushing towards him, as though he couldn¡¯t sense anything. However, if someone saw the movements within his body, they would find that all Zhou Yuan¡¯s powers were gathering in one place. He even burned the power of his flesh and blood. He was clearly doing everything he could for this. This was because it was his last means. The means was difficult to activate in ordinary times and would only be born when his essence, qi, bodily strength and spirit were refined to their peak and when he had the determination to fight his way out of death. ¡°Come out!¡± A deep roar resounded in Zhou Yuan''s mind. A mysterious rune on the rune light ball in his Divine Dwellings, which had been stilled for many years, finally erupted with dazzling light. That¡¯s¡­ The fourth Saint Rune of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp! Chapter 1191 Saint Fire Destroys Everything The first time Zhou Yuan saw the most mysterious fourth rune should be on Old Xuan¡¯s back, and then, by some strange combination of circumstances, the four Saint Runes carried the largest piece of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and hid in his Divine Dwellings. Zhou Yuan was very familiar with the first three of the four Saint Runes, which had helped him tremendously over the years. But Zhou Yuan had never seen the true face of the fourth Saint Rune. He didn¡¯t even know its name. In Zhou Yuan¡¯s view, the fourth Saint Rune should be the most powerful of the four, and one of the reasons he couldn¡¯t see its true form yet was because he wasn¡¯t strong enough. But he felt it had more to do with that he hasn¡¯t had the right opportunity yet. What opportunity? After so many years, Zhou Yuan felt the so-called opportunity he was waiting for was a strong enough threat. Although it was difficult for Zhou Yuan to touch upon the fourth Saint Rune, it had been in his Divine Dwellings for years and so he could feel its spiritual intellect was much stronger than the other three. It hadn¡¯t appeared yet because Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t encountered a dangerous enough situation! Maybe it felt that it couldn¡¯t appear so easily given its status. Could a Saint Rune have such strong spiritual intellect? Zhou Yuan was puzzled every time he thought about this. Zhou Yuan had no choice but to plunge himself into Jia Tu¡¯s Starry River of Destruction to investigate whether there was an opportunity that would make the fourth Saint Rune appear. Jia Tu was too strong. Although Zhou Yuan had encountered many powerful people over the years, no one could push him to such a state of crisis. However, the crisis was the perfect opportunity for Zhou Yuan to bring out the prideful fourth Saint Rune. Therefore, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t hesitate to burn his flesh and blood when the destructive power roared towards him and poured all his powers toward the fourth Saint Rune in his Divine Dwellings. "Big brother, you¡¯ve been living in my body for so many years, shouldn¡¯t you pay rent?!¡± As Zhou Yuan''s voice echoed in his body, an ancient rune on a Saint Rune ball that had been dimmed for many years finally grew brighter. It soon erupted in a blaze of light. When the destructive force brought about by the constricting starry river crushed space and directly enveloped Zhou Yuan, the last flicker of hope in the eyes of everyone from the five heavens also dimmed. No one screamed out loud and just sank down weakly, sitting paralyzed. The Sacred Race troops in the distance burst into wild laughter. Jia Tu also wore a faint smile as he stared at the scene, as if admiring his masterpiece. "They will all be refined into the Blood Genesis Pills. It¡¯s a pity that the five heavens put so much effort to cultivate them.¡± Jia Tu watched the starry river¡¯s destructive power engulf Zhou Yuan''s body. He should be turned into nothingness soon. It''s a pity because his flesh and blood could be refined into a tasty Blood Genesis Pill. Just when he was thinking this, all his hair suddenly stood on end and his pupils shrank and almost resembled snake-like eyes. His previous delighted smile was replaced by a cold and shocked expression. This was because he saw a figure standing silently and motionless in the center of the starry river like a rock. From his perception, he could feel the starry river¡¯s destructive power hadn¡¯t struck Zhou Yuan''s body. Additionally, it suddenly vanished when it was an inch away from Zhou Yuan. Many people with the boundary also noticed the sudden strange change. The eyes that had dimmed and lost its luster suddenly lit up. Whispers broke out from the Sacred Race team and even some elites frowned in disbelief. They couldn¡¯t understand why Zhou Yuan would be standing unwounded in the starry river¡¯s depths. No one at the Heavenly Sun stage should be able to endure such power! Why isn¡¯t that guy dead?! Jia Tu similarly stared fixedly at the figure standing silently. Zhou Yuan''s flesh and skin were still shrivelled and he looked like a corpse, but Jia Tu could feel a terrifying power accumulating within the withered body. That power chilled him to the heart. ¡°Stop playing tricks!¡± Murderous intent filled Jia Tu''s eyes as he folded his hands in a seal. The galaxy-like star map behind him sent another starry river roaring out like a dragon and sped towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan slowly lifted his wrinkled face, watching the starry river roar down. Then, he opened his mouth. A hoarse noise sounded and a faint, laughable wisp of smoke drifted out from his mouth. Then, Zhou Yuan coughed violently. At that moment, the starry river had already streaked across the sky and was nearing him. Compared with it, his figure was as small and insignificant as a speck of dust. Pu! However, he seemed to have cleared his throat from all that violent coughing and a flame the size of a finger shot out. The flame seemed ordinary and didn¡¯t have a showy appearance. Pu! But when it fluttered out and collided with the starry river, although there wasn¡¯t any noise or terrifying Genesis Qi shock waves, the starry river vanished amidst astonished gazes, as if evaporated without any trace. A breeze passed by. Zhou Yuan scratched his throat and his shrivelled body felt itchy. Jia Tu''s expression froze, and then his relaxed and condescending expression faded little by little and was soon replaced by a look of horror. He still couldn¡¯t understand how Zhou Yuan, who had been suppressed all along, broke away from his control. The wisp of flame looked very ordinary, but Jia Tu noticed a familiar wave of energy from it. That wave of energy was seen only on Saint experts and the flame, although very small, should be the legendary Saint fire that only Saint experts possessed. Even Jia Tu felt an urge to curse out loud. He refined a Saint fire at the Heavenly Sun stage?! Who is he?! Chapter 1192 Reverse the situation Zhou Yuan and Jia Tu stood opposite each other from afar. But both¡¯s bearings had undergone earth-shaking changes. Jia Tu had lost his composure and his changing expression revealed the fear in his heart. He couldn¡¯t help feeling afraid. Although the fire that Zhou Yuan spewed out was seemingly small, like a candlelight, Jia Tu, as the strongest person at the Heavenly Sun stage in the Sacred Race, knew how terrifying the fire was from his vast experience. It was a Saint fire that only Saint experts could refine! It was said to be capable of incinerating Law Domains! Regardless how weak Zhou Yuan''s Saint fire was, it was still a Saint fire, a power that a Heavenly Sun stage expert couldn¡¯t touch upon. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re very fierce.¡± Jia Tu¡¯s voice was filled with anger. "You didn¡¯t hesitate to burn your flesh, blood, Spirit and Genesis Qi to create this Saint fire, but it isn¡¯t a power you can touch. You will pay a very heavy price for this.¡± Although he couldn¡¯t understand how Zhou Yuan created a Saint fire, he could feel that Zhou Yuan¡¯s flesh, blood, Spirit and Genesis Qi were in a burning state. In other words, Zhou Yuan used them as fuel to bring out the Saint fire. If this were to continue, Zhou Yuan could be burned alive. Jia Tu drew a deep breath and his expression changed again. "Zhou Yuan, I have to admit that you¡¯re a formidable enemy. I¡¯m willing to back down and allow the five heavens troops to exit the boundary unharmed. I can even leave three main ancestral qi veins to you. "You have a limitless future. You shouldn¡¯t burn yourself to destroy me here.¡± Jia Tu¡¯s tone clearly showed he was stepping back. He was forced to back down. In Jia Tu''s view, Zhou Yuan was a lunatic preparing his last fight. If a battle were to break out between them again, Jia Tu didn¡¯t have the confidence to escape unscathed under the Saint fire¡¯s power. Jia Tu''s voice rang in everyone¡¯s ears. The Sacred Race team remained silent and didn¡¯t dare to object to him backing down. This was because they could also feel Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying power. The people from the five heavens watched silently. They could only push Jia Tu to such a state because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength, and Zhou Yuan paid a very heavy price for this¡ªas Jia Tu said, he was burning his life. Therefore, they had no right to make a decision. Countless gazes were fixed on the shrivelled figure. Amidst those gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifyingly wrinkled face didn¡¯t ripple in the slightest, and only a faint fire leapt about in the depths of his eyes. But even the world seemingly shuddered under the fire. "Your Sacred Race is arrogant and ruthless. What you said is ridiculous and only makes a laughing stock of yourself.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s answer was obvious. He had to pay a very heavy price for his current state. Additionally, there was a time limit, which Jia Tu should have guessed. This was why he deliberately tempted Zhou Yuan to try to stall for time. Jia Tu would kill Zhou Yuan on the spot the moment he withdrew from his powerful state. If that was the case, it would be better to end everything neatly. He had already paid the price, was there a reason to step back? Jia Tu''s face darkened. ¡°You really want to give up your life? You won¡¯t be able to protect your Spirit under the Saint fire. In other words, you will disappear from the world.¡± Zhou Yuan paid no attention to him. The faint fire continued to leap about within his shrivelled body. Smoke rose from his opened mouth, and then, sparks sputtered out. The sparks swiftly gathered to form a candlelight. The flame flickered and soon disappeared. But Jia Tu suddenly stiffened and all his hair stood on end. He felt an indescribable aura of death enveloped him. ¡°Sacred Pupil Art, Divine Galaxy Armor!¡± Jia Tu drew back frantically, roaring at the same time. Cracks split his Sacred Pupil, causing blood to seep out and made him look even more terrifying. Jia Tu exerted all his powers because he knew the seemingly ordinary-looking flame possessed the power to utterly destroy him. Boom! Space shattered as several starry rivers emerged from nowhere. The stunning starry rivers surrounded him like an armor. This was Jia Tu¡¯s last trump card to protect his life! When the Divine Galaxy Armor appeared, the space around silently broke to pieces and sparks fluttered out, landing on the armor. Then, countless eyes widened in shock when they saw Jia Tu¡¯s strongest defense melt as the sparks landed. Jia Tu shuddered, his pupils shrinking. The aura of death that the sparks brought felt suffocating to him. He finally understood that all his means were as fragile as tofu under the Saint fire¡¯s sparks. Jia Tu didn''t dare to move an inch because he knew that any movements could trigger the sparks to destroy him completely. However, even so, that only delayed the spread of the fire. The countdown to death had already started. Jia Tu stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s shrivelled body, regret rushing up to his eyes. If he knew this would be the outcome, he would have immediately killed Zhou Yuan as soon as he came to Guyuan Heaven. ¡°I never thought I, Jia Tu, would end in your hands.¡± He was already very cautious but who would have thought he would still be defeated. ¡°However you also will die!¡± Jia Tu¡¯s face twisted fiercely. From his perception, he could feel Zhou Yuan had turned his flesh, blood, Spirit and Genesis Qi into fuel, which means Zhou Yuan was in a similar situation as him. They both had fallen into the countdown to death. Zhou Yuan continued to ignore him. He flung his sleeve and hurled out dozens of formation flags, which all landed in different directions at the core. Finally, with a slight movement, he appeared on the summit where Jia Tu was sitting cross-legged. There, it was the core of the Sacred Derivation Boundary. "Zhou Yuan! You ruined our Sacred Race¡¯s plan! Our Saint experts will crush your bones to ashes and then eliminate all those related to you!¡± Jia Tu threatened, his eyes reddening in fury. He drew back as his face contorted in a grimace of pain. A spark pierced through the Divine Galaxy Armor and instantly turned one of his arms into nothingness. The Sacred Race teams finally began to panic, their eyes widening with fear. Countless screams of terror resounded. No one could enter the core area except Jia Tu. But now that the core area had fallen into Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands, there was even more nothing they could do and could only helplessly watch on. Ah! Ah! Then, roars of anger, despair and fear rang one another another. Once Zhou Yuan reversed the boundary, it would lead to a devastating outcome for them. Unlike the Sacred Race, everyone from the five heavens watched the scene with complicated gazes, and when they looked at the shrivelled figure, their eyes brimmed with admiration and awe. Hua! Countless people bowed their heads in Zhou Yuan¡¯s directions with their hands on their chest, performing the most respectful ceremony from ancient times. What Zhou Yuan had done was enough to make his name spread throughout the five heavens. It was also at that moment when Zhou Yuan inserted the formation flag in his hand into the mountain summit amidst gazes of despair and anger from the Sacred Race team. Zhou Yuan smiled at Jia Tu. ¡°Apologies, I reversed the situation again.¡± Chapter 1193 Boundary Reverse Swallows The entire boundary suddenly shook violently as Zhou Yuan inserted the formation flag into its core area, and the boundary¡¯s orderly movement, which was controlled by the most central position, was immediately halted. Swoosh! At the same time, the flags put up at the nodes that the five heavens team members had destroyed also vibrated and buzzed simultaneously, responding to the call from the most central position. Those formation flags had little effect in ordinary times, but once the boundary¡¯s core was destroyed, the seemingly ordinary-looking flags would rapidly corrode the boundary¡¯s control. Countless light rays shot up, piercing into the boundary. The boundary rippled with terrifying waves of energy. The Sacred Race team began to panic. Their eyes were wide with fear as they stared at the sky. The boundary that they relied on had become the god of death that could take away their lives. This was because they built the boundary¡¯s source, and now that someone else had taken control of the boundary, the boundary would launch a counteroffensive with its power. This was the Sacred Derivation Boundary¡¯s reverse swallowing! No one in the boundary could withstand the reverse swallowing! Rumble! Their fear didn¡¯t last long. The world soon quaked and space was directly ripped apart as terrifying power descended from above, striking the many Sacred Race team members with remarkable precision. Everyone exploded into a puff of blood-colored smoke regardless of how they fought back. Bang! Blood-colored smoke curled up from everywhere across the boundary like a spectacular firework show. Everyone from the five great heavens watched in astonishment. They didn¡¯t feel any pity for the Sacred Race because they knew they would suffer the same ending if they hadn¡¯t broken through the boundary. But their respect and gratitude for Zhou Yuan grew even stronger after they witnessed such a bloody scene. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± Jia Tu roared, his eyes about to crack open. He knew they would suffer a heavy loss, and Zhou Yuan, who resembled a corpse at that moment, was the one who caused all this! ¡°The Sacred Race won¡¯t let you off lightly for what you have done!¡± Jia Tu¡¯s voice was filled with murderous intent. Zhou Yuan said indifferently, ¡°I didn¡¯t think you would be so childish. This is a battle of life and death, do you think Sacred Race¡¯s hatred towards me would be eliminated if I let you all go?¡± Jia Tu¡¯s expression turned cold and sinister, and the anger on his face eventually faded. After composing his emotions, he understood Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t show mercy to them. No one could save him except someone at the Law Domain stage or above. But even the Saint experts in the Sacred Race couldn¡¯t intervene under Guyuan Heaven¡¯s special rules. Therefore...he would no doubt die. Thinking of this, Jia Tu surprisingly was much calmer. He ran his eyes over the boundary and saw his team members constantly reverse-swallowed and exploded into blood-colored smoke. Then, one of his fingers suddenly dropped from his hand. The severed finger suddenly exploded and a strange light shot out. The strange light expanded with the wind and formed a black ring. The black ring swiftly streaked across the sky and appeared above the Sacred Race team, as if teleported. It suddenly erupted with a powerful suction force, trying to draw in as many Sacred Race team members as possible before the boundary reverse-swallowed everyone. The black ring seemed to lead to another domain. Zhou Yuan indifferently watched the scene. The black ring, which emitted a chilling aura, was likely a creation of a Saint expert from the Sacred Race. But Zhou Yuan could sense that the black ring had no attack power and could only take away some people. ¡°You''re very cautious. You even prepared a route of retreat,¡± said Zhou Yuan with a little admiration. It was obvious that Jia Tu prepared such a backup plan in advance. It had to be said that Jia Tu was amazing to think of this even if he knew he had a huge advantage going into the battle. No wonder he was the strongest at the Heavenly Sun stage in the Sacred Race. Jia Tu didn''t respond. His move could only save their situation a little because the boundary would no doubt swallow at least half of the Sacred Race team. Moreover, they were the elites of the Sacred Race¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage and shouldn¡¯t be neglected even if the Sacred Race had a remarkable foundation. Meanwhile, Jia Tu was corroded even more severely by the Saint fire after he severed his finger. The lower half of his body was instantly melted into nothing. Jia Tu cast an indifferent glance at Zhou Yuan, saying, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you won this time, but do you think you can change anything by giving up your life to do this?¡± "The Battle of Guyuan Heaven is divided into four levels and we are only the lowest level. The ancestral qi we are fighting for is only one fifth of the entire Guyuan Heaven. "In the upper levels of Guyuan Heaven, there are battles at the Nascent Source stage, Law Domain stage and the Saint stage. Our Sacred Race has won the majority of the ancestral qi in Guyuan Heaven in the past. Our Sacred Race is incredibly powerful and you lowly ants can¡¯t be compared to us. "Moreover, so what if you win a little bit more this time? Can one victory be compared to our Sacred Races¡¯ victories in the past thousands of battles of Guyuan Heaven? Jia Tu shook his head, saying in a condescending and pitiful voice, "So, even if you win this time, you can''t change your lowly ant-like status.¡± Zhou Yuan ignored him and his expression remained calm and composed. He knew Jia Tu was trying to provoke him. There is no need to deal with someone about to die. Jia Tu pursed his lips and said, "Zhou Yuan, I will be here, watching you die with me.¡± Zhou Yuan still ignored him. Instead, he raised his head and looked above the boundary, where a giant black hole appeared. The black hole was restraining nine dragon-like existences. They were the nine main ancestral qi veins in Guyuan Heaven. His eyes lit up as he surveyed these nine main ancestral veins. He curved a corner of his dried lips upwards and a hoarse voice came from his throat, ¡°Jia Tu, who said I will die here with you?¡± Jia Tu''s pupils shrank and he coldly sneered, "You lit a Sant flame by burning your flesh, Spirit, and Genesis Qi. Your body is on the verge of destruction. What else do you have to endure?¡± "That''s not necessarily true. There is something that can save me now." With a smiling expression in his eyes, he stared at the nine main veins trapped in the huge black hole formed from the Sacred Derivation Boundary. Inside, he felt the existence of an indescribable matter. If his guess was correct, it should be what he always dreamt of...the Ancestral Dragon Flesh! He didn¡¯t need much. A little bit could save him from his current state and the rest could still be brought back to Yaoyao. However, he felt that the so-called Ancestral Dragon Flesh wasn¡¯t something easy to withstand. But he had no other choice right now. Hu. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and his eyes turned cold. Then, his shrivelled figure suddenly soared into the sky under shocked gazes, and sped towards the giant black hole. Chapter 1194 Ancestral Dragon Flesh His target was the nine main ancestral qi veins restrained in the black hole! Bai Xiaolu, Su Youwei and the others all watched anxiously. They could tell Zhou Yuan was attempting to search for a chance to live from the nine main ancestral qi veins. Otherwise, as Jia Tu said, they both would die. But they couldn¡¯t do anything to help him and could only pray for him. Under countless intent gazes, Zhou Yuan entered the black hole, which gathered the boundary¡¯s tremendous power. However, he was considered the controller of the boundary and thus the tremendous power didn¡¯t strike back at him. He came to the black hole¡¯s depths without any obstruction. There, nine ancient dragon silhouettes hovered in the air. The dragons were all different colors, but all radiated an indescribable ancient aura, which was much stronger than the dragon might that Jiang Jinlin and other members of the Mystic Dragon Clan exuded. Zhou Yuan immediately activated the Decoder Saint Rune to investigate the nine ancient dragon silhouettes. His eyes seemed to penetrate the dragon silhouettes and saw the mysterious matter within them. Those matters were as subtle as dust and drifted along the nine main ancestral qi veins. "Ancestral Dragon Flesh!" Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help flushing with excitement and his heart pounded wildly inside his chest. He had been working hard to find the Ancestral Dragon Flesh ever since he arrived at Hunyuan Heaven. He finally saw the legendary Ancestral Dragon Flesh! With that and the Ancestral Dragon Lantern, Yaoyao would finally be awakened! Zhou Yuan¡¯s emotions surged like the tide, but he eventually managed to suppress his churning heart. He felt the indescribable pressure released from the mysterious substance and everything in the world was shuddering under that pressure. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and then activated the Sacred Derivation Boundary¡¯s power. Boom! The black hole began to vibrate as invisible power gathered. They pressed on the nine main ancestral qi veins and squeezed out some of the mysterious matter. "The boundary derived from the Sacred Race¡¯s Saint experts is indeed extraordinary.¡± Even Zhou Yuan was a little surprised by the terrifying power contained within the nine main veins. Additionally, they were similar to illusory-like existences, yet the boundary was able to affect and even restrain them. Evidently, the Sacred Race had put in great efforts for their plan to succeed. But it had only benefited Zhou Yuan in the end. As the mysterious matter gathered, something seemed to be birthed. Zhou Yuan stared at the space in front of him as if something was there. He could feel an indescribable aura of chaos but he couldn¡¯t see anything. It was as if the matter couldn¡¯t be revealed in front of anyone. That was one of the Ancestral Dragon Flesh¡¯s mysteriousness. But Zhou Yuan still detected something that was the size of a strand of hair floating there and emitting a power that made him shudder. It was a lump of Ancestral Dragon Flesh. It released a terrifying pressure that made Zhou Yuan feel his body and Spirit were on the verge of crumbling. Boom! It was also then that the World Subduing Heavenly Dragon Qi within his body buzzed and produced dragon roars that shook his body to dissolve the pressure that the Ancestral Dragon Flesh brought about. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that ordinary people couldn¡¯t touch the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. He only dared to step forward because he cultivated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, which was considered to have the same origin as it. Fortunately, he was right. But he still shouldn¡¯t relax completely because the Ancestral Dragon Flesh was the most ancient matter between heaven and earth, and generally speaking, even Nascent Source experts wouldn¡¯t dare to refine it with their strength, let alone him who was only at the Heavenly Sun stage. But at such a time, he had no other choice. "Hahaha, Zhou Yuan, so you intend to save yourself with the Ancestral Dragon Flesh!¡± Jia Tu roared with laughter when he noticed Zhou Yuan¡¯s plan. His voice was filled with ridicule. ¡°How ignorant are you!¡± Jia Tu shook his head and didn''t know what else to say. Even if Zhou Yuan had reached the end of his life, at least he could live a little longer. But if he attempted to refine the Ancestral Dragon Flesh, he would be annihilated in an instant. As the strongest at the Sacred Race¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage, he knew far more secrets than Zhou Yuan. This was why he knew it was stupid and ignorant to attempt to refine the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. Zhou Yuan ignored his mocking laughter. How wouldn¡¯t Zhou Yuan know about the risks involved? One¡¯s cultivation path was always full of twists and turns. If one didn¡¯t fight with their lives at the critical moments, how could one seize earth shattering opportunities? A determined glint came to his eyes and he stepped forward without any hesitation. He opened his mouth wide and took a bite of the invisible Ancestral Dragon Flesh in front of him. Boom! As the strand-of-hair-like Ancestral Dragon Flesh entered his body, he felt an ancient and vast power exploding inside. The power was so terrifying that even he felt fearful of what could happen. ¡°This isn¡¯t good.¡± He sighed inwardly. That power was a supreme power in the world and was simply uncontrollable. At the very least, he couldn¡¯t control it with his present strength. Even though he had cultivated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture! Ultimately he was still too weak! Someone at his level couldn¡¯t endure the Ancestral Dragon Flesh¡¯s power. Zhou Yuan raised his hand and saw his shrivelled arm silently crumbling into dust and drifted away. His flesh was directly decomposed by the Ancestral Dragon Flesh¡¯s power. Countless people from the five heavens paled at the scene. Bai Xiaolu also sighed inwardly, her eyes dimming. ¡°Your Highness!¡± Su Youwei sprang up and was about to take a step forward when she suddenly collapsed and tumbled down the hill in front of her. When she finally stabilized herself, she was already severely injured and unable to move an inch. She stared ashen-faced at the gradually decomposing figure and tremblingly stretched out her slender hand stained with mud as if to hold onto him. ¡°Your Highness¡ª¡± she muttered, tears coursing downing her cheeks. A sorrowful feeling wildly attacked her heart and caused piercing pain. Wu Yao clenched her hands with an extremely complicated expression on her beautiful face. She stared at the figure and raised her brows. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you can¡¯t die here. I haven''t retrieved my Sacred Dragon Blessing from you yet!¡± Zhao Mushen''s expression changed indefinitely, and in the end, he stroked his chin, saying, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you can go in peace. I will replace you and become the strongest at the Heavenly Sun stage.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Jia Tu''s laughter reverberated again. He laughed so hard that he almost shed a tear. He was delighted to see Zhou Yuan die in front of him before the Saint fire melt him completely. Even a Saint expert can¡¯t save that idiot now! Chapter 1195 Believe in Yaoyao for Eternal Life First was his arms, legs and then his upper body. Zhou Yuan noticed the breaking down of his body didn¡¯t cause him any pain, but the Ancestral Dragon Flesh he swallowed into his body was destroying all his vitality with tyrannical willpower. It was a complete destruction. As though someone superior eliminated someone inferior. After all, the Ancestral Dragon Flesh¡¯s power wasn¡¯t something that anyone below the Saint stage could bear. Zhou Yuan''s expression remained particularly calm even in the face of death, because he had already prepared for such a situation. Therefore, he entrusted Su Youwei to help him complete his task if something happened to him. She would help him bring back the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. "Yaoyao...it seems I can''t watch you wake up,¡± whispered Zhou Yuan. He could feel the Ancestral Dragon Flesh he swallowed contained a supreme residual will. That will was so faint that it was almost undetectable, but it was still beyond the grasp of someone at the Heavenly Sun stage. It should be a residual trace of will of the Ancestral Dragon. With this will, Zhou Yuan''s struggle was futile. Therefore, he didn¡¯t resist and simply closed his eyes, waiting for everything to return to nothingness. The decomposition of his body spread rapidly, and soon reached his heart. However, something happened at that moment! Everyone saw a flicker of purple-gold light bloom in the depths of Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. It radiated a mysterious and ancient charm. The unstoppable decomposition of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body gradually stopped under the purple-gold light¡¯s illumination! Zhou Yuan felt the sudden change and glanced at his chest in astonishment. He could feel the mysterious purple-gold substance within the purple-gold light. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank, but what he found the most astonishing was that the purple-gold substance twisted around something as it flowed. The strand of hair-like matter was what caused his body to decompose. It was a strand of the Ancestral Dragon Flesh! The purple-gold substance twisted around the Ancestral Dragon Flesh as if in a collision undetectable to Zhou Yuan. "What is that?!" Zhou Yuan''s heart churned like the ocean. The purple-gold substance in his body could compete with the residual will in the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. What kind of existence was that?! Moreover, for some reason, the purple-gold substance felt familiar to him. A light dawned on him. He remembered a mysterious purple-gold substance sneaked into his body when Yaoyao helped him seal the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison in his body back then¡­He previously thought it was an illusion, but now it was clear that the purple-gold substance came from Yaoyao! Countless eyes stared in bewilderment at the scene. They were unaware what happened, but at least half of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body wasn¡¯t broken down. Jia Tu''s loud laughter stopped, and his face darkened. That bastard won¡¯t let people relax for a moment. I was laughing so happily, but he interrupted me again. Can he not let others be happy for a moment? It¡¯s useless, no matter what you do. The Ancestral Dragon Flesh is rumored to contain residual will of the Ancestral Dragon, which is toxic to anyone below the Saint stage. Jia Tu thought to himself. But even so, he still stared intently at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was too strange and Jia Tu couldn¡¯t die in peace without seeing Zhou Yuan disappear completely with his own eyes. The purple-gold luster on Zhou Yuan''s chest grew increasingly intense under countless gazes. In Zhou Yuan''s perception, the collision in his heart continued for a while longer before it faded with a little noise. He felt two magnificent wisps vanishing at the same time. They were the Ancestral Dragon Flesh¡¯s residual will and purple-gold substance. In the end the Ancestral Dragon Flesh entwined with the purple-gold substance and exploded together. Bang! The remaining half of Zhou Yuan''s body, including his head, instantly exploded into dust. Everyone within the boundary stared wide-eyed at the scene. His hesitation was correct because a mysterious ring of light appeared around Zhou Yuan where it exploded, and several substances swiftly accumulated around there at an astonishing speed. They formed a human silhouette in just a few breaths. Mysterious substances filled the inside of the silhouette. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body soon recovered again, but this time, it had undergone tremendous changes. His skin was crystal clear, like glass, and rings of glass light shrouded his body, making him appear scared. He stared blankly at his body, and then balled his hand into a fist and punched out. Rumble! The space in front shattered and countless spatial fragments whizzed across the air with the blast of wind from his fist. His power was several times more powerful than his previous full-strength Genesis Qi offensive! He felt he could smash Jia Tu with one punch if they had another match! The power was comparable to that of the Nascent Source stage! ¡°My body¡­" Zhou Yuan exclaimed, ¡°Is it now a true Saint Glass Body!?¡± Although he had previously refined a little glass light, it wasn¡¯t a true Saint Glass Body because his body would be able to withstand the Nascent Source Stage¡¯s power if it reached such a level! Due to an unexpected turn of events, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was restored and became a Saint Glass Body without any obstruction. ¡°Saint Glass Body!?¡± Bai Xiaolu sprang up, her huge black eyes staring unblinkingly at Zhou Yuan. She clutched her chest and drew back, feeling extremely uncomfortable. It should be said that she had cultivated her physical body for many years and had experienced many opportunities, yet she still hadn¡¯t refined a real Saint Glass Body. But Zhou Yuan had achieved her dream in a short period. Zhou Yuan¡¯s physical body was clearly inferior to hers when they first met! Zhou Yuan scratched his head. He thought he would be dead, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise and he refined a true Saint Glass Body! He cast a glance at Jia Tu who seemed to have froze, and grinned, ¡°I survived.¡± ¡°How? How?¡± muttered Jia Tu. Zhou Yuan tilted his head with a mocking smile. ¡°Because¡­those who believe in Yaoyao live forever!¡± Chapter 1196 Enough He couldn¡¯t understand how Zhou Yuan could overcome the residual Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will in the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. That was the Ancestral Dragon will! The Ancestral Dragon was a supreme god-like existence that created the world. Even though only a faint wisp of will was left behind and it had existed for countless years, it still wasn¡¯t a power someone at the Heavenly Sun stage could touch upon. Therefore, he couldn¡¯t imagine how Zhou Yuan could get rid of the residual Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will and refine it. In the end he couldn''t figure out the answer because his body was melting much faster than before. It was like when Zhou Yuan was disintegrating. ¡°Ah!¡± Jia Tu erupted with an unwilling roar as his body disappeared completely. No miracle happened on his side. He completely vanished from the world. The strongest person in the Sacred Race¡¯s Heavenly Sun stage crashed to the ground amidst stunned gazes. After drawing up almost half the Sacred Race team, the black ring he threw out also sped away and left the remaining team members. His army was completely destroyed. The five heavens team members finally broke into earth shattering cheers and applause. Countless eyes filled with gratitude and awe shifted to the figure above. Zhou Yuan¡¯s achievement in Guyuan Heaven would no doubt make his name reverberate throughout all heavens. Everyone knew what role Zhou Yuan played in Guyuan Heaven. He could be said to have overturned the sky. He succeeded in identifying the Sacred Derivation Boundary¡¯s flaws, leading the five heavens team and won the final battle against Jia Tu despite all the difficulties. If it weren''t for Zhou Yuan, the final result wouldn¡¯t be what it was. Zhou Yuan smiled with relief when he heard the cheers, as if a weight was off his heart. As the commander-in-chief of all-heavens, he was placed under immense pressure, but he also knew he couldn¡¯t flee in a battle against the Sacred Race because there was no space to retreat. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t disappoint everyone in the end. Zhou Yuan peered down through the boundary and saw the several people riddled with battle wounds but still withstood in the end. Zhou Yuan was only able to face Jia Tu because everyone from the five heavens risked their lives to fight. ¡°Everyone, I am not the only one who contributed in this battle. This is a victory of all-heavens. ¡°The great battle has ended, let¡¯s all celebrate together!¡± Zhou Yuan''s clear voice rang in everyone¡¯s ears. Everyone buzzed with excitement because they understood Zhou Yuan''s intentions. He wanted them all to enjoy the cleansing from the first wave of ancestral qi! It should be said that this was cleansing from the nine main ancestral qi veins! The effect was similar to enjoying the benefits of an intermediate ancestral qi vein alone! ¡°Commander Zhou Yuan is invincible!¡± Voices of joy and excitement resounded like a tsunami. As the wave of ancestral qi descended, they hurriedly sat down to receive the great gift from their victory. Bai Xiaolu, Wu Yao, Su Youwei, Zhao Mushen and the others also raised their heads. The ancestral qi current descended on them was especially strong and made even them apprehensive. But they soon felt at ease when they remembered they now occupied all nine main ancestral qi veins. Their consumption was likely not even one ten millionth of the total amount. Zhou Yuan fixed his eyes on a certain location, which was where Guan Qinglong was. He could feel Guan Qinglong''s vitality was extremely weak and was close to his last breath. But it wouldn¡¯t be a problem with enough ancestral qi. He could be restored as long as vitality wasn¡¯t completely exhausted! But Jiang Jinlin and Li Fu¡­ Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly and stretched out one finger. An ancestral qi torrent descended from the sky and directly shrouded Guan Qinglong¡¯s weak body, rapidly restoring his vitality. Guan Qinglong''s drooping head quivered and he slowly lifted his head. He stared blankly at the ancestral qi torrent around him and felt his injuries rapidly healing and his Genesis Qi growing stronger. ¡°This¡­¡± His eyes quickly shifted to the familiar figure in the giant black hole. Then, his pupils shrank. ¡°Captain Zhou Yuan?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded at him from the air above. Guan Qinglong¡¯s fierce eyes slowly widened. "We... won?¡± "Captain Guan Qinglong, let''s absorb the ancestral qi first. We won this battle." Zhou Yuan''s voice rang in his ears. Guan Qinglong drew a deep breath. Even he felt a lump in his throat and tried to fight back tears as he muttered, ¡°We won, it wasn¡¯t easy. ¡°Captain Zhou Yuan, I, Guan Qinglong, really admire you. ¡°No wonder Wu Yao¡­¡± A complicated expression flashed across his eyes, and then he exhaled a long deep breath. He closed his eyes and focused on absorbing ancestral qi. ... Hovering in space, Zhou Yuan watched the spectacular sight of countless ancestral qi torrents descending. This victory was the result of everyone''s combined efforts, so it was only right that they received the resources first. "Everyone, seize this opportunity and attack the Nascent Source stage with all your strength. ¡°There is enough ancestral qi!¡± His sentence made everyone smile with anticipation. Many advanced Heavenly Sun experts¡¯ ultimate goal of entering Guyuan Heaven was to take advantage of the ancestral qi to attack the Nascent Source stage but this required a lot of ancestral qi. This was no longer a problem given that they occupied all nine main ancestral qi veins. A number of people paused at the advanced Heavenly Sun stage would no doubt break through to the Nascent Source stage. Zhou Yuan stretched his back and sat down in the black hole¡¯s depths. Gazing at the nine main veins, he slowly folded his hands together and closed his eyes. Zhou Yuan of course wouldn¡¯t be satisfied with just achieving the Saint Glass Body. He also hoped to break through to the Nascent Source stage in Guyuan Heaven. Moreover, he didn¡¯t want an ordinary Nascent Source. He wanted to first evolve his Heavenly Suns into Nine-Claw Heavenly Suns and then try to break through. He wanted to reach the advanced Nascent Source stage in one step! Chapter 1197 How many inches are the Nascent Source? Even Jia Tu might not be able to withstand the impact of such powerful ancestral qi. However, Zhou Yuan seemed to not care. He didn¡¯t circulate his Genesis Qi, allowing the ancestral qi torrent to cleanse him. Circles of Saint glass light emerged around his body. Saint Glass Body! Zhou Yuan¡¯s most powerful means wasn¡¯t his Genesis Qi or Spirit cultivation, but his Saint Glass Body¡­which was comparable to the Nascent Source Stage¡¯s strength. In other words, he had surpassed the Heavenly Sun stage. When he looked back at his previous battles, they were like children playing. Boom! The torrent battered Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, but he remained motionless and swallowed all ancestral qi into his body like a whirlpool. Ancestral qi roamed along his meridians. The ancestral qi charged everywhere like a violent bull. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t refined the Saint Glass Body, the ancestral qi¡¯s tremendous power could have seriously damaged his meridians. Fortunately, his meridians were ten times stronger, tougher and more spacious than before. Therefore, after going round his body twice through the tough meridians, the unruly ancestral qi lost its berserk nature and obediently flowed into his Divine Dwellings. Three Heavenly Suns were quietly suspended in his Divine Dwellings. As ancestral qi endlessly filled the three Heavenly Suns, the dragon runes on them also extended. The speed wasn¡¯t particularly fast, but Zhou Yuan waited patiently because the enemies had retreated, so they had time to enjoy their harvest from the battle. As the person with the most credit in the battle, Zhou Yuan naturally had the greatest benefit. And any one with some intelligence wouldn¡¯t dare to object to this. ¡­ Time flew by as ancestral qi descended endlessly. One month passed in the blink of an eye. The atmosphere around the five heavens army buzzed like never before over the past month. This was because someone made a breakthrough and reached the Nascent Source stage almost every day! Of course, the majority of them were stuck at the advanced Heavenly Sun stage and waited for such an opportunity for years. The ancestral qi torrent provided them with the most perfect opportunity. Such large-scale breakthroughs to the Nascent Source stage was an extremely rare spectacle, so it was still a feast for the eyes for those who weren¡¯t as successful. While watching several Nascent Source experts emerge, they curiously counted the number of people who broke through. Once one¡¯s Nascent Source formed, one¡¯s inside and outside world would connect and the power of one¡¯s Genesis arts would soar tremendously. The Nascent Source stage was divided into the initial Nascent Source, advanced Nascent Source and perfect Nascent Source stage. A Nascent Source less than five inches was ranked an initial Nascent Source. A Nascent Source over five inches and less than eight inches was ranked an advanced Nascent Source, and eight inches and over was ranked the perfect Nascent Source stage. Those who had cultivated a Nascent Source to nine inches were all top figures of the world. But nine inches wasn''t the limit. According to ancient records, the Nascent Source stage¡¯s limit was 9.9 inches. Someone had found that all the illustrious Saint experts in the past had cultivated their Nascent Source to over 9.5 inches and thus, there was an unwritten rule that anyone who could cultivate a Nascent Source over 9.5 inches had the potential of becoming a Saint expert. Of course, the Saint stage was too illusory. Although some believed in this, there were many who didn''t. This was because not only an accumulation of experience was required to set foot on the Saint stage, but also blessing and luck. After all, it was the pinnacle existence in the entire world. However, a nine inch Nascent Source was too distant to the five heavens troops because they found that almost 90% of the people who broke through to the Nascent Source stage only refined a Nascent Source of less than one inch. Only a handful of people broke past one inch. The seemingly slight difference in size represented a world of difference. But they weren¡¯t disappointed because the real influential people were yet to perform. With this thought, they shifted their gaze to the direction of Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong, Su Youwei and the others, and finally they simultaneously turned to the black hole¡¯s depths. There, the ancestral qi pulsed frantically and dragon roars reverberated. They were most curious what commander Zhou Yuan, who had created miracles after miracles, achieved at the Nascent Source stage? They didn''t need to wait long. Ten days later, the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth surged again. Six mighty waves of Genesis Qi erupted almost at the same time, stirring up Genesis Qi hurricanes. Countless eyes cast to that direction in astonishment. Such movements were greater than any previous breakthroughs. "Bai Xiaolu and the others are going to break through!¡± voices full of anticipation rang out. Boom! Six thousand-feet pillars of Genesis Qi shot into the sky, each displaying strange spectacles. After a while, the Genesis Qi pillars began to shrink. Everyone followed the light pillars as they shrank and saw six figures hovering in the sky. They were Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong and the others. Their eyes were tightly closed as the giant Genesis Qi pillars constantly shrank and eventually sank into their skulls. Powerful Genesis Qi pressure swept across the area, making everyone feel suffocating oppression, and even those who just broke through to the Nascent Source stage had to focus their minds to endure the pressure. Bai Xiaolu and the others finally drew the Genesis Qi pillars into their bodies. The top of their skulls suddenly lit up and six Nascent Source that looked identical jumped out and sat above their heads. The Nascent Source were all crystal-clear and radiated a spiritual luster. Their bodies seemed illusory, and as they sat there silently, they seemed to fuse with the world. Moreover, they could stir the vast Genesis Qi between heaven and earth with a slight movement. Countless eyes were curiously fixed on the six Nascent Source. Then, exclamations rang one after another. Guan Qinglong, 2.8 inches. Chu Qing, 2.9 inches. Bai Xiaolu, 3 inches. Su Youwei, 3.5 inches. Wu Yao, 3.6 inches. Zhao Mushen, 4 inches. Chapter 1198 Six Greater Nascent Source Although they all looked delicate and small, there was a difference between them, even if it was only an inch. The people present were all elites at the Heavenly Sun stage and so they naturally noticed the subtle difference and the huge gap it represented. Even the smallest Nascent Source of the six was 2.8 inches. It should be said that no one from the five heavens team had broken past 2 inches except those six people. The most astonishing thing was that Zhao Mushen''s Nascent Source reached 4 inches! He surpassed everyone else! But the gap between him and Su Youwei and Wu Yao was very small, which showed how remarkable the three were. The three were the lowest of the six in terms of seniority, but their achievements greatly surpassed the other three. Some people realized the three were all from Hunyuan Heaven, which was a direct slap to the other heavens¡¯ face. Why were the young generation of Hunyuan Heaven so terrifying?! ¡°How come so many monsters are born in Hunyuan Heaven?¡± "Yes, it''s too terrifying. Not only commander Zhou Yuan is not human, those three are also so powerful and even captain Bai Xiaolu can''t compare to them!¡± "Hunyuan Heaven has utterly suppressed Qiankun Heaven this time, which means they likely won¡¯t fight for the leader position of all-heavens, at least in this generation.¡± The people from the other great heavens whispered, their tone full of envy. But someone from Cangxuan Heaven suddenly interrupted. ¡°Hunyuan Heaven is indeed very strong, but what I want to say is that three of the four Hunyuan Heaven people are from Cangxuan Heaven.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Some people¡¯s eyes widened in shock. "Commander Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei from the Zixiao Region and Wu Yao from the Wushen Region are all from Cangxuan Heaven. It¡¯s a pity that our Cangxuan Heaven is too weak and many people left. Of course, if they had stayed in Cangxuan Heaven, they might not have accomplished what they have today,¡± someone from Cangxuan Heaven explained in a regretful yet proud voice. Everyone nodded but they found it hard to believe because they never would have thought the three were from the weakest Cangxuan Heaven. While countless people were whispering below, Su Youwei and the others slowly opened their eyes. The world seemed to have undergone dramatic changes, and they could feel universe Genesis Qi silently flowing over them. With one thought and without using any Genesis arts, universe Genesis Qi swiftly gathered around them and formed a huge Genesis Qi storm. Then, with another thought, the Genesis Qi storm vanished into thin air. With that kind of subtle control, the power that one could erupt with would far surpass those at the Heavenly Sun stage even if they had the same Genesis Qi foundation. The gap between the Nascent Source stage and Heavenly Sun stage was tremendous. The six people¡¯s gazes met in the void, and each wore a different expression. The most complicated expression was on Guan Qinglong¡¯s and Bai Xiaolu¡¯s faces. Guan Qinglong was originally the strongest at the Heavenly Sun stage, but three juniors, Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei, had overtaken him once he reached the Nascent Source stage. Bai Xiaolu¡¯s emotions were even more complex. She was the heaven pride from Qiankun Heaven, who everyone had high hopes for, but not only did Zhou Yuan surpass her, even the three also surpassed him. Why is this Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s generation so blessed? But Guan Qinglong and Bai Xiaolu didn¡¯t reveal their thoughts and quickly composed their emotions in the end. Since they could reach such a level, they naturally had tenacious minds and wouldn¡¯t feel dispirited because they fell behind a little. The Nascent Source stage was considered a top-tier power in any heavens. If the Heavenly Sun stage was the middle level, one was considered to have entered the high-level threshold once they reached the Nascent Source stage. Although the Nascent Source stage was strong, it wasn¡¯t the top. They didn¡¯t dare to think about the Saint stage, but they felt they could try the Law Domain stage, and if successful, they would truly rise to the top level of all heavens. They retracted their gazes. When they looked at the Sacred Derivation Boundary again, they even more noticed its power and couldn¡¯t help feeling fortunate. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t seen through the boundary¡¯s flaws and killed Jia Tu, they likely couldn¡¯t escape, let alone reach the Nascent Source stage. At that moment, there was a clamour of congratulation. Figures bowed to the six people one after another. Even some who reached the Nascent Source stage nodded slightly and bowed respectfully to them. This was because they, who reached the Nascent Source stage, even more understood that the six people were far stronger than them. Wu Yao, Su Youwei and the others bowed their heads in response and then simultaneously cast their gaze to the black hole¡¯s depths. They could finally see through the black hole after their strength soared. They saw a figure sitting in the black hole¡¯s depths with ancestral qi gathering endlessly around him and being instantly swallowed by his body. The efficiency of swallowing ancestral qi made all six people jump up. Although ancestral qi was good, it contained berserk force and could cause one¡¯s body to burst apart if swallowed in huge amounts. This was why they didn¡¯t dare to swallow too much, but Zhou Yuan seemed unafraid. However, they soon realized that Zhou Yuan acted fearlessly because he possessed the Saint Glass Body. Bai Xiaolu¡¯s huge eyes gleamed covetously. Her physical body had improved tremendously after breakthrough and the glass light halo around her was much stronger than before, which suggested she was close to the real Saint Glass Body. It was only a matter of time before she refined the Saint Glass Body. But that was in the future. She could only stare enviously at Zhou Yuan¡¯s body now. ¡°How many inches will that guy¡¯s Nascent Source be when he breakthroughs?¡± asked Bai Xiaolu curiously. Chu Qing stroked his chin. ¡°At least 5 inches.¡± ¡°Then wouldn¡¯t he directly reach the Greater Nascent Source stage?¡± exclaimed Bai Xiaolu. A Nascent Source over 5 inches was considered a Greater Nascent Source. "Even my Nascent Source is four inches. I¡¯m not surprised if he reaches five inches,¡± remarked Zhao Mushen indifferently. Wu Yao and Su You stared intently at the figure in the black hole. Although they didn¡¯t say a word, it was obvious they agreed from their expressions. ¡°He¡¯s so abnormal,¡± muttered Bai Xiaolu. Boom! While they were discussing, the black hole rippled and the figure opened his eyes. Vast ancestral qi mightily swept across the air following a long, deafening roar. Then, the figure swallowed the ancestral qi in one mouthful. A terrifying wave of Genesis Qi erupted, causing the world to change. Bai Xiaolu, Su Youwei, Wu Yao and the others, as well as everyone below cast curious gazes towards Zhou Yuan. They knew it was a sign that Zhou Yuan was about to break through. They just didn¡¯t know what size of Nascent Source would be born from such tremendous movements. Chapter 1199 Zhou Yuan’s Nascent Source The Genesis Qi between heaven and earth wreaked havoc as it roared, and the terrifying oppressive pressure contained in that earth-shattering form made everyone from the five heavens pale-faced. The pressure brought about by Zhou Yuan¡¯s breakthrough alone was more terrifying than Bai Xiaolu¡¯s and the others¡¯. Countless gazes of awe were fixed on the figure in the black hole, which seemed to have become the center of universe Genesis Qi. As he breathed in with his mouth like a whale sucking in water, some people even felt the nine main ancestral qi swaying slightly. That subtle movement shouldn¡¯t be underestimated because the ancestral qi contained in the main veins was unimaginably vast. After all, they could provide for an entire heaven. Since Zhou Yuan could cause the veins to sway, he must have inhaled very fiercely. As they thought, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body suddenly swelled as he swallowed that mouthful of vast Genesis Qi. The glass light around his body surged frantically and his powerful bodily strength bound the ancestral qi to his body. His control of the vast Genesis Qi made many people¡¯s scalp numb. This was because there could be a disastrous outcome from playing with such strong Genesis Qi like that if his body wasn¡¯t strong enough¡ªhis body would self-explode. But Zhou Yuan simply relied on his Saint Glass Body to receive the vast Genesis Qi. A high-skilled one was indeed fearless and bold. His body heaved up and down several times before the swelling gradually weakened and his body returned to normal. Such an abnormal physical body. Some people thought. As Zhou Yuan¡¯s body gradually calmed down, two light beams shot out from his eyes. The two beams blasted apart a lofty mountain in the distance. But no one paid any attention to this because their eyes were on the three Heavenly Suns emerging behind Zhou Yuan. The three Heavenly Suns that appeared and the dragon-claw runes on them were much clearer than before. Hua! This drew exclamations from the audience once again, especially those who recognized the Dragon-Claw Heavenly Suns, and then they counted the dragon claws. ¡°One, two, five, seven¡­nine?! When they reached nine, many rubbed their eyes in disbelief and fell silent. The silence lasted several seconds before gasps of surprise rang out in rapid succession, ¡°Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun!?¡± Dragon-Claw Heavenly Sun was incredibly rare and was superior to the Glass Heavenly Sun. Additionally, the Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun was the top stage of the Dragon-Claw Heavenly Sun and only very few had been recorded in ancient books. However, they saw one with their very own eyes. Zhou Yuan could be said to have reached the most extreme level of the Heavenly Sun stage. Boom! The three Nine-Claw Heavenly Suns slowly quivered and then gradually moved closer together until the three became one. A terrifying wave of Genesis Qi slowly rippled out. Huge changes were similarly happening within Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwellings. The three Heavily Suns merged together and became a gigantic dazzling sun. Flames blazed around the huge sun. They were of the extreme yang qi. But when the extreme yang flames burned to a certain extent, another change happened. A stream of extreme yin qi was born in the sun¡¯s depths. The yin and yang qi met, causing the giant Heavenly Sun to vibrate violently and the pure extreme yang qi gradually merged with yin qi to become a harmonious aura of yin and yang. The two were in perfect balance. As yin and yang merged, the Heavenly Sun that accumulated all Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation over the years began to compress. The Heavenly Sun resisted violently, but was suppressed by Zhou Yuan. This was the path one must take to refine a Nascent Source. If he couldn¡¯t control the rebounding force from the Heavenly Sun, it would be difficult to make the refining pure, and the Nascent Source would be born with flaws. However, such a situation was generally only seen with people with weaker Genesis Qi and foundation. Zhou Yuan surely wasn¡¯t under that group. Thus, the Heavenly Sun was suppressed without any resistance in the end. The Heavenly Sun eventually formed a crystal ball of around half a foot. Starlight flowed around the crystal ball¡¯s surface, and mysteriously, there seemed to be the sound of a beating heart coming from the inside of the crystal ball. Kacha! Cracks suddenly appeared on the surface and rapidly spread across the crystal ball. Rays of light shot out from the cracks. Bang! In the end, the crystal ball erupted in a blaze of mysterious light. The light rays triggered changes within the Divine Dwellings as they shone on the Divine Dwellings. The Divine Dwellings became much more spacious and at the same time, the light rays entwined with each other to form an ancient pattern that covered the entire Divine Dwellings. This was the Nascent Source Boundary. Once a Nascent Source was born, it would transform the Divine Dwellings and allow them to house even more Genesis Qi. Additionally, it was an extremely powerful defense. Any Genesis Qi that attempted to invade one¡¯s Divine Dwelling to cause destruction would be obstructed by the Nascent Source Boundary. Moreover, if one encountered critical danger, the Nascent Source Boundary would act as a final defense while the Nascent Source could take advantage of the chance to escape. The greatest benefit for Nascent Source experts was that the situation could change even if one¡¯s body was destroyed as long as the Nascent Source remained. This alone was more mysterious than the Heavenly Sun stage. As the Nascent Source Boundary took shape, a small figure emerged in the depths of the light rays. Zhou Yuan opened his eyes. Following the dramatic changes within his Divine Dwellings, his bearing also changed. The mighty waves of Genesis Qi had vanished as he stood silently in space without any extraordinary Genesis Qi around him and appeared as if he had never cultivated Genesis Qi. This was the Nascent Source stage¡¯s reserved nature. All power was thoroughly controlled. It could split the world with one thought and could also act ordinary with one thought. A satisfied smile curved the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. He had put in a lot of work and effort and he finally achieved what he wanted. Now that he had reached the Nascent Source stage, he was a top-tier cultivator wherever he went. He was even strong enough to become a peak master in the Cangxuan Sect. He lowered his head and ran his eyes over the countless people staring at him with hopeful gazes. He didn¡¯t try to hide anything and with one thought, a divine light bloomed from the top of his skull and a little shadow sprang up and sat like a buddha on a lotus. Looking at the Nascent Source above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, everyone could immediately determine its size. The world fell into a long period of silence. This was because the Nascent Source was 6.3 inches. Chapter 1200 Divide the Main Veins Everyone stared at the little figure suspended above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head in long silence, which showed their shock and disbelief. Generally speaking, from the moment of reaching the Nascent Source stage, all Nascent Source experts would do everything they could to make their Nascent Source grow, similar to cultivating their own son. However, it was much more difficult than raising a real son. There was indescribable hardships to make it grow even one inch. A Nascent Source was considered an advanced Nascent Source only when it exceeded five inches. Many people had to put in immense efforts to grow their Nascent Source to five inches and some might not succeed in their lifetime. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nascent Source was already 6.3 inches after the breakthrough. Not only did he reach the advanced Nascent Source stage in one step, his Nascent Source could be considered at the top level. The experts from the five heavens who also took advantage of the opportunity to break through to the Nascent Source stage all wore complex expressions because the gap between them and Zhou Yuan was too huge that they knew they would never catch up. They could only gaze in awe at him. There was nothing they could do because a 6.3 inches Nascent Source was too terrifying. They might never reach that level even if they put in all their efforts. Of course, even Bai Xiaolu, Guan Qinglong and the others stared blankly for a good while and couldn¡¯t help calling Zhou Yuan a monster. Although they already speculated Zhou Yuan would reach the advanced nascent Source stage in one step, they didn¡¯t think his Nascent Source would exceed 5 inches and reach 6.3 inches. If it grew a little more than 1 inch, it would reach the perfect Nascent Source stage, right?! Then, it would be the Law Domain stage?! Such an ascension was too outrageous. They, however, also understood that Zhou Yuan was only able to achieve this from the many opportunities combined. The Nine-Claw Heavenly Sun gave him the opportunity to skip a level and reach the advanced Nascent Source stage while the ancestral qi from the nine main veins provided him with endless Genesis Qi. But his Saint Glass Body, which helped him withstand the immense force, was the most important. The combination of all those allowed Zhou Yuan to achieve a Nascent Source that made everyone marvel. To put it simply, it was an explosion of what Zhou Yuan had accumulated in his many years of painstaking cultivation. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t show off his Nascent Source too much and stored it into his Divine Dwellings with one thought. It immediately disappeared from everyone''s sight. He didn¡¯t need to control the Genesis Qi that entered his body because the Nascent Source automatically refined and absorbed the Genesis Qi. With the Nascent Source, even if he didn¡¯t cultivate the Genesis Qi, his Genesis Qi foundation would still slowly increase. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and felt the changes. Then, his brows twitched uncontrollably. A Genesis Qi foundation of 70 billion! It was an increase of more than ten times compared to that at the Heavenly Sun stage! If he met Jia Tu now, he could kill Jia Tu with one blow. The transformation at the Nascent Source stage was truly terrifying. He was now considered at the top of the Nascent Source stage and could even face cultivators at the perfect Nascent Source stage with his numerous means. If he encountered someone of the Law Domain stage, even if he couldn¡¯t win, there was a high probability he could escape unscathed. Zhou Yuan couldn''t help falling into a trance-like state. He had only just reached the Divine Dwelling stage when he left Cangxuan Heaven, but he had come so far since then. If he returned to Cangxuan Heaven, he would be ranked at the top of the Cangxuan Sect. But there was still a gap between him and Sheng Yuan. It didn''t matter. He was already at the advanced Nascent Source stage and not far from the Law Domain stage. Once he reached the Law Domain stage he would return to Cangxuan Heaven to settle old scores. Zhou Yuan suppressed his surging emotions and peered down at the countless five heavens troops. Then, his voice rang in everyone¡¯s ears. "Everyone, after enjoying the cleansing from the ancestral qi, it¡¯s time to get down to business.¡± Everyone''s expressions turned solemn. The so-called business was of course to collect the nine main ancestral qi veins. The five heavens would all benefit hugely if the nine main veins were directed into the five heavens. It would have a profound and long-lasting impact on the five heavens. It was unknown how many heaven prides would be created in the future as a result. There could even be a Saint expert born as a result. Saint experts were the most useful force against the Sacred Race. This was because in a battle of such a level, anyone below the Saint stage was cannon fodder. Under Zhou Yuan''s gaze, Bai Xiaolu, Chu Qing, Guan Qinglong and the others soared into the air. Ai Qing represented the Wanshou Heaven because Jiang Jinlin had died, and from the Wuxing Heaven was a new leader, also a new Nascent Source expert. However, the Nascent Source expert from Wuxing Heaven showed no arrogance and was extremely polite and respectful to Zhou Yuan. After all, Zhou Yuan, in a sense, had saved them all. As for Li Fu''s death, Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t be blamed for that. When Ai Qing looked at Zhou Yuan, an extremely complex look filled her narrow and beautiful eyes. It should be said that she had never paid much attention to Zhou Yuan, who was concealed by Guan Qinglong¡¯s brilliance. But who would have thought that the seemingly ordinary guy was the real crocodile. The leaders of the five heavens met and had a fierce discussion about how to divide the nine main ancestral qi veins. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t participate and only waited for the result of the discussion. After almost an hour, Bai Xiaolu and the others breathed a sigh of relief and ended the discussion. The final result was that Hunyuan Heaven would take the first and sixth veins. Qiankun Heaven would take the second. Wanshou Heaven would take the third. Wuxing Heaven would take the fourth. Cangxuan Heaven would take the fifth. The remaining seventh, eighth, and ninth veins would be absorbed and divided among the four Heavens, Qiankun Heaven, Wanshou Heaven, Wuxing Heaven and Cangxuan Heaven. Hunyuan Heaven was clearly the biggest winner, but the other heavens couldn¡¯t raise any objection. After all, Zhou Yuan represented Hunyuan Heaven and he was the one who turned the tide. Regardless, the result was much better than in the past. From what they heard, almost all the main veins were occupied by the Sacred Race in the past Battle of Guyuan Heaven, and only the remaining five veins were left to them. The Sacred Race¡¯s plan was even more ruthless this time. They intended to not leave any to them. But who would have thought they would fall into their own trap. Chu Qing was very satisfied with the result. After all, their initial goal was very low¡ªthey only aimed for the ninth vein! But now, not only were they allocated the fifth vein, they also had a share of the three remaining main veins. The result was much better than anticipated. Of course, he also knew the other heavens only allowed Cangxuan Heaven to have a share to give Zhou Yuan face. This was because the cooperation between the heavens had ended and the nine main ancestral qi veins could lead to infightings between heavens. Cangxuan Heaven was considered the weakest of the five heavens and so would be targeted. This sort of situation had also happened in the past. This wasn¡¯t considered out of line because everything was always decided by strength. But the conflict didn¡¯t happen because of Zhou Yuan''s existence. When Zhou Yuan learned about the result, he nodded slightly to express his approval. He raised his head and stared at the nine main ancestral qi veins in the black hole¡¯s depths. He exhaled deeply, and his tensed shoulders finally relaxed a little. The Battle of Guyuan Heaven finally came to an end. He was very surprised with the final result, but regardless, he succeeded. Once he gets his hand on the Ancestral Dragon Flesh, he could awaken Yaoyao! Chapter 1201 Guyuan Heaven’s Conclusion There was no sky or land, only a formless mass. At the very center, an enormous light screen split the domain into two. One could make out numerous powerful figures on both sides of the dark space, so many that it was near impossible to count them all. In the deepest parts of the dark space, imposing presences would occasionally emerge, existences that caused the entire domain to tremble slightly. These were the Saint experts. It was clear that there were Saint experts on both sides. This place was a domain near Guyuan Heaven, and was where everyone would end up after exiting Guyuan Heaven. The two forces on both sides of the light barrier were the five heavens and the Sacred Race! This domain was currently the focal point of the entire Tianyuan World. Everything that happened here was projected back to the nine heavens. Most of these projections were done by the Sacred Race since they were the side that usually gained the upper hand in every battle for Guyuan Heaven. The Sacred Race also wanted to let the five heavens know the outcome, plummeting them into deeper despair, while also reminding them how difficult it was to fight against the Sacred Race. High up in the domain, many imposing auras surged. Most of the Saint experts from the five heavens were currently gathered here. Zhuan Zhu stood with his hands behind his back, while Chi Qing, dashing and heroic with her short red hair and slender figure, stood beside him. Their expressions were currently quite grave. Chi Jing said in a low voice, ¡°It doesn¡¯t look good this time.¡± The battle for Guyuan Heaven was mostly already decided. However, things weren¡¯t looking good for the five heavens. The battle was split into four levels, the Heavenly Sun, Nascent Source, Law Domain and Saint levels. The Saint experts¡¯ battle decided forty percent, while the other three, twenty each. After countless clashes, the outcome for the levels had been decided, with the exception of the Heavenly Sun level. In the battle between the Saints, the Sacred Race had occupied twenty two out of forty, while the five heavens had the remaining eighteen. In the Law Domain level, the Sacred Race had eleven out of twenty, leaving the five heavens with nine. The Nascent Source stage was the worst for the five heavens, the Sacred Race dominating fifteen out of twenty, while the five heavens only had a measly five. The overall difference between the two sides could be roughly seen from these results. Excluding the Heavenly Sun stage, who were not out yet, out of eighty percent of Guyuan Heaven¡¯s ancestral qi, the Sacred Race had taken forty-eight, while the five heavens only had thirty-two. Hence, for the time being, it appeared that the Sacred Race had an insurmountable advantage. The results were also projected to all the heavens. A sorrowful atmosphere spread as countless lifeforms in the five heavens gazed up at the projection in the sky. Every advantage the Sacred Race gained would make them stronger and stronger, in turn giving them a greater and greater advantage. When this reached the tipping point, it might be the end of the five heavens. But what could they do? They had sent out every elite of each participating cultivation stage. However, they were still not the Sacred Race¡¯s match. Although the Heavenly Sun stage result was not out yet, most people were not very optimistic. Amidst the formless mass in the domain. Space warped on the Sacred Race side, seemingly forming layers of tunnels that led to countless worlds. Several supernatural ten-thousand-foot-tall silhouettes floated among them, giving off immeasurable auras that placed the surrounding space in a constant state of collapsing. ¡°It seems that our Sacred Race has proved once again that we are superior.¡± An ancient and indifferent laughter rang out. The voice seemed to contain a certain law that made starlight blossom within the chaos, turning into countless shooting stars. A Saint also walked out from the five heavens side. It was Wanzu Region¡¯s supreme sovereign Wan Zu. He expressionlessly gazed at the ten-thousand-foot-tall titan behind the light screen and said, ¡°The Heavenly Sun level isn¡¯t over yet. Star Saint, it¡¯s too early for you to make such a statement.¡± The other party was known as the Star Saint, and was an extremely ancient Saint on the Sacred Race side. The Star Saint¡¯s indifferent voice sounded, ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m afraid that once the outcome is known, you guys will fall deeper into despair.¡± There was something strange about his words that made the hearts of countless people on the five heavens¡¯ side sink. Could something have happened in the Heavenly Sun level? ¡°Never mind, there¡¯s already no need to hide anything.¡± The Star Saint chuckled, before his indifferent voice rang out across the dark space, ¡°Our Sacred Race Saint experts have come up with a boundary that can bind the nine ancestral qi main channels. In other words, we¡¯ll be collecting the entire twenty percent.¡± Uproar! These words shocked the five heavens. Even some of the Saint experts were strongly affected, their terrifying auras involuntarily leaking out and began to affect the world around them. ¡°Your Sacred Race dares to use such dirty tricks?!¡± One of the Saint experts was furious, his anger continuously the space around him. A Saint expert sneered and retorted, ¡°How laughable. The victor is always right, and the strong will prey on the weak. If our god had not fallen into a deep slumber after clashing with the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will, your five lower heavens would have been our livestock long ago. How dare you be so impudent?¡± Rumble! The Saints on both sides were angered. An indescribable pressure spread in an instant, nearly suffocating the others practitioners in the domain. However, they ultimately held themselves back, not wanting to start a fight between Saints. This was not the best timing for either side. The five heavens side, however, was under a depressing atmosphere. If the Sacred Race was right, the Heavenly Sun level would not end well for the five heavens. Moreover, the consequences would be dire. If the final twenty percent was completely taken away by the Sacred Race, this battle for Guyuan Heaven would become the greatest loss in history for the five heavens. The Sacred Race¡¯s momentum would become even greater, putting the five heavens under greater danger and pressure in the future. ¡°These Sacred Race bastards!¡± Chi Jing gnashed her teeth, the fire of rage burning in her eyes. Zhou Yuan was currently in the Heavenly Sun Guyuan Heaven! Zhuan Zhu also fell silent. Due to Guyuan Heaven¡¯s special laws, even Saint experts could not interfere. All he could do was try to console himself and his junior sister. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan is quite capable. Even if they fail to compete with the Sacred Race, he should have no problem surviving.¡± However, he knew that his words were unconvincing. If the Sacred Race really had a boundary that could capture the nine main channels, none of the Heavenly Sun experts would be able face such power. It was an understatement to say that things were not optimistic for Zhou Yuan and the other five heavens Heavenly Sun experts. The domain fell silent once more. Every gaze in Tianyuan World was fixed on the projections covering the sky. They understood that if the Sacred Race Saint was right, it would be a crushing defeat for the five heavens. When that happened, all of the five heavens would be filled with despair. A strange disturbance suddenly emerged in the domain. Space was torn open, forming a spatial door. The gazes on both sides immediately looked over. They knew that the Heavenly Sun level had finally ended... Chapter 1202 All with Us Amidst innumerable gazes, the spatial door fully formed. A Genesis Qi ripple pulsed from it and countless figures were sent washing out like fishes and in a torrent. The surrounding area was quickly crammed full of people. ¡°The five heavens¡¯ Heavenly Sun experts?¡± Powerful senses immediately spread towards the figures and identified them. Pleasant surprise flitted across the eyes of numerous powerful existences on the five heavens side. In contrast, the Sacred Race side was somewhat stunned. The situation was different than expected. The five heavens experts looked at each other, unable to understand what was happening. Didn¡¯t the Sacred Race say earlier that they had prepared a powerful boundary for the Heavenly Sun level that could bind the nine main ancestral qi channels? With the boundary¡¯s power, it was not difficult for the Sacred Race to destroy all the five heavens teams. Hence, they had been preparing themselves for the worst possible outcome. To their surprise, the five heavens troops had been the ones to appear instead? They were soon even more shocked by what happened next. The spatial door slowly dissipated after the five heavens side appeared. There was no sign of the Sacred Race Heavenly Sun experts... The domain fell deathly silent. The Sacred Race side clearly had not expected this, and for a time, even the Saint experts were dazed. ¡°Several people on our side have ascended to the Nascent Source stage¡­¡± Amidst the silence, the five heavens Saint experts¡¯ senses swept across the group, immediately finding several practitioners at the Nascent Source stage. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Where are the Sacred Race experts?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Even the five heavens Saint stage experts looked at each other in confusion. ¡°What happened in your Guyuan Heaven level?¡± In the end, a five heavens Saint expert¡¯s powerful voice rang out in the numerous Heavenly Sun experts¡¯ ears. The recently spat out five heavens group was initially also somewhat dazed. They had not expected to arrive in such a place after leaving Guyuan Heaven. However, they soon sensed several terrifying presences. Although they were rather shocked, they quickly recovered after a few blinks. All of them unanimously looked around, their gazes ultimately pausing on a young figure amidst them. ¡°Oh?¡± Everyone followed their gazes, arriving on the young figure, only for a few to cry out in surprise, ¡°Advanced Nascent Source stage?¡± The most surprising discovery for the five heavens Saints, however, was that these elite five heavens Heavenly Sun experts were looking to the young man as their leader. The figure naturally belonged to Zhou Yuan. His expression was currently a little rigid. He had already felt something was amiss moments after appearing here, because they were far too many terrifying presences. Hence, he tried to hide within the crowd, hoping to pass off as any other ordinary participant. He had only acted as he pleased in Guyuan Heaven because no one could match him there. This place, however, was different. Besides them, the weakest person here was at the Nascent Source stage! There were even Law Domain experts and the ultimate Saint experts! Keeping a low-profile was the most sensible thing to do! However, he never imagined that these bastards would all turn to him. These ingrates! Zhou Yuan felt helpless. He could only steel himself under the numerous terrifying gazes. Only god knew how much pressure he was feeling. A casual glance from these Saint experts made him feel as if he was being enveloped by endless power, and even the Nascent Source in his Divine Dwelling was faintly trembling. While Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp was turning numb under everyone¡¯s gazes, a surprised voice rang out, ¡°Little junior brother?¡± Space rippled and two figures were revealed. It was Zhuan Zhu and Chi Jing. ¡°Senior brother, senior sister!¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly smiled. Zhuan Zhu¡¯s eyes shined with a strange light as he swept a glance at Zhou Yuan, before speaking towards the deep space, ¡°This is my fellow disciple who was recently taken in by my master Cang Yuan.¡± ¡°That old thing has accepted another disciple?¡± ¡°No wonder¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Several powerful wills communicated across the domain. Zhuan Zhu knew that the other Saints were still waiting to understand the situation. Thus, he asked, ¡°Zhou Yuan, what¡¯s going on?¡± Zhou Yuan pondered a little and said, ¡°The Sacred Race set up a boundary they call the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation in hopes of devouring all nine main channels. However, the boundary had not been perfected. Hence, I managed to find a weak point and led the five heavens in. ¡°After a series of battles, we took over the boundary core. The Sacred Race side were struck by the boundary¡¯s backlash, although half of them managed to escape.¡± Zhou Yuan explained in simple terms, but the resultant uproar was earth-shaking. Numerous Nascent Source and Law Domain experts were stupefied as they stared at him. The imposing presences deep in the darkness also gave off a faint pulse. Everyone present understood how capable the Sacred Race could be. Hence, they could faintly sense how challenging and desperate it must have been. The Sacred Race side also fell silent, the powerhouse experts temporarily stunned. Zhuan Zhu and Chi Jing also looked at each other in shock. They were a little unable to digest the information within Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. Zhou Yuan gazed at them and slowly said, ¡°Simply put, our five heavens Heavenly Sun experts turned the tables on them.¡± The domain was silent, even all nine heavens were somewhat quiet. Countless gazes stared at the projections in the sky. They could almost smell the bloodiness from the young man¡¯s calm words. Moreover, his words had a deeper meaning: the Sacred Race was formidable, but not unbeatable. Slivers of light rose in the originally dull and despairing eyes. The victory Zhou Yuan spoke of might have numerous preconditions, but at the end of the day, it was not impossible... ¡°What happened to the ancestral qi in the end?¡± A Saint¡¯s voice echoed, omni-present yet ungraspable as the mist. Zhou Yuan calmly answered, ¡°Our five heavens occupied all nine ancestral qi main channels. The twenty percent is in the hands of our five heavens.¡± As his voice rang out, an earth-shaking uproar abruptly swept through the five heavens. Chapter 1203 The Sacred Race’s Rage When Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out, a torrential uproar swept over the domain and the nine heavens. Countless people were in a state of shock. That was an entire twenty percent! One must know that on the five heavens side, the Saint, Law Domain and Nascent Source levels combined had only gathered a total of thirty-two percent. And now, the most unremarkable Heavenly Sun level had actually obtained twenty percent?! This was unbelievable. The entire domain was silent. A long while later, a Saint¡¯s voice slowly echoed from deep in the dark space, ¡°So much¡­¡± Zhou Yuan said, ¡°The Sacred Race set up their boundary and captured the nine main channels. However, we managed to attack into the boundary and seize control of it. Hence, we ended up getting the nine main channels as a bonus. ¡°To be honest, we weren¡¯t stronger than them, but they were too greedy. If they did not try to monopolize all nine main channels and properly fought with us instead, such an outcome would not have been possible.¡± Zhou Yuan was giving his genuine opinion. No matter how strong he was, he alone could not change the overall gap between them. Countless people nodded inwardly at Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, agreeing that the Sacred Race had basically offered up this opportunity. Deep in the dark space, the imposing existences were silent for a few breaths. In the end, a voice tinged with admiration rang out, ¡°As expected of the disciple regarded highly by that old fellow Cang Yuan. However, you managed to find the vulnerabilities of the Sacred Derivation Boundary Formation and successfully led the five heavens troops to seize control of it. From this, we can all see that you are both extraordinarily capable and courageous.¡± Countless people agreed with these words. They could imagine how despairing it must have been when the Heavenly Sun experts first saw the boundary. However, they had not given up hope. Instead, they had cast away the fear of death and carved a path for themselves. Although Zhou Yuan had not gone into the details, everyone knew that a bloody and desperate battle must have erupted in the boundary. Zhou Yuan could feel that the mysterious gazes from deep in the dark space seemed to admire him a little. Evidently, his results had given the big bosses a favorable impression. It was not strange for them to think so. After all, the results achieved by the Heavenly Sun level had, in a manner of speaking, surpassed even the Saints. With the twenty percent from the Heavenly Sun level, the end result had now shifted drastically. The Sacred Race originally had forty eight percent, while the five heavens had thirty two. Now, the five heavens ancestral qi share had become fifty-two percent! Although it was not much, one must know that without this twenty percent, it would have been a devastating loss for the five heavens. The Heavenly Sun result had turned a crushing defeat into a small victory. For once, the five heavens had obtained a slight advantage in the clash against the Sacred Race! This was inspiring news! A misty and omni-present voice echoed from deep in the darkness, ¡°Zhou Yuan, the contributions of your Heavenly Sun generation deserves thanks from everyone in the five heavens.¡± Everyone, regardless of whether they were Nascent Source or even Law Domain experts, slightly bowed their heads towards the Heavenly Sun practitioners as they placed their fists to their hearts. It was an ancient custom to show how greatly they were affected inside. In the five heavens, countless people also bowed their heads. These elite Heavenly Sun experts were heroes that had used their lives to win their twenty percent share of ancestral qi. In the future, this ancestral qi will give rise to numerous heaven prides for the five heavens and also raise the five heavens¡¯ overall power. It was a major event that would benefit countless living things in the five heavens. Such results deserved their respect. In the domain, the numerous Heavenly Sun experts felt both lost and proud when they saw the usually high and mighty Nascent Source and Law Domain experts salute them. Their efforts had ultimately been recognized. Although many of them did not have pure motives for coming to Guyuan Heaven, they had ultimately contributed to the Heavenly Sun level¡¯s victory. This victory belonged to them. In a certain manner of speaking, they had achieved something that even the Saints had not. At this thought, numerous Heavenly Sun experts involuntarily looked towards a certain young man, who was also wearing a solemn expression. As people who had personally been there, they understood better than anyone else how much Zhou Yuan had contributed. However, he had not elaborated on his heroic feats, but instead shared the glory with all of them. Such magnanimity made them respect him even more. Being low-key is the way of the king, can¡¯t stick out too much. However, none of them were aware of what Zhou Yuan was continuously chanting inside. He had already enjoyed more than enough benefits in Guyuan Heaven, and did not really care about glory. More importantly, the more he stuck out, the more the Sacred Race would take notice of him. Being remembered by such a terrifying race was obviously not wise. Hence, if he could, Zhou Yuan dearly wished he could change his name to Zhao Mushen now. ¡°Humph!¡± However, the more you were afraid of something, the more likely it would happen. A snort that seemed to originate from the ancient past sounded at this moment. The sound seemed to possess some kind of indescribable power, causing space to crumble as it echoed. Despite the light barrier, several of the weaker Heavenly Sun experts were thrown back, vomiting blood. Zhou Yuan also felt an unbelievably frightening power surged towards him like some strange curse that seeked to wipe his existence from reality. Horror surfaced in his eyes. A Sacred Race Saint had taken action against him! It was a power that he did not even know how to defend against. Fortunately, Zhuan Zhu¡¯s figure suddenly appeared in front of him. A Saint Lotus blossomed on his left shoulder as he extended his finger. Fire burned on his fingertip as it pierced through the fabric of space, disappearing along with half of his hand. Boom! Space began to disintegrate. Everyone knew that the two Saints were exchanging blows in some unknown location. In the end, Zhuan Zhu¡¯s body jerked backwards as he slowly retracted his hand. Black liquid dropped from the tip of his finger, creating ripples in the domain that gave off the scent of annihilation. If this was an ordinary domain, all life within a ten thousand mile radius would have been exterminated. Zhuan Zhu coldly stared at the dark space before him as he slowly said, ¡°To think that an almighty Saint would attack a Nascent Source practitioner. Is the Sacred Race so shameless?¡± A voice filled with torrential killing intent rang out from the Sacred Race¡¯s side, ¡°Humph, that imbecile dares to massacre an entire generation of our Heavenly Sun practitioners. This is an unforgivable crime. If the five heavens do not hand him over today, we shall see how many of you will be able to leave this place alive!¡± A red glow seemed to blossom in the domain, as if a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood had appeared. Chapter 1204 Kill Lis Countless murderous gazes pierced through the barrier, locking onto Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression could not help but change. Sure enough, he had stirred up a hornet¡¯s nest this time, and even the Sacred Race Saints had been angered. However, he had no regrets, especially since they stood on opposing sides. If he was given another chance to redo things, he would still exterminate the Sacred Race side without hesitation. However, this now put him under an overwhelming amount of pressure. ¡°Humph, what arrogance!¡± A snort filled with anger sounded from deep in the dark space. ¡°Although your Sacred Race is powerful, we five heavens are no pushovers. If you really want to fight, we¡¯ll gladly accompany you till the end. As for handing him over, keep dreaming!¡± Giant glowing silhouettes appeared from the darkness. No one could see their features clearly, but from the boundless power that pulsed from them, everyone instinctively knew that their every action could drastically reshape the world around them. These were the five heavens Saints! It was obviously impossible for the five heavens to agree to the Sacred Race¡¯s request. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions had hurt the Sacred Race, it was a huge contribution towards the five heavens. Hence, no matter what happened, the five heavens Saints would do everything to protect Zhou Yuan at this juncture. The alternative of handing him over in front of countless five heavens residents would only destroy their hearts. With Saints on both sides releasing their pressure, the domain rippled violently. Numerous non-Saints, even the Law Domain experts, could only grimly prepare themselves for the worst under the tremendous pressure. If the Saints were to clash, the rest of them would be akin to fishes in a storm. However, as the pressure grew greater and greater, endless light suddenly converged on the five heavens side, forming an enormous mysterious face. The face¡¯s features were blurry and indistinct, but when it appeared, the entire domain seemed to wail as if unable to bear its presence. The five heavens Saints were surprised by the appearance of the face. They quickly placed their palms vertically to their chests and greeted, ¡°Prime sovereign Jin Luo.¡± Zhou Yuan was astonished by this scene and could not help but ask Zhuan Zhu in a low voice, ¡°Senior brother, who is that?¡± An entity so respected by the numerous Saints present was clearly no ordinary existence. ¡°Prime sovereign Jin Luo...triple lotus Saint¡­¡± Zhou Yuan felt his mouth dry up. The triple lotus stage was the pinnacle of the Saint stage, the true apex practitioners of this world. IT was no wonder even the many Saints present were so respectful. Zhou Yuan could not stop himself from asking, ¡°What is the Omega Shrine?¡± Zhuan Zhu smiled and said, ¡°It is not something you should know of at your current level, but I will make an exception. It is a place and group founded by the three prime sovereigns that only Saints are allowed into. You may take it as the highest level of protection for the five heavens. ¡°It does not belong to any of the heavens, and will not interfere in the affairs between any factions. Only when it is time to resist the Sacred Race will they send out a call to arms.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in understanding. A group only Saints were qualified to join. The Omega Shrine was evidently created to resist the Sacred Race, and united the strongest powers in the five heavens in order to do so. Zhuan Zhu continued, ¡°All Saints have equal status in the group and even the three prime sovereigns are not higher ranked than the others. However, they are the oldest and the other Saints will naturally give them more respect. At the same time, they also protect all contributions done for the five heavens and are worthy of respect.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded again. It seems that these three prime sovereigns were the strongest existences of the five heavens. ¡°Does the Sacred Race have many Saints at that level?¡± Zhou Yuan was as curious as a new-born baby. After all, it was usually very difficult to find out about such information that only Saints like Zhuan Zhu were privy to. Since there was a chance, he naturally intended to ask as much as he could. Zhuan Zhu was silent for a moment before he softly said, ¡°It is said that the Sacred Race has seven triple lotus Saints. They are known as the seven prime saints.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled as his expression turned somewhat complicated. The five heavens only had three experts that could stand at the pinnacle of this world, while the Sacred Race had seven. The gap between both sides was very apparent. ¡°Moreover, the Sacred Race¡¯s most terrifying existence are not these seven prime saints, but¡­¡± Space faintly rippled around Zhuan Zhu and Zhou Yuan, as if sealing them off from the outside world. ¡°The Sacred Race has a god.¡± ¡°God?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank. This was the second time he had heard of this. ¡°What kind of existence is that?¡± However, Zhuan Zhu did not answer this time. He only shook his head, evidently not feeling that it was not good for Zhou Yuan to know about such things. Zhuan Zhu changed the topic, ¡°Since prime sovereign Jin Luo appeared, the matter here should be over, and you will be okay. ¡°Existences like them do not take part in fights like the battle for Guyuan Heaven, because the moment they do, entire races will be at risk of being wiped out.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids jumped at these words. The triple lotus stage was absolutely terrifying. While the two were conversing, the Sacred Race side began to stir due to the giant face¡¯s appearance. But before they could speak, a strand of sacred light suddenly descended from countless domains away. A silhouette appeared in the sacred light, giving off a boundless pressure. From the looks of it, the new arrival was one of the seven prime saints mentioned by Zhuan Zhu. ¡°Prime sovereign Zhuan Zhu, an old fellow like you still isn¡¯t dead yet, huh.¡± The figure within the sacred light chuckled. ¡°Prime saint Nan Ming, you seven have guarded the Sacred Mountain for so many years without showing yourselves. Could your appearance mean that something has happened to your Sacred Mountain?¡± The giant face also chuckled. Their gazes clashed, space constantly crumbling in between. However, they ultimately withdrew their pressure. Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s indifferent voice echoed across the domain, ¡°We should all back down for now. Your Sacred Race only has yourselves to blame for your failure.¡± Prime saint Nan Ming laughed and said, ¡°It is indeed a little shameful but it matters not, it was just a little idea after all. What is one tiny loss in the face of our many victories? Does your five heavens hope that this small victory will help you turn the tides? ¡°Once we unify Tianyuan World, we will naturally turn this generation of Heavenly Sun practitioners into blood pills.¡± His gaze seemed to shift towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°This kid is quite capable. Although I will let him off today, I intend to palace him on our Sacred Race¡¯s Kill List as a form of acknowledgement. Hehe, only Law Domain experts usually have the honor of being on the list. I really treat him too well. ¡°Hehe, Sacred Race, withdraw.¡± The sacred light scattered as his voice rang out. The other Sacred Race experts did not waste any time and quickly left one after another. Before they left, they glanced at Zhou Yuan as if he was a dead man. Zhou Yuan frowned deeply. He felt something extremely evil surge towards him, making him rather uneasy. ¡°Kill List huh¡­¡± Chapter 1205 The Curtain Falls On the five heavens side, countless people secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although the Saint experts had been adamant and unyielding earlier, it was impossible to make up for the difference in strength between them. If the two sides clashed, the five heavens would surely be at a disadvantage and suffer tremendous losses. Of course, if they were forced to that stage, their counterattack would be crazy. The Sacred Race would not be able to escape paying a heavy price either. The Sacred Race clearly understood this as well. Hence, before being fully prepared, they did not intend to start the world-ending war. With the Sacred Race now gone, countless gazes gathered on the mysterious giant face once more. The face displayed an old, wizened smile and said, ¡°This battle for Guyuan Heaven has been a happy surprise. I want to congratulate everyone for their performance.¡± Countless people lowered their heads slightly. Prime sovereign Jin Luo spoke slowly in a voice filled with warning, ¡°However, we cannot become complacent. The Sacred Race is right, they are the ones who have always been winning for thousands of years, allowing them to amass a crazy advantage. There is still a gap between us and them, hence, we cannot be satisfied with a single small victory and practice extreme caution against them.¡± Countless people solemnly acknowledged his words. Prime sovereign Jin Luo had experienced countless clashes with the Sacred Race for thousands of years, and possessed bottomless knowledge. Hence, they needed to listen carefully to his advice. Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s giant face turned slightly as he cast his deep eyes in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. ¡°Young friend Zhou Yuan, although the Sacred Race¡¯s Kill List sounds scary, the five heavens will still be quite safe. Hence, there is no need for you to worry too much.¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly nodded in a respectful manner. Prime sovereign Jin Luo quickly swept his gaze over Zhou Yuan and let out a soft chuckle. ¡°Cang Yuan has good eyes. Your talent is superb and you might even join the ranks of the Omega Shrine in the future.¡± Uproar. At these words, even the Law Domain experts were clearly stunned. They never imagined that Zhou Yuan would receive such a high evaluation from prime sovereign Jin Luo. After all, they clearly understood that the minimum requirement for joining the Omega Shrine was to step into the Saint stage. Prime sovereign Jin Luo felt that Zhou Yuan had the makings of Saint expert?! Although everyone understood that prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s evaluation was no prophecy, it was still indicative of how extraordinary Zhou Yuan was. This made several Law Domain experts begin to take note of Zhou Yuan. In the wake of prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s departure, the imposing presences deep in the dark space also began to recede like the tide. Rumble! The domain violently rippled as spatial doors began to emerge, leading to the various heavens. It was time to return. The battle for Guyuan Heaven had finally ended. Zhou Yuan looked around. Everyone had already been split up, and he had no way to say goodbye to Chu Qing and the others. He could only exhale and allow the spatial door in front of him to swiftly reach out and swallow his body. The world spun around him. When Zhou Yuan returned to his senses, his surroundings had changed drastically. Mountains and rivers filled the land below, majestic cities standing amidst them. Zhou Yuan blurted out in surprise, ¡°This is the Tianyuan Region?¡± Zhuan Zhu¡¯s and Chi Jing¡¯s figures appeared beside him. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent the others back to Tianyuan Utopia.¡± Zhuan Zhu smiled. Smiling, Chi Jing also looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Junior brother, you¡¯re now famous among all the heavens. If not for you, it will have been an ugly end for the five heavens.¡± Zhou Yuan felt somewhat embarrassed. ¡°The credit doesn¡¯t belong to me alone.¡± Zhuan Zhu nodded. ¡°Every Heavenly Sun expert who participated should be thanked. In the future, this will likely become their most proud achievement and they will win respect no matter where they go.¡± Chi Jing also nodded with a solemn expression. ¡°Because everything you guys have done will bless the lands for a thousand years.¡± The huge influx of ancestral qi would tremendously benefit everyone living in the five heavens. ¡°I brought you here to let you personally witness the great changes you have won for us.¡± Zhuan Zhu raised his head and gazed at the endless sky. Zhou Yuan faintly sensed something and also jerked his head upwards. A crack appeared in the sky as endless, ancient qi began to flood out. The ancient qi was not unfamiliar to Zhou Yuan, it was ancestral qi! Ancestral qi had begun to flow into Hunyuan Heaven! The Genesis Qi around them abruptly began to boil, seemingly bursting with life and vitality. It felt as if the ancestral qi was refining and amplifying the Genesis Qi. The entire world seemed to cheer excitedly. Every human in Hunyuan Heaven could clearly feel the change. The Genesis Qi they were absorbing had become stronger, more concentrated and pure. In fact, countless people could feel their cultivation begin to rise. An excited atmosphere spread like wildfire across the entire Hunyuan Heaven. Countless people were drunk with ecstasy as they rejoiced. It felt like a great gift had been bestowed upon them by the heavens. Like Chi Jing had said, it was a blessing to every living thing in the five heavens. The ancestral qi would continually refine the Genesis Qi for the next thousand years. Everyone who lived in this environment would experience an acceleration in cultivation progress. Zhou Yuan was somewhat shaken as he listened to the thunderous cheers. This was a true transformation of the land and a display of the ancestral qi¡¯s miraculous properties. It was no wonder that the five heavens and the Sacred Race vied over it so desperately. ¡°Our Tianyuan Region should likely be experiencing the greatest influx of ancestral qi.¡± Zhuan Zhu sensed the changes around them as he sighed. ¡°All of this because of you.¡± The Heavenly Sun level had won twenty percent of the total ancestral qi in the battle for Guyuan Heaven, which was ultimately distributed among the various heavens. As the greatest contributor, Zhou Yuan¡¯s homeland would naturally receive the biggest portion. Although the ancestral would flow to the entire Hunyuan Heaven, more would be drawn towards the Tianyuan Region compared to the others. For the subsequent thousand years, the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Genesis Qi would grow increasingly strong and pure. In turn, this would give rise to even more heaven prides in the Tianyuan Region. As the advantages continued to pile up, the future Tianyuan Region may perhaps become the strongest region in Hunyuan Heaven. It could be said that Zhou Yuan had done a great service to the Tianyuan Region. Zhou Yuan smiled modestly. After all, he had already benefited tremendously from Guyuan Heaven. He had not only obtained the Ancestral Dragon Flesh, but also stepped into the advanced Nascent Source stage. The returns were already more than satisfactory. Zhuan Zhu suddenly said, ¡°Right, our master should also know about your achievements.¡± Zhou Yuan eyes brightened. Soon after, he somewhat puzzledly asked, ¡°But our master did not seem to have been present in this grand event.¡± Zhuan Zhu chuckled. ¡°Not everyone will participate in the battle for Guyuan Heaven. Moreover, although our master did not take part, he was not idly standing by either. He invaded Shengling Heaven and hindered three Sacred Race Saint experts, rendering them unable to participate in the battle for Guyuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan wet his lips. Master Cang Yuan was quite the ferocious tiger. To think that he had invaded a Sacred Race heaven and even single handedly delayed three Saint experts. What an unbelievably amazing feat. ¡°Our master is said to be the most likely to advance to the triple lotus stage in the five heavens. If he succeeds, the three great prime sovereigns of the Omega Shrine will become four.¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat taken aback. He had seen prime sovereign Jin Luo previously, and understood the status of the triple lotus stage. If master did reach that realm, he would have touched the pinnacle of the Saint stage. Zhuan Zhu looked at Zhou Yuan and chuckled. ¡°Our master contacted me earlier, and knows that you already have the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. Rest well for the next few days. When master is ready, he will bring you over to fulfil your most cherished wish.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly clenched his fists as his heart throbbed violently. The day had finally come... He had worked tirelessly towards this goal ever since arriving in Hunyuan Heaven many years ago. There had been countless difficulties and obstacles in between, but he had never once entertained the idea of giving up. Love and happiness sprung out in his eyes. Yaoyao...I will finally see you again. Chapter 1206 Popular One could not blame them for being so crazily happy. The pure and concentrated Genessi Qi was greatly beneficial to their cultivation, and was a chance that would rarely come even once every thousand years. In spite of this, it had come for free without them doing anything, like a giant meat biscuit falling from the sky onto their heads, nearly knocking them unconscious. In an environment like this, their cultivation effectiveness had improved tremendously. Bottlenecks that had perplexed practitioners for years were broken in an instant, saving them many years of cultivation. In a single month, Tianyuan Region¡¯s overall strength had grown by twenty percent. Moreover, this was only the beginning. As more time passed, the changes brought by the influx of ancestral qi would only increase. As countless Tianyuan Region residents enjoyed the benefits of ancestral qi, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation reached an astronomical high half a month after the battle for Guyuan Heaven ended. Every corner of the Tianyuan Region was filled with gratefulness and reverence towards him. Previously, although Zhou Yuan had become a grand elder due to his status as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple, many were honestly jealous and resentful towards him. After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Sun cultivation, his qualifications and experience were insufficient to convince the masses. If not for his Saint stage senior brother Zhuan Zhu¡¯s support, the Tianyuan Region higher ups would have strongly opposed his grand elder status. But after the battle for Guyuan Heaven, all of these negative feelings swiftly receded like the tide. After the insane influx of ancestral qi, Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation reached the peak. Every person who enjoyed the benefits was grateful towards him. After all, Zhou Yuan was the main reason they could enjoy such benefits. If not his courageous efforts, the twenty percent from the Heavenly Sun level would never have reached the five heavens. As a result, the benefits they currently enjoyed would be greatly diminished. Zhou Yuan''s feats and contributions had turned all his unbelievers into believers. In addition, he had ascended to the advanced Nascent Source stage, and was now considered top tier even among all the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Nascent Source experts. Although there was still some distance to the Law Domain stage, which was the usual minimum requirement to become a grand elder, it was no longer a gap that anyone would use as an excuse to deny him. With the talent and potential he had shown, everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before Zhou Yuan stepped into the Law Domain stage. He was now firmly seated in the position, and there was no longer anyone who dared to question him. ... A Genesis Qi cloud flew across the sky in the Tianyuan Utopia. There were three figures atop it. The first was an elderly man, Yi Yan. Behind him stood a graceful young lady in a white dress. She was beautiful even without any make-up, her limpid eyes filled with slivers of warmth and gentleness. At Yi Qiushui¡¯s side was the elegant little Yi Donger. Yi Yan gazed at a floating island in the distance. It was their destination and Zhou Yuan¡¯s current residence. Ever since returning from Guyuan Heaven, he had not shown himself in public, and was likely in closed cultivation to digest his gains from Guyuan Heaven. He had only ended the closed cultivation two days ago. Yi Yan suddenly remarked., ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan is someone who treasures his relationships and does not forget his friends.¡± Zhou Yuan was currently very popular in the Tianyuan Region. He was the youngest advanced Nascent Source expert, who was also a grand elder. Most importantly, he was stil single! According to what Yi Yan knew, almost the entire elder committee was desperately trying to introduce their granddaughters to him. After all, even a blind man could see Zhou Yuan¡¯s potential. Although they did not dare to say that he would become a Saint expert in the future, the Law Domain stage would not be a problem. Gaining his favor would certainly be advantageous to their entire clan. However, Zhou Yuan was not fond of such social interactions, and had been in closed cultivation ever since he returned. Hence, those old fellows were unable to make any progress. They had painstakingly waited for him to finish his closed cultivation, however, he had invited a few friends over for a small gathering, which naturally included Yi Qiushui and Yi Donger. Hence, Yi Yan had received no lack of jealous words from the other elders he met over the past two days. Yi Yan did not know whether to laugh or to cry. However, he could not help but admit that it did give him some ideas. Yi Yan¡¯s gaze flickered in thought, before he secretly glanced at his beautiful-as-a-flower and gentle-looking eldert granddaughter. However, before he could withdraw his gaze, Yi Qiushui looked over and gave him a hard stare as she said in a displeased tone, ¡°Grandfather, you¡¯d better throw all those thoughts away!¡± How could she not know what was on Yi Yan¡¯s mind? He had been trying to probe her for the past two days, and someone as intelligent as herself naturally understood what he was thinking right away. Yi Yan faked a cough and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Zhou Yuan is a great choice? His character, talent and potential are very satisfactory. What¡¯s more, you¡¯re the very first person he met in Hunyuan Heaven.¡± YI Qiushui bit her lip and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is amazing, but he already has someone in his heart. Why should I create worries for myself? Isn¡¯t being friends already great?¡± Yi Yan could only sigh helplessly at her lack of enthusiasm. His eldest granddaughter was far too smart and had her own views. If she was unwilling, it was impossible for him to convince her otherwise. But what a pity. Yi Qiushui ignored Yi Yan, focusing instead on the floating island in the distance. She felt a slight surge of nostalgia as she recalled the young man who had fallen from the sky...perhaps, she would never have imagined back then that the young man she had unintentionally saved would create such big waves in Hunyuan and achieve such amazing things. One could say that Zhou Yuan was currently one of the most influential figures in Hunyuan Heaven. She knew no one among their generation that could compare to him. Moreover, he was definitely trustworthy. However, as they grew closer over the years, Yi Qiushui realized that Zhou Yuan already had someone in his heart. Since that was the case, it was naturally best not to force things. Yi Qiushui¡¯s eyes dimmed slightly without anyone noticing, but was quickly suppressed by her. The Genesis Qi cloud flew across the horizon and ultimately landed on the floating island. A villa stood amidst the lush foliage and hills, a familiar figure already waiting at its doors, smiling as he gazed at them. ¡°Hehe, how can we dare to make grand elder Zhou Yuan personally wait for us.¡± Yi Yan landed on the ground with a chuckle. His eyes widened a little when he looked at Zhou Yuan. His Genesis Qi had been perfectly kept inside. He seemed to fuse with the surrounding world as he stood there, making it difficult to lock onto his presence. Yi Yan was a perfect Nascent Source expert, and was one of the strongest Tianyuan Region¡¯s elders. However, he still felt a little danger from the advanced Nascent Source Zhou Yuan. As expected of the person who managed to turn the tides against the Sacred Race in Guyuan Heaven. Yi Yan sighed inwardly as he readjusted his evaluation of Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan walked forward to meet them with a smile. As he cupped his hands together in greeting towards Yi Yan, Yi Donger had already pounced over and grabbed his arm, her tiny face filled with joy. Zhou Yuan caressed her head as he smiled at Yi Qiushui. ¡°Managing the four pavilions must have been tough on you.¡± He was still the chief pavilion master, but had never fulfilled his responsibilities, and instead threw them all to Yi Qiushui. Her diligence in management had allowed the four pavilions to flourish, and was a very influential figure there. There were even a few who began calling her ¡®pretty pavilion master¡¯. With this as a stepping stone, Yi Qiushui might even ascend to become one of the Tianyuan Region elders in the future. ¡°You¡¯re quite different now.¡± Yi Qiushui also grinned at him. Zhou Yuan appeared to have undergone a complete metamorphosis. This not only referred to his status and influence, but also his strength. Zhou Yuan offhandedly said, ¡°No matter how I change, I¡¯ll still be the person you sisters picked up back then.¡± Warmth flowed in Yi Qiushui¡¯s heart as her expression grew increasingly gently. Zhou Yuan had not forgotten his past after achieving such high status. ¡°Let¡¯s go, everyone else is already here. This is the first time I invited guests over.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned as he led the way. Yi Yan, Yi Qiushui and Yi Donger followed, walking along the long and pebble path. They ultimately came to a stop before an old wooden house, already able to hear the merrymaking inside. When they stepped in, they saw a few familiar faces such as Qin Lian, Yi Bingling, Mu Youlan and the others. It was not a big group, and practically consisted of everyone Zhou Yuan knew in the four pavilions. Now that the last few guests were here, Zhou Yuan officially announced the start of the banquet. It was not a noisy affair. Most of them casually chatting as they enjoyed the beautiful night scenery, immersing themselves in the relaxed atmosphere. After three rounds of drinks, Yi Qiushui suddenly approached Zhou Yuan with her cup. Her eyes flickered faintly as she softly asked, ¡°Are you leaving?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback, staring at Yi Qiushui in surprise. Yi Qiushui pursed her lips into a small smile. ¡°My woman¡¯s intuition is pretty accurate.¡± After some silence, Zhou Yuan replied, ¡°Maybe.¡± He was waiting for master Cang Yuan¡¯s summons, before going to awaken Yaoyao. He did not know what would happen and when he would return. This was why he had invited his Tianyuan Region friends over for a gathering. Yi Qiushui swirled her cup. ¡°You¡¯re going to seek out the one in your heart?¡± Zhou Yuan blinked a few times and said, ¡°You know me like the back of your hand.¡± Yi Qiushui disdainfully glanced at him. She bit her lip and raised her cup. ¡°I wish you success. Bring her back for us to have a look soon. I¡¯m pretty interested to find out how outstanding the beauty who managed to capture both our grand elder¡¯s heart and soul is.¡± Zhou Yuan laughed as he clinked her cup with his own, before downing its contents in a single gulp. Yi Qiushui also emptied the contents of her cup, displaying her fair and slender neck. She did not know why but the wine tasted particularly bitter at this moment. Neither party said anymore as they silently watched the cold moon. Until a certain moment when Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed. Zhuan Zhu¡¯s voice had sounded at his ears, ¡°It¡¯s time, get ready.¡± Chapter 1207 Meeting Again When Zhou Yuan arrived, the first thing he saw was Zhuan Zhu standing with his hands behind his back. However, he was somewhat surprised to also find Chi Jing, grand elder Mu Ni, sect master Xuan Kun and three other individuals with the strength of the Nascent Source stage. One of the three Nascent Source experts was no stranger to Zhou Yuan. It was Yi Yan, who he had been drinking with last night. The other two, however, were a little unfamiliar. There seemed to be more people than he had expected. Zhuan Zhu saw the puzzled look on Zhou Yuan and explained with a smile, ¡°These two are elders Zhao Yuefu and Xue Qinglong. Together with elder Yi Yan, they¡¯re the three strongest Nascent Source experts of our Tianyuan Region.¡± Zhao Yuefu was an elegant and handsome long-haired man. He revealed a friendly smile at Zhou Yuan. Xue Qinglong was a graceful lady in azure clothes. She carefully scrutinized Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Supreme sovereign Zhuan Zhu, didn¡¯t you say that this mission is extremely dangerous and requires at least the perfect Nascent Source stage strength?¡± Xue Qinglong was clearly not someone who would easily be pushed around, and did not hold back in her words. She did not appear to care about Zhou Yuan¡¯s status and his recent popularity. Zhuan Zhu chuckled inwardly. Xue Qinglong might be a woman, but she was one of the most competitive Nascent Source experts in the Tianyuan Region. Zhou Yuan naturally could not enter her eyes previously as a Heavenly Sun expert, but since he was now at the advanced Nascent Source stage and officially part of the Nascent Source level, Xue Qinglong had naturally started taking notice of him. Smiling, Chi Jing said, ¡°Zhou Yuan could go toe to toe with the Sacred Race¡¯s advanced Heavenly Sun experts at the intermediate Heavenly Sun stage. Although he is only an advanced Nascent Source expert, I feel that his true strength is no weaker than a perfect Nascent Source expert.¡± Xue Qinglong crossed her arms, pushing up a pair of giant peaks, as she nonchalantly said, ¡°The gap between the Nascent Source lesser cultivation realms is far greater than the Heavenly Sun stage. ¡°However, since supreme sovereign Zhuan Zhu has no complaints, I will naturally have none either.¡± She did not have any objections against Zhou Yuan, and had merely been stating a fact earlier. She felt that since Zhuan Zhu had highlighted the dangers of this mission, it did not make sense to bring along a new advanced Nascent Source expert like Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan glanced at the proud Xue Qinglong, but did not argue with her. He turned towards Zhuan Zhu and asked, ¡°Are they coming along?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. From Zhuan Zhu¡¯s words, awakening Yaoyao won¡¯t be as simple or easy as he had imagined. Was someone going to interfere? Zhuan Zhu said, ¡°To prevent others from finding our tracks, we can¡¯t bring too many people. That¡¯s why we¡¯ll only be taking the most elite experts.¡± Zhou Yuan hesitated briefly before he asked in a low voice, ¡°Is it the Wanzu Region?¡± Zhuan Zhu fell a little silent. ¡°I¡¯m afraid they won¡¯t be the only ones.¡± He glanced at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡° Zhou Yuan silently nodded. Yaoyao¡¯s identity must certainly be frightening if even a Saint like Zhuan Zhu was so cautious about it. However, regardless of her origins, in his heart, she would still be the same Yaoyao that had walked out together with him from the Great Zhou Empire. They had experienced so much together. Without Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan knew that he would not have achieved everything he had today. It had not been apparent while Yaoyao was at his side, but after she fell into a deep sleep and he had to struggle alone, Zhou Yuan finally realized how much he actually relied on her support. The feelings between them were inseverable by anything, and Zhou Yuan would do everything in power to protect these feelings. Zhou Yuan raised his head and gazed at the starry sky, his eyes filled with determination. ¡°Get ready.¡± Zhuan Zhu gave a few more reminders before waving his sleeve. The space before them began to distort, ultimately turning into a spatial door. Zhuan Zhu flicked his finger and an invisible power spread, encompassing everyone present. Zhou Yuan and the others felt as if they lost all connection to the world around them. After advancing to the Nascent Source stage, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel a greater harmony between him and the surrounding world. However, a casual flick from Zhuan Zhu had instantly severed this wonderful new feeling from the Nascent Source stage. From this, one could clearly see the power of a Saint. Before they could do anything else, the spatial door abruptly widened and swallowed them. ... Zhou Yuan did not know how long space warped around him. When light finally returned to his eyes, he found himself in an unfamiliar world. It was a boundless sea of clouds. Mountains towered over the land like giants, their sharp peaks piercing through the cloud sea. At the very center was an exceptionally majestic mountain. There, Zhou Yuan saw a familiar figure smiling as he looked at them. Dressed in black robes, an aura as immeasurable as a bottomless pool while also as tall as a mountain, it was Cang Yuan! Cang Yuan flicked his finger. Space spun around them, and Zhou Yuan and the others found themselves suddenly standing in front of him. ¡°Greetings supreme sovereign Cang Yuan!¡± Sect master Xuan Kun, Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong and the others hurriedly bowed, clearly somewhat emotional. After so many years, they had finally met Cang Yuan again. ¡°Master! I nearly died missing you!¡± Chi Jing joyfully ran over and hugged Cang Yuan¡¯s arm. She acted like a completely different person from her usually capable self. Zhou Yuan observed Cang Yuan. His face looked as old as before, his eyes deep like the starry sky but also glowing with wisdom and vigor. Zhou Yuan took two steps forward and respectfully said, ¡°Master.¡± Cang Yuan patted Chi Jing¡¯s hands before smiling at Zhou Yuan, a smile that was happy while also somewhat of a sigh. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯ve done well. Everything you have done has made me both proud and surprised. It¡¯s been hard on you.¡± Zhou Yuan calmly shook his head and said, ¡°I have to thank master for taking care of Yaoyao all these years.¡± He raised his head and peered behind the mountain, where a sea of beautiful flowers could be seen. At the center of the flowers was a crystal coffin. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shuddered a little as his feet began to walk forward, crossing the flower sea and arriving in front of the crystal coffin. He lowered his head and gazed at the familiar face that he had already carved into his soul. The beauty in the coffin was wearing a white dress and had her hands placed atop her abdomen. However, the eyes were as beautiful as the mountains and seas were currently tightly shut. Zhou Yuan dazedly stared at the familiar face. A great sadness suddenly struck his heart as his eyes turned red little by little. His eyes turned moist. He reached out and gently caressed the crystal coffin as he softly mumbled to himself in a hoarse voice, ¡°Sorry, I made you wait for too long.¡± Chapter 1208 Yaoyao’s Origin Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong and Yiyan were somewhat puzzled. The atmosphere was rather strange. There were not only two Saint experts but also a mysterious crystal coffin. And what relationship did Zhou Yuan have with the person inside the coffin? Cang Yuan watched with complicated eyes. Zhuan Zhu walked over and softly said, ¡°Master, junior brother¡¯s feelings are deep.¡± Cang Yuan slowly said, ¡°I never expected this. I was being chased hard by the Sacred Race back then, and had no choice but to temporarily hand Yaoyao over to Zhou Yuan to hide her. Normally speaking, she should not develop feelings for anyone. ¡°But in the end...she even undid her seal and forced herself into a deep slumber in order to save him.¡± Zhuan Zhu sighed. ¡°Love is the most unfathomable word. Even a Saint expert that wields the power to shape the world cannot control a person¡¯s feelings. ¡°Master, you should tell junior brother about her so he can prepare himself.¡± Cang Yuan silently nodded. He glanced at the sky and said, ¡°We won¡¯t be able to avoid trouble when we awaken Yaoyao this time.¡± Zhuan Zhu frowned a little. ¡°I was very careful on our way here and made sure to properly wipe away any traces we left. Have we still been found out?¡± Cang Yuan said, ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate that old fellow Wan Zu. It is impossible to lose him with your current capabilities. Moreover, he isn¡¯t the only Saint after us. I¡¯m afraid that before you even left, a Saint already laid out billions of sensors in the Tianyuan Region, filling every corner. It is impossibly difficult for you to completely avoid these old foxes.¡± Zhuan Zhu chuckled. ¡°It seems there¡¯ll be a battle waiting for us.¡± He did not display much fear. Although he was a relatively new Saint and there was definitely a substantial gap between him and a veteran Saint like Wan Zu, at the Saint level, the gap brought by time was not that difficult to overcome. Once a Saint, everyone was on the same path. Cang Yuan nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve also made some preparations of my own. No one will know who will gain the upper hand till the end.¡± While he was conversing with Zhuan Zhu, he suddenly saw a beautiful woman slowly approach from the corner of his eye. His expression immediately turned a little rigid as he asked in a low voice, ¡°Why did you bring her?¡± Zhuan Zhu also sensed Mu Ni¡¯s approach, causing a trace of cheekiness to flash across his eyes. He solemnly replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t we need reliable teammates? Who is more reliable than Aunt Ni?¡± Mu Ni unhurriedly arrived at Zhuan Zhu¡¯s side. She showed no anger as she watched Cang Yuan escape with his tail between his legs, neither did she move to give chase. She merely chuckled softly and said, ¡°I do want to see where he thinks he can hide.¡± Her smile was graceful, but annoyance flashed in the depths of her eyes. Evidently, even a Law Domain expert was ultimately still a woman. Cang Yuan strode into the sea of flowers, eyes fixed on the young figure beside the crystal coffin as he silently arrived beside Zhou Yuan. The old man and the young man silently stared at the beauty in the coffin. Zhou Yuan felt an invisible power spread from Cang Yuan¡¯s body, sealing off the nearby space such that no one would be able to eavesdrop on their conversation. Cang Yuan slowly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you should have realized over the years that Yaoyao is different, right?¡± Zhou Yuan gave a faint nod. Yaoyao was different not only in terms of her otherworldly beauty. Her presence was also as difficult to grasp as the mist. The most shocking thing, however, was that she never cultivated but was somehow always far stronger than him. There were too many mysteries behind her. ¡°Yaoyao¡¯s awakening will not be easy. When the time comes, there will surely be Saints experts who will come to stop it. Not everyone wishes for her to awaken.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. ¡°Why are there Saints who do not wish for Yaoyao to awaken? Who exactly is she?¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s voice grew distant and old. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the implications reach far into the past. You have already met the Sacred Race, what do you think about them?¡± ¡°Terrifyingly powerful,¡± answered Zhou Yuan with a grave expression. Even the five heavens united could not match the Sacred Race. To be blunt, the Sacred Race definitely had the power to exterminate them all. ¡°But all you have seen of the Sacred Race is merely the tip of the iceberg.¡± Cang Yuan indifferently said, ¡°However, that is not even the most terrifying thing about them. The most frightening thing about them is that they have...a god. They call Him the Sacred God, and He is the strongest power in the Sacred race.¡± ¡°God?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. It was a word that brought an indescribable terror. With some difficulty, he finally managed to ask, ¡°Are there really gods in this world?¡± ¡°When the Tianyuan World was formed, the first god was born: the Ancestral Dragon. From the Ancestral Dragon came the many races. ¡°However, the Sacred Race did not come from the Ancestral Dragon. They are creations of their Sacred God. ¡°His strength surpasses the Saint stage. ¡°As long as He exists, it will be impossible to destroy the Sacred Race.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp turned numb. He had never heard of such things before. This was clearly information that ordinary people had no access to. ¡°First came the Tianyuan World, then the laws that governed it. The Ancestral Dragon was the first god to be born, and is thus known as the First. It is the master of the world, and wields ultimate power. ¡°The Sacred God was born after the Ancestral Dragon, and is known as the Second. He also possesses unlimited power, but is weaker than the Ancestral Dragon. Thus, he could not become the master of the world and lord over all others. ¡°The Sacred God could not accept this and coveted the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s power. However, the Ancestral Dragon had already transformed into the many races. Hence, He needed to exterminate all the races and return everything to its original form, recreating the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s power to make Him the First. Cang Yuan slowly said, ¡°This is the origin of the conflict between the Sacred Race and the all-races.¡± Zhou Yuan gasped a little, finally understanding why the Sacred Race hated the all-races without any possibility of reconciliation. They had been created to exterminate the all-races. Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, ¡°Since the Sacred Race has such an existence, why didn¡¯t He directly exterminate the all-races?¡± ¡°Because He is waiting for the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will to weaken,¡± answered Cang Yuan. ¡°Ten thousand years ago, he finally found his opportunity and began the world-ending war. ¡°Countless people died in that war, and even resources that had accumulated thousands of years were completely exhausted. In that war, the carnage of the Saints had dyed the entire Tianyuan World red.¡± A great sadness filled Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°The all-races were utterly defeated. Even our Saints could find only defeat and death in the face of the Sacred God.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth fell open, shock filling his eyes. He could not imagine how terrifying that war was. It made even existence as powerful as Saints appear helpless. ¡°Then¡­¡± If the Sacred God was so terrifying, how did the all-races survive in the end? Cang Yuan slowly said, ¡°Because of the Ancestral Dragon. ¡°When nearly all was lost, the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will surged out from the deepest part of the world and gravely injured the Sacred God. Only then did the Sacred Race withdraw, saving the all-races from their demise. ¡°After the war, we finally understood how powerful their god was. Most importantly, we are incapable of slaying Him...He is a part of the natural order of the world, and only a similar existence can kill Him.¡± A bitter smile arose on Cang Yuan¡¯s face. The only gods in this world were the Ancestral Dragon and the Sacred God. The Ancestral Dragon had already transformed into the many living things, leaving the Sacred God as the only god in existence. He could imagine how hopeless it had felt for the all-races. He was not alone. Zhou Yuan also felt despair rise within him. If the Sacred God was so powerful, how would they stop Him once he revived? From Cang Yuan¡¯s words, the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will was not eternal. It could save the all-races once, but not forever. ¡°After the war, the all-races Saints searched for the power to save the world. ¡°In the end, after the sacrifice of several Saints, we finally reached the deepest part of the world. It was the final abode of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will, and there...we found a beast egg and a strange stone. ¡°The stone immediately drew our attention, because we sensed a unique life force and...a hint of divinity from it.¡± A dazzling light emerged in Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes, a light called hope. He stared at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°The stone contained the offspring of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. She was also a god, and we call Her the Third God. ¡°She is the final hope in our war against the Sacred Race. ¡°That¡¯s right, you should have guessed it by now... ¡°The guardian beast egg was Tuntun, and the Third God birthed from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will in the strange stone... ¡°Is Yaoyao!¡± Chapter 1209 Gods and Humans, Divinity and Humanity Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was somewhat dazed. He stared blankly at Cang Yuan¡¯s solemn face as emotions churned in his heart, wave after wave battering his innermost sanctum. It was clear just how shocking Cang Yuan¡¯s words were to him. He had made his own guesses of Yaoyao¡¯s identity before. In his view, Yaoyao might be a Saint expert that had sealed her cultivation due to unknown reasons. However, it seemed that he had still underestimated her somewhat. Yaoyao was not a Saint expert. She was the Third God that had appeared since the birth of this world! She was a god, the ultimate existence in this world together with the Ancestral Dragon and the Sacred God. An existence that surpassed the Saints! Zhou Yuan turned his head slightly and gazed at the sleeping beauty in the coffin. A god, what a mysterious and respected word. Even Saint experts appeared dim in comparison. He never imagined that the girl who had accompanied him out of the Great Zhou Empire and experienced countless things with him would have such an identity. It was honestly too unreal. ¡°To be more precise, Yaoyao was born from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. She can be said to be the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s daughter and the Third God.¡± Cang Yuan slowly said, ¡°She is perhaps the most precious treasure left behind by the Ancestral Dragon in this world, and the final hope of the all-races.¡± A complicated expression arose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as he softly said, ¡°Since she is the hope of the all-races, why do the all-heaven Saints not wish for her revival?¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s expression turned grave. ¡°Because of differences in opinion. ¡°When we found the strange stone Yaoyao was born from, a huge disagreement arose between the Omega Shrine Saints. One group believed that we should not place our hopes in an entity that had yet to be born, because no one could know for sure whether she would protect the all-heavens when she grew up. ¡°Hence, they suggested absorbing her instead. This would greatly boost the all-heavens Saints powers, and might even allow us to ascend beyond the triple lotus stage, and also step into the realm of the gods.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Absorb?!¡± Cang Yuan nodded. ¡°But I did not approve of such methods because she was something left behind by the Ancestral Dragon, and I believe she has inherited the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. Moreover, I do not believe it would be so easy to absorb because that would be underestimating the Ancestral Dragon and the power of the gods. ¡°I was afraid that proceeding with such a plan would only come back to bite us, and instead put our final hope against us. If that happens, the Second and Third Gods will become our enemies. That will truly be the demise of the all-races. ¡°Yaoyao and Tuntun were soon born from them¡­¡± Zhou Yuan felt somewhat dizzy as he recalled the mysterious domain he had stepped into all those years ago, where he had met Cang Yuan, Yaoyao and Tuntun...everything had started from that very meeting. He finally understood why Cang Yuan had been hiding with Yaoyao all those years. It turns out that he had to guard against both the Sacred Race and the all-heavens Saints. Zhou Yuan could not help but ask, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean that you¡¯ve pitted yourself against the all-heavens Saints? Did the Omega Shrine¡¯s three prime sovereigns say nothing?¡± From what he understood, the three prime sovereigns were the strongest experts of the all-heavens. If they took action, would Cang Yuan have needed to hide for so many years? ¡°I previously said that not everyone agreed to absorb the god stone, and the three prime sovereigns also had differing opinions. When I stole away the god stone, the three prime sovereigns kept each other in check, making it impossible for any of them to take action. Hence, the other Saints could only rely on their own abilities. ¡°I am not alone either. There are Saints that support me.¡± Zhou Yuan silently nodded. The matter seemed extremely complex. Even the all-heavens strongest force, the Omega Shrine, had split into different camps because of it. Moreover, it seemed that no one was wrong. All of them had the future of the all-heavens in mind. Cang Yuan said, ¡°Yaoyao¡¯s deep slumber is good news for them. Hence, they will not easily let her awaken. Hence, a battle will definitely await us.¡± He paused for a moment as he stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°This is mostly everything I have to say about Yaoyao¡¯s identity. However, there¡¯s one other thing that concerns you. ¡°When I entrusted Yaoyao to you, I never imagined that you two would gain feelings for each other...no, to be more accurate, it is surprising that Yaoyao would gain feelings. For you sake, she undid her seal...and even gave you divine matter.¡± Zhou Yuan was silent. The divine matter was likely the mysterious thing that had appeared when he tried to refine the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. It had baffled him previously, but it now all made sense. Yaoyao was born from the Ancestral Dragon will and was naturally able to neutralize the remnant will in the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. Cang Yuan sighed softly. His face turned grave as he said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, as your master, I¡¯m more worried about you. Although Yaoyao is currently very similar to humans, she is ultimately the Third God and possesses divinity. ¡°Her divinity is merely slumbering for the moment, but as time passes, it will gradually awaken within her. When that happens, her human side will be suppressed and gradually wiped away by her divinity. In other words...she will ultimately forget everything.¡± Zhou Yuan felt as if he was struck by lightning and a chill rose from the bottom of his feet. This was the most frightening thing he had heard yet. ¡°She...she will forget me?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice trembled uncontrollably. A little bitterness appeared in Cang Yuan¡¯s expression. ¡°Divinity is too great and nearly impossible to restrain. Moreover, from the all-heavens point of view, we do not wish for her divinity to be suppressed. Yaoyao will only be able to contend against the Sacred God when she truly becomes the Third God.¡± Cang Yuan looked at Zhou Yuan with sorrowful eyes. If he knew this would happen, he would perhaps not have entrusted Yaoyao to Zhou Yuan so as to avoid this sad but beautiful love story. Zhou Yuan was silent for a very long time. He lowered his head and stared at the sleeping beauty in the coffin as if he had lost his soul. Cang Yuan did not say anything else. With a sigh, he turned and left. Zhou Yuan stood beside the crystal coffin in silence as sun and moon interchanged in the sky. He did not move at all, seemingly having turned into a statue. Memories surged from the depths of his mind. Under an old tree, a girl in azure clothes leaned against the trunk, her clear eyes silently watching him. It was a memory of the first time he had seen Yaoyao... Under her tutelage, he had slowly learnt about Genesis Runes. They had walked out of the Great Zhou Empire together, and ultimately arrived at the Cangxuan Sect... His clearest memory was in their cave dwelling. Petals drifted from a peach blossom tree, a backdrop that made the girl¡¯s beautiful face and occasional slight smile even more soul-stirring. Every tiny crease of her brows and every smile had been deeply carved into his soul. Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes trembled. He opened them and stared at the girl in the crystal coffin. The splendor that had disappeared from them suddenly gathered once more, slowly turning sharp and clear. He reached out and stroked the coffin. Yaoyao, I don¡¯t care who you are. I only know that you¡¯re the one who accompanied me out of the Great Zhou Empire. As long as you do not wish for it, no one can wipe away our shared past and memories. If you can no longer suppress your divinity in the future and it attempts to wipe away everything we had...I will help you! If being human is not enough...I will become a god! Chapter 1210 The Enemy Arrives Zhou Yuan exhaled as a determined light glowed in his eyes. He knew how arrogant or maybe ignorant his thoughts were. The path to become a god was something that even the numerous Saints had failed to reach. If an ordinary person knew about his ambitions, they would have called him crazy. However, he had to try no matter how difficult it was. Zhou Yuan was not someone who would easily give up. The trials he had experienced over the years had never been easy, however, he had ultimately overcome them. Although it was going to be a million times harder to become a god, he was willing to bear any hardship for Yaoyao¡¯s sake. Zhou Yuan promised in a soft voice, ¡°Yaoyao, when you awaken, we shall go find Tuntun!¡± He turned around and walked out of the sea of flowers, heading straight for Cang Yuan. Cang Yuan¡¯s and Zhuan Zhu¡¯s hearts shuddered a little when they saw the still bright and sharp light in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Despite finding out about the despairing truth, Zhou Yuan had not been defeated. The two exchanged a look, seeing the mixed emotions in each other''s eyes. In their view, Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent, tenacity and hard work far surpassed the ordinary. He basically already had the qualities to become a Saint. However...even becoming a Saint might not be able to change anything. They sighed and pitied Zhou Yuan in their hearts, but did not reveal anything on their faces. Since Zhou Yuan had not given up, he should be ready to bear everything to come. Zhou Yuan arrived at Cang Yuan¡¯s side and asked, ¡°Master, when do we start?¡± Cang Yuan raised his head and glanced at the sky. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± Zhou Yuan also looked towards the sky, but was unable to see anything despite stepping into the advanced Nascent Source stage. He could only helplessly withdraw his gaze. ¡°Will the all-heavens Saints be coming to stop us?¡± Cang Yuan nodded. ¡°Certainly. They¡¯ve also been waiting for this day. ¡°However, I¡¯ve set up several boundaries in this domain, and even a Saint expert would find it hard to descend for a time. Zhuan Zhu and I will stop the attacking Saints, but our enemies will also be sending Law Domain and Nascent Source experts. ¡°We will not be able to spare any attention to these experts, hence, you guys will be the ones to stop them. ¡°We must stall for time until Yaoyao awakens. When she does, all the fighting and schemes will come to a conclusion.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu and the other Saints might also have the welfare of the all-heavens at heart. However, it was difficult to come to an agreement between people with differing opinions. Since he stood on Yaoyao¡¯s side, there was absolutely no way that he would sit by and watch her being absorbed. Hence, even if the enemies were the all-heavens, he was naturally going to resist. As for the three perfect Nascent Source experts, Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong and Yi Yan, they could not help but wipe the cold sweat on their brows. Only now did they truly understand what kind of chessboard they were a part of. However, since even the Tianyuan Region¡¯s two supreme sovereigns were going to participate, underlings like them were naturally unable to escape. After instructing a few more key points, supreme sovereign Cang Yuan led Zhou Yuan back to the crystal coffin. He raised his hand and an ancient oil lamp slowly rose from his palm. The oil lamp was simple and looked like the most ordinary lamp used by the common folk. Only those who had reached a certain cultivation level would be able to sense the terrifying power concentrated within it. It was the Ancestral Dragon Lamp, the second ranked sacred treasure in the all-heavens. It was one of the all-heavens strongest trump cards, and no faction was allowed to monopolize it. Only the winner of each nine regions tournament would gain the right to become its safekeeper. It was also the prize Zhou Yuan had fought tooth and nail for, even defeating Zhao Mushen. ¡°The Tianyuan Region has never wielded the Ancestral Dragon Lantern ever since it was founded. I never imagined that you would allow me to wield it this once.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°If master did not establish the Tianyuan Region, I won¡¯t even have the right to participate in the nine regions tournament.¡± It was the truth. The nine regions tournament was a grand event that only the nine regions were qualified to partake in. Without the Tianyuan Region, Zhou Yuan would have no chance no matter how strong he was. Cang Yuan also grinned, his eyes filled with satisfaction towards his youngest disciple. He and Wan Zu had clashed for many years, but neither party had managed to gain much headway. But ever since Zhou Yuan arrived in the Tianyuan Region, the Wanzu Region had faced setback after setback. Cang Yuan knew that Wan Zu was certainly a little depressed about it. ¡°Take out the Ancestral Dragon Flesh.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly pushed his palms together before pulling them apart. An invisible ripple condensed between his hands as an indescribable ancient sound spread. There seemed to be some kind of invisible object between his hands, but in Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes, it was a mysterious matter the size of a baby¡¯s fist. It resembled a hard purple-gold rock, and looked nothing like flesh. At closer inspection, one would see countless runes across its body. These runes seemed to have formed the moment the world was born, so ancient that they gave off a primordial aura. This was the Ancestral Dragon Flesh Zhou Yuan had obtained from Guyuan Heaven. He had placed it in his Divine Dwelling, wrapping it with numerous layers of Genesis Qi. Cang Yuan beckoned and the Ancestral Dragon Flesh landed in his hand. No ordinary article could touch it, hence, it could not be stored in the spatial bags. Zhou Yuan had no choice but to keep it in his Divine Dwelling, but Cang Yuan could now directly hold it in his hand. Cang Yuan explained, ¡°After becoming a Saint, one will gain a Saint¡¯s body and will naturally be able to touch such divine material.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, somewhat envious. He was pretty accomplished in his external cultivation. In fact, even among the numerous perfect Nascent Source experts, only a handful would spend enough effort and time to reach the Saint Glass Body state. Despite this, he was still unable to touch the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. Cang Yuan flicked his finger, causing the crystal coffin lid to burst into countless specks of light. He placed the Ancestral Dragon Lantern three inches above Yaoyao¡¯s brows. Several drops of Saint blood dripped from his fingertip, landing in the lantern. Flames immediately rose within, gradually turning into a healthily burning fire. Zhou Yuan sighed in amazement. The Ancestral Dragon Lantern was filled with wonder. To think that lighting it required the blood of a Saint. Even if it was in his hands, he won¡¯t be able to produce a single spark. After lighting the lantern, Cang Yuan wrapped the Ancestral Dragon Flesh in Genesis Qi and slowly positioned it above the lantern¡¯s fire. Creak! When the two forces touched, Zhou Yuan felt the entire world gradually begin to warp. Mountains and rivers began to distort and flicker. The mountains were lifted into the air, while giant rivers began to flow into the distance. It felt as if an originally lifeless world had suddenly been exposed to the source of life. All of this was happening because the Ancestral Dragon Flame had been set aflame. As the flesh was burned by the lantern¡¯s fire, a golden oil-like liquid emerged. Zhou Yuan could faintly sense a great power within it. The golden liquid dripped from the flesh, landing between Yaoyao¡¯s brows, instantly disappearing upon contact. Mysterious runes slowly began to spread from between Yaoyao¡¯s brows. Cang Yuan exhaled as he revealed a smile. ¡°Once this piece of Ancestral Dragon Flesh is burnt away, Yaoyao should awaken.¡± Zhou Yuan felt as if a heavy load had been lifted from his shoulders, his taunt body instantly relaxing in relief. However, the entire domain suddenly began to shake. Zhou Yuan jerked his head upwards, his pupils shrinking when he saw a boundless and majestic power gather in the sky, forming a giant face that coldly watched everything that was happening in the domain. It was not an unfamiliar face, because it belonged to supreme sovereign Wan Zu! Chapter 1211 Four Saints ¡°He really came.¡± ¡° Zhou Yuan tensely stared at the familiar face, which belonged to supreme sovereign Wan Zu. Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Cang Yuan raised his head and smiled, "Wan Zu, you still haven''t given up after so many years.¡± The huge face rippled and an indifferent but majestic voice resounded, "Cang Yuan, you secretly stole the Special Divine Stone and destroyed all-heavens¡¯ hope. That is already a heinous crime.¡± Cang Yuan shook his head. "Don''t put that label on me. I did that for all heavens. What you are doing is too extreme and would only destroy all heavens. I can''t just sit back and watch you.¡± Supreme sovereign peered through the domain and fixed his gaze on the crystal coffin, saying indifferently, "Cang Yuan, she hasn¡¯t awakened yet. There is still time to change your decision. Hand her over and we can forget everything you have done in the past.¡± Cang Yuan smiled faintly. ¡°Wan Zu, do you think I will give up?¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu fell silent for a moment and then said, "It seems like we have to settle everything between us with a match.¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s arms drooped down and his expression was relaxed, but Zhou Yuan could feel an indescribable majestic force exuding from his thin body. Under that tremendous power, wails echoed throughout the domain and the world changed color. Two sacred lotus gradually appeared and bloomed on Cang Yuan''s shoulders. Double Lotus stage! He knew there was no use in negotiating with Wan Zu because they had completely different stances. They were not on the same path even if they were both Saints of all-heavens. The giant face outside twisted and transformed into countless rays of light. The light rays swiftly converged to form a figure, which was supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s real body. Two lotus flowers similarly sat on his shoulders. "Cang Yuan, they say you are most likely to become the fourth prime sovereign of the Omega Shrine, but I don¡¯t believe it,¡± said supreme sovereign Wan Zu indifferently. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu began cultivation much earlier than Cang Yuan and had reached the Double Lotus stage long ago but he still hadn¡¯t reached the triple lotus stage. Therefore, he felt that if the Special Divine Stone was refined, the triple lotus stage Saints in all-heavens would surpass the Sacred Race and might even break through into an unprecedented cultivation realm! At that time, they might be able to contend with the Sacred Race¡¯s Sacred God. Unfortunately, Cang Yuan destroyed their plan. Awe filled the eyes of Chi Jing and the others. Although Cang Yuan hadn''t revealed his divine power in years, no one could forget that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan once had the name called the Black Emperor. Such a domineering name was forged from his impressive accomplishments in the world-ending war back then, when many Saints in the Sacred Race were killed! The clash between two Saints caused even the sun, moon and the stars to tremble. It was at that moment when Zhou Yuan realized that although he could see the battle in front, there might be other Saints fighting in places he couldn¡¯t see and perceive. This was because the matter concerned two different factions. The highest-level factions of two heavens. While Zhou Yuan was in deep thoughts, a black hole emerged outside the domain and spewed out a pearl. The pearl gradually grew larger as it drifted and eventually transformed into a strange-looking man. Long black hair draped over his back and fluttered around him though no wind stirred the air. Every strand of hair seemed to contain a strange force. He simply stood there, but there seemed to the shadows of thousands of ghosts reflected in the space behind him. The strange man fiddled with a string of dark red beads on his wrist as said with a smile, "It''s so lively here, it wasn¡¯t easy to sneak in.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed dramatically when he saw the strange-looking man because he recognized him. He was the supreme sovereign from Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Yaogui Region. It was said that every strand of his hair could be turned into a puppet, and when millions of hairs were activated simultaneously, they formed a tremendous and terrifying torrent of puppets. The demonic-looking man gave a smile that was even more stunning than that of a woman. "Cang Yuan, the Saints of all-heavens are watching. Since you have chosen another path to us, you are considered on the opposite side to us. We need to complete our plan, so don¡¯t blame us.¡± ¡°Supreme sovereign Yao Gui, are you worried that I will join hands with master, and supreme sovereign Wan Zu will lose? That¡¯s why you did your utmost to come here." A laughter resounded as Zhuan Zhu came to stand next to Cang Yuan. He looked at the strange man outside the domain with a smile. Supreme sovereign Yao Gui swept a glance over Zhuan Zhu and smacked his lips. ¡±Kid, you are quite amazing. I didn¡¯t think you would become a Saint.¡± He didn¡¯t refute this statement. Although Zhuan Zhu was only at the single lotus stage, he was still a Saint. It was already unpredictable whether Wan Zu could win against Cang Yuan, and if Zhuan Zhu helped Cang Yuan, Wan Zu almost had no chance of winning. The reason Yao Gui came was indeed to target Zhuan Zhu even if it seemed he was here to deal with Cang Yuan. Yi Yan and the others felt their scalps numb when they saw that scene. After all, four Saints were standing facing each other. Cang Yuan turned his head back to look at the Ancestral Dragon Lantern burning in the crystal coffin and reminded Zhou Yuan, "Protect Yaoyao.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded solemnly. ¡°Anyone who wants to hurt Yaoyao must step over my corpse first.¡± Cang Yuan smiled. He still remembered that Zhou Yuan had said the same thing when he entrusted Yaoyao to Zhou Yuan back then. "Let''s go, you and I will join hands today." Cang Yuan didn''t say much and just greeted Zhuan Zhu. With one step, the two appeared directly outside the domain. The might of a Saint was too terrifying and could cause a domain to collapse if a fight broke out. The four Saints stood facing each other outside the domain. Layers of space twisted and gradually concealed the four figures but the terrifying pressure released from them still made people shudder with fear. However, just as Cang Yuan and Zhuan Zhu left, a boundless force suddenly descended from outside the domain. When such a powerful force touched the domain walls, an incomparably huge boundary appeared to obstruct the force. But cracks still spread across the boundary under the constant force. Then, Chi Jing, Zhou Yuan and the others turned increasingly solemn as they saw streams of light enter through those cracks. Those streams of light contained the aura of the Law Domain and Nascent Source stage. Chi Jing''s short burgundy hair fluttered gently, but her eyes grew fierce and sharp. "Everyone, it''s time for us to act.¡± Hearing what Chi Jing said, Zhou Yuan exhaled deeply. He turned his head and again glanced at Yaoyao in the crystal coffin, and then he balled his hands into fists. The Nascent Source sitting cross-legged in his Divine Dwellings opened its eyes and vast Genesis Qi began to surge. I have worked incredibly hard for many years for today. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed murderous intent. Whoever tries to cause trouble today must die! Chapter 1212 Face the Enemies The streams of light all emitted waves of terrifying Genesis Qi. It was clear that, in addition to the two supreme sovereigns from the Wanzu Region and Yaogui Region, other Law Domain and Nascent Source experts also infiltrated the boundary. Although the boundary blocked more enemies from coming through, those who sneaked in were still dangers that had to be taken care of. Cang Yuan and Zhuan Zhu had already taken action and there were two Saints on the opponent¡¯s side. Therefore, they would likely reach a stalemate. The opponents would succeed in their goal if any Law Domain or Nascent Source experts managed to break through the defense and cause interference to the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. ¡°We will deal with the three Law Domain experts that sneaked in.¡± Chi Jing looked at Zhou Yuan, Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong, and Yi Yan. ¡°There should be a higher number of people at the Nascent Source stage who sneaked in. You guys should form the last line of defuse and stop them from advancing.¡± Zhou Yuan and the others nodded. Chi Jing immediately sped away with Mu Ni and sect master Xuan Kun. At the same time, three incomparably huge Law Domains spread across the area, enveloping the light rays that sneaked into the boundary. They specifically targeted Nascent Source experts to try to get rid of as many as possible to reduce the burden of Zhou Yuan and the others. ¡°Haha, Chi Jing, why are you targeting the Nascent Source experts? I am your opponent.¡± As the three Law Domains expanded, a laughter echoed throughout the world and an ear-piercing sonic boom whizzed across. A Law Domain swiftly emerged and collided with Chi Jing¡¯s. Boom! The collision shook the world, setting off monstrous Genesis Qi shock waves. "Zhao Xiansun!" Chi Jing floated in the sky as her Wind God Law Domain roared around her, before turning into million gusts of astral spirit wind. She glared coldly at the figure in front of her. It was Zhao Xiansun from the Wanzu Region! Zhao Xiansun was situated inside his own Law Domain and formed a giant falcon at his feet with his Law Domain power. The giant falcon exuded a fierce and wild aura as though real. Its terrifying power was unbearable to even those at the Nascent Source stage. Another two figures stood behind Zhao Xiansun and also expanded their Law Domains. One was also from the Wanzu Region and the other was a man with fair skin and no brows and was fiddling with the beads in his hands. He was called Zhen Yu, a Law Domain expert from the Yaogui Region. Zhao Xiansun¡¯s face stiffened and a sullen look flashed across his eyes. This was because the matter of Zhuan Zhu becoming a Saint was always a thorn in his heart. He was always unhappy that Zhuan Zhu had the title of strongest at the Law Domain stage, but he never thought Zhuan Zhu would ascend to the Saint stage at such a critical moment. "Chi Jing, don¡¯t waste your breath. The Tianyuan Region has stood on the wrong side this time and you guys will pay the price!¡± ¡°Nonsense,¡± sneered Chi Jin. Their gazes collided, and an icy killing intent gushed out from their eyes. Boom! As the six Law Domain experts stepped forward, space quickly distorted and the six Law Domains collided in an earth-shattering manner. Zhou Yuan, Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong, and Yi Yan wore solemn expressions as they stood on the mountain summit and watched the Law Domains collision. ¡°There are more Nascent Source experts on the opponent¡¯s side compared to us.¡± Zhao Yuefu narrowed his eyes as the streams of light pierced the voids. "There are three perfect Nascent Source experts and three advanced Nascent Source experts.¡± Xue Qinglong frowned. They clearly came prepared. Furthermore, there were some Nascent source trapped in the boundary that would break out sometime in the future. The situation was very unfavorable to them. ¡°It¡¯s going to be really troublesome. If supreme sovereign Zhuan Zhu had taken one more perfect Nascent Source expert here, we wouldn¡¯t be in such a situation,¡± complained Xue Qinglong. Zhao Yuefu and Yi Yan didn¡¯t respond as if they hadn¡¯t heard anything. How would they not understand her meaning from those words. There was a limit on the number of people he could bring and he would have to get rid of one person to bring another perfect Nascent Source expert. As for who to replace, it goes without saying that Xue Qinglong was referring to Zhou Yuan who was standing next to her. She had always acted in such a way, just like a hedgehog. She dared to speak bluntly even in front of supreme sovereign Zhuan Zhu. However, she had amazing talent. Among the three, Zhao Yuefu, who was ranked 7th on the Nascent Source List, was the strongest. Xue Qinglong was ranked 15th and Yi Yan was the worst and wasn¡¯t even ranked in the top 30. Zhou Yuan naturally heard Xue Qinglong¡¯s words and couldn¡¯t help but say with a smile, "Elder Xue, although I¡¯ve only just reached the advanced Nascent Source stage, I think I can go up against someone at the perfect Nascent Source stage.¡± Not only was Xue Qinglong taken aback at Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, even Zhao Yuefu and Yi Yan stared at him in surprise. "I don¡¯t doubt grand elder Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent. I have never met someone who can directly reach the advanced Nascent Source stage in my many years of cultivation. It¡¯s just that you perhaps might not know about the gap between the Nascent Source stages.¡± Xue Qinglong explained. However, Zhou Yuan waved his hand dismissively and directly ordered, ¡°I will leave the three perfect Nascent Source experts to elders and I will deal with the three advanced Nascent Source experts.¡± The three were silent for a moment. Zhou Yuan wants to fight against three? Yi Yan, who had a good relationship with Zhou Yuan, couldn''t help reminding, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, you should be more cautious. Those three are elites at the advanced Nascent Source stage and are not normal nobodies.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded The three couldn¡¯t say anything more seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s persistence. After all, Zhou Yuan was a grand elder of the Tianyuan Region and had a higher status than them. Moreover, they couldn¡¯t underestimate him anymore after the battle of Guyuan Heaven. For example, Xue Qinglong with his proud personality, wouldn¡¯t pay attention to Zhou Yuan, let alone listen to his orders if it was before the battle. Zhou Yuan stood on his tiptoe and soared into the air Watching him from behind, the three exchanged glances and looked a little helpless. Xue Qinglong frowned and said, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan is too arrogant. The Nascent Source stage isn¡¯t a child¡¯s play like the Heavenly Sun stage.¡± ¡°Elder Xue, speak less.¡± Yi Yan shook his head. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan is very capable. He suppressed the Heavenly Sun experts in his generation. Were we able to do so when we were at the Heavenly Sun stage? Since he said he can stop three advanced Nascent Source experts, we should believe him.¡± Xue Qinglong was silent. Zhou Yuan''s accomplishment was indeed impressive, but she still thought the same¡ªThe waters in the Nascent Source stage were much deeper than that in the Heavenly Sun stage. Seeing her finally calmed down, Zhao Yuefu and Yi Yan both breathed an inward sigh of relief. Immediately afterwards, they assumed a solemn and serious expression. When they moved, they instantly appeared in the distant sky and each locked their eyes on an enemy of the perfect Nascent Source stage. The three perfect Nascent Source experts who broke in were all powerful and ranked on the Nascent Source List. It was going to be a bitter and long battle. At the same time, Zhou Yuan appeared on a sword-like mountain summit, calmly sat watching three figures speed over with his hands clasped behind his back. The three were all enemies at the advanced Nascent Source stage. The Nascent Source sitting with its eyes closed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwellings suddenly opened its eyes and mighty Genesis Qi began to circulate. This was his first battle at the Nascent Source stage. He wanted to use the three powerful enemies of the advanced Nascent Source stage to test his current strength. They will act as his testing stones. Chapter 1213 First Battle at the Nascent Source Stage Then, the sea of clouds in the distance suddenly stirred and three silhouettes flashed in front of Zhou Yuan as if it had teleported. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I would have a chance to fight grand elder Zhou Yuan, who has gained such great renown recently. We are really lucky.¡± The three immediately locked their gaze on Zhou Yuan, and then, a loud laughter rang across the sky, stirring the clouds again. Zhou Yuan looked over to see a bald and burly man standing in the middle. His eyes emitted dazzling lights and he stood with a very imposing bearing. A skinny old man stood on his left and a beautiful and elegant woman stood on his right. Even by just standing there, a terrifying imposing aura spread out from them and caused space to quiver. The three advanced Nascent Source experts fixed their eyes on Zhou Yuan. Although they spoke politely, their eyes gleamed mockingly. Although Zhou Yuan''s fame had spread throughout the heavens recently and he directly soared to the advanced Nascent Source stage when he broke-through to the Nascent Source stage, he was still a newcomer to the Nascent Source stage, regardless how powerful and enviable his foundation was. Whereas, the three were veterans at the Nascent Source stage. The outcome might be unpredictable if they were to face Zhou Yuan one-on-one, but if they joined forces, the situation was no doubt favorable to them. They couldn¡¯t understand why Zhou Yuan still had so much confidence. ¡°Haha, grand elder Zhou Yuan, you have won honor for our Hunyuan Heaven so we don¡¯t want to make things difficult for you. Why don¡¯t you move aside and let us complete our task so we can report back, what do you say?¡± The beautiful woman gave a charming smile. Zhou Yuan said indifferently, ¡°Today''s matter is extremely important to me. If you stubbornly must break through the boundary, I won¡¯t hesitate to kill you.¡± The three¡¯s eyes suddenly turned fiercer and sharper. ¡°So arrogant! You really think the Nascent Source stage is the same little pond as the Heavenly Sun stage!?¡± The three stepped forward simultaneously as their Nascent Source, which were all around 6 inches, emerged above their heads. Universe Genesis Qi pulsed as the Nascent Source breathed in and out, as if forming three tremendous vortexes. ¡°Let¡¯s get rid of him together!¡± roared the thin old man. Even though the three previously mocked Zhou Yuan, they were ruthless people and they had no intention of giving up their advantage in numbers just because Zhou Yuan was new to the Nascent Source stage. Instead, they simultaneously displayed their thunderous means. After all, Zhou Yuan''s accomplishments in Guyuan Heaven were too glorious. The blade split the void. The blade light, mighty and overbearing, resembled a starry river, and upon a closer look, one would find millions of blade shadows swimming like fish within. Additionally, the blade shadows exuded spiritual intellect and extreme coldness. That was the incredible power of the Nascent Source stage. At that cultivation, one would have a much more precise control of Genesis Qi. The Genesis Qi offensive from Heavenly Sun experts could never reach such a precise and spiritual level. As the thin old man flung his sleeves, an ear-piercing screech rang out followed by a black torrent streaking across space. The torrent swiftly condensed into a giant bat that blotted out the sun and sky before pouncing towards Zhou Yuan with terrifyingly fierce force. The beautiful woman¡¯s momentum was a little weaker, but more ruthless. With a wave of her hand, pink Genesis Qi swept out from her and petals fluttered across the world, bringing a strange aroma. Anything that came into contact with the petals instantly melted, including rocks and boulders. The three displayed extremely ruthless means right away to cut off all Zhou Yuan¡¯s escape routes. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes as he watched the three¡¯s aggressive offensives. The three¡¯s Nascent Source were all around six inches, which were similar to his. But this didn¡¯t have much significance because if the size of one¡¯s Nascent Source could determine who was stronger, battles would simply consist of comparing Nascent Source. Ordinary Nascent Source of 6 inches wouldn¡¯t exceed 50 billion Genesis Qi stars. Only elites could past the 60 billion threshold. The three people in front of Zhou Yuan were indeed elites of the advanced Nascent Source stage and from the strength of their Genesis Qi, it was obvious their Genesis Qi foundation crossed the 60 billion level. But it should be said that Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundation was already over 70 billion when he broke-through to the Nascent Source stage. To be precise, it was 74 billion! ¡°So what if it¡¯s the Nascent Source stage? I could kill enemies with a higher cultivation level than me when I was at the Heavenly Sun stage. I can do the same at the Nascent Source stage!" Zhou Yuan muttered to himself as if he didn¡¯t see the three fierce offensives. He strode forward and slammed his hand without any showy display. As he slammed his hand down, an earth-shattering dragon roar resounded across the world and universe Genesis Qi rapidly gathered together to form a giant dragon claw. The Genesis Qi dragon claw was vivid and lifelike. Its scales glistened lustrously and each scale was marked with ancient runes and radiated vast and ancient aura. To anyone, the claw resembled a giant dragon shuttling through time and space and slammed down its claw. After reaching the Nascent Source stage, Zhou Yuan¡¯s control of Genesis Qi reached a much higher level. It was only at such a level that he could finally display the mystery of the Heavenly Dragon Qi. Boom! The dragon claw slammed down with incredible force and collided with the beam of blade light. Bang! The starry river-like blade light shattered in an instant, and the millions of blade shadows within it turned into flecks of light that filled the sky. The giant ferocious bat was crushed to dust before it could display its power. The pink petals failed to get close to the dragon claw before shredded to pieces. The three Nascent Source experts¡¯ faces paled. They frantically drew back. Boom! The dragon claw slammed down where they were, crumbling mountains and distorting even space. The three figures reappeared thousands of feet away, their faces twisted in horror. They didn''t think Zhou Yuan could easily counter their combined attacks. But what shocked them the most was that they could sense Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation exceeded 70 billion from the Genesis Qi pressure he released. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nascent Source was only around six inches tall, so why was his Genesis Qi foundation so abnormal? ! A foundation over 70 billion was comparable to that of a lower/middle perfect Nascent Source expert! The perfect Nascent Source experts of both sides also noticed the abnormal movements over that side. Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong and Yi Yan cast a glance over and couldn''t help shudder with shock. Particularly Xue Qinglong. Surprise flashed across her beautiful eyes because a 6 inch Nascent Source with more than 70 billion Genesis Qi foundation was really terrifying! While everyone was stunned, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face didn¡¯t ripple in the slightest. He stared at the three as a faint murderous intent flashed across his eyes. He already said that anyone who stopped Yaoyao from awakening would die. His skin glowed with the Saint Glass Light. The Heavenly Yuan Brush flashed to his grip in a flash. He vanished from where he stood. The three advanced Nascent Source experts¡¯ hair stood on end because they could feel the aura of death approaching. It was only then they understood how fiendish was the young man, who stirred up tremendous storms in Guyuan Heaven. Chapter 1214 One Injured, Two Escaped They were already aware how strong Zhou Yuan was from their previous exchange. His 6.3 inches Nascent Source contained 74 billion Genesis Qi stars, which was much stronger than theirs. Although the three each possessed a foundation of 60 billion Genesis Qi stars, which was more than Zhou Yuan when combined, it was unfortunate that foundations couldn¡¯t be added together in such a way. Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t thousands of Nascent Source experts be able to defeat a Saint? ¡°Let¡¯s join hands and defend!¡± The bald man roared. He knew that Zhou Yuan would defeat them one by one if they separated. They would only have a chance to withstand against Zhou Yuan if they joined forces. The skinny old man and the beautiful woman moved closer to him without any hesitation. But they were still too slow. As the bald man¡¯s voice faded, the space in front of him suddenly tore apart and a silhouette shot out and enveloped him with monstrous Genesis Qi. ¡°Saint Genesis art, Split Mountains and Rivers!¡± Frightening pressure enveloped everything in a mighty manner, making the bald man¡¯s hair stand on end and a feeling of crisis surged to his heart. Then, he unhesitatingly swung his sword in a wild slash. He used his strongest attack. A blade of light slashed through the air like a white dragon, and as it slashed down, there seemed to be countless mountains and rivers crumbling under its tyrannical force. However, as the blade slashed down, a fist glistening with Saint Glass Light sped over. The fist seemed ordinary, but the wind blasts it generated caused space to shatter. That terrifying strength together with the powerful Genesis Qi made the bald man''s eyelids twitch with fear. Clang! A shrill metallic clang resounded as the fist and light blade met head-on, and the explosive shock waves erupted from the collision directly shattered the space around, causing spatial fragments to hurl everywhere like a meteor shower. However, a few seconds later, the blade of light burst apart and the glass fist smashed through the blade and aimed directly for the bald man¡¯s chest. That punch was earth shattering like a meteor descended. Puchi! The bald man''s chest collapsed and he wildly spat out a mouthful of blood. As he frantically reeled back, his body began to crack and his flesh split open. A few seconds later, the bald man¡¯s body completely burst apart. A wisp of light shot into the sky and fled in panic. Zhou Yuan had crushed his body with a punch and only his Nascent Source managed to escape! They never thought Zhou Yuan could kill the bald man with one punch! After all, he was a veteran advanced Nascent Source expert! He had some fame in Hunyuan Heaven and was strong enough to set up his own sect in a slightly remote area, but Zhou Yuan exploded his body with one punch. ¡°How could Zhou Yuan be that terrifying?!¡± The two were completely terror-stricken. They had cultivated for years and had great knowledge and experience, but it was the first time they met someone so fierce. They had already heard about Zhou Yuan¡¯s accomplishment at the Heavenly Sun stage, but they still arrogantly looked down on him and even remarked that the water in the Heavenly Sun stage was too shallow unlike the Nascent Source stage. It was only now that they understood how frightened the Heavenly Sun experts were when they faced Zhou Yuan. They took advantage of the opportunity to enter the domain first and thought they could earn the most credit, but it turned out they only carried their coffin to find the coffin lid. Run! The two had no intention of fighting anymore and transformed into a beam of light and fled separately. Within minutes, one of the three advanced Nascent Source experts had been wounded and the other two fled. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t chase after the two that fled in panic and just watched them escape from the domain because the battle had just begun and he didn¡¯t see the need to waste energy on little fish. While his battle ended at a jaw-dropping speed, in the distant battlefield, Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong, Yi Yan, and their opponents all stared dumbfounded at the scene. Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong and Yi Yan were all equally stunned, especially Xue Qinglong. She was arrogant and headstrong and not like a woman. She was worried that something would go wrong on Zhou Yuan¡¯s side, but it seemed her vision was too narrow. It was understandable because she had never met a monster like Zhou Yuan, who possessed a Genesis Qi foundation that could compete with that of a perfect Nascent Source expert even if he only just reached the advanced Nascent Source stage. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan is really amazing. The Nascent Source stage won¡¯t be peaceful anymore.¡± The three perfect Nascent Source experts opposite Zhao Yuefu and the others also couldn¡¯t help exclaiming at the scene. ¡°Since a supreme sovereign accepted him as an official disciple, he naturally is extraordinary,¡± remarked a long-haired man. "But it might not be a good thing to fight away those three. Now that those three are out of the battlefield, there will likely be true perfect Nascent Source experts entering the battle next.¡± ¡°Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan limited the number of people who can enter by setting up a boundary in this domain, but supreme sovereign Wan Zu also prepared means to counter it. Therefore, Zhou Yuan won¡¯t last long and the Tianyuan Region would no doubt lose in today¡¯s battle.¡± This person who spoke was called Xu Hao, who was ranked 12th on the Nascent Source List in the Wanzu Region. The other two perfect Nascent Source experts nodded in agreement. Then, they glanced up the boundary where many figures were trapped. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that Lu Tai can¡¯t enter. Otherwise no one can stop him.¡± He didn¡¯t conceal what he said, so Zhao Yuefu and the others also heard them. But their expressions only changed slightly, and even Xue Qinglong, who was very arrogant, couldn¡¯t retort. This was because Lu Tai was ranked third on the Nascent Source List. His strength was so terrifying that even Zhao Yuefu was no match for him. Fortunately, supreme sovereign Cang Yuan had trapped Lu Tai using the boundary and so he couldn¡¯t participate in the battle. If he appeared, no one on the Tianyuan Region¡¯s side could compete with him. However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the match in the distance and had no intention of intervening. He stood quietly atop a mountain, peering outside the domain. There, mighty forces constantly collided, creating endless destructions. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu was constantly aware of the battles happening within the domain even if he was in a fierce battle with Cang Yuan. Therefore, he also sensed Zhou Yuan defeated his three advanced Nascent Source experts. "Cang Yuan, you have accepted a disciple with extraordinary potential,¡± said supreme sovereign Wan Zu indifferently. Cang Yuan smiled, "If Zhou Yuan becomes a Saint in the future, you will have to avoid us when you see us.¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu shook his head. ¡°How would it be that easy to become a Saint? Although prime sovereign Jin Luo evaluated him, if you think he could become a Saint after an evaluation, you have underestimated the Saint stage.¡± While speaking, he glanced at the tremendous boundary that enveloped the entire domain. ¡°Also, whether or not he can become a Saint is a matter of the future. Let¡¯s see if he survives today¡¯s battle first.¡± As his voice faded, the boundary suddenly rippled and one of the perfect Nascent Source experts who was trapped within the boundary found a little flaw. He shot out immediately in the form of a stream of light and pierced into the domain. After he descended, he again shot out at full-speed towards the mountain in the center of the domain. He clearly intended to directly destroy the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong, and Yi Yan immediately scrunched their brows when they saw the figure broke into the domain. This was because they recognized him. "It''s Song Huang!" The three¡¯s eyes collided because the person who came wasn¡¯t a nobody and was also ranked on the Nascent Source List. But the three were currently locked in a fierce battle, even if they had the upper hand, and couldn¡¯t retreat from their opponents. So who could go up against Song Huang? After all, Song Huang was much stronger than all three advanced Nascent Source experts who Zhou Yuan previously defeated. While thoughts crossed their minds, a Genesis Qi torrent pierced through space, fiercely speeding towards Song Huang. The fierce offensive forced Song Huang to a stop. With a wave of his sleeve, space twisted and vast Genesis Qi formed a giant tower. The tower crashed down and exploded the Genesis Qi torrent into light flecks that filled the sky. Song Huang''s figure was also revealed at that time. He was clad in white and wore an indifferent expression. Looking to his right, he said faintly, "Zhou Yuan, I suggest you to not seek death. You can¡¯t scare me with your accomplishments.¡± Zhou Yuan strode forward, staring at the white-robed man who exuded a dangerous aura in front of him. His face didn¡¯t ripple in the slightest and he didn''t have the slightest fear just because the opponent was at the perfect Nascent Source stage. Instead, his eyes were chilling and fierce. He didn''t waste time saying anything and just coldly spat out two words. ¡°Get lost,¡± his voice resounded like thunder. Chapter 1215 Song Huang While Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was still reverberating in the sky, Song Huang threw his head back and laughed wildly. After a while, a fierce look crossed his face as he stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You¡¯re so arrogant. You think you can behave arrogantly in front of me because you defeated those three small fish?¡± Boom! As he stepped forward, universe Genesis Qi pulsed frantically and a pillar of light erupted from the top of his head. There, a Nascent Source loomed. It was 8.3 inches in size! A true perfect Nascent Source! Moreover, it was obvious his Genesis Qi foundation was around the level of 78 billion from the fluctuation of his Genesis Qi. His Genesis Qi foundation was higher than Zhou Yuan¡¯s by 4 billion. However, the 4 billion shouldn¡¯t be underestimated because Zhou Yuan¡¯s foundation was that amount when he was at the pinnacle of the Heavenly Sun stage. The difference between them equalled his Genesis Qi foundation back then, which showed how much deeper the water at the Nascent Source stage was compared to the Heavenly Sun stage. "Zhou Yuan, you are indeed talented. I¡¯m surprised you have such a Genesis Qi foundation with just a 6 inch Nascent Source. Even I might lose to you in the future! ¡°But not now!¡± Song Huang stared fiercely at Zhou Yuan with a hint of jealousy and mockery in his eyes. He was envious of Zhou Yuan''s talent and foundation but mocked him for his arrogance. After all, there was still a gap in cultivation level between the two. He believed he could suppress Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan didn''t respond. His expression remained indifferent. His Nascent Source loomed above his head, a sign that all the Genesis Qi within his body was fully circulated. He clearly understood that Song Huang was much stronger than the previous three and so he had no intention of holding back his strength. His skin glowed with the Saint Glass Light, making him appear sacred. Song Huang snorted when Zhou Yuan ignored him. He knew it was useless to say anything more and they must fight head-on. As Song Huang stepped forward, universe Genesis Qi surged frantically and a huge shadow descended from the sky. A thousand-feet stone tower covered with ancient runes began to swallow the universe Genesis Qi. ¡°Spirit Suppressing Tower!¡± The Genesis Qi that Song Huang cultivated was called the Emperor Tower Qi, which was ranked grade 7, but in his hands, grade-7 Genesis Qi was far superior than in the hands of a Heavenly Sun expert. Boom! The stone tower crashed down where Zhou Yuan stood, causing boulders to tumble down the towering mountain. Roar! When the stone tower was completely destroyed, an azure-gold dragon hovered above and Zhou Yuan stood with his arms hanging by his side. The azure-gold dragon was covered with dragon scales like a real dragon and the power it exuded spread across the world like a real substance. After Zhou Yuan reached the Nascent Source stage, his control of the Heavenly Dragon Qi was much more skilled than before. ¡°Roar!¡± Song Huang only coldly snorted when he saw his offensive destroyed. Then, he folded his hands in a seal with lightning speed. Space suddenly rippled and several towers rapidly emerged one after another. Zhou Yuan counted carefully. There were 99 towers in total! The 99 stone towers suspended in the air, blotting out the sun, and brought a great oppressive pressure. ¡°Suppress!¡± With a wave of his sleeve, Song Huang brought the 99 towers crashing down towards Zhou Yuan. Bang! Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. The azure-gold dragon he was standing on unleashed a loud roar and soared into the sky, directly meeting the 99 towers with mighty force. Rumble! Bursts of booming noise echoes throughout the world as Genesis Qi shock waves spread, destroying everything within the area. The two had fully erupted their Genesis Qi for their offensive. The battle was much more berserk than all the battles Zhou Yuan had ever experienced. However, as time passed, Song Huang¡¯s complexion grew pale, because the giant dragon formed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had completely blocked his 99 stone towers. Moreover, the dragon claw contained tremendous power that could crush a stone tower in one punch. "The Genesis Qi that this guy cultivates is extraordinary!¡± It should be said that Song Huang¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was stronger than Zhou Yuan¡¯s by 4 billion. But even so, he didn¡¯t have the upper hand, which meant the grade of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was higher than his. This intensified his jealousy even more. Boom! When the last stone tower broke to pieces, the azure-gold dragon also couldn''t withstand any longer and dispersed as wisps of azure smoke. The two were evenly matched. Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong and Yi Yan were even more stunned by the scene when they cast a glance over this side. They didn¡¯t take Zhou Yuan seriously when he said he could go up against perfect Nascent Source experts, but he indeed had such an ability. Even though Song Huang was weaker than them, he was still at the perfect Nascent Source stage and possessed a Nascent Source of 8.3 inches. However, he had no advantage over Zhou Yuan, who was at a weaker cultivation level and had a weaker foundation than him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength was simply too terrifying. However, they breathed an inward sigh of relief after a moment of shock. They felt much less pressure after they learned that Zhou Yuan could withstand. They hoped they could continue to stall for time until the Ancestral Dragon Lantern finished burning. Their mission would finally be completed then. ... Zhou Yuan looked at Song Huang, whose face was overcast, and his eyes blazed with determination. After the previous exchange, he more or less had an idea of his current strength. He wouldn¡¯t be at much of a disadvantage against Song Huang, a perfect Nascent Source expert with a Nascent Source of 8.3 inches. But he speculated that if he encountered someone with a Genesis Qi foundation of more than 80 billion, he could be at a disadvantage purely based on Genesis Qi alone. Of course, this was if they completely excluded other means. Zhou Yuan shifted his gaze to the mountain summit in the distance, where the Ancestral Dragon Lantern was still burning brightly. His priority now was to buy time. In truth, it wasn¡¯t difficult to defeat Song Huang, but Zhou Yuan felt something was wrong. Song Huang immediately rushed in when he defeated the three advanced Nascent Source experts, which suggested there could be some sort of connection between them. Zhou Yuan swept a glance across the huge boundary that enveloped the domain, which should have been caused by the battle between his master and supreme sovereign Wan Zu. Many people who tried to sneak into the domain had been trapped within the boundary, and among them, Zhou Yuan could detect dangerous auras. Would someone stronger than Song Huang come if he defeated Song Huang? Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed and puzzlement filled his hearts. He decided that it was better to stall for time using Song Huang. With this thought, the mighty Genesis Qi circulating around Zhou Yuan faded. However, Song Huang sharply noticed the change and said with a smile. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan is indeed clever. It seems you have noticed something, is that right?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was expressionless. ¡°You are half right.¡± Song Huang chuckled and explained, ¡°The boundary that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan created limits the number of people entering. Therefore, someone can only enter as a replacement when one of us loses. However, supreme sovereign Wan Zu also set up a certain rule. As time passes, the person who descends will be stronger than the one before. Eventually, even Law Domain experts will descend and completely ruin the balance.¡± He stared at Zhou Yuan and said playfully, "In other words, the more you stall for time, the more you will end up in a hopeless situation. "This actually isn¡¯t a secret because you will soon notice it.¡± Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows. So it was like this. He couldn¡¯t stall anymore and instead, he needed to constantly defeat the people that descend with thunderous means. This would destroy the opponents¡¯ momentum and prevent Law Domain experts from descending. Zhou Yuan glanced up, where the Law Domain experts from both sides were in a fierce battle. They were currently in balance but that balance would be destroyed if another Law Domain joins. Zhou Yuan could stop Nascent Source experts but there likely would be little he could do against a Law Domain expert. Hu. Zhou Yuan sighed and then turned to Song Huang and said indifferently, "If that''s the case, what are you doing here being an eyesore?¡± ¡°Arrogant! You still haven''t beaten me yet!" Song Huang''s eyes turned cold. But Zhou Yuan paid no attention to him anymore. He slowly balled his hands into a fist and the rainbow gourd in his Divine Dwellings glowed. A clear and resounding sword cry suddenly rang out. It was the Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light! Chapter 1216 Lu Tai Joins Song Huang''s complexion also changed. His body tensed up and shock filled his face because he could feel an aura that made his hair stand on end within the sky of sword qi. Such an offensive would pose a great threat to him! It was at that moment when a ray of rainbow light burst out from the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s skull. As it swayed, it transformed into four rays of sword light that quietly suspended in the air. The four rainbow sword lights appeared even more stunning under the sunlight. It was just that their beauty concealed fatal danger. After Zhou Yuan reached the Nascent Source stage, the Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light that he barely could summon before had improved tremendously! Moreover, the four sword lights resembled four rainbow glass swords. Even if they were suspended quietly in the air. The void couldn¡¯t bear its piercingly sharp sword qi and constantly cracked in various places. Zhou Yuan raised his head and stared at the four rainbow sword lights. He could feel the difference between them and the ones he used when he was at the Heavenly Sun stage. The two weren¡¯t on the same level at all. ¡°A Saint Genesis art indeed only begins to display its true power after I reach the Nascent Source stage.¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes flickered over to Song Huang, whose gaze became guarded, and gently flicked his fingers. The four rays of sword lights swayed again before vanishing. But Song Huang''s complexion changed abruptly, as if facing a powerful enemy. He frantically retreated at full speed, creating sonic booms and waves of qi. However, it was at that moment that the space around him rippled and four rays of rainbow sword light flashed over, sealing the area from different directions. They all pointed at Song Huang! They completely blocked Song Huang¡¯s escape routes! His face turned ashen and then he suddenly folded his hands together. Boom! An ancient light tower appeared around him. It quickly shrank and enveloped him like a strange armor. At the same time, a Nascent Source appeared above him. It opened its mouth and spewed out a mighty torrent of Genesis Qi, forming a solid Genesis Qi defense around Song Huang within seconds. The small area around him was filled with countless defenses. Evidently, Song Huang didn¡¯t dare to act carelessly in the face of the four rainbow sword lights. The four sword lights rapidly neared. Chi! As the rainbow sword lights neared, the countless Genesis Qi defenses within that inch of space melted away in an instant like snow coming into contact with lava. They failed to obstruct the sword lights at all. Clang! A ray of rainbow sword light slashed down, striking the armor around Song Huang. Kacha! The armor rippled as cracks rapidly appeared. Song Huang''s countenance changed dramatically. His light tower armor was his strongest defense yet it cracked under the power of one sword light. Clang! Before Song Huang could think deeper about it, the other three rays of sword light approached one after another and slashed at the vital parts of his body. As sharp and clear clangs continued to ring in the air, increasingly more cracks appeared all over Song Huang¡¯s armor. Eventually, it burst to pieces as it reached its limit. Bang! Song Huang¡¯s body blasted backwards! Bang! His figure drew a white line across the air before he crashed into the mountains. Boulders tumbled down and mountain peaks collapsed one after another as a result. Song Huang was directly buried. Everyone inside and outside the domain stilled for a moment. No one could believe that it wasn¡¯t Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong, or Yi Yan who repeatedly defeated the enemies but it was Zhou Yuan, who had just reached the Nascent Source stage. Xue Qinglong pressed his mouth tightly as she stared at Zhou Yuan with a solemn gaze. Although they were surprised when Zhou Yuan previously defeated the three advanced Nascent Source experts, the sight of him defeating Song Huang made them forget everything they saw before. Song Huang wasn¡¯t ranked as high as them on the Nascent Source List but he wasn¡¯t weak. Even so, Zhou Yuan overwhelmingly defeated him. She fell silent and sighed weakly in her heart. She had never seen such an abnormal advanced Nascent Source expert. Fortunately, this was good news to them. Even a strange light flashed across Chi Jing¡¯s and Zhao Xiansun¡¯s eyes and they each wore a different expression. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu watched this scene indifferently but an icy-cold expression flashed across the depths of his eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s unpredictability was infuriating. "Can''t continue to drag on the battle. The Ancestral Dragon Lantern¡¯s burning speed is faster than I thought. Cang Yuan must have done something. It¡¯s amazing that he can accelerate the Ancestral Dragon Lantern¡¯s burning rate...¡± Although Cang Yuan had held back a trick or two, he also had made some preparations. A wisp of thought of his penetrated the void. Bang! A stream of light shot out from the collapsed boulders. Song Huang was dripping with blood and looking very tragic. The hideous sword wound on his chest continued to release sword qi that corroded his body. The three perfect Nascent Source experts in a battle with Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong, and Yi Yan also suddenly stopped and withdrew from the battle. Their expressions changed abruptly, as though they received some kind of message. Without much hesitation, they drew a deep breath and folded their hands in a seal. Boom! The four¡¯s body suddenly set into flames and their flesh began to burn. Zhao Yuefu and the others were dumbstruck as to why the opponents would suddenly burn themselves! Zhou Yuan also knitted his brows in a frown. Although he had wounded Song Huang with his sword light, it wasn¡¯t enough to destroy his body. What are those guys trying to do? The four Nascent Source experts¡¯ bodies quickly incinerated into nothing. Then, four dimmed Nascent Source soared into the sky and vanished from the domain. It was also at that moment when Zhou Yuan and the others sensed a sudden change in the boundary. Immediately afterwards, a dangerous aura gushed down. Zhou Yuan sharply lifted his head and fixed his eyes on a figure trapped in the boundary. The figure exuded an extremely dangerous aura and the boundary that froze around him was split open slightly by a mysterious external force. That wasn¡¯t the most terrifying thing. An endless stream of terrifying Genesis Qi was gathering on the figure¡¯s palm. Following along the stream of Genesis Qi to the source, one would find all the other Nascent Source experts who were trapped. He could gather the Genesis Qi of other people! ¡°Celestial Hand, Lu Tai!¡± Zhao Yuefu and the others all turned ashen. Did the other four people sacrifice their bodies to bring Lu Tao onto the battlefield?!¡± But before they could panic, the boundary around Lu Tai rippled and relaxed and his figure descended through a crack. At the same time, he turned over his palm that accumulated the Genesis Qi of several Nascent Source experts and slammed down! Boom! The sky and ground quaked as the palm formed a colourful lofty mountain. It released indescribable power and aura. Rumble! The giant colorful mountain crashed down and appeared directly above Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong, and Yi Yan. The three¡¯s countenance changed abruptly and they unhesitatingly erupted all their Genesis Qi in an attempt to endure Lu Tai¡¯s terrifying suppression, which was made up from the Genesis Qi of several Nascent Source experts. But it was no use. As the giant colorful mountain descended, the three¡¯s defenses were completely destroyed and the three were pinned beneath the mountain. Only their dust-covered heads stuck out. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank uncontrollably when he saw this scene. The three strongest Nascent Source experts from the Tianyuan Region were suppressed in seconds! That person is that terrifying!? Both the inside and outside of the domain fell silent with Lu Tao¡¯s appearance. All gazes were on the descending figure, except that the people from the Tianyuan Region looked glum while everyone on the Wanzu Region¡¯s side revealed a smile. The battle was full of twists and turns. Under several gazes, Lu Tai descended from the sky and lifted his fish-like eyes, staring intently at Zhou Yuan. His indifferent voice rang out, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you have earned enough prestige, so¡­ ¡°Move aside now. Don''t make me crush all the prestige that you have worked so hard to obtain.¡± Chapter 1217 Ninety Billion As Zhou Yuan stared solemnly at the figure with fish-like eyes, his whole body tensed up a little. Although he hadn¡¯t been at the Nascent Source stage for long, he was very familiar with the figures on Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Nascent Source List. He of course recognized the person in front of him. Lu Tai was a figure who carried significant weight in Wanzu Region¡¯s Nascent Source stage. His status was similar to Zhao Mushen and Wang Xuanyang at the Heavenly Sun stage. Zhou Yuan could feel an extremely dangerous aura exuding from Lu Tai''s body. Although Lu Tao was at the perfect Nascent Source stage, he was much stronger than Song Huang. He could be said to be at the pinnacle level in Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Nascent Source stage. It was obvious that supreme sovereign Wan Zu made considerable planning to bring such a person into the domain and even sacrificed four Nascent Source experts. Moreover, Lu Tai used a thunderous means the moment he appeared and directly suppressed Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong, and Yi Yan with one palm strike. Of course, that palm was incredibly powerful because it not only contained Lu Tai''s power, but also other Nascent Source experts. Otherwise, it would be impossible for Lu Tai to suppress three perfect Nascent Source experts, which included Zhao Yuefu, even if he was ranked third on the Nascent Source List. After all, Zhao Yuefu wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. Although his ranking on the Nascent Source List wasn¡¯t as high as Lu Tai, he was still at the top ten. "It seems you¡¯re supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s last hope,¡± said Zhou Yuan indifferently. He could feel there were no more cracks in the boundary that enveloped the domain following Lu Tai¡¯s appearance and there was unlikely going to be more opponents entering the battlefield. Lu Tai said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s already enough.¡± ¡°But your Genesis Qi foundation has been weakened a little,¡± said Zhou Yuan. He could feel the terrifying Genesis Qi circulating around Lu Tai¡¯s body wasn¡¯t as smooth as before. ¡°Although the previous palm strike was strong, it has temporarily slashed my strength by 20%." Lu Tai didn¡¯t try to hide anything. Then he stared at Zhou Yuan with his fish-like eyes. ¡°Perhaps you think this is your chance?¡± He strode forward while speaking. Boom! The sky suddenly changed color as mighty Genesis Qi rolled in like an endless ocean of Genesis Qi was surging behind Lu Tao. It brought boundless oppressive pressure to the area. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank rapidly. As the pressure gushed towards him, he could feel tingling pain in his Saint Glass Body. ¡°90 billion¡­¡± What shocked Zhou Yuan the most was that Lu Tai¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was around the level of 90 billion! Zhou Yuan quivered a little. Is this the strength of a top perfect Nascent Source expert?! He was stronger than Zhou Yuan by 20 billion! He could simply crush Zhou Yuan! Lu Tai stood tall with his hands clasped behind his back as the space around him constantly disintegrated, as though unable to bear the pressure brought by his Genesis Qi. Even if the ground was tens of thousand feet below, it still cracked constantly and produced sorrowful wails. "Zhou Yuan, you have made great accomplishments in Guyuan Heaven and the entire Hunyuan Heaven owes you a lot. So I advise you to know your strength and place,¡± said Lu Tai. Zhou Yuan had made the universe Genesis Qi in Hunyuan Heaven stronger and purer for the next thousands of years. Therefore, what Lu Tao said was correct. However, in a conflict between the two regions, Lu Tai would still stand on the Wanzu Regions¡¯s side without any hesitation. Zhou Yuan''s eyes drooped as he said, "If I didn¡¯t know my strength, would I have gone up against Jia Tu from the Sacred Race?¡± At that time, Jia Tu appeared much stronger than Zhou Yuan. Lu Tai was a little taken aback by Zhou Yuan¡¯s response. He didn¡¯t say anything but his eyes turned fierce and cold. Since we can¡¯t reach an agreement, let¡¯s express our opinions with our fists. Boom! Zhou Yuan was the first to act. With one step, he appeared in front of Lu Tai like a ghost, balled his hand into a fist and punched out. That punch not only erupted his Saint Glass Body¡¯s strength to the extreme, Genesis Qi also roared out and a faint azure-gold dragon shadow hovered above, emitting a majestic aura. Snow-white hair rushed out, covering his fist like a glove, and soon turned a deep black color. The seemingly ordinary punch combined all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s powers. Lu Tai carefully watched the scene with his fish-like eyes and marvelled slightly, ¡°It¡¯s remarkable that you could perform such a punch with Nascent Source stage strength. You are indeed amazing. When you reach the perfect Nascent Source stage, you would no doubt be at the top level in all-heavens. ¡°But unfortunately¡­this is in the future.¡± Lu Tai opened his hand and mighty Genesis Qi rapidly converged in his palm, forming an ancient tortoise shield. The tortoise shell was mottled and seemed to have survived countless years. Clang! However, the seemingly fragile tortoise shield quivered and rippled violently as Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch landed on it. A terrifying force erupted. Lu Tai¡¯s body only quivered a little whereas Zhou Yuan was blasted away. Zhou Yuan was propelled thousands of feet across the air before he forcibly steadied himself. The blood and qi within his body surged frantically, and blood even seeped through his pores. If it weren¡¯t for his tough body, his entire arm would have burst apart from the rebounding force. He peered down at the dark hair breaking apart around his fist and his expression grew increasingly solemn. His punch couldn¡¯t shake Lu Tai in the slightest, which highlighted the huge difference in strength between them. "If that¡¯s all you have, don''t waste everyone''s time." Lu Tai sighed, seemingly disappointed with Zhou Yuan, who was known to have created miracles at the Heavenly Sun stage. ¡°Move aside, let me go destroy the Ancestral Dragon Lantern and finish the task early.¡± A fierce murderous rage filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s originally calm face. "I have worked so hard for today. You think I would let you put out the Ancestral Dragon Lantern? I will kill you instead!¡± Lu Tai looked indifferent, as though listening to a joke. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t seem to care about his reaction. He landed on a lofty mountain and slowly clenched his hand. ¡°Heavenly Yuan Brush, Promotion!¡± Ancient Genesis Runes bloomed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm. At the same time, his imposing bearing soared dramatically. Lu Tai suddenly shuddered! This was because he could sense that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was rising dramatically at an unimaginable speed... 75 billion¡­78 billion¡­82 billion¡­85 billion! Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation skyrocketed by 10 billion in a short period! Feeling the Genesis Qi soaring in his body, Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows. The increase from this promotion was only 10 billion, which was around one-seventh of his Genesis Qi foundation. But when he was at the Heavenly Sun stage, the Promotion rune could increase his foundation by almost one-third. Of course, the quantity of the increase between the two shouldn¡¯t be compared. But Zhou Yuan was in no mood to think about this because there was still a gap between Lu Tai¡¯s 85 billion Genesis Qi foundation and his! Therefore, his increase wasn¡¯t enough! With an indifferent look, Zhou Yuan dropped to one knee and pressed his palm against the ground. Earth Saint Rune! Mountains quaked and huge ripples spread out from Zhou Yuan until they were out of sight. Incomparably heavy earth Genesis Qi gushed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Zhou Yuan could at most withstand a few hundred million Genesis Qi stars in the past, but now that he possessed the Saint Glass Body, he could withstand much more . He gained a full 5 billion increase from the Earth Saint Rune! His Genesis Qi foundation reached 90 billion! This level was comparable to that of top perfect Nascent Source experts! The 90 billion Genesis Qi stars rushed into the sky, attracting astonished gazes with its frightening momentum. Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong, and Yi Yan, who were pinned underneath a mountain, also stared at Zhou Yuan with their mouths wide open. They had never seen such a terrifying person at the advanced Nascent Source stage! Chapter 1218 Nine Swords The world changed color with this quake. Lu Tai¡¯s expression gradually grew solemn. He was equally stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s increase because although secret arts could raise one¡¯s foundation for a short period, the increase was limited. Moreover, he had never heard of a secret art that could raise one¡¯s foundation by almost 20 billion. He knew he had underestimated Zhou Yuan, who had created several miracles in Guyuan Heaven. "It seems I need to take back what I said earlier,¡± said Lu Tai indifferently. But his expression grew increasingly fierce and sharp. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are indeed qualified to be my opponent. Then, I will defeat you first and then put out the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. I think it wouldn¡¯t be too late!¡± With one forward step, he immediately appeared above Zhou Yuan. As he stretched out his fingers, his entire hand turned illusory-looking. Mighty universe Genesis Qi madly converged in his palm until a black hole formed in his palm and completely swallowed the surging universe Genesis Qi. Bang! As he thrust his palm down, the sky dimmed and all lights disappeared from the world. Only a god-like palm was seen slamming down. The Genesis Qi circulating around Zhou Yuan''s body rioted like a storm. He stared intently at the palm aiming towards him and, with a flick of his sleeve, sent a black-and-white lightning roaring out. It transformed into an endless sea of black-and-white lightning to collide with the palm. Yin Yang Lightning Rune! Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s present Genesis Qi foundation, a little Saint Genesis art would be several times more terrifying than the Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light he used when he was still at the Heavenly Sun stage! It was no longer one or two divine lightning, but a sea of divine lightning! Boom! The two clashed head-on. The world dimmed but terrifying shock waves continued to wreak havoc and shattered the space around. It was only after several seconds that the shock waves dissipated. Zhou Yuan and Lu Tai both trembled and drew back half a step. Lu Tai wrinkled his brows, finding it hard to believe that Zhou Yuan managed to withstand his offensive. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation had soared to the 90 billion level, he was still weaker than him. Moreover, Genesis Qi raised by external means couldn¡¯t be compared to Genesis Qi that had been cultivated for years. But his attack achieved nothing, which meant Zhou Yuan¡¯s overall strength was tyrannical. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t lose control of his soaring Genesis Qi and instead had precise control over them. It was indeed rare to see a person like him. He was very prideful, being ranked third on the Nascent Source List and well-known throughout Hunyuan Heaven. Therefore, he believed he could suppress a junior, who had just reached the Nascent Source stage! Lu Tai drew a deep breath and suddenly changed hand seal. In the end, as he folded his hands together, as if he was embracing the sun and moon. The world fell into complete darkness at this moment. Only Lu Tai''s palms radiated rays of light. Indescribably terrifying waves of energy gathered and compressed in between Lu Tai''s palms. After a while, Lu Tai''s face blanched, but a light seal was born in between his palms. The light seal was around the size of a human head and inside it were countless mountains and rivers. It was as though it contained a world! Moreover, there seemed to be the power of a world within the seal. Lu Tai shifted his gaze over to Zhou Yuan and said indifferently, ¡°This is the Desolate Mountain-river Seal, a great Saint Genesis art. I will retreat if you can block it.¡± With a flick of his finger, the light seal fluttered out. It looked slow but seemed capable of shuttling through time and space. It directly landed on Zhou Yuan. It sealed off all space as it descended, blocking all escape routes. Even space produced sorrowful wails as the little light seal descended, as if unable to bear its terrifying power. ¡°Great Saint Genesis art¡­¡± Zhou Yuan quivered with awe and apprehension. Saint Genesis arts were classified into different grades. A great Saint Genesis art was stronger than all ordinary Saint Genesis art and ranked above great Saint Genesis arts was supreme Saint Genesis art, which could move even Law Domain experts. Among all the Genesis arts that Zhou Yuan had learned, only the Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light was considered a Saint Genesis art. However, Zhou Yuan didn''t know exactly what grade it was. Moreover, there was no record of it in the Cangxuan Sect. After all, only very few people had cultivated the art in thousands of years. Hu. Zhou Yuan exhaled deeply. Then, his eyes grew sharp and a resounding sword roar echoed throughout the world. Rays of rainbow sword light slowly rose from the top of Zhou Yuan''s head. One¡­three¡­five! Five rays of rainbow sword light hovered quietly in the air like rainbow-colored glass, exuding terrifying sharpness. Zhou Yuan previously could only summon four rays of sword light, but he could summon one more after his Genesis Qi skyrocketed. "Your sword lights are powerful, but five aren¡¯t enough!" Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Is it not enough? ¡°Then¡­¡± Silvery light flashed across his eyes and silver runes crawled out from his skin. Buzz! Another resounding sword cry rang out followed by more rainbow sword lights slowly rising, shocking Lu Tai. It was another four rays of rainbow sword lights! Together with the previous five, there was a total of nine! Sword qi flooded the world and even space slowly began to disintegrate to powder. "Nine Sky Severing Sword Lights..." Zhou Yuan gazed at the nine Sky Severing Sword Light above his head. If the Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd was cultivated to its peak, there would be seven rays of sword light, but he had summoned nine! Of course, the latter four sword lights were summoned using Silver Shadow¡¯s power. Zhou Yuan felt that the rainbow Sky Severing Gourd formed from the fusion of the seven Cangxuan arts should have its own mystery and its ability to give birth to seven rays of Sky Severing Sword Light might not be its true secret. But its other true power would only be unlocked when he could summon seven rays of sword light himself. The nine rays that Zhou Yuan brought out couldn¡¯t be counted because four of the nine were birthed from Silver Shadow¡¯s power. The two had different origins and wouldn¡¯t fall into the same Sky Severing gourd, as a result wouldn¡¯t trigger a change. But even so, the might that the nine sword lights brought from appearing simultaneously was still astonishing. It was as though the sky and ground were about to split apart. Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze. The mystery of the Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd would be known when he could summon seven Sky Severing Sword Lights by himself. But for now, he must get rid of the powerful enemy before him first. He raised his head, staring at the mountain-river seal descending from the sky. Then, he flicked his fingers. Buzz! Nine rays of sword lights shot out and streaked across the sky, dragging their dazzling tails, like nine meteors. They directly collided with the light seal. The collision attracted many gazes. Even the four Saints in a battle cast their gaze over. Unexpectedly, the collision between two Nascent Source experts became an extremely important round. Chapter 1219 Endless Difficulties Rumble! Million beams of light erupted from the collision and the entire domain shook violently. Mountains collapsed, ground cracked, the area within thousands of miles could be seen beginning to split from above. All objects shattered to power under the Genesis Qi shock waves that swept across the area. All gazes were fixed on the source of the collision. The mountain-river seal only quivered a little when the first Sky Severing Sword Light struck, and soon, the sword light broke to pieces. But as the second, third and more Sky Severing Sword Light continued to strike down, the mountain-river seal began to vibrate. Kacha! A slight crack emerged on the seal. Rays of sword light were constantly annihilated. It was when the 7th sword light struck that the mountain-river seal was covered with cracks. The eighth sword light struck down. Bang! Many people¡¯s pupils shrank when they saw the mountain-river seal exploded to pieces. But the broken fragments transformed into huge mountains and rivers and crashed down like a meteor shower. Swoosh! When the ninth rainbow sword light whizzed past, all mountains and rivers vanished. The tremendous movement stopped abruptly, and as the terrifying Genesis Qi shock waves dissipated, the sky also became empty. The nine rays of rainbow sword light and the mountain-river seal faded at the same time. The world fell silent. One after another, gazes shifted to the mountain summit as well as the two stilled figures hovering in space. Zhou Yuan''s face was devoid of expression, but his eyes were still very sharp and the Genesis Qi circulating around his body had weakened. Even with his present Genesis Qi foundation, the nine Sky Severing Sword Lights still exhausted him. But fortunately, the Nascent Source in his Divine Dwellings was rapidly swallowing universe Genesis Qi and recovering at a speed superior to that at the Heavenly Sun stage. He stared at the figure above. Lu Tai''s figure was glued to the spot and his gaze was fixed on Zhou Yuan. He suddenly covered his mouth with his hand as coughed up blood. His face blanched with horror and his Genesis Qi rapidly faded. A sign he was severely wounded. The ninth sword light seemed to have faded but had actually pierced through space and inflicted him severely. ¡°What sharp and overbearing sword lights,¡± uttered Lu Tai hoarsely. But he lost and there was no use saying anything else. Lu Tai slowly hovered up, which was the boundary¡¯s power trying to expel him. He could resist the force before because of his powerful Genesis Qi foundation, but now he could only helplessly watch the boundary throw him out. As Lu Tai vanished from the boundary, shock filled everyone¡¯s eyes. "Lu Tai has been kicked out¡­" The result was unexpected to everyone. After all, Lu Tai had been on the Nascent Source List for several years. When he made a name for himself in Hunyuan heaven, Zhou Yuan was still playing in some unknown corner. But Lu Tao was pushed out the boundary. Although this was due to his imperfect condition, Zhou Yuan was still only a new Nascent Source stage expert! Zhao Yuefu, Xue Qinglong, and Yi Yan stared dumbfounded at the scene, especially Xue Qinglong. Her face flushed as she looked at Zhou Yuan because she realized how ridiculous what she previously said was. She was extremely prideful and felt that Zhou Yuan wasn''t good enough to participate in a battle between perfect Nascent Source experts. But the fact told her that she was too short-sighted. As Zhou Yuan watched Lu Tai leave, his tensed body began to relax. That should be the last danger right? He dragged his somewhat heavy body to the sea of flowers and stood as straight as a wall to shield the person inside the crystal coffin from the violent storms coming from all directions. In a chaotic current outside the domain. The four Saints each wore different expressions in response to the result of the battle. Cang Yuan and Zhuan Zhu breathed a sigh of relief. Zhou Yuan indeed didn¡¯t disappoint them. On the other hand, supreme sovereign Wan Zu and supreme sovereign Yaogui fell silent for a short period. They presumably were annoyed that Zhou Yuan ruined their plan again even if Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength was almost the same as an ant¡¯s in their eyes. There wasn¡¯t a hint of joy or anger on supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s face, but a light flashed across the depths of his eyes. ... Boom! Two Law Domains collided and indescribably berserk Genesis Qi gathered to form waves of earth-shattering offensive. An immortal falcon shadow whizzed past with a sharp screech. The immortal falcon had cloud wings and exuded an ancient and wild aura, like a strange creature born in the wilderness. Zhao Xiansun was sat expressionless on the giant falcon¡¯s head as thousand wind blades roared towards him from the Wind God Domain. The power of every blade of wind was equal to the full strength attack of Zhao Yuan or Lu Tai. The giant falcon spread its wings and endured the wind blade attack. While locked in a fierce battle, Zhao Xiansun knitted his brows and glanced over at Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. All Nascent Source stage battles had ended. It seemed no one could stop the Ancestral Dragon Lantern from burning. ¡°That kid.¡± Zhao Xiansun''s eyes flashed coldly. He extremely disliked Zhou Yuan not because of his identity but because he had repeatedly ruined the Wanzu Region¡¯s plan. The glory in Guyuan Heaven should have belonged to the Wanzu Region, but it ended up on an ignorant boy. "I didn''t want to pay attention to a lowly ant like you, but if you keep jumping around like that, you can¡¯t blame others for getting rid of you.¡± Zhao Xiansun¡¯s eyes flashed and the giant falcon sped towards Chi Jing. Meanwhile, he stepped forward and headed towards Zhou Yuan. "Zhao Xiansun, you don''t have any shame!¡± Chi Jing immediately noticed his sudden action. She sneered, and an azure bead floated up from the top of her head. Wu! Blades of wind whizzed out from within the bead like real objects and destroyed everything where it passed, as if contained destructive power. Even the giant falcon was engulfed and immediately tore apart, producing screeching noise. At the same time, Chi Jing curled two fingers and soared into the sky. Om! A stream of azure light brushed past her fingertips. The light seemed to contain indescribable power and destroyed everything as it flashed. At the same time, Zhao Xiansun''s countenance changed abruptly. A stream of azure light forcibly passed by him. Blood splattered in all directions and Zhao Xiansun''s arm broke apart. But where it snapped was as smooth as a mirror. "Chi Jing!" Zhao Xiansun shot a fierce stare in Chi Jing¡¯s direction. ¡°I am your opponent!¡± Chi Jing smiled coldly. ¡°You¡¯re at the Law Domain stage but you want to attack a Nascent Source expert?¡± Zhao Xiansun said, "You either win or lose, who cares what means is used?!¡± "I won''t let you go over there,¡± said Chi Jing indifferently. ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhao Xiansun curled his lips in a strange smile. Chi Jing''s heart trembled because she felt something was wrong. She quickly calmed herself and found that the arm she severed from Zhao Xiansun was speeding across the air. It pierced through their Law Domains towards the huge mountain where the Ancestral Dragon Lantern was. ¡°Severed arm clone?!¡± Chi Jing immediately tried to stop it. But Zhao Xiansun activated his Law Domain and launched endless destructive offensives at her to obstruct her. This was because he saw a severed arm appear in the void ahead. The arm squirmed and transformed into a figure identical to Zhao Xiansun. It was a clone of Zhao Xiansun. But even if it was just a clone, the power it possessed was far more powerful than Zhou Yuan¡¯s! Zhao Xiansun¡¯s clone peered down condescendingly at Zhou Yuan, who was standing tensely. However, he didn¡¯t say anything and curled two fingers and pointed downwards. A beam of azure light erupted from his fingertips. The light beam was no thicker than an arm but there seemed to be a falcon shadow hovering inside. Although its momentum didn¡¯t seem particularly impressive, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed dramatically when he saw the azure light shoot over. This was because the dangerous aura it brought was several times more terrifying than any of Lu Tai¡¯s full-strength attacks! As the azure light descended, there seemed to be an aura of death gushing over. Chapter 1220 Whose Life is Worthless? It was the Law Domain¡¯s Genesis Qi! Only by opening up a Law Domain and using the Law Domain to nurture one¡¯s Genesis Qi would the two merge to form a new power that would be stronger and more mysterious than simple Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan would no doubt choose to avoid such a terrifying attack in ordinary times. Although he might not be able to withstand an attack of the Law Domain stage, he could evade it easily. But he couldn¡¯t do that this time. Yaoyao was right behind him. Zhao Xiansun likely wished he would move aside so he could put out the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. Therefore, he couldn¡¯t retreat! He would rather die than retreat A red light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes and his face twisted fiercely. He stamped his feet, and the Saint Glass light around him pulsed frantically. Mighty power gathered in his palm to transform into a blazing sun. At the same time, he balled his hand into a fist and thrust out. White hair gushed out from under his skin and enveloped his hand like a glove. Then, it suddenly turned black. The Nascent Source in his Divine Dwellings erupted with million light rays and Genesis Qi rushed out like a torrent, moving between his limbs and bones. Boom! Incomparable strength collided with the azure light along with Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch. Zhou Yuan reeled back from the impact and the hair around his fist broke apart and turned to powder almost instantly. With each step, he left a deep imprint in the rocky ground. Additionally, blood gushed from his arm, and soon, his flesh cracked open and hideous wounds appeared one after another. Zhou Yuan was wounded in the collision! But the azure light hadn¡¯t shattered and only dimmed a little. Zhao Xiansun curled a corner of his lips mockingly. "A mantis trying to stop a chariot.¡± Zhou Yuan had already gone through a fierce battle and so his condition wasn¡¯t perfect. Therefore, it would be foolish to try to withstand an attack from someone at the Law Domain stage. With a flick of his finger, the azure light that had dimmed suddenly erupted in a blaze of light before shooting towards Zhou Yuan like a fish. The azure light rapidly enlarged before Zhou Yuan. He could feel the power contained within the azure light was much stronger than before. Evidently, Zhao Xiansun had a strong killing intent towards Zhou Yuan. But even so, Zhou Yuan still didn''t move aside. Instead, the fierce light in his eyes grew even stronger. ¡°Heavenly Punishment!¡± Zhou Yuan roared, stepping forward. Buzz! Hundred-feet Law Domain! The Law Domain, which used to be around one foot, had grown to one hundred feet as Zhou Yuan reached the Nascent Source stage. Although it was still pitifully small compared with a true Law Domain, the power it contained shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. ¡°Huh?¡± Zhao Xiansun''s expression changed dramatically and shock filled his eyes when the one hundred feet Law Domain appeared. ¡°Law Domain?! No, a Law Domain shouldn¡¯t be that small...but it indeed undulates like a Law Domain!¡± Zhao Xiansun''s eyes flashed rapidly. One could indeed open up a Law Domain once one¡¯s Nascent Source was cultivated to its peak, but that would only be considered a pseudo Law Domain and not a true Law Domain, though it still possessed the power of a real Law Domain. But Zhou Yuan was only at the advanced Nascent Source stage and there should be a long distance till he reached that level. ¡°Could it be a Saint object¡­did supreme sovereign Cang Yuan give him it? He¡¯s so generous to Zhou Yuan.¡± As thoughts crossed Zhao Xiansun''s mind, the Law Domain expanded and Zhou Yuan punched out again. This time, Genesis Qi roared out like a dragon, and as it passed through the hundred-feet Law Domain, it seemed to be strengthened by some kind of power and underwent a certain change. The Genesis Qi became much more condensed, and upon a closer look, there seemed to be countless crystal scales. Zhou Yuan was also surprised by the sudden change, but he soon understood that the Genesis Qi refined by the Law Domain somewhat resembled true Law Domain Genesis Qi. Of course, in terms of grade, there was still a gap compared to Zhao Xiansun''s Law Domain Genesis Qi. After all, Zhao Xiansun¡¯s Law Domain stretched across thousands of miles, while his was only a mere one hundred feet. It was only normal for there to be a difference. Boom! The crystal-like Genesis Qi dragon collided with the azure light once again, and this time, it managed to obstruct it, causing terrifying shock wave rage across the air. In the end, both were annihilated at the same time. Hu. Zhou Yuan breathed in frantically and his face became a little pale. The previous blow consumed more of his strength than the nine Sky Severing Sword Lights. He only managed to block Zhao Xiansun¡¯s attack by counterattacking with all his strength. ¡°Amazing.¡± Zhao Xiansun¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and he clapped his hands admiringly. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m impressed you could block an attack of my clone even if you¡¯re only at the Nascent Source stage. I¡¯m really surprised.¡± His applause faded and he slowly lifted his hand, palm facing upwards. The corners of his lips curved in a ruminative smile because there were nine beams of azure light slowly rising from his palm. The power contained in each one wasn¡¯t any weaker than the previous one. His clone wasn¡¯t an ordinary clone because it was transformed from his arm. In other words, if the clone was destroyed, he could lose his arm forever. It was unknown what amount of time and energy were required to repair it. Zhou Yuan felt powerless when he saw the nine azure lights rising. He already had to exhaust all his strength to withstand one, how could he stop nine at the same time? Zhao Xiansun didn¡¯t give Zhou Yuan any chance to rest. With a flick of his fingers, the nine light beams entwined with one another. Dragging its long tail, it pierced through space and shot directly towards Zhou Yuan.. Destruction descended. ¡°Get lost now and I will spare your worthless life.¡± Zhao Xiansun''s indifferent voice resounded. Zhou Yuan stared ferociously at Zhao Xiansun. He frantically circulated all his Genesis Qi and stood tall like an iron tower to protect the crystal coffin behind him. "If you want to destroy the Ancestral Dragon Lantern, you have to step over on my corpse first! ¡°You can''t kill me, I will come kill you when I reach the Law Domain stage!¡± Zhou Yuan laughed sinisterly. He wanted to anger Zhao Xiansun and make him vent his anger on him instead. That way he could buy time for Yaoyao to awaken. Zhao Xiansun''s expression remained indifferent as he launched the nine light beams that were filled with destructive power at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan let out a fierce roar and erupted with all his power. He directly charged towards the nine light beams as if decided to fight to his death. Zhou Yuan would no doubt die in that collision, but he wasn¡¯t in the least afraid. Everything seemed to frost for a moment before the collision. But just as Zhou Yuan thought he would no doubt die while he waited for the earth-shattering destructive power to engulf him, he saw a fair hand, shrouded in sacred and pure light, stretching out from behind his shoulder. The slender hand gently clenched and the nine light beams were in her grip and crushed with one hand! Zhao Xiansun¡¯s expression changed fiercely! At the same time, a cold and faint voice came from behind. ¡°Whose life did you say is worthless!?¡± Zhou Yuan felt struck by lightning when that voice fell in his ears. This was because that voice was very familiar, so familiar that it felt engraved in his bones and heart. He turned his head stiffly and saw a familiar figure had unknowingly appeared above the crystal coffin. She stood bare-footed in the air and her long silk-like hair cascaded down to her waist. Even if Zhou Yuan had a tough mind, tears welled in his eyes. Yaoyao, you¡¯re finally awaken. Chapter 1221 Yaoyao Awakens Additionally, she radiated an indescribably mysterious aura from her body and her ethereal aura made her resemble a celestial being even more. Even the stunning sea of flowers below lost its color. The celestial-like being was Yaoyao who was sleeping silently in the crystal coffin. However, Zhao Xiansun¡¯s expression was the first to change when he saw such a beautiful person. Quickly, incomparable fear filled his eyes. He evidently was familiar with Yaoyao''s identity and origin. Most importantly, he felt a chilling intent from Yaoyao''s indifferent voice. ¡°Supreme sovereign¡­¡± countless thoughts streamed through Zhao XIansun¡¯s mind and he finally spoke. However, before he finished his sentence, Yaoyao stretched out her slender hand and gently slammed down. As that beautiful hand moved, Zhao Xiansun''s countenance changed dramatically, because he felt the hand shrouded the entire world and was slamming down with indescribable power. Under that palm, he found he was no longer able to control the Genesis Qi within his body. He was horrified to find that he, a high and mighty Law Domain expert, seemed to have become crippled. Pu! As the slender jade descended, the clone of Zhao Xiansun, who pushed Zhou Yuan to a tragic state, instantly turned into ashes that filled the sky. Puchi! And when Zhao Xiansun¡¯s clone was crushed into ashes, his true body that was locked in a fierce battle with Chi Jing was also affected. He spurted a jet of blood and his entire right arm completely vanished. A rush of painful sensation shot through him and his face twisted fiercely. Then, he let out a low growl from his throat. He knew he was going to lose. The arm clone was destroyed and he basically lost an arm. This would undoubtedly lead to flaws in his cultivation and he even more unlikely would reach the Saint stage, which he already had slim hopes of achieving! How would he not be enraged that his future was ruined!? But no matter how furious he was, he could only look at the girl in azure dress with a darkened face because he knew about the girl¡¯s identity. Even supreme sovereign Wan Zu couldn¡¯t do anything to her, let alone him. While his heart was filled with fury, he saw the girl¡¯s clear eyes pierced through space and locked on his real body. Zhao Xiansun''s heart trembled with terror. She isn¡¯t satisfied with killing my clone? She even wants to destroy my real body! It was as though they had enmity between them! This perhaps was because he called Zhou Yuan¡¯s life worthless earlier. "She has such an identity but she would do that for a mere Zhou Yuan?!" Zhao Xiansun was abnormally furious. Although Zhou Yuan is talented, he is only at the Nascent Source stage. He is not qualified to intervene in matters that concern the top-level of all-heavens. But the girl with the terrifying origin wants to protect such an ant-like being! Zhao Xiansun ceased his rambling thoughts and retreated frantically. He dared not to fight Chi Jing anymore. But just as he retreated, the surrounding space suddenly dimmed and an indescribably majestic power sealed that side of the world. When Zhao Xiansun raised his head, his soul almost left his body because he saw a tremendous hand pierce through space and slam down at him. The huge hand was covered with millions of light runes, each of which radiated a majestic power as if formed since the beginning of the world. With a horrified face, Zhao Xiansun rapidly opened his Law Domain without any hesitation. A giant falcon shadow swiftly formed in the Law Domain and dived down towards the huge hand. Boom! However, as the huge hand descended, the giant falcon that even Chi Jing couldn¡¯t destroy with full-strength attacks, exploded instantly, along with his Law Domain. Puchi! Zhao Xiansun''s hair was disheveled and blood spurted wildly out his body. He looked very tragic. But his eyes were filled with fear. The power was too strong, to the extent that he couldn¡¯t withstand! ¡°Supreme sovereigns, save me!¡± He could only let out a sharp scream for help. Just as the huge hand was about to envelop Zhao Xiansun, a light sigh resounded and a huge lotus flower grew below Zhao Xiansun¡¯s body. Then, countless Saint runes emerged on the several lotus petals. Bang! The lotus collided with the divine hand, causing countless voids to collapse and several mini domains destroyed. In the end, the two terrifyingly powerful forces dissipated. The huge hand and the light lotus disappeared without a trace, and only Zhao Xiansun stood there with disheveled hair and horror-filled eyes. It seemed he survived but was still in a panicked state and hadn¡¯t yet recovered. But no one paid attention to him anymore. In the chaos current outside the void, Cang Yuan, Wan Zu, Zhuan Zhu, and supreme sovereign Yao Gui halted their battles and stared at the girl on the mountain summit with complicated expressions. At the same time, gazes from all-heavens were cast over there. The world fell silent and no one spoke. "Thank you for your mercy,¡± said supreme sovereign Wan Zu with a solemn expression. ¡°I showed mercy not because you want to protect him but because someone will deal with him in the future." Yaoyao¡¯s indifferent voice resounded from the mountain summit. The voice caused the world to ripple. Supreme sovereign was silent for a moment before he glanced at Zhou Yuan. How could he not tell Yaoyao was talking about Zhou Yuan. However, he didn''t comment on this. Zhao Xiansun was a top figure at the Law Domain stage, and although Zhou Yuan was talented, it would take him a long time to reach the level where he could compete with Zhao Xiansun. What he was more concerned with was that his plan had completely failed with Yaoyao''s awakening. This was because Yaoyao had regained her consciousness and they could anger her if they were to continue with their plan. At that time, if something happened that would lead to their only hope to shatter, it would be too late to regret it then. So, even if supreme sovereign Wan Zu stubbornly persisted to continue with their plan, not many other supreme sovereigns would support him. Therefore, he could only end everything regretfully. But Yaoyao fixed her cold eyes on him and said, "You don''t want me to wake up?¡± Although she was in deep sleep, she was still able to perceive the many things happening in the world. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu didn¡¯t respond. In Yaoyao''s body was a constantly changing ray of light and a terrifying power surged across the world. ¡°Yaoyao!¡± Cang Yuan''s voice timely resounded. Looking at Yaoyao, he said, "The matter is over, no need to get angry.¡± Yaoyao turned to Cang Yuan and pondered for a while. Finally, she gently nodded and the terrifying power gradually faded. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu didn¡¯t thank Cang Yuan and instead said coldly, "Cang Yuan, I hope your path will succeed. Otherwise you will become the sinner of all-heavens.¡± "I don''t know if my path will be successful, but I know your path won¡¯t work.¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu snorted coldly without retorting. With a wave of his sleeve, he brought up Zhao Xiansun and the people from the Wanzu Region and left. Supreme sovereign Yaogui also disappeared. Everyone also retracted their gazes, but they understood that the shock caused by this event would lead to great disturbances. At the very least, it would no longer be peaceful in the Omega Shrine. Cang Yuan, Zhuan Zhu and the others didn¡¯t immediately descend into the domain because they wanted to give Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao some time first. Zhou Yuan also felt the mighty power and aura fade. He gazed at the girl in astonishment. He couldn¡¯t help marvelling at the frightening power emanating from her body, even if there were just tiny wisps left. Moreover, when that mighty power was surging before, Yaoyao felt unfamiliar to him. It was at that moment when Yaoyao who was hovering above the crystal coffin descended. She lightly stepped on the ground, but when her feet touched the ground, it seemed as though all dust and dirt moved away from her to avoid staining her. She silently gazed at Zhou Yuan with her clear eyes. Zhou Yuan also gazed back at her. The atmosphere was stiff for a moment. But his heart was trembling because he was afraid of something. But this stiff atmosphere only lasted for a few breaths. Yaoyao pursed her lips and said, "Idiot, what are you looking at?¡± The familiar arc of her lips and her voice immediately dragged Zhou Yuan back to reality. As he stared at the face that was imprinted in his mind, countless memories poured to his mind and made Zhou Yuan¡¯s emotions surge violently in his heart again. His eyes reddened and he grinned, "Looking at my wife!¡± Then, he courageously stepped forward or rather with a manner that seemed he was risking his life and wrapped his arms tightly around the girl who was stunned for a moment. Chapter 1222 The Past and Wine She reflexively circulated her Genesis Qi to blast the audacious guy back, but she suppressed her Genesis Qi in the end. This was because she could feel Zhou Yuan''s body was trembling. It was that of deep longing, joy as well as deeply hidden fear. Fear? Yaoyao knew Zhou Yuan very well. Although Zhou Yuan looked gentle, he was very tenacious and would never shrink back from any difficulties, let alone feel afraid. Was he afraid of losing her? Yaoyao¡¯s long eyelashes fluttered as she blinked. Although she had been in deep sleep all these years, she knew about Zhou Yuan''s continuous efforts to save her. It must have been very difficult for him to fight alone all these years. Thinking of this, Yaoyao felt an aching feeling in her heart. So, she let Zhou Yuan hug her. She hesitated for a moment and eventually stretched out her little hand and patted him on the back. Zhuan Zhu couldn¡¯t help smacking his lips as he watched them. "Little junior brother is amazing. He even won her heart? ¡°Keke, the Third God as a wife. Even the thought of it is exciting enough¡± He wore a look of envy and admiration. But as soon as he finished his sentence, a long leg stretched over from a nearby void, which Zhuan Zhu quickly avoided. "What do you envy?" Chi Jing stepped out of the void and looked maliciously at Zhuan Zhu. Zhuan Zhu saw the dangerous aura in Chi Jing''s eyes and couldn''t help hiding behind Cang Yuan. Chi Jing shot an annoyed glance at Zhuan Zhu and then said to Cang Yuan, "Master, she seems to still have a strong humanity.¡± Cang Yuan nodded lightly and his expression grew complex. "But she is gradually restoring her powers, which means that the divinity is beginning to emerge. In the future¡­" He didn''t finish and just gave a melancholy sigh. How sweet those two youngsters were right now could be how painful they would be in the future . Zhuan Zhu said, ¡°Let''s talk about the future matters later. At least they are happy now.¡± Cang Yuan and Chi Jing both nodded. The two hugged for a long while on the mountain summit. Zhou Yuan''s emotions were gradually calmed down by the girl¡¯s faint aroma, and feeling the warmth and softness in his arms, he couldn¡¯t help moving his hand that was on Yaoyao¡¯s waist. But before he had too many thoughts, a small fist slammed his chest. Zhou Yuan''s face instantly twisted and his complexion turned pale. He gasped for air and tremblingly took two steps back. The cute little fist almost smashed his Saint Glass Body. ¡°I don¡¯t dare to,¡± Zhou Yuan uttered in an embarrassed voice. Fear from what happened earlier still remained in him. Yaoyao almost killed Zhao Xiansun with a palm strike, how would Zhou Yuan, who was still at the Nascent Source stage, make such a mistake!? He only acted impulsively because the emotions he had suppressed for too long all erupted at once! Yaoyao snorted coldly, but if looked closely, her flawless face blushed a little, which made her mysterious and ethereal aura much vivid. Yaoyao took a few steps forward, gazing at the sea of clouds ahead, and said curiously, "Tell me about your experiences over the years. Let¡¯s hear how miserable it has been without me looking after you.¡± She sat down on the edge of the cliff, swinging her legs back and forth. Zhou Yuan sat down next to her and couldn''t help smiling. He knew Yaoyao very well. She was extremely cold and detached, as though she wasn¡¯t too concerned about anything in the world. He didn''t quite understand the source of her emotions before, but after learning Yaoyao''s identity, he began to understand. As the Third God, she was one of the most noble existences in the world, so it understandable that mortals couldn¡¯t arouse her concern. The fact that she asked to listen to Zhou Yuan¡¯s experience and expressed interests in his story already showed that she had different feelings for him. Zhou Yuan could feel that he was in Yaoyao¡¯s heart. Yaoyao swept a glance at Zhou Yuan and then fumbled in her pockets, but she then turned a little annoyed. Zhou Yuan knew what she had in mind and immediately took out an azure gourd from his spatial bag. He shook it lightly, saying, "This is the best wine I brought from the Tianyuan Region.¡± Yaoyao''s eyes lit up. She took the gourd, opened the lid, and took a light whiff. ¡°Not bad, it seems your eyes have become better after being beat up for many years.¡± Zhou Yuan could only mumble angrily in response to her ridicule, ¡°You¡¯re a wine god.¡± Then, he took a deep breath and began to recount his experiences over the years. He first came to Hunyuan Heaven, then joined the Tianyuan Region and participated in the nine regions tournament to win the Ancestral Dragon Lantern¡­After that he traveled to Guyuan Heaven to obtain the Ancestral Dragon Flesh. He told Yaoyao everything one by one. The setting sun cast a beautiful glow on Yaoyao as she drank the wine from the gourd. Her clear and ethereal-looking eyes seemed to be glistening, reflecting the multicolored sunlight, and a wisp of soft light seemed to be condensing in the depths of her eyes. She clearly knew how hard the idiot beside her had worked to awaken her. He tread on the edge of the knife again and again and he repeatedly encountered powerful enemies but he still persisted. While she was in deep sleep, she could perceive Zhou Yuan was protecting her even at the risk of his life. She knew Zhou Yuan refused to retreat even in the face of Zhao Xiansun and other powerful enemies. Many emotions dripped into her heart like drops of water, making the calm surface of her lake-like heart ripple constantly. The ripples eventually spread to the depths of her heart and brought a long aftertaste. Zhou Yuan, who was slowly telling his stories, suddenly felt a slight cold feeling in his palm. He tilted his head slightly and saw a little hand gently squeezed into his grip and five slender fingers tightly held his hand. Zhou Yuan looked surprised at Yaoyao, who immediately turned her head away from him. He didn¡¯t know whether it was an illusion, but he saw Yaoyao''s eyes were red. But when Yaoyao turned her head away, he saw her perfect side profile. ¡°You¡¯ve done quite well,¡± she chuckled. Zhou Yuan scratched his head. But before he said anything, Yaoyao gently leaned her cheeks on his shoulders and gazed at the sunset glow in the distant sky. When she slowly closed her eyes, Zhou Yuan seemed to hear a whisper, ¡°No one can bully you in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan didn''t hear her clearly. He just hesitatingly stretched out his arm and wrapped around Yaoyao¡¯s shoulders. The two cuddled together under the sunset glow, their backs connected as if they were one. Zhou Yuan hoped that time would freeze at that moment. That scene would stay in his heart foreve Chapter 1223 Tuntun’s Message After an unknown period of time, both gradually withdrew from their emotions. Yaoyao stretched her back, showing her slim and slender curves, and a rare sweet smile spread over her cold face. ¡°I wonder how Tuntun is now.¡± Zhou Yuan remembered the scales that Jin Ling¡¯er brought to him. He clenched his hand and shining scales appeared in his grip. ¡°He asked someone to bring this over. It should be a message to me, but I was busy with your matters and didn¡¯t have time to deal with his matter,¡± said Zhou Yuan with a smile. Yaoyao was both amused and annoyed. She shook her head and took the scales. As she wiped them with her fingertips, rays of lights burst out from them to form a light screen. A giant majestic beast emerged in the light screen. The entire beast¡¯s body was covered with purple-gold scales, which displayed its mysteriousness and nobleness. Even if the beast was just an image, it still exuded an ancient and supreme might from its body. Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment when he saw the light screen because such a mighty-looking beast sent a chill down his spine. But when he saw the giant beast¡¯s pair of pupils and the familiar light contained within them, he recognized that it was Tuntun. Tuntun had grown a lot compared to the past and he no longer acted cute all the time. Perhaps this was because he left Yaoyao and there was nothing in the world worthy of him acting cute. Tuntun raised his claw, knocked on the light screen and let out two imposing roars. He then slashed the stone slabs in front of him with his claws, causing stone fragments to whirl in the air. He then lazily lifted the stone slab. The corner of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips twitched because he saw a line of crooked words written on the stone slab. ¡°Pervert Zhou Yuan, come to Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Golden Monkey Clan to find me. Your young master, I, has an urgent need for a bodyguard!¡± Zhou Yuan''s face darkened and he said through gritted teeth. ¡°That bastard wants a beating!¡± His words were full of anger. What do you mean by pervert? And you dare call yourself young master? You want me to be a bodyguard? You want to come find you? Who do you think I am?¡± I haven¡¯t seen that bastard in years but he got even more annoying! Yaoyao smiled at the amusing scene as she waved her hand to disperse the light screen. She stored away the scales and said to Zhou Yuan, "It seems that Tuntun has encountered trouble. Zhou Yuan said snappily, ¡°We should ignore him.¡± Of course, he only said that out of anger. Although Tuntun was annoying, he had a love-hate relationship with Tuntun. While the two were chatting, the space behind them rippled and Cang Yuan and the others stepped out through space. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Grandpa Hei.¡± Cang Yuan nodded with a smile. Zhou Yuan pointed to Zhuan Zhu and Chi Jing and introduced them to Yaoyao. Yaoyao nodded at them. Although she wore a slight smile, she couldn¡¯t conceal her coldness and aloofness. But it was normal. In the whole world, she only cared about Zhou Yuan, Cang Yuan and Tuntun and it was difficult for her to pay attention to other people. If Zhuan Zhu and Chi Jing hadn¡¯t taken good care of Zhou Yuan, she perhaps wouldn¡¯t even smile at them. But Zhuan Zhu and Chi Jing didn¡¯t seem surprised about her attitude, nor did they feel offended. After all, they already knew about Yaoyao''s identity. "Yaoyao, I¡¯m relieved that you have finally awakened,¡± exclaimed Cang Yuan. He has been hiding for years ever since he stole Yaoyao, who was in the divine stone. During that period, he not only had to be on guard against Saints from all-heavens but also had to deal with the Sacred Race. The danger and what he sacrificed during that period was simply indescribable. Fortunately, his many years of hardship finally draws to an end. Yaoyao had regained her consciousness and the Saints from all-heavens likely wouldn¡¯t target her anymore. Even supreme sovereign Wan Zu had to restrain himself, which means Yaoyao was temporarily safe in all-heavens. Yaoyao said softly, "It''s been difficult for Grandpa Hei all these years.¡± She of course knew that Cang Yuan had been in hiding all these years and exhausted himself to protect her. "I watched you grow up and I have no children, so in my eyes, you are like my daughter. I will protect you no matter what." Although Yaoyao had an important identity, Cang Yuan¡¯s feelings towards her weren¡¯t purely due to her identity. ¡°Also, you also know that it¡¯s not only been hard on me.¡± Cang Yuan cast a smiling glance at Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao nodded gently. Cang Yuan asked Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, ¡°What are your plans next? I might return to the Omega Shrine to clarify some matters.¡± Although many Saints supported him when he took away Yaoyao, he didn¡¯t abide by the rules and so he wanted to resolve some matters. Moreover, he wanted to find out the Omega Shrine¡¯s attitude towards Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan only came to Hunyuan Heaven to help awaken Yaoyao; therefore, he had achieved his goal of coming. Zhou Yuan turned to look at Yaoyao for direction, not too concerned. Yaoyao pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I plan to ask Zhou Yuan to take me around Hunyuan Heaven and then we will go to Wanshou Heaven to bring Tuntun back.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we head to Wanshou Heaven now?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Tuntun must need help if he sent a message to him. ¡°There¡¯s no hurry.¡± Yaoyao shook her head. ¡°Just let that guy suffer a little first.¡± She blinked at Zhou Yuan with a mischievous smile, which made Zhou Yuan a little surprise. Yaoyao was helping him get revenge because Tuntun was too arrogant and even dared to tell him to be his bodyguard! Zhou Yuan couldn''t help straighten his chest and stood up tall. It seemed that his status was a little higher than Tuntun! But his expression immediately turned strange. I have to compete with a pet? Zhou Yuan was filled with joy and sorrow at the same time. Cang Yuan nodded and solemnly reminded, "Yaoyao, although your seal is broken, you should still try to use as little power as possible¡­Given your identity, the Saints of all-heavens should give you face.¡± While speaking, he glanced at Zhou Yuan and his expression made Zhou Yuan aware of something. It was of course the divinity that existed in Yaoyao''s body. Zhou Yuan''s heart sank, but there was nothing he could do except continue to improve his strength. A faint light flashed in Yaoyao''s eyes, but she didn''t say much and just nodded. ¡°I will.¡± Cang Yuan didn¡¯t say anything more on this. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were no longer young and inexperienced. Given their strength, they could explore all-heavens themselves. "Then we will part ways here. If you encounter danger, you can crush the bamboo slip I gave you. I will know right away." Cang Yuan reminded Zhou Yuan. After seeing Zhou Yuan nod, Cang Yuan flicked his sleeve and mighty power rolled in and engulfed the rest of the people. They all vanished in a flash. Zhou Yuan looked at Yaoyao with a smile, ¡°Are we going to spend some romantic time just the two of us first?¡± Yaoyao darted a glance at Zhou Yuan, whose eyes were filled with joy, and the corners of her lips curved upwards a little. "Do you really think I simply want you to take me around Hunyuan Heaven?¡± Zhou Yuan felt something wrong and said, ¡°Is that not it?" Yaoyao said indifferently, "Although it¡¯s not bad that you managed to reach the Nascent Source stage in just a few years, your knowledge in the Ancestral Dragon Scripture I gave you is only half a bucket full. Therefore, I will give you some special training so you have a deeper understanding of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face scrunched up bitterly and he wailed in his heart. He thought they were going to spend some sweet time with just the two of them, But it seemed that he was wrong and it was going to be a special hell-like training! It turned out they both had different ideas! Chapter 1224 Live off Women They saw many wonderful sights and tasted many fine wines along the way. The trip reminded Zhou Yuan of when he left the Great Zhou Empire for the first time and rushed to the Saint Remains Domain with Yaoyao and Tuntun. That trip was full of memories. The special hell-like training he imagined didn¡¯t happen. Although Zhou Yuan was relieved, he was disappointed at the same time. Perhaps Yaoyao was too shy and didn¡¯t want to admit she wanted to travel around Hunyuan Heaven with Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan felt a little proud and delighted when he thought about this. But, sadly, his little proudness was completely destroyed after half a month. ... In a remote mountain in the middle of nowhere. In the mountains were many Genesis beasts exuding fierce auras. But at that moment they all shrunk back and dared not make the slightest noise. This was because of a beautiful figure in the mountains. Yaoyao gazed at the mirror-like lake in the depths of the mountains. She suddenly smiled and said softly, ¡°This place is nice.¡± Zhou Yuan cast a puzzled glance at her. But Yaoyao didn''t care and just extended her fingers and flicked gently. Boom! The lake began to vibrate and soon Zhou Yuan saw lava gushing out from the depths of the lake, shocking him. In less than a moment, the mirror-like lake had become a lava lake. It emitted intense heat that caused the air to twist and distort Lava constantly piled up on top of each other, during which many unusual materials were spurted from the underground and merged with the lava. A huge lava cauldron gradually took shape. Its inside was like a lava ocean. Yaoyao constantly flicked her slender fingers, and as space rippled, several ancient Genesis Runes formed in the air and were engraved on the cauldron. Suddenly, the lava ocean undulated wildly. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t feel good when he saw this because the lava inside the cauldron felt dangerous to him even if he possessed the Saint Glass Body. ¡°What are we doing?¡± Zhou Yuan asked cautiously. A hint of teasing flashed across Yaoyao''s bright and beautiful eyes, "Do you think the special training I talked about is just a joke? ¡°Also, have you retrieved your Sacred Dragon Blessing entirely back yet?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡±We saw Wu Yao in the Great Wu capital. I also fought her in Hunyuan Heaven and got back the one she snatched from us that King Wu took. However, I still haven¡¯t got back the one on her.¡± Although she spoke casually, Zhou Yuan sensed a hint of danger. He immediately corrected her. "Nonsense, I have never seen a woman more beautiful than you. "I haven''t retrieved her one because the supreme sovereign from the Wushen Region stopped me. Later on, I had a chance but I chose not to take it.¡± Zhou Yuan scratched his head. He indeed could have taken the Sacred Dragon Blessing back from Wu Yao in Guyuan Heaven, but he didn¡¯t do so because he felt Wu Yao would likely die. At that time, they had just joined forces and it would be inappropriate to suddenly attack her. Moreover, he didn¡¯t hate Wu Yao as much as he hated King Wu and Wu Huang. He must retrieve the Sacred Dragon Blessing but he planned to do it later because he could feel that Wu Yao was gradually moving away from her dependence on the Sacred Dragon Blessing. She chose to walk her own path. Therefore, it was only a matter of time. This could be considered as repaying supreme sovereign Wu Shen. Yaoyao looked calmly at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan suddenly said with a smile, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± He only said that to make fun of Yaoyao, but she actually nodded seriously. ¡°A little.¡± Zhou Yuan opened his mouth in disbelief but he was inwardly delighted and couldn¡¯t help smiling. Yaoyao continued to fiddle with the lava cauldron and said in a seemingly indifferent voice. ¡°If I¡¯m in a bad mood the structure of the cauldron could go wrong and it could burn someone.¡± Zhou Yuan shuddered, saying bitterly, "What should we do?¡± While setting up the lava cauldron, Yaoyao tilted her head. "Say something to make me feel better.¡± Zhou Yuan blinked and smiled inwardly. He took a step forward and gazed into Yaoyao¡¯s clear and distant eyes, "Your eyes are beautiful. There are mountains, rivers, lakes, sun, moon and stars hidden inside¡­But my eyes are better because you¡¯re reflected inside.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was hoarse but full of affection. Zhou Yuan felt he charmed even himself. But he found Yaoyao was still staring indifferently at him as though saying, ¡®What else?¡¯ Zhou Yuan¡¯s complacency turned to apprehension. He wailed in his heart, So hard to please! He could only let out a sigh and said sorrowfully, ¡°why don¡¯t you beat me up.¡± A hint of a smiling expression spread over Yaoyao¡¯s face as she said, ¡°This methods a bit better, what was that just now.¡± As though accepting death, Zhou Yuan closed his eyes. ¡°Then hit me!¡± while muttering in his heart, It seems that the wife won¡¯t listen to the husband, but it doesn¡¯t matter. I should bear it for now and wait till the day I change my fortune and become the master! As incessant thoughts streamed through Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, he smelled an aroma in front of his face. Then, he felt a cold sensation on his lips as though he touched a jade stone. His eyes snapped open and he gazed in surprise and delight at the girl in front of him. But Yaoyao didn''t glance at him and just stared intently at the lava cauldron while constantly striking ancient Genesis Runes into it. Zhou Yuan touched his lips and blinked repeatedly. "Did you kiss me just now?¡± Yaoyao continued to ignore him. Zhou Yuan looked upset. Why did I close my eyes? However, his heart was filled with joy. Yaoyao is clearly very satisfied with my affectionate words but she acted like she didn¡¯t care. She¡¯s¡­so cute. The lava cauldron suddenly erupted with vibrating noises. Waves of berserk energy spread frantically and stirred the Genesis Qi across the world. Yaoyao exhaled deeply. "You have reached the Nascent Source stage, but the Genesis arts you have cultivated aren¡¯t considered high level. The only one that is considered a Saint Genesis art is the Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd, which is a fusion of the seven Cangxuan arts. You lack high-level Genesis arts.¡± Zhou Yuan didn''t know what to say. In truth, the Genesis arts he cultivated weren¡¯t bad and Yaoyao just had high standards and even ordinary Saint Genesis arts were ordinary to her. ¡°Of course Saint Genesis arts are good to have, but I haven''t had the opportunity to cultivate them. There were some in the Tianyuan Region, but I didn¡¯t have time to cultivate them because of the Guyuan Heaven¡¯s matter.¡± Yaoyao smiled slightly. "The Tianyuan Region¡¯s Saint Genesis arts may be good, but you already have the greatest treasure, so you don''t need to search that far.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback Yaoyao shifted her gaze to Zhou Yuan, saying, "The Ancestral Dragon Scripture I gave you is the first art of the world. You have cultivated grade-8 Heavenly Dragon Qi, but you haven¡¯t discovered the complementary Genesis arts it contains.¡± "The Ancestral Dragon Scripture?" Zhou Yuan exclaimed. He had developed some of the Genesis arts from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, and although they weren¡¯t bad, they couldn¡¯t quite become his trump cards. "What you cultivated before can''t be considered as complementary Genesis arts of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, but only some derivative arts.¡± Yaoyao tilted her head slightly with a smile. ¡°Most people won¡¯t find them in the Ancestral Dragon Scripture because I need to unlock it first.¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes widened. He eventually stroked his face with difficulty to comfort himself and exhaled. It''s okay, I like to live off women! Chapter 1225 Lava Cauldron Zhou Yuan gazed at the lava cauldron which seemed to contain a vast sea of lava. Lava heaved within it, creating giant waves as extremely terrifying undulations pulsed. He could not help but swallow repeatedly. With the toughness of his body, he would not receive any damage even if he were to swim in lava. However, this lava cauldron was clearly not so simple. Yaoyao had inscribed numerous ancient, cryptic Genesis Runes on it which surely served to amplify the lava¡¯s power. Although his life should not be threatened, there was definitely going to be a lot of suffering if he entered. Yaoyao said, ¡°This Earth Core Thousand Flame Cauldron can refine and purify your Heavenly Dragon Qi. It will also deepen your connection with the Heavenly Dragon Qi, and when that happens, it will be your best chance to dig out the Genesis arts within. ¡°Tuntun¡¯s current capabilities should be pretty good. If even it is forced to seek you out for help, the problems waiting for you should not be trivial. Hence, you need to improve your combat capabilities. ¡°With me around, Saint stage existences will maintain our unspoken agreement of not interfering. However, it will not be appropriate for me to interfere either below that level.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The big bosses should stick to their roles and intimidate each other, while the fights should be left to the underlings. Yaoyao reminded, ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Scripture is filled with endless profound wonders, which naturally includes Genesis arts. However, these arts are also categorized into different ranks. How strong or weak the Genesis art you manage to dig out will still depend on you. ¡°These Genesis arts from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture have another advantage: they will have a high affinity with you. You will be able to understand them in the fastest possible time, and there will be no need to continuously try to comprehend and polish them like other Saint Genesis arts.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook a little. Saint Genesis arts had insane power, but were also famously difficult to master. From what Yaoyao had said, the Saint Genesis arts he dug out from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture would be much easier to learn for him. ¡°I¡¯ll be going in then.¡± Zhou Yuan composed himself as he cast his gaze at the lava cauldron. He moved, turning into blur as he shot directly into it. He entered the cauldron and found another separate domain inside. A sea of endless lava roared ferociously, thousands of waves rising and falling. If she wanted to, it would not be a problem to exchange blows with a Saint expert. ¡°It seems that I¡¯ll have to work hard.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. He had originally believed he could at least relax a little after stepping into the Nascent Source stage. However, Yaoyao¡¯s current strength made him feel a growing pressure. Moreover, Yaoyao¡¯s divinity was still a thorn in his heart. Zhou Yuan understood that he currently did not have the qualifications to probe about it because he wasn¡¯t strong enough yet. He would perhaps need at least the power to challenge the Saint stage before he could begin to influence the future a little. Various thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, but were ultimately pushed aside by him. He cast away his hesitation and jumped down, creating a big splash of magma with a loud plop. When Zhou Yuan entered the lava, ancient Genesis Runes began to emerge on the cauldron¡¯s walls. Countless runes spread, reaching into the lava sea. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan felt an endless heat surge towards him from every direction. The intensity made even his Saint Glass Body turn red-hot. Pain washed over him, making him grimace a little. However, he was no longer some ignorant greenhorn. He immediately suppressed the pain and seated himself as he began to circulate the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Roar! Boundless platinum Genesis Qi rushed in his body like a raging river as a faint dragon roar echoed, accompanied by a unique pressure. This was the World Subduing Heavenly Dragon Qi he currently cultivated. The Heavenly Dragon Qi was a grade 8 Genesis Qi. Just one more level and it would become the grade 9 Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi! A grade 9 Genesis Qi was extremely rare even in all nine heavens. Only great factions with Saint experts would be able to pass down such powerful Qi cultivation methods. However, it was exceedingly difficult to raise the grade of one¡¯s Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan had a feeling that the only way to reach grade 9, was to retrieve the sacred dragon blessing in Wu Yao¡¯s body. Zhou Yuan slowly closed his eyes, allowing the lava to invade his body. He was like a statue, completely still and unmoving. The Heavenly Dragon Qi circulated in his body, gradually transforming into a dragon silhouette around him. Outside the cauldron, the watching Yaoyao suddenly extended a hand as a strand of mysterious matter flowed out. When it appeared, the entire forest fell deathly silent. It was as if an indescribable pressure had enveloped the land. It was divine matter, something that even Saints desired. In the Tianyuan World, Yaoyao was the only other person who possessed it besides the Sacred Race¡¯s god. Yaoyao stared at the mysterious divine matter as her eyes flickered faintly. She turned towards the cauldron and softly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I know your thoughts. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t easily give up either. ¡°But before all that, I will do everything possible to make you stronger. ¡°Whatever the future holds, we will face it together.¡± As her voice sounded, the mysterious matter in her hand disappeared into space. It penetrated the cauldron domain and landed in the lava. The lava sea seemed to gain a life of its own, causing a torrential wave of heavenly fire as it breathed. Tiny ancient runes swiftly shot through the lava. They arrived at Zhou Yuan¡¯s location and slowly climbed onto his body. Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire being violently shuddered. He sensed the world changing around him and found himself in what appeared to be a formless domain. Deep within the primal chaos, a pair of giant eyes opened, eyes that could encompass the world. It appeared to be an ancient dragon that was enormous beyond imagination. Next, countless light beams suddenly shot towards Zhou Yuan like a meteor shower. As the meteor shower approached, Zhou Yuan discovered that each streak of light contained an ancient dragon scale. The scales glowed with a wondrous light. At closer inspection, one would see numerous characters appear on the scales, along with an indescribable feeling of mystery and profoundness. His heart shook as his pupils widened. He had realized that there was a Genesis art record on each scale! Moreover, all of them were Saint Genesis arts! Chapter 1226 Two Genesis Arts It was exactly as Yaoyao had said, the Ancestral Dragon Scripture really was the number one art in the world. It was like a giant treasure trove that could bring unimaginable surprises at any time. Phew. Zhou Yuan did not move immediately and instead began to concentrate on the meteor shower. Although there were many dragon scales, something told him that he only had two attempts. In other words, he could obtain two Genesis arts at most. Any more would be too much. Zhou Yuan did not know how the rules worked, but he did not find them hard to accept. Two Saint Genesis arts were enough for him. ¡°Yaoyao said that these Genesis arts had varying ranks, but as for how to tell them apart, I can only rely on my gut feeling.¡± Zhou Yuan shut his eyes and began to silently probe each streak that flew past him. Several of the streaks even shot right through his body. The scales pulsed with unidentifiable undulations. The Genesis arts recorded on them would surely cause a storm of blood if they suddenly appeared in Hunyuan Heaven. No one could know how many Nascent Source experts would be drawn over to fight for them. However, Zhou Yuan still did not make his move. He did not choose with his eyes, and instead handed everything over to his instincts. The silent waiting lasted for a long time. All of a sudden, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and locked onto a streak of light that was darting past. He moved without hesitation. He reached out and grabbed the target. The surrounding shell of light disintegrated as it entered his hand. The scale disappeared, but in that moment, Zhou Yuan found that an enormous amount of information had appeared in his head. Saint Genesis art, Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell Accompanied by a unique feeling, the ancient cry of a dragon echoed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. ¡°An ordinary Saint Genesis art?¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat dumbstruck. He had felt nothing from the many scales that passed by until his Genesis Qi had faintly stirred at this particular one. Hence, he had moved to secure it, but the outcome turned out to be far from his expectations. ¡°Is it because I cultivate the Heavenly Dragon Qi?¡± Zhou Yuan began to ponder. This Genesis art also had the words Heavenly Dragon. He guessed that there had been a reaction because this Genesis art had high affinity with his Heavenly Dragon Qi. Although he felt a little regretful that it was only an ordinary Saint Genesis art, Zhou Yuan was not overly disappointed. After all, an ordinary Saint Genesis art was still a Saint Genesis art! Zhou Yuan put aside his thoughts and closed his eyes again to begin feeling the scales that were flying past. He still had one last chance. This time, he was more ambitious. He understood that this opportunity had been created for him by Yaoyao, and although it might not be anything big for her, there should still be a price to pay. Hence, though an ordinary Saint Genesis art was not overly disappointing, he would of course hope to obtain one that surpassed his expectations. This way, Yaoyao¡¯s efforts would not be wasted. However, it was difficult to probe the numerous lights that streaked past. The only thing he could rely on was that split second feeling when they flashed past. It was like a lucky draw, impossible to predict the result. Zhou Yuan sat within the starry space, allowing the glowing scales to streak past him. In the blink of an eye, half an incense stick of time passed. The originally gorgeous sight of stars streaking across the sky slowly began to thin out. Evidently, the number of Genesis arts were not infinite. The end of the meteor shower would also mark the end of this opportunity. However, Zhou Yuan still did not move. He looked very calm. Only he knew how awkward he felt. He could not sense anything from the scales within the streaking light, and thus could not take action. He really did not wish to waste his final chance on an ordinary Saint Genesis art. Perhaps, instead of wasting, it would be better to call it regret. Time swiftly flowed. The streaking lights grew increasingly sparse. The final few streaks of light approached from afar, no more appearing behind them. Evidently, this opportunity was nearing its end. Zhou Yuan was disappointed that he still did not sense anything special. He sighed inwardly. After a brief hesitation, he decided to randomly retrieve one of the last few scales. A giant hand took shape and grabbed at one of the last few streaks of light. However, a split second before he could grab it, his heart suddenly jolted. He felt as if something had sparked inside his heart. His gaze involuntarily turned towards the middle of the last few scales. This time, near the tail end of the streaking lights, he managed to make out a scale that lacked any radiance. The scale¡¯s faint glow had been completely eclipsed by the others, making it near impossible to detect at a brief glance. If not for that split-second sensation, Zhou Yuan would have missed it completely. Although the scale looked dim and ordinary, Zhou Yuan had a feeling that it was not actually ordinary. It had hidden itself because it did not wish for anyone to notice it. Like how a phoenix would not compete for attention with ordinary birds? This was the arrogance of a superior existence. A hundred different feelings flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He did not display even the slightest shred of hesitation as he abandoned the scale he was about to seize and instead grabbed at that final chance, the hidden scale. As if sensing Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions, a faint glow blossomed from the scale as a low roar rang out. The roar seemed to possess some kind of special charm. To Zhou Yuan astonishment, he found that his hand was unable to grab it. Using that momentary pause, the scale zipped away in an attempt to escape. Zhou Yuan refused to give up. The scale definitely had an extraordinary Genesis art. Otherwise, it would not possess such an ego. If he let it escape, he would regret this till the end of his days. With a roar, Heavenly Dragon Qi swept forth, turning into a dragon claw that ruthlessly grabbed at the fleeing scale. But before the claw could reach, a terrifying undulation suddenly spread from the scale. In the face of its power, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Dragon Qi began to wail as it began to disintegrate. ¡°How can this be?!¡± Zhou Yuan was shocked. The Heavenly Dragon Qi could not subdue the scale? However, just when Zhou Yuan thought he had failed, mysterious runes suddenly appeared on the disintegrating dragon claw. The mysterious runes stabilized the crumbling claw. This sudden turn of events naturally did not escape Zhou Yuan¡¯s notice. Although the runes were strange, he could sense a familiar presence from them. Yaoyao? This startled him a little, but before he could further his thoughts, the forcibly stabilized dragon claw ruthlessly swooped downwards. The scale was finally caught. Before Zhou Yuan could celebrate, the scale shattered, turning into numerous fragments that swiftly escaped. Only a tiny piece was left in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. ¡°Blasted!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned red in anger. What kind of blasted thing was this scale? Why was it so difficult! No matter how angry he was, the scale fragments were already far away, making it difficult to chase them down. The leftover fragment sank into Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Extremely overwhelming, cryptic and ancient information exploded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, stunning him. It was a Saint Genesis art, but there was no rank indicated. However, Zhou Yuan could still feel an indescribable aura from it that made his entire body shiver. Because the Genesis art was called...Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens! Chapter 1227 Seven Inches Crack! When he exited, cracks appeared on the cauldron before it ultimately shattered, leaving behind a roaring heat and molten fragments. The boundless power within it had completely disappeared. Zhou Yuan merely cast a glance at its remains before looking towards a tree by the lake. Yaoyao was seated on one of its branches, lazily leaning backwards with a wine gourd in her hand. ¡°You¡¯re finally out.¡± She cast her gaze at Zhou Yuan and stretched her back, displaying her alluring curves. Zhou Yuan took a step forward and his figure appeared beside Yaoyao. ¡°It seems that you got a pretty good harvest,¡± remarked Yaoyao. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was impassive, she could see the joy in his eyes. ¡°Of course it''s pretty good.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Putting aside the two Saint Genesis arts for the moment, when he stepped out of the cauldron, he had felt his Genesis Qi foundation soar tremendously. His originally 6.3 inch Nascent Source had grown to 7 inches! After numerous cultivation sessions, Zhou Yuan of course understood that this was no small jump. An ordinary Nascent Source expert would need many years of cultivating to achieve what he had in a single month. He also understood that although it had appeared easy for Yaoyao to create the cauldron, she must have paid quite a price to do so. Yaoyao smiled faintly when she saw the look in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Relax, I won¡¯t be doing this often.¡± Yaoyao had used divine matter to let Zhou Yuan improve his foundation and open the Ancestral Dragon Scripture Genesis art collection without suffering any repercussions. Divine matter was something even a god like her could not squander frequently. Moreover, if the other Saint experts were to discover she had used such a precious resource on a Nascent Source expert, they would probably faint in disbelief. Zhou Yuan sat down and gently held Yaoyao¡¯s soft and small hands. He did not say anything else because there was no need for such meaningless words between them. For her, he could give up everything, including his life. He knew that Yaoyao likewise knew this. Otherwise, how could someone as distant and cold as her have given her heart to him? Yaoyao asked with slight interest, ¡°What Saint Genesis art did you get?¡± Although she had secretly aided him, he still had to depend on his own abilities and luck to a certain extent. There was after all a limit to her interference. ¡°A Saint Genesis art called the Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell.¡± Zhou Yuan looked somewhat helpless. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I reacted to such an ordinary Saint Genesis art. It might be because of my Heavenly Dragon Qi.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhou Yuan relaxed somewhat after hearing her explanation. ¡°Right, the other one is called Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens.¡± The hand holding the jade gourd trembled faintly as light seemed to swirl in her eyes. Soon after, she softly chuckled and said, ¡°The price I paid this time has not been in vain.¡± ¡°The Genesis art did not have any rank.¡± Zhou Yuan was still perplexed. Yaoyao, however, appeared to be in a good mood. She smiled and said, ¡°Ordinary rankings are indeed incapable of measuring it. Let alone Nascent Source experts, even Law Domain and Saint experts would desire a Genesis art like it. ¡°As for why, you¡¯ll naturally find out when you step into the Saint stage.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He had not expected Yaoyao to have such a high opinion of the Genesis art. Soon after, he regretfully said, ¡°But unfortunately, I only managed to obtain its introductory cultivation method.¡± Due to the scale shattering, he had only managed to obtain a fragment of the whole. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be regretful about. Given your current cultivation, it¡¯s already an amazing blessing to have an opportunity to study it. ¡°The beginning is always the hardest. Although this new road before you will be difficult, when your strength is sufficient, you¡¯ll naturally gain the chance to uncover its complete form.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He was not someone who would tie himself up in a knot over such matters. Since the chance was over, he would not be upset over it. There was nothing he could do anyways. Moreover, the haul this time was already extremely bountiful. With his current Genesis Qi foundation, Zhou Yuan was confident of winning against Lu Tai at peak condition. In other words, he had already begun to step into the apex level of Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Nascent Source stage. One must know that it had been less than half a year since he reached the Nascent Source stage. Such progress would turn every veteran Nascent Source expert crazy with envy. Yaoyao elegantly flipped herself off the tree. She hung the gourd on her waist and smoothed her hair. ¡°Since your training is over, we should get moving.¡± Zhou Yuan also descended and expectantly asked, ¡°Are we heading to Wanshou Heaven?¡± Although Zhou Yuan always claimed that he had nothing but dislike for Tuntun, he obviously felt a deep kinship with it. In a certain manner of speaking, Tuntun and Yaoyao had accompanied him for many years as he grew step by step. Yaoyao nodded. ¡°We¡¯re currently in the Tianji Region. There should be a teleportation array in Tianji City. However, it only opens once every half a year and requires a Law Domain expert to maintain it while it operates,¡± said Zhou Yuan. After spending so many years in Hunyuan Heaven, he had gained a rough understanding of the various regions. It was not impossible for Yaoyao to set up her own teleportation array with her current abilities. However, Zhou Yuan did not plan on letting her do so. Cang Yuan had already warned him to stop Yaoyao from using too much power because it would quicken the awakening of her divinity. ¡°Law Domain expert huh...it should be inconsequential if I use the power of the Law Domain.¡± Yaoyao had no objections. After all, She had always been following Zhou Yuan. With the decision made, they immediately moved, disappearing from the spot. All that remained was the rising steam from the giant pit in the lake. The Genesis Beasts that were avoiding them soon returned, emitting joyful roars when they arrived at the lakeside. Although most of the power had been scattered, what remained was still a great blessing for them. ¡­¡­ Three days had passed when Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao arrived at Tianji City. At the center of the city, they found the majestic teleportation array. However, it was heavily guarded by the Tianji Region. Fortunately, Yaoyao¡¯s abilities allowed them to slip in without detection. Only when Yaoyao activated the array did the surrounding guards look over in shock. They did not understand why it had suddenly activated. Their Law Domain expert was obviously not here! The entire Tianji Region fell into chaos. The array activated, enveloping the two figures in dazzling light as space began to warp. As he watched the space around them slowly distort, Zhou Yuan faintly sensed a Law Domain presence swiftly rushing towards them. That was likely a Tianji Region Law Domain expert. However, the Law Domain expert was clearly not going to make it in time. Light flooded towards him, filling his eyeballs. Zhou Yuan grinned. Wanzu Heaven...you little bastard Tuntun, your little grandpa is here! Chapter 1228 Wanshou Heaven It was essentially a paradise for Genesis Beasts, the same Genesis Beasts that were both an extremely powerful faction and race in the Tianyuan World. Wanshou Heaven¡¯s current overall strength would place them third among the five heavens. Long ago, when the Genesis Beast clans were at their heyday, Wanshou Heaven was a dominant second among the five heavens. Back then, Hunyuan Heaven was still in its growing phase, and the strongest was Qiankun Heaven. The second ranked Wanshou Heaven could easily subdue the rising Hunyuan Heaven. Despite their drop in rank, Wanshou Heaven was still considered a first tier heaven, and was far stronger than the two bottom rankers, Wuxing Heaven and Cangxuan Heaven. Most importantly, the Genesis Beast race had a huge advantage in terms of lifespan, making their foundations exceptionally terrifying. Many of the great clans had several old monsters. Although these existences had not reached the Saint level and were practically at death¡¯s door, their accumulated power could only be described as frightening. If unleashed, it would allow them to put up a fight against Saint experts. Of course, their lives would most likely come to an end after. Despite the fatal drawback, it was enough proof of the Genesis Beasts¡¯ foundations. This was also one of the reasons why they could occupy an entire heaven without much objection. In Wanzu Heaven, there were so many kinds of Genesis Beasts that it was practically impossible to count. Of course, the true Genesis Beast clans possessed intelligence and tradition. They did not acknowledge the less intelligent brutes as fellow Genesis Beasts, and would not hesitate to hunt them for the sake of food and resources. After countless years of natural selection, seven great clans solidified their positions as the rulers of Wanshou Heaven. The Mystic Dragon Clan, the Spirit Phoenix Clan, the Golden Monkey Clan, the Mountain Moving Ape Clan, the Roaring Heavenly Tiger Clan, the Ancient Whale Clan and the Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan. Among these seven great clans, the Mystic Dragon Clan and the Spirit Phoenix Clan were clearly a cut above the rest. Of course, this did not mean that the other five were pushovers. The others were always closely eyeing the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s and Spirit Phoenix Clan¡¯s positions, and there was definitely no lack of clashes over the years. It was very normal. After all, the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s nine regions weren¡¯t a unified force either, and only god knew how many struggles, secret or open, were ongoing between them. Regardless, the seven clans were undoubtedly the current overlords of Wanshou Heaven. ... Mountains rose from the ground, towering over the land like giants. Their majesty was slightly greater than even Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s mountains. Endless mountain ranges and thick ancient forests that could cover the sky. The ancient trees were an exceptional sight to behold, and at times, the shade of a single tree could even encompass an entire mountain range. Besides the mountains and forests, there were also numerous lakes and seas. The entire place was filled with the sounds of the wild. From time to time, one would see the mountains seem to heave as an enormous beastly silhouette rose from the ground, causing the land to tremble. Countless flying creatures soared in the skies, the occasional savagery starting a rain of blood. Amidst the violence, a shadow would suddenly swoop down from above, wings blotting out the sun as a giant mouth opened, devouring both sides such that nothing remained. This entire world seemed to bathe in a strange chaos. In a world like this, even Zhou Yuan could not help but wet his lips. Wanshou Heaven clearly worshipped strength. It was a world where the strong preyed on the weak. Although other heavens were similar, they would have rules to at least maintain some order. The only law here, however, was the law of the jungle. Without power, it would be very difficult to survive in Wanshou Heaven. Zhou Yuan watched for a few more moments before suddenly turning towards Yaoyao and asking, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s Tuntun¡¯s origin?¡± Yaoyao continued to observe the new world around them with some interest as she casually replied, ¡°Tuntun is one of the original sacred beasts, and does not belong to any race or clan. It is the only one of its kind, and a new one will only be born into the world when it dies. Of course, it takes an extremely long time for one to be born again, and conditions required are also exceedingly stringent. ¡°On another note, its true name is the Ancestor Taotie and it has the ability of devouring.¡± ¡°Ancestor Taotie?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. ¡°I met someone in Hunyuan Heaven who has the Taotie blessing. His materialized blessing looked quite similar to Tuntun.¡± ¡°Oh? Taotie Blessing?¡± Yaoyao raised her eyebrows in surprise. ¡°His blessing is indeed from the Ancestor Taotie. Those with the Taotie Blessing will gain some devouring power. If he is capable, he will become someone noteworthy in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan clicked his tongue in admiration. To think that Zhao Mushen¡¯s blessing originated from Tuntun. Soon after, his expression turned a little strange. If I bring Tuntun to meet Zhao Mushen, I wonder what look he will have? Yaoyao seemed to read Zhou Yuan¡¯s thoughts and said, ¡°If a person with the Taotie Blessing meets Tuntun, a feeling of reverence will rise from his blood. Hmm, it will feel as if you suddenly find your ancestor standing before you¡­ ¡°Moreover, his devouring power will have zero effect on Tuntun. If it wants to, it can even temporarily remove the devouring power.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but chuckle. That scene would really be amusing. In other words, Tuntun was basically Zhao Mushen¡¯s nemesis. I wonder if he will want to see his ancestor appear before him? ¡°Tuntun is at the Golden Monkey Clan?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s words interrupted Zhou Yuan¡¯s thoughts. Zhou Yuan nodded and retrieved a scroll. A bright glow emerged as he unfurled it, revealing a large map. Light swam on the map, gradually converging into dots at certain locations. ¡°We¡¯re currently in the northwest sector and are actually quite close to the Golden Monkey Clan. If we rush, we should be able to arrive at their territory in about ten days.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s get going then.¡± Yaoyao wasted no time. With a wave of her sleeve, Genesis Qi surged over and wrapped around the two of them. The space in front of them shattered and they shot in. Ten days later. The Golden Monkey Clan territory border. Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Yaoyao¡¯s figures appeared. After ten days of travel, Zhou Yuan once again witnessed the violence and chaos in Wanshou Heaven. He had already lost count of how many fights he had seen on the way here. ¡°Let¡¯s wait here for a while. I¡¯ve already notified Jin Linger,¡± said Zhou Yuan. He had already shattered the bone-shaped jade Jin Linger had passed to him in Guyuan Heaven when they were nearby. As such, Jin Linger should already be aware of their arrival. Yaoyao naturally had no objections. The two made themselves comfortable. A day later. The sound of rushing wind was heard. Zhou Yuan raised his gaze and saw several streaks of light shooting towards them. ¡°Finally here?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. However, Yaoayo, whose eyes were still lightly shut, nonchalantly said, ¡°They¡¯re here, but they aren¡¯t friendly.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows knitted together. The golden lights arrived, appearing in the sky above them. Zhou Yuan looked over and found that the leader was not Jin Linger. It was still an exceptionally sexy young lady with dainty features. Her eyes were currently filled with disdain as she looked down at Zhou Yuan from above. After observing him for a few breaths, she slowly said, ¡°You¡¯re Zhou Yuan? ¡°Please return to where you came from. Our Golden Monkey Clan does not welcome you.¡± Zhou Yuan indifferently gazed at her and said, ¡°Who are you? Where is Jin Linger?¡± His attitude made the girl¡¯s brows furrow slightly in anger, likely because she usually had her way. Iciness flashed in her eyes as she said, ¡°I said that the Golden Monkey Clan does not welcome you. If you don¡¯t leave, don¡¯t blame me for showing no courtesy!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained impassive. A split second later, he suddenly stepped forward. Rumble! Astonishing Genesis Qi unfurled like a storm, causing the entire world to faintly tremble around them. An alarming pressure surged forth like the tide. Zhou Yuan¡¯s ice-cold voice rang out, ¡°Showing no courtesy? Who do you think you are?¡± A giant scaly Genesis Qi hand took shape and mercilessly slapped towards the girl. Chapter 1229 Don’t Panic The giant Genesis Qi hand viciously swiped through the air. Space warped, faint cracks appearing around the target even before the attack landed. The ground below rapidly crumbled. The dainty beauty¡¯s expression changed, shocked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s ruthlessness. Did he not know that this was their Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s territory? To think that he actually dared to attack her! Such arrogance! ¡°Impudence!¡± The beauty¡¯s face turned white with rage as she sternly shouted, ¡°Capture him!¡± The four imposing figures behind her moved without hesitation at her command. They were likely Golden Monkey Clan experts. All four were Nascent Source experts. However, there was currently no trace of arrogance on their faces. Instead, they wore grave expressions. They could sense how powerful Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack was. His Genesis Qi foundation was terrifying! Roar! Roars erupted from the four as their bodies began to swell, growing into four giant hundred-feet-tall golden beasts. They looked like some kind of mix between a lion and a tiger and gave off savage auras. Long golden tails whipped through the air, shattering even space itself. These four Golden Monkey Clan experts had immediately brought out their true bodies. From this, one would see just how wary they were of Zhou Yuan. They roared at the sky. Golden light poured from their mouths, flooding the area, space crumbling inch by inch wherever the golden torrent passed. However, everything they did was useless. The giant Genesis Qi hand continued its descent and smashed apart the golden torrent. The four golden beasts wailed as their enormous bodies tumbled from the sky, flattening several mountains when they crashed into the ground. The four Golden Monkey Clan experts were at best advanced Nascent Source experts. How could such strength possibly stop Zhou Yuan? In the sky, the dainty girl¡¯s expression turned exceedingly ugly. However, she was unafraid and angrily shouted, ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you want to die? How dare you attack in my Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s territory?! ¡°Do you think this is the Tianyuan Region?!¡± She was in disbelief and never expected Zhou Yuan to be so arrogant. It did not matter how famous he was in Hunyuan Heaven, because he was now in Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Golden Monkey Clan territory! Wasn¡¯t Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions basically a slap in the face to the Golden Monkey Clan? Moreover, why the hell was he so powerful?! From the information they had, he should have recently advanced to the Nascent Source stage. Although he had directly ascended to the advanced Nascent Source stage, the four opponents he had faced earlier were no weaklings among the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s advanced Nascent Source experts. That¡¯s right, it was due to Yaoyao¡¯s existence that he dared to use such a blatant display of force. Without her presence, he would have to engage in a more roundabout tactic against the Golden Monkey Clan. But there was obviously no need for such a tactic. This was the power of connections! Zhou Yuan said, ¡°Get Jin Linger here, I have no interest in wasting my time with you.¡± He frowned slightly, somewhat confused as to why this girl was so hostile towards him. He did not recall ever offending the Golden Monkey Clan, and could even be said to be on pretty good terms with Jin Linger. In addition, he had a favorable impression of the Golden Monkey Clan due to Tuntun. However, the recent turn of events were really pushing his buttons. The sexy and dainty girl was clearly even more enraged by his attitude. However, she did not dare to provoke him again due to the ferocity he had just displayed. Flashes of gold suddenly appeared in the horizon and swiftly flew towards them. Powerful Genesis Qi surged around each golden flash as an ominous pressure spread. ¡°The clan¡¯s law enforcement squad!¡± The girl was overjoyed. She sneered at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°I said that if you think you can do as you please you¡¯ve come to the wrong place!¡± Zhou Yuan indifferently gazed at the approaching golden lights. He did not reply the stupid girl because he had already sensed Jin Linger¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations. Swoosh! After a dozen breaths, the golden lights landed from the air. They were led by Jin Linger. Jin Linger quickly took in the mess. Her face immediately turned white with rage as she looked towards Jin Ya and thundered, ¡°Jin Ya! Zhou Yuan was invited by Little Ancestor. How dare you come here to obstruct him! Do you think you can do whatever you want because your grandfather is the clan¡¯s first elder?!¡± She had received Zhou Yuan¡¯s signal earlier and immediately informed the clan elders. After all, although Zhou Yuan was a Nascent Source expert, his identity was very special. As a Tianyuan Region grand elder, he was basically equal in status to the key clan elders. In addition, he was invited over by Little Ancestor, making him an important guest of their Golden Monkey Clan. Jin Linger never imagined that Jin Ya would dare to secretly bring others to obstruct him upon hearing the news. Jin Ya coldly snorted, ignoring Jin Linger. Instead, she berated the clan law enforcement squad, ¡°This person has already broken the rules by daring to attack our clan members. Quickly take him in!¡± However, the law enforcement squad did not move. An imposing, tall and muscular middle-aged man with claw scars on his face indifferently said, ¡°Miss Jin Ya, the elders have ordered us to invite grand elder Zhou Yuan in. ¡°On another note, you¡¯ve flouted the rules by taking action against an important guest and will receive punishment later.¡± Jin Ya nearly lost herself to anger. ¡°Very good Jin Gui. My big brother is the law enforcement squad captain. Let¡¯s see how you¡¯ll explain this to him! ¡°Moreover, my big brother is the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s strongest Nascent Source expert, making him the best partner for Little Ancestor. Why are we finding an outsider? Which part of him can possibly compare to big brother?¡± She glared venomously at Zhou Yuan before turning around to leave in a huff. The atmosphere finally softened somewhat after her departure. Jin Linger descended from the air and apologetically looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I did not expect something like this to happen and I hope you will not take it to heart. Jin Ya has been spoiled too much and she does not represent our Golden Monkey Clan.¡± Zhou Yuan unhurriedly said, ¡°I¡¯m an old friend of your Little Ancestor, who used to follow me in the past. I¡¯ve come this time to take it away. If you guys really do not welcome me, you only need to inform it of my arrival so we can quickly be on our way.¡± Jin Linger was stunned as she said in disbelief, ¡°Little Ancestor used to follow you?¡± Although she could tell from Little Ancestor and Zhou Yuan were very close, Jin Linger could not comprehend why an esteemed sacred beast would follow someone like Zhou Yuan. Let alone his past self, even his current Nascent Source cultivation was essentially not even worth mentioning to a sacred beast. After all, even an ordinary Saint expert would not dare to challenge a matured sacred beast. Zhou Yuan and Little Ancestor were existances that belonged to two completely different worlds. Even if Little Ancestor was still young back then, the pride of a sacred beast would not allow it to follow anyone. Zhou Yuan did not explain because this matter involved Yaoyao. From her languid appearance, she obviously did not care about the Golden Monkey Clan. Jin Linger felt that Zhou Yuan was probably just bragging and did not take his claims too seriously. She guessed that he might still be angry because of Jin Ya¡¯s earlier transgressions and tried to appease him. ¡°You¡¯re definitely the more mature one, so please don¡¯t be too angry at her.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand, not wanting to discuss the topic any further. He calmly said, ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll pay a visit to your Golden Monkey Clan first.¡± No matter the problem, it was best to first meet Tuntun before deciding their next course of action. Jin Linger breathed a sigh of relief before glancing at Yaoyao. Although Jin Linger was a famous beauty of the Golden Monkey Clan, Yaoyao¡¯s beauty and presence still managed to take her breath away. However, Zhou Yuan seemed to have no intention of introducing them. Hence, Jin Linger turned around to lead the way. Zhou Yuan gazed at her slender figure before looking at the distant mountain range. He had a feeling that this trip would not be as peaceful as he had imagined. However, with the big boss at his side, there was nothing to panic about. Chapter 1230 Reuniting with Tuntun This was the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s ancestral land. When Zhou Yuan stepped in behind Jin Linger, he felt a thick and ancient wilderness aura assault his senses. He could faintly hear countless Genesis Beasts growling and grunting in the background. An indescribable pressure enveloped him. It was a pressure unique to the Golden Monkey Clan that had gradually built up over countless years. Any uninvited guests in the domain would be attacked by the pressure, and even Law Domain experts would not be able to escape unscathed. Since Jin Linger was leading them, the pressure did not affect Zhou Yuan much. However, it still made his eyelids jump. As one of Wanshou Heaven¡¯s seven great clans, the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s foundations were not to be underestimated. After entering their ancestral land, Jin Linger looked towards Zhou Yuan and asked him in a low voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you know why Jin Ya tried to obstruct you previously, and why Little Ancestor called you over?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head with a calm face. ¡°It¡¯s because of the Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± Jin Linger let out a bitter chuckle. ¡°The Dragon Spirit Utopia is said to have originated from a sliver of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s Spirit. In it lies the greatest blessings in Wanshou Heaven, making it irresistible to the countless Genesis Beast clans. ¡°It also holds something that Little Ancestor needs. ¡°In the Dragon Spirit Utopia, the stronger a sacred beast¡¯s blood-line, the greater the potential blessing it can obtain. The law always states that two individuals are required to form a team. Hence, you should understand that anyone who partners with Little Ancestor will reap better rewards. ¡°Little Ancestor is participating as a representative of the Golden Monkey Clan. Hence, the clan¡¯s grade-7 experts fought intensely over who would become Little Ancestor¡¯s partner. ¡°The one who ultimately triumphed was Jin Lan, our Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s top grade-7 expert. In a certain manner of speaking, he has rightfully earned the spot. ¡°He¡¯s also Jin Ya¡¯s elder brother and the boss of the clan¡¯s law enforcement squad.¡± After throwing out a bunch of information, Jin Linger stared at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, ¡°Everyone believed that he would become Little Ancestor¡¯s partner, and no one expected Little Ancestor to suddenly announce few days ago that it already has someone in mind and refuses to acknowledge Jin Lan. ¡°The person it chose...is you.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback as the corners of his eyes twitched. Tuntun you bastard, do you have nothing better to do than draw hate for me? It was no wonder Jin Ya had angrily tried to obstruct him previously. She was probably feeling indignant for her elder brother. Jin Linger answered, ¡°Entering the Dragon Spirit Utopia requires a payment of sacred beast essence blood, which Little Ancestor has generously contributed the majority share this time. Strictly speaking, it has the right to decide such matters. The Golden Monkey Clan actually received more spots to enter because of Little Ancestor.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded in understanding. ¡°No wonder your clansmen were giving me unfriendly looks.¡± However, Jin Linger shook her head. ¡°To be more precise, the first elder faction finds you an eyesore. After all, Jin Lan is the first elder¡¯s most favored grandson. ¡°I, on the other hand, belong to the second elder¡¯s faction. Our clan leader has been in closed cultivation for many years and most of the clan affairs are handled by our first and second elders. As a result, the two factions often clash. Hence, although we aren¡¯t gloating over Little Ancestor¡¯s rejection of Jin Lan, we won¡¯t be helping them either.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded again. Internal conflicts within a clan were unavoidable no matter where one went. Fortunately, he was finally able to understand the situation. He raised his head and peered into the distance. The land was covered in majestic mountains, and he could even see giant beasts moving mountains and devouring the oceans far away. It was like a prehistoric world. After Jin Linger explained a few more things, she led Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao towards a giant mountain at the center. The giant mountain shocked even Zhou Yuan when he first set eyes on it. Its majesty was difficult to put in words. As they approached, the mountain completely filled their vision, making it practically impossible to see it in its entirety. Unknowingly tall and giant. It was said to be the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s ancestral mountain. Jin Linger led Zhou Yuan to a large plaza on the mountain, where several figures were present. Zhou Yuan looked over and found that all of them were in human form like Jin Linger. Most Genesis Beasts would stay in their human form, not because it was special, but because it was easier to interact in. If they used their true forms, their enormous bodies would honestly be rather inconvenient. The Golden Monkey Clan members were looking at him in a peculiar manner. They closely examined him, eyes filled with both curiosity and skepticism. When they finally turned to Yaoyao, amazement immediately erupted in their eyes. For a time, several of them stirred restlessly. Zhou Yuan ignored the crowd. His expression remained impassive as he looked towards the center where several figures gave off faint but astonishing presences. They were led by two golden-haired elders. From the pressure they gave off, they were likely Law Domain experts. Behind the two elders, Zhou Yuan found Jin Ya, who had obstructed him earlier. She was currently standing beside a tall and slim young man, still angrily grinding her teeth as she glared at him and told the man beside her something. The man really stuck out from the crowd. He had a handsome face and his golden hair gently swayed in the wind. At a glance, anyone could see that he was the focal point of the crowd. He was currently listening to Jin Ya as he looked at Zhou Yuan with his deep, dark eyes. It was impossible to tell what was on his mind. As if sensing Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, faint gold glimmered in his pupils. An extremely oppressive sensation spread from his eyes, accompanied by a ferocious aura that made one¡¯s hair stand on ends. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change. He knew that this was Jin Lan, who had tried to become Tutun¡¯s partner. When Zhou Yuan landed, one of the two elders laughed heartily as he walked forward and cupped his fists together. ¡°Hehe, grand elder Zhou Yuan, the long journey must have been tough on you. Our Golden Monkey Clan has been tardy in our welcome.¡± Although Zhou Yuan was only at the Nascent Source stage, he was still a Tianyuan Region grand elder. Hence, the clearly high status elder welcomed him as an equal. Jin Linger explained in a low voice, ¡°This is our second elder, Jin Jin. ¡°The one who didn¡¯t come over is our first elder, Jin Jie.¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at the tall and strong looking elder behind. The latter merely watched the second elder with indifference, his gaze tinged with a sliver of disdain. It seemed that the first elder was quite arrogant and did not view Zhou Yuan as an equal like the second elder. Zhou Yuan was not angered. He cupped his fist together towards the second elder Jin Jin and smiled. ¡°I hope that elder Jin Jin will forgive me for disturbing.¡± Elder Jin Jin waved his hand as his voice boomed, ¡°You¡¯re a guest lord Ancestor Taotie personally invited, which makes you our clan¡¯s important guest as well. I¡¯ve already been informed of how someone tried to obstruct you earlier. Our Golden Monkey Clan is at fault in this matter and I will definitely give you an explanation.¡± Behind them, Jin Ya¡¯s turned somewhat ugly. The first elder finally spoke in an indifferent voice, ¡°Second elder, it¡¯s merely a moment of hot-headedness for the young ones and there¡¯s no need to be overly critical. I¡¯m sure grand elder Zhou Yuan does not mind either.¡± He looked towards Zhou Yuan and continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple. I am also acquainted with the Tianyuan Region¡¯s sect master Xuan Kun and the others. Jin Ya was rash earlier, I hope that you will not take this to heart.¡± He talked like an elder that was consoling a younger person. Zhou Yuan merely smiled faintly. Just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly changed and he lifted his head to peer into the distance. Jin Jie and Jin Jin also looked behind. Roar! Terrifying Genesis Qi rose from the horizon as a streak of light zipped through the air like rushing thunder. A roar filled with dignity and pressure echoed across the land. After several dozen breaths, the streak of light stopped above the plaza. The light faded, revealing a giant golden beast. Clouds swirled around its feet and its body was covered in golden scales. Purple flashed on its body, making it appear mysterious and noble. It opened its large mouth, revealing a sinister set of fangs. Black light leaped in its mouth like a black hole. A golden mane majestically fluttered on its head. An indescribable pressure spread. Under this pressure, the numerous Golden Monkey Clan experts felt an unexplainable sensation of fear. Fear that originated from their blood-line. Although there was no blood relations between Tuntun and the Golden Monkey Clan, Alpha sacred beasts were the highest level of Genesis Beasts. Hence, any Golden Monkey Clan member would feel respect when they saw it. Zhou Yuan also gazed at the mysterious and noble giant beast. There was still a little resemblance to its image from years ago, but it had indeed changed greatly in both appearance and presence. Tuntun now possessed the pressure of a sacred beast. This guy has changed so much... The giant beast before them was obviously Tuntun, who Zhou Yuan had not seen for many years! Chapter 1231 Protect the World’s Best Tuntun When the mysterious giant beast appeared, the numerous Golden Monkey Clan members present bowed with respectful looks. Even the two elders, Jin Jin and Jin Jie gave a faint nod with solemn faces, indicating their respect. Only fellow Genesis Beasts like them could clearly feel the pressure from a sacred beast like Tuntun, making them instinctively deferential towards it as a result. Tuntun might only be at the grade-7 level, but sacred beasts could not be judged by common sense. Especially their limitless potential which allowed them to match Saint experts when they matured. Roar! In the air, Tuntun released a roar. Its roar boomed like thunder, shaking the clouds. Its eyes immediately locked onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. They shone as happiness bubbled within them. In the next instant, it had already leaped downwards as its enormous body rapidly shrunk. It finally stopped shrinking when it was ten-foot-long and appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. Tuntun expended a paw, an almost human smile on its face as it patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder in a satisfied manner. Tuntun clearly could not speak, but at this moment, Zhou Yuan felt a mysterious message enter his head, allowing him to understand what it was expressing... Little brother, you¡¯re finally here huh? Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression immediately darkened. He slapped away Tuntun¡¯s paw and sullenly said, ¡°Call me master.¡± Tuntun leisurely withdrew its claw and disdainfully curled its lips as if it could not be bothered to lower itself to Zhou Yuan¡¯s level. Human and beast conversed. The Golden Monkey Clan members were stupefied as they watched Tuntun interact with Zhou Yuan in its large dog form. Tuntun had always maintained the proud air of a sacred beast while it was staying with the Golden Monkey Clan. No one could get close to it, let alone make it take this large dog form. Existences like sacred beasts were extremely proud. You want to make it turn into a doggy and be intimate with you? It will more likely devour you in a single gulp. All of the Golden Monkey Clan members had thought this until they saw today¡¯s scene... Even the two elders, Jin Jie and Jin Jin were quite startled. They likewise never imagined that Tuntun would be so friendly towards Zhou Yuan. The two clearly had a very special relationship. However, this was not the end of their shock. Zhou Yuan grinned at a Tuntun and said, ¡°Come and see who I brought.¡± He moved to the side, revealing Yaoyao, who had been standing behind him. She had been there all along, but had intentionally made Tuntun unable to see her. Tuntun looked over and froze. Yaoyao gazed at Tuntun as a sliver of gentleness rose from the depths of her eyes. She extended her hand and curled her finger, beckoning it. However, before any words could leave their mouths, a deafening roar abruptly exploded. It was a roar filled with indescribable joy. Numerous gazes watched in shock as Tuntun pounced towards her as its body began to shrink once more. From ten-foot-long, it shrank to the size of a small dog and burrowed into the girl¡¯s arms. Woof woof woof! It barked emotionally like a lost pet that had finally found its owner again after many years. The surroundings fell silent. Even Jin Linger was dumbstruck as she stared. Who could have imagined that the cute little dog in the girl¡¯s arms would be the usually dignified and imposing Little Ancestor! That was an Alpha sacred beast! An existence that could match a Saint expert in the future! Who in this entire world would dare to treat it as a pet? Who the hell was this girl that Zhou Yuan had brought along?! Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s play-fighting with Tuntun had already shocked them substantially, they now realized how trivial it was in comparison... The Golden Monkey Clan members were speechless. There was genuine terror in their eyes when they looked at the breathtakingly beautiful girl again. To them, she now gave off a mysterious and unfathomable feeling. No one here was a fool. Although the scene before their eyes was unimaginable, they at least had a little common sense: an ordinary person absolutely had no right to treat an Alpha sacred beast in this manner... Elder Jin Jin¡¯s and Jin Jie¡¯s faces turned exceedingly grave. They had noticed Yaoyao previously but had not paid much attention to her. Only now did they finally realize the faint pressure that leaked from her body. Their hearts shuddered at this observation. The girl did not seem to be a Saint. Moreover, it was impossible for a Saint to suddenly appear out of nowhere... But if she wasn¡¯t a Saint, why did they feel so flustered when they looked at her? It was normal for them to be unable to recognize Yaoyao. After all, besides the all-heavens Saints, only a handful of Law Domain experts were privy to her identity. Although Jin Jin was somewhat shocked, his expression was still relatively okay. First elder Jin Jie¡¯s expression, on the other hand, had turned somewhat unnatural as he recalled his earlier attitude. He had originally been under the impression that Zhou Yuan had come alone, and though he was a grand elder of the Tianyuan Region, such status did not hold much sway in their Golden Monkey Clan. That was why he had acted haughtily earlier. Who could have imagined that the girl following Zhou Yuan would be more of a big shot than him? Shocked and speechless, gaze after gaze watched as Yaoyao cradled Tuntun in her arms. As she felt its happiness, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, creating a smile so beautiful that it could make light appear in the void. Wuu. Tuntun had already lost itself to elation. It had originally believed only Zhou Yuan would be coming this time, and never imagined that the Yaoyao had already awakened from her deep slumber. Zhou Yuan moved closer, gazing at the mini-sized Tuntun as he smiled and said, ¡°This form is still the best.¡± Tuntun bared its teeth at Zhou Yuan, and suddenly appeared on top of his head. It swiftly made a mess of his hair as it chuckled mockingly. Zhou Yuan asked, ¡°Are you still unable to use human speech?¡± Disdain flashed in Tuntun¡¯s eyes. Yaoyao explained, ¡°It asks if you would be interested in learning how to speak in ant language and try to communicate with them?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned rigid, and could not help but grit his teeth. This little bastard is as vile as usual. What¡¯s so great about an Alpha sacred beast? Yaoyao could not help but smile. ¡°An Alpha sacred beast will usually never take on human form, even going as far as erasing the ability to do so. They are too proud of their bloodlines and know that their bodies are the strongest in the world. ¡°Although they can¡¯t speak human speech, they can communicate with anybody through their wills. Zhou Yuan unhappily said, ¡°Then help me ask this little brat why he¡¯s involving me in this messy affair.¡± Tuntun reached out and patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s head as if unsatisfied. ¡°Because the Dragon Spirit Utopia might aid you in your comprehension of the Law Domain Seed.¡± Yaoyao softly chuckled. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood it, Tuntun is fighting for your benefit.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback, his pupils shrinking. Law Domain Seed?! That was an amazing opportunity and the dream of every Nascent Source expert. It could help them sense the existence of the Law Domain in advance, building them a better foundation for stepping into the Law Domain stage in the future. Nascent Source experts that managed to cultivate a Law Domain Seed were rumored to have more than a seventy percent chance of reaching the Law Domain stage in the future... Nearly every Nascent Source expert who successfully cultivated a Law Domain Seed was basically guaranteed to ascend to the next cultivation level. However, Law Domain Seeds were difficult to find and rarely seen even in Hunyuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan never imagined that he would come across them in Wanshou Heaven! The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth split open into a wide grin. He grabbed Tuntun and hugged it tightly as he displayed the most gentle of smiles. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will protect the world¡¯s best Tuntun.¡± Chapter 1232 Jin Yanghuang Jin Ya, the girl who had obstructed Zhou Yuan previously, watched with a deathly pale expression. Her eyes were filled with disbelief. Jaw tightly clenched, she could not help but mumble, ¡°How can this be¡­ ¡°Little Ancestor is an Alpha sacred beast, why would it¡­,¡± her words were cut short by a stern piercing gaze from first elder Jin Jie. Jin Ya could only sullenly shut her mouth. The golden-haired man, Jin Lan, was also watching. However, he was clearly far more shrewd than Jin Ya and thus did not reveal any of his feelings. He said to Jin Ya in a low voice, ¡°Little Ancestor¡¯s thinking is very pure and might have been deceived while it was young. When it matures in the future, the pride of an Alpha sacred beast will likely no longer allow such a scene to appear. When that time comes, these two will suffer.¡± Jin Ya nodded in agreement. That¡¯s right, these two must have obtained Little Ancestor¡¯s trust through some despicable means during its youth. However, did they really think an Alpha sacred beast could be tamed? When she imagined the future backlash, Jin Ya could not help but chuckle icily. While the two siblings were conversing in low voices, second elder Jin Jin had already walked over, his expression clearly more courteous than before as he smiled and said, ¡°I did not expect lord Ancestor Taotie to be so close to you two. This is a very rare sight.¡± First elder Jin Jie also walked over and cupped his fists together towards Yaoyao. ¡°I still do not know this esteemed one¡¯s name. My Golden Monkey Clan has failed to recognize a great one such as yourself.¡± Yaoyao merely cast a glance at Jin Jin while completely ignoring Jin Jie. She indifferently said, ¡°Where¡¯s your clan leader?¡± Jin Jin and Jin Jie were taken aback. Did she feel that they were unworthy of communicating with her? First elder Jin Jie¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Our clan leader has been in secluded cultivation for many years, leaving us two elders to manage the affairs of the clan. If you have something to say, you may go ahead and tell us.¡± Although he was unable to measure Yaoyao¡¯s depth, Jin Jie did not sense the aura of a Saint from her. Hence, he felt that her words were quite arrogant. Their clan leader was a genuine Saint expert, how could anyone request his presence so easily? However, Yaoyao ignored him and suddenly said, ¡°No need, he¡¯s here.¡± Jin Jie and Jin Jin were stunned. Before they could say anything, their expressions shivered when they saw the space in front of them slowly begin to warp and a figure walked out. When he appeared, the Golden Monkey Clan ancestral domain buzzed in resonance. Mountains heaved as thousands of beasts roared as if welcoming him. Jin Jie and Jin Jin were dumbstruck. The golden-haired youth was their clan leader, who had been in secluded cultivation for many years, Jin Yanghuang! He had really appeared?! The two elders hurriedly bowed and greeted, ¡°Welcome clan leader!¡± Their actions elicited shocked looks from the surrounding Golden Monkey Clan members. They likewise had not expected their usually never seen clan leader to appear. Was it because of that mysterious girl? Jin Ya¡¯s eyes turned somewhat fearful, no longer daring to have any of her previous thoughts. Beside her, Jin Lan also fell silent as his heart loudly thudded in his chest. At this juncture, even the most foolish person would understand how terrifying this mysterious girl was. After all, no one had ever been personally welcomed by their clan leader for several hundred years. ¡°Welcome clan leader!¡± Numerous Golden Monkey Clan members bowed respectfully. In response to everyone¡¯s greetings, the golden-haired youth waved his hand. His gaze was fixed on Yaoyao from the start. Soon after, he displayed an appropriate smile and said, ¡°Your presence brings light to our humble Golden Monkey Clan.¡± As one of the all-heaven Saints, Jin Yanghuang was also part of the Omega Shrine and naturally knew Yaoyao¡¯s true identity. However, as a respected Saint expert, he maintained a neither overbearing nor servile attitude even in the face of the world¡¯s Third God. Yaoyao looked at the golden-haired youth and gave a faint nod. ¡°I have to thank the Golden Monkey Clan for taking care of Tuntun for so many years. It must have been troublesome.¡± Jin Yanghuang¡¯s gaze shifted towards Tuntun, who was still on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, and smiled. ¡°The Ancestral Taotie has some relations to our Golden Monkey Clan in ancient times. Moreover, it was supreme sovereign Cang Yuan who placed it in our care. There is naturally no trouble to speak of.¡± The clan leader treated Tuntun as an equal. After all, although Tuntun was currently at the Nascent Source stage, it would definitely become a Saint expert when it matured. At that time, its true power would likely surpass his own. To be honest, he had his own motive for helping Cang Yuan take care of Tuntun, and had hoped to forge ties with the Alpha sacred beast. Jin Yanghuang¡¯s gaze moved down, pausing on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°I believe this young man is Zhou Yuan. Hehe, you have won our all-heavens many benefits in the battle for Guyuan Heaven.¡± In the face of a Saint expert, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was respectful as he replied, ¡°It was the fruits of our combined efforts, I didn¡¯t play that big of a part.¡± Jin Yanghuang chuckled and did not speak any further on the topic. His gaze moved back to Yaoyao. ¡°I know why you have come. ¡°The Dragon Spirit Utopia is an opportunity unique to my Wanshou Heaven, and the Law Domain Seed is no ordinary object. Anyone who manages to obtain one will have essentially paved half the road to the Law Domain stage.¡± Law Domain experts stood at the peak of this world and were second only to the Saint experts. A new Law Domain expert would greatly increase the power of any faction. In the face of such benefits, even a great clan like the Golden Monkey Clan would find it hard to abandon. ¡°Although the esteemed Ancestral Taotie is participating as a representative of the Golden Monkey Clan, it has paid sacred beast essence blood and is not taking advantage of us. Hence, it has the right to decide its own partner.¡± As Jin Yanghuang talked the surrounding Golden Monkey Clan members kept their silence. Only Jin Lan¡¯s gaze flickered faintly as he took a step forward. ¡°Clan leader, Little Ancestor definitely has the right to select its partner, but the Dragon Spirit Utopia also holds the blessing it needs. I did my best to become Little Ancestor¡¯s companion not for my own benefit, but because I want to help Little Ancestor achieve its goal. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of grand elder Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation and his amazing accomplishments in the battle for Guyuan Heaven. However, I have to point out that he has recently advanced to the Nascent Source stage and it is too risky to enter the Dragon Spirit Utopia with such strength. ¡°As such, I feel that I am better suited to become Little Ancestor¡¯s partner.¡± Jin Lan¡¯s voice was calm and earnest. He showed no fear even in the face of the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s almighty leader. Instead, his gaze was determined and filled with confidence. This made numerous Golden Monkey Clan members praise him inwardly. The Genesis Beast clans highly approved of such courage. Several clan members cast odd looks at Zhou Yuan. Although he was familiar with Little Ancestor, he should use their relationship to hinder Little Ancestor. First elder Jin Jie hurriedly stepped forward. ¡°Clan leader, Jin Lan is still young and might be a little rash. I hope that you will not blame him for overstepping his boundaries.¡± Although he said so, there was a sliver of satisfaction deep in his eyes. This was a brilliant move from Jin Lan. Stepping forward against the pressure at such a moment would undoubtedly place on him the side of virtue. In contrast, Zhou Yuan would now appear like a lowly person who was trying to pull strings. Jin Yanghuang¡¯s gaze paused on Jin Lan as he smiled a little. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s little one Jin Lan. You¡¯ve grown some courage in the many years since I¡¯ve last seen you. As expected of our clan¡¯s number one Nascent Source expert.¡± There was no reproach in his words, but instead admiration. Jin Yanghuang¡¯s gaze turned towards Yaoyao. ¡°The Dragon Spirit Utopia will be a rare chance for lord Ancestor Taotie to progress its cultivation. Shouldn¡¯t we properly discuss such an important matter?¡± From his words, it was already clear that he was more partial towards Jin Lan. Zhou Yuan watched the entire thing play out with indifference. It seemed that the clan leader was no pushover either, and wanted the Dragon Spirit Utopia¡¯s blessings for his clan. After all, gaining a new Law Domain expert would definitely be great for the Golden Monkey Clan. Jin Yanghuang merely didn¡¯t have sufficient reason earlier, but this was now solved with Jin Lan¡¯s supposedly righteous intentions. After all, they were doing this for Tuntun. His gaze faintly flickered as he slowly spoke, ¡°Clan leader Jin, although it¡¯s not been long since I advanced to the Nascent Source stage, if time was all that mattered, would there be a need to fight against the Sacred Race¡¯s Jia Tu in Guyuan Heaven?¡± Before Jin Yanghuang could speak, Jin Lan indifferently said, ¡°That was then and should not be lumped together with the now.¡± ¡°If grand elder Zhou Yuan is so confident¡­¡± A sharp and fierce light swirled in his eyes as he paused. In the end, he spoke the words that had been brewing deep in his heart, ¡°Shall we have a duel and see?¡± Chapter 1233 Giant Bell Cannon Only by showing one¡¯s worth would one truly be able to convince the masses. This was also the case in the other heavens, and even more so in the strong-eat-weak Wanshou Heaven where only the strongest were worshipped. Behind Jin Lan, Jin Ya¡¯s eyes lit up as faith rose in her heart. Her eyes were full of pride, because she knew how strong her elder brother was. Jin Lan was top-tier even among all of Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Nascent Source experts. Although Zhou Yuan was no simple individual, far too little time had passed since he stepped into the Nascent Source stage. He was merely at the advanced Nascent Source stage, so how could he be Jin Lan¡¯s match in a real fight? Once he lost to Jin Lan, Little Ancestor should be able to see how big of a burden Zhou Yuan would be in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Dragon Spirit Utopia was filled with danger and numerous fights awaited every participant. Although Little Ancestor was an Alpha sacred beast with overwhelming battle prowess, it was not the only one with a sacred beast bloodline in Wanshou Heaven... Of course, Little Ancestor was a higher ranked sacred beast. However, the other sacred beast bloodline holders were still a threat to it. After all, Little Ancestor had yet to fully mature. Hence why Little Ancestor really needed a powerful helper and not a burden who was only there to take advantage. Numerous gazes were cast towards Zhou Yuan, awaiting his response. Jin Linger also looked at Zhou Yuan in worry. Jin Lan was definitely no pushover. A little speech was all it had taken to force Zhou Yuan into this awkward situation. If Zhou Yuan turned down the duel, the other clan members would surely laugh at him even if the clan leader tried to suppress it. When that happened, it would not be a pretty sight. But accepting the duel won¡¯t be a good choice either. After all, it had only been about half a year since Zhou Yuan had advanced to the Nascent Source stage... Jin Lan gazed at Zhou Yuan, who had yet to answer, and said in a seemingly sincere manner, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, although it might appear as if I¡¯m bullying you, I hope that you can understand I¡¯m doing this for Little Ancestor.¡± Zhou Yuan was naturally aware of the surrounding gazes and could not help but chuckle at Jin Lan¡¯s many patterns. Jin Lan was indeed cunning. He was clearly after the benefits from following Tuntun, but had somehow turned it into some righteous reason. There was really no way to rebut. Smiling, he patted Tuntun, who was still on his head, and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± Zhou Yuan received the message. He looked at the earnest-looking Jin Lan and grinned. ¡°It seems that you¡¯re very confident. ¡°Fine, since you¡¯ve already made your case, it would bring shame to Tuntun if I were to run away¡­¡± Zhou Yuan slowly walked forward and said, ¡°However, this is the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s land after all, and it won¡¯t be suitable for a battle. How about this, if you manage to receive my attack, I will wash my hands of this Dragon Spirit Utopia affair. What do you think?¡± Uproar! His words immediately elicited an uproar from the surroundings. Shocked gaze after gaze stared at Zhou Yuan. Was he crazy? Was he trying to say that he was capable of making Jin Lan concede with a single move? What a joke! Although Wanshou Heaven did not have numerous lists like Hunyuan Heaven, Jin Lan¡¯s strength was absolutely apex level. In comparison, Zhou Yuan was only at the advanced Nascent Source stage! Someone with such cultivation honestly did not even have the qualifications to challenge Jin Lan! Jin Ya grinded her teeth and icily said, ¡°He¡¯s seeking his own humiliation!¡± Nearby, several Golden Monkey Clan members, who were part of the first elder¡¯s faction, also smiled mockingly as they nodded in agreement. Jin Lan was also slightly taken aback. However, he did not show any anger. He stared deeply at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, aren¡¯t you afraid your overconfidence might bite you in the back?¡± To be frank, he held no contempt towards Zhou Yuan. Even if he was only an advanced Nascent Source expert, his battle achievements in Guyuan Heaven were nothing short of spectacular. He had dared to challenge the Sacred Race¡¯s strongest experts and had ultimately triumphed. Such tactics and courage were truly amazing. If Zhou Yuan was at the perfect Nascent Source stage, Jin Lan might have forced himself to withdraw his ambitions. Unfortunately, Zhou Yuan was merely at the advanced Nascent Source stage... Jin Lan¡¯s dark eyes seemed to swirl as he indifferently said, ¡°Please go easy on me then.¡± Since you seek humiliation, don¡¯t blame me for what happens. As his voice rang out, his figure had already disappeared from the spot and appeared in the sky. Rumble! Vast Genesis Qi abruptly exploded from his body as an astonishing roar rippled the clouds. An enormous thousand-foot-tall giant golden beast appeared in the air, pulsing with torrential savagery. The giant creature wore golden armor, its long golden tail tearing the fabric of space when it whipped through the air. Jin Lan had brought out his true body, and clearly had no intention of giving Zhou Yuan any chance. Smirks appeared on the faces of numerous Golden Monkey Clan members. Jin Linger could not help but utter, ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Genesis Beasts like them had strong bodies, and were strongest in their true forms. She was truly unable to imagine how Zhou Yuan would be able to subdue Jin Lan with a single move. Zhou Yuan smiled at her. His words might sound arrogant, but there were many Golden Monkey Clan members who were deeply doubtful of him. Although he did not care about what they thought, Tuntun was ultimately borrowing the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s name to participate in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Hence, he needed to do something that would dispel all of their doubts. This was the only way to quell their dissent. As for how, what better method was there than mercilessly destroying their strongest Nascent Source expert? If it was before Yaoyao¡¯s special training, he would not have the confidence to make such a claim. After all, Jin Lan was no pushover and according to Zhou Yuan¡¯s estimates, Jin Lan¡¯s strength was very close to Lu Tai, who he had fought previously. Unfortunately for Jin Lan, after a month of Yaoyao¡¯s special training, Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle power had soared to a completely new high. Under numerous gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure also rose into the air, ultimately coming to a stop in front of the giant golden beast. Compared to the giant creature, Zhou Yuan looked like an ant. ¡°Zhou Yuan, show me what kind of capabilities you have to make such a claim!¡± The golden beast¡¯s voice boomed like thunder. After taking on his true form, Jin Lan began to be influenced by the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s savage nature, his eerie eyes locking onto Zhou Yuan. Rumble! Boundless golden light surged as a vast Genesis Qi pressure spread. The Genesis Qi undulations had reached a hundred billion! Zhou Yuan paid no attention to Jin Lan¡¯s thunderous roar. Instead, he slowly closed his eyes. Platinum Genesis Qi soared out from the top of his head, seemingly coloring the entire horizon in a platinum glow. Roar! The platinum Genesis Qi turned into a sea of platinum as the roar of an ancient dragon echoed. The silhouette of a giant dragon seemed to surface within the sea. Zhou Yuan slowly raised his hands as the platinum Genesis Qi surged. Moments later, a strange sound was heard. It seemed to be some kind of sound wave that made the surrounding Genesis Qi boil. The sea above his head gradually receded and an object slowly descended. Countless gazes looked over and found a giant platinum bell. A mysterious dragon silhouette coiled around the giant bell. Countless ancient and cryptic Genesis Runes had been carved into it. Zhou Yuan hoisted the bell and aimed its mouth at Jin Lan as if he was holding a cannon. The corners of his mouth slowly lifted. The reason why he had made his earlier suggestion was because this move took a long time to prepare... ¡°Mr target, are you ready?¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled as terrifying light converged towards the black mouth of the bell. A frightening sound wave was suddenly fired. ¡°Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell!¡± Roar! It was the loudest and most beautiful sound! All of Jin Lan¡¯s scales suddenly stood up. He could sense death flooding towards him like the tide. Below, horrified looks emerged on the faces of the many Golden Monkey Clan experts. Chapter 1234 Subdued by the Cannon When the giant bell rang, all sound in the world seemed to disappear. The only thing everyone could hear was the dragon-roar-like-chime filling their ears. Although the bell was aimed at Jin Lan, numerous Golden Monkey Clan members below had looks of agony on their faces. Some of the experts that were below the Nascent Source stage even began to bleed from their ears. Despite the intense discomfort, everyone¡¯s gazes were still tightly glued to the sky. A torrent-like sound wave that could be seen by the naked eyes shot from the bell¡¯s mouth. The sound wave took the form of a dragon, destroying even Genesis Qi as it swept forth, leaving an empty Genesis-Qi-less space in its wake. Such power made the expressions of the numerous watching Golden Monkey Clan experts change drastically. Roar! Jin Lan also released a mighty howl. There was no longer any trace of amusement in its giant beast eyes, but instead a sense of dread. The power of Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack had made Jin Lan feel a trace of death. Hence, he did not dare to be the slightest bit negligent. Millions of resplendent rays abruptly shot out from Jin Lan¡¯s body. The golden light flowed across his enormous body like liquid gold, swiftly condescending into a layer of sparkling holy golden armor. The golden armor looked rather sinister with golden spikes sticking out from it, so sharp that they could tear the fabric of space. From a distance, he looked like a golden-armored beast that heralded destruction. Meanwhile, Jin Lan''s deep roar rang out, ¡°Liquid Gold Holy Armor Art!¡± It was defensive Saint Genesis Art of the Golden Monkey Clan that bestowed astonishing defensive power. Together with the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s already strong bodies, the combination was basically indestructible. Evidently, Jin Lan was raising his defensive power to the max to take on Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack. Rumble! The sound-wave-torrent was far too quick, arriving the instant Jin Lan¡¯s golden armor was formed. Space violently rippled around him as the dragon-shaped sound wave smashed into his body like a meteor. Thud! A loud sound accompanied the impact. Sound waves unfurled in a circular pattern, instantly disintegrating the nearby mountains to dust. Before the waves could travel any further, they suddenly vanished into nothingness. The two elders, Jin Jie and Jin Jin had neutralized the waves. This was the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s ancestral land after all, and they could not possibly allow Zhou Yuan to wreak too much destruction. Jin Jie¡¯s old face was somewhat stormy. He glanced at Zhou Yuan, considering whether to secretly attack him, but could only withdraw such thoughts as he looked towards the nearby Yaoyao, who was carrying Tuntun with a calm expression. In the sky, the terrifying shockwaves finally scattered. Countless gazes looked over. The giant golden beast stood in the air, its golden armor still shining dazzlingly. It was a majestic sight to behold. He seemed to have withstood the attack? Several Golden Monkey Clan experts began to cheer. Jin Ya, whose body had been tense since the start, breathed a deep sigh of relief as a proud smile appeared on her face. As expected, my elder brother won¡¯t lose! Zhou Yuan had been so arrogant, but he had ultimately ended up smashing his own foot with a rock. While they were rejoicing, none of them noticed Jin Jie¡¯s and Jin Jin¡¯s expressions slowly turning grim. ¡°As expected of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple.¡± A sigh was heard. The crowd looked over and found that the speaker was clan leader Jin Yanghuang. Many Golden Monkey Clan members were stunned. Boom! A muffled boom suddenly sounded from the giant golden beast in the sky. Gaze after gaze watched in horror as its golden armor and scales shattered to pieces, releasing sprays of bloody mist. A howl of pain rang out from Jin Lan¡¯s giant mouth. Below, the smile on Jin Ya¡¯s face instantly turned rigid. ¡°How can this be¡­¡± The other Golden Monkey Clan members were also utterly shocked. In the sky, the giant golden beast¡¯s body rapidly began to shrink, ultimately returning to its human form as it stumbled in the air. Jin Lan¡¯s complexion was deathly pale, and blood was flowing from nearly every pore of his body. The powerful Genesis Qi around his body had weakened tremendously, creating a rather pitiful sight. Evidently, Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack had seriously injured him. Jin Lan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he stared at Zhou Yuan with a complicated expression. ¡°Was that a Greater Saint Genesis Art?¡± Such power had already surpassed ordinary Saint Genesis Arts. The sound wave was far too unreasonable and domineering, easily bypassing his physical defenses to wreak havoc inside his body. It was the nemesis of a strong physical body. Zhou Yuan did not answer the question. ¡°Thank you for letting me win.¡± The attack had honestly surprised him as well. The Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell was clearly just an ordinary Saint Genesis Art, but when activated with the Heavenly Dragon Qi, its power did not lose to a Greater Saint Genesis Art. In fact, the uniqueness of the sound-based attack made it superior in certain aspects. Jin Lan¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately. How could he not know by now that Zhou Yuan¡¯s ¡®one move wager¡¯ was a trap... The sound-based Greater Genesis Art specialized in penetrating physical defenses, the forte of Genesis Beast Clans like them. Although the technique was powerful, it had its weakness: it took a long time to prepare. If not for the one move wager, Jin Lan could have used other methods to avoid the attack. He could have retreated from its range, or even neutralized a part of it and try to endure the rest. At the very least, he would not have sustained such serious injuries. He had previously assumed Zhou Yuan was overly arrogant, but now, it seemed that it had all been an act. And yet, Jin Lan had stepped right into it, leaving him a bloodied mess. Jin Lan found the result rather hard to accept. He had lost before he could show his many cards. However, he did not say anything in the end. After all, a loss was a loss, and any excuses would instead bring shame to their Golden Monkey Clan. If someone dug a pit for you, you could only blame yourself for being stupid enough to fall in. Huu. Jin Lan exhaled before he said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°I¡¯ve lost. You will be Little Ancestor¡¯s partner.¡± A clean and straightforward admission. His response surprised Zhou Yuan a little. The opponent should already know that he had used a cheap trick, but did not say anything about it. It seemed that the number one Golden Monkey Clan Nascent Source expert had his own pride. Jin Lan calmly said, ¡°However, you should know that your victory was partially because you took advantage of a certain trick. In addition, your ¡®one move wager¡¯ won¡¯t be of any use in the Dragon Spirit Utopia because none of Wanshou Heaven¡¯s other apex experts will agree to such rules. Hence, if you truly want to support Little Ancestor and not mooch off it, you better pay more attention in the Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Although Jin Lan¡¯s words showed that was still somewhat unconvinced of his defeat, it was also a reminder to Zhou Yuan. Moreover, he could tell that Jin Lan was quite respectful towards Tuntun. He waved his hand and did not say anything in response. To be honest, it would not be difficult to beat Jin Lan even without such tactics. However, he felt no need to because it was nor a life or death battle and he did not need to reveal all of his cards. The two individuals descended from the sky. The Golden Monkey Clan members had complicated expressions. After all, none of them had expected this outcome. However, no one cast any indignant gazes towards Zhou Yuan. Even Jin Ya could only grit her teeth and accept the result. In Wanshou Heaven, strength was everything. With the strength Zhou Yuan had displayed, no one dared to treat him as an ordinary advanced Nascent Source expert. Moreover, he had proved that he had the qualifications to be Little Ancestor¡¯s partner, and had not gained the spot through pulling strings. Jin Linger¡¯s eyes were nearly popping from their sockets as she stared at Zhou Yuan in disbelief. She still could not believe that he had triumphed over Jin Lan. One must know that initial Nascent Source experts like them were the lowest existances in the Nascent Source stage. However, Zhou Yuan was an outlier. They had entered the Nascent Source stage at the same time, but he had already begun to stand shoulder to shoulder to the apex Nascent Source experts. In the face of such an abnormality, Jin Linger could only call him a monster inside. It was no wonder that Little Ancestor had specially called him over. Tuntun¡¯s figure appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head and patted him with its paw. Beautiful! A word appeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, cheekily bouncing around. In the end, the word turned into Tuntun¡¯s smiling face. It was basically an emoticon. ¡°Since our young friend Zhou Yuan has won, we shall entrust lord Ancestor Taotie to you.¡± Jin Yanghuang laughed heartily. Although he felt it somewhat regrettable that Jin Lan had lost, experts at his level did not overly concern themselves with the result. ¡°There should be half a month till the Dragon Spirit Utopia opens. We invite both of you to stay in the clan till it opens. ¡°I will also get someone to send you all the information we have on the Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± Jin Yanghuang displayed his magnanimity and did not make things difficult. Of course, Zhou Yuan understood that the clan leader was only so amiable because of Yaoyao. His status as Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple was obviously not enough to bring out such courtesy. In fact, he would likely have no chance to even catch a glimpse of the clan leader. He could not help but sigh inwardly. My wife is way too amazing! Chapter 1235 Evil Beast Clan ¡°Additionally, there is a well-known object in the Dragon Spirit Utopia called the Ancestral Spirit Fruit, which is born from the combination of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s remnant spirit and universe Genesis Qi, and it can greatly strengthen one¡¯s Spirit. "But the most important thing is the mountain called the Ancestral Spirit Mountain in the depths of Dragon Spirit Utopia. The mountain is incredibly mysterious and seemed to possess spiritual intellect. There is an ancient beast platform divided into levels built on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain and the person who could occupy the top of the battle platform and defend it will receive the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s gift, which is a great opportunity.¡± Yaoyao softly explained its origin in front of a secluded bamboo building in the depths of a lush green mountain. Zhou Yuan and Tuntun sat cross-legged in front of her like two good students, though Tuntun already knew about its origin. Yaoyao glanced at Tuntun and said, ¡°Tuntun needs the gift from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, which would allow him to progress further in his cultivation and reach grade 8 or even shorten the time he needs to reach grade 9.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help smacking his lips. Grade 8 was equivalent to the Law Domain stage and grade 9 was the Saint stage. "I don¡¯t know why it is taking you so long. I thought Alpha Holy Beast should reach grade 8 directly, but you¡¯re only around the same level as me,¡± teased Zhou Yuan as he glanced at Tuntun. Tuntun simply grinned when he heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s ridicule. Yaoyao explained, "Alpha Holy Beast can¡¯t be measured using conventional reasoning. You gradually cultivate your strength by absorbing universe Genesis Qi, but Alpha Holy Beast¡¯s power comes from their bloodline. Their power is not dependent on universe Genesis Qi but on themselves. ¡°This means Tuntun doesn¡¯t need to painstakingly cultivate for years but he only needs the key to unlock his bloodline. Once he gets the key, he could even soar to become a Saint in one leap.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth fell open, somewhat resentful. As he thought, the so-called Alpha Holy Beast was abnormal because for cultivators like him, it was like a fairytale to become a Saint in one step. Tuntun stretched out his claws and pointed at Zhou Yuan while laughing. Zhou Yuan smiled and sat down next to Yaoyao. He held her little delicate hand and raised his brows at Tuntun. Tuntun¡¯s mouth twitched. He took out a stone slab and wrote a large word: ¡®Pervert!¡¯ Yaoyao was amused and annoyed at the same time seeing them fooling around, but she could feel a faint warmth filling her heart. She was always disinterested in everything in the world and only they could make her feel warm emotions flowing in her heart. So she didn''t stop the two. She let Zhou Yuan hold her hand while she took out a jade gourd with the other and elegantly took a sip. Clang! It was at that moment that a clamour of bells resounded from the ancestral land of the Golden Monkey Clan. Zhou Yuan trembled a little as he said, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± While Zhou Yuan was bewildered, the space rippled and a voice spread over. "Your Excellency Yaoyao, little friend Zhou Yuan, and Your Excellency Little Ancestor, please come to the conference pavilion.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed because he recognized the voice belonged to clan leader Jin Yanghuang. As he turned to Yaoyao, who was putting away the jade gourd, she urged, ¡°Let¡¯s go and see.¡± After all, they were guests in the Golden Monkey Clan and so should give the clan leader face. As Yaoyao''s voice faded, she flicked her sleeve and a stretch of brilliant light rolled up Zhou Yuan and Tuntun. Space around them suddenly twisted and directly consumed them. The world in front of Zhou Yuan turned to a blur, and by the time he regained consciousness he was already situated inside a spacious hall. The hall was noisy and crowded with many cultivators from the Golden Monkey Clan. Sitting on a higher platform in the conference pavilion, Jin Yanghuang wore a solemn expression. He immediately nodded at Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan when they appeared. Yaoyao seated herself, and Zhou Yuan quickly followed her with Tuntun on his head. Their appearance undoubtedly attracted many gazes. After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s name had stirred many waves within the Golden Monkey Clan. Of course, there were many more people curious about Yaoyao¡¯s identity. After all, it was obvious that their clan leader was incredibly respectful and polite to the astonishingly beautiful girl. Once Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan arrived, Jin Yanghuang ran his gaze across the audience and the hall fell silent. Jin Yanghuang''s expression was somewhat grave when he said, ¡° I gathered everyone here because something major has happened.¡± Everyone''s hearts froze for a moment. What happened? Even Jin Yanghuang said it is a major event? "Several Saints of our Wanshou Heaven noticed strange spatial undulations, and after investigations, we found that the Sacred Race has located the Dragon Spirit Utopia¡¯s location.¡± When Jin Yanghuang spoke it was as though he threw a bomb down at everyone and left everyone aghast. Boom! Then, the entire conference pavilion broke into an uproar. The Dragon Spirit Utopia was a treasure location unique to the Wanshou Heaven. The domain was attached to the Wanshou Heaven and the Saints of Wanshou Heaven had set up several boundaries to protect it. But the Sacred Race suddenly locked onto the Dragon Spirit Utopia¡¯s location, what was their intention?! ¡°Clan leader, the Dragon Spirit Utopia has the mark of our Wanshou Heaven so no foreign races other than Genesis beast clans can enter if entered from other heavens,¡± said great elder Jin Jie in a deep voice. Jin Yanghuang nodded. ¡±That''s correct, so the Sacred Race did not dispatch Sacred Race members to enter the Dragon Spirit Utopia¡­but the evil beast clan.¡± The hall filled with clamor suddenly fell silent, but Zhou Yuan noticed many people''s eyes had turned a little red and an intense murderous intent was surging within the hall. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t just them. Even Tuntun, who was lying on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, was digging into his scalp with his claws. "What''s wrong?" Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly. He couldn¡¯t understand why they would react in such a way to the so-called evil beast clan. After Tuntun was silent for a good while, a wisp of thought penetrated into Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows soon were scrunched together in a frown. It was said that when the Sacred Race started the world-ending war and wanted to wipe out all other races in the ancient times, the Genesis beast race fought back with all their strength and that was considered the Genesis beast race¡¯s most pinnacle moment in history. They brought a lot of pressure to the Sacred Race that invaded. But traitors appeared within the Genesis beasts at the most critical moment. Some Genesis beasts betrayed their race and turned to the Sacred Race. That weakened the Genesis beast race¡¯s strength. Moreover, the Genesis beasts that joined the Sacred Race also brought the corpses of many ancestors of various beast clans. In the end, the Sacred God of the Sacred Race used the flesh and blood of many Genesis beasts as well as the remains of Genesis beast ancestors to cleanse the Genesis beasts that joined them. As a result, a new clan was born. It was the so-called evil beast clan that Jin Yanghuang was speaking about. The new clan, built on the flesh, blood, and corpses of the Genesis beast race, possessed a unique characteristic¡ªThey had intense hunger for Genesis beasts and when the two meet, there was no doubt that one would die. The clan was a product that the Sacred Race specially created to target the Genesis beast race. The two sides had clashed several times over the years and the feud between them was too deep and complicated to describe. It was only when the Sacred Race withdrew back to their five heavens after the world-ending war that the killings gradually became less frequent. However, the deep hatred the Genesis beast race felt towards them was recorded in the ancient records. It was the hatred towards the traitors for betraying them and for tarnishing their ancestors¡¯ corpses. Zhou Yuan was silent for a good while. It was no wonder that there was such an uproar. But there was something he was more concerned about¡­ He realized there were more and more movements from the Sacred Race these years. Zhou Yuan turned his head slightly, looking at Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful side profile. He somehow felt a little uneasy about the changes, as if a storm was gradually brewing. And when the storm erupts, when it rages, it likely would overturn all-heavens. Chapter 1236 Jin Qingtian The great elder had sharp eyes and directly identified the Sacred Race¡¯s motives. The opportunities in the Dragon Spirit Utopia weren''t small, and there were even Law Domain seeds, which could help cultivate powerful Law Domain experts. But in truth, although Law Domain experts were considered top forces to the Sacred Race, it would be naive to think Law Domain experts could change anything. Jin Yanghuang was silent for a moment before he answered, ¡°The Saints of our Wanshou Heaven is investigating what the Sacred Race is planning but there hasn¡¯t been any results yet. Perhaps the Sacred Race is just using the Dragon Spirit Utopia as a training session.¡± Many people¡¯s eyelids twitched. Training? The Sacred Race that had been quiet for years was finally beginning to act? Jin Yanghuang said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. The Wanshou Heaven must guard the Dragon Spirit Utopia regardless of what the Sacred Race¡¯s motive is. All-races also sent an order¡­the evil beast clan that enters Dragon Spirit Utopia must be wiped out!¡± Intense killing intent permeated the air as he finished speaking, as if turning into a sea of blood and corpses, and made it difficult for everyone to breathe. "Because of this matter, the requirements for entry into the Wanshou Region will be relaxed and there will be a higher number of places. At the same time, the various races will send out more elite forces to provide support.¡± A lot of whispering broke out and many people wore surprised expressions. After all, according to the past rules, they required an object contaminated with the essence and blood of an Alpha Holy Beast. Although such objects existed in all-races, they were very rare. Therefore, there was a limited number of places each time. But since the requirements were relaxed, many people had a higher chance of participating. ¡°More elite forces..." Zhou Yuan was focussed on the last sentence that Jin Yanghuang said. The Dragon Spirit Utopia had a restriction on power and only those below the Law Domain stage could enter. Those already selected to enter were at the pinnacle of the Nascent Source stage, such as Jin Lan. Were there people stronger than Jin Lan below the Law Domain stage? Of course there were¡­ A bright light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes because there was a strange level between the Law Domain and the Nascent Source stage, and that level was called the pseudo Law Domain stage. Peak master Liu Lianyi and peak master Ling Jun from the Cangxuan Sect were also at that level back then. They weren¡¯t considered at the Nascent Source stage, just as they wouldn¡¯t be ranked on the Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Nascent Source List. While thoughts streamed across Zhou Yuan''s mind, Jin Yanghuang flicked his fingers and the space in the hall tore apart. Then, a middle-aged man stepped out from the torn space. The middle-aged man¡¯s face was devoid of expression. He was burly and his golden hair glistened under the light like a lion. His imposing bearing was so terrifying that many felt their hearts suppressed. Many people from the Golden Monkey Clan exclaimed with his appearance. "Elder Jin Qingtian?¡± "Isn''t he in closed-door cultivation all year round? He was also summoned out?¡± ¡°......¡± Zhou Yuan similarly stared intently at the middle-aged man, who stood silently while emitting an oppressive pressure. The pressure made even him tense up uncontrollably. Moreover, he perceived dangerous yet familiar waves of energy from his body. If Zhou Yuan¡¯s speculation was correct, the man should be at the pseudo Law Domain stage. In truth, pseudo-Law Domain experts might not necessarily be much stronger than perfect Nascent Source experts because the gap between them wasn¡¯t huge based purely on Genesis Qi. The only thing was that a pseudo Law Domain could dramatically increase one¡¯s combat strength. A Law Domain seed had a relatively small effect on pseudo Law Domain experts, and perhaps this was why experts at that level rarely entered the Dragon Spirit Utopia in the past. "Elder Jin Qingtian will also enter the Dragon Spirit Utopia and will be in a team with Jin Lan.¡± Many gazes shifted enviously to Jin Lan. The two will work together in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Jin Lan was already a well-known figure at the perfect Nascent Source stage, and with Jin Qingtian''s assistance, they would be even more powerful. Everyone thought Jin Lan would have a lot of problems after losing Little Ancestor as a partner but unexpectedly, his clan had arranged a pseudo-Law Domaine expert to team up with him. But in a sense, their team was stronger than Little Ancestor and Zhou Yuan. After all, although Little Ancestor was an Alpha Holy Beast, he still hadn¡¯t fully awakened yet and still only possessed Nascent Source stage strength and his chance of winning against pseudo Law Domain experts was unpredictable. Under these gazes, Jin Ya, who was sitting beside Jin Lan, lit up with joy. Jin Lan also showed a slight look of joy before he stood up and bowed to Jin Qingtian. After all, Jin Qingtian was higher up than him in terms of seniority. Moreover, Jin Qingtian¡¯s arrival indeed helped him a lot. "I heard you lost to an outsider,¡± said Jin Qingtian as he glanced at Jin Lan. Jin Lan flushed with embarrassment but eventually nodded. Jin Qingtian was considered his elder so he had to accept his teaching. However, Jin Qingtian didn¡¯t say much and just sat down while looking forward. ¡°It¡¯s just one time. Don¡¯t worry. Now that I¡¯m here I won¡¯t let those cunning people take advantage of us. I will help you get revenge when there¡¯s a chance.¡± Jin Lan smiled bitterly, ¡°Clan uncle, I actually stepped into the pit myself.¡± Jin Qingtian waved his hand dismissively and closed his eyes to rest. Jin Lan could only shake his head helplessly. "That guy seems to dislike me." Although far away, Zhou Yuan still keenly sensed that Jin Qintian wasn¡¯t friendly towards him. However, his emotions didn¡¯t change because of that. A pseudo Law Domain expert might sound intimidating but it was still the Nascent Source stage. Moreover, no Law Domains were the same! His Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune could also form a Law Domain. My one is not considered a true Law Domain expert, but yours is? It¡¯s just a fake vs. a fake! We will only know what happens in a battle! Of course, he couldn''t deny that the various clans in Wanshou Heaven attached much more importance to the Dragon Spirit Utopia because of the Sacred Race¡¯s intervention, which they did not know the reason for. However, the pseudo Law Domain experts¡¯ participation would undoubtedly make the competition in Dragon Spirit Utopia the most intense ever. "I feel like there are troubles wherever I go..." Zhou Yuan sighed. Dragon Spirit Utopia turned out to be such a bad idea. While Zhou Yuan was sighing, Jin Yanghuang had already arranged the various matters. After nodding to Yaoyao, he ended the meeting. The people from the Golden Monkey Clan left one after another, but whispers continued to circulate. It was clear that the matters regarding the evil beast clan had a huge impact on many people. This offered a glimpse into the state of shock the various clans in Wanshou Heaven were in. ... In the next few days, Zhou Yuan distinctly noticed the atmosphere within the Golden Monkey Clan became much tenser, and almost all the conversation topics were related to the evil beast clan. As he expected, the news of the evil beast clan spread throughout the Wanshou Heaven, and the shock it brought could be described as a landslide or tsunami. Zhou Yuan still underestimated the bone-deep contempt and hatred the Genesis beast race had towards the evil beast clan. When the evil beast clan was born from the flesh, blood and bones of the various Genesis beast clans was perhaps when the two races stood on absolute opposing sides¡­ Time quietly passed by under the atmosphere that resembled a storm brewing. The Dragon Spirit Utopia was about to open. Chapter 1237 Into the Utopia The vortex led to the Dragon Spirit Utopia. The atmosphere in the mountains below was buzzing unusually and countless members of the Golden Monkey Clan were staring at the spatial vortex with envy and desire. Only the elites of each clan could enter the Dragon Spirit Utopia. They hoped they could represent their clan and win glory and obtain amazing opportunities. With Tuntun on his head, Zhou Yuan stood beside Yaoyao on a mountain summit. ¡°You need to be careful in the Dragon Spirit Utopia, the Sacred Race mustn¡¯t be underestimated.¡± The mountain wind lifted Yaoyao¡¯s silk-like hair and her slender and graceful figure was so perfect that it seemed created by heaven. Zhou Yuan couldn''t help staring admiringly at her. Yaoyao''s figure seemed to be getting better and better. But when he saw the corners of Yaoyao''s lips slightly curving in a strange arc, he immediately looked straight ahead and said, "I understand.¡± Tuntun yawned on Zhou Yuan''s head and then mockingly laughed out loud. Yaoyao cast her cold and clear eyes at him. ¡°Listen to Zhou Yuan in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. He is more cautious and reliable than you.¡± Tuntun, who was smiling smugly, lowered his head dispiritedly and didn¡¯t even have the strength to respond. He originally planned to take the position of boss when they get into the Dragon Spirit Utopia and order Zhou Yuan about, but Yaoyao destroyed his thought with one sentence. After all, Tuntun, who was always fearless, would never disobey Yaoyao¡¯s order, which to him was like it was an imperial decree. Zhou Yuan couldn''t help smiling triumphantly, ¡°Little boy, you wanted to order me around?¡± Then, he turned to the remarkably beautiful girl beside him and took her little hand, sighing, "I thought I could travel with you, but we have to be apart again for a while.¡± Yaoyao said reassuringly, ¡±The Dragon Spirit Utopia is a good opportunity for you guys. You can''t give up such a good chance. I will wait here for your return.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and opened his arms for a hug. ¡°Let¡¯s say goodbye.¡± As Yaoyao gazed at Zhou Yuan with her clear and bright eyes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was reflected in them. She slightly curved the corners of her lips upwards and stepped forward to let Zhou Yuan hug her. Soft, warm and sweet-smelling. That softness almost made Zhou Yuan unwilling to let go and head into the Dragon Spirit Utopia. The scene attracted the attention of many people in the surroundings. After all, the girl in Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms was too remarkable and even Jin Ling¡¯er and Jin Ya, who were known for their beauty, paled in comparison to her. Jin Yanghuang stood with hands clasped behind him on a mountain summit, watching the embrace with a strange expression. He was vaguely aware of the affairs between Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, which also had stirred up a lot of waves in the Omega Shrine. No one thought that she would fall for a mortal. ¡°I don''t know whether it''s good or bad,¡± he murmured. Then, he ran his eyes across and his majestic voice resounded. ¡°It¡¯s almost time, get ready to leave.¡± After a pause, his eyes grew fierce and sharp. ¡°I want to say one more thing. The Dragon Spirit Utopia is no longer a place of training. I suggest you treat it as a battlefield. Your ultimate goal is to kill the evil beast clan that entered the Dragon Spirit Utopia! ¡°My Wanshou Heaven can¡¯t be contaminated by that clan!¡± Monstrous killing intent directly caused the wind to rise, clouds scud across and the temperature to drop. All Golden Monkey Clan members responded fiercely with murderous aura circulating around them. That monstrous murderous intent pulled Zhou Yuan out from the soft and warm embrace. The evil beast clan deserves to die, they turned such a good training experience into a battlefield of life and death. Zhou Yuan could foresee the slaughterings even before entering the Dragon Spirit Utopia. As Jin Yanghuang''s voice faded, streams of light shot into the sky from the mountains and formed a team before diving into the spatial vortex. They each held a strange object that emitted an ancient and wild aura in their hands, which should be the essence and blood of a Sacred beast. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded to Yaoyao before he soared into the sky. As he neared the spatial vortex, a little purple-gold scale suddenly detached from Tuntun who was on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. The scale that was stained with a dash of blood and essence darted into the vortex. Then, the vortex parted and Zhou Yuan took advantage of the chance to dive in. Yaoyao didn¡¯t move from her spot as she watched the two disappear. At a certain moment, Jin Yanghuang appeared next to her. He gave a cupped fist salute to Yaoyao and said with a smile, "Your Excellency, there is a message from the Omega Shrine. If you have time you can pay the Omega Shrine a visit.¡± Yaoyao retracted her gaze from the vortex, but there wasn¡¯t a hint of emotion on her stunning face. ¡°If I have time, I will consider it.¡± Her tone was indifferent. Jin Yanghuang didn''t seem angry and just nodded with a smile. ¡°Your Excellency should do what you feel like.¡± ¡°Why would the Sacred Race target the Dragon Spirit Utopia?¡± Yaoyao suddenly asked. Jin Yanghuang¡¯s expression tensed up and he shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s difficult to know because this is the first time the Sacred Race is after the Dragon Spirit Utopia. But I heard from the Omega Shrine that Saints from the Sacred Race had appeared in the chaos void and Saints from the shrine fought them.¡± Yaoyao was silent for a moment, before she said, ¡°There are more and more movements from the Sacred Race these days.¡± She raised her stunning face as though her eyes could penetrate the countless voids. After a long while, she said indifferently, ¡°Please pay attention to their movements. That person from the Sacred Race perhaps will awaken soon.¡± Jin Yanghuang''s heart trembled. Even someone with his identity and calmness couldn¡¯t stop his expression from changing. This was because he knew who Yaoyao was talking about¡­ That existence was like a sickle hanging on the heads of all-races. There was only peace in the past thousands of years because the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will had severely wounded that person in the ancient times. But that person would eventually reappear. And when He appeared, all-heavens would undoubtedly be destroyed. Jin Yanghuang drew a deep breath and bowed to Yaoyao. "Thank you very much. I will report this matter to the Omega Shrine.¡± Yaoyao waved her hand and no longer paid attention to the Saint from the Golden Monkey Clan. Instead, her eyes were fixed on the spatial vortex that vanished as if at a loss on what to do. She felt distressed. Chapter 1238 Jiang Hongying Dragon Spirit Utopia. A desolate world. A tremendous round stone platform was suspended in the sky. The area above the platform constantly cracked as imposing figures continuously shot out and landed on the round stone platform. The stone platform that had been quiet for a long time became lively again. With Tuntun on his head, Zhou Yuan also landed on the round stone platform. He immediately sensed the different universe Genesis Qi and the faint strange aroma it contained. He could feel his flesh and blood much more spirited under such universe Genesis Qi. His blood flowed much smoother and quicker. It was as though his entire body was cheering. "This Dragon Spirit Utopia''s Genesis Qi is indeed perfect for cultivation,¡± Zhou Yuan couldn''t help exclaiming. His bodily strength would likely improve tremendously if he could cultivate here for a period. He swept his gaze around the figures on the stone platform. The majority were not from the Golden Monkey Clan, and from their aura, they should be from other clans in Wanshou Heaven. It seemed everyone was randomly scattered on the suspended round stone platform after entering the Dragon Spirit Utopia through the vortex. Zhou Yuan stroked Tuntun who was on his head. Although Tuntun was yawning, his eyes blazed as he scanned the ancient and desolate world. Zhou Yuan could feel the anticipation in Tuntun''s heart from his restlessness. "The Ancestral Spirit Mountain in the Dragon Spirit Utopia should appear later. We can wait here or explore for other opportunities,¡± said Zhou Yuan. Tuntun slapped Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Of course we need to explore. There are many opportunities to be found! Zhou Yuan grinned. He of course had the same thought. Besides the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, he was also very interested in the Ancestral Spirit Fruit, a specialty of the Dragon Spirit Utopia. because he hadn¡¯t made much progress in his Spirit cultivation over the years, which he felt was due to a lack of opportunities. Perhaps the Ancestral Spirit Fruit could help him in that area. Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan wanted to directly jump off the stone platform. However, just as he moved, a wave of powerful and berserk Genesis Qi erupted from the platform, and then directly locked onto Zhou Yuan. The sudden change startled Zhou Yuan a little. Then, he turned his head expressionlessly to where the Genesis Qi came from. The Genesis Qi movement not only attracted Zhou Yuan''s attention, but experts from other clans on the stone platform also cast surprised gazes over. In that direction stood an extraordinarily tall and beautiful figure. It was a woman dressed in a black and gold combat robe tightly fitting around her curvaceous body and highlighted her beautiful sexy and strong curves as well as long and straight legs. The beautiful woman had short silver hair, which looked neat and tidy yet made her look striking and fierce. She had a beautiful but aloof face, particularly her eyes, which were long and narrow. As she raised her brows, there was a ferocious air around her. Hua. The expressions of all the other Nascent Source experts on the round stone platform changed when they saw the woman. Soon, there was a low commotion within the crowd. "It''s Jiang Hongying from the Mystic Dragon Clan!" ¡°It¡¯s that savage and unreasonable female dragon¡­" "The person she targeted is very familiar. I remember! He¡¯s Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Zhou Yuan. He entered from the Golden Monkey Clan¡­" "He is part of the human race of Hunyuan Heaven. Why did he come to our Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± "Do you see who¡¯s on his head? It¡¯s Little Ancestor of the Golden Monkey Clan, an Alpha Holy Beast... and Zhou Yuan is the partner he invited.¡± "But what does Jiang Hongying want to do?¡± "I heard something. Do you guys know Jiang Jinlin? The one who died in Guyuan Heaven. He is Jiang Hongying''s little brother¡­" ¡°What does that have to do with Zhou Yuan? It¡¯s the Sacred Race who killed Jiang Jinlin.¡± ¡°How unreasonable is Jiang Hongying? I don¡¯t know how many people who tried to reason with her has been ripped to shreds¡­" "Zhou Yuan is really unlucky.¡± ¡°......¡± A lot of whispering broke out and fell into Zhou Yuan''s ears. He looked indifferently at the silver-haired woman and saw a thin black-robed figure behind her, who similarly exuded a dangerous aura. At the same time, many Mystic Dragon Clan experts, who similarly possessed tyrannical Genesis Qi, followed behind Jiang Hongying as though about to surround Zhou Yuan. Tuntun patted Zhou Yuan''s head and a wisp of thought entered his mind, ¡°You''re in trouble." The woman in front is stronger than Jin Lan. Zhou Yuan''s eyes turned cold. Jiang Hongying stopped a few feet away from Zhou Yuan under countless gazes. "Are you Zhou Yuan of Hunyuan Heaven?" Jiang Hongying''s voice sounded a little hoarse, but there was an unconcealable chilling intent. ¡°Is there something?¡± Zhou Yuan asked indifferently. "I am Jiang Hongying from the Mystic Dragon Clan and Jiang Jinlin who died in Guyuan Heaven is my younger brother." Jiang Hongying stared at Zhou Yuan with reddened eyes. Zhou Yuan nodded, saying, ¡°Sorry for your loss." "Although he died in the Sacred Race¡¯s hands, I heard it was you who decided to break into the boundary formation.¡± "It''s me." Zhou Yuan didn''t deny it. ¡°Do you think we should have retreated instead and handed over all the Genesis Qi ancestral veins to the Sacred Race?¡± Experts from various clans frowned, looking discontentedly at Jiang Hongying. Zhou Yuan''s decision at the time was correct. No matter what, they couldn''t give in and retreat at that time. All heavens benefitted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s action, including Jiang Hongying. Therefore, her behaviour was unreasonable. ¡°I know I¡¯m unreasonable,¡± said Jiang Hongying indifferently, "But I don''t care. My younger brother is dead. I will rip any Sacred Race members apart when I see them even if I only have one last breath remaining and even if I risk my life.¡± She looked at Zhou Yuan with reddened eyes. "But I feel that you¡¯re also responsible for his death. ¡°So¡­ "Although I won¡¯t kill you¡­I need to teach you a lesson. Otherwise you won¡¯t understand.¡± As she finished her sentence, dragon scales surfaced on her face and terrifying Genesis Qi suddenly erupted from her body. Then, the world changed color and dragon power permeated the air, making the experts from all clans draw back repeatedly with changing expressions. Is that savage and unreasonable female dragon really going to take action?! Chapter 1239 Ancestral Spirit Tree Berserk earth shattering Genesis Qi pressure as well as overbearing dragon might swept out from Jiang Hongying¡¯s body, causing the surrounding expert of various clans to turn pale and retreat hurriedly. They feared being impacted in the savage and unreasonable woman¡¯s attack. Terrifying pressure directly assaulted Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, but his expression remained unchanged and he simply said calmly, ¡°You really want to play?¡± Chi! Jiang Hongying responded with a sudden move. She swung her long leg out like a giant hammer and shattered the surrounding space. Faintly, there seemed to be the roar of a dragon. Even the space wailed as terrifying power erupted. Jiang Hongying hadn¡¯t brought out her Genesis Qi, but even so, her pure bodily strength was already terrifying enough. Bang! As Zhou Yuan lifted one arm it glowed with the Sant Glass Light. Then, he expressionlessly thrust out a punch. His Saint Glass Body was activated and power erupted from him like a volcano, flowing all over his body like lava. The kick and punch collided. The collision, like an explosion of thunder, caused many experts¡¯ ears to ring painfully. Berserk waves of qi raged across the area. Zhou Yuan''s arm vibrated, then a force strong enough to smash a mountain blasted Jiang Hongying''s long leg back. Her leg drew a half circle in the air before she put her leg back on the ground, causing the entire stone platform to shake violently. ¡°Interesting. You¡¯re only at the advanced Nascent Source stage yet you possess such strength,¡± said Jiang Hongying coldly. Zhou Yuan stared at her indifferently. "Jiang Jinlin died in battle in Guyuan Heaven. Although I¡¯m not considered friends with him, I still respect him. It¡¯s unfortunate that he has an idiot older sister.¡± Killing intent surged to Jiang Hongying''s narrow and long eyes. "What did you say?!¡± The several Mystic Dragon Clan experts behind Jiang Hongying also gave Zhou Yuan hostile stares. It was at that moment when several figures came to stand behind Zhou Yuan. "Jiang Hongying, you¡¯re being too unreasonable.¡± Zhou Yuan glanced behind him and saw a golden-haired middle-aged man with a long beard. He was from the Golden Monkey Clan. Zhou Yuan remembered he was called Jin Zhong. Jin Ling''er had brought Jin Zhong to meet Zhou Yuan before when he was at the Golden Monkey Clan and so they were somewhat acquainted. Zhou Yuan was a little surprised that he would stand up for him at such a time. ¡°Your Golden Monkey Clan wants to protect him?¡± Jiang Hongying studied Jin Zhong and the others with a sharp knife-like gaze, and then a hint of content flashed to her eyes. ¡°Even Jin Lan dared not say anything to us. Who do you think you are?¡± "Zhou Yuan is a distinguished guest of our Golden Monkey Clan. Also Little Ancestor is here. We we can¡¯t tolerate you acting so arrogant and unreasonable!¡± Jin Zhong said coldly. Jiang Hongying turned her gaze to Tuntun who was yawning on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. "Your Excellency, you are also a member of the Genesis beast race, why did you side with an outsider?¡± Tuntun swept a glance over Jiang Hongying, took out a stone slab and wrote: What does it have to do with you? Jiang Hongying''s eyes suddenly flashed with anger. Although Tuntun was an Alpha Holy Beast, she wasn¡¯t afraid of him because her Mystic Dragon Clan was a Sacred Beast Clan. Although they had to evolve repeatedly to become a true Sacred Beast in terms of the purity and age of their blood, they wouldn¡¯t be afraid of Tuntun¡¯s might. Moreover, Tuntun only possessed strength of the Nascent Source stage! As though knew what Jiang Hongying was thinking, a chilling and fierce intent flashed in Tuntun''s eyes. He slowly floated up from the top of Zhou Yuan''s head and an earth shattering oppressive pressure erupted from him. As dazzling golden light flashed, he transformed into his giant beast form. Black light flowed around his giant mouth and made many people shudder. Many people on the stone platform were filled with fear when they looked over and felt the threatening power emitting from Tuntun. Jiang Hongying also noticed the oppressive pressure emanating from Tuntun. Her expression froze and she couldn¡¯t stop her slender and long body from tensing up. A black-clad figure behind Jiang Hongying took a step forward. Under that black robe was a very ordinary man¡¯s face that always wore a smile. As he smiled, his eyes also smiled into slits. But many Nascent Source experts¡¯ expressions changed when they saw the ordinary-looking man. "It''s Jiang Ba!¡± "That guy also came¡­He is one of the most well-known figures in Wanshou Heaven back then. But he hadn¡¯t been seen in the past 100 years because he has been in closed-door cultivation to comprehend the Law Domain stage. I didn''t think the Mystic Dragon Clan would also send him here.¡± ¡°I heard he has long formed a pseudo Law Domain. I wonder how far his Law Domain can open up to now.¡± "With him here, we don¡¯t need to be afraid of that Little Ancestor.¡± ¡°......¡± Amidst the whisperings, the man called Jiang Ba looked up and said to Tuntun, "Your Excellency, although you might have a much greater potential than I do, that is in the future. But right now, we are at the same level.¡± What he implied was that the oppressive pressure that Tuntun exuded can¡¯t deter him. Jin Zhong¡¯s complexion changed a little as his eyes fearfully locked on Jiang Ba. At the same time, his expression turned cold and grave, and beads of sweat gathered on the several Golden Monkey Clan experts¡¯ foreheads. Jiang Ba¡¯s and Jiang Hongying''s reputations in Wanshou Heaven were after all superior to them all. If a battle really broke out between them, they likely wouldn¡¯t benefit anything from it. Tuntun stared disdainfully at Jiang Ba in mid-air, and the oppressive pressure emanating from his body grew increasingly terrifying. Even the surrounding space began to vibrate. It was a sign that he was about to make a move. Jiang Hongying fixed Zhou Yuan with a fierce look and said to Jiang Ba, "You stop Little Ancestor and I will see how strong Zhou Yuan is.¡± Jiang Ba smiled. "I can give you around one hour.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± said Jiang Hongying arrogantly. Although Zhou Yuan had a bit of fame in all-heavens, he had only been at the Nascent Source stage for around half a year. Although she could tell that Zhou Yuan possessed extraordinary strength from their previous exchange, she still had absolute confidence in herself. If Zhou Yuan wanted to stand out at the Nascent Source stage, it would likely take him some time first! At the very least, he had no qualification to do so right now! As Jiang Hongying clenched her hand, a spear covered with dragon scales appeared in her grip and her imposing bearing soared dramatically. Then, with a blazing and provocative gaze, she looked at Zhou Yuan. "If you beat me, I will let go of Jiang Jinlin''s matter.¡± Zhou Yuan said indifferently, "First of all, I have to tell you that I¡¯m very sorry for Jiang Jinlin''s death, but I am not going to take responsibility for it. But that doesn¡¯t mean I decline your offer.¡± He smiled, revealing his white teeth. ¡°Because I think you need a beating!¡± Many experts of various clans looked dumbstruck at Zhou Yuan because they didn¡¯t think he would speak so frankly. After all, Jiang Hongying was known for her violent temper. It would be strange is she didn¡¯t explode wildly because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. As expected, Jiang Hongying''s face turned frosty and she locked her narrow eyes on Zhou Yuan, A suffocating killing intent filled the air. "Very well, I hope you can still speak when I break your mouth!¡± Jiang Hongying laughed angrily as terrifying Genesis Qi erupted from her. Tuntun also let out a deafening roar as his oppressive power enveloped the world. Jiang Ba''s robe billowed around him, and his pupils gradually turned gold. He floated up to the sky, ready to face Tuntun who was enraged. But just as the two sides were about to launch an attack, a loud noise suddenly resounded across the world. It was like the sound of an earthquake splitting the ground apart. Everyone paused for a moment before they simultaneously turned to the source of the loud noise. There, they saw the distant mountains parted and a giant ancient tree slowly rose, blotting out the sky. The tree emitted brilliant light that enveloped that side of world. Vaguely, they seemed to see divine lights hanging on the ancient tree like some kind of mysterious fruits. Even the whistling of wind around the platform seemed to still for a moment. Even Jiang Hongying and Jiang Ba who were about to launch an attack stared in the direction of the ancient tree with narrowed eyes. The stillness lasted a few breaths before loud and joyous voices rang out from the stone platform. ¡°That¡¯s¡­the Ancestral Spirit Tree with Ancestral Spirit Fruits?!" Chapter 1240 Incredible Luck A giant ancient tree appeared in the distant sky and the Genesis Qi it brought to the world could be distinctly felt even from the stone platform that was tens of thousand miles away. The halo of light bloomed from the ancient tree rippled mysteriously. The sudden strange spectacle completely swept away the tense atmosphere on the round stone platform as though it never existed. The Ancestral Spirit Tree¡¯s appearance undoubtedly made everyone''s eyes blaze with wild excitement. Such a huge Ancestral Spirit Tree must have already bore fruits and those fruits were no doubt very attractive to everyone present. This was because the Genesis beasts clans had always attached more importance to the cultivation of physical strength. Their Spirit cultivation was inferior or could even be considered as their weakness. The Ancestral Spirit Fruit was an incredibly rare treasure that could strengthen their Spirit. If they could refine it, it could compensate for their many weaknesses and could give them an upper hand in battle. Amidst countless excited gazes, Jiang Ba was the first to snap out of the astonishment and calmed the Genesis Qi surging around his body. He immediately appeared beside Jiang Hongying and urged, ¡°Hurry, since the Ancestral Spirit Tree has appeared, there must be opportunities!¡± Jiang Hongying nodded and then glanced at Zhou Yuan without saying anything else. She turned into a stream of light and swiftly sped away in the tree¡¯s direction with Jiang Ba. This was because she knew that the battle between the two sides wasn¡¯t over and Zhou Yuan no doubt wouldn¡¯t give up on the Ancestral Spirit Tree; therefore, a real battle was inevitable between them. This was also what she wanted. After all, when she targeted Zhou Yuan it was because she wanted to settle some personal matters. But with the Ancestral Spirit Fruits¡¯ appearance, if Zhou Yuan still wanted to compete, he would be considered as fighting against the entire Mystic Dragon Clan. The Mystic Dragon Clan''s several Nascent Source experts immediately followed Jiang Hongying. This confrontation seemed a bit anticlimactic. As they set off, the other experts present couldn''t stand watching any longer. Although the Mystic Dragon Clan was powerful and had a large number of people, a great opportunity was right in front of them and no one wanted to give it up so easily. Several figures leapt up from the stone platform and streaked across the sky. The lively platform was quickly deserted and turned quiet. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to Jiang Hongying and the others because his gaze was intently fixed on the giant ancient tree in the distance. The faint halo of light bloomed from it made his Spirit respond with waves of desire. Jin Zhong and other Golden Monkey Clan Nascent Source experts turned to Zhou Yuan with excitement and anticipation in their eyes, asking, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, Little Ancestor, what do you plan to do next?¡± All experts of the various clans most likely had detected the Ancestral Spirit Tree¡¯s tremendous movements, which meant there would no doubt be fierce competition when they meet. Jin Zhong and the others were strong, but compared to the Mystic Dragon Clan troops led by Jiang Ba and Jiang Hongying, they were not on the same level. If Zhou Yuan and Tuntun were willing to lead their team, their team¡¯s power would increase significantly. It was just that Jin Zhong and the others didn¡¯t know whether Zhou Yuan would be willing to go find the Ancestral Spirit Fruits because he would truly clash with the powerful Mystic Dragon Clan experts including Jiang Hongying and Jiang Ba. The battle at that time would be a real competition for the opportunity unlike the one before. Tuntun''s huge body shrank and he landed back on Zhou Yuan''s head. Zhou Yuan asked with a smile, ¡°What do you think?¡± Tuntun slapped Zhou Yuan''s head excitedly and passed his thought into his mind, ¡°Snatch it! Snatch it! Beat that woman!¡± His answer was simple and clear. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°That¡¯s what I was thinking too.¡± Jiang Hongying clearly warned Zhou Yuan to not intervene with her eyes before she left. Zhou Yuan shook his head. That stupid woman underestimated my temper. When had Zhou Yuan ever given up on the many opportunities that appeared during his years of cultivation? He had killed even Jia Tu when he tried to block his path. What was Jiang Hongying compared to him? Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across Jin Zhong and the others and said with a smile, ¡°How would I give up on such an opportunity? If you guys are interested you can come with me.¡± Zhou Yuan had a very good impression of Jin Zhong and the others since they had chosen to stand forward and support him even under the pressure of Jiang Hongying and Jiang Ba. He wouldn¡¯t mind sharing the opportunity with them if he succeeded. Upon hearing this, Jin Zhong and the others lit up with joy. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t waste any time. He led the way with Tuntun on his head and turned into a stream of light, speeding into the distance. Jin Zhong and the others quickly followed. ... It was only as they continued to cut through the sky and hasten on with their journey that they realized how far the Ancestral Spirit Tree was and that they wouldn¡¯t arrive any time soon, even if they travelled at full speed. While they streaked across the sky at full speed, Zhou Yuan sensed waves of Genesis Qi constantly soaring from the vast land. They were all moving in the same direction as them, which means they were also heading for the Ancestral Spirit Tree. ¡°The main show started earlier than I thought.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. The Dragon Spirit Utopia couldn¡¯t be compared to Guyuan Heaven in terms of vastness, but this was normal because there was a huge difference between them. Nevertheless, the battles were equally exciting. The location that appeared close was actually very far away. Zhou Yuan and the others were exhausted from flying. After an hour of full speed travel, they finally were approaching the Ancestral Spirit Tree. As they neared, they marvelled at the tremendous size of the Ancestral Spirit Tree. The canopy of its leaves blotted out the sky for thousands of miles and its towering trunk resembled a pillar that supported the sky. Just when they were hundreds of miles away from the Ancestral Spirit Tree, Zhou Yuan and the others stopped and landed on a mountain. There were constantly streams of light descending from all directions and turned into human silhouettes. Those people were all staring at the Ancestral Spirit Tree with blazing eyes. Zhou Yuan also raised his head and saw countless mysterious rays of light entwining around the tree as if forming a natural Genesis Rune formation. Among the many light rays were balls of light hanging on the branches. Those balls of light were extremely mysterious¡ªThe light flowing in them resembled liquid, and upon a closer look, he discovered an illusory-like milky white fruit in their depths. The fruit seemed to not exist to the naked eye, similar to illusory objects, and could only be perceived by one¡¯s Spirit. One¡¯s physical body couldn¡¯t touch Ancestral Spirit Fruits and only the Spirit could harvest them. Zhou Yuan smacked his lips. It¡¯s a real Ancestral Spirit Fruit! Moreover¡­ He swept his gaze around the Ancestral Spirit Tree and saw dozens of similar balls of light. Moreover, below the most dazzling balls of light were some faint balls of light that hadn¡¯t quite fully matured. Regardless, the presence of so many Ancestral Spirit Fruits made everyone breathe rapidly and their heart rate increased. Intense desire and greed rose to their eyes. It was very rare to see an Ancestral Spirit Tree bear so many Ancestral Spirit Fruits! They were incredibly lucky to encounter one the moment they entered the Dragon Spirit Utopia! Chapter 1241 Divide A total of 19 light balls were hanging on the Ancestral Spirit Tree¡¯s top level. In other words, there were 19 matured Ancestral Spirit Fruits. Zhou Yuan suddenly felt a little greedy. He wanted to swallow all 19 fruits because it would significantly increase his Spirit cultivation level. But he knew he couldn¡¯t pocket them all and not share with the others. The experts from the various clans of the Wanshou Heavens had already gathered here, including those from the Mystic Dragon clan headed by Jiang Hongying and Jiang Ba. He would no doubt arousepublicindignation if he swallowed all the Ancestral Spirit Fruits, and he and Tuntun likely couldn¡¯t withstand the backlash. Tuntun suddenly patted Zhou Yuan¡¯s head and sent a message to his mind, ¡°Zhou Yuan, there is a surprise with ten Ancestral Spirit Fruits!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Zhou Yuan puzzledly. Tuntun didn''t say anything more about this and sent another mysterious thought, "You''ll know when the time comes.¡± Behind the message was Tuntun¡¯s mysterious and proud expression. Zhou Yuan was at a loss for words. It was only after a while that he scrunched his brows and said, ¡°Ten is too much.¡± There were a total of 19 mature Ancestral Spirit Fruits. He felt that even Jiang Ba, Jiang Hongying and others wouldn¡¯t dare to have such a huge appetite to take that many. If Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t leave some for the others, it also wouldn¡¯t be that easy to harvest the fruits. ¡°Let¡¯s see how much we can take first." Zhou Yuan remained composed and wasn¡¯t tempted by Tuntun¡¯s mysterious words. Tuntun yawned and didn''t push any further. He simply reminded Zhou Yuan. Of course it would be best if they could succeed, but if not, it didn¡¯t matter. Roar! While Zhou Yuan and Tuntun were conversing, a tiger¡¯s roar containing terrifying fiendish aura resounded from the distant sky, enveloping the entire world for a moment. Many experts¡¯ expressions changed slightly when they heard the deafening tiger¡¯s roar. ¡°It¡¯s the Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan!¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head and peered at the distance. Soon, several figures cut through the air and landed around the Ancestral Spirit Tree like meteors, violently shaking the ground. "Hahaha, it''s really lively here. I didn''t expect there to be such an opportunity here." A thunderous laughter reverberated as the Divine Tiger Clan experts descended. Everyone looked over to see a burly man with his upper body bare standing in the leader¡¯s position. He was riddled with deep and hideous scars, and together with his eyes that were filled with fiendish intent, he resembled a ferocious beast. ¡°It¡¯s Meng Chong from the Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan.¡± ¡°It¡¯s another difficult one. He¡¯s going to reduce our share of Ancestral Spirit Fruit.¡± ¡°......¡± Amidst whispers, the burly man called Meng Chong grinned, his white teeth reflecting light. He turned to the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s direction and wrinkled his thick brows when he saw Jiang Hongying and Jiang Ba. He even secretly cursed to himself. He was aware how strong Jiang Hongying and Jiang Ba were and knew that he likely wouldn¡¯t get the lion¡¯s share this time. Then, he scanned the Golden Monkey Clan headed by Zhou Yuan. His gaze hovered on Zhou Yuan and Tuntun for several breaths before he slowly retracted it. "Meng Chong, you have a sharp scent,¡± remarked Jiang Hongying when she saw Meng Chong. Meng Chong pursed his lips and ignored her. Jiang Hongying didn''t care about Meng Chong''s attitude towards and suggested, ¡°Meng Chong, I have a suggestion. How about your Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan join forces with us to get rid of the third party first. After that, you and I can enjoy the lion¡¯s share. Isn¡¯t that better than splitting among three groups?" Jin Zhong and the others immediately reddened with anger. The three strongest forces present, which were the Mystic Dragon Clan, the Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan and the Golden Monkey Clan, would no doubt win the highest share. But Jiang Hongying wanted to join forces with the Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan to get rid them first? Meng Chong¡¯s eyes flashed when he heard the proposal and the several Divine Tiger Clan experts behind him were also tempted. Among the three strongest forces, the Mystic Dragon Clan was undoubtedly the strongest. In other words, the Divine Tiger Clan would benefit if they worked together. The teams of the other clans simply watched coldly at the sidelines. They also wanted to see the three strongest forces fight because that meant they could take advantage of the chaotic situation. But to everyone''s surprise, Meng Chong grinned after pondering for a few seconds and said, "Jiang Hongying, I¡¯m not interested in getting involved in your matters. I don¡¯t want to work for you.¡± He extended four fingers and said, "I only need four Ancestral Spirit Fruits here. You guys can fight for the others.¡± Four wasn¡¯t considered much out of the total of 19 but it also wasn¡¯t small. Although Meng Chong seemed rough outwardly, he had an exceptionally sharp mind and clearly chose such an amount because it wouldn¡¯t spark much dispute. Many spectators looked a little disappointed when Meng Chong refused. That guy looks headstrong but is in fact very cautious. Jiang Hongying snorted coldly. That stupid tiger isn¡¯t that stupid. Jiang Hongying didn''t care too much that her plan failed. She swept a cold glance over Zhou Yuan and took a large step forward. With a flick of her fingers, mighty Genesis Qi roared out and enveloped an area of the Ancestral Spirit Tree. There were seven light balls shining brightly in that area, which were seven mature Ancestral Spirit Fruits. ¡°The Mystic Dragon Clan will take seven Ancestral Spirit Fruits. If anyone objects, then you can take action according to the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s rules!¡± Jiang Hongying''s cold voice resounded. Although she was a woman, her fierce aura wasn¡¯t inferior to any men. It was silent all around, but many experts¡¯ eyes were flashing. In Wanshou Heaven, if one sees rare treasures and think they were strong enough they could snatch them, but they must have the strength to defend themselves from attacks from all sides. A single party of people might be no match for the Mystic Dragon Clan but if they joined forces, they could still threaten the Mystic Dragon Clan. However, no one took action because Jiang Hongying cleverly only took seven. Although her appetite wasn¡¯t considered small, she still left some to the others. Meng Chong also made a move. He led his group into the air and blocked the path that led to the area with four Ancestral Spirit Fruits. Only eight Ancestral Spirit Fruits were left. Gazes shifted to Zhou Yuan who headed the Golden Monkey Clan. Jiang Hongying also cast a playful look over Zhou Yuan, curious to see how big Zhou Yuan¡¯s courage and appetite would be. Under countless gazes, Zhou Yuan expressionlessly waved his hand. A gush of Genesis Qi rose into the air and covered an area of the tree as his indifferent voice rang out, ¡°We will take five Ancestral Spirit Fruits.¡± His action made some people breathe a sigh of relief because he left three and gave the others a chance to compete for the opportunity. ¡°Qi.¡± But Jiang Hongying pursed her lips and seemed a little disappointed. She originally set up this pit to see if Zhou Yuan was courageous enough to take it, which would undoubtedly arouse public wrath. Then she would fan the flames and that should be enough to drive away Zhou Yuan and the others. But who would have thought that Zhou Yuan only took five and left three to distract the other clan experts¡¯ attention. Although disappointed, Jiang Hongying didn¡¯t care too much because this was only the beginning. She knew well what the experts of the Wanshou Heaven clans were like. Once the last three fruits were taken away, the others would undoubtedly shift their attention to them. At that time, it would depend on true strength. One was qualified to enjoy the opportunity if one could guard it. If you couldn¡¯t guard it, then the opportunity had nothing to do with you. This was Wanshou Heaven¡¯s rule. The size of one¡¯s fist was the most important factor, regardless of what status one had. It¡¯s the same with the Mystic Dragon Clan. Once the allocation was decided, Zhou Yuan led Jin Zhong and others into the air, guarding the area they selected. The three teams intently fixed their eyes on their target, while the many other experts cast their gazes to the three unclaimed Ancestral Spirit Fruits. After a few breaths of silence, waves of Genesis Qi violently erupted. Fierce auras shot into the sky and pervaded the air around the Ancestral Spirit Tree. A competition and fight for opportunity immediately unfolded. Chapter 1242 Chaotic Battle Boom! Waves of powerful and berserk Genesis Qi erupted almost at the same time around the Ancestral Spirit Tree area. Many figures shot out, racing towards the last three unclaimed Ancestral Spirit Fruits. But there were too many people fighting for the three fruits and many were attacked on the way. Then, ferocious roars resounded and figures enlarged one after another, turning into fiendish beasts and continued to fight in midair. Ferocious auras surged, causing the area to dim as dark clouds rolled in and filled the sky. Zhou Yuan led Jin Zhong and others to block the path leading to the area of the tree they selected. They all circulated their Genesis Qi to its peak and their eyes were vigilantly locked on the chaotic situation. Although the other clan experts were considered as loose sand in terms of individual strength, they had an advantage in number and if they joined forces, even the three strongest clans wouldn¡¯t withstand against them. Fortunately, if loose sand could gather so easily, they wouldn¡¯t be called loose sand. Bang! Chaotic fights were constantly being performed in the air. As time passed, the chaotic battlefield gradually changed and some remarkable experts rose above the others. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze were fixed on one figure. A strong iron tower-like figure. His skin emitted a white-jade-like luster and every movement of his produced an explosion of terrifying bodily strength. Even space collapsed under his punches. He blasted away the several experts who besieged him until they vomited blood. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, that person is called Liang Zheng, a member of the White Jade Elephant Clan. He is said to possess the strength to pull up a mountain and has some fame among the grade 7 rank of Wanshou Heaven,¡± Jin Zhong timely said to Zhou Yuan when he saw the direction of Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze. Zhou Yuan nodded. Perhaps the Wanshou Heaven didn¡¯t have as many lists as the Hunyuan Heaven because Genesis beast clans were naturally aggressive and the list would likely trigger endless fights and create countless troubles. This was why there were many concealed talents in Wanshou Heaven. Liang Zheng was only one of the people who stood out. There were similar powerful figures in the other areas. Zhou Yuan felt that Liang Zheng had the ability to win one of the Ancestral Spirit Fruits. ¡°We should be prepared,¡± Zhou Yuan reminded Jin Zhong and the others. Although their side was still peaceful and no one dared to charge over, this was only temporary. Once all three Ancestral Spirit Fruits were taken, those who were empty-handed would shift their covetous gaze to them. As a result, clashes were inevitable. Jin Zhong and the others also nodded solemnly. While Zhou Yuan and the others vigilantly watched the chaotic battlefield, the teams headed by Jiang Hongying and Meng Chong were also on guard. As time passed by, the cloying smell of blood filled with air around the Ancestral Spirit Tree. The ground was dyed red from blood. The outcome for the three unclaimed Ancestral Spirit Fruits was finally decided after around an hour. As Zhou Yuan thought, Liang Zheng won one, and the other two were snatched by another two powerful experts that stood out in the chaotic battlefield. The chaotic battlefield suddenly fell silent when the three fruits were taken. Many experts dripped with blood and emitted fiendish auras. Such a scene, coupled with the quiet atmosphere, felt somewhat eerie. Amidst the silence, gazes, one after another, shifted to the areas that the three strongest clans had occupied. There, the Ancestral Spirit Fruits glistened beautifully and released a tremendous attractive force that made greed emerge in those gazes. Commotion broke out. At the same time, waves of Genesis Qi rippled, which were Genesis Qi sound transmission. The experts from various clans were communicating to each other in secret. There were eventually some movements. Figures began to act, assembling behind three figures to form three imposing-looking teams. The three figures that led the teams were the three who won the three Ancestral Spirit Fruits. The strength they showed on the chaotic battlefield had convinced all the others. As a result, the loose sand began to show signs of cohesion. Fortunately, this wasn¡¯t everyone. Some secretly retreated because they could see the three newly formed teams would challenge the three strongest clans and there was bound to be a long and bitter battle so they didn¡¯t want to get involved. The three teams stood separated under the Ancestral Spirit Tree and showed no intention of combining forces. They only exchanged a few words and decided on their target. The atmosphere under the Ancestral Spirit Tree stiffened. The oncoming storm made it difficult for many people to breath. But what will come, will eventually arrive. Three waves of people moved in a mighty manner at the same. They rose into the sky and erupted with berserk Genesis Qi as roars echoed in the void. Several giant beast figures hovered in the air and their shadows shrouded the ground. ¡°Attack!" As a low roar sounded, Genesis Qi gushed out and figures charged forward. ¡°Kill!¡± Jiang Hongying''s face was frosty but killing intent filled her eyes. She roared fiercely when she saw dozens of giant beasts racing over. She was the first to soar into the air, clasping a long spear wrapped in mighty power. She directly faced the ignorant people who dared to anger her Mystic Dragon Clan. In another place, Meng Chong from the Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan stared at the team coming towards them with a darkened face. The number of opponents was nearly ten times that of theirs. Although most of them were only there to make up the number, the opponents still could threaten them given their advantage in number. ¡°Roar!¡± Meng Chong unleashed an earth-shattering roar as he stepped forward. He opened his mouth and spewed out a beam of blood-colored light. Two giant axes descended from the light beam. ¡°You dare attack my Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan?!" Meng Chong smiled sinisterly. As he clasped the two giant axes, dark hair emerged from his body like sharp thorns. He led the Divine Dragon Clan to face the attacks head-on. At the same time, Zhou Yuan and the others were also faced with a group of people charging over. The leader was Liang Zheng from the White Jade Elephant Clan. However, Liang Zheng didn''t act immediately. He swept a glance over Zhou Yuan and others and suggested, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, although we might be disorganized, we have an advantage in numbers. You might not be able to stop us. So, I have a proposal.¡± ¡°Split the five Ancestral Spirit Fruits equally and you and I will both be happy, what do you say?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Brother Liang, you are not disorganized.¡± Although Liang Zheng looked like he only had muscles, Zhou Yuan felt he was the most dangerous of the three. This was because Zhou Yuan could perceive that the people who Liang Zheng had gathered in his team were the strongest among the three teams, which indicated that he wasn¡¯t only strong but had extraordinary skills. Liang Zheng smiled. "Does grand elder Zhou Yuan agree to my proposal?¡± Zhou Yuan studied him for a moment and then smiled, shook his head and said, ¡°No." Liang Zheng sighed disappointedly. "In that case, we will have to snatch them.¡± Boom! As soon as his voice faded, the dozens of imposing figures behind him were already charging towards Zhou Yuan and others from all directions. Chapter 1243 Not Qualified When the figures shrouded in fierce auras soared into the air, Jin Zhong and the others behind Zhou Yuan let out an enraged roar before golden light flowed around their bodies like golden armors. Then, they charged forward and met the attackers with all their strength. Boom! The two waves of people collided head-on, causing the earth to quake and space to tremble. Jin Zhong and the others were caught in a siege right from the start of the battle. There were too many people on the other side, and even if the opponents weren¡¯t as strong as them in terms of individual strength, they were able to besiege Jin Zhong and the others due to their advantage in numbers. At the same time, figures cut through the air with incredible speed, heading for the area of the Ancestral Spirit Tree behind them. They evidently wanted to take the opportunity to snatch away the Ancestral Spirit Fruits. Roar! It was then when an ear-splitting roar resounded across the sky and a shadow shrouded everyone. A terrifying imposing aura bore down on them with the weight of Mt. Tai. The grade-7 expects lifted their eyes to see a giant golden beast emitting a mysterious and imposing force. It brandished its claws and tore through space with buzzing noises. The grade-7 experts dared not act careless when such an aura of death enveloped them. With a furious roar, Genesis Qi erupted from them without any hesitation and turned blasted towards the giant golden beast like torrents. However, contempt flashed across the golden beast¡¯s eyes and dark light that seemed capable of engulfing everything flashed beneath its claws. The Genesis Qi speeding over were immediately swallowed upon contact with the dark light. The giant claw slammed down! Pu! Dozens of grade-7 experts were immediately blasted back and vomited out blood. It was an abnormally tragic sight. The reinforcements charging up from behind immediately halted their steps with ashen faces. They could identify the giant beast from the special oppressive pressure it exuded. It was clearly the Alpha Holy Beast of the Golden Monkey Clan. Although he was only at the grade-7 stage, he was undoubtedly at the pinnacle of the grade-7 stage. ¡°Let¡¯s attack together. Some people should distract him while others should snatch the fruits!¡± Although terrified, they very quickly suppressed their fear because the Ancestral Spirit Fruits hanging on the tree gave them enormous courage. Soon, more figures sped over and revealed their true body form after a furious roar. All sorts of bizarre beasts soared into the air, emitting fierce storm-like auras. They resembled a group of demons and monsters dancing like mad. Tuntun watched the scene half-heartedly and stretched out his claws and curled them in front of the giant beasts. Roar! Many grade-7 experts roared in fury before charging out. While Tuntun overwhelmed dozens of grade-7 Genesis beast experts alone, Zhou Yuan calmly looked at Liang Zheng. He wasn''t alone but came with two experts from the White Jade Elephant Clan. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan is famous. You won¡¯t mind if I bring some helpers, right?¡± Liang Zheng said with a smile, like a smiling Buddha. Zhou Yuan smiled. Liang Zheng was really cautious. Zhou Yuan clearly possessed strength of only the advanced Nascent Source stage while Liang Zheng was at the pinnacle of the grade-7 stage, which was equivalent to the perfect nascent Source stage. Moreover, Zhou Yuan knew his Genesis Qi foundation was around the level of 90 billion, which although was weaker than Jin Lan¡¯s, he could still be considered one of the strongest among grade-7 experts. But even so, he still cautiously brought two helpers. Liang Zheng felt a chilling feeling in his heart when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s smile. Among the Golden Monkey Clan team, Tuntun should be the strongest and this was why they sent the majority of their team to deal with him. But he also understood that this was only temporary. The only way to break out of the situation was to capture Zhou Yuan as a hostage. At that time, they could use him to exchange for some Ancestral Spirit Fruits. Otherwise, their plan wouldn¡¯t be successful. "Although Zhou Yuan is a little strange, it shouldn''t be difficult to deal with him if we combine the strength of us three.¡± Liang Zheng took a deep breath with a fierce glint in his eyes. As he stepped forward, monstrous Genesis Qi rolled out and stirred the clouds. Then, an incomparably huge white elephant appeared behind him, inhaling and exhaling universe Genesis Qi. A foundation of 90 billion Genesis Qi stars was completely revealed. ¡°Get into formation!¡± Liang Zheng revealed his Genesis Qi foundation but he didn¡¯t act right away. Instead, he yelled to the other two experts from the White Jade Elephant Clan experts. The two White Jade Elephant clan experts also came prepared. They folded their hands together in a seal with lightning speed and Genesis Qi rose from the top of their skulls, forming two tremendous elephant images as if made from white jade. Mou! The elephant shadow behind Liang Zheng suddenly swung its long trunk and inhaled sharply in the two white jade elephant shadows¡¯ direction. The two elephant shadows turned to white qi and sucked into Liang Zheng''s long trunk. The two powerful white jade elephant experts¡¯ faces turned deathly pale and quickly descended. Their Genesis Qi had weakened hugely, while Liang Zheng let out a long roar that resounded like thunder. The huge white jade elephant shadow spewed out a white jade light beam from its mouth. The light expanded with the wind and in a flash, became as huge as a mountain. It was a huge white jade seal, under which there were countless elephant patterns. It released a terrifying wave of energy, which drew apprehensive gazes of many top grade-7 experts. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, this is my White Jade Elephant Clan¡¯s Sacred Art of Sky Subduing Demon. Please have a careful taste!" Liang Zheng laughed. His laughter was full of confidence. Not only was his first attack his strongest one, it combined the power of three White Jade Elephant clan experts! Liang Zheng had confidence in his move even in front of renowned grade-7 experts from Wanshou Heaven so there shouldn¡¯t be any problem to suppress Zhou Yuan. The huge white seal suspended in the air drew gazes from even Jiang Hongying, Meng Chong and others who were locked in a fierce battle. Jiang Hongying curled the corners of her lips in a mocking smile, as if watching a show. Liang Zheng is pretty good. I underestimated him. His attack should be enough to threaten Zhou Yuan. If Liang Zheng captured Zhou Yuan, it will really be a good show. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, be careful!¡± Jin Zhong yelled anxiously. Liang Zheng didn¡¯t call out his two helpers because he had already planned such an attack on Zhou Yuan. He planned to take Zhou Yuan as hostage to exchange for Ancestral Spirit Fruits. They also would have to admit defeat if Zhou Yuan lost. But that would undoubtedly make them a laughingstock. For both Zhou Yuan and the Golden Monkey Clan. However, while they panicked, there wasn¡¯t a ripple of expression on Zhou Yuan''s face. As he felt the pressure emanating from the white jade seal, he stepped forward and sent platinum Genesis Qi roaring into the sky. Followed by powerful Genesis Qi pressure filling the air. Liang Zheng''s pupils shrank. He could feel that Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation also was around the level of 90 billion and perhaps even surpassed his. ¡°You¡¯re just at the advanced Nascent Source stage¡­yet you possess such a foundation¡­" The corners of Liang Zheng''s eyes twitched slightly. Fortunately, he cautiously didn¡¯t choose to face Zhou Yuan alone and used a unique secret art of the White Jade Elephant Clan that combined their strengths. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, don''t blame me for stepping on you to rise to fame!¡± A cold light flashed in Liang Zheng''s eyes. The white jade seal violently vibrated as earth shaking elephant cries erupted. Then, it smashed down in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. ¡°Sky Subduing Demon Seal!¡± The huge seal smashed through space and the force that could shatter the sky attracted many horrified gazes. As the huge seal descended, Zhou Yuan appeared on a nearby mountain summit. He raised his head and peered indifferently at the huge image that covered his entire sight. His face didn¡¯t ripple in the slightest and he only stamped his feet lightly. ¡°Earth Saint Rune!¡± The earth rippled and vast Genesis Qi rushed into his body. Zhou Yuan''s body suddenly emitted dazzling glass light, making him appear particularly sacred. The Saint Glass Body allowed Zhou Yuan to withstand the mighty force from the raging earth Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation soared dramatically. ¡°Promotion!¡± Following another whisper in Zhou Yuan''s heart, his Genesis Qi skyrocketed again. In just a few breaths, Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation broke the level of 100 billion under astonished gazes. Even the space around his body constantly collapsed under the raging Genesis Qi, as if unable to bear the pressure. Boom! With a stamp of his foot, the mountain summit under his foot crumbled and his figure soared towards the huge white jade seal smashing down. Zhou Yuan and the giant seal were about to collide. He balled his hand into a fist and white hair rushed out from under the skin. They completely covered his entire arm before turning a deep black color. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± Although Zhou Yuan''s figure was as small as an ant compared to the giant seal, he didn¡¯t waver in the least. He blasted out his clenched fist and collided with the giant seal without any showy movements. Zhou Yuan''s voice was heard during the collision. "Too many people want to step on me to rise to fame¡­You are not qualified yet.¡± Liang Zheng''s pupils suddenly shrank. However, before he could say anything, Zhou Yuan''s fist had already smashed into the giant white elephant seal. At that moment, there was a loud sound that shook the mountains. At the same time, many people were horrified to see the huge white elephant seal that combined the power of Liang Zheng and others exploded into pieces. It turned into rays of dazzling jade light. As the jade light filled the sky, it illuminated the faces and the panic spreading on them under the Ancestral Spirit Tree. Chapter 1244 Ancestral Spirit Pond Boom! An earth-shattering noise resounded as jade-colored lights filled the sky and sprinkled across the world. The huge mountain-like jade elephant seal exploded, drawing gazes of horror and astonishment. No one thought that someone who was only at the advanced Nascent Source stage could destroy the combined attack of three powerful White Jade Elephant Clan experts His strength was comparable to a Genesis beast expert at the pinnacle of the grade 7 stage. Puchi! Liang Zheng had to bear the brunt when the giant seal exploded to pieces. He spat out a jet of blood and his face blanched with horror. He stared at Zhou Yuan in disbelief as if he saw a ghost. In truth, Liang Zheng had never underestimated Zhou Yuan. Otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have brought two helpers. But he realized he still hadn¡¯t made enough preparations! Zhou Yuan, who had made a name for himself in Guyuan Heaven, was much more difficult to deal with than he imagined. ¡°An advanced Nascent Source stage expert with a Genesis Qi foundation that broke the level of 100 billion¡­¡± Liang Zheng uttered bitterly. In truth, not many perfect Nascent Source stage experts could achieve such a level, but Zhou Yuan could. The Genesis Qi around Liang Zheng¡¯s body stilled as he retracted his greedy gaze from the Ancestral Spirit Fruits and fled without glancing back once. He didn''t even utter a word. His two comrades had already vanished the second the seal was broken. They evidently understood that they had hit an iron obstacle. Liang Zheng''s sudden escape made many grade 7 experts, who besieged the Golden Monkey Clan, turn ashen and cursed out loud. But they also didn''t dare to stay any longer. They each used their mysterious abilities and everyone fled in the blink of an eye, including the many experts who were obstructing Tuntun. After all, they weren¡¯t idiots. They only listened to Liang Zheng because he reassured them that he could capture Zhou Yuan as a hostage and the deal seemed reasonable so they agreed to help. But Liang Zheng''s plan was crushed to pieces. They would be asking for death if they stayed any longer. In just a few breaths, almost hundreds of people fled in various directions. Jin Zhong and the others panted heavily as they resumed their human form. Immediately afterwards, their faces lit up with excitement and joy. They couldn¡¯t help but gaze at Zhou Yuan in awe. They weren¡¯t sure about Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength before and the battle between Zhou Yuan and Jin Lan from the Golden Monkey Clan ended quickly so they didn¡¯t see what Zhou Yuan was capable of. However, Zhou Yuan displayed his solid Genesis Qi foundation when he smashed the giant seal with one punch. A Genesis Qi foundation of over 100 billion was surely enough to compete with Jin Lan. The other matches paused as everyone was stunned by the result. Jiang Hongying pierced her spear through a thousand-feet-tall beast¡¯s chest and sent it flying with a palm strike. But she was also dumbstruck for a moment when she saw the explosion. Even she felt threatened by Zhou Yuan''s punch. A Genesis Qi foundation of over 100 billion was comparable to hers. "I underestimated him,¡± uttered Jiang Hongying coldly to herself. She retracted her gaze and swept a glance over the people still pestering her. With a resounding dragon roar, terrifying storm-like Genesis Qi erupted and her spear roared out. The several dragon claws hidden within the spear directly aimed for the many Genesis beast experts. While Jiang Hongying was showing off her great powers in anger, Zhou Yuan''s side was already cleared and no one else dared step into his area. Tuntun returned to Zhou Yuan''s head and casually wiped the bloodstains on his paws off Zhou Yuan''s hair. Zhou Yuan didn''t notice Tuntun¡¯s little movements. He moved under the Ancestral Spirit Tree in a flash. His Spirit in the center of his brows flickered and the five balls of light hanging on the tree were severed and wrapped in his Spirit power. Physical objects couldn¡¯t touch Ancestral Spirit Fruits because it would gradually lose its mysterious effects even if protected in Genesis Qi and only Spirit power could come into contact with them. Five Ancestral Spirit Fruits suspended in front of Zhou Yuan. They were almost transparent and could be easily overlooked. However, the aroma they emitted made the Spirit in the center of Zhou Yuan''s brows quiver violently. It was of intense longing. However, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t swallow them directly. After all, he had to divide them to the others. He swept a glance over Jin Zhong and the others, and with a flick of his fingers, two Ancestral Spirit Fruits floated over to them. "You guys can share these two Ancestral Spirit Fruits.¡± A smile bloomed over Jin Zhong¡¯s and the others¡¯ faces. "Thank you, grand elder Zhou Yuan.¡± It was already very generous of Zhou Yuan to share two of the five Ancestral Spirit Fruits. Jin Zhong knew well that they only earned them because they stood up for Zhou Yuan on the stone platform. However, even if they didn''t stand up for Zhou Yuan, Jiang Hongying likely couldn¡¯t do anything to him. Therefore, he could only say that his sudden impulse won them this opportunity. Zhou Yuan waved his hand. Looking at the three Ancestral Spirit Fruits in front of him, he suddenly asked, "What is the opportunity from ten Ancestral Spirit Fruits that you mentioned earlier?¡± Tuntun yawned. His thoughts turned into words and penetrated Zhou Yuan''s mind. "The opportunity from the Ancestral Spirit Tree isn¡¯t just the fruits that it bears. It also contains a lot of mystery.¡± ¡°It has its own domain, which is also where the essence of the Ancestral Spirit Tree lies. You can call it the Ancestral Spirit Pond. If you enter it, not only can it strengthen your Spirit, your physical body and Genesis Qi will also be cleansed. The benefit is far superior to ten Ancestral Spirit Fruits.¡± A bright light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes, "The Ancestral Spirit Tree has such secrets?¡± "Of course. But don''t think that anyone who gets ten Ancestral Spirit Fruits can unlock such an opportunity. It requires a secret method, and that secret method can only be performed by someone of the Alpha Holy Beast bloodline. ¡°Why else do you think Jin Lan wanted to go with me so much? This is one of the reasons. Humph, you should know how lucky you are to be with me.¡± Tuntun¡¯s words pulsed in Zhou Yuan''s mind, making Zhou Yuan feel a little dumbfounded. At the same time, he could sense Tuntun¡¯s smugness. "It''s so troublesome..." It was no wonder that Jin Lan was so resentful that Zhou Yuan took the position from him. The Ancestral Spirit Pond that Tuntun mentioned greatly piqued Zhou Yuan¡¯s interest. But...ten Ancestral Spirit Fruits isn¡¯t that easy to achieve. They only had five in total so where could they get the other five? Both the Mystic Dragon Clan and the Earth-shaking Divine Tiger Clan wasn¡¯t easy to deal with. Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows but he still composed himself in the end. The opportunity was hard to come by, but he still had to have patience. There was no need to make enemies everywhere he went. After all, he liked to be kind to others. Some people said that he liked to get into a fist fight to solve everything but that was a bit slanderous. While Zhou Yuan was talking with Tuntun, the battles under the Ancestral Spirit Tree gradually came to an end. After a fierce battle, the Mystic Dragon Clan and the Divine Tiger Clan unsurprisingly forced the attackers to retreat. After all, although their opponents had an advantage in numbers, they each had ulterior motives and it would be difficult for them to truly unite. Therefore, they began to feel dispirited and exhausted after their initial onslaught was blocked, and it was a matter of time before they were defeated. The unpleasant and pungent smell of blood filled the air under the Ancestral Spirit Tree. Only the three strongest clans remained standing. The experts of the other various clans had already retreated and dared not come forward. However, the situation on the Divine Tiger Clan¡¯s side was a bit more miserable compared to the Mystic Dragon Clan because besides Meng Chong, the rest were all somewhat wounded. Jiang Hongying and Meng Chong immediately picked the Ancestral Spirit Fruits when the enemies retreated. Hu. Jiang Hongying¡¯s eyes blazed slightly as she gazed at the seven Ancestral Spirit Fruits she obtained, but she wasn¡¯t someone easily satisfied. "There''s no need to deliberately create trouble, right?¡± said Jiang Ba. ¡°You don''t have confidence in me?" Jiang Hongying raised her brows arrogantly. Jiang Ba helplessly swept a glance over her. How would he not know that Jiang Hongying couldn¡¯t swallow the insult? Given Jiang Hongying''s temper, she wouldn¡¯t be satisfied if she didn¡¯t try it. So he made an assessment. Although Zhou Yuan has shown astonishing strength, Jiang Hongying still has a higher chance of winning. "It''s up to you." Jiang Ba nodded. In truth, he also couldn¡¯t stand Zhou Yuan because the Dragon Spirit Utopia was an opportunity for Wanshou Heaven. Why did you, a human, come to join in the fun? You really think no one in our Wanshou Heaven could do anything to you? It would be good if Jiang Hongying could subdue him because it would be beneficial to the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s reputation given how famous Zhou Yuan is currently. A satisfied smile suddenly spread across Jiang Hongying¡¯s face. Without any hesitation, she moved a little and appeared in front of Jin Zhong and the others under their guarded gazes. Jiang Hongying paid no attention to them and swung her spear up to point directly at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you brave enough to play with me?¡± Chapter 1245 Battle Jiang Hongying When Jiang Hongying pointed her spear at Zhou Yuan, the atmosphere within the area instantly stiffened and many people cast curious gazes over. The Mystic Dragon Clan has their eyes on Zhou Yuan? This is a rare show! After all, although the previous matches were fierce, they weren¡¯t fair because the strength on each side wasn¡¯t equal. But if Jiang Hongying wanted to launch an attack at Zhou Yuan, there was bound to be a good show. After all, Jiang Hongying was known to the entire Wanshou Heaven as the savage and unreasonable female dragon of the Mystic Dragon Clan and she was ranked in the top three among all grade 7 experts in Wanshou Heaven. Of course, this was excluding pseudo Law Domain experts. But although Jiang Hongying had great fame, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t someone who could be easily dealt with. Based on fame alone, Zhou Yuan was well-known in all-heavens and Jiang Hongying hadn¡¯t quite reached that level. But one¡¯s fame didn¡¯t necessarily represent anything. Zhou Yuan only had his fame because of what happened in Guyuan Heaven. In terms of strength, many more people thought more highly of Jiang Hongying, even if Zhou Yuan had already demonstrated his remarkable abilities. Jin Zhong and other Golden Monkey Clan members couldn¡¯t help saying angrily, "Jiang Hongying, your Mystic Dragon Clan is going too far!¡± Jiang Hongying paid no attention to them and continued to fix her eyes on Zhou Yuan and said with a smile, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, the strength you showed isn¡¯t bad. Don¡¯t tell me you aren¡¯t brave enough to accept the challenge?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was particularly calm. Jiang Hongying had been picking on him ever since they met, which of course, was because of Jiang Jinlin¡¯s death, but Zhou Yuan also felt Jiang Hongying was annoyed by the great reputation he had gained from Guyuan Heaven. The Mystic Dragon Clan members were all inherently arrogant. This was already seen from Jiang Jinlin. Perhaps in the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s eyes, Jiang Jinlin should be the one enjoying a great reputation from the battle of Guyuan Heaven. But who would have thought that Jiang Jinlin died and Zhou Yuan took advantage of the situation to rise to fame. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s current reputation, if Jiang Hongying could trample him, it would no doubt draw a lot of attention from all-heavens and make her become well-known in all-heavens. This was perhaps Jiang Hongying¡¯s reason to target Zhou Yuan. As thoughts streamed across Zhou Yuan''s mind, there wasn¡¯t a ripple on his face. "How do you want to play?¡± He had no good opinion of Jiang Hongying. Not only did she target him when they first met, she also repeatedly provoked him. Did she think Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist is a vegetarian? Jiang Hongying raised her fierce brows, saying, ¡°Of course you and I will have a match.¡± After a pause, she added, "But it would be boring to just fight. Since you and I both have Ancestral Spirit Fruits, why don¡¯t we use them as wager. Whoever loses will have to give all their Ancestral Spirit Fruits to the other. Actually, we have seven Ancestral Spirit Fruits which means the terms are more beneficial to you. What do you say?¡± Everyone broke into clamor. It turned out that she was eyeing on the Ancestral Spirit Fruits in Zhou Yuan''s hands. Zhou Yuan seemed taken aback and just stared blankly at Jiang Hongying. ¡°You don''t dare to accept the challenge?" Jiang Hongying snorted. Zhou Yuan slightly shook his head, but then he turned to look at Tuntun, who had jumped onto his shoulder. They exchanged a strange glance with each other. Then, Zhou Yuan smiled. "If you want to give me Ancestral Spirit Fruits, how would I refuse?¡± Jiang Hongying swept a glance over Zhou Yuan and she curved a corner of her lips in a contemptuous smile. The dragon scales around her spear produced buzzing noises and an intense sharp aura tore the surrounding space. ¡°I hope you can still smile later.¡± Everyone clicked their tongue when they saw Zhou Yuan accept the challenge and then drew back one after another. Meng Chong also led the experts from the Divine Tiger Clan back. Someone behind him whispered, "Zhou Yuan is quite courageous. He still accepted the challenge when he knew the Mystic Dragon Clan is eyeing on their Ancestral Spirit Fruits.¡± Meng Chong nodded. ¡°Zhou Yuan likely doesn''t know how powerful the unreasonable female dragon is since it¡¯s his first time in Wanshou Heaven. He is going to suffer from this.¡± He didn''t believe Jiang Hongying would dare kill Zhou Yuan. After all, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t a nobody. The Tianyuan Region had two Saints and had changed their deteriorating state and could be said to be at the peak of its power. Therefore, even the Mystic Dragon Clan wouldn¡¯t want to anger them. Of course, they didn¡¯t need to worry about their lives, but they couldn¡¯t escape from being used as a stepping stone. Many people clearly had the same thought and everyone looked at Zhou Yuan with deep sympathy. But Jiang Hongying was indeed a resolute person who acts with thunder-like means and wind-like swiftness. She didn''t say anything else when Zhou Yuan accepted her challenge and just hovered in the air wearing a chilling expression. Then, monstrous Genesis Qi suddenly raged out like a storm, making many people turn pale. Boom! The Genesis Qi erupted from Jiang Hongying was fiery-red and produced blazing heat. It made it seem as if the entire world was set into flames. But what was most shocking was that her Genesis Qi foundation reached 110 billion! It was obvious that Jiang Hongying hadn¡¯t used all her strength to deal with the previous attackers or perhaps just treated them as warm ups. ¡°That savage female dragon is more and more terrifying,¡± Meng Chong cursed as fear filled his eyes. If he were to face Jiang Hongying, he also likely would be completely suppressed. Many people stared horrified at Jiang Hongying''s slender figure. Her Genesis Qi foundation was too terrifying. While Jiang Hongying¡¯s Genesis Qi erupted unreservedly from her body, her eyes gradually turned red. But it didn¡¯t end there. She folded one hand in a seal and dragon scales wrapped around her skin, forming a dragon scale armor. The armor fitted tightly around her curves and highlighted her stunning figure. "That is a secret technique of the Mystic Dragon Clan, the battle dragon armor,¡± uttered Jin Zhong solemnly behind Zhou Yuan. The Battle Dragon Armor was said to increase one¡¯s physical strength but Jiang Hongying¡¯s physical body and strength were already terrifying. The addition of the armor would make her resemble a beast of destruction. Although Zhou Yuan possessed the Saint Glass Body, he would still be suppressed if he faced Jiang Hongying. Jiang Hongying could crush Zhou Yuan in both Genesis Qi and physical strength. How should he fight this battle? Jin Zhong felt his scalp numb at the thought. Jiang Hongying, that savage female dragon, is too troublesome! Zhou Yuan¡¯s face also assumed a serious and solemn expression. Although Jiang Hongying didn¡¯t give him a good first impression, he had to admit she was shockingly strong. Zhou Yuan felt that she was likely stronger than Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Lu Tai. She was likely the most troublesome person to deal with at the Nascent Source stage. However, even if she was troublesome and tricky to deal with¡­ Since she decided to incite him, Zhou Yuan naturally wouldn''t shrink back. Zhou Yuan had encountered many powerful enemies over the years, he of course wouldn¡¯t be afraid of Jiang Hongying. Zhou Yuan slowly balled his hands into fists and a cold light flashed in his eyes. I don¡¯t care what kind of dragon you are! I will become a dragon knight today to get the Ancestral Spirit Fruits! Chapter 1246 Imperial Dragon Bows to Heaven Boom! Crimson Genesis Qi raged across the sky. It looked as though the world was set aflame and the intense heat blurred everything in sight. Jiang Hongying, whose beautiful body was protected with tightly-fitted armor, wielded a dragon scale spear with one hand. Crimson flames spewed from the spear as she locked her fierce and sharp gaze on Zhou Yuan. Then, she suddenly moved. Shua! Her speed was so fast that the experts around could only see a blur of light flash past. Zhou Yuan''s expression turned cold and fierce. With a clench of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush flashed out his grip and platinum Genesis Qi roared across the right side, shaking the void. Space tore apart as a spear tip wrapped in blazing flames and monstrous crimson Genesis Qi pierced through. Even the blasts of red-hot wind the spear generated seemed capable of incinerating everything in the world. Clang! The tip of the spear and brush violently collided. Two gushes of Genesis Qi erupted like a volcano and the surrounding space constantly shattered like fragile glass, hurling sharp spatial fragments everywhere. Zhou Yuan''s expression grew increasingly solemn during the collision, because he came to know how difficult the savage female dragon was to deal with. Not only was her Genesis Qi red-hot and berserk, even her physical body was extraordinarily tough. Although her body looked beautiful and delicate, the power it contained stunned even Zhou Yuan, who had some attainments in physical strength cultivation. Genesis beast clans indeed had inherent advantages in that area The Heavenly Yuan Brush quivered violently in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. If Zhou Yuan¡¯s bodily strength was any weaker, his weapon likely would have blasted out his grip. ¡°Humph!¡± Jiang Hongying grunted coldly. She wasn¡¯t happy because her thunderous strike, although it appeared simple, in truth was a combination of her Genesis Qi and physical strength, but Zhou Yuan managed to firmly withstand. If Meng Chong were to receive the attack instead of Zhou Yuan, that spear strike likely would instantly push him into a disadvantageous situation. ¡°You¡¯re quite capable and not just impressive-looking!" With a flick of her wrist, Jiang Hongying brought crimson light surging across the sky like a sea of flames. The sea of flames suddenly spurted out countless crimson-red flecks and hurled down at Zhou Yuan like a rainstorm. Within every speck of crimson light was a mini fire dragon roaring. They looked small but they emitted frantic power. And when they rained down in such numbers, they looked even more terrifying. ¡°Crimson Dragon Rain!¡± Countless red flecks of light enlarged before Zhou Yuan''s eyes. He tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush and suddenly brought it up. Roar! ¡°Million Whale!¡± As the mottled black brush swung down, only ancient whale roars could be heard echoing across the world. The surrounding space collapsed as a gigantic ancient whale shadow emerged and collided into the countless specks of crimson lights like a huge meteor. Bang! The collision resulted in dazzling light raging across the area and created deafening rumbles. Berserk shock waves repeatedly pushed Jiang Hongying back. Her face turned icy and the crimson spear flashed out her grip. It unleashed a dragon roar and transformed into a crimson dragon. It cut through the air and clutched onto the other figure within the Genesis Qi shock waves. But when the crimson dragon took shape, a beam of black light pierced through space. It was a giant jet-black beast. The giant beast, formed from countless black hair, was extremely tough, but if one saw through the countless hair, one would see a mottled black brush buzzing in the depths to maintain the transformation. As the giant black beast roared, it inhaled and exhaled universe Genesis Qi that contained equally terrifying power. In addition, upon closer, one would notice the giant black beast was identical to Tuntun''s battle form. Tuntun pursed his lips when he saw this scene. Zhou Yuan dared to copy my image! Roar! The crimson dragon and the giant black beast collided in the void, and then furiously tore into each other with its teeth. The power erupted from the clash made many onlookers shudder. The two weapons were close to the level of a Saint object. Otherwise they couldn¡¯t complete such a transformation. However, it was understandable that Zhou Yuan and Jiang Hongying possessed such treasures given their status. Many experts within the area were somewhat mesmerized by the match between the two. They could feel the two hadn¡¯t held back their strength and every attack was particularly merciless. Ordinary grade 7 experts likely couldn¡¯t survive in a battle of such a level. "Zhou Yuan is so abnormal. He¡¯s only at the advanced Nascent Source stage yet he could match up to Jiang Hongying, who has made a name for herself years ago. No wonder even the Sacred Race suffered in his hands,¡± Meng Chong said with a sigh. Meng Chong was considered one of the strongest at the grade 7 stage in Wanshou Heaven, but even so, he knew he wouldn¡¯t have an upper hand against either of those two. ¡°Who do you think will win?¡±An expert from the Divine Tiger Clan asked curiously behind Meng Chong. Meng Chong pondered for a moment and said, "It should be Jiang Hongying. Although she¡¯s unreasonable, her means and strength shouldn¡¯t be underestimated.¡± He ran his hand over his chest and stroked the hideous scar that Jiang Hongying left during a match. That woman is really terrifying. While Meng Chong was speaking, a stream of silvery light tore through the terrifying Genesis Qi shock waves and directly struck Jiang Hongying. A fist shadow descended and the space quaked with an earthshaking boom. ¡°You dared to take the initiative to attack?¡± Jiang Hongying''s eyes turned chilling. She moved forward to face the attack head-on. The terrifying power contained within her slender body fluctuated. Dong! Two figures collided like lightning over hundreds of times in the space above. Every collision was like two lightning bolts crashing in midair. However, Jiang Hongying''s expression grew increasingly unpleasant as the fierce match continued. She found that Zhou Yuan''s strength had strangely increased. They were equally matched before, but now she noticed her qi and blood were surging. ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Hongying swept a glance over Zhou Yuan and saw silvery runes spreading across his body. The runes emitted a mysterious glow like living creatures. The silver runes flashed frantically every time her power invaded Zhou Yuan''s body as though breaking down her power. ¡°Have you finally noticed?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned at Jiang Hongying. But his smile was full of chilling intent. The silvery runes on his body were of course formed from Silver Shadow! He gradually suppressed Jiang Hongying with the help of Silver Shadow''s power. ¡°Silver Shadow!¡± Zhou Yuan turned his hand over and the surrounding space suddenly vibrated. As his platinum Genesis Qi roared, it transformed into a tremendous Genesis Qi palm with countless silver runes quickly spreading across. The palm suddenly slammed down towards Jiang Hongying. The platinum palm crashed down like a platinum tower. Jiang Hongying let out a fierce roar as she countered with a punch. Amidst deafening dragon roar, a huge dragon claw emerged and crushed the space around. Boom! The two collided, creating waves of qi that wreaked havoc across thousands of miles. Bang! Amidst astonished gazes, Jiang Hongying quivered violently and the platinum palm blasted her back. She plunged down the sky like a meteor and tore a bottomless pit into the ground. Zhou Yuan unexpectedly gained the upper hand! Gasps of surprise rang out in rapid succession. "Tsk, amazing, he even struck the savage female dragon.¡± Meng Chong couldn¡¯t help marvelling. But he immediately shook his head after that and said, ¡°But the savage female dragon is likely going to erupt¡­" He shifted his gaze to Jiang Ba and other Mystic Dragon Clan members in midair. They were looking indifferently at the scene and even cast mocking glances at Zhou Yuan. Boom! A strange sound erupted from the deep pit. Then, everyone saw a beautiful figure slowly floating up. That beautiful figure was of course Jiang Hongying. Her armor was slightly cracked and many wounds were left on her beautiful flesh, but her face was as icy as ever and monstrous flames blazed in her crimson eyes. Anyone could feel the savage female dragon¡¯s rage. She lifted her head, looking at Zhou Yuan with a cold glare. Then, under shocked gazes, she unexpectedly knelt down on one knee slowly in front of Zhou Yuan and folded her hands in a seal, which from a distance, looked like a sacrificial ceremony. No one thought Jiang Hongying was surrendering because they could feel the universe Genesis Qi rioting. Meng Chong stroked his face and stared intently at Jiang Hongying. ¡°That woman is really angry.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked someone next to him. Meng Chong''s voice was low but full of fear. ¡°It¡¯s the Mystic Dragon Clan''s Greater Saint Genesis art¡­the Imperial Dragon Bows to Heaven!¡± Chapter 1247 Four Bows When Jiang Hongying knelt down on one knee in midair and folded her hands in a strange seal, the whistling wind stilled and the universe Genesis Qi began to riot. Boom! The universe Genesis Qi within tens of thousand miles rolled over and formed a beautiful spectacle of countless clouds of Genesis Qi. Many cast stunned gazes towards Jiang Hongying. The Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s ancestor was also an Alpha Holy Beast. The clan had an ancient bloodline and was a prestigious clan in the ancient period. Gradually, the bloodline evolved into the Mystic Dragon Clan. Their Alpha Holy Beast ancestor was known as the Imperial Dragon. The technique that Jiang Hongying used was the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s greater Saint Genesis art called the Imperial Dragon Bows to Heaven. There were said to be nine bows in the technique, and anyone below the Saint stage would be annihilated under the nine bows. The Imperial Dragon Bows to Heaven naturally referred to bowing to the heaven and earth and could influence the world¡¯s mighty power. Only someone at the Saint stage could withstand the bow of the Imperial Dragon. It was unknown how many experts had perished under the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s Imperial Dragon Bows to Heaven technique. As a result the technique gained the title of the strongest art in the Mystic Dragon Clan. Jiang Hongying was no doubt enraged since she used such a technique. She wanted to compete against Zhou Yuan to see who was stronger. Zhou Yuan soared into the air. As he peered at Jiang Hongying, who was kneeling down in midair, his expression grew increasingly serious. The center of his brows throbbed with pain as though sensed a strong aura of danger. The technique that Jiang Hongying was about to use was clearly terrifying. A light flashed in his eyes and he immediately made a move. He thrust his palm forward and platinum Genesis Qi rushed out like a waterfall in the air. It fiercely sped towards Jiang Hongying. Boom! But just as the Genesis Qi torrent came to within 100 feet of Jiang Hongying, it exploded into a series of scattered lights in the sky. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. Jiang Hongying''s surroundings were filled with terrifying Genesis Qi, which made it difficult for anything to pass through. Boom! Endless Genesis Qi converged behind Jiang Hongying as if forming an ocean with no end in sight. Waves lifted high up in the Genesis Qi ocean and eventually formed a giant illusory dragon. The dragon silhouette emitted indescribably ancient qi, as if it was the first dragon that appeared in the world after the Ancestral Dragon formed all living beings when the world first began. The word dragon in its name suggested that it had a good harvest when the Ancestral Dragon formed all beings. In terms of ranking, there were few existences that could compare with it even amongst Alpha Holy Beasts. When the illusory ancient dragon silhouette appeared, everyone present felt a strange oppressive pressure that slowed their flow of blood, like they were carrying a heavy mountain. Jiang Hongying looked at Zhou Yuan with an icy stare and then bowed her upper body and raised her hands that were folded together in a seal. "Imperial Dragon Bows to Heaven, my first bow!¡± The tremendous ancient dragon silhouette behind her also bowed down. Boom! As a loud roar reverberated across the world, Zhou Yuan felt a terrifying force descending. That force seemed to be coming from all directions and pushed through his every pore as if to crush him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned cold and solemn. The 7 inch Nascent Source in his Divine Dwellings exploded with monstrous Genesis Qi that flooded his bones and limbs. The Saint Glass Light also bloomed from his body. In the end, the tremendous power only made Zhou Yuan quiver a little. But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t dare to relax because of that. He knew it was just the beginning. As he thought, Jiang Hongying''s face didn¡¯t ripple at all. She bowed her body once again! ¡°The second bow!¡± ¡°The third bow!¡± The two consecutive bows made the entire world quake and even the several Genesis Qi defenses around Zhou Yuan almost instantly crumbled to pieces and turned to flecks of light. His body plunged down thousands of feet in the air. Fortunately, he managed to steady himself in the end. A flush rushed to Zhou Yuan''s face as he stared sharply at Jiang Hongying. He grinned and said, "Your Mystic Dragon Clan''s technique can easily make people misunderstand. But I¡¯m curious to know how many more times you can bow!¡± Although the technique was powerful, Zhou Yuan could feel that Jiang Hongying was under extreme pressure to perform such an art. Jiang Hongying''s eyes were icy as she said coldly, "Enough to get rid of you.¡± Her hands trembled as she tried to maintain the hand seal and blood began to seep out from her skin. But she drew a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her Genesis Qi that was rioting in her body and bowed once again. ¡°The fourth bow!¡± The bow was very difficult, but she still completed it. Boom! There seemed to be a clap of thunder echoing around the sky, and then, everyone saw the space around Zhou Yuan collapsed as if forming a huge black hole. All the defences around Zhou Yuan burst apart and his figure plunged from the sky, smashing into a mountain peak. The peak collapsed into a pit and buried Zhou Yuan in the depths. Many people couldn''t help gulping. Jin Zhong and others also turned ashen-faced. Zhou Yuan lost? ¡°At least he didn¡¯t die shamefully since he could force Hongying to bow four times.¡± Jiang Ba said indifferently. Under awed gazes, Jiang Hongying still maintained the same kneeling posture. She peered down at the deep pit and uttered, ¡°Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s impressive that you could push me this far, but I am still disappointed. After all, your reputation resonates throughout all-heavens.¡± She shook her head and turned her gaze to Tuntun, Jin Zhong and the others. "I won, please fulfil the bet.¡± Jin Zhong and the others reddened with anger, but Tuntun lazily swept a glance over her. He took out a stone slab and wrote, ¡°You won? Eat my fart!¡± Jiang Hongying flushed with anger. He is an Alpha Holy Beast, and in terms of status, is almost comparable to our Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s ancestor, but why does he behave like a thug!? Every word that comes out his mouth is so foul! But just when she was about to say something, her expression abruptly changed. She immediately peered at the pit below, where she noticed abnormal waves of Genesis Qi. ¡°He can still move?¡± Jiang Hongying lifted her beautiful hand and rolled up the several boulders and rocks with Genesis Qi. As rocks whirled everywhere, everyone¡¯s expression turned astonished when they saw a miserable-looking figure rising from the deep pit. But what was most shocking was the huge golden bell on the figure¡¯s shoulder. The golden bell was deep and there seemed to be terrifying rays of light flowing inside. Zhou Yuan raised his head and grinned at Jiang Hongying. ¡°Hey, you only bowed four times and think you can win against me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s impolite not to reciprocate. Since you bowed four times, you should also give me a shot, right?¡± Zhou Yuan''s face turned chilling and the jet-black mouth of the bell locked on Jiang Hongying. Immediately after, terrifying power frantically accumulated inside. Jiang Hongying¡¯s countenance changed abruptly. A chill gushed up from the depths of her heart. Zhou Yuan''s counterattack was more terrifying than she imagined! Boom! But before she could analyze Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack any more, the golden bell shook and an earthshaking ringing of the bell reverberated throughout the world. Chapter 1248 Defeated Dragon Om! As the golden bell roared, the space around the mouth of the bell began to collapse. Light flooded the inside and terrifying power converged. Then, the bell shook again and a sound wave roared out like a torrent. Saint Genesis art, Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell! Within the sound wave torrent was a dragon roaring. The torrent moved through the air with incredible speed and smashed the space in an instant. It swiftly approached Jiang Hongying in the sky. Jiang Hongying¡¯s face blanched with horror and her scalp felt numb when she saw the power contained in the sound wave torrent. She never thought Zhou Yuan could counterattack so fiercely. The sound wave torrent that contained a dragon roar was more terrifying than the power of her four bows! Is Zhou Yuan¡¯s counterattack also a powerful greater Saint Genesis art?! Jiang Hongying didn''t dare to act careless. She gritted her teeth and her eyes flashed with a fierce light. She folded her hands in a seal and rapidly circulated her Genesis Qi. There was even white smoke rising from her flesh, a sign that her power was activated to its peak state. ¡°Imperial Dragon Bows to Heaven, the fifth bow!" She slowly bowed down in worship. The bow was extremely difficult and even tore her skin. Her beautiful body quivered as if unable to bear the tremendous pressure. Jiang Hongying hadn¡¯t fully mastered the fifth bow of the Imperial Dragon Bows to Heaven, and thus it was detrimental to her body to forcibly use it due to the heavy load it put on her. But she had no other choice because she knew she couldn¡¯t block Zhou Yuan¡¯s fierce counterattack any other way. She would lose if she failed to withstand his counterattack and she would hate to see that result. Boom! But she still completed the bow even if it put a lot of strain on her body. As she bowed down, the gigantic Imperial Dragon silhouette behind her quivered a little and the entire world dimmed. A tremendous power emerged like a bolt of lightning, pointing directly at the sound wave torrent roaring towards it. Many people¡¯s eyes widened in horror as they watched the earth shaking collision about to happen. Rumble ! The collision arrived the next instant. Indescribably loud sound waves swept across the area and drowned all noises in the world, followed by terrifying blasts of wind and waves devastating nearby mountains. The Ancestral Spirit Tree swayed a little but still stood tall and unscathed. This was because every Ancestral Spirit Tree was connected to the utopia since birth. In other words, Ancestral Spirit Trees were almost indestructible unless the entire utopia was annihilated. But that wasn¡¯t something that could be achieved by someone at the Nascent Source stage. All eyes were fixed on the center of the collision. Under the many frightened gazes, two powerful forces constantly bombarded and corroded each other. The struggle of the two powerful forces lasted for around 10 breaths. Both gradually faded, but the outcome of the battle remained to be decided. Jiang Hongying breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she could withstand Zhou Yuan''s counterattack, there would be another fierce match where she believed she could suppress Zhou Yuan with her tough strength and physical body unique to the Mystic Dragon Clan! Zhou Yuan wore an indifferent expression. Although the golden bell couldn¡¯t destroy the power of the fifth bow, he wasn¡¯t completely disappointed. After all, in terms of grade, the Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell was considered a Saint Genesis art while Jiang Hongying¡¯s was a true greater Saint Genesis art. He already did pretty well to endure the power of the fifth bow. But¡­ Since he had predicted such a result, how would he not have something else planned? A cold light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes and he folded his hands in a seal. Bang! As the seal formed, a sword cry resounded in the depths of the sound wave torrent that was gradually fading. Then, four rays of rainbow sword lights suddenly erupted from the torrent, shattering the surrounding space. It appeared in front of Jiang Hongying at lightning speed and fiercely struck down. The rainbow sword lights came so fast that Jiang Hongying couldn¡¯t react in time. Moreover, she had just completed the fifth bow, which exhausted her Genesis Qi, and could only helplessly watch the four rays of sword light approach. The only thing she could do was transform into a gigantic crimson dragon. Chi! As the four rays of sword light passed, dragon blood sputtered everywhere and left four sword wounds on the crimson dragon¡¯s body. The wounds were so deep that they almost tore the body apart. Ah! The dragon let out a mournful roar. Dragon blood rained down like a violent storm as its tremendous body plunged from the sky and crushed a towering mountain. The giant dragon writhed in pain as it let out painful roars. Everyone gasped out loud in astonishment. The two sides were previously equally matched, but who would have thought that Jiang Hongying would be severely wounded in a split second! Many people with discerning eyes could tell that the four rays of incomparably sharp sword light belonged to a Saint Genesis art! But Zhou Yuan could hide a Saint Genesis art within the Golden Bell Saint Genesis art and made it difficult for others to detect its presence. This demonstrated his deep mastery in both Saint Genesis arts. His move was impossible to guard against. ¡°A very powerful move.¡± Meng Chong gulped, his eyes filled with terror. Zhou Yuan¡¯s move not only showed his precise control of the two Saint Genesis arts, but also the fact that he timely performed the art during when Jiang Hongying was completing the fifth bow. At that time, she likely had no time to carefully examine her opponent¡¯s Genesis arts and detect the movements within it. Therefore, Zhou Yuan grasped the perfect time to launch his counterattack. He clearly had rich experiences on the battlefields. "It''s no wonder that he could suppress a top heaven pride of the Sacred Race in Guyuan Heaven.¡± Meng Chong sighed. Zhou Yuan''s danger level in his heart was raised to another level. He was thankful that he hadn¡¯t listened to Jiang Hongying and got involved in that muddy water. The Divine Tiger Clan experts behind Meng Chong exchanged fearful glances with each other. At such a point, how could they not see that Jiang Hongying had lost? Zhou Yuan indifferently looked at the crimson dragon on the blood-stained ground. There wasn¡¯t the slightest sympathy in his eyes. After all, Jiang Hongying brought this on herself. The silent atmosphere lasted for several breaths. Jiang Ba stared blankly at the severely wounded crimson dragon below. It was only after several breaths that his eyes reddened and he fumed, ¡°Such a ruthless means, you really think there is no one in the Mystic Dragon Clan who can do anything to you?!¡± As his stern voice faded, a gush of mighty and terrifying Genesis Qi erupted from him. His Genesis Qi foundation was stronger than even Jiang Hongying''s! Additionally, as Genesis Qi roared out, everyone saw a Law Domain spreading out from his body! Jiang Ba¡¯s imposing bearing turned even more terrifying! Jiang Ba stepped forward and thrust out his palm in anger. Mighty Genesis Qi roared out and was compressed and concentrated by his Law Domain before aiming towards Zhou Yuan. Everyone¡¯s expression changed. ¡°Roar!¡± But just as Jiang Ba was about to strike Zhou Yuan, a roar full of mystery and majesty resounded across the world. A chilling feeling surged to Jiang Ba¡¯s heart and he lifted his head to see the sky suddenly dimming. A giant beast claw blotted out the sun and sky. Below the claw were vortex-like black holes. They rippled mysteriously and terrifying forces could be felt within them. Jiang Ba was terrified because he knew that it was Tuntun''s move. Boom! Jiang Ba didn¡¯t dare to be careless in the face of an Alpha Holy Beast even if the beast hadn¡¯t fully awakened. His palm strike that was originally aimed at Zhou Yuan suddenly changed direction. Space constantly crumbled under that palm and countless spatial fragments were swept along with the palm strike. But when the two collided, the black holes completely engulfed Jiang Ba¡¯s attack. The giant claw that seemed to contain mysterious power ripped apart everything along the way as it slashed Jiang Ba¡¯s body. Bang! A loud noise reverberated. Jiang Ba blasted down like a cannonball and tore an abyss-like crack into the ground. Jiang Ba forcibly steadied himself but he couldn¡¯t conceal his embarrassing state. Gazes of shock and horror were cast to the sky, where a giant mysterious beast exuded an ancient majesty. The beast¡¯s eyes resembled blazing suns and he exhibited an imposing bearing as he looked at Jiang Ba. Pu. The giant beast narrowed his eyes in disdain and puffed out white smoke from his nose. Eventually, he formed a sentence under stunned gazes. ¡°You date bully Zhou Yuan, do you think I, Little Ancestor, don¡¯t exist?!¡± Chapter 1249 Show of Might The enormous crack on the ground was akin to a deep abyss, causing the eyelids of several onlookers to jump. Reverence flooded their eyes when they looked back at the giant creature in the sky. An Alpha sacred beast¡¯s pressure was exceptionally effective against Genesis Beasts like them. Even experts of the same cultivation level would be slightly suppressed by the pressure. Although Jiang Ba had always maintained a low-profile, everyone knew that he was the Mystic Dragon Clan team¡¯s strongest expert, stronger than even Jiang Hongying. After all, he was a pseudo Law Domain expert. However, Jiang Ba had clearly lost out in the earlier exchange with Tuntun. Evidently, lord Ancestral Taotie¡¯s battle power was even greater than his own. On the ground, Jiang Ba¡¯s expression was somewhat gloomy, but his eyes were clearly dominated by a look of fear and wariness. Although he had not dared to underestimate Tuntun, he had felt that he should not lose to it. However, the earlier clash taught him that he had still underestimated an Alpha sacred beast¡¯s power. Although Tutun had yet to fully awaken, it was still powerful without equal. The Mystic Dragon Clan experts finally returned to their senses and hurriedly landed, crowding around behind Jian Ba as they cautiously stared at Tuntun. Jin Zhong and the others also swiftly moved forward to stand behind Tuntun and glare at their enemies. Zhou Yuan had defeated Jiang Hongying, and now Tuntun had forced Jiang Ba back. These events were undoubtedly a tremendous boost to their morale. Below, Zhou Yuan raised his brows at this scene. That was likely Tuntun¡¯s true power earlier. It was indeed rather terrifying and according to his estimates, Tuntun should be at the apex level even among these pseudo Law Domain experts. ¡°Not bad.¡± He gave a thumbs up to Tuntun. However, Tuntun merely snorted white mist from its nostrils and proudly raised its head. Although Jiang Hongying had repeatedly provoked Zhou Yuan earlier, Tuntun felt that Zhou Yuan could deal with her. Moreover, it would naturally not interfere in a fair fight. However, Jiang Ba had attacked in anger due to Jiang Hongying¡¯s defeat, an act which obviously went against the rules. Did they think that lord Tuntun was a pushover? Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted towards the somewhat miserable figure of Jiang Ba as he grinned, ¡°It seems that the Mystic Dragon Clan do not understand the meaning of rules.¡± Although he was smiling, his eyes were rather cold. If Tuntun had not moved in time earlier, he most likely would have been caught off guard by the attack. Jian Ba¡¯s expression turned stormy. ¡°You were too brutal!¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly. ¡°Do you guys not spill blood in Wanshou Heaven? What touching mercy and camaraderie.¡± His words were filled with mockery. The gazes of the other experts present flashed as they cast odds looks at Jiang Ba. Wanshou Heaven was the most bloody and savage among the heavens. After all, Genesis Beasts loved to fight. In a situation like this, let alone seeing some blood, even being killed was common. Although Jiang Hongying had been hacked a few times by Zhou Yuan and sustained substantial injuries, the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s bodies were strong and should recover after some time. Hence, Jiang Ba¡¯s reason was honestly rather laughable. It would perhaps be more truthful to say Jiang Ba felt that Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory over Jiang Hongying had sullied the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s dignity. Hence, he intended to swiftly subdue Zhou Yuan as punishment. Jiang Ba likewise sensed the amused gazes looking at him, causing his face to twitch. He knew that he could no longer cleanly settle this matter. He could only maintain his silence as he forced down the anger in his heart. He instructed, ¡°Bring Hongying back.¡± Several Mystic Dragon Clan experts flew towards the mountain range. They shivered when they saw the four sinister wounds on the dragon lying in a pool of its own blood, before hurriedly pouring their Genesis Qi into its body. Genesis Qi light erupted as Jiang Hongying returned to human form. However, her complexion was deathly pale and blood continuously dripped from her body. The Mystic Dragon Clan experts supported her as they returned to Jiang Ba. The corners of Jiang Ba¡¯s eyes twitched a little at Jiang Hongying¡¯s appearance, anger rising within them. He worriedly asked, ¡°How do you feel?¡± Jiang Hongying gritted her teeth and shook her head. Her condition was very bad. The four sword lights had not only slashed her but sharp sword qi was still wreaking havoc in her body, causing her intense pain. ¡°Friends of the Mystic Dragon Clan, shouldn¡¯t we discuss what¡¯s next?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s chuckle suddenly rang out. Jiang Ba¡¯s expression turned rigid. He of course knew what Zhou Yuan was referring to: the Ancestral Spirit Fruit wager. However, were they really going to hand over the seven hardfought Ancestral Spirit Fruit? Or should they run? Jiang Ba¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. ¡°Forget it, acknowledge the wager.¡± Jiang Hongying gritted her teeth, her voice somewhat hoarse. So many people had observed the wager. Even if they managed to escape, word would spread and it would undoubtedly make them a huge joke. It was just not worth it. Jiang Hongying raised her pale face and looked towards Zhou Yuan. Although her expression was still quite icy, there was not much hatred to be seen. ¡°Dare to gamble, dare to lose. Take it!¡± With a jerk of her hand, seven streaks of light shot forth. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power moved to catch the seven objects. His brows involuntarily raised when he saw the seven Ancestral Spirit Fruits within, clearly surprised that the other party¡¯s straightforward response. He had already asked Tuntun to get ready to stop Jiang Ba and the others from running. At the sight of his surprised expression, Jiang Hongying coldly said, ¡°I, Jiang Hongying, am not a sore loser.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and said in a deep moved voice, ¡°As expected of a hero among women, the great lady who gifts wealth.¡± The first part was fine, but the latter part made Jiang Hongying¡¯s expression turn steely-green with rage. She gnashed her teeth, fire practically spoutin from her eyes. However, she did not say anything in the end and only turned away so she didn¡¯t have to look at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was surprised again. From Jiang Hongying¡¯s earlier attitude, she should have exploded like a firecracker. He had not expected her to control her emotions. There seemed to be no longer any trace of her earlier haughtiness. He seemed to understand something...this woman had been beaten into submission by him? As expected, only the hard approach worked on her. He shook his head inwardly. His earlier courtesy had only made this woman want to stomp his face in, but after being beaten, she was now so cooperative... After Jiang Hongying handed over the fruits, the Mystic Dragon Clan group were clearly quite dejected and did not want to stay here any longer. Hence, they immediately turned around and left. The other factions sighed inwardly. No one had expected the usually domineering and aggressive Mystic Dragon Clan to suffer at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. Since the show was over, they also began to scatter. The Divine Tiger Clan¡¯s Meng Chong paused on Zhou Yuan. When Zhou Yuan looked over, Meng Chong cupped his fists together with a smile, displaying his friendliness. Zhou Yuan returned the gesture by cupping his own fists together. The Divine Tiger Clan was also a great clan with as many powerful experts as the clouds in the sky. It was naturally better to make more friends. After all, this was Wanshou Heaven and he did not wish to have enemies everywhere. After displaying his good will, Meng Chong did not rush forward to deepen their relationship but instead left with his men. Tuntun¡¯s body rapidly shrank, landing on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head and giving him a light pat. Zhou Yuan understood its intention and quickly retrieved the seven Ancestral Spirit Fruits. After adding in the remaining three they had, he now had a total of ten. Zhou Yuan looked towards Jin Zhong and the others and cautioned, ¡°You guys should go ahead and leave first.¡± Jin Zhong and the others nodded. Although they did not know what Zhou Yuan and Tuntun were going to do, they could guess that it was something special. They felt rather envious, but also understood they did not have the fortune to partake. Ten Ancestral Spirit Fruits hovered in front of Tuntun. It swung its paw, shattering all the fruits into strange, mysterious light. Tuntun¡¯s paw reached into the light, seemingly mixing in something special. In the next instant, the lights surged forth, enveloping Zhou Yuan and Tuntun like a membrane. Zhou Yuan understood what he had to do. He moved with the membrane, turning into a blur that soon crashed into the Ancestral Spirit Tree¡¯s giant trunk. Plop! There was no impact. The trunk rippled as man and beast strangely disappeared into it. In the outside word, the yet to scatter experts could not help but gasp at this scene. Some experts seemed to understand something as envy flooded their eyes. They knew from ancient texts about the Alpha sacred beasts¡¯ bloodlines numerous wonders. Evidently, Tuntun had opened some kind of special area. They could only sigh in envy. Zhou Yuan was really lucky! After sighing, the rest of the crowd finally scattered. The Dragon Spirit Utopia had just opened and since there was nothing for them here, they could only go somewhere else to try their luck. Chapter 1250 The Ancestral Spirit Tree’s Blessing When Zhou Yuan¡¯s body crashed into the giant trunk, he felt as if he was dashing through a membrane. Before he could feel the sensation properly, the scenery before his eyes abruptly changed. He seemed to have appeared on the branch of an ancient tree. His gaze swept across the area and found it was a giant circular mountain cave. Vines covered the walls like pythons. He looked towards the front and saw a jade lake, mist brewing over its surface. The lake was wide, its waters emerald-green. A fragrance slowly rose from the surface, filled with astonishing life energy. Zhou Yuan breathed in and immediately felt his Spirit shiver in desire. Of course, his Spirit was not the only one to react. His flesh and Genesis Qi also began to boil in excitement. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes burned with desire as he praised, ¡°What a great place!¡± He had used ten Ancestral Spirit Fruits to open the path here, a price that honestly still pained him somewhat. However, when he saw the jade lake, he understood that he had hit the jackpot this time. Let alone ten fruits, even a hundred could not possibly be exchanged for such benefits. On his head, Tuntun sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s emotions and could not help slap his head in a pleased manner. Its will turned into words that entered his brain, There will definitely be good things when following lord Tuntun. Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes. However, on account that it had brought him to such a nice place, he would be the better person and not argue with it. Tuntun also had no intention of chatting with Zhou Yuan, its eyes also burning as it stared at the jade lake. One must know that not just any Ancestral Spirit Tree could produce a reservoir like this, and it would only form in trees with strong and solid foundations. They were really lucky to find a spirit reservoir in the first tree they entered. The Ancestral Spirit Reservoir contained a tremendous amount of essence energy the tree had absorbed from the Dragon Spirit Utopia. The tree¡¯s growth was completely dependent on the essence energy stored here. It was also extremely beneficial for Tuntun. Splash! Tuntun flew into the air and dived head-first into the reservoir. It quickly returned to its large form, creating giant waves. Its body seemed to become a black hole, endlessly devouring the essence energy of the Ancestral Spirit Reservoir. Zhou Yuan was alarmed. ¡°Little bastard, leave me some!¡± He did not waste any more time and also leaped into the lake. Splash! When he entered the waters, Zhou Yuan realized it was pretty viscous. The mysterious power contained within immediately began surging into his body. As he felt the interior of his body begin to stir, Zhou Yuan quickly headed to the depths of the lake and sat down. He slowly entered a state of concentration as an enormous suction force surged out, creating a giant whirlpool around him. Countless specks of jade light emerged from the water, darting into his body like birds in the woods. Rumble! His Spirit also began to take action. It opened its mouth and gently inhaled. Half of the green light dots were quickly swallowed by it. Thousands of light rays blossomed from his Spirit, condensing together behind Zhou Yuan¡¯s head like a beautiful and mysterious halo. Zhou Yuan could clearly feel his peak Transformative stage Spirit cultivation slowly begin to rise. ¡°The effect is so clear¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. One must know that he had tried numerous methods to increase to his Spirit power but had ultimately failed to achieve his goal. Now, in the Ancestral Spirit Reservoir, the originally solid and compact Spirit wall finally seemed to have loosened. Besides the growth of his Spirit, the other half of the green light dots split into two. One portion circulated along with his Genesis Qi, ultimately entering the Divine Dwelling before being swallowed by the Nascent Source seated within. The other half submerged into his flesh while circulating in his body. At this moment, Zhou Yuan understood the meaning of happiness. The Nascent Source in his Divine Dwelling pulsed with boundless power as its seven-inch-tall body began to show signs of growing. His flesh started to squirm excitedly as glass light blossomed. The mystic light reached deep into his body, continuously refining and strengthening his flesh, muscles, channels and bones. This was true joy...progress in all three aspects, Spirit, Genesis Qi and body! Unconcealable happiness surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, before ultimately returning to calmness. He sat in the lake depths, green specks of light continuously forming in the whirl poor around him before swarming into his body wave by wave. He could feel that his strength would soar to another level after this. At that time, he would finally be able to put up a fight even against the pseudo Law Domain experts. Zhou Yuan¡¯s thoughts were gradually cast aside as he entered a state of maximum concentration. The waters violently churned in the Ancestral Spirit Reservoir due to the two giant whirlpools, each happily enjoying the energy accumulated by the Ancestral Spirit Tree over thousands of years. Perhaps, neither man nor beast would have anticipated that this would last for an entire month... While Zhou Yuand and Tuntun were submerged in the Ancestral Spirit Reservoir, great waves were rising in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. The waves were not caused by the clashes between the various Wanshou Heaven clans, but signs of their true enemy appearing as they ventured deeper into the Dragon Spirit Utopia. It was the Evil Beast Clan sent by the Sacred Race. When news of the Evil Beast Clan spread, all of the Wanshou Heaven teams stopped fighting. The higher ups had already given the death command: kill every single Evil Beast Clan member in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Of course, even without this command, the many grade-7 experts would never compromise with the Evil Beast Clan. After all, the hatred between them ran so deep that it was either life or death whenever they met. As such, every encounter between both parties over the next month resulted in bloody battles that could only be described as cruel. The pungent stench of blood slowly began to spread in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Chapter 1251 Ai Tuanzi It was a land that stretched as far as the eye could see. Mountains towered over lakes, grand and majestic. However, the vast land was filled with an aura of savagery, the air was filled with the stench of blood. Rumble! If one peered into the distance, one would see countless Genesis Qi plumes rising into the sky. Every plume represented an extremely desperate battle, giant beasts brutally tearing at each other. Blood dyed the land red. The central zone of the Dragon Spirit Utopia was another place where the various clans of Wanshou Heaven would clash with the Evil Beast Clan. In the beginning, the clashes were relatively small scale, but as time passed, the place basically became a meat grinder. The elite forces from both sides were pulled over, eyes red with bloodthirst as they engaged in violent fights to the death. On a peak near one of the battle lines. There was a large camp on the mountain, a single banner rising from it and fluttering in the wind. The two words Wanshou Heaven could be clearly seen on the banner, its golden glow reaching across the vast region. The golden light contained a peculiar power. Anyone within its range would have increased recovery. It was evidently some kind of Saint artifact. There were currently a dozen figures standing under the golden banner, who were observing the smoke filled land. Their expressions turned somewhat grave as they felt the desperation and savagery from the battlefield. It was a small but extraordinary group, composed of the leaders of the various teams that had entered the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Jiang Hongying and Jiang Ba, who had clashed with Zhou Yuan previously, were among them. Someone suddenly sighed and said, ¡°The Evil Beast Clan has sent quite a number of their elites this time. Everyone, it seems that we have to get ready to receive them.¡± The speaker was a fair-skinned, boyishly handsome man. A white silk gown hung from his tall and slim body, giving him an extraordinary presence. He appeared to be quite influential even in such a group, the other leaders nodding with solemn expressions at his words. He was called Ai Zhi and was from the Spirit Phoenix Clan. If one were to rank the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Nascent Source experts, he would most likely be part of the upper rankings, placing higher than even the likes of Jiang Hongying. Of course, this was only applicable to the Nascent Source stage. Several pseudo Law Domain experts had been dispatched by the various clans, and were also currently gathered here with him. Hence, his battle power was nearer to the bottom of the group, although that did not hinder the weight of his opinion. The group¡¯s gazes suddenly glanced to Ai Zhi¡¯s side, where a girl in orange was standing. The girl had elegant features and her black hair was tied into a long ponytail that hung behind her. She was clearly not participating in the discussion, focused instead on the cloth bag in her hand, or to be more precise its contents. She would occasionally reach in to retrieve a fragrant piece of jerky before earnestly savoring it bite by bite. However, no one made fun of the pretty girl and her jerky. Even the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s Jiang Ba would only look over before turning away with a twitching mouth, not daring to disturb her. The girl was called Ai Tuanzi and also came from the Spirit Phoenix Clan. If Ai Zhi was the main pillar of this generation¡¯s Nascent Source stage, Ai Tuanzi would be the main pillar of Jiang Ba¡¯s generation. Like him, she was currently at the pseudo Law Domain stage. However, there was a substantial gap even between pseudo Law Domain experts. In simple terms, the gap arose due to the difference in length of the Nascent Source when the Law Domain was developed. An 8 inch Nascent Source was considered satisfactory. After reaching this level, one would be able to develop a pseudo Law Domain with the right conditions. However, most ambitious and talented Nascent Source experts would not immediately attempt to develop their Law Domains after attaining an 8 inch Nascent Source because it would result in a weak foundation. Simply put, the stronger the Nascent Source foundation, the more powerful the developed pseudo Law Domain. Of course, everyone wanted to develop their Law Domains only after their Nascent Source reached their limit. However, reality is often cruel. If one was lacking in the talent department, abandoning a chance to develop a pseudo Law Domain might result in being forever stuck at the perfect Nascent Source stage. Only with great talent, determination and drive could one become part of the extraordinary. Take Jiang Ba for example. He had chosen to develop his pseudo Law Domain when his Nascent Source reached 8.9 inches. It was not because he did not want to continue building his foundation, but because he had felt that this was his limit. In spite of this, Jiang Ba was still one of the stronger pseudo Law Domain experts of Wanshou Heaven. The beauty called Ai Tuanzi had developed her pseudo Law Domain when her Nascent Source was 9.2 inches. It might appear to be a mere 0.3 inch difference, but everyone knew how vast of a gap it actually was. In the all-heavens, even a 9 inch Nascent source was already considerably rare. 9.2 inches could stand tall even among the greatest geniuses. One could say that Ai Tuanzi was both Wanshou Heaven¡¯s greatest hope and confidence in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Given her status and strength, let alone eating a few pieces of jerky, if she did not mind, anyone present would willingly cut off their flesh to feed her. Everyone looked at Ai Tuanzi, but she appeared completely oblivious as she slowly ate her jerky. Cough. A soft cough sounded behind her as a slender finger poked at Ai Tuanzi¡¯s waist. Ai Tuanzi unhappily turned her head as a gorgeous face entered her eyes. She could not help but grumble. ¡°Little Ai Qing, why are you disturbing me?¡± The one who had prodded her was someone Zhou Yuan would certainly recognize if he was present. It was Ai Qing, who he had met in Guyuan Heaven. Given her grade-7 strength, she should not have the chance to enter the Dragon Spirit Utopia. However, it was because of Ai Tuanzi¡¯s existence that she had been sent in as well. The Spirit Phoenix Clan higher-ups knew that although Ai Tuanzi was powerful, she was a little difficult to handle and it just so happened that Ai Qing could remedy this. Ai Qing felt somewhat helpless as she said, ¡°Little aunt...everyone is waiting for you to say something.¡± That¡¯s right, if they were to go according to seniority, Ai Tuanzi was her aunt. Ai Tuanzi pursed her lips and wiped off the oil from the corner of her lips. She then looked towards the other leaders and sighed. ¡°The Evil Beast Clan has spent so long tangling with us likely because they¡¯re trying to probe our strength.¡± Ai Zhi softly chuckled. ¡°Aunt Ai, aren¡¯t we doing the same?¡± Ai Tuanzi peered into the distance where the land was covered in darkness. None of them know how many savage and violent Genesis Qi undulations hid within the darkness. For the first time, a grave look appeared in her eyes as she slowly said, ¡°I can sense an extremely powerful existence on the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s side. In fact, it even gives me a dangerous feeling.¡± The group¡¯s expressions changed. Even Ai Tuanzi felt danger? How powerful was that Evil Beast Clan expert?! ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be making their move for now because they¡¯re waiting for the Ancestral Spirit Mountain to appear.¡± Ai Tuanzi felt an itch in her mouth and retrieved the small cloth sack again to nibble on some jerky. ¡°That¡¯s right¡­¡± She suddenly paused and turned towards Jin Lan and the other Golden Monkey Clan experts. ¡°Where¡¯s that Little Ancestor of yours? Why hasn¡¯t it appeared? With it around, things should be more stable.¡± Jin Lan¡¯s expression turned somewhat awkward as he shook his head and answered, ¡°We¡¯ve not heard any news from Little Ancestor since entering the Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± By the side, Jiang Hongying¡¯s and Jiang Ba¡¯s expressions turned somewhat unnatural. In the end, they spoke up, ¡°Their Little Ancestor should still be busy harvesting some special blessings.¡± Ai Tuanzi nodded. ¡°I heard that your Little Ancestor chose a human from Hunyuan Heaven? I believe he¡¯s called Zhou Yuan? He should be a formidable individual since he managed to defeat the Sacred Race apex sacred heaven pride.¡± Jiang Hongying¡¯s lips moved but did not utter a single word. On the other hand, Ai Zhi smiled and said, ¡°Although Zhou Yuan is quite famous and capable, this is between us and the Evil Beast Clan. We shouldn¡¯t need an outsider to interfere, right? We already allowed him to enter Wanshou Heaven to find some blessings and he has already taken enough advantage.¡± His tone seemed indifferent, but anyone could tell that he had some objections towards Zhou Yuan. However, no one else spoke. They knew that Ai Zhi¡¯s objections undoubtedly originated from Jiang Hongying. After all, her defeat at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands was no longer fresh news. Ai Tuanzi¡¯s clean teeth bit into a jerky. She glanced at Ai Zhi and said, ¡°The Sacred Race is the enemy of all the heavens. The Sacred Race must be after something to have secretly sent the Evil Beast Clan into the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Hence, if it''s to deal with the Evil Beast Clan, everyone is an ally regardless if they¡¯re Genesis Beast or human. ¡°Your attitude will only sacrifice the big picture for small gains.¡± Although her words failed to convince Ai Zhi, he could only nod his head in acknowledgement. Ai Tuanzi lifted another jerky before putting it down as she slowly said, ¡°I feel that the Ancestral Spirit Mountain will appear soon.¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes widened at these words. If the Ancestral Spirit Mountain appeared, the final battle would begin. They raised their heads and stared at the darkness with grave expressions. They had a premonition that the clash in the Dragon Spirit Utopia this time would likely surpass their imagination. Chapter 1252 Sneaking In The bloody meat grinder in the Dragon Spirit Utopia turned more and more terrifying as time passed, both parties sustaining losses everyday. As the war progressed, the initially concealed experts began to enter the battlefield one after another. This undoubtedly caused the fights to become more and more savage, the pungent stench of blood practically spreading to the entire Dragon Spirit Utopia. Even the sky was gradually dyed dark red. ... Ai Tuanzi sat on a mountain peak, watching the vast battlefield. Numerous desperate battles entered her eyes, causing her to purse her lips a little. After a month of killing, the strength displayed by the Evil Beast Clan made her somewhat fearful. When their generation was born, the Evil Beast Clan had already been pushed back to the four Sacred Race heavens. Hence, they had never witnessed the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s power, and only read about them from old texts or heard about them from the elders. She had originally been pretty nonchalant about being sent into the Dragon Spirit Utopia, but as time passed, she rapidly discarded this attitude. Because the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s power had surpassed her expectations. Both parties had clashed countless times over the past month. However, their side had never managed to gain the upper hand. Some time ago, even Ai Zhi, Jiang Hongying and the other top-level Nascent Source experts had joined the battlefield. However, the Evil Beast Clan swiftly dispatched elite experts to stop them. The Evil Beast Clan had clearly come prepared this time. ¡°What exactly do they want?¡± Ai Tuanzi frowned a little. The Dragon Spirit Utopia was indeed pretty beneficial to Nascent Source experts. However, that was all. There was no comparison with the battle for Guyuan Heaven. Although the Law Domain Seeds in the Dragon Spirit Utopia were pretty good treasures, they were only of use to Nascent Source experts that had yet to develop pseudo Law Domains. The seeds were pretty worthless to pseudo Law Domain experts like herself. So why had the Sacred Race paid such a heavy price to send the elite Evil Beast Clan Nascent Source experts into the Dragon Spirit Utopia? Could it be to vie for a few Law Domain Seeds? But the Sacred Race shouldn¡¯t have such low standards, right? But if it was not for the Law Domain Seeds, what was there in the Dragon Spirit Utopia that held such value to the Sacred Race? Ai Tuanzi lifted her head slightly and gazed at the dusky sky far away. Till now, the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s true apex expert had yet to move. However, she could clearly feel that faint but dangerous aura. Perhaps, the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s elite experts were also secretly probing them as well. Ai Tuanzi exhaled, unable to stop herself from retrieving the familiar small cloth bag as her gaze quickly swept to the left and right. When she found that Ai Qing was not around, she happily pulled out a precious little jerky and began to enjoy. In any case, no matter how important this matter was, it was not enough to stop the gluttonous worm in her stomach. Dong! While Ai Tuanzi was savoring the delicious jerky, a loud ¡®dong¡¯ suddenly rang out across the battlefield she was overseeing. The ground was torn open and a giant pitch-black beast emerged. The beast flipped in the air, transforming into a night-black human figure. Sinister black bone spikes grew from its body as a savage aura spread. It was an Evil Beast Clan expert! Moreover, the alarming Genesis Qi erupting from his body had reached the peak of the grade-7 level! Ai Tuanzi¡¯s expression abruptly changed because the figure had appeared behind the battleline. It was where several injured Wanshou Heaven members were resting! He had evidently sneaked in to start a massacre. ¡°You¡¯re asking for death!¡± An icy light surged in Ai Tuanzi¡¯s eyes. The other pseudo Law Domain experts had spread out to oversee their respective battlefields. Hence, she was the only one left stationed here. Her figure moved, intending to meet the trespasser. However, before she could rise into the air, a pair of scarlet-red pupils suddenly emerged in the darkness far away as a savage and heart-shakingly vicious presence locked onto Ai Tuanzi. Her figure abruptly froze. She lifted her pretty face and coldly stared at the eyes. The presence was the extremely dangerous target she had sensed since the beginning. ¡°So you¡¯re here for me!¡± Ai Tuanzi¡¯s expression grew increasingly frosty. The other party was clearly intent on forcing her to reveal an opening and strike. Ai Tuanzi could not take action so easily since she was being targeted by a strong foe. Hence, her shout rang out, ¡°Stop him!¡± A dozen powerful Genesis Qi undulations erupted from the battlefield as figure after figure pounced towards the invading grade-7 Evil Beast. The members left in the rear were weaker and no match for the peak grade-7 Evil Beast. However, they still fearlessly charged at him because their injured companions were recovering in the camp behind them. ¡°Hahaha, get lost!¡± The Evil Beast expert, whose body was riddled in sinister bone spikes, laughed. He slapped his hands together and a ten-thousand-feet halo of Genesis Qi abruptly unfurled. Thud thud! Several of the charging figures were immediately sent flying, their faces paling slightly. ¡°True body!¡± However, instead of being afraid, ferocious lights flashed in their eyes as they roared, transforming into their true bodies. Savage auras swiftly swept across the area. Thump! However, the Evil Beast expert did not intend to waste any time on them. It cruelly looked towards the camp behind as it slammed its foot into the ground, shooting forward in a streak of light. His mission was to cause as much destruction as possible and force Wanshou Heaven¡¯s strongest expert to move! He was extremely quick, leaving the pursuers behind in the blink of an eye as he shot straight towards the camp. In the distance, Ai Tuanzi¡¯s heart sunk. Both sides had been continuously probing each other for the past month. A few days ago, the Evil Beast Clan had intensified their offensive, causing the Genesis Beast Clans to spread out their pseudo Law Domain experts to oversee the many battlefields. She had already felt a faint sense of unease back then. Now, it was clear that they had realized she was the greatest threat on the Wanshou Heaven side and had come up with this ploy to deal with her. Slipping a peak grade-7 Evil Beast expert behind the frontlines, luring away the other pseudo Law Domain experts and the terrifying Genesis Qi that was targeting her... Ai Tuanzi¡¯s eyes were ice-cold. It seemed that the Evil Beast Clan had finally made their move, intending to eliminate her, Wanshou Heaven¡¯s strongest battle power... If something happened to her, it would be an irrecoverable blow to the Wanshou Heaven side. If that happened, they would not need to wait till the Ancestral Spirit Mountain appeared because the Wanshou Heaven side would already start to fall apart. The situation was not good. Chapter 1253 Smash Roar! An aura of savagery pulsed from the black figure as it streaked across the air like a black shooting star, heading directly for the camp behind. Behind the black figure, a dozen grade-7 Wanshou Heaven experts frantically pursued. However, they were clearly slower than the Evil Beast expert. Crazed laughter filled with killing intent continuously rang out, provoking the many Genesis Beast experts in the area that were locked in combat with the invading Evil Beast experts. Their expressions changed drastically when they saw the Evil Beast expert that had managed to slip past several boundaries, causing them to lose focus and fall into a disadvantage against their opponents. After all, their wounded companions were currently in the camp behind them. ¡°Despicable! Abominable!¡± ¡°Quickly stop him!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the Spirit Phoenix Clan expert? Why hasn¡¯t she taken action!¡± ¡°......¡± Roars rang out one after another as several gazes looked towards the mountain where Ai Tuanzi was stationed. They knew that she was overseeing this area to guard against any surprise. Hence, they could not understand why she refused to move. She should have already realized the situation. However, some of the sharper combatants looked towards the darkness far away with ugly expressions, where a powerful and brutal presence had locked onto Ai Tuanzi. The moment she moved, the apex Evil Beast expert would strike. Even if he failed to kill Ai Tuanzi, he would definitely be able to injure her. With the Ancestral Spirit Mountain about to appear, any injury Ai Tuanzi sustained would likely affect the final battle. This was evidently something the Evil Beast Clan had been planning for a long time! Signal flare after flare rose into the sky, warning the pseudo Law Domain experts overseeing the other battlefields. However, it was already too late for them to rush over. Swish! In an instant, the Evil Beast expert¡¯s figure appeared above the camp. However, just as he was about to unleash carnage, light suddenly rose into the sky. A torrent of Genesis Qi erupted, countless feathers spouting from within. Each feather was extremely sharp, leaving tears in the fabric of space as they shot forth. The Evil Beast expert mockingly gazed at the attack. The Genesis Qi undulations were just weak, and the attacker was clearly an initial grade-7 expert. Puff! He opened his mouth and spat, sending out a cloud of black smoke filled with sparks. Like a darkness dragon breath, the smoke swept forth, evaporating the countless Genesis Qi feathers. As the Genesis Qi feathers were incinerated, a pretty and familiar figure was revealed. It was Ai Qing! On the mountain top, Ai Tuanzi¡¯s expression changed at the sight of this. She never imagined that Ai Qing would be in the camp. Moreover, an initial grade-7 expert trying to resist an advanced grade-7 Evil Beast expert was clearly akin to a mantis trying to stop a cart. ¡°Ai QIng, get back!¡± Wrapped in Genesis Qi, her voice was hurriedly transmitted into Ai Qing¡¯s ears. However, Ai Qing did not move. Her pretty face filled with frostiness and determination as she stared at the Evil Beast expert. If she retreated, the camp would definitely be destroyed, dealing a painful blow to the clans. She knew that she was not the Evil Beast expert¡¯s match, but there might be a chance to turn things around as long as she could delay him a split second longer. Ai Qing made a seal. Phoenix wings abruptly unfurled from her back as scorching Genesis Qi erupted. Bang! The phoenix wings folded around her as she turned into a burning golden spear that shot straight towards the Evil Beast expert. ¡°Stupid girl, you¡¯re going to die!¡± A chilling light flashed in the Evil Beast expert¡¯s eyes, void of any emotion as he took a step forward and punched. Black light surged from his fist like a black sun that pulsed with the aura of annihilation. ¡°Scram!¡± The punch slammed into the golden spear. A shockwave swept outwards, accompanied by a loud boom. The golden spear shattered to pieces as Ai Qing¡¯s figure was sent flying, blood spraying from her mouth as she fell from the sky. A sinister smirk rose from the corners of the Evil Beast expert¡¯s mouth. He swiftly gave chase as a pitch-black bone spike grew from his palm. The bone spike gleamed coldly as it pierced towards Ai Qing¡¯s body. ¡°Die!¡± The Wanshou Heaven experts¡¯ expressions changed drastically when they saw this. On the peak, Ai Tuanzi¡¯s expression abruptly turned ice-cold, endless killing intent surging out in her eyes. In the next instant, she moved, intending to stop him. She could not idly sit by and allow her beloved Ai Qing to die. Hence, she needed to act even if it meant receiving an attack from the apex Evil Beast expert. Far away, the scarlet-red pupils immediately sensed Ai Qing¡¯s movement, causing a look of mockery and cruelness to arise. Ai Qing¡¯s complexion was somewhat pale as she watched death approach in the form of a rapidly approaching black bone spike. She let out a small sigh inside as she silently waited for death to claim her. Furious roars rang out one after another. Ai Tuanzi¡¯s Genesis Qi exploded. However, before the Genesis Qi could break out of her body, the space in front of Ai Qing¡¯s falling body suddenly rippled. Countless white brush hairs shot out, wrapping around the black bone spike like a snake. The white hairs were unbelievably tough and supple. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the black stone spike was swiftly slowed down by their obstruction. In the end, the bone spike came to a complete stop half an inch before Ai Qing¡¯s head, no longer able to advance. The sudden turn of events caused the entire battlefield to fall silent. Ai Qing also stared at this scene in shock. She felt a faint feeling of familiarity as she dazedly looked at the white hairs. Bang! However, before she could identify them, the white hairs suddenly tightened, crushing the bone spike to dust. Ai Qing¡¯s falling body was caught by an arm. She hurriedly lifted her head and found a familiar smiling face. ¡°You¡­¡± Ai Qing¡¯s eyes widened. It was Zhou Yuan! ¡°Captain Ai Qing, long time no see.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned at the elegant beauty. ¡°Advanced Nascent Source? A fool that doesn¡¯t know he¡¯s dead yet!¡± However, a hair-raising voice sounded before Zhou Yuan¡¯s words could fade. The Evil Beast expert¡¯s cruel eyes stared at Zhou Yuan. The human¡¯s sudden appearance had disrupted his plan to kill Ai Qing. ¡°Since you¡¯re such lovebirds, die together!¡± Killing intent boiled within the Evil Beast expert. Black Genesis Qi surged in the sky, forming a sea of black. In the next instant, the black sea returned to his hand, condensing into a black beast rune in his palm. His fingers closed around the rune as threw a punch at Zhou Yuan. It was a punch that could shake the earth! Overflowing with endless savagery! Even a perfect Nascent Source expert would not dare to face such power directly. Ai Qing gritted her teeth and hurriedly shouted, ¡°Careful!¡± Contrary to expectation, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm. He firmly secured Ai Qing with an arm and stomped. Air shattered under his foot as his body shot straight upwards under numerous shocked gazes, clearly intent on clashing head-on with the Evil Beast expert. The giant black punch of death descended. Zhou Yuan¡¯s other hand also formed a fist. Brush hairs rushed forth, transforming into a gauntlet around his fist. Glass light blossomed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, looking much purer than before. Moreover, if one took a closer look, one would discover that the glass light was emerging not from his skin but deep within his flesh. Rumble! The Nascent Source in his Divine Dwelling spat out an endless torrent of Genesis Qi that rapidly circulated around his body. His Spirit sat between his brows, a Spirit halo rising behind its head as boundless Spirit power flowed out. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist looked exceptionally small in the face of the giant black fist. For a split second, a faint layer of crystal light seemed to swirl on his fist. Boom! The two forces collided as space seemed to collapse around them. In the end, countless gazes watched in inconsolable shock as Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist smashed through the giant black fist and slammed into the Evil Beast expert¡¯s body... The impact lasted only for an instant. The advanced grade-7 Evil Beast expert¡¯s entire body was smashed into countless chunks. Blood fell from the sky like rain. Everyone in the area was dumbstruck. In Zhou Yuan¡¯s other arm, Ai Qing¡¯s mouth fell open as some of the blood spattered on her pale face. She seemed oblivious to it as she blankly stared at the young man¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan had destroyed an advanced grade-7 Evil Beast expert in a single punch... Since when had he become so terrifying?! Chapter 1254 Ancestral Spirit Mountain Appears Blood rained from the sky as numerous gazes in the battlefield watched in shock and terror. The scene had clearly shaken them to the core. No one had expected a peak grade-7 Evil Beast expert to be smashed to pulp by the young man that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. What kind of power was this? Was he also a pseudo Law Domain expert? However, their senses clearly told them that he was only at the advanced Nascent Source stage. Moreover, he was a human. Wasn¡¯t the only human here Zhou Yuan, who had borrowed the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s influence to enter Wanshou Heaven? Didn¡¯t they say he only ascended to the Nascent Source stage half a year ago? How the hell was he so terrifying? Numerous Wanshou Heaven experts were bewildered. Zhou Yuan ignored the numerous shocked gazes. He raised his head and watched blood fall from the sky, a sliver of shock flashing deep within his eyes. He likewise had not expected his punch to leave not even his opponent¡¯s corpse behind. The Evil Beast expert was not weak, and was likely a strong individual on the Evil Beast Clan side. Otherwise, he would not have been sneaked past the battleline to take on this important mission. However, such an individual had been turned to pulp by a single punch from Zhou Yuan. ¡°To think that my strength has risen to such a level¡­¡± Zhou Yuan wet his lips. The gains from a month in the Ancestral Spirit Reservoir had clearly exceeded his expectations. His Spirit had already stepped into the advanced Transformative stage, a level comparable to the perfect Nascent Source stage. In addition, his Nascent Source had grown again from 7 inches to 7.6 inches. His external cultivation had also improved. The Saint Glass Body was growing increasingly powerful. If it was at the introductory phase before, it was now formally at the beginner level. If one were to purely compare external cultivation, Zhou Yuan would have been a tiny bit weaker than the violent female dragon, Jiang Hongying, previously. However, he was now confident that his external cultivation would have no problems suppressing her. The progress in these three areas had pushed Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle power to a whole new realm. While Zhou Yuan was feeling good about himself, he suddenly sensed the gaze that was still frozen on his face. Only then did he recall he was holding someone in his arm. He stealthily loosened his hold and smiled at Ai Qing, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Ai Qing lowered her eyes before quickly lifting them again with a smile. ¡°We are deeply grateful to you this time. Who knows how this would have ended without you.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s timely arrival had saved both her and the camp full of injured below. All the clans should thank Zhou Yuan for this alone. Zhou Yuan waved his hand to tell her it was no big deal. Just as he was about to speak, a streak of light fell from the sky and landed on its head, revealing a yawning Tuntun. It glanced at the beautiful Ai Qing and angrily smacked Zhou Yuan¡¯s head as a thought was sent into his brain. Lecher, how dare you flirt behind big sis¡¯s back! You¡¯re dead! There was an emoticon of Tuntun¡¯s eyes spitting fire behind the last word. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. Genesis Qi surged out, turning his hair into sharp spikes that stung Tuntun till it barked in pain. After teaching the little bastard a lesson, Zhou Yuan suddenly raised his gaze and looked towards a distant mountain peak. A girl with a long ponytail was looking right back at him. Zhou Yuan could sense a faint but dangerous sensation from her body. His heart shivered slightly. This woman seemed to be very strong. Fortunately, the girl seemed to breathe a sigh of relief before revealing a friendly smile. Zhou Yuan nodded in acknowledgement. By the side, Ai Qing followed his gaze and explained, ¡°That¡¯s my little aunt. She¡¯s called Ai Tuanzi and is the strongest expert dispatched here by Wanshou Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan could barely stop himself from laughing when he heard the name. Fortunately, he did not laugh out loud and only silently nodded. No wonder he had felt a strong dangerous sensation. It turns out that this was Wanshou Heaven¡¯s strongest. Swish! Powerful Genesis Qi undulations swiftly arrived from the horizon, emanating deadly killing intent. They were the apex experts that had immediately rushed over after receiving the earlier help signal. However, the Evil Beast expert was nowhere to be found when they arrived. Instead, they stared in confusion at Zhou Yuan and Ai Qing. ¡°Ai Qing, where¡¯s the Evil Beast expert that sneaked in?¡± A handsome man with an extraordinary presence stepped across the air, his sharp gaze looking at Ai Qing. It was the Spirit Phoenix Clan¡¯s Ai Zhi. Ai Qing answered, ¡°The enemy has already been slain by Zhou Yuan. If not for him, we will have suffered terrible losses.¡± The top experts from the various clans looked at the young man beside Ai Qing in surprise. The truth was that they had sensed the instantaneous explosion of power earlier which had alarmed even experts like them. However, they had thought that it was Ai Tuanzi who had attacked. Who could have known that it was actually Zhou Yuan? Jiang Hongyin was also among the group. Her expression turned somewhat unnatural when she saw Zhou Yuan. Moreover, her keen senses told her that he was stronger than a month ago. Evidently, he had obtained quite a blessing from the Ancestral Spirit Tree. Beside her, Jiang Ba was expressionless. After all, their Mystic Dragon Clan had lost some face due to Zhou Yuan and it was impossible for Jiang Ba to show any friendliness towards him. The Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s Jin Lan and Jin Qingtian were carefully observing Zhou Yuan. Soon after, they looked at each other, seeing the astonishment in the other party¡¯s eyes. It was clear that they had discovered Zhou Yuan¡¯s transformation. Besides these few, the other clans¡¯ top experts gave friendly nods to Zhou Yuan. After all, they had no prior conflicts with him and he was the savior of their injured companions in the camp below. Ai Zhi asked with a calm expression, ¡°You¡¯re Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Zhou Yuan?¡± Zhou Yuan glanced at Ai Zhi. His senses had reached a whole new level after reaching the advanced Transformative stage. Hence, a simple glance was all that he needed to tell that Ai Zhi seemed to be slightly resentful and skeptical towards him. Hence, he gave a curt nod, no intention on dragging this out more than necessary. However, his attitude made Ai Zhi¡¯s face darken a little. Soon after, he said, ¡°It is mostly thanks to you this time, but even if you didn¡¯t take action, aunt Ai would have destroyed that intruder.¡± Zhou Yuan ignored him and raised his gaze to peer at the darkness in the distance. The other top experts followed his gaze, before their pupils shrank slightly. Black qi rose from the land, covering the sky and blotting out the sun. A pair of scarlet-red pupils stared back at them, making them tremble in fear. The Evil Beast Clan¡¯s apex expert was watching this place, and it goes without saying that his target was Ai Tuanzi. The Evil Beast expert that had slipped past the battlelines was merely bait for Ai Tuanzi. Hence, if not for Zhou Yuan¡¯s timely arrival, They would likely have succumbed to the other side¡¯s scheme. Moreover, if anything happened to Ai Tuanzi, it would be a huge blow to the Wanshou Heaven side. A figure slowly said, ¡°Our Wanshou Heaven is indebted to grand elder Zhou Yuan.¡± The speaker was a fat man that looked like a meatball. Though a friendly smile hung from his face, his mottled skin gave off the same sensation as an impenetrable mountain. The other top experts slowly nodded as well. Ai Zhi¡¯s expression was somewhat ugly, but he ultimately swallowed the words at the tip of his tongue. It would only make him appear petty anyways. Far away, the scarlet-red pupils gradually dissipated in an unresigned manner. On the mountain peak, iciness flashed in Ai Tuanzi¡¯s eyes. Just as she was finally about to move, her expression abruptly changed as she jerked her head towards a certain direction. At the same time, Zhou Yuan also looked in the same direction, his powerful Spirit senses immediately sensing the disturbance there. Rumble! The surrounding Genesis Qi suddenly turned flared up. Rumble! The ground churned violently as if a dragon was tunneling about within, Everyone watched as the land far away split open and an indescribable killing intent soared into the sky, causing the entire Dragon Spirit Utopia to tremble. A majestic, blood-red mountain slowly rose from the depths of the earth. Every gaze in the Dragon Spirit Utopia immediately looked over. When they saw the giant red mountain, their breathing turned rather ragged. Zhou Yuan and the other top experts nearby were no exception. The giant red mountain contained the greatest blessings of the Dragon Spirit Utopia... It was the Ancestral Spirit Mountain! Chapter 1255 Ai Tuanzi’s Thanks Rumble rumble! The giant red mountain rose from the land, accompanied by an endless fiendish aura. The aura swept forth, covering the sky and land. The clouds were dyed red, making it look as if the end times had come. However, the various clan teams looked relieved when they saw this, because the mountain was their final destination. Of course, they were not the only ones who were excited by the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s appearance. Excited growls and hisses also spread from the darkness in the distance. Evidently, they were also waiting for this day. ¡°So this is the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡­¡± Zhou Yuan also raised his head and gazed at the giant red mountain. The killing intent there was so concentrated it nearly materialized, and merely looking made him feel a piercing pain in his eyes and body. The terrifying power shocked Zhou Yuan. According to his estimate, let alone a Nascent Source expert like himself, even a Law Domain expert would be unable to shake such power. In fact...it might even be beyond an ordinary Saint expert. By the side, Ai Qing explained in a low voice, ¡°The Ancestral Spirit Mountain originated from a strand of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s broken Spirit and is the foundation of the Dragon Spirit Utopia. In the past, our Wanshou Heaven Saint experts have studied the mountain and originally wanted to relocate it somewhere else. However, they ultimately discovered that moving the mountain would destroy the entire Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The Ancestral Spirit Mountain could produce Law Domain Seeds, which could help more Wanshou Heaven elites to reach the Law Domain stage equivalent, grade-8. This was undoubtedly a huge influx of constant new blood for Wanshou Heaven. After all, even among the all-heavens, the Law Domain stage was top-tier battle power, second only to the Saint stage, and not to be underestimated. Hence, from a long-term point of view, it would be better to not touch the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly flashed as he asked, ¡°Could the Sacred Race be after the Ancestral Spirit Mountain? They might be planning to destroy it.¡± Ai Qing was taken back, her pretty face turning a little grave. ¡°We can¡¯t exclude that possibility.¡± ¡°You¡¯re overthinking things. To destroy the Ancestral Spirit Mountain would require a Saint expert, and Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Saint experts are currently closely watching this place. In fact, they might even be observing our every action. If the Sacred Race sends a Saint expert, our Wanshou Heaven Saint experts would definitely take action.¡± An indifferent voice sounded. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept over and found that the speaker was the Spirit Phoenix Clan¡¯s Ai Zhi. Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°Oh? Then I guess the Sacred Race has taken great pains to send the Evil Beast Clan into the Dragon Spirit Utopia to fight for a few Law Domain Seeds.¡± The nearby great clan leaders could not help but frown. They were likewise confused about the Sacred Race¡¯s motives. However, if the Evil Beast Clan was really targeting the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, the grade-7 experts they had could not possibly achieve anything. While the crowd was silent, a beautiful figure walked across the air and arrived at Ai Qing¡¯s side. A long ponytail flowed down her slender waist. It was Ai Tuanzi. The others nodded at her in greeting. Ai Tuanzi first checked that Ai Qing was okay before turning towards Zhou Yuan with a smile. ¡°You must be grand elder Zhou Yuan. I am deeply grateful to you.¡± The smile came from the heart. After all, it would be very painful if anything did happen to Ai Qing. She pondered for a while, feeling she wasn¡¯t being sincere enough. Hence, she retrieved her little cloth bag and took out a beloved piece of jerky with a clearly pained expression. ¡°Please go ahead.¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned by her actions. This person was clearly the strongest expert dispatched by Wanshou Heaven. With his Spirit now at the advanced Transformative stage, he could sense the terrifying Genesis Qi surging in Ai Tuanzi¡¯s body. Contrary to expectation, the seemingly delicate-looking girl with a long ponytail was very powerful, far more powerful than the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s Jiang Ba. However, why was she giving him a piece of jerky? Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment but ultimately reached out and received the jerky. However, before he could give it a try, a tongue suddenly darted out and stole it away. Zhou Yuan was speechless. Who else could it be but that little bastard Tuntun. Tuntun seemed to be very satisfied by the taste, its eyes shining as it stared at the bag in Ai Tuanzi¡¯s hands. Ai Tuanzi immediately kept the bag, refusing to take it out again. Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or to cry. It seemed that Wanshou Heaven¡¯s strongest pseudo Law Domain expert was a genuine foodie. In that case, her jerky offering was actually very sincere. After showing her thanks towards Zhou Yuan, Ai Tuanzi¡¯s expression turned grave as she spoke to the group, ¡°Now that the Ancestral Spirit Dragon has appeared, we should soon find out how strong the Evil Beast Clan is. Everyone, get ready to move.¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions turned solemn. Although the fighting had been intense over the past month, the other side¡¯s apex experts had never shown themselves. Hence, the Wanshou Heaven side was still in the dark about their strength. However, numerous clues indicated that the Evil Beast Clan side was extremely powerful and no less inferior to their side. Regardless of how either side had concealed their power, the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s appearance would soon completely expose everything. The experts from the various clans looked at each other with solemn expression, already smelling the bloodbath that would soon follow. With the decision made, the various clans swiftly sent out their orders. Soon, streaks of light began to appear one after another from every direction. The troops were quickly organized. Headed by Ai Tuanzi and the other leaders, the vast army swept through the air, heading straight towards the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Half an incense stick of time later. The garmy landed outside the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Zhou Yuan had also followed. His gaze immediately looked towards the giant blood-red mountain. The majestic mountain continuously spouted killing intent, creating layers of blood-red mist. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shivered as he stared at the mountain. His advanced Transformative stage Spirit senses told him that the mountain seemed to have a life of its own. It was a living mountain. While Zhou Yuan was closely examining the mountain, a pitch-black flood surged towards the mountain from another direction. A torrential aura of savagery and violence rose from the black flood. The Wanshou Heaven army looked over, their eyes gradually turning cold and sharp. Atop Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, Tuntun could not help but grind its claws as it growled. The black flood arrived. Zhou Yuan could finally see the numerous black figures that made up the black flood. The figures looked exactly like the Evil Beast expert he had killed previously, sinister, pitch-black bone spikes protruding from their bodies. They looked cruel and evil. The black flood slowly came to a stop on the other side of the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. The two forces faced each other, countless gazes clashing in the air. There was no noise, but an earth-shaking killing intent was brewing under the silence. These two clans were fated enemies. The Evil Beast Clan was created by the Sacred God to deal with the Genesis Beast Clans. In the Genesis Beast Clans¡¯ eyes, the Evil Beast Clan was an evil entity created from the blood and bones of their ancestors. This blasphemous act was an insult to their bloodlines. Hence, whenever these two groups met, a war to the death would certainly follow. Chapter 1256 Seed Battle Stages The blood-red Ancestral Spirit Mountain silently towered over the land. On the left and right of the mountain, two forces faced each other, the surging killing intent turning the air viscous. Flashes of black suddenly emerged from the Evil Beast Clan army as figures that gave off astonishing pressure slowly stepped out from within. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked over. There were about a dozen of these figures. From the pressure they gave off, all of them were pseudo Law Domain experts! The Evil Beast Clan was stronger than he had anticipated! When they appeared, the Wanshou Heaven clans began to stir, even Ai Tuanzi frowning a little. There were only ten pseudo Law Domain experts on their side. Moreover, this was already all of Wanshou Heaven¡¯s most elite forces under the Law Domain stage. After all, pseudo Law Domain experts were already close to the pinnacle of power in this world. They were not cabbages you could buy at the market. She had not expected the Evil Beast Clan team to be no weaker than their Wanshou Heaven. From this, one could see that the Evil Beast Clan had basically sent out all of their forces. Ai Tuanzi¡¯s icily stared at the dozen figures and indifferently said, ¡°Finally showing yourselves after hiding for so many days?¡± ¡°Hehe, you are quite capable, woman. It really was rather regretful earlier¡­¡± Among the dozen Evil Beast experts, a man in long black robes softly chuckled. Two curved horns grew from his head, his night-black pupils filled with endless frost and cruelness. He stared at Ai Tuanzi, sizing her up as a smile rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°Spirit Phoenix Clan huh? What a noble bloodline. I am Chi Yuan, a royal of the Evil Beast Clan. You and I are a very good match. If you submit to me, I can spare your life.¡± Ai Tuanzi stared at him and said, ¡°Your bloodline is too dirty and rotten, and I truly loathe it. However, it is not your fault. After all, you Evil Beast Clan were made in a hurry, meaning your creator didn¡¯t really care about you guys. I¡¯m very curious to know what kind of position your Evil Beast Clan has among the Sacred Race.¡± The words were calmly spoken, but they nearly made the atmosphere solidify. The others could not help but shoot a sideways glance at her. Who could have imagined that the girl who usually only cared about her jerky would actually have such a sharp tongue. Chi Yuan¡¯s face instantly darkened along with the other Evil Beast pseudo Law Domain experts as they murderously stared at Ai Tuanzi. She had clearly touched their sore spot. Although the Evil Beast Clan was created by the Sacred God, they had been born from the corpses and bloodlines of the Genesis Beast Clans, making them different from the Sacred Race. Hence, they did not have high status among the Sacred Race, making some of the more ambitious Evil Beast Clan experts rather resentful. Beside Chi Yuan, a skeletal figure coldly said, ¡°Chi Yuan, why are we wasting words on her. When we capture her, we will naturally make her beg for death.¡± ¡°Chi Bei, when did you become so merciful. She won¡¯t be the only one to suffer. We will make sure to properly taste the flesh of everyone from Wanshou Heaven.¡± An extremely bulky Evil Beast expert grinned like a mad man. His mouth was full of sharp teeth and the look in his eyes was exceptionally cruel even for a member of the Evil Beast Clan. It was an eerily fearsome appearance. He was called Chi Zhu and was also one of the strongest members among the group of Evil Beast Clan pseudo Law Domain experts. The other Evil Beast Clan experts roared with laughter. However, their laughter was filled with chilling killing intent that seemed to turn the place a little darker. Rumble! While both sides were brimming with killing intent, the Ancestral Spirit Mountain suddenly began to shake. Torrential blood-red light swept out as the enormous mountain began to transform. Ancient and ominous battle stages emerged from the blood-red light. The stages appeared one after another from the foot of the mountain like seemingly endless rising steps. The nearer the to peak, the bigger the platform and the more heavy the fiendish aura that covered it. At the peak, the entire platform was practically encased in blood-red light, so thick that it seemed hard to breathe within it. While observing the changes, Zhou Yuan could clearly feel the intensifying killing intent from both parties intensify as the battle stages appeared. ¡°These are the Ancestral Spirit Mountain Battle Stages.¡± By the side, Ai Qing softly explained when she saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, ¡°In the past, the teams that entered the Dragon Spirit Utopia would ultimately gather here and ascend the battle stages. The winners would obtain gifts from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. ¡°Do you see the few battle stages near the peak? We call them Seed Battle Stages. If someone wins there and is subsequently not challenged again for a certain period of time, they would obtain the Law Domain Seed from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flashed as he stared at the peak. Torrential blood-red light surged around the enormous and ancient battle stages. It was clearly visible that these stages were on an entirely different level. He counted them. There were only ten of these Seed Battle Stages. This was clearly not enough, because there were already more than twenty pseudo Law Domain stage experts present, not even including the top Nascent Source experts like Ai Zhi and Jiang Hongying. Zhou Yuan had two goals in the Dragon Spirit Utopia: to help Tuntun obtain the blessing it needed and seek out a Law Domain Seed for himself. He was already fast approaching the perfect Nascent Source stage and although he did not plan to establish a Law Domain so early, obtaining a Law Domain Seed would be very beneficial in comprehending the Law Domain in the future. Hence, he naturally coveted this miraculous treasure known as the Law Domain Seed. However, they were currently faced with a formidable enemy, the Evil Beast Clan. Moreover, he was essentially an outsider here. Hence, it would not be appropriate for him to reveal his thoughts for the time being. While various thoughts were swirling in his head, Ai Tuanzi looked towards the crowd and said, ¡°There are ten Seed Battle Stages this time. No matter what the Evil Beast Clan is up to, we need to win the majority share. ¡°The pseudo Law Domain experts shall be the first to contest for these ten battle stages, and I¡¯m sure that the Evil Beast Clan pseudo Law Domain experts will be coming as well. We will face them directly in battle.¡± As she spoke, she turned towards Tuntun, who was on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, and continued with a serious expression, ¡°Lord Ancestral Taotei, I hope you will help us fight for one of the battle stages.¡± Tuntun was extremely powerful and even Ai Tuanzi did not dare to underestimate it. Its participation would definitely alleviate the pressure. Tuntun grinded its claws and nodded. Although it was an Alpha sacred beast, it would definitely choose to side with the Genesis Beast Clans. It also hated the Evil Beast Clan created by the Sacred God. Upon seeing Tuntun acknowledge, Ai Tuanzi continued, ¡°If any of us loses on the Seed Battle Stages, the other pseudo Law Domain experts shall step forward. ¡°If the pseudo Law Domain experts fail, the perfect Nascent Source experts will take over.¡± Ai Zhi, Jiang Hongying and the other perfect Nascent Source experts nodded with solemn faces. Ai Zhi was silent for a moment before he said, ¡°If the perfect Nascent Source experts are going, we should decide on the order.¡± His gaze swept across Zhou Yuan. There were limited Seed Battle Stages, and if they got the opportunity to fight, it would likely be against a tired opponent. This was a pretty good chance for them. Whoever went first would definitely have an advantage and might likely successfully occupy the battle stage. Tuntun released a low growl. The growl entered everyone¡¯s ears, allowing them to instantly understand what it wanted to say: It wanted Zhou Yuan to be first. The pseudo Law Domain experts involuntarily looked towards Ai Zhi. In Wanshou Heaven, if the pseudo Law Domain experts were excluded, Ai Zhi would be the number one perfect Nascent Source expert. Ai Zhi softly chuckled and said, ¡°Lord Ancestral Taotie, we can understand you want to give him a chance. However, this is a fated battle between our Genesis Beast Clans and the Evil Beast Clan. We hope that you can understand.¡± Tuntun glared at Ai Zhi. What the hell did he mean? Was he saying that it was trying to give Zhou Yuan a chance out of selfishness? Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength clearly made him more than qualified! The Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s Jiang Ba also spoke up, ¡°Although Zhou Yuan is pretty strong, he still lacks some experience. I suggest Ai Zhi be first and Jiang Hongying be second¡­¡± He looked towards Zhou Yuan with a superficial smile. ¡°As for grand elder Zhou Yuan... ¡°You can be third for the time being and act according to the situation. How does that sound?¡± Chapter 1257 Dispute before the Battle ¡°Third?¡± The pseudo Law Domain experts¡¯ gazes flashed at Jiang Ba¡¯s words. They could tell that he was against Zhou Yuan. After all, it was indeed debatable for Zhou Yuan to be first, but putting him after Jiang Hongyin was clearly unfair. Everyone knew how Jiang Hongying had already lost to Zhou Yuan after all. However, this matter was between Zhou Yuan and the Mystic Dragon Clan and they did not wish to be caught up in it. Hence, everyone else remained silent. Of course, it was mostly also because they felt there was not much difference between perfect Nascent Source experts like Ai Zhi or Zhou Yuan. The true battle was between the pseudo Law Domain level after all, and everyone else was just calefare. Ai Qing frowned slightly and could not help but say, ¡°Zhou Yuan defeated Jiang Hongying previously, why are we placing him third? Isn¡¯t it a little too unfair to do it this way especially when we have much bigger things to worry about?¡± Jiang Ba was stunned, clearly not expecting the Spirit Phoenix Clan¡¯s Ai Qing to speak up for Zhou Yuan. His face immediately turned somewhat unhappy. Jiang Zhi coughed softly and sternly glared at Ai Qing. ¡°Ai Qing, we¡¯re the ones who are deciding things here.¡± Ai Qing was merely an initial grade-7 expert. Although she had substantial influence in the Spirit Phoenix Clan, she was still a junior in the eyes of Ai Zhi and the others, and was naturally less respected. Ai Qing wanted to speak again but was stopped by a gesture from Zhou Yuan. he glanced at Ai Zhi and smiled, ¡°There is no need to do this. I¡¯ve been on the path of cultivation for many years and obtained my fair share of blessings already. Although the Dragon Spirit Utopia¡¯s Law Domain Seed is a great treasure, it is something I can do without. If you guys are really worried I will take away someone else¡¯s blessing, I can withdraw from the subsequent battles.¡± Zhou Yuan sounded courteous, but everyone present understood that he was saying: you guys can do what you want, worst come to worst, I can sit back and watch. However, Zhou Yuan was indeed pretty unhappy with their attitudes. If not for Tuntun, he would have left immediately. Roar! Tuntun angrily roared, Little Ancestor won¡¯t be playing either! Although there was a blessing it needed here, it was unacceptable for these bastards to make things so difficult for Zhou Yuan. The crowd was alarmed. They never imagined that Tuntun would have such deep ties with Zhou Yuan. To think that it could even give up on the blessing for his sake. Hence, they looked towards Ai Tuanzi, who had been silent since the start. Her expression had already darkened slightly at Jiang Ba¡¯s earlier words. She cast an indifferent glance at the crowd, focusing on Ai Zhi and Jiang Ba in particular, making their expressions turn a little unnatural. ¡°Lord Ancestral Taotie, please don¡¯t be too angry.¡± She attempted to console Tuntun. ¡°There is no reason for Zhou Yuan to be placed behind Jiang Hongying. With our mortal enemies before us, it is beyond stupid to still be so bias.¡± Her tone was ice-cold. There was also a certain pressure that subdued even Jiang Ba. She was silent for a moment before looking towards Zhou Yuan and saying in a soft voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, there¡¯s no need to decide on your position and you may act freely according to the situation. Don¡¯t worry, even if you don¡¯t find a chance, as long as we triumph over the Evil Beast Clan, I will give the Law Domain Seed I obtain to you as compensation. How does that sound?¡± Ai Zhi¡¯s brows immediately furrowed at the suggestion. A strong practitioner like Yi Tuanzi was almost certain to occupy one of the battle stages, hence, she had a very high chance of obtaining a Law Domain Seed. However, since she had already established a pseudo Law Domain, the seed would not be of much use to her. Hence, normally speaking, she would hand the Law Domain Seed over to the clan and the clan would most likely pass it over to him. Wasn¡¯t this basically giving his Law Domain Seed to Zhou Yuan? He wanted to speak out but Ai Tuanzi¡¯s icy gaze made him quickly swallow his words. However, he decided that he would definitely object after everything was over if Zhou Yuan made no contributions. How could they give a blessing like the Law Domain Seed to an outsider? Zhou Yuan could naturally feel Ai Tuanzi¡¯s sincerity, but he did not comment as he rubbed the angry Tuntun¡¯s head to console it. Although he was rather unhappy, he did not wish for Tuntun to give up on its chance. Besides, the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts were likely observing. He did not want to affect the big picture for Wanshou Heaven. After all, it certainly won¡¯t be wise to offend these Saint experts. As for the Law Domain Seed, it didn¡¯t matter much even if he did not obtain one. In any case, his main goal was to help Tuntun and the benefits he received earlier were already more than satisfactory. Worst come to worst, he would not clean his hands of this annoying affair. After conversing with Zhou Yuan, Tuntun spat out a ball of white qi. Although it still wished to ignore the others, it stopped going on strike. The other pseudo Law Domain experts secretly breathed sighs of relief. This Little Ancestor was not to be offended. Ai Tuanzi glanced at Zhou Yuan, naturally aware that he still carried a grudge. However, there was nothing much she could do. She could only hope that there would be a chance to make amends after the battle was over. Rumble! While they were deciding on the battle order, the Evil Beast Clan side finally moved. Ten pseudo Law Domain experts rose into the air and landed on the ten Seed Battle Stages near the peak. Chi Yuan¡¯s voice thundered, ¡°Wanshou Heaven¡¯s useless trash, if you have the courage, come up and fight!¡± The other Evil Beast Clan experts also moved, numerous figures swarming into the air like locusts. Their targets were the numerous battle stages below the Seed Battle Stages. Although the rewards from these stages were not as good as the Seed Battle Stages, it was still something that could make them stronger. For a time, black qi swept across the sky as a savage aura churned. Ai Tuanzi gave the order with an ice-cold face, ¡°Move out!¡± She led the way, her figure flickering a few times up the mountain and appearing on the Seed Battle Stage where Chi Yuan was. Jiang Ba, Zhuang Xiaoming and the other pseudo Law Domain experts swiftly set off, each selecting a Seed Battle Stage as their bloodthirsty gazes locked onto the Evil Beast pseudo Law Domain expert opposite them. Zhou Yuan said to Tuntun, ¡°You should go too. Be careful.¡± Tuntun nodded, disappearing in a flash of black. With a roar, it turned into a giant purple-gold beast. The mighty pressure of an Alpha sacred beast spread, drawing numerous shocked gazes. Tuntun¡¯s eyes swept across the mountain, stopping on one of the Seed Battle Stages. Zhou Yuan followed its gaze. The chosen Seed Battle Stage also had a bulky Evil Beast pseudo Law Domain expert. It had the same grey-white hair as Chi Yuan and the others, which was said to be a mark of the Evil Beast royals. However, this royal¡¯s expression turned exceptionally grave when he saw Tuntun. Evidently, even the Evil Beast Clan understood the overwhelming might of an Alpha sacred beast. After the apex experts moved out, the others also followed, dashing towards the remaining scarlet-red battle stages on the mountain. The top would fight the top, while the others had their own battlegrounds. As both sides got into position, torrential killing intent erupted from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Ai Zhi was also about to set off when he caught sight of the still unmoving Zhou Yuan. He smiled faintly and said, ¡°Is grand elder Zhou Yuan not planning on going up to play?¡± He was clearly trying to imply something. Jiang Hongying, Jin Lan and the other perfect Nascent Source experts, who had yet to move, cast their gazes over. Zhou Yuan glanced at Ai Zhi. How could he not know the latter¡¯s intentions? He casually smiled and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t elder Ai Tuanzi say she would give me a Law Domain Seed even if I did nothing?¡± The smile on Ai Zhi¡¯s face turned a little rigid. Was Zhou Yuan really going to be so shameless? Ai Zhi warned, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, the blessings of the Dragon Spirit Utopia belong to our Wanshou Heaven. Although you were permitted to enter because of lord Ancestor Taotie, if you don¡¯t make any contributions, I¡¯m afraid that it won¡¯t be so easy for you to get that Law Domain Seed. ¡°Moreover, I believe that Wanshou Heaven is enough to deal with the Evil Beast Clan!¡± He could not be bothered to say anymore. His figure moved, rising into the air. In his view, Zhou Yuan won¡¯t make a difference anyways. After all, they mainly cared about Tuntun¡¯s strength, not Zhou Yuan¡¯s. After Ai Zhi left, Jiang Hongying swept a glance at Zhou Yuan before also leaving. Jin Lan seemed like he wanted to say something, but ultimately shook his head and followed. Zhou Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, calmly observing the intense battles that had begun to unfurl on the numerous battle stages. Ai Qing had also stayed behind. She looked towards Zhou Yuan and softly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, please don¡¯t be angry. Ai Zhi has been making things difficult mainly because the clan once wanted to matchmake him with Jiang Hongying¡­ ¡°As for what he said, you do not need to take it seriously. Since little aunt has already promised you, she will definitely give you Law Domain Seed as long as we defeat the Evil Beast Race!¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand. He sat down and chuckled in a carefree manner. ¡°I¡¯m not really concerned about the Law Domain Seed... ¡°However, I do hope that I will not be needed like he has said.¡± Ai Qing frowned slightly as she looked towards the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, where the fighting had already begun. A faint feeling of unease rose within her. Chapter 1258 Battles of the Strong The gargantuan Ancestral Spirit Mountain towered over the land, grand and majestic like a pillar that connected heaven and earth. The air around the mountain was currently filled with sounds of battle. Although the battle stages looked like stone platforms, they were special mini domains that were incomparably vast and able to contain any destruction force. Intense and bloody battles were currently unfurling on every battle stage. When the Genesis Beast Clans and the Evil Beast Clan clashed, there was no room for compromise. ¡­¡­ Ai Tuanzi icily observed the figure before her, who had ash-colored hair and black horns growing from his head. Golden light suddenly surged behind her as a pair of phoenix wings unfurled. The phoenix wings glittered, every feather gleaming coldly like a blade¡¯s edge. A golden feather fell into her hand, transforming into a golden feather sword. The sword¡¯s handle was shaped like a phoenix unfurling its wings, gorgeous and dangerous. As she grasped the phoenix feather sword, Ai Tuanzi¡¯s presence abruptly turned sharp and dangerous. Opposite Ai Tuanzi, Chi Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he said, ¡°As expected of the Spirit Phoenix Clan, it looks like this battle will not disappoint me.¡± He took a step forward. In the next instant, a black Law Domain swiftly expanded from him. The black Law Domain reached a length of 2700 feet. A bottomless abyss filled the entire domain, spouting an unimaginable aura of dark and cold violence. Within this Law Domain, the minds of ordinary Nascent Source experts would likely be overwhelmed, turning them into monsters that only knew violence. ¡°This is my Devil Abyss Law Domain.¡± Torrential black qi surged behind Chi Yuan, making him resemble an extremely horrifying malevolent devil god. Black qi rapidly converged towards his hand, turning into a long black spear. The spear emitted a million piercing shrieks that could directly affect one¡¯s Spirit. ¡°My Devil Abyss Law Domain has buried numerous heaven prides. However, it does lack the corpse of a Spirit Phoenix Clan member like you!¡± Chi Yuan¡¯s laughter boomed like thunder, the evilness within so thick that it was almost palpable, seemingly blotting the sky. Ai Tuanzi¡¯s expression remained calm, ignoring Chi Yuan¡¯s provocations. She said, ¡°I¡¯m very curious to know why your Evil Beast Clan is suddenly so interested in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. The Law Domain Seeds produced by the Ancestral Spirit Mountain should not be worth the steep cost of sending you guys here, right?¡± The Dragon Spirit Utopia was a special domain in Wanshou Heaven. Moreover, Wanshou Heaven¡¯s many Saint experts had set up numerous layers of defence outside Wanshou Heaven. Even the Sacred Race had to plan properly and pay quite a price to pierce these defences. ¡°Does a dead person need to know so much?¡± However, Chi Yuan merely laughed in response, completely not going to explain. With a howl, black qi surged forth like a pitch-black dragon, locking space as it ferociously charged towards Ai Tuanzi. Ai Tuanzi gazed at the approaching black qi. The evil aura within it could only be described as dreadful. Chi Yuan was indeed a formidable opponent. However, this was still not enough to beat her. Ai Tuanzi lightly stamped her foot. Thunder rumbled across the land as a golden Law Domain abruptly spread from her body. Millions of golden thunderbolts jumped about in the golden Law Domain. The golden lightning occupied the air, while a scarlet-red sea of flames burned below. The Law Domain was 3000 feet long! Ai Tuanzi¡¯s voice rang out across the Law Domain, ¡°My Law Domain is called the Golden Lightning Fire Law Domain.¡± She raised her sword and millions of golden lightning bolts and scarlet fire roared forth, colliding with the surging black qi. In that moment, the entire domain violently shuddered. Golden lightning and scarlet fires tore through the black-dragon-like qi, incinerating it into nothingness. Li! The cry of a phoenix suddenly rang out behind the golden lightning. A beautiful figure stepped through the lightning as she swung the sword in her hand. A wave of ten-thousand-feet-long sword light emerged, brightening the sky. Golden lightning and scarlet flames leaped from the sword light as it pulsed with domineering power. The golden lightning scarlet fire sword light rapidly grew in Chi Yuan¡¯s pupils. There was a look of pure focus on his face as he slapped his hands together. ¡°Devil Abyss Hand!¡± The bottomless abyss ripples. In the next instant, an incomparably ginormous devil hand reached out from within, terrifying black Genesis Qi rising from it like mist. The devil hand shattered space itself as it smashed into the descending sword light. Boom! Lightning and fire surged as a destructive shockwave unfurled. ¡­¡­ Rumble! A bulky figure wrapped in pitch-black Genesis Qi was sent flying, his body leaving a deep groove on the ground. Tuntun, in its purple-gold giant beast form, stared at the figure in disdain. ¡°Heh, as expected of an Alpha sacred beast¡­¡± The bulky figure slowly climbed to his feet. A sinister light flashed in his eyes as he stared at Tuntun. ¡°Remember my name, Evil Beast roya, Chi Qiu! ¡°God Pillar Law Domain!¡± Rumble! A Law Domain abruptly expanded from his body in a circular fashion. Mystical light converged within the Law Domain, forming countless ancient giant light pillars. These light pillars towered over the land with seemingly infinite power. ¡°God Pillar Suppression!¡± As Yin Qiu roared, pillar after pillar pierced through the air, accompanied endless power as they surrounded Tuntun. Tuntun raised its head and observed the falling light pillars as it breathed out white qi from its nostrils. In the next instant, extremely pure darkness began extending from its feet. In a short span of a few breaths, a black district had formed around it. All things were devoured by the darkness wherever it passed. Even the light pillars began melting away when they touched the darkness. This was the godly might of an Alpha sacred beast, akin to a natural Law Domain of sorts. In fact, it could be called the Devouring Law Domain. As the God Pillars were devoured, the purple-gold scales on Tuntun¡¯s body began to glow brightly. It was as if the pillars were turned into energy to replenish its reserves. Black light surged in Tuntun¡¯s pupils. Chi Qiu¡¯s expression changed slightly when he saw black vortexes begin to appear before swarming towards him. ¡­¡­ Jiang Ba, Zhuang Xiaoming and the other pseudo Law Domain experts also activated their Law Domains and engaged their enemies. On the battle stages below, Ai Zhi, Jiang Hongying, Jin Lan, Meng Chong and the other perfect Nascent Source experts likewise unleashed all of their power to slaughter their foes. The thick stench of blood soared into the sky. Ai Zhi¡¯s battle stage. Torrential Genesis Qi erupted from his body as he sent out an endless barrage of attacks at his Evil Beast opponent, making him unable to catch a breath. Meanwhile, Ai Zhi leisurely observed the other battle stages. He found that Wanshou Heaven had a clear advantage over all. This made him inwardly breathe a sigh of relief. Soon after, he looked towards the silently seated figure outside the Ancestral Spirit Mountain in amusement. How could he not know that Zhou Yuan was obviously waiting for the right time, or perhaps an advantageous chance. However, Zhou Yuan had clearly underestimated Wanshou Heaven. It was looking very good overall, and Zhou Yuan was definitely not needed. ¡°Never mind, if he has no contributions when this is over, I¡¯ll definitely stop aunt Ai from giving him a Law Domain Seed!¡± Ai Zhi chuckled icily, paying no further attention to Zhou Yuan. He began intensifying his attacks, focusing on finishing off the enemy before him. ¡­¡­ While intense battles were being fought all over the mountain. The battle stages on the near the foot of the mountain were comparatively lower in quality but huge in quantity. However, they were also the most unremarkable. No one seemed to notice a black-robed figure on one of the smaller battle stages observing the intense fights happening all over the mountain. The black-robed figure¡¯s face was concealed in the shadow of his hood. A large corpse lay at his feet, belonging to the Wanshou Heaven expert that had just been killed by him. A strange, raspy laughter suddenly sounded from the black robe. The corpse at his feet slowly melted away, fusing with the battle stage as a strange Genesis Rune flickered across its surface... Chapter 1259 Secret Means ¡°The situation seems very favorable to us!¡± Beyond Ancestral Spirit Mountain, Ai Qing was surveying the battlefields. She was surprised to find that Wanshou Heaven occupied the more favorable situation while people from the Evil Beast Clan frequently died on the battle platforms. But after saying that, Ai Qing cast an apologetic glance at Zhou Yuan because if Wanshou Heaven were able to easily suppress the Evil Beast Clan, Zhou Yuan likely wouldn¡¯t need to act Given Ai Zhi¡¯s personality, he would no doubt create troubles because of that. "Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t worry. My Little Aunt will fulfil what she said,¡± said Ai Qing reassuringly. Zhou Yuan didn''t respond to her because his gaze was also focussed on the several battle platforms on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. On the surface, Wanshou Heaven indeed seemed to occupy the favorable situation, but this on the contrary, made him scrunch his brows in a frown. It wasn¡¯t that he was unhappy to see Wanshou Heaven prevailing. Although he wasn¡¯t on good terms with Ai Zhi and Jiang Ba, he wouldn¡¯t put his anger on the entire Wanshou Heaven. It was just that he was surprised that the Evil Beast Clan clearly came prepared yet was suppressed by the Wanshou Heaven. This didn¡¯t make sense from a rational point of view. Moreover¡­ "If the Wanshou Heaven could gain the upper hand so easily, why hadn¡¯t they made any progress in the past month?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Ai Qing looked taken aback. The Wanshou Heaven indeed didn¡¯t seem to have made much progress in the past month and hadn¡¯t even figured out the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s background. "What do you mean by that?" Ai Qing asked anxiously. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t answer her because he also didn¡¯t know what the Evil Beast Clan had planned. If they were just disguising their strength and acting weak, what good would it be for them to continue to sacrifice their troops? The uneasy feeling in his heart deepened. What was the Evil Beast Clan trying to do? He peered at the several battle platforms on Ancestral Spirit Mountain. After a long while, a light flashed on his face and Saint Runes appeared in his eyes¡¯ depths. Decoder Saint Rune! As Saint Runes drifted around his eyes, the scene before him suddenly looked different. It seemed to be a blood-red world with endless plumes of fiendish qi rising from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain that blotted out the sky. The scene was enough to make one¡¯s scalp feel numb. The fiendish qi were so strong that even his Spirit couldn¡¯t spread in. However, with this Decoder Saint Rune¡¯s power, he discovered something abnormal. He saw tiny vortexes scattered disorderly above the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. However, they were growing at an astonishing speed. They were drawing ups the vast fiendish powers emitting from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. ¡°Those vortexes¡­¡± Zhou Yuan''s heart trembled because he realized the vortexes¡¯ locations were where evil beasts lost their lives. Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp numbed. Could the evil beasts have deliberately given away their lives to use it as a medium to create those blood-red vortexes? What was their motive? Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t understand the vortexes¡¯ purpose, but he knew they were the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s secret plan. "Huh? Some of the blood-red vortexes are connecting.¡± Zhou Yuan noticed that the blood-red vortexes were gradually connecting and moving along a trajectory. The trajectory was particularly obscure and complicated. He tried to follow it, but found that even his Spirit, which was at the advanced Transformative stage, quivered and was unable to follow the trajectory. What did that mean? It meant that not even a Spirit of the advanced Transformative stage could comprehend the arrangement. With a trembling heart, Zhou Yuan shifted his gaze to the place where the trajectory last appeared. It was a battle platform on the mountainside, which wasn¡¯t considered too eye-catching among the others. There stood a black-robed figure. At the black-robed figure''s feet was a Wanshou Heaven expert¡¯s corpse. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression slowly changed as he studied the black-robed figure because he realized that he wouldn¡¯t be able to detect its existence if it weren¡¯t for the Decoder Saint Runes. There¡¯s something strange about this person! However, just when Zhou Yuan locked his gaze on the black-robed figure, the figure seemed to notice and tilted its head. An indifferent gaze penetrated through space and collided with Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Boom! There seemed to be a rumble echoing in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head and shaking his Spirit. Fortunately, he immediately circulated his Spirit and suppressed it with all his strength. He eventually managed to stabilize his Spirit after a good while. Hu. Zhou Yuan exhaled a breath of turbid air, his complexion didn¡¯t look too good. If his Spirit hadn¡¯t reached the advanced Transformative stage, he likely would have already been severely wounded. He cast his gaze to the same battle platform again only to see the black-robed figure had already vanished. As the black-robed figure disappeared, a blood-red vortex imperceptible to ordinary people formed above that battle platform. This made Zhou Yuan''s expression turn grave. As he thought, the Evil Beast Clan had a secret plan. Chi Yuan and other evil beast royalties were only powerful enemies on the surface, the black-robed figure hiding in the dark was the true dangerous existence. Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed with a fierce light. He turned and said to Ai Qing, ¡°Send a message to Ai Tuanzi and the others. Someone from the Evil Beast Clan is arranging something using the Ancestral Spirit Mountain battle platforms. Wanshou Heaven could be defeated if we ignore it.¡± Ai Qing looked stunned by what Zhou Yuan said. Although she didn''t understand what he meant, she knew Zhou Yuan must have a reason to say such a thing. So she took out a feather without any hesitation. The feather was inscribed with runes and hollow inside. She gently blew at it and it immediately produced a strange sound wave that cut through the air. The expressions on the faces of Ai Tuanzi, Ai Zhi and others on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain battle platforms immediately changed. Ai Zhi''s expression changed indefinitely, but in the end he sneered, "Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t deliberately scaring us to make himself look good, is he?¡± But Ai Tuanzi wasn¡¯t as narrow-minded as him. She also felt uneasy during the match and Zhou Yuan¡¯s warning confirmed and even deepened her uneasiness. She remained silent for a moment before yelling. ¡°Everyone, look out for a black-robed man. If you notice any traces of him, immediately send a message to everyone else. We must kill him!¡± Her voice rang in the ears of all Wanshou Heaven troops. Her voice immediately drew puzzlement, but responses filled with murderous intent rang out. ¡°Haha¡­¡± But as Ai Tuanzi''s voice faded, a cold chuckle could be heard. Many people followed the voice and saw a black-robed man standing tall on a battle platform. He crouched down slightly and pressed his palms against the blood-stained ground. When he lifted his eyes, his gaze was shifted to Zhou Yuan who was beyond the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. ¡°Impressive, you¡¯re able to notice my traces. But it¡¯s too late!¡± He slammed his hand. Boom! The entire Ancestral Spirit Mountain quaked, followed by monstrous fiendish qi rolling across the air and penetrating the body of every Evil Beast Clan expert. Then, the Wanshou Heaven experts¡¯ countenances changed dramatically because they saw the Evil Beast Clan troops¡¯ imposing bearing rising and that fiendish qi released from their bodies almost solidified into real substance. It was as though their strength was dramatically increased! In particular, on the ten seed battle platforms, the ten top Evil Beast Clan experts¡¯ aura soared to a heart-trembling level. The situation was instantly reversed! Chapter 1260 Situation Reversed Boom! Monstrous black qi containing ferocity roared over and collided with the golden lightning flames, causing the space around to crumble. Ai Tuanzi''s countenance changed after the collision. She could distinctly feel that the enemies¡¯ power had suddenly soared. The chillingly fierce black qi swept across the area and eliminated all golden lightning flames. The golden lightning flames dimmed and faded where the two Law Domains collided. Ai Tuanzi''s beautiful body fluttered back and then, as she hovered in the air, her phoenix feather sword buzzed and produced scarlet flames. "Hahaha, what? Don¡¯t feel so smug now?" Chi Yuan laughed as black qi rushed out the abyss¡¯s depths and filled the sky. Ai Tuanzi''s eyes were icy-cold as she said, "Does the Evil Beast Clan only know how to scheme like demons?¡± She was significantly stronger than Chi Yuan and had dominated the previous battle; however, her upper hand was directly destroyed by the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s secret means. Having received an upgrade from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s fiendish auras, Chi Yuan¡¯s overall strength was no longer any weaker than hers. Ai Tuanzi stared coldly at the battle platform where a black-robed figure stood. She knew the changes were brought about by that black-robed man. Chi Yuan burst into mocking laughter. "Are all the people in Wanshou Heaven so naive? This is a battle of life and death, who would pay attention to whether one¡¯s means is underhanded or not?¡± Ai Tuanzi didn''t say anything more. She pointed her sword from afar at the black-robed figure and roared, "Kill him!¡± Chi Yuan was the one who caused the sudden changes; therefore, he must be killed as soon as possible because only then would they might solve their situation. Following Ai Tuanzi''s order, gushes of mighty Genesis Qi erupted around the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, speeding towards the same battle platform. It was just that the rules stated only two people were allowed on a platform at one time. Therefore many people could only surround the platform and watch the mysterious black-robed man with murderous intent. But the black-robed man simply chuckled in response. Before anyone could rush onto the battle platform, he already vanished like a ghost without any traces. Many Wanshou Heaven experts exchanged glances with one another, at a loss on what to do. Ai Tuanzi also looked glum because she similarly couldn¡¯t detect the black-robed man¡¯s traces with her perception. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your strength.¡± Chi Yuan smiled sinisterly. ¡°Everyone from the Wanshou Heaven will die here!¡± Ai Tuanzi scrunched her brows in a frown. The Evil Beast Clan must be plotting something. Although Chi Yuan¡¯s strength had inexplicably increased by a lot, she wasn¡¯t afraid of him, but she was extremely wary of the mysterious black-robed man. He was like a venomous snake hiding in the dark and made her feel uneasy, similar to a thorn on her back. Ai Tuanzi even wanted to end her battle with Chi Yuan and search for the black-robed man first. But when her eyes flashed with a fierce light and she was about to act, Chi Yuan seemed to read her mind and burst out laughing. An abyss suddenly appeared behind him and sent out thick black qi. The black qi rapidly turned into countless black pythons and roared out. "You should stay here and play with me!¡± When Ai Tuanzi saw the mighty attack shroud her, her expression turned chilling and sharp killing intent filled her eyes. She drew her slender and beautiful finger across the air and a golden circle emerged. Golden lightning flames blazed out from the golden circle and instantly, like a sea of golden lightning flames, engulfed the countless black pythons. "You really think I can''t kill you after you borrowed power using foreign means?!" As her icy voice rang out, the phoenix feather sword in her hand shot into the sky and transformed into a huge spirit phoenix shadow amidst a clear and resounding phoenix cry. The phoenix shadow opened its mouth wide and sharply inhaled in the sea of golden lightning flames¡¯ direction. The sea of golden lightning flames formed a huge blazing sun in the phoenix¡¯s mouth. ¡°The Great Phoenix Sun!¡± As she roared, the golden lightning flame sun, wrapped in infinite destructive power, smashed down towards Chi Yuan. Facing Ai Tuanzi''s full strength attack, Chi Yuan¡¯s countenance changed. He swiftly circulated his vast Genesis Qi and several abyss rapidly emerged behind him, spewing out thick black qi. Hua! Countless black chains whizzed out from the abysses and sped towards the golden sun. ¡°Underworld Abyss Lock!¡± The two sides collided once again with all their strengths. The entire battle platform was almost overturned from such huge movements and the collision drew everyone¡¯s attention. ... While Ai Tuanzi fought Chi Yuan again with all her strength, fierce fights broke out on the other nine seed battle platforms. Besides Tuntun, who still had the upper hand in his battle, Jiang Ba, Zhuang Xiaoming and the others were gradually falling into a disadvantageous situation. After all, their opponents had suddenly gained tremendous increase in strength, which was enough to reverse the situation. Jiang Ba and Zhuang Xiaoming, pseudo Law Domain experts who had a slightly better foundation, appeared to be in a better situation but the others were already surrounded in danger. Of course, this wasn¡¯t the only change. Following the black-robed man¡¯s appearance, the advantage that the Wanshou Heaven had on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain were gone and casualties started to appear on the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s side. Beyond the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Ai Qing''s face blanched in horror. In just a short period, the number of casualties on the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s side almost caught up with the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s. Moreover, it was steadily increasing. "The black-robed man should have set up a clever boundary to draw up the fiendish qi of the Ancestral Spirit Mountain to strengthen the Evil Beast Clan troops,¡± said Zhou Yuan solemnly. Ai Qing anxiously asked, "Can you break it?¡± She still vividly remembered how Zhou Yuan destroyed the Sacred Race¡¯s boundary in Guyuan Heaven and turned the tides. Zhou Yuan shook his head, saying, ¡°The Guyuan Heaven¡¯s boundary wasn¡¯t complete and as a result had flaws, but this boundary is clearly a finished product. If my guess is right, it should be a creation of a Saint from the Sacred Race. It¡¯s impossible to destroy it with just my strength.¡± Ai Qing¡¯s heart sank. Zhou Yuan said, ¡°But the most troublesome thing isn¡¯t the evil beasts¡¯ strength increase but the black-robed man that we know nothing about. He is the most unstable factor in this match.¡± While speaking, fear flashed across Zhou Yuan''s eyes. Chi Yuan appeared to be the strongest in the Evil Beast Clan, but after the changes, Zhou Yuan realized the black-robed man was likely the real leader. His strength was terrifying. However, Zhou Yuan was a little puzzled why the black-robed man would exert his strength to arrange a blood-red vortex boundary. Was it to just increase the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s strength? Although the evil beast had grown stronger, that increase in strength hadn¡¯t quite reached an unbelievable level. Therefore, the formation and the result seemed to not match. Could there be other plans? ¡°Zhou Yuan, can you find the black-robed man?¡± Ai Qing asked worriedly. The Saint Runes in the depths of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes suddenly roamed around again. He scanned the surroundings and eventually shook his head. ¡°All traces of him are gone. Even I can''t find him.¡± While Zhou Yuan was speaking, the black-robed man¡¯s danger level was raised to another level in his heart. The mysterious man¡¯s strength was amazing because even Zhou Yuan¡¯s Decoder Saint Rune couldn¡¯t locate his whereabouts. Zhou Yuan previously also wouldn¡¯t notice his presence if he weren¡¯t setting up the boundary. "This situation has become a little troublesome..." he muttered ... While Zhou Yuan was discussing with Ai Qing, the battle on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain grew increasingly fierce. The casualties were steadily increasing on the Wanshou Heaven side. An intense blood stench filled the air. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t just the several battle platforms below, the situation on the ten seed battle platforms also began to change. The two weakest pseudo Law Domain experts on the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s side were the first to be blasted out of their battle platforms by the strengthened evil beasts. Their bodies smashed into the ground and tore deep crevasses into the ground. The two pseudo Law Domain experts¡¯ defeat undoubtedly drew shock from the Wanshou Heaven troops. Fortunately, Wanshou Heaven¡¯s pseudo Law Domain experts swiftly took over their positions. Pseudo Law Domain experts from both sides were continuously wounded during the fierce battle. The battle was so fierce and tragic that even Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids twitched. The Genesis beast clans were clearly mortal enemies with the Evil Beast Clan. Every move from them was deadly and aimed to take their opponents¡¯ life. Fortunately, there wasn¡¯t any change on Tuntun¡¯s side. Even if his opponent¡¯s strength had increased, it still couldn¡¯t threaten Tuntun. However, the fact that Tuntun¡¯s opponent could obstruct him was already bad news to the Wanshou Heaven. "All Wanshou Heaven¡¯s pseudo Law Domain experts are already on the battlefields." Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across. The ten seed battle platforms were like meat grinders, constantly eliminating pseudo Law Domain experts from both sides. There weren¡¯t any more pseudo Law Domain experts on the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s side, which means Nascent Source experts would have to go on the battlefields next. Moreover, that could be soon... Boom! Just as such a thought passed through Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, terrifying Genesis Qi erupted on a seed battle platform and crumbled the space around. A Wanshou Heaven¡¯s pseudo Law Domain expert was blasted out of the battlefield, severely wounded. Commotion broke out on the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s side and worry filled many people¡¯s eyes. This was because they had no other pseudo Law Domain experts who hadn¡¯t fought already. Gazes began to shift and eventually all shifted to a battle platform below. It was Ai Zhi¡¯s. He had consecutively defeated several perfect Nascent Source experts from the Evil Beast Clan. He showed he was indeed worthy of his title as the strongest at the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Nascent Source stage. All pseudo Law Domain experts had been defeated and perfect Nascent Source stage experts had to come onto the battlefield. Fortunately, some top perfect Nascent Source experts weren¡¯t any weaker than some pseudo Law Domain experts in terms of Genesis Qi foundation. The advantage that pseudo Law Domain experts had were just their incomplete Law Domains. ¡°Ai Zhi!¡± ¡°Ai Zhi!¡± A loud roar resounded from the Wanshou Heaven¡¯ sides and many cast hopeful and awed gazes towards Ai Zhi. Jiang Hongying¡¯s beautiful eyes also lit up. Of course, she knew that the Spirit Phoenix Clan had mentioned her marriage with Ai Zhi, but she was too prideful and didn¡¯t think much about Ai Zhi. But when she saw Ai Zhi still remained calm and composed in such a situation, even she felt he had the demeanour of a great leader. Jiang Hongying then swept a glance at the silent figure beyond the Ancestral Spirit Mountain and muttered, Zhou Yuan, although you¡¯re amazing, all radiance will likely be on Ai Zhi here. You would become dull and ordinary in front of him. Under countless gazes, Ai Zhi looked up at the seed battle platform with an empty spot and his eyes blazed with greed. His reputation would reach an unprecedented height in Wanshou Heaven if he occupied a seed battle platform. At that time, all clans would attach great importance to him and his future in the Law Domain stage would look very bright! "It''s finally my turn..." Ai Zhi cast a glance in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction and a corner of his lips curved in a ruminative smile. Watch, I will make you know that today''s protagonist is Ai Zhi from the Spirit Phoenix Clan and not Zhou Yuan from the Tianyuan Region! Chapter 1261 Ai Zhi Takes Action Boom! Ai Zhi soared into the sky under anticipated gazes and landed on a seed battle platform. On that battle platform, a burly figure swept a sinister and cold glance over Ai Zhi. The person was called Fan Feng, a pseudo Law Domain expert from the Evil Beast Clan. As his fiendish qi increased, he was able to defeat and severely wound a pseudo Law Domain expert from the Wanshou Heaven. ¡°Does the Wanshou Heaven have no other people? Even someone at the perfect nascent Source stage dared to participate?¡± Fan Feng grinned sinisterly as a fierce imposing aura emitted from his body. Ai Zhi indifferently looked at the pseudo Law Domain evil beast without saying anything and stepped forward. Boom! Vast and mighty Genesis Qi raged around the area like a storm, causing starry rivers to shake. Shock filled everyone¡¯s eyes. This was because the Genesis Qi stars that erupted from Ai Zhi astonishingly reached the level of around 120 billion! What a terrifying Genesis Qi foundation! Even Fan Feng only displayed a foundation of around 125 billion! In other words, Ai Zhi wasn''t much weaker than Fan Feng in terms of Genesis Qi foundation. Beyond the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, Zhou Yuan slightly nodded at the scene. Although he found Ai Zhi irritating, he never doubted his strength. Ai Zhi was indeed worthy of being called one of the strongest grade 7 experts in Wanshou Heaven. After receiving the Ancestral Spirit Tree¡¯s opportunity, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was around 110 billion, which although was lower than Ai Zhi¡¯s. However, it didn¡¯t matter too much because his overall strength might be greater due to his many secret arts, bodily strength and Spirit. "Zhou Yuan, can Ai Zhi handle a pseudo Law Domain from the Evil Beast Clan?¡± Ai Qing asked worriedly. Although she didn¡¯t agree with Ai Zhi¡¯s actions, the present situation concerned the entire Wanshou Heaven. If the Evil Beast Clan suppressed the Wanshou Heaven, it would make them a laughingstock of all-heavens. Zhou Yuan''s eyes drooped slightly as he said faintly, "The pseudo Law Domain experts from the Evil Beast Clan aren¡¯t too strong. The only thing that might be a little troublesome is their Law Domains. But Ai Zhi seemed very confident, so he must have a way to deal with them.¡± Ai Qing breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°It seems Ai Zhi has a high chance of winning.¡± Zhou Yuan didn''t respond because he knew that even if Ai Zhi won, his victory couldn¡¯t influence the overall situation because the Wanshou Heaven troops were already on the verge of defeat on the other seed battle platforms. The previous increase in strength seemed to have given the Evil Beast Clan a huge advantage. ... As astonishingly mighty Genesis Qi filled the area, Fan Feng¡¯s ferocious expression gradually turned solemn. ¡°I underestimated you,¡± uttered Fan Feng indifferently. ¡° His opponent¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation was indeed strong enough to threaten him. However, what made him envious was that Ai Zhi was only at the perfect Nascent Source stage. Once Ai Zhi broke through to the pseudo Law Domain stage, his strength undoubtedly would be superior to Fan Feng¡¯s. With such a thought, the murderous intent in Fan Feng''s heart suddenly intensified. If Ai Zhi was killed, the Spirit Phoenix Clan would lose a future Law Domain expert! ¡°You have potential, but it''s a pity that you¡¯re too stupid. It doesn¡¯t matter what your future is, you are no match for me now!¡± Fan Feng''s cheeks suddenly puffed up. He opened his mouth and spewed out something. Hu! Endless gusts of black wind roared out and twisted around Ai Zhi. The black wind seemed to contain screeching noises that could shatter one¡¯s Spirit. Ai Zhi¡¯s expression tensed. As he clenched his hand, stunning feathers gathered around it and formed a colorful feather fan. As he swung the fan, gorgeous flames gushed out, causing the temperature across the world to instantly rise. Even the space twisted and was tore apart from the heat. The stunning flames collided with the black wind, producing ear-piercing sounds. The two forces were at a stalemate for a period before the two eventually turned into nothingness. As waves of qi whizzed past, its friction with air produced shrill sonic booms. "Is this the power of the pseudo Law Domain stage? It doesn¡¯t seem that strong!¡± Ai Zhi curved his lips in an arrogant smile. Fan Feng might be stronger than Ai Zhi in terms of Genesis Qi foundation, but his strength was still limited. Additionally, Ai Zhi, as a top heaven pride from the Spirit Phoenix Clan, was evidently superior to Fan Feng in terms of bloodline and the cultivation arts he knew. ¡°You have a death wish!¡± Intense murderous intent flashed across Fan Feng¡¯s eyes as he stepped forward and said fiercely, ¡°Corrosive Black Wind Law Domain!¡± Wu! The black Law Domain abruptly expanded to around 1000 feet. Endless gusts of black wind roared inside, sending chills down many people¡¯s spine. Fan Feng fully summoned his Law Domain. The Law Domain whizzed over and enveloped Ai Zhi, who failed to evade in time. ¡°Do you think you can survive inside my Law Domain?!¡± Fan Feng¡¯s lips curved in a sinister smile as endless gusts of black wind swept towards Ai Zhi. Even Genesis Qi was corroded and dissolved where the black wind passed. Stunning Genesis Qi flames constantly rose from Ai Zhi''s body, resisting the black wind¡¯s corrosion. His face assumed a serious expression. Although he expected it, he still felt a tremendous pressure when he entered the Law Domain. ¡°A Law Domain of less than 2000 feet already made me feel such pressure¡­¡± Ai Zhi inwardly marveled. He felt he likely wouldn¡¯t be able to defend himself if he were to face Ai Tuanzi or other stronger pseudo Law Domain experts. However, this also made Ai Zhi hopeful. He could also reach the terrifying pseudo Law Domain stage if he obtained a Law Domain seed. ¡°No one can stop me from getting a Law Domain seed!¡± Ai Zhi¡¯s icy gaze locked on Fan Feng and he suddenly folded his hands together. As he changed hand seals, gorgeous flames mightily gushed out from his body. The flames gradually converged until a tremendous flame cauldron took shape! The cauldron enveloped Ai Zhi as monstrous flames whipped up like waves and slapped the furnace walls. Vaguely, the cauldron produced waves of wild energy. ¡°You think that turtle shell can protect you?" Fan Feng coldly snorted. He clapped his hands and two black beams of black light shot out from the endless black wind. The two beams entwined and formed tremendous wind shears. As the shears whizzed passed, the blasts of wind created seemed strong enough to sever all objects. ¡°Sea-splitting Black Wind Shears!¡± Fan Feng roared as black light pierced through space like two giant black pythons and sped towards the flame cauldron. Clang! The two collided with a loud boom and the stunning flame cauldron shook violently. Clang! However, the flame cauldron demonstrated its astonishing defense in the face of the wind blades from the black wind shears. Even if it trembled incessantly and even cracked, it remained standing. Inside the flame cauldron, Ai Zhi¡¯s face was deathly pale and blood trickled down the corners of his lips, but he ignored this and did everything he could to maintain the cauldron. This was because inside the cauldron were raging flames constantly battering the cauldron walls and terrifying power gathering with every strike. His eyes, blazing with chilling killing intent, penetrated the cauldron and locked on Fan Feng. Clang! Fan Feng continued to launch terrifying attacks. He sneered, ¡°Are you part of the Spirit Phoenix Clan or the Spirit Turtle Clan?¡± Although he mocked Ai Zhi, his face turned sullen because he felt somewhat uneasy. Clang! But the black wind shears whizzed past again and tore a crack into the flame cauldron. Fan Feng looked overjoyed as he peered through the gap and saw Ai Zhi¡¯s figure in the depths of the blazing flames. ¡°Die!¡± He gave a sinister grin. He wanted to crack open the cauldron, drag Ai Zhi out and utterly destroy him. While the black wind shears rose again, Ai Zhi, who was inside the flame cauldron, slowly curved his lips in a cruel smile. He folded his hands together. All noise within the flame cauldron subsided. Only his low voice could be heard. ¡°Seven Flame Cauldron, destroy the domain!" Boom! Thousands of firelights spewed out like thousands of volcanoes erupting at the same time. Seven-colored flames frantically burst out and wreaked havoc. Black wind rapidly melted away where the flames touched and the thousand feet Law Domain rapidly disappeared as though set aflame Fan Feng¡¯s face blanched and he hurriedly tried to withdraw his Law Domain. Rumble! But it was too late. Terrifying flames engulfed everything like a thousand-feet wave. The black wind Law Domain was melted and destroyed in just a few breaths. Fan Feng had to bear the brunt. He let out an anguished scream as terrifying flames engulfed him. Then, as the flames swept past him, a charcoal-like figure with weak vitality was left on the battle platform. Many people stared in shocked horror. The Wanshou Heaven troops erupted into wild cheers as they looked at the figure standing in the center. Although Ai Zhi looked miserable, pale and weak, the excitement and radiance in his eyes were unconcealed. He won! Jiang Hongying, Jin Lan, Meng Chong, and other grade 7 experts from various clans also stood in shock. Ai Zhi is so strong¡­ Boom! Amidst earthshaking cheers, a terrifying Genesis Qi shock wave suddenly broke out from the seed battle platform above. A bitter and shrill dragon roar resounded. Then, a huge dragon shadow splattered blood everywhere as it plunged into the battle platform, shocking everyone. The cheers from Wanshou Heaven¡¯s side abruptly halted. A cold feeling filled everyone¡¯s heart as they stared dazedly at the battlefield. Especially Jiang Hongying, who was shuddering. This was because the dragon shadow belonged to Jiang Ba from their Mystic Dragon Clan! It should be said that Jiang Ba was ranked in the top three of the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s pseudo Law Domain stage, but such a strong pillar was defeated?! Many people cast horrified gazes opposite of Jiang Ba, only to see a thin skeleton-like figure standing there with a smile. His hands were like bones, and flesh and blood torn from Jiang Ba¡¯s body still remained on them. He was called Chi Bei, a top pseudo Law Domain expert in the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s royal family. He clearly was on a different level to Fan Feng, who Ai Zhi defeated. Chi Bei severely wounded Jiang Ba and ignored him writhing on the platform. Instead, he tilted his head and cast a fierce gaze to the platform where Ai Zhi was on. Chi Bei studied Ai Zhi with a chilling and ugly smile on his skeleton-like face. He clapped his hands and said in a faint voice, ¡°Not bad, you defeated Fan Feng¡¯s trash domain...¡° He beckoned. ¡°I wonder if you are brave enough to play with me next?¡± His voice slowly spread out. Fear rose in Ai Zhi¡¯s heart. He felt he would likely die if he were to face that guy on the battlefield. Chapter 1262 Chi Bei’s Scheme The atmosphere slightly stiffened around the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, where battles continued endlessly. Many gazes hovered between Chi Bei and Ai Zhi. However, the Evil Beast Clan troops wore sinister and mocking expressions, while people from Wanshou Heaven looked a little worried. Although Chi Bei and Ai Zhi had both defeated their respective opponents, they weren¡¯t considered to be the same level. This was because Chi Bei defeated Jiang Ba, who was ranked in the top three pseudo Law Domain stage of Wanshou Heaven, while Ai Zhi only defeated Fan Feng, who was considered low-ranking in the Evil Beast Clan. Although Ai Zhi could defeat Fan Feng, his chance of winning Chi Bei wasn¡¯t particularly high. Therefore, it wouldn¡¯t bode well for Ai Zhi to charge towards Chi Bei. But if he didn''t, it would have a significant impact on the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s morale. Ai Zhi was undoubtedly in a dilemma. Under many gazes, Ai Zhi¡¯s face grew overcast and troubled. He was enjoying his victory over a pseudo Law Domain a moment ago but his emotions were trampled on the next. Is Jiang Ba that useless?! There was a surge of anger in his heart. If Jiang Ba could obstruct him a little longer he could have dominated the battle! The anger surging in Ai Zhi¡¯s heart made him want to accept Chi Bei¡¯s challenge, but his rationality prevented him from stepping forward. This was because the fierce oppressive aura exuding from Chi Bei was far stronger than Fan Feng¡¯s. It was obvious that Chi Bei was a top figure in the Evil Beast Clan and Ai Zhi was likely no match for him. Unless he could break through to the Law Domain stage. But that wasn¡¯t realistic. Thoughts streamed through his mind. He didn¡¯t respond to Chi Bei¡¯s provocation and remained silent. The glimmer in many Wanshou Heaven experts¡¯ eyes dimmed but they also understood what Ai Zhi did was sensible. While studying at Ai Zhi, Chi Bei let out a hoarse chuckle. He lightly stamped his foot on the battle platform and said indifferently, ¡°Our strength was increased because the formation of the boundary triggered fiendish qi from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. "But that''s only the first stage. The battle platform I am on is the boundary¡¯s center. If no one comes on to suppress me, the strengthening effect will only grow stronger, and once the center here is connected¡­ at that time you might die even more tragically.¡± He gave Ai Zhi a chilling smile. ¡°So will you take the chance to be a hero?¡± Many Wanshou Heaven experts¡¯ turned ashen and even Ai Tuanzi, who was battling Chi Yuan, felt her heart sinking because she knew what Chi Bei said was true. She might be equally matched against Chi Yuan now, but if Chi Yuan¡¯s strength increased once again, she might even fall into a disadvantageous position. But all the pseudo Law Domain experts in Wanshou Heaven had already gone onto the battlefield, and even Jiang Ba was defeated. Only she, Tuntun and Zhuang Xiaoming from the Ancient Whale Clan were stronger than Jiang Ba, but no one could free themselves from their respective battles to deal with Chi Bei. Wanshou Heaven had unknowingly fallen into a disadvantageous position. "Zhou Yuan, is what he said true?" Ai Qing¡¯s beautiful face had become very pale. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and nodded. Blood-red vortexes were constantly forming across the mountains. Although the black-robed man hadn¡¯t appeared again, the battle platform that Chi Bei was on was indeed considered a relatively central location. Once it became connected, even more fiendish qi would be drawn up from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Ai Qing¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Is Ai Zhi no match for Chi Bei?¡± she asked with the last trace of hope in her heart. Zhou Yuan said indifferently, ¡°His limit is defeating Fan Feng. Chi Bei is stronger than Fan Feng so he has no chance of winning. It¡¯s a sensible decision to not fight now.¡± But then, the chain reaction would be even greater. Ai Qing opened her mouth slightly and her gaze suddenly shifted to Zhou Yuan. ¡°What about you?!¡± The miracle that Zhou Yuan created in Guyuan Heaven was deeply imprinted in her. The situation was likely more difficult then but Zhou Yuan still led the troops of all-heavens to victory. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids drooped as he said calmly, ¡°I won¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t or you can¡¯t?¡± There was a glimmer in Ai Qing¡¯s beautiful eyes. She keenly grasped the loophole in Zhou Yuan''s words. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°You think too highly of me.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything else and continued to look indifferently at the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Chi Bei seemed a little disappointed that there was no response from Wanshou Heaven. ¡°What? No one dares to accept my challenge?¡± His ruthless gaze swept over Ai Zhi, Jiang Hongying, Jin Lan and many other top grade-7 experts. ¡°You think we¡¯re afraid of you?!¡± With an enraged roar, Jiang Hongying sped across the air, erupting with terrifying Genesis Qi. The crimson-red spear in her hand brought up a tremendous torrent and wrapped in flames of fury, it blasted towards Chi Bei. Chi Bei grinned at Jiang Hongying and then nodded in admiration. Then, he thrust out his palm. Boom! The space around crumbled and a huge skeletal palm ripped through space and collided with Jiang Hongying¡¯s Genesis Qi torrent. Bang! Jiang Hongying''s attack was instantly destroyed and a gust of strong wind lashed her body. Blasting back, she vomited up blood and before smashing into the battle platform. Jiang Hongying was utterly defeated in one move. Chi Bei smiled. ¡°The men of Wanshou Heaven can¡¯t be compared to a woman.¡± Many Wanshou Heaven expert¡¯s eyes were reddened with fury. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± an earth-shaking roar resounded. Meng Chong from the Divine Tiger Clan swung his giant axe with a fierce look. A beam of icy light slashed down from above, along with a boundless ferocious aura. With a smile on his thin and withered face, Chi Bei slammed out his fist. Sparks sputtered everywhere and space distorted, but the most shocking thing was that the giant axe exploded to pieces. Meng Chong¡¯s tough body was propelled like a cannonball, his bones collapsed and blood sprayed everywhere. Chi Bei had wounded two top grade-7 experts from Wanshou Heaven in just a short period. The tremendous gap between the two sides was clearly demonstrated. Moreover, after Jiang Hongying''s and Meng Chong¡¯s utter defeat, someone noticed the fiendish qi emitting from Chi Bei¡¯s battle platform growing stronger and even the fiendish qi around the entire Ancestral Spirit Mountain was pulsing. "No, he is deliberately luring people over. It seems that fiendish qi is drawn up every time he wins,¡± someone exclaimed. Feeling the fiendish qi growing more intense, Chi Bei smiled. "It seems that you¡¯re not as stupid as I thought. If you lose another match, the fiendish qi will be completely activated... "Of course, even if no one comes up, you¡¯re only postponing it a little. It doesn''t really matter.¡± Many Wanshou Heaven experts turned ashen. Chi Bei had tricked them. He deliberately provoked Jiang Hongying and the others so he could use their defeat to gather even more fiendish qi around the battle platform. The Evil Beast Clan¡¯s scheme would succeed if they lose another match on that battle platform! But even if no one goes up, it would only delay it a little longer¡­ Chi Bei had forced Wanshou Heaven into a troubled situation. Chi Bei gently licked the blood on his palm and smiled half-heartedly at Ai Zhi. "This is the last match. Do you not plan to stop me?¡± Ai Zhi''s countenance changed. After a while, he said through gritted teeth, ¡±The same trick won¡¯t work the second time. I won''t go up as you wish!¡± He couldn''t go up because that was what the enemy wanted and it would cause the overall situation to collapse! Ai Zhi, who was very prideful, was unwilling to admit that the opponent had imprinted a trace of fear in his heart¡¯s depths. Many people from Wanshou Heaven watched silently because, although they knew Ai Zhi¡¯s decision wasn¡¯t wrong, they couldn¡¯t help feeling disappointed. After all, everyone wanted to see a hero appear. It was just that there were more mortals in the world. They stared at Chi Bei¡¯s skeleton-like figure, who resembled a demon king standing on the battlefield and crushed all their hopes. Chi Bei chuckled, ¡°You are just trash of the lower five heavens yet you dare compete with the Sacred Race? You are too stupid! It¡¯s better if you die sooner.¡± The many experts from Wanshou Heaven almost spewed flames out their eyes. However, Zhou Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged on a mountain beyond the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, scrunched his brows slightly. "You bastard, you were laughing at Wanshou Heaven, why do you have to bring in other heavens?¡± Chapter 1263 The Cost of Helping When Zhou Yuan''s voice resounded, the many battle platforms on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain fell silent, followed by many astonished gazes from afar shifting towards his direction. The astonishment on their faces uncontrollably deepened when they saw who spoke. ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± Many Wanshou Heaven experts were surprised. Zhou Yuan had been coldly watching from beyond the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, but many people were indifferent to this because they believed the Wanshou Heaven wouldn¡¯t be weaker than the Evil Beast Clan. Moreover, given how Ai Zhi previously treated Zhou Yuan, everyone knew he would be upset and so almost everyone chose to ignore his existence. Therefore, the fact that Zhou Yuan spoke in such a troubled situation drew even more attention. Even Chi Bei was slightly taken aback, but he immediately locked his gaze from afar on Zhou Yuan. He narrowed his eyes when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Zhou Yuan?¡± he cried out in surprise. He recognized Zhou Yuan. But that wasn¡¯t surprising because Zhou Yuan had defeated a sacred heaven pride from the Sacred Race in Guyuan Heaven, which must have stirred up waves within the Sacred Race. As an elite expert in the Evil Beast Clan, it was normal that Chi Bei knew about Zhou Yuan. ¡°Interesting, I didn¡¯t think a human would appear in Wanshou Heaven¡¯s Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± Chi Bei chuckled, studying Zhou Yuan with his cold gaze. ¡°Although you have made a name for yourself in Guyuan Heaven, aren¡¯t you thinking too highly of yourself? ¡°Are you, a little junior who had just reached the Nascent Source stage, qualified to intervene?¡± Zhou Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged, smiled in response and said, ¡°Jia Tu, a sacred heaven pride from the Sacred Race, also said the same thing as you in Guyuan Heaven. Why do you all have the same boring lines?¡± Chi Bee looked at Zhou Yuan with undisguised killing intent in his eyes and the corners of his lips twitching. "It seems you also want to come up and play? Then come, I might be rewarded greatly if I bring your head back to the Sacred Race.¡± His expression gradually grew more ferocious as Genesis Qi gathered around his body. Many Wanshou Heaven experts¡¯ eyes lit up. Zhou Yuan is planning to accept the challenge? Although it¡¯s unknown whether he could win against Chi Bei, his courage will surely boost morale. But Zhou Yuan stretched his waist, saying, ¡°I won''t go,¡± in response to Chi Bei¡¯s challenge. Many Wanshou Heaven experts¡¯ stiffened and even Chi Bei¡¯s lips twitched. The momentum he gathered fluctuated and he looked a little annoyed. "I didn''t think the Sacred Race would suffer a setback in Guyuan Heaven because of a coward?" Chi Bei sneered. Zhou Yuan shook his head with a smile. "Forget it, someone has warned me not to steal the limelight in the Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± There was silence on the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s side and some people couldn¡¯t stop their gaze from drifting over to Ai Zhi. Ai Zhi''s expression seemed a little stiff. How could he not hear the mockery in Zhou Yuan''s tone? He had confidently warned Zhou Yuan to not intervene, but the situation had turned to such an embarrassing state. He couldn¡¯t help feeling ashamed and angry. Therefore, he uttered coldly, "Zhou Yuan, even if you intervene, you can''t change anything! So don''t say such useless words!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. The corners of Ai Zhi''s eyes twitched and he felt suffocated. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Another voice sounded from another seed battle platform¡ªIt was Ai Tuanzi¡¯s. While locked in a fierce battle with Chi Yuan, she could still divert her attention and cast a glance at Zhou Yuan. ¡±Zhou Yuan, what Ai Zhi did before was indeed narrow-minded, but the Sacred Race is the enemy of all-heavens. If possible, I really hope you can help.¡± As her voice spread across the area, Ai Zhi''s face turned a little livid and he wanted to refute, but he didn''t say anything in the end because he had already chosen to avoid the battle. Zhou Yuan lifted his head and said helplessly to Ai Tuanzi. "You really think too highly of me. That guy is at the top level of the pseudo Law Domain stage, while I haven¡¯t even reached the perfect Nascent Source stage.¡± Ai Tuanzi was silent. Although she knew that was the truth, she could tell Zhou Yuan was unafraid of Chi Bei, which suggests that Zhou Yuan might have the means to fight back. Although it sounded unbelievable, Zhou Yuan was the one who created miracles in Guyuan Heaven. Therefore, he could do the same in the Dragon Spirit Utopia, right? Zhou Yuan''s refusal was likely because he was still unhappy with Ai Zhi''s aggressiveness. But she could understand why Zhou Yuan was angry given how Ai Zhi spoke so offensively. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Ai Qing also looked at Zhou Yuan imploringly. Zhou Yuan waved his hand, saying, ¡°The situation in truth isn¡¯t that bad. If Ai Zhi goes up, he could survive a few moves, though he might be killed in the end¡­ ¡°I, Zhou Yuan, have a backbone and won¡¯t help so easily..." he muttered. In truth, he would help out because, regardless how much he hated Ai Zhi, Tuntun was in the Ancestral Spirit Mountain and although Tuntun might still be handling his opponent with ease, he could also be impacted when the Evil Beast Clan used the fiendish qi to strengthen themselves again. It was just that Zhou Yuan found Ai Zhi too hateful and he wanted to teach Ai Zhi a lesson to vent his anger. But it was then when Zhou Yuan''s heart trembled because he felt an unfathomable gaze shifted towards him. The gaze was from another domain¡­ It was the Saint from Wanshou Heaven! They indeed were watching this place. That gaze penetrated through space and although it didn''t carry any message, Zhou Yuan understood its meaning. They hoped he would help out. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that¡­you think a Saint is that amazing?¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. Then, a light suddenly flashed in his eyes and he let out a sigh. Never mind, Saints are indeed amazing¡­ He lifted his head and extended two fingers in Ai Tuanzi¡¯s direction. "I can help, but if I get rid of that guy, you have to give me two Law Domain Seeds,¡± Zhou Yuan negotiated in a serious voice. The Wanshou Heaven troops broke into uproar. Immediately after, their expression turned a little strange. Ai Zhi didn''t want Zhou Yuan to take advantage of them and so warned him to not intervene. But now, Zhou Yuan would only help out if they gave him another Law Domain Seed. This was obviously to humiliate Ai Zhi. And Ai Zhi was indeed furious. "Zhou Yuan, you are taking advantage of the others¡¯ difficulties for your own benefit!¡± Then, he shifted his gaze to Ai Tuanzi and said, ¡°I will deal with Chi Bei!¡± Ai Tuanzi glanced at him and said indifferently, ¡°There is fear in your heart. Even if you take the challenge, your chance of winning isn¡¯t high.¡± ¡°Then can he win?!¡± Ai Zhi said unwillingly. "At least he will do better than you.¡± Ai Zhi''s lips moved, his face turned livid but he couldn¡¯t utter a word. Ai Tuanzi''s eyes were icy cold. She no longer hesitated and said, "Zhou Yuan, if you succeed, the Wanshou Heaven will give you two Law Domain Seeds!¡± Zhou Yuan stood up and stretched his body that seemed rusty from resting too long. He smiled at Ai Qing and said, ¡°Okay, it''s time for me to perform¡­ "I hope I can earn the two Law Domain Seeds.¡± He stepped forward with a smile. The space around him rippled and he instantly appeared on Chi Bei¡¯s battle platform. Chapter 1264 Against Pseudo Law Domain Zhou Yuan could feel the sky becoming taller as he landed on the seed battle platform. This was because space was extending. The battle platform appeared to be no more than ten thousand square meters, yet the space inside could withstand the destructive force from battles under the Law Domain stage. Chi Bei, who had a skinny skeleton-like face, stared blankly at Zhou Yuan. It was only after a while that he curved his lips in an unfathomable smile. "You actually¡­dare to come up here.¡± Chi Bei couldn''t help chuckling, as he imagined, Zhou Yuan was too ignorant. Although he knew Zhou Yuan had quite a bit of fame within all-heavens, he couldn¡¯t understand why someone of the advanced Nascent Source stage would have the courage to face someone at the pseudo Law Domain stage. "You almost made me think I¡¯m on the Saint battle platform,¡± said Zhou Yuan with a smile. Chi Bei shook his head, saying, ¡°You have a sharp tongue, but unfortunately it¡¯s useless.¡± He extended his withered finger and pointed at Zhou Yuan, ¡°I¡¯m going to take your head today. It will be my step to promotion within the Sacred Race.¡± Boom! Chi Bei didn¡¯t say anything anymore, but terrifying Genesis Qi erupted from his body. The Genesis Qi, vast and mighty, blotted out the sky and sun and even caused the space to crumble. The boundless pressure created could be felt from even beyond the battlefield. Zhou Yuan felt a mountainous weight on him under such pressure. He assumed a solemn and serious expression because the Genesis Qi stars erupted from Chi Bei reached a terrifying level of around 140 billion! ¡°He is indeed a tricky opponent.¡± It was no wonder that even Ai Zhi was reluctant to face him. The gap between them was too great. Even if he went onto the battlefield, he would just be delivering food to Chi Bei. As Zhou Yuan stepped forward, the 7.6 inch Nascent Source in his Divine Dwellings sat down cross-legged and Genesis Qi suddenly erupted. Although the platinum Genesis Qi also filled the sky, its intensity was much weaker than Chi Bei¡¯s. Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi foundation was only around 110 billion even if strengthened from the Ancestral Spirit Pond¡¯s cleansing. There was a 30 billion difference between him and Chi Bei. The gap would have made ordinary Nascent Source experts feel despair and admitted defeat long ago. ¡°Is your Genesis Qi foundation where your confidence lies? It''s worse than trash from the Spirit Phoenix Clan,¡± mocked Chi Bei in a hoarse voice. Zhou Yuan ignored him and suddenly folded his hands together. ¡°Promotion!¡± ¡°Earth Saint Rune!¡± Two secret strengthening arts were instantly activated, and as the ground quaked, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation steadily rose till it reached 120 billion. Chi Bei narrowed his eyes. "Secret arts that can temporarily increase one¡¯s foundation. It seems you have many good things on you.¡± Ordinary strengthening secret arts were no longer effective for people at their level, unless they were true Saint artifacts, but such treasures were incredibly rare for true Law Domain experts and even more so for someone at the pseudo Law Domain stage. But Zhou Yuan activated two secret strengthening arts consecutively, making many people envious. ¡°Unfortunately for you, it¡¯s useless,¡± Chi Bei said with a faint smile. He lifted his hand into the air and slammed down. Boom! As the palm smashed down, the space above Zhou Yuan broke apart and an incomparably huge skeletal hand shrouded in grey Genesis Qi roared down like a catastrophic meteor, striking where Zhou Yuan was with destructive power. Even space shattered to fragments in that instant. The pressure created from that terrifying impact made even Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turn solemn. He lifted his face and inhaled. Crimson runes spread across his skin and heat was generated with his every breath. Even the air around was incinerated and the ground at his feet slowly turned to lava. ¡°Great Flame Devil!¡± With a low roar, his body enlarged and he turned into a Crimson magma devil figure in the blink of an eye. Several lava-formed runes began to flow around the tremendous magma devil and eventually, they formed a fiery-red devil eye at its chest. The devil eye was crimson and appeared to hold a world of lava. Not only did Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation soar from the Ancestral Spirit Pool, even his Spirit and physical body received huge upgrades. The Great Flame Devil also reached great heights through such an opportunity. The Great Flame Devil was a top Little Saint Art specially used to cultivate one¡¯s physical body, and even if it wasn¡¯t a true Saint Genesis Art, once mastered, and coupled with Zhou Yuan¡¯s increasingly tough Saint Glass Body, it could erupt with terrifying powers. ¡°Great Flame Devil, Flame Eye World!¡± As Zhou Yuan roared in his heart, the crimson devil eye at the magma devil¡¯s chest erupted with thousand rays of crimson light. The crimson light sped towards the giant skeletal hand smashing down. The giant skeletal palm transformed into a beam of grey light and was pulled into the magma devil¡¯s eye. Suddenly, the eye trembled violently as if an earth-shaking collision was happening inside. However, it only lasted a dozen breaths. Grey auras constantly spiralled up from the eye and soon even the giant skeletal hand was incinerated. ¡°Interesting. I didn¡¯t expect you to have refined your blood and qi to such levels,¡± exclaimed Chi Bei. How could he not tell that the lava as well as blazing heat were formed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s blood and qi, which could only be achieved by someone with supreme control of one¡¯s bodily strength. Boom! While speaking, the crimson red eye at the magma devil¡¯s chest erupted another thousand lava torrents. They streaked across the sky like a meteor shower, landing in Chi Bei¡¯s direction. A majestic attack. Chi Bei smiled faintly at the stunning spectacle while slowly spreading his hand open. Boom! A grey Law Domain suddenly spread out from Chi Bei. The Law Domain was 2500 feet! Chi Bei¡¯s indifferent voice sounded, ¡°This is called the Thousand Bone Domain!¡± Hum! As his voice faded, countless bones emerged in the air and connected with one another to form a wall of bones. Boom! The wall withstood the endless lava torrents striking down. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack was unable to cause any damage. "Zhou Yuan, enough with your showy moves¡­Let me kill you quickly¡­¡± Chi Bei stretched out his bone-like hand and curled his five fingers in front of the magma figure. As space tore apart, countless bones stretched out, and like vines, wrapped around the magma figure. Even the intense heat produced from the magma figure was unable to destroy them. "Bone God''s Grip!¡± Vine-like bones suddenly constricted with Chi Bei¡¯s indifferent voice. Boom! The space collapsed, forming a huge black hole. As the vine-like bones constricted, the magma demon was crushed to pieces amidst astonished gazes and lava splattered across the sky. Chapter 1265 Battle Lava splattered everywhere as Chi Bei crushed the imposing magma demon in one palm strike. Many Wanshou Heaven experts felt their hearts tightened. Chi Bei¡¯s strength was too terrifying, and coupled with his pseudo Law Domain, the power erupted from him made many people¡¯s scalp numb. Standing on the battle platform, Chi Bei narrowed his eyes as he watched the lava explode in the sky like fireworks, and said with a smile, ¡±You¡¯re not dead?¡± Boom! The space in front of him suddenly ripped apart as a silhouette blasted out and a Genesis Qi tore slashed through the air towards Chi Bei like a lightning bolt. Chi Bei coldly sneered. As he lifted his hand, countless bones gathered in his palm and transformed into a tremendous skeletal hand. In the blink of an eye it was already slamming down. Space shattered. Bang! The skeletal hand forcibly slammed the silhouette into the ground, causing the earth to quake and crack. ¡°You dare launch a sneak attack within my Law Domain area? I don¡¯t know if I should call you naive or stupid.¡± Chi Bei gave a sinister smile as he lifted the huge skeletal hand again. But he abruptly froze when he looked ahead because he noticed the figure under the huge skeletal hand had silver skin even if it looked identical to Zhou Yuan. Additionally, it hadn¡¯t been crushed, though its body had sunken in a little but no blood seeped out. While Chi Bei was stunned and puzzled, a resounding sword cry rang out from behind him and a sharp qi caused piercing pain to his skin. He sharply turned his head, only to see the space there had torn apart and seven rays of rainbow-colored sword light were whizzing out. The seven sword rays were so stunning and mesmerizing and even seemed to contain galaxies. But Chi Bei could sense boundless danger under that stunning spectacle. Chi Bei knew that he would suffer greatly if the seven sword light struck him in his unguarded state even if he was at the pseudo Law Domain stage. But fortunately, he was vigilant of Zhou Yuan from the start. Chi Bei¡¯s contempt for Zhou Yuan was only on the surface. He wasn¡¯t an idiot so he knew how strong the sacred heaven prides from the Sacred Race were. Although Zhou Yuan had only defeated sacred heaven prides at the Heavenly Sun stage, he knew those who could achieve the title sacred heaven pride were all talented people with great potential. Even if Zhou Yuan had only defeated the Sacred Race¡¯s sacred heaven prides at the Heavenly Sun stage through luck, it still demonstrated his outstanding ability. Therefore, Chi Bei remained vigilant against Zhou Yuan, even if the opponent was only at the advanced Nascent Source stage. That vigilance also gave him the confidence to face Zhou Yuan¡¯s surprise attack. Chi Bei had already folded his hands together in a seal. ¡°Saint Genesis Art, Skeletal Paper Armor!¡± As he roared, grey qi descended from his Law Domain, transforming into a white paper armor around Chi Bei. The paper armor covered with speckled marks was seemingly fragile but it held terrifying defensive power. Clang! The seven sword lights slashed down, striking the skeletal paper armor. As sharp clangs rang in the air, Chi Bei was repeatedly blasted back and the space around the collision constantly shattered. Although cracks spread across the armor, it only completely broke to pieces after the seven sword lights had faded. Chi Bei¡¯s feet slammed into the ground and he reeled back, causing the ground to crack. He stared at the figure walking out from the void with a darkened expression. Blood-colored qi surged around his deathly pale face, which he forcibly suppressed. Although his skeletal paper armor had already withstood 90% of the sword light¡¯s power, some sword qi still penetrated his body and brought him piercing pain. As Zhou Yuan stepped out of the void, he looked at Chi Bei with his brows knitted together. The previous seven sword lights were naturally the Sky Severing Sword Lights. He finally could summon seven rainbow sword lights after the upgrade from the Ancestral Spirit Pond. He thought he could distract Chi Bei using Silver Shadow and launch a sneak attack, but the result wasn¡¯t what he had hoped. ¡°You¡¯re very cautious,¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Although Chi Bei seemed contemptuous of Zhou Yuan, the many means he had prepared showed that he regarded Zhou Yuan as an opponent equal to Jiang Ba. That guy is cunning. Chi Bei stared coldly at Zhou Yuan, saying, "But I still underestimated the trouble you would cause. However, since your sneak attack failed, it¡¯s now my turn, isn¡¯t it?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Who said I am done?¡± Chi Bei felt all his hair stand on end because there was the same sharp sword qi rising behind him. When he turned his head around, his pupils abruptly shrank because he saw the silver Zhou Yuan that had collapsed on the ground opened its eyes and then its mouth, shooting out seven dazzling sword lights. They pierced through space and slashed down with unbelievable speed. The white skeletal armor was already destroyed and it was impossible to summon another one in such a short period, even for Chi Bei. As a result, he could only let out a low roar as he drew back with lightning speed and fully activated the Law Domain¡¯s power to again form a wall of bones in front of him. Seven rainbow sword lights whizzed over and tore through the wall of bones with crushing power. In just a few breaths, the sword lights were already in front of Chi Bei and were slashing towards him under his horrified gaze. Ah! As a tragic scream resounded, the seven sword lights pierced right through Chi Bei¡¯s body and left seven holes. A look of disbelief remained on Chi Bei¡¯s face. Hua! On Ancestral Spirit Mountain, many people¡¯s eyes were filled with shocked disbelief. Zhou Yuan killed Chi Bei? ¡°Zhou Yuan, be careful! The Law Domain hasn¡¯t dispersed! He isn¡¯t dead yet!¡± Ai Tuanzi¡¯s voice sounded. But Zhou Yuan was already aware of this and remained on guard because he knew the seven sword lights activated by Silver Shadow could at most wound Chi Bei and weren¡¯t enough to kill him. It was obvious that Chi Bei had other intentions to pretend to be dead. As a result, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t come forward to investigate further and just disappeared from the spot. At the same time, Chi Bei¡¯s body that was pierced with seven holes gradually turned grey and he eventually turned into a skeleton frame, disintegrated and vanished. ¡°Law Domain power, the coffin of blood and bones.¡± As a faint whisper sounded within the grey Law Domain, the surrounding space suddenly distorted and Zhou Yuan, who had vanished, felt a force locked onto him, forcing him to reveal himself. When he appeared, a bone coffin emerged behind him. The coffin lid opened and Zhou Yuan was swallowed in one mouthful. Bang! The lid slammed shut and completely sealed the coffin. Many Wanshou Heaven experts¡¯ expressions changed dramatically. Zhou Yuan''s performance was already perfect, but who would have thought that Chi Bei had such bizarre means¡­A pseudo Law Domain expert was indeed tricky and it was impossible to defend effectively against one inside their Law Domain. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Ai Qing¡¯s beautiful face paled and her eyes were filled with worry and nervousness. ¡°Humph¡­¡± Ai Zhi coldly snorted and muttered to himself, ¡°You brought this on yourself. Do you really think someone like you can challenge Chi Bei?¡± He was afraid to step forward before because he sensed the terror of Chi Bei. But Zhou Yuan went out to steal the limelight and might lose his life before he grabbed the limelight. But that was good because after Zhou Yuan threw away his life from stupidity, no one would think Ai Zhi was really afraid and was just wisely protecting himself. Zhou Yuan stepped forward even if he knew it was impossible to win, which was what the enemy wanted. This wasn¡¯t courageous but foolish. Within the grey Law Domain. As grey mist pulsed, Chi Bei¡¯s figure emerged, looking at the bone coffin with a sinister and chilling gaze. ¡°Zhou Yuan, your power is extraordinary. You are only at the advanced Nascent Source stage yet you forced me to use such means. But unfortunately for you, there is still a difference in strength between you and I. ¡°Only Law Domain stage power can withstand my blood and bone coffin. Regardless what means you have, you will be turned to blood and bones. "You can never imagine the Law Domain stage¡¯s power. Even a pseudo Law Domain is more than enough to deal with you. ¡°But it¡¯s a pity that I can¡¯t bring your head back¡­¡± while Chi Bei muttered to himself, streaks of blood-red crawled out from the coffin and gradually dyed the coffin red. As the red grew increasingly intense, a voice could be heard from within the coffin. ¡°Law Domain stage power? You think I don¡¯t have any?¡± Chapter 1266 Heavenly Punishment Rod When a voice rang from within the blood-red bone coffin, Chi Bei¡¯s pupils abruptly shrank and he immediately operated the coffin¡¯s power to its full without any hesitation. He wanted to turn Zhou Yuan to blood and bones. A blaze of bright blood-colored light erupted from the coffin. But as blood-colored light rushed up, a faint voice sounded. ¡°Heavenly Punishment¡­¡± Then, Chi Bei sensed a terrifying power breaking out from the coffin. He could feel a familiar energy¡­the power of the Law Domain stage! "How is that possible?! How could he possess Law Domain power?!¡± Chi Bei¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Zhou Yuan was clearly at the advanced Nascent Source stage and there was still a whole level between him and the pseudo Law Domain stage, so how could he possess Law Domain power? Kacha! But regardless how shocked he was, the power within the bone coffin continued to frantically soar, causing crack to rapidly spread across the coffin. With a dark and unpleasant face, Chi Bei folded his hands in a seal and suddenly made a pulling motion. Boom! The grey Law Domain fiercely vibrated and endless grey qi gushed towards the red coffin. The grey qi left speckled marks as it touched the bone coffin and each mark began to gather astonishing power. The speckles marks¡¯ appearance gradually stabilized the coffin about to explode. Chi Bei didn¡¯t stop after that. His eyes were filled with chilling intent. ¡°How would I let you escape from my hands?!¡± Chi Bei slashed his withered flesh with his skeletal hand and sliced off chunks of flesh. Pu! Then, he spat out several mouthfuls of essence and blood, landing on the chunks of flesh. The flesh suddenly squirmed and transformed into nine blood-red talisman paper. The several flesh talisman paper fluttered onto the bone coffin. Everything suddenly stilled as though completely suppressed. Chi Bei¡¯s pale face turned even paler than before and even his breathing became labored. This move clearly exhausted his strength. "Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re not bad since you could force me to use the flesh talisman paper to suppress you. "But you shouldn¡¯t resist anymore. I have operated the bone coffin¡¯s power to its peak. You will be turned to blood and bones in 30 breaths. ¡°You will no doubt die today!¡± Chi Bei''s voice was filled with thick killing intent. Many Wanshou Heaven experts¡¯ turned grave when they saw his gaze. Zhou Yuan managed to escape from the previous dangerous situation, but who would have thought Chi Bei would be so fierce and tough and able to suppress Zhou Yuan again. It seemed impossible for Zhou Yuan to escape this time. Once trapped in the bone coffin, anyone would be turned to blood and bones and lose their life. Many Wanshou Heaven experts let out a mournful sigh. It seemed that even Zhou Yuan, who had created unbelievable miracles in Guyuan Heaven, would be defeated. Ai Tuanzi also split her attention from her battle and cast a glance over at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. She couldn¡¯t help frowning when she saw Zhou Yuan suppressed inside the bone coffin. After all, Zhou Yuan was fighting for their Wanshou Heaven. Wanshou Heaven¡¯s reputation would be affected if he lost his life here. Th other heavens would think the Wanshou Heaven was incompetent. Additionally, Zhou Yuan had a close relationship with Tuntun, so if something were to happen to Zhou Yuan, there was a possibility of Tuntun going crazy. Incessant thoughts streamed through Ai Tuanzi¡¯s head and she eventually made up her mind. If Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t escape, she had no choice but to take action. Even if that meant Chi Yuan would dominate the battle on her seed battle platform. But since Zhou Yuan was involved, she couldn''t just sit back and do nothing. While all gazes were on the battle platform where Zhou Yuan was, Zhou Yuan, who was trapped inside the bone coffin, assumed a serious expression. He could feel terrifying power wildly rushing towards him from the darkness. Additionally, he could smell death within that power. He was undoubtedly in a dangerous situation. Law Domain power pulsed around him to resist the grey Law Domain¡¯s corrosion. That Law Domain power was precisely from his Heavenly Punishment Saint Runes. ¡°Law Domain power is indeed amazing.¡± Zhou Yuan marveled in his heart. This was his first time going up against an opponent with a Law Domain. Chi Bei still brought a lot of trouble to Zhou Yuan even if he was only at the pseudo Law Domain stage. Having witnessed the mysterious power of the Law Domain stage, Zhou Yuan extremely looked forward to the time when he could open up a Law Domain himself. He scanned the dark surroundings. The bone coffin was formed from Chi Bei¡¯s Law Domain, meaning there were only two ways to destroy it. The first was to forcibly destroy it with absolute power, which wasn¡¯t a realistic choice for Zhou Yuan because he was in an inferior state in terms of Genesis Qi foundation. Since that was the case, he could only choose the second way, which was to break it with Law Domain power. However, it was difficult to break the bone coffin given his Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune¡¯s level in the past. Zhou Yuan''s eyes dropped slightly. But fortunately, as his strength increased, his Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune wasn¡¯t the same as it was before. He slowly lifted his hand into the air, a mysterious rune faintly flickering in his palm. Zhou Yuan wore a calm expression. The Nascent Source in his Divine Dwellings had already mobilized all Genesis Qi and directed them along his meridians and towards the Heavenly Punishment Rune in his palm. His Spirit in the center of his brows also operated all its advanced Transformative stage Spirit power without any reservation. Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm began to crack, as though unable to endure such powers. However, while he grunted, he activated his Saint Glass Body and forcibly held onto the rune in his palm. He activated his power to its peak. As all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s powers rushed to his palm, the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune erupted in a blaze of dazzling light. That light seemed to contain infinite mystery like a new world was born. But as the light grew increasingly blinding, Zhou Yuan¡¯s arm withered at a speed visible to the naked eye. In the end, when all the blood in his arm dissipated, the dazzling light also faded. Zhou Yuan appeared to be gripping onto an object with his withered hand. He suddenly pulled it out from the darkness with a wrench. It was a mysterious yellow iron rod. The iron rod seemed to possess boundless power because Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand was constantly trembling when he tightened his grip around the rod. Gazing at the mysterious yellow rod, a smiling expression filled his exhausted eyes. Then, he peered at the darkness ahead. There, terrifying power was rushing towards him and trying to corrode and consume him. Zhou Yuan raised his arm, waving the iron rod, and swung it down. A whisper sounded in the darkness, ¡°Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune¡­Heavenly Punishment Rod!¡± ... ¡°30 breaths¡­" Outside the bone coffin, Chi Bei was smiling, but that smile was particularly sinister and hideous on his withered face. Time was up. "Zhou Yuan, go die. Your death will help I, Chi Bei, develop my reputation within the Sacred Race.¡± Chi Bei roared with laughter as he spread his arms wide open. Genesis Qi suddenly exploded around Ai Tuanzi. She sped into the air and unexpectedly was going to help Zhou Yuan. But it was at that moment¡ª A boom rang inside the coffin and cracks soon spread across the coffin. Bang! Before Chi Bei could react, the coffin burst apart and the flesh talisman paper on it crumbled into powder. Countless fragments whirled in the air. A figure shot out from the bone fragment-covered sky and appeared like a ghost in front of Chi Bei, who was a little dumbfounded. Zhou Yuan''s face was cold and stern. Clasping the iron rod tightly, he swung it down at Chi Bei. Chapter 1267 Perish Chi! The mysterious yellow rod¡¯s momentum wasn¡¯t particularly astonishing when it smashed down, and simply looked like an iron rod falling. But Chi Bei felt indescribable fear pouring out from his heart¡¯s depths. All his hair stood on its end. Wisps of blood crawled around his eyes. This was because he sensed an extremely dangerous aura. The seemingly ordinary yellow rod seemed to possess the power to kill him! ¡°Ah!¡± Overwhelmed with fear, Chi Bei couldn¡¯t analyze how Zhou Yuan broke out of the coffin and could only roar fiercely. His blood and flesh suddenly throbbed strangely and a spiky mane grew over his head like a waterfall. His eyes, red and fierce, were filled with ruthless intent. His veins bulged in his flesh like snakes and a long tail covered with spikes extended out from his behind, splitting the ground apart. Chi Bei had completely lost his human form, and at a rough glance, he resembled a bizarre product from many different Genesis beasts¡¯ characteristics. Evidently, that was the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s true form. As Chi Bei¡¯s original form took shape, spikes pierced out from his skin and twisted around one another to form strange sharp cone-like shapes on his body. Each one was filled with terrifying Genesis Qi. He roared while mobilizing all his powers and collided head-on with the yellow rod. Chi Bei knew the iron rod could completely destroy him if he shrank back a little! Therefore, he must fight with his life. Clang! Under shocked gazes, the cone spikes collided with the iron rod with a sharp clang. The surrounding space collapsed and turned into multiple black hole areas. Chi Bei''s eyes widened with horror because he found that the yellow rod possessed a strange power that could suppress Law Domain power. ¡°How is it possible!?¡± His voice was filled with disbelief. Bang! But regardless how unbelievable it was, when the mysterious yellow rod struck, the sharp cone spikes made crackling and crunching noises. Cracks gradually spread and widened around them. It would be difficult to resist anymore once they reached their limit. In the end, as the yellow iron rod swung down, the cone spikes that gathered all Chi Bei¡¯s strength were all exploded to pieces. Bone fragments filled the sky. But before the rod exhausted all its strength, it smashed down on the top of Chi Bei¡¯s skull. Bang! A low noise rang across the battle platform. The air seemed to have frozen. Countless eyes widened with shock because they saw the grey Law Domain vanishing at an astonishing speed. The grey Law Domain shattered and faded in just a few breaths. Two figures stood opposite one another on the battlefield. Zhou Yuan''s face was pale and his arm was weak and scorched but he didn¡¯t let go of his grip on the mysterious yellow rod. The other end of the rod was on the top of Chi Bei¡¯s skull. Chi Bei''s eyes were wide with fear and unwillingness. But he couldn''t utter a word because his body was gradually crumbling to powder. Powder first appeared on his head and then rapidly spread down his body. In the end, he vanished like smoke. Many people couldn¡¯t help gasping out loud and felt a chill run down their body. Zhou Yuan crushed Chi Bei to ashes with his rod? What terrifying attack is that?! It should be mentioned that Chi Bei was part of the Evil Beast Clan and possessed an incomparably tough body and strength. Additionally, he was incredibly tenacious and his life force was terrifying. As long as he had one breath remaining, he would eventually recover regardless of how severe his injury. But why would he be killed in one strike and even his corpse was destroyed?! Gazes filled with astonishment shifted to the mysterious yellow rod in Zhou Yuan¡¯s withered hand. Although the rod looked ordinary, they felt a chill in their hearts when they laid their eyes on it. Zhou Yuan likely couldn¡¯t destroy Chi Bei completely with his own power, which meant that power belonged to the mysterious yellow rod. That guy is too terrifying! Ai Tuanzi, who was about to help out, also froze for a moment. Even she felt seas were being turned upside down in her heart. Although Chi Bei wasn¡¯t as strong as her, he could be regarded as a top pseudo Law Domain expert. However, he was defeated in the hands of Zhou Yuan, who was only at the advanced Nascent Source stage. ¡°No wonder he could create such miracles in Guyuan Heaven,¡± She took a deep look at Zhou Yuan and marveled in her heart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s accomplishments in Guyuan Heaven were so dazzling that she, who hadn¡¯t witnessed it, found it unrealistic. But after witnessing Zhou Yuan create another miracle, she finally could say with certainty that Zhou Yuan indeed possessed such an ability and qualifications. Ai Qing finally could relax and her phoenix eyes lit up with brilliant light as she gazed at the slender figure wielding the yellow rod. He was much more dazzling than all heaven prides from Wanshou Heaven. Wanshou Heaven troops erupted in cheers and applause. Jiang Hongying, Meng Chong and the others, who were severely wounded, stared at the battle platform in a trance. Even Jiang Hongying, who had a grudge with Zhou Yuan, couldn¡¯t utter a word and even felt a wave of fear in her heart. Only those who witnessed the scene could feel the terror that Zhou Yuan brought. It wouldn¡¯t be good to be an enemy to him. ¡°How is that possible¡­¡± Only Ai Zhi¡¯s body went icy cold as he stared in disbelief. He couldn''t believe that Zhou Yuan could defeat Chi Bei, who he didn¡¯t dare to fight against. If that was the case, what would the gap between Zhou Yuan and him be? From then on, whenever that battle was mentioned in Wanshou Heaven, Ai Zhi would be mocked and ridiculed. Ai Zhi felt dizzy at the thought of that scene. The prestige he worked so hard to build was likely ruined! ... Amidst stunned gaze, Zhou Yuan also stared dazedly at the mysterious yellow rod. In truth, the Heavenly Punishment Rod¡¯s power also exceeded his expectations. ¡°Such destructive power¡­¡± A light flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. When the Heavenly Punishment Rod smashed down, a tyrannical and terrifying force gushed out and instantly wiped away the vitality in Chi Bei¡¯s body. He didn¡¯t even have a chance to escape. However, this was likely because Chi Bei let his guard down after sealing Zhou Yuan in the bone coffin. Otherwise, he would only be severely wounded and not completely destroyed. Kacha. A crack suddenly spread across the Heavenly Punishment Rod in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand and it eventually burst apart and became flecks of light. Zhou Yuan felt throbbing pain in his body. His arm was almost crippled. The Heavenly Punishment Rod had absorbed all his flesh and blood. Even the Nascent Source in his Divine Dwellings became a little weaker and he felt sharp pain in his Spirit. The previous attack looked simple but it consumed all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s state was bad, he didn¡¯t show this in his expression because there were still evil beasts watching him on the battlefield. If he were to reveal any weakness, even a perfect Nascent Source expert could defeat him in his present condition, let alone someone at the pseudo Law Domain stage. Therefore, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his clothes fluttering in the wind, and ran his eyes across the several Evil Beast Clan experts. As though saying who else? After he demonstrated his power by killing Chi Bei, wherever his gaze passed, pseudo Law Domain experts from the Evil Beast Clan evaded his gaze, not to mention perfect Nascent Source experts. No one responded. But in truth he was wiping cold sweats in his heart and heaved a deep sigh of relief. Fortunately he had good acting skills and managed to protect the seed battle platform. Chapter 1268 Chi Xuan Chi Bei¡¯s defeat at Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands evidently had a huge impact. It not only boosted Wanshou Heaven¡¯s morale, but also was a huge blow to the Evil Beast Clan. After all, Chi Bei was regarded as one of the strongest in the Evil Beast Clan. It was impossible to ignore the impact the death of one of their most influential figures had on their clan. As a result, the Wanshou Heaven troops gradually showed signs of counterattacking. Zhou Yuan activated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture with an indifferent expression and madly absorbed universe Genesis Qi to restore himself. Azure runes suddenly emerged on his skin, emitted mighty auras of vitality and healing his crippled arm. He was grasping every minute to restore his strength. With nothing else to do, Zhou Yuan cast a glance over at Ai Tuanzi¡¯s and Tuntun¡¯s battle platforms. After all, their opponents should be the strongest pseudo Law Domain experts in the Evil Beast Clan. Even Chi Bei, who Zhou Yuan defeated, was weaker than them. But regardless how strong they were, they were facing opponents stronger than them. Ai Tuanzi was indeed worthy of being called the strongest at the Wanshou Heaven¡¯s pseudo Law Domain stage. Even if Chi Yuan¡¯s strength had increased from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s fiendish qi, Ai Tuanzi gradually took back control of the situation. There was no need to talk about Tuntun¡¯s side. Chi Qiu, who was equally as strong as Chi Yuan, remained in a disadvantageous state throughout the battle with Tuntun. Alpha Holy Beasts are indeed extraordinary. Besides Tuntun and Ai Tuanzi, it was hard to tell which side had the upper hand on the other seed battle platforms. But Zhou Yuan knew that the whole situation would be reversed once Ai Tuanzi and Tuntun turned their dominating position into a victory. Wanshou Heaven¡¯s overall strength is very strong. The Evil Beast Clan can¡¯t contend. Zhou Yuan nodded. But this was normal because the main Genesis beast clans were in Wanshou Heaven, and although the Evil Beast Clan was created by their Sacred God, it had never won against the Wanshou Heaven since its birth. Of course, it still managed to bring endless trouble to Wanshou Heaven, which was why the Genesis beast clans in Wanshou Heaven hated them so deeply. But even if the situation seemed to be gradually improving, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t relax his vigilance because the mysterious black-robed man still hadn¡¯t appeared. That guy made him feel uneasy like a thorn on his back. He must be scheming something to lurk in the dark. A fierce light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes and he immediately circulated the Decoder Saint Rune again. He scanned the surroundings again, only to see the entire Ancestral Spirit Mountain was shrouded in monstrous fiendish qi. Additionally, the fiendish qi was increasingly growing stronger as the fierce battles continued. The blood-red vortexes that Zhou Yuan saw before showed no sign of strengthening and the mysterious black-robed man seemed to have disappeared. Zhou Yuan studied the blood-red vortexes and saw different points connected to each other, a sign of a boundary formation. However, the boundary was particularly complex and even Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t analyze it with his Spirit. However, he could tell the boundary hadn¡¯t completely formed. Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows. The incomplete boundary had previously drawn up fiendish qi from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain and strengthened the Evil Beast Clan, but for some reason, Zhou Yuan felt the strengthening wasn¡¯t its main purpose. The black-robed man must have something else planned. Zhou Yuan ceased his thoughts. Since he couldn¡¯t detect the mysterious black-robed man, he had no choice but to quietly let the situation continue. He had a hunch that the black-robed man would act again when Ai Tuanzi¡¯s and Tuntun¡¯s battles end. Zhou Yuan''s eyes drooped. He operated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture with all his strength to restore his Genesis Qi, but at the same time, kept his guard and was ready to respond to any changes. Half an hour passed while he waited. When more than half of his Genesis Qi was restored, the outcome of the match on Ai Tuanzi¡¯s and Tuntun¡¯s battle platform had been determined. Boom! Two earth-shaking noises resounded. Many people followed the source of the noise. Chi Yuan and Chi Qiu, two pseudo Law Domain experts were tragically blasted away and their blood-soaked body tore deep cracks into the battle platform. Ai Tuanzi hovered in the air, a cold light flashing in her eyes and her long ponytail gently swaying in the wind. Tuntun, who was in his combat form, appeared particularly mighty and mysterious when the sun shone on him and his golden-purple scales sparkled. His might as an Alpha Holy Beast spread like the tide. The Wanshou Heaven troops erupted in deafening cheers. The victory of Ai Tuanzi and Tuntun marked the end of the battle and Wanshou Heaven undoubtedly occupied the upper hand. Amidst cheers, Chi Yuan and Chi Qiu, who were severely wounded on the battle platform, wore tragic smiles and then, their faces bore looks of determination. The Genesis Qi in their bodies began to riot and then their bodies suddenly exploded. An earth-shaking noise resounded and the entire Ancestral Spirit Mountain seemed to be quaking. Terrifying Genesis Qi mixed with blood dyed the two seed battle platforms red as it gushed across the area. The cheering stopped abruptly. The Wanshou Heaven troops stared dumbstruck at the scene. Chi Yuan and Chi Qiu were severely wounded but they still had the strength to protect themselves, yet they chose to self-destruct. What were they trying to do? Only Zhou Yuan knew their motive. This was because he was watching the two closely with his Decoder Saint Rune. When they exploded, Zhou Yuan saw their blood and flesh form two markings that merged into the battle platform. Blood-red vortexes also formed in the two seed battle platforms. And when the two vortexes took shape, Zhou Yuan felt the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s fiendish qi violently rippling. ¡°Ah¡­" there was a sigh of pity. Ai Tuanzi, Zhou Yuan, Tuntun and others suddenly turned around and saw a black-robed figure on a battle platform. ¡°He really appeared again!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were ice-cold. Ai Tuanzi pointed at the black-robed figure from afar. ¡°The mouse finally showed itself?¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± The black-robed man chuckled. He removed his hood, revealing his white hair, which was the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s symbol. He was a young Evil Beast Clan expert. His white hair was braided into little braids, but the strangest thing was that he didn¡¯t emit the ruthless and violent aura unique to the Evil Beast Clan. A golden rune pattern glistened in the center of his brows. "You can call me Chi Xuan,¡± said the black-robed man with a gentle smile. "What are you doing lurking around?" Ai Tuanzi said coldly. Chi Xuan smiled slightly. "Of course it¡¯s for the Ancestral Spirit Mountain.¡± His honesty instead took Ai Tuanzi and the others aback. "Your people also want to get a share of the Ancestral Spirit Mountain?¡± a Wanshou Heaven expert sneered. Chi Xuan smiled, ¡°Your Wanshou Heaven has occupied the Dragon Spirit Utopia for years, but it seems you still don¡¯t know much about the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. "You only know that there are seed battle platforms on Ancestral Spirit Mountain, but you must never thought there is a higher-level battle platform above the seed battle platforms?¡± Ai Tuanzi and other Wanshou Heaven experts¡¯ pupils shrank. Chi Xuan said indifferently, ¡±The seed battle platforms aren¡¯t the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s limit. There is a battle platform above it that we call the Supreme Battle Platform. Whoever occupies that battle platform can control the Ancestral Spirit Mountain.¡± His words drew exclamations of shock. Many Wanshou Heaven¡¯s pseudo Law Domain experts exchanged glances with each other, but Ai Tuanzi said coldly, ¡°Nonsense!¡± The Dragon Spirit Utopia had been opened countless times since the Wanshou Heaven discovered it but no one had heard anything about the so-called Supreme Battle Platform. Even the Saint of Wanshou Heaven had never mentioned it! Chi Xuan smiled, ¡°It doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t exist if you haven''t seen it. But it does confirms one thing¡ªand that is the people from Wanshou Heaven are incompetent. ¡°But I will open your eyes today¡­¡± He suddenly stamped his foot. Boom! That slam shook the entire Ancestral Spirit Mountain and everyone could feel the fiendish qi that filled the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s area suddenly pulsing. But with the Decoder Saint Rune, Zhou Yuan saw the boundless fiendish qi manipulated by the incomplete boundary and poured endlessly into Chi Xuan¡¯s body. "Quickly stop him!" Zhou Yuan roared, his expression changing dramatically. Ai Tuanzi was the first to shoot out. HIs figure shot out, heading straight for Chi Xuan. However, just as she raced onto Chi Xuan¡¯s battle platform, everyone¡¯s face paled as they saw a terrifying Genesis Qi storm gathering. Bang! The Genesis Qi storm was so unbelievably strong that even a slight contact made Ai Tuanzi cough up blood and blasted her back. Terrifying crimson Genesis Qi turned into a blood-colored sea and completely enveloped all battle platforms. A gush of terrifying aura shot into the sky from that blood sea. Even Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help gasping for breath and felt his scalp going numb. This was because he could feel Chi Xuan¡¯s strength had soared to an extremely frightening level. It was the strength of 300 billion Genesis Qi stars! Even Zhou Yuan wanted to curse out loud, Are you cheating?! It¡¯s more ridiculous than mine! Boom! But while emotions were brewing in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, the top of the Ancestral Spirit Mountain suddenly vibrated. Many people were dumbstruck when they looked over because they saw the thick blood-red mist had subsided, revealing a crimson battle platform. That crimson battle platform was superior to any of the ten seed battle platforms, whether it was in scale or momentum! Even Ai Tuanzi was dazed for a moment and a storm was stirred up in her heart. Who would have thought that what Chi Xuan said turned out to be true? On Ancestral Spirit Mountain, there was a battle platform that had never appeared before¡­ A Supreme Battle Platform! Chapter 1269 300 Billion As a crimson battle platform suddenly emerged above Ancestral Spirit Mountain, the strong fiendish qi formed crimson clouds that almost obscured the sky. All eyes were filled with shock. Even the atmosphere stilled. ¡°What he said is true.¡± Even Ai Tuanzi stared dumbfounded at the majestic crimson battle platform. Even Wanshou Heaven, who has controlled the Dragon Spirit Utopia for years, didn¡¯t know about this secret. Why would the Evil Beast Clan know? Could it be because of the Sacred Race? Ai Tuanzi''s countenance suddenly changed. If the Supreme Battle Platform really exists, does that mean the one who occupied it could really control the Ancestral Spirit Mountain?! If that¡¯s the case, wouldn¡¯t Wanshou Heaven suffer great losses if the Ancestral Spirit Mountain falls into the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s control? Ai Tuanzi¡¯s eyes were icy-cold as she hovered in the air. When she turned to look at Chi Xuan, her expression was even worse. The monstrous blood sea had completely absorbed into his body and as he faintly released his terrifying Genesis Qi, even the space around him shattered. A foundation of at least 300 billion Genesis Qi stars! Many Wanshou Heaven experts felt their scalps go numb. It should be said that even Ai Tuanzi, who was the strongest here, only possessed a 150 billion Genesis Qi foundation, which was only half of Chi Xuan¡¯s. They simply weren¡¯t on the same level! It could even be said that no pseudo Law Domain expert could reach such a level because a 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation was equivalent to that of a true Law Domain expert! Under many Wanshou Heaven expert¡¯s changing gazes, Chi Xuan inhaled a deep breath of the fiendish qi and grinned at Ai Tuanzi. ¡°Do you know why the Wanshou Heaven couldn¡¯t discover the Supreme Battle Platform in the past? "Because it only appears when a challenger¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation reaches 300 billion in the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. "But the stupid Saints in Wanshou Heaven set the rules and treated the Dragon Spirit Utopia as a training area for grade 7 experts. It¡¯s destined that you will never discover this secret.¡± Chi Xuan burst into mocking laughter. Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows in a frown. It¡¯s impossible for someone at the Nascent Source stage to achieve a Genesis Qi foundation of 300 billion. It¡¯s still impossible at the pseudo Law Domain stage. However, the Wanshou Heaven Saints should have investigated the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Did they fail to notice the Supreme Battle Platform¡¯s existence? If even the Wanshou Heaven Saints didn¡¯t know about the secret, why would the Evil Beast Clan or rather the Sacred Race know? "There is another thing that will make you feel even more despair. "Do you think that anyone can go on the Supreme Battle Platform? No, there are requirements you need to meet, and that is to possess a 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation.¡± As Chi Xuan stepped forward with a smile, he vanished and reappeared on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s summit. He passed through the layers of crimson clouds formed from fiendish qi and landed on the Supreme Battle Platform. "So you can only stand at the side and watch me become the occupier of the Supreme Battle Platform and control the Ancestral Spirit Mountain." Chi Xuan smiled brightly as though he wanted to see countless faces of despair from Wanshou Heaven. "What? Only someone with a 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation is qualified to step on the Supreme Battle Platform?¡± As Chi Xuan expected, many Wanshou Heaven experts broke into uproar and their eyes were filled with panic and anger. They were just thinking that, in the worst case scenario, they could take turns to fight Chi Xuan with all their strength and exhaust him. But from what Chi Xuan said, it seemed they didn''t even have the qualification to step on the Supreme Battle Platform, let alone use the tactic of taking turns to exhaust him. Ai Tuanzi wore an expression as cold as water as she clenched her hands tightly. With a flash, Zhou Yuan appeared beside Ai Tuanzi. The other pseudo Law Domain experts from Wanshou Heaven also freed themselves from their respective battles. The battles on the seed battle platforms already had little significance. The other party¡¯s real intention had been revealed. The Supreme Battle Platform, which they had never heard before, was the real competition¡¯s location. Zhou Yuan couldn''t help asking, ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that guy cheating? A 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation is a level equivalent to the Law Domain stage. Didn¡¯t they say that only people at the Nascent Source stage could enter the Dragon Spirit Utopia?¡± The other Wanshou Heaven experts exchanged glances with each other and didn''t know how to answer him. Ai Tuanzi shook his head. "Although it¡¯s unbelievable, he is indeed only at the pseudo Law Domain stage.¡± ¡°No one can achieve a foundation of 300 billion Genesis Qi stars at the pseudo Law Domain stage.¡± Zhuang Xiaoming from the Ancient Whale Clan smiled bitterly. ¡°He used the fiendish qi of the Ancestral Spirit Mountain to raise his Genesis Qi foundation to 300 billion. It isn¡¯t his own power,¡± Ai Tuanzi explained. ¡°That guy is strange. No ordinary pseudo Law Domain experts can withstand the fiendish qi of such a level,¡± said Zhou Yuan. The others nodded with a frown. As pseudo Law Domain experts, they also understood they would undoubtedly lose their consciousness and become vicious beast if they were to endure fiendish qi of that level, even if they possessed Genesis beast bodies. But Chi Xuan evidently still retained his senses. But even if they knew about this, it was of no use because Wanshou Heaven was already forced into a troubling situation. "The Wanshou Heaven Saint should be aware of the current situation here, right? Why is no one doing anything?" Zhou Yuan asked. He previously sensed the gaze of a Saint, and it was obvious that the Saint from Wanshou Heaven was watching. Ai Tuanzi sighed. "The Dragon Spirit Utopia can¡¯t withstand the presence of a Saint. In the past, the living beings in Dragon Spirit Utopia must be cleared away before tests were carried out. Otherwise, the Dragon Spirit Utopia would collapse when a Saint descends and all living creatures would be destroyed.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. He didn¡¯t expect a Saint¡¯s appearance to cause so much trouble. But it was too late for them to retreat. Zhou Yuan was silent for a few seconds before he said, "Everyone, to put it simply, the situation is now a bit out of control. That guy has displayed a 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation, not to mention the fact that we aren¡¯t even qualified to be on the Supreme Battle Platform. If we force our way up there, we would only be throwing away our lives.¡± Zhou Yuan was very well aware of the situation. They could fight if the opponent had a 150 billion Genesis Qi foundation, but they stand no chance against someone with a 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation! Even if they risked their lives it wouldn¡¯t be enough. Therefore, from that point of view, the most sensible thing to do was to retreat. The other Wanshou Heaven experts fell silent. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s words were unpleasant to the ears, he was right. ¡°We can¡¯t retreat!¡± Ai Tuanzi drew a deep breath and said, "We have a deep enmity with the Evil Beast Clan. We would become a disgrace to the Genesis Beast clans if the Ancestral Spirit Mountain is lost in our hands!¡± Experts from the various clans nodded firmly and their eyes blazed with determination. Zhou Yuan felt a headache coming on. The Genesis beast clans'' hatred for the Evil Beast Clan was even stronger than that for the Sacred Race. ¡°But what else can we do? We can''t get up on the Supreme Battle Platform,¡± said Zhou Yuan helplessly. Everyone fell silent again. The difference in strength between them and Chi Xuan made them feel powerless, but they couldn''t retreat. They were torn on what to do. They felt despair. If even the top experts from the various clans felt that way, then the others would feel despair even more. Everyone¡¯s faces were filled with panic and helplessness. Jiang Hongying, Meng Chong and Jin Lan also stood rooted to the spot with a panic expression. On the other hand, the Evil Beast Clan troops burst into wild laughter, and the laughter was deafening and resembled echoing thunder. Chi Xuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back on Ancestral Spirit Mountain, watching them with a smile. Sensing the grave atmosphere, Zhou Yuan also felt helpless. The situation was more helpless than when he faced Jia Tu. At least they had a chance against Jia Tu, but it was simply an unfair battle against Chi Xuan with his 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation. While everyone was silent, a shadow suddenly sped over and slowly landed on Zhou Yuan''s shoulder. It was Tuntun. Ai Tuanzi¡¯s and the others'' eyes suddenly lit up. Perhaps they could''t, but it might be possible with Tuntun, an Alpha Holy Beast. As though knew what they were thinking, Tuntun shook his head. Even if he was an Alpha Holy Beast, that alone couldn¡¯t make up for the difference of 150 billion in Genesis Qi foundation. The glimmer in everyone''s eyes dimmed. Tuntun grunted and took out a stone slab to write, "But I have a way.¡± ¡°Ancestor Taotie, you have a way to deal with Chi Xuan?" Ai Tuanzi exclaimed in surprise. Tuntun nodded. He ran his claw across the stone slab and stone fragments whirled in the air. Everyone hurriedly looked at it and saw a depicted figure that resembled Zhou Yuan, and Tuntun was carved next to Zhou Yuan. Then, the man and the beast seemed to merging together. Tuntun wiped his paw over the stone slab and the depiction turned into words. "Zhou Yuan and I can combine to kill him!¡± Ai Tuanzi''s eyes widened. ¡°You and Zhou Yuan can combine?! How?!¡± Zhou Yuan stared blankly at Tuntun''s smug face. Combine with this guy? What is this about? Even the thought is disgusting! His expression changed infinitely and he was silent for a few breaths. Then, he balled his hands into fists. "I refuse! Goodbye!¡± I¡¯m only going to combine with Yaoyao, how could I let Tuntun, that bastard, take advantage of me?! Chapter 1270 Combine Zhou Yuan¡¯s refusal evidently failed. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, today''s matter is very important to our Wanshou Heaven. I really hope you can help us. My Wanshou Heaven will remember your kindness,¡± said Ai Tuanzi sincerely. The other pseudo Law Domain experts nodded in agreement. Chi Xuan''s 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation almost crushed them to the point of despair. They finally saw a glimmer of hope, how would they be willing to give up. Helpless, Zhou Yuan shot a glare at Tuntun and said, ¡°I have never heard you talk about any combining ability.¡± Not only had Zhou Yuan never heard about it, Ai Tuanzi and the others were also curiously and puzzledly looking at Tuntun. A smile cracked over Tuntun''s lips and he lazily wrote on the stone slab, ¡°Alpha Holy Beasts are that extraordinary!¡± Everyone was at a loss for words. ¡°Ancestor Taotie can combine with any other people? Based on strength, Ai Tuanzi and Zhuang Xiaoming should be better suited, isn¡¯t that right?¡± asked a pseudo Law Domain expert. Tuntun immediately shook his head. "Only Zhou Yuan can do it!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Yuan looked surprised. "Because you have once refined my holy beast blood, so you can combine with me for a short period.¡± Tuntun explained on the stone slab. There was another reason that Tuntun didn¡¯t mention. Once they combined, his body would enter Zhou Yuan¡¯s Divine Dwellings. But the Divine Dwellings were extremely important to any cultivator and was the source of Genesis Qi. If anything were to happen there, it could have a devastating effect on the cultivator. Moreover, he would become extremely delicate in that state and he could be put into a very dangerous situation if anyone had ulterior motives. Therefore, both parties must have extreme trust in each other. Tuntun fully trusted Zhou Yuan, but not in Ai Tuanzi and the others. The others had no other questions. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, we can only depend on you,¡± said Ai Tuanzi gratefully. Seeing everyone¡¯s hopeful gazes, Zhou Yuan had no choice but to nod his head and said to Tuntun, ¡°Then how does this combining work?¡± Tuntun jumped onto Zhou Yuan''s head and sent a wisp of thought into his mind. Zhou Yuan took in the information contained in that wisp of thought, and after a moment, understanding dawned on his face. The so-called combining was actually Tuntun entering his Divine Dwellings in a special form and forming a mysterious connection with his Nascent Source. This would allow the two to temporarily merge into one. Once the merging was successful, their strength could also be combined for a short period. It sounded simple but Zhou Yuan could understand the difficulties involved. After all, it was almost unthinkable to combine a human and a beast with different Genesis Qi and bloodline. ¡°We can only try first,¡± said Zhou Yuan. They would only know whether they would fail or succeed after trying. As his voice faded, he floated up and sat cross-legged in the air, while Tuntun also maintained a sitting posture on his head. Ai Tuanzi and the others spread out and formed a protective circle around them. Chi Xuan, who was on the Supreme Battle Platform, also noticed the strangeness and frowned puzzledly. But he sneered coldly in the end. ¡°Stop pretending. When I get the Supreme Battle Platform¡¯s acknowledgement, whatever you do will have no effect.¡± Chi Xuan closed his eyes and began to form some sort of connection with the Supreme Battle Platform. ¡­ "Zhou Yuan, relax your mind and let me enter your body!¡± As Tuntun¡¯s thought penetrated Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, his body gradually distorted and formed wisps of black light. Then, they all tunnelled into the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. But the process failed and the wisps of black light were rebounded as Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit flashed ¡°Don¡¯t resist!¡± Zhou Yuan said angrily, ¡°It¡¯s reflex.¡± He immediately tried to calm his mind and suppressed his body¡¯s natural repulsion towards foreign objects. The wisps of black light eventually successfully penetrated his body, followed along his meridians and broke into his Divine Dwellings. When the black light came to where the Nascent Source was, Tuntun¡¯s figure suddenly appeared and he curiously studied Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nascent Source and finally sat cross-legged in front of it. The black light transformed into chains and connected them. Zhou Yuan felt a strange power developing in his body. That power was not only vast and ancient but also full of indescribable vitality. He felt his strength would soar to a terrifying level if he could merge with that power. He suddenly looked forward to the combining with anticipation. Ai Tuanzi and the others cast curious looks because they also sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s imposing bearing soaring. Zhou Yuan smacked his lips and as he met their curious gazes, he curled his lips in a confident smile. "Everyone, are you ready?! I hope you enjoy my show!¡± Bang! Genesis Qi mist broke out from him and was immediately swept away by a gust of wind. Everyone hurriedly looked over and their faces stiffened a little. A figure was sitting cross-legged where Zhou Yuan was. The figure had Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and nothing much had changed but his head had become a bald beast head. It was Tuntun''s head, just without any hair. Tuntun¡¯s head and Zhou Yuan¡¯s body? What a strange combination. "Did it succeed?" Although the Tuntun head spoke, the voice remained Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Ai Tuanzi and the others were silent. This is considered a success, right? Bang! But before they could answer him, the Genesis Qi inside Zhou Yuan¡¯s body pulsed again, and as his flesh squirmed, he resumed his original human appearance. Tuntun let out a roar inside his body, ¡°Eat fart! It clearly failed!¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan''s lips twitched. The combining indeed wasn¡¯t as simple as he had thought. The two¡¯s Genesis Qi and bloodline weren¡¯t of the same origin, and as a result it wasn¡¯t that easy for them to merge. ¡°Keep trying¡­¡± After a moment, Genesis Qi mist appeared again. A monster with Tuntun¡¯s body and Zhou Yuan''s head appeared. ¡­. ¡°Haha, try again¡­¡± Bang! The assimilation was an eye-opener to Ai Tuanzi and the others. They learned what kind of abnormal state the merging between a human and beast could achieve. Its degree of ugliness and strangeness was comparable to the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s. However, following the numerous failures, Zhou Yuan vaguely became aware of certain laws and behavior. Every time the merging failed, he noticed the power of Tuntun''s bloodline escaping from his body. The bloodline power of Alpha Holy Beast was too tyrannical and he couldn¡¯t suppress it. Therefore, the merging was simply impossible! Unless there was the power of another bloodline that could calm Tuntun''s Alpha Holy Beast¡¯s. Only that would allow the two to successfully combine. Zhou Yuan shook his head. The bloodline of Alpha Holy Beast is one of the strongest in the world. What could suppress it? While pondering, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled. Yaoyao can control the power of Tuntun¡¯s bloodline! Yaoyao¡¯s divine matter! Zhou Yuan''s eyes lit up. He remembered that Yaoyao left divine matter in his body. If he could awaken the divine matter in his body¡¯s depths, he should be able to suppress the power of Tuntun¡¯s Alpha Holy Beast bloodline. ¡°Let¡¯s try again!¡± He sent his thoughts to Tuntun, who had become lazy after failing so many times. Tuntun had no choice but to gather his energy and try to connect again. As the connection continued, the power of Tuntun¡¯s ancient bloodline once again appeared in Zhou Yuan''s perception. The bloodline was full of arrogance and rebelliousness, as if no being in the world could tame it. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the ancient bloodline¡¯s mischief, and instead calmly perceived the divine matter in his body¡¯s depths. It was unknown how long that perception lasted when a ray of mysterious purple-gold light streaked passed. Zhou Yuan didn''t hesitate to grasp that opportunity. He moved the mysterious divine matter and attempted to suppress Tuntun¡¯s bloodline power. Bang! When Genesis Qi mist emerged from Zhou Yuan''s body again, Ai Tuanzi and the others didn¡¯t seem to pay as much attention as they did before. After all, they had failed far too many times. Boom! A terrifying Genesis Qi storm suddenly swept across the area. Ai Tuanzi and others nearby were repeatedly blasted back. Then, they looked with joy and excitement at Zhou Yuan. They succeeded this time? ¡­ At the same time. On the Golden Monkey Clan¡¯s mountain. Yaoyao, who was clutching a jade gourd, suddenly lifted her head and gazed at the sky, a faint light flashing in her beautiful eyes. Why are Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Tuntun¡¯s bloodlines mixing? The divine matter is also activated¡­What are they doing? Chapter 1271 Zhou Yuan After Combining Above the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Terrifying Genesis Qi storm wreaked havoc across the area, but delight and surprise filled the eyes of Ai Tuanzi and the others. After a few breaths, when the storm subsided, the figure in the storm¡¯s center was clearly visible to everyone. There wasn¡¯t any strange form this time. Zhou Yuan retained his human form, except that he was taller, more slender, and his black hair had turned a bright golden color. His long golden hair flowed down his back, emitting a dazzling, lustrous glow. The only thing that was a little odd-looking was the bunch of stubborn hair sticking out from the top of his head. Zhou Yuan''s hands had also grown a little larger and mysterious black light leaped around his fingertips. With a slight clench of his hand, even the space around was shattered. He released waves of extremely terrifying Genesis Qi pressure that made even Ai Tuanzi and the others gasp for breath. ¡°It was successful?" Ai Tuanzi and the others lit up with surprise. Under countless gazes, Zhou Yuan cracked his neck and stretched his arms and legs. It was only when he felt the terrifying Genesis Qi within his body that a look of surprise also flashed across his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s this strong?¡± His Genesis Qi foundation alone had reached 300 billion. Zhou Yuan felt he could face a true Law Domain expert head-on with his current state. "That''s because you have the support of my strength,¡± Tuntun''s triumphant voice rang in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. Zhou Yuan gave a satisfied nod and then, after a thought, he said, ¡°It¡¯s pretty good on the whole, but can you get rid of the hair sticking out?¡± That bunch of hair was created by Tuntun to seem cute to Yaoyao, but why did he leave it on my head? ! But Tuntun kept quiet during Zhou Yuan¡¯s furious questioning. Zhou Yuan''s face darkened. How would he not know that the bunch of hair was Tuntun¡¯s masterpiece. But it wasn¡¯t the time to quarrel with Tuntun. Zhou Yuan had no choice but pinch his nose and accept it. Then, he lifted his head and stared sharply at the crimson Supreme Battle Platform on the mountain summit. Chi Xuan, who was on the platform, looked at him with an unpleasant expression. It was obvious that Chi Xuan detected danger from Zhou Yuan, whose Genesis Qi had suddenly soared. He didn''t think Zhou Yuan and Tuntun could come up with something like that from their seemingly foolish behavior and playing around. ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± Zhou Yuan said to Ai Tuanzi and the others while retracting his gaze. Ai Tuanzi and others said solemnly, ¡°We look forward to your triumphant return!¡± Zhou Yuan was their last hope. If even Zhou Yuan and Tuntun couldn¡¯t defeat Chi Xuan, the Ancestral Spirit Mountain would no doubt fall into the Evil Beast Clan¡¯s hand. The Wanshou Heaven couldn¡¯t accept such a humiliation. With a wave of his hand, Zhou Yuan appeared on Ancestral Spirit Mountain as though teleported. He descended towards the Supreme Battle Platform. He sensed a powerful repulsive force as he approached the Supreme Battle Platform. That repulsive force likely would propel Zhou Yuan away in an instant if he hadn¡¯t combined with Tuntun. ¡°What Chi Xuan said is true. If one¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation is less than 300 billion, one indeed isn¡¯t qualified to step on the battle platform.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly. Immediately, faint black light surfaced on his skin and the repulsive force vanished instantly. He easily passed through the repulsive force field and landed directly on the Supreme Battle Platform. The Wanshou Heaven troops burst into applause and cheers. Ai Tuanzi, Zhuang Xiaoming and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless of the final result, at least they were qualified to compete with Chi Xuan. On the Supreme Battle Platform. Chi Xuan stared coldly at Zhou Yuan as he descended and said indifferently, "Interesting, I didn''t think you would use this cheating method to enter the Supreme Battle Platform.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn''t help smiling. ¡°From what you said, it sounds like you are standing here with your own ability.¡± Chi Xuan was only able to stand on the Supreme Battle Platform because of the boundary, which drew up fiendish qi from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain to strengthen his power. Otherwise, he would never reach such a level with his own power. Strictly speaking, it wasn¡¯t a level that could be achieved at the pseudo Law Domain stage. Therefore, both sides were cheating so why mock each other? "Zhou Yuan, kill him! Kill him!" Tuntun yelled inside Zhou Yuan. Chi Xuan snorted coldly and was too lazy to waste time talking to Zhou Yuan. As he stepped forward, monstrous Genesis Qi gushed across the area and shook the entire sky. That pressure made everyone¡¯s heart tremble even if they were a far distance away from the battle platform. ¡°Never mind, it would seem like something is missing if I win without seeing blood. I will use the blood of the Alpha Holy Beast and you to celebrate! This is perfect!¡± Chi Xuan grinned and made a tearing motion in the air. The surrounding space suddenly tore open. Roar! A ruthless roar resounded in the void as black torrents rushed out. Within the black torrents were the spirits of countless fierce beasts. They produced sharp screams that could shake one¡¯s Spirit. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, and seeing the torrent of beast spirits roaring towards him, his hand turned to claw and black light gathered in his palm. Eventually, it turned into a black vortex. The vortex expanded in his palm and instantly grew by hundred times like a black hole. Swoosh! The beast spirit torrent whizzed towards Zhou Yuan with vicious intent but upon contact with the black torrent, it was swallowed as the vortex rotated. Zhou Yuan quivered a little. The corners of his mouth cracked and he exclaimed with amazement, ¡°Such a powerful devouring force!¡± His opponent¡¯s attack was almost instantly swallowed by the devouring force during the contact. Obviously, this was Tuntun¡¯s devouring power. Moreover, after he swallowed those powers, some of them became powers he could manipulate. Such an ability was extraordinary. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help marveling, Alpha Holy Beasts are indeed blessed by heaven. It¡¯s incredibly difficult for ordinary people to possess such extraordinary power from cultivating alone. ¡°This is for you!¡± Zhou Yuan roared. With a stamp of his foot, the Supreme Battle Platform, which was made from special materials, suddenly cracked and he instantly appeared in front of Chi Xuan as if teleported and slammed out his fist. Boom! His 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation exploded with that punch, causing the surrounding space to shatter like a mirror. Zhou Yuan''s original platinum Genesis Qi also changed. Within the platinum Genesis Qi were wisps of dark and mysterious light. The power of that punch could crush any one of the people present, including Ai Tuanzi. Chi Xuan¡¯s expression turned icy-cold. He suddenly opened his mouth and spewed out black qi, which rapidly transformed into a giant black beast head. Enveloped in boundless fierceness, the beast''s head met Zhou Yuan¡¯s punch head-on. Boom! Earthshaking Genesis Qi erupted from the collision and even the surrounding space crumbled layer after layer, scattering spatial debris everywhere. Zhou Yuan and Chi Xuan were both blasted back. But Zhou Yuan only reeled back one hundred feet before the several devouring vortexes around him dissolved all the power. However, Chi Xuan forcibly received the attack and could only steady himself after thousands of feet. The collision made him understand that Zhou Yuan''s strength was already in no way inferior to his. ¡°That was satisfying.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was full of excitement. But Chi Xuan¡¯s face was devoid of expression and his eyes were filled with killing intent. But immediately afterwards, everything restored its calmness. The person in front of him was a powerful enemy and mustn¡¯t be underestimated. Since that was the case, he had to kill him with all his strength here. As thoughts streamed through his mind, Chi Xuan slowly folded his hands in a seal and his cold and murderous voice rang out from the Supreme Battle Platform. ¡°Beast Demon Law Domain!¡± Chapter 1272 Battle Between 300 billion Hum! When the blood-red Law Domain suddenly spread out from Chi Xuan, a boundless ruthless aura erupted. Anyone with an unstable mind would likely lose their mind and be filled with murderous rage. After the blood-red Law Domain formed, blood-colored qi spiralled up next to Chi Xuan, transforming into giant crimson monsters. The giant beasts emitted monstrous fiendish qi, and even their eyes were filled with ruthlessness and killing intent. Additionally, the giant beasts released terrifyingly powerful Genesis Qi that were like real substance, shocking everyone. ¡°The people captured by my Beast Demon Law Domain will be transformed into a beast demon. Their Spirit and body would be changed and would be controlled by me.¡± Chi Xuan curled a corner of his lips in a sinister sneer. ¡°You will become one of them soon. ¡°Go, crush him!¡± With a flick of his finger, countless blood-red beasts released a deafening roar and charged towards Zhou Yuan in a fierce and fearless manner. As Zhou Yuan clenched his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his grip in a flash. He sped out like a flash of lightning, charging into the group of beasts. Then, terrifying Genesis Qi erupted and thousands of jet-black hair were fired out like a rain of arrows. Many fierce blood-red beasts were torn to shreds. But then, beams of blood-red auras descended again and endlessly transformed into fierce beasts. Zhou Yuan stood alone in the vast beast tide. Every attack of his swept away a large area of beasts but beasts quickly filled that area again. It was as though the fierce beasts would never be destroyed within the crimson Law Domain. Even Ai Tuanzi would feel troubled in the face of such never-ending attacks. "This guy''s Law Domain is bizarre." Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help exclaiming after he destroyed dozens of giant fierce beasts with the Heavenly Yuan Brush. ¡°Move aside, I¡¯ll do it!¡± Tuntun¡¯s impatient voice rang in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. The space around Zhou Yuan suddenly dimmed, and many black-hole-like vortexes appeared in the void. ¡°Roar!¡± A low roar sounded from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The black hole vortexes suddenly expanded, swallowing the endless beast tide wherever they passed. When the black hole vibrated, countless berserk torrents rushed out and battered the blood-red Law Domain. ¡°Humph!¡± Chi Xuan snorted, his eyes cold and sinister. Endless blood-colored qi rapidly gathered above him to form a giant hand. Countless fierce beasts were moving in groups on the giant hand, producing loud ferocious roars. "Thousand Beast Blood Seal!¡± The hand slammed down like a mountain towards Zhou Yuan. But Zhou Yuan stood rooted to the spot while Tuntun''s imposing roar echoed in his body. Then a giant beast appeared out of thin air¡ªit was Tuntun''s body. The giant beast opened its huge mouth, which seemed to contain a black hole vortex. Then, pure black light rapidly gathered to form a giant black ball. The black ball was as deep as an abyss and without the slightest ray of light, as though had swallowed everything. But Zhou Yuan could sense the frightening power contained in the black ball. This power didn¡¯t belong to Zhou Yuan, but was mobilized by Tuntun. The two had combined and so, they could both control the merged body, but only they could use and control the techniques that they knew. For example, Zhou Yuan couldn''t use the devouring ball formed from devouring power and could only depend on Tuntun. But in the same way, Zhou Yuan was the only one who could control his Genesis arts and they couldn¡¯t be activated by Tuntun. Boom! The black ball suddenly shot out, causing voids to collapse one after another wherever it passed. Eventually, it clashed head-on with the blood beast hand smashing down. Rumble! There seemed to be a mushroom cloud formed from Genesis Qi rising from the Supreme Battle Platform. Devastating shock waves collided into the space around the battle platform. Ai Tuanzi and the others couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing as they watched the collision. This was because both sides¡¯ Genesis Qi foundation exceeded 300 billion and they knew they likely couldn¡¯t endure such a collision if they were there instead. They never imagined to witness a match of such a level between people below the Law Domain stage. Boom! Terrifying shock waves raged across the Supreme Battle Platform before it gradually subsided. By the time everyone looked over, the space there had already collapsed and was gradually recovering. But when they saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, gasps rang out in rapid successions. Zhou Yuan trod across the ground carrying a huge golden bell on his shoulders. The bell mouth was dark and even produced waves of terrifying energy. But the mouth, like a monstrous cannon, was locked on Chi Xuan, who had just calmed his Genesis Qi fluctuation. Chi Xuan naturally noticed Zhou Yuan''s movements right away. His face turned sullen. Zhou Yuan and Tuntun had launched continuous offensives in turn and thus their attacks were rhythmic and without any pause. Chi Xuan, who was strengthened by the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s fiendish qi, felt a shortness of breath and extremely troubled in the face of such attacks. Moreover, he sensed danger from the golden bell that Zhou Yuan carried on his shoulder. But Zhou Yuan had no intention of giving him the time to respond. Terrifying Genesis Qi converged inside the golden bell and an earthshaking ring reverberated throughout the world. Shrouded in destructive power, a terrifying sound wave torrent instantly pierced through voids and sped towards Chi Xuan. Chi Xuan''s face grew overcast. He knew he had to use powerful means, otherwise under Zhou Yuan and Tuntun¡¯s successive attacks, he would expose his flaws sooner or later and his disadvantageous situation would turn to a defeat. Chi Xuan frantically retreated while manipulating his Law Domain power to form strong blood-red walls one after another in front of him. Countless beast heads popped out from the walls with a fierce and ruthless roar. At the same time, Chi Xuan slashed his chest with his sharp fingers, revealing a beating heart. Drops of almost black blood floated out as the hearted pulsed. With a cold and sinister face, Chi Xuan brushed the blood and essence with his fingertip. As he changed hand seals, images fluttered about in the air. The blood-red Law Domain vibrated violently at the same time. Roar! Chi Xuan let out a ferocious scream as his skin and flesh tore apart and an iron tail covered with bony spikes extended out from his back. Countless fierce beasts gathered within the Law Domain, roaring and charging towards Chi Xuan, and finally tunnelled into Chi Xuan''s body. His body suddenly enlarged, blood spurted everywhere, the sun was obscured, and a gush of indescribably fiendish qi surged into the sky. ¡°Beast God Transformation!¡± Amidst the deafening roar, a thousand-foot demon silhouette stood tall in the blood mist. It spewed out monstrous fiendish qi like a fierce demon stepping out from the nine underworld abyss to swallow all living beings. The fierce demon had a pair of red eyes like crimson lanterns. It suddenly balled its giant hand into a fist and punched out at the sound wave torrent speeding through the voids. The demon fist blasted down like a meteor. Boom! A loud collision drowned out all sounds across the world and the terrifying shock waves from the impact constantly shattered the space around, forming black holes one after another. The sound wave torrent lasted for several breaths before it faded. The giant demon only quivered a little and drew a step back to steady itself. But the entire platform quaked violently. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed. That guy easily blocked my Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell in my current state. Boom! The space around Zhou Yuan suddenly shattered as a demon hand with endless fiendish qi spiralling from it stretched out with incredible speed and even created blasts of wind and thunder. Zhou Yuan retreated at lightning speed. But that demon seemed capable of shuttling through space. In a flash, it was already approaching Zhou Yuan and its terrifying power gushed towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Die!¡± Bang! Zhou Yuan was blasted away, and his body tore deep crevasses into the battle platform before it was buried by the dust and smoke. Hua! Uproar broke out in the Wanshou Heaven troops and everyone¡¯s expressions changed dramatically. Chapter 1273 The Hidden Mastermind Outside the battle stage, Ai Tuanzi¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions changed when Zhou Yuan was sent flying as they stared at the enormous devil phantasm that had appeared in terror. Despite the battle stage being a seperate domain, they could clearly feel the terrifying power contained within the enormous, devil-like phantasm. If any of them had received the attack instead, their bodies and Spirit would have been utterly destroyed. There was a grave look on the Ancient Whale Clan¡¯s Zhuang Xiaoming¡¯s face as he worriedly stated, ¡°Chi Xuan is too powerful.¡± Ai Tuanzi was silent for a moment before she said, ¡°We don¡¯t have any way to face him and can only place our hopes in Zhou Yuan and lord Ancestor Taotie.¡± The other pseudo Law Domain experts smiled bitterly. She was right, this battle was not something the likes of them could interfere in. Besides not having a complete Law Domain, the Genesis Qi foundations of both fighters had already reached the realm of the Law Domain stage. All they could do now was believe in Zhou Yuan and Tuntun. ... On the supreme battle stage everyone was watching, the enormous devil phantasm¡¯s scarlet-red pupils stared at the dust as his eerie and chilling voice mocked, ¡°Oh? So frail?¡± Rumble! Searing heat suddenly erupted from the dust, warping the surrounding space. In the next instant, a flash of scarlet shot out. It was a figure that looked tall and imposing like a metal tower. The imposing body was covered in glowing scarlet-red runes that looked as if they were made from magma, giving off a dreadful heat. The breath from its nostrils was tinged with a sulfuric smile, making the air turn somewhat hazy. Under the scarlet glow, mystic glass light flowed. Zhou Yuan had simultaneously activated the Great Flame Devil and Saint Glass Body. With these two overlapping physical defensive layers, Zhou Yuan had managed to withstand Chi Xuan¡¯s palm strike. However, several areas on his body had still ruptured open, a sign of how fierce the attack had been, Zhou Yuan lowered his head and glanced at the gradually closing wounds on his body as he grinned, ¡°That was quite painful.¡± His eyes turned darkly cold. Chi Xuan was much stronger than he had imagined. ¡°Ordinary methods will be useless.¡± Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath, the chilling killing intent in his eyes nearly materializing as he gazed at the giant devil phantasm. ¡°Tuntun, get ready to fire off a big one!¡± A low roar responded inside Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Rumble! Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure had already shot forth, space rippling under his feet with each step he took. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of the devil phantasm. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was ice-cold as millions of light rays suddenly exploded from his right hand. He reached into the light and pulled out a plain mottled metal rod. It was a square-shaped metal rod with a hilt. When it appeared, a terrifying pressure rippled from it. It was the Heavenly Punishment Rod! Previously, Zhou Yuan had nearly depleted all of his Genesis Qi, physical power and Spirit to summon the Heavenly Punishment Rod. In contrast, he clearly had a much easier time due to the strong foundation provided by the fusion. Even so, beads of blood appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s right arm, dripping to the ground like blood-red pearls. Expressionless, he raised the Heavenly Punishment Rod and swung it towards the giant devil phantasm. The rod was only ten feet long, appearing exceptionally small in contrast to the thousand-foot-tall devil phantasm. When it was swung, however, Chi Xuan felt a piercing pain all over his body as extreme danger enveloped his heart. Roar! With a savage roar, terrifying fiendish qi spouted forth, turning into thick blood-red clouds around his body. The Heavenly Punishment Rod tore through the thick blood-red clouds while they continuously neutralized its terrifying power like a viscous blood-red swamp. The rod slowly fell as Chi Xuan¡¯s enormous body faintly trembled. Both parties had fallen into a deadlock of sorts. Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. His opponent was surprisingly tenacious. He should have been nearly unstoppable after summoning the Heavenly Punishment Rod. Amidst the deadlock, Zhou Yuan shouted in his heart, Tuntun! Roar! Tuntun¡¯s roar rang out. In the next instant, Genesis Qi took the shape of Tuntun¡¯s head and appeared right above Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Its giant mouth opened, spewing a torrent of black wind. The black wind was extremely strange. The blood clouds were rapidly dissolved wherever it passed, not neutralized but devoured by the black wind. The black wind swiftly grew as it devoured the blood clouds, quickly eating through the thick swamp-like layers. Chi Xuan¡¯s pupils immediately shrank as he could not help but curse, ¡°Ganging up on me, despicable!¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but feel a little amused. Chi Xuan had done so many underhanded and sneaky things previously and was now calling him despicable. What a joke. Though he was thinking these thoughts, there was no hesitation in his actions. With the chance created by Tuntun, the Heavenly Punishment Rod was no longer slowed and ruthlessly smashed towards Chi Xuan. A horrified expression appeared on Chi Xuan¡¯s face as he hurriedly retreated. The power in the rod made him feel a strong sense of impending death. Although he was fast, the Heavenly Punishment Rod was faster. In less than the time it took to take a single breath, the space in front of Chi Xuan abruptly shattered as the Heavenly Punishment Rod arrived, smashing into the giant devil phantasm¡¯s head. Boom! Time and space seemed to momentarily stop. The endless fiendish qi that filled the sky froze before beginning to shrink back. In the span of a few breaths all the qi returned into Chi Xuan¡¯s body. Chi Xuan¡¯s enormous body staggered backwards, shaking the land with each step. The giant body began to crack and break, giant chunks of flesh falling as his body rapidly shrunk. Moments later, Chi Xuan had returned to his original Evil Beast form amidst giant chunks of flesh and blood. A tail covered in bone spikes swayed a little as an ash aura spread across his body. The extinguishing power of the Heavenly Punishment Rod was swiftly destroying his life force. However, Chi Xuan was far stronger than Chi Qiu. Thus, he was not immediately turned to dust... However, he had definitely sustained serious injuries. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure descended from the sky, breathing a deep sigh of relief as he gazed at Chi Xuan. With the chance Tuntun had created for him, he had finally found the opportunity to give Chi Xuan a vicious blow. With the opponent heavily injured, there should no longer be any hope of a comeback. Zhou Yuan frostily stared at Chi Xuan, but did not immediately approach to finish him off. Zhou Yuan planned to let the extinguishing power completely destroy Chi Xuan¡¯s body. Pant pant. Chi Xuan¡¯s breathing grew extremely painful and difficult. His expression was sinister as he raised his head to stare at Zhou Yuan and icily say, ¡°As expected of the one who created a miracle in Guyuan Heaven¡­¡± Zhou Yuan calmly said, ¡°No matter what your Evil Beast Clan has come here to do, it¡¯s over.¡± Chi Xuan¡¯s expression turned somewhat strange. ¡°Over? You¡¯re too naive.¡± While he was speaking, Zhou Yuan shivered in fear when he realized that the extinguishing power in Chi Xuan¡¯s body had suddenly disappeared. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly as he stared at Chi Xuan. Instead of swiftly leaping forward to give the finishing blow, he began to slowly back away. Tuntun, there¡¯s something strange about him! Inside his body, Tuntun roared in caution. Careful, there seems to be something extremely terrifying in his body! Chi Xuan ignored Zhou Yuan and sighed softly. He struggled to his feet and knelt on one knee. His finger formed a seal and pressed it on his chest where the heart was. ¡°O great one, Chi Xuan is useless and can¡¯t complete the mission you tasked me.¡± As Chi Xuan¡¯s voice rang out, his back suddenly split open, blood spilling out as his raw flesh was revealed. Chi Xuan trembled, unable to bear the tearing pain, but not daring to make a sound. As his back was torn open, Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. He could see an infant-like hand reach out, using Chi Xuan backbone as leverage to slowly push itself out and stand on his head. The small baby covered in blood stood on Chi Xuan¡¯s head as his young and cold voice slowly rang out, ¡°You¡¯re indeed trash...I¡¯ve given you so much support but you still needed me to personally come out. The Evil Beast Clan is truly lowly and useless.¡± Zhou Yuan watched the entire thing play out. When he gazed at the baby that had appeared from Chi Xuan¡¯s flesh, his scalp felt as if it had exploded. How could he not know by now that his actions had forced out the hidden mastermind... The baby was definitely a Sacred Race Saint expert! Chapter 1274 Huge Disturbance Drenched in fresh blood, the baby stood on Chi Xuan¡¯s head with an indifferent expression. He looked no bigger than two fists and seemed to be frail and powerless. However, a sliver of fear rose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart when he saw the baby and he immediately retreated without hesitation. In his body, the usually always fearless Tuntun also released a low growl that was filled with wariness. This scene also landed in the eyes of Ai Tuanzi and the others. They dazedly stared at the baby that had crawled out from Chi Xuan¡¯s body. Although they were not facing him directly, they had a sinking feeling that a disaster was about to happen. Zhuang Xiaoming finally managed to ask with clear difficulty, ¡°What is...that?¡± Even Ai Tuanzi turned a little pale as she said, ¡°That thing is likely the Sacred Race¡¯s final trump card.¡± A pseudo Law Domain expert could not help but ask, ¡°Could a Law Domain expert have slipped in?¡± Ai Tuanzi was silent for a moment before she said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid...that it¡¯s even more terrifying than that.¡± A Law Domain expert might pressure them, but could not possibly make them feel the endless fear they were feeling now. At these words, the atmosphere seemed to solidify as everyone''s pupils froze in place. Not a Law Domain...does that mean that it was a Sacred Race Saint expert?! ¡°How can this be...a Saint expert can¡¯t enter the Dragon Spirit Utopia without anyone knowing.¡± Their scalps turned numb. It was as if an evil dragon had suddenly descended into a brawl between wolves. They were on completely different levels. While the Wanshou Heaven side was frozen with inconsolable terror, the baby on Chi Xuan¡¯s head wiped the blood on his tiny body before turning a pair of eyes void of any emotion towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Brat, you¡¯re really like a ghost that refuses to disappear. You¡¯ve repeatedly foiled our Sacred Race¡¯s plans.¡± Although the Sacred Race Saint experts did not view someone at his cultivation level as much of a threat, he had foiled their plan in Guyuan Heaven. Hence, Zhou Yuan¡¯s name and some information about him was naturally known by the Sacred Race Saint experts. Zhou Yuan vigilantly watched the baby as he said, ¡°I felt something was strange earlier. How could Chi Xuan possibly draw such an enormous amount of fiendish qi into his body without being overwhelmed? I finally know the answer now.¡± Chi Xuan had used the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s fiendish qi to drastically amplify his strength. However, it should normally be impossible for a pseudo Law Domain expert like him to retain his rationality in that condition. Zhou Yuan had previously thought that he had some kind of special artifact on him. It was now clear that it was mainly because a Sacred Race Saint expert had been hidden in his body. Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°Besides, what exactly is the Sacred Race up to? To think that you guys have invested so much to secretly send a Saint expert into the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Is the Ancestral Spirit Mountain really so important to you guys?¡± With how the situation had developed, it would be too stupid to believe that it was a random operation by the Sacred Race. Zhou Yuan had a faint feeling that even the Ancestral Spirit Mountain might not be their ultimate goal. Or perhaps the mountain held some secret he did not know. Regardless, this was now out of his league. Although the Sacred Race Saint expert should not be at his peak, Zhou Yuan had zero intention of attacking. He understood that even in his weakest state, a Saint expert was an impossible mountain to cross. Now, he could only hope that the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts were taking action. Rumble! While such thoughts flashed past in his head, the sky in the Dragon Spirit Utopia suddenly began to ripple violently. Every head abruptly jerked upwards to see the sky warping. Next, several giant faces appeared. An indescribably vast and mighty pressure appeared, making everyone feel as if they were being crushed from all directions. However, instead of being afraid, Ai Tuanzi and the others were overjoyed. They recognized these faces. The faces belonged to the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts! As expected, they were observing the Dragon Spirit Utopia! A voice boomed like thunder from one of the giant faces in the sky, ¡°Shi Ying, why has a mighty Saint expert like yourself sneaked into the Dragon Spirit Utopia like a rat?¡± ¡°You old ghost, to think that you would sacrifice half a Saint Lotus and turn it into a Saint Nascent Source to sneak in!¡± ¡°Get out of the Dragon Spirit Utopia at once! Otherwise, you will suffer tremendously when we destroy your Saint Nascent Source! Who knows, you might even fall from the Saint stage if that happens!¡± The pressure of several Wanshou Heaven Saint experts enveloped the land, their roars shifting the wind and clouds. Feeling the Saint experts¡¯ rage, the Wanshou Heaven members could not help but tremble in fear despite knowing the anger was not directed at them. The Sacred Race Saint expert called Shi Ying released a piercing laugh, ¡°Hahaha! ¡°You Wanshou Heaven Saint experts are truly ridiculous. If you guys were really capable of easily entering the Dragon Spirit Utopia, feel free to go ahead. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t mind the Dragon Spirit Utopia and all your elite grade-7 experts being destroyed!¡± The faces in the sky violently shook in anger, causing the Dragon Spirit Utopia to creak dangerously as if unable to bear the Saint experts¡¯ rage. A Wanshou Heaven Saint expert icily asked, ¡°Shi Ying, what exactly is your Sacred Race scheming?!¡± A mocking smile formed on the baby-form Shi Ying. ¡°Ignorant fools. Do you really believe this Ancestral Spirit Mountain belongs to your Wanshou Heaven? I¡¯m guessing none of you know why it was created?¡± The giant faces in the sky were clearly taken aback before their expression darkened. ¡°What do you mean?¡± However, Shi Ying had no intention of explaining any further, clearly enjoying the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts¡¯ helplessness. Outside the Dragon Spirit Utopia, five terrifying wills were communicating. ¡°Regardless of what they¡¯re scheming, we must stop Shi Ying!¡± ¡°The Dragon Spirit Utopia cannot endure a Saint¡¯s full power. Moreover, our grade-7 experts are still inside. If the Dragon Spirit Utopia becomes unstable, they would be in a disastrous situation.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have time, tell them to withdraw immediately to the floating circular disk. It is the most stable location in the Dragon Spirit Utopia and might be able to save them.¡± ¡°We should still prepare the Saint Descent Art. Although it will hurt us, being overly cautious is not wise at this juncture.¡± The other Saint experts fell silent. The Saint Descent Art was not much different from what Shi Ying had done. It would be a tremendous loss to them if their Saint double was killed, However, they did not have any time to come up with other countermeasures. As practitioners that could become Saint experts, they possessed the most tenacious wills and immediately nodded decisively. ¡°Agreed.¡± Just as they were about to proceed, the space outside the Dragon Spirit Utopia was suddenly torn open. In the next instant, terrifying presences flooded out from the spatial crack. ¡°Hehe, if you guys are lacking opponents, let us accompany you¡­¡± Ancient painting seemed to float behind the spatial crack, a painting that seemed to contain a world of its own. Currently, five figures could be seen in the painting. Every figure gave off a dreadfully terrifying aura. The expressions of the five Wanshou Heaven Saint experts changed drastically. ¡°Five Sacred Race Saint experts?!¡± ¡°That is? The Sacred World Divine Painting?!¡± In that moment, even the five Wanshou Heaven Saint experts felt a great sense of unease rise within them. Was the Sacred Race really playing so big this time?! Were they trying to start a war again?! Chapter 1275 Moving Away Space was slowly torn open as terrifying presences flooded out, causing the dark void of space to ripple violently. The five Wanshou Heaven Saint experts stood within the void, wearing dark and cold expressions as they gazed at the divine painting that had appeared in the spatial crack The divine painting was called the Sacred World Divine Painting and was a super Saint artifact of the Sacred Race.The painting had slain all-heaven Saint experts in the great world destroying war, and was thus both feared and famous. The Sacred Race had not only dispatched five Saint experts, but also given them a superclass Saint artifact. From this, it was clear that they had come prepared. What exactly was the Sacred Race up to? The five Saint experts looked at each other, seeing the graveness and confusion in each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°No matter what scheme they have, they won¡¯t dare to move recklessly. In fact, they won¡¯t even dare to step out of the spatial crack. I highly suspect the Sacred World Divine Painting was brought solely to conceal their presences,¡± said a familiar figure among the five Saint experts. It was the Golden Monkey Clan leader, Jin Yanghuang. There was a great protective array outside the all-heavens called the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. The all-heavens had once poured all of their power into this barrier, making it one of the strongest defences against the Sacred Race. Even a Saint expert must pay a steep price in order to pass it. Though the five Sacred Race Saint experts seemed to be present, they had used a special method to create a connection to Wanshou Heaven. Strictly speaking, they were merely projections. This was why they did not dare to truly step into Wanshou Heaven. Once they entered, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array would respond. The tense bodies of the other four Saint experts relaxed slightly. Indeed, Jin Yanghuang was correct. The other side might appear to have broken through the boundaries between heavens, but they had not actually stepped into Wanshou Heaven. The only person who had truly entered was Shi Ying, who was in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. However, he was merely a Saint Nascent Source made from sacrificing his Saint Lotus, and was not present in his true glory. ¡°Hehe, Jin Yanghuang, you¡¯re pretty perceptive.¡± A terrifying presence surged within the spatial crack. The five Sacred Race Saint experts chuckled in the Sacred World Divine Painting, not denying Jin Yanghuang¡¯s words. ¡°However, we¡¯re not here to fight you guys for real. Our goal is to hinder.¡± ¡°When Shi Ying succeeds, our mission will be complete.¡± Jin Yanghuang¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What exactly are you guys after?!¡± When the Dragon Spirit Utopia first appeared long ago, the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts had naturally explored it. They found that it had originated from a strand of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s Spirit, and could produce the unique Law Domain Seeds. Hence, the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts had designated the Dragon Spirit Utopia as a training ground for grade-7 experts in hopes of nurturing even more grade-8 Law Domain experts. They discovered nothing else. Hence, in the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts¡¯ eyes, the Dragon Spirit Utopia was merely a training ground. However, due to the Sacred Race¡¯s many schemes, they had begun to realize that they might not have discovered all of its secrets. However, Jin Yanghuang¡¯s questioning shout was answered by a blast of boundless, almighty power from the crack. It was difficult to describe how great the force was. Small spatial domains seemed to crumble wherever it passed, creating numerous fireworks in the darkness. A battle between Saint experts would destroy the sky and land. Even an existence like the Dragon Spirit Utopia would be obliterated by such power. ¡°Humph!¡± Jin Yanghuang and the other four Wanshou Heaven Saint experts icily snorted. In the next instant, endless, almighty power was also unleashed from their side, power that seemed capable of reversing the milky way and shifting moons and stars. Ten Saint experts clashed in the primal chaos of space, the aftershocks from their clash destroying countless uninhabited domains. The battle outside caused the entire Dragon Spirit Utopia to shake violently. It felt as if one was a tiny leaf in the storm, likely to be torn to pieces at any moment. In the Dragon Spirit Utopia, everyone shivered in fear. Although they were grade-7 elites, they were honestly not much stronger than ants in the face of the Saint experts¡¯ terrible power. ¡°The Sacred Race has really come prepared.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head to look at the rippling sky, his expression extremely grave. Although he could not see the great battle between the Saint experts, he could feel the terrifying undulations. It was clear that the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts had been stopped. ¡°The Omega Shrine is always keeping a watchful eye over the all-heavens. Such a huge disturbance should be discovered soon. However, I don¡¯t think that the Sacred Race will give them enough time to respond.¡± While Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed, the Saint Nascent Source on Chi Xuan¡¯s head observed the sky. Soon after, he coldly chuckled. ¡°It seems that no one can stop me.¡± He did not even look at the nearby Zhou Yuan and the grade-7 elites of Wanshou Heaven. In his eyes, these ants could not change anything even if they tried. ¡°Aren¡¯t all of you curious about the Sacred Race¡¯s plan? Watch and you¡¯ll find out soon.¡± The Saint Nascent Source smiled. Soon after, he lowered his head and looked at Chi Xuan. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to sacrifice your flesh for the Sacred Race.¡± Chi Xuan¡¯s body shuddered as his expression rapidly fluctuated. In the end, he bowed deeply and said, ¡°It is my Evil Beast Clan¡¯s honor!¡± Shi Ying nodded, complete indifference on his baby face. He reached out and gently tapped Chi Xuan with a finger. The latter immediately let out a blood curdling shriek as his flesh and blood began to liquify, separating from his body. In the span of a few breaths, only a skeleton remained. His flesh and blood had melted into a bloody swamp below his bony feet. The fire of life in Chi Xuan¡¯s empty sockets trembled before dimming and ultimately fading into oblivion. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids jumped at this scene. The Evil Beast Clan seemed to be mere slaves to the Sacred Race, to be used and sacrificed at whim. What a pitiful clan. While these thoughts were flashing past in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, Shi Ying waved his tiny hand. The pool of flesh and blood began to squirm, ultimately turning into a strange blood-red rune that swiftly burrowed into the ground. Rumble! Everyone felt the Ancestral Spirit Mountain begin to shake. Blood-red vortices appeared on the numerous battle stages, every vortex spitting out a pillar of light. The light pillars interweaved in the air, forming blood-red chains. The chains continued to intertwine with each other, before rapidly digging into the ground. A cruel smile rose from the corners of Shi Ying¡¯s mouth. Soon after, he jerked his hand upwards. ¡°Rise!¡± In the wake of his shout, Zhou Yuan, Ai Tuanzi and the rest watched in shock as the entire Ancestral Spirit Mountain slowly began to rise, lifted by countless blood-red chains. Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp turned numb. Was the Sacred Race really planning on moving the Ancestral Spirit Mountain away?! Chapter 1276 No Way Out Rumble! When the Ancestral Spirit Mountain was moved, the entire Dragon Spirit Utopia began to ripple crazily. Genesis Qi roared as it wreaked havoc, sweeping up endless gales. The expressions of Zhou Yuan, Ai Tuanzi and the others changed. The Ancestral Spirit Mountain was connected to the Dragon Spirit Utopia, and was essentially the core of this domain. Once it was moved away, the entire Dragon Spirit Utopia would soon crumble to pieces. Most importantly, they were still inside the Dragon Spirit Utopia! If this domain was destroyed, they would not be able to escape death either. Ai Tuanzi¡¯s body trembled as she gritted her teeth, gathered her courage and shouted, ¡°Everyone, we have to stop him!¡± An exceptional and unimaginable amount of courage was needed to act against a Saint expert. As her voice rang out, Ai Tuanzi made her move. She circulated her Genesis Qi at full power, creating a powerful attack that pounced towards Shi Ying. Behind her, the other grade-7 Wanshou Heaven experts trembled as they gathered their Genesis Qi to unleash their attacks. Numerous torrents of Genesis Qi roared forth. The barrage was imposing and impressive, a great contrast to its target, a tiny baby that was two fists big. However, everyone could feel that attacks were doomed to fail. Shi Ying raised his head to look at the incoming Genesis Qi attacks as a smile emerged on his face. It had been many years since he had seen Nascent Source experts dare to attack him... ¡°How lamentable.¡± Shi Ying pointed at the air. Bzz! A ripple spread from his fingertip. Space froze wherever the ripple passed, trapping the numerous incoming attacks like bugs in amber. None of the attacks were able to move no matter how powerful they were. Shi Ying casually waved his hand. The numerous Genesis Qi torrents exploded, turning into resplendent specks of light that filled the sky. The expressions of Ai Tuanzi and the others changed drastically as an indescribable power descended and mercilessly crushed their bodies. Urgh! The numerous pseudo Law Domain experts vomited blood. Their figures staggered backwards as their auras rapidly weakened. They were on completely different levels. Powerlessness and despair flooded everyone¡¯s eyes. They understood that if the majority of the Saint Nascent Source¡¯s power was not focused on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, they would not have been let off with just serious injuries. Zhuang Xiaoming, Jin Qingtian and the other pseudo Law Domain experts dragged their heavy bodies to Ai Tuanzi¡¯s side. Even the top grade-7 experts such as Ai Zhi, Jiang Hongying and Meng Chong gathered towards her. They were Wanshou Heaven¡¯s greatest elites in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. However, these elites had nothing but fear on their faces now. Zhuang Xiaoming asked in a hoarse voice, ¡°What do we do now?¡± Ai Tuanzi did not know how to answer. The Dragon Spirit Utopia was facing its imminent destruction. Moreover, from the earth-shaking disturbance outside the domain, it was likely that even the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts were too busy to come. They were at a dead end. Ai Tuanzi softly said, ¡°We can only hope that the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts will be able come in time. There¡¯s nothing we can do.¡± Her words were filled with a deep feeling of powerlessness. Everyone fell silent as grief filled their faces. They finally understood how tiny grade-7 experts were in the eyes of the Saint experts. While the Wanshou Heaven group was despairing, Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows were tightly furrowed. Like everyone else, things would become extremely troublesome for him if Shi Ying managed to move away the Ancestral Spirit Mountain and the Dragon Spirit Utopia was destroyed. Zhou Yuan asked Tuntun in his mind, That old guy shouldn¡¯t be a real Saint expert, right? Do we have any chance of beating him to death together? There¡¯s a one percent chance. Tuntun¡¯s reply sounded in his head. Zhou Yuan was surprised. However, there¡¯s a ninety-nine percent chance we¡¯ll be killed by him. Tuntun''s following words froze his surprise. Soon after, Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and said, You seem to be in quite a humorous mood. Tuntun sneered. You¡¯re too delusional. To think you dare to even consider killing a Saint expert! Zhou Yuan curled his lips. What else can we do? Sit by and watch him destroy the Dragon Spirit Utopia? I don¡¯t think that he will be so kind-hearted and let us off once he¡¯s done. The only reason why they had not been obliterated was because Shi Ying needed all of his power to move the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Once he was free, Zhou Yuan firmly believed that he would not hesitate to exterminate all of them. After all, it would be all too easy for him. Tuntun fell silent at these words. The current situation was indeed pretty bad. If they tried something they would die, if they didn¡¯t they would die. It seemed that only death awaited them. At the end of the day, the Saint stage was just far too powerful. Although Shi Ying had not come in his true body, his power was not something that Tuntun and Zhou Yuan could ever hope to match. Tuntun finally had an idea, How about we ask big sis for help? Zhou Yuan resentfully said, Can you not be so pathetic and always think about relying on Yaoyao? Can¡¯t we depend on our own power? He paused for a moment, before he asked, Can you get in touch with her? I thought you could. Tuntun retorted. Zhou Yuan let out a depressed sigh. You can shut up now. He frowned in misery. Moments later, something suddenly struck him. Actually, we¡¯re not completely helpless...I do have something that might pose a tiny threat to him. Oh? Tuntun was rather shocked. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pathetic strength could threaten a Saint Nascent Source? Who was he kidding? Zhou Yuan said, However, my Genesis Qi foundation is far from enough. If you can help me increase it to another six or seven hundred billion, it might just be enough. Tuntun was quiet for a whole. Soon after, its roar sounded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, Help you increase it by another six or seven hundred billion? Zhou Yuan, are you making fun of me! Couldn¡¯t he say something a little more reliable? One must know that even their fusion could only reach three hundred billion. Increasing by another six or seven hundred billion was completely delusional. Zhou Yuan helplessly said, Then there¡¯s nothing I can do. Even the best cook needs tools to make a good meal. Genesis Qi surged at his shoulder, forming a phantasm of Tuntun. It seemed to hesitate before sending a thought, You really have something that might work? Zhou Yuan looked towards the Saint Nascent Source that was slowly dragging the Ancestral Spirit Mountain out from the ground and slowly said, I can tell that he and the Ancestral Spirit Mountain are in some kind of deadlock, otherwise, the speed would not be so slow. As long as I can break this balance, or perhaps loosen the vortex boundary a little, it would not be so easy for his plan to succeed. When that happens, the Ancestral Spirit Mountain might even escape from his control and turn on him. He had not thought of even attempting to hurt the Saint Nascent Source. Let alone a Genesis Qi foundation of several hundred billion, even a trillion won¡¯t be anywhere near enough. Hence, his goal had always been to try and hinder somehow. Tuntun pondered deeply when it saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s serious expression. It is not impossible to boost your Genesis Qi to an astonishing level for an instant. For real? Zhou Yuan was shocked. Tuntun¡¯s eyes turned towards Ai Tuanzi and the others as an evil light flashed in its eyes. Of course, we¡¯ll need to gather several pieces first...from their despairing appearances, they should not reject us. Chapter 1277 Combining their powers to reaChapter a Saint ¡°You have a way to threaten that Saint expert?!¡± When Zhou Yuan approached Ai Tuanzi and the others and told them his goal, everyone looked at him in disbelief. Ai Tuanzi hesitated briefly before she smiled bitterly and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, he¡¯s not an existence the likes of us can possibly hope to face¡­¡± They had already tried to attack earlier. However, their attacks posed no threat in the eyes of that Saint expert. Zhou Yuan understood that his words seemed like a fairytale to them. Hence, he did not try to explain and summoned Tuntun instead. Tuntun immediately sent its thoughts into everyone¡¯s heads. Tuntun¡¯s plan was actually quite simple: use its devouring power to devour everyone¡¯s Genesis Qi and transfer everything into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Through this method, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi would soar to an extremely terrifying level for an instant. Ai Tuanzi and the others were stupefied. ¡°That works?¡± A thoughtful look flashed across the Ancient Whale Clan¡¯s Zhuang Xiaoming¡¯s face, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that even gathering all of our Genesis Qi will not be enough to touch a single hair on that Saint expert.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°We have to try. It¡¯s better than waiting for death.¡± The crowd was silent. In the end, everyone nodded. He was right, the situation was already terrible. If the Saint expert was allowed to move away the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, the entire Dragon Spirit Utopia would be destroyed, leaving them no way to survive. Since that was the case, they had to struggle one last time. Standing on Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder, Tuntun sent another message, ¡°This method also has a huge flaw... ¡°If such a tremendous amount of Genesis Qi erupts in your body, you will sustain serious injuries and might even end up paying a more painful price. ¡°Are really certain you want to do this?¡± Ai Tuanzi¡¯s and the others¡¯ expressions involuntarily changed. They had not realized how risky the method would be. The Ancient Whale Clan¡¯s Zhuang Xiaoming said, ¡°How about I do it instead? My Ancient Whale body has extremely high toughness and endurance¡­¡± The current danger was aimed at Wanshou Heaven, while Zhou Yuan was basically an outsider. What''s more, his battle accomplishments so far were already extremely amazing. If they let him take this huge risk for Wanshou Heaven too, the rest of them would feel really useless. Tuntun shook its head. I can only transfer the Genesis Qi I devour to my fusion partner. Moreover, you likely won¡¯t achieve anything even if you were to control the Genesis Qi. Tuntun was implying that even if Zhuang Xiaoming was given such power, he would not be able to threaten that Saint expert. Zhuang Xiaoming awkwardly scratched his cheek. Zhou Yuan chuckled. He was not surprised because he had already expected Tuntun to say this. He said, ¡°I¡¯m not that selfless, it¡¯s just that this situation leaves me no choice. Once that Sacred Race Saint succeeds and is free to use his power, I believe that I will be the first person to be killed.¡± Zhou Yuan had foiled the Sacred Race¡¯s plans in Guyuan Heaven and was already on their watchlist. Once that Saint expert was done with his mission, there was a high chance he would not mind going after Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was not making a sacrifice for Wanshou Heaven, but finding a way to live. Ai Tuanzi stared at Zhou Yuan before solemnly bowing in an ancient customary way unique to Wanshou Heaven. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, regardless of what happens, our Wanshou Heaven owes you a huge debt. If there is a chance in the future, we will definitely repay it.¡± The other experts behind her also bowed solemnly. Even Ai Zhi and Jiang Hongying, who had conflicts with Zhou Yuan previously, currently wore complicated expressions. Beside Jin Lan, the Golden Monkey Clan pseudo Law Domain expert Jin Qingtian also bowed, feeling rather ashamed inside. He did not have a good impression of Zhou Yuan the first time he saw him, and had believed Zhou Yuan was trying to make use of his relationship with Tuntun to force out Jin Lan for a chance to enter the Dragon Spirit Utopia. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s astounding battle accomplishments so far had already made it clear to everyone that he did not need to rely on anyone else. His own power was more than sufficient to acquire any blessings. And now, Zhou Yuan was going to take a huge risk for Wanshou Heaven. Such character and courage made Jin Qingtian feel both respect and shame. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready.¡± Zhou Yuan quickly waved for them to stop. This was not the time for such things. They could do whatever they wanted once they overcame the crisis. If they failed, they would die, rendering all debts of gratitude useless. Ai Tuanzi and the others seated themselves in the air with serious expressions. The pseudo Law Domain and peak grade-7 experts were all gathered in one place. It was a very impressive line-up. Zhou Yuan stood in the air as Tuntun returned into his body with a flash of black. In the next instant, black light began to converge behind Zhou Yuan, ultimately forming a black vortex. Devouring power spread from the vortex. Rumble! In the next instant, boundless Genesis Qi abruptly surged out from the bodies of Ai Tuanzi and the others as several dozen Genesis Qi pillars soared into the sky. Shi Ying, who was still busy moving the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, naturally sensed the disturbance. His gaze lifted slightly before a mocking smile rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°These ants really like to play. ¡°However, they are too naive. Do they think having more ants will be able to topple an elephant?¡± Shi Ying shook his head, an amused look in his eyes. He turned his attention back to the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, ignoring them for the time being. He needed to fully concentrate on moving the mountain and did not have the time for these struggling ants. Swish! The Genesis Qi pillars transformed into torrents that swam through the air and rushed into the black vortex. The black vortex rippled violently at the impact.. Tuntun suddenly roared. Black light blossomed as it struggled to stabilize the devouring vortex. The total Genesis Qi of several pseudo Law Domain experts and a few dozen peak grade-7 experts was definitely terrifying. From Tuntun¡¯s roars, one could see that even it was hard pressed to devour so much Genesis Qi. The black vortex frantically devoured. In the end, a glowing black ball condensed deep in the vortex. The glowing black ball contained undulations that made everyone¡¯s scalps turn numb. A feeling of weakness spread in the bodies of Ai Tuanzi and the others. It was a sign that they had exhausted their Genesis Qi. There was nothing else they could do now but watch the black vortex do its work. Zhou Yuan, it¡¯s coming! Tuntun¡¯s roar exploded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Bzz! The black vortex abruptly began to shrink, seemingly sucking in the glowing black ball before flinging it into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. In that instant, Genesis Qi so berserk that it scared him witless began to wreak havoc in his body. The Genesis Qi rampaged like a herd of wild horses that had just escaped captivity. Saint Glass Body! Great Flame Devil! Silver Shadow! Zhou Yuan immediately activated all of every technique he had to strengthen his body. He suspected that if he was a single second late, the terrifying Genesis Qi would have torn his body to pieces. Rumble! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body rapidly grew, turning into a scarlet-red metal-tower-like figure. Glass light circulated under his scarlet-red skin. Mystical silver runes also extended across his skin, Silver Shadow doing its part to strengthen his body as well. However, even with Zhou Yuan pushing his body to its limit, Ai Tuanzi and the others still saw sinister bloody wounds continuously open and spread on his body. It looked as if he was a cracked vase that was about to shatter, a horrible and ghastly sight. Taiyi Green Wood Mark! Zhou Yuan could likewise feel that his body was on the verge of collapsing and hurriedly activated a certain secret art. Marks filled with life energy immediately appeared in his flesh, swiftly repairing the damage. Tuntun¡¯s deeply worried roar exploded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, Zhou Yuan, quickly use the Genesis Qi! Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, the bloody wounds still opening on his face making him look exceptionally terrifying. Blood flowed past his eyes, turning his vision blood-red. He stared at the Saint Nascent Source that was moving the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. In the next instant, all sound seemed to fade away as an ancient Genesis Art flowed in his mind. He shut his eyes, seemingly seeing the figure of the ancient dragon from which all life had been born from when the world first began to form. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes abruptly popped open as a deep voice boomed in his heart Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens! Chapter 1278 Power that Moves the Heavens Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens. When the voice rang out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, he seemed to see a scene from the beginning of the world. An incomprehensibly enormous, endless dragon was born from the void, its ancient, primal will filling every corner of the universe. As he stared at the giant body amidst the formless mass of creation, an indescribable feeling of respect surged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. It was the legendary Ancestral Dragon. In this moment, Zhou Yuan felt the Heavenly Dragon Qi in his body boil, rejoice and leap excitedly... The Ancestral Dragon Scripture circulated with more liveliness and force than ever before. Shock filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Only after using the Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens did he finally realize its boundless wonders. This Genesis Art contained a sliver of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s mark! It was precisely because of this mark that Zhou Yuan could visualize the Ancestral Dragon, although it was partially covered in primal chaos and could not be seen too clearly. However, one must know that even Saint experts would not be able to visualize the Ancestral Dragon without some luck and fate. It was an existence that was just too vast and heavy. The Ancestral Dragon¡¯s strength was something difficult to bear for even Saint experts. From this, one could see how rare a Genesis Art like the Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens was! In the scenes Zhou Yuan saw, the dragon silhouette within the primal chaos released a roar that resounded across the world. Primal chaos parted as the heavens began to move, forming the many heavens and countless domains. The Ancestral Dragon created the world, moving the land and sky. This was the so-called ¡®Moving the Heavens¡¯ Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes seemed to turn incomparably deep as an indescribable aura slowly spread from him. The aura made the surrounding Genesis Qi tremble and prostate as if they were bowing to him. Ai Tuanzi and the others stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in shock and fear. They felt his figure become impossibly imposing, making them feel as if they were in the presence of a Saint expert. However, Zhou Yuan was clearly not a Saint expert, which meant he must be activating an unimaginable Genesis Art. ¡°As expected of the person who created a miracle in Guyuan Heaven. To think that he has already grown so much in less than a year.¡± Ai Tuanzi sighed softly, her tone tinged with admiration. Zhou Yuan was still an advanced Nascent Source expert, however, he seemed to have an endless arsenal of trump cards. Even a top pseudo Law Domain expert like Ai Tuanzi was not confident of beating him. With such talent, once he stepped into the perfect Nascent Source stage, he would likely be invincible under the Law Domain stage. The other pseudo Law Domain experts sighed deeply. As elites of their respective clans, they were naturally proud practitioners. However, all of their pride had been smashed to pieces in front of Zhou Yuan. They understood that he was not someone that could be measured by logic. Someone like him truly possessed the makings of a Saint expert. Makings of a Saint expert... These words circled in everyone¡¯s hearts, but no one could even bring themselves to feel envious. When the gap between you and someone reached a certain level, you would naturally not view yourself and the other party as people on the same level. Jiang Hongying¡¯s head hung from her shoulders in silence. She was recalling the many times she had made things difficult for Zhou Yuan, suddenly feeling as if a donkey had really knocked her head silly. While various emotions churned in the crowd, boundless Genesis Qi surged around Zhou Yuan, forming a giant Genesis Qi vortex that was a thousand miles wide. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body began to fall apart again. Tuntun¡¯s warning sounded in his mind, Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re almost at your limit! Zhou Yuan took in a deep breath. Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens was far too terrifying. Even in this state, he found it very difficult to properly activate it. However, this was only logical. The technique originated from the moment when the Ancestral Dragon created the world, and there were likely very few Genesis Arts in this would that could actually match its power. In addition, he was currently at the advanced Nascent Source stage, activating such a technique at this cultivation level was indeed somewhat ludicrous. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan did not need the technique to fulfil much of its true potential. Rumble! Genesis Qi rumbled in his body like a million berserking floods, and was ultimately drawn into his right arm. Genesis Qi continuously gathered before frantically being compressed and smashed together using a special method. In the end, all that remained was a strand of heaven moving power. His right arm suddenly became unimaginably heavy, so heavy that it nearly dragged Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire down with it. Your Genesis Art is too terrifying, how are you going to release it! Tuntun¡¯s voice in his mind was filled with terror. If he continued to hold onto this power, Zhou Yuan would be destroyed before he could achieve anything. Zhou Yuan was likewise aware of this problem. A fiercely resolute look flashed in his eyes as he formed a knife-hand with his other arm and chopped. Ch! Blood splattered as Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire arm was chopped off. When his right arm fell, primal chaos began to spread before rapidly shrinking back, forming a glowing primal chaos ball. The ball was merely the size of a fist, however, the nearby space rapidly crumbled around it, creating black spatial voids. Boom! When his arm was severed, the rest of Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was released from the heavy binding. With a roar, the glowing primal chaos ball shot through the air, heading straight for Shi Ying. The ball seemed to pierce through space itself, arriving in front of Shi Ying a split second after it appeared. ¡°You overestimate yourself, ignorant fool!¡± Although Shi Ying could feel that there was something strange about the glowing ball, he merely chuckled indifferently. As an almighty Saint expert, it was hard for him to feel any caution towards Nascent Source ants. Although he felt indifferent, Shi Ying did not allow the ball to land without doing anything. He extended a tiny hand, wisps of mysterious fire jumping from his palm, causing the temperature in the Dragon Spirit Utopia to rise. It was Saint Fire! Saint Fire gathered on Sh iYing¡¯s palm, forming a fire lotus before drifting out towards the glowing primal chaos ball. The ball and the lotus collided. To everyone¡¯s surprise, there was no loud sound or shockwave. The two terrifying forces eroded at each other, causing the entire domain to begin cracking and falling apart. Ai Tuanzi and the others swallowed as they watched. What had they just seen? The fire lotus made from Saint Fire had not immediately burned away the glowing primal chaos ball from Zhou Yuan? That was Saint Fire! It was the unique art of a Saint expert. Even the Law Domain would be instantly burned into nothingness by it. However, it had not instantly incinerated the glowing ball?! They were, of course, not the only ones to be shocked. Even Shi Ying was taken aback. Soon after, an eerily chilling light surged in his pupils. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Shi Ying¡¯s tone was calm, but contained a heart-palpitating chill. A clash like this had infuriated him. An ant had stopped his attack. Although it was not a serious effort, it was still unacceptable. Shi Ying¡¯s palm twirled. In the next instant, the Saint Fire lotus suddenly blazed. To everyone¡¯s horror, they sensed the Genesis Qi in the Dragon Spirit Utopia begin to burn. The fire lotus slowly unfolded and swallowed the glowing primal chaos ball. The petals closed again, returning to its original form. Boom! The Saint Fire lotus seemed to bulge slightly before returning to normal. The attack that had combined all the Genesis Qi of Zhou Yuan and numerous pseudo Law Domain experts had been neutralized... It had not done even a single point of damage to Shi Ying. However, Zhou Yuan was not disappointed by this result. Instead, a relieved smile appeared on his face. He had felt a faint vibration from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain when Shi Ying neutralized the glowing primal chaos ball¡¯s power. Although it was nearly negligible, the vibration rapidly began to intensify until the entire mountain shook violently. Bang! Bang! The giant chains around the mountain slowly began to crumble. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack might have been akin to a feather to Shi Ying. However, this same feather had broken the equilibrium between him and the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Rumble! The mountain that had been lifted by Shi Ying began to slowly descend. Shi Ying¡¯s baby face twisted in rage. ¡°Blasted ants!¡± His furious roar swept to every corner of the Dragon Spirit Utopia like a storm. Chapter 1279 Fury of a Saint Rumble! The Ancestral Spirit Mountain slowly descended, causing the land to shake like crazy. Shi Ying was also greatly affected. He had basically been in a tug-of-war with the mountain earlier, and was at a slight advantage. However, that equilibrium had now been broken by Zhou Yuan, causing the backlash to surge towards him like a vast flood. Urgh. A mouthful of blood was spat out from Shi Ying¡¯s mouth, gold shimmering within the liquid. Every drop was as heavy as a mountain and able to transform into an entire ocean, filled with power that could shape the land. The Saint Nascent Source face flushed red. The backlash from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain was difficult to bear even for someone like him. ¡°Blasted!¡± Fire was practically spitting from Shi Ying¡¯s eyes, the resentment in his eyes so bitter that it was nearly about to melt Zhou Yuan. That mouthful of blood was a painful loss to him, and would take much time and energy to recover. Moreover, the Ancestral Spirit Mountain was returning once more to the ground. What infuriated Shi Ying the most, however, was that a faint crack had appeared in the Mountain Moving Sacred Array due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s earlier interference. Normally speaking, such a faint crack was nothing to worry about. However, it had made Shi Ying pay a very painful price due its unfortunate timing. Hence, Shi Ying was already considering whether he should eat Zhou Yuan alive. ... In the primal-chaos-like space outside the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Jin Yanghuang and the other four Wanshou Heaven Saint experts were closely watching everything that happened in the Dragon Spirit Utopia while exchanging blows with the Sacred Race Saint experts. They had originally been greatly angered when they saw the Ancestral Dragon Mountain being moved. Who could have imagined that Zhou Yuan would foil Shi Ying¡¯s plan at this crucial juncture, causing a variable in the situation. This was honestly a very pleasant surprise from Jin Yanghuang and the other four Saint experts. After all, they had not placed any hopes on Zhou Yuan and the others. In their view, only Saint experts could affect the current situation. Zhou Yuan and the other Nascent Source experts were far too insignificant and of course could not be counted upon. However, it seemed they had underestimated the young man who had recently become very famous in the all-heavens. However, although this turn of events was a pleasant surprise, Jin Yanghuang could not help but worry about Zhou Yuan. Shi Ying would surely be enraged after having his plans disrupted. If he decided to vent his anger, Zhou Yuan and everyone else in the Dragon Spirit Utopia would not be able to survive. ¡°We can only hope that the Omega Shrine will come to our aid soon.¡± Jin Yanghuang sighed inwardly before turning his attention back to the battle. A ferocious light flashed in his eyes as he stared at the spatial crack that continued to send out blasts of almighty power. There was really nothing else they could for the time being. ... Outside the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. A relieved smile appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s pale face when he saw the mountain stop rising and begin to fall. Although he had paid a painful price, it was nothing compared to Shi Ying. Moreover, causing a Saint expert to be injured at the Nascent Source stage would likely raise his fame to a completely new level if news were to spread. However, while Zhou Yuan was immersed in his success, a thought from Tuntun suddenly exploded in his mind, Run, Zhou Yuan! That old bastard is going to kill you! All of Zhou Yuan¡¯s hairs stood up as he involuntarily looked towards Shi Ying,only to find a pair of pupils filled with endless resentment locking onto him. An intense chill filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart and he immediately used the little reserves he had left to hurriedly back away. As he retreated, Shi Ying¡¯s bone-chilling voice rang out across the area, ¡°You ants, all of you will die!¡± He extended a tiny hand and ruthlessly pulled. Rumble! The world began to ripple as if all the Genesis Qi in the entire Dragon Spirit Utopia was being pulled together by Shi Ying. Rumble! A loud rumble was suddenly heard from high up in the sky. Zhou Yuan, Ai Tuanzi and the others raised their heads as horror rapidly flooded their eyes. An inconceivably giant meteor was falling from the heavens. It was not a real meteor but something made from all of the Genesis Qi in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Moreover, Saint Fire burned around the meteor. When this meteor landed, half of the Dragon Spirit Utopia would be instantly destroyed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp turned numb. There was already no way to escape this doomsday attack. ¡°I guess an old tiger¡¯s bottom should not be touched.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. He had already used everything in his arsenal earlier, but it had failed to do any damage to Shi Ying. The blood he had spat out was mostly due to the backlash from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. He¡¯s clearly showing you a Saint expert cannot be humiliated. Tuntun retorted on reflex. Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes. ¡°What do we do now? Is there any way to escape?¡± How could they possibly escape such a wide range attack? Tuntun transmission sounded rather helpless this time, Zhou Yuan you mega jinx, why do I feel that there¡¯s always trouble wherever you go! Asking you to come help me was a terrible decision! Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned black, but was unable to find any words to retort. Hence, he could only snort in response. Since there was nothing there were no measures they could take, they could only pray that the range of the Sacred Fire meteor would be too wide so that Zhou Yuan could at least try to find a chance to survive. When even Zhou Yuan and Tuntun had such a negative outlook, the Wanshou Heaven group had pretty much already given in to despair, abandoning all resistance. After all, nothing could stop the rage of a Saint. The meteor smashed through layers of space, bringing with it a future of absolute destruction as it fell. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was grave as ideas to survive rapidly flashed in his head. However, all of them were rejected. The attack was just too terrifying. He could not think of any way to survive! Flames of destruction swept forth from the falling meteor. ¡°You ants, all of you shall die!¡± A cruel look flitted across Shi Ying¡¯s face. Boom! An indescribably terrifying power descended, crushing even space itself. However, just as Zhou Yuan was closing his eyes in preparation to receive the rage-filled attack, a mysterious light suddenly erupted from his body! The light contained a mystical power, freezing even space itself as threads of light stretched outwards. Under the glow of the mysterious light, the falling meteor slowly came to a stop as if it had been frozen in place. It could no longer descend. Below, the eyes of Ai Tuanzi and the others widened in shock and disbelief. They were not alone, Shi Ying also involuntarily cried out as his expression changed drastically, ¡°What?!¡± His senses told him that the mysterious light seemed to contain an extremely ancient and primal power, a power that had suppressed his own. How could this be?! Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and dazedly stared at the mysterious light strings that had spread from his body. They felt somewhat familiar... The mysterious light strings converged in front of Zhou Yuan, turning into a mirror. The mirror rippled faintly as a verdant forest was revealed. Amidst the greenery, a pretty figure could be seen elegantly reclining on a branch. A jade gourd swayed in her hand. Ai Tuanzi and the others stared in shock at the beautiful girl in the mirror, every gaze unable to turn away from her fair face. ¡°Big sis! Big sis!¡± Tuntun¡¯s figure appeared above Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder and barked excitedly. The girl dressed in azure clothes raised her eyes. Her gaze seemed to pierce through space, arriving inside the Dragon Spirit Utopia and locking on to Shi Ying. An indifferent and airy voice echoed across the land, ¡°A mere Saint Nascent Source dares to touch him?¡± Chapter 1280 Yaoyao Takes Action A giant Saint Fire meteor that could destroy at least half of the Dragon Spirit Utopia was frozen in the air, unable to descend even a millimeter further. It was undoubtedly a shocking sight. However, for Ai Tuanzi and the others, the shock from the frozen meteor was nowhere near as intense as the shock from seeing the girl in the floating mirror. Her clear voice was completely emotionless and her words stupefied everyone. She had called him a mere Saint Nascent Source... Who was she? Behind Ai Tuanzi, Jin Lan and the other Golden Monkey Clan members swallowed repeatedly. They naturally recognized the beautiful girl. Jin Lan said with a dry mouth, ¡°She came with our Golden Monkey Clan together with Zhou Yuan and seems to be very intimate with him.¡± When Yaoyao arrived, he could still clearly recall that even their clan leader, who had been in closed cultivation for many years, had personally come out to welcome her. Of course, they had been unable to understand why Jin Yanghuang had been so regarded her so importantly back then. Only now did they realize that this girl possessed strength that could match the Saint stage! Otherwise, there was no way to explain how she had easily stopped the insanely powerful attack from the Saint Nascent Source. ¡°Intimate with Zhou Yuan?¡± The corners of everyone¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Of course they could understand what these words meant, the two were clearly in a relationship... Ai Zhi could not help but say, ¡°That can¡¯t be true, right? From what she had done so far, she¡¯s likely a Saint expert.¡± What the hell did they think Saint expert was to the all-heavens? The Saint expert was an existence that stood at the apex. Grade-7 and Nascent Source experts like them were nothing in the eyes of such an existence. How could Zhou Yuan have gained the favor of that female Saint expert? Was he really so charismatic?! Although Ai Tuanzi found it unbelievable as well, she still rationally said, ¡°Her earlier words have already proven that they have a close relationship.¡± The corners of Ai Zhi¡¯s mouth twitched. He felt that there was no longer any logic left. That was a Saint expert, an almighty existence. How could she have such relations with Zhou Yuan? What part of him deserved such fortune? While everyone was shocked, Zhou Yuan also stared at the floating mirror in amazement. ¡°Yaoyao¡­¡± Zhou Yuan awkwardly scratched his head. The recent turn of events was evidently due to some secret technique Yaoyao had planted in his body before entering the Dragon Spirit Utopia. This warmed his heart a little. Soon after, he sighed and said in a slightly depressed tone, ¡°It seems that I¡¯m really going to be known in the all-heavens as the king of depending on my girl.¡± Tuntun disdainfully looked at him from his shoulder, ¡°Why do I feel that you¡¯re a little happy about that title?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned and resolutely denied it. ¡°Impossible, you must be imagining it.¡± Tuntun disdainfully chuckled. While man and beast were bickering, Shi Ying¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately as he stared at the pretty figure in the mirror. When he finally saw her clearly, his pupils shrank. Shi Ying slowly said in a voice filled with deep wariness, ¡°I did not expect...to be in the presence of the Third God.¡± As a Sacred Race Saint expert, Shi Ying was likewise aware of Yaoyao¡¯s identity. In the mirror, Yaoyao¡¯s gaze was calm and cold. She did not reply to Shi Ying and merely pointed with a finger. Crystal-clear alcohol poured out from the jade gourd. In the next instant, the surface of the mirror rippled as the alcohol flowed out like a bone-chilling spring. The icy spring surged towards the Saint Fire meteor like an ocean. The Saint Fire was swiftly extinguished as the enormous meteor made from Genesis Qi began to decompose, turning into countless specks of light that scattered across the land. Shi Ying watched with gloomy eyes as he slowly said, ¡°O honored Third God, although you are a noble god, you should have yet to fully awaken. Moreover, you¡¯re only a projection. This isn¡¯t enough to scare me off.¡± Although he was a double made from half a Saint Lotus, Yaoyao was merely a projection and could not match him! In the mirror, Yaoyao¡¯s eyes remained clear and indifferent. ¡°Is that so? I don¡¯t hold the same opinion.¡± She raised her hand and her slender fingers formed a seal. ¡°You want to move away the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, but have you asked for its permission?¡± As Yaoyao¡¯s nonchalant voice rang out, everyone suddenly felt the Ancestral Spirit Mountain begin to shudder violently. Rumble! Endless fiendish qi spouted forth, dying the entire horizon blood-red. Shi Ying¡¯s expression changed slightly as he quickly slapped his hands together. Genesis Qi converged towards him, turning into two giant hands that tried to crush the mountain from the top and bottom. Bang! However, the fiendish qi was seemingly infinite. It pushed back at the two giant Genesis Qi hands and began eroding them. As the two forces clashed, the hands were gradually corroded away. Shi Ying¡¯s figure jerked, forcing him to stagger two steps backwards. His expression had turned extremely ugly. The Ancestral Spirit Mountain seemed to have released all of its fiendish qi, and his current Saint Nascent Source strength could no longer suppress it. This was all because of Yaoyao. ¡°As expected of the Third God!¡± Shi Ying gritted his teeth. Rumble! As he spoke, the fiendish qi had already enveloped the entire domain. The qi churned, gradually forming an enormous blood-red cauldron. The translucent cauldron seemed to contain the entire Ancestral Spirit Mountain, trapping Shi Ying as well. Cackle! Fiendish qi frantically converged and compressed in the blood-red cauldron, ultimately forming blood-red flames. The flames whizzed forth, turning into a million different shapes that pounced towards Shi Ying¡¯s Saint Nascent Source. Shi Ying howled in anger as he circulated his Saint power. His surroundings were partitioned into separate spatial domains, while his body hid within them, making him almost impossible to find. However, he had underestimated the blood flames. Blood flames swept forth sticking to him like a shadow. Spatial domain after domain was incinerated into nothingness as the flames finally locked onto Shi Ying. A sea of blood-fire soon surrounded the Saint Nascent Source. The blood flames surged, negating all spatial undulations, making it impossible for Shi Ying to escape. Shi Ying''s angry roar thundered, rippling space itself. To his horror, he finally realized that he had underestimated the Third God. Even though she had not fully awakened, a single projection could draw the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s power! ¡°That¡¯s right, the Ancestral Spirit Mountain originated from a sliver of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s Spirit, while the Third God was born from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. She will naturally be able to borrow its power.¡± Shi Ying¡¯s heart sank as unease grew within him. Yaoyao¡¯s cold and airy voice echoed across the domain, ¡°Since you willingly servered half a Saint Lotus to come here, you can stay and become nourishment for the Ancestral Spirit Mountain.¡± Torrential blood flames roared as they surged towards Shi Ying. Shi Ying¡¯s expression changed drastically. He now knew that the Third God was planning on refining him with the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s fiendish qi. How vicious! Chapter 1281 Self-immolate A giant cauldron towered over the land, encompassing the entire Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Torrential blood flames surged within the cauldron, surrounding Shi Ying in a sea of fire with no escape. The blood flames were extremely terrifying. Even though Shi Ying was circulating his destructive almighty power, he still failed to push back the flames. Instead, his many attacks were swiftly incinerated. Anyone could see that Shi Ying had been forced into a corner. Ai Tuanzi and the others could not help but swallow, their hearts filled with shock. After all, they had personally witnessed how invincible Shi Ying was. However, even an existence like him was pushed into such a pitiful state by Zhou Yuan¡¯s close female Saint friend. It made them breath heavy sighs of relief while also growing deeply respectful of her. Likewise, there was also more respect in their eyes when they looked towards Zhou Yuan. However, it was mainly in awe of his ability to gain the favor of such an almighty existence. In a certain manner of speaking, this was proof that there was definitely something special about him. Torrential blood flames continued to churn. Shi Ying released an angry roar. He was after all only a double made from half a Saint Lotus, and was gradually finding it increasingly difficult to withstand the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s power. If this continued, it was only a matter of time till he was refined. If his half Saint Lotus double was destroyed, Shi Ying¡¯s original body would be hit by a serious backlash. Countless years would be needed to recover from such injuries. Hence, the alarm and anger in Shi Ying¡¯s heart was near impossible to calm. He had spent a long time preparing this plan for the Sacred Race, scouting the number of Saint experts that would be stationed at Wanshou Heaven over this period and even hindering the Omega Shrine. They had planned for everything, but failed to take into account that the Third God would be in Wanshou Heaven! Moreover, from the power she had displayed, it was apparent that she was gradually awakening. Otherwise, he would not feel so pressured. Shi Ying¡¯s expression fluctuated indeterminately. In the end, he suddenly stopped resisting as a resolute look glowed in his eyes. Since he was trapped, he could only use his last resort: igniting his Saint Lotus double! The power from igniting his Saint Lotus double should allow him to escape in a crippled form, reducing his losses. However, Shi Ying did not plan on running. His eyes lowered slightly as he stared at the foot of the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. His mission was not complete yet. Since he could not move the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, he would have to complete the original task. Heh, the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts were truly stupid to think that the Sacred Race¡¯s goal was the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. With such thoughts swirling in his head, Shi Ying cast away all hesitation. He pushed his palms together and golden runes suddenly began to appear on his Saint Nascent Source body. An indescribably violent and almighty power suddenly exploded from the tiny body. The power was so strong that it immediately pushed back the blood flames the moment it appeared. Golden flames poured from the Saint Nascent Source body, making him akin to a stove that could incinerate the land. In the mirror, Yaoyao¡¯s eyes flashed at this sudden turn of events. ¡°Igniting his Saint Nascent Source...is this his last desperate struggle?¡± She mumbled to herself in confusion. The Sacred Race Saint expert¡¯s resolution had surpassed her expectations. Terrifying power rose in the Dragon Spirit Utopia, causing the domain to slowly crumble. However, while Yaoyao was preparing herself to face him, Shi Ying suddenly laughed. ¡°For the Sacred God!¡± To everyone¡¯s surprise, instead of blasting towards the giant cauldron, the destructive power from the burning Saint Nascent Source leaped towards the foot of the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Boom! The entire Dragon Spirit Utopia shook violently. Cracks akin to deep abysses spread from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain like a spiderweb, swiftly reaching out in all directions to cover the entire domain. Million-mile-long mountains were turned into deep seas, plains were cut in half and the seas were filled. The terrain had changed completely. Zhou Yuan and the others were horrified as they hastily avoided the terrifying shockwaves to prevent themselves from being turned to dust. The terrifying ripples lasted for half an incense stick of time before slowly fading. Zhou Yuan and the others looked over. A dim figure flickered like a nearly extinguished candle on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s peak. It was Shi Ying¡¯s Saint Nascent Source. However, it had become dim and transparent as if it was about to fade, clearly because it had exhausted all of its power. A feeling of unease rose within Zhou Yuan, because he could not see any regret on Shi Ying¡¯s face. Instead, he was greeted by a strange smile. ¡°Third God, you can no longer stop the Sacred Race¡¯s plan. ¡°My mission is complete.¡± When the final word was said, the Saint Nascent Source shattered, turning into specks of light that filled the sky. The Genesis Qi in the domain seemed to grow more abundant and excited. However, Zhou Yuan and the others did not pay any attention to these changes because they could feel the Ancestral Spirit Mountain began to tremble faintly. Crack! As the shaking continued, a crack suddenly appeared on the peak before swiftly travelling downwards. The Ancestral Spirit Mountain had been cracked open! Zhou Yuan dazedly stared at this scene, his eyes filled with bewilderment. Had the Sacred Race Saint expert sacrificed a Saint Lotus double just to crack open the Ancestral Spirit Mountain? In the mirror, Yaoyao¡¯s brows were slightly furrowed. Her eyes flickered in thought as she stared at the cracked Ancestral Spirit Mountain. After a few breaths, she seemed to sense something and her expression abruptly changed. ¡°Quickly retreat!¡± Her urgent shout rang out in Zhou Yuan¡¯s, Ai Tuanzi¡¯s and the others¡¯ ears. Genesis Qi erupted as they rapidly withdrew without any hesitation. Boom! The Ancestral Spirit Mountain violently shuddered as endless fiendish qi spouted out, dyeing the sky blood-red. Swish! However, the most terrifying was yet to come. As the fiendish qi flowed out, Zhou Yuan and the others saw a blood-red lotus slowly rise from the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s peak. The blood lotus was covered in extremely ancient patterns. As it glowed, the entire world seemed to tremble. An indescribable pressure spread, mysterious, ancient and primal. If one took a closer look, one would discover that the pressure did not originate from the blood lotus, but the seemingly alive dark golden liquid at its center. The dark golden liquid slowly squirmed. When it appeared, all light seemed to be devoured by it. Zhou Yuan and the others could not identify it, but they could guess that it was something extremely terrifying. Outside the Dragon Spirit Utopia, Jin Yanghuang and the other Wanshou Heaven Saint experts also saw this scene. After a brief silence, they finally realized its origins, causing their pupils to shrink as a chill surged out from their hearts, spreading to their entire bodies. In the mirror, Yaoyao¡¯s bright eyes shined with iciness. Her grip around the jade gourd slowly tightened as a grave voice sounded from her slightly parted lips. ¡°This is...Sacred God Essence Blood!¡± To think that the Ancestral Spirit Mountain was subduing such a secret! Chapter 1282 A Complete Loss The viscous dark golden liquid slowly swirled on the blood lotus. An ancient and primal pressure spread from it, causing the domain to tremble violently as if it was going to collapse. The expressions of Yaoyao, Jin Yanghuang and the other Saint experts changed one after another. ¡°Sacred God Essence Blood?!¡± Jin Yanghuang¡¯s voice sounded, unable to conceal his shock. ¡°How could such a thing appear in the Ancestral Spirit Mountain?!¡± The Dragon Spirit Utopia was a mini domain that was attached to Wanshou Heaven. When the Saint experts discovered it thousands of years ago, the Ancestral Spirit Mountain had already been sitting inside. They had explored the mountain before, and knew that it originated from a strand of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s Spirit. The Wanshou Heaven Saint experts were not overly surprised by this information. After all, all things had originated from the Ancestral Dragon, and several signs of it could still be found despite the many years that had passed. These marks left by the Ancestral Dragon would often create amazing wonders, and the Ancestral Spirit Mountain should have merely been one of them. Moreover, they had not detected any strange undulations in the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Hence, it had gradually become a training ground for Wanshou Heaven. They never imagined that they would have missed such a huge secret. To think that they had never discovered the Sacred God Essence Blood suppressed by the mountain! The Sacred God Essence Blood naturally originated from the Sacred Race¡¯s supreme god. Such an existence was nearly impossible to destroy, and even the divine blood that flowed in His body possessed terrifying vitality, let alone essence blood that was far purer than normal blood. In addition, essence blood would not be easily abandoned even for an existence like the Sacred God. So why had it appeared in the Ancestral Spirit Mountain? Jin Yanghuang¡¯s gaze flickered in thought. Soon after, another Wanshou Heaven Saint expert said in a low voice, ¡°Could it be when He was gravely injured by the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will during the world-ending war?¡± Jin Yanghuang¡¯s heart shook as he was struck by a flash of understanding. ¡°It must be!¡± In the far past, the Sacred God had been gravely injured by the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will, and it was very possible for some Sacred God Essence Blood to have been lost. Some part of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will might have shifted this Sacred God Essence Blood to the Dragon Spirit Utopia and transformed into the Ancestral Spirit Mountain to suppress it in an attempt to completely erase it. However, the blood looked exceptionally lively. There was no indication that it was anywhere near destruction. Jin Yanghuang¡¯s expression turned cold and solemn. His gaze pierced through the boundaries of space, concentrating on the numerous battle stages on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Moments later, a certain idea flashed in his head as he somewhat difficulty said, ¡°Everyone, I¡¯m afraid we have been tempted and tricked by that Sacred God.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± The other four Wanshou Heaven Saint experts frowned. ¡°The Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s goal was to slowly destroy the Sacred God¡¯s essence blood. However, every time the Dragon Spirit Utopia opened, we would send our elite grade-7 experts in to train. Towards the end, they would fight on the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s battle stages for Law Domain Seeds. ¡°From the looks of it, however, the fighting has continuously produced fiendish qi. The fiendish qi accumulated inside the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, ultimately becoming nutrients for the essence blood, allowing it to survive till now. ¡°Hence, I suspect that all of this was a trap by the Sacred God Essence Blood. ¡°I believe the Divine Tiger Clan¡¯s supreme sovereign Meng Yi was the one who explored the Dragon Spirit Utopia back then, right?¡± Jin Yanghuang looked to his side, where an extremely tall and muscular figure was standing. A tiger roar faintly echoed from him, together with the power of the heavens. It was the Divine Tiger Clan¡¯s supreme sovereign Meng Yi. Ming Yi¡¯s rough-looking face changed somewhat as he nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right, I was the one who was put in charge of exploring the Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± Jin Yanghuang slowly said, ¡°You were also the one who pushed for making the Dragon Spirit Utopia a training ground, right?¡± Meng Yi replied, ¡°I did feel that it was beneficial to Wanshou Heaven¡­¡± At this point, his face suddenly darkened. He had realized that something was wrong. Although the Dragon Spirit Utopia was beneficial to Wanshou Heaven, he was not someone who would be so obsessed over such matters. So why had he personally pushed so hard for it? Jin Yanghuang let out a bitter laugh. ¡°I¡¯m afraid supreme sovereign Meng Yi might have been secretly prodded by the Divine God Essence Blood, resulting in Him successfully making the Dragon Spirit Utopia a training ground. ¡°The subsequent fighting continuously produced fiendish qi, allowing the essence blood to survive. All it had to do in return was borrow the Dragon Spirit Utopia¡¯s power to produce a few Law Domain Seeds.¡± The other three Wanshou Heaven Saint experts gasped as they looked at the essence blood in wariness and alarm. Was the Sacred God really so terrifying? To think that its essence blood could even secretly influence Saint experts?! Jin Yanghuang continued, ¡°It might not be so terrifying. At the end of the day, it had hidden itself too deeply, while supreme sovereign Meng Yi probably relaxed his guard after discovering that the Dragon Spirit Utopia originated from a strand of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s Spirit. Moreover, all the Sacred God Essence Blood could do was use these favorable conditions to tempt us. Hence, we can only conclude that the Sacred God Essence Blood is too crafty. As expected of something that originated from Him.¡± ¡°Haha, Jin Yanghuang, you¡¯re quite perceptive.¡± Laughter suddenly sounded from the Sacred Race Saint experts in the spatial crack. ¡°Since the Sacred Blood Essence has emerged, our mission is complete. Hahaha, no need to send us.¡± As the voice faded, the almighty power withdrew into the spatial crack before it slowly disappeared. Jin Yanghuang and the others did not try to stop them, because they knew it would be useless. The other party had connected to Wanshou Heaven through the Sacred World Divine Painting, and had not actually stepped in. However, allowing the other side to leave as they pleased still made Jin Yanghuang and the others rather angry. In the earlier fight, the Sacred Race side had been starting to tire, however, their main aim was merely to delay the Wanshou Heaven Saint experts. Since their goal had been achieved, there was naturally no need to stay here any longer. Supreme sovereign Meng Yi looked towards the Sacred God Essence Blood and asked, ¡°What do we do about the Sacred God Essence Blood? Shall we try to seal it in the Dragon Spirit Utopia?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already too late.¡± Jin Yanghuang shook his head. ¡°When the essence blood broke free of the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡¯s suppression, it has already connected to the main body and can no longer be stopped.¡± Under Jin Yanghuang¡¯s gaze, the blood lotus above the Ancestral Spirit Mountain slowly revolved as it swiftly faded away. In the end, it disappeared from everyone¡¯s sights. Yaoyao watched from the mirror, making no attempt to stop it. She likewise understood that there was already nothing that could be done. When the blood lotus disappeared, the strange chilling pressure in the Dragon Spirit Utopia also rapidly receded. The Wanshou Heaven members within could not help but breath sighs of relief, glad that they had somehow survived in the end. However, Zhou Yuan did not have the same feeling. Instead, his brows tightly furrowed together. Although a Sacred Race Saint expert had been gravely injured this time, they had achieved their goal. The Sacred God Essence Blood they had plotted to free must lead to something even bigger. Hence, no matter how anyone looked at it, Wanshou Heaven had fallen completely to the other party¡¯s schemes. It was a complete defeat. Chapter 1283 Yaoyao’s Amazing Feat In the primal-chaos-like space outside the Dragon Spirit Utopia. Jin Yanghuang and the other four Wanshou Heaven Saint experts gazed at the spot where the Sacred God Essence Blood had disappeared, their expressions somewhat gloomy. The atmosphere was rather suffocating for a time. They knew that Wanshou Heaven had lost completely this time. For the mere price of a single heavily injured Saint expert, the Sacred Race had managed to retrieve the Sacred God Essence Blood. Of course, Jin Yanghuang and the others understood that they had not lost today, but the moment they began using the Dragon Spirit Utopia as a training area. By continuously providing fiendish qi, they had allowed the Sacred God Essence Blood to survive. Bzz! Amidst the heavy atmosphere, space suddenly rippled as a spatial crack opened. Three figures stepped out, causing space to surge violently. The first person was an elder in hemp clothes. The elder had a peaceful-looking face with golden eyebrows hanging from the corners of his eyes, and had a green wooden staff in his hand A man and woman followed behind him. Although the two walked half a step behind the golden-brow elder, the vast presences from their bodies were stronger than Jin Yanghuang and the other Saint experts. ¡°It seems that we¡¯re too late¡¯ The golden-brow elder walked out of the spatial crack and sighed softly. Jin Yanghuang and the others looked towards him and placed a hand vertically in front of their chests. ¡°Greetings prime sovereign Jin Luo.¡± The golden-brow elder was one of the Omega Shrine¡¯s three prime sovereigns, Jin Luo. He was also the one who said Zhou Yuan had the bearings of a Saint in making. Jin Yanghuang and the others then looked towards the man and woman behind him and nodded. ¡°Supreme sovereign Mystic Dragon, supreme sovereign Spirit Phoenix.¡± These two individuals were the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s and Spirit Phoenix Clan¡¯s Saint experts. ¡°The Omega Shrine already knows about this matter. Powerful Sacred Race experts caused a disturbance earlier, delaying the message you guys transmitted. Moreover, Sacred Race Saint experts came knocking at the world boundary, drawing the Omega Shrine¡¯s attention.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo slowly said, ¡°By the time we rushed over, it was already too late.¡± Jin Yanghuang frowned deeply. ¡°It seems that the Sacred Race has made many preparations for today.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo shook his head. ¡°They had already planted the seed back then and merely came to harvest the fruits today.¡± The Wanshou Heaven Saint experts smiled bitterly. They had brought shame to the all-heavens today. However, there was really no one to blame. If they had sent two Saint experts to explore the Dragon Spirit Utopia back then, it was likely that even the Sacred God Essence Blood would not have dared to act. Supreme sovereign Mystic Dragon asked, ¡°Prime sovereign Jin Luo, will the retrieval of the Sacred God Essence Blood have a huge impact on the current situation?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo replied, ¡°When the Sacred God was gravely injured by the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will, He lost a lot of essence blood that was split into thousands of parts sealed away all over the various heavens. The portion here in the Dragon Spirit Utopia is merely one of many.¡± The Omega Shrine¡¯s three prime sovereigns were practically the oldest existances in this world that had even experienced the world-ending war long ago. As such, they had personally witnessed the Sacred God being injured. Supreme sovereign Mystic Dragon and the others secretly breathed sighs of relief. If it was only one among thousands, they could at least accept this loss. Prime sovereign Jin Luo glanced at them as his elderly face turned even graver. ¡°However, with the Sacred Race now starting to search for the Sacred God Essence Blood, it must mean that the Sacred God will soon awaken. As His awakening progresses, the sealed essence blood will begin to break free on their own and return to the main body. ¡°When that happens, He will once again appear in this world.¡± A chill rose in the hearts of supreme sovereign Mystic Dragon and the others. For existances at their level, being reborn from a drop of blood was not overly miraculous. However, preserving their essence blood under the Ancestral Dragon will¡¯s constant suppression for thousands years was not something they were capable of. This was basically akin to being undying and indestructible. In the face of such an existence, even supreme sovereign Saint experts like them could not help but feel a little powerless. Such gods were far too terrifying. As long as He existed, the all-heavens would be eternally suppressed by the Sacred Race. It would be near impossible to fight back. ¡°Only a god can fight a god.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo slowly said, ¡°This time, the all-heavens are not completely without hope.¡± As he spoke, his gaze turned towards Wanshou Heaven, seemingly seeing the beautiful figure amidst the verdant forest. He placed his hand vertically in front of his chest and smiled. ¡°Many thanks to the Third God for taking action this time.¡± In the forest, Yaoyao¡¯s gaze also seemed to pierce through the boundaries of space as she lazily replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t help much.¡± ¡°It is the all-heavens¡¯ blessing for the Third God to feel this way,¡± replied prime sovereign Jin Luo. He did not disturb her any longer and withdrew his gaze, turning back towards supreme sovereign Mystic Dragon and the others. ¡°The Sacred Race has become increasingly active for the past few years, and is likely preparing for the Sacred God¡¯s awakening. Wanshou Heaven should keep vigilant at all times. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that numerous clashes await us in the near future.¡± The Wanshou Heaven Saint experts¡¯ faces turned grave. If this was the case, the all-heavens will no longer be peaceful. After leaving these words behind, prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s body faded away. The Wanshou Heaven Saint experts looked at each other and sighed with bitter smiles. Jin Yanghuang said, ¡°Prepare to send our clan members out of the Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± A Saint expert asked, ¡°Will the Dragon Spirit Utopia continue to be opened in the future?¡± The Saint experts looked at each other. Since the Sacred God Essence Blood had been taken away, the Dragon Spirit Utopia should be safe. However, once bitten, twice shy. They were still wary of the Sacred God¡¯s strange methods. ¡°Seal it for the time being.¡± After some discussion, the Saint experts decided on a conservative course of action. ... ¡°It¡¯s finally stopped.¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but sigh in relief as he gazed at the now calm land. Tuntun squatted on his shoulder, I¡¯m afraid the trouble has just begun. Zhou Yuan glanced at it in surprise. Although Tuntun usually seemed to be unconcerned about worldly affairs, it was after all an Alpha sacred beast and understood when to be serious. ¡°The Evil Beast Clan is so pitiful. In the Sacred Race¡¯s eyes, they are just pieces that can be easily discarded.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. All the Evil Beast Clan members that were sent into the Dragon Spirit Utopia were sacrificed to provide fiendish qi when the Sacred Race Saint expert activated the boundary. Practically the entire mountain was littered in corpses, the smell of blood rich in the air. Tuntun nodded in agreement, feeling that they were very unfortunate. Although the Evil Beast Clan were repulsive creatures, they originated from the same bloodline as the Genesis Beast Clans. Bzz! While they were conversing, space suddenly began to warp, gradually forming a spatial door. A voice rang out in everyone¡¯s ears like a bell, ¡°Everyone, withdraw from the Dragon Spirit Utopia.¡± It was a Wanshou Heaven Saint expert. The Wanshou Heaven members were clearly relieved when they heard this, their tense bodies finally relaxing. They quickly swarmed towards the spatial door as if wishing they could leave immediately. However, it was only normal to have such feelings. What should have originally been an ordinary training session ended up part of the Sacred Race¡¯s evil plan. Moreover, after personally witnessing a Sacred Race Saint expert in action, it was already a huge blessing that they had managed to survive. Zhou Yuan also prepared to leave with Tuntun. Just as he was about to move, vast Genesis Qi suddenly gathered towards Yaoyao¡¯s projection in the mirror, forming a giant hand that grabbed him and Tuntun. The sudden turn of events startled everyone. Zhou Yuan and Tuntun were likewise stunned. However, they did not resist because they knew it was Yaoyao. However, they did not know what she was up to. Yaoyao¡¯s clear and melodious voice sounded from the mirror, ¡°Wanshou Heaven Saint experts, I¡¯ll be borrowing the Ancestral Spirit Mountain.¡± The giant Genesis Qi hand appeared above the Ancestral Spirit Mountain and swatted downwards, sending Zhou Yuan and Tuntun falling into the crack amidst yelps of surprise. The Genesis Qi hand turned into a sea of clouds that were quickly sucked into the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. Rumble! The mountain began to shake as a faint dragon roar that seemed to originate from the beginning of time echoed. Endless fiendish qi gathered above the mountain before being sucked in and destroyed. As the fiendish qi disappeared, the Ancestral Spirit Mountain seemed to grow more and more condensed. In the end, the glaring crack slowly began to mend. Anyone could feel that the Ancestral Spirit Mountain was clearly much purer than before. With the crack sealed, Zhou Yuan and Tuntun were now trapped inside. Ai Tuanzi and the others stared in shock at this scene. If they were not aware of the close relationship between Zhou Yuan and the female Saint expert, they might have believed that Zhou Yuan had been killed... The Wanshou Heaven Saint experts outside the Dragon Spirit Utopia dazedly stared at this scene. ¡°The Ancestral Spirit Mountain seems to have been repaired¡­¡± ¡°Moreover, it is now purer than before. Is this returning to its original state?¡± ¡°The Third God was born from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. It appears that she is indeed capable of resonating with the faint will of the Ancestral Spirit Mountain¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s borrowing the will¡¯s power to temper Zhou Yuan and Ancestor Taotie.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± The Saint experts looked at each other. In the end, they could not help but sigh. ¡°What an amazing feat. Zhou Yuan and Ancestor Taotie will benefit greatly.¡± Ai Tuanzi and the others naturally did not know what kind of blessings awaited Zhou Yuan and Tuntun. However, the Saint experts did. When Zhou Yuan and Tuntun emerged, they would be completely different. Deep within the forest. The mirror in front of Yaoyao slowly dissipated as she withdrew her hand. Her long eyelashes gently fluttered, concealing the faint trace of tiredness in her eyes. Resonating with a strand of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s remnant will was not effortless even for her current self. However, Yaoyao would willingly give her all for her two closest family members. When their training was over, Zhou Yuan and Tuntun should receive tremendous benefits. This wait took nearly two years. Chapter 1284 The Everchanging World Two years passed in the blink of an eye. These two years were rather turbulent for the all-heavens. The Dragon Spirit Utopia affair caused an uproar to sweep across the all-heavens. The Sacred Race had been growing increasingly active over the past few years, an observation that greatly worried the all-heavens. The all-heaven factions understood that having different standpoints and fighting would always exist, like how the human race and the Genesis Beast Clans would kill and hunt each other. However, these two parties would show some restraint overall, and know when to stop. However, these unspoken rules could not be applied to the Sacred Race. They had been born to destroy all life in the Tianyuan World such that they would one day become its only rulers, while their Sacred God would become an existence akin to the Ancestral Dragon. Hence, there was no room for reconciliation. The Sacred Race had withdrawn to their four heavens after the great world-ending war, and seemed rather peaceful. However, the various all-heaven factions did not dare let their guard down in the slightest, because they clearly understood what kind of power the Sacred Race possessed. In fact, numerous people and even some Saint experts felt that it was hopeless to resist the Sacred Race. If the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will had not suddenly appeared in the world-ending war and gravely injured the Sacred God, all the races in Tianyuan World would likely be nothing but livestock for the Sacred Race, and slaughtered for their pleasure. The Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will might have protected them once, but it could not do so a second time. If the Sacred God awakened again and recovered His power, what did the all-heavens have to resist Him? It was because of these many reasons that the Omega Shrine was born, constantly watching for any activity from the Sacred Race. Now, the Sacred Race had begun to go after the many suppressed or sealed Sacred God Essence Blood. In other words, they were preparing to receive their Sacred God when he awakened. The matter naturally caused a huge commotion in the Omega Shrine. After several discussions, the all-heaven Saint experts ultimately decided to send out the first all-heavens war call ever since the Omega Shrine was established. The all-heavens war call essentially consisted of mobilizing the all-heavens to begin war preparations. After it was released, the Omega Shrine began to dispatch Saint experts to explore the primal-chaos space. It was a place where countless domains were constantly born and destroyed, an area that both the all-heavens and the Sacred Race seldom stepped into. Due to the instability of the domain, it was filled with numerous dangers. In fact, there were times that even Saint experts would be lost within it. When the Ancestral Dragon gravely injured the Sacred God, some of His essence blood and other substances were sealed away in this primal-chaos domain. The Omega Shrine¡¯s current plan was to find these sealed locations and do what they could to strengthen the seals. Something worth mentioning, was that this seal strengthening method originated from Yaoyao. In the two years while Zhou Yuan and Tuntun were tempering themselves in the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, the Omega Shrine had sent supreme sovereign Cang Yuan as their representative to personally invite Yaoyao to hopefully lend her power in their fight against the Sacred Race. With regards to this matter, Yaoyao sat in silence for an entire day before ultimately agreeing. As for the Sacred Race, they soon responded to the all-heavens movements. Numerous Sacred Race experts flooded into the primal-chaos space, clashing once again with the all-heavens after thousands of years. In these clashes, the all-heavens were once again given a thorough taste of the Sacred Race¡¯s terrifying power. The primal-chaos domain was not covered by the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. Hence, the Sacred Race could freely dispatch their experts and armies. In the initial clashes, the all-heavens troops were utterly crushed. Even while disregarding the Saint stage, the advantage still clearly belonged to the Sacred Race in other cultivation levels. Hence, after their initial crushing defeats, the all-heavens abandoned large-scale clashes, resorting instead to hide and strike tactics. They would first scout out the seal locations, before sneaking in various sized detachments to strengthen the seal. After all, the primal chaos domain was an extremely complex environment, and the Sacred Race could not possibly scout out all of their movements inside. With regards to this new tactic, the Sacred Race was indeed without any good countermeasure, and could only send many scouting teams to try their luck. Of course, the Sacred Race was also searching for these seal locations to retrieve as much of the Sacred God¡¯s essence as possible. Hence, the all-heavens and the Sacred Race began a series of repeated skirmishes in the primal chaos domain, the merciless and cruel killing gradually dyeing the place with the faint smell of blood. After thousands of years, this was the new battlefield between the all-heavens and the Sacred Race. Both sides called it the Outerspace Battlefield. As the war waged on, a tense atmosphere gradually enveloped the all-heavens. Saint experts did not participate in the war for the time being, because they were too powerful and were basically akin to tactical nukes. As usual, their main job was to carefully watch each other. The main actors of the Outerspace Battlefield were the Law Domain experts, while the Nascent Source experts worked as support. The experts of these two cultivation realms would represent the all-heavens¡¯ main forces for some time. Due to this, the various all-heavens factions began to pour all their efforts and resources into their most talented Nascent Source experts. In fact, even Saint experts personally gave pointers to these heaven prides. After all, compared to the Law Domain level, the Nascent Source experts were better building material. Of course, only a handful of Nascent Source heaven prides ultimately obtained this rare opportunity. Due to these special circumstances, the all-heaven Nascent Source level grew at an astonishing rate. In a short two years, numerous heaven pirdes emerged at a rate that would never have been thought possible before. They continuously racked up amazing achievements on the battlefield, bringing them instant fame and countless followers. Many remarked that it was a new era. Among them, three Hunyuan Heaven heroes were the most dazzling of them all. The Devourer, Zhao Mushen. The Yin Yang Master, Su Youwei. The Martial Empress, Wu Yao. These three individuals were merely ordinary Nascent Source experts two years ago. However, after two years of nurturing, they revealed their shocking talent and potential, and were subsequently even awarded the opportunity to enter the Omega Shrine to obtain guidance from the Saint experts. After two years, their Nascent Sources grew to 9 inches! Moreover, they had the remarkable accomplishment of slaying a Sacred Race pseudo Law Domain expert! Such rapid growth and accomplishments shocked countless people. Everyone understood how much potential the 9 inch Nascent Source represented. After 9 inches, every impossibly tiny bit of growth was akin to seeing a whole new world that ordinary people would never understand. Some even said that this trio were future Saint experts in the making. Hence, even among the countless heaven prides, abnormalities and monsters that were making their marks in this era, this trio were the most dazzling of them all. When mentioning this trio, someone would naturally recall a certain rather famous individual from two years ago...the Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan. However, the past two years of silence from him plus the rapidly changing world of constantly emerging heaven prides caused him to fall out of the spotlight. Some would sigh regretfully over how the once most dazzling Nascent Source star of the all-heavens had ultimately lost his radiance, outshined by the new generation. However, such regretful thoughts would only last for an instant before quickly being forgotten once more. With how tense things were in the all-heavens, no one had the time to think about someone who seemed to have gone missing for the past two years. The people would rather follow the heaven prides that were currently making their marks in the Outerspace Battlefield. Hence, as time flowed, Zhou Yuan¡¯s name was gradually forgotten. ... Deep within the forgotten Dragon Spirit Utopia that had been sealed for the past two years. The Ancestral Spirit Mountain silently towered over the land. The mountain suddenly trembled faintly as a small crack appeared at its foot. A foot kicked out from the crack, sending boulders tumbling. A dirty figure leisurely walked out from the dust along with an equally dirty small-dog-like creature. Chapter 1285 Allroamer ¡°I can finally see the sun again¡­¡± At the foot of the Ancestral Spirit Mountain, a dusty-faced youth raised his head and took in a deep breath of fresh air before slowly exhaling. By his foot, a sooty little creature nodded in understanding and agreement, as if refusing to ever look back at the past two years of its life. The human and beast were naturally Zhou Yuan and Tuntun, who had been locked in the Ancestral Spirit Mountain by Yaoyao for training two years ago. After two years of special training, their appearance and auras had changed dramatically. Zhou Yuan still had the same grin on his handsome face. However, his presence seemed to have become much gentler and milder. The previous relentless drive he gave off was completely gone, like a sword in its sheaf, its blade no longer visible. His eyes had become exceptionally bright. If one took a closer look, one would discover a certain deepness within them that drew you in, as if sucking in your soul. It was rather mystifying. Tuntun had also changed tremendously. Its previous suffocating sacred beast pressure seemed to have vanished completely. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary little beast, nothing special besides its cuteness. However, someone with truly keen senses would be able to faintly feel the terrifying devouring power hidden under that cuteness. Zhou Yuan lowered his head and looked at Tuntun, who was blinking its large eyes, and said with an expressionless face, ¡°Tuntun, you¡¯re walking further and further on the path of acting cute. Have you forgotten that you¡¯re a sacred beast?¡± How could he not know this little bastard¡¯s sinister intentions? It obviously wanted to earn Yaoyao¡¯s favor with this cute act. What a crafty and cunning little bitch. In response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s mocking, Tuntun merely displayed a disdainful expression. It lightly tapped the ground with a paw and darkness instantly extended, forming an enormous black Law Domain in a short span of a few breaths. The Law Domain enveloped Zhou Yuan, the omni-present devouring power within causing his eyes to widen slightly. ¡°This is...the Devouring Law Domain?¡± Zhou Yuan said in surprise, ¡°You¡¯ve advanced to the grade-8 stage?¡± A pleased look emerged in Tuntun¡¯s eyes as it sent him a transmission, Zhou Youn you idiot, you obtained such a huge blessing but haven¡¯t stepped into the Law Domain stage? That¡¯s right, in its senses, Zhou Yuan was still at the Nascent Source stage. However, although he was a Nascent Source expert, he somehow gave off a slightly dangerous aura even to the grade-8 Tuntun. In the black Law Domain, devouring power churned around Zhou Yuan, continuously devouring his Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan was naturally aware of the situation. He chuckled softly and said, ¡°There''s indeed still a little to go before advancing to the Law Domain, however¡­¡± He gently waved his sleeve and the surrounding darkness suddenly began to recede, forming an invisible circle around him. Even Tuntun¡¯s Devouring Law Domain was unable to invade the circle, as if it was being blocked by a powerful invisible force. Zhou Yuan extended a finger and pointed. Space instantly shattered, countless spatial fragments glimmering in the air. An invisible force wrapped around them, transforming them into long needles that surrounded Tuntun from all sides, locking onto it from every angle. Amazement and surprise finally appeared in Tuntun¡¯s eyes. It abruptly opened its mouth, sending out a burst of darkness. Devouring vortices formed from the darkness, swallowing all the spatial fragments as it withdrew the Devouring Law Domain. It sent out a surprised transmission, Spirit power? Zhou Yuan, your Spirit has reached the Allroamer stage?! The Allroamer stage was a Spirit cultivation stage that was the equivalent of the Law Domain stage! Tuntun was a little stunned. It never imagined that before Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi cultivation stepped into the Law Domain stage, his Spirit cultivation would grow so drastically, surpassing his Genesis Qi cultivation to reach the Allroamer stage first! Only the Allroamer stage¡¯s Spirit power could block a Law Domain¡¯s influence! Zhou Yuan nodded. He felt a little helpless with regards to this development. ¡°Yeah, although I didn¡¯t expect this either.¡± Truth be told, this Spirit cultivation breakthrough had indeed surpassed Zhou Yuan¡¯s expectations. After all, his Spirit cultivation had advanced not too long ago, and he had originally believed it would take much more time before he was anywhere near the Allroamer stage. Who could have imagined that the tempering inside the Ancestral Spirit Mountain would bring him such huge progress in his Spirit cultivation. ¡°It¡¯s probably because you absorbed the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s Spirit fragment. Although that tiny strand of Spirit in the mountain is negligible to the Ancestral Dragon, it is vast beyond imagination to you. Normally speaking, it should not have been possible for you to absorb it. After all, let alone you, even Law Domain experts would not dare to absorb the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s Spirit fragment. However, you managed to succeed because of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture.¡± An elder laughter suddenly rang out. Space rappled as a familiar figure slowly appeared. When Zhou Yuan saw the elderly figure, he immediately cried out in surprise, ¡°Master Cang Yuan.¡± The one who had appeared was naturally Cang Yuan. There was a gratified look in his eyes as he smiled and looked at Zhou Yuan. He could still remember when Zhou Yuan had teleported from the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s ancestral grounds into the domain he had been hiding in. Back then, Zhou Yuan had merely been a boy whose eight meridian channels had not even been unblocked. After many years, he had now stepped into the Allroamer stage, giving him the qualifications to stand amongst the true elites of the all-heavens. ¡°At the Allroamer stage, you will be able to use your Spirit to move and manipulate all things, and travel freely in the heavens. Congratulations Zhou Yuan, you are now a true power to be reckoned with in this world.¡± The Allroamer stage was equivalent to the Law Domain stage. Even in Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s nine regions, individuals with such power were considered top experts, and would no longer be looked down on by anyone. If he returned to the Tianyuan Region, Zhou Yuan would finally be qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with the other grand elders even without his identity as Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple. This time, the title was not due to another¡¯s influence but recognized because of his own power. Zhou Yuan felt a little emotional. The Allroamer stage was a level he had only dreamt of in the past. He never imagined that two years of closed cultivation would enable him to reach this goal. Cang Yuan observed Zhou Yuan, his deep and intelligent eyes flickering in thought. Moments later, his eyes widened slightly as he said, ¡°Your Genesis Qi foundation seems extremely strong, solid and condensed. I have never seen any Nascent Source expert reach this level.¡± Someone as perceptive as Cang Yuan could naturally tell at a glance. Although Zhou Yuan had not reached the Law Domain stage nor established a pseudo Law Domain, his Genesis Qi foundations were strangely exceptionally astonishing. ¡°How many inches is your Nascent Source?¡± asked Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan frowned, a little unsatisfied as he answered, ¡°Only 9.7 inches. At his words, however, even Cang Yuan, who was very knowledgeable and had experienced countless things, was abruptly taken aback. Chapter 1286 Cang Yuan’s Feelings A 9.7 inch Nascent Source. Cang Yuan¡¯s elderly face was somewhat dazed as he stared at Zhou Yuan. This loss of composure surprised Zhou Yuan. Cang Yuan did not have such a huge reaction even when he discovered Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had advanced to the Allroamer stage earlier. However, Cang Yuan soon returned to his senses. He stared at Zhou Yuan in a peculiar manner and slowly said, ¡°It seems that you do not truly understand what a 9.7 inch Nascent Source represents. ¡°Although the Allroamer stage is strong, it is not that rare in this world. ¡°A 9.7 inch Nascent Source, however...there¡¯s only ever been a handful even from the long history I know of.¡± One must know that many Nascent Source experts would have used up practically all of their potential upon reaching 8 inches. When this happened, some of the luckier ones might be able to establish pseudo Law Domains. However, if nothing exceptionally huge happened, they would be stuck at this cultivation level till the end of their lives. Only by achieving a 9 inch Nascent Source would one truly have a chance to step into the Law Domain stage. After reaching the 9 inch mark, every tiny increase would bring unimaginable changes. It was said that those who reached 9.5 inches would have the potential to become Saint experts, while those who surpassed the boundary of 9.5 inches would be almost guaranteed to become a Saint expert if they did not die early. It was basically guaranteed to reach the Saint stage! In a certain manner of speaking, Zhou Yuan¡¯s 9.7 inch Nascent Source meant he was essentially a future Saint expert. This was more convincing than even the evaluation given by prime sovereign Jin Luo previously. What made Cang Yuan¡¯s heart churn even more, was that Zhou Yuan was still at the perfect Nascent Source stage, and had not even established a pseudo Law Domain. He understood it was not because Zhou Yuan could not, but because he did not wish to. Because Zhou Yuan was more ambitious than this. 9.7 inches still did not satisfy him! If Zhou Yuan was able to somehow bring out even more of his potential and reach 9.8 inches¡­ Cang Yuan thought hard. In all of the long history he knew of, any Nascent Source experts that had managed to draw out such a level of potential would likely have the qualifications to reach the triple lotus Saint stage. Although it was not for sure, they would have a greater chance than others. Triple Lotus Saint... This was a cultivation level that even Cang Yuan was aiming for. In the all-heavens, only the Omega Shrine¡¯s three prime sovereigns had reached this cultivation realm. From this, one could see how remarkable a 9.8 inch Nascent Source was. It was no surprise that Cang Yuan had momentarily lost his composure when he heard that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nascent Source was 9.7 inches. As his heart gradually calmed down, Cang Yuan¡¯s expression returned to normal. ¡°I¡¯m a single step away from the triple lotus stage. If you also manage to reach this level one day, our Tianyuan Region would become a faction second only to the Omega Shrine.¡± Cang Yuan could not help but chuckle at his words. He was honestly not very interested in such things, but it did make him feel pretty accomplished when he thought of it. Zhou Yuan was also a little astonished. A triple lotus Saint was the strongest existence in the all-heavens. He never imagined that he would have already attained the qualifications to aim for it. Cang Yuan did not dwell on the subject and quickly changed the topic. ¡°Many things have happened in the two years that you guys have been in closed cultivation. Things have changed far more drastically over these two years than the previous dozens of years.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± A look of surprise was revealed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Cang Yuan began to tell them in detail the events that had transpired in the all-heavens over the past two years, paying extra attention to the Outerspace Battlefield. After hearing about everything, Zhou Yuan could not help but be a little shaken. Had the all-heavens and the Sacred Race already begun to clash? Although it was only limited to this Outerspace Battlefield for the time being, it was clearly a sign of bigger things to come. At the thought of the incomparable enormous Sacred Race, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart subconsciously sank, feeling a tremendous amount of pressure. ¡°Over these two years, the all-heaven Nascent Source experts have greatly increased in both quantity and quality. Numerous heaven prides continue to appear. It could be said that heroes emerge in trying times.¡± Cang Yuan sighed before he smiled and said, ¡°However, the person who actually made all of this possible is Yaoyao.¡± ¡°Yaoyao?¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Cang Yuan nodded. ¡°To be more precise, it is the Ancestral Dragon Pill she created.¡± Zhou Yuan was utterly list, feeling as if the entire world had changed while he was locked away. What the heck was this Ancestral Dragon Pill? He had never heard it before. ¡°She actually drew inspiration from sending you two into the Ancestral Spirit Mountain. The all-heavens and the Sacred Race are currently searching for sealed Sacred God Matter locations in the primal-chaos domain, because it will also contain some wisps of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. Anyone who obtains these wisps of Ancestral Dragon will can bring them back to Yaoyao. She will then use them as ingredients to make Ancestral Dragon Pills. ¡°These pills can substantially boost the cultivation of Nascent Source and Law Domain practitioners, which is why the all-heaven Nascent Source level has grown at more than double the rate in a short two years. ¡°As a result, the Ancestral Dragon Pill has become crazily popular in the all-heavens. ¡°To obtain more pill ingredients, the all-heaven Nascent Source and Law Domain practitioners have bravely ventured into the Outerspace Battlefield to search for the sealed locations. While gathering Ancestral Dragon will, they would also strengthen the seal on the Sacred God Matter.¡± As he spoke of these matters, a look of admiration appeared on Cang Yuan¡¯s face. Refining fragments of Ancestral Dragon will into Ancestral Dragon Pills was something that he, and probably even the three prime sovereigns could not do. It was likely that Yaoyao was the only one in the entire world who could tame the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. This was something even the Sacred God could not achieve. ¡°Yaoyao¡¯s influence and fame in the all-heavens has reached crazy heights, and even old folks like us can¡¯t compare. The all-heavens people call her the Ancestral Dragon Goddess, and several cheekier individuals have even started the goddess religion¡­¡± At this point, even Cang Yuan did not know whether to laugh or to cry, feeling as if he could no longer keep up with the younger generation. Zhou Yuan was also stupefied. Cang Yuan looked straight at Zhou Yuan and suddenly said, ¡°With all the things she has done, she has likely racked up bigger contributions than even us old fellows...however, I know that Yaoyao has done all this mostly because of you. ¡°The Omega Shrine Saint experts were originally split on their opinions towards Yaoyao. Due to the Sacred God, some of the more radical Saint experts are very guarded against the gods. They are afraid Yaoyao will become the next Sacred God. ¡°After all, gods are supreme beings, and no one knows what kind of attitude they will have towards mortals. ¡°Although I stole Yaoyao from the Omega Shrine back then to protect her and treated her as a daughter as she grew up, I always understood that my feelings towards her were due to her special identity. Hence, my feelings are in a sense impure. ¡°Yaoyao also understands this. That¡¯s why although she respects me, her growing divinity has gradually weakened such feelings. In this world, only you and Tuntun have the purest feelings towards her, and because of that, she has chosen to do so much for the all-heavens for your sakes. ¡°If you two did not exist...even I cannot be certain if Yaoyao would help the all-heavens.¡± Zhou Yuan did not know what to say as he gazed at the complicated expression on Cang Yuan¡¯s face. Cang Yuan words were true, he had protected Yaoyao for so many years mostly because of her true identity. To be honest, it was not Cang Yuan¡¯s fault and an ordinary person would have understood. However, Yaoyao was clearly not an ordinary person. The awakening of her divinity should slowly isolate and grind away such feelings after all. Once such feelings contained any impurities, they would be erased. From Cang Yuan¡¯s account, Zhou Yuan could guess that Yaoyao¡¯s divinity progressed over these past two years. This time, it had even begun to affect the relationship between them. This made a sliver of worry rise within Zhou Yuan. Cang Yuan clearly only wanted to voice out these things to someone, and did not need an answer from Zhou Yuan. Hence, he soon recollected himself and smiled at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll bring you to see her.¡± He suddenly paused as mischief appeared on his face. ¡°Right, I forgot to tell you one thing...for the past two years, Yaoyao has become far too famous and attracted numerous heaven prides. This is only normal due to her exceptional beauty, and there are indeed many men in this world who would gladly bend over and submit to her ¡°However, her crazy identity meant that ordinary people would not dare to confess their feelings. ¡°But that does not include everyone. There¡¯s this one guy who¡¯s pretty amazing. He has ignored Yaoyao¡¯s identity and repeatedly wooed her for nearly two years¡­¡± Cang Yuan suddenly felt the pressure beside him abruptly increase. He turned his head and saw Zhou Yuan grinding his teeth. ¡°God damnit, I never imagined that there would come a day when someone would dare go after my girl?!¡± Chapter 1287 Xu Beiyan The primal-chaos domain was endless and without boundaries. Amidst the floating formless mass, chaos storms would occasionally sweep past, wreaking havoc and destruction. These storms were the most ferocious in the world, and even Law Domain experts would likely be ripped to shreds if they were caught in one by accident. It was nearly impossible to survive. There were no directions here. Without a guide of sorts, anyone who rashly entered would likely be trapped here their entire lives, unable to escape from the terrifying endless chaos. At a certain location, rows of light blossomed within the primal chaos. Inside the light, a train of buildings rose and fell as far as the eye could see. Majestic halls were covered in golden light that gave off an indescribable feeling of strength. Even the waves of primal chaos that slammed into the light were unable to shake it in the slightest. In the halls within the light, spatial vortexes would occasionally form as figure after figure flew out and landed. The constant flow of traffic made the place appear exceptionally bustling. This scene was undoubtedly somewhat very out of place compared to the ice-cold silence outside. This place was the main headquarters the all-heavens had prepared for the Outerspace Battlefield, and was known as All-Heavens City The spatial vortexes could only be used by the all-heavens Nascent Source and Law Domain experts that held a certain special pass. For the past two years, this place had been the frontline of the battle against the Sacred Race. As one approached All-Heavens City, one would see an enormous hall at the very center that far surpassed all the other districts in both luxury and scale. The grand hall did not have a roof. Hence, if you looked down from above, the first thing that entered your eyes would be an exceptionally large rainbow cauldron. The rainbow cauldron was made from some unknown material and gave off a hard to describe feeling of ancientness. Countless Genesis Runes swam on its surface as if they were living things, like fishes in a pond, a mysterious and magical sight... A dozen stone platforms floated around the cauldron, a figure giving off powerful Genesis Qi ripples seated upon each one. From the strength of their Genesis Qi undulations, they were clearly Law Domain experts! They appeared to be circulating their Genesis Qi, continuously sending it towards the rainbow cauldron in the middle. The Genesis Qi transformed into a raging fire that rose within the cauldron. It seemed that they were using their Genesis Qi as fuel for the rainbow cauldron. The most important location, however, was right in front of the rainbow cauldron where an azure jade platform had been built. A beautiful figure was seated on this platform, her hands in a constant flux of motion. As the hand seals changed, ripples spread from the rainbow cauldron, accompanied by an indescribably primal and ancient aura. Under this aura, the surrounding Law Domain experts could not stop themselves from trembling a little. It was an absolute suppression that originated from their bloodline and Spirit. Although they had experienced this pressure countless times over the past two years, it was still impossible to get used to it. The shivering that originated from deep within their souls was even more tiring than a battle against other Law Domain experts. It was tortuous. This suffering lasted for ten days. As the beautiful figure on the azure jade platform finally released her last hand seal, the great burning fire within the rainbow cauldron abruptly vanished. In the next instant, vast qi rose into the air, creating strange, bizarre yet beautiful images in the sky, drawing countless amazed gazes. The hall was filled by a thick fragrance of pill mist that invigorated the exhausting Law Domain experts when they breathed it in. They looked at each other, seeing smiles finally appear. Although it had been a tortuous few days, it had been rather smooth overall. The pill mist swiftly dissipated, revealing the interior of the hall once more. Everyone looked over and saw several jade boxes floating in the air. Light seemed to overflow from the boxes, causing the hearts of the Law Domain experts in the vicinity to stir. Because they contained Ancestral Dragon Pills. Currently the most sought after item in the all-heavens that even Law Domain experts like them desired. A single Ancestral Dragon Pill could save many years of training. Most importantly, there were no drawbacks, nor would it leave any impurities in one¡¯s Genesis Qi... It was basically a godly pill! While the Law Domain experts enviously looked, a tall and slim figure stood up on the platform left of the azure jade platform. With a wave of his sleeve, the jade boxes were kept away. The crowd¡¯s eyes shined as they turned to the figure. It was a man in a long ink-green gown. His long hair was scattered behind him, making him appear rather unruly. He had a handsome, chiselled face, his facial features so perfect and flawless it was as if they had been carefully carved with a small knife. For a man like this, just his looks alone would make many girls fall in love with him. More importantly, however, the Law Domain experts present understood that the man was not just blessed with good looks, and was actually extremely famous in the all-heavens. Xu Beiyan from Qiankun Heaven. He not only boasted the strength of the Law Domain stage, but more astonishingly had attained the Allroamer stage in his Spirit cultivation. His Genesis Qi and Spirit cultivation had basically perfect foundations. Moreover, he was no unaffiliated cultivator, and had three masters that were all Saint experts of the Omega Shrine! It was said that these three Saint experts had all wanted to recruit Xu Beiyan as their disciple. However, all of them refused to give in to each other and nearly fought after an intense argument. In the end, they only agreed to take a step back after being persuaded by the other Qiankun Heaven Saint experts, the trio taking in Xu Beiyan as their disciple together. With such a miraculous backstory, the name Xu Beiyan had long become a legend in Qiankun Heaven... An individual that had everything, looks, talent, strength and even a strong background. Hence, he always became the focal point no matter where he went. These thoughts swirled in the heads of the Law Domain experts as they cast friendly gazes at Xu Beiyan. Xi Beiyan did not act arrogantly and responded to everyone with a nod and a smile. He then turned his gaze towards the pretty figure on the azure jade platform and reported in a loud and clear voice, ¡°Great goddess, 9 Ancestral Dragon Pills were produced this batch. The lady¡¯s pill making technique has become increasingly proficient.¡± His words were genuine and gave a favorable impression. However, the beautiful figure merely gave a light nod in response. She did not even look at Xu Beiyan. Instead, she retrieved an ancient text and slowly began to read. A streak of light suddenly fell from the sky, illuminating her fair face. Xu Beiyan¡¯s heart could not help but stir at this beautiful scene. However, he made sure to not to stare excessively such that he would not offend her. There was no dissatisfaction at her indifferent attitude. After all, he had already grown used to it over the past two years. Hence, he did not disturb her and instead beckoned at the other Law Domain experts as he turned around and walked out of the room, enjoying their attention as they chatted along the way. Outside the hall, Xu Beiyan retrieved a black flute and put it on his lips. The drawn out sound of a flute gently flowed forth. Xu Beiyan was clearly very adept in music. Soundwaves containing gentle Genesis Qi spread, wiping away one¡¯s tiredness. Its effect was apparent from how the Nascent Source and Law Domain experts outside the hall slowed down to listen. Numerous gazes looked towards the man standing outside the hall, the eyes of several female practitioners involuntarily rippling. Individuals that knew him exchanged a smile before they sighed. ¡°Who could have imagined that the very Xu Beiyan, who plagued the minds of countless talented girls in Qiankun Heaven, would one day become so infatuated with someone¡­¡± ¡°For the past two years, he always plays the flute here after the pill production is done. Onet must know that numerous girls in Qiankun Heaven would give almost everything for the chance to listen.¡± ¡°Hehe, how can ordinary women compare to the goddess?¡± ¡°Honestly, I quite admire his courage. I don¡¯t even dare to look directly at the goddess while he¡¯s brave enough to secretly display his feelings through music¡­¡± ¡°Although Xu Beiyan is not a Saint expert yet, he has high hopes of reaching that level. If he does, he might be worthy of the goddess.¡± A voice suddenly interjected, ¡°But I heard that the goddess already has someone she likes...who I believe is a guy called Zhou Yuan. He was amazing in the battle for Guyuan Heaven.¡± The Law Domain experts were stunned. They looked over and saw a young man carrying a little-dog-like creature smiling at them. ¡°Nascent Source stage?¡± This person seemed to be a little untactful. Was a conversation between Law Domain experts something a Nascent Source practitioner could interject in? One of the Law Domain experts softly chuckled and unhurriedly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan? I remember him. However, there¡¯s been nothing but silence from him for the past two years, and many others have already completely surpassed him in fame long ago. The world has changed far too much over the past two years, and if no one has heard of him, he has likely returned to mediocrity.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense kid. Who do you think the goddess is? Even if Zhou Yuan has some ability, how can he possibly gain her favor? Moreover, he¡¯s only a Nascent Source expert. Even if he¡¯s supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple, how can he possibly compare to Xu Beiyan?¡± said another Law Domain expert with a slightly stormy face, feeling as if his goddess has been sullied. ¡°Yeah, even if these rumors are true, Zhou Yuan is no match for Xu Beiyan.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± They paid no further attention to the young man. Although the goddess was an untouchable existence to them, given Xu Beiyan¡¯s qualifications, he might be able to move her heart one day. When that happened the goddess would descend to the mortal level, something that would probably be a joyous occasion for everyone. However, their voices suddenly grew softer as their eyes gradually widened. The goddess had walked out from the hall. This had never happened before! In the past, the goddess would not leave immediately after making the pills and instead begin to immerse herself in her ancient books. Today, however, could it be... They looked at each other, seeing the excitement in each others¡¯ eyes. Had the goddess finally been moved by Xu Beiyan¡¯s persistence?! Chapter 1288 Meeting Again When Yaoyao¡¯s figure was seen walking out of the Great Alchemy Hall, the numerous gazes outside instantly converged on her. At this moment, it felt as if even the air had frozen. The Nascent Source and Law Domain experts that were considered heaven prides in their respective factions felt slivers of inferiority in the face of this indifferent, perfectly beautiful face, making them even more respectful of her. A beauty like this definitely deserved her title of goddess. However, as frequent visitors of the All-Heavens City, they had a rough understanding of Yaoyao¡¯s character. Perhaps because of her out-of-this-world identity, she appeared extremely aloof. Besides the occasional contact during pill creation, she basically did not converse with anyone. Hence, everyone was stunned for a time when they saw Yaoyao voluntarily walk out of the Great Alchemy Hall. Some of the people who were more aware of her affairs could not help but cast amazed gazes at the man blowing a black flute outside the hall. After all, Xu Beiyan had not hidden his adoration of the goddess for the past two years. Although he had not properly confessed, his every action clearly displayed his intentions. Many people rather admired Xu Beiyan for having such courage because there were an uncountable number of men in All-Heavens City that secretly adored her. However, only one person had ultimately dared to display their adoration till now: Xu Beiyan. Of course, they could not deny Xu Beiyan¡¯s excellence either. Regardless of whether it was looks, talent, strength and even future potential, he was absolutely top class in the All-Heavens City. Perhaps, only someone like him would dare to reveal his adoration for her. Had Xu Beiyan¡¯s persistence finally bore fruit? Was the goddess¡¯ indifferent heart finally moved by his two years of dedication? At this thought, the many Law Domain experts felt sour waves of envy. Although Xu Beiyan was outstanding, to see the goddess descend to the mortal level and lose her aloofness for a certain someone honestly made them feel jealous. While various emotions churned in the hearts of the crowd and they imagined countless ways the scenario could play out, Yaoyao walked out of the grand hall, her slim and graceful figure now standing in front of it. The music from the flute also stopped. Xu Beiyan¡¯s eyes rippled as he gazed at the beautiful figure that had exited the hall. Even someone like him could not help but feel an indescribable happiness and surprise. He had the same thoughts as everyone else. The goddess would normally never step out of the Great Alchemy Hall, and there must be a reason since she suddenly made an exception today. Moreover, who else was there outside the hall who was at least a little attractive but him? Could his two years of persistence finally bore fruit? Xu Beiyan¡¯s handsome face remained calm on the outside, but his insides were churning crazily as he tightly gripped his black flute. He was indeed filled with adoration towards the girl before him. He would never have expected that he would one day become so infatuated with a girl and think of her night and day. She made him toss and turn in his sleep as if ants were gnawing at his heart. At times, he would even laugh at himself. Perhaps it was retribution from being overly cold to all those girls that had confessed their feelings to him in the past. Xu Beiyan was a confident person. Hence, after realizing his feelings, he had directly revealed them and not hidden them away. However, he was also smart about it. He knew that the goddess was very aloof by nature, and thus did not bother her excessively. He mostly spent his time playing the flute outside the hall, and believed the day would eventually come when his feelings would get through. Xu Beiyan put down the black flute in his hand and revealed a small smile at the beautiful figure as he gathered his courage to walk forward. Just as he was about to move, however, the goddess atop the steps cast her gaze instead towards the plaza in front of the hall, before walking down without even a single glance his way. Xu Beiyan¡¯s expression turned a little rigid, a stunned look in his eyes. On the plaza, the numerous experts also stared in shock. So the goddess had not come out because of Xu Beiyan? However, this was quickly followed by even more confusion. If it was not for Xu Beiyan, then why? Under the numerous watching gazes, the goddess unhurriedly and gracefully traversed through the crowded plaza, the sea of people parting wherever she passed. In the end, her footsteps finally stopped. She had stopped in front of a young man carrying a small beast. Numerous astonished gazes shifted towards the young man¡¯s smiling face. ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°He seems to be a little familiar...¡± ¡°......¡± Many gazes looked to each other as information was exchanged. While almost everyone was bewildered, the small beast in the young man¡¯s arms suddenly leaped towards the goddess and landed in her embrace, emitting happy noises. The young man also looked at the goddess, revealing his white teeth as his smile widened. It seemed that he did have some charisma. The goddess gently caressed the small creature¡¯s fur before concentrating on the young man before her as the corners her lips raised slightly. The frosty look that seemed to cover her face all year round suddenly began to melt away as a breathtaking smile appeared. In that instant, the entire plaza felt much brighter. The crowd¡¯s eyes nearly popped from their sockets as they stared in disbelief at this scene. The goddess is smiling... ¡°Not bad, you didn¡¯t waste the past two years.¡± Yaoyao faintly nodded, her voice turning gentler. The one standing in front of Yaoyao was naturally Zhou Yuan, who had followed Cang Yuan to the All-Heavens City. He gazed at her beautiful face before looking at the shocked gazes around them as he said in a low voice, ¡°O mighty goddess, why do I feel as if I¡¯m going to be beaten up by the crowd.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s lips curled slightly at this cheekiness. ¡°Follow me.¡± She immediately turned around, following her original path back. Zhou Yuan gazed at her back before turning towards the now dumbstruck group of Law Domain experts that had been conversing earlier and grinned. ¡°What I said earlier was true.¡± He then quickly followed. The two passed through the plaza. There were clearly many people around them, but the atmosphere was rather silent. Several gazes locked onto Zhou Yuan, wishing they could stab him with their eyes. This made Zhou Yuan click his tongue in surprise. It was not like he had never walked with Yaoyao before. Although she always drew many amazed gazes, the amount of hate he got was clearly nothing compared to now. These changes had nothing to do with him. It only meant that Yaoyao¡¯s charm had grown to a terrifying level over the past two years. Zhou Yuan sighed deeply before bravely enduring the knife-like gazes. He really wanted to tell them that they were right, he was the man behind your goddess! However, he did not do so in the end, because he was afraid of being beaten. They soon reached the end of the plaza and began climbing the steps. Zhou Yuan suddenly felt the attention of a certain gaze. He turned his head to the side and saw a Xu Beiyan in his long ink-green gown staring at him with a slight frown. ¡°The Tianyuan Region¡¯s Zhou Yuan huh¡­,¡± mumbled Xu Beiyan as he lowered his gaze. He did know about Zhou Yuan, including the fact that he seemed to be quite close to Yaoyao. However, Xu Beiyan was not concerned, because he felt that he far surpassed Zhou Yuan in every aspect. The only reason why Zhou Yuan was closer to Yaoyao, was because they had met each other earlier. Xu Beiyan inhaled, suppressing the feelings in his heart as a slight smile appeared on hsi face again. So what if Zhou Yuan was a little earlier? Xu Beiyan did not believe in first come first serve, nor did he fear any competitors. There was still time in the future after all. While various thoughts were swirling in Xu Beiyan¡¯s head, Yaoyao suddenly stopped and turned her head to the side. ¡°You¡¯re called Xu Beiyan, right?¡± Xu Beiyan was taken aback. He quickly cupped his fists together. ¡°For the lady goddess to remember my name after assisting you for two years, it has all been worthwhile.¡± He was quite humorous. Together with his handsome face and good manners, even Zhou Yuan could not help but admit that this guy was really outstanding. However, Yaoyao pondered for a moment and said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to help in the future. Zhou Yuan will handle it.¡± At these words, the expression in Xu Beiyan¡¯s eyes finally changed as his face turned completely rigid. Chapter 1289 Replace In front of the Great Alchemy Hall. After hearing Yaoyao¡¯s words, the always calm and confident Xu Beiyan could no longer conceal his emotions, finally allowing them to be visible on his face. Yaoyao¡¯s abrupt declaration had clearly upset him. Fortunately, Xu Beiyan still had some wits about him and did not begin shouting to question her. He earnestly looked at Yaoyao and said, ¡°Great goddess, did I make some mistake while assisting you? If so, please tell me so I can remedy it.¡± He smiled bitterly as he continued, ¡°It was not easy for us to improve the success rate and pill production number per batch over the past two years. If we replace anyone at this juncture, won¡¯t it affect the production of Ancestral Dragon Pills? ¡°You should know that the All-Heavens City numerous Nascent Source and Law Domain experts risked their lives to bring back the pill ingredients in hopes of exchanging for Ancestral Dragon Pills. Hence, our success rate and production efficiency is of utmost importance to them!¡± Towards the end, Xu Beiyan seemed to lose his composure somewhat, causing his voice to grow louder. Outside the Great Alchemy Hall, the watching crowd naturally heard Xu Beiyan. They were instantly taken aback before their expressions began to change. ¡°What does he mean? Are they going to replace Xu Beiyan?¡± ¡°Is that appropriate? Xu Beiyan has already assisted in the pill production for two years and has ample experience. Moreover, he has an Allroamer stage Spirit, making it much easier to adjust the other Law Domain experts¡¯ Genesis Qi influx. Why are they suddenly replacing him?¡± ¡°Lady goddess seems to want Zhou Yuan to take over and replace Xu Beiyan?¡± ¡°This...this is preposterous!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Zhou Yuan is merely a Nascent Source expert, how can he participate in the Ancestral Dragon Pill production? Even if the goddess wants to support him, there should be no need for him to take this particular job, right?¡± ¡°If this leads to a decrease in the Ancestral Dragon Pill production, won¡¯t we have to bear the losses?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The crowd exploded into whispers in front of the hall. The numerous Nascent Source and Law Domain experts, who were originally just watching for entertainment, could no longer remain calm. After all, the Ancestral Dragon Pill production affected their interests. According to the rules of All-Heavens City, every practitioner needed to hand over all the Ancestral Dragon will fragments they obtained in exchange for tokens. When the Ancestral Dragon Pills were subsequently produced, the token holders would be able to exchange the tokens back for pills accordingly. However, this was where the problem lay. The Ancestral Dragon Pill production was not stable and would often fluctuate. This led to a substantial fluctuation in the token exchange rates. Normally speaking, four tokens could be exchanged for an Ancestral Dragon Pill. If the pill production was better than usual, the rate might be three for one, but if it was worse, it might even reach six for one. From this, one could see how important the pill production rates were for struggling Nascent Source and Law Domain practitioners of All-Heavens City. This was also why they reacted so greatly upon hearing that Yaoyao was intending to replace Xu Beiyan, who had been assisting for the past two years. As the disturbance outside the Great Alchemy Hall continued, space rippled and four figures walked out. The appearance of these four figures caused the commotion to die down. Everyone recognized these two individuals. They were the Saint experts stationed in All-Heavens City. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What scandal has made all of you so noisy?¡± A green-robed elder¡¯s gaze swept across the crowd as his deep voice boomed, causing everyone to keep quiet out of fear. The green-robed elder was known as Saint Lu Liu. In addition, he was one of Xu Beiyan¡¯s masters. Hence, after asking his question, Saint Lu Liu turned towards Xu Beiyan as his tone softened. ¡°Beiyan, what¡¯s going on?¡± Xu Beiyan hurriedly bowed. He glanced at the fully composed Yaoyao, clearly hesitating to speak. Saint Lu Liu frowned and impatiently said, ¡°Stop dilly dallying and spit it out.¡± Xu Beiyan smiled bitterly and said, ¡°Lady goddess suddenly wanted Zhou Yuan to replace me in the pill production, and our friends here are worried that their token exchange rate will be affected. That¡¯s why there was a commotion.¡± Saint Lu Liu frowned deeply. He glanced at Yaoyao, but ultimately did not question her directly. After all, her status was far too special, and even Omega Shrine Saint experts like themselves did not dare to be rude in the slightest. Hence, he looked towards Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I know that you are amazingly talented, but the Ancestral Dragon Pill production is far too important. Xu Beiyan has practiced for two years in order to reach a certain level of compatibility with the honored goddess. If you suddenly interfere, the pill production rate might be affected. This is very unfair towards the All-Heavens City practitioners who have risked their lives to obtain Ancestral Dragon Spirit fragments.¡± ¡°Moreover¡­¡± Saint Lu Liu paused before he slowly said, ¡°Given your talent and potential, it is only a matter of time till your name spreads to all the heavens. There should be no need to resort to such tactics, right?¡± His tone was slightly commanding, undoubtedly displaying the pressure of a Saint expert. Zhou Yuan frowned a little. Just as he was about to speak, an elderly chuckle rang out beside him. ¡°Lu Liu, don¡¯t randomly insinuate things for the young ones. Yaoyao definitely has her reasons for choosing Zhou Yuan, and there is no need for you to give your opinion on this matter. ¡°If you really have any problems, go report to the three prime sovereigns.¡± Zhou Yuan turned his head and saw Cang Yuan¡¯s figure appear. Lu Liu was clearly somewhat unhappy due to Cang Yuan¡¯s appearance. ¡°Am I not saying the truth? The current crew is already the most compatible. Is there a need to make random changes and affect the big picture?¡± The nearby Nascent Source and Law Domain experts could not help but nod in agreement at his words. After finishing, Lu Liu looked towards Yaoyao and cupped his heads together, ¡°Honored goddess, may I enquire why you want to replace Xu Beiyan?¡± The crowd also cast their gazes over. Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun¡¯s soft fur, her beautiful face filled with indifference. She glanced at Lu Liu and nonchalantly said, ¡°The most important reason is because I like Zhou Yuan to assist me of course. My mood will be better.¡± Lu Liu¡¯s elderly face turned a little stiff, while the corners of Xu Beiyan¡¯s eyes twitched. The crowd were also dumbstruck. They never imagined that Yaoyao would be so direct... Cang Yuan could not help but let out a bitter chuckle. Sure enough, Yaoyao did not have much interest in other people and their affairs. She had mainly stayed here to produce pills for Zhou Yuan¡¯s sake. Hence, she would not give anyone else face. The atmosphere turned stifling, no one knowing what to say... However, after a few moments, Yaoyao calmly spoke again, ¡°Secondly¡­...only with00 Zhou Yuan assisting me will the Ancestral Dragon Pill production and success rate be at its highest. This is something no one else can do.¡± Phew. Amidst the silence, it seemed the several people secretly breathed sighs of relief. Sure enough, the honored goddess was not being wilful. She had the big picture in mind. Although everyone felt there was a huge problem with the main reason, only Cang Yuan understood that there was actually no problem at all. In Yaoyao¡¯s heart, having Zhou Yuan¡¯s company was indeed far more important than any pill production or success rate. After breathing sighs of relief, the crowd returned to their senses. Wasn¡¯t Zhou Yuan only a Nascent Source expert? How could he perform better than Xu Beiyan? However, when they gazed at Yaoyao¡¯s frosty face, no one dared to question her. Xu Beiyan¡¯s expression fluctuated for a while, in the end, he could not help but step forward, his sharp gaze locking onto Zhou Yuan as his voice rang out, ¡°I refuse to believe it!¡± Chapter 1290 Substituted ¡°I refuse to believe it!¡± Xu Beiyan was not the only one who wanted to say these words. Everyone present had the same thought in their minds. They did not believe that Zhou Yuan¡¯s assistance would increase the pill production rate and success. No matter what, he only appeared to be a Nascent Source expert. With such cultivation, he did not even possess the qualifications to adjust the Law Domain experts¡¯ Genesis Qi. In their view, the goddess was exaggerating to try and console the crowd. Xu Beiyan seemed to regret his words after they left his mouth. He looked at Yaoyao and sincerely said, ¡°Lady goddess, I was not doubting you. It¡¯s just that one¡¯s Spirit cultivation must at least be at the Allroamer stage to aid you. Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength and talent are definitely top tier, however, he is currently still lacking some experience.¡± Yaoyao did not reply, merely glancing at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan naturally understood her intention. He grinned and said to Xu Beiyan, ¡°It just so happens that my Spirit has reached the Allroamer stage after the past two years of secluded cultivation. As he spoke, divine light began to glow between his brows. A circular glowing Spirit ripple unfurled. The Nascent Source and Law Domain experts could clearly feel the strength of this Spirit ripple, causing their expressions to change as they looked towards Zhou Yuan in amazement. He was really an Allroamer stage?! The gazes of several Law Domain experts eased a little. Although the two years of silence had caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation to be a far cry from before, he was still quite well known. Even when disregarding his relationship with the goddess, being supreme sovereign Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple already made them envious. They had originally believed that at least their cultivation was higher than Zhou Yuan. However, it was now clear that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had stepped into the Allroamer stage, making him an equal. Hence, their final piece of superiority over him was no more. Xu Beiyan also stared at Zhou Yuan in shock, clearly surprised by this revelation. However, he soon collected himself and said, ¡°Grand elder is truly talented, such a young Allroamer stage will certainly have a bright future ahead. ¡°However, even if grand elder Zhou Yuan has reached the Allroamer stage, creating Ancestral Dragon Pills is no easy task and requires one to constantly accumulate experience for a long time. I advanced to the Allroamer stage many years ago, but I can barely keep up with the honored goddess even after two years of practice. Currently, we¡¯ve managed to achieve 9 pills per batch and are on an improving trend. If grand elder Zhou Yuan replaces me, won¡¯t you have to waste time to familiarize yourself? ¡°The friction between the all-heavens and Sacred Race is ever growing, and time is the most important resource for us.¡± Xu Beiyan looked towards Yaoyao and solemnly finished, ¡°I hope lady goddess will reconsider.¡± His tone was filled with sincerity, and his mannerisms were excellent, causing several people to secretly nod in approval. As expected of a top expert in Qiankun Heaven and the heaven pride taught by three Saint experts. Several pairs of eyes could not help but turn towards Zhou Yuan. Although he had revealed his Allroamer stage Spirit, it was honestly not very nice for a newcomer to squeeze himself in like that. Of course, they had directly forgotten that Yaoyao was the one who had started this. They could find no fault with the perfect goddess who selflessly made Ancestral Dragon Pills for them. It was Zhou Yuan who was obviously leading their perfect goddess atray, causing her to make such a muddle headed decision. How loathsome of him! Saint Lu Liu indifferently said, ¡°Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, even if Xu Beiyan¡¯s might not be up to standard, he has been working hard for the past two years. Isn¡¯t a little too unreasonable to randomly find an excuse to replace him? ¡°If you don¡¯t properly explain this to me, I will inform his other two masters. Although we might not be as experienced or powerful as you, I believe someone in the Omega Shrine will listen to us.¡± Cang Yuan frowned a little. Just as he was about to speak, Yaoyao cut in, ¡°Xu Beiyan has been paid for his services in Ancestral Dragon Pills. Moreover, it is quite a substantial amount. Hence, he did not help for free. In addition, I am in-charge of the entire pill production process and I can replace anyone I wish to. ¡°If you have any objections, you can take over the Ancestral Dragon Pill production.¡± Saint Lu Liu¡¯s face twitched. Everyone knew that only Yaoyao could create Ancestral Dragon Pills. This was something even the three prime sovereigns could not achieve, let alone him. ¡°Honored goddess, you¡­¡± Lu Liu could no longer hold back and said in a low voice, ¡°are being somewhat unreasonable.¡± Yaoayao glanced at Lu Liu before withdrawing her gaze. ¡°I will not repeat this a second time. Only with Zhou Yuan assistance will the production of Ancestral Dragon pills reach its maximum output. I can only say that you are ignorant for not believing and I have no interest in explaining. ¡°If you guys keep pressing this matter, I will cease production of the Ancestral Dragon Pills.¡± After leaving these final words behind, she began walking towards the Great Alchemy Hall. The surroundings were silent. Everyone had been shocked by Yaoyao¡¯s icy domineeringness. The numerous Nascent Source and Law Domain experts looked at each other in panic. If All-Heavens City no longer produced Ancestral Dragon Pills, this place would lose its meaning. Lu Liu likewise never imagined that Yaoyao would completely disregard everything. His mouth opened and closed repeatedly, no daring to speak for a time. The other three Saint experts glared at him. Did this old fellow think Yaoyao was an ordinary person? She was a divine existence that was apathetic by nature, and yet you still dare to challenge her. If she was angered and decided to quit, could you bear the responsibility? Lu Liu felt somewhat embarrassed under their glares and could only resentfully shut his mouth. Only now did he realize that though the rules of this world applied to others and even Saint experts like them, such rules were useless to the Third God. The other three Saint experts exchanged a look before looking towards supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, hoping he could mediate. Cang Yuan helplessly shook his head, feeling somewhat sad. If it was the past, his words might have some effect, but as Yaoyao¡¯s divinity continued to awaken, she no longer listened to him. Hence, he could only look towards Zhou Yuan. He was likely the only person left who could convince Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan softly sighed inside. It was of course satisfying for Yaoyao to do this, but it would also draw much dissent. Yaoyao probably did not care about such things, but he did not wish for her to be at the center of such dissent. Hence, he quickly walked forward and grabbed Yaoyao¡¯s hands, causing countless eyes to widen. He turned his head and smiled at the crowd. ¡°We welcome everyone to come observe the next Ancestral Dragon Pill production session. If the output does fall because of me, I will voluntarily resign from this position.¡± After speaking, he pulled Yaoyao into the Great Alchemy Hall and it''s doors rumbled shut, cutting off all the watching gazes. Outside the hall, everyone looked at each other. They could only bitterly chuckle before scattering. Only Xu Beiyan remained standing in front of the hall, no longer concealing his anger. The scene of Zhou Yuan pulling Yaoyao by the hand made his heart prick a little. Lu Liu looked at the disciple he was proud of and saiad, ¡°There are plenty of fish in the sea. Although this one is excellent, she might not be suitable. In the end, you might only hurt yourself.¡± Xu Beiyan stared at the closed doors in silence for a long time before he slowly said, ¡°I will not give up. ¡°I am better than Zhou Yuan in every aspect and it makes no sense for me to lose to him. He merely met her earlier¡­¡± He bowed towards Lu Liu and turned around to leave with a swish of his sleeves. When that day came, he would definitely be here watch. He wanted to see on what basis was Zhou Yuan, who had only recently advanced to the Allroamer stage, more qualified than him. Chapter 1291 Yaoyao’s Changes The tightly shut doors sealed off the outside noise, creating a silent atmosphere. Carrying Tuntun, Yaoyao casually sat down on the steps, her slender hand ruffling Tuntun¡¯s shaggy head before pulling its ear into all kinds of shapes. Her cold, beautiful face was still pretty much emotionless, but Zhou Yuan could sense that she was not in a good mood. He walked over, seated down beside her and placed her hand in his own. He did not speak, silently keeping her company. Yaoyao leaned over, placing her face on Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder. After a long time, she finally said in a soft voice, ¡°While you and Tuntun weren¡¯t around, I felt myself becoming less and less human and I just can¡¯t seem to care much anymore... ¡°Do you know that I¡¯ve even begun to become distant to Grandpa Hei. I clearly didn¡¯t wish for it, but I always feel slightly alienated when I¡¯m facing him. ¡°Only when I see you and Tuntun will I feel some emotion, making me feel that I¡¯m still human and not an indifferent god that watches over the mortals.¡± Zhou Yuan hugged Yaoyao¡¯s shoulder, his eyes full of tenderness and self-reproach. Although he had always mockingly called himself the all-heavens king of relying on his woman, he had been doing all he could to improve himself. He had repeatedly experienced near-death fights, enabling himself to constantly evolve, progress and grow stronger. He believed that a day would come when he would no longer need Yaoyao to stand in front of him, but instead shield her from all the storms that came their way. Unfortunately, he was still far from achieving this goal even till now. Zhou Yuan softly said, ¡°Yaoyao, I will always be there no matter what happens.¡± Tuntun also softly barked in her arms as if saying it would be there too. Yaoyao smiled faintly, clearly feeling a little better. Upon seeing her mood had improved, Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly and asked, ¡°Why do you suddenly want me to participate in the Ancestral Dragon Pill production? Although their words were unpleasant, they were justified. Xu Beiyan has been coordinating with you for two years and should be much better in producing these pills.¡± Although he had made himself appear confident earlier, it was all an act. No matter how arrogant he was, he did not feel that he would be better than Xu Beiyan, who had two years of experience. However, there was one thing he had been genuine about. If he failed to do better than Xu Beiyan, he would not shamelessly hold onto the role because it would only draw anger from the majority and would not be worth it. Yaoyao responded, ¡°I don¡¯t like that Xu Beiyan. I¡¯m naturally aware of his intentions over these past two years, and although his performance is adequate, I¡¯m really getting a little tired of him. He keeps playing his flute outside whenever I want some peace and quiet. If I did not have some rationality left, I would have already made him disappear.¡± Zhou Yuan began to sweat. He honestly felt that Xu Beiyan was top tier in every aspect, but Yaoyao was clearly someone who could not be measured by common sense. Hence, he weakly said, ¡°Yaoyao, if I met you now instead, I feel that I would have been killed countless times for all the things I did to you in the past.¡± Yaoyao rolled her eyes at him, ¡°There aren¡¯t that many what ifs in this world.¡± She paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°You will be highly paid for assisting me in the Ancestral Dragon Pill production. As long as we succeed, you will obtain several pills every month. You could say that I¡¯m fighting for your benefit, because the Ancestral Dragon Pill is an excellent item that you will definitely need from now onwards.¡± The other Nascent Source and Law Domain experts would likely need to take several trips into the Outerspace Battlefield to obtain a few Ancestral Dragon Pills and risk their lives countless times. In fact, All-Heavens City estimated at least one casualty every mission. From this, one could see just how costly it was to obtain Ancestral Dragon Pills. Compared to risking one¡¯s life to find Ancestral Dragon will fragments, assisting in producing Ancestral Dragon Pills was undoubtedly a cushy job. Zhou Yuan was touched. He emotionally stared at Yaoyao and said, ¡°You¡¯re so good to me, how else can I repay you but with my body?¡± The corners of Yaoyao¡¯s lips curled downwards as she lifted Tuntun. ¡°I think you can give your body to it instead.¡± Tuntun was originally enjoying himself on Yaoyao¡¯s lap. When it was suddenly lifted to Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, it displayed an extremely disdainful expression as its tail viciously whipped towards his face. Zhou Yuan bent his head to the side to avoid the attack as he glared at Tuntun. This fellow was so untactful, why was it intruding in their romantic time. Yaoyao extended her arms into the air and stretched, revealing her almost perfect curves. Soon after, she lazily said, ¡°Everything I said earlier was true, including the part that you¡¯ll do better than Xu Beiyan.¡± Zhou Yuan was surprised. ¡°Am I really more suitable than him?¡± Yaoyao said, ¡°The most difficult part of creating the pills is taming the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. They say that I¡¯m the only one who can do it, but that is not entirely true... Her bright eyes looked straight at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You can too.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook. According to master Cang Yuan, this was something that even the three prime sovereigns could not do. Yaoyao could only do it because she was born from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will and was considered the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s daughter, but he... His eyes suddenly flashed. ¡°Is it because of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture?¡± Yaoyao gave a faint nod, ¡°You¡¯re not too stupid. ¡°Due to the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will will have a much lower resistance towards you. Of course, if you won¡¯t be able to refine the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s because you aren¡¯t strong enough. However, I will be the main force while you¡¯ll be supporting me to ease my burden. With this combination, our success rate and yield will naturally be incomparable to before.¡± Yaoyao nonchalantly continued, ¡°The others are really useless, including Xu Beiyan. For the past two years, I had to make up for their mistakes and incompetence countless times. To be frank, it¡¯s eighty percent their fault that the success rate and yield had been so low in the past.¡± Her tone was filled with disdain towards the group of idiots. Zhou Yuan could only force a smile before he breathed a sigh of relief. It would naturally be best if he could improve the Ancestral Dragon Pill¡¯s success rate and yield. Otherwise, it would certainly not feel good to fail and be mocked by others. Moreover, he could also put a stop to gossip such that people would not think Yaoyao was just acting wilfully, although in a certain manner of speaking, she did have the right to be wilful. However, Zhou Yuan did not wish for such things to happen, he would rather bear everything by himself. ¡°There should be half a month till the next pill production session. Over this period, you will do your best to familiarize yourself with the steps and process.¡± Of course Yao Yao did not wish for Zhou Yuan to fail and become a laughing stock either. Although she could wash her hands of this entire affair, how could Zhou Yuan continue on in the all-heavens if she did so? Zhou Yuan nodded and cupped his fists together. ¡°Please guide my kindly teacher Yaoyao.¡± Chapter 1292 Yaoyao’s Training News of Zhou Yuan taking over from Xu Beiyan soon spread to the entire All-Heavens City. It naturally caused quite a commotion. After all, Xu Beiyan had performed pretty well for the past two years. It had been a long and tough journey to achieve the current level of stability and gradually increasing yield. Won¡¯t suddenly replacing him waste all of this hard earned experience? Moreover, although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had advanced to the Allroamer stage, he was still very green. In comparison, Xu Beiyan had slowly solidified his Allroamer stage foundations for many years, and was likely much better in Spirit control than Zhou Yuan, right? Due to all of these reasons, almost no one optimistic about Zhou Yuan taking over. However, this decision was personally made by the goddess, and even the Saints experts stationed in All-Heavens City could not change anything. This made many people jealous... The goddess was clearly perfect, why would she do such a thing for a mere Zhou Yuan? Could even the goddess be unable to escape from shackles of the heart? But why was that someone not me! Fortunately, Zhou Yuan was rather tactful. He had declared that if the pill yield rate did not surpass Xu Beiyan¡¯s in the next pill production session, he would voluntarily give up the position. However, some people felt that he was only finding a way out for himself to prevent losing all face if things didn''t work out. At least he had a little smarts. However, he was ultimately too young and prideful. If he felt that he was not up to the task, he should have rejected the position in the first place. Failing after causing such a commotion would not only bring shame to himself but also implicate the goddess. Due to this matter, an air of excitement enveloped All-Heavens City. Teams that returned from their missions put their next missions on hold, intending to personally witness the outcome of the next pill production session. After all, it was a matter that deeply affected their interests. ... While All-Heavens City was abuzz with this matter, the main actor, Zhou Yuan began his Ancestral Dragon Pill cramming session under Yaoyao¡¯s supervision. ¡°Thirteen Law Domain experts will provide a continuous supply of Genesis Qi as fuel throughout the process... ¡°As my assistant, your main task is to control their Genesis Qi and adjust the output according to what I need to refine the main ingredient, the Ancestral Dragon will fragments.¡± In a peaceful and secluded courtyard. Yaoyao was elegantly seated on a bench inside a stone pavilion. Tuntun napped on her long legs like a little doggy, while she stroked its fur and explained to Zhou Yuan, who was seated on a sizable rock in front of her. ¡°Can¡¯t believe it requires a continuous supply of Genesis Qi from thirteen Law Domain experts¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was amazed. The Ancestral Dragon Pill was indeed extraordinary. Just the line-up for the provision of Genesis Qi alone was something the entire Tianyuan Region could not fulfil. ¡°That won¡¯t be easy.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned grave. The Genesis Qi of thirteen Law Domain experts was tremendous. To direct and control such a huge amount was definitely no easy task. ¡°Although it¡¯s one of the more difficult aspects, it is not the most problematic. After all, this is not a fight and the Law Domain experts will not intentionally resist you. Hence, your Allroamer stage Spirit should be able to achieve it after some training.¡± Yaoyao''s drawn out voice sounded, ¡°The joint alchemy process is the most troublesome part. As my assistant, you must be aware of every change in the alchemy cauldron and send out each wave of Genesis Qi to precise locations at the correct timing. ¡°Xu Beiyan had been unable to grasp this rhythm during his first year, leading to numerous failures. As the failures piled up, he gradually managed to grasp the rhythm, but still can¡¯t do it perfectly. Hence why the yield has not never been high.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded with a thoughtful look on his face. This was indeed a very troublesome part. He had to guide the Genesis Qi of thirteen Law Domain experts while paying close attention to Yaoyao¡¯s rhythm. Any slight mistake in between would affect the final result. However, there seemed to be no shortcut. The only method he could see was slowly grasping the rhythm through trial and error. The problem was that he did not have much time. ¡°When is the next session?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. ¡°All-Heavens City conducts two sessions a month. The next one should be in half a month¡¯s time.¡± Zhou Yuan winced. Even Xu Beiyan had taken a year to get used to the rhythm, wasn¡¯t it far too difficult for him to do it in half a month? Upon seeing his expression, the corners of Yaoyao¡¯s mouth curled upwards. ¡°To be honest, this part will be the easiest for you instead.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. Yaoyao placed a hand on her chin, her clear eyes seemingly smiling in amusement. ¡°Because I can place a little of my will in your Spirit so we can share our senses to a certain extent. You¡¯ll easily be able to know which stage of the process we¡¯re at and what you¡¯ll need to do next.¡± Zhou Yuan was stupefied. They could do this? Wasn¡¯t this basically an open-book exam? Xu Beiyan was having a closed-book exam while he had an open-book exam? ¡°You¡­¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but awkwardly scratch his head. Yaoyao clearly already had a solution for this ¡®biggest problem¡¯. However, she had said nothing and allowed Xu Beiyan to experience a year of failure. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you use this method for Xu Beiyan?¡± Yaoyao swept a glance at Zhou Yuan and answered, ¡°Why should I share senses with him?¡± Her tone was a little cold, seemingly akin to the overbearingness of a young teenage girl. However, Zhou Yuan understood that it was due to the divinity in her body that made her learn more towards being apathetic. Although she had agreed to manufacture Ancestral Dragon Pills, she did not care whether they succeeded or not. In addition, this fusion with the Spirit and sharing senses was a rather unique link. Yaoyao would willingly engage in it with Zhou Yuan, but she could not possibly do the same with Xu Beiyan, even if the price was being unable to properly produce pills for nearly a year. Zhou Yuan nodded and smiled. ¡°In order words, I only need to focus on guiding and controlling the thirteen Law Domain experts¡¯ Genesis Qi.¡± Yaoyao gave a faint nod. Soon after, she reached out and pointed in the air. Rumble! Zhou Yuan¡¯s surroundings immediately changed as thirteen mighty torrents of Genesis Qi surged out, flowing and roaring around him like angry dragons. Yaoyao nonchalantly said, ¡°For the next half a month, you shall practice guiding these thirteen Genesis Qi torrents with your Spirit. When you can maintain harmony between them, you should be good enough.¡± Resplendent light emerged between Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows as powerful Spirit force surged out like the tide. The strength of his Spirit was unimaginable two years ago. Spirit power flooded out and began interacting with the thirteen Genesis Qi torrents. The initial contact was unsuccessful. Each torrent was equivalent to a Law Domain expert¡¯s entire stock of Genesis Qi. Hence, even with his Spirit at the Allroamer stage, it was still rather strenuous. However, he was not worried. As he grew more accustomed, he was confident of grasping their individual rhythms. Subsequently, he would be able to harmonize them with his own Spirit control and naturally be able to guide the thirteen Genesis Qi torrents. However, he had underestimated the training Yaoyao had prepared for him. ¡°For the next pill production session, you¡¯ll also need to assist me in refining Ancestral Dragon will fragments. Hence, you can separate part of your Spirit now to make a double that will familiarize the refinement process with me.¡± A ball of mystic yellow qi rose from Yaoyao¡¯s hand, giving off ancient and primal undulations. It was a strand of extremely weak Ancestral Dragon will. Zhou Yuan could not help but grimace. Now that his Spirit had stepped into the Allroamer stage, he could separate part of it to create a Spirit double that would share its senses with him. However, separating his Spirit would undoubtedly split his attention, making it more difficult to guide the Genesis Qi torrents. However, he knew that this was a test Yaoyao had prepared for him. Spirit light flickered between his brows as a nearly corporeal figure slowly rose from within, turning into another Zhou Yuan. The two Zhou Yuan looked at each other and smiled. It was quite a peculiar feeling. The Spirit double landed in the stone pavilion, sat in front of Yaoyao and began helping her refine the strand of Ancestral Dragon will. Due to having seperated part of his Spirit, Zhou Yuan lost control of the Genesis Qi torrents, causing them to chaotically flow about. In the end, they smashed into his body, blasting him into the ground amidst a cry of alarm. In the stone pavilion, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit double shivered, its body rippling before stabilizing again. He glanced at the sorry figure of the original body, before turning back to the strand of Ancestral Dragon will. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and began learning how to help Yaoyao refine the strand... Yaoyao was fixed on having Zhou Yuan help her, and did not care what anyone else thought. She might not care about others, but Zhou Yuan needed to do his best because he did not wish for others to talk about her. He said to himself, Zhou Yuan, you have to work hard. Chapter 1293 Underhanded Move While Zhou Yuan began refining Ancestral Dragon Pill under Yaoyao¡¯s guidance, in a manor on a mountain of All-Heavens City, Xu Beiyan, dressed in an ink-color robe, was gracefully sat in front of a guqin. As his fingers fluttered across the strings, sweet-sounding noises reverberated in the mountains. Two beautiful maids stood behind him, gazing affectionately at the handsome man. The sound was relaxed and drawn out, but Xu Beiyan suddenly stopped, severing the pleasant noise. He emotionlessly slammed his hand, shattering the stone table and guqin to powder. The maids dropped to their knees and bowed. Xu Beiyan ignored them and turned his head to a certain place in All-Heavens City. It was where Yaoyao resided and recent news also reported that Zhou Yuan lived there. The thought of the two living together made Xu Beiyan, who had cultivated his mind for years, become irritable. ¡°I have worked closely with the goddess in the past two years, and it¡¯s time we connect at a deeper level with each other, but Zhou Yuan came and ruined all my efforts. He is too annoying.¡± Xu Beiyan''s anger rose to his eyes. He has had relationships with many women in his life so he knew he mustn¡¯t be impatient with the goddess, who had such a cold and detached personality. Everything was within his grasp but Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance ruined everything. "I don''t think Zhou Yuan would do better than me in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill, but if the goddess is biased, there might be underhanded moves.¡± Xu Beiyan''s face turned sullen. The goddess is extraordinary in both identity and strength. Even if others might not have such an ability to do so, she could be different. But when he thought the person he liked was going to all the trouble to deal with him for another man, he couldn¡¯t help scrunching his brows and jealousy surged up. But what made Xu Beiyan helpless was that his jealousness couldn¡¯t stop anything. ¡°Beiyan, come over for a moment,¡± a voice passed to his ears. ¡°Master Lu Liu?¡± Xu Beiyan was startled for a moment, but then immediately vanished. When he reappeared, he was already inside a secret chamber. But he not only saw Saint Lu Liu there, but also two familiar figures. ¡°Master Gou Lang, Master Du Huo? Why are you all here?¡± Xu Beiyan asked in a surprised voice. In addition to Saint Lu Liu were two other elders, one with a long and thin face, eagle-like nose and fierce and cold eyes. The other was clad in a red robe with flames blazing in his eyes. They were Xu Beiyan¡¯s other two masters. Saint Gou Lang and Saint Du Huo. ¡°Lu Liu messaged us to come over and told us that our precious disciple is being bullied,¡± said Saint Gou Lang with a smile. ¡°We already know about the details. It is indeed unfair. You have worked hard for two years to refine Ancestral Dragon Pill but they get rid of you for no good reason. Not only is it unreasonable, they also gave us no face,¡± Saint Du Huo said irritably. Saint Lu Liu said with a smile, ¡°She¡¯s the goddess, the third god, why would she give face to three one-lotus Saints? Let alone us, she wouldn¡¯t even pay attention to the three prime sovereigns.¡± Saint Gou Lang said, ¡°Gods are high and mighty and look down on all living beings. They¡¯re not trustworthy. It would be catastrophic for all-heavens if she has any malicious intent.¡± Saint Du Huo nodded in agreement. "Speaking of which, I still blame Cang Yuan for stealing the divine stone that gave birth to the third god. If we had refined the divine stone, there might not even be a real god in our human race and we would have nothing to worry about, right?¡± The three all agreed to refine the divine stone in the Omega Shrine, which was an opposite stance to Cang Yuan. However, Cang Yuan stole the divine stone and let it birth the third god. After that, since the situation was decided, they could only cease their beating drums and accept it. After all, the third god was already born and they would only anger the third god. All-heavens would also have to face another powerful enemy in addition to the Sacred God. The Omega Shrine also wouldn''t allow them to do so. Saint Lu Liu shook his head, saying, ¡°What''s the use of saying such things now? We should think about Beiyan instead. We have worked so hard to get him the position to assist in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill. He could have obtained many Ancestral Dragon Pill, which he needed hugely to prepare him for attacking the Saint stage soon.¡± Ancestral Dragon Pills were incredibly rare and had become the most sought-after object in all-heavens. The fact that even Saints couldn¡¯t get involved in preparing Ancestral Dragon Pills contributed to its rarity. Many people with Spirit at the Allroaming had fought for the task in assisting Yaoyao refine Ancestral Dragon Pills but that role landed on Xu Beiyan in the end because not only was he talented, he had the support and recommendation of three Saints. The Nascent Source and Law Domain experts in All-Heavens City could be called the elites of the elites, so how would anyone without a strong background be given such a pleasant task? ¡°Humph, we can¡¯t let someone else have that position,¡± said Saint Gou Lang. Saint Du Huo said, ¡°Zhou Yuan has only been at the Allroaming stage for a short period. He¡¯s much inferior to Beiyan in terms of ability; however, the goddess possesses extraordinary power and could help Zhou Yuan if she wanted to. So since the goddess isn¡¯t fair first, she can''t blame us for using underhanded moves.¡± Saint Du Huo smiled and then pulled out a strand of hair. The hair was blazing with green flames, and upon a closer look, seemed to be inscribed with countless ancient runes. Lu Liu and Gou Lang flicked their fingers and instilled majestic powers into that strand of hair. The green flames dispersed and the hair gradually turned transparent before disappearing completely from the world. Du Huo handed the strand of invisible hair to Xu Beiyan, saying ¡°There should be someone you know among the thirteen Law Domain experts who assist in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill. Meet up with one later and secretly activate this. It will enter their body without anyone realizing. ¡°This strand of hair has no other ability apart from making one lose control of one¡¯s Genesis Qi for a moment. When I activate it while Ancestral Dragon Pills are being refined, the thirteen Law Domain experts¡¯ Genesis Qi would be disrupted.¡± ¡°This technique is very secretive and no one can detect it since it¡¯s activated using our combined strengths. It would only appear to others that Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t strong enough to control the thirteen Law Domain experts¡¯s Genesis Qi and lead to failure in the pill refining. After his failure, he would be too ashamed to keep this position anymore.¡± Xu Beiyan seemed a little hesitant as he gazed at the invisible object in Du Huo¡¯s hand. ¡°Those who accomplish big things wouldn¡¯t care about trivial matters. Zhou Yuan is clearly not as good as you and yet he replaced you. Also, you have to remember that until the day you become a Saint, everything is just emptiness, and only after stepping into the Saint stage can you achieve what your heart wants. You need Ancestral Dragon Pills, you can¡¯t lose this opportunity,¡± Saint Du Huo persuaded. Xu Beiyan¡¯s eyes turned chilling, and he immediately nodded. Then, he respectfully reached out to take the strand of hair. ¡°I will listen to masters¡¯ teachings." What he did wasn¡¯t for selfish desires but to refine more Ancestral Dragon Pills. This was a huge matter that concerned and would benefit all-heavens. Zhou Yuan was too selfish to replace him using connections. Zhou Yuan, I am more qualified than you for the position. Xu Beiyan wore a deep expression. The position of assisting the goddess in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill and the position beside the goddess. Chapter 1294 The three-person team Half a month flew by in the hustle and bustle of All-Heavens City. The Great Alchemy Hall was particularly lively that day. Lights constantly flashed outside the hall as silhouettes descended, all exuding waves of powerful Genesis Qi. Every person present was regarded as an elite expert among the sects and factions in all heavens, more than half of the Nascent Source experts and Law Domain experts in all heavens were in All-Heavens City. This was enough to show how grand All-Heavens City was. The all-heavens war call from the Omega Shrine might be partly responsible for drawing so many people, but the other part was Ancestral Dragon Pill. The Nascent Source stage and the Law Domain stage were already considered the top levels in all-heavens, and thus anyone who cultivated to such a level could be said to have remarkable talent, toughness and opportunities. But the longer one stayed stagnant at that level, the more they realized how difficult the cultivation path was. Many would never progress any further despite painstaking cultivation because their potential had been exhausted. A person''s potential depended on various factors, and potential also determined one¡¯s ultimate success. Perhaps the Nascent Source stage and Law Domain stage were already the top in many people¡¯s eyes, but people at that level would still want to climb even higher and see the scenery of a higher level. It was just that many people failed to break out from the binding of their potential even after exhausting their strengths and would only die in the end. They must be full of unwillingness. The Ancestral Dragon Pill¡¯s appearance allowed many people who stagnated at that level to see a glimmer of hope. Ancestral Dragon Pill was mysterious and strange as it was created from Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. Once consumed and refined, the pill would have tremendous benefits to the Nascent Source stage and Law Domain stage. It could even raise one¡¯s potential and allow people to see a ray of light ahead again. Ever since the Ancestral Dragon Pill¡¯s appearance, the overall strength of Nascent Source experts and Law Domain experts in all-heavens had been improved. Most importantly, the Ancestral Dragon Pill had no side effects. It was simply a heaven-sent divine pill! Countless Nascent Source and Law Domain experts flocked to the Ancestral Dragon Pill. They even willingly entered the chaos void to search for Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits and fought Sacred Race teams that they ran into. Yaoyao, who created the Ancestral Dragon Pill, was even respected as a goddess. It should be said that those who could reach the Nascent Source stage and Law Domain stage were all determined and strong-willed, and even ordinary Saints couldn¡¯t receive such worship from them. This was enough to show the huge impact that the Ancestral Dragon Pill¡¯s appearance had on them. It was precisely because of the Ancestral Dragon Pill that the alchemy session that day attracted so much attention. Countless figures constantly flashed onto the square outside the Great Alchemy Hall. Among them were some well-known figures, and their appearance naturally drew a lot of attention and created commotion. Especially when three figures appeared at the same time. Gasps rippled throughout the crowd and even some Law Domain exerts cast their gazes at them. The three figures, one man and two women, were all outstanding. The man, clad in black, was tall and slender and there wasn¡¯t much of an expression on his handsome face. His eyes were deep like an abyss and sent chills down one¡¯s spine. The two women were both stunning, and although they had different temperaments, each had their strong points. The woman on the left was tall and wore a crimson dress that flattered her curvy body. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful and her phoenix eyes were fierce and cold. She exuded an aura that made people afraid to be near her. The woman on the right was wearing a purple cloud pattern dress that complemented her fair and extremely soft skin, and her facial features were delicate and beautiful. Although she looked gentle, her kind eyes contained tenaciousness inferior to no man. The three¡¯s appearance became the most luminous area of the square because they were Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s three talents, who had gained quite a bit of fame recently in all-heavens. They were Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao, and Su Youwei. The trio¡¯s strength had soared in the past two years, and their accomplishments were incredibly impressive. They had killed many Sacred Race experts on the Outerspace Battlefield in the two years and so even Law Domain experts attached considerable importance to them. After all, although the three were still only at the Nascent Source stage, their 9 inch Nascent Source didn¡¯t seem to be the limit from the potential they had demonstrated. No one knew what level their Nascent Source would reach when they opened up a Law Domain in the future. If they could reach 9.5 inches, they would make even Law Domain experts envious of them because their foundation and potential showed hopes of attacking the Saint stage. That glimmer of hope shouldn¡¯t be underestimated because that perhaps was the gap between a mortal and a Saint. "That guy has been missing for two years. He finally showed himself.¡± Zhao Mushen ignored the many gazes and crossed his arms, sneering, ¡°But I don¡¯t know whether he can keep up with us after disappearing for two years. Even if he can¡¯t, we can¡¯t be blamed for bullying the weak. I have to regain the face I lost back then.¡± Su Youwei glanced at him and said softly, "When you lost to His Highness, didn''t you also look stronger than him?¡± The cold smile on Zhao Mushen¡¯s lips suddenly froze. He indeed looked stronger than Zhou Yuan in the nine regions tournament and he didn''t even consider Zhou Yuan as an opponent at that time. Who would have thought he would be defeated in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand? Even the thought of it was humiliating for Zhao Mushen! Zhao Mushen remained silent for a while and decided to move to another topic. "That guy has disappeared for two years but he created such troubles as soon as he came out. "The Ancestral Dragon Pill concerns the interests of many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts in All-Heavens City yet he still dares to intervene.¡± Su Youwei responded calmly, "His Highness never does anything that he isn¡¯t confident in. Since he took over, he must have the confidence to do better than Xu Beiyan.¡± Zhao Mushen sneered, ¡°You''re really foolish.¡± Xu Beiyan enjoyed a good reputation even in the All-Heavens City and he greatly contributed to the refining of Ancestral Dragon Pills in the past two years. Therefore, even an arrogant person like Zhao Mushen didn¡¯t dare to look down on him. However, Su Youwei was simply a blind supporter of Zhou Yuan. Su Youwei was usually difficult to deal with, but when she encountered any matter related to Zhou Yuan, she seemed to have become a stupid person. Su Youwei didn''t care about Zhao Mushen¡¯s ridicule and said seriously, "Then do you want to bet with me? Let¡¯s bet on an Ancestral Dragon Pill.¡± A light flashed in Zhao Mushen''s eyes. He was evidently tempted, but he suppressed himself in the end because Zhou Yuan was too unpredictable. Forget it, there¡¯s no need to argue with this woman. He coolly snorted and ignored Su Youwei. Ancestral Dragon Pills were too rare that even he wouldn¡¯t dare to use one as a bet. Additionally, he had teamed up with Su Youwei and Wu Yao during the past two years. Although they didn¡¯t fully trust each other and even schemed against each other during the two years, they still worked together due to the same interests. It was precisely because they had teammates that they could rely on that the three rose to fame in the past two years. He didn''t want to fall out with Su Youwei for such a reason. While the two were talking, Wu Yao just stared at the Great Alchemy Hall with an icy gaze, and when a familiar face flashed across her mind, her thick eyelashes suddenly drooped. Although it didn¡¯t seem right, she agreed with Su Youwei¡­ That person won''t be that easy to get rid of. However, as to whether Zhou Yuan would be better than Xu Beiyan in refining Ancestral Dragon Pills, Wu Yao didn¡¯t side with Su Youwei or Zhao Mushen. She didn¡¯t blindly believe in Zhou Yuan, but she also knew about his potential to create miracles...So, she just quietly watched and waited for the result. Boom! While the three each had different thoughts, a boom suddenly resounded from the Great Alchemy Hall and the closed door slowly creaked open. A rich aroma pervaded the air. The Great Alchemy Hall was opened. Chapter 1295 Open the Cauldron to Refine Pill Buzz! As the heavy door into the great hall slowly creaked open, a tremendous seven-color cauldron in the center caught everyone¡¯s eyes. Strange looks filled everyone¡¯s eyes when they saw the colorful cauldron because the cauldron was extraordinary. It was called the Seven-Color Heavenly Refining Cauldron, a true double lotus-level Saint artifact, which could be used for alchemy, but also to defend against enemies. Once trapped within the cauldron, even Saints would lose layers of their skin, if not die. Anyone below the Saint stage would be turned into ashes. As the Great Alchemy Hall opened, the space above the hall slightly distorted and figures radiating mighty power emerged. It was the several Saints watching over the All-Heavens City. Cang Yuan naturally was among them. But what made many people surprised was the presence of two unfamiliar-looking Saints. They eventually learned from others that they were Xu Beiyan¡¯s other two Saint masters. Such a change piqued many onlookers¡¯ interest. Xu Beiyan¡¯s other two masters evidently received a message that Xu Beiyan was replaced and came to the All-Heavens City to support him. Although his three masters were all only at the one-lotus Saint stage, the combined strength of the three could face Cang Yuan, who was a double lotus Saint. Many people exchanged glances with each other because they felt that the pill refining that day wouldn¡¯t be that simple. A commotion broke out on the other side of the square. Everyone cast their gazes over to see Xu Beiyan walking leisurely across the square. Xu Beiyan¡¯s outer appearance was amazing. Not only was he handsome and exuded an extraordinary bearing, many Law Domain experts greeted him along the way. It seemed that both his prestige and connections were extremely great. He immediately became the focus on the square. ¡°Brother Xu, your assistance in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill is absolutely necessary. We depend on you for our Ancestral Dragon Pills.¡± ¡°Yes, don''t worry, Brother Xu. You will get that position after today.¡± ¡°Although Zhou Yuan has potential, he is too inexperienced. Maybe he will understand the difficulties after he tries assisting in Ancestral Dragon Pill refining. If he¡¯s clever, he will know to quit.¡± ¡°......¡± Many people around expressed goodwill towards Xu Beiyan. After all, not only was he incredibly powerful, he also had a strong background, had helped refine Ancestral Dragon Pills in the past and had strong connections with many people. Therefore, Xu Beiyan was surely one of the most dazzling people in All-Heavens City, a place where only elite experts gathered. In response, Xu Beiyan simply gave a slight smile that felt like a wisp of spring breeze. His polite and modest attitude further deepened everyone¡¯s good opinion of him. After responding to the crowd, Xu Beiyan shifted his gaze to the Great Alchemy Hall, a faint light flashing in his eyes¡¯ depths. While the atmosphere on the square grew increasingly buzzing, the Great Alchemy Hall¡¯s side door was slowly pushed open and two figures strode out. The two figures¡¯ entrance completely set off the atmosphere around the square. ¡°Goddess!¡± ¡°We finally could see the goddess¡¯s remarkable beauty again!¡± ¡°...¡± As many people gazed at the beautiful figure, their eyes blazed with excitement and enthusiasm. Yaoyao¡¯s reputation in the All-Heavens City had skyrocketed to its peak in the past two years. While many people stared at Yaoyao with fanatical gazes, they couldn¡¯t help sweeping a glance over the young figure beside her. But the emotions in those gazes were complicated¡ªThere was curiosity, jealousy as well as contempt. But that was normal because no one could approach Yaoyao in the past two years due to her cold and detached personality. It was difficult for even the Saints in All-Heavens City to get close to her, but she had a completely different relationship with Zhou Yuan the moment that Zhou Yuan appeared. It was difficult for the others to not feel jealousy and hatred towards Zhou Yuan. As though Yaoyao couldn¡¯t see the several fanatical gazes, she nodded at Zhou Yuan and leisurely ascended the main seat, the white jade platform. Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across and couldn¡¯t help smacking his lips wherever his gaze was because he could feel waves of powerful Genesis Qi. The majority of Nascent Source and Law Domain experts in all-heavens had gathered in the All-Heavens City. If the Sacred Race were to attack, all-heavens would suffer significant damage. Fortunately, Saints guarded the All-Heavens City, blocked out all perceptions and concealed the city within chaos, making it impossible for the Sacred Race to deduce the location. As Zhou Yuan swept his gaze around, he was taken aback for a moment because he saw Wu Yao, Su Youwei and Zhao Mushen. Su Youwei gave a bright smile when their gazes met, and her beautiful eyes were filled with encouragement and support. Wu Yao retracted her gaze immediately and stood proud like a phoenix. Zhao Mushen''s gaze was ruminative and with a hint of provocation. Zhou Yuan smiled and withdrew his gaze. The three had interestingly formed a little team. After all, Zhao Mushen had attempted to devour the two girls¡¯ Blessings in the nine regions tournament yet they unexpectedly teamed up. From this it was clear how dangerous it was fighting the Sacred Race in the Outerspace Battlefield since the three had to compromise with each other. With a slight movement, Zhou Yuan vanished and reappeared on the stone platform on the lower right side of Yaoyao. He swept a glance across and saw thirteen figures sitting cross-legged around the Seven-Color Pill Cauldron, each exuding powerful Genesis Qi that caused the space around to distort. They were precisely the thirteen Law Domain experts who would provide Genesis Qi for the refining of Ancestral Dragon Pill. The thirteen Law Domain experts¡¯ gazes were scrutinizing Zhou Yuan, and Zhou Yuan could sense huge doubts from those gazes. It was obvious that at least half of the people in the All-Heavens City disagreed with him replacing Xu Beiyan. But there wasn¡¯t much of a ripple of emotion on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face when he saw the skeptical gazes. He knew that he had to maintain a normal state of mind. Xu Beiyan had done pretty well in refining Ancestral Dragon Pills and so his sudden replacement naturally aroused anger. However, the majority of the doubts were brought about because they were worried about their own interests. As long as Zhou Yuan could prove himself, all those doubts would vanish. At that time, no one would be the slightest unhappy with Zhou Yuan taking on the assistant¡¯s position except Xu Beiyan and those related to him. As thoughts streamed through his mind, Zhou Yuan calmly sat down on the stone platform. The Saints headed by Cang Yuan also seated themselves above the hall on their Genesis Qi lotus Saint Lu Liu stared indifferently at the Great Alchemy Hall and suddenly smiled at Cang Yuan. ¡°Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, by stealing the divine stone, you also protected her for many years, but it seems she doesn¡¯t appreciate your kindness.¡± Yaoyao''s divinity was gradually being restored, causing her to become increasingly detached. Moreover, the matter that she became distant to Cang Yuan wasn¡¯t a secret in the circle of the Saints. But for Lu Liu to suddenly speak about it, it was clear that he wanted to make Cang Yuan feel uncomfortable. Cang Yuan glanced indifferently at Saint Lu Liu and then at Saint Gou Lang and Du Huo. ¡°What I did was for all-heavens.¡± ¡°You know that refining Ancestral Dragon Pill is extremely important to us, so why do you let your disciple ruin it?¡± questioned Saint Du Huo. Cang Yuan stared at Zhou Yuan''s figure and said, ¡°Because Zhou Yuan will do better.¡± The other three Saints coldly sneered. ¡°We look forward to seeing that.¡± While they quarrelled, the other Saints chose to maintain a neutral stance. After all, the protagonists of that day¡¯s matter were Zhou Yuan and Xu Beiyan, and so, as masters, it was impossible for them to not show any anger. Cang Yuan ended the quarrel with a flung of his sleeve and his voice reverberated, ¡°Everything is ready. Open the cauldron and start refining pills!¡± Chapter 1296 Guide the Genesis Qi Boom! As Cang Yuan¡¯s mighty voice rang out, the countless ancient runes on the seven-color cauldron released rays of dazzling light, as though they had come alive and were swimming around like fishes. A wave of indescribable energy spread out from the pill cauldron. Even the thirteen Law Domain experts felt their body become heavier, as though they were suppressed in some ways. They couldn¡¯t help marveling inwardly at the might of a double lotus Saint artifact. Saint artifacts were the most powerful objects in all-heavens. Even true Saints would madly scramble for such objects, let alone Law Domain experts. A single lotus Saint with a double lotus Saint artifact could even contend against a double lotus Saint, but of course that was only if the double lotus Saint held no Saint artifacts. However, the majority of objects with lotus seals were already in the hands of a Saints, and even if some came to a Law Domain expert¡¯s hand, it would only be a Saint artifact without a lotus seal. The so-called lotus seal was a seal born in a Saint artifact as a result of constant nourishments from a Saint¡¯s incredible power. The power from such a Saint artifact was far superior to ordinary Saint artifacts. Kacha! As the seven-colored pill cauldron opened, the lid slowly split apart and revealed steam rolling inside and starting to rise up and out of the cauldron. Everyone outside the hall cast curious gazes over because the cauldron¡¯s opening marked the official beginning of the pill refining. Yaoyao, who was sitting gracefully, took out a crude clay bottle. Although it looked ordinary, many people couldn¡¯t help staring intently at it. This bottle was called the Pure Clay Bottle, a double lotus Saint artifact. It was from the Omega Shrine and could purify all objects. Yaoyao planned to use it to suppress and purify the impurity in the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits¡­The impurity didn¡¯t originate from the Ancestral Dragon, but resulted from it being in the world for too long and corroded by various forces. The Pure Clay Bottle¡¯s power could restore it to its original state The fact that the Omega Shrine gave out two double lotus Saint artifacts showed how important the refining of Ancestral Dragon Pills was. Yaoyao raised her beautiful hand and tilted the Pure Clay Bottle. An ancient dragon roar that seemed to have existed since the beginning of the world reverberated throughout the area, causing even the chaos void to vibrate. A mysterious yellow qi flowed out from the bottle, tunnelling into the cauldron in wisps. ¡°Start the fire.¡± Yaoyao''s cold voice echoed like a mountain spring. The thirteen Law Domain experts sitting around the cauldron all wore solemn expressions. They glanced at Zhou Yuan, withdrew their gazes, and concentrated their minds. Then, vast amounts of Genesis Qi suddenly gushed out from them like torrents. The vast and mighty Genesis Qi from the thirteen Law Domain experts constantly tore cracks into the surrounding space as they poured into the seven-color cauldron mouth. Eventually, the cauldron began to shake with buzzing noise. ¡°Control the fire.¡± Yaoyao glanced at Zhou Yuan and spoke with a hint of warmth in her voice, making the thirteen law domain experts couldn¡¯t help but feel sour. When had the goddess ever spoken so sweetly to them? While an air of melancholy surrounded them, Zhou Yuan assumed an extremely solemn expression because he knew that the first hurdle in pill refining had finally come. Although he was already familiar with the pill refining process from Yaoyao''s training in the past month, that was training and he couldn¡¯t help feeling a little nervous when he was actually on the stage. Hu. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had fought hundreds of battles. He quickly composed himself and stabilized his emotions. When he closed his eyes, blinding light suddenly erupted from his Spirit between his brows, and the Spirit power rushed into the seven-color cauldron. The place that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power was gushing towards was precisely where the thirteen Law Domain experts¡¯ Genesis Qi was converging in the cauldron. The two forces came into contact but Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power was almost instantly dispersed by the thirteen entirely different mighty Genesis Qi. That was the combined strength of thirteen Law Domain experts! Hua! An uproar immediately broke out in the crowd on the square when they saw Zhou Yuan''s Spirit power almost dispersed. Could this guy really be just a pewter spear that shines like silver? He¡¯s impressive-looking but useless. ¡°Brother Xu, it seems you¡¯re the only one who could take the important role.¡± A Law Domain expert couldn''t help but say to Xu Beiyan. Although Xu Beiyan had made several mistakes when he first assisted in pill refining, he didn''t do as badly as Zhou Yuan, who almost collapsed as soon as he came up. The others nodded, casting contemptuous glances at Zhou Yuan. This guy has created such a scene, wasted a batch of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirit and made so many people play with him. He really has an exaggerated opinion of his own abilities. Does he really think that his previous accomplishments would allow him to stay at the top his entire life? But Xu Beiyan didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he watched with a frown because although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power was blasted away at the first contact, he could sense that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power hadn¡¯t fully dissipated. Zhou Yuan simply paid no attention to the clatter. His expression remained solemn and the Spirit light between his brows was so intense that it resembled a blazing sun, constantly gushing out Spirit power. It was just that his Spirit power was swept away without exception. The uproar on the square intensified. Rationally speaking, it wasn¡¯t rare to see people failing the first time. Even Xu Beiyan only gradually adapted to pill refining after several failed attempts. But it wast just that the situation was now different¡ªZhou Yuan suddenly appeared and replaced Xu Beiyan. Therefore, everyone felt that Zhou Yuan should at least have some ability to suddenly show up and take someone else¡¯s position. Many people had high expectations of Zhou Yuan, but Zhou Yuan seemed like he would fail soon. Thus many people couldn¡¯t accept such a huge discrepancy. After all, he was wasting precious materials that they had fought for with their lives. But while everyone was clamoring, they failed to notice that the Saints sitting high above were all staring silently at the pill cauldron. The three Saints, Lu Liu, Gou Lang, and Du Huo all knitted their brows in a frown because they could also clearly see the many changes happening within the pill cauldron with their Saint abilities. They saw that Zhou Yuan Spirit power wasn¡¯t truly blasted apart but it was constantly scattered and merged into the thirteen Genesis Qi. This showed his extreme confidence in his Spirit power because Genesis Qi had the natural power to corrode foreign substances. Zhou Yuan would only do so because he felt that his Spirit power was strong enough to withstand Genesis Qi¡¯s instinctive ability. As time passed, waves of Spirit power constantly invaded the thirteen Genesis Qi and Zhou Yuan could soon suppress all thirteen Genesis Qi with thunderous force. Lu Liu and the others exchanged glances with each other and their faces turned a little sullen. They underestimated Zhou Yuan. The three didn¡¯t look too happy, but there was a smile on Cang Yuan¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power was more refined and tougher than he thought. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit didn''t seem like it had just reached the Allroaming stage. Zhou Yuan must have had greater harvests than he imagined in the past two years. He should be able to pass the first hurdle in refining the Ancestral Dragon Pill. While the several Saints were pondering, Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes and his gaze penetrated the pill cauldron. He abruptly folded his hands together. His Spirit between his brows exploded. All his Spirit power was mobilized. The thirteen different Genesis Qi rushing around inside the cauldron like enraged dragons suddenly violently vibrated. Then, thirteen Spirit light rays shot out and coiled around the dragon heads like chains. Spirit power swiftly gathered above the thirteen different Genesis Qi before transforming into a Spirit apparition, which was a perfect likeness of Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan tightly clasped the thirteen Spirit light rays and suddenly shook them. The thirteen enraged Genesis Qi dragon gradually calmed down. A relieved smile lit up on the Spirit apparition¡¯s face. The commotion in the square suddenly ceased. Zhou Yuan has successfully manipulated the thirteen different Genesis Qi? Deep shock and disbelief crossed each face. Xu Beiyan''s surroundings also became quiet. Those who looked down on Zhou Yuan before suddenly were at a loss for words. Although Xu Beiyan wore a calm outward smile, he was inwardly looking sullen. That kid¡¯s Spirit power doesn¡¯t seem to have just reached the Allromaing stage... A light flashed across the eyes of Lu Liu and the others. Saint Du Huo flicked his fingers inside his sleeve. Zhou Yuan, who was smiling, suddenly changed his expression because he felt that the thirteen different Genesis Qi that were already stabilized suddenly put up great resistance and changed the whole situation within seconds. The thirteen Spirit light rays that Zhou Yuan had worked so hard to create were beginning to crack! If they all break apart, Zhou Yuan¡¯s effort would all come to nothing! Zhou Yuan''s eyes turned icy-cold. The change was too strange¡­someone must be doing something! Chapter 1297 The Fourth Rune The watchful onlookers naturally right away noticed the light rays formed from Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power show signs of crumbling and they immediately broke out in an uproar. However, as outsiders, they didn''t understand what was happening and only thought Zhou Yuan lost control of the thirteen Law Domain Genesis Qi. Some onlookers sighed disappointedly because they thought Zhou Yuan would succeed from what they saw earlier. The thirteen Law Domain Genesis Qi seemed to be rioting and about to break free from Zhou Yuan¡¯s manipulation. Once they break free, like escaped wild horses, it would be difficult to regain control without exhausting even greater energy and time. But the pill refining had already started and if Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t hurry to provide Genesis Qi, it could lead to flaws in the goddess¡¯s pill refining. The batch of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits could be wasted. That would be a huge loss. After all, many people had fought with their lives on the battlefield for the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s remnant spirit. Many people would no doubt be unhappy with Zhou Yuan if those precious materials were wasted. Amidst ceaseless clamour, Zhou Yuan quickly composed himself and stabilized his mind. Even if he didn¡¯t expect such a change, he had to remedy the change with everything he could. He first ran his eyes across the thirteen Law Domain experts who were providing Genesis Qi and noticed looks of surprises on all their faces. The sudden changes within the cauldron evidently shocked them. But Zhou Yuan knew that there was a blasting fuse among the thirteen people that triggered the change, though he couldn¡¯t say whether it was intentional or unintentional. However, the mistake was a low-level one for a Law Domain expert, and so, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t believe it was unintentional. When the thirteen different Genesis Qi merged together, the chaos factor spread like a virus and eventually created disorder in all thirteen Genesis Qi. This was equivalent to a serious accident. Zhou Yuan released his Spirit power to search for the chaos factor in the thirteen mighty Genesis Qi. He had to solve all problems before Yaoyao refined the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits and delivered those Genesis Qi as fuels. He had to race against time to eliminate the chaos factor and calm the thirteen Genesis Qi. But he seemed to be too late. Yaoyao had already compressed the several mysterious yellow qi currents and should start the pill refining soon. On the square, Xu Beiyan didn¡¯t show the slightest joy on his face as he watched the square. Instead, he sighed disappointedly, ¡°He almost succeeded.¡± A Law Domain expert beside him couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°Brother Xu, you¡¯re too kind. Zhou Yuan brought this on himself. If he fails, the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits would be wasted and he has to make up for our losses.¡± The others were also indignant and felt that Zhou Yuan was taking advantage of the chance to bully good-natured people. Xu Beiyan smiled without saying anything. On another part of the square, Zhao Mushen shook his head. That guy indeed failed. He¡¯s too careless. Although he has reached the Allroaming stage, how could it be possible for him to manipulate the Genesis Qi of thirteen Law Domain experts? He glanced at Su Youwei and Wu Yao, who were both staring seriously at the Great Alchemy Hall. He wanted to taunt them, but in the end, he suppressed himself because he sensed that the two women, particularly Su Youwei, were surrounded in a dangerous aura. He knew he shouldn¡¯t mess with them. While everyone on the square was whispering to each other, Zhou Yuan knew time was pressing. He stared intently at the thirteen mighty dragon-like Genesis Qi. Although he was doing everything he could to eliminate the chaos factor, he wasn¡¯t fast enough and couldn¡¯t keep up with Yaoyao. He really would fail it this continued like this. He couldn¡¯t accept such a result! Hu! Zhou Yuan exhaled a puff of air and his eyes grew increasingly cold. He formed multiple signs with his hands and put his palms together. His Nascent Source was sitting cross-legged in his Divine Dwellings, and a Saint rune ball suspended above its head suddenly erupted in rays of light. The mysterious fourth Saint Rune grew increasingly clear. A message flowed through his heart. It was two words: Mysterious King. The fourth rune of the Cangxuan Saint Rune, Mysterious King! As Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength soared in the past two years, his Spirit also reached the Allroaming stage and the unfathomable fourth Saint Rune took off its veil and let Zhou Yuan detect its existence. When the fourth Saint Rune was activated, strange light burst forth from Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power gathered above the thirteen Genesis Qi, forming a Spirit apparition. As his apparition slammed down its hand, a mysterious rune flashed in his palm. Many onlookers on the square opened their eyes wide like they saw a lunatic. Does Zhou Yuan plan to forcibly suppress the Genesis Qi of thirteen Law Domain experts? Is he crazy?! Although the thirteen Law Domain experts wouldn¡¯t actively counterattack, everyone knew Genesis Qi would instinctively resist external forces if it was from a different origin. It was perfectly fine for Zhou Yuan to gently guide the Genesis Qi, but if he tried to suppress it with Spirit power, it could cause the thirteen Law Domain experts¡¯ Genesis Qi to fluctuate. How could he stop the instinctive counterattack from thirteen Law Domaine experts with just Spirit power new to the Allroaming stage? Does he plan to smash the jar to pieces just because it''s cracked?! While different thoughts were streaming through everyone¡¯s mind, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit apparition had already slammed its hand into the thirteen dragon-like Genesis Qi. As everyone thought, the thirteen Genesis Qi instinctively wanted to resist during the contact. But the mysterious Saint Rune on the Spirit apparition¡¯s palm erupted in rays of light. A low voice could be heard, ¡°Mysterious King¡­suppress!¡± A strange pressure filled the air and completely enveloped the thirteen Law Domain Genesis Qi. The Genesis Qi that was about to resist calmed down at an unbelievable speed, as though suffered some kind of astonishing power. The enraged dragons became docile loaches. The thirteen Law Domain experts¡¯s eyes were wide with shock because they could feel a special force had suppressed their Genesis Qi. Their eyes were filled with disbelief. The Genesis Qi of thirteen Law Domain experts were suppressed by someone who had only just reached the Allroaming stage? The thirteen Genesis Qi restored their calm state as the chaos factor among them had been completely eliminated. The strange movements within the cauldron also calmed down. The clamor on the square abruptly ceased and the square became as silent and still as the inside of the cauldron. All eyes, wide with disbelief, were fixed on Zhou Yuan. This guy has managed to suppress the Genesis Qi of thirteen Law Domain experts? Chapter 1298 Perfect Assistance As Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit apparition slammed a palm strike, the thirteen dragon-like Law Domain Genesis Qi turned gentle and the chaotic waves of energy also completely calmed down. Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm undoubtedly shocked many people. Although many Law Domain experts were dumbstruck, they understood that Zhou Yuan¡¯s suppression succeeded because the thirteen Law Domain experts didn¡¯t resist. Even so, they knew this wasn¡¯t a good enough reason because Zhou Yuan was facing thirteen Law Domain Genesis Qi! Logically speaking, it was impossible to suppress thirteen Law Domain Genesis Qi with Spirit power from someone new to the Allroaming stage. But Zhou Yuan did. They witnessed it with their own eyes. The square was completely silent and many Law Domain experts¡¯ expressions were changing. Those who previously looked down on Zhou Yuan had consciously fixed their attitude. After all, regardless of what means Zhou Yuan used, many Law Domain experts acknowledged his strength. The relaxed smile on Xu Beiyan''s face was gone and was replaced by a ruminative expression. He gently tapped his ink flute on his palm, which was a habit of his when his emotions were fluctuating Zhou Yuan¡¯s move also was unexpected to him. "That guy is quite capable.¡± Some Law Domain experts beside Xu Beiyan couldn¡¯t help saying after pondering for a moment. Their tone and words had turned much more serious compared to their previous contempt. Xu Beiyan said with a slight smile, ¡°That power was tyrannical and the pressure resembled a Saint¡¯s mighty power. Could supreme sovereign Cang Yuan have given him a lotus seal Saint artifact? If so, he really is generous to Zhou Yuan.¡± The others nodded thoughtfully. If that was the case, it would explain a lot of things. A Law Domain expert couldn''t help saying, ¡°But that¡¯s not fair, right?" The other Law Domain experts nodded. Although Zhou Yuan didn''t violate the rules, it still didn''t feel right to them. ¡°That¡¯s funny. Let alone the fact that you have no evidence to prove that supreme sovereign Cang Yuan helped Zhou Yuan in secret, even if you do, so what? Background and connections are also a kind of strength. Otherwise why would so many Law Domain experts fight over the pill refining assistant position? If other people failed, does that mean Xu Beiyan would succeed? Is there no one better than him in all-heavens?¡± a cold sneer sounded. Xu Beiyan and the others turned their heads to see several figures standing not too far away. Standing in the front was a tall woman dressed in an azure robe that highlighted her long and slender legs and short, burgundy hair. Her face was beautiful, but her brows gave her a fierce and heroic look. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s grand elder Chi Jing,¡± said Xu Beiyan with a faint smile. Chi Jing swept any icy glance over him, saying, "Xu Beiyan, I didn''t see it before, but you¡¯re a bellyful of evil.¡± Xu Beiyan shook his head. ¡°Zhou Yuan is your junior brother so it''s understandable that you would want to protect him. "However, grand elder Chi Jing, you shouldn¡¯t be so happy so early. Although Zhou Yuan has successfully controlled the thirteen Law Domain Genesis Qi, that¡¯s only the first step in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill. The next step is the most important. It takes a long time for one to adapt and grasp the rhythm of pill refining. He can¡¯t make up for this regardless how talented he is. I hope he won¡¯t waste the precious materials. Who doesn¡¯t know that there¡¯s the blood and spirit of Nascent Source experts and Law Domain experts in that batch of materials,¡± he sighed but the malice in his voice was obvious. How would Chi Jing not know about Xu Beiyan¡¯s malicious intent? She said coldly, ¡°It¡¯s too early to come to a conclusion. You will be embarrassed when the outcome is out.¡± The two¡¯s gazes collided and a chilling intent shot out from their eyes, causing the surrounding temperature plummet. While Chi Jing and Xu Beiyan clashed, Zhou Yuan was focussing all his mind on manipulating the thirteen Law Domain Genesis Qi in the cauldron. After using the fourth Saint Rune, the Mysterious King, to suppress the thirteen Law Domain Genesis Qi, they had all become incredibly docile. He passed the first hurdle in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit perception swept across the area and moved towards Yaoyao¡¯s side, only to see mysterious yellow qi currents had intertwined and produced ancient dragon roars during each compression. Zhou Yuan closed his eyes and connected to the Spirit that Yaoyao previously left. The two Spirits came into contact and then twisted around each other. An image suddenly emerged in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. It was the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits being compressed and refined. Through this image, Zhou Yuan could determine which stage the refinement had reached. He even felt that he was the one refining Ancestral Dragon Pill. He felt as if he wae in the situation. The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips curled. He thought this hurdle would be the most difficult but it turned out to be the easiest. He sat cross-legged on the stone platform, his eyes closed, and his hands folded in a seal. He was beginning to mobilize the thirteen Law Domain Genesis Qi. Boom! Under his manipulation, the thirteen Genesis Qi moved with explosive movements and eventually split into thousand strands and whizzed out without any hesitation. During the process, they transformed into blazing flames in the cauldron before speeding towards the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. Many people were stunned by such huge movements. After all, everyone knew that the coordination in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill was incredibly difficult. Even Xu Beiyan, who had two years of experience, had to be extremely careful and cautious because the control of the flames could affect the balance and thus the pill refining. But Zhou Yuan mobilized the flames with all his strength right away, shocking everyone. However, after witnessing the means that Zhou Yuan previously showed, everyone had learned their lesson and didn¡¯t want to say anything too early. They planned to wait for the result before commenting. While observing in silence, they quickly realized how wise they were to do that because, although Zhou Yuan¡¯s technique in mobilizing the Genesis Qi to form pill flames was incredibly fast and without the slightest hesitation, the flames only blazed at every critical moment of the Ancestral Dragon Pill refinement. Every time Yaoyao reached a certain point in the pill refining process, Zhou Yuan was able to pick up from there immediately. The two coordinated perfectly. One refined while the other assisted in providing fire. They worked naturally together as if they connected at a deep level with each other. It was as though they had cooperated thousands of times. Everyone¡¯s mouth fell open. They had witnessed Xu Beiyan¡¯s assistance before, and although he could cope with the difficulties along the way with his experience, there were still mistakes at times. But even the pickiest person wouldn¡¯t be able to find any flaws in Zhou Yuan''s assistance. "How is that possible?¡± someone couldn''t help muttering. I don¡¯t understand. Could Zhou Yuan¡¯s and the goddess¡¯s minds really be connected? That was heart-aching. The doubt that everyone had before faded, and even those who supported Xu Beiyan stopped speaking because Zhou Yuan appeared to be doing much better than Xu Beiyan. Some people couldn''t help looking at Xu Beiyan, who wore an expressionless face, but anyone could feel that Xu Beiyan likely wasn¡¯t calm inside. The square was still and quiet. Only the crackling flames in the cauldron could be heard. The silence lasted for a full day. On the next day, Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes because he received a message from Yaoyao. "Activate the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, circulate your Genesis Qi and refine the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits with me.¡± A light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. He hadn¡¯t practiced this step in previous Ancestral Dragon Pill refining practice, but according to Yaoyao, the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits would resonate more strongly if he injected his Genesis Qi into them and the success rate would be much higher than before. If he succeeded, the final result would smash the faces of those who doubted Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan exhaled deeply. Without any hesitation, he sent platinum Genesis Qi roaring out and instilled it into the cauldron. Hua! His action naturally stunned everyone. If they didn''t know about Zhou Yuan¡¯s identity, they would have thought he was deliberately destroying the batch of Ancestral Dragon Pill! There had never been such a step in previous Ancestral Dragon Pill refining! Is that guy crazy?! Even the several Saints watching over above couldn¡¯t help but want to intervene. But Cang Yuan timely stopped them, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t, he must have a reason to do that.¡± The other Saints hesitated for a moment and in the end suppressed themselves to give Cang Yuan face. Only Saint Lu Liu and the other two Saints disagreed. Lu Liu said coldly, ¡°The cauldron is in perfect balance now. The sudden addition of his Genesis Qi will ruin everything. Does that kid really want to refine Ancestral Dragon Pills?¡± His words were full of malice. Ancestral Dragon Pills were very important for all-heavens. If Zhou Yuan didn''t want to refine Ancestral Dragon Pill, that meant he was standing on the opposite side to them and all-heavens. Cang Yuan said indifferently, ¡°Watch a little longer. You¡¯re a Saint, if you don¡¯t even have a little patience, you won¡¯t make much progress in the future.¡± Lu Liu and the others¡¯s faces darkened. They had stagnated at the one-lotus Saint stage for years, so Cang Yuan was clearly mocking them. But they still stopped in the end and cast their gazes to the cauldron. Everything depended on what effect Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden action had. If he really destroyed a batch of Ancestral Dragon Pills, he would be drowned in the spit of everyone in All-Heavens City. Platinum Genesis Qi poured into the cauldron under countless gazes. But what surprised everyone was that the balance remained and here wasn¡¯t any rioting. Instead, as the platinum Genesis Qi poured into the cauldron, it completely disappeared as if absorbed. Time gradually passed. A thick mist rose from the inside of the cauldron and a strange aroma permeated the air, forming various strange spectacles in the space around. Many people lit up with joy because they knew they were signs that Ancestral Dragon Pills had formed. The refining was almost complete at that stage. Gasps and exclamation rippled throughout the square. No one thought Zhou Yuan would succeed in his first time assisting in the pill refining. Xu Beiyan''s face was as cold and still as water. The people beside him immediately comforted him. "Brother Xu, don''t worry, although he succeeded by chance, his pill production rate will definitely be lower than yours.¡± Xu Beiyan¡¯s highest production rate in one session was nine Ancestral Dragon Pills, which was quite an amazing result. This was also the main reason why many people didn¡¯t want Xu Beiyan to be replaced. The production rate of Ancestral Dragon Pill concerned their interests. While they were talking, everyone felt the movements inside the seven-color cauldron had completely quieten down. Then, thousands of rays of light burst out from the top of the cauldron. Everyone outside the Alchemy Hall held their breath in anticipation because they knew that the Ancestral Dragon Pills were about to be released from the cauldron! Chapter 1299 Pills Produced When dazzling light burst forth the cauldron like rays of morning, the inside and outside of the Great Alchemy Hall fell completely silent. Everyone held their breath, staring at the dense mist that filled the area. It was time for the results of the pill refining session. Mists curled up and a fleck of light slowly rose under everyone¡¯s intent gaze. The mist formed a vortex around the speck of light, and then, the speck of light grew increasingly brighter and clearer. It was a perfectly round, mysterious-yellow pill the size of a dragon eye! Mysterious light gathered around the pill, forming rings of halo that made it even more magical. The Nascent Source and Law Domain experts present were no stranger to the pill because it was what they yearned for even in their dreams¡ªAncestral Dragon Pill! Everyone¡¯s eyes gleamed covetously and with excitement. While everyone¡¯s eyes were fixed on the newly-formed Ancestral Dragon Pill, the cauldron hadn¡¯t finished and strands of light continued to spew out from it, each one containing a spinning round object¡ªAncestral Dragon Pills! Eight Ancestral Dragon Pills were spurted out in just a few breaths! Hua! The atmosphere in and outside the Great Alchemy Hall was immediately buzzing with excitement. Although there was still a gap in the number of Ancestral Dragon Pills produced between Zhou Yuan and Xu Beiyan, everyone thought the result was already very good because it was only Zhou Yuan¡¯s first time in assisting in pill refining. He no doubt would continue to improve once he becomes more skilled in pill refining. Many people began to accept Zhou Yuan replacing Xu Beiyan. Xu Beiyan''s face twitched uncontrollably, and his veins pulsed as he grasped his ink flute. The Law Domain experts who supported him also reddened in embarrassment, but they still forcibly comforted, ¡°That kid is quite capable, but he still produced less Ancestral Dragon Pills than brother Xu.¡± But while they were comforting Xu Beiyan, the seven-color cauldron vibrated again and a dragon roar erupted. Pu! Rays of light shot out one another another and inside each of them was an Ancestral Dragon Pill suspended in mist. Boom! A deafening explosion suddenly resounded inside the great Alchemy Hall. It was a collision of Genesis Qi resulting from everyone¡¯s shock and made many people stumble to the ground. However, no one paid much attention to this because everyone was staring at the 16 Ancestral Dragon Pills floating in the mist with bloodshot eyes, and even their breathing was heavier. But before they could express their shock, another ten Ancestral Dragon Pills were spat out from the seven-color cauldron. The heavy breathing faded because the number of Ancestral Dragon Pills produced gave even the Nascent Source and Law Domain experts a fainting feeling. There were a total of 26 Ancestral Dragon Pills spurted out in the three eruptions! What an amazing production rate! The pill refining was equivalent to three times of what had been produced previously. Deathly silence continued inside and outside the Great Alchemy Hall while everyone rubbed their eyes and fell into puzzlement. But not only them, even the several Saints above the void wore undisguisable surprise on their faces. The result was evidently beyond everyone¡¯s expectations. Cang Yuan stroked his beard gently, smiling with relief. But Saint Lu Liu, Gou Lang and Du Huo wore sullen expressions. Even if they were always calm and composed, they felt a huge impact in their hearts when they saw the 26 Ancestral Dragon Pills formed. They felt helpless. They understand that any means on Zhou Yuan would be useless given Zhou Yuan¡¯s pill production rate. If the three still insist on opposing Zhou Yuan replacing Xu Beiyan, even the Omega Shrine would severely criticize them. Zhou Yuan gazed at the 26 Ancestral Dragon Pills floating in the mist for a long while. The result was also far beyond his expectation. He originally thought that if he could produce ten or so, his mission could be said to be successful. In truth, even he was terrified by the result. "How come there are so many? Did the addition of my Genesis Qi really have such a huge effect?" Zhou Yuan pondered. "The addition of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture¡¯s Genesis Qi can indeed make increase the pill production rate, but it shouldn¡¯t increase that much¡­another reason is that I was more leisurely in previous pill refining sessions, but I was much more serious this time,¡± Yaoyao''s voice sounded in Zhou Yuan''s heart. The corners of Zhou Yuan''s lips twitched. You mean you were only playing around in previous pill refining? You were brazenly slacking off! However, he also understood that it was already very difficult to get Yaoyao to help refine pills given that her divinity was restoring¡­If he hadn¡¯t come, given Yaoyao¡¯s personality, she likely would continue to slack off. Boom! While Zhou Yuan was smiling helplessly, earth-shattering cheers erupted from inside and outside the Great Alchemy Hall that were previously filled with deathly silence, causing the entire All-Heavens City to quake. Blazing gazes cast towards Zhou Yuan as if to melt him. The Nascent Source and Law Domain experts in the All-Heavens City couldn¡¯t contain their excitement and joy because the production rate of Ancestral Dragon Pill concerned their interests. The more Ancestral Dragon Pills were produced, the more their tokens could be exchanged for! The highest Ancestral Dragon Pill production rate in one session was nine, but even then, they required three tokens to exchange for an Ancestral Dragon Pill and to possess three tokens, they might even have to participate in three missions. They were fighting for resources with their lives. But since the production rate had increased to such a number, they might be able to exchange for one Ancestral Dragon Pill with one token. Only those who had fought on the Outerspace Battlefield and experienced life and death battles would understand how precious the increase was. When they looked at Zhou Yuan again, the doubt they had before was completely gone and replaced with deep admiration and respect. After all, Zhou Yuan made them receive benefits they couldn¡¯t imagine before. In a way, Zhou Yuan could be said to be second to only the goddess and the Saints to many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts. Some people stood respectfully with awed gazes and gave a cupped fist salute to Zhou Yuan from afar. The same motion quickly rippled throughout the crowd. The changes that Zhou Yuan brought were indeed worth them bowing respectfully to him. Xu Beiyan''s face was devoid of expression, but his hands in his sleeves were clenched tight and even trembled. There seemed to be seas overturning in his heart. He didn¡¯t think he would be utterly defeated. His Law Domain friends, who previously supported him, didn¡¯t know what to say anymore and only exchanged glances with one another. After a moment of hesitation, they finally cupped one fist in the other and saluted the young figure in the great hall. This was because, after asking themselves, they couldn¡¯t say anything opposing in the face of Zhou Yuan¡¯s 26 Ancestral Dragon Pill production rate. Even if they knew that might anger their friend Xu Beiyan. Xu Beiyan was indifferent to their actions and just stared intently at Zhou Yuan. Then, he slowly closed his eyes. He didn''t believe the 26 Ancestral Dragon Pills produced were completely due to Zhou Yuan''s ability. He knew it must be the goddess. Perhaps, she had held back in previous refining of Ancestral Dragon Pill. But that answer stung his heart and made the veins on his handsome face pulse. Xu Beiyan even wanted to directly question the goddess, but his rationality forced him to suppress himself because that would draw fire to himself and ruin his reputation. He gritted his teeth and had to swallow his anger. He was utterly defeated that day but he wouldn¡¯t give up! Chapter 1300 Introduce an Ancestor Commotion continued inside and outside the Great Alchemy Hall for a good while and wouldn¡¯t subside. Even the several Saints didn¡¯t intervene because they knew well what the pill production rate represented. Although they couldn''t figure out whether it was Zhou Yuan or Yaoyao responsible for the impressive pill production rate of 26¡­they weren¡¯t too bothered because the result was the most important. As long as that rate was steady, they wouldn¡¯t object if Yaoyao wanted to exchange Xu Beiyan for a dog, let alone Zhou Yuan. On the buzzing square, Zhao Mushen¡¯s face was devoid of expression. The unbelievable result felt familiar to them. He was filled with shock and disbelief when Zhou Yuan suddenly appeared and defeated him in the nine regions tournament, and something similar happened again. The only thing that made him feel a little better was that he was a bystander this time. Zhao Mushen cast a pitiful glance at Xu Beiyan, who was considered the most popular person in the All-Heavens City. Even he underestimated Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was simply the nemesis of all popular people in the world. How glamorous was Zhao Mushen in Hunyuan Heaven? He was invincible at the Divine Dwelling stage but Zhou Yuan also tread on him in the end. If it weren''t for Zhao Mushen¡¯s great tenacity that made him finally climb back up, Zhou Yuan would have trampled him to the point he couldn¡¯t turn over. After that, Zhao Mushen keenly felt that he wouldn¡¯t have a good ending if he became an enemy to Zhou Yuan, and so, he decisively suppressed his hatred and moved away. It was best to retreat if he couldn¡¯t win. But he didn''t feel humiliated because the one who laughed last would be the real winner. Su Youwei also relaxed her tense body and appeared to be in a very good mood. With a charming smile, she turned her head and said to Zhao Mushen, ¡°You saved an Ancestral Dragon Pill.¡± This was because Zhao Mushen didn''t dare to bet with her. Annoyed, Zhao Mushen could only coldly snort. "Let''s congratulate His Highness?¡± Su Youwei asked for their opinions. Wu Yao pondered for a moment and finally angled her fair and sharp chin down. Zhao Mushen refused without any hesitation. ¡°I¡¯m not going. You guys can go.¡± Although he didn''t want to be an enemy of Zhou Yuan, there was still undoubted grudge between them. Zhao Mushen didn''t want to go up to congratulate Zhou Yuan since that would only make him more uncomfortable. Su Youwei said indifferently, ¡°It''s up to you,¡± and turned to Wu Yao. ¡°His Highness will assist in refining Ancestral Dragon Pills in the future and will have quite a lot of power. If he makes things easier for us when we exchange for Ancestral Dragon Pills, we can definitely benefit a lot.¡± Wu Yao was a little persuaded when she heard this. After all, one would only learn the dangers of capturing Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits after experiencing the difficulties in the Outerspace Battlefield. More importantly, there weren''t enough Ancestral Dragon Pills to go around the All-Heavens City and the majority of people would have to wait even if they had enough tokens. But it would save them a lot of trouble if Zhou Yuan helped them. At the very least, she could raise her strength after obtaining an Ancestral Dragon Pill, which would give her more protection in any subsequent danger. That increase in strength could perhaps even save her life. Although Wu Yao was a prideful person, she wasn¡¯t stubborn. So, she nodded and accompanied Su Youwei. But before they took a few steps, they sensed footsteps behind them and turned their heads, only to see Zhao Mushen following them with his head hanging low, as though he was looking for something on the ground. When he noticed the two women¡¯s gazes, he lifted his head and said expressionless, "I want to see what level that guy has reached now, so I can be vigilant of him in the future.¡± Su Youwei and Wu Yao exchanged a glance with each other and curled their lips in a smile. They ignored Zhao Mushen and continued ahead. Of course Zhao Mushen saw their teasing smiles, and because of his personality, he bowed his head and couldn¡¯t stop his cheeks from flushing with embarrassment. He snorted coldly, flung his sleeve and followed after them. Since it could raise his strength, shouldn¡¯t he endure it? Only those who could endure humiliation would have the last laugh. ... In the great hall, Zhou Yuan took out a jade box and stored away the 26 Ancestral Dragon Pills under blazing gazes. He was about to hand them over to Yaoyao when she waved her hand and said casually, ¡°You hold onto them.¡± All the Law Domain experts around the seven-colour pill cauldron were taken aback. They stared at Zhou Yuan with complicated gazes. In past pill refining sessions, Xu Beiyan always handed the Ancestral Dragon Pills to the goddess for safekeeping, but the goddess simply let Zhou Yuan hold onto them. This alone shows that the relationship between the two is extremely unusual. The thirteen Law Domain experts got up and was about to leave. But Yaoyao ran her clear eyes across them and said in an icy voice, ¡°Wait.¡± All thirteen Law Domain experts froze. Yaoyao pinned a Law Domain expert with a cold glare and her icy voice rang again, "You don¡¯t need to come again in the future. You know the reason yourself.¡± The Law Domain expert¡¯s face immediately changed dramatically. He wanted to explain but no words came out his mouth. In the end, he turned around trembling and left. That scene surprised many people, but they also understood what happened. It was because of the incident when something almost went wrong while Zhou Yuan was controlling the fire¡­They previously thought Zhou Yuan¡¯s skill was lacking that led to the thirteen Genesis Qi suddenly going out of control, but that reason was proved wrong. Thus the problem must be with one of the thirteen Law Domain experts. When they saw the Law Domain expert¡¯s expression, they understood that something had happened that made him lose control of his Genesis Qi. Putting aside whether there was any conspiracy in this, a Law Domain expert shouldn¡¯t have made such a low-level mistake as losing control of their Genesis Qi; therefore, it was only right to remove him from the team. Some people looked sympathetically at the Law Domain expert. Providing flames for refining Ancestral Dragon Pill was a pleasant task. Although it wasn¡¯t as good as Zhou Yuan¡¯s position, which was assisting in refining Ancestral Dragon Pills, the treatment was still pretty good and many people would fight over the role. Some people couldn¡¯t help shaking their heads and pitied him to lose the position in such an embarrassing way. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t say anything but he knew this matter wasn¡¯t that simple. He had no evidence to support his speculation and so it was useless to say anything. It¡¯s better to keep quiet and avoid trouble, and secretly keep my guard up instead. With this thought, Zhou Yuan shifted his attention to the three familiar figures who had stepped into the Great Alchemy Hall, and a smile immediately came to his face. ¡°Congratulations your Highness. The pill refining was very successful.¡± Su Youwei gazed at the tall and young figure, and then looked at Yaoyao, who was on the white jade platform, with a complex gaze. Wu Yao gave a nod at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan looked at them and said, ¡°Martial Empress, Yin Yang Master and the Devourer, how have you been?¡± After saying that, the corners of his mouth couldn''t help but twitch. Su Youwei couldn''t help covering her face and even Wu Yao''s cold and arrogant face flushed a little. They were obviously very embarrassed. "Your Highness, the people gave us those names. It has nothing to do with us,¡± Su Youwei helplessly explained. ¡°I think it suits us.¡± Zhao Mushen smiled faintly and didn¡¯t feel embarrassed at all. He looked at Zhou Yuan provocatively and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you have disappeared completely in the past two years. We have already suppressed your fame.¡± Zhou Yuan curiously studied Zhao Mushen and suddenly said with a smile, ¡°Zhao Mushen, there is something I have always wanted to do to you.¡± Zhao Mushen scrunched his brows. ¡°What?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips curled in a strange arc and he grabbed Tuntun, who was lying lazily in Yaoyao''s arms and tossed him at Zhao Mushen. "I just want to...introduce you to an ancestor.¡± Seeing a black shadow pouncing towards his face, Zhao Mushen frowned and raised his hand to slap it away. But when he was about to touch the black shadow, an indescribable wave of energy rushed out from the deepest part of his body. Under that force, Zhao Mushen, who was about to generate a blast of wind with his palm, cupped his hands together to catch the black shadow. Bang. He involuntarily knelt down on one knee and held his hands in front of him. Tuntun woke up from his sleep, staring at the man knelt in front of him with sleepy eyes. The man and beast stared blankly at each other. Chapter 1301 What is the relationship? Zhao Mushen evidently fell into a state of bewilderment when he knelt on one knee because he realized it wasn¡¯t an external force that pulled him to his knee, but it was a power that originated in his body¡¯s depths. That power was very familiar to him because it was that power that made him undergo many transformations. It was his Taotie Blessing. But it was that power that made him unhesitatingly kneel down when he touched the little thing in his hands. Even Su Youwei¡¯s and Wu Yao¡¯s mouths fell open and their eyes widened with shock. Having worked with Zhao Mushen for the past two years, they knew how arrogant he was and that it was impossible to make him obey someone from the bottom of his heart. He would rather die than to compromise. This was why they were filled with disbelief to see Zhao Mushen suddenly dropped down to one knee. However, the two women, who were incredibly intelligent, very quickly shifted their gaze to the little beast he was still firmly holding with both hands even if he knelt down on one knee. ¡°That''s... Tuntun?" Su Youwei exclaimed. She recognized the cute little beast that accompanied Zhou Yuan everywhere in the Great Zhou City. Tuntun snapped awake from his drowsy state and blinked his sleep shrouded eyes as he stared at Zhao Mushen¡¯s blank face. A strange thought flashed across his eyes. He seemed to notice a special connection between them. He was the Ancestor Taotie and also the only one in the world. The world was mysterious and many magical things happened in the world. The Taotie Blessing within Zhao Mushen¡¯s body was born from an Alpha Holy Beast like Ancestor Taotie. Therefore, the two, in a sense, were from the same origin, even if they had never come into contact before. However, once the two met, they would know of everything as though enlightened. Zhou Yuan worriedly looked at Zhao Mushen, who still hadn''t recovered from his shock after a long while. He wouldn''t be too affected by an ancestor descending and turned stupid, right? He could still get back up after I trampled him back then. He isn''t this weak is he? Zhou Yuan¡¯s relationship with Zhao Mushen was quite complicated because although they should be considered enemies, they had worked together in Huyuan Heaven. Therefore, Zhou Yuan would generously tolerate him until he showed hostility. Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand to bring back Tuntun, who was still tightly held in Zhao Mushen¡¯s hands. But just as Zhou Yuan reached his hands towards Zhao Mushen, Zhao Mushen rapidly slid back a few meters on one knee and the blank look on his face faded. He focussed his gaze on Tuntun, who was still in his hands, and a respectful and affectionate smile lit up his face. "Ancestor Taotie, I am really blessed and fortunate to meet you in this life." Zhao Mushen spoke in the most gentle voice that Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei, and Wu Yao had never heard from him before. But his words made many thoughts flashed to their minds, and then, their gazes turned a little strange as they stared at Zhao Mushen. Zhao Mushen ignored them and he simply stared intently at Tuntun. His usually cold and arrogant face appeared exceptionally gentle and kind. This was because he felt indescribable emotions pouring out from his heart¡¯s depths when he touched Tuntun. The emotions were similar to when he saw his family. Zhao Mushen didn¡¯t resist those emotions because his Blessing power was what changed his life and destiny, as well as became his supporting pillar when he was trampled into mud. He was extremely grateful for that power even if he didn¡¯t know what the source of that power was. But now he did. Zhao Mushen stared mesmerized at Tuntun as though every hair on Tuntun''s body exuded dazzling light, mystery and power. Tuntun also curiously surveyed Zhao Mushen. He similarly felt a closeness to Zhao Mushen. He took out a stone slab, swiped his claws over it, and lifted the stone slab. ¡°You¡¯re not bad. Be my little brother!¡± Zhao Mushen gave an adoring smile. ¡°If Ancestor Taotie has any orders, I, Zhao Mushen, will do my best to complete them.¡± His answer was incredibly natural and he didn¡¯t seem unhappy or resisting. Zhou Yuan and the others looked dumbfounded because they knew how arrogant Zhao Mushen was. Even if Zhou Yuan, who had defeated him before, told him to be his little brother, Zhao Mushen would coldly snort at him, but Zhao Mushen willingly acknowledged Tuntun as his boss. It was too unbelievable. Tuntun was very satisfied with Zhao Mushen''s attitude. He extended his paw and patted Zhao Mushen¡¯s palm. Then, he turned around and lifted the stone slab that wrote ¡®be my little brother¡¯ at Zhou Yuan. His meaning was very clear. He wanted Zhou Yuan to also be his little brother. ¡°Get lost.¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. This little bastard is messing up the seniority. Yaoyao is your master, and Yaoyao is my wife. From that perspective, I should also be your master but you dare tell me to be your little brother?! He reached out and picked up Tuntun by the scruff of his neck. ¡°Zhou Yuan, be respectful to Ancestor Taotie!¡± Zhao Mushen roared in anger when he witnessed this. Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Seeing the furious look on Zhao Mushen¡¯s face, he felt he had shot himself in the foot. He originally intended to throw Tuntun out to play with Zhao Mushen because Zhao Mushen acted too arrogant, but who would have thought that Tuntun would display his imposing bearing as an Alpha Holy Beast and made an influential man unwaveringly committed to be his little brother. Do you have to have such a strong halo of light? So whenever I bully Tuntun in the future, I would be scolded by his little brother? Seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s rapidly changing expression, Tuntun pointed at him with his claw and snickered. Immediately, he twisted his body, distorting the surrounding space, and appeared on Zhao Mushen¡¯s face. He smugly pulled a face at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes. In particular, when he saw Zhao Mushen''s guarded gaze, he even felt a bit suffocating. But Tuntun¡¯s smugness didn¡¯t last long because a little jade-like hand stretched out and pinched his ear. Tuntun struggled violently until he saw the icy-cold and stunning face that the jade-like hand belonged to. He immediately froze and dared not move. Of course only Yaoyao could make Tuntun that well-behaved. She had unknowingly appeared next to Zhou Yuan and pinched Tuntun¡¯s ear. She didn¡¯t lift Tuntun into her arms this time. Instead, she frowned at him and said indifferently, ¡°Go wash yourself. If you taint yourself with the unidentifiable aura of an outsider again, I will punish you to guard the door.¡± Tuntun dispiritedly hung his head low. It was only then when he remembered that Yaoyao had an obsession with cleanliness. It was fine when Tuntun played around with Zhou Yuan and even sat on his head, but Yaoyao immediately disliked him rolling on Zhao Mushen¡¯s head. Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao, and Su Youwei were startled to see Yaoyao, but they immediately afterwards gave a cupped fist salute and bowed. ¡°Pay respect to the goddess.¡± Su Youwei silently looked up and down at Yaoyao. She was acquainted with Yaoyao in the Great Zhou Empire, but when she saw Yaoyao again after many years, she felt extremely unfamiliar to her. Moreover, Yaoyao¡¯s cold and detachedness towards Su Youwei made it difficult for her to approach her. This was why they had never talked to each other in the past two years even if they saw each other. But what surprised Su Youwei and the others was that she didn¡¯t leave right away like she always did. Instead, she stood next to Zhou Yuan while holding Tuntun. Her cold but stunning face made her resemble a fairy from the moon palace and made people couldn¡¯t help but feel awe and admiration. The three¡¯s eyes flickered around and in the end, Su Youwei couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and asked Zhou Yuan, ¡°Your Highness, what is your relationship with the goddess?¡± Wu Yao''s phoenix eyes immediately shifted to Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao¡¯s gaze also shifted, a strange light flickering in her eyes that were always calm and indifferent. Su Youwei stared seriously at Zhou Yuan with her beautiful eyes. Zhao Mushen sensed the atmosphere had become a little strange and he felt he shouldn¡¯t be here. Chapter 1302 One Word, Love When Su Youwei asked that question, the atmosphere around the little area where the several people were seemed to still for a moment. All eyes were on Zhou Yuan''s face. In truth, the topic that the majority of heaven prides in All-Heavens City was most cornered about was the relationship between Zhou Yuan and the goddess. Even if there had been many speculations, no one could make a conclusion. Of course, they were also unwilling to do so. They didn¡¯t want to admit that the goddess had a relationship with Zhou Yuan that was more than just friends! Under the many gazes, Zhou Yuan was taken back for a moment. Then, he restored his usual calmness and said with a smile, ¡°Yaoyao has been with me for years and without her, I wouldn¡¯t be where I am now. We have been through life and death together. To me, she isn¡¯t the goddess. She will always be Yaoyao who accompanied me out of the Zhou family¡¯s ancestral land.¡± Many years ago, a clueless young man, who had just unblocked his eight meridian channels, entered the world with a similarly clueless girl. Perhaps it was since then that the two became intertwined and could no longer separate. When Zhou Yuan said those words, the other three seemed to have fallen into a trance for a moment. Zhao Mushen was utterly shocked that Zhou Yuan and the goddess really had a romantic relationship. He knew that the entire All-Heavens City would be shaken if words went out. Although he had no feelings towards the goddess, his emotions still went a little strange when he heard about it. It was instinctive jealousy. Although the goddess¡¯s beauty and elegance were remarkable, Su Youwei and Wu Yao each also had their strong points and weren¡¯t inferior to the goddess in terms of appearance or elegance. They also had many suitors in the All-Heavens City. However, the goddess¡¯s halo of light was too dazzling and that was a deadly poison to many men because it was full of temptation. The people who could come to the All-Heavens City had to be top elites in all-heavens. They received attention from millions of people in their respective sect and heaven, and so, it was inevitable that their heartbeat quickened when they saw such a dazzling being. Wu Yao¡¯s emotions were a little more complicated. She had no romantic feelings for Zhou Yuan and they were always enemies and never considered friends. However, because Zhou Yuan¡¯s Sacred Dragon Blessing was in her body, they had fought for years and thus they were tangled with each other ever since. She, however, only had feelings of pure appreciation and admiration because she knew what kind of deep abyss Zhou Yuan was dropped into back then and how he managed to turn everything around in the end. Zhou Yuan¡¯s nature and ability were the reason why Wu Yao had always thought highly of Zhou Yuan. Therefore, she was only surprised about Zhou Yuan¡¯s relationship with the goddess because she felt the goddess was too indifferent and didn¡¯t think the goddess would pay attention to any man. This matter was too unbelievable to her. Compared to Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao, Su Youwei should be the most upset. Zhou Yuan¡¯s frank answer made her bite her lips because she had always liked Zhou Yuan ever since that stormy day when Zhou Yuan kicked open the tightly closed clinic door. His shadow had been imprinted in her heart since that day. Even if she was no longer the little girl drenched in mud, she still firmly remembered that moment. Even after so many years and even if many top heaven prides had confessed to her, she declined them with a smile because that scene would never fade from her heart and she could never accept any other man. But the person who her heart was tied to loved someone else. Even if Su Youwei had a tough personality, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a sour feeling in her heart. But she didn¡¯t show much of that emotion on her face. After several seconds of silence, she gave a smile and uttered quietly, ¡°His Highness and the goddess are a good match.¡± Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t know what to say when he saw Su Youwei forcing a smile. He wasn¡¯t a stupid person and of course he knew that Su Youwei had romantic feelings for him, but there was nothing he could do about his own feelings. Su Youwei knew she wasn¡¯t in a good state and so after saying a few words, she turned around and left. Zhao Yuan sighed out loud as he watched them leave. Yaoyao, who hadn¡¯t said a word, swept a glance over Zhou Yuan. Her expression seemed much gentler than usual. ¡°She seems to have deep affection for you. Many men in the world enjoy the life of having many wives. If you¡¯re interested, It¡¯s not impossible.¡± Zhou Yuan coughed out loud and said righteously, "I have no such intention!¡± Anyone with a brain would know that they would die if they agreed with her statement. Yaoyao smiled and then went silent for a moment. Then, her expression turned serious as she said, ¡°In truth, she perhaps is more suitable for you than me. I don¡¯t even know what I will become in the future.¡± Her words showed a rare helpless side to her. Zhou Yuan reached out to clasp her little hand, reassuring, ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Regardless of what you become in the future, as long as you don¡¯t kill me, I will always be by your side.¡± Yaoyao''s eyes sparkled and she dropped Tuntun. Then, she stepped forward and threw herself into Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms, wrapping her slender arms around him under his surprised gaze. Some people nearby felt struck by lightning when they saw such a scene. Yaoyao¡¯s action startled Zhou Yuan a little because she rarely showed such emotions. His words must have moved her. He smiled mischievously and held her slender waist comfortably while taking in her scent again and again. Yaoyao leaned her cheek on Zhou Yuan''s chest, gazing in the direction that Su Youwei and the others left. A faint light flashed in her eyes and it was unknown what she was thinking. Su Youwei and the others left the hall and walked in silence. Zhao Mushen eventually couldn''t stand it any more and left with an excuse, leaving only Wu Yao with Su Youwei. After a while, Wu Yao said indifferently, ¡°I always wondered why you repeatedly targeted me in the past. It seems it''s all because of Zhou Yuan.¡± When they were in Hunyuan Heaven, Wu Yao had admired Su Youwei and wanted to be friends with her. However, Su Youwei refused and even attacked her repeatedly, which made her a little upset. She now understood it was all because of Zhou Yuan. Su Youwei didn''t respond. Wu Yao glanced at her and said, ¡°You may already know about the goddess¡¯s identity. To be honest, I¡¯m not optimistic about their future. They could both be hurt in the end.¡± Su Youwei said quietly, ¡°You should know what His Highness¡¯s personality is like. He doesn¡¯t give up that easily. So, regardless of what happens, he will face it directly and never let go.¡± Wu Yao was surprised at first and then she nodded. "I don''t think you should be upset. Men are no good. We have worked so well together in the past two years. At worst we grow old together. It might be fun.¡± Wu Yao nudged Su Youwei¡¯s arm with a smiling expression in her phoenix eyes. Su Youwei shook her head, smiling. There was a sudden downpour and she stretched out her fair and slender hand to catch the rain. ¡°I regret going to Hunyuan Heaven.¡± Wu Yao felt helpless. Su Youwei still couldn''t let it go. Zhou Yuan, that bastard. Chapter 1303 Limit Following the day of Zhou Yuan assisted Yaoyao to refine Ancestral Dragon Pill and produced 26 pills in total, he rose to fame in All-Heavens City. Many people once again recalled how Zhou Yuan created a miracle in the Battle of Guyuan Heaven a few years ago. During the two years that Zhou Yuan went missing, many people couldn¡¯t help but sigh that he missed out on the best opportunities. Who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would be as dazzling as before when he remerged? Although many people speculated that the goddess must have contributed greatly to the production rate of 26 Ancestral Dragon Pills, they understood that they couldn¡¯t dismiss Zhou Yuan¡¯s role in that. At the very least, Xu Beiyan, who held the assistant position for two years, didn¡¯t do any better than Zhou Yuan. No one cared what the reason was and was only interested in the final result. The production rate of 26 Ancestral Dragon Pills in one batch led to the exchange rate of Ancestral Dragon Pill to plummet in the All-Heavens City. This was a joyous event for everyone, and as a result, Zhou Yuan¡¯s fame resounded far and wide in the All-Heavens City, where elite experts were as common as clouds. ... "This is your salary for this month.¡± In a little courtyard filled with a delicate aroma, Yaoyao, while carrying a sleepy Tuntun, made four jade boxes appear on the stone table with a brush of her beautiful hand. The boxes were engraved with ancient runes, and the aura exuding from those runes made Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes light up. With a flick of his finger, the jade boxes opened, revealing a round pill the size of a dragon eye in each. Every pill was shrouded in halos of light. They emitted strong aroma and mist that turned the courtyard foggy. The mist contained ancient and pure power, and even one breath of it could make one¡¯s Genesis Qi pulse energetically. They were Ancestral Dragon Pills! Zhou Yuan quickly covered the jade boxes, his eyes blazing with enthusiasm. Although he had stored away many Ancestral Dragon Pills from the pill refining, those didn¡¯t belong to him. ¡°Four Ancestral Dragon Pills?¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed, looking at Yaoyao. One month''s salary was four Ancestral Dragon Pills? If this matter spreads out, how many Law Domain experts would be envious? After all, they had been searching for Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits in the Outerspace battlefield, where they must be careful of the chaos void¡¯s harsh environment as well as face attacks from the Sacred Race. Even if they went through such dangers, many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts still couldn¡¯t collect the materials to exchange for an Ancestral Dragon Pill even after several months. But Zhou Yuan was given four?! Yaoyao propped her beautiful cheeks with her hands. Her skin was so soft and fair, and almost radiated light. She smiled, saying, ¡°Normally the reward is one Ancestral Dragon Pill and the other three are mine. I didn¡¯t care too much before and didn¡¯t take them. But now that you¡¯re here, I¡¯m giving them to you.¡± It should be said that the Saints all felt their heart-aching when she took the Ancestral Dragon Pills. They evidently knew who she was taking them for, but they had no reason to object because Yaoyao created the Ancestral Dragon Pills and so no one could object to her taking her rightful reward. Zhou Yuan almost burst into tears of happiness. He reached out and clasped Yaoyao¡¯s slender hand, crying affectionately, ¡°Goddess, I don''t want to work hard anymore, tonight¡­" Roar! Tuntun, who was sleeping in Yaoyao''s arms, suddenly opened his eyes and glared despicably at Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao also swept an annoyed glance at Zhou Yuan and retracted her hand. But she mischievously brushed her icy-cold fingertips across Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm, and that little swipe almost stole Zhou Yuan¡¯s soul away. She was deliberately striking back in response to Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous words. Zhou Yuan stared at Yaoyao with blazing eyes, eager to act. Even Yaoyao, who was always calm and indifferent, couldn¡¯t help panicking and a faint blush came into her fair cheeks. Yaoyao avoided Zhou Yuan''s gaze that seemed about to melt her and changed the topic, "You, how many inches is your Nascent Source now?¡± Zhou Yuan admired Yaoyao''s rare retreat and then nodded. Yaoyao pondered and said, "Zhou Yuan, you have to make your Nascent Source break the limit of 9.9 inches in your subsequent cultivation before reaching the Law Domain stage!¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression tensed and he gradually turned solemn as he stared at Yaoyao. He then frowned and asked puzzledly, "Break the limit of 9.9 inches?¡± The limit of a Nascent Source was 9.9 inches and it was simply impossible to break that limit. No one had been able to do so since ancient times! ¡°How is that even possible¡­?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. His Nascent Source was now 9.7 inches, which might not be considered unrivalled in the world, but it was definitely rarely seen... He could clearly feel the difficulty of increasing any further. It was as difficult as to climb the sky to progress but he needed to break the limit? If someone else said that, Zhou Yuan would have thought that person was crazy. Yaoyao said indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s indeed impossible for ordinary people, but not for you¡­¡± Zhou Yuan couldn''t help asking, ¡®Why must I break the limit?¡± Yaoyao remained silent for a while and then stared at Zhou Yuan and said, "Zhou Yuan, this matter is very important. You must promise me.¡± Zhou Yuan''s heart trembled. It was the first time he saw such a serious expression on Yaoyao¡¯s face. He nodded firmly, saying, ¡°Don''t worry, I will do everything I can to break that limit.¡± Although he didn¡¯t know why Yaoyao would have such a request, he didn¡¯t refuse because he had originally intended to break the limit. It was just that there were records of cultivators breaking the limit of the Divine Dwelling stage and Heavenly Sun stage but it was unheard of for anyone to break the Nascent Source stage¡¯s limit. Moreover, no one knew whether it was possible and it could be a waste of precious time. "You should refine and absorb an Ancestral Dragon Pill first. It should be very beneficial to you." Yaoyao pushed a jade box towards Zhou Yuan. Sitting cross-legged on a stone chair, Zhou Yuan nodded. As he raised his hand into the air, one Ancestral Dragon Pill also slowly floated up. However, Ancestral Dragon Pills weren¡¯t refined by consuming the pills. With a thought, the flesh in his chest split apart, and an Ancestral Dragon Pill slowly sank into his flesh and blood. Finally his flesh and blood were restored and were as good as before. His blood was suddenly bubbling and rushing around like currents, cleansing the Ancestral Dragon Pill that penetrated his flesh and blood. Blood was cleansed and wrapped around the wisps of Ancestral Dragon Pill power. It finally rushed out, flowing to every corner of his body. Dense mist squeezed out from the pores on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His entire body turned crimson and terrifying heat pervaded the area. If Yaoyao hadn¡¯t suppressed it, the entire courtyard would have been set aflame. Boom! A low sound rumbled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like muffled thunder. His body shook violently and his Genesis Qi bubbled like oil. As the Ancestral Dragon Pill was refined little by little, Zhou Yuan found that the Nascent Source in his Divine Dwelling was slowly growing. The growth was so small that it was almost unnoticeable but he had never seen such a growth ever since his closed-door cultivation. It was no wonder that the Ancestral Dragon Pills attracted so many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts. While Zhou Yuan refined the Ancestral Dragon Pill, Yaoyao quietly seated herself with Tuntun in her lap. She stared at Zhou Yuan, whose body was completely red, with her clear and beautiful eyes. Although her request for Zhou Yuan was impossible, she believed Zhou Yuan could achieve it in the end. Although Zhou Yuan had always joked that he lived off a woman, Yaoyao knew he was extremely prideful. Otherwise he wouldn¡¯t have suppressed so many heaven prides of his generation in just a few years. He knew about Yaoyao¡¯s special situation and so, he would rather suppress his pride to keep Yaoyao company. Moreover, he had put in immense efforts to make up for the gap between them. Zhou Yuan gave up his so-called pride for her. Thinking of this, Yaoyao felt a warmth in her calm heart. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­how could I let you waste your effort?¡± She said in a soft voice, her eyes drooping. Chapter 1304 Scheme It had been almost half a month since Zhou Yuan refined the fourth Ancestral Dragon Pill. In the small courtyard, the redness all over Zhou Yuan¡¯s body gradually faded and his body emitted white mist, rippling the space around. He slowly opened his eyes. A divine light flashed in his abyss-like eyes, calming down only after a long while. Zhou Yuan immediately examined the inside of his body. His Nascent Source in the Divine Dwellings had slightly grown. Although the growth was almost undetectable and seemed insignificant, Zhou Yuan was very excited because it showed that the Ancestral Dragon Pills indeed had an effect on his Nascent Source. If he continued to refine Ancestral Dragon Pills, his Nascent Source could perhaps grow to 9.8 inches or even more. Most importantly, the Ancestral Dragon Pills possessed a magical effect of raising one¡¯s potential, which was an amazing advantage compared to other pills. Perhaps Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t felt this, but for those who had stagnated at the same cultivation stage for years, such an amazing effect brought them hope. This was because they could only continue to progress further by raising their potential. Unfortunately, Ancestral Dragon Pills were scarce. Although Zhou Yuan''s assistance had greatly increased the production rate of Ancestral Dragon Pill, there still wasn¡¯t enough for the many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts in the All-Heavens City. But this was nothing anyone could change. The main material to refine Ancestral Dragon Pill was Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits, which were difficult to find even in the chaos void. Without enough materials, no one could make Ancestral Dragon Pills appear out of thin air regardless of how powerful someone was. "It seems that I should find a chance to explore the chaos void while resting from pill refining,¡± sighed Zhou Yuan. The reward of four Ancestral Dragon Pills per month was more than enough to make many Law Domain experts envious. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s 9.7 inches Nascent Source was impossible to fill up like a bottomless pit. Additionally, Yaoyao requested him to break the Nascent Source stage¡¯s limit. Even thinking about such a request made Zhou Yuan feel badly battered and scorched as though he was being hounded to death. ... The All-Heavens City, the west city area. A majestic hall towered aloft. Nascent Source and Law Domain experts constantly passed by in both groups and alone. This showed this place was bustling and popular. This place was called the Treasure Hunting Hall, the place that Nascent Source and Law Domain experts in the All-Heavens City most like to gather. Once the Saints in the All-Heavens City calculated the spatial coordinates of where Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits could be found, they would announce it in the hall and then many teams would race there. Su Youwei stood in front of a counter and took the bamboo slip in front of her, which noted down some of the new areas that were recently located. But she seemed to be preoccupied. She had been in that state for one month. Su Youwei''s mood hadn¡¯t improved ever since Zhou Yuan spoke about his relationship with Yaoyao. She even took a lot less missions, which caused Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen to have no choice but partner up with each other to explore the new areas. Su Youwei eventually understood that she couldn¡¯t let those kinds of emotions control her. She organized her emotions and planned to take an exploration mission alone. She planned to form a team with Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen again after she had completely healed. ¡°This one then,¡± she said to a maid and randomly chose a new location. The maid hurriedly responded and handed her a piece of copper. The mottled copper piece released a rippling aura because it was inscribed with spatial coordinates. Su Youwei thanked her, took the copper piece and left. Standing outside the hall, Su Youwei raised her beautiful face towards the sun, drew a deep breath and clenched her hands to encourage herself. ¡°Su Youwei, cheer up. You have suffered many setbacks before. When did you become so easily affected?¡± After invigorating herself, she kept her face towards the sunlight and quickly left. However, she didn¡¯t notice a pair of eyes watching her on a nearby terrace. ¡°She chose that area?¡± On the terrace, Xu Beiyan, who looked exceptionally handsome, gazed into the distance and asked with a smile, ¡°She chose that area?¡± Someone in the shadow replied, "Just as young master thought.¡± Xu Beiyan nodded, his eyes chilling. Zhou Yuan had replaced him and was so close to the goddess. He couldn''t let that matter go. However, Zhou Yuan was very popular in the All-Heavens City and Zhou Yuan never left the city, so there was no perfect chance for Xu Beiyan to do anything to him. I can¡¯t do anything to Zhou Yuan, but I can to his friends. During this period, Xu Beiyan had investigated Su Youwei, Wu Yao, and Zhao Mushen, and he found out that Su Youwei was the closest to Zhou Yuan. "Young Master, Su Youwei also has quite an impressive background. The region master of the Zixiao Region is as strong as supreme sovereign Cang Yuan,¡± reminded the person in the shadow. Xu Beiyan chuckled and said, "I didn''t do anything. I just let her select an ordinary area.¡± While speaking, he suddenly blinked and a light dawned on his face. ¡°Oh, I forgot. During this period, I ordered people to secretly spread rumors that Su Youwei is Zhou Yuan''s little lover, and that Zhou Yuan gave her a lot of the Ancestral Dragon Pills he got from the goddess.¡± The corners of Xu Beiyan¡¯s mouth curled in a smile. "Ancestral Dragon Pills are the most dazzling items in the All-Heavens City. Although Su Youwei is exceptionally talented, she¡¯s still only at the Nascent Source stage and would inevitably attract covetous gazes. She can only blame herself for underestimating the dark hearts of people. Some people would even betray their master and destroy their ancestors to progress further. Let alone the fact that she¡¯s just a Nascent Source expert. How many teammates had fallen out with each other because of an Ancestral Dragon Pill in the past two years? And how many people have slandered each other because of an Ancestral Dragon Pill?¡± Xu Beiyan put his ink flute to his mouth and smiled again. "I really didn''t do anything that might have gone too far. Everything happened naturally. So, what can supreme sovereign Zi Xiao do to me?¡± He didn¡¯t say anything else and his flute produced a melodious tune. It was just that, while playing the flute, his gaze shifted to the direction where Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan resided and his eyes reddened with jealousy. He forgot to say that he had received information from his master Lu Liu that there seemed to be movements in that seemingly ordinary area. The movements seemed like those of the Sacred Race. According to the rules, the danger level of that area should be raised, but Xu Beiyan didn¡¯t do that right away and Su Youwei happened to pick that area. This is fate. Perhaps, heaven also dislikes that man who lives off a woman. Chapter 1305 Zhou Yuan’s Murderous Intent The Great Alchemy Hall was buzzing with excitement as usual. ¡°This pill refining session produced 27 Ancestral Dragon Pills! The production rate seems steady!¡± "This is really a joyous event. As long as he maintains this production rate, it will be easier to exchange for an Ancestral Dragon Pill.¡± ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan has some ability.¡± ¡°We really misunderstood him before¡­¡± ¡°......¡± When the result was announced from the Great Alchemy Hall, gasps and exclamations rang throughout the area. Zhou Yuan had participated in the refining of Ancestral Dragon Pill in the past two months and the results were extremely consistent, making all those who doubted him change their attitude. No one talked about Xu Beiyan again. By the seven-color cauldron, Zhou Yuan stored away the Ancestral Dragon Pill and stretched. ¡°Ancestral Dragon Pills are really amazing,¡± Zhou Yuan marveled. He hasn¡¯t had a taste of Ancestral Dragon Pill before so he didn¡¯t understand its popularity among Nascent Source and Law Domain experts. It was only in the past two months that he began to understand what it meant to be called a divine pill. Even his 9.7 inches Nascent Source was gradually improving because of Ancestral Dragon Pills, let alone other people... The only unfortunate thing was that even if he received four Ancestral Dragon Pills every month, it still wasn¡¯t enough for him. I can¡¯t just rely on the salary from refining pills. I should find a chance to explore the chaos void. Zhou Yuan thought to himself. Although the chaos void was full of dangers, there could be huge rewards. He could become rich overnight if he captured a huge Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirit. While such thoughts streamed through his mind, two familiar figures at the hall entrance caught his eyes. They were Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen. Wu Yao¡¯s expression was urgent. Zhou Yuan frowned and appeared in front of the two in a flash. ¡°Are you two looking for me?" Wu Yao nodded, knitting her slender, crescent brows together. ¡°Su Youwei might be in danger.¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression changed dramatically and he even lost control of his Genesis Qi, causing it to explode out of his body. Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen had to bear the brunt and were blasted back a few steps. When they looked at Zhou Yuan again, their eyes were filled with astonishment. The Genesis Qi foundation they felt¡­made them feel terror. Zhao Mushen''s expression changed indefinitely as he carefully studied Zhou Yuan. He thought that Zhou Yuan had focussed all his energy into making his Spirit break through the Allroaming Stage in his two years of closed-door cultivation, but it seemed that his Genesis Qi cultivation hadn¡¯t declined and instead became extremely terrifying. Zhou Yuan should still be at the Nascent Source stage and hadn¡¯t even opened up a pseudo Law Domain, yet the wave of Genesis Qi erupted from him was comparable to that of a true Law Domain expert! ¡°How many inches is that guy¡¯s Nascent Source?¡± Zhao Mushen said in disbelief. It was already abnormal that Zhao Mushen¡¯s Nascent Source had reached 9 inches and that he could kill pseudo Law Domain experts with his strength, but who would have thought that he was still at the younger brother level based on abnormality when compared to Zhou Yuan. Although Wu Yao was similarly stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation, she quickly suppressed those emotions and explained, ¡°Su Youwei was very upset for a period and she didn¡¯t come on any missions with us. But when we returned, we found out that she accepted a mission by herself. We also noticed rumors spreading in the All-Heavens City, saying that¡­¡± She paused, glanced at Yaoyao, who was on the white jade platform, before she continued, ¡°Saying that Su Youwei is your little lover, and you gave her many Ancestral Dragon Pills that you got from the goddess.¡± Zhou Yuan''s face was devoid of expression but chilling flames leaped about in his eyes. He didn¡¯t mind people trying to attack him with rumors, but those rumors involved Su Youwei. The rumors not only tried to ruin his relationship with Yaoyao but would also bring a lot of trouble to Su Youwei because the attractive power of Ancestral Dragon Pills was too amazing. "We received news earlier that Su Youwei is being ambushed and is now in danger!" Wu Yao said urgently. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°I understand, do you know the spatial coordinates of where she was attacked?¡± Wu Yao hurriedly handed over a mottled copper piece. ¡°The coordinates inscribed on this is the location of Su Youwei''s mission.¡± She then added, ¡°I¡¯m also coming with you.¡± Her reason for going of course wasn¡¯t because of Zhou Yuan, but because of Su Youwei. Wu Yao had always admired Su Youwei, but Su Youwei wasn¡¯t close to her because of Zhou Yuan. However, the relationship between Wu Yao and Su Youwei had improved a lot over the past two years and they were now considered good friends. Wu Yao had no friends due to her aloof personality and so she cherished Su Youwei very much. Zhou Yuan nodded and didn¡¯t refuse. Zhao Mushen suddenly said indifferently, ¡°This matter isn¡¯t as simple as it seems. I have investigated those rumors but I couldn''t find the origin. The person who started them must have cleansed all traces already.¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes drooped slightly. Then, a chilling light flashed in his eyes. ¡°I have only been in the All-Heavens City for two months. If there is someone who wants to target me, it¡¯s easy to guess who.¡± ¡°Xu Beiyan?¡± asked Wu Yao. Zhao Mushen shook his head, saying, ¡°Although he¡¯s suspicious, you have underestimated your ability to attract hatred. Do you think there are very few people in the All-Heavens City who hate you? If so, you really think too highly of the human heart.¡± ¡°I don''t need any evidence. If something really happened to Youwei, I am going to kill Xu Beiyan regardless of whether he did it or not.¡± Zhou Yuan said, expressionless. Even though Xu Beiyan had a good reputation in the All-Heavens City, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t like him for some reason. It was that feeling that made Zhou Yuan know that Xu Beiyan was the prime suspect if there was someone scheming something. The corners of Zhao Mushen''s mouth twitched, but he still reminded Zhou Yuan, ¡°It¡¯s not good to provoke Xu Beiyan. He has both strength and background.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at Zhao Mushen. ¡°If he really did something to Youwei. I am going to bury him regardless of who he is.¡± Seeing Zhou Yuan''s eyes, Zhao Mushen didn''t say anything else because he could feel that Zhou Yuan''s heart was in a violent rage. Shua. A black shadow sped across the air and landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Then, Yaoyao¡¯s voice resounded, ¡°Take Tuntun with you.¡± Tuntun lay down on his side on Zhou Yuan''s head, yawning lazily. Zhou Yuan turned his head and glanced at Yaoyao, who slightly nodded at him and didn¡¯t question him. The people were too naive to think that the so-called rumors could destroy the relationship between Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao didn''t personally accompany Zhou Yuan because she was under the heavy protection of the All-Heavens City and the Saints in the Omega Shrine would likely go crazy if she stepped outside the All-Heavens City and entered the chaos void. Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze and transformed into a stream of light, soaring in the sky. Wu Yao immediately followed after him. Zhao Mushen pursed his lips and didn¡¯t want to follow him because he would look like Zhou Yuan¡¯s subordinate. But while he was hesitating, a wisp of thought streaked across the air and entered his mind. ¡°Little brother, hurry up and follow us!¡± Bang! Zhao Mushen''s figure sped up the air. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m coming!¡± Chapter 1306 Pill Hunters It was impossible to determine the direction in the chaos void. Anyone without a set of fixed spatial coordinates in this strange space as a guide would eventually be lost in the chaos fog and die in the storm of chaos. That was no exception for Law Domain experts. A huge continent floated somewhere in the chaos void. The terrain was steep and dangerous, and mountain peaks rose steeply from the ground like swords. Gusts of chaos wind occasionally whistled past but they had no destructive effect on the hard, solid mountain rocks. It was as though if anything with vitality touched the gusts of wind, their vitality would be drained away. Next to a deep mountain stream somewhere on this continent. Su Youwei sat with her back against an icy stone wall, her beautiful and gentle face icy-cold and her eyes filled with murderous intent. A sword with black-and-white light flowing along the blade was inserted into the ground next to her. The sword was streaked with faint bloodstains. Correct, Su Youwei was ambushed a few days ago. She was ambushed by a total of five Law Domain experts. Their attacks were fierce and merciless, and their series of onslaughts made Su Youwei feel the aura of death. Fortunately Su Youwei hadn¡¯t relaxed her guard at all in the chaos void. She evaded the fierce killing attacks at the critical moment and took the opportunity to strike back. She severely wounded a Law Domain expert with one sword strike. But she had to end her attacks there. Her opponents had rich battle experience and they immediately encircled her again. She had no choice but to take the chance to flee. However, her opponents had no intention of giving up. For the next several days, she fled and the opponents relentlessly pursued. They fought several times during this period and every attack was merciless. ¡°Pill hunters?¡± Su Youwei murmured, killing intent flowing in her beautiful eyes. The Ancestral Dragon Pill¡¯s appearance in the All-Heavens City gave hope to many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts who hadn¡¯t made the slightest progress in the past many years. But Ancestral Dragon Pills were scarce, and it was extremely difficult to exchange for one. Thus, this resulted in shady people who walked in the darkness in search of those who hold Ancestral Dragon Pills and materials. These people were the infamous pill hunters in the All-Heavens City. The majority of Nascent Source and Law Domain experts were gathered in the All-Heavens City, and so, there could be said to be a mix of good people and scumbags there. Additionally, everyone¡¯s background was incredibly complicated. Even if Saints wanted to investigate them, they wouldn¡¯t find anything definite. From this, it was clear that the water was very deep. Pill hunters were the most troublesome existences for many people in the All-Heavens City. The pills hunters concealed themselves in the All-Heavens City in usual times and never exposed their identities to anyone. Even a kind-looking person could put on a mask and conceal their auras when darkness comes and become greedy beings that live only for Ancestral Dragon Pills. "Why would a pill hunter target me? My exchange quota could bring out five pseudo Law Domain pill hunters?¡± Su Youwei frowned. Although her fame had risen in the past two years, she was still at the Nascent Source stage. There were countless people at the Nascent Source stage in the All-Heavens City. Moreover, Su Youwei felt she was clearly inferior to Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen. It seems like a waste of resources to dispatch five top pseudo Law Domain experts to deal with me. A light flashed in Su Youwei''s beautiful eyes. ¡°Could it be because of His Highness?¡± However, while pondering, a tremendous feeling of danger shrouded her. She immediately reached for her black-and-light sword while trembling and vanished in a flash. Boom! Endless Genesis Qi like enraged dragons roared towards her, abyss walls crumbled and boulders tumbled down like the rain. Su Youwei reappeared in midair, staring coldly at the steep icy mountain tops. There, five figures had sealed off all directions. The five figures were all dressed in black robes but the most striking thing was what was worn on their heads. A blood-colored ball helmet that resembled a pill. The helmet was smooth and glossy but a pair of greedy and ruthless eyes peered out through two dark holes. The pill helmet on their heads looked funny, but no expert in all-heavens would laugh when they saw them. "I don''t have Ancestral Dragon Pills on me. I just want to know why pill hunters would target me?¡± asked Su Youwei in a cold voice. "No Ancestral Dragon Pill? We will search your corpse,¡± someone among the five figures said indifferently. His voice was hoarse and without the slightest emotion as though deliberately concealing his real voice. ¡°Kill!¡± The five pill hunters didn¡¯t waste time saying any nonsense. Killing intent surged and they simultaneously launched an attack. Vast amounts of Genesis Qi enveloped Su Youwei like a mountain crashing down on her. Although Su Youwei was only at the Nascent Source stage, the five pill hunters knew she wasn¡¯t ordinary. Therefore, they had no intention of dealing with her alone, and instead, they planned to combine their strengths and end the battle with thunderous force. Rumble! Genesis Qi whizzed towards her like a storm from all directions, blocking all escape routes. Su Youwei took a deep breath, her eyes filled with black-and-white light. She stood still in midair, clasping her sword tight with the tip of the sword pointing downwards. As that vast amount of Genesis Qi roared towards her, mysterious black-and-white light descended from above like a huge yin yang disc. Su Youwei stood in the center of the yin yang disc while the five pill hunters surrounded her. ¡°Divine Yin Yang Disk, the Grand Shift!¡± Su Youwei flicked her sword and vanished from the spot in a flash. Right after, a pill hunter appeared where she was. A horrified look appeared in the hole of his blood-colored pill helmet. ¡°Stop!¡± But just when his panicked voice rang out, five different Genesis Qi attacks were already striking down. Puchi! Although one of the five Genesis Qi belonged to him, which he could control, the other four couldn¡¯t stop in time. The Law Domain expert spurted out blood and blasted away. While flying out, the space behind him twisted and Su Youwei¡¯s figure sped out, clasping a sword with yin yang qi flowing along it. As a ray of sword light flashed, a human head wrapped in a blood-colored pill helmet whirled into the sky. As yin yang qi corroded it, even his Spirit was annihilated. A pseudo Law Domain expert was killed in less than a few seconds. The other four pill hunters¡¯ expressions changed dramatically. But as ruthless people, they disregarded their comrade¡¯s bad luck and took advantage of the moment to strike Su Youwei. Four different Genesis arts were launched towards Su Youwei. Su Youwei could no longer just evade. Yin yang Genesis Qi rushed out her body, causing the space to ripple violently. She made a slashing stroke with her sword and four beams of yin yang sword qi slashed through the air along with countless stars. The spectacle was both stunning and dangerous. Bang! The full strength attacks from the two sides clashed. The four sword lights smashed through the three Law Domain experts¡¯ Genesis Qi attacks, only to break apart as it faced the last one. A fierce stream of Genesis Qi slammed Su Youwei''s delicate body. Puchi. Su Youwei spurted out a jet of blood as she collapsed to the ground, causing a mountain to crumble. She staggered to her feet, tightly clasping her sword and an icy look flashed in her beautiful eyes. Four shadows appeared around her. ¡°You indeed live up to the name Yin Yang Master Su Youwei¡­You only possessed strength of the Nascent Source stage yet you managed to kill one of us even while ambushed.¡± A pill hunter uttered, his voice edged with fear. ¡°If you were at the pseudo Law Domain stage, us five would likely be buried here today.¡± Su Youwei said indifferently, ¡°You are just a group of pests. Everyone in the All-Heavens City is preparing for the battle against the Sacred Race and only you guys are fighting your own people.¡± ¡°You heaven prides have unlimited potential and naturally don''t understand our pain and despair. We have painstakingly cultivated for years, exhausted our potential but we still haven¡¯t made any progress. We could only watch as the younger generation surpass us¡­¡± ¡°Do you think we could just watch that happen? Who doesn''t want to reach the Law Domain stage or even the Saint stage?¡± ¡°Ancestral Dragon Pills are scarce and we can only obtain them through such a way. Also, do you think they need us to fight the Sacred Race?!¡± The four pill hunters became increasingly aggravated as they spoke. The corners of Su Youwei''s lips curled disdainfully. ¡°That¡¯s just an excuse for your actions.¡± The four pill hunters were silent for a moment, calming their emotions. Then, they said indifferently, ¡°You don¡¯t need to say anything else. You can¡¯t escape your fate of being buried here today.¡± Su Youwei tightened her grip around the sword and stood up proudly, ¡°Even if I die here, I will bring you all with me.¡± Her beautiful eyes blazed with determination. Since I can¡¯t escape, I will drag whoever I can with me. However, with that thought, her beautiful eyes suddenly glazed over. She seemed to have zoned out for a moment. The four pill hunters grasped that moment to launch an attack. Four terrifying blade lights slashed through the air and descended like meteors. ¡°Su Youwei, die!¡± Just as the blade lights were approaching Su Youwei, the space in front of her distorted and a figure strode forward, sending a gush of indescribable Spirit power out with a flick of his sleeve. Under that level of Spirit power, the blade lights that the four pseudo-Law Domain experts summoned with all their strengths were silently dissolved. The four pill hunters¡¯ expressions changed dramatically as they cried out in disbelief, ¡°That¡¯s¡­a Spirit apparition? Spirit of the Allroamer stage?!¡± Their voices even cracked when they saw the face of the Spirit apparition. ¡°Zhou Yuan?!¡± The figure was naturally Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit apparition. He ran his eyes across the four pill hunters and a fierce expression came to his face. ¡°It wasted me a lot of effort to find you guys. Who did say you want dead here?¡± Feeling terrifying Spirit power surging around, the four pseudo-Law Domain pill hunters kept quiet. Then, they unhesitatingly transformed into streams of light and fled in four different directions. Chapter 1307 Surprise attack The four pill hunters fled without any hesitation when they saw Zhou Yuan. Even though Zhou Yuan''s fame had lessened over the past two years, he still held the record of killing a pseudo Law Domain expert at the Nascent Source stage. Additionally, his Spirit cultivation level had reached the Allroamer stage. He possessed strength comparable to a true Law Domain expert. He wasn¡¯t someone that they could contend against. Although the pill hunters were greedy and ruthless, they knew very well how to correctly assess a situation. ¡°Since you¡¯re in that occupation, you should know what price you would pay if you anger someone who you shouldn¡¯t?¡± Zhou Yuan indifferently watched the four flee unhesitatingly and then he locked his eyes on one. He lifted a finger and pointed at him from afar. As he flicked his finger, the pseudo Law Domain expert suddenly froze in the air. This was because Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power had completely solidified the space around the pill hunter. The pill hunter roared and attempted to resist with his pseudo Law Domain. He eventually gave up in despair because his efforts were futile. Terrifying Spirit power poured towards him like silver liquid, crushing his pseudo Law Domain like foam. The Spirit power simply brushed past the pseudo Law Domain expert but he abruptly stopped struggling. Although he appeared unwounded, his Spirit was annihilated in that second. He had lost all his vitality. Seeing Zhou Yuan get rid of one of their comrades, the other three pill hunters fled at full speed, almost ready to risk everything to escape. Roar! It was at that moment when a deep imposing beast roar rang out in another direction. Then, the surrounding space rippled and twisted, forming a black hole. The black hole rapidly expanded and silently swallowed a pseudo Law Domain. As the black hole whirled, a small beast jumped out of the void and swallowed the black hole in an instant. Li! At the same time, a phoenix cry resounded in another direction. The space around suddenly collapsed and golden feathers that were everywhere formed a torrent, engulfing a pseudo Law Domain pill hunter. The pill hunter resisted with all his strength and even brought out his pseudo Law Domain. However, he still underestimated the power from the sky of golden feathers. Blazing golden flames pulsed on the feathers torrent as they sped down. That amount could incinerate the pseudo Law Domain. The pseudo Law Domain swayed constantly and was on the verge of collapsing. The feathers pierced right through and set the pill hunter ablaze under his horrified gaze. As everything darkened into nothingness, he saw a beautiful red dress slowly moving across the air and a pair of phoenix eyes filled with chilling intent. ¡°Martial Empress¡­¡± he made his last murmur as death shrouded him. The remaining pill hunter also sensed the death of his comrades. He knew he was in trouble. They had traveled along the river all year round but this time their boat finally capsized. He suddenly halted. He looked up to see a tall man walking out from the dense mist. A light shuttle was slowly spinning in the man¡¯s palm as dark rays of light rippled unsteadily around it. His hair stood on end and a chill ran down his spine. ¡°The Devourer, Zhao Mushen¡­¡± The pill hunter uttered with difficulty. ¡°You sewer cockroaches. You even dare to touch our people?¡± Zhao Mushen looked down condescendingly, his eyes filled with contempt and chilling intent. The pill hunter didn''t respond and just frantically circulated all his Genesis Qi. A torrent pierced through the void, roaring towards Zhao Mushen. As Zhao Mushen stared expressionless at the deadly attack, the black light shuttle vanished with a flash. The space in front of him shattered as a dark spear was thrust out from the torrent, aiming for the center of Zhao Mushen¡¯s brows. The tip of the spear rapidly neared Zhao Mushen, but he neither blocked nor evaded. In the end, the spear came to a stop a few inches away from Zhao Mushen. The pill hunter reluctantly peered down at his chest to see a black light shuttle had unknowingly appeared. The black light rays around it rapidly spread and corroded his flesh and blood wherever they passed. Zhao Mushen extended two fingers, gently pushing the spear tip away from him, and he inhaled sharply. Black light spread and completely consumed the pill hunter. He soon was turned into black liquid and sucked into Zhao Mushen¡¯s stomach. ... Sensing the three pill hunters¡¯ vitality was gone, Zhou Yuan turned his head and asked the beautiful girl who was tightly gripping her sword, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Su Youwei stared at Zhou Yuan for several seconds before her eyes drooped and she asked embarrassedly, ¡°How come your Highness is here?¡± "Wu Yao came to notify me about the news she heard and I rushed her immediately. Fortunately I came in time.¡± Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and then he chided, ¡°The chaos void is full of danger. How could you come here alone?¡± Su Youwei pursed her lips and nodded with a smile, ¡°I was careless. Your Highness is right.¡± Wu Yao suddenly appeared next to her and she couldn¡¯t help saying, ¡°You¡¯re so obedient. You¡¯re not the Su Youwei I know!¡± Su Youwei smiled. ¡°That¡¯s because his Highness is right. I shouldn¡¯t have come out here alone and made everyone have to come find me.¡± Her beautiful eyes twinkled slightly as she gazed at Zhou Yuan. It was obvious that she was in a much better mood after seeing Zhou Yuan. Wu Yao was at a loss for words and could only shake her head. ¡°You¡¯re really hopeless.¡± Uncomfortable from Su Youwei¡¯s gaze, Zhou Yuan cleared his throat and said, ¡°You should rest for a while and then we will leave together.¡± Su Youwei nodded and obediently closed her eyes to recuperate. Zhou Yuan turned around, vigilantly scanning the surroundings. The space above him suddenly distorted and Tuntun leaped onto his head. Zhao Mushen appeared soon after and handed Tuntun a fragrant roasted leg that no one knew where he got from. ¡°Lord, do you want to eat it?¡± Tuntun quickly swallowed the leg with a roll of his tongue and looked at Zhao Mushen with a satisfied face. Zhou Yuan: ¡°¡­¡± He ignored the two weirdos and said to Wu Yao, ¡°There were reports of movements from the Sacred Race in this area, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Wu Yao nodded. ¡°But that isn¡¯t confirmed. Forces from the All-Heavens City had searched this area, including Saints, but no one found anything in the end. The movements detected might be a mistake.¡± Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Regardless, we shouldn¡¯t stay here too long. We should leave as soon as Youwei recovers.¡± Wu Yao nodded in agreement. Wu Yao and Zhou Yuan kept a sharp lookout but Zhao Mushen ignored everything and just constantly brought out all sorts of food for Tuntun, who was lying on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. One fed happily and the other ate happily. They looked like they were on an outing. As the veins on Zhou Yuan¡¯s forehead pulsed increasingly faster, he finally snapped when a drop of grease trickled onto his face. ¡°Enough you two!¡± With his mouth stuffed, Tuntun waved his claws about, annoyed that Zhou Yuan interrupted his meal. "I''ll tell Yaoyao when we get back that you ate someone else¡¯s food. She will definitely starve you for a few days,¡± threatened Zhou Yuan. Tuntun¡¯s beast eyes widened and he swallowed the food in his mouth before protesting. However, although he protested, he really didn¡¯t dare to eat anymore. Zhao Mushen snapped, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you went too far! What right do you have to stop Lord Tuntun from eating?!¡± Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes and couldn¡¯t care about the two anymore. However, while Zhao Mushen continued to fight for Tuntun¡¯s right to eat, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed dramatically. He suddenly looked up and yelled, ¡°Be careful!¡± Boom! The space around shattered and four gushes of terrifying Genesis Qi descended like natural disasters. Each one contained power comparable to a Law Domain expert! But the momentum and force when four were shot out simultaneously were even more terrifying! The attacks came too sudden. Just when Zhou Yuan reminded everyone to be careful, the Genesis Qi attacks had already struck. Boom! The area within thousands of miles was razed to the ground in a split second. Including where Zhou Yuan and the others were. Chapter 1308 Spirit Teleport Terrifying Genesis Qi wreaked havoc across the area, destroying mountains and abyss within a radius of ten thousand li, and created a huge crater-like pit in the smoke and dust. A crack suddenly split the space above. Four figures emerged, condescendingly looking at the huge pit below. The four all exuded a terrifying aura and the vertical rune in between their brows sent chills down one¡¯s spine because there were unidentifiable creatures creeping about inside. They were four Law Domain experts! The four Sacred Race Law Domain experts scanned the area below, and one of them spoke, ¡°They all should have died, right?¡± The other Law Domain experts nodded. ¡°I would rather not go to such troubles but they were approaching the secret domain, and to avoid problems, it was best to eliminate them.¡± ¡°The area will be restored later and chaos will be stirred again. The Saints of all-heavens likely wouldn¡¯t notice anything. After all, they had been fooled the same way before.¡± ¡°But one of the people in that group looked a little familiar¡­¡± ¡°Was there someone? I didn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°Never mind. It doesn¡¯t matter who he is, they won¡¯t survive our combined attacks.¡± While the four Law Domain experts were talking, the smoke and dust below dissipated, revealing a huge crater where Zhou Yuan and the others stood. They were completely gone as though ground to dust. However, the four Sacred Race Law Domain experts were very cautious and still wasn¡¯t at ease until they activated their perception and scanned the ground inch by inch, including the depths of the earth. The scanning lasted a while. Suddenly, a Law Domain expert¡¯s expression changed and he exclaimed, ¡°They didn¡¯t die!¡± Boom! As his voice rang out, the ground suddenly exploded and a stream of light shot out with indescribable speed. Looking carefully, several figures were within that stream of light. They were Zhou Yuan and the others. Anger and shock crossed the four Law Domain experts¡¯ faces. Who would have thought that their combined destructive attacks failed to kill a group of Nascent Source experts? ¡°We mustn¡¯t let them escape!¡± The four almost bellowed at the same time. The murderous intent in their voices almost froze the air. The four instantly expanded their Law Domains and sent out four beams of light from their Law Domains. Upon a closer look, the light beams contained an object that emitted endless power. They were evidently Law Domain treasures! The four Law Domain experts chose to bring out their strongest weapon during such a critical moment. Enveloped in destructive power, the four Law Domain treasures whizzed across the air, making Zhou Yuan and the others feel their scalp tighten. The four were elites of the Law Domain stage. Zhou Yuan and the others could likely take on one of them, but because the opponents had an advantage in number, a battle could be troublesome, even if they had Tuntun. Of course, what Zhou Yuan feared the most was that a Sacred Race Saint might suddenly appear! At such a time, how would he dare be tangled with the opponents! Four Law Domain treasures struck down like lightning. Such speed made it difficult to even dodge the attack! ¡°Be careful Zhou Yuan!¡± Wu Yao reminded. But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t increase his speed. Instead, a light flashed in his eyes. While he hesitated, the four Law Domain treasures were rapidly approaching. Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao, and Su Youwei felt a destructive force rushing towards them and the aura of death filling their hearts. But just when they thought they would no doubt die, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body exploded into a thousand rays of light. They swiftly twisted around them, and then, the space shattered and they were teleported to another. The four Law Domain treasures only managed to break up some rays of Spirit light. The four Sacred Race Law Domain experts appeared in a flash, staring in the direction that Zhou Yuan and the others vanished with unpleasant gazes. ¡°The Allroamer stage¡­¡± "That guy was just a Spirit apparition. His real body should be in a secret place and he just teleported back there. We can¡¯t catch them now.¡± The four Sacred Race Law Domain experts exchanged glances with one another, frowning. They didn¡¯t think Zhou Yuan would be so cautious. A Spirit of the Allroamer stage could travel to all-heavens and its speed was undetectable. Even the speed of stronger Law Domain experts couldn¡¯t be compared. Moreover, when one¡¯s Spirit left one¡¯s physical body, it could teleport to return. The speed of such a movement couldn¡¯t be stopped without hundreds of means. "What do we do?" asked one of the Law Domain experts with a frown. Another Law Domain expert waved his hand, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t be so worried. It doesn¡¯t matter if they found traces of us here. After all, the Saints of all-heavens had already investigated this place but they didn¡¯t find anything in the end. In a moment, when we return to the secret domain, we shall seal all the spatial cracks here so even if the Saints of all-heavens investigate again, the result would be the same as previous.¡± The rest of the Law Domain experts gradually calmed down, and eventually turned around and vanished. ... On a small mist-shrouded island somewhere in the chaos void. Zhou Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged on a mountaintop, suddenly opened his eyes. The space in front of him shattered and a stream of light sped across the air, piercing into the space between his eyebrows. At the same time, Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao, and Su Youwei appeared. ¡°We actually made it out of there?¡± Zhao Mushen asked in surprise. Wu Yao thoughtfully studied Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You left your physical body here when we were traveling? Did you predict this would happen?¡± Zhou Yuan rubbed the area between his brows that was throbbing with pain. Although he was able to teleport in time, some of his Spirit still scattered and that had a damage on him. ¡°I heard you guys say there was suspicious activity from the Sacred Race in this area so I made some preparations just in case. I didn¡¯t think I would really need to use it,¡± explained Zhou Yuan. Zhao Mushen said, "The Saints of all-heavens found no traces of the Sacred Race when they previously investigated. Why would four Law Domain experts suddenly appear? Were they hiding? How did they avoid detection from the Saints?¡± Su Youwei also asked, ¡°What were they planning to do by hiding? Or rather¡­what is the Sacred Race planning?¡± The atmosphere stilled as these words were uttered. Wu Yao¡¯s and Zhao Mushen''s expressions became solemn. If the Sacred Race was really scheming something, it was bound to be directed at all-heavens and they likely couldn¡¯t escape the calamity. Wu Yao and Su Youwei both shifted their gazes to Zhou Yuan. Zhao Mushen looked a little upset when he saw this. After all, Wu Yao and Su Youwei were always very opinionated and never listened to him when they worked together as a team, yet they viewed Zhou Yuan as a leader. Isn¡¯t it obvious that they think Zhao Mushen is inferior to Zhou Yuan. But even if Zhao Mushen was upset, he had to admit that Zhou Yuan was more dependable than him. At the very least, Zhao Mushen didn''t have the confidence that he could escape under the noses of four Sacred Race Law Domain experts while carrying a few burdens. Zhou Yuan ignored Zhao Mushen''s drama. With a light flashing in his eyes, he said in a low voice, ¡°What they are trying to do, I think, we will know soon¡­¡± Su Youwei, Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen were taken aback at first and then they all stared puzzled at Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan didn''t say anything else. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and rays of Spirit flickered between his brows. When the four Law Domain treasures previously sped through the air and scattered some of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit, the four Sacred Race Law Domain experts failed to notice that Zhou Yuan had deposited wisps of undetectable Spirit on one of the Law Domain treasures. This was because the four Sacred Race Law Domain experts were only strong in Genesis Qi cultivation but were much inferior to Zhou Yuan in terms of Spirit cultivation. Otherwise they would have realized his true body was concealed elsewhere. Zhou Yuan¡¯s wisp of Spirit was currently following the four Sacred Race Law Domain experts, shuttling through the chaos void. The four finally came to a stop. Hovering in a mist-shrouded area, they simultaneously folded their hands in seals and the space before them slowly split open. The four stepped through. Zhou Yuan also saw what was inside the space through his wisp of Spirit. Even Zhou Yuan couldn''t stop his eyes widening at the scene. Chapter 1309 Stone Dragon in the Darkness Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes when he saw the scene his Spirit sent back. From his Spirit¡¯s prying eyes, he saw a domain in the darkness. The domain was tremendous with a film of light in the center that stretched endlessly. Countless Sacred Race experts were hovering around the outside of the film of light as if forming some sort of formation and circulating terrifying powers to constantly bombard the film of light. Under the Sacred Race¡¯s bombardment, the mysterious film of light constantly rippled. As the ripples spread, the scene within the film of light loomed. Zhou Yuan saw what was happening inside. There seemed to be a tremendous mottled stone dragon stained with the traces of time. The stone dragon exuded an ancient aura as though born since the beginning of the world. The stone dragon was so tremendous that even one of its dragon scales would be a land of thousand miles if placed elsewhere. From this, it was clear how majestic and colossal its body was. It was simply a stone dragon continent. The giant stone dragon, enveloped in a mysterious film of light, occupied the depths of the darkness. Zhou Yuan saw flecks of light flashing on the stone dragon¡¯s body, in which figures seemed to be sitting cross-legged. Those figures gave Zhou Yuan a strange feeling because he couldn¡¯t feel a trace of vitality from them. That split second of a scene already made Zhou Yuan feel waves lifting high in his heart. The aura that the stone dragon in the depths emitted wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to him because it was formed from Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. They were identical to the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits in the Ancestral Spirit Mountain of the Dragon Spirit Utopia. The only difference was that the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits here were clearly more tremendous and could even condense into a strong dragon, something that those within the Ancestral Spirit Mountain couldn¡¯t achieve. The reason the Sacred Race hid here and mobilized such large forces was to break the film of light and seize the stone dragon? Zhou Yuan realized he had accidentally discovered something unexpected. ¡°Huh?!¡± But while Zhou Yuan was stunned by the scene, a cold voice resounded in the darkness, shaking the stars. A gaze containing mighty power suddenly cast his direction and then locked on the four Sacred Race Law Domain experts who just entered the domain. Then, an angry bellow echoed like a clap of thunder from the ninth heaven, ¡°An ant dare pry into the Sacred Race¡¯s secrets?!¡± As that bellow spread out, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit trembled violently and he even unhesitatingly destroyed his own Spirit seal to avoid being caught by the Saint and prevent him from tracing the Spirit back to his true body. On a little mist-shrouded island in the chaos void. Zhou Yuan''s eyes snapped open and terror filled his face. Without any time to explain to the others, he flicked his sleeve and circulated Genesis Qi to engulf Su Youwei and the others, who were staring puzzledly at him. He suddenly cried out, ¡°This is bad, run!¡± Although he destroyed his Spirit seal in time, the Sacred Race¡¯s Saint clearly discovered him and so he had to flee right away. Otherwise their lives could be in danger. He bolted into a full speed dash through the chaos void and fled frantically. However, he still underestimated the strength of a Saint. While Zhou Yuan led the others to flee, the chaos void quaked violently before it was torn apart and a pair of huge icy-cold eyes emerged, locking on Zhou Yuan and the others. ¡°Lowly ants, you¡¯re here already, why are you leaving?¡± As the voice resounded, a chaos storm rapidly gathered and formed a giant chaos hand. It blotted out the sky and aimed directly for Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was so terrified that he immediately went numb. A Saint was indeed tyrannical. A Saint could even manipulate the chaos storm in the chaos void at will. It should be said that even Law Domain experts would unlikely survive in such a storm. But the storm was even more terrifying now that it was controlled by a Saint. The slightest contact could make Zhou Yuan die a graceless death. Wu Yao and Su Youwei also paled at the sight. Zhao Mushen couldn''t help yelling, ¡°What did you do?! How come we are being hunted by a Saint now?!¡± He felt he was suffocating. They had been in the chaos void several times in the past two years and had never encountered a Saint from the Sacred Race, but now that they were traveling with Zhou Yuan, they were fiercely attacked by Sacred Race¡¯s Law Domain experts and even provoked a Saint from the Sacred Race to chase him down. Zhao Mushen, who was always cold and arrogant, couldn¡¯t help erupting in anger. Zhou Yuan, however, paid no attention to his explosiveness and continued to desperately circulate Genesis QI to flee for their lives. But no matter how fast they fled, the storm hand still rapidly approached them. It was as though it could penetrate all space and it was impossible to evade. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned grave and he operated an escaping art. Tuntun suddenly appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. He arched his back and unleashed a low roar towards the giant storm hand. A fierce light flashed in his eyes. He planned to fight back at such a dangerous moment to give Zhou Yuan a chance to escape. ¡°Tuntun, don¡¯t be reckless!¡± cautioned Zhou Yuan. Although Tuntun was now promoted to the grade 8 stage, he still couldn¡¯t compete with a Saint! Tuntun let out a roar, black light leaping between his sharp teeth. The giant storm hand came crashing down on him. Tuntun leapt up, his body expanded and he transformed into his mighty combat form. However, just as he was about to face the giant hand, the space above twisted and an incomparably huge Saint lotus bloomed from a blaze of light. The Saint lotus met the giant storm head-on. The two mighty forces clashed without any earth-shattering collision. Instead, they silently annihilated each other. ¡°Haha, a high and mighty Saint wants to kill a junior at the Nascent Source stage. Does the Saint from the Sacred Race know what shame is?¡± As the two mighty forces were destroyed, a laughter that was very familiar to Zhou Yuan echoed throughout the area. Then, Cang Yuan¡¯s figure emerged in the rippling space. The Sacred Race¡¯s Saint stared icily at Cang Yuan and then swept a chilling glance over Zhou Yuan. He didn¡¯t say a word to Cang Yuan and then the huge eyes gradually faded away. Although reluctant to retreat, the Sacred Race¡¯s Saint knew that there was nothing he could do to Zhou Yuan now that a Saint from all-heavens had come. Moreover, the secret domain might be exposed. He had to notify the rest of the Sacred Race right away. A huge battle was about to break out. Zhou Yuan and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Cang Yuan came over to Zhou Yuan and the others, saying helplessly, ¡°Kid, you¡¯re too good at attracting troubles. How did you provoke a Saint from the Sacred Race? If I hadn¡¯t secretly concealed a seal in your body when you left the All-Heavens City, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to come in time.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled foolishly, and then, he assumed a serious expression. He didn''t hide anything. His Spirit between his brows suddenly flashed and a scene enveloped in Spirit power was presented to Cang Yuan. Cang Yuan puzzledly received it, but his face, which was always calm and composed, changed dramatically when he saw the stone dragon in the darkness. Chapter 1310 Secret Domain As Cang Yuan¡¯s expression dramatically changed, a Saint¡¯s pressure was also released at the same time, causing the chaos void to quake. Fortunately, he quickly restrained it and then looked at Zhou Yuan with a solemn expression. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder that a Sacred Race¡¯s Saint wanted to kill you.¡± Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows. ¡°Master, what¡¯s going on? What does the Sacred Race plan to do?¡± "The dark domain and the stone dragon you saw should be formed from Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. The remnant spirits there are much stronger than those in Ancestral Spirit Mountains. Otherwise, the Sacred Race wouldn¡¯t have mustered such large forces,¡± explained Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. Through his Spirit¡¯s spying, he saw the Sacred Race mustering up such larges and forming a huge formation to destroy the mysterious film of light.¡± The force mobilized was far greater than the Evil Beast Clan from Wanshou Heaven. ¡°I didn¡¯t think the Sacred Race would have secretly found that secret domain in the chaos void¡­¡± Cang Yuan wore the most solemn expression, which showed how important the information that Zhou Yuan brought back was. Noticing the bewildered expressions on the faces of Zhou Yuan and the others, he explained, ¡°The stone dragon is condensed from an unbelievable amount of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. From the looks of it, it¡¯s gradually coming to life and there could even be Ancestral Dragon Spirit essence birthed.¡± "Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence?" Zhou Yuan had never heard of such a thing before. "It''s normal that you haven''t heard of it before because ordinary Saints also know nothing about them.¡± Cang Yuan sighed. ¡°Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits are scattered across heaven and earth and are scarce. But Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence are only birthed when a large amount of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits is condensed together. Such conditions could be said to be incredibly rare. ¡°One drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence could give one the opportunity to get a glimpse of the Saint stage¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s and the others¡¯ countenances changed simultaneously. The Saint stage was the pinnacle of all-heavens, and anyone who became a Saint would detach from their mortal body to become a mighty existence of the world. This was a goal that all cultivators dreamed to achieve in all their lives. It was just that, as a mortal, it wasn¡¯t easy to become a Saint. Since ancient times, it was unknown how many remarkable heaven prides had stagnated at that stage and died with deep regret. Even Zhao Mushen, Su Youwei, Wu Yao and other experts with 9 inches Nascent Source, a solid foundation and top Law Domain seeds, wouldn¡¯t dare to say they had absolute certainty of touching upon the Saint stage, let alone other people. But Cang Yuan mentioned that the so-called Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence could guide a cultivator to the path of the Saint stage. How would that not be shocking? Cang Yuan ran his eyes over their stunned expressions and couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence is only one of the treasures in the secret domain. The stone dragon itself is also a divine treasure. If we could extract the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits inside, they could be refined into countless Ancestral Dragon Pills. The all-heavens¡¯ overall strength would soar if we could get out hands on them!¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He had assisted in refining Ancestral Dragon Pills and so he knew well about the importance of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. The main factor restricting the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits¡¯ production was that Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits were too rare. Since the secret domain was unbelievably rich in Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits, it would be an amazing strategic resource if the all-heavens could get their hands on them. Its importance was no less than the Battle of Guyuan Heaven, and to a certain extent, was even greater! Cang Yuan added, ¡°But if the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits fell into the Sacred Race¡¯s hands, it would become a powerful weapon to the Sacred Race.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled. "Master, you mean the Sacred Race can also use Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits?!¡± It should be said that all-heavens were only able to refine Ancestral Dragon Pills because of Yaoyao. Otherwise, even the many Saints could only stare helplessly at the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. But from what Cang Yuan said, it seemed that the Sacred Race could also make use of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. Cang Yuan''s expression turned grave. ¡°We have clashed with the Sacred Race many times in the past two years, so we also know that they are searching for Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits in the chaos void. They should have grasped how to use them¡­From what the Omega Shrine speculated¡­it likely is a sign that the Sacred God of the Sacred Race is recovering.¡± Zhou Yuan felt a chill in his heart. Yaoyao was the third god but the Sacred Race also had the second god. Other Saints couldn¡¯t do what Yaoyao could, but it might not be impossible for the almighty Sacred God. The Sacred God was in deep slumber in the past and perhaps was unable to make its divine presence and power evident, but since the Sacred Race was making frequent moves, it seemed that the terrifying existence that made all races in all-heavens tremble was gradually recovering. This was a bad news to all-heavens Facing an existence of such a level, even the Saints in all-heavens would tremble with fear. It was unknown how many Saints from all-heavens had been killed by the Sacred Race in the world-ending war in the ancient times. If the Ancestral Dragon Will hadn¡¯t emerged in the end and inflicted severe injuries to the Sacred God, the Tianyuan World would have fallen into the Sacred Race¡¯s control and all races would become their captives. ¡°So, we must fight for the secret domain no matter what. Fortunately you brought back such information. You prevented all-heavens from losing such a great opportunity.¡± Cang Yuan looked at Zhou Yuan with a satisfied smile. ¡°There have been reports of movements from the Sacred Race in that area before , and Saints have also investigated that area, but no abnormality was found. In the end, it was only treated as a mistake. We almost ruined an important matter.¡± As Cang Yuan reached the end of his sentence, even his heart pounded. ¡°This is an important matter. I will rush back to the All-Heavens City and report to the Omega Shrine.¡± After Cang Yuan finished speaking, he rolled up Zhou Yuan and the others with a flung of his sleeve. Then, with a stamp of his foot, the space around shattered and they teleported through space. Zhou Yuan and the others appeared in All-Heavens City in a flash. This matter was too serious. Cang Yuan didn¡¯t have time to explain much to Zhou Yuan and the others. He simply reminded them to not to go out before he disappeared. Zhou Yuan, Su Youwei and the others exchanged serious glances with each other because they knew that today''s affairs would likely stir up huge waves. They inevitably would clash with the Sacred Race again. They were in no mood to chat and just left separately. Zhou Yuan returned to Yaoyao''s residence and immediately told her about the matter. ¡°Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence?¡± Yaoyao lit up with surprise and then she immediately chuckled, ¡°You have a good opportunity¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly. Yaoyao stroked the soft fur of Tuntun, who was lying in her arms and her red lips moved slightly. ¡°Weren¡¯t you worried about how to break the limit of the Nascent Source stage?¡± She opened her little mouth wide. ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence will perhaps fulfil your wish¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was at first taken aback and then he smacked his lips. His sparkly green eyes were terrifying. Chapter 1311 All-Heavens Stirred For a period, the experts gathered in All-Heavens City all felt an unusual atmosphere within the city. That greatest change was that the number of missions issued by the Spirit Searching Hall had lessened significantly and all explorations were also greatly reduced. But before a dispute broke out due to this, the Saints in All-Heavens City issued a direct order that the All-Heavens City would be temporarily closed-off and no one was allowed to travel to the chaos void. The order unsurprisingly set off surging waves in the city and undoubtedly shocked all experts from the various forces. The main reason they came to the All-Heavens City was to search for Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits and exchange them for Ancestral Dragon Pills, but the restriction order directly ruined their plan. This matter concerned their foundations and so there were huge adverse responses to the order. However, no matter how turbulent it was in the All-Heavens City, the Saints didn¡¯t come forward to explain to them, which made many people in the All-Heavens City even more panicky. ... Zhou Yuan stayed in Yaoyao¡¯s residence these days and rarely went out. But he couldn¡¯t calm his emotions ever since Yaoyao told him that his opportunity in breaking the limit of the Nascent Source stage lies in Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence. This was because he knew how difficult it was to break the limit. Since ancient times, many heaven prides didn¡¯t dare to have excessive expectations of breaking the limit and even Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t confident in achieving it. The Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence was undoubtedly a life-saving straw to Zhou Yuan. He felt he wouldn¡¯t be given a second chance if he lost this one. However, although Zhou Yuan was eager to get the opportunity, he understood that the secret domain was linked to a huge matter. The Dragon Spirit Utopia simply couldn¡¯t compare to it. Moreover, a huge number of Sacred Race forces were gathered there, including Saints. Given the scale of it, he knew he alone couldn¡¯t change anything. Even if he were to sneak in, he would simply be seeking death. He needed to wait for the Omega Shrine to formulate a plan. Only then would he perhaps get a glimpse of the opportunity as well as a share of the profits. He could only wait quietly. Additionally, he believed it wouldn¡¯t be long. It was indeed exactly as Zhou Yuan thought. A few days later, Cang Yuan came to the small courtyard where he was with the latest plan. ¡°Prime sovereign Jin Luo has led 17 Saints into the All-Heavens City.¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s first sentence immediately stunned Zhou Yuan and he couldn¡¯t help gasping out loud. He knew the Omega Shrine would attach huge importance to the secret domain, but he didn''t expect even prime sovereign Jin Luo, one of the three prime sovereigns, would be dispatched. There were also 17 Saints¡­the lineup was extremely grand. The all-heavens evidently planned to create a huge wave. While stunned, Zhou Yuan invited Cang Yuan to take a seat in a stone pavilion. Yaoyao held Tuntun while staring at Cang Yuan¡¯s wrinkled face. She eventually removed the jade gourd hanging at her waist and poured a cup of wine for him. Cang Yuan stared blankly at Yaoyao, who was wearing an indifferent expression. He didn''t think Yaoyao would take the initiative to pour him a cup of wine...Although she didn''t utter a word, Cang Yuan could still feel a lot of her emotions were contained in that cup of wine. Although Yaoyao seemed cold and detached even after Zhou Yuan returned, she was actually better than before. Zhou Yuan quietly watched and didn¡¯t say anything. Cang Yuan slowly retracted his gaze from Yaoyao''s face and gazed at the cup of wine in front of him. Even if his mind was always as calm as water, tears still welled in his eyes. After all, he watched Yaoyao born from the divine stone and he was the one who brought her up. Although Yaoyao had a special identity, Cang Yuan had always treated her like his own daughter. As Yaoyao''s divinity was gradually restored in the past two years, her personality also grew increasingly cold and she gradually detached herself from Cang Yuan. Although Cang Yuan didn¡¯t show how he felt, he was obviously very upset inside. Cang Yuan held up the cup and drank the wine in one gulp. ¡°Little Yaoyao, grandpa Hei won¡¯t blame you no matter what you do.¡± Yaoyao didn''t respond and peered down and stroked Tuntun¡¯s fur. Cang Yuan wasn¡¯t an ordinary person either and so he quickly composed himself and said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°The Sacred Race should have a passage to the secret domain you discovered at another set of spatial coordinates. Those four Sacred Race Law Domain experts should have only entered through an undetectable spatial crack. "The spatial crack isn¡¯t noticeable, but it connects to the secret domain, and the Sacred Race must have sent them to suppress and conceal the spatial crack. ¡°The Sacred Race movements we discovered earlier should have unintentionally leaked out from that spatial crack. However, the Sacred Race Saints covered it up and so we didn''t discover it until your Spirit accidentally broke in..¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, ¡°What plans does the Omega Shrine have?¡± Cang Yuan smiled. ¡°The stone dragon in the secret domain is a super strategic resource. The all-heavens won¡¯t give it up so easily. Therefore, even prime sovereign Jin Luo will personally take action.¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression became solemn as he asked, ¡°We plan to clash head-on with the Sacred Race?¡± ¡°Now that the Sacred Race is eyeing that secret domain, they are already ahead of us. It¡¯s inevitable to clash with them if we also want to fight for the secret domain.¡± Zhou Yuan was silent. Although what they said was simple, anyone could feel how earth-shaking the clash between the two sides would be. After all, there was a truce between the all-heavens and the Sacred Race for years. Even though there had been many frictions, they hadn¡¯t reached the stage of war. But Zhou Yuan also understood that the all-heavens didn¡¯t want to go to war, but the Sacred Race¡¯s ultimate goal was to eliminate all races. Their silence was just them waiting for a better opportunity¡­They would be deceiving themselves if they say people were trying to avoid trouble and bring about peace. ¡°If they were truly going to clash, that would be an opportunity for all-heavens¡­¡± "The Sacred God of the Sacred Race hasn¡¯t fully awakened yet. This has constrained many top forces in the Sacred Race. Most of the seven prime saints have gathered on the Sacred Mountain and dare not make the slightest movement. Therefore, prime sovereign Jin Luo personally acted this time. We should have the qualification to clash with the Sacred Race,¡± explained Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan nodded. Since the Saints of all-heavens had made a decision, he naturally had nothing else to say. Of course, he also hoped that the all-heavens would choose to seize the secret domain, so that he could obtain Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence. ¡°Prime sovereign Jin Luo will first take the lead in tearing the spatial crack apart, and then completely stabilize it to form a passageway where we could enter. And after that, we will face the Sacred Race and compete for the stone dragon.¡± Zhou Yuan smacked his lips. The scale of the battle would likely be the greatest he had ever seen in these years. After all, even prime sovereign Jin Luo, a pillar of all-heavens, came out this time. Cang Yuan hesitated for a while before his gaze shifted towards Yaoyao, who hadn¡¯t said a word. ¡°I also came with a request from prime sovereign Jin Luo. He hoped that Yaoyao would help out slightly in this battle if there is a critical moment.¡± Zhou Yuan didn''t speak. He didn''t want to influence Yaoyao¡¯s opinion. Yaoyao paused stroking Tuntun for a moment. She pondered and then nodded. "I can help out depending on the situation, but if there¡¯s Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence in the end¡­you need to leave a share for Zhou Yuan." She stated her requirement. Cang Yuan nodded. His gaze remained on Yaoyao for a while and he eventually got up and left. As Cang Yuan left, Zhou Yuan frowned. "You don''t have to do that. If I need Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence, I will fight for them myself.¡± He wasn''t a male chauvinist. After all, he had lived off Yaoyao for so many years already. He just didn''t want Yaoyao to do what she didn''t want to do. Yaoyao reached for Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand and said, ¡°I just casually agreed. Perhaps they won''t need me.¡± Zhou Yuan felt helpless towards her excuse. He could only grip her delicate little hand and peer at the chaos, his eyes narrowing. He knew that the incoming storm would stir all-heavens. Could the all-heavens snatch food from the tiger¡¯s mouth? Chapter 1312 The Great Battle of all Saints When prime sovereign Jin Luo led the several Saints into the All-Heavens City, the news regarding the Stone Dragon Secret Domain was finally announced and unsurprisingly created great commotion in the All-Heavens City. Everyone was unusually shocked and they finally knew why the atmosphere in the All-Heavens City was recently so tense. When the matter was announced, the Omega Shrine also explained the situation regarding the Stone Dragon Secret Domain in detail. The many experts in the All-Heavens City learned that a huge stone dragon condensed from mighty Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits in the secret domain. Their initial reaction was to wipe the corners of their mouths and then, their eyes gleamed greedily and covetously. After all, the past two years of searching the chaos void made them aware of how difficult it was to find Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. In ordinary times, one had to put in tremendous time and effort to obtain a wisp of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. But the secret domain was incredibly rich in Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. The harvest from one lap around the secret domain would likely be more than what they had found in the chaos void in the past two years! However, many people soon began to worry because the all-heavens seemed to be planning to snatch food from the tiger¡¯s mouth. The Sacred Race wouldn¡¯t be easy to push around. Additionally, it had suppressed the all-heavens for countless years. Although many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts had encountered Sacred Race experts in the chaos void in the past two years, the majority fell into disadvantageous situations. This clearly showed how strong the Sacred Race was. If they wanted to compete with the Sacred Race for the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, they would have to fight unimaginably fierce battles. But no matter how complicated were the thoughts in their minds, that was the present situation. Moreover, those who could come to the All-Heavens City were all considered elites of all-heavens. And thus they naturally understood the Sacred Race and all-heavens always stood on completely opposing sides and there was no chance of them compromising. If they didn¡¯t fight for the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, that would only tilt the two sides even more and they would have to pay an even greater price in the end. Therefore, instead of waiting for their doom, it was better to fight with their lives! If they miraculously seized the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, it wasn¡¯t just an opportunity for all-heavens, but it would also raise the all-heavens¡¯ morale. Shortly after the announcement, many experts in the All-Heavens City felt the chaos void splitting apart. Waves of mighty force suddenly appeared, along with pillars-like images reflected in the void. It was the Saints assembled in the All-Heavens City! The appearance of so many Saints at the same time triggered strange spectacles across the world. Even the storm wreaking havoc in the chaos void was suppressed. A natural barrier like the chaos storm had obediently subsided in the face of Saints. Zhou Yuan, who was standing in a courtyard, looked up and saw a familiar figure in front of the many Saints. It was Cang Yuan. Prime sovereign Jin Luo hadn¡¯t shown up. Under countless blazing and awed gazes, Cang Yuan guided the many Saints across the sky, and as he drew his hand, the chaos void in front of him split apart, revealing a passageway that led into an ordinary space. Zhou Yuan could tell that this was where the spatial crack that the four Sacred Race Law Domain experts went through was. Many people couldn¡¯t help whisper to one another as they watched. After all, they didn¡¯t know what Zhou Yuan did. However, their bewilderment didn''t last long because the Saints acted the next moment. The chaos seemed to have frozen as several waves of mighty forces descended. Bang! Such a terrifying impact almost instantly shattered the void. A tiny spatial gap was torn into the void. The gap that was less than a palm¡¯s width rapidly expanded. The tiny spatial gap turned into a huge space portal within a few breaths. Mighty forces hovered around the portal to stabilize it. But just as the space portal was close to completion, a majestic force came speeding over and re-activated the chaos. Like a boundless wave, it completely engulfed the area to crush the portal. A fierce light flashed in Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes. Without the need for Cang Yuan to say anything, the Saints from all-heavens coldly snorted out loud. Then, a mighty force rolled out like flames across the sky, colliding head-on with the wave of mighty force. Boom! The two mighty forces were tyrannical, and the collision could be felt even in the All-Heavens City. However, the two mighty forces eventually dissipated simultaneously. As the clash ended, everyone from the All-Heavens City cast their gaze to the space portal, only to see a tremendous stone dragon in the depths as well as countless Sacred Race troops outside the stone dragon light film. They couldn¡¯t help inhaling sharply. "The secret domain belongs to the Sacred Race, yet the lower five heavens dare to covet it?!¡± While many people within the All-Heavens City were astonished, several imposing figures in the secret domain suddenly sped across the sky and peered into the space portal with cold and ruthless gazes. At the same time, a voice filled with murderous intent reverberated across the sky, striking terror into people¡¯s hearts. ¡°Get away quickly! Otherwise, you will be slaughtered!¡± Hearing a stern warning from a Sacred Race Saint, Cang Yuan simply smiled. Not only did he not retreat, he led all the Saints forward. When he reappeared, he had already passed through the space portal and was in the secret domain. "The secret domain here is clearly transformed from Ancestral Dragon remains, and the Ancestral Dragon has nothing to do with your Sacred Race. How dare you say this place belongs to the Sacred Race?¡± Cang Yuan sneered. The dozens of Saints standing behind him all wore icy expressions. Even simply by standing there, it felt as though heaven and earth were turned upside down. The infinite power it exuded not only made the Nascent Source experts and Law Domain experts in the All-Heavens City tremble, even the army of Saints assumed extremely serious expressions. But no matter what, a saint was the highest existence in the world and wouldn¡¯t be humiliated so easily. Only Saints could deal with Saints. ¡°Oh, I asked why do the all-heavens have the guts to snatch something that belongs to the Sacred Race? It turns out that you¡¯re thinking of fighting with your life? Unfortunately for you guys, the Sacred Race would rather throw our stuff to feed the dog rather than give them to the lower five heavens.¡± A figure reaching to heaven and resting on the earth appeared above the Sacred Race army. It was a purple-robed elder with purple eyes and with purple light flowing inside. He swept a cold glance over Cang Yuan, the leader of the all-heavens army. ¡°Cang Yuan, if you know what¡¯s best for you, you would quickly lead your people out of the secret domain and I will pretend this never happened.¡± "It turned out to be old man Zi Quang.¡± Cang Yuan, who was acquainted with the purple-robed old man, said, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Since we discovered the secret domain, we have to take a few bites first.¡± The Saint from the Sacred Race called Zi Guang smiled indifferently while shaking his head. ¡°It seems that our Sacred Race has been too kind to the lower five heavens in the past. This created an illusion to you that our Sacred Race is easy to bully, is that right?¡± As his voice rang out, the space behind him rippled and enthusiastic cheers erupted from the Sacred Race army. This was because behind Zi Guang were several mighty figures emerging. The Saints from the Sacred Race. The number wasn¡¯t inferior to the all-heavens army. Many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts watched nervously. This was the first time they saw so many Saints appear at the same time. The thought of a battle between such existences made them feel their scalp numb. It was truly earth-shaking. Zi Guang stood with his hands behind his back while sizing up Cang Yuan with an indifferent gaze. Then, a cold chilling killing intent filled his eyes. ¡°Cang Yuan, I am going to ask you one last time. Are you going to get lost?¡± However, Cang Yuan didn¡¯t respond again. Headed by Cang Yuan, the Saints from all-heavens acted the next moment. Chapter 1313 Battle Method When the Saints from all-heavens boldly took action, the laws of this world also seemed to be broken. The omnipresent universe Genesis Qi was completely melted and anyone below the Saint stage, including Law Domain experts, would likely be melted if they entered the area. Mighty forces descended immediately afterwards, penetrating the layers of space like a heavenly tribulation smashing down from above. The strength of a Saint lies in that its body had become the world. If Law Domain experts were said to possess Law Domains, then Saint experts could be said to possess a world. A Saint could engulf one side of the world with their strength, and that power was called mighty force, which was unbearable to anyone under the Saint stage. In the face of attacks from the all-heavens Saints, the Sacred Race Saints headed by Zi Guang all reddened in anger and bellowed, ¡°Ridiculous!¡± While roaring they also launched an attack. Mighty force penetrated the void and collided with the chaos. Although there wasn¡¯t any earth-shattering scene, everyone in the All-Heavens City and the Sacred Race army wore solemn and frightened expressions. This was because they could perceive how many domains were silently crumbled and destroyed from the impact. Standing in a courtyard, Zhou Yuan peered through the portal in the spatial crack and watched the terrifying battle among the Saints. Even his scalp numbed because he could feel the destructive force even from such a distance. His ashes would likely be destroyed if he was caught in the collision. "How is the situation?" Zhou Yuan couldn''t help but ask Yaoyao. Even he couldn¡¯t read the situation in a battle of such a level. After all, the battle they saw was only on the surface and the fight in the void¡¯s depths was undoubtedly more mysterious and unusual. Yaoyao raised her beautiful face, revealing her snow-white and slender neck. ¡°They are neck and neck.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help sighing. ¡°The Sacred Race has a strong foundation. Even though we have gathered so much forces, we still couldn¡¯t gain the upper hand.¡± However, he also understood that the all-heavens could be said to have the dominant position if they could hold on. After all, this showed that they had the strength to get a share of the secret domain. ¡°There should also be prime saints hiding on the Sacred Race¡¯s side.¡± ¡°If the all-heavens want to stabilize the space portal and get a share of the secret domain, that would depend on prime sovereign Jin Luo. He¡¯s the key,¡± Yaoyao explained. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. No wonder prime sovereign Jin Luo still hasn¡¯t showed up. Is he waiting for the Sacred Race¡¯s prime saint? Prime sovereign and prime saint¡­even the Saints on both sides wouldn¡¯t have seen a battle of such a level in a long time. While Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were talking, the saint battle outside the space portal grew increasingly violent. As mighty force surged, saint flames engulfed the area and tremendous light lotus collided like fireworks. Cang Yuan hovered in the air with two saint lotus slowly rotating on his shoulders. A halo of saint light surrounded his body and protected him from evil invading his body. He was constantly entangled with Zi Guang, who was also at the double lotus Saint stage. Zi Guang had a very impressive reputation within the Sacred Race and Cang Yuan had also fought him back when he was fleeing with Yaoyao. They could be called old enemies. Saint Zi Guang¡¯s face was cold and fierce. He became increasingly impatient after testing Cang Yuan¡¯s strength. He folded his hands together and endless purple light gathered between his palms, turning into a purple light prism. It slowly rose into the air. The prism was covered with countless ancient runes, shining on Cang Yuan as it rotated. That light wasn¡¯t ordinary light, but when it locked on a person, it seemed to have directly locked on that person¡¯s destiny and it was difficult to escape no matter what means was used. This was called the Purple Lightning Mirror, a double lotus Saint artifact that he made his name with. Boom! Under the illumination, thunder rumbled with extraordinary effect. When it sounded, even from such a long distance, the many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts on the all-heavens side felt their Spirit shaking and experienced sharp, shooting pain, as if their Spirit was shattered by the thunder. If even the residual force had such a terrifying impact, it was hard to imagine what it would feel to face it head-on. ¡°Old man Zi Guang, your purple lightning hasn''t changed much after so many years.¡± Cang Yuan smiled faintly. As he lifted his hand into the air, one of his eyes slowly opened and released a terrifying aura. ¡°That¡¯s the Sky Illuminating Eye?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled. He was very familiar with that aura because it belonged to the Saint artifact from the Tianyuan Utopia, the Sky Illuminating Eye. He didn¡¯t think Cang Yuan would bring it from the Tianyuan Utopia for this battle. As the mysterious eyes rolled, the light runes inside rippled. It was at that moment when a purple lightning struck down and instantly turned the place where Cang Yuan was standing into a purple lightning sea. The bolts of lightning were extremely berserk. They transformed into all sorts of living beings and charged towards Cang Yuan. ¡°Sky Illuminating, Blazing Seal.¡± The Sky Illuminating Eye in Cang Yuan¡¯s palm suddenly erupted in a blaze of dark light. Dark flames blazed inside. Cang Yuan suddenly opened his hand and the Sky Illuminating Eye erupted with infinite power. It sucked in everything in the lightning sea in one breath like a black hole. Black flames rose in the eye, annihilating all purple lightning. Saint Zi Guang couldn¡¯t help scrunching his brows. His purple saint lightning had brought a lot of trouble to Cang Yuan in previous battles, but he didn''t expect Cang Yuan to have come prepared this time. The eye in his palm was clearly equally as strong as his Purple Lightning Mirror. He swept his gaze across the battlefield. A battle between Saints was extremely fierce, but he could tell that the Sacred Race hadn¡¯t gained the upper hand and the Saints on the all-heavens side had a firm foothold. Moreover, the space portal had become increasingly stable. It seemed that the Sacred Race didn¡¯t come prepared against the fierce all-heavens army. If they didn¡¯t have other schemes to focus on, they could have gathered all their forces and give the all-heavens a real headache. Unfortunately¡­to reverse the situation and defeat the all-heavens army now depended on the prime saint. While thoughts streamed across Zi Guang¡¯s mind, his eyes suddenly flickered and he looked up to see the space above breaking apart as endless saint light poured out. Inside the saint light was a saint lotus suspended in the air and a figure sat cross-legged on it. A wave of energy that made the Saints from all-heavens shudder suddenly erupted. At the same time, the figure on the saint lotus cast his indifferent gaze over. He lifted his hand and a silhouette shot out from his sleeve. The silhouette streaked across the sky, meeting the storm head-on. In an instant, it turned into a painting scroll that obscured the sky. Then, a mysterious mountain seemed to be emerging on the scroll. That mountain was of unmeasurable height and contained unmeasurable power. The saints from all-heavens couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing when it appeared and a trace of terror flashed across their eyes. Cang Yuan''s pupils shrank, ¡°That¡¯s...the Sacred Mountain Painting, a triple lotus artifact?!¡± The saint artifact was infamous in all-heavens because it had killed many Saints in the ancient world-ending war! They didn¡¯t expect to see it again! The enormous painting sped across the air and came crashing down on the all-heavens Saints. Clang! It was then that a resounding bell sound echoed. The noise penetrated the boundary wall and reverberated throughout all-heavens. A blaze of golden light suddenly erupted inside the secret domain. Everyone saw a golden bell emerging out of thin air. The golden bell, ancient and primitive, was engraved with all objects in all-heavens as though it contained the power of all-heavens. Cang Yuan¡¯s and the other Saints¡¯ faces lit up when they saw the golden bell. The Chaos Golden Bell, a triple lotus saint artifact ranked sixth on the sacred treasure list. Prime sovereign Jin Luo finally made a move. Chapter 1314 Prime Sovereign and Prime Saint Clang! Amidst shocked gazes, a resounding ring reverberated throughout all-heavens, and a giant golden bell appeared out of thin air. As the chiming ofbells echoed, huge tremendous halos of light constantly spread out from the golden bell. As the golden halos spread out, they collided with the giant ancient painting crashing down, causing the space to ripple and crumble. Under the golden halos obstruction, the Sacred Mountain Painting couldn¡¯t descend any further. The golden bell refused to budge and it seemed that no one could do anything about it. ¡°Prime Saint Tai Mi, you really think our all-heavens have no people?¡± During the standstill, an old laugh rang in the void and an old figure emerged from the distorted space. The figure¡¯s golden eyebrows hung down and his eyes were deep and wise like a bottomless abyss. Prime sovereign Jin Luo, one of the three prime sovereigns of the Omega Shrine! Following prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s appearance, the figure sitting on the lotus in the spatial crack on the Sacred Race¡¯s side cast an indifferent gaze onto him. The space rippled and his figure suddenly appeared in the secret domain. It was a white-haired man in a golden robe. His face was rather young, but his deep eyes strike fear into his opponents. Even Saints wouldn¡¯t dare underestimate him. Standing barefoot on a golden lotus in the air, he exuded endless mighty force, stirring the chaos. Prime Saint Tai Mi, one of the seven prime saints of the Sacred Race! ¡°Jin Luo, old fellow, you¡¯re still alive.¡± The prime saint called Tai Mi indifferently studied prime sovereign Jin Luo. ¡°Back then, you were just a new Saint. I didn¡¯t think you would become a pillar of all-heavens.¡± ¡°Compared to prime saint Tai Mi, who has made no progress in thousands of years, I am indeed a lot better.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo smiled, his face kindly and amiable. Prime saint Tai Mi narrowed his eyes. How would he not hear the meaning in Jin Luo¡¯s words? However, he didn''t seem angry and instead said indifferently. ¡°Jin Luo, you came in such a threatening manner. Are you really planning to go to war with the Sacred Race?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo said, ¡°The nine heavens of the Tianyuan World is divided into different areas, but the chaos void isn¡¯t part of the Sacred Race¡¯s territory, isn¡¯t that right? ¡°Also, that is where the Ancestral Dragon remnants are. So why does it have anything to do with your Sacred Race?¡± Prime Saint Tai Mi raised his eyes, the chilling intent inside them made all the Saints present feel a gush of cold air. But prime sovereign Jin Luo seemed unconcerned and said indifferently, ¡°Tai Mi, although the Sacred Race is strong, at least you can¡¯t stop the all-heavens this time with your people here. ¡°If we really fought, the two sides will just end in a stalemate. It¡¯s just a waste of time. So why don¡¯t we both take a step back and fight for the stone dragon with our own ability?¡± Prime Saint Tai Mi said indifferently, ¡°When had your all-heavens ever beat my Sacred Race? Jin Luo, why do something that would bring humiliation to yourself?¡± He paused, a fierce light flashing in his eyes, and then continued, ¡°But if you want to die, I will fulfil your wish.¡± With a flick of his sleeve, a mighty force crashed down and formed a light screen that divided the secret domain into two, and the central location was the tremendous stone dragon as well as the mysterious light film that enveloped it. ¡°This will be the dividing line, if the all-heavens troops dare to advance any further¡­¡± Tai Mi narrowed his eyes and a strong killing intent erupted from him, ¡°They will be killed!¡± Without a ripple of expression on his face, prime sovereign Jin Luo turned his hand over and pushed his hand down. Mighty force similarly descended and formed another layer of mighty force barrier next to prime saint Tai Mi¡¯s. In this way, the two mighty force barriers divided the secret domain. Prime sovereign Jin Luo and prime saint Tai Mi¡¯s gazes collided, chilling killing intent roamed in that calmness. They both evidently had strong killing intent towards each other. But they didn''t fight in the end. Instead, they both took a step back and created a situation where the two sides could coexist. This result was inevitable because when the saints of all-heavens had blocked the Sacred Race''s counterattack, they earned the qualifications to stand in the secret domain. But in the same way, the all-heavens didn¡¯t have enough strength to drive the Sacred Race out of the secret domain. Moreover, looking at the situation, it seemed that neither side could call in much reinforcements. Since that was the case, they decided that each side could occupy one area and see who would win the stone dragon in the end. Many experts on the all-heavens¡¯ side were relieved to see such a result and cheers erupted across the city. After all, from the situation, it seemed that the Sacred Race was forced to step back and even tacitly agreed to share with the all-heavens. This was good news for all-heavens. Zhou Yuan, who was in a courtyard, retracted his gaze, but his brows were still knitted together because he wasn¡¯t as optimistic as the others. He knew that the Sacred Race must have other plans for them to willingly back down. However, he also understood that this was the best result that prime sovereign Jin Luo could achieve. Prime saint Tai Mi wouldn¡¯t give up so easily if the Sacred Race wasn¡¯t able to allocate more forces to his side. ¡°Now everything depends on which side will break the light film barrier first,¡± said Yaoyao. Zhou Yuan nodded. A mysterious light film had enveloped the stone dragon, which the Sacred Race couldn¡¯t break through even till now. This was perhaps one of the reasons why the Sacred Race would step back. Next, it was time for both sides to show their remarkable abilities. Perhaps the situation would change again when the light film was destroyed and the agreement made by the two leaders could be torn in an instant. After all, no one would be happy to see the stone dragon taken by the opponent. Zhou Yuan let out a disappointed sigh. The situation was no longer something that people at his level could intervene...but without an opportunity to help out, he would have no contribution and his final share could be uncertain. Of course, he might be able to do what he wanted if he used his relationship with Yaoyao, but, in truth, if he could, he wanted to fight for a share with his own strength and hard work. He didn¡¯t want Yaoyao to worry about him all the time. While thoughts were streaming through Zhou Yuan''s mind, prime sovereign Jin Luo retracted his gaze and stared at the mysterious light film around the stone dragon. His expression was incredibly serious. The light film was very tricky to deal with even for him. It was no wonder that even the Sacred Race had been troubled for so long. But he soon stabilized his emotions and calmly said to Cang Yuan and other Saints. ¡°Get ready, we must break that layer of light film no matter what. ¡°Because the resources inside could allow the birth of a new Saint.¡± ¡°The Sacred Race has been eager to act for years. No one knows when they would suddenly start another war-ending battle, so¡­¡± His eyes became grave and his voice rang out. ¡°For all-heavens.¡± All Saints responded solemnly, ¡°For all heavens.¡± Chapter 1315 Dragon Moving Formation, Dragon Spirit Anchor Point The troops on the all-heavens side and the Sacred Race side in the secret domain temporarily took a break. They each had occupied half the domain and were focussing all their strengths in breaking the stone dragon light film. But everyone underestimated the stability and mystery of the stone dragon light film. Almost half a month had passed but both the all-heavens and the Sacred Race side hadn¡¯t succeeded in breaking the light film. But the Saints on both sides realized the light film was connected to the inside of the stone dragon, and if they destroyed it with brute force, there was a chance of damaging the inside of the stone dragon. The Saints on both sides naturally dared not act recklessly. However, although the stone dragon light film was mysterious, it wasn¡¯t unbreakable. After all, that would be underestimating the saints of both sides. Therefore, as time passed, the saints each displayed their remarkable abilities and finally figured a way to solve the problem. But what surprised everyone was that the two sides¡¯ solutions happened to coincide. ... The All-Heavens City had been in a sealed-off state during this period, but that didn¡¯t make it desolate. Instead, there was a steady stream of Nascent Source and Law Domain experts rushing there from all-heavens and made the city increasingly lively. Although the clash among the saints in the stone dragon secret domain was dangerous, anyone with a discerning eye knew what opportunities were in the secret domain. The stone dragon secret domain was rich in Ancestral Spirit Remnant Spirits. A few wisps could be exchanged for several Ancestral Dragon Pills, which would benefit their cultivation hugely. Any expert would regret it if they missed such a good opportunity. However, although many experts in the All-Heavens City were staring eagerly at the stone dragon secret domain, they understood that they, as Nascent Source and Law Domain experts, had no qualification to do anything. After all, a large number of Saints had assembled on both sides. How would they have a chance to come forward and display their abilities? They could only watch how the situation developed and see if there was an opportunity for them. But what made everyone overjoyed was that they didn¡¯t have to wait long. ... Clang! As the chiming ofbells reverberated throughout the All-Heavens City, everyone abruptly cast their eyes to the central hall. Then, figures raced across the air one after another. This was because they knew that the bell was a call to assemble everyone in the All-Heavens City and a huge matter should have happened. Zhou Yuan also rushed to the central hall, only to find the hall was already packed with people. He saw a tall and beautiful figure beckoning to him. With a slight movement, he flashed away and said with a smile, ¡°Senior sister Chi Jing.¡± ¡°Did she not come?¡± The beautiful beckoning figure teased. Her short burgundy hair fluttered in the wind, making her appear even more formidable-looking. Knowing that she was talking about Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°She doesn''t like noisy places.¡± Chi Jing nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Given her popularity, I wonder how much waves she would cause if she showed up.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and changed the topic. ¡°Senior sister, do you know what the sudden call is for?¡± Chi Jing''s pretty face grew solemn as she said, ¡°It¡¯s likely related to the Stone Dragon Secret Domain.¡± Zhou Yuan''s heart trembled. Could there be progress with the stone dragon light film? His heart suddenly felt unusually hot because everyone in the All-Heavens City was waiting for the result, including him. While the two were talking, figures headed by prime sovereign Jin Luo flashed across the hall. Many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts hurriedly bowed. Prime sovereign Jin Luo waved his hand and his laughter rang in everyone''s ears. ¡°The reason I summoned you all today is mainly to inform you all that we have finally broken the stone dragon light film.¡± Many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts lit up with joy. However, there was still a trace of puzzlement in their eyes because there was no need to assemble them all just because the stone dragon light film was broken. ¡°We have set up a Dragon Moving Formation outside of the light film to try to pull the stone dragon out using the formation¡¯s power, but it was ineffective in the end¡­¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s one sentence made many experts¡¯ countenances changed dramatically. So many Saints still couldn¡¯t pull up the stone dragon? Prime sovereign Jin Luo swept his gaze around, saying, ¡°After our investigations, we found that the Dragon Moving Formation failed to move the stone dragon because the stone dragon is formed from Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits and thus is protected by a divine barrier that is resistant to the Dragon Moving Formation. ¡°However, that divine power barrier isn¡¯t impossible to deal with¡­¡± ¡°These spots of light are exactly where Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits are richest in the stone dragon¡¯s body. We call them Dragon Spirit Anchor Points. There are 9,999 anchor points in total¡­¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo lifted his hand into the air and a dark nail emerged in his palm. The nail, about half a foot in length, was thick and icy-cold. "This is a Dragon Moving Nail. If we could strike this nail into the Dragon Spirit Anchor Points, they could weaken the divine power barrier as well as coordinate with the Dragon Moving Formation. The combination of the two could create an explosion of mighty force to move the stone dragon! ¡°However, although we have broken the stone dragon light film, the power it emitted still resists entry of Saints¡­¡± His gentle eyes ran across everyone. ¡°We need your strength.¡± Many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts¡¯ eyes blazed. They couldn¡¯t disguise their eagerness to act. The reason they gathered here wasn''t it for such an opportunity? Even Zhou Yuan couldn''t help smacking his lips. What an opportunity this is!? Previously, only the Saints on both sides could act and anyone below the Saint stage didn¡¯t have the qualifications to intervene. Fortunately, every cloud has a silver lining, and they didn''t have to be spectators anymore. Prime sovereign Jin Luo was pleased to see everyone''s reaction, but his voice turned low when he said, ¡°But I have to remind you that the Sacred Race¡¯s plan is the same as us. They will also send Nascent Source and Law Domain elites to fight for the Dragon Spirit Anchor points¡­ ¡°Every fight at a Dragon Spirit Anchor Point will be paved with blood. ¡°The stone dragon might fall into the hands of the side that wins more anchor points¡­The victory of the Stone Dragon Secret Domain Battle doesn¡¯t lie with the Saints but with you guys.¡± The many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts¡¯ faces turned solemn, but no one surprisingly showed a trace of fear. Those who could come here were naturally already prepared to fight to death with the Sacred Race. They already knew well about the dangers inside. However, they weren¡¯t ordinary people and so they understood that they had to fight for any opportunity themselves. Zhou Yuan wore a thoughtful expression. From what prime sovereign Jin Luo said, the current situation, in simple terms, was like a tug of war. The two sides would exhaust all their strength to win Dragon Spirit Anchor Points and then move the stone dragon with its power. Whoever wins more Dragon Spirit Anchor Points would have a greater advantage. He couldn''t help smacking his lips. He thought that the secret domain was too peaceful, but he clearly overthought. Every area on the stone dragon¡¯s huge body would be stained with blood. A horrifying and tragic aura had already assaulted his face even if it hadn¡¯t started. This¡­is going to be lively. Chapter 1316 Leaders of the Battle Zone Prime sovereign Jin Luo ran his eyes across the all-heaven experts clamoring. Although some people seemed nervous, not many people showed a trace of fear. He inwardly nodded his head, seeming somewhat glad. Although the Nascent Source and Law Domain stage didn¡¯t have much decision power compared to the Saint stage, those two levels were still very important to all-heavens and the Sacred Race. This was because a new saint would no doubt be born from them. ¡°The heart of all-heavens.¡± Cang Yuan said to prime sovereign Jin Luo with a smile. Prime sovereign Jin Luo nodded and pointed to the stone dragon silhouette in midair. He then continued, ¡°The attack on the stone dragon will be divided into 89 battle zones.¡± As his voice rang out, patches lit up on the stone dragon¡¯s huge body. Each patch of light represented a battle zone. The stone dragon¡¯s body was incomparably tremendous. Although it seemed ordinary, one would only know the vastness of each area once in it. ¡°Each battle zone will be led by a battle zone leader and the people under the leader will have to listen to their orders and win as many Ancestral Spirit Anchor Points as possible.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo ran his eyes across the crowd. ¡°Everyone in the battle zone where an Ancestral Spirit Anchor Point is won will be rewarded with an Ancestral Dragon Pill afterwards.¡± All Nascent Source and Law Domain experts stared dumbfounded at prime sovereign Jin Luo. No one expected prime sovereign Jin Luo to promise such great benefits. Once an Ancestral Spirit Anchor Point was won, everyone in that battle zone would be rewarded an Ancestral Dragon Pill. Moreover, there were at least dozens of Ancestral Spirit Anchor Points in a battle zone, which means, if everything goes well, they could obtain dozens of Ancestral Dragon Pills as rewards?! This was a luxury for those who used to have to spend several months to exchange for an Ancestral Dragon Pill! Therefore, the atmosphere buzzed like never and sparks flew before many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts as they all gazed covetously at the stone dragon silhouette. They all rubbed their fists, eager to start. The generous reward evidently ignited their battle intent. Prime sovereign Jin Luo smiled at the scene. He knew what everyone cared the most about and so he didn''t spur them on with any principles of right and wrong, but threw out the greatest temptation. As long as you¡¯re willing to devote yourself, the all-heavens would reward you generously. ¡°So generous.¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed. Even his heart pounded when he heard the reward, let alone other people. Chi Jing nodded with a smile, ¡°I''m really looking forward to it.¡± Her eyes below her fierce eyebrows blazed with fiery fighting spirit. ¡°Now, I will announce the leader of each battle zone, and the rest of the people can freely choose which leader to follow and fight with.¡± Hearing prime sovereign Jin Luo''s words, everyone¡¯s spirit rose and listened attentively. In such a situation, it was obviously more advantageous to follow a strong battle zone leader. ¡°Xu Beiyan from Qiankun Heaven will be the leader of the first battle zone.¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes flickered to a certain direction when he heard that name, only to see Xu Beiyan, clad in a long black robe, looking particularly handsome. He gave a humble smile at the surrounding people. Xu Beiyan sensed Zhou Yuan''s gaze and smiled faintly at him. Zhou Yuan wore a calm expression, but he was still vigilant of Xu Beiyan even if he looked outwardly amiable. ¡°That guy is a hypocrite...but no one can question his strength. Not only is his Spirit at the Allroamer stage, his Genesis Qi cultivation base has already reached the third Law Domain stage. He could be regarded as one of the strongest at the Law Domain stage in all-heavens. Unfortunately for him, senior brother has stepped into the Saint stage first. Otherwise he would be showing off here,¡± Chi Jing whispered. Even a prideful person like Chi Jing had to admit that Xu Beiyan was strong. ¡°Chi Jing from Hunyuan Heaven will be the leader of the second battle zone.¡± ¡°Jiang Xiao from Wanshou Heaven will be the leader of the third battle zone.¡± ¡°Zhao Xiansun from Hunyuan Heaven will be the leader of the fourth battle zone.¡± Hearing another familiar name, Zhou Yuan couldn''t help but glance in another direction. There, a one-armed figure stood with his hand behind his back. It was Zhao Xiansun from the Wanzu Region. That guy had clashed with Zhou Yuan many times in Hunyuan Heaven, and his arm was severed by Yaoyao when she regained consciousness. Zhao Xiansun also cast a look at Zhou Yuan and then retracted his gaze. His expression wasn¡¯t particularly friendly, but Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised by this. After all, the grudges between them weren¡¯t small and couldn¡¯t be wiped away so easily. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t fight back when facing a top Law Domain expert like Zhao Xiansun in the past, but, although he wouldn¡¯t dare to say that he could defeat him now, he believed he had the power to protect himself if they really fought. Prime sovereign Jin Luo continued to read out all the names well-known in the All-Heavens City. Th0se people, without exception, were all at the third Law Domain stage and could be considered pillars of the Law Domain stage in all-heavens. Therefore, every name announced drew a clamor of congratulation because everyone knew that those who could obtain a battle zone leader position was thought highly of by prime sovereign Jin Luo and would have a promising future. Zhou Yuan also exclaimed while evaluating himself. His Spirit was at the initial Allroamer stage, and he could contend with powerful enemies at the first Law Domain stage with his Spirit power. However, even if one¡¯s Spirit had many mysterious functions, one would still be inferior against experts of the same level in a head-to-head battle. Although his Genesis Qi cultivation was still at the Nascent Source stage, his 9.7 inch Nascent Source still made his foundation superior to that of experts at the first Law Domain stage. With his Spirit and Genesis Qi foundation combined, he believed he didn¡¯t need to fear enemies at the second Law Domain stage. But the risk would be greatly increased if he were to face an expert at the third Law Domain stage. ¡°I still need to improve¡­¡± Zhou Yuan murmured discontentedly. If he told others that he, someone at the Nascent Source stage, could be compared to someone at the third Law Domain stage, many people would hurl abuse at him. After all, those who could cultivate to the third Law Domain stage were all Saint seeds that the major forces had cultivated with all their time and efforts. Those people were considered giant among men whether it was in terms of talent or potential. But Zhou Yuan thought he, who was at a lower cultivation stage, could compete with them. Does he not treat them as human? While Zhou Yuan was sighing, a voice rang out and took Zhou Yuan aback. ¡°Zhou Yuan from Hunyuan Heaven will be the leader of the 77th battle zone.¡± Zhou Yuan blinked repeatedly, staring dumbfounded at prime sovereign Jin Luo, who was smiling. At the same time, gasps and exclamations arose from all around. Then, doubtful eyes gathered on Zhou Yuan, who was still in a daze. Nascent Source stage¡­Spirit of the initial Allroamer stage? He can become a leader of a battle zone? Is prime sovereign Jin Luo joking with us? Chapter 1317 Strengthen The uproar continued in the hall, and gazes filled with doubts were constantly cast towards Zhou Yuan. Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s arrangement had aroused controversy. It was true that Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t inferior to top figures in the third Law Domain stage in terms of fame, but everyone knew that the root of this fame was because he assisted in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill. No one could question Zhou Yuan''s ability and role in that aspect. The problem was that the situation they would soon face had nothing to do with refining Ancestral Dragon Pill. They were going to fight the Sacred Race with real swords and spears! From everyone¡¯s point of view, the only pleasing thing about Zhou Yuan was his Spirit. Although the Allroamer stage Spirit was remarkable and tyrannical, Law Domain Genesis Qi still had an advantage in a head-to-head battle. Therefore, although Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit of the Allroamer stage could ensure he wouldn¡¯t be defeated or killed when facing Law Domain experts from the Sacred Race, in the same way, he likely wouldn''t achieve any dazzling achievements. If prime sovereign Jin Luo had arranged for him to participate as an ordinary participant, he wouldn¡¯t have attracted that much opposition and doubt. He was still too lacking to become the leader of a battle zone. After all, the other battle zone leaders were all top experts at the third Law Domain stage. How could Zhou Yuan, who only possessed a Spirit of the Allroamer stage, be compared to the others? Under those gazes, even Zhou Yuan was a little dumbstruck. He clearly was equally surprised by the arrangement because he indeed didn¡¯t have the required qualifications. Xu Beiyan tightly clasped his ink flute, a light flashing in his eyes. Then, he nodded to somewhere, and when his signal was received, someone immediately spoke out, ¡°Prime sovereign, did you not appoint that role too carelessly? Every battle zone is extremely important because the difference in Ancestral Dragon Spirit Anchor Points could cause the situation to collapse.¡± ¡°Prime sovereign, please reappoint!¡± voices suddenly rang out. The majority didn¡¯t express their opinions, but they obviously didn¡¯t agree with the decision. After all, every aspect of the battle was extremely important, and they didn''t want their efforts to come to nothing because of Zhou Yuan. Xu Beiyan''s face didn¡¯t ripple amidst the clamor, but a satisfied look flashed across the depths of his eyes. He was obviously glad to see Zhou Yuan fallen into such an embarrassing situation. Tapping the ink-colored flute in his palm, Xu Beiyan looked at prime sovereign Jin Luo and gave a cupped fist salute. ¡°Prime sovereign, grand elder Zhou Yuan is skilled in refining pills. It would be a huge loss to all-heavens if he dies on the battlefield. So wouldn¡¯t it be better to just leave the battle to us? Grand elder Zhou Yuan only needs to wait here for us to bring back Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits.¡± His tone was sincere as if he was really worried that Zhou Yuan would be killed in the secret domain. ¡°Are you saying that Zhou Yuan isn¡¯t qualified to go to the secret domain and should only stay in the All-Heavens City to refine pills?¡± Chi Jing said coldly. The others might be fooled by Xu Beiyan''s hypocrisy, but Chi Jing could sense the malicious intent in his words. Xu Beiyan shook his head, saying innocently, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, don''t wrongly accuse me.¡± Chi Jing was about to angrily rebuke when Zhou Yuan stopped her. Zhou Yuan swept a glance over Xu Beiyan and gave a gentle smile. ¡°Are you afraid that I will steal your limelight again?¡± Xu Beiyan was taken aback at first and then he couldn¡¯t help breaking out in laughter. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan would be laughed at in the secret domain. Everyone has to rely on their own abilities there and no one will take care of you anymore.¡± He implied that Zhou Yuan was only able to take the pill refining assistance position because of Yaoyao taking care of him and not because of his own ability. ¡°If tough-talking is an ability then you can move the stone dragon out with just your mouth. How would we need to do so much?¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. Many people couldn''t help chuckling, but when they saw Xu Beiyan''s face darkening, they quickly closed their mouths. Xu Beiyan narrowed his eyes and was about to retort when he saw prime sovereign Jin Luo waving his hand for silence. Drawing many gazes back onto him, prime sovereign Jin Luo smiled faintly and said, ¡°I naturally have given serious considerations to appointing Zhou Yuan to be the leader of a battle zone. Although he¡¯s only at the Nascent Source stage, we can''t just look at everything on the surface. Besides, Zhou Yuan is a lucky general. Our all-heavens had never fallen into a disadvantageous situation wherever he is. So, I believe he would bring miracles again this time. ¡°Zhou Yuan, what do you think? Do you think you¡¯re qualified for this position?¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan and asked with a smile. Facing prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s deep and wise eyes, Zhou Yuan assumed a serious expression and said, ¡°It¡¯s the duty of being a member of all-heavens to fight the Sacred Race. As long as the prime sovereign thinks I can do it, I will do my best.¡± Since prime sovereign Jin Luo thought highly of him, he of course wouldn¡¯t object. Moreover, given prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s ability, he must have already noticed that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nascent Source was extraordinary and he wouldn¡¯t really think that Zhou Yuan was unqualified as the other people thought. Prime sovereign Jin Luo nodded with a relieved smile. Seeing that prime sovereign Jin Luo had already made a decision, they couldn¡¯t question his decision anymore. However, their gaze towards Zhou Yuan still didn''t change. Prime sovereign Jin Luo waited until everyone calmed down before he continued to announce the other battle zone leaders. After half an hour, all the leaders were announced. Everyone looked around and realized that the weakest person was at the second Law Domain stage. As a result, Zhou Yuan, who was only at the Nascent Source stage, was particularly noticeable. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief knowing that not all the battle zone leaders were at the third Law Domain stage. He wasn¡¯t under as much pressure as he thought he would be. He wasn¡¯t certain of the result if he were to face an expert at the third Law Domain stage, but he wouldn¡¯t fear someone at the second Law Domain stage. ¡°The battle zone leaders have been selected. In the next three days, you all can recruit your team members. ¡°Right, there¡¯s information on the Sacred Race. All the powerful Nascent Source and Law Domain experts are recorded there. You all should carefully analyze them!¡± Several bamboo slips flew out from prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s hand and suspended in front of everyone. Everyone hurriedly received them. The people who could come here were naturally experts with rich battle experiences and thus they knew how precious the information was. After accepting the bamboo slips, the area quickly turned chaotic. Many experts immediately flocked to the battle zone leaders who they had a preference for. After all, their life and benefits would be guaranteed to a certain extent if they followed a strong leader. There was no doubt that Xu Beiyan would be the most popular. Chi Jing was also greatly sought after. Seeing a large number of people flock over, she could only nod to Zhou Yuan before she was pushed away by the crowd. Compared with the other battle zone leaders¡¯ popularity, Zhou Yuan¡¯s surroundings was cold and lonely, and no one paid any attention to him. Zhou Yuan looked a little embarrassed. Those guys are too narrow-minded. Although I don¡¯t dare to say that I have the ability to suppress the other battle zone leaders, at the very least, I shouldn¡¯t be ranked at the bottom, right?! But everyone could choose freely and he couldn¡¯t push people to his side. Fortunately, his embarrassment didn''t last long, because two beautiful figures flashed past the crowd and approached him. ¡°Your Highness, we will join you!¡± Su Youwei smiled sweetly. Her beautiful face looked even more stunning than usual. Wu Yao stood with her arms crossed. She seemed to enjoy seeing Zhou Yuan in an embarrassing state and her red lips were curved in a teasing smile. Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and said, ¡°You two have good taste. Those commoners can¡¯t see my inner beauty at all.¡± ¡°Where is that guy Zhao Mushen?¡± he asked Wu Yao said, ¡°He went to Zhao Xiansun¡¯s side.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, but he didn''t think much of it. After all, Zhao Mushen was a member of Wanshou Heaven. It was natural that Zhao Mushen wanted to follow Zhao Xiansun. But while thinking, he saw Zhao Mushen coming over with an embarrassed look and saying expressionless, ¡°I''ll join you.¡± Zhou Yuan understood right away. ¡°Zhao Xiansun doesn¡¯t want you?¡± Zhao Mushen''s expression turned even worse. ¡°He said he doesn''t want any Nascent Source expert.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn''t help looking pitifully. ¡°Is it because you''ve been too close to us recently?¡± Zhao Mushen ignored him and just said with a frown, ¡°There are only a few people here? What can we do? We don¡¯t even have a Law Domain expert?!¡± Seeing Zhao Mushen¡¯s disgusted face, Zhou Yuan pursed his lips and was just about to speak when a voice rang behind them. ¡°Law Domain? I count as one.¡± Zhou Yuan, Zhao Mushen and the others twisted around to see a beautiful and elegant woman. She was holding a little cloth bag, from which she constantly picked out dried-up meat. Her spotlessly white teeth crunched on them and quickly got rid of them. ¡°Ai Tuanzi?¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed when he saw her familiar face. The woman in front of him was Ai Tuanzi, who he had met in Wanzhou Heaven. He didn¡¯t expect her to have reached the Law Domain stage after not seeing her for two years. ¡°Am I welcome?¡± Ai Tuanzi asked with a grin. ¡°Of course.¡± Zhou Yuan hurriedly nodded. Zhou Yuan¡¯s team naturally attracted some people¡¯s attention after the first Law Domain expert joined. Some people started to gather around him but still seemed hesitant. A light flashed in Zhou Yuan and he snapped his fingers. Roar! The snap of his fingers was immediately followed by a roar outside the hall. A silhouette cut through the crowd and landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. It was Tuntun. He growled continuously and a very powerful pressure filled the area. It immediately calmed the chaos nearby. Many people looked over with astonishment. Even some people at the second Law Domain stage couldn¡¯t help but stare solemnly at Tuntun because they felt the dangerous aura he emitted. Zhou Yuan patted Tuntun and said with a smile. ¡°My team is strengthened again.¡± Tuntun''s appearance undoubtedly had a greater attractive force than Ai Tuanzi. After all, tshe pressure he exuded was comparable to someone at the second Law Domain stage. It seemed that Zhou Yuan''s team was also beginning to take shape. Zhou Yuan''s side was finally much livelier. Chapter 1318 Set Off Zhou Yuan leaned back on a chair in a small quiet courtyard with a bamboo slip in his hands, studying the information about the Sacred Race Law Domain experts. ¡°It¡¯s going to be a tough battle.¡± He sighed, narrowing his eyes. A lot of information was recorded on that bamboo slip, but that shouldn¡¯t be all. Even so, it was still very terrifying. Although not all the Law Domain forces in all-heavens were gathered in the All-Heavens City, the list also didn¡¯t include all the Sacred Race¡¯s forces. ¡°Tai Xuan¡­¡± Zhou Yuan uttered a name. According to the information on the bamboo slip, the person called Tai Xuan should be the most outstanding person of the Sacred Race¡¯s Law Domain stage. Although there were only a few sentences about him in the information, a sentence shocked Zhou Yuan¡­ His Law Domain power could shake Saints. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t know whether this so-called shaking meant defeat or competed with. But no matter which one it was, it was enough to terrify someone. Tai Xuan might be the greatest opponent to the Law Domain experts in all-heavens. However, in addition to Tai Xuan, there were also top elites in the Sacred Race army who weren¡¯t easy to deal with. Therefore, Zhou Yuan''s heart felt a little heavy after he read the information. The stone dragon battle would inevitably be a fierce and bitter battle. Zhou Yuan turned his head and swept a glance over Tuntun, who was leisurely basking in the sun with his belly exposed. ¡°What is your strength now?¡± Tuntun opened his eyes and groaned lazily. ¡°You can deal with an expert at the second Law Domain stage¡­¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes blazed hopefully. Tuntun had reached the grade 8 stage and so should be equivalent to an expert at the first Law Domain stage. However, Alpha Holy Beasts were extraordinary and could defeat someone at a higher cultivation level. ¡°You can¡¯t deal with someone at the third Law Domain stage? I overestimated Alpha Holy Beasts.¡± However, Zhou Yuan was a little dissatisfied. Tuntun shot an annoyed glance at him and then simply ignored him. Do you think it¡¯s that easy to fight someone at a higher level? But that pervert indeed often does that sort of thing. This irritated Tuntun. Who is the real Alpha Holy Beast? ¡°Tuntun can indeed compete with someone at the third Law Domain stage but he wouldn¡¯t be strong enough to defeat them unless he improves again in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s voice sounded. She was also leaning back on another chair with her slender arms behind her head. Her beautiful eyes were closed and her thick and long eyelashes fluttered under the sunlight. Her pose accidentally highlighted her impressive body. Zhou Yuan darted a sideways glance at her and couldn¡¯t stop his mouth from watering like mad. Yaoyao usually doesn¡¯t show much but her body is actually amazing. ¡°Is it good looking?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s voice was full of coldness. Zhou Yuan guiltily looked away and threw his head back, laughing. Yaoyao opened her spring-like eyes and glanced at Zhou Yuan. A faint blush came to her porcelain-like cheeks and she immediately said, ¡°The battle in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain will be tragic, but you have nothing to fear, and you must have been used to it all. So I shouldn¡¯t need to remind you. ¡°But there is one thing that you should pay attention to. That is, you shouldn¡¯t use the so-called combining with Tuntun anymore.¡± Zhou Yuan cried out in surprised, ¡°Why?¡± He had already treated that move as one of his trump cards. Yaoyao helplessly glanced at Tuntun and explained, ¡°The previous combination was just Tuntun messing around. You are a person and you are a beast. You have different bloodlines and different Spirits. Even if the divine matter I left in your body could force you two to combine, there will be repercussions if it happens too frequently.¡± ¡°What repercussions?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Yaoyao blinked and said, ¡°Your behaviour and manner might become more and more like his.¡± Zhou Yuan paled as though struck by lightning. It was only after a long while that he silently grabbed Tuntun who was lying beside him. He held him up by the scruff of his neck and said through gritted teeth, ¡°Bastard, you almost killed me!¡± Tuntun roared, flicked his tail and coiled around Zhou Yuan¡¯s neck. ¡°Your Highness, the team members have been decided.¡± While Zhou Yuan and Tuntun were tearing each other apart, a voice sounded from the courtyard. Su Youwei stood at the gate, staring dumbstruck at them. Zhou Yuan angrily flung Tuntun off and went over to take the parchment from Su Youwei. He smiled and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Three days had passed since the battle zone leaders were decided and the spaces in Zhou Yuan''s team hadn¡¯t been filled until now. Zhou Yuan understood that, because the deadline was near, the majority who just joined his team was likely rejected elsewhere and only settled for his team in the end. Although Zhou Yuan was a little unhappy about this, there was nothing he could do. After all, even if he had Tuntun in his team, in terms of attractiveness, he was still inferior to the other battle zone leaders, who were at the third Law Domain stage. He unfolded the parchment and examined it closely. He found that there were only nine Law Domain experts, including Ai Tuanzi, in his team. From what he knew, battle zone leaders at the third Law Domain stage had at least 20 Law Domain experts in their teams. Among them, there were even powerful elites at the second Law Domain stage. Compared with them, the team he assembled was quite shabby. But there was nothing he could do. He had scared away many people because he was only at the Nascent Source stage. He couldn¡¯t blame other people for not joining his team. Fortunately, the battle zone that Zhou Yuan was in charge of wasn¡¯t considered popular and likely wouldn¡¯t attract powerful Sacred Race experts. Of course, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t afraid. He just intended to search for some benefits in the battle zone first. If he could improve his team¡¯s strength or Tuntun¡¯s, they would have the qualification to face top teams in the future. Clang! While Zhou Yuan was pondering, a resounding bell suddenly rang throughout the All-Heavens City. The bell rang in immediate succession, and the urgency of the ringing made Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei''s expressions turn solemn. They knew that it was time to set off¡­ He looked at Su Youwei and said, ¡°Assemble the team and get ready to leave.¡± Su Youwei nodded and hurried off. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, staring stilly for a good while. Then, he turned around and went over to Yaoyao. Yaoyao straightened Zhou Yuan''s clothes, like a wife sending her husband off. ¡°Be careful.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at the fair jade-like face, his heart pounding. He suddenly lowered his head, and when his lips touched her red lips, he decisively turned around and left. Tuntun leaped to his head, and waved his paw at Yaoyao, who was in a daze. Yaoyao watched their departing figures as they left and eventually snapped out of her daze. She gently stroked her lips, and the corners of her lips curved slightly. Chapter 1319 Entering the Stone Dragon Secret Domain Vast amounts of Genesis Qi condensed to form never-ending cloud lands. The great all-heavens army arrived at the Stone Dragon Secret Domain under the Saints¡¯ guidance. Zhou Yuan stood in the crowd. As he came to the secret domain, the giant light film in the darkness immediately caught his eyes. Although he had seen it in the projection image before, he still felt his scalp numb when he saw it in person. "Is that the Dragon Moving Formation?¡± Su Youwei asked. Zhou Yuan followed her gaze and saw a boundary formed outside the giant light film. The boundary was so complex that even Zhou Yuan, whose Spirit was at the Allroamer stage, felt his vision blurred like he was seeing flowers through a mist. He wanted to investigate it closer, but his Spirit immediately throbbed with pain as though instinctively sensed danger. The boundary was more dangerous than he imagined. After glancing at the Dragon Moving Formation, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted further into the distance, where it was shrouded in complete darkness. But even his perception couldn¡¯t penetrate there because that area was close to the central area where the Saints of both sides had already sealed-off. However, even if it was impossible to perceive, Zhou Yuan could guess that the Sacred Race army was ready for action. While the great all-heavens army was marvelling at the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, prime sovereign Jin Luo suddenly emerged, pointing to the deepest part of the Dragon Moving Formation. ¡°The passage to the secret domain is in the Dragon Moving Formation. You shall enter from there and the saints of all-heavens will automatically cast you to the battle zone you are assigned. "Everyone, this isn¡¯t a training experience. You can treat it as a small war against the Sacred Race. Therefore, no one can guarantee your life there. Even us can only watch from the outside.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo''s expression became incredibly grave as he said, ¡°War is always tragic and even saints could lose their lives. However, if we don¡¯t want to be enslaved by the Sacred Race, if we don¡¯t want our family to become pill ingredients for the Sacred Race, we have to fight with all our strengths. We have no other path. ¡°For that, we would have to pay a heavy price. But from ancient times to today, the all-heavens have never retreated!¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s voice fell in everyone¡¯s ears, making the army silent for a good while. Everyone silently tightened their grip around their weapons and their eyes turned increasingly fierce and filled with killing intent. There was no room for reconciling between the all-heavens and the Sacred Race. This was especially true for people like Zhou Yuan who had dealt with the Sacred Race before. They knew well that the living beings in all-heavens were nothing more than ingredients for refining Blood Genesis Pills to the Sacred Race. Since there was no chance of reconciliation, the two sides couldn¡¯t coexist. ¡°If all of you are ready, then¡­go.¡± said prime sovereign Jin Luo. Boom! As his voice faded, earth-shaking Genesis Qi erupted from everywhere and every participant circulated their Genesis Qi on the Genesis Qi clouds. The momentum was the grandest sight that Zhou Yuan had even seen. All figures turned into streams of light and sped away. Zhou Yuan also led his team, which included Ai Tuanzi, Wu Yao, Su Youwei and Zhao Mushen, into the huge Dragon Moving Formation. Violent wind whistled in his ears and the surrounding space rippled. Zhou Yuan glanced back at the rays of boundary light constantly flashing away behind him, and then a huge light film came into sight. At the center was a crack of some thousand li. Ancient and primitive qi was constantly escaping from the crack. ¡°Get ready, we are entering the battlefield!¡± Zhou Yuan roared, reminding his teammates. The others nodded, Genesis Qi pulsing violently around them. Shua! As the team members rushed through the huge crack, they felt a mighty force enveloping them. Then, space distorted and darkness gushed over to engulf them. The darkness lasted for several breaths, and when Zhou Yuan and the others regained their consciousness, the landscape before them had greatly changed. They were standing on a crimson land with no end in sight. Volcanoes spewing black smoke grew from the ground and intense heat rose into the air. Zhou Yuan scanned around and checked on his teammates. After confirming that no one was separated, he took out a compass that was flashing brightly. After a while, he stated, ¡°This is the 77th battle zone.¡± He couldn¡¯t help marvelling. When he was allocated the battle zone, he had no idea that it would be so vast and what they saw was only a little corner of the battle zone. Su Youwei looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°What¡¯s our plan?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no hurry. Let¡¯s first check out the Sacred Race team that has fallen into our battle zone.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand. But as soon as his voice faded, his face rippled and he looked up to see the space violently distorted, forming a spatial vortex. A figure rushed out like the tide from the vortex. As more and more people rushed out and the Genesis Qi around them grew stronger, Zhou Yuan¡¯s countenance changed uncontrollably. In particular, when the last few figures came out from the spatial vortex, Zhou Yuan couldnt stop his lips from twitching. There were a total of five figures. The first was a man clad in gold armor and wielding a golden halberd. He wore a cold and arrogant expression and he emitted a chilling murderous spirit from his body. It was as though he had just walked out from a sea of corpses. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank rapidly when he saw that person. ¡°We might be a little unlucky this time.¡± Wu Yao also narrowed her phoenix eyes. ¡°That person is mentioned in the bamboo slip¡­Golden Armored Yuan Quan? ¡°That guy is at the third Law Domain stage! Also, he¡¯s not an ordinary Law Domain expert. According to the information we received, he is ranked in the top ten among the Law Domain experts dispatched by the Sacred Race!¡± Zhao Mushen''s face darkened, glaring at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You have such bad luck.¡± Ai Tuanzi put down all the jerky in her hands and murmured, ¡°Behind that guy are four experts at the second Law Domain stage...this lineup...we might be in trouble.¡± The lineup could compete head-to-head with the strongest teams on the all-heavens side. Zhou Yuan¡¯s team, which was considered at the bottom, was simply not qualified to face them. Zhou Yuan also sighed and felt a headache coming on. He also didn''t think his team would encounter such difficult and powerful enemies as soon as they arrived. While Zhou Yuan¡¯s head throbbed with pain, the golden armored warrior walked out of the spatial vortex and locked his sinister gaze on Zhou Yuan¡¯s team. After sizing them up, undisguised disdain and mockery came to his eyes as he said, ¡°The all-heavens is so pitiful?¡± He raised his hand and commanded, ¡°Kill them all.¡± Boom! A series of terrifying Genesis Qi erupted behind him and then shot into the sky. ¡°What do we do?¡± Su Youwei and the others urgently turned to Zhou Yuan when they saw the enemies attacking without a single word. Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly, waving his hand. ¡°What can we do? Of course¡­we run!¡± He unhesitatingly took the lead and fled. The opponents had an advantage in numbers and they could clearly crush them with their strengths. If Zhou Yuan chose to face them head-on, his team would only be wiped out. Zhou Yuan and the others fled with tails between their legs the moment they entered their first battle in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. Chapter 1320 Chase The team led by Yuan Quan was also taken aback when they saw Zhou Yuan decisively led his team around and fled. But then they burst into uproarious laughter. They didn''t think an all-heavens team would be so weak and fled for their lives before a battle even started. ¡°Does the all-heavens only have trash?¡± ¡°Cowards like them even dare to compete with our Sacred Race for the secret domain?!¡± Many Sacred Race experts broke into laughter, but when they looked at Yuan Quan, they noticed he scrunched his brows together while peering in the direction that Zhou Yuan and the others were fleeing. He then said indifferently, ¡°Their leader is smart. Although it¡¯s embarrassing to flee, it¡¯s also the most sensible thing to do in that situation.¡± The other Sacred Race experts nodded with a smile. ¡°He¡¯s a smart coward.¡± ¡°Captain Yuan Quan, what should we do now?¡¯ someone asked. Yuan Quan pondered for a few seconds and said decisively, ¡°Let¡¯s catch them first and eat the entire team. After that we will set down sacred pillars in the nodes of this area to radiate to other areas.¡± His intuition told him that he shouldn¡¯t let that go easily. ¡°There''s no need to waste so much time on a group of trash, right? How about this captain Yuan Quan, you lead a group to continue with the important business, while I will lead a group to destroy them,¡± suggested an expert at the second Law Domain stage. A light flashed in Yuan Quan''s eyes and he directly refused, ¡°There''s no need to take such a risk. That little time can¡¯t change anything. We will all catch up to them and kill them.¡± Seeing Yuan Quan so cautious even towards a group of trash, the expert at the second Law Domain expert couldn¡¯t help curling his lips. However, he didn¡¯t dare to question him and just nodded in response. Yuan Quan was the first to shoot out. His speed was so fast that it even ripped apart space. Behind were several fierce and murderous-looking Sacred Race experts following after him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, they¡¯re catching up!¡± Wu Yao notified Zhou Yuan when she saw the movements behind. Zhou Yuan turned his head around and couldn¡¯t help wrinkling his brows when he saw Yuan Quan leading the group. Yuan Quan didn¡¯t relax even in the face of a team with only second-rate strength and intended to pursue and kill them with all his might. He evidently didn¡¯t want to give them the slightest chance. ¡°Zhou Yuan, they are quickly approaching, what should we do?¡± Ai Tuanzi asked. The opponents were much stronger than them and thus had a clear advantage. A light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes and he sent a sound wave to his team. ¡°Everyone, stay within five hundred feet to me.¡± Though puzzled, everyone still quickly adjusted their positions. Zhou Yuan held out his hand and a Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared in his grip. The brush drew across the air and brought out countless streaks of light. Those light streaks converged to form a pair of huge light wings on Zhou Yuan¡¯s back. He flapped his wings and enveloped everyone. ¡°Grade 8 Genesis Rune, Chasing Light Wings!¡± After Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit had reached the Allroamer stage, he followed Yaoyao and studied as much as possible about Genesis Runes. After all, his Spirit of the Allroamer stage was his only means to compete with Law Domain experts. Therefore, he couldn¡¯t neglect that aspect of his cultivation. The huge light wings beated, causing wind between heaven and earth to rage. Zhou Yuan¡¯s and the others¡¯ speed suddenly skyrocketed, and they immediately shook off the team led by Yuan Quan that was closing in on them. Yuan Quan was surprised to see their speed soar. ¡°There¡¯s someone with Spirit at the Allroamer stage?¡± A grade 8 Genesis Rune could only be drawn by someone at the Allroamer stage. He found this a little irritating because he wouldn¡¯t be afraid of someone with Spirit of the Allroamer stage if it was a head-to-head battle, but the effect that someone at the Allroamer stage could achieve could give him a headache in a pursuit. It also happened that they had no Allroamer experts on their side. Yuan Quan¡¯s eyes flashed coldly and he folded one hand in a seal. ¡°Spirit Destruction Song!¡± Vast amount of Genesis Qi surged, forming a huge face behind him. The face was very strange. As its huge mouth opened and closed, a bizarre sound wave erupted. The sound wave was incapable of destroying any physical matter but it could tear Spirit apart in an instant. As the strange sound wave approached him from behind, Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows and felt his Spirit trembling between his brows. The opponent was attacking his Spirit. But he had to maintain his speed and couldn¡¯t split his attention to deal with the corrosive sound wave. Fortunately, he wasn¡¯t alone. ¡°Tuntun!¡± Zhou Yuan bellowed. Tuntun appeared on Zhou Yuan''s head, glancing behind him. Then, his mouth suddenly opened and unleashed an earth-shaking beast roar. That roar, which was filled with the pressure of an Alpha Holy Beast, gradually suppressed the strange sound wave. ¡°A grade 8 Alpha Holy Beast?¡± Yuan Quan¡¯s face became even colder when his soundwave shattered. He previously had already sensed Tuntun¡¯s presence and knew he was the strongest in the team ¡°Let''s see how you can escape today!¡± Yuan Quan''s voice was filled with killing intent. He withdrew the sound wave and increased his speed even more. A chase broke out again. Half a day passed in the blink of the eye. One team fled frantically and the other chased madly. Half a day had passed but the two sides almost hadn¡¯t done anything except wasting their time. ¡°Zhou Yuan, how long do we have to flee for?¡± Ai Tuanzi asked bitterly. Zhou Yuan grinned, ¡°What''s the hurry? We have profited already if we could hold out against a top Sacred Race team.¡± Ai Tuanzi looked helpless. Although that made sense, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a little frustrated. However, she also understood that the opponent''s overall strength could simply crush them, and so, it was indeed the most sensible choice to avoid the sword¡¯s cutting edge. Su Youwei frowned and reminded, ¡°Your Highness, they might be intending to exhaust your Spirit power.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. He of course knew what the other opponent¡¯s plan was. ¡°Then let¡¯s see if my Spirit will be exhausted first or their patience.¡± He didn''t believe that a top Sacred Race team would be willing to spend all their time on a second-rate team. And just as Zhou Yuan thought, disagreements were appearing in the chasing team. "Captain Yuan Quan, we have spent too much unnecessary time here. We haven''t even gained control of one node yet. If this continues, how can we earn battle credits?!¡± An expert at the second Law Domain stage said impatiently. His remark drew a lot of agreement. ¡°I already said earlier that this team isn¡¯t strong and you can leave it to me. There¡¯s no need to waste all the precious time on them.¡± another Law Domain expert echoed. Two of the four experts at the second Law Domain stage under Yuan Quan¡¯s command had openly opposed his decision and made him wrinkle his brows. As he peered at the team still fleeing desperately in the distance, a look of unwillingness flashed in his eyes. He knew his opponent¡¯s Spirit couldn¡¯t hold on for long and they could surely wipe them out if they continued the pursuit. But that would consume more of their time and the people under his command evidently didn¡¯t think it was worth it. However, Yuan Quan intuitively felt they should get rid of Zhou Yuan¡¯s team as soon as possible. But if he insisted on chasing the second-rate team, the people under his command would soon be at odds because the Sacred Race required them to earn battle credits. If they wasted too much time on Zhou Yuan¡¯s team, they would have too little battle credit and that would bring ridicule or even punishment on them. After pondering for a few breaths, Yuan Quan said with a sigh, ¡°Chi Liu, I leave them to you.¡± The man called Chi Liu was the person who previously suggested to lead a separate team to hunt down Zhou Yuan¡¯s team. Chi Liu¡¯s expression immediately relaxed when he heard the new arrangement. ¡°Captain, don¡¯t worry, I will kill them all.¡± Yuan Quan shook his head, ¡°But you can¡¯t go alone.¡± He waved his hand and the two Law Domain experts beside him nodded after some hesitation. ¡°They will assist you,¡± said Yuan Quan. Chi Liu¡¯s face darkened. The strongest existence in the opponent¡¯s team was only a grade 8 Alpha Holy Beast and he believed he could handle it, but Yuan Quan sent out two experts at the second Law Domain expert to assist him. Does he not believe in my ability? He wanted to refuse, but when he met Yuan Quan''s icy gaze, he swallowed his words and nodded helplessly. After assigning the team, Yuan Quan didn¡¯t hesitate anymore. He swept a cold glance at the team fleeing in the distance, turned around and left with a group of people. Zhou Yuan immediately noticed the movements behind. ¡°Only three experts at the second Law Domain stage are left behind.¡± Although it was good news to hear that the opponents had divided forces, Zhou Yuan was surprised to learn that the opponent had cautiously left behind three Law Domain experts to deal with them. But if Zhou Yuan and the others continued to flee, Yuan Quan would occupy the entire battle zone. ¡°Everyone¡­¡± His voice fell into every team members¡¯ ears as he ran his eyes across them. ¡°Whether we are going to eat meat or go home empty-handed will depend on the next battle. So¡­be ready to fight with your lives!¡± Chapter 1321 Humiliate ¡°Chi Liu, they¡¯ve stopped!¡± The split Sacred Race team was headed by Chi Liu with two second stage Law Domain experts to support him. Although this line-up was much weaker than before, it was still overkill to deal with the team they were chasing. It was at this moment that they noticed a change in the team that had been frantically fleeing since the beginning. The team began to slow down, ultimately descending from the sky and landing on a volcano in the distance from which lava flowed and hot smoke spewed. ¡°Finally stopped running?¡± A sinister smile rose from the corners of Chi Liu¡¯s lips. The other two Law Domain experts cautiously asked, ¡°Could it be a trap?¡± Chi Liu felt somewhat helpless. ¡°They must be thinking that with captain Yuan Quan leaving with the others, our remaining battle power has fallen to the level where they can try a desperation attack. If we¡¯re scared away, it will only comply with their wishes. And if they somehow manage to escape after that, how will we be able to explain things to the captain?¡± The two Law Domain experts chuckled in embarrassment as they nodded. Chi Liu raised his hand and the team also began to slow down, landing roughly a thousand feet away. ¡°You rats, if you kneel down and beg for forgiveness now, we might leave your corpses intact.¡± Chi Liu crossed his arms as he frostily stared at Zhou Yuan and the others, his cold voice sinisterly threatening. However, Zhou Yuan completely ignored him. His gaze paused on the three second stage Law Domain experts for a moment before he softly said, ¡°I¡¯ll deal with the guy who spoke.¡± Ai Tuanzi muttered, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little too arrogant?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s current Genesis Qi cultivation was only at the Nascent Source stage. Although his Spirit had reached the Allroamer stage, Spirit power was not particularly adept at direct clashes, especially against a second stage Law Domain expert. The gap between them was quite big. Hence, even the other team members were somewhat doubtful and apprehensive of Zhou Yuan selecting the most powerful opponent ¡°No need for groundless fears, even if all of us die, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll still be happily hopping about.¡± Someone suddenly said. It was Zhao Mushen. He had a sneer on his face, clearly amused by the group¡¯s skepticism. As someone who was once a formidable enemy of Zhou Yuan, he naturally understood how endless Zhou Yuan¡¯s trump cards were. Although he seemed to be a Nascent Source expert on the surface, Zhao Mushen had a feeling that Zhou Yuan was definitely hiding something. Moreover, from the Genesis Qi undulations that occasionally spread from his body, Zhao Mushen was certain that he was no ordinary Nascent Source expert. Zhao Musheen deeply suspected that Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nascent Source had reached an extremely astonishing length. On Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, Tuntun pointed at one of the remaining second stage Law Domain experts, indicating that it would deal with this one. ¡°There¡¯s one more second stage Law Domain expert¡­¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Ai Tuanzi and the others. They only had two more Law Domain experts than the other side, but two first stage Law Domain experts were likely no match for a second stage Law Domain expert. Wu Yao suddenly said, ¡°Su Youwei, Zhao Mushen and I can deal with one of their first stage Law Domain experts.¡± These words made Ai Tuanzi and the other Law Domain experts raise their brows. After all, the trio were merely Nascent Source experts. They might have slayed a pseudo Law Domain expert before, but the pseudo Law Domain stage was completely different from the true law Domain stage. Hence, even working together, it would be very difficult for the trio to handle a Law Domain expert. Zhou Yuan, however, did not doubt their strength. He grinned and said, ¡°That should do it then.¡± He then looked towards Ai Tuanzi and the other two Law Domain experts. ¡°Can you guys delay the last second stage Law Domain expert? This is very important because we¡¯ll need some time.¡± For the time being, dealing with a single second stage Law Domain expert was already the limit for Zhou Yuan and Tuntun. If another second stage Law Domain expert was to interfere, they would be in trouble. From Zhou Yuan¡¯s serious expression, the three Law Domain experts understood the importance of their task. They exchanged a look before solemnly nodding. Though it was dangerous for the three of them to face a second stage Law Domain expert, how could they possibly shrink back from this task when even Zhou Yuan dared to face on alone? One of the Law Domain experts declared in a low and resolute voice, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, unless all three of us die, we will not let him disturb you guys.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips moved but he ultimately did not say anything. Those that entered the Stone Dragon Secret Domain were already prepared for the worst. After all, this was a battlefield where death was commonplace. Just as they were done, Chi Liu¡¯s amused voice sounded, ¡°Are you guys done yet? How do you want to play? You should let us enjoy this since we chased you guys around for nearly half a day, right?¡± Arms crossed, he gazed at Zhou Yuan and the others in interest, seemingly very curious how desperate they would become when forced into a corner. Tuntun leaped in the air as its body rapidly enlarged. In a short span of a few breaths, it transformed into a giant majestic, mysterious golden-scaled beast. Its sharp fangs gleamed icily as black light pulsed between its teeth. Tuntun¡¯s gaze locked onto one of the second stage Law Domain experts. ¡°So it is a sacred beast. However, it seems to have only advanced to the grade-8 level recently.¡± Tuntun¡¯s target softly chuckled. He stared at Tuntun¡¯s body in desire. ¡°A sacred race is quite rare, its meat will be an excellent supplement after I capture it! ¡°Fine, you little bastard, I¡¯ll teach you about sacred beast soup today.¡± He laughed as he stepped forward and appeared in the air opposite Tuntun. Ai Tuanzi and the other two Law Domain experts also rose into the air, targeting the other second stage Law Domain expert. ¡°Oh? Using numbers to fight?¡± The second stage Law Domain expert laughed before a cruel angle slowly rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°Are the All-heavens people really so naive?¡± Meanwhile, Genesis Qi erupted from the members on both sides as they prepared to engage their opponents. Chi Liu realized that he seemed to have no opponent and could not help but laugh. It seems that these fellows were quite discerning at least. From the looks of it, they knew that he was the most formidable expert here. However, did they really believe that allowing him to reign free was good? However, before his smile could form fully, a somewhat helpless voice sounded, ¡°Stop smiling like an idiot, your opponent is me.¡± Chi Liu was taken aback. His gaze followed the voice and saw a young figure above above the mouth of the volcano helplessly looking at him. A Nascent Source expert? Oh, Allroamer stage Spirit... Chi Liu was silent for a few seconds. Soon after, his face turned chillingly cruel. He stared at Zhou Yuan as a voice filled with evilness sounded, ¡°You dog, are you humiliating me?!¡± Chapter 1322 Genesis Spirit Chi Liu was enraged. Chilling killing intent rapidly swirled in his eyes, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet. He clearly felt extremely offended by how the all-heavens side had left him an Allroamer stage opponent. Zhou Yuan was also a little annoyed by how angry Chi Liu was and felt offended as well. Have I become a nobody just because I didn¡¯t come out for two years? Zhou Yuan shook his head. He had caused much trouble for the Sacred Race over the years, and one of the Sacred Race¡¯s prime saints had even put him on their kill list. It was a little outrageous that they had forgotten him after only two years... It felt as if he was in a world with entirely different people. Chi Liu stared frostily at Zhou Yuan as terrifying Genesis Qi slowly oozed out of his body, rippling the surrounding air. A mighty pressure that made the volcano below wail in agony flooded towards Zhou Yuan as if intending to crush him to a pulp. As the Genesis Qi pressure descended, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened slightly. This pressure... This guy¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation is likely no less than 500 billion. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath. The Nascent Source in his Divine Dwelling suddenly glowed brightly as vast Genesis Qi erupted without reservation. Rumble! Platinum Genesis Qi soared into the sky. When Zhou Yuan unleashed his Genesis Qi, Chi Liu¡¯s expression changed slightly as he stared at Zhou Yuan in astonishment. ¡°This Genesis Qi foundation¡­more than 300 billion?¡± The amount naturally could not make Chi Liu fearful, he was merely shocked that this foundation had appeared on a Nascent Source expert. It was inconceivable. ¡°It seems that I¡¯ve bumped into an all-heavens super heaven pride.¡± Chi Liu slowly said. This time, he seemed more interested when he observed Zhou Yuan again. To have achieved such a foundation at the Nascent Source stage could only mean that his Nascent Source was extremely perfect. In other words, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nascent Source was at least 9.5 inches. Even in the Sacred Race, such a Nascent Source expert very rarely appeared. It would be quite a big contribution if he managed to eliminate an all-heavens super heaven pride here. Chi Liu nonchalantly said, ¡°However, this bit of Genesis Qi foundation won¡¯t be able to save your life today.¡± More than 300 billion was indeed inconceivable to the Nascent Source stage. Unfortunately, it was no threat to a second stage Law Domain expert. The gap between them was far too great and was impossible to breach through ordinary methods. Zhou Yuan ignored his opponent. He likewise understood that a 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation could not threaten Chi Liu. However, this was not all Zhou Yuan had... Dazzling divine light surged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s glabella like a warm sun. Spirit power flooded out like the tide and fused with his 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation, causing his pressure to rise. ¡°A 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation plus All-roamer stage Spirit power? You are honestly quite surprising.¡± Chi Liu¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled in amusement. ¡°However¡­¡± His smile abruptly receded, his eyes turning as deep as the abyss as mockery rose from the corners of his lips. ¡°It¡¯s still far from enough!¡± Chi Liu''s foot slammed into the ground. Space abruptly shattered as a giant golden hand chopped downwards. The hand was akin to a mighty titan¡¯s axe, smashing apart everything in its path. Although Chi Liu did not feel Zhou Yuan was a threat, he did not hold back. As someone who could step into the second realm of the Law Domain stage, Chi Liu was clearly no fool. When a foundation of more than 500 hundred billion was channelled into an attack, it could only be described as pure destruction. Before the attack landed, a bottomless crevice had already been torn open on the ground below... The giant palm fell like an axe that was about to split the world in two. Zhou Yuan had a serious expression, not daring to relax in the slightest against a full power attack from a second stage Law Domain expert. Rumble! Platinum Genesis Qi roared into the air, turning into a giant platinum dragon claw. The claw gleamed dazzlingly, seemingly indestructible. At the same time, Spirit power also surged forth, wrapping the platinum dragon claw in countless layers of defensive layers. After being augmented by Spirit power, the pressure from the platinum dragon claw was clearly much greater than purely 300 billion Genesis Qi. The claw tore through the air and smashed into the falling golden palm. Clang! An ear-piercing clang rang out, followed by a Genesis Qi storm that could be seen with the naked eye. Everything in a fifty thousand mile radius was caught in the aftershock, several volcanoes were flattened and magma was sent flying into the sky. However, the giant golden palm was clearly the victor, cleanly cleaving through the platinum dragon claw. ¡°Hahaha, you naive brat. Spirit power might be able to augment Genesis Qi, but they are two entirely different powers after all. Did you think forcibly fusing them together would really work out?!¡± Chi Liu roared with laughter. He stood in the air, eyes filled with mockery as he locked onto the hurriedly retreating Zhou Yuan. It was not impossible for Genesis Qi and Spirit power to fuse perfectly. However, that was something only Saint experts could do and Zhou Yuan was clearly far from achieving it. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure flickered like a shadow, ultimately managing to escape the falling golden palm¡¯s range. He pursed his lips. Although Chi Liu¡¯s words were unpleasant, he had hit the nail on the head. Genesis Qi and Spirit power could augment each other, but it was far from enough to challenge a second stage Law Domain expert. Though Zhou Yuan had already anticipated this outcome, seeing it with eyes still made him a little disappointed. It seems that a crude and simple fusion like this was not going to work. ¡°Pure Gold Law Domain!¡± Chi Liu''s chilling voice rang out. A golden Law Domain abruptly expanded, enveloping the entire area in the span of a few breaths. Zhou Yuan was likewise caught in its range. Chi Liu indifferently looked at Zhou Yuan and pointed. Space rippled as countless giant golden pillars slowly emerged. The pillar tips were as sharp as spears, gleaming coldly under the light. These pillars were made from Chi Liu¡¯s Law Domain power and possessed astonishing might. Chi Liu indifferently said and flicked his finger, ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play with you. Die, I will soon send your companions to meet you.¡± Swish! Space rippled as the sharp golden pillars shot forth like a sky full of shooting stars. They spun at speeds that would make one scalp numb as they zoomed straight towards Zhou Yuan. Rumble! Astonishing ripples bloomed one after another as terrifying power tore up the earth. Zhou Yuan seemed to have fallen into a disadvantageous position. ... While Zhou Yuan and his team were fighting against Chi Liu and the others, intense battles also erupted across the other battle zones. The smell of blood slowly spread. Outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, the all-heavens Saint experts observed the fighting on the seemingly endless dragon¡¯s body. With their capabilities, they were able to clearly view each battlefield despite being so far away. Prime sovereign Jin Luo waved his hand, bringing light together into a giant map. Countless, densely packed tiny glowing dots covered the map, each one representing an Ancestral Spirit Anchor Point. These dots were constantly changing between green and red. The green dots represented Ancestral Spirit Anchor Points that had been occupied by the all-heavens side, while the red dots represented those that had been occupied by the Sacred Race... Numerous Saint experts observed the giant map. Each flickering dot represented cruel and savage clashes. Cang Yuan also stood with them. He glanced at the map and frowned slightly. He had realized that Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle zone was continuously being dyed in red dots, and there was not a single green dot to be found. Evidently, Zhou Yuan¡¯s team had been blocked. ¡°Hehe, Cang Yuan, it seems that your important disciple hasn¡¯t created any miracles this time.¡± Laughter suddenly sounded from the side. Cang Yuan cast a glance over and found that it was Xu Beiyan¡¯s teacher, supreme sovereign Lu Liu. He was currently observing a certain area in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, evidently also observing the battles. Cang Yuan¡¯s expression remained indifferent, ignoring Lu Liu. However, Lu Liu refused to back down. With a smile he said, ¡°Zhou Yuan might be going to disappoint prime sovereign Jin Luo this time.¡± Cang Yuan indifferently said, ¡°Lu Liu, have you not learnt from your previous failure? ¡°Keep quiet and watch. It¡¯s still too early to make any conclusions. You¡¯ll only humiliate yourself even more if you¡¯re wrong later.¡± Lu Liu¡¯s eyes narrowed. Just as he was about to retort, he saw several nearby Saint experts look over and even prime sovereign Jin Luo shot a glance at him. Hence, he could only swallow his words and angrily wave his sleeve. ¡°Heh, then I¡¯ll be waiting to see.¡± ... Boom boom boom! The earth shook in the golden Law Domain as countless Law Domain pillars blasted the land. ¡°I don¡¯t think even bones will be left,¡± mumbled Chi Liu. He looked towards the giant crater below as his eyes began to glow. His sight pierced through the darkness, reaching the deepest part of the pit. Next, his pupils abruptly shrank. He had seen Zhou Yuan grasping a mottled black brush, covered in some kind of crystal-like dome. Some kind of power continuously poured out from the brush to maintain the crystal light dome... This light dome had stopped Chi Liu¡¯s crazy bombardment?! ¡°How can this be?¡± Chi Liu¡¯s expression darkened. Zhou Yuan¡¯s crude Genesis Qi and Spirit power augmentation and his 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation could not possibly have stopped the attacks. Moreover, he did not know why but the power undulations from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body were somewhat different than before. While Chi Liu¡¯s expression was turning uglier, inside the crystal light dome, Zhou Yuan slowly raised his head and exhaled. ¡°You¡¯re right, that crude fusion of power earlier was nothing special¡­¡± Zhou Yuan slowly raised the mottled black brush as a fierce light gathered in his eyes. ¡°But what about this?¡± The eighth rune on the Heavenly Yuan Brush slowly began to light up, ultimately glowing brightly. It was the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s eighth rune... Genesis Spirit Chapter 1323 Saint Genesis Weapon Zhou Yuan stood at the bottom of the giant pit that looked as if it had been created by a meteor. Endless Genesis Qi poured out of the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands, maintaining the crystal-like light barrier. The platinum Genesis Qi that spouted from the brush tip appeared to be different than before. It seemed more ethereal yet also endlessly deep. The original overbearing ferocity of the Heavenly Dragon Qi had diminished somewhat, but in its place was a full and whole feeling as if it could last longer and go on continuously. Zhou Yuan¡¯s fingertip brushed past the glowing eighth rune. After so many years of nourishment, the rune he had waited anxiously for had finally awakened... The eighth rune, Genesis Soul. Genesis Qi was Genesis Qi, while Spirit was Spirit. The rune was called Genesis Spirit because it could properly fuse these two vastly different powers into one harmonious entity. It was not the crude augmentation achieved by Zhou Yuan mixing them together previously, but a true fusion between both forces. It was through this very fusion of his 300 billion Genesis Qi foundation and his Allroamer stage Spirit power that had allowed Zhou Yuan to survive Chi Liu¡¯s bombardment. With the new power provided by Genesis Spirit¡¯s unique ability, Zhou Yuan¡¯s current fusion Genesis Qi was equivalent to a 450 billion Genesis Qi foundation. In addition, with the eighth rune now awakened, the Heavenly Yuan Brush had finally stepped into the Saint level. Zhou Yuan gazed at the mottled black brush. There seemed to be countless veins on its body as it seemingly breathed Genesis Qi. Moreover, Zhou Yuan could feel that its ego had evolved to the next level. In fact, he could now feel joyful and excited feelings from it. After so many years of silence, the once Saint Genesis Weapon was finally close to regaining its former glory. ¡°So this is a true Saint Genesis Weapon¡­¡± The fire of excitement burned in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He could still remember how expectant and excited he had been when master Cang Yuan told him the Heavenly Yuan Brush was once a legendary Saint Genesis Weapon. The brush had been his faithful companion for many years, and had witnessed him grow from a weak prince of a tiny empire to a Nascent Source and Allroamer expert... Zhou Yuan caressed the Heavenly Yuan Brush and said, ¡°Partner, thanks for your hard work over the years.¡± The brush buzzed in response. ¡°I shall use the head of a second stage Law Domain expert to celebrate your return to a Saint Genesis Weapon.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. A fierce light gradually gathered in his eyes as he lifted his head and locked onto Chi Liu, who was wearing an ugly expression. In the air, Chi Liu chillingly retorted, ¡°Arrogant fool, do you think you can turn things around with a Saint Genesis Weapon that doesn¡¯t even have a lotus seal?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll know once we fight!¡± His hands abruptly tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Promotion! Rumble! The Genesis Qi undulations from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body pulsed erratically again. In a few breaths, they soared once more from 450 billion to almost 500 billion! Chi Liu¡¯s expression sank slightly when he sensed this change. His Genesis Qi foundation was around 560 billion. Although he still had a clear advantage over Zhou Yuan, it was no longer as one-sided as before. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one with a Genesis Qi secret art!¡± Chi Liu took a deep breath as his expression darkened. He knew that he needed to use some of his trump cards to stop Zhou Yuan¡¯s growing momentum. His hands pushed together and said in a low voice, ¡°Golden Devil Infusion Body Art!¡± Countless rays of light emerged from the golden Law Domain and gathered above Chi Liu¡¯s head, before slowly dripping down like melted gold. Szz! Smoke rose. The golden liquid swiftly fused into Chi Liu, slowly dyeing his skin gold, making him akin to a golden man. His Genesis Qi undulations grew stronger, jumping from 560 billion to 580 billion. Terrifying Genesis Qi swirled in the air. Expressionless, Chi Liu murderously stared at Zhou Yuan. In his view, being forced to use a Genesis Qi secret art by a Nascent Source expert was extremely humiliating. Only Zhou Yuan¡¯s blood would be able to wipe away this humiliation. ¡°The gap between us is too great. No matter how many tricks you have, today will¡­¡± While Chi Liu¡¯s chilling voice was echoing across the area, Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm and cold voice sounded once more, ¡°Earth Saint Rune!¡± Veins crawled up in Chi Liu¡¯s eyes. He grinded his teeth as he watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi undulations strengthen again. In the end, he could not help but curse, ¡°What the heck!¡± In so many years of fighting, this was the first time he had seen such an abnormality that had seemingly endless trump cards. It was not that he did not have Genesis Qi secret arts, but such arts would often oppose each other, making it nearly impossible to use more than one. However, this problem seemed nonexistent to Zhou Yuan. In other words, his two Genesis Qi secret arts were both top-tier and did not conflict. Rumble! Zhou Yuan was obviously not going to waste any time explaining. Genesis Qi filled his body, causing every tiny movement to ripple the surrounding space. He grasped the Heavenly Yuan Brush as his sharp gaze locked onto Chi Liu. With a stomp of his foot, the ground instantly cracked and crumbled. His figure turned into a blur as it zipped into the air. ¡°Go back down!¡± Chi Liu¡¯s eyes turned even colder due to Zhou Yuan¡¯s ferocity. His hands clapped together and the entire golden Law Domain began to shake. Golden light rapidly converged, turning into giant golden suns. The suns hung in the sky, shining their rays upon the land. Every golden sun contained destructive power that made one¡¯s scalp turn numb. Rumble! The golden suns shot forth, seemingly filling the sky as they bombarded Zhou Yuan. A concentrated look on his face, Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush, rapidly pouring Genesis Qi into it as he shouted, ¡°Heavenly Yuan Brush, Million Whale!¡± The brush tip drew in the air, seemingly creating a spatial door. The ancient wail of a whale echoed from the door. Countless enormous giant whales swam out, smashing apart the air as they collided with the golden suns. Boom! Boom! Boom! Earth-shaking noises exploded in the golden Law Domain, the destructive power making it shake violently. Golden mushroom clouds blossomed in the sky one after another, beautiful yet also terrifying. Chi Liu¡¯s eyes were filled with ice-cold killing intent as he stared at the golden mushroom clouds. The attack was basically his full power. No matter how many tricks the brat had, he should likely be in trouble, right? Swish! Just as this thought flashed past in Chi Liu¡¯s head, space in front of him suddenly shattered as a figure darted out, thrusting a black brush at him. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± Snow-white hairs turned night-black, seemingly bestowing it the power to pierce through all things. The endless sharpness could poke even this Law Domain full of hotels. As the reflection of the brush tip rapidly enlarged in his eyes, Chi Liu felt a chill rise in his heart. He had a feeling that if he would not survive if he allowed the black brush to pierce his body. After all, it was a Saint Genesis Weapon! ¡°Do you think you¡¯re the only one with a Saint Genesis Weapon?!¡± As a second stage Law Domain expert of the Sacred Race, it was naturally impossible for Chi Liu to have no special measures to protect himself. With a stern shout, golden light converged between his hands, turning into a pair of golden gauntlets. Sinister golden spikes protruded from the gauntlets, the ancient runes on them giving off torrential killing intent and the pungent smell of blood. They were clearly weapons that had experienced countless battles. Clang! With a twisted expression Chi Liu punched, the spikes on his gauntlets clashing with the brush tip. A loud noise reverberated through the air as the space around the two fighters shattered. The golden gauntlets and black brush were stuck in a deadlock. ¡°Your Genesis Qi boosting arts are merely temporary. I only need to buy time till they¡¯re over and you¡¯ll be dead!¡± Chi Liu laughed sinisterly. Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush, pushing back with all of his might. When he heard Chi Liu¡¯s laugh, he could not help but chuckle. ¡°But can you buy enough time?¡± His fingertip gently flicked. The space behind Chi Liu suddenly shattered as a figure jumped out. The new arrival looked exactly like Zhou Yuan, but was snow-white because it was made from brush hairs. A giant golden bell sat on the brush hair double¡¯s shoulder, it''s dark mouth aimed at Chi Liu. ¡°Heavenly Yuan Brush, Myriad Transformations Double¡­ ¡°Plus¡­¡± ¡°Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell.¡± Weng! A great soundwave rapidly condensed within the bell. Chi Liu¡¯s expression changed drastically. A destructive sound wave roared out, smashing through the air to blast the horrified Chi Liu... Chapter 1324 Battle Achievement Bzz! The terrifying sound wave torrent pierced through the air, pouring all of its destructive power onto Chi Liu¡¯s body, who was locked in position due to Zhou Yuan. All of Chi Liu¡¯s Genesis Qi defences were instantly destroyed. Space shattered layer by layer as cracks grew on his body. Blood began to spray from his wounds, creating a rain of blood. Boom! A loud boom sounded. Chi Liu released an ear-piercing shriek as his body was thrown towards the ground. The sonic boom torrent continued on its path, tearing through nearly half of the golden Law Domain. In the end, Chi Liu¡¯s body landed in the very same pit he had bombarded Zhou Yuan into previously. The ground within a several thousand mile radius shuddered as if an earth dragon was rolling about beneath the land. A giant cloud of dust rose into the air, accompanied by countless lava spouts. Zhou Yuan stood in the sky while his brush hair double disintegrated into countless particles that soon scattered in the wind. He gently patted the Heavenly Yuan Brush, a satisfied look in his eyes. The Heavenly Yuan Brush had brilliantly displayed the might and unique properties of a Saint Genesis Weapon in the earlier battle. The brush hair double was created by the Myriad Transformations Rune and did not have much battle power. However, its advantage lay in being stealthy, making it essential for any sneaky maneuvers. It was precisely because Chi Liu had failed to detect it that he ended up being caught off guard and struck by the merciless attack from the bell. The Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell had dealt a solid direct blow. He was definitely going to suffer even if he was a second stage Law Domain expert. Zhou Yuan waved his sleeve, blowing away the cloud of dust. He looked towards the giant crater and found a bloodied Chi Liu lying on his back. His body was covered in cracks as if it was a vase that would shatter at the slightest touch. Urgh. He vomited a mouthful of blood mixed with golden light. Chi Liu¡¯s expression turned even redder as he glared at Zhou Yuan in anger. Zhou Yuan¡¯s successful sneak attack had made him completely lose his composure. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you! I¡¯ll make you experience so much pain that you¡¯ll be begging for death!¡± A roar filled with almost solid killing intent erupted from the crater. Chi Liu¡¯s expression was so twisted with hatred that he could not even be bothered about the wounds on his body. The slit between his brows wiggled, a sign that his Sacred Pupil was about to open. However, Zhou Yuan suddenly asked, ¡°What do you think about this place?¡± The sudden question stunned Chi Liu for a moment before he instinctively glanced towards a certain spot deep in the crater. After which, his expression drastically changed. He had seen many faint, strange and concealed undulations deep within the crater. Numerous strings of light weaved together like a spider¡¯s net, covering the bottom of the crater in numerous layers. If one took a closer look, one would discover that they were Genesis Runes! Every Genesis Rune gave off extremely alarming undulations. All of them were grade-8 Genesis Rune! When Chi Liu looked again, he realized that the crater was basically a danger zone booby trapped with numerous grade-8 Genesis Rune! Chi Liu¡¯s pupils shrank as he cried out in horror, ¡°You!¡± These Genesis Runes must have been planted by Zhou Yuan when he had been blasted into the crater earlier. What scared Chi Liu the most, however, was that Zhou Yuan had been able to turn the pit into a deathtrap of grade8 Genesis Runes without him noticing while dealing with his crazy full-power bombardment. If so, Zhou Yuan¡¯s sneak attack must have also been planned in advance to blast him into this location! Everything was part of Zhou Yuan¡¯s plan! A chill rose in Chi Liu¡¯s heart. When he looked at the young man in the sky again, he could not help but feel some terror. Rumble! However, Chi Liu was a second stage Law Domain expert after all. The terror quickly passed and he immediately moved in spite of his injuries, intending to get out of the crater. Even someone like him felt intense danger from the crater and he needed to get as far away as possible! However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifferent voice rang out just as he began to move, ¡°Great Seal Rune!¡± A grade-8 Genesis Rune suddenly erupted, instantly locking the surrounding space. Chi Liu¡¯s body abruptly slowed, unable to rise into the air. Zhou Yuan¡¯s somewhat helpless voice sounded from above, ¡°I took so much effort to prepare this present for you. Isn¡¯t it a little impolite of you to run?¡± Before Chi Liu could answer, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit flashed faintly, setting off all the grade-8 Genesis Runes in the crater. Terrifying Genesis Qi undulations exploded in the giant crater. The ground within several thousand miles crumbled as a shockwave frantically unfurled. The experts, who were still fighting nearby, hurriedly stopped and retreated with terrified expressions... Zhou Yuan stood in the air, somewhat speechless as he watched the destruction unfurl from above. In a direct clash, it would be very difficult for Spirit power to triumph over Genesis Qi of the same level. However, Spirit power could be used to create Genesis Runes and create chain reactions of astonishing power. Hence, as long as he had enough time to prepare, even a Genesis Rune trap set by an initial Allroamer stage Spirit could endanger a second stage Law Domain expert. Of course, it would only work if the second stage Law Domain expert fell into the trap... Like what had just happened. The earth-shaking explosions continued for some time before slowly coming to an end. When the terrifying Genesis Qi undulations finally faded, Zhou Yuan looked down and found that the rows of volcanoes had disappeared, replaced by an indescribably enormous crater. From how klava flowed from the depths of the crater, it would perhaps not be long before a sea of lava was formed. Zhou Yuan slowly descended and lightly swung the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Snow-white hairs shot out like snakes, burying into the ground. After a few dozen breaths, the brush hairs returned with a charred figure. It was Chi Liu. His current appearance was extremely miserable, and his Genesis Qi was exceedingly weak. Half of his body had been incinerated, leaving only his upper half and his head stubbornly clinging on to life. The golden Law Domain gradually crumbled, turning into countless specks of light. ¡°Law Domain experts are really not easy to kill.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Chi Liu had taken a direct blast from his Heavenly Dragon Golden Bell and subsequently blown up by the Genesis Rune trap. Despite this, he was only heavily injured instead of dead. Chi Jiu opened his eyes with some difficulty. He gazed at Zhou Yuan in silence for a while before his hoarse voice sounded, ¡°Despicable low-life! ¡°If you are confident in your abilities, let me open my Sacred Pupil and have a proper battle with you. If I lose, I will willingly accept my defeat!¡± A contemplative look arose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Really?¡± A sliver of joy flitted across Chi Liu¡¯s eyes. Just as he was about to nod, he suddenly sensed something and hurriedly turned his head, only to find grade-8 Genesis Runes wrapping around his body. Most importantly, one of the Genesis Runes covered his glabella, sealing his Sacred Pupil. ¡°Bastard! You lied to me!¡± roared Chi Liu. Zhou Yuan chuckled, ¡°If you didn¡¯t bring it up, I would have nearly forgotten that your Sacred Race¡¯s Sacred Pupil is very strange. ¡°Besides, why do I need to convince a dead person? You¡¯re a really funny guy.¡± As Zhou Yuan¡¯s chuckle sounded, ice-cold killing intent abruptly surged in his eyes. Before Chi Liu could make another sound, the Heavenly Yuan Brush thrust forward, its sharp tip mercilessly piercing Chi Liu¡¯s head. Spirit power rippled berserkly, instantly destroying Chi Liu¡¯s Spirit. Chi Liu¡¯s body went rigid, anger and murder still present in his eyes, clearly still unable to accept this outcome. He still had so many techniques he had yet to use, he should have been able to make a comeback! But everything was useless now. Darkness swarmed towards him as his heat was swallowed by endless regret. If he knew this kid was so dangerous, he would not have wasted any time. He would have directly unleashed his Sacred Pupil and use his strongest attack to end the battle. However, regret was now useless. Before his Spirit completely disintegrated, Chi Liu¡¯s final resentful words rang out, ¡°Zhou Yuan, captain Yuan Quan will soon send you to accompany me!¡± A Sacred Race second stage Law Domain expert had died to Zhou Yuan, adding another line to his list of amazing battle achievements. Chapter 1325 Great Victory When Chi Liu died, everyone in the area felt his presence disappear. The commotion that ensued was basically earth-shaking. Nearly every expert stopped what they were doing as they dazedly stared at the giant crater that was gradually being filled by lava. The hearts of Zhou Yuan¡¯s team members churned crazily. They never imagined that Zhou Yuan would settle his battle so swiftly. One must know that his opponent was a Sacred Race second stage Law Domain expert! An existence of that level was top-tier no matter the place. However, such an existence had now been slain so easily. Shock filled their eyes. Most of them had no choice but to settle for Zhou Yuan¡¯s team after failing to be selected by the stronger teams. In their view, although Zhou Yuan was well-known for being Yaoyao¡¯s assistant in the Ancestral Dragon Pill production, such fame was useless in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. After all, the Sacred Race experts would not show any mercy because of such frivolous things. In the battle zones, following a strong leader would undoubtedly bring greater advantages and benefits. However, Zhou Yuan did not look like a strong leader to any of them. If not for Tuntun¡¯s presence, the team would have likely been much smaller. These were everyone¡¯s most initial opinions, opinions which had now been forcibly reversed. Everyone had to review these opinions, especially after the cruel slap reality had just given them. However, none of Zhou Yuan¡¯s team members were unhappy with this shocking slap of revelation. Instead, their hearts surged with excitement and jubilation. Although they had been a little blind previously, they were pretty lucky to at least be on Zhou Yuan¡¯s boat. In contrast to the all-heavens side, the Sacred Race team was horrified. They were also caught completely off guard by this outcome. One must know that Chi Liu was second only to team leader Yuan Quan in their team. Even so, he had been killed by an all-heavens Nascent Source expert?! They could not understand how this had happened. Regardless of how incomprehensible this was, the truth was clear for all to see. When Chi Liu¡¯s presence disappeared, they understood that their temporary leader had lost. This greatly affected the Sacred Race team and was a substantial blow to their morale. Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifferent voice sounded in all his team members¡¯ ears, ¡°Get your acts together! It¡¯s time to bring out all of your power to bury this entire Sacred Race team here!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Some of the more prideful experts had not been very willing to listen to Zhou Yuan¡¯s commands earlier. However, they now responded immediately and turned their chilling gazes towards their opponents. Blasts of Genesis Qi erupted as the battles restarted. Zhou Yuan observed a little from the air before shifting his gaze towards another battlefield in the sky: Tuntun versus one of the second stage Law Domain experts. Both parties were ferocious without equal, making it difficult to decide the victor any time soon. When Zhou Yuan looked over, however, the Sacred Race expert¡¯s expression turned rather ugly. Chi Liu¡¯s death put him under a tremendous amount of pressure. Although he did not know how Zhou Yuan had done it, such details were unimportant. He was slightly weaker than Chi Liu, and if even Chi Liu had lost, what more himself? What¡¯s more, his sacred beast opponent was clearly not weaker than him. This is bad, I need to escape and notify team leader Yuan Quan! It finally dawned upon him that the leader of this all-heavens team had been concealing his true strength all along. They had fled as if they were too weak to fight until the strongest expert on the Sacred Race side, Yuan Quan, grew impatient at their shamelessness. However, after splitting the team, the sheep shed its disguise, revealing its sinister fangs. He needed to inform team leader Yuan Quan to temporarily put aside node occupying and gather their forces to exterminate this all-heavens team! As such thoughts flashed past in his head, the second stage Law Domain expert cast aside all hesitation. With a wave of his sleeve, his Law Domain abruptly shrank back towards him and covered his body. Coated in his Law Domain, he circulated his power to the max and took a step forward, smashing into space in an attempt to escape. Just as he was about to leave, however, a cold voice suddenly sounded around him, ¡°Mysterious King!¡± To his horror, the second stage Law Domain expert felt the Law Domain on his body seemed to freeze for a moment as if it was being suppressed by a certain special power, a power that he had only ever felt from Saint experts before! How had such a power appeared here?! Although it lasted for a split second, a split second could change everything when one made a desperate attempt to escape. Roar! A ferocious roar rang out as a black hole began forming behind the second stage Law Domain expert. The space around the black hole squirmed, ultimately creating a giant, sinister mouth. It was Tuntun¡¯s devouring mouth! The black-hole-like mouth revolved as devouring power exploded from it, rapidly shaving away the second stage Law Domain expert¡¯s Law Domain power. By the time the suppressive power lost its effect, there was nearly nothing left of the Sacred Race expert¡¯s Law Domain power. An intense chill rose in the second stage Law Domain expert¡¯s heart. He felt naked and very uneasy without the protection of his Law Domain. If someone attacked at such a time, he would have to pay a painful price. Hence, the second stage Law Domain expert immediately began circulating his Law Domain, making Law Domain power to surge out once more. It was at this instant, however, that the faint rustle of wind sounded. All he saw was a streak of pitch-black that swiftly pierced through the few remaining defences around his body. In the end, something broke out from the pitch-blackness with a faint muffled noise. He finally saw what seemed to be a mottled black brush within. Despite its appearance, the absolute aura of sharpness it gave off made him understand that this black brush was a powerful Saint Genesis Weapon. Otherwise, it could not have so easily penetrated his body. Urgh. He vomited a mouthful of blood as the Genesis Qi in his body fell into chaos. The Sacred Race second stage Law Domain expert had been gravely injured by Zhou Yuan and Tuntun¡¯s near perfect teamwork. Before the Sacred Race expert could try to suppress his wounds, space shattered behind him and Tuntun ferociously leaped out, space cracking like glass under its paws. At the same time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared in front of the Sacred Race expert. His grip tightened around the Heavenly Yuan Brush as he rapidly thrust, unleashing a barrage of attacks that could shake even the stars. Zhou Yuan and Tuntun simultaneously attacked in the most ferocious manner possible. The Sacred Race expert had no choice but to swallow his bloody spittle, a crazed look on his face as he rose to meet them. He did not hesitate to open his Sacred Pupil, drastically boosting his battle power. Three figures fiercely clashed in the sky, exchanging over a thousand blows in a few brief moments. Space within a several thousand mile radius rippled violently, the disturbance caused more berserk than Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Chi Liu¡¯s earlier clash. However, this battle was also much shorter. Both Zhou Yuan and Tuntun possessed the power to challenge a second stage Law Domain. Hence, it was effortless for them to subdue the Sacred Race expert, especially since he had already been injured by Zhou Yuan. Thus, it was not long before Tuntun finally found its chance. A giant black-hole-like mouth tore through the air, swallowing the Sacred Race expert that was riddled in wounds. It ended even quicker than Zhou Yuan had anticipated. Zhou Yuan appeared in the sky, blood dripping from the Heavenly Yuan Brush in his hands. Every drop that landed on the ground created a thousand-foot-wide crater. It was the Sacred Race expert¡¯s essence blood. Tuntun also stepped out in the sky, its body currently as large as a mountain. Its golden scales flickered under the light, giving off a mysterious, ferocious and ancient aura. Black light surged in its stomach as if containing a domain of its own that could devour all things. Tuntun released a low roar at Zhou Yuan, causing the latter to nod. The Sacred Race expert had already been heavily injured and now swallowed by Tuntun. Even if he did not die immediately, he would sooner or later be destroyed by Tuntun¡¯s devouring power, turning him into nutrients. After dispatching the second Sacred Race expert, Zhou Yuan and Tuntun charged straight at the third second stage Law Domain expert. The third expert was currently locked in battle with the Ai Tuanzi trio of first stage Law Domain experts. However, the trio were clearly at a disadvantage. Besides Ai Tuanzi, who was still stubbornly enduring, the other two had already been seriously injured. However, the trio were still as fierce as ever. It was perhaps Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory over Chi Liu that had given them confidence. Hence, even in such a disadvantageous position, they continued to desperately engage the third Sacred Race expert, who had grown fearful and uneasy. By the time Zhou Yuan and Tuntun appeared, the Ai Tuanzi trio had deathly pale faces, their bloodied bodies collapsing almost immediately after the reinforcements arrived. Genesis Qi chaotically pulsed around them, while they were so exhausted that they could not even muster the energy to speak. ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you guys. Leave everything else to us.¡± If he had arrived just a little later, the trio would have likely shared Chi Liu¡¯s fate. The third Sacred Race second stage Law Domain expert¡¯s expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with terror. He immediately turned and fled without the slightest hesitation. However, his path was forcibly cut off by a giant black-hole-like mouth. Powerful auras exploded from Zhou Yuan and Tuntun as they charged at the Sacred Race expert. The battle started again. After a while, a Law Domain shattered into fireworks. When the Ai Tuanzi trio opened their eyes, they saw the silhouette of a giant beast and a young man stepping out from the fireworks. Their hearts could not help but surge at this sight. They knew they had triumphed in this first clash with the Sacred Race. Chapter 1326 Fight for the Anchor Points Outside the Stone Dragon Mysterious Domain. Countless dots blinked on an enormous screen. Green and red continuously invaded each other like two giant dragons, giving off an aura of relently ferocity. Numerous Saint experts observed with grave expressions. From the current situation, the Sacred Race was undoubtedly at the advantage in this anchor point battle. This made the Saint experts¡¯ hearts sink a little. The more anchor points occupied, the greater the hold one side would have on the stone dragon. However, there was nothing they could do for now except wait for the final result. ¡°Eh?¡± A faint surprised sound rang out amidst the tense atmosphere. One of the Saint experts had been observing a certain area on the screen that was entirely red when green dots suddenly began lighting up one after another. Prime sovereign Jin Luo stared at the spot and asked, ¡°Is that the 77th battle zone?¡± A Saint expert immediately nodded. ¡°Zhou Yuan should be in-charge of that battle zone, right?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo looked towards Cang Yuan. Cang Yuan smiled and nodded. With a wave of his sleeve, light gathered towards him, revealing an earth-shaking battle. It was a video of Zhou Yuan killing Chi Liu and the other two Sacred Race experts. Some of the nearby Saint experts clicked their tongues in amazement, evidently a little surprised by this. After all, their senses had swept through the area previously, but none of them had expected anything from Zhou Yuan and his team after seeing the Sacred Race team led by Yuan Quan. In fact, they had already prepared for the 77th battle zone to be lost. No one would have imagined that nearly half of the Sacred Race team would be eaten by Zhou Yuan and the rest... The loss of three second stage Law Domain experts was undoubtedly a serious blow to Yuan Quan¡¯s team. ¡°Cang Yuan, your disciple is full of pleasant surprises,¡± prime sovereign Jin Luo smiled. Although Zhou Yuan and the others had only occupied a tenth of the Ancestral Spirit Anchor Points in the zone, it was a pretty good start and a job well done from a team with that line-up. Cang Yuan chuckled. Just as he was about to speak, an indifferent laughter sounded from the side. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance is not bad, but Yuan Quan¡¯s team has occupied nearly all of the Ancestral Spirit Anchor Points in that zone. From the direction they are pushing in, they should be heading for the center. Although Zhou Yuan and his team are trying, they will likely be unable to change anything. Moreover, once Yuan Quan is free, a third stage Law Domain expert will be akin to a natural disaster for Zhou Yuan and the others.¡± Cang Yuan glanced at the seemingly regretful supreme sovereign Lu Liu. Although he had not said it directly, the implied meaning was clear: no matter what Zhou Yuan and his team did, the battle zone would be lost sooner or later. The other Saint experts sighed softly. There was truth to Lu Liu¡¯s words. Although Zhou Yuan and his team had killed nearly half of the opposing team, the strongest Yuan Quan had not participated in the battle. In addition, a third stage Law Domain expert did have the qualifications to reverse the situation. When that happened, the battle zone would end up with the Sacred Race. Prime sovereign Jin Luo carefully observed the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, seemingly taking in everything in the battle zone. After a brief silence, he slowly said, ¡°Only time will tell what the outcome will be. Spectators like us might not be able to see everything.¡± Lu Liu smiled and nodded in agreement. He looked towards the giant screen and said, ¡°Xu Beiyan¡¯s team has been making good progress. His battle zone is close to being entirely swept.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo turned towards Xu Beiyan¡¯s battle zone and gave a faint nod of approval. ¡°Xu Beiyan is very talented and is indeed a good sapling.¡± With the exception of Zhuan Zhu, who had already stepped into the Saint stage, there was likely no one who could compare to Xu Beiyan among the all-heavens Law Domain experts. A pleased smile appeared on Lu Liu¡¯s face. ¡°Given Xu Beiyan¡¯s talent, reaching the Saint stage should be certain as long as he obtains a portion of the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence.¡± Cang Yuan indifferently remarked, ¡°You¡¯re already eyeing the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence before it''s over? Isn¡¯t this a little too unbecoming?¡± Lu Liu¡¯s expression did not change as he replied, ¡°I was merely being truthful. If we manage to triumph in the end, no one will be able to doubt Xu Beiyan¡¯s contributions. If even he can¡¯t get a portion of the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence, who will be deserving?¡± Cang Yuan shook his head. ¡°Contribution is not based on talk and there will naturally be an evaluation when the time comes. Moreover, how can you be so certain of Xu Beiyan¡¯s contributions before it''s over?¡± Lu Liu displayed a skin-deep smile. ¡°If Xu Beiyan isn¡¯t up to standard, do you think Zhou Yuan, who is about to lose the entire 77th battle zone, is?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo frowned and said in a booming voice, ¡°Enough! ¡°No more unnecessary talk until it''s over. I can¡¯t believe you guys can still argue in front of our mortal enemies.¡± Cang Yuan and Lu Liu shut their mouths, icily glaring at each other one final time before looking away. ... Thump! A several foot long mottled pitch-black needle was hammered into the ground, causing it to shake. The faint roar of a dragon echoed as threads of light spread across the land. From above, the threads resembled a spider net that covered the area within a hundred miles. ¡°Done.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at the Dragon Moving Nail that had been embedded in the ground. Occupying this Ancestral Spirit Anchor Point made a smile appear on his face. Having dealt with the split Sacred Race team that had gone after them, Zhou Yuan and the team began to occupy anchor points. After half a day, they managed to occupy six of the nearby anchor points. ¡°All the nearby Ancestral Spirit Anchor Points have been occupied. We¡¯ll have to push deeper into the battle zone if we wish to occupy more. However, we¡¯ll likely meet the other half of that team.¡± Su Youwei arrived at Zhou Yuan¡¯s side with a somewhat grave expression. Although the morale had been boosted after defeating half of the Sacred Race team, they did not lose their rationality. They understood that the strongest Sacred Race team captain had yet to reveal his power. If they pushed deeper, they would likely meet Yuan Quan. He was a third stage Law Domain expert, wielding strength that far surpassed any of them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change much. The Ancestral Spirit Anchor points in the central area were extremely enormous. A single anchor point there was basically equivalent to a dozen anchor points here. Hence, he was determined to secure the central area anchor points and was definitely not going to let the Sacred Race team have their way. ¡°We¡¯ve already eaten half of that Sacred Race team and now have the numbers advantage.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the crowd, his calm voice filled with confidence. This soothed the nerves of the team. After all, no one longer dared to underestimate him after the earlier fight. ¡°Leave the third stage Law Domain expert, Yuan Quan, to me and Tuntun.¡± The group was stunned by these words, but ultimately nodded in silence. If there was anyone here who could threaten a third stage Law Domain expert like Yuan Quan, it would be Zhou Yuan and Tuntun. ¡°However, the other Sacred Race experts cannot be allowed to disturb us.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was deathly solemn. Everyone looked at each other, seeing the stern resolve in each other¡¯s eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry captain, they won¡¯t get through us unless we¡¯re dead!¡± ... Deep in the 77th battle zone. Yuan Quan indifferently gazed upon the nearby occupied anchor point from atop a hill. Space rippled behind him and a figure emerged. It was the only remaining second stage Law Domain expert in the team. The second stage Law Domain expert reported with a somewhat ugly expression, ¡°Captain, something might have happened to Chi Liu and the others. I sent out a signal earlier but did not receive any response.¡± Yuan Quan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. After a brief silence, he said, ¡°It seems that we have been fooled.¡± Splitting up their force might have been exactly what the other side wanted. The only thing that puzzled Yuan Quan was how this all-heavens team had managed to take down Chi Liu and the other two second stage Law Domain experts with their line-up. ¡°How interesting.¡± He softly chuckled. The Sacred Race expert beside him could feel the intense killing intent in his voice. ¡°What do we do now? Do we need to change our original goal and clean out these rats first?¡± asked the Sacred Race expert. Yuan Quan waved his hand and nonchalantly said, ¡°Ignore them and continue pushing towards the central area. Their captain seems like an ambitious person and will definitely come to us. ¡°He has piqued my interest.¡± Yuan Quan laughed as cruel killing intent gathered in his eyes, causing the temperature to plummet. ¡°To show how highly I regard him, I shall peel off his skin, place it on a statue and add it to my collection.¡± Chapter 1327 Second Meeting with Yuan Quan Lights streaked across the sky, so fast that sonic booms followed in their wake, echoing far into the distance. ¡°Your highness, we¡¯re almost at the core area.¡± At the front, Su Youwei gazed into the distance as her usually gentle voice turned solemn. Zhou Yuan gave a light nod of acknowledgement. After occupying a few Ancestral Spirit Anchor Points, he had led the team straight towards the core region because he understood that hiding was no good. Both sides would have to ultimately wipe the other out if they wanted to fully occupy the battle zone. The reason why he had avoided fighting previously was because the other party far outclassed them in both scale and power. After the earlier battle, however, the numbers advantage was now with them. Of course, Zhou Yuan understood that such an advantage was quite meaningless. The third stage Law Domain expert could easily make up for the gap. If not for the uncertainty factor that was himself, Zhou Yuan suspected that Yuan Quan could single handedly wipe out the entire team. A third stage Law Domain expert was not as easy to deal with as he had imagined. After all, it was an existence that was nearest to the Saint stage, a level that Zhou Yuan could only look up to in the past. A sliver of worry flitted across Su Youwei¡¯s eyes as she observed the grave look on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Although he appeared confident in front of the other team members, she could feel the pressure he bore. However, she could not provide any substantial help in the face of an expert like Yuan Quan. The only thing she could do was to stop the other Sacred Race experts from interfering and create a battlefield where Zhou Yuan did not have to worry about anyone else. As if sensing her worry, Zhou Yuan tilted his head and displayed a small smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not the first time I¡¯ve encountered a formidable foe over the years. As for how it¡¯ll turn out, we¡¯ll know only after we fight.¡± Su Youwei forcefully nodded. ¡°Your highness, I believe in you!¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and abruptly increased his speed, leading the team towards a vast mountain range to their front. All of a sudden, his pupils shrank as he slowed his speed. Spirit power surged out, stopping the others behind him. ¡°What is it?¡± asked Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and the others. Zhou Yuan did not reply, his line-of-sight focused on the front. After the mountain range was a seemingly endless desert where endless gales blew. Flowing sands formed enormous sand dunes, creating a sight that resembled giants carrying mountains in the desert. A seated figure could be seen on the highest sand dune. The figure wore golden armor and a great halberd had been thrust into the ground beside him. Wind mixed with sand grains blew in the desert with astonishing force, but the area within a hundred feet of him was completely silent. Any wind that reached its range abruptly began to behave obediently, silently laying down by his side like a little puppy. An indescribable pressure spread from the golden armored figure, seemingly suppressing the entire desert. When they saw the figure, the expressions of everyone behind Zhou Yuan could not help but change as voices filled with terror escaped from the cracks between their teeth, ¡°That¡¯s...golden armor Yuan Quan!¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the golden armored figure that had subdued the entire desert with his presence alone. It was Yuan Quan, whom they had encountered once previously. He was no ordinary individual in the Sacred Race and definitely ranked top ten among their many Law Domain experts. ¡°You guys arrived later than I expected.¡± When Zhou Yuan and the others crossed the mountain range and appeared on the edge of the desert, Yuan Quan raised his head. He paid no attention to the others, his gaze directly seeking out Zhou Yuan. ¡°I remember you, Zhou Yuan of the all-heavens. A few years ago, you clawed victory from the jaws of defeat in the battle for Guyuan Heaven and caused quite a stir in the Sacred Race.¡± Yuan Quan¡¯s eyes were completely calm, so calm that it made others feel waves of chill sweep through their bodies. ¡°I underestimated you previously and did not pay you much attention because I thought you were just a small fry. This was my mistake and I¡¯ve paid quite a painful price for it.¡± Yuan Quan sighed and gently patted his golden armor, releasing a clink sound. ¡°Fortunately, I still have a chance to make up for it.¡± Yuan Quan grasped the great golden halberd beside him as he slowly rose to his feet. When he stood up, the entire desert seemed to turn dusky as an indescribable killing intent abruptly exploded. The wild and untamed winds froze under the killing intent as the temperature rapidly plummeted. Frost spread across the sand. Sand gathered behind Yuan Quan, slowly forming a sand statue. The statue¡¯s appearance was exactly the same as Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Yuan Quan seemed to mutter to himself in a voice filled with killing intent so chilling that it made one¡¯s scalp turn numb, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I said earlier that I will peel off you skin and place it on this statue to appease the departed souls of Chi Liu and the others. ¡°So¡­¡± He pointed the halberd at Zhou Yuan, ¡°Are you ready to be punished?¡± Not even the slightest trace of fear was visible on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. He merely turned his head and said to Ai Tuanzi, Su Youwei and the others, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the other scattered members of his team to you guys. ¡°As for him...Tuntun and I will handle it.¡± Tuntun growled atop his head, its pupils flickering with black light as it prepared to face this formidable foe. ¡°Be careful.¡± There was worry in the eyes of Ai Tuanzi and the others but all they could do was leave him these words of caution. Besides Zhou Yuan and Tuntun, no one else could possibly hope to threaten Yuan Quan. Moreover, even the duo did not favor their odds. After all, all of them clearly understood that Yuan Quan was far more powerful than Chi Liu. If even Zhou Yuan and Tuntun could do nothing against Yuan Quan, the only fate that awaited them today would be death. Zhou Yuan walked forward in the air, arriving above the desert after several steps. He was now a thousand feet from Yuan Quan. Roar! Tuntun leaped off his head as it rapidly grew, turning into a giant purple-gold beast. Yuan Quan stared at the man and beast as he indifferently said, ¡°Nascent Source Genesis Qi, initial Allroamer stage Spirit. It is hard to believe you managed to defeat Chi Liu and the others with such power. No wonder my Sacred Race heaven prides were subdued in the battle for Guyuan Heaven. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that your miraculous journey will end today.¡± As the final word rang out, endless Genesis Qi abruptly erupted from his body. A Genesis Qi pressure enveloped the area, the entire desert seemingly shaking under its might. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly. His senses told him that Yuan Quan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundations had surpassed 800 billion! This was on a completely different scale than Chi Liu. What a terrifying foundation! Genesis Qi surged behind Yuan Quan like a sea. He pointed his great halberd at Zhou Yuan as a sinister and cruel smile grew from the corners of his mouth. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I am interested to see how you will overcome the cultivation difference to fight me today!¡± Chapter 1328 Tough Battle Against Yuan Quan Yuan Quan stood atop a sand dune as berserk and alarming Genesis Qi pressure swept forth, nearly enveloping the entire land. The revelation of his 800 billion Genesis Qi foundation made Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids twitch faintly. An opponent of this level was definitely fearsome. Roar! Tuntun roared as the scales on its enormous body flickered with golden light. An Alpha sacred beast¡¯s pressure erupted at full force, fighting back against the terrifying Genesis Qi pressure. Tuntun had recently advanced to the grade-8 level and was strictly speaking a first stage Law Domain expert equivalent. However, a sacred beast was an extraordinary existence and it was unafraid to face even a second stage Law Domain expert. However, Yuan Quan was a third stage Law Domain expert! In fact, he was an elite even among the third stage. Hence, even an existence like Tuntun was greatly pressured by this opponent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure landed on a sand dune. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared and he immediately activated Genesis Spirit. Genesis Qi and Spirit power instantly weaved together, forming an even greater power that filled his body. The Earth Saint Rune also activated. The desert shook as a heavy power surged out from the bowels of the earth, pouring into the Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. As Zhou Yuan activated his numerous techniques, the Genesis Qi pressure he gave off climbed steadily. However, Yuan Quan remained indifferent in the face of Zhou Yuan multiple transformations, not appearing very surprised. He merely nodded and nonchalantly said, ¡°Not bad, no wonder Chi Liu lost. ¡°But if this is all, I¡¯ll be taking your skin today!¡± His figure disappeared as the final word sounded. Roar! Tuntun released a mighty roar as its enormous body leaped forward. Space shattered, black light flickering on its giant claws tore as they towards a certain spot. As the claws descended, space rippled and golden light exploded. A great golden halberd roared like that golden dragon, filled with boundless power as it smashed into the giant claws. Clang! The sound of metal striking metal rang out as space shattered layer by layer. The golden halberd was completely unfazed while Tuntun¡¯s giant body was blown back. The golden scales on its paw shattered, sending a spray of blood into the air. The pain from its paw made Tuntun roar in anger as a savage light filled its eyes. ¡°Sacred beast, you¡¯re merely a brute.¡± Yuan Quan stepped out from space and mockingly glanced at the roaring Tuntun. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t even think about running after I peel off Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin. I¡¯ll be enjoying your flesh as well.¡± Bzz! Space suddenly shattered behind Yuan Quan as a sharp brush tip thrust out. Powered by a mighty force, it created countless afterimages that shot straight towards Yuan Quan¡¯s vitals. Yuan Quan softly chuckled as he jerked his halberd. Like a golden dragon emerging from the sea, a streak of gold smashed apart the countless afterimages, before precisely striking one of the black brush tips. A loud clang sounded as sparks flew. The golden halberd pushed through, blowing away the black brush tip. However, the countless black brush hairs scattered, turning into millions of glowing black needles that shot towards Yuan Quan once more. ¡°Pathetic little tricks.¡± Yuan Quan stomped his foot, shattering space as a terrifying power spurted out and instantly evaporated the black needles. ¡°Mountain Splitting Golden Chop!¡± After easily neutralizing the attack, Yuan Quan spun his body as he swung the halberd. An arc of golden light furiously slashed down onto Zhou Yuan at an unimaginable speed. A deep, several thousand-mile-long crevice had already appeared in the sand below before the slash landed. All of Zhou Yuan¡¯s hairs stood on ends. Yuan Quan¡¯s seemingly casual slash was more terrifying than Chi Liu¡¯s full-power attack, and he had a strong feeling that this slash could seriously injure him. ¡°Great Flame Devil.¡± Zhou Yuan did not dare to tarry. With a roar, his body abruptly swelled. A wave of heat unfurled as he turned into his flame devil form. ¡°Million Whale!¡± Zhou Yuan swung the Heavenly Yuan Brush with all of his might. Countless enormous giant whale phantasms appeared behind him, charging forward along with the brush. Clang! An earth-shaking noise sounded, followed by a terrifying wind storm. Sand filled the sky as the surrounding giant dunes were flattened. Thud! Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was sent shooting backwards, creating a sonic boom as he hurtled through the air. The skin between his thumb and index finger was torn, causing blood to gush out. His body crashed into the sand with a loud boom, creating a deep pit that was a hundred miles wide. Yuan Quan clearly had the absolute upper hand in their first clash. He gazed at the pit as the mockery in his eyes intensified. Rumble! Space suddenly shattered as a giant shadow darted out with a deafening roar. Encased in devouring power, Tuntun¡¯s sharp claws slashed at Yuan Quan¡¯s back. However, Yuan Quan¡¯s figure slowly faded when the claws slashed past. It was evidently an afterimage. Alarm flashed in Tuntun¡¯s eyes and it released a low roar. It had sensed Yuan Quan zipping towards Zhou Yuan like a lightning bolt, evidently planning on finishing him off first. Yuan Quan was far too quick, arriving at the giant pit in the blink of an eye. A golden halberd pointed down at Zhou Yuan as Yuan Quan smiled faintly. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where you found the courage to come and seek me out.¡± Genesis Runes suddenly emerged from the pit, pulsing with terrifying Genesis Qi undulations. Yuan Quan raised his brow. ¡°Oh? You set up layers of Genesis Runes traps? ¡°Merely a mantis trying to stop a cart.¡± The mockery in his eyes grew even greater. In the next instant, the fusion of extreme heat and cold abruptly erupted from his body. Boom! The power swept across the pit, widening it into something akin to a bottomless trench in the deep sea. The Genesis Rune traps were blown away like leaves and completely destroyed. In the battle with Chi Liu, Zhou Yuan had managed to catch Chi Liu off guard with his Genesis Rune traps and seriously injure him. However, the same traps were easily swept away by Yuan Quan. From this, one could see how huge of a difference there was between these two individuals. Chilling murder flashed in Yuan Quan¡¯s eyes. He gave Zhou Yuan no time to respond as his golden halberd shot through the air, golden light roaring as it pierced Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like a lightning bolt, punning him to the bottom of the pit. The entire desert seemed to shake for a moment. ¡°I thought you would be able to entertain me a little¡­¡± Yuan Quan expressionlessly gazed at the figure that had been pierced by the golden halberd and shook his head in disappointment. ¡°Never mind, at least dealing with you earlier will save me some time.¡± He reached out to retrieve the halberd. However, his pupils suddenly shrank slightly because the impaled body¡¯s skin had begun to turn silver. The silver Zhou Yuan raised its hand as rainbow light flickered in its sleeves. The cry of a sword loudly rang out, accompanied by rainbow sword light. Omm! The horizon was dyed rainbow in an instant as a sharp aura dashed into the heavens, slicing apart the clouds in the sky. At the same time, a low voice sounded, ¡°Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light, Nine Sword Return.¡± Rainbow sword light pierced through the air, heading straight for Yuan Quan. There were nine swords in total! The swords¡¯ howls filled the sky like booming thunder. Chapter 1329 Saint Candle Law Domain Omm! The howling of swords filled the land as nine rainbow light swords soared into the sky, the instantaneous explosion of aura seemingly capable of cutting the heavens. This was naturally Zhou Yuan¡¯s Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light! In the past, he had been unable to summon the full nine sword line-up at once, and thus unable to bring out the technique¡¯s maximum power. After the past two years of closed cultivation, however, the Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Light was finally able to display its magnificence. Nine rainbow sword lights whizzed through the air, gradually fusing together into what seemed to be a rainbow crystal sword. The rainbow crystal sword shot forth at a mind boggling speed, pulsing with an unimaginable aura of sharpness. Before anyone could take a single breath, the sword light had already appeared in front of Yuan Quan, thrusting towards him with unmatched ferocity. Yuan Quan¡¯s eyes narrow slightly at ths sudden counterattack. The sharpness that assaulted his face caused a little surprise to appear in his eyes for the very first time. This Genesis art¡¯s power was not bad, but what stood out the most was it''s astonishing indestructible sharpness. Yuan Quan¡¯s eyes rapidly flicked in thought and slammed his armored hands together. Vast Genesis Qi unfurled, the power sufficient to flatten a ten-thousand-mile long mountain range. The rainbow crystal sword was caught between the armored hands like two converging stars. The two forces frantically clashed. The rainbow crystal sword slowly pushed forward, its sharp tip cutting even space itself as it tried to escape from Yuan Quan¡¯s hands and penetrate his body. However, it underestimated his terrifying Genesis Qi foundation. The deadlock lasted for a dozen breaths. Just as the sword was about to finally come into contact with Yuan Quan¡¯s golden armor, a faint crack appeared on it. Yuan Quan exerted an even greater force, crushing the rainbow crystal sword that was the culmination of Zhou Yuan¡¯s full power. ¡°This Genesis art is not bad and has its merits. ¡°However, is this all you¡¯ve come up with? It¡¯s honestly somewhat disappointing.¡± Yuan Quan watched the rainbow sword scatter into specks of light between his palms as he chuckled. Just as he finished speaking, however, space quietly shattered open behind him as a streak of rainbow abruptly shot out, heading straight for him at an astonishing speed! It was another rainbow crystal sword! The attack was far too sudden and even Yuan Quan could not react in time. The rainbow crystal sword slashed at this armor with unbelievable sharpness! Clang! A loud clang erupted as the nearby space was torn to shreds by the sharp sword qi. Yuan Quan¡¯s expression darkened as he punched. Vast Genesis Qi surged as the horizon seemed to darken and the second rainbow crystal sword was smashed to pieces by his punch. He turned his head and stared at a certain spot where space rippled as a figure emerged. It was Zhou Yuan. Yuan Quan glanced at the ¡®Zhou Yuan¡¯, who had been pinned to the bottom of the pit, only to see that it had already turned into a silver puppet. Evidently, Zhou Yuan had used the puppet to draw his attention while he took the chance to hide and wait for an opportunity to deal a sneaky blow. Intense murder rose in Yuan Quan¡¯s eyes. After receiving a slash from the rainbow crystal sword, cracks had appeared on his golden armor. The cracks rapidly spread before the armor shattered, turning into countless specks of light that filled the sky. It was quite a gorgeous sight. Yuan Quan stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s true body and said, ¡°To think that you managed to break my Thousand Scale Golden Armor Art...I¡¯ve truly underestimated the power of a mouse.¡± Zhou Yuan ignored the hair-raising killing intent in Yuan Quan¡¯s eyes as he chuckled and said, ¡°Even a rabbit will bite back when cornered, right?¡± However, his heart sank. The earlier ambush was intended to injure Yuan Quan, but he had underestimated the latter. Even all nine sky severing sword lights had only managed to break Yuan Quan¡¯s armor. Yuan Quan shook his head. ¡°You should know what happens to the rabbit after it bites, right?¡± The smile on his lips gradually grew sinister. Yuan Quan grasped his hand and the great golden halberd returned to him before he stomped his foot. A terrifying wave of Genesis Qi unfurled as Yuan Quan¡¯s cold voice rang out, ¡°Sacred Candle Law Domain!¡± Rumble! An ash gray Law Domain rapidly expanded from Yuan Quan, enveloping the surrounding area. Zhou Yuan and Tuntun were pushed out of the Law Domain. A dreadful pressure oozed from it, causing a grave look to arise in their eyes. Ash gray light rose in the Law Domain as an enormous ash gray candle formed. White flames leaped from the candle¡¯s tip, causing Zhou Yuan to feel a stabbing pain in his Spirit, evidently sensing extreme danger. Wax dripped from the enormous ash gray candle, turning into an ash gray sea. Zhou Yuan stared at the candle wax sea. He could just barely make out several figures in its depths. ¡°An Allroamer stage Spirit senses are quite sharp.¡± Yuan Quan laughed. Soon after, he raised his hand and towering waves rose from the ocean. Only then could Tuntun and Zhou Yuan finally see the seemingly human and beast-like figures at the bottom of the sea. The figures were encased in a thick layer of wax with empty holes for eyes. ¡°This is my Sacred Candle Law Domain¡¯s power. Anyone whose sealed inside will become wax puppets that I wield life and death over.¡± Yuan Quan feverishly gazed at his wax puppets. ¡°These are the battle trophies I¡¯ve collected. What do you think? They¡¯re very beautiful, right?¡± His eyes shifted towards Zhou Yuan and Tuntun as his smile grew even more chilling. ¡°After today, you guys will also become a member of my collection...don¡¯t you think that is something to look forward to?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was a little ugly. He would rather be dead than made into a wax figure. Tuntun also released a low roar as it glanced at Zhou Yuan as if asking: what should we do? Zhou Yuan frowned deeply. Even he felt very troubled by such a strong enemy. It was not going to be easy to win this battle. While man and beast were searching for a chance at victory, Yuan Quan revealed a mocking look and waved his sleeve. The countless wax figures in the wax sea suddenly began to move, forming a great wax army that began charging towards Zhou Yuan with torrential Genesis Qi. It was a magnificent scene. However, it only made Tuntun¡¯s and Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp turn numb. This Yuan Quan was really a freakishly tough opponent! Chapter 1330 A Way Out Countless man and beast-like wax figures flooded out from the bottom of the wax sea, powerful Genesis Qi undulations pulsing from their bodies. Although the undulations were not as strong as when they were alive, the army could not be underestimated. The great wax army charged forth as killing intent swept through the air, threatening to engulf Zhou Yuan and Tuntun. Zhou Yuan and Tuntun did not dare to tarry in the face of such a giant force. They immediately circulated their Genesis Qi and prepared to meet their opponents. Countless hairs shot out from the Heavenly Yuan Brush, leaping towards the great wax army like chains. The brush hair chains swept through the army like a giant windmill, chopping numerous wax figures to pieces. Erode. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan shook the Heavenly Yuan Brush, dispersing innumerable invisible brush hairs. The hairs drifted into the numerous surrounding wax bodies and absorbed their Genesis Qi before returning to the Heavenly Yuan Brush like birds to the forest, feeding back the Genesis Qi into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. This allowed Zhou Yuan to maintain a full supply of Genesis Qi. ¡°Silver Shadow!¡± However, this was clearly not enough. With another thought from Zhou Yuan, the silver figure that had been pinned to the ground by Yuan Quan previously leaped out. Silver liquid squirmed on its body, repairing its wounds as it charged into the wax army. Roar! Tuntun released a thunderous roar as its giant claws danced in the air, shredding countless wax figures to ribbons. Man, beast and puppet wreaked havoc in the great puppet army, seemingly immovable like mountains. Yuan Quan stood in the air, an amused smile hanging from the corners of his mouth as he watched. ¡°Once you¡¯ve fallen into my Sacred Candle Law Domain, don¡¯t even think about leaving.¡± Boom! Boom! As the intense battle continued, Zhou Yuan gradually began to feel that something was wrong. Their numbers never seemed to decrease no matter how many he destroyed. His Spirit senses immediately swept out and found that the smashed wax figures would soon rise from the bottom of the wax sea once more. They were basically endless, making it impossible to wipe them all out no matter how many were destroyed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows knitted together as he looked towards Tuntun. In that moment, he faintly sensed some kind of peculiar undulation from its body. However, the undulation was far too indistinct and difficult to detect with the naked eye. Due to his cautiousness, he did not cast aside this seemingly insignificant discovery. Instead, the Decoder Saint Rune soon began to rotate in his pupils. The scenery immediately began to change and he finally discovered the origin of the indistinct undulations from Tuntun¡¯s body. They were ash gray specks similar to the wax on the wax figures. The wax entered the body and slowly accumulated as more and more wax figures were destroyed. When the wax accumulated to a certain point, it would smother all other auras, ultimately transforming the target into one of the wax figures. A chill rose in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Only now did he realize the most problematic aspect of the wax figures. If they destroyed too many, they would slowly be infected and turned into wax puppets. Zhou Yuan hurriedly looked down at his own body. Sure enough, he found several ash gray specks. These spacks were near impossible to detect and were not removed when they circulated their Genesis Qi. If not for the Decoder Saint Rune, he would not have discovered their existence until it was far too late. No wonder Yuan Quan was just watching them destroy his wax army without bothering to interfere. It turns out that they were digging their own graves. Zhou Yuan sucked in a deep breath and sent a transmission to Tuntun to inform it of his discovery. Tuntun¡¯s body immediately turned rigid. Its eyes changed somewhat as it released a deep growl. ¡°We can¡¯t keep doing this. We need to think of some way to break us out of this situation or we¡¯ll be dying here today.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. As expected, a third stage Law Domain expert was a tough foe. He had originally believed he and Tuntun together might be able to put up a good fight, but they had been completely suppressed from start to end. The cultivation gap between the two parties was just too great. Both he and Tuntun were first stage Law Domain experts and though they could go toe to toe with second stage Law Domain experts, it was very difficult for them to defeat a third stage expert through ordinary means. The Nascent Source stage is ultimately not enough However, Zhou Yuan was also helpless about this predicament. Although his Nascent Source was 9.7 inches, he was still only a Nascent Source expert. If he could ascend to the Law Domain stage, he was confident in taking Yuan Quan¡¯s head. It was honestly not hard for him to reach the Law Domain stage and he had already sensed it long ago. However, Yaoyao had warned him that he should not attempt to establish a Law Domain before his Nascent Source surpassed its limit. Although it was baffling, Zhou Yuan trusted Yaoyao and had been working hard towards this goal all along. He knew that there must be an extremely important reason for her to request this of him. He still clearly remembered how serious she was when she mentioned it. If a cultivation breakthrough is not an option, I¡¯ll have to think of something else... Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned deep as the night. It was delusional to think any ordinary method would work in this situation. After all, he and Silver Shadow simultaneously unleashing nine Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Lights had only managed to break the opponent¡¯s armor. In addition, Yuan Quan had already experienced it and such a sneaky attack would likely not work a second time. Zhou Yuan transmitted, Tuntun, our dynamic duo will be turned into wax statues if this continues. I have a trump card, but it can only be used once, so if he doesn¡¯t die, we¡¯ll be the ones to perish. Do you dare to gamble on it? Tuntun roared angrily. It opened its large mouth at Zhou Yuan, black light flickering within. Who''s a dynamic duo with you?! This bastard Zhou Yuan was still trying to take advantage of it at such a time. However, Tuntun¡¯s roar also informed him of its choice. It would not idly sit by and wait for death. Zhou Yuan frowned and voiced his concerns, But I need a place where I won¡¯t be disturbed. This trump card¡¯s preparation time is a little long and Yuan Quan has been keeping a close watch on us. If he realizes something, he might move to disrupt me. Tuntun¡¯s eyes flickered in thought. In the next instant, it appeared beside Zhou Yuan and abruptly opened its giant black-hole like mouth. Black light flashed as the dazed Zhou Yuan was swallowed. Prepare it in my stomach. In the air, Yuan Quan¡¯s brows raised slightly as he nonchalantly remarked, ¡°Silly tricks.¡± Although he did not know what Zhou Yuan and Tuntun were up to, he did not care. The wax poison was already spreading and it would not be long before the sacred beast was turned into his puppet. There was no way for Zhou Yuan to escape either. After being swallowed by Tuntun, Zhou Yuan found himself in a domain of darkness. It seemed as if no senses could reach into this area. ¡°Is this Tuntun¡¯s stomach?¡± Zhou Yuan was somewhat stunned. No wonder it seemed impossible to satisfy Tuntun. Its stomach was a domain of its own. However, he did not dwell much on this topic. Since no senses could reach into this domain, Yuan Quan should not be able to find out what he was doing. They did not have much time left. More and more ash gray specks were covering Tuntun¡¯s body and it would soon be too late for them to do anything. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and saw down as his expression gradually turned serious. He had only joked around with Tuntun earlier to console it and he clearly understood how dire the situation was. There was only one chance to counterattack and they were dead if it failed. Light suddenly emerged from Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm, giving off a faint rainbow glow. After several breaths, a seemingly corporeal rainbow glass gourd appeared. Chapter 1331 The Great Sun Slayer Shuttle The rainbow gourd that seemed to be cast from glass was quietly sitting in Zhou Yuan¡¯s palm while releasing mysterious waves of energy. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression rippled as he gazed at the rainbow gourd in his palm. The gourd was created from the seven Cangxuan arts, and the Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Lights were formed from that gourd. Ever since the gourd silhouette took shape, Zhou Yuan had always had a feeling that he hadn¡¯t discovered the seven Cangxuan arts¡¯ true form. But he couldn¡¯t investigate further because one of the requirements to materialize the gourd silhouette was to first cultivate the Rainbow Sky Severing Sword Lights to great heights. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t achieve this in the past, but now that he could simultaneously summon nine rainbow swords, he finally met the requirement. He distinctly sensed the changes within the gourd when he slashed out the nine swords. At the same time, many information that were previously hidden and blocked began to emerge in his mind. As Zhou Yuan took in the new pieces of information in his mind, emotions rippled across his face, and he muttered, ¡°This is the seven Cangxuan arts¡¯ final form? Old ancestor Cang Xuan really concealed it deeply¡­¡± According to the information he had received, to activate the Rainbow Sky Severing Gourd required assistance, and that assistance was completely unexpected to Zhou Yuan. It was the four Saint Runes! Correct, it was the four Saint Rune from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. The Decoder, Earth Saint, Heavenly Punishment, and the Mysterious King Saint Runes. Zhou Yuan had never thought the four Saint Runes would be linked to the seven Cangxuan arts¡¯ final form. But it made sense. Old ancestor Cangxuan had once controlled the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and he was also the one who created the seven Cangxuan arts. It was impossible that the two had no connection with each other. Zhou Yuan previously thought that the genesis art left behind was too simple given that old ancestor Cangxuan was a Saint. He realized that he had indeed underestimated old ancestor Cangxuan. With one thought, Zhou Yuan brought four rays of light shooting out from the top of his head. They hovered in the air, emitting mysterious powers and causing the darkness to flicker. It was the four Saint Runes in his body! Zhou Yuan stared unwaveringly at the four Saint Runes. Tuntun was exhausting himself outside and so Zhou Yuan must be as quick as possible. Otherwise the consequences would be serious once the white patches corroded Tuntun. Hu. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath and flicked his fingers. The four Saint Runes simultaneously darted into the rainbow glass gourd. Boom! The gourd grew increasingly stunning as the four Saint Runes drilled into it. Lights rippled inside and ancient runes constantly surfaced on the gourd. At the same time, the gourd violently vibrated and a terrifying power was rapidly developing inside. But in less than ten breaths, the light gradually dimmed. ¡°There¡¯s not enough Genesis Qi.¡± Zhou Yuan identified the problem in one glance. With one thought, his Nascent Source appeared on his head, opening its little mouth wide. It exhaled a stream of smoke-like Genesis Qi into the gourd. Within that platinum Genesis Qi seemed to be countless tiny crystal dusts, but those wisps unexpectedly transformed Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation. Zhou Yuan also rapidly paled as his Nascent Source spewed out Genesis Qi essence. The Genesis Qi consumption was far greater than it was during his fierce battle against Yuan Quan. The dull rainbow gourd was shining once again after the addition of such a vast amount of pure Genesis Qi, and stars emerged on the gourd as if creating an unfathomable starry sky. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s complexion grew increasingly worse because the rainbow glass gourd required too much Genesis Qi. He had already poured 70% of his Genesis Qi foundation into the gourd but it still showed no sign of stopping absorption any time soon. He would be drained if this continued. A light flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes and he immediately said, ¡°Tuntun, swallow Silver Shadow.¡± As his voice faded, the dark space flickered and a beam of silver light descended. It was Silver Shadow. With one thought, Zhou Yuan manipulated the Genesis Qi within Silver Shadow to pour into the rainbow gourd. As its Genesis Qi was completely drawn out, Silver Shadow could no longer maintain its puppet form. Its body melted into a silver sphere and its surface dulled. Zhou Yuan flung his sleeve and put away the silver sphere, his heart aching. There no doubt would be significant damage to Silver Shadow as a result of depleting its Genesis Qi and it would take a good while to replenish it. However, the situation was urgent and he had no other choice. Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t an indecisive person and so he quickly made a decision. After Zhou Yuan fully extracted the Genesis Qi within Silver Shadow, the rainbow glass gourd no longer released craving intent. Lights constantly accumulated on the gourd¡¯s surface, and Zhou Yuan saw a tremendous sun slowly rising in the starry sky when he peered in the gourd¡¯s mouth. The glaring sun seemed capable of burning Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, and the waves of energy it released astonished Zhou Yuan. ¡°This Genesis art could be ranked next to super Saint Genesis Arts¡­¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. Among all Zhou Yuan¡¯s trump cards, only his ¡°Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens¡± Art could be compared with it. They both were extremely difficult to use. Zhou Yuan opened his hand and solemnly lifted up the rainbow glass gourd. This was the ultimate killing move he had prepared with all his strength and it would decide the outcome of the battle. ... Roar! Tuntun¡¯s roar echoed like rumbling thunder in the grey Law Domain. Wax figures charged over in endless waves and Tuntun swept away one batch after another. But as the battle continued, Tuntun felt his body becoming heavier, as if he was carrying a giant mountain and couldn¡¯t budge. If he had the Decoder Saint Rune, he would see that his body was already covered in white patches. Yuan Quan¡¯s lips curled as he watched. The wax poison had already completely drowned Tuntun¡¯s body and Tuntun would soon lose consciousness. At that time, Tuntun¡¯s Alpha Holy Beast body would become his puppet. ¡°An Alpha Holy Beast is still just a beast.¡± Yuan Quan chuckled, contempt in his eyes. "Don''t blame me. If you want someone to blame then blame Zhou Yuan for being so arrogant. He was given a chance to flee but he didn¡¯t take it and chose to come to the core area. ¡°Spit that guy out now. Does he think he can avoid the ending by hiding like a turtle? Since he dared to provoke me, he should know to pay the appropriate price.¡± As his voice rang in Tuntun¡¯s ears, Tuntun unleashed a fierce roar and glowered at Yuan Quan. ¡°Stupid beast.¡± Shaking his head, Yuan Quan flicked his sleeve. The wax figure army charged straight towards Tuntun with monstrous murderous intent. Tuntun let out a fierce roar. Even if his body felt as heavy as a mountain, he had no intention of retreating. He stared at the wax figure army charging towards him as though to meet them head-on. It was then that a voice rang inside him. ¡°Okay.¡± Tuntun hesitated when he heard that word but he eventually opened his mouth wide. The black light around his mouth transformed into a vortex and a shadow suddenly sped out. ¡°Turtle, you finally came out?¡± Yuan Quan snorted. The shadow turned into Zhou Yuan''s figure in midair and he locked his eyes on Yuan Quan, who was above. Indifferently, he lifted his hand into the air and the rainbow gourd in his palm bloomed strange lights. Yuan Quan narrowed his eyes and withdrew his smile. He felt a heart-palpitating aura from the gourd. However, before he could analyze it more carefully, Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath and placed one hand on his chest and lifted the other. The rainbow glass gourd slowly floated up as mysterious light gently whirled at its mouth. A crimson shuttle silhouette of around 3 inches was taking shape. The void that Zhou Yuan was situated in started to crack. An indescribable force was gradually being released. Yuan Quan¡¯s expression abruptly changed and he felt violent waves surging in his heart. He sensed deadly danger from the shuttle silhouette in the gourd¡¯s mouth. It was then when Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice that was filled with killing intent rang out. ¡°This is called the Rainbow Saint Slayer Gourd¡­the Great Sun Slayer Shuttle. ¡°I have to ask you ¡­ to leave your life here.¡± Chapter 1332 Crimson Shuttle Shows its Divine Power As Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice sounded, rays of light flowed around the gourd¡¯s mouth and the crimson shuttle silhouette that was releasing endless heat began to move. It locked on in Yuan Quan¡¯s direction before disappearing with a flash. Yuan Quan¡¯s hair stood on end as he felt an indescribable terrifying aura enveloped his heart. As one of the top third Law Domain stage experts in the Sacred Race, Yuan Quan naturally wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden counterattack terrified him, he knew that it was Zhou Yuan¡¯s final counterattack. In other words, he could kill Zhou Yuan and Tuntun if he withstood the counterattack. Therefore, Yuan Quan brought out his strongest means without any hesitation. ¡°Law Domain treasure, the Sacred Divine Candle Armor!¡± As Yuan Quan bellowed, the Law Domain frantically vibrated and the sacred candles in the Law Domain¡¯s center blazed fiercely. Streams of golden liquid flowed out from its depths and formed a golden armor around Yuan Quan. Behind the armor, there was a grey cloak billowing in the wind. As the armor covered his body, his imposing bearing and power steadily soared, causing the surrounding space to shatter. His terrifying aura made people dare not to approach as if he was a god of war. While Yuan Quan was summoning an armor to protect his body, the space in front of him suddenly crumbled and a crimson shuttle silhouette cut across the air. At that moment, it was as though a tremendous sun descended and brought endless destructive heat with it. The heat instantly set the surrounding universe Genesis Qi aflame. Even if Yuan Quan was protected by a Law Domain treasure, he still felt piercing pain from the intense heat. He speculated the treasure was a super Saint Genesis Art, but he couldn¡¯t understand how Zhou Yuan could possess a Genesis Art of such a level?! Such a Genesis Art could be ranked at the top even in the Sacred Race. However, the conditions required to cultivate such a Genesis Art was extremely difficult, and one might not succeed in mastering it even if one was lucky enough to obtain it. Even among the top Law Domain experts in the Sacred Race, only very few could cultivate a Saint Genesis Art of that level! And Yuan Quan wasn¡¯t on that list! This was why he was so stunned to see Zhou Yuan, who should only possess Nascent Source stage strength, display such a Saint Genesis Art. Of course, he didn''t know that Zhou Yuan was only able to use such a move, which was comparable to a super Saint Genesis Art, because of the four Saint Runes. However, to do so, Zhou Yuan had to pay the price of Silver Shadow¡¯s foundation source. The crimson shuttle silhouette broke through space, bringing intense heat as well as a chilling aura of death. The shuttle silhouette whizzed across the air, as if it could teleport through space. At the tip of the shuttle was a very familiar wave of energy. It belonged to the Decoder Saint Rune that could see through millions of flaws. At the blade of the shuttle was the Earth Saint Rune circling around, bringing endless sharp and indestructible force. At the handle of the shuttle was the Heavenly Punishment Saint Rune and the accumulation of Heavenly Punishment power. And in the crimson shuttle¡¯s depths was the Mysterious King Saint Rune controlling the four rune¡¯s power. That little 3 inch body was born from mysterious powers. The 3 inch crimson shuttle was clearly reflected in Yuan Quan¡¯s eyes, but the shuttle was so fast that even he could only feel a streak of light flashed past before a tremendous sun came speeding towards him. Scorching heat and destruction also descended at the same time. The collision happened silently without any earth-shaking movements. Even Zhou Yuan could only see a stream of crimson light flash passed. Then, the Law Domain stilled and quieted, and even the wind seemed to subside. Clad in battle armor, Yuan Quan was still hovering in the air, calm and unflustered like a mountain. Ashen-faced, Zhou Yuan stared intently at that figure with a trace of nervousness. Tuntun, who was beside him, let out a growl and passed a message to him, ¡°Is your showy move a fake? If it is, shouldn¡¯t we take the chance to escape now?¡± Zhou Yuan said irately, ¡°You¡¯re a fake.¡± His Great Sun Slayer Shuttle had accumulated the power of the four Saint Runes and he even had to sacrifice Silver Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi source to activate it. He could be said to have depleted himself to summon it. If he couldn¡¯t get rid of a third Law Domain stage expert, it wouldn¡¯t bode well for him. While the two were muttering, Yuan Quan¡¯s expression rippled and a faint mark emerged on his armor. Yuan Quan''s pupils shrank and he reluctantly looked down. Then, he saw a clean cut on his chest splitting his armor apart, completely shocking him. The mark was like that left from a red-hot blade cutting across grease. The crack rapidly spread across the chest of the armor. Then, he felt the world rotating. This was because his upper body was slowly collapsing. Zhou Yuan and Tuntun watched a clean cut split Yuan Quan¡¯s body into two and his upper body slid down. A crack also appeared on the grey Law Domain and similarly split the Law Domain where it passed. That feeling was as though an indestructible sharp object had cut through everything it passed. ¡°How is that possible¡­¡± The upper half of Yuan Quan''s body slid down while his face was filled with utter disbelief. He never thought the Sacred Candle Armor he was incredibly proud of would fail to withstand a 3-inch crimson shuttle. Although it might be a super Saint Genesis Art, the person who activated it was only at the Nascent Source stage. In his opinion, he had an absolute advantage in the battle from beginning to end and Zhou Yuan and Tuntun were just preys he could easily slaughter with the turn of his hand. But who would have thought that Zhou Yuan would erupt with tremendous strength and reverse the tide in such an unbelievable way. ¡°I can¡¯t accept it¡­I want a rematch!¡± Yuan Quan screamed. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn¡¯t have planned to turn them into wax figures and would have killed them right away with the most powerful move. Then Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t have the chance to perform that killing move, which required a long time to prepare! Yuan Quan finally felt what regret is! As Yuan Quan¡¯s scream echoed, his two body parts started to melt from the destructive heat released from the crimson shuttle as it passed his body. Even the vitality within Yuan Quan¡¯s body vaporized. In just a few breaths, even the grey Law Domain connected to his body was melting and turned into streaks of smoke and vanished from the world. Tuntun¡¯s mouth fell open as he watched. He couldn¡¯t understand the sudden change. ¡°He¡¯s killed like that?¡± Tuntun blankly stared at Zhou Yuan. Only the person that the crimson shuttled locked onto would feel the terror it contained. This was why Tuntun was still unaware how powerful the crimson shuttle was. He just felt the situation had changed too fast and almost couldn¡¯t accept it. Zhou Yuan similarly stared dumbfounded at the fading Law Domain. He waved his hand and four rays of light returned to the space between his brows. They were the four Saint Runes. Compared to Tuntun, who was still in disbelief, Zhou Yuan more easily accepted the result. Although Yuan Quan was strong, the four Saint Runes¡¯ power shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. However, Zhou Yuan could feel the sacred light of the four Saint Runes had dimmed when they returned. It was obvious that the four Saint Runes had sustained some damage. Zhou Yuan would find it even more unbelievable if he couldn¡¯t get rid of Yuan Quan after paying such a huge price. After all, although Yuan Quan was strong, according to the information he had received, Yuan Quan was only ranked tenth and there were still many third Law Domain stage experts who were more powerful than him. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath as he felt his Spirit had dulled and the Nascent Source in his Divine Dwellings weren¡¯t as dazzling as before. ¡°I leave you to finish everything else off¡­¡± Zhou Yuan said to Tuntun. He couldn¡¯t bear the exhaustion anymore and sat down cross-legged. He closed his eyes and inhaled the universe Genesis QI to recuperate. Tuntun knew that Zhou Yuan was close to collapsing, and so he spewed out a ray of black light to shroud him before speeding across the air. Now that Yuan Quan was dead, there was no longer any threat in the Sacred Race team and the battle zone would fall into their hands once they got rid of the remaining people. The two sides¡¯ strength wasn¡¯t on the same level from the start; however, the weak still defeated the strong and became victorious. Even the Saints of all-heavens wouldn¡¯t be able to pick out the thorns in that scene if they were present. Chapter 1333 Praise from All Saints When Yuan Quan died, the battle for anchor points in the 77th battle zone also came to an end. The battle outcome was undoubtedly unexpected to everyone. Who would have thought that golden armored Yuan Quan, who had a great reputation within the Sacred Race, would be defeated there¡­Given the overall strength of his team, he had a high chance of winning even if his team were to compete for the more popular battle zones. Unfortunately, they unexpectedly failed miserably. As Tuntun smashed out from the shattered Law Domain and delivered the news of Yuan Quan¡¯s death, all Sacred Race experts were horrified by the result and their morale instantly collapsed. They were left with no more fighting spirit. Thus, while Tuntun¡¯s roar echoed throughout the area, the Sacred Race team members began to flee. On the other hand, Ai Tuanzi, Wu Yao, Su Youwei and Zhao Mushen watched blankly. They previously were filled with worry when they were bitterly battling the opponents because they knew how strong Yuan Quan was. A third Law Domain stage expert was strong enough to suppress everyone present. They knew they would face a massacre if Zhou Yuan and Tuntun failed to defeat Yuan Quan. But who would have thought that, while they were overwhelmed with worry, Tuntun would bring such shocking news. ¡°Yuan Quan is killed¡­how is that possible¡­¡± Ai Tuanzi said dazedly, wiping the blood on her face. He is a top expert at the third Law Domain stage, while Zhou Yuan is only at the Nascent Source stage and Tuntun has just reached grade 8. Their strength shouldn¡¯t be on the same level. Even if Zhou Yuan had previously defeated cultivators at a higher level than him, who would dare think he could do the same with Yuan Quan? An expert of Yuan Quan¡¯s level wouldn¡¯t play a minor role even in the entire Sacred Race! ¡°Your Highness is invincible.¡± Su Youwei smiled sweetly, her fair and beautiful face glowing brightly. Although the others were still in disbelief, she easily accepted the result because she had always had utmost confidence in Zhou Yuan. Zhao Mushen extremely disliked Su Youwei blindly and brainlessly praising Zhou Yuan all the time so he reflexively wanted to refute, but when he thought of Yuan Quan, he couldn¡¯t spit out his words anymore. Zhao Mushen could also be considered a heaven pride and so he even more understood the challenge of defeating Yuan Quan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s accomplishment would no doubt cause an uproar when it spreads out. After all, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t kill a cat or dog but someone at the third Law Domain stage, the level closest to the Saint stage. ¡°That bastard is getting more and more abnormal,¡± Zhao Mushen could only snort coldly in the end. He remembered that Zhou Yuan had to exhaust his strength to defeat him at the nine regions tournament, but the gap between them was widening more and more. However, Zhao Mushen didn¡¯t feel despair or upset because of that. Instead, his eyes blazed and he said unwaveringly, ¡°I won¡¯t admit defeat. There are increasingly more conflicts between all-heavens and the Sacred Race and there will be huge opportunities born from that. If I, Zhao Mushen, could grasp those opportunities, I will certainly surpass Zhou Yuan and have hopes of reaching the Saint stage!¡± Wu Yao turned her head, peering in the direction that the Law Domain dissipated. They previously couldn¡¯t sense what sort of great battle broke out within the Law Domain but they could imagine how fierce the battle was. The most important part of the battle between the two teams was the one between Zhou Yuan and Yuan Quan. There would be fatal results regardless of who loses. Zhou Yuan understood the important responsibility he had and yet he still survived in the end. He had a tenacity unimaginable to ordinary people, and this tenacity was cultivated when Wu Yao¡¯s father took the Sacred Dragon Blessing from his body. ¡°Father, although you have done a lot of stupid things, you might have accidentally created a true sacred dragon...This is really ironic.¡± Complex emotions filled Wu Yao''s phoenix eyes as they drooped. ... Outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. The Saints of all-heavens were all silent, staring at the light screen in disbelief. The image on the light screen was precisely the scene when Zhao Yuan killed Yuan Quan. ¡°What a powerful crimson shuttle¡­¡± An admiring chuckle sounded, breaking the silence. All Saints turned to see prime sovereign Jin Luo nodding with a smile. ¡°I detected a familiar energy from that crimson shuttle. The shuttle should originate from Cangxuan Heaven. That person from Cangxuan Heaven¡­it¡¯s a pity¡­¡± Surprise crossed all Saints'' faces. Cangxuan Heaven was ranked at the bottom of all-heavens and was considered the weakest. Only very few Saints were born from Cangxuan Heaven. However, the most famous one was naturally old ancestor Cang Xuan. The many Saints present also admired and respected old ancestor Cang Xuan. Although Cangxuan Heaven had produced the least number of Saints, old ancestor Cang Xuan wasn¡¯t the only one. It was just that they all had no choice but to eventually leave Cangxuan Heaven. The Sacred Race had severely encroached on Cangxuan Heaven in the ancient times and that created many hidden problems not visible from the surface. Those problems had no influence on the Law Domain stage, but once one reached the Saint stage, one would be affected and their cultivation progress would slow down. The Saints in Cangxuan Heaven chose to leave Cangxuan Heaven in order not to be affected. But that led to the Sacred Race¡¯s encroachment on Cangxuan Heaven becoming more and more serious because there were no Saints keeping watch. In ancient times, the Sacred Race could even strike down lightning tribulation to destroy sects and factions that were disrespectful to them. The beings in Cangxuan Heaven were treated like dogs. The entire Cangxuan Heaven almost fell into the Sacred Race¡¯s control during that period and the other four heavens couldn¡¯t assist due to being suppressed by the Sacred Race. It was during that crisis when old ancestor Cang Xuan broke through to the Saint stage. He never thought of leaving Cangxuan Heaven and chose to stay in Cangxuan Heaven. He even received the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s approval and became the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. It was from then that Cangxuan Heaven escaped from the Sacred Race¡¯s control. However, old ancestor Cang Xuan also paid a price for that and in the end¡­perished. All Saints present wore solemn expressions because they greatly applauded old ancestor Cang Xuan¡¯s choice. Prime sovereign Jin Luo retracted his gaze from the young figure in the light screen and gave Cang Yuan a smile. ¡°Cang Yuan, your disciple might be the second Saint from Cangxuan Heaven after old ancestor Cang Xuan.¡± The other Saints couldn¡¯t help sighing emotionally. If Zhou Yuan really became a Saint, wouldn¡¯t there be three Saints in Cang Yuan¡¯s line? That had never happened before. Cang Yuan¡¯s wrinkled face lit up with a proud smile. He then glanced at Lu Liu, who was expressionless and had never glanced at the light screen where Zhou Yuan was. It was as though he was a blind man with his eyes open. Cang Yuan had no intention of letting him go easily and said indifferently, ¡°Saint Lu Liu, isn¡¯t Zhou Yuan¡¯s performance pleasing to the eye?¡± Lu Liu''s eyes twitched. How could he not hear what Cang Yuan meant from his words, but even prime sovereign Jin Luo complimented Zhou Yuan so even if he disagreed, there was nothing he could say. In the end he replied reluctantly, ¡°It¡¯s not bad, but that should be his limit.¡± Cang Yuan just smiled and didn¡¯t try to argue. But his attitude made Lu Liu even more irritated. Old fool, don¡¯t be so smug. It was so difficult for him to even defeat someone ranked tenth in the Law Domain stage. The final battle depends on Beiyan¡­ Chapter 1334 Core Anchor Point By the time Zhou Yuan opened his eyes and finally recuperated, three days had already passed. Sand drifted across his eyes and the huge pit left from the fierce battle was already filled by sand. It resembled a huge yellow lake from a distance. Zhou Yuan checked himself and found the Nascent Source in his Divine Dwellings was again surrounded by halos of divine light. He had restored what he had consumed. However, the Saint Rune Light Ball, which was made up from the four Saint Runes in his Divine Dwellings, was much dimmer than before. His Genesis Qi was easy to restore but the Saint Runes needed time to repair. Zhou Yuan sighed helplessly. There was nothing else he could do. It wasn¡¯t easy to kill a third Law Domain stage expert and it would have been impossible if he didn¡¯t pay such a price. ¡°I¡¯m still not strong enough,¡± murmured Zhou Yuan. Yuan Quan could at most be ranked tenth among the Law Domain experts who participated in the battle. There were much stronger enemies in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. If it was already so difficult for Zhou Yuan to kill Yuan Quan, he knew it would be extremely hard for him to compete against someone stronger than Yuan Quan. Ultimately, there was still a huge difference in strength between the Nascent Source stage and the Law Domain stage. Even if his Nascent Source was 9.7 inches, he was still at the Nascent Source stage. Even though his team had occupied the 77th battle zone, the battle wasn¡¯t over. According to the Saints¡¯ plan, the two sides would continue to advance until they reached the stone dragon¡¯s core position, which was the dragon head. The battles that erupt there would be the most important. The troops on both sides would eventually gather at the dragon head for the final battle. But Zhou Yuan felt his current strength would make it extremely dangerous and exhausting for him to participate in those fierce battles. He could encounter a Sacred Race expert stronger than Yuan Quan and be easily pushed into a dangerous state. ¡°Your highness, have you recovered?¡± While thoughts were streaming though Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, a sweet voice sounded next to him. Zhou Yuan turned his head to see Su Youwei¡¯s slim and beautiful figure. He nodded and swept his eyes across. He saw many people standing not too far away. It was his other team members. The team members¡¯ faces lit up when they saw Zhou Yuan awaken and their gazes were much more respectful than before. They were evidently astounded that Zhou Yuan killed Yuan Quan. ¡°How is the situation these days?¡± Zhou Yuan asked with a smile. ¡°Your Highness, during the three days you were recovering, we have occupied all the anchor points in this battle zone,¡± Su Youwei quickly replied. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°What about the core anchor point?¡± ¡°That hadn¡¯t been occupied yet, mainly because we are waiting for you to do it yourself. After all, that¡¯s your fruits of victory,¡± Su Youwei said with a smile. Zhou Yuan also smiled. He stood up to say something, but his expression suddenly changed and he took out a glowing jade stone. It formed a dragon silhouette in front of him. ¡°It''s a message from the saints of all-heavens.¡± Zhou Yuan raised his brows. The all-heavens Saints had been watching the situation outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. Although they couldn¡¯t enter, they were able to send messages in and let everyone know about the overall situation. Ai Tuanzi, Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and the others also gathered around. Everyone stared at the dragon silhouette formed from specks of light, watching the jade-green and crimson red colors inside constantly corroding each other. ¡°That¡¯s our 77th battle zone.¡± Wu Yao pointed to an area on the dragon silhouette. The anchor points in that area all turned green, indicating those anchor points had fallen into the all-heavens¡¯ hands. ¡°The all-heavens is still at a disadvantage.¡± Zhou Yuan said after staring at it for a moment. Judging from the situation on the dragon silhouette, scarlet light spots occupied more areas. Fortunately, the all-heavens gritted their teeth and the gap between the two sides weren¡¯t too huge. ¡°Victories are being decided in each battle zone and the people from both sides will soon start to gather at the dragon head¡­¡± Su Youwei softly said. Everyone''s gaze was fixed on the stone dragon¡¯s head. The number of light specks there was the greatest and each one was extremely dazzling, indicating that the quality of the anchor points was far stronger than those in other battle zones. The dragon head battle zone would determine the final outcome, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s team likely wouldn¡¯t be eligible to participate and could at most be spectators. Zhou Yuan gazed at the specks of light for a good while before he put away the jade stone and said calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t think about other things. First, let¡¯s occupy the core anchor point of this area.¡± With a slight movement, he transformed into a stream of light and sped away. He had already located the core anchor point in that area. As soon as he moved, the entire team followed after him. The team traveled into the desert¡¯s depths. The weather gradually started to change after around half an hour and a sea area came into sight, dotted with islands of varying sizes. Zhou Yuan scanned the area and eventually locked his eyes on one of them. With a flick of his sleeve, a beam of black light streaked across the sky with a loud rumble and landed in the island¡¯s center. Boom! As the Dragon Moving Nail was inserted into the area, the sea area violently quaked and thousand-feet waves raged across the sea. ¡°Huh?¡± Zhou Yuan found that as the waves swept across, wisps of mysterious qi were drilling out from the sea area, swimming in the air like fish. ¡°That''s...Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank. It was obvious that the Dragon Moving Nail broke the area¡¯s balance and brought out Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. The team also noticed wisps of mysteries qi wandering in the air and by the time they realized what they were, their breathing turned rapid and their eyes gleamed covetously. It was impossible to find a trace of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirit in the chaos void even after a month of searching but there were so many there. How could they remain calm? ¡°Let¡¯s first collect all the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits and then divide them according to contributions." Zhou Yuan gave an order. ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone¡¯s spirit was lifted. They raced out and captured the wandering wisps of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. ¡°It''s indeed worthy of being the core anchor point of the battle zone.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The anchor points they previously encountered didn¡¯t present them with such a gift. Tuntun appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head with a flash. Taking a whiff, he passed a message into Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. ¡°Those Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits all rushed out from the seabed.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed dramatically and his gaze shifted to the sea surface while the Decoder Saint Rune emerged in his eyes. To his eyes, the seawater suddenly became transparent. His gaze directly penetrated the many obstacles and cast into the deepest part of the sea. After a while, his gaze was fixed on a deep-sea trench. Through his Decoder Saint Rune, he saw a whirlpool with strands of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits wandering out. At the deepest part was a drop of chaotic liquid floating there and inside was a faint ancient dragon shadow looming. It exuded an indescribable primitive and ancient aura. Zhou Yuan felt his heart fiercely quivering as he gazed at the drop of chaotic liquid in the whirlpool, and a lightning flashed across his mind, making him instantly understand its origin. Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence?! Chapter 1335 Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence at the Seabed As Zhou Yuan dazedly stared at that drop of mysterious and chaotic liquid in the whirlpool on the seabed, fierce stormy waves were stirred up in his heart because that drop of chaotic liquid was an Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence that Cang Yuan had mentioned to him before. Moreover, according to Yaoyao, Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence was essential to break the Nascent Source stage¡¯s limit. The Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence was only formed by chance after a rich amount of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits gathered together. Its rarity goes without saying. This was why Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help rubbing his eyes in disbelief. ¡°Is Yaoyao blessing me?¡± Zhou Yuan blinked repeatedly. One would indeed be blessed if they believed in Yaoyao! He no longer hesitated and with a slight movement, he transformed into a stream of light and dived into the sea, speeding towards the whirlpool in the seabed. Zhou Yuan reappeared just outside the whirlpool after a few breaths. Zhou Yuan could even more distinctly feel the ancient and mysterious power contained in that drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence at such a close distance. Even the Nascent Source in his Divine Dwellings was slightly trembling. The Nascent Source¡¯s yearning almost made it lose control. As Zhou Yuan stared directly at it, his throat trembled and his eyes were blazing so much that the heat emitted from them almost evaporated the nearby seawater. It was indeed a drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence, but unfortunately, there was too little. But Zhou Yuan understood that a huge amount of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirit was required to refine a drop of spirit essence. ¡°I have exhausted myself to get rid of Yuan Quan so it¡¯s reasonable that I enjoy this drop of spirit essence, right? If anyone objects, you can directly tell me,¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Tuntun, who was on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, puzzledly scanned around and found that only he and Zhou Yuan were on the seabed. Tuntun rolled his eyes. That bastard wants to have it so much but he pretends to act fair. He¡¯s so shameless. Zhou Yuan nodded pleasedly when he saw no one objected. Then, his Spirit power unhesitatingly gushed out and parted the seawater in front before diving straight into the whirlpool. The chaotic liquid slowly rose from the whirlpool under the Spirit power¡¯s weight and floated in front of Zhou Yuan. ¡°Protect me.¡± Zhou Yuan reminded Tuntun before he saw down cross-legged and the seawater transformed into a water lotus beneath him under his Spirit power¡¯s manipulation. That drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence directly flew into Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. Now that the battle for the stone dragon had erupted like a wildfire and the all-heavens and Sacred Race were battling with full-strength, Zhou Yuan¡¯s current strength seemed to be lacking if he wanted to participate in the subsequent battles. Since he coincidentally encountered a drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit essence, he had to improve his strength as much as possible. He was only disappointed that the drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence was too little and it was impossible to make his Nascent Source break the limit. However, it should be possible to improve his strength. That didn¡¯t mean he would have the strength to compete with third Law Domain stage experts but he should have the strength to protect himself against them, right? As the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence entered his body, Zhou Yuan could feel his Genesis Qi going out of control as though afraid of the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence. That sudden change caused a bit of headache to Zhou Yuan. If even his Genesis Qi didn¡¯t dare to come into contact with the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence, how could he refine it? Zhou Yuan pondered while gazing at the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence circulating around his body. He began to guide it into his Divine Dwellings. His Divine Dwelling immediately vibrated and ancient dragon roars reverberated inside. The Nascent Source sitting in the Divine Dwelling¡¯s center also opened its eyes, staring at that drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence with blazing eyes. It flashed out the Divine Dwellings and swallowed the drop in one mouthful. Thousand rays of light erupted from the Nascent Source and its body became jade-like. An incomparably terrifying power was brewing in the Nascent Source as though it was about to explode and shred the Nascent Source to pieces. Ordinary people would be filled with fear if they saw such a scene. However, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t panic because he became very familiar with Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirit in his two years of closed-door cultivation. The Nascent Source sat down and swiftly operated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. The billions of Genesis Qi stars in the Divine Dwellings erupted with dazzling light and illuminated the entire Divine Dwellings. Zhou Yuan trapped the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence with his Nascent Source body and suppressed and refined it with his Ancestral Dragon Scripture. This was the rich experience he had gained from dealing with Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits in his two years of closed-door cultivation. That set of processes indeed had significant effects. Although the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence in the Nascent Source body was still restless, it was clearly weakening. Moreover, as the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was operated, wisps of mysterious power were leaked out from the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence and were eventually absorbed into the Nascent Source. Zhou Yuan suddenly palpitated with excitement because he felt his Nascent Source that hadn¡¯t moved in a long time beginning to change. ... When Zhou Yuan found a drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence on the seabed, the all-heavens Saints outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain also perceived that scene. ¡°Zhou Yuan''s luck is pretty good. He even found a small drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence in an outer battle zone,¡± exclaimed a Saint. Generally speaking, only an extremely rich amount of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits could produce Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence. Therefore, it was very lucky that a drop could be birthed in the 77th battlezone. Lu Liu said expressionless, ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence is the final reward. Zhou Yuan should have waited until the final victory was decided to divide the reward, but he occupied the reward himself. That¡¯s against the rules, right?¡± He naturally didn¡¯t agree with Zhou Yuan¡¯s action because of their previous grudges but the main reason was of course that he didn¡¯t get along with Cang Yuan. Although the Sacred Race was the main enemy, internal strife was unavoidable. Lu Liu naturally wanted his disciple Xu Beiyan to become the most dazzling person in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain battle. This was a perfect opportunity for Xu Beiyan to break through to the Saint stage. Moreover, as a Saint expert, Lu Liu could see that Zhou Yuan possessed abnormal strength. Zhou Yuan was only at the Nascent Source stage yet he possessed a Genesis Qi foundation comparable to the Law Domain stage, which showed that his Nascent Source¡¯s grade was extremely high. He felt that Zhou Yuan could threaten Xu Beiyan if he allowed him to grow. Cang Yuan said indifferently, ¡°Prime sovereign Jin Luo has previously said that all the gains in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain are one¡¯s own opportunity. Lu Liu, your trouble-making attitude will make all Saints lose face.¡± Lu Liu wrinkled his brows. ¡°Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence can¡¯t be easily refined by someone at the Nascent Source or Law Domain stage and will require help from Saints. Your disciple¡¯s appetite is too big. Is he not afraid of being eaten by the spirit essence? I only said that for his own good.¡± He acted considerate of Zhou Yuan. The other saints also nodded. The Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence was formed from Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits and contained extraordinary power that not even Law Domain experts could refine it. However, Zhou Yuan was just at the Nascent Source stage. He was too impatient if he wanted to forcibly absorb it. Cang Yuan smiled. ¡°Sovereign Lu Liu, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Lu Liu sneered and wanted to say something when he heard exclamations from the crowd. His eyes shrank when he looked over. This was because they all sensed that the drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence that Zhou Yuan swallowed had been absorbed and refined. Lu Liu narrowed his eyes. Zhou Yuan...really is a monster. Even Xu Beiyan couldn''t refine Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence with his own power. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan had a shallow foundation and there was still a huge gap between Zhou Yuan and Xu Beiyan. Zhou Yuan might have known about this so he couldn¡¯t wait to refine the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence to improve his strength. However, it was still a little too late to make that frantic last-minute effort. Therefore, the opportunity in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain should belong to Lu Liu¡¯s disciple. Chapter 1336 9.8 inches In the seabed depths. Zhou Yuan sat quietly on a water lotus. There wasn¡¯t the slightest Genesis Qi released from his body as if he was sleeping soundly. However, Tuntun, who wasn¡¯t far away, could perceive the huge changes within Zhou Yuan''s body-a wave of Genesis Qi that made even him tremble was brewing. It was clear that Zhou Yuan had received huge benefits from absorbing and refining that little drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence. Zhou Yuan¡¯s training lasted half a day. By the time he opened his eyes, the seawater in that area had completely evaporated and left a huge thousand-miles vacuum zone. An indescribable pressure filled the area, stirring up stormy waves from the other seas. Zhou Yuan''s eyes glinted. He immediately examined himself and couldn¡¯t help curling his lips. ¡°9.8 inch Nascent Source¡­¡± That little drop of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence refined directly made Zhou Yuan¡¯s Nascent Source, which he couldn¡¯t change regardless how much he cultivated, grow by 0.1 inch! That little increase in size seemed insignificant, but those who had reached that level would understand what kind of opportunity would be needed to achieve it. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation also soared to the level of 500 billion in that half a day! If Zhou Yuan were to fight Yuan Quan again, he was confident that he could properly defeat him even without exhausting the power of his four Saint Runes. Moreover, it wouldn¡¯t be as thrilling and dangerous as it was before. However, as his Nascent Source reached 9.8 inches, he even more clearly felt how difficult it was to break the Nascent Source stage¡¯s limit. He was still one step away from 9.9 inches and that step made Zhou Yuan shudder because the amount of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence required to achieve it would be far greater. But Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence wasn''t just cabbage that he could find everywhere. He was really lucky to discover a little drop, but the thought of acquiring enough to break the limit made Zhou Yuan feel his scalp numb. But that was a problem for the future. Zhou Yuan was very satisfied with his upgrade. Now, even if he were to face a top third Law Domain stage expert, he should have the ability to protect himself and it wouldn¡¯t be as risky as before. Tuntun also came over to study Zhou Yuan and his beast eyes widened in surprise. He sensed the dangerous aura exuded from Zhou Yuan. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a satisfied smile and darted up the sea. The scene of a beast and human shooting out from the sea immediately drew everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°You seem to have become stronger again?¡± Wu Yao¡¯s expression changed as she stared at Zhou Yuan with her beautiful phoenix eyes. The others puzzledly studied Zhou Yuan because although they couldn¡¯t detect the changes in his Genesis Qi foundation, they could feel the pressure emitted from Zhou Yuan. It made their breathing become laboured and rapid. He resembled a towering mountain standing in front of everyone. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°I found something good on the seabed that increased my strength.¡± He didn''t try to hide anything because everything happening in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain was watched by the all-heavens Saints. He couldn¡¯t hide anything even if he wanted to. A trace of envy flashed across everyone¡¯s eyes when they heard this, but they didn''t question any further. After all, they all saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s contribution along the way and they likely would have been shred to pieces by Yuan Quan, let alone occupy the 77th battle zone if it weren¡¯t for him. ¡°Your Highness, we have collected a total of 43 Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. They are all here.¡± Su Youwei handed Zhou Yuan a square jade box inscribed with runes. The others¡¯ eyes gleamed covetously as they looked at the jade box. ¡°Right, everyone has a share in this,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. ¡°I will hold onto this until the great war is over and then I will share it among the team according to contribution.¡± Everyone naturally had no objections. Moreover, they each lit up with excitement. It seemed they were all extremely satisfied with the harvest. After everyone calmed down, Zhou Yuan said solemnly, ¡°Everyone, we have completely occupied the 77th battle zone. I suggest we rush to the dragon head battle zone at full speed because that is the last place where the troops of both sides would gather. You should know that the two sides are now at a stalemate and the dragon head battle zone would be where the final outcome is decided.¡± The excitement on everyone¡¯s faces faded and was replaced by nervousness and hesitation. The dragon head battle zone would bring together the troops of both sides and would undoubtedly turn into a meat grinder battlefield. No one¡¯s safety would be guaranteed there. On the contrary, if they stayed in an outer battle zone, they would be much safer and might even find some benefits. ¡°You all should understand the importance of the Stone Dragon Secret Domain Battle. The friction between the all-heavens and the Sacred Race has worsened over the years and the Sacred God of the Sacred Race will soon awaken. Therefore, a second world-ending war is inevitable. If we lose the Stone Dragon Secret Domain Battle, our situation will only worsen and we might have to personally taste the bitter fruits from our failure in the future.¡± Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across and spoke in an unwavered voice. ¡°So, we must go to the dragon head battle zone no matter what. But I won''t force you all. If there are people who really don''t want to go there, they can stay here and wait till the battle ends.¡± Zhou Yuan''s voice faded and he turned around and left first. It was human nature to seek good fortune and avoid evil, and not everyone had the courage to face danger. This was why Zhou Yuan didn''t want to force them and left them to decide for themselves. ¡°That guy is trying to scare us. Does he want to block my opportunity? Ridiculous.¡± Zhao Mushen sneered as he watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s departing figure. Then he cast a glance at some people who were hesitating. ¡°I hope you would have a place to hide when the world-ending war breaks out and the Sacred Race invades all-heavens.¡± As his voice faded, he already sped across the air and left. But in front of him were three beautiful figures leading the way. They were precisely Wu Yao, Su Youwei, and Ai Tuanzi. Shua! Shua! The other team members gritted their teeth and followed after the four after a moment of hesitation.. Zhou Yuan glanced behind to see that the majority of the team had followed him. But there were still some too cowardly to advance in the distance. Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze, his expression as usual. It was normal to be afraid. He was already surprised to see so many people following him. He lifted his head and peered into the distance. The sky was completely grey, but vaguely, there seemed to be a murderous spirit rising into the air, as if an unprecedentedly huge battle was brewing. This battle would no doubt shake all-heavens. Chapter 1337 Gather at the Dragon Head While Zhou Yuan led his team towards the dragon head battle zone, victory was determined in the other battle zones one after another, and all teams headed in the same direction. If the secret domain was looked at from the outside world, one would see powerful Genesis Qi rising like smoke signals, stirring the clouds, and then racing towards the dragon head battle zone. That scene was too spectacular. ... Seven days had passed by the time Zhou Yuan arrived at the dragon head battle zone. As he stepped into the dragon head battle zone, he distinctly felt the Genesis Qi in that world was much heavier and an indescribable pressure filled the area. However, no one inside felt uncomfortable. Instead, the Genesis Qi in their body turned unusually lively. ¡°The universe Genesis Qi here seems to have been refined thousands of times¡­¡± Ai Tuanzi exclaimed. The Genesis Qi was so ancient and pure that one¡¯s cultivation efforts here would yield twice the result with half the effort. Zhao Mushen, Su Youwei and the others were equally stunned. As Zhou Yuan stared at that world, the Decoder Saint Rune roamed around his pupils. He discovered that the universe Genesis Qi seemed to contain some kind of mysterious dust-like substance invisible to the naked eye. That substance wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to him because it emitted the aura of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirit. ¡°The dragon head battle zone is incredibly rich in Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. The reason why the Genesis Qi is so special here is because it is fused with Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits.¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed in surprise. Everyone¡¯s eyes suddenly blazed with excitement. The dragon head battle zone was indeed worthy of being the core of the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. Who would have thought that even the universe Genesis Qi contained Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits? ¡°It really is the best place to battle.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed. Since the universe Genesis Qi contained tiny wisps of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits, everyone could quickly restore their Genesis Qi as well as repair their injuries. The battle zone was simply made for battles. One could easily imagine how fierce the battle would be once the two sides clash. While Zhou Yuan was sighing, he surveyed the surroundings and saw streams of light endlessly coming from afar and stepping into the battle zone. It was the other all-heavens teams. They all, without exception, burst into exclamations of excitement when they stepped in and felt the difference in that world. ¡°Let''s go, let¡¯s join the great army first.¡± Without stopping for too long, Zhou Yuan said to everyone and led the way. The all-heavens saints gave an instruction to everyone before they entered the Stone Dragon Secret Domain - everyone must gather together first and prepare for the dragon head battle zone as a whole. Zhou Yuan could feel a vast amount of Genesis Qi accumulating in the northeastern direction. The team sped across the sky and it was only after half a day that the distant world began to change. Countless different Genesis Qi curled into the sky like smoke signals and almost obscured the sky. It was a spectacular scene. As they approached, Zhou Yuan saw a tremendous mountain standing tall on a plain like a giant. Figures loomed out the mountain. There was where the all-heavens army gathered. As Zhou Yuan¡¯s team neared the area, a stream of light shot out from the mountain to meet them and to notify the other battle zone leader to assemble at the mountaintop to discuss the battle arrangements. Zhou Yuan nodded, told the others to rest and took Tuntun, Su Youwei, Wu Yao, and Zhao Mushen to the mountaintop. The secluded lush green mountaintop was dotted with blue stones. Hundreds of figures were gathered in front of the mountain, each one exuding astonishing Genesis Qi. They were the leaders of each battle zone. The arrival of Zhou Yuan and his team members naturally caught many people¡¯s attention, and many people¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. After all, the strength that Zhou Yuan showed was clearly considered at the bottom among all the battle zone leaders. They thought it wouldn¡¯t go well for Zhou Yuan and didn''t expect him to come all the way. Xu Beiyan was sitting cross-legged on a rock in the center of the crowd. Wearing a calm smile, he modestly responded to the compliments from the many battle zone leaders around. He also sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance but he retracted his gaze immediately and acted like he didn¡¯t care. ¡°Zhou Yuan, here.¡± Zhou Yuan heard a familiar voice and saw Chi Jing¡¯s short burgundy hair fluttering in the wind as she beckoned to him. ¡°Senior sister.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and quickly hurried over. ¡°You¡¯re not bad. You actually made it here.¡± Chi Jing examined Zhou Yuan with a smile, and after seeing that he had sustained no injury, she breathed an inward sigh of relief. ¡°Senior sister, is everything okay?" Zhou Yuan asked. Chi Jing flicked her short hair as she said valiantly, ¡°Of course everything is okay. My team occupied two battle zones.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help marveling. He could only occupy a battle zone after exhausting his strength, but Chi Jing¡¯s team still had remaining strength to capture another zone. It was clear that her team¡¯s overall strength was much greater than his. ¡°But Xu Beiyan occupied three battle zones,¡± Chi Jing whispered. A light flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, but he wasn¡¯t too surprised because Xu Beiyan was indeed the no. 1 seed on the all-heavens side. Additionally, there were almost ten people at the second Law Domain stage on Xu Beiyan¡¯s team and pseudo Law Domain experts weren¡¯t qualified to join his team. It would be more surprising if that team couldn¡¯t occupy three battle zones. ¡°What about the Sacred Race''s side?¡± Chi Jing knitted her slender eyebrows together and her face became solemn. ¡°You should know who the strongest Law Domain expert in the Sacred Race is¡­He¡¯s called Tai Xuan and he occupied four battle zones this time. From the intelligence we received, the all-heavens teams that encountered him were utterly wiped out in less than half an hour. Not one person survived.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. The Scared Race¡¯s strength really shouldn¡¯t be underestimated, particularly, the top sacred heaven pride specially cultivated by the Sacred Race. The dragon head battle zone would no doubt be fierce and bloody. While Zhou Yuan and Chi Jing were discussing, Xu Beiyan lightly tapped an ink flute on his palm and a battle zone leader immediately understood his meaning. The battle zone leader looked at Zhou Yuan and said with a smile, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan has such good luck. Did you come across a battle zone that no one competed for? Or¡­did you just give up the battle zone you were assigned to?¡± Those words were a little offensive. Many battle zone leaders around felt that if Zhou Yuan really gave up his battle zone, that would tarnish his reputation. Zhou Yuan simply shot a glance at the battle zone leader who asked him that question. That guy was obviously part of Xu Beiyan''s gang and clearly just wanted to step on him. ¡°Zhao Jia, don''t meddle in other people''s business!¡± A cold light flashed in Chi Jing¡¯s eyes. The battle zone leader Zhao Jia immediately stiffened and was clearly afraid of Chi Jing. ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing doesn''t need to be so fiercely protective. Zhao Jia only asked that to gather information. Battle zone leaders need to inform us of the enemies they encountered when they arrive so that we can assess the Sacred Race¡¯s strength,¡± Xu Beiyan said with a smile. ¡°Also, even if grand elder Zhou Yuan really gave up his battle zone, we can¡¯t blame him. After all, there is indeed a gap in strength. It¡¯s already very good that he made it here.¡± ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, what do you think?¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan with a smile. Zhou Yuan glanced at Xu Beiyan indifferently without responding, but Su Youwei couldn¡¯t help interrupting coldly, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry. We were assigned to the 77th battle zone and the enemy we encountered included golden armor Yuan Quan.¡± ¡°Golden armor Yuan Quan?¡± Some people exclaimed. They were very familiar with the name that was listed in the top ten in the Sacred Race¡¯s Law Domain stage. "You encountered Yuan Quan? No wonder...it¡¯s understandable that you abandoned the battle zone.¡± A battle zone leader sighed. He also would flee, let alone Zhou Yuan''s team. Su Youwei calmly explained, ¡°You guys misunderstood. We didn¡¯t abandon the battle zone. On the contrary, we occupied all the anchor points in the 77th battle zone. As for golden armor Yuan Quan¡­His Highness has already killed him.¡± Her clear and sweet voice echoed throughout the mountains, making many battle zone leaders fall silent. Chapter 1338 Defense The result brought by Su Youwei''s clear and sweet voice was that the racket in the battle zone subsided and every person stared bewildered at her. ¡°Golden armor Yuan Quan?!¡± Someone finally snapped out of the shock and couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, ¡°You mean golden armor Yuan Quan who is at the third Law Domain stage?!¡± Su Youwei nodded slightly. Hua. Many battle zone leaders¡¯ expressions immediately changed. After all, golden armor Yuan Quan wasn¡¯t a nobody. He was a true third Law Domain stage expert and from the information that prime sovereign Jin Luo provided, he was ranked in the top ten among the battle zone leaders! There likely wouldn¡¯t be more than five battle zone leaders unafraid of such a powerful enemy. However, Su Youwei said that Zhou Yuan had killed a top expert ranked in the top ten of the Sacred Race Law Domain stage?! Even Chi Jing stared dumbfounded at Zhou Yuan. Although she never underestimated her junior brother, she had never thought he could kill an enemy of that level. Xu Beiyan''s expression also slightly changed. He stared at Zhou Yuan with narrowed eyes and a scrutinizing gaze. How could that guy do that? ¡°Little girl, don¡¯t talk nonsense¡­golden armor Yuan Quan is at the third Law Domain stage. How would his team lose to your¡­team?¡± The battle zone leader who helped out Xu Beiyan questioned Su Youwei. However, his words drew mocking gazes from the surrounding battle zone leaders. ¡°Zhao Jia, the all-heavens saints are watching the Stone Dragon Secret Domain at all times. No one would be stupid enough to tell such a lie, right?¡± A battle zone leader said irritatedly. Zhao Jia¡¯s face reddened with embarrassment and he resentfully withdrew his gaze. Many battle zone leaders¡¯ faces grew respectful when they looked at Zhou Yuan again. Although they previously objected to Zhou Yuan becoming a battle zone leader, Zhou Yuan''s achievements had completely convinced them. Zhou Yuan told them with facts that he i#was qualified to be a battle zone leader. Although he didn¡¯t know how Zhou Yuan could defeat Yuan Quan, the process wasn¡¯t important because Yuan Quan''s death was still good news to them since it would reduce their pressure in the dragon head battle zone. Xu Beiyan coughed quietly and said with a smile, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan has surprised us all. It seems that the goddess¡¯s guidance can indeed save one a lot of trouble.¡± Some battle zone leaders¡¯ expressions altered subtly. He implied Zhou Yuan was only able to kill Yuan Quan because the goddess gave him some trump cards and Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t win with his own ability. It was very likely that the goddess gave Zhou Yuan some life-protecting trump cards given her relationship with Zhou Yuan. After Xu Beiyan said those words, he smiled and changed the topic. ¡°Almost everyone is here now. We should talk about proper business.¡± The atmosphere stilled and many gazes turned solemn and then shifted to Xu Beiyan. ¡°According to the all-heavens Saints, the battle in the dragon head battle zone is extremely important and will even determine the final outcome between the two sides. To stabilize the battlefront, we must build a defense boundary, which will act as a protective barrier. If there are any changes, the defense boundary will buy us preparation time,¡± said Xu Beiyan indifferently. ¡°You can receive information signals about the defense boundary from the jade stone in your hands. Tomorrow, we will start setting up a boundary of three thousand li from here. Once the defense is set up, we will head deeper into the dragon head battle zone. Then, we will truly clash with the Sacred Race.¡± The various battle zone leaders gravely nodded because they knew that even they would have the danger of losing their lives on the bloody battlefield. Xu Beiyan lifted his gaze and said, ¡°There is one more thing. Someone needs to be the main controller of the boundary. I will put myself forward for that position¡­¡± "I recommend grand elder Chi Jing to be in charge of the boundary.¡± A voice interrupted him. Xu Beiyan narrowed his eyes, staring at Zhou Yuan who was looking at him with a smile. Xu Beiyan gave a slight smile and said helplessly, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, although there has been a little conflict between us, the matter we are discussing is related to all-heavens. Can you not create trouble here?¡± Zhou Yuan wrinkled his brows. ¡°I heard that this power shouldn''t directly be assigned to you? In that case, other people can of course recommend who they think are better. I just think senior sister Chi Jing is more suitable for that position than you.¡± ¡°In which area is she better than me?¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile, ¡°At least senior sister Chi Jing will not be petty and will always be fair. I think I¡¯m not the only one who would feel a greater sense of security if she is in charge of the defense.¡± Xu Beiyan''s eyes twitched and anger rose to his head, but he forcibly suppressed it and said calmly. ¡°Since there¡¯s a disagreement, everyone, we will leave the decision to you. ¡°If you feel that grand elder Chi Jing is more suitable, you can stand on her side.¡± The battle zone leaders began to murmur and each wore contemplative expressions. After a while, someone stepped over to Chi Jing''s side. However, there were more people supporting Xu Beiyan. Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t surprised by the result. Although Xu Beiyan was a hypocrite, his strength was unquestionable. Moreover, given the fact that he had occupied three battle zones, it was logical that many people chose him. Xu Beiyan expressionlessly watched the scene. Although more people chose him, he wasn¡¯t happy, but angry. This was because it showed that not everyone had confidence in him. This was unacceptable to Xu Beiyan, who always felt that he was perfect. Xu Beiyan drew a deep breath, looked at Zhou Yuan and said indifferently, ¡°Do you have any other things to say?¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand with a smile. Xu Beiyan said indifferently, ¡°Since everyone has made a decision, everyone should go and prepare. We will set up the defense tomorrow.¡± The many battle zone leaders dispersed. Xu Beiyan cast a glance at Zhou Yuan, slowly stepped closer to him and whispered, ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, the dragon head battle zone is dangerous. Not even the goddess can protect you there. You should be careful.¡± Zhou Yuan shot a glance at him. ¡°The attack on Su Youwei, was it your doing?¡± Xu Beiyan seemed taken aback and then he puzzledly shook his head. ¡°I don''t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± But there was an undisguised cold smiling expression in his eyes as he looked at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°You also have to be careful. Many people will lose their lives in the dragon head battle zone. Even third Law Domain stage experts could be buried there.¡± He didn¡¯t want to waste time talking nonsense with him anymore and strode away. Xu Beiyan curled his lips as he watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s departing figure, but his eyes were icy-cold and he muttered to himself, ¡°Is this a threat from the weak? So ridiculous.¡± Chapter 1339 Tai Xuan’s Scheme As more and more teams came to the dragon head battle zone, the all-heavens began to build a defense boundary. Many boundary nodes were set up across one hundred thousand li in just one day, but the most unexpected thing was that the Sacred Race didn¡¯t come to obstruct them from building a defense. In an area outside the dragon head battle zone, Zhou Yuan was standing on a huge treetop, peering into the distance. He saw light pillars constantly rising into the sky, and each one, which represented a node, stretched beyond sight. The node arrangement went very smoothly. It was so smooth that Zhou Yuan felt uneasy. He lifted his head and his gaze shifted to the dragon head battle zone¡¯s areas that couldn¡¯t be seen. With his Allroamer stage Spirit he detected countless different Genesis Qi rippling in that direction and even formed masses of black Genesis Qi clouds that extended forever into the distance, obscuring the sun and sky. The Sacred Race teams were also gathering together. But what puzzled Zhou Yuan was that the Sacred Race should be aware of their plan to build a defense boundary, yet they had no intention of stopping them. ¡°Is it because they have absolute confidence?¡± he muttered, ¡°The only explanation is that the Sacred Race didn¡¯t care what plans the all-heavens had. However, were they not too arrogant to look down on the all-heavens army? After all, the Sacred Race army that gathered here isn¡¯t all their strength. As Zhou Yuan furrowed his brows, vast amounts of Genesis Qi erupted behind him. He twisted around to see countless light pillars linking together and left several mysterious trails in the air. ¡°Is the defense boundary being operated?¡± Zhou Yuan rushed off while waving his hand, and several figures sped through the forest below. They were Zhao Mushen, Su Youwei, Wu Yao and others. By the time the group returned to the all-heavens base camp, all teams had gathered there and everyone was watching the tremendous boundary take shape. The boundary stretched across the area as though covering the entire world, and gave everyone an incomparable sense of security. Zhou Yuan stared at the light barrier formed with the boundary. The defense boundary was created by the saints of all-heavens and then accumulated the many people¡¯s strength. Based on defense power, even many third Law Domain stage experts couldn¡¯t destroy it with their full strength. This was the all-heavens army¡¯s last line of defense. As the boundary formed, Xu Beiyan''s figure emerged in the sky full of lights. He seemed to be grasping a light sphere that was gradually shrinking. It eventually formed a special mark in his hand. That marking was the key or authority power to control the boundary. Hovering in the air, Xu Beiyan was very satisfied with the attention from the thousands of people below. However, he also felt it was normal because he was the strongest at the Law Domain stage and thus he naturally should act as the leader. Wherever he was, other Law Domain experts would dim under his brilliance. One Xu Beiyan controlled his emotions and tilted his handsome face down. He scanned the all-heavens teams below and said, ¡°Everyone, the defense boundary has successfully been set up. Next we will step into the dragon head battle zone¡¯s depths and compete for anchor points.¡± His words made everyone¡¯s faces suddenly turn nervous and grave. Strictly speaking, the previous battles between the two sides were just warm-ups and the battles in the dragon head battle zone was the real battle that would determine the final outcome. ¡°The next battle concerns the future of all-heavens and all Saints are watching us. The victory must belong to all heavens!" Xu Beiyan¡¯s voice rang in everyone''s ears and seemed to contain a special charm that makes people feel emotional. The all-heavens army was stirred and respect filled everyone¡¯s eyes as they looked at Xu Beiyan. It was obvious that Xu Beiyan used this opportunity to bring a wave of prestige onto him. Xu Beiyan nodded with satisfaction when he felt the respect in those gazes. He didn¡¯t say anything else, and with one thought, the defense boundary in front slowly tore apart. He lifted his hand, waving it gently in the air. Boom! Gushes of Genesis Qi soared and endless figures cut across the sky, blotting the sun like a swarm of locusts. The all-heavens army was about to act. Zhou Yuan led his team into the air and headed directly towards the dragon head battle zone¡¯s depths. He peered into the distance, and when the all-heavens army set off, he could also feel fierce gushes of Genesis Qi erupting where the Sacred Race gathered. The Sacred Race Army also acted. The boundless Genesis Qi caused that side of the world to quake and thick clouds scudded across the sky. The tremendous fluctuation of Genesis Qi even created flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder. Torrential rain poured down and enveloped the entire battle zone. Countless figures raced across the sky and soon, the gushes of Genesis Qi were reflected in the eyes of the all-heavens troops. It was as if a Genesis Qi wave with no end in sight was crashing down with destructive force. It was the countless Sacred Race experts. ¡°Kill!¡± Roars filled with killing intent resounded from the all-heavens army. Everyone¡¯s eyes turned crimson-. A battle had already broken out and there was no way to retreat. Boom! The two waves of destruction clashed like two stars colliding. An indescribable shock wave broke out, causing even the Stone Dragon Secret Domain to violently vibrate. It was unknown how many Law Domains were spread out at that moment. It was a spectacular scene. Looking down from above, there were fierce battles breaking out in every part of the enormous dragon head battle zone. Boom! As jet-black hair wrapped around Zhou Yuan¡¯s fist, he flapped the wings on his back and thrust out a fist, shattering the surrounding space. A terrifying Genesis Qi torrent directly smashed a Sacred Race Law Domain expert as well as their Law Domain to fragments, creating a sky full of blood-colored mist. Blood splattered everywhere, but the body evaporated before even it neared Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan cleared the area at incredible speed. Then, with a wave of his hand, he struck a Dragon Moving Nail into the earth¡¯s depths and activated the anchor points in that area. He immediately sped away again, charging towards another anchor point. At the same time, he also watched the huge battlefield with his Spirit perception. He saw the two sides locked in a fierce battle and Law Domains were constantly annihilated. It was an unprecedentedly tragic and bloody scene. Through Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit power, he noticed that the all-heavens hadn¡¯t fallen into a disadvantaged situation. Regardless of how fierce the Sacred Race¡¯s attacks were, the all-heavens withstood them. Moreover, the all-heavens seemed to have a slight advantage based on the number of anchor points activated. But Zhou Yuan felt something was wrong. He wrinkled his brows, pondered for a few breaths and finally understood the source of his feelings. He hadn¡¯t seen any top Sacred Race experts mentioned in the intelligence. For example, Tai Xian who everyone feared to face. There was no trace of those people, as though they didn¡¯t participate in the battle. That discovery brought a chill down Zhou Yuan''s heart. In such a situation, the enemies were clearly preparing for something. Zhou Yuan lifted his head, staring at the rear of the Sacred Race Army, where it was shrouded in sacred light and his perception couldn¡¯t penetrate. A deep frown crossed his brows because that uneasy feeling became even more intense. What is the Sacred Race planning? ¡°Some top Sacred Race experts still haven¡¯t appeared!¡± The all-heavens Saints, who were watching the secret domain from the outside very quickly noticed the strangeness. When they shifted their eyes across the Sacred Race¡¯s side, they found that the space had distorted as though the Sacred Race Saints interfered and obstructed their prying. Prime sovereign Jin Luo said indifferently, ¡°The enemies¡¯ prime saints are interfering.¡± The all-heavens Saints felt their heart quivering because if even the Sacred Race prime saints had acted, it confirmed that the Sacred Race must be scheming something. They furrowed their brows tightly, feeling very uneasy. Golden light flowed around the inside of prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s eyes, and the golden light grew increasingly bright until his eyes finally turned to gold-like substances. The golden eyes were fixed on the space, watching it turn into a vortex. Inside seemed to be a boundless force that could make all saints shudder, like a dark abyss that was impossible to see through. This was the strength of a Sacred Race prime saint. Two powerful forces that could easily destroy countless domains collided in an unknown place. They clashed thousands of times in an instant. After a while, a cold snort echoed in the emptiness. Then, prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s golden eyes gradually dulled and all-heavens saints cast their gaze to the Stone Dragon Secret Domain to see the Sacred Race¡¯s obstruction barrier had been broken. They saw something at the rear of the battlefield. An altar was standing tall there, and in the center of the altar was a white-robed man sitting quietly. Several Sacred Race top experts who hadn¡¯t appeared were sitting cross-legged in different positions, as though providing protection. The white-robed man suddenly looked up with a smile as though he sensed prime sovereign Jin Luo broke down the barrier. ¡°I am Tai Xuan from the Sacred Race. I want to borrow the blood qi of the several elites in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain to help me climb the path to the Saint stage.¡± As his chuckle died away, the vertical eye between his brows slowly opened, revealing the Sacred Pupil! There were eight stars circling inside the Sacred Pupil! It was the Eight-Star Sacred Pupil! When that Sacred Pupil opened, the space in front began to distort, as if forming a portal. Within the portal were vast amounts of blood qi rushing out in torrents and finally were swallowed by the Sacred Pupil. At the same time, an extremely terrifying wave of energy was soaring at astonishing speed! The entire Stone Dragon Secret Domain world was violently quaking. Chapter 1340 Start Eating A dark-red space portal formed above the altar, spewing out huge currents of blood qi. They endlessly rushed into the Sacred Pupil of Tai Xuan, who was sitting in the center of the altar. The amount of Genesis Qi emitting from his body soared at an astonishing speed. Everyone on the all-heavens side in the dragon head battle zone immediately sensed the changes. Boundless and endless blood qi rose into the air. The many corpses on the battlefield, regardless whether they were from all-heavens or the Sacred Race, began to vaporize, turning into mighty blood qi. They slowly rose and eventually merged with the air, seeming to be swallowed by an invisible mouth. But blood qi wasn¡¯t only rising from the corpses, many all-heavens experts felt the blood qi in their bodies becoming agitated. Some people couldn¡¯t control them even more and could only helplessly watch wisps of blood spiral up from their bodies. That wasn¡¯t ordinary blood qi; it also contained Genesis Qi! Therefore, when dark-red qi broke out their bodies, everyone from all-heavens felt the Genesis Qi in their bodies weakening. As Zhou Yuan hovered in the air, his expression also altered indefinitely because he felt the blood qi in his body becoming agitated. Fortunately, he was able to suppress it, and not everyone was able to do so. An indescribably bizarre power in the void was forcibly absorbing the all-heavens experts¡¯ blood qi. Dripping with blood, Tuntun appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, staring vigilantly above. He let out a low roar and the hair all over his body stood on end. He sensed a huge crisis coming. ¡°The Sacred Race is indeed scheming something!¡± Zhou Yuan uttered, his voice deep and low. He had previously already realised something was not right with the actions of the Sacred race. ¡°Decoder Saint Rune!¡± He immediately activated the Saint Rune. The world in front of him began to change, and he could see vast amounts of blood qi drilling into the void before being absorbed. Additionally, in the distance was a tremendous red portal. A figure was sitting cross-legged in front of the portal. Its sacred eye was wide open, constantly swallowing the blood qi drawn from the all-heavens army. Zhou Yuan also saw eight stars circulating within the sacred pupil, and his heart trembled. ¡°Eight-star sacred pupil¡­¡± Zhou Yuan frowned. If his guess was right, the white-clad figure should be Tai Xuan, the leader of the Sacred Race army. With the help of his Decoder Saint Rune, he investigated that person and could distinctly feel the dangerous aura exuding from that person¡¯s body, like he was facing some wild beast. ¡°Huh?¡± As Zhou Yuan spied on Tai Xuan, Tai Xuan¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed and his Sacred Pupil shifted to where Zhou Yuan stood. ¡°He could even see through this place? It seems not everyone in the all-heavens¡¯ Law Domain stage is rubbish.¡± The stars in his Sacred Pupil roamed around, as though terrifying power was brewing. All the hair over Zhou Yuan''s body stood on end. He retracted his gaze without any hesitation, and at the same time, his Decoder Saint Rune dispersed and his face turned increasingly grave. ¡°What a dangerous guy.¡± He furrowed his brows because the aura that Tai Xuan gave off during his previous spying was so dangerous that it couldn¡¯t be described. Vaguely, Zhou Yuan felt as if he was facing a Saint. But he was clearly just at the third Law Domain stage. The Sacred Race¡¯s Tai Xuan was much stronger than Xu Beiyan. Moreover, why was he going to so much lengths to use a bizarre means to draw out the blood qi of everyone on the battlefield?! Meanwhile, outside the Stone Dragon Secret Realm. The all-heavens Saints¡¯s expressions worsened. ¡°What a ruthless Sacred Race cub! He even wants to use the blood qi of the all-heavens army to pave the foundation for him to reach the Saint stage?!¡± The Saints present naturally had a superior vision than Zhou Yuan and saw right through Tai Xuan''s intention. Tai Xuan¡¯s ruthless action made all saints furious. The saint¡¯s wrath continuously caused the starry sky to disintegrate and collapse. Prime sovereign Jin Luo''s face was cold as water. It was unlikely that Tai Xuan could use such a means with just his own strength. He must have had the help of the Sacred Race saints and even the prime saints. ¡°Be prepared.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo''s eyelids drooped as his voice rang in the ears of the saints. The murderous intent contained in it made even the all-heavens saints¡¯ hearts tremble. Prime sovereign Jin Luo planned to intervene if the situation really collapsed to that stage, but he knew the Sacred Race saints also wouldn¡¯t sit still and do nothing. The battle between the saints of the two sides would undoubtedly be earth-shaking. However, the saints knew that there was no other way. The army that entered the secret domain were all the elites and fresh blood in all-heavens, and Saints would emerge from them in the future. If they let the Sacred Race absorb their strengths, it would have a heavy blow to all-heavens. They didn¡¯t want to see such a result. ... Panic spread among the all-heavens army on the battlefield. As Xu Beiyan hovered in the void, his face looked extremely bad seeing such a scene. ¡°Brother Xu, what should we do now?!¡± Law Domain experts constantly asked him anxiously. Xu Beiyan was undoubtedly the most highly regarded person in all-heavens. Thus many people stared at him in anticipation, hoping that he could stand up and stabilize the situation. Xu Beiyan stared at the rear of the Sacred Race army with an overcasted face because he faintly felt a wave of energy there that made his heart palpitate. The sudden change frightened even him. ¡°What are those bastards scheming!?¡± Xu Beiyan gritted his teeth and roared. ¡°Everyone, seal your blood qi and retreat. Let¡¯s first retreat to the defense boundary!¡± The situation below was a little out of control, and if it was dragged on any longer, it would only get worse. Therefore, they should quickly return to the defense boundary to monitor the change and wait for an opportunity to strike back. His voice rang in everyone¡¯s ears and calmed the chaos a little. Then, the great army began to leave the battlefield, subsiding like the tide. Zhou Yuan also retreated. The situation was too chaotic and so it was indeed wiser to retreat. Although Xu Beiyan was hypocritical, he wasn¡¯t a stupid person and didn¡¯t recklessly issued a command. The Sacred Race army madly rushed forward to stop them. Any experts and teams that were caught by them failed to last long. Teams were constantly wiped out, and eventually their bodies were turned into spirals of blood qi. Numerous tragic wails echoed throughout the battlefield, causing many all-heavens experts¡¯ eyes to crack, teeth chatter, and roared with grief and anger. Clad in a snowy white robe, Tai Xuan, who was in front of the red space portal, smiled when he saw the all-heavens army retreat. ¡°Too slow. I will take over.¡± As his voice sounded, the Sacred Race army pursuing the all-heavens army abruptly halted. Seeing this, the all-heavens army heaved a sigh of relief, but before they fully exhaled, they saw the space around them gradually distorted and a white figure emerged above the battlefield. When the white-clothed man appeared, a terrifying pressure enveloped the entire battlefield. The pressure exuded from his body caused even many third Law Domain stage experts to pale dramatically. The white-clothed man wore a slight smile as he surveyed the all-heavens army. He bowed with a sincere face and his soft voice sounded, ¡°Everyone, I need to start eating.¡± Chapter 1341 The Strength of Tai Xuan The white-clad man hovered in the air with his long white hair fluttering in the wind. His face looked ordinary but the Sacred Pupil between his eyebrows added a strange charm to him. When the all-heavens army laid eyes on him, the terror in their eyes deepened because they could distinctly feel the terrifying aura emitted from the white-robed man. Additionally, the blood qi rising across the land was constantly rushing into his Sacred Pupil. The white-robed man was the person behind all that! ¡°Tai Xuan!¡± Xu Beiyan¡¯s face grew overcasted but intense fear flashed across his eyes. Although he hadn¡¯t fought Tai Xuan before, from the intelligence he received, Tai Xuan seemed to be stronger than him. There was only a slight difference in cultivation level between them, however, he sensed extreme danger from the aura that Tai Xuan emitted. ¡°Brother Xu!¡± A third Law Domain stage expert appeared next to Xu Beiyan and fixed a murderous gaze on Tai Xuan. ¡°He¡¯s so arrogant. He even dared to come here alone. We can definitely kill him if we combine our strengths!¡± Xu Beiyan¡¯s eyes flickered around, and he didn¡¯t respond right away. While he was hesitating, Tai Xuan, who was hovering in the air, clasped his hands together with a faint smile and placed them in front of his mouth like a horn. He took a deep breath and blew into it. Roar! Destructive sound waves erupted, roaring across the area and shattering the space within a one-thousands-mile radius. The all-heavens side suffered heavy casualties when the sound wave passed. Nascent Source experts nearby exploded into blood-colored mist while pseudo Law Domain and Law Domain experts spewed out blood from the impact. Only experts at the second and third Law Domain stage could withstood the sound wave. Tai Xuan folded his hands together and the blood-colored mist that filled the sky converged to form a dragon-like silhouette and was quickly sucked into Tai Xuan¡¯s Sacred Eye. ¡°Delicious,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°Ah!¡± Some people¡¯s faces twisted with terror and couldn¡¯t help utter cries of despair because they witnessed their comrades explode into blood-colored mist in front of them. The all-heavens army¡¯s morale plummeted. ¡°Xu Beiyan, you¡¯re so cowardly. How can you be a leader?!¡± A fierce light flashed in Chi Jing¡¯s eyes as she watched that scene. She turned her head in Xu Beiyan¡¯s direction and said sternly, ¡°Why are we not doing anything? What are you waiting for?! Do you only know how to take and not give?! ¡°That¡¯s not a leader! That¡¯s a worm!¡± Her face was icy-cold, and she immediately turned and shouted to some third Law Domain stage experts, ¡°If you have the courage, then follow me! No matter how strong he is, he isn¡¯t a saint!¡± As her voice died away, she shot out first, spreading out her Law Domain. Amidst flashing azure light, wind blades of destruction slashed through space towards Tai Xuan. The third Law Domain stage experts finally gritted their teeth and rushed towards Tai Xuan. At such a time, only they had hopes of obstructing Tai Xuan and buying time for the all-heavens army to retreat to the defense boundary. They were the top Law Domain experts in all-heavens and were well-respected and always won the greatest portion of any opportunity. However, as Chi Jing said, since there would be such huge gains, it was necessary to make sacrifices. It was time for them to come forward. If they fled and were unwilling to take on any responsibilities, they would be scorned by all-heavens. Xu Beiyan¡¯s face darkened as she watched many third Law Domain stage experts charge out following Chi Jing. He coldly snorted, ¡°You have such a strong sense of righteousness. When did I say I wouldn¡¯t do anything? It¡¯s that we should wait for the right time.¡± However, although he said that, he still followed after them. All Saints were watching the battle and if he chose to retreat to save himself, even his three masters wouldn¡¯t be able to protect him. Hovering in the void, Tai Xuan raised his brows seeing so many all-heavens third Law Domain stage experts charging over and besieging him. ¡°You have some courage. This is interesting. Otherwise what fun would there be to fight a bunch of unresisting pigs?¡± He slowly opened his hand, countless mysterious runes blooming in his palm. When he stretched out the open hand, it rapidly expanded as though turning into a giant star palm. Moreover, there seemed to be mountains, rivers, sun, moon and stars on that palm. That palm aimed for the group of third Law Domain stage experts headed by Chi Jing. Chi Jing¡¯s and the other''s face turned grave when they saw the giant star hand crashing down. Tao Xuan should also be at the third Law Domain stage but there was a world of difference between him and them. This should be a result of the blood qi he had absorbed. Moreover, as he swallowed more and more blood qi, his strength would grow increasingly terrifying. ¡°Attack with all your strength!¡± Chi Jing roared. When her voice faded, all third Law Domain stage experts bravely acted and summoned their Law Domain treasures. The world quaked and Genesis Qi torrents streaked across like comets. The earth-shaking power contained in each torrent collided with the giant star hand. Boom! An unimaginable shock wave erupted and swept across the area. Abyss-like cracks split the dragon head battle zone¡¯s ground apart. The combined attacks of so many third Law Domain stage experts finally obstructed the giant star hand. The two sides were in a deadlock for a moment, constantly weakening each other. ¡°Hmph, Tai Xuan, do you really think there isn''t anyone in our all-heavens?!¡± A cold grunt sounded as Xu Beiyan sped out. His ink-colored flute flashed out his grip and transformed into a three-headed dragon beast surrounded with black flames. The three-headed dragon beast roared skywards before slamming into the giant star hand. Boom! The giant star hand seemed to have reached its limit and couldn¡¯t bear the impact. It started to crack, crumble and eventually turned into flecks of light. The all-heavens army that was rapidly drawing back burst into deafening cheers. That scene showed them that Tai Xuan wasn¡¯t truly invincible. Tai Xuan was a little dumbstruck and just as he was about to say something, the space behind him suddenly smashed to pieces. A beam of black light containing astonishing power shot out, aiming for his back with lightning speed. Within the black light was a mottled black brush with seven-color lights entwining at its tip. They fused together to form a razor sharp point. Such a surprise attack was impossible to predict. But just as the mottled black brush was about to pierce Tai Xuan''s body, he suddenly turned his hand over and thrust it forward. That thrust seemed weak but the stars in his palm dimmed. Clang! An ear-piercing voice rang out and a terrifying Genesis Qi storm wreaked havoc. The mottled black brush that gathered all someone¡¯s strength was completely dissipated by a terrifying force. The space shattered layer after layer, and the black brush emitted a tragic noise before crashing to the ground, blasting a bottomless pit into the ground. Having blasted away that surprise attack with a palm strike, Tai Xuan remained expressionless as he curled his fingers in a claw and fiercely grasped the space behind him. Bang! The thousand-feet void crumbled into endless spatial fragments. ¡°You run so fast.¡± Tai Xuan shook his head, disappointed that he couldn¡¯t capture the rat that launched a sneak attack at him. The attacker instantly vanished when his attack failed and even left his Genesis weapon. But the combined attacks of so many all-heavens third Law Domain stage experts made Tai Xuan realize that he couldn¡¯t break through them all. He laughed at himself. ¡°I am too naive to think that I could destroy them with my own strength.¡± He shook his head and turned around, his eyes cast to the altar in the distance. ¡°Everyone, I have to trouble you.¡± Around the altar sat many Sacred Race third Law Domain stage experts. Their expressions altered a little when they heard Tai Xuan''s voice. ¡°That guy just wants to steal the limelight.¡± ¡°We are just the background this time.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do. It¡¯s because he has such a special Eight-Star Sacred Pupil. That¡¯s an ability that even Saints regard highly.¡± ¡°After we achieve victory, Tai Xuan will become a new saint.¡± The top Sacred Race Law Domain experts discussed with each other, but soon they closed their eyes and their body began to wither at an unbelievable speed. Then, a vast sea of blood qi roared out like thousands of blood-colored dragons and rushed into the dark-red space portal. Blood-colored dragon drilled out from the space around Tai Xuan and rushed into the Sacred Pupil between his brows. As the last blood-colored dragon entered, the Sacred Pupil gradually grew more red and his white hair wildly grew. They danced in the sky like a sea of white hair. Such a scene made people feel their blood run cold. At the same time, an indescribably terrifying wave of energy raged out from Tai Xuan''s body like a storm! Chi Jing, Xu Beiyan, and other top all-heavens experts simultaneously paled. Chapter 1342 Flee in Disorder As Tai Xuan¡¯s momentum and imposing bearing wildly soared, even Chi Jing and the others felt powerless and afraid. She naturally could tell from Tai Xuan¡¯s power that he not only had absorbed the blood qi of the countless people on the battlefield but also that of top Law Domain experts in the Sacred Race. The accumulation of such powers naturally could naturally create a terrifying existence. But what made Chi Jing and others bewildered was how he could withstand the strength of such a level¡­Logically speaking, even someone at the third Law Domain stage shouldn¡¯t be able to possess such powers. Their eyes shifted to the Sacred Pupil between Tai Xuan¡¯s brows. The Sacred Pupil was dark-red, deep and gloomy, like the eye of a demon. All his power should originate from his Sacred Pupil... Under those terrified gazes, Tai Xuan stretched his body and smiled at the all-heavens Law Domain experts. ¡°Prepare yourself to welcome the so-called fear.¡± No one responded; however, everyone¡¯s face grew overcast. They knew the situation was extremely unfavorable to them. Tai Xuan wore a broad smile as golden rays of light rose from the top of his head like an iridescent cloud. Rays of light gathered within the cloud to form a hexagonal light mirror and as the mirror flashed, it seemed to emit boundless terror. ¡°This is called the Sacred Light of Returning to Emptiness.¡± As Tai Xuan casually whispered, the hexagonal light mirror fiercely vibrated, and the Genesis Qi between heaven and earth violently rippled before swallowed into the mirror. Then, vast amounts of Genesis Qi suddenly erupted! Swoosh! A shaft of light difficult to be perceived by the naked eye shot out. Although it was impossible to be detected by people below the third Law Domain stage, people like Chi Jing felt enveloped by danger and hair stood on end. The destructive power contained in that light beam made them shudder with fear. Therefore, Chi Jing, Xu Beiyan and many other third Law Domain stage experts unhesitatingly activated their Law Domain treasures, exhausting all their strengths to deal with the attack. Boom! Two gushes of power strong enough to penetrate the galaxy collided and waves of Genesis Qi wreaked havoc across thousands of feet. Puchi! However, several all-heavens experts coughed up blood during the collision, and their Law Domain Treasures broke apart from the impact. By the time the shock waves dissipated, all all-heavens third Law Domain stage experts were ashen-faced because Tai Xuan had single handedly suppressed them all! So terrifying! Those that had retreated were all at a loss for words and the panic in their eyes couldn¡¯t be disguised. Xu Beiyan drew a deep breath, turned to Chi Jing and asked, ¡°Are you planning to continue to fight recklessly with no regard of the consequences? That would be throwing away your life!¡± Chi Jing clenched her hands tight and the veins on the back of her fair hands pulsed frantically. She gritted her teeth, showing her reluctance. The other third Law Domain stage experts who charged forward with Chi Jing also fell silent. Although Tai Xuan was strong, he wasn¡¯t invincible before, but now that his strength had soared, they no longer had an advantage even if they all joined hands. The casualties on their side would be even heavier if the fight continued. ¡°Tai Xuan is using the Sacred Pupil to raise his strength. Although that ability is strange, I suspect there is a time limit to that strength increase. We shouldn¡¯t be so reckless and should return to the defense boundary. When his time limit is reached, it will be our chance to counterattack!¡± Xu Beiyan quickly suggested. The other third Law Domain experts nodded. What Xu Beiyan said was right. Their clash with Tai Xuan should have bought enough time for the great army to retreat. Chi Jing didn¡¯t object and could only let out a sigh. Her eyes were filled with murderous intent and reluctance as she peered at Tai Xuan who was in the distance. Xu Beiyan¡¯s expression relaxed and everyone at the third Law Domain stage transformed into a stream of light and returned. Seeing this, the great all-heavens army understood that the third Law Domain stage experts couldn¡¯t withstand the attacks anymore and had to retreat in panic. ¡°A bunch of stray dogs.¡± Tai Xuan shook his head with a smile. But there wasn¡¯t the slightest smiling expression in those eyes. Instead, they were filled with coldness and ruthlessness. With a slight movement, an image appeared in the void as his figure sped away as though teleported, chasing after the all-heavens army. An amusing scene had appeared at the dragon head battle zone. The all-heavens army retreated with great momentum and Tai Xuan pursued them alone. From a distance it looked like a tiger hunting a flock of sheep. Many top experts including Chi Jing felt humiliated. They were considered the heaven prides of all-heavens and had experienced countless battles over the years, but they had never felt such a way - everyone was being chased by one person. The all-heavens saints outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain likely had the same thought. This chase continued for several moments and the defense boundary was in sight. The person at the front was nearing the boundary. Seeing this, Xu Beiyan controlled the boundary with the powers contained in his palm and the boundary light barrier split from the middle. ¡°Everyone, quickly retreat into the boundary!¡± Chi Jing shouted. The army swarmed into the boundary in chaos. Boom! However, a tremendous torrent suddenly descended at the rear of the army and instantly melted everyone in that area. They turned to blood qi and spiralled into the sky. Tai Xuan had caught up. The great army¡¯s retreat became even more chaotic. Tai Xuan tread across the air, constantly sending beams of terrifying light whizzing out his sleeves. Wearing a smile, he constantly blood-washed waves of all-heavens troops and his smile deepened when he heard cries of despair. Chi Jing¡¯s and others¡¯ eyes reddened because their protection range was limited and they could only shield those within the range. If they were to expand the range anymore, they would enter Tai Xuan¡¯s attack range. Xu Beiyan said, ¡°Everyone, the most important thing is to get more people into the boundary. Your lack of forbearance can upset the great plan!¡± They had no choice but to turn their gaze away. Somewhere at the rear of the army. Wu Yao, Su Youwei, Zhao Mushen and the others who belonged to Zhou Yuan''s team were fleeing frantically. Their countenance didn¡¯t look too good because they also didn¡¯t think the all-heavens army would collapse so quickly. ¡°This is more difficult that the Battle of Guyuan Heaven.¡± Wu Yao knitted her beautiful brows and clenched her teeth. She had an extremely tough personality but she also could only retreat with the great army. Zhao Mushen and Su Youwei kept quiet. Tai Xuan was too terrifying and they speculated that he had already reached the Law Domain limit and was only one step away from reaching the Saint stage. It was no wonder that not even third Law Domain stage experts couldn¡¯t withstand his power. ¡°Hurry, that lunatic is wiping out troops at the rear of the army. He must want to kill people to take their blood qi! It will be our turn soon,¡± Zhao Mushen said in a muffled voice. Boom! As his voice died away, a shaft of light containing destructive power crashed down from above, destroying everything in an area. The team fell silent and their scalp numbed. The corners of Zhao Mushen''s mouth twitched. ¡°Hurry, it will hit us next!¡± Wu Yao, Su Youwei and others glared at him. ¡°Shut up!¡± But before their anger died down, their expressions dramatically changed because they saw the space above them crumble and a beam of destruction crashed down like a waterfall. That beam of light was aiming for them. Everyone¡¯s eyes went wide with fear. Chapter 1343 One Step Boom! From a distance, the stream of light containing terrifying power that was descending from the sky resembled a heavenly waterfall crashing down and tearing the sky apart. Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao, Su Youwei and others paled in the face of such an attack. Regardless of how talented they were and how much potential they had, they hadn¡¯t reached the Law Domain stage and could only close their eyes and wait for death. Therefore, they helplessly watched the stream of light descend. Emotions overflowed their hearts. But just when they thought of their last words, the space above them distorted and a figure flashed out from it like a ghost. A thunderous roar echoed and astonishing Genesis Qi erupted, clashing with the stream of light crashing down. Shock waves raged out from the collision. Puchi! Suffering the impact, Wu Yao, Zhao Mushen, Su Youwei and others coughed up blood but they didn¡¯t panic. Instead, their eyes lit up with surprise. ¡°Your Highness!¡± Su Youwei instantly recognized the figure. Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen wore complicated expressions because they had been rescued by him once again. The collision between the two forces lasted for several breaths before the stream of destructive light faded. Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest heaved, his breathing became heavy and the fear in his eyes deepened. Tai Xuan had only used a casual move but he was able to force him to counter with all his strength. This fact alone showed how huge the difference between them was. But he had no time to think too much. With a wave of his sleeve, he rolled up Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Zhao Mushen and the others and bolted into a full speed dash towards the defense boundary. Tai Xuan cast an indifferent gaze towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Is he the one who spied on me earlier? ¡°He looks familiar¡­¡± Lights flickered in Tai Xuan''s eyes as if he was searching his memories. After a few breaths, he smiled. ¡°I remember. That person is called Zhou Yuan, and he defeated junior brother Jia Tu in Guyuan Heaven. He can be considered a legendary person. It¡¯s no wonder that¡­ ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Since he showed up here, I will get revenge for junior brother Jia Tu.¡± As he stretched out his hand, terrifying Genesis Qi gathered in his palm. At the same time, Zhou Yuan, who was carrying Su Youwei and the others and was frantically retreating, felt a chill in his heart and his hair stood on end. He could feel that Tai Xuan was watching him like he was hunted by a fierce beast. Zhou Yuan couldn''t help cursing inwardly, but he didn''t dare to be careless. Genesis Qi again erupted from him and he frantically fled at full speed. During that short period, the majority of the all-heavens army had entered the defense boundary. Many third Law Domain stage experts who were in charge of protection also started to retreat into the boundary. But everyone could only helplessly watch the troops at the rear of the army constantly being wiped out. Xu Beiyan maintained the boundary¡¯s crack with his power to allow teams to rush in, and then he peered into the distance and saw the terrifying aura rapidly approaching and said, ¡°We need to close the boundary entrance soon.¡± Chi Jing said urgently, ¡°Wait a little longer!¡± She saw Zhou Yuan speeding towards the boundary. Xu Beiyan said expressionless, ¡°If Tai Xuan also rushes in, who¡¯s going to take responsibility?¡± Chi Jing gritted her teeth. The other third Law Domain stage experts nodded silently. It was inevitable that some people had to be abandoned because if Tai Xuan also rushed in the boundary, the consequences would be very serious. Xu Beiyan exercised his authority and the boundary crack began to close up. As Zhou Yuan rushed over from a distance, his expression slightly changed when he saw what was happening. He frantically activated his Genesis Qi and raised his speed that had already reached its limit once again. In less than ten breaths, the boundary was almost within reach. But it was then that the space above him crumbled and a huge fist crashed down. The power contained in that fist seemed capable of destroying everything like the wrath of a god. It was clearly an attack from Tai Xuan! Zhou Yuan¡¯s scalp numbed when he saw such destructive power, which was even more terrifying than the previous stream of light. If struck, even he could die! The boundary was closing in front of him and a destructive fist crashed down from above. He intently stared at the boundary that they were quickly nearing. Su Youwei, Wu Yao, and Zhao Mushen also stared wide-eyed, their hearts racing in their chest. Chi Jing clasped her hands tightly, mumbling, ¡°Hurry!¡± ¡°We can make it!¡± Images of Zhou Yuan''s figure were left in the air as he sped towards the boundary. A flash of joy appeared on his face after he calculated his speed and the distance. According to his calculations, he should be able to squeeze through the boundary crack before Tai Xuan¡¯s fist strike. And once he entered the boundary and it closed, he would be able to avoid the shock waves from the fist. Countless people felt so nervous as they watched Zhou Yuan near the boundary that they didn¡¯t even dare to breathe. Xu Beiyan calmly watched but a strange light flashed across his eyes. Suddenly, he flicked his fingers inside his sleeve. Zhou Yuan pushed himself forward and was about to pass through the crack. It was then that his pupils shrank because he sensed a force in front of him. That power had no attacking nature but slowed him down for a moment like a cobweb. His face changed dramatically. This wasn¡¯t important in ordinary times but at that moment it was a second of life and death. Boom! Amidst shocked gazes, the fist of destruction smashed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like a meteor. Puchi! A jet of blood spurted out from his mouth, his body twisted and many bones snapped. Zhao Mushen and the others who were under his protection also spurted out blood. Some unlucky people were directly exploded into blood foam when that power seeped into their bodies. Rumble! As Zhou Yuan plunged into the ground, a deep thousand-feet abyss suddenly emerged in the ground. The fist-created abyss was dark and bottomless and completely buried Zhou Yuan''s figure. No one could survive under that punch. At that time, the boundary closed up completely. The world fell silent. Everyone stared dumbstruck at the giant abyss but they couldn¡¯t sense the slightest vitality inside. They were only one step away. Many people''s eyes dimmed. That step was the difference between life and death. The youngster who had created many miracles in all-heavens had perished like that in front of everyone? Chapter 1344 Blood Mirror There was still remaining terrifying fist power exuding from the bottomless abyss that appeared out of thin air, causing the surrounding space to tremble. Zhou Yuan was only separated by a thin defense boundary but it seemed like a boundary between life and death. The inside of the boundary was completely silent. Everyone fell silent and the atmosphere was so heavy that many people couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Chi Jing¡¯s face was deathly pale and she seemed to have fallen into a trance-like state. She couldn¡¯t accept that Zhou Yuan was smashed to death with one punch. She stumbled forward, but was quickly stopped by the Law Domain experts beside her. Chi Jing ignored them, muttering, ¡°He will be fine!¡± The other Law Domain experts inwardly sighed. Tai Xuan¡¯s punch was so terrifying that even third Law Domain stage experts would suffer severe injuries, let alone Zhou Yuan. Even though Zhou Yuan possessed extraordinary strength, he was still only at the Nascent Source stage. ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, I''m sorry for your loss.¡± Xu Beiyan sighed. Chi Jing''s eyes grew sharp and she glared at Xu Beiyan. ¡°Was that your doing?!¡± Although she had no evidence, her intuition made her suspicious of Xu Beiyan. Xu Beiyan didn¡¯t get angry and just said in a low voice, ¡°If you blame me for closing the boundary, I can say sorry, but if I were to make that decision again, I would still do the same!¡± Seeing this, the Law Domain experts nearby also tried to persuade Chi Jing. In their opinion, Chi Jing was just taking out their anger. After all, Xu Beiyan controlled the boundary and needed to be accountable for everyone¡¯s safety. If he postponed the boundary¡¯s closing, Tai Xuan could have charged through and the consequence would be catastrophic. Therefore, Xu Beiyan had done nothing wrong. Chi Jing''s face was as cold as water. She shot an icy glare at Xu Beiyan and said nothing else because she knew that no one would believe her suspicion and no one would support her even if she made a scene. Everything would be clear later. If Xu Beiyan really did something, she would kill him to avenge Zhou Yuan no matter what. Roar! However, while Chi Jing was suppressing her anger, a furious roar reverberated across the area and a giant golden beast stomped across the air. It slammed its huge body into the boundary, causing it to quake and ripples widening out. It was Tuntun! They were separated for a while, but he didn''t think such a change would happen to Zhou Yuan¡¯s team. Everyone instantly recognized the Alpha Holy Beast that always followed the goddess and Zhou Yuan. They were at a loss for words and didn¡¯t dare to come forward to comfort him. While commotion broke out within the boundary due to Zhou Yuan team¡¯s disappearance, the front of the boundary distorted and a white-haired figure emerged. It was Tai Xuan. His appearance drew everyone¡¯s attention and all eyes were filled with hatred and fear. Tai Xuan greeted those hateful gazes with a smile. He evidently didn''t care. Instead, he cast his eyes to the top of the boundary. He extended his fingers and vast amounts of Genesis Qi gathered around them, as if forming a dazzling sun. Boom! The great dazzling sun smashed into the boundary, producing a deafening boom and sent ripples across the boundary light barrier. Fortunately, it was undamaged. Everyone who was previously overwhelmed with worry couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed that the boundary could stop Tai Xuan. ¡°What a powerful defense boundary,¡± Tai Xuan exclaimed. The boundary was extraordinary and must be the work of the all-heavens Saints and because the All-heavens Law Domain experts¡¯ powers were accumulated there, even Tai Xuan couldn¡¯t shake it. ¡°Are you planning to stall for time with the boundary?¡± Tai Xuan shifted his gaze to the great all-heavens army within the boundary, smiled and nodded, ¡°Actually, you were correct. There is a time limit to my current state.¡± The entire all-heavens army lit up with joy. As they thought, if they could stall until his improved state ends, they would be able to start their counterattack. Tai Xuan stood with his hand clasped behind his back, surveying the boundary light barrier in front of him and smiled faintly. ¡°The question is can this thing really protect you for that long?¡± Xu Beiyan coldly snorted. ¡°Tai Xuan, don¡¯t think of scaring us. The all-heavens Saints created this defense boundary. It¡¯s wishful thinking if you think you can destroy it!¡± Tai Xuan said with a smile, ¡°A group of stray dogs dared to talk tough?¡± He waved his hand and the world behind him shook. The Sacred Race Army swarmed over like locusts. There was some chaos within the Sacred Race Army and many figures seemed to be pushed out. The majority were at the Nascent Source and pseudo Law Domain stage. Moreover, most were ugly and fierce beasts that belonged to the Evil Beast Clan, which Zhou Yuan had previously encountered in the Dragon Spirit Utopia. The Sacred Race and Evil Beast Clan members driven out looked a little dazed, but they soon realized something was wrong because they saw pity in the other troops of the Sacred Race Army. Tai Xuan turned around and ran his eyes across the ¡®nutrients¡¯. They were considered to be of a lower status within the Sacred Race. The higher-ups of the Sacred Race had always treated the Evil Beast Clan as livestock and slaughtered them at will. ¡°Everyone, the Sacred Race will remember your contributions. Your relatives will all benefit from your sacrifice.¡± Tai Xuan said compassionately. The many Sacred Race and Evil Beast Clan troops sent out sensed something bad. Panic filled their eyes and they anxiously drew back. Rays of blood-red light burst out from the Sacred Pupil between Tai Xuan¡¯s eyebrows, shooting towards the ¡®nutrients¡¯. Those who touched the light were almost instantly turned to blood. The blood floated into the air, forming a tremendous blood mirror. The blood mirror emitted an incomparably fiendish and sinister aura. Everyone of the all-heavens army within the boundary stared at this scene, dumbstruck. They were all chilled to the bone. Who would have imagined that Tai Xuan would be so ruthless to even people of his race. The Sacred Race was indeed a ruthless race. ¡°What exactly is he planning?¡± They felt increasingly uneasy as they peered at the strange blood mirror. They soon knew what Tai Xuan wanted to do. As the blood mirror took shape, many Sacred Race experts¡¯ Sacred Pupil between their eyebrows suddenly opened and shot out light rays towards the strange blood mirror. The rays of light were reflecting against the blood mirror. But the light rays turned blood-red when they touched the mirror. Pu! Bizarre blood-red rays streaked across the air and landed on the boundary light barrier. The transparent barrier started to turn scarlet as though splashed with blood. But what shocked Xu Beiyan and the others the most was that ripples spread across the upper area of the boundary as the scarlet colored areas expanded. They felt the boundary that contained astonishing defense power was being corroded and polluted. And even began to thin. ... As the Sacred Race started to corrode the boundary, something was happening at the deepest part of the dark bottomless abyss. A hand stretched out from the mud, and a slender figure was struggling to crawl out the abyss. Although her state looked miserable and she was covered in mud, she still worriedly swept her beautiful eyes around. ¡°Your Highness?!¡± It was Su Youwei. She hurriedly and happily turned to the darkness when she heard movements. She saw two figures stagger out and the light in her beautiful eyes dimmed. They were Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen. ¡°Where is His Highness!?¡± Wu Yao pressed her lips and exchanged a glance with Zhao Mushen, before they moved away. Su Youwei''s face blanched when she looked over. There, a figure was lying still and silently on the ground. No, it wasn¡¯t a figure anymore but broken flesh and bones. If it weren¡¯t for the very faint waves of Genesis Qi around that figure, Su Youwei wouldn''t believe that it was Zhou Yuan. Su Youwei tremblingly inched forward and came to the broken body¡¯s side. As she knelt down, she broke down in tears. It was the first time she saw Zhou Yuan in such a miserable state since they met¡­ Chapter 1345 Operation to Save Zhou Yuan In the depths of the pitch-black underground. Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen both silently stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s broken body. They both were once rivals with Zhou Yuan, so they knew how tough he was. They had to admit that this was the most severely injured that Zhou Yuan had been. If it weren''t for the wisps of tenacious vitality remaining in his broken body, they all would have thought that Zhou Yuan was already beaten to death. But such a result wasn¡¯t surprising. After all, the person who wounded him was Tai Xuan, who had gathered many top Sacred Race experts¡¯ strength into his body...Even Xu Beiyan, Chi Jing and other third Law Domain stage experts were forced to retreat even if they combined their strengths. Zhou Yuan forcibly received such a heavy blow. He was already considered very tenacious to be still breathing. Wu Yao stepped forward, gently patted Su Youwei''s shoulder, and said softly, ¡°Don''t be so upset. Although he¡¯s severely injured, he still defended his last breath. We should find a way to help him recover.¡± Su Youwei dabbed away the tears on her snow-white face. In truth, she was extremely tough and had never lost self-control even during the many difficulties she had experienced in the past, but she couldn¡¯t stop her heart aching when she saw Zhou Yuan, who was always high-spirited and filled with confidence, in such a tragic state. She stretched out her small hand and pressed it on Zhou Yuan''s mangled body, sensing the vitality inside. ¡°His Highness''s body is severely damaged but luckily, there are traces of vitality in his body constantly helping him repair his injuries, preventing his body from being completely destroyed.¡± Su Youwei furrowed her beautiful brows, saying, ¡°But his injury is very serious and that vitality is quickly being worn away. It will be very difficult for him to truly repair his body and regain consciousness.¡± Wu Yao pressed her lips tightly together. She wasn¡¯t knowledgeable in matters regarding vitality. Zhao Mushen''s expression changed. After a while, he crouched down and poked Zhou Yuan''s broken body, drawing a glare from Su Youwei. ¡°This guy is already wounded to such an extent. How about I swallow him, inherit his wish and kill Tai Xuan in the future?¡± said Zhao Mushen. Su Youwei said expressionless, ¡°That joke isn¡¯t funny at all. Zhao Mushen, don''t challenge my bottom line.¡± A chilling aura surrounded her whole body, and her eyes that were as cold as ice made Zhao Mushen¡¯s body stiffen. Wu Yao said faintly, ¡°If you can''t help, just go away. Don''t get in the way. Without him, you would have become a puddle of flesh and blood.¡± The corners of Zhao Mushen''s mouth twitched, and then he pursed his lips. ¡°You two are the ones who can''t help. Move aside.¡± Su Youwei shot a suspicious glare at him but then drew back. ¡°I don''t find this guy pleasing to the eye, but I, Zhao Mushen, can¡¯t deny that I owe him my life.¡± Zhao Mushen drew a deep breath and said, ¡°I should be able to clear my debt after this!¡± His eyes flashed with a fierce glint and he grasped his left arm with his right hand. With a loud snap, his entire arm was ripped off and blood sputtered everywhere. Su Youwei and Wu Yao were both surprised to see him destroying his own body. Clutching his left arm, Zhao Mushen stuffed it directly into his mouth and swallowed it in one mouthful. Zhao Mushen munched it with a ferocious expression, splattering blood everywhere. Pu! After chewing for a while, Zhao Mushen opened his mouth and spewed out a dark-red qi current. Blood qi and vitality roamed within the current, and where it passed, even grass and plants grew in the dark underground. The dark-red qi current landed on Zhou Yuan''s broken body, and the mangled flesh and blood impatiently absorbed it. Then, his flesh and blood began to repair at an astonishing speed. The two women¡¯s faces lit up with joy. But as Zhao Mushen breathed out that long, dark-red qi current, his complexion rapidly paled. This was because his vitality was contained in that current. However, he found that Zhou Yuan''s broken body still wasn¡¯t completely repaired. It seemed he needed more vitality. Zhao Mushen didn¡¯t look too good. This guy really is a bottomless pit¡­Won¡¯t I suffer a loss from this deal? He looked at Su Youwei and Wu Yao, only to find the two women staring expectantly at him, especially Su Youwei. Her expression made Zhao Mushen wonder if she would directly tear him to pieces if he said he won¡¯t continue? He had no choice but to sigh and severed his right arm. Another breath containing blood qi and vitality landed on Zhou Yuan''s body. Zhou Yuan''s body, which resembled a withered tree, finally was restored, but his complexion was still extremely pale. Zhao Mushen collapsed on his buttocks with a pale face. He peered down at his missing arms. It will take some effort to regrow them. ¡°I have already done everything that I could do. Don¡¯t say that I owe him my life anymore,¡± Zhao Mushen grumbled. Su Youwei threw herself down next to Zhou Yuan, stretched out her small hand and checked on Zhou Yuan¡¯s condition. ¡°His physical body is clearly repaired but His Highness still hasn¡¯t regained consciousness.¡± Wu Yao also crouched down next to Zhou Yuan. After a while, she said, ¡°Also, there¡¯s no Genesis Qi circulating in his body.¡± ¡°It¡¯s sealed in his Divine Dwellings¡­" Su Youwei added. ¡°There is a terrifying power remaining in His Highness''s Divine Dwellings. It belongs to Tai Xuan...It must have invaded his body when he took that punch.¡± The two women looked at each other. The situation was very problematic because the power was so strong that it blocked Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi from rushing out of the Divine Dwellings and they naturally couldn¡¯t control Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. It was impossible to shake that power with just their strength. ¡°Should we bring him out of here first? His senior sister Chi Jing should be able to help,¡± suggested Zhao Mushen. ¡°The boundary should have been closed and a huge battle must have broken out up there. If we go out now, even a little shock wave can destroy us,¡± said Su Youwei calmly, shaking her head. Zhao Mushen and Wu Yao fell silent. The three were in a dilemma. If Zhou Yuan doesn¡¯t wake up soon, they would be in great danger if a Sacred Race expert discovered them. However, they also didn¡¯t dare to recklessly move in case they attract the Sacred Race¡¯s attention. Therefore, it was extremely unfavorable whether they move or not. As Wu Yao stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s pale face, complex emotions came to her phoenix eyes. She still hadn¡¯t sorted out her attitude towards Zhou Yuan. After all, in her body was the Sacred Dragon Blessing that belonged to Zhou Yuan. She was different from Wu Huang in that she was willing to admit it while Wu Huang would never admit that the Sacred Dragon Blessing belonged to Zhou Yuan. In Wu Yao¡¯s view, it wasn¡¯t important who the Sacred Dragon Blessing belonged to. The most important thing was who the winner would be in the end. But Zhou Yuan seemed to have an absolute advantage. This was what Wu Yao admired the most about Zhou Yuan because she knew very well how difficult it was for Zhou Yuan to start his cultivation. His Blessing was snatched away, his eight meridian channels were blocked and it was extremely difficult even to enter the cultivation path. But he unexpectedly succeeded and caught up to her. Even Wu Huang, who was very arrogant and proud, was killed by Zhou Yuan. Even the Great Wu Empire collapsed because of Zhou Yuan. But Wu Yao didn''t feel any hatred towards Zhou Yuan and only saw him as a rival. But after Zhou Yuan came to Hunyuan Heaven, the winner between them was obvious. Wu Yao''s eyes drooped slightly and she stretched out her little cold hand, gently stroking the center of Zhou Yuan''s eyebrows. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Su Youwei puzzledly asked. Wu Yao gently shook her head and her fine black hair tied in a bun loosened, flowing down like silk. The fierce look that she always wore faded as she bit her lips. She looked unusually sweet and charming at that moment. She didn''t look at Su Youwei and just stared intently at Zhou Yuan as her calm voice sounded in the darkness. ¡°I¡¯m returning what originally belongs to him.¡± Chapter 1346 The Last Third Returns In the underground¡¯s depths. Wu Yao''s fine black hair draped over her shoulder, and her red dress made her look even more stunning and charming. She stared at Zhou Yuan''s face and slowly closed her phoenix eyes. Rays of light bloomed from the centre of her eyebrows, and a strange sound rang out. The sound resembled a dragon¡¯s roar but also a phoenix cry. Then, her Spirit, accompanied by some mysterious Blessing, whizzed out towards her finger that was gently touching the center of Zhou Yuan¡¯s brows. Boom! Wu Yao''s mind violently quivered. She seemed to be situated in a different void. She peered ahead and saw a Spirit figure sitting silently. The figure was identical to Zhou Yuan. It was just that Zhou Yuan''s Spirit was flickering between light and dark and his eyes closed tightly, as though in an unconscious state. As Wu Yao floated up, her red dress slightly swaying like a red carp¡¯s tail. She came to Zhou Yuan''s Spirit, hesitated, and finally knelt down. As she leaned forward, their lips faintly touched. That contact caused both their bodies in the outside world to fiercely tremble. The two¡¯s Spirit power uncontrollably rushed out, coming into contact little by little and slowly fused with each other. In the outside world, Wu Yao''s beautiful body was slightly trembling, her beautiful cheeks flushed and her body temperature was elevated. Although their real bodies didn¡¯t have much contact, their Spirits were tangled together and the impact from the fusion of their Spirits caused Wu Yao to shiver. Wu Yao even cowardly wanted to withdraw her Spirit at that moment. But when she had such a sudden thought, a tremendous suction force exploded from Zhou Yuan''s Spirit and firmly clung to her. Boom! The dark space violently vibrated and mysterious qi spiralled up from their Spirits. The qi converged and gradually formed a giant dragon silhouette. The giant dragon radiated a sacred aura and majesty, like the power of heaven. Wu Yao sensed the giant dragon¡¯s appearance as well as a very familiar aura exuding from the giant dragon. The giant dragon was the Sacred Dragon Blessing. The Sacred Dragon Blessing was split into three parts when Zhou Yuan was born, and after years of hard work, he finally regained two-thirds of the Sacred Dragon Blessing. But the last third was still in Wu Yao''s body. The giant dragon peered down, staring coldly at Wu Yao. Then, the Sacred Dragon Blessing produced a low dragon roar before inhaling sharply. Wisps of mysterious qi spiralled out from Wu Yao''s body and were swallowed by the Sacred Dragon Blessing. It was the last third of the Sacred Dragon Blessing. Although Wu Yao felt the mysterious Blessing leaving her body, she didn¡¯t panic or try to stop it. Instead, her stunning face remained unusually calm as though relieved. She gazed at Zhou Yuan''s face. Although only their Spirits were undoubtedly extremely close to each other, the feeling brought about from that contact and fusion far surpassed that of the physical body. Wu Yao''s heart was filled with complex emotions. Ever since she was born, she had never had any close contact with a man and even resisted it because of Wu Huang. But she crossed her bottom line this time for Zhou Yuan. But¡­it didn¡¯t matter. Wu Yao just smiled because she could feel that her vitality was quickly dissipating as the Sacred Dragon Blessing left her body. Perhaps, she would completely vanish from the world when the Sacred Dragon Blessing was completely extracted. She remembered the laughter that her father made when she killed him. ¡°In the battle between the dragon and phoenix, the devourer survives!¡± The one who was devoured would die. However, Wu Yao wasn¡¯t afraid and felt relieved. Perhaps many people would yearn for the Sacred Dragon Blessing, but she felt a kind of disgust towards it from the bottom of her heart. This was because her mother wouldn¡¯t have died if it weren¡¯t for the Sacred Dragon Blessing... ¡°Good, Zhou Yuan, my Wu family took the Sacred Dragon Blessing from you back then and now I will return it to you. From now on, the enmity between your family and mine is settled, and we don¡¯t owe you anything anymore!¡± Tears rolled down Wu Yao''s fair jade-like cheeks. She completely let go of her resistance and let the Sacred Dragon Blessing disappear. In the outside world. Su Youwei¡¯s expression abruptly changed because she noticed Wu Yao¡¯s vitality in her body was rapidly dissipating and her already fair skin became increasingly pale like paper. ¡°What¡¯s happening?!¡± Su Youwei exclaimed. Zhao Mushen tottered over, took a look, and his expression tensed up. ¡°Their Blessings are fusing. I heard that Wu Yao also has the Sacred Dragon Blessing in her body?¡± Su Youwei nodded. After all, it was no longer a secret. ¡°Wu Yao is a very fierce character.¡± Zhao Mushen said indifferently, ¡°She is returning the Sacred Dragon Blessing to Zhou Yuan, but because it has been in her body for too many years, it has already developed all kinds of connections with her. Also, Zhou Yuan is unconsciously plundering the Sacred Dragon Blessing that belonged to him in the roughest way. As a result, he took the last part of the Sacred Dragon Blessing as well as all of Wu Yao¡¯s vitality.¡± Su Youwei furrowed her brows and her expression turned complicated as she stared at Wu Yao. When she first met Wu Yao in Hunyuan Heaven, she knew Wu Yao admired her a lot but she didn¡¯t accept it because of Zhou Yuan. She even acted hostile towards Wu Yao and the Great Wu Empire. But after spending years together, her hostility towards Wu Yao faded and the relationship between the two had improved tremendously. At the very least, Su Youwei treated her as a true friend. ¡°Is there any way I can help? At the very least¡­we should stop His Highness from plundering so roughly,¡± asked Su Youwei. Zhao Mushen shook his head. ¡°If you tell me to swallow them, I can do it, but I don''t have the ability to help in this matter.¡± Su Youwei bowed her head sadly. She couldn''t bear to look at Wu Yao''s beautiful body that was rapidly losing its vitality. That scene was like a remarkably beautiful and elegant flower gradually withering. After a while, Zhao Mushen suddenly said, ¡°There is something we could try. Although I don''t know if it will work.¡± ¡°What?¡± Su Youwei asked, quickly raising her head. Zhao Mushen shifted his gaze to Su Youwei¡¯s remarkably beautiful face. ¡°This method depends not on me, but on you. If you don¡¯t want Zhou Yuan to cause the death of Wu Yao, perhaps there is something that only you, Su Youwei, can do¡­¡± Chapter 1347 Scarlet Sparrow Transforms into Phoenix ¡°Me? What can I do?¡± Su Youwei looked surprised. She had no knowledge in matters regarding Blessing and she could make the situation worse if she intervened. Looking at the bodies of Zhou Yuan and Wu Yao, Zhao Mushen said, ¡°Don¡¯t belittle yourself. You possess Yin Yang Qi Dwellings and was born with Yin Yang Qi. The current situation is that Zhou Yuan subconsciously plundered the last past of the Sacred Dragon Blessing, but if you can harmonize their Spirits with your Yin Yang Qi, they can maintain a balance. ¡°Once a balance is formed, no side would be wilfully seizing the others. Instead, it will become a unique fusing. That way, we might be able to protect Wu Yao¡¯s life.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Then I will give it a try.¡± The most perfect outcome would be to protect Wu Yao¡¯s life and awaken Zhou Yuan. Su Youwei knelt down between Zhou Yuan and Wu Yao, held both their hands and slowly closed her eyes. At the same time, she circulated her Yin Yang Qi. It split into two and flowed into the two¡¯s bodies. The Yin Yang Qi used Su Youwei as a hub to connect Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei. Her Qi returned to her body and circulated before flowing back into both bodies. In the dark underground, the three seemed to have completely integrated, and the Yin Yang Qi constantly flowed around them. There even seemed to be a flawless and completely integrated aura being exuded from them. In the Spirit space. Wu Yao, whose Spirit was on the verge of dissipating, suddenly felt a mysterious, icy-cold aura emerging. She dazedly regained consciousness. Then, she felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s plundering that resembled a torrential storm gradually became peaceful and gentle. Then, a red-hot power suddenly burst out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit. As the fiery power poured into Wu Yao¡¯s body, her Spirit that was on the verge of collapsing grew increasingly brighter. That sudden warmth made even Wu Yao feel relaxed and enjoyable. Their Spirits integrated as though it was impossible to separate. At the same time, Wu Yao felt a flash of realization in her mind She finally understood what she should do. The Sacred Dragon Blessing had accompanied her for years, but it wasn¡¯t hers and she had the Blessing that truly belonged to her¡­and was truly suitable for her. ¡°My Blessing¡­¡± Wu Yao murmured in her mind. Li! A clear cry faintly sounded. A ray of light bloomed in the depths of her heart and a scarlet sparrow shadow beat its wings. Back then, the python and sparrow swallowed the dragon and the three each possessed a part of the Blessing. Wu Yao¡¯s Blessing was originally the Scarlet Sparrow Blessing, but when she obtained the Sacred Dragon Blessing, the Sacred Dragon Blessing turned from passive to active and suppressed the Blessing already inside her body. It was because of that Wu Yao also forgot about her own Blessing. Now that the Sacred Dragon Blessing had left her body, Wu Yao, after a moment of enlightenment, recalled her own Blessing. Wu Yao gazed at the scarlet sparrow shadow fluttering its wings, whispering, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve forgotten about you for so many years.¡± Although her vitality was being restored, Wu Yao for some reason, felt that she would still die when the Sacred Dragon Blessing completely left her body. In the battle between the dragon and phoenix, the devourer survives. It wasn¡¯t easy to break away from destiny. This was the curse brought about for swallowing the Sacred Dragon Blessing that didn¡¯t belong to her. If she wanted to break away from the curse, her own Blessing must block the Sacred Dragon Blessing¡¯s counterattack. But it was clearly not possible for her to do so given the grade of her Scarlet Sparrow Blessing. However, there was still another possibility. The Blessing¡¯s transformation. Staring at the Scarlet Sparrow shadow, Wu Yao stretched out her hand without any hesitation. ¡°Will you fight with me?¡± The scarlet sparrow shadow let out a clear and long cry before transforming into a flame and soared into the sky. It collided with Wu Yao, creating a blazing fire. A giant scarlet egg seemed to be taking shape in the raging fire. Wu Yao was searching for an opportunity to transform. Otherwise she would die. The giant scarlet egg released a suction force that absorbed everything in Wu Yao''s body. In normal circumstances, it would be difficult to trigger the Blessing transformation even if Wu Yao was completely sacrificed. But fortunately, the passage that Su Youwei''s Yin Yang Qi formed was continuously transporting over the power in Zhou Yuan''s body. That wasn¡¯t ordinary power, but power that contained Sacred Dragon Blessing. The giant scarlet egg¡¯s color intensified as mysterious light runes emerged little by little. In the outside world. Yin Yang Qi continued to flow around Zhou Yuan, Wu Yao, and Su Youwei, forming a cycle. Before they knew it, the three had reached a perfect balance. The three¡¯s Spirits started to expand at an astonishing speed as the cycle continued. Zhao Mushen raised his brows and said covetously, ¡°The Sacred Dragon Blessing is indeed the best Blessing in the world.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s Sacred Dragon''s Blessing had been completely restored, and Su Youwei used her Yin Yang Qi to harmonize Zhou Yuan and Wu Yao, creating a perfect balance between the three. As a result, the Sacred Dragon Blessing was instilled into Wu Yao and Su Youwei and they would both obtain great benefits. ¡°He¡¯s already so much trouble when his Sacred Dragon Blessing is incomplete. Now that his Sacred Dragon Blessing is completely restored, I wonder what abnormal level his strength will reach.¡± Zhao Mushen sighed. Even he, who was always proud and arrogant, was afraid to face a monster like Zhou Yuan. While Zhao Mushen was sighing emotionally, the last wisp of Sacred Dragon Blessing was drawn out from Wu Yao¡¯s body and Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit erupted with thousand rays of light. A grand and ancient aura swept across the area. Zhao Mushen swiftly formed a Genesis Qi light barrier to protect the area. Otherwise, if it attracted Sacred Race experts¡¯ attention, the consequences would be unimaginable. He stared at Zhou Yuan with blazing eyes and saw all the injuries on his body were gone. Additionally, there seemed to be Sacred Dragon scales surfacing from his skin like a layer of armor. The most astonishing thing was the mysterious and mighty power emitting from Zhou Yuan''s body. That power was far more astonishing than that of ordinary third Law Domain stage experts. ¡°It¡¯s the complete Sacred Dragon Blessing¡­ ¡°I really want to eat it.¡± Zhao Mushen couldn''t help licking his lips because the Sacred Dragon Blessing exuding from Zhou Yuan was too attractive. If it weren''t for his rationality, he would have pounced towards him already. However, the aura exuding from Zhou Yuan made him shudder with fear. While thoughts streamed across Zhao Mushen¡¯s mind, Zhou Yuan''s body suddenly quivered and he slowly opened his eyes. Chapter 1348 Awaken When Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, Zhao Mushen could feel all his hair stand on end and an indescribably dangerous feeling rushed to his heart. It was as though an extremely terrifying monster was waking up before him. Zhou Yuan cracked his neck slightly and slowly sat up. His gaze immediately shifted to Wu Yao and Su Youwei, whose eyes were tightly closed, and a complex look flashed across his eyes. Although he was unconscious, he vaguely knew what was happening. He never thought Wu Yao would return the last part of the Sacred Dragon Blessing on her own initiative. The Sacred Dragon Blessing in his body was once again complete. Even Zhou Yuan felt overwhelmed with emotions because of that. Ever since his Sacred Dragon Blessing was snatched away the day he was born, it was unknown how much he had suffered and how many times he had wandered between life and death. But Zhou Yuan, the prince of the Great Zhou Empire had never thought to give up because of that. He finally regained what once belonged to him after years of hard work. ¡°Father¡­I did it.¡± Zhou Yuan muttered, clenching his fists. ¡°From now on, our families won¡¯t owe each other anything,¡± he whispered, looking at Wu Yao. King Wu seized his Blessing and destroyed the Great Zhou Empire, but Zhou Yuan also killed Wu Huang and indirectly killed King Wu, leading to the Great Wu Empire¡¯s collapse. Zhou Yuan finally retrieved the last part of the Sacred Dragon Blessing, and as a result, the enmity between the two families that had been entangled for years was finally settled. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Zhao Mushen asked. Zhou Yuan glanced at him, his eyes pausing on his missing arms. ¡°Hey, your new look isn¡¯t bad. Are you the crazy armless demon?¡± Zhao Mushen''s face suddenly darkened. ¡°But I have to thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Although he was unconscious, he knew what Zhao Mushen had done for him. Zhao Mushen said emotionlessly, ¡°If we don''t help you recover, we would all be in a dangerous situation. So I¡¯m just helping myself. You don''t need to thank me.¡± He changed the subject. ¡°How are you feeling now?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned, revealing his sparkling white teeth. ¡°Better than ever.¡± Indeed, unimaginable power was coursing through his body and he, inside and outside, had undergone earth-shaking changes. ¡°Have you opened up a Law Domain?¡± Zhao Mushen asked in astonishment. Zhou Yuan shook his head. Zhao Mushen¡¯s lips twitched. After wasting half a day, you¡¯re still at the Nascent Source stage? Zhou Yuan ignored him. With one thought, he checked the depths of his Divine Dwellings and saw endless Genesis Qi. His Genesis Qi foundation was comparable to those at the third Law Domain stage! But what caught his attention the most was the Nascent Source quietly sitting cross-legged in the Divine Dwellings¡¯ center. The Nascent Source had also undergone tremendous changes. Faint dragon scales shimmered indistinctly on the Nascent Source¡¯s surface. Additionally, as it opened its eyes, a pair of imposing and mighty eyes were shown off. Of course, what made Zhou Yuan feel a storm breaking out in his heart was the size of his Nascent Source. It was more than 9.9 inches! ¡°I broke the limit¡­¡± Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath. Even if he was mentally prepared, he was still astonished because the Nascent Source in front of him gave him a very strange feeling. Although it was more than 9.9 inches, he couldn¡¯t accurately estimate its size. Upon another careful look, it seemed to be as huge as a mountain, impossible to be measured, but he also felt it could be carried in his palm. A sudden flash of realization made Zhou Yuan understand. When his Nascent Source broke the limit of 9.9 inches, it lost the size constraint and could be as big as a mountain or as small as a grain of sand¡­ ¡°Since I broke the limit¡­¡± Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, and in his eyes was a gleam of hope. Now that he had met Yaoyao''s requirements, he should cultivate a Law Domain. ¡°But I still need the assistance of something¡­¡± Zhou Yuan turned his head, peering at the earth¡¯s depths. After his Sacred Dragon Blessing was restored, his perception of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits was much more sensitive than before. However, that was normal. After all, the Sacred Dragon Blessing was formed from a wisp of qi when the Ancestral Dragon created all beings. He stretched out his hand, palm facing down, and curled his fingers. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhao Mushen asked, furrowing his brows. This guy has become crazy after waking up. Zhou Yuan ignored him and just maintained the same position for several minutes. While Zhao Mushen grew increasingly impatient, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly turned cold as ice because he felt the ground beneath his feet slightly vibrating, as if something was speedily approaching. Swoosh!! Before he could feel it more carefully, the ground split apart and spheres of light sprang out like birds. Those light spheres rushed towards Zhou Yuan and circled around him, producing faint waves of cheering and excitement. Zhao Mushen¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, but then his pupils suddenly shrank. This was because he saw tiny dragon shadows roaming within the light spheres circling around Zhou Yuan, and an extremely ancient aura was exuded from them. That aura wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to Zhao Mushen because they were Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits. However, the aura emitted from the dragon shadows in the light spheres was far stronger than that of ordinary Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirit. ¡°Those are... Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence?!¡± Zhao Mushen exclaimed. He naturally knew how rare Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence was. However, Zhou Yuan easily fished out so many from the ground? He swept a rough glance over them and estimated there around 20 Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence! ¡°You¡ªyou dug out a nest in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain?¡± Zhao Mushen couldn''t help asking. ¡°This is just a part of it.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°This is unowned property. If we don''t use it to improve our strength, wouldn¡¯t it benefit the enemy if it falls into their hands?¡± Zhao Mushen was dumbfounded. With a flick of his finger, Zhou Yuan brought two Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence floating towards Zhao Mushen. ¡°Everyone will receive benefits. I¡¯m not a greedy person.¡± Zhao Mushen had swallowed his arms and used his blood qi to save Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t treat him badly. Zhao Mushen was dumbstruck to see two Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence suspended in front of him. He didn''t think Zhou Yuan would give him such rare treasures that even third Law Domain stage experts coveted. Zhao Mushen was extremely proud and arrogant, and he wanted to show that he had no interest in Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence but he couldn¡¯t move his eyes away from them. In the end, he swallowed his pride and put away the two Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence. But the corners of his lips curled upwards exposed the emotions in his heart. Zhou Yuan flicked his sleeve and brought out another four Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence towards Wu Yao and Su Youwei, who were in a deep cultivation state. After dividing the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence, he unhesitatingly opened his mouth wide and swallowed the remaining Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence in one mouthful. Zhao Mushe¡¯s scalp numbed uncontrollably. Even third Law Domain stage experts couldn¡¯t refine and absorb them easily but Zhou Yuan swallowed them in one go. What is that guy trying to do? Zhao Mushen suddenly felt a chill in his heart. He understood¡­Zhou Yuan wanted to open a Law Domain! However, Zhao Mushen was also very curious to see how amazing Zhou Yuan¡¯s Law Domain would be? Chapter 1349 Boundary Shatters The dragon head battle zone. The tremendous boundary light barrier was covered with patches of sticky red blood-like light, which possessed a peculiar corrosive ability. As time passed, the defense boundary that gathered the strength of the all-heavens troops was gradually dimming and weakening. A blood mirror stood in the distance, where scarlet torrents were constantly reflected. The Sacred Race army watched with mocking sneers and ruthless smiles particularly when they saw the all-heavens army panic. Once the defense boundary was broken, they could slaughter the all-heavens army like pigs. Hovering in the sky, Tai Xuan indifferently watched the scene. He swept his gaze over Xu Beiyan, Chi Jing and the others and shook his head boredly. ¡°The all-heavens is so intolerable...how could such trash be compared to the noble Sacred Race? As I thought, the Sacred Race and the Sacred God are the best in the world. The beings created by the Ancestral Dragon creator have no potential at all. ¡°But it doesn''t matter, they are going to be wiped out, and the world¡¯s power will return to our god.¡± Tai Xuan shook his head, saying indifferently to those inside the boundary, ¡°When the boundary breaks, anyone who surrenders and becomes a slave of the Sacred Race will be spared.¡± All troops of the all-heavens army reddened with fury. This person has such evil intent, and even wants to attack our morale. ¡°How funny, a crocodile¡¯s pity. Our all-heavens would rather die than surrender!¡± Chi Jing coldly snorted with icy eyes. ¡°Our all-heavens would rather die than surrender!¡± Fighting spirit blazed in many all-heavens experts¡¯ eyes, and fierce and heart-stirring roars resounded. Tai Xuan smiled and said indifferently, ¡°How touching. If that''s the case...then go die. ¡°There is half an hour left until the boundary breaks...this is your last moment, enjoy it.¡± His hands were clasped behind his back and his eyes were slightly closed. Although he stood alone in the air, the pressure exuded from him made many all-heavens Law Domain experts unable to breathe and couldn¡¯t conceal the fear in their eyes. His strength was so terrifying that it made many people despair! They never thought someone could reach such a terrifying level at the Law Domain stage. The present Tai Xuan might be the strongest person below the Saint stage in the world. The atmosphere within the boundary was so tense that it almost solidified. Half an hour slowly passed. The despair in many experts¡¯ eyes deepened as they looked up at Tai Xuan, who was still imposing and formidable. They retreated to the boundary to wait until Tai Xuan''s strength dropped from his powerful state, but the boundary seemed like it wouldn''t survive till then. Xu Beiyan''s expression also didn¡¯t look good. He clenched his fists, but a trace of fear flashed in the depths of his eyes when he looked at Tai Xuan. ¡°Everyone, the boundary is about to break. We have no other option. We should get ready to fight to death.¡± Chi Jing''s cold voice resounded and her face bore a look of determination. The third Law Domain stage experts nearby all looked at her. They admired Chi Jing¡¯s fearlessness and determination in such a situation. After all, not everyone could remain fearless in the face of such a powerful enemy. ¡°The present Tai Xuan is a product from the accumulation of the Sacred Race¡¯s powers. Even if we all self-destruct our Law Domains, it will be worth it!¡± Chi Jing ran her eyes over the others and said indifferently, ¡°It just depends on¡­if we dare to or not.¡± self-destruct their Law Domains? Many Law Domain experts shuddered and their expressions were unusually complicated. That was the last resort of a Law Domain expert, and once used, there would be no chance of surviving. They would no doubt die. When Xu Beiyan saw the fierce and unwavered look on Chi Jing¡¯s face, his throat rumbled and he said hoarsely, ¡°Grand elder Chi Jing, there is no need to do that, right? Everyone here are the elites of all-heavens. Why don¡¯t we retreat? The most important thing is to preserve our strength.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s eyes grew cold. ¡°If we retreat now, it means we give up on the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. Many powerful Sacred Race experts would be born after that. When the Sacred Race invades all-heavens, where will we retreat to then?! ¡°Xu Beiyan...are you scared?!¡± Facing Chi Jing''s aggressiveness, Xu Beiyan felt cold sweat beaded on his scalp and he scolded her crazy woman in his mind. If he admitted that he was scared, his reputation would be ruined. He forced a smile. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Kacha! While they were arguing, a little crackle suddenly sounded. But when it fell in the ears of the all-heavens army, it resembled a clap of thunder and many people felt their hair stand on end. Horrified gazes followed the source of the noise and they saw a crack slowly splitting the boundary light barrier. ¡°The boundary is about to break..." someone said hoarsely. Kacha! Crackles sounded one after another and cracks spread rapidly under horrified gazes. They soon covered the entire boundary light barrier, and from a distance, resembled broken egg shells. Boom! When the cracks reached their limit, the defense light barrier couldn¡¯t bear the damage anymore and shattered into endless light specks with a loud boom. Even time seemed to have frozen at that moment. Tai Xuan, who was standing with his hands behind his back, slowly opened his eyes. He indifferently ran his eyes across the all-heavens army that had lost its protection. ¡°Your barrier has been broken. Do you choose to die or kneel down and become slaves?¡± Boom! An explosion of Genesis Qi answered him. Chi Jing wore a fierce frown on her beautiful face and didn¡¯t say anything. She just circulated her Genesis Qi and faced him directly. She had expressed her answer with her action. The all-heavens Law Domain experts behind her reddened with shame because their fighting spirit was inferior to that of even a woman. ¡°Attack, we can be defeated but not insulted!¡± A third Law Domain expert bellowed. Shua! Waves of powerful Genesis Qi erupted and figures shot out as streams of light. Chi Jing was at the forefront and her eyes, filled with determination, were fixed on Tai Xuan. She knew she couldn¡¯t suppress Tai Xuan with her strength and she knew she would die if she fought. But she wanted to raise the all-heavens morale with her actions and force them to fight to death! ¡°Wind God Law Domain!¡± An azure Law Domain suddenly expanded, the power within it growing increasingly violent. ¡°Oh? She¡¯s¡­going to explode her Law Domain?¡± Tai Xuan¡¯s interest was piqued. ¡°This woman is admirable. However¡­¡± The corners of his lips curled in a strange smile. ¡°It seems you haven¡¯t experienced what despair is¡­in front of me, you aren¡¯t even qualified to self-destruct.¡± Tai Xuan saw through Chi Jing¡¯s intention with one glance. She wanted to spark the all-heavens to fight by self-exploding, but Tai Xuan wouldn¡¯t let her have her way. His Sacred Pupil between his brows suddenly glowed and shot out a beam of light. The light beam, imperceptible to the naked eye, suddenly enveloped Chi Jing. Then, she was horrified to find that she had lost control of herself and her Law Domain. Her body became motionless in the air like a mosquito frozen in a torrent of time and space. Smiling mockingly, Tai Xuan extended his fingers and terrifying Genesis Qi gathered at his fingertips. Then, a lightning spear took shape. Lightning compressed around the spear to form several ancient runes that were filled with destructive power. ¡°This is called the¡­Lightning Demon Spear.¡± ¡°Since you want to sacrifice yourself, I will fulfil your wish.¡± With a flick of his finger, the space in front of him exploded and a beam of black light burst out, appearing in front of Chi Jing in a split second As the lightning spear reflected in her eyes, its destructive power made her understand that she would vanish like smoke if it struck her. But she wasn¡¯t afraid, rather she felt bitter. She wasn¡¯t afraid of death, but she didn''t want to die without doing anything¡­and that was clearly what Tai Xuan wanted. His ridiculing attitude infuriated Chi Jing. The many third Law Domain stage experts behind her, who were charging forward, suddenly halted. Their courage to fight was immediately destroyed as the lightning spear thrust towards Chi Jing. ¡°Is it really...over like that?¡± they muttered painfully. As Chi Jing watched the lightning spear roar towards her with incredible speed, her eyelids drooped. ¡°Master, senior brother¡­I¡¯m too incompetent. I will leave the world first. ¡°But that¡¯s good because I can keep my junior brother company there. Otherwise he will feel too lonely,¡± she muttered. Boom! The destructive lightning spear blasted the space in front of her and she could already feel the terrifying force assaulting her face. Time seemed to have frozen as countless eyes watched that scene. However, just as the lightning spear was about to pierce Chi Jing''s chest, a slender hand suddenly emerged and firmly grasped the lightning spear that was roaring like a wild dragon. It couldn¡¯t move an inch. The slender hand clutched it tight. Pu. The lightning spear crumbled. Many people were dumbstruck by the sudden change. Chi Jing was puzzled when she couldn¡¯t feel the power of destruction anymore, and just as she was about to open her eyes, she heard a chuckle. That familiar voice brought a lump to her throat. ¡°Senior sister Chi Jing, I, your junior brother, is still alive. Don¡¯t curse me.¡± Chapter 1350 Zhou Yuan Returns Chi Jing opened her eyes, staring dazedly at the familiar young figure in the air. His fingers were curled like claws and he was still standing in the same pose as when he destroyed the lightning spear. However, his eyes were filled with a smiling expression when he looked at Chi Jing¡¯s. Chi Jing fell silent for several breaths and eventually cried out softly, ¡°Zhou¡­Zhou Yuan?!¡± Her voice was filled with unconcealable disbelief. She didn''t think the person who saved her would be her little junior brother, who she thought had been killed by Tai Xuan! ¡°You¡¯re not dead?!¡± After being shocked for several breaths, Chi Jing¡¯s face lit up with surprise. Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile. Chi Jing studied Zhou Yuan and the solemn look in her eyes deepened. This was because she sensed a faint pressure from him. Additionally, she couldn¡¯t perceive the strength of his Genesis Qi foundation as though he was a bottomless abyss. She felt a storm turning her heart upside down. She couldn¡¯t understand how Zhou Yuan could undergo such earth-shaking changes in less than half a day. While Chi Jing spaced out from astonishment, the all-heavens army within the broken boundary also noticed Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance and broke into an uproar. ¡°Is that Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°He¡¯s not dead?!¡± ¡°How did he become so strong? He crushed Tai Xuan''s lightning spear!? Or did I see right?!¡± ¡°You saw right¡­he really did it! How terrifying!¡± ¡°His strength has soared again¡­¡± ¡°.....¡± The all-heavens army broke into an uproar and many people were dumbfounded. Looking at Zhou Yuan, who resembled a god descending upon earth, they couldn¡¯t understand what could have happened to make him undergo such a transformation. Many third Law Domain stage experts wore grave expressions because they, who had a stronger perception, could perceive how terrifying Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength was. However, although they were confused on how Zhou Yuan''s strength suddenly skyrocketed to such a level, they still felt relieved. It was undeniably good to have another top expert on their side. However, they didn¡¯t think Zhou Yuan could compete with Tai Xuan because Tai Xuan had caused negative psychological damage to them. Xu Beiyan¡¯s face turned overcast the second that Zhou Yuan appeared, and anger and panic leaped about in the depths of his eyes. He roared in his mind, Why is he not dead?! How is that possible?! He plotted against Zhou Yuan and made him suffer a deadly attack from Tai Xuan, and that attack could severely wound or even kill top third Law Domain stage experts. However, Zhou Yuan managed to survive? How was that possible?! But what numbed Xu Beiyan¡¯s scalp the most was that he sensed an extremely dangerous aura from Zhou Yuan. Damn it! Why isn¡¯t the little bastard killed by Tai Xuan! Xu Beiyan fumed inwardly. His plot was so perfect that nobody noticed any flaws and he was even proud of it. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance made his mood hit rock bottom. He shouldn¡¯t have noticed my plotting, right? Xu Beiyan took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and immediately furrowed his brows in a worried frown. He wasn¡¯t in the slightest afraid of Zhou Yuan before, and if it weren¡¯t for Cang Yuan and the goddess, he would have no scruples to make Zhou Yuan disappear. However, Zhou Yuan clearly had undergone a transformation and he didn¡¯t dare to underestimate him anymore. He even became cautious and vigilant of him. While the all-heavens army was in an uproar, Tai Xuan stared somewhat astonished at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You survived?¡± He smiled in surprise. He was well-aware of the strength of his attack. How could Zhou Yuan, who is only at the Nascent Source stage, survive? ¡°But you seem to have changed a lot¡­¡± A strange light roamed around Tai Xuan''s sacred pupil as he locked his eyes on Zhou Yuan. He narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°You...opened up a Law Domain?¡± Tai Xuan indeed possessed tyrannical strength. The others couldn¡¯t see this, but he immediately noticed that Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi had changed. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Tai Xuan smiled. Zhou Yuan''s gaze remained on Tai Xuan for a good while, and then, he turned and said to Chi Jing and other third Law Domain stage experts. ¡°I will deal with him. You guys watched the other Sacred Race people.¡± ¡°You want to fight him alone?!¡± Everyone looked shocked and even Chi Jing¡¯s expression changed. She hurriedly persuaded, ¡°Zhou Yuan, don''t let your anger affect your decision. Your strength has soared and if you have our help, your chance of winning will be even higher!¡± She was worried that Zhou Yuan was too reckless and wanted to get back at Tai Xuan for severely wounding him. However, this wasn¡¯t the time to show off his ability. Zhou Yuan smiled helplessly, saying, ¡°It¡¯s because you guys probably can¡¯t interfere in our battle.¡± Everyone stared speechless at Zhou Yuan. If it wasn¡¯t because of the current situation, they would have asked ¡®kid, we haven¡¯t seen you in half a day, how did you become like that¡­¡¯ Although Zhou Yuan had intercepted Tai Xuan''s attack, that wasn¡¯t Tai Xuan''s full-strength attack. Additionally, no one really thought Zhou Yuan would be able to stop Tai Xuan. Chi Jing finally said after some hesitation, ¡°Let¡¯s trust Zhou Yuan.¡± She then whispered to Zhou Yuan, ¡°Be careful. Retreat if the situation isn¡¯t favourable. We will help you at any time.¡± She drew back, staring at Zhou Yuan. Other third Law Domain stage experts could only shoot an annoyed look at Zhou Yuan before stepping back. ¡°You actually want to fight me alone?¡± Tai Xuan couldn''t help smiling, but there wasn¡¯t the slightest trace of a smiling expression in his eyes. Instead, they were filled with coldness. ¡°You have a death wish. ¡°You want to die? It won¡¯t be that easy. You think you can be a hero in front of me?¡± As Tai Xuan¡¯s voice died away, the space above Zhou Yuan suddenly tore apart and an incomparably huge fist slammed down. The fist glimmered with thousands of stars and even the surrounding space broke apart as the fist smashed through. Chi Jing¡¯s and others'' countenance simultaneously changed because they could feel Tai Xuan was really infuriated. That punch was far more terrifying than the one he severely wounded Zhou Yuan with! ¡°Zhou Yuan, be careful!¡± Chi Jing anxiously reminded. The others furrowed their brows, and only Xu Beiyan wore an imperceptible smile. That idiot is so arrogant. If he dies in Tai Xuan''s hands, I won¡¯t have to worry anymore. However, amidst horrified gazes, Zhou Yuan''s expression remained as usual. With a stomp of his foot, a vast amount of Genesis Qi rushed out from the top of his head. The Genesis Qi was purple-gold and incomparably bright. Additionally, upon a closer look, one would notice dragon scales partly hidden and partly visible on the Genesis Qi surface. The Genesis Qi was displayed in full majesty right away. It filled the world, obscuring the sky and covering the ground. Many Law Domain experts couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing. They stared astonished at the Genesis Qi soaring into the sky like a dragon. ¡°That¡¯s¡­grade-9 Genesis Qi?!¡± Amidst shocked gazes, the purple-golden dragon qi rushed into the sky, followed by a giant dragon fist blasted out. The dragon fist was extremely fierce and its dragon scales produced a dazzling sheen. The fist, containing vast, boundless powers, directly smashed the vault of heaven. The dragon fist head-on met the starry sky fist smashing down. Boom! Waves of thousand-feet Genesis Qi erupted. Many people¡¯s faces blanched during the collision because the dragon fist unleashed an earth-shaking roar and the starry sky fist was exploded into pieces! Countless specks of light were scattered like a shower of rain. The all-heavens army stood stupefied. Then, flushing with excitement, they roared out loud. Even their eyes seemed to be brimming with tears because this was the first time that an attack from Tai Xuan, who was invincible to many people, was single handedly destroyed by someone! Chapter 1351 Law Domain Collision The sky full of light specks dissipated and drifted like a spectacular firework show. Everyone¡¯s countenance changed dramatically and their eyes were wide with astonishment. Who would have thought that Zhou Yuan could block an attack from Tai Xuan, who was seen as invincible. How did Zhou Yuan become so strong? Chi Jing and many third Law Domain stage experts were still in a trance-like state. It was only after a good while that they snapped out of their shock and a rush of joy and excitement sent color to their faces. Although unaware how Zhou Yuan had become so abnormally strong, he was still a life-saving straw regardless! The all-heavens army erupted in deafening cheers and roars. Tai Xuan had suppressed them too hard. Now that they saw Zhou Yuan step forward and obstructed Tai Xuan, who was previously unstoppable, how could they control their joy and excitement? ¡°How did he¡­become that strong?¡± Xu Beiyan also shuddered at the scene. He stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back, sizing him up, and a chill as well as undisguisable jealousy emitted from his body. Xu Beiyan didn¡¯t particularly care that Zhou Yuan made a name for himself in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill because he looked down on Zhou Yuan. After all, Zhou Yuan was only at the Nascent Source stage while he was a true top third Law Domain stage expert! He even had hope of reaching the Saint stage! That was the source of his superiority. However, that superiority was trampled to pieces. Tai Xuan narrowed his eyes and his face, which always wore an unconcerned expression, turned serious for the first time. The power contained in Zhou Yuan¡¯s counterattack far exceeded his third Law Domain stage. ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine that someone who just opened up a Law Domain would reach such a level¡­¡± Tai Xuan looked at Zhou Yuan, saying indifferently, ¡°It seems that the title no.1 person at all-heavens Law Domain stage belongs to you.¡± ¡°But this makes the battle even more interesting. At least there is someone who can make me stretch my muscles.¡± Tai Xuan grinned, his eyes filled with anticipation. Then, with one thought, a vast amount of blood-red Genesis Qi erupted and turned the sky scarlet. Scarlet Genesis Qi rushed skywards, raging like a sea of blood. ¡°Don''t think that you¡¯re the only one who has grade-9 Genesis Qi!¡± Tai Xuan roared like rumbling thunder. Horror filled many people¡¯s eyes when they saw scarlet Genesis Qi raging like a sea of blood behind Tai Xuan. The Genesis Qi was thick, vicious and as clear as blood crystals. Additionally, as the sea of blood surged, it produced almost imperceptible whistles as though it contained some sort of special life! All experts, regardless where they were from, were filled with envy. Grade-9 Genesis Qi was the pinnacle of Genesis Qi! However, it was incredibly rare to see grade-9 Genesis Qi and there were very few cultivation arts that one could master to cultivate grade-9 Genesis Qi. Even Saints couldn¡¯t create such Genesis Qi cultivation arts. The most special thing about grade-9 Genesis Qi was that it could give birth to spiritual intellect and life. In other words, the Genesis Qi had a spirit! It was rumored that no one below the Saint stage could remove such Genesis Qi from one¡¯s body if it invaded. Instead, the Genesis Qi would gradually swallow the Genesis Qi inside one¡¯s body and even Law Domain experts would eventually lose their lives as they weakened day by day. The difference between grade-9 and grade-8 Genesis Qi was as huge as an abyss. The sea of blood was reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. It was like a blood-red demon roaring and emitting boundless fiendish aura. Additionally, he sensed a familiar ripple of energy within Tai Xuan''s scarlet-red Genesis Qi. He pondered for a moment and remembered it was the same as the powerful Genesis Qi that Jia Tu used when they fought. But the most astonishing thing to Zhou Yuan was that the Genesis Qi was somewhat similar to his Ancestral Dragon Scripture. I think it¡¯s called the Ancient God Scripture? ¡°The Genesis Qi you cultivate is somewhat similar to our Sacred Race¡¯s Ancient God Scripture,¡± Tai Xuan suddenly said aloud while such a thought flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. A suspicious light flashed in his eyes. He didn¡¯t notice before, but after Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength skyrocketed, he could feel the Genesis Qi that Zhou Yuan cultivated was somewhat similar to his. What Ancient God Scripture?! It¡¯s just a simplified version of my Ancestral Dragon Scripture. It seems that the Sacred God is using them as experiments. Zhou Yuan pondered. Understanding dawned on him. Although the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was a secret, the Sacred God could have come into contact with it given his almighty powers. It seemed the Sacred God imparted the Ancient God Scripture to the top Sacred Race heaven prides to see what the result would be. However, even though Tai Xuan had cultivated the Ancient God Scripture to the grade-9 level, Zhou Yuan could still sense a gap between their Genesis Qi. Also, Zhou Yuan remembered that Yaoyao had mentioned that the grade-9 level wasn¡¯t the Ancestral Dragon Scripture¡¯s limit. Therefore, to him, a person with deep knowledge in the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, the Ancient God Scripture that the Sacred God created using the Ancestral Dragon Scripture¡¯s foundation was still inferior. Tai Xuan stared indifferently at Zhou Yuan, saying, ¡°Although I don''t know where you learned this cultivation art which is a little similar to the Ancient God Scripture that our Sacred God created, it isn¡¯t important. Once I kill you, everything will be gone.¡± He folded his hands together, and the fingertips formed a seal. Hum! A tremendous wave of energy suddenly expanded where he was. It¡¯s a Law Domain! On the all-heavens side, Chi Jing and others were shocked to see Tai Xuan¡¯s Law Domain because it was the first time he displayed his Law Domain ever since he appeared. It was obvious that he was finally getting serious because of Zhou Yuan. The ground instantly turned into a sea of blood where the Law Domain passed and much evil was constantly born within the Law Domain. ¡°This is...the Great Blood God Law Domain. ¡°Since you forced me to use my Law Domain...Zhou Yuan, you should have no other regrets in your life.¡± Tai Xuan smiled as his Law Domain expanded in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction with incredible speed, like a tremendous mouth opening to swallow him. As the tremendous red Law Domain was reflected in Zhou Yuan''s eyes, he sensed the terrifying power it contained. However, there wasn¡¯t a hint of fear in his eyes. Instead, he was itching to act. ¡°Law Domain¡­ ¡°Then I also invite you to come and try my new Law Domain!¡± As he strode forward, endless sacred light rushed out from his body, followed by a Law Domain rapidly expanding out from where he stood and an ancient and majestic dragon roar that seemed to have traveled through space and time. Sacred Qi flowed down like waterfalls within the Law Domain. ¡°This is called the Sacred Dragon Law Domain.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled faintly, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes like raging flames. ¡°Please have a taste.¡± Chapter 1352 Nine-Claw Purple-Gold Sacred Dragon Boom! The two tremendous Law Domains collided, and the shock waves from the impact spread across a radius of one hundred thousand li, destroying numerous spaces. All-heavens experts stared dumbstruck as the Sacred Law Domain broke out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body because they could feel the vast and terrifying power it contained. Not even third Law Domain stage experts could possess a Law Domain of that level. They were a little baffled because it had taken them many years of polishing to reach their current level at the Law Domain stage, but Zhou Yuan, who had reached the Law Domain stage less than half a day, had already surpassed them. ¡°What level of the Law Domain stage is he at?¡± someone asked puzzledly. However, no one answered because the so-called Law Domain level system didn¡¯t seem to apply to an abnormal person like Zhou Yuan. He could be said to be at the first Law Domain stage but he also surpassed people at the third Law Domain stage. Space crumbled where the Law Domains collided, creating an empty hole. Tai Xuan¡¯s face was emotionless because he already knew that other third Law Domain stage experts couldn¡¯t be compared to Zhou Yuan when he first encountered him. And now, Zhou Yuan was indeed qualified to threaten him. Since Tai Xuan was highly regarded by the Sacred Race experts and they even helped him create an opportunity to break through to the Saint stage, he couldn¡¯t allow himself to fail. ¡°Endless Sea of Blood,¡± Tai Xuan uttered. A sea of blood suddenly roared across the area, swallowing all vitality where it passed. Even Law Domain experts were instantly turned to blood if caught in the sea and their Genesis Qi became nutrients. This was one of Tai Xuan¡¯s killing move. Everything was corroded and engulfed as the sea of blood swept across. Everywhere that Zhou Yuan looked, he could only see a sea of blood. It was as though he couldn¡¯t escape from that sea of blood wherever he went. ¡°Such tyrannical Law Domain power,¡± Zhou Yuan exclaimed. If he were to fall into that Law Domain before his breakthrough, it would have been disastrous for him. Fortunately, he had completed his breakthrough. He also possessed Law Domain power! As Zhou Yuan lifted his hand, ancient and sacred light flowed down his Law Domain before quickly converging. After a few seconds, a sea filled with ancient and sacred aura emerged in the center of the Sacred Dragon Law Domain. If his opponent''s sea of blood was said to possess corrosive and engulfing power, the sacred sea seemed capable of washing away all filth and unclean power in the world. ¡°This is called the Divine Sacred Sea.¡± With a flick of his finger, Zhou Yuan brought the Divine Sacred Sea roaring out to meet the sea of blood releasing ominous power. Countless thousand-feet waves were whipped up and frantically crashed together, constantly dissolving the opponent¡¯s power. The sea of blood surged violently, producing enraged roars, but no matter how it bombarded the Divide Sacred Sea, it couldn¡¯t swallow it. Both the all-heavens army and the Sacred Race Army solemnly watched the battle between the two. No one dared to intervene in a battle of that level because they were worried they wouldn¡¯t be able to come out alive if they charged in. Everyone could tell that the final outcome of the war depended on the battle between the two. They could only become spectators, waiting for the outcome to come. As the two monstrous seas continued to collide, the chill in Tai Xuan''s eyes grew increasingly intense. Then, he folded one hand in a seal and a low voice sounded, ¡°Immortal Blood Demon!¡± Hua! The sea of blood suddenly bubbled frantically and a wave of blood was lifted high up. Then, two incomparably fierce rays of blood-red light shot out from the wave. A several thousand-feet demon covered with razor-sharp blood-colored thorns strode out the wave. It lifted its head and roared skywards. That roar caused the Sacred Dragon Law Domain to shake violently. Chi Jing and the others paled when they saw the hideous-looking blood demon and the monstrous fiendish qi it emitted. They uttered with difficulty, ¡°Is that Tai Xuan¡¯s Law Domain spirit? It¡¯s so terrifying!¡± They realized that Tai Xuan hadn¡¯t displayed all his strength. They were fortunate to have hid into the boundary. Otherwise, they likely would have been single-handedly wiped out by Tai Xuan. The blood demon roared and locked its blood eyes locked on Zhou Yuan. It took a few steps forward, smashing through space and appeared before Zhou Yuan. It slammed out a giant fist wrapped in a sea of blood. The force of that punch could flatten a one-hundred-thousand-li mountain range. Boom! As Zhou Yuan hovered in the air, the blood demon¡¯s giant fist was reflected in his eyes. However, he didn¡¯t evade. Just as the giant fist was inches away from him, endless rays of light erupted behind him with an earth-shattering dragon roar. A dragon claw covered with golden-purple scales slashed through the air, meeting the blood demon fist head-on. Bang! Space violently vibrated as the giant blood demon was blasted back. Every step it took caused even the vault of heaven to quake. Countless people shifted their gaze to the dazzling light rays behind Zhou Yuan to see a giant dragon emerging. The giant dragon looked unbelievably huge as it hovered in the sky. It was covered in a purple-gold scale armor, and even the space wailed when it moved its powerful body. The dragon exuded an indescribably ancient aura, as if it was formed from a wisp of the Ancestral Dragon aura when the world was created. Many Mystic Dragon Clan members on the all-heavens side stared at the giant dragon that seemed to be real behind Zhou Yuan with complex gazes. It was said that two dragons were born when the Ancestral Dragon created all beings. One was the Mystic Dragon Clan¡¯s ancestor, the Imperial Dragon, created from the flesh and blood of the Ancestral Dragon and was once a top Alpha Holy Beast of the world. The other dragon was as ancient as the Imperial Dragon but more illusory. It was called the Sacred Dragon, which was formed from a wisp of aura of the Ancestral Dragon. It didn¡¯t truly exist but was transformed into the most mysterious Blessing. Since ancient times, the Sacred Dragon had only revealed itself very few times. Who would have thought they could see it with their own eyes that day. ¡°Is that the spirit of Zhou Yuan''s Law Domain? He¡¯s able to develop a Sacred Dragon?!¡± Many Law Domain experts exclaimed in astonishment. They had never heard someone could transform the Sacred Dragon into a Law Domain Spirit! Chi Jing wore a ruminative expression. She knew that Zhou Yuan possessed the Sacred Dragon Blessing and that a part of the Sacred Dragon Blessing was in Wu Yao¡¯s body. She speculated that Zhou Yuan had completely restored his Sacred Dragon Blessing when his team was struck into the underground. That allowed him to break through to the Law Domain stage, and the complete Sacred Dragon Blessing allowed him to develop an extremely rare Law Domain Spirit when he opened up a Law Domain. Under astonished gazes, Zhou Yuan peered up at the nine-claw purple-gold sacred dragon, the product from the combining of his Sacred Dragon Blessing and Law Domain. He looked forward to seeing its power with anticipation. As though it sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s expectation, the purple-gold dragon¡¯s huge body slowly moved, locking its eyes on the Immortal Blood Demon, who was roaring skywards. It opened its huge mouth, displaying its razor-sharp teeth. Roar! An ancient dragon roar resounded. The purple-gold dragon breath gushed out, smashing space to powder where it passed. The power it contained made all third Law Domain stage experts¡¯ scalp numb and even the Saints outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain narrowed their eyes. Boom! The dragon breath that contained the nine-claw purple-gold sacred dragon¡¯s power slammed into the huge blood demon, causing terrifying power to break out and blasted the demon back repeatedly. Even the sea of blood beneath its feet was rapidly vaporizing. Boom! In just a few breaths, the Immortal Blood Demon was blasting across the air, its huge body rapidly shrinking. In the end, it let out an unwilling roar before it was eliminated by the purple-gold dragon breath! The sea of blood that seemed unstoppable was forcibly tore apart and the flecks of purple-gold light flashing within the sea made it impossible for the sea of blood to recover. They were like extremely hideous scars. One gush of dragon breath destroyed the blood demon and tore apart the sea of blood! The people on both sides couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing. The Sacred Dragon¡¯s power was too terrifying. Chapter 1353 A Battle at the Pinnacle Law Domain Stage A crack split the vast surging sea of blood and the purple-gold light leaping about made it impossible for the sea of blood to recover. The sea of blood violently bubbled as though suffering immense pain. That purple-gold dragon breath evidently inflicted severe damage to the sea of blood. Many people¡¯s eyes were wide with astonishment because the dragon breath¡¯s power was beyond their imagination. As Tai Xuan stood above the sea of blood, his face that was always apathetic suddenly darkened. He looked at the striking crack in the sea of blood and a chilling aura was released from his body. Even he didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to possess such tyrannical strength. ¡°I never thought there would be someone at the Law Domain stage in the five lower heavens who can match my strength,¡± said Tai Xuan indifferently, his voice filled with undisguised murderous intent. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re different.¡± ¡°You¡¯re only able to temporarily achieve it with the help of other Sacred Race experts¡¯ blood qi, but I relied on my own strength¡­¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips were curved in a mocking smile. ¡°So, how can you compare to me?¡± Uproar broke out from both the all-heavens and Sacred Race side. Zhou Yuan''s words were too crazy. Tai Xuan was the strongest and fiercest expert in the Sacred Race Law Domain stage and he had single handedly pushed many all-heavens third Law Domain stage experts to a state of despair, but Zhou Yuan said that Tai Xuan wasn¡¯t qualified to be compared to him? But although the audience was wild with commotion, no one thought Zhou Yuan was a lunatic. Even Sacred Race experts only wore icy and displeased expressions. Moreover, they couldn¡¯t conceal the grave expression between their brows. After all, Zhou Yuan had displayed his power with the purple-gold dragon breath and it was clearly not inferior to Tai Xuan¡¯s. The most important thing was that what Zhou Yuan said was right. Although Tai Xuan possessed terrifying strength, it was only because he absorbed the blood qi of many top Sacred Race experts. One relied on foreign means and the other relied on himself. There was indeed a clear difference between the two. Tai Xuan peered at Zhou Yuan and the chilling aura surrounding him was enough to make many third Law Domain stage experts shudder with fear. Anyone could tell that Zhou Yuan¡¯s words infuriated him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, only the outcome matters and not the process. No one would care how glorious a dead person was. You are going to be my stepping stone today.¡± Tai Xuan''s eyes grew sharp as he lifted both hands into the air. The sea of blood bubbled with killing intent and a thousand-feet blood demon once again took shape in the center of the sea of blood. It lifted its head and unleashed a deafening roar. ¡°Do you think that the Immortal Blood Demon will be destroyed so easily? You are too naive! ¡°Tear it apart!¡± Tai Xuan pointed to the purple-gold sacred dragon above Zhou Yuan. The fierce blood demon roared as it sped towards the purple-gold sacred dragon. Roar! Facing the blood demon¡¯s provocation, the purple-gold sacred dragon also unleashed a majestic dragon roar. It moved its tremendous body and met the blood demon head-on. Boom! The two colossal creatures clashed, destroying everything where they passed. Neither Zhou Yuan nor Tai Xuan had glanced at the destruction on the other side. Although it seemed earth-shaking, the Sacred Dragon and Immortal Blood Demon were both formed from their Law Domains and thus their power originated from Zhou Yuan and Tai Xuan, respectively. The outcome of the battle still depended on the battle between their real bodies. Their gazes collided with unconcealable killing intent. Boom! Storm raged as the two Law Domain collided, distorting the world. Shua! The two vanished without a trace almost at the same time. No one could capture how they disappeared and by the time they returned to their senses, they saw two demon-like figures colliding like meteors. Boom! Every movement from the two figures were wrapped in power that made even the third Law Domain stage expert¡¯s scalp numb. The two collided over one hundred times in the blink of an eye. Everyone could only hear thunder rumbling and the space wailing brought about by the collision of Genesis Qi. Ordinary Law Domain experts couldn¡¯t see the two figures inside the boundless and violent Genesis Qi with the naked eye and only third Law Domain stage experts could capture the terrifying battle. Boom! Space shattered and the two figures slammed out their fists at the same time, sending destructive Genesis Qi shuttling through space like a starry river before colliding with the opponent¡¯s. It created a spectacular display of fireworks, but it contained the aura of death. Zhou Yuan and Tai Xuan quivered, but they both ignored the impact caused by the Genesis Qi shock waves and speedily whizzed away, leaving countless images in the air. Tai Xuan¡¯s face was icy-cold because Zhou Yuan was able to take all his attacks during the thousands of rounds they fought. Even Tai Xuan couldn¡¯t help feeling jealous of Zhou Yuan''s strength because, as Zhou Yuan had said, part of Tai Xuan¡¯s power was from top Sacred Race experts. Although this was considered his unique ability, in comparison to a monster like Zhou Yuan, he still was inferior. ¡°He has terrifying potential. If he managed to make it through this calamity, he will have the qualification to reach the Saint stage. I must kill him before that!¡± A fierce light flashed in Tai Xuan¡¯s eyes as he clenched one hand. Then, endless blood-colored light rapidly gathered in his palm and a bronze blood-stained spear appeared in his grip. The spear¡¯s appearance immediately caused an explosion of monstrous fiendish qi and made even Zhou Yuan narrow his eyes. It seems to be a Sacred Genesis Weapon! When this thought flashed across his mind, Tai Xuan was already thrusting the spear towards him. As the spear waved in the air, an endless sea of blood emerged in the world, suppressing heaven and earth. It flooded everyone¡¯s line of sight and was impossible to resist. However, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t evade. Instead, he lifted his hand into the air when the spear whizzed over like a wave and summoned a mottled black brush. Mighty aura surrounding the brush and the eight ancient Genesis Runes on it sparkled brightly. The intensity of the brightness was never seen before. It was clear that as Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength improved, he could fully display the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s power to its fullest. But unfortunately, the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s ninth rune still hadn''t been awakened. But even so, clasping the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Zhou Yuan could truly feel the astonishing power of the Sacred Genesis Weapon. ¡°Million Whale!¡± As he swung his brush across the air, countless ancient whale roars resounded between heaven and earth and the Heavenly Yuan Brush seemed to have become extremely heavy. Clang! The mottled black brush collided with the bronze spear. A resounding metallic clang echoed throughout the entire Stone Dragon Secret Domain. Many Law Domain experts furrowed their brows because the sound wave brought discomfort to even them. The two Sacred Genesis Weapons even seemed to have created a black hole where they collided, swallowing everything. However, as the collision continued for several breaths, a sinister look came to Tai Xuan''s eyes.¡°Do you really think this is just an ordinary Sacred Genesis Weapon?¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes, but before he could respond, a mysterious glimmer of light bloomed from the bronze spear in Tai Xuan¡¯s grip, as if it contained the power of the entire world. That glimmer of light shrank, forming a simple lotus mark. Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank when he saw the lotus mark. That¡¯s a¡­Lotus Seal! Tai Xuan has already refined a Saint Lotus Seal with his bronze spear?! This is something that only Saints could achieve! ¡°Swallow him, Transformed Blood Spear! Take everything away from him!¡± Tai Xuan roared with laughter as the bronze spear in his hand turned into multiple red rings of light. They circled around Zhou Yuan before rotating at various angles, which, from a distance, resembled a blood-red dome prison and completely trapped Zhou Yuan. The rings of light rapidly shrank, and everything within it, including the universe Genesis Qi, was turned into nothingness. Many experts on the all-heavens side sensed a wisp of mighty force that brought boundless pressure, and their face immediately paled. Who would have thought that the Sacred Genesis Weapon in Tai Xuan¡¯s hand had refined a lotus seal. It should be said that such a lotus seal would only be born after many years of cultivating even for Saints! A lotus seal Sacred Genesis Weapon was very highly regarded even to Saints! Moreover, not many people below the Saint stage could mobilize a Sacred Genesis Weapon with a lotus seal! How could Tai Xuan do it?! Their hearts sank when they saw Zhou Yuan imprisoned in the scarlet blood prison. They understood that Zhou Yuan was in great trouble. His opponent was unimaginably tricky to deal with. Chapter 1354 Zhou Yuan’s Counterattack When the blood-red rings surrounded Zhou Yuan and imprisoned him, the all-heavens army troops frowned with worry. Who would have thought Tai Xuan would hold a lotus seal Sacred Genesis Weapon! Even Saints wouldn¡¯t so easily give up on such a sacred object, but one was in Tai Xuan¡¯s possession. This showed how much effort the Sacred Race had put into their plan! ¡°Zhou Yuan, the Blood Spirit Rings are formed from a lotus seal. Anyone below the Saint stage would be reduced to blood once caught in it.¡± Tai Xuan swept an indifference gaze over Zhou Yuan like he was a prey fallen into a trap. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, your blood won¡¯t go to waste because I will completely absorb it.¡± Standing inside the blood-colored rings, Zhou Yuan felt a terrifying corrosive force as the rings spun around him. Even he sensed danger from that power. With a flick of his sleeve, purple-gold Genesis Qi roared out like two giant dragons and rammed into the blood-colored rings barrier. But that only made it ripple. ¡°It¡¯s no use, you think you can counter a lotus seal¡¯s power?¡± Tai Xuan sneered. As he was talking, he manipulated the blood-colored rings to constrict, causing the space inside to shrink and a terrifying force enveloped Zhou Yuan. Studying the blood-colored rings barrier, Zhou Yuan snorted, ¡°Your lotus seal is blessed by the Sacred Race Saints and isn¡¯t a real lotus seal.¡± The so-called lotus seal mark was a mark imprinted into Tai Xuan¡¯s Sacred Genesis Weapon by the Sacred Race Saints. However, such a seal mark could only be classified as a consumable and could only be used once. Thus, it couldn¡¯t be compared to a true lotus seal. Tai Xuan put on an act and tried to scare Zhou Yuan to increase the pressure on him. Even the Sacred Race Saints would need several years to refine a lotus seal treasure. How would they give one to Tai Xuan? Tai Xuan looked a little surprised but he immediately smiled and said, ¡°You have sharp eyes. You saw through it but so what? A lotus seal mark can still bring you huge trouble. You, who has no lotus seal Sacred Genesis Weapon, can¡¯t easily destroy it.¡± ¡°Is that right?¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyelids drooped. Then, he stretched out his hand and pressed it on the tip of the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Purple-gold Genesis Qi gushed out, and a drop of blood appeared at Zhou Yuan''s fingertips. It glowed brightly like a purple-gold gemstone. ¡°Stop pretending!¡± Tai Xuan¡¯s eyes grew cold and he manipulated the blood rings¡¯ power to their peak. As blood-colored lights flashed, the barrier rapidly shrank and a terrifying force that seemed capable of destroying everything crashed down on Zhou Yuan who was trapped inside. ¡°Turn to blood!¡± Zhou Yuan seemed unconcerned and just stared at the brush tip indifferently while rays of purple-gold light wildly flashed in his palm. Suddenly, he uttered, ¡°Although no Saints had blessed me with a lotus seal, I can create one myself! ¡°How could your simplified version be compared to the real Ancestral Dragon Scripture? ¡°The Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi...the Art of Rising Dragon Seizes Heaven.¡± Boom! Dazzling rays of light erupted like a blazing sun from the blood rings and a terrifying force was spewed out like thousands of volcanoes. The blood rings formed from the lotus seal were directly severed as the rays of purple-golden light passed! Even the world seemed to split apart when the purple-gold light streaked across the sky. Tai Xuan¡¯s expression changed dramatically and he cried out, ¡°How is that possible!?¡± Although the blood rings were only strengthened by Saints once, it still contained tyrannical power and even Tai Xuan would be in great trouble if caught in it, if not in fatal danger. But how could Zhou Yuan split it apart like that?! The black brush in that guy''s hand clearly hasn''t reached the level of the lotus seal! Shua! However, no one answered him. Zhou Yuan appeared in front of Tai Xuan with a flash. Wearing an indifferent expression, he lunged his mottled black brush forward. Chi! That lunge seemed weak and powerless, but as the brush tip flashed, a dark crack spanning thousands of li appeared in the sky. Streaks of purple-gold light flowed out from the tip of the brush, making the tip appear made from gold. Additionally, a golden lotus seal loomed from the hair of the brush¡¯s tip, releasing an indescribable power. The brush seemed capable of piercing through even the vault of heaven. The golden lotus seal on the Heavenly Yuan¡¯s Brush¡¯s tip immediately caught Tai Xuan¡¯s attention. His pupils shrank and his face twisted with disbelief. ¡°How would his Sacred Genesis Weapon have a lotus seal?!¡± Tai Xuan had experienced the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s power when they previously clashed and it was at most an ordinary Sacred Genesis Weapon. It was still far from refining a lotus seal so how could a lotus seal suddenly appear?! ¡°No, it''s not right, this lotus seal is illusory. It¡¯s not a real lotus seal!¡± But even so, Tai Xuan still felt storms turning his heart upside down because no Saints were present to help Zhou Yuan, which means it was summoned by Zhou Yuan himself! How could it be possible? Only Saints could do that! Thoughts flashed across his mind but he didn¡¯t dare to be careless because the power contained in that Sacred Genesis Weapon could already threaten him. ¡°The Yama Door of the Blood Sea!¡± He frantically drew back, waving his sleeve. He summoned waves of blood roaring across the sky to form iron walls. Each one was a fierce screaming face spewing out blood qi. Boom! The Heavenly Yuan Brush didn''t seem to care about the many obstacles. The ghost-face walls exploded to pieces as a purple-gold torrent pierced through them. The 18 layers of defense were destroyed in just one breath. By the time Tai Xuan snapped out of his shock, Zhou Yuan was already standing in front of him clasping the Heavenly Yuan Brush. His face was indifferent but murderous intent leaped about inside his eyes. The purple-gold lotus seal on the brush¡¯ tip grew increasingly weak. ¡°Genesis Spirit!¡± Zhou Yuan tightly grasped the mottled brush body and tremendous Genesis Qi as well as Spirit power erupted. The two mighty powers fused perfectly, as if forming an earthshaking attack. As Tao Xuan¡¯s pupils shrank, the power poured towards his body with thunderous force. At that moment, it was as though a scorching sun exploded. Indescribable shock waves raged out and wreaked havoc. Even the experts far away paled with horror and the Genesis Qi within their body violently vibrated from the impact. But they continued to fix their eyes on the source of the shock waves. They could see clearly Tai Xuan''s figure plunging from above and eventually smashed a thousand feet deep abyss into the ground before being buried by boulders tumbling down. The scene was similar to when Tai Xuan struck Zhou Yuan into the underground. That scene had a huge impact on the all-heavens experts because no one ever thought Tai Xuan, who was invincible at the Law Domain stage, would fall into such an embarrassed state! When the countless all-heavens experts peered up at the figure standing tall in the sky, their eyes blazed with amazement and awe. Chapter 1355 The Nine Seals of the Blood Prison, the Prison Suppresses Nine Heavens When Tai Xuan plunged into the ground and smashed out a deep abyss, the all-heavens army broke into wild joy while the Sacred Race army broke into a commotion. They couldn''t accept such an outcome. After all, Tai Xuan had previously suppressed the all-heavens in an invincible manner. How would he be crushed by a kid who was only at the Nascent Source stage?! ¡°Hmph, Tai Xuan is just a spear that shines like silver. He looks impressive but is so useless!¡± ¡°He wasn¡¯t worth us sacrificing!¡± Top Sacred Race experts fumed and seemed to be very dissatisfied. After all, they became the background to make Tai Xuan stand out in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. This was also the Sacred Race Saints¡¯s wish and so didn¡¯t dare to disobey. No one complained when Tai Xuan single handedly swept away the enemies, but now that the Sacred Race had fallen into a disadvantaged state, they began to feel that it wasn''t worth going to such effort to combine their strength to help Tai Xuan and become his stepping stones. ¡°Okay, stop talking nonsense. Whatever you guys say won¡¯t help the present situation. You shouldn¡¯t boost other people¡¯s courage and reduce our morale. That kid isn¡¯t ordinary, but do you think Tai Xuan is easy to deal with? Even if you don¡¯t believe in him, you should trust the Saints¡¯ eyes!¡± Their complaints didn¡¯t continue for long and were soon stopped by some calmer people. Many top Sacred Race experts fell silent, and their resentment gradually subsided. In truth, they were unhappy that Tai Xuan occupied the spotlight in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain and were jealous that the Saints chose Tai Xuan and even planned this opportunity for him. If he succeeded he likely would become a new Saint of the Sacred Race and there would be a world of difference in status between them and him. Reaching the Saint stage was everyone¡¯s ultimate goal. But even if they were jealous of Tai Xuan¡¯s opportunity, they understood that the outcome of the Stone Dragon Secret Domain was in the battle between Tai Xuan and Zhou Yuan. Of course they hoped that Tai Xuan could suppress Zhou Yuan and make the all-heavens army tremble at the Sacred Race¡¯s name. Hovering in the air, Zhou Yuan peered down at the giant abyss-like rift. The depths showed how fierce his counterattack was. He glanced at the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s tip, where the golden lotus seal had disappeared. After all, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t at the saint stage and he was only just barely able to form a special lotus seal with the help of the mysterious grade-9 Galaxy Sacred Dragon Qi.Even so, Zhou Yuan was still shocked by its power. It was one of the strongest powers in the world. But Zhou Yuan knew that although the attack could wound Tai Xuan, it was impossible to kill him. Boom! While Zhou Yuan was pondering, the ground suddenly vibrated and he heard rushing water. Then, everyone saw blood-red water roaring out from the thousand-feet-deep abyss like a dragon. Fiendish qi filled the sky. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes, his gaze penetrating the blood water, and he found a figure lying on his back in the depths. Tai Xuan¡¯s eyes were tightly closed and his white hair had become blood-red to the tip as though fused with blood. Even the sight of him would make one shudder with fear. Hua! As thought sensed Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, Tai Xuan suddenly opened his eyes, which had become scarlet-red and without any pupils. Moreover, they contained boundless fiendish aura like those of a world-devastating blood demon. Waves lifted high up from the sea of blood and nine tremendous whirlpools took shape, shooting pillars of blood-colored light into the sky. Within the blood-colored light were nine blood seals expanding with the wind. Moreover, Tai Xuan¡¯s body was gradually withering with the nine blood seals¡¯ appearance. All all-heavens experts¡¯ eyes went wide with horror because they could tell that Tai Xuan was summoning a killing move. Many top experts on the Sacred Race¡¯s side lit up with joy. ¡°That¡¯s...the Nine Seals of Blood Prison?! A top super Saint Genesis Art of our Sacred Race!¡± ¡°This is the first time I saw someone other than Saints summon a complete Nine Seals of Blood Prison!¡± ¡°Tai Xuan is amazing. Make the lowly race know that they can¡¯t free themselves from our Sacred Race¡¯s suppression regardless of how they resist!¡± ¡°The victory will surely be decided now that that super genesis art has been activated!¡± ¡°......¡± They all felt a heavy weight had been lifted from them. Tai Xuan was clearly angered by his failure and didn¡¯t hold back his attack anymore. With such a powerful Saint Genesis Art combined with his terrifying foundation, he could destroy all enemies. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression grew grave as he stared at the blood seals within the nine beams of blood-colored light. The power they emitted was indeed devastating. Even Zhou Yuan felt great danger. ¡°A super Saint Genesis Art¡­?¡± A fierce light flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. He knew that he couldn¡¯t have any reservation in a battle of such a level. Otherwise, if he retreated, it would be difficult to turn the situation around again. The nine blood seals rushed out from the nine pillars of blood-colored light, colliding and fusing in the air. Nine Seals Unite! As blood-colored light roamed around, an infinite blood prison formed around the nine seals. The terrifying power it released could suppress even Genesis Qi upon contact. As the sea of blood surged, Tai Xuan¡¯s body was much more withered compared to before and his skin was pale as paper, but his red eyes that seemed to be dripping with blood emitted much more terrifying fishing qi than before. He locked his eyes on Zhou Yuan, and without saying anything, he raised both hands into the air. ¡°The Nine Seals of the Blood Prison, Prison Suppress the Nine Heavens!¡± As his low voice died away, the infinite blood prison smashed through space and appeared directly above Zhou Yuan with a slight shake. The blood prison had completely suppressed and sealed the entire space. Then, it suddenly crashed down. The heaven and earth turned blood-red as a boundless foul wind started to rage. The infinite blood prison echoed with millions of painful roars. Both sides¡¯ Law Domain experts¡¯ faces twisted with pain and their Spirit quivered or even showed signs crumbling when they heard those roars. But fortunately, they were only affected by the shock waves and were able to prevent their Spirit from crumbling by circulating their Genesis Qi. The experts on the all-heavens side frowned with worry. Even they could feel the terror of Tai Xuan¡¯s counterattack outside. This was evidently a battle that could determine the victor. They didn¡¯t know how Zhou Yuan would counterattack¡­ Zhou Yuan similarly stared gravely at the infinite blood prison that was descending without any reservation. Once it crashed down, even death would be a luxury. ¡°I have fought with my life for many years. When have I ever been afraid of anyone?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes glinted fiercely. A trash who relied on external means to strengthen himself wants to suppress me?! Zhou Yuan raised his hand and a gourd shining with extraordinary splendor emerged in his palm. Chapter 1356 Battle at the Pinnacle Level The infinite blood prison descended, blocking all escape routes. Under terrified and worried gazes, Zhou Yuan lifted his hand and a gourd shining with strange lights loomed and eventually became a tangible object. There wasn¡¯t a ripple of expression on Zhou Yuan''s face. He stared at the rainbow glass gourd in his hand and instilled vast amounts of grade-9 Genesis Qi into it. He had used the rainbow glass gourd once before, but he had to sacrifice all of Silver Shadow¡¯s Genesis Qi to activate it then. But he no longer needed external help. His own Genesis Qi foundation coupled with his grade-9 Genesis Qi were enough to use such a super Saint Genesis Art by himself! Zhou Yuan could fully display the power of the super Saint Genesis Art. As vast amounts of Genesis Qi poured into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, the dazzling luster on the rainbow glass gourd gradually faded, and seen from afar, it didn¡¯t seem as strong as before. Only some third Law Domain stage experts could perceive that the waves of dangerous aura emitting from the rainbow gourd had reached an indescribably terrifying level. Even looking at it from afar, their hair stood on end, as though a calamity was about to descend. The feeling was as though they would no doubt die once the gourd locked onto them. Mysterious qi spiralled out from the gourd¡¯s mouth, converging to form a short rainbow shuttle. The shuttle was less than an inch, but that inch seemed to be engraved with endless ancient runes, which seemed to have been born since the world first began. Each one was incredibly ancient, obscure and difficult to detect even if one exhausted their Spirit power. When Zhou Yuan previously performed this art, he only managed to form a red shuttle silhouette, but now, the silhouette had transformed into tangible substance and also changed from red to a mysterious rainbow color. It resembled a divine object that accumulated the essence of the world and possessed the power to split the sky and slay saints. A faint layer of scarlet light surrounded the shuttle¡¯s blade. Although it appeared insignificant, it contained terrifying heat that could incinerate the land within a radius of one thousand li. This, combined with its razor sharpness, it seemed capable of splitting and setting the sky ablaze. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was very calm as he stared at the short rainbow shuttle that had accumulated all his strength. He gently flicked his fingers. The rainbow glass gourd quivered and the rainbow shuttle at the gourd¡¯s mouth produced a long and clear cry. As the sound waves vibrated, cracks split nearby space. This was caused by the soundwaves¡¯ razor-sharpness. ¡°Go.¡± As Zhou Yuan uttered, the rainbow shuttle vanished with a flash. Many Law Domain experts felt a chill in their hearts when they saw such demonic speed. They wouldn¡¯t have the time to react, let alone evade if it came for them. They peered up to see a stream of rainbow light directly colliding with the infinite blood prison crashing down. One was like a mountain, its crushing strength spanning thousands of feet, while the other was just a beam of rainbow light. In terms of size, it was like an ant trying to shake a giant tree. However, when the two collided, monstrous Genesis Qi waves erupted and raged across the world. Moreover, the infinite blood prison was blocked! There were just giant waves of Genesis Qi, but even third Law Domain stage experts felt pressure and a tingling sensation rush across their skin. The collision was astonishing. Above the sea of blood, Tai Xuan coldly watched the collision with his scarlet-red eyes, and a trace of anger flashed across his face. This kid really is tough. ¡°You are my biggest obstacle to becoming a Saint. I must kill you today!¡± Vicious tendencies rose to Tai Xuan¡¯s eyes as he folded his palms together. His body began to wither faster and blood qi as vast as an ocean rose and flowed along his body before tunnelling into the Sacred Pupil between his brows. The Sacred Pupil grew increasingly brighter while Tai Xuan¡¯s body almost turned into a dried-up skeleton. The eight stars in his Sacred Pupils began to spin and a blood-red light diagram was taking shape. Wisps of blood-red sticky smoke curled up from the light diagram and immediately shuttled through space and entered the infinite blood prison. Roar! Changes began to happen within the infinite blood prison. Creatures started to appear in it, but those creatures were tortured inside the blood prison and were in utter misery. They could neither live nor die. Resentments were accumulating inside the prison, and due to the resentment¡¯s influence, the infinite blood prison underwent huge changes again. The suppressive pressure erupted from it suddenly skyrocketed and even the rainbow light from the rainbow shuttle showed signs of being suppressed. Many all-heavens experts¡¯ hearts sank when they saw this. Zhou Yuan also sensed the changes within the infinite blood prison and couldn¡¯t help marvelling at its power. Tai Xuan is indeed tricky to deal with.He is worthy of being called the strongest at the Sacred Race¡¯s Law Domain stage. However¡­ ¡°You won¡¯t win today,¡± said Zhou Yuan calmly. ¡°Ridiculous! I want to see if you would still act tough when I suppress you inside the infinite blood prison?" Tai Xuan sneered mockingly. Zhou Yuan didn''t respond. Staring at the rainbow shuttle, he whispered, ¡°Decoder.¡± ¡°Earth Saint.¡± ¡°Heavenly Punishment.¡± ¡°Mysterious King.¡± Every time he whispered, an ancient Saint Rune floated out from the rainbow shuttle¡¯s tip and drifted along its edge. ¡°Four Saint Runes, transform!¡± As the four Saint Runes were operated, the mysterious rainbow light around the shuttle gradually faded and the four Saint Runes released a chaotic color. In just a few breaths, the rainbow shuttle transformed into a chaotic shuttle. Moreover, the power gathered around also started to change in a special way. It released waves of power that made the heaven and earth quake. Tai Xuan''s pupils suddenly shrank because he could feel that the rainbow shuttle¡¯s power was similar to Saint power! ¡°How could he possess Saint power?!¡± A storm again surged in Tai Xuan''s heart. Although that wasn''t the true form of Saint power, it was an early form. It should be said that Saint power could only be created when one¡¯s Genesis Qi transformed after one reached the Saint Stage and formed a deeper connection with the world. However, under his horrified gaze, the short shuttle that had become a chaotic color unleashed a clear and resounding noise. It echoed in every corner of the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, drawing responses from the world. Vast amounts of Genesis Qi rolled across the sky, forming a Genesis Qi storm above the battlefield. However, no one noticed such a strange spectacle because the infinite blood prison crackled as though it couldn¡¯t bear a heavy load, and cracks rapidly spread across the prison. The cracks only lasted a few breaths before they reached their limit and the blood prison exploded to pieces. The countless Spirit seals it contained were also obliterated. Those Spirit seals were people that Tai Xuan had suppressed and killed in the past! Puchi! Tai Xuan was also affected when the infinite blood prison broke apart. A jet of blood spurted from his mouth and his face blanched with horror and resentment. That infinite blood prison was the result of his many years of hard work, but Zhou Yuan had destroyed it and it couldn¡¯t be used ever again. But before he roared out in fury, a chill came to his heart and he felt a stream of chaos light pierced through space and locked onto him with lightning speed as though it teleported. All Tai Xuan¡¯s hair stood on end and a feeling of death, which he had never experienced before, suddenly rushed to his heart. In the blink of an eye, Tai Xuan hurriedly drew back and shot out a bronze bloodstained spear. It was his Sacred Genesis Weapon. It was just that he didn''t think that his Sacred Genesis Weapon, which had lost its lotus seal, would be able to block the chaos shuttle. Therefore, he gritted his teeth and self-exploded the Sacred Genesis Weapon that had accompanied him for years. Boom! The bronze spear explosion created a terrifying force that gushed towards the chaos light. The two forces collided. Although the chaos light still penetrated through the force in the end, its chaos light became much weaker than before. After passing the multiple layers of Genesis Qi defenses that Tai Xuan set up in front of him, it exhausted all its strength and gradually broke to pieces. Tai Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. He was already drenched in sweat, which made him extremely annoyed because he had never tasted such embarrassment in his life! ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± He shot a ruthless glare at Zhou Yuan, who was in the distance, and just as he was about to spew out some vicious words from his mouth, an indescribable chilling feeling rushed to his heart and he sensed something wrong. Then, he saw a bizarre fragment shooting out from the smashed chaos shuttle. The fragment emitted an extremely ancient aura as if it had lived as long as heaven and earth. Moreover, the power it contained seemed older than the prime Saints in the Sacred Race! All his defenses were useless. He could only watch the ancient fragment speed across the sky and pierce right through his chest. The Genesis Qi between heaven and earth suddenly stilled at that moment. Chapter 1357 Nine Stars When the ancient fragment pierced through Tai Xuan¡¯s chest, the riotous waves of Genesis Qi surging across the world suddenly stilled. Tai Xuan''s expression froze for a good while, and he eventually lowered his head reluctantly, only to see a tiny wound on his chest. Although the wound looked insignificant and it seemed like he could heal it in the blink of an eye with his recovery ability, that wasn¡¯t the case. Tai Xuan could feel an ancient but overbearing force course around his body, and everything inside his body became invisible wherever that force passed, as though being wiped out. That ancient power was incomparably tyrannical! Panic and fear filled Tai Xuan¡¯s heart. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack was incredibly powerful. He thought he would at most be severely wounded if struck, but he never thought that a fragment was concealed inside that attack and that mysterious fragment was far more deadly that he thought. Tai Xuan¡¯s withering body tottered side to side. He clutched the wound in his chest and stared at Zhou Yuan, his eyes filled with sorrow and disbelief. ¡°What is that?!¡± As Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand, the ancient fragment floated onto his palm. It was unknown what kind of material the fragment was made of, but it was covered with ancient runes and seemed to have existed since the beginning of earth. This fragment came from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp! The fragment was concealed in the innermost part of the light sphere formed by the four Saint Runes. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t activate it in the past and it was only after his most recent breakthrough that his control of the four Saint Runes improved once again and he could borrow the four Saint Runes¡¯ power to activate the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s fragment and launch a fatal blow at Tai Xuan. The Saint Stamp¡¯s fragment was extremely special and even contained the heaven power of Cangxuan Heaven. Since Tai Xuan¡¯s body had been pierced, his power would soon be corroded by the heaven power. Tai Xuan had underestimated Zhou Yuan''s attack power. He never thought that Zhou Yuan would be concealing such a terrifying killing weapon. ¡°It seems you can¡¯t use me to complete your journey to the Saint stage,¡± uttered Zhou Yuan indifferently. Tai Xuan''s body trembled as faint cracks spread across his skin. The sea of blood beneath his feet rapidly dried up and the Immortal Blood Demon, who was in a fierce battle with the nine-claw sacred dragon, let out a painful roar before its body crumbled and became a puddle of blood. Both armies stared dumbstruck at the scene. No one expected the turning point to appear so suddenly. Tai Xuan clearly gained an absolute advantage when he summoned the nine seals of the blood prison and Zhou Yuan should be suppressed in the blood prison, suffering endless tortures. But who would have thought that Tai Xuan, who the Sacred Race had high hopes for, would be the first to collapse! ¡°How is that possible?!¡± Countless Sacred Race experts roared, their expressions changing dramatically and their eyes filled with anger and panic. In particular, the top third Law Domain stage experts¡¯ faces were like the bottom of a pot. Although furious with Tai Xuan¡¯s failure, they were stunned by Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength. They couldn¡¯t imagine how someone below the Saint stage could defeat Tai Xuan, who had accumulated many people¡¯s powers! Tai Xuan is defeated? This is unbelievable! But regardless how shocked they were, that was the truth. Tai Xuan''s gradually collapsing body as well as his Law Domain clearly showed that he had sustained fatal injuries. On the other hand, there wasn¡¯t any cheering on the all-heavens side. Instead, it was completely silent because everyone was in utter disbelief by the result. Their gazes were blankly fixed on the young figure above. After all, even if Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had soared after he reappeared, no one ever thought he could defeat Tai Xuan. They only hoped that Zhou Yuan could last a while against Tai Xuan. At the very least, they wished he could stop Tai Xuan from acting so arrogant. But who would have thought that Zhou Yuan not only defeated Tai Xuan in the end and even severely wounded him. Moreover, it was unknown whether Tai Xuan would survive. What a shocking result! Many third Law Domain stage experts exchanged glances with each other. They saw shock and awe in each others¡¯ their eyes. They only ever regarded Zhou Yuan as a junior, but they finally understood that the youngster, who had constantly created miracles in all-heavens, had already completely surpassed them. He certainly will become a Saint in the future! In the face of someone like him, it wasn¡¯t shameful to feel awe. Chi Jing wore a very relieved expression. She still remembered the first time she met Zhou Yuan in the Tianyuan Region. At that time, he was only at the Divine Dwelling stage, and in her eyes, he was just a young, inexperienced boy. But who would have thought that the little youngster had already reached such a level. Only Xu Beiyan quivered, and in the depths of his eyes was a hint of jealousy, bitterness and fear. The strength that Zhou Yuan showed terrified him. If even a monster like Tai Xuan was defeated by Zhou Yuan, it showed that the gap between him and Zhou Yuan was more than that could be measured. Xu Beiyan wondered whether Zhou Yuan knew about how he previously plotted against him. A light flashed in Xu Beiyan''s eyes. He made up his mind that he must leave immediately when the battle ended. Regardless of whether Zhou Yuan was aware of what he previously did, he must quickly hide in the shelter of his three masters. After that, he was determined to go into closed-door cultivation because after such changes he wanted to break through to the Saint stage as soon as possible. He perhaps would have the opportunity to attack the Saint stage if he asked his three masters for some Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence. Only when he reached the Saint stage would he not have to worry about Zhou Yuan getting revenge. No one knew what would happen in the future. Zhou Yuan had ruined many Sacred Race¡¯s plans and was perhaps being watched closely by the Sacred Race already. He could be killed any day, and at that time, Xu Beiyan would be the one who has the last laugh. As such thoughts flashed across his mind, Xu Beiyan¡¯s panic gradually subsided and he peered at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure in the distance. Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the many awed and furious gazes and he just stared at Tai Xuan, whose body and Law Domain were gradually collapsing. ¡°If you withdraw from the Stone Dragon Secret Domain now, the Sacred Race Saints might be able to save you.¡± He wasn''t having mercy on Tai Xuan, but it was just that he knew that any counterattack from Tai Xuan would still be terrifying even if he was severely wounded. However, the Stone Dragon Secret Domain would fall into the all-heavens¡¯ hands if they could force Tai Xuan to leave and their mission would be completed. Tai Xuan checked his condition and an uneasy smile crept across his withering bone-like face. ¡°Zhou Yuan, your perception is terrifying.¡± Looking at Zhou Yuan, he sighed, ¡°I really didn''t think that I, Tai Xuan, would experience such a day¡­perhaps Jia Tu also felt the same way when he lost to you. You are the hope of all-heavens. I feel that you will bring great trouble to the Sacred Race in the future.¡± Then, he said loud and clear, ¡°This is why Zhou Yuan, you must die here.¡± As his voice died away, everyone saw Tai Xuan''s body beginning to blur, disintegrate¡­It started from the soles of his feet and gradually it was his entire body. After a few breaths, Tai Xuan''s body completely vanished from the world. But Zhou Yuan''s expression dramatically changed because he saw a Sacred Pupil suspended where Tai Xuan vanished. Strange lights flowed around the Sacred Pupil as though Tai Xuan¡¯s body had turned into nutrients and were completely pouring into the eye. But what made Zhou Yuan¡¯s face grow overcast was the starlight condensing inside the Eight-Star Sacred Pupil. Eventually, the starlight condensed into the ninth star. It was a Nine-Star Sacred Pupil! Chapter 1358 Shadow of the Sacred God When Tai Xuan vanished and only left behind his Sacred Pupil suspended in the air, everyone on both the Sacred Race or all-heavens side couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing. But the greater reaction was from the Sacred Race¡¯s side because they knew what Tai Xuan¡¯s move represented. He was sacrificing his body and Spirit to bring his Sacred Pupil to its pinnacle state. It was a sacrificial art! Tai Xuan was clearly pushed to a very desperate situation. If he didn¡¯t use such an extreme means, he likely would lose the battle. At that time, not only would he lose his life, the Sacred Race¡¯s plan would also be affected. The Sacred Race Saints wouldn¡¯t let him go easily if that happened, and so, it was better to take a gamble. Although Tai Xuan had sacrificed his body and Spirit, there was a wisp of him in his Sacred Pupil and he would have a chance to come back to life with the Sacred Race prime saints¡¯ help after he killed Zhou Yuan. Therefore, they weren¡¯t surprised by Tai Xuan¡¯s decision. But their gazes were still filled with complex emotions when they looked at Zhou Yuan. The contempt they previously had in their gaze like they were looking at an inferior race had faded. Although they were extremely proud and arrogant, they had to acknowledge Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength. After all, Zhou Yuan had pushed even the strongest person at the Sacred Race¡¯s Law Domain stage to such a hopeless situation. ¡°But everything ends here¡­¡± All top Sacred Race experts wore solemn expressions. As part of the Sacred Race, they knew how terrifying the Sacred Pupil would become once it evolved into a Nine-Star Sacred Pupil. Even if Tai Xuan had forced the evolution with external means, the Nine-Star sacred pupil was possessed by only people at the Saint stage. A Saint¡¯s power could destroy everything. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned grave and his eyes went wide with fear because he could sense the aura of death from the waves of dangerous aura it exuded. Tai Xuan was indeed worthy of being called the strongest at the Sacred Race¡¯s Law Domain stage. He had endless means and his enemies couldn¡¯t relax in the slightest. Covered with wisps of blood, the Nine-Star Sacred Pupil rotated and locked on Zhou Yuan with a contemptuous expression. Faintly, it murmured like the god of death. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are dead.¡± Blood-red aura rose from the Nine-Star Sacred Pupil and the Sacred Pupil gradually dimmed. Peering at the bizarre blood-red aura rising, Zhou Yuan sensed boundless danger. He frantically circulated his Genesis Qi without any reservation and operated several Genesis arts, forming a torrent-like attack and striking the blood-red aura. Chi! However, an attack of that scale didn¡¯t create the slightest ripple when it slammed into the blood-red aura. It was like a stone thrown into a bottomless black hole. Zhou Yuan''s face grew increasingly grave. He sensed something bad. The blood-red aura made even his Spirit shudder, as though a disaster was looming. ¡°What is that thing?!¡± Zhou Yuan looked bewildered. The blood-red aura grew increasingly intense, and eventually it formed a faint, almost invisible, shadow above the Nine-Star Sacred Pupil. The shadow was blurry, but its appearance brought a supreme pressure spreading across the world. On the blurry face seemed to be a pair of indifferent and ruthless eyes watching the world. The several all-heavens Saints outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain paled at the shadow¡¯s appearance, and even prime sovereign Jin Luo looked glum. ¡°That¡¯s...the Shadow of the Sacred God?!¡± a Saint exclaimed. Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s face was as cold as water as he said, ¡°It is indeed the Shadow of the Sacred God, but a Nine-Star Sacred Pupil evolved from external means can¡¯t summon the Shadow of the Sacred God. The Sacred Race¡¯s prime Saints must have done something.¡± ¡°So shameless!¡± A Saint fumed. This was a battle below the Saint stage, but the Sacred Race had used so much underhanded means. They even fiddled with the Shadow of the Sacred God. They were completely shameless. Although the Shadow of the Sacred God was just a projection, it still possessed the power of a true Saint. Saints perhaps could deal with it, but it was absolutely impossible for Zhou Yuan to do so. After all, Zhou Yuan was only at the Law Domain stage, regardless how strong he was, and a Law Domain couldn¡¯t compete with the power of the Saint stage. The gap between those two stages was far greater than that between the Nascent Source and Law Domain stage. ¡°What to do?¡± Some Saints turned to look at prime sovereign Jin Luo. Since the Sacred Race had made such an unscrupulous step, the Shadow of the Sacred God could obliterate Zhou Yuan if they didn¡¯t do anything. Prime sovereign Jin Luo was silent for a good while, and then he said calmly, ¡°Be prepared.¡± The other Saints nodded, their eyes filled with murderous intent. The Saints could identify what the mysterious shadow was, but many Law Domain experts in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain couldn¡¯t. But that didn¡¯t stop them from feeling the terror emitting from the mysterious shadow, which made even their Spirits shudder. The excitement that they felt when Zhou Yuan gained the upper hand was instantly wiped away. ¡°This is cheating.¡± Someone gritted his teeth. Everyone smiled bitterly. Although they felt aggrieved, they knew it was a war and not a fair duel. There wasn¡¯t any fairness and only victory and defeat. All eyes shifted to the young figure. Although they understood that they shouldn¡¯t put so much pressure on Zhou Yuan, he was their last hope. Under intent gazes, Zhou Yuan furrowed his brows as he stared at the blurry mysterious shadow. The present him couldn¡¯t withstand that kind of power. This was because they were two completely different levels of power. However...he would only have no hope if he encountered an attack of that level in other places, but here, it wasn¡¯t completely hopeless. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you cheating.¡± Zhou Yuan muttered, staring at the dimly lit Nine-Star Sacred Pupil. ¡°I have better trump cards than you.¡± Zhou Yuan extended his fingers, and his fingertips shone with dazzling lights. It was the combined power of his Genesis Qi and Spirit. His fingertips fluttered like dragons and phoenixes dancing, leaving mysterious traces in the space. They seemed to be forming an ancient and mysterious rune that even Saints would be moved when they saw it. As his fingertips fluttered, the mighty Genesis Qi circulating around Zhou Yuan faded at an astonishing speed, and even his Spirit began to dim. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength wasn¡¯t the same as before. As he made his last stroke, the ancient rune was finally completed. Boom! The Shadow of the Sacred God cast an indifferent gaze over and then its giant hand slammed down. Everything was annihilated when the giant palm descended Regardless whether it was tangible or intangible, everything was turned to nothingness under the palm. Zhou Yuan remained indifferent facing that palm of destruction. The ancient rune before him gradually faded, as though integrating with the world. He lifted his head under astonished gazes, staring at the Sacred God¡¯s palm, and said boldly, ¡°So what if you have the Shadow of the Sacred God? Don''t forget where we are. This is an ancestral dragon land. Is it a place for you to display an incomplete shadow?!¡± Rumble! As Zhou Yuan''s voice died away, everyone felt the entire Stone Dragon Secret Domain quaking. Outside the secret domain, all Saints¡¯ pupils rapidly shrank. The giant stone dragon opened its eyes, turned its head and opened its mouth wide, as if to swallow the world. Roar! An ancient dragon roar resounded as though it had passed through time and space, and a supreme power superior to all existences was suddenly spewed out from the dragon''s mouth! It aimed directly at the Shadow of the Sacred God! All Saints inhaled sharply, it¡¯s the power of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will?! Chapter 1359 The Final Outcome Boom! When supreme power poured out from the stone dragon¡¯s giant mouth, time seemed to stand still for a moment, Genesis Qi rapidly retreating as if in the presence of the emperor. It was power that could directly lock onto fate itself. No matter what the target did, it was near impossible to avoid once it appeared. Hence, when everyone returned to their senses again, the supreme power had already landed on the mysterious Sacred God phantasm. There was no noise nor any earth-shaking collision. As the power swept past, the Sacred God phantasm that gave off an endless pressure, began to disintegrate little by little. In the end, it completely disappeared from this world under the horrified gazes of countless Sacred Race experts. The stone dragon also slowly fell still. The entire place was silent. It was not just the armies, even the Saint experts on both sides could not stop their expressions from changing. ¡°Zhou Yuan managed to rouse the remnant Ancestral Dragon¡¯s power?!¡± blurted out a Saint expert, clearly astonished. Although the Ancestral Dragon will was extremely faint, they were shocked because they could not understand how Zhou Yuan had managed to draw it out. One must know that was supreme power beyond even Saint experts like themselves. Moreover, Zhou Yuan was merely a new Law Domain expert! Prime sovereign Jin Luo slowly said, ¡°It must be due to the appearance of the Sacred God phantasm. ¡°There is a substantial amount of Ancestral Dragon will present in this domain, naturally allowing for Ancestral Dragon power to gather. The appearance of the Sacred God phantasm likely caused a reaction from the Ancestral Dragon power here. Due to these reasons, Zhou Yuan was able to act as the catalyst and rouse the Ancestral Dragon power in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain to destroy the Sacred God phantasm.¡± The eyes of the other Saint experts flashed in understanding. This made sense. Although the Sacred God phantasm was, strictly speaking, not even a proper projection, it was still a provocation to the Ancestral Dragon power. Like how a tiger would be chased out when it entered the territory of another tiger. Prime sovereign Jin Luo stared at the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. Although Zhou Yuan had succeeded in rousing the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s remnant power most because of the Sacred God phantasm¡¯s appearance, the primal divine rune he drew previously also played a significant part. It was likely some kind of super Saint Genesis Art that was closely related to the Ancestral Dragon. A Saint Genesis Art of that level was something that even Saint experts would have difficulty learning. However, it was not strange when he took into account Zhou Yuan¡¯s relationship with that person. Regardless, the Sacred God phantasm had been destroyed and the other party no longer had any tricks left. The outcome of the Stone Dragon Secret Domain battle was now clear. ... ¡°The Sacred God phantasm has been destroyed?!¡± ¡°Impossible! Impossible!¡± ¡°Even a phantasm of the supreme Sacred God is not an existence that Zhou Yuan can contend with!¡± ¡°......¡± In contrast to the all-heavens Saint experts¡¯ astonishment, the Sacred Race army on the battlefield was falling apart. Their faith told them that the Sacred God was a supreme being and was the apex of power in this world. However, a Sacred God phantasm had been destroyed right before their eyes, dealing a substantial blow to their beliefs. Compared to the defeated and mourning atmosphere on the Sacred Race side, the all-heavens army was in a shocked daze. Even the mouths of the third stage Law Domain experts twitched faintly, unable to utter a single word for a time. After all, destroying a Sacred God phantasm was unimaginable to them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s complexion looked rather pale as he stood in the air. The technique he had used earlier was naturally the Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens art, through which he was just barely able to rouse the sliver of remnant Ancestral Dragon power here. At the end of the day, Tai Xuan was just too foolish. It would have been impossible for Zhou Yuan to do anything if the Sacred God phantasm had not been summoned. His gaze turned towards the nine-star Saint Pupil. When the Sacred God phantasm disappeared, the Saint Pupil froze in place, no longer able to respond. ¡°It seems that your last-ditch attempt has failed.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. The nine-star Saint Pupil trembled as it rose upwards, staring at him. Zhou Yuan could sense a feeling of fear from it. The power earlier had likewise terrified the last wisp of Tai Xuan¡¯s Spirit. Moreover, he also understood that he had lost completely. He had nothing left. ¡°I...I can¡¯t accept this!¡± howled Tai Xuan as countless veins suddenly appeared in the nine-star Sacred Pupil. He could not accept this outcome. This should have been his greatest opportunity, he should have been able to use this stage to step into the Saint stage! Everything had been going smoothly all along. Who could have imagined that Zhou Yuan would suddenly sweep in! Tai Xuan was filled with endless regret. He regretted not doing all he could to destroy Zhou Yuan earlier, allowing him to ascend to the Law Domain stage! This tiny mistake had changed the entire outcome! Bang! More and more veins appeared in the nine-star Sacred Pupil as the power within it grew increasingly berserk. With a loud bang, it exploded under countless shocked gazes. AARGH! A mournful and frustrated cry echoed. Everyone was dumbstruck. They understood that Tai Xuan was thoroughly dead this time... The battle between the apex experts of the Law Domain stage had finally been decided. It was an outcome that surpassed everyone¡¯s expectations. Zhou Yuan won and Tai Xuan died! The Sacred Race army¡¯s faces turned deathly pale as if their mothers had died. After a brief silence, thunderous cheers erupted from the all-heavens side, their faces turned red with excitement and jubilation as they screamed Zhou Yuan¡¯s name, their booming voices dashing the clouds above. In this moment, Zhou Yuan was the hero who had held up the collapsing sky! Chi Jing could not help but grin a little as she looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. The little Divine Dwelling practitioner she had met back then had created countless miracles over the years. She had a premonition that even their master might only be able to look up to his disciple¡¯s future accomplishments. Perhaps, his legend had just begun. ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you, junior brother. You are the hero of our all-heavens.¡± She placed a hand on her chest and breathed a deep sigh of relief, finally letting go of the long suppressed worry and anxiousness. Xu Beiyan¡¯s face twitched, his eyes filled with envy as he watched the all-heavens experts cheer for Zhou Yuan. He understood how great Zhou Yuan¡¯s status and fame would become in the all-heavens after this battle. In a certain manner of speaking, he could already stand shoulder to shoulder with the Saint experts. It was everything Xu Beiyan had originally wished for... Why did this guy always snatch away everything he wanted?! Zhou Yuan was clearly beneath Xu Beiyan¡¯s level previously. If not for Cang Yuan and the goddess, Zhou Yuan would not have even been noticed by him. However, the same Zhou Yuan had now surpassed in him both strength and reputation. Xu Beiyan¡¯s cultivation journey had always been smooth-sailing. Everyone said he was favored by the heavens and he was very popular and respected. At this moment, however, he finally learnt the meaning of jealousy. In the air, Zhou Yuan gazed at the spot where the nine-star Sacred Pupil had disappeared and breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He looked towards the cheering all-heavens army as his calm voice sounded, ¡°This is not the time to relax. Everyone, hear my command and attack! We will chase the Sacred Race out of the Stone Dragon Secret Domain! Victory belongs to our all-heavens!¡± He extended his hand and pointed towards the Sacred Race army that had fallen into disarray. ¡°Understood!¡± He was replied by a thunderous response. Even the proud third stage Law Domain experts obediently acknowledged Zhou Yuan¡¯s command. The all-heavens army rushed forward like a flood, torrential Genesis Qi brimming as they charged towards the Sacred Race army. All of their pent up frustration and anger was finally let loose. By this stage, anyone could see who victory belonged to... Chapter 1360 It is Time Tai Xuan¡¯s death marked the end of the Stone Dragon Secret Domain battle. The Sacred Race army¡¯s morale was already crumbling when the all-heavens army launched their crazed counterattack. The scenes of Tai Xuan and the Sacred God phantasm being destroyed had extinguished their will to fight. Moreover, the elite Sacred Race Law Domain experts had already handed over their vital energy to Tai Xuan earlier. As such, they were currently in a weakened state, making them incapable of resisting the all-heavens army. What¡¯s more, Tai Xuan¡¯s killer, Zhou Yuan, was closely watching them from the sky. His cold gaze made their hearts shiver, and no one dared to look back in fear that he would notice them. Hence, they did not hesitate to retreat when they saw the all-heavens army flooding towards them. The Sacred Race army were now defeated troops. In the sky, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression gradually relaxed as he observed the all-heavens army tear into the Sacred Race army. This battle had been extremely dangerous to him. If the sacred dragon blessing had not been made whole again at the most crucial juncture, and enabled him to ascend to the Law Domain stage, they would be the ones who would be desperately fleeing instead. Tai Xuan was very powerful and had been an exceptionally difficult opponent. Although he had slain Tai Xuan, his heart could not help but feel somewhat heavy. After repeatedly clashing with the Sacred Race over the years, he felt an increasingly tremendous pressure as he came to experience more and more of their terrifying power. Moreover, he also understood that everything he had seen so far was merely the tip of the iceberg. There had been growing friction between the Sacred Race and the all-heavens for the past few years, and he was not the only one who could feel the approaching storm. He knew that it would not be long before the Sacred Race began the second world-ending war. When that time came, it would be a true storm of blood that no one could avoid. When the war eventually started, even the Law Domain stage would not be enough to protect his family and friends, especially because of Yaoyao¡¯s special identity. There would be huge changes in the future and if Zhou Yuan wanted to have the power to influence some of these changes, he would, at the very least, need to reach the Saint stage. Only by becoming a Saint expert could one consider oneself part of the group that stood at the apex of this world. Zhou Yuan, your current power is still not enough. A determined light slowly grew in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. ... Outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, where the all-heavens Saint experts were. Everyone was in a rather good mood, the Saint experts unable to stop themselves from smiling. Their gazes were filled with admiration as they looked towards a certain young figure in the secret domain. Even prime sovereign Jin Luo was stroking his long brows as smiled at Cang Yuan and said, ¡°Cang Yuan, your disciple is really amazing. It seems that you won¡¯t be able to escape having a three Saint faction.¡± The other Saint experts sighed, a little envy in their eyes as they looked towards Cang Yuan. They were all overlords in the all-heavens that ruled over powerful factions. It was impossible for ordinary matters to draw out such feelings from them, but a three Saint faction was a great accomplishment even for Saint experts like them. Although the all-heavens Saint experts belonged to the Omega Shrine, it was not completely peaceful within and there were often differing opinions. For example, Cang Yuan had been left with no choice but to steal the Ancestral Dragon Stone Egg, forcing him to hide amidst the countless spatial cracks for many years. It was because he did not have enough influence. A triple Saint faction would greatly increase his influence. After all, the close relation between master and disciple would make them far closer than any other group. While the many Saint experts were giving their congratulations, supreme sovereign Lu Liu¡¯s face twitched. Although he was at loggerheads with Cang Yuan, there was nothing he could do now but keep these bitter and jealous feelings inside. This should have originally been a stage for his disciple, Xu Beiyan, to shine and gain the favor of many Saint experts. When that happened, numerous precious resources would naturally pour in, improving Xu Beiyan¡¯s odds of becoming a Saint expert. Who could have imagined that Zhou Yuan would be the one to steal the spotlight instead. At the thought of Cang Yuan¡¯s triple Saint faction, Lu Liu could feel his face turn green with jealousy and frustration. Due to the numerous times they had butted heads, he would of course hope for his own disciple to become a Saint expert. When that happened, their influence would surely surpass Cang Yuan¡¯s group. Cang Yuan¡¯s expression remained composed despite the many congratulations he received. He looked deeply at the Stone Dragon Secret Domain and said in a seemingly casual manner, ¡°My disciple can¡¯t stand any grain of sand in his eyes, it¡¯d be best not to praise him so quickly prime sovereign.¡± The other Saint experts were a little confused. Only prime sovereign Jin Luo began to frown as he helplessly sighed as if faced with another problem. ... While the all-heavens were celebrating their victory, the atmosphere was rather heavy on the Sacred Race side. Numerous Sacred Race Saint experts had stormy expressions, their anger causing the domain to shake as if unable to bear the terrible power. ¡°Useless trash!¡± A Saint expert angrily cursed, clearly blaming Tai Xuan. ¡°So much support and such a good plan but they still failed to win. How disappointing.¡± ¡°Tai Xuan is useless!¡± Many Saint experts were clearly enraged. In the end, their gazes looked towards a certain direction where space collapsed into itself, forming a black hole. A silhouette could be seen in the black hole that gave off a terrifying pressure. It was prime saint Tai Mi. As he felt the numerous Saint experts¡¯ gazes, his tightly shut eyes cracked open a sliver as an emotionless voice sounded, ¡°What¡¯s there to bicker about, if they failed then they failed. Moreover, no one can take food from the Sacred Race¡¯s mouth. ¡°Rules are merely for the weak. Who can possibly make our Sacred Race abide by the rules in the Tianyuan World?¡± The gazes of the Sacred Race Saint experts flashed. Soon after, a chilling light filled their eyes. Prime saint Tai Mi waved his sleeve. Spatial undulations suddenly rippled in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain as spatial cracks appeared in front of the defeated Sacred Race army. The troops hurriedly swarmed in like dogs that had lost their homes. The pursuit of the Sacred Race army came to a stop. The thick stench of blood spread across the battlefield. Only god knew how many Sacred Race experts had been killed. Everyone had violence in their eyes, the strong smell of blood wafting from their bodies. However, they finally relaxed when the Sacred Race army escaped and soon erupted into deafening cheers, causing the entire domain to vibrate a little. Gaze after gaze filled with respect turned towards the young figure in the sky. After this battle, everyone knew that Zhou Yuan would become the true number one expert under the Saint stage in the all-heavens! Under their watching gazes, Zhou Yuan waved his hand and said, ¡°Prepare to occupy all of the battle zone anchor points.¡± The army swiftly acknowledged. Zhou Yuan slowly descended from the air and walked towards a certain direction with a completely composed face. Although he did not display any emotions, the surrounding all-heavens experts could feel that something was wrong. Hence, the crowd hurriedly parted, opening a path for him. As Zhou Yuan continued to advance, a figure whose expression was rapidly changing appeared at the end of the path. The crowd looked over and were slightly taken aback by the sight of Xu Beiyan. What was Zhou Yuan going to do? Under the crowd¡¯s bewildered gazes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps ultimately came to a stop in front of Xu Beiyan. The corners of Xu Beiyan¡¯s eyes twitched a little as he forced a smile and said, ¡°Congratulations grand elder Zhou Yuan on your amazing contributions.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were as calm as a deep pool. He stared at Xu Beiyan as a voice tinged with faint killing intent softly sounded, ¡°Xu Beiyan, it is time to settle things between us.¡± Chapter 1361 Settling Things ¡°Settle things between us? What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re trying to say!¡± Anger and alarm colored Xu Beiyan¡¯s expression as he looked at Zhou Yuan, causing the other all-heavens experts to burst into confused whispers. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to open fire on Xu Beiyan immediately after dealing with their biggest problem, the Sacred Race. Was it because of the squabbles between them previously? But it didn¡¯t seem appropriate to resolve things here, right? Xu Beiyan¡¯s gaze swept across the surroundings as he said in a heavy voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, are you angry because I closed the defensive boundary earlier? But you should try and understand that we would have been slaughtered by Tai Xuan if I did not do so. We did not have time to wait for you to complete your cultivation breakthrough and return!¡± The nearby all-heaven experts could not help but nod in agreement. Many even spoke out to persuade Zhou Yuan. ¡°Grand elder Zhou Yuan, this is not Xu Beiyan¡¯s fault. He was thinking about the big picture.¡± ¡°Although it might be a little harsh, it would have indeed been disastrous if he was a split second late.¡± ¡°Please think about the big picture grand elder Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°......¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s influence had reached tremendous heights, several all-heavens experts still spoke up for Xu Beiyan. After all, from their point of view, it was not a mistake to close the defensive boundary. Although it might be unfair to Zhou Yuan, tough times often called for tough decisions. Xu Beiyan¡¯s gaze flickered, realizing he could use this. He displayed a mournful expression and said, ¡°If you do feel resentment, you can go ahead and unleash it all on me. I won¡¯t put up any resistance. But if I have to make the same decision again, I¡¯ll still choose to close the boundary! ¡°Since the boundary authority was handed to me, I need to be responsible for everyone!¡± His righteous attitude instantly drew even more sympathy. More and more people began to support him verbally. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained indifferent. He ignored everyone else as he stared at Xu Beiyan and said, ¡°Are you done acting?¡± Xu Beiyan¡¯s heart sank as he said, ¡°What exactly do you want?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the crowd. Everyone who met his gaze immediately closed their mouths, because they could see the sliver of iciness in his eyes. The surroundings turned silent. Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice sounded, ¡°I¡¯m not seeking him out because he closed the boundary, but because we were stopped by a surge of Spirit power a split second before we were about to enter the boundary. It was this split second difference that caused us to be stuck outside and hit by Tai Xuan¡¯s fist seal. ¡°In other words, someone secretly tried to stop us from entering the boundary.¡± As his words rang out, appalled looks appeared on the crowd¡¯s faces. They never imagined that such a thing had happened during that critical juncture. Confused gaze after gaze was cast towards Xu Beiyan. Zhou Yuan was clearly implying that he was the culprit. Xu Beiyan¡¯s expression changed. Soon after, he angrily said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I know that you¡¯re unhappy that I pursued the goddess previously, but are you trying to frame me because of that?! ¡°You might have contributed the most in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, but that doesn¡¯t mean I did nothing. I was also risking my life for the all-heavens. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little too much of you to make things difficult just because things are going well for you?! ¡°Do you really think anyone will believe such baseless accusations?!¡± The surrounding experts had dazed looks, clearly confused by the two parties. They did not know who to believe. Xu Beiyan appeared enraged on the surface but was secretly sneering inside. He had borrowed the boundary¡¯s power to conceal his actions previously, and no one should be able to find out. As long as he stuck to his story, he did not believe Zhou Yuan would dare to take action against him with the all-heavens Saint experts watching. ¡°I can testify that we were indeed obstructed by a surge of Spirit power for an instant when Zhou Yuan was trying to bring us into the boundary!¡± A voice suddenly sounded. The crowd immediately shifted their gazes, following the voice to find three figures appearing behind them. It was a man and two women. They were Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao and Su Youwei, who had been smashed into the ground along with Zhou Yuan by Tai Xuan¡¯s punch. The trio had withdrawn their auras, however, they still gave off heart-palpitating Genesis Qi undulations. Some of the Law Domain experts were shocked when they looked over, because the trio had stepped into the Law Domain stage. Moreover, the faint Genesis Qi pressure from their bodies made it clear that they far surpassed any ordinary first stage Law Domain expert. Many third stage Law Domain experts looked at each other. It seems that Zhou Yuan and the others had managed to find fortune in disaster. The trio passed through the crowd, arriving behind Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan turned around to look at them. He was not surprised to sense their Genesis Qi undulations. The trio were top tier heaven prides after all, possessing talent that far surpassed the ordinary. Moreover, he had specially helped them break down and refine the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence before he left. Given all these factors, it was only natural for them to advance to the Law Domain stage. When Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across Wu Yao, her long and narrow eyes trembled for a moment before she awkwardly looked away. Su Youwei displayed her brightest smile as usual, however, there was a sliver of embarrassment hidden within her limpid eyes. As the link that helped to harmonize the Yin and Yang qi between Zhou Yuan and Wu Yao, the Spirit fusion had also affected her in a certain manner of speaking. Of course, she did not really mind but recalling it did make her heart beat faster. It was fortunate that they had saved his highness, or Zhao Mushen would be a dead man! Zhou Yuan suddenly looked towards Zhao Mushen. His arms had already regrown but there were several bruises on his face as if he had suffered a violent beating. Zhou Yuan suspiciously asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Zhao Mushen was expressionless. He was about to reply when he felt two ice-cold gazes shoot towards him like daggers. Hence, he rubbed his bruised handsome, chiselled face and nonchalantly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be a busybody.¡± He could not possibly tell Zhou Yuan how awkward the atmosphere had been when Wu Yao and Su Youwei awakened. When Su Youwei revealed that it was him who had suggested the fusion of Spirits, Wu Yao immediately took out a giant chopper as if intending to turn him into mince meat. While Zhou Yuan was fighting Tai Xuan above, Zhao Mushen was being viciously beaten by Wu Yao and Su Youwei underground. Zhao Mushen was actually quite furious when he saw Zhou Yuan. If not for the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence, he would have found some way to take revenge. The two women were completely unreasonable, Zhou Yuan was clearly the one benefited, so why the hell did they beat him instead?! Women...heh, how dull. Thankfully, my only wish is to become a Saint expert. Beautiful women are merely terrifying creatures. Zhou Yuan is really unlucky to have these two women pestering him. He will definitely regret this in the future. ¡°What kind of look is that?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned as he gazed at Zhao Mushen, feeling that his eyes were filled with mockery. Zhao Mushen ignored Zhou Yuan and instead turned towards the uncertain-looking Xu Beiyan and indifferently said, ¡°I¡¯ll repeat myself. When we attempted to enter the boundary previously, a surge of Spirit power obstructed us. Everything Zhou Yuan has said is true.¡± An uproar erupted around them. Xu Beiyan''s face turned frosty. ¡°You guys are clearly singing the same tune. You just want to make things difficult for me.¡± Zhao Mushen coldly said, ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to deny. I¡¯m proficient in devouring power and unwittingly devoured a sliver of the Spirit power that obstructed us. I shall release it now and we shall naturally find out who it belongs to.¡± He raised his hand and a vortex appeared on his palm. Sure enough, a strand of invisible Spirit power was trapped in the vortex. In this moment, Xu Beiyan, who had denied everything, felt a chill rise from the bottom of his feet, heading straight towards his head as his scalp seemed to explode. Chapter 1362 Xu Beiyan’s Death The conflict between Zhou Yuan and Xu Beiyan naturally drew the attention of the all-heaven Saint experts outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The all-heavens Saint experts frowned slightly, evidently unclear on why Zhou Yuan was suddenly making things difficult for Xu Beiyan. One must know that they had just repelled their mortal enemy. Wouldn¡¯t such conduct make them look like a joke? Saint Lu Liu¡¯s expression sank. He immediately looked towards Cang Yuan, demanding an explanation. ¡°Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, your disciple is so domineering. Is he trying to boss others around just because he made a big contribution?!¡± The other Saint experts also looked towards Cang Yuan, only to find him rather composed with what seemed to be slight mockery in his eyes. As individuals that could become Saint experts, they were naturally not fools and immediately understood that this matter was not so simple. Zhou Yuan seemed like a rational person and was definitely doing this for a reason. ¡°Saint Lu Liu, quietly watch and see. Your disciple is far more cunning than you think,¡± said Cang Yuan with indifference, not bothering to explain anything to Lu Liu. Lu Liu¡¯s expression darkened. He turned towards prime sovereign Jin Luo, but found that he was also very calm, causing Lu Liu¡¯s heart to sink even further. The all-heavens Saint experts turned their attention back to the Stone Dragon Secret Domain and listened to Zhou Yuan¡¯s reasoning. ¡°Xu Beiyan obstructed Zhou Yuan from entering the barrier, causing him to be smashed into the ground by Tai Xuan and sustain heavy injuries?!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe that such a thing happened!¡± ¡°I did observe Zhou Yuan¡¯s body pause for a split second just as he was about to enter the boundary, but thought that it was because he ran out of Genesis Qi. To think there was such a hidden detail!¡± ¡°I¡¯m shocked at Xu Beiyan¡¯s ruthlessness.¡± The Saint experts were extraordinarily capable individuals, and it naturally did not take them long to realize several suspicious points. Supreme sovereign Lu Liu¡¯s face turned as black as a wok bottom as his gaze rapidly flickered in thought. In the end, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Prime sovereign Jin Luo, that¡¯s only Zhou Yuan¡¯s one-sided account. Although Xu Beiyan¡¯s contributions cannot match up to Zhou Yuan¡¯s, he should not be allowed to slander someone else so easily. Otherwise, who would willingly fight for the all-heavens in the future?¡± Cang Yuan coldly said, ¡°You took the words right out of my mouth. ¡°After doing such a great service for the all-heavens, how disheartening would it be if Zhou Yuan was forced to swallow this unfair treatment? Xu Beiyan was so evil and committed such a terrible crime. He cannot be forgiven!¡± ¡°You! Cang Yuan, on what basis do you accuse Xu Beiyan! We¡¯ve not even gotten to the bottom of this matter!¡± Anger flared in supreme sovereign Lu Liu¡¯s eyes. Cang Yuan¡¯s bottomless eyes stared at the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, watching the Zhao Mushen trio reveal themselves. Cang Yuan focused on the devouring vortex in Zhao Mushen¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s continue watching.¡± Unknown emotions swirled in the eyes of the many Saint experts as they cast their gazes back to the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. ¡­¡­ The dragon head battlezone. Everyone solemnly looked over when Zhao Mushen revealed the devouring vortex on his palm. The gazes of several people already began to change when they turned back to Xu Beiyan. After all, Zhao Mushen must be confident if he dared to make such claims. In contrast to Zhao Mushen, Xu Beiyan¡¯s face gradually paled, his earlier confidence slowly slipping away. Before opening the devouring vortex, Zhao Mushen said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°Zhou Yuan, seal the area first in case someone tries to escape.¡± Zhou Yuan faintly nodded. With a wave of his sleeve, Genesis Qi gradually converged behind Xu Beiyan, turning into a cage of sorts. Zhao Mushen then lifted his hand and the devouring vortex began to blossom like a flower, peeling off layer by layer. The strand of Spirit power trapped within it slowly began to rise into the air. Xu Beiyan stared at the strand of Spirit power that was slowly being released. Its aura had already been refined by Zhao Mushen, making Xu Beiyan unable to sense any connection to it. This bastard must be trying to scare me! Veins crawled out in Xu Beiyan¡¯s eyes as his heartbeat quickened. His intuition told him that Zhao Mushen was most likely bluffing. But...what if it was real?! Xu Beiyan felt very afraid, because he knew full well that he was the culprit. If the Spirit power captured by Zhao Mushen was his, Zhou Yuan would likely kill him on the spot. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s current strength, it was impossible for Xu Beiyan to resist. Xu Beiyan¡¯s eyes frantically flickered in thought. No, I can¡¯t stay here. Zhou Yuan is already too strong and I will very likely be killed if my guess is wrong. I need to somehow return to master¡¯s side. Even if the truth is revealed and I have to be punished, master will at least be able to safeguard my life. I can always make a comeback in the future! Thoughts rapidly flashed across Xu Beiyan¡¯s mind in that split second moment. In the end, he made his decision right before the strand of Spirit power was about to be released. Rumble! Powerful Genesis Qi abruptly erupted from Xu Beiyan¡¯s body and smashed apart the still forming Genesis Qi cage at lightning speed. His figure immediately soared into the air, clearly intent of fleeing from the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. Uproar! Xu Beiyan¡¯s sudden movement shocked the all-heavens experts. Anger soon flooded their faces. His actions had already proved he was guilty. An all-heaven expert angrily roared, ¡°Damnit! Xu Beiyan, you are far too disappointing!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were akin to bottomless pools as he watched Xu Beiyan turn into a streak of light. How could Zhou Yuan not know what Xu Beiyan was thinking? He obviously intended to escape and borrow his master¡¯s power to preserve his life. Zhou Yuan frostily remarked, ¡°All that talent is truly wasted on you.¡± Soon after, he extended his hand and swung. Rumble! An enormous spatial crack suddenly appeared in the sky and a purple-gold nine-claw dragon claw reached out. It seemed to blot out the sun as it sealed the area and swatted Xu Beiyan with extreme force. Boom! Space shattered as Xu Beiyan¡¯s body plummeted from the sky, creating a giant pit when it smashed into the ground. Urgh! Blood wildly sprayed from Xu Beiyan¡¯s mouth. Before he could respond, the purple-gold dragon claw descended and pressed onto him, trapping him in place. He felt as if he was being crushed under an endless mountain range, unable to move. Even his internal Genesis Qi had been sealed. This greatly horrified Xu Beiyan. Was the gap between him and Zhou Yuan already so large? Zhao Mushen indifferently asked, ¡°Xu Beiyan, what are you so afraid of?¡± The devouring vortex on his palm finally scattered as he pinched the strand of Spirit power between his fingers. The strand did not drift towards Xu Beiyan, but instead flew towards Wu Yao¡¯s head. Everyone realized that the strand of Spirit power did not belong to Xu Beiyan. Xu Beiyan angrily roared, ¡°So you were bluffing?!¡± He had already suspected this outcome, but had not dared to risk it due to his guilty conscience. Xu Beiyan turned towards Zhou Yuan, whose eyes were filling with murderous intent, and sternly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you can¡¯t kill me! Even if I committed a crime, the Saint experts should determine my punishment, not the likes of you!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was indifferent as he slowly walked towards Xu Beiyan. Terror surfaced in Xu Beiyan¡¯s eyes as he hurriedly shouted, ¡°Master, save me!¡± Space suddenly rippled as a mighty power appeared, causing Zhou Yuan¡¯s footsteps to stop. At the same time, prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Zhou Yuan, Xu Beiyan has been found guilty. Will you hand him over to the Omega Shrine? We will give you a satisfactory conclusion.¡± Every gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment. He watched Xu Beiyan breath a huge sigh of relief and slowly said, ¡°I was trying to send eighteen people into the boundary previously. They are my team members and although I can¡¯t fully recall all of their names, it is my responsibility to bring them back safely as their captain. ¡°However, because of Xu Beiyan¡¯s sinister actions, only three of the eighteen managed to survive. ¡°The other fifteen were turned into pulp by Tai Xuan right under my eyes.¡± His voice contained unconcealable rage and frustration. Soon after, Zhou Yuan lifted his head and stared into space, making sure to slowly enunciate each word, ¡°I failed to protect them. Hence, I can only try to appease their departed souls. ¡°No one needs to give me a satisfactory conclusion, because I will do it myself!¡± As the final word rang out, Zhou Yuan unleashed his power without hesitation. The purple-gold dragon claw abruptly exploded into tyrannical sacred dragon qi that rapidly poured into Xu Beiyan¡¯s body. In the next instant, a destructive force violently erupted. The world around them shook as it seemed to wail in agony. Xu Beiyan was unable to even shriek as a terrifying power annihilated him from the inside. The all-heavens experts stared in shock... Xu Beiyan had been terminated by Zhou Yuan... Chapter 1363 Punishment The purple-gold dragon claw slowly dissipated, leaving the extremely glaring pit on the ground. The entire battlefield was silent, emotions churning violently in everyone¡¯s hearts as they dazedly stared at this scene. No one had expected Zhou Yuan to actually kill Xu Beiyan. That was a top-tier third stage Law Domain expert. Moreover, he had three Saint expert masters! Given his background, who would dare to take his life?! Gaze after gaze looked towards Zhou Yuan with mixed feelings though they all shared a look of admiration. At the end of the today, it was Xu Beiyan who had committed such a vile act. In contrast, Zhou Yuan had righteously smited Xu Beiyan for the sake of his dead team members despite the watching Saint experts. His courage and character had earned their genuine respect. After all, his dead teammates¡¯ status and strength were a far cry from Xu Beiyan¡¯s. If there was a choice between the two parties, there would certainly be no lack of people who would favor Xu Beiyan. Rather than avenging a few dead people, it would obviously be much more beneficial to create good relations with a heaven pride like Xu Beiyan. Everyone did understand, however, that Zhou Yuan¡¯s killing intent had mainly been roused because Xu Beiyan had tried to end him in secret. Regardless, no one could deny Zhou Yuan¡¯s hot-bloodedness and daringness. This young man¡¯s spirit could pierce the heavens. Perhaps, this might also be the reason why he could alway boldly forge ahead... When Zhou Yuan killed Xu Beiyan, the Saint experts outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain were briefly stunned. It was likely that they had never seen someone so bold. Prime sovereign Jin Luo had already spoken, but Zhou Yuan had still taken the chance to end Xu Beiyan¡¯s life. Boom! While they were dazed, an almighty power suddenly erupted, causing the stars to tremble. The Saint experts looked over, only to find that it was Lu Liu. His complexion was ashen and it seemed as if fire was spouting from his eyes. ¡°Good! Good!¡± Lu Liu¡¯s body shook with anger as a torrential aura surged from him. His gaze pierced through the space between them and locked onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, fire spewing from his eyes as if seeking to incinerate the latter. ¡°Lu Liu, what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± a low voice sounded. Cang Yuan¡¯s sharp gaze had also locked onto Lu Liu as Saint light converged above his shoulders. The light Saint condensed into two spinning Saint lotuses that seemed to each contain an entire world within them. ¡°What am I doing?!¡± Lu Liu roared, ¡°Cang Yuan, weren¡¯t you watching earlier?! He dared to kill my disciple right before my eyes!¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What were you doing when your disciple tried to secretly kill Zhou Yuan in front of me?¡± Lu Liu¡¯s presence wavered for a moment before he gritted his teeth and retorted, ¡°But Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t die, right?! Even Xu Beiyan¡¯s body and Spirit were utterly destroyed by him!¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t die because he was not destined to. Xu Beiyan died because of his despicableness. He deserved everything.¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s cold voice rang out. Everyone could tell that anger was rising within him. After all, if not for Zhou Yuan¡¯s luck and tenacity, he would have really been killed because of Xu Beiyan. ¡°You!¡± Lu Liu was enraged. ¡°Even if Xu Beiyan was guilty, he should be handed over to the Omega Shrine to decide his punishment. How dare a mere Law Domain expert take matters into his own hands? Moreover, prime sovereign Jin Luo had already given the order to hand Xu Beiyan over, but Zhou Yuan ignored the Saint order and insisted on murdering my disciple. Isn¡¯t this showing complete disregard for the Omega Shrine?!¡± ¡°Old bat Lu Liu, you are still so vicious after so many years.¡± Cang Yuan indifferently said, ¡°Xu Beiyan treachery not only caused Zhou Yuan to be seriously injured, but also forced him to witness the tragic deaths of the team members he was supposed to protect. He has always been a hot-blooded youth that has fought countless battles for the all-heavens over the years, which I believe everyone is well aware of. Hence, it is wishful thinking that your slander will change anyone¡¯s opinion.¡± The Saint experts sighed inwardly. To be frank, this matter could have been resolved at a later date, but who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would be so unyielding. However, owing to his many contributions over the years, the Saint experts present would naturally not be swayed by a few words from Lu Liu. After a brief silence, the Saint experts looked towards prime sovereign Jin Luo. The verdict ultimately depended on the highest ranking prime sovereign. Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s face was impassive, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking. He likewise stared at the young figure in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain for a long time before he slowly said, ¡°Xu Beiyan only has himself to blame for this outcome. However, Zhou Yuan is also at fault for disobeying orders and taking matters into his own hands. He will be stripped of the final reward for the Stone Dragon Secret Domain.¡± These words concluded this affair. The Saint experts¡¯ gazes flickered in thought as they nodded, only Lu Liu¡¯s expression remained dark and gloomy. This punishment was basically nothing to Zhou Yuan. The brat had already secretly absorbed a substantial amount of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence and even stepped into the Law Domain stage. What would he need any reward for? Hence, the penalty was completely meaningless! Lu Liu gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Prime sovereign, this punishment is unfair!¡± A heart-palpitating chill rose in prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s eyes as he stared directly at Lu Liu. ¡°Lu Liu, cease your annoying whining. Although Cang Yuan and I were already aware of Xu Beiyan¡¯s actions, we did not say anything because we sensed that Zhou Yuan was still alive. ¡°Let me make one thing clear, if Zhou Yuan died, I would have personally killed Xu Beiyan...and you.¡± A chill swept across Lu Liu¡¯s entire body as he dazedly stared at prime sovereign Jin Luo. As the oldest and most experienced all-heavens prime sovereign, he was an existence that was respected by all the Saint experts. He usually came across as a very gentle and kindly person. This was the first time Lu Liu had seen such a frightening look from the prime sovereign. The other Saint experts were silent. They naturally understood what was implied by prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s words. Zhou Yuan might not be of much importance to the Saint experts, and even adding in Cang Yuan did not amount to much in the Omega Shrine¡¯s eyes. However...Cang Yuan was not the only one behind Zhou Yuan. There was also the Third God! The hope that the Omega Shrine had spent thousands of years plotting to find. Although the Saint experts could not comprehend the relationship between Her and Zhou Yuan, none could deny there were deep feelings between them. If Zhou Yuan died, they could not imagine what She would do. Though she had seemed harmless for the past few years, merely absentmindedly doing whatever she wanted, only Saint experts like them truly understood how terrifying the Third God was. Hence, if Zhou Yuan died because of Xu Beiyan, prime sovereign Jin Luo would not have hesitated to kill Xu Beiyan and even Lu Liu. In a manner of speaking, he needed to use their lives to appease Her wrath. ¡°Lu Liu, you should be glad that Zhou Yuan did not die at Xu Beiyan¡¯s hands. ¡°Moreover, as his master, you are also greatly responsible for this outcome. Xu Beiyan might not have understood how important and terrifying She is, but you know you can¡¯t claim the same. Perhaps you might have neglected this because of a Saint¡¯s arrogance? Do you wish for the hope of our all-heavens to be destroyed by your hands?!¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s low voice sounded like thunder in Lu Liu¡¯s ears, causing him to stumble backwards as his face gradually paled. In this moment, Lu Liu felt what it was like to be struck by a thunderbolt. Over the years, he and Xu Beiyan¡¯s other two masters had formed a small camp of their own, establishing a place for themselves in the Omega Shrine. Hence, he had been unafraid of the double lotus Cang Yuan. However, he had not expected this powerful alliance to be completely worthless in the face of what should have been an insignificant Zhou Yuan... Only now did Lu Liu taste for the first time what it was like to humiliate himself. Chapter 1364 Moving the Stone Dragon The atmosphere over the battlefield was stiflingly silent. The all-heavens experts could not help but worry as they gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm expression. Although it might have felt great to bring justice for his fallen comrades, it was honestly too rash of him to have done so in front of the Saint experts. If they were angered, even his master, supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, would not be able to protect him. The entire place was silent, everyone waiting for the Saint experts to give their final verdict. Amidst this atmosphere, the crowd grew even more worried. Xu Beiyan was the one who had started this whole affair. If he had not acted on his evil thoughts, Zhou Yuan would not have been angered into killing him. Hence, most people were sympathetic towards Zhou Yuan and respected his actions. In addition, Zhou Yuan had saved them from a desperate crisis earlier, pulling them back out from despair. Of course they did not wish for Zhou Yuan to be punished. While the crowd was silent, Chi Jing walked over to Zhou Yuan¡¯s side. Her short red-wine-like hair fluttered in the wind, a resolute expression on her face. She was clearly displaying her support for him. Su Youwei also stepped forward at nearly the same time. Wu Yao was silent for a moment before following. ¡°Meaningless.¡± Zhao Mushen frowned. If the Saint experts ended up not punishing Zhou Yuan, it would be because of the decisions made at the top and not because of Law Domain experts like them. Hence, such actions looked childish in his eyes. Moreover, Zhou Yuan was really too impulsive. Even if he wanted to kill Xu Beiyan, he should not have done so in front of all the Saint experts were watching. There was still so much time in the future, it was not like he would lack any chances. How was he going to resolve this after killing Xu Beiyan and slighting the Saint experts? Zhao Mushen cursed inside, but he still had to admit that Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions had indeed moved even someone like him a little. Although he was selfish and apathetic at times, no one hoped for one¡¯s friends to be the same because it would only make it difficult to create any trust. Zhao Mushen might not care whether others trusted him, but he felt that Zhou Yuan had a unique charm. He could somehow make others feel at ease, and at the very least, you would never have to worry about him stabbing in the back. While such thoughts swirled in his head, Zhao Mushen found that he had unknowingly come to stand behind Zhou Yuan as well, causing the corners of his mouth to twitch slightly. A team surged out from the crowd, headed by a beauty. It was Ai Tuanzi while those behind her belonged to Zhou Yuan¡¯s team. The team Zhou Yuan had brought out of All-Heavens City initially numbered near a hundred. The dozen or so members killed by Tai Xuan were merely a portion of them. Ai Tuanzi and the others silently gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s back with complicated expressions, especially the members who did not have good backgrounds. They had been furious when they heard about what Xu Beiyan had done, but had also felt powerless. After all, Xu Beiyan was an untouchable existence to them due to his strength and status. They never imagined that someone would stick up for them, but Zhou Yuan had now toppled this belief. Under Ai Tuanzi¡¯s lead, they gathered behind Zhou Yuan. Although several of them were at the Nascent Source stage and did not even have the qualifications to speak here, it did not stop them from showing the courage to support him. The one that ultimately pulled Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze back from the deep pit where Xu Beiyan had been destroyed was Tuntun, who suddenly appeared on his head. It reached out a paw and patted his head as if consoling him. Zhou Yuan turned around, somewhat surprised when he found the sizable group behind him. Soon after, he waved his hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it will be fine.¡± He appeared rather composed because he was honestly not worried about the Saint experts¡¯ rage. After all, even if master Cang Yuan could not protect him, he still had Yaoyao! I will rely on her until even you Saint experts shiver inside! While this thought flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s calm voice boomed. ¡°Xu Beiyan only has himself to blame for this fate after committing such an evil act. However, Zhou Yuan disobeyed the Saint command and will thus be stripped of his contributions. After this is over, he will not receive any reward.¡± The all-heavens experts looked at each other. How could they not understand what this meant? Zhou Yuan was obviously being let off with a light slap on the wrist. After all, he had already completed his cultivation breakthrough and obtained the best reward. The subsequent rewards honestly did not hold much value for him. Evidently, the Saint experts were not angered by Zhou Yuan¡¯s impulsiveness and had instead thrown Xu Beiyan under the bus. When this matter spreads in the future, Xu Beiyan would surely be spurned by countless people. The tense atmosphere slowly dissipated as many people began to relax. This was quite a happy outcome. When they looked towards Zhou Yuan, they found that his expression remained unchanged, causing them to be impressed. With such mental fortitude, he would likely be calm even if the sky were to fall. Zhou Yuan ignored the gazes. This outcome was within his expectation, regardless of whether it was his master or Yaoyao who ultimately swayed the decision... He cupped his fists together, suddenly becoming much meeker than before. He then turned towards the crowd and smiled, ¡°Sorry to have disturbed everyone, let¡¯s get back on track.¡± The many experts acknowledged, their attitudes clearly more respectful than before. The genuine admiration they felt could not be concealed. The crowd swiftly scattered and began setting up the Dragon Subduing Nails. Only then did Zhou Yuan turn towards Su Youwei and Wu Yao. His gaze paused on the latter¡¯s face as he grinned, ¡°It seems that you guys have benefited substantially.¡± However, he saw Wu Yao¡¯s brows suddenly furrow as she glared at him. These words were uncomfortable to hear. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan was stunned. He hurriedly said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean anything else.¡± By the side, Su Youwei blushed a little and said, ¡°Your highness recovery and cultivation breakthrough were mostly thanks to Wu Yao.¡± Wu Yao coldly said, ¡°I merely returned something that did not belong to me. You and I don¡¯t owe each other anything now.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. With the sacred dragon blessing returned and made whole, all the past grudges could fade away like smoke. He walked towards Wu Yao. When she saw him approach, Wu Yao raised her chin slightly, revealing her slender swan-like neck and displaying pride that belonged to her alone. Her long and narrow phoenix eyes stared sharply at Zhou Yuan in an unyielding manner. Zhou Yuan arrived in front of Wu Yao and raised his fist towards her. ¡°Allow me to reintroduce myself...I am Zhou Yuan.¡± Wu Yao was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting such a stunt from Zhou Yuan. She looked into his eyes, finding them filled with warmth and friendliness, causing the sharpness in her eyes to recede slightly. After a long silence, she also raised her fist and gave him a fist bump. ¡°I am...Wu Yao.¡± The brief contact felt cold yet soft. Zhou Yuan withdrew his fist and said, ¡°From now on, we¡¯re friends.¡± Wu Yao did not know whether to be angry or to laugh at his childish antics. In the end, she indifferently remarked, ¡°Childish.¡± However, a sliver of warmth flowed in her usually cold and lonely heart. Zhou Yuan did not mind Wu Yao¡¯s reply. He turned around and surveyed the dragon head battle zone. He could sense the Genesis Qi of the entire Stone Dragon Secret Domain gradually grow excited as each nail was hammered into the ground. Moreover, due to the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, he could even sense the enormous stone dragon beneath his feet vibrate as the first howl from when the beginning of the world echoed from the past. ¡°The Stone Dragon Secret Domain...belongs to our all-heavens.¡± Zhou Yuan sensed something. In the next instant, he suddenly saw countless threads of light rise into the sky, originating from the many nails. The light threads soared out of the domain, casting themselves into the Great Dragon Moving Array outside. A vast power unfurled, causing space to fluctuate. Zhou Yuan and the others were shocked to see the stone dragon that was as large as a star begin to move, slowly rising towards the all-heavens Dragon Moving Array. The all-heavens experts burst into emotional cheers. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Instead, he looked towards the Sacred Race side. Although the Sacred Race has failed, given their nature...would they really do nothing and watch the all-heavens collect the Stone Dragon Secret Domain? It was honestly unlikely... Zhou Yuan kept up his focus, growing increasingly vigilant instead of relaxing. The battle for the Stone Dragon Secret Domain was likely not over yet! Chapter 1365 Big Clash Rumble! The Dragon Moving Array outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain finally began to operate. Countless threads of light flowed down from it like chains, connecting to the rising light threads from the stone dragon¡¯s enormous body. A vast power began to surge out. The entire domain violently shook. Next, the all-heavens Saint experts were delighted to see the stone dragon slowly begin to rise and approach the all-heavens Dragon Moving Array. ¡°The Dragon Moving Array has activated!¡± Joyous looks were revealed on the Saint experts¡¯ faces. Once the stone dragon was near enough, they would be able to take action to retrieve it. However, prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s voice immediately rang out, ¡°Don¡¯t let your guards down!¡± The Saint experts¡¯ hearts shivered as they cast their gazes towards the other side of the domain where the Sacred Race army were stationed. Although the all-heavens had come out on top this time, the Sacred Race Saint experts were certainly not going to take this lying down. Hence, they were definitely searching for an opportunity. As for the rules that were established previously...the all-heavens Saint experts had experienced far too much, and naturally would not naively believe that such a flimsy thing would be able to restrain the Sacred Race at all. With prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s warning, an almighty power poured out, covering every corner of the domain. At the same time, terrifying power quietly gathered, preparing to respond to any sudden changes. As the enormous stone dragon was slowly pulled towards the Dragon Moving Array, the expressions of the numerous all-heavens experts atop it gradually grew graver, their gazes continuously glancing towards the Sacred Race. The entire domain became exceptionally silent. The atmosphere grew so tense that it was nearly impossible to breathe. When the stone dragon was ten thousand miles from the Dragon Moving Array, the silence was abruptly broken as the giant Genesis Qi barrier at the center of the domain was instantly smashed to pieces by an ancient and primal power. Almighty blasts of Saint force pierced through space in an instant, mercilessly bombarding the Dragon Moving Array with overwhelming destructive power. Every blast made the scalps of the all-heavens experts atop the stone dragon turn numb as they shuddered in fear. Let alone the rest, even Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression shivered in terror. He understood that even though his strength had risen to an astonishing level, there was still an almost impossible to breach gap between himself and true Saint experts. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about it!¡± However, the all-heaven Saint experts were already prepared. When the Genesis Qi barrier broke, a loud noise rang out across the entire starry space. Space warped, forming countless spatial vortexes from which almighty power swept out, blocking the Sacred Race¡¯s attacks. There was no earth-shaking noise or disturbance from the collision of Saint force. When the two sides clashed, everything was silently destroyed, even space and Genesis Qi... All Zhou Yuan and the others could see were enormous black holes rapidly being created in the endless darkness like the mouths of demons. They gave off a heart-palpitation feeling of infinite depth before gradually dissipating. Prime sovereign Jin Luo impassively watched the great offensive launched by the Sacred Race Saint experts and indifferently said, ¡°Tai Mi, you never disappoint.¡± ¡°Jin Luo, you should understand that everything my Sacred Race does in this world is right,¡± an equally indifferent voice sounded from the darkness, echoing across the entire domain, ¡°Don¡¯t push the mentality of the weak onto my great race.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo mocked, ¡°Since we¡¯re weaklings, why did your Sacred Race fail to win the stone dragon?¡± ¡°That was merely a children¡¯s game and shouldn¡¯t be taken seriously. Jin Luo, whether or not you¡¯ll be able to take away the stone dragon will depend on how capable you are.¡± Space was suddenly ripped open and an ancient scroll flew out. The scroll unfurled, revealing a majestic sacred mountain that gave off a pressure that made even Saint experts feel terror. Triple lotus Saint artifact, Sacred Mountain Painting! Prime saint Tai Mi clearly did not intend to play around and immediately summoned his strongest artifact. A projection of the sacred mountain appeared, large and tall beyond comprehension. It loomed towards the all-heavens Saint experts with inviolable power. However, prime sovereign Jin Luo also made his move. Genesis Qi soared out from the top of his head, turning into a giant cloud. A golden bell emerged from the cloud, giving a dazzling light that seemed to be capable of illuminating all nine heavens. Triple lotus Saint artifact, Primal Chaos Golden Bell! A halo of golden light blossomed from the golden bell as it rose to meet the sacred mountain projection. The clash between two triple lotus stage existences wielding triple lotus Saint artifacts could only be described as world-destroying. The aftershocks made the entire Stone Dragon Secret Domain shake and if not for the Ancestral Dragon will¡¯s influence, it would have likely been destroyed already. Prime sovereign Jin Luo slowly said, ¡°Tai Mi, the initiative is already with us, you alone cannot snatch away the stone dragon!¡± Both parties were equally matched, making it impossible for Tai Mi to get past Jin Luo to destroy the already activated Dragon Moving Array. A figure appeared, standing on a glowing lotus. It was prime saint Tai Mi. He looked down upon prime sovereign Jin Luo and said, ¡°Jin Luo, if I am not enough, what about adding in another prime saint?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s pupils shrank slightly. ¡°Four of the seven prime saints are always stationed at the Sacred Mountain, not daring to take a single step out. As for the other two prime saints, the Omega Shrine¡¯s other two prime sovereigns are always watching them¡­¡± Prime saint Tai Mi chuckled. ¡°Our god is in a deep sleep and needs to absorb Genesis Qi from four prime saints in order to recover from his terrible injuries. However, due to His gradually awakening, we no longer need as many prime saints. Hence, it is not difficult to get one of them out to deal with you.¡± The sound of earth-shaking footsteps were suddenly heard, growing louder and louder. Zhou Yuan and the others watched in horror as space was hacked open and a giant emerged from the darkness. He carried a giant axe and was accompanied by a torrential aura of barbaric savagery. The all-heavens Saint experts¡¯ expressions changed as someone involuntarily cried out, ¡°That is...prime saint Tian Zhan?!¡± When the axe wielding giant appeared, two ancient figures opened their eyes deep within the Omega Shrine, their piercing gazes immediately penetrating through the heavens. They immediately saw the giant prime saint. Just as they were about to act, however, they sensed two ancient and mighty presences lock onto them from far away. ¡°Di Long, Chi Ji¡­ ¡°It would be best if neither of you try anything.¡± A voice filled with indifference seemed to pierce the vast distance between them, sounding by the ears of the two figures deep within the Omega Shrine. Stern and fierce looks emerged in the two figure¡¯s eyes as they looked at each other. They ignored the other party¡¯s warning and released a burst of astonishing Saint force to shatter space ¡°Humph.¡± Icy snorts from two Sacred Race prime saints rang out from the darkness. Space surged layer by layer as saint force unfurled, shaking the stars and blocking the all-heavens prime sovereigns. Torrential killing intent erupted deep within the recesses of space. ... While the two Omega Shrine prime sovereigns were being obstructed, the giant axe wielding titan descended outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain as pupils filled with savagery locked onto prime sovereign Jin Luo. The giant axe covered in blood stains was raised before swinging downwards. At the same time, a thunderous roar boomed across the heavens, ¡°Prime sovereign Jin Luo, this place shall be your grave today!¡± Chapter 1366 Goddess Forces Enemy into Retreat Endless heavenly light was unleashed from the giant axe as it fell, seemingly capable of splitting the Stone Dragon Secret Domain in two. The light swung towards prime sovereign Jin Luo with overwhelming destructive power. The scalps of Zhou Yuan and the others turned numb, while the all-heavens Saint experts¡¯ expressions changed drastically. The sudden appearance of prime saint Tian Zhan was clearly out of their expectations. Prime sovereign Jin Luo was currently doing all he could to stop prime saint Tai Mi. Hence, the sudden participation of a second prime saint undoubtedly posed a great threat to him. Once prime sovereign Jin Luo was injured, the all-heavens morale would definitely plummet. When that happened, they would no longer be able to hold on to their hardfought stone dragon prize. Destruction descended in the form of a brightly glowing axe. Prime sovereign Jin Luo could naturally sense the incoming attack, the wrinkles on his old face crinkling even more. There was no sign of the other two prime sovereigns, likely obstructed by the Sacred Race. It seemed that the Sacred Race had made many preparations for the Stone Dragon battle, even going as far as to forcibly summon another prime saint from the Sacred Mountain. ¡°This doesn¡¯t look good.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo sighed. With a thought, the Primal Chaos Golden Bell appeared around him. Dazzling gold light blossomed from it as golden halos rapidly appeared around the bell like enormous stars circling a planet. Prime saint Tian Zhan¡¯s destructive power was top three among the seven prime saints. In the face of such overwhelming might, even prime sovereign Jin Luo could borrow the Primal Chaos Golden Bell¡¯s defensive ability. Clang! While these thoughts flashed past in prime saint Jin Luo¡¯s head, the axe smashed into the golden bell. An earth-shaking clang rang out, resounding across every corner of the domain before echoing towards the heavens. The golden halos shattered one after another, neutralizing the destructive power. After a dozen breaths, the glowing axe finally disintegrated. However, it also managed to leave a faint mark on the bell. ¡°Jin Luo, your turtle shell is much harder than before!¡± The axe wielding giant¡¯s laughter boomed like thunder. ¡°I will suppress his Primal Chaos Golden Bell!¡± Prime saint Tai Mi chuckled icily and activated the Sacred Mountain Painting. The endless Sacred Mountain suddenly appeared from the darkness, sending out an almighty force that rushed towards the golden bell like a waterfall, continuously shaving away its golden glow. Meanwhile, prime saint Tian Zhan continued to swing the giant axe in his hands. Destructive blows that could tear the heavens apart repeatedly rained down on the Primal Chaos Golden Bell. Clang clang clang! Some of the nearby Saint experts were unable to withstand the aftershocks, forcing them to retreat. Worried looks arose in the all-heavens Saint experts¡¯ eyes as they watched the two Sacred Race prime saints bombard the bell. The other side had clearly come prepared and if this continued, prime sovereign Jin Luo would really be in danger. As a pillar of the all-heavens, any mishap that happened to prime sovereign Jin Luo would deal a devastating blow to the all-heavens. If that was the outcome that awaited them, the all-heavens Saint experts would rather abandon the Stone Dragon Secret Domain instead. An all-heavens Saint expert frowned deeply before he glanced at Cang Yuan and asked, ¡°Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, will that person come to our aid?¡± The other Saint experts also looked over. They knew who the Saint expert was referring to. It was obviously the goddess of All-Heavens City. Cang Yuan cast a glance into the distance and replied, ¡°She promised that she will definitely act if it does reach that stage.¡± Another Saint expert worriedly said,¡°But prime sovereign Jin Luo is already in trouble.¡± Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment before revealing a bitter smile. ¡°I¡¯m afraid...that she intends to let prime sovereign Jin Luo suffer a little.¡± The Saint experts were stunned. What did this mean? Some of the more perceptive Saint experts suddenly looked towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction and softly muttered, ¡°Could it be...because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s matter?¡± The goddess must have seen everything that happened here. Although Zhou Yuan ultimately came out unharmed, the many twists and turns had been a rollercoaster ride. ¡°Isn¡¯t Zhou Yuan fine? That person...can¡¯t act that way, can she?¡± One of the Saint experts was in disbelief. He truly could not understand why such an existence would value a single person so much. Cang Yuan let out a soft sigh. Due to Yaoyao¡¯s awakening divinity, she was starting to become increasingly apathetic and her feelings for Zhou Yuan were likely the final stronghold she seeked to protect. Hence, anything that even slightly transgresses this area would draw an extremely huge response from her. Although prime sovereign Jin Luo had, strictly speaking, helped Zhou Yuan earlier, it might not have been enough in her eyes. If Yaoyao was an ordinary girl, it might have been seen as wilfulness, but as god whose divinity was awakening, it turned into a scary indifference towards mortals. The all-heavens Saint experts were speechless. They could only look at each other and hope that her anger would soon dissipate. After all, it was far too dangerous for prime sovereign Jin Luo to face two similar level opponents alone. Clang clang! While all-heavens Saint experts were worrying, the attacks from Tai Mi and Tian Zhen grew increasingly terrifying. The aftershocks from each collision caused the Stone Dragon Secret Domain to ripple violently. The level of power had already begun to become unbearable even for a domain that had received long exposure to the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. Everyone could visibly see the Primal Chaos Golden Bell dim slightly after each attack. In the bell, prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s eyes were lightly shut, his expression composed like an elderly monk. It was at this moment that a ray of mysterious sacred light suddenly fell from above the Sacred Mountain. The ray seemed to contain a power and will that surpassed Saint force! Swish! The mysterious ray of light shone on the bell, abruptly freezing it in time and space. It felt as if it had been removed from the now and placed in the river of time. ¡°The Sacred God¡¯s will?!¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s expression finally changed. To think that the Sacred Mountain Painting contained a wisp of Sacred God will force that had instantly banished his Primal Chaos Golden Bell. Although the banishment would not last long, prime saint Tian Zhen would not miss this opportunity. ¡°Jin Luo, you¡¯re dead!¡± Sure enough, prime saint Tian Zhan¡¯s icy voice rang out as another blast of axe light was unleashed, descending with power that could extinguish a million stars. The attack was headed straight for Jin Luo! The all-heavens Saint experts cried out in alarm. However, right before the torrential axe light arrived, space was suddenly ripped open above prime sovereign Jin Luo. Countless people saw a small, peaceful courtyard within the spatial crack. The little courtyard was extremely familiar to Zhou Yuan. It was Yaoyao¡¯s residence. Yaoyao was currently standing amidst the flowers, her beautiful face cold and uncaring as usual with nothing but indifference in her eyes. She wielded a divine bow, her slender fingers pulling back the bowstring. A power that reigned above saint force gathered in an instant, turning into an arrow that looked as if it was made from starlight. It was a beautiful arrow with countless ancient Genesis Runes carved onto its body. She released the string with apathetic eyes. Omm! The ancient starlight bow penetrated the laws of space, appearing in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain and colliding with the torrential axe light. There was no loud noise from the impact. However, the axe light torrent swiftly melted away like snow under the burning sun. ¡°The power of Order?!¡± Prime saint Tian Zhan¡¯s thunderous voice boomed, containing a sliver of terror. Prime saint Tai Mi¡¯s expression also changed drastically. The Third God has already reached that level of awakening?! This thought flashed in their hearts as the starlight arrow completely obliterated the axe light torrent. In the end, the arrow vanished, while prime saint Tian Zhan¡¯s titanic body disappeared into the darkness amidst the crumbling space. At the same time, a painful roar echoed from far away, rippling the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. Both the all-heavens and the Sacred Race watched this scene in shock. Terrified gaze after gaze stared at the beautiful figure standing among the flowers. No one had expected the arrow to injure a prime saint! Under everyone¡¯s shocked gazes, the beautiful figure shifted the ancient bow in her hand, pointing it at prime saint Tai Mi. Terrifying power once again gathered towards the bow. Prime saint Tai Mi¡¯s expression changed drastically as his eyes fluctuated with uncertainty. In the end, his figure burst into bubbles and vanished. At the same time, his voice rang out by the Sacred Race experts¡¯ ears, ¡°Everyone, retreat!¡± Chapter 1367 Arrow Aimed at Lu Liu When prime saint Tai Mi¡¯s voice resounded across the domain, the numerous Sacred Race Saint experts immediately stopped what they were doing with dark and gloomy expressions. This outcome was not within their expectations. After all, the Sacred Race had practically always been on the winning side in their many clashes with the all-heavens. However, they had been forced to retreat today. Their gazes pierced through space, gazing at the beautiful figure holding a divine bow as graveness and wariness appeared in their eyes. Was that the rumored Third God? As expected of one of the gods, she was already capable of repelling the prime saints before her divinity fully awakened. They understood that with her interfering, they had no choice but to retreat no matter how hard it was to accept. The Sacred Race Saint experts gradually disappeared, several of them not forgetting to bring the Sacred Race army along. In a few seconds, the domain that was originally filled with sounds of battle had become silent. It was as if the earth-shaking clash from before had merely been a dream. In fact, the all-heavens experts were still somewhat in a daze. On the enormous stone dragon, the numerous Law Domain experts blankly stared at the beautiful figure standing in the peaceful little courtyard. Yaoayo was not unfamiliar to them and was very popular among the many elite all-heavens experts during her stay in All-Heavens City. However, her popularity was mostly due to her otherworldly beauty and the Ancestral Dragon Pill. Many of the Law Domain experts were not aware of Yaoyao¡¯s true identity, and thus inadvertently nicknamed her the goddess. They would never have imagined that the goddess, who only occasionally appeared to create Ancestral Dragon Pills, would actually possess such terrifying power. That arrow from before had taken away their breaths and left them in a dazed stupor. Zhao Mushen, Su Youwei and Wu Yao also blankly stared at the beautiful figure. This was the first time they had truly seen Yaoyao in action. Her power had made even the prideful trio feel a sense of defeat. Su Youwei could not help but look towards Zhou Yuan and ask, ¡°Is Yaoyao actually so powerful?¡± Zhou Yuan also gazed at Yaoyao¡¯s figure. There was no amazement on his face, but instead a sliver of worry deep within his eyes. He worried that using such power would affect her. He said to the trio, ¡°Yaoyao¡¯s identity is not ordinary.¡± The trio looked at each other, seemingly understanding something. After all, prime saint Tian Zhan had called her the Third Order God before he withdrew. Although they were still unable to access such information at their current level, it did not stop them from making their own conjecture. The many Law Domain experts in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain were not the only ones who were stunned. Even the all-heaven Saint experts outside had slightly dazed expressions. The Third God¡¯s power had always been a point of discussion in the Omega Shrine, and no one had truly seen it before. Hence, the arrow¡¯s power had shocked them all. Injuring a prime saint with a single arrow. Although prime saint Tian Zhan had been caught off guard, it was still enough to show how terrifying the arrow was. After all, Saint experts like them understood best how powerful a prime saint was and how difficult it was to injure one... The Saint experts were silent. There was more respect in their eyes when they looked at Yaoyao again. Although they knew her identity previously, it was not as impactful as personally witnessing her power. Perhaps, when the Third God fully awakened, the all-heavens would finally gain the power to resist the Sacred God... In the domain, the Primal Chaos Golden Bell slowly shrank, turning into a flash of gold as it returned into prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s body. He gazed in Yaoyao¡¯s direction and forced a smile. ¡°If the Third God were to delay any longer, my old bones would probably be buried here. ¡°However, I still have to thank the Third God for aiding us. Our all-heavens is really blessed to receive your help.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo bowed in Yaoyao¡¯s direction. However, Yaoyao¡¯s face remained impassive. She appeared even colder than usual, her eyes seemingly containing the moon and stars as she looked down upon mortal beings. She glanced at prime sovereign Jin Luo before slowly raising the divine bow again and aiming it at a certain figure under the crowds¡¯ horrified gazes. The target was...Saint Lu Liu! With the bow locked onto him, all of Lu Liu¡¯s hairs stood on end as a feeling of dread that he had not felt for many years surged out from the depths of his heart. He was a mighty Saint expert, but he did not dare to even move at this moment. He had a feeling that once he did, the arrow that had injured prime saint Tian Zhan would rush straight towards him. An attack that could injure even prime saint Tian Zhan was something that Lu Liu did not have any confidence in surviving. Lu Liu¡¯s old face trembled as it paled. How could he not know that the Third God was doing this due to Xu Beiyan¡¯s scheming against Zhou Yuan previously? Zhou Yuan had dealt with Xu Beiyan, and now the Third God was preparing her slaughter knife for him. Regret rose in Lu Liu¡¯s heart for the very first time. The Third God did whatever she pleased. If he knew this, he would never have allowed Xu Beiyan to provoke Zhou Yuan. However, who could have imagined that the seemingly emotionless Third God would have such a close relationship with Zhou Yuan? Yaoyao¡¯s actions also drew a commotion from the all-heavens Saint experts, causing several of their expressions to change slightly. Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s figure appeared in front of Lu Liu, blocking Yaoyao¡¯s aim as he said with a grave expression, ¡°Please calm your anger, Xu Beiyan¡¯s actions were his own discretion and does not have much relation with Lu Liu. ¡°The Omega Shrine will also punish him for his poor teaching in bringing up such a disciple.¡± Lu Liu belonged to the Omega Shrine after all, and as a prime sovereign, Jin Luo could not idly sit by and watch him be killed by Yaoyao. Otherwise, the Omega Shrine¡¯s position would be shaken. Yaoyao calmly stared at prime sovereign Jin Luo. After a long time, she shifted her gaze towards the enormous stone dragon, where Zhou Yuan was worriedly watching. Zhou Yuan naturally understood the meaning behind her gaze and shook his head with a serious expression. Although he loathed Lu Liu, Yaoyao killing him would shake the all-heavens. With the Sacred Race eyeing them like a tiger, none of them would benefit from this. Yaoyao slightly pursed her lips upon receiving Zhou Yuan¡¯s answer and slowly put down the divine bow. Space rippled as the little courtyard gradually faded away. A soft voice echoed from far away, landing in Zhou Yuan¡¯s ear, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for your return.¡± The Stone Dragon Secret Domain regained its peace once more as the Saint experts breathed heavy sighs of relief. Many of their backs were drenched with cold sweat. The Third God¡¯s sudden actions were indeed extremely alarming even to them. However, the crowd¡¯s gazes soon turned towards Zhou Yuan, looking at him with strange and complicated expressions. Even prime sovereign Jin Luo could not help but look at Zhou Yuan as well. Although it had merely been a quick glance from Yaoyao, everyone was aware that she had ultimately withdrawn the bow because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s decision... This kid...could influence the Third God. Or perhaps, it would be better to say that the love she had for him was far greater than they had imagined. The Saint experts looked at each other and came to a common consensus. This kid is a treasure, we have to treat him like an honored ancestor in the future. Chapter 1368 Yaoyao’s Changes The stone dragon battle ended with Yaoyao¡¯s universally shocking arrow. The Sacred Race army was forced to retreat, leaving the stone dragon in the all-heavens¡¯ hands. The all-heavens army burst into thunderous cheers, several participants even weeping with joy. It had been a roller coaster ride, the many twists and turns constantly keeping them at the edge of their seats. Fortunately, they had become the final winners. Respectful gaze after gaze was cast in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. Everyone understood that he was the chief reason for their victory. If not for his efforts in turning the tables at the final moment and defeating the seemingly invincible Tai Xuan, let alone obtaining the stone dragon, all of them would likely have been massacred by Tai Xuan, becoming mere stepping stones in his path. After this battle, Zhou Yuan¡¯s name would be known in every corner of the all-heavens. He would become the publicly acknowledged number one under the Saint stage. The all-heavens Saint experts floated in the darkness outside the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. Prime sovereign Jin Luo stood next to Cang Yuan as they watched the giant stone dragon approach the Dragon Moving Array. ¡°The Sacred Race is far more powerful than our all-heavens. If not for the Third God, we would have likely lost again this time.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo sighed, a look of helplessness on his aged face. In the first world-ending war, too many of the all-heavens Saints had lost their lives with no lack of triple lotus prime sovereigns among them. Although the all-heavens had slowly recovered over the years, there was still a huge gap between them and the Sacred Race. The Omega Shrine only had three prime sovereigns, while the Sacred Race had seven prime saints. If the Sacred Mountain did not require several prime saints to be stationed there to provide the slumbering Sacred God with energy, the all-heavens would not even dare to step into this outer space domain. The threat of seven freely moving prime saints would force the all-heavens to hide in the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array and slowly wait for their deaths. A grave look arose in Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes. Practitioners below the Saint level only knew that the Sacred Race was strong and did not truly understand how powerful they were. Only Saint experts like them were aware of the disparity between both sides. Moreover, this was not even accounting for the Sacred Race¡¯s sleeping Sacred God. For thousands of years, the Sacred Race had basically suffocated the all-heavens Saints. At Cang Yuan¡¯s silence, prime sovereign Jin Luo chuckled and consoled, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be overly pessimistic. The all-heavens have the Third God this time, and as the winds of change come, the remnant Ancestral Dragon will in this world will begin to stir. In such a time, who can say that our all-heavens will not have blessed individuals. Who knows, we might even be able to catch up in triple lotus stage experts.¡± Cang Yuan nodded. Those blessed by luck always emerged in times of great change. Take the world-ending war for instance, the number of Saint experts born in that era had been unprecedented and would likely never be surpassed. If not for the Sacred God, the all-heavens would have had a real chance against the Sacred Race. While the two were conversing, the enormous stone dragon finally touched the Dragon Moving Array. Bright light blossomed from the array, nearly illuminating every corner of the entire domain. The all-heavens experts on the stone dragon were lifted by a gentle force and sent out of the Dragon Moving Array. When they looked down, they could see the continent-like stone dragon rapidly shrinking as dozens of Satin experts worked together to compress it... After half an incense stick of time, the enormous stone dragon had become five-foot-long. It looked life-like and was exceptionally detailed. Countless gazes stared at it in desire. The five-foot stone dragon contained extremely concentrated Ancestral Dragon will, and would benefit countless all-heavens practitioners if refined into Ancestral Dragon Pills. Wasn¡¯t this what the all-heavens experts had risked their lives to fight for? Prime sovereign Jin Luo beckoned with his hand, causing the five-foot stone dragon to arrive in front of him. He gently looked towards the all-heavens army and said, ¡°After extracting the Ancestral Dragon will from the stone dragon, it will be refined into Ancestral Dragon Pills and distributed according to your contributions. For those who have fallen in battle, their clans and family will collect the reward on their behalf.¡± Thunderous cheers erupted from the all-heavens army. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained rather calm because he had already obtained the biggest reward. He had established his Law Domain and his strength was already considered to be at the peak of the all-heavens Law Domain experts. What he seeked in the future was the Saint¡¯s path that had stopped countless heaven prides. This was something that even the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence would not be able to help him with. ¡°After helping Yaoyao refine the Ancestral Dragon will into Ancestral Dragon Pills, I should return to Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze grew as deep as the night. Many years had passed since he left Cangxuan Heaven. The young Divine Dwelling stage practitioner who had left back then had now become a powerful and influential figure in the all-heavens. There was still a debt he had to settle in Cangxuan Heaven. The Sacred Palace and palace master Sheng Yuan. The existence that had once been impossible to face was no longer untouchable to him. As he recalled these memories, an icy light flashed in his eyes. Zhou Yuan would never forget the main offender who had caused Yaoyao to fall into a deep slumber. He would never rest easy until he took his revenge. While these thoughts swirled in his mind, Tuntun appeared on his head and yawned. Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home. Yaoyao is waiting for us.¡± He bid goodbye to Su Youwei and the others before flying towards the spatial passage that connected to All-Heavens City. No one stopped him. The Saint experts only cast a glance at him before withdrawing their gazes. They knew what Zhou Yuan was going to do and were more than happy about it. After all, appeasing the Third God was likely the most important matter for the all-heavens. In the all-heavens, Zhou Yuan was likely the only thing that interested the Third God. Zhou Yuan returned to All-Heavens City via the spatial passage and headed straight for the little courtyard at the center of the city. He landed outside and slowly walked in. The blooming flowers were just as gorgeous as before, while Yaoyao peacefully lay in a chair amidst the flower garden. Her beautiful face glowed enchantingly under the sunlight, like a sleeping beauty. Zhou Yuan slowly walked to Yaoyao¡¯s side and looked at her. He could sense the sliver of tiredness in her slightly knitted brows. Evidently, using such power had not been without consequence. He reached out, grasped Yaoyao¡¯s small ice-cold hand and softly said, ¡°I think it would be best if you don¡¯t use that power in the future.¡± Yaoyao squeezed Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand, placing it on her face as she lazily acknowledged with closed eyes. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Why are your eyes closed?¡± Yaoyao hesitated for a moment before she said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I will scare you.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What is it? Open them!¡± Upon hearing the anxiousness in his voice, Yaoyao could only slowly open her eyes. Her right pupil looked normal, but her left pupil had become an endless starry sky. Earth, wind, water and fire seemed to swirl within it as if a world was being born again. A heart-palpitating pressure spread from her left eye, and a single look made Zhou Yuan feel an indescribable fear, as if something terrifying had locked onto him. The endless darkness of the starry sky and the ancient aura...it was a pupil that could only belong to a god. Chapter 1369 Divine Eye Zhou Yuan dazedly stared at Yaoyao''s left eye, which seemed to be full of ancient mysteries, like the eye of a divine being. However, that cold and indifferent gaze resembled a god looking down on mortal beings, and the pressure it faintly released made Zhou Yuan feel extremely uncomfortable. Hu. But he drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his emotions. Then he reached for Yaoyao¡¯s hand. ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Yaoyao said softly, ¡°I think it¡¯s because I overexerted myself and accelerated the divinity¡¯s recovery.¡± Zhou Yuan was silent. The awakening of Yaoyao¡¯s divinity represented supreme power, but no one was certain what would happen after the divinity was truly restored. Would Yaoyao still retain her consciousness then? ¡°I''m sorry¡­it¡¯s because I¡¯m not strong enough.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice sounded pained. If he was strong enough, Yaoyao wouldn¡¯t need to do anything. A strand of hair drooped down to cover Yaoyao¡¯s left eye as she stretched out her icy little hands, and placed them on Zhou Yuan''s cheeks. She said sincerely, ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t say that. I know, I know you have worked harder than anyone else to make yourself stronger. I know what you want to change when you become stronger. Your accomplishments aren¡¯t inferior to anyone¡¯s. Also, I believe you will reach that step one day.¡± Yaoyao had witnessed with her own eyes how the youngster, whose eight meridians were blocked at the beginning, overcame one obstacle after another over the years. Outsiders would only know about the miracles he had created, but they didn¡¯t know how much effort he had put in to achieve them. It was brought about by wandering between life and death. Although Zhou Yuan always claimed that he was the king of living off women, Yaoyao understood that he only did that to spur himself on. Even if the gap between them in terms of strength and status was as great as a chasm, Zhou Yuan had never given up. He constantly sped along the thorny road. Even if he was covered with cuts and bruises and even if there were many obstacles, he still unwaveringly moved forward. This was what Yaoyao liked most about him. Yaoyao had become more and more cold and detached over the years because of the divinity, but she still retained her human nature because of Zhou Yuan. In Yaoyao¡¯s heart, Zhou Yuan was the light that guided her and made her able to resist the divinity¡¯s corrosion. Feeling the soft and icy touch from Yaoyao¡¯s little hands, Zhou Yuan smiled at Yaoyao. He knew he wasn¡¯t strong enough. It was just that his heart ached too much when he saw the changes in Yaoyao. He quickly composed his emotions and said in a serious voice, ¡°In the future, don¡¯t use that power unless you really need to. Yaoyao, you have to remember that although all-heavens regard you as the last hope, no one can force you to do what you don¡¯t want. Someone will eventually come forward from all-heavens. If all-heavens don¡¯t have such a potential, then¡­¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression was grave but resolute. "Perhaps destruction is better than dragging out its existence.¡± Yaoyao stared dazedly at Zhou Yuan. It was only after a good while that the corners of her lips curled slightly upwards and a light gently flashed in her eyes. How wouldn¡¯t she know what all-heavens expected of her? She of course didn¡¯t like that expectation, but that perhaps was her responsibility and she couldn¡¯t escape from it. But Zhou Yuan told her that he would support her no matter what choice she made and that she shouldn¡¯t be bound by the so-called responsibility forced onto her. This showed that Yaoyao¡¯s position in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart was even higher than all-heavens. Yaoyao also knew that the ¡®someone¡¯ that Zhou Yuan mentioned would likely come forward was himself. She stretched out her slender arms and wrapped them around Zhou Yuan''s neck, and then pressed her red lips on it, giving him a soft but cold feeling. Even his Spirit seemed to be trembling after that. Zhou Yuan looked stunned. He didn''t think Yaoyao, who was like a goddess that no one dared to touch, would take such an initiative. But it was stupid to think about that now, and so, Zhou Yuan unhesitatingly held her little waist tight and responded passionately, rapaciously savoring the sweetness. But such benefits didn''t last long. Yaoyao looked up, blushed even deeper and moved away from Zhou Yuan. ¡°Is that it?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened as though wishing to continue. A blush came to Yaoyao''s beautiful porcelain cheeks as she said with a faint smile, ¡°Do you miss it?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded repeatedly, staring at the beauty¡¯s little red lips with blazing eyes. ¡°What do you miss more - that or when you were integrating with Wu Yao¡¯s Sacred Dragon Blessing?¡± Yaoyao threw out the ultimate question with a smile on her face. Zhou Yuan felt a bucket of ice water poured onto his head from above when he heard that question. His entire body shuddered and his brain went stiff for a moment when he saw Yaoyao¡¯s faint smile. He shook his head frantically. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you''re talking about.¡± Zhou Yuan explained sincerely, ¡±I was seriously wounded and fell unconscious. How would I know what she did to me?¡± Immediately he furrowed his brows. ¡°Did she do something inappropriate to me? How could she? I trusted her so much! It seems that I can''t have any contact with her in the future!¡± Yaoyao was both amused and annoyed by Zhou Yuan¡¯s show. She shook her head, saying, ¡°She saved you no matter what.¡± Zhou Yuan could tell from her tone that her words had no other meaning. He pondered for a moment and said reluctantly, ¡°Then let¡¯s watch what happens for now. I hope she will reflect on her mistake.¡± Yaoyao rolled her eyes and didn¡¯t want to continue on that topic. She changed the topic. ¡°Did old man Jin Luo take all your reward?¡± When Zhou Yuan heard this, he thought Yaoyao was going to give prime sovereign Jin Luo trouble and hurriedly explained, ¡°The biggest gain this time is that I broke through to the Law Domain stage. Any other rewards are insignificant.¡± It wasn¡¯t completely insignificant. Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence was still an extremely rare and precious cultivation resource to him. After all, he had only reached the Law Domain stage and was not a true Saint, so he still needed to improve. But he knew that prime sovereign Jin Luo had his own difficulties. After all, Zhou Yuan killed Xu Beiyan in front of so many people and as the head of all-heavens saints and one of the three leaders of the Omega Shrine, prime sovereign Jin Luo had to handle the situation well. ¡°Don''t worry, I''m not interested in making things difficult for him.¡± Yaoyao stood up and tied her fine black hair in a high ponytail. At the same time, a strand of hair covered her left eye and her purple dress draped down, making her look very domineering. ¡°However, he will return everything.¡± Yaoyao blinked at Zhou Yuan with a faint smile, ¡°We don''t need the benefits from the Stone Dragon Secret Domain battle, but they have taken so many Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits there and I bet they want to ask us to refine Ancestral Dragon Pills. It¡¯s going to be a big project, but the Omega Shrine should be able to pay the price, right? I''m not interested in helping people for nothing.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. Then, he immediately shed a tear for prime sovereign Jin Luo. It was clear that although Yaoyao said she didn''t care, she still kept it in her mind. It seemed that prime sovereign Jin Luo couldn''t escape. Chapter 1370 Reward The Stone Dragon Secret Dragon Battle result quickly spread throughout all-heavens when it ended and caused a stir. After all, although the battle wasn¡¯t considered particularly spectacular in terms of the number of people, it was certainly at the top of the world in terms of quality. After all, the people who participated were at least at the Nascent Source Stage. In a sense, this was considered a head-on collision between the top elites of the two sides. All-heavens were always fearful of the Sacred Race. After all, the Sacred Race seemed extremely powerful from the many stories passed down since ancient times. On the other hand, all-heavens were always suppressed and seemed extremely pathetic. In the past few years, there were increasingly more movements from the Sacred Race and the sensitive people were all aware of a storm approaching. The forces in all-heavens were worried and pessimistic about this. But the victory from the Stone Dragon Secret Domain Battle was undoubtedly a boost to the all-heavens morale. At least it made them know that although the Sacred Race was powerful, the all-heavens had the strength to compete. Therefore, the battles in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain had spread to almost every corner of all-heavens. The various all-heavens forces also learned about the earth-shattering pinnacle Law Domain battle between Zhou Yuan and Tai Xuan. As a result, Zhou Yuan''s name resounded throughout all-heavens. Zhou Yuan already had some fame in all-heavens in the past, but that was only within the Nascent Source stage and Law Domain experts didn¡¯t attach any importance to him. But after that battle, no Law Domain experts dared to feel the same way as before because they knew what Zhou Yuan¡¯s victory over Tai Xuan signified. It signified that Zhou Yuan would become the no.1 person below the Saint stage in all-heavens! Many Law Domain experts, who hadn¡¯t participated in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain Battle, couldn¡¯t believe the result because Zhou Yuan was only at the Nascent Source Stage before participating in the battle and how could he surpass all top third Law Domain stage experts!? However, regardless whether they believed it or not, that was the truth. Many arrogant Law Domain experts could only put away their doubts and truly acknowledge the new no.1 person at the Law Domain stage. Zhou Yuan''s reputation in all-heavens also reached the peak after that battle. ... ¡°Goddess, we have to rely on you to refine Ancestral Dragon Pills.¡± As expected, when the Stone Dragon Battle was over, prime sovereign Jin Luo came to find Yaoyao with the stone dragon. This wasn¡¯t surprising because Yaoyao was the only one in all-heavens who could refine Ancestral Dragon Pill. Inside a stone pavilion in a courtyard, Yaoyao swept a cold glance over prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s amiable face, and under her gaze, even one of the three influential people of the Omega Shrine, reddened with embarrassment. ¡°I won''t make a fuss about Zhou Yuan''s matter.¡± Yaoyao opened her mouth and uttered. Prime sovereign Jin Luo breathed a sigh of relief, but he couldn¡¯t help pulling a face immediately afterwards. ¡°But do you think we are slaves? I didn¡¯t mind in the past because it¡¯s only a small-scale refining of Ancestral Dragon Pills but if you want to refine all the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits in this stone dragon, it will take at least half a year,¡± Yaoyao said with a frown. How could prime sovereign Jin Luo, who had experienced countless things in his life, not read the meaning behind Yaoyao¡¯s words? So, he smiled bitterly and asked, ¡°Goddess, if you have any request, you can just say it.¡± Yaoyao nodded. ¡°Twenty drops of Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence. I also want to trouble prime sovereign Jin Luo to bring this object back to the Omega Shrine and ask all the Saints there to refine it into a true saint object.¡± As she lifted her hand into the air, a silvery light bloomed in her palm and then transformed into a silver sphere covered with ancient runes. It was Zhou Yuan¡¯s Silver Shadow. It had continuously evolved over the years as Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength increased, and now it had the potential of becoming a true saint object. However, that kind of evolution wouldn¡¯t be easy and it required huge amounts of treasures and materials as well as needing to be refined by Saint power. It couldn¡¯t be better if the Omega Shrine handled that matter. Prime sovereign Jin Luo couldn¡¯t help raising his eyebrows when he heard Yaoyao''s conditions. Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence were extremely rare and precious and only a handful of Law Domain experts would be given at most one or two drops. However, Yaoyao demanded 20! He also knew that Zhou Yuan had already swallowed dozens of drops when he completed his breakthrough underground. In other words, Zhou Yuan alone had taken one-tenth of the Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence in the entire Stone Dragon Secret Domain. As for the additional condition of refining a saint object¡­it also wasn¡¯t a simple matter. Even if the Omega Shrine had a solid foundation, it still needed the help of other Saints, and how would it be a simple matter to ask the Saints in all-heavens to help out? Only the Omega Shrine could do so. Prime sovereign Jin Luo glanced at Zhou Yuan, who was sitting quietly without looking sideways, like a monk meditating and showed no intention of intervening. Prime sovereign Jin Luo shook his head helplessly in the end. He didn¡¯t try to negotiate and smiled bitterly. ¡°Goddess is asking a lot. Fine, I will accept those conditions on behalf of the Omega Shrine.¡± Zhou Yuan marvelled, ¡°As expected of one of the three influential people of the Omega Shrine. Those that have wealth indeed have more power than others.¡± No other force apart from the Omega Shrine in all-heavens could fulfil those conditions. Prime sovereign Jin Luo gave a sulky look at Zhou Yuan, who was pretending to be a victim after gaining such benefits. The goddess clearly had no use for Ancestral Dragon Spirit Essence and so they would eventually fall into Zhou Yuan''s hands. However, prime sovereign Jin Luo had no objection to it. After all, Zhou Yuan had made great contributions in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain Battle. He only took away Zhou Yuan¡¯s reward just to keep everyone quiet. But since there was a better reason, prime sovereign Jin Luo of course wouldn¡¯t mind returning his reward. After all, prime sovereign Jin Luo also regarded Zhou Yuan highly. He felt Zhou Yuan could reach the triple lotus saint stage in the future and even become one of the influential people of the Omega Shrine. Seeing prime sovereign Jin Luo so readily agreed, Yaoyao¡¯s cold expression seemed to have relaxed and become much gentler. ¡°In that case, leave the refining of Ancestral Dragon Pill to me.¡± Seeing Yaoyao finally nodded, even prime sovereign Jin Luo, who was experienced and knowledgeable, was secretly relieved. The goddess was really difficult to please, but fortunately she finally agreed to refine Ancestral Dragon Pill. Otherwise, the Omega Shrine really wouldn¡¯t know what to do with the stone dragon that they fought so hard for. ¡°Then we will have to trouble the goddess.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo nodded. Seeing that the refining of Ancestral Dragon Pill was settled, he finally left. It was just that he, from any direction, seemed like he was running for his life. It was as though he was worried that Yaoyao would change her mind and stab another knife at him. If that happened, he really didn¡¯t know how to explain to the other Saints in the Omega Shrine. Zhou Yuan also couldn¡¯t help laughing when he saw him hurrying away and gave Yaoyao a thumbs up. Yaoyao was possibly the only one in all-heavens who could make the Omega Shrine so powerless. Chapter 1371 Pill Refining and Cultivation When the Stone Dragon Battle ended, All-Heavens City didn¡¯t stay in the chaos void anymore to prevent the Sacred Race¡¯s wild counterattack and also to provide Yaoyao a safe environment to refine pills. With the help of all-heavens Saints, the All-Heavens City entered the all-heavens heaven domain and was put under the protection of the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. After everything was stabilized, the All-Heavens City became much quieter compared to before and only the area around the Great Alchemy Hall in the city¡¯s center was always surrounded by vast amounts of majestic Genesis Qi. The tremendous pill cauldron was operated day and night. It was a huge project to refine such a large amount of Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits into Ancestral Dragon Pills. Additionally, only Yaoyao could carry out the project and no other Saints were qualified. The Great Alchemy Hall. Fire blazed in the cauldron and Yaoyao was sat cross-legged in the main position and on her lower left side was Zhou Yuan. However, the Law Domain experts who assisted in the pill refining before were nowhere to be seen. Instead, they were replaced by three Saints of the Omega Shrine! The three saints were all at the one lotus stage, but such well-respected Saints were all acting in a supporting role and providing Genesis Qi as fuel in the pill refining. However, they had no objection because, after witnessing Yaoyao wound a Sacred Race¡¯s prime Saint with an arrow, the all-heavens Saints were particularly respectful and polite towards Yaoyao. With the help of three Saints, the efficiency of refining Ancestral Dragon Pills was of course far better than anytime before. But even so, only one-fifth of the Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits in the Stone Dragon was consumed after a full month of pill refining. As expected, it would take at least half a year to completely refine them all. The huge cauldron suddenly buzzed, and waves of pill aroma swept across the area and filled the entire hall. Almost one hundred streams of light shot out from the pill mist like like a meteor shower, scattering everywhere. But before they left the pill cauldron¡¯s area, a powerful force descended from above. With a clench of her fist, the streams of light appeared in Yaoyao¡¯s grip. Then, round smooth pills rotated while exuding an ancient and spiritual aura in her palm. With Yaoyao¡¯s full strength, coupled with the assistance of three Saints, the efficiency and production of refining Ancestral Dragon Pill was far greater than before. Yaoyao flicked her fingers and the Ancestral Dragon Pills flew over to the three saints. They were responsible for keeping them safe. After that, Yaoyao paid no other attention to the pill refining and immediately cast her clear and ethereal eyes towards Zhou Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged by the cauldron. There wasn¡¯t a hint of Genesis Qi fluctuating around Zhou Yuan. He was like an abyss with no end in sight and made people shudder with fear. The refining Ancestral Dragon Pill brought huge benefits to Zhou Yuan. First of all, the pill fire that the cauldron was filled with was formed from the three Saints¡¯ powers and so Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi was also refined when he guided those powers and as a result he became even stronger. In a sense, this was an extremely rare opportunity. After all, there was rarely any situation where Saints would turn their Saint power into pill fire and help someone at the Law Domain stage to refine their Genesis Qi. Moreover, not all Law Domain experts could withstand that level of refining. Even Zhou Yuan was almost on the verge of death during the initial period because of the pill fire formed from saint power. If it weren''t for his strong foundation and his grade-9 Sacred Dragon Qi, his Genesis Qi foundation would have been completely incinerated the moment he came into contact with the pill fire. But after surviving the most difficult initial stage, Zhou Yuan started to taste the sweetness. After his breakthrough to the Law Domain stage, his strength had reached an unprecedented level and even reached the pinnacle of the Law Domain stage. That huge increase in strength naturally came with some side effects. His body didn¡¯t adapt right away to the sudden huge increase in power. The Saint power from the pill refining precisely strengthened and helped Zhou Yuan tidy his Genesis Qi, allowing him to regain control of his own power. Therefore, this month of refining pills was a very rare opportunity for Zhou Yuan. The three Saints put away the Ancestral Dragon Pills and also shifted their gaze to Zhou Yuan, who was cultivating with his eyes closed. They exchanged glances with each other, looking helpless. How would they not know that their power was continuously used by Zhou Yuan during this month? However, their task was to provide Genesis Qi for pill refining and Zhou Yuan didn''t make any other excessive demands. His improvement just happened naturally. However, the three saints were astonished that Zhou Yuan was able to withstand the pill fire formed from their Saint power. No wonder that he even defeated Tai Xuan. He indeed deserved the title of the strongest Law Domain Stage expert in all-heavens. Zhou Yuan''s cultivation didn¡¯t last long, and he soon opened his eyes. His eyes were as deep as the starry sky and his monstrous fighting spirit had weakened a lot compared to when he fought Tai Xuan, but that wasn¡¯t because he had become weaker. It was because he had begun to learn how to restrain his strength. His power, if broken out again, could dazzle all-heavens like a blazing sun in the sky. In the center of Zhou Yuan''s eyebrows, the Spirit light glowed faintly and a Spirit was sitting leisurely. The Spirit was as gentle as jade stone. During the pill refining period, not only did Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi benefit, his Spirit also improved. Of course the improvement in his Spirit had little to do with the three Saints¡¯ saint power. It was more because Yaoyao deliberately cast some surplus refined Ancestral Dragon Remnant Spirits his way while she was refining Ancestral Dragon Pills. Although the amount each time wasn¡¯t huge, it happened several times. Therefore, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit also steadily improved in the past month. A jade Spirit showed that one¡¯s Spirit was about to reach the intermediate Allroamer stage. The divine light between Zhou Yuan''s eyebrows gradually faded. He raised his eyes, looked at the three Saints and gave a cupped fist salute. ¡°Thank you.¡± Although the three Saints had only passively helped him in his cultivation, Zhou Yuan was still very grateful. The three Saints responded with a reserved smile, nodded to Yaoyao and then disappeared without a trace. Yaoyao stretched, picked up Tuntun, who was dozing off, stepped down the platform and came over to Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan smiled at her and walked out the alchemy hall with her. Together, they strode down a tree-lined gravel path. A light breeze passed by, stirring the leaves. The sunlight fell through the gaps in the leaves and landed on the two. The atmosphere was indescribably peaceful and warm. Neither of them said anything but they both evidently enjoyed the atmosphere. It wasn¡¯t after a good while that Zhou Yuan left his relaxed and leisurely state and sighed, ¡°The road to the Saint stage is really as difficult as reaching the sky.¡± He was now regarded as at the pinnacle of the Law Domain stage and so he wanted to try to walk the so-called path to the Saint stage. However, even if his strength had improved, he still felt there was a huge distance between him and that level. That was the gap between mortals and Saints. Since ancient times, it was unknown how many talented heaven prides couldn¡¯t progress past that stage and died with regret. ¡°If someone else hears this, they will likely beat you up. You have only been in the Law Domain stage for a few months and you are already trying to walk on the Saint stage path.¡± Yaoyao pursed her lips. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°I heard from my master that the Sacred Race hadn¡¯t retaliated. Instead, it had become extremely quiet and even hid their traces. Many people said that they were terrified by your arrow.¡± However, although he was smiling, Zhou Yuan''s gaze was very solemn because he didn¡¯t feel that way. The Sacred Race¡¯s foundation was superior to that of all-heavens. Even if Yaoyao''s arrow was terrifying, it was impossible for the Sacred Race to be afraid. Therefore, Zhou Yuan felt very uneasy about the Sacred Race¡¯s quietness. He was worried that Yaoyao would become her target now that the Sacred Race knew about her power. Zhou Yuan didn''t tell her about his thoughts because, firstly, he was uncertain, and secondly, he didn''t want to affect Yaoyao''s mood. This was the main reason why he wanted to step on the Saint path because he understood that only when he truly reached the Saint stage would he be qualified to become one of the players in the war between all-heavens and the Sacred Race. And only then would he be qualified to change something. Unfortunately, the path to the Saint stage was too difficult. As thoughts streamed through his mind, Zhou Yuan suddenly paused and looked at Yaoyao with a strange look. ¡°I remember that when you gave me the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, you said that there is a higher grade than grade-9 Genesis Qi?¡± Chapter 1372 The Sacred Race’s Plan ¡°Higher than grade-9¡­¡± Yaoyao, who was strolling down the path with Tuntun in her arms, suddenly paused and gazed dazedly at Zhou Yuan. It was only after a good while that she chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you still remember it.¡± In this world, Genesis Qi was divided into nine grades, with grade nine being the highest. Zhou Yuan''s Genesis Qi had reached the world''s highest grade-9 level and was considered one of the best in the entire Tianyuan World in terms of quality. When Yaoyao gave Zhou Yuan the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, she did mention that this art could possibly be cultivated to a level that surpasses grade-9 Genesis Qi. It was just that that level was too distant to Zhou Yuan at the time. But who would have thought that he already reached that stage a few years later? ¡°You didn''t fool me at the time, did you?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly seeing the strange look on Yaoyao¡¯s face. In truth, ever since he broke through to the Law Domain stage, he had looked through many ancient books and was surprised to find that grade-9 Genesis Qi was the highest level. Since ancient times, no one had seen Genesis Qi that surpassed the grade-9 level. The Genesis Qi of many Saints, including the three prime sovereigns, had been refined into Saint force of the world but it was still only grade-9 Genesis Qi regardless how powerful it was. It was just that it was infused with the will and orders of the world. It was unheard of for Genesis Qi to surpass grade-9. Yaoyao gently stroked Tuntun''s soft fur, saying in a gentle voice, ¡°Genesis Qi that surpasses grade-9 has indeed never been seen in the past and present.¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his mouth and looked bitterly at Yaoyao. It was as he thought. ¡°But even if it has never appeared before that doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t exist.¡± Yaoyao stared at Zhou Yuan, and the young man''s figure was reflected in her clear eyes. ¡°But that step isn¡¯t something you can touch upon now. If you want to use that to become a Saint, how do I say it¡­it¡¯s like putting fine timber to petty use.¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips twitched. How many Law Domain experts had been pursuing the path to the Saint stage in their entire life? But Yaoyao told him that it would be a waste if he wanted to walk that path with the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. If the person in front of him wasn¡¯t Yaoyao, one of the most distinguished people in the world, he likely would have given her a slap in the face and asked what nonsense she was talking about. Yaoyao assumed a very serious and solemn expression and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, don''t underestimate the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. It is the true no.1 cultivation art in the world. Even the Sacred God pried into it. The Ancient God Scripture that the Sacred Race heaven prides uses is also created from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture through the Sacred God¡¯s prying. ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Scripture is left by the Ancestral Dragon and perhaps there are great mysteries in it.¡± Zhou Yuan''s heart trembled. What Yaoyao told him was undoubtedly a top secret of the world that even the Omega Shrine perhaps didn¡¯t know about. He had a hunch that the Ancestral Dragon Scripture would be extremely important in the future when they need to reverse the situation. ¡°It is considered a huge leap from the Nascent Source to the Law Domain stage. Although your foundation is very stable these years, you still shouldn¡¯t relax. This half a year of pill refining will be very beneficial to you. Those three are doing free labour for you so don¡¯t waste it. Use their Saint power to make your foundation indestructible.¡± ¡°An unprecedented foundation is needed to reach an unprecedented peak.¡± A light breeze passed, fluttering the corners of Yaoyao¡¯s dress and swaying her fine black hair. Her stunning beauty was like a goddess of the moon palace. It was incredibly difficult for someone to move their gaze away from her elegance and beauty. Zhou Yuan furrowed his brows. He clearly found Yaoyao''s words difficult to understand. There seemed to be a lot of things that she hadn¡¯t said. However, he didn¡¯t ask any more questions because he knew she had a reason to not tell him clearly. But one thing was certain¡ªthe Ancestral Dragon Scripture was extraordinary and he shouldn¡¯t relax. ¡°I understand.¡± He nodded silently. He hadn¡¯t tried to deeply understand his Genesis Qi after it evolved into Sacred Dragon Qi. Perhaps he should take advantage of the half a year of pill refining to get things flowing. Only when he sort out himself would he be able to clear away the fog and clearly see the path to the Saint stage. ... After the Stone Dragon Secret Domain Battle ended, the Sacred Race withdrew many of their prying on all-heavens, which made all-heavens heave a sigh of relief. But the Omega Shrine still didn¡¯t relax it''s vigilance. After all, they understood the Sacred Race too well. Although the power that Yaoyao showed had a deterrent effect, the present Yaoyao wasn¡¯t the complete third god and therefore, it was too naive to think she had terrified the Sacred Race to the point that they didn¡¯t dare to move. Therefore, in their opinion, the strange quietness from the Sacred Race meant they were planning something else. Although they couldn¡¯t speculate what, they still kept their vigilance. Shengzu Heaven was the core heaven of the Sacred Race. In the center of Shengzu Heaven stood an indescribably tall mountain. The mountain was so ancient that its age couldn¡¯t be determined and seemed to have existed since the world first began. It was the Sacred Race¡¯s Sacred Mountain! The Sacred God was said to be born from it when heaven and earth first began. Countless rings of majestic light surrounded every area of the Sacred Mountain and everyone from the Sacred Race would respectfully bow in the mountain¡¯s direction because their creator god was there. At the Sacred Mountain¡¯s summit stood a golden palace that hadn¡¯t changed since ancient times and seemed to have survived many vicissitudes. Inside the palace was a giant bottomless hole that not even Saints could pry into. Moreover, the pitch-black hole made people shudder with fear at a glance. The palace was dimly lit like the starry sky. Seven lotus platforms were partly visible in that darkness. On each lotus platform was a lifelike statue, emitting ancient and tyrannical auras. Pu! Suddenly, a faint wave of energy spread across the palace hall. Then, dazzling light bloomed from the seven lotus platforms and the seven statues¡¯ eyes shone brightly. ¡°The Stone Dragon Secret Domain fell into all-heavens¡¯ hands, and the third god was actually born¡­¡± ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect it¡­¡± ¡°The third god will be serious trouble for us. She hasn¡¯t fully recovered so this is perhaps our chance now.¡± ¡°Correct. Although our god isn¡¯t worried about the third god, as subordinates, we need to eliminate all threats in advance so when our god wakes up, this world will belong to our race.¡± ¡°Do we have a plan? Now that the third god is hiding in the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, I don¡¯t think there would be a chance¡­Also, even if she hasn¡¯t fully recovered, her power shouldn¡¯t be underestimated.¡± ¡°......¡± There were mysterious, hoarse, and ancient voices coming from the seven statues. However, their argument suddenly halted. Even though they were projections from the statues, their eyes were still wide with shock. This was because they saw wisps of divine light rising from the mysterious hole that even they couldn¡¯t pry into. The wisps of light eventually formed a mottled spearhead covered with cracks. While the seven prime saints were taken aback, a mysterious and faintly discernible voice sounded as if it came from an unknown space. ¡°Go¡­kill her.¡± Chapter 1373 Sacred Dragon Body Times passed like sand slipping through fingers. Half a year was gone before one knew it. While Zhou Yuan''s name spread throughout all-heavens, he had never left the All-Heavens City. Instead, he spent all his time refining Ancestral Dragon Pill and improving his strength. All-heavens and the Sacred Race also got some rare peace and quiet in the past half a year. The friction between them also tremendously reduced. Many people were secretly relieved because the Sacred Race was known to be incredibly fierce and it would be best if all-heavens had some time to recuperate. Particularly since Ancestral Dragon Pills were constantly being produced from All-Heavens City. That huge number of Ancestral Dragon Pills allowed many Nascent Source experts¡¯ and Law Domain experts¡¯ strength to steadily increase. Moreover, many who had stayed at the same cultivation level for years made breakthroughs. The number of third Law Domain stage experts emerging in all-heavens in the past half a year was almost comparable to that in the past one hundred years! This was the magical effect of Ancestral Dragon Pills! Therefore, all-heavens were buzzing with joy in the past half a year, and as a result, the goddess sect expanded massively and its followers increased astonishingly. All the experts who benefited from the Ancestral Dragon Pills had to sincerely praise the goddess again. Zhou Yuan, who was an assistant in refining Ancestral Dragon Pill, also gained fame during that period and became a very popular figure in all-heavens. ... In a secluded courtyard in All-Heavens City. Zhou Yuan, whose fame resounded all over the world, was very quiet in that past half a year. When he wasn¡¯t refining Ancestral Dragon Pill, he was improving his cultivation level. He sat cross-legged on an azure boulder with his eyes closed. His body, like a black hole, was absorbing the universe Genesis Qi within a radius of a thousand miles, causing a tremendous Genesis Qi tornado to form above the small courtyard. The tornado was wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and as it revolved, vast amounts of Genesis Qi was drawn into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. That training lasted for around one hour before the huge Genesis Qi tornado in the sky suddenly descended, turning into a stream of clear light and entered Zhou Yuan¡¯s body through his breathing. Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin gave off divine light, making him appear indescribably vast and sacred. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation training didn¡¯t end there. His eyes were still closed, and if any Law Domain expert was nearby, they could hear deep, ancient roars echoing in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Yaoyao was sitting gracefully on a branch, her purple dress draped over her knee and her fair and slender legs gently swayed. Even the wisps of light passed through into the little courtyard seemed to be swaying along. Such a beautiful scene could easily make someone enjoy themselves so much that they forget to go home. She occasionally sipped the fine wine in the jade gourd in her hand and cast her clear and ethereal eyes towards Zhou Yuan. Others might not notice the changes happening within Zhou Yuan, but she saw it very clearly. The Sacred Dragon Qi in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was vibrating violently. The Genesis Qi roaming around his body resembled an ancient divine dragon soaring. At the same time, dragon roars constantly echoed and where the roar spread to, Zhou Yuan¡¯s flesh, bones and meridians underwent evolution-like transformations. Wisps of purple-gold light gradually seeped to the surface of Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin. Looking closer, one would notice those purple-gold lights were formed from countless purple-gold dragon scales. Tuntun stood up and unleashed a roar at Zhou Yuan. This was because he radiated an Alpha Holy Beast¡¯s aura, and that aura existed in Tuntun¡¯s inherited memory. It was an aura that only the top Alpha Holy Beasts in the world could possess. After the Ancestral Dragon created all beings and Alpha Holy Beasts were born, the Ancestor Taotie and the Sacred Dragon also met. Zhou Yuan¡¯s physical body was gradually transforming like an Alpha Holy Beast. Of course, he wasn¡¯t truly becoming a beast but he was changing on a much deeper level. In other words, Zhou Yuan was becoming a humanoid Alpha Holy Beast! Yaoyao comforted Tuntun, and then shifted her gaze back onto Zhou Yuan with a satisfied smiling expression in her eyes. Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t slacked off in the past half a year and managed to continuously improve himself with the three Saints¡¯ power. This allowed his body and Sacred Dragon Qi to reach a perfect harmony. It was that harmony that allowed his Sacred Dragon Qi to fuse deeper into his body and achieve that kind of transformation. Yaoyao took a sip of the wine. Only she knew how much Zhou Yuan had suffered in the past half a year, such as the refining from the three Saints¡¯ power, the pain caused by the Sacred Dragon Qi shaking his flesh, and his flesh destroyed and then reshaped. Even so, Zhou Yuan had never thought of giving up. But the good thing was that his half a year of hard work was finally over. While Yaoyao breathed a sigh of relief, Zhou Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged on an azure boulder, suddenly opened his eyes, revealing his purple-gold dragon pupils. Additionally, a gush of terrifying dragon power swept across the area and almost even split the world. However, Yaoyao was well prepared. She raised her beautiful hand into the air and an invisible but vast power spread across and dissolved the sacred dragon might that gushed out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Hu. Zhou Yuan breathed out a ray of purple-gold light like dragon breath. There was undisguisable joy on his face because he could distinctly feel the changes within his body. His body had reached the strongest state it had ever reached and the power he possessed could move stars and turn over thousands of mountains. But what caught his attention the most was the mysterious information rushing to his mind. It was a flash of realization from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. It was a Saint Genesis Art. Zhou Yuan savored it carefully, and the smile on his lips deepened. His hard work in the past half a year had finally been rewarded. The Ancestral Dragon Scripture was truly the no.1 art in the world and also the no.1 treasure in the world. Zhou Yuan leaped down the boulder, lifted his head and saw a great pair of fair long legs when the dress fluttered in the breeze. He couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, ¡°Is this a reward for my hard time during this period?¡± Yaoyao shot an annoyed glare at him and was about to say something, but her expression suddenly changed and she fluttered down. When Yaoyao landed next to Zhou Yuan, Zhou Yuan turned his head and saw two old figures emerging at the courtyard gate. They were prime sovereign Jin Luo and master Cang Yuan. ¡°Haha, this half a year has been really hard for you two.¡± prime sovereign Jin Luo said with a smile. His gaze swept up and down Zhou Yuan and his eyes lit up with surprise. He immediately exchanged a glance with Cang Yuan because he could feel the considerable changes in Zhou Yuan compared to half a year ago. ¡°Compared to me, Yaoyao is more like your master.¡± Cang Yuan smiled bitterly at Zhou Yuan. Ever since he accepted Zhou Yuan as his disciple, Cang Yuan hadn¡¯t had much time to teach Zhou Yuan. Instead, Yaoyao had been with Zhou Yuan from when he unblocked his eight meridians. Yaoyao tilted her head and looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Then you really have to thank me. You should call me master.¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. ¡°I have paid you with myself. Why do I need to say thank you? You should accept me already.¡± Yaoyao shot an irritated look at him. ¡°Ke¡­¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo and Cang Yuan both coughed out loud, as though saying you two shouldn''t act like that in front of them. ¡°Prime sovereign, master, did you come here to announce that our mission is over?" Zhou Yuan said with a smile. ¡°This is just one of the reasons.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo and Cang Yuan assumed a serious expression. He looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°There is one more thing, which should be very important to you¡­¡± ¡°What''s the matter?¡± Seeing the grave look on their faces, Zhou Yuan quickly put away his smile. Prime sovereign Jin Luo''s and Cang Yuan¡¯s words caused Zhou Yuan''s pupils to shrink. ¡°There are huge changes in Cangxuan Heaven¡­¡± Chapter 1374 Changes within Cangxuan Heaven ¡°There are huge changes in Cangxuan Heaven?!¡± The news brought by prime sovereign Jin Luo and Cang Yuan caused Zhou Yuan¡¯s face to blanch with fear. Although he had left Cangxuan Heaven years ago, it was still his home. Moreover, his parents were there and there was also the Great Zhou Empire. Although even the position of lord of a continent had little importance to him, let alone a little empire, given his present identity and status, that little empire had irreplaceable significance to him. ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath, suppressing his emotions. Cang Yuan said gravely, ¡°Cangxuan Heaven has been very chaotic in the past years. You should know about this, right?¡± A light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. When palace master Sheng Yuan forced him to flee Cangxuan Heaven, he crushed the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and made its fragments scattered throughout Cangxuan Heaven. That was the cause of the chaos in Cangxuan Heaven in the past few years. All sects and factions were doing everything they could to find fragments of the Saint Stamp and were caught in many battles because of that. But if Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t destroyed the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, it would have fallen into palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s hand. He was a lackey of the Sacred Race and if he got his hands on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, Cangxuan Heaven likely would be removed from all-heavens and belong to the Sacred Race. ¡°Cangxuan Heaven had become increasingly chaotic over the years due to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments. All sects and factions are fighting for fragments. Among those forces, the Sacred Palace is the strongest and it constantly swallowed up other sects and factions and seized their Saint Stamp fragments. This sparked wars all over Cangxuan Heaven.¡± ¡°There were very few people from Cangxuan Heaven seen in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain Battle because the war in Cangxuan Heaven is so fierce that no force dared to withdraw,¡± explained Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan looked a little surprised. He had also wondered why he didn''t see any Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. ¡°The Sacred Race is strong, but the other five sacred sects were able to compete with the Sacred Race by joining forces. ¡°However, the situation changed drastically while you were refining Ancestral Dragon Pills in the past half a year. The Sacred Race suddenly attacked and destroyed the Heavenly Ghost Sect, which is one of the five sacred sects, and this ruined the balance. Now, the Sacred Race is forcing the other four sacred sects to hand over the fragments they have.¡± ¡°What? The Sacred Palace destroyed the Heavenly Ghost Sect?!¡± Zhou Yuan''s pupils shrank. He remembered the Heavenly Ghost Sect and that Zhen Xu was in that sect. ¡°Why didn''t the Omega Shrine intervene in the war in Cangxuan Heaven? Sacred Palace is the source of Cangxuan Heaven''s calamity and given the Omega Shrine¡¯s power, it could easily suppress the Sacred Palace, right?¡± Zhou Yuan asked with a deep frown. Prime sovereign Jin Luo sighed, ¡°The Omega Shrine has to remain neutral, and the first rule it made when it was established is that it can¡¯t interfere in other heavens¡¯ matters. We can only gather the forces of all-heavens when we are facing the Sacred Race.¡± ¡°The Sacred Palace is a lackey of the Sacred Race. Isn¡¯t it right that you deal with them too?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Prime Sovereign Jin Luo said, ¡°It''s not as simple as you think. First of all, Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s situation is different. It¡¯s not controlled by a Heaven Master and it is difficult for outsider Saints to enter. In a sense, Cangxuan Heaven is regarded as separate from all-heavens and it also doesn¡¯t have a close relationship with the other four heavens. Also, the Sacred Race has been closely watching Cangxuan Heaven these years. Any all-heavens Saint that got close to Cangxuan Heaven would be intercepted and killed.¡± Zhou Yuan furrowed his brows. He never thought Cangxuan Heaven had so many hidden troubles. It was no wonder that it was regarded at the bottom of all-heavens. The absence of a Heaven Master in control meant that the universe rules had become disorderly and as a result it was impossible for the heaven to develop. The Saints born in Cangxuan Heaven couldn¡¯t stay there because their strength would never improve if they stayed. This wasn¡¯t something that Saints couldn¡¯t tolerate. Not everyone was as selfless and righteous as old ancestor Cang Xuan. ¡°From the information we have received, the Sacred Race should be behind the Sacred Palace¡¯s sudden attack. Their quietness in the past half a year is very strange but they were likely making preparations for that attack. I suspect that they want to aid palace master Sheng Yuan to seize the fragments and use the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s power to force Cangxuan Heaven out from the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array¡¯s protection. If that happened, the Sacred Race could march into Cangxuan Heaven and completely gain control of it,¡± explained Cang Yuan. ¡°What a huge appetite!¡± Zhou Yuan said through gritted teeth. ¡°But four of the Saint Runes and one fragment of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp is with me. Even if palace master Sheng Yuan managed to seize all the other fragments, he can¡¯t transformed them into a complete saint stamp, right?¡± ¡°Palace master Sheng Yuan indeed can¡¯t become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven without a complete Cangxuan Saint Stamp, but even an incomplete Cangxuan Saint Stamp could still shake Cangxuan Heaven. If he tampered with the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, the Sacred Race should have other things planned.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo didn¡¯t seem surprised that Zhou Yuan was holding four Saint Runes and a fragment. It was clear that he already knew. After all, Zhou Yuan had used the Saint Runes¡¯ power more than once in front of him. The other saints might be unfamiliar with that power, but he couldn''t hide them from prime sovereign Jin Luo. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face grew overcast as he said, ¡°We can¡¯t let palace master Sheng Yuan get what he wants.¡± Cangxuan Heaven was Zhou Yuan¡¯s hometown and he had deep affection for both the Great Zhou Empire and the Cangxuan Sect. He would never allow them to be destroyed by palace master Sheng Yuan. Zhou Yuan raised his eyes and looked directly at prime sovereign Jin Luo. ¡°Prime sovereign, you didn¡¯t specially come to find me to just pass on this information, right?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo pressed his hands together, saying, ¡°Don''t be reckless. Although the Sacred Palace is very ambitious, our all-heavens wouldn¡¯t let them destroy Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°I came to find you to ask you to lead a team of elites from all-heavens. The mission of that team is to return to Cangxuan Heaven, destroy the Sacred Palace, protect the peace of Cangxuan Heaven and sever the Sacred Race¡¯s evil intention. ¡°But this task isn¡¯t that simple because of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s special circumstances. No Saint could enter Cangxuan Heaven but Sheng Yuan already possessed quasi-Saint power. Even if you are the strongest below the Saint stage, the battle between you and Sheng Yuan is still unpredictable. The danger of going to Cangxuan Heaven isn¡¯t small, but no one is more suitable than you for that role.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°What do you think?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled confidently. ¡°Even without this matter, I already planned to return to Cangxuan Heaven to settle a grudge in the past after I completed refining the Ancestral Dragon Pill. As for Sheng Yuan, there should be an end between us. ¡°I accept this mission.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned, showing his sparkly white teeth, but there was a coldness like the fangs of a wild beast. ¡°I have been after his life for years. This time I will send him on his way to death." Chapter 1375 Saint Silver Both prime sovereign Jin Luo and Cang Yuan weren¡¯t surprised to see Zhou Yuan readily accept the mission. After all, they knew about Zhou Yuan¡¯s past very well. Zhou Yuan was from Cangxuan Heaven and the Cangxuan Sect. Therefore, given his personality, he wouldn¡¯t sit and do nothing if Cangxuan Heaven was in trouble. ¡°The people who will go to Cangxuan Heaven with you have already been selected for you. They will assemble in All-Heavens City tomorrow. Due to the fact that the universe rules and regulations in Canxuan Heaven are in disorder now, the inside is in a relatively closed-off state, which means we can¡¯t send too many people in. However, given your current strength and your selected team¡¯s, you should be able to contend against the Sacred Palace,¡± explained prime sovereign Jin Luo. Zhou Yuan nodded, and then, after a moment of hesitation, he asked, ¡°Can¡¯t Yaoyao come to Cangxuan Heaven with me?¡± Emotions rippled across Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. She also had many memories in Cangxuan Heaven. It was where she spent the most time with Zhou Yuan and the memories there were unforgettable to her like fine wine. The little Great Zhou City, the Saint Remains Domain and the Cangxuan Sect. There was also the small but particularly warm and peaceful cave dwelling. ¡°It¡¯s best if the goddess doesn¡¯t go to Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo hurriedly persuaded. ¡°The Sacred Race is already watching you. The Sacred Race is very vicious and might have prepared some unthinkable means. But the Sacred Race won¡¯t stand a chance if the goddess is under the protection of the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. But the situation in Cangxuan Heaven is unpredictable and the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array there isn¡¯t perfect. The goddess¡¯s appearance there could lead to unpredictable changes.¡± Jin Luo wore a very solemn expression. Yaoyao hadn¡¯t fully recovered, and if anything were to happen to her, the consequence would be much more serious than losing Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan nodded. He reached for Yaoyao¡¯s little hand and comforted, ¡°There¡¯s no rush. When I settle the situation in Cangxuan Heaven and fully protect the Cangxuan Heaven with the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array again, we can go back there together.¡± Yaoyao nodded, but a trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes. Prime sovereign Jin Luo and Cang Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, there was still someone in this world that the goddess listened to. ¡°By the way, do you remember you previously asked our Omega Shrine to help you refine Silver Shadow? There¡¯s finally a result after half a year. Fortunately I can give it to you before you leave for Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo smiled at Zhou Yuan. Then, with a flick of his sleeve, a silvery light bloomed before him like a beautiful silver moon. As the light spread out, a coldness filled the air. That coldness could make one¡¯s Genesis Qi still for a moment. As Zhou Yuan stared at where the silvery light was condensing, he saw a silver ball quietly floating in the air. Silver Shadow hadn¡¯t seemed to have changed much compared to how it was in the past, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression grew increasingly solemn. This was because he could feel the mighty power contained in the silver ball. Saint Runes roamed around inside Zhou Yuan''s eyes, and through them, Zhou Yuan saw countless ancient runes covering the silver ball¡¯s surface. Those runes seemed to possess vitality, constantly integrating and combining with each other. It was a mysterious scene. An indescribable charm surrounded Silver Shadow. That charm could only be born from a true Saint object. ¡°Huh?¡± Zhou Yuan suddenly exclaimed. With the Decoder Saint Rune¡¯s power, he could see a blurry shadow in the deepest part of Silver Shadow. However, although it was blurry, he could distinctly have eight arms. ¡°It seems you noticed.¡± Seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression, prime sovereign Jin Luo said with a smile, ¡°Strictly speaking, your Silver Shadow is a puppet, but it is of wonderful workmanship. Its creator is really amazing. Even the Saints skilled in refining in the Omega Shrine couldn¡¯t help but marvel at its workmanship.¡± ¡°I found it in the ruins of a sect in Cangxuan Heaven. I think it was called the Battle Puppet Sect. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in the Sacred Race¡¯s sacred punishment, along with all beings within a radius of 80,000 li,¡± said Zhou Yuan. Prime sovereign Jin Luo and Cang Yuan fell silent. Of course they were aware of the period when the Sacred Race dominated Cangxuan Heaven. During that period, the beings in Cangxuan Heaven were treated like pigs and they had no power to fight back against the Sacred Race¡¯s slaughtering. The Battle Puppet Sect should be a sect from that period. Zhou Yuan stared deeply at Silver Shadow. He couldn¡¯t change the past in Cangxuan Heaven, but he had to stop history repeating itself in Cangxuan Heaven because his family and friends were in Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°The several Saints in the Omega Shrine have harmonized Silver Shadow¡¯s characteristics and helped it improve into a Saint object. It also developed a Saint Spirit. You can learn about these new characteristics later.¡± ¡°Saint Spirit¡­¡± A light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. The so-called Saint Spirit indicated that an object possessed spiritual intellect. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t ordinary spiritual intellect, but the spirit of a Saint object. Silver Shadow could be considered a special life form. As Zhou Yuan stretched out hand, Silver Shadow immediately drew closer to him and landed in his palm. It turned into silver liquid and happily flowed around his fingertips like a mischievous fish. Silver Shadow clearly felt Zhou Yuan¡¯s familiar aura. ¡°Congratulations, you finally evolved to such a state after so many years. Perhaps this is what the Battle Puppet Sect hoped you would achieve when it created you,¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. ¡°Now that it is a true Saint object and became a Saint from a mortal, it is considered to have gained a new life. Perhaps it also needs a new name,¡± suggested Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement. Stroking the silver liquid flowing between his fingers, he pondered for a moment. ¡°Your new name will be Saint Silver.¡± The silver liquid surged, producing waves of excited cheering. Zhou Yuan smiled. As he pressed his palms together, the silver liquid flowed into his body through the pores and quickly disappeared. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan expressed his gratitude to prime sovereign Jin Luo. ¡°That¡¯s your reward for refining Ancestral Dragon Pill." Prime sovereign Jin Luo waved his hand. He glanced at Yaoyao, who hadn¡¯t said anything, coughed out loud and said, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t stay too long. I wish you return triumphant, sweep away the dark clouds around Cangxuan Heaven and make peace return to Cangxuan Heaven.¡± He and Cang Yuan turned and left. Zhou Yuan didn''t urge them to stay longer. After the two left, he turned and said to Yaoyao, ¡°Sorry, we have to be apart again and I can''t take you to Cangxuan Heaven.¡± He could feel Yaoyao''s emotions. She indeed had deep affections for certain parts of Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°When I eliminate the Sacred Palace, I will take you there as soon as possible. At that time¡­I will bring you to meet my father and mother, and I will tell them that this is their daughter-in-law.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at Yaoyao with blazing eyes. The corners of Yaoyao''s lips curled slightly upwards as she leaned her cheek on Zhou Yuan''s chest, gazing at the cold moonlight falling splendidly on the courtyard and illuminating the flowers. She really wanted to return to Cangxuan Heaven...especially the small cave dwelling that held a lot of their memories¡­That was their little home, which she had spent a lot of time and effort taking care of. Every plant and tree there were planted by her. It had a spring, a medicinal herb garden, a peach tree¡­and most importantly there was a jar of peach wine stored beneath the tree. She was worried whether she would have such strong wine-like emotions when she return to Cangxuan Heaven in the future? Chapter 1376 Return to Cangxuan That day when Zhou Yuan saw the elite army that prime sovereign Jin Luo selected for him, he unsurprisingly saw some familiar faces. The army, headed by Chi Jing, consisted of Zhao Mushen, Wu Yao, Su Youwei and one hundred figures. The number of people wasn¡¯t a lot, but a dozen were at the Law Domain stage and the rest were at the pinnacle of the Nascent Source stage. That formation of people could wipe out a territory in Hunyuan Heaven, let alone Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°I heard that junior brother, you, is returning to your hometown. As your senior sister, I am very curious to have a look at your hometown.¡± Chi Jing¡¯s short burgundy red hair fluttered as she spoke. Her tall and slender body made her look even more heroic and some of the girls in the team couldn¡¯t help but cast glances her way. Zhao Mushen wore an indifferent expression as he said, ¡°I¡¯m also very curious to see what sort of place could raise a monster like you.¡± Su Youwei exclaimed in a gentle voice, ¡°I want to see the little courtyard in the Great Zhou City again.¡± But Wu Yao kept quiet, because, in truth, Cangxuan Heaven was only filled with bad memories for her. She didn¡¯t want to return there at first, but when Su Youwei persuaded her, she agreed without much argument. No one knew what the reason was. Zhou Yuan smiled at them. ¡°This trip to Cangxuan Heaven is a rescue mission. So, I will have to trouble you guys then.¡± The one hundred people behind responded politely. They, who were either at the Law Domain or the pinnacle of the Nascent Source stage, were regarded as fierce characters in any place. However, when they faced Zhou Yuan, they didn¡¯t dare to be disrespectful. They stared at Zhou Yuan in awe. Zhou Yuan¡¯s title as the strongest below the Saint stage was known to everyone in that past half a year. If this was in the past, some Law Domain experts might challenge Zhou Yuan¡¯s position as leader, but now, no one dared to even have such a thought. When Zhou Yuan met his team, prime sovereign Jin Luo suddenly emerged above. Looking at everyone, he said, ¡°I have already explained what your specific mission is. This trip to Cangxuan Heaven will be headed by Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Everyone answered respectfully. Not wanting to waste any time, prime sovereign Jin Luo turned and said to Zhou Yuan, ¡°You can leave when you¡¯re ready.¡± Zhou Yuan peered into the distance and saw a graceful figure standing on a pavilion. Her clear and ethereal eyes were fixed on him. It was Yaoyao. In her arms was Tuntun sleeping lazily. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t take Tuntun with him to Cangxuan Heaven to keep Yaoyao company in case she felt lonely. The two looked at each other affectionately. Zhou Yuan beamed at Yaoyao, forcibly suppressing his reluctance to leave her and said to prime sovereign Jin Luo, ¡°We¡¯re ready!¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo nodded and gently tapped the walking stick in his hand. Boom! The space above All-Heavens City suddenly split apart and berserk spatial force roared out like an enraged dragon. However, that was no threat to a supreme sovereign. In just a few seconds, prime sovereign Jin Luo was able to locate Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s position. The spatial force surged and formed a space portal. Without prime sovereign Jin Luo saying anything, Zhou Yuan already took the lead and soared into the sky. He glided across the sky like a giant bird and threw himself into the space portal. The one hundred people quickly followed after him. In just ten breaths, the entire team had entered the space portal and the space portal had vanished, leaving behind no trace. Prime sovereign Jin Luo gave a nod in Yaoyao¡¯s direction before he disappeared like an illusion. Yaoyao paid no attention to prime sovereign because her gaze was fixed on where Zhou Yuan disappeared. While gently striking Tuntunt¡¯s soft fur, she suddenly raised her eyes and peered in the chaos void¡¯s direction. A strange light flash across her starry sky-like Divine Eye, which was covered by her bangs. ¡°Sacred God¡­ ¡°Are you about to awaken? Your disgusting aura is beginning to be felt in this world¡­¡± ... Cangxuan Heaven. The space above the mountains rippled violently and gradually distorted, forming a vortex surrounded by bolts of lightning. A pillar of light descended from the sky, causing the mountains to quake and created a huge crater in the ground. Zhou Yuan stood in the huge crater, surveying the surroundings. ¡°The Genesis Qi in this world is much weaker than that in Hunyuan Heaven. Also, it contains chaos and disorder. This should be Cangxuan Heaven. We haven¡¯t been teleported to the wrong place. No wonder prime sovereign Jin Luo is a triple lotus saint expert.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. He couldn¡¯t perceive the difference in universe Genesis Qi back when he was in Cangxuan Heaven, but now that he was the strongest below the Saint stage and that he had been to Hunyuan Heaven and Wanshou Heaven, he was distinctly aware of the difference between Cangxuan Heaven and other heavens. The chaos and disorder it had were perhaps due to the absence of a heaven master. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath while slowly opening his arms. A nostalgic smile lit up his face. ¡°Cangxuan Heaven, I, Zhou Yuan, is back.¡± After that performance watched by no one, he slowly drew out a golden bell and jingled it. A sound wave imperceptible to ordinary people rippled across the area. It was a signal to contact the rest of the team. They also each had a golden bell that would guide them to him. With a flick of his sleeve, clouds scudded away. The terrain ahead came into his sight. ¡°Huh?¡± Zhou Yuan cried out when he saw the terrain ahead, and he couldn¡¯t help chuckling. The scenery filled him with nostalgia and reminiscence. It was very familiar to him. It was the Saint Remains Domain, which he came to when he was still a young boy and it was where he received the runes left by old ancestor Cang Xuan. Under his guidance, he went to Cangxuan Sect and started his journey to reach the top. ¡°Old ancestor Cang Xuan, it¡¯s been a long time¡­¡± As Zhou Yuan muttered, three incense sticks appeared in his hand. He burned them and bowed respectfully in the Saint Remains Domain¡¯s direction. ¡°I broke the Cangxuan Saint Stamp back then and brought chaos to Cangxuan Heaven, but don¡¯t worry. I came back to clean up the pests in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice echoed on the mountain summit, and the terrifying murderous intent contained in his voice made all mountains deadly still and quiet. Zhou Yuan exhaled deeply and his expression suddenly changed as he turned his head northwestward. There, vast amounts of Genesis Qi were surging. Chapter 1377 Xiao Tianxuan Flocks of birds scattered in the mountains. An army haphazardly rushed into the mountain forests and the smell of blood filled the air amid painful cries, wails and fearful screams. Everything together formed a very tragic scene. Xiao Tianluo, who had grey sideburns, glanced at the miserable scenes around. His chest was dripping with blood, his body shivering and his eyes were filled with regret and fury. He never imagined that the Saint Remains City, which he had painstakingly built over the years, would be destroyed in his hands. ¡°Old Yan, how is Tianxuan? Has he caught up?!¡± Xiao Tianluo¡¯s voice trembled as he asked. ¡°Lord¡­¡± The trusted aide called old Yan wore a very sorrowful expression as he said through gritted teeth, ¡°junior city lord is bringing up the rear but there are four advanced Heavenly Sun experts in the Sacred Palace team and he¡¯s only at the initial Heavenly Sun stage.¡± ¡°No, my son will be fine!¡± Xiao Tianluo''s eyes suddenly reddened. He abruptly turned around and was about to charge out. His son, Xiao Tianxuan, entered the Cangxuan Sect after the Saint Remains Domain and had been cultivating hard all these years. He finally surpassed his father with his talent and broke through to the Heavenly Sun stage and was promoted to an elder of the Cangxuan Sect. Xiao Tianxuan was his pride. He had always bragged to his friends about his son. But he never thought everything would change so quickly. A few years ago, he accidentally found a mysterious fragment in the Saint Remains Domain. He immediately recognized it was a fragment of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp because the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s matter had already spread throughout Cangxuan Heaven at the time, and so he carefully hid it. He knew that this could be an opportunity. Although he had little interest in such an opportunity given his age, he wanted to leave that opportunity for his Xiao Tianxuan so he could advance even further in his cultivation. But destruction came before that opportunity. People came to the Saint Ruins City under the name of the Sacred Palace and demanded him to hand over the fragment. Xiao Tianluo naturally refused and he secretly sent a letter to summon back Xiao Tianxuan, who was in Cangxuan Sect. After all, in his opinion, the Cangxuan Sect was one of the six sacred sects and the Sacred Palace should give face to it. But what he didn''t expect was that the Sacred Palace team immediately launched a bloodbath attack on the Saint Remains City when Xiao Tianxuan arrived. As a result, the army guarding the Saint Remains City was massacred under such terrifying power. In the end, he could only flee the city with some people, and in order to buy them time to flee, Xiao Tianxuan led the elites of Saint Ruins City to obstruct the Sacred Palace team. Everyone knew what the result would be¡­ ¡°City lord, you can''t go! You will just be throwing away your life if you go there!¡± The guards hurriedly stopped Xiao Tianluo. ¡°We cannot waste the chance the junior city lord bought with his life!¡± ¡°......¡± Under everyone¡¯s persuasion, Xiao Tianluo wept bitterly. He felt very regretful. If he knew this would happen, he wouldn¡¯t be greedy for the Saint Stamp fragment. Then, perhaps his son wouldn¡¯t fall into such a hopeless situation. All his hope was turned to dust. ¡°Let''s go, I will take you all to a safe place,¡± Xiao Tianluo uttered in a hoarse voice as he struggled free from everyone. Everyone fell silent. They could hear unwavering determination to sacrifice his life in Xiao Tianluo''s voice. However, Xiao Tianluo was in no mood to care about that. He dragged himself forward and led the group of people. But his body was too heavy and worn out. Suddenly, a demonic laughter resounded throughout the mountains. ¡°How much time do you think an initial Heavenly Sun expert could buy for you? What a group of country pumpkins.¡± Panic immediately broke out from the fleeing troops. Trembling, everyone lifted their heads to see a group of figures in sacred white robes and they all wore mocking and condescending expressions as they looked down at them. The middle-aged man who led the Sacred Palace team was surrounded in monstrous waves of Genesis Qi. He clearly was an expert at the advanced Heavenly Sun stage. ¡°Are you waiting for your son?¡± He tilted his head and looked at Xiao Tianluo. Then, he grinned and waved his hand. Someone suddenly hurled something across the air and it landed in front of Xiao Tianluo. Xiao Tianluo¡¯s eyes immediately reddened because he saw Xiao Tianxuan drenched with blood. His body was mangled with bone-deep wounds and his vitality was rapidly dissipating like a fish out of water. ¡°Tianxuan!¡± Xiao Tianluo pounced forward and held his son tight. Xiao Tianxuan opened his eyes with difficulty. Seeing tears rolling down his father¡¯s face, he said hoarsely, ¡°Father, be careful. They are the Sacred Demon Army of the Sacred Palace. The Sacred Palace has waged war with the five sacred sects.¡± ¡°It''s father¡¯s fault that you became like this!¡± Tears continued to course down Xiao Tianluo¡¯s face. He suddenly raised his head and begged the white-robed figure exuding murderous auras in mid-air. ¡°I will give you the fragment, please let my son go!¡± The advanced Heavenly Sun expert in midair stretched out his hand, demanding, ¡°Hand it over.¡± Didn¡¯t dare to disobey, Xiao Tianluo tremblingly took out a jade box. The box glowed as it opened. Then, a fragment slowly floated up and universe Genesis Qi rapidly gathered around it. The Sacred Palace expert beckoned and the fragment darted over to him. He then took out a crystal ball that was almost liquid-like and it started to release rays of dazzling light as the fragment neared. ¡°It¡¯s indeed a saint stamp fragment.¡± The Sacred Palace expert grinned, storing the fragment into the crystal ball. He looked at the army fleeing below and a ruthless and sinister look flashed in his eyes. ¡°Kill them all.¡± ¡°You!¡± Xiao Tianluo¡¯s eyes almost cracked when he heard him going back on his words. Xiao Tianxuan staggered to his feet, clasping a sword dripping with blood. He knew that only he could stop the enemies for a moment. The others would easily be slaughtered like weed. But he also understood that he could collapse right away in his current state. But he couldn¡¯t watch his father be killed. ¡°Old man, it seems that we¡¯re going to die together,¡± he said weakly with a smile. Xiao Tianluo said tearfully, ¡°I am to blame.¡± Xiao Tianxuan shook his head. Tightening his grip around his sword, he unyieldingly looked at the Sacred Palace experts approaching and said with a smile, ¡°Your Sacred Palace shouldn¡¯t look so smug. No one could restrain you in Cangxuan Heaven, but it won¡¯t be long that someone will come and get rid of you all.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The Heavenly Sun stage leader mocked, ¡°The Heavenly Ghost Sect of the six sacred sects has already been destroyed. You think someone from Cangxuan Heaven could contend with the Sacred Palace? Who do you think is qualified? Tell me and I will leave your dead body with no parts missing.¡± Xiao Tianxuan didn¡¯t respond but his face bore a look of determination, and he slowly lifted his sword. The domineering junior city lord who clashed with Zhou Yuan in the Saint Ruins Domain was no longer the same as he was ten years ago. ¡°Idiot.¡± The advanced Heavenly Sun stage expert shook his head and was itching to kill him. Kacha! But just as his Genesis Qi rushed forth, an ear-piercing noise rang in the mountain forest. The sound happened so abruptly that it dispelled all murderous spirits. The Sacred Palace experts turned his head with a darkened face, only to see a youngster leaning his back against a tree while nibbling a sour apricot. The young man''s gaze moved past the Sacred Palace experts and fell on Xiao Tianxuan, who was standing up and gripping his sword. A smile came to that handsome face. ¡°Xiao Tianxuan, the person you are talking about isn''t me, is it?¡± Chapter 1378 More People In the mountain forest, a ray of sunlight passed through the dense leaves and created a flare, illuminating the youngster who wore a smiling expression in the shade of the tree. That scene seemed to not match the chaotic and tragic scene in the distance. However, the youngster exuded a bearing that couldn''t be ignored. Even just sitting there, indescribable power was emitted from him. It was as though he was the protagonist of the world. Xiao Tianxuan stared blankly at the figure because the man¡¯s face seemed very familiar. When he analyzed the joke that the youngster made, a light flashed in his mind, his body trembled and his eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°You¡­you''re Zhou Yuan?!¡± Although Cangxuan Heaven was closed off and didn¡¯t receive much news about all-heavens, Xiao Tianxuan was now an elder of the Cangxuan Sect and thus naturally was able to obtain some intelligence. What the Cangxuan Sect was most proud of all these years was of course the youngster from the Cangxuan Sect and went to another heaven. Zhou Yuan! Of course, they were aware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s fame due to the Battle of Guyuan Heaven. Elites from Cangxuan Heaven had also participated in that battle, so they knew how Zhou Yuan defeated the sacred heaven prides from the Sacred Race and how he earned his glory. The disciples in the Cangxuan Sect felt very proud because Cangxuan Heaven was ranked at the bottom among all-heavens. No one in Cangxuan Heaven could deny that Cangxuan Heaven was indeed far inferior to other heavens in terms of strength. But Zhou Yuan, who was from Cangxuan Heaven, led all-heavens to victory against the Sacred Race in Guyuan Heaven and brought glory to everyone in the Cangxuan Sect. This included Xiao Tianxuan. Although the two had some grudges many years ago, more than ten years had passed and one¡¯s name had resounded throughout all-heavens and the other was an elder of a sect. The grudges they had when they were young already vanished like smoke. This was particularly true for Xiao Tianxuan, who would deliberately bring up their past when he spoke to new disciples in the sect as a conversation topic. When Xiao Tianxuan said that someone would come back to get rid of the Sacred Palace, he indeed was referring to Zhou Yuan. But he never thought he would appear right after he said that. He couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°You, why are you here?!¡± Xiao Tianxuan stammered, showing his shocked disbelief. ¡°As you said, I came back to get rid of some troubles,¡± said Zhou Yuan with a smile. The Sacred Palace team snapped out from their shock and threw a sharp look over Zhou Yuan. The advanced Heavenly Sun stage leader stared coldly at Zhou Yuan, but he didn¡¯t act right away because his intuition told him that the youngster in front of him, who didn¡¯t exude the slightest ripple of Genesis Qi, was extremely dangerous. ¡°Little friend, our Sacred Palace is dealing with our matters and I hope you won¡¯t interfere and bring trouble to yourself,¡± he warned. Zhou Yuan raised his eyes and said indifferently, ¡°The scums of Sacred Palace all deserve to die.¡± All Sacred Race experts¡¯ expressions changed dramatically and they all glowered at Zhou Yuan. The Sacred Palace had become increasingly strong over the years. It even destroyed the Heavenly Ghost Sect, one of the six sacred sects, a few days ago. Any sects and factions shuddered with fear when they heard the Sacred Palace name, but the youngster dared to act so arrogantly in front of the Sacred Palace?! The advanced Heavenly Sun leader¡¯s eyes grew increasingly cold. This youngster has a death wish. He heard Xiao Tianxuan say the youngster¡¯s name. Zhou Yuan? But that name didn¡¯t sound familiar to him. After all, although the other sects and factions might promote Zhou Yuan¡¯s achievements, the Sacred Race had a deep grudge with him and so it naturally blocked any information about him. Moreover, several years ago had passed and almost no one in the Sacred Palace remembered the name that previously brought a lot of trouble to the Sacred Palace. He lifted his hand and several Sacred Palace Heavenly Sun stage experts surrounded Zhou Yuan, blocking all his escape routes. ¡°Although I don''t know where you come from, since you came to interfere in the Sacred Palace¡¯s matter, no one in Cangxuan Heaven can save you. You might be capable, but do you have more people than us?!¡± Terrifying Genesis Qi erupted from all Sacred Palace experts as they all fixed Zhou Yuan with a murderous glare, as if ready to tear him to pieces. Berserk Genesis Qi whizzed out, causing mountains and forests to tremble. The people from Saint Remains City also shuddered with shock. Xiao Tianluo murmured, ¡°Why isn¡¯t that kid running away? Does he want to die?¡± The calmest person on the battlefield was Xiao Tianxuan. After all, he had heard about Zhou Yuan¡¯s matter and knew he could defeat a sacred heaven pride of the Sacred Race a few years ago, let alone now? He couldn¡¯t help chuckling when he heard Xiao Tianluo''s voice, ¡°Old man, don''t you remember him?¡± Xiao Tianluo carefully looked at Zhou Yuan, muttering, ¡°He looks somewhat familiar, his name also sounds familiar¡­" Cangxuan Heaven was closed-off and the Saint Remains City was located in a little corner of Cangxuan Heaven. Therefore, Xiao Tianluo had never met Zhou Yuan before and so it was understandable that he had forgotten about him. ¡°He was the one who came out on top in the Saint Remains Domain and finally entered the Cangxuan Sect. Back then, I had a grudge with him but you convinced me to let it go and not be enemies with him,¡± said Xiao Tianxuan. Xiao Tianluo was taken aback. The memory that had been covered in dust was finally dug out and his eyes almost popped out. ¡°He¡¯s the youngster who came out on top in the Saint Remains Domain!? He was just a young boy back then, high-spirited and daring¡­¡± Xiao Tianluo furrowed his brows. ¡°But I haven''t heard you talk about him in years? Is he also in the Cangxuan Sect?¡± Xiao Tianxuan sighed. ¡°Let alone Cangxuan Sect, even Cangxuan Heaven is too small for him now¡­¡± Xiao Tianluo¡¯s mouth fell open. The Cangmang Continent was already extremely big to him and the Cangxuan Sect, one of the sacred sects, was even more tremendous. He couldn¡¯t imagine the Cangxuan Heaven being too small for anyone. He looked skeptical for a good while. The youngster who is around the same age as my son has reached such a level? I really can¡¯t tell. While they were talking, a group of Sacred Palace experts gradually approached Zhou Yuan. However, it was obvious that they were very cautious and tried to test Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength first. However, Zhou Yuan seemed very leisurely and continued to nibble the sour apricot in his hand. He clearly had no interest in the people in front of him. ¡°Although you are scum in my eyes, I think you might have got something wrong¡­" ¡°What do you mean?¡± A Sacred Palace expert snorted coldly. Zhou Yuan stretched his body and indifferently raised his eyes. ¡°I mean that I have more people than you.¡± The space suddenly distorted, several spatial vortexes emerged in all directions and many people strode out the vortexes under the astonished gazes of Xiao Tianxuan, Xiao Tianluo and others. Every figure exuded a monstrous imposing aura and the Genesis Qi circulating around them was as vast as oceans. Under the pressure of such Genesis Qi, even several advanced Heavenly Sun experts from the Sacred Palace felt their bodies being crushed by stars and couldn¡¯t even flick their fingers. Bang! Some of them could withstand it for a while, but the Sacred Palace troops at the rear let out painful roars like an angry dragon before their body was crushed and exploded like fireworks in the air. The advanced Heavenly Sun experts stood dumbstruck for a good while, teeth chattering and eyes filled with fear. Around one hundred figures had appeared above and each one of them emitted Genesis Qi that surpassed theirs. Some even felt as deep as an abyss and couldn¡¯t be seen through. They had only felt something similar from the elites in the Sacred Palace ¡ª Law Domain stage experts! In other words, the one hundred people were all at the Nascent Source or the Law Domain stage! The team lineup was so terrifying that many people shuddered with fear. It was enough to turn the entire Cangxuan Heaven upside down! Trembling, they shifted their gazes to the youngster smiling under the huge tree. Fear and despair filled their eyes. If the team lineup was already so terrifying, the youngster who could recruit such elites must be even more terrifying! When did such a dragon-like being appear in Cangxuan Heaven? Chapter 1379 Killing Intent The one hundred figures emitting terrifying Genesis Qi hovered in all directions of the sky, stirring universe Genesis Qi. Even the world seemed to be producing wailing noises. Xiao Tianxuan, Xiao Tianluo and other defeated soldiers of Saint Remains City stared dumbfounded at the scene. Although no one except Xiao Tianxuan could figure out the cultivation level of the one hundred figures, that didn¡¯t stop them from feeling their terror. After all, didn¡¯t they see the Sacred Palace experts, who utterly defeated the Saint Remains City Army, crushed by the mysterious experts¡¯ Genesis Qi pressure? Si! Compared to the others, who were confused and shocked, Xiao Tianxuan felt a storm turning his heart upside down because he could feel that the Genesis Qi of everyone in the mysterious team was at least the Nascent Source stage! Moreover, a dozen of them were at the Law Domain stage! The overall strength of various sects and factions was significantly increased due to the Ancestral Dragon Pills distributed around all-heavens over the years. In the Cangxuan Sect, besides sect master Qing Yang, the other five peak masters also broke through to the first Law Domain stage. Among the seven Cangxuan peaks, only Sheng Taiyuan, the peak master of the Saint Genesis Peak, was a little behind. But even so, he was at the pseudo Law Domain stage. However, the number of Law Domain experts in the entire Cangxuan Sect could still be counted with one hand. But the number of Law Domain experts in the mysterious team led by Zhou Yuan was several times more than that in the Cangxuan Sect! That team lineup was enough to set off monstrous waves in Cangxuan Heaven! What is that guy¡¯s level now? Xiao Tianxuan exclaimed. The information that he had on Zhou Yuan was only from the Battle of Guyuan Heaven a few years ago. At that time, Zhou Yuan was only at the Heavenly Sun stage. But because the situation in Cangxuan Heaven became more and more chaotic, everyone couldn¡¯t spare any time to pay attention to news outside of Cangxuan Heaven and the result from the Stone Dragon Secret Domain hadn¡¯t spread to the closed-off Cangxuan Heaven. This was why Xiao Tianxuan was surprised to see Zhou Yuan recruited so many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts. He could see undisguised awe in their eyes when they looked at Zhou Yuan. While Xiao Tianxuan and the others were pleasantly surprised, the advanced Heavenly Sun stage leader from the Sacred Palace was utterly terrified because he felt like a boat about to capsize in a storm under such terrifying Genesis Qi pressure. He was like a rabbit fallen into an ambush of tigers. He couldn¡¯t help but tremble under their blazing gazes. ¡°You, who are you? You¡¯re not from Cangxuan Heaven!¡± The Sacred Race team leader¡¯s voice edged with fear. He wasn''t a fool. The Law Domain experts before him were all very unfamiliar-looking and so must come from outside of Cangxuan Heaven. However, didn''t the palace master say that Cangxuan Heaven was closed-off? ¡°Correct.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, but he didn''t say anything else and effortlessly crushed the apricot seed with two fingers. An icy intent flashed across his eyes. "You can''t kill me! I know that you are the reinforcements sent to Cangxuan Heaven by all-heavens, but so what? Palace master has healed all his injuries and his strength is dramatically improving. No one below the Saint stage is a match for him! You are just throwing away your life to come to Cangxuan Heaven!¡± The Sacred Palace team leader roared with all his strength. ¡°Sheng Yuan¡­¡± The coldness in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes deepened. ¡°I will soon go find him and settle a grudge.¡± As the Sacred Race team leader stared at Zhou Yuan, he suddenly remembered a major event that happened in Cangxuan Heaven and a name clearly emerged in his mind. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­You are Zhou Yuan from the Cangxuan Sect?! You are the Zhou Yuan who broke the Cangxuan Saint Stamp! You came back?!¡± he cried out in disbelief. Zhou Yuan just faintly smiled without saying anything. But his murderous intent had already shrouded several people. The Sacred Palace team leader felt a chill run down his spine under such murderous intent. However, he also knew that he couldn¡¯t survive, and so murderous rage suddenly sprang out from his heart and he grinned sinisterly, ¡°I wondered who you were. So you¡¯re the dog that was driven out Cangxuan Heaven! You came back with help? Unfortunately it¡¯s useless now! All of you will die in palace master¡¯s hand!¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and flicked his fingers, shooting the apricot seed across the air. But the apricot seed was instilled with Genesis Qi and as the Genesis Qi rippled, the apricot seed transformed into a purple-gold material, destroying several layers of space as it sped past. Many advanced Heavenly Sun experts frantically circulated their Genesis Qi to withstand the attack, but all blocking attempts were useless. Before Xiao Tianxuan and the others had come back to their senses, a stream of light had already sped past and hole appeared between the eyebrows of the many Sacred Race experts. In the end, they plunged from the sky without any vitality remaining. Xiao Tianxuan''s face twitched with shocked disbelief. Zhou Yuan had only flicked his fingers but an apricot seed wiped out several advanced Heavenly Sun experts! What terrifying strength! But Xiao Tianluo and other defeated soldiers of Saint Remains City were even more dumbfounded. They were slaughtered when they faced the little Sacred Demon Army but the advanced Heavenly Sun experts were killed like chickens in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. The one hundred figures above slowly descended, landing in different places. At the same time, the Genesis Qi pressure that made the world tremble dissipated. Zhou Yuan walked towards Xiao Tianluo, Xiao Tianxuan and the others, saying with a smile, ¡°City lord Xiao, junior city lord, I haven''t seen you in years. How have you been?¡± Zhou Yuan wore a wide smile and the murderous aura that surrounded him when he wiped out the Sacred Palace troops was completely gone. Instead, his aura suddenly became like a gentle spring breeze. But even so, Xiao Tianluo felt it was better to act overcautious. The others also didn¡¯t dare to say anything. In the end, Xiao Tianxuan gave a bitter smile as he said, ¡°I should address you as lord Zhou Yuan now, right?¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand. ¡°I am also a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect. You can just call me senior brother.¡± Xiao Tianxuan breathed a sigh of relief and his smile deepened. Since Zhou Yuan said that, he was acknowledging that he was still a member of the Cangxuan Sect, and so, their relationship became much closer. ¡°Your highness Zhou Yuan really has the disposition of the Sacred Dragon. I already thought you weren''t an ordinary person back then. It is indeed true.¡± Xiao Tianluo respectfully complimented Zhou Yuan when he saw that Zhou Yuan was so friendly. But he was indeed speaking the truth. Back when Xiao Tianxuan clashed with Zhou Yuan, Xiao Tianluo indeed persuaded him not to be an enemy of Zhou Yuan and told him it would be best if he could befriend Zhou Yuan. Xiao Tianluo indeed had good eyes. ¡°Is the Saint Remains City destroyed?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Xiao Tianluo''s face grew overcasted. Even though the Saint Remains City perhaps couldn¡¯t be compared to the Cangxuan Sect, he had still put in years of handwork. However, it was now destroyed by the Sacred Palace. This was a huge blow to him. ¡°Although the Sant Remains City is destroyed, it can always be rebuilt. The most important thing is that everyone is still around,¡± Zhou Yuan comforted. Xiao Tianluo nodded, and then he remembered something, ¡°Did your Highness Zhou Yuan come back to return to the Great Zhou Empire?¡± Reminiscent flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°I have been away from home for years. I should let my parents know I am safe.¡± Xiao Tianluo hesitated for a moment and then he said, ¡°Your Highness should go to the Great Zhou Empire first. I received news earlier that the Sacred Palace sent a Sacred Demon Army to the Cangmang Continent. Those people just now were just from one of the smaller teams. I believe the main Sacred Demon Army is heading for the Great Zhou Empire. Perhaps the Sacred Palace has received news of your return and is going to capture your parents to blackmail you.¡± Xiao Tianluo saw the smile immediately fade from the youngster¡¯s face and a coldness as cold as eternal ice came to his eyes. Even if he hadn¡¯t revealed any murderous intent, everyone around him couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing. Even Zhao Mushen and the others gave a sidelong glance at him because this was the first time they felt such strong murderous rage from Zhou Yuan. Evidently, what Xiao Tianluo said had completely triggered his monstrous killing intent. Chapter 1380 Sacred Demon Army The icy killing intent exuding from Zhou Yuan''s body caused the temperature to plummet and even a thin layer of frost blanketed the mountains and forests. Xiao Tianxuan was also surprised by the sudden killing intent erupted from Zhou Yuan. Even if the killing intent wasn¡¯t directed at him, he still felt a bone-piercing chill and shuddered with fear. ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan, don''t worry. The Great Zhou Empire is impregnable these years under the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s management. Even if the Sacred Palace dispatched the Sacred Demon Army, it won¡¯t be that easy to break through.¡± Xiao Tianxuan hurriedly reassured him. Zhou Yuan''s eyes flickered towards him and the chilling killing intent slowly dissipated. ¡°What happened these years?¡± ¡°Your Highness Zhou Yuan has been away for too many years. It¡¯s understandable that you don¡¯t know that the current Great Zhou Empire is considered as one of the strongest empires in our Cangmang Continent. Many empires acknowledged allegiance to it and hundreds of empires would come to pay respect,¡± Xiao Tianluo said with a warm smile. ¡°The reason the Great Zhou Empire received that kind of treatment is firstly because of the empire¡¯s strong Blessing and the other is it is under the care of the Cangxuan Sect. I heard sect master Qing Yang appointed peak master Shen Taiyuan of the Saint Genesis Peak to guard the Great Zhou Empire.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback by what he heard. When he left Cangxuan Heaven, he indeed asked sect master Qing Yang to take care of his parents because he had angered the Sacred Palace and he knew they could easily destroy a little empire if it wanted to. He just didn¡¯t think sect master Qing Yang would attach so much importance to that matter and even appointed the entire Saint Genesis Peak to protect the Great Zhou Empire. With the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s support, it was natural that the Great Zhou Empire grew increasingly strong over the years. Moreover, the Cangmang Continent wasn¡¯t considered a core continent in Cangxuan Heaven and so it wasn¡¯t surprising that the Great Zhou Empire became one of the top empires there. ¡°Cangxuan Heaven has fell into chaos because of the Saint Stamp fragments and some sects and factions had come to the Great Zhou Empire to search for fragments. This had caused huge disturbance and sect master increased the defense after that. He even said that you entrusted him to take care of the Great Zhou Empire so he couldn¡¯t let you done,¡± Xiao Tianxuan said. Zhou Yuan felt a warmth filled his heart. He nodded and said, ¡°Sect master is too kind.¡± He had to repay this kindness no matter what. ¡°The Sacred Palace was busy searching for the Saint Stamp¡¯s fragments in the past few years and so it didn''t pay much attention to the Great Zhou Empire. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t that difficult to protect it. However, around half a year ago, the Sacred Palace¡¯s strength suddenly soared and it even wiped out the Heavenly Ghost Sect overnight, forcing the other four sacred sects to combine their strengths. However, even so, the Sacred Palace still had the upper hand. Also, palace master Sheng Yuan hadn¡¯t personally taken action yet.¡± Xiao Tianxuan smiled bitterly. ¡°Why did the Sacred Palace suddenly become stronger?¡± Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly. ¡°It¡¯s because of the Sacred Demon Army!¡± ¡°The Sacred Demon Army? Those people before?¡± Xiao Tianxuan said, ¡°They are just a small team of the Sacred Demon Army and aren¡¯t considered sacred demon warriors. The so-called Sacred Demon Army is an army that the Sacred Race has assembled in the past six months. I heard that the majority of the army are experts that the Sacred Palace recruited from all over Cangxuan Heaven. Anyone could tell that the Sacred Palace is extremely powerful and so many people didn¡¯t hesitate to join them.¡± ¡°The Sacred Palace has colluded with the Sacred Race. They still received support from people?¡± Zhou Yuan furrowed his brows. ¡°This can only mean that the Sacred Palace is good at deceiving people. Even though our sacred sects have constantly made the Sacred Palace¡¯s deeds known to the public, we were accused of being jealous and slandering the Sacred Palace. Not everyone in this world can tell right from wrong,¡± said Xiao Tianxuan helplessly. ¡°Those unaffiliated cultivators might not be weak, but they can¡¯t destroy the entire Heavenly Ghost Sect, right?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. ¡°Of course it¡¯s impossible for them to do alone, but it is said that the Sacred Palace possessed a Divine Blood Altar which was handled by palace master Sheng Yuan. To become a Sacred Demon Warrior, one must receive the cleansing ceremony from the altar, and their strength would skyrocket after that. Many Nascent Source and Law Domain experts were born with the help of the blood altar! It is precisely because of the cleansing ceremony from the blood altar that made the Sacred Palace more powerful than ever. Even if the five sacred sects were to join forces, the Sacred Palace still would have the upper hand,¡± Xiao Tianxuan said fearfully. ¡°Divine Blood Altar?¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. He had never heard any cleansing that could allow the strength of such a large number of people to skyrocket and even reached the Law Domain stage. Therefore, even if he hadn¡¯t seen the Sacred Demon Army Warrior born after the cleansing, he could imagine that such a means would have huge consequences. But whatever consequences it would have was a problem for the future. The Sacred Palace had indeed dominated the entire Cangxuan Heaven with its power. Moreover, there was still palace master Sheng Yuan, who possessed semi-saint powers. The Sacred Race must be behind the Divine Blood Altar. The Sacred Race was unusually quiet in the past half a year, but it seemed that they didn¡¯t stop all activities or were lying low. Instead, they had shifted their target to Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°The four sacred sects are most worried about palace master Sheng Yuan. It is said that his injuries have been healed and his strength has significantly improved once again. He is even closer to the Saint stage.¡± Xiao Tianxuan sighed and then gazed hopefully at Zhou Yuan. ¡°All-heavens should be aware of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s situation, right? Are there any Saints willing to help?¡± He obviously had no knowledge of the existence of the Omega Shrine. But in his opinion, Cangxuan Heaven belonged to all-heavens and the other heavens shouldn¡¯t be able to stand watching the Sacred Palace create trouble. ¡°Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s situation is more serious than you think. The Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array that enveloped Cangxuan Heaven has been tampered with and Cangxuan Heaven is now completely sealed-off. It is impossible for outsider Saints to enter. We were only able to be teleported here because of prime sovereign Jin Luo, who is a triple-lotus Saint. This should be part of the Sacred Race¡¯s plan.¡± Zhou Yuan said gravely. Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s face blanched. He clearly had no idea that behind the changes in Cangxuan Heaven was a battle of such a level.¡± ¡°Don''t worry, I came back to settle a grudge with palace master Sheng Yuan.¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of worry on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face and his voice was particularly calm. ¡°I won''t let him create chaos in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Xiao Tianxuan stared blankly at Zhou Yuan. If someone else said that, he would have laughed out loud. But when Zhou Yuan calmly said those words, he felt terrifying determination, as though Zhou Yuan really had the ability to face off against the most pinnacle being in Cangxuan Heaven. Has the youngster who was forced to leave Cangxuan Heaven really reached that level already? ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about this now. I have to go to the Great Zhou City first to remove all the troubles. If you are fine, you can follow along.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled at Xiao Tianxuan and then transformed into a stream of light and disappeared with a slight movement. When he reappeared he was already thousands of miles away. The mysterious team in the sky also turned into streams of light and followed after Zhou Yuan. ¡°Father, why don¡¯t you bring the people back to restore Saint Remains City?¡± Xiao Tianxuan said to Xiao Tianluo, and then he peered in the direction that the team left in with blazing eyes. With a slight movement, he soared into the sky. He knew that the entire Cangxuan Heaven would be shaken when Zhou Yuan appear with his mysterious and powerful team. He, of course, didn''t want to miss the scene of the return of the king. Chapter 1381 Great Zhou City Great Zhou City. The present Great Zhou City was no longer the same as it was in the past. The grand city was built along the great river and its towering walls extended across both sides with no end in sight. The buildings in the city were like a dense forest. The Great Zhou Empire had grown more and more prosperous with each day with the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s support and had become the strongest empire in the Cangmang Continent. Hundreds of empires would come to the Great Zhou Empire every year to pay respect. It was just that the Great Zhou City was completely closed-off during that period and a huge boundary was operating within the city, forming a light barrier that fully covered the entire city. The waves of Genesis Qi released from the light barrier made even Nascent Source experts gleam covetously. This was because the boundary was personally created by sect master Qing Yang of the Cangxuan Sect and accumulated the powers of all the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s peak masters. It perhaps couldn¡¯t be compared to the defense boundary of the sacred sects in terms of defense power, but it could be considered an absolute top defense in the entire Cangmang Continent. Of course, there were exceptions to everything. The boundary might not survive the calamity that the Great Zhou Empire was facing. On the city wall of the Great Zhou City. Countless soldiers stood clasping their halberds and wearing uneasy expressions. They cast their gazes outside the boundary¡¯s light barrier that enveloped the city, only to see dark clouds scudding across, lightning flashing, thunder rumbling and terrifying Genesis Qi stirring the heaven and earth to the point they were quaking. It was like a disaster that could destroy the world was imminent. Boom! Torrents of berserk Genesis Qi occasionally roared out from the layers of dark clouds and, wrapped in bolts of lightning, bombarded the boundary outside the city. Under that bombardment, even the boundary light barrier rippled violently, and as each ripple widened out, countless people in the city trembled in fear and their faces became deathly pale. They all understood that the Great Zhou City would face destruction once the boundary was destroyed. But what choice did they have in a battle of such a level. Even if they wanted to surrender, the people outside the city likely wouldn¡¯t glance at them. After all, in their eyes, their lives were worthless like weed. Therefore, they could only pray that the boundary light barrier protecting Great Zhou City could withstand the opponent''s attack. While the citizens in the city were praying, the core members of the Great Zhou Empire were gathered on the center of the city walls with worried frowns as they stared at the figures, who were emitting berserk Genesis Qi, looming in the dark clouds. ¡°The Sacred Palace is regarded as one of the six sacred sects in Cangxuan Heaven and has such a high status, but it suppressed an empire in such a way!¡± A middle-aged man in black armor fumed. His eyes were filled with anger and panic as he peered at the outside of the city. If Zhou Yuan was here, he would recognize the armoured-man was the Black Venom King, the Blackwater lord he subdued in Blackwater when he left the Great Zhou City for the first time. The Black Venom King had reached the advanced Divine Dwelling stage in recent years through the relationship between the Great Zhou Empire and the Cangxuan Sect. He had become well known in the Great Zhou Empire and was much stronger than when he was an overlord in Blackwater. ¡°Commander, don''t talk nonsense. The Sacred Palace wouldn¡¯t care about what an empire like ours thinks.¡± A calm voice sounded next to him. It was an armored-clad middle-aged man with hints of white hair. Next to him stood a boy and girl. The girl was dressed in armor, making her appear slender and tall. She seemed very capable, but the boy next to her seemed somewhat weak. However, the rays of light shining between his brows indicated that he was skilled in Spirit cultivation. The Black Venom King shot an annoyed glance at him and snorted. Although he had considerable military credits from fighting for the Great Zhou Empire over the years, he still couldn¡¯t be compared to the great general Wei Canglan in terms of seniority or military service. The young man and young woman beside Wei Canglan were of course his daughter Wei Qingqing and his son Wei Bin. ¡°General, the scene before us reminds me of Broken Dragon City more than ten years ago¡­¡± A mighty voice sounded from the front of the crowd. Wei Canglan turned his head around and saw a middle-aged man in battle armor with a bright smile. Beside him stood an elegant woman in palace clothes. It was King Zhou Qing and Queen Qin Yu of the Great Zhou Empire. The two had changed a little compared to more than ten years ago, but they still had the same remarkable bearing, particularly Zhou Qing. He exuded an imposing aura, which was brought about by the prosperity of the Great Zhou Empire in the past few years. The many important officials behind him fell silent. Ten years ago, two empires fought a decisive battle outside Broken Dragon City, and that battle determined the fate of the two empires. But the Great Zhou rose after that and eventually ruled the Cangmang Continent. When they thought of the Battle of Broken Dragon City, they couldn''t help but think of the man who left a legend in the Great Zhou Empire...His Highness Zhou Yuan! In the past ten years, almost every citizen of the Great Zhou Empire could repeat the songs passed on about Zhou Yuan. Countless youngsters regarded him as an idol after hearing his story. Queen Qin Yu¡¯s eyes suddenly glistened with tears. ¡°I wonder how Yuan¡¯er has been all these years¡­¡± Zhou Qing fell silent for a while, and then he turned and said to the old man next to him, ¡°Peak master Shen, you have always avoided answering questions about my son all these years. My queen and I won¡¯t have a future anyway, why can¡¯t you give us peace of mind?¡± The old man addressed as peak master Shen was of course Shen Taiyuan of the Saint Genesis Peak from the Cangxuan Sect. He couldn''t help smiling wryly when he heard those words. Then he said, ¡°Our Cangxuan Heaven is relatively closed-off and I have only heard about him recently and also a few years ago. But don¡¯t worry, he is safe now. Also, he has reached a level that you can¡¯t even imagine.¡± He lifted his head, peering at the terrifying waves of Genesis Qi spreading out from the dark clouds outside the city, and continued, ¡°Perhaps the trouble we are facing today is because the Sacred Palace is jealous of Zhou Yuan and wants to threaten him¡­¡± Zhou Qing was taken aback at first, and then he exclaimed, ¡°Could it be that kid is comparable to even peak master Shen now?¡± Shen Taiyuan swept a glance over Zhou Qing and smiled. ¡°If I haven''t known you for years, I would have thought you are taunting me.¡± All the important officials of the Great Zhou Empire on the city walls were dumbstruck. Shen Taiyuan had guarded the Great Zhou Empire for so many years and was regarded as invincible in many people¡¯s eyes. After all, even a Heavenly Sun expert was considered a top expert in the little Cangmang Continent, let alone Shen Taiyuan, who was at the pseudo Law Domain stage. But Shen Taiyuan said that His Highness Zhou Yuan was stronger than him?! Also, the trouble they were facing might be due to the Sacred Palace¡¯s jealousy towards Zhou Yuan? They found it very hard to believe because the Sacred Palace was considered a giant in the entire Cangxuan Heaven and its strength was unimaginable to an empire. What level of power could make the Sacred Palace feel afraid? Zhou Qing was at a loss for words for a good while before he said with a proud grin, ¡°As expected of the Zhou family''s sacred dragon!¡± He shifted his gaze to the dark clouds outside the city and his eyes blazed with determination. ¡°It seems that the Sacred Palace wants to capture us to threaten Yuan''er, hmph¡­¡± He turned his head to look at Qin Yu and when their eyes met, they immediately understood each other''s thoughts. They clasped hands. Even if they die in Great Zhou City, they wouldn¡¯t let themselves fall into the Sacred Palace¡¯s hand for them to use to blackmail Zhou Yuan. While their faces bore a look of determination, the scudding clouds formed a throne in the sky. A figure leaned back lazily on the throne. He emitted monstrous Genesis Qi and his eyes, filled with ruthlessness and coldness, cast towards the city wall. Then, an indifferent voice reverberated throughout the world. ¡°I am the master of the Sacred Palace¡¯s Golden Sacred Hall, Pang Yang¡­ ¡°I gave you three days, but you still haven¡¯t given me the answer I wanted. Now, can you tell me¡­do you want to surrender¡­or want everyone in the city massacred?!¡± Monstrous murderous spirit flooded the entire Great Zhou City like torrents when he spat out the last two words. Chapter 1382 Destroy the City As Pang Yang¡¯s cold voice resounded in every corner of the Great Zhou City, everyone felt a chill run down their spine and their faces blanched with fear. Pang Yang had clearly reached the Law Domain stage. He didn¡¯t restrain the Genesis Qi pressure he exuded and every movement from him caused the heaven and earth to roar. In the thick, dark clouds behind Pang Yang were several figures exuding frighteningly fierce auras. The important officials of the Great Zhou Empire on the city wall became ashen. The person in front of them was likely the first Law Domain expert they had encountered in their lives. Law Domain experts were high and mighty existences and they have never had the qualification to meet them. The powerful Great Zhou Empire was considered as worthless as an ant to them. The Great Zhou had the power to fight against the Great Wu back then in Broken Dragon City, but this time...no one thought there was any hope. Even Zhou Qing wore a gloomy look and he couldn¡¯t help clenching his hand that was holding Qin Yu¡¯s. Feeling her husband¡¯s emotions, Qin Yu held his hand tight without saying anything and just looked at him with a gentle look. Her unwavering determination hadn¡¯t reduced in the slightest. She was determined to not let herself become a bargaining chip to blackmail her son no matter how terrifying the enemy was. She would rather die. ¡°Hmph, the master of a Sacred Palace Hall and Law Domain expert came to attack an ordinary empire?!¡± Shen Taiyuan coldly sneered. His voice echoed across the world like a clap of thunder. His white hair and beard fluttered though no wind stirred the air, and his imposing power pervaded the area. Only he, who was a pseudo-Law Domain stage, could somewhat withstand the opponent''s power. If he didn¡¯t stand up now, the morale of the entire Great Zhou City would be completely destroyed. ¡°Shen Taiyuan¡­do you think you, the peak master of the Saint Genesis Peak, is qualified to make me feel afraid?¡± Pang Yang said indifferently as he looked at him with a mocking gaze. Shen Taiyuan smiled. ¡°Although I have painstakingly cultivated for years, at least I have touched upon the pseudo Law Domain stage with my own hard work. This is better than you hall master Pang, who had to receive cleansing from the Divine Blood Altar. Your blood is tainted and your cultivation can¡¯t progress any further, right?" Pang Yang¡¯s face immediately darkened and a ruthless look flashed across his eyes. Shen Taiyuan was right. He was only able to open up a Law Domain because of the Sacred Palace¡¯s Divine Blood Altar, but he had to pay a huge price for that. Not only would his nature be corroded and he would become savage, it also consumed his potential. His life was greatly shortened and he was unlikely to make any progress in his cultivation level in the future. Shen Taiyuan had undoubtedly touched where it hurt the most. ¡°The Law Domain stage is already enough, would I dare to think about the Saint stage?¡± Pang Yang glared at Shen Taiyuan. ¡°Also, do you think you can leave here alive today? Not only you, no one in this city can survive today.¡± he spoke indifferently, but the ruthlessness of his words made people¡¯s hair stand on end. With an icy look, Shen Taiyuan questioned, ¡°In the past six months, your Sacred Demon Army has been non-stop slaughtering people in Cangxuan Heaven, what do you want?!¡± He received intelligence that the Sacred Demon Army created bloodbath wherever it went in the past half a year. In a sense, they were no longer displaying their strength but wildly massacring. A red light flickered in Pang Yang¡¯s eyes, making the smile on his face appear even more sinister. ¡°Those who don¡¯t surrender to the Sacred Palace naturally can¡¯t live. After today, the Great Zhou City will also become a sea of blood and a mountain of corpses.¡± Shen Taiyuan took a deep breath, shocked by the enemy¡¯s murderous rage. Is this a consequence from the Divine Blood Altar¡¯s cleansing? Or does the Sacred Palace have other plans? ¡°If you want to massacre the city, break the defense boundary first!¡± Shen Taiyuan flicked his sleeve. The boundary was set up by sect master Qing Yang and it wouldn¡¯t be that easy for Pang Yang, who was only at the first Law Domain stage, to break it. Pang Yang¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Shen Taiyuan, do you think I have just been waiting for your answer in the past three days?¡± As his voice died away, he waved his huge hand and the dark clouds that obscured the world began to fade away. The clouds reeded, revealing hundreds of Sacred Demon Warriors standing in the air. Blood-red qi constantly spiralled out from the top of their heads like smoke. The blood qi converged to form a huge red vortex, and inside the huge blood-red vortex was a dark red scroll slowly rotating, drawing up vast amounts of blood qi. Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression changed dramatically when he saw the dark red scroll. This was because he sensed an extremely powerful aura from it and that aura was very familiar. It belonged to Sheng Yuan, the palace master of the Sacred Palace! ¡°This is the Mysterious Light Destruction Art, specially created by our palace master to destroy the boundaries in the world. Say, do you think your boundary can withstand it?¡± Pang Yang roared with laughter. ¡°It''s just that it takes some time to prepare this art, so I gave you another three days to live. The time has come¡­it¡¯s almost time for you all to die.¡± Monstrous blood qi rose from his body like a heavenly pillar and poured into the dark red scroll. After a while, the scroll vibrated and slowly opened under the horrified gazes of the citizens in Great Zhou City. The scroll opened, revealing countless blood patterns creeping across the scroll. They eventually formed a blood-red eye filled with terrifying and fierce qi. Then, it suddenly shot out. Swoosh! A beam of blood-red light tore through the sky like a destructive comet, speeding towards the Great Zhou City with unimaginable speed. Boom! After a few breaths, the two collided and seemed to create an explosion of fireworks in the sky. A giant shock wave swept across the area, splitting the giant river apart. Countless buildings were torn down as though a giant earth dragon was roaming around. Panicked cries broke out and the city fell into chaos. The people on the city walls, headed by Zhou Qing, also turned deathly pale. They knew that even they wouldn¡¯t have a chance of surviving under an attack of that level. The so-called Divine Dwelling and Heavenly Sun experts were as fragile as ordinary people under such an attack. Their only hope was the boundary that surrounded the city. Boom! Terrifying shock waves continued to erupt across the area and the boundary rippled increasingly frantically under horrified gazes. A tiny crackle sounded after a dozen breaths. That sound wasn¡¯t particularly loud, but when it sounded, it resembled the sickle of the god of death slashing through the air to many citizens in the Great Zhou City. Suddenly, tragic cries erupted from the city and countless people fled in chaos due to the fear of death. Zhou Qing¡¯s eyes reddened when he heard the chaos in the city. He had exhausted himself over the years to develop the Great Zhou Empire to its current state but all his hard work was completely destroyed. Qin Yu''s face was also ashen, but she just tightly clasped Zhou Qing''s hand. There wasn¡¯t a hint of fear in her eyes, but there was some longing. I wonder how my child is now. Shen Taiyuan''s face was grave. He could tell the boundary wouldn¡¯t last any longer and the situation had reached its worst. He couldn¡¯t defend the Great Zhou City anymore. What he could only do was protect Zhou Qing and Qin Yu and look for the chance to flee. But could they really escape? Shen Taiyuan didn''t have much confidence to escape because Pang Yang was a true Law Domain expert after all. ¡°The Sacred Palace is this powerful now. It''s our Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s misfortune.¡± Shen Taiyuan sighed emotionally. Boom! While Shen Taiyuan sighed, frightening power exploded in the sky. The boundary, finally reached its limit, broke apart under horrified gazes. Destructive power poured down like a torrent, annihilating everything as it passed. Despair filled countless people¡¯s eyes. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu both closed their eyes, waiting for the last moment to come. Shen Taiyuan sighed inwardly. He wanted to act and escape with Zhou Qing and Qin Yu. However, just as he was about to act, his expression tensed up because he noticed that as the destructive force neared the city wall, it suddenly weakened and grew gentler and felt like a breeze of wind. It only stirred up everyone¡¯s clothes. Bewilderment came to Shen Taiyuan¡¯s face. The others on the city wall exchanged puzzled glances with each other. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu also puzzledly opened their eyes. The Great Zhou City isn¡¯t destroyed? They stared blankly at the fireworks of destruction in the sky for a good while, unsure what had happened. After a few breaths, a laughter finally rang from the city walls. ¡°What a stunning firework, that old dog Sheng Yuan has become more fancy.¡± Shen Taiyuan nodded in agreement. But he immediately felt something wrong and twisted his head to the side, only to see a slender young figure had unknowingly appeared on the city wall and was gazing up at the fireworks of destruction. Who is this person?! When did he appear? ! How would he appear here? Thoughts flashed through Taiyuan''s mind like sparks. At the same time, the others on the city wall also sensed something strange and stared at the figure in astonishment. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu also turned their heads and stared at the somewhat familiar figure. Shen Taiyuan reacted the fastest. He hurriedly gave a cupped fist salute at the youngster and exclaimed, ¡°Was it you who helped out? Our Cangxuan Sect will definitely remember your kindness!¡± Hua! Understanding dawned on the faces of everyone on the city wall. It turned out that a mysterious expert had come to help. No wonder that power didn¡¯t destroy the Great Zhou City! Everyone fell to their knees. Even Zhou Qing and Qin Yu were so emotional and wanted to kneel down to express their thanks. He had saved everyone in the Great Zhou City and was worthy of their bow. ¡°On behalf of all Great Zhou City¡¯s citizens, I, Zhou Qing, must thank you for helping!¡± However, neither he nor Qin Yu were able to kneel down because a gentle but powerful force prevented them from bending their legs. ¡°Master¡­¡± Zhou Qing panicked. ¡°Ke¡­¡± The mysterious figure coughed out loud and turned around embarrassedly. ¡°I''m sorry father and mother. My life would be shortened if you bow to me¡­¡± As the figure turned around, everyone saw a familiar young face. There was deathly silence on the city wall. That silence lasted for several breaths before Shen Taiyuan, Zhou Qing, Qin Yu and others cried out loud as they stared in disbelief at the young man before them. ¡°Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°Your Highness Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°Yuan¡¯er?!¡± Chapter 1383 Return to Great Zhou City The crowd on the city walls were shocked speechless for a time when they saw the mysterious figure turn around, disbelief flooding their eyes. No one had expected the mysterious expert to be the very Zhou Yuan, who had left the Great Zhou Empire many years prior! Shen Taiyuan¡¯s mouth hung open, not daring to speak for a time. Although there was a warm smile on the young man¡¯s familiar face, Shen Taiyuan could faintly feel a dreadful pressure spreading from the young man¡¯s body. This pressure was something Shen Taiyuan had never felt before even from sect master Qing Yang! Zhou Yuan gazed at the deathly silent group and chuckled. ¡°Although it¡¯s been years since we last met, you guys don¡¯t seem very friendly.¡± ¡°You...are you really Zhou Yuan?¡± asked Shen Taiyuan in disbelief. Although he had received some news of Zhou Yuan from the Cangxuan Sect, it was likewise quite outdated like Xiao Tianxuan¡¯s. At the very least, news of the Stone Dragon Secret Domain had yet to spread to the closed-off Cangxuan Heaven. Hence, he did not dare to believe that the disciple from Saint Genesis Peak had already become so strong... Shen Taiyuan felt a little stupid after these words left his mouth. Even if it had been quite a number of years, the young man¡¯s appearance and presence was still recognizable at a single glance. ¡°Yuan¡¯er!¡± One of the figures finally returned to her senses after and rushed towards Zhou Yuan. Who else could it be but Qin Yu? Zhou Yuan hurriedly caught her. Her eyes were red and filled with tears as she kept touching him all over as if unable to believe he was real. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, is it really you?¡± Zhou Yuan felt a sour feeling in his nose as warmth fluttered in his heart. He placed Qin Yu¡¯s trembling hands on his face and said in the most gentle manner possible, ¡°I¡¯m sorry mother, I¡¯ve let you worry for many years.¡± Qin Yu forcefully shook her head, her voice choking with emotion, ¡°Yuan¡¯er, all that matters is that you¡¯re safe.¡± Zhou Yuan patted her back to console her before he looked towards Zhou Qing, who was still dazedly staring at him, and smiled, ¡°Father, why do you always seem to be in trouble when I return?¡± Zhou Qing stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. It still looked as young as before, but there was no longer any sign of immaturity. In its place, was a deepness that was near impossible to penetrate. It was clear that Zhou Yuan had changed tremendously over the past dozen years. However, his speaking mannerisms were exactly the same as before. Zhou Qing rubbed his eyes and happily scolded, ¡°Stinking brat, you always make fun of your father.¡± In the end, he also walked forward and hugged both Qin Yu and Zhou Yuan. His voice trembled faintly as he said, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯re back.¡± On the city walls, the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s numerous important ministers dazedly watched this scene. ¡°Prince Zhou Yuan¡­¡± The Black Venom King and Wei Canglan looked at each other, seeing the shock in the other¡¯s eyes. They likewise never imagined that their prince would appear again just as the Great Zhou Empire was facing its destruction. It was practically a repeat of the battle of Broken Dragon City. Their prince truly was the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s guardian deity. Behind Wei Canglan, the tall and slender Wei Qingqing was also staring at the young man who she had not seen for a dozen years with a complicated expression. Wei Bin asked in a low voice, ¡°Big sis, is that prince Zhou Yuan?!¡± Wei Qingqing chuckled, ¡°His highness was the one who helped you neutralize the poison. Without him, you might not even be here.¡± Wei Bin forcefully nodded, his gaze filled with worship as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. Zhou Qing quickly composed himself. After all, this was neither the right time nor place. His gaze scanned the surroundings as he asked, ¡°Yuan¡¯er, where are the experts you invited to help? Quickly call them over so we can properly show our thanks.¡± Only now did it dawn upon him that the attack earlier had probably been neutralized by a powerful expert. Otherwise, the entire Great Zhou City would no longer exist now. Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°I did bring quite a few helpers, but I¡¯m more than enough to handle a mere first stage Law Domain trash.¡± Zhou Qing choked a little before quickly returning to his senses as he stared in disbelief at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Were you really the one who interceded just now?¡± Although it had been one of his initial guesses, he had quickly written it off as preposterous. After all, Zhou Yuan had been a mere Divine Dwelling expert when he left back then, how could he possibly have grown to the level where he could face a Law Domain expert after only a dozen years? Even if Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation had progressed rapidly for the past few years, Zhou Qing felt that even reaching the Nascent Source stage would already be a very proud achievement. As for the Law Domain stage, it was unthinkable. Shen Taiyuan slowly said, ¡°Your majesty, I told you that your Zhou clan sacred dragon¡¯s fame in the all-heavens likely far surpasses your imagination. Since he rushed back in time, no one will be able to touch Great Zhou City anymore.¡± On the city walls, numerous gazes stared at Zhou Yuan in surprise and respect. For them, Cangxuan Heaven was already a vast and endless land, and they truly could not imagine what kind of scenery the other heavens held. From Shen Taiyuan¡¯s words, it seemed that Zhou Yuan was already a well known figure in the even vaster all-heavens. The shocking news also made them feel a sense of pride. After all, he would always be the prince of their Great Zhou Empire. Zhou Yuan looked towards Shen Taiyuan and cupped his fists together with a grin, ¡°Peak master, it¡¯s been a dozen years since we last met. It looks like you¡¯ve also touched the Law Domain stage.¡± When Zhou Yuan left, Shen Taiyuan had been at the Heavenly Sun stage. It was quite amazing progress for him to have reached the pseudo Law Domain stage after a dozen years given the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s resources. ¡°My progress is shameful compared to you.¡± Shen Taiyuan smiled bitterly as he looked at the young man before him with a complicated expression. When he was appointed as the substitute Saint Genesis Peak master, Zhou Yuan had not even reached the Divine Dwelling stage. Now, however, Zhou Yuan had already far surpassed him. Such talent was truly worthy of the sacred dragon title. Shen Taiyuan finally understood how good sect master Qing Yang¡¯s foresight was. These dozen years protecting the Great Zhou Empire was enough to win Zhou Yuan¡¯s unwavering loyalty. In the sky outside the city, Pang Yang¡¯s expression changed indeterminately. Although the boundary had been broken, the attack that should have destroyed them had suddenly disappeared in an unexplainable manner. Pang Yang stared at the city wall, ultimately finding the young man that had suddenly appeared. This person had not been on the wall earlier. Who is that? Confusion flitted across Pang Yang¡¯s eyes. He could feel no Genesis Qi undulations from the young man, making him seem like an ordinary person. However, under that ordinariness, Pang Yang could feel a faint dangerous sensation that made even his Spirit tremble. ¡°May I enquire who you are? Why are you interfering in my Sacred Palace¡¯s affairs?¡± Pang Yang slowly said, his voice rumbling across the city like thunder. On the city wall, Zhou Yuan raised his head and gazed indifferently at Pang Yang as a completely calm voice sounded, ¡°Are you the one who said you were going to destroy Great Zhou City?¡± Pang Yang was initially stunned by the sight of the young man¡¯s face. His head suddenly exploded as he remembered the young man¡¯s identity, causing him to blurt out in shock, ¡°You are...Zhou Yuan?! You¡¯ve returned?!¡± However, Zhou Yuan ignored Pang Yang. He merely stomped his foot as a calm voice infused with chilling killing intent that could freeze all things flowed out across the area, ¡°Sacred Dragon Law Domain.¡± Chapter 1384 Slaying the Law Domain ¡°Sacred Dragon Law Domain!¡± As Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice rang out, a Law Domain abruptly unfurled from him, giving off a mysterious pressure. When Pang Yang saw the approaching Law Domain, his expression changed drastically as he involuntarily cried out, ¡°You¡¯ve established a Law Domain!?¡± Zhou Yuan had merely been at the Divine Dwelling stage when he was chased out of Cangxuan Heaven, an existence akin to an ant in Pang Yang¡¯s eyes. If not for patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s remnant power, it would have been impossible for such an ant to do any damage to the Sacred Palace. Hence, he had never taken much notice of Zhou Yuan, who had been a rising star in Cangxuan Heaven back then. However, news of Zhou Yuan was occasionally transmitted back to Cangxuan Heaven over the years, which the Sacred Palace was naturally able to get their hands on. The news stirred quite a commotion in the Sacred Palace. After all, no one would expect a dog, which had been forced to flee from its home, to do so well in the all-heavens. The commotion was especially huge when the results of the battle for Guyuan Heaven was known. Several of the Sacred Palace higher ups had no choice but to begin treating Zhou Yuan as a real threat. In fact, one of Pang Yang¡¯s missions in the Cangmang Continent was to capture Zhou Qing and Qin Yu in hopes of potentially using them as leverage against Zhou Yuan in the future. However, Pang Yang would never have imagined that Zhou Yuan would return so quickly, and even have established a Law Domain! This made Pang Yang¡¯s heart churn like a stormy sea, while also eliciting deep envy. One must know that he had paid a great price in order to establish a Law Domain, and yet, a mere ant that could not even draw his notice back then was now on the same level as him?! ¡°You little bastard, you weren¡¯t even born when I made a name for myself in Cangxuan Heaven. Do you really believe you can stop me?!¡± Pang Yang sneered in anger. Although Zhou Yuan had established a Law Domain, he could not possibly have had it for long. No matter how great his talent, he was still a new Law Domain expert and should not be a big difference between them. Zhou Yuan was delusional if he thought he could easily defeat Pang Yang. Hence, Pang Yang had no intentions of retreating. He would never allow himself to back down from someone who he had once viewed as an ant. ¡°Golden Star Law Domain!¡± Pang Long rose into the air with a hwol. A golden Law Domain rapidly expanded, a golden star shining brighter than the sun within it. ¡°Zhou Yuan, although I don¡¯t know how you managed to establish a Law Domain, you¡¯re still too green to face me!¡± Endless confidence filled him as his Law Domain spread, causing him to throw his head back and laugh. On the city walls, Zhou Qing and the others were naturally able to sense the terrifying power surging within the Law Domain. A strand of such power was enough to obliterate them from this reality. This was a Law Domain expert! Zhou Yuan was slightly taken aback when he saw that Pang Yang intended to clash directly with him. Soon after, he chuckled. ¡°It seems that Cangxuan Heaven has been more closed off than I expected.¡± From Pang Yang¡¯s actions, he clearly did not know the result of the Stone Dragon Secret Domain. After all, even the Sacred Race¡¯s strongest Law Domain expert had been slain by Zhou Yuan in that battle. Pang Yang was merely a first stage Law Domain expert that had received external help to establish his Law Domain. Someone with such strength did not even have the qualifications to be treated seriously by Zhou Yuan, and yet he had chosen a head-on clash? This was going to be worse than smashing an egg into a rock. Pang Yang icily demanded, ¡°What do you mean?!¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head, not bothering to explain. There was only indifference in his eyes as he reached out and swiped downwards. Rumble! The endless sky shattered as an enormous purple-gold dragon claw emerged and swatted at Pang Yang¡¯s Law Domain. Pang Yang¡¯s expression changed drastically. Only at this moment did an intense feeling of imminent doom flood his heart, causing even his Spirit to tremble violently. Boom! Before he could react, however, the purple-gold dragon claw slammed into the golden Law Domain. The Law Domain only managed to endure for a split second before being torn apart like paper. The dragon claw reached deep into the Law Domain and grabbed the resplendently shining golden star. It was Pang Yang¡¯s Law Domain core. Zhou Yuan¡¯s indifferent voice sounded, ¡°Even the Sacred Race¡¯s strongest Law Domain expert was slain by me. How brave are you to have dared to open your Law Domain in front of me?¡± Pang Yang was horrified as endless fear rose in his eyes. He had finally realized how terrifying Zhou Yuan¡¯s power was at the moment of contact. ¡°You...you are a third stage Law Domain expert?! How can this be?!¡± shrieked Pang Yang. Even a third stage Law Domain expert should not be able to tear apart his Law Domain so easily, right? How had Zhou Yuan become such a monster in a mere dozen years?! As Pang Yang felt the dreadful might of the dragon claw closing around the golden star, his complexion turned deathly pale. ¡°Stop! I surrender!¡± The golden star was his Law Domain core. If it was shattered, the Law Domain he had paid dearly to establish would be broken! The consequences were too dire for him to bear! Regret finally rose in Pang Yang. If he knew, he would never have accepted this mission. Who could have expected a tiny Great Zhou Empire to have such a terrifying guardian. However, Zhou Yuan remained expressionless in the face of Pang Yang¡¯s begging as an eerily chilling light swirled in his eyes. How could he let someone who wanted to massacre Great Zhou City off so easily? Hence, the purple-gold dragon claw abruptly clenched. Boom! The star shattered, causing countless golden rays to shoot in all directions as if a sun had exploded. The golden Law Domain swiftly began to fracture. In a dozen breaths, the golden Law Domain completely vanished. Urgh! Pang Yang vomited a mouthful of blood, his Genesis Qi undulations rapidly weakening. His face turned even paler than before as an aura of death began to envelope his body. His eyes were filled with terror as he shrieked, ¡°I have to escape!¡± He had already turned around before his cry faded and began igniting his essence blood in an attempt to flee. Before he could move, however, a giant purple-gold dragon indifferently looked down upon him from above. In the next instant, purple-gold dragon breath blasted Pang Yang¡¯s body. Space fractured like glass as Pang Yang¡¯s body was incinerated from existence, leaving neither ashes nor bones. In the sky, the Sacred Demon Army trembled as they watched this ghastly scene. Personally witnessing a Law Domain expert¡¯s death created endless fear in individuals like them, who had become savage and cruel after the Divine Blood Altar¡¯s baptism. A split second later, the Sacred Demon Army scattered and fled. On the city walls, everyone, including Sheng Taiyuan, had fallen into a daze. Barely any time had passed since Zhou Yuan appeared, but in that brief period of time, a genuine Law Domain expert had been killed right in front of them... That was a Law Domain expert! Even in the current Cangxuan Heaven, a Law Domain expert could lord over a territory and was viewed as the most top-tier battle power by any faction. In spite of this, Pang Yang had been easily wiped from existence without being able to put up any resistance... Could mortals really possess such power? Stupefied gaze after gaze stared at Zhou Yuan as he slowly retracted his hand. Everyone had sensed that he was powerful, but they did not know how powerful...until a Law Domain expert died in front of them. The silence lasted for a moment before ultimately being broken by countless cheers. ¡°His highness is invincible!¡± Countless Great Zhou citizens had been watching from inside the city. When they saw Zhou Yuan appear earlier, they had taken him as reinforcements and were still unaware of his identity. They had fallen into shock when Pang Yang was killed. But they quickly heard the cheers from the city walls. ¡°What? His highness?!¡± ¡°Could the reinforcements be our prince Zhou Yuan?!¡± ¡°His highness has returned?!¡± ¡°We¡¯re saved!¡± ¡°His highness is invincible!¡± Countless voices churned in the city as the Great Zhou citizens began to shake and cheer with emotion, having just survived a crisis. Hope had suddenly arrived and scattered away their despair. It was impossible for any of them to hold back their emotions. Amidst the thunderous cheers, Shen Taiyuan gradually returned to his senses and stared at the figure before him with a complicated expression. Who could have imagined that the young man who was forced to leave Cangxuan Heaven years ago would possess the power to change Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s future when he returned. A feeling of pride and happiness slowly rose within Shen Taiyuan. The young man who was destined to shake the entire Cangxuan Heaven was from Saint Genesis Peak... Chapter 1385 Quelled Thunderous cheers erupted from the entire city, the words ¡®prince Zhou Yuan¡¯ dashing the clouds and resounding in every direction. The crowd on the city walls had finally returned to their senses as they stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure with complicated expressions. Everyone present, including Zhou Qing, Qin Yu, Shen Taiyuan and the others, would never have imagined that the young man who had walked out from the Great Zhou Empire years ago would now possess such godly might. Putting a Law Domain expert to death with a single thought. What kind of power was this? That was a Law Domain expert, an apex existence in Cangxuan Heaven that could destroy the Great Zhou Empire with a wave of a hand. Let alone the Great Zhou Empire, if Pang Yang wanted to, he could have destroyed the entire Cangmang Continent. However, they had personally witnessed such an existence being obliterated by a single swing of a palm. The shock value had been far too great, so great that the crowd on the wall became much more respectful when they looked towards Zhou Yuan again. When strength surpassed one¡¯s common sense, people could only worship and revere it. Zhou Yuan turned around, seeing the many respectful gazes. However, he merely smiled and said, ¡°Protecting the Great Zhou Empire has been tough on everyone.¡± The Great Zhou Empire ministers did not dare to receive such words and hurriedly bowed. Although the person before them was merely a prince of the Great Zhou Empire, the power he possessed far surpassed even the king¡¯s. Everyone understood that a tiny empire was insignificant towards someone of Zhou Yuan¡¯s power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the ministers before pausing on a familiar figure.¡°It¡¯s been years since we last me Black Venom King, looks like you¡¯ve also stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Under Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, beads of cold sweat began to appear on the Black Venom King¡¯s forehead. He felt both nervous and honored as he replied, ¡°I did not expect the prince to still remember me.¡± ¡°You know, I was the one who brought you back from Blackwater.¡± Zhou Yuan fondly recalled the past. His first trip out of Great Zhou City had been to Blackwater, where he subdued the Black Venom King. The Black Venom King grinned as he felt the envious gazes around him. ¡°Following his highness out of Blackwater to the Great Zhou Empire has been the best decision in my life.¡± ¡°You were clearly very reluctant back then. In the end, his highness had to plant a Genesis Rune on you to force you to serve the Great Zhou Empire.¡± A voice sounded from the side. It was great general Wei Canglan. The Black Venom King rolled his eyes. ¡°Is there anyone in the current Cangxuan Heaven who has the qualifications for his highness to plant such a Genesis Rune on them?¡± Wei Canglan chuckled, but could not help but admit that this was true. Zhou Yuan turned towards Wei Canglan and said with a smile, ¡°Great general has also made heroic contributions to the Great Zhou Empire over the years.¡± Wei Canglan hurriedly said, ¡°I do not dare to receive such praise. It is only part of my duty.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. With a flick, two tiny streaks of light were sent flying towards the Black Venom King and Wei Canglan. The two hurriedly caught the objects and found that they were two round pills that gave off astonishing qi. ¡°These are some of the pills that were not able to make the mark when I was helping produce Ancestral Dragon Pills. Though they are not useful for Nascent Source experts, they might be able to help you two, who have been stuck at the Divine Dwelling stage for many years.¡± The Black Venom King and Wei Canglan were stunned, trembling as they held the pills in their hands. They had never heard of a pill of this level before, but the prince had passed it out to them so casually. They understood how valuable such pills were to practitioners like them. ¡°Thank you, your highness!¡± Unable to fully express their emotions in words, the two could only fall to their knees and bow repeatedly in gratitude. The others watched in envy. However, they also understood that these two had met the prince when the Great Zhou Empire was far weaker than now. They could only say that they were really fortunate. Zhou Qing scolded in a jovial manner, ¡°You brat, you¡¯re already buying the hearts of my subjects so quickly after you returned. These people will likely only acknowledge you in the future.¡± If it was any other empire, a king saying such things to a prince would shake the entire upper echelons of the empire. However, everyone merely burst into laughter here. After all, Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength and status already far outclassed Zhou Qing¡¯s. It was impossible for a mere Great Zhou Empire to hold Zhou Yuan down. Zhou Yuan retrieved several jade cases and passed them to Zhou Qing. The cases contained the remaining inferior quality pills which he had collected over the past half a year. It was a good time for him to pass them to Zhou Qing to win the hearts of the people and increase the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s power. Zhou Qing accepted all the cases without any fuss. Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s current strength, any scraps he threw away were akin to huge blessings for the Great Zhou Empire. Zhou Yuan cast his gaze towards Shen Taiyuan and bowed solemnly. ¡°Peak master, thank you for protecting the Great Zhou Empire for so many years.¡± Shen Taiyuan waved his hand and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re a member of Saint Genesis Peak. Of course we have to help you take care of your home while you¡¯re away or how will we be able to explain when you return?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°I have also brought a gift for peak master.¡± Shen Taiyuan seemed nonchalant as he said, ¡°Nothing can really interest my old bones, so there¡¯s really no need¡­¡± Zhou Yuan retrieved a jade bottle and offered it to Shen Taiyuan. ¡°This is an Ancestral Dragon Pill.¡± Shen Taiyuan suddenly stopped talking as he blankly stared at the bottle in which a wondrous glowing pill floated. Despite being sealed in the bottle, the pill fragrance was still able to excite the Genesis Qi in his body. ¡°An...Ancestral Dragon Pill?¡± Shen Taiyuan swallowed repeatedly. The Ancestral Dragon Pill was the most popular product in the all-heavens for the past few years. Countless Nascent Source and Law Domain experts did everything to get their hands on it, but often to no avail. Although Cangxuan Heaven had been quite closed off to worldly affairs, Shen Taiyuan had still heard of this magical pill. In the Cangxuan Sect, sect master Qing Yang had gone through tremendous hardships in order to secure one, and now Zhou Yuan was giving one to him? After several seconds of silence, Shen Taiyuan¡¯s hand darted forward like a bolt of lightning and grabbed the jade bottle as a smile blossomed on his elderly face. ¡°I feel really bad for making you get such a wonderful gift¡­¡± Although it was important for him to preserve face, what use was face compared to an Ancestral Dragon Pill? Shen Tiayuan knew that the other Cangxuan Sect peak masters would go crazy with envy once they found out. Zhou Yuan chuckled. Of course he knew how alluring tha Ancestral Dragon Pill was to Nascent Source and Law Domain experts. Almost no one would be able to reject such a gift. Shen Taiyuan had helped him protect the Great Zhou Empire for a dozen years and Zhou Yuan owed him a big debt of gratitude. As the atmosphere relaxed, Zhou Qing peered into the distance in worry. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, what about the Sacred Demon Army?¡± Zhou Yuan had only killed Pang Yang while the Sacred Demon Army had scattered and fled. If left unchecked, the army was akin to a tumor that could potentially cause great damage in the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s lands. Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Relax father, no one can safely escape after harming the Great Zhou Empire.¡± Though his tone was nonchalant, the meaning of his words made the crowd¡¯s hearts shiver. While they were confused, streaks of light suddenly began appearing in the horizon, each giving off an astonishing Genesis Qi pressure. Their appearance made the city walls fall into panic again. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Is the Sacred Demon Army back?!¡± ¡°Why do I feel that they¡¯ve become stronger?¡± Shen Taiyuan¡¯s expression changed drastically as he cried out in alarm, ¡°Careful, there are several Law Domain experts among them! Could the Sacred Palace have sent out all their forces?!¡± Everyone was terrified. While they were panicking, the first streak of light arrived in the sky above the city walls as human figures were thrown onto the city walls like sacks. Thump! Thump! The crowd looked over and found that they were members of the Sacred Demon Army that had just escaped. It seemed that all of them had been captured and brought back. Shocked gaze after gaze was cast towards the sky as the light around the figures faded, revealing the imposing figures within. Everyone¡¯s scalps turned numb because each figure gave off powerful Genesis Qi undulations and the weakest was at the Nascent Source stage! What¡¯s more, there were more than twenty that gave off Law Domain level undulations! While the crowd on the city walls was shocked. The mysterious team in the sky cupped their fists together at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Captain Zhou Yuan, we¡¯ve captured all the escapees.¡± On the city walls, the crowd turned their gazes back to Zhou Yuan with some difficulty. This group of powerful and mysterious experts were brought back by him? Under their gazes, Zhou Yuan smiled as he explained, ¡°These are the reinforcements I brought. I said that my goal this time is to...wipe out the Sacred Palace.¡± Despite his seemingly calm voice, torrential killing intent seemed to tremble within the final five words. ... Meanwhile, in the Sacred Continent, deep within the Sacred Palace. An altar rose from a blood sea. On the altar sat a young man with white hair. The entire world seemed to breathe along with him as he meditated. He opened his eyes all of a sudden. They were deep like the starry sky and emotionless. ¡°Pang Yang is dead¡­¡± He stared into space, seemingly crossing a vast distance to view the Great Zhou Empire. Everything that transpired was rapidly reflected in his pupils. He then saw a certain young man. ¡°Zhou Yuan... ¡°So the dog that was forced to flee its home is finally back¡­¡± Chapter 1386 Sheng Yuan Arrives On the city walls, Zhou Yuan waved his hand. The group of experts in the air bowed slightly before quickly disappearing. Only a few figures slowly descended and appeared behind Zhou Yuan. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, is this the Great Zhou Empire? What an amazing place to have produced someone like you,¡± said Chi Jing in an interested voice. The Great Zhou Empire looked totally ordinary to her. After all, she used to lord over the eight hundred prefectures in the Tianyuan Region, and every prefecture was far more vast and powerful than the Great Empire. However, it was this ordinary looking land that produced a monster like Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan laughed before introducing Chi Jing to Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, ¡°This is my senior sister, Chi Jing. She took great care of me when I first arrived in Hunyuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Qing and Qin Yu hurriedly bowed in thanks. Chi Qing courteously returned the gesture and smiled, ¡°Your majesties are really capable to have produced a heaven pride like junior brother.¡± Zhi Qing forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m ashamed to admit that the two of us and the Great Zhou Empire have never given Yuan¡¯er any help. Instead, we¡¯re always burdening him. If not for him, the Great Zhou Empire would have ceased to exist long ago.¡± By the side, Qin Yu¡¯s eyes turned a little red as she listened. Her precious son had experienced countless pain and hardships since the day he was born, and had subsequently left home to train the moment he was barely old enough. She did not know how much he had suffered outside, but it made her heart ache as a mother that she could not give him any help. ¡°Your majesties, do you still remember me?¡± While she was silently sad, a tinkling laughter suddenly sounded. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu followed the laughter and saw a beautiful girl wearing a purple dress. Her skin was fair as snow, and her clear, limpid eyes were filled with spirit, giving her a very approachable aura. She was slim with a waist like a willow and long, slender legs. Even her face was so beautiful that it could probably cause the downfall of nations. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu were stunned for a moment at the sight of this extraordinary girl. Only after some time did Qin Yu ask in an uncertain manner, ¡°You...are you Youwei?!¡± Zhou Qing was struck by a flash of realization, quickly followed by surprise. He had naturally seen Su Youwei before years ago. Though she had already been a little beauty back then, he never expected she would grow up to be so gorgeous. Moreover, he could sense a faint pressure from her that was stronger than even Shen Taiyuan. In other words, Su Youwei was also a Law Domain expert! This made Zhou Qing feel rather melancholic. The kids from back then had already far surpassed the older generation. Qin Yu seemed to be oblivious to Su Youwei¡¯s strength. Instead, her gaze kept shifting between Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei as if trying to figure out something else. Cough. Zhou Yuan naturally knew what was on his mother¡¯s mind and hurriedly changed the topic by introducing the others. However, he suddenly paused when he came to the final person, because it was Wu Yao in her iconic long red dress. ¡°You¡­¡± Zhou Yuan let out a bitter laugh. He had not called her over, because he did not wish for her to feel awkward. However, it seemed that she had a different opinion. He turned his head to glance at the similarly confused Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, before he sighed helplessly. ¡°There are things I¡¯ll have to eventually face, and I¡¯m not someone who likes to escape.¡± Wu Yao¡¯s tone seemed calm, but the tightly clenched fists in her sleeves revealed some of her true feelings. She walked forward, complicated emotions in her long and narrow phoenix eyes as she gazed at Zhou Qing and Qing Yu. ¡°Your majesties, I am Wu Yao, King Wu¡¯s daughter.¡± As her voice sounded, the originally jovial atmosphere on the city walls instantly solidified. Horrified gaze after gaze turned towards Wu Yao. One must know that several of the ministers present had surrendered to the Great Zhou Empire after it devoured the Great Wu Empire. Hence, they were not strangers to the name Wu Yao...she was the Great Wu Empire¡¯s princess. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu were clearly taken aback by her name. The Wu clan was basically a nightmare to them. King Wu had betrayed the Great Zhou Empire and taken away Zhou Yuan¡¯s sacred dragon blessing right under their eyes, shifting it to his son and daughter... So this Wu Yao was one of the children that had received the sacred dragon blessing. They had originally believed things were already over with the Wu clan, and had thus deeply buried these painful memories. Who could have imagined that they would meet someone from the Wu clan today... Zhou Qing and Qin Yu stared at Wu Yao as their expressions fluctuated indeterminately between grief and anger. Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice suddenly sounded, breaking the stifling atmosphere, ¡°Father, mother, the Great Wu Empire has already been destroyed and I¡¯ve also recovered all of the sacred dragon blessing. Wu Yao helped me previously and even saved my life. Hence, let the grudge from back then fade away along with the Great Wu Empire.¡± Zhou Qing and Qin Yu were silent for a long time. In the end, they looked at each other and nodded. ¡°You are not a child anymore. Your mother and I did not really have any opinions. As long as you feel it is right, we will support you.¡± Warmth flowed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. He naturally knew how much pain King Wu had brought to his parents years ago. Although he and Wu Yao had chosen to bury the hatchet, it was difficult to avoid drawing out painful memories for his parents. Wu Yao cupped her fists together towards Zhou Qing and Qin Yu. She could naturally sense the mixed feelings they had towards her and thus did not say anything else. She turned around, avoiding the crowd as she walked to the edge of the wall and somewhat sadly gazed into the distance where the Great Wu Empire once stood. Su Youwei followed and softly consoled her. Qin Yu took the opportunity to pull Zhou Yuan over and ask in a low voice, ¡°Are you bringing back prospective daughter-in-laws to seek our approval?¡± Zhou Yuan did not know whether to laugh or to cry. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?¡± Wu Yao ignored him. ¡°Su Youwei is extremely excellent and I was already very fond of her back then. Wu Yao, however¡­¡± She hesitated for a moment but could only sigh in the end. ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s fine as long as that is what you want. You¡¯re the Great Zhou prince and having many imperial concubines is only natural.¡± But Qin Yu quickly followed, ¡°What about Yaoyao? Su Youwei and Wu Yao clearly can¡¯t be subdued by any ordinary person. If you wish for your queen¡¯s court to be peaceful in the future, I¡¯m afraid that Yaoyao is the only candidate.¡± Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck. Soon after, he forced a smile and said, ¡°Yaoyao¡¯s situation is rather special and can¡¯t come back this time. However, you¡¯re really overthinking things mother.¡± You plan on getting Yaoyao to subdue the queen¡¯s court? I¡¯m afraid the first one to be subdued will be your son instead! Qin Yu wanted to discuss the topic further, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed. He pulled her behind him, a fierce look rising in his eyes as he stared at the sky outside the city. Space warped and a figure in white robes slowly appeared. The figure had a youthful face and skin like a baby''s. White hair fluttered behind him as a pair eyes as deep as the starry sky looked over, causing fear to rise within anyone who saw them. When he appeared, the entire world seemed to fall silent. On the city walls, everyone ceased speaking as they looked towards the sky in endless terror, even Shen Taiyuan¡¯s pupils shrinking to the size of pinheads. In the next moment, a horrified shriek pierced the air. ¡°Palace master Sheng Yuan?!¡± Chapter 1387 Foes Meet Shen Taiyuan¡¯s horrified shriek caused the city walls to fall into chaos. Everyone scrambled backwards in fear, their terrified gazes unable to pull away from the figure that had appeared in the sky. Palace master Sheng Yuan... This name had spread practically to every corner of Cangxuan Heaven for the past few years. No matter how many people hated the Sacred Palace, they could only tremble in fear at the mention of this name. It was terror that reached its peak after the Heavenly Ghost Sect was wiped out by the Sacred Palace. Although there were no official rankings or evaluation, if someone said that palace master Sheng Yuan was the number one expert in Cangxuan Heaven, no one would disagree. It was because of his existence that the Sacred Palace could grow stronger and stronger over the years. Now, he was even able to suppress the other five great sects alone. The Sacred Demon Army that nearly destroyed the Great Zhou Empire was merely a small squad under his command. No one would have expected such a legendary person to suddenly appear outside Great Zhou City... The fear and terror he caused was far beyond anything the earlier Sacred Demon Army could ever hope to achieve. Why else would even someone like Shen Taiyuan lose his composure? As fear spread like wildfire across the city walls, Zhou Yuan stared at palace master Sheng Yuan. His expression remained composed as he casually said, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s palace master Sheng Yuan? It¡¯s been a long time since we last met.¡± In the air, palace master Sheng Yuan ignored everyone else. His eyes looked only at Zhou Yuan, a vast power surging within the mysterious, deep starry sky they resembled. ¡°Zhou Yuan... ¡°Only after personally seeing you am I finally able to believe that an ant can grow so much in a dozen years¡­¡± ¡°To be honest, I should thank you.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. If not for palace master Sheng Yuan, he would not have been forced to leave Cangxuan Heaven. If he stayed here, Zhou Yuan believed that he would have lost the chance to meet the many strong foes who eventually became his stepping stones. It would certainly have been difficult for him to reach his current level in a dozen years. Hence, in a certain manner of speaking, palace master Sheng Yuan had played a big part in his current accomplishments. Palace master Sheng Yuan stared at Zhou Yuan, his voice ungraspable as the mist yet also omnipresent, ¡°Your accomplishments are indeed quite impressive. However, do you really believe the current you can change anything?¡± There was a look of pity in his eyes as his voice boomed like thunder, causing everyone to try to be as quiet as possible. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you should not have returned. You could have continued to enjoy the glory of being the number one expert under the Saint stage if you hid in the all-heavens. You are only seeking death by returning.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many Saint experts over the years and even a prime sovereign. However, none of them acts so self-important or brags as much as a half-baked false Saint expert like you. ¡°If not for your master¡¯s mischief, do you really believe a grasshopper like you could have continued hopping around for so long? Any Saint expert from the Omega Shrine could destroy you.¡± A chilling light rose in palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes as the surrounding temperature rapidly plummeted, turning a hot day into bitterly cold winter. An indescribable and vast pressure enveloped the land. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s strength seemed to have improved over the past dozen years. However, Zhou Yuan could sense that he had yet to truly step into the Saint stage. That single step was akin to almost impossible to break shackles. As long as he was not a true Saint expert, Zhou Yuan was not afraid! Zhou Yuan took a step forward as his Sacred Dragon Law Domain unfurled. An ancient dragon roar echoed across the land, gradually pushing back the bone-chilling cold. ¡°Old dog Sheng Yuan, do you really think you can intimidate me with a mere double instead of your true body? Do you believe things are the same as a dozen years ago?!¡± Zhou Yuan raised his head, showing his piercingly cold eyes. An ancient dragon silhouette slowly rose behind him and released an earth-shaking roar. Sheng Yuan¡¯s gaze paused on the enormous sacred dragon behind Zhou Yuan as his eyes narrowed. Although he was a cultivation double, his strength far surpassed any ordinary third stage Law Domain expert. In spite of this, he was still unable to give Zhou Yuan any pressure. From this, one could see that Zhou Yuan¡¯s title of number one under the Saint stage did have some truth to it. However, Sheng Yuan was not worried, because ¡®under the Saint stage¡¯ did not include half-Saint experts like himself. Although he had yet to properly ascend to the Saint stage for the past dozen years, he had managed to gain a little of the Saint¡¯s power. He was already unbelievably close to that final step... Once the right timing and opportunity arrived, he would naturally ascend to the Saint stage. With Cangxuan Heaven currently sealed and no Saint expert able to enter, he had enough opportunity and power to unify it. When the time came, he only needed to fulfil the mission given to him by the Sacred God and he would be given the chance to cast away his human essence and transcend into a true member of the Sacred Race. ¡°I can sense Cangxuan Saint Stamp undulations from your body. Oh, the four Saint Runes...no wonder I¡¯ve always felt the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was incomplete. So you were the one who took them away.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s deep eyes scanned Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Soon after, he chuckled, ¡°I came here in order to verify something. Looks like the trip has not been in vain.¡± Zhou Yuan earnestly said, ¡°I do want to thank you for your hard work in gathering the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments for so many years. Otherwise, I would have to go all over searching for them.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan sighed. ¡°I never expected the ant from back then would dare to speak to me in such a manner. It is truly quite...amusing.¡± Each word between the two seemed to contain incomparable power as if they were laws that could shape the world. As the two individuals conversed, lightning flashed and thunder rumbled as if the end was near. Countless people trembled in fear. Even Chi Jing, Wu Yao, Su Youwei and the other Law Domain experts wore grave expressions. They could feel the spreading pressure from palace master Sheng Yuan and knew that even though it was merely a cultivation double, it was still much stronger than them. Although Cangxuan Heaven was small and chaotic, no one should underestimate its apex expert. ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is my last warning. If you¡¯re smart, hand over the Saint Runes and stamp fragments. I will allow you to leave Cangxuan Heaven with your family.¡± He stared at Zhou Yuan with cold eyes as his emotionless voice resounded across the area, ¡°This is your final chance.¡± Zhou Yuan felt the chilling killing intent in palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s words and shook his head. He saw no need to waste any more saliva talking and lightly flicked his finger. Roar! The sacred dragon behind him roared. Purple-gold dragon breath surged forth, accompanied by the power of annihilation as it smashed apart space itself and swallowed palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s cultivation double. Even space was evaporated by the dragon breath. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s cultivation double was likewise unable to put up much of a resistance and slowly melted away... Zhou Yuan stared at palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s gradually fading figure. ¡°This is my answer, you old dog. You¡¯ve caused chaos in Cangxuan Heaven for many years and since others are unable to deal with you, I will! ¡°Wait in your nest. I will personally come to settle the grudge from back then.¡± His calm voice echoed across the land. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s figure continued to disappear like bubbles, indifference and mockery in his eyes as he stared at Zhou Yuan. Before he completely faded, a faint voice sounded, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you to come to your death.¡± Chapter 1388 Must Die When palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s cultivation double finally vanished, the crowd on the city walls deeply sighed in relief before suddenly realizing they were drenched in sweat. Even Chi Jing, Wu Yao, Su Youwei, Zhao Mushen and the others had grave expressions and wariness in their eyes. The pressure from palace master Sheng Yuan was much greater than the Sacred Race¡¯s Tia Xuan. This was only normal. No matter how strong Tai Xuan was, he was still within the realm of the Law Domain stage, while though palace master Sheng Yuan was only a half-Saint, he had already come into contact with the Saint realm... The two were completely different in a sense. Shen Taiyuan rubbed his chest, trying to calm his panic. Palace master Sheng Yuan was far too infamous in Cangxuan Heaven, and let alone a pseudo Law Domain expert like him, even the other four great sect leaders would be full of wariness and even fear if they came to face palace master Sheng Yuan. He looked towards Zhou Yuan and sighed. ¡°You¡¯re a little too ballsy.¡± Zhou Yuan had shown no fear in the face of palace master Sheng Yuan, and had even destroyed the other party¡¯s cultivation double. Such courage was truly shocking. However, Shen Taiyuan also understood that if there was anyone in Cangxuan Heaven who could at least pose a threat to palace master Sheng Yuan, it would be Zhou Yuan. This made Shen Taiyuan sigh with feeling. The newborn calf from back then had already become a dragon. He could already envision how Zhou Yuan¡¯s name would soon shake the entire Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°That was merely a cultivation double, there¡¯s nothing to be afraid of.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Shen Taiyuan felt a little helpless. ¡°Only you can say such a thing.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the spot that palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s cultivation double had disappeared and asked, ¡°Has Sheng Yuan¡¯s true body personally taken action for the past few years?¡± Shen Taiyuan pondered for a while before he answered, ¡°He should have when the Heavenly Ghost Sect was destroyed. Otherwise, a faction as big as the Heavenly Ghost Sect could not have been wiped out in a single night. ¡°Besides that one time, he does not seem to have ever appeared in his true body. Otherwise, our situation would be much worse.¡± A thoughtful look arose on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Is it because he has yet to fully recover? Although he only appeared as a cultivation double earlier, the strength he displayed was definitely stronger than back then...or perhaps, he did not appear for many years because he has a more important goal?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered faintly in thought. If there was something more important to Sheng Yuan, it would definitely be to take that final step and become a true Saint expert. ¡°Peak master, what¡¯s the situation with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. ¡°The fighting hasn¡¯t stopped ever since you shattered the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. In the earlier years, the six great sects fought as independent entities, which made it the most chaotic period.¡± Shen Taiyuan gravely said, ¡°But the Sacred Palace gradually began to take the lead as their strength rapidly grew. Even without palace master Sheng Yuan, they were still capable of threatening the other five great sects. Hence, the five great sects were subsequently forced into an alliance, allowing them to slowly stabilize the balance of power. However, the share of fragments obtained by the Sacred Palace over the years should still exceed 60%.¡± ¡°More than 60%...¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. This figure was clear evidence of the Sacred Palace¡¯s superior might. ¡°It¡¯s all because of the Divine Blood Altar that suddenly appeared which palace master Sheng Yuan used it to create the Sacred Demon Army that has basically been unstoppable in their march across Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Shen Taiyuan smiled bitterly. ¡°The Divine Blood Altar should be the Sacred Race¡¯s work.¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said. Otherwise, a half-Saint like Sheng Yuan could not possibly have crafted such an amazing treasure. ¡°Sheng Yuan truly is the scum of Cangxuan Heaven!¡± Shen Taiyuan was clearly angered. The all-heavens and the Sacred Race were mortal enemies with deep-seated hatred between them. However, Sheng Yuan willingly chose to be the Sacred Race¡¯s dog, a decision that made others truly despise him. However, Shen Taiyuan also understood that being angry won¡¯t change anything. He turned around and looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°However, the situation will be different now that you¡¯ve come with such strong reinforcements.¡± There were already more than twenty Law Domain experts alone in the force led by Zhou Yuan, while the others were at the peak of the Nascent Source stage. To be blunt, besides the Sacred Palace, none of the other four great sects could match this line-up. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and said, ¡°I¡¯d like to ask peak master to return to the Cangxuan Sect and notify sect master Qing Yang to invite the other three great sect leaders to the Cangxuan Sect to discuss an attack against the Sacred Palace. ¡°These reinforcements will follow you back to the Cangxuan Sect and help to stabilize the situation in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Shen Taiyuan was overjoyed and immediately said, ¡°This news will definitely make sect master Qing Yang and the others very happy.¡± Although he had been stationed at the Great Zhou Empire, the Cangxuan Sect would always send news to update him on the latest happenings. Hence, he was aware of how much pressure sect master Qing Yang was constantly under, especially when the Heavenly Ghost Sect was wiped out. The usually composed sect master had begun to seriously worry about the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s future. Zhou Yuan¡¯s timely arrival with strong reinforcements was akin to rain during a drought for Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°As for me, I wish to stay in Great Zhou City for a few days to spend time with my parents. After which, I will head to the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Shen Taiyuan indicated that he understood. Zhou Yuan had left his home for more than ten years and Zhou Qing and Qin Yu never stopped thinking about him. Since he had finally returned, it was naturally his duty to spend some quality time with his parents. In addition, the reinforcements Zhou Yuan brought should be enough to stabilize the current situation. ¡°There is no time to lose, I will set off at once.¡± Shen Taiyuan was itching to get on with it. Zhou Yuan nodded and waved his hand. The group at his command appeared in the sky and cupped their fists together towards him in acknowledgement. Shen Taiyuan also cupped his fists together at Zhou Yuan before rising into the air. In the next moment, nearly a hundred figures zipped off, disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye. Zhou Yuan watched them leave before turning his head and was surprised to find two beautiful figures standing together. He had expected Su Youwei to stay behind, but it was surprising that Wu Yao had not left... One must know that it was this very spot outside the city walls where King Wu had taken his sacred dragon blessing and poured it into Wu Yao and Wu Huang. The saying ¡®python and sparrow devour the dragon¡¯ had originated from this very place. It was a place of sadness for both parties. Zhou Yuan had suffered tremendously before slowly stepping onto the path of cultivation, while Wu Yao had lost her mother and eventually her entire family, leaving her all alone. While these thoughts swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, Wu Yao walked over with calm eyes and said, ¡°The mistake from back then was made by my father. Although he has already passed, what has happened will not disappear. Since I¡¯m here, I will not choose to avoid it.¡± Zhou Yuan was taken aback. This woman was really unbelievably stubborn. Was she trying to atone for King Wu¡¯s crimes? He sighed inside but did not say anything to console her. Given Wu Yao¡¯s character, this was not something that a few words could resolve. He could only wait for her to truly let go of these past grievances. Su Youwei interjected at this moment to change the topic. She looked at Zhou Yuan and hesitated for a moment before she said, ¡°Are you confident in taking on palace master Sheng Yuan?¡± Wu Yao also turned her attention towards Zhou Yuan. A mere cultivation double from palace master Sheng Yuan had already been so powerful. From this, they could tell that he was clearly far stronger than the Sacred Race¡¯s Tai Xuan. Although Zhou Yuan was called number one under the Saint stage, the foe he faced this time was no ordinary person, but a half-Saint! Zhou Yuan raised his head, stared at the horizon that resembled burning clouds and slowly said, ¡°This battle will determine the future of Cangxuan Heaven. This is where I was born and I will never allow Sheng Yuan to destroy it.¡± His eyes lowered as killing intent surged out like the tide. ¡°Hence...Sheng Yuan must die.¡± Chapter 1389 Carefree With Zhou Yuan¡¯s return, Great Zhou City was saved from destruction. Everyone in the city cried tears of joy as they celebrated their newfound lease of life, countless people devotedly bowing in the direction of the royal palace. It was as if the guardian prince of Great Zhou had already become an all-powerful god in their eyes. Of course, someone at Zhou Yuan¡¯s level was honestly as mysterious and immeasurable as a god to people like them. Regardless, Zhou Yuan¡¯s timely return had saved the countless citizens of Great Zhou City, and it was likely that the prince¡¯s position in the hearts of the people had already surpassed Zhou Qing. ... A flower park deep inside the royal palace. ¡°I think you only need to say the word and you¡¯ll be the king of the Great Zhou Empire.¡± Zhou Qing listened to the fanatical voices outside the palace before grinning as he looked towards the young man that was leisurely feeding the fish. By the side, Qin Yu rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Given Yuan¡¯er¡¯s current status, why would he even bat an eye at your tiny Great Zhou Empire?¡± Zhou Qing sighed and said, ¡°Then who can pass the Great Zhou Empire to in the future?¡± Although he was the king of Great Zhou, he did not have any concubines. He and queen Qin Yu loved each other deeply and thus only had a single son, Zhou Yuan. ¡°You can make another one.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled cheekily. Qin Yu blushed and cast an annoyed glare at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Cheeky brat, how dare you laugh at your parents.¡± Zhou Yuan laughed as he massaged Qin Yu¡¯s shoulders. Qin Yu let out a soft chuckle as she enjoyed her son¡¯s massage and presence. After a while, she suddenly recalled something and said, ¡°Yuan¡¯er might not be interested in the Great Zhou Empire, but he can leave us grandchildren.¡± Zhou Qing was taken aback, but soon recovered and delightfully said, ¡°That¡¯s an excellent idea!¡± Soon after, he mischievously stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°You¡¯re always gone for several years every time you leave, making us constantly worry. When are you going to give us a grandson or daughter?¡± Zhou Yuan was a little dazed, realization only dawning upon him after a while as he observed the looks in his parents eyes. These two likely had such thoughts long ago and had finally found the chance to voice them out. Zhou Yuan helplessly said, ¡°Where am I going to find a grandchild for you two?¡± Smiling, Qin Yu answered, ¡°Aren¡¯t there two candidates in that little courtyard in the city? Although I still have some ill-feelings towards Wu Yao, if she can continue the bloodline of our Zhou clan, your father and I will fully accept her.¡± Zhou Qing nodded in agreement. Zhou Yuan was dumbstruck. Even with his current cultivation, he still found himself being whirled around by his parents. He tried to explain, ¡°We¡¯re really just friends.¡± Qin Yu smiled faintly. ¡°I shan¡¯t say anything about that little lass Youwei¡¯s thoughts and although I¡¯ve not had much contact with Wu Yao, I can tell that she is no ordinary person. Great Zhou City is definitely not a place she¡¯s fond of, and yet she has insisted on staying here for the past two days. Do you actually think she¡¯s staying to accompany Youwei?¡± Zhou Yuan wiped away the sweat on his forehead. ¡°Mother, you¡¯re really overthinking this! ¡°I already have someone I like!¡± A thoughtful look arose on Qin Yu¡¯s face at her son¡¯s serious expression. ¡°Is it Yaoyao? Is this one-sided or mutual?¡± The corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth twitched. Mom, is your son that useless in your eyes?! ¡°Of course it¡¯s mutual. Yaoyao is just unable to return to Cangxuan Heaven this time or I would have brought her along!¡± Zhou Yuan was clearly a little miffed. This was basically doubting his charm. Happiness immediately appeared on Qin Yu¡¯s face. ¡°Is this true? That¡¯s great!¡± There was no need to say how much Qin Yu was fond of Yaoyao, although she did feel Yaoyao was a little too distant at times. Qin Yu understood how difficult it was to win the love of such a girl and even though Zhou Yuan had a huge advantage, it was still very difficult to say whether he would succeed. Since Yaoyao had not returned with Zhou Yuan, Qin Yu had been under the impression that no spark had appeared between them. From Zhou Yuan¡¯s words, however, it seemed that they had already made a promise to be together forever. Zhou Qing nodded with a wide grin and said, ¡°There¡¯s absolutely no problem if it¡¯s Yaoyao. Someone like her will definitely be able to subdue even Su Youwei and Wu Yao.¡± Zhou Yuan choked out a cough. What the hell father, stop dreaming in the daytime. He felt that he could no longer continue this topic and immediately waved to his parents. ¡°I¡¯ll be going off to see them.¡± As his words rang out, his figure had already faded. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu felt somewhat helpless as they watched him flee. ¡°This child.¡± However, their eyes were clearly smiling. Zhou Yuan had been spending almost all of his time accompanying them in the royal palace for the past few days, and they could naturally feel his filial piety. Although the situation in Cangxuan Heaven was chaotic, Zhou Yuan still made the effort to spend time with them. He likely felt guilty for being away for so many years and wanted to do what little he could to make it up to them. However, the child did not know that they would never blame him as parents, and only felt sorry for not being there for him either. ... Over the next few days, Zhou Yuan spent the majority of his time with Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, occasionally visiting Su Youwei¡¯s little courtyard when he was free to chat with the two girls or bring them around Great Zhou City. Under Su Youwei¡¯s insistence, they even visited the Great Zhou Institute. The Great Zhou Institute was also a place filled with memories for Zhou Yuan. After all, this was where his cultivation journey had begun. Over his period, he also met with Wei Qingqing and her younger brother, the little boy he had saved with Genesis Runes years ago in Canglang County. The Great Zhou Empire was not very big in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, however, it held many feelings for him. After all, no matter how famous he became in the all-heavens, he would never forget that it was this tiny empire that he had walked out from. In the end, Zhou Yuan even visited the ancestral shrine, the place that Zhou Qing had placed his final hopes in when Zhou Yuan was unable to open his eight meridian channels. It was through the teleportation array in the ancestral shrine that Zhou Yuan had met master Cang Yuan, Yaoyao and Tuntun. One could say that this was where everything began for him. If not for master Cang Yuan helping him open his eight meridian channels, Zhou Yuan would never have attained his current accomplishments. Zhou Yuan felt a little regretful that the teleportation array was broken, likely because the domain it connected to had been destroyed. The domain had likely been destroyed in the ensuing battle between master Cang Yuan and the Sacred Race Saint experts that found him after Zhou Yuan had returned from it. In the underground palace, Zhou Yuan stood before the shattered teleportation array with a slightly sorrowful expression. In a certain manner of speaking, this teleportation array had completely changed his future. He cupped his hands together at the teleportation array as he fondly recalled the past. Soon after, he turned around and left the underground palace, arriving before the ancestral shrine once more. Two beautiful figures stood at the edge of the cliff, each a beauty in her own right that could cause the downfall of cities and nations. Su Youwei revealed a small smile when she saw him emerge. ¡°Senior sister Chi Jing sent news earlier that the sect masters of the four great sects have already arrived at the Cangxuan Sect.¡± Zhou Yuan released a long drawn out breath as he fondly gazed at the grind city in the distance. His carefree days were over. Next, it was time for him to put an end to the turmoil in Cangxuan Heaven. Chapter 1390 Gathering in the Cangxuan Sect Again Shengzhou Continent, the Cangxuan Sect. The Cangxuan Sect was especially busy for the past few days because the sect masters of the other three great sects had rushed to the Cangxuan Sect with sizable entourages. With such a line-up, something big was definitely happening in the Cangxuan Sect. Of the once six great sects, the Sacred Palace had grown far more powerful than the rest, while the Heavenly Ghost Sect had been destroyed, leaving only the Cangxuan Sect, Sword Seeker Sect, Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall to form a unified front against the Sacred Palace. With all four of these great sects gathered today, it was as if a storm was brewing here and even the tiniest disturbance would ripple through the entire Cangxuan Heaven. The elite disciples of the other three sects had been placed on a plaza on the Cangxuan Sect main peak. ¡°I wonder what made our sect masters suddenly rush to the Cangxuan Sect. We¡¯ve never gathered in a single sect even when the four sects formally allied together in the past¡­¡± The disciples from the three sects were rather puzzled by the recent events and were unable to understand this sudden visit to the Cangxuan Sect. Although the four great sects had allied against the Sacred Palace, there was no hierarchy among them. Hence, it felt a little excessive of the Cangxuan Sect to suddenly summon the sect masters of the other three sects. Surprisingly, however, the three sect masters had not objected and instead rushed over immediately. ¡°The Cangxuan Sect has crossed the line this time. Do they think they¡¯re the leader of the four great sects?¡± One of the disciples voiced his dissatisfaction. Everyone usually sat on equal footing, so having the Cangxuan Sect call the others over was a little ¡®boss-like¡¯. ¡°Sigh, the Sacred Palace is growing stronger and stronger, let¡¯s stop bickering about such things or we might soon share the Heavenly Ghost Sect¡¯s fate.¡± There were of course no lack of more far-sighted individuals who tried to pacify the crowd. While the disciples of the other three sects were grumbling, some of the elite Cangxuan Sect disciples that had been stationed here as well to accompany their guests chuckled in a mysterious manner and said, ¡°It seems that you guys have yet to receive the news. Haven¡¯t you guys realized that the Sacred Palace¡¯s offensive is gradually being stopped in many battlefields?¡± The disciples from the three sects looked at each other and could not help but ask, ¡°I do vaguely recall hearing that a group of top experts have been reinforcing our forces, but what does that have to do with the Cangxuan Sect?¡± The Cangxuan Sect disciple grinned. ¡°That powerful force was sent by the all-heavens. Do you guys know who their leader is?¡± The smile on his face grew increasingly pleased and proud. ¡°It¡¯s our Cangxuan Sect¡¯s senior brother Zhou Yuan!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan?¡± The disciples of the other three sects cried out in surprise. Soon after, however, someone said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of Zhou Yuan before. He rose to fame in the battle for Guyuan Heaven years ago, but he was only at the Heavenly Sun stage back then. The reinforcement group¡¯s weakest expert is a peak Nascent Source practitioner, and they even have more than a dozen Law Domain experts. How can Zhou Yuan possibly be their leader given his cultivation? Those all-heavens experts will never accept that!¡± The Cangxuan Sect disciple curled his lips. ¡°What¡¯s the point of saying such outdated information now? When senior brother Zhou Yuan returned a few days ago, he encountered the Sacred Palace Golden Sacred Hall master Pang Yang outside Great Zhou City. I heard that Pang Yang wasn¡¯t able to survive even a single blow and was swiftly slain by senior brother Zhou Yuan outside the city.¡± Uproar! Shock appeared on the faces of the disciples. The Sacred Palace Golden Sacred Hall master Pang Yang was a mighty and untouchable existence to them, and they would normally only hear of his terrible deeds and ferocity. It was hard to believe that such a person had been killed by Zhou Yuan in a single move. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense, right?¡± ¡°Although Zhou Yuan is quite famous in the al-heavens, he can¡¯t have grown so powerful already, right?¡± ¡°This kind of thing can¡¯t really be lied about though?¡± ¡°Then Zhou Yuan has really reached that level?¡± The disciples were in an uproar. However, one could tell that most of them were stunned and doubtful. After all, killing a Law Domain expert in a single strike was far too unbelievable to them. Several figures stood on a mountain peak nearby, watching the plaza as they listened. A clear, oriole-like voice chirped in a joyous tone, ¡°It seems that the news is true. Zhou Yuan has returned!¡± It was a young lady with a green ponytail. She was pretty and adorable, her huge, bright eyes filled with youthful vigor. An ice-blue bird lazily napped on her left shoulder. This familiar appearance naturally belonged to Lu Luo, whom Zhou Yuan had last seen in the battle for Guyuan Heaven several years ago. ¡°So he is already able to lead Law Domain experts after a few short years?¡± By her side stood a seductive and sexy figure. Her extreme curves made it nearly impossible for anyone to turn their eyes away. Bells hung around her bare ankles, tinkling beautifully as the wind blew past and somehow made her even more charming. A black dress covered Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s body. She stretched, revealing her unbelievable curves as she lazily said, ¡°How hateful, how am I going to catch up if he¡¯s always rising so quickly.¡± ¡°That is indeed very difficult. Even I don¡¯t feel like chasing him anymore.¡± The muscular Ning Zhan helplessly said. It was hard to believe even a battle junky like him had given up. ¡°Among us, only the fastest blindy has reached the pseudo Law Domain stage, while the rest of us are still at the perfect Nascent Source stage.¡± Ning Zhan looked towards a man in plain clothes who was seated on a boulder beside him. A piece of black cloth was wrapped around the man¡¯s eyes, while a rusted sword lay across his lap. It was the Blind Sword, Li Chunjun. Lu Luo placed her fists against her tiny hips and said, ¡°Rising from the Heavenly Sun stage to the perfect Nascent Source stage over these past few years is already extremely quick, and it''s mostly thanks to the benefits we received thanks to Zhou Yuan in the battle for Guyuan Heaven. That¡¯s why we shouldn¡¯t be so unsatisfied. After all, no one can be like that abnormality Zhou Yuan.¡± Ning Zhan nodded in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s good that Zhou Yuan returned to Cangxuan Heaven at such a time. The Sacred Palace has already grown far too powerful and if he still doesn¡¯t return, I feel that our four sects would have soon followed the Heavenly Ghost Sect¡¯s fate.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu coughed softly and shot a look at Ning Zhan. He was stunned for a second before abruptly realizing what was wrong as he awkwardly looked towards a silhouette under the nearby tree. The figure was dressed in a large black robe and had a pale face. His eyes looked exceptionally gloomy and fierce, giving him an approachable aura. It was Zhen Xu. He had survived because he had been on a mission when the Heavenly Ghost Sect was exterminated. However, almost all of his fellow disciples and teachers had lost their lives. Zhen Xu had spent the past few years finding the final surviving members of the Heavenly Ghost Sect, who were rumored to have been trying to take revenge on the Sacred Palace like maniacs. However, due to their lack of power, they were often akin to moths flying towards the fire. Lu Luo sighed as she gazed at the ghost-like figure of Zhen Xu and softly said, ¡°Zhen Xu, don¡¯t be overly anxious. We will definitely beat the Sacred Palace in the end!¡± Zhen Xu finally lifted his head and indifferently said, ¡°That old dog Sheng Yuan is growing increasingly powerful and the four great sects are just barely able to manage for now. I honestly do not see any hope.¡± Sensing the despairing tone in his voice, Zuoqiu Qingyu frowned and said, ¡°Zhen Xu, calm yourself and don¡¯t do anything reckless. The Heavenly Ghost Sect has already been destroyed and you guys will only be wasting your lives if you try anything rash!¡± Zhen Xu replied in his usual raspy voice, ¡°What else can we do? Without the Heavenly Ghost Sect, we¡¯re just a bunch of wandering ghosts. Without any goal, we will sooner or later vanish from the face of this earth.¡± Lu Luo hurriedly said, ¡°Isn¡¯t Zhou Yuan back? He¡¯ll definitely be able to change things!¡± Zhen Xu was silent for a moment before he muttered, ¡°Sheng Yuan is too powerful, even he will not be able to win¡­¡± As his voice rang out, a hand suddenly reached out from the darkness behind and gently patted his shoulder. Soon after, a voice sounded, ¡°Hey, do you really have so little confidence in me?¡± The sudden voice alarmed everyone, including Zhen Shu. They looked towards the darkness, seeing space ripple as a familiar figure slowly walked out. A face beamed under the sunlight, the familiarness of it making their hearts somehow feel at ease. It was Zhou Yuan, who had rushed to the Cangxuan Sect after receiving the news! Chapter 1391 Friends Gather Once More ¡°Zhou Yuan?!¡± Lu Luo, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others could not help but cry out in shock when they saw the slim figure emerge. However, their shock was replaced by joy a split second later. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re really back!¡± Lu Luo cheered as she excitedly pulled Zhou Yuan¡¯s sleeve. ¡°I just knew that you won¡¯t be missing!¡± Zhou Yuan wore a gentle smile as he observed his old friends. It had been a few years since their last meeting in the battle for Guyuan Heaven, and Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others had clearly grown tremendously since then. Among the five, Lu Luo, Zhen Xu, Zuoqiu Qingyu and Ning Zhan had reached the peak Nascent Source stage, while the strongest Li Chunjun had soared all the way to the pseudo Law Domain stage. They were definitely part of the fastest batch among their peers in Cangxuan Heaven. In addition, their auras had also become sharper and harsher. Even the most innocent and easy-going Lu Luo seemed to have matured substantially. Zhou Yuan understood that it was likely because of the constant killing and battles they had been a part of. After all, the friction between the Sacred Palace and the other Cangxuan Heaven factions had only grown in recent years due to struggle for the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments, numerous battles erupting one after another. His small group of friends were already considered higher-ups in their respectives sects, and were naturally unable to avoid being dispatched into battle. After experiencing enough death and fighting, one¡¯s aura would naturally change. The young companions that had walked out from the Cangmang Continent years ago had unknowingly already become irreplaceable figures in their respective sects. Lu Chunjun asked in his raspy voice, ¡°I heard that you killed the Sacred Palace Golden Sacred Hall master Pang Yang at Great Zhou City?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned and nodded. ¡°He was behaving atrociously in my Great Zhou City and even wanted to massacre the entire city. I would have let the citizens down if I didn¡¯t butcher him there and then.¡± The group was speechless. Pang Yang was no stranger to them, and they had even exchanged blows with him before, although it would always end up with them on the losing end. However, Zhou Yuan described this very same individual as livestock to be slaughtered as he pleased. Zhou Yuan had evidently grown to a very terrifying level in the few years since they last met. Li Chunjun asked, ¡°Third stage Law Domain?¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand and modestly said, ¡°The all-heavens friends are too kind when they call me number one under the Saint stage.¡± The group looked at each other before Lu Luo curled her lip and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you look like you need a beating.¡± As she spoke, the others could not help but laugh. Even the corners of Zhen Xu¡¯s mouth twitched a little. ¡°I heard what happened to the Heavenly Ghost Sect.¡± Zhou Yuan looked towards Zhen Xu and sighed. Zhen Xu responded in a downcast voice, ¡°Honestly, the Heavenly Ghost Sect master only has himself to blame for this fate. Even till the end, he entertained the delusion of joining hands with the Sacred Palace and thus did not fully commit to the alliance with the other four great sects. In the end, this delusion gave the Sacred Palace the chance they needed. ¡°The Heavenly Ghost Sect paid the price for his foolishness. Since I am a member of the Heavenly Ghost Sect, I have been doing my best to gather the last of our members for the past few years. ¡°We¡¯re wandering ghosts whose only wish is revenge. However, the Sacred Palace is too powerful and our numbers have only fallen over the years.¡± A look of exhaustion appeared on Zhen Xu¡¯s face. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment before he patted Zhen Xu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°There will be revenge, but it will not be moths plunging towards the fire. Dealing with the Sacred Palace is the shared responsibility of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s numerous factions. ¡°I¡¯ve returned to settle my grudge with Sheng Yuan. If I triumph, the Sacred Palace will naturally be destroyed. When that happens, the Heavenly Ghost Sect will get its chance to rebuild.¡± Zhen Xu stared blankly at Zhou Yuan as a sliver of hope finally appeared in his dull gray eyes. ¡°You...you can defeat Sheng Yuan?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan was a half-Saint and the strongest expert in the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Since no Saint expert could currently descend onto Cangxuan Heaven, Sheng Yuan was basically invincible. This was something everyone was clearly aware of. Zhou Yuan met his gaze and chuckled. ¡°There will be a chance as long as he is not a true Saint expert. ¡°Moreover, even if he does cross that final step, I will drag him down from the clouds and into the mud because Cangxuan Heaven has the Great Zhou Empire, the Cangxuan Sect, and you guys, my friends. I will not let him destroy this place even if it costs me my life.¡± Icy, unwavering determination flashed deep in his eyes as he smiled. Zuoqiu Qingyu cupped her beautiful face, her glittering as she stared at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re starting to become nearly one percent as handsome as Yaoyao in my heart.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face turned black with anger as he glared at Zuoqiu Qingyu. How dare this evil woman still have designs on my future wife. Clang! While they were conversing, a gong suddenly sounded from the main peak. Upon hearing the noise, Zhou Yuan said, ¡°It seems that the other sect masters have arrived. I¡¯ll be going off to see them first. ¡°Right, after my discussion with the sect masters is over, we will be sending an expedition against the Sacred Palace. When the time comes, this war will quickly sweep across the entire Cangxuan Heaven.¡± With a wave of his sleeve, several streaks of light shot towards Zuoqiu Qingyu, Lu Luo and the others. ¡°Here¡¯s a small present for everyone. Quickly absorb it and prepare for the upcoming war.¡± His figure disappeared as his voice rang out. Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others hurriedly caught the incoming objects and found them to be small jade bottles. A round longan-like pill floated within each bottle, a faint halo shimmering around each one. ¡°This is...the Ancestral Dragon Pill?!¡± Their hearts shook as they looked at each other in shock. They had naturally heard of this famous pill, but never had the chance to see one till now. They never imagined that Zhou Yuan would give one to each of them. ¡°This feels like a young and rich business man has returned to his rural hometown and casually gives away expensive gifts, shocking everyone.¡± Ning Zhan smiled bitterly. The others nodded in agreement. ¡°So do we take it or not?¡± Lu Luo licked her lips as she stared at the Ancestral Dragon Pill in her hand. Li Chunjun slowly said, ¡°Keep it. After all, this is a small gift compared to everything he¡¯s given us. If he needs anything in the future, we¡¯ll just stake our lives to repay him.¡± He was straightforward as usual, like a sharp sword. The other four nodded. There was indeed no need to worry about a little more when they already owed so much. Instead, they were more concerned about the war that would soon arrive... The thought of it excited them. Although the four great sects were currently allied against the Sacred Palace, they had, in a certain manner of speaking, only fought their own battles. It was difficult for them to properly integrate due to being on similar power levels. With Zhou Yuan¡¯s return, this situation might begin to change. ... While the small group grew excited about the future, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared in front of the grand hall on the Cangxuan Sect main peak. He stood with his hands behind his back, a look of reminisce on his face as he observed the familiar scenery. In the end, he walked into the hall under the curious and fanatical gazes of the surrounding Cangxuan Sect disciples. He immediately felt four stern gazes converge on his body, three of which were closely examining him. Zhou Yuan raised his head, looking towards the four sect masters that represented four of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s strongest factions as he cupped his fists together and smiled. ¡°Long time no see sect masters, I hope that all of you have been well.¡± Chapter 1392 The Once Younger Generation It was a majestic, brightly lit hall. Four long white jade tables had been placed in different corners of the hall, with four stern and powerful figures silently seated behind each one. Several figures were seated behind these four individuals, all giving off powerful Genesis Qi undulations. These were evidently the four sects¡¯ most powerful experts. Everyone in the hall was currently watching the young man leisurely walk in with mixed feelings. Those present had repeatedly heard of this young man over the years as he rose to fame in the all-heavens, and were especially shocked when they heard of the battle for Guyuan Heaven a few years ago. No one had expected that the one to ultimately best the Sacred Race sacred heaven pride would not be a heaven pride from any of the other heavens, but a young man that had walked out from Cangxuan Heaven. This made many of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s top experts sigh deeply in pity, however, that was all they did. After all, Zhou Yuan had only been a Heavenly Sun stage expert at that time, a level that was still too low in the eyes of Nascent Source and Law Domain experts. No one could have predicted the huge shock they would receive when they heard news of Zhou Yuan again. From the latest reports, Zhou Yuan had distinguished himself in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain and defeated the Sacred Race¡¯s strongest Law Domain expert. What¡¯s more, he was now popularly known as the number one expert under the Saint stage in the all-heavens. As for how much truth there was to this title, everyone present was naturally well aware... In the hall, three sect masters carefully observed Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure, still feeling somewhat dazed even with him standing right before them. After all, they had been present in the great battle where he had been forced to leave Cangxuan Heaven years ago. Back then, Zhou Yuan was merely a young practitioner who had recently stepped into the Divine Dwelling stage. The only reason why they had remembered his name was because this extremely daring young man had shattered the saint stamp and scattered its fragments throughout Cangxan Heaven, resulting in the subsequent chaos that had plagued the land for many years. No one would have imagined back then that the young Divine Dwelling expert would have grown to this stage when he returned... The atmosphere was rather silent as everyone¡¯s hearts churned like a stormy sea. Amidst the silence, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the hall, finding sect master Qing Yang seated in the host¡¯s seat. He had not changed much despite the many years that had passed, although his Genesis Qi cultivation had clearly progressed. However, the once immeasurable power in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes was now seen through in a single glance. Behind sect master Qing Yang were several familiar figures. The peak masters of Cangxuan Sect¡¯s many peaks. The Snow Lotus Peak master Liu Lianyi, the Sword Cometh Peak master Ling Jun, the Hongya Peak master Gu Tianhong, the Spirit Rune Peak master old man Bai Mei... In the past, these peak masters had possessed strength that he yearned for, but had now been surpassed by him. Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted to the table left of sect master Qing Yang, where a hunched old man in hemp clothes sat. Although the old man gave off a declining aura akin to the setting sun, Zhou Yuan could sense an endlessly sharp sword will within it that was seemingly capable of piercing the heavens. It was the Sword Seeker Sect master, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign. On the other side of sect master Qing Yang was a beautiful mature woman in palace garments. Her figure was round in all the right places, making her extremely charming. It was the palace master of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace, Shan Qingzi. The final individual was a bare torso middle-aged man that looked plain and simple like an old farmer. Mottled markings covered his skin and the power spreading from his body made the air around him tremble faintly. Sect master of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall, Venerable Lord Gu Jing. It could be said that the top powers of Cangxuan Heaven were currently gathered in this hall. On the host¡¯s seat, sect master Qing Yang was likewise observing the young man that was walking in. His face had lost much of its previous immarity, replaced by a seemingly untouchable calmness. His eyes were still as bright as before, but no longer contained the recklessness of youth. Instead, they held some kind of impenetrable deepness. Sect master Qing Yang felt a little dazed. In a short dozen years, the young man from back then now made him feel a slight pressure. However, he was rather gratified by this development. At the end of the day, Zhou Yuan was someone who came from the Cangxuan Sect. There were also many events that made it clear that Zhou Yuan was a person who valued his ties and not someone who would forget you just because he rose to greater heights. Sect master Qing Yang stood up and cupped his hands together at Zhou Yuan. Although Zhou Yuan used to be a disciple of the Cangxuan Sect, his current strength was sufficient for him to stand as equals to the sect masters. Hence, sect master Qing Yang made sure to give him the proper respect. ¡°Zhou Yuan, welcome back to the Cangxuan Sect,¡± said sect master Qing Yang with his all too familiar kindly smile. Zhou Yuan also cupped his hands together in response and smiled, ¡°Sect master has grown much stronger in the many years since we¡¯ve last met.¡± The other three sect masters also rose to their feet and cupped their fists together at Zhou Yuan. ¡°We thank you for coming to Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s aid.¡± The reinforcements brought by Zhou Yuan had recently entered the various battlefields and swiftly stabilized the situation in Cangxuan Heaven. This made the various factions rejoice and breathe sighs of relief. ¡°Cangxuan Heaven is also part of the all-heavens. The Sacred Race is behing the Sacred Palace¡¯s recent activities and the all-heavens will naturally not idly sit by and watch. The reinforcements were sent by the Omega Shrine¡¯s prime sovereign Jin Luo.¡± Zhou Yuan did not take credit of course and told them the truth. As the leaders of the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s great sects, sect master Qing Yang and the others were naturally aware of the Omega Shrine¡¯s existence. They knew that it was the all-heavens highest power whose sole goal was to resist the Sacred Race. The four sect masters sighed and shamefully said, ¡°Cangxuan Heaven has become a burden to the all-heavens.¡± Sect master Qing Yang shook his head before smiling at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, please seat yourself so we can start the discussion.¡± He pointed towards an empty table. Zhou Yuan nodded and his figure disappeared. When he appeared again, he was already seated behind the long table. The other four sect masters also seated themselves as their expressions became solemn. They knew that the real show was about to start. ¡°Sect masters, I¡¯m sure you guys understand Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s current situation better than myself. The Sacred Race is secretly directing the Sacred Palace from the shadows, and they are definitely up to something.¡± Zhou Yuan wasted no time beating about the bush. The four sect masters nodded with grave expressions. ¡°The Sacred Palace has been growing increasingly powerful over the past few years and is no longer a faction any of the other great sects can face alone. Although the sects have shown signs of cooperation, it is not enough. The sects are unable to act as one proper entity and fight their own battles. This is one of the reasons why the Heavenly Ghost Sect was wiped out.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze swept across the hall, a feeling of oppressiveness spreading from his calm voice that made the four sect masters¡¯ hearts shiver. ¡°Although I do not know what the Sacred Race is up to, the more unknown something is, the more dangerous it is. We cannot keep wasting time with the Sacred Palace and must end this chaos as soon as possible or Cangxuan Heaven will only be in more and more danger. ¡°Hence, I suggest we establish the Cangxuan Alliance with the four great sects as its leaders. We will absorb the other Cangxuan Sect factions and consolidate our power to launch a counter attack on the Sacred Palace and destroy it!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s resolute voice echoed in the hall, causing everyone to look at him in astonishment. The hall was silent for a time. Zhou Yuan was not the first to suggest an alliance against the Sacred Palace. Others had brought similar suggestions up before, but they had ultimately been shelved. It was because an alliance naturally required a clear leader. The four great sects were of similar strengths and had clashed repeatedly over the years. Despite gradually being forced to stand together in recent times due to the threat of the Sacred Palace, none of the four would properly acknowledge another as the leader. Hence, such suggestions had always ended up being thrown to the side until being brought up again by Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan observed the four sect masters¡¯ changing expressions. He lowered his eyes and calmly said, ¡°I know what the biggest problem is, hence, I would like to nominate myself as the first alliance leader.¡± In the hall, everyone¡¯s eyes grew even wider. They stared at the young face in astonishment. Was this not saying that since they refused to acknowledge one another, he would be their boss because he could subdue them all? What a crazy fellow! Sect master Qing Yang, Liu Lianyi, Lin Jun and the other peak masters stared at Zhou Yuan in shock. Only now did they finally feel his domineering and overbearing aura... A sudden realization finally dawned upon them. This person was no longer the hardworking young man of the Cangxuan Sect...but the number one expert under the Saint stage in the all-heavens! Chapter 1393 Self Recommendation The atmosphere in the hall was somewhat strange and many people looked at Zhou Yuan with gazes full of astonishment. No one thought Zhou Yuan would propose to establish the Cangxuan Alliance and then put himself forward as the leader because, generally speaking, such a matter should be discussed by all parties first. Also, even if everyone agreed, the person for that position should be nominated and should decline three times first. Only then would it show his humility and that he was honorable. But Zhou Yuan skipped all those steps and came directly to the result stage, which caught everyone off guard. Wouldn¡¯t his action look too ugly? Under a strange atmosphere, Zhou Yuan lifted his gaze, and his face didn¡¯t ripple in the slightest. ¡°I have wandered all-heavens over the years. I won¡¯t say I am knowledgeable and experienced, but although this might make me sound arrogant, everyone present is well-aware of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s background and you should know that it is a small pond for me.¡± The hall fell silent and many experts exchanged glances with each other, but they couldn¡¯t refute in the end. Zhou Yuan was no longer a little junior at the Divine Dwelling stage. He had made success while wandering all-heavens, which no one from Cangxuan Heaven had managed to in hundreds of years. Zhou Yuan was also regarded as the strongest below the Saint stage. If he wanted to, top heavens such as Hunyuan Heaven or Qiankun Heaven would pay a huge price to keep him. Cangxuan Heaven was indeed a small pond compared to the other heavens. They understood what Zhou Yuan wanted to say. Zhou Yuan regarded the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s background as inferior, and thus he wouldn¡¯t care about the so-called Cangxuan Alliance. The leader position that they valued a lot had no attractive force to Zhou Yuan. ¡°I spoke bluntly because I don¡¯t want to waste time and energy in all those steps. You all also should understand that there would be a lot of trouble if this position was handed over to one the four sacred sects. You have dragged on this issue for years, and I don''t have time to wait for the result. Also, the Cangxuan Alliance is just established to deal with the Sacred palace and it will disband when the Sacred palace is destroyed.¡± Zhou Yuan ran his eyes over the four sect masters. ¡°I wonder if you think I am qualified for that position.¡± He spoke calmly, but even the four sect masters felt pressured under his gaze. Standing behind sect master Qing Yang, Liu Lianyi, the peak master of the Snow Lotus Peak, curiously studied Zhou Yuan and whispered, ¡°Impressive, this little guy was clever and bright when he was cultivating in Cangxuan Sect, but after not seeing him for ten years, his power has reached such a stage¡­¡± Liu Lianyi''s physical body was destroyed during the battle in Cangxuan Heaven, but fortunately, her Spirit was undamaged and she recovered in the end. The white-browed old man of Spirit Rune Peak smiled. ¡°There¡¯s no first or last in cultivation. Given Zhou Yuan''s current strength, there is indeed no one comparable to him in Cangxuan Heaven. But regardless, he is from the Cangxuan Sect and the Cangxuan Sect can benefit from association with him.¡± ¡°Back when Zhou Yuan was in the Cangxuan Sect, he had quite a huge conflict with the Sword Cometh Peak. Ling Jun, what do you think about him?¡± Gu Tianhong of the Hongya Peak said with a smile. Peak Master Ling Jun¡¯s face twitched as he said unnaturally, ¡°Back then, it was just a competition between disciples. What do you mean by conflict?¡± The other three peak masters glanced at each other, laughing inwardly. ¡°Cough¡­¡± While Liu Lianyi and the others were whispering, sect master Qing Yang coughed out loud and cast his gaze to Zhou Yuan. ¡°The present you, in terms of strength or prestige, is worthy of taking that position. Our Cangxuan Sect does not object.¡± The other three sect masters muttered in their hearts, Zhou Yuan is part of your Cangxuan Sect. Of course you won¡¯t object to him being the alliance leader. But sect master Qing Yang was indeed right. Zhou Yuan was indeed stronger than them and his prestige was far greater than them. In that sense, Zhou Yuan was indeed the most suitable candidate. They were so hesitant because they couldn¡¯t accept the fact that a junior had surpassed them. ¡°We have no objection.¡± The three sect masters eventually nodded. Zhou Yuan''s expression also relaxed when he heard that and he said, ¡°Sect masters, thank you for your cooperation.¡± ¡°The Cangxuan Alliance is established to mobilize all forces in Cangxuan Heaven to fight against the Sacred Palace. I am not familiar with them all, so I will have to trouble the four sect masters to handle this matter.¡± Although he had great prestige, the four great sacred sects obviously had more influential power to the sects and factions in Cangxuan Heaven. The four sect masters nodded. ¡°This is within our duties.¡± Sect master Qing Yang hesitated for a moment, and then he said, ¡°The biggest trouble in dealing with the Sacred Palace is Sheng Yuan¡­¡± The name ¡®Sheng Yuan¡¯ made all the other three sect masters¡¯ faces overcast. Ever since the war back then, the three sect masters had hugely improved their strength but they knew that Sheng Yuan¡¯s strength had grown even more terrifying. Even if Sheng Yuan wasn¡¯t a true Saint, they still felt extremely dangerous waves of power when they neared the Sacred Palace¡¯s area. They speculated that they likely couldn¡¯t threaten Sheng Yuan even if they combined their strengths. Fortunately, palace master Sheng Yuan hadn¡¯t left Sacred Palace in recent years. Otherwise, the situation in Cangxuan Heaven would be very different than it was now. Zhou Yuan said indifferently, ¡°I will handle palace master Sheng Yuan.¡± The four sect masters stared dumbstruck at Zhou Yuan. Although Zhou Yuan had the title of strongest below the Saint stage, Sheng Yuan was a semi-saint! Although he wasn¡¯t a true Saint, anyone with the word Saint wasn¡¯t an ordinary mortal. Could Zhou Yuan contend against a semi-Saint?! Seeing their skeptical gazes, Zhou Yuan said bluntly, ¡°I don''t have huge confidence that I would win, but I would only know then.¡± Even Zhou Yuan didn''t dare to underestimate semi-Saint Sheng Yuan. Zhou Yuan had encountered more Saints than the four sect masters had and so he knew more about the powers of a Saint. The four sect masters fell silent. They couldn''t help but envy Zhou Yuan''s drive because he didn¡¯t act cowardly in the face of a semi-saint. Perhaps it was that bravery that allowed his strength to surpass them in just over ten years. ¡°But I have a requirement if I were to fight Sheng Yuan alone,¡± stated Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and then said each word clearly, ¡°I hope you can gather all the fragments of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp apart those in the Sacred Palace¡¯s hands and give them to me.¡± Those words caused even greater shock than when he recommended himself to be the alliance leader. Even the higher-ups in the other three sects other than Cangxuan Sect broke into a commotion and their faces darkened. After all, the Saint Stamp fragments in each sect¡¯s hand were acquired through difficult battles over the years. Moreover, the title of alliance leader was just a name but the opportunity contained in the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was real. If one day one could pry into the mystery of controlling the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments, wouldn¡¯t one reach the sky in a single bound? How would they be willing to give Zhou Yuan all the fragments? Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across the chaotic hall expressionlessly, but anyone could feel a chilling pressure pervading the hall. The commotion subsided. Zhou Yuan looked at the four sect masters without saying anything but the disappointment in his eyes made everyone somewhat embarrassed. He didn''t say anything, but he flicked his sleeve and sent a ball of light suspended in front of him. Four Saint Runes revolved around the ball of light, and at the core was a mysterious fragment. ¡°These four Saint Runes are removed from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and the fragment is a Saint Stamp fragment.¡± Many eyes suddenly blazed. But that didn¡¯t last long because Zhou Yuan¡¯s next sentence made everyone as silent as cold cicadas like a bucket of ice water was poured over them. ¡°I am willing to hand them over, but whoever takes them has to deal with Sheng Yuan. What do you say?¡± Chapter 1394 Shocked the Four Sects The Saint Rune light sphere was quietly floating in the great hall, surrounded in halos of light. Four ancient and complex Saint Runes slowly revolved around the sphere, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Even the four sect masters were staring intently at it. The Cangxuan Saint Stamp was broken and scattered in all corners of Cangxuan Heaven and thus fragments of it weren¡¯t uncommon; however, no one had ever found any traces of the four Saint Runes. Who would have thought that Zhou Yuan had brought them out of Cangxuan Heaven? Moreover, the Saint Stamp fragment within the sphere surrounded by the four Saint Runes exuded a different and extraordinary wave of energy. Based on the four sect masters¡¯ understanding of the Saint Stamp fragments, that fragment was one of the core fragments. In ordinary times, the appearance of such a fragment would have sparked a battle to death over it. But now, the several higher-ups only exchanged glances with one another and shrank back. They only dared to furtively look at it from the corners of their eyes. Even the four sect masters looked a little awkward. Whoever received the Saint Runes and the fragment would have to fight Sheng Yuan. In truth, if they felt they had a chance in a fight against Sheng Yuan, they would have counterattacked the Sacred Palace long ago. The entire hall fell into an awkward silence. Zhou Yuan raised his hand and the Saint Rune sphere floated above his palm. Flicking his fingers, he said in a gentle voice, ¡°You guys were so reluctant to part with your Saint Stamp fragments, don¡¯t tell me you have no interest in Saint Runes?¡± As he ran his eyes across the crowd, the higher-ups of all sects evaded his gaze, afraid of being pointed out by Zhou Yuan. Even Liu Lianyi and other peak masters from the Cangxuan Sect couldn¡¯t help exclaiming when they saw such a scene. Who would have thought that their little junior could throw so many higher-ups of the great sacred sects into such an embarrassed state with just a few words? In just ten years, the wave behind had risen and now its force could suppress the entire Cangxuan Heaven. The awkward atmosphere lasted for a good while until sect master Qing Yang smiled wryly and broke the silence: ¡°Zhou Yuan, our Cangxuan Sect has no problem with supporting you with all our strength, but it seems the other three sects can¡¯t make a decision yet.¡± Zhou Yuan said indifferently. ¡°Sect master, you all must have experienced the strength of Sheng Yuan. Even I don¡¯t have absolute confidence in winning, so the battle against him would undoubtedly be a battle of life and death. Therefore, I also need to be well-prepared. The battle would concern the survival of Cangxuan Heaven. If we fail, all sects and factions could only choose one of the two options: be destroyed or become slaves of the Sacred Palace.¡± Many people¡¯s faces tensed up. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s words were simple, they all felt how extremely tragic it would be then. If they had any intention of making peace with the Sacred Race, they wouldn¡¯t have bitterly fought the Sacred palace for so many years. Zhou Yuan ran his sharp eyes over everyone and continued, ¡°So, do you really think you have a lot of choices? No, you only have two choices. One is to hand the Saint Stamp fragments over to me and hope that I can defeat Sheng Yuan. The second is wait and follow the footsteps of the Heavenly Ghost Sect!¡± There was utter silence in the great hall, and beads of cold sweat had unknowingly accumulated on everyone¡¯s foreheads. After a long period of silence, the sect master of the Sword Seeker Sect, Heaven Sword Sovereign, sighed out loud. ¡°Although Zhou Yuan''s words sounded harsh, he isn¡¯t all wrong. We really are ignorant of the present state of affairs.¡± He laughed at himself. ¡°Zhou Yuan could be leisurely and carefree in all-heavens but he chose to take on a mission at such a time of crisis and unhesitatingly returned to the chaotic Cangxuan Heaven. We need him to face Sheng Yuan, yet we are all making selfish calculations.¡± The Heavenly Sword Sovereign trembled to his feet and bowed towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Our Sword Seeker Sect will hand over all the Saint Stamp fragments we collected. I hope you could behead Sheng Yuan and make peace return to our Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Seeing that the Heavenly Sword Sovereign had made a decision, the higher-ups of the Sword Seeker Sect glanced at one another and finally stood up and bowed towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Our Cangxuan Sect also thinks the same.¡± Sect master Qing Yang also got up and bowed towards Zhou Yuan. Behind him, Liu Lianyi, Ling Jun, the white-browed old man and Gu Tianhong stood up with complex expressions. Two of the four great sacred sects had made a choice. But venerable lord Gu Jing of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall remained quiet for a while and finally said in a low voice, ¡°Our North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall believes that only power should be respected. I¡¯m not greedy for those Saint Stamp fragments, but I hope Zhou Yuan can convince me and everyone else to believe in you.¡± He looked at Zhou Yuan with eyes blazing with fiery fighting intent, and streaky markings emerged on his body. His body was so powerful that it directly caused the void to violently vibrate. He unexpectedly wanted to challenge Zhou Yuan. However, just as mighty powers circulated around his body and his fighting spirit soared, he noticed the surroundings changing. He focused his gaze and saw a giant purple-gold nine-claw dragon that stretched endlessly into the distance. The dragon hovered around with its head hung low but its eyes, filled with majesty, were cast in his direction. A terrifying pressure enveloped him and he found his tough physical body, which he was incredibly proud of, was cracking and blood seeped out from his skin Boom! The purple-gold dragon swung its claw down. Powerful, mighty and boundless, the dragon claw resembled nine rays of light. Venerable lord Gu Jing¡¯s face twisted with terror. Then, his body suddenly expanded, becoming an ancient giant. He attempted to withstand the dragon claw slamming down. It was only during the collision that he understood how naive his thinking was. The power was so majestic that he felt as insignificant as a tiny ant under a sky of stars. Boom! The dragon claw covered him and his body instantly broke apart. At the same time, everything darkened into nothingness before him. ¡°Sect master!¡± Cries of panic rang in his ears, causing him to snap open his eyes to see that he was limply sitting and dripping with blood. All the elders of the North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall were supporting him with panicked expressions. Venerable lord Gu Jing waved his hand, staring at Zhou Yuan with astonishment. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you really deserve to be called the strongest below the Saint stage.¡± The other three sect masters¡¯ eyes went wide with shock. They knew that Zhou Yuan had activated his Law Domain and enveloped venerable lord Gu Jing. Venerable lord Gu Jing was drawn into Zhou Yuan''s Law Domain and the winner between them was determined in minutes. He suffered a crushing defeat. Venerable lord Gu Jing sprang up, ignoring the bloodstains all over his body, and he enthusiastically said to Zhou Yuan with a cupped fist salute, ¡°Alliance leader Zhou Yuan, if there is anything, our North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall will do everything we can to help.¡± The North Sea Dragon Subduing Hall only believed in power, and it was clear that the sect master was truly convinced of Zhou Yuan¡¯s power. The other three sect masters in the great hall inhaled deeply. Their strength was around the same level as venerable lord Gu Jing, which means they would suffer the same outcome if they were to face Zhou Yuan. As the higher-ups of the various sects frantically swallowed saliva in their mouths, awe began to fill their eyes as they looked at Zhou Yuan. After all, regardless how well-known Zhou Yuan was, they had never witnessed his true strength. Venerable lord Gu Jing was already a top expert in Cangxuan Heaven in many people¡¯s eyes, but even so, he was utterly crushed when he faced Zhou Yuan. What terrifying strength?! Seeing the numerous gazes of awe and reverence, Zhou Yuan gave a cupped fist salute to venerable lord Gu Jing and shifted his gaze to the beautiful palace master of the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace. Meeting Zhou Yuan''s gaze, the beautiful palace master gave him a charming smile and said softly, ¡°Our Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace has no objection¡­but I have a suggestion¡­¡± ¡°Please go ahead.¡± Shan Qingzi said with a smile, ¡°I wonder if Zhou Yuan is married. I heard that you have known Qingyu for years. How about forming marriage ties with our Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace?¡± Zhou Yuan, who had awed everyone and earned respect from all sects, could no longer keep a calm expression. He stared at the beautiful palace master in stunned silence. Seeing Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t answer her, the beautiful palace master said, ¡°If not Qingyu, then our little girl Luluo is also pretty and cute. You would be a good match with her.¡± Zhou Yuan flopped down. He, whose power just drew forth awe and reverence from the four sacred sects, had to retreat completely. Chapter 1395 Zhou Yuan’s Preparation The collection of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments was smoothly completed. This wasn¡¯t too surprising. After all, the four sect masters knew that, after analyzing and trying to fathom the Saint Stamp fragments over the last years, they had little effect on the people of their level apart from the occasional benefits. Even though the Saint Stamp fragments were attractive, it was completely unrealistic to think that they could control Cangxuan Heaven with those fragments. But Zhou Yuan would fight Sheng Yuan in a battle of life and death, which would also determine the entire Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s future. At such a time, if they could increase Zhou Yuan¡¯s chance of winning, that would give Cangxuan Heaven a higher chance in the future. They only hesitated to do so in the beginning because of their reluctance to part with the fragments, but after they cleared their mind and were thinking properly, it wasn¡¯t difficult to make such a decision in the end. As for the marriage that palace master Shan Qingzi mentioned, it was of course more of a joke. She thought that Zhou Yuan was too powerful and imposing and wanted to tease him. After seeing Zhou Yuan''s retreat in defeat, she stopped with a wide smile. ¡°Alliance leader Zhou Yuan, although the four great sacred sects hold the majority of the Saint Stamp fragments except for those in the Sacred Palace¡¯s hand, some are still with other sects and factions. It likely would require a lot of persuasion to make them hand them over,¡± said Heaven Sword Sovereign. The other three sect masters nodded silently. Not everyone could remain calm and rational under the Saint Stamp fragments¡¯ temptation. But if they were to forcibly snatch the fragments, it would undoubtedly cause a lot of dissatisfaction and it would give the Sacred Palace an opportunity to exploit. Of course, Zhou Yuan already knew about that. After all, when he returned to Cangxuan Heaven, he witnessed city lord Xiao Tianluo from Saint Remains City caught in a calamity due to a fragment. This showed how much temptation a Saint Stamp fragment had to ordinary people. Therefore, they couldn¡¯t snatch them forcibly. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan came prepared. With a wave of his sleeves, jade bottles, emitting indescribable charm, emerged on the long table in front of him. The higher-ups of the various sects in the hall immediately cast their eyes towards the bottles and even the four sect masters¡¯ hands were uncontrollably trembling. ¡°This...if I''m not mistaken, those are Ancestral Dragon Pills, right?¡± asked sect master Qing Yang slowly, his eyes blazing. The Ancestral Dragon Pill name had spread throughout all-heavens in just a few years. Sect master Qing Yang and the other sect masters had also obtained one before, but when they wanted another one, they couldn¡¯t acquire one no matter what price they offered. However, Zhou Yuan casually displayed almost one hundred Ancestral Dragon Pills! Even the four sect masters couldn¡¯t steady themselves seeing such a huge amount of Ancestral Dragon Pills. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°Can the four sect masters let out news that anyone willing to hand in fragments can exchange one Ancestral Dragon Pill with ten fragments.¡± A large number of Ancestral Dragon Pills was produced as a result of the harvest in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain and the refining in the past half a year. Zhou Yuan brought a lot of them back to Cangxuan Heaven. Of course, the majority was obtained from prime sovereign Jin Luo, because, according to him, they were necessary funds for the trip. Hua! Uproar broke out in the great hall and everyone¡¯s eyes were blazing so brightly that the jade bottles were almost melted. Saint Stamp fragments were rare, but for many people, there was only a very small chance of obtaining any opportunities from them. However, Ancestral Dragon Pills were known to everyone as opportunities from heaven! If they could absorb and refine them to increase their strengths, it would be an incredible benefit! Cangxuan Heaven was relatively closed-off and its status was considered at the bottom of all-heavens. Therefore, only a very small amount of Ancestral Dragon Pills flowed into Cangxuan Heaven. Although some sect masters had the opportunity to obtain one, the majority had only ever heard about them. Many people¡¯s breathing became heavy when they saw so many suddenly appeared in front of them. If they hadn¡¯t controlled their impulse, they would have snatched them already. ¡°Sect masters, do you think I could collect the fragments with this method?¡± asked Zhou Yuan with a smile. The four sect master exchanged glances and nodded firmly. ¡°If Ancestral Dragon Pills are used as an item of exchange, I don¡¯t think anyone would be able to refuse.¡± They simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief because they previously were worried that Zhou Yuan would irrationally snatch fragments from other sects and factions. If that happened, Cangxuan Heaven would become even more chaotic. Fortunately, Zhou Yuan came well-prepared. ¡°Ke¡­¡± Venerable lord Gu Jing suddenly coughed out loud and mumbled embarrassedly, ¡°Alliance leader Zhou Yuan¡­the fragments we handed over, can we also exchange them for Ancestral Dragon Pills?¡± The other three sect masters didn¡¯t say anything, but they stared at Zhou Yuan from the corner of their eyes. Smiling inwardly, Zhou Yuan pretended to hesitate, and he finally nodded under the nervous gazes of the four sect masters. Hu! Sighs of reliefs rang in the great hall, and the four sect masters also smiled from ear to ear. The four sacred sects had many fragments and should be able to exchange for quite a few Ancestral Dragon Pills. One was enough to dramatically improve their strengths that had stagnated at the same level for years. ¡°Alliance leader Zhou Yuan''s kindness to Cangxuan Heaven will be remembered by all the sects and factions in Cangxuan Heaven." Heaven Sword Sovereign exclaimed, his voice full of respect and admiration. What Zhou Yuan did was more like a gift to Cangxuan Heaven. After all, Ancestral Dragon Pills were very precious, who would give them away so casually? The exchange of Saint Stamp fragments was more just an excuse. The higher-ups finally snapped out of their shock, and after organizing their complex emotions, they couldn¡¯t help looking at Zhou Yuan with gazes of gratitude and respect. Zhou Yuan waved his hand, got up and said, ¡°I will have to trouble the four sect masters to establish the Cangxuan Alliance and collect the fragments. You all are more suitable than me to do that.¡± ¡°Alliance leader, don''t worry, we will do those tasks properly.¡± The four sect masters responded without hesitation. Zhou Yuan bowed, gave a cupped fist salute at everyone and strode out the hall. As he left the main hall, he pondered for a moment and turned in the Saint Genesis Peak¡¯s direction. The Saint Genesis Peak was no longer as deserted as it used to be. This was perhaps because after Zhou Yuan¡¯s fame spread to Cangxuan Heaven, the Saint Genesis Peak was no longer unknown in Cangxuan Heaven and many new disciples in the Cangxuan Sect also began to show interest in the Saint Genesis Peak. As Zhou Yuan strolled through the mountains, he occasionally saw some young figures sitting cross-legged in the clouds and inhaling Genesis Qi, some practicing in the forests and some diving down the waterfall on the mountaintop. It was a scene full of youthful spirit. People constantly weaved through the mountain forests but no one seemed to see Zhou Yuan''s figure. He slowly walked past, crossed mountain passages, and arrived in front of many cave dwellings. In the end, he stopped in front of a secluded cave dwelling. The cave dwelling was clean and tidy, and clearly had been taken care of all year round. Zhou Yuan dazedly stood there, gazing at the writings on the walls of the cave dwelling. Zhou Yuan and Zhou Xiaoyao lived here when they first arrived in the Cangxuan Sect. Chapter 1396 Sees Old Xuan Again Zhou Yuan dazedly stood outside the cave dwelling, which hadn¡¯t changed the slightest since he left. Even the door to the cave dwelling remained exactly the same. ¡°The layout of this Purple Genesis Cave Dwelling has been kept the same as when you left. No disciples have ever lived in it. It has been left in a perfect state for you.¡± A laughter rang out from the side. Zhou Yuan turned his head to see Shen Taiyuan. ¡°I must thank you peak master.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded gratefully at Shen Taiyuan. After all, this cave dwelling wasn¡¯t just a former residence of his. It held many memories of him and Yaoyao. The relationship between Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao also rapidly grew in that cave dwelling. ¡°Yaoyao didn¡¯t come back with you this time?¡± asked Shen Taiyuan. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°Her situation is a little special and so she can¡¯t come to Cangxuan Heaven for now.¡± Shen Taiyuan nodded. ¡°Sect master has arranged the best accommodation for you, but I thought you might like this place better.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Then, inhaling a deep breath, he strode into the cave dwelling. The cave dwelling was as quiet as when they lived there. A brook ran through the cave dwelling that was adorned with stone pavilions and bridges. Additionally, deeper into the cave dwelling was a beautiful flower garden. Zhou Yuan surveyed the flower garden, in which over one hundred flowers had bloomed, and many of which were spiritual plants. They were all planted by Yaoyao. A warm smile curled the corners of Zhou Yuan''s lips. It was as though he was reminiscing the heart-warming scenes back then. He slowly strode forward and came to a peach tree with thick lush leaves and its pink petals covered the surrounding ground. Zhou Yuan stood in front of the peach tree, gazing at the peach blossoms, and the image of a beautiful and graceful figure that made him very worried was shown in his eyes. Yaoyao''s cold but stunning face appeared before him, her every movement and smile made his heart flutter. Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand to catch a peach blossom petal fluttering in the air and said softly, ¡°Yaoyao, when I settle Cangxuan Heaven, I will definitely bring you back here and we will live here forever.¡± Zhou Yuan stood under the peach tree for a long while before he left the cave dwelling. He pondered in front of the cave dwelling, and then picked up a jar of fine wine and headed straight to the rear of the Saint Genesis Peak. Although the Saint Genesis Peak was no longer deserted like it was in the past, the rear of the mountain was still considered a forbidden area and ordinary disciples weren¡¯t allowed to enter. This was why it was particularly quiet. Zhou Yuan strolled through the ancient forest until a slightly damaged building came into sight. The square in front of it was covered with withered leaves. Zhou Yuan tread on the fallen leaves across the square and saw a crooked old figure on the steps. He was holding a broomstick but seemed to be dozing off. There were even withered leaves on his body. Zhou Yuan sat down on the stone steps beside the old man and removed the fallen leaves on his body. His movement surprised the old man. The old man abruptly opened his eyes and stared blankly at the man who appeared without him noticing. ¡°Old Xuan, I haven''t seen you in many years. How have you been?¡± Zhou Yuan beamed a smile. Back when he was at the Cangxuan Sect, if there was anyone he should be grateful towards for teaching him it would be the old man. He would be ranked even higher than Shen Taiyuan and sect master Qing Yang. Old Xuan stared blankly at Zhou Yuan for a good while before he said tremblingly, ¡°Zhou¡­Zhou Yuan? ¡°You came back?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°It''s been more than ten years, shouldn¡¯t I come back? From the expression on your face, it seems that you haven''t heard much about me.¡± Holding a broomstick, Old Xuan said in a hoarse voice, ¡°After that battle, I came back here and never went out again. I told Qing Yang and the others that if they wanted to destroy the Sacred Palace, they should come find me here. If not, don''t come.¡± He shook his head, ¡°So no one had disturbed me in more than ten years.¡± From his tone and words, he was evidently disappointed. He clearly didn¡¯t want such peace and he wanted sect master Qing Yang to bring him the news he wanted to hear. ¡°The Sacred Palace is very strong, and sect master Qing Yang doesn''t dare to make reckless moves. After all, the entire Cangxuan Sect is on his shoulder.¡± Zhou Yuan took out a wine bowl, filled it to the brim, and gave it to Old Xuan with both hands. Old Xuan slowly received it, saying, ¡°I know, I don''t blame him, but I just can¡¯t control my anger. I want to avenge my master.¡± Zhou Yuan knew that Old Xuan greatly respected old ancestor Cang Xuan, and he likely only kept on living to avenge old ancestor Cang Xuan. However, he also understood that he couldn¡¯t threaten palace master Sheng Yuan with him alone. This was why he sat there in boredom. Zhou Yuan stretched out his wine bowl and tapped Old Xuan¡¯s bowl. ¡°I know what you are thinking, so I came.¡± Old Xuan took a sip of the wine. As wine dripped down his scruffy beard, he stared puzzledly at Zhou Yuan. ¡°What use is there for you to come back? Sheng Yuan hates you to the bone. You even dared to come back. You really do not know the immensity of heaven and earth.¡± Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t look happy when he heard that. He set down the bowl, stood up and said to Old Xuan, ¡°I will introduce myself to you. I am Zhou Yuan, Hunyuan Heaven¡¯s Tianyuan Region¡¯s grand elder, an official disciple of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan, someone who prime sovereign Jin Luo acknowledges, Zhou Xiaoyao¡¯s husband and the strongest below the Saint Stage!¡± Old Xuan stared bewildered at Zhou Yuan, who just said a number of lengthy titles. But he heard the last title very clearly. ¡°Strongest below the Saint Stage? You?¡± Old Xuan furrowed his brows, and his wrinkled face grew solemn because he could feel terrifying pressure slowly exuding from the man before him. That pressure even dimmed that side of the world. Faintly, he saw a purple-gold sacred dragon hovering behind Zhou Yuan and its might even made heaven and earth quake. Old Xuan¡¯s hands trembled and wine splashed out from the wine bowl in his hand. While he was in shock, Zhou Yuan withdrew his power and sat back down. ¡°If I didn¡¯t have the confidence, do you really think I would have come to throw away my life?¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. Old Xuan turned his head with difficulty and eventually studied Zhou Yuan¡¯s face, as if confirming whether the person in front of him was the little boy back then. After scanning him up and down for a good while, he saw that the face in front of him wasn¡¯t as immature-looking and was replaced by a deep look that even he couldn¡¯t see through. ¡°I met the sect masters of the four sacred sects before I came here. We agreed to establish the Cangxuan Alliance and I take on the role of alliance leader. Our next step is to combine the forces of the entire Cangxuan Heaven, destroy the Sacred Palace, and kill Sheng Yuan.¡± Old Xuan¡¯s hand shook every time he spoke. In the end, he couldn¡¯t hold the wine bowl firmly and said in a trembling voice. ¡°Are you serious?!¡± But his eyes were filled with anticipation. ¡°I¡¯m serious. I won¡¯t lie to you.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded firmly. Old Xuan trembled. ¡°You¡­do you really have the confidence to win against Sheng Yuan?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of him as long as he hasn¡¯t reached the Saint stage. No one knows who will win in the end,¡± said Zhou Yuan. Old Xuan stared at Zhou Yuan for a good while. Then, tears coursed down his wrinkled face as he mumbled, ¡°Master really has good eyes. He would be really proud of all your achievements if he knew.¡± Zhou Yuan raised the wine bowl. ¡°So I came to see if you still have the strength to come with me to turn the Sacred Palace upside down.¡± Old Xuan gripped the wine bowl tightly and clinked their bowls together. The dispirited air around him had faded and even his voice became fierce. ¡°Kill Sheng Yuan!¡± Chapter 1397 Hundred Aroma House After Zhou Yuan spent half a day with Old Xuan at the rear of the mountain and emptied the jar of wine, he arranged a time to meet with Old Xuan tomorrow and left. As Zhou Yuan walked away, he suddenly halted his steps because he saw a beautiful figure in a white dress floating on the nearby rocks like a fairy. Her fine black hair fluttered gracefully and she radiated an ethereal aura. He stared at the familiar figure, smiled and, with one step, appeared beside the figure. ¡°Senior sister Qingchan, I haven''t seen you in years, your elegance is still the same as before.¡± Zhou Yuan laughed heartily. ¡°How could I be compared to you? You are the leader of the Cangxuan Alliance. No one is more powerful than you in the entire Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Li Qingchan turned around, her face outstandingly beautiful and a hint of a smile curved her lips. ¡°News spread so fast¡­¡± Zhou Yuan looked a little helpless. ¡°If it weren¡¯t because the four great sacred sects wouldn¡¯t accept anyone as leader and dragged on this matter for years, I wouldn¡¯t have brought such trouble onto myself.¡± The identity of Cangxuan Alliance leader had no attractive force to him. After all, given his cultivation level, as long as he reached the Saint stage, he would be an authority regardless where he goes. So-called power and influence couldn¡¯t be compared to one¡¯s own strength. Li Qingchan was well-aware of Zhou Yuan¡¯s personality and his potential. She raised her beautiful face and gazed at the starry sky, saying in a quiet voice, ¡°Unknowingly, junior brother Zhou Yuan has already reached such a stage. You are now the pride of our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Over ten years have passed but senior sister Qingchan is still as beautiful as when we met. I still remember when I first saw you¡­¡± His words ended abruptly because he saw Li Qingchan irritatedly looked away and her stunning and fair face flushed with embarrassment. Zhou Yuan looked confused for a moment, but memories rapidly flashed across his mind and he understood what the problem was. The first time he met Li Qingchan was during the Genesis reservoir ceremony¡­ Li Qingchan¡¯s beautiful body was covered in a sheer fabric and she was soaking in a hot spring, but his head suddenly popped out from the steaming water and dazedly met Li Qingchan¡¯s gaze. The memory scene stopped there. Zhou Yuan''s expression turned a little strange and the atmosphere became awkward and quiet. Zhou Yuan simply wanted to slap himself in the face. It was because of that incident that Li Qingchan hunted him down to kill him and it was Yaoyao who saved him in the end. That awkward atmosphere lasted for a good while until Li Qingchan inhaled deeply and suppressed her flushing. ¡°I came to inform you that Chu Qing and the others heard you came back so they want to invite you to dinner at the Hundred Aroma House. If alliance leader Zhou Yuan accepts our invitation, we will be waiting for you at the Hundred Aroma House.¡± As her voice faded, she had already turned into a steam of light and streaked across the night sky. It was just that her graceful and fairy-like figure seemed to be frantically running away. Zhou Yuan scratched his head awkwardly and then turned his head towards the Cangxuan Sect, as though reminiscing the past. ¡°Hundred Aroma House¡­¡± Back then, the Hundred Aroma House was the most luxurious place to new disciples like Zhou Yuan. Even Zhou Yuan, who was a prince from the Great Zhou Empire, drooled at the delicious fine food there. It was extremely enjoyable to eat there with friends after returning from a mission or after practice. Zhou Yuan smiled. Once the Cangxuan Alliance was officially established, the entire Cangxuan Heaven would be involved and it would be impossible to have such leisurely and enjoyable time anymore. Therefore, since he still had some free time now, he should catch up with some old friends. ... Hundred Aroma House. That night the Hundred Aroma House was closed but the inside was brightly lit. It didn¡¯t allow any customers in and many Cangxuan Sect disciples could only watch curiously. ¡°Someone booked out the entire Hundred Aroma House? Who could it be?!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the sect issue a new rule that no one can privately reserve the entire Hundred Aroma House? Who dares to break the rules?¡± ¡°You receive news so slow. It was elders Chu Qing and Li Qingchan who booked out the entire Hundred Aroma House. Also, do you know who they invited to dinner? It¡¯s our senior brother Zhou Yuan, whose name is known throughout all-heavens!¡± ¡°Senior brother Zhou Yuan?! Our legendary senior brother?!¡± ¡°I heard that senior brother Zhou Yuan returned today and combined the four great sacred sects to form the Cangxuan Alliance to fight against the Sacred Palace. Also, senior brother Zhou Yuan is the leader of the Cangxuan Alliance!¡± ¡°Impressive¡­senior brother Zhou Yuan is indeed the most outstanding disciple in the history of the Cangxuan Sect.¡± ¡°......¡± A feast was organized on the top floor. A smooth bald head was always the most eye-catching feature, but even so, it didn¡¯t affect senior brother Chu Qing¡¯s handsomeness. ¡°Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, thank you for hiding my brilliance. Otherwise the title of most outstanding disciple in the history of the Cangxuan Sect would fall on me. I would be in so much pain that I don¡¯t want to live if that happened,¡± Chu Qing gratefully said to Zhou Yuan. Li Qingchan, Ye Ge and the others could only roll their eyes, thinking that he was so thick-skinned. However, they also understood that those were indeed Chu Qing¡¯s heartfelt words. He was so lazy that he would rather disguise himself as the most ordinary disciple because that means no one would give him all sorts of tasks and missions. ¡°Senior brother Chu Qing, you don''t need to thank me. My brilliance can¡¯t be concealed so easily. I have already tried my best to keep a low-profile but my strength won¡¯t allow me to do so.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed as he raised his wine glass and clinked Chu Qing¡¯s. Chu Qing nodded. ¡°I understand, I understand.¡± Li Qingchan couldn''t stand them any longer and interrupted, ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t affect our appetite.¡± However, a nostalgic smile lit up everyone¡¯s faces as they looked at each other. This was the first time that Zhou Yuan returned to the Cangxuan Sect after all the changes. The people present, such as Kong Sheng, have had several conflicts with Zhou Yuan in the past, but when they think back to those times, they had to say they were too young and reckless. While Zhou Yuan was reminiscing about the past with everyone, he suddenly felt something and turned his head to see a chubby figure on the stairs. He occasionally cast furtive glances over and his eyes were filled with curiosity and respect. The figure panicked when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze and hurriedly shrank back and was about to leave. But just as he moved, he found he was standing in front of the table with beads of cold sweat dripping down his forehead. The banquet fell silent. Zhou Yuan stared at the somewhat chubby figure in front of him. The chubby man¡¯s face was ugly and scars covered his body like centipedes. He was wearing a chef robe, and he couldn¡¯t help rubbing his hands nervously while sweat ran down his face like rain. Additionally, he didn¡¯t exude the slightest wave of Genesis Qi, and it wasn¡¯t that he concealed it but he had none. Zhou Yuan calmly stared at the chubby man¡¯s ugly face. The man¡¯s head was hung low and he avoided his gaze, but his eyes were filled with complex emotions and it was unknown whether they were anticipation or fear. Zhou Yuan finally shifted his gaze away. The chubby man heaved a sigh of relief and hurriedly wanted to escape. But Zhou Yuan''s voice made him freeze. ¡°Shen Wanjin¡­¡± ¡°How did you become like this?¡± Looking at the man¡¯s almost unrecognizable face, Zhou Yuan remembered a little chubby man who followed him everywhere and always addressed him as little Yuan bro and Yaoyao as little Yao sis. Chapter 1398 Shen Wanjin The fatty covered with terrifying scars that made him look unusually ugly was Shen Wanjin who joined the Cangxuan Sect at the same time as Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan clearly remembered how the little fatty proudly regarded himself as his little brother and took care of many affairs for him. Who would have thought that the little fatty, who was considered a little adorable back then, would become like this after ten years? Most importantly, his Genesis Qi foundation seemed to have been destroyed. Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and others quieten down. Shen Wanjin summoned his courage to lift up his head and glanced at Zhou Yuan, looking a little embarrassed. ¡°I just wanted to take a peek. I have no intention of disturbing everyone.¡± Zhou Yuan looked at Shen Wanjin with a puzzled frown. ¡°Why do you need to sneak a peak?¡± Shen Wanjin didn''t answer out loud. Little Yuan bro is no longer the same as before. He is an influential being who even the sect masters of the sacred sects won¡¯t dare to treat with disrespect, but I am just a trash. How would I dare contact you? Besides, who knows whether you would remember the little fatty who always followed you around more than ten years ago? Zhou Yuan stared at Shen Wanjin, as if able to read his thoughts, and asked, ¡°In your Shen Wanjin¡¯s heart, am I, Zhou Yuan, that kind of person?¡± Shen Wanjin remained silent but there was a look of bitterness on his face. ¡°What happened?¡± Zhou Yuan turned to ask Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others. Li Qingchan sighed. ¡°It¡¯s because of the situation in Cangxuan Heaven. A few years ago, junior brother Shen Wanjin and other team members received a mission, but they encountered Xu Chan, the master of the Sacred Palace¡¯s Poison Sacred Hall. That person is ruthless and likes to torture his opponents. The entire team died tragically and only junior brother Shen Wanjin waslucky enough to survive. However, he was tortured to the point that he didn''t resemble a human anymore. Most importantly, his Divine Dwellings were corroded by poison and his foundation was destroyed as a result. ¡°Sect master saved his life, but he couldn¡¯t restore his meridians and Divine Dwellings. He speculated that only Saints could help him reconstruct them. ¡°We told junior brother Shen Wanjin to return to his hometown, but he didn''t want to, and in the end he became a chef in the Hundred Aroma House¡­¡± The atmosphere at the banquet grew heavy. Over the years, there had been endless chaos and endless battles in Cangxuan Heaven because of the Saint Stamp fragments. They could be said to have grown steadily from those dangerous battles, but it was unknown how many times they had witnessed their junior and se?or brothers and sisters leave the sect with a smile but returned with their icy-cold corpses. All kinds of joys and sorrows had been displayed many times over the years. ¡°I wonder when the battles are going to end¡­¡± Chu Qing sighed, looking fatigued. Zhou Yuan gripped the wine glass in his hand, his fierce eyes reflected in the wine. He gulped down the wine and said, ¡°It won''t be too long. Once the Sacred Palace is eliminated, peace will return to Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Everyone¡¯s heart trembled with shock because Zhou Yuan''s words revealed a lot of information. ¡°Is there going to be a battle? But palace master Sheng Yuan is a semi-saint. Who will fight him? The four sect masters likely aren¡¯t strong enough,¡± asked Li Qingchan, frowning. As her voice rang out, everyone, as though they thought of something, simultaneously cast an astonished gaze at Zhou Yuan. ¡°I will handle Sheng Yuan.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. Everyone was at a loss for words. They didn''t know what to say. Zhou Yuan had the power to counter a semi-saint? Zhou Yuan shifted his gaze to Shen Wanjin, stretched out his hand and grabbed his wrist. He operated his Spirit and checked the situation in his body. He saw that Shen Wanjin''s meridians and Divine Dwellings were indeed completely corroded. The poison was more overbearing than he imagined. All these years, Shen Wanjin was left without any Genesis Qi and worked as a chef in the Hundred Aroma House. It was easy to imagine how painful he must have felt in those years. After all, having one¡¯s power taken away was one of the greatest tortures. It was similar to royalties and nobles of an empire degraded to commoner status. Although they protected their lives, their identity, power and status were taken away, and they would feel extremely painful for the rest of their lives. In Zhou Yuan''s memory, Shen Wanjin always had a smile on his face, but now, he was almost buried in depression and despair. After losing his Genesis Qi, he closed his heart, isolated himself and gradually lost contact with his friends. The difference between him now and then was too great. Zhou Yuan suddenly remembered the time when his eight meridians were blocked. In a certain way, Shen Wanjin¡¯s situation was similar to his. Zhou Yuan once possessed the Sacred Dragon Blessing, but that was taken away and he couldn¡¯t unblock his eight meridians and couldn¡¯t step on the cultivation path. Shen Wanjin originally possessed Genesis Qi, but because of an unexpected change, he had become a useless person. Zhou Yuan slowly released his grip on Shen Wanjin''s wrist and swept a glance over the people present, including Shen Wanjin, who were all staring hopefully at him. ¡°Sect master is right. Only Saints can reconstruct the Divine Dwellings in your body.¡± Everyone''s eyes dimmed. Shen Wanjin forced a smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I''m used to it anyway.¡± The strongest person in the entire Cangxuan Heaven was Sheng Yuan, but even he was only a semi-saint. A Saint was simply too distant to them¡­almost like a divine being. ¡°There is nothing we could do for now.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°But if you wait till I advance to the Saint stage, I will personally reconstruct your Divine Dwellings. If you can''t wait that long, after I get rid of the Sheng Yuan, I will ask Yaoyao to help. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem for her.¡± Shen Wanjin raised his head abruptly, gazing dazedly at Zhou Yuan. His words revealed a lot of information, but what made him most emotional was that Zhou Yuan was willing to help him. After a long while, he said in a trembling voice, ¡°Little Yuan bro¡­you will help me?¡± Zhou Yuan stood up, brushed away the dandruff on Shen Wanjin''s head, and sighed. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s such a huge matter to you and even made you want to die. Don¡¯t worry, since you call me little yuan bro, I won¡¯t leave you alone.¡± Shen Wanjin teared up. He didn''t expect hope to come so soon. His little Yuan bro had now become the most influential being in Cangxuan Heaven but he was still willing to help the nobody who always followed behind him back then. ¡°Little Yuan bro, I''ll go make some special dishes for you.¡± Shen Wanjin mumbled emotionally, wiping away his tears. Then, he hurriedly turned around and ran off. Zhou Yuan didn''t stop him. He knew how important his seemingly simple help was to Shen Wanjin. It even pulled him out of the abyss of despair. It was the same as when master Cang Yuan showed him hope when he couldn¡¯t unblock his eight meridians. He turned to look at Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others, his expression growing solemn. This was because Shen Wanjin¡¯s situation made him understand what chaos Cangxuan Heaven had been suffering these years. Li Qingchan said softly, "Zhou Yuan, will you end the chaos in Cangxuan Heaven?¡± ¡°Otherwise what did I come back for?¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. He raised his glass and said to everyone. ¡°Make good use of our final resting time because a great battle will come soon and no one can escape then. We have to win this war. Otherwise, the entire Cangxuan Heaven will be destroyed and there will no longer be any hope.¡± The Sacred Palace''s action was no doubt driven by the Sacred Race, and even though Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t know what they had planned, he was sure it wouldn¡¯t be any good news for Cangxuan Heaven. Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng, and Ye Ge were a little surprised, but they soon after raised their glass to one another. Their eyes blazed with determination. ¡°For Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Chapter 1399 Alliance Order The four sect masters were extremely concerned about the establishment of the Cangxuan Alliance, and thus the news about its establishment spread to every sect and faction in Cangxuan Heaven at an incredible speed. It unsurprisingly caused earthshaking shock. All forces were shaken because the Heavenly Ghost Sect, one of the six great sacred sects in Cangxuan Heaven, was already destroyed and the other four sacred sects were struggling to contend against the Sacred Palace. But even though they were faced with such a difficult situation, the four sacred sects hadn¡¯t truly taken a step to unite. Many intelligent people knew what the real reason was. It was because all four sacred sects had an equally deep foundation and it was difficult to find an alliance leader who everyone would acknowledge when they formed an alliance. But since an alliance was established, did that mean the four sacred sects had finally compromised with each other? Then who became the alliance leader in the end?! The very curious sects and factions very quickly received their answer. The leader of the Cangxuan Alliance was Zhou Yuan. The various sects and factions were all at a loss for words when they learnt about this. No one ever thought Zhou Yuan would become the alliance leader. The various sects and factions in Cangxuan Heaven weren¡¯t unfamiliar with Zhou Yuan because he was the one who shattered the Cangxuan Saint Stamp into countless fragments and led chaos to Cangxuan Heaven for years. Of course, they didn¡¯t blame Zhou Yuan because they understood that if Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t made that decisive decision then, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp might have fallen into Sheng Yuan¡¯s hands. If Sheng Yuan became the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, it would no doubt be the darkest time for all sects and factions in Cangxuan Heaven. In the past few years, news about Zhou Yuan was occasionally passed back to Cangxuan Heaven, and many people in Cangxuan Heaven felt incredibly proud of his achievements, particularly in the Battle of Guyuan Heaven. After all, Cangxuan Heaven was ranked at the bottom of all-heavens and it had been years since a heaven pride from Cangxuan Heaven had received honour or praise from all-heavens. Although some people might not know what Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation level was, since he had received recognition from the four sect masters, his strength was surely not a problem. This was why there weren¡¯t many people questioning his qualification. The establishment of the Cangxuan Alliance was no doubt a good thing for all sects and factions in Cangxuan Heaven because the Sacred Palace was incredibly powerful and they would stand no chance against it alone. A strong alliance would no doubt give them shelter. Many people had proposed to establish an alliance in the past, but in the end it couldn¡¯t pass the four sacred sects and nothing definite was settled. Zhou Yuan''s return was an opportunity to facilitate the establishment of the Cangxuan Alliance. As a result, the Cangxuan Alliance was smoothly established and it was a grand occasion for Cangxuan Heaven to celebrate. But the celebration didn¡¯t last long because the newly established Cangxuan Alliance issued a notice to ask everyone to hand in the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments that they had. Like a bee¡¯s nest being stabbed, many sects and factions strongly refused. They had sacrificed a lot to win the Saint Stamp fragments that they had but the Cangxuan Alliance wanted to collect those fragments as soon as it was established. Who would allow that to happen? As Zhou Yuan had said, not everyone could remain calm and rational, and many were more concerned about their own profits. But even some calm people felt that the Cangxuan Alliance acted too hastily. The Cangxuan Alliance had just been established and it still hadn¡¯t demonstrated its power. Therefore, it was understandable that many people would protest. Additionally, that move could even affect the might and influence of the Cangxuan Alliance in the future. It was a very bad move. It didn¡¯t seem like a move that the four experienced and calculative sect masters would make, but the new alliance leader Zhou Yuan. After all he was still young and would be more reckless in his actions. As a result, it aroused discussion regarding whether Zhou Yuan could take on the role of alliance leader. However, that was only a minority. Many more people were still waiting and watching. It was under that atmosphere that the Cangxuan Alliance officially issued an alliance order. Simply speaking, the alliance order stated that it hoped everyone could hand in their Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments and anyone who does so can exchange them for Ancestral Dragon Pills at an exchange rate of ten to one. When the alliance order was issued, disputes immediately broke out when people read the first half of the order. But when they continued on to the second half, they swallowed their anger and stared dumbfounded at the alliance order. They even read it over and over again to confirm whether there was a mistake. ¡°Is this alliance order correct?!¡± ¡°Ancestral Dragon Pills? The legendary Ancestral Dragon Pills?!¡± ¡°Those pills are extremely rare even to Nascent Source and Law Domain experts. Can we actually exchange them here?!¡± ¡°Is this right? Are they trying to trick us to hand in fragments?!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that alliance leader Zhou Yuan is an assistant in refining Ancestral Dragon Pills. If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s possible that he could bring out so many Ancestral Dragon Pills¡­" ¡°This alliance order could be real!¡± ¡°If it¡¯s true, this is simply an opportunity that alliance leader Zhou Yuan brought to Cangxuan Heaven. I¡¯m really too narrow-minded to doubt him before!¡± The entire Cangxuan Heaven was stirred. The fame of Ancestral Dragon Pills had spread like rumbling thunder even in the close-off Cangxuan Heaven. No one thought Zhou Yuan would bring out such rare and precious pills. Although Saint Stamp fragments were precious, they couldn¡¯t be compared to Ancestral Dragon Pills. After all, not many people could actually acquire opportunities from the fragments, and even if they did, it might not be as good as one Ancestral Dragon Pill because it was just a little fragment and not the complete Saint Stamp. Amidst the commotion and overwhelming singing of praises, Zhou Yuan''s operation of exchanging Ancestral Dragon Pills for fragments received everyone¡¯s full support. Zhou Yuan¡¯s prestige skyrocketed. In the next few days, the Cangxuan Sect was bustling with noise as the leader of all sects and factions gathered there. Firstly, they wanted to express their support for the Cangxuan Alliance and secondly, they came to exchange their precious Saint Stamp fragments. At the same time, they wanted to come pay respect to Zhou Yuan, the new alliance leader. With the enthusiastic support of all forces, all Saint Stamp fragments except for those in the Sacred Palace¡¯s hands fell into Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand within a few days. Since everyone had gathered, Zhou Yuan, as the Cangxuan Alliance Leader, took the opportunity to recruit all forces in Cangxuan Heaven to fight back against the Sacred Palace. The group of heroes responded and the curtain to the battle of life and death in Cangxuan Heaven was lifted. There was a foul smell in the rising wind and blood in the coming rain. Chapter 1400 The Attack of the Cangxuan Alliance When the Cangxuan Alliance integrated the many sects and factions in Cangxuan Heaven to counter the Sacred Palace, it was as though an unimaginable colossal monster was created. That colossal monster erupted with astonishing strength when it was activated. After a series of commands were issued under the name of the Cangxuan Alliance, the various Sacred Palace strongholds in Cangxuan Heaven began to suffer fierce attacks. The Sacred Palace¡¯s strength had soared over the years and no sect or faction in Cangxuan Heaven was a match for the Sacred Palace. But if all forces combined their strength, they wouldn¡¯t be inferior to the Sacred Palace. Moreover, with the addition of the powerful team led by Zhou Yuan, the situation was gradually reversed. Therefore, in less than ten days, the Cangxuan Alliance''s fierce counter attacks destroyed all the Sacred Palace¡¯s strongholds outside the Shengzhou Continent. The situation seemed very favorable, and endless cheers erupted from within the Cangxuan Alliance and the morale was high. The Cangxuan Sect¡¯s main peak. This place was now considered as the Cangxuan Alliance¡¯s headquarter because Zhou Yuan was not in the mood to change to other places. Fortunately, the other parties knew about the relationship between Zhou Yuan and the Cangxuan Sect, and so they didn''t care too much about it. The main hall. ¡°The Sacred Palace has repeatedly retreated during this period, and now all its powers have returned to the Sacred Palace territory in the Shengzhou Continent.¡± A light screen was spread out in the center of the main hall, displaying a huge map that almost covered the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Sect master Qingyang¡¯s brows were furrowed as he looked at the light screen. The process they made during this period didn¡¯t make him relax. Zhou Yuan and the other three sacred sect masters also wore the same expression. Although other people might cheer because their plan was going ahead smoothly, they understood that the progress had little significance because the Sacred Palace hadn¡¯t been weakened too much. More importantly, palace master Sheng Yuan was still unscathed. Given Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s special situation, the power possessed by a semi-Saint could reverse the situation. ¡°The Sacred Palace seems to be preparing for a final battle,¡± said Zhou Yuan. The four sect masters kept quiet because they knew that what determined Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s fate wasn¡¯t the battle between the Cangxuan Alliance and the Sacred Palace, but Zhou Yuan and palace master Sheng Yuan. ¡°Sheng Yuan has been plotting for years. He surely would be well prepared if he fights.¡± Sect master looked at Zhou Yuan and reminded him. Zhou Yuan nodded. However, a battle was unavoidable. If they didn¡¯t launch an encirclement attack while the Sacred Palace had withdrawn, they would just be dragging the battle out indefinitely and that delay could lead to a change in the situation. The Cangxuan Alliance was at its most powerful and imposing state and so they should take advantage of its momentum to completely eradicate the malignant tumor in Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°The Cangxuan Alliance seems large and powerful, but ultimately, everything depends on alliance leader Zhou Yuan,¡± said the Heaven Sword Sovereign. In truth, even someone like him couldn¡¯t intervene in a battle of that level. Of course it would be best if Zhou Yuan could defeat palace master Sheng Yuan. But if his so-called encirclement attack failed, he would become a joke, the Cangxuan Alliance would instantly collapse and countless troubles would soon follow. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were fixed on a certain red spot on the light screen, which was the Sacred Palace¡¯s headquarters. ¡°Cangxuan Heaven is my hometown, I will do everything I can to stop Sheng Yuan.¡± Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath and his eyes grew sharp. ¡°Pass on the order that the Cangxuan Alliance will gather all its strength and attack the Sacred Palace¡¯s headquarters! ¡°Also, I would like to ask the four sect masters for help with some preparations.¡± Zhou Yuan shifted his gaze to the four sect masters. Sheng Yuan would be the strongest enemy he had ever faced and he must be well prepared for that battle. The four sect masters assumed serious and solemn expressions when they heard his request. ¡°Alliance leader, please give us your order.¡± The Sacred Palace¡¯s headquarters. An altar was floating in an endless sea of blood. Palace master Sheng Yuan, whose hair was completely white, was sitting cross-legged in the center of the altar. The space behind him suddenly rippled and a figure emerged. ¡°The Cangxuan Alliance¡¯s attacks are increasingly fierce. At that speed, the Sacred Palace would likely be besieged in less than half a month,¡± said the figure quietly. Palace master Sheng Yuan turned his head slightly to sweep a glance at the person behind him. He smiled. ¡°Lei Jun, do you regret betraying the Cangxuan Sect?¡± The figure turned out to be Lei Jun, the peak master of the Heavenly Lightning Peak, who betrayed the Cangxuan Sect! ¡°I like people to address me as Jiang Leijun.¡± Jiang Leijun smiled faintly. His appearance hadn¡¯t changed much from that year except there was a red light faintly visible in his eyes like a sea of blood. ¡°Also, the so-called Cangxuan Alliance is nothing but a mob. Although they appear powerful and imposing right now, once they fall into a disadvantaged situation, that young leader would understand why people¡¯s heart are hard to control.¡± Sheng Yuan smiled and then said with a sigh, ¡°But he did surprise me. I never thought that the person who would be my final opponent isn¡¯t Cang Xuan, Qing Yang or any other sect master, but the ant that I viewed as insignificant back then. If I knew this would happen, I would have crushed him back then. That would have saved me a lot of trouble now.¡± Jiang Leijun was silent for a moment before he remarked, ¡°That boy is indeed extraordinary. He already reached this level in just ten years.¡± He still remembered when Zhou Yuan was still at the Alpha-Origin stage in the Cangxuan Sect. At that time, Zhou Yuan was indeed similar to an ant to someone like him, but who would have thought that the ant would be respected and admired by so many people. It was such an unpleasant feeling. ¡°The sky is always changing and there will always be heaven prides born with the change.¡± Sheng Yuan wasn¡¯t as surprised. He said indifferently, ¡°However his foundation is still too shallow. Cangxuan Heaven is now closed-off and even if he¡¯s the strongest below the Saint stage, he can¡¯t change anything.¡± He turned his head, looking at Jiang Leijun. ¡°As long as we complete our mission, the Sacred God will help us change our bloodline when he awakens. Then, we will truly become a part of the Sacred Race. At that time, you will have the opportunity to reach the Saint stage and truly surpass Cang Xuan.¡± A red light flickered in Jiang Leijun''s eyes, and his expression was strangely distorted. ¡°I really look forward to then!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan smiled faintly, his white hair dancing in the air and made him looked particularly striking in the sea of blood. He suddenly lifted his head, peering into the distance. ¡°Zhou Yuan, back then you were just a stray dog in front of me. Do you think you can change anything now? You will understand in the end.¡± A mocking gleam came to his eyes. ¡°A stray dog will never transform into a dragon. I will completely wipe away the reputation you worked so hard to create in all-heavens.¡± Chapter 1401 Endless Sacred Blood Reservoir The Cangxuan Alliance¡¯s attacks grew increasingly fierce and happened at a much quicker rate, destroying the territories that belonged to the Sacred Palace one after another. Around half a month later, the Cangxuan Alliance Army stopped three hundred miles away from the Sacred Palace headquarters with overwhelming momentum. The army surrounded the entire Sacred Palace tightly in rows, and multiple Genesis Rune Boundaries emerged from the ground, shining rays of Genesis Qi in all directions. That side of the world was completely covered up to the extent that not even a fly could escape. On a ten-thousand-feet mountain summit. Zhou Yuan, the four sect masters, Chi Jing and other top experts from the Cangxuan Alliance stood atop the summit. They were all surveying a distant place, where it was white as snow between the mountains. On that snow-capped mountain stood several grand and magnificent buildings. That was the Sacred Palace¡¯s headquarters. Experts were standing guard on several Sacred Palace towers and vigilantly scanning the surroundings. Zhou Yuan and the others could detect countless overbearing waves of Genesis Qi within the Sacred Palace headquarters, which was protected by a powerful defense boundary. All powers of the Sacred Palace were gathered there. Everyone knew that more than 90% of experts in Cangxuan Heaven had gathered in that area, and all living beings in Cangxuan Heaven were perhaps paying close attention to that area. The final result in that area would determine Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s fate. ¡°What do you plan to do next? Are we going to launch an attack?¡± Standing atop the mountain, sect master Qing Yang wore a serious and solemn expression because even someone like him, who was used to seeing strong winds and high waves, felt a little nervous. After all, even the world would no doubt pale when the great battle breaks out. ¡°What is Sheng Yuan planning? Is he just sitting there waiting for us to form an encirclement?¡± asked venerable lord Gu Jing in a low voice. The Cangxuan Alliance had been advancing forward but the Sacred Palace hadn¡¯t countered back with any large-scale attack. Even now, the Sacred Palace Army was still only watching them construct one Genesis Rune Boundary after another and did nothing to obstruct. It was understandable why such abnormal behavior made many people feel uneasy. No one would be that stupid to think the Sacred Palace had no strength to counterattack. After all, Sheng Yuan still hadn¡¯t made a move and hadn¡¯t appeared yet. Wu Yao suddenly said, ¡°I don''t know why but there¡¯s a very uncomfortable feeling.¡± Su Youwei, Zhao Mushen and Chi Jing nodded. They felt the same way; however, they didn¡¯t notice any strangeness along the way. Zhou Yuan pondered, staring fixedly at the snow-capped mountain as the Decoder Saint Rune roamed out from his eyes. The scenery before him rapidly changed and his pupils shrank because he saw blood-red currents constantly rising into the air from the Sacred Palace and entered a void of nothingness. Those blood-red currents gave him a chilling feeling. ¡°Huh?¡± A surprised voice sounded from the Sacred Palace¡¯s depths. ¡°The strongest below the Saint stage is nowhere near as good as everyone says.¡± As a chuckle rang out, the space above the Sacred Palace rippled and a white-haired figure emerged. That person¡¯s appearance sparked a commotion within the Cangxuan Alliance Army and everyone¡¯s eyes were filled with terror. Even people like sect master Qing Yang couldn¡¯t stop his expression from changing and stared at the figure with extreme fear. Without doing anything, palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s appearance had already made many Cangxuan Alliance experts pale and their eyes filled with terror. After all, no one present could deny that palace master Sheng Yuan was undoubtedly the strongest in Cangxuan Heaven. Palace master Sheng Yuan paid no attention to the many terrified gazes. His ruminative gaze didn¡¯t move away from Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, fierce and cold, were similarly fixed on palace master Sheng Yuan. When their gazes met, there seemed to be an indescribable oppressive feeling pervading the air, and even the Law Domain experts on both sides slightly paled when they felt the invisible pressure. ¡°Sheng Yuan, what are you planning?¡± Sect master Qing Yang said aloud. Palace master Sheng Yuan swept a glance over sect master Qing Yang, saying, ¡°Qing Yang, there is indeed a huge gap between you and your master Cang Xuan. I thought you would be my final opponent. But in the end, even a kid has surpassed all four great sect masters and everything is under his command.¡± Heaven Sword Sovereign raised his brows and said in an old voice, ¡°Sheng Yuan, such ridiculous remarks are useless. Although we might stubbornly stick to old rules and ideas, we still understand the principle that the capable will rise to the top.¡± ¡°Could it be that you¡¯re afraid so you are trying to create arguments between us,¡± sneered palace master Shan Qingzi. Sheng Yuan smiled. ¡°Have you guys got too carried away because you swept away everyone before you on your way here?¡± He wore a smile on his face but the expression in his eyes was cold with a glint of mockery. ¡°You managed to make it here not because you¡¯re strong but because I let you.¡± Sheng Yuan turned to look at Zhou Yuan and said indifferently, ¡°Speaking of which, I should thank you for bringing so many sacrifices here. You saved me a lot of trouble.¡± His words caused a commotion within the Cangxuan Alliance Army and a look of unease came to many people¡¯s faces. Not only them, even sect master Qing Yang and the others felt their heart sank. Hovering in the air, palace master Sheng Yuan peered into somewhere in the Sacred Palace¡¯s depths and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s almost ready. Qing Yang, do you really think that we have been recuperating from our injuries in the Sacred Palace all this time? No, I have healed long again and I only did all that for today. ¡°I have been waiting for this feast for a long time.¡± He slowly lifted his hands, folding his fingertips and palms together in a seal. Boom! A low growl rang out from the Sacred Palace¡¯s depths and a blood-red torrent roared out, shocking everyone. Within seconds, it transformed into ten-thousand-feet waves and gushed in all directions. Everything was obliterated where the blood-red torrent passed, including universe Genesis Qi! Having to bear the brunt, the Sacred Palace people in the mountains instantly vanished while the blood-red torrent expanded like an evil demon. It consumed all living beings and all objects as it passed. Terrified, someone in the Cangxuan Alliance Army erupted with a mighty attack, attempting to break the sticky sea of blood. But that attack didn¡¯t create a slightest ripple. Instead, the sea of blood swallowed the Genesis Qi contained in it and grew even larger. That sea of blood stretched across a radius of hundreds of miles in just ten breaths! A foul smell filled the air! The pupils of sect master Qing Yang and the others rapidly shrank because they could distinctly feel that the sea of blood resembled a living object and was indescribably bizarre and terrifying. Even if they only felt that bizarreness, they were unknowingly drenched in cold sweats. Palace master Sheng Yuan looked at the sea of blood that was rapidly expanding with blazing eyes. His white hair fluttered in the air and the smile on his face appeared distorted. ¡°Everyone, let me introduce to you¡­ ¡°The thing in front of you is called the Endless Sacred Blood Reservoir and it can dissolve any existence that it touches, including Genesis Qi, mountains, rivers and seas. It will consume them and turn them into its own power. ¡°It will eventually feed the powers it absorbed back to me. At that time¡­I can truly ascend to the Saint stage. But don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t last forever. I estimate that it will reach its limit once it swallowed one-tenth of Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan grinned when he saw the eyes of sect master Qing Yang and the others almost cracking. ¡°It¡¯s a very good deal to be able to use one-tenth of an area to exchange for the birth of a Saint, isn¡¯t that right?¡± Chapter 1402 Break Out From The Situation The strange viscous sea of blood greedily consumed everything in its way as it expanded like a living thing. The Cangxuan Alliance Army repeatedly counterattacked in an haphazard manner, but to no avail, and they could only powerlessly watch the sea of blood constantly expand. ¡°Block it!¡± Qing Yang, Heaven Sword Sovereign and other Law Domain experts¡¯ faces grew overcast and they couldn¡¯t help roaring out loud and acting simultaneously. The sea of blood was incredibly vicious and could continuously swallow everything in its way. If they allowed the sea to continue to break out, the entire Shengzhou Continent would be the first to bear the brunt. Additionally, since the foundation of all major sects were present, those sects would no longer exist if the Shengzhou Continent were truly destroyed. Boom! Enveloped in mighty power, numerous Saint Genesis Arts rushed skywards and bombarded the strange viscous sea of blood. Even so, those several earthshaking Genesis Arts could only tear holes into the tremendous sea of blood, which were swiftly restored by the sea of blood in the blink of an eye as it surged. Adding to that, the Genesis Qi contained in those powerful Genesis Arts became its nutrients and instantly helped it expand across hundreds of miles. The Cangxuan Alliance Army quickly drew back. Their encirclement instantly collapsed. Sect master Qing Yang and the others all turned ashen-faced. ¡°That sea of blood is too bizarre. Even Genesis Qi that contains Law Domain power is instantly consumed when it encounters the sea of blood,¡± said Shan Qingzi gravely. ¡°Sheng Yuan must have been preparing it for years. If we had known about this, we would have joined forces sooner. At least that wouldn¡¯t make his plan go as smoothly.¡± Heaven Sword Sovereign sighed regretfully. Sect master Qing Yang shook his head without saying anything because he knew whatever they said wouldn¡¯t help the situation. He turned his head and shifted his gaze to Zhou Yuan. They evidently couldn¡¯t deal with Sheng Yuan, who had been preparing for years, and the only one with strength that likely could threaten Sheng Yuan was Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan''s eyes were fixed on the sea of blood ever since it appeared and the Decoder Saint Rune was constantly roaming around inside his eyes, preying into its mystery. It was only after a good while that he retracted his gaze and said, ¡°The Endless Sacred Blood Reservoir isn¡¯t as simple as it looks. It is strengthened with multiple layers of space and resembles a spatial maze. Any attack would only fall into the endless maze and it¡¯s impossible to destroy it that way.¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the others focussed their gazes on the sea of blood. Indeed, they also faintly perceived that the space inside the sea of blood was a little distorted and anything that tried to penetrate inside was transferred to another space. It was just that the spatial maze inside the sea of blood was too complicated that even people at their level couldn¡¯t see through its mystery. ¡°That means it is mysterious. It should be a masterpiece of the Sacred Race, right?¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head, staring at the white-haired figure hovering above the sea of blood. ¡°Otherwise, given that you only possess the strength of the semi-Saint stage, there is no way you could create it.¡± Emotionless, Sheng Yuan said, ¡°You have good eyesight.¡± He didn¡¯t deny or admit it because he didn¡¯t see a reason to do so since he would soon wipe out everyone present. ¡°The top Sacred Palace experts must be inside the spatial maze, protecting the many key positions in the sea of blood because it is so vast that you can¡¯t control it with your power alone,¡± said Zhou Yuan indifferently. Sect master Qing Yang and the others looked a little surprised at the sea of blood before them because they hadn¡¯t noticed that many top Sacred Palace experts were hidden inside. Palace master Sheng Yuan narrowed his eyes and his eyes glinted coldly as he stared at Zhou Yuan. After a while, he said faintly, ¡°I really regret not killing you back then. ¡°But so what that you could see through the sea of blood? The Endless Sacred Blood Reservoir is already formed and you can¡¯t stop it anymore. It will continue to expand until the entire Shengzhou Continent is consumed and I will also grow increasingly stronger with it and finally break through to the Saint stage. Zhou Yuan, you have no chance of winning.¡± Sheng Yuan¡¯s voice was mighty and imposing like a god delivering judgment. The Cangxuan Alliance Army broke into commotion and many people looked desperate. Their previous smooth advancement into the headquarters made them think they could quickly end the war and bring peace back to Cangxuan Heaven, but the unexpected change made them realize how cruel reality was. Not only could they not quickly end the war, the Shengzhou Continent could also be destroyed. While in despair, everyone raised their eyes and silently stared at the slender and tall figure atop the mountain. Unknowingly, that figure had become the last pillar of Cangxuan Heaven. Even sect master Qing Yang and the others fell silent and couldn¡¯t help shifting their gazes to the same figure. They knew they had no qualification to refute Sheng Yuan¡¯s statement because they indeed had no confidence of winning. But Zhou Yuan? Could he have a means to break out from the current situation? Under those thousands of gazes, Zhou Yuan also fell silent. As the sea of blood was reflected in his eyes, he closed them for a while before slowly opening them again. His eyes were razor-sharp, as though could cut through the vault of heaven. ¡°Do you all trust me?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Sect master Qing Yang and the many other experts exchanged glances with one another and finally drew a deep breath. They firmly nodded their heads as their eyes turned unwavering. If they didn''t trust Zhou Yuan, what else could they do? Zhou Yuan nodded and immediately lifted his hand into the air. Rays of Genesis Qi quickly gathered in his palm and transformed into several glowing jade tokens. The jade tokens floated over towards sect master Qing Yang and the others. ¡°I need each of you to take a jade token and lead an elite team into the Endless Sacred Blood Reservoir.¡± As Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice rang out, many Law Domain experts¡¯ expressions abruptly changed. Charge into the Limitless Sacred Blood Pool? They had clearly witnessed the Endless Sacred Blood Reservoir¡¯s devouring power and they knew that even Law Domain experts would be reduced to nutrients to expand the Endless Sacred Blood Reservoir once fallen inside! But Zhou Yuan wanted them to enter?! If it weren¡¯t their rationality, they would have thought Zhou Yuan wanted them to throw away their lives. While everyone was taken aback, a beautiful figure suddenly walked forward and stretched out her beautiful hand to receive a jade token. It was Su Youwei, who was smiling mischievously at Zhou Yuan. ¡°I will follow alliance leader¡¯s order.¡± Wu Yao, Zhao Mushen, Chu Qing, and Li Chunjun also took a token with a smile on their faces and without a trace of fear. Qing Yang, Heaven Sword Sovereign and other sect masters all smiled bitterly as they watched. The bravery of the younger generation made them feel very old. Then, they stretched out their hands one after another to receive a jade token. Many Law Domain experts bowed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction and voices rang out, quaking the mountains. ¡°We will follow alliance leader¡¯s order!¡± Chapter 1403 Old Grudges Many top experts grew determined and their expressions became fierce as they received a jade token. They all understood that, regardless of what Zhou Yuan had planned, they had to believe that he could stop Sheng Yuan. Otherwise, Cangxuan Heaven would fall into Sheng Yuan¡¯s hands. Therefore, after a little commotion, the top experts with jade tokens speedily recruited a group of elites and solemnly waited for the next order. The atmosphere also turned tense. ¡°Troops who hasn¡¯t received an order, guard your spot and maintain your vigilance.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice rang in the ears of everyone from the Cangxuan Alliance. A little commotion broke out within the Cangxuan Alliance Army, but everyone responded in the end. With nervous gazes, countless people looked at the jade tokens and the top experts who were about to lead a team into the Endless Sacred Blood Reservoir. They were worried about losing those top experts because among them were sect masters as well as elders of various sects and factions. No one knew whether Zhou Yuan''s move would cause them to throw away their lives or break out from the situation they were in. ¡°Everyone, let''s act.¡± Running his eyes over the many top experts, Zhou Yuan cupped his hands in salute. Everyone also saluted him in response before they looked at the billowy blood reservoir and a strange feeling made them shudder. Shua! However, Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Chu Qing and many other top experts from the younger generation rushed out without any hesitation, speeding into the Sacred Blood Reservoir. Some people even closed their eyes, terrified that those people would turn into blood and the Cangxuan Alliance Army would collapse on the spot as a result. Fortunately, the scene they were afraid to see didn¡¯t happen. When Su Youwei and the others charged into the blood reservoir, the jade token in their hands erupted in a blaze of light that fully enveloped them. Then, swaying a little, they vanished into thin air. ¡°They disappeared?!¡± Many people from the Cangxuan Alliance Army exclaimed out loud. Zhou Yuan waved his sleeve and flicked his fingers, sending flecks of light out. They rapidly expanded into multiple light screens. Inside each light screen was a dark-red space. Su Youwei and the others were each leading a team towards several Sacred Palace experts guarding the dark-red space! The Sacred Palace experts gasped in shock when they saw such a huge army appear. The atmosphere stilled for a moment before mighty Genesis Qi erupted. Without exchanging a word, a battle broke out between the two sides. ¡°I see!¡± The eyes of sect master Qing Yang and the others lit up. ¡°Our alliance leader used that token as a guide to directly send people into the spatial maze inside the blood reservoir! If we could wipe out the teams guarding the spatial maze, we can destroy the several key positions and break the blood reservoir from the inside!¡± Heaven Sword Sovereign, venerable lord Gu Jing, Shan Qingzi and the others all wore different expressions but when they looked at Zhou Yuan, their respect deepened. Their previous hesitation seemed very ridiculous now. The four sect masters all apologized to Zhou Yuan with a one hand bow. Then, they unwaveringly led a team and charged into the blood reservoir. As they sped into the blood reservoir, their figures were expectedly transferred to a blood-red space. Sect master Qing Yang reappeared in a space filled with blood-red fog and behind him were peak master Ling Jun, peak master Liu Lianyi and a team of Cangxuan Sect members. Ling Jun''s eyes were on Liu Lianyi most of the time, but when she occasionally met his gaze, she would quickly move her gaze away. ¡°Zhou Yuan is really amazing. I¡¯m impressed he could locate the spatial maze inside the blood reservoir with such precision.¡± Liu Lianyi complimented. Zhou Yuan, who was just a little kid in her eyes, had surpassed them all. Even sect master Qing Yang agreed. He said thankfully, ¡°Master indeed has good eyes. He is the one who chose Zhou Yuan.¡± While speaking, he maintained his vigilance and surveyed the blood-red space, wondering which Sacred Palace team would be guarding this space. While sect master Qing Yang was cautiously scanning around, the blood-colored fog in front slowly dissipated and he saw many figures loomed in the distance. The two side¡¯s gazes collided as the blood-colored fog completely faded. Immediately, sect master Qing Yang¡¯s gaze fell on the opponent¡¯s team leader and a murderous aura enveloped his body. Liu Lianyi''s eyes instantly reddened with fury, which made even her beautiful face appear distorted. ¡°Jiang Leijun, you traitor!¡± The leader of the team guarding the blood-red space was precisely Jiang Leijun, peak master of the Lightning Prison Peak! Jiang Leijun was equally surprised to see sect master Qing Yang and the others. ¡°It seems that Zhou Yuan is indeed quite impressive. He not only saw through the Sacred Blood Reservoir¡¯s mystery but also managed to send you directly in.¡± There were no less than one hundred people guarding the blood reservoir. It clearly wasn¡¯t just luck that helped sect master Qing Yang and the others break into there. ¡°I must thank Zhou Yuan for finding this chance for me to clean up my sect.¡± Sect master Qing Yang reached out to stop Liu Lianyi, who was going berserk, and glared coldly at Jiang Leijun. Sect master Qing Yang had always wanted to kill Jiang Leijun because even though Sheng Yuan was the true culprit in old ancestor Cang Xuan¡¯s death, Jiang Leijun was an accomplice and the role he played was more hateful. Sect master Qing Yang had constantly been looking for a chance to kill Jiang Leijun, but Jiang Leijun was incredibly cunning and always hid himself inside the Sacred Palace. Who would have thought that they would face each other? Jiang Leijun snorted. ¡°Clean up your sect? I never thought of myself as a member of the Cangxuan Sect. Cang Xuan only wanted to make himself dazzling so he made me stay in the Cangxuan Sect and watch how bright and brilliant he is all the time. He just wanted me to experience how he felt when he looked up to me when he was young.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t insult my master!¡± Liu Lianyi fumed with red eyes. Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s face didn¡¯t ripple in the slightest as he said indifferently, ¡°Beasts are heartless and naturally think that everyone else is heartless.¡± "Jiang Leijun, today we will completely settle the grudge between you and our Cangxuan Sect.¡± Sect master Qing Yang stepped forward and a giant Law Domain suddenly spread across the area. Inside the Law Domain was a huge azure sun rising. Jiang Leijun narrowed his eyes and his eyes gleamed red. ¡°Qing Yang, do you really think I wasted all these years?¡± His sleeves flapped in the wind and the space behind him rippled violently. Deep booming noise resounded through the air as countless lightning roared down, except those lightning were blood-red and ominous-looking. Jiang Leijun soared into the sky as a blood-colored lightning roared out from him and blasted towards sect master Qing Yang. Sect master Qing Yang inhaled deeply, opened his mouth and a bird covered in azure flames shot out to directly meet the lightning. Boom! Both sides attacked mercilessly, causing the bold-red space to quake violently. ... Outside the billowy sea of blood. The Cangxuan Alliance nervously watched the dangerous battles through the light screens. PA PA PA. Claps suddenly broke out above the sea of blood, drawing terrified gazes. ¡°The Saint Rune in your eyes is from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, isn¡¯t that right? It¡¯s because of it that you can see through the sea of blood and see the spatial maze,¡± said Sheng Yuan indifferently as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Zhou Yuan smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. ¡°I have to say I really underestimated you. It seems you really built your reputation in all-heavens with your own strength.¡± Sheng Yuan sighed, ¡°Based on your potential, I think you could become a Saint in Cangxuan Heaven in due time. This is why it¡¯s best to get rid of someone like you when there¡¯s a chance.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Can you?¡± Sheng Yuan said indifferently, ¡°The Sacred Blood Reservoir has already formed. Even if you managed to send people in to destroy the key positions, it will at most delay its expansion. It¡¯s impossible to destroy it. You must have seen through this.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. ¡°Because the core area of the Sacred Blood Reservoir has already connected with your Spirit. In other words, as long as you¡¯re alive, the Sacred Blood Reservoir will never be destroyed.¡± He smiled, ¡°But I don¡¯t plan to destroy the blood reservoir. My goal is to suppress it here and stop it from expanding and destroying the Shengzhou Continent. As for you¡­¡± Zhou Yuan slowly rose into the air, his eyes turning into purple-gold dragon eyes, and an earthshaking dragon roar caused the entire world to quake. ¡°It¡¯s time to settle the grudges between us.¡± Chapter 1404 Battle Against Sheng Yuan As Zhou Yuan soared into the air and his qi locked on Sheng Yuan from a distance, countless people in that side of the world also focussed their gazes on him. Although intense battles had broken out within the blood reservoir space, everyone understood that those battles couldn¡¯t determine the outcome of the war. Only the battle between Zhou Yuan and Sheng Yuan could decide the fate of Cangxuan Heaven. Though no one knew if Zhou Yuan could defeat Sheng Yuan, who was a semi-Saint. Regardless how great Zhou Yuan¡¯s reputation was, he was still the only strongest below the Saint stage while Sheng Yuan was already halfway into that mysterious cultivation level. Therefore many people in the Cangxuan Alliance Army couldn¡¯t help but worry when such an earthshaking collision happened between the two. Sheng Yuan indifferently gazed at Zhou Yuan because he could feel ancient and mighty power as well as vast amounts of Genesis Qi spreading out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His Genesis Qi was so strong that it was superior to that of Qing Yang and other third Law Domain stage experts. However, that alone wasn¡¯t enough to threaten Sheng Yuan. Sheng Yuan flicked his sleeve and manipulated tremendous amounts of Genesis Qi to form a stunning mirror beyond the nine heavens. It seemed to possess countless faces as it shone down and reflected the scene. ¡°This Thousand View Mirror will project the battle here into every corner of the entire Cangxuan Heaven¡­Zhou Yuan, you are considered the last pillar of Cangxuan Heaven and so I will make all beings in the entire Cangxuan Heaven know who the master of Cangxuan Heaven would be in the future and that the pillar they relied on is just a joke.¡± Sheng Yuan said with an indifferent expression. He wanted to wipe away the intent of countless Cangxuan Heaven people to rebel against him. If he defeated Zhou Yuan here, he would have no other obstacles in Cangxuan Heaven. At the same time, huge projections appeared in every corner of Cangxuan Heaven, showing the earthshaking duel outside the Sacred Palace. In the Great Zhou Empire, under countless panicked gazes, Qin Yu led many officials to the palace walls. They all stared fixedly at the image that clearly showed the young figure facing palace master Sheng Yuan. Their expressions were both full of worry and pride. ¡°Yuan¡¯er¡­¡± Qin Yu''s eyes were red and welled with tears. She could imagine how much pressure Zhou Yuan was under. Everyone in Cangxuan Heaven had put their hopes on him. As his mother, her heart ached for her son. Zhou Qing, on the other hand, was much more optimistic. He clasped Qin Yu¡¯s hand tight and reassured, ¡°If a man has the ability, he naturally would want to lift the sky alone. Yuan¡¯er is hundred times and thousand times stronger than his father. We should patiently wait here for the result of his battle. If he wins, the whole world will celebrate joyously. If he loses, Cangxuan Heaven will be enveloped in darkness and there¡¯s no point in us two still living.¡± Qin Yu somehow felt much more at ease when she heard what he said. She gripped his hand tightly and raised her head to look at the projection in the sky. ¡­ ¡°Zhou Yuan, let me see what qualifications you have to return to Cangxuan Heaven to get revenge from me.¡± Sheng Yuan''s indifferent voice reverberated in the air and was heard by everyone in Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan didn''t utter a word, but he assumed a serious and solemn expression. Although Sheng Yuan simply stood there without any waves of Genesis Qi rippling around him, Zhou Yuan could feel a faint dangerous aura deep in his bones. ¡°Sacred Dragon Law Domain!¡± Zhou Yuan had no intention of testing Sheng Yuan¡¯s strength. With a flick of his finger, an ancient and mighty Law Domain spread across and enveloped that side of the heaven. Sheng Yuan didn¡¯t evade and allowed the Law Domain to continue to expand. ¡°Law Domain has no effect on me.¡± Sheng Yuan shook his head. There seemed to be a huge void formed where he stood and not only Law Domain power couldn¡¯t enter that area, it was rapidly expanding and corroding Zhou Yuan¡¯s Law Domain. At that speed, it wouldn¡¯t be too long before Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire Law Domain would be consumed. Evidently, it wasn¡¯t particularly effective to suppress Sheng Yuan, who was a semi-Saint, with a Law Domain. Zhou Yuan focussed his gaze and folded one hand in a seal. Without any hesitation, he activated his Sacred Dragon Law Domain to its peak state. Space was suddenly torn apart as a purple-gold dragon claw slashed across the air and shrouded the world. An ancient and majestic aura filled the air. Under such pressure, even ordinary Law Domain experts would find it difficult to circulate their Genesis Qi and their Spirit suppressed. They likely could only close their eyes and wait for death. But Sheng Yuan only smiled faintly and pressed the tips of his fingers together and pointed to the distance. Swoosh! A ray of light around the thickness of a thumb streaked across the sky. It looked simple and ordinary compared to the purple-gold dragon claw that shrouded the sky, but when the two collided, a blaze of light erupted and tore the purple-gold dragon claw into two in just a few seconds. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression grew even more solemn when he saw Sheng Yuan so easily break his Sacred Dragon Law Domain attack. He drew a deep breath, and dazzling purple-gold light within the Law Domain quickly gathered together and transformed into an incomparably huge purple-gold nine-claw sacred dragon. The complete form of the purple-gold nine-claw Sacred Dragon hovered in the air as an ancient majesty as well as pure Genesis Qi filled the air. Even Sheng Yuan couldn¡¯t help raising his eyebrows when he saw it. ¡°Sacred Dragon¡­. ¡°That must be the Sacred Dragon Blessing that you and Wu Huang fought for back then, right? I didn''t think the weak Blessing back then could become this strong,¡± exclaimed palace master Sheng Yuan. Roar! However, he was responded by a gush of purple-gold dragon breath. The dragon breath, containing terrifying destructive power, mightily sped through space and towards palace master Sheng Yuan. That dragon breath contained all power of the Sacred Dragon Law Domain. Even sect master Qing Yang and the others would have been instantly destroyed including their Spirit if they were present. As the dragon breath was reflected in Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes, he opened his mouth wide and spewed out a faint flame. The flame wasn¡¯t particularly striking, but the flame immediately took the shape of a flame shield in front of him. Unexpectedly, the ordinary-looking flame shield immediately melted the dragon breath as it neared as though it was incinerated by a terrifying object. It was a Saint Fire Shield. Although palace master Sheng Yuan was only a semi-saint, he possessed a true Saint Fire. Countless people¡¯s eyes dimmed when they saw that scene because Sheng Yuan had easily countered all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s attacks. Zhou Yuan simply couldn¡¯t threaten Sheng Yuan. This clearly showed the huge gap between them. ¡°Zhou Yuan, although I am only a semi-saint, I have gained control of some Saint power over the years. Those powers aren¡¯t something that your Law Domain could contend against. Under mighty Saint power, all your attacks are useless.¡± Sheng Yuan looked pitifully at Zhou Yuan, shaking his head. ¡°You have been playing for a good while now¡­it¡¯s now my turn, right?¡± The entire world darkened. Strands of hair suddenly fell from palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s head as a Saint fire rose. Swoosh! Those strands of white hairs sped across the air and vanished. When they reappeared, they were already above Zhou Yuan, gathering together to form a giant white mountain. A fire blaze above the towering mountain. The whole world seemed to be quaking beneath it. ¡°Zhou Yuan, your performance disappointed me.¡± Sheng Yuan smiled, shaking his head. He slightly pressed his palms together and the surrounding space suddenly exploded to pieces. The giant white-haired mountain crashed down towards Zhou Yuan. Boom! The Sacred Dragon Law Domain instantly crumbled, the ground split apart and Zhou Yuan was ruthlessly suppressed under countless gazes of horror and despair. Chapter 1405 Sacred Dragon Body Boom! The towering white mountain not only enveloped Zhou Yuan, but even the ground beneath his feet sank in. Countless people from the Cangxuan Alliance stared at that scene with horrified gazes. They only swept a glance at the Saint fire blazing above the towering white mountain but they already felt their Spirit beginning to burn. This clearly showed how terrifying its power was. ¡°Alliance leader Zhou Yuan!¡± Worried voices rang out. No one thought Sheng Yuan¡¯s counterattack would be so fierce and could instantly suppress Zhou Yuan. Was that the huge gap between a semi-Saint and non-Saint? The hearts of everyone in the Cangxuan Alliance Army sank. Palace master Sheng Yuan indifferently looked at the towering white mountain with a Saint fire blazing above it. Even if someone at the third Law Domain stage were to fall into his means, their body and Spirit would be turned to nothing and completely vanish from the world. However, palace master Sheng Yuan understood that only applied to ordinary third Law Domain stage experts and Zhou Yuan, who earned the reputation of strongest below the Saint stage, should possess strength superior to the third Law Domain stage. That mountain of Saint fire might make him panic but it wouldn¡¯t be enough to kill him. Boom! While such a thought flowed across palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s mind, a deep rumble echoed in the Saint fire mountain. The Saint fire mountain fiercely quaked. Boom! The quaking was so violent that it felt like a giant demon hammering a drum. Cracks spread out from the depths and covered the entire mountain like ivy. Roar! An earthshaking ancient dragon roar resounded as the entire mountain exploded to tens of thousands of broken rocks and blasted everywhere. Dazzling purple-gold light surged into the sky like a purple-gold sun rising from the mountain. Footsteps sounded inside the purple-gold sun as a figure slowly strode out and came into everyone¡¯s sight. It was Zhou Yuan! It was just that his imposing bearing remained the same as before. Purple-gold light flowed along the surface of his body, and upon a closer look, his skin was protected by purple-gold dragon scales like indestructible armor. His eyes turned to purple-gold dragon eyes and he emitted an ancient and mighty aura. The greatest change was his hair, which had turned purple-gold, and draped down to his feet like needles, shining with chilling cold light. Zhou Yuan resembled a humanoid Sacred Dragon from ancient times. His ancient and primitive aura that filled the air caused all beings to shudder with fear. It was the complete Sacred Dragon form! Zhou Yuan was able to transform into such a powerful body after his Genesis Qi was upgraded to grade-9 Sacred Dragon Qi! His physical body was now several more times powerful than the Great Flame Devil. Zhou Yuan speculated that even without using Genesis Qi, his physical body alone could suppress those at the third Law Domain stage. ¡°That body¡­¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan naturally could detect the mighty power contained in Zhou Yuan¡¯s present body. In a sense, his physical body had already reached the pinnacle state below the Saint stage. With a cold expression, palace master Sheng Yuan flung his sleeve, turning the countless broken mountain rocks into strands of white hair. The hair, long and straight, resembled white needles and was surrounded in razor-sharp light that could cut through the sky. Swoosh! The million light rays sped towards Zhou Yuan like white torrents, producing an ear-piercing sonic boom that reverberated throughout the world. Wearing an indifferent expression, Zhou Yuan stood in the same place. His body was surrounded in rings of purple-gold light and he simply let those white needles land on him. Clang! The razor-sharp needles stabbed Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, but only tiny sparks sputtered out. However, the needles exploded to pieces with a clear metallic ring. They couldn¡¯t break the purple-gold scales on Zhou Yuan''s skin! Zhou Yuan¡¯s purple-gold dragon eyes were filled with chilling intent as he locked them on palace master Sheng Yuan in the distance. He stretched out his hand and the white hair suddenly gathered to form a ten-feet bow in his hand. Purple-gold light flowed along the bow, speedily turning the bow a purple-gold color. As Zhou Yuan drew the bow, a purple-gold arrow formed on the string. He inhaled deeply. ¡°Genesis Breaker!¡± ¡°Genesis Spirit!¡± The arrow¡¯s tip suddenly turned jet-black and a ferocious power enveloped the entire arrow body. Zhou Yuan was strengthening the arrow with all his Genesis Qi and Spirit. Zhou Yuan released the bowstring, shooting out a stream of purple-gold light. It pierced through the several layers of space with unavoidable speed and appeared in front of palace master Sheng Yuan in a flash. The power it contained made even palace master Sheng Yuan narrow his eyes. ¡°This is at last something worth seeing. Unfortunately, regardless how powerful your Genesis Qi is and how refined your Spirit is, you are still below the Saint stage and everything you do is useless under mighty Saint power,¡± remarked palace master Sheng Yuan. As his voice died away, a thin light barrier descended from the sky in front of him. The light barrier was no thicker than one inch and appeared particularly weak, but it contained power superior to all beings in the world. Mighty Saint Power! Boom! The purple-gold arrow roared towards the light screen and fiercely slammed into the thin Saint power light barrier like an enraged dragon. The barrier violently rippled and shock waves raged across the area, causing the sky within a radius of thousands of miles to tremble. It was as though the entire world was turned upside down. However, although the purple-gold arrow contained terrifying power, as the ripples on the light barrier widened out, the purple-gold light began to weaken and eventually broke apart into flecks of purple-gold light. Countless disappointed sighs rang from the Cangxuan Alliance. Sheng Yuan was so powerful that they felt despair. Shua! It was then that an earthshaking dragon roar resounded from the flecks of purple-gold light. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure unexpectedly shot out from them like a ghost. His right arm, wrapped in scales shimmering with chilling light, suddenly expanded and transformed into a nine-claw dragon arm. The tips were razor sharp and could tear apart space with a slight movement. Zhou Yuan¡¯s purple-gold dragon eyes gleamed coldly as he controlled his Sacred Dragon body. His body suddenly became scorching-hot and his blood bubbled like lava as destructive power burst forth. Physical body, Genesis Qi, and Spirit! Three tremendous powers entwined together within Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and as they collided, they constantly accumulated their powers together. If Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t possess the Sacred Dragon body, he would have exploded given the terrifying strength of those three powers. ¡°Sacred Dragon Fist!¡± A dragon roar rumbled from Zhou Yuan¡¯s throat before he slammed his purple-gold dragon arm forward. Deafening boom echoed throughout the entire Shengzhou Continent. ¡°You¡¯re just a mere semi-Saint who had controlled a little Saint power but you¡¯re pretending to be invincible?! ¡°Get lost!¡± Crimson qi spiralled up from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body and murderous intent filled his eyes. As he roared, an incredibly powerful force blasted into the light screen. `While the two were in a deadlock for a moment, a tiny crackle sounded. The indifferent expression on palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face finally began to change. But before he could act, the purple-gold dragon fist shattered the thin light barrier and space across thousands of miles broke apart like a broken mirror. Boom! That punch finally struck palace master Sheng Yuan, who was about to draw back. Rumble! Everyone¡¯s ears were deafened by a sudden crash of thunder. Then, under stunned gazes, blood burst forth from palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s chest and his body blasted from the sky like a meteorite, smashing into an ice mountain that stretched across hundreds of miles. An avalanche rolled down. Countless spectators¡¯ faces blanched with horror and shock. This was the first time they saw palace master Sheng Yuan, who was seen as invincible in Cangxuan Heaven, suffer a blow. Chapter 1406 Battle Between Bodies An avalanche swept across thousands of miles and white currents gushed down and covered the entire world like white blankets. The Cangxuan Alliance Army couldn¡¯t help but erupt into thunderous cheers when they saw such a scene. Even if palace master Sheng Yuan hadn¡¯t stepped out of the Sacred Palace in years, his invisible title had spread throughout Cangxuan Heaven. Even the sect masters of the four sacred sects couldn¡¯t compete against palace master Sheng Yuan if they joined hands. However, he, who was seen as invincible, was struck back on the battlefield for the first time. Although everyone understood that there was no way he would be defeated like that, many people in Cangxuan Heaven couldn¡¯t help cheering. When they cast their gaze up towards the young figure in the sky, the awe and hopeful expression in their eyes deepened. Perhaps, their Cangxuan Alliance leader indeed possessed the strength to face off against Sheng Yuan. Zhou Yuan''s face didn¡¯t ripple at all when he heard the endless cheers. Instead, his eyes, still solemn, were focussed on where the avalanche happened. That punch seemed incredibly fierce, but Zhou Yuan knew it wouldn¡¯t cause significant damage to Sheng Yuan. This was because when Zhou Yuan poured all his strength into that attack, he could feel that palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s physical body was much tougher than he imagined. The battle was bound to be a bloody and bitter one. As such a thought flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind, the avalanche sweeping across thousands of miles suddenly solidified as though an indescribable power had forcibly made it still. A whirlpool began to take shape in the sea of snow while snowflakes formed a staircase down to the whirlpool. A figure ascended the steps from the whirlpool¡¯s depths. That figure was of course Sheng Yuan. His white hair danced in the air and his bare upper body glowed with multiple mysterious runes. Additionally, those runes, ancient and indistinct, glimmered indefinitely, and faintly, there seemed to be with his upper body bare revealed multiple mysterious tunes on his body. They were not only ancient and obscure, it flickered indefinitely and vaguely, there was the sound of rushing water coming from his body. It was blood roaming around. Dong ! Noises like the roll of low thunder sounded slowly and every vibration triggered a thunderstorm above. It was his heart beating. Many Cangxuan Alliance experts¡¯ expressions dramatically changed because even they, who had a lack of experience, knew that it was a sign of one¡¯s physical body reaching its pinnacle state. It appeared that Sheng Yuan¡¯s physical body had leaped to an unimaginable level. His physical body was in no way inferior to Zhou Yuan¡¯s Sacred Dragon Body! ¡°There are two great gifts at the Saint stage ¡ª spirit transformation, which could be called Saint Spirit, and physical body evolution, which could be called Saint body. These two are known to be indestructible.¡± Under countless gazes, Sheng Yuan slowly ascended the snowflake steps as a cold and detached voice echoed throughout the world. ¡°Although I haven¡¯t completely reached the Saint stage, after refining my body with mighty Saint power, my physical body is now considered a semi-Saint body. I¡¯m curious to know whether your so-called Sacred Dragon Body is stronger than my semi-Saint body?! Boom! Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes grew cold as he slammed his feet, causing the surrounding space to instantly crumble while he instantly vanished and reappeared above Zhou Yuan as though teleported. Wearing an indifferent expression, palace master Sheng Yuan thrust his hand down. That palm, like a fierce blazing sun hanging in the sky, made the entire world become increasingly hot. The snow-capped mountains across millions of miles rapidly melted. As Zhou Yuan balled his hand into a fist, his purple-gold dragon scales glimmered and a dragon roar reverberated through the air as if a dragon was soaring into the sky to meet palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s fierce blazing sun. Boom! A storm brewed from the collision, raging across thousands of miles of space. Boom! The two silhouettes clashed madly above at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, and in just a few breaths, they had already collided over a thousand times and sent sparks sputtering everywhere. No spectator could capture the two figures any longer with their eyes and could only hear violent thunder rumble one after another. Even the tiniest shockwave from the impact of such power made countless experts¡¯ scalps go numb. Boom! The two figures once again collided like lightning bolts, shattering the space behind them to pieces while blasted thousand of feet away. Standing in the air, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body that was covered with purple-gold scales was a little crimson-red and wisps of white qi constantly spiralled up from him ¡ª signs that his physical body was operating to its pinnacle state. ¡°What a powerful Saint body.¡± Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and his eyes were grave. The Saint stage was indeed incomparably mysterious. Even though Sheng Yuan was only a semi-Saint, his semi-Saint body refined from Saint power was still terrifying. If even a semi-Saint body is that powerful, I really don''t know how terrifying a real Saint body is. The Saint stage was indeed worthy of being all cultivators¡¯ long cherished dream. White qi was similarly spiralling up from palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s body as he stared at Zhou Yuan with a hint of envy in his eyes. Even though Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t touched upon Saint power yet, he was already able to cultivate his physical body to such a stage. If he were to break through to the Saint stage, ordinary Saint wouldn¡¯t be able to contend with him. Such talent and potential were truly blessed by heaven. Such a powerful enemy mustn¡¯t be allowed to live. Chilling murderous intent filled palace master Sheng Yuan''s eyes as he folded his hands together and a roar came up out from his throat. Gu! The blood in his body appeared to be bubbling while his skin turned crimson. Even the mysterious marks on his skin began to creep across his skin like living creatures. Those marks were only formed when one¡¯s physical body was refined by mighty Saint power, and Sheng Yuan¡¯s Saint body power was precisely from those marks. Puchi! Suddenly, those marks broke out from his skin, expanded as it met the wind and transformed into crimson chains. Hua! The crimson chains twisted and turned in the air like giant pythons, producing strange sound waves. Anyone who heard those sound waves would feel their physical body suppressed in some way, and those who were weaker even let out tragic screams. This was because they saw their body beginning to break down. Horrified, countless people frantically circulated their Genesis Qi to block their ears to stop those sound waves from entering. Watching the crimson chains take shape, Zhou Yuan furrowed his brows in a frown because he sensed extreme danger from the chains. It was as if it was targeted at one¡¯s physical body. ¡°Do you feel it?¡±asked Sheng Yuan indifferently as he swept a gaze over Zhou Yuan. ¡°Regardless how powerful your body is, once you are trapped in it, your body will begin to break down. This is the power of the Saint stage. I call it the Ultimate Dragon Binding Chain!¡± As his voice faded, crimson chains shot across the air, and regardless how Zhou Yuan tried to flee, he couldn¡¯t escape from them. Zhou Yuan came to an abrupt stop after a few breaths. A crimson chain had coiled around his ankle like a venomous snake. At the same time, other crimson chains frantically rushed over to completely cover Zhou Yuan. The crimson chains were mottled with mysterious marks that contained mighty Saint power, and once caught, it would be difficult to break free. As the crimson chains madly twisted around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, his field of vision rapidly narrowed and everything before him gradually darkened. However, Zhou Yuan slowly closed his eyes before darkness completely filled his vision. Flecks of silvery light emerged on the surface of his body. Behind the silvery light there seemed to be an illusory-looking eight-armed figure. Chapter 1407 Eight-armed Star Spirit King A berserk howl rippled across the sky. Red chains rapidly wrapped around Zhou Yuan¡¯s body like giant pythons, the multiple layers completely burying him from sight. Mysterious runes squirmed on the red chains, pusling with a unique rhythm. In Canguxan Heaven, the hearts of countless onlookers suddenly rose in their chests. The physical collision between the two had been akin to a clash between two gods of destruction. However, it appeared that the palace master Sheng Yuan had obtained the upper hand and trapped Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, now that you¡¯re trapped by the Ultimate Dragon Binding Chain, your body will be turned to mush no matter how sturdy it is!¡± Iciness flashed in Sheng Yuans¡¯ eyes as he rapidly formed a hand seal, boundless killing intent unfurling along with a howl, ¡°Sacred Rune Erosion!¡± Red light blossomed from the mysterious runes on the red giant-python-like chains. The light rapidly converged like a school of fish and swarmed towards Zhou Yuan, who was trapped deep within. A cold smile emerged from the corners of Sheng Yuan¡¯s mouth. Once the Sacred Runes invaded Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, he would be turned into a pool of blood by their erosive power. Swish! However, the smile on Sheng Yuan¡¯s mouth did not last for long because strands of silver light suddenly shot out from deep within the layers of red chains. The sudden turn of events caused Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes to widen as he immediately hastened the Sacred Runes erosion speed. However, it could not stop the outpour of silver light. Silver light escaped through every tiny crack, growing stronger and stronger as a low roar echoed from deep within the chains. ¡°Eight-armed...Star Spirit King!¡± Rumble! Millions of silver rays erupted and the red giant-python-like chains were flung off by an overwhelming force. A silver sun rose into the sky, drawing the attention of countless shocked gazes. A several-dozen-feet tall giant stood in the silver sun. Its body was covered in strange silver patterns, eight giant silver arms reaching out behind him and stirring the surrounding Genesis Qi. The silver giant resembled a titan from mythology, overflowing with a torrential pressure. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression sank a little when he saw Zhou Yuan in this form. An expert like him could naturally tell that the silver patterns and eight arms were the product of some kind of Sacred tier artifact. In a certain manner of speaking, these silver patterns were similar to his Sacred Runes. In other words, the armor-like silver patterns could be considered as some kind of external half-Saint body. Combined with Zhou Yuan¡¯s Sacred Dragon Physique, his power had now been pushed to a level that even Sheng Yuan did not dare to underestimate. ¡°This kid¡­¡± Sheng Yuan¡¯s brows slowly furrowed together, finally feeling that things were becoming a little problematic. Rumble! Before he could say anything the silver giant¡¯s chilling gaze turned towards him. In the next instant, it stomped its foot, shattering space as its body disappeared from the spot. Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression was ice-cold. With a wave of his sleeve, layers of space began to distort as he took a step back, retreating within to conceal himself. Rumble! Despite concealing himself within the layers of space, a streak of light still charged straight over in a barbaric manner, shattering each layer and appearing in front of Sheng Yuan in a single breath. ¡°Why are you running?! Didn¡¯t you want to compete in physical prowess? Let¡¯s go again!¡± A sinister smile formed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s silver rune covered face. His fists smashed through space like cannonballs, sweeping up countless spatial fragments as they pummelled at Sheng Yuan. Terrifying power pulsed. Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression was ice-cold as he thrust his palm forward. The strike was very ordinary but it also contained devastating power. Boom! Fist and palm collided as a torrential wave of power unfurled, shattering the space around the two individuals. However, before palace master Sheng Yuan could attack again, he saw the eight giant silver arms behind Zhou Yuan suddenly clench their fists. Torrential silver light spewed from the fists as they ruthlessly smashed towards Sheng Yuan. Bang! A muffled explosion sounded as Sheng Yuan¡¯s body was blown away, smashing through layers of space along the way as deafening explosions resounded across the horizon. Zhou Yuan had no intention of stopping. He took a step forward and his figure transformed into a sliver blur that rapidly chased after Sheng Yuan. In the next instant, the giant silver arms seemed to multiply, leaving countless afterimages as they crazily rained down destruction. It was basically an artillery barrage! The assault made the mouths of the countless onlookers turn dry, even some of the Law Domain experts feeling goosebumps on their skin. Their senses told them that a single silver punch was likely enough to completely obliterate them off the face of this world. Thousands of punches converged together in a silver torrent, possessing enough power to overturn the land and sky. Only now did they finally understand how true Zhou Yuan¡¯s title as number one under the Saint stage was. Even palace master Sheng Yuan seemed unable to cope under Zhou Yuan¡¯s crazy barrage of attacks. He naturally did not fear Zhou Yuan¡¯s two fists, but the eight silver arms were unyielding and ferocious like the arms of a demon god. Eight arms would often attack simultaneously and from every direction, the destructive power paired with Zhou Yuan¡¯s Sacred Dragon Physique pounding him till the blood in his body shook uncontrollably. Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression grew darker and darker. Although he had not underestimated Zhou Yuan, he was extremely confident in his own strength. He had believed his half-Saint power more than enough to one-sidedly beat down Zhou Yuan. However, Zhou Yuan had in turn used his own strength to prove that his title as number one under the Saint stage was not a mere ornament. Today¡¯s battle would affect the Sacred Race¡¯s plan and his future prospects. Although Saint experts from both sides were unable to enter Cangxuan Heaven, they were surely watching the battle here. Hence, he had to subdue this arrogant brat no matter what! Sheng Yuan crossed his arms in front of him, blocking yet another blow from the eight arms that sent his body flying once more. He steadied his body and slowly raised his head to gaze at the demon-like eight-armed titan in the distance, chilling killing intent spreading from his eyes. There was no need for talk at this point. He had originally believed he did not need to use his true power, but it seemed that he had overestimated himself and underestimated the ant from back then... Expressionless, Sheng Yuan extended his hand. Wisps of light emerged from his palm as the surrounding Genesis Qi suddenly fell silent. Zhou Yuan could feel a certain resistance suddenly appear in the Genesis Qi, making it difficult for him to utilize it. Moreover, Genesis Qi began to surge towards him, making him feel as if he was stuck in a swamp. However, these changes did not make him afraid. At his cultivation level, he was basically akin to a world of his own. Hence, he would not run out of energy even without drawing from external Genesis Qi. He was more concerned instead of the mysterious light in Sheng Yuan¡¯s palm. Vast, sacred power converged towards the palm as a Saint lotus bud slowly emerged. When the Saint lotus bud appeared, Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils could not help but shrink. In the all-heavens, the eyes of numerous powerful existences also widened slightly as low voices sounded, ¡°It¡¯s a Saint lotus bud¡­¡± ¡°Has he already reached that step¡­¡± ¡°If so, Zhou Yuan is going to be in trouble¡­¡± Chapter 1408 EaChapter Revealing their Techniques, the Fighting Style of the Summit The Saint lotus bud slowly rose into the air. When it appeared, all sound seemed to disappear, leaving only the noise of Genesis Qi humming strangely as if in worship. An indescribable presence spread from the saint lotus bud. In this moment, every living thing in Cangxuan Heaven felt an indescribable feeling of heaviness. The saint lotus bud had become the focal point of the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression had turned grave and wary. At his current cultivation level, the Saint stage was no longer that mysterious to him. Hence, he understood what this saint lotus bud represented. There were three levels to the Saint stage, each differentiated by the number of lotuses. This lotus referred to the Saint lotus, which was the final form of one¡¯s entire Genesis Qi cultivation. Only by creating a Saint lotus would one have properly stepped into the Saint stage. Palace master Sheng Yuan had been half-Saint in the past, but his strength had clearly grown over the years. Hence, although he had yet to create a true Saint lotus, he had already formed a Saint lotus bud. This was the precursor to the Saint lotus. Once the bud fully blossomed, Sheng Yuan would step into the Saint stage and no longer be a half-Saint. One could say that creating a Saint lotus bud meant that Sheng Yuan was one step closer to the Saint stage. However, one would never casually bring out the Saint lotus bud because it needed to be continuously nourished by one¡¯s essence and forged by Saint force. If this process was interrupted, flaws might appear. Hence, suddenly summoning his Saint lotus bud showed that Sheng Yuan had been genuinely angered and intended to use it to end this battle. Sheng Yuan¡¯s murderous gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan. Anyone could see that he was seeing red. After all, it was completely out of his expectation for the battle to have lasted so long. Moreover, using the Saint lotus bud was not without consequence. However, Sheng Yuan understood the importance of this battle. It was of utmost importance to slay Zhou Yuan and seize the other part of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. As long as he could complete the mission given to him by the Sacred Race, the rewards he received would far surpass a few small flaws in his Saint lotus bud. These thoughts made intensified the murder in Shegn Yuan¡¯s eyes. With a thought, the brightly shining Saint lotus bud began to vibrate. Strands of divine light flowed on the lotus bud before abruptly shooting forth. A beam of divine light dashed in the sky. In the next instant, dusk descended upon the land, making it seem as if the beam was the only light left in the entire world... Countless gazes were bewitched by the divine light. It seemed to contain an indescribable charm that could belong only to the ultimate power of this world. It was the goal countless practitioners spent their entire life stubbornly pursuing, the apex of Genesis Qi The divine light mercilessly washed down towards Zhou Yuan. As it descended, the space around Zhou Yuan was completely sealed, making him feel as if he was a bug trapped in amber, unable to escape. Danger bells loudly rang in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, causing him to act immediately. A low dragon-like roar sounded as the eight silver arms crossed above him, forming layers of indestructible defenses. Swoosh! The divine light flowed past. There was unexpectedly no earth-shaking noise from the impact, dazing the countless onlookers, who clearly could not understand what had happened. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned rather ugly. As the divine light washed across him, he could clearly feel four silver arms rapidly turn dim and mottled... Moreover, the Genesis Qi surging around him began to weaken, making him feel as if something vital was now missing. It felt as if the divine light had shaved away his Genesis Qi foundation... ¡°What a tyrannical Saint lotus divine light!¡± The wariness in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes grew. Was this the power of a Saint expert? Even though Sheng Yuan had not properly advanced to the Saint stage, his Saint force and Saint lotus divine light possessed magical power that surpassed one¡¯s imagination. An ordinary third stage Law Domain expert¡¯s Genesis Qi would have likely been completely washed away by the divine light, turning him into a lamb for the slaughter. In contrast, Zhou Yuan had only lost a small portion of his Genesis Qi due to his resistance. Of course, it was also because his Genesis Qi was extremely high quality. Even though there was a gap between his grade 9 Saint Dragon Qi and Saint force, it was still not easy to deal with. Sheng Yuan indifferently observed Zhou Yuan¡¯s darkening expression while being inwardly astonished. The compactness of Zhou Yuan¡¯s Genesis Qi had likewise exceeded his expectations. However, he was only a little astonished. Since a single wash could not cripple Zhou Yuan, how about another or even ten more! Before Sheng Yuan could act again, however, Zhou Yuan had already begun to attack again. A punch rumbled through the air, accompanied by Genesis Qi in the shape of a giant dragon as it ferociously attacked Sheng Yuan. Sheng Yuan merely chuckled. With a thought, divine light charged out of the Saint lotus bud and rushed towards the giant-dragon-like fist. The Genesis Qi fist disappeared as divine light washed across it. The remaining light continued along its path, passing straight into Zhou Yuan, who was unable to avoid it. Another layer of Genesis Qi was shaved away, causing the silver runes on his body to gradually dim as his several-dozen-foot tall body began to shrink inch by inch. The countless onlookers in Cangxuan Heaven began to realize that Zhou Yuan was in a pinch. Anyone could see that Zhou Yuan was now at a complete disadvantage. Zhou Yuan was unable to avoid the waves of divine light, and could only allow it to land on his body and shave away at his Genesis Qi. The atmosphere of the entire Cangxuan Heaven began to turn rather stifling. ... In a certain domain within the viscous sea of blood below. Plumes of berserk Genesis Qi rapidly rose like smoke as two armies clashed in cruel combat. Two Law Domains collided, an azure sun and blood lightning dancing maniacally. Sect master Qing Yang stood in the air, his face frosty as he stared at Lei Jun some distance away. Blood lightning twined around Lei Jun¡¯s body as a torrential fiendish aura spread from him. Both parties were covered in wounds, a sign of how intense the battle had been. Lei Jun wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth and raised his head. His gaze pierced through the domain, seeing the apex clash in the outside world as he icily chuckled and said, ¡°Qing Yang, the alliance chief you¡¯ve placed your hopes in, seems to be at the end of his rope.¡± Sect master Qing Yang also shifted his attention to the outside world. Soon after, he calmly said, ¡°You should worry about yourself. Zhou Yuan is the person chosen by teacher, and teacher¡¯s judgement has never been wrong.¡± Lei Jun laughed mockingly. ¡°Do you still feel that Cang Xuan has good judgement while standing before me?¡± Sect master Qing Yang slowly said, ¡°That is why I will kill you here, erasing the only person teacher has ever been wrong about.¡± Though his tone was calm, the killing intent within made the surrounding space distort a little. ¡°What a good disciple.¡± Lei Jun displayed a chilling smile. ¡°Unfortunately, when Zhou Yuan is killed, your Cangxuan alliance will crumble. Don¡¯t worry, when the Sacred Palace is in power, I will take over the Cangxuan Sect. However, I might have to change its name... ¡°How does the Leijun Sect sound to you?¡± A giant azure sun suddenly rose into the sky as a wave of azure flames erupted and swept towards Lei Jun. ¡°Why so angry? But what can you do?¡± Lei Jun laughed loudly. He took one final look at the one-sided battle on the outside world before directing boundless blood lightning to meet Qing Yang¡¯s furious offensive. ... Swoosh swoosh! Wave after wave of divine light continuously descended from the sky and washed over Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The Genesis Qi around him had already become extremely faint, and the silver rune battle armor extremely dim. The several-dozen-feet tall body had also returned to its original size. ¡°Zhou Yuan...you¡¯ve lost.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan indifferently gazed at the weakened Zhou Yuan. The victor was already clear. It was no longer possible for Zhou Yuan to threaten Sheng Yuan in his current state. However, Sheng Yuan did not stop his assault, maintaining his cautiousness as he sent down another wave of divine light. As the final wave fell, the last bit of Genesis Qi around Zhou Yuan disappeared. In the Cangxuan alliance, countless people¡¯s eyes were filled with sorrow. Was the battle to decide the fate of Cangxuan Heaven going to end like this? Crack! The silver rune battle armor on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body dimmed fully before beginning to disintegrate, turning to countless specks of silver light that rose into the sky. When the silver rune battle armor disappeared, however, Sheng Yuan¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. The inside of the armor was empty! All he could sense was a slowly dissipating wisp of Spirit power. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was not inside the armor, but a Spirit double?! Then his true body... Sheng Yuan abruptly raised his head to find a small area suddenly shattering open, revealing the small domain hidden within. A figure¡¯s cold gaze had locked onto him from the small spatial crack! Zhou Yuan! Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression changed drastically. Zhou Yuan¡¯s five fingers were curled like a claw as a seal formed at his fingertips. Dark-red runes slowly spread from his palm, forming a pattern that gave off a sensation of dread. Zhou Yuan displayed an eerily chilling smile at Sheng Yuan. ¡°Sacred lotus bud huh? ¡°It is indeed formidable...however, since you dared to take it out, I will make it impossible for it to blossom in the future!¡± The strands of hair across his forehead turned snow-white as a beam of dark-red poured out from his palm like a furious dragon. Amidst the dark-red light, one would see glimmering mysterious patterns. The beam of red pierced through the air and enveloped the Saint lotus bud. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice seemed to echo all around. ¡°This is...the Forbidden Saint Sealing Script!¡± Chapter 1409 Sealing Technique A dark-red pillar of light fell from the sky, containing an indescribable power. Even palace master Sheng Yuan suddenly felt his heart shiver at the red light¡¯s appearance. He had an unexplainable feeling that the dark-red light was capable of gravely injuring him. Zhou Yuan seemed to be waiting for this very chance! He had used the magical silver rune battle armor to draw Sheng Yuan¡¯s attention, while his true body concealed itself at some unknown time during the battle, waiting for the right moment to counterattack... These thoughts flashed across Sheng Yuan¡¯s mind in an instant. However, the dark-red beam was far too swift, and it was already impossible to dodge when it appeared. An ominous glint flashed in Sheng Yuan¡¯ eyes. He refused to believe that Zhou Yuan, who had been forced into a corner, would still be able to bite back! As long as he blocked this counterattack, Sheng Yuan would be able to launch a counter attack of his own and finally obliterate Zhou Yuan from existence. Sheng Yuan displayed no hesitation. Divine light spouted from the Saint lotus bud, interweaving above it to form layers of defense. In the sky, a sneer rose from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth when he saw this. The Forbidden Saint Sealing Script was a Saint Genesis art he had dug out from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture when he advanced to the Law Domain stage. Moreover, it was a super tier Saint Genesis art that was not the least bit inferior to Zhou Yuan¡¯s previous trump card, the Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens. However, this super tier Saint Genesis art did not specialize in attack but sealing. Like its namesake suggests, it possessed the power to seal Saint experts. Of course, it was not possible for Zhou Yuan to truly seal a Saint expert given his current strength. In fact, let alone a genuine Saint expert, even a half-Saint like Sheng Yuan was already pushing it. However, Sheng Yuan had summoned his Saint lotus bud, presenting Zhou Yuan with a golden opportunity. Although he could not seal Sheng Yuan himself, the Saint lotus bud was an excellent target. Bzz! The beam of dark-red light arrived. Upon contact, the layers of divine light instantly began to melt away at an astonishing rate like snow meeting lava. The dark-red light engulfed the Saint lotus bud. Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression abruptly changed as this development, clearly not expecting his divine light defenses to be so frail. ¡°Humph, you¡¯re delusional if you think you can attack the Saint lotus bud and damage it!¡± Sheng Yuan understood Zhou Yuan¡¯s intention but did not lose his composure. The Saint lotus bud was the culmination of his life¡¯s Genesis Qi foundation. It was not that he looked down on Zhou Yuan, but it was clearly impossible for him to destroy it with his current strength. The dark-red light descended and quietly dissipated, seemingly having a strong start but a weak finish. The dark-red light disappeared, leaving the Saint lotus bud silently hovering in the sky. There were no signs of any damage. Countless gazes were struck dumb by this scene. The chance Zhou Yuan had invested so much effort into creating had ended up fruitless?! A chilling smile emerged from the corners of Sheng Yuan¡¯s mouth. ¡°The idea was good, but it''s a pity that you were far too weak¡­¡± In the sky, however, Zhou Yuan''s smile widened. ¡°Is that so?¡± His response made Sheng Yuan¡¯s heart leap in his chest as he looked towards the Saint lotus bud again. This time, however, in spite of his mettle, he was so horrified that his soul nearly fled his body. He had seen several red runes begin to spread on the Saint lotus bud, causing the originally brightly glowing bud to dim. In the span of a few breaths, the originally dazzling Saint lotus bud that had felt like the center of the entire world had turned dim and withered as if it was about to wilt. These changes stupefied countless onlookers. When the Saint lotus bud simmed, the half-Saint pressure from Sheng Yuan¡¯s body also became erratic and indistinct. Anyone could see that his foundation had been shaken! Sheng Yuan hurriedly recalled the Saint lotus bud and attempted to connect to it. However, his face soon turned deathly pale, because there was no response no matter how hard he tried. The Saint force contained within felt as if it belonged to someone else now. It was as if the Saint lotus bud had temporarily lost its power! Sheng Yuan was swiftly able to discern the reason: the bud had been sealed! His Saint lotus bud had been sealed! Sheng Yuan felt as if the entire world was spinning around him and was in deep disbelief. He would never have imagined that his Saint lotus bud would be sealed by Zhou Yuan... Such methods were basically unheard of! Sealing a Saint lotus bud with the Law Domain stage cultivation? How was that possible! ¡°Impossible! You...how did you do it?!¡± Sheng Yuan had lost his composure, his face contorting uglily. His reaction was not surprising. Even the many watching Saint experts, regardless of faction, outside Cangxuan Heaven wore looks of astonishment. This outcome had likewise exceeded their expectations. Sheng Yuan¡¯s Saint lotus bud had been sealed by Zhou Yuan?! One must know that the Saint lotus bud was the precursor to the Saint lotus and the Saint force within it was one of the ultimate powers of this world. Let alone damage it, ordinary Saint Genesis arts would naturally dissipate upon contact. Hence, it was unthinkable for someone below the Saint stage to seal anything belonging to a Saint expert.. However, this supposedly unthinkable thing had happened right before their eyes. The Saint experts could not help but want to curse and scold that this was way too unreasonable. Although Zhou Yuan was called the number one expert under the Saint stage. He was ultimately only at the Law Domain stage, but what kind of Law Domain could ignore Saint force and seal a Saint lotus bud? When Zhou Yuan ascended to the Saint stage in the future, won¡¯t he be capable of sealing them as well?! At this thought, several Saint experts¡¯ faces gradually turned grave, a sliver of wariness now present in their eyes when their gazes penetrated Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s boundary wall and landed on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Since when had he become capable of threatening Saint experts? A quiet little courtyard in All-Heavens City. Yaoyao elegantly sat on a swing with Tuntun on her lap. There was a Genesis Qi screen in front of her that relayed the battle in Cangxuan Heaven. When she saw the gradually dimming Saint lotus bud, a faint arc rose from the corners of her lips. The sealing of palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s Saint lotus bud would greatly weaken him. If nothing unexpected happened, Zhou Yuan would soon become the victor. Yaoyao honestly did not recollect much of Sheng Yuan even though he was the person who had caused her to fall into a deep sleep. It was just difficult for someone as insignificant as him to enter her eyes. However, she did think he was a good grinding stone for Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao¡¯s clear eyes observed Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure on the screen as she gently stroked Tuntun¡¯s soft fur. If he managed to slay Sheng Yuan, he would have taken another step forward on the path towards the Saint stage. The young Divine Dwelling practitioner that had been forced to leave Cangxuan Heaven all those years ago was now about to become the strongest man in Cangxuan Heaven. Chapter 1410 The Vicious Sheng Yuan The sight of the dimming and wilting Saint lotus bud stupefied the countless onlookers in Cangxuan Heaven, who were also clearly both alarmed and frightened by this development. In the sky, Zhou Yuan was not overly surprised by this outcome. It had been too negligent of Sheng Yuan to expose his Saint lotus bud. Sheng Yuan had really looked down on Zhou Yuan¡¯s many years of battle experience if he failed to consider that Zhou Yuan would fail to grasp such a chance. With the Saint lotus bud now sealed, Sheng Yuan was now much weaker than before. It was the best time to take advantage of him in this vulnerable state. Hence, Zhou Yuan did not hesitate in the slightest. With a thunderous dragon roar, space shattered under his foot as he pounced towards Sheng Yuan. Sheng Yuan was immediately alerted to Zhou Yuan¡¯s movement, causing his expression to turn ashen as he quickly waved his sleeve. Space warped around him and swiftly swallowed his body. He naturally understood Zhou Yuan¡¯s intention, but no longer dared to clash directly with Zhou Yuan in his current condition. His priority was to find an opportunity to undo the seal on his Saint lotus bud. ¡°Where are you going?!¡± However, Sheng Yuan¡¯s plan did not work out. An icy chuckle sounded from above as a certain spot nearby suddenly shattered, revealing a night-black brush tip that swung towards him with power that could scatter stars. Thump! Space shattered and a figure was thrown out. Who else could it be but Sheng Yuan, who had tried to hide inside of space itself. Sheng Yuan sternly shouted, ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t push me!¡± However, the laughable threat was completely ignored by Zhou Yuan. In the next instant, millions of Genesis Qi torrents fell from the sky, transforming into giant Genesis Qi dragons that swarmed towards Sheng Yuan from every direction. Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression darkened as he continuously flicked all ten fingers. Every flick sent out a dot of light that rapidly grew into red scissors as they shot through the air. Different beast runes blossomed from each pair of scissors, accompanied by countless howls. The many scissors gave off unimaginably sharp auras, easily cutting through even the fabric of space. ¡°Thousand Beast Flame Scissors!¡± Countless glowing red scissors collided with the Genesis Qi dragons. Boom boom! Terrifying explosions occured one after another, each accompanied by a thunderous boom. However, anyone could see that the red scissors were disappearing one by one. Sheng Yuan was clearly much weaker after his Saint lotus bud was sealed. ¡°Blasted!¡± Sheng Yuan¡¯s nails dug into his palm as his expression turned frighteningly dark. To think a mighty half-Saint like him, the strongest expert in Cangxuan Heaven, was being forced into such a miserable state by Zhou Yuan. Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes rapidly flickered in thought as he growled to himself in a low voice, ¡°No, this cannot continue. I need to think of a way to break the seal!¡± However, he had already tried to unravel the seal earlier, but it was extremely sturdy. Even he found himself unable to undo it for the time being. Ordinary methods were clearly not going to work. ¡°Do I really have no choice?¡± Sheng Yuan was silent for a second before a resolute look flashed in his eyes. Bang! The space above Sheng Yuan suddenly shattered as an enormous purple-gold dragon fist reached out with deadly killing intent and power that could smash apart stars. The attack was so swift that it was nearly impossible to avoid. Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression darkened even more, but made no move to avoid the attack, allowing it to descend towards him. He seemed to have no intention of avoiding it. Boom boom! Space exploded along with Sheng Yuan¡¯s body as the sky was dyed blood-red. A rain of blood fell, sprinkling towards the land below. Countless life forms in Cangxuan Heaven watched this scene in shock, everyone falling deathly silent for a time. The very same Sheng Yuan, who had brought endless chaos and war to Cangxuan Heaven, had just been killed? The silence was soon broken by booming mountain-shaking cheers. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared in the sky, gazing at the spot where Sheng Yuan¡¯s body had been smashed into pulp. However, there were no signs of joy on his face as his brows furrowed together. He had sensed a faint, peculiar undulation spread from Sheng Yuan¡¯s body a split second before impact. Palace master Sheng Yuan was not dead yet. The Decoder Saint Rune began to revolve in Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils as he carefully scanned the falling blood. In the next instant, he sensed a pulse of Genesis Qi from the viscous Sacred Blood Reservoir below. He stared hard at the spot as the blood-water began to converge, gradually turning into the shape of a human. It was Sheng Yuan. Sheng Yuan raised his head to meet Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze and chillingly said, ¡°Do you really believe it is so easy to kill a half-Saint? Naive fool!¡± Although he had not been killed, his pale face indicated that he had paid a painful price to avoid death. The cheering came to an abrupt halt as disappointment filled everyone¡¯s faces. Zhou Yuan, however, was still very calm. ¡°How many more times can you escape in that condition?¡± Sheng Yuan was silent for a moment before he replied, ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you manage to reach the Saint stage, even Cang Xuan will not be able to compare to you.¡± By this point in time, even he had no choice but to admit that Zhou Yuan¡¯s threat level was not the least bit inferior to patriarch Cang Xuan at the peak of his power. One must know that patriarch Cang Xuan was a Saint expert that was also the master of Cangxuan Heaven back then. In contrast, Zhou Yuan had yet to even ascend to the Saint stage. ¡°However, although my mistake allowed you to seal my Saint lotus bud, you still might not be the victor of today¡¯s battle. Remember, you forced me to do this.¡± Sheng Yuan took a deep breath, his expression resolute as he rapidly made a series of seals before slamming his hands onto the surface of the Sacred Blood Reservoir. Omm! An enormous strange rune abruptly expanded from his palms before submerging into the sea of blood. Rumble! The blood sea began to roar violently as a strange power began to activate. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression changed slightly as he pampered into the depths of the Sacred Blood Reservoir with the Decoder Saint Rune, where he saw an altar. Blood-red halos rose from the altar, giving off a feeling of extreme unease. Meanwhile the spatial maze within the Sacred Blood Reservoir also began to distort, causing the fighting experts to stop in confusion. In the different domains, Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Chi Jing and the others cautiously observed the strange spatial activity. In one of the domains, Liu Lianyi observed the strange phenomenon in alarm before swiftly asking sect master Qing Yang, who had just retreated to her side, ¡°Senior brother, what¡¯s going on?¡± Genesis Qi weakly pulsed around sect master Qing Yang, likely due to the battle against Lei Jun. Fortunately, Lei Jun had also sustained substantial injuries. He had originally intended to settle the battle there and then, but the strange spatial activity around them had ultimately made him abandon the plan. After all, there were still Liu Lianyi, Ling Jin and the other Cangxuan Sect higher ups around. Sect master Qing Yang shook his head with a grave expression, implying that he did not know as well, before turning his attention back to Lei Jun, who was also scanning his surroundings in confusion. It appeared that Lei Jun was likewise in the dark. Since Lei Jun was not the culprit, that left only palace master Sheng Yuan. While sect master Qing Yang and the others were bewildered, their hearts suddenly shook and they quickly retrieved the jade tile given to them by Zhou Yuan. Bright light shined from the jade tiles and enveloped their bodies. It was quickly followed by an eruption of irresistible force as the jade tiles seemed to transform into spatial passages that sucked all of them in. Outside. Numerous spatial cracks appeared in the sky, spitting out figure after figure, who were left dazedly standing in the air. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The crowd looked towards Zhou Yuan. Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s brows were tightly knitted together. Why had they suddenly been brought out just as the battle between him and Lei Jun was about to be decided? Zhou Yuan gravely stared at the violently burning sea of blood below. Through the Decoder Saint Rune, he could see blood-red tentacles emerge from the strange altar at the deepest depths of the sea and reach into the many domains. Zhou Yuan said in a low voice, ¡°Sheng Yuan, what are you up to?!¡± Above the blood sea, Sheng Yuan sighed in disappointment and frustration before he nonchalantly said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing much, you just forced me to use my final trump card.¡± AHHH! As his voice rang out, countless shrieks suddenly sounded from the blood sea. As the blood sea churned, everyone could just barely make out the many domains within it. Sect master Qing Yang and the others were finally able to see blood-red tentacles frantically surging into the domains and grabbing the Sacred Palace experts. Anyone who was grabbed would instantly turn into a pool of blood regardless of their cultivation. In one of the domains, the injured Lei Jun glared at the approaching tentacles and howled, ¡°Sheng Yuan, what is this?!¡¯ Sheng Yuan sighed softly and said, ¡°Brother Lei, did you really believe the altar¡¯s baptism only increased your strength? From the moment you were baptised, a certain brand has been imprinted on all of you... ¡°I honestly did not wish to use this final card, but who could have expected that Zhou Yuan would force my hand... ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will help you fulfil your final wish. When I unify Cangxuan Heaven, I will destroy the Cangxuan Sect so they can accompany you in death.¡± Lei Jun¡¯s expression twisted in rage, fire practically spouting from his eyes as he howled, ¡°I would rather self-destruct than help you!¡± The Genesis Qi in his body abruptly began to boil as he ignited his Law Domain. In the next instant, dazzling rays erupted from his body like a shining star. Before he could complete the final step, however, the strange blood-red tentacles arrived and pierced through the dazzling light. The light rapidly dimmed as the self-destruction power was devoured by the tentacles. In the end, all Lei Jun could do was howl in despair, ¡°AHHH! I refuse to accept this!¡± He had clearly failed to even self-destruct in the end. Above the blood sea, compassion filled Sheng Yuan¡¯s face as he said, ¡°Trying to self-destruct is useless.¡± In the sky, sect master Qing Yang and the others watched in shock. Even people like them felt a chill rush from the bottom of their feet to the top of their heads. In a short few moments, all of the elite Sacred Palace experts...had been killed, without a single survivor. No one would have ever imagined that the great Sacred Palace army would not die at the Cangxuan alliance¡¯s hands, but the palace master they believed in. Has Sheng Yuan gone insane?! Chapter 1411 Offering AHHHH! Blood-curdling shrieks continuously rang out from the depths of the churning blood sea, causing the countless onlookers¡¯ hairs to stand on end as their eyes filled with terror. They were well aware of what was happening. The Sacred Palace experts were being devoured and absorbed by the blood sea... Although these people were enemies, no one had expected they would ultimately die to their trusted palace master instead of their adversaries. Numerous gazes turned towards the white-haired figure above the blood sea and involuntarily shivered. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s viciousness and cruelty made their hearts turn cold. ¡°Lei Jun¡­¡± Sect master Qing Yang, Liu Lianyi, old Xuan and the others¡¯ expressions could not help but turn rather complicated when they witnessed the scene of Lei Jun¡¯s self-destruction attempt failing and instead being devoured by the blood sea. Of course, they naturally hated Lei Jun. After all, he had played a major role in patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s death years ago. However, sect master Qing Yang had intended to personally end this grudge between them, and never imagined Lei Jun would die at Sheng Yuan¡¯s hands instead. Liu Lianyi grinded her teeth and said, ¡°He brought this onto himself!¡± ¡°It¡¯s good that he¡¯s dead.¡± Old Xuan snorted, showing no sympathy towards Lei Jun¡¯s pathetic death. He was a worthless ingrate in old Xuan¡¯s eyes. The master had treated him so well, but the bastard had not only shown no gratitude but instead schemed to bring upon Cang Xuan¡¯s downfall. It was quite fitting for him to die at his companion, Sheng Yuan¡¯s hands. Sect master Qing Yang sighed softly. Since Lei Jun was dead, there was naturally no need to hold on to past grudges. It was more important to focus instead on Sheng Yuan. He worriedly looked towards the Sacred Blood Reservoir, where frightening waves were surging. As the Sacred Palace experts were devoured, a frightening power that made his heart shiver had begun to gather. When it erupted, a calamity was sure to befall them. Rumble! While sect master Qing Yang worried, a ten-thousand-feet tall wave of Genesis Qi suddenly descended from the sky. A giant life-like dragon roared within the Genesis Qi, giving off an ancient and boundless pressure. The strength of this Genesis Qi made the eyelids of sect master Qing Yang and the other third stage Law Domain experts jump as their spirits trembled in fear. Sect master Qing Yang could not help but turn around and look at the Genesis Qi¡¯s owner. Who else could it be but Zhou Yuan? Sect master Qing Yang, Liu Lianyi, old Xuan and the others looked at each other, seeing the mixed feelings in each other¡¯s eyes. The little Cangxuan Sect disciple from back then had already completely surpassed all of them... Boom! The giant dragon-like Genesis Qi torrent plunged from the sky, crashing down towards Sheng Yuan with unmatched ferocity. Before the destructive attack could land, however, the blood sea suddenly roared as a ten-thousand-feet tall wave rose and slammed into the falling Genesis Qi torrent. Pop. The two forces collided. To everyone¡¯s surprise, the blood wave possessed an unimaginable corrosive power. It surged forth and melted away Zhou Yuan¡¯s giant dragon-like torrent that made even third stage Law Domain experts tremble in fear. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened a little. The power contained in the Sacred Blood Reservoir had reached a level that was shocking even to him. Above the blood sea, Sheng Yuan¡¯s white hair fluttered in the wind. He gazed towards the still melting Sacred Palace experts as his eyes seemed to dim faintly before quickly turning into ruthless determination. In the air, Zhou Yuan coldly said, ¡°You can even turn on your own people. I can¡¯t help but acknowledge that you are indeed a bastard.¡± Sheng Yuan raised his eyelids and indifferently said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the one who forced me to do this?¡± Venerable Lord Gu Jing interjected, ¡°Sheng Yuan, don¡¯t try to shift the blame with your glib tongue. You are from Cangxuan Heaven, but you willingly became a dog of the Sacred Race. Despicable!¡± The other experts cast disdainful gazes at Sheng Yuan. Sheng Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°You fools, the Sacred Race is not something that the all-heavens can ever hope to match. Your resistance is merely akin to a mantis trying to stop a cart and such actions will only bring calamity to the all-heavens. All I¡¯m doing is trying to at least preserve some of us.¡± Zhou Yuan indifferently said, ¡°To live as the Sacred Race¡¯s livestock?¡± Sheng Yuan replied, ¡°If anyone performs well, the Sacred God will help wash away our human bloodline to become a member of the Sacred Race.¡± As he said this, a slightly fanatical look arose in his eyes. The crowd was speechless. Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s expression was complicated as he said, ¡°Sheng Yuan, no matter what, you used to be the one who had the greatest chance to step into the Saint stage in Cangxuan Heaven. How did you fall so far?¡± Sheng Yuan laughed. ¡°None of you will understand because you do not know how powerful the Sacred God is. In the great war of the past, the Sacred God would have already become the ultimate god of the Tianyuan World if not for the Ancestral Dragon remnant will¡¯s appearance in the end. However, it is only a matter of time. When the time comes, all of you will understand how correct my decision is.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. There seemed to be something not quite right with Sheng Yuan. The blind zealotry he displayed was akin to an extremist. A person like this had already lost his rationality and there was no point in trying to convince him. ¡°Everyone, attack together and kill him.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand. Rumble! The numerous Law Domain experts nearby moved immediately. In an instant, countless astonishing torrents of Genesis Qi roared out, shaking the land as they fell towards palace master Sheng Yuan like a meteor shower. However, Sheng Yuan merely chuckled in response to the terrifying attacks. With a stomp, the Sacred Blood Reservoir heaved and a giant blood-red shield formed above him. Boom boom! Powerful Genesis techniques blasted the blood shield one after another. However, all they managed to leave were ripples, none of the attacks able to pierce through and deal damage to Sheng Yuan. The expressions of the Cangxuan alliance¡¯s many apex experts changed at this sight. ¡°It¡¯s useless.¡± Sheng Yuan shook his head in pity before he extended his hand. The sealed Saint lotus bud appeared and slowly drifted down towards the blood reservoir. Zhou Yuan frowned deeply as he watched the seal gradually fall off as blood washed over it. The Sacred Blood Reservoir could dissolve his seal! Sheng Yuan raised his head and looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°It seems that the seal you took so much effort to place is not as strong as you expected.¡± Zhou Yuan looked down, meeting Sheng Yuan¡¯s gaze. ¡°Do you intend to keep hiding in the blood reservoir? Once you leave it, what can you do now that you¡¯re all alone?¡± Sheng Yuan laughed. ¡°Could it be that you believe these people will be of any use? ¡°Moreover¡­¡± He looked Zhou Yuan straight in the eye as a strange look surfaced within his own. ¡°Do you really believe that I turned my Sacred Palace people into food just to strengthen the Sacred Blood Reservoir¡¯s power? ¡°Zhou Yuan, you still don¡¯t understand¡­ ¡°But it doesn¡¯t matter. All of you will soon find out what I¡¯m going to do.¡± Sheng Yuan¡¯s white hair drifted in the wind as he sat down above the surface of the blood sea under countless watching gazes. His hands slowly lifted and formed a seal. Rumble! The blood sea began to churn violently as a giant whirlpool appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes. In the end, a strange blood-red altar slowly rose from its depths. Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes grew increasingly feverish as he gazed at the altar. He kowtowed deeply to the altar before a clearly crazed voice sounded, ¡°I sacrifice the Sacred Palace blood...as an offering to the Sacred God.¡± His voice was transmitted to the ears of countless people. In this moment, the expressions of all of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s apex experts, including Zhou Yuan, changed drastically. Outside Cangxuan Heaven, the all-heavens Saint experts¡¯ expression also rapidly changed. Chapter 1412 All-heavens Stirred The watching Saint experts were enraged when palace master Sheng Yuan kotowed towards the strange, ominous blood-red altar. No one had expected Sheng Yuan to be so vicious and ruthless. It was still hard to believe that he had sacrificed all of the Sacred Palace experts as a blood offering to the Sacred God. Such actions were undoubtedly feeding the enemy! Although an offering like this was insignificant to an almighty existence like the Sacred God, who knew if this would be the one final thing that would tip the scales?! ¡°Deranged bastard!¡± Amidst the primal-chaos of space, prime sovereign Jin Luo bellowed in rage, his eyes filled with chilling murder. Just as he was about to move, however, space rippled violently as a giant hand tore through the chaos and swung towards prime sovereign Jin Luo. At the same time, a vast and apathetic voice rang out, ¡°Jin Luo, if you don¡¯t want to draw all our forces out, the all-heavens had better obediently sit there and watch. The main actors of this show are neither you nor us!¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s long brows fluttered, knowing full-well that the attack was from a prime saint. A giant cloud rose from the top of his head, shining brilliantly as it transformed into a ten-thousand-foot tall Saint lotus. Divine light illuminated every corner of the all-heavens as the lotus rose to meet the giant hand. Boom! Two terrifying existences that stood at the apex of this world exchanged blows, the disturbance instantly destroying countless smaller domains. Deep within the Omega Shrine. Two figures seated on lotus seats opened their eyes as endless Saint force pulsed from their bodies. They were the Omega Shrine¡¯s other two prime sovereigns, Dragon Emperor Di Long and Red Lady Chi Ji. Prime sovereign Di Long¡¯s extremely large and muscular body was encased in armor. He sat there like a giant mountain as a tyrannical pressure that would make ordinary Saint experts suffocate spread from him. Prime sovereign Chi Ji was dressed in a fiery-red long dress. Ancient fire runes adorned the dress with flames rising from its corners. Her extreme beauty and otherworldly presence made her a peerless beauty that transcended her generation. ¡°It appears that we were right, the Sacred Race has been silently scheming something over the past six months.¡± Prime sovereign Chi Ji¡¯s slightly husky voice had a rather unique charm. Prime sovereign Di Long said in his deep voice, ¡°Why would the Sacred Race relent when they seek the demise of the all-heavens? ¡°Their likely intend to take advantage of the internal conflict within Cangxuan Heaven to take over and weaken our all-heavens.¡± Fiery light surged in prime sovereign Chi Ji¡¯s eyes as her gaze pierced through multiple domains to see the stand-off in Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°With Cangxuan Heaven currently closed off and the Sacred Race¡¯s obstruction, we are unable to interfere. ¡°Jin Luo is also being blocked. We have to maintain our vigilance no matter what the Sacred Race is up to.¡± Prime sovereign Di Long nodded. His eyes turned deep as he stared into space. ¡°I¡¯ve recently begun to feel a slight sense of unease. A certain will seems to be emerging in the Tianyuan World¡¯s Genesis Qi and I¡¯m afraid that...the Sacred God¡¯s awakening is near.¡± Prime sovereign Chi Ji¡¯s beautiful face turned grave. ¡°If the Sacred God awakens, we can only hope that person will be able to match up to Him.¡± She cast her gaze towards All-Heavens City, where the all-heavens final hope currently resided. Prime sovereign Di Long was silent for a moment before he said, ¡°Who knows what these gods will do¡­¡± When they first discovered the God Stone that eventually birthed the Third God, the Omega Shrine had split on what to do. The two main views had been to absorb the God Stone and attempt to ascend to the next level of cultivation or nurture it till the Third God was successfully born. Prime sovereign Di Long had belonged to the faction that supported absorbing the God Stone. Prime sovereign Chi Ji¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she stared at prime sovereign Di Long. ¡°No matter what you intended in the past, the Third God has already been born and we will be giving Her our full support. Don¡¯t entertain such thoughts ever again.¡± Prime sovereign Chi Ji had remained neutral from start to end, acting as a moderator between the two factions with differing views. Since the Third God had already been born, she naturally would no longer allow prime sovereign Di Long to hold his previous view. Prime sovereign Di Long was silent for a moment before he said, ¡°Do you think She will fight the Sacred God for the all-heavens when the time comes?¡± ¡°You seem to have some prejudice against Her.¡± Chi Jing shook her head and said, ¡°She was born from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will and will naturally protect the life It created. Moreover, She is not truly apathetic and emotionless. I can see that She has strong feelings towards that little fellow called Zhou Yuan.¡± Prime sovereign Di Long was somewhat speechless. Due toYaoyao¡¯s importance, they had naturally closely observed her and were of course aware of Her relationship with Zhou Yuan. However, it was this very relationship that was inconceivable to him. Could a god really fall in love? It was nearly impossible to believe. ¡°I hope so.¡± These were the only words he could utter in the end. He slapped his hands together, sending out a dignified dragon roar that was transmitted into the all-heavens Saint experts¡¯ ears. Imposing presences rose from Omega Shrine and moved outside, creating several defensive lines. The voices of Saint experts also echoed throughout Hunyuan Heaven, Qiankun Heaven, Wanshou Heaven and Wuxing Heaven, notifying the all-heavens to prepare for war. Once the Sacred Race launched their assault, the all-heavens would resist with all of their might. Once the war began, all internal conflict would be banned, because it was a war for the all-heavens survival. The all-heavens tensely watched the battle continue to play out in Cangxuan Heaven. ... While the all-heavens and the Sacred Race began to move, countless gazes were focused on the blood sea... Bzz! As palace master Sheng Yuan bowed and submitted his offering, an extremely ancient rune slowly began to brighten on the strange and ominous blood-red altar. A terrifying suction force erupted from the altar, drawing in the endless Genesis Qi, vital energy and blood in the Sacred Blood Reservoir. As more and more blood rushed into it, space began to warp above the altar as a spatial crack slowly formed. The spatial crack was akin to the endless night and no one knew where it led to. Even a Saint expert¡¯s senses would find it near impossible to find its end. The expressions of Zhou Yuan and the others could not help but change drastically. They could sense a faint presence appear from the crack. The presence was weak, but gave off an indescribable primal aura of majesty that felt even older than the land they stood on. In addition, it gave off a certain pressure that made Cangxuan Heaven seemingly lose its natural order... Violent wind, torrential rain, lightning and fire appeared from nowhere and unfurled in all directions. In this moment, it was as if the elements were trying to reforge the world. A sliver of fear appeared in the eyes of sect master Qing Yang, and the others. This presence...was even more frightening than Saint experts. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath. Only one existence in the entire Tianyuan World could possess such a presence... The Sacred God! It was the Sacred God¡¯s presence! While everyone was overcome by terror, a faint strand of light shot out from the mysterious spatial crack, passing through the altar and into Sheng Yuan¡¯s kneeling figure. At the same time, an unknown voice mumbled like a nightmare from the bottomless abyss, ¡°My...faithful believer...use the power you''ve been given...to complete your mission¡­¡± Chapter 1413 Scheme A mysterious nightmarish voice sounded from some unknown location. Rumble! An aura that terrified numerous Law Domain experts erupted from palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s kneeling figure, rapidly climbing at an alarming speed. Snow-white long hair frantically grew, covering the surface of the blood sea as it was gradually dyed a jarring scarlet. What made everyone¡¯s expression change the most, however, was seeing the seal on the Saint lotus bud rapidly crack and disintegrate. In the end, the Saint lotus bud slowly rose from the blood sea and hovered above Sheng Yuan¡¯s head. Mysterious qi endlessly flowed from the top of Sheng Yuan¡¯s head and poured into the Saint lotus bud. As the mysterious qi gushed in, something that deeply terrified sect master Qing Yang and the others happened; the Saint lotus bud slowly began to blossom. Once it fully blossomed, it would become a complete Saint lotus! In other words, Sheng Yuan would finally break free of his restraints and advance from a half-Saint to a true Saint expert! Although there was seemingly only a small difference between them, in terms of power, the two were akin to heaven and earth. Even someone as strong as Zhou Yuan had said that he could only face Sheng Yuan if he had yet to become a true Saint expert. From this, one could see how vast the gap was between a half-Saint and a true Saint expert. The countless life forms in Cangxuan Heaven were suddenly struck by a feeling of unease. Many might be unfamiliar to the Saint stage because it was too distant to them, but it did not stop the fear that subconsciously gushed out from deep within their souls. Their survival instinct was screaming at them. Even normal individuals had such reactions, let alone the Cangxuan alliance experts, whose faces had turned deathly pale. If not for the slight hope they still had in their alliance leader Zhou Yuan, the Cangxuan alliance army would have already fallen apart. The might of a Saint could shake the very world itself. As Chi Jing sensed the growing unease in the Cangxuan alliance army, she could not help but say, ¡°Zhou Yuan, we must stop him from ascending to the Saint stage!¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the others also looked over with deeply worried eyes. Zhou Yuan stared at the slowly blossoming Saint lotus bud above Sheng Yuan and shook his head. ¡°We can¡¯t, his Saint entry ritual has already begun. He sacrificed all the Sacred Palace experts and received a strand of mysterious qi from the Sacred God to help him achieve a breakthrough. Let alone me, even a Saint expert would not be able to stop Sheng Yuan at this juncture.¡± The group could not help but begin to despair at these words. Palace master Sheng Yuan had already been an incomparably problematic enemy before, and it had taken Zhou Yuan nearly every trick he had to seal Sheng Yuan¡¯s Saint lotus bud. If Sheng Yuan advanced to the Saint stage, even Zhou Yuan would not be his match. When that happened, what hope would Cangxuan Heaven have? ¡°Looks like you are still very rational.¡± Sheng Yuan raised his head and chuckled indifferently at Zhou Yuan. ¡°However, everything you try will be useless. Once I advance to the Saint stage, I won¡¯t stop at just you, Zhou Yuan, I will personally erase everything you¡¯re familiar with.¡± His seemingly nonchalant words were brimming with torrential killing intent. ¡°There is nothing any of you can do now but sit there and wait for the end. Hehe, are you guys finally experiencing the meaning of despair?¡± Countless Cangxuan alliance experts were enraged, but their anger appeared exceptionally useless at this juncture. They could see the Saint lotus above Sheng Yuan¡¯s head slowly blooming as his presence grew increasingly terrifying. However, there was no hint of anger on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Only the iciness in his eyes intensified as he indifferently said, ¡°No one can say what will happen until the end, even you.¡± Sheng Yuan seemed to look over with interest. ¡°Could you still have a trick up your sleeve?¡± Instead of answering, Zhou Yuan asked, ¡°Where have you hidden the Saint Stamp fragments?¡± Sheng Yuan playfully said, ¡°Take a guess.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and said, ¡°I did not sense any fragments on you while we were fighting, nor did I discover anything using the Saint Runes. It seems that you¡¯ve hidden them well. ¡°I believe they should be at the bottom of the Sacred Blood Reservoir?¡± Zhou Yuan pointed towards the violently churning blood sea. Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression paused for an instant. ¡°As the carrier of the four Saint Runes, I have a unique connection to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments. Besides this strange blood sea of yours, what else can completely block this connection?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Sheng Yuan snorted and said, ¡°You¡¯re smart. The Saint Stamp fragments collected by the Sacred Palace have indeed been kept at the bottom of the blood sea. Moreover, I can also tell you that it was through these fragments that I was able to create an altar for the Sacred God. ¡°Oh? Could you be planning on taking back these Saint Stamp fragments and recreate the complete Cangxuan Saint Stamp to match me when I ascend to the Saint stage?¡± Sheng Yuan instantly deduced Zhou Yuan¡¯s goal. Zhou Yuan did not deny it, grinning instead as he replied, ¡°That is indeed my plan.¡± Amused, Sheng Yuan also smiled and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s see if you have the courage to enter the blood sea and snatch back those fragments.¡± The Sacred Blood Reservoir had already grown exceptionally terrifying by this time. If Zhou Yuan stepped in, it would be near impossible to escape no matter how many tricks he had. Hence, Sheng Yuan eagerly looked forward to Zhou Yuan desperately charging into the blood sea and plunging straight to his death. A strange smile appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t need to retrieve them personally.¡± Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed as he sneered, ¡°Still trying to act all mysterious?¡± Zhou Yuan slowly said, ¡°Sheng Yuan, you¡¯re not the only one with a backup plan¡­¡± His hands abruptly formed a seal. Omm! When the seal was formed, rays of light suddenly blossomed from the depths of the blood sea. These changes slightly startled Sheng Yuan and he quickly looked over, finding several jade tiles in the blood sea. They were the ones responsible for the light. ¡°When did these jade tiles enter the blood sea?¡± Alarm blared within Sheng Yuan as he immediately sent out a thought. The blood sea surged, crushing the jade tiles. However, when the tiles were grinded to dust, the light did not fade but instead intensified. A mysterious fragment could be seen at the center of each ray of light. The fragment was not unfamiliar to Sheng Yuan. It was a Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragment! A Saint Stamp fragment had been concealed in each jade tile! However, Sheng Yuan was even more confused, because Zhou Yuan had voluntarily sent all of the Cangxuan alliance¡¯s Saint Stamp fragments into the Sacred Blood Reservoir?! Was this giving up?! At this moment, Sheng Yuan even began to suspect if Zhou Yuan was a fanatical believer of the Sacred God like himself. Regardless, Sheng Yuan could not help but laugh heartily. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ve been unable to collect all these fragments even after so many years and now you¡¯ve voluntarily given them all to me?!¡± Zhou Yuan also chuckled, his smile unreadable. With a flick of his finger, the Saint Stamp fragments that had slipped into the blood sea began shooting downwards, heading straight for the other Saint Stamp fragments that had been trapped at the bottom of the sea. ¡°Yes...I¡¯m giving them all to you, so you¡¯d better properly receive them!¡± Chapter 1414 Sheng Yuan enters the Saint stage Swoosh! Saint Stamp fragments zipped through the viscous blood waters, heading straight towards a certain spot at the bottom of the blood sea. Outside the blood sea, the numerous Cangxuan alliance experts had likewise realized what was happening, causing their expressions to turn uncertain. They were likewise unable to understand why he had voluntarily sent the Saint Stamp fragments into the blood sea. However, no one was stupid enough to doubt Zhou Yuan¡¯s standpoint. Hence, they could only anxiously wait in confusion... Even sect master Qing Yang and the others were rather concerned. However, all they could do was look at each other in silence. After all, the current situation could not grow any worse. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s actions were risky, maybe he had something else up his sleeve? Of course, they were not the only ones who were conflicted. Seated above the blood sea, palace master Sheng Yuan had also become somewhat unsure. He likewise did not know if he should stop and expel the Saint Stamp fragments, or allow them to reach the bottom of the blood sea... It was honestly very difficult to convince himself to expel them. After all, he had desired these fragments for many years, so how could he possibly send them away when they were delivered straight to his doorstep? But if he didn¡¯t expel them, the exceptionally crafty Zhou Yuan was most definitely up to something... Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes rapidly flickered in thought. A long time later, he took a deep breath and made his decision. He was going to accept these Saint Stamp fragments! No matter what Zhou Yuan was plotting, he could forget about taking back these Saint Stamp fragments since they had entered the blood sea. However, Sheng Yuan felt that he should ignore the fragments for now as it was more important to concentrate on his blooming Saint lotus bud. Once he advanced to the Saint stage, he would be able to easily crush any schemes Zhou Yuan had. With his decision made, Sheng Yuan slowly calmed himself and observed the situation like an unconcerned bystander. Under the nervous gazes of the various experts, fragment after fragment zipped through the viscous blood water and ultimately arrived at the bottom of the blood sea. As the Saint Stamp fragments shone on the bottom of the sea, a beam of dazzling light suddenly erupted from the darkness. Light pierced through the blood sea, soaring straight into the sky. Countless gazes stared at the bottom of the light beam and saw numerous fragments that pulsed with mysterious power gathered together, bound by several layers of seals. They were the Saint Stamp fragments that had landed in Sheng Yuan¡¯s hands. Zhou Yuan was slightly dazed by the sight of the numerous Saint Stamp fragments trapped at the bottom of the blood sea. Soon after, he chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve finally found all of you. Since I separated you guys back then, allow me to reconstruct you today!¡± With a thought, numerous fragments shot towards the trapped fragments at the bottom of the sea. As the fragments approached, the trapped Saint Stamp fragments began to react, violently shaking in their restraints. A mysterious power erupted from the fragments, slowly shattering the seal around them. This development also landed in Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes, causing him to frown a little. He had not expected that there would be such a strong link between the Saint Stamp fragment. This was something that had never happened before. Zhou Yuan was truly cunning. Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as another petal slowly unfurled on the Saint lotus bud above his head. The almighty pressure from his body grew even more terrifying. Sheng Yuan was intoxicated by this power. ¡°Zhou Yuan, Sheng Yuan is about to complete his cultivation breakthrough!¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the others could not help but worry as they felt the growing pressure around them. ¡°It¡¯s useless to worry.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head, not bothering to even glance in Sheng Yuan¡¯s direction. There was no need to pay any attention to him since there was no way to stop his ascension to the Saint stage. Doing so would only make them worry more. The only thing they had to keep Sheng Yuan in check was the Cangxuan Saint Stamp! Sect master Qing Yang and the others could only smile powerlessly at each other, feeling mixed between despair and hope. If Sheng Yuan succeeded in his breakthrough before their side managed to gain control of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, it would become a massacre. Numbers meant nothing in the face of a true Saint expert. Omm! While countless gazes grew increasingly nervous, four mysterious Saint Runes suddenly appeared from four of the Saint Stamp fragments. They were the four Saint Runes from Zhou Yuans¡¯ body! Strings of light shot out, connecting the four Saint Runes. Omm! An indescribable undulation erupted. The nearby Saint Stamp fragments seemed to hear a beckoning call and excited shot over like birds into the woods. Thud! Thud! The sealed Saint Stamp fragments began to grow somewhat berserk, frantically slamming into the seal repeatedly, making the cracks on it grow deeper and deeper. After several breaths, the seal finally reached its limit and shattered. Numerous Saint Stamp fragments hurriedly shot out, pouncing straight towards the glowing ball formed by the four Saint Runes. Each fragment seemed to melt away and disappear when they shot into the ball. As more and more fragments entered, a mysterious and profound power gradually began to brew. ¡°Success?¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the others were overjoyed by this development. However, their rising joy was almost immediately interrupted by a strange undulation from the blood sea. Blood surged over from all directions, forming a blood ball that completely covered the numerous Saint Stamp fragments. It also stopped any undulation from spreading. In the Cangxuan alliance, the expressions of countless people changed drastically. On the surface of the blood sea, palace master Sheng Yuan heartily laughed at the heavens and said, ¡°Many thanks, Zhou Yuan. Since you so kindly sent them to my doorstep, I will happily accept them all. ¡°Besides...I believe we¡¯ve already had enough fun, right?¡± The smile on Sheng Yuans¡¯ face gradually turned sinister. Everyone watched in horror as the final petal of the Saint lotus bud above his head slowly unfurled. The Saint lotus was finally complete! The entire world seemed to fall silent, even the sound of wind fading into oblivion. Sheng Yuan rose to his feet, his long scarlet hair dancing behind him. He extended a hand as the Saint lotus landed on his palm. He stared at the Saint lotus he had always yearned for even in his dreams, the corners of his mouth slowly raising as his body trembled with emotion. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± He laughed so hard that his back bent backwards, the exaggerated laughter resounding across the silent land. ¡°Cang Xuan, do you see this? I¡¯ve also finally stepped into the Saint stage! You¡¯ve failed! I¡¯ve long said that I would ultimately replace you and become Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s strongest expert! ¡°No, this place will no longer be called Cangxuan Heaven in the future¡­¡± Sheng Yuan shouted at the heavens as his face distorted. Mountains nearby began to crumble, turning the mountainous region into an endless plains, before quickly being covered by blood-red flowers. It was Saint force, an almighty power that could shape and transform the very land itself. Terror filled the faces of countless people. Sheng Yuan finally began to calm his emotions. He raised his head and gazed towards sect master Qing Yang and the others, ultimately pausing on Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure. He smiled faintly as terrifying killing intent drew thunderclouds in the sky above. ¡°It¡¯s time to clean out all you irksome trash.¡± Chapter 1415 Facing a Saint Expert Thunder boomed across the sky as palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s boundless killing intent engulfed the land. All of a sudden, everyone felt the surrounding Genesis Qi leave them. They seemed to have lost the ability to wield the surrounding Genesis Qi. That¡¯s right, a Saint expert was the master of the land. Each word he spoke became a law of the land, and its Genesis Qi moved according to his will. Since he had displayed killing intent, the others were naturally no longer able to utilize the surrounding Genesis Qi. The Nascent Source experts were greatly affected by the loss of connection to outside Genesis Qi. The Law Domain experts, on the other hand, had already formed their own Law Domains which contained vast amounts of Genesis Qi. Hence, they were still capable of battle without utilizing external Genesis Qi. Of course, their battle power would naturally weaken over time. Hence, the entire Cangxuan alliance army fell into chaos. Fear filled their faces as they hurriedly backed away, looking at Sheng Yuan as if he was the demon king sent to destroy the world. After ascending to the Saint stage, Sheng Yuan was undoubtedly the most terrifying existence on this land. There was no comparison to before. Fortunately for them, Sheng Yuan ignored the small fries as his amused gaze locked onto Zhou Yuan, sect master Qing Yang, Chi Jing and the other top Law Domain experts. ¡°Zhou Yuan, it seems that I¡¯ve come out on top in today¡¯s battle.¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. Anyone could see that even he was extremely wary of Sheng Yuan now. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I chased you out like a dog back then and I can still do the same now.¡± There was a smirk on Sheng Yuan¡¯s face, and no more cautiousness in his eyes when he looked towards Zhou Yuan. After reaching the Saint stage, he was no longer worried about a mere Zhou Yuan. ¡°All of you can go and die now.¡± Sheng Yuan was clearly satisfied having achieved his goal. He raised his hand and pointed with two fingers and a giant sun instantly appeared from his fingertips. The sun was so resplendent that it even masked the light from the real sun shining on the horizon. Countless people watched in horror as the giant sun filled their eyes. To them, it represented destruction and calamity. Terror flooded the eyes of sect master Qing Yang and the others. They could clearly feel the extremely vigorous Saint force contained within the sun and understood just how terrifying it truly was. It was impossible for Law Domain experts like them to ever match such power. Boom! The giant resplendent sun suddenly shot forth as the entire place fell deathly silent. The sun smashed through space and appeared above Zhou Yuan, sect master Qing Yang, Chi Jing and the other top Cangxuan alliance experts. Even before landing, the power pulsing from the Saint force light waves already placed sect master Qing Yang and the others under a terrifying pressure. The layers of Genesis Qi defenses around their body instantly crumbled as blood sprayed wildly from their mouths. Robbed of even the right to resist, they could only watch helplessly as the sun descended. Roar! As the Saint force sun descended, however, an earth-shaking ancient dragon roar abruptly rang out. Everyone watched as Zhou Yuan¡¯s clothes disintegrated, revealing purple-gold dragon scales flickering on his skin. With a ferocious expression, he stepped forward to take on the great sun¡¯s might on his own. In the face of its overwhelming power, his Saint Dragon Physique began to rupture and tear, the dragon scales shattering to pieces. Sect master Qing Yang vomited another mouthful of blood and used all of his remaining energy to roar, ¡°Zhou Yuan, get out of there!¡± ¡°A mantis trying to stop a cart. Reckless fool.¡± Sheng Yuan chuckled softly and pressed his hand downwards. Boom! Flames suddenly rose from the sun. It was Saint fire! The purple-gold dragon scales on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body rapidly melted. The Saint Dragon Physique that had impressed even Sheng Yuan previously now seemed so frail and weak. Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance was gut-wrenching. His charred flesh was visible and it seemed as if all of his skin had been burnt off. However, he refused to take even half a step back. He knew that the moment he backed down, sect master Qing Yang, Chi Jing, Su Youwei and the others behind him would be incinerated till not even dust remained. Saint force was not something the likes of them could withstand. In the little courtyard in All-Heavens City, Yaoyao stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s skinless body as a terrifying chill slowly spread from her body. The hand that was originally gently stroking Tuntun¡¯s fur suddenly gripped tightly, causing it to shudder as it pitifully tried its best to keep still. Yaoyao rose from the swing, seemingly intending to do something, but an elderly figure swiftly appeared in front of her and hastily said, ¡°Yaoyao, don¡¯t be rash. Zhou Yuan might not need your help!¡± It was Cang Yuan. With prime sovereign Jin Luo stuck in battle against, Cang Yuan was the only one left to keep an eye on Yaoyao and stop her from acting rashly. Yaoyao¡¯s clear eyes glanced at Cang Yuan, but the iciness spreading from her did not weaken in the slightest. Cang Yuan could only relax his tone and try to appease her. ¡°Yaoyao, you have to believe in Zhou Yuan. His potential is no less than anyone else. Sheng Yuan is merely a new Saint expert and is still not proficient in wielding Saint force. Fighting against him will be a very beneficial experience for Zhou Yuan. ¡°Moreover, he will definitely be able to overcome this challenge!¡± Yaoyao was silent, however, the terrifying cold spreading from her body finally began to weaken. In the end, she returned to the swing and sat down. Cang Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The current Yaoyao was very difficult to persuade. Fortunately, she was still able to maintain a cool head with regards to Zhou Yuan¡¯s affairs. With the all-heavens and the Sacred Race both tensely watching the battle in Cangxuan Heaven, Yaoyao¡¯s interference could potentially cause things to spiral into chaos. Cang Yuan turned towards the screen, seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s pitiful figure reflected within it. He knew that the situation was extremely bad for Zhou Yuan. After all, Sheng Yuan was a proper Saint expert now, an existence on a completely different level from the half-Saint he was before. Otherwise, a simple move from him would not have so one-sidedly crushed Zhou Yuan, a huge contrast in the close fight previously. However, no one could help Zhou Yuan now and he could only rely on himself. Zhou Yuan, the all-heavens are watching you. I believe in you and you will definitely create a miracle! ... ¡°Zhou Yuan, your miracles end here.¡± Sheng Yuan chuckled indifferently as his hand continued to push downwards. The Saint force sun fell with a loud rumble, intent on completely wiping Zhou Yuan from existence. Zhou Yuan¡¯s bloody figure gazed at the falling sun and he roared once more. In the next instant, the Saint Genesis Art he had been preparing all this time was finally unleashed. ¡°Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens!¡± A low roar exploded in his heart. Mottled patterns appeared on Zhou Yuan¡¯s mangled body, giving off a peculiar power that seemed oblivious to the Saint force¡¯s pressure. The mottled patterns converged towards Zhou Yuan¡¯s arms as an ancient power surged out. In the end, he swung both fists as the falling sun with a ferocious expression. Boom! An endless storm erupted from the epicenter, sweeping across the entire Shengzhou Continent. Blinding light exploded, causing a chain reaction that abruptly brightened half of Cangxuan Heaven. Countless people watched in shock, and even the numerous watching all-heavens Saint experts were slightly moved. They were astonished by how Zhou Yuan had dared to strike back at Saint force... This kid...was truly a wild one. However, could he really survive against such overwhelming power? Countless gazes both in and outside Cangxuan Heaven looked towards the epicenter of the blinding light. Chapter 1416 Saint Force A Genesis Qi storm that covered the sky frantically unfurled in all directions, scattering the nearby Cangxuan alliance army. Some of the weaker individuals were nearly blown a thousand miles away and sustained serious injuries from the fall. However, no one could care about such things at this moment. Countless gazes gravely stared at the center of the destruction, where they had clearly seen Zhou Yuan directly clash against the Saint force sun earlier. It had been an exceptionally moving and tragic scene, because everyone knew how enormous the gap was between Zhou Yuan and the Saint stage palace master Sheng Yuan... To face a Saint expert¡¯s strike with a mortal body...since time immemorial, no one knew how many once dazzling heaven prides had paid dearly for attempting this logic-defying feat. However, it was also these painful prices that slowly built up the image of the almighty Saint experts. A Saint cannot be teased nor humiliated. If a Saint was dishonored, the perpetrator must die. This was perhaps one of the few things that was commonly acknowledged by both the all-heavens and the Sacred Race in the Tianyuan World. Although Zhou Yuan was called the number one expert under the Saint stage and had created many miracles over the years, no one actually believed that he possessed the qualifications to challenge a Saint expert. However, all of them understood that Zhou Yuan had no choice earlier. If he had not faced the attack, Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s elites would have been exterminated there and then by Sheng Yuan, dealing a fatal blow to the entire Cangxuan Heaven. However, could Zhou Yuan survive an attack from a Saint expert? No one dared to say for sure. The torrential Genesis Qi storm finally began to weaken after raging for a long time, and the view gradually cleared up. What appeared before everyone¡¯s eyes was a several thousand mile wide valley. The entire valley was charred black, making it impossible to tell its depth. The valley was clearly created from the earlier attack. Such destructive power made the eyelids of numerous Law Domain experts twitch uncontrollably. Someone nervously asked, ¡°Where¡¯s alliance chief Zhou Yuan?¡± No one replied as the expressions of even sect master Qing Yang and the others turned grave. Their senses had already swept through the valley, but had failed to find Zhou Yuan¡¯s presence. Su Youwei¡¯s face paled somewhat, wanting to immediately dash into the valley and search for Zhou Yuan. However, she was pulled back by Wu Yao, who said in a low voice, ¡°Don¡¯t be rash.¡± Sheng Yuan was currently closely observing as well, and would probably unleash another fatal attack the moment he sensed anything strange. Zhao Mushen¡¯s expression had also turned extremely grave. He slowly said, ¡°Although a Saint expert is terrifying, that guy has always been an abnormality and cannot be judged by common sense.¡± Su Youwei breathed in deeply as she gradually calmed herself. However, her limpid eyes were still filled with worry. While countless gazes in Cangxuan Heaven were nervously trying to find Zhou Yuan, palace master Sheng Yuan indifferently glanced at the dark valley and chuckled. ¡°Light.¡± As his voice rang out, light began to converge towards the valley, piercing the deep darkness. In the end, the light pooled towards a certain spot deep within the valley, revealing a figure that had fallen face flat to the ground. The figure¡¯s eerily white bones were exposed and even his internal organs were badly damaged. Chunks of flesh still hung from his body, making him appear exceptionally pitiful. ¡°Hehe, how amazing. I¡¯m surprised that you managed to survive an attack from a Saint.¡± Sheng Yuan gazed at the broken body and clapped softly. Under the strong light, the figure opened his eyes with some difficulty, the remaining flesh on his body squirming as the body tried to repair itself. However, the Saint force that had invaded his body obstructed the recovery power of the Saint Dragon Physique, even causing intense pain from time to time. Zhou Yuan gasped weakly as he powerlessly lay on the ground, allowing blood to drain into the soil. Taking a direct blow from a Saint expert had made him understand the might of a Saint... If not for the Sacred Dragon Physique, his grade 9 Genesis Qi and the formidable Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens technique, his chances of survival would have been zero. Even with all that, he was already too heavily injured to put up any further resistance. As expected, a Saint expert was terrifying. Sheng Yuan¡¯s indifferent eyes looked down upon Zhou Yuan from above. He had intentionally illuminated Zhou Yuan¡¯s location to send this pitiful sight to every corner of Cangxuan Heaven. He wanted to tell everyone in Cangxuan Heaven that the very individual they had placed their hopes on was now powerless to even protect himself. In Great Zhou City, Zhou Qing''s eyes were red with anger and grief, while Qin Yu was already sobbing uncontrollably, unable to bear the pain in her heart. As a mother, seeing her child in this wretched state was akin to cutting her heart with a knife. The countless residents of Cangxuan Heaven could not help but feel enraged by this scene. However, their rage was also accompanied by a feeling of powerlessness, because they knew that there was nothing they could do. Even so, deep respect rose within them because they understood that Zhou Yuan was fighting for every single one of them and the entire Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°Alliance chief Zhou Yuan, thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you alliance chief Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°Alliance chief Zhou Yuan, I wish you never face disaster or difficulty.¡± ¡°......¡± Countless people muttered, their expressions respectful and sincere. Since they could do nothing, all that was left was to pray as thanks. Palace master Sheng Yuan cocked his head to the side as he stood in the air, as if listening to everyone¡¯s prayers and thanks and could not help but chuckle softly. ¡°Look at this Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ve done you a huge favor. You¡¯ve now won the hearts of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s countless residents.¡± However, he soon shook his head disdainfully and said, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the hearts of these ants are useless. There are merely livestock to be slaughtered before true power. ¡°Never mind, allow me to completely destroy Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s final hope in front of them. I wonder how much they will despair when that happens.¡± A sinister smile rose from the corners of Sheng Yuan¡¯s mouth. He raised his finger again, his eyes filled with pity as he stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s unmoving figure in the valley. ¡°Will you be able to survive another attack?¡± Another resplendent sun expanded from Sheng Yuan¡¯s fingertips as it was filled with endless Saint force. It abruptly shot forth a split second later, shattering space itself as it descended towards Zhou Yuan amidst countless horrified gazes. Omm! As the great sun fell, everything melted away. In the valley, Zhou Yuan suddenly smiled with great difficulty as he watched the sun of destruction approach. ¡°Sheng Yuan, you are wrong. Although their hearts are small, they aren¡¯t useless.¡± ¡°Still so stubborn till the end.¡± Sheng Yuan shook his head as he pressed his hand downwards, causing the sun to descend even faster. Endless light erupted from the valley like mighty pillars that pierced the heavens. Despair filled the eyes of countless people. However, the endlessly spewing light of destruction suddenly froze before rapidly returning at an astonishing speed. In the span of a few breaths, the terrifying power that could destroy everything in a ten-thousand-mile strangely disappeared. Countless shocked gazes looked over from both in and outside Cangxuan Heaven. Deep within the valley, an ancient, mottled stone stamp had appeared above Zhou Yuan. The stone stamp gave off a timeless aura, as if it had existed ever since the beginning of time. The Saint force from Sheng Yuan was completely absorbed by the ancient stone stamp. Divine light sprinkled from the stone stamp onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s mangled body. The body that had originally been continuously broken down by Saint force began to regrow at an alarming speed. As he felt his energy replenish, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes began to grow bright and sharp. He looked towards Sheng Yuan, whose expression was gradually turning stormy, and displayed a dazzling smile. ¡°Old dog Sheng Yuan, you seem to have failed to kill me again.¡± Chapter 1417 Saint Stamp Reappears The world was still and silent. Everyone cast their eyes to the ancient stone seal floating above Zhou Yuan in stunned silence because they knew what the stone seal represented. It was the Cangxuan Saint Stamp! Hua! It was unknown how long the stilled atmosphere lasted before it was broken by deafening cheers from every corner of Cangxuan Heaven. Who would have thought that the legendary Cangxuan Saint Stamp would appear at the most critical juncture?! Countless people wept tears of joy. Sect master Qing Yang and the others similarly stared dazedly at the ancient stone seal and their eyes welled up with tears. ¡°It seemed successful?¡± Rubbing their eyes, they gathered their spirit. From the looks of it, Zhou Yuan¡¯s plan had succeeded ¡ªthe Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragments were successfully combined and it even actively protected Zhou Yuan. This was undoubtedly a glimmer of hope for the Cangxuan Heaven beings in despair. Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face that looked uninterested all along suddenly grew overcast. He coldly looked at Zhou Yuan, who was rapidly recovering under the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s protection. I clearly blocked the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Also, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp should have no owner, so why would it protect him?! Palace master Sheng Yuan raged in his heart. Patriarch Cang Xuan is dead and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp was left ownerness, but it actively wants to protect Zhou Yuan. What does that mean? It means that it has made a decision! What qualification does he have!? How could a kid who hasn¡¯t even reached the Saint stage receive the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s approval?! Isn¡¯t it strange?! Enveloped in the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s divine light, Zhou Yuan¡¯s injuries rapidly healed. He slowly came to his feet, peering upwards at palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s darkened face, as though he knew how infuriated Sheng Yuan was. ¡°This is the will of people. The Cangxuan Saint Stamp is indeed ownerless, but it is precisely because it doesn¡¯t have an owner¡¯s will that it can act on its own instinct. All beings in Cangxuan Heaven is now praying and cheering for me, and those will of people influenced the Cangxuan Saint Stamp to approach me.¡± Cracking his neck, Zhou Yuan felt his strength restored. He grinned. ¡°But someone like you won¡¯t understand this.¡± Sheng Yuan¡¯s eyes turned icy-cold. He drew a deep breath and said indifferently, ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you think you can change things with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s protection? After all, you still haven¡¯t reached the Saint stage and it is impossible for you to control the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Do you think you can use its power to compete with me? Once I kill you and take possession of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, it naturally will acknowledge allegiance to me. At that time, you will know that the so-called will of people is just nonsense and only true power can control everything.¡± Monstrous murderous aura erupted from him, and with a flick of his sleeve, his chilling voice reverberated throughout the world. ¡°Come lightning!¡± Boom! The heaven and earth suddenly rumbled and roared as thunderclouds scudded across the sky in a mighty manner. Lightning speedily gathered together to form an endless lightning beast that obscured the entire sky. Sheng Yuan flicked his finger and sent mighty Saint power pouring into the lightning beast. The beast threw its head back and roared skywards. Unexpectedly, vitality was released from that roar as though the beast was a real living creature. Studying the lightning beast blazing with mighty Saint power, sect master Qing Yang and many other third Law Domain stage experts couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing. That power was much more terrifying than that of the great sun of Saint power. ¡°Destroy him!¡± As Sheng Yuan coldly commanded and flicked his finger, the lightning beast unleashed a thunderous roar that rang throughout the entire Cangxuan Heaven. The lightning beast sped towards Zhou Yuan, smashing through space. As the lightning beast dived down, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression immediately tensed because he felt the terrifying power contained within the beast. He didn¡¯t dare to act careless, and so he stretched his hand out and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp landed in his palm. ¡°We meet again, old friend. I was forced to break you back then. Please don''t blame me.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled at the Saint Stamp in his hand. The markings on the Saint Stamp grew even brighter, and Zhou Yuan could distinctly feel he had formed a connection with this world once again. Earlier, Sheng Yuan removed his connection with Genesis Qi, but now, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp had evidently helped him to repair that connection. Furthermore, that connection was closer than before. Zhou Yuan felt very strange, as if he had obtained the authority to control this side of the world. Zhou Yuan clasped the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, feeling the mysterious and wondrous feeling, as though he had completely integrated with this world. He lifted his hand. Rumble! The ground violently quaked, rocks tumbled down and a giant earth dragon unleashed a deafening roar. Twisting and turning, it met the destructive lightning beast head-on. Bang! The lightning beast and earth dragon collided, causing flashes of lightning and rocks shooting everywhere. However, in the end, both the lightning beast and earth dragon were smashed to pieces and the surrounding space crumbled, becoming lightning sparks and broken stones. Hua! The outcome of the collision drew earthshaking cheers from countless Cangxuan Heaven beings because it was the first time that Zhou Yuan truly blocked Sheng Yuan¡¯s attack. Sect master Qing Yang and the others also lit up with joy. Previously, Sheng Yuan almost destroyed Zhou Yuan with a casual strike, but that huge gap between Zhou Yuan and Sheng Yuan seemed to have closed with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s help. This was undoubtedly great news to Cangxuan Heaven. Clasping the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, Zhou Yuan slowly floated into the sky and said with a smile, ¡°Although I can''t truly control Cangxuan Heaven, you have only just became a Saint. We are the same.¡± Sheng Yuan''s face turned extremely dark and unpleasant. It never crossed his mind that Zhou Yuan would survive this far. He never thought he couldn¡¯t kill Zhou Yuan even after breaking through to the Saint stage. This guy is a monster, if I can''t kill him, I will have to watch him become stronger and stronger. Sheng Yuan felt extreme regret for not getting rid of Zhou Yuan, the great problem, back then. It was only now that he understood that when he let Zhou Yuan leave Cangxuan Heaven was the same as releasing a dragon into the sea. Hu. Sheng Yuan inhaled deeply, suppressing his emotions. ¡°It¡¯s indeed difficult to know who will win, but you also can¡¯t do anything to me. My control of Saint power is gradually improving, and once I truly master the control of Saint power, you won¡¯t be able to survive anymore. Zhou Yuan, I am willing to make a deal with you here. I will share Cangxuan Heaven equally with you, let¡¯s agree to not disturb each other in the future. What do you say?¡± Countless people broke into an uproar. They never thought palace master Sheng Yuan would back down. However, they couldn¡¯t accept Cangxuan Heaven to be shared with Sheng Yuan. After all, no one wanted to fall into his control. Many people cast nervous gazes at Zhou Yuan. Rubbing the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s mottled outer surface, Zhou Yuan was silent for a few breaths. He suddenly smiled. ¡°Sheng Yuan, you said something wrong¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Sheng Yuan narrowed his eyes. Zhou Yuan grinned, showing his pearly white teeth, and his cold voice rang out. ¡°Who said I can¡¯t do anything to you?¡± Chapter 1418 Endless Tricks from Patriarch When Zhou Yuan¡¯s icy-cold voice rang out, a cold sneer came to Sheng Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°It seems you have no interest in my proposal. If that''s the case, let''s play. I¡¯m curious to see what kind of means you have to deal with me.¡± His eyes were filled with murderous rage. He already intended to back down but Zhou Yuan acted aggressively in response. Does that kid think he could crush I, Sheng Yuan, who is at the Saint stage? He thinks he can get rid of me with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s power? Zhou Yuan chuckled when he heard Sheng Yuan¡¯s words and shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not I who will deal with you¡­¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sheng Yuan narrowed his eyes. What is this kid playing this time? Bewilderment also came to the faces of sect master Qing Yang and the others. Besides Zhou Yuan, who held the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, who else could threaten Sheng Yuan in the entire Cangxuan Heaven? Under puzzled gazes, Zhou Yuan smiled and looked emotionally at the ancient stone seal in his hand. ¡°Patriarch, are you going to show up yet?¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the others were all stunned by his words. They immediately stared in disbelief at the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. The patriarch that Zhou Yuan spoke of¡­could it be¡­ Amidst surprised and bewildered gazes, flecks of light rose from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and gathered together to form a silhouette. It was identical to patriarch Cang Xuan. Hua! Uproar and commotion broke out from the Cangxuan Alliance Army. Who would have thought the former Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven would appear! ¡°Master!¡± Sect master Qing Yang, Liu Lianyi and other high-level Cangxuan Sect members lit up with joy and surprise. ¡°Master!¡± Tears coursed down old Xuan¡¯s aged eyes. ¡°Cang Xuan?!¡± Sheng Yuan was also taken aback, but his face soon became overcasted. Patriarch Cang Xuan, who immediately became the focus of everyone, surveyed the surroundings and sighed emotionally, ¡°I didn''t expect it to come to this point.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve hid yourself well, patriarch. If I hadn¡¯t reached this stage, I likely will never discover that you left behind such a means,¡± said Zhou Yuan teasingly. Patriarch Cang Xuan studied Zhou Yuan for a moment before he chuckled, ¡°My eyes aren¡¯t bad. When I first met you, I already knew you weren¡¯t ordinary.¡± ¡°Cang Xuan, haven''t you completely dissipated? How come you still have a remnant clone around?!¡± asked palace master Sheng Yuan sullenly. He had clearly wiped out all of Cang Xuan¡¯s clones in the great battle ten years ago, but it seemed he didn¡¯t do a good job. Furthermore, he had carefully examined a part of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp he obtained and he found no traces left behind by patriarch Cang Xuan. Patriarch Cang Xuan peered at palace master Sheng Yuan and sighed, ¡°Sheng Yuan...I didn''t expect you to really reach the Saint stage. My remnant clones were indeed almost all wiped out. This is the last one. I didn¡¯t hide this clone in the Cangxuan Saint Stamp because I know that it wouldn¡¯t be useless since you could avoid all my other means. So, I hid the last clone in the authority of Cangxuan Heaven. Once someone use that power, that person possibly could detect this clone¡¯s existence.¡± ¡°I originally thought that when the worst happened and you gained control of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and attempted to activate that authority power to control Cangxuan Heaven, I could use my last clone to counterattack. Haha, isn¡¯t my last trick unexpected?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan beamed with joy, evidently proud by his hidden trick. Many Cangxuan Alliance experts exchanged glances with one another, cold sweat gathering on their foreheads. They had no idea that ancestor Cang Xuan was a cunning old man. Sheng Yuan¡¯s face twitched visibly. How many tricks has that bastard Cang Xuan left behind? Even ordinary Saints wouldn¡¯t be able to do so, but Cang Xuan could because he is the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°But I swear this is definitely my last trick,¡± said patriarch Cang Xuan seriously. Sheng Yuan¡¯s face was devoid of expression and he didn¡¯t say anything in response. However, it was obvious that Cang Xuan¡¯s final trick had a psychological impact on him. Even if he won the war, he would be ten times more careful when he tries to control the Cangxuan Saint Stamp in the future. From a certain point of view, it damaged him psychologically. Hu. Sheng Yuan drew a deep breath, composed his emotions, and said indifferently, ¡°Cang Xuan, stop pretending. You are just a remnant clone. I could destroy your clones when I was just a semi-Saint, let alone now when I have reached the Saint stage. Your little trick has no real damage on me. It just annoyed me a little. The once high and mighty Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven can only use such childish means. It¡¯s so pitiful.¡± ¡°Ancestor, you are being looked down upon,¡± said Zhou Yuan with a smile. Patriarch Cang Xuan cast a helpless look at Zhou Yuan, and then smiled at Sheng Yuan. ¡°In ordinary times, I really can''t do anything to you, but what¡¯s different now compared to the battle more than ten years ago is that this kid is no longer a little ant at the Divine Dwelling stage.¡± Sheng Yuan sneered, but his eyes gradually glinted warily. Patriarch Cang Xuan looked at Zhou Yuan and sighed, ¡°It was you who used my power more than a decade ago...Now, I want to use your power.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°I am glad to help.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan nodded, stretched out his hand, and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp slowly fell into his palm. ¡°I still need something.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan studied Zhou Yuan and immediately reached into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. When he pulled his hand out, a seven-colored glass gourd was in his grip. The seven-colored glass gourd was precisely the product from the integration of the seven Cangxuan arts! Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eyes were filled with nostalgia as he gazed at the familiar-looking glass gourd. ¡°I divided this into the seven Cangxuan arts back then, but none of my disciples were able to cultivate it again. Zhou Yuan, you are the best inheritor of my mantle. You will no doubt surpass me in the future.¡± Sect master Qing Yang, Liu Lianyi and the others turned red with embarrassment. Patriarch Cang Xuan clasped the Cangxuan Saint Stamp in one hand and the rainbow glass gourd in the other, and smiled at Zhou Yuan. ¡°We joined hands ten years ago but that guy made one of us disappear and made the other flee from his hometown. The Cangxuan Saint Stamp had to be destroyed in the end. But what would the result this time be?¡± Zhou Yuan smiled calmly. ¡°There will only be one result. From then on, the name Sheng Yuan will never be heard in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan couldn¡¯t help feeling entranced when he saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm and imposing smile. The little boy back then had become the hero of all-heavens. Patriarch Cang Xuan chuckled and nodded firmly. ¡°You¡¯re right, the tumor in Cangxuan Heaven has to be get rid off today." As his voice faded, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp in his hand suddenly collided with the rainbow glass gourd. Chapter 1419 Primal Chaos Saint Refining Gourd Bang! The collision between the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and the rainbow glass gourd produced a mysterious rumble that rang in the ears of countless beings in Cangxuan Heaven. It felt as if time and space had frozen. However, many people quickly came to their senses and shifted their gazes to patriarch Cang Xuan and found that the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and the rainbow glass gourd in patriarch Cangxuan¡¯s hand had disappeared. ¡°That¡­¡± Sect master Qing Yang and other top experts exchanged puzzled glances with one another. But palace master Sheng Yuan furrowed his brows in a frown. Sect master Qing Yang and the others weren¡¯t strong enough to notice the subtle changes in the world, but he, who was at the Saint stage, naturally detected a strange movement. That strange movement made his heart palpitate. ¡°Vanished?¡± Of course, palace master Sheng Yuan wouldn¡¯t think patriarch Cang Xuan would lose the Saint Stamp. On the contrary, he felt very uneasy after seeing patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s move. Although the current patriarch Cang Xuan was just a remnant clone, what he previously said was right. Zhou Yuan was only barely able to activate the Cangxuan Saint Stamp by borrowing the power of patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s clone in the battle more than ten years ago, but it was different this time. Although Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reached the Saint stage, he possessed power close to that of the semi-Saint stage. Now, with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s clone as well as Zhou Yuan¡¯s power as support, their combined power shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. Sheng Yuan scanned all directions with his razor-sharp eyes, and vaguely sensed something wrong. Boom! With a wave of his sleeve, mighty Saint power rushed across the sky like a starry river. Within that Saint power seemed to be mountains, hills and rivers, as if it contained its own world. Rumble! However, the Saint force didn¡¯t sweep over a huge distance before it exploded in the air. Faint rays of light suddenly emerged in the air like a thin barrier invisible to the naked eye to block and dissolve the Saint power. Sheng Yuan slammed his feet with a dark expression, and several gushes of Saint power sped out from him. However, all were quickly stopped by the invisible barrier. Tiny ripples bloomed in the air. The silhouette of those ripples resembled a giant gourd. Palace master Sheng Yuan naturally sensed the change. He flung his sleeve, distorted space and attempted to flee, but he soon found the surrounding space was blocked by an invisible force that even he, who possessed Saint-level strength, couldn¡¯t penetrate through the barrier. In other words, he was trapped. ¡°Cang Xuan, you¡¯re indeed strong.¡± Sheng Yuan uttered coldly. Sheng Yuan had broke through to the Saint stage and was considered invincible within Cangxuan Heaven, but even so, he still lost to patriarch Cang Xuan. Even if that old man is dead, he still keeps pestering me. ¡°But what can you do even if you trap me here? You¡¯re just a clone, and you will quickly dissipate once you show up. I can just wait til you disappear and this trap will crumple without me doing anything.¡± As his voice faded, a Saint lotus emerged beneath his feet, expanding with the wind and rapidly grew into a tremendous Saint lotus throne. Sheng Yuan seated himself on the Saint lotus throne while it emitted boundless divine light to protect him. Palace master Sheng Yuan evidently planned to counter the changing situation with changelessness. This showed he had absolute confidence in his Saint-level strength. Zhou Yuan peered at palace master Sheng Yuan sitting on the Saint lotus. He felt no evil or law could penetrate Sheng Yuan, and not even his thousands of arts couldn¡¯t wound him in the slightest. ¡°Patriarch, I don¡¯t think ordinary means has any effect on him,¡± said Zhou Yuan. Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled. ¡°You should have a little confidence in me. It¡¯s just the Saint Lotus Immortal realm. If you haven''t cultivated the glass gourd, I might not be able to do anything to him, but you didn¡¯t disappoint me. I¡¯ll show you my truly last trick and let you know what kind of power a Heaven Master possesses when he is in his heaven.¡± With a smile, patriarch Cang Xuan folded his hands in a seal, his fingertips, like mountains, slowly folded together As he brought his palms together, the space in the outside world where Sheng Yuan was located suddenly rippled and a huge gourd shadow emerged. The gourd shadow exuded an ancient aura as if formed since the beginning of time. Furthermore, Zhou Yuan sensed waves of energy within the ancient gourd shadow similar to the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and the rainbow glass gourd. There was clearly a special connection between them. Inside the Saint lotus, Sheng Yuan narrowed his eyes vigilantly. ¡°This art is what I mastered when I controlled Cangxuan Heaven''s authority power. Once this art is performed, it will be difficult for even Saints to survive.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan explained to Zhou Yuan. I call this art the Primal Chaos Saint Refining Gourd!¡± As his voice faded, four rings of light surrounded the gourd. Among the four rings, one was an azure color and seemed to be constantly producing roaring wind. It wasn¡¯t ordinary wind, but the source of wind. ¡°This is the Wind Ring.¡± There was another ring that was earth-yellow and seemed boundlessly heavy and thick. ¡°This is called the Earth Ring.¡± Inside the blue ring were endless running streams full of vitality. ¡°This is called the Water Ring.¡± Flames blazed berserkly on the crimson-red ring, and seemed capable of incinerating the world. ¡°This is called the Fire Ring.¡± The four ancient rings contained powers that were born when the primal chaos first opened. They quietly floated in the air, but their appearance not only made Sheng Yuan¡¯s expression dramatically change, even the experts of all-heavens looked moved. ¡°Little boy Zhou Yuan, this is my last means. You have to watch it carefully.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan laughed heartily, his voice echoing in every corner of Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°Ground, wind, water and fire, repeat the primal chaos!¡± Swoosh! With a slight flicker, the four rings of light appeared in all four directions around Sheng Yuan, blocking all his sides. Then, ancient powers suddenly burst forth from them. Those powers, closest to the source of the world, were even more profound and mysterious than Saint power. When the four powers came into contact with one another, many Saints watching could even sense the emptiness and darkness of when primal chaos first opened. Sheng Yuan¡¯s face dramatically changed, his eyes wide with deep fear and disbelief. He found his Saint lotus throne was beginning to melt away under the force of the earth, wind, water and fire power. Chapter 1420 Saint Perished The four ancient rings of light hovered in the four directions around the Saint lotus throne, gushing out vast torrent-like power. Everyone was shocked to see the impenetrable Saint lotus throne gradually melting under the impact of those ancient powers. But the one most shocked was of course palace master Sheng Yuan. His expression dramatically changed and the calm and indifferent expression he previously wore was completely gone. He cried out loud, ¡°How is this possible?!¡± He was now a true Saint and no art should be able to wound him under the Saint lotus¡¯ protection, but the Saint lotus failed to defend against patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s attack This was a huge blow to palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s confidence. ¡°Sheng Yuan, you shouldn¡¯t be so surprised. Although the Saint stage is strong, it isn¡¯t invincible. Even I ended up like this when I controlled the entire Cangxuan Heaven, let alone that you¡¯re just a new Saint. Why would you think you¡¯re invincible?¡± said patriarch Cang Xuan with a faint smile. Palace master Sheng Yuan''s face turned ashen and his eyes blazed with flames of fury but also fear. However, as a ruthless character, Sheng Yuan quickly suppressed his emotions and hissed through gritted teeth. ¡°Cang Xuan, don¡¯t be so smug. I haven¡¯t lost yet!¡± He swiftly folded his hands together in a seal and his roar reverberated throughout Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°Saint Lotus Golden Art!¡± Thousand rays of gold light erupted from the Saint lotus beneath him, and inside those golden lights seemed to be countless extremely mysterious dust-like golden runes. Under the golden light¡¯s illumination, the Saint lotus turned a dazzling golden, as if made from gold. Following Sheng Yuan¡¯s desperate resistance, the melting of the Saint lotus¡¯ indeed slowed and eventually stopped. However, patriarch Cang Xuan didn¡¯t look worried when he saw this. Instead, he shook his. ¡°Sheng Yuan, although a Saint possesses vast amounts of power, can its vastness be compared to a heaven? The conflict between us has been going on for years. It¡¯s time we put an end to it all.¡± As patriarch Cang Xuan sighed, the world began to alter. The ground quaked and split apart as countless brown torrents shot into the sky. The wind gusted, forming countless blasts of astral wind that lashed the vault of heaven. Boundless waves rushed over and blotted out the sky and sun. Volcanoes erupted and vast seas of fire spread everywhere, causing the temperature to soar. The four different ancient and mighty powers poured into the four rings of light, turning them even brighter and dazzling. At that moment, the Saint lotus began to melt away again. Even if the golden light started to fade, the Saint lotus¡¯ petals showed signs of melting. Countless beings in Cangxuan Heaven couldn¡¯t help cheering out loud, and their eyes were filled with joy as though their lives were renewed after a calamity. This was because palace master Sheng Yuan had clearly fallen into a huge disadvantage. The saints of all-heavens outside Cangxuan Heaven sighed inwardly at that scene. Given their sharp eyes, they of course could tell palace master Sheng Yuan had fallen into a hopeless situation. Patriarch had successfully borrowed Zhou Yuan¡¯s power to activate the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s source power. That power was more profound and mysterious than Saint power. It seemed impossible for palace master Sheng Yuan to escape his doom now. Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s crisis seemed to have finally been averted. In Cangxuan Heaven. Ancient power flooded the sky while the golden Saint lotus gradually grew fainter and its sacred petals started to wither. The shrinking of the Saint lotus indicated that palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s defense was crumbling. Sitting inside the Saint lotus, Sheng Yuan snapped out from his fury and fear. As the four ancient rings of light were reflected in his eyes, he seemed to have fallen into a trance-like state. He evidently didn¡¯t think his plan would fail despite reaching the Saint stage, and he even fell into a hopeless situation. After staring dazedly for a good while, he finally chuckled out loud and looked at patriarch Cang Xuan and Zhou Yuan. ¡°I thought I would surely win this time. I never thought this would be the outcome.¡± ¡°I also never would have thought of such a result ten years ago.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan said indifferently, ¡°In truth, I also didn''t think of such a result. However, you didn''t lose to me, but to him.¡± He naturally was referring to Zhou Yuan. Patriarch Cang Xuan didn¡¯t expect the chess move he made ten years ago would become a decisive move ten years later. Palace master Sheng Yuan fell silent. Of course he knew about this, but he just couldn¡¯t accept it. In his eyes, Zhou Yuan was as insignificant as an ant, but the ant, who he never paid much attention to, turned his plan upside down. ¡°Zhou Yuan, your future achievements may even surpass Cang Xuan.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan finally nodded. However, Zhou Yuan didn''t care about his approval and just smiled faintly. ¡°Is this why they say a man¡¯s words are only good when death is near?¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan couldn''t help chuckling. ¡°It might be true for ordinary people, but that doesn¡¯t include me. I will never regret my decision.¡± He stared at Zhou Yuan and patriarch Cang Xuan and said, ¡°I indeed lost this time, but that doesn¡¯t necessarily mean you have won.¡± Zhou Yuan and patriarch Cang Xuan narrowed their eyes. Patriarch Cang Xuan activated the four ancient rings of light without any hesitation to quicken the process. Sheng Yuan evidently noticed this, but he made no response except a slight smile. It was just that the smile was psychotic. ¡°Do you know what my ultimate mission is?¡± Before the two could say anything, he answered his own question, ¡°My ultimate mission is to obtain the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, and then¡­I will sacrifice the entire Cangxuan Heaven. I will present it to our Sacred God and he would fully awaken and end this world.¡± Sheng Yuan''s voice wasn¡¯t particularly loud, but Zhou Yuan, patriarch Cang Xuan and other Saints of all-heavens couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing dramatically. No one ever thought Sheng Yuan would have such a crazy plan! That beast wants to sacrifice the entire Cangxuan Heaven!? ¡°That crazy man mustn¡¯t be spared!¡± Killing intent burst forth from patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eyes as he exhausted all his strength to activate the Primal Chaos Saint Refining Gourd and caused his already illusory figure to become transparent. However, as he desperately activated the gourd, the Saint lotus beneath Sheng Yuan rapidly melted and soon his body was exposed to the power of the four rings of light. However, Sheng Yuan smiled. ¡°It seems I can¡¯t complete my biggest goal, but fortunately, I am prepared for the worst outcome¡­¡± He peered at Zhou Yuan and patriarch Cang Xuan. ¡°I already told you that although I lost, you can''t win. Cang Xuan, Zhou Yuan, I hope you will be able to survive the situation. Otherwise, the vast majority of people in Cangxuan Heaven would leave with me.¡± He folded his hands together and cracks split his body. Rays of light quickly gathered to form a lotus seal between his eyebrows. However the seal was gradually shattering. Wind suddenly rose, clouds scudded across the sky and tragic cries rang throughout the world. When patriarch Cang Xuan and other Saints saw this scene, their pupils readily shrank and they murmured, ¡°The sorrow of heaven and earth. A Saint perished!¡± Chapter 1421 Catastrophe in Cangxuan Heaven Saints were the most respected in the world and were said to exist with heaven and earth. The birth of every saint would bring about strange spectacles and draw congratulations from heaven and earth. Similarly, the death of a Saint would trigger strange spectacles. But the difference was that it would draw cries from heaven and earth. This was called the Saint perishment. Sheng Yuan¡¯s body had cracked and the lotus seal between his brows had broke apart ¡ª both signs of Saint perishment. Furthermore, Sheng Yuan¡¯s death wasn¡¯t caused by external forces but self-destruction. The Genesis Qi between heaven and earth roared and fluctuated. Tides of Genesis Qi formed at the horizon before spreading across hundreds and thousands of miles, and eventually blanketed the entire Shengzhou Continent as well as several nearby continents. The countless experts present, many of which were at the Law Domain stage, felt an indescribable weight slowing the flow of Genesis Qi within their bodies. Patriarch Cang Xuan and Zhou Yuan also didn¡¯t look too good because when Sheng Yuan activated the Saint death process, the power in that side of the world rose to an unprecedented terrifying level, preventing the power from the four ancient rings of light from directly killing him. Although the final result would be the same, there was a huge difference between active and passive. But patriarch Cang Xuan and Zhou Yuan knew anything they did would be useless. After all, Sheng Yuan had paid the price of death and the power erupted from the process of a Saint¡¯s death shouldn¡¯t be underestimated. Boom! The scene that was reflected in the eyes of Zhou Yuan, patriarch Cang Xuan, as well as many others, was just indescribably bright light and power. The light was so intense that it engulfed all light in the world. The power from the Saint death process created giant blooming lotus that forcibly melted the four ancient rings of light when they collided. The shock waves rapidly bombarded the Primal Chaos Saint Refining Gourd, distorting and destroying the surrounding space. It looked as if the space was being separated from Cangxuan Heaven. However, in the face of the power produced from the death of a saint, even the Primal Chaos Saint Refining Gourd, which had been strengthened with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, couldn¡¯t endure for long. Crackling, the gourd shattered to pieces. Patriarch Cang Xuan couldn¡¯t help sighing emotionally. With a wave of his sleeve, a light beam sped through the air, but it wasn¡¯t aiming for the force that broke out from the death of a Saint. Instead, it enveloped all beings in the Cangxuan Alliance Army near the area and rapidly pulled them away. In less than ten breaths, he had brought thousands of people hundreds of miles away using the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s power. The destructive power gushed across the area, destroying everything as it passed. Hovering in the sky, Zhou Yuan and patriarch Cang Xuan peered down and saw a bottomless black pit that they estimated to span a thousand miles. The force had created a huge crater where not a blade of grass grew. Rumble! Blood bubbled up from the crater¡¯s depths and rapidly expanded to form a blood-red sea that covered more thousands of miles. A strange, ominous altar slowly rose in the center of the sea. An illusory-looking figure sat cross-legged on the altar ¡ª it was palace master Sheng Yuan! Sheng Yuan had lost his physical body and even his Saint Spirit had become transparent. Furthermore, dazzling flecks of light constantly rose from him. Sheng Yuan raised his head and gave patriarch Cangxuan and Zhou Yuan an abnormal smile. Then, eyes blazed fanatically. ¡°My Sacred God...please descend upon the world again!¡± Blood-colored markings swiftly spread across the altar and swirled around palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s Saint Spirit. Like blood-sucking worms, the blood patterns frantically consumed palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s Saint Spirit. Boom! Sensing strange movements within Cangxuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan abruptly raised his eyes and his expression changed dramatically. He detected pillars of blood-red light shooting into the sky in various continents of Cangxuan Heaven, and they rapidly spread everywhere and engulfed all beings they encountered. The blood-red pillars blooming within Cangxuan Heaven polluted everything they touched. Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s face grew more and more overcast as he watched. ¡°This is a huge sacrificial boundary. This must have been prepared long ago.¡± On the altar, as Sheng Yuan¡¯s Saint Spirit grew increasingly transparent, palace master Sheng Yuan smiled. ¡°I have prepared for today for over ten years.¡± ¡°You''re crazy.¡± Zhou Yuan''s eyes were icy-cold. In his opinion, what Sheng Yuan had done was worse than a beast. He was a member of Cangxuan Heaven but he was willing to sacrifice the entire Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°You don''t understand my pursuement for the Saint stage. I would only get what I want by believing in the Sacred God. Although I haven¡¯t experienced the Saint power for long, they say that once one has heard the Way in the morning, one will die content in the evening,¡± said Sheng Yuan with a smile. Patriarch Cang Xuan waved his hand, stopping Zhou Yuan. ¡°He has already been corrupted by the will of the Sacred God. He won¡¯t listen to anything. The current Sheng Yuan is just a puppet of the Sacred God now.¡± Zhou Yuan clenched his hands and his face turned fierce and terrifying. Swoosh! The space in the distance suddenly ripped as several figures sped across the air ¡ª it was Su Youwei, sect master Qing Yang, Chi Jing and many other Law Domain experts. ¡°Master, Zhou Yuan, we received news that blood-colored pillars have appeared in various continents in Cangxuan Heaven and they are constantly expanding and consuming all living beings they encountered!¡± Sect master Qing Yang hurriedly reported. ¡°We have to stop the blood pillars from expanding. Otherwise Cangxuan Heaven will suffer huge casualties!¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan let out a long sigh. ¡°It will be difficult. Now that the sacrificial boundary is completed and Sheng Yuan has sacrificed his body to activate it, it will be very difficult for even a true Saint to stop it, let alone me.¡± Everyone turned ashen-faced at his words, and some even trembled. They couldn¡¯t control their overwhelming emotions. If the boundary were allowed to continue to expand, at least half of Cangxuan Heaven would be destroyed, which would be a huge blow to Cangxuan Heaven. The atmosphere turned heavy. They peered through the space with their penetrating gaze and saw countless beings wailing with sorrow as blood-red pillars of light expanded. But regardless of how they tried to flee, they couldn¡¯t escape from the blood-red light. It was unknown how many people were consumed as the blood-colored light spread. The entire Cangxuan Heaven was plunged into chaos and despair. This was the greatest catastrophe that Cangxuan Heaven had suffered in thousands of years. ¡°How would it become like this¡­¡± The eyes of sect master Qing Yang and others were cracking. They had already exhausted themselves to deal with the Sacred Palace, but who would have thought that it would still become like this? ¡°Hahaha!¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan burst into wild laughter even if his body was increasingly faint and weak. His face twisted as he shot a glance at Zhou Yuan and the others. ¡°It¡¯s worth dying to have so many people buried with me.¡± ¡°Maniac!¡± ¡°Beast!¡± Sect master Qing Yang and many other Law Domain experts were so furious that their eyes almost shot out flames. They simultaneously launched multiple monstrous genesis arts to kill Sheng Yuan. But before those attacks even neared Sheng Yuan, they all strangely dissipated as if wiped away by a terrifying force. Sect master Qing Yang and the others finally stopped their meaningless venting attacks. Sect master Qing Yang turned to patriarch Cang Xuan and said in a hoarse voice, ¡°Master, is there really nothing we could do to save the situation?¡± Seeing those hopeful gazes, patriarch Cang Xuan fell silent for a moment. His body was already almost completely transparent and light rays could pass right through his body. It was obvious that his clone was nearing its limit. However, as the former Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, he naturally could hear the sorrowful wails and howl of despair throughout Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°There is a way to stop the sacrificial boundary¡­" said patriarch Cang Xuan. Many people immediately cast their gaze over at him, their eyes sparkling with hope. Patriarch Cang Xuan raised his hand, and an ancient stone seal exuding a special charm appeared in his palm. It represented authority. It was the authority power of the entire Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°The last option is for someone to hold the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and become the new Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan''s calm voice rang out, causing sect master Qing Yang¡¯s and the others¡¯ hearts to quiver. But patriarch Cang Xuan didn¡¯t glance at them because his eyes were fixed on Zhou Yuan all along. Chapter 1422 Inheriting the Heaven Master Position ¡°Become the new Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s words evidently had a huge impact on everyone present. Even sect master Qing Yang couldn¡¯t help gulping. Fiery looks even came to the eyes of the other Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts. After all, they understood what that seal represented. It represented the highest authority of Cangxuan Heaven and the one who held it would rise to become one of the top existences in all-heavens. Even ordinary Saints would be respectful to him. No one present could maintain calm in the face of the power that the authority represented. However, they knew they weren¡¯t qualified to hold the seal and so didn¡¯t lose their mind. They could see patriarch Cang Xuan looking straight at Zhou Yuan as he said those words, indicating his proposal was directed at him. But they didn¡¯t feel bitter because of that because Zhou Yuan indeed was the most worthy of that position in Cangxuan Heaven in terms of strength and prestige. Everyone cast envious gazes towards Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was equally stunned by the proposal. He immediately said puzzledly, ¡°The one who holds the Cangxuan Saint Stamp has to at the very least reach the Saint stage. I¡¯m not qualified.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the case in ordinary times, but your strength isn¡¯t inferior to someone at the Semi-Saint stage. You are just qualified in a sense. Also, Cangxuan Heaven is now facing a catastrophe and countless beings have fallen into despair. As a result, the Cangxuan Saint Stamp can perceive their hopes and their prayers to live. At such a time, if someone could stop the sky from collapsing, the difficulty of inheriting the Cangxuan Saint Stamp would be reduced. It¡¯s the same principle as when you used the prayers of Cangxuan Heaven citizens to speed up the process of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s integration and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s control was handed to you in the end.¡± Understanding dawned on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are remarkable. You are the most amazing person I have seen in years. Even I couldn¡¯t predict your achievements in the future. This is why I am hesitant as to whether you should become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan smiled bitterly. ¡°You should have heard about the drawbacks of being the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, right?¡± Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment before he said, ¡°The Sacred Race has corrupted Cangxuan Heaven and caused defects in this heaven. As a result, the Heaven Master who holds Cangxuan Saint Stamp would find it extremely difficult to make progress on the Saint path, is that right?¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan slowly nodded and said heavily, ¡°Before I took control of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, there were also other Saints in Cangxuan Heaven. However, they refused to hold the Saint Stamp and protect Cangxuan Heaven because that meant they would suffer difficulties in their cultivation path in the future. I don¡¯t blame them for that. After all, no one wants to stop making progress after reaching the Saint stage. I also took a long time to make up my mind before I chose to inherit that position. Zhou Yuan, I didn''t want you to inherit the position of Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven because I think it would hinder you, but¡ª¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan looked a little pained. He could hear the cries of despair from countless people in Cangxuan Heaven. He wanted someone to stand up and save this heaven. Sect master Qing Yang and others also fell silent. They wouldn¡¯t need to consider too much if they were to make that decision because their lifelong goal was to reach the Saint Stage, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s achievements in the future would no doubt be much greater than theirs. Could there really be nothing good in accepting the position of Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, which has its drawbacks? Zhou Yuan looked dazed for a moment because he had never thought about that question. He raised his eyes and his gaze penetrated space to see the blood-red light beams spreading rapidly and people sobbing in despair. ¡°I was born in Cangxuan Heaven. It is also where the Great Zhou Empire is. Also there¡¯s the Cangxuan Sect and other places I don¡¯t want to give up. I also have friends who I would never abandon here. I won¡¯t let anyone destroy this place. Otherwise, why did I come back?¡± Zhou Yuan looked directly at patriarch Cang Xuan and said with a smile, ¡°So, patriarch, if you need me to inherit the position of Heaven Master to save Cangxuan Heaven, I won¡¯t refuse. Of course, I¡¯m not sacrificing myself to achieve our goal. Instead, I have greater ambitions. I will find a way to overcome the drawbacks in Cangxuan Heaven and make the Saints of all-heavens envy me.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan seemed taken aback by his answer. It was only after a while that he said, ¡°This isn¡¯t easy. Even I did not succeed.¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the others assumed a strange expression and even wanted to yell out loud, ¡°Kid, you¡¯re too arrogant. How could you talk to an elder like that?¡± Is he implying that the patriarch isn¡¯t strong enough and he could do what he couldn''t?¡± However, patriarch Cang Xuan didn¡¯t feel offended. Instead, a pleased smile came to his face. ¡°If you indeed have such an ambition, I really can¡¯t ask for anything more. It has always been my greatest wish to remedy Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s defect, but my ability is lacking and I wasn''t able to do so. But it might not be impossible for you.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan gazed softly at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Then, have you really decided to inherit the position of Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven?" Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and nodded firmly. Sect master Qing Yang, Heaven Sword Sovereign and many other top Cangxuan Heaven experts assumed a serious expression and bowed deeply in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. That bow was to thank him for willing to stand up for Cangxuan Heaven at the most critical time. Patriarch Cang Xuan stretched out his illusory hand, on which the ancient stone seal was suspended above. Countless mountains and rivers were reflected on the glowing surface of the stone seal. ¡°Put your hand on it.¡± With a solemn expression, Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand and covered the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. Rumble! Wind suddenly raged, clouds scudded across the sky, and even the universe Genesis Qi became abnormally active. Sect master Qing Yang and the others all felt a strong resisting force erupting from the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, pushing them all away. Only patriarch Cang Xuan and Zhou Yuan remained standing in the same place. However, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t feel particularly comfortable because as universe Genesis Qi became increasingly active, an indescribably terrifying oppressive force swept towards him. The feeling was as though he was suppressed by the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Mighty Genesis Qi rapidly gathered to form several tremendous mirrors, in which the mountains, rivers and streams as well as all people were reflected. A terrifying power within the mirrors made many people shudder with fear. That power locked on Zhou Yuan. His hair stood on end. ¡°Zhou Yuan, this is a test to see whether you are qualified to control the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and this test, I call it the Mirror of Heaven Will! You have to be able to withstand its power. It is used to test the Saint stage!¡± Before Zhou Yuan could respond, light beams struck down from the huge mirrors above like lightning. Chapter 1423 The Brave is Indestructible Boom! When those heavenly lights descended from above, thunder seemed to be rumbling throughout the world. They mightily bombarded Zhou Yuan. Of course, Zhou Yuan also sensed the mysterious heavenly light and divine thunderbolt. His scalp immediately numbed because the power contained within them was much more terrifying than he imagined. Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Patriarch, didn¡¯t you say it would be simple?!¡± ¡°It will be fine. Believe in yourself. You can do it!¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan encouraged him with a smile. Zhou Yuan felt tricked when he saw his smile. He rolled his eyes and his body quickly expanded. Purple-gold dragon scales fully covered his body like armor, and his Sacred Dragon Body was unreservedly activated within seconds. Sacred Dragon aura broke out and formed a purple-gold nine-clawed dragon above Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t dare to be careless in the face of a means used to test people at the Sant stage. Boom! Just as he made all preparations, the divine thunderbolt that resembled a pillar of heavenly light suddenly struck down. The nine-clawed purple-gold dragon hovering above Zhou Yuan roared out in pain. Even the purple-golden dragon scales broke apart. But Zhou Yuan was more severely affected. His mind rang endlessly and his body shook continuously. If he hadn¡¯t activated his Sacred Dragon Body, even the sound waves alone would be difficult to bear. Too terrifying! This was the only noise in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. The heavenly light and divine thunderbolt contained a unique power that every strike brought indescribable pain to him. The pain wasn¡¯t only from his body, even his Spirit felt being ripped apart. The giant purple-gold dragon constantly shrank as heavenly light and divine thunderbolt bombarded it. It only took a dozen strikes before the dragon became illusory-looking. It had reached the limit it could bear. As for Zhou Yuan, he was in a disoriented and confused state. The shaking of his Spirit made it difficult for him to keep a clear head. Sect master Qing Yang, Su Youwei, Wu Yao and the others looked at Zhou Yuan with worried frowns. Although the heavenly light and divine thunderbolt was terrifying, it was only directed at Zhou Yuan, and thus such terrifying power didn¡¯t affect the surroundings. But they all saw the miserable state that Zhou Yuan was in. The Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s test was clearly terrifying to push Zhou Yuan to such a tragic situation. Boom! Another divine thunderbolt struck down, tearing through the already illusory-looking purple-gold dragon before it pierced right through Zhou Yuan¡¯s body that was fully protected with dragon scales. Chi! The dragon scales split open and a hideous wound was left on his flesh, gushing out blood. That severe pain snapped Zhou Yuan awake from his muddle-headed state. He did everything he could to endure the pain and fully circulated his Sacred Dragon Qi. The blood and flesh around the wound rapidly squirmed, and his wound was quickly healed. Then, layers of purple-gold dragon scales spread out like battle armor. Boom! Heavenly light and divine thunderbolt continued to strike down, and its blinding light made even the chilling sea of blood much dimmer than before. Sheng Yuan''s Saint Spirit that was wrapped in strange traces of blood was also watching the scene. His face twisted as he said with a sinister smile, ¡°Cang Xuan, you want him to become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven?! Although that kid has remarkable potential, he hasn¡¯t reached the Saint stage. You¡¯re dreaming if you think he can control the Cangxuan Saint Stamp!¡± ¡°That heaven will tribulation can easily destroy him. Hahaha!¡± Amidst his sinister laughter, the heavenly light and divine thunderbolt continued to tear apart Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His imposing and burly Sacred Dragon body broke apart inch by inch, and he looked so tragic that no one could bear to watch. However, Zhou Yuan showed his unswerving determination at that moment. Even though his face was twisted with pain and his eyes were red, he didn¡¯t give up and he did everything he could to circulate his Sacred Dragon Qi. Every destroyed inch of the Sacred Dragon Body was restored by the Sacred Dragon Qi. His flesh was constantly destroyed and restored in such a way. But that clearly wouldn''t last forever. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Sacred Dragon Qi would be exhausted sooner or later, and if he couldn¡¯t restore his body, he could be completely destroyed by the heavenly light and divine thunderbolt. Patriarch Cang Xuan''s expression grew solemn. The tribulation of heaven will was used to test Saint experts and Zhou Yuan was able to endure so long because his foundation was incredibly strong. But Zhou Yuan could be in danger if it continued. Patriarch Cang Xuan drew a deep breath, gripped the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and activated it with the help of the last trace of his authority power. A ripple suddenly widened out, teleported through space, and spread to every corner of Cangxuan Heaven. Images flashed to the minds of all people in Cangxuan Heaven. Those images were pillars of scarlet light expanding constantly across the sky like the blood of demons. They consumed everything it touched. Even the millions of people in the city were wiped out within seconds and only their anguished cries continue to echo. Countless people shuddered at the scene. Images flickered and eventually focussed on Zhou Yuan, who was desperately trying to endure the tribulation of heaven will. ¡°The great calamity descended to destroy the world. May the brave be indestructible.¡± An imposing and majestic voice rang in countless people¡¯s mind. As though enlightened, everyone knew what they could do to help. On the walls of the Great Zhou Empire Palace. With reddened eyes, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu stared at Zhou Yuan, whose body was constantly tearing apart and destroyed under the heavenly light and divine thunderbolt and a voice suddenly rang in their heart. They unhesitatingly closed their eyes and sincerely prayed in their hearts. ¡°May the brave be indestructible.¡± All officials and citizens of the Great Zhou City closed their eyes and sincerely prayed the calamity wouldn¡¯t come. ¡°May the brave be indestructible.¡± People prayed on their knees in every corner of Cangxuan Heaven. They knew that the last hope for Cangxuan Heaven was the figure desperately trying to endure the divine lightning. ¡°May the brave be indestructible.¡± Countless prayers filled the air, and as though gathered into a torrent, it flooded the Cangxuan Saint Stamp through a special passage. Mysterious light runes emerged on the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and those prayers, after a mysterious transformation, rushed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body in a special way that even Saints couldn¡¯t detect. Zhou Yuan, whose physical body was frantically corroded by the tribulation of heaven will, suddenly felt something strange. He felt he had gained an indestructible ability. Chapter 1424 Heaven Master Zhou Yuan The so-called indestructibility and immortality was naturally an illusion to Zhou Yuan. After all, even a true saint wouldn¡¯t dare say those words. In a sense, that was the territory of God. Although that immortal and indestructible feeling was an illusion, a mysterious power did appear in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, and that power made both his physical body and Spirit become unbelievably tough. Boom! The heavenly light and divine thunderbolt continued to strike down, tearing several hideous wounds into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. But when those wounds appeared, before Zhou Yuan even activated his Sacred Dragon Qi to heal those injuries, that mysterious power had penetrated his flesh and blood. Zhou Yuan felt his own flesh twitching and squirming frantically, and his flesh buds twitching. In just a few breaths, he had repaired all those hideous wounds. Furthermore, following the restoration, Zhou Yuan¡¯s flesh and blood became even tougher and more powerful. Sensing such a change, Zhou Yuan''s heart trembled with shock. His physical body was already at the limit of the Law Domain stage. If he progressed even farther, he would possess the Saint body unique to Saint experts. But it was extremely difficult to make such improvements. Even palace master Sheng Yuan, who had cultivated for years, had to use the gift from the Sacred God to complete that transformation. But Zhou Yuan¡¯s physical body that hadn¡¯t changed much in ages began to improve again under that mysterious power. If that refining increased, wouldn¡¯t his physical body break the restraint and touch upon the Saint stage? The discovery made Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart rate quicken. He lifted his head, peering at the heavenly light and divine thunderbolt descending from above with a fiery gaze. The thunderbolt that made his scalp numb before seemed incomparably adorable to him now. Zhou Yuan opened his arms to welcome the divine thunderbolts¡¯ arrival. Boom! Divine thunderbolts continued to strike down, but unlike before, someone noticed Zhou Yuan¡¯s physical body expanding as more and more divine thunderbolts bombarded him. His normal body size gradually increased until he was a hundred feet tall like a giant. The purple-gold dragon scales that fully covered his body had vanished already and his skin resembled white jade. That white jade was untainted by any impurity and exuded the purest aura. Gold-lined runes loomed on his white jade body, and although they seemed to be appearing randomly, if connected, one would find it created the outline of a lotus bud! The sky full of divine thunderbolts continued to land on Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, but they were completely absorbed upon contact with Zhou Yuan¡¯s white jade-like body. They flowed around his body and made those golden runes become even brighter and mysterious. Sect master Qing Yang and the others stared bewildered at the hundred-of-feet-tall figure because they could feel indescribable oppressive pressure released from his body. That pressure, which only Saint possessed, wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to them. A light flashed in Wu Yao¡¯s phoenix eyes and she cried out in surprise and disbelief. ¡°His physical body¡­seems to have reached the Saint stage?!¡± Su Youwei nodded with a bright and charming smile. ¡°As expected of His Highness. He not only endured the test, his physical body even improved under that kind of destruction and rebirth!¡± Zhao Mushen said snappily, ¡°It¡¯s obvious that patriarch Cangxuan activated the Cangxuan Saint Stamp to help him.¡± His eyes weer full of envy because he knew what an opportunity that was. The Saint stage was the pinnacle of all-heavens. Generally speaking, only when one¡¯s Genesis Qi reached that level and when mighty Saint power refined a mortal body would it be transformed to the so-called Saint body. But Zhou Yuan unexpectedly skipped this step because the mysterious tribulation of heaven will had accidentally helped him complete that refining. The Saint lotus bud mark was a sign that one had touched upon the Saint stage, the same as the saint lotus bud that palace master Sheng Yuan formed with his Genesis Qi. Once it bloomed, his physical body would transform into a true Saint body. Divine thunderbolt continued to rage above. But following the changes in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body as well as the Saint lotus bud¡¯s appearance, the divine thunderbolt couldn¡¯t wound him anymore and the mirror-like space in the horizon gradually dimmed. The divine thunderbolt also gradually came to a stop before completely vanishing. The rioting universe Genesis Qi also restored its calmness. Countless people stared astonished at Zhou Yuan, whose eyes were tightly closed, because his tremendous body was slowly shrinking. It resumed his normal shape after a few dozens of breaths. His upper body was bare and his skin glistened like white jade. The lotus bud mark on his chest shone with a mysterious light, making him appear specially imposing and powerful. It was the might of a Saint! Zhou Yuan glanced down at the mysterious lotus bud mark on his chest, somewhat disappointed. He had absorbed the power of so many divine thunderbolts, but the bud still hadn¡¯t bloomed. The fact that the bud mark hadn¡¯t bloomed signified that it hadn¡¯t become a complete Saint body. But even so, Zhou Yuan''s physical body was already considered a semi-Saint body. That, coupled with his Sacred Dragon body, might give him the qualifications to go head-to-head with a true Saint body. Zhou Yuan could distinctly feel how strong his physical body had become. He was mesmerized and almost couldn¡¯t free himself from that power that could easily reach the stars and moon with a slight movement. ¡°It seems you withstood the test.¡± But a laughter awakened Zhou Yuan from his entranced state. He peered at the transparent figure in front of him with a sincere smile and gave a cupped fist salute. ¡°Thank you, patriarch for your help.¡± If patriarch Cang Xuan hadn¡¯t borrowed the Cangxuan Saint Stamp¡¯s power to gather the prayers of the people in Cangxuan Heaven, he might not have been able to endure the tribulation of heaven will. Furthermore, it was precisely that mysterious power that helped transform the divine thunderbolts¡¯ power and made Zhou Yuan''s physical body improve even more. ¡°The power from people''s prayers just added luster to the flower. It can¡¯t have a decisive effect. If you weren¡¯t at that stage, the prayer transformation wouldn¡¯t have much of an effect.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan looked at Zhou Yuan with a pleased smile. He raised the Cangxuan Saint Stamp in his hand and said, ¡°Congratulations, you passed the Cangxuan Saint Stamp test¡­it has fully acknowledged you.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at the ancient stone seal. He indeed felt he had formed a very mysterious connection with the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and with that, the coordination between him and the entire Cangxuan Heaven reached an unprecedented level. The Cangxuan Saint Stamp in patriarch Cang Xuan''s hand slowly rose and floated in front of Zhou Yuan. Patriarch Cang Xuan looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s young face and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, when your Spirit stamps on the Saint Stamp, you will completely control the Saint Stamp and become the new Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded, clasping the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. The center of his brows suddenly lit up and a gush of Spirit power rushed into the Saint Stamp. He felt his Spirit spreading to every corner of Cangxuan Heaven, and countless images flooded his mind like he was viewing flowers on horseback. With one thought, all scenes in the Great Zhou City appeared in his mind. He saw Zhou Qing and Qin Yu on the city walls, as well as many officials of the Great Zhou Empire. Many faces of the Cangxuan Heaven people were imprinted in his mind. While Zhou Yuan was observing Cangxuan Heaven, all citizens simultaneously felt a feeling in their hearts and an image suddenly flashed across their minds. It was an imposing and majestic figure with his upper body bare like white jade. The face of that figure wasn¡¯t clear as though it was impossible to pry into, but they all simultaneously received a message. He was the new Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eyes glistened with delight and relief. With a pleased smile on his face, he bowed his body and gave a cupped fist salute at Zhou Yuan. His gentle yet majestic voice resounded. ¡°Congratulations, Heaven Master Zhou Yuan.¡± Chapter 1425 The Youngster Who Ran Away Became Heaven Master When the gentle and pleased voice of patriarch Cang Xuan reverberated throughout the world, countless people in Cangxuan Heaven felt deeply moved and all bowed sincerely in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. ¡°Congratulations, Heaven Master!¡± The silent worship stirred the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Universe Genesis Qi became much livelier, surging and pouring across all directions in endless waves. The universe Genesis Qi was so rich that it became fine rain and drizzled down on every corner of Cangxuan Heaven. Countless cultivators were overjoyed to see the drizzle because they could feel how pure the Genesis Qi contained in that Genesis Qi rain was and knew that it would have huge benefits to their cultivation when refined. It was similar to an opportunity from heaven. For example, when an emperor in the ordinary world ascends to the throne, he would announce amnesty. In the same way, the new Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven had to present gifts to everyone. That gift would no doubt help countless people break through to the next cultivation stage and raise Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s overall strength. The people who received such benefits naturally felt even more respect and gratitude for the new Heaven Master. Sect master Qing Yang and the others peered up at the Genesis Qi shower sweeping across the heaven. Feeling the refreshing-cold rain fall on them, they shifted their gaze to the young figure in the distance. Their expressions turned particularly complex. Who would have thought their Cangxuan Heaven could give birth to another Heaven Master years later? Furthermore, the new Heaven Master was someone they never thought about. After all, the newly appointed Heaven Master was just a new disciple of the Cangxuan Sect just over ten years ago. ¡°Sect master Qing Yang, your Cangxuan Sect has all the Blessing of Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Heaven Sword Sovereign sighed enviously. Back when patriarch Cang Xuan was promoted to the position of Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, he founded the Cangxuan Sect and it was always in the limelight, dominating the entire Cangxuan Heaven for years. After years, even though patriarch Cang Xuan had perished, the new Heaven Master was again from the Cangxuan Sect. It could easily be imagined that the Cangxuan Sect would return to the peak and again become the most extraordinary sect in Cangxuan Heaven. Sect master Qing Yang smiled, unable to hide the joy in his eyes.¡°Brother Heaven Sword, you can¡¯t blame me. All sacred sects were present in the Saint Remains Domain back then, but Zhou Yuan chose our Cangxuan Sect in the end. This is fate.¡± The sect masters of the other great sacred sects shook their heads with bitter smiles. In their eyes, the Saint Remains Domain was just a little assessment and they didn¡¯t think much about it at the time. But who would have thought a Heaven Master would emerge from such a remote place? If they could turn back time, they wouldn¡¯t care about their faces and snatch Zhou Yuan into their sects no matter what. Chi Jing, Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Zhao Mushen and others stared dazedly at Zhou Yuan, who exuded a terrifying oppressive pressure. Who would have thought Zhou Yuan would all of a sudden become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. Such a dramatic change felt like a dream to them. Although Cangxuan Heaven was ranked last among all-heavens and it had many defects, the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven was still a Heaven Master! It was everyone¡¯s dream to hold the authority of a heaven. Even if Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t reached the Saint stage, true Saints would treat him as though he had the same status as them because Zhou Yuan, in a sense, had reached the pinnacle level of all-heavens. On a mountain in the distance, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo, Li Chunjun, Ning Zhan, Zhen Xu and others also cast their gaze his way. Their expressions were somewhat complicated, but there was also undisguisable surprise and joy. ¡°It seems like I can cling to someone influential in the future. My good brother is the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, who would dare annoy me now?¡± With her hands on her hips, Luluo said with a smug smile. Li Chunjun said seriously, ¡°Given Zhou Yuan¡¯s talent and potential, it¡¯s only a matter of time before he becomes a Saint. He wouldn¡¯t be inferior to ordinary Saints in the future, but in order to protect the people in Cangxuan heaven, he willingly took on the position of Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. What he did¡­¡± A smile came to his wooden face. ¡°I really admire him.¡± The people around all stared surprised at him. The most talented among them was Zhou Yuan, and after Zhou Yuan, it was Li Chunjun. Besides practicing swords, Li Chunjun wasn¡¯t concerned about anything else. But they all knew how prideful he was, and since he said he really admired Zhou Yuan, it could more than enough show how much he agreed and approved of Zhou Yuan¡¯s action. Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others nodded their heads in agreement. They also felt very proud that their little friend could reach such a level and even shouldered the hope of all people in Cangxuan Heaven. In another direction, Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Kong Sheng and other Cangxuan Sect elites sighed. ¡°Who would have thought that our junior brother would inherit patriarch¡¯s position¡­¡± Ye Ge smiled slightly. ¡°Speaking of which, Kong Sheng disliked him a lot back then and had provoked him many times.¡± Kong Sheng immediately flushed with embarrassment and glared at Ye Ge. ¡°Why do you still bring up the things in the past? When did you become a woman?¡± ¡°What''s wrong with women?¡± Li Qingchan glared coldly at him. Kong Sheng suppressed his fury. He didn¡¯t dare to yell at Li Qingchan. Chu Qing patted him on the shoulder, comforting, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I think it¡¯s a glorious past that belongs to you alone. When new disciples join the Cangxuan Sect, you can tell them that you created trouble for our Heaven Master Zhou Yuan every day when he was still at the Cangxuan Sect.¡± The veins on Kong Sheng¡¯s forehead throbbed as he said through gritted teeth. ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡­ While everyone was filled with joy and surprise, Sheng Yuan¡¯s illusory body on the altar grew increasingly icy-cold. Although he was only a Saint Spirit on the verge of fading, he still sensed strong malice and disgust. It came from the entire Cangxuan Heaven. That heaven was beginning to target him. He understood that this was because a new controller was born in Cangxuan Heaven, and those who meddled with the controller¡¯s will, even if they were at the Saint stage, would be affected. Let alone he was now just a Saint Spirit that had been corroded. ¡°How did it turn into this¡­¡± Therefore, Sheng Yuan¡¯s heart had been constantly sinking ever since Zhou Yuan endured the tribulation of heaven''s will. He mumbled to himself, and even his face twisted fiercely. ¡°How could you withstand the tribulation of heaven?!¡± He roared. It was a test that only Saints could withstand but Zhou Yuan was just at the Law Domain stage yet he became the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven! He took the position that Sheng Yuan had planned and worked so hard for years! Sheng Yuan felt incredibly uncomfortable like thousands of ants biting his heart. It was a kind of jealousy. Zhou Yuan flicked his fingers and universe Genesis Qi came gathering towards him, forming an ink-black robe. The robe was adorned with luxurious and delicate gold details. As it shone mysteriously, ancient Genesis runes emerged one after another. Each one, although obscure and primitive, contained incredibly vast powers. It was the Heaven Master Robe! A mysterious mark emerged between his brows that everyone was terrified to look directly at. It was the mark of the Heaven Master! Draped in the robe and wearing the heaven mark, Zhou Yuan received the worship from universe Genesis Qi and the respect of millions of people. He could be said to be the focus of heaven and earth. He expressionlessly bowed his head and then turned to look at Sheng Yuan. Intense killing intent flashed across his eyes. ¡°Sheng Yuan, it¡¯s time we settle the grudges between us once and for all.¡± Chapter 1426 Purple Lotus Incinerates Sea of Blood When Zhou Yuan cast an indifferent gaze over him, Sheng Yuan could feel the malice and disgust between heaven and earth deepening. ¡°Zhou Yuan.¡± Palace master Sheng Yuan¡¯s face was overcasted. The person he saw as an ant back then had become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven and now held the supreme authority that should have belonged to him. How glorious Zhou Yuan was now was how regretful palace master Sheng Yuan felt. He deeply regretted not paying much attention to Zhou Yuan because if he had eliminated him, how would he be in so much trouble now? However, Zhou Yuan didn''t care about Sheng Yuan¡¯s emotions. He just swept an indifferent glance over him and shifted his attention to the distance. As though his gaze was able to penetrate through space, he saw pillars of blood-red light wreaking havoc everywhere as they rapidly spread, consuming countless people in despair. A chilling look flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, and the temperature across the world suddenly plummeted. The Cangxuan Saint Stamp in his hand released dazzling rays of light and the countless mysterious and ancient Genesis runes on his Heaven Master robe grew increasingly bright and striking. Boom! At the same time, the sky around the pillars of blood-red light suddenly split apart and purple heavenly flames rushed out, illuminating the entire vault of heaven. The several purple heavenly flames landed on all sides of the pillars of red light, quickly spread and connected together to trap the blood-red pillars. The purple flames blazed fiercely, colliding with the pillars of blood-red light. Chi! Endless screams rang out from the collision as two terrifying forces frantically pestered, corroded and tried to extinguish each other. Even the surrounding space was distorted into pitch-black like empty voids. But that stalemate only lasted a while. Cracks soon cut across the sky and purple heaven flames continued to descend. The sea of purple flames surged more and more violently. Once Zhou Yuan took charge of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, he could mobilize the power of the entire heaven. And with the support of the entire heaven, even if the pillars of blood-red light were tyrannical, they couldn¡¯t withstand being constantly consumed. Therefore, as time passed, the pillars of blood-red light finally started to fade and were pushed back inch after inch. In the end, the purple flames engulfed all pillars of blood-red light. The pillars of blood-red light everywhere in Cangxuan Heaven vanished one after another. The people frantically fleeing under the pillars of light immediately burst into cheers and sobbed with joy. Only one who had experienced despair would know how precious time was. Countless people knelt down and emotionally kowtow because they knew that this was no doubt the doings of Heaven Master Zhou Yuan. When the last pillar of blood-red light vanished from Cangxuan Heaven, sect master Qing Yang and the others, as though a weight lifted from them, finally relaxed their tensed bodies. Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze from the distance and indifferently looked at palace master Sheng Yuan on the blood sea altar. Palace master Sheng Yuan also sensed the pillars were gone. His expression changed to its worst and his eyes were wide with disbelief. He couldn''t believe that the sacrificial boundary he had spent over ten years to prepare would be easily destroyed by Zhou Yuan in such a way. Is this the power of a Heaven Master? Palace master Sheng Yuan bitterly uttered in his heart. But he immediately suppressed his emotions and he said with a twisted face. ¡°I haven¡¯t lost yet. This altar is gifted by the Sacred God, so even if you became a Heaven Master, there is no way you could destroy it!¡± Boom! As his voice faded, Sheng Yuan suddenly felt the ground quaking violently. His pupils rapidly shrank. Under the sea of blood were indescribably huge purple flames rising to the surface. Those purple flames rose and faintly formed a purple fire lotus that covered a distance of one hundred miles. The purple fire lotus slowly lifted the sea of blood he was in. That scene was too magnificent and spectacular. It even looked like a little continent rising. Sect master Qing Yang and the others trembled and their faces blanched with shock because such power made them feel powerless. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained the same. He stretched out his right hand and slowly folded his fingers tightly into the center of his palm. The purple fire lotus that lifted up the entire sea of blood also slowly folded its petals towards the center. Terrifying power gathered inside it and even the sea of blood was bubbling and blood-colored mist filled the air. But when it came into contact with the blazing purple flames, it was immediately turned into nothingness. Zhou Yuan was promoted to Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven and the power he could mobilize was too terrifying to be described. Even a one-lotus Saint expert wouldn¡¯t have an upper hand against him if they fought in Cangxuan Heaven. Moreover, this was when Zhou Yuan had only just initially controlled the Cangxuan Saint Stamp This was the mighty power of a Heaven Master. Sitting cross-legged on the altar, Sheng Yuan couldn¡¯t help but shudder as he watched the fire petals slowly close. The bubbling sea of blood was quickly vaporized and the bizarre and violent power contained in it was rapidly destroyed. Kacha. Suddenly, he heard a faint noise coming to his ears. He lowered his head to see the altar beneath him beginning to crack. ¡°Even it couldn¡¯t withstand the power anymore.¡± Sheng Yuan sighed. The warmth sweeping across the space made his Saint Spirit increasingly dim. Even flecks of purple light emerged inside the Saint Spirit, a sign that it was already corroded by the purple lotus fire. Sheng Yuan fell silent for a few breaths. He understood that his time of death was near. But at that moment, he strangely felt peaceful. He raised his head emotionlessly, watching the giant fire lotus closing slowly while obscuring the sky. ¡°How did I come to this?¡± Sheng Yuan murmured. He possessed remarkable talent and had a boundless future, but he seemed to have gradually lost himself while climbing the road to power. When did it start? It was when he felt envious of the tremendous mighty power possessed by patriarch Cangxuan, who was the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, at the time. He found that no matter how he chased after Cang Xuan, he couldn¡¯t catch up to him. The bitterness in his heart gradually turned to obsessiveness. It was unknown when it started, but a voice started to whisper in the depths of his heart. He now knew that the voice came from the omnipotent Sacred God. Before that whisper appeared, he had explored ancient ruins, where there were traces from the great war in the ancient times. It was very possible that he was unknowingly affected by the Sacred God¡¯s will then. Sheng Yuan smiled bitterly, shaking his head. After all, there was something wrong with his own mind that allowed the Sacred God¡¯s will to take advantage of it. ¡°Never mind, let everything end here.¡± Sheng Yuan stretched out his illusory hand, patted the altar covered with cracks beneath him and smiled. ¡°Sacred God, it seems that your investment in me is wasted.¡± Kacha! Increasingly more cracks emerged across the altar, and a gap split the giant fire lotus above. Terrifying power gushed out from all directions, as though to wipe out everything, including Sheng Yuan and the altar. As Sheng Yuan watched the altar crumble, he suddenly heard a whisper in his mind. He closely listened to the whisper, and his face changed dramatically. He abruptly lifted his head and said fiercely, ¡°Don''t destroy the sacrifice¡ª¡± But his voice didn¡¯t come out in the end because the purple fire lotus had completely closed. Raging purple flames roared everywhere. Sheng Yuan''s Saint Spirit instantly evaporated and turned into nothingness as purple flames whizzed past. At the same time, the blood-red altar broke to pieces. Chapter 1427 Hidden Hand Revealed The tremendous purple fire lotus petals slowly closed, turning everything inside it into nothing. Countless Cangxuan Alliance experts watched the scene from afar. After a moment of silence, they erupted into earthshaking cheers. The culprit of the many calamities in Cangxuan Heaven was finally executed and the war in Cangxuan Heaven that had been going on for over ten years finally ended. Countless people were so moved that they cried tears of joy and excitement and even bowed respectfully to the slender finger exuding majestic aura in the distance. They had been through a lot of ups and downs in the war with the Sacred Palace, and during that period, there had been countless battles of different levels. However, the Cangxuan Alliance won in the end, and the one who greatly contributed to this result was the newly-appointed Heaven Master Zhou Yuan. This was a fact that no one could deny. If Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t returned to Cangxuan Heaven at the most critical juncture and persuaded everyone to form the Cangxuan Alliance, it would have been impossible to fight against the Sacred Palace. Zhou Yuan was no doubt worthy of being called the savior of Cangxuan Heaven. While cheers reverberated throughout Cangxuan Heaven, sect master Qing Yang and the others dazedly stared at the dissipating purple fire lotus. They could clearly feel Sheng Yuan¡¯s aura completely gone from the world. ¡°It finally ended?¡± They glanced at one another with complex expressions. Their rival, who they had fought for years, had become history. ¡°Sheng Yuan is indeed more talented than all of us. In truth, I indeed thought he might become the next Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven,¡± said venerable lord Gu Jing. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because many people think he would, so he gradually lost himself when he couldn¡¯t break through to the Saint stage,¡± said Heaven Sword Sovereign. Sect master Qing Yang let out a long sigh. ¡°Although he¡¯s pitiful, he brought great calamity to Cangxuan Heaven and so we shouldn¡¯t recall him fondly. Let him be buried by time along with the Sacred Palace.¡± The several sect masters nodded their heads in agreement. Then, their gazes shifted to the young figure that exuded the majestic aura of a Heaven Master. Cangxuan Heaven now had a Heaven Master. Zhou Yuan now held the authority of this heaven and became the well-deserved no. 1 person of Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°Now that the Sacred Palace is destroyed, there isn¡¯t much reason for the Cangxuan Alliance to continue after this,¡± said Sect master Qing Yang with a smile, a light flashing in his eyes. His voice had only just faded when a smile came to Heaven Sword Sovereign¡¯s face and he disagreed. ¡°What sect master Qing Yang said isn¡¯t right. Although the Sacred Palace is destroyed, the Sacred Race that was behind the Sacred Palace still remains. It is said the Sacred Race is ready to act. Who knows whether they would start another world-ending war? Therefore, it is beneficial to continue the Cangxuan Alliance to provide protection to our Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Venerable lord Gu Jing and Shan Qingzi weren¡¯t stupid and so they immediately understood what Heaven Sword Sovereign was thinking. They both quickly nodded in agreement. ¡°Haha, is there a reason why sect master Qing Yang is so anxious to disband the Cangxuan Alliance?¡± asked Shan Qingzi with a charming smile. ¡°Although Heaven Master Zhou Yuan is from the Cangxuan Sect, he is also the alliance leader of Cangxuan Alliance. Does sect master Qing Yang want to remove that identity of his so the Cangxuan Sect can enjoy special favor from him only.¡± Venerable lord Gu Jing didn¡¯t try to conceal his thoughts. Sect master Qing Yang immediately flushed in embarrassment and he couldn¡¯t help cursing the three old foxes in his mind. There was indeed some selfishness behind his proposal to disband the Cangxuan Alliance. After all, the relationship between Zhou Yuan and the Cangxuan Sect couldn¡¯t be severed no matter what, and now that Zhou Yuan was in charge of the entire Cangxuan Heaven, if he looked after the Cangxuan Sect, it could help the Cangxuan Sect restore its former glory. However, if Zhou Yuan also had the identity of alliance leader, other people would take that opportunity to cling to him, such as the three old foxes right now. He originally thought that all forces would be happy to restore their independence after the Cangxuan Alliance was disbanded but it turned out that Heaven Sword Sovereign, Shan Qingzi, and venerable lord Gu Jing were so far-sighted and cunning. They wanted to firmly cling to Zhou Yuan, the most influential person in Cangxuan Heaven. Seeing the three sect masters¡¯ guarded gazes, sect master Qing Yang coughed out loud and said, ¡°What are you talking about? I merely suggested it. After all, you guys were always worried that your disciples¡¯ sense of belonging to your sect would be affected when the Cangxuan Alliance establishment.¡± Heaven Sword Sovereign said gently, ¡°Sect master Qing Yang is worrying too much. The Cangxuan Alliance is the most desirable place in the entire Cangxuan Heaven with alliance leader Zhou Yuan leading the Cangxuan Alliance. We would only benefit from his glorious light.¡± Shan Qingzi said, ¡°Could it be that someone wants to treat alliance leader Zhou Yuan as his own property and not allow others to respect and admire him?¡± The corners of sect master Qing Yang¡¯s mouth twitched. Shan Qingzi looked beautiful and elegant, but she was a woman after all, and she spoke harshly and sharply. ¡°It¡¯s good that everyone thinks the same way. After all, I can¡¯t make the decision to disband the Cangxuan Alliance. It all depends on heaven master Zhou Yuan.¡± Sect master Qing Yang didn¡¯t dare to say anything else. ¡°If alliance leader Zhou Yuan has such a thought, we will beg him to not abandon all sects.¡± Heaven Sword Sovereign said sincerely. Speechless, sect master Qing Yang didn¡¯t say anything else. Now that the war had come to an end and the several sect masters were making plans for the future, Zhou Yuan continued to gaze at the huge purple fire lotus. Sheng Yuan¡¯s Saint Spirit had been completely incinerated. The altar was also destroyed. The result made Zhou Yuan fall into a trance. When he left Cangxuan Heaven, Sheng Yuan was considered as his greatest enemy and he painstakingly cultivated to improve himself to return to Cangxuan Heaven and settle all grudges. He had finally achieved his goal and he felt a huge weight lifted off him. ¡°The turmoil is finally over.¡± A voice made Zhou Yuan raise his head and he saw patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s figure becoming completely illusory. Patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s last clone in the world was about to vanish. ¡°I have to thank patriarch on behalf of all people in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan bowed solemnly and respectfully to patriarch Cang Xuan. He was only able to defeat Sheng Yuan because of the many tricks that patriarch Cang Xuan left behind. Zhou Yuan had nothing but gratitude and respect for patriarch Cang Xuan. Back then, it was patriarch Cang Xuan who guided the lost youngster from the Great Zhou Empire to the Cangxuan Sect. In a way, patriarch Cang Xuan was Zhou Yuan''s guide. Patriarch Cang Xuan gazed at Zhou Yuan with a pleased smile. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you did even better than I thought. You will no doubt surpass me in the future. This clone is really the last. We won¡¯t see each other again after this.¡± As his body became increasingly transparent, his gaze was cast towards sect master Qing Yang, Liu Lianyi and the others, whose eyes were red and welled with tears. Patriarch Cang Xuan waved his hand at them, and his transparent body finally dissipated, leaving behind an emotional sigh. "Zhou Yuan, I leave the future of Cangxuan Heaven to you. I¡¯m very lucky to have met you at the Saint Remains Domains.¡± Patriarch Cang Xuan''s figure vanished from the world and only his voice continued to echo. Zhou Yuan stared dazedly at that scene. He understood that patriarch Cang Xuan, who really gave everything for Cangxuan Heaven, had truly used up all his tricks. From now on, they won''t have a chance to see each other again. Countless Cangxuan Alliance experts bowed down, expressing their respect for the former Heaven Master. After a while, Zhou Yuan settled his emotions and cast a glance at the dissipating purple fire lotus. He could feel everything inside it was incinerated into nothingness. ¡°Huh?¡± However, just when the fire lotus had completely faded, Zhou Yuan strangely felt uneasy. Shua! Just as that uneasiness surged in his heart, a ray of black light shot out from where the fire lotus vanished, aiming towards Zhou Yuan. The strange black light appeared abruptly, but with one thought, several purple fire barriers appeared in front of him. But the strangeness was stranger than he thought. The purple fire barriers seemed to not exist to the black light. It passed right through them and directly struck Zhou Yuan in the face. Chapter 1428 Fighting Upgrade The ray of strange black light penetrated the many defenses and directly struck Zhou Yuan in the face before vanishing in a flash. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face darkened. Even Genesis Qi started to riot. Masses of thunderclouds swiftly gathered above his head, forming a tremendous vortex of thunderclouds that spanned across thousands of miles. At the same time, the Sacred Dragon Qi roared inside his body and guarded all areas, preparing to suppress any strange movements. However, the change he expected didn¡¯t appear. Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit perception spread to every part of his body, but he couldn¡¯t find any strangeness. It was as though the previous scene was just an illusion. But Zhou Yuan knew it was impossible! Given his current strength and that he held the authority of Cangxuan Heaven, no movement in the world could hide from his eyes. Even if the ray of strange black light appeared abruptly, Zhou Yuan swiftly responded. However, the black light still passed right through his defense. It was no ordinary light. Ordinary Saints couldn¡¯t create such a light! ¡°That black light came from the broken altar¡­is it some secret technique from the Sacred Race? But what use does it have?¡± A fierce light flashed in Zhou Yuan''s eyes. He didn¡¯t dare to let his guard down because he understood that even if he had become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, the number of people in the Sacred Race that could suppress him was more than that could be counted with two hands. In the past few years, he had fought the Sacred Race many times, and although he prevailed in the end, in truth, the Sacred Race heaven prides he defeated were at most considered some better chess pieces within the Sacred Race. It was needless to say that the Sacred Race was strong. Even if the Sacred God was in deep slumber, the seven great prime saints could still firmly suppress all-heavens. If it weren''t for the protection provided by the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, Zhou Yuan felt it would have been impossible for all-heavens to enjoy so many years of peace. Zhou Yuan narrowed his deep eyes vigilantly. He could only be called an insignificant character in the past and he couldn¡¯t draw the attention of many high-ranking Sacred Race members, but he was different now. After he became in charge of Cangxuan Heaven, he was qualified to be called an influential character of all-heavens and was on an equal level to other Saints. The former chess piece had ascended the chessboard and became a chess player. In other words, he was now qualified to make the high-level Sacred Race members pay attention to him. Furthermore, he got rid of Sheng Yuan and ruined the Sacred Race¡¯s years of planning in Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t feel surprised if someone wanted to seek revenge from him because of that. Therefore, there must be a reason why that ray of strange black light appeared. It was just that the means was too clever and Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t notice any strangeness with his current strength. However, the Saints of all-heavens were watching this place and they should have noticed the previous strange movements. "Zhou Yuan, hurry, use the Cangxuan Saint Stamp to activate the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array! The Sacred Race likely is targeting you now!¡± While Zhou Yuan was pondering, a familiar voice rang in his ears. It was prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s voice, except his voice sounded grave. Zhou Yuan quivered and he immediately sat down cross-legged without any hesitation. An ancient stone seal emerged in his palm. He could feel an indescribably giant boundary forming around the boundary walls of Cangxuan Heaven. Endless ancient Genesis runes were flowing around the giant boundary, and each one seemed to have formed since the beginning of heaven and earth. Divine light constantly spewed out from them and each one contained mighty power that could make even Saints shudder with fear. The giant boundary was perhaps the most terrifying one that Zhou Yuan had ever seen. It was of course the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array that had protected all-heavens for years! It was just that the huge boundary that enveloped Cangxuan Heaven was in a slowly operating state and even seemed a little stiff. Zhou Yuan knew it was Sheng Yuan¡¯s doing. Zhou Yuan was now the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven and held supreme power, so he understood the source of the problem with one glance. The Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array enveloped all-heavens, but the boundary around each heaven was independent. Therefore, each heaven¡¯s boundary needed to stretch deep into its heaven to absorb power to maintain its operation. Furthermore, the huge boundary outside Cangxuan Heaven was slightly separated from the Cangxuan Heaven Boundary Wall. This was the doings of Sheng Yuan with the help of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp fragment. As a result, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array was a little chaotic after losing the support of some power in Cangxuan Heaven. However this wasn¡¯t a big problem for Zhou Yuan, who was now in charge of Cangxuan Heaven. With one thought, the Genesis Qi within Cangxuan Heaven suddenly fluctuated. Endless torrents of Genesis Qi suddenly spiralled up from the boundary wall like millions of Genesis Qi tentacles. They slowly stretched into the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. Boom! A deep thunder rumbled from beyond the sky. Countless experts who heard the rumble turned ashen and even their Spirits trembled. With their eyes wide with fear, they lifted their heads and peered at the boundless depths. With Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s support, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array was slowly pulled closer and terrifying streams of light spread out to envelop the entire Cangxuan Heaven. All top experts from all-heavens and the Sacred Race were watching that scene. Prime sovereign Jin Luo found that the prime Saint of the Sacred Race he was fighting suddenly increased his attack power. Vast amount of Genesis Qi swept out, engulfing countless little voids and destroying thousands of galaxies. Prime sovereign Jin Luo narrowed his eyes because he felt something strange with the Sacred Race¡¯s action. Zhou Yuan was now in charge of Cangxuan Heaven, and although the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array was a little chaotic compared to before, it possessed innate power to counter the Sacred Race. Therefore, even if the Sacred Race wanted to do something, no attack could pass through the formation even if it was from a prime Saint. What are they trying to do? While incessant thoughts constantly streamed through prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s head, he didn¡¯t hold back his attack. Golden lights soared into the sky from the top of his head and transformed into an ancient golden bell. Golden sound waves vibrated, shattering the starry sky. While prime sovereign Jin Luo fell into a fierce battle with a prime saint of the Sacred Race, in another void, prime sovereign Di Long and Chi Ji were similarly intercepted by two prime saints of the Sacred Race. The impact from their battles destroyed the surrounding space. After a period of silence, even fiercer battles erupted. ... Shengzu Heaven, the Sacred Mountain. In the ancient hall on the mountain summit. Four prime saints peered indifferently ahead. They saw prime sovereign Jin Luo, Di Long, and Chi Ji being intercepted, and also the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array gradually enveloping the entire Cangxuan Heaven, as well as the newly appointed young Heaven Master in Cangxuan Heaven. Immediately, they exchanged glances with each other and smiled. ¡°Location confirmed. We can move now.¡± Chapter 1429 Prime Saints Attack Chaos Origin Battles broke out between the three prime sovereigns of all-heavens and the prime Saints of the Sacred Race, and the movement from those battles naturally couldn¡¯t be concealed from the all-heavens Saints¡¯ perception. As a result, all Saints were fully on guard. Given the large movement, the Sacred Race was bound to have something planned! At the same time, a formation that was so tremendous that made people shudder with fear slowly descended on the Cangxuan Heaven Boundary Walls. Once it came into contact with the boundary walls, it could draw power from Cangxuan Heaven. It was only then that the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array was considered fully operated and Cangxuan Heaven once again was in its protection. Cangxuan Heaven was finally considered safe and the citizens wouldn¡¯t need to worry about the Sacred Race breaking in again. Zhou Yuan stood vigilantly within Cangxuan Heaven, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the boundary walls. Boom! As his emotions were stirred, Genesis Qi within the entire Cangxuan Heaven fluctuated and surged and finally formed lightning, thunder, hurricane wind, flames as well as layers of clouds. The terrifying power contained in them was so powerful that even sect master Qing Yang and the others palpitated with fear. However, they hadn¡¯t reached the Saint stage and they naturally couldn¡¯t pry into the boundary walls and see what was happening. This was why they were a little surprised that Zhou Yuan mobilized the Cangxuan Heaven powers on such a large scale. Zhou Yuan''s expression told them that he was much more nervous than when he dealt with Sheng Yuan. Clasping the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, Zhou Yuan carefully controlled the vast mighty Cangxuan Heaven power while shifting his gaze to sect master Qing Yang and the others. ¡°Quickly leave this area.¡± Although he didn''t know what the Sacred Race had planned, it most likely would be earthshaking since prime sovereign Jin Luo sent them a warning. Therefore, he must be well-prepared. Zhou Yuan felt very uneasy because he still hadn¡¯t found the black light that struck him. But he had a hunch that what the Sacred Race had planned was directed at him. Sect master Qing Yang and the others should stay far away because they were not strong enough to intervene in the next battle. Sect master Qing Yang and the others couldn''t stop their expressions from changing. They could hear the seriousness and fear in Zhou Yuan¡¯s tone of voice and so they rapidly evacuated without a word. Chi Jing, Su Youwei, Wu Yao and others scrunched their faces up in worry, but they didn¡¯t stubbornly stay behind because they knew that Zhou Yuan controlled the entire Cangxuan Heaven and his strength wasn¡¯t in the slightest inferior to any other Saint. If there was a power that could threaten him, they would just become his burden even if they remained behind. In just a short moment, the area within a radius of one hundred miles was cleared. Zhou Yuan suddenly narrowed his eyes on the boundary wall. Boom! There, the primal chaos void suddenly tore apart and a giant hand with no end in sight suddenly stretched out. Surrounded in destructive power, it slammed down at the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array around the Cangxuan Heaven Boundary Wall. Rumble The collision between the two produced endless explosions of lightning and ear-piercing sonic boom reverberated throughout Cangxuan Heaven. Even Genesis Qi exploded in the air. Zhou Yuan waved his sleeve and several heavy barriers emerged beneath the boundary walls, lessening the impact of the destructive noises. But his countenance didn¡¯t look good because he knew how strong the person who attacked was from just the giant hand. It was no doubt a prime Saint from the Sacred Race! Only a prime Saint would have that kind of ability and dared to come attack the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array! Boom! Shock waves of hundred feet constantly broke out from the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, destroying the small spaces born in the primal chaos void. A battle of such a level made Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyelids twitch rapidly. But fortunately, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array was extremely powerful and even though it hadn¡¯t fully connected with Cangxuan Heaven and thus its power couldn¡¯t be fully displayed, it still blocked the prime Saint. ¡°As I thought, it is directed at me.¡± As the prime saint bombarded the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, Zhou Yuan felt a gaze filled with malicious intent penetrated through the layers of space and locked onto him. Boom! It was then that the primal chaos void started to break apart again and another giant hand again slowly stretched out and inserted into the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. It was another prime Saint! The Saints in all-heavens also sensed the abnormal movements and their expressions changed dramatically. Including the three prime saints that intercepted Jin Luo, Di Long, and Chi Ji, a total of five prime saints from the Sacred Race had been dispatched! The scale was as great as the first world-ending war! Moreover, were all the prime saints of the Sacred Race not focussing all their powers on the Sacred Mountain and transferring it to the Sacred God in deep slumber? How would they make a move now?! While the Saints of all-heavens turned ashen-faced, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array suddenly vibrated and a crack appeared in the corner. Although the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array was powerful, it wasn¡¯t fully operated and as a result, flaws emerged under the combined attacks of two prime Saints. It was just that the two prime Saints couldn¡¯t destroy it and only tore open a gap with brute force. While the two sides were in a stalemate, the two prime Saints also couldn¡¯t do anything else. Otherwise the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array would rapidly destroy their powers and quickly recover. Zhou Yuan watched the scene with an overcast face. He also couldn¡¯t do much except mobilize countless Genesis Qi tentacles to stretch out the boundary wall and connect them to the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array to further strengthen it. He was now the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. He wouldn¡¯t feel a trace of fear towards ordinary saints, but he still had no qualifications to face prime Saints head-on. However, his action had little effect. As the two Saints instilled their powers, the crack in the corner of the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array outside the Cangxuan Heaven Boundary Walls became more and more obvious. In the end, the crack was connected to Cangxuan Heaven. The moment the crack appeared, two pillars of light roared out from the primal chaos void, passed through the crack and entered the Cangxuan Heaven. As the light faded, two figures suddenly emerged in front of Zhou Yuan, staring indifferently at him with their hands clasped behind their backs. The two figures¡¯ appearance immediately turned the Saints in all-heavens ashen-faced. Even Jin Luo, Di Long and Chi Ji lost their calmness, and they wore expressions as cold as water. ¡°Mo Jie¡­¡± ¡°Hei Zhao¡­¡± The two who penetrated the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array and descended upon Cangxuan Heaven were the last two prime Saints of the Sacred Race who hadn¡¯t made a move! In other words, the seven prime Saints of the Sacred Race had all acted! Everyone felt a chill run into their hearts. All seven prime Saints have acted, what does that mean? Is this a sign that the Sacred Race would start the world-ending war again?! Moreover, how could Cangxuan Heaven counter two prime Saints?! Chapter 1430 Prime Saints Descend When the two figures appeared above, Genesis Qi across the entire Cangxuan Heaven started to riot. This wasn¡¯t caused by Zhou Yuan, but heaven sensed an extremely terrifying external force entering and produced an involuntarily resisting reaction. Sect master Qing Yang, Chi Jing, Su Youwei and others, who had retreated afar, also noticed the abnormal movements. They peered into the distance and discovered two figures that looked out of place in their heaven. A feeling of impending danger enveloped them all when they saw the two figures and fear filled their hearts. The two figures were so terrifying that it exceeded their imagination. ¡°They are prime Saints from the Sacred Race!¡± someone cried out hoarsely, trembling. Ordinary Saints were already unreachable to them, but the two figures that appeared in Cangxuan Heaven were top existences at the Saint stage! In a world without gods, prime Saints and prime sovereigns were pinnacle existences in the Tianyuan World! And two of them had descended upon Cangxuan Heaven! Is the Sacred Race here to destroy Cangxuan Heaven?! Many Cangxuan Heaven experts looked glum. They only got rid of Sheng Yuan after much difficulty but another two Saints had broken in. Compared to the two prime Saints, the threats brought by Sheng Yuan were considered nothing. Everyone looked at each other, sighing bitterly. They understood that they couldn''t do anything at such a time. On the contrary, if they were to step into the battlefield, their life and death wouldn¡¯t be in their control. A battle of that level had to be left to the top existences of all-heavens. While many Cangxuan Heaven experts looked glum, Zhou Yuan studied the two figures who appeared before him with an unpleasant expression. One of the two figures was burly and strong and his head glistened like a mirror. His face was inscribed with azure runes and they flowed strangely around his face like living creatures. The other was dressed in a robe as white as snow but a black flame raged in his eyes like a black hole. People would feel terrified at the sight. ¡°Mo Jie¡ª¡± ¡°Hei Zhao¡ª¡± Zhou Yuan uttered. He was very familiar with the information on the seven prime Saints of the Sacred Race and so he easily identified the two. The azure runes on prime Saint Mo Jie¡¯s face roamed around his face as he said with a gentle smile, ¡°You''re Zhou Yuan? You have brought a lot of trouble to the Sacred Race over the years. No one ever thought an ant would become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven and ruined the Sacred Race¡¯s years of planning?" ¡°Submit to the Sacred Race and hand over the Saint Stamp and we will spare your life,¡± said Prime Saint Hei Zhao indifferently as the black flames in his eyes blazed. Zhou Yuan smiled without saying anything. Instead, he answered with his action. He brought his hands together and the space surrounding the two prime Saints suddenly crumbled layer after layer. Boundless Genesis Qi suddenly whizzed over and crashed down on the two like a starry river. ¡°You have a death wish.¡± Prime Saint Hei Zhao shook his head. A strand of black hair fluttered down and immediately set into flames. Then, the black flames rapidly expanded as it met the wind, becoming a sea of flames and incinerated everything around. As the black flames swept across the area, the collapsed space, as though touched by a divine hand, calmed down instantly and the vast starry-river-like Genesis Qi was instantly incinerated into nothing upon contact. After easily countering Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack, prime Saint Hei Zhao flicked his fingers. Two giant black flame hands appeared both above and below Zhou Yuan, slowly closing in. It sealed the space and crushed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. His body was instantly incinerated into ashes upon contact. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure also appeared tens of thousands of feet away, staring at the two prime Saints with a darkened face. ¡°You are indeed worthy of being the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. You made full advantage of this place. The space moves with your heart like fleas.¡± Prime Saint Hei Zhao grinned. ¡°It looks like we need to let the new Heaven Master know that even the master of a heaven is worthless before us.¡± Prime Saint Mo Jie smiled as a ray of azure light shot into the sky from his bald head. The azure light, as though formed some kind of illusory light wave, spread across and finally obscured the sky ¡°Sky Obscuring Azure Boundary.¡± Following prime Saint Mo Jie¡¯s chuckle, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression finally changed because he could feel his connection with Cangxuan Heaven gradually blurring. The illusory azure light spreading across the sky seemed to have blocked his connection with Cangxuan Heaven! Is this a means of a prime Saint? It really is mysterious. ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you make our Sacred Race dispatch two prime Saints to deal with you, even if you died, your name will be passed on to future generations.¡± ¡°Oh, that''s not necessary. If our Sacred Race wipes out all people in all-heavens, you will disappear in the long river of history. No one will remember you existed in the future of the Tianyuan World. The Sacred Race will wipe away all traces of your existence.¡± Prime Saint Mo Jie said with a smile. As his laughter faded, prime Saint Hei Zhao raised his hand and a black spark whizzed out from his sleeve. The black spark immediately transformed into an endless sea of black flames and incinerated everything into nothing as it gushed across the area. It teleported through space and appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. Everything was turned to ashes where the flames passed. Like the flames of destruction. Zhou Yuan knew the terror of the black flames. Even he would likely be turned to nothing if he was caught in the flames. However, there wasn¡¯t a hint of fear or panic on his face. Instead, his eyes glinted with chilling fierceness. He gripped the Cangxuan Saint Stamp and the light runes on it suddenly grew brighter. Just as the black sea neared him, the space surrounding Zhou Yuan suddenly tore apart and mighty forces gushed out like a starry river, violently colliding with the sea of black flames. Rumble! The terrifying impact from the collision caused all spaces to crumble, and Genesis Qi shock waves, surrounded with black flames, raged everywhere. Everything within a radius of a hundred of miles was torn apart. Prime Saint Hei Zhao narrowed his eyes at the gap that split the space. ¡°Reinforcements are here?¡± Streams of light flashed out from the crack and landed in front of Zhou Yuan. It was eight figures all exuding terrifying and earthshaking might. They were led by Zhou Yuan¡¯s master, supreme sovereign Cang Yuan. The other seven figures following supreme sovereign Cang Yuan were all experts at the double lotus saint stage! The Omega Shrine had dispatched all double lotus Saints who were free in order to deal with the two prime Saints. Chapter 1431 Eight Saints Eight figures lined up in front of Zhou Yuan, exuding powerful and terrifying auras that stirred the entire world. The azure light on the horizon that obstructed Zhou Yuan from connecting with Cangxuan Heaven was completely eliminated. ¡°Master!¡± Zhou Yuan heaved a sigh of relief when he saw Cang Yuan and the others. If the reinforcements hadn¡¯t come soon, he could have been in deep trouble. After all, even if he was in charge of Cangxuan Heaven, he couldn¡¯t simultaneously deal with two prime Saints. Cang Yuan turned his head behind and smiled at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you did very well.¡± Zhou Yuan''s performance could be called perfect. He not only suppressed Sheng Yuan, but also ruined the Sacred Race¡¯s plan. Of course, most importantly he became the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. It was precisely because Zhou Yuan took charge of Cangxuan Heaven that they were able to take advantage of his power and directly come here. The other seven double-lotus Saints swept a glance over Zhou Yuan¡¯s face and surprise flashed across their eyes. Then, they gave a slight nod at Zhou Yuan. Their attitude was as though treating them as equal. Although Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t completely stepped into the Saint stage, as the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, he wasn¡¯t weaker than ordinary Saints in terms of strength. Therefore, in a sense, Zhou Yuan was qualified to step into the pinnacle position of all-heavens. This was why they also respected Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan also felt their attitude towards him had changed, and he immediately nodded a greeting at him. He couldn¡¯t help feeling a little emotional because when he achieved the title of strongest below the Saint stage, the veteran Saints only smiled at him and didn¡¯t treat him in any special way. But their attitude evidently changed now that he took charge of Cangxuan Heaven. From this, it was clear that he had truly leaped to the sky now that he took control of a heaven. Cang Yuan didn''t say much to Zhou Yuan because his gaze quickly shifted to the two figures ahead. His wrinkled face gradually turned serious and tense. ¡°I didn¡¯t think a little Cangxuan Heaven could attract two prime Saints to come. This is really surprising,¡± said Cang Yuan in a low voice. ¡°Cang Yuan¡­¡± Black flames leaped about in prime saint Hei Zhao¡¯s eyes as he ran his gaze across the serious faces of the eight double lotus Saints. ¡°What, are your three prime sovereigns unable to take action?¡± Cang Yuan smiled. ¡°We wanted to learn about a prime Saint¡¯s power so we all volunteered.¡± ¡°You guys?¡± Mo Jie smiled mockingly. Hei Zhao didn''t even bother to say anything. His eyes, in which black flames were raging, emitted strong murderous intent that made even the world change color. Hu. Prime Saint Hei Zhao¡¯s cheeks puffed up and he spewed out millions of black sparks in one breath. Those sparks entwined in the air, forming an incredibly huge flaming demon-face. An ear-piercing screech rang out from the demon face and black flames wrapped in a gust of black whizzed towards Cang Yuan and the others. The black wind wiped out all life force where it passed. Even Genesis Qi was turned into nothing. ¡°Be careful, that¡¯s the Flame Wind of the Black God!¡± A double lotus Saint warned solemnly when he saw the gust of black wind raging across the world. They naturally knew a lot about the two prime Saints before them, including how terrifying and overbearing the black wind that prime Saint Hei Zhao spewed out. The black flame contained in the gust of black wind had wiped out many Saints of all-heavens in ancient times. Cang Yuan wore a solemn expression as the black wind was reflected in his eyes. He stretched out his hand and the space surrounding his hand distorted as an ancient mottled lantern took shape. A fierce light flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes when he saw the lantern because he was very familiar with the object form. It was an object that he had worked very hard for in the past. It was the Ancestral Dragon Lantern! Cang Yuan folded one hand in a seal, activating the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. A strange light emerged at the lantern mouth as an ancient roar resounded. Then, a suction force erupted from there like the Ancestral Dragon was swallowing the world. Hu! The suction force immediately engulfed the black wind whizzing over, turned it into wisps of black smoke and inhaled them into the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. The black smoke frantically roamed inside the lantern and finally shrank into the wick. There, the little spark grew increasingly bright. ¡°Ancestral Dragon Lantern?!¡± The black wind subsided and Hei Zhao and Mo Jie narrowed their eyes. They peered at the ancient lantern with a hint of fear. The Ancestral Dragon Lantern was ranked second among all treasures in all-heavens. It enjoyed great fame in ancient times and even prime Saints suffered a great deal from that treasure, let alone ordinary saints. ¡°No wonder you dared to come stop us two. It seems you came prepared,¡± said Mo Jie indifferently. Hei Zhao¡¯s face was devoid of expression. He was skilled in fire arts and the Ancestral Dragon Lantern had the most restraining effect on him. Back in the ancient times, the Ancestral Dragon Lantern had once pushed them into a miserable state, but now, it was just as troublesome as before. Cang Yuan didn''t waste talking to them. He exchanged glances with the other seven saints and lifted his hand into the air. The Ancestral Dragon Lantern also slowly floated up. A drop of dazzling golden blood was shot out from his fingertips and entered the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. The other seven saints also squeezed out a drop of Saint blood essence into the lantern. The eight drops of Saint blood essence was immediately absorbed by the wick when they entered the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. The flame on the wick suddenly expanded and blazed, lighting up the entire Ancestral Dragon Lantern. A chaos flame whizzed out from the lantern¡¯s mouth and its appearance made it feel as though the entire world had returned to the primal chaos times. ¡°Ancestral Dragon Primal Chaos Flame, destroy!¡± As Cang Yuan roared, the space around Mo Jie and Hei Zhao suddenly crumbled to fragments. The flames of primal chaos set ablaze all their routes of escape, making it difficult for them to move. Two pillars of chaos flame rose and trapped Mo Jie and Hei Zhao inside. As though exiled to chaos, the two would lose all their senses and would disappear forever. ¡°It¡¯s so strong¡­¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help exclaiming. The combined strength of Cang Yuan and the other double lotus Saints were able to trap two prime Saints with the help of the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. Their power was too remarkable. ¡°Zhou Yuan, we just trapped them temporarily. Given their strength, they will soon manage to break free. It''s just a matter of time.¡± Cang Yuan inhaled deeply and looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°It depends on you whether we can survive this crisis.¡± ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± Zhou Yuan asked. Cang Yuan lifted his head and his gaze penetrated the many voids. He stared right at the Cangxuan Heaven Boundary Walls. ¡°You are in charge of Cangxuan Heaven but you haven¡¯t yet reached the Saint stage. Therefore, it is difficult for you to mobilize the source qi of this heaven. Otherwise, if you instilled the heaven¡¯s source qi into the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, you no doubt can break the two prime Saints¡¯ restraint and complete the array. At that time, Hei Zhao and Mo Jie wouldn¡¯t dare to stay in this heaven anymore. This is also where your opportunity lies. As the Heaven Master, you should naturally receive blessings from your heaven. Zhou Yuan, calmly and quietly feel the Heaven Heart and integrate your will into the Heaven Heart. At that time, you will truly control Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Cang Yuan turned his head around and gazed at Zhou Yuan, his eyes gleaming with anticipation ¡°That could be your opportunity to reach the Saint stage!¡± Zhou Yuan quivered with an undisguisable blazing look on his face. Saint¡­ That word stirred his emotions even more than when he took control of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp because that was the true lifelong dream of all cultivators. Chapter 1432 Heaven Heart Zhou Yuan¡¯s turbulent emotions gradually calmed down, and he glanced at the two pillars of fire that seemed to form from primal chaos flames. Boundless primal chaos voids were transformed inside the pillars of flames and any one who fell into them would lose all perception. Even ordinary Saints would have to use a huge amount of time and energy to return to reality. Furthermore, the slightest carelessness could make one perish forever and be turned to nothingness. But that obviously wasn¡¯t the case for Mo Jie and Hei Zhao. As top experts in the Tianyuan World, the primal chaos flames likely couldn¡¯t trap them for long. Even though eight double-lotus Saints of all-heavens had come to provide reinforcements and they held a great weapon like the Ancestral Dragon Lantern, they weren''t confident that they could deal with two prime Saints. Therefore, to truly solve their crisis, they had to rely on the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. As long as the array was completely connected with Cangxuan Heaven, even prime Saints wouldn¡¯t dare break into Cangxuan Heaven. Hu. Zhou Yuan deeply exhaled and suppressed all his emotions. He then sat down cross-legged. He folded his hands together and an ancient stone seal emerged in his hands. It was the Cangxuan Saint Stamp. The ancient runes around it emitted a mysterious glow, and then as they rippled, a light sgradually enveloped Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Cang Yuan and the other Saints swept a glance over Zhou Yuan. Although Zhou Yuan was just sitting there to the naked eye, they could feel Zhou Yuan¡¯s body becoming increasingly illusory and untouchable. This was because Zhou Yuan had completely integrated with that world. Zhou Yuan indeed felt he had integrated with the entire Cangxuan Heaven. His thoughts moved like invisible waves of light, spreading to every corner of Cangxuan Heaven at an unimaginable speed. Countless mountains and rivers were reflected in Zhou Yuan''s mind. Su Youwei¡¯s, Wu Yao¡¯s and others¡¯ expressions also changed. They felt an indescribable wave of energy passing over them. ¡°It¡¯s his Highness,¡± muttered Su Youwei, blinking her bright eyes. Even though the mirrors above the Great Zhou city walls in the distance had disappeared long ago, Zhou Qing, Qin Yu, and many officials from the Great Zhou were still standing on the walls with worried frowns. Although they couldn¡¯t see the great battle happening in the distance, the impact from the two prime Saints affected the entire Cangxuan Heaven and everyone knew that a great enemy had invaded Cangxuan Heaven. But they didn¡¯t know what was happening on the battlefield now. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu looked at each other, their eyes filled with worries. But their bodies suddenly produced a strange feeling. An invisible force swept over their bodies, gradually calming their worries. Qin Yu''s face lit up with surprise and joy, and she couldn''t help exclaiming, ¡°It''s Yuan¡¯er?!¡± Even Zhou Qing was touched with tears. Although what they thought was unbelievable, a familiar aura indeed brushed past their bodies. Their Yuan''er had reached a level that even they didn¡¯t dare to think about, and so it wasn¡¯t impossible that something so unbelievable happened. Zhou Qing gradually calmed his worry. He clasped Qin Yu''s hand and whispered. ¡°Yuan''er, you have already surpassed your father, and father is very proud of you.¡± ¡°Father and Mother believe in you. No difficulty can stop you, but if you really encounter something you can¡¯t deal with, father and mother hope you can protect yourself as your priority. Your life is most important. In our hearts, even this heaven isn¡¯t as important as you. So even at the most critical juncture, father and mother don''t want you to risk your life for us. We only hope you live well.¡± Zhou Qing''s voice was very gentle. Unknowingly, the King of the Great Zhou Empire, who was full of vigor, had greying hair and his handsome face showed traces of age. He peered ahead with a faint smile. He knew well what Zhou Yuan¡¯s character was like. He would protect Cangxuan Heaven with his life because of him and Qin Yu, but as Zhou Yuan¡¯s father, he didn¡¯t want Zhou Yuan to bear such a heavy burden. However, he of course was very proud of what Zhou Yuan had done. He just hoped that if Cangxuan Heaven couldn¡¯t be protected, Zhou Yuan shouldn¡¯t do something stupid for them. A light breeze blew past, stirring the hair of Zhou Qing and Qin Yu. Zhou Yuan was sat cross-legged in the void, his closed eyes reddened and a warmth flowed around in his heart. At the same time, his state of mind became increasingly calm and peaceful. The entire world was reflected in his mind. Zhou Yuan felt the world beginning to change. Countless veins appeared before him, leading to many directions and forming an extremely complex and mysterious diagram. Zhou Yuan felt enlightened when he saw those veins because those veins were the core of the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Each vein represented the direction of every mountain and river, and the flow of universe Genesis Qi. If he moved those veins a little, the sky and ground of Cangxuan Heaven would change. That was the core of the world that only those who hold the position of Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven could touch. With one thought from Zhou Yuan, countless veins moved past his eyes. They suddenly bloomed with strange lights and intertwined like starry rivers. The scene was mysterious but stunning. There, Zhou Yuan heard countless whispers. He listened carefully and found that they were the voices of countless people in Cangxuan Heaven. Tremendous amounts of information converged there and even Saints wouldn¡¯t be able to bear it. Only the person who held the Cangxuan Saint Stamp could ignore that kind of intrusion and remain still and calm. Zhou Yuan wandered around the countless veins, listening to the heartfelt voices of everyone. He nodded understandingly. There, it was the so-called Heaven Heart. The place where the heart of Cangxuan Heaven citizens converged was naturally the Heaven Heart. ¡°Integrate will with the Heaven Heart¡ª¡± Zhou Yuan uttered in his mind. Once he completed that step, he would become the true ruler of Cangxuan Heaven. The thoughts of everyone would fall into his ears then and if he wanted to, there would be no secret in Cangxuan Heaven that he wouldn¡¯t not know about. In a sense, this was an ability of an omnipotent and almighty god. Of course, this wasn¡¯t absolute. When one¡¯s strength was so strong that it reached a certain level, one would be able to resist someone listening to one¡¯s thought and not allow one¡¯s emotions to be perceived and controlled by the outside world. With one thought, Zhou Yuan''s will spread out and connected with those countless veins. However, the smooth integration he expected didn¡¯t appear. Even holding the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, Zhou Yuan realized the so-called Heaven Heart didn¡¯t actively cooperate with his will. In addition, he faintly felt a very mysterious suction force attracting his will. Zhou Yuan pondered for a few breaths before letting go of his resistance. As his will moved, he saw countless veins flashed past his eyes and even time seemed to have froze. After an unknown period of time, Zhou Yuan felt a bizarre wave of energy. He peered ahead and his mind suddenly quivered. There, the veins that were originally blazing brightly and filled with vitality became dark and mottled. In the depths were many darkened veins interweaving like tentacles and instilling indescribable fear in everyone. An ominous and strange aura spread out from there. That was the core of Cangxuan Heaven, but no one thought there would be such a dark, distorted, and ominous sight there. Understanding suddenly dawned on Zhou Yuan ¡ª That was where the defect in Cangxuan Heaven lies! Chapter 1433 Ambition Darkness flowed around the core of the Cangxuan Heaven world, and the ominous aura and bizarreness was spine-chilling. As for Zhou Yuan, he gradually recovered from his shock after several breaths. He stared at the depths of the darkness solemnly and vigilantly. It turned out the so-called defects in Cangxuan Heaven were there¡­ The darkness was full of corrosiveness. Furthermore, Zhou Yuan could perceive a tiny, subtle will in the depths that terrified even him. Even though he was the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, he still felt suffocating under that will. ¡°It''s... a wisp of will of the Sacred God?!¡± Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath, his heart trembling. In the entire Tianyuan World, even prime Saints of the Sacred Race wouldn¡¯t possess such terrifying will. Only the Sacred God could reach that level and also bear malice towards all-heavens! Evidently, the dark corrosiveness in Cangxuan Heaven was caused by the Sacred Race! The Sacred Race had unknowingly struck a wisp of darkness containing the Sacred God¡¯s will into the core of the Cangxuan Heaven world. That darkness would slowly spread the corrosiveness, and once the corrosion was completed, even if the Sacred Race hadn¡¯t taken control of the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, they could still control the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Moreover, as Cangxuan Heaven was corroded, the chance of a Saint emerging there would be increasingly low. It basically severed Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s future. This was perhaps why Cangxuan Heaven had deteriorated over the years. The Sacred Race was too ruthless. Zhou Yuan predicted that if the hidden crisis in Cangxuan Heaven wasn¡¯t resolved, no more Saints would emerge in Cangxuan Heaven. That would be a fatal blow to any heaven. Therefore, if he wanted Cangxuan Heaven to return to the right path, return to perfection, he had to remove the darkness and corrosiveness. But that was no easy task. Old ancestor Cang Xuan must have tried many things in the past, but everything clearly had no effect. Of course, Zhou Yuan understood that very well. After all, he was standing outside the darkness and didn¡¯t dare to step inside because he knew the Sacred God¡¯s will hiding in the darkness was too terrifying. Even if he was the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, the Sacred God¡¯s will would corrode him if he entered deep into the darkness. For example Sheng Yuan. He became crazy in the end because he was corroded by the Sacred God¡¯s will. From that it was clear how overbearing the Sacred God¡¯s will was. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t. dare act carelessly if he didn¡¯t have complete confidence. Zhou Yuan also understood what intention that power had to lead him here. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and solemnly uttered to himself, ¡°Although the path ahead is dangerous, as a member of Cangxuan Heaven, I have to protect everyone in this heaven. If I have a chance in the future I will make Cangxuan Heaven return to perfection!¡± His voice was quiet but every word came from the depths of his heart, as though making a vow. Although Cangxuan Heaven had no clear will, it possessed an instinctive self-protecting ability and the power that drew Zhou Yuan here was from there. Zhou Yuan''s great ambitious vow could be said to be a promise he made to the entire Cangxuan Heaven and all people. But from another angle, it could be considered an agreement as the newly-appointed Heaven Master. As Zhou Yuan made his promise, he suddenly heard countless whispers ringing in his ears. Then, the countless veins across the world became increasingly bright. Zhou Yuan¡¯s will slowly spread out and integrated with the Heaven Heart without any obstruction. My heart will replace the Heaven Heart. From then on, this word would have a true controller and ruler. As his will began to replace the Heaven Heart, Zhou Yuan felt unimaginable changes happening in his body. Those changes were appearing in the depths of his body, blood vessels and Spirit. It was a transformation of life. In other words, he was becoming a Saint from a mortal. All powers in the Cangxuan Heaven were helping Zhou Yuan complete that transformation. ... ¡°Huh? The power of heaven and earth is moving.¡± At the same time, Cang Yuan and the others also noticed the abnormal movements in Cangxuan Heaven. That power was so tremendous that even veteran double lotus Saints couldn¡¯t help looking moved. But after looking moved, Cang Yuan¡¯s face lit up with joy. He knew Zhou Yuan had successfully integrated his will with the Heaven Heart and from then on, he would truly control Cangxuan Heaven. Cangxuan Heaven would also give the new Heaven Master the greatest gift. It would help Zhou Yuan achieve the step towards the Saint stage using the entire heaven¡¯s strength as the support. ¡°Cang Yuan, you¡¯re so lucky. A few years ago, your eldest disciple became a Saint and now your youngest disciple not only became the Heaven Master of a Heaven. he will reach the Saint stage soon.¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, three Saints in one sect. It¡¯s extremely rare.¡± The other six double lotus Saints couldn''t help exclaiming with envious expressions. As double lotus Saints, they of course knew how difficult it was to become a Saint as a mortal. Since ancient times, it was unknown how many remarkable heaven prides couldn¡¯t leap past that difficulty. Once when one became a Saint would one leap to the pinnacle level of the world and be admired and respected by millions of people. If Cang Yuan had three Saints in his sect, it no doubt would increase the weight of his words in the Omega Shrine and he could suppress the other veteran double lotus Saints. Facing the envied gazes of all Saints, Cang Yuan couldn¡¯t help smiling widely, even if their situation didn¡¯t look good. At the same time, he was overwhelmed with emotions. He had only ever accepted three official disciples, and even if Zhou Yuan joined much later, the time he took to reach the Saint stage was much shorter than Zhuan Zhu. His talent was incredibly rare. But speaking of that, he knew he didn¡¯t do very well in teaching Zhou Yuan. In a sense, Yaoyao was more qualified to be called Zhou Yuan¡¯s master. She was the one who guided the weak youngster who hadn¡¯t unblocked his eight meridians back then to become a Heaven Master. Without Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan might not be able to achieve what he had now. But without Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao likely wouldn¡¯t still have human nature. She might have already regained her divinity and become the third god. The two people supported each other and went through many ups and downs together. It wasn¡¯t surprising that their friendship was so deep. While Cang Yuan was sighing emotionally, his expression suddenly changed and his gaze shifted to the two pillars of chaos fire ahead because he sensed two terrifying gushes of mighty Saint power being released. The rotating pillars of fire gradually dimmed and became flames that filled the sky. Hu. Cang Yuan inhaled deeply. The other Saints'' expressions also turned grave. They knew Mo Jie and Hei Zhao were about to break out. Chapter 1434 Zhou Yuan Becomes A Saint The two pillars of chaos fire that towered into the sky rapidly dimmed and the blazing fire turned into countless flames and floated upwards. After several breaths, when the pillars of fire had completely faded, the two figures bringing endless oppressive pressure to the surrounding people emerged in the air. ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Lantern is indeed remarkable. If Jin Luo and the others were to activate it, it would have required us ten times more effort and time.¡± The azure runes on Mo Jie¡¯s face circulated as he exclaimed. ¡°Cang Yuan, why do something pointless. Do you think you can change anything by delaying it?¡± Hei Zhao spoke indifferently, but his and Mo Jie¡¯s expressions suddenly changed. They glanced at the young figure sitting cross-legged above. ¡°Oh? Your will has replaced the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s Heaven Heart?¡± The two prime Saints narrowed their eyes. It turned out that Cang Yuan and the others had this planned. They stalled for time so that Zhou Yuan could integrate his will into Cangxuan Heaven. At that time, Zhou Yuan undoubtedly would become even more deserving of his title of Heaven Master. ¡°He really has terrifying potential. He is always improving at an astonishing rate. Although this is mainly because he had support of heaven and earth, it still shows how outstanding he is,¡± remarked Mo Jie indifferently. ¡°My Sacred Race will soon wipe out this world, so there¡¯s no point in struggling desperately. Let¡¯s get rid of them.¡± Hei Zhao said indifferently as murderous intent flowed around his deep eyes. As his voice rang out, Hei Zhao lifted his hand into the air and a jet-black mouth slowly crack open in his palm. Then, black lava roared out from that mouth. The black lava was so terrifying that its appearance caused the entire world to vaporize. Black smoke curled up from the black lava and even the black smoke contained fire poison that terrified even Saint experts. The world dimmed and darkened as the black lava swept towards Cang Yuan and the others with terrifying and overwhelming force. When Cang Yuan and the others saw Hei Zhao act, their expressions turned grave. A prime Saint had erupted with all his strength. Even if they had an advantage in number and held the Ancestral Dragon Lantern, they didn¡¯t dare to act carelessly. Cang Yuan quickly formed a seal with his hands and the Ancestral Dragon Pill shone brightly and released a spark that quickly transformed into a stone shield. The shield was inscribed with a vague ancient dragon and emitted terrifying power. The ancient dragon opened its mouth wide and as it let out a long roar, it completely swallowed all the black lava and toxic smoke. The collision between the two terrifying forces silently shredded the sky. But while Hei Zhao was dealing with Cang Yuan and the others, a smile came to prime Saint Mo Jie¡¯s face and an azure rune broke out from his face. Boom! The azure rune immediately transformed into an azure thunderbolt of thousand foot tall. It roared like a fierce dragon and released earthshaking powers. The azure thunderbolt whizzed across the air and struck down at Zhou Yuan. Prime Saint evidently intended to directly kill Zhou Yuan and completely eliminate all their troubles. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± Cang Yuan and the others turned ashen. After all, they were facing a prime Saint, they could only obstruct one after combining all their strengths. How could they have extra strength to take care of Zhou Yuan? They could only helplessly watch the terrifying azure thunderbolt crash down at Zhou Yuan. Bang! Zhou Yuan''s body immediately ripped apart. The terrifying thunderbolt power completely destroyed his flesh and blood. Within seconds, the azure thunderbolt had eliminated Zhou Yuan. Prime Saint Mo Jie smiled faintly, but before his smile fully spread across his face, he saw countless specks of light speeding over, and every speck contained incredibly pure universe Genesis Qi. Moreover, those specks of light seemed to contain an extremely ferocious vitality. They quickly gathered together, and after a few breaths, a figure took shape and stood proudly in the air. It was of course Zhou Yuan! However, he seemed to have undergone huge changes compared to before. His body was crystal-clear like glass and all impurities in him seemed to have vanished. His eyes, bright and deep, were like the starry sky. As he stood silently in the air, lights gathered on his left shoulder and gradually formed a lotus flower radiating with a sacred aura. The lotus flower slowly rotated, showing off the ancient and pure runes inscribed on each petal. It was so beautiful that it seemed to be created from the spirit of heaven and earth. It symbolized a pinnacle power in the world! A Saint lotus! Mighty Saint power! Cang Yuan and the others immediately lit up with excitement and joy. The Saint lotus¡¯ appearance represented that Zhou Yuan had completely detached from his mortal body and truly broke through into the Saint stage! Mo Jie swept a col gaze over Zhou Yuan, pausing on the Saint lotus on his shoulder, Although Zhou Yuan had become the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven and he knew that he would become a Saint sooner or later, his emotions still fluctuated when he witnessed it happen. This was because a Heaven Master in his own heaven wouldn¡¯t be easy to kill. While Mo Jie¡¯s expression was dramatically changing, Zhou Yuan titled his head to look at the Saint lotus on his shoulder. The simple lotus was transformed from his years of cultivation. Images flashed across Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind. The Great Zhou Empire, Saint Remains Domain, the Cangxuan Sect¡ª The Tianyuan Region, the nine regions tournament, Guyuan Heaven¡ª Wanshou Heaven, All-heavens City, the Stone Dragon Secret Domain¡ª Those many images were the countless ups and downs he experienced on his years of cultivation path. He had encountered several life and death situations but he still broke through them one after another. In the end, all those scenes were formed into a Saint lotus. Emotion welled up within Zhou Yuan and it took him a while to gradually calm down. With a wide smile, he muttered, ¡°Zhou Yuan, congratulations, you have reached the step that you didn''t dare to hope for.¡± But right now, in the face of a powerful enemy, Zhou Yuan quickly settled his surging emotions and looked at Mo Jie. He wasn¡¯t so arrogant that he thought he could face a prime Saint head-on because he broke through to the Saint stage. After all, he was still only a one-lotus Saint. But fortunately, he was in Cangxuan Heaven and was the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. So what he could do was likely not possible for even double lotus Saints. Zhou Yuan shifted his gaze to Cang Yuan and the others, and he saw they were all at a deadlock with prime Saint Hei Zhao. He folded one hand in a seal and his mighty Saint force descended. ¡°Blessings of Heaven and Earth!¡± Chapter 1435 Chaos Origin Returns ¡°Blessings of Heaven and Earth.¡± As Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice rang out, the entire Cangxuan Heaven quaked as if a boundless power was rushing out and pouring towards Cang Yuan and the other eight double-lotus Saints. Under that power, Cang Yuan and the others felt their mighty Saint power growing stronger as if the entire Cangxuan Heaven was providing them with power. Cang Yuan¡¯s wrinkled face lit up with joy. He quickly folded his fingertips in a seal and the suction force from the dragon¡¯s mouth suddenly became fiercer, swallowing the billowing black lava and poisonous smoke within a few breaths. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you did well!¡± A double-lotus Saint couldn¡¯t help but praise him. They and Hei Zhao were in a stalemate but Zhou Yuan¡¯s Blessing of Heaven and Earth suddenly made their strength soar like a tiger that has grown wings, and they easily broke Hei Zhao¡¯s attack. Hei Zhao''s face reddened with fury as he said fiercely. ¡°Mo Jie, what are you doing?¡± He had stalled for time for Mo Jie, but he not only failed to get rid of Zhou Yuan and even let him join their battle. Expressionless, Mo Jie flicked his fingers and sent out a ray of azure light. It immediately obscured the sky. ¡°Sky Obscuring Azure Boundary!¡± Azure light swept across the world, blotting out the sun and sky and attempting to block the connection between Zhou Yuan and Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°This won¡¯t have much effect now.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled, pressing his hands together. Endless universe Genesis Qi rapidly gathered together as if it possessed some sort of life force, and nibbled at the azure boundary. The azure boundary was riddled with holes within seconds. Another ray of azure light surrounded with blazing Saint fire blasted towards Zhou Yuan. But with a slight movement, he vanished and reappeared tens of thousands of feet away. As the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven who had reached the Saint stage, any means on him would have little effect on him in this heaven. Although he still couldn''t fight Mo Jie head-on, he at least had the power to protect himself. Mo Jie¡¯s face was devoid of expression, but the chill in his eyes revealed the anger surging in his heart. In his eyes, Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength wasn¡¯t anything special, but Zhou Yuan used Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s geographical advantage and made him unable to do anything to Zhou Yuan. Prime Saint Hei Zhao also noticed the situation. He pondered for a moment, his face terrifying with a fierce glint in his eyes, and said, ¡°Since we can''t catch that rat for now, let''s get rid of this group of people first." He was referring to Cang Yuan and the others. Cang Yuan and the other double-lotus Saints could only draw with Hei Zhao with the help of the Ancestral Dragon Lantern¡¯s power, but if Mo Jie joined the battle, it no doubt would tilt the battle to one side. Once Cang Yuan and the others were dealt with, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t be able to escape even if he had an advantage in Cangxuan Heaven. A sinister smile came to Mo Jie¡¯s face. As he nodded, the azure light reappeared and 99 azure dragons roared towards Cang Yuan and the others with destructive power. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you can continue to hide like a mouse. I want you to watch your master die here!¡± Cang Yuan and the other Saints couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing when they saw that scene. The combined strength of two prime Saints would put them under tremendous pressure and the slightest carelessness could result in severe injuries. ¡°Master, help me buy some time!¡± Zhou Yuan''s voice rang in Cang Yuan''s ears. Cang Yuan''s eyes lit up. He understood what Zhou Yuan had in mind. Given their current situation, if Zhou Yuan acted carelessly because of their disadvantage, they would only fall into the opponent''s plan and the two prime Saints would change their target to Zhou Yuan. The Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array was the only thing that can resolve their crisis. ¡°Everyone, get ready to fight desperately. Otherwise we would really die here today,¡± said Cang Yuan solemnly to the other seven Saints after he drew a deep breath. The other seven double-lotus Saints assumed serious and solemn expressions. As Saints, they naturally weren''t ordinary people and so they wouldn¡¯t panic in the face of two prime Saints. They knew such emotions wouldn¡¯t help the situation. They would only survive their fatal situation if they fight with all their strengths. Two sacred lotus emerged and rotated on the shoulders of the eight double-lotus Saints, including Cang Yuan. While rotating, streams of light containing wisps of mighty Saint power flowed out. They were so dazzling that they seemed to contain rivers of stars. Thos lights represented their foundation from their countless years of handwork. In the end, the lights of mighty saint power poured into the Ancestral Dragon Lantern. Its fire blazed increasingly brightly, making the lotus on the shoulders of Cang Yuan and others appear very dim in comparison. ¡°Ancestral Dragon Lantern, the strongest protection! The birth and destruction ring of primal chaos!¡± Primal chaos flames that were grey and white gushed out from the Ancestral Dragon Lantern, intertwining with each other and eventually transformed into a ring of fire. As the ring rotated, a fire barrier enveloped Cang Yuan and the others. Boom! The destructive attacks from prime Saint Mo Jie and Hei Zhao finally neared and bombarded the fire barrier. Rumble! At that moment, thunderbolts constantly crashed down on every corner of Cangxuan Heaven and indescribably destructive storms raged above the entire Shengzhou Continent, completely dispelling all universe Genesis Qi. All experts in the Shengzhou Continent felt universe Genesis Qi dissipating, as if the entire Shengzhou Continent had turned into a place without Genesis Qi. Sect master Qing Yang, Chi Jing, Su Youwei and others could see an abyss spanning thousands of miles appearing from the source of the battle and almost covered the entire Shengzhou Continent. ¡°The Shengzhou Continent has been split apart.¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the others blanched at the scene. The battle had destroyed the core area of the Shengzhou Continent. This was a battle between Saints ¡ª the destructive power was astonishing. The thousand miles of space around the source of collision darkened like a tremendous black hole. A fire barrier loomed at the center, but even if it suffered a joint attack from two prime Saints, it still remained. Standing This alone was enough to show its terrifying defense power. However, Cang Yuan and the other double-lotus Saints, who were under the fire barrier¡¯s protection, didn¡¯t look too good. Their skin split open from the impact of the power that seeped through the fire barrier. If they weren¡¯t under the Ancestral Dragon Lantern¡¯s protection, the impact could have killed at least half of the eight Saints. The power of a prime Saint was indeed terrifying. ¡°The Ancestral Dragon Lantern is indeed remarkable.¡± Prime Saint Hei Zhao said indifferently with a frown. ¡°If that happens again, it should be its limit, right?¡¯ Mo Jie sneered. He ran his eyes across the surroundings and saw that Zhou Yuan had vanished. Zhou Yuan had completely integrated with the world and they couldn¡¯t detect his presence. ¡°Zhou Yuan, how long can you hide? When we dealt with them, where else can you hide?!¡± As his voice rang out, the surrounding space rippled and Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure emerged. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were ice-cold as he locked them on Mo Jie and Hei Zhao. ¡°This good show should come to an end. Our Cangxuan Heaven doesn¡¯t welcome you, so¡ª ¡°Get lost.¡± ¡°Even a new Saint dared to say something so arrogant.¡± Mo Jie said fiercely. However, prime Saint Hei Zhao¡¯s expression changed abruptly because he sensed something wrong. He lifted his head, his gaze penetrating through the many voids, and he saw an endless formation descending and connecting with Cangxuan Heaven. Prime Saint Hei Zhao¡¯s face darkened He knew that Cangxuan Heaven''s Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array had returned. Chapter 1436 Deranged? Boom! Booming noise rang outside the Cangxuan Heaven Boundary Walls like roars from the ancient times. That resounding and ancient noise rang in every corner of Cangxuan Heaven, setting off endless waves. Amidst those ancient booms, the incomparably huge Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array descended. Countless tentacles-like rays of light stretched out from the boundary walls and pulled the great array closer. The array and boundary walls gradually came into contact. The Saints of all-heavens lit up with excitement when they saw that scene. They all knew that once the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array descended, Cangxuan Heaven would fall into its protection again and even prime Saints from the Sacred Race wouldn¡¯t dare to face the great array¡¯s power alone and have no choice but retreat. It seemed Cangxuan Heaven had an advantage in this battle. Cang Yuan and the other Saints naturally heard the ancient roars reverberating outside the boundary walls. They breathed a sigh of relief and felt a huge weight off them. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t disappoint them. While they stalled for time for him, he managed to pull the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array back. The Sacred Race had dispatched two prime Saints to attack the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, causing flaws to appear and allowed Mo Jie and Hei Zhao to sneak into Cangxuan Heaven through the flaw. However, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array was the strongest protection of all-heavens and so even after the two prime Saints had exhausted their strengths, the two sides were in a deadlock. But after Zhou Yuan broke through to the Saint stage and joined the battle as the Heaven master of Cangxuan Heaven, the situation started to change. Generally speaking, even if Zhou Yuan had reached the Saint stage, he couldn¡¯t compete with two prime Saints. But this battle wasn¡¯t a battle of one¡¯s own strength. He didn''t need to fight the two prime Saints head-on, he just needed to strengthen the connection between Cangxuan Heaven and the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. With the entire Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s power, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array easily broke free from the two prime Saints and returned to its position. The outcome of the battle would be decided with the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array¡¯s return. Hei Zhao and Mo Jie wore fierce expressions as they watched the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array descend. At that moment, even they felt danger looming. The Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, like a sharp sword hanging above their heads, would slash down any moment. ¡°The good show today should end soon.¡± Cang Yuan pointed to the outside of the boundary walls. ¡°Please leave.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want two prime Saints from the Sacred Race to be here, but he knew that people at their level would have too many life-protecting means and it would be incredibly difficult to kill them. Only the three prime sovereigns of the Omega Shrine as well as the power of the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array could completely eliminate those two prime Saints. But the three prime sovereigns were unable to free themselves and so they alone couldn¡¯t deal with two prime Saints. Mo Jie and Hei Zhao swept an indifferent glance over Cang Yuan and shifted their gaze to Zhou Yuan, exclaiming, ¡°All-heavens is lucky that you were born in all-heavens.¡± The Sacred Race had prepared a lot for today and even seven great prime Saints were involved, but Zhou Yuan still prevailed in the end. His ability greatly surprised prime Saint Mo Jie. Zhou Yuan wore a very calm expression and he didn¡¯t respond. He secretly operated the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array because he knew once it completely returned to its position, he, as the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, could use its power to deal with the two prime Saints and even threaten them. ¡°You want to use the power of the Origin Sacred Killer Array to deal with us? How ambitious.¡± But he couldn¡¯t conceal his intention from Mo Jie and Hei Zhao. The two glared at Zhou Yuan and said coldly, ¡°You think you have won this battle?¡± Zhou Yuan still didn''t respond, but his eyes were filled with chilling killing intent. Boom! A loud boom resounded from the boundary walls and terrifyingly vast power suddenly descended. Thousand rays of light streaked down, forming many blurred figures, but each one contained extremely terrifying power comparable to a Saint. The concentration of such powers was so mighty that it could wipe away everything in the world. The power was of course from the Origin Sacred Killer Array and the initiator was of course Zhou Yuan! Those mysterious streams of light sped down, aiming directly at Mo Jie and Hei Zhao. As for Mo Jie and Hei Zhao, they of course noticed the power from the Origin Sacred Killer Array. Their faces grew increasingly grave but they didn¡¯t directly retreat. They stared at Zhou Yuan with a chilling gaze and it was only after a good while that Mo Jie said indifferently, ¡°The more remarkable your potential, the more the Sacred Race wants to eliminate you today. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you brought on everything to yourself.¡± As his voice died away, he and Hei Zhao simultaneously stretched out their hands, palms facing each other¡¯s. At that moment, the attacks from the Origin Sacred Killer Array had already descended. Several shadows brushed over the two and speckled marks quickly emerged on their bodies, similar to being infected by a strong poison. The mighty Saint pressure exuded from the two violently fluctuated. This was the first time the two prime Saints were wounded since they appeared in Cangxuan Heaven. However, unexpectedly, the two paid no attention to their injuries. The space between their palms suddenly twisted and distorted, forming a black hole. Then, a black spear slowly drilled out from the black hole. The black spear was dark and mysterious and its appearance made even Cang Yuan and the others pale. This was because they sensed an astonishing aura from it. The aura of a prime Saint! Moreover, there were seven different aura emitting from the black spear! In other words, it carried the power of seven prime Saints! The Sacred Race went to such a crazy extent to deal with Zhou Yuan?! It had to be said that they didn¡¯t just simply give their powers. The black spear was no doubt refined from the seven prime Saints¡¯ blood and essence. Only then would it carry their powers. The essence and blood of prime Saints were incredibly precious, let alone seven prime Saints! If the circumstances were right, the black spear¡¯s power could severely wound even a supreme sovereign of all-heavens! But the Sacred Race used such a killing move on Zhou Yuan? Are they crazy and insane?! While the Saints of all-heavens were horror-struck, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart sank because he felt a life-threatening crisis looming. That feeling of crisis was so strong that his hair stood on end and even his Saint body, which he hadn¡¯t formed for long, was producing piercing pain, as though reminding him that the black spear¡¯s power could obliterate him. Zhou Yuan also didn''t think the Sacred Race would go to such an extent to get rid of him. Wouldn¡¯t it make more sense to use such a killing weapon to deal with the three prime sovereigns? Are those people crazy? With one thought, Zhou Yuan unreservedly circulated the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s power. His body became increasingly illusory. He seemed to exist in the world, but he couldn¡¯t be perceived, as though disappeared from reality. He knew that he could only frantically evade and hide! This was because even ordinary Saints would die under that kind of power! Mo Jie curled a corner of his lips in a sneer as he peered at Zhou Yuan¡¯s illusory figure. Then, he suddenly flicked his fingers. The black spear vanished as though it entered the river of time and space. It directly pointed towards Zhou Yuan! Chapter 1437 The Sacred Race’s Ultimate Goal When the black spear disappeared, the illusory figure of Zhou Yuan, who seemed to have fallen into a void of emptiness, suddenly paled because he felt an indescribable power had locked onto him. That locking was similar to a shadow following a body. Even if he had concealed his true body using Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s power, that power could still capture and even lock onto him. The feeling was similar to an eagle hovering in the sky as it eyed a prey bolting on the ground. Bang! While Zhou Yuan was terrified by such a feeling, he saw a black light flashed before him. Then, the surrounding space crumbled apart. A black spear loomed within the black light, bringing with it a monstrous chill. All Zhou Yuan''s hairs stood on end. A strong feeling of danger made his blood rise in temperature and every part of his flesh squirmed and screech. All those sudden changes were to remind Zhou Yuan that the attack aiming at him could obliterate him if he were careless! Zhou Yuan had no doubts about that power¡¯s terror. Only the three prime sovereigns in the entire world were qualified to try that blow, which combined the essence and blood of seven prime Saints. But the Sacred Race made an exception for Zhou Yuan, and that made Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether he should feel honored or unlucky. As the destructive crisis neared, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart pounded like a giant drum. But the more it was so, the more he felt extreme calmness. With one thought, he borrowed the power of Cangxuan Heaven to help him draw back. He broke through multiple voids and concealed his true body while forming countless protection in front of him to block the black spear. In addition, he divided his attention to frantically mobilize the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array¡¯s power. Countless streams of mysterious and powerful light constantly darted down from the boundary walls, penetrated space and struck Mo Jie and Hei Zhao. Under the bombardment of the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array¡¯s power, the bodies of Mo Jie and Hei Zhao became mottled and the oppressive pressure emitting from them gradually diminished. Anyone could feel their Genesis source was gradually weakening. Evidently, they had to pay a disastrous price under the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array¡¯s attack. This was Zhou Yuan''s strategy. If Mo Jie and Hei Zhao showed the slightest hesitation, Zhou Yuan would have a chance to flee from the black spear. Cang Yuan also erupted in fury. He led the other seven double-lotus Saints to launch full-strength attacks. Several earth-shaking Genesis arts bombarded Mo Jie and Hei Zhao. He couldn¡¯t understand why the Sacred Race¡¯s prime Saints would want to kill Zhou Yuan at any cost. After all, although Zhou Yuan had astonishing potential, reached the Saint stage and took charge of Cangxuan Heaven, it was still too much to say that Zhou Yuan could threaten the Sacred Race. After all, the gap between the Sacred Race and all-heavens couldn¡¯t be closed by a mere Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. Given the current situation, Mo Jie and Hei Zhao would no doubt be severely wounded if they refused to retreat. Was it really worth wounding two prime Saints to kill Zhou Yuan? Mo Jie and Hei Zhao answered Cang Yuan and the others with their actions. They still didn¡¯t evade the increasingly powerful attacks from the eight double-lotus Saints and the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. Instead, they forcibly withstood those attacks with their tough body and foundation while controlling the black spear to aim for Zhou Yuan. ¡°Mo Jie, Hei Zhao, are you really crazy?! You would choose to damage your foundation to fight Zhou Yuan?¡± Cang Yuan couldn¡¯t help roaring out loud with a darkened face. Mo Jie grinned. ¡°Cang Yuan, you should be proud. You have taught such an amazing disciple. You should know that even you aren¡¯t worth us doing so.¡± Hei Zhao said indifferently, ¡°Don''t worry. He will be the first to die. Our foundation can endure those injuries.¡± His voice was filled with determination to kill Zhou Yuan. Strong murderous intent surged in Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes as he erupted in fury and madly launched attacks across the sky. Swoosh! At the same time, the black light ripped apart several voids, and regardless of how Zhou Yuan concealed his true body, the black light closely followed him like a maggot. The two quickly neared each other. Blood seeped out from Zhou Yuan¡¯s skin, showing how terrifying the black spear was. He couldn¡¯t hide anymore. Zhou Yuan''s face turned sullen, and a thought flashed across his mind. After trying many methods, he understood that the black spear seemed to have locked on his fate. It wouldn¡¯t give up until it pierced his body and was stained with his blood. ¡°The Sacred Race hates me this much?¡± In truth, the situation had developed beyond Zhou Yuan¡¯s expectation. Even if he had ruined many of the Sacred Race¡¯s plans, it wasn¡¯t necessary to dispatch seven prime Saints to deal with him. Furthermore, Mo Jie and Hei Zhao would have to pay a disastrous price to kill him. Their foundations would be weakened and it would require a lot of time and effort to restore it. Zhou Yuan was really flattered by the price they would pay to get rid of him. Zhou Yuan''s eyes glinted and a light dawned on his mind. He seemed to have understood something. His pupils rapidly shrank. Although the Sacred Race had exhausted everything to deal with him, it likely wasn¡¯t targeting him. Their ultimate goal was Yaoyao! A chill rushed up from Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. Perhaps the Sacred Race¡¯s large-scale attack wasn¡¯t directed at him, but it wanted to take advantage of the relationship between Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao to force Yaoyao out! Suddenly, anger bubbled inside Zhou Yuan. As he watched the black spear pierce through space, his eyes blazed with determination. The current situation wasn¡¯t a complete dead end. If the opponents¡¯ attack had locked onto his physical body and he couldn¡¯t escape no matter what he did, he might as well give up on his body! He was the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. He could escape the crisis if he abandoned his body and integrated his Spirit into the world. It was just that if his body was destroyed and his Spirit integrated with the world, flaws would emerge on his Saint path. Even if he restored his physical body in the future, his path on the Saint stage would come to an end. That was an extremely tragic price he would have to pay. But Zhou Yuan would rather pay that price than let himself become a bargaining chip for the Sacred Race to force Yaoyao out! Since the Sacred Race had such a plan, they must have come prepared and Yaoyao would no doubt be in danger if she showed up. Therefore, Zhou Yuan no longer drew back. His eyes were cold and determined as he folded his hands in seals at lightning speed. A crack spread across his glass body and his Spirit between his brows suddenly quivered. He was about to abandon his body and integrate with the world. However, just when Zhou Yuan¡¯s Spirit was about to break out from the top of his head, an invisible but terrifying power descended, suppressing his Spirit and rapidly healed the crack in his body. That power, vast, profound and mysterious, seemed unfathomable. However, Zhou Yuan could perceive the softness contained in that vast power. After dumbstruck for a moment, Zhou Yuan turned his head around and unsurprisingly saw a familiar stunningly beautiful figure. The figure stood barefooted in an azure dress and her slender body curved perfectly. Her slender and fair neck was like a swan and every arc and curve on her graceful body seemed to be a perfect masterpiece of heaven and made everyone feel inferior. However, when Zhou Yuan saw that flawless jade-like face, anger sprang out from him due to self-blame. ¡°Are you stupid! They are using me to force you to appear!¡± Yaoyao gazed at Zhou Yuan, who very rarely showed any anger, and curved her red lips. Then a soft voice sounded, ¡°So what?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t asked for my consent to abandon your Saint body. Also, there are things that can¡¯t be solved by just avoiding them.¡± She stretched out her hand in the black spear¡¯s direction and her slender jade-like fingers folded inwards towards her palm. Bang! The black spear instantly shattered to pieces and the vast power it contained that no Saint dared to underestimate was almost completely wiped out. Yaoyao cast an indifferent gaze towards Mo Jie and Hei Zhao. At that moment, the world changed color, Cangxuan Heaven rumbled and primal chaos fluctuated. ¡°I''m curious to see what you guys can do after forcing me out here? But no matter what, only five of the seven Saints would remain after today¡ª ¡°Because I will kill you two here.¡± Chapter 1438 The Last Scheme As Yaoyao''s cold and detached voice resounded, all powerful experts in the Tianyuan World cast their gazes towards Cangxuan Heaven, all wearing different expressions. ¡°Yaoyao¡­¡± Cang Yuan''s expression turned solemn because he finally understood that the Sacred Race¡¯s ultimate goal wasn¡¯t Zhou Yuan but Yaoyao! Their previous puzzlement was finally answered ¡ª Zhou Yuan indeed wasn¡¯t worth the Sacred Race launch such a large-scale attack and dispatch seven prime Saints, but Yaoyao was! The Sacred Race had clearly learned about the relationship between Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao and did everything they could to push Zhou Yuan to a dead end in order to force Yaoyao to appear. However, another puzzlement emerged in their minds. The Sacred Race only had two prime Saints in Cangxuan Heaven, and even though the two prime Saints were a huge trouble to them, it was naive to think those two prime Saints could wound Yaoyao. As Yaoyao descended in Cangxuan Heaven, the two sides underwent a reversal in strength. In a sense, Mo Jie and Hei Zhao had fallen into danger because all-heavens had completely surrounded them. Yaoyao was in front of them, several Saints were at the side and Zhou Yuan, the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, was controlling the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array¡¯s power. In such a situation, even two prime Saints might not manage to escape unscathed. If the two prime Saints were killed there, it would no doubt be a serious damage to the Sacred Race. Mo Jie and Hei Zhao immediately focussed their attention on Yaoyao. Their faces gradually turned grave because they could feel an abyss- and prison-like pressure slowly released from Yaoyao. ¡°It¡¯s our honor to meet the third god,¡± said Mo Jie solemnly. Yaoyao indifferently peered at the two without a word. Prime Saint Hei Zhao also maintained a respectful attitude. ¡°We came here to express our good will to the third god. If the third god doesn¡¯t intervene in our conflict with all-heavens, our race is willing to serve you.¡± All experts in all-heavens were furious when they heard that. The Sacred Race wants to draw the third god to their side?! There wasn¡¯t a ripple of expression in Yaoyao¡¯s cold glass-like eyes. ¡°I have no interest in your Sacred Race.¡± Prime Saint Hei Zhao sincerely persuaded, ¡°Third god, you are a divine god and everything in the world is yours. They are just insignificant ants. There is no need to become an enemy to our god for them. Our race can give everything that all-heavens give you. When our god unifies the Tianyuan World in the future, the world will be shared with you.¡± Yaoyao glared at Hei Zhao and said indifferently, ¡°You¡¯re wrong. There is someone I treasure in all-heavens. Otherwise, how could you lure me here?¡± Many Saints couldn¡¯t help but cast complex glances at Zhou Yuan. The third god was publicly acknowledging her relationship with Zhou Yaun. Zhou Yuan also wore a complex expression with a hint of melancholy. Generally speaking, shouldn¡¯t the man acknowledge the relationship in public? Only then would it show his status. Why did he feel a strange feeling like he was in the wrong position in the relationship? Prime Saint Hei Zhao pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Third God, your divinity hasn¡¯t fully recovered and so your decision is affected by human nature. But when you fully recover, you wouldn¡¯t think the same way.¡± But when his words died away, he suddenly felt a chill gathering and ice seemed to freeze in the third god¡¯s indifferent eyes. ¡°You talk too much nonsense.¡± A strand of Yaoyao¡¯s silky hair fluttered up, revealing her eye. That eye seemed to have transformed into primal chaos just like when the world first began, and a primitive qi pervaded the air. Sacred Eye! Divine light glowed within the Sacred Eye. Suddenly, the divine light rushed out from the eye. The world suddenly lost its brilliance and the blazing sun dimmed. Everything lost its voice. Universe Genesis Qi also subsided. Only a ray of divine light streaked across the sky and slashed past above Mo Jie and Hei Zhao. The two sides didn¡¯t seem to have made any contact, but Mo Jie¡¯s and Hei Zhao¡¯s faces twisted with pain when the ray of divine light passed. Then, the Saint lotus on their shoulders and the top of their heads flashed. The three Saint lotus gradually withered and their petals fluttered down. The Saints of both the Sacred Race and all-heavens blanched because they knew what the scene represented. Their three lotus flowers were severed and their foundations were destroyed! Only a ray of divine light slashed across the air, but two prime Saints¡¯ foundations were damaged. What astonishing power! Mo Jie and Hei Zhao also didn¡¯t look good. Yaoyao¡¯s slash brought more harm to them that the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array and the joint attacks from Cang Yuan and the others. The person in front them was worthy of being called a divine god. Even if she hadn¡¯t fully recovered, her power was still superior to mighty Saint power. ¡°As expected of prime Saints with a deep foundation. You even withstood the Three Flower Slash.¡± Yaoyao nodded and fluttered her slender fingers in the air. Ripples suddenly bloomed in the air. Chaos frantically surged in one of her Sacred Eye and rays of divine light quickly gathered around her fingertips. Each one carried an indescribable lingering charm as if it could be traced back to the beginning of the world. That scene could make any Saint shudder with fear, and even prime Saint Mo Jie and Hei Zhao wore fearful looks. But more than that, there was determination. ¡°Since you entered Cangxuan Heaven, you must have prepared to die. Since that¡¯s the case, I will fulfil your wish.¡± Yaoyao pointed her finger at them. Divine light whizzed out again, slashing through the air. Facing the endless divine light descending, Mo Jie and Hei Zhao exchanged a glance, took a deep breath and stretched out their hands As their hands came into contact, a seal was formed in the other. A fanatical expression emerged on their faces. ¡°When our god descends, it is the day of our resurrection!¡± While many all-heavens Saints stood terrified, raging fire rose from Mo Jie and Hei Zhao. Before the divine light neared them, the Saint lotus on their shoulders and head were blazing. The two prime Saints chose to self-ignite their Saint lotus! Boom! As the two prime Saints self-ignited their Saint lotus, everyone felt two gushes of terrifying power converging, rising, and stirring the universe Genesis Qi in the entire Cangxuan Heaven. An indescribable pressure shrouded every corner of Cangxuan Heaven. The divine light slashed down but as it touched the raging flames, a metallic clang resounded. Zhou Yuan, Cang Yuan and the others couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing because they realized a strange force had eliminated the divine light in an instant. They stared intently at Mo Jie and Hei Zhao and saw a rusty and mottled broken black spear suspended in the distorted space. As the black spear appeared, the world suddenly dimmed and a powerful but primitive aura filled the air. Under that aura, Zhou Yuan felt Cangxuan Heaven quaking and universe Genesis Qi going out of control. It was as though even the world was terrified. What kind of existence could make a world that terrified? With an overcast face, Zhou Yuan stared intently at the broken black spear that made blood-colored tears flow from his eyes when he just looked at it. Mo Jie and Hei Zhao sacrificed their bodies to provide strength for that object Since two prime Saints were willing to pay such a disastrous price for that object, the master of it was self-evident. Who else would it be besides the Sacred Race¡¯s Sacred God?! Clearly, the Sacred Race went to such efforts and even sacrificed two prime Saints to summon the rusty and mottled spear, which otherwise would have been corroded by time. As Yaoyao, who was hovering in the air, peered at the black broken spear, her icy and beautiful face finally rippled. She moved her red lips and her cold voice rang out, ¡°That is the God Annihilation Spear. Back in the ancient times, when the Sacred God started the world-ending war, he also awakened the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will left in the depths of the world. With the God Annihilation Spear, the Sacred God fought the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will and the spear was broken in the end¡­ ¡°And now the God Annihilation Spear reappeared¡­¡± Yaoyao''s silky waterfall-like hair swayed with the wind and a corner of her dress fluttered. Her words chilled all Saints of all-heavens. ¡°It seems you¡¯re not far from fully awakening. Is that right, Sacred God?¡± Her last sentence was directed at the broken black spear. Chapter 1439 First Time Meeting the Second God Yaoyao''s voice reverberated throughout the world, and her words chilled the experts of all-heavens. Everyone stared at the broken black spear with terrified gazes. Under the many intent gazes, the black broken spear vibrated. Then, a black current spread out from the spear, forming an incomparably huge face in the air. The face was old, primitive, and chaotic. The huge face¡¯s appearance caused the entire Cangxuan Heaven to howl with sorrow and Genesis Qi to spiral out of control. Wind, water and fire descended from the sky, plunging the entire world into chaos. Zhou Yuan hurriedly operated the heaven¡¯s power, exhausting his strength to settle the chaos. But the vibration remaining in the world still terrified him. The entire Cangxuan Heaven would be cowering and trembling if it had its own spiritual intelligence. Zhou Yuan fearfully surveyed the ancient face of chaos. Even from afar, the mighty Saint power in his body fluctuated and his incredibly tough Saint body was flickering indefinitely. That indescribable pressure was different from that of any prime saints or prime sovereigns. The face that seemed illusory and real was like the starry sky or huge ocean ¡ª it terrified people at once glance and no one dared to investigate closer. Zhou Yuan had previously seen Sacred Race experts summoned a Sacred God projection using a secret art in the utopia of Wanzhou Heaven, but that projection was considered nothing compared to the huge face before him. ¡°The third god, you seemed to have rejected my good will.¡± The ancient face moved as the space distorted. It opened its eyes and peered at Yaoyao. Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful face was unusually solemn as she stared at the ancient face because it was considered a true incarnate of the Sacred God and not just a projection. ¡°When did you ever have good will?¡± Yaoyao¡¯s silky black hair swayed though no wind stirred the air, and supreme power was circulated within her Divine Eye. ¡°Sacred God, your goal is to swallow all the beings transformed by the Ancestral Dragon so you can step into the first power of order. I was born from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will and thus is a natural enemy to you. So, you should end your pointless scheme.¡± The Sacred God¡¯s face produced a slight chuckle. ¡°You and I are both divine beings and those creatures are nothing but dust in our eyes. Although you were born from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will, you¡¯re not the Ancestral Dragon. Do you really want to become my enemy for those dust-like creatures?¡± Yaoyao''s pretty face remained indifferent. The Sacred God¡¯s face rippled and his eyes of chaos shifted towards Zhou Yuan. An indescribably deep voice resounded, ¡°Is it because of that person that you insist on becoming my enemy Haha, interesting. The high and mighty third god developed feelings for a dust-like creature. Third god, you are a disgrace to the title of divine god.¡± The Sacred God¡¯s laughter reverberated, shaking the world and transforming the wind and clouds. Everyone shuddered with fear. ¡°What does it have to do with you? You¡¯re just an incarnate. What right do you have to lecture me?¡± Yaoyao''s voice, filled with killing intent, resounded like a cold spring. ¡°Although I am an incarnate, you are only the third god who hasn¡¯t restored her divinity.¡± The Sacred God smiled faintly and an unconcerned expression emerged on that huge face. ¡°Never mind, you are born from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will and I want to control the first power of order, so I eventually will have to swallow you. It doesn¡¯t matter what choice you make. Today, I want to see how capable you are. Third God, how much of the Ancestral Dragon have you inherited?¡± As his voice died away, a broken black spear drilled out from the giant face suspended in the sky. The spear was dark and deep and the black light surrounding it seemed capable of engulfing everything. Even Zhou Yuan felt his Saint body was repeatedly slashed and invaded by an invisible power when he looked at the spear from afar. It was hard to imagine what fatal consequences there would be if struck. Even the triple-lotus prime sovereigns likely couldn¡¯t escape the danger of being killed, let alone the others. A grave expression also came to Yaoyao¡¯s eyes as she stared at the black spear. Just as the Sacred God had said, although he was only an incarnate, she also hadn¡¯t fully restored her divinity. Their strengths should be around the same level now. The Saints of both the Sacred Race and all-heavens were watching with solemn expressions. Although both Yaoyao and the Sacred God weren¡¯t in their perfect state, it was still the first time the two strongest of the two sides clashed. A battle between them would no doubt have a profound and lasting impact. The broken black spear suddenly darted out and that side of the world started to collapse. A dark and deep black light pervaded the area, turning everything into nothingness. It was as though a chunk of the world was severed off where the black light passed. Zhou Yuan, Cang Yuan and other Cangxuan Heaven experts were chilled to the bone. A strong feeling of crisis made them want to turn around and flee. They had never seen such power. It was the most supreme power and was superior to even mighty Saint power! Yaoyao clenched her beautiful hand and a jade brush appeared in her grip. As the tip of the brush pointed downwards, the surrounding space began to vibrate. Countless ancient and primitive Genesis Runes flowed out from the tip, and each one could make any Genesis Rune master crazy and mesmerized because they were Genesis Runes most compatible with heaven and earth. Each Genesis Rune could trigger the Genesis source energy between heaven and earth. In just a few breaths, the countless primitive Genesis Runes floated up and seemed to transform into a dazzling starry river. The starry river started to spin, compress, and eventually formed a Genesis Rune star. The Genesis Rune star suddenly crashed down, crushing countless voids in its way. It was directly aiming for the black light that can turn everything into nothingness. Bang! The collision between the two didn¡¯t create earth shaking booms as expected. Instead, darkness rapidly spread from the site of collision and turned into a vast expanse of blackness spanning across a million miles in just a few breaths. Everything was annihilated within the area, including Genesis Qi. Zhou Yuan looked solemnly at the dark area that covered a million miles. It was as though that area was completely detached from Cangxuan Heaven, and even he, who was the Heaven Master, couldn¡¯t see into the area with his perception or repair it. That area seemed to be completely annihilated. That destructive power terrified Zhou Yuan. Even though the impact from a battle between prime Saints and prime sovereigns could shatter space, it could still be repaired over time. But that black area seemed to be filled with primal chaos, and even Law Domain experts likely wouldn¡¯t be able to escape if they fell into that area. It could be called a place of death. That place of death wasn¡¯t formed by the world, but created from the collision between Yaoyao and the Sacred God. Their power was unbelievable. Yaoyao peered deeply into the dark area, and she suddenly flicked her beautiful jade-like fingers. Boom! The space around the Sacred God¡¯s tremendous face suddenly broke apart. A torrent of Genesis Runes burst forth, transforming into a giant dragon formed from ancient Genesis Runes. The dragon giant exuded a primitive aura with a hint of the Ancestral Dragon. The Genesis Rune dragon hovered around the Sacred God face and suddenly gushed out dragon breath. Within the dragon breath was millions of Genesis Rune flickering like swirling dust. However, the Sacred God seemed to have no intention of countering the dragon breath of Genesis Runes. Instead, he chuckled. His laughter was full of meaning. As his laughter echoed, Zhou Yuan, who was in the distance, felt an uneasiness rushing to his heart. Bang! It was at that moment the space in front of him crumbled and a ray of black light darted out. Within the black light was a mottled spear covered with cracks. The spearhead was dull, and it didn''t seem particularly sharp, but Zhou Yuan¡¯s expressions dramatically changed. He didn''t think the Sacred God would ignore himself and use the opportunity to suddenly attack him! As the dark spear hurled towards him, time seemed to slow and a terrifying pressure enveloped Zhou Yuan, causing the Genesis Qi in his body to still. The so-called mighty Saint power and Heaven Master position seemed to have completely lost their effect. It was as though an inferior person was frightened by a superior person and had no power to resist their absolute pressure. But at that moment, a slender jade hand clapped on Zhou Yuan''s shoulder and pulled him back. Yaoyao''s figure appeared in front of him, her beautiful face ice-cold. She lifted her sleeve, and as though a hidden void was concealed inside, the black spear entered her sleeve. Yaoyao quivered. At the same time, she clenched her hand fiercely. Boom! The Genesis Rune dragon circling around the Sacred God¡¯s face suddenly erupted in a blaze of dazzling light, as though thousands of scorching suns exploded at the same time. Boom! A loud explosion shook the entire Cangxuan Heaven and several towering mountains were razed to the ground and endless waves rolled up from the seas. The storm lasted for a long while before it gradually subsided. Many people cast their gazes over, only to see black qi spiralling up and the huge god-like face continued to suspend in the air, indifferently watching over the world. The Sacred God looked at Yaoyao, and a resounding indifferent voice rang out, ¡°Third god, you care so much about an ant¡­ ¡°Interesting¡­ ¡°Hah, a third god who is reluctant to part with those kinds of meaningless low-level feelings is no threat to me...Third god, my test is over. You disappointed me¡­¡± The huge face formed from black qi gradually grew fainter. ¡°This God Annihilation Cursed Poison is a gift to you. I hope that, when you experience its pain, you will understand how stupid it is to sacrifice so much for an ant. ¡°Third god, we will truly meet soon. At that time, if you are still like this...then all-heavens will die with you.¡± The huge face completely dissipated, but it''s indifferent voice reverberating across the world made many all-heavens experts shudder with fear. Yaoyao scrunched her brows in a frown. She raised her hand and saw a black poisonous mark emerged in her fair jade-like palm. The poisonous mark slowly squirmed, and as it spread, it emitted an ominous and sinister poison. Chapter 1440 God Annihilation Curse Poison The Sacred God¡¯s huge face dissipated from the world and all Saints¡¯ hearts sank. They all heard what the Sacred God said. The third god seemed to be wounded. Zhou Yuan immediately appeared next to Yaoyao and he reached for her snow-white hand. Seeing the black poisonous mark squirming and expanding in his palm, his face darkened. The poisonous mark was no wider than a finger but the ominous and poisonous qi it emitted made people dared not to touch it. Cang Yuan and the others also appeared beside Zhou Yuan, studying the poisonous mark. They were all terror-stricken because they knew they would instantly be reduced to a pool of black blood if the poisonous qi penetrated their bodies. Any foundation was extremely weak in front of the poisonous qi. ¡°What terrifying poison,¡± remarked Cang Yuan, scrunching his brows in a frown. ¡°Is this the Sacred Race¡¯s ultimate goal of dispatching so many people this time?¡± Another double-lotus Saint said through gritted teeth. Now that the Sacred God¡¯s incarnate had vanished and the Sacred Race¡¯s plan was completely exposed, it was clear that everything was targeted at the third god. In a sense, even if the Sacred Race had sacrificed two prime Saints, the Sacred Race had indeed achieved their ultimate goal. Zhou Yuan gazed at Yaoyao''s fair and stunning face. Even though a mysterious poison that could threaten her divinity had invaded her body, her face was still calm as always. Zhou Yuan bit his lips and didn¡¯t say anything, but his eyes were filled with self-blame. The Sacred Race¡¯s ultimate goal was directed at Yaoyao but Zhou Yuan was a burden to her whether it was when the Sacred Race tried to force Yaoyao out or when the Sacred God inflicted her with poison. He originally thought that he could change things after reaching the Saint stage and becoming the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. But he finally understood how cruel reality was. He might be considered an expert at the pinnacle of the Tianyuan World, but so what? In a battle of that level, he was only seen as a huge flaw to attack Yaoyao. The trace of pride and satisfaction he felt after being promoted to the position of Heaven Master now seemed particularly ridiculous and funny. While Zhou Yuan was blaming himself, Yaoyao gripped Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. That cold but delicate feeling was like touching a jade stone. Zhou Yuan lifted his head to see Yaoyao gazing at him with a rare gentleness and shaking her head. ¡°Don''t deny your achievement. If even you don¡¯t have confidence, the Saints of all-heavens should be so ashamed that they burn their own Saint lotus,¡± said Yaoyao in a soft voice. The other Saints'' faces twitched when they heard that, but they couldn¡¯t refute because Yaoyao was indeed right. Zhao Yuan had reached the Saint stage and was in charge of Cangxuan Heaven. Therefore, even veteran double-lotus Saints wouldn¡¯t have much of an advantage in a fight against Zhou Yuan in Cangxuan Heaven. They had cultivated hundreds of times longer than Zhou Yuan had, but Zhou Yuan had caught up to them all. Everyone had to marvel at his talent and potential. A monster like him would likely achieve the title prime sovereign earlier than his master Cang Yuan. Zhou Yuan seemed inferior in this battle, but that was only because of the level of the opponents that appeared, such as an incarnate of the Sacred God. Even the three prime sovereigns from the Omega Shrine likely wouldn¡¯t have much advantage in that battle. Besides the Sacred God¡¯s incarnate, Mo Jie and Hei Zhao were also fierce and well-known characters. In the face of opponents like them, even veteran double-lotus saints like them would have to rely on the number of people and the Ancestral Dragon Lantern to be able to compete. Zhou Yuan clasped Yaoyao¡¯s little hand silently for a good while. He soon settled his emotions because he understood that those emotions were pointless. At that moment, the surrounding space suddenly distorted and crumbled and three figures emitting extremely oppressive pressure landed in front of Zhou Yuan and the others. ¡°Prime sovereign Jin Luo.¡± ¡°Prime sovereign Di Long.¡± ¡°Prime sovereign Chi Ji.¡± Seeing the three figures descend, Cang Yuan and the other double-lotus Saints placed one arm on their chests. The three people before them were precisely the three prime sovereigns of the Omega Shrine. The prime Saints of the Sacred Race had previously obstructed them from helping, but now that the Sacred Race had retreated, they all immediately descended upon Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan swept a glance over them. Besides prime sovereign Jin Luo, who he was familiar with, he took a closer look at prime sovereign Di Long and prime sovereign Chi Ji. Prime sovereign Di Long, who was from Wanshou Heaven, was burly and tall and his body was protected by golden dragon armor. His face was fierce and imposing, and waves of mighty dragon aura were constantly emitted from him, causing the surrounding space to vibrate. Prime sovereign Chi Ji, who was from Qiankun Heaven, was beautiful, tall, shapely, mature and intelligent. Her every smile and movement gave off an elegant charm. When the three prime sovereigns appeared, they immediately looked at Yaoyao and put one hand on their chests in salute. ¡°We pay respect to the third god.¡± Even prime sovereign Di Long, who was overbearing and haughty, didn¡¯t have his usual air of arrogance. After all, no matter what choice he previously made in regards to the divine stone that gave birth to Yaoyao, Yaoyao was now born and was gradually recovering her divinity. He had to put away his previous thoughts because Yaoyao was now the last hope of all-heavens. All three prime sovereigns felt very uneasy after seeing the incarnate of the Sacred God. The fact that the Sacred God could form an incarnation indicated that he wasn¡¯t far from fully awakening. All three prime sovereigns had experienced the world-ending war and so they were well aware how terrifying the Sacred God was. Yaoyao swept an indifferent gaze over the three and nodded slightly. Prime sovereign Jin Luo ran his eyes across everyone and said in a gentle voice, ¡°You have all worked very hard to protect Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Cang Yuan and others smiled bitterly with a serious look in their eyes. If Yaoyao wasn¡¯t poisoned, it would have been considered a victory for all-heavens. After all, the Sacred Race had lost two prime Saints. But Yaoyao was inflicted with the so-called God Annihilation Cursed Poison, and if anything happened to her, the hope of all-heavens would be gone. Seeing their expressions, all three prime sovereigns tensed up and then looked at Yaoyao and asked, ¡°How is the third god?¡± Yaoyao remained indifferent, but she evidently wasn¡¯t in a good mood and didn¡¯t respond. Prime sovereign Jin Luo and the other two couldn¡¯t help feeling a little awkward. With a worried frown, Zhou Yuan gently held Yaoyao¡¯s small hand. Since the Sacred God had gone to so much effort to inflict Yaoyao with poison, the so-called God Annihilation Cursed Poison wouldn¡¯t be ordinary. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be worth sacrificing two prime Saints from the Sacred Race. Yaoyao glanced at Zhou Yuan and was silent for a while before she said, ¡°This is a poison specially used to kill a god. Back then, the Sacred God was severely wounded in the great battle against the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. After that he went into a dormant state, and during those thousands of years, he managed to expel the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will that invaded his body and refined it into the so-called God Annihilation Cursed Poison. "I can feel the boundless darkness and tyrannical nature contained in this cursed poison. It is the pain that the Sacred God suffered when he was dormant in the darkness. He extracted that pain and added it to the cursed poison.¡± Yaoyao peered at the black poisonous mark that was gradually expanding in her palm and continued, ¡°He wants to use this cursed poison to slow me down¡­so he could fully awaken before me. Chapter 1441 Change Everyone present felt a chill in their hearts as Yaoyao¡¯s voice rang out. That was the Sacred Race¡¯s plan? He wanted to delay Yaoyao¡¯s awakening process so he could awaken first? If that really happened, it would be catastrophic for all-heavens. After all, the Ancestral Dragon''s will was almost completely exhausted after the war and so they couldn¡¯t rely on the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will to counter the Sacred God again. They could only place all their hopes on the third god. But the Sacred God had inflicted poison to the third god. The so-called God Annihilation Cursed Poison was certainly not an ordinary poison. ¡°Can that poison be dispelled?¡± asked Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao gave a faint smile. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be a problem. I just need some time.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze hovered on Yaoyao¡¯s face for a good while and he finally nodded. But prime sovereign Di Long couldn¡¯t help wanting to say something. It was just that prime sovereign Chi Ji stopped him. Prime sovereign Jin Luo asked, ¡°What plan does the third god have next?¡± ¡°Since I have returned to Cangxuan Heaven, I want to stay a little longer. I want to accompany Zhou Yuan back to the Great Zhou City.¡± Yaoyao peered into the distance, her eyes filled with nostalgia. Prime sovereign Jin Luo nodded. ¡°Of course. Zhou Yuan is now the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven and the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array has returned to its position. Cangxuan Heaven is now considered safe.¡± ¡°I wonder if the third god can extract a trace of the God Annihilation Cursed Poison so we can bring it back to the Omega Shrine and investigate it with the power of all Saints. We might be able to figure out a way to help the third god dispel the poison.¡± Yaoyao swept a glance over him and nonchalantly nodded. With one thought, a wisp of black qi spiralled up from her palm and countless ancient Genesis Runes gathered around it from all directions, forming a crystal-clear droplet. That drop of poisonous qi drifted towards prime sovereign Jin Luo, who wore a very serious expression. He brought out his golden prime chaos bell and carefully stored the droplet inside. Yaoyao didn''t say anything else and walked away. ¡°Zhou Yuan, if there are any changes in the third god¡¯s condition, I hope you will notify us right away.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo didn¡¯t stop her and just reminded Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan nodded, gave a cupped fist salute to everyone and followed after Yaoyao. The three prime sovereigns, Cang Yuan and other Saints watched the two leave, and it was only after a long while that prime sovereign Di Long said with a deep frown, ¡°The God Annihilation Cursed Poison isn¡¯t ordinary. The third god must be hiding something.¡± Prime sovereign Chi Ji said, ¡°Does that need to be said? This time the Sacred Race not only dispatched the seven great prime Saints, but also descended an incarnate of the Sacred God, who hadn¡¯t fully awakened. But even after such a large-scale attack, they sacrificed two prime Saints in the end. Since they paid such a huge price, it likely wouldn¡¯t just be a little ordinary poison.¡± ¡°But so what? Our third god clearly has no interest in talking to us. If she doesn¡¯t want to talk, how can we force her?¡± Prime sovereign Di Long couldn''t help saying, ¡°She¡¯s too wilful. If something happens to her, what should all-heavens do?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo shook his head. ¡°You want to talk about whether the third god is wilful? You are too naive. But don''t worry too much. The third god has someone she cares about. So if the situation is really out of her control, she will definitely let us know. What we need to do now is use the Omega Shrine¡¯s power to figure out a way to help the third god dispel the cursed poison.¡± Di Long and Chi Ji nodded. Prime sovereign Jin Luo continued, ¡°Also, even though the Sacred Race has retreated, the Sacred Race will continue to disturb us. We need to make preparations in case the Sacred God fully awakens. Therefore, the flames of war wouldn¡¯t stop in the next few years. All-heavens need to be in their highest state of readiness because when the next war breaks out, we might see the Sacred God in his most flourishing state.¡± Everyone¡¯s face grew overcast when they heard that. For countless years, the Sacred God was like a giant mountain suppressing all-heavens to the point they couldn¡¯t breathe. In the world-ending war, if it wasn¡¯t for the remaining Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will, the Tianyuan World likely would have belonged to the Sacred Race and the citizens of all-heavens would either be swallowed by the Sacred God or slaughtered like pigs. All-heavens fortunately survived the world-ending war by relying on the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will in the ancient times, but what would happen this time? The Sacred God would never die nor be destroyed and constantly disturbed the people of all-heavens. Like a shadow constantly pestering them, it made them unable to eat or rest peacefully. ¡°Cang Yuan, stay in Cangxuan Heaven with three double-lotus Saints to take care of them.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo instructed Cang Yuan. Cang Yuan let out a sigh and nodded worriedly. After making some arrangements and leaving some instructions, Jin Luo, Di Long, and Chi Ji once again glanced in the direction that Yaoyao left before they slowly faded like an illusion. While following Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan passed a message to sect master Qing Yang and the others, instructing them on how to deal with some post-war matters, The Sacred Race had retreated and so the Cangxuan Alliance should come out and clean up the mess. After passing on the instructions, Zhou Yuan lifted his eyes and saw Yaoyao standing atop a green mountain peak shrouded in clouds and mist, graceful and ethereal like a fairy. With a slight movement, Zhou Yuan appeared next to Yaoyao. ¡°Want to pay the Great Zhou City a visit?¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile as he reached for Yaoyao''s little hand. Yaoyao nodded. As she lifted her face, the sunlight illuminated her beautiful jade-like face, highlighting her exquisite facial features that seemed to be formed from the spirit of heaven and earth and her icy skin glistened like gemstones, mesmerizing everyone. She curved her red lips, tilted her head to look at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, you have returned to your hometown in glory.¡± When Zhou Yuan left the Great Zhou City, he was only at the Divine Dwelling stage but now he was the most supreme being in Cangxuan Heaven and held the authority to control the entire Heaven. Zhou Yuan clasped Yaoyao''s little hand, feeling the softness and coldness. ¡°In truth, if I have a choice, I would rather not assume the position of Heaven Master. I just want to be a peaceful prince and make you my princess.¡± Yaoyao''s eyes were gentle and soft as she leaned her head on Zhou Yuan''s shoulder. As the two huddled together, there was a rare comfort and warmth. But after a while, Yaoyao suddenly smiled. ¡°I almost forgot about that guy.¡± As she raised her jade-like hand, a spatial vortex took shape and a figure charged out. It was Tun Tun. Tuntun seemed to have been restrained for a good while. The moment he appeared, he roared angrily at Yaoyao and then darted onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, scratching at his head until his hair resembled a bird nest. Zhou Yuan was at a loss for words. ¡°You only know how to bully the weak and fear the strong. It¡¯s not me who locked you up.¡± Yaoyao covered her lips and giggled. She brought Tuntun down from Zhou Yuan''s head and lifted him into the air. ¡°Do you want to return to the Great Zhou City?¡± Tuntun blinked repeatedly and then obediently nodded. Tuntun lay on Yaoyao''s shoulder, but he stared at Zhou Yuan from behind with bewilderment in his beast eyes. Zhou Yuan fell silent when he sensed Tuntun¡¯s gaze. He knew what Tuntun found bewildering. Yaoyao¡¯s emotions were clearly more vivid than before. Yaoyao previously was detached and indifferent like a god but the current her was lively and spirited like when she was in the Great Zhou City. Zhou Yuan gazed at Yaoyao''s beautiful face. He knew that Yaoyao''s change was related to the so-called God Annihilation Cursed Poison, but he was reluctant to part with the current her. The current Yaoyao was more like a person than a god. He didn¡¯t know whether this change was good or bad, but if Yaoyao was happier because of that, Zhou Yuan was willing to accompany her at all times. Zhou Yuan tightly gripped Yaoyao''s little hand and gave a bright smile. ¡°Let''s go, I will take you back to the Great Zhou City.¡± Chapter 1442 The Popular Great Zhou Empire The chaos in Cangxuan Heaven finally came to an end. The battle was so fierce and involved so much that almost everyone in Cangxuan Heaven was scared witless. They originally thought the source of the chaos was the Sacred Palace, but it was only after the Sacred Palace was destroyed and Sheng Yuan was killed that they understood palace master Sheng Yuan was just a sacrifice pushed to the forefront. But the real terror were the Sacred Race¡¯s prime Saints and the Sacred God¡¯s incarnate. Fortunately, they defended Cangxuan Heaven after several battles. Also, the newly-appointed Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan, entered the hearts of countless people in Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan¡¯s prestige in Cangxuan Heaven could undoubtedly be said to have reached its peak. Moreover, perhaps because Cangxuan Heaven was ranked at the bottom of all-heavens for too many years and that a Saint and Heaven Master hadn¡¯t appeared in Cangxuan Heaven in many years after the death of old ancestor Cang Xuan, many people in Cangxuan Heaven felt unsafe and insecure. That feeling of insecurity grew even stronger in the past few years when the Sacred Race became increasingly threatening. Everyone knew how fragile and weak a heaven without the protection of a Heaven Master would be when a war between all-heavens and the Sacred Race breaks out. It was because of all those reasons that they were so ecstatic that Zhou Yuan appeared suddenly. He was the last hope of Cangxuan Heaven. Not only them, even sect master Qing Yang, Heaven Sword Sovereign and other sect masters had the same thought. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have objected to disbanding the Cangxuan Alliance after the war ended. Cangxuan Heaven very rarely gave birth to such an influential person and they had cling to him after much difficulty, how would they so easily dissociate themselves from that relationship? So due to those aforementioned reasons, Zhou Yuan could be said to be the well-deserved face of the entire Cangxuan Heaven. ... The Great Zhou City. The imperial palace. In the garden. Zhou Yuan was resting on a chair, bathing in the warm sunlight. That relaxing feeling felt incredibly comfortable. Although his eyes were closed, the scene around the stone pavilion was clearly shown in his mind. His mother, Qin Yu, was holding Yaoyao¡¯s little hand with a kind and wide smile. She constantly whispered and chuckled out loud, and her eyes were filled with content as she gazed at yaoyao. While the two were chatting, Qin Yu mentioned a lot of Zhou Yuan¡¯s embarrassing moments when he was a child. But Yaoyao was still as cold and detached as when she was at the palace. However, occasionally, a slight smiling expression would come to her eyes when she heard something amusing. But Qin Yu didn''t feel she was rude. Even though she wasn¡¯t aware of Yaoyao¡¯s true identity, she was already very fond of her when Zhou Yuan brought Yaoyao to the Great Zhou. Qin Yu thought the two had parted ways when she didn¡¯t see Zhou Yuan with her and constantly thought about her. After all, Yaoyao was too remarkable and she felt her silly son might not be good enough in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. Qin Yu was a little disappointed at the time, but after Zhao Yuan and Yaoyao returned together around a month ago, Qin Yu was so happy that she spent almost everyday with Yaoyao and didn¡¯t even pay much attention to her own son. Hearing them whispering in the stone pavilion, Zhou Yuan pursed his lips. He suddenly felt his stomach sink and he opened his eyes to see Tuntun lying there. Tuntun patted Zhou Yuan with his claw and pointed to Yaoyao, who was in the stone pavilion. Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and he understood what Tuntun meant. In the past month, Yaoyao''s emotions were increasingly lively, and although that might not be a big deal to ordinary people, if it happened to Yaoyao, it indicated something was wrong. After all, she wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. She was the third god. She was one of the only two divine gods in the Tianyuan World. Zhou Yuan speculated that Yaoyao¡¯s change was due to the God Annihilation Cursed Poison, but he knew he couldn¡¯t do anything. If Yaoyao didn¡¯t tell them, no one would know what her current situation was. All he could do was stretch out his hand and stroke Tuntun¡¯s head to comfort him. Tuntun whimpered and lay down on Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly and closed his eyes again to rest his mind, enjoying the rare peacefulness. But before Zhou Yuan could rest for long, an angry and laughing voice woke him up. ¡°Kid, you created a mess in my Great Zhou Empire and made me do so much work. I¡¯ve been so busy but you¡¯re slacking off here.¡± Zhou Yuan peeked through half-open eyes and saw Zhou Qing standing beside him and helplessly pursed his lips. Zhou Yuan¡¯s prestige had reached its peak in Cangxuan Heaven ,and as a result, in the past month that he returned to the Great Zhou Empire, countless sects and factions had flocked to the Great Zhou Empire, which was previously considered a remote area in Cangxuan Heaven. This was because the Great Zhou Empire was considered Zhou Yuan¡¯s birthplace and his father and mother were there, so even if the Great Zhou Empire had no plans to expand in the future, it still inevitably became a superior place in Cangxuan Heaven. It might be superior to even the Cangxuan Sect in terms of status. With that kind of status, the Great Zhou Empire would no doubt become one of the most sacred cultivation places in Cangxuan Heaven as long as Heaven Master Zhou Yuan took care of it a little. Thus, it was best to get familiar with the Great Zhou Empire early and make plans to settle down there. Therefore, in that past one month, the remote Cangmang Continent and the Great Zhou Empire became the most popular place in Cangxuan Heaven. All sects and factions flocked to the Great Zhou Empire. However, to the Great Zhou Empire, they were all fierce dragons crossing the river. The Great Zhou Empire clearly wasn¡¯t strong enough for them and if they were to stir up trouble or mess around, they could create wars and chaos in the empire in an instant. This was why the officials of the Great Zhou Empire all felt very anxious and restless when they saw those fierce dragons entering the Great Zhou Empire. After all, it was impossible for them, who were only at the Alpha Origin stage, to have the courage to confront Heavenly Sun experts or even Nascent Source experts. However, while the officials were shuddering with fear, they noticed those fierce dragons flocking over were as obedient as chicks. The air of arrogance that they expected didn''t seem to exist and everyone was respectful. They even abided by the laws and politely answered during any questioning. All the officials in the Great Zhou Empire couldn¡¯t believe it. Could it be that all the influential people outside of the Cangmang Continent are all decent people? Most people who had such a thought were low-level people and received news much slower. On the other contrary, the high-level officials wouldn¡¯t naively think the outsiders were decent people. They knew that those people only listened to their arrangements and dared not stir up trouble because there was someone in the Great Zhou Empire they were afraid to anger. His highness Zhou Yuan! With him watching over the Great Zhou Empire, who would dare to create trouble? The Great Zhou Empire was not the same as before. ¡°Father, the way the wind follows you when you walk makes me feel like you aren¡¯t here to scold me.¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile, stretching his body. The Shengzhou Continent, the core continent of Cangxuan Heaven, was split and destroyed in the previous war and caused many experts to leave that continent. The Great Zhou Empire and the Cangmang Continent that Zhou Yuan oversaw were many people¡¯s first choice to relocate. However, although those sects and factions were far superior to the Great Zhou Empire in terms of strength and the number of experts, Zhou Yuan believed that any one with a brain wouldn¡¯t dare to behave wildly in the Great Zhou Empire. And if the people of those sects and factions joined the Great Zhou Empire, it would significantly increase the Great Zhou¡¯s power. In a way, it was like a pie was dropped from the sky on the Great Zhou Empire. ¡°Congratulations father. The Great Zhou Empire will soon become the strongest empire in the Cangmang Continent.¡± Zhou Yuan cupped one hand in the other. ¡°Brat, you dare mock your father.¡± Zhou Qing pretended to be angry, but he then sulked, ¡°Having a son like you makes your father have no sense of accomplishment from my years of hard work.¡± Zhou Qing had worked painstakingly hard for years to build the Great Zhou, but he couldn¡¯t be compared to Zhou Yuan. ¡°You have raised a son like me yet you still don¡¯t feel any sense of accomplishment,¡± Zhou Yuan sounded surprised. Zhou Qing pointed at Zhou Yuan and wanted to scold him, but he couldn¡¯t help bursting into laughter. He seated himself next to Zhou Yuan, gazing at Zhou Yuan¡¯s face that resembled his. When Zhou Yuan left home years ago, his face was still young and soft. Zhou Qing now understood how much responsibility Zhou Yuan carried on his shoulders. Zhou Qing was responsible for only the Great Zhou Empire, but Zhou Yuan, the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, was responsible for the entire Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°You have too much responsibility now, and your father doesn''t have the ability to help you.¡± Zhou Qing clapped Zhou Yuan on the shoulder and then glanced at the stone pavilion with a slight smile. ¡°But there is something that father might be able to help you with.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly. Zhou Qing smiled proudly, ¡°How about I help you marry a princess?¡± Zhou Yuan sprang up in his chair, his heart palpitating with excitement. Chapter 1443 Creating Saints Zhou Qing¡¯s words spoke to Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart. In truth, Zhou Yuan wanted to take Yaoyao back to the Great Zhou City and didn¡¯t go to the Cangxuan Sect because he wanted their relationship to progress even further. It had been so many years and the prince of the Great Zhou Empire should have a princess consort. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao had been through many ups and downs together, and their feelings for each other were deep in their bones, but for various reasons, the last barrier between them still hadn¡¯t been broken. Perhaps it was time. As parents, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu could clearly see that, and they were more anxious than Zhou Yuan about it. After all, in their opinions, regardless of what status Zhou Yuan had or how strong he was, the Zhou family had to have a queen in the end. Zhou Yuan naturally welcomed Zhou Qing''s assistance. But he also understood that he needed to wait for a suitable time and that the matter couldn¡¯t be rushed. Therefore, he was willing to wait for good news from the two elders. But before any good news came, the sect masters of the major forces, including sect master Qing Yang, Heaven Sword Sovereign, venerable lord Gu Jing and palace master Shan Qingzi suddenly came to visit. In a side hall of the palace. Zhou Yuan sat in the main seat while a maid served up tea and welcomed the sect masters who were covered in dust and tired from travelling. ¡°Alliance leader is so relaxed. We have been so busy recently with the Cangxuan Alliance¡¯s affairs,¡± said sect master Qing Yang, smiling bitterly. The chaos caused by the Sacred Palace had been quelled, but that war also brought a lot of trouble to Cangxuan Heaven. Most importantly, the Shengzhou Continent, which was one of the core continents of Cangxuan Heaven, was destroyed. Not only were the six sacred sects located there but more than half of the top experts in Cangxuan Heaven were also there. After the Shengzhou Continent was destroyed, Genesis Qi originally accumulated there was also damaged. The sacred cultivation land that countless people in Cangxuan Heaven dreamt to cultivate in was severely ruined. The major sects and factions located on the Shengzhou Continent were also impacted as a result. This was clear from how many sects and factions flocked to the Great Zhou Empire. Although the chaos of war in Cangxuan Heaven was calmed down, Cangxuan Heaven remained a disorderly state. Sect master Qing Yang and the others not only had to deal with the impact on their sects from those changes, as an elder of the Cangxuan Alliance, they also had to consider the requests from other people in the Cangxuan Alliance. As a result, all of them had been very busy during the past month, and seeing Zhou Yuan sitting there so leisurely, they couldn¡¯t help feeling a little bitter. However, they also understood that Zhou Yuan had been through a great battle and he should recuperate after that. Furthermore, he was the Heaven Master and shouldn¡¯t need to deal with such trivial matters. Also, they all asked Zhou Yuan to stay in the Cangxuan Alliance and it was only right that they were responsible for those matters. ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile. Then he said reassuringly, ¡°The Shengzhou Continent is destroyed and as a result the universe Genesis Qi gathered there has dissipated. I will deal with that problem so the purity of the Genesis Qi in each sect won''t lessen.¡± The several sect masters breathed a sigh of relief. Their sects had been operating for thousands of years, and the location of their sects was their roots. This was all because of the extremely pure universe Genesis Qi accumulated in the sect over the years and after all sorts of methods. Genesis Qi was a fundamental condition for a sect to develop. After all, if a sect¡¯s universe Genesis Qi wasn¡¯t pure enough, how could it attract heavens prides from all over the place? Without a sacred cultivation place, it would be very difficult for a sect to develop. Therefore, if the problem of universe Genesis Qi wasn¡¯t resolved, they would no doubt suffer one of two outcomes. One was their sect gradually deteriorating and the second was they would have to relocate to somewhere with rich Genesis Qi to set up their new sect. However, the manpower, resources and time consumed would be terrifying if that happened. Fortunately, although they couldn¡¯t solve that problem, it wasn¡¯t much trouble for Zhou Yuan. So they all felt a sense of relief when they heard Zhou Yuan was willing to help. Heaven Sword Sovereign, venerable lord Gu Jing and palace master Shan Qingzi even beamed with joy. They finally understood how beneficial it was to cling to the Heaven Master. Long ago, in the generation of old ancestor Cang Xuan, only the Cangxuan Sect enjoyed such a treatment. They felt very fortunate at such a time. They were very glad that they refused without any hesitation when sect master Qing Yang wanted to disband the Cangxuan Alliance after the war. After all, this was the only relationship they could have with the new Heaven Master. If they threw it away for nothing, they would deeply regret it. Zhou Yuan waved his hand. He didn''t mind because Cangxuan Heaven really needed the Cangxuan Alliance to exist since the true crisis still remained. ¡°Since you all are here, I have something to discuss with you all.¡± Zhou Yuan ran his eyes across everyone. The people present represented the majority of the top experts in Cangxuan Heaven. Seeing Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turn solemn, all sect masters tensed up. Even sect master Qing Yang, who was most familiar with Zhou Yuan, assumed a serious expression. After all, regardless of what their previous relationship was, Zhou Yuan now held a supreme status and position in Cangxuan Heaven. No matter what, Qing Yang had to treat him with sincere respect. If he acted too wilfully because of the relationship that Zhou Yuan previously had with the Cangxuan Sect, he would be wrongly conducting himself. ¡°Although we luckily won the battle of Cangxuan Heaven, you all know that this is just the beginning. The Sacred God of the Sacred Race will soon awaken and the flames of war will spread again and this time to every corner of all-heavens. ¡°The destruction that descends then would be more terrifying than you can imagine.¡± Zhou Yuan''s calm voice rang in all sect masters¡¯ ears, causing a chill to gush out from their hearts. That chilling feeling couldn''t be erased even for people of their strength. Even if they were a distance away from the main battle that happened a few days ago, they still were aware of what happened and how terrifying the Sacred Race and Sacred Race were. The so-called Saints and even prime sovereigns felt powerless even in the face of the Sacred God. The smile on everyone''s faces gradually faded and the atmosphere became heavy. Given their strength, they obviously knew the destruction would be terrifying, it was just that they didn''t dare to think about it. After all, even if Zhou Yuan was now in Cangxuan Heaven, they couldn¡¯t deny the fact that their heaven was weak. Moreover, it wasn¡¯t something they could change overnight. ¡°All-heavens are now preparing for battle and exhausting their resources to raise their overall strength. Although Cangxuan Heaven is ranked at the bottom of all-heavens, we should figure a way to raise our strength because once a war breaks out, the other heavens likely wouldn¡¯t take care of us,¡± said Zhou Yuan. ¡°And if we don''t improve ourselves, we likely won¡¯t survive.¡± The things that one considers were different depending on one¡¯s position. Zhou Yuan used to only think about Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s strength and the future when he was full, but it was different after he became the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. In a sense, Cangxuan Heaven was his roots and he had to carefully take care of it. Sect master Qing Yang and the others assumed serious and solemn expressions and nodded. ¡°What plans does Heaven Master have next?¡± Zhou Yuan tapped the table with his fingers and finally spat out five words. Those words made all sect masters crush the cup in the hands into powder and it trickled down through their fingers along with the tea. And everyone¡¯s eyes were wide with shock because those four words were¡ª ¡°I want to create Saints.¡± Chapter 1444 Super Saint Land Shafts of sunlight pierced through the windows and illuminated the shocked faces of the several sect masters. Tea constantly trickled down from their hands. Even the influential and knowledgeable authorities of Cangxuan Heaven felt dizzy when they heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s words. It was only after a long while that sect master Qing Yang and the others finally came back to their senses. They felt their blood vessels swell and their hearts pound like drums. Create Saint?! He wanted to create Saints?! Sect master Qing Yang and the others had pursued that cultivation stage their entire life, but even now, they were still far away from it. In a sense, they were already considered extraordinary talents of their generation in Cangxuan Heaven. But even so, they couldn¡¯t reach that stage after doing everything they could. For example, Sheng Yuan was more talented than them yet he only managed to reach the Saint stage after sacrificing his spirit to the Sacred God. From a certain angle, this was the sorrow of Cangxuan Heaven. There were many causes that led to it, but the deterioration of Cangxuan Heaven was undoubtedly one of the main reasons. This was a matter of great despair and thus even sect master Qing Yang¡¯s and the others¡¯ ambition slowly died out. However, Zhou Yuan said he wanted to create Saints. Regardless of whether it was possible, the impact of those words had an unimaginable impact on sect master Qing Yang and the others. Only people like them who had experienced the pain of their strengths stagnating at the same level for many years would understand how much attractive force the step to the Saint stage had. Otherwise, why would palace master Sheng Yuan be bewitched by the Sacred God¡¯s will and even betray the entire Cangxuan Heaven? Who would be willing to be scolded by thousands of people if there wasn¡¯t enough temptation? The tense atmosphere remained for a long while before sect master Qing Yang exhaled deeply and looked at Zhou Yuan with a bitter smile. ¡°Is alliance leader joking with us?¡± Could a Saint expert be created that easily? The other sect masters nodded. They finally relaxed their tensed bodies on the chair, but they still wore complex expressions. They felt that what Zhou Yuan said wasn¡¯t possible, but they still had a glimmer of hope. Zhou Yuan swept a glance over everyone and said, ¡°The several sect masters here can be considered as heroes among all people. Your talent is indisputable and given your strengths, if you weren¡¯t in Cangxuan Heaven, you all have a chance of reaching the Saint stage.¡± Sect master Qing Yang, venerable lord Gu Jing, Heaven Sword Sovereign and others exchanged glances with one another and all saw a trace of bitterness in each other¡¯s eyes. If they couldn¡¯t make that step because of their ability, they would accept it and wouldn¡¯t blame other people. But the reason that they couldn¡¯t reach the Saint stage was not with them but with Cangxuan Heaven. But what could they do? Be angry that Cangxuan Heaven wasn¡¯t good enough? That would only seem like someone incompetent taking their anger out on someone else. ¡°Cangxuan Heaven was invaded and controlled by the Sacred Race during the ancient times. After that, Cangxuan Heaven grew increasingly weak and the chances of giving birth to a Saint became lower. ¡°I previously didn''t know the reason but after I became the Heaven Master and took control of Cangxuan Heaven, I realized that it is because the core of Cangxuan Heaven had been tainted by a wisp of the Sacred God¡¯s will. This is the main cause of Cangxuan Heaven growing increasingly weaker.¡± Such a secret was clearly unknown to sect master Qing Yang and the others because they all stood dumbstruck for a good while. Their faces twisted and their eyes almost spewed out flames. In the end they finally said through gritted teeth. ¡°Damn Sacred Race!¡± ¡°This is a scheme to destroy our Cangxuan Heaven!¡± All sect masters¡¯ eyes reddened with fury. It was the Sacred Race that obstructed many heaven prides in Cangxuan Heaven, including them, from stepping onto the Saint path. ¡°Heaven Master, can you restore our Cangxuan Heave?¡± Palace master Shan Qingzi asked respectfully, looking at Zhou Yuan with her beautiful eyes. The others also stared hopefully at Zhou Yuan. As Zhou Yuan met their gazes, the terrifying darkness that was swallowing everything at the core of Cangxuan Heaven appeared in his mind. Even he didn¡¯t dare to set foot into that darkness. ¡°The Sacred God¡¯s will isn¡¯t ordinary. It has existed for too long and even integrated with a part of the core of Cangxuan Heaven. If is more difficult than you think to eliminate it.¡± Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t dare to take on everything. Instead, he stated the cruel reality to them. Everyone''s eyes dimmed. ¡°Then should we ask the prime sovereigns of all-heavens to help?¡± suggested Heaven Sword Sovereign. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°Only the Heaven Master can enter the core of their heaven. The others, even prime sovereigns, can¡¯t.¡± The several sect masters threw away their thoughts and could only let out a long sigh. ¡°Then, what did alliance leader mean by ¡®create Saints¡¯?¡± asked sect master Qing Yang puzzledly. Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment as he gazed at the dust whirling in the shaft of light. He then said, ¡°I want to use the power of Heaven Master to gather the majority of the universe Genesis Qi in Cangxuan Heaven to one area and create a super saint cultivation land. Then, after an intensive selection, some heaven prides with great talent and potential in Cangxuan Heaven will be put into there. ¡°I think, with the help of a heaven¡¯s Genesis Qi, I should be able to raise the overall strength of Cangxuan Heaven and make preparations for the upcoming war.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s words made sect master Qing Yang and the others widen their eyes. Evidently, they were struck dumb by Zhou Yuan¡¯s suggestion. Zhou Yuan wanted to use an entire heaven¡¯s power to produce some top experts. Such an approach and such courage, they never would have thought about it. Sect master Qing Yang licked his lips, feeling a little parched. ¡°But there are some flaws in this approach because in a way, it is the same as draining a pond to get the fish. Moreover, if such a vast amount of Genesis Qi was gathered in one area, the universe Genesis Qi in other regions in Cangxuan Heaven would weaken. This wouldn¡¯t be fair to the people in the other regions.¡± Zhou Yuan sighed out loud. Cangxuan Heaven''s universe Genesis Qi wouldn¡¯t increase out of nowhere. It was fixed in a sense. If there was more in the east, there naturally would be less in the west. Sect master Qing Yang and the others turned grave. This was a huge matter that would impact countless people in Cangxuan Heaven and that impact would be greater than the chaos caused by the Sacred Palace. However, they also understand that desperate times require desperate measures and Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s overall strength was ranked at the bottom of all-heavens. Who would know when the Sacred Race would invade? If that happened, all-heavens would be shrouded in the flames of war and might not have extra energy to help Cangxuan Heaven. Therefore, their priority now was to raise the strength of the top experts in Cangxuan Heaven. If another one or two Saints were born in Cangxuan Heaven, it would undoubtedly greatly increase the heaven¡¯s defensive power and that would lessen Zhou Yuan¡¯s pressure. This perhaps might be unfair to the majority of people, but the contribution that a Law Domain expert could make in a great war indeed was more than thousands of Heavenly Sun experts. Of course, whether Zhou Yuan could really create Saints was still unknown. However, after sect master Qing Yang and the others exchanged a glance, they nodded firmly. ¡°We will support Heaven Master.¡± The people present were all second only to Zhou Yuan in Cangxuan Heaven and thus with their support, the matter would trigger less disputes. Sect master Qing Yang suddenly asked, ¡°Where would Heaven Master choose to gather Genesis Qi?¡± The other sect masters stared at him with blazing eyes. They selfishly hoped that place would be close to their sects since that would benefit their sects¡¯ development. Of course, Zhou Yuan knew what they were thinking. However, he would only choose one place and if it was near anyone¡¯s sects, it would mentally impact the other sect masters. He shook his head and peered in the northwestern direction of the Great Zhou Empire. ¡°The place¡ªwill be there.¡± It was the direction of Blackwater. The place where Zhou Yuan first trained in after leaving the Great Zhou Empire. Chapter 1445 The Land’s Capacity The location for the super cultivation paradise was ultimately chosen to be Black Water, which neighbored the Great Zhou Empire. This place was not unfamiliar to the sect masters. It was where patriarch Cang Xuan had hidden the Cangxuan Saint Stamp, and was subsequently discovered by Sheng Yuan, resulting in the start of an astonishing battle. It was the battle where the Cangxuan Saint Stamp had been shattered and Zhou Yuan had been forced to flee Cangxuan Heaven. Although the sect masters had failed to secure a location close to their respective sects, they wisely opted to support Zhou Yuan¡¯s decision. They understood that choosing this location would undoubtedly bring tremendous benefits to the nearby Great Zhou Empire, but so what? At the end of the day, Zhou Yuan was from the Great Zhou Empire and this was his true home. There might perhaps be some selfish motives behind Zhou Yuan¡¯s decision, but as the master of Cangxuan Heaven and its greatest authority, no one else had more right than him. As the saying went, when a person rose to power, his family and friends would rise as well. With Zhou Yuan¡¯s recent promotion to heaven master, the Great Zhou Empire would naturally receive numerous benefits. This was honestly so common that even a blind fool would not dare to accuse heaven master Zhou Yuan for using his position for personal gain. After all, Zhou Yuan was, strictly speaking, the voice that mattered in this heaven. If Cangxuan Heaven was an empire, Zhou Yuan would be its king. To be blunt, Zhou Yuan could have easily decided everything on his own. However, he had chosen to include the other sect masters in the discussion as a show of respect. The sect masters were naturally not idiots, and naturally understood how to best make both sides look good. In addition, they were also deeply in favor of Zhou Yuan¡¯s idea of establishing a super cultivation paradise to increase Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s strength as quickly as possible. After all, they had already experienced a taste of how terrifying the Sacred Race could be. The Sacred Race might have only smashed apart the Shengzhou Continent this time, but who knew if they would smash the entire Cangxuan Heaven next? If that happened, almost everyone would die. The only deterrence against the Sacred Race army¡¯s invasion was to keep growing stronger. At the end of the day, everything was for the sake of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s survival. ... Several days later in the sky above Black Water. Zhou Yuan observed the vast land from the sky. It had once been an inhospitable and barren land, but things had taken a turn for the better after the great battle years ago. In fact, the natural concentration of Genesis Qi was gradually growing richer and richer. However, it was still far too weak compared to its peak. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes grew deep as he continued to survey the land. The scenery shifted as time flowed backwards and he peered into the past, seeing numerous majestic sects towering over the land. In a certain manner of speaking, the grand atmosphere far surpassed the many sects of the present. It was an era where Cangxuan Heaven was not called Cangxuan Heaven, a time when the heaven had yet to fall into decline. A time before patriarch Cang Xuan was born. Although the Cangxuan Heaven of the past might not have been the strongest of the all-heavens, there was no significant gap between them and the other heavens. It was only after the Sacred Race¡¯s invasion that the land was left incomplete. In the end, even that entire era was erased from history and lost in the river of time. It was during this period where the Sacred Race had invaded and conquered Cangxuan Heaven that one of the Sacred Race heaven prides had died here in Black Water. In their rage, they sent down divine punishment, wiping out the billions of lives on this land along with many once illustrious ancient sects, causing them to be buried in the sands of time. It was only countless years later, when a younger Zhou Yuan stumbled into the Battle Puppet Sect¡¯s underground palace, did he learn about how magnificent and bloody this land had once been. ¡°Please excuse me for disturbing your spirits, I only wish for Cangxuan to be safe.¡± Zhou Yuan lowered his head towards the land. With a thought, wind suddenly surged as the ground began to shake. Mountains moved, valleys closed and seas sunk as the terrain began to transform. This was true power that could shape the land. If a Saint expert was observing Cangxuan Heaven at this moment, he would be able to sense the Genesis Qi of the entire heaven begin to boil in excitement before flowing towards a certain direction. It was so spectacular that it would also induce terror. Zhou Yuan observed the changes from the sky. Only after attempting to create a super cultivation paradise did he realize that it was more troublesome than he had expected. Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s Genesis Qi was indeed converging towards Black Water, causing the concentration of Genesis Qi here to rise at an alarming rate. However, it was ultimately unable to reach the level that Zhou Yuan wished for. ¡°How troublesome,¡± mumbled Zhou Yuan as his brows furrowed together. He understood where the problem lay. Black Water was unable to contain such abundant and concentrated Genesis. Simply put, it¡¯s capacity was insufficient. However, there was not much Zhou Yuan could do to solve this. Although he could use the heaven master¡¯s power to transform the land and increase its capacity, it would be a long process. It was time that Zhou Yuan clearly did not have. Besides, he had already acted all confident in front of sect master Qing Yang and the others, so it would be pretty embarrassing if he failed to deliver. ¡°You¡¯re causing quite a ruckus here.¡± While Zhou Yuan was submerged in thought, Yaoyao clear-as-a-mountain-spring voice sounded from the side, carrying Tuntun as she looked at the changing land below. Zhou Yuan was not surprised by her appearance. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve come.¡± Yaoyao looked at him and said, ¡°You¡¯ve only just become Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s master and you¡¯re already trying something so big...plus you even intend to get results overnight?¡± Zhou Yuan coughed and mumbled, ¡°I just wanted to see the extent of a heaven master¡¯s capabilities.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s eyes seemed to swirl as she asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you rope me in to help?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned and answered, ¡°I¡¯m already a master of a heaven. When men are doing things, they don¡¯t always need women to interfere.¡± A dangerous light seemed to flash across Yaoyao¡¯s beautiful face as she looked at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan instantly appeared in front of Yaoyao, grasping her hands as he tenderly said, ¡°I just want you to have some rest.¡± How pathetic, I still can¡¯t appear reliable in front of Yaoyao even after becoming a heaven master. Disdain flitted across Tuntun¡¯s beady eyes. Heh, think you can show off just because you became a heaven master? A frog in a well will never know how vast the outside world is. Yaoyao cast an annoyed glance at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°We¡¯ll do it together. I can help you swiftly increase the land¡¯s capacity.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled bitterly. To be honest, he had not notified her because he didn¡¯t want her to use her power. After all, Yaoyao had been struck by the God Annihilation Curse Poison, which continued to be a thorn in his heart till this day. ¡°Stop dilly dallying and being overly cautious¡­¡± Yaoyao turned her head, a seemingly cheeky smile on her autumn-moon-like face. ¡°Do you plan on asking your father¡¯s help for this matter as well?¡± At this moment, Zhou Yuan could not help but flush despite his thick skin. Chapter 1446 Nine Nine Blessings Tower Amidst Yaoyao¡¯s mocking voice, a teary Zhou Yuan begrudgingly accepted her help. The two began to combine their powers to transform the land together with the goal of increasing its capacity. Rumble! The land shook continuously as if an earth dragon was rolling about within. Waves of dirt churned on the surface as soil was rapidly compacted again and again deep underground. Yaoyao flourished her jasper Genesis Rune Brush as millions of ancient runes fell from its tip like a torrential downpour. This peculiar storm, however, contained unimaginable power. Genesis Runes rained down on the ground and rapidly submerged into the soil as a tremendous transformation began to occur. Specks of gold began to blossom from the land as golden light washed over it, eliminating all impurities. After a few days, the originally black land now gave off an aura of pure gold. It was as if every grain had been refined a thousand times. Faint golden water surged out from the ground, forming numerous lakes that gave off a golden glow. Life soon began to emerge from the mystical waters. A fragrance spread across the land. Zhou Yuan watched in wonder. He could sense that the land had become incomparably heavy and boundless. It was an indication that its capacity had grown. Though he could also achieve this, he would have needed far more time. Yaoyao had greatly shortened the process. This was evidently the Third God¡¯s power. In a certain manner of speaking, she was on a higher level than even a heaven master like himself. Zhou Yuan felt rather conflicted. It seemed that even after becoming the master of Cangxuan Heaven, he still did not have the dignity of a proper husband. It seemed that the path to become a properly respected husband was going to be a long journey. Zhou Yuan let out a long sigh, suppressing the melancholy in his heart, before once again tapping on the heaven master¡¯s power to draw Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s Genesis Qi towards this location. Rumble! Endless Genesis Qi surged towards them and was greedily absorbed by the land. Changes soon began to occur. The mountains began to grow, becoming taller and steeper. Pure white snow coated their tips, creating a magnificent sight. Countless plants also began to sprout from the snow, beautiful swaying in the wind. Lush greenery washed over the land, stretching to the end of one¡¯s sights. Dust could be seen drifting across the area. However, it was not dust but Genesis Qi that had solidified due to the overly high concentration. The ¡®dust¡¯ scattered deep into the ground, and would slowly grow into various valuable resources as time passed. The once vile land was already slowly turning into a paradise. If a sect could secure this location, they would surely grow into a superpower that would eclipse all the other factions in Cangxuan Heaven. However, this was not the end. Zhou Yuan raised his hand and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp appeared on his palm. A strange light swirled upon the stamp, ultimately turning into an ancient Genesis Rune. This rune was no stranger to Zhou Yuan. It was the Earth Saint Rune that had repeatedly given him the ultimate edge over his opponents over the years. ¡°Thanks for the hard work, old partner.¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled. The Earth Saint Rune turned into a streak of light as it descended and burrowed into the ground. Rumble! The ground began to shake violently as endless golden light spewed out. Amidst the golden glow, an enormous golden lotus slowly blossomed. Within the golden lotus, soil and stone fused together to build a structure. The base of an enormous tower appeared before each floor was stacked up one by one. It was a rather slow process that lasted nearly five days, but in the end, a giant tower was left standing over the land. The tower had eighty one floors and reached straight into the heavens. When it was finally complete, the tower seemed to become a black hole that frantically devoured the surrounding Genesis Qi. Golden light began to appear on the tower, forming some kind of mysterious flower runes. Merely looking at them made one feel a sense of enlightenment. Yaoyao¡¯s brows raised slightly as she scanned the magnificent tower and said, ¡°Quite impressive. If not for your presence, Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s factions will go crazy fighting each other for this cultivation paradise. Are you sure it won¡¯t end up causing a big problem in the future?¡± A treasure land like this would only bring disaster if one did not have sufficient power. ¡°There will be no problem as long as I¡¯m still the master of Cangxuan Heaven. If something does happen to me in the future, it would likely be the worst case scenario for the all-heavens and there would be no need for such worries either.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. If such a thing were to happen, it would likely be the Sacred Race¡¯s victory and there would be no hope for the all-heavens. Hence, why worry about such things? What was there to be afraid of when they no longer had a future? Yaoyao did not reply, but her hand gripped Zhou Yuan¡¯s a little more tightly. ¡°However, this is only the beginning. It''s still far from hitting my expectations despite me drawing over Genesis Qi from all over Cangxuan Heaven.¡± To reach the level that Zhou Yuan desired required countless precious resources. It was a very terrifying amount to imagine. In fact, even emptying out the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s entire stash would still be far from enough. Zhou Yuan said, ¡°I will tell sect master Qing Yang and the others to tell all of the Cangxuan Heaven sects to hand over a portion of their resources to build up this super cultivation paradise.¡± ¡°This sounds like the actions of a depraved tyrant.¡± There was a slight teasing tone in Yaoyao¡¯s voice as she raised her face and looked at him with her clear eyes. ¡°The initial investment is big, but if we succeed, I believe it will all be worth it.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and said, ¡°This is also part of the final preparations for the eventual war. After all, if we lose the war, these resources will only end up in the hands of the Sacred Race. ¡°Moreover, I am not making them do this for free. When the super cultivation paradise is complete, there will be no restrictions. Anyone, regardless of status, will be able to enter the tower to cultivate as long as they pass some tests. Of course, I will also be putting outside some extra places for the sects that have made contributions. ¡°I believe that anyone with some foresight should be able to understand the importance of such places.¡± Yaoyao nodded. The super cultivation paradise represented the future and Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s greatest blessings. Securing a place in the tower was naturally far better than continuing to hold onto resources they might not even be able to use. Of course, there would certainly be foolish and shortsighted people in this world. However, there was no need to care about such people. ¡°You¡¯re quite fired up in your new position.¡± Yaoyao¡¯s lips curled slightly as she turned her head and carefully looked over Zhou Yuan. One could not help but admit that he was already very accomplished and extraordinary. The young boy that had been incapable of even unlocking his eight meridian channels had now become a hegemon even in the vast all-heavens. In fact, his every action would greatly affect the countless residents of Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°Does this place have a name?¡± She pointed at the giant tower. Zhou Yuan also gazed at the tower and nodded. ¡°It shall be called the Nine Nine Blessings Tower and I hope that it will be able to bless Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Chapter 1447 Opening the Tower Through Zhou Yuan¡¯s efforts, news of the Nine Nine Blessings Tower¡¯s construction spread like wildfire to every corner of Cangxuan Heaven. It was no surprise that a great commotion soon followed. Countless factions and experts were stupefied by this news, shocked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s terrifying ambition. According to him, the Nine Nine Blessings Tower would absorb the majority of the entire Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s Genesis Qi, creating an unprecedented super cultivation paradise in Cangxuan Heaven. There, all training would become twice as efficient. No, that would be an understatement. The place was basically a stairway straight to the heavens! As long as you had talent, potential and tenacity, you would be able to leap straight to your greatest dreams! There was no need to compare one¡¯s background or faction. As long as you had the ability, no one would be able to stop you from ascending the heavens. From the disseminated information, everyone understood that the super cultivation paradise¡¯s Genesis Qi was transferred from the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Simply put, the Genesis Qi of other regions would weaken, while the super cultivation paradise¡¯s Genesis Qi would grow stronger and stronger. An entire heaven¡¯s worth of Genesis Qi was basically focused on a single tower. Zhou Yuan naturally did not leave out the reason for this. The Sacred Race was going to start the second great war. As the weakest among the all-heavens, Cangxuan Heaven needed to do everything possible to raise their overall power. Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s residents had long heard of the terrifying Sacred Race and were also subsequently informed how they had been the ones behind the Sacred Palace¡¯s recent actions. Hence, everyone understood that if the Sacred Race army was allowed to invade Cangxuan Heaven, every living creature in Cangxuan Heaven would be mercilessly slaughtered. It was common knowledge that the Sacred Race viewed all other races as livestock to be killed without remorse. In fact, they even enjoyed turning other living beings into blood pills to be consumed. Every member of the all-heavens felt nothing but fear and anger towards the Sacred Race. Rather than allowing Cangxuan Heaven to land in the Sacred Race¡¯s hands...it would be better to bet everything on one final gamble. No one questioned whether such actions would hurt Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s future, because if they failed to overcome the approaching crisis, there would be no future for Cangxuan Heaven. As such, Zhou Yuan¡¯s plan to funnel all of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s Genesis Qi into a super cultivation paradise did not draw much objection. Instead, on the second day after the news was disseminated, countless people in Cangxuan Heaven began a long journey towards the once unknown and remote Cangmang Continent. Of course, they were not alone. Many powerful factions in Cangxuan Heaven immediately began an intense internal debate after receiving the news and swiftly arrived at an agreement. They needed to support heaven master Zhou Yuan! Regardless of whether it was based on rationality or because Zhou Yuan currently had the biggest fist, no one in Cangxuan Heaven could oppose his decisions. To be blunt, any opposition would be useless, because a heaven master could easily make them lose everything they had. For instance, he could deplete all of the Genesis Qi in the areas where their sects were located... Hence, instead of making a fool of themselves challenging an adult with a child¡¯s fists and end up scolded by the countless residents of Cangxuan Heaven, it would be better to be tactful instead and leave a good impression on heaven master Zhou Yuan. In addition, the various factions were also quite excited by the concept of a super cultivation paradise, not only for their disciples, but also the Nascent Source and Law Domain experts like themselves, who naturally deeply desired to push their cultivation to the next level. A super cultivation paradise was a chance for them. Hence, there was not much hesitation among Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s countless factions. They quickly gathered up numerous precious resources and swarmed towards the Cangmang Continent like ants migrating to a new nest. The Cangxuan Sect, the Sword Seeker Sect, the Hundred Flowers Fairy Palace and the other apex factions were even quicker and more resolute. Some of the medium and small factions still had some reservations and did not dare to empty out their coffers, but the apex factions immediately cleaned out everything they had, leaving nothing behind. The sect masters that were able to bring their factions to such great heights naturally had far better foresight and were much more shrewd. Since they had already made the decision to support such a big endeavour, it was only natural to pour in everything they had. Not only was it meaningless to leave anything in reserve, it would also make them appear petty and shortsighted. Since they were going to gamble, they might as well bet it all. They believed that if Cangxuan Heaven managed to survive the approaching calamity, the returns would not disappoint. The entire Cangxuan Heaven boiled with excitement at this unprecedented undertaking! In less than a month, countless people arrived from all over Cangxuan Heaven, entered the Cangmang Continent and ultimately arrived at Blackwater like pilgrims after passing through the Great Zhou Empire. Precious resources that were almost impossible to count were handed over, refined by Zhou Yuan and fused into the grand and majestic tower. The tower grew brighter, more mysterious and grander day by day. This continued for two months. Blackwater, a sinister land once filled with a poison mist, had now turned into a paradise. Golden springs dotted the land, and all kinds of strange and magical plants could be found in the forests. The Genesis Qi was so thick that a single breath made one feel giddy with pleasure as if one was drinking fine wine. Countless figures could be seen sitting at the most outer region of Blackwater, the black mass spreading to the ends of one¡¯s sights. Their feverish gazes were all fixed on the giant tower deep inside. A figure was silently seated atop the tower. No Genesis Qi undulations were visible around him, but when you looked at him, you would feel a terrifying pressure pounce towards you. It felt as if one was facing a boundless, fear-inducing land. However, there was no fear in any of the gazes that looked towards him, but deep respect. Zhou Yuan tightly shut eyes slowly cracked open. He seemed to sense something as a faint smile appeared on his face. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± he softly muttered to himself. After two months of countless people contributing resources, the tower below him was finally about to reach its complete state. Zhou Yuan rose to his feet as resplendent golden light erupted from the magnificent tower below. The golden bells that hung outside each floor began to ring, the sound spreading throughout the entire Cangxuan Heaven. In the outer region of Blackwater, the countless onlookers realized what was happening and exploded into deafening cheers. ¡°Heaven master Zhou Yuan will make Cangxuan Heaven strong!¡± ¡°Heaven master is the almighty!¡± ¡°I vow to follow heaven master till death!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Emotions were rampant on the faces of countless people as they cheered with every iota of their being, the thunderous cheers seemingly shaking even the heavens. They understood that heaven master Zhou Yuan had undertaken this heroic feat for Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s survival. Atop the tower, Zhou Yuan looked down, seeing the crowd that stretched to the end of his sights. In the next instant, a booming voice sounded across the land, ¡°The tower is complete and from today, anyone from Cangxuan Heaven may enter to cultivate. I hope that Cangxuan Heaven will flourish forever!¡± The hearts of countless people shook with emotion as they respectfully kneeled in Zhou Yuan¡¯ direction. ¡°Cangxuan Heaven will flourish forever!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart also rose in his chest as he raised his hand. Rumble! Under countless expectant gazes, the tightly shut heavy stone doors of the tower slowly began to open. Chapter 1448 Tower Welcomes the Masses As the giant tower doors slowly opened, the countless people waiting in the outer region began to breathe heavier, their eyes filled with desire. A yearning for a chance, a longing for power. Although some of the practitioners here were from big factions, most of the crowd consisted of unaffiliated cultivators. Many of them had often risked tooth and bone, paying painful prices for a few cultivation resources. They did not have much support and could only rely on their bravery and wits. Hence, they understood better than anyone else what this tower represented. Due to this, they were sincerely grateful towards heaven master Zhou Yuan for his selfless act of constructing the tower. Rumble! The crowd finally hit the limits of their patience. In the next instant, they rushed forward like a tsunami, practically filling the entire sky and land as they flew towards the giant tower. Swoosh! When they neared, boundless golden light suddenly swept out from the open doors, making a sizable group disappear as it washed over them. They had been sucked into the tower. However, there were still countless more swarming from behind with feverish expressions. Zhou Yuan watched the grand sight from high up in the sky. Soon after, he found several familiar figures. Li Chunjun, Lu Luo, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Ning Zhan, Zhen Xu... There were also many old friends from the Cangxuan Sect, such as Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others. They clearly had no intention of being missing from this grand event that belonged solely to Cangxuan Heaven. As he gazed at them, Zhou Yuan began to think about Su Youwei, Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen. If this trio was around, they would have been able to benefit tremendously from the tower. Unfortunately, they had been summoned back after the battle was over. Master Cang Yuan had mentioned that in preparation for war with the Sacred Race, the Omega Shrine¡¯s three prime sovereigns had issued a command to gather up all of all-heavens super heaven prides and pour all their efforts into nurturing them to increase their strength. This was coincidentally rather in line with Zhou Yuan¡¯s way of thinking. The Su Youwei trio had entered the Omega Shrine¡¯s sights long ago, and were thus immediately selected for this new initiative. One could already imagine how the all-heavens heaven prides would rapidly grow stronger in these final peaceful days. In fact, some of the most elite practitioners might even be able to pry into the secrets of a Saint expert. It was a chance that came one in a million years. An era of great changes might spell misfortune for some, but at the same time, it was also a huge opportunity for others. If not for the Blessings Tower, Zhou Yuan would probably have tried to recommend Chu Qing, Li Chunjun and the others to the Omega Shrine. However, there was no need now. Although the Omega Shrine was powerful, they were not as crazy and bold as him to use an entire heaven¡¯s worth of Genesis Qi on a single tower. Cangxuan Heaven was already considered a broken pot. They were already the worst anyways, so how much worse could it get? The situation was different for the other heavens. Let alone the strongest Hunyuan Heaven, even the second last Wuxing Heaven was so much stronger and better developed than Cangxuan Heaven. Hence, taking a similar approach to Cangxuan Heaven would instead be shortsighted and unprofitable. Zhou Yuan was the only Saint expert in Cangxuan Heaven. Hence, as long as the Omega Shrine did not interfere, he had absolute authority and no one could go against his decisions. With the entire Cangxuan Heaven pouring their resources into the tower, Zhou Yuan believed that it would lose out to the Omega Shrine¡¯s nurturing efforts. Light swirled in Zhou Yuan¡¯s as he looked towards the Blessings Tower, allowing him to peek inside and observe Lu Chunjun and the others. He chuckled and muttered to himself, ¡°Let¡¯s see how far you guys will go.¡± Li Chunjun, Chu Qing and the others were the most talented heaven prides in Cangxuan Heaven. Their previous cultivation progress was already pretty fast and Zhou Yuan believed they would soon experience unprecedented growth with the Blessings Tower¡¯s support. This day would be forever etched into Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s history. The day when the heaven master opened the tower to welcome the masses. ... Inside the Blessings Tower. Space warped around a wide battle arena surrounded by mist, creating a barrier. Lu Chunjun calmly stood in the arena with his trusty rusted sword in hand, the signature black cloth still wrapped around his eyes. All of a sudden, he turned his head slightly and looked in a certain direction. Mist surged as a dozen figures abruptly shot out, fierce attacks aimed at Li Chunjun¡¯s vitals. Li Chunjun did not flinch despite the sudden assault. He patiently waited for the attacks to approach, before the cry of a sword suddenly rang out as a wave chilling sword qi swept forth. Thump thump! The dozen figures were instantly struck by the sword qi and were blown to pieces on the spot. However, there was no ghastly explosion of blood and flesh. Instead, streams of Genesis Qi shot out and entered Li Chunjun¡¯s body. The Genesis Qi was so pure that it would make any practitioner drool. Li Chunjun appeared unsurprised, because this was the ninth time he had experienced this phenomenon. He knew that this meant he had passed the ninth level. Since the tower had eighty one floors, he was basically at the starting line. ¡°So I get a reward every floor?¡± Li Chunjun had received several rewards so far. However, none of them were very desirable, likely because he was too strong. After all, this was considered the lower zone of the tower. ¡°How interesting,¡± mumbled Li Chunjun as a look of interest emerged on his usually stoic face. He understood that this goal was not here. He needed to climb to the higher levels. He believed that this tower Zhou Yuan had so painstakingly constructed was not so simple. Li Chunjun raised his head, his black cloth wrapped eyes seemingly staring into space as if sensing someone was observing him. A rare smile appeared on his stoic face as he slowly lifted his sword and pointed at the air. Although you¡¯ve arrived at that cultivation stage earlier, I will definitely catch up. Given the current state of affairs in the all-heavens, I¡¯m sure that you¡¯re under a lot of pressure as the heaven master. If I manage to reach the Saint stage, I might be able to help you. Wait for me. Li Chunjun raised his foot as he began walking off the battle arena and into the mist. Golden light flashed as a bell chimed. Meanwhile, in other domains in the tower. Zuoqiu Qingyu, Luluo, Zhen Xu, Ning Zhan... Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Ye Ge... Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s greatest heaven prides were easily sweeping through all obstructions as they steadily climbed the Blessings Tower. They understood that this was a huge opportunity. Anyone who fell here would definitely regret it forever. Hence, they needed to firmly grasp this chance! Chapter 1449 Blessings City After the Nine Nine Blessings Tower was opened, Blackwater became the busiest place in the entire Cangxuan Heaven. Travellers would often arrive from far away, crossing numerous continents like pilgrims on a holy pilgrimage, filled with faith, zealotry, and of course the wish to become stronger. To deal with the enormous influx of people, Zhou Yuan personally took action, and a city quickly took shape in a few days. He named it Blessings City. It was a place of rest for the dao seekers who had travelled great distances to reach here, and a place to recuperate for the people who had failed the tower¡¯s trials. The city¡¯s management was passed to the Great Zhou Empire and Zhou Qing swiftly sent an army to take charge. The Great Zhou Empire¡¯s armies were of course no threat to these practitioners that had gathered from all over Cangxuan Heaven. However, their main purpose was not to subdue and deter but to maintain order in the city. After all, as long as Zhou Yuan was the master of Cangxuan Heaven, no one would dare to cause any mischief or trouble in Blessings City. A certain villa stood in the western district of the city. It was filled with lush greenery from which corners of a building peeked out from time to time, appearing both low-key and impressive. At the center of the villa was an extremely tall tower. The tower was the tallest building in the city, and allowed one to overlook the entire city. In the backdrop, one would see the giant heaven-pillar-like Blessings Tower in the distance. The top of the tower was always surrounded by mist, blocking any peeping eyes. Amidst the mist, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were seated before a small tea table, while Tuntun lazily lay on its belly by the side. It would roll around from time to time, finding a better position to enjoy the warm sunlight. A mini light tower hovered in front of Zhou Yuan, countless glowing dots visible within. It was a real-time interior view of the Blessings Tower, and every dot represented a tower challenger. A month had passed since the tower was opened. Over this month, countless people had continued to flood into the Blessings Tower. Despite the mind boggling numbers, the tower easily swallowed them all like a bottomless black hole, shocking the various factions with its capacity. In a sense, the Blessings Tower was an independent domain of its own. Such a creation was beyond the means of an ordinary Saint expert, and only a Saint expert like Zhou Yuan, who was also heaven master, was capable of such a feat. Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand gestured at the light tower and offhandedly said, ¡°Seventy percent of the people who entered the Blessings Tower to train have grown stronger, while seven percent among them have successfully broken through their cultivation bottlenecks and advanced to the next cultivation stage.¡± Yaoyao glanced over and said, ¡°However, there¡¯s still too few people who have managed to reach floor seventy and above.¡± Floor seventy and above of the Blessings Tower was dubbed by Zhou Yuan as the Law Domain levels, because only a practitioner that possessed strength at the Law Domain stage could reach these floors. For the past month, the highest tower climbers had been sect master Qing Yang, the Heaven Sword Sovereign, Venerable Lord Gu Jing and a few other veteran Law Domain experts. There were all third stage Law Domain experts. However, even they were stuck at the eightieth floor. Over the past month, they had challenged the eightieth floor more than ten times. Unfortunately, all their attempts had ended in defeat. ¡°It seems that it won¡¯t be easy for sect master Qing Yang and the others to pass the eightieth floor.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°Your eightieth floor guardian is too unreasonable for them,¡± remarked Yaoyao as she poured herself another cup of alcohol. An evil smile rose from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips. The eightieth floor guardian was the strongest opponent he had met in the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, the Sacred Race¡¯s Tai Xuan. With the support of an entire heaven¡¯s worth of Genesis Qi, Zhou Yuan had managed to create a copy that had eighty percent of Tai Xuan¡¯s power. In the Stone Dragon Secret Domain, even the all-heaven¡¯s top third stage Law Domain expert, Xu Beiyan, had been thoroughly suppressed by Tai Xuan. Since sect master Qing Yang and the others could not even match up to Xu Beiyan, it was definitely an uphill task for them to pass the eightieth floor. Sect master Qing Yang and the others had already lost far too many times against ¡®Tai Xuan¡¯ over the course of the month and suffered terribly at his hands. However, their failures were not without fruit. At the very least, Zhou Yuan could sense that sect master Qing Yang and the others were beginning to show signs of growing stronger after numerous years of stagnation. Of course, the biggest contributing factor was the Blessings Tower. Although the sect masters were veteran Law Domain experts with strong foundations, their potential had already been used up over their long lives. One of the miraculous abilities of the tower, however, was to replenish this potential. Perhaps because they had also sensed this tiny progress, sect master Qing Yang and the others were not the least bit dejected despite the repeated failures. Instead, they grew increasingly enthusiastic with each attempt. Yaoyao stared at the highest few dots in the tower and said, ¡°However, even with the Blessings Tower replenishing their potential, it is extremely difficult to cross that final threshold.¡± The path to become a Saint expert was unbelievably challenging. Without the Blessings Tower, it could be said that sect master Qing Yang and the others had no chance at all. Even with the miraculous powers of the tower, all it could do was shine a small glimmer of hope onto an impossible situation. In Yaoyao¡¯s view, Li Chunjun, Chu Qing and the others, who were several floors behind sect master Qing Yang¡¯s group, had slightly better odds. Sect master Qing Yang and the others had already used up their potential like lamps that were about to run out of fuel. In contrast, Li Chunjun, Chu Qing and the others still had limitless possibilities. This did not mean that sect master Qing Yang had inferior talent. After all, those who could become third stage Law Domain practitioners had once been the most talented youths of their generation. One could only say that the older generation had already missed their prime opportunity, while the Blessings Tower had come at the right time for Li Chunjun, Chu Qing and the others. Zhou Yuan sighed and nodded. If becoming a Saint expert was so easy, he would not be the only one after patriarch Cang Xuan. Let alone Cangxuan Heaven, even the number of new all-heaven Saint experts over the past several hundred years could be counted on one hand. ¡°I¡¯ve done what I can. Whether they manage to take that final step will depend on them.¡± Yaoyao nodded before pointing towards the highest floor of the mini light tower as she asked with interest, ¡°If the eightieth floor is Tai Xuan, who is the guardian of the final floor?¡± Zhou Yuan grinned and said, ¡°It¡¯s a Genesis Qi clone of me.¡± Yaoyao was taken aback. Soon after, she shook her head and said, "I can already imagine what kind of expressions they will have when they finally overcome the eightieth floor and see you on the final floor." Zhou Yuan put on a serious expression and said, "How will they be able to transform without facing adversity? I''m doing this for their own good." The corners of Yaoyao''s lips raised slightly. Who would believe you? Zhou Yuan felt conflicted as he observed Yaoyao''s face, which had grown far more animated than before. However, he maintained his smile as he reached out and gently grasped her hand. Yaoyao glanced at him as her slender fingers pressed against his palm. She could read Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart even without speaking. The top floor of the tower became much more silent for a time. However, the silence did not last for long. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao sensed something and turned their heads slightly to see space begin to warp as Cang Yuan¡¯s figure walked out. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart could not help but sink when he saw Cang Yuan¡¯s gave expression Had something happened? Was it the Sacred Race, or...Yaoyao? Chapter 1450 Played by Fate ¡°Master.¡± Zhou Yuan attempted to rise to his feet when he saw Cang Yuan suddenly appear. Cang Yuan waved his hand to stop his disciple and seated himself at the tea table. He glanced towards the giant tower in the distance and smiled. ¡°What a piece of work. Even those guys in the Omega Shrine were sighing in amazement at your boldness when they heard of it.¡± Zhou Yuan had used countless resources from Cangxuan Heaven to build the Nine Nine Blessings Tower. More importantly, he had decisively extracted Genesis Qi from Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s other regions and focused all of it into the tower. The boldness needed to make such a decision frightened even the numerous Saint experts. Zhou Yuan helplessly said, ¡°It was already in shambles anyways. Without such meticulous and careful planning, I don¡¯t think there will be any chance for a comeback.¡± Saint experts from the other heavens might be amazed by his work, but that was because they were not from Cangxuan Heaven. Hence, they did not properly understand what a tough spot Cangxuan Heaven was in. Cang Yuan nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s no problem. These aren¡¯t ordinary times after all. Even prime sovereign Jin Luo and the others were in approval when they heard of this.¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. ¡°I should thank the prime sovereigns for being so understanding.¡± Although the Omega Shrine did not belong to any faction, they represented the will of the all-heaven numerous Saint experts. Moreover, they were the highest authority and power in the resistance against the Sacred Race. Hence, even though Zhou Yuan was the master of Cangxuan Heaven, he still had to respect the Omega Shrine¡¯s opinions. After a short conversation about the Blessings Tower, the place fell silent once more. Zhou Yuan glanced at the calm-looking Yaoyao before he took a deep breath and asked Cang Yuan, ¡°Master, is there news from the Omega Shrine?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo and the others had brought along a wisp of the God Annihilation Curse Poison with them when they left with the goal of analyzing it with the Omega Shrine many Saint experts. Since a few months had passed since then, there should be some findings. Cang Yuan nodded. ¡°I believe Yaoyao has changed over this period?¡± Zhou Yuan was silent for a few seconds before he replied, ¡°She seems to have returned to when I first met her.¡± Cang Yuan let out a bitter laugh as his voice grew heavy. ¡°That¡¯s because the God Annihilation Curse Poison is devouring the divinity in her body. When her divinity weakens, her human side will naturally rise up.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes widened a little. So that¡¯s why. To think that the God Annihilation Curse Poison was so terrifying that it could devour even divinity. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be surprised about. The Sacred God was gravely injured by the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will, and its power tortured him for thousands of years. However, because the Ancestral Dragon was already dead, it¡¯s will power was not enough to destroy the Sacred God. As such, the Sacred God managed to endure and ultimately survived. Yaoyao suddenly interjected, ¡°In the end, he finally forced out the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will and fused it with the pain and darkness he had suffered for thousands of years, creating the God Annihilation Curse Poison. In a certain manner of speaking, the curse poison contains a twisted form of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s power. ¡°It¡¯s a poison created specially for me.¡± Yaoyao was the Third God that was born from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will, and the Sacred God was using a twisted form of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s power against her. Zhou Yuan asked in a somewhat soft and gloomy voice, as if afraid to know the answer, ¡°I only want to know whether this poison will harm her in any other way besides devouring her divinity.¡± Cang Yuan and Yaoyao fell silent. ¡°Don¡¯t hide it from me!¡± There was a sliver of anger in his voice. Cang Yuan glanced at Yaoyao and sighed softly. ¡°The God Annihilation Curse Poison will gradually strengthen as it devours her divinity, while also corroding her body. Once it grows to a certain level, it will become a true threat towards Yaoyao. ¡°However, from what we¡¯ve discovered, we believe that when the curse finally becomes a genuine threat to her, she will enter a self-preservation hibernation state.¡± ¡°A self-preservation hibernation state?¡± Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. Cang Yuan had a complicated expression as he looked towards Zhou Yuan. ¡°Simply put, she will lose control of her body, because the slumbering divinity within will fully awaken when it is threatened and expel the curse poison in order to protect itself. ¡°When that happens...she will become the true Third God.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand trembled, spilling the wine in his cup as he lifted his head and stared at Yaoyao. How could he not understand what Cang Yuan was saying? Once Yaoyao¡¯s divinity fully awakened, her human side would be erased and she would become the Third God. When that happened, she...would no longer be Yaoyao. A heart-wrenching pain assaulted him from deep inside, making it difficult to breathe as his hands trembled faintly. The truth was that Zhou Yuan knew he had been avoiding this matter all along. He honestly did not know what he would do if Yaoyao became the Third God and forgot everything that had ever happened between them. While accompanying her over this period of time, Zhou Yuan had experienced her growing more human with each passing day. As such, he could not help but let himself indulge in a certain selfish thought: to stop caring about the Sacred Race and the Sacred God, he even did not mind throwing everything else away as long as they could continue living these happy days. However, there was still nothing he could change, even though he had already advanced to the Saint stage, and even became the master of Cangxuan Heaven... He was perhaps the only one in this world who wished for Yaoyao to stay. The Omega Shrine¡¯s many Saint experts would obviously prefer to see the Third God emerge into this world. In their eyes, only the Third God could stop the Sacred God. If the all-heaven could gain an ally in her, even the Sacred God would not dare to invade them after he fully awakened. With regards to his standpoint on Yaoyao, he was likely in opposition to the rest of the world. Zhou Yuan could not utter a single word as a bone-deep tiredness soaked into his body. He stared at the spilled wine on the table with glazed eyes as if he had fallen into an eternal state of muddle-headedness. Cang Yuan¡¯s heart ached at the sight of Zhou Yuan in this miserable state. He understood better than many how tenacious Zhou Yuan was. Despite this, the unfortunate turn of events had still managed to mercilessly crush the spirits of the young man who had always courageously forged ahead. Cang Yuan sighed and turned his head to look at Yaoyao. ¡°I suddenly regret putting you in his care all those years ago.¡± He never imagined that a seemingly inconsequential decision back then would lead to such a tragic outcome. It should have been impossible for Yaoyao to develop such feelings. Hence, it had been unthinkable for her to forge such a deep and strong bond with Zhou Yuan. It truly felt as if fate was playing a cruel joke on them. Yaoyao did not say anything. She merely reached out and very gently grasped Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. She looked straight into Zhou Yuan¡¯s red eyes as a smile that made the rest of the world lose color blossomed on her beautiful face. It was a smile that would take away the breath of even time itself and etch itself into anyone¡¯s soul. Her gaze was fixed on Zhou Yuan as she softly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, marry me.¡± Before Zhou Yuan could respond, she looked towards Cang Yuan and displayed a charming smile that had not been seen for many years. ¡°Grandpa Hei, will you preside over the wedding for me?¡± In this moment, even Cang Yuan could not help but tear a little as his heart twisted in his chest. This was the first time he had heard Yaoyao address him in this manner again since they parted all those years ago. As he gazed at Yaoyao, he seemed to see the girl he had brought along with him as they hid from both the Sacred Race and the all-heaven. Back then, she was still a little girl that only knew how to tug at the corner of his clothes and had full trust in him. Cang Yuan rubbed his eyes and smiled as he nodded, ¡°Of course.¡± Chapter 1451 Su Youwei Zhou Yuan¡¯s wedding was set for ten days later. It was no surprise that the news created an enormous commotion in Cangxuan Heaven, drawing the curiosity of countless people. After all, Zhou Yuan was currently the greatest authority in Cangxuan Heaven, and many busybodies were dying to know which lady could enter his eyes. Hence, countless people excitedly discussed this topic over the subsequent days leading up to the wedding. However, heaven master Zhou Yuan¡¯s princess consort was extremely mysterious, making it near impossible for an ordinary person to even catch a glimpse of her. This only served to make everyone even more curious as they wildly guessed and debated over who she was. For a time, the interest in Zhou Yuan¡¯s wedding eclipsed even the Blessings Tower. It basically became the focus of the entire heaven. Of course, this was not limited to Cangxuan Heaven. The all-heaven and even the Omega Shrine immediately turned their attention to Cangxuan Heaven after receiving the news. The current Zhou Yuan was no longer just a new rising star to the all-heaven. Not only had he stepped into the Saint stage, he was also the master of Cangxuan Heaven. Such status definitely made him a heavyweight in the all-heaven. As such, his every action would always draw the all-heaven attention. What¡¯s more, the more informed individuals were well aware of who exactly this princess consort was... This wedding was inevitably going to be the focus of the entire world. ... The Omega Shrine. Wu Yao climbed numerous stone steps and ultimately arrived at a high platform. This was the highest spot in the Omega Shrine. If one casts one¡¯s gaze out from here, one would see countless stars streaking across space, a sight that was both gorgeous and mysterious. Wu Yao admired the beautiful scenery for a while, before shifting her attention to the front of the stone platform where a figure was silently seated, head raised to watch the stars shoot by. Wu Yao sat down beside the figure and turned her head to see the outline of a beautiful face. The flawless raised nose seemed suffused with jade-light, and her thick eyelashes only accentuated eyes that twinkled like stars. Even a proud woman like Wu Yao would never tire of admiring such beauty, wishing that this moment could be enjoyed for an eternity. ¡°Interested in a little drink?¡± Wu Yao raised her hand, causing the two wine jars clasped between her fingers to clink together. Su Youwei finally glanced to the side, her gaze pausing on the wine jars. She bit her lip and accepted the offer, immediately unsealing the cork and pouring the contents into her mouth. Fragrant, crystal-clear wine flowed down her cheeks and wet her clothes, causing it to stick to her chest and slightly reveal the alarming curves concealed within. However, the two ladies were the only ones here, wasting the soul-stirring sight. ¡°Because of him?¡± Wu Yao was very direct and did not beat about the bush, going straight to the heart of reason behind Su Youwei¡¯s terrible mood. After all, it had been a hot topic in the Omega Shrine for the past few days, and Su Youwei would obviously find out. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be like this, right? Although he¡¯s pretty amazing, I honestly don¡¯t feel that you lose to him by much. Not picking you is his loss.¡± Su Youwei raised her head. Another shooting star was reflected in her star-like eyes as she softly said, ¡°To be honest, I already knew this would be the outcome from the start. Big sis Yaoyao has always been accompanying his highness and they¡¯ve experienced so much together. How can I possibly compare to her?¡± Wu Yao indifferently said, ¡°But didn¡¯t you choose to leave him and go to Hunyuan Heaven so that you can grow stronger and eventually help him? ¡°Staying behind isn¡¯t hard. Leaving requires true courage and is the greater sacrifice. ¡°Su Youwei, I know that you¡¯ve always been grateful to Zhou Yuan for saving you all those years ago and giving you a new life, because ever since then, you¡¯ve always been living for his sake. To become capable enough to him, you ultimately suppressed your own wants, and left Cangxuan Heaven to arrive at the then foreign Hunyuan Heaven. ¡°You gave up everything you had to begin a new cultivation journey in this unfamiliar environment. ¡°For his sake, you had once been willing to ignore my goodwill and treat me as an enemy. ¡°If not for your unshakable resolution to help him in the nine regions tournament, I believe that he might not have become the champion. ¡°Even later on, you did all you could to follow him, willingly concealing your equally dazzling self behind him ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s kick from back then might have started a new life for you, but it has also bound you to his shadow.¡± Wu Yao looked at Su Youwei and earnestly said, ¡°Hence, I feel that you don¡¯t owe him anything. Su Youwei, it¡¯s time for you to start living for yourself.¡± Su Youwei was silent, only taking another swing of the wine jar. A long time later, she finally said, ¡°But I like to be bound by his shadow.¡± Wu Yao¡¯s brows creased slightly, wishing she could somehow get through to this hopeless girl. ¡°You won¡¯t die even without a man!¡± Su Youwei softly chuckled, looking at Wu Yao as she gently said, ¡°Of course I understand all of this. However, if you genuinely like someone, there¡¯s no need to think about so many things. ¡°I did all that not because I want to repay him, but simply because...I wished to. ¡°However, you are also right. I should also start thinking for myself after his highness wedding.¡± Wu Yao nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s better. There¡¯s so many outstanding men in this world.¡± Su Youwei shook her head. ¡°But none of them will ever be good enough.¡± Wu Yao could not deny this. No one could deny Zhou Yuan¡¯s current accomplishments. Even individuals like her and Zhao Mushen deeply acknowledged Zhou Yuan¡¯s capabilities. Hence, she pondered for a bit and said, ¡°There¡¯s several outstanding women as well.¡± Su Youwei, ¡°......¡± ¡°Never mind, it¡¯s not like I won¡¯t be able to get over a single person. I plan on challenging Omega Mountain soon and hope that I will succeed.¡± Su Youwei raised her arms and stretched, displaying her slender waist and soul-stirring curves. Omega Mountain was a special domain created by the Omega Shrine Saint experts, and was originally used by them to temper their Saint force. Currently, it was open as a training ground to the super heaven prides that had been specially selected from the all-heaven. There was no need to explain how dangerous a place where Saint force could be tempered was to peak Law Domain experts like Su Youwei and the others. It was very normal for a single slip to result in one being erased from existence. Su Youwei, Wu Yao and the others had already come into contact with it, but their interactions had only been probing in nature, and they had not properly entered the mountain. However, Su Youwei had clearly made her decision. Wu Yao stared at Su Youwei and said, ¡°You¡¯d better not be trying to die because of love. If you really don¡¯t want to give up, I can accompany you to wreck his wedding.¡± Su Youwei smiled and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not that weak.¡± Wu Yao shrugged. ¡°Whatever you say.¡± Su Youwei raised her wine jar to Wu Yao and chuckled softly. ¡°However, I still have to thank you.¡± Wu Yao clinked her jar with Su Youwei¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s hard to meet someone who I acknowledge. I would have likely been very lonely without you.¡± ¡°You speak far too highly of me.¡± Su Youwei smiled as she shook her head, before lifting her face to gaze at the stars streaking across the sky. Although she said she would get over it, there was still a hollow pain in her heart that made her feel like crying. These surging emotions, however, were ultimately suppressed by her. In the end, Su Youwei lifted her wine jar and raised it to the sky. A determined smile rose from the corners of her mouth. ¡°Your highness, I wish you happiness.¡± Chapter 1452 The Wedding The wedding quietly arrived under countless watching eyes. Although it was a highly anticipated event in Cangxuan Heaven and the all-heaven, the wedding was rather simple. Only the imperial palace had been sealed off, while only a few of Zhou Yuan¡¯s good friends and some of Great Zhou¡¯s important ministers had been invited. Under the night sky, the Great Zhou imperial palace seemed to submerge in a sea of red and happiness. Red candles could be found everywhere along lanterns and beautifully colored banners, while the sound of drums spread to the entire city. Countless people in the city curiously looked towards the imperial palace. The wedding should already be in progress at this time. In one of the halls of the palace, guests were gathered on both sides of the red carpet as they stared in amazement at the beautiful pair that was walking along it. Of course, more of the amazement was focused on the bride. Yaoayao wore a long red dress with a phoenix crown atop her head and a rose-tinted cape flowing down her back. The bright red brought out even more of her beauty, and her usually uninterested eyes were glowing with a dazzling splendor that outshone even the stars. The face already so beautiful that it could cause the downfall of nations was currently blushing slightly like a bud that was about to blossom. In this moment, even the many well-travelled and knowledgeable people in the hall had their breaths taken away. Such a beauty was truly without equal. ¡°Sniff sniff, she¡¯s so beautiful.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s eyes were shining. If not for Luluo forcefully holding her back, she would have already dashed forward. In all the time they knew her, Yaoyao had always been aloof and indifferent. Hence, it had been impossible for them to even imagine her with the mannerisms of an ordinary young girl. This was undoubtedly the most full of life they had ever seen Yaoyao be. She was like an immortal fairy that had descended upon the mortal realm. ¡°Sister Qingyu, if you go up now, you will be beaten to death by them,¡± warned Luluo. Zuoqiu Qingyu grasped her chest in pain and said, ¡°What a waste, such a beautiful swan is being eaten by a toad.¡± Luluo¡¯s jet-black eyes widened as she said, ¡°I don¡¯t think Zhou Yuan is a toad. He¡¯s looking very handsome as well today, and at this level, outer appearance becomes superficial.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu could not rebut and shifted her gaze to take a glance of Zhou Yuan. Although he did not have looks that would take away one¡¯s breath like Yaoyao, he gave off a deep and calm aura like a bottomless pool or a tall mountain. As a Saint expert and the highest authority in Cangxuan Heaven, he made others involuntarily feel a slight pressure. The young companion they had become acquainted with long ago in the Saint Remains Domain was now a big shot in the all-heaven. As she sighed, she turned her head towards Li Chunjun and Zhen Xu and said in a dissatisfied tone, ¡°Such a joyous occasion, but one of you has a wooden face, while the other is expressionless. Aren¡¯t you two being a little rude?¡± Ning Zhan could not help but snigger at her remark. Zhen Xun helplessly massaged his pale and gloomy face as he tried to force out a smile. Li Chunjun, on the other hand, seemed to have not heard her remark. His black cloth wrapped eyes stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s and Yaoyao¡¯s direction and he hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°I don¡¯t know why but I keep feeling a hidden sombre air from them.¡± ¡°Pui pui, children¡¯s words carry no harm, children¡¯s words carry no harm.¡± Luluo hurriedly placed her hand across Li Chunjun¡¯s mouth. Li Chunjun, ¡°......¡± At another side, the Cangxuan Sect group headed by Chu Qing and Li Qingchan were gathered together as they watched the newlyweds walk across the red carpet. Li Qingchan¡¯s red lips opened slightly as she said, ¡°When they first arrived in the Cangxuan Sect, I was unable to comprehend why such an amazing young lady like Yaoyao would have such a close relationship with Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t understand either.¡± Ye Ge smiled bitterly as he nodded in agreement. He had been smitten by Yaoyao at first sight. Unfortunately for him, Yaoyao did not even give him a second glance and instead placed all of her attention on Zhou Yuan. This had made him rather dejected for a time. Li Qingchan chuckled. Although her rather distant character was somewhat similar to Yaoyao¡¯s, it was actually a kind of facade she put on, while Yaoyao¡¯s coldness was due to being apathetic. ¡°In the past, I had felt indignant for Yaoyao. After all, Zhou Yuan had honestly looked like a burden who was holding her back. ¡°However, I now see that I was unable to see as far as her.¡± Li Qingchan sighed. The group around her nodded. Li Qingchan was not the only one who had such thoughts. Who among them would have ever imagined back then that Zhou Yuan would become the master of Cangxuan Heaven in the future? While they were reminiscing, the bald Chu Qing, whose head seemed to shoot off strings of light under the illumination of the candles in the hall, said in a deeply worried voice that was also full of pity, ¡°Nothing else can be said about junior brother Zhou Yuan¡¯s capability, but why has he chosen to give up everything just like this? He¡¯s still so young and yet he¡¯s going to take a wife? Troublesome creatures like women should never be touched!¡± The atmosphere around him instantly turned cold. Black lines appeared on Li Qingchan, Ye Ge, Kong Sheng and the others¡¯ foreheads as they glared at him and said in perfect unison, ¡°You¡¯d better shut up!¡± There was a jovial atmosphere in the hall, the laughing and chatting seemingly never ending as gaze after gaze converged on Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao. The two held hands as they walked across the carpet, answering every familiar face coming to wish them well with a smile. Three figures were seated at the end of the carpet. They were Zhou Qing, Qin Yu and Cang Yuan, who were representing the elders of both parties. After several complicated rites, Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao bowed before the trio. The newlyweds looked at each other, their faces reflected in the other¡¯s eyes as if wanting to carve this scene in the deepest recesses of their hearts. In the end, neither party spoke as they received cups of tea and offered them to the three elders. Zhou Qing¡¯s and Qin Yu¡¯s faces were filled with smiles, unable to conceal the joy in their eyes as they received the tea cups and downed it in a single go. Cang Yuan also received a cup of tea as he gazed at the pair in front of him. Although there was a slight smile on his elderly face, there was also a concealed sliver of sadness in his eyes. ¡°As your master and elder, I wish both of you long and peaceful lives, and may things always go your way.¡± Cang Yuan slowly said before finishing his tea as well. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao bowed again. Bang! Countless fireworks shot upwards from the palace as the sound of drums spread across the city. ... Red candles gently swayed in the bridal chamber. Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were lying on the wide and spacious bridal bed. After a long string of rites, the two had finally reached the bridal chamber segment. After dismissing the servants, however, all the couple did was silently lie on the bed as if enjoying the peaceful atmosphere. After a long time, Zhou Yuan finally turned his head to gaze at the flawless face beside him and said, ¡°It was very troublesome, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Yaoyao pursed her lips and laughed softly. ¡°But I did like it a lot.¡± She grasped Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand, their fingers tightly clasping together as she said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m sorry that I didn''t tell you everything about the God Annihilation Curse Poison earlier. ¡°I just wanted to spend some quality time with you while I still could.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. He was silent for a long time before he said, ¡°How much longer?¡± ¡°Soon, very soon,¡± mumbled Yaoyao. They were naturally referring to the eruption of the curse poison in Yaoyao¡¯s body. Once it finally erupted, the divinity in her body would enter a state of self-preservation, causing Yaoyao to fall into a sealed state for a time. When the seal was lifted, Yaoyao¡¯s divinity would have completely awakened. When that happened, she would be the third god. Yaoyao suddenly flipped her body, pressing it onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. Her black hair gently floated onto Zhou Yuan¡¯s face as a never before seen flirtatious blush appeared on her face. She softly said, ¡°I want to give myself to you while I still can.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to rush things. Moreover, this isn¡¯t a true farewell. Do you really believe we won¡¯t have any chances at all in the future?¡± Yaoyao stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. Tears suddenly gathered in her clear eyes, flowing down her cheek and splashing onto his face. This was the first time Zhou Yuan had seen Yaoyao cry. In that instant, he felt a heart-rendering pain. He forced himself to smile as he reached out to brush away her tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Zhou Yuan. All I can give you are these fake feelings.¡± Zhou Yuan sat up. He cupped Yaoyao¡¯s face with both hands as he said in a somewhat hoarse voice, ¡°Yaoyao, I am not someone who easily gives up. I will not give up no matter what you become and will always stay by your side. I promise that you will always see me whenever you lift your head. ¡°That¡¯s why, I also wish that you will not give up either.¡± Crystal-clear tears fell from Yaoyao¡¯s face. There was a never before seen frailness in her at this moment. The girl who could remain unfazed even if the sky fell finally looked like any other ordinary girl. In the end, she stopped her tears as a smile blossomed on her flawless face. ¡°Zhou Yuan, I want you to lift my bridal veil.¡± She wanted a complete ceremony. Under that red bridal veil was a beautiful face that would make the red candles dim in comparison. As Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand reached forward, he found that he was faintly trembling. One must know that he had never panicked this much even when facing the Sacred Race¡¯s prime saints previously. He slowly lifted the red bridal veil and gazed at the beautiful, tear-streaked face, before lowering his head to plant a deep kiss on those red lips. Yaoyao responded with never before seen passion. Runes suddenly began to appear on her body, each filled with vast and ancient undulations. The runes slowly spread like a ripple, encasing her body like amber wherever they passed. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were tightly shut, his body trembling as he felt the tenderness on his lips. In the darkness, he seemed to see a scene from long ago, where a nervous and hopeful boy, who had yet to unlock his eight meridian channels, arrived at an unknown domain from his ancestral shrine. In the strange domain, a slim girl in blue leaned against the trunk of a tree as a pair of bright eyes silently observed him. Their story had started from this very first meeting. Tears rolled down from the corners of Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he felt the soft lips suddenly grow ice-cold. Tremendous sorrow surged out from the depths of his heart, roaring like an injured animal. Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes and gazed at Yaoyao as a howl of pain reverberated through his throat. Yaoyao seemed to be encased in some kind of amber-like crystal. A mysterious aura that made even Saint experts shiver flowed its surface. Zhou Yuan reached out towards Yaoyao¡¯s crystal covered face. Upon contact, the mysterious power instantly ripped apart Zhou Yuan¡¯s flesh, causing blood to flow down the amber-like layer. However, Zhou Yuan did not even flinch, because the pain from his palm was not even a millionth of the pain in his heart. ¡°Yaoyao, I will not give up...I will wait for you...I¡¯ll keep waiting for you. ¡°I will wait until you remember again.¡± Tuntun, who had been silently lying on the bridal chamber roof released a howl filled with sadness before amber-like crystal also began to grow on its body. The crystal ultimately covered it completely, making it appear like a statue from a distance. Of the boy, girl and beast that had met long ago, only a single lonely figure now remained. Chapter 1453 Parting The next day. When the palace guards and servants arrived at the newlywed¡¯s side palace, they were shocked to find that a boundary had suddenly appeared over the entire area. The boundary seemed thin but managed to stop everyone from entering. The shocked guards did not dare to tarry and immediately reported this to the king and queen. Their majesties were currently still in a state of bliss from their son¡¯s wedding and were waiting for the newlyweds to come serve them the customary morning tea. The sudden news also stunned Zhou Qing and Qin Yu. Soon after, they hurriedly rushed over as well. When he arrived at the perimeter of the boundary, Zhou Qing sternly asked in a loud voice, ¡°What¡¯s going on?! Who dares to do this in my palace?¡± He could sense an extremely terrifying power within the boundary and deduced it could only have been set up by an extraordinary individual. The guards looked at each other. Although they had been on duty, none of them had discovered anything out of the ordinary. ¡°Yuaner, Yaoyao!¡± Qin Yu¡¯s face was filled with worry as she shouted at the boundary. A faint sense of unease rose within her, causing her face to pale substantially. ¡°Could something have happened to them?¡± Qin Yu anxiously looked towards Zhou Qing. Zhou Qing replied, ¡°Don¡¯t speak nonsense, Yuaner is the master of Cangxuan Heaven, who could possibly trap him here?¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± Qin Yu tightly bit her lip. Zhou Qing took a deep breath before he slowly said, ¡°This boundary is likely Yuaner¡¯s work.¡± Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation level surpassed Zhou Qing¡¯s imagination, he was well aware of his son¡¯s status in Cangxuan Heaven. There was no way anyone could set up a boundary to trap Zhou Yuan without him reacting. Hence, Zhou Yuan was likely the one responsible for this. ¡°What¡¯s our foolish child thinking?! Why did he suddenly create such a thing on their wedding day?¡± Qin Yu was both angry and worried. Zhou Qing frowned deeply. Soon after, he said, ¡°Someone go and fetch elder Cang Yuan.¡± ¡°No need.¡± An elderly voice sounded right after Zhou Qing¡¯s as Cang Yuan¡¯s figure appeared beside him. Other figures also quickly arrived. Sect master QIng Yang, the Heavenly Sword Sovereign, Chu Qing, Li Chunjun and the others had sensed the disturbance and rushed over. ¡°What happened?¡± Luluow was the first to speak, her large eyes looking towards the boundary in bewilderment. Anyone could tell that there was something wrong. The atmosphere should have been celebratory, however, panic was visible on Zhou Qing¡¯s and Qin Yu¡¯s faces, and even elder Cang Yuan had a grave expression as he silently observed the boundary. Huu. The atmosphere froze for a moment before Cang Yuan exhaled and softly said, ¡°The boundary is indeed set by Zhou Yuan.¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s heart shook as he asked, ¡°Did something happen?¡± Cang Yuan nodded. There no longer any need to conceal things at this juncture. Hence, he began to explain Yaoyao¡¯s identity and the current situation. As each sentence left his mouth, more and more shock appeared on the group¡¯s faces. Yaoyao was a god?! That was an existence that surpassed Saint experts! Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan, Luluo and the others could not help but widen their eyes. Never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined that Yaoyao had such an identity. However, some things also began to make sense. No wonder Yaoyao always gave off an uncaring aura of indifference. It turns out that she was not doing it on purpose. As a god, how else would she view mortals like them? Zhou Qing finally managed to ask with some difficulty, ¡°Elder Cang Yuan...are you saying that Yaoyao has entered a sealed state because she has been poisoned? In addition, when she awakens again, she will likely not be Yaoyao but the third god?¡± Qin Yu¡¯s complexion turned frighteningly white as tears began flowing down her face. Only now did she finally understand why Zhou Yuan had set up a boundary to block out everything. It was because he was in extreme pain. Otherwise, there was no way he would do such a thing. The boundary might seem to be stopping them from approaching, but on a deeper level, it represented Zhou Yuan¡¯s now sealed off heart. The wedding had not contained happiness, but the bone-piercing pain of parting. Yesterday the wedding, today the parting. Qin Yu could not stop her tears. These two children always make me worry. It¡¯s all my fault rushing him. By the side, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan, Lu Luo and the others were silent as they dazedly stared at the boundary. Was Yaoyao really going to become the third god when she awakened? Was she really going to forget everything and become a true god? When that happened, she would no longer remember Zhou Yuan, let alone everyone else she had met and become acquainted with over the years. Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others looked at each other as they felt a tremendous sadness overwhelm them, causing their eyes to turn red as tears gathered within them. The tip of Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s nose was red as she cursed through gritted teeth, ¡°This lousy, stupid wedding!¡± Behind the girls, Li Chunjun, Zhen Xu, Ning Zhan and the others were also silent. They leaned against the rocks as they sighed in frustration and disappointment. From the very first moment they met Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, the two had always stuck closely together as if they were of one body. Such a bond was honestly quite envious. However, they never imagined that the day would come when the two would be parted due to such a reason. It felt as if fate was toying with these two individuals. The once closest and most intimate duo were ultimately going to become strangers. This was probably the most cruel punishment in this world. Zhou Qing asked, ¡°Elder Cang Yuan, can the boundary be opened? Let us go in and try talking to Zhou Yuan.¡± Cang Yuan softly said, ¡°It will be best to let him be alone for now. Time is the only medicine that might work. No one else can help him now.¡± Since Zhou Yuan had set the boundary, he clearly did not wish for anyone to disturb him. Zhou Qing had a pained look, while Qin Yu continued to sob beside him. In the end, Zhou Qing nodded before turning towards sect master Qing Yang and the others, ¡°Everyone, I hope that you will forgive us for not being good hosts.¡± Sect master Qing Yang and the rest naturally understood that Zhou Qing was sending them off. They knew how unbearable it must be for the royal family, and thus bowed before turning to leave with complicated expressions. Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan and the others stayed a little longer before also taking their leave. It was fruitless to stay behind anyways, and being here would only make them feel worse. As the guests departed, the celebratory decorations in the palace were stealthily removed, turning the once bright and beautiful palace into a lonely and desolate place. Although the citizens did not know what had happened, they could sense the strange shift in atmosphere. Thus, they did dare to ask and silently kept their question to themselves. The wedding that once drew the entire all-heaven¡¯s attention gradually disappeared from the spotlight. Everyone tactfully maintained their silence. Subsequently, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu would make a trip down to the boundary everyday. They would stare at it in silence for most of the day before ultimately turning to leave with dull eyes. Time quietly passed in this manner. Spring came, followed by autumn before the leaves began to wilt, heralding the arrival of snow. In the blink of an eye, a year passed by. Chapter 1454 All-out War Shengzu Heaven, the Sacred Mountain. A grand unbroken mountain range rose from the ground like giant dragons stretching their enormous bodies. Their mighty stone dragon heads, however, were lowered as if bowing towards the highest point of the mountain range. Amidst the swirling mists, one would see the silhouette of a giant palace that seemed to border on the line between reality and illusion, creating an exceptionally mysterious sight. Seven ancient stone statues stood in the palace, two of them dull and covered in cracks as if they had lost their life force. Five figures were seated on the heads of the other five stone statues. There were no Genesis Qi undulations around them, but the air constantly quivered nearby despite their inactivity, as if wailing in fear. The vast Genesis Qi above the Sacred Mountain had turned into a sky of stars that moved with each breath of Genesis Qi the five figures took. They were the five prime saints of the Sacred Race. As for prime saint Hei Zhao and prime saint Mo Jie, they died in Cangxuan Heaven some time ago. The palace was usually silent all-year-round, the five prime sovereign seemingly in such deep slumber that even their breathing had completely disappeared. If not for the faint and terrifying pressure that occasionally escaped from their bodies, one would believe that they were merely corpses. Huu! The silence was suddenly broken today. Strands of light flickered on the five prime saints¡¯ bodies and their clothes began to stir as their tightly shut eyes slowly opened. The entire space began to crumble in an instant. ¡°The third god has sealed herself and her divinity is now slowly awakening.¡± Prime saint Tai Mi¡¯s raspy voice rang out across the palace. ¡°It seems that the God Annihilation Curse Poison was too powerful and has instead forced the third god to quicken her awakening.¡± Prime saint Nan Ming frowned and said, ¡°We¡¯ve lost two prime saints for this result. Why does it feel that we¡¯ve lost out in this exchange?¡± ¡°Nan Ming, you¡¯re too concerned over our present losses. Our god¡¯s foresight is far beyond our imagination and we cannot possibly hope to understand his decisions.¡± The tall and bulky titan-like prime saint Tian Zhan¡¯s voice rumbled like thunder, shaking the very heavens itself. Prime saint Nan Ming nodded and did not say anything else. Prime saint Tai Mi also nodded as he chuckled and said, ¡°Since the third god has sealed herself, we no longer face as huge a threat as before. Hence, I propose we start a new plan to welcome our god when he awakens. Otherwise, those all-heaven creatures will feel that we are a peace-loving race.¡± ¡°Tai Mi, what do you have in mind? The all-heaven is currently covered by the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array, and even though we have an absolute advantage in terms of power, charging in without a plan will still cause us to sustain painful losses.¡± The speaker wielded a copper cauldron in which thunder boomed without end. He was called prime saint Zhang Lei. ¡°Agreed, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array is not to be trifled with. Although the Sacred Race does not fear death, the tactic of wasting away our lives for nothing is too beneath us.¡± Another deep voice sounded. The voice was extremely peculiar and if one listened closely, one would hear millions of violent beast roars contained within. It was prime saint Tian Shou. The other prime saints nodded in agreement. Prime saint Tai Mi smiled gently and said, ¡°The Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array that covers the all-heaven is indeed a very problematic spikey turtle shell. However, it is not flawless. ¡°I received a holy order from our god some time ago. He revealed a path to me which I have continuously pondered over for the past year and ultimately managed to garner some insight.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The other prime saints were surprised by these words as slight envy appeared in their eyes. They were naturally envious of prime saint Tai Mi for receiving a divine order from their god. Although it seemed that the prime saints were of equal status, the sacred god clearly favored Tai Mi a little more. Those that could become prime saints were naturally no ordinary individuals. Hence, they quickly adjusted their attitudes before looking towards Tai Mi. They wanted to know what kind of strategy he had against the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. The great array was something that even prime saints like themselves were extremely wary of. Ever since the world-ending war back then, the array had been the main reason why the Sacred Race could no longer properly threaten the all-heaven. Otherwise, given the Sacred Race¡¯s overwhelming advantage in power, they could have invaded the all-heaven long ago and need not think of ways to sneak in like they were doing now. It felt frustratingly troublesome and restrictive for them. ¡°The Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array is indeed very problematic and it will not be wise for us to brute force it. Hence, we need to take a more roundabout route and circumvent the array.¡± Tai Mi smiled faintly. Soon after, he raised his hand and a black door appeared on his palm. The black stone door was pure darkness and no one knew where it connected to. ¡°Besides the main nine heavens that the Tianyuan World had been divided into, there also exists countless subspaces.These domains are like wormholes that connect the nine heavens.¡± One of the prime saints frowned and said, ¡°You intend to enter the all-heaven via these subspaces? But they are not stable and are at risk of collapsing at any time. It will be very troublesome for even Saint experts if they are caught in the collapse and cast into the void.¡± Prime saint Tai Mi smiled faintly and said, ¡°Indeed. However, this Sacred Heaven Door can help us identify the more stable subspaces. Once we enter, we can stabilize the subspace and use it as a transition point into the next subspace. In this manner, we will definitely be able to approach the all-heaven and ultimately enter their territory.¡± The other four prime saints looked at each other before someone said, ¡°If we do manage to approach the all-heaven, their prime sovereigns will naturally sense our presence.¡± Prime saint Tai Mi let out a carefree chuckle. ¡°So what? We¡¯re there to start a war, not tour the place. If they discover us, they will only have two options. First, to solidify their position and defend. However, when our Sacred Race finally manages to stabilize all the subspace passages, we will be able to invade the all-heaven and fight on their turf.¡± ¡°Second, they could opt to take the initiative instead and also enter the subspaces to stop us. However, that will also start the war and we will definitely be able to crush them with our superior forces. ¡°No matter how many of them come, we just have to slaughter them all. ¡°Our god will surely be happy if he awakens to us presenting him with offerings of countless Saint experts¡¯ essence blood and souls.¡± Smiles appeared on the other four prime saints¡¯ faces as they listened, smiles that were filled with chilling killing intent. The smell of blood even began to permeate the palace. Although their previous attack on Cangxuan Heaven had caused them to lose two prime saints, the Sacred Race still had more than enough power to steamroll over the all-heaven. Hence, they were not worried about a war. ¡°I approve.¡± ¡°I second the notion.¡± Four prime saints nodded, endorsing prime saint Tai Mi¡¯s plan. The smile on prime saint Tai Mi¡¯s face grew even wider as his gentle voice sounded, ¡°Then it¡¯s decided...next, it¡¯s time for war.¡± Chapter 1455 War Comes More than a year had passed since two prime Saints from the Sacred Race perished in Cangxuan Heaven. And in the past year, the Sacred Race had made no other action, let alone tried to get revenge. The Sacred Race¡¯s quietness made many experts in all-heaven believe the Sacred Race was severely wounded. That was indeed true. Even the huge monster-like Sacred Race couldn''t treat the loss of two prime Saints lightly and had to treat their wounds during that period. The peacefulness and quietness allowed many all-heaven experts to breathe a sigh of relief and relax their tense bodies because they were always under tremendous pressure when facing the Sacred Race. The difference in strength between the two was unignorable. Everyone understood the peacefulness was temporary, but it was also because of that, that their chance to take a breath was even more precious. Sometimes they would even think how great it would be if the peacefulness continued forever. It had to be said that their thinking was too naive. It was so naive that even the Sacred Race couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. The terrifying monster Sacred Race that hadn¡¯t moved for a year bared its fierce fangs again and, shrouded in the shadow of destruction, beat the war drum again. Boom! Boom! The ancient bell in the Omega Shrine rang, each ring resounding through every space and spread to all-heaven. The Saints and Law Domains experts of all-heaven couldn''t stop their expressions from changing dramatically when they heard the bell. The bell rang nine times, representing the highest level of alert. Only the Sacred Race that had been quiet for more than one year could make the Omega Shrine issue such an alert! Moreover, the scale would be doubt greater than any previous time. Many Saints, who were in closed-door cultivation, appeared in the main hall of the Omega Shrine one after another. Wearing serious expressions, they whispered to one another¡¯s ear As Jin Luo, Di Long and Chi Ji appeared in the main seats, they attracted everyone¡¯s gazes and made the atmosphere turn solemn. ¡°Everyone, I''m sorry to tell you to end your closed-door cultivation.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s wrinkled face was cold and fierce, and when he frowned, it looked like mountains overlapping. Prime sovereign Di Long¡¯s majestic voice resounded immediately after his. ¡°We sensed abnormal movements in the subspace outside the all-heaven. After investigation, we discovered traces of the Sacred Race. They are constantly stabilizing the many subspaces to create a passage that bypasses the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array to enter the all-heaven!¡± Hua! That sentence made all Saints blanch. Outside of all-heaven were countless subspaces connecting all-heaven like wormholes and forming many extremely unstable passages. It was just that even Saints couldn¡¯t enter those passages because it would crumble and disappear. It was extremely difficult to open up a passage and connect to all-heaven. Otherwise, the Sacred Race would have taken action long ago. ¡°If our speculation is right, the Sacred God has given them guidance.¡± Prime sovereign Chi Ji¡¯s voice sounded hoarse and her scarlet-red lips gave her a unique mature charm. Even the prime sovereigns couldn¡¯t find a stable passage from the labyrinth of space, and the Sacred Race¡¯s prime Saints similarly didn¡¯t have such an ability. The two sides had fought each other for so many years and they knew each other¡¯s background and foundation very well. The Sacred God was the only one who could surpass the three prime sovereigns¡¯ limit. The atmosphere in the hall immediately became heavy at the words ¡®Sacred God¡¯. Even if everyone present were at the Saint stage and were regarded as the strongest wave of people in all-heaven, they still couldn¡¯t help feeling a trace of fear. Perhaps just as Law Domain experts feared Saint experts, Saints were terrified of the power of divine gods. Without the Sacred God¡¯s existence, even if all-heaven might be weaker than the Sacred Race in terms of overall strength, all-heaven wouldn¡¯t fear the Sacred Race. Instead, the Sacred Race would choose to cease fire to reduce the number of casualties, and it wouldn¡¯t be like it was now - the flames of war were frequently set off. ¡°No matter what method they use to open up a passage in those wormhole-like subspace, we can¡¯t sit still and do nothing. If the Sacred Race entered all-heaven, it would undoubtedly lead to destruction,¡± said Prime sovereign Jin Luo. All Saints nodded with grave expressions. As Saints, they knew what destructive power that people of their level possessed and if the Sacred Race wanted to create trouble, all-heaven would no doubt be stained with blood and the people plunged into misery and suffering. ¡°So after a discussion, we decided to gather all Saints, Law Domain experts and Nascent Source experts of all-heaven to set up many defenses in the subspace outside all-heaven. We must get rid of any Sacred Race experts when we discover traces of them. If we can¡¯t, we have to destroy the subspace immediately. We can¡¯t let the Sacred Race use it as a board to get close to all-heaven.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo was burly and tall and his dragon eyes emitted terrifying pressure as he ran them across the Saints present. His majestic voice resounded like the roar of an ancient dragon and made everyone¡¯s Spirit tremble with fear. ¡°Everyone, the Sacred Race has truly waged war. They are swarming over in full strength now. If we can¡¯t defend our territories, all-heaven would be defeated and destroyed before even the third god awakens! So, for all-heaven, we have to be ready for the most tragic and bloodiest battle since the world-ending war!¡± Prime sovereign Di Long¡¯s voice echoed in all Saints¡¯ ears like a dragon¡¯s roar. All Saints put one hand on their chests and bowed their bodies slightly, a murderous aura emitting from their faces. As prime sovereign Di Long said, it was a war. In terms of the scale of this war, even the Stone Dragon Secret Domain could only be regarded as warm-up. This was because the two sides would no doubt exhaust all their strengths and clash with the opponent. ¡­ The war came too abruptly. The Omega Shrine didn¡¯t conceal the news about the Sacred Race¡¯s invasion. Instead, it spread widely, causing many people in all-heaven to be enveloped in the shadow of war. Countless people panicked because the Sacred Race was too powerful. But at the same time, they were furious that the Sacred Race went that far this time. The Sacred Race didn¡¯t want to give the people in all-heaven a chance to live and thus they had to fight with their lives. It was under such a panic atmosphere of calamity looming that countless experts stepped forward and joined the great army without any hesitation. Waves of powerful Genesis Qi erupted from the countless secret abyss, lakes and the depths of the mountain. The experts who were living in seclusion also couldn''t ignore the disturbance and chose to emerge. This was because even if they could escape like before, not a piece of land would remain if the Sacred Race truly entered all-heaven. The war had come and no one could avoid it. ... Cangxuan Heaven. The Great Zhou Empire. Dozens of figures descended from the sky and landed outside the area enveloped in a boundary. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu happened to be there and were very surprised to see so many experts suddenly descend. However, they had seen much of life and so, without panicking, they immediately summoned the guards because they could feel that every single person before them was more dangerous than sect master Qing Yang and the others. They evidently were legendary Saints like elder Cang Yuan. It was just that Cang Yuan wasn¡¯t in that wave of Saints. The wave of people was led by two figures. A man wearing an indifferent expression and draped in a white robe was standing with his hands clasped behind his back. Although the Genesis Qi surrounding him wasn¡¯t particularly obvious, he exuded a terrifying might that many people feared. The space behind him twisted and distorted, and upon a closer look, one would see several mighty figures emerging. The person before them wasn¡¯t a stranger. To be precise, he has had a rift with Zhou Yuan. It was supreme sovereign Wan Zu from the Wanzu Region. However, it couldn¡¯t truly be considered a rift because supreme sovereign Wan Zu had never attached any importance to Zhou Yuan. All his plans were aimed at the Tianyuan Region and Cang Yuan, and Zhou Yuan was only involved along the way. But no matter what, the relationship between them couldn¡¯t be called harmonious or friendly. The other leader was a woman in a purple dress. The dress was adorned with stars and accentuated her elegance and beauty. But her most unforgettable feature was her pair of deep eyes full of wisdom, like a bottomless abyss. It was supreme sovereign Zi Xiao of the Zixiao Region. Everyone was stunned to see two double-lotus Saints lead a group of Saints to the Great Zhou Empire. ¡°Is it here?¡± asked Supreme sovereign Wan Zu as he gazed at the boundary in front, but before anyone could answer, an indifferent voice rang out. ¡°Heaven master Zhou Yuan, it''s been over a year now, you should be done already, right?¡± Chapter 1456 Wan Zu Enters Cangxuan As supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s voice reverberated in the palace¡¯s depths, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu couldn''t help but redden in anger. Even if they knew that supreme sovereign Wan Zu had extraordinary status and he was a top existence in the world. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu clearly knew what had happened to Zhou Yuan but he still came and said ¡®you should be done already, right?¡¯ Aren¡¯t they treating the pain that Zhou Yuan had endured in the past year as nothing? Even though they knew Wan Zu was at the Saint stage, as Zhou Yuan¡¯s parent, Zhou Qing couldn¡¯t help inhaling deeply and say, ¡°Elder, have you not gone too far?¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu swept an indifferent gaze over Zhao Qing. ¡°What? Many people have died in order to stop the Sacred Race from invading, and every inch of subspace is stained with blood of the experts in all-heaven. But as the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan went into seclusion for more than a year for some personal reasons. Does he not care about the people in Cangxuan Heaven? If he is such an irresponsible person, I don''t think he deserves to be a Heaven Master.¡± Qin Yu flushed with fury. ¡°Elder, you are a true expert but not everyone can be as heartless as you! Also, did Zhou Yuan do any less than others?!¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s eyes were chilling. But before he could say anything, a figure behind him snorted coldly. ¡°What an ignorant couple. If we hadn¡¯t done our best to stop the Sacred Race from invading, do you think you would all be standing here and be so sentimental?¡± The person who spoke was an eagle-nosed old man clad in a green robe. He stared coldly at Zhou Qing and Qin Yu and the chilling aura burst forth from him made the two freeze like ice. Even their blood seemed to stop flowing. But even if they were inwardly shuddering with fear, they firmly refused to show a hint of fear. They didn¡¯t care about themselves, but they couldn''t make their son lose face. The green-robed old man wasn¡¯t unfamiliar to them because he was Saint Lu Liu. He had a deep grudge with Zhou Yuan and so he naturally wouldn¡¯t be polite to Zhou Qing and Qin Yu. Peering at the two, who were in extreme fear yet still gritted their teeth and refused to move aside, Lu Liu sneered coldly. The might of a Saint suddenly erupted from him and enveloped the two completely. Zhou Yuan had Yaoyao behind him in the past and so, even if Saint Lu Liu was furious that Zhou Yuan killed Xu Beiyan, he didn¡¯t dare to do anything to Zhou Yuan and could only swallow his anger. But now that Yaoyao had sealed herself, she would become the third god when she awakened and she wouldn¡¯t even remember Zhou Yuan then. So Saint Lu Liu no longer feared Zhou Yuan. Of course, Zhou Yuan was no longer a little Law Domain expert who he attached no importance to. Zhou Yuan was now the same level as him and even took charge of Cangxuan Heaven. If a fight were to break out between Lu Liu and Zhou Yuan, Lu Liu might not have the upper hand. But he was confident that he wouldn¡¯t felt as despair as he was when he faced the third god. He had no murderous intent towards Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, but a little discipline was needed. Lu Liu''s sudden action surprised everyone, and Zhou Qing and Qin Yu suddenly turned ashen. They felt they were situated in the depths of the seafloor. The terrifying pressure emitted from Lu Liu overwhelmed them with fear. However, the terrifying pressure only lasted for a few breaths before rays of dazzling light condensed in front of Zhou Qing and Qin Yu and, as though turned into water droplets, landed between their eyebrows. An icy feeling rushed over and eliminated all their fear and pressure. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu and supreme sovereign Zi Xiao also quivered and cast their eyes to the boundary, only to see the light barrier rippling and a figure slowly emerging. That figure was of course Zhou Yuan. It was just that he was a little different from before. In just over a year, he seemed to have undergone a lot of changes of life. His hair was draped loosely down his back and his eyes were deep like the night sky. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you finally came out?¡± said supreme sovereign Wan Zu. ¡°Yuan¡¯er!¡± Zhou Qing¡¯s and Qin Yu¡¯s breathing was hurried, but their faces lit up with undisguisable joy when they saw Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan stepped forward and appeared next to the two. Seeing their ashen faces, he asked worriedly, ¡° Father, mother, are you okay?¡± Zhou Qing and Qin Yu shook their heads. Wan Zu didn¡¯t do anything to them, but just frightened them. Zhou Yuan raised his face and peered at the Saints gathered ahead, focussing his gaze on supreme sovereign Wan Zu and Zi Xiao. ¡°Two supreme sovereigns give me so much face to personally pay me a visit.¡± The two supreme sovereigns were always only behind the scenes and it was incredibly difficult for Zhou Yuan to see them when he was still in Hunyuan Heaven. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu narrowed his eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s words made him a little uncomfortable. What did he mean by personally pay him a visit? I am well-known in all-heaven and even his master Cang Yuan wouldn¡¯t dare act so high and mighty in front of me. Moreover, Zhou Yuan was just a little ant when supreme sovereign Wan Zu was targeting the Tianyuan Region and Cang Yuan. But that ant dared to speak to him like that now? Supreme sovereign Wan Zu didn¡¯t respond and just narrowed his eyes. But supreme sovereign Zi Xiao chuckled out loud. Her elegant aura made everyone feel peaceful and feel the urge to listen to her. ¡°Heaven master Zhou Yuan, you shouldn¡¯t belittle yourself. You have reached the Saint stage and hold the authority of Cangxuan Heaven. In terms of strength, you also have a seat in the Omega Shrine and it is only right that we personally come.¡± Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao obviously knew about supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s temper. Most importantly, supreme sovereign Wan Zu had been fighting with supreme sovereign Cang Yuan for years and Zhou Yuan was an official disciple of supreme sovereign Cang Yuan; thus Wan Zu wouldn¡¯t show any weakness in front of him. Zhou Yuan took another look at supreme sovereign Zi Xiao. She was the supreme sovereign in the Zixiao Region, which Su Youwei was in. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao might not be as beautiful as Su Youwei but she radiated a unique aura and elegance. After all, being a Saint was also a kind of brilliance. Furthermore, she was a veteran double-lotus Saint. Zhou Yuan nodded in greeting at supreme sovereign Zi Xiao and paid no attention to supreme sovereign Wan Zu, who was extremely annoyed, and shifted his gaze to Lu Liu. Glaring at him with a deep look, he spat a sentence that shocked the other Saints. ¡°Apologize to my father and mother.¡± Chapter 1457 Suppress Lu Liu When Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice suddenly rang out, all Saints¡¯ eyes became sharp because they could feel the roaring waves contained in Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm voice. The all-heaven¡¯s youngest Saint was more powerful than they thought. Supreme sovereign Lu Liu¡¯s expression changed and his eyes flashed with anger. Then, his eyelids drooped as he said, ¡°Apologize? I¡¯m afraid they¡¯re not worthy of it.¡± Given his status, Zhou Qing, the ruler of a little empire had no qualifications to talk to him. There were many rulers of an empire like Zhou Qing under him and each one was superior to the Great Zhou in terms of both strength and scale. Those empire rulers would bow down in awe when they saw him and wouldn¡¯t dare to lift their heads, but Zhou Yuan wanted him to apologize to his parents? Supreme sovereign Wan Zu suddenly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, Lu Liu didn''t really do anything to your parents. They aren¡¯t hurt in any way. Lu Liu just did that to make you appear earlier.¡± He evidently was helping Lu Liu. Zhou Yuan tilted his head to look at supreme sovereign Wan Zu and said indifferently, ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu, your words have no weight in Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s face immediately darkened. Zhou Yuan was more arrogant than he imagined! ¡°Oh? How arrogant! I want to see how you¡­¡± Bang! Before his sentence finished, the surrounding space crumbled as streams of light burst forth. Within the light were several glass-like chains. The glass-like chains contained vast mighty Saint power. The chains sped towards supreme sovereign Lu Liu. ¡°You really think I would be afraid of you?! Zhou Yuan, when I became a Saint, you weren¡¯t even born!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s sudden attack made Lu Liu¡¯s face darken, but with a flick of his sleeve, a turquoise torrent of mighty Saint power roared out, tearing the surrounding space, and collided with the glass chains. Bang! However, Lu Liu¡¯s pupils shrank during the collision because he saw the glass chains destroy his mighty Saint power without any obstruction and came towards him at an unimaginable speed. ¡°How could that happen?! He destroyed my mighty Saint power?!¡± Disbelief rushed out from Lu Liu¡¯s heart. Even if Zhou Yuan was at the Saint stage, Lu Liu had been a Saint for hundreds of years. Even if Zhou Yuan held the title of Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, he had only reached the Saint stage a few years ago and couldn''t possibly destroy Lu Liu¡¯s Saint power so easily, right? Most importantly, Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t circulated the power of Cangxuan Heaven with the glass chains! That kid has become much stronger compared to one year ago! Shua! It was at that moment when the glass chains passed through space and pierced his body. However, Lu Liu''s body suddenly twisted, transforming into several wisps of azure smoke, while his true body reappeared hundreds of meters away with a dark and unpleasant look. Swoosh The glass chains shook before chasing after him as though teleported. ¡°Zhou Yuan, enough!¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s face was fierce and cold. Zhou Yuan treated like he didn¡¯t exist or rather Zhou Yuan wanted to demonstrate his power. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu couldn¡¯t help smiling furiously in his heart. A junior who he paid no attention to now dared to ignore his words. With that thought, supreme sovereign Wan Zu acted. He stretched out his hand horizontally, causing the world to dim and a giant hand slammed down from the sky, aiming for Zhou Yuan. The giant hand seemed to carry several majestic silhouettes and within each one was terrifying Saint power. Upon a closer look, one would find the silhouettes extremely similar to supreme sovereign Wan Zu, except that they were him in different periods. ¡°Zhou Yuan, quiet!¡± The giant hand could wipe out the entire Great Zhou City if it crashed down, but under supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s control, the force was accurately aimed at Zhou Yuan and wouldn¡¯t affect other areas. In the face of a veteran double-lotus Saint¡¯s attack, a light flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes and he folded one hand in a seal. A vortex suddenly formed in front of him, gathering the vast and endless universe Genesis Qi, and eventually shrank into a tiny speck of light. The light speck expanded the next second, and like a seed, grew into a towering tree at a crazy speed. The towering tree glistened like a crystal and each leaf was inscribed with ancient runes, which was formed from the power of Cangxuan Heaven. Its tremendous branches and leaves suddenly spread out and met the giant hand slamming down like a canopy lifting the vault of heaven up. Boom! The collision between two produced an explosion of lightning and deep, muffled rumble of thunder echoed throughout Cangxuan Heaven. While the towering, ancient tree blocked Wan Zu¡¯s giant hand, Zhou Yuan''s icy, blade-like gaze locked on Lu Liu in the distance. With a flick of his finger, the ground beneath Lu Liu suddenly collapsed and the glass chains shot out from the underground and twisted around his body. Lu Liu let out an enraged roar and erupted with turquoise Genesis Qi. With a slight movement, he transformed into millions of azure silhouettes and sped out in all directions. Although Lu Liu found the result of the previous clash hard to accept, he had to admit that the Saint power that Zhou Yuan possessed was stronger than his. Thus, he didn¡¯t intend to continue to deal with Zhou Yuan head-on. Zhou Yuan only barely managed to obstruct supreme sovereign Wan Zu by using Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s power, but that was only temporary because once supreme sovereign Wan Zu was freed, he would no doubt help him to suppress Zhou Yuan. Therefore, it was most sensible to avoid the blade¡¯s tip now. Countless turquoise silhouettes streaked across the air, fading. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. Lu Liu is so cunning to want to deliberately stall for time. However, just as the countless silhouettes dissipated, a ray of crimson light sped over. The ray of light seemed to contain terrifyingly fiery power that could incinerate even the vault of heaven. In an instant, the red light wiped out all countless turquoise lights apart one. It was obviously Lu Liu¡¯s true body. ¡°Zhuan Zhu!¡± An enraged roar rang out from the turquoise light. Zhou Yuan''s eyes flashed, and he flicked his fingers, manipulating the glass chains to twist around Lu Liu¡¯s body at lightning speed. Strengthened by mighty Saint power, the chains firmly restrained Lu Liu. ¡°Since you don''t want to apologize, I have no choice but to force your head down.¡± With one thought from Zhou Yuan, a gush of mighty force descended from above and endless mountains and rivers suddenly appeared, firmly pressing down on Lu Liu''s body. Boom! Under the suppression of such Saint force, Lu Liu¡¯s mighty Saint power scattered and his body slowly bend down until he was lying down on his stomach on the ground. His head was exactly facing where Zhou Qing and Qin Yu were standing. Chapter 1458 Against Wan Zu Bang! Many Saint experts¡¯ eyelids twitched at the sight of Lu Liu suppressed on the ground. They drew in a breath of cold air and a chill spread throughout their bodies. Zhou Yuan had become much fiercer and stronger after not seeing him for a year. The determination hidden deep in his bones, like a sword lost its sheath, shot straight into the sky and raged across the world. Lu Liu stood a little blank. He didn¡¯t think Zhou Yuan would dare suppress him, and it was only after a few breaths that he snapped out of his shock and his aged face turned purple. Boom! Mighty Saint power suddenly erupted as he roared out loud. But the mountains, rivers, sun, moon and stars suppressing his body remained motionless. Lu Liu was only at the one-lotus Saint stage, the same level as Zhou Yuan, but in terms of Saint power, Zhou Yuan, who had undergone a special transformation in the past year, was superior to him. Furthermore, with the blessings of Cangxuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t even be afraid to face a veteran double-lotus Saint such as supreme sovereign Wan Zu in Cangxuan Heaven. Therefore, it wouldn¡¯t be as easy as Lu Liu thought to break out from the suppression. Bang! However, it was then that the towering tree withstanding against supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s attack reached its limit and exploded into flecks of light. ¡°Zhou Yuan, release him!¡± roared supreme sovereign Wan Zu, his face ashen. ¡°Heaven Master Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be so impulsive,¡± persuaded supreme sovereign Zi Xiao. The fierce look on Zhou Yuan¡¯s face faded and he nodded with a smile. ¡°Since two supreme sovereigns have spoken, I have to give them face.¡± With a flick of his fingers, the mighty force suppressing Lu Liu instantly vanished. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s face was cold as water. Zhou Yuan said he gave them face, but he in fact had thrown their faces to the ground and stomped on them before he picked them up with a smile on his face. After all, everyone knew that Lu Liu was on Wan Zu¡¯s side and so Zhou Yuan was making Wan Zu lose face by suppressing Lu Liu in front of him. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao looked helpless. She also didn¡¯t think Cang Yuan¡¯s disciple would be so strong and tough. How would she not understand that even though Zhou Yuan attacked Lu Liu, his action was directed at supreme sovereign Wan Zu? Zhou Yuan was telling supreme sovereign Wan Zu with his strength that he wasn¡¯t the same junior who others could easily squeeze back then. Most importantly, he wanted supreme sovereign Wan Zu to understand that he was in Cangxuan Heaven and that unless prime sovereigns descended upon Cangxuan Heaven, Zhou Yuan was the one with absolute authority. Wan Zu had no right to tell him what to do. ¡°Zhou Yuan!¡± After Zhou Yuan removed the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s power suppressing Lu Liu, he finally regained control of his body and his face turned purple and his eyes almost spewed out flames. ¡°I won¡¯t forget about today!¡± Lu Liu roared. He had completely lost face after Zhou Yuan suppressed him in front of so many people. A chilling light flashed in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes as he turned and said to Lu Liu. ¡°If you still want to fight, I will accompany you to the end.¡± Lu Liu¡¯s fury and imposing manner were immediately subdued when Zhou Yuan¡¯s chilling and razor-sharp eyes swept over his face. He still had some rationality and so he knew he was no match for Zhou Yuan in Cangxuan Heaven. But he would lose all his face if he acknowledged his mistake and apologized. Lu Liu¡¯s expression changed indefinitely. ¡°Lu Liu, kneel down.¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu said out loud. He, a veteran double-lotus Saint in the all-heaven, peered at Zhou Yuan with his deep eyes. He knew Zhou Yuan¡¯s purpose of suppressing Lu Liu was directed at him. This was why he helped out but he didn¡¯t expect Zhou Yuan to successfully block his attack. Lu Liu shot a ferocious look at Zhou Yuan before he restrained his surging Saint power. ¡°Zhou Yuan, have you finished playing?¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu asked in a deep voice. Zhou Yuan smiled faintly, ¡°What is supreme sovereign Wan Zu talking about? He frightened my parents and so it¡¯s only right that I ask him to apologize.¡± Ever since Supreme supreme Wan Zu arrived, he had an air of arrogance and superiority. It was obvious that he couldn¡¯t accept the cruel truth that an ant-like junior had, in a sense, become an equal with him. Moreover, when Zhou Yuan was trying to win the Ancestral Dragon Lantern in Hunyuan Heaven to help awaken Yaoyao, supreme sovereign Wan Zu had created a lot of troubles for him. Even if those troubles were directed at Cang Yuan, it brought a lot of trouble to Zhou Yuan and caused his fingers to be severed off. However, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t have the ability to do anything to supreme sovereign Wan Zu at the time and so he had no choice but suppress his anger in the depths of his heart. But now that they met again, Zhou Yuan no longer feared supreme sovereign Wan Zu. Even if Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t tear apart Wan Zu¡¯s face, it was impossible for Zhou Yuan to be polite and friendly to Wan Zu. The two¡¯s eyes collided, causing frost to spread across the ground. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao finally couldn¡¯t help but knit her brows and say out loud, ¡°The flames of war are raging across all-heaven. Are you two really going to ignore the proper business?¡± It was only then that supreme sovereign Wan Zu and Zhou Yuan retracted their gazes. ¡°Is the Sacred Race causing trouble again?¡± Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao nodded seriously. ¡°This time, the Sacred Race is trying to bypass the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array by traveling through the subspace and to enter the all-heaven. ¡°The Omega Shrine has issued an order to dispatch all Law Domain and Saint experts. We need to set up defenses in those foam-like subspace. No matter what, we can¡¯t let the Sacred Race open up a stable passageway in those subspace. ¡°Supreme sovereign Wan Zu and I were ordered to guard the subspace outside Cangxuan Heaven,¡± explained Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao softly. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu added, ¡°As the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven, you should gather all the Law Domain experts in Cangxuan Heaven and tell them to listen to our command. As he was speaking, he made it clear who was the primary and who was the secondary. Everyone in Cangxuan Heaven, including Zhou Yuan, had to follow his command. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and a ruminative smile came to his face. But he paid no attention to supreme sovereign Wan Zu. Instead, he turned to supreme sovereign Zi Xiao and asked, ¡°Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao, has the three prime sovereigns in Omega Shrine personally say you two will become the leaders in Cangxuan Heaven?¡± It was normal that the Omega Shrine sent people to defend Cangxuan Heaven. In the past, due to the fact that there wasn¡¯t a Saint watching over Cangxuan Heaven, supreme sovereign Wan Zu or others would naturally become the leaders if they came but Cangxuan Heaven was different now. Zhou Yuan had reached the Saint stage and he held the authority of Cangxuan Heaven. Therefore, in a sense, he was now the controller and person in charge of Cangxuan Heaven. Even if the Omega Shrine sent Saints to provide defense, they would be there to assist Zhou Yuan and not take over because that would make many experts in Cangxuan Heaven confused on who they should listen to and reduce the Heaven Master¡¯s right to speak. Thus, such a move wasn¡¯t wise. Zhou Yuan believed the three prime sovereigns wouldn¡¯t do so due to those reasons. Therefore, it was very likely that supreme sovereign Wan Zu wanted to use the chance to snatch the leader role. In response to Zhou Yuan''s question, supreme sovereign Zi Xiao hesitated before she shook her head and replied in her clear and gentle voice, ¡°The three prime sovereigns hadn¡¯t said that.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded at supreme sovereign Zi Xiao to express his thanks, and then, with a half smile, turned to supreme sovereign Wan Zu, whose face was chilling cold. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu calmly looked at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Given my qualifications and strength, is it difficult for you to accept that I¡¯m the leader?¡± Zhou Yuan nodded his head, saying seriously, ¡°If it was master Cang Yuan, I would support that request, but¡­you¡­I can¡¯t.¡± Regardless of the grudges between the two, it was always a huge taboo to change a commander just before battle, but Zhou Yuan just couldn''t yield. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s eyes darkened but there wasn¡¯t a hint of anger or joy on his face. Even his voice didn¡¯t waver in the least. ¡°It seems you don¡¯t think I¡¯m qualified... ¡°If that¡¯s the case¡­ ¡°Then I have to subdue you and assume command. Since Cang Yuan hasn''t taught you to respect your elders, I will teach you on behalf of him.¡± As his imposing voice faded, mighty Saint power as vast as the galaxy rushed into the sky. The entire Cangxuan Heaven seemed to be rumbling and a terrifying pressure pervaded the air All Saints present quivered when they felt the anger of a Saint. They knew supreme sovereign Wan Zu was truly enraged. He didn''t want to waste any strength talking to Zhou Yuan and intended to subdue Zhou Yuan with force! Chapter 1459 Cangxuan Prepares for Battle As supreme sovereign Wan Zu¡¯s terrifying oppressive pressure pervaded the world, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression went tense. A true veteran double-lotus Saint was indeed someone not to be trifled with. However, was Zhou Yuan still a junior who Wan Zu could easily sever ten fingers from?! Rumble! With one thought from Zhou Yuan, dense thunderclouds rapidly gathered in the boundless sky. As Genesis Qi pulsed inside them, they produced deep rumbles of thunder. All the Saints present could feel astonishing heaven power brewing. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t dare to act arrogant in front of a veteran double-lotus Saint. He directly circulated Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s power. Both sides stood ready and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. ¡°Haha, Wan Zu, don''t think of bullying my little junior brother when our master isn¡¯t around.¡± A hearty laughter suddenly rang out. A scarlet light sped over from the distance, transforming into two figures. The two figures, one man and one woman, landed in the hall¡¯s depths. The woman, who was heroic-looking and had short burgundy hair, was of course Chi Jing, and the man, who stood tall and straight while carrying a tremendous crimson gourd on his back was naturally Zhuan Zhu, Zhou Yuan''s senior brother. Zhuan Zhu peered at the two facing each other head-to-head and slammed his giant gourd. A crimson torrent soared into the sky, and within that torrent was endless red-hot sand that could incinerate the vault of heaven. ¡°Zhuan Zhu, you crossed the line!¡± Lu Liu¡¯s face darkened when he saw Zhuan Zhu coming. Several rays of green light burst forth from the top of his head, transforming into huge ferocious toxic beasts surrounded in terrifying fierce power. Seeing a battle break out at a slight disagreement between the two sides, the other Saints exchanged glances with each other, not knowing what to do. ¡°Stop right now!¡± Just as all the other Saints felt a headache coming on, a furious roar rang out like a rumble of thunder. Boom! Purple qi rushed into the sky like a purple river of stars, separating the two sides on the verge of battling. Beneath the purple river of stars was supreme sovereign Zi Xiao¡¯s elegant and beautiful face shrouded in frost and her almond eyes wide open in fury. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao¡¯s ample chest heaved up and down, showing her anger. ¡°Have you created enough trouble yet?! If you really want to cause trouble, I suggest you go to the Omega Shrine!¡± Both supreme sovereign Wan Zu and Zhou Yuan fell silent. Although their faces remained cold and fierce, the terrifying pressure had lessened. They both knew they couldn¡¯t really fight and what they did was just to show their stance. Supreme sovereign inhaled deeply, massaging her brows with her fair hands. ¡°Heaven Master Zhou Yuan, we came to Cangxuan Heaven to help with the defense. There is no primary or secondary among us. I suggest us three to jointly be in charge. We can discuss everything. What do you say?¡± Zhou Yuan said with a smile, ¡°If everyone is as reasonable and considerate as supreme sovereign Zi Xiao, there wouldn¡¯t be as many conflicts.¡± In truth, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t mind who was in charge. It was just that supreme sovereign Wan Zu clearly intended to suppress him and if he didn¡¯t act tough in response, his authority as Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven would be impacted. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao shot a look at him and shifted her gaze to supreme sovereign Wan Zu. ¡°Wan Zu, I know you don¡¯t get along with Cang Yuan but you shouldn¡¯t give Zhou Yuan a hard time. We all have a heavy responsibility and if anything happens to Cangxuan Heaven, how do we explain to the other Saints?¡± The mighty Saint power that Supreme sovereign Wan Zu emitted completely dissipated as he said indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t have any selfish intent. I just truly feel that Zhou Yuan doesn¡¯t have such an ability. But since you said so, I will give you face. ¡°I just hope that he will be as tough as he is today when he meets the veteran Saints of the Sacred Race. After all, the enemies wouldn¡¯t be as easily restrained as I. If Cangxuan Heaven suffered any loss, the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven will be the first to bear it.¡± He didn¡¯t glance at Zhou Yuan again when he finished his sentence. His figure gradually became illusory and he eventually vanished into thin air. Lu Liu and the other Saints who were obviously biased towards supreme sovereign Wan Zu also left. Zhuan Zhu and Chi Jing came over from afar. Zhuan Zhu carefully studied Zhou Yuan from top to bottom and gave him a thumbs up in the end. ¡°I always found that old guy who takes advantage of his seniority is an eyesore. My little junior brother is so courageous to vent his anger!¡± Zhou Yuan looked at Zhuan Zhu and a smile spread across his face. Although he had only seen his senior brother once, he was very fond of him because of his bright and easygoing character. ¡°I have to thank senior brother for obstructing Lu Liu. Otherwise I wouldn¡¯t know how to deal with him.¡± Zhuan Zhu waved his hand, grinning. ¡°It would be different if it was Wan Zu. He¡¯s very strong and I likely can¡¯t deal with him alone. Next time when we have a chance, we should join hands and secretly teach him a lesson so he would avoid us when he sees us.¡± His words made supreme sovereign Zi Xiao¡¯s expression turn unpleasant. Chi Jing hurriedly twisted Zhuan Zhu''s arm, and he awkwardly smiled at supreme sovereign Zi Xiao. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao sighed, ¡°You guys are difficult people. Cang Yuan should have come here instead.¡± ¡°Why didn''t my master come?¡± Zhou Yuan asked puzzledly. It was indeed true that Cang Yuan was the most suitable to come here, but why did the Omega Shrine send supreme sovereign Wan Zu who they didn¡¯t get along with? Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao¡¯s beautiful eyes glinted with envy. ¡°Your master has gone into closed-door cultivation a year ago.¡± ¡°Closed-door cultivation?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart pounded. ¡°Could it be that¡­master is attempting to break through to the triple-lotus Saint stage?¡± Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao nodded. There were many veteran double-lotus Saints in the Omega Shrine under the three prime sovereigns, but no one was able to break through the triple-lotus saint after so many years of painstaking cultivation. Now, Cang Yuan had suddenly shown signs of a breakthrough, stirring many waves in the Omega Shrine. But that was a good thing because if Cang Yuan became the fourth prime sovereign, he would reduce the all-heaven pressure when dealing with the Sacred Race. A bright smile lit up Zhou Yuan''s face because it was indeed good news. ¡°Why don''t you ask me about the little girl in the Zixiao Region?¡± Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao suddenly snorted coldly when she looked at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was taken aback for a moment but he understood soon after. ¡°Are you talking about Youwei? How is she?¡± Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao¡¯s face was devoid of expression as she said, ¡°On the day of your wedding, that girl went into the Omega Mountain to train. The Omega Mountain is where Saints of the Omega Shrine cultivate their mighty Saint power. It is considered a forbidden place to Law Domain experts and it is full of danger. ¡°There is no turning back once one enters the Omega Mountain. There are only two outcomes once entered. One is that you die inside and the second is you become a Saint.¡± Zhou Yuan fell into a long period of silence. Eventually, he sighed out loud with a downcast and glum expression. ¡°I believe she will be able to come out.¡± ¡°Hopefully.¡± Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao swept a glance behind at the area sealed by the boundary. She didn¡¯t say anything else because she knew she shouldn¡¯t intervene in a relationship matter among juniors. ¡°I will leave the task of gathering people from all sects and factions in Cangxuan Heaven to Heaven Master Zhou Yuan. We have to set defenses as soon as possible,¡± she reminded. ¡°It''s my responsibility.¡± Zhou Yuan gave a cupped fist salute. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao didn¡¯t say anything else and her figure gradually faded and vanished. Zhou Yuan watched her depart and then chatted for a while with Chi Jing and Zhuan Zhu before he walked towards Zhou Qing and Qin Yu. ¡°Yuan¡¯er, are you okay?¡± Qin Yu reached for Zhou Yuan''s hand and gazed at his thin face, her eyes welling up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I made you two worry.¡± Zhou Yuan whispered. Qin Yu wiped away her tears, but she didn¡¯t dare to ask about Yaoyao in case it would hurt Zhou Yuan. ¡°There will be huge movements in Cangxuan Heaven soon. I can¡¯t stay here anymore. Father, mother, take care of yourself.¡± Zhou Yuan comforted the two. Zhou Qing waved his hand, saying, ¡°You are too remarkable, and your father, I, can''t help you with much. But no matter what, this is your home, so even if Cangxuan Heaven is destroyed in the end, I hope you will return. At the very least, I hope no one in our family will be missing.¡± Qin Yu couldn''t help but slam Zhou Qing with two punches when she heard that. Zhou Yuan burst out laughing and nodded seriously. ¡°I understand.¡± His gaze moved past the two and shifted to the area sealed-off by the boundary, sadness flowing in the depths of his eyes. Even at such a time, everything seemed like a dream and it was difficult to wake up from the sweetness in the past. However, a calamity was descending upon the all-heaven and it wouldn¡¯t help the situation if he continued to wallow in sorrow. Also, since the matter hadn¡¯t reached its greatest despair, he shouldn¡¯t give up so easily as Yaoyao had said. So he wouldn¡¯t give up. He would wait until Yaoyao wakes up. Even if she might become the so-called third god, Zhou Yuan would still wait for her to return. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath and finally wrapped his arms around Zhou Qing and Qin Yu. Then his figure gradually faded like a bubble and vanished into thin air. Chapter 1460 May All-Heaven be Peaceful When Zhou Yuan issued a summoning order as the Heaven Master, the entire Cangxuan Heaven was shaken because it indicated that the Sacred Race, which had been silent for over a year, was going to invade the all-heaven again. Countless people grind their teeth in anger, but beneath that anger concealed their deep worries. After all, the Sacred Race¡¯s strength had long been imprinted in everyone¡¯s mind and each imprint was made up from the accumulation of blood debts. Previously, earthshaking battles already broke out when the Sacred Race plotted against Cangxuan Heaven, and even if the Sacred Race retreated in the end, the Shengzhou Continent was ruined. It should be said that the Shengzhou Continent was once a prosperous continent and also a sacred place that many people hoped to train in Cangxuan Heaven. If Heaven Master Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t been promoted to Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven and established a Blessings Tower in Blackwater, giving hope to the many cultivators in Cangxuan Heaven, countless people¡¯s state of mind would have been severely affected. Cangxuan Heaven was already ranked at the bottom of the all-heaven, and if everyone¡¯s state of mind was affected, Cangxuan Heaven likely wouldn¡¯t be able to recover. It was precisely because of such an experience that the people in Cangxuan Heaven especially hated the Sacred Race. Everyone erupted in anger when they heard that the Sacred Race intended to bypass the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array and gain entry into the all-heaven through the subspace, and the number of volunteers to battle was as many as a school of carps moving down a stream. After all, no one wanted the same thing to happen again. The Shengzhou Continent was destroyed the last time, what would they suffer this time if the Sacred Race successfully invaded Cangxuan Heaven? No one could avoid this battle of life and death. However, although everyone in Cangxuan Heaven was willing to fight, people with ordinary strength couldn''t enter the subspace to battle because they would only become a burden in the end. Therefore, the minimum requirement to join was to be at the Law Domain stage. If it was a year ago, the number of Law Domain experts couldn''t be compared to other heavens even if it wasn¡¯t very few. Fortunately, ever since the Blessings Tower was established a year ago, Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s overall strength had soared at an unbelievable rate. After all, there was no shortage of talent in Cangxuan Heaven. They just lacked universe Genesis Qi and cultivation resources compared to other heavens. The establishment of the Blessings Tower allowed them to break through the constraints and new Law Domain experts constantly sprang up in Cangxuan Heaven like spring bamboo shoots after a rain. The increase was far more than the total number in hundreds of years. Of course, such top experts didn¡¯t just emerge out of thin air. Those people had stagnated at the Law Domain doorstep for years. The Blessings Tower¡¯s appearance only assisted them to step over that doorstep. When Zhou Yuan stood his ground against all opinions and decided to mobilize Cangxuan Heaven''s universe Genesis Qi to create the Blessings Tower, he inevitably sparked many disputes and opposition because not everyone was as far-sighted as him. What they saw was just the Blessing Tower established at the expense of other regions¡¯ universe Genesis Qi. The disputes didn¡¯t stop when the Blessings Tower was established, but as more and more Law Domain experts emerged, those disputes gradually subsided. Saints had never been seen in Cangxuan Heaven for years and so the Law Domain stage was already seen as the pinnacle stage to many people in Cangxuan Heaven. The emergence of so many Law Domain experts over the past year proved that Zhou Yuan was right to insist on building the Blessings Tower. The all-heaven were facing the threat of the Sacred Race, and if Cangxuan Heaven didn¡¯t raise its strength at the fastest rate, not only the Shengzhou Continent would be destroyed in the future. The Cangxuan Heaven citizens likely wouldn¡¯t have a place to live then, who would care if the universe Genesis Qi had weakened? The new Law Domain experts emerged with the help of the Blessings Tower had nothing but respect and gratitude for Zhou Yuan. They all knew that if it weren¡¯t for the Blessings Tower, it would have required them much more effort and time to make that step. But even so, only one-tenth of people succeeded in the end. Therefore, even though Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t been seen in the past year, his prestige in Cangxuan Heaven still rose to another level. The name Heaven Master Zhou Yuan had deeply entered people¡¯s hearts. The Blackwater, the Blessings Tower. Countless people gathered outside the giant tower and when they saw Zhou Yuan in the air, they immediately bowed down and their respectful voices reverberated throughout the world. ¡°Pay respect to heaven master!¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand and ran his eyes across the wave of people exuding terrifying Genesis Qi in front of the tower. They were the Law Domain experts in Cangxuan Heaven. Among them were also sect master Qing Yang and Heaven Sword Sovereign, but many were relatively young and unfamiliar faces. Zhou Yuan also saw Chu Qing, Li Chunjun, Zuoqiu Qingyu, and Li Qingchan among them. His former peers had also reached the pinnacle cultivation stage of Cangxuan Heaven and were no longer the same inexperienced and immature youngsters back then. He was only a little disappointed that no new Saints were born in Cangxuan Heaven. He had high hopes for Chu Qing and Li Chunjun. Even though they had reached the top third Law Domain stage and they wouldn¡¯t be inferior to sect master Qing Yang and other veteran Law Domain experts in terms of strength, they still hadn¡¯t shown any sign of reaching the Saint stage. The Saint path was more difficult than Zhou Yuan imagined. Zhou Yuan ceased his surging thoughts and swept a glance over the many Law Domain experts. His clear and loud voice rang in everyone¡¯s ears. ¡°You all should know about the specific details. The Sacred Race has come to the subspace and is attempting to bypass the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array to enter the all-heaven. The scale of their operation this time is huge. If they really opened up a passageway that connects to Cangxuan Heaven, there wouldn¡¯t be just a few Saints rushing into Cangxuan Heaven. The Sacred Race army would flood into Cangxuan Heaven then. ¡°The entire Cangxuan would fall then and not a piece of land would remain. Our families would be slaughtered and our sects would be destroyed.¡± Everyone outside the Blessings Tower wore solemn expressions. They understood that if that day came, it would be the doomsday of Cangxuan Heaven and no one would be spared then. ¡°So, I won''t say too much.¡± Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath. ¡°All Law Domain experts will follow me into the subspace to fight the enemies. I don¡¯t want to unnecessarily explain to you since you all should already know about the danger involved. So, if you don¡¯t want the Sacred Race to destroy your family, clan, or sect, then prepare to die in battle.¡± All the Law Domain experts fell silent. Although they looked a little nervous, they showed no intention of retreating. Instead, their eyes blazed with determination. ¡°We will fight to death for Cangxuan Heaven!¡± All Law Domain experts roared. The danger and scale this time were much greater compared to their war with the Sacred Palace. After all, the Sacred Palace was only a chess piece of the Sacred Race. But now, the chess player was going to enter the game. Facing enemies of that level, even Law Domain experts couldn¡¯t help feeling nervous. The countless people outside the tower felt blood and qi rushing to their minds and their eyes reddened. They only fight and kill so they can continue to cultivate safely in Cangxuan Heaven. They were all worthy of respect. Hua. Countless people knelt down on one knee and their voices reverberated in the air. ¡°May all-heaven be peaceful and may all return safely.¡± Such a scene made many Law Domain experts¡¯ expressions become even more solemn and blood pulsed through their bodies. Zhou Yuan didn''t say anything else and he just lifted his hand and waved it in the air. ¡°Let¡¯s set off.¡± Before his voice faded, he already soared into the air. Shua! Rays of light shot up one after another, following Zhou Yuan and rapidly vanishing. Earthshaking voices continued to echo. ¡°May all-heaven be peaceful and may all return safely.¡± Chapter 1461 The Subspace Defense This was a sea domain space. Boundless seawater extended beyond the line of sight, huge islands floated in the sea like giant turtles and the sky was painted in a vast array of stunning colors. Atop the highest point of an island stood Zhou Yuan, supreme sovereign Wan Zu, and supreme sovereign Zi Xiao. Genesis Qi formed into a net-like light screen in front of the three. Countless dots of light, each representing a subspace, flickered in the light screen. They connected to each other like an extremely complex cobweb. ¡°This subspace encompasses many main routes close to Cangxuan Heaven. If the Sacred Race invades, it will no doubt use this subspace as a springboard. ¡°So this subspace area will be where we all will defend. I propose we split into three teams and each of us will lead one team,¡± said supreme sovereign Zi Xiao. After all, Zhou Yuan and supreme sovereign Wan Zu didn¡¯t get along with each other and thus it was best that supreme sovereign Zi Xiao, who remained neutral, make the important decisions. As supreme sovereign Zi Xiao drew her slender and jade-like hand across the air, the light screen split into three areas and each was marked with one the three¡¯s names. ¡°I have divided the defense areas, what do you think?¡± Zhou Yuan and supreme sovereign Wan Zu glanced at each other and nodded indifferently. ¡°Since there¡¯s no objection, we will divide it according to this.¡± Supreme sovereign assumed a solemn expression before she continued, ¡°In addition, I want to remind you two that when you discover Sacred Race experts in the subspace, you must kill or expel them immediately because they are troops sent to scout out the path and their role is to act as positioning anchor points. Once they lock onto a subspace, the Sacred Race will have spatial coordinates to directly teleport to that space and the Sacred Race will send armies to rush over here like the tide. ¡°So, when you find that you are about to lose your subspace, you should destroy it with everything you can and that should delay the enemies from approaching.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes as he carefully listened to supreme sovereign Zi Xiao, and he said, ¡°From what you said, it seems if we can¡¯t stop them from advancing, it would be a matter of time before they reach the all-heaven.¡± The Sacred Race was no doubt overall stronger than the all-heaven and the Sacred Race chose to steadily advance. If the all-heaven couldn¡¯t defeat them head-on and instead only delay the enemies from approaching, it wouldn''t solve the problem because it was only a matter of time before the Sacred Race break into the all-heaven. But a head-on defeat was too difficult. The gap in strength between the two sides couldn¡¯t be ignored. Even if the Sacred Race had lost two prime Saints, the top experts of the Sacred Race were still superior to those of the all-heaven. Moreover, in addition to top experts, the Sacred race also had the upper hand in other areas. The all-heaven could ignore the Sacred Race¡¯s covetous glare in the past because of the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array¡¯s existence, but now that the Sacred Race had bypassed the boundary walls using the subspace, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array seemed a little useless. ¡°There are countless subspaces between the Sacred Race¡¯s four heavens and the all-heaven. Even the most complex labyrinth in the world couldn¡¯t be compared to those collections of subspace. In ordinary conditions, it would be impossible for the Sacred to pass through those countless subspaces to approach the all-heaven even in one thousand years. After all, even a Saint would gradually get lost in those countless subspaces. It is simply impossible to open up a passageway. ¡°However it only took them a few months to get this close to the all-heaven. According to the three prime sovereigns, the Sacred God must have helped out. Only he could successfully create a passageway in those countless subspace in just a few months. That passageway saved the Sacred Race a lot of times.¡± Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao¡¯s beautiful face turned grave as she said, ¡°Because of this, our all-heaven is still at a disadvantage. Also, the purpose of the defense we build outside of the all-heaven isn¡¯t to completely obstruct the Sacred Race. We are just trying to stall for as much time as possible.¡± While speaking, she swept a glance over Zhou Yuan, hesitated for a moment and continued, ¡°We have to stall for time until the third god wakes up. Only then would the Sacred Race¡¯s attack not threaten us.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands inside his sleeves quivered. His eyes drooped and his face was devoid of expression. ¡°There¡¯s no guarantee when she will wake up,¡± he mumbled. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao let out a sigh, ¡°The Sacred Race should have guessed this and is planning to take advantage of the time that the third god is in a sealed-state to invade and weaken the all-heaven on a large-scale. ¡°We have no other choice but to delay the Sacred Race from advancing as much as possible. If the Sacred Raced does invade the all-heaven in the end and the third god still hasn¡¯t fully woken up, we might have to choose to cut off our tails to survive.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart trembled. Supreme sovereign Wan Zu said indifferently, ¡°If we can¡¯t protect Cangxuan Heaven in the end, we will try to move as many people away from Cangxuan Heaven as possible. The third god also has to be moved away.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face grew overcast. ¡°We have to give up on Cangxuan Heaven?¡± Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao hurriedly explained, ¡°This is only in the worst case. Zhou Yuan, we are not targeting anyone. We will make the same decision even if Hunyuan Heaven is invaded.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was still overcast. Among all-heaven, Cangxuan Heaven was indeed the weakest. Although the Omega Shrine had sent out supreme sovereign Zi Xiao and others to help defend Cangxuan Heaven, Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s defense was still the weakest compared to other places. Therefore, Cangxuan Heaven was in the greatest danger. Of course, the slightly positive thing was that even Saints couldn¡¯t easily accurately locate a place in the subspace and could only constantly try. That would buy them a lot of time. Hu. Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, settled his surging emotions and said, ¡°Has traces of the Sacred Race been discovered on other heavens¡¯ defense lines?¡± Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao shook her head. ¡°Not yet, but the three prime sovereigns detected some movements and speculated that the Sacred Race exploration team should be close.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded. The troubled and overcast expression on his face faded. He knew he couldn''t blame anyone for the Omega Shrine¡¯s decision. If the Sacred Race really managed to bypass the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array and invaded Cangxuan Heaven, the most sensible thing to do was to retreat. After all, if they retreated, they could stall for time until Yaoyao woke up. ¡°We''ll go set up the defense first. You should also get ready as soon as possible." Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao turned around and vanished into thin air. Wearing an indifferent expression, supreme sovereign Wan Zu left at the same time. Zhou Yuan remained in the same place, gazing at the flickering light dots in the Genesis Qi light screen. It was only after a long while that he turned to Zhuan Zhu, who had been standing behind him for some unknown time, and forced a smile. ¡°Senior brother, inform the others to get ready.¡± Zhuan Zhu nodded his head, came closer and clapped his hand on Zhou Yuan¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don''t worry, it won¡¯t be that easy for the Sacred Race to enter Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. ¡°I hope so.¡± In the next month, Zhou Yuan led a team to set up defenses after another in the area that belonged to them. That went very smoothly and not even half a shadow of the Sacred Race was seen during that period. But no one dared to relax. Everyone understood that the peacefulness was just the calm before the storm of blood. They waited for almost half a year. Half a year later, many warning alerts were issued from the defense lines, making everyone tense up. The Sacred Race was finally here. Chapter 1462 Saint Enters the Battlefield Warning alerts were simultaneously sent from three subspaces. Sacred Race experts broke through three subspaces at the same time, but fortunately, Zhou Yuan and the others remained vigilant at all times and immediately destroyed the Sacred Race teams that broke through. The first battle also broke out then. The result of the battle quickly appeared ¡ª the intruders were quickly killed because of their small number and that they only possessed strength of the initial Law Domain stage. Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s timely elimination of them prevented them from obtaining the spatial coordinates of the subspace. But that didn''t make Zhou Yuan and others relax because they all understood that those people were just part of the Sacred Race¡¯s exploration team and their appearance indicated the Sacred Race army was near. The half a year of silence was completely broken. Foul wind had arrived and a rain of blood was about to fall. As Zhou Yuan predicted, warning alerts that Sacred Race experts broke through came every few days after that, making people very nervous and apprehensive. At the beginning, the defenders in the various subspaces easily dealt with the intruders, but as time went by, the number and strength of the Sacred Race experts breaking through rapidly increased. The defenders quickly felt the pressure. The flames of war were constantly set off outside the several subspace. Casualties frequently appeared but no one cared too much about it because that was war. As defenders, they knew that Cangxuan Heaven would suffer a tragic calamity if the Sacred Race army was allowed to open up a passageway that linked to Cangxuan Heaven from the subspace. Everything they cherished would be utterly destroyed then. Therefore, the had to stop the Sacred Race from nearing Cangxuan Heaven no matter what. ... In the sea domain space. On the highest point of an island, Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged in front of the cobweb-like light screen and several light dots on the front defense line were flashing red. Those flashing red lights indicated that Sacred Race experts had invaded those subspace. His troops were doing everything they could to intercept and kill those intruders. One month had passed since Sacred Race experts appeared, and during that month, the Sacred Race hadn¡¯t stopped invading the subspace. It was unknown how many fierce battles had broken out during this period and how many Law Domains bloomed their last light and dimmed. It was like an extremely spectacular firework show. Zhou Yuan looked grave as he stared at the flashing red dots on the light screen. They had already lost five Law Domain experts during this period and all were new Law Domain experts. They had only just achieved their long-cherished wish of reaching the Law Domain stage but they all lost their lives in the end. However, Zhou Yuan understood that this wasn¡¯t the time to wallow in pain because casualties would continue to appear. He might even lose some familiar faces. This was war and it was incredibly cruel ¡ª it wouldn¡¯t change because of anyone. Zhou Yuan¡¯s priority was to delay the Sacred Race from advancing because only then would those sacrifices not be in vain. ¡°You¡¯re this upset already, what will you do later?¡± A voice sounded, and Zhuan Zhu, carrying a huge red gourd, was standing behind Zhou Yuan. His eyes were also fixed on the red dots that represented the first line of defense. Zhou Yuan sighed. ¡°What else can I do? We can only act according to the situation.¡± Of course he knew what Zhuan Zhu meant. Regardless of how fierce the battle was, it was only considered a test to the Sacred Race because the Sacred Race Saints still hadn¡¯t entered the battlefield. The Sacred Race was clearly gathering information and once they confirmed the situation, the Saints would act. That would be the most dangerous time. Zhuan Zhu stroked his chin, asking, ¡°How long do you think there is before the Sacred Race Saints appear?¡± ¡°In less than two months,¡± said Zhou Yuan. ¡°In addition to you and I, there are eight Saints on our side. If the Sacred Race really dispatched Saints, we might not have enough people on our side.¡± Zhuan Zhu¡¯s expression turned grave. Zhou Yuan smiled bitterly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do even if we don¡¯t have enough people. Even supreme sovereign Wan Zu and supreme sovereign Zi Xiao are facing attacks from the Sacred Race and so they have no extra strength to help us. I heard the situation in other heavens is even more intense than ours. It¡¯s also impossible for them to send over extra Saints.¡± Saints were not cabbages, and even though they had been standing in the all-heaven for years, they still would be inferior facing the Sacred Race¡¯s large-scale attacks. Even one more Saint could help stabilize Zhou Yuan¡¯s defense a little more. Unfortunately Saints wouldn¡¯t appear out of nowhere. After all, the foundation of Cangxuan Heaven was weaker than that of other heavens. All the Saints present, except for Zhou Yuan, were sent by the Omega Shrine and not one of them was from Cangxuan Heaven. The Omega Shrine had other heavens to defend and so it couldn''t assign too many Saints to Cangxuan Heaven because the Saints belonging to other heavens wouldn¡¯t be happy. After all, it was impossible for one to be absolutely fair when faced with one¡¯s own heaven and another. Zhou Yuan also understood this. ¡°Previously, I didn¡¯t realize how strong the Sacred Race is under the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array¡¯s protection. But now that we are facing the Sacred Race head-on, I finally understand why the elders in the Omega Shrine would fear the Sacred Race so much,¡± Zhuan Zhu sighed emotionally. Although the Sacred Race had been covetously glaring at the all-heaven in the past few years, its threat didn¡¯t feel real, and even Zhuan Zhu didn¡¯t feel it. Especially since the all-heaven had restored a lot of its strength in the past few years. Many Saints who hadn¡¯t experienced the world-ending war in the ancient times felt that the all-heaven might not be weaker than the Sacred Race. It was only when a war truly broke out that they felt the suffocating pressure that the Sacred Race brought. Zhou Yuan fell silent for a moment. Then he said, ¡°The Sacred God directly shook the all-heaven¡¯ foundation in the world-ending war in ancient times, and the all-heaven still hadn''t been restored to its peak state even after so many years.¡± From the words passed down from ancient times, one could easily feel how terrifying the world-ending war was. It was unknown how many Saints died in the Sacred God¡¯s hand back then. If the Sacred God didn¡¯t kill so ruthlessly and as a result alarmed the remaining Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will in the world, the Sacred Race would have dominated the Tianyuan World and enslaved all other races. Zhuan Zhu nodded. Even he, who was always carefree, fell silent when he thought of the Sacred God. Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze from the red dot on the outermost periphery of the light screen. ¡°Next, everything depends on when the enemy Saints will come onto the battlefield.¡± ¡­ The Sacred Race¡¯s attacks didn¡¯t stop in the next two months and Sacred Race experts constantly broke into the outermost subspace. Zhou Yuan also constantly mobilized team members to eliminate them. The tragic bloody battle continued endlessly, causing even the air in the outermost subspace to be filled with the stench of blood. The subspace became meat grinders. After two months passed, it was as Zhou Yuan predicted. Sacred Race¡¯s Saints started to enter the battlefield. This also indicated that the Sacred Race was finally beginning to show its sharpest fangs. They wanted to completely tear down the all-heaven¡¯s defense with Saints¡¯ strength. Chapter 1463 Defense Line Broken When the Sacred Race Saints started to appear, Zhou Yuan instantly felt the pressure doubled, and Zhuan Zhu and the other Saints, who were on the alert but made no move, couldn''t stay on the sidelines anymore. One after another, they rushed to the front defense line. It was just that the front line of defense encompassed hundreds of subspace and Zhou Yuan had to keep watch in the center position and issue commands. So, Zhuan Zhu and the other other Saints had to shuttle in and out of various subspace. Only the Sacred Race Saints could draw them into action. The winner in a battle between Saints could be decided, but it wouldn¡¯t be simple to kill a Saint because their vitality was too strong and each had several life-protection means. Therefore, unless there was a huge difference in strength between two Saints, a Saint could escape even if lost the battle. Therefore, during this period, although Zhuan Zhu and the other eight Saints had repeatedly fought Sacred Race Saints, they weren''t severely wounded in the end, regardless whether they won or lost the battle. They also managed to defend the defense line on the periphery. But that situation didn¡¯t make Zhou Yuan relax. Instead, his heart felt even more heavy because he also couldn¡¯t kill any Saints and they managed to come freely and escape. If the Sacred Race Saints managed to flee, they naturally would report back the situation and it wouldn¡¯t be long before the Sacred Race ascertained their situation. Zhou Yuan speculated that the Sacred Race would launch the fiercest offensive when they ascertain the actual situation. If that happened, Zhou Yuan¡¯s defense would be riddled with holes. That passive and disadvantaged feeling didn¡¯t feel good. But there was nothing Zhou Yuan could do. The Sacred Race was indeed stronger than the all-heaven in terms of overall strength, and Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s defense was the worst among all heavens. All Zhou Yuan could do was to stall for as much time as possible. Hu. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath of cold air, his fierce eyes fixed on the light dots on the outermost periphery of the light screen. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°You son of a bitch, come if you want!¡± The Sacred Race launched its most violent attack ten days later. The scale was larger than any previous time. The Sacred Race Saints almost simultaneously hindered Zhuan Zhu and the other eight Saints. The light screen in front of Zhou Yuan constantly rippled. Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth and wisps of blood crept over his eyes because he saw almost all the subspace on the outermost periphery had become blood-red. The situation continued for around one hour and then Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupils shrank because he saw one blood-red light dot dim. The dim dot of light signified that they had lost that subspace. After the loss of the first subspace, as though it triggered a chain reaction, subspaces on the outermost defense line dimmed one after another in the next five days. The speed of the loss of subspace showed how strong the Sacred Race¡¯s attacks were. Zhou Yuan¡¯s bloodshot eyes grew increasingly terrifying. He even wanted to rush there to provide assistance, but he forcibly restrained himself in the end. This was because his position was even more important. Not only did he need to stay there and provide command and mobilize the troops, the sea domain space was a very special center location and they couldn''t lose this strategic location no matter what. If the other subspace collapsed, it would at most let the Sacred Race advance faster, but if they lost the space he occupied, the Sacred Race could invade Cangxuan Heaven at the fastest speed! Therefore, he must guard this location. Even if the subspace was about to collapse, he had to destroy it as quickly as possible to prevent the Sacred Race using it as a springboard to attack Cangxuan Heaven. Thus, Zhou Yuan couldn''t move from this subspace and had to sit and watch the defenses on the periphery constantly collapse and the subspace dim one after another. Given the speed that Sacred Race was advancing, half a month later, the cobweb-like light screen in front of Zhou Yuan had almost dimmed completely. Only one remained bright ¡ª it was the sea domain space he was situated in. The defense line that Zhou Yuan had been managing for more than half a year was completely destroyed. ¡°The situation is really bad.¡± Zhou Yuan stood up, upset and frustrated. He had put in a lot of effort into the defense line, but it only lasted less than half a month when the Sacred Race started to attack with full-strength. The Sacred Race didn¡¯t use any fancy tricks and just relied purely on strength to advance. This was what made him feel powerless. Zhuan Zhu and the other eight Saints standing beside Zhou Yuan also fell silent. They had fought huge battles one after another in the past half a month and as a result their Saint powers were somewhat weakened due to the injuries they sustained. The Sacred Race Saints had managed to wound them due to various reasons. Fortunately, they weren¡¯t severely injured. Zhou Yuan peered in other directions of the island. Many figures were hovering in the air on all sides of the island. They were the Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts who followed him here. They were originally assigned to different subspaces to provide defense, but those subspaces had collapsed and so they all gathered together again. It was obvious that the number of people was less than that at the beginning. Among the crowd, Zhou Yuan saw Li Chunjun, Chu Qing, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan and others who he hadn¡¯t seen in over half a year. Their expressions were much fiercer and sharper than usual and an unconcealable murderous rage was emitted from them. Even Luluo, who was pure and innocent, was much quieter than usual and her big and bright eyes were filled with chilling intent. It wasn¡¯t that they had limited battle experience, but those battles had a different atmosphere compared with this cruel and ruthless war. Zhou Yuan retracted his gaze, and then swept a glance over everyone. All gazes, filled with respect, awe, nervousness and apprehension were also focussed on him. ¡°Everyone, the current situation is very unfavorable to us.¡± Zhou Yuan''s voice resounded. ¡°The defense we have worked so hard to maintain for more than half a year has completely collapsed and the Sacred Race army might now be charging over in a place not far from this subspace. ¡°But I don''t intend to retreat. I will continue to stand here and clash with the Sacred Race. ¡°Because not far behind this space is Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°If we give up on this space so easily, it won¡¯t be long before the Sacred Race army near Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°And our family, sect, clan and relatives will be shrouded in the Sacred Race army¡¯s shadow and be in constant fear. ¡°So I don''t want to retreat, what about you all?!¡± His fierce voice echoed like a rumble of thunder, shaking the surrounding space. There was utter silence, but everyone''s eyes grew fierce, sharp and with a determined glint. ¡°Heaven Master Zhou Yuan, my uncle died in front of my eyes a few days ago, but I don''t want to retreat because I know that, even if I could retreat today, I won¡¯t have a chance next time!¡± A Law Domain expert suddenly said out loud with a hoarse voice. His face twisted with hatred and killing intent. ¡°We won¡¯t retreat!¡± ¡°We won¡¯t retreat!¡± Roars rang one after another and everyone¡¯s eyes were red with murderous intent. Cangxuan Heaven was just behind them. Where else could they retreat to?! They were the elite experts in Cangxuan Heaven and they had enjoyed many opportunities and blessings in the Blessings Tower provided by Cangxuan Heaven. They had obtained its benefits but they wanted to flee when they had to make a sacrifice? If they really fled, they would be scolded and spat on by thousands of people. Wouldn¡¯t that be more unbearable than death? As those roars rang in Zhou Yuan¡¯s ears, he closed his eyes slightly and drew a deep breath. He waved his hand and all voices ceased. As several figures hovered in the air, the atmosphere of an incoming storm made the air in this subspace feel stiff. Zhou Yuan stood with hands clasped behind his back. Then, with a slight touch, the light screen in front of him dimmed and turned into a jade stone on the ground. The light screen had no other use now. Time quietly passed under the heavy atmosphere. It was unknown how long passed before the space in the distance suddenly rippled and tore apart, forming a spatial vortex. Countless eyes filled with malice peered through the vortex. Chapter 1464 Heavenly Chessboard While countless eyes filled with malice peered through the spatial vortex, several silhouettes surrounded in bloodthirsty and fierce aura appeared one another another. Figures hovered in the air, their malicious eyes locked on the Cangxuan Heaven experts. Killing intent pervaded the atmosphere. ¡°Haha, heaven master Zhou Yuan is really here.¡± A laughter suddenly rang out from the spatial vortex, followed by a black-armored figure treading on air. Crimson-red fire lotus slowly rotated on the black armor like real objects. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression tensed when he saw the black-armored figure because he sensed the Saint power emitted from him. The person in front of him was a double-lotus Saint! This was information that he hadn¡¯t received. Moreover, behind the black-armored double-lotus Saint were nine figures following closely. The Saint power exuded from them indicated they were all at the Saint stage. ¡°I am Yan Xu of the Sacred Race. I have long heard about heaven master Zhou Yuan.¡± The black-armored man¡¯s eyes were narrow, resembling a fox when he laughed. ¡°I¡¯m a little surprised to see heaven master Zhou Yuan still here. I thought you would take your people and retreat to Cangxuan Heaven in embarrassment.¡± Yan Xu wore a surprised smile. However, Zhou Yuan remained nonchalant and just motioned the others to be on the alert and ready to act. ¡°Heaven master Zhou Yuan, there¡¯s no need to make meaningless resistance, isn¡¯t that right? Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s foundation is too weak, so it¡¯s not worth it.¡± Yan Xu persuaded seemingly sincerely, shaking his head. ¡°Why don''t you take your people and leave this space to me. That way we will meet and part on a good note, what do you say?¡± Zhou Yuan finally smiled. ¡°But I want to bring your head with me.¡± Yan Xu clapped his hands. ¡°Done!" Then he grabbed his head and twisted it with a loud snap. His entire head was twisted off and was still smiling at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Is this all right?¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head, ¡°I want to get it myself.¡± Yan Xu put his head back, twisted his neck and said helplessly, ¡°It seems heaven master Zhou Yuan really wants to die. ¡°You¡¯re just a one-lotus Saint and you¡¯re not in Cangxuan Heaven. Even if you have received some blessings, it is limited and will weaken with time.. ¡°So, do you really think you can stop me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try,¡± said Zhou Yuan indifferently. Yan Xu let out a loud sigh. ¡°It seems we have nothing to talk about then. Never mind, you all will have to die.¡± His eyes suddenly turned chilling and the temperature across the world plummeted. ¡°Kill them all and spare no one.¡± Yan Xu motioned with his hand as his indifferent voice reverberated through the air. The nine Saints behind him suddenly erupted with mighty Saint power as they soared into the air. On Zhou Yuan''s side, Zhuan Zhu and the other eight Saints also turned fierce and their Saint power swept across the world. With a slight movement, they shot into the sky to meet the enemy Saint head-on. Boom! Eighteen Saints clashed at the same time, and the collision of the mighty Saint power set off thousand-foot waves in the sea domain space and destroyed tremendous islands. When the Saints of both sides clashed, Law Domain experts also rushed out and opened up their Law Domains. Each one was colourful and stunning and created a spectacular sight. Both sides¡¯ Law Domain experts collided and not one area in that subspace remained peaceful. A large-scale battle instantly broke out, and the flames of war spread far and wide. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t glance at the battles in every direction and just locked his eyes on the black-armored man. His expression suddenly changed as the mighty Saint power within him was about to erupt. But he sensed a bizarre force had enveloped the sea domain space. It was just that the force wasn¡¯t directly or strongly targeted at him. ¡°Do you feel it?¡± Yan Xu suddenly appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. His narrow eyes were razor-sharp and he wore a smiling expression. He didn''t use his Saint power to fight Zhou Yuan. Instead he sat down cross-legged in the air. ¡°What did you do?¡± Zhou Yuan asked indifferently, and then he also sat down. Yan Xu smiled, flicking his sleeve. A ray red light shot out from his sleeve and landed between them, forming a red chessboard. The chessboard, mottled and ancient, was inscribed with countless ancient and obscure runes that seemed to possess a special connection with the world. ¡°This is the Heavenly Chessboard, a top double-lotus Saint object. The moment I appeared here, this space has become a chessboard. You and I are the chess players, and the rest are chess pieces.¡± As Yan Zu ran his palm over the chessboard, red light accumulated and formed 18 strangely bright chess pieces. They were naturally the 18 Saints of both sides. In addition to the eighteen Saint chess pieces were smaller pieces fighting and colliding with each other. It was the huge army of both sides. Expressionless, Zhou Yuan thrust his hand towards Yan Xu. Vast, mighty Saint power gushed out like a giant dragon and fiercely slammed into Yan Xu¡¯s body. However, Yan Xu didn¡¯t block or evade, and just let the hand strike him. But he remained motionless, as though suffered no injury. ¡°Don''t waste your strength. Only triple-lotus Saints can break this game with force. You have to properly follow the rules of the game.¡± Yan Xu smiled. Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°You are a veteran double-lotus Saint and I''m just a one-lotus Saint. As you said, we should fight properly, why go to such efforts?¡± Yan Xu sighed. ¡°It can¡¯t be help. Your accomplishments and achievements are too remarkable. The Saints who underestimated you were all defeated in the end. So I don¡¯t plan to treat you as a one-lotus Saint because I want to smoothly complete my mission.¡± ¡°What an honour." Zhou Yuan was at a little loss for words. He couldn''t help but find Yan Xu¡¯s fear of him a little amusing because Yan Xu clearly had an absolute advantage in terms of strength. After all, Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t in Cangxuan Heaven and his blessing power would weaken with time. But even if Yan Xu had an advantage, Yan Xu didn¡¯t wish to face Zhou Yuan head-on and rather go to the efforts to summon a top double-lotus Saint object to deal with Zhou Yuan. ¡°Since it¡¯s a game of chess, we naturally have to use the chess pieces to attack, and then determine the winner in the end.¡± Yan Xu smiled faintly, pointing to the red chessboard in front of him. ¡°The rules are actually very simple. As my team gradually gains the upper hand, I will be strengthened and you will be weakened.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not really fair. You were the one who set the rules,¡± protested Zhou Yuan. Yan Xu smiled. ¡°Does fairness exist in the world? When you joined the game, you were already a step too slow. However, the two sides'' strength need to be equal for the Heavenly Chessboard to take effect.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were deep as ocean as he said, ¡°But I''m not interested in this game. I¡¯d rather flip over this chess board.¡± ¡°I just told you that this is a top double-lotus Saint object and only triple-lotus Saints could break it with force.¡± Yan Xu shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Zhou Yuan grinned, showing his white teeth. As he lifted his hand into the air, a mottled black brush slowly rose and hovered above the chessboard. Ancient runes emerged on the black brush and turned into streams of light and streaked down. As though sensing something strange, the chessboard released rays of red light to collide and corrode the streams of light. The chessboard trembled under that collision and its light flickered indefinitely. Yan Xu narrowed his eyes. ¡°You want to change the rules?¡± How would he not sense the millions of Genesis Runes contained in the mysterious streams of light streaking down from the mottle black brush? When the Genesis Runes came into contact with the Heavenly Chessboard, they even tried to corrode the inside of the chessboard and alter the rules. ¡°Heaven master Zhou Yuan is indeed remarkable. You have such a profound mastery of Genesis Runes.¡± Yan Xu marveled. Zhou Yuan is indeed tricky to deal with. He didn¡¯t choose to break the chessboard with force but with skill. ¡°It seems I have to make this chess game end before you achieve your plan.¡± Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that the chessboard will only take effect if the two sides¡¯ strength is similar on the surface.¡± Yan Xu chuckled. ¡°You also said it¡ªit¡¯s only on the surface.¡± His lips curled in a strange smile as he stretched out a finger and tapped a Law Domain chess piece. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart sank when he saw his finger move. He felt a powerful wave of energy suddenly erupted on the battlefield below. That wave of energy was only at the Law Domain stage but it suddenly soared, broke the restraint and reached the Saint stage. Zhou Yuan''s eyes were ice-cold as he glared at Yan Xu¡¯s smiling expression, and he spat out, ¡°You¡­son of a bitch.¡± Chapter 1465 The Five Determined Elders Zhou Yuan''s gaze peered through the clouds and onto the battles breaking out on the ground. He noticed one of the Sacred Race expert¡¯s aura gradually growing stronger and finally broke the restraint and reached the Saint stage. That sudden change made Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turn cold. The Sacred Race expert was clearly on the verge of breakthrough but she suppressed it until now so that the so-called Heavenly chessboard would regard her a Law Domain expert. But once the chessboard was set up, the Sacred Race expert completed her breakthrough under Yan Xu¡¯s command. The emergence of another Saint could completely reverse the situation. Although Yan Xu said the chessboard would only take effect when the two sides¡¯ strengths were equal, it was in fact full of loopholes. In other words, Yan Xu left that loophole for his side to take advantage of. Yan Xu wore a smile as though he didn¡¯t care about Zhou Yuan¡¯s cold gaze. Instead, he shifted his gaze to the chess piece growing stronger on the chessboard like admiring his masterpiece. Zhou Yuan didn''t say anything else, but the Heavenly Yuan Brush hovering above the chessboard suddenly erupted in a blaze of light. The millions of Genesis Runes transformed into a torrent and rushed more ferociously towards the chessboard. Zhou Yuan was accelerating the corrosion of the chessboard. He knew what Yan Xu had planned. Yan Xu wanted to clear the battlefield as quickly as possible and gain the upper hand. If that happened, the chess game would change, he would be strengthened and everything would be much simpler to him. ... Boom! A mighty Saint force suddenly swept across the vast sea domain and Law Domains exploded like bubbles where it passed. Many Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts spurted out jets of blood while miserably blasted back, and their bodies stirred up surging waves as they plunged into the sea. Other Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts stared ahead in horror and panic, because they saw the Sacred Race experts suddenly halted and looked at them mockingly. This was because a figure was treading on the waves and coming towards them. It was an attractive woman with an alluring figure. Dressed in revealing clothes, her exposed fair skin made many people¡¯s blood vessels bulge. The sight of her riding the waves was extremely captivating. But many Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts¡¯ eyes went wide with fear when they saw the attractive woman because she was the one who suddenly broke through to the Saint stage and defeated over a dozen of Law Domain experts with one palm strike. In front of mighty Saint power, even the strongest Law Domain was just paper mache. Li Chunjun, Chu Qing, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan and others gathered on the sea surface, looking uneasily at the captivating and charming female Saint. ¡°All the Saints on our sides all being hindered, but us Law Domain experts alone might not be able to stop her.¡± Li Qingchan said through gritted teeth. ¡°She already stopped the Law Domain experts over there. Is she planning to eliminate all Law Domain experts alone?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu''s beautiful eyes glinted with killing intent. ¡°What a ruthless woman.¡± Chu Qing rubbed his smooth head. Li Chunjun tightened his grip around his rusty mottled sword. ¡°Kill her!¡± However, as his voice sounded, several figures appeared in front of him¡ª sect master Qing Yang, Heaven Sword Sovereign, venerable lord Gu Jing and Shan Qingzi and other veteran Law Domain experts in Cangxuan Heaven. ¡°You guys retreat, let us stop her,¡± said sect master Qing Yang as he swept his glance over the crowd. Chu Qing scrunched his brows. ¡°Old man, don¡¯t act brave, she¡¯s a Saint.¡± ¡°Do I need a lazy boy like you to teach me what to do?¡± Sect master Qing Yang shot a glance at Chu Qing and thundered. ¡°Quickly get out of here." The mountain-like wrinkles on Heaven Sword Sovereign¡¯s face smoothed out as he looked at Li Chunjun with a gentle smile. ¡°Chunjun, you guys should retreat. Us old guys can¡¯t hide behind some juniors.¡± ¡°Even if we can¡¯t defeat her after joining hands, we won¡¯t make her feel good,¡± said Shan Qingzi, her beautiful eyes blazing. Chu Qing, Li Chunjun, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others were all taken aback for a moment. It was only after a good while that Li Qingchan said through gritted teeth, ¡°Sect masters, why don¡¯t we¡­¡± ¡°Are you looking down on us?¡± Sect master Qing Yang sounded annoyed. The group of youngsters were at a loss for words. Even if they wanted to continue to persuade them, seeing sect master Qing Yang and the others¡¯ expressions growing fiercer, they finally chose to step back. ¡°When you joined our sect, you weren''t even fully grown yet but now you dare talk to us like that?¡± Sect master Qing Yang¡¯s mouth twitched, but his eyes were filled with gratification and joy when he looked at Chu Qing. Chu Qing was the disciple he thought the most highly of in recent years and he had put in a lot of time and effort to teach him. It was just that Chu Qing¡¯s laziness and mischievousness often infuriated him, who was always calm and collected. But no matter what, Chu Qing was no longer considered weaker than him. Furthermore, Chu Qing had great potential and infinite possibilities in the future. This was why even if sect master Qing Yang sacrificed his life, he wouldn¡¯t let Chu Qing, who represented the future of Cangxuan Heaven, lose his life here. Sect master Qing Yang, Heaven Sword Sovereign and the others all retracted their gazes and exchanged glances with one another. They all saw the unwavering determination in each other¡¯s eyes. Then, simultaneously, their gazes shifted to the captivating woman treading on waves in front. They unhesitatingly shot out at the next moment. The bewitching female Saint yawned lazily when she saw the five streams of light. She covered her lips and giggled tauntingly. ¡°You guys have a death wish.¡± ¡°What is the point of moths flying into flames?¡± However, sect master Qing Yang and the others didn¡¯t respond to her. Instead, the determination in their eyes grew even fiercer. Then, five tremendous Law Domains suddenly expanded. However, as those Law Domains emerged, mysterious flames suddenly rose from the Law Domains and all five Law Domains started to melt. The Law Domains melted and fused into the flames like fuel, making the flame blaze much stronger. Many Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts¡¯ expressions changed dramatically at the scene. ¡°Combustion of Law Domain?!¡± Sect master Qing Yang, Heaven Sword Sovereign and the others unexpectedly chose to burn their Law Domains, and thereby produce the most dazzling light seen in their lives. It was just that the light was fuelled by their Law Domains! Regardless of whether they succeed or fail, once their Law Domain was destroyed, so would they. They were risking their lives to fight! The dazzling rays of light illuminated every corner of that space, and all Cangxuan Heaven experts stared at the five streams of fiery light streaking across the sky, their eyes glistening with tears. The five streams of light unhesitatingly aimed at the female Saint, and when they crashed down, five soul-stirring laughter echoed throughout the sky for a long while. ¡°May the all-heaven be Peaceful!¡± ¡°May all return safely!¡± Chapter 1466 Five Elders Perish Boom! When the five streams of light crashed down, an earthshaking explosion resounded and berserk waves of Genesis Qi wreaked havoc across the island. Everything within one hundred thousand miles was crumbled into power. Many Law Domain experts were also blasted into the distance, but they all still stared in horror at the source of the Genesis Qi shock waves. The power erupted from sect master Qing Yang and the other four sect masters after they combust their Law Domains had surpassed the limit of the Law Domain stage. It was similar to putting all energy into a star on the verge of exploding. The rays of light produced were so blinding that no one dared to look directly at them. But when the light dimmed, the star would also vanish. That power was dazzling but the price paid for it was too heavy. Not all Law Domain experts would have such courage and determination. Therefore, many Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts had great respect for the five elders. Chu Qing, Li Chunjun, Zuoqiu QIngyu and the others clenched their hands tight, dazedly staring in that direction. Under the gaze of both sides¡¯ experts, the Genesis Qi storm at the source finally stopped raging, revealing the scene within it. Everyone¡¯s pupils rapidly shrank. The first thing that caught their eyes was the female Saint¡¯s alluring figure, only that her fair snow-white skin had become red and was covered with deep wounds. But pink thorns extended out from her body and on those three thorns hung three tottering figures. She stretched out her arms and clutched the throats of sect master Qing Yang and Heaven Sword Sovereign with her razor sharp fingers. The female Saint¡¯s originally captivating face had become dark and ruthless because in addition to the injuries on her body, which were just trivial, the Saint lotus above her head was damaged. Three petals suddenly dimmed, fluttered off and turned into nothingness. The damage to her Saint lotus indicated her foundation was affected. ¡°Ha¡­¡± After the female Saint punctured sect master Qing Yang¡¯s throat with her sharp fingertips, his Genesis Qi had become disorderly and was weakening at an unbelievable speed. But he still smiled mockingly at her. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re invincible?¡± Saints were indeed unbelievably strong, but the female Saint still had to pay a heavy price under the joint attack of five Law Domain experts. Heaven Sword Sovereign, Shan Qingzi and the others also sneered. ¡°Five old things!¡± The woman¡¯s face twisted and looked incredibly terrifying. She had underestimated the joint attack of sect master Qing Yang and the others because she was too confident in her Saint power. She had overestimated herself and underestimated the power produced from five top Law Domain experts sacrificing their lives. The three Saint lotus petals that withered made her foundation no longer perfect and it would require her a lot of time and effort to progress further in the future. How would she not be angry? ¡°Die!¡± The female Saint thundered coldly. Terrifying Saint power poured out from her body and Shan Qingzi and the others, who were skewered by the pink thorns, instantly exploded into blood-colored foam, filling the sky. ¡°Don''t worry, when you all are dealt with, I will completely eliminate all Law Domain experts in Cangxuan Heaven!¡± The female Saint swept a chilling glance over sect master Qing Yang and Heaven Sword Sovereign. ¡°I¡¯m curious to see whether all Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts are as tough as you guys.¡± As her voice died away, Saint power burst forth from her fingertips and penetrated the bodies of sect master Qing Yang and Heaven Sword Sovereign. Then, blood sputtered across the sky. Many Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts¡¯ eyes were about to split, and roars resounded from everywhere. In the distance, Chu Qing, Li Chunjun, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others couldn''t stop their bodies from swaying and their minds went blank. When sect master Qing Yang and the others combust their Law Domains, they already knew what they planned to do. But it was only when the five were truly killed and their blood splattered the sky that they snapped out from their shock. The five sect masters were gone. The female Saint tore them apart before their eyes. Chu Qing opened his mouth and a bitter smile spread across his carefree face, and deep sorrow clouded his eyes. ¡°Old man, what were you thinking? You¡¯re so old already, why did you have to plan such a heroic death?¡± Chu Qing''s voice was hoarse and his eyes were a little red. ¡°If you think I''m lazy, you can just tell me. Why did you use such a method to mess with me?¡± ¡°Palace master!¡± Luluo couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears and tears rolled down her cheeks. Zuoqiu QIngyu bit her red lips and blood stained her pearly white teeth. Li Qingchan lifted her beautiful face, her beautiful eyes red and welled up as she took a deep breath of the air filled with the stench of blood. Although they were used to seeing death in the past half a year, they had a very close relationship with the five sect masters. Li Chunjun stood there dumbly as a wrinkled face emerged in his mind. He thought back to when he first joined the Sword Seeker Sect and the old man in the twilight years of his life gave him much guidance. Even Li Chunjun, who only had swords in his heart, was extremely upset with sorrow. ¡°Sect master, goodbye,¡± he whispered indistinctly. ¡°What a bunch of good children. Don''t be upset, how about I send you to accompany those five old things?¡± A charming voice suddenly boomed out ahead. The alluring female Saint was treading on waves. The wounds on her had completely healed but the Saint lotus above her head was still missing three petals. She grinned at Chu Qing, Li Chunjun and the others. It was obvious that the five elders had a close relationship with them all and so she wanted to vent her anger and unleash her murderous rage on them. Further away, Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts roared when they saw that scene and rushed over to help. However, the Sacred Race Law Domain experts immediately intercepted them. After all, a Saint wasn¡¯t truly invincible. If all Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts had the courage to combust their Law Domains, the new female Saint could lose her life here. The bewitching female saint stopped in front of Chu Qing and Li Chunjun and stretched out her slender jade-like hand. ¡°You two are pretty good-looking, if you kill the others, I will let you two be my male companions.¡± Chu Qing shook his head and said in disgust. ¡°In terms of looks and elegance, you are ranked last here. I don''t want to treat myself like that. ¡°Also¡­¡± He curled his lips, but that smile was unprecedentedly chilling and solemn. ¡°I don¡¯t plan to let you go today.¡± Li Chunjun pointed his rusty mottled sword straight at the female Saint. ¡°I want to see how difficult a Saint is to deal with.¡± His voice was calm like the vast sea domain ¡ª the sea surface was peaceful but underwater currents were raging across the sea. The female Saint was taken aback at first but she quickly covered her lips and laughed her head off. ¡°The Law Domain experts in Cangxuan Heaven aren¡¯t particularly strong but you are all so arrogant¡­ ¡°You want to die? That¡¯s easy.¡± A ruthless aura rose and surrounded her, and her red lips were brighter than blood. She gracefully lifted her beautiful fingers. Boom! The sea behind her suddenly parted and a giant red python exuding vicious tendencies slowly extended out. The giant python was formed from mighty Saint power and its every scale was inscribed with ancient runes. The gentle swaying of the python¡¯s tail stirred up thousands of waves. Even Law Domain experts would shudder with fear before the giant python. The python locked its cold and ruthless eyes on Li Chunjun, Chu Qing and the others, bringing an oppressive pressure that could freeze even Genesis Qi. The bewitching female Saint licked her lips and said quietly, ¡°Swallow them.¡± Boom! As her voice sounded, the giant python roared out, tearing down the surrounding space. The giant python opened its abyss-like mouth and swallowed the surrounding space. Then, shrouded in a monstrous shadow, it sped towards Chu Qing, Li Chunjun and the others. Complete darkness engulfed them. Chapter 1467 One Sword, One Shuttle In the mist-shrouded sky, Yan Xu looked smilingly at the chessboard, where five dots of light were dimming and fading. Those five chess pieces represented sect master Qing Yang and the others. ¡°The Law Domain experts in Cangxuan Heaven are so brave.¡± Yan Xu sighed, looking at Zhou Yuan. Then, he smiled, ¡°But it¡¯s no use.¡± Zhou Yuan''s gaze was similarly fixed on the five dimming chess pieces. Although his face was expressionless, the constantly crumbling surrounding space clearly showed the fluctuation of emotions in his heart. Of course, he felt the vitality and Genesis Qi of sect master Qing Yang and the others dissipating. Sect master Qing Yang had a very deep impression on Zhou Yuan because he was patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s eldest disciple. He had a very modest personality, and although he was much dimmer compared to patriarch Cang Xuan¡¯s dazzling brilliance, nobody could deny his achievements. When patriarch Cang Xuan suddenly disappeared and Cangxuan Heaven was faced with internal and external troubles, sect master Qing Yang was entrusted to become the new head of the Cangxuan Sect. Although the Cangxuan Sect no longer dominated Cangxuan Heaven after losing patriarch Cangxuan, sect master Qing Yang managed to stabilize the situation after much effort, and he made the Cangxuan Sect remain among the top sects and factions in Cangxuan Heaven. In the years that Zhou Yuan was in the Cangxuan Sect, sect master Qing Yang gave him the impression that he was modest, gentle and had no exposed edge. Back when the grudges between Zhou Yuan and Wu Huang hadn¡¯t been resolved, the Sacred Race had pressured the Cangxuan Sect to hand over Zhou Yuan, but sect master Qing Yang, who was always kind and gentle, refused. After that, the entire younger generation of the Cangxuan Sect left the mountains to protect Zhou Yuan, and that obviously was due to sect master Qing Yang¡¯s persuasion. Furthermore, when Zhou Yuan returned to Cangxuan Heaven, sect master Qing Yang hugely supported him. Additionally, he understood that Zhou Yuan had the identity of heaven master and didn¡¯t force Zhou Yuan to take good care of the Cangxuan Sect just because of his previous connection with the sect. This was why Zhou Yuan had huge respect for sect master Qing Yang. But sect master Qing Yang died before his eyes. Although Zhou Yuan had witnessed many deaths in the past months and he was prepared to see some familiar people losing their lives in the war, he still couldn''t help feeling uncomfortable emotions when the scene happened before him. However, the war was still going on and he couldn¡¯t show any of those emotions. He had no choice but to suppress them forcibly. Zhou Yuan raised his head, staring expressionless at Yan Xu¡¯s smiling face. His calm voice without a ripple of emotion rang out, ¡°I will make you buried with them.¡± Yan Xu burst into laughter. ¡°It seems heaven master Zhou Yuan still doesn¡¯t know what the situation is. ¡°My side now has the upper hand, and as your troops are brought down, my advantage would grow greater. In the end, no matter what means you have, I can easily destroy you.¡± He pointed his finger at a certain place on the chessboard. ¡°These people seem pretty close to you? They will die next. Heaven master Zhou Yuan should sit back and enjoy this good show.¡± As he pointed his finger to that place, a shadow emerged on the chessboard ¡ª it was the giant red python opening its abyss-like mouth. Its shadow shrouded the murderous faces of Chu Qing, Li Chunjun, Zuoqiu Qingyu and others. As the darkness shrouded them and a gust of foul wind breezed past, Chu Qing tilted his head and said to Li Qingchan, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others, ¡°Why don''t you guys retreat first?¡± ¡°Where can we retreat to? Can we return to Cangxuan Heaven?¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu shook her head, a rare ice-cold look on her pretty little face. ¡°Sect master and the others have led by example and taught us how to deal with a Saint. I also want to see how many rounds of combustion of Law Domains a new saint can withstand?¡± Li Qingchan said indifferently. The others¡¯ eyes were ice-cold and their faces bore looks of determination. Li Chunjun said faintly, ¡°I won''t stop you from fighting with your life, but can you give me an opportunity to try the power of a Saint first? ¡°I want to sharpen my sword using a Saint.¡± His voice was filled with strong desire and fighting spirit. ¡°Blind man, I understand when someone fights over meat and wine, but you even fight over death.¡± Luluo sobbed, wiping the tears from her cheeks. A rare smile emerged on Li Chunjun''s wooden face. He stretched out his hand and rubbed Luluo''s head. Then, clasping his sword, he strode past the group of people. ¡°Share that opportunity with me.¡± But Chu Qing¡¯s voice also rang out as he stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Li Chunjun. They peered at the endless darkness containing Saint power gush over. Li Chunjun didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°If we fail, you and I will have to die first.¡± Chu Qing scratched his smooth head and grinned. ¡°I was thinking how angry the old man would be if he saw me dying so soon.¡± While the two were talking, the endless darkness containing Saint power had descended. At that moment, Chu Qing and Li Chunjun, who were at the forefront, felt the entire world had frozen, and a terrifying pressure made them unable to open up their Law Domains. The strong aura of death assaulted their faces, and it was only then when they realized how close they were to death. However, that aura of death didn¡¯t bring out a trace of fear. Instead, boundless fighting spirit erupted from them. The rusty mottled sword in Li Chunjun''s hand quivered violently and sword cries boomed out in waves. Then, the rust on his sword body swiftly fell off, revealing a sharpness that made people shudder with fear. Chu Qing¡¯s hair didn¡¯t grow back like thorns but grew increasingly brighter like stars in the darkness and released dazzling light. He bent his fingers and a short shuttle was held between his fingertips. The shuttle looked ordinary but Chu Qing knew his lifetime of strength had been poured into that shuttle. Vast mighty Saint power came roaring out from the darkness like a natural disaster. Li Chunjun and Chu Qing simultaneously stepped forward and exploded their Law Domains without any hesitation. Their strength reached an unprecedented peak. Their bodies started to split open and their bones cracked due to their physical bodies unable to bear such berserk power. But they didn¡¯t care. Instead, they felt a delightful unrestrained feeling in their hearts, which they had never felt before. Facing the darkness, Li Chunjun took another step forward. Majestic rays of sword light burst forth from the sword in his hand. As he raised his hand, the sword, engulfed in boundless blinding sword light, pierced through the darkness. ¡°I have a sword that can destroy the moon and stars.¡± Sword light that was so sharp that it could tear through the starry sky suddenly shot out. Chu Qing''s eyes widened. He felt his momentum wasn¡¯t as great as Li Chunjun because he hadn¡¯t prepared a catchphrase. After pondering for a moment, he roared like a clap of thunder, ¡°I have a shuttle that can explode your head!¡± As his roar died away, the short shuttle in his hand shot through the air and endless azure light spread out from the shuttle, melting away the darkness as it passed. That Sword. That Shuttle. The power they contained was so strong that it surpassed the Law Domain stage¡¯s limit. But as the sword and shuttle sped away, Chu Qing and Li Chunjun could distinctly feel their vitality entering its final countdown. However, there still wasn¡¯t a hint of fear on their faces. Instead, a relieved smile lit up their faces. This was because having heard the Way in the morning, one could die content at sunset. The darkness was suddenly torn apart and painful snake hisses could be heard. Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan and the others watched in astonishment. Then, they saw Chu Qing and Li Chunjun slowly collapsing from the sky. Chapter 1468 I’m One Too A resounding sword cry rang in the boundless darkness, and everyone within the subspace felt two extremely domineering and sharp waves of energy erupted. Countless people tremblingly looked over to see two streams of light had pierced through the red python that was opening its huge abyss-like mouth and then tore it apart. The darkness brought by that abyss-like mouth also faded. Si! The red python produced a painful and shrill hiss before collapsing into countless flecks of light and faded into the air. The mocking expression that Hong Lin, the bewitching female Saint, wore all along also froze, and utter disbelief came to her eyes. She couldn''t believe her giant python, formed from Saint power, would be severed. She could say that the five old guys managed to damage her source energy using the power from the combustion of their Law Domains because she underestimated them, but this time she had put all her strength into the giant python, yet it was still destroyed?! Can someone at the Law Domain stage do that? Swoosh! While Hong Lin stood there shocked, the two streams of light didn¡¯t vanish after severing the giant python. Instead it came slashing down towards her with incredible strength. Two sea trench of thousands of feet split the sea domain below. Hong Lin¡¯s beautiful face turned ashen. She lifted two fingers in the air and her vast Saint power immediately transformed into two pythons. They broke through the surrounding space and met the two streams of light head-on. Boom! Terrifying shock waves raged out from the collision, causing both sides¡¯ Law Domain experts to draw back repeatedly in panic. The two forces collided countless times in the air at lightning speed before gradually annihilating. As the streams of light faded, a long sword and a short shuttle plunged into the sea. Hong Lin¡¯s face was overcast with a hint of shock in her eyes because she distinctly felt a wisp of mighty Saint power contained in the sword and shuttle. She narrowed her eyes, peering at the two men, who summoned the sword and shuttle, on the destroyed island. They both had collapsed to the ground and their vitality was fading away. It was only then that Hong Lin breathed a sigh of relief. She didn¡¯t expect the two to comprehend the meaning of the Saint stage at the critical moment of life and death. Such talent and potential were indeed terrifying. Fortunately for her, the two exploded their Law Domains and severed their vitality. Otherwise, they would have broken through to the Saint stage on the spot. Hong Lin swept a cold glance over the group of Law Domain youngsters. These people are abnormal. It¡¯s best to kill them as quickly as possible. As killing intent rose from her heart, she took a step forward and immediately appeared in front of Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan and the others. ... ¡°Those two were interesting.¡± Yan Xu exhaled loudly as he watched the chessboard. ¡°I was really shocked to see them comprehend the meaning of the Saint stage. ¡°But it was still too late for them in the end.¡± Yan Xu gave a gentle smile at Zhou Yuan. ¡°It seems that my luck is pretty good. ¡°Besides you, those two should be the most talented people in Cangxuan Heaven, right? Their deaths are worth more than those five old guys.¡± Zhou Yuan stared intently at the two extremely dim chess pieces, silent for a good while. Then, he suddenly shook his head under Yan Xu¡¯s surprised gaze. ¡°They haven¡¯t really lost.¡± Yan Xu narrowed his eyes and smiled. ¡°What do you mean? Those two have exploded their Law Domain and forcibly destroyed their vitality. No one can save them.¡± ¡°No one can save them, but they can save themselves.¡± Zhou Yuan lifted his head and the coldness in his eyes seemed capable of freezing the entire space. ¡°You also know about the method, but you just don¡¯t dare to say it¡­ ¡°Correct, as long as they reach the Saint stage, everything will be resolved.¡± The smile on Yan Xu''s face subsided to a frown. Then he sneered coldly, ¡°Reach the Saint stage? Are you dreaming? They¡¯re already dead!¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head. ¡°The fake Saint below might not have noticed, but you do, right? They still have their last breath.¡± In Zhou Yuan¡¯s view, Hong Lin was considered a fake Saint because he discovered that her breakthrough wasn¡¯t activated by her own accumulation of knowledge and comprehension. On the contrary, it was catalyzed by the Heavenly Chessboard. Yan Xu grinned, his smile ruthless. ¡°Correct, then you should also know how much longer they can live for with that last breath?¡± Yan Xu stretched out both hands, fluttering all ten fingers. ¡°Ten seconds. ¡°You want to tell me that those two can reach the Saint stage in the last ten seconds of their lives?¡± Zhou Yuan curled a corner of his lips in a mocking sneer. ¡°I have always admired those two¡¯s talents and potential. They were previously limited by the circumstances but I have repaired that already in the Blessings Tower. ¡°So, I believe in them.¡± ... Boom! Terrifying Saint power raged across the world, destroying space and engulfing countless spatial fragments with it. The Law Domains of Li Qingchan, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Ning Zhan, Zhen Xu and the others broke apart and they were blasted back miserably and covered with blood. Wearing a charming smile, Hong Lin strode her long legs past them. Her mighty Saint power turned into a red python and it wrapped around Li Qingchan, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others. Regardless how much Li Qingchan and the others struggled, they couldn''t shake off the blood-red python. ¡°Ants struggling with all their might is always so funny.¡± A blood-red python coiled around Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s waist and brought her over to Hong Lin. Hong Lin stretched out her tongue and gently licked Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s snowy-white and smooth face. She chuckled. ¡°What a rare beauty. Even I couldn¡¯t help myself.¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s beautiful eyes almost spit fire as she glared at Hong Lin. She frantically operated her Law Domain in an attempt to make it combust. But the Saint power constricting her body made her Genesis Qi fall into a sealed-state and she even lost control of her Law Domain. ¡°You want to burn your Law Domain too?¡± Hong Lin raised her long and slender brows and her beautiful face was filled with chilling fierceness. ¡°You really think I would be as careless again? In front of a prepared Saint, the combustion of Law Domain isn¡¯t as effective as you think.¡± The combustion of a Law Domain naturally would produce tremendous power, but a Saint had many ways to deal with it. Hong Lin was only previously injured due to her carelessness. Otherwise, sect master Qing Yang and the others likely couldn''t wound her even if they paid such a heavy price. ¡°You people are considered the future of Cangxuan Heaven, right? Unfortunately, I am going to kill you all here.¡± Hong Lin¡¯s lips curled into a bewitching smile, but the murderous and chilling intent in her eyes made people shudder with fear. Besides the two who she had killed, the rest also possessed remarkable talent and potential.Hong Lin could clearly feel that. The all-heaven was undergoing drastic changes and many great opportunities could be found within those great changes. Many heaven prides would rise above the others and achieve accomplishments that they didn¡¯t dare to think about in the past. Heroes were made from time and circumstances. Therefore, those youngsters had an opportunity to become a Saint in this special era. But it was also because of that, if Hong Lin wiped them all out here, the future of Cangxuan Heaven would be destroyed. Cangxuan Heaven wouldn¡¯t be able to recover. ¡°You all shall become dust with Cangxuan Heaven.¡± As Hong Lin waved her hand, the giant python coiled around Zuoqi Qingyu, Li Qingchan and the others suddenly constricted. Terrifying power also erupted at the same time, as though to completely eliminate the group of people that represented the future of Cangxuan Heaven. But it was at that critical moment that a blinding light streaked across. That stream of light was incredibly dazzling but also seemed indescribably sharp. As though it could cut through anything in the world. As the bright light passed, the giant python coiled around Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others was cut as cleanly and smooth as a mirror. Hong Lin¡¯s eyes widened. She turned her head slowly in disbelief and was shocked to see that two figures had stood up on the ground without her knowing. They were both leaning against boulders and calmly staring at her. It was Li Chunjun and Chu Qing. Li Chunjun stretched out his hand, causing the space in front of him to break apart, and he woodenly took out a three-foot sword Chu Qing stretched his body and said to Li Chunjun, ¡°At such a moment, shouldn¡¯t we say something to make us look very imposing?¡± Li Chunjun couldn''t follow Chu Qing''s rhythm, so he shook his head honestly. Chu Qing scratched his head and grinned at the female Saint, whose eyes were wide open in disbelief. ¡°Sorry, we¡¯re not dead. ¡°Oh and also¡­I¡¯m a Saint now too.¡± Chapter 1469 New Saints of Cangxuan When Chu Qing uttered the last sentence, changes suddenly occurred all over the world. Genesis Qi rushed up like the tide and the space behind the two seemed to split apart. A vast ocean of sword qi seemingly formed behind Li Chunjun, and the sword qi within it huddled together like carps, exuding endless power. Additionally, boundless azure light constantly surged behind Chu Qing, giving off a majestic and mighty feeling. In the end, a wisp of spiritual light flew out from both the endless ocean of sword qi and the boundless azure light, and hovered above the heads of Li Chunjun and Chu Qing. The wisps of spiritual light rapidly grew like seeds and formed lotus buds. Finally, the lotus buds bloomed beautifully and a Saint lotus radiating vast Saint power appeared under everyone¡¯s intent gazes. Everyone¡¯s breathing became hurried and their eyes widened in shock. They understood what the Saint lotus represented. The two broke through to the Saint stage at the same time?! Watching the sacred Saint lotus slowly blooming above the two¡¯s heads, both sides¡¯ Law Domain experts couldn¡¯t help but feel they were dreaming because they all knew how difficult it was to break through to the Saint stage. Since ancient times, it was unknown how many heaven prides had died with regret due to the gap between a mortal and a Saint. Therefore, it was an earth-shaking event for anyone to reach the Saint stage, but two had broken through to the Saint stage before their eyes?! If it weren''t for their rationality, the Law Domain experts present would have had the misconception that the Saint stage was easy to achieve and they also could do so. But in addition to shock, the two sides also felt different emotions. Cangxuan Heaven''s Law Domain experts were dancing with joy because the appearance of two Saints on their side could completely reverse their disadvantaged situation. On the other hand, the Sacred Race¡¯s Law Domain experts gradually turned grave. The situation suddenly seemed unfavorable to them. But compared to them, Hong Lin was likely the one feeling the worst. She stared intently at the Saint lotus above Chu Qing and Li Chunjun and even rubbed her eyes repeatedly. She even suspected the Saint lotus to be illusions. But reality was cruel. The phenomenons occurring behind Chu Qing and Li Chunjun and the power contained in them made her feel terrifying danger. As a result, Hong Lin¡¯s expression turned increasingly unpleasant with intense jealousy in her eyes. She could feel that Li Chunjun and Chu Qing took the step into the Saint stage with their own potential and accumulations over the years. This was why their foundation was so stable and strong after becoming Saints. In comparison, her so-called Saint stage seemed fake because the Heavenly Chessboard¡¯s power had forced her to take the step into the Saint stage. She couldn''t even defeat one, let alone two new Saints? ¡°Aren''t they dead? How can they complete the breakthrough?!" Hong Lin trembled all over, furious and regretful. Generally speaking, once one¡¯s vitality dissipated, it would be impossible to complete a breakthrough, yet both Chu Qing and Li Chunjun had become true Saints. However, Chu Qing and Li Chunjun still had their last breaths but she didn¡¯t notice. It was that carelessness that led to extremely serious consequences. Hong Lin''s expression suddenly changed dramatically. She soared into the air, space rippling beneath her, and then her body transformed into wisps of red mist and dissipated from the world. She chose to retreat. Indifferently, Li Chunjun watched the red mist escape through space and suddenly formed her hands in a sword seal. Swoosh! Thousand rays of sword qi, bright and cold like moonlight, rose from the ocean of sword qi, and their appearance seemingly made the atmosphere feel somewhat sharp, bringing tingling and stinging pain as one breathed. Compared to Li Chunjun¡¯s previous full-strength power, each of those ray of sword qi was much fiercer, stronger and contained mysterious power. Li Chunjun flicked his fingers, sending thousands of sword qi speeding across the air and shattering the space in front. The sword qi, seemingly capable of penetrating anything, tunnelled through the several layers of space. Ah! After a few breaths, an anguished scream rang out and space suddenly crumbled apart. A beam of red light shot out and a figure was blasted miserably across the air. Countless people looked over to see the miserable figure was Hong Lin. Her body was riddled with wounds and she looked very pitiful. However, those injuries were considered nothing to a Saint. The Saint lotus rapidly dimming and withering above her head was much more serious. Evidently, Li Chunjun¡¯s sword strike did more damage to her than sect master Qing Yang and the others did from sacrificing their lives. Hong Lin¡¯s charming face blanched with fear and panic. The mighty and domineering Saint power that Li Chunjun¡¯s sword attack contained was far superior to hers. Was that the true power of a real Saint? It was indeed much stronger than her, who took a shortcut route to the Saint stage! If it weren''t because a Saint¡¯s vitality was incredibly strong, those countless rays of sword qi could have wiped out all her vitality. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m still here.¡± While Hong Lin was panicking and terrified, laughter boomed out from afar. Then, Chu Qing could be seen rubbing his smooth head and raising one hand into the air. Mighty Saint power gathered around his slender fingers, forming a dazzling golden shuttle. The shuttle was only around an inch in length but countless ancient runes were spreading and condensing on its body. Light circulated around the shuttle blade, which were ancient Genesis Runes flowing around like tadpoles. But the golden shuttle¡¯s appearance made Hong Lin¡¯s expression change dramatically. Her eyes widened with fear because she felt life-threatening danger. Although Saints had strong vitality, they weren¡¯t completely invincible. Hong Lin¡¯s strength was already weaker than both Chu Qing and Li Chunjun, and thus, facing their constant joint attacks, something bad would happen sooner or later. Therefore, Hong Lin frantically tried to flee again. The only thing she could do now was stall for time. Chu Qing didn''t care that Hong Lin was escaping because he knew that, as long as she was still in this space, she couldn''t escape from his detection. As he gently lifted his hand, the golden shuttle in his hand quivered slightly and vanished into thin air. ¡°This is the Golden Light Saint Shuttle.¡± The golden shuttle had disappeared, but a low and muffled noise sounded in the space a few seconds later. Although the sound wasn¡¯t particularly clear, everyone heard it very clearly. Bang! The surrounding space suddenly shattered like a broken mirror, leaving countless fragments swirling in the air. A ray of crimson light wildly fled, while a wisp of golden light followed it like a shadow. Then, the golden light suddenly flashed across, piercing straight through the crimson light. Pu! Within that crimson light was a captivating figure vomiting blood. She lowered her head with difficulty, only to see a hole flowing with golden liquid in her chest. Then, mighty and domineering Saint power flooded every part of her body like torrents. The Saint lotus on her head dimmed and withered. Fear filled her eyes as she screamed, ¡°Lord Yan Xu, save me! I can¡¯t die here!¡± She had just experienced the beauty of the Saint stage, the intoxicating power that far surpassed the Law Domain stage, she didn''t want this to be her final chapter of her life. However, her screaming received no response. The space before her crumbled as Li Chunjun stepped forward. Clasping a sword and with a wooden face, he said faintly, ¡° I need a sacrifice when I hold a memorial for my sect master later. ¡°So¡ª ¡°Let me borrow your head.¡± Hong Lin frantically shook her head, her bewitching face turned much fiercer and hideous than before. She transformed into countless shadows and frantically drew back. The two¡¯s consecutive attacks had already severely wounded her and damaged her Saint lotus and would be destroyed if she took another hit. Even Saints would perish. But regardless of how quick she retreated, the ray of sword light was faster. The ray of sword light that resembled moonlight was cold and fierce. Countless people saw a ray of sword light flashed across Hong Lin''s slender, fair neck and then Li Chunjun appeared behind Hong Lin, took his sword and sheathed it. Clang! The Saint lotus above Hong Lin¡¯s head gradually broke apart. The sun and moon simultaneously rose in the sky and then crashed down, stirring the Genesis Qi across the world. The fall of the sun and the moon represented the death of a Saint. Chi! Hong Lin¡¯s head flew into the sky, her wide-opened eyes full of unwillingness and fear. All eyes were wide with complete shock. At the same time, clouds and mist shrouded the space above. Zhou Yuan calmly looked at the broken chess piece in front of him and then raised his head to look at Yan Xu. He saw his face twisted terrifyingly. Previously, Yan Xu resembled a hunter watching his prey in a trap. But now, he saw the prey in his trap had suddenly broken free, pounced forward and bared their sharp fangs at him. However, Zhou Yuan paid no attention to Yan Xu¡¯s mental journey because he felt a special force strengthening him. On the other hand, Yan Xu was rapidly beginning to weaken. It was the Heavenly Chessboard¡¯s special effect. Zhou Yuan stretched his body and breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he grinned at Yan Xu, showing his sparkling white teeth. The calm voice that passed through his teeth was filled with endless clones and murderous intent. ¡°Damn thing¡ª ¡°Now, it''s time to settle things.¡± Chapter 1470 What for? When Zhou Yuan''s chilling voice sounded, Yan Xu¡¯s face grew increasingly unpleasant because he could feel Zhou Yuan¡¯s imposing manner steadily growing stronger. This indicated the strengthening power of the Heavenly Chessboard was being transferred to Zhou Yuan. On the contrary, Yan Xu¡¯s Saint power was beginning to weaken because, according to the rules of the Heavenly Chessboard, he was considered the inferior side. Therefore, the Heavenly Chessboard transferred Saint power that originally belonged to him directly over to Zhou Yuan. When one rises, the other falls. Yan Xu experienced what it meant by shooting yourself in the foot. He completely didn¡¯t expect such a change to happen. After all, although the two sides of the Heavenly chessboard were said to be roughly equal in strength, Yan Xu, the owner of the chessboard, could find loopholes to take advantage of. For example, he used a special means to make Hong Lin break through to the Saint stage and broke the balance between the two sides. But Yan Xu never would have thought that two people from Cangxuan Heaven would simultaneously break through to the Saint stage. After all, the Sacred Race knew about Cangxuan Heaven like the back of its hand due to Sheng Yuan providing intelligence. Therefore, the Sacred Race was aware that, even though sect master Qing Yang and the others were second only to Zhou Yuan in Cangxuan Heaven, their likelihood of reaching the Saint stage wasn¡¯t high. As for Chu Qing and Li Chunjun and the younger generation, they had just reached the Law Domain stage a few years ago and were even more unlikely to reach the Saint stage. Therefore, the Sacred Race paid little attention to them and Yan Xu also overlooked them and saw them as insignificant ants. But who would have thought that his negligence caused the reversal in the situation? On the battlefield, after Chu Qing and Li Chunjun jointly dealt with Hong Lin, they unhesitatingly charged into the Sacred Race¡¯s army of Law Domain experts and mighty saint qi raged everywhere. The two Saint¡¯s appearance was undoubtedly similar to a fierce dragon charging into a pack of wolves. Within seconds, the Sacred Race army already suffered heavy casualties. Kacha! As Chu Qing and Li Chunjun charged forward and went on a killing spree, the chess pieces that represented Sacred Race experts began to shatter. Yan Xu¡¯s complexion grew increasingly worse. This was because Zhou Yuan¡¯s imposing manner was becoming increasingly powerful. The Heavenly Chessboard was constantly weakening Yan Xu¡¯s strength to increase Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Yan Xu¡¯s eyes glinted fiercely. He knew he couldn¡¯t let this continue. His plan so far had been a complete failure. He had to change tactics. ¡°Zhou Yuan, don''t be too smug. The Heavenly Chessboard has its own rules, but I am its owner and so I have a greater advantage than you think.¡± Yan Xu glared at Zhou Yuan. A drop of golden Saint blood dripped from his fingertip and onto the chessboard. ¡°Heavenly Chessboard, close!¡± Since he was about to lose this game, it was better to end it soon. Even if Zhou Yuan had already been strengthened, it could still prevent the situation from worsening. As Yan Xu roared out, the Heavenly Chessboard vibrated and currents of air seemed to be rising from the board. Many chess pieces started to fade. The chess game was about to end. Zhou Yuan smiled. ¡°You¡¯re really bad at chess.¡± Yan Xu ignored Zhou Yuan¡¯s taunting, and quickened the speed of which the chessboard was fading. However, Zhou Yuan suddenly slammed his palm on the board and said indifferently. ¡°But isn¡¯t it a little unfair that you start and end the chess game as you please.¡± Yan Xu¡¯s eyelids twitched. ¡°So what?¡± But as his voice died away, he found the chess pieces on the chessboard were flickering back and forth between an illusory and tangible state and hadn¡¯t truly vanished. They seemed to be obstructed by some sort of force. Yan Xu¡¯s pupils suddenly shrank. He instantly understood what had happened. He cast a furious look over Zhou Yuan. ¡°This is your doing?¡± As the owner of the Heavenly Chessboard, he naturally could sense some unknown ancient Genesis Runes had unknowingly penetrated the board. However, those Genesis Runes didn¡¯t damage the chessboard. Instead, they produced a strange interference force that obstructed and ruined his plan of ending the chess game. Although the interference was temporary, Zhou Yuan only needed a little more time to make the outcome of the chess game more obvious. Zhou Yuan curled the corners of his mouth in a cold sneer, ¡°You!¡± Murderous rage surged in Yan Xu¡¯s eyes. But that fury had no effect. He could only exhaust himself to control the Heavenly Chessboard and constantly instil powerful Saint power into it in an attempt to eliminate Zhou Yuan¡¯s interference. But the effect wasn¡¯t particularly obvious. Zhou Yuan¡¯s method was extremely secretive, and the Heavenly Chessboard was very special in that it had to follow certain rules. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t exist. Even if Yan Xu was its owner, he had to look for loopholes if he wanted to cheat and couldn''t change the rules as he wished. This made it very difficult for him to eliminate Zhou Yuan''s interference. Time quickly passed and the chess pieces that represented the Sacred Race¡¯s Law Domain experts were constantly shattered. Yan Xu''s calm and relaxed face had long turned ashen and his eyes were filled with fury and regret. ¡°Hurry up!¡± Yan Xu gritted his teeth to the point they cracked. He could feel he had almost completely removed all of Zhou Yuan¡¯s interference force on the chessboard. At the same time, the mighty Saint power within his body was rapidly weakening. Zhou Yuan put his hands behind his head and leaned back. The cloud and mist supporting his body made him look extremely relaxed. But while he looked very leisurely, the Saint power exuding from his body had reached the most terrifying level. Chi! At a certain moment, a strange noise sounded from the Heavenly Chessboard and a wisp of black qi slowly rose from the board. Yan Xu¡¯s eyes lit up with joy because the interference in the board was finally completely eliminated. ¡°Close!¡± Yan Xu roared. The Heavenly Chessboard vibrated violently and the chess pieces on it instantly broke down into clouds of mist. Then, the board transformed into a beam of black light and Yan Xu immediately swallowed it in one mouthful. The bizarre power that pervaded the space also silently dissipated. ¡°Zhou Yuan, give me¡ª¡± Yan Xu lifted his head, his eyes sinister and glinted with killing intent. But his sinister face suddenly stiffened. This was because Zhou Yuan was standing in front of him with his hands clasped behind his back, and his chilling gaze made the space show signs of freezing like a cold bone-piercing stream. Of course, it wasn¡¯t Zhou Yuan''s expression that made Yan Xu''s expression change, but the Saint power emitting from Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan was at the pinnacle of the one-lotus stage, while Yan Xu was at the pinnacle of the double-lotus stage and was comparable to veteran Saints such as supreme sovereign Wan Zu in terms of strength. So from a cultivation level perspective, the gap between Zhou Yuan and Yan Xu wasn¡¯t small if Zhou Yuan wasn¡¯t the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. But the Saint power pressure exuding from Zhou Yuan had long surpassed the limit of the one-lotus Saint and into the double-lotus stage. On the contrary, Yan Xu had dropped from the pinnacle of the double-lotus saint stage to the ordinary double-lotus stage. In a sense, he was inferior to the current Zhou Yuan. That drastic and sudden change in strength made Yan Xu about to faint on the spot. He realized that although he had put in so much effort to set up such a huge game, he only made himself become an ordinary double-lotus saint and Zhou Yuan, who was previously only at the one-lotus saint stage, had become stronger than him! Yan Xu couldn''t help but ask himself what did he do everything for?! Chapter 1471 Seal While Yan Xu was questioning life, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t say anything else to him because the time he was waiting for had come. Previously, Yan Xu was stronger than Zhou Yuan and so Zhou Yuan had to patiently wait, but now that the chess game was broken and the power of the two sides was dramatically reversed. Zhou Yuan was now considered to possess the strength of the advanced double-lotus Saint stage. On the other hand, Yan Xu had been weakened to the initial double-lotus Saint stage. ¡°What you did... also makes me feel a little awkward.¡± Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t help smiling as he felt his Saint power inexplicably increasing and seeing Yan Xu¡¯s livid face. The fury in Yan Xu¡¯s eyes almost spewed out as flames and distorted the surrounding space. But Zhou Yuan had no interest in watching his expression change. As he took a step forward, the world began to quake and stars rotated. It was as though the universe was about to reverse. Immediately afterwards, Yan Xu felt an extremely terrifying rushing forth from the world. Boom! As the world shook, the sky of their space suddenly split apart and the troops of both sides were astonished to see streams of gorgeous colored light whizzing down from the cracks in the sky. Upon a careful look, one would find several balls of multi-colored light within them. The balls of light rotated and distorted, showing the endless mountains, rivers, sun, moon and stars contained inside! ¡°They are all tiny domains?!¡± Someone exclaimed. Evidently, Zhou Yuan had moved many tiny domains and compressed them into streams of light and hurled them down like meteorites. Such terrifying power was unbelievable. It was rumored that the Ancestral Dragon could move the entire Tianyuan World with one thought. Although Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t reach that level of power, he could move tiny domains using the art of the Ancestral Dragon Moves the Heavens and his current power. Boom! As Yan Xu saw colorful balls of light roar towards him, his expression changed dramatically. He of course felt the terror of Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack. Even if Yan Xu was at his prime, he wouldn¡¯t dare underestimate such an attack, let alone now, when he had become weaker than his opponent. Evidently, Zhou Yuan saw no need to test Yan Xu¡¯s strength and brought out his killing move right away. As the destructive attack neared, Yan Xu no longer hesitated. He frantically circulated his Saint power and with a loud roar, a ray of black light shot out from his head. As the ray of black light swayed, it formed an incomparably huge chessboard, as big as a continent. It obscured the sun and sky and separated the space. This chessboard was of course Yan Xu¡¯s double-lotus Saint object ¡ªthe Heavenly Chessboard. Countless Genesis Runes floated up from the chessboard, forming several black and white chess pieces. The chess pieces then transformed into rays of light and met the mini domains above that had been compressed into streams of light. Boom! The two forces collided in space, producing loud whirring and rumbling. The entire sea domain space was shaken, stirring up thousand-feet waves. The waves swept wildly in all directions, devastating everything in the way. Both sides¡¯ Law Domain experts grimaced with pain and the Genesis Qi in their bodies were so agitated that they almost lost control of it. The countless black and white pieces obstructed the streams of light formed from tiny domains, but in the end, some still slipped through the defense and struk the chessboard. Rumble! The continent-like chessboard violently vibrated, as though an earth dragon was tossing around underground. Huge abyss-like cracks split the chessboard and spread in all directions. Puchi! Every time a huge pit split open the Heavenly Chessboard, Yan Xu blanched a little more and spat out a mouthful of blood. ¡°So hateful!¡± Yan Xu roared in fury. If he was in his prime state, he could have easily blocked Zhou Yuan¡¯s destructive attack. But unfortunately for him, he had become weaker than Zhou Yuan after a series of events, and it became increasingly difficult for him to defend as time passed Enraged, he couldn''t help but launch a counterattack at Zhou Yuan. But he forcibly suppressed himself in the end because the Heavenly Chessboard possessed remarkable defense power and he felt that Zhou Yuan couldn¡¯t do anything to him, even if he had the upper hand. If he gave up on defense and changed to attack, he would be dragged into following Zhou Yuan¡¯s rhythm and the consequences would be much more serious. Hu. Yan Xu breathed out a mouthful of turbid breath and glared at Zhou Yuan. Then, his figure grew increasingly illusory and he eventually appeared on the chessboard. As the chessboard vibrated, streams of light hung down from it like thousands of tassels to protect him. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are lucky this time, but unfortunately for you, you won''t be the winner.¡± Yan Xu¡¯s cold voice boomed out. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. He was a little disappointed that Yan Xu didn¡¯t face him head-on because he found out the Heavenly Chessboard was similar to a super turtle shell. If Yan Xu wanted to hide inside it, it would be impossible for Zhou Yuan to break such a double-lotus Saint object. Furthermore, Zhou Yuan was more concerned about Yan Xu¡¯s last sentence. ¡°It seems that you still have a last resort?¡± Zhou Yuan asked tauntingly. Yan Xu raised his eyes and they glinted maliciously. ¡°You don¡¯t need to try to anger me. I can tell you the truth. Do you really think that this is the Sacred Race¡¯s only attack on Cangxuan Heaven? ¡°Besides you, there are two double-lotus Saints on the defense line outside Cangxuan Heaven, right? ¡°Aren''t you curious why you haven¡¯t heard anything from there despite such an earthshaking battle happening over this side?¡± Zhou Yuan''s face remained expressionless, but his heart uncontrollably sank. As though able to feel the surging emotions in Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart, Yan Xu deepened the mocking smile on his face. ¡°I can tell you that prime saint Zhang Lei is the one leading the attack on the other two defense lines. Calculating the time, those lines of defense should have fallen now.¡± ¡°Prime saint Zhang Lei should be here soon...what can you do then? ¡°Zhou Yuan, our Sacred Race will suppress the all-heaven. You can¡¯t stop it. Your obstruction is just similar to a mantis blocking a carriage.¡± Zhou Yuan remained expressionless but his heart sank. The pressure from the Sacred Race is indeed too intense, but so what? Does the all-heaven have to give up and be enslaved because the Sacred Race is too strong? In times of crisis, someone would always stand forward. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath, suppressing the surging and tumbling emotions in his heart. He peered at Yan Xu with a cold and indifferent gaze. ¡°Regardless of whether prime saint Zhang Lei is coming, I will kill you before then. ¡°I already told you that you will be buried with the five sect masters.¡± ¡°Nonsense.¡± Yan Xu smiled ruminatively. ¡°I really shot myself in the foot this time, but Zhou Yuan, if I continue to use the Heavenly Chessboard to defend myself, you also can¡¯t do anything to me. ¡°You''re wasting your time here. You are just looking for death.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Zhou Yuan raised his eyelids, and his eyes glinted fiercely. Boom! It was at that moment when another compressed mini domain crashed down like a meteorite, passing through the Heavenly Chessboard¡¯s defense. It was just that this time Yan Xu felt something was wrong. He didn¡¯t feel terrifying power nor did he vomit blood from the impact. Yan Xu cast his gaze to where the meteorite had fallen, only to see dense runes spreading in all directions. Not only were those runes so complex and obscure, he found they were seeping through the impenetrable chessboards like ink. But most terrifyingly, Yan Xu found that he had lost control of the areas where the ink-black runes passed. ¡°Seal?¡± Understanding dawned on Yan Xu. The meteorite didn¡¯t contain a mini domain but a Genesis Art that contained incredibly powerful sealing power! Zhou Yuan intended to temporarily seal the Heavenly Chessboard! Without the tortoise shell as protection, Yan Xu will be exposed and locked to Zhou Yuan¡¯s malicious gaze and unable to escape! As Zhou Yuan watched Yan Xu¡¯s expression change abruptly, his expression turned fiercer and colder. He folded his hands in a seal and whispered, ¡°Taboo Saint Sealing Script!¡± The countless obscure seal-like runes fallen on the Heavenly Chessboard, suddenly spread like torrents and made the chessboard dim where it passed. Swaying and falling, the continent-like chessboard shrank rapidly until it became the size of a palm under Yan Xu¡¯s disbelief gaze. Chapter 1472 The Ninth Rune, Heavenly Yuan Watching the Heavenly Chessboard fall before his eyes, Yan Xu felt a chill run up from the sole of his feet to the top of his head. He didn¡¯t think Zhou Yuan would hold such a powerful sealing genesis art that could seal even a double-lotus saint object. Although he could feel the sealing was only temporary, he would be in serious trouble after losing the Heavenly Chessboard¡¯s protection. While thoughts were streaming through Yan Xu¡¯s mind, Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t give him more time to think. With one thought, he brought the last few meteorites containing mini domains down at Yan Xu. Yan Xu¡¯s expression altered abruptly and his body turned illusory as he drew back with lightning speed. His figure seemed to be flickering between an illusory and tangible state. At the same time, he folded his hands in a seal and a Sacred Pupil opened up between his eye. Nine stars sparkled within the Sacred Pupil. Rays of mysterious light sped out from the Sacred Pupil, forming nine giant whiskers. Swaying and fluttering gently, they surrounded the Sacred Pupil. ¡°Dragon Whisker Fire!¡± As the whiskers took shape, Yan Xu suddenly roared out loud. Golden flames gushed forth from the Sacred Pupil and they, slender and long, resembled fluttering dragon whiskers. They emitted terrifying heat, and even one could melt everything inside a tiny domain. Its overbearing power was evident. Pu! The dragon whisker flames whizzed out, colliding with the tiny domain meteorites. The collision produced an ear-piercing boom before the domain meteorites melted one after another into fiery-red magma and sputtered across the air. Boom! But before Yan Xu breathed a sigh of relief, the sky suddenly crumbled apart and a giant fist, surrounded in mighty Saint power, slammed down. Rumble! The fist easily blasted away the dozens of slender dragon whisker flames and slammed into Yan Xu¡¯s illusory yet substantial body in a domineering and tyrannical manner. Blasting across thousands of miles, Yan Xu vomited a mouthful of blood. Although he looked tragic, his illusory body had dispelled the majority of the attack. ¡°He¡¯s so durable.¡± Zhou Yuan peered at Yan Xu, who had been completely suppressed but was still leaping about wildly, and he couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. The vitality of a Saint was so strong that as long as one¡¯s Saint lotus remained, one could still rapidly be reborn from a drop of Saint blood. Yan Xu¡¯s face was filthy with dirt and dust but he still roared ferociously, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you¡¯re dreaming if you think you can kill me! ¡°Time is on my side. As long as I can hold you back for a while, when prime saint Zhang Lei comes, he will make your life worse than death!¡± Zhou Yuan ignored Yan Xu, even if he might be correct. It really wasn¡¯t easy to kill a double-lotus prime saint in such a short period of time. However, that didn¡¯t mean Zhou Yuan had no way to deal with Yan Xu. Zhou Yuan indifferently stared at Yan Xu, who was roaring ferociously, and his chilling gaze made Yan Xu feel somewhat uneasy. While he was feeling uneasy, Zhou Yuan clenched his hand and a wisp of black light swirled around his fingertips and eventually quietly appeared in his grip. The mottled brush body was naturally the Heavenly Yuan Brush. As Zhou Yuan flicked his finger, the Heavenly Yuan Brush swiftly shot out, expanding as it met the wind until it grew to ten feet in length. Zhou Yuan¡¯s face became much gentler as he gazed at the Heavenly Yuan Brush floating in font of him. Even his eyes seemed to be smiling. ¡°Old man, you have followed me for many years, right?¡± He lightly stroked the brush¡¯s mottled body. Then, as though reminiscing, his eyes grew vacant and he whispered, ¡°Now, only you are still by my side after we came out from that domain back then.¡± When Zhao Yuan left the domain where master Cang Yuan was, he brought Yaoyao, Tuntun and the Heavenly Brush with him. And now, Yaoyao and Tuntun were both in a sealed state and only the Heavenly Yuan Brush remained with him. Possessing Spiritual intelligence, the Heavenly Yuan Brush slightly vibrated as though comforting Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan cheered up and said with a smile. ¡°When master Cang Yuan entrusted you to me, you were severely damaged and became an ordinary object. At the time, I said to myself that I will restore you to your pinnacle state. ¡°Now...it is time that the name Heavenly Yuan Brush again resound throughout the all-heaven.¡± As he stroked the brush¡¯s body, an ancient Genesis Rune would lit up on his palm. The first rune, Culture and Martial. The second rune, Erode. The third rune, Myriad Transformations. The fourth rune, Million Whale. The fifth rune, Genesis Breaker. The sixth rune, Spirit Devour. The seventh rune, Promotion. The eighth rune, Genesis Spirit. The eight Genesis Runes bloomed with mysterious light and their terrifying power accumulated to form several halos of light. Zhou Yuan gazed at the eight Genesis Runes that witnessed his cultivation path, from the day he unblocked the eight meridians to him becoming a Heaven Master. He stroked the ninth Genesis Rune with his palm. Thousand rays of light shot out and vast amounts of Genesis Qi across the world pulsed, gathering towards the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Lightning crackled between heaven and earth, and thunder rumbled in every corner of the world. Everyone could clearly feel extremely powerful Saint power pressure released from the inside of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, raging across the sky. Yan Xu¡¯s expression changed dramatically because he knew that the Heavenly Yuan Brush that had fully awakened wouldn¡¯t be inferior to his Heavenly Chessboard! Moreover, his Heavenly Chessboard leaned more towards order and defense but Zhou Yuan¡¯s Heavenly Yuan Brush was clearly more aggressive! Zhou Yuan already had the upper hand and if he had the help of such a sacred object too, he would be like a tiger with wings! While Yan Xu¡¯s expression was changing, the Heavenly Yuan Brush¡¯s ninth rune was fully illuminated. The Sacred Genesis Weapon that had accompanied master Cang Yuan in many battles had completely restored its former brilliance. Clasping the Heavenly Yuan Brush, Zhou Yuan could feel the joy from the brush¡¯s body, and even he, influenced by the brush¡¯s happiness, had a smile spread across his face. Then, he raised his head and locked his eyes on Yan Xu. It was just that the smile made Yan Xu feel a bitter chill run down his spine. Yan Xu suddenly transformed into a stream of light and sped across the sky. From the looks of it, he seemed to plan to flee the sea space domain! Evidently, he sensed danger using his saint perception. Seeing Yan Xu about to flee, Zhou Yuan tightly gripped his Heavenly Yuan Brush and poured mighty Saint power into it. The nine Genesis Runes released a dazzling glow that illuminated every corner of the space. ¡°Heavenly Yuan Brush, the ninth rune¡­¡± as Zhou Yuan uttered, streams of light flowed down from all nine Genesis Runes, gathering around the brush¡¯s tip. There seemed to be an ink-like black dot emerging on the brush¡¯s tip. The black light spot was extremely black and pure and seemed capable of even devouring light. Zhou Yuan stared at the strange black spot, and then slowly spit out the name of the ninth rune, ¡°Heavenly Yuan.¡± The black light dot detached from the tip, rippling like a drop of water hit a lake, and vanished into the air. But the moment it disappeared, Yan Xu, who was about to flee the space, saw something that made his pupils shrink rapidly. The space in front of him broke apart and a black dot of light around the size of a fist slammed into his chest. Unexpectedly, no earth shaking noise was heard from the impact, but everyone saw Yan Xu¡¯s body suddenly distort and the black dot of light instantly engulfed Yan Xu upon contact like a black hole. Zhou Yuan appeared in front of the dot of black light. He stretched out his hand and a black ball of light hovered above his palm. Its inside was dark and deep but he could distinctly feel Yan Xu was enveloped by a black ocean in the deepest part of the black ball of light. Regardless of how he roared and struggled, he couldn¡¯t break free. The Saints on both the Sacred Race and the all-heaven side halted their battles and cast a look over to the match between Zhou Yuan and Yan Xu, their emotions stirred. ¡°That¡¯s the Heavenly Yuan Darkness World¡­¡± Zhuan Zhu assumed a solemn expression as he looked at the black ball of light floating in Zhou Yuan''s palm. The so-called Heavenly Yuan Darkness World, transformed from the ninth rune of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, was said to be a mysterious world filled with endless darkness and could be considered a prison of darkness. That prison could imprison even Saints! In ancient times, several Sacred Race Saints had been imprisoned inside and so the Heavenly Yuan Darkness World had enjoyed a great reputation. However, master Cang Yuan, the owner of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, was targeted by a prime saint of the Sacred Race during the great war. The prime saint held a unique three-lotus saint object and severely damaged the Heavenly Yuan Brush, and as a result, the Heavenly Yuan Darkness World also vanished from the all-heaven. Unexpectedly, it reappeared in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. ¡°The Heavenly Yuan Darkness World!¡± ¡°Zhou Yuan, even that world of darkness can only imprison me temporarily. When your strengthened powers end, I will be able to break free! ¡°You¡¯re dreaming if you think you can kill me with that Heavenly Yuan Darkness World!¡± Ripples bloomed from the black ball of light as Yan Xu¡¯s roaring voice boomed out. Zhou Yuan''s eyes were cold and indifferent as he said, ¡°The Heavenly Yuan Darkness World is indeed more an imprisonment means, but since you have already fallen into my hands, do you think I don¡¯t have a way to deal with you? ¡°I have a method that actually matches really well with the Heavenly Yuan Darkness World.¡± He stretched out his hand and the space around it started to twist and distort. Eventually, an ancient gourd emerged on his palm. The gourd, ancient and primitive, radiated a unique charm. It was Primal Chaos Saint Refining Gourd! The Heavenly Yuan Darkness World possessed imprisonment power and the Primal Chaos Saint Refining Gourd possessed Saint refining power! The two were a perfect match! Zhou Yuan flicked his fingers, sending the black ball of light floating up and then landing on the gourd¡¯s mouth. Yan Xu, imprisoned inside the world of darkness, also seemed to sense something and produced an enraged and crazy roar. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you can¡¯t kill me! ¡°Just you wait, prime saint Zhang Lei will be here soon. He will save me then!¡± Before his roar completely died away, the black ball of light sank into the saint refining gourd. All noise ceased. All eyes were fixed on that scene, and experts of both the Sacred Race and the all-heaven couldn¡¯t help but gulp and their faces tensed up. They knew that saint Yan Xu, who enjoyed a high reputation within the Sacred Race, would fall in Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. Chapter 1473 Retreat The outcome of the battle between Zhou Yuan and Yan Xu undoubtedly shocked the experts of both the all-heaven and the Sacred Race. They witnessed a Saint being suppressed. Furthermore, that Saint wasn¡¯t a fake Saint, such as the one who Chu Qing, Li Chunjun and the others joined hands to kill, but a true top double-lotus Saint! An expert of that level could be ranked among the top Saints of the all-heaven. Within the Sacred Race, his status was second only to the seven prime Saints. But Zhou Yuan had suppressed and imprisoned such a person. Furthermore, from the looks of it, Zhou Yuan clearly wanted to kill him! The loss of a top double-lotus Saint would be unignorable even to the mighty Sacred Race. It was precisely because everyone was aware of the weight that Yan Xu had that both sides¡¯ experts were stunned. Wu! A strange sound suddenly rang out from the Sacred Race army, echoing across the sea domain space. And that cry made the great Sacred Race army begin to retreat like a receding tide. Evidently, the loss of a top double-lotus Saint made them realize their attack had failed and there would only be greater loss if they continued to attack. The people on the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s side erupted in earthshaking cheers and their eyes were filled with awe and respect as they gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure from behind. ¡°We only managed to get rid of a fake Saint after much difficulty, but he easily suppressed a top double-lotus Saint.¡± Chu Qing exclaimed, staring at Zhou Yuan. Li Chunjun nodded. Although he had finally broken through to the Saint stage, he still felt the huge gap between him and Zhou Yuan. ¡°The well-fed doesn¡¯t know how the starving suffers. You both have reached the Saint stage but that level is still far away from us,¡± said Zuoqiu Qingyu snappily. Everyone gathered together. Li Qingchan, Luluo and the others nodded in agreement. Their eyes glinted with undisguised envy as they looked at Chu Qing and Li Chunjun. After all, the Saint stage was their lifelong goal, and Chu Qing and Li Chunjun were clearly one step ahead of them. Chu Qing shook his head, saying gravely, ¡°There is no need to envy me. This breakthrough made me feel a little despair.¡± ¡°What?¡± Everyone exclaimed, staring nervously at Chu Qing. Could there be something wrong with his breakthrough? Chu Qing said sorrowfully, ¡°Because I found that my hair hasn¡¯t grown back even after reaching the Saint stage. Can it even be fixed?!¡± Everyone fell silent. After a few breaths, the several women, led by Li Qingchan, clenched their fists and struck Chu Qing''s head. This guy is too annoying. Countless people in the world wouldn¡¯t even mind having no scalp if they reached the Saint stage, let alone have no hair! Chu Qing cried out in exaggeration while clutching his head. His response eased the heavy atmosphere and made smiles appear on everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°It¡¯s so lively over there.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s laughter suddenly sounded. He had unknowingly appeared in front of the group of people who were joking around. Chu Qing, Li Chunjun, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan and the others all lit up with joy. Zhou Yuan smiled at everyone and then shifted his gaze to Li Chunjun and Chu Qing. ¡°I haven''t congratulated you two for breaking through to the Saint stage.¡± Chu Qing scratched his bright head, smiling, ¡°If junior brother Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t used the Blessings Tower to add several years to our foundation, we very likely would never touch upon the Saint stage even if we were tortured to death.¡± Li Chunjun nodded silently. ¡°Everything is for our Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan waved his hand. Then, he fell silent for several breaths and said, ¡°Also, I am very sorry about the five sect masters¡¯ death.¡± Everyone also fell silent. The smile on Chu Qing¡¯s carefree face faded as he let out a sigh. ¡°The old man sought benevolence and got benevolence. They know they have reached their full potential and even the Blessings Tower can¡¯t help them breakthrough to the Saint stage. It¡¯s because of this that they fought with their lives to help weaken the female Saint and create opportunities for us.¡± Li Chunjun said hoarsely, ¡°Now that the all-heaven is in danger, sacrifice is inevitable. We also wouldn¡¯t hesitate to follow their footsteps when the situation calls for it.¡± The others nodded, their eyes red and welled with tears. ¡°The people in Cangxuan Heaven will never forget their contribution,¡± said Zhou Yuan softly. While they were talking, several silhouettes appeared with a flash ¡ª it was the other nine Saints headed by Zhuan Zhu. All the Saints gave Zhou Yuan a cupped fist salute, a trace of admiration glistening in their eyes. Zhou Yuan¡¯s prestige in the all-heaven would increase even more after he suppressed a top double-lotus Saint. ¡°Junior brother Zhou Yuan, the Sacred Race has withdrawn their army. What do you plan to do next?¡± asked Zhuan Zhu. Zhou Yuan paused to ponder. After a few breaths, he let out a long sigh and said, ¡°I plan to give up this place and retreat with everyone.¡± All Saints were stupefied. Zhuan Zhu also sounded puzzled, ¡°Didn''t we win? Why do we have to give up here? This is a subspace that connects to all directions. If this place falls into the Sacred Race¡¯s hands, they could use this as a springboard to rapidly enter Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan''s expression turned grave. ¡°From what Yan Xu said earlier, the Sacred Race has dispatched prime Saint Zhang Lei, but he is first heading over to the defense line guarded by supreme sovereign Wan Zu and supreme sovereign Zi Xiao.¡± The pupils of Zhuan Zhu, Chu Qing, Li Chunjun and the others shrank. If a prime saint is coming¡­there¡¯s going to be a problem on supreme sovereign Wan Zu and Zi Xiao¡¯s side!We still don¡¯t know whether the two defense lines¡¯ central space has been destroyed or occupied. It¡¯s fine if it was destroyed since that could buy us some time but if it has already been occupied, it will be bad news. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we heard from them so it¡¯s very likely that their defense has collapsed. Prime saint Zhang Lei will come here after he succeeds.¡± Zhou Yuan pursed his lips, his expression grave. He couldn''t defend against a prime saint and it would be unwise to defend to the death. Everyone was silent, and the atmosphere instantly turned heavy. The joyous atmosphere from successfully driving back the Sacred Race army had instantly vanished. In the end, Zhou Yuan broke the silence. ¡°Pass on the order to prepare to retreat and destroy this space.¡± Even if they were to retreat, they had to destroy the space because that could at least delay the Sacred Race from coming. Zhuan Zhu and others nodded bitterly. As the order quickly spread, there was a low commotion within the Cangxuan Heaven army. Although they didn¡¯t understand why they had to retreat, they still followed the order because of Zhou Yuan¡¯s powerful prestige. At the same time, many Genesis Rune scrolls containing mighty Saint power were set up around the space, ready to detonate when they retreated from the subspace. Hovering in the air and grasping the saint refining gourd, Zhou Yuan watched the large army retreat in an orderly manner. He took a deep breath. I hope it won¡¯t be too late. Chapter 1474 Cang Yuan’s Breakthrough In a chaotic sea domain space. After Zhou Yuan issued the order to retreat, the Cangxuan Heaven troops quickly made preparations. A spatial channel was constructed and scrolls containing terrifying saint power were set up throughout the subspace. Once those scrolls were detonated, their power could destroy the entire space. Zhou Yuan hovered in the air before the spatial channel. He swept his eyes across, checking the saint power scrolls and then he finally unhesitatingly made a motion with his hand. ¡°Ready to detonate!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± His order drew many roars and all Saints simultaneously acted, igniting the saint power scrolls. Boom! Everyone could feel spine-chilling destructive power breaking out from the sea domain space like torrents that could wipe out the world. Space began to distort as the destructive force swept across, razing everything to the ground. The subspace seemed to be wailing, but it could only watch destruction descend. ¡°Retreat.¡± Seeing that scene, Zhou Yuan knew the space would soon collapse and so he commanded the troops to quickly retreat. One after another, the troops entered the spatial channel. Zhou Yuan, Zhuan Zhu, Chu Qing Li Chunjun and other Saints remained at the back providing support. As time passed, thick mist pervaded the air and the entire subspace was in utter chaos. Zhou Yuan scrunched his brows and blew out a gust of hurricane-force wind, dispelling all the fog. The world turned clear again. A destroyed world appeared before Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes, but he didn¡¯t look too good because he found that although the space was wrecked, it hadn¡¯t collapsed completely. That was very abnormal because the saint power scrolls that they set up could do more than that. Zhou Yuan narrowed his eyes. Then, he stamped his foot and a gush of mighty Saint power rushed out from the top of his head. It immediately transformed into a powerful torrent and raged across the already destroyed subspace. Boom! However, just when Zhou Yuan''s saint power was about to collide with the boundary of the subspace, a tiny lightning flashed out and met the saint power. A boom exploded in the subspace and Zhou Yuan¡¯s powerful saint power was blasted away. Zhuan Zhu¡¯s and others¡¯ expressions changed dramatically. Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart also sank. Who else could counter his attack so easily besides a prime saint from the Sacred Race? Clearly, prime saint Zhang Lei had arrived! Boom! Rumbling constantly echoed between heaven and earth, and hundred millions of thunderbolts flashed through space like enraged dragons. In the end, the countless bolts fell and intertwined with others. Grasping a copper cauldron, a figure strode out from the thunderbolts. Over one billion thunderbolts seemed to be roaring inside the cauldron, shaking the sky. Zhou Yuan, Zhuan Zhu and other Saints couldn¡¯t stop their expressions from changing when they saw the figure. ¡°That¡¯s...prime saint Zhang Lei?!¡± A look of fear crossed the faces of all Saints. The seven prime saints of the Sacred Race had a great reputation but the majority of the Saints present were only at the one-lotus stage. Thus, it was impossible for them to contend against a prime Saint. ¡°You¡¯re the one who captured Yan Xu?¡± Under horrified gazes, prime saint Zhang Lei shifted his silver eyes onto Zhou Yuan, and when he opened his mouth, a loud and furious rumbling reverberated throughout the world, making everyone shudder with fear. ¡°Your Saint power contains Yan Xu¡¯s power¡­that must be the Heavenly Chessboard¡¯s effect. Yan Xu is really too cautious, and he failed because of his cautiousness. ¡°A top double-lotus Saint like him could crush his enemy overwhelmingly but he chose to play using such a method¡­¡± Prime saint Zhang Lei shook his head. Then, he fixed his silver eyes on Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Let him go.¡± Zhou Yuan assumed a solemn expression. ¡°First, let my people leave here.¡± Prime saint Zhang Lei curled a corner of his lips in a sneer. Then, without saying a word, countless thunderbolts flashed out from the world. The thunderbolts, as powerful and fierce as giant dragons, emitted indescribably terrifying power as they raged. Boom! The. countless thunderbolt dragons gathered together and a giant hand formed purely from thunderbolt slammed down from the sky, crumbling everything under it into powder. That power made even Zhou Yuan, whose strength had increased, feel his scalp numb. The other Saints¡¯s eyes were filled with fear and panic. Zhou Yuan drew a deep breath and took a step forward. His mighty Saint power gushed forth to meet the giant hand head-on. If the thunderbolt hand really crashed down, even the spatial channel would be crushed and it would lead to even more casualties. Zhuan Zhu quickly calmed his emotions and roared. ¡°Help!" He knew that Zhou Yuan couldn''t fight against a prime saint even if the increased strength he received from the Heavenly Chessboard hadn¡¯t ended. So they must help reduce Zhou Yuan¡¯s pressure. The other Saints hesitated for a moment, but in the end, they all gritted their teeth and circulated their Saint powers. However, just as they were about to join forces to deal with the giant thunderbolt hand, the space above suddenly distorted and rippled. Their vision blurred and an old figure emerged in the air. The figure appeared so abruptly that even Zhou Yuan and others didn''t realize he had appeared. It was as though he was always standing there. Following the old figure¡¯s appearance, Zhou Yuan, Zhuan Zhu and the others were astonished to find that the terrifying power that enveloped everything seemed to be blocked by a towering mountain and the pressure on everyone was instantly reduced. At the same time, mist endlessly spread. Within the mist seemed to be a giant mottled divine grindstone rumbling through space and collided with the giant thunderbolt hand. Boom! A storm of saint power raged. The subspace that was already destroyed utterly collapsed under that force, and everything within it vanished like smoke. However, Zhou Yuan and others behind the old figure were completely unaffected. They peered ahead in amazement because they found that prime saint Zhang Lei¡¯s attack was completely countered. ¡°Did one of the prime sovereigns of the Omega Shrine come?!¡± A Saint exclaimed. On the contrary, Zhou Yuan and Zhuan Zhu exchanged a puzzled glance with each other because the mottled divine grindstone within the mist felt very familiar to them. While everyone lit up with joy and surprise, billions of thunderbolts intertwined in the sky and prime Saint Zhang Lei¡¯s face darkened. His voice boomed out, ¡°A prime sovereign from the all-heaven? But you¡¯re not Jin Luo, Di Long or Chi Ji¡­¡± Prime Saint Zhang Lei¡¯s cold and fierce face suddenly turned solemn. He flicked his sleeve and the mist dispelled. An old man came into his eyes. ¡°You¡­¡± Prime saint Zhang Lei¡¯s eyes went wide and a roar filled with shock resounded. ¡°Cang Yuan?! You reached the triple-lotus stage?!¡± Hua! All Saints on the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s side stared wide-eyed at the old figure who came to rescue them. After Zhou Yuan and Zhuan Zhu also stood dumbstruck for several breaths, their faces beamed with joy. As they thought¡­ The person who came was their master Cang Yuan! His breakthrough was a success! Chapter 1475 Battle Between Triple-Lotus ¡°Supreme sovereign Cang Yuan?!¡± ¡°He broke through to the triple-lotus stage?¡± ¡°He must have. Otherwise he wouldn¡¯t be able to take on prime saint Zhang Lei¡¯s attack!¡± ¡°Haha, even heaven is on our side!¡± ¡°.....¡± After several seconds of silence, the all-heaven Saints finally recovered from the shock and couldn¡¯t help exclaiming in joy because they knew that the addition of another prime sovereign in the all-heaven would greatly reduce their pressure. Their crisis would also be lifted. ¡°Zhang Lei, you are a prime saint, why give the juniors a hard time?¡± While everyone was filled with joy, the old man suddenly laughed heartily. Under the intertwining thunderbolts, prime saint Zhang Lei wore a cloudy expression as he studied Cang Yuan. No one in the Sacred Race ever thought Cang Yuan would break through to the triple-lotus stage. This was because the Sacred God had deduced that the all-heaven would at most give birth to three triple-lotus Saints but Cang Yuan broke the Sacred Race¡¯s deduction. What did that represent? The all-heaven¡¯ blessings were beginning to increase? Why? Prime saint Zhang Lei¡¯s emotions surged violently but his face remained as terrifying as before as he said indifferently, ¡°Cang Yuan, I didn¡¯t think you would be the fourth prime sovereign of the all-heaven. You are so blessed.¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s crooked body was much taller and straighter and his deep and wise eyes seemed more unfathomable. He looked at prime saint Zhang Lei and smiled. ¡°I am indeed blessed. Having good juniors is better than training painstakingly for thousands of years.¡± Prime saint Zhang Lei knit his brows in a frown. He could tell there was a deeper meaning in Cang Yuan¡¯s words but he didn¡¯t question further because he knew he had to change his attack plan now that Cang Yuan had broken through to the triple-lotus stage. ¡°Cang Yuan, I don¡¯t want to talk nonsense with you. Tell Zhou Yuan to hand over Yan Xu. Otherwise you will anger our Sacred Race and at that time you won¡¯t be able to protect Cangxuan Heaven anymore,¡± warned prime saint Zhang Lei. Cang Yuan smiled. ¡°Prime saint Zhang Lei, you are so childish. Do you think there is any space for negotiation between the Sacred Race and the all-heaven? If we let him go, would the Sacred Race stop attacking the all-heaven? ¡°It will be a great thing to the all-heaven if the Sacred Race has one less double-lotus Saint.¡± Prime saint Zhang Lei shook his head. ¡°Although a top double-lotus saint has some weight, one less wouldn¡¯t affect the huge gap between the Sacred Race and the all-heaven. ¡°But from the looks of it, it seems you have no intention of letting go of Yan Xu. ¡°In that case, let''s have a match first.¡± Prime saint Zhang Lei clearly had a fiery temper. At that slight disagreement, he didn¡¯t say anything else and brought billions of thunderbolts roaring down. Gasping the copper cauldron, he lifted his hand into the air. ¡°The Great Thunderbolt Calamity.¡± As his indifferent voice resounded, blinding thunderbolts poured out in torrents from the copper cauldron. Each one contained terrifying destructive intent. The thunderbolts gathered together as though forming an endless current of lightning mixture, roaring towards Cang Yuan in a destructive manner. Seeing such an attack, Zhou Yuan, Zhuan Zhu and the others turned. They likely wouldn¡¯t be able to counter the attack even if they joined forces. Evidently, prime saint Zhang Lei didn¡¯t hold back his strength and attacked with full strength facing prime sovereign Cang Yuan, a new triple-lotus Saint. As the thunderbolt current was reflected in Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes, he narrowed them and tilted his head to say to Zhou Yuan and the others. ¡°You guys should leave first. I will handle it here.¡± Hearing that, Zhou Yuan and the others understood they would only hinder Cang Yuan if they stayed behind. So, they nodded, stepped into the spatial channel and quickly vanished. Prime saint Zhang Lei didn¡¯t stop them because he knew there was no use in stopping them. He couldn¡¯t get past Cang Yuan to deal with Zhou Yuan and the others. However, he wasn¡¯t in a hurry. Although Yan Xu was suppressed, it would take some time to completely kill him. His priority now was to test Cang Yuan¡¯s strength since that would determine the Sacred Race¡¯s future attack strategy. Therefore, prime saint Zhang Lei surveyed the surroundings and retracted his eyes. As he locked his chilling gaze on Cang Yuan, the world-devastating torrent of thunderbolt turned even more berserk. As the thunderbolt torrent was reflected in Cang Yuan''s eyes, he could distinctly feel the vast and terrifying power it contained. With a solemn face, he didn¡¯t utter a word and he raised his hand into the air. A vertical eye emerged in his palm, slowly opening. Billion rays of light erupted from it. Those rays, bright and dazzling, not only penetrated through that subspace, but also the other space connected to it. ... As Zhou Yuan and the others shuttled through the spatial channel, they sensed powerful waves of Genesis Qi locking on them. They looked around and saw several vigilant figures surrounding the spatial channel. But Zhou Yuan and Zhuan Zhu¡¯s appearance quickly made the guarded look fade from them like a huge weight was off them. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were immediately drawn to the two leading the group of Saints. It was just that they both didn¡¯t look too good. ¡°Heaven master Zhou Yuan, what''s the situation on your side?¡± Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao hurried over and asked. ¡°I fought Yan Xu from the Sacred Race and managed to suppress and capture him, but prime saint Zhang Lei suddenly appeared and so I had to retreat with everyone.¡± Zhou Yuan explained everything in a simple and direct way without concealing anything. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao and supreme sovereign Wan Zu were evidently taken aback for a moment. Lu Liu and other saints were even more dumbfounded. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°You suppressed the Sacred Race¡¯s Yan Xu?¡± ¡°How is that possible¡­¡± The Saints present were very familiar with the name Yan Xu because his strength was comparable to Wan Zu and Zi Xiao, two veteran supreme sovereigns. Furthermore, among the Sacred Race, Yan Xu¡¯s status and strength were second only to the prime saints. But Zhou Yuan said that he had suppressed such a person?! Zhou Yuan just smiled in response. He lifted his hand and the Saint Refining Gourd appeared in his grip with a flash. The gourd was constantly rumbling with Yan Xu¡¯s roars. ¡°Actually he brought upon his own death. He used the Heavenly Chessboard and dug a hole for himself.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled and didn¡¯t try to exaggerate his strength. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao studied Zhou Yuan with a strange expression. ¡°Regardless, the fact that you can suppress Yan Xu shows how strong you are now.¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu was silent for a good while. But when he looked at Zhou Yuan again, his eyes turned solemn. Lu Liu didn¡¯t even dare to exchange a glance with Zhou Yuan. ¡°By the way, where is prime saint Zhang Lei? Is he coming?¡± Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao asked anxiously. ¡°He shouldn''t be. My master showed up at the critical juncture and stopped him. The two are in a battle now,¡± explained Zhou Yuan. Zi Xiao and Wan Zu were taken back again. Then their eyes widened in shock. ¡°Cang Yuan?! He stopped prime saint Zhang Lei? You mean¡­he has broken through to the triple-lotus stage?!¡± The shock this time was a hundred times more than when they heard Zhou Yuan suppressed Yan Xu. Zhuan Zhu nodded and grinned. ¡°Yes, our master has successfully broken through to the triple-lotus stage.¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu seemed to have fallen into a trance, while supreme sovereign Zi Xiao and the other Saints seemed to have lost their voices. They all knew what importance Cang Yuan¡¯s breakthrough had. The shock continued for a good while until supreme sovereign Zi Xiao broke the silence. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the fourth prime sovereign of the Omega Shrine would be that old man,¡± she sighed, her expression complex. ¡°But this is good news. He has reduced our pressure by a lot.¡± Zhou Yuan nodded and asked, ¡°I couldn''t completely destroy the subspace I was in charge of due to prime saint Zhang Lei¡¯s interruption, but the shock waves from the battle between master Cang Yuan and prime Saint Zhang Lei will certainly cause it to collapse.¡± He looked at Zi Xiao and Wan Zu. ¡°What about your side?¡± The fact that Zi Xiao and Wan Zu appeared here indicated that they had lost their subspace, but Zhou Yuan wanted to know whether the two spaces were completely destroyed in the end. Supreme sovereign Zi Xiao answered, ¡°My side was destroyed in time and it should be able to delay the Sacred Race from coming.¡± Supreme sovereign Wan Zu looked glum as he fell silent for a good while. He finally answered, ¡°My side was where prime saint Zhang Lei appeared first and so I couldn''t destroy my subspace in time. I had no choice but to retreat with everyone. ¡°I couldn¡¯t protect it.¡± Everyone''s expressions grew overcast because the Sacred Race could quickly reach where they were using that subspace as a springboard. This was the subspace closest to Cangxuan Heaven and could be said to be their last line of defense. That was really bad news. Zhou Yuan opened his mouth, but he could only sigh inwardly. He knew that he couldn''t blame supreme sovereign Wan Zu because he also wouldn¡¯t have been able to destroy his space if his master Cang Yuan hadn''t showed up in time. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t look so dejected. We still have the last line of defense. As long as we protect it with all our strength, we can delay the Sacred Race for some time.¡± Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and reassured everyone. ¡°We should wait here for master Cang Yuan and discuss what to do then.¡± Everyone nodded. Even supreme sovereign Wan Zu and Lu Liu kept quiet and behaved themselves. They waited for ten days. No saint had come to attack in the past ten days, but Zhou Yuan and the others could perceive terrifying Sant power shaking a space in the distance. It must be from the battle between Cang Yuan and Zhang Lei. On the thirteenth day, the mighty saint power in the depths of that space finally started to weaken, and two days later, Cang Yuan appeared in front of Zhou Yuan and the others. Seeing Cang Yuan, who looked exhausted but his mighty saint power was still surging berserkly, Zhou Yuan and the others breathed a sigh of relief. Their stabilizing force had finally returned. Chapter 1476 The Secret of the Breakthrough ¡°I fought Zhang Lei for more than half a month, but the winner couldn¡¯t be decided even after we exhausted our means. In the end, we left ourselves and the battle ended.¡± Cang Yuan sat cross-legged atop a mountain peak that towered into the clouds. He looked at Wan Zu, Zi Xiao, Zhao Yuan and other Saints and said gravely, ¡°The subspace that Zhou Yuan was in charge of had been completely destroyed in my battle with prime saint Zhang Lei, but unfortunately, two central areas have fell into the Sacred Race¡¯s hand. ¡°The Sacred Race¡¯s attacks on Cangxuan Heaven might stop for a period because they likely didn¡¯t expect my appearance and the army they dispatched to attack Cangxuan Heaven wouldn¡¯t be strong enough and so they would have to make some adjustments in their troops. ¡°However, that will only be temporary. When the Sacred Race attacks again, it will be much fiercer than before.¡± ¡°Cangxuan Heaven is right behind us so this is considered the last line of defense. If the Sacred Race breaks through this, Cangxuan Heaven would become a battlefield and the flames of war would turn more than half of Cangxuan Heaven into a sea of blood. People would be plunged into misery and suffering.¡± All the Saints present wore grave expressions, especially Zhou Yuan Chu Qing, and Li Chunjun, who were from Cangxuan Heaven. Thier faces were cloudy and their hearts sank. They knew what disastrous consequences there would be if the Sacred Race army broke into Cangxuan Heaven. Cang Yuan looked at Zhou Yuan and the others, reassuring them, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The all-heaven will not give up on Cangxuan Heaven because the consequences are also unbearable to the all-heaven. ¡°While the Sacred Race is taking a rest, we should strengthen the last line of defense to a solid state. We can¡¯t give up on even an inch of this area. ¡°Additionally, I will ask the three prime sovereigns of the Omega Shrine to send more Saints to help. No matter what, we have to defend this last line of defense.¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s expression became even more solemn and he gave everyone a cupped fist salute. ¡°Whether we can protect Cangxuan Heaven depends on everyone.¡± All Saints respectfully responded. Cang Yuan¡¯s identity and status had changed, and so even supreme sovereign Wan Zu, who never got along with him, responded immediately with a complex expression. Furthermore, the current situation was extremely unfavourable to the all-heaven and everyone should put aside their grudges. Anyone who stirred up internal fights would be criticized by everyone. Cang Yuan handed over some matters and then asked all Saints to leave except Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, the Heavenly Yuan Brush has finally restored the glory that belonged to it. This isn¡¯t an easy matter to achieve.¡± Cang Yan smiled warmly and proudly at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan grinned. ¡°But compared with master''s breakthrough to the triple-lotus stage, it''s not worth mentioning. ¡°Speaking of which, I haven¡¯t thank my master for appearing in time. Otherwise, I likely would have fallen into prime saint Zhang Lei¡¯s hand.¡± Cang Yuan waved his hand. Then, he peered at the sea of dense clouds beyond the cliff and asked, ¡°Do you think we will be able to protect Cangxuan Heaven in the end?¡± Zhou Yuan pondered deeply. This question was too deep, but he was the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven. The others could avoid the question but he couldn¡¯t. ¡°The Sacred Race is overall stronger than the all-heaven, so I think if they managed to break into Cangxuan Heaven in the end, it would be difficult to protect Cangxuan Heaven.¡± Zhou Yuan spoke after a long period of silence and his voice was much hoarser than before. From an emotional perspective, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t think that would happen, but if he rationally analyzed both sides¡¯ strength, the conclusion wasn¡¯t hard to come to. In truth, if Cang Yuan hadn¡¯t completed his breakthrough and came in time, prime saint Zhang Lei would have broken into Cangxuan Heaven with the Sacred Race army. Zhou Yuan really didn¡¯t think he and his troops could stop a prime saint and his army. But even with master Cang Yuan¡¯s assistance, the outcome still wouldn¡¯t change much when the Sacred Race launched an attack again. At most, they could stall them a little longer. Although that outcome was pessimistic and cruel, it was reality. Cang Yuan looked at Zhou Yuan and whispered, ¡°You likely know that we, Cangxuan Heaven and the other heavens, can¡¯t truly stop the Sacred Race, Everyone is just trying to buy more time. ¡°Buy time until the third god wakes up.¡± Zhou Yuan quivered and his expression turned sorrowful and complex. Besides him, everyone in the all-heaven was waiting for the third god to wake up. Only he was waiting for the girl called Yaoyao. When the third god awakened, the all-heaven would cheer with joy and celebrate, but Zhou Yuan would stare blankly at the stranger, who was carved in his bones and engraved in his heart, at a loss on what to do. Perhaps he had never thought about how he would face that scene. Cang Yuan looked at Zhou Yuan, who seemed to have lost his spirit, and saw the self-blame and heartbroken feelings in his eyes. Of course, he knew how cruel the situation was for Zhou Yuan. He really regretted entrusting Yaoyao to Zhou Yuan. If they didn¡¯t have that encounter, Zhou Yuan wouldn¡¯t be in such pain. ¡°Zhou Yuan, the power of the third god is not something you and I can imagine.¡± A bitter smile appeared on Cang Yuan''s wrinkled face. ¡°Do you know why I successfully broke through to the triple-lotus stage?¡± Zhou Yuan said puzzledly, ¡°Master, isn¡¯t it because your opportunity has come?¡± Cang Yuan sighed, ¡°Triple-lotus saints are the pinnacle of existence in the world. Only three had emerged in the all-heaven after thousands of years. There are many people in the world who are around my level. For example Wan Zu and Zi Xiao. They both have a foundation comparable to mine. But why was I the one who made the breakthrough?¡± Cang Yuan peered at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Because of that glass of wine at the wedding.¡± Zhou Yuan''s pupils shrank and his eyes widened with shock. ¡°The glass of wine that Yaoyao gave you at the wedding?!¡± On the day that Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao were married, Cang Yuan, who acted as Yaoyao''s elder, drank the wine with Zhou Qing and Qin Yu. From what Cang Yuan said, it turned out that Yaoyao''s glass of wine made Cang Yuan break through to the triple-lotus stage! Cang Yuan said sorrowfully, ¡°That glass of wine also put an end to our relationship. Once I drank that glass of wine, she considered having completely repaid me for raising her. ¡°Zhou Yuan, what I want to say is that Yaoyao was already making preparations back then. She might already have had a hunch on what would happen. So, whether it was the glass of wine or your wedding...¡± Cang Yuan pondered and then continued, ¡°You¡ªyou should be mentally prepared. Don¡¯t have too many expectations.¡± Zhou Yuan stood motionless, staring blankly at the rolling sea of clouds. It was only after a long while that he sat down and buried his face in his hands, his eyes red. Cang Yuan looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s rear figure. The dazzling youngster, who still wore a smile when his eight meridians were blocked, was faced with another heart-breaking decision in his life. Even Cang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but curse at fate. How would this end in the future? Chapter 1477 Cangxuan Heaven s Crisis The Sacred Race had to adjust its attack strategy on Cangxuan Heaven due to Cang Yuan¡¯s sudden appearance. Therefore, as Cang Yuan predicted, the battle situation in Cangxuan Heaven was strangely calm for the next half a year. But that unusual calmness instead made Cang Yuan, Zhou Yuan and other Saints be on constant guard for all possible dangers because it indicated the Sacred Race¡¯s mobilization of forces was so huge that it led to them being quiet and still for half a year. Once the Sacred Race completed its mobilization of forces, Cangxuan Heaven would inevitably be faced with a storm-like attack that made them gasp for breath. However, even if Zhou Yuan and the others knew that the Sacred Race was mobilizing their troops, they couldn¡¯t do anything because they knew their enemies were much stronger and therefore they had to be in a passive defense stance. The only thing they could do was set up Genesis Rune Boundaries and make the last line of defense as secure as a city protected by a wall of metal. Cang Yuan also asked the Omega Shrine for more support, and the Omega Shrine also understood that they mustn¡¯t lose the Cangxuan Heaven and so they sent out an army of troops that they could deploy to provide support. In that support army were three familiar people. They were Wu Yao, Zhao Mushen and Su Youwei, who were said to have entered the Omega Mountain. The three had successfully made it through the mountain, completed their breakthrough during life and death situations and reached the Saint stage. The three¡¯s breakthrough didn¡¯t surprise Zhou Yuan because their talent and potential weren¡¯t inferior to Chu Qing or Li Chunjun, and perhaps were even greater. After all, if Zhou Yuan hadn¡¯t mended Chu Qing¡¯s and Li Chunjun¡¯s flaws with the Blessings Tower, it would have been incredibly difficult for them to reach the Saint stage. On the other hand, Su Youwei and the other two, who spent the majority of their time in Hunyuan Heaven and had obtained more training resources, didn¡¯t have such worry and trouble. However, about half a year after the last support army from the Omega Shrine arrived, the frontier defenders reported that the Sacred Race army was rushing over like a tide. A fierce and cruel war would no doubt break out again. Blood and fire would be ignited at the same time. ... Prime saint Zhang Lei was still the leader of the great Sacred Race Army, but their offensives were much fiercer and ruthless than before. The Sacred Race¡¯s elite troops flooded the last line of defense outside Cangxuan Heaven like the tide. The super boundary that was built under Zhou Yuan¡¯s supervision in the past half a year suddenly had to take on a tremendous impact. Taking the super boundary¡¯s geographical advantage into account, the Cangxuan Heaven defenders delivered a frontal assault on the Sacred Race army right away. However, the Sacred Race quickly stabilized themselves and began to push forward. As a result, the several super boundaries became meat grinders. Every inch of land was stained with blood. Both sides¡¯ elites fought with all their might, and the foul smell of blood saturated the air. Due to the super boundaries¡¯ geographical advantages, the Cangxuan Heaven defenders had the upper hand in combat. At the very least, they could advance and retreat freely. Therefore, in terms of casualties, the number on the Sacred Race¡¯s side was much higher. But the Sacred Race didn¡¯t seem to care. They were overall stronger and so they could easily accept the huge difference in the number of casualties. The Cangxuan Heaven troops would still be exhausted first! This was an advantage of the Sacred Race. They didn''t need to do any planning or strategy, they just needed to gather their strength and continue to push through with absolute strength. Only the all-heaven needed to rack their brains to think about how to reduce the damage in battle. Indeed, just as the Sacred Race predicted, Zhou Yuan, who had temporarily became commander in chief due to Cang Yuan being occupied with dealing with prime saint Zhang Lei, was under tremendous pressure as the Sacred Race constantly advanced closer. Although it was incredibly difficult for the Sacred Race to push through, the damage to the Cangxuan Heaven defenders was still huge. Even Saints showed signs of collapsing, let alone Law Domain experts. Although the death of a Saint from the all-heaven would be accompanied by similar damage on the Sacred Race¡¯s side, reinforcements constantly joined the Sacred Race¡¯s side. However, no other reinforcements could come to support Cangxuan Heaven anymore. This was because not only Cangxuan Heaven was being attacked. The other four heavens were also caught in the flames of war. Zhou Yuan understood that this was the Sacred Race¡¯s battle strategy ¡ª They intended to exchange lives for lives until the all-heaven completely collapsed. This was a completely transparent strategy. No plan can stop them. It was a strategy that makes anyone powerless and despair. Even Zhou Yuan could only suppress his urge to count the casualties on his side and bravely fought on the front line. Under that cruel situation, the war continued for a year. Zhou Yuan didn¡¯t block the news about the battle situation from spreading in the past year. Instead, he often reported it back to Cangxuan Heaven so that everyone on the front line was aware of the situation. Therefore, everyone in Cangxuan Heaven understood the poor conditions on the front line and knew that the Law Domain experts and Saints of all-heaven were fighting bloody battles to stop the Sacred Race from invading Cangxuan Heaven. However, the Sacred Race¡¯s footsteps were very steady and heavy. They tread on the blood-soaked land and drew closer and closer to Cangxuan Heaven. Countless people were unable to participate in that battle and so they could only pray day and night to dispel their fears. Under such earthshaking changes, Law Domain experts constantly emerged in the Blessings Tower. Once they made a breakthrough, they charged straight to the forefront of the war. How would they not know that Law Domain experts were only considered as cannon fodder in a war of that level? However, they knew they had no place to retreat regardless of how vast Cangxuan Heaven was. They had enjoyed what Cangxuan Heaven provided in the Blessings Tower and now they needed to pay the price. And they were willing to do so. This was because their sect, clan and family were in Cangxuan Heaven. They didn¡¯t want the Sacred Race to invade and treat their clan and family like pigs, enslaving and slaughtering them as they wished. However, even though the entire Cangxuan Heaven had united to block the Sacred Race from invading, it had little effect on the overall situation. A year later, as waves upon waves of Sacred Race elite troops continued to advance, the Sacred Race eventually broke through the super boundary, which the Cangxuan Heaven defenders relied on. From that moment, the Cangxuan Heaven troops had lost their geographical advantage. ... On the line of defense. Dripping with blood, Zhou Yuan peered at the collapsed super boundary and the Sacred Race army rushed out like the tide. He rubbed his face in exhaustion and turned around to look at the many people behind him. At the front of them were some familiar faces, including supreme sovereign Wan Zu, supreme sovereign Zi Xiao, Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Zhao Mushen, Li Chunjun, and Chu Qing. They fortunately were still standing after more than a year of bloody battles. However, they were riddled with wounds and even their Saint bodies couldn''t repair those injuries easily. Sweeping a glance over everyone, Zhou Yuan smiled and then he drew a deep breath. His roar echoed like thunder. ¡°May the all-heaven live in peace.¡± ¡°May everyone return safely.¡± ¡°May we wipe out the Sacred Race!¡± Before Zhou Yuan¡¯s roar died away, he had already transformed into a stream of light and charged towards the Sacred Race army. ¡°Wipe out the Sacred Race!¡± Countless voices boomed out from behind him. Torrents rushed forth and the last line of defense crumbled apart. The stench of blood filled the sky. ¡­ Blood stained the last line of defense. The Great Zhou Empire¡¯s palace. In the palace¡¯s depths protected by a boundary. Red lanterns were still hung around the hall, but the celebratory and joyous atmosphere was long gone. Instead, the place felt bleak and desolate. In a hall that had been tightly closed for years. In the flower garden in front of the hall, all flowers were cold, dim and completely withered. The door, adorned with the red symbol of happiness and had been closed for years, suddenly shook a little and dust swept up and danced in the sunlight. Creak. As dust swirled in the air, the door slowly creaked open. The huge happiness symbol on the door that had dimmed for years was suddenly erased by an invisible force and silently vanished, as if it never existed in the world. A graceful and beautiful figure strode out the room. Chapter 1478 The Pain and Suffering of the World In the palace¡¯s depths, which was filled with cold air and looked even more chilling, a door that had been tightly shut for years slowly creaked open and a beautiful figure slowly strode out. The beautiful figure was still wearing a phoenix crown and red robes from that night. As she moved her slender and graceful figure, her body curved perfectly. But her fair, jade-like face would leapt to the eyes first. Her face was so striking that the colors between heaven and earth dimmed in comparison. Her small rosy lips shimmered in the light and her pointy nose that curved like the undulating mountains in the distance made her cheeks appear even sharper and more defined. Furthermore, there was her pair of eyes. The familiarness changed there. In the past, although her eyes were cold and detached, they still had a hint of warmth. However, now, her beautiful eyes resembled the depths of the starry sky. They appeared endlessly deep and at the same time made one shudder with fear from one¡¯s soul. There wasn¡¯t the slightest ripple of emotion in her eyes, as if everything in the world had no significance to her. She simply stood there but the world seemed to be trembling as if surrendering. Zhou Yuan was the Heaven Master of Cangxuan Heaven and held the authority to control that world, but even Zhou Yuan would find his power restricted in her presence. That was the limit of a mortal. The feeling was like a great governor controlling a border region without any restraint, but when the monarch descended, the so-called authority he had would be naturally suppressed. Zhou Yuan was just a Heaven Master and the person before him was a true god. She wasn¡¯t Yaoyao, but the third god. Yaoyao emotionlessly surveyed the surroundings, and then peered down at the bright red dress on her. She slightly flicked her slender fingers. The dress faded from bright red to a pure white dress untainted by a speck of dust. Not only her dress changed color, all the red objects in the area also dissipated into nothingness. It was as though she didn¡¯t like that color. Boom! A shadow suddenly enveloped the area and as the ground rumbled, a giant beast of around ten-feet-tall leaped down and landed behind her. The giant beast was draped in purple-gold scale armor and every scale was inscribed with ancient runes. He radiated a noble and fierce aura, and as he breathed in and out, black qi swirled in the air, engulfing the surrounding space as it passed. The beast¡¯s eyes were ferocious and fearsome, and the terrifying pressure that filled the area caused even space to collapse. That familiar beast was of course Tuntun! But compared to before he fell into deep slumber, his power had soared to a terrifying level and wasn¡¯t inferior to even triple-lotus Saints. But there was no longer any mischievousness or craftiness within his beast eyes. Instead they were filled with ferocity and the mightiness of an Alpha Holy Beast. He was no longer Tuntun, but the famous Ancestor Taotie! The third god cast a glance at Ancestor Taotie and strode out the flower garden without a flicker of emotion on her beautiful face. As the god and beast walked out of the sealed area, they noticed many palace guards panicking. At the front of the group of guards were Zhou Qing and Qin Yu hurrying over after receiving the news. When the two saw Yaoyao stepping out, they lit up with joy at first, but their complexion immediately changed after that as though they felt something was wrong. Qin Yu couldn''t help crying out loud, ¡°Yao¡­¡± But before she could finish speaking, Zhou Qing solemnly held her back. Zhou Qing shook his head at Qin Yu. Qin Yu bit her lips, her eyes red and tears streamed down her cheeks. The third god seemed to not care. Or perhaps, when she strode out, she hadn¡¯t even glanced at them. All she was looking at was the world. Then, her delicate, jade-look foot stepped forward, like a flawless and perfect object. As her beautiful foot touched the ground, her figure floated away and disappeared without a trace. Ancestor Taotie let out a low roar, quaking the world. He shook his head and turned around to take a deep look at the palace, as though at a loss on what to do. Faintly, he felt reluctant to part. It was as though he had lived there for a long time. But in the end, he soared into the air, leaving his roar endlessly reverberating throughout the Great Zhou City. As they left, all the guards in the area collapsed on the buttocks covered in sweat and their eyes wide with fear. This was because when they saw the beautiful figure, they already felt their body and Spirit no longer belonged to them. If the beautiful figure wanted, she could make them utterly dead with one thought. Zhou Qing and Qin Yu forcefully steadied themselves, but they didn¡¯t care about their fear. Qin Yu cried out, ¡°What happened? Yaoyao¡­¡± Zhou Qing shook his head, ¡°She''s not Yaoyao.¡± Zhou Qing sighed, his face seemed to have aged a lot. ¡°You also know about Yaoyao¡¯s identity so you should know that the one just now isn¡¯t Yaoyao. She is the one who elder Cang Yuan mentioned to us before¡­the third god. ¡°She is the high and mighty supreme god and not our daughter-in-law Yaoyao.¡± Zhou Qing''s words stabbed Qin Yu''s heart like a knife. She couldn¡¯t help but cry out bitterly in the end. ¡°How would that be¡­ ¡°Then, where did our Yaoyao go?¡± ¡°Also Yuan¡¯er¡­he is fighting bloody battles against the Sacred Race right now. If he knows Yaoyao is gone and the third god has appeared, how heartbroken would he be?¡± Tears rolled down Qin Yu¡¯s face like rain. As Zhou Yuan¡¯s mother, how would she not know about Zhou Yuan¡¯s feelings for Yaoyao. But the third god clearly had no emotions and had no interest in the love, hatred or relationships between mortals. If Zhou Yuan knew about this, how upset and heartbroken would he be? Was there anything in the world more painful than that? A mother¡¯s heart was connected to her child. Qin Yu cried so much that her voice had become hoarse. Zhou Qing lifted his head. Even he, who had a tough personality, couldn¡¯t stop tearing up. In the end, he gritted his teeth and cursed out loud, ¡°Heaven is so cruel, why do you treat my son like that?!¡± However, they also understand that no matter how they bitterly cried and cursed, nothing would change. They only hoped that their son could return to their side. As for what their fate would be¡ªthey didn¡¯t care. Worst comes to worst, we will be destroyed together. Why does my son have to endure such pain and suffering? Chapter 1479 Meat Grinder Boom! In a vast space enveloped in the flames of war, waves of berserk Genesis Qi constantly shot into the sky like plumes of smoke. Several Law Domains rose from all over the place, colliding with each other. Loud booms rang in every corner of the space. From time to time, Law Domains exploded like a spectacular firework display. That was the death of a Law Domain expert. Wars were extremely tragic. Boom! Somewhere in the space, two silhouettes shrouded in mighty Saint power collided like stars. The impact from the collision completely crumbled the surrounding space. Both silhouettes were blasted back from the impact. One of which was Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan tightly gripped the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Drops of blood, glowing with faint golden light, constantly trickled down from its tip. Each one containing extremely tremendous power. Those were the blood of Saints. They were from more than one Saint. In the past year, Zhou Yuan couldn''t remember how many Saints he had fought, but the number of one-lotus Saints who had fallen in his hands was no doubt more than that could be counted with one hand. He also wounded several ordinary double-lotus Saints. Of course, he had to pay a price for that. If he removed his clothes, he would see his body riddled with hideous scars that even his Sacred Dragon Body couldn''t restore for the time being. Furthermore, remnants of Saint power were constantly corroding his body and bringing him insufferable pain. However, Zhou Yuan had no time to dispel the mighty saint powers that invaded his body because he hadn¡¯t rested at all in the past year. In other words, Zhou Yuan¡¯s battle had been going on for a year! After a year of high-intensity battles, even if Zhou Yuan was exhausted, his fighting spirit was still blazing strongly because he had witnessed too many Cangxuan Heaven Law Domain experts fearlessly sacrificing their lives in an attempt to slow the Sacred Race¡¯s blood-stained footsteps. No one could cower back in such a life and death situation. It was just that...no matter how desperately Zhou Yuan fought, the situation remained miserable and couldn¡¯t be reversed. In the past year, the super boundary they had created was tore apart and the defender army, who had lost their geographical advantage, were locked in fierce battles with the Sacred Race. But there wasn¡¯t any surprising or unexpected outcome from the clash. The defender army continued to suffer losses while the Sacred Race army continued to push forward. Now, the last line of defense was under constant attacks, and the space they were situated in was already the last line of defense. If they retreated any further, they would be in Cangxuan Heaven. If that happened, Cangxuan Heaven would be plunged into a sea of blood and fire. At such a time, even Zhou Yuan felt a sense of powerlessness. He raised his head and peered ahead at the two terrifying Saint forces colliding. They belonged to his master Cang Yuan and prime Saint Zhang Lei. Prime Saint Zhang Lei had obstructed Cang Yuan for more than a year, making it difficult for Cang Yuan to provide any assistance on the frontal battlefield. It couldn¡¯t be helped. The Sacred Race was too strong, to the extent that it made the all-heaven feel suffocating. Zhou Yuan turned his head in other directions. If the defense and offense in this space were represented by red and blue, he would see red waves filled with monstrous blood qi slowly corroding everything. Although the defender army had exhausted all their strength, their resistance still seemed incredibly difficult due to the huge gap in overall strength between the two sides. ¡°Heaven Master Zhou Yuan, don''t look. According to my calculation, it won''t be long before the Sacred Race army set foot on Cangxuan Heaven.¡± As Zhou Yuan surveyed the battle situation in all directions, a stream of light flashed out. The stream of light was carrying a black-clad man with deep and fierce eyes, and the terrifying Saint power pressure emitted from him indicated he was at the double-lotus Saint stage. The man was called Hei Sun and possessed strength comparable to Yan Xu, who Zhou Yuan killed earlier and was the trickiest enemy that Zhou Yuan had encountered during this time. The main reason that Zhou Yuan was able to kill Yan Xu was because his powers were strengthened by the Heavenly Chessboard. But Hei Sun was much more ruthless and fiercer than Yan Xu so he didn¡¯t display any fancy moves against Zhou Yuan. Every move from him was a killing move. The space they were in now was extremely close to Cangxuan Heaven, and so Zhou Yuan was able to use the heaven power of Cangxuan Heaven to strengthen himself and fight Hei Sun. However, Hei Sun had kept Zhou Yuan busy and made Zhou Yuan unable to free himself to support the others. Facing Hei Sun¡¯s piercing and chilling gaze, Zhou Yuan slowly tightened his grip around the Heavenly Yuan Brush. Mighty Saint power rolled up behind him like waves and swept across the world like the tide, tearing the world to pieces. ¡°Heaven master Zhou Yuan, don''t be stubborn. The all-heaven can¡¯t stop the Sacred Race¡¯s footsteps. I suggest you surrender to the Sacred Race. At that time, perhaps you can keep your title of heaven master,¡± said Hei Sun indifferently. However, only millions of snow-white brush hair responded to him, and mighty Saint power burst forth from Zhou Yuan like thousands of white dragons, crushing and tearing surrounding space apart. ¡°You don¡¯t know how to appreciate kindness.¡± Hei Sun¡¯s eyes glinted ferociously. Then, a deafening roar echoed throughout the world. ¡°Sacred Race army, speed up the attack and wash Cangxuan with blood!¡± Boom! As his roar rang out, violent murderous qi shot into the air from every corner of the battlefield that stretched to everywhere of the space. The killing intent and morale of the Sacred Race army skyrocketed. On the other hand, the defender army on the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s side felt increasingly trapped in bitter fights. From the looks of it, their situation looked extremely disadvantaged. Battles continued and the defender army constantly drew back. Looking down from above, one would see the defenders pushed to one corner. Outside of the space, Zhou Yuan could feel the waves of mighty Saint power that belonged to his master Cang Yuan becoming restless. It was obvious that Cang Yuan sensed the defense line falling into a disadvantaged position and was attempting to free himself to help out but prime Saint Zhang Lei didn¡¯t give him the chance. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes gradually reddened with unwavering determination. Given the current situation, he had to make a breakthrough to save the situation, although that impact would only be temporary if he managed to do so. A Saint lotus floated up from the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s head, blooming slowly and releasing thousand rays of Saint power. He wanted to make his power erupt to its peak state. It was just that his power would no doubt be weakened after the temporary increase. But he had to give it a try. Hei Sun sneered coldly, ¡°That¡¯s a dead end path. You¡¯re just fighting desperately like a cornered beast? Zhou Yuan, it''s no use. You can¡¯t change the ending regardless of what you do!¡± Zhou Yuan didn''t utter a word but his Saint lotus grew increasingly bright and dazzling, as though on the verge of erupting. Roar! Just as the Saint lotus was about to spew out mighty Saint power, an ear-splitting beast roar resounded. The roar of the beast was so heart-shaking that even the many saints present felt their hearts pounding with fear. Then, they were shocked to see a chunk of space crumbling apart and a purple-gold beast treading across the sky and opening his abyss-like mouth. Mysterious black light burst forth from the huge mouth and an incredibly terrifying engulfing force emerged. Countless Law Domain experts from the Sacred Race army screamed in terror where it passed. As the black light engulfed their bodies, they broke apart into countless flecks of light containing vitality. Not even one-lotus Saints could evade the force and were instantly sucked into the purple-gold beast¡¯s mouth. Roar! As the purple-gold beast breathed in, several Sacred Race experts went missing and many people vanished without a trace. The sudden change stunned both armies. Everyone on the battlefield also stilled for a moment. Countless people stared in shocked horror at the giant purple-gold beast and the Saint power emitted from his tremendous body made both sides¡¯ Saints countenance change dramatically. This was because the Saint power was at the level of the triple-lotus stage! That¡¯s a triple-lotus sacred beast?! Zhou Yuan also stared wide-eyed at the triple-lotus sacred beast that appeared out of nowhere, but he soon found the purple-gold beast a little familiar looking. After a few breaths, Zhou Yuan''s pupils shrank and his face blanched with disbelief. He recognized the purple-gold beast was Tuntun¡¯s combat form! He has reached the triple-lotus stage?! Zhou Yuan remembered that Tuntun followed Yaoyao and entered a state of deep slumber back then. Since Tuntun has awakened¡­then¡­ Yaoyao should have woken up too, right? Zhou Yuan''s heart pounded. He had never felt as terrified even when he witnessed the Sacred Race army about to break through the defense line. But now, his whole body was trembling in fear and panic. How is Yaoyao now? Chapter 1480 Zhang Lei Suppressed and Killed The purple-gold beast¡¯s sudden appearance and the sight of him swallowing many Sacred Race experts in one mouthful made the battlefield that was filled with killing intent still for a moment. Countless people stared wide-eyed at the scene, shocked for a good while. The mighty Saint power and oppressive pressure surrounding the purple-gold beast¡¯s tremendous body had clearly reached the triple-lotus stage, and no one in both the Sacred Race or the all-heaven possessed a sacred beast of such a level. Who was he?! Not only the Sacred Race army fell into panic, even the defenders on the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s side looked puzzled. They were afraid of the mysterious and powerful sacred beast suddenly launching an attack at them because that would make their already bad situation even worse. ¡°A triple-lotus sacred beast?!¡± Saint Hei Sun, who was battling Zhou Yuan, scrunched his face in bewilderment and then his expression changed dramatically because he knew that no triple-lotus sacred beast existed within the all-heaven! A triple-lotus sacred beast¡¯s strength was comparable to a prime saint or prime sovereign. Therefore, the beast¡¯s interference would no doubt have a huge impact on the war. Saint Hei Sun didn¡¯t dare to move for a good while. However, while the battlefield was stagnant, the three-lotus beast didn¡¯t stop. His footsteps shook the mountains and quaked the earth, and he constantly unleashed ear-splitting roars and spewed out black light from his black-hole-like mouth. The black light engulfed the Sacred Race army, and amidst tragic screams, several Sacred Race experts were swallowed into the giant mouth. The morale on the Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s side immediately soared. The situation was finally clear to them ¡ª the mysterious triple-lotus sacred beast was their reinforcement. Cheers broke out from them. On the other hand, the Sacred Race army was incomparably terrified. Then, several rays of light shot into the sky ¡ª they were all Sacred Race double-lotus Saints. Although they were aware of the terror of a triple-lotus sacred beast, the Sacred Race would suffer even greater casualties if they didn¡¯t step forward. Several double-lotus Saints charged over to meet the triple-lotus sacred beast. An earthshaking battle immediately broke out. But everyone could tell the double-lotus saints had fallen into a disadvantaged situation from the very start and they couldn¡¯t even stall the triple-lotus sacred beast a little. ¡°Kill!¡± The Cangxuan Heaven defenders naturally wouldn¡¯t let go of such a good opportunity. Roaring, the great army charged forward like a torrent and once again collided with the Sacred Race army. Morale shaken, the Sacred Race army showed signs of retreating. After all, no one could ignore the triple-lotus sacred beast roaring above after he had defeated so many double-lotus Saints. ¡°Die!¡± Saint Hei Sun¡¯s face turned livid as he roared in fury. He never thought their advantageous situation would become like this. He cast a glance over the several double-lotus saints trying to stop the triple-lotus sacred beast but were constantly drawing back. He gritted his teeth as he made up his mind to go help them. Boom! However, as soon as he moved, a white dragon-like torrent gushed towards him, crushing the surrounding space with mighty Saint power. Hei Sun¡¯s face grew overcast but he didn¡¯t dare to act careless. He immediately stopped and dealt with the Saint power first. Then, he glared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you want to die?!¡± Zhou Yuan''s face remained indifferent but his attacks became increasingly fierce and ruthless. His Saint power surged like the tide and poured down from all over the world. Although enraged, Hei Sun couldn¡¯t do anything with Zhou Yuan pestering him to the point he couldn''t move. In the end, he roared out loud, ¡°Lord Zhang Lei!¡± He wanted to inform prime saint Zhang Lei of the changes. Not long after Hei Sun cried out, terrifying Saint power erupted and collided, and then, everyone on the battlefield heard prime saint Zhang Lei¡¯s panicked voice, ¡°You¡ªyou are?!¡± The panic and fear contained in that voice caused the hearts of Hei Sun and other Sacred Race Saints to sink. What happened in the battle outside the space? ¡°Sacred Race army, quickly retreat!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± While they were bewildered, prime saint Zhang Lei¡¯s voice turned sharp and an anguished scream quickly followed. Hua! The Sacred Race army suddenly fell into chaos and everyone haphazardly attempted to flee. Even the many Saints chose to retreat when they found it difficult to stabilize the situation. Boom! While the Sacred Race army was suffering a defeat, outside the space, a meteor crashed down, smashing a pit of hundred thousand miles into the ground. As countless people looked over, their eyes widened in horror. They saw a transparent glass-like mountain emerging in the center of the pit and a figure suppressed inside it. It was prime saint Zhang Lei of the Sacred Race! The triple-lotus prime saint¡¯s face was twisted with terror and his body frozen inside the glass mountain resembled an insect trapped in amber. Mysterious runes constantly flowed around the huge mountain, and the power it emitted made all Saints shudder with fear. That power was superior to Saint power. ¡°Prime saint Zhang Lei is suppressed?!¡± Even more people stared in shocked disbelief at the frozen figure. The saints on both sides couldn''t help trembling. A triple-lotus saint was suppressed and killed in such a short period?! They could feel prime saint Zhang Lei¡¯s vitality had been completely severed. He wasn¡¯t just suppressed but killed! At this moment, no one could believe what had happened. Triple-lotus Saints could be called the strongest experts in the world in both the all-heaven and the Sacred Race. But a triple-lotus Saint was suppressed and killed before their eyes within seconds. When had triple-lotus Saints ever been slaughtered like pigs? In the face of such an abnormal scene, the Sacred Race army completely collapsed and frantically tried to flee. The Cangxuan Heaven defender troops also didn¡¯t pursue after them because firstly, their condition didn¡¯t allow them to do so, and secondly, they were also stunned and worried about the sudden change. They didn¡¯t know what was happening outside the space? Could it be that Jin Luo, Di Long and Chi Ji had come to help? But even so, they couldn¡¯t kill a triple-lotus Saint so easily, right? While Cangxuan Heaven troops were troubled on what to do, a stream of light streaked down from outside the space and Cang Yuan appeared. Cang Yuan stared dazedly at the giant glass mountain and the figure killed inside it. He eventually cast a complicated glance at Zhou Yuan. Seeing Cang Yuan¡¯s complex expression, Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands trembled. Others might not understand what had happened, but he knew that only two existences in the world could kill a triple-lotus Saint so easily. The Sacred God and the third god. Since the one suppressed and killed was prime saint Zhang Lei from the Sacred Race and that Tuntun also appeared, the answer was obvious. Zhou Yuan rubbed his face forcefully with his hands and then, as though felt something, he shifted his gaze to the glass mountain summit, where a beautiful and graceful figure in white had unknowingly stood barefooted there. That beautiful figure was still as stunning¡­ Still as familiar, still as unforgettable¡­ But also unfamiliar¡­ Chapter 1481 Stranger The beautiful white dress fluttering on the top of the glass mountain created an ethereal atmosphere. The beautiful figure¡¯s appearance made the world suddenly become heavy as if an indescribable pressure was filling the surrounding Genesis Qi. Everyone, whether a Saint or Law Domain expert, felt heart-chilling pressure surrounding their bodies and their Spirit quivering. Eyes filled with fear cast towards the beautiful figure. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Zhao Mushen and others couldn¡¯t help feeling a mixture of awe and fear when they saw the beautiful figure. Their faces tensed and their expressions changed. ¡°Yaoyao?¡± Su Youwei''s face turned solemn. Wu Yao shook her head slightly, saying, ¡°She¡¯s not the Yaoyao you know.¡± ¡°Tuntun has now completely evolved into the Ancestor Taotie¡­¡± Zhao Mushen stared at the purple-gold beast in the distance with a complex gaze. ¡°But he¡¯s become more unfamiliar than before.¡± Zhao Mushen had a special connection with Tuntun, but now the purple-gold beast felt very unfamiliar to him even if it had become much stronger Su Youwei whispered, ¡°I heard that Ancestor Taotie is the third god¡¯s guardian sacred beast. He has now completely awakened, which means¡­that person isn¡¯t Yaoyao, but...the third god.¡± She turned her head, peering in Zhou Yuan¡¯s direction. Seeing him motionless like a stone statue, she felt incredibly anxious and worried. Of course she understood how Zhou Yuan felt. ¡°Only the awakened third god can easily suppress and kill a triple-lotus Saint.¡± Wu Yao sighed. ¡°This is likely what countless people in the all-heaven are hoping for, but for that guy¡­perhaps it isn¡¯t.¡± Zhao Mushen pondered for a moment and said, ¡°His emotions and feelings are opposite to the wishes of the all-heaven. This matter must be painful for him.¡± Su Youwei bit her lips and clenched her hands tight. Wu Yao also kept quiet. In another direction, Chu Qing, Li Chunjun, Zuoqiu Qingyu, Lu Luo and the others similarly watched on with complicated expressions. They could imagine how tormenting it must be for Zhou Yuan. The two people who were once engraved deep in each other¡¯s hearts were now like strangers. This was the cruelest thing in the world. Cang Yuan¡¯s gaze paused on the stunning god-like figure and then he finally stepped forward and stopped hundreds of meters away from her. ¡°Thank you for the third god''s help earlier and for killing prime saint Zhang Lei,¡± he said respectfully. He swept his gaze around the area and his deep voice resounded, ¡°Everyone, this is the third god. She is the all-heaven¡¯ greatest hope of fighting the Sacred Race. Why don¡¯t you all pay respect to her?!¡± The many Saints and Law Domain experts exchanged glances with one another and immediately bowed down respectfully, ¡°We all pay respect to the third god!¡± Many people wore joyful and hopeful expressions. After all, they knew that the all-heaven¡¯ disadvantaged situation would be reversed with the third god¡¯s appearance. As everyone bowed to the beautiful woman in white dress, her face didn¡¯t ripple in the slightest. Her eyes, as deep as the starry sky, indifferently scanned the thousands of people. Under her gaze, even Cang Yuan felt isolated and oppressed. It was the true pressure from a god. Even Saint power would be completely suppressed under that power of order. The third god¡¯s cold eyes paused on Cang Yuan, and an ethereal and majestic voice sounded, ¡°Summon all the people in charge of the all-heaven.¡± Her voice was as melodious and sweet-sounding as before, but there wasn¡¯t a tinge of emotion and made many people shudder with fear. Cang Yuan nodded. He understood that the Sacred Race¡¯s attack had failed when the third god awakened. The Sacred Race would undoubtedly choose to retreat and strongly defend the Sacred Race¡¯s four heavens, quietly waiting for the Sacred God¡¯s awakening. This was because only the Sacred God could contend with the third god. ¡°Third God, please wait a moment. The three prime sovereigns will come as soon as they receive the message,¡± said Cang Yuan. The third god nodded and put her beautiful hands behind her back. Her long lashes fluttered as her eyes drooped. Cang Yuan respectfully bowed again and then turned around to look at the injured troops. ¡°Cangxuan Heaven is only able to withstand until now because of everyone risking their lives to fight. The battle has ended now. Please quickly treat your injuries.¡± Everyone responded with a bow. Then, they immediately sat down weak and limp. Even many Saints couldn¡¯t help breathing a sigh of relief and slowly sat down to ease their physical and mental exhaustion. They finally survived the great war. If that third god appeared any later, they really would have had to retreat into Cangxuan Heaven. Standing atop a collapsed mountain, Zhou Yuan was in no mood to rest or heal his injuries. His eyes were fixed on the beautiful figure that was so familiar that it was imprinted in his soul. The dress on her, based on the style and appearance, was the dress she wore for their wedding, but¡­the bright red had changed to a pure white color. Next to her sat Tuntun, no it was the purple-gold beast called Ancestor Taotie, who exuded terrifying oppressive power. He silently watched the woman and the beast. The three were once incredibly close and had been through many dangers and difficulties since they left the little Great Zhou Empire and their names finally resounded throughout the all-heaven. But now, they were like strangers. Zhou Yuan twitched the corners of his mouth and finally forced a smile. In the end, he drew a deep breath, as though made some sort of decision. He stepped across the air, heading to where the third god and Ancestor Taotie were standing. His movement immediately drew the attention of many interested people on the battlefield, including Su Youwei, Wu Yao, Zuoqiu Qingyu and others. One after another, gazes filled with complex emotions cast towards Zhou Yuan. Cang Yuan also noticed Zhou Yuan¡¯s movement and wanted to stop him. But after a moment of hesitation, he smiled wryly and let out a sigh. Under the many gazes, Zhou Yuan steadily neared the glass mountain where prime saint Zhang Lei was killed. The giant purple-gold beast lying next to the third god fixed his ferocious eyes on Zhou Yuan. Watching the man draw closer, a puzzled look crossed Ancestor Taotie¡¯s beast eyes. He felt a strange closeness and familiarity with that man. That feeling made him forget to emit a warning growl and stop the man from approaching. Zhou Yuan got nearer and nearer and finally entered the radius of one hundred feet. It was then that the third god, who stood with her beautiful hands clasped behind her back and her eyes closed, suddenly raised her jade-like face and her eyes snapped open. An extremely cold gaze fell on Zhou Yuan, making him immediately stiffen. Zhou Yuan clenched his teeth. As his gaze met hers, he felt a bone-piercing chill that froze the mighty saint power circulating within his body. Those eyes that should be extremely familiar didn¡¯t feel the slightest familiar to Zhou Yuan, and the unfamiliarity that the beautiful face, which was engraved in his heart, felt was as deep as ink. Her gaze was so indifferent like a god watching over the mortals. Zhou Yuan even sensed a slight murderous intent in the depths of those eyes. That moment made everyone understand her identity. The word Yaoyao was frozen on Zhou Yuan¡¯s tongue before it could leave his mouth. As he gazed at the familiar jade-like face, his emotions slammed his heart like torrents. A lump came to his throat and his eyes welled up. He stood dazed, rooted to the spot, neither advancing or retreating. Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan and the others, who were in the distance, also couldn''t help but bow their heads. Su Youwei clenched her hands tight and the veins on the back of her fair hands throbbed. She turned her head away, wiping the tears on the corners of her eye with the back of her hand. She felt her heart tearing apart when she saw that Zhou Yuan was not himself anymore. She had never seen Zhou Yuan like that. Sighing inwardly, Wu Yao patted her shoulder gently. She had seen how sweet Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao previously were so she knew how cruel this was to Zhou Yuan. Many people on the battlefield fell silent as though aware of something. The screaming wind muted. In the end, Cang Yuan gave a cupped fist salute and stepped forward to pull away Zhou Yuan, who was still standing dazedly. Ancestor Taotie shook his huge head. As he watched the man being dragged away, for some reason, he couldn''t help feeling sad. He let out a low roar and looked at the third god. However, the third god¡¯s face didn¡¯t ripple at all. Instead, she swept a cold glance over Ancestor Taotie and made a cold shiver run down his spine. He obediently lay down. Chapter 1482 Deal with the Curse Poison A few days had passed by the time Jin Luo, Di Long and Chi Ji arrived at the disorderly space. ¡°Pay respect to the third god!¡± At the top of the glass mountain, the three prime sovereigns first glanced at prime Saint Zhang Lei suppressed inside the mountain and then they respectfully and solemnly bowed to the third god. They could clearly feel the changes within her. In the past, Yaoyao also had a somewhat cold and detached personality but she still had human emotions. However, the person standing before them made them afraid of approaching. Her existence was like a blazing sun, a bottomless black hole, and it would melt and swallow one as one neared. It was the first time that prime sovereign Jin Luo and the other top experienced experts were so close to a god. And it was only after being so close to her that they finally understood the chasm-like gap between them and her. The three exchanged glances with each other, looking a little bitter. It turned out that a god was so strong and they could never reach that level. Prime sovereign Jin Luo sighed inwardly and cast a glance towards the distance where Zhou Yuan was, only to see him sitting there like a stone statue, yet he could feel the sadness within him even from afar. Prime sovereign Jin Luo could only sigh. He had always thought very highly of Zhou Yuan and he knew he had extraordinary potential and would no doubt reach the same level as the prime sovereigns in the future. But the all-heaven needed the third god¡­ Only the third god could save people in the all-heaven. The third god¡¯s white dress fluttered as the third god indifferently swept a glance over the three prime sovereigns. Pausing her gaze on prime sovereign Di Long, she said indifferently, ¡°You were the one who wanted to refine me?¡± Prime sovereign Di Long¡¯s expression suddenly changed. He never thought the person in front of him would know about something that happened such a long time ago. But he didn¡¯t dare to deny it and had to say respectfully, ¡°I was too short-sighted. If the third god wants to reprimand someone, I am willing to take full responsibility.¡± Now that the third god had fully awakened, she was the all-heaven¡¯ hope. If she wanted to rake up the past, prime sovereign Di Long would be killed if he fought back. But his death would be worthwhile if she was willing to deal with the Sacred Race. Prime sovereign Jin Luo and prime sovereign Chi Ji scrunched their brows in worry. But they didn¡¯t dare to say anything at such a time for fear of angering the third god. They could only bow their heads low. The third god indifferently stared at prime sovereign Di Long. As she slowly lifted her jade-like hand, there wasn¡¯t the slightest firework, but all three prime sovereigns instantly felt their heart palpitate with fear. Fortunately, what the three prime sovereigns feared didn¡¯t happen. The third god stroked Ancestor Taotie¡¯s scales, saying, ¡°Keep your life for now. I was born from the will of the Ancestral Dragon but the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s wish to protect has nothing to do with me.¡± The three prime sovereigns¡¯ hearts sank. Is she unwilling to fight the Sacred God for the all-heaven? If so, do the all-heaven have other hope? ¡°But I will fight the Sacred God. This isn¡¯t for the all-heaven citizens but because the Sacred God will no doubt treat me as an enemy when he wakes up in order to be promoted to the first power of order. He and I can¡¯t coexist.¡± While the three prime sovereigns were panicking, the third god¡¯s next sentence made them feel a sense of relief. Regardless of what reason the third god had to help them, the best outcome for them was to have her deal with the Sacred God! ¡°The all-heaven citizens will support the third god with all our strength!¡± Ignoring the cold sweats on his back, prime sovereign Jin Luo quickly declared his stance. Prime sovereign Chi Ji asked cautiously, ¡°Now that the third god has awakened, shouldn¡¯t we take advantage of this chance to attack the Sacred Race¡¯s heavens? Sever their wings right away.¡± The third god nodded. The three prime sovereigns lit up with joy and excitement. How many years had the Sacred Race suppressed the all-heaven? And now, the all-heaven had the chance to fight back. This was something unimaginable in the past. Although they were somewhat using a tiger¡¯s might to intimate someone else, they didn¡¯t care. ¡°I will immediately make arrangements. We should try to launch a counterattack as soon as possible,¡± said prime sovereign Jin Luo hurriedly. The third god nodded again. As she raised her jade-like hand, a black ball of light emerged from the palm of her hand and within that ball of light was an extremely malicious force distorting space. The three prime sovereigns drew back one after another when they felt the distorting force and their faces blanched because they even felt their mighty saint power seemingly dissolving. The black ball of light before them was clearly filled with extremely malicious distorting power. ¡°The third god, this¡­¡± The three asked cautiously and didn¡¯t dare to near it. ¡°This is the God Annihilation Cursed Poison. The Sacred God used this to try to corrode me but it instead accelerated my awakening. I have expelled the poison but it will still take some time to eliminate it. ¡°To eliminate this poison requires a place truly isolated from the world. Otherwise, if the poison erupts, the entire heaven will be corroded and destroyed.¡± The third god indifferently explained. Then, she looked at the three prime sovereigns. ¡°Find me a suitable place to seal the poison there first and I will eliminate it later.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s and the others¡¯ faces grew overcast and troubled. Even the third god found the God Annihilation Cursed Poison tricky to deal with. If an accident occurred while it was sealed, it would undoubtedly be an earthshaking catastrophe. But under the third god¡¯s gaze, they had to agree. They were in a dilemma for a good while. However, while they didn¡¯t know how to respond, someone interrupted, ¡°Leave me to deal with the God Annihilation Cursed Poison.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo and the others turned their heads in shock, only to see Zhou Yuan had stood there without them knowing and was calmly looking at them and the third god. ¡°Zhou Yuan, where do you plan to put that thing?¡± Cang Yuan anxiously asked. ¡°The deepest part of Cangxuan Heaven. It was polluted by the Sacred God and a wisp of his will still remains there. I plan to put the God Annihilation Cursed Poison there because the power of the God Annihilation Cursed Poison can also help erase that wisp of the Sacred God¡¯s will that is invading Cangxuan Heaven,¡± explained Zhou Yuan. Prime sovereign Jin Luo and the others pondered for a moment. They were aware of Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s imperfection and knew that it would make everyone happy if it could be solved using the power of the God Annihilation Cursed Poison. However, Cang Yuan said gravely, ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are playing with fire. If you lose control or either the Sacred God¡¯s will or the God Annihilation Cursed Poison, you will bear the brunt and will no doubt be killed.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo and the others fell silent. The third god couldn¡¯t get rid of the God Annihilation Cursed Poison for the time being and they also didn¡¯t dare to take over, but Zhou Yuan took the initiative to take on the responsibility. It was as though Zhou Yuan had a death wish. Could it be because Yaoyao was gone and the third god had awakened? Zhou Yuan met their gazes and said, ¡°Everyone, my proposal is the best way to solve the God Annihilation Cursed Poison.¡± He spoke calmly but the unwavering determination contained in his voice made it difficult for Cang Yuan to persuade him. In the end, their eyes shifted to the third god. At that moment, the third god was staring at Zhou Yuan with an indifferent gaze, but Zhou Yuan looked back at her with eyes as calm as a pool of still water. After a good while, the third god raised her beautiful hand, and the black ball of light containing the poison drifted over to Zhou Yuan. ¡°Here.¡± Her indifferent voice sounded. Cang Yuan''s eyes glinted with sadness while prime sovereign Jin Luo and the others let out a sigh. The third god¡¯s lack of hesitation indicated that she didn¡¯t have the least feeling even towards Zhou Yuan, the person closest to her, They were completely certain that the person in front of them was the real third god and not the Yaoyao they knew. Chapter 1483 Counteroffensive on the Sacred Race News of the third god¡¯s awakening swiftly spread to every corner of the all-heaven like the wind, causing countless people to cheer as their fear turned into hope. The people might not actually understand who or what the third god was, but the Omega Shrine had proclaimed that she was the all-heaven¡¯s final hope. Moreover, the originally fiercely attacking Sacred Race army had immediately retreated without hesitation when the third god awakened despite being so close to finally invading the all-heaven. This was clearly a display of extreme wariness and fear towards the third god. In contrast, the all-heaven¡¯s morale was greatly boosted, especially when it was announced that the third god would be leading their army to launch a counteroffensive on the Sacred Race. Many people cried tears of happiness, their reverence towards the third god reaching its peak. After all, the all-heaven had lived in anxiety and fear for years due to the Sacred Race¡¯s invasion, always worried that they would one day breach the defensive lines and reach the all-heaven, turning it into a sea of corpses and blood. The third god¡¯s appearance had not only scared off the Sacred Race army, but she was even going to lead the usually disadvantaged all-heaven army to invade the Sacred Race¡¯s territory. From this, one could see just how huge of a game-changer she was. The shadow that had enveloped the all-heaven for years was finally showing signs of receding, causing the people to rejoice and celebrate. ... The all-heaven army gathered mucher quicker than expected. In ten days, an army composed of the all-heaven¡¯s most powerful practitioners was assembled and ready to set off. The army was headed by the third god, followed by the four prime sovereigns, then the all-heaven Saint experts and the elite Law Domain cultivators. This was the all-heaven¡¯s peak fighting force that had taken thousands of years to accumulate. On this day, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array that protected the all-heaven was voluntarily opened. Countless people kneeled and prayed as they gazed at the army of glowing figures in the sky. They hoped that this battle would be able to eradicate the disease that was the Sacred Race once for all, allowing the all-heaven to enjoy eternal peace. Great Zhou City, a tall platform in the royal palace. Zhou Yuan raised his head and stared at the sky. He could see streaks of light shooting into space, indicating that the all-heaven¡¯s counterattack had already begun. The third god... Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were somewhat dim. The third god looked exactly like Yaoyao, however, he could not sense even the slightest feeling of familiarity from her body. Zhou Yuan did not know what had happened to Yaoyao¡¯s human side. Had it been suppressed by her divinity or completely erased? ¡°Is this the power of a god?¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands slowly clenched tightly, refusing to accept this outcome. When facing the third god, even a sliver of her divine pressure was enough to make Saint experts understand the huge gap between them. Footsteps suddenly sounded behind him, accompanied by a refreshing fragrance. ¡°Your highness.¡± Upon hearing the gentle voice, Zhou Yuan withdrew his feelings and turned around to look at the peerlessly beautiful young lady. ¡°Youwei, there¡¯s not much going on here and you did not need to stay behind.¡± Su Youwei lifted her head to gaze at the numerous Genesis Qi ripples left behind by the glowing figures as she revealed a faint smile and said, ¡°With the third god leading the all-heaven army, a single person won¡¯t make any difference. Even if I went, I¡¯ll probably be relegated to cheering from the sidelines.¡± Her words were rather direct, but was something everyone clearly understood. Everyone, including the four prime sovereigns, was mainly there for moral support. The only one who was actually going to do anything was the third god. ¡°Your highness, do you think we¡¯ll be able to wipe out the Sacred Race?¡± asked Su Youwei. Zhou Yuan was silent for a moment before he responded, ¡°Although the third god awakened first, the Sacred God might have made some preparations of his own. In my opinion, the only way to exterminate the Sacred Race is to first eliminate the Sacred God. ¡°As for which god is stronger, it¡¯s impossible to tell at this juncture.¡± Su Youwei softly said, ¡°Your highness, why did you accept the problematic task of dealing with the God Annihilation Curse Poison? I feel that your highness...seems to have given up.¡± The God Annihilation Curse Poison was a terrifying entity that could threaten even the third god. Even the four prime sovereigns did not dare to receive it but Zhou Yuan had accepted the task of disposing of it. Many, including Su Youwei, felt that this was him giving in to despair. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes turned as deep as the abyss. He gently patted the stone pillar before him and calmly said, ¡°The God Annihilation Curse Poison is the only power in this world that can threaten the gods. It is indeed very dangerous, but if used properly, it might become an unprecedented opportunity.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s face trembled, her eyes widening as she stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Your highness intends to¡­¡± ¡°I wish to use it to attempt reaching the so-called...domain of the gods.¡± Each word was said with a noticeable pause in between. At this moment, even Su Youwei was utterly shocked. She never imagined that Zhou Yuan¡¯s seemingly self-destructive actions would instead contain such ambition. The domain of the gods... Since time immemorial, it was unknown how many exceptional heaven prides had poured all efforts into seeking this domain. However, no one had ever succeeded. Even prime sovereigns like Jin Luo, Di Long and Chi Ji could only gaze up at it from below. And now, Zhou Yuan was saying he intended to give it a try. If not for her blind faith in Zhou Yuan, even Su Youwei would have felt that he had gone crazy. It was a long time later before Su Youwei finally recovered from the shock. She gritted her teeth and said with some difficulty, ¡°Your highness...that is very risky, you will most likely die in nine out of ten attempts.¡± Zhou Yuan was merely at the peak single lotus stage at the moment, and had not even achieved the triple lotus stage. Despite this, he had basically proclaimed he intended to ascend the heavens in a single step. Anyone else would believe that it was impossible. Zhou Yuan chuckled and candidly said, ¡°You¡¯re being too conservative, even I feel that I will die for certain if I try.¡± ¡°Then why are you still trying!¡± Su Youwei grew somewhat anxious. ¡°Now that the third god has awakened, the all-heaven is no longer in danger. Why must you still insist on seeking out death itself!¡± Zhou Yuan gazed at the heaven boundary. The Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array was slowly opening as the army flew further and further away. He seemed to see the beautiful figure in white leading the way. Such strong divine pressure made all living things feel fear. ¡°I will not give up.¡± He softly said as fire began to burn deep in his eyes. Zhou Yuan turned his head and smiled at Su Youwei. ¡°I promised Yaoyao that if she is unable to fight her divinity, I will exhaust every possibility to help her. ¡°Hence, I will never give up whether I die nine out of ten or even ten out of ten times.¡± Su Youwei¡¯s eyes gradually turned moist as she observed the unshakable resolve in his smile. However, she ultimately did not say anything else to try and stop him. Instead, she wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes and displayed a beautiful smile. ¡°Then Youwei shall wish for your highness success. ¡°Your highness...I will always support you no matter what. Even if you choose to face the third god, I...I will be standing right behind you.¡± Her eyes shone brighter than the stars as she stared at Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan gazed at those bright eyes in silence for a moment. He seemed to want to say something, but ultimately gave a small wave before decisively turning around and stepping forward. Space warped in front of him, turning into a black vortex that gave off a feeling of dread. Zhou Yuan displayed no hesitation, allowing the vortex to gradually swallow his body. Su Youwei watched his figure disappear before her soft voice sounded, ¡°Your highness, Youwei wishes for nothing but your safe return.¡± Chapter 1484 The Patient Hunter Zhou Yuan walked through the spatial passageway, his footsteps ultimately coming to a stop when he arrived before a darkness so deep that anyone who saw it would feel endless terror. A will lay deep within the darkness like the bottomless abyss, giving off a pressure that would make even Saint experts tremble in fear, a divine pressure similar to the third god¡¯s. It was a fragment of the Sacred God¡¯s will. The will had contaminated Cangxuan Heaven, and was the main reason for Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s decline over the past several thousand years. Zhou Yuan had been here before, but had not dared to approach the Sacred God¡¯s twisted will. He knew that even though this will was merely a fragment of the whole, it was not an entity that ordinary Saint experts could ever hope to match. If he got too close, he would most certainly be contaminated by its influence. This was a place that even the four prime sovereigns did not dare to approach carelessly. However, he only had feared it previously because there was a certain someone he had to return to. Now, Zhou Yuan was no longer afraid. ¡°The Sacred God¡¯s will huh¡­¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled to himself. He stared at the deep squirming darkness as undulations filled with evilness seemed to slowly rise from within. The Sacred God¡¯s will was reacting to Zhou Yuan¡¯s determination and his will to fight. A chilling light gathered in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes. Soon after, he raised his hand and the black ball containing the God Annihilation Curse Poison rose from within. Long ago, the Sacred God had once seeked to wipe out all life in this world. His actions had ultimately roused the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s remnant will, which attacked and injured him, causing him to fall into a deep sleep of eternal darkness. For thousands of years, the Sacred God was continuously ravaged and tormented by the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s remnant will, experiencing endless pain. The Sacred God ultimately endured the torture and removed the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s power. He then fused it with all the suffering and evil thoughts he had experienced for thousands of years, creating the God Annihilation Curse Poison. Hence, the curse poison contained both the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s power and the evilness of the Sacred God. The fusion of these two entities made it the strongest poison in this world. It was a poison that could annihilate even divinity. ¡°This was made by your main body. I hope that you have a good taste of it.¡± Zhou Yuan softly chuckled as his eyes turned resolute. With a flick, the black ball was sent flying into the squirming darkness. Meanwhile, he used the heaven master¡¯s power to completely seal off the area, turning the darkness into a prison that could neither be entered or exited. The black ball that contained the God Annihilation Curse Poison finally landed in the darkness and time abruptly froze. Several breaths later, Zhou Yuan felt an indescribable twisted and evil power erupt like a volcano. Even from far away, he could feel his Spirit shivering uncontrollably, unable to restrain the fear he instinctively felt. Due to the Sacred God¡¯s will contamination, an extreme darkness had fallen over this area. As the God Annihilation Curse Poison erupted, the darkness grew even thicker, like ink that could never be erased. The one to bear the brunt of the God Annihilation Curse Poison¡¯s eruption was naturally the Sacred God¡¯s will that entrenched itself in this place long ago. Upon contact, the Sacred God¡¯s will shook violently as a ripple of extreme rage spread from the darkness. ¡°You ant! How dare you!¡± A gaze filled with evilness seemingly looked towards Zhou Yuan, who was at the edge of the darkness. However, Zhou Yuan did not take a single step into the darkness. The Sacred God¡¯s will was unable to touch him due to being restrained to this location. More importantly, the Sacred God¡¯s will had its hands full due to the extreme danger it sensed from the God Annihilation Curse Poison. A giant face emerged from the endless darkness, observing the erupting God Annihilation Curse Poison as it cried out in bewilderment, ¡°What is this? Why do I feel a familiar power?¡± However, this fragment of the Sacred God¡¯s will had been split off long ago and the Sacred God was naturally unable to send it any information due to being in a deep slumber. Hence, the Sacred God¡¯s will did not know that the God Annihilation Curse Poison was actually its main body¡¯s creation. However, this did not stop the Sacred God¡¯s will from sensing a fatal danger. Not daring to be negligent, the huge face opened its mouth, sending out a torrent of viscous liquid filled with endless evil. Sizzle! The two terrifying entities clashed within the darkness. There was no thunderous noise, only the faint sizzling of two forces eroding each other. This silent erosion, however, was exceptionally frightening. Zhou Yuan was in no rush to interfere. He sat down at the edge of the darkness and continued to observe the two forces eating away at each other. Both entities were currently at the peak of their power, and he would be instantly eliminated the moment he entered given his current power level. Hence, what he needed to do now was wait. Only as the two forces gradually tired and weakened would he be able to begin carefully searching for that tiny sliver of hope and possibility. ... While Zhou Yuan was sitting at the edge of the darkness and patiently waiting for his opportunity like a hunter, the all-heaven army led by the third god finally arrived outside the boundary of the four Sacred Race heavens. It was to no surprise that the boundary was tightly shut. The army could see four giant black flags concealing the skies of the four heavens, covering the four heavens like four giant black curtains. At closer inspection, one would see what appeared to be a blurry figure on the four flags that gave off a feeling of endless terror. The figure sat on a throne. Although his face was blurred, a pair of indifferent eyes gave off torrential divine pressure that could devastate the land. Fear surged in the eyes of prime sovereign Jin Luo and the numerous Saint experts when they saw the four black flags. From the divine pressure pulsing from the flags, they were obviously the handiwork of the Sacred God. Although the Sacred God had yet to awaken, he had made some preparations. Prime sovereign Jin Luo drifted forward. He gazed at the beautiful figure that also gave off a vast divine pressure and respectfully said, ¡°Great goddess, it appears that the Sacred Race has prepared for our arrival.¡± The third god¡¯s indifferent starry-sky-like pupils stared at the four ancient flags. ¡°Four divine flags dyed with the Sacred God¡¯s blood, how willing of him. This must be a ploy to buy time.¡± She shook her head, not saying anything else as she extended a finger. Divine light blossomed from her fingertip, and four flames descended a split second later. The four flames burned with four different colors, red, black, white and gold. They rapidly grew, turning into four fire dragons as they shot towards the four divine flags. They could be said to be divine flames of the four colors. Huuhuu! Everything began to burn as the four divine fire dragons descended. The four divine flags shook, spewing out surging black light that blotted out the sun and began tangling with the fire dragons. Genesis Qi rippled violently, spreading all the way to the all-heaven. However, anyone could see that the divine fire dragons were being continuously supplied with power by the third god¡¯s vast divine force reserves, while the divine flags had no power source. As time passed, the blurry divine figure on the flags began to fade away. It was only a matter of time before the flags were burnt to ashes. Shengzu Heaven, the Sacred Mountain¡¯s peak. The remaining four prime saints gravely raised their heads. They could see the four divine flags steadily being beaten back. ¡°The divine flags won¡¯t last for long.¡± Prime sovereign Tian Zhan¡¯s voice boomed like thunder. Prime saint Nan Ming and prime saint Tian Shou looked towards prime saint Tai Mi. ¡°Tai Mi, it¡¯s time to make a decision.¡± Prime saint Tai Mi closed his eyes. After a dozen breaths of silence, he opened them and said, ¡°Is everything ready?¡± The other three prime saints nodded. Huu. Prime saint Tai Mi exhaled as a resolute light shone in his eyes, before a chilling voice carrying the pungent stench of blood sounded, ¡°Then let¡¯s begin. Sacrifice all of our people in Shengming Heaven and Shengling Heaven to summon our god and allow him to complete his awakening! ¡°I believe they will gladly sacrifice themselves for the Sacred Race¡¯s future!¡± Chapter 1485 Sacrificing Two Heavens Zhou Yuan sat at the edge of the darkness with an impassive expression as he silently observed the deep darkness, undistracted by even the passing of time. He had already stealthily extended all of his senses into the darkness, cautiously snooping around like a tiny creature. Compared to the two enormous entities within, Zhou Yuan was indeed an insignificant existence. As time passed, the darkness in Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s core grew increasingly viscous as the two terrifying forces continued to slowly whittle each other down. Zhou Yuan felt that this sealed area was akin to a giant boiling cauldron that was slowly cooking the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison. These two entities were ultimate terrors in this world. Even the four prime sovereigns would be shocked stupid if they knew Zhou Yuan dared to have such thoughts. In fact, even the Zhou Yuan of the past would not have dared to do or even think about it. However, Zhou Yuan was no longer afraid. After experiencing his most beloved treating him as a stranger, even death had lost its terror. Since this felt even worse than death, what did he have to fear? Huu. A faint ball of white qi was expelled from Zhou Yuan¡¯s nose. Even time had become unimportant here, but Zhou Yuan did not feel any impatience and continued to display peerless patience. The time was not ripe yet. Both the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison still had more than enough power to easily destroy him a thousand times over. He needed to wait till the God Annihilation Curse Poison eroded away all of the Sacred God¡¯s will¡¯s divinity and all of the twisted evilness in the curse poison was neutralized by the Sacred God¡¯s will. As the two terrifying entities continued to erode each other, there would eventually come a single instant in time where a certain equilibrium was reached. That equilibrium was Zhou Yuan¡¯s only sliver of hope for survival. If he missed it, everything else would become meaningless. ... Outside the boundary wall of the four Sacred Heavens. The roars of four different colored fire dragons spread all the way back to the all-heaven. As the divine fire dragons continued their destruction, the all-heaven residents felt the air become blistering hot. This made Jin Luo, Cang Yuan and the other two prime sovereigns feel rather complicated. So this was the power of a god, power that could influence the climate of the many heavens. It was an impossible feat for even apex practitioners like themselves. Prime sovereign Chi Ji suddenly remarked, ¡°The divine flags are about to disappear.¡± The other three prime sovereigns looked over, their gazes piercing through space. Sure enough, they saw the splatters of blood on the giant divine flags began to evaporate little by little as the almighty figure upon them gradually faded away. The sight of this immediately drew looks of elation on the four prime sovereigns faces. ... Meanwhile, in Shengming Heaven and Shengling Heaven. An enormous black ripple suddenly appeared. When the ripple passed, all life instantly melted away before they could even scream, their flesh and spirits melting into red light that rose into the sky. Swish! Swish! A spectacular scene appeared. Innumerable pillars of blood-red light rose from the ground, accompanied by torrential blood qi. The high concentration of blood in the air quickly created a downpour of blood, dyeing everything blood-red. It was hard to imagine anything more inhumane. Shengzu Heaven, the Sacred Mountain. An enormous screen appeared in front of Tai Mi and the other three prime saints. Within it, one would see blood rain sweeping across Shengming Heaven and Shengling Heaven. The four prime saints¡¯ expressions were filled with sorrow. Soon after, their hands formed seals in unison. Rumble! The space before them suddenly shattered as a giant river of viscous blood-red rushed out, accompanied by an indescribable concentration of blood qi. The blood-red torrent flew above their heads and poured into the temple. In the middle of the temple was a black passageway that led to some unknown location. Although the blood-red torrent seemed endless, it was ultimately unable to fill the strange black hole. As more and more blood qi flowed in, the blood-red runes deep within the black passageway gradually began to glow. ... ¡°Eh?!¡± The four prime sovereigns outside the boundary wall suddenly sensed a change in Shengming Heaven and Shengling Heaven, causing them to cry out in surprise as they turned their attention towards the two heavens. They saw the boundary wall suddenly turn blood-red, the pungent smell of blood so strong that they could smell it even from so far away. Prime sovereign Di Long asked in a low voice, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo frowned deeply as he said, ¡°The Genesis Qi in Shengming Heaven and Shengling Heaven has suddenly become full of death. I cannot feel even the slightest bit of life.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± In the face of such a bizarre situation, even the four prime saints could only look at each other in confusion, unable to figure out what had happened. However, their intuition told them that this turn of events did not bode well for them. Prime sovereign Jun Luo looked towards the third god and respectfully inquired, ¡°Does the great goddess know what happened?¡± The third god¡¯s glass-like pupils swept a glance at Shengming Heaven and Shengling Heaven before she indifferently said, ¡°Every living thing in those two heavens have been sacrificed and their blood qi is currently being collected and poured into the sacred palace. The Sacred Race plans on using the blood qi to speed up the Sacred God¡¯s awakening.¡± The four prime sovereigns¡¯ expressions changed drastically as horrified looks appeared in their eyes. They had not expected the Sacred Race to be so cruel. To think they had the resolution to sacrifice two entire heavens! Di Long remarked with an ugly expression, ¡°The Sacred Race is truly vicious and heartless.¡± ¡°Is the Sacred God...about to awaken?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo was more focused on the implications. The Sacred Race had been forced to hole themselves up in the four heavens solely because of the third god¡¯s power. If the Sacred God also awakened, the fates of both parties would hinge upon the battle between the two gods. The other three prime sovereigns¡¯ expressions turned grave as they looked towards the third god. However, she ignored them, her apathetic gaze focused only on a certain spot in Shengzu Heaven. Time began to flow once more amidst the stifling atmosphere. Creak! This continued until a certain moment when the sound of something breaking suddenly rang out, causing the all-heaven army¡¯s hearts to jump as they looked to the source. To their joy, they found that the four divine flags covering the four heavens had finally begun to break and disintegrate. The four divine flags had finally been incinerated. As the flags were finally burnt away, the four heavens¡¯ boundary walls were finally revealed before the all-heaven army¡¯s eyes. The third god¡¯s hand reached out as vast divine force surged forth. Two giant hands barbarically stabbed into the boundary wall and slowly began to tear it open. The residents of Shengzu Heaven and Shengwang Heaven watched in horror as the sky was ripped open by a pair of hands. Boundless divine pressure poured from the crack, making everyone feel terror akin to dropping into a bottomless abyss. The residents of the two heavens fall into a state of panic. They were experiencing the same fear the all-heaven inhabitants had felt several years ago. On the Sacred Mountain¡¯s summit, Tai Mi and the other three prime saints also raised their heads to stare at the magnificent scene. However, they did not feel fear, their faces instead filled with fanatical ecstasy. In this moment, they felt a familiar pressure that originated from deep within their bloodlines and souls. They fell to their knees, eyes filled with piousness as their respectful voices spread across the land. ¡°We welcome our god!¡± Deep within the black passageway, a pair of eyes akin to the bottomless abyss slowly opened. At this very same moment, Zhou Yuan suddenly sensed a certain equilibrium appear between the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison that had already clashed millions of times in the boiling darkness. Zhou Yuan¡¯s lips cracked into a grin. His chance had finally arrived. Chapter 1486 God Meets God Zhou Yuan stared at the boiling darkness from its edge. He could faintly sense a certain fleeting equilibrium was about to occur between the two terrifying entities after countless clashes. Zhou Yuan did not display any hesitation whatsoever. Even though the darkness gave off a sensation of boundless dread, he understood that this was the final sliver of hope he had been waiting for. Hence, he immediately took a step forward and his body leaped into the air, plunging into the endless darkness. He felt two almighty presences engulf him the instant he crossed the boundary, forcing him to experience the true meaning of insignificance. The Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation God Poison were akin to two giant grindstones the size of a mountain, while Zhou Yuan was an ant caught between them. Though the two heavyweights were focused on each other, the sparks from their clash were more than capable of dealing devastating blows to Zhou Yuan. In the short span of a few breaths, more than half of Zhou Yuan¡¯s prided Sacred Dragon Body was pulverized, leaving him to bitterly persist with only his head and the upper half of his body. The Saint force that was wildly desired by countless Law Domain experts had become akin to a poor bullied little kid, easily smashed to pieces by the two terrifying powers the moment it stuck its head out. In this moment, Zhou Yuan experienced what it felt like to be pushed around by anyone. Moreover, as his body and his Saint force was being pulverized, Zhou Yuan could feel a twisted evilness from both the God Annihilation Curse Poison and the Sacred God¡¯s will begin to infect him. His face twisted in agony as his mind and heart was being eroded. Countless evil thoughts rose in his head, causing an unnatural wide grin to grow from the corners of his mouth. However, his innermost heart struggled to retain some clarity. He understood that he needed to tightly guard his final bit of rationality and could not allow himself to be fully corrupted by evilness. Otherwise, there would truly be no hope left. However, how could it be easy to guard one¡¯s heart and retain clarity with two almighty terrors rapidly corrupting him? Zhou Yuan could feel more and more of his essence being corrupted by the two terrors¡¯ power as darkness and scarlet-red gradually surged out in his eyes. No Zhou Yuan, you must endure! Zhou Yuan abruptly bit the tip of his tongue, using his final bit of fading clarity to activate the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Genesis Qi began to flow in his body according to the Ancestral Dragon Scripture¡¯s pathways as the faint, ancient roar of a dragon echoed within him. As the dragon roar spread, the rising evilness and chaos in Zhou Yuan¡¯s mind surprisingly began to slow. However, Zhou Yuan somehow knew that this slowdown was only temporary. As the disturbance he caused grew bigger and bigger, the still busily fighting Sacred God¡¯s will and God Annihilation Curse Poison would instinctively direct more of the scattered power from their clashes towards him. Since this bug was still hopping around so actively, it would be better to destroy him as soon as possible... Although the situation was near hopeless, Zhou Yuan did not have any better ideas. The only thing he could do was grit his teeth and desperately cling on to his final bit of clarity. He knew that he could not give up no matter how difficult things became, because once he did, there would no longer be any chance for him and Yaoyao. Deep within the darkness, a twisted, evil black tide swallowed him as he murmured, ¡°Yaoyao...I won¡¯t give up! Believe in me, I will definitely bring you back!¡± ... Boom! The boundary walls of the Sacred Race heavens were slowly being torn open by a pair of giant hands, drawing countless terrified and panicked gazes. As the boundary wall was torn apart, the third god acted again. With a light jab of her finger, countless orbs of divine force converged around her, turning into meteors as they fell with great momentum. Rumble! Divine fire burned from the meteors as they streaked across the horizon, accompanied by devastating power as they descended upon the Sacred Heavens like a world-ending calamity. If such power were to land, there would certainly be extreme damage. Countless Sacred Race members began to pray in fear. Omm! Omm! Before the meteors could land, however, giant black lotuses suddenly broke out from the ground. The black lotuses blossomed, rising to meet the falling meteors like pillars that could support the heavens. Boom boom boom! Loud, earth-shaking booms thundered one after another as giant storms unfurled from the collisions, sweeping across the land. However, that was the extent of the damage. None of the meteors had managed to land on the Sacred Race heavens. Outside the boundary wall, the expressions of Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the others turned grave. Neutralizing the third god¡¯s divine force attacks was clearly not something the remaining four prime saints were capable of. Hence, the one who had defended was definitely the Sacred God. He has awakened! In this moment, unrestrainable fear rose in the hearts of Jin Luo and the others, fear that originated from the world-ending war long ago. The Sacred God¡¯s unstoppable power and terror had been deeply carved into the all-heaven¡¯s memories, never to be erased. Even though they had the third god, all of the Saint experts felt their entire bodies turn ice-cold. While the Saint experts were shivering in fear, a nine-color lotus grew from the summit of the Sacred Mountain. The flower extended far into the sky and eventually appeared outside the boundary wall. The nine-color lotus flower slowly blossomed under the terrified gazes of the all-heaven Saint experts. A figure was seated within the lotus flower. He was dressed in black, his black hair draped over his shoulders. He was tall and slim and his face gave off an indistinct aura, making it feel as if he might be someone you knew if you took a cursory glance. It was because ordinary people could not view his face. Hence, their imagination could only try to make something up. However, there was one common feature that everyone would see. There was a slightly open black slit on this forehead, containing what appeared to be the apex of darkness. Even a Saint expert¡¯s Spirit would crumble, falling into internal darkness if he looked a few seconds too long. The black-clothed man remained seated on the nine-color lotus as he raised his head and looked towards the third god. He did not even glance at the all-heaven army behind her. ¡°Third god, you and I finally meet.¡± He smiled faintly. The third god did not reply as her indifferent eyes observed the Sacred God The Sacred God shook his head. ¡°Too cold. One must know that you could only be born because I alarmed the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s remnant will back then. ¡°Although you were born from its will, you are not the Ancestral Dragon and have no need to protect these ants. ¡°When this world was created, the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s body transformed into its many inhabitants. It desired to create a divine bone for the world¡¯s inhabitants, bestowing upon them the ability to bear the power of divinity and giving them the potential to become gods. However, you and I are born from divine matter and if we were made into the divine bone instead, we would not have existed in this world. ¡°Fortunately, I managed to realize this early enough and hid myself amidst the primal chaos, leaving the Ancestral Dragon unable to fulfil this wish, forever denying the inhabitants of this world the potential to become gods¡­ ¡°At the same time, this also led to our births.¡± The Sacred God¡¯s voice echoed across the area, causing the all-heaven Saint experts to tremble. They had begun to realize the garguntum secret hidden within the Sacred God¡¯s words. It was why no one had ever managed to take that final step no matter how talented they were and ascend to the realm of the gods. It turns out that all the inhabitants of this world had a single flaw. A flaw that took the form of the divine bone, a container for divinity. ¡°Hence, you should be thanking me, third god.¡± The Sacred God ultimately arrived at this conclusion. The third god indifferently said, ¡°How should I thank you then?¡± The Sacred God chuckled softly. ¡°You should of course join me to destroy all life in this world and return their bloodline power to its original state, giving us the opportunity to seek the ultimate power.¡± The third god¡¯s deep, starry-space-like eyes stared at the Sacred God. ¡°No, you are wrong about one thing. To wield the power of the first order and become the ultimate god, merely devouring all life won¡¯t be enough. You and I...cannot coexist either.¡± The Sacred God did not respond. Soon after, he shook his head and smiled. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be better of us to solve this problem after we destroy all of them?¡± The third god replied, ¡°Sacred God, don¡¯t waste your breath on such useless lies. We both know that the day we eliminate the final inhabitant of this world will be the moment you attack me.¡± The Sacred God sighed as he kneaded his forehead and softly said, ¡°It seems that negotiations have broken down again. ¡°Since that is the case, I¡¯ll have no choice but to devour you first¡­¡± He slowly stood up from the nine-color lotus and stretched his arms outwards as a grand, but emotionless voice echoed across every corner of the all-heaven, ¡°I announce the beginning of the very first war of the gods.¡± Chapter 1487 A Sliver of Hope Darkness. Endless darkness. Zhou Yuan¡¯s body was buried in the deepest layer of the darkness. A warped, evil power continuously surged towards him like the tide, gradually eroding his mind. Endless evilness and cruelness rose in his heart, seemingly intent on corrupting him to become the vilest creature in this world. The Ancestral Dragon Scripture circulated in his body, causing the roar of an ancient dragon to echo. However, even this roar slowly grew weaker under the layers of enveloping darkness. Zhou Yuan was far too weak compared to the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison. So weak that he was barely hanging on after being exposed to the residual power from the clash between the two great terrors. Zhou Yuan understood his predicament. He had originally hoped to draw in the power of the Sacred God¡¯s will and God Annihilation Curse Poison and subsequently direct it using the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. In the end, he would fuse their powers to create a new power that would likely allow him to ascend to a new cultivation stage. However, he had begun to realize how idealistic he had been after numerous repeated trials. Reality was cruel and he was just far too weak, too weak to even move the residual power from the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison. As such, his plan had already failed at the first step. His power was gradually being sapped away and once it hit rock bottom without him finding a way to replenish his reserves, the only fate that awaited him would be death. However, Zhou Yuan knew that he had already tried his best. Despite this, he still felt his rationality and clarity slowly leaving him. The risk he was undertaking went far beyond the imagination of any mortal. It was no wonder that even he felt it was most certain death. However, Zhou Yuan had already anticipated this outcome. He knew it was nothing but a final desperate bet, but if he had not taken it, there would no longer be any chance for him and Yaoyao to meet. If so, what was there to be afraid of? ¡°I...won¡¯t give up.¡± Zhou Yuan mumbled, almost like a mantra, in the darkness. However, his mumbling slowly became softer and more disjointed, even sounding somewhat confused after more time had passed. If someone could peer into the deepest depths of the darkness, they would discover that only a floating head remained of Zhou Yuan. His expression was exaggeratedly twisted, a sight so bizarre that it would make anyone¡¯s hair stand on ends. Countless black runes crawled across his face, squirming under his skin like black worms as even this last piece of himself began to melt away. ¡°Am I...going to die? ¡°Yaoyao¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± A last murmur sounded as Zhou Yuan was about to finally embrace oblivion. However, a flash of mysterious purple-gold suddenly appeared from the depths of his mind. The purple-gold light seemed to be some kind of mysterious matter that was both tangible and incorporeal as it flowed about in his head. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to it. He could sense a familiar presence from the mysterious substance. The presence...belonged to Yaoyao! It was the divine matter Yaoyao had left in his body long ago! This sudden turn of events momentarily stunned Zhou Yuan. However, he quickly discovered that the surrounding Sacred God¡¯s will and God Annihilation Curse Poison¡¯s power had begun to stir, displaying desire and greed as they surged into Zhou Yuan¡¯s head in an attempt to devour the divine matter. As such a new clash began between the Sacred God¡¯s will, the God Annihilation Curse Poison and divine matter in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. The struggle in his head made him feel a head-splitting headache. It felt as if his head was about to explode. However, he did not stop the battle, because a flash of inspiration had suddenly struck him. The Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison had been too tyrannical previously, making it impossible for him to direct and fuse them through the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. However, there was now a third force in play. The divine matter was not overly aggressive in nature, and could be used as a medium to create balance between the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison. Zhou Yuan¡¯s power level was too low and it was impossible for him to act at this balancing medium, however, the divine matter could clearly fulfil this role! Hundreds of thoughts rapidly flashed past in Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. In the end, he decisively grasped this final sliver of hope. With a thought, the roar of an ancient dragon rang out in his head as an ancient dragon silhouette appeared. The dragon coiled itself, forming a dragon cauldron where the three terrifying powers continued to clash. The Ancestral Dragon Scripture activated as fire began to burn in the dragon cauldron, slowly roasting the three terrifying powers. The Ancestral Dragon Scripture originated from the Ancestral Dragon. Hence, there was no need to elaborate on its wonders. It had been incapable of refining and fusing the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison¡¯s power because Zhou Yuan¡¯s cultivation was too low. Now, however, he had the divine matter as a buffer to lessen the pressure, allowing the Ancestral Dragon Scripture to finally show its true power. As the dragon cauldron burned, a wisp of mysterious qi slowly rose from within. It was extremely faint and immediately fused into Zhou Yuan¡¯s head the moment it appeared. In that instant, Zhou Yuan was ecstatic to discover that his originally depleted reserves had begun to recover at an alarming speed. Moreover, he could clearly feel that this wisp of mysterious qi was on a higher realm of power than his Saint force, and was both more immense and mysterious. In this moment, he felt that his reckless plan did have the possibility of succeeding! He did not dare to tarry, tightly guarding his mind as he continued to circulate the Ancestral Dragon Scripture to maintain the dragon cauldron¡¯s work. As more of the Sacred God¡¯s will and God Annihilation Curse Poison¡¯s power flowed in, wisp after wisp of magical qi rose from burning dragon cauldron before being absorbed by Zhou Yuan. After a few seconds, Zhou Yuan''s body began to regrow at a speed that could be seen by the naked eye. His new body looked as if it was constructed from glass. It pulsed with a strange, mysterious glow as ancient runes that seemingly originated from the beginning of time appeared on his skin. Zhou Yuan had a feeling that the power of this new body alone could easily pulverize him at his previous peak. Moreover, this was only the beginning. As his body reconstructed itself, more and more of the magical qi began to flow into his body. In the darkness, Zhou Yuan¡¯s aura began to climb at an unimaginable speed. In the endless darkness, the two terrors continued to erode each other, unaware that at a certain spot between them, a tiny worm that should have already been killed was gradually devouring their power and growing stronger little by little... Chapter 1488 Battle of the Gods While Zhou Yuan had suddenly found a sliver of hope amidst extreme despair, outside the Sacred Race heavens boundary walls, the all-heaven Saint experts were trembling due to the words uttered by the Sacred God. A battle of the gods! The Sacred God intended to fight the third god! This was the first true battle of the gods since the birth of the Tianyuan World. Although the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will had appeared in the world-ending war long ago, it was not considered a true god in that form. Hence, the subsequent battle was strictly speaking, the first battle between gods in the Tianyuan World. However, it was also something that Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the others honestly did not wish to witness, because they could not afford the consequences of failure. However, the current situation was clearly out of their control. The only thing they could do was become spectators to the first battle of the gods in history. Under the watching gazes of countless people, the third god¡¯s beautiful face remained expressionless as her deep, starry-star-like pupils concentrated on the Sacred God. After a moment, she slowly said, ¡°As you wish.¡± The gazes of the two gods clashed in the air as the entire area began to shake. Endless lightning, powerful gales and torrential rain suddenly appeared, causing destruction around them. The all-heaven army hurriedly retreated, not daring to stay anywhere near. As they retreated, two divine light ripples abruptly spread from the third god and the Sacred God, instantly covering the entire space. From a distance, it looked as if two giant Law Domains were clashing. However, everyone understood that this power was many realms higher than the Law Domain. Perhaps, it could be called the god domain. The two god domains collided, causing a deafening noise. The sound pierced through the vast space, causing endless fear to rise in the hearts of everyone who heard it. The Sacred God watched the god domains clash and chuckled softly before he waved his sleeve. Countless rays of black light suddenly descended in his god domain as dirt rolled over from all directions. In the blink of an eye, an army clad in black armor appeared. These black-armored troops were a hundred-feet-tall and wielding black staves. They released an earth-shaking roar when they appeared, their eyes filled with a fanatical devoutness. ¡°For our god!¡± A black flood rushed forth, destroying everything in its path. In the distance, the expressions of Jin Luo, Cang Yuan and the others changed at the sight of these black-armored soldiers, because their senses told them that each fighter possessed the power of the Saint stage. An army like this could easily sweep the all-heaven. Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s aged face was extremely grave. ¡°They are the black-armored divine army that are created from the Sacred God¡¯s divinity. They are as intelligent as us but do not fear death. However, they can only exist in the god domain. Many Saint experts died at their hands in the great war long ago.¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s, Di Long¡¯s and Chi Ji¡¯s expressions turned somewhat gloomy as if recalling some bad memories. Cang Yuan bitterly said, ¡°This is the power of the gods. Comparing it to Saint force is like comparing the moon to fireflies.¡± Although the world-ending war had seemed to be a desperate fight, the truth was that the Sacred God was only playing around. If he was serious, even the entire all-heaven combined would not have been enough to entertain him. If the Sacred God had not massacred too much and roused the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will, the all-heaven would have likely been wiped out long ago. While they were bitterly sighing, the third god made her move. Her finger fell through the air, sending out a waterfall of glass light. Countless silver-armored figures instantly appeared. These silver-armored figures were slim and graceful. They wielded swords and wore masks on their faces. Each of them gave off a vast and powerful aura that was no weaker than any Saint expert. Evidently, the third god could also use the same trick. Hence, the black and white armies roared as they charged forward, colliding at the center of the two god domains like two distinctly different floods. Black and white smashed together, the divine troops leading the charge on both sides instantly shattering to pieces like glass. The eyelids of all the Saint experts twitched erratically at this sight. One must know that every divine warrior was equivalent to a Saint expert, and yet they were now nothing but cannon fodder here. This was the battle of the gods. Brutal, cruel and intense. While the black and white floods crashed into each other, a giant black sun rose in one of the god domains, burning with divine black flames as it hurtled forth like a cannonball. On the other side, space was torn open as glowing silver ships emerged, swept along by divine power that could shake the void as they smashed into the black sun. Boom boom! The surrounding space began to fracture. Every life form in the all-heaven could clearly feel the natural Genesis Qi grow extremely agitated and violent. In the battle of the gods, every gesture was akin to armageddon. Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the others nervously watched the fight, a huge contrast to the two main actions, the Sacred God and the third god, who wore nonchalant expressions as if this was merely the appetizer. The Sacred God observed the two clashing god domains and praised, ¡°Third god, although it¡¯s not been long since you¡¯ve awakened, your control over divine power is pretty good.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t bad either. As expected of the second god.¡± The third god replied as if she was merely a watching bystander. The Sacred God smiled. In the next instant, his body began to disintegrate, turning into countless streaks of light that rose upwards. In the blink of an eye, a black flood rushed across the land like an endless black sea that could devour everything in this world. ¡°Third god, if we¡¯re going to play, let¡¯s make the stakes a little bigger. If you want to protect the all-heaven, show me how much of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s ability you¡¯ve inherited!¡± The black sea churned, revealing a giant face. It was the Sacred God. The third god gazed at the churning black sea and slowly said, ¡°The endless black sea.¡± When the world was created, some divine matter transformed into a boundless black sea amidst the chaos, possessing the power to swallow all matter. The Sacred God¡¯s core was this very same endless black sea. With the Sacred God transforming into the black sea, it was clear that he no longer wanted to play around and was going to use the true power of the gods. Resplendent silver light gradually began to spread from the third god¡¯s body as silver particles rose around her. In the end, a vast silver river that could easily stretch across any heaven was formed. At the very center of the silver river was a sparkling divine rock with nine holes that gave off endless divine power. Jin Luo and the others could not help but feel a trembling surge out from the depths of their Spirits, the instinctive fear of a lower life form towards a superior being. The all-heaven army hurriedly retreated once more. In the Sacred Race heaven, Tai Mi and the oher prime saints displayed grave expressions. They understood better than everyone else that the Sacred God revealing his core meant that he was going to use his full power. After all, the last time he had used it was against the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. The Sacred God clearly did not underestimate the third god. The black sea and the silver river hovered amidst the chaos. In the next instant, both forces surged forth, smashing through space before they collided with a loud boom. A wave of berserk qi unfurled, travelling through the vast space to create violent storms in the all-heaven. The all-heaven¡¯s meteorology had been disrupted. The black sea and the silver river clashed millions of times in an instant. It was a collision of divinity, because only divinity could destroy divinity. It was a match of raw divinity against divinity. The intensity and danger of the battle was something ordinary people could never imagine. Boom! After yet another clash, the black sea and silver river suddenly shattered, turning into millions of light rays that sprinkled across the vast space and the all-heaven. Boom boom! Black and silver lights landed in countless small domains and the all-heaven, turning into the likeness of the Sacred God and the third god before immediately engaging in fierce combat. In this instant, figures of the two gods fighting could be seen nearly everywhere. They had splitted into millions of copies! This ability stupefied the watching all-heaven and Sacred Race Saint experts. A battle of this level had already surpassed the limits of their imagination. No one knew how long the two gods continued to clash, it seemed to last for an instant but also several months at the same time. However, the thunderous noises that plagued the all-heaven never stopped even for a second. ¡°How long will their battle continue?¡± In the end, Cang Yuan could not help but ask. Being unable to do anything but wait here for the outcome was honestly torture to him. The wrinkles on prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s face rose like a mountain as he slowly said, ¡°If I am not wrong, they are continuously trying to approach each other¡¯s life-bound core.¡± Di Long¡¯s and Chi Ji¡¯s eyes flashed in understanding. The so-called life-bound core likely referred to the third god¡¯s nine-hole divine rock and the Sacred God¡¯s endless black sea. Prime sovereign Jin Luo sighed and said, ¡°As for how victory is decided, it is not something practitioners at our level can hope to understand. Hence, there is no need to think about it and we can only silently wait for the outcome. If the third god fails, I can only say that the all-heaven¡¯s luck has run out.¡± The other Saint experts could only smile bitterly as they nodded. However, while the Saint experts were anxiously waiting for the result, a surge of vast silver and black light suddenly appeared. In the next instant, a silver river and a black sea rammed into each other once more, rapidly devouring and corriding each other. The third god¡¯s cold voice rang out from the silver river, ¡°Sacred God, although you wield the power of the second order, and your divine force is slightly stronger than mine, it is delusion for you to believe you can destroy me. ¡°If you and I insist on continuing this fight, even a hundred years will not be enough to decide the victor.¡± The Sacred God¡¯s giant face emerged from the black sea with a grin as he replied, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± The third god said, ¡°Since neither of us can deal with the other, let¡¯s stop this fight. You should give up on your futile ambition to ascend to the first order, while the Sacred Race and the all-heaven shall each walk their separate paths in the Tianyuan World.¡± Mixed expressions appeared on the all-heaven Saint experts for a time, but the majority breathed heavy sighs of relief. If this status quo could be maintained, it would not be an unacceptable outcome. At the very least, the all-heaven would be protected by the third god, and they would no longer need to fear the Sacred Race like in the past. The endless black sea churned violently as giant waves rose from within. A temporary silence blanketed the area before the Sacred God¡¯s giant face softly chuckled. The Sacred God stared at the vast silver river, seemingly looking straight at the nine-hole divine rock at its center as a strange smile flowed out in his deep, black eyes. In the next instant, his voice rang out in the all-heaven, ¡°Third god, there¡¯s one thing you are wrong about... ¡°Do you really think that I can¡¯t deal with you?¡± Chapter 1489 The Greatest Ambition In the darkness, the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison continued to erode and whittle away at each other like two giant wheels grinding against the other. As time passed, some changes gradually appeared in the tug-of-war between the two titans. A strange phenomenon was occuring at a certain spot between the two powers. Any power from the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison would suddenly vanish whenever it passed through that location. Although it was initially negligible, a sliver of mysterious light suddenly appeared in the darkness after some time passed. It shined like a single, lone star in the deep darkness of space, and though its light was not strong, it was very conspicuous. If one¡¯s gaze could penetrate into the mysterious light, one would see a figure silently seated within. An ancient dragon roar spread from his body, along with a peculiar pressure. The Sacred God¡¯s will and God Annihilation Curse Poison¡¯s power continuously streamed into his head, before being refined by the dragon cauldron in his body, turning the power into his own. The light grew stronger and began to encroach on the Sacred God¡¯s will and God Annihilation Curse Poison¡¯s territory. The spreading pressure from the figure in the light also climbed at an astonishing speed... The Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison were initially unconcerned about the ant somewhere between them, focused instead on each other. As time passed, however, the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison began to realize that something was wrong. They suddenly discovered that the strange and weak ant-like existence had suddenly gained power that could not be underestimated. Moreover, his power had originated from them! In other words, they were slowly weakening as the strange entity grew stronger. The God Annihilation Curse Poison was not sentient and only acted on instinct, while the Sacred God¡¯s will had been stuck here in this darkness for countless years in a muddled, formless state. In addition, this zone was currently sealed and though the Sacred God had already awakened, he had yet to sense and retrieve the fragment of his will in this location. As such, both the God Annihilation Curse Poison or the Sacred God¡¯s will were merely following their instincts, creating a chance that Zhou Yuan had clearly taken advantage of. While they were busy with each other, he had secretly stolen their power to strengthen himself. By the time the two terrors realized what he was doing, he was already strong enough to face them. Hence, the God Annihilation Curse Poison and the Sacred God¡¯s will stopped attacking as recklessly as before when they discovered the strange thief that had suddenly become a threat. He was no longer an ant they could easily squash. With the entry of a third party, what was originally two opposing forces now became a triangular standoff between three parties. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s power stealing did not stop. Through the power of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and the divine matter, he continued to drain the Sacred God¡¯s will and God Annihilation Curse Poison¡¯s power. He could feel his power rising at an unimaginable speed. If he could leave now, his strength would definitely be at least equal to the triple lotus stage. However, Zhou Yuan did not choose to do so, because although he was stronger, it was still far from enough to fulfil his ambitions. ¡°I need to be stronger...far stronger...strong enough to reach that level!¡± A firm voice rang out in Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s core. In the next instant, a terrifying suction force erupted from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The Sacred God¡¯s will and God Annihilation Curse Poison¡¯s power turned into giant ten-thousand-mile-wide funnels that connected to Zhou Yuan¡¯s head. Two different powers flooded towards him and were rapidly swallowed into his body. A scary and ruthless light shined in his eyes as he frantically circulated the Ancestral Dragon Scripture to refine the power. ¡°I¡¯ll devour both of you so I¡¯ll be able to take that final step!¡± Upon sensing his intentions, the God Annihilation Curse Poison and the Sacred God¡¯s will began to violently resist. They never expected that this strange entity that had previously been an ant in their eyes, would now become delusional enough to devour them. Moreover, he was clearly intent on consuming not one but both of them together! Frightening power erupted in the darkness. However, neither the God Annihilation Curse Poison or the Sacred God¡¯s were able to escape the suction force from Zhou Yuan no matter how hard they resisted. Moreover, they realized that the Ancestral Dragon Scripture just so happened to have a restraining effect on them. As such, the two terrors gradually shrank as time passed, while the light from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body grew increasingly resplendent. The light slowly grew brighter, even beginning to chase away the darkness in Cangxuan Heaven¡¯s core. Indescribably terrifying power filled Zhou Yuan¡¯s limbs, power that had already long surpassed his common sense. He should have reached the pinnacle of the triple lotus stage. However, this was also where a problem began to appear. When his power reached this level, Zhou Yuan discovered that his body was starting to reach its limit. It was as if such power was beyond the capacity of his body. There was only one outcome if he continued to brainlessly absorb more power - his body and Spirit would implode. ¡°Why is it like this... ¡°Is this power the limit? ¡°Why can¡¯t I take that final step and touch that legendary realm?!¡± The sudden turn of events made Zhou Yuan angry and confused. He had not risked his life for a mere triple lotus stage! However, Zhou Yuan was now stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Sacred God¡¯s will and God Annihilation Curse Poison¡¯s power continued to be drawn into him, leaving him no way out. The moment he tried to back down, he would instantly be pounced on by the combined fury of the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison. He needed to advance bravely, absorb all of the two terrors¡¯ power and turn it into his own! However, his body was reaching its limit and continuing to absorb their power would only make him spiral towards destruction! ¡°Why...why?!¡± Zhou Yuan could not help but feel a rush of irritation and frustration. However, he quickly suppressed these emotions, because what he needed now was a solution, not useless anger. Zhou Yuan calmly sorted out his emotions before starting to reevaluate the situation from the beginning. At a certain moment, his brows slowly knitted together. ¡°Why do I feel as if something is lacking... ¡°Is this missing piece stopping me from ascending to the realm of the gods? ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Yuan continuously voiced his thoughts, countless ideas rising in his head before being discarded in the blink of an eye. He had a feeling that this missing piece would allow his body to bear an even greater power, enabling him to continue pushing towards the god stage. The missing piece was a necessary requirement to step into the god stage, and could not be replaced by any ordinary object. The power accumulating in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body grew increasingly terrifying. His skin began to split open, and his flesh gradually started to boil as if it was about to melt away. It was a clear sign that he was about to reach his limit. In fact, Zhou Yuan even began to feel death¡¯s beckoning. All of a sudden, Zhou Yuan heard his heart beat loudly as he cast his attention towards the divine matter in his body. He was silent for a few seconds, before a determined look flitted across his eyes. Since it was going to be death either way, let¡¯s risk it all again! Roar! Zhou Yuan abruptly raised his head and unleashed a thunderous roar that rippled within the sealed core of Cangxuan Heaven. Next, he began to circulate the Ancestral Dragon Scripture at full force, releasing the most terrifying suction force possible. Rumble! The Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison shuddered, before a vast and terrifying power began to pour out like a flood and rush into his body. Crack! Cracks rapidly spread across his body, making him look extremely frightening. However, Zhou Yuan ignored it. His expression gradually turned calm as he felt the endless power charging into his body and he slowly shut his eyes. He spread his arms outwards, allowing his body to drop into the darkness. ¡°I hope...that this will work¡­¡± Chapter 1490 Forbidden Zone A dazzling silver river filled with the glow of divinity stretched across the vast darkness of space, clashing continuously with the mysterious endless black sea that gave off an ominous aura. Divine force collided millions of times with each passing second. Both sides had revealed their true fighting style. The fight had already transcended the imagination of numerous Saint experts. Although the two gods had been engaged in battle for a long time, it was still impossible to tell who would emerge the victor. Many felt that it was extremely difficult to decide a victor between the two gods, because although there was a slight difference in power between them, the gap was not large enough to capitalize into a significant advantage. Hence, the Sacred God¡¯s words made the all-heaven Saint experts¡¯ hearts shudder violently as a strong feeling of unease surged within them, causing them to stare even harder at the face-off. Prime sovereign Di Long asked in a low voice, ¡°What could his words mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably some form of psychological attack.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s tone had become much graver. Cang Yuan was silent for a moment, before he said, ¡°I saw no indication of the third god being suppressed during the battle, and they seem to have similar power levels. I refuse to believe the Sacred God¡¯s claim that he can deal with the third god!¡± The other Saint experts slowly nodded in agreement. Cang Yuan¡¯s reasoning made sense. If the Sacred God was indeed capable of suppressing the third god, he would not have dragged the battle on for so long. Although the reasoning was convincing, everyone could not help but feel somewhat apprehensive. After all, no one understood the Sacred God¡¯s terror better than them. He had cast a shadow in their hearts in ancient times, a shadow that had deeply embedded itself into their bones and was almost impossible to erase. Amidst their nervous discussion, the third voice¡¯s cold voice sounded from the silver river, ¡°It seems that you¡¯re intent on fighting till the end.¡± The Sacred Gods¡¯ giant face rippled in the deep and endless black sea as a strange laughter echoed. In the next instant, the endless black sea abruptly unfurled, splitting into millions of separate streams that rushed through the air like black dragons and crashed into the silver river. Thousands of rays sprayed from the collision of two boundless divinities like sparks, illuminating every corner of the all-heaven. This clash was by far the most ferocious one yet. The silver river and black sea charged into each other and began to manically erode the opponent. Amidst the struggle, a black shadow suddenly emerged from the black sea and turned into the Sacred God¡¯s figure. He walked across the black water, facing the harsh silver light as he leisurely walked towards the deepest part of the river. At the deepest part of the river, silver light converged into the third god¡¯s figure, her ice-cold gaze fixed on the approaching Sacred God. The third god said, ¡°Sacred God, any further and we¡¯ll be in each other¡¯s forbidden zone. If you and I continue fighting, both of us will end up with serious injuries and be forced into a deep slumber.¡± The Sacred God smiled but did not stop advancing. The third god shook her head. She had nothing left to say. A nine-hole divine rock slowly rose from her head. All nine holes suddenly lit up, sending out nine rays of light that slashed at the Sacred God. These nine rays of light were one of the most terrifying powers in this world. The heavens shuddered as the nine rays fell, Genesis Qi fearfully trembling under its power before scurrying away. The Sacred God¡¯s footsteps finally came to a stop as a beam of black shot out from the infinitely dark slit between his brows. The black beam contained the epitome of darkness. Anything that it touched would be rapidly engulfed by pure darkness. The nine rays and the black beam collided. There was no thunderous noise from the collision, but space silently collapsed, creating several giant black holes nearby. The Sacred God¡¯s expression remained unchanged as he began to walk towards the third god again, the black divine eye between his brows sending out beams of extremely corrosive divine power to defend against the divine light from the nine-holes divine rock. In the end, he stood in front of the third god. At this close proximity, the two clashing divine pressures made the surroundings ripple. This distance was very dangerous for both gods, because both parties were now capable of threatening the opponent¡¯s core. Normally speaking, this was a scenario gods would instinctively avoid. However, the Sacred God had been relentlessly aggressive, finally forcing both of them into this face-off where mutual destruction was now a very likely outcome. The third god¡¯s gaze was as cold as ever, no fear visible in her eyes. Due to her divinity, such negative feelings were basically unable to affect her. Since wanted this extremely dangerous showdown, she would naturally accompany him till the end. In any case, both of them would only end up heavily injured and forced into a deep sleep. ¡°This is your choice.¡± The third god indifferently said. With a grasp of her hand, light streamed down from the nine-hole divine rock, transforming into a glass-like sword in her hand. Nine divine seals adorned the length of the sword, resembling nine holes. The third god raised the sword and thrust it at her enemy. Although the strike appeared to be weak and lacking any strength behind it, even an almighty entity like the Sacred God could not help but display a grave and wary expression for the very first time. He did not try to avoid the thrust. Black liquid flowed down from his black divine eye, condensing into a three-pronged halberd in his palm that likewise rushed towards the third god. Sword and halberd passed each other in the most straightforward and simple manner. Although there was no fancy technique of form, both strikes contained the two greatest powers in this world. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as countless people held their breaths. Moments before the sword was about to pierce the Sacred God¡¯s body, he suddenly laughed and softly said, ¡°I caught a glimpse of the future when I was injured by the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will all those years ago. At the same time, I also saw your weak point. ¡°Third god, you can¡¯t even imagine the plotting I¡¯ve done. Hence, on what basis do you dare to claim that I can¡¯t deal with you?¡± The third god¡¯s eyes grew increasingly icy and fierce as she stared at the Sacred God¡¯s strange smile. However, she was completely unmoved, her sword continuing to thrust towards him. An instant before the sword and halberd struck their targets, the strange smile on the Sacred God¡¯s face grew even wider. His body began to squirm as his face started to transform. His appearance and aura changed completely in an instant. Moreover, his new face was so familiar that it made anyone who saw it feel fear. It was...Zhou Yuan¡¯s face! He wore a smile that was the exact copy of Zhou Yuan¡¯s as he softly called out, ¡°Yaoyao¡­¡± Shhk! Sword and halberd stabbed into the other party¡¯s divine body. Chapter 1491 The Sacred God’s Grand Plan Shhk! Everything else seemed to fall silent, leaving only the sound of a sword and a halberd entering the body amidst the vast darkness of space. Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the other all-heaven Saint experts watched in shock and horror. They never imagined that the Tianyuan World¡¯s only two gods would choose such an aggressive and barbaric tactic, allowing themselves to be injured in order to injure their opponent. The only difference between them and normal people was that the seemingly simple thrusts from the sword and halberd contained the greatest destructive power from the two gods. The sword thrust might have looked ordinary to bystanders like them, but if any one of them had been its target instead, the divinity within the sword would have already completely obliterated their bodies and Spirits before the strike could land. ¡°Is this...a draw?¡± Prime sovereign Di Long could not help but ask, unable to stop his voice from shaking a little. In a certain twisted way, he would rather wish for both gods to be heavily injured and forced into a deep sleep. Regardless of which side they currently stood on, they were ultimately gods that could never truly connect with the other lifeforms of this world. They should never have existed. Cang Yuan¡¯s gaze was glued to the familiar face the Sacred God had transformed into, his expression fluctuating indeterminately as he said, ¡°What is the Sacred God trying to do? Why did he suddenly take on Zhou Yuan¡¯s appearance? ¡°That is no simple transformation. His appearance and even his aura have completely become Zhou Yuan.¡± If Zhou Yuan was present, even he would not be able to tell who was the fake. Cang Yuan was slightly bewildered, however, by how much younger this Zhou Yuan looked. He looked like a younger Zhou Yuan from the time they had first met. But what use was this? Did the Sacred God think that transforming into Zhou Yuan would make the third god unable to make that thrust? Did he not know that divinity was heartless? No one could understand the Sacred God¡¯s intentions. The entire place was silent as countless eyes stared at the two divine figures who had stabbed each other¡¯s divine bodies. The third god¡¯s face was impassive as she looked at Zhou Yuan¡¯s face and said, ¡°Sacred God, did you think this face would make me hesitate?¡± The Sacred God chuckled softly and replied, ¡°Third god, you are too confident. I already told you that my plan far surpasses your imagination. ¡°Your biggest weakness is that ant called Zhou Yuan. Of course, in a certain manner of speaking, it might be more precise to call that weakness your human side. ¡°Third god, have you never felt it strange that you had a human side despite being a god?¡± The Sacred God displayed a strange smile. ¡°That was actually my doing.¡± An eerie, chilling light flowed out in the third god¡¯s eyes. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You should honestly be thanking me. I manipulated the threads of fate, allowing you to meet the only person in this world who could give rise to a genuine human side from you. ¡°It was I who led Cang Yuan to steal the divine stone from which you were born¡­¡± These words were like a rock shattering the sky. In the all-heaven army, Jin Luo, Di Long, Chi Ji and the other Saint experts stared at Cang Yuan in shock. Cang Yuan was momentarily stunned. Soon after, his face darkened as he said, ¡°How laughable!¡± The Sacred God turned his head to the side and grinned at Cang Yuan. ¡°Do you still remember the Saint expert Mou Yin?¡± Cang Yuan was taken aback by this name. Soon after, he seemed to recall something as his pupils abruptly shrank. ¡°Mou Yin?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo frowned and said, ¡°This old man remembers that name. He was a Saint expert of the Omega Shrine that was extremely adept in the art of foresight. He had been in closed cultivation when Cang Yuan stone the divine stone. In the end, he died in battle against a Sacred Race Saint expert.¡± Prime sovereign Di Long realized that there was something wrong from Cang Yuan¡¯s expression, and immediately asked in a low voice, ¡°Was there something amiss about this person?¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s face trembled for a moment, before he finally said with some difficulty, ¡°Mou Yin was the person that most strongly supported the plan of me stealing the divine rock...if not for his help, it would have been much more difficult for me to have stolen it from under such heavy security. Moreover, he was the one who gave me a map of many pocket domains, saying they were some hidden domains he discovered while touring the Tianyuan World, which ultimately allowed me to avoid my pursuers. ¡°One of the domains on the route he gave me was¡­¡± Cang Yuan¡¯s entire body began to shake. ¡°Where Yaoyao and I first met Zhou Yuan!¡± The expressions of prime sovereign Jin Luo and the others quickly changed. There was originally nothing wrong, but after hearing Mou Yin¡¯s name from the Sacred, a very large shadow of suspicion was now cast over the entire series of events. Prime sovereign Di Long declared in a dark voice, ¡°There¡¯s definitely a problem with Mou Yin!¡± ¡°Indeed, because Mou Yin was captured by me during the first world-ending war. However, I did not kill him but instead infected him with my will. After catching a glimpse of the future and falling into a deep slumber, I borrowed his hand to initiate several plans.¡± The Sacred God grinned. ¡°But that¡¯s not all. The instructions passed down in the Zhou Clan and the teleportation array in their ancestral shrine were also my handiwork.¡± A chill filled Cang Yuan¡¯s entire body as he stared in disbelief at the Sacred God. He could not believe that everything that had happened back then was secretly orchestrated by the Sacred God. All of them were akin to mere chess pieces, forced to dance at his whims. His goal had been to create a meeting between Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao, a goal he had clearly achieved. In this moment, even a prime sovereign like Cang Yuan, who had experienced hundreds of battles, could not help but feel an indescribable fear. The Sacred God¡¯s capabilities were far too terrifying. Was this the true power of the gods? The Sacred God tenderly gazed at the third god¡¯s frosty face and said, ¡°Since I could bring about your birth, I could also make you and Zhou Yuan meet. He possesses the sacred dragon blessing that contains the purest Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will, while you were born from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. Hence, the both of you will naturally be drawn to each other. He is the only one in this world who can allow you to gain true emotions and an unerasable human side. ¡°However, as a god, your divinity and human side are naturally opposed to each other. When you gained a human side, your divinity could no longer remain pure. ¡°You might also have realized this, and thus your divinity had always been trying to fully wipe away your human side. However, just as you were about to succeed, the God Annihilation Curse Poison forced your early awakening... ¡°As such, your human nature was never properly erased. ¡°And this is where your greatest weakness lies. ¡°It is also my target, because as you said, you and I are of similar strengths. Even though I might have a slight edge, it is very difficult for me to defeat you, let alone absorb your divinity. This is something I already realized long ago when I was injured by the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will and before you were born. ¡°Hence, to properly defeat you and absorb your divinity, I would need you to have a weakness, which I¡¯ve already succeeded in creating.¡± The Sacred God looked straight into the third god¡¯s eyes, before pointing towards the immature face of Zhou Yuan he currently wore. ¡°This face was sealed in time using a special method when Zhou Yuan first entered the teleportation array in his ancestral shrine. What do you think? Doesn¡¯t it look very familiar?¡± In the distance, Cang Yuan finally remembered. The young and immature face worn by the Sacred God was exactly the same as Zhou Yuan¡¯s when he first stepped into that fateful domain and met Yaoyao. It was their very first meeting. Long ago, a boy that had somehow stumbled into the strange domain raised his dirty face to see a girl in azure looking at him with a sliver of curiosity in her eyes. There had also been a small-dog-like creature following at her feet. Although the third god¡¯s face remained cold and emotionless, a tear slowly fell from her eye. When the tear appeared, the smile on the Sacred God¡¯s face grew wider, because this meant that the human side in the third god¡¯s body was awakening once more. For gods like them, the appearance of a human side would lead to their divinity falling into disorder. The sword that had pierced the Sacred God¡¯s body began to ripple, slowly fading away before ultimately disappearing. This scene made the all-heaven experts feel like they were in an icehouse as fear and alarm began to flood their hearts. The Sacred God softly chuckled as he gazed at the third god¡¯s chillingly frosty face and softly said, ¡°Third god, you¡¯ve lost.¡± The three-pronged halberd that had pierced the third god¡¯s body began to vibrate as it glowed with a strange light. The third god¡¯s divinity began to flow towards the halberd, travelling along it into the Sacred God¡¯s body. ¡°Well then, I kindly accept your divinity.¡± Chapter 1492 Fall of a God When the third god¡¯s glowing divinity began to flow into the Sacred God¡¯s body through the three-pronged halberd, countless people in the all-heaven army felt their entire bodies turn ice-cold as their originally hopeful hearts abruptly sank. It had all looked so optimistic moments ago. Since neither god appeared capable of triumphing over the other, both parties would have no choice but to give up, allowing the all-heaven to enjoy peace once more. Moreover, with the third god¡¯s protection, the Sacred Race would not dare to excessively bully and step over the all-heaven like before. This was an outcome that many people could accept. Who could have expected, however, that their beautiful dreams for the future would suddenly burst into bubbles just as it was about to become a reality. The battle of the gods had suddenly taken a drastic turn, causing the third god to fall into a dangerous situation! Anyone knew that the third god¡¯s power would drop drastically as her divinity was taken away. When that happened, it would be a joke for her to try to keep the Sacred God in check again. The all-heaven army fell into a state of terror and panic. Even the four prime sovereigns, Jin Luo, Cang Yuan, Di Long and Chi Ji were at a loss, in the rare state of not knowing what to do. After all, this turn of events had been far too unexpected. Of course, they were also deeply shocked by the Sacred God¡¯s meticulous and seemingly omniscient planning. Could the all-heaven ever hope to defeat such an existence? ¡°Protect the third god!¡± However, the four prime sovereigns ultimately forced themselves back to their senses. They roared with all of their might as they led the charge with an astonishing eruption of Genesis Qi. They understood that the third god was the all-heaven¡¯s final hope. If her divinity was absorbed by the Sacred God, the all-heaven would soon meet its doom. Hence, they absolutely needed to protect the third god! While the four prime sovereigns dashed forward, the all-heaven Saint experts behind them hesitated for a moment, before resolved looks flowed out in their eyes. They knew they were merely moths flying into the flame, but they had no choice. Once the Sacred God drained the third god of her divinity, the only thing that awaited them would be a more miserable fate. Rumble! Rumble! Vast Saint force rose into the air as glowing figures tore through the void, shooting straight towards the Sacred God. Their movements were naturally detected by the Sacred God. However, he merely gave them a casual glance, as if a giant dragon was looking at mosquitoes flying towards it. ¡°Commendable courage. Such a pity that it¡¯s useless,¡± he remarked. Soon after, he extended a hand and gently waved. It was as if the entire domain was instantly frozen, the bodies of the four prime sovereigns and the all-heaven Saint experts now stuck in place. They realized that they had lost control over their bodies, and could only float there like statues amidst the endless space. It was an exceptionally despairing and sorrowful scene. After effortlessly restricting the all-heaven Saint experts, the Sacred God¡¯s gaze shifted back to the third god, feeling her divinity flow into his body. An unprecedented feeling of fullness spread in his body. ¡°What delicious divinity.¡± A look of intoxication filled his face as he smiled. ¡°Third god, I¡¯ve always imagined this day while being tortured by the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will in that endless darkness. ¡°Once I completely absorb your divinity and devour all life in the all-heaven, I will be able to transcend to become the first true ruler of this world. ¡°When that happens, I shall erase all marks of the Ancestral Dragon, and create a new world in my image.¡± The third god shot a death stare at the Sacred God, her face filled with bitter resentment. ¡°Third god, the loser should pay the price of losing. The Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will gave birth to you in an attempt to keep me in check, but my moves were clearly superior to it. ¡°I¡¯ve won.¡± The spreading divine pressure from the Sacred God¡¯s body grew increasingly terrifying as it slowly covered even the all-heaven. In the moment, every living thing in the all-heaven felt an indescribable terror as they trembled uncontrollably, not daring to move. They were akin to tiny fishes and shrimps in a fish tank that had suddenly seen a giant face cruelly and mockingly observing them from outside. A single gaze would fill anyone with so much fear that they would lose all power. The spreading divine pressure from the third god rapidly weakened as the glow of divinity around her swiftly dimmed. As more and more divinity poured in the Sacred God¡¯s body, layers of divine matter began to appear around him, slowly enveloping his body like a shell. The Sacred God lowered his head to observe these changes as the smile on his face widened. It was a sign of his approaching evolution. Once he fully absorbed the third god¡¯s divinity, he would begin to undergo a transformation. When this transformation was complete, his strength would rise to an unprecedented level. The absorption of divinity continued until a certain moment when the glow around the third god finally disappeared. Her divinity filled eyes also lost their luster. Upon sensing the final wisp of divinity leave the third god¡¯s body, the Sacred God slowly extracted his three-pronged halberd. The third god¡¯s body began falling as if she had lost all her power. ¡°Third god, your existence is now meaningless. That¡¯s why it¡¯s time for you to...disappear.¡± The Sacred God chuckled as he pointed his halberd at the third god¡¯s falling body. Swoosh! A beam of divine light shot through space, obliterating all matter in its path. The eyes of Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the other all-heaven Saint experts, that had been frozen in place, bulged from their sockets as if about to burst apart as their hearts howled in despair. They had invested a tremendous amount of effort to bring about the third god¡¯s birth and had placed great expectations on her. However, their final hope was now being extinguished right before their eyes, a sight that made them so angry that it nearly drowned out their rationality. However, no matter how frantically they struggled, the frozen space around them refused to budge. Tears poured down Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes. All he could think about, however, was Yaoyao cold yet spirited face in a certain domain long ago. Although she had also been quite aloof, the young girl had been full of life. A single ¡®grandpa Hei¡¯ from her would melt Cang Yuan¡¯s heart. However, that very same little girl was now about to disappear from this world. ¡°Yaoyao...grandpa Hei has let you down. Maybe...I shouldn¡¯t have brought you out from the Omega Shrine, I shouldn¡¯t have brought you to that domain¡­¡± Tears rolled down his aged face. Soon after, he closed his eyes, no longer able to bear the cruel scene. Swoosh! Divine light slashed downwards, tearing apart even space itself. Despair filled the all-heaven Saint experts¡¯ eyes. Bzz! Just as the divine light was about to hit the third god¡¯s body, something unexpected happened! The nearby space suddenly shattered as a glowing figure stepped out. He wielded a mottled black brush and dazzling divine light glowed from his body. The sharp brush tip swung upwards, accompanied by surging divine force as it sliced the falling divine light into two like a great heavenly spear. Boom! A thunderous noise exploded, spreading to the many heavens. The all-heaven Saint experts¡¯ eyes widened in disbelief. What had they just witnessed? There was someone else besides the third god who could receive a divine force attack from the Sacred God? Who was this?! The Sacred God¡¯s pupils also widened slightly. The entire place was silent as countless shocked gazes looked over. The divine light slowly receded and the crowd were finally able to see. They saw a man standing amidst darkness, a mottled black brush floating beside him and the third god¡¯s body in his arms. Divine halos pulsed from behind the figure¡¯s head. Hss. As they gazed at the figure, Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the all-heaven Saint experts¡¯ faces began to turn rigid little by little. Even though their movements were restricted, their hearts were filled with astonishment and a thunderous roar of disbelief. Zhou...Zhou Yuan?! Chapter 1493 Zhou Yuan Achieves Godhood? Amidst the formless mass of space, Zhou Yuan princess-carried a beauty in his arms with an ice-cold expression, the spreading divine glow around him drew countless shocked gazes. Anyone could feel that the power erupting from his body was not Saint force, but true-blue divine power! What did this mean?! Could Zhou Yuan have ascended to that realm? How was this possible?! None were more shocked than Cang Yuan, Jin Luo, and the other two prime sovereigns, who were all currently at the peak of the Saint stage. They knew better than anyone else how great of a step this was for existences like them. They had once ambitiously poured their all into an attempt to reach that peak, but had ultimately failed the endeavor. It was precisely because they understood the difficulty that they felt such strong disbelief when they saw the surging divine force and the divine glow around Zhou Yuan. In fact, their shock had even surpassed the original surprise and joy that they should have felt. The entire place was deathly silent. Zhou Yuan was oblivious to the silence as he lowered his head to gaze at the person in his arms, his cold and murderous face unable to stop itself from turning gentle. The person in his arms slowly opened her eyes. However, there was no longer any trace of the indifference and emotionlessness that used to fill them, but instead a surge of colorful emotion. She dazedly stared at Zhou Yuan, her eyes slowly turning red as she softly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Zhou Yuan stared in amazement at the beauty that had suddenly spoken. Soon after, he asked in shock, ¡°You...you are Yaoyao? You¡¯ve recovered?¡± The beauty before him was clearly a completely different person from the third god. A feeling of intimacy and familiarity that had once been etched deep into his bones began to drown his heart again. His eyes lit up with uncontrollable joy. A somewhat complicated expression emerged on Yaoyao¡¯s face as she said, ¡°My divinity was taken, that¡¯s why¡­¡± Her brows furrowed slightly as she felt a pain from her abdomen. It was the wound left by the Sacred God¡¯s three-pronged halberd. Zhou Yuan hurriedly pressed his hand to the wound and circulated his divine power to stabilize it. His voice trembled as he said, ¡°Yaoyao, it¡¯s good that you¡¯re back, it¡¯s good that you¡¯re back.¡± He tightly hugged her as tears began to glimmer in his eyes. Only after losing her did he truly realize how important she was to him. The empty and hollow pain that had plagued his heart was something he did not wish to relive ever again. Yaoyao reached out and gently touched Zhou Yuan¡¯s face. She could feel the emotions currently running rampant in his heart. ¡°Hehe, what an unfortunate pair of lovebirds.¡± A humored chuckle suddenly sounded from the Sacred God. He curiously observed Zhou Yuan, his gaze seemingly able to pierce everything and clearly view every layer there was. ¡°How interesting. I can sense an extremely familiar aura from your divine power...is it the power of one of my will fragments and the God Annihilation Curse Poison? ¡°Hmm, it must be Ancestral Dragon Scripture, right? It refined one of the my will fragments and the God Annihilation Curse Poison to provide you with power. ¡°However, that should not have allowed you to step into the god stage...because you do not have a divine bone to act as a vessel for divinity. And yet, you do somehow possess divine power.¡± The Sacred God stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. Soon after, his eyes narrowed. ¡°It¡¯s divine matter¡­ ¡°Zhou Yuan, I have to admit that you are indeed a genius. To think that you¡¯ve managed to refine divine matter into a vessel for divine power without knowing about the all-heaven inhabitants¡¯ greatest flaw.¡± The Sacred God could not help but clap. ¡°Amazing, you are the first ever all-heaven inhabitant to touch this realm.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained ice-cold despite the high evaluation given to him by the Sacred God that had swiftly unravelled all of his secrets after a few glances. With a wave of his sleeve, divine force roared forth, freeing the all-heaven experts that had been restricted in place. The all-heaven experts immediately retreated after being freed, before casting joy-filled gazes towards Zhou Yuan. From the Sacred God¡¯s earlier words, it seemed that Zhou Yuan had really reached the god stage? Didn¡¯t that mean he now possessed power that could match the Sacred God¡¯s? The four prime sovereigns¡¯ had complicated expressions that were both envious while also relieved. Although the third god¡¯s divinity had been absorbed, having Zhou Yuan step up in her place would undoubtedly stabilize their crumbling morale. Zhou Yuan said to Cang Yuan and the others, ¡°Master Cang Yuan, get the army to prepare themselves to retreat at any moment.¡± Although his tone was ordinary, it seemed to contain an indescribable authority that made even the four prime sovereigns afraid to defy for a time. After giving them these instructions, Zhou Yuan lowered his head to look at Yaoyao. He gave her a small kiss on the forehead and said, ¡°You should also leave first.¡± Yaoyao hurriedly grabbed his clothes with as much force as she could muster. ¡°You...you aren¡¯t his match!¡± Although Zhou Yuan was overflowing with divine power, Yaoyao could sense that his divine power was extremely unstable. Zhou Yuan did not reply but instead beckoned with his hand and a giant purple-gold beast approached. It was Tuntun. After Yaoyao¡¯s human side was revived, Tuntun also regained its lost memories. Hence, it happily wagged its tail at the sight of Zhou Yuan. Zhou Yuan patted Tuntun¡¯s scales and placed Yaoyao on its back. ¡°Stay a little further away.¡± Tuntun growled in response and swiftly moved away. As the army and Yaoyao withdrew, Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze shifted towards the Sacred God. Crystals made from divine force were growing on his body, seemingly attempting to cover him like a shell. The Sacred God indifferently looked at Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°She is right, Zhou Yuan. You are not my match. If you were smart, you would not have appeared here so that you could at least enjoy a final period of peace.¡± Zhou Yuan did not respond. He only slowly lifted the Heavenly Yuan Brush and pointed it at the Sacred God. The Sacred God shook his head. ¡°Fool.¡± Amusement and mockery flowed out in his eyes. ¡°Do you really believe that you can be considered a god now? ¡°No, you are wrong, Zhou Yuan. ¡°When the world was first created, the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s body transformed into all things, but it failed to accomplish that final step. It failed to bestow a divine bone to the all-heaven inhabitants, the divine bone that could contain divinity and create divine power. ¡°Although you managed to create another path and used divine matter to replace the divine bone as a vessel for divinity, do you really believe the divine bone is something that can be so easily replaced? ¡°You may seem to be brimming with divine power, but you¡¯re merely a burning inferno that will easily combust yourself the moment a mistake happens. ¡°Hence, you are no true god. At best, you¡¯re merely a¡­,¡± the Sacred God stared at Zhou Yuan as the corners of his mouth slowly lifted, ¡°A pitiful false god. ¡°You wish to save everyone, but I do not wish to accommodate. ¡°These ants must die here today.¡± At his final word, vast divine light pierced the void like glowing arrows, shooting straight towards the retreating all-heaven army. Evidently, the Sacred God intended to eradicate the all-heaven army in front of Zhou Yuan. Chapter 1494 Poisoned Honey Zhou Yuan also moved the instant the Sacred God acted. With a shake of the Heavenly Yuan Brush, divine light rapidly interweaved together, creating a giant divine power net that enveloped the area. Countless divine force arrows exploded on the net, creating dazzling fireworks that were bright enough to illuminate the all-heaven. Zhou Yuan released a thunderous roar as he blocked the Sacred God¡¯s assault, ¡°Go!¡± The all-heaven army immediately hastened their retreat. Zhou Yuan circulated vast divine force, pouring all of his strength into the fight against the Sacred God. Only after exchanging blows did he realize how terrifying the most all-heaven most feared existence was. Even though he was stronger than ever, each clash of divine power made him feel a frightening pressure from the Sacred God. If not for the giant boost in power and the acquisition of divine power, he would have in all likelihood not have been able to survive even a single casual blow from the Sacred God. A new fight erupted in the domain, only the third god had been replaced by Zhou Yuan. However, anyone could see that the Sacred God still held the absolute upper hand, the endless divine force storms he summoned devastating everything within one¡¯s sights. Although Zhou Yuan¡¯s divine force could cover a substantial area, he was clearly weaker than the third god, let alone the Sacred God. When the all-heaven experts saw this, worry began to appear on their faces. Prime sovereign Jin Luo sighed and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan is most likely not the Sacred God¡¯s match.¡± Cang Yuan also had a somewhat pained expression. Soon after, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s not worry about him for the moment and concentrate on retreating. Don¡¯t waste the time Zhou Yuan is buying for us.¡± Prime sovereign Di Long¡¯s expression was also somewhat heavy. ¡°What¡¯s the use of retreating back to all-heaven? The Sacred God has already absorbed the third god¡¯s divinity and is about to ascend to a higher realm of existence. Once his transformation is complete, he will be stronger than ever before. When that time comes, destroying the all-heaven will only become even more effortless.¡± Despair appeared on several of the nearby Saint experts, their morale beginning to crumble once more. Chi Ji brows nearly turned vertical in anger as she hissed, ¡°Shut your mouth Di Long! Since when has life ever been easy for the all-heaven? Our ancestors have sacrificed so much for us and even if we are ultimately destroyed by the Sacred God, we will never lose our will to fight!¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo nodded and said in a commanding voice, ¡°Hasten the retreat!¡± The all-heaven army swiftly retreated. However, everyone understood that no matter how fast they withdrew, they still had to depend on Zhou Yuan to stop the Sacred God. If he failed, the Sacred God could easily send out divine force with a single thought to erase all of them. On the giant purple-gold beast¡¯s back, Yaoyao¡¯s hands were tightly clenched in worry as she watched the dazzling divine power clash from far away. She never imagined that she would awaken to something like this. All of this was clearly brought about by the third god, or maybe it might be better to say the divinity that used to reside in her body. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡­¡± Yaoyao softly mumbled as her eyes turned a little red. She could imagine how much pain Zhou Yuan must have felt while her divinity had taken control. Otherwise, there was no way he would have chosen to take such a suicidal risk against the Sacred God¡¯s will and the God Annihilation Curse Poison. Yaoyao gently stroked the golden fur on Tuntun¡¯s head as tiredness flitted across her eyes. She was not very interested in protecting the all-heaven, especially because it required her to give herself over to her divinity¡¯s control and continuously hurt Zhou Yuan. Honestly, she would rather the all-heaven be destroyed instead. She would rather hold Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand and be erased together with the all-heaven than let him experience the pain and sorrow of her being controlled by divinity again. She softly promised, ¡°Zhou Yuan...I will always be with you no matter what happens. I will never leave you behind again.¡± ... ¡°Hehe, is this the flimsy divine power you tried so hard to obtain? It seems rather ordinary. What makes you think that such power can allow you to face me? ¡°Do you truly believe a real god¡¯s power is something a fake god like you can match? ¡°Zhou Yuan, you are an amazing individual. Unfortunately, an ant will ultimately only be an ant, destined to live amidst the dirt. Futilely trying to challenge a superior existence is merely akin to a moth flying towards the flame; you¡¯re only speeding up your death.¡± Divine power rumbled across the area. The Sacred God laughed as he watched Zhou Yuan fall into an increasingly disadvantaged position with each clash of divine power. He was akin to a wild beast that had fallen into a trap, engaging in a desperate but useless counterattack. Zhou Yuan ignored the Sacred God¡¯s laughter, allowing his divine power to gradually be defeated as his figure rapidly blinked about while trying to keep the Sacred God busy. This continued until a certain moment, when the Sacred God¡¯s expression suddenly changed as a look of surprise flashed across his eyes. He raised his head and saw the space about him suddenly shatter, revealing four giant divine seals surrounding him from above. The divine seals seemed to resemble ancient dragons, and the Sacred God could feel an aura from them that made him feel uneasy. It was...the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. Zhou Yuan finally stopped moving and he released a deep, drawn out breath. He had realized earlier that the Sacred God seemed incapable of moving due to the growing shell-like divine force crystals around him. Hence, Zhou Yuan had deployed one of the trump cards he had prepared against the Sacred God amidst their divine power clashes. ¡°This power is from the God Annihilation Curse Poison, right?¡± the Sacred God indifferently said. He had been tormented by its power for countless years and deeply remembered it. Most importantly, the God Annihilation Curse Poison contained some of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will¡¯s power, which had evidently been refined by Zhou Yuan to use as a killing move against him. ¡°You...are clearly an ant, but you keep surpassing my expectations.¡± The Sacred God shook his head as killing intent surged in his indifferent eyes. ¡°You are the first all-heaven creature that I actually feel like killing.¡± Zhou Yuan still refused to respond. With a serious expression, he slowly clasped his hands together as a low voice rang out across the domain, ¡°Four Prime God Sealing Seals!¡± Rumble! The four divine dragon seals suddenly began to shake as ancient dragon roars echoed from them. In the next instant, four giant glowing dragons emerged from the seals, weaving together in the air before slamming into the Sacred God¡¯s body. ¡°This is...a sealing technique? You¡¯re trying to seal me?!¡± The Sacred God¡¯s voice rang out. The divine power crystals flowing out from his body were seemingly stimulated by the four dragon seals, quickening their growth. Layer after layer gushed out, encasing more than half the Sacred God¡¯s body in the blink of an eye. The silhouettes of four dragons could be seen circling within the divine power crystal shell. ¡°So that¡¯s your plan. You intend to seal me during my transformation phase.¡± The Sacred God¡¯s eyes narrowed as he felt the changes in his body. ¡°Zhou Yuan, is this your goal? I have to say that you¡¯re always making others see you in a whole new light. ¡°However, do you really believe this can seal me? The only thing your seal will do is slightly delay the all-heaven inevitable destruction.¡± The Sacred God did not try to stop the dragon seal, because he needed to save his power for the imminent transformation process. In fact, most of his focus had been on the changes occurring in his body during the earlier battle, allowing Zhou Yuan the chance to deploy this seal. In a certain manner of speaking, Zhou Yuan had found the best opportunity to play this trump card. The gap between them, however, was just far too great. The crystals continued to grow, reaching the Sacred God¡¯s throat as Zhou Yuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He could only force the Sacred God into his transformation period first and think of some other way to deal with him after. A strange light flashed in the Sacred God¡¯s eyes as he indifferently gazed at Zhou Yuan. ¡°Zhou Yuan, your appearance has pleasantly surprised me several times. Hence, I want to give you a present.¡± Zhou Yuan immediately grew vigilant. Soon after, he retreated without hesitation, stars rapidly flashing past as he accelerated. The strange light in the Sacred God¡¯s eyes grew brighter and brighter. He opened his mouth and spat out a beam of light that shot straight towards Zhou Yuan at an unbelievable speed. Spirit power pulsed around Zhou Yuan, creating countless thick barriers in front of him. Heaven and earth seemed to reverse, displaying the terrifying might of divine power. Ch! However, the light beam pierced through the divine force barriers without any resistance and ultimately hit Zhou Yuan. There was unexpectedly no impact or explosion. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure came to a stop with a confused look on his face. The beam that had entered his body was not a divine force attack from the Sacred God... In addition, the mysterious beam was causing a rapid rise in his divine power. ¡°This is...divinity?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s pupil shrank. The beam contained the very divinity that even the Sacred God considered precious! The Sacred God had sent such a concentrated beam of divinity into his body?! What exactly was he up to? ¡°Are you surprised?¡± The divine power crystal was already beginning to climb up the Sacred God¡¯s face. He strangely gazed at the confused Zhou Yuan and said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you so deeply desire the god stage, allow me to help you experience the feeling of true power.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression suddenly changed drastically. As his divine power grew, the divinity vessel he created began to crack! It was unable to support the rapidly growing divine power! So this was the Sacred God¡¯s plan. He did not attack Zhou Yuan but instead gave him some divinity, causing Zhou Yuan¡¯s divine power to grow. Once his divine power exceeded the capacity of his divine matter vessel, it would shatter. When that happened, the divinity in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body would erupt and clash with his human side. Even if Zhou Yuan managed to survive the backlash, he would fall into a state of eternal chaos and craziness, no longer able to maintain a clear mind. That beam of divinity was a specially prepared poisoned honey from the Sacred God! Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression darkened as he finally figured it out. He had not expected the Sacred God to choose such a method as his final counterattack. The crystals on the Sacred God¡¯s body grew thicker and thicker, ultimately completely encasing his head. A several-hundred-feet-tall crystal silently hovered like a giant egg, pulsing with endless divine light that could obliterate all matter. The Sacred God¡¯s last words echoed across every corner of the all-heaven, ¡°All-heaven ants, enjoy these final peaceful days. When I emerge, it will be time for the all-heaven to return to chaos. ¡°Also... ¡°Zhou Yuan, enjoy the present I¡¯ve given you.¡± As the Sacred God¡¯s voice echoed, the erupting divine power in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body grew more and more terrifying, until he heard a faint cracking noise. A bitter look flowed out in his eyes. His divinity vessel had fractured. In the end, he could only cry out his final words to the far away all-heaven army, ¡°Don¡¯t...don¡¯t come close.¡± Chapter 1495 Madness The battle came to an abrupt halt. As the raging divine power storms slowly dispersed, the all-heaven army found themselves unable to accustom themselves to the sudden peace for a time. An all-heaven Saint expert asked in an uncertain manner, ¡°The battle has ended?!¡± Jin Luo, Cang Yuan and the other prime sovereigns cast their gazes over, peering into the distance and saw the giant divine crystal egg glowing dazzlingly amidst the darkness. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure was silently standing some distance from the giant egg with his head lowered as if he was an inanimate puppet. ¡°The Sacred God has entered the transformation phase,¡± said prime sovereign Jin Luo with a complicated expression. Although the Sacred God could no longer pursue them, he would emerge much stronger once his transformation was complete. When that time eventually arrived, there would be no change to the all-heaven¡¯ fate. ¡°What¡¯s going on with Zhou Yuan?¡± Cang Yuan felt somewhat suspicious. Although the Sacred God had entered his transformation phase, there was no movement from Zhou Yuan. There seemed to be something fishy about this situation. The other Saint experts shook their heads. Prime sovereign Chi Ji asked, ¡°Should we go over and see? He¡¯s currently our only god stage expert. Although the Sacred God has entered his transformation phase, this might also be a chance for us.¡± The others¡¯ eyes brightened. With the Sacred God currently encased in divine power crystals, they might be able to do some damage to him if they managed to hinder his transformation. However, the spreading divine light from the giant crystal egg made it impossible for Saint experts like them to approach. Hence, only an existence who also possessed divine force like Zhou Yuan could destroy the divine power crystal. However, the cautious prime sovereign Jin Luo ultimately shook his head and said, ¡°Let¡¯s wait and observe for a while. The warning he shouted earlier makes me feel somewhat uneasy.¡± The crowd nodded as their expressions grew somewhat solemn. All of them had clearly heard Zhou Yuan¡¯s final warning. He was not someone who spoke without thinking, and there must be a reason for him to have said that. Hence, the most rational choice would be to first observe the situation. As such, the all-heaven army stopped and watched from far away. This situation, however, did not last for long. The all-heaven army soon saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s still figure suddenly begin to tremble. He slowly raised his head and looked towards the all-heaven army. When they saw Zhou Yuan¡¯s gaze, all-heaven experts instantly felt a chill surge out from the bottom of their hearts, their entire bodies turning ice-cold as fear filled their faces. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were filled with craziness and chaos, no longer any trace of the calmness and intelligence they once held. He resembled a wild beast without reason that made others shiver in fear. Roar! Zhou Yuan opened his mouth and released an explosive roar. Saliva dripped from the corner of his mouth, his expression terrifyingly sinister and his eyes filled with chaos and madness. Boom! His figure suddenly shot forward like a lightning bolt, pouncing straight at the all-heaven army. Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the others felt a chill rush through their entire bodies. Soon after, they powerfully roared, ¡°Quickly retreat! Quickly retreat!¡± Zhou Yuan clearly no longer had any shred of rationality. If they allowed him to reach them, he would surely start a merciless massacre. Cang Yuan and the others did not know why Zhou Yuan had suddenly become like this, but it was clearly the Sacred God¡¯s work! The all-heaven army frantically withdrew once more, streaks of light scattering in all directions. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s speed was more frightening than they could imagine. In a single step, he crossed the rivers of stars and appeared behind the all-heaven army, before thrusting his palm, sending out surging divine power that shattered space itself. Jin Luo, Cang Yuan, Di Long and Chi Ji immediately released their full power without hesitation, sending out four Saint force torrents in an attempt to buy some time for the escaping army. Boom! The four mighty Saint force torrents instantly crumbled upon impact as the four prime sovereigns were flung backwards amidst sprays of blood. Even the four of them joining forces could not hinder Zhou Yuan for a moment. Zhou Yuan¡¯s crazy eyes glowed red as divine power transformed into a giant palm that viciously swatted at the four prime sovereigns. Thud! However, a giant purple-gold beast suddenly appeared and ruthlessly charged into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, sending him flying over a ten thousand miles. Roar! Tuntun released a deafening roar at Zhou Yuan in an attempt to awaken him. Swoosh! However, Zhou Yuan had clearly already lost all rationality. His scarlet eyes stared at Tuntun and he took a step forward, crossing ten thousand miles in an instant as a punch infused with churning divine power pierced through the air and smashed towards Tuntun. Tuntun felt a fatal danger from the punch. However, it did not move away and stubbornly continued to roar at Zhou Yuan. Just as the punch was about to land, Yaoyao¡¯s figure appeared on Tuntun¡¯s head. She gazed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s crazed eyes, her own turning red as she loudly shouted, ¡°Zhou Yuan, please wake up!¡± Rumble! The fist infused with powerful divine force froze above Tuntun, stopping only a thousand feet from Yaoyao as terrifying fist winds unfurled like a storm, rippling the surrounding space. The scarlet-eyed Zhou Yuan stared at the figure on Tuntun¡¯s head, as the chaos and madness in his eyes began to flicker in a struggling manner. Yaoyao¡¯s eyes were red as she called out, a never before heard tenderness in her voice, ¡°Zhou Yuan, no matter what happens, there must be a solution to this. Please believe in me. So please wake up!¡± The madness in Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes flickered even more frantically as torrential killing intent erupted from his body. The floating divine fist began to shake as if about to fall apart. In the end, Zhou Yuan howled before turning around and fleeing. Yaoyao gritted her teeth and urged, ¡°Tuntun, follow him quickly!¡± Tuntun immediately responded, turning into a streak of light as it shot forward in pursuit of Zhou Yuan. Behind them, the panic-stricken all-heaven experts were paralyzed in place, breathing deeply with deathly white complexions. Jin Luo, Cang Yuan, Di Long and Chi Ji gathered again and looked at each other, seeing the others¡¯ agonized expressions. No one had expected their final hope, Zhou Yuan, to end up in such a state. ¡°It seems that Zhou Yuan¡¯s breakthrough has also left him with many problems...the Sacred God also did something earlier, causing him to lose his rationality and fall into this state of madness.¡± Cang Yuan smiled bitterly. Prime sovereign Chi Ji sighed and asked, ¡°What do we do now?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s old face was filled with exhaustion. The many twists and turns had left him mentally and physically drained. In the end, he could only say in a low voice, ¡°We¡¯ll bring the all-heaven army back first. Yaoyao has already gone to pursue Zhou Yuan, and we can¡¯t help much either way. We can only hope that she can somehow awaken him, or else¡­¡± He did not need to complete his sentence, because everyone knew what he meant. If Zhou Yuan failed to regain his clarity, the all-heaven final hope would be gone. If that was the case, they would only wait for them to be erased when the Sacred God completed his transformation. The all-heaven experts silently stared in the direction Zhou Yuan had fled in. In the end, they retreated in a dispirited and lifeless manner. The area once again became quiet after the heaven-shocking battle. Only the giant egg made from divine power crystal was left, the boundless divine light spouting from it turning the originally cold and desolate domain gorgeous and dazzling. Like the final blossoming of brilliance before destruction. Chapter 1496 Stop Spatial storms wreaked destruction across the desolate, ice-cold domain, sweeping away all matter. AHHH! Amidst the eternal silence, a roar filled with pain and madness suddenly exploded like thunder. Sound waves swept outwards, scattering even the devastating spatial storms. A streak of light quickly followed, shooting out bursts of boundless divine power that destroyed everything in its path. It was naturally Zhou Yuan, whose red eyes were still filled with madness and had clearly lost all reason. The destruction of his divine matter vessel had led to a dispersion of divinity in his body, causing it to clash with his human side, which led to his mind falling into chaos. Far behind him, Tuntun followed with Yaoyao on its back, biting her lip as she watched Zhou Yuan¡¯s crazed figure leaving a path of destruction. Tuntun also released a worried growl. ¡°Zhou Yuan¡¯s divinity vessel was broken. I saw the Sacred God send a beam of concentrated divinity into his body, which must have resulted in a drastic rise in his divinity and caused it to surpass the threshold of his vessel. As a result, his mind was thrown into madness.¡± Yaoyao closely observed Zhou Yuan. Although she had lost her divinity, she still had her divine body and was able to sense and deduce the cause of Zhou Yuan¡¯s madness. ¡°All all-heaven lifeforms lack a divine bone, leaving Zhou Yuan no choice but to seek out an alternative path to ascend to the god stage. Although he managed to refine the divine matter I left in his body into a divinity vessel, it could never function as a proper substitute to the divine bone. As such, there were numerous flaws and problems with his god stage cultivation. ¡°The Sacred God should have also realized Zhou Yuan¡¯s problem and thus sent him a beam of concentrated divinity. Though highly desired by everyone else, it was a fatal poison to Zhou Yuan.¡± Towards the end, Yaoyao was already grinding her teeth, her heart filled with endless killing intent towards the Sacred God. Tuntun growled again, asking whether there was any way to help Zhou Yuan. Yaoyao pondered for a moment and said, ¡°Send me to his side.¡± Tuntun hesitated. Zhou Yuan was currently a mindless beast, filled only with destructive impulses. If Yaoyao approached, she would likely be attacked without exception. However, it ultimately dashed forward, shifting rapidly to avoid the bursts of divine light from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. As Tuntun neared, Zhou Yuan instinctively sensed its approach. The Heavenly Yuan Brush immediately swept forth with powerful divine force, quick as lightning as it swung towards Tuntun. Tuntun jerked its head, sending Yaoyao flying through space as it roared and slashed its giant claws at the attacking brush. Bang! A loud noise was followed by a wail of pain from Tuntun. Its giant body was sent flying and crashed into one of floating meteors that was as large as a continent. The entire continent-meteor rumbled as its center crumbled into itself. Yaoyao used this opportunity to appear in front of Zhou Yuan. She quickly glanced across Zhou Yuan¡¯s red, wild-beast-like eyes as pain rose in her heart. Rumble! However, Zhou Yuan was likewise able to sense her approach. His eyes did not even ripple as a fist infused with divine power viciously lashed out with the intent of smashing her into a bloody mist. Yaoyao immediately dodged the side, avoiding the attack. Although she had lost her divinity, her divine body still made ehr much stronger than any triple lotus Saint expert. She took advantage of this moment to advance and crashed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest, her arms reaching out to rightly hug his waist. Yaoyao tenderly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I already said that I won¡¯t leave you behind again.¡± Before he could struggle free, she raised her head and placed her ice-cold lips on his mouth. The cold as jade contact made Zhou Yuan¡¯s body suddenly go rigid, momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events. However, it was only temporary and divine force soon began to gather around him again. Yaoyao quickly bit the tip of her tongue, sending some divine blood essence into Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. The divine blood essence rapidly assimilated into his body as the madness and chaos in his eyes began to weaken. Yaoyao was using her divine blood to modulate Zhou Yuan¡¯s berserk divinity. She planned to use her divine blood as a temporary medium for his divinity. However, it was not a proper solution and could not resolve his predicament. Its only function was to put a stop to Zhou Yuan¡¯s madness. As divine blood essence flowed into him, Yaoyao¡¯s originally fair skin gradually turned even paler. However, she did not mind and continued to send her divine essence blood into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. The berserking divine power in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body slowly calmed down. When their lips finally parted, Zhou Yuan¡¯s body had become completely still. Tuntun leaped over and released a happy growl when it saw that Zhou Yuan was no longer being violent. However, it soon realized that something was wrong. Although Zhou Yuan was not crazily destroying everything, he was not moving either. The redness in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a wooden look. He looked no different from a statue. Yaoyao wiped away the blood at the corner of her mouth and said, ¡°Although I¡¯ve temporarily quelled his berserk divinity, it has not solved the root problem. His human side and divinity are still in conflict within him, leaving him without a will and unable to control his body.¡± Tuntun sadly hung its head. Didn¡¯t this mean that Zhou Yuan had become a fool? However, Yaoyao displayed a rare smile and said in an encouraging manner, ¡°We¡¯ve got to do this one step at a time. At least Zhou Yuan is no longer crazy and we can bring him elsewhere to seek treatment.¡± Her gaze shifted towards the lifeless and unmoving Zhou Yuan, that signature bright smile no longer present on his expressionless face. Yaoyao¡¯s eyes turned somewhat watery, the sharp pain in her heart nearly causing her to shed a few tears. She wiped her eyes and reached out to grab Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand with a faint smile. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Zhou Yuan, I¡¯ll bring you home.¡± Tuntun crouched low, allowing her to pull Zhou Yuan onto its back. With a roar, it crossed the many starry rivers and flew towards the all-heavens. Countless meteors, some as large as continents, randomly flew past. There was no order, only chaos. On Tuntun¡¯s wide back, Yaoyao tightly held one of Zhou Yuan¡¯s hands. She gazed into his lifeless eyes and softly mumbled, ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t worry. I will definitely make you better.¡± Chapter 1497 Back to the Roads You Once Walked When the defeated all-heaven army finally returned home, news of the battle¡¯s outcome immediately spread to every corner of the all-heaven, resulting in a torrential uproar and panic. The third god had been bested and stripped of her divinity by the Sacred God, while he was currently undergoing a transformation that would make him even stronger once complete. When that time came, who in the all-heaven could stop him? Put bluntly, the day he awakened from his transformation would be the all-heaven¡¯s doomsday. This outcome made the all-heaven fall into a state of panic and order began to crumble throughout the land. The Omega Shrine did everything in their power to maintain order. Unfortunately for them, the all-heaven was not the only one that had been infected by this despairing atmosphere. Several Omega Shrine Saint experts had lost all hope, and once hope was gone from their hearts, everything could only turn to dust. Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the other prime sovereigns felt powerless. They could only try their best to keep up a positive attitude as they repeatedly encouraged the other Omega Shrine Saint experts. At the end of the day, the Omega Shrine was the all-heaven¡¯s last line of defence and there were some responsibilities they needed to bear. In the face of cruel reality, however, even the full efforts of the four prime sovereigns only left them increasingly exhausted while the all-heaven descended into chaos. ... A month had passed when Yaoyao returned to Cangxuan Heaven with Zhou Yuan. After arriving, she headed straight for the Great Zhou Empire. In the royal palace, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu could not stop sobbing when they saw the lifeless Zhou Yuan. They never imagined that their confident and always so lively son would one day end up in such a state. It was a devastating blow to the two parents. ¡°Uncle Zhou, auntie Qin...I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all because of me that Zhou Yuan ended up like this.¡± Yaoyao tearfully fell to her knees at the sight of the two heartbroken parents. Still crying uncontrollably, Qin Yu moved forward and pulled Yaoyao up. She stroked the young lady¡¯s slightly gaunt face as she choked through her sobs, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, Yaoyao. These things are beyond your control. It is already a huge relief that you were able to return.¡± Tears also flowed down Yaoyao¡¯s cheeks as she replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, aunt Qin, I will also bring Zhou Yuan back.¡± Qin Yu nodded. Soon after, she helped wipe Yaoyao¡¯s tears away and tried to smile. ¡°You can¡¯t call me aunt Qin any more. You¡¯ve already married Zhou Yuan.¡± Yaoyao was taken aback and her face could not help but turn bright red. However, she still drummed up her courage and softly said, ¡°Mother.¡± Even a lady like Qin Yu could not stop her breath from being taken away as the sorrow in her heart was diluted just a little. She was already envisioning how perfect it would be if Zhou Yuan was here grinning and watching. It was a scene Qin Yu would willingly give her life for in exchange. ¡°Good girl.¡± Qin Yu retrieved a gold and jade phoenix hairpin and began to help Yaoyao tie up her hair. The hairpin perfectly complemented her skin, making her look even more beautiful. ¡°From now on, you are our Zhou Clan¡¯s daughter-in-law.¡± Qin Yu smiled. Yaoyao reached out and gently grasped the motionless, statue-like Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand, before bashfully nodding at Qin Yu. Qin Yu grew increasingly fond of her new daughter-in-law, her mood improving ever so slightly. However, she understood that she was only forcibly distracting herself. It was at this juncture that a palace servant suddenly arrived to report that Cang Yuan and the other three prime sovereigns had come to visit. They had evidently sensed Yaoyao¡¯s return and immediately came over to investigate. Zhou Qing looked towards Yaoyao. Only after seeing her nod did he instruct the servant to bring in their four guests. When Cang Yuan, Jin Luo, Di Long and Chi Ji walked into the palace hall, their gazes were immediately drawn towards the unmoving, puppet-like Zhou Yuan. Cang Yuan frowned deeply as he worriedly asked, ¡°Yaoyao, what¡¯s going on with Zhou Yuan?¡± Yaoyao gave a simple explanation. ¡°His divinity vessel was destroyed, causing his divinity to runamuck in his body and clash with his human side. As a result, he has lost control of his body.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo enquired, ¡°When will he recover?¡± ¡°That will depend on the situation.¡± Yaoyao shook her head. ¡°It has been a month since the Sacred God started his transformation...and the all-heaven is currently in chaos. Even the Omega Shrine is on the verge of losing control.¡± Jin Luo chuckled bitterly. Yaoyao¡¯s expression remained cold and cheerless, evidently not very concerned. Her main goal was Zhou Yuan¡¯s recovery and she honestly could care less about the all-heaven. However, if the Sacred God destroyed the all-heaven, Great Zhou City would also be destroyed. For Zhou Yuan¡¯s, Qin Yu¡¯s and Zhou Qing¡¯s sakes, Yaoyao ultimately said, ¡°The Sacred God¡¯s transformation will still take some time. Zhou Yuan also managed to seal him at the final moment, greatly slowing down his transformation.¡± The four prime sovereigns nodded. This was some good news at least although it was ultimately only a delaying tactic. Prime sovereign Chi Ji hesitated for a moment before she asked, ¡°Yaoyao, does the all-heaven really have no hope of facing the Sacred God?¡± The hall was silent as gaze after gaze converged on Yaoyao. Yaoyao was quiet for a brief moment before she ultimately answered, ¡°Who can say what the future holds...if no one can stop the Sacred God, I can only say that the all-heaven¡¯s luck has run out.¡± The four prime sovereigns could only let out a bitter laugh. After a little more conversation, they voluntarily departed. Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan subsequently took residence in the royal palace. They visited every place in the city that they had been to before. Yaoyao hoped that these familiar places would be able to rouse Zhou Yuan¡¯s human side. However, Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were still dull and lifeless after a month had passed. Yaoyao did not give up. After some discussion with Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, she brought Zhou Yuan out of the Great Zhou Empire, following the path they had left from all those years ago. It was the route they had taken to Cangxuan Heaven after leaving the Great Zhou Empire. The boy from back then had been full of spirit and confidence. He had brought along the quiet, aloof girl and the mischievous, crafty little creature on a wonderful and exciting journey. Now, that boy was no longer young. After countless trials, the unknown practitioner had become the all-heaven¡¯s strongest expert. However, he was now a statue without emotion, a wooden doll that allowed itself to be slowly led along by the girl. Only Tuntun looked exactly the same in its small creature form, rolling about in the front as it scouted the way. However, just as they exited the Great Zhou Empire¡¯s borders, Yaoyao saw three figures to the front, belonging to two women and one man. It was Su Youwei, Wu Yao and Zhao Mushen. Su Youwei was wearing a purple dress, her slim figure akin to a blooming orchid gently swaying in the wind. Wu Yao was dressed in her usual flowing red dress, her presence heroic and piercing like a rose with thorns. Zhao Mushen wore black and had a complicated expression. Su Youwei approached, staring at the wooden-doll-like Zhou Yuan as a deep sorrow flowed out in her eyes. Soon after, she softly said, ¡°May I try talking to him?¡± Yaoyao did not object. She pulled Zhou Yuan into the shade of a nearby tree and began attentively straightening his messy clothes. Su Youwei silently watched from the side. She could tell that Yaoyao had been doing her best to take care of Zhou Yuan. Although she was not very good, it was still a drastic transformation compared to her aloof and indifferent demeanor from before. After settling Zhou Yuan down, Yaoyao voluntarily moved away. Su Youwei sat down beside Zhou Yuan and started to talk in a soft voice, narrating the encounters and stories they once shared...finally pouring out the feelings she had suppressed in her heart for many years. The setting sun slowly descended, bathing the land with its dusky red rays. A lady in purple quietly talked to a man under the shade of a tree, while a beautiful lady in white gazed at the sky in silence nearby. A third lady in red leaned against the trunk of another tree with her arms crossed as unknown emotions flashed in her phoenix eyes. Even further away, a man in black carefully balanced himself on one leg while allowing the little creature called Tuntun to laze about on his head. It would have been a beautiful scene, if only the man under the tree could smile dazzlingly like he always had in the past. When only a corner of the setting sun was left visible on the horizon did Su Youwei finally stand up, helping Zhou Yuan to his feet in the process. Her eyes were red, filled with self-blame and grief. Yaoyao walked over and softly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will make him recover.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been hard on you, big sis Yaoyao.¡± Su Youwei nodded. Yaoyao did not say anything else. She pulled Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand and began slowly walking away to continue their journey. Tuntun reluctantly jumped off Zhao Mushen¡¯s head and dejectedly resumed its scouting work. Su Youwei watched the man, woman and beast leave. Rivers suddenly poured down her cheeks as the final rays of the sun shone on her face. Wu Yao appeared beside her and said, ¡°You could have followed them.¡± Su Youwei shook her head as she wiped away her tears and softly said, ¡°No, this journey belongs to them. I cannot interfere. ¡°I only wish to see him recover. Nothing else matters.¡± Wu Yao sighed softly. It didn¡¯t matter anyway since the all-heaven¡¯s final days would soon arrive. When everything was destroyed, there would no longer be these annoying and complicated matters. After bidding goodbye to Su Youwei, Yaoyao led Zhou Yuan along the still somewhat familiar roads, roads filled with the memories they once shared. Beautiful scenes were continuously flipped over deep in Yaoyao¡¯s mind, each clear as the day she experienced them. They soon arrived at Saint Remains City. The city had already been rebuilt, but was rather chaotic due to the all-heaven¡¯s impending doom. As such, they only stayed for a short while on the city walls before leaving, heading towards the Saint Remains Domain. This was where Zhou Yuan had met patriarch Cang Xuan and begun a new chapter of his story. This Saint Remains Domain had become a famous cultivation location. After all, the mere rumor of it being the place where the Cangxuan Heaven master once obtained a great blessing would already make many heaven prides blindly rush over like ducks. Yaoyao headed directly to the deepest area of the Saint Remains Domain, where the fragment of patriarch Cang Xuan had dissipated. However, nothing remained after so many years, and even someone as powerful as the current Yaoyao could not bring back what was already gone. As such, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan stayed only two days in the mountain before ultimately leaving again. After departing from the Saint Remains Domain, they proceeded towards the Shengzhou Continent. However, the continent that was once the heart of Cangxuan Heaven had already been smashed to pieces and separated into various locations. Yaoyao did not mind the trouble. They continued their journey without missing even a single location they had been to years ago. Time slowly flowed. In the blink of an eye, three months had passed. Over these three months, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan made sure to stop by every place they had once visited before. However, Zhou Yuan remained akin to an inanimate puppet, showing no reaction to everything. After three months of visiting the various corners of Cangxuan Heaven, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan finally arrived at the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s entrance. Chapter 1498 That Cave Dwelling and That Jar of Taoyao Wine The Cangxuan Sect main gate silently stood there as it always had before. An enormous sect protection boundary flickered with a strange light behind it, giving off a strong sense of safety and security. As Yaoyao walked up the stone steps with Zhou Yuan, she saw several familiar figures to their front. It was Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Chunjun, Lu Luo, Chu Qing, Li Qingchan and the others. Several heads could also be seen peeking out even further along the mountain path, secretly watching the pair. Yaoyao had not hidden her movements across Cangxuan Heaven. As such, the Cangxuan Heaven factions were well-aware of their route and made sure to always pay close attention to the couple. After all, they were the all-heaven¡¯s most powerful and important individuals whose every action could affect the entire all-heaven. This was something even the Omega Shrine¡¯s four prime sovereigns could not match. ¡°Yaoyao!¡± Zuoqiu Qingyu shot down like an arrow and gave Yaoyao a big hug. Her eyes were red as she said, ¡°It¡¯s so nice to see you again.¡± Yaoyao gently patted Zuoqiu Qingyu¡¯s back. Zuoqiu Qingyu released Yaoyao and looked towards the wooden-doll-like Zhou Yuan with complicated eyes. ¡°He hasn¡¯t recovered yet?¡± Yaoyao gently shook her head. Zuoqiu Qingyu earnestly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Zhou Yuan will definitely get better.¡± Yaoyao displayed a slight smile before pulling Zhou Yuan forward to meet Li Qingchan, Chu Qing and the others. Luluo darted in front of Zhou Yuan, her already large eyes growing even wider as she asked, ¡°Zhou Yuan, I am Luluo. Have you really forgotten me?¡± However, the only thing in Zhou Yuan¡¯s blank eyes was the reflection of Luluo¡¯s adorable face. Luluo sadly hung her head. The small ice-blue bird on her shoulder softly chirped at her ear to console her. The others sighed inwardly. Li Qingchan looked at Yaoyao and said, ¡°It¡¯s been tough on you, Yaoyao. Just say the word if there¡¯s anything you need in the Cangxuan Sect. Chu Qing is our new sect master.¡± Chu Qing rubbed his shiny, bald head with a pained expression. ¡°To be frank, junior brother Zhou Yuan is the most suitable choice for sect master. If he recovers, I¡¯ll ask him if he can save me from this terrible position.¡± ¡°I want to go to our old cave dwelling.¡± There was a slight look of reminiscence in Yaoyao¡¯s eyes. Chu Qing said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, that cave dwelling has always been vacant and we¡¯ve made sure to bar anyone from entering.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Yaoyao gratefully nodded before leading Zhou Yuan along the mountain path again, slowly walking deeper into the Cangxuan Sect. Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others did not say anything else as they silently followed from a distance. Countless deeply respectful gazes watched the pair ascend the mountain. These gazes belonged to the Cangxuan Sect disciples, many of whom were rather new. The lady in white so beautiful that anyone would believe she was an immortal that had descended to the mortal realm should be the rumored third god. The rumors had not been exaggerated. Her appearance and presence were truly blessed by the very best the world had to offer, making everything else seem dull and colorless in comparison. The disciples swore that they had never seen such a beautiful lady before. They had previously felt elder Li Qingchan was already at the pinnacle of beauty, but seeing the lady today forcibly pulled their beauty standards to an even higher level. The tall man beside her was clearly the Cangxuan Heaven master that had come from the Cangxuan Sect, Zhou Yuan. Countless Cangxuan Sect disciples viewed him as their idol and even Zhou Yuan himself might not know how revered he was in their hearts. The surroundings were very quiet as the man and woman walked up the mountain path. Figure after figure bowed deeply in respect as the couple passed by. Yaoyao paid them no attention as she slowly walked along the long path with Zhou Yuan, passing by several familiar buildings on the mountains until a certain cave dwelling appeared at the end of her sights. The cave dwelling was neither the biggest nor the most highly ranked amongst the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s numerous cave dwellings. However, it was currently the most special place in the entire sect and many disciples had visited it in the past like pilgrims on a pilgrimage. It was because many years ago, their senior brother Zhou Yuan had once cultivated here before he became the Cangxuan Heaven master. He was the sect¡¯s most accomplished disciple to date. In fact, Zhou Yuan¡¯s strength had already surpassed their founder, patriarch Cang Xuan. Yaoyao gazed at the cave dwelling as tenderness flowed out in her crystal-clear eyes. Her usual distant aura vanished completely, replaced by a never seen before gentleness and loveliness. This cave dwelling was an irreplaceable place for both Zhou Yuan and her. After leaving the Great Zhou Empire all those years ago, this was where they had lived together, relying and supporting each other. It was a place that contained their most beautiful memories. Yaoyao slowly led Zhou Yuan towards the cave dwelling while Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others finally came to a stop. They understood that this small world belonged to the two. Since this was the stop in their journey, she clearly viewed it as their last hope. If even this place could not awaken Zhou Yuan, there would likely be no hope left for the all-heaven... Under countless watching gazes, Yaoyao pulled Zhou Yuan along as they slowly walked into the cave dwelling with Tuntun following at her feet, soon disappearing into its shadow. Everyone breathed out deeply. Everything will depend on fate. The first thing that greeted them was the all-too-familiar small cobbled path that led through a pretty stone pavilion. There was also a small stream flowing in the cave that contributed to the cool environment. The lighting was excellent, rays of light shooting through the many cracks and bathing the dancing dust in an ethereal glow. As they walked along the small cobbled path, a flower garden soon entered their eyes, hundreds of gorgeous flowers vying for attention within. Every sprout had been personally planted by Yaoyao years ago. These flowers had matured long ago over the years, their bright colors giving a lively atmosphere to the cave¡¯s interior. Yaoyao stood in front of the garden, a slight smile blossoming on her lips as she silently admired the matured flowers. Soon after, she led Zhou Yuan even deeper into the cave. They walked past another pavilion before her footsteps gradually slowed down and circles of red began spreading in her eyes. Reflected in her clear, limpid eyes was a peach blossom tree in full bloom. Petals gently sprinkled from the tree, warming the entire cave dwelling. Yaoyao dazedly stared at the peach blossom tree, covering her mouth as tears began falling from her cheeks. That year, the tree had also been in blossom, its fresh, bright flowers reflected together with love on the beauty¡¯s cheeks. In this moment, Yaoyao truly wished that everything was merely a dream she was having while leaning against Zhou Yuan under the peach blossom tree. She did not wish for power nor to be worshipped and respected by the world. Her only wish was to live peacefully with Zhou Yuan. However, she also understood that this was impossible. She gently wiped away her tears and led Zhou Yuan under the peach blossom tree, where the ground was covered in petals. No one could know how many of these petals had returned back to the dirt over the years. ¡°Zhou Yuan, do you still remember... ¡°You made a batch of alcohol for me that I ultimately named Taoyao Wine. The last jar was buried here under this very tree... ¡°Back then, I believed that I would be the one to drink this jar of wine in the future and never imagined that¡­¡± A slender finger pointed at the ground, causing the soil to part. She soon saw a wine jar covered in soil silently resting in the ground. Yaoyao carefully lifted the jar, oblivious to the soil and dirt. She stared at the jar of Taoyao Wine, the tenderness in her smile more intoxicating than any alcohol in this world. The jar was also reflected in Zhou Yuan¡¯s empty eyes as his wooden-doll-like body seemed to tremble a little. Yaoyao seemed to notice. She looked straight into Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes and smiled, ¡°Want to have a taste?¡± A sliver of alluring red appeared on Yaoyao¡¯s fair face, her clear-as-a-lake eyes rippling visibly as she gently bit her lip. In the next instant, her white dress began to turn bright red at a speed that could be seen by the naked eye. After a few seconds, a phoenix crown and rose cape also appeared on her body, making her so beautiful that it would be impossible to guard against. She pointed at Zhou Yuan and his clothes also started to change, turning bright red like it had been during the beautiful wedding they once had. Yaoyao sat down in a kneeling position on the petal-covered ground, before also pulling Zhou Yuan down opposite her in the same position. She gently pried open the wine seal, causing a mellow and rich fragrance to spread. The familiar wine fragrance that had practically been etched into her bones made the smile on her lips blossom, turning impossibly enchanting. She lifted the jar with one hand, her fair and slender neck raising slightly like an elegant swan. Yaoyao placed the jar on her lips and took a bold swig. Crystal-clear wine flowed down from the corner of her lips, wetting her clothes. In the end, she put down the jar with a flushed face, the never seen before alluringness eclipsing every seductive gesture ever done in the world. Anyone would become drunk on this sight alone. Yaoyao leaned forward and placed her cold, wine-flavored red lips on Zhou Yuan¡¯s mouth. Wine flowed along her tongue and into his mouth. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes rippled intensely as if struggling to free himself. His hands trembled as they slowly wrapped around her waist. The corners of Yaoyao¡¯s lips curled slightly at Zhou Yuan¡¯s reaction, before she responded with even more intensity and ferocity. It was a long while later before their lips parted. Yaoyao¡¯s face was intoxicatingly red. She gazed at the dim light that had begun to gather in his eyes and chuckled softly. She pulled out her hairpin, causing her black hair to fall like a waterfall. The phoenix crown quickly followed, dropping from her head as the petals on the ground were blown into the air, obscuring her slender and graceful figure. Yaoyao pounced onto Zhou Yuan. Her red dress slipped off her shoulders, revealing skin as fair as jade as she softly whispered in his ear, ¡°Husband, we seem to have one final ritual left to complete from our wedding day.¡± She pushed him down, the dancing petals around them gradually gathering into a peach blossom ball that completely covered the pair. As the petals danced, two waves of red endlessly heaved and tangled together. Even the beautiful flower garden seemed to fade into the background as love overflowed in the cave dwelling. Some distance away, Tuntun covered its eyes with its tiny paws and hurriedly fled the cave dwelling and stationed at its entrance. The air was filled with dancing petals as the light entering through the cracks gradually turned from the warm rays of the day to the cool moonlight of the night, gently illuminating the peach blossom ball under the tree. A soft glow slowly danced in the flower ball as Yaoyao peacefully lay on Zhou Yuan¡¯s chest. His eyes were tightly shut, but she could sense that the divinity and human side in his body were no longer so violently at odds. The human side was slowly but surely regaining control. However, as his divinity was suppressed, the divine power in Zhou Yuan¡¯s body would also gradually disperse. His body ultimately did not possess the divine bone that could contain divinity, and without a vessel, it would naturally begin to scatter. When Zhou Yuan properly awakened, his cultivation would fall back to the triple lotus stage. The red dress half covering her shoulder, Yaoyao¡¯s eyes were also closed as she listened to Zhou Yuan¡¯s strong heartbeat. She wanted to live in this moment forever. However...it was only temporary. Once the Sacred God completed his transformation, no one in the all-heaven would be able to stop him. When that time came...herself, Zhou Yuan, Tuntun...everything would be destroyed. She was not afraid of death, but if possible, she wished for Zhou Yuan to continue experiencing the beauty of this world. She propped herself up and gazed at Zhou Yuan¡¯s sleeping face as a slight smile appeared on her lips. However, tears began to fall from her eyes again. She soon lay down and bit hard on his chest, leaving a visible mark. ¡°Zhou Yuan...my divinity has already been absorbed by the Sacred God and I can no longer defeat him. You, however...might have a chance. ¡°You...might be the only one who can put a proper end to the chaos. ¡°I originally believed I could hold your hand and embrace destruction together, but I¡¯ve selfishly changed my mind...Zhou Yuan, I don¡¯t want you to die. I want you to live and have a good life. ¡°You could not become a true god because you lacked the divine bone... ¡°That¡¯s why...Zhou Yuan... ¡°Allow me to become your divine bone.¡± A resolute look appeared in her eyes. Her body began to glow with divine light that tightly wrapped the couple together. Yaoyao gradually transformed into dazzling specks of light that slowly burrowed into Zhou Yuan¡¯s body through the bite mark on his chest. Yaoyao¡¯s figure turned fainter and fainter. She lowered her head and gently caressed Zhou Yuan''s cheek one final time as the most dazzling and enchanting smile blossomed on her face. In the end, she softly said, ¡°Zhou Yuan...Yaoyao has no other wish but for your future to be filled with peace and happiness.¡± In the next instant, her body completely disintegrated into countless specks of divine light. Outside the cave dwelling, Tuntun suddenly froze in place and blankly stared at the cave. It seemed to realize something at this moment. It lunged towards the cave but was immediately sent flying by a wall of light that should not have existed. Roar! In its helplessness, it could only repeatedly stomp the ground with all four paws, causing the land and mountains to tremble. In the end, it released a long howl towards the heavens that seemed to shake the entire world, a howl filled only with endless pain and sorrow. Chapter 1499 The Sacred God Awakens Roar! The roar of a beast thundered from outside the cave dwelling, shaking the heavens. Countless people in the Cangxuan Sect were alarmed, instinctively jerking their gazes towards the source. Chu Qing, Li Qingchan, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others appeared in the air and looked towards the cave dwelling in confusion. They could see Tuntun in its giant form howling at the sky, a howl filled with pain and grief. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± Their expressions rapidly fluctuated. They had intentionally given Zhou Yuan and Yaoyao some space after the couple entered the cave dwelling and never expected an incident would occur after a single night. Li Qingchan worriedly asked, ¡°Should we go over and take a look?¡± Chu Qing pondered for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°Anything that happens there is beyond us. The only thing we can do is wait and stop anyone from approaching this area.¡± As the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s strongest expert, Chu Qing could faintly sense that an unprecedented radical transformation was occurring in the cave, a transformation that was far beyond their level. The others silently nodded. However, they still felt somewhat uneasy. After all, the sadness in Tuntun¡¯s howls was just far too clear...something must have gone wrong in the cave dwelling... Unfortunately, worrying was useless. The only thing they could do was wait. This wait lasted half a year. The six month period was filled with terror and torture for the all-heaven. As time passed, the many all-heaven inhabitants began to faintly feel an ominous, frightening pressure slowly spread from somewhere outside the all-heaven. It was from the Sacred God¡¯s location. His power was clearly becoming more terrifying than it had ever been before. As such, his pressure was already beginning to descend before his transformation was complete. This undoubtedly increased the panic and despair in the all-heaven. The feeling of being unable to do anything but wait for their doom was undoubtedly an unbearable torment. Many were unable to cope with the constant fear and ultimately chose to end their lives. For a time, the all-heaven was littered in corpses and desperation. The Cangxuan Sect. The sect had become the focus of the all-heaven. Even the four prime sovereigns had left the Omega Shrine and taken residence here. Numerous Saint experts continued to arrive one after another. Such a grand line-up made the Cangxuan Sect¡¯s popularity peerless for a time. Headed by the four prime sovereigns, Jin Luo, Cang Yuan, Di Long and Chi Ji, numerous experts were silently seated on the mountains around the cave dwelling. Their gazes were tinged with restlessness, worry and apprehension as they looked towards the cave that was sealed by an invisible terrifying power. Tuntun listlessly lay outside the cave dwelling, still as a statue, looking extremely despondent. ¡°There seems to be an extremely frightening power brewing inside, a power even stronger than the third god in her prime.¡± Jin Luo¡¯s eyes contained a sliver of anxiety and hope. Although he did not know what was happening in the cave dwelling, the churning power within made them feel happiness akin to seeing an oasis in the desert. ¡°But the Sacred God is also growing increasingly powerful.¡± Cang Yuan sighed. Even from so far away, the spreading divine pressure made even triple lotus Saint experts like them feel a tremendous pressure. Prime sovereign Chi Ji said, ¡°It¡¯s already the worst possible situation either way. I¡¯ll gladly take any additional variable.¡± The others nodded in agreement. Once the Sacred God¡¯s transformation was complete, the all-heaven would soon face its destruction. They currently did not have any answer or measure against the Sacred God. Hence, the power brewing inside the cave dwelling might be their final hope. Apprehensive gaze after gaze was cast at the cave dwelling again as the Saint experts silently waited for the moment when the truth to this mystery would be revealed. Time continued to flow as they waited. Another month passed. Far far away from the all-heaven, the giant divine crystal egg silently stood amidst the darkness as millions of divine light rays pulsed from it. The divine pressure from the giant egg had already spread to every corner of the Tianyuan World. Some distance away, the Sacred Race Saint experts kneeled in worship as they silently waited for their supreme god to complete his transformation. This continued until a certain moment. What sounded like a mysterious murmur suddenly sounded. Though it was soft, it spread to the entire Tianyuan World in an instant. The Sacred Race and the all-heaven inhabitants heard the mysterious sound that contained an indescribable pressure and tone. When the Sacred Race heard this sound, however, they were filled with endless ecstasy as they zealously kowtowed. On the other hand, intense terror rose in the all-heaven inhabitants¡¯ hearts. They felt as if they were about to go crazy, causing countless individuals to shriek and roll on the ground. Tai Mi and the other Sacred Race Saint experts ecstatically looked towards the origin of the mysterious noise. They knew that it was a sign that the Sacred God¡¯s transformation was about to be complete. ¡°We welcome our god!¡± They bowed devotedly. Omm! The dazzling divine light from the giant egg gradually began to withdraw. After a long time, all the light fully returned to the egg as cracks slowly began to appear and grow. ¡°Oh¡­¡± A low mumble seemed to sound from the egg. It rapidly began to crumble, revealing the figure within. The figure had withdrawn all of his divine light, letting none of it leak out. His body seemed to be the most perfect creation, flowing with ultimate power. Half of the Sacred God¡¯s originally black hair had turned white. Likewise, the black eye between his brows was now also half black and white like a Yin Yang symbol, making it appear exceptionally mysterious. Divine light flowed across his skin, seemingly containing all the mysteries of this world. A single glance would make anyone¡¯s Spirit feel as if it was being smashed to pieces. A being that could not be looked at directly nor disrespected. This was a god. ¡°Although there¡¯s still a single step that separates my current power from the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s, my years of scheming have not been in vain.¡± The Sacred God felt the vast divine power circulating within his body. His power was on a completely different level from before. He was clearly very satisfied by this outcome. Next, he only needed to destroy the all-heaven inhabitants and devour them to reclaim the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s final remaining power. Only then would he become the Tianyuan World¡¯s true first order god. He softly chuckled as his bottomless eyes looked towards the all-heaven. ¡°Let the all-heaven¡¯s destruction begin¡­¡± Chapter 1500 Zhou Yuan Becomes a God Divine pressure enclosed the all-heaven like a prison as the world reacted to the Sacred God¡¯s thoughts of destroying the all-heaven. Genesis Qi began to stir restlessly. To the all-heaven inhabitants¡¯ horror, they found that they had been separated from the surrounding Genesis Qi, losing their connection to it. Even the all-heaven Saint experts discovered that their Saint force was being continuously shaved away. In the Cangxuan Sect, the expressions of numerous Saint experts changed drastically, their faces turning aghast with terror. One of the Saint experts exclaimed with an ugly expression, ¡°The Sacred God has completed his transformation!¡± ¡°Such power...he¡¯s way more terrifying than before!¡± Although the Sacred God was already a very frightening existence to them previously, it had not reached the level where he could affect the all-heaven experts¡¯ control over Genesis Qi even without being present. Jin Luo, Cang Yuan, Di Long and Chi Ji looked at each other, seeing the bitterness in each other¡¯s eyes. Such power could make anyone go crazy with despair. ¡°The Sacred God will soon descend.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo sighed deeply. Although there was a great distance between them, crossing it would take only a moment for an existence like the Sacred God. When he eventually descended upon the all-heaven, all of them would soon face their doom. Cang Yuan and the others looked towards the cave dwelling, their eyes glimmering with a final sliver of hope. The cave held the all-heaven¡¯s final hope. The terrified and panicking all-heaven inhabitants did not have to wait for long. They could feel an indescribable divine pressure gradually approaching from far away. Countless living things lifted their heads. A giant face that stretched beyond one¡¯s sights appeared outside the sky and indifferently observed the all-heaven. Countless people trembled uncontrollably under its gaze, their Spirits beginning to show signs of crumbling. ¡°Are all of you prepared?¡± An indifferent voice spread from outside the heavens, booming in every corner of the world like thunder. The all-heaven Saint experts immediately realized to their horror that the Genesis Qi in the all-heaven was swiftly disappearing. After a few seconds, the all-heaven became akin to an ordinary world without Genesis Qi. This change made the all-heaven inhabitants shake in fear. They were already accustomed to the presence of Genesis Qi and it was the very source of their strength. The disappearance of Genesis Qi was undoubtedly akin to severing their roots. Countless people wept in despair. Laughter rang out outside the heavens, quickly followed by a strange and mysterious mumbling. Unknown words descended like a curse, transmitting into every individual¡¯s ears. AHHH! As the curse-like mumbling spread, the all-heaven inhabitants shrieked in horror because the Genesis Qi in their bodies had begun to devour them from the inside. The Genesis Qi they had painstakingly cultivated for years seemed to transform into countless maggots that began eating away at their insides. In the Cangxuan Sect, countless disciples writhed on the ground in pain. Many Law Domain and Saint experts¡¯ brows were tightly knitted together as they tried their hardest to restrain the rebelling Genesis Qi. However, their efforts were clearly gradually losing effectiveness as the mysterious mumbling intensified. Powerlessness washed over them. Was this the Sacred God¡¯s power? Effortlessly turning their own Genesis Qi against them. Countless streams of blood-red qi began to rise from the land, flowing towards the sky. Every stream represented an all-heaven inhabitant¡¯s essence and Genesis Qi being devoured. It was an extremely tragic scene. Jin Luo, Cang Yuan and the other prime sovereigns¡¯ faces were filled with sorrow as they raised their heads to watch. Although Innumerable generations had fought hard for so many years, was the all-heaven ultimately still unable to avoid their fate of being erased by the Sacred God? Dong! While the all-heaven inhabitants were howling in despair, the sound of something colliding against an ancient cauldron suddenly rang out across the land, spreading to the entire all-heaven. The sound seemed to contain a magical power that cancelled out the mysterious mumbling from the Sacred God. At the same time, the originally rising blood-red qi streams suddenly stopped and reversed direction, returning to their respective bodies. The originally withered bodies suddenly began to regrow their flesh as their owners dazedly opened their eyes. The all-heaven inhabitants were bewildered, unable to understand what had happened. ¡°Oh?¡± A seemingly surprised voice sounded from outside the heavens. In the Cangxuan Sect, Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the other prime sovereigns¡¯ expressions changed as their gazes abruptly turned towards a certain cave dwelling. The divine light spreading from the cave had completely receded. They stared at the entrance as the faint sound of footsteps rang out from the dark passage. Moments later, a figure walked out from the shadows. Even the wind did not dare to blow at this moment. The gazes of Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the others paused on the figure. ¡°Is that¡­Zhou Yuan?¡± The figure¡¯s face was all too familiar. It was Zhou Yuan, but he seemed to have undergone a tremendous transformation. The aura he gave off made Cang Yuan and the others feel as if they were ants staring at the milky way. Every breath he took seemed capable of affecting their life or death. Zhou Yuan¡¯s black hair was scattered behind him, his deep and immeasurable eyes able to shake even one¡¯s soul. Runes covered his skin, seemingly containing the world¡¯s most ancient secrets. When he walked out of the shadows and appeared in everyone¡¯s sights, Genesis Qi suddenly appeared once again and bowed to him like subjects bowing to their king. Jin Luo, Cang Yuan and the others realized that the Genesis Qi in their bodies had completely submitted to Zhou Yuan, like citizens that had seen their emperor. It was utterly silent. No one dared to speak. Everyone held their breaths as they quietly stared at the figure. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was calm. When he arrived at Tuntun¡¯s side, he reached out and gently stroked its scales. Tuntun looked towards Zhou Yuan and let out a sorrowful whimper. Zhou Yuan¡¯s other hand was on his chest. He could feel something deep within his flesh that had not been there before. It was this very object that made him whole and perfect. It was the divine bone. The bone Yaoyao had transformed herself into. He could even clearly feel the final strand of Yaoyao¡¯s aura flowing within his flesh, eternally fused together with him. Zhou Yuan raised his head and took a deep breath, refusing to allow the tears in his eyes from falling. In the end, he said, ¡°Tuntun, believe me. I will definitely bring Yaoyao back.¡± He shifted his gaze towards the giant face outside the heavens as endless ice-cold killing intent surged out in his eyes like a tsunami. The entire land¡¯s temperature rapidly plummeted. ¡°However, I¡¯m going to deal with this main offender first.¡± Under countless gazes, Zhou Yuan walked forward. Space rippled around him and a dazzling ball of divine light soared into the air, bringing the all-heaven¡¯s final hope as it broke through the sky. As they watched, Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the others knew that the final battle to decide the all-heaven¡¯s fate had finally arrived. Chapter 1501 Battle of the Gods Amidst the formless mass of space. Space rippled as Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure emerged. He cast his gaze towards the front where a meteor silently floated. The Sacred God was seated on the meteor, a look of fascination on his face as he observed Zhou Yuan. ¡°I never imagined a mortal would truly be able to cast away his mortal shell and ascend to the god stage. From this, I can see that if I had not taken the opportunity to escape all those years ago and denied the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s final step, the world it envisioned would have succeeded.¡± The Sacred God sighed in admiration. Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression remained ice-cold as he responded, ¡°You are the Tianyuan World¡¯s cancer. Only by eliminating you will this world finally be able to shine with a light that belongs to itself, a radiance that will be truly peerless. ¡°The Tianyuan World has infinite potential and it should not merely be limited to this current form of the nine heavens. ¡°Sacred God, you¡¯ve already hindered the world¡¯s development for many years. It is now time for you to go.¡± The Sacred God chuckled. ¡°I will naturally direct this world¡¯s development in the future. When I finally attain full control over the ultimate divine power, I will do even better than the Ancestral Dragon. ¡°Zhou Yuan, since you¡¯ve already stepped into the god stage, you have the qualifications to talk to me as an equal. If you join forces with me, I will share the Tianyuan World with you. You should know how much potential this world holds. It will definitely become far greater and more powerful than now.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was indifferent. Intense killing intent surged in his eyes as he stared at the Sacred God. ¡°Sorry, my wish to destroy you is a million times greater than ruling the Tianyuan World.¡± The Sacred God¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as he said in a somewhat disappointed voice, ¡°It seems that even though an ant like you managed to advance to the god stage, you are still influenced by those primitive things known feelings. ¡°The third god has already paid the price for her feelings, are you really going to repeat her mistake?¡± However, the only response he received was an abrupt explosion of piercing killing intent. A tsunami of divine force rumbled towards him, millions of divine light rays shooting from within as it crashed towards the Sacred God from above. Boom! With a loud boom, the meteor that was as large as a continent was instantly pulverized. However, the divine light halos around the Sacred God swiftly neutralized the attacking light rays. The Sacred God smiled faintly. ¡°New gods are so fiesty. Never mind then, show me how much stronger you¡¯ve become with the third god as your divine bone.¡± He pushed his hands together and black dots began rising from between his palms. The black specks rapidly expanded, turning into hundred-thousand-feet wide glowing black balls. The glowing black balls seemed to be made from the darkest darkness, devouring all light that crossed their paths. Their power was so great that the surrounding space began to crumble. They were basically akin to black holes. ¡°Divine Art, World Engulfing Darkness.¡± The Sacred God waved his sleeve and the black balls made from the darkest darkness abruptly descended, filling Zhou Yuan¡¯s entire vision. The vast divine power contained within warped space and inverted heaven and earth. If such power landed in any of the heavens, half of it would be instantly destroyed. Zhou Yuan remained expressionless in the face of the rapidly approaching black balls. With a grasp of his hand, the Heavenly Yuan Brush appeared, looking vastly different from before. Previously, the brush¡¯s mottled exterior had been filled with the passage of time. Now, the Heavenly Yuan Brush looked like it had been crafted from a single piece of divine crystal. Its glossy surface glowed brightly as endless divine runes flowed along its body. The nine original Genesis Runes had already been erased because runes of that level were no longer compatible with its current power. When Zhou Yuan advanced to the god stage, the brush had been reforged by divine power, breaking the limits of the Saint rank to become a true divine artifact. Zhou Yuan brandished the Heavenly Yuan Brush, causing its tip to dance like a dragon. Divine force flowed from its tip as mountain after mountain appeared from nothingness. Every rock on each mountain was made from countless divine runes. A single mountain could easily restrain even the mighty triple lotus prime sovereigns and saints. The divine mountains stood tall in the darkness, stretching out endlessly across space. In the end, the glowing black balls crashed into the mountains. There was no loud noise from the collisions, however, only two divine powers continuously eroding the other. The spreading aftershocks from the battle made the entire all-heaven tremble. Two different divine powers ultimately consumed each other and simultaneously vanished. ¡°Interesting. The third god¡¯s sacrifice was not in vain.¡± The Sacred God laughed. He was honestly rather surprised. After all, he had already completed his transformation and was on a completely different level than when he fought against the third god. Despite this, Zhou Yuan had managed to withstand his attack. From this, one could see that Zhou Yuan was, in a certain manner of speaking, qualified to challenge him. Of course, qualifying did not mean it would be an even match. Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes were ice-cold. The Heavenly Yuan Brush suddenly shot forth from his hand, blossoming with dazzling divine light as it transformed into a giant dragon. The dragon sparkled as if it was made from crystal and shook the all-heaven with a mighty roar. Roar! The giant divine crystal dragon violently sucked at the all-heaven. In the next instant, four streams of light soared into the sky, containing extremely pure power. As the four streams approached, one would discover the four ancient stone stamps contained within them. They were the heaven master stamps of Hunyuan Heaven, Qiankun Heaven, Wanshou Heaven and Wuxing Heaven! The four heaven master stamps rocketed through the air and were swallowed by the giant dragon. The divine light from its body grew even more resplendent, the pulsing divine power making even the Sacred God¡¯s eyes narrow slightly. However, this was not all. Zhou Yuan raised his hand and the Cangxuan Saint Stamp rose from his palm before also being sent into the giant divine crystal dragon¡¯s mouth. After swallowing five heaven master stamps, the dragon¡¯s surging divine power soared to an inconceivable level. Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure appeared on the dragon¡¯s head, a chillingly eerie glow in his eyes as he stared at the Sacred God. ¡°You dog, she¡¯s called Yaoyao, not the third god.¡± He pressed his hands onto the dragon¡¯s head and countless divine runes abruptly spread from them like a ripple. The dragon abruptly opened its enormous mouth sending out an explosion of torrential light. ¡°Divine Art, Five Heavens Divine Dragon Burst!¡± The torrential light quickly took the form of a dragon. Countless tiny divine crystals shimmered within, formed from extremely condensed divine power along with the power of the five heavens. Zhou Yuan did not hold anything back against the Sacred God, immediately unleashing a deadly killing move the moment he attacked. The glowing dragon appeared in front of the Sacred God in an instant, the reflection of its shining figure exceptionally dazzlingly in his eyes. Under the ecstatic gazes of the numerous Saint experts in Cangxuan Heaven, the terrifying-to-the-max attack engulfed the Sacred God¡¯s body with a defeaning rumble. Chapter 1502 The Final Step A torrent of divine crystals pierced the vast void, rumbling as it disappeared into the distance. No one knew how far it would travel... The all-heaven Saint experts were ecstatic. Zhou Yuan¡¯s attack had been terrifying beyond their imagination and the Sacred God had not tried to avoid it. Such a powerful blow should have dealt some damage to the Sacred God, right? Countless gazes were tightly glued to the fight happening outside the heavens. A pitch-black scar had been left behind, along with a black and white barrier. There were numerous melted cracks on the barrier, through which one could just barely make out half of the Sacred God¡¯s face. The black and white barrier slowly receded, turning into pure black and white that returned to the black and white divine eye between the Sacred God¡¯s brows. Not a single wound could be seen on the Sacred God¡¯s body. The joyful light in the all-heaven Saint experts¡¯ eyes instantly turned into dim disappointment, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over their heads. To think that such a devastating attack had been blocked by the Sacred God... Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. It would have definitely been impossible for the Sacred God to come out unscathed if it was before his transformation. Evidently, Zhou Yuan had underestimated the Sacred God¡¯s power post transformation. ¡°Zhou Yuan, you can¡¯t beat me. Although you¡¯ve advanced to the god stage, your true essence is still that of a mortal. As a true god, I possess a god¡¯s foundations and am naturally superior in battle.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression sank a little. After ascending to the god stage, he of course understood how amazing divine matter was. For example, although the Heavenly Yuan Brush had become a god artifact, the Sacred God¡¯s core, the Endless Black Sea, was a naturally born god artifact. Hence, the power it possessed far surpassed the Heavenly Yuan Brush. The only artifact on the same level as the Endless Black Sea had been Yaoyao¡¯s Nine Orifice Divine Rock. However, it had disappeared along with Yaoyao when she transformed into his divine bone. ¡°Zhou Yuan, as a mortal turn god, do you wish to see the true power of a natural god artifact?¡± The Sacred God chuckled softly. In the next instant, his black and white divine eye blinked. The surroundings changed in an instant, and Zhou Yuan discovered that he was in a black and white sea. Black and white filled his vision, shaking heaven and earth. In addition, Zhou Yuan realized that his divine power had begun to slowly drain away as if it was being absorbed by the black and white sea. He immediately jolted his divine power and his body split into millions of copies that flew in every direction in an attempt to escape the black and white sea. However, none of his bodies were able to escape the sea no matter how far or quickly they flew. In the end, the bodies returned to one, revealing Zhou Yuan¡¯s figure once more. He turned his attention to the surface of the sea as the Sacred God¡¯s enormous face appeared and released a booming laugh, ¡°Zhou Yuan, my Endless Black Sea has also evolved along with me. It might be more apt to call it the Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea now. It can conceal heaven and earth and reverse Yin and Yang. You cannot escape it. ¡°Your divine power will swiftly be absorbed until your divine body finally crumbles. Zhou Yuan, I already told you that you cannot defeat me.¡± His laughter boomed across the all-heaven, landing in the ears of its many inhabitants. Everyone¡¯s bodies immediately turned cold as despair rapidly filled their eyes. In the Cangxuan Sect, the many Saint experts also began to panic. No one had expected that Zhou Yuan would suddenly be trapped by the Sacred God in the blink of an eye. However, a battle between gods was not something their feelings could affect. Hence, the black and white sea continued to churn and wreak destruction. Zhou Yuan stood on the surface of the sea with a grave expression as he felt his divine power rapidly drain away. The Sacred God¡¯s enormous face said, ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you choose to honor me as your master, I will let you keep your life. After all, you are the first mortal in the Tianyuan World who managed to become a god.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression did not change. He was silent for a few breaths before he slowly said, ¡°A naturally born god artifact is powerful indeed. However, there might be something that can match it.¡± The Sacred God curiously said, ¡°It seems you still have something up your sleeve? The Nine Orifices Divine Rock has already disappeared, is there anything left in this world which can face my Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea? Zhou Yuan did not reply. Instead, he extended a hand and lightly pushed it down in the all-heaven¡¯s direction. However, there seemed to be no response. The all-heaven Saint experts watched in bewilderment, unable to understand what Zhou Yuan was trying to do. However, they were not left in the dark for long, because they suddenly saw the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array start to shake violently. The array that had protected the all-heaven for thousands of years was gradually beginning to collapse. The great array¡¯s collapse caused countless people to feel uneasy. After all, it was this very array that had allowed the all-heaven to survive till now. Was Zhou Yuan planning to destroy it? In the Cangxuan Sect, Cang Yuan, Jin Luo and the other prime sovereigns gravely watched this scene. However, they did not panic, but instead began to ponder. Prime sovereign Jin Luo slowly asked, ¡°Do you guys still remember how the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array appeared?¡± There was a complentative look on prime sovereign Di Long¡¯s face as he answered, ¡°After the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will was roused and injured the Sacred God, a mighty power suddenly appeared outside the all-heaven. It was the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array¡¯s original form which was gradually built into the current great array after countless years of effort.¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo¡¯s eyes grew deep as night. ¡°That power surpassed our common sense and understanding, but I recall that when it first appeared, there was a certain object hidden within it. Several Saint experts had once tried to access it but were ultimately unable to discover any traces of it. ¡°When the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array reached its final form, that mysterious object disappeared. As the years passed, everyone gradually forgot its existence. ¡°However, the number one spot on the all-heaven artifact record has always been left empty. It is a position that can never be filled, because it is saved for the mysterious object within the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array. ¡°It is the all-heaven¡¯s strongest artifact.¡± As they listened to the most senior prime sovereign Jin Luo, the surrounding Saint experts were struck by a flash of understanding. To think that the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array actually hid such a secret. Joy surged out in Cang Yuan¡¯s eyes. ¡°Does this mean that the mysterious artifact has resonated with Zhou Yuan?¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo nodded as a slight smile appeared on his wrinkled face. Rumble! While they were conversing, the Chaos Origin Sacred Killer Array finally shattered. An incomparably enormous beam of light soared out from within as a primal and ancient dragon roar abruptly rang out across every corner of the Tianyuan World. An item flew out from the giant pillar of light, shooting straight into space. The object gave off a primal divine glow, and even Saint experts did not dare to look at it directly. Blood flowed from the prime sovereigns¡¯ eyes as they tried their best to endure the piercing pain, before they finally caught a faint glimpse of what seemed to be a ten-foot-long golden bone. The bone gave off an extremely heavy primal and ancient aura. When it appeared, the first dragon roar from the beginning of the world seemed to echo throughout the entire world. In the Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea, the shock appeared on the Sacred God¡¯s face. Soon after, he cried out, ¡°That¡¯s...the Golden Ancestral Dragon Bone?¡± Swoosh! The golden bone pierced through the Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea in a flash and appeared in front of Zhou Yuan. He stared at the ancient golden bone as he threw the Heavenly Yuan Brush towards it and the two artifacts began to fuse. The brush¡¯s body gradually turned pure gold, veins seemingly pulsing along it as a powerful life force surged from within. The Heavenly Yuan Brush had evolved once more. After fusing with the Golden Ancestral Dragon Bone, the brush had reached the level of a natural born god artifact, and was no longer weaker than the Sacred God¡¯s Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea. Zhou Yuan beckoned and the golden brush landed in his hand before he lightly swung it. Hwaa! It felt as if heaven and earth were torn asunder as the Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea was split in two, endless sea water pouring back to fill the bottomless void. Boom! The Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea vanished as the Sacred God¡¯s figure was revealed, his expression darkening for the very first time. A tiny line of blood slowly flowed down from the black and white eye between his brows. He had been injured! The Ancestral Dragon had been the only being to injure him for countless years, but another one had now appeared...and was even a mortal-turn-god?! Rage violently rose in the Sacred God¡¯s eyes. The temperature of the entire world abruptly plummeted as if plunging the world into an eternal winter. Rumble! The Sacred God lashed out in anger, endless divine power smashing through space as the entire world turned black and white. The tsunami of divine power crushed everything in its path as it charged towards Zhou Yuan with unstoppable, overwhelming might. Zhou Yuan brandished the golden Heavenly Yuan Brush, filling the sky with divine power with a swish of its tip. Millions of stars rose through the void to meet the Sacred God¡¯s power. Boom boom! A terrifying, crazy battle erupted, each thunderous clash resounding across every corner of the Tianyuan World. No one bothered to keep track of how many continent-sized meteors were pulverized, and even the devastating chaos storms were violently torn apart by power greater than their own, making it impossible to approach. The all-heaven and the Sacred Race could only shudder in fear as they waited for the world-ending battle between the gods to end. Anyone could see that the two gods were now going at it for real, no longer holding anything back. Divine force clashed again and again. After yet another devastating collision, two figures were flung over a million miles backwards. However, they quickly crossed that impossible distance in the blink of an eye and appeared on the battlefield again. The Sacred God had a stormy expression. The previous exchange had already shown him that Zhou Yuan¡¯s divine power was not much weaker than his own. Ordinary methods were no longer enough to decide this battle. ¡°Since that is the case¡­¡± An eerily chilling light shone in the Sacred God¡¯s eyes as he extended a finger and suddenly thrust it at the black and white eye between his brows. Divine blood splattered as he dug out his divine eye. Expressionless, he slowly placed the eye into his mouth. Crunch! The sound of his divine eye being crushed sounded as the Sacred God¡¯s body abruptly began to swell. After the span of a few breaths, an impossibly humongous giant appeared, looking down upon the five heavens. Under its enormous body, even the five heavens seemed akin to miniature models. His divine pressure had grown along with his size, causing the all-heaven to tremble violently under its vastness. This was not the end. The Sacred God¡¯s humongous body suddenly began to burn with black and white fire. Gurgle! As the Sacred God¡¯s body burned, the sound of flowing water suddenly rang out. To the all-heaven Saint experts¡¯ horror, they realized that everything they could see was covered in a black and white flood. The scale of this black and white flood was even greater than the Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea. Flood waters swept across the vastness of space, rapidly approaching the five heavens. Zhou Yuan stood outside the five heavens, forming the final line of defence. His expression had turned extremely grave. The Sacred God had clearly gone all-out this time, Moreover, Zhou Yuan could sense a strand of extremely terrifying divine power within the torrential black and white flood waters. The strand of divine power gave off a supreme aura, as if it reigned above all divine power, and was impossible to stand against. ¡°This is...a strand of supreme god power?!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart shook. This legendary divine power was known as Ancestral Dragon power. It was also the very power that the Sacred God had coveted for countless years. Zhou Yuan never imagined that the Sacred God had finally managed to cultivate a strand of it. The legendary Ancestral Dragon power was the supreme force of the Tianyuan World. All other power could only retreat before its might. The Sacred God¡¯s cold voice rang out from the endless black and white flood. ¡°Zhou Yuan, if you know what it is, get out of the way and let me devour the all-heaven inhabitants behind you!¡± Zhou Yuan did not reply in words but with action. His body also began to grow, turning into a titanic divine power phantasm that stood in the flood¡¯s way. ¡°Death-seeking fool. Since that is the case, I shall grant your wish.¡± The Sacred God¡¯s icy laughter rang out. The black and white flood rushed forward with even greater momentum and collided with the divine power phantasm. Rumble! Loud rumbling resounded across the land. Countless all-heaven inhabitants raised their heads to see a giant phantasm single handedly resisting the endless black and white flood. However, the black and white flood waters seemed to contain an inconceivable power. Under its repeated battering, the giant phantasm¡¯s divine power was gradually whittled away. The giant phantasm was clearly unable to withstand the flood¡¯s might alone. Once the divine power phantasm was destroyed, the world-ending black and white flood would pour into the all-heaven, ultimately resulting in their destruction. The all-heaven inhabitants were powerless in the face of this hopeless situation. The only thing they could do was fall to their knees and pray. The praying all-heaven inhabitants were of no help to Zhou Yuan¡¯s predicament. The strand of supreme power inside the black and white flood waters continued to grind away his divine power. If this continued, it was only a matter of time before his divine power phantasm was vanquished. The strand of supreme divine power was evidently the Sacred God¡¯s ultimate trump card. However, Zhou Yuan could not understand how the Sacred God had cultivated the strand of supreme divine power. He should only gain such power when he became the Tianyuan World¡¯s first order god. Although he had completed his transformation and grown stronger than ever before, the Sacred God was clearly still a step away from becoming the true first order god. Zhou Yuan rapidly tried to figure out the reason as the supreme power slowly wore his phantasm down. A flash of inspiration suddenly struck him at a certain moment and he finally deduced why there was a seemingly familiar undulation from that strand of supreme divine power. It was...the Ancestral Dragon Scripture?! That¡¯s right, the Sacred God had once obtained the Ancestral Dragon Scripture and even made some changes of his own before passing it to a few of the Sacred Race heaven prides. The Sacred God was clearly also extremely familiar with the Ancestral Dragon Scripture! In a certain manner of speaking, the Sacred God and him had both practiced the Ancestral Dragon Scripture! From the current situation, the Sacred God¡¯s level of mastery in the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was half-a-step deeper than Zhou Yuan¡¯s. Zhou Yuan had reached an extremely high level in the Ancestral Dragon Scripture, however, he could feel that his divine power was ultimately unable to accomplish one final transformation. That final step was clearly very near, yet no matter how he tried, he was unable to ascend to the final level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. It was as if some part of him was still incomplete. ¡°Incomplete?¡± Zhou Yuan deeply pondered as he searched every corner of his body. He was unable to comprehend why he had such a strange and unexplainable feeling. While Zhou Yuan was submerged in thought, a hole appeared in the divine power phantasm¡¯s defence. Black and white water immediately invaded and began melting away the all-heaven¡¯s boundary wall. The all-heaven inhabitants watched in terror as the sky began to crumble. Black and white water poured down, erasing all life in its path, including their Spirits. Countless screams and shrieks rang out. Their noise abruptly roused Zhou Yuan from his thoughts. He found himself drenched in cold sweat, however, there was a sliver of bewilderment in his eyes. Something had suddenly clicked in his head. He had realized the source of his incompleteness. Zhou Yuan slowly raised his hand and stared at his palm. Though there was clearly nothing there, he could see a black spot deep within his flesh and Spirit. The black dot squirmed as it had a life of its own. As he gazed at the black dot, Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression turned exceedingly conflicted. The black dot was the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison that was born in his body moments after his birth, when his Sacred Dragon Blessing was taken. In the past, Zhou Yuan had tried various methods to eliminate and seal away the Dragon¡¯s Resent Poison, and eventually succeeded, preventing it from ever appearing again. However, he had not known previously that it could not be completely removed, because it was also a part of his body. Zhou Yuan softly mumbled, ¡°I understand¡­¡± The Sacred Dragon Blessing originated from a fragment of the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will. However, it was unbelievably difficult for the Sacred Dragon Blessing to transform into the Ancestral Dragon qi again. Although the Sacred Dragon Blessing rarely appeared since ancient times, it was not unique to Zhou Yuan. The previous owners of the Sacred Dragon Blessing had also been heaven prides of their generation, however, they had ultimately fallen and were eventually forgotten. Due to their reliance on the Sacred Dragon Blessing, their cultivation journey had always been smooth sailing, lacking in the hardships that were crucial in tempering any apex practitioner. In contrast, Zhou Yuan¡¯s Sacred Dragon Blessing had been taken away at birth, giving rise to the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison that had tortured him throughout his youth. However, he had never given up, and instead slowly took back the Sacred Dragon Blessing he had lost. The process of losing and then regaining the Ancestral Dragon Blessing had moulded him into an individual that far surpassed all of his predecessors. This was also one of the reasons why he was the first mortal to become a god. The pain and suffering he had endured years ago were, in hindsight, a rare opportunity to better himself. However, it was still not enough for the Sacred Dragon Blessing to evolve into Ancestral Dragon qi, because he still lacked the dragon resentment¡¯s power. Only when the Sacred Dragon Blessing and dragon¡¯s resentment truly became one could that gulf finally be crossed! Only then would it be possible to achieve the final level of the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. Huu. Zhou Yuan exhaled deeply. He stared at the squirming black dot on his palm, before suddenly realizing that his surroundings had begun to change, placing him in a world of darkness. A black mirror appeared under his feet. Zhou Yuan lowered his hand and gazed at the reflection in the mirror. Strangely, however, the reflection was a figure in black that had the exact same face as Zhou Yuan... The black-clothed Zhou Yuan in the mirror indifferently looked back, his tone somewhat mocking, ¡°Have you finally remembered me?¡± Zhou Yuan calmly replied, ¡°I never imagined that the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison that tortured me until I wished I was dead was actually also a part of me.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re saying I¡¯m a part of you? All you want is my help, right? Could you have forgotten how hard you tried to get rid of me in the past?¡± The black-clothed Zhou Yuan sneered. Zhou Yuan indifferently said, ¡°If I die at the Sacred God¡¯s hands, you will disappear as well.¡± The black-clothed Zhou Yuan seemed unconcerned. ¡°Do you think a lifeform like me would care about such things?¡± Zhou Yuan was silent. After a few moments of silence, the black-clothed Zhou Yuan said, ¡°Give me a good enough reason.¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the black-clothed Zhou Yuan in the mirror and slowly said, ¡°I¡¯m not asking for your help to save the all-heaven, I asking you to help me defeat the Sacred God, because only by doing that will I be able to bring Yaoyao back. ¡°If you truly are a part of me, you and I should share the same feelings. I believe you cannot reject this reason. ¡°Because I am you, and you are me.¡± Zhou Yuan extended his hand. ¡°Dragon¡¯s resentment, I need you.¡± The silence lasted for longer this time. The entire domain was deathly quiet. The black mirror under his feet began to ripple as the black figure slowly emerged and stood before Zhou Yuan. The black-clothed Zhou Yuan stared at Zhou Yuan¡¯s outstretched hand as the eyes filled with cruelty and indifference slowly turned calm. In the end, he slowly reached out and grasped Zhou Yuan¡¯s hand. ¡°Find her, this is your promise to me, and you¡¯d better not forget it.¡± The two figures took a step forward and slowly melded into each other like liquid. Roar! Endless light erupted in the darkness, accompanied by a thunderous dragon roar, revealing two giant ancient dragons coiling around each other. One was white, while the other was black. The white dragon was pure and righteous, while the black dragon was cruel and malicious. It was as if all the opposites in the world were standing opposed to each other. However, these two entirely different forces ultimately slowly fused together. It was also at this moment that the Sacred God suddenly felt a strong feeling of unease rise within him. It felt as if a calamity was about to descend. Such a feeling had appeared once before when the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s will was roused...this time, however, it was far stronger and more terrifying than back then! Within the divine power phantasm that had been whittled away by the black and white flood until it was only a thousand-feet-tall, Zhou Yuan¡¯s tightly shut eyes slowly opened. The vast divine power that originally surged around his body seemed to have vanished. However, there was no trace of panic. Instead, he revealed a slight smile. The divine power phantasm silently disintegrated, allowing the world-ending black and white flood to rush forward with a roar. Inside its waters, the strand of supreme god power accumulated its energy, intending to inflict a serious injury onto Zhou Yuan. As he watched the black and white flood approach, Zhou Yuan stepped forward with a slight smile. A half-singing half-chanting voice clearly rang out across the world, causing countless people to look up in shock. ¡°I have a breath of worldly qi that can swallow the land, sky, sun, moon and stars.¡± Chapter 1503 Almighty Sovereign Yuan (Finale) A stream of qi soared out from the top of Zhou Yuan¡¯s head as the loud and clear singing-chanting voice resounded across the all-heaven. The qi flow was a mysterious yellow and contained a primal aura, as if it was the most ancient power of this world. As the yellow qi rose into the air, the panicking and terrified all-heaven inhabitants were shocked to see the pouring black and white flood suddenly freeze in place. It was as if space and time had been frozen. From a distance, it looked like a magnificent painting. This lasted for a second before the black and white flood began to be pushed back as if it was trying to withstand an irresistible force. In a few brief moments, the world-ending flood waters were completely sucked back into the sky. Outside the heavens, the mysterious yellow qi had formed a glowing halo above Zhou Yuan. Black and white water was rapidly sucked into the halo and evaporated into nothingness. After removing the water that had entered the all-heaven, Zhou Yuan opened his mouth and spat out a mysterious yellow lotus flower. The flower slowly blossomed as it landed on the black and white flood that had filled the entire Tianyuan World. Next, the black and white flood waters began to recede at an astonishing speed, ultimately vanishing from the world. The yellow lotus flower still shone with the same mysterious glow as it slowly drifted to Zhou Yuan¡¯s feet. Zhou Yuan currently wore a calm expression. The dazzling divine light that had originally shone in his eyes had faded, revealing his deep and gentle gaze. His aura, however, had changed tremendously. It felt like the most primal and ancient aura, similar to the beginning of the world when the Ancestral Dragon was born. Shatter! The space in front of Zhou Yuan suddenly shattered as a blast of power shot towards him. The blast contained a supreme aura that felt exactly the same as the power pulsing from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body. It was the strand of divine power the Sacred God had done all he could to cultivate! Although the strand of supreme divine power could threaten Zhou Yuan¡¯s life previously, it now gave him a vastly different sensation. Zhou Yuan calmly reached out and lightly pressed his palm downwards. His palm seemed to cover the entire Tianyuan World. Countless life forms raised their heads, only to see an impossibly humongous palm descending towards them, accompanied by a pressure that made everyone¡¯s Spirits tremble uncontrollably. The blast of supreme divine power smashed into the palm, however, there was no earth-shaking noise from the clash because the supreme power had quietly shattered under the palm. The supreme divine power in the palm was just far greater than the blast. After destroying the supreme divine power the Sacred God had poured all of his effort into cultivating, Zhou Yuan indifferently looked towards a certain spot. Under his gaze, space began to warp and a figure was spat out. It was the Sacred God. His expression was filled with disbelief as he stared at Zhou Yuan. ¡°You...you¡¯ve taken that final step? Impossible! Impossible!¡± Zhou Yuan gave him an extremely oppressive feeling. Moreover, he could sense an all-too-familiar power from Zhou Yuan¡¯s body, a power he had deeply coveted for countless years and had employed innumerable schemes to obtain. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that Zhou Yuan would obtain this power first. It was Ancestral Dragon qi! The Tianyuan World¡¯s supreme power! This was a tremendous blow to the Sacred God. Due to the pride of a natural born god, he viewed the all-heaven inhabitants as ants, and even a mortal turn god like Zhou Yuan was seen as a lower life form. However, what should have been a lower tier god had now beaten him in obtaining the Ancestral Dragon qi! Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was indifferent. After fusing the Sacred Dragon and the Resentful Dragon to complete the final step and achieve the Ancestral Dragon Scripture¡¯s highest level, the battle between the gods was basically over. However, he still felt somewhat conflicted about his recent revelation. To think that the Dragon¡¯s Resentment Poison that had once tortured him till the brink of death would actually have such a huge impact. There was no such thing as a meaningless trial in this world. As long as one perseveres, these trials would ultimately make you stronger. Zhou Yuan indifferently said, ¡°You¡¯ve lost.¡± The Sacred God was silent for a moment before he responded, ¡°I¡¯ve always treated the third god as my greatest foe. I never expected that a mere mortal would be the one to beat me to that stage.¡± There was no joy in Zhou Yuan¡¯s calm eyes. ¡°Sacred God, the Tianyuan World has unlimited potential but has unfortunately been hindered by you for many years. This world loathes your existence and it is now time for you to disappear.¡± The Sacred God¡¯s expression darkened as he gloomily said, ¡°Nonsense, the Ancestral Dragon was the one who abandoned the gods. He felt that we could not control this world and thus wanted to create the many living creatures to lord over it instead. In my view, if we gods were allowed to develop this world, it would have far surpassed its current accomplishments.¡± Zhou Yuan shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t have the chance to see the Tianyuan World¡¯s future.¡± The Sacred God icily chuckled. ¡°Zhou Yuan, don¡¯t be so happy. So what if you¡¯ve won? The person you want will never return. ¡°Yaoyao has already transformed into your divine bone. If you extract it, your cultivation level will drop and you will lose the supreme divine power. Even if you do extract your divine bone, you will not have the ability to transform and awaken her. ¡°It is an impossible problem. Zhou Yuan, you might have defeated me, but you will never get back the person you wish for the most. Everything in this world has a price, you might have become the first order god, but the price was losing the one you loved.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s expression was ice-cold as he brought his hands together. Rumble! Two giant hands appeared and slowly closed in on the Sacred God from above and below. Vast divine power erupted around the Sacred God but it was useless. In the end, his body shattered to pieces, turning into black and white Yin Yang sea. The mysterious yellow qi swept forth to erase the Sacred God¡¯s will within the sea. AHHH! A miserable shriek rang out across the Tianyuan World. ¡°I refuse to accept this!¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s face was impassive as he seated himself and slowly closed his eyes, while the two giant hands continued to crush the Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea. The battle between the two gods was over, but he still needed some time to erase the Sacred God¡¯s will. However, it was time Zhou Yuan could afford. Mysterious yellow qi rose from his head, turning into an impossibly humongous ancient dragon. It roared at the sky as if announcing the start of a new era. In the all-heaven, torrential rain containing extremely pure Genesis Qi began to pour down onto the land as the all-heaven inhabitants felt their Genesis Qi steadily begin to climb. Like a celebratory banquet after a great victory. Thunderous, earth-shaking cheers erupted, countless people crying tears of joy as they knelt on the ground in gratefulness. They knew that the shadow of fear that had loomed over the all-heaven for countless years had finally disappeared. A new chapter had begun for them. In the Cangxuan Sect, Cang Yuan, Jin Luo, Di Long and Chi Ji stared dazedly at the sky. They could see the two giant hands slowly crushing the Sacred God. Tears suddenly began flowing down their cheeks. Only individuals like them who had experienced the first world-ending war would understand how precious this moment was. Countless generations had sacrificed themselves one after another for the sake of prolonging the all-heaven¡¯s existence. Their sacrifices had not been in vain, because they had finally been saved. The four prime sovereigns slowly knelt on the ground and solemnly bowed at the sky. Thud thud thud. The other Saint experts also respectfully knelt down, their faces overwhelmed with emotion. Zhou Yuan had subdued the Sacred God, saving the all-heaven¡¯s countless inhabitants. This act would definitely be eternally passed down in the Tianyuan World¡¯s history. While the all-heaven was submerged in celebration, the Sacred Race was slowly being choked by despair. On the Sacred Mountain, Tai Mi and the other prime saints had deathly pale faces. They blankly stared into space, still unable to believe that their Sacred God had lost to Zhou Yuan. Reality, however, was just that cruel. They could hear the endless despairing wails of their people. Many were unable to cope with the feeling of their faith crumbling and choose to end their lives. Prime sovereign Nan Ming crumpled to the ground and asked, ¡°Is the Sacred Race finished?¡± The other prime saints¡¯ expressions were dull and lifeless as if they had lost the reason to live. After all, even the Sacred God had been subdued. Although he had been subdued once long ago, it was different this time. Zhou Yuan had reached an unimaginable realm and was not the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s remnant will. Hence, he would certainly make sure to completely erase the Sacred God¡¯s will. Let alone the ordinary Sacred Race people, even prime saints like them could not help but feel lost after losing their faith. All of a sudden, prime saint Tai Mi solemnly said, ¡°Don¡¯t lose hope, although the Sacred God lost, it¡¯s not over for the Sacred Race!¡± The other prime saints looked over, confused. They did not understand what prime saint Tai Mi was saying. As he faced their puzzled gazes, prime saint Tai Mi sighed and said, ¡°The truth is that I once received a certain oracle from the Sacred God. Now, it is clear that he had somehow seen a glimpse of this outcome¡­¡± Prime saint Tai Mi ripped his clothes apart and cut his flesh with a finger. The other prime saints were shocked to find a mysterious and frightening black egg embedded in his flesh. ¡°The Sacred God has always been considering other paths. In a certain manner of speaking, this is the Sacred God¡¯s heir. He will inherit all of the Sacred God¡¯s essence and will grow even stronger than his predecessor in the future.¡± The other prime saints stared at the slowly squirming black egg in shock. Moments later, their eyes gradually turned feverish. One of the prime saints worriedly asked, ¡°But...how long will it take for him to mature? Zhou Yuan is already so powerful, if he discovers the egg, what future will there be for the Sacred Race¡± Prime saint Tai Mi nodded and slowly said, ¡°That¡¯s why, we need to leave, leave the Tianyuan World!¡± The other prime saints were stunned as they looked at Tai Mi in astonishment. If not for the familiar Sacred God¡¯s aura that pulsed from the black egg, they would have believed Tai Mi had gone mad. The Tianyuan World was already so vast in their eyes, what kind of place would the outside be? ¡°The Sacred God once told me that though the Tianyuan World is a great world, it is merely part of an even greater galaxy...the Tianyuan World to the galaxy is akin to a continent to the Tianyuan World. ¡°In the years while the Sacred God was slumbering, he sent a cultivation double out of the Tianyuan World and arranged an escape path for us. ¡°We leave the Tianyuan World, and head for the galaxy outside while waiting for the little Sacred God to grow. Once he is strong enough, the Sacred Race will have the chance to return and take back what is rightfully ours!¡± Tai Mi¡¯s expression grew fanatical towards the end. The other prime saints¡¯ breathing also became ragged. The Sacred Race was currently facing their imminent doom. Although it would be scary to head for the unknown galaxy, it would be better than sitting here and waiting for their deaths. Prime saint Tian Zhan hesitantly asked, ¡°How do we leave the Tianyuan World? Our capabilities are likely insufficient.¡± Prime saint Tai Mi laughed before he turned around and walked into the temple. In the center of the temple was a bottomless black hole. This was where the Sacred God had slumbered. However, no one knew that this black hole was also a pathway he had created that connected with the outside galaxy. The other prime saints stared at the black hole for a long time. In the end, they resolutely gritted their teeth. ¡°Tell our people to gather immediately. We are fleeing the Tianyuan World!¡± ... It took ten years to finally erase the Sacred God. After ten years, Zhou Yuan opened his eyes. The giant hands that had towered in the vast expanse of space for so long had already disappeared. A black and white lake silently floated in front of him, giving off an extremely pure divine aura. It was the Sacred God¡¯s roots, the Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea. However, the Sacred God¡¯s will had been completely erased from it, leaving behind a pure natural born divine artifact. The existence that had brought countless problems to the Tianyuan World had finally been terminated by Zhou Yuan. A respectful voice suddenly rang out from nearby, ¡°Congratulations almighty sovereign Yuan, your ten years of effort have finally borne results. The all-heaven celebrates your accomplishment.¡± Zhou Yuan turned his head to see the four prime sovereigns, Jin Luo, Cang Yuan, Di Long and Chi Ji respectfully gazing at him. ¡°Almighty prime sovereign?¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled. Prime sovereign Jin Luo said, ¡°Over these past ten years, the all-heaven inhabitants have praised you as the almighty sovereign Yuan for saving the world.¡± Zhou Yuan smiled. Although he was not very interested in such titles, he could not be bothered to change what others called him and instead shifted his attention back to the Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea. Prime sovereign Jin Luo enquired, ¡°What will almighty sovereign Yuan do with this artifact?¡± Zhou Yuan stared at the sea for a long time before he calmly said, ¡°I plan to complete what the Ancestral Dragon¡¯s final wish. I will use it to create the divine bone for the all-heaven and open the path towards the god stage.¡± The bodies of Jin Luo, Cang Yuan and the others jolted as they stared in disbelief at Zhou Yuan. They never expected that he would not claim it for himself, but instead use it for the all-heaven¡¯s benefit. If so, the all-heaven inhabitants would have the opportunity to become gods, including themselves. They were overwhelmed with emotion for a time. In the end, they could only bow deeply. ¡°On behalf of the all-heaven, we thank the almighty sovereign Yuan!¡± Zhou Yuan chuckled and did not speak any further on the topic. His hands came together and the Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea abruptly exploded. Crash! Black and white rain poured from the sky, sprinkling across every corner of the Tianyuan World. Countless living things raised their heads, allowing the black and white rain to land on their bodies. They could faintly feel something mysterious slowly taking root deep in their bodies and begin growing. This mysterious thing represented the future. At the same time, Zhou Yuan¡¯s booming voice rang out in countless people¡¯s ears, ¡°I wish for everyone in the Tianyuan World to be dragons and be blessed with the chance to become gods.¡± His booming voice resounded everywhere. Countless people seemed to realize something and began trembling with emotion. In the end, they knelt on the ground and bowed. Outside the heavens, Jin Luo and other prime sovereigns finally recovered and said, ¡°While you were subduing the Sacred God, the all-heaven army set off to attack the Sacred Race heavens. However, we found their lands completely empty.¡± Zhou Yuan¡¯s eyes became as deep as the night, seemingly piercing space and time. He softly chuckled and said, ¡°They¡¯ve left.¡± ¡°Left?¡± Jin Luo and the others were stunned. Zhou Yuan explained, ¡°Although the Tianyuan World is vast, there are many wonders outside it. The outside is known as the galaxy...and the Sacred God left the Sacred Race a path into it. In addition, he also left them a divine egg that he meticulously created, which might even surpass him once it grows up in the future.¡± ¡°The galaxy? Divine egg?!¡± Prime sovereign Jin Luo and the others were utterly shocked. Soon after, they worried asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t that akin to releasing a tiger back into the mountain? ¡°By the time they can return, the Tianyuan World will have become vastly different...moreover, I¡¯ve managed to take a small peek into the future over these ten years, and I know that the Sacred God¡¯s successor will naturally be dealt with by an unrivalled existence. There is no need to worry.¡± Zhou Yuan gazed into the distance as a sliver of interest rose in his eyes. He had seen the Sacred God¡¯s successor¡¯s death when he caught a glimpse of the future. There had been three indistinct but almighty glowing figures standing before the Sacred God, so dazzling they could illuminate even the past. A world that could give birth to three such amazing individuals was definitely not lacking in potential. The galaxy was truly filled with mystery and allure. However, he could not find it in himself to become excited, because he had something far more important to accomplish here. Zhou Yuan withdrew his gaze and turned towards the four prime sovereigns. ¡°I¡¯ve settled the all-heaven¡¯s affairs. After this, it is time to focus on my own matters.¡± He stared into the distance as he softly chuckled and said to himself, ¡°Sacred God, you said I cannot do it, but I insist on showing you that I can.¡± As the final word rang out, Zhou Yuan suddenly thrust his hand into his body before slowly pulling it out. A golden bone was gradually extracted from deep inside his body. Jin Luo and the others cried out in horror as they hurriedly threw themselves forward. ¡°You can¡¯t, almighty sovereign Yuan. That¡¯s your divine bone! Once it is extracted, all your divine power will disappear!¡± Cang Yuan hoarsely said, ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless, Zhou Yuan. Even if you extract your divine bone, without the first order god¡¯s power, you won¡¯t be able to bring Yaoyao back!¡± However, Zhou Yuan did not reply to them. Divine pour spouted forth, pushing away the four figures and the divine bone was ultimately extracted. Zhou Yuan tenderly gazed at the golden divine bone in his hand and softly said, ¡°Yaoyao, please wait a little longer.¡± With a flick of his wrist, the golden bone was sent flying, turning into a streak of gold as it plummeted towards Cangxuan Heaven. The bone shot into the cave dwelling in the Cangxuan Sect and burrowed into the peach blossom tree. Tuntun abruptly stood up from its position at the cave entrance, because Zhou Yuan¡¯s voice was being transmitted into its ears. ¡°Tuntun, guard this place for a hundred years. After a hundred years, I shall return.¡± Tuntun seemed to realize something as its eyes filled with reluctance. However, it eventually acknowledged with a low roar. Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan''s figure slowly began to fade, ultimately disintegrating with a loud bang under the sorrowful gazes of Jin Luo, Cang Yuan and the rest. Billions of light specks sprinkled across the all-heaven. On this day, the Sacred God that had terrorized the Tianyuan World for countless years was finally eliminated once and for all. The almighty sovereign Yuan then used his miraculous powers and the Primal Chaos Yin Yang Sea to bestow the divine bone onto the all-heaven inhabitants. Finally, he extracted his own divine bone, shattering his divine body and vanishing without a trace. It was a day that would be eternally etched into the Tianyuan World¡¯s history. The Tianyuan World entered a new chapter called...the God Yuan Era. ... Time passed. A dozen years flew by in the blink of an eye. Tremendous changes had occured over the past dozen years. Firstly, the Genesis Qi had grown more abundant, rich and pure, creating a great cultivation world that produced countless heaven prides and top experts. Additionally, practitioners had discovered signs of emerging life in the Tianyuan World¡¯s countless subdomains, along with many strange and mysterious wonders appearing in space. In fact, Saint experts were even finding new heavens gradually being born amidst the formless mass outside the heavens. It was clearly an age of great change. The most sensational news among them all, however, was undoubtedly practitioners beginning to step into the legendary god stage! To be more precise, it was not the true god stage but the quasi god stage, because it was some distance from the god stage. However, the quasi god stage far surpassed the triple lotus Saint stage and represented the people¡¯s hopes of entering that previously unimaginable realm. It was a time of celebration for the all-heaven. There were a total of six new gods. The martial god, Wu Yao. The devouring god, Zhao Mushen. The goddess of the purple heavens, Su Youwei. The sword god, Li Chunjun. The azure god, Chu Qing. The ancestral taotie god, Tuntun. Besides Tuntun, the other five were the most talented and outstanding individuals of this generation. Their ascension filled the Tianyuan World¡¯s countless inhabitants with hope. The names of these six great quasi god experts resounded throughout the world. Time continued to flow and it soon reached the hundred year mark. Many things could be forgotten in a hundred years, but the legends regarding almighty sovereign Yuan never stopped being told. There was no news of almighty sovereign Yuan for a hundred years, leading countless people to make all kinds of guesses. Some said that almighty sovereign Yuan had extracted his divine bone and divided his body into ten thousand doubles that were secretly cultivating in the all-heaven, only to return when he once again ascended to the god stage. Others said that almighty sovereign Yuan¡¯s countless doubles had lost their memories and could no longer recall who they were. No matter what theories the world had, the hundred year deadline soon arrived. Outside a certain cave dwelling in the Cangxuan Sect. A giant beast silently lay at the entrance like a statue weathering the elements, while a few Cangxuan Sect disciples glanced over from afar with respectful gazes. The giant beast was one of the Tianyuan World¡¯s six quasi gods, the Ancestral Taotie god, Tuntun. Tuntun had grown much more mature and reliable over the past hundred years. However, it appeared exceptionally irritable today, occasionally breathing far too loudly like thunder booming across the land. Because today was the hundred year deadline. Tuntun shot a glance at the sky as it grew increasingly agitated. There was still no sign of the one it was waiting for. The sun slowly set. Eventually, its final rays of light spilled across the land. Dusk descended as the sky darkened. An irritable look suddenly surged in Tuntun¡¯s eyes as a thunderous roar exploded across the all-heaven. He had not appeared! He had not appeared! Its eyes were filled with sorrow, its roar overflowing with abandonment, anger and pain. The air above the Cangxuan Sect began to distort as five almighty figures appeared. It was Wu Yao, Su Youwei, Chu Qing and the others. All six quasi gods had appeared in the same location. Their expressions gradually dimmed as they watched the raging Tuntun. They were likewise unable to sense any signs of Zhou Yuan appearing. It was clear by now that he was not coming. Had he failed? Roar! Tuntun released yet another thunderous roar. However, right as it finally about to snap, it suddenly sensed something. Its body immediately began to shrink, turning into the mini form that had not been seen for many years as it frantically dashed into the cave. Wu Yao, Su Youwei and the others were startled before they hurriedly followed. The six quasi gods simultaneously arrived in the deepest part of the cave dwelling only for them to suddenly freeze. They blankly stared to their front, where a figure stood with his hands behind his back under the peach blossom tree. Although they were looking at his back, there was still an incomparable feeling of familiarity. ¡°Zhou...Zhou Yuan?¡± Su Youwei¡¯s voice trembled. The figure slowly turned around and gazed at the five individuals. A smile appeared on his face as he teasingly said, ¡°Oh! Everyone has stepped into the quasi god stage? How amazing.¡± The familiar face naturally belonged to Zhou Yuan, who had disappeared for the past hundred years. He waved at the six individuals and said, ¡°No matter how anxious you guys are, you can¡¯t be as anxious as me. Before anything else, please wait for me to do what I have to do.¡± After finishing, he extended his hand and rays of light blossomed from the peach tree. A golden ray slowly rose into the air, turning into a golden bone that floated in front of him. Zhou Yuan stared at the golden bone as a face that had been carved deep in his heart appeared in his mind. This was the face he had seen countless times in his dreams. Despite having already been through so much, Zhou Yuan¡¯s heart could not help but churn as his eyes turned moist. ¡°Yaoyao, come back. I¡¯m still waiting for you.¡± He reached out and gently caressed the golden bone. In the next instant, divine power that shook the hearts of even Su Youwei and the others erupted from his palm and poured into the golden bone. Millions of golden rays exploded from the bone. Everyone present did not dare to blink as they nervously stared at the center of the golden light. Although they had become the Tianyuan World¡¯s most pinnacle existences, their heartbeats still felt as loud as thunder at this moment. The golden light grew brighter and brighter. In the end, even apex experts like them could not help but squint. Zhou Yuan had closed his eyes, though it was not because he was afraid of the glaring light but because he feared that something might have happened to the divine bone over the past hundred years that would lead to him failing to get Yaoyao back. It was an outcome he could never accept. After a long time, Zhou Yuan suddenly heard faint footsteps, a sound which made him feel as if his body was about to collapse into itself. However, he endured and slowly opened his eyes. A beautiful figure in white stood amidst the dancing petals under the peach blossom tree, her clear eyes slightly wet and smiling as she silently gazed at him. It had been a hundred years since she last gazed at him. Zhou Yuan dazedly stared at the figure that had been engraved deep into his soul before a wonderful grin rose from the corners of his mouth, the same familiar grin the rash and ignorant boy had displayed when they first met all those years ago. This time, however, tears were uncontrollably flowing from the corners of his eyes. A hundred years of effort had finally bore fruit. He softly said, ¡°Welcome back, Yaoyao.¡± ... Almighty sovereign Yuan¡¯s return was naturally the biggest, most important event to occur over the past few years. His return was akin to injecting a jolt of energy into the all-heaven while also making the people feel safe and protected. New heavens continued to be born with his help, allowing the Tianyuan World to grow increasingly powerful. A dozen years later. Due to the Tianyuan World¡¯s rapid growth, new god experts were beginning to cast their sights towards the galaxy outside the Tianyuan World. On the mountain that was formerly Shengzu Heaven¡¯s Sacred Mountain. Two beautiful figures stood at the edge of a black passageway, one in a flowing red dress, while the other wore a more ordinary purple dress. It was Wu Yao and Su Youwei. Su Youwei frowned slightly as she gazed at Wu Yao. ¡°Are you really planning to venture outside the Tianyuan World?¡± ¡°I feel that it will be very difficult for my cultivation to take a step further in the Tianyuan World.¡± Wu Yao nodded. Soon after, she shot a somewhat hopeful look at Su Youwei. ¡°Come with me!¡± Su Youwei was hesitant as she softly said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave.¡± Wu Yao fustratedly said, ¡°All that guy does is flirt all day long, isn''t it painful for you to watch?¡± Su Youwei helplessly shook her head. Wu Yao could only grit her teeth and unleash her trump card. ¡°Are you coming or not? If you¡¯re fine with allowing a young mother and her child to venture out alone, go ahead and stay behind.¡± Su Youwei was stunned before she flusteredly said, ¡°What nonsense are you speaking.¡± Wu Yao suddenly grabbed Su Youwei¡¯s hand and placed it on her abdomen. Su Youwei¡¯s hand immediately went rigid as her eyes gradually grew round. To her surprise, she could sense an extremely vague life undulation in Wu Yao''s abdomen. ¡°You...you...you...how can this be? You¡¯re clearly...you¡¯re clearly still a virgin!¡± Su Youwei was in shock. It was very rare for her to lose her composure after advancing to the god stage. However, this new revelation was far too shocking even for her. Wu Yao frustratedly clawed at her hair. ¡°This aura contains three distinctive Spirit marks. Do you know who they belong to?¡± Su Youwei was silent for a few moments before she gingerly said, ¡°Are you telling me it¡¯s mine, yours and Zhou Yuan¡¯s?¡± Wu Yao nodded. ¡°Why else do you think I want to leave the Tianyuan World?¡± ¡°How is this possible?¡± Su Youwei flusteredly shook her head. Wu Yao sighed and said, ¡°Do you still remember when I returned the last portion of the Sacred Dragon Blessing to Zhou Yuan? Our Spirits interchanged back then¡­¡± Su Youwei blushed. ¡°But it was only our Spirits!¡± ¡°This only began to happen after Zhou Yuan became the first order god.¡± Wu Yao¡¯s expression had become rather complicated. Su Youwei was speechless. Zhou Yuan had become an unimaginable entity when he became the first order god. If the mixing of their Spirits had left behind something in Wu Yao¡¯s body which subsequently underwent some unique changes as Zhou Yuan grew stronger, it was not completely impossible. Didn¡¯t this mean that the special entity in Wu Yao¡¯s body was...their child? In this moment, even Su Youwei could not help but feel a little dizzy, although it was soon followed by an indescribable joy and hopefulness. Su Youwei blinked as she curiously rubbed Wu Yao¡¯s flat and supple abdomen. Was this...also her child? Or possibly...her child with Zhou Yuan? She had previously heard that Yaoyao had also become pregnant... Wu Yao suddenly pushed away Su Youwei¡¯s hand and prepared to jump into the black hole. ¡°If you¡¯re not coming, I shall leave alone.¡± Su Youwei hurriedly pulled her back. Wu Yao was sometimes a little too fierce in handling matters. Su Youwei would worry if Wu Yao went off alone in the unknown galaxy. Su Youwei suggested, ¡°Should we tell Zhou Yuan?¡± Wu Yao immediately became unhappy. ¡°Why should we. What does this have to do with him? If you dare to tell him, I¡¯ll leave immediately.¡± Su Youwei was silent. In the end, she sighed helplessly and raised her hands in surrender. ¡°Alright alright, you win. I¡¯ll come along to explore the galaxy.¡± Wu Yao let out a laugh before grabbing Su Youwei by the waist and jumping into the black hole. ¡°Haha, let¡¯s go have some fun, that guy can go to hell for all I care.¡± ... Meanwhile, under a giant peach blossom tree on a mist-covered mountain in Cangxuan Heaven. Zhou Yuan, who was napping with Yaoyao under the shade, suddenly opened his eyes. He stared into space as a look of helplessness flitted across his eyes. A voice suddenly sounded from his arms, ¡°You¡¯re going to let her go off just like that?¡± Zhou Yuan lowered his head and Yaoyao''s beautiful face entered his eyes. He gently kissed her forehead and smiled bitterly. ¡°I can¡¯t stop her. Anyways, even I find this baffling...however, I¡¯ve left a mark on both of them which will allow me to know if anything happens. ¡°The Tianyuan World is developing rapidly and will ultimately make contact with others in the galaxy. Letting them scout the way might not be bad.¡± As he spoke, his gaze paused on Yaoyao¡¯s slightly enlarged abdomen as a gentle smile appeared on his face. ¡°What do you think? Will the little one be a girl or boy?¡± ¡°You should be able to sense the gender, right?¡± ¡°Sigh, that would be boring.¡± ¡°Do you prefer a little Zhou Yuan or a little Yaoyao?¡± ¡°Definitely a little Yaoyao, who would want a detestable little Zhou Yuan.¡± ¡°You¡¯re clearly biased towards girls.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care, you must give me a little Yaoyao.¡± ¡°......¡± Petals danced in the air as the man and woman happily chatted. Their voices swept up the petals and sent them flying towards the horizon, along with magnificent story. ... At an unknown time in an unknown place. In a dark domain. Countless sinister giant pitch-black ships travelled through the darkness, leaving behind destroyed lesser worlds in their wake. A man in white stood with his hands behind his back on the flagship, watching the stars streak past, while an indescribable pressure spread from his body. All of a sudden, he asked, ¡°Has our Sacred Race grown much stronger since we left the Tianyuan World?¡± A voice rang out from the shadows behind him, ¡°Under your leadership, the Sacred Race has already grown far more powerful than ever.¡± The man in white was born from the divine egg left behind by the Sacred God, and this second generation Sacred God was clearly already all grown up. The man in whtie nodded. ¡°Our scouts have discovered a greater world?¡± ¡°Yes. Moreover, that greater world does not have a guardian god.¡± The Sacred God chuckled softly. ¡°After occupying this greater world, we can use it as our headquarters. In the future, we will find an opportunity to return to the Tianyuan World. ¡°Tell everyone to prepare.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The person in the darkness withdrew. The Sacred God closed his eyes, only opening them again when he sensed activity. ¡°Sacred God, the army has arrived outside this greater world. ¡°We¡¯ve already exchanged blows with the local inhabitants and they are quite strong.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a greater world after all, and naturally has solid foundations.¡± The Sacred God was not surprised. ¡°However, the locals have given us another name while fighting...they call us the Heretic Alien Race.¡± A smile rose from the corners of the Sacred God¡¯s lips. ¡°Heretic Alien Race? How fitting¡­ ¡°Hmm, the past is the past after all and should not be clung onto too tightly. The name Sacred Race is also a relic of the past... ¡°In the future, we shall be the Heretic Alien Race. ¡°And I...shall be called...the Heavenly Heretic God.¡±